ABC/Image Group LA Dustin Lynch has long proclaimed his love and admiration for Reba McEntire, so it was only fitting that the Country Music Hall of Famer should be the one to officially induct him into the Grand Ole Opry on Tuesday night.

I know how you feel, Reba said, as she stepped into the legendary circle of wood transported from the Oprys former home at the Ryman Auditorium.

Do you know that 41 years ago yesterday was the first time I got to sing on this stage? she revealed, as the audience cheered.

September 17, 1977, and here you are 41 years and a day -- one day -- and you get to be the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry, she said to the Tullahoma, Tennessee native.

Earlier in the evening, Dustin told the audience his Tuesday night performance was the second most nervous hed ever been on the Opry stage: the first was the night of his debut -- March 2, 2012.

After Reba handed him his Opry member trophy, Dustin took a moment to compose himself and share it with his band members, as he recognized each one.

I told everybody before I came out here, I am a crybaby, he joked, as the audience laughed. And I get it from my dad, he added. It's true.

I cannot believe what just happened. Reba McEntire just gave me a hug and -- wow! he said, as the audience continued to roar.

Dustin went on to give a shout-out to all the people behind-the-scenes whove helped make him a success, before closing with his most recent #1, Small Town Boy.

Earlier in the evening, Dustin played a set that included chart-toppers like Where Its At, as well as older songs like She Cranks My Tractor, plus his current single, Good Girl.

He also sang his breakthrough hit, Cowboys and Angels, pointing out it was inspired by the love story of his grandparents, whove been married 63 years and were in the audience.

Copyright  2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.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.Mexico: 150 Unclaimed Corpses Discovered in a Truck

Tlaquepaque Residents complained about a rotten odor coming from a local warehouseit was a refrigerated truck with 150 dead bodies.

The odor would come in waves, Guadalupe Vazquez told CNN. Something else that was suspicious was that patrol cars were always there guarding and at night dogs would bark and a lot of flies.

In the Mexican state of Jalisco, officials discovered the truck during a routine inspection on Sept. 14. They discovered that state officials have been using it as a morgue since their morgues ran out of space.

Tlaquepaque Mayor Maria Elena Limon wanted to close down the warehouse due to the smell but her request was denied.

When we wanted to close it down we were told we couldnt by state security officials because a truck with bodies was inside, Limon said, CNN reported.

Limon requested the Jalisco officials to move the truck elsewhere, and so they didto another area where neighbors and local officials told them to move it again.

The truck is now located close to the state attorney generals office.

Jalisco State Attorney General Roberto Lopez Lara said on Twitter that he wanted to open an investigation into the incident and criticized the officials for their severe inaction, insensitivity, and negligence to take action by various authorities.

In 2017, Jalisco suffered from 1,369 homicides while drug-related violence has dramatically increased, CNN reported.

State officials said that the morgues ran out of space because it is currently illegal to cremate unclaimed deceased victims of violence, The Los Angeles Times reported.

The truck began shifting corpses to different areas some time last week.

Who Is Reponsible

Aristoteles Sandoval, the governor of Jalisco, fired the morgue chief for grave omissions and violating protocol used to handle the deceased.

The fired morgue chief, Luis Octavio Cotero, said in an interview that he was being blamed for everything and feared for his life.

Although the morgue chief had been fired, it is still unknown who gave the order for the corpses to be moved around.

The other mystery is why the deceased remain unclaimed, since officials have records of their fingerprints, DNA samples, and photographs of their face, according to the Jalisco state attorney general.Officials in Middleton, Wisconsin, say theyre responding to an active shooter situation at a commercial building. (Street View)

Middleton Active Shooter: Police at Office Building in Wisconsin

Update: UW Health University Hospital confirmed told NBC News that they received four patients from the shooting. The severity of their injuries is not clear. The shooter was also injured

Officials in Middleton, Wisconsin, say theyre responding to an active shooter situation at a commercial building.

WISC-TV reported at around 12 p.m. ET on Sept. 19 that Dane County dispatch received multiple reports of an active shooter around the 1800 block of Deming Way. NBC15 reported that the office building appears to be the location of Paradigm Software.

Madison.com said its reporter, Dean Mosiman, was quoted as saying that there were at least 40 police squad cars and ambulances from multiple jurisdictions outside the building. Police set up a perimeter around the building, Madison.com reported.

A woman was taken out of the building screaming and said it was a devastating loss, the report said.

The Middleton High School, Kromrey Middle School, and Clark Street Community School were placed on lockdown, officials said.

The Middleton Police Department said in an alert that there was an active shooter in the area. They asked people to stay inside, shelter in place, and lock their doors.

.@ATFStPaul responding to report of an active shooter in Middleton, Wis. Media queries should be directed to local authorities. pic.twitter.com/tTBPCThnPD  ATF St. Paul (@ATFStPaul) September 19, 2018

Madison College also sent out a statement: There is no active threat on campus at this time. If at West, shelter in place & standby for updates. Avoid the area north of West Campus into Middleton.

Fox6 reported that there are multiple gunmen involved in the incident.

Evacuees are now being transferred to the Residence Inn by Marriott, Fox6 reported.

Looks like ambulance is transporting someone from the scene on Deming way pic.twitter.com/yPfjaQO506  Keely Arthur (@news3keely) September 19, 2018

It isnt clear if there have been any injuries or fatalities. Officials have asked people to avoid the area.

Other details are not clear.

Middleton is located about five miles from Madison, the state capital.Middleton Shooting: 4 Injured at WTS Paradigm Office Building in Wisconsin

Several people were wounded in a shooting inside an office building in Middleton, Wisconsin, police said.

UW Health University Hospital confirmed told NBC News that they received four patients from the shooting. The severity of their injuries is not clear.

Judy Lahmers, a business analyst at WTS Paradigm where the shooting took place, said that she heard gunshots. She ran from the building and hit behind a vehicle.

Im not looking back, Im running as fast as I can. You just wonder, Do you hide or do you run?' she said.

The suspected shooter was also injured, said City Administrator Mike Davis, USA Today reported.

According to Madison.com, It appears the situation is stable now, Davis said. The bad news is that there were four injured by the suspect.

Officers and emergency personnel are on the scene, Middleton Police said in a statement. Please lock all doors, stay inside and shelter in place until further notice.

Photos showed a large police presence as well as a number of ambulances. The ATF and the Dane County Sheriffs Office responded to the scene, according to reports.

I saw a dude walking with a gun inside the building, Andrew King, an employee at TrafficCast near the shooting, told the Wisconsin State Journal. He was just walking with it, and I didnt see any shooting.

Lance Muzzillo, who works nearby, told Madison.com: I didnt hear anything.

He said, It was quick. We were on lockdown for maybe 45 minutes and then we had Dane County Sheriffs officers come up and account for everybody on our floor and then escort us down to this spot.

The Middleton Cross Plains School District initiated a lockdown for all of its schools, district spokesman Perry Hibner said.

Madison College also sent out a statement: There is no active threat on campus at this time. If at West, shelter in place & standby for updates. Avoid the area north of West Campus into Middleton.

Middleton is a suburb of Madison, the state capital of Wisconsin.Mollie Tibbetts Alleged Killer Cristhian Rivera Bahena Pleads Not Guilty

The man accused of killing 20-year-old Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts pleaded not guilty in the case.

Cristhian Rivera Bahena made the plea on murder charges in an arraignment hearing on Sept. 19, and his trial is slated for April 16, 2019, Fox News reported.

Rivera, 24, was arrested last month and charged with first-degree murder after Tibbetts went missing in July while going on a jog. Her body was discovered in a cornfield about 10 miles from Brooklyn, Iowa.

Related Coverage Illegal Alien Charged in Iowa Students Death Was Known by Alias

The search and Riveras arrest drew national attention, as investigators believe that he arrived in the United States illegally from Mexico several years ago. An immigration detainer from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency was placed on him.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services told Fox News in August that a search of records by USCIS revealed Rivera did not make any DACA requests nor were any grants given.

It added: We have found no record in our systems indicating he has any lawful immigration status.

Rivera is currently jailed on $5 million cash-only bond, KCRG reported. Prosecutors say that he allegedly stabbed Tibbetts to death.

A criminal complaint said that Rivera admitted observing Tibbetts during an evening run. Surveillance camera footage captured Riveras black Chevy Malibu driving near where the woman vanished, officials said. When he was taken in by police, he said he got out and ran alongside her.

Rivera blocked the memory, which is what he does when he gets very upset, said the charging document, the BBC reported.

Rivera was arrested after admitting to investigators he spotted Tibbetts jogging on July 18, and started jogging behind her then alongside her after pulling over and exiting a vehicle he was driving, according to previous reports.

Tibbetts noticed Rivera and became scared. She told Rivera Im gonna call the police and grabbed her phone, Rivera told investigators, according to a probable cause statement.

Next thing he knew, he was back in his car and Tibbetts body was in his trunk. He dumped her body in a remote cornfield, according to reports.

Related Coverage Iowa College Student Mollie Tibbetts Remembered at Funeral

Our hearts are broken, said her family in August. On behalf of Mollies entire family, we thank all of those from around the world who have sent their thoughts and prayers for our girl.

Did you enjoy this article? Continue to read more stories here.Needs More Work: EU Criticizes British PM Theresa Mays Brexit Plan

SALZBURG, AustriaOther European leaders pushed back against Prime Minister Theresa Mays Brexit plan on Sept. 19, hours before she was due to try to sell it to them at a summit in Austria.

EU summit chairman Donald Tusk repeated criticism of her proposals for future customs arrangements and for the border between the British province of Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland, saying these needed to be reworked.

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said Brussels had moved its position and Britain should respond in kind.

But May has shown little sign of backing away from her Chequers plan. In a carefully placed article in a German newspaper on the eve of the EU summit in Salzburg, Austria, she said the EU should drop unacceptable demands over Brexit, the biggest policy shift for Britain in almost half a century.

Tusk said some elements of the British plan, known as Chequers for the country house where it was hammered out in July indicated positive evolution in the UKs approach.

But he added, On other issues, such as the Irish question, or the framework for economic cooperation, the UKs proposals will need to be reworked and further negotiated.

Mays proposal calls for Britain to remain in a free trade zone with the EU for agricultural and manufactured goods, that would be covered by a common rulebook of regulations after Brexit.

And she will not accept an EU proposal that would keep British-ruled Northern Ireland in a customs union with the bloc if there is no other plan in place to prevent a hard border across the island of Ireland.

A British government source said London welcomed the EUs commitment to finding a solution to the border issue, but could not accept any proposal that would effectively move the customs frontier into the Irish Sea.

With just over six months to go until Britain leaves the EU, time is pressing and both sides are keen to secure some kind of deal before the end of the year.

Writing in Germanys Die Welt, May said the two sides were near to achieving the orderly withdrawal that is an essential basis for building a close future partnership.

With goodwill and determination on both sides we can avoid a disorderly exit and find new ways of working together.

Sound of Music

At a summit dinner at the Felsenreitschule theaterknown to film fans for a scene in the musical The Sound of MusicMay made another pitch for support for her Chequers plan.

She will then be out of the room on Sept. 20 when the other 27 leaders discuss her Brexit proposals.

Tusk said he would call an additional summit in mid-November to seal any deal with Britain.

Kurz, hosting the two-day summit, said he was still optimistic of reaching a deal, while warning that while a no-deal Brexit would be difficult for the EU, it would be terrible for Britain.

If you want to make a deal both sides will need to try to find a compromise, he said. I am still optimistic.

While both sides have been making positive noises, how to keep an open border between Northern Ireland and the Irish republic remains one of the biggest obstacles.

On Brexit, its very difficult. We have nothing on Ireland, Jean Asselborn, Luxembourgs foreign minister, told Reuters.

According to an EU official, Barnier has suggested going to the bare bones on any checks between the rest of Britain and Northern Ireland, which could be further reduced if there is a trade facilitation agreement similar to that with Japan.

By Elizabeth Piper and Gabriela BaczynskaNorth Korea to Invite Foreign Experts to Permanently Scrap Missile Sites

Progress Made at Inter-Korean Summit

SEOULNorth Korea has agreed to permanently abolish its key missile facilities in the presence of foreign experts, and is willing to close its main nuclear complex subject to final negotiations, South Koreas President Moon Jae-in said on Sept. 19.

Speaking at a joint news conference following their summit talks in Pyongyang, Moon and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said they agreed to turn the Korean peninsula into a land of peace without nuclear weapons and nuclear threats.

According to Yonhap, the Norths decision to take additional denuclearization steps despite the United States continuing to stand firm with its maximum pressure campaign and economic sanctions is likely a gesture aimed at restarting its denuclearization talks with the U.S.

I hope the talks between the North and the U.S. quickly resume, Moon said at a joint press conference.

Kim said he will visit Seoul in the near future, in what would be the first-ever visit to the Souths capital by a North Korean leader.

U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted in response to the announcements: Kim Jong Un has agreed to allow Nuclear inspections, subject to final negotiations, and to permanently dismantle a test site and launch pad in the presence of international experts.

In the meantime, there will be no Rocket or Nuclear testing. Hero remains to continue being returned home to the United States. Also, North and South Korea will file a joint bid to host the 2032 Olympics. Very Exciting.

Kim Jong Un has agreed to allow Nuclear inspections, subject to final negotiations, and to permanently dismantle a test site and launch pad in the presence of international experts. In the meantime there will be no Rocket or Nuclear testing. Hero remains to continue being..  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 19, 2018

.returned home to the United States. Also, North and South Korea will file a joint bid to host the 2032 Olympics. Very exciting!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 19, 2018

Denuclearization negotiations on the Norths nuclear program between Pyongyang and Washington stalled when a meeting between Kim and Trump was cancelled in August following their historic encounter in June in Singapore.

Kim had pledged to work toward the complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula during his summits with Moon in April and Trump in June, but Trump cited concerns that China may have been exerting a negative influence on Pyongyang to stall denuclearization efforts.

Additionally, because of our much tougher Trading stance with China, I do not believe they are helping with the process of denuclearization as they once were (despite the UN Sanctions, which are in place), Trump said in a tweet.

But at a surprise inter-Korean summit in September, Kim announced that he wanted to denuclearize the Korean peninsula during Trumps first term and end long-standing hostile relations between North Korea and the United States by 2021.

Kims remarks marked the first time that the North Korean leader offered a potential timeline for dismantling his countrys nuclear weapons program.

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert told a news briefing on Sept. 18 that Washington hoped the latest inter-Korean summit would bring about meaningful, verifiable steps towards the denuclearization of North Korea and called it a historic opportunity for Kim to follow through on commitments he made with Trump.

The United States is pressing countries to strictly observe international sanctions, which will likely be a key theme when Secretary of State Mike Pompeo hosts a Security Council meeting on North Korea on Sept. 27 on the sidelines of the annual U.N. General Assembly.

New Era

Moon told the joint press conference that the summit marked the first time that steps towards denuclearization were discussed between the two Koreas.

The North has agreed to permanently shut down its Dongchang-ri missile engine testing facility and missile launch pad under the participation of experts from related countries, Moon said. He said that Kim also agreed to permanently shut down nuclear facilities in Yongbyon pending final negotiations with the United States.

In their historic Singapore meeting, Trump promised North Korea a prosperous future if Kim carries out his commitment to completely, irreversibly, and verifiably abandon nuclear weapons.

This weeks summit is intended to craft concrete steps to implement the Panmunjom Declaration, named after the border village where they first met, Seoul officials said.

The two Koreas also adopted a separate military accord aimed at preventing armed clashes between the old foes, which are technically still at war because the Korean War ended with a truce, not a peace treaty.

The neighbors have already agreed to withdraw some guard posts and equipment, in a bid to transform the worlds most heavily fortified border into a no-weapons area.

Pyongyang says it has destroyed its main nuclear and missile engine test site, and has halted atomic and ballistic missile tests, but some U.S. officials and analysts have said they believe it is continuing to work on its weapons plans clandestinely.

South Korea is pinning high hopes on Kims remarks to Moons special envoys earlier this month that he wanted to achieve denuclearization within Trumps first term in office ending in early 2021.

In previous, failed talks, North Korea has said it could consider giving up its nuclear program if the United States provided security guarantees by removing troops from South Korea and withdrawing its so-called nuclear umbrella of deterrence from the South and Japan.

U.S. officials involved in the latest negotiations have said North Korea has refused to even start discussions about defining denuclearization.

By Hyonhee Shin and Joyce Lee. Additional reporting by Epoch Times Staff.

Watch Next:

Communist Chinas Secret Blueprint to Destroy America

Communist China is quietly waging a war against the United StatesOfficer Risks Toxic Gas to Effect Rescueof a Skunk

Police officers are often called upon to perform perilous dutiesdanger is part of the job.

Care and caution is also. Thats why Officer Derrick Hight from Aurora, Illinois, started out peacefully and cautiously when trying to resolve a tense situation in an Aurora laundromat.

Officer Hight got the alert around 5:20 a.m. on Sept. 11 that help was needed, and without hesitating, Officer Hight answered the call.

The third-shift patrol officer was summoned to provide assistance, but he knew the situation could turn sour in an instant.

That is why he extended his metal baton before approaching the subject slowly.

After all, no officer wants to get shot by a skunk in the line of duty.

Somehow this skunk had gotten a paper cup stuck on its headmaybe it was reaching in for a last few drops of soda, or needed a little more coffee.

Officer Hight knew that the skunk couldnt see him, but the animal most certainly knew he was there. In its agitated state, the skunk most likely felt threatened and may have attacked Hight.

Officer Hight got as close as he could to the frightened creature, tapping it with his baton to try to keep it from hiding under nearby parked cars. When at last he was able to get within arms length, Officer Hight bravely grabbed the cup off the skunk.

The cup was stuck on pretty well. Officer Hight had to lift the skunk completely off the ground and shake a few times before the animals head popped free.

Once free, the skunk scuttled off without a backwards glance. Officer Hight also didnt wait aroundhe hustled out of range as quickly as he could. He was grateful not to get gassed for his efforts.

The Aurora police department posted video of the daring rescue on its Facebook page. On the site, Hights fellow officers assure the public that he disposed of the cup properly once the skunk had left the building.

The post got dozens of comments on Facebook.

Michael Frederiksen said, Thank you! You may have very well saved this poor skunks life.

Kyle Christian posted, That is bravery in the face of danger, no doubt.

Laura Moser had the most cogent response: Ahhh, yes.APD, coming to the aid of even the stinkiest in need of rescue!!

From NTD.tv

Watch Next:

Chinas Secret Blueprint to Destroy America

Communist China is quietly waging a war against the United StatesPennsylvania Mother Accused of Fatally Poisoning Son With Opioid

A Pennsylvania mother has been accused of killing her son by poisoning his sippy cup with an opioid.

Jennifer Clarey, 42, has been charged with criminal homicide, investigators announced this week, nearly a month after her 2-year-old son Mazikeen Curtis was found dead inside his house in Tullytown on Aug. 25.

An investigation since the death turned up evidence to support the charge.

MOTHER CHARGED: Pennsylvania mother charged with homicide in poisoning death of 2-year-old son: https://t.co/wLUCJvZzur  KDKA (@KDKA) September 19, 2018

Search Turns Up Empty Bottles

Court documents obtained by ABC 6 state that Clarey allegedly poisoned her son by putting Vicodin inside his sippy cup, causing the toddler to overdose.

The cup was sent to a lab and tests revealed the presence of the opioid inside the cup and on the cup; authorities found an empty Vicodin prescription bottle inside a closed lockbox in the house, along with a knife and utility razorblades with blood on them. Clarey had apparently tried to slit her wrists, reported Fox 29.

Read More An Addicted County and a Sheriffs Cry for Help

A bottle of Benadryl was also found, and an ingredient in Benadryl, diphenhydramine, was determined as a cause of death along with hydrocodone.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Vicodins main component is hydrocodone, the opioid that became infamous after the prescription drug epidemic across the nation left thousands dead in recent years, detailed in a number of articles and books such as Dreamland.

Tullytown is located in Bucks County, one of the counties hardest-hit by the epidemic.

Neighbors Called in Welfare Check

Authorities found the dead 2-year-old after neighbors called requesting a welfare check. Dawn Dunlap said Clarey was acting strange, prompting the call.

Me and my other neighbor, we discussed it and said, You know what, this is something we have to do,' Dunlap told ABC 6. It wasnt something that I had ever seen before so for me to hear and see what I was seeing was just not her.

Another neighbor, Bill Winters, told Fox 29 that what happened was sick and twisted.

I cant imagine what would make somebody want to do something like that, the neighbor said.

I mean you got a 2-year-old kid and they look up to them. Youre the one thats supposed to protect them, you know and bring them up and teach them wrong from right. I cant imagine. Its sick. Its twisted.

Winters noted that he has a 2-year-old granddaughter.

Clarey has been ordered held without bail.

From NTD.tvPolice: 3 Injured, Suspect Dead in Wisconsin Office Attack

MIDDLETON, WISCONSINA shooter opened fire inside a Wisconsin software company on Sept. 19, wounding three people before responding officers fatally shot the assailant as workers ran from the office building or hid inside, according to police and witnesses.

Middleton Police Chief Chuck Foulke said officers were alerted to an active-shooter situation at WTS Paradigm around 10:25 a.m. Foulke said the suspect was taken to a hospital after being shot by officers but later died. He said there were no other suspects in the attack.

Foulke didnt release details about the suspect, a possible motive or how the attack unfolded in Middleton, a city just west of Madison. He said officers were still conducting interviews after witnesses and others at the scene were taken in school buses to a nearby hotel.

Judy Lahmers, a business analyst at WTS Paradigm, said she was working at her desk when she heard what sounded like somebody was dropping boards on the ground, really loud. Lahmers said she ran out of the building and hid behind a car.

She said the buildings glass entrance door was shattered.

Im not looking back, Im running as fast as I can. You just wonder, Do you hide or do you run?' she told The Associated Press.

She said she knew one co-worker had been grazed by a bullet but was OK. She didnt have any other information about the shooting but said it was totally unexpected. Were all software people. We have a good group.

Two hospitals in Madison said they were initially treating five people from the shooting: one who was in critical condition early afternoon on Sept. 19, two who were in serious condition, and one whose condition wasnt released. The fifth person was a walk-in patient who was treated and released.

It wasnt immediately clear if one of those patients was the shooter. Police also havent released details about the injured, but Foulke said police would release more information about the shooting later on Sept. 19.

Police conducted a secondary search of the office building early in the afternoon to ensure there were no more victims or suspectsand officers discovered some people still hiding in the building, which also houses Esker Software.

Gabe Geib, a customer advocate at Esker Software, said he was working at his desk when he heard what sounded like claps. He said he then saw people running away from the building at full sprint.

We knew at that point that something was going down. A ton of people were running across the street right in front of us, he said.

Geib said he and his colleagues were still huddled in their cafeteria, away from windows, more than an hour after the shooting. Jeff Greene, who also works at Esker, said police told those gathered in the cafeteria to go a nearby hotel to make a statement about what they saw.

Three yellow school buses full of more than 100 people, including witnesses, were unloaded at a hotel about 5 miles from the office building. Some people hugged as they were reunited with loved ones. Others stopped to pet a dog that had been brought by someone picking up a worker.

WTS Paradigm makes software for the building products industry. A Wisconsin State Journal profile from 2014 listed company employment at about 145 employees, and noted the company was looking to move to a larger location at the time. The companys website was down on Sept. 19.

A shopping center next to the building was temporarily put on lockdown at the direction of police.

Middleton is about 90 miles west of Milwaukee.

By Todd Richmond and Scott BauerA shooting was reported at the Pennsylvania, district judges office in Masontown in Fayette County, according to reports. District Judge Daniel Shimshocks office is there. (Google Street View)

Shooting at Judge Daniel Shimshocks Office in Masontown, Pennsylvania

Reports say 1 dead, 3 wounded

A shooting was reported at the Pennsylvania, district judges office in Masontown in Fayette County, according to reports.

Four people were shot and injured, officials told Triblive. The shooting occurred at around 2 p.m. local time at the office of District Judge Daniel Shimshock at 1 East Church Ave. Its not clear if Shimshock was a victim in the incident.

KDKA reported that the shooting suspect, who was not identified, is dead. Three other people, including a police officer, were injured.

Its an ongoing situation. Multiple medical helicopters have been summoned to the scene, a dispatcher said in the report.

Pennsylvania State Police and Masontown police are responding to the scene.

I really cant talk about it right now. Im just too shaken to talk at this point, Uniontown attorney David Kaiser told the outlet. He said he heard an argument before shots were fired.

Rosa Goff, who was awaiting a court hearing, said she saw a man chasing a woman and firing multiple shots. He was shooting at everyone, Goff told the Observer-Reporter. The gunman ran past her and into the building.

He looked scary. I thought I was  the bullet just missed me, Goff said.

Another witness said she heard three gunshots before someone walked out of the court, according to the report.

The Herald-Standard reported that the Fayette County coroner was called to the scene. The Albert Gallatin Area School District initiated a lockdown for Masontown Elementary, the report said.

According to Ballotpedia, Shimshock was elected in the general election on Nov. 3, 2015.

Other details about the incident are not clear.

Masontown is located in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area and has a population of about 3,450.Photo: Nicholas Johansen Kelowna-Lake Country Liberal MP Stephen Fuhr.

The road has been paved for Stephen Fuhr to seek a second term as MP in the Kelowna-Lake Country riding.

The local Liberal riding association said Tuesday Fuhr went unopposed for the party's nomination and has been acclaimed as the candidate in the next federal election, expected in October of 2019.

Fuhr became the first Liberal in nearly 50 years to win in Kelowna-Lake Country when he upset Conservative incumbent Ron Cannan in 2015.

In a statement, Fuhr said he is confident running on his record.

He says he's happy with the level of federal visibility and investment in the riding, and says Ottawa is paying attention after holding Pacific and National Caucus meetings within the riding.

He points to the reopening of a Veterans Affairs office in Kelowna, investments in water infrastructure, UBCO and Okanagan College, the Okanagan Rail Trail, invasive species prevention and a new community centre in Lake Country.

The Conservatives will elect their candidate later this year. Businesswoman Renee Wasylyk and Kelowna city councillor Tracy Gray are seeking that nomination.Star Chinese Scientist in Texas Faces Child Pornography Charge

A highly respected Houston scientist recruited by the Chinese regime as part of its international talent search has been arrested for allegedly possessing child pornography.

The arrest of Xie Keping, a former professor in gastroenterology research at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, has caused a sensation among the Chinese diaspora in America, and occurs in the context of heightened U.S. concern about Chinese scientists serving as conduits for research and technology from U.S. institutions back to China.

Discussion of Xies arrest on North American Chinese-language chat groups goes on for pages, with many messages simply saying shocking news. Xie is considered a leader of Houstons Chinese community.

Police discovered the pornography when searching his work-issued computer for evidence of travel fraud, according to Vicki King, assistant chief of police at University of Texas Police at Houston. Xie is currently out on bail, awaiting to appear before the 208th Criminal District Court of Harris County.

Thousand Talents

Xie is one of 4,180 experts (the number as of 2014) recruited by China to return to the mainland and provide their expertise in what is called the Thousand Talents Plan, according to a report published on the programs website.

He was recruited by the Shanghai East Hospital, which is affiliated to Tongji University. In 2010, he was listed as one of the 2010 High Level Overseas Experts who attended a meeting in Beijing about the Thousand Talents Plan.

The Thousand Talents Plan was established in 2008 by the central government of China to recognize and recruit leading international experts in scientific research, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

In 2010, the program was elevated to be a top-level award given through Chinas National Talent Development Plan, which was conceived jointly by the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and the State Council of the Peoples Republic of China in 2010 to strengthen innovation and international competitiveness within China.

In April, the U.S. National Intelligence Council produced an analysis that described the Thousand Talents Plan as Chinas flagship talent program and probably the largest in terms of funding. The council raised concerns over its unadvertised goal to facilitate the legal and illicit transfer of U.S. technology, intellectual property, and know-how to China.

In a Senate subcommittee hearing on June 6, originally titled, A Thousand Talents: Chinas Campaign to Infiltrate and Exploit U.S. Academia (the title was subsequently changed to Student Visa Integrity: Protecting Educational Opportunity and National Security), lawmakers discussed how Chinese students and scholars are possible threats to national security and potential intellectual property thieves.

The shock over Xies arrest among the Chinese community is partly because of his status as a credentialed member of Chinas best intellectuals. But he was also recognized as a community leader in Houston, serving since 2009 as the president of the Chinese Civic Center, a community organization devoted to enriching Houstons Chinese-language community and enhancing U.S.-China ties.

FBI Warning

Xies arrest occurred after FBI held an unprecedented gathering with top leaders of Texas academic and medical institutions to warn about foreign threats to research and academic institutions. The arrest also occurred amid reports of unusual turnover at the MD Anderson Cancer Center.

On social media, Chinese people are re-posting and debating information about Xies arrest, including the claim that other Chinese professors and employees are said to have been removed or asked to leave their posts amid FBI scrutiny. The Epoch Times has interviewed two employees of the Anderson Center who described these departures.

In response to the Epoch Times inquiry, the Anderson Cancer Center said, As a state institution, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center does not comment on confidential personnel actions. MD Anderson follows all state and federal employment laws and, in particular, does not discriminate on the basis of race or nationality. MD Anderson has not dismissed anyone based on their involvement in the Thousand Talents Program.

According to MD Anderson, Xie resigned from his post there in April.

Neither Xie nor any other faculty and staff at MD Anderson have been charged with espionage.

Threats to National Security

Connor Hagan, spokesperson for the FBIs Houston field office, wouldnt comment on whether the University of Texas is a special target for FBIs investigation. He did say the FBI is working closely with private partners and government agencies in the Houston area to ensure that federally funded research grants are guarded and protected against unscrupulous overseas enemies.

Joseph G. Morosco, the assistant director of the Office of the National Manager for Counterintelligence in the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, said in his testimony during the June Senate hearing, There are many foreign academics and researchers currently attending U.S. institutions from nations that are strategic competitors, including Iran, Russia and the Peoples Republic of China. We are particularly concerned about China because it is among the United States most formidable economic competitors.

In an Aug. 8 press release warning of the danger of foreign threats to research, FBI Special Agent in Charge Perrye K. Turner said: This elusive, yet deliberate theft of American research funds for the benefit of a foreign countrys economy strikes directly at our own economy. Our economic security is inherently tied to our national security. Through their exploitative efforts, foreign adversaries reduce U. S. competitiveness and deprive victimized U. S. institutions of important revenue that supports furthering scientific advances.

Correction: A previous version of this article misstated Xie Kepings current employment status at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Xie resigned from his position as a professor in gastroenterology research at the center in April. The Epoch Times regrets the mistake.Texas Grandma Kills Massive Gator After Suspecting It Ate Her Miniature Horse

A Texas grandmother shot and killed a massive alligator on her ranch on Sept. 17, after suspecting the 12-foot reptile ate her miniature horse.

Judy Cochran told Fox5 that she believed the gator was responsible for her horse going missing three years ago.

The horse just disappeared, so were thinking the gator got it, said Cochran, according to Fox5.

Cochran, who also happens to be Mayor of Livingston, told reporters that she had been trying to catch the offending reptile on her Goodrich ranch since her miniature horse disappeared.

We think this is the gator that ate one of our miniature horses several years ago, as big as this gator was, he couldve easily eaten it, Cochran told the Houston Chronicle. Typically the gators dont bother us, but weve been looking for (this one).

Trouble was, hunting alligators is only permitted over the course of several weeks every September.

Polk County is one of 12 core counties that you can only kill a gator between September the 10th and September the 30thonly that 20 days, said Cochran.

But this year, her son-in-law Scott Hughes managed to bait and catch the 12-footer by using a dead raccoon on a hook.

When Scott called, he said, weve got the big one, Nana, so come on down, said Cochran, according to the report.

A video posted in the comments section of Hughes Facebook post shows an unidentified man pulling the gator towards the shoreline using a rope.

Cochran can be seen in the video posturing up, with a Winchester .22 magnum rifle at her shoulder.

Yeah, thats a big one. Thats a monster, an unidentified voice can be heard in the video Nana, you better hit him good. Ok, get em right by the brain.

The woman fires at the alligator and a moment later the video cuts out.

Hughes heaped praise on the elderly sharpshooter, saying One shot > One Big-un down! and Congratulations #BigBoss.

The gator reportedly weighed an impressive 580lb.

Moye Taxidermy will be processing it, well eat the meat, have the head mounted and have the ridgeback part of the tail in my office, Cochran told the Chronicle. Well have the hide tanned to make some boots out of it, you can only make boots from the belly.

Thank you Stephen Moye and Mr. Danny for going above and beyond making sure we had a safe, Ethical Hunt! Hughes added.Trump Accuses Beijing of Election Meddling in Trade War, Warns of Further Tariffs

WASHINGTONPresident Donald Trump warned of further retaliation against China and accused Beijing of seeking to influence November midterms by targeting U.S. farmers and industrial workers in the escalating trade war.

Trump sent two tweets on Sept. 18 blaming China as both parties announced they would slap new tariffs on each other.

China has openly stated that they are actively trying to impact and change our election by attacking our farmers, ranchers, and industrial workers because of their loyalty to me, Trump wrote.

What China does not understand is that these people are great patriots and fully understand that China has been taking advantage of the United States on trade for many years. They also know that I am the one that knows how to stop it, he continued.

There will be great and fast economic retaliation against China if our farmers, ranchers and/or industrial workers are targeted!

The trade tension between the United States and China escalated as Trump announced on Sept. 17 that his administration would proceed with imposing tariffs on an additional $200 billion in Chinese goods. The tariffs are set to begin on Sept. 24 with a levy of 10 percent, before rising to 25 percent on Jan. 1 next year.

The second round of tariffs follows on tariffs of 25 percent on $50 billion in Chinese goods that Washington announced in June.

Trump also warned that if China retaliates against the U.S. farmers and other industries, he will impose tariffs on another $267 billion in Chinese imports.

In response, Beijing said on Sept. 18 it plans to retaliate with tariffs against $60 billion worth of American products.

Trumps new tariffs came as a surprise to Chinese leaders, who were planning to send a delegation headed by Vice Premier Liu He to Washington next week for a fresh round of talks. As a result, China may decline Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchins invitation and not send a delegation, the South China Morning Post reported on Sept. 18.

According to Xia Yeliang, a libertarian scholar and former professor of economics at Peking University, Chinese leaders will be looking to save face as they were caught off-guard by Trumps announcement. Trumps comments about election interference were correct, Xia said, as the Chinese regime tries to give Donald Trump a hard time with some retaliation on the U.S. farmers.

China doesnt have a B plan apart from prolonging the negotiations, according to Xia.

They dont have much choice. They have high expectations that Trump will fail in the elections. They hope to change the U.S. president, Xia argued.

However, he believes Chinas strategy wont prove effective.

The U.S. tariffs come at a difficult time for the Chinese economy. Domestic economic growth is slowing and the ongoing trade war is expected to exert more pressure on growth. In addition, the jobless rate in China is surging, which may soon lead to labor and veterans demonstrations across the country, Xia said.

The United States may make a deal at some point, Trump said during a joint press meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda in the Oval Office on Sept 18.

Were making a lot of headway with China. China wants to come over and talk, and we are always open to talking. But we have to do something. We have a tremendous trade imbalance with China, he said.

Not Just a Trump Matter

China, for months, has refused U.S. demands that it change its unfair trade practices.

The Trump administration accuses China of stealing key technologies and intellectual property (IP) from American companies using tactics that include physical and cyber theft, forced technology transfers, evasion of U.S. export controls, export restraints on raw materials, and investments in high-technology companies.

United States has run $10 trillion worth of trade deficits in the last 20 years. That has an enormous deleterious impact on job creation in this country, Patrick Mulloy, a former assistant secretary in the International Trade Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce told NTD, part of the Epoch Media Group.

According to Mulloy, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer should be in charge of these negotiations rather than Secretary Mnuchin. And he thinks Chinese also have started to realize that.

You need a multilateral effort to talk with the Chinese on some of the things that theyre doing. And I think thats what Lighthizer has in mind. But hes got to get this NAFTA agreement done before he can turn his attention full-time to that issue, he said.

Mulloy believes that there is a strong bipartisan support for Trumps China tariffs.

This is not just a Trump matter, he said, adding that key Democrats such as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) are very supportive of a stronger view on China.

Even if the Democrats gain control of the Congress in November, Mullay said, lawmakers wont back off from the need to address the trade conflict with China.

I think both parties are now deeply embedded in this issue.Trump Hands Out Warm Meals to Florence Victims

President Donald Trump is handing out warm meals and encouragement to some North Carolinians recovering from Hurricane Florence.

Trump assisted volunteers at Temple Baptist Church in New Bern, North Carolina, on Sept. 19.

He passed out styrofoam containers with food: including hot dogs, chips, and fruit.

He also asked how the drivers were doing.

Hows the house? he was heard asking one person. You take care of yourself, he said.

Trump also applauded organizers and thanked volunteers at the site. He posed for photos and hugged volunteers, including a young boy.

One volunteer said the site handed out 1,200 meals on Sept. 19, to those in need.President Donald Trump holds a joint press conference with the Polish President Andrzej Duda in the East Room of the White House in Washington on Sept. 18, 2018. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

US to Consider Putting Military Base in Poland, Trump Tells Polish President

WASHINGTONPresident Donald Trump told Polish President Andrzej Duda that hes considering his counterparts offer of putting a U.S. military base in Poland, because of concerns about Russian military aggression in the region.

Duda offered to pay more than $2 billion for the permanent base, according to Trump, who cited it as a potential model for other wealthy nations that have asked for a U.S. military presence.

The president offered us much more than $2 billion to do this and so were looking at it, Trump said at a joint press conference at the White House on Sept. 18. Were looking at it from, number one, military protection for both countries, and also, cost.



He told reporters before their meeting at the White House that security in Poland was extremely important to him.

In 1997, the United States and its NATO allies entered a pact with Russia that prevented NATO from permanently stationing substantial combat forces in Central and Eastern European countries, including permanent bases. But the treaty left open the possibility for reinforcement in the event of defense against a threat of aggression, which Duda says is now the case.

He cited Russias invasion of Georgia in 2008, its annexation of Crimea in 2014, and more recently, violations of ceasefire agreements in the provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk in Ukraine, as tangible threat of aggression.

I am convinced that there is no more effective method of preventing a war than a decisive stance demonstrating that we are ready at any moment to repel a possible attack, Duda said.

Duda offered to call the base or bases Fort Trump, likely playing to the presidents tendency to incorporate his family name into buildings hes built, such as Trump Tower in New York and Trump International in Washington.

The two leaders also agreed to collaborate on energy, although no specific deal was announced.

Poland is trying to wean itself from Russian natural gas, while at the same time building up a supply chain from the United States and Norway to replace it. Duda cited Russias history of shutting off gas supplies to countries during times of conflict as to why thats become a national security issue for Poland, which gets about two-thirds of its natural gas from the Kremlin-controlled Gazprom PJSC.

Last June, the United States sent its first shipment of liquified natural gas to Poland after its state-owned natural gas and oil company signed a five-year contract with a UK-based energy company with a branch in the United States.

I firmly believe that  we are not only going to realize and safeguard our own energy needs, but I also hope that well be able to transmit gas further to our neighbors through the development of the Three Seas Initiative area through the construction of interconnectors, Duda said of U.S. natural gas.

The Three Seas Initiative is a forum for EU countries in Central and Eastern Europe to discuss issues related to the 12 member states.

Without giving a timetable, Trump said the U.S. and Poland planned to launch a high-level diplomatic exchange on energy security.

The United States and Poland are deeply committed to energy diversity all across Europe. No nation should be dependent upon a single foreign supplier of energy, he said.Wanda Barzee, Elizabeth Smart Kidnapper, Released From Prison

Wanda Barzee, a woman held Utah teen Elizabeth Smart captive for nine months along with her husband, was released from prison, despite heavy criticism from the families of Smart and Barzee.

The Utah Department of Corrections said that Wanda Barzee, 72, was released from Utah State Prison, NBC News reported at 8 a.m. on Sept. 19.

Barzee was convicted and sentenced for helping to kidnap Smart, who was 14 at the time, from her bedroom in Salt Lake City in 2002, drawing international headlines. Nine months later, Smart was seen walking the streets of a Salt Lake City suburb with Brian David Mitchell and Barzee.

Barzee and Mitchell were both arrested. Smart said there was repeated sexual assaults by Mitchell, and Barzee would sit near the girl and encourage her husband to continue to rape me, NBC noted.

Earlier this week, Smart, who is now 30, said that she believes Barzee is a danger to the public.

Regarding Barzees release, she said, Its been a rollercoaster. Its been a rollercoaster of emotion, of worry, of wondering whats going to happen But I think at the end of it, what Ive just come to is that I really have spent the last 15 years of my life trying to move forward, CBS News reported.

Elizabeth Smart Speaks Out

Smart recalled the moment she was captured and Barzees demeanor.

I dont know, just the feeling that kind of radiated from her. It just was dark. And it was evil. And I just knew that she she wasnt there to help me, that she wasnt there to protect me, she told CBS.

She added: That first morning when he brought me into the camp and told me I was now his wife and kept telling me it was time to consummate our marriage, I just  at first, I didnt know what he meant. And then I remember having this idea come to my mind of what he could mean. And I remember thinking, Theres no way.  And I was raped. And, I was raped every day after that, multiple times a day.

Smart then added that:  I have been reassured multiple times that she will be kept a very close eye on. And as soon as she messes up, which Ive been reassured that she will, she will be taken back to federal prison for the duration of the five years.

She continued: I do believe shes still a danger.  Through my sources, Ive heard that shes still carrying around this book of revelations that Brian Mitchell wrote that said he should kidnap me, and not just kidnap me but six other young girls, and that wed all be his wives clearly, she hasnt let it go.

Did you enjoy this article? Continue to read more stories here.Woman Fatally Stabbed in Logan Circle Neighborhood in Washington, DC

A woman was stabbed to death in Washington, D.C., late Tuesday, Sept. 18, in the Logan Circle neighborhood.

Police officers said the woman was jogging just before 8 p.m. when she was attacked at 11th and O streets in Northwest D.C.

Detectives released footage from a carry-out restaurant near the scene, Asian American Chinese & American Food, that showed the woman stumbling inside after she was stabbed. She died from her injuries in the hospital.

HELP CATCH THIS SUSPECT: DC police say this is the man who stabbed a 35-year-old woman to death while she was out for a jog near Logan Circle. RT this to spread the word and help police catch this suspect. MORE: https://t.co/qY3EfKKgYv pic.twitter.com/jgLWZoxlM5  FOX 5 DC (@fox5dc) September 19, 2018

Wendy Karina Martinez was 35 years old according to Fox 5.

The manager of the restaurant heard a scream and saw the woman, who was covered in blood.

I scared. I dont know what happened, and I just try to call police, the manager told NBC. Customers rushed over and tried to help her but to no avail.

Alert: Stabbing at 1956 hrs in the 1400 block of 11th Street,NW. Lookout for three B/M's. (1) wearing All black clothing. (2) wearing white hat, white shirt, and black pants. (3) wearing mustard colored shirt. DO NOT TAKE ACTION CALL 911 pic.twitter.com/5JSuz1OLu8  DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) September 19, 2018

Police: Woman unconscious, unresponsive after stabbing near Logan Circle; 3 suspects sought https://t.co/dblBOY4yZi pic.twitter.com/UUb9uP32LW  ABC 7 News  WJLA (@ABC7News) September 19, 2018

Suspects

At least three suspects are being sought by police, including one wearing all black clothing and one wearing a white T-Shirt, white hat, and black pants.

Few violent crimes happen in the Logan Circle neighborhood.

You have an incident like thisits very scary. We havent gotten to the bottom to see if this is someone that she knew or exactly what the motive is, but its disturbing, D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham said, reported NBC.

Newsham told the Washington Post that there are a lot of cooperative witnesses helping the police. Preliminary evidence indicates that theres one suspect.

Police are also combing through video surveillance from businesses and homes in the area.

Three men are wanted in connection to a fatal stabbing in Logan Circle. Police say the victim was young woman out jogging. A passerby dropped off these flowers at the corner where the victim was attacked. Well have a live report on News4 Midday at 11a https://t.co/bKV4RnA188 pic.twitter.com/rD1v15Om3g  Justin Finch (@JustinNBC4) September 19, 2018

A woman who lives nearby just walked up and set these flowers against the restaurant where the stabbing happened. She told me, she didnt deserve this, this couldve been any woman, this couldve been me. pic.twitter.com/Xk5ZE2g7Zh  Drew Wilder (@DrewWilderTV) September 19, 2018

Area Typically Safe

Joggers in the area said that its typically safe.

As a runner, its pretty terrifying. Youd think running on lit streets, you would be safe, but thats mind-boggling, one woman told NBC.

Another told the Post that the street the woman was stabbed on is part of her so-called safe route, and also noted that she usually runs with a knife.

A man who lives across the street from the restaurant, 47-year-old Mark Glave, said its unusual for the area and believes the stabbing was a random attack.

I dont see any advantage to walking around terrified, he said.

From NTD.tvBig Y World Class Markets are partnering with the American Red Cross to raise donations for those affected by the Merrimack Valley fires and explosions, Hurricane Florence, and other disasters.

Starting Wednesday and continuing through Sept. 29, Big Y customers and employees will have the opportunity to donate to American Red Cross disaster relief at all Big Y locations throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut. Donation containers will be available at all Big Y registers.

The Red Cross is grateful for the support of Big Y World Class Markets, said Mario Bruno, CEO, American Red Cross Connecticut and Rhode Island Region in a news release. This campaign will enable the Red Cross to aid in the recovery of those impacted by these recent disasters across the country. The outpouring of support we have seen over the years from Big Y employees and their customers has been tremendous.

After an unprecedented multiple-explosion event in the Merrimack Valley, hundreds of American Red Cross volunteers are working alongside partners to make sure those affected have a safe place to stay, food to eat and a shoulder to lean on during this challenging time. As of Friday, the Red Cross provided close to 400 overnight stays across four evacuation centers, and with the help of partners served well over 1,500 meals and over 5,000 snacks and water.

The Red Cross continues to work around the clock to do all it can to provide shelter, food, comfort and other emergency support to victims of Hurricane Florence. More than 15,000 people sought refuge in more than 150 Red Cross and community shelters across the impacted region Sunday night. Working with partners, the Red Cross has served 150,700 meals and snacks. About 3,000 Red Cross disaster workers from all over the country, including 74 from the Connecticut and Rhode Island region, have been mobilized to help shelter, feed and support people affected by Florence, along with more than 130 emergency response vehicles and more than 70 trailers of equipment and supplies, including ready-to-eat meals and enough cots and blankets for more than 100,000 people.

Big Y, its customers and employees have a strong tradition of supporting those in need through the American Red Cross. Past relief campaigns include the 2004 Tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, and the earthquakes in Japan, Haiti and Nepal.

Overall, the 10-plus-year partnership has raised over $1.5 million to support both international and domestic disasters.

For information about the Red Cross response to recent disasters, please visit: www.redcross.org.Food For Thought from Solid Rock Video on Vimeo.

Contributed

In the Central Okanagan, 4,500 children head to school hungry every day, but Hope for the Nations is looking to change that.

Hope for the Nations, an international children's NGO that operates in Kelowna, started the Food for Thought program in 2009 to help combat hunger in local schools by running a breakfast program.

Last year it operated in twenty nine School District 23 schools and helped over 1,600 students. Last school year, thanks to donations from community partners and local businesses, Food for Thought was able to provide over 54,000 breakfasts throughout the year.

Its been an amazing program to launch and see almost immediate results in local schools, said Patricia Phillips, Executive Director of HOPE.

As a mother and a part of the Kelowna community and surrounding area, I think its important that we come together to help support initiatives like this. Children have enough challenges in todays cultural climate that food shouldnt have to be an added stress, and one that were hoping to help remove," Phillips added.

In addition to the breakfast program, Food for Thought will also be launching the Backpack Program.

The program has students receiving food in a backpack that they can take home for the weekend. The program runs on a choice-based model where students select the food they want and it ensures they dont go hungry over the weekend.

Hope for the Nations has received local funding from the President Choice Childrens Charity, the City of Kelowna, and the Central Okanagan Foundation for the current school year.

For more information, click here.Connecticut is getting nearly $17 million in federal grant money to help combat the states opioid crisis. The money will not only help increase access to medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder, it will also allow multiple community health centers in the state to expand their services.

That includes Bridgeport-based Optimus Health Care, Inc., which will receive $285,000 in grant money. That infusion will be used to help pay for a full-time clinician and other improvements, said Optimus CEO Ludwig Spinelli. The money is much needed, Spinelli said, because the opioid crisis is such a pervasive problem, both statewide and nationwide.

This crisis affects people from all walks of life and all economic classes, he said. There is a great need and a demand. And its very difficult to hire (the necessary staff), so we hope the federal money will allow us to do this.

Connecticuts grant funding was part of more than $1 billion awarded nationwide by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The Nutmeg States piece of the pie totaled $16.9 million  $11.1 million from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration and $5.8 million from the Health Resources and Services Administration.

The SAMHSA money will help increase access to medication-assisted treatment using the three medications for the treatment of opioid use disorder.

Meanwhile, the HRSA money is what Optimus is getting a chunk of to expand its services.

Other organizations getting a share of the grant funding include the University of Connecticut, which will receive $400,000. Connecticut Institute For Communities Inc., in Danbury, Family Centers Inc., in Greenwich, Southwest Community Health Center in Bridgeport and Norwalk Community Health Center are among the others getting funding. Cornell Scott-Hill Health Corporation and Fair Haven Community Health Clinic, both in New Haven, will receive grant money as well.

Drug intoxication deaths in Connecticut have been on the rise for several years  climbing from 357 in 2012 to 1,038 in 2017, according to the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. In 2018, there were 515 from January through June, which, the state reported, puts Connecticut on track to have 1,030 drug overdose deaths by the end of the year.

But there may be positive news on the horizon. Last week, SAMHSA unveiled the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which found that the number of Americans initiating heroin use dropped by about half from 2016 to 2017. The number of Americans misusing opioids also dropped for the second year in a row, the report showed.

Federal data also showed that between January 2017 through August 2018, the amount of opioids prescribed in America has dropped by 21 percent. In the same time, the number of prescriptions filled for naloxone  which is used to treat opioid overdoses  has increased 264 percent. Meanwhile, the number of prescriptions for buprenorphine  one form of medication-assisted treatment for opioid overdose, has risen 16 percent, the federal government reports.TOKYO - The offer by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un came with a caveat. He would permanently dismantle his country's main nuclear site, but only if only if the United States makes concessions first.

President Trump called the developments part of "tremendous progress" in outreach to Kim's regime yet made no new commitments.

Kim's announcement did appear, however, to give a boost to diplomatic overtures.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States was "prepared to engage immediately" with North Korea to move dialogue ahead. Pompeo also plans to meet the North's foreign minister, Ri Yong Ho, in New York next week during the United Nations General Assembly.

Kim's proposal Wednesday came after talks with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in Pyongyang seeking to push forward the two countries' peace process and advance dialogue with the United States. Standing side by side after their second day of talks, Kim and Moon declared that they had taken a major step toward an "era of peace and prosperity" on the Korean Peninsula.

Kim pledged to visit the South Korean capital, Seoul, in what would be a first for a North Korean leader. He also said he would allow in "external inspectors" to verify that a key missile test site has been disabled.

Later, Moon, who has fervently pursued engagement with the North, made history by addressing an audience of 150,000 people at a performance of the "mass games," North Korea's synchronized gymnastics and dance show.

"We have lived together for 5,000 years and been separated for 70 years, " he told the audience in the huge May Day Stadium. "We must live together as one people."

The talks were supposed to enhance cooperation between the two Koreas, as well as pave the way for a second summit between Kim and Trump later this year.

Experts said it was far from clear that Kim had made concessions that would make a summit an attractive proposition for the U.S. administration, but Trump himself reacted positively, saying on Twitter that the news was "very exciting."

"We had very good news from North Korea, South Korea. They met, and we had some great responses," he told reporters at the White House on Wednesday morning.

"A lot of tremendous things. But very importantly, no missile testing, no nuclear testing," Trump said.

He noted with apparent approval that the latest inter-Korean summit included a proposal for a potential joint North Korean-South Korean bid to host the 2032 Olympic Games, adding, "We have a lot of very good things going."

Trump said nothing about a potential second summit with Kim, with whom he met in Singapore in June.

Trump is expected to meet with Moon on Monday in New York, when both attend the annual United Nations General Assembly. Moon is expected to use the meeting to urge further U.S.-North Korean engagement.

In Pyongyang, Kim focused on relations with South Korea. The two Koreas are still technically at war 65 years after an armistice ended the Korean War.

"We have agreed to make the Korean Peninsula a land of peace that is free from nuclear weapons and nuclear threat," Kim said. "The road to our future will not always be smooth, and we may face challenges and trials we can't anticipate. But we aren't afraid of head winds because our strength will grow as we overcome each trial based on the strength of our nation."

Talks between the United States and North Korea have reached an impasse over who should make the next move. Washington wants Pyongyang to take a meaningful step toward dismantling its nuclear weapons program. North Korea, however, is pushing for the United States to declare the 1950-1953 Korean War formally over and claims Trump made a promise to that effect in Singapore.

Members of Trump's own administration are known to be more wary about North Korea's intentions.

"While North Korea has stopped testing missiles and nuclear devices, they have NOT moved toward denuclearization," tweeted Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.

In a joint statement with South Korea, North Korea pledged to "permanently dismantle" a missile engine test site and launchpad at Tongchang-ri "in the presence of experts from related countries." That is a site it had already promised to close, although allowing foreign inspectors into the country would be a step forward.

North Korea also "expressed the will to continue taking further steps like permanent dismantlement" of its main Yongbyon nuclear facility, but only if the United States takes "corresponding steps" that are based on Trump's agreement with Kim at their June summit.

But there was not enough in terms of new, concrete promises to satisfy many experts. Senior Trump administration officials want North Korea to begin by declaring its nuclear and missile sites, rather than making piecemeal, unilateral concessions. Experts also think North Korea has continued to build nuclear weapons this year.

"The world needs to remember that North Korea has other nuclear and missile facilities, and that these concessions will not necessarily limit or end their nuclear or missile programs," said Melissa Hanham, a senior research associate at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey.

Hanham said North Korea made similar offers during previous rounds of negotiations, but the steps it ultimately took - demolishing a cooling tower at Yongbyon in 2008, for example - were easily reversed.

But others took a more positive view.

John Delury, a professor at Seoul's Yonsei University, argued that the two men succeeded in keeping negotiations moving forward in a process that was always going to be gradual.

Andrei Lankov, a professor at Kookmin University in Seoul, said it would take time to understand the significance of what Kim was offering, especially in relation to North Korea's Yongbyon facility, home to the country's only nuclear reactor and key to its production of weapons-grade plutonium - although other sites are thought to produce highly enriched uranium.

"If Yongbyon is actually frozen, it will not mean the end of their nuclear program. It will not even mean the end of their production of nuclear weapons. But it will be a significant decline in their ability to produce more nuclear material and nuclear weapons," Lankov said.

Moon and Kim also agreed to several measures to ease tensions across the world's most militarized border, including the establishment of a buffer zone near the front line, the suspension of artillery drills and field maneuvers there, and a mutual pullback of 11 border-guard posts by year's end.

The leaders agreed to set up another buffer zone in the Yellow Sea where they would suspend maritime drills and the firing of guns, as well as a no-fly zone in border areas to prevent accidental plane clashes.

---

Gearan reported from Washington.NORWALK  Within the Norwalk Public Library History Room, there are several artifacts historian Ralph Bloom prizes above others.

One was placed on a shelf, face down in a picture frame, across a table from him in the room on the bottom floor of the library.

Thats a proclamation by governor Thomas Fitch, Bloom said, pointing to the Thanksgiving Proclamation marked 1763. Thats a period piece that came from one of the Fitch descendants. Thats the kind of thing that was meant to be pasted outside on a fence post or whatever. They were not supposed to survive.

The proclamation is one of many thousands of photographs, books, maps and general documents housed in the librarys History Room, which this Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. will celebrate its fifth anniversary with talks from writers and researchers of Norwalk history, a demonstration of the rooms digital archives and a photo exhibit of the citys past.

Bloom is a volunteer with the library, and former curator of the collection while it was kept at the former Norwalk Museum, until 2012. It was at that point the collection at the museum was merged with librarys existing Local History Collection and transported  along with the large shelves, that move on a track, on which it was kept  to 1 Belden Ave. The amount of files was so immense, it took Bloom and a group of librarians more than three weeks of full days to pack up the documents and move them from South Norwalk to the library.

There's a tremendous amount of history. Its really amazing what we do have in this room. We were really lucky that the library took in all of this information, said Lynn Hildenbrand, an archivist, reference librarian and one of three part-time staff members who maintain the library.

The work includes organizing and sorting documents, digitizing and completing research projects for visitors, who can use the room by appointment.

As people come in to use the services, we log them in. As you start going through the pages, its amazing, some of these people have done a lot of traveling to get here, Bloom said.

Hildenbrand remembered a descendant of the Hoyt family  one of Norwalks oldest  who had traveled from Germany to view old city records. Visitors are often surprised, Bloom said, at how long their ancestors had been in Norwalk. He said the goal of the room is to make the information accessible to as many members of the public as possible.

We are all inclusive, Bloom said. We have people from all walks of life. You name the race, you name the religion doesnt matter. There is something here for everybody.

Records of Norwalks no-longer-functioning airport (where All Saints School now sits) the amusement park at Roton Point and the Hat Corporation of America, which once had a location in the city, are all stored in the rooms shelves. Hildenbrand, Bloom and other History Room staff have digitized archives of the South Norwalk Sentinel and Norwalk Gazette, which were both active in the 19th century. The pages of the Norwalk have been digitized through 1911, and a large, multiyear project to digitize the remaining years is under way.

Its a labor-intensive, expensive endeavor, but its an effort to preserve parts of Norwalks past, and its unfolding present, that Bloom and Hildenbrand are passionate about.

This is always ongoing. Remember, the history room never ends. We are history right now, Bloom said.

More Information For more information on the History Room or the fifth anniversary celebration, visit norwalkpl.org See More Collapse

justin.papp@scni.com; @justinjpapp1; 203-842-2586NORWALK  A Bridgeport man was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force Tuesday afternoon for a series of thefts from motor vehicles spanning from July 2017 to April 2018, police said.

The thefts were similar in nature and it appeared Francisco Reyes, 36, of Wells Street, targeted specific vehicles, Norwalk Lt. Terry Blake said. Reyes allegedly left the vehicles  all of which were Hondas  with either broken windows or missing wheels.

On April 5, 2018, for example, Reyes allegedly drove into an apartment complex on Aiken Street in Norwalk and shattered the passengers side window on a Honda. He removed the cars wheels and tires and left the vehicle sitting on milk crates, police said.

Detectives collected DNA samples from the car and the lug nuts (which secure wheels to a vehicle) that were left nearby on the ground, police said.

According to police, detectives were able to obtain video surveillance from the apartment complex and identified Reyes as the suspect. Police said Reyes used a Honda Pilot to conduct the burglaries and the vehicles registered owner confirmed Reyes had been driving the car at the time of the incident.

On April 28, detectives interviewed Reyes, but he denied any involvement in any of the burglaries. Police obtained a search warrant for an address on Seaside Avenue in Stamford but could not confirm Reyes lived there. During the search, however, officers said they found a crowbar that belonged to one of the Hondas in the investigation and a sweatshirt the suspect was wearing in surveillance footage.

On May 4, Reyes was interviewed at the Norwalk Police Department for a second time, and police said he admitted to nine burglaries and car thefts across the city. He allegedly told detectives he was taking orders from unidentified people and that he would drive around Norwalk looking to steal from cars.

Reyes was charged with 10 counts of third-degree larceny, nine counts of third-degree burglary, three counts of first-degree criminal mischief, five counts of second-degree criminal mischief and three counts of failing to appear. His bonds totaled more than $270,000. His next court date is Sept. 25.

Police said the investigation is ongoing.RICHMOND, Va. - Virginia Republicans on Tuesday proposed a new political map to replace one deemed unconstitutional because of the way black voters were concentrated into a few districts.

With a court-ordered deadline looming Oct. 30, Republican leaders of the House of Delegates backed a "politically neutral, race-blind remedial redistricting map" that they said would satisfy the court while causing minimal disruption to existing legislative district lines.

The move appears to signal that GOP leaders are willing to come to the table when legislators return to Richmond on Sept. 27 to consider redistricting plans. It might also suggest that they are wary of the map a federal court could impose if they miss the deadline and cannot persuade the Supreme Court to intervene.

Control of the House of Delegates hangs in the balance. Last fall's elections wiped out a 2-to-1 Republican advantage in the 100-seat House, leaving the GOP with a 51-to-49 edge.

"While we maintain the constitutionality of the bipartisan plan adopted in 2011 and will continue to pursue our appeal to the Supreme Court, we are introducing a map today to demonstrate to the District Court and the public that you can, in fact, draw a politically neutral, race-blind remedial map," said House Speaker Kirk Cox, R-Colonial Heights.

House Democrats did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In June, a three-judge panel of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia found that 11 House districts were unconstitutionally drawn to concentrate black voters. The court set an Oct. 30 deadline to pass a new map.

Gov. Ralph Northam, D, called the General Assembly to a special session on Aug. 30 to take up redistricting, and Democrats unveiled a plan that drew new lines for 29 districts to fix the 11 that didn't pass muster. Most of the districts affected by that plan are around Richmond, Hampton and Norfolk.

But GOP leaders balked at that proposal, which in two cases would have forced two Republican legislators into the same district.

House Republican leaders said Tuesday that they supported a map drawn by Del. Rob Bell, R-Albemarle. Bell's plan would change lines for 30 districts, all of them adjacent to the 11 challenged districts.

It would not force any incumbents into the same district nor significantly change the partisan make-up of the affected districts, Cox said. Five competitive Republican-held seats would affected by the plan, and they would become 0.9 percent more Republican, Republicans said. Four competitive seats held by Democrats would be affected, and they would become 1.4 percent more Democratic.

"If Democrats are serious, they'll come to the table and engage in good-faith discussions," Cox said. "If they don't, then it will be clear that they are only interested in a self-serving map to bolster their political standing, whether it's obtained through the legislative or judicial process."Photo: Contributed

It is a celebration for local mamas that are breastfeeding, that have breastfed, or really anyone who is passionate about breastfeeding.

The 2018 Breastfeeding Celebration and Latch-on event will be taking place Saturday, September 29th at the Vernon Boys and Girls Club from 10 a.m. to noon.

The Breastfeeding Celebration and Latch-on event was first started more than 20 years ago by a couple of passionate lactation consultants working at Vernon Jubilee Hospital and the Friendship Center with the Pregnancy Outreach Program.

In the early days, the event was treated along the lines of a 'breastfeeding cafe'  a place for moms to share their stories with food, drink and gifts.

Today, the event coincides with the World Quintessence Latch-on event  basically, a worldwide event that happens on Sept 29th, where, as many many babies as possible, in one given space and time, latch-on at 11 a.m.

Vernon is registered as an official 'Latch-On' the numbers from the vent will be tallied with worldwide participants.

This years '2018 Breastfeeding Celebration and Latch-On' theme is "Breastfeeding: Foundations of Life."

The celebration includes a guest speaker, story sharing and the World Quintessence Latch-on event at 11 a.m.

Door prizes, snacks and beverages to be provided. All families are welcomed.

The North Okanagan Breastfeeding Committee, comprised of about 6-8 mostly volunteer members, is hosting the event.

"Overall, we see our role as providing support to families in our community, provide the public with awareness and education regarding breastfeeding," said Danielle Danielle Violini public health maternity care nurse with Interior Health.

"Basically, the celebration provides a space for moms and families to get together and celebrate any success that may pertain to their breastfeeding journeys. Breastfeeding can be challenging and we want to provide moms with a place to celebrate their successes or share their disappointments, tell their stories," said Danielle Violini.

"The celebration may provide a mom with a new connection, make them aware of community supports or simply a safe place to openly breastfeed their child."

This years' guest speaker is a speech and language pathologist who will be speaking to the topic of the importance of early connections and communication in the early years and how breastfeeding can play a role in its foundation.Plot points through the series finale of "The Americans" are mentioned in this essay. The entire show is available on Amazon Prime; if you have not watched through the finale, I strongly recommend you do.

---

After six seasons of largely being shut out by Emmys voters - the exception being famed character actress Margo Martindale's pair of wins for guest-starring spots midway through the show's run - FX's "The Americans" took home some major trophies at last night's show. Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg pulled in an award for outstanding writing for a drama series while Matthew Rhys won outstanding lead actor in a drama series, both trophies coming for work in the series finale, "Start."

Some voiced their understandable disappointment that Keri Russell failed to take home a trophy of her own last night for lead actress, and that's fair. I want to focus instead on Rhys's work for the show because his character, Philip, provided most of the actual moral conflict on the program.

When the show begins, Philip and Elizabeth (Russell) are Russian spies living in Reagan's America under such deep cover that even their children Henry (Keidrich Sellati) and Paige (Holly Taylor) have no idea who they are, really. Neither does their neighbor, Stan (Noah Emmerich), who works in FBI counterintelligence. While projecting the appearance of a normal American family, Philip and Elizabeth spend their time tracking down threats to the USSR in oft-brutal and bloody fashion.

"The Americans" was much more than your standard fare about antiheroes acting immorally while still being attractive to us. The soul of the show derived from the tension between Philip and Elizabeth and their increasingly divergent desires for themselves and their families. Elizabeth was the true believer of the pair, the good soldier, the one who had no doubts about the Soviet Union or its righteousness. Even in the last season, when she finally turned against the Center (which ran the Soviet spy operation), she did so only because it was in turn working against the Communist Party's leadership.

Philip, on the other hand, was charmed by America, grew to love its openness and its low-key opulence. He was tormented by the actions he was forced to take - the murders, the seductions - and enamored of the material wealth Americans took for granted. Philip grew up in an impoverished household. He had to struggle for everything he had. He saw the ease with which American children live and knew that this country and capitalism are not the bugbears they had been made out to be. He may not have loved America by the end of the show, exactly, but he appreciated the nation and what it represents.

Philip's transformation would only have been believable with the work of a first-rate actor, and Rhys delivered the goods. We saw it at the end of the third season, with a simple look: As Reagan delivered his "evil empire" speech on a TV in the background, Elizabeth turned, wide-eyed, outraged at his impudence - and Philip couldn't hold her gaze. He knew, in his heart, that Reagan is right. The things he and she did were immoral. The empire they were in service to was evil. And the wickedness was consuming his soul.

Philip's disgust with their endeavors earned the family their freedom later on. Confronted by an armed Stan in a parking garage, Philip, Elizabeth and Paige were in a tight spot. Elizabeth's instinct, as always, was to fight: Her eyes were steel as she stared down the barrel of Stan's gun. But he has them dead to rights, literally. Another step forward and Elizabeth would die, Philip might too and Paige would be taken into custody if she wasn't hit in the crossfire.

Philip knew this, and he came clean. Or, at least, as clean as he can so they could get away and let the Russian leadership know about the coup that has been put into motion.

"I have to run away from the place I have lived for so many years," Philip said, a pained look on his face. "I have to abandon my son. He can't come with us because I got caught. I finally got caught. And here we are. And I don't even know what happens if we make it home because after all these years of being scared of Americans, and recruiting Americans, and following Americans, we finally got something - and it has nothing to do with you. It's our own people."

It's the anguish in Rhys' face as Philip admitted, finally and verbally, that he and his people all along were in the wrong that won his family his freedom. It's that anguish that won Henry, who had been kept in the dark throughout the show's run, a chance at a new life. It's that anguish that betrayed the fact that Paige stood no chance - she knew too much to avoid prison, yet she had no friends, no money and limited skills - when she bailed on her parents and decided to stay in America during the finale's closing moments.

And it's that anguish that won Rhys his well-deserved Emmy, too.Photo: The Canadian Press Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland speaks to reporters in the foyer of the House of Commons following a cabinet meeting on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau signalled today that Canada wants more from its negotiating partners before signing on to a revamped North American Free Trade Agreement.

"We've been very clear that we're interested in what could be a good deal for Canada, but we're going to need to see a certain amount of movement in order to get there," Trudeau said in Ottawa.

"And that's certainly what we're hoping to see."

Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland is back in Washington  and back in search of a way to bridge the divide that's keeping Canada out of a revised NAFTA deal.

A team of Canadian trade negotiators worked with their American counterparts through the night, Freeland said today as she headed into a meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer.

"So there is some very intensive work happening."

Freeland returns to the U.S. capital as a prominent congressional ally of President Donald Trump makes it clear that American lawmakers are growing weary of what they see as Canadian intransigence.

House of Representatives majority whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) is warning of "growing frustration" on Capitol Hill with what he calls Canada's "negotiating tactics."

Trade observers say that while many in Congress want Canada to be part of a three-way trade deal, they may not be willing to sacrifice an agreement in principle between Mexico and the U.S. negotiated earlier this year.

That deal is widely seen to require congressional approval before Dec. 1 in order to survive the arrival of an incoming Mexican government whose supporters have mixed feelings about the deal.

Canada, meanwhile, has been pushing back against deadlines declared by the Trump administration  first the end of August, then the end of September.

"While we would all like to see Canada remain part of this three-country coalition, there is not an unlimited amount of time for it to be part of this new agreement," Scalise said in a statement.

Freeland says Canada has been negotiating in good faith throughout the process, which is about to enter its 14th month.

Supply management has been a big issue in the provincial election campaign in Quebec, home to about half of Canada's dairy farms. Quebec Liberal Leader Philippe Couillard has warned there will be "serious political consequences" if there is any further dismantling of the protections for dairy farmers through NAFTA negotiations.ALTON  Following tradition, current and retired Alton police joked, thanked and said goodbye via radio Tuesday to a retiring officer signing off in his final, 10-42, end of shift.

At the 5 p.m. sendoff, Pfc. David Penney waited in a car outside the Donald E. Sandidge Alton Law Enforcement Center, 1700 E. Broadway, while on-duty and off-duty officers took turns speaking into a radio microphone.

Penney heard such comments as: Thank you for your 20 years service, Thanks for everything, including your district. Many citizens of Alton will miss you, but we will miss you more, You wrote the book on teamwork, and, Thank you, God bless.

At conclusion, telecommunicator Stephen Thompson congratulated Penney on his retirement, and issued the final, 10-42 signoff.

The contingent proceeded into the satellite courtroom, where Penney was greeted with enthusiastic applause. Police Chief Jason Jake Simmons thanked Penney, a military veteran, for his 20 years service at APD. Penney started work with the department on Sept. 21, 1998 and was promoted to patrol first class on Sept. 17, 2001. He was a member of the former Tactical Response Team, trained eight officers as a field training officer and earned 10 letters of commendation, Simmons said.

He was always regarded as one of the cops who truly believed he was a policeman who just wanted to do his job and make life better for the citizens of Alton, Simmons said. I hope you have a wonderful retirement. You will be missed but not forgotten.

Simmons gave Penney a plaque; Det. Andrew Pierson, president of Alton Police Benevolent and Protective Association Unit 14 gave Penney a retirement badge.

The sign-off continued outside, where 10 police vehicles were parked at angles in front of the Law Enforcement Center to delineate Penneys last drive in a patrol car. As he drove past the line of officers, some with children, they saluted their retiring comrade.

Reach Linda N. Weller at 618-208-6450 or on Twitter @Linda_WellerALTON  Scammers reportedly are using names of both the IRS and Alton Police Department when calling city residents for information or money.

When they call people, the caller ID says Alton Police Department, said Pfc. Emily Hejna, public information officer at the Alton Police Department regarding telephone scammers claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service.

People are thinking the calls are more legitimate, because of the caller ID that says the call is from the Alton Police Department. The Police Department is not working with the IRS, she said.

Hejna said residents are calling APD about the calls, but as of Tuesday, none of them had fallen for the deceit. We dont have information on anyone giving them (personal) information or money. My fear is that someone who they have called have been victims and may not realize it yet.

She said the callers are demanding payment for taxes by asking for credit card numbers or gift cards, or they ask for personal information so the scammers can set up bank accounts in the victims names. We encourage people to verify the source first, Hejna said. If it is a legitimate agency, they wont mind giving their phone number for people to call and check. We want to safeguard as many people as we can.

According to the IRS website: The IRS doesnt initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text messages or social media channels to request personal or financial information. For more information on tax scams, go to: www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-scamsconsumer-alerts

Reach Linda N. Weller at 618-208-6450 or on Twitter @Linda_WellerALTON  The citys two public safety departments soon will share a grant-funded drone to assist in their investigations and rescues.

Weve wanted to purchase the system for some time now, if there was a potential security threat we could get the drone up in the air over us, said Chief Bernie Sebold of the Alton Fire Department. We could use it if there was a lost person who walked away from somewhere, or for a damage assessment after or during a flood or high winds.

Sebold said the city will buy the unmanned aerial system with $24,750 from the U.S. Coast Guard, with the money originating from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The Fire Department and Police Department will share usage of the device, with police officer Dan Ludwig designated to undergo training and obtaining the commercial license to operate the drone.

Sebold said he does not know when the drone will arrive in Alton because an online portal related to the grant is not yet open for access to information on the purchase. We are in a holding pattern, he said. Weve just been notified of the award.

Police Chief Jason Jake Simmons said the drone could come to Alton in October or November and it would be stored at the Alton Police Department.

We collaborate on projects and work together on public safety issues, Sebold said of the two agencies.

Simmons said police could use the drone for reconstructing serious traffic crashes and it can carry payload such as rope that it could drop to someone at the bottom of the areas limestone bluffs.

Obviously it will be able to give still images and it will have a live video feed with a gimbal device that moves the camera so the image stays still, Sebold said.

It is because of our affiliation with the Coast Guard Sebold said of how the city is getting the grant. Im a sitting member of the Area Maritime Security Committee for the St. Louis Port of the Coast Guard Sector Upper Mississippi River Region. The committee, with refinery, state and federal members from both sides of the Mississippi River, handles river security matters from Alton south to St. Genevieve, Missouri.

Sebold said he wrote the narrative for the grant, getting approval from Capt. Scott Stoermer of the U.S. Coast Guard, captain of the Port Sector Upper Mississippi River, then from the Coast Guard offices in Washington D.C.

Reach Linda N. Weller at 618-208-6450 or on Twitter @Linda_WellerQUINCY (AP)  Sarah Walton already understands the importance of spending time reading to her children.

You can never read too much to little ones. They absorb everything, Walton said.

But she got a reminder  along with new books for the kids  during a visit to the Adams County Health Department as Sylvia Baxter settled on a couch to read a superhero book with 4-year-old Derrick while 3-year-old Ariel thumbed through a book on her own.

Baxter volunteers with Ready. Set. Grow! West Central Illinois, an initiative of the Regional Office of Education designed to encourage parents to read with their children.

Its a good program, Walton said. They love books.

Parents are a childs first teacher, and especially when they have babies, I encourage them to read to their children, Baxter said. I always tell the parents dont just read the words, talk about it and the colors on the page. The more words you use, the more theyre learning.

Ready. Set. Grow! volunteer readers invested 643 hours in the past year visiting with parents in the Women Infants Children, or WIC, program, sharing 2,096 one-on-one short conversations about the brain-building power of the early years and giving out 3,093 books while spending time reading aloud to the children.

A lot of times the parents learn so much by watching us with their children, said Sandy Schlepphorst, another volunteer. Kids know after a while when they have an appointment, they get a book. It builds up their home library. We talk to them about how these are their own books and how we read our own books over and over.

Volunteers staff the waiting room four hours a day four days a week.

They like it when we come. It entertains the children, and its a learning situation, said Baxter, a retired preschool teacher.

Its such an easy thing to do sitting in the waiting room waiting for families to come, strike up a conversation about books and offer them a free one, said Schlepphorst, who worked in the social work field.

The conversations stress the brain building done through reading to children from birth. Young children who are read to regularly by family members experience multiple benefits including boosts in literacy development, social-emotional gains and increased likelihood of overall school success.

A lot of parents say I didnt know I should start reading so early, and once they do know, they start, said Jan Cory, who coordinates the initiative at the ROE. After they do it, they learn how fun it is, how much fun the baby or toddler has.

The initiative got its start in 2013 working with parent educators and home visitors, then added the volunteers  described by Cory as a perfect mix of loving children and loving reading  in 2014.

The ROE partnered with the health department to reach families and children served by the WIC program from birth to age 5. Financial support for the initiative comes through the United Way of Adams County, Community Foundation, Kiwanis, Quincy Service League and other grants.

Parents and children can choose from an assortment of gently-used books in the health department waiting room at any time, and grants provide age-appropriate new books for volunteers to hand out.

What mom and baby doesnt want a new book? Cory said. Its just really amazing how many hours they put in, how many books parents have selected. Its great. Books are out in homes being used.

By starting with a simple concept, Schlepphorst said the impact can be huge.

Its very fun. Not all of them will sit down with you. Some are shy, but they take the free book and want to sit by mom and dad, Schlepphorst said. They remember the book lady. The show me books they already have, and the parents start showing pictures of how much the kids like to read. One showed me a picture of a first-grader reading to a 3-year-old.Hundreds of thousands of Illinois students are considered chronically absent and that may make life difficult for schools in light of new federal education requirements.

During the 2015 school year, the most recent year for which data was available, 335,094 Illinois students missed at least 10 percent of their school days. This is what advocacy group Attendance Works classifies as chronically absent.

In a report, the advocacy group said that a pattern of missing instruction can hurt a students development for years ahead.

Starting as early as pre-kindergarten and kindergarten, absenteeism can affect a childs ability to read well by the end of third grade, the report said. Missing valuable instruction time can lead a student to fail courses in middle school, drop out from high school and show less persistence in college.

Now that the Every Student Succeeds Act is in effect, Attendance Works Executive Director Hedy Chang predicts these absences could get schools more government attention.

Theyre going to be using chronic absence, among other metrics, as one of the ways to identify which schools need to turn things around, she said. Theyll also be held accountable to see if the numbers reduce over time.

Attendance Works figure is higher than the Illinois State Board of Educations because the state only measures chronic truancy, which is classified as missing 5 percent of school days but doesnt include excused absences. In 2015, ISBE said 9 percent of students were chronically truant, compared to Attendance Works finding of 16.5 percent of students being chronically absent in Illinois. That gap represents more than 150,000 students.

The issue this creates, Chang said, is that it ignores other problems that may be fixable if only officials see it, such as a group of students out with asthma-related issues missing school because of a school-originated trigger.

I dont care why the kid missed out on instruction, if theyre missing out, theyre not benefiting from whats being taught in the classroom, she said.

New studies are beginning to show student attendance issues have a more profound impact than otherwise thought, not only on the student missing class but others around them.

By eighth grade, a childs attendance is a better predictor of whether they will graduate from high school than their eighth-grade test scores, Chang said. The teacher will struggle with what lesson to teach, deciding on leaving the absent student behind or boring the others with a revisitation of yesterdays lesson.

Illinois percent of absent students was near the national average, but Chang said all states measure differently.EDWARDSVILLE  Local school districts are benefiting from a new tax distribution schedule implemented by Madison County Treasurer Chris Slusser that accelerates real estate tax distributions.

I came up with the idea after meeting with Dr. Jill Griffin, the Bethalto Schools Superintendent, in August 2017, Slusser said. The distribution schedule now delivers funds sooner than expected. With the state withholding funds during the budget crisis, Bethalto schools were not going to be able to make payroll and unable to open their doors to start the school year.

Slusser said the decision was made to deliver extra distributions to get the property tax funds to the taxing districts sooner than anticipated, which allowed them to make their payroll obligations.

Illinois state law requires the county treasurer to distribute real estate tax funds to the local taxing districts at least once every 30 days while taxes are collected. Traditionally, distributions in the Madison County Treasurers Office were made once every 30 days, as the law required.

However, under the new distribution schedule, additional payments will be made to taxing districts twice per month, allowing the funds to hit the districts accounts just prior to payroll dates.

When we put our distribution schedule together for year, I reached out to some of the school superintendents and asked for feedback, Slusser said. I wanted to be helpful and accommodating to meet their needs.

Griffin said Slusser made a concerted effort to reach out to school districts to ensure the local tax dollars were distributed when they were needed most.

(Slusser) made school districts a priority and worked to determine how he can best serve us, Griffin said. Last school year, when state revenue stopped flowing, Chris and his team met with our district business manager and myself to determine how he could help.

He changed the distribution schedule to allow our funds to arrive sooner and improve our cash flow.

Griffin said Slusser also contacted her to ask about a distribution schedule that would best serve the districts needs.

He was willing to make modifications to the existing schedule and again, working alongside school districts to ensure local dollars were flowing, she said.

Alton Community School District Superintendent Mark Cappel echoed Griffins comments.

Alton school district appreciates the accelerated tax revenue payments received from the Treasurers office, Cappel said. As an entity dependent on local tax revenue, the school district is grateful to receive funds earlier than anticipated. The receipt of the local revenues assists the district in planning and meeting its financial obligations.

Granite City Community School District Superintendent Jim Greenwald agreed.

The additional distributions are working well for us and our district, Greenwald said. We have been frugal through the hard times and what the treasurer is doing to help the schools is much appreciated.

Collinsville Community School District Superintendent Dr. Robert Green said the additional payments improve cash flow, which benefits everyone from teachers to students. After going years with no new revenue, and with uncertainties in state funding, these additional payments have been tremendously helpful, Green said.

Slusser said the additional payments do not mean districts are receiving additional revenue or any advances on future tax revenues.

It simply means they will get their funds sooner rather than later, Slusser said. We can only distribute what weve collected at the time, so were somewhat limited in what we can do in treasurers office.

Slusser said while the law requires a distribution every 30 days; there is nothing that says it cannot be done more than once every 30 days.

We cant control what the state will do, but we can control what my office is doing, Slusser said. We thought it was the least we could do to help our local schools, who are often at the mercy of poor public policy at the state level.

While every taxing district in the county will receive funds on the accelerated schedule, the greatest benefactors are the school districts.

Some politicians reach out to school districts for the photo op, Dr. Barrett Deist, Bethaltos assistant superintendent of finance and operations, said. Chris Slusser reached out to our district to truly see how he could support us and continues to reach out and serve schools across Madison County.

Slusser, a Republican, is being challenged by Democrat Christopher L. Miller on the November ballot.ALTON  The Metro East did not fair well in a new report exploring the best cities for jobs in Illinois.

The study, conducted by WalletHub, ranked Edwardsville No. 47 overall, Belleville 89, Granite City 93, Collinsville 87, Alton 106 and East St. Louis 121.Photo: CTV

A French court of appeals has upheld a ruling Wednesday that two directors of French celebrity magazine Closer should be fined a maximum 45,000 euros ($52,500) for breaching the privacy of Kate Middleton, when publishing topless photos of the Duchess of Cambridge sunbathing back in 2012.

The Versailles appeals court upheld the Sept. 2017 decision in Nanterre to hand the maximum possible fine under French law to Laurence Pieau, an editor of Closer's French edition, and Ernesto Mauri, chief executive of Mondadori, the media group that publishes the weekly.

The court also upheld fines for the two photographers who snapped the duchess of 10,000 euros each.

Last September, the office of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge said they were pleased at the ruling as they "wished to make the point strongly that this kind of unjustified intrusion should not happen."

The timing of last year's ruling had particular resonance in Britain, as it was shortly after the 20th anniversary of the death of Prince William's mother, Princess Diana, who was being pursued by paparazzi when her car crashed in a tunnel in Paris.

The damages were short of the 1.5 million euros ($1.75 million) hoped for by the couple.11 hours ago

General Electric to split into 3 public companies

General Electric, the storied American manufacturer that struggled under its own weight after growing to become a sprawling conglomerate, will divide itself into three public companies focused on aviation, healthcare and energy. It is the culmination of an arduous, yearslong reshaping of a symbol of American manufacturing might that could signal the end of conglomerates as a whole.

Read ArticlePhoto: Penticton RCMP

Penticton RCMP, along with The Real Canadian Superstore and Salvation Army, are hosting their annual "Cram the Cruiser" food drive this weekend.

On Saturday, Sept. 22, officers and community policing volunteers will be at the Penticton Superstore collecting food donations.

RCMP officers and volunteers will be on location collecting as much non-perishable food donations as possible from the public, and piling it all into parked police cruisers," said. "All the food donations will be contributed to the Penticton Salvation Army food bank for those in need."

The event runs 11 a.m to 2 p.m. Saturday in the Superstore parking lot.Photo: YouTube

The lone suspect in a southeast Wisconsin workplace shooting Wednesday morning has died after being shot by responding officers, according to police.

Middleton Police Chief Chuck Foulkes said officers were alerted to an active shooter situation at software company WTS Paradigm around 10:25 a.m. Foulkes said the suspect was fatally shot by officers.

Foulke didn't release details about the suspect or how the attack unfolded. He said officers were still interviewing witnesses, many of whom fled the office building or hid inside after gunshots rang out.

Foulke said three people were injured in the shooting, though the City Administrator Mike Davis said earlier that the number of injured was four.

A total of five patients were taken to hospitals in nearby Madison following the shooting. According to the hospitals, one patient was in critical condition Wednesday afternoon, two were in serious condition, and one had injuries that weren't life-threatening. The condition of the other wasn't released.

Police haven't released details about how the shooting unfolded, but witnesses said they heard gunfire around 10 a.m.

Judy Lahmers, a business analyst at WTS Paradigm, said she was working at her desk when she heard what sounded "like somebody was dropping boards on the ground, really loud." Lahmers said she ran out of the building and hid behind a car.

She said the building's glass entrance door shattered.

"I'm not looking back, I'm running as fast as I can. You just wonder, 'Do you hide or do you run?'" she told The Associated Press.

She said she knew that one co-worker had been grazed by a bullet but was OK. She didn't have any other information about the shooting, but said it was "totally unexpected. We're all software people. We have a good group."

Police conducted a secondary search of the area Wednesday afternoon to ensure there were no more victims or suspects, and discovered some people were still hiding in the building, which also houses Esker Software.

Gabe Geib, a customer advocate at Esker Software, said he was working at his desk when he heard what "sounded like claps." He said he then saw people running away from the building at "full sprint."

"We knew at that point that something was going down. A ton of people were running across the street right in front of us," he said.

Geib said he and his colleagues were still huddled in their cafeteria, away from windows, more than an hour after the shooting. Jeff Greene, who also works at Esker, said police told those gathered in the cafeteria to go a nearby hotel to make a statement about what they saw.

Three yellow school buses full of more than 100 people, including witnesses, were unloaded at a hotel about 5 miles (8 kilometres) from the office building. Some people hugged as they were reunited with loved ones. Others stopped to pet a dog that had been brought by someone picking up a worker.

WTS Paradigm makes software for the building products industry. A Wisconsin State Journal profile from 2014 listed company employment at about 145 employees, and noted the company was looking to move to a larger location at the time. The company's website was down Wednesday.

The shopping centre next to the building, Greenway Station, was locked down at the direction of police, according to the centre's general manager Corey Kautzky. There are 34 stores and restaurants in the centre that were temporarily closed, Kautzky said.

Middleton is about 90 miles (145 kilometres) west of Milwaukee.

__

Associated Press writers Gretchen Ehlke in Milwaukee, and Amy Forliti and Jeff Baenen in Minneapolis contributed to this report.Photo: CTV Nova Scotia legislature in Halifax

Nova Scotians who don't exclusively identify as male or female will have the option of choosing 'X' on their birth certificates under changes proposed by the province.

Proposed amendments to the Vital Statistics Act introduced Wednesday would also make the display of the sex field optional on birth certificates, and waive the $24.95 fee to change the sex indicator.

Another change would remove the requirement for anyone 16 or older to get a statement from a health professional to change the sex indicator on their birth certificate.

Service Nova Scotia Minister Geoff MacLellan said the changes are about making Nova Scotia more inclusive and are "the right thing to do."

"For us this was an easy one in terms of how we would make these changes," said MacLellan.

The minister said the changes are the result of broad consultations.

"We covered a number of groups who had specific interest, input, and very important feedback."

Nova Scotia would join Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Alberta, Yukon and the Northwest Territories in offering 'X' as an option for gender identity.

Saskatchewan and Ontario have the option to not display the sex field on birth certificates, while the federal government uses 'X' on passports.

"The proposed changes take many important steps toward meeting the needs of Nova Scotians who do not wish to be identified by sex," Shae Morse, a non-binary teacher and community advocate, said in a government news release.

The minister said all of the changes are expected to take effect in January.Photo: File photo An Okanagan man was sentenced for sexually assaulting his ex-girlfriend in 2016.

A 25-year-old Okanagan man avoided jail time Wednesday when he was sentenced in the sexual assault of his ex-girlfriend.

B.N., whose name is withheld to protect the identity of the victim, was in a relationship with T.R. for two and a half years before he broke up with her in August 2016.

The pair continued to live together in the home they had recently moved into in West Kelowna, until T.R. called police in the early hours of Sept. 4.

She told police that B.N. had been drinking alcohol that night, and had attempted to kiss her, and put his hands up her shirt and down her skirt, before she told him no.

She told police that similar unwanted advances had occurred on two other occasions over the previous weeks. B.N. was arrested and released on bail which included a condition of no contact with T.R.

Between Sept. 19 and 27, B.N reached out to T.R. through email and Facebook on multiple occasions.

Please text or call me, otherwise this will be goodbye to you and the world, one of the emails read. Crown counsel said T.R. took this as a suicide threat.

In a victim impact statement, T.R. told the court of the harm she suffered as a result of the assaults.

Clearly she is fearful of the offender and has suffered anxiety as a result of the offences, Justice Lisa Wyatt said during sentencing.

On April 26, B.N. pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault and one count of breaching his bail conditions.

On Wednesday, B.N.'s defence counsel, Wade Jenson, proposed a conditional discharge as an appropriate sentence, while Crown sought a conditional sentence, the main difference between the two being a lasting criminal record.

"The law is clear, there cannot be inferred or assumed consent for any sexual contact whatsoever," Jenson said. However, that being said, I think this can be fairly described as a somewhat clumsy and selfish ... effort to revive a failed relationship that had experienced a number of stops and starts throughout its history."

Crown counsel David Grabavac conceded this case was on the lower end of the spectrum of sexual assault but said a conditional discharge sends the wrong message" to the public.

In a presentence report, a psychologist found B.N. to be a "low risk to reoffend," and Justice Wyatt accepted that B.N. was remorseful.

I wanted to apologize to (TR) for what I did, disrespecting her, it wasn't right, B.N. said through tears on Wednesday. I've made some serious changes in my life.

Justice Wyatt suspended B.N.'s sentence, and gave him 18 months of probation. While a suspended sentence will result in a criminal record, B.N. will not be subject to a curfew like he would have under a conditional sentence.

The conditions of his probation order include not contacting T.R. or coming within 100 metres of her home and work and abstaining from alcohol and drugs. He will also be added to Canada's sex offender registry for 10 years.Photo: The Canadian Press President Donald Trump shakes hands with FEMA Administrator Brock Long as Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen watches after visiting areas in North Carolina and South Carolina impacted by Hurricane Florence, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018.

Exhaustion and frustration are building in the Carolinas as thousands of people wait to go home days after Hurricane Florence unleashed epic floods blamed for nearly three dozen deaths, including two women who drowned when a sheriff's van taking them to a mental health facility was swept off a road.

With the remnants of Florence finally out to sea and skies bright over rivers still swelling with muddy water, President Donald Trump visited the disaster zone, riding through soggy neighbourhoods and helping pass out warm meals at a church in the hard-hit coastal town of New Bern.

"How's the house?" Trump told one person. "You take care of yourself."

There wasn't any presidential fanfare 120 miles away in Fayetteville. There, Roberta and Joseph Keithley had been sleeping on cots set up in a school classroom since Friday. They still didn't know if their home was ruined.

"It's getting a little frustrating, but you have to deal with it and roll with the punches," said Roberta Keithley, 73. "It's just another hurdle to get over in life."

To the south, daybreak brought a return of floodwaters to Nichols, South Carolina, which also was inundated by Hurricane Matthew two years ago. The flooding from Florence had subsided, only to get worse again.

Mayor Lawson Battle said that as far as he knew, everyone in the town of about 360 people evacuated as the water first started to invade town Monday. But Battle just couldn't think about that anymore.

"I'm focusing on this disaster at hand," he said. "I don't have time to think. I'm just so tired."

Access improved to Wilmington, a North Carolina port city of 120,000 that was cut off for days by high water. But officials said they don't know when evacuees would be able to return home, and it may be next week before conditions improve drastically since the Cape Fear River isn't expected to crest at the city until Monday or Tuesday.

"Understand: There is a lot of water inland, and it is continuing to make its way downstream," county manager Chris Coudreit said.

Nearly 3 feet of rain fell in places, and dozens of cities had more than 10 inches of rain. Roads remained dangerous, and some were still being closed as swollen rivers emptied toward the ocean.

North Carolina officials said some 7,800 people remained in shelters, down from about 10,000 on Monday despite Gov. Roy Cooper's plea to stay put.

The risk of environmental damage from Florence mounted, too, as human and animal waste was washed into the floodwaters.

More than 5 million gallons (18 million litres) of partially treated sewage spilled into the Cape Fear River after power went out at a treatment plant, officials said, and the earthen dam at a pond holding hog waste was breached, spilling its contents.Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday arrived in Romania's Bucharest city for the last leg of his three-nation tour. He was received by Vice Prime Minister of Romania Ana Birchall, among other officials.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted, "70 years of diplomatic relations between two countries! Vice President @MVenkaiahNaidu received a warm welcome from Vice Prime Minister of Romania, Ana Birchall upon his arrival in [email protected] @eoiromania."

During the visit, Vice President Naidu is slated to hold meetings with the Romanian President, Prime Minister and President of the Chamber of Deputies, among others. He will also address the business representatives of India and Romania at a business forum and the Indian community.

After completing his bilateral engagements, the Vice President will then depart for India on September 20.

(ANI)Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani on Wednesday arrived in New Delhi to hold bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a number of key issues of mutual interests.

Regional security, trade and India's development work in Afghanistan are among the issues that will be discussed during President Ghani's one day visit. The two leaders are also expected to review the progress made on the infrastructure work being done in Afghanistan by India.

An independent research centre, India Foundation, is scheduled to hold a civic reception in President Ghani's honour.

(ANI)Canadian emergency consular services now offered at Aussie Consulate-General in Phuket

PHUKET: Canadians living or travelling in Phuket, Krabi and Phang Nga can now contact the Australian Consulate-General in Phuket for emergency assistance services following the addition of the three provinces to the Canada-Australia Shared Consular Services Agreement.

tourismSafety

By The Phuket News

Wednesday 19 September 2018, 06:59PM

The news was announced at a small ceremony at the Australian Consulate-General in Phuket on the bypass road yesterday (Sept 18). Photo: The Phuket News

The news was announced at a small ceremony at the Australian Consulate-General in Phuket on the bypass road yesterday (Sept 18).

The Shared Consular Services are now found in 30 consular missions around the world.

The Canada and Australia Consular Services Sharing Agreement dates back to the principles that were agreed to by both countries in 1986, recognizing the similarities of our philosophies underlying the provision of consular services, explained a release from the Canadian embassy in Bangkok.

The agreement means more points of service for Canadians and Australians abroad which in turn means quicker and easier access to emergency consular services, as well as more efficient use of public funds, it added.

Canadians living or travelling in Phuket, Krabi and Phang Nga can now contact the Australian Consulate-General in Phuket for emergency assistance services relating to:

- Arrest or detention

- Crime and/or accidents

- International child abduction and custody cases

- Repatriation

- Illness and hospitalization

- Lost or stolen property

- Crisis management, and many others

Notary services and passport services will continue to be provided by the Canadian Embassy in Bangkok. Canadians should continue to consult the Canadian Travel Advice and Advisories and to stay connected through with our various tools and channels, including Twitter (@CanadaThailand), Facebook (@CanadainThailand), and our Travel Smart app. Details can be found at travel.gc.ca., the release added.

Craig Ferguson, Australian Consul-General for Phuket explained to The Phuket News, Consular sharing between Australia and Canada is happening right now in places all over the world  and has been that way since the 80s. For example in Bali or countries in the Pacific Ocean where the Australian government has a strong diplomatic presence, Canadians can seek consular assistance from our missions there.

And it works both ways: in places where Australia doesnt have an Embassy or Consulate like parts of South America or Africa, Aussies can ask for help at the Canadian Embassy in certain countries, he added.

Given there was a bilateral agreement already in place between our governments, this was a natural step for us here in Phuket. Weve got a good relationship with staff at the Canadian Embassy Bangkok and we stand ready to assist Canadians who may find themselves in difficult circumstances, he said.

However, Mr Ferguson also noted, Naturally there are limits to what an Embassy or Consulate can do.

For more information about the program, visit http://smartraveller.gov.au and http://travel.gc.caThree busts net B2bn worth of drugs

BANGKOK: Thirteen drug suspects have been detained and drugs with a combined street value of over B2 billion seized in three crackdowns carried out this month, the Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB) revealed yesterday (Sept 18).

crimedrugspolicetransport

By Bangkok Post

Wednesday 19 September 2018, 09:09AM

Drugs worth billions, seized in just three busts, were displayed at the Narcotics Suppression Bureau outside the Government Complex. Photo: Apichit Jinakul

Ten million methamphetamine pills (ya bah), 37 kilograms of heroin, 2kg of crystal meth (ya ice) and 917kg of cannabis were seized in total, police said.

The first crackdown was carried out in Sukhothai last Sunday (Sept 16) in a joint operation conducted by the NSB and officials from Mae Sot customs checkpoint in Mae Sot district of Tak, police said.

The ya bah pills and heroin were found hidden in a pick-up truck. They were found to have come from Chiang Rai province and were destined for Ayutthaya, police said.

The detained suspects included 67-year-old Prawit Saema, 54-year-old Ying Saema, Napha Kitphanitsakun, 33, and 49-year-old Kue Saema, police said. They were all related.

Prior to the crackdown, police said they had received an intelligence report supplied by a police informant that a large drugs haul would be transported from Chiang Rai to Ayutthaya on this route.

In the second seizure last Saturday (Sept 15), two foreign men and a Thai woman were detained with 2kg of ya ice at a hotel in the Sukhumvit area of Bangkok, police said.

The suspects were 41-year-old Emeka John Obimma from Nigeria, Isidor Rein Reyn, 61, from New Zealand, and 37-year-old Wararat Chansot, police said.

Police said they had received a tip-off that someone would be coming to Thailand to pick up the drugs, which were allegedly supplied by an African trafficking network operating in Thailand. The drugs were destined for New Zealand, police said.

Obimma and Wararat were found to have been staying at the hotel. They had already delivered a suitcase containing the narcotics to the other suspect when the police pounced.

The man claimed he did not know what was inside the suitcase that he had taken possession of, police said.

The New Zealander claimed he had been tricked into taking the suitcase to a person in his home country, police said. He said he was visiting Thailand on a sponsored three-day trip after having won it as a prize in a contest, police said.

In the third case on Sept 13, six suspects were detained with 917kg of cannabis in Muang district of the northeastern province of Udon Thani, police said.

Thirasak Saensanoh, Thirasak Toli, Rungthiwa Thabunma, Romli Rakrit, Kusulai Kulong and Anuson Ahman were the detained suspects, police said.

The bust was preceded by another tip-off about a plot to smuggle the drug from a border area of Bung Kan in the Northeast to Satun in the South, police said.

A number of drug dealers and producers linked to the latest crackdowns were implicated in previous cases, said Sommai Kongvisaisuk, chief of the NSB.

In an earlier joint effort by the NSB and its Malaysian counterpart, two factories in Penang were raided and a large amount of ya bah seized, he said.

Read original story here.With both teams ranked and in title hunt, USD vs. SDSU never been biggerNORRISTOWN  A Towamencin man faces time behind bars and parenting classes after he admitted to injuring his infant daughter, allegedly around the same time he ingested heroin.

Luis Sheeder Bonanno, 35, of the 200 block of Concord Drive, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to six to 23 months in the county jail, to be followed by three years probation, after he pleaded guilty to a felony charge of aggravated assault of a child under the age of 6 years old. The sentence, imposed by Judge Thomas C. Branca as part of a plea agreement, means Bonanno will be under court supervision for about five years.

Branca ordered Bonanno to report to the jail on Oct. 1 to begin serving the sentence. Bonanno will be eligible for the jails work release probation during his period of incarceration, according to the plea agreement.

The judge said Bonanno also must complete parenting classes and comply with all directives issued by the countys Office of Children and Youth Services regarding his future contact with the child.

By pleading guilty to the assault charge, Bonanno admitted that he recklessly caused bodily injury to the child.

Other charges of simple assault and endangering the welfare of a child were dismissed against Bonanno as part of the plea agreement.

In court documents, Towamencin detectives indicated the investigation that led to Bonannos arrest began in mid-September 2016 when police learned from a Montgomery County Office of Children and Youth Services caseworker that a 3-week-old baby had been admitted to Grandview Hospital and then transferred to Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) after doctors found the child had broken ribs and bleeding in her eyes.

Detectives went to the victims residence and met with Bonanno, who identified himself as the infants father. Bonanno said that his wife had taken the baby to the hospital due to a clicking noise in her chest and eating difficulties, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed by Towamencin Detective Michael Paul.

Officials at CHOP told detectives that the infant was being treated for apparent fractures to the right ribs and skull, according to the criminal complaint.

During the investigation, detectives learned that Bonannos wife had observed Bonanno trying to relieve the infants gas issues the day before the child was taken to the hospital, during which time Bonanno held the baby and pressed her repeatedly in the chest area over his wifes objections.

The woman told detectives she confronted (Bonanno) after the second or third press and (Bonanno) said (his wife) was overreacting and being overbearing, according to court documents. Bonanno pressed the infant approximately 10-20 times, which his wife believed was what caused the rib injuries, according to the arrest affidavit.

During a subsequent interview by detectives in which he provided a voluntary statement about the incident, Bonanno broke down in tears and agreed that he had injured the victim, maintaining he was trying to relieve the babys gas by squeezing her, according to the criminal complaint.

Bonanno recalled being told by his wife to stop the squeezing actions on the victim, Paul alleged in court papers.

Bonanno was then confronted by investigators about his prior heroin use and he admitted using heroin due to his alleged back issues, according to police. Bonanno stated that he hadnt been under the influence of drugs when he injured his daughter. However, Bonanno told police he had last used heroin four days earlier, which detectives alleged would have been the same day as the incident involving the child.

Court documents do not specify how the infant was believed to have suffered the skull fracture, but state that the total injury report, including the fractured ribs, was found by the CHOP Child Protective Team to be highly concerning for non-accidental trauma, physical abuse.CALGARYAs Hurricane Florence ravages North Carolina, rescue volunteers in Calgary are preparing to head south.

Just a few days ago, the hurricane hit the home state of Samaritans Purse, an evangelical Christian organization that provides disaster relief and training around the world. And while it has plenty of volunteers already on the ground at three sites, a leadership team of 12 to 20 members from Calgary may also come to assist.

Weve been getting phone calls as soon as the storm hit, said Brent Davis, response director with Samaritans Purse Canada. So, were just working out the logistics of getting them down there, getting them settled.

Samaritans Purse began in 1973 and since then has assisted with disaster relief for hurricanes Harvey, Maria and Irma. Theyve also provided aid after Hurricane Matthew hit Haiti in 2016 and the 2015 earthquake in Nepal as well as the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Their Canadian operations assisted at the Fort McMurray wildfires.

The organization mainly relies on the efforts of volunteers to provide aid, help clear roads and clean houses affected by natural disasters. But theyre overseen by a management team  also volunteers  whove been trained to co-ordinate these efforts.

The majority of the work were doing doesnt require skilled labour. Its cleanup work, Davis said.

Read more:

At least 17 dead as catastrophic floodwaters strand nearly 120,000 people in Wilmington, N.C.

Hurricane Florence responders throw supply lifeline to isolated Wilmington

Its also emotional and spiritual work, too. Davis emphasized that Samaritans Purse assists with disaster relief anywhere, regardless of a persons religious affiliations. But the organizations Christian values, and inspiration from the Biblical story of the Good Samaritan, do drive their work.

When we go into a community, we want them to know that God has not forgotten them, Davis said.

And that work is all co-ordinated out of a series of tractor-trailers known as Disaster Relief Units. Calgary houses two, and another two are at Samaritans Purse Canadas facilities in Southern Ontario.

Each is designed to provide a team of about 150 volunteers in a disaster zone with the tools theyll need to start clearing away debris: chainsaws, generators, safety gear, hand pumps and medical supplies. They even have a small office space, outfitted with its own phone and power system, to co-ordinate rescue efforts.

Its our mobile co-ordination centre once were on-site in a community, Davis said.

The trucks in Calgary likely wont be called to help out with Hurricane Florences aftermath, although Davis said their trucks in Ontario might be called upon, given their proximity to the east coast.

At this point, its hard to say. Its almost 50/50, Davis said. It really depends on damage assessment that (U.S. authorities) have coming out.

And as Samaritans Purse volunteers trickle into North Carolina, another natural disaster an ocean away might call for their attention. Typhoon Mangkhut slammed into the Philippines last Saturday, with at least 64 deaths reported by The Associated Press. Samaritans Purse has a maternity facility and agricultural centre in the Philippines. The farm project has been heavily damaged by the storm.

In the meantime, the organization is currently in touch with the Philippines government to see what aid they can offer.

Were basing our response based on what that damage assessment is, Davis said.

Read more about:CALGARYAll the kids are not all right.

Youth advocates in Calgary are urging policy-makers and private sector businesses to support disadvantaged Canadian kids and youth.

Their call to action is in response to a recent report that found many children in the country face bleak realities, including high rates of poverty, obesity, abuse, and mental health struggles.

(My) generation really wants change and theyre not quiet about it, said Arielle Lok, a 17-year-old youth advocate affiliated with Children First Canada, a group that supports Canadian children.

We know whats wrong and we are slowly reducing the stigma around sticking up for yourself.

The report, Raising Canada: A report on children in Canada, their health and well-being, released by the University of Calgary for Children First Canada, combines data from a number of data sets and studies, including Canadas census and the Public Health Agency of Canadas national immunization coverage survey.

One thing that was really brought up is that one in three children live in poverty, Lok said. I really didnt expect that  Canada is regarded as a first-world country, but many of our children dont have a good place to live.

Examples of the reports findings include the fact that between 10 and 20 per cent of Canadian children may develop a mental health disorder; one in five Canadian children and youth has experienced cyberbullying or cyberstalking; and more than 25 per cent of adolescents are overweight or obese.

The fact that I didnt even know about 80 per cent of these statistics, its crazy, Lok said. More people need to know about this.

Read more:

More than 5,800 youth suicides across Canada signals mental health crisis

Canadas children have high rates of suicide, child abuse and infant mortality, a new study shows

Loks journey as an advocate started when she joined her schools student wellness advocacy team, or SWAT.

I thought it sounded really cool; I joined because of the name. I didnt know what I was getting into, Lok said jokingly.

Lok said she has seen her friends and sister battle mental health struggles, so she appreciates that she can advocate on behalf of her peers.

Politically active Roman Wolfli, 11, wants to give Canadian youth a voice. He said the Raising Canada report didnt shock him.

None of it surprised me, but the most disappointing and shocking statistics are definitely the youth suicide statistics, Wolfli said.

According to the report, suicide was the second-leading cause of death among girls and boys aged 1 to 17. In 2015, Canada ranked as one of five OECD countries with the highest teenage suicide rate.

The study also found that 14 per cent of youth aged 15 to 24 have said theyve experienced suicidal thoughts in their lifetime.

It shows that people are more isolated than they used to be, Wolfli said. Its very sad. I believe that children need to stand up and help others who are in bad situations.

The youth-driven call to action released by Children First Canada lists three specific recommendations for Ottawa: there needs to be a national commission for children and youth; the government should allocate funds to ensure the equitable distribution of resources for children, including First Nations, Metis and Inuit youth; and Canada needs to fully implement the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Youth also said theyd like Ottawa to incorporate Children First Canadas childrens charter, which was published earlier this year.

Wolfli said hed like to see all levels of government engage youth directly.

Municipal, provincial and federal levels need to have groups comprised of all ages to provide feedback to the government, so that people of the government not only see the statistics, but see the faces behind the statistics, Wolfli said.

He added that Canadians have a responsibility to go online and read about the realities young people are living.

People should go online or go to shelters and talk to kids, Wolfli said. Thats what I want Canadians to do. The Raising Canada report is on the internet, so read it through and see what matters most to you.

Read more about:CALGARYCalgary-based artist Ted Knudtson is heartbroken by the theft of his first gallery-ready piece of art.

He put in hundreds of hours of blood, sweat and tears to make and display the work; then it was stolen by art thieves who planned and orchestrated a major heist at the citys Gerry Thomas Gallery in the Beltline area on May 20.

Having it stolen broke my heart, and I havent fully recovered yet, he said of his piece, The Courage to Fall, a 75-pound set of wings made of steel and bronze thats six feet wide and three feet tall.

Thieves have a hundred different motivations, but I think rarely do they think about the hundreds and hundreds of person-hours that went into these works, the emotions, he said at a media conference called by Calgary police on Wednesday.

Knudtsons piece is one of about 30 to 40 works that police say were stolen, worth more than $500,000 in total.

Const. Pavel Adaikin said the Calgary Police Service held off making the May heist public until now because there was a high risk of the collection being destroyed.

The gallery sits in the basement of a brown, multi-use building on the 600 block of 11 Ave. S.W. Patrons can access it by first entering a ground-level cafe; a set of stairs leads viewers from the cafe down to the gallery.

Gallery owner Gerry Thomas and Adaikin both indicated a decent amount of manpower and planning went into the heist.

Police said the thieves used a reciprocating saw to cut open locks on the gallerys main door.

They were here for about six to seven hours, Adaikin said, declining to comment on the gallerys alarm system and whether it was working. They were coming in and out over several hours.

Prior to the theft, Adaikin said police believe one of the thieves was in the gallery and had adjusted a security camera so a specific area wasnt visible on camera.

(It) was the camera that was pointing at the parkade door, and thats the camera they purposefully moved to avoid being filmed by that camera, several hours before the actual break-in occurred, Adaikin said.

That was at about 5 p.m., according to police, who believe the bandits broke in at about 11:50 p.m.

Adaikin added that security camera footage from the buildings parkade shows some individuals sitting and waiting until it was empty of all other vehicles and people.

Some of the other pieces stolen include sculptures, paintings, hockey memorabilia from the Olympics and the National Hockey League, a photograph of hockey great Wayne Gretzky in Edmonton during the NHL Heritage Classic game, and a large maple table.

One indication of the thieves planning and manpower is the heft of some of the pieces.

Its not easy to muscle that thing around, Knudtson said of his work.

Thomas said the 400-pound wooden table was a four-inch thick slab of pure maple, emphasizing the difficulty of disassembling and moving such an item.

He said he was away at the time of the theft  it was the Sunday of the Victoria Day long weekend.

I got a call from my staff upstairs in the cafe ... They said there was no money in the cash drawer there, Thomas said. When the employees went downstairs to check the gallery, as he had asked, the walls were empty.

Along with the stolen art, police said the thieves took about $10,000 worth of electronics and alcohol from the gallery.

Adaikin said police dont have anyone in custody yet, and theyre hoping for the publics help in tracking down the art.

The collection has likely been dispersed by now, he said, possibly outside of the Calgary area.

If prospective buyers are concerned about buying some of the stolen work, Adaikin said low prices and hand-to-hand transactions that occur outside of regular galleries should be warning signs.

Police ask anyone with information about the theft to call them at 403-266-1234 or contact CrimeStoppers.

Read more about:EDMONTONA man is in custody following a stabbing at the South Campus LRT station, near the University of Alberta, Tuesday morning.

The Edmonton Police Service confirms a 24-year-old male has been arrested in the incident, which was allegedly followed by a crime spree.

Acting Staff Sgt. Neil Thompson told reporters they do not know a motive for the stabbing yet.

At this time, it appears the assault at the LRT was random, unprovoked from what we can tell. We are still investigating to see what, if any, the motive might have been, he said.

He said police responded to the LRT station just before 8 a.m., after reports of an assault with a weapon.

A 19-year-old was stabbed, and a suspect then fled the scene on foot. EMS responded, treated and transported the stabbing victim to hospital.

Alberta Health Services spokesperson Kerry Williamson confirmed via email that the 19-year-old was in serious, but stable condition.

MacEwan University student Stefan Salegio told StarMetro he arrived at the LRT station around 7:44 a.m. and saw a man who was slumped in the station being put on a stretcher and wheeled away.

I didnt see what had happened to him. But there was blood on his chest, he said.

Salegio said the victim had a backpack and it looked like his jacket had been ripped because there was down everywhere.

Edmonton transit officers were also on scene, directing people at the LRT station to stay on the south platform side. They declined to comment, except to say it was a police incident.

Thompson said police were still responding to the stabbing when at about 8 a.m., they got a call about a robbery at a convenience store in the area of 57 Ave. and 111 St.

A man had entered the business, assaulted an employee and stole merchandise.

The Macs employee suffered just a minor injury, just a punch to the eye, so nothing that would be lasting, but (he was) shook up and he has some bumps and bruises, Thompson told reporters.

The man then left the business and approached a 2017 Cadillac XTS in the parking lot, demanding the female driver take him away from the scene.

When she refused, police said the man jumped into her vehicle on the passenger side and grabbed her. She was able to break free and get out of her car.

Police said he then took off in the car, heading southbound on 111 St.

EMS responded and treated a male employee at the scene for minor injuries. The car owner was not injured.

Thompson said the car had an OnStar navigation system, through which they were able to locate the vehicle.

We were able to co-ordinate with the OnStar people a GPS track of the vehicle. We located it at a west-end location (179 St. and 106 A Ave.). Members from West Division assisted as well as the K-9 Unit, he said.

Upon arrival, the male suspect reportedly tried to flee the scene in the vehicle and when prevented from doing so, got out of the car.

As officers tried to make an arrest, a brief altercation took place and the suspect broke free, fleeing the area on foot.

Thompson said the suspect was heading toward the area of 181 St. and 107 Ave., right at the EPS canine unit, which apprehended him.

A man is now in custody and very serious charges are pending.

We are still working on the charges. We have yet to interview the accused. There will probably be more charges, we dont have the exact list, Thompson said.

At this time, police do not believe the suspect was known to the individuals involved in the series of events, however, Thompson said the suspect is known to the police.

For a couple of hours, trains were not running south toward Century Park  passengers were instead being asked to board buses to either Southgate Mall or Century Park. Transit spokesperson Rowan Anderson told StarMetro trains were operational again as of 10 a.m.

Read more about:EDMONTONWhen news broke last week that Tzeporah Berman would be the keynote speaker at a conference for Alberta teachers, the backlash was immediate  and Berman says its now crossed a line.

The well-known environmental activist and former member of the provinces Oil Sands Advisory Group said that since the news broke shes received death threats and vicious calls from those opposed to her anti-oilsands views.

Berman is slated to speak about climate change, Indigenous issues and global trends in the energy industry at an upcoming conference for educators, entitled Grounded in Truth, Soaring with Knowledge. The optional event is being hosted by the Alberta Teachers Association (ATA) in Enoch, just outside Edmonton, in October. A spokesperson for the ATA said its one of several dozen conferences the organization hosts every year, events that bring in hundreds of speakers.

Berman said in an interview with StarMetro on Tuesday that the issues around climate change, renewable energy, the economy and how each of those things affect jobs are complex and that dialogue on all sides is paramount to sorting it out.

This push to really quell any dissent and the hostilities ... I think they dont serve us well, she said. The personal nature of the attacks and the push to ensure that I dont speak in the province, I think, is disheartening.

Albertas Minister of Education David Eggen said in an emailed statement to StarMetro that when it comes to Albertas oilsands, Berman is dead wrong.

Read more:

Alberta premier says province will continue to fight for Trans Mountain pipeline expansion

Opinion | Gillian Steward: Scheer and Conservatives come up empty on the pipeline

Young people need us to act on climate change, McKenna tells G7 ministers

Her upcoming speech to the ATA has no bearing on the curriculum work being overseen by myself, Eggen said.

United Conservative Party Leader Jason Kenney tweeted, When I first heard that the teachers union bosses were honouring Tzeporah Berman, I honestly thought it was a joke. I guess in a way it is a joke  but the joke is on everyday Albertans.

Union members should not be forced to pay for this, tweeted Derek Fildebrandt, interim leader of the Freedom Conservative Party of Alberta, and we should give them the right to opt out.

Berman said she feels the animosity ahead of her Alberta speech  but shes used to it. Its the death threats shes received since last week that have her requesting security meet her at the airport when she arrives.

Over the past week, Ive received a lot of vicious calls and emails and some death threats. So its easier as a woman if I dont travel alone, said Berman.

The ATA confirmed to StarMetro that it would be open to providing security.

Berman formerly worked for Albertas NDP government in 2016 with the Oil Sands Advisory Group. Her job as co-chair included making recommendations to help achieve the countrys and provinces climate goals.

Some of Bermans controversial views include using civil disobedience to stop fossil-fuel industry developments and promote action on environmental issues. She said its not something she would ever tell students to do.

I would never say to someone else, and certainly not a student, This is what you should do. I think civil disobedience is a very hard personal choice, she said. I dont like it, I dont like doing it, and I dont like going to jail, but sometimes its necessary and I think history has proven that.

Canada has planned to reduce fossil fuel emissions by up to 80 per cent of 2005 levels by 2050. Berman said thats why shes anti-fossil-fuel development but also pro-dialogue since the economic issues surrounding emission reduction are many.

Just attacking people who are trying to have the conversation isnt going to help us.

The associate co-ordinator of communications with the ATA, Jonathan Teghtmeyer, said on Tuesday they will feature a high-profile keynote speaker from the oil-and-gas industry to speak alongside Berman.

Teghtmeyer said three smaller councils within the ATA started organizing the conference about a year ago. They are the Social Studies Council, Global Environmental and Outdoor Education Council and First Nations, Metis and Inuit Education Council.

I dont think they appreciated how much of a lightning rod this particular speaker was going to be, Teghtmeyer said, adding that the context has changed considerably due to the Trans Mountain pipeline project being quashed by the Federal Court of Appeal in August.

They were looking for a topic that would be worthy of debate and discussion, and maybe controversial, but they didnt necessarily expect this significant of a reaction.

About two weeks ago, Teghtmeyer said, the ATA began searching for the second energy industry keynote speaker once they learned of Bermans inclusion from organizers. He said they decided to do so in the anticipation of a backlash.

We very much believe that teachers, the audience for this conference, are smart and thoughtful professionals, said Teghtmeyer. Theyre capable of examining multiple viewpoints and considering different perspectives on important and current issues in society.

Kristen Frost, a junior high school teacher in Leduc, Alta., said shes a little shocked by the governments reaction to Berman speaking to teachers and supports the ATA including voices from both sides of the issue. She called the government attempting to limit who speaks to teachers concerning.

As educators, we need to play devils advocate, Frost said. We need to understand both sides of the story so that we can help our students make educated decisions with these problems in the future.

She said its important for her students to understand Albertas reliance on the energy industry, but its also important for them to hear about the negative impacts of the industry on the climate.

I think if we only talk about what the government is trying to pursue at any given time, then were teaching them to be very partisan  and education is about them creating their own opinions.

Read more about:OTTAWAForeign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland says she is taking a personal interest in the possible poisoning of a Canadian member of the Russian protest group Pussy Riot.

German doctors have been treating a Pyotr Verzilov, a Pussy Riot member, since he arrived in Berlin on the weekend from Moscow.

One physician told reporters on Tuesday that claims Verzilov was poisoned are highly plausible.

But doctors dont know how it could have happened or who might be responsible.

Dr. Kai-Uwe Eckardt of Berlins Charite hospital told reporters that Verzilovs condition is not life threatening.

Freeland said Tuesday that she spoke with Verzilovs mother on Friday and assured his family he will have the governments full support because he is a Canadian citizen.

Pyotrs situation is one that our government is following with very close interest and it is one that I am personally very closely engaged in, she said Tuesday. This is something we are monitoring very closely and we will act appropriately.

Freeland has been a strong critic of the Russian government of Vladimir Putin for its invasion and annexation of Ukraines Crimean peninsula four years ago, its meddling in foreign elections and for the poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter in the British town of Salisbury.

Russia has banned Freeland from travelling to the country because of her past criticism of Putin in writings when she was a journalist.A lawsuit alleging the Ontario government violated the rights of inmates by placing them inappropriately in solitary confinement can proceed as a class action, a Superior Court judge has ruled.

The province did not oppose certification of the $600-million action whose representative plaintiff maintains his already fragile mental health was exacerbated by stints in segregation.

The suit includes inmates diagnosed with severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia or psychosis who served time in segregation in provincial facilities since Jan. 1, 2009. Other inmates put in the hole for 15 days or longer since that time are also included in the class.

Every day, prisoners in Ontarios correctional institutions are subjected to conditions of torture, and cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment, the suit alleges in its amended statement of claim. Segregation, or solitary confinement as it is more commonly known, is grossly overused on a systemic basis throughout Ontarios correctional system.

At issue is administrative segregation in which inmates are isolated either to ensure their own safety or that of others in the institution. Critics allege that such isolation in which inmates are kept in tiny cells without human contact for much of the day can cause significant and lasting harm.

The current lawsuit, similar to several others filed in Canada including one already certified against the federal government, alleges the provincial government has been negligent in its use of isolation by leaving prisoners for weeks, months or even years without regard to the consequences.

The effects of segregation are significant and substantial, the statement of claim alleges. Such damage is often irreversible and will have a substantial and lasting effect on that persons life.

The representative plaintiff, Conrey Francis, who has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and suffers extreme panic attacks, has spent several stints behind bars since 1982, including stretches in solitary confinement, the suit says. In his latest incarceration, Francis, in his early 50s, spent time at the Toronto South Detention Centre from January 2015 until he was acquitted of robbery charges in April 2017.

His mental health in solitary worsened to the point such that he had suicidal thoughts and auditory hallucinations, he alleged.

The lawsuit was initially filed last year on the same day Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dube slammed the provinces use of solitary, particularly with regard to those inmates who are mentally ill. In January, the Ontario government and provinces human rights authorities announced an agreement to stop placing mentally compromised inmates in solitary barring exceptional circumstances.

The province, which has yet to file a statement of defence, had no immediate comment on the certification decision or claim, which has yet to be tested in court.

However, in an expert opinion filed earlier this year, a psychiatrist hired by the province argues it is not possible to say at what point segregation might cause an inmate lasting harm. Nor is the literature conclusive about the harms solitary can cause to those with mental illness, Dr. Graham Glancy said in his affidavit. Some inmates, he said, might actually improve in isolation.

One cannot conclude that segregation causes psychological harm, Glancy wrote.

Another court document indicates that Francis spent a total of 10 days in segregation in 2015 for refusing orders to move between units or institutions.

In his certification decision, Justice Paul Perell said inmates or former inmates had to have been alive on April 2015  two years before the statement of claim was filed  to be included in the class.

I am satisfied that all the criteria for certification are satisfied, Perell said.VANCOUVERIn 1990, newlywed Leonard Smith approached the American embassy in Bogota, Colombia, to obtain a waiver for entry to the United States.

Having spent the better part of a decade and a half studying and working in Colombia, Smith, who was born in Alberta, had fallen in love with a Colombian woman. He thought the two of them might honeymoon at Walt Disney World in Florida, where his mother lived. It would be his wifes first trip to the U.S. Thereafter, he thought, they could travel back to Canada to visit the rest of his family.

But Smith had been banned from entry to the U.S. in 1978 after being caught with a single joint by an RCMP officer.

After being fingerprinted, filling out stacks of forms and undergoing a series of interviews that diagrammed what seemed like his entire life, Smith was told by the embassy agent to sit tight while they waited to hear back from the State Department.

Three years later, Smith says, she gave me a call out of the blue.

If you can provide a letter from the RCMP that proves your drug possession charge was because of a single joint, and that the only punishment you received was a $50 fine, they told him, we can provide you with a temporary waiver to enter the United States.

Really? Smith remembers thinking. You got everything else. Now you want a letter from the RCMP?

By then, he says, his honeymoon was a three-year-old memory.

Now 65 and a computer support analyst living in South Surrey, B.C., Smith recalls that moment as a distinct low in a four-decade period of inadmissibility to the United States, a country where friends and family live and to which he may never return again.

It was really, really frustrating, he recalls.

As reports continue to emerge of businesspeople being banned from the U.S. for even tangential association with the cannabis industry, and in light of a recent suggestion from an American lawyer that, come legalization, all kinds of government employees could meet the same fate, Smiths travails may reflect a reality that many Canadians are unknowingly headed toward.

Smiths drug possession charge stems from a trip he was taking in 1978 by train from Oakville, Ont., to Calgary in between terms at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogota, where he was studying law.

Smith says that, in the late 1960s, he had smoked an occasional joint on weekends with friends but went no further in experimenting with drugs.

I smoked grass while I was in high school, he says. Who didnt? There was nobody in class who didnt try it.

By the time of his cross-country trip, he says, hed long given up using the drug. But he had a single joint in his suitcase: a gift for the longtime friend he was on his way to visit.

On that train ride, he says, people were piling in and out of the washroom as if it had a revolving door, regularly exiting in a huge cloud of pot smoke. So when a young man sat down next to him, commented on the number of people getting high and asked, You got any stuff? Smith told him, I just have one joint, and its a gift for a friend.

That young man turned out to be an undercover RCMP officer, who hauled him off the train in Wetaskiwin, Alta., and searched his luggage. When he discovered Smith had been telling the truth, the officer was shocked.

He said, If Id have known, I would have spent my energy getting somebody else, Smith recalls.

Smith was let off with a $50 fine and no jail time. But at the end of that summer, on a road trip to Miami on his way back to Colombia, he made the error that would change everything: he told the truth at the border.

I thought, well, (law-enforcement officers) have a theoretical reputation for appreciating the truth, so I said, I have a $50 fine for being in possession of one marijuana cigarette.

He was told he was an undesirable alien, that he was no longer welcome in the U.S. and that they never wanted to see him at a border crossing again. Smith, at the time, was 25 years old.

For many years, Smith says, he was embarrassed of his past. Hed made a simple, silly mistake and, because of it, he had never been able to take his wife cross-border to visit the nearby and faraway places theyd heard about from friends: Seattle and its lights, the windblown coast of Oregon, the peanut farms of Georgia.

When his mother remarried in her adopted hometown of Miami, he couldnt obtain a waiver to attend.

Perhaps most exasperating, Smith says, is that he was granted a pardon by the Canadian government more than 20 years ago. He no longer has a criminal record in Canada, nor does the RCMP maintain any file on him.

But the border agents dont care, he says: They said, Thats just an internal Canadian process. It has nothing to do with us. As far as were concerned, youre still a criminal.

Smiths recollection aligns with statements submitted to the Star from spokespeople for the U.S. Customs and Border Protections office.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection enforces the laws of the United States, one statement reads. Although medical and recreational marijuana may be legal in some U.S. States and becoming legal in Canada, the sale, possession, production and distribution of marijuana remain illegal under U.S. federal law.

So, regardless of what the status of cannabis may be in Canada, its the status of drugs under U.S. federal law that determines whether travellers will be allowed to pass through ports of entry.

On the off chance that the rhetoric might not match the reality, Smith says, he tried several years ago to cross into the U.S. from his then-home in Tsawwassen, B.C., to visit a friend in Point Roberts. Hed caught a ride with his friends daughter, an American citizen.

Smith was hauled in for questioning, and after roughly two hours was told he would be jailed and have his car expropriated the next time he tried to cross the border. And while his friends daughter had long been sent on her way, Smith was turned out on the Canadian side to walk home.

After four decades of inadmissibility, Smith says he has come to a place of acceptance. What hes not OK with, he says, is messaging from federal politicians like Justin Trudeau, who recently commented that he would never lie to a U.S. border officer  an interview Smith says he listened to in astonishment.

Of course, he says, the high-level politicians go back and forth (across the border). It doesnt matter what theyve taken or done in their past. Its the common person who has trouble.

Actions should have consequences, he adds. But Canadians deserve better leadership when it comes to issues that could affect their lives permanently, he says, and they should know their rights.

As retirement slowly comes into view, Smith says he and his wife have begun to look further abroad  to places such as France, Italy and Ireland  as they plan their travels.

Ive come to terms with it, he says. I cant get in that door? Fine. Ill open another door  The world is a really big place.

Read more about:EDMONTONMore freedom for pot smokers will mean less freedom for cigarette smokers.

City council approved a new public smoking bylaw Tuesday that will double the distance from doors, windows, patios, and bus stops where people can smoke or vape from five metres to 10 metres.

The new bylaw will also ban Edmontonians from smoking in two-thirds of the citys 1,000-plus parks, as well as at golf courses, dog parks and ski hills.

Time and time again, the public has been very clear with us that they want us to go as far as possible, Councillor Michael Walters said.

Read more:

Edmontonians not sympathetic to cigarette smokers, council hears amid public smoking debate

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Edmontons council got national attention in June after the citys community and public services committee recommended one of the countrys most lenient public pot-smoking bylaws.

But when the proposal went to council July 10, a motion by Walters to restrict the public spaces where pot is allowed, and put the same restrictions on cigarettes and vaping, passed by one vote.

That sparked a public outcry and Mayor Don Iveson walked it back the next day, saying further public consultation was needed.

That consultation resulted in a survey, conducted between July 25 and Aug. 1, that showed more than three-quarters of respondents supported banning tobacco consumption at all city attractions, nearly 71 per cent supported banning smoking in all parks that have childrens amenities, and 68 per cent backed doubling the distance from doors.

The business community was more split, with some members of the Old Strathcona Business Association expressing concerns around increasing the distance for smokers in hospitality areas.

The move will effectively ban smoking on busy commercial stretches of Whyte Ave. and 124 St., and anyone caught breaking the bylaw could get a $250 ticket.

Councillor Ben Henderson, who represents Old Strathcona, tried to amend the bylaw to keep the distance at five metres, but his motion failed in a 7-6 vote.

Its crazy busy with people late at night. We already have real problems with overcrowded sidewalks, with the kind of tensions that come with that, the kind of choices people make in terms of safety, in terms of traffic, Henderson said.

I think there are some really significant unintended consequences to this. We are fixing a problem that doesnt exist.

Administration told council they have not had a problem with complaints around cigarette smoking with the current five-metre bylaw.

Councillor Scott McKeen said he has also heard concerns from the Downtown Business Association around extending the distance.

He supported Hendersons amendment, and said he hopes bylaw officers focus enforcement on the daytime hours when children are around, and not late at night when people are hanging around outside bars.

We have tobacco restrictions that seem to be generally working, and now smokers, who are addicts, are being caught up in a cannabis regulation. And I have a bit of sympathy or empathy for them, McKeen said.

Iveson also voted in favour of Hendersons amendment.

Several health officials have spoken at city hall in support of the stricter smoking bylaw, including representatives from Alberta Health Services and the Alberta Policy Coalition for Crime and Disease Prevention, saying the tighter rules prioritize health and well-being.

The bylaw ultimately passed in a 10-3 vote Tuesday, with councillors Jon Dziadyk, Sarah Hamilton and Mike Nickel opposed.

Council has asked administration for a report in the second quarter of 2019 on challenges with enforcement and data on the number of tickets issued.

Cannabis becomes legal in Canada on Oct. 17.

Read more about:HALIFAXAfter hearing concerns that the new rules were both too permissive and not permissive enough, regional council voted unanimously in favour of adopting bylaw amendments governing cannabis production facilities in Halifax.

The land-use bylaw amendments are the third set of rules council has considered ahead of cannabis legalization on Oct. 17. The controversial Smoking and Nuisance Bylaw goes to second reading early next month, and the amended parks bylaw, banning smoking in parks, passed second reading earlier this summer.

After a public hearing Tuesday night, council passed bylaw amendments to govern where cannabis production facilities can be located in the municipality. They also ban cannabis retail and consumption storefronts that arent run by the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation (NSLC), which has a monopoly over cannabis sales from provincial legislation.

Eight people spoke at the public hearing. Some were fully in favour of the bylaws, but the majority had concerns about allowing cannabis production facilities in rural areas.

The bylaw amendments allow cannabis production facilities of all sizes in industrial zones; of limited size in rural mixed-use zones that allow industrial or intensive agricultural uses; and of micro size (a maximum of 200 square metres, processing a maximum of 600 kg annually) in rural mixed-use zones that dont allow industrial uses. The federal government approves and regulates the facilities, and requires lighting and security. The municipalitys only concern is where they go.

A few people from the Eastern Shore spoke at the meeting, saying they dont believe rural areas are suitable for cannabis production, which they saw as a purely industrial use.

They dont belong anywhere near the country, even if you have 500 acres, said Robert Tilden of Pleasant Harbour, where theres a planning application underway for a production facility.

These things are industrial. They are not farms and people have to get that through their heads. The security mandated by the feds turns them into pretty prisons.

Jamie Tingley of Cow Bay told council he wants to create his own production facility, but not one of those pretty prisons.

I want to grow organic cannabis in the soil for the medical community and provide employment for myself and my community, said Tingley, an organic farmer who owns Off Beet Farms.

Tingley said hed been approached about growing by a cannabis consultant, but planning staff told Tingley hes not allowed to grow cannabis on his lot in Cow Bay under these new bylaws. Thats because hes in a residential rural zone, staff said, not a mixed-use rural zone.

Area Councillor Bill Karsten still voted in favour of the bylaw amendments, but said he had real concern for Tingleys situation. Any amendments tabled Tuesday night would have meant another public hearing, so he chose to take a different route, suggesting Tingley apply for a site-specific amendment to the new rules.

It is an unfortunate situation, but there are a couple recourses for Mr. Tingley that staff can talk to him about, Karsten said.

This very well tonight could be an error, in terms of having missed the opportunity to include Mr. Tingley and others like him, and I just feel bad theres nothing we can do tonight to accommodate him.

There were also concerns from the public about access for medical cannabis patients, considering the ban on non-NSLC cannabis storefronts, commonly known as dispensaries.

The municipality has no power to change laws around dispensaries. The bylaw amendments adopted Tuesday night follow the provinces lead in prohibiting them, but they also have some flexibility in case the province decides to allow them.

Chris Enns, owner of the Farm Assists Medical Cannabis Resource Centre, a dispensary in Halifax, told councillors that not allowing dispensaries like his would cause irreparable harm for medical cannabis users. He argued many of them need special cannabis products like extracts stronger than the ones to be sold by the NSLC, and edibles, the sale of which the federal government plans to legalize in about a year.

I would just ask you to adjourn these proceedings long enough that dispensaries in Nova Scotia and patients can make submissions to council on the irreparable harms that will happen if their voice is not heard, he said.

Farm Assists has been raided by police before, and Enns has challenged cannabis laws in court. It doesnt sound like he plans on closing up shop.

If anyone wants to try cannabis for the first time on Oct. 17, weve got your back, he called out after the meeting was adjourned.

Read more about:EDMONTONAurora Cannabis Inc. says it has not signed a deal with respect to any partnership with a drink company.

In a report based on anonymous sources, BNN Bloomberg reported Monday that Aurora was in serious talks with the Coca-Cola Company.

The marijuana company says it does engage in exploratory talks with industry participants from time to time, but there is no agreement or arrangement to announce.

Trading in Aurora shares was halted pending the comments by the company.

Aurora says it was responding to a request for comment by the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada.

Sources told BNN Bloomberg that the worlds largest beverage company is interested in developing drinks that are infused with cannabidiol, the non-psychoactive element in cannabis also known as CBD.

Read more:

Coca-Cola reportedly in talks with Canadas Aurora Cannabis

Cannabis cocktails will be in the mix  albeit not legally  after Oct. 17

Canadian marijuana producer gets permission to send medical pot to U.S. for trial

Read more about:The Immigration and Refugee Board has issued new guidelines to help its decision-makers and the public deal with complaints involving allegations of substandard legal representation.

In the past, there were no formal procedures established at the board for dealing with allegations against former counsel, and each situation was dealt with on a case-by-case basis, said spokesperson Anna Pape.

Now, after internal and external consultation, the IRB has developed its own protocol to guide the decision-makers and the parties, based on the procedures in the Federal Court and in other courts.

While some complaints about counsel raise legitimate concerns, others can be controversial because people may make them to try to delay proceedings or to demand that their case be reopened in the event of a negative decision.

Among the most high-profile complaints in recent years were from Roma refugees against three Toronto lawyers  Viktor Hohots, Joseph Farkas and Erzsebet Jaszi  who were later disciplined by the Law Society of Upper Canada, only after most of the complainants had their claims rejected and were deported with no redress.

The refugees complaints alleged the lawyers accepted legal aid retainers but abdicated their professional responsibilities, engaged in professional misconduct and negligently represented their clients, and ultimately led to their claims being rejected. Most only raised their concerns to Torontos Roma Community Centre when the majority of their claims were refused.

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While critics welcome the guidelines and believe they can help ensure decision-makers take such complaints seriously, some said they are long overdue, coming four years after the Federal Court published similar protocol.

Its interesting that it took the board this long to develop a formal policy, said York University law professor Sean Rehaag, co-author of a 2015 study that examined the odds faced by Roma in Canadas refugee system, including inadequate legal representation.

The biggest problem is these people are vulnerable. They may not know their rights or speak the language and are scared of retribution. There will never be full assurance against problematic counsel.

The new guidelines apply to the boards four tribunals that deal with asylum claims and appeals as well as immigration detention and appeals. They detail the steps individuals must take to complain against their counsel and the documentation they need when the issue arises in the middle of a proceeding or after a decision is made.

Complainants must provide the board with documentation showing they have informed their former counsel about the allegations and provided them 10 days to respond to the claims. They must also release their solicitor-client privilege to the extent necessary to allow former counsel to respond to the allegations.

Meanwhile, adjudicators can give direction or issue orders to make the proceeding fairer or more efficient despite the guidelines. They may also disclose a counsels breach of professional obligations, such as incompetence, negligence and misconduct to relevant regulatory body.

According to Pape, the board reported complaints against 10 lawyers and nine immigration consultants to their respective professional regulators in 2017. So far this year, they referred three lawyers and two consultants to their licensing bodies.Im standing along a decaying subway platform at Osgoode station  the tracks are flooded with water, moss covers the walls having grown over a caution sign, and a tree springs from the opening tunnel on my right.

There are canoes and paddles and broken chairs and ripped copies of todays Toronto Star scattered across the platform. A questions pops up before my eyes, first in the Wendat language, then its English translation:

Where did the Creator put your people?

Its a question the producers of the short virtual reality film Biidaaban: First Light want viewers to think about as they examine their place in history as well as their role in shaping the future of the city and the planet.

Throughout the eight-minute film, which can be seen at Nathan Phillips Square (where Im actually standing, wearing VR goggles) for free until Monday, viewers can take a 360-degree look through a Toronto re-imagined as a city reclaimed by nature.

Nathan Phillips Square is flooded and transformed. Plants push through the cracks on the surface. Birds are perched on walls. Across the street, the rooftop of a building is also dotted with plants and flowers. A traditional hut sits in the middle of the square. The citys skyline is engulfed in smog, and buildings around the square seem to be crumbling, while others  like the CN Tower  look shiny and untarnished.

Anishinaabe artist and creative director Lisa Jackson said the goal was to reflect a futuristic image of Toronto where nature was taking over.

This is Indigenous futurism, she said of the film, which is narrated in native languages (Wendat, Mohawk and Ojibway) to provide an understanding of the citys ancient roots.

Its about taking these ideas that everyone thinks are stuck in the past, and projecting them into an imagined future. This is an Indigenous city as well. Its not just the small reserves and remote places that are Indigenous.

Jackson worked with renowned 3D artist Mathew Borrett and design agency Jam3, as well as producers from the National Film Board.

She said the theme of reclaiming Indigenous presence in urban centres has recently come into the spotlight, as the country reacts to recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation report. The project is about showing theres no contradiction in respecting traditional Indigenous practices and being in modern-day reality, she said.

I go to ceremonies and I drink cappuccino and make VR and watch Netflix, said Jackson, noting the citys current infrastructure must make room for projects that reflect Indigenous values.

She said, on a broader scale, the film aims to remind people to take better care of the environment, the way Indigenous people lived in it.

This planet is suffering. The lands and the water are suffering, and Canada is no saint when it comes to how we treat the environment, she said. We have forest fires. We have record temperatures. Its crucial that we think about our relationship to land and waters and territories differently.

Shane Gerard, the citys senior communications co-ordinator, said the citys teaming with Jackson to screen the film is part of an initiative to increase Indigenous presence in the city.

Other projects include the upcoming Indian Residential School Survivors Legacy Celebration, a free cultural gathering taking place next month, in collaboration with the Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre. Theres also the Indigenous Arts and Culture Partnerships Fund, as well as the Indigenous Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, both of which are planned in the coming months.

Gilbert Ngabo discusses a project depicting a future Toronto | Story Behind the Story

Biidaaban: First Light has already won awards from well-known international festivals like Tribeca Film Festival 2018, Los Angeles Film Festival 2018 and Melbourne Film Festival 2018. It is set to be featured in next months ImagineNATIVE Film and Media Arts Festival taking place in Toronto.

Bonnie Kawennakon Whitlow, a Mohawk, who interprets a Thanksgiving address in the film in the Mohawk language, said the film is a reminder to be thankful for  and be humbled by  all the natural things in the universe.

She said modernity has forgotten the original connection of humans with nature.

Look at all the cement all over the place. You cant connect to the earth if youre always walking across the concrete, she said.

Natural world is taking care of you and you dont even know it because youre disconnected from it.

Read more about:Four Toronto police officers accused by a judge of providing false testimony in court  including fabricating a story and allegedly planting drugs in a car  are now accused of refusing to co-operate with an ongoing internal investigation into the matter.

Michael Taylor, Fraser Douglas, Jeffrey Tout and Benjamin Elliot each pleaded not guilty to professional misconduct at their first appearance before the disciplinary tribunal at police headquarters Tuesday.

The four constables were each charged with one count of insubordination for allegedly refusing to provide information during a compelled interview with an investigator from the Toronto police professional standards unit, which conducts internal investigations. The new allegations are in addition to previous professional misconduct charges laid against each officer in connection to the incident.

You refused to answer any questions in relation to the investigation, read documents outlining the allegations against the officers. You were cautioned for insubordination and maintained that you were not answering any questions from the compelled interview.

The allegations have not been proven at the tribunal.

Read more:

These Toronto cops have been suspended with pay for three-and-a-half years and counting

Pepper-sprayed while handcuffed: Judge describes Toronto arrest as obvious police brutality

Crown prosecutor withdraws criminal charges against Toronto cops accused of planting heroin

Laid under Ontario Police Services Act, the new charges are the latest twist in a years-long case that began with stinging comments from a Toronto judge. In 2015, Justice Edward Morgan concluded the officers found heroin powder during an unlawful search of a mans car one year before, planted some of it on the car console to justify a search, then fabricated a story to cover their tracks.

Morgan called their actions and misleading testimony egregiously wrongful conduct.

The ruling prompted an internal investigation, which culminated in a total of nearly two dozen criminal charges of perjury and obstruction of justice against the four officers in 2016.

But in a surprise move last fall, the Crown withdrew all charges against the officers, citing disclosure problems that prosecutor Jason Nicol said caused too significant a delay to go to trial. The move outraged some within the legal community, who accused the Crown of folding the tent prematurely when there may have been other options that could have salvaged the case.

Nicol said professional misconduct charges filed against the officers in 2016 in connection to the alleged wrongdoing could serve, in some measure, the public interest. However, those charges are on hold. Due to a time limit on Police Act misconduct charges  six months after an incident or after a complaint has been made  Toronto police have had to appeal to the Toronto Police Services Board for permission to proceed. That decision is pending.

With the officers now facing additional charges for allegedly refusing to participate in the ongoing probe, the case appears to have hit another roadblock.

I think that what it says is that they have absolutely no regard for the rule of law and the process, said Kim Schofield, the lawyer representing Nguyen Tran, the man who was the alleged victim in the case and whose case led to the allegations against police.

When you become a police officer and you take your oath, you are agreeing to be bound by your compellability, Schofield said.

Morgans ruling came after Tout, Douglas, Elliot and Taylor each provided different accounts of a traffic stop in January 2014, when Tran was pulled over for allegedly running a red light near Gerrard St. E. and Broadview Ave.

The officers said Tran had a pile of loose heroin powder on the dashboard of his vehicle, which led to a search of the car and the discovery of 11 grams of heroin. None of the officers could explain why Tran had loose heroin in the car, including why he didnt wipe it away when he was pulled over.

Morgan ruled that the heroin found on the console was put there by police, not left there by Tran  and the police search that uncovered 11 grams of heroin located behind Trans steering column was, in turn, not authorized. Morgan stayed the drug charges against Tran.

Here, the false creation of a pretext to search the (Trans) vehicle, combined with the collusive fabrication of a story by the two lead officers as to why they came to assist in the traffic stop  certainly amounts to egregiously wrongful conduct, Morgan said in his ruling.

Toronto police Const. Brian Davy previously pleaded guilty at the Toronto police tribunal in connection to the case, admitting he failed to report the court fabrications of his partner, Elliot. Davy was never criminally charged in connection to the Tran incident.

The four officers are due back at the tribunal in November.Toronto Police have released security images of a man wanted in a sexual assault investigation.

On Monday at approximately 6:50 a.m., a 22-year-old woman was in the area of Bay St. and Gerrard St. W. when a man approached her and sexually assaulted her, police said.

The man is described to be in his 30s, five-foot-six and clean shaven. He could also possibly be bald with a red left eye, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-5200 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).Torontos fight with Queens Park over the provinces move to shrink city council just got a lot tougher, constitutional law experts say.

On Wednesday, the Ontario Court of Appeal granted the province a stay of an earlier court decision that had struck down the Ford governments Bill 5 to slash council from 47 to 25 seats as unconstitutional. The stay means that the lower court decision by Justice Edward Belobaba will not take effect pending the outcome of the provinces appeal to overturn it, and the municipal election will be carried out Oct. 22 based on the 25-ward plan.

The city will still have the chance to argue its case in full when the provinces appeal to overturn Belobabas ruling is heard at the Court of Appeal, although it appears unlikely that will take place prior to the Oct. 22 election. (The province has argued an appeal hearing prior to election day would be virtually impossible.)

And the judges who granted the stay  who will likely not be the panel hearing the appeal  already indicated in their decision Wednesday that it would appear Belobaba erred in law and the provinces appeal will succeed.

In the meantime, one legal option that remains open would be for the city to ask the Supreme Court of Canada for permission to hear its argument that the stay of Belobabas ruling should be lifted.

Technically thats possible, but good luck, said Osgoode Hall law professor Craig Scott. The legal process timelines alone are enough for the court to say Were not going to touch this.

Read more:

Editorial | Doug Fords plan to slash Toronto council may be constitutional, but it isnt fair

A look at what might happen next in the battle over the cuts to Toronto council

Tories relieved by Court of Appeal ruling that negates need for notwithstanding clause

The city did not immediately say whether it would attempt to fight the stay.

Obviously the city lawyers do have council authority to take the steps that they believe are necessary, Mayor John Tory said at city hall, when asked whether the stay would be challenged.

If the city loses after the full hearing at the Court of Appeal, it could try to appeal that decision to the Supreme Court.

Scott said its well within the realm of possibility that the countrys top court would agree to hear the case, and I would hope so, given all the stakes.

However, he cautioned, the Supreme Court has disappointed many in the past about what they consider to be of sufficient national importance for a case to be heard.

That said, the next council could instruct the city not to take any further legal action, including not seeking leave to appeal to the Supreme Court. The new council can reopen any matter decided by the previous council as long as the majority of councillors support it, according to the municipal code.

Councillor Gord Perks said he is confident that councillors will stick to the plan to uphold the deep principles of Toronto having the right to establish ward boundaries through a proper process and to conduct an election without the province interfering.

These are still important, live issues we need to settle some day, said Perks. And its really important these issues get tested at the highest court of the land. Perhaps something in their decision will restrain the province.

University of Ottawa law professor Errol Mendes believes the city may also still have a chance to re-argue some of the points it made before Belobaba in the lower court last month, points on which the judge did not rule.

These include the so-called unwritten constitutional principles of democracy and the rule of law, which the city argued the province had violated by interfere(ing) with an ongoing democratic election, according to the citys factum filed as part of the hearing in Superior Court.

A decision in the citys favour based on the unwritten constitutional principles could not be overridden by the notwithstanding clause, which applies only to certain rights enshrined in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Frankly, I don't think its beyond the realm of the constitution for the lawyers for the councillors and the city to say, OK lets try and get another stab at this other part, which was not addressed by the judge, Mendes said.

Belobaba had found that the provinces Bill 5 violated section 2(b) of the Charter, which guarantees freedom of expression  specifically, the freedom of expression of the candidates and voters. He chose to base his decision on that alone, and did not deal with the unwritten constitutional principles or some of the other sections of the Charter raised by the parties.

I am inclined to agree with the province that none of these additional submissions can prevail on the facts herein, he wrote in his ruling. However, I make no actual finding in this regard. The (other Charter) submissions, together with the rule of law and democracy submissions, may live another day, perhaps to be litigated in another court.

And what happens to the 25-ward council should the province lose its appeal at the Court of Appeal after the Oct. 22 election?

Experts expect that the council would remain in place until a new election was held. The province had also argued before the Court of Appeal that if it loses its appeal, the court should not order that a 47-ward election be held, but rather give the legislature time to respond to the ruling through legislation.

I dont imagine the Court of Appeal would allow the city to not be governed, said Greg Flynn, an assistant professor of political science at McMaster University. I think they would probably allow that (25-ward) council to stay in place until a new election could be held.

Scott said the new council would only be illegitimate in the loose sense if the province loses its appeal.

We would know that theyve been elected under a bill thats unconstitutional, but it doesnt mean it couldnt be remedied, such as by giving the legislature time to come up with legislation that complies with the courts ruling, he said.

With files from David Rider

Read more about:Facing temporary defeat and uncertainty surrounding Torontos legal fight, Bill 5 challenger Chris Moise is sure of one thing  the new 25-ward city council will be predominately white, middle aged and male, and will not adequately represent him or his community.

Moise, a gay Black man who was campaigning for one of the original 47 seats, said he will not run in the 25-ward election because it would mean going up against his friend and mentor Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam for Ward 13 Toronto Centre.

Wong-Tam, the only gay, female visible minority on the current council, will face George Smitherman, who was Ontarios first openly gay cabinet minister and a 2010 mayoral candidate.

We need more people like her, not less, said Moise, a Toronto School Board Trustee who is part of a group of candidates fighting Bill 5 in court alongside the city.

But the fight is not over yet. Its just beginning.

Now that the Court of Appeal has granted the province a stay of Justice Edward Belobabas ruling that Bill 5 is unconstitutional, the city can move forward with a 25-ward election  new-found certainty Mayor John Tory welcomed while expressing very profound disagreement with how we got here.

Read more:

Toronto running out of legal options to challenge city council cuts before election

Bill 5: The winners, the losers, and the in-betweeners

Opinion | Edward Keenan: For Doug Ford, fairness means giving him exactly what he wants

Tory said he doesnt know if Torontos government will be less effective with only 25 councillors, adding council debates might be shorter but there must be efforts to ensure residents have access to councillors who will see ward populations almost double.

Im quite happy to make sure we consider ways in which we can keep the full engagement of citizens in the different parts of the city, he said, including strengthening community councils, the four groupings of councillors with neighbouring wards who deal with the most local issues.

Asked how he will react next time Ford bigfoots Toronto, Tory said hell stand up for the city while maintaining important relationships with other governments.

I will in my own way firmly and clearly indicate that Im opposed to these things, he said, repeating a past suggestion that, if re-elected, he will try to initiate a citywide referendum to see how many councillors Torontonians want representing them.

Jennifer Keesmaat, the former chief planner running against Tory, blamed the mayor for not raising the alert when Ford mentioned his planned council cut in passing during a private meeting July 9.

The city is not getting the leadership it rightly deserves, and will get steamrolled by Ford on other issues if Tory is re-elected, she said.

Following Wednesdays stay even the most vocal opponents of Bill 5 conceded a 25-ward election will be held in a month. Many are gearing up campaigns against a long list of new candidates, including some long-time colleagues and friends.

Councillor Joe Cressy held off registering to run for Ward 10 SpadinaFort York in the 25-ward election, but will now do so as soon as possible. He faces no incumbent.

Unfortunately, confusion continues for far too many voters and far too many Torontonians, but thats the order of day with Doug Ford in power, Cressy said.

In an interview before release of the decision, Councillor Mary Fragedakis said she will run in the new Ward 14 against Paula Fletcher, a fellow New Democrat, council ally and friend.

Im running in the area where I live  Toronto-Danforth, Fragedakis said. The pair have talked about the new odd phase in a working relationship that started in 2010 when together they fought then-mayor Rob Fords budget cuts. More recently, they consoled residents traumatized by the July mass shooting on the Danforth.

Weve gone through a lot in the last eight years, but weve really gone through a lot together in the past while, Fragedakis said. Nobody thought wed go from grieving on the Danforth to the chaos that Doug Ford has plunged us into.

Not all councillors were upset about the Court of Appeals stay.

Councillor John Campbell has been running his campaign for re-election under the assumption there would be a 25-ward election.

The province made it abundantly clear, by hook or by crook, it was going to be 25 wards, and we just press on, Campbell said. He isnt yet registered to run in Ward 2 Etobicoke Centre against Councillor Stephen Holyday, but said he will be first in line when registration reopens.

Councillor Jim Karygiannis was overjoyed that the 25-ward model has prevailed. He faces council veteran Norm Kelly for Ward 22 Scarborough-Agincourt.

Lets go for it. Im delighted, Im ecstatic, lets have an election, said Karygiannis, who as a federal MP represented the same voters he will now be courting. I believe that it will be equitable and good for my residents.

Councillors not seeking re-election include Janet Davis, Sarah Doucette, Glenn De Baeremaeker, Justin Di Ciano, Mary-Margaret McMahon, David Shiner and Josh Colle, and appointed councillors Jim Hart, Migan Megardichian and Jonathan Tsao.

Former Councillor Chin Lee told the Star he is not yet sure if he will run for Ward 23 Scarborough North. He had resigned from council in the spring to run  unsucessfully  for MPP in the provincial election.

Where incumbents are running

(In cases of councillors who haven't yet registered, their names are included below based on their stated intentions).

Ward 1 Etobicoke North: Vincent Crisanti and Michael Ford

Ward 2 Etobicoke Centre: Stephen Holyday and John Campbell

Ward 3 Etobicoke-Lakeshore: Mark Grimes

Ward 4 ParkdaleHigh Park: Gord Perks

Ward 5 York SouthWeston: Frank Di Giorgio and Frances Nunziata

Ward 6 York Centre: Maria Augimeri and James Pasternak

Ward 7 Humber RiverBlack Creek: Giorgio Mammoliti and Anthony Perruzza

Ward 8 Eglinton-Lawrence: Christin Carmichael Greb

Ward 9 Davenport: Ana Bailao and Cesar Palacio

Ward 10 SpadinaFort York: Joe Cressy

Ward 11 University-Rosedale: Mike Layton

Ward 12 TorontoSt. Pauls: Josh Matlow and Joe Mihevc

Ward 13 Toronto Centre: Kristyn Wong-Tam and Lucy Troisi

Ward 14 Toronto-Danforth: Paula Fletcher and Mary Fragedakis

Ward 15 Don Valley West: Jon Burnside and Jaye Robinson

Ward 16 Don Valley East: Denzil Minnan-Wong

Ward 17 Don Valley North: Shelley Carroll*

Ward 18 Willowdale: John Filion

Ward 19 BeachesEast York: None.

Ward 20 Scarborough Southwest: Gary Crawford and Michelle Holland

Ward 21 Scarborough Centre: Michael Thompson

Ward 22 Scarborough-Agincourt: Jim Karygiannis and Norm Kelly

Ward 23 Scarborough North: None

Ward 24 Scarborough-Guildwood: Paul Ainslie

Ward 25 ScarboroughRouge Park: Neethan Shan

*Shelley Carroll resigned from city council this spring to run for an MPP seat in provincial election, but was unsuccessful.

David Rider is the Star's City Hall bureau chief and a reporter covering Toronto politics. Follow him on Twitter: @dmrider

Read more about:One of Europes main solutions to migration  Greeces overcrowded, unsanitary Moria migrant camp  has suicidal children and conditions that a psychiatrist compared to an old-fashioned mental asylum.

In another heavily criticized solution to immigration, imprisoned men and women have been shuttled away from one gun battle only to end up incarcerated on the front line of another, vulnerable to both trafficking and new abuse.

The jammed Moria camp on the Greek island of Lesbos and the dangerous migrant detention centres in Libya serve as a sober reminder to European leaders that their statistical success in curbing migration into the continent has spawned what the UN and others condemn as massive humanitarian failures. Deeply divided over how and where to control Europes borders, leaders are meeting Wednesday in a summit in Austria.

Migrant sea arrivals to Europe have plummeted this year, but each journey now carries increasing risks of death or indefinite detention in squalid conditions. More than 1,700 people have already died on Mediterranean crossings this year.

Abbas Elnaser, an Iraqi who arrived in Moria about three weeks ago, said his eight-year-old daughters health had always been frail and she was deteriorating quickly in the camp that was built for 3,100 but now houses more than 9,000 people.

She has problems breathing most of the time, she has problems in her lungs, he said. The tent is surrounded by garbage.

In the central Mediterranean, Europe has effectively outsourced sea rescues of migrants to the Libyan coast guard, whose boats have returned 13,000 migrants to Libyan detention centres this year. In some of those centres around the Libyan capital of Tripoli, migrants ended up on the front lines of gun battles as militias fought for control of the city.

Read more:

Migrant debate no excuse for far-right violence, says Angela Merkel

Human-smuggling trips across Mediterranean decrease, but risks worsen: UN agency

U.S. cuts number of refugees to 30,000 for next year

At one point in the fighting, detainees abandoned by their jailers for days broke out of at least one centre but ended up caught in gun battle. A half-dozen people were shot, according to Ibrahim Younis, head of the Libya mission for the aid group Doctors without Borders.

As a Tripoli ceasefire brokered by the UN threatens to fracture, food for the detainees there is dwindling. Libyan officials complain that both they and the migrants have been largely abandoned by Europe. In the Janzour detention centre, around 900 people were crammed into a space intended for half that many.

We have difficulties in providing subsistence, difficulties in providing food, and difficulties in sheltering them, said 1st Lt. Jamal Hussain. The government, which runs the facility, refused to allow an Associated Press journalist to speak to detainees.

The official number of asylum-seekers and refugees in detention in Libya is around 5,000, but thousands more are believed to be captive in warehouses and other buildings, where there have been widespread reports of slavery, sexual abuse and other atrocities.

This month the UN broke its silence over Europes policy of allowing the Libyan coast guard to intercept migrants, saying it was untenable and putting thousands of people at risk of being jailed indefinitely in inhumane conditions. Detailing allegations of torture, sexual abuse, violence and nightmarish conditions, the UN refugee agency said Libya doesnt remotely meet the criteria as a place of safety.

In all, around 56,000 refugees and asylum-seekers are registered with the UN in Libya and neighbouring Niger, which have accepted millions of euros in exchange for European promises to evaluate a portion for resettlement.

But, critics say, resettlement simply isnt happening. A total of 657 people had left for resettlement in Europe as of last week, out of 3,886 slots promised over a year ago in 11 European countries and Canada.

Meanwhile, the Libyan and Greek detention centres continue to fill, with migrants and refugees waiting a year or more for a decision in their cases. That, however, suits many anti-immigrant populists in Europe just fine.

Until the message is made abundantly clear that illegal economic migrants will not be processed, that boats will be turned back, thousands and thousands more sad and desperate lives will be lost in vain, all for your feelings of virtue, said Nathan Gill, a British member of the European Parliament, accusing fellow legislators last week of being soft on immigration. Youre not really helping people.

If migrants have made it to the Greek island of Lesbos, theyre already one step ahead of those trapped in Libya. But conditions are hardly better. Raw sewage flows out the main entrance in Moria, garbage piles up outside the containers where migrants sleep.

Luca Fontana, who works for Doctors without Borders in Lesbos, said a quarter of the minors there had either attempted suicide, had suicidal thoughts or were harming themselves.

Only last week had to suture the wrists of a couple of unaccompanied minors, they tried to cut their veins inside Moria camp, he said.

Psychiatrist Alessandro Barbero of Doctors without Borders said Moria was as grim as an old-fashioned mental asylum, not seen in parts of Europe since the mid-twentieth century.

Any hope of an easy solution to Europes immigration dilemma has faded.

Paolo Campana, who has studied the smuggling networks that lead through Libya, believes a solution is only possible if legal migration into Europe opens up at the same time as peace, stability and prosperity emerge in violence-plagued nations like Iraq, Syria, Ethiopia and Eritrea.

We need to be humanitarian and to be pragmatic, he said.

As of last week, 73,696 migrants and refugees have entered Europe by sea this year along with over 11,000 land arrivals, compared with 128,993 sea arrivals in 2017 and 298,663 in 2016.

European leaders in June proposed creating centres to process migrants in North Africa but those governments quickly rejected the idea. The EU now is pitching plans of an upgraded border force.

Last week, Austria and Italys right-wing interior ministers called for shipboard screenings of migrants on the Mediterranean, raising new questions about whose ships and where  given that Italy has blocked humanitarian groups from docking with migrants rescued at sea, favouring Libyan boats instead.

Riccardo Magi, an Italian lawmaker from the tiny left-wing +Europa party, said Libyas deteriorating crisis risks sending migrants and refugees on ever smaller boats into greater danger.

What is sure is that the departures will continue and that deaths will continue to occur and that there will be fewer and fewer eyes on the sea to rescue those in need, Magi said.

Two survivors of a deadly wreck who were picked up by the coast guard were later imprisoned and tortured, said Giorgia Linardi, a spokeswoman for the SeaWatch rescue boat. The two escaped in July and again set sail, this time being rescued by the NGO ship Aquarius.

Linardi said at least one of the two has brought a case to the European Court of Human Rights for alleged violation of the EU convention banning torture.

Trying to tackle the enormous problem at Moria, Greece on Tuesday agreed to transfer 2,000 asylum-seekers from the camp on Lesbos to the mainland this month. The move cant come soon enough for the migrants there. Ali Sajjad Faizy, a 19-year-old from Afghanistan, said conditions at Moria have steadily worsened and residents must stand in line for four or five hours just to get food.

Its completely full, he said.

Read more about:WASHINGTONPresident Donald Trump and Senate Republicans on Wednesday took a hard line: full-speed ahead on Brett Kavanaughs nomination for the Supreme Court despite an allegation of sexual assault decades ago.

But privately, discussions about the political fallout gripped the party, with Republican lawmakers and strategists unnerved by the charged, gender-infused debates that have upended this campaign season.

Already burdened by an unpopular president and an energized Democratic electorate, the male-dominated GOP is now facing a torrent of scrutiny about how they are handling Kavanaughs accuser, and whether the partys push to install him on the high court by next week could come at a steep political cost with women and the independent voters who are the keystone for congressional majorities.

Tensions were also evident as Republicans responded to the request of Ford to have the FBI investigate her allegations before she accepts an invitation to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee, which has scheduled a hearing for Monday to hear testimony from her and Kavanaugh.

As GOP senators implored Ford to appear before the committee, there was a range in the tone of statements about her, veering from the flippant  Ill listen to the lady, but were going to bring this to a close, Sen. Lindsey Graham said this week  to the encouraging.

I hope that Dr. Ford will reconsider, tweeted Sen. Susan Collins, a moderate whose vote would be critical for Kavanaughs confirmation. It is my understanding that the committee has offered to hold either a public or a private session, whichever would make her more comfortable.

Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley continued Wednesday to take command of the Republican response to Ford, refusing to budge on his plans for the Monday hearing and dismissing the request from Fords lawyers for additional investigation by the FBI. His position was praised by some Republicans as fair and decried by Democrats as stubborn and cruel, particularly since Ford has been inundated with threats since she shared her account, according to her lawyers.

Meanwhile, 65 women signed a letter rallying behind Kavanaugh as someone who has always treated women with decency and respect.Before pulling the trigger, the professor was thoughtful.

Mark J. Bird had been at the College of Southern Nevada for more than two decades in the department of human behaviour. He had a feel for the rhythms of the school day, the timetables of when students filled the hallways or were tucked into classrooms. But as the 69-year-old arrived at the campus west of the Las Vegas Strip on Aug. 28, the sociology professor was not there to deliver a traditional lesson.

He arrived around 8 a.m., a police report obtained by the Washington Post would later state. The desert sun was already pounding the parking lot asphalt, hoisting the local temperature into the 90s. The schools K Building, a blocky, modern structure surrounded by a cracked horizon of mountains in the distance, was stirring for early morning lectures. Hefting a black briefcase, Bird made his way to the buildings second floor.

His choice was purposeful, Bird would later tell police investigators. It was a Tuesday, the second day of the semester. There likely would not be many students around.

Still, Bird waited for the hallway to clear before entering a unisex bathroom. He locked the door. He taped a $100 bill and a note  For the janitor  to the mirror. He placed three sealed letters on the counter. He then pulled the gun from his case, a recently purchased .22 Cobra Derringer. It was a tiny, two-shot pistol, like something an Old West riverboat gambler would secret in a vest pocket.

From the bathroom, a loud bang jolted the hallway, witnesses would tell police. A burning sensation crawling up his left arm, ears screaming, Bird popped out of the door, blood gushing from his left forearm, he said later. Bystanders flocked to his side. The smell of gunpowder drifted on the air. Someone tried to stop the bleeding with paper towels from a nearby maintenance cart. The panic button was punched. Medics and police arrived.

The pain did not muzzle Bird. In fact, the words spilling from the professor had a pointed political edge. As one witness told investigators, Bird started saying hes protesting (President) Trump and that he shot himself because of that.

Birds anti-Trump rhetoric would continue in his interviews with investigators. Although the professor survived his injury, he is now currently facing criminal charges stemming from the shooting, including felony counts of carrying a concealed weapon without a permit and discharging a gun in a prohibited area. Court records indicate he has yet to enter a plea.

Bird, who remains in custody, has not publicly filled in the motivations behind the episode. His attorney also did not return a call for comment. But in his interviews with police, as well as his writings left behind at the scene, the professor cited concerns over the environment and gun control as factors throwing him over the edge. The act places Bird among an extreme set of individuals who turn to public self-harm as an outlet for anxiety and anger over current events.

Suicide or self-harm linked to a larger political agenda goes back thousands of years.

Michael Biggs, a University of Oxford sociologist, defines self-immolation as an individual intentionally killing himself or herself (or at least gambling with death) on behalf of a collective cause. He notes an act of protest, it is intended to be public in at least one of two senses: performed in a public place in view of other people, or accompanied by a written letter addressed to political figures or to the general public.

The act was literally burned into the wider American consciousness in the 1960s as Buddhist monks set themselves on fire to protest the South Vietnamese government. Journalist David Halberstam memorably recounted an episode in June 1963 when monk Thich Quang Duc set himself ablaze in Saigon, a sight that left the veteran correspondent too shocked to cry, too confused to take notes or ask questions, too bewildered to even think.

Biggss own researched documented 533 individual acts of self-immolation  including attempts which did not prove fatal  from 1963 to 2002.

The Trump era  a time period as fraught with high-wattage divisiveness as the 1960s  has also seen public spectacles of self-immolation. Last April, New York City gay rights attorney David Buckel set himself on fire in Brooklyns Prospect Park. A note found on the body stated he had taken his own life to protest environmental destruction, The Post reported.

Similarly, personal and political despair contributed to the July death of Mahmood Salem. Accordingly, to NBC News, the Yemeni-American citizen was distraught when he learned his wife and two children would not be allowed back into the country due to the presidents controversial travel ban. He committed suicide.

Ill say its the first and main reason. Maybe there is other stuff, but I could give it 90 per cent, his brother told NBC. He cannot bring them here and at the same time, he cannot take them back to Yemen because its war.

In his interview with investigators from a hospital bed, Bird made it clear he was not attempting to kill himself or to harm others. He waited until the hallway was clear so no one was in the line of fire, he explained. He purposely shot his left forearm so he would survive the blast, he added.

Investigators still pressed Bird for a motivation.

Bird stated that there were many reasons for what he did today, but the main reason why he shot himself was due to the fact that he is upset with the way President Trump was running our country, an officer wrote in the police report obtained by The Post. He stated that he did not agree with the policies that Trump had put into place and he felt someone needed to take a stand to prove a point.

More clues to his thinking were contained in the sealed letters recovered from the bathroom sink. One, addressed to the colleges president, Federico Zaragoza, begins with Bird sincerely apologizing for my behaviour today.

I was motivated by multiple reasons, he wrote. The note then pointed to an Oct. 20, 2017, CBS News story. (T)he Earth had roughly 100 million malnutrition and pollution deaths in the past decade  and the Earth is on a course for at least another 100 million such deaths in the next decade, the professor wrote. One hundred million deaths are more than all the military and civilian deaths of WW2.

A less significant factor in his decision was the Oct. 1 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas, Bird wrote. Since this incident, there has been no national legislation banning bump stocks, banning civilian ownership of AR-15 type assault weapons, and the passage of universal gun background checks legislation. Apparently, it is about as easy to buy an AR-15 as a 2-shot derringer.

The police report stated that during his interview with police, Bird became so emotional, his voice clogged with tears and his breath coming up shallow, that investigators had to steer the topic away from politics or the shooting until the suspect regained his composure. He also reiterated to police he did not shoot himself in protest, but rather to promote better gun control, investigators wrote.

Bird stated that he believed that by shooting himself he was able to effectively deliver the message he intended to deliver.

Read more about:KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIAMalaysias anti-graft agency said former prime minister Najib Razak was arrested on Wednesday and will face further charges of abuse of power over the multimillion-dollar looting of a state investment fund.

The agency said in a statement that Najib was detained at its office over the transfer of 2.6 billion ringgit ($814 million) into his bank account. It said Najib will be taken to court on Thursday to face several charges under Section 23 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act.

It didnt give details, but the section deals with the abuse of power.

Najib was earlier charged with multiple counts of criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering over the scandal at the 1MDB state fund, just months after his shocking electoral defeat. He has pleaded not guilty and his trial is due to start next year.

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.

Public anger over the 1MDB scandal led to the stunning ouster of Najibs long-ruling coalition in May 9 national polls and ushered in the first change of power since independence from Britain in 1957.

The new government reopened investigations stifled under Najibs 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 ($344 million) from properties linked to Najib.

Police have said that investigations have shown that $1.2 billion had been transferred to Najibs bank account from three companies linked to 1MDB.

Najib, 65, has accused Malaysias new government under Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad of seeking political vengeance and vowed to clear his name at his trial. He has claimed the money was a political donation from Saudi Arabias royal family.THE STICKSAhhh  big breath  that fresh country scent.

Manure.

Honest fertilizing s---. Not to be mistaken for the malodorous stuff thats been slung around the Ontario legislature in recent days.

The city girl fills her lungs.

Probably the only person among thousands present who has arrived at the International Plowing Match and Rural Expo by cab.

Here, on Tuesday, as a fly on the wall. Or a fly on the dung.

Read more:

Doug Ford dismisses protesters at International Plowing Match

Opinion | Susan Delacourt: Ottawa worried Fords Washington visit could impact NAFTA talks

Former attorney general urges Mulroney to reconsider using the notwithstanding clause

You can catch the shuttle, suggests a volunteer.

Wow, a shuttle? How very accommodating on a scorching September morning.

Except its a wagon, hauled by a tractor, bouncing over the rutted path.

Makes sense, the city girl figures. This is tractor country after all. At many nearby farms, tractors are parked in front yards as decorative displays, along with all the harvest adornments, whimsical scarecrows and such.

The city girl finds herself humming Farmers Song by Murray McLauchlan: Straw hats and old dirty hankies/Mopin a face like a shoe/Thanks for the meal heres a song that is real/From the kid from the city to you.

Dismounting into the middle of a parade, right behind the NDP wagon, where Opposition Leader Andrea Horwath and her lefty colleagues, in bright orange windbreakers, wave at the crowd and toss apples. Trailed by vintage Cougar, atop which perch the Queen of the Furrow and the Chatham-Kent Queen of the Furrow.

Horwath, the city girl is told, is reigning champion of the pol plowing contest. Shes more than just a chronically furrowed brow.

Greeted with homespun warmth at the main stage tent where a band of geezers has been entertaining the audience, stomping country tunes. (The city girl reminds herself  still, younger than the Rolling Stones.)

But Horwath and the Greens  and, somewhere, the rump that is all thats left of the Liberals  are not the main draw at the vast farm, owned by Jean-Marie (King of Brussels Sprouts and Lucille Laprise, hosts this year of the 101st Expo, purportedly the largest event of its kind in the world, and never missed by provincial politicians. Indeed, blocked out on the schedule, forcing an overnight session at Queens Park on the weekend for emergency reading of Bill 31, because we cant have MPPs sending their regrets to farmers.

Premier Doug Ford is the rock star.

Tramping around the grounds of Tented City  not to be confused with Tent City in Toronto, the now-and-then homeless bivouacs that sprout up downtown  in jeans and event polo shirt, posing for endless selfies with well-wishers, shaking hands and patting babies.

We forget, those of us who live in the centre of the universe, most especially the downtown elites Ford reviles, that the premier isnt so dimly viewed elsewhere in the province.

Ford is having a very good day.

He looks better in person, one fellow tells a reporter.

Very much a Ford-crowd: White, elderly, conservative, a rural microcosm of Ford Nation.

Which is kind of weird because Etobicoke-raised Ford has zero in common with these good folks, the businessman-turned-politician-turned-premier although he slangs a good game.

The Ontario thats in Fords wheelhouse. No record number of murders here, in a place called Pain Court where even the crabgrass grows in tidy rows. No gangbangers. No support for gun bans.

No raucous protesters either, condemning the government running roughshod over democratic rights by threatening to invoke that notwithstanding stuff, although presumably Ford is being kept apprised of matters unfolding at the Court of Appeal, where the government is at this very moment requesting a stay of last weeks lower court ruling which (fleetingly) threw a wrench into Fords plan to slash Toronto city council.

Just a couple of guys unfurling a banner that reads: DONT PLOW OUR CHARTER.

Heads pivoted when a solitary heckler shouted something or other. Ford plowed right through it.

They hopped in their car from downtown, the NDP, and drove up here, Ford declared accusingly. Which seems an odd dis for someone whos so devoted to automobiles over cycles. Not a single pedal-head in sight.

If you want to see the lifeblood of Ontarios economy, all you have to do is drive through Southwestern Ontario, Ford told his audience from the stage You can see it for yourself, the farmers, the factory towns, small-business workers, local workers working hard to pay the bills, to create jobs and to make ends meet. These are the industries, the farmers and the workers who put Ontario on the map.

I love farmers.

Says the man with the strangely big head whos likely never turned a clump of sod in his life.

Really, who doesnt love farmers, subsidized or not? They put food on our table. This area alone  No. 1 producer of carrots, seed corn, tomatoes, pumpkins and of course brussels sprouts  kicks $3 billion into the provincial economy.

And the porta-potties are gender-neutral.

The pols then descended on the plowing fields to take their turns in the furrow match, heartily cheered for their competitive style by generously non-partisan spectators. While the city girl pours over the seven-pages of rules for mules, horses and humans, trying to make sense of splits and crowns and sighting stakes and leave stones plowed up where they are.

Its not all about the furrowing, of course. Theres a rodeo, auctions, quilt exhibits, a bewildering display of farming implements, hand-tooled leather kitsch and, this year, several attempts at setting Guinness World Records: Yesterday, Largest Egg and Spoon Race. Over the next four days, largest sugar cube structure, most people bobbing for apples at one time, most people eating corn on the cob at one time, longest quilt binding and worlds largest Caesar, which the city girl is sorry to miss.

But shes particularly charmed by the dancing tractors, manipulated by men in womens dresses. In Toronto, we call that cross-dressing.

The city girl sits on a bale of hay, sticks a straw in her mouth  wiping it down first with a tissue  to ponder events thoughtfully.

Mostly, she would like to come back here under cover of darkness and mow crop circles, throw all those rigid rows for a loop.

City girl is an alien.

Read more about:MONTREALAndrew Scheers Conservatives may want to push pause on plans to make immigration a signature federal campaign theme next fall long enough to take stock of the turn in the Quebec election conversation.

Coalition Avenir Quebec Leader Francois Legault thought he was reaching for a low-hanging fruit when he embraced the issue. With less than two weeks to go until the Oct. 1 vot,e it has turned into a poisoned apple.

Since midcampaign, the CAQ has lost a significant amount of support.

The latest Leger sounding  done between last Thursdays French-language debate and Mondays English-language debate  found a six-point drop in the partys lead among the francophone voters who will determine the outcome of the election.

Legaults hopes for a governing majority are fading fast. It could still get worse. With the last leaders face-off set for Thursday, only half of his supporters say their choice is final.

The decline in CAQ fortunes essentially comes down to one issue: immigration and the partys bid to both reduce Quebecs overall intake of immigrants and accelerate, by coercive means if necessary, their integration into the provinces French-language mainstream.

Under the partys plan, Quebec would cut its annual intake of immigrants by one fifth and those who after three years fail to meet the provinces language requirements would be made to leave. (It remains unclear how that would be achieved.)

At the time the policy was conceived last spring, Legault and his brain trust believed they had come up with a winning combination, a way to tap into longstanding francophone concerns over the preservation of Quebecs French-language identity without alienating the provinces non-francophone voters.

Instead the plan has become a millstone.

Many voters are repulsed by the coercive regimen his party is proposing to impose on future immigrants. Others question the notion that Quebecs immigration intake should be reduced.

On the latter, Legault has managed to run afoul of the mayors of Montreal and Quebec City and of many smaller towns spread out across the province.

They are all arguing that with Quebec plagued by labour shortages caused by the fast-aging of its population, the time is particularly ill chosen to cut down on immigration.

The Leger poll found Quebecers divided over the issue with 45 per cent in favour of a reduction and 47 per cent against.

But with the bulk of the provinces chattering class along with his election rivals aligned against his proposals, Legault is clearly losing the air war.

He has been in damage-control mode for most of the past week, scrambling to put the issue of his own signature policy to rest. But with every new explanation, there have been more questions as to how much actual thinking has gone into the crafting of the CAQs immigration platform and what the many unanswered issues it raises say about the partys competence to run a government.

As the Leger poll was putting a number on the rising toll Legaults decision to fight part of the campaign on the immigration minefield is taking on his partys fortunes, the Conservative opposition in the House of Commons was accusing the Trudeau government of having eroded voters confidence in Canadas immigration policy.

But in the province where the issue has been top of mind for weeks  the very place that is ground zero for the influx of irregular border crossers transiting from the U.S. to Canada  the evidence suggests otherwise.

For the first time in decades, there is an expanding Quebec audience, outside of the already diverse Montreal area, supporting the notion that immigration is part of the solution to the provinces economic challenges.

At the same time, the federal Conservative partys summer-long effort to highlight the irregular refugee issue has had little or no echo in the provincial campaign. The refugee file started to drop from the Quebec radar around the time the Trumps administrations policy of separating the children of illegal immigrants to the U.S. from their parents surfaced in the media. That is probably not a complete coincidence.

And then for all the talk about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau losing the argument over irregular border crossings, it has so far had no significant impact on his partys fortunes. At the end of a difficult summer for his government, his ruling party continues to enjoy a prohibitive lead in Quebec. At the national level, the gap between the leading Liberals and the Conservatives has widened.

There is a reason why mainstream provincial and federal parties have rarely if ever made immigration a major campaign plank in the past. As Legaults experience is demonstrating, it is easy to lose control of the narrative.

Chantal Hebert is a columnist based in Ottawa covering politics. Follow her on Twitter: @ChantalHbert

Read more about:The relief at Queens Park was palpable.

Premier Doug Fords Progressive Conservative government dodged a constitutional bullet thanks to the Court of Appeal on Wednesday. The court approved a stay of a Superior Court judges decision that struck down Bill 5, the Better Local Government Act, which cuts Toronto council to 25 seats from 47. The stay means the Tories no longer need to steamroll ahead with the Charters notwithstanding clause to pass Bill 31, the Efficient Local Government Act, and the replacement for Bill 5.

While that means Mondays historic midnight-to-7 a.m. Bill 31 debate was for naught, Government House Leader Todd Smith could barely contain his glee on Wednesday.

Bill 31 is no longer necessary as far as were concerned, Smith told reporters.

Were really happy with the decision. We felt like we were right all along, the minister said.

The judges decision opened up a can of worms that turns out to have completely been unnecessary. We feel great with the fact that we no longer have to debate Bill 31, he said.

Read more:

Stay granted on previous Bill 5 decision, paving way for 25-ward election

Opinion | Edward Keenan: For Doug Ford, fairness means giving him exactly what he wants

Bill 5: The winners, the losers and the in-betweeners

Had we had to go ahead with Bill 31, we were prepared to do that. Fortunately for all involved, we wont have to do that now.

Municipal Affairs Minister Steve Clark, unflappable while steering both Bill 5 and Bill 31 since late July, said were pleased that Bill 5 can move forward.

Well continue  to work with the (city) clerk (Ulli Watkiss) and get this done for the Oct. 22 election, said Clark, adding Toronto municipal candidates will have two more days to submit their nomination papers.

The clerk has made a recommendation and we certainly support that  that would extend the deadline for 48 hours, he said.

Liberal MPP Nathalie Des Rosiers, co-author of the 1,168-page Oxford Handbook of the Canadian Constitution, said the Tories are fortunate to survive a self-inflicted wound.

Today, everybody is breathing a little bit more easily that they didnt have to invoke the notwithstanding clause, because it really was a very dangerous tool to (use). The stay helps them tremendously, said Des Rosiers (Ottawa-Vanier).

Its good for Ontarians. But the fact that (Ford) raised the prospect of using the notwithstanding clause is still there and we are wanting to ensure that theres parameters, she said.

Des Rosiers said the political damage has already been done to the premier because he threatened to use the provision, which allows governments to override the courts, for the first time in Ontario history and on a relatively minor matter.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said Ford made a rookie blunder.

This falls into the category of just because you can doesnt mean you should, said Horwath.

After never mentioning it once on the campaign trail, the premier decided to rewrite the rules for municipal elections that were already under way, throwing municipal elections into chaos and trampling peoples basic rights, she said.

Now, many doubt at this point in time that free and fair elections can actually be conducted in the city of Toronto, and the courts have yet to give their final determination because now the appeal is stayed. But the government continues to plow ahead. Is that what constitutes success in Doug Fords Ontario?

Green Leader Mike Schreiner blasted Ford for squandering public money on lawyers and legislative employees overtime for no good reason.

Regardless of what the courts decide theres still a cloud of illegitimacy around this election because of the chaos the premier has manufactured with this crisis, said Schreiner.

How many tax dollars is this premier prepared to waste in order to pursue his own personal political agenda against the city of Toronto?

Robert Benzie is the Stars Queens Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie

Read more about:VANCOUVERA doctor at the centre of a contentious trial on private health care in B.C. took the stand to defend his position that his private clinic offers a needed service and should be deemed lawful.

Dr. Brian Day was called for cross examination this week in the Supreme Court of B.C. His clinic, Cambie Surgeries Corporation, launched a constitutional challenge against the provincial government, arguing that patients should have the right to choose private care and that it should be exempt from B.C.s laws prohibiting extra billing on necessary medical services.

When questioned on Tuesday by Jonathan Penner, lawyer with the Attorney General of B.C., on the legality of his billing practices, Day said he never denied they were illegal  but that the laws themselves were unethical, which he said was supported by legal advice.

History is full of laws that are unlawful. When I was a kid, interracial marriage was unlawful, abortion, homosexuality  The lawyers own advice was that these laws are unconstitutional, and thats why were here today, said Day.

Penner also questioned Day on the way he represented his clinic to the media, basing his questions on several articles that appeared in the Vancouver Sun in the mid to late 1990s. In these articles, Day was quoted as saying that his clinic only served noninsured patients.

Day said that while the original emphasis of his clinic was to serve patients under the Workers Compensation Act, out-of-province patients and others not covered under the provincial health-care plan, this decision has changed in the course of his practice. He said that many patients had come to him after being on provincial wait lists for months and he wanted to serve them.

We decided that ethically we could not refuse patients access to our centre, he said.

Day went on to describe how he was treating patients from foreign countries and out of province but found it bizarre that he could not treat patients under MSP, thus concluding that if the law is unlawful then thats not breaking it.

Days court challenge, and his latest comments on the stand, have prompted concerns from public health care advocates.

Edith MacHattie, spokesperson for the BC Health Coalition, which is intervening in the case, said that Days assertions in court are not in the best interest of patients who are vulnerable and could not afford to pay for private care.

Brian Day likes to talk about wanting to reduce wait times, but what hes asking for is to remove the ban on private billing for medically necessary services, and he wants to lift the cap on fees for services so doctors can charge whatever they want, MacHattie said.

She added that if Day is successful in court, it could result in more doctors being able to charge extra for their services across the country.

Whats at stake here is extremely concerning and will have an impact for all Canadians.

Read more about:DECATUR (AP)  Jonathan Sweet wants to be a carpenter, but he knows he needs help if hes going to cut it in that career.

I tried working odd jobs here and there, but they didnt work out, he said. I decided to pursue my thought of being a carpenter.

The 19-year-old Futures Unlimited graduate has found an organization he hopes can help him: Job Corps, a program administered by the U.S. Department of Labor that offers free-of-charge education and vocational training to men and women ages 16 to 24.

Sweet attended one of the monthly meetings at Old Kings Orchard Community Center to learn more about his options. He had heard of the programs positive results and wanted to learn additional employment skills.

And a get a job, he said.

Old Kings Orchard has been hosting the monthly meetings for more than a year. Megan Meyrick, program organizer for Old Kings Orchard, was familiar with Job Corps after trying to help a student get into the program.

But you had to travel to Bloomington or Springfield to attend an orientation, she said.

Meyrick and the board offered to host local, monthly meetings for potential Job Corps participants. The organization accepted the offer, and each month Job Corps sends an admissions counselor to Decatur to explain the benefits, rules and expectations.

Bea Hall, Old Kings Orchard board member and volunteer said Decatur participants already found success.

One girl got her GED and her CNA (certified nursing assistant) certificate, Hall said. She encouraged others to sign up for Job Corps for the support.

This is a great alternative if you cant get along in school, Hall said. If they are having trouble in the community, it gets them out for a fresh start.

Participants ages 16 to 24 have a choice of more than 100 careers. They receive free housing, meals and basic health care as well as a small allowance and training. Eligibility includes low-income participants as well as the proper paperwork such as school transcripts, medical records and birth certificate. Those younger than 18 will need a signed parental consent.

The program has campuses in St. Louis, Chicago, Joilet and Atterbury, Ind. Vocational classes include certified nursing assistant, electrical, cement masonry, office administration and culinary arts. For those who have not graduated from high school, the program provides GED or high school diploma classes before beginning a vocational school. Participants can expect to be in the program for one to two years, depending on the choice of training.

The program also offers lessons in social skills needed going into the workforce. Respect and tolerance of others is taught.

Our ultimate goal is to place you in a job or help you in the next step in life, said Karlesia Pickett, Job Corps admissions counselor. Whether it would be going into the military, going to college or job placement.

Rakia Joyner, 42, brought her daughter Khalilah Land to the August meeting at Old Kings Orchard.

The Khalilah, 16, wanted to come to the event to get a little closer to her dream of being a social worker. Kahlilah said her sister found success through Job Corps. After returning to Decatur, her sister landed a job with Archer Daniels Midland Co.

She enjoyed it, their mother said. She was able to work while she was there getting her diploma too.

Kahlilah plans to get her diploma through Job Corps, then enroll in one of the trade schools that are offered.

Whatever one will help with social work, she said. Because I like kids.

She is a social worker type, Joyner said. She cares for people.

The drug-free program offers activities such as clubs and membership to organizations. They also have counselors to help with career decisions as well as personal problems. Uniforms are provided and may vary depending on the vocational training. Washers, dryers and detergent are provided.

Old Kings Orchard will help the participants before they leave by supplying towels, bedding, schools supplies and toiletries.

Basically things for a dorm room, Meyrick said. Lots of students dont have these things.

Meyrick said anyone who is interested can visit the community center to learn more about the program, even if they arent there to join.

And anybody can come, not just the person that is wanting to sign up, she said.

Start dates can be a four- to eight-week wait, and Old Kings Orchard will help participants properly prepare their paperwork. Meyrick understands the process can be overwhelming.

We are here to help them every step of the way, she said.

Funding comes from the Illinois Department of Labor and grants. Independent living and advanced training is encouraged throughout the program.

(Job Corps) can help whether you are looking to get your diploma or GED. Even if you already have it, the vocational training is excellent for programs people typically go out and pay hundreds for. You can get for free, Pickett said. You get an experience outside of home that a lot of people may not get.EDWARDSVILLE  Madison County will have two prints of a famous Abraham Lincoln portrait with the unveiling ceremony 10 a.m. Oct. 3 at the Madison County Criminal Justice Center.

The presentation is a continuation of the bicentennial project coordinated by the Illinois Judges Association, the Illinois State Bar Association, the Illinois Bar Foundation and the Illinois State Historical Society. Their goal is to place one Alexander Hesler photograph of Lincoln in a courthouse in each county in honor of the bicentennial.

An anonymous donor wanted Madison County to have a second photograph for its Criminal Justice Center in addition to the one on display in the Madison County Courthouse lobby.

This has been a fabulous project, said Circuit Judge Barb Crowder, who spearheaded the countys efforts to obtain the prints.

The first portrait for Madison County was placed in May in the older, main courthouse. As more money became available, Crowder and other judges decided to obtain a second print for the Criminal Justice Center.

I thought, What a great idea, said Crowder, adding that arranging for the portraits become a hobby that she pursued during her lunch hours. She is retiring in November.

I thought it was a perfect opportunity to mark the bicentennial, Crowder said.

What many people dont know is that Lincoln was also a judge. In those days, if a judge was not available, lawyers could select a judge from among the colleagues, she said.

She said the Illinois Historical Society has a glass plate of the portrait, from which prints can be made. They keep it in a vault, but the society did not have the funds to distribute the portraits.

The photograph was taken on June 3, 1860, by Alexander Hesler, a well-known photographer of the time. Lincoln had been nominated to run for president, and Hesler traveled to Springfield to take the picture. Showing Lincoln before he grew a beard, this photograph is considered to be one of the best taken of Lincoln, and was reportedly his favorite.

Hesler was a famous photographer at the time and remains well known among people with an interest in photography and history. His works hang in museums like the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

We are so pleased to be able to receive this historic photograph for the Criminal Justice Center as Abraham Lincoln was well-known for his defense work in criminal cases, noted Judge Richard Tognarelli, Presiding Judge of the Criminal Division.

Lincoln has a strong connection to Madison County as he spoke here in 1858 and visited here on more than one occasion. It is truly fitting that both of our courthouses are able to display this likeness as we celebrate Lincoln the lawyer and the President, stated Chief Judge David Hylla.

The public is invited to attend the Oct. 3 ceremony and to view the famous photograph.

Reach reporter Sanford Schmidt at 618-208-6449.A settlement has been reached with WeWork Companies Inc. (WeWork), which provides a network of shared spaces for rent and associated services to clients in 88 global cities, to end the companys use of non-compete agreements for nearly all of its employees nationwide.

WeWork, which has eight locations in Chicago and about 100 Illinois-based employees, had previously required all employees in Illinois to sign such agreements, according to Attorney General Lisa Madigan.

WeWorks non-compete agreements restricted employees by preventing them from moving into new job opportunities, Madigan said. [The] settlement puts an end to WeWorks unnecessary use of non-compete agreements and removes career obstacles for current and former employees, allowing them to make better decisions for their lives.

Prior to todays settlement, WeWork used non-compete agreements that prohibited all employees from working for competitors after leaving the company. The non-compete agreements not only applied to executive and senior staff, but to all levels of employees, including cleaners, mail associates, executive assistants and baristas.

The settlement fully releases more than 1,400 employees nationwide from non-compete agreements. In addition, nearly 1,800 other employees previously bound by non-competes will now enter into agreements with less restrictive terms. For those employees, the settlement requires WeWork to shorten the non-compete period from one year to six months, reduce the geographic restriction to a 15-mile radius and narrows the scope of activity the employee is restricted from engaging in to only the type of work the employee did for the company.

Madigan and the New York Attorney Generals Office worked together to reach a coordinated resolution.

Illinois law prohibits the use of non-compete agreements unless the agreements are no greater than necessary to protect a legitimate business interest of the employer and the subsequent restrictions are reasonable as to their duration, geographic area and scope of prohibited activities. The Illinois Freedom to Work Act also expressly prohibits use of non-compete agreements for employees earning minimum wage or less than $13 an hour.Francis Fukuyama earned his place in philosophical history by declaring the end of history on the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of communism.

Nowadays Fukuyama, an engaging traveler through the world of ideas, poses this great question: Where are we going?

In New York on Sept. 11, Fukuyama seemed to answer that question by telling an audience: Nowhere very good.

The global crisis laid out in Fukuyamas latest book Identity: The Demand for Dignity and the Politics of Resentment is that identity politics  advanced tribalism, if you will  is eroding democracy.

Fukuyama writes that the United States invaded the Middle East, during the Iraq War, to Americanize the Middle East, but the Middle East has Middle-Easternized the United States. Not only is there no national identity in Iraq now, he argues, but we are also losing our Americanism to identity politics, with its baggage of racism and division.

He points to two decidedly democratic events as harbingers of a less democratic future: Britains vote in June 2016 to leave the European Union and the election that same year of President Donald Trump, disaster following on disaster, identity triumphing over political union.

In the case of Brexit, English nationalism upstaging the larger values of a unified Europe; and in the Trump election, the white working class voting against the other constituent parts of the nation.

Listening to Fukuyama answering questions at the New York event, organized by Philip Howard and his Common Good organization, one could be plunged into feeling that the famous American mixing bowl had become unmixed, breaking down, as Fukuyama gently suggested, into competing groups, supporting just those who belong to their group  all of this set off by white fear of the end of their hegemon in America. Hence, the hysteria over immigration.

The difference between the immigration alarm in Europe and in the United States, he said, is that Europe sees not just an invasion of different people with different customs, religions and languages, but also an assault on the cradle-to-grave welfare systems. Fukuyama said Europeans do not mind paying 60 percent of their incomes in tax because they believe they get a lot for it. That, he said, is what they see coming from immigration: People coming to live off the generous social structure for which they have not paid.

Immigrants from Africa going to Sweden  in the news because of its electoral swing to the right  must think they have entered nirvana: total freedom from want. Not quite the same as people coming across our Southern border, seeking safety and work.

Fukuyama sees the United States in danger from identity grouping overwhelming our commonality as a nation.

I wonder about that. When I landed on these shores as a young (legal) immigrant in 1963, I wrote to a friend in England  and I remember this clearly  saying: This is no melting pot. This is a fruit salad.

Well, that is still so, and it works until it is perverted by minority manipulators. For example, there has always been a racist element. It is just that Trump and his allies have blown on these embers and brought forth flame. Race dividers feel emboldened under Trump, just as they seethed under President Barack Obama.

It is worth pondering that before Trump, we twice elected an African-American president and that said something about us  something quite different from what Fukuyama is saying about us in todays race-heavy, fact-short political debate.

Some at the New York meeting suggested that the pendulum will swing back. Yes, it will but not to the status quo ante. It will be to a new place.

Personally, I believe the Trump success was fueled not so much by resentment as by a pervasive sense of irrelevance. It expresses itself politically, but its root may be with the isolation felt by those who have to deal with monopoly businesses from the cable company to the online retailer. Think the politicians ignore you, try those who have market dominance: banks, health insurers, online vendors and telecoms among others.

Fukuyama calls for dignity as a kind of antidote to identity politics. He might want to extend that excellent thought beyond just the political arena.

Llewellyn King is executive producer and host of White House Chronicle on PBS. His email is llewellynking1@gmail.com.Global Pulse is aninnovation initiative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Big Data. Itsvision is a future in which big data is harnessed safely and responsibly as apublic good. Its mission is to accelerate discovery, development and scaledadoption of big data innovation for sustainable development and humanitarianaction. Global Pulse is building a catalytic network of in-country innovationcenters, which will test new tools, data and analysis, share what lessons withthe global community, mainstream successful approaches for real-time impactmonitoring into policymaking. The first Lab has been established in New York(Pulse Lab New York) followed by Jakarta, Indonesia and Kampala, Uganda. PulseLab Kampala is an inter-agency initiative of the United Nations under theleadership of the UN Resident Coordinator in Uganda. The first of its kind inAfrica, it brings together researchers from Government, the UN,non-governmental organizations and private sector to explore the utility of newsources of digital Big Data (such as social media, mobile data, onlineinformation) and real-time analysis techniques for sustainable development andhumanitarian assistance.The PCU Coordinator will manage staff withinthe PCU, including the PCU Communications and Advocacy Coordinator and the PCUMonitoring and Evaluation Coordinator, and will be overall accountable fortheir performance. The PCU Coordinator is responsible for the successfuldelivery of the program overall and he/she will lead on the implementation ofindividual outputs and outcomes related to M&E, communications andvisibility and capacity developing. During this pilot phase of the program, thePCU Coordinator will strength linkages and synergies between the localpartners, lead on stakeholder engagement, consolidate reports, ensure donorcompliance, and provide strategic guidance with regards to the programoperations as well as its scale-up strategy. The UCU Coordinator will have adirect reporting line to the Program Coordinator at DSW Germany.Popular South Korean filmmaker Kim Ki-duk has come out in support of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), which might face cancellation this year on account of the Kerala floods. According to The Hindu, in a note that was handed over to filmmaker Bijukumar Damodaran and actor Prakash Bare at the Almaty Film Festival, he had requested that IFFK not be cancelled. He said that art played a major role in helping people overcome the scars of disasters.

The Kerala government had decided against holding the IFFK and school state youth festival (Kalolsavam) this year as the state continues to reel under the aftermath of the August floods. The general administration department has issued an order in this regard. All events conducted by the tourism department will also be withheld this year. The fund earmarked for these events would be donated to the relief fund. The IFFK, held during December, attracts hundreds of movie buffs to the state.

-Inputs from OnmanoramaThe adage that failures can teach many lessons seems quite...The opposition Congress in Goa on Wednesday claimed that it had the support of over 21 legislators in the 40-member Assembly, giving it enough strength to form the government in the state.

The Congress, which is the single-largest party with 16 MLAs, has already staked claim to form the government in the coastal state.

The opposition party's claim comes at a time when Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar (62) is admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi for a pancreatic ailment.

Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Chandrakant Kavlekar said that the Congress had enough support to form the government in Goa.

"We have the required numbers. I am not going to tell you whom we are in discussions with, but we need the support of 21 MLAs and we have more than that," he said.

The Congress legislators, led by Kavlekar, had met Governor Mridula Sinha on Tuesday and demanded a floor test by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government to prove its majority in the Assembly.

Kavlekar said his party was waiting for a response from the governor, who had assured them that she would get back on the issue in three-four days.

The state is being ruled by the BJP with the support of the Goa Forward Party (GFP), the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Independent MLAs.

The BJP has 14 seats in the Assembly, the GFP and the MGP have three each and the NCP has one. There are also three Independent legislators.

Kavlekar claimed the political situation in the state was in the favour of the Congress as there was a lot of "discontent" among the ruling coalition partners.

"You have seen how the BJP observers came to Goa and met their legislators, former MLAs and alliance partners. They are also talking about inviting a leader from one of the allies to head the government.

"This has created a bitter situation as allowing one alliance partner to head the coalition will upset another," he said.

Kavlekar also claimed that a section within the BJP was upset over the possibility of a leader being "imported" from outside and was in touch with the Congress for joining the opposition party.

"We need not go to anyone with the proposal of supporting or joining us. In fact, they are coming to us with proposals," he added.

The Congress leader had earlier said the BJP might force the dissolution of the Assembly and another election in just a year-and-a-half.

The Assembly polls in Goa were held in February, 2017.

The Congress legislators have urged the governor not to allow the Assembly to be dissolved.

BJP national general secretary Ram Lal, who, along with two other senior leaders, was deputed by the party's central leadership to take stock of the political situation in Goa, had on Monday said the state government was stable and there was no demand for a change in the leadership.

He had said this after a meeting with the party's MLAs, former legislators and core committee members.

According to Ram Lal, the allies of the saffron party had conveyed that they would abide by any political decision taken by it.

On May 18 too, the Congress had staked claim to form the government in Goa, citing the example of Karnataka, where the largest-party, the BJP, was invited to form the government after the Assembly polls threw up a fractured verdict.

The Congress had said it was not invited to form the government in Goa after the Assembly polls last year, despite emerging as the single-largest party.

The party representatives had also met the governor on September 7, urging her to intervene as the state administration was suffering due to the failing health of the chief minister.As the ongoing war causes food and fuel prices to skyrocket, 5.2 million children in Yemen are at the risk of famine, a Britain-based NGO, Save the Children, said.

A report published by the NGO said that disruptions at the port of Hodeida could "cause starvation on an unprecedented scale". Closure of the port would put "the lives of hundreds of thousands of children in immediate danger while pushing millions more into famine, it added.

Earlier in September, the NGO said it had treated almost 400,000 children under the age of five for severe malnutrition so far in 2018, warning that more than 36,000 children could die before the end of the year.

The deadly conflict between Shia Houthi rebels and troops loyal to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi has been going on since 2014. It has drowned the country and its five million children in utter poverty and famine. Earlier in September, the NGO said it had treated almost 400,000 children under the age of five for severe malnutrition so far in 2018, warning that more than 36,000 children could die before the end of the year.

"Millions of children do not know when or if their next meal will come," the chief executive of Save the Children International, Helle Thorning-Schmidt, said. Earlier in September, the NGO said it had treated almost 400,000 children under the age of five for severe malnutrition so far in 2018, warning that more than 36,000 children could die before the end of the year.

Rising food prices and the falling value of the Yemeni currency as a result of the conflict are putting more families at risk of food insecurity.

The other threat comes from fighting around the key port city of Hodeida, which is the entry point for most aid to the country's rebel-held areas. The basic supplies that pass through it are needed to prevent famine and a recurrence of a cholera epidemic that affected a million people in 2017.A fruit contamination scare has spread across Australia as needles were found inside strawberries and other fruits since last week, officials said. About 100 people have reported finding needles in fruits.

The Australian government is looking at introducing stricter criminal penalties in response to the incident. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said culprits would face 15-year jail terms. The current maximum punishment for food contamination is 10 years.

The 15-year term will make it on par with crimes such as child pornography and financing terrorism. Even the opposition Labour party is on board with the change.

The PM said the new legislation would also target those behind copycat and hoax incidents, the BBC reported.

"You are putting the livelihoods of hard-working Australians at risk, and you are scaring children," Morrison said. "And you are a coward and a grub," the PM said about the person behind the acts.

Three states have offered A$100,000 rewards for information, as police continue to investigate the cause of the sabotage.

Contaminated berries were reported from six states and territories in Australia. A man was reportedly taken to the hospital after eating a strawberry that had a needle.

The scare has affected several brands with many recalling their produce. At least six brands have been caught up in the scare: Berry Obsession, Berry Licious, Love Berry, Donnybrook Berries, Delightful Strawberries and Oasis.

Grocers in neigbouring New Zealand stopped selling Australian strawberries as a precaution. Some growers destroyed their crops which could lead to massive loss for them.

Exporters have been ordered to check the fruit for possible contamination, including mandatory screening of produce through metal detectors or X-ray machines.

The government has urged consumers to continue purchasing strawberries, but to cut them up before consumption.South Korea's President Moon Jae-in said on Wednesday that North Korea has agreed to "permanently" close down its key missile facilities in the presence of foreign experts.

North Korea leader Kim Jong-un has agreed to this if the United States takes reciprocal action, Moon said.

The leaders have agreed to turn the Korean peninsula into a "land of peace without nuclear weapons and nuclear threats, according to a statement read out during the joint press conference.

Kim also promised to visit South Korea, which would be the first-ever visit to the South's capital by a North Korea leader.

The summit is said to be a litmus test for the stalled negotiations on the North's nuclear programme between Pyongyang and Washington. Kim had recently proposed to US President Donald Trump another meeting after their historic summit in June in Singapore.

According to reports, the South Korean president is looking to engineer a framework for North's denuclearisation and a joint declaration ending the 1950-53 Korean War.

Washington has demanded concrete actions towards denuclearisation by North Korea, after it faltered on its promise made at the first summit with Moon and at the Singapore summit with Trump.

North Korea has offered to stop nuclear and missile tests but did not allow international inspections for a dismantlement of its only known nuclear site in May, drawing criticism that its action could not be verified and could be easily reversed.Pakistan's High Court, on Wednesday, ordered the release of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Mohammad Safdar. The court also suspended the sentences they received from an accountability court in July, media reports said.

The ousted prime minister and daughter were sentenced to ten-year and seven-year jail terms over corrupt practices linked to the family-owned London flats in Avenfield.

The court was hearing their appeals against the verdict announced by the accountability court on July 6. Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb suspended their sentence. But the accountability court's verdict stands and only the sentences have been suspended.

The trio will be released from prison after completion of formalities. They have been asked to pay half a million rupees each.

The accountability court, on July 6, had announced the verdict in the Avenfield properties corruption reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), sentencing the ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif to 10 years in jail for owning assets beyond known income, and one year for not cooperating with the NAB.

His daughter was given seven years for abetment after she was found "instrumental in concealment of the properties of her father" and one year for non-cooperation with the bureau.

According to the verdict, she "aided, assisted, abetted, attempted and acted in conspiracy with her father". "The trust deeds produced by the accused Maryam Nawaz were also found bogus," the judgement noted.

Nawaz's son-in-law was given one year jail timefor not cooperating with NAB, and aiding and abeting Nawaz and Maryam.New Delhi, Sep 19 (PTI) Steel maker Jindal Steel & Power Limited (JSPL) Wednesday said it has given over Rs 2 crore to Kerala government to help flood-affected victims.

"An amount of Rs 2 crore was credited into the Chief Minister Distress Relief Fund to help the flood affected people of Kerala to aid relief and rehabilitation programme," JSPL said in a statement.

It was one of the worst floods Kerala has seen in nearly a century. In estimation, the floods have displaced more than 8,00,000 people and more than 400 lives were lost during the flood. The floods have impacted around 70 per cent of Kerala, the company said.

"The human suffering and devastation of such an unprecedented magnitude brought by the devastating floods throughout Kerala calls for a huge relief & rehabilitation efforts. JSPL & JPL joined hands together to re-build Kerala," Sanjay Sagar, MD, Jindal Power Limited, an arm of JSPL, said in the statement. PTI ABI ABI BAL

BALNew Delhi, Sep 19 (PTI) As the US sanctions on import of Iranian crude oil loom large, India is engaged with the European Union for an alternative channel for making payments to Tehran for buying petroleum products, sources said Wednesday.

They said the EU has been been telling India that it was in the process of coming out with a payment mechanism as using US dollars for oil transaction will be restricted post November 4 when the US sanctions come into force.

So far, the 28-nation bloc has not put forward a concrete proposal for making payments to Iran for buying of oil.

India is in touch with both Iran and the US on the complex issue.

In May, the Trump administration had pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal and brought back economic sanctions against Tehran.

The US has told India and other countries to cut oil imports from the Gulf nation to "zero" by November 4 or face sanctions. India is yet to take a call on complying with the US sanctions on Iran.

However, India has been apprising the US about its energy requirement to fuel its economy as well as the importance of Iranian oil.

Iran is India's third largest oil supplier after Iraq and Saudi Arabia. The US' sanctions on import of Iranian petroleum products will be effective from November 4.

India has also been hoping that the US will give it some relief from the sanctions.

Earlier, India was looking at the possibility of falling back on the rupee-rial arrangement for importing oil from Iran in the wake of US sanctions.

The rupee-rial arrangement was used to buy oil from Iran before sanctions were lifted against it three years ago.

Under the mechanism, India used to pay in euros to clear 55 per cent of its dues through Ankara-based Halk bank. The remaining 45 per cent payment was remitted in rupees in accounts Iranian oil companies had with the UCO Bank. PTI MPB ASK ZMNNew Delhi, Sep 19 (PTI) An inter-ministerial team, headed by a special secretary of the Home Ministry, will visit Kerala for five days beginning Thursday to assess the damage caused by the recent devastating floods, officials said.

The move came after the Kerala government sent a detailed memorandum seeking Rs 4,700 crore as compensation for the damage occurred due to rains and floods, considered to be worst in a century.

The inter-ministerial team, headed by Special Secretary B R Sharma, will visit Kerala from September 20 to 24, a Home Ministry official said.

At least 488 people have died in Kerala due to the rains and floods this monsoon, which hit 14 districts of the state.

The Kerala government memorandum comprises details about the loss of human life, properties, infrastructure and crops.

In case of any natural calamity beyond the coping capacity of a state, the state government submits a detailed memorandum indicating sector-wise details of damage and requirement of funds for relief operations of immediate nature.

Accordingly, the Kerala government sent the memorandum, the official said.

According to the existing guidelines, the Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) will visit the state for on-the-spot assessment of damage and additional requirement of funds.

The IMCT report will be considered by the sub-committee of national executive committee (SC-NEC) headed by the Union home secretary in conformity with the norms and then by a high-level committee, chaired by the home minister for approving the quantum of additional assistance from the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF), another official said.

The financial mechanism to meet the rescue and relief expenditure during any notified disaster event is governed by guidelines on the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) and the NDRF, the official said.

The State Disaster Relief Fund has been constituted in each state in which the Centre contributes 75 per cent for general category states and 90 per cent for special category states of hilly regions every year according to the award of the successive Finance Commissions.

According to the guidelines, the Centre provides its allocation to the SDRF of each state in advance in two installments.

In case of any natural calamity, the state meets the expenditure of relief and rescue from the State Disaster Relief Fund already available at its disposal.

On August 21, the central government had released Rs 600 crore to flood-hit Kerala as promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Rs 500 crore) and Home Minister Rajnath Singh (Rs 100 crore) during their visits to the state. This was in addition to Rs 562.45 crore already made available in the State Disaster Relief Fund of Kerala. PTI ACB SNE

SNENew Delhi, Sep 19 (PTI) The Reserve Bank has curtailed the term of Yes Bank's founding CEO Rana Kapoor and asked the private sector lender to look for his replacement by January 2019.

Kapoor, who has been managing director and CEO since the bank's inception in 2004, had sought a three-year extension till August 31, 2021. However, the sector regulator did not agree to the request and permitted him to continue only till January 2019.

"Reserve Bank of India has vide letter dated September 17, 2018 received today, intimated that Shri Rana Kapoor may continue as the MD & CEO till 31 January 2019, and the Board of Directors of the Bank are scheduled to meet on September 25, 2018 to decide on the future course of action," the bank said in a statement.

In June this year, Yes Bank's shareholders had approved the re-appointment of Kapoor for three years, subject to final approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

His present term ended on August 31. However, the RBI had allowed him to continue till further notice.

RBI approved the reappointment of Rana Kapoor as MD and CEO of Yes Bank on August 30, 2018 but did not specify the period.

Earlier this year, RBI denied a three-year extension to Axis Bank CEO Shikha Sharma despite the board endorsing her reappointment.

Kapoor was part of the founding team of Yes Bank, along with Ashok Kapur who died in 2008. As a promoter, Kapoor and his family own 10.66 per cent stake in the bank.

The banking sector has seen increased regulatory scrutiny over the last two years as the RBI has tried to push for appropriate recognition of bad loans.

The asset quality review initiated in December 2015 has led to banks recognising an additional Rs 6 lakh crore as bad loans.

Banks were asked to disclose 'divergences' in bad loan reporting. As a result, the RBI judged gross NPAs at Rs 8,373.8 crore for Yes Bank for 2016-17 against the declared gross NPAs at Rs 2,018 crore. Thus, there was a divergence of Rs 6,355 crore or three times the reported amount.

Shares of the bank closed at Rs 318.50, down 1.44 per cent per unit on the BSE. PTI DP NKD CS ANZ ABM

ABMMumbai, Sep 19 (PTI) The Bombay High Court on Wednesday granted interim relief to the Adani group by restraining the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) from giving effect to the letters rogatory (LRs) issued to several countries against three group companies in an alleged case of overvaluation of Indonesian coal imports in the past.

A bench of justices Ranjit More and Bharati Dangre restrained the DRI from acting upon or giving effect to the LRs and directed it to file a detailed reply on a plea filed by Adani Enterprises, the flagship of the Adani group, against the agency.

A letter rogatory is usually sent by a country to seek help of foreign judicial authorities in investigating an offshore entity.

Last month, Adani Enterprises had filed a plea in the Bombay High Court seeking quashing of all LRs against its firms that are under probe for alleged over-invoicing of Indonesian coal imports.

In April 2018, the Customs, Excise & Service Tax Appellate Tribunal had rejected a DRI plea seeking over Rs 50,000 crore from a clutch of 40 companies including Adani group, Essar group, Anil Ambani group, Sajjan Jindal's JSW Energy and JSW Steel, Hyderabad- based NSL Group, India Cements apart from PSUs like sector NTPC, MMTC, Tamil Nadu SEB and Karnataka Power Corporation among others.

The DRI investigation, started in 2009 and is still continuing, alleges over-invoicing of imported coal and power-plant equipment cumulatively amounted to around Rs 50,000 crore prior to 2008.

Of this coal imports accounted for around Rs 29,000 crore, while power-plant equipment imports and "compensatory tariffs" claimed by a few companies is around Rs 21,000 crore.

Since May 2014, the DRI has issued demand notice worth Rs 6,000 crore from three Adani group firms-- Adani Power Maharashtra, Adani Power Rajasthan, and Maharashtra Eastern Grid Power Transmission Company. The group is also accused of overvaluing power-plant equipment to the tune of to the tune of Rs 3,974 crore.

Earlier this year, the DRI had issued LRs to courts in Singapore, Dubai, Hong Kong, Switzerland, and Indonesia to investigative cases of over-invoicing by some corporate groups including Adani Enterprises.

As per the DRI, such overvaluing of coal might have been done to help power companies get inflated tariffs for their generating stations.

Earlier this year, following the LRs, a Singapore court had asked the Adani group to produce documents pertaining to Indonesian coal imports under the ongoing probe by the DRI.

Adani Enterprises appealed to the Singapore high court against the lower court order but was denied relief. It then approached the Bombay HC seeking quashing of the LRs. PTI AYA BEN RT

RTAhmedabad, Sep 19 (PTI) A day after Bollywood actor Salman Khan's upcoming film's title was changed from "Loveratri" to "Loveyatri", a Hindu outfit told the Gujarat High Court Wednesday that the new title was unacceptable to it.

The city-based Sanatan Foundation had last week moved a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking change of the title and some content of the film, or its ban for "hurting sentiments of Hindus".

The outfit told the court Wednesday that the new film title was not acceptable as it still sounds similar to Hindu festival 'Navratri'.

The petitioner's lawyer B B Agrawal submitted in the court that the film's tagline - a journey of love - as shown in its posters and promotions could be converted into "Love Ki Yatra".

Salman Khan, the film's producer, had Tuesday announced on micro-blogging site Twitter that the movie's title had been changed to "Loveyatri", from "Loveratri".

During a hearing on the admission of the PIL Wednesday, the respondent producer's lawyer told the court that the litigation was "immature" as the movie was yet to get a certification from the censor board.

A division bench of Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice V M Pancholi directed the lawyer representing the film's producer to seek instructions regarding the content of the movie, and asked how its promos were released without certification from the censor board.

Justice Reddy also said that if needed the bench will watch the film. The movie marks the debut of Salman Khan's brother-in- law Aayush Sharma and actor Warina Hussain and is set against the backdrop of Navratri.

Directed by debutant Abhiraj Minawala, the film is slated for release on October 5.

The PIL had urged the court to ask the film's producers to change its title and remove the content that hurts Hindu sentiment as an alternative to a ban.

The petitioner claimed that the film will offend Hindus upon its release.

It claimed that the film's (original) title "Loveratri" as well as some dialogues shown in the trailers were offensive.

The PIL contended that while Navratri is a pious festival, the name of the film conveys that it is all about getting "intimate".

"If this movie is allowed to be viewed in cinemas in Gujarat, it will leave a very bad impact on the youngsters and the public at large," it claimed. PTI KA GK IND

INDMumbai, Sep 19 (PTI) Sonam Kapoor and husband Anand Ahuja have been invited to attend Giorgio Armani's show at the Milan Fashion Week.

The international fashion designer will be presenting his Spring Summer 2019 Women's wear collection during the fashion extravaganza which will start Wednesday.

Sonam and Anand will attend the launch of Armani's collection on September 23, 2018.

"For me, style is the true expression of who you are!, Mr Armani's timeless style and elegance has been reflected perfectly through the Armani house decade after decade and I am extremely happy to be invited to experience the maestro at work for the second time!

"Both Anand and I look forward to the upcoming Fashion Show in Milan!" she said in a statement.

Her visit comes after three years as the actor had attended Armani Prive show in 2015. PTI RB RB BK

BKMumbai, Sep 19 (PTI) "Manmarziyaan" producers have deleted three scenes from the film after members of the Sikh community objected to a scene where Abhishek Bachchan's character is shown smoking.

The producers approached the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) regarding the deletion of the scenes.

According to a censor copy, the three deleted scenes include a 29-second smoking sequence of Abhishek, a minute long scene featuring Taapsee Pannu and Abhishek entering a gurudwara and an 11-second scene where Taapsee is shown smoking.

"We have removed the three scenes from the film as people's sentiments were getting hurt. The said changes have come into effect in metros from today and will reflect across India from the coming Thursday-Friday," a source from the production side told PTI.

Director Anurag Kashyap also addressed the controversy, saying there was never an intention to cause any hurt to the community but the matter should not be politicised unnecessarily.

He said utmost care was taken while shooting the scenes and they took guidance from the community to avoid misrepresentation.

"We asked for guidance from Sikh people for the film. When we shot the sequence in Gurudwara, we were told we can't shoot them getting married as it can't be faked so me made the actors do only 'Mattha tekna,'" Anurag, who is out of the country, said in a long tweet.

"When we shot the smoking scene, it was shot on the street and there were close to 150 people watching the shoot. We asked before doing the scene and were told that he has to take the Turban off before he smokes away from his house. We were also shown how Robbie (Abhishek) should take the turban off with both hands and how he should hand it over and how the cousin should take it.

"It was never the intention to hurt the community and why would we do that when we got so much love from them." he added.

Anurag said he was sorry if he had caused a "genuine" hurt to anyone but asked people to not make the issue "unnecessary political because it's not."

"To those whose hurt is genuine, I offer a genuine apology, that wasn't my intention. And for those who are doing it for attention, I am glad you have got the attention." PTI KKP/JUR BK BK

BKNew Delhi, Sep 19 (PTI) In the flood of biopics in Bollywood, Nandita Das hopes to stand apart with "Manto", which explores the psyche of the famed short story writer at a time when sectarian violence was at its peak.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui embodies the character of Saadat Hasan Manto in Nandita's second directorial venture, which looks at the author's most turbulent and creative years, beginning from 1946.

Asked why artistes keep revisiting the Partition, Nandita said, "Why we have not forgotten and probably why we should not forget Partition is because we haven't learnt anything from it."

The actor-director said she was more interested in looking at this turbulent history through Manto's eyes.

"Today, it is the same sectarian violence and who suffered then and who's suffering now: common people. Cyril Radcliffe drew a line that travels perhaps through a village and everything gets broken," she told PTI.

Nandita said it is rare that people use fiction to talk about facts but it is the case with Manto's stories, which draws a real sketch of the time.

Manto was someone who was caught in the middle like many and poured this pain out through his writings, like in Toba Tek Singh, where the crisis of millions is told through a Sikh locked in a mental asylum in Lahore.

"Manto's short story 'Toba Tek Singh' is actually taught in some of the biggest universities of the world. I was shocked.. when I was at Yale doing a fellowship and I went to the library wondering if I'll find some of Manto's books -- there were 25 books in English, Hindi, Urdu and so many other languages.

"I then started talking to historians at Yale and Harvard and they said they teach 'Toba Tek Singh' and seldom is fiction taught to be a testimony of reality or facts. It's because the way he chronicled the time and so for me, Partition is the backdrop," she said.

The director said she has not directly shown the mass migration, killings, loot and rapes that happened during the Partition but "you see it through how he feels it". "Through his stories you get a glimpse of it. As a sensitive writer, you see the whole violence in his eyes, almost," she added.

Manto's two daughters -- Nusrat and Nuzhat -- were recently in Mumbai to watch the film at a special premiere and it was an emotional moment for the director who felt an extra responsibility towards the writer's family.

The Urdu writer, who left Mumbai and moved to Pakistan in January 1948, can't be separated into nationalities, she said.

"Manto is a writer who belongs to both India and Pakistan. Let's never break him into nationalities," Nandita said, adding she is keen to see the film release in the neighbouring country.

Nandita said she was surprised to know that not many films have been made in India on the life of writers.

"We have not really celebrated our writers. I tried weaving Manto's stories in the narrative. The line between his work and his life is a bit blurred. You don't know if the character he is writing about really existed or was his creation."

"Manto", also starring Rasika Dugal, Tahir Raj Bhasin, Divya Dutta, Ranvir Shorey and Rishi Kapoor, releases this Friday. PTI RDS BK

BKMumbai, Sep 19 (PTI) Shahid Kapoor is looking forward to the release of "Batti Gul Meter Chalu" and for the actor, it is very encouraging to do films which are close to reality.

The 37-year-old actor says that audiences are eager to watch films which seeks to highlight the problem they face everyday.

"It is a great time for cinema because people in our country want to watch films that are about them. They want you to talk about their problems, issues and it is good as you need to be truthful and you don't have to go into spaces that are fake and random.

"It is very encouraging especially for me as I want to stay as close to reality as possible while doing films. I enjoy this space," Shahid told PTI.

"Both 'Haider' and 'Udta Punjab' were darker and edgier. But 'Batti Gul Meter Chalu' has humour in it, families can watch it," he adds.

Shahid enjoyed watching director's "Toilet: Ek Prem Katha" and says, he was educated about the sanitation problem that exists in rural parts of the country.

It was his wife Mira, who one day stumbled upon the story of "Batti Gul Meter Chalu" and suggested him to do the film.

"The story was based in Mumbai at that time and then when he (Singh) came on board they started researching and felt it is a bigger problem in the heartland of India. It impacts people daily and it needs to be addressed. As he comes from a small town, he has lived that life and understands such problems."

The actor said after the privatisation of electricity it has become "very difficult to afford it".

"In our film, we have addressed the issue of people who have small industries, they need electricity and if their bill goes beyond a certain limit, it is impossible for them to survive. They have taken loans, made large investments, it is a very real issue, when you go into industrial sector."

The film was caught into several problems, including financial issues, and Shahid says it had affected them "emotionally".

"Both the director and me stood together at that time and we tried our best to make things work. We were emotionally affected when the film had stopped. Today, we are waiting for the film to release and I am happy," Shahid adds.

The film, also starring Shraddha Kapoor and Yami Gautam, releases this Friday. PTI KKP RB BK

BKMumbai, Sep 19 (PTI) Divyendu Sharma did not want to limit himself as a comic actor post his debut in "Pyaar Ka Punchnama" but believes now would be a fun time to revisit the franchise.

Divyendu, who became famous for playing Liquid in Luv Ranjan's buddy-comedy, said he decided for a genre change being fully aware of the popularity of the series.

The actor did not return in the follow-up to the 2011 film as he feels he had nothing new to offer to the character.

"I didn't want to do comedy back to back. I thought I would be slotted in the genre and hence I decided to take a break, explore other stuff. I had given my all to Liquid. I was aware I am saying 'no' to a hit franchise.

"It was a hard choice to make but I knew I had to branch out. If I come back to that character today, I know it will be very interesting. Since I have explored the other side and shown people, they won't say 'I only do this.' If Liquid comes back to me, I will take it," Divyendu told PTI.

The sequel had Kartik Aaryan, Sonnalli Seygall, Ishita Raj Sharma and Nushrat Bharucha, who were part of the first film.

The actor said his decision to take up different roles stemmed from the fact that he did not want to play safe.

"When your first two films (other being 'Chashme Baddoor') are hit comedies, people like to see you more in that genre. They come up with big films, big money, which might be a safe choice to pick. But I didn't come here to do that. I want to play different characters.

"It becomes difficult to say 'no' and sometimes people take it to their ego. It takes a lot of guts to say 'no' to films which you know would become hit but I'm not afraid."

Divyendu will be next seen in "Batti Gul Meter Chalu", his second collaboration with director Shree Narayan Singh after "Toilet: Ek Prem Katha".

Also featuring Shahid Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor, the film is scheduled to release this Friday. PTI JUR RDS

RDSLahore, Sep 19 (PTI) Following is the chronology of the major events leading to the arrest and imminent release of Pakistan's ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif:



April 4, 2016: The International Consortium of Investigative Journalism publishes the Panama Papers, exposing tax evasion by the world's elite through off-shore accounts and shell companies. The documents include the name of the Sharif family.

April 5, 2016: Sharif sets up a judicial committee to investigate the allegations, denies charges.

April 26, 2016: Opposition parties reject the judicial commission set up by the government.

November 1, 2016: The Supreme Court decides to pursue a case related to Nawaz Sharif.

November 7, 2016: PML-N submits Qatari prince's letter to the Supreme Court containing information about the London flats that were at the centre of the Panama Papers scandal.

January 6, 2017: Sharif's daughter Maryam Nawaz submits details of assets after the Supreme Court resumes hearing.

April 20, 2017: The Supreme Court orders formation of a joint investigation team with a split 3-2 verdict to probe the corruption charges against Sharif.

May 5, 2017: SC formally constitutes the joint investigation team.

May 22, 2017: The joint investigation team presents its first bi-weekly report to the Supreme Court.

May 24, 2017: The joint investigation team sends questionnaires to Sharif and his two sons - Hussain and Hassan.

June 13, 2017: The joint investigation team submits report to the Supreme Court on obstructions to its work, blames government institutions for "creating impediments in the collection of evidence".

June 15, 2017: Sharif appears before the joint investigation team for questioning, becoming the first sitting Pakistan prime minister to appear before any investigating agency.

June 17, 2017: Sharif's younger brother and chief minister of Punjab Shahbaz Sharif are questioned by joint investigation team.

July 5, 2017: Sharif's daughter Maryam appears before joint investigation team.

July 7, 2017: Former Qatari premier Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al-Thani sends a letter to the joint investigation team, asking it to record his statement at his palace before submitting its final report to the Supreme Court.

July 10, 2017: The joint investigation team submits final report to the Supreme Court.

July 28, 2017: The five-member Supreme Court bench unanimously rules against Sharif, disqualifying him from office.

August 15, 2017: Sharif files three separate appeals in the Supreme Court to review its verdict in the Panama Papers case that resulted in his disqualification.

September 14, 2017: Sharif and his children summoned by an anti-graft court to appear before it on September 19 in two more corruption cases.

September 15, 2017: The Supreme Court dismisses the review petitions filed by Sharif, his children and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, challenging his disqualification in the Panama Papers scandal.

September 22, 2017: Pakistan's anti-graft body freezes accounts and seizes properties of Sharif and his family.

September 26, 2017: Sharif for the first time appears before an accountability court to face the corruption charges filed against him by the National Accountability Bureau in the Panama Papers scandal.

October 3, 2017: Sharif re-elected as the president of Pakistan's ruling PML-N party after Parliament passed a controversial bill, paving the way for the ousted prime minister's return to politics.

October 9, 2017: Maryam Nawaz, Sharif's daughter, son-in-law get bail in the Panama Papers case.

October 19, 2017: Pakistan anti-graft court indicts Sharif, his daughter, son-in law.

October 26, 2017: Pakistan court issues warrant for Sharif after he fails to appear.

November 2, 2017: Sharif returns home from UK to face trial.

November 15, 2017: Pakistan anti-graft court begins trial of Sharif, his family.

February 21, 2018: Pakistan Supreme Court disqualifies Sharif as PML-N chief.

April 13, 2018: Sharif barred from contesting elections for life after the Pakistan Supreme Court verdict.

July 6, 2018: Sharif sentenced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment in the Avenfield properties case.

July 10, 2018: Pakistan puts Sharif and daughter on exit control list.

July 12, 2018: Pakistan anti-corruption court dismisses Sharif's plea to transfer remaining two corruption cases.

July 12, 2018: Sharif and Maryam leave from London for Pakistan.

July 13, 2018: Sharif and Maryam arrested on their arrival in Lahore and taken to Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.

July 16, 2018: Sharif, his daughter and son-in-law file separate appeals in the Islamabad High Court against the verdict in a corruption case and seek their release from jail.

July 23, 2018: Medical board examines Sharif after reports of health related complications.

August 8, 2018: Pakistani authorities blacklist Sharif's sons, blocks their passports.

August 13, 208: Sharif appears in Pakistan court, for the first time since his arrest, in remaining 2 graft cases against him.

September 11, 2018: Sharif's wife Kulsoom Nawaz dies in London.

September, 12 2018: Sharif, his daughter and son-in-law granted parole, reach Lahore to attend Kulsoom's funeral.

September 19, 2018: The Islamabad High Court suspends the jail sentences of Sharif, his daughter and son-in-law in a corruption case and orders their release from the Adiala Jail. PTI AMS AKJ CPS(Eds: Updating with Sharif's release from jail)

Lahore, Sep 19 (PTI) Following is the chronology of the major events leading to the arrest and release of Pakistan's ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif:



April 4, 2016: The International Consortium of Investigative Journalism publishes the Panama Papers, exposing tax evasion by the world's elite through off-shore accounts and shell companies. The documents include the name of the Sharif family.

April 5, 2016: Sharif sets up a judicial committee to investigate the allegations, denies charges.

April 26, 2016: Opposition parties reject the judicial commission set up by the government.

November 1, 2016: The Supreme Court decides to pursue a case related to Nawaz Sharif.

November 7, 2016: PML-N submits Qatari prince's letter to the Supreme Court containing information about the London flats that were at the centre of the Panama Papers scandal.

January 6, 2017: Sharif's daughter Maryam Nawaz submits details of assets after the Supreme Court resumes hearing.

April 20, 2017: The Supreme Court orders formation of a joint investigation team with a split 3-2 verdict to probe the corruption charges against Sharif.

May 5, 2017: SC formally constitutes the joint investigation team.

May 22, 2017: The joint investigation team presents its first bi-weekly report to the Supreme Court.

May 24, 2017: The joint investigation team sends questionnaires to Sharif and his two sons - Hussain and Hassan.

June 13, 2017: The joint investigation team submits report to the Supreme Court on obstructions to its work, blames government institutions for "creating impediments in the collection of evidence".

June 15, 2017: Sharif appears before the joint investigation team for questioning, becoming the first sitting Pakistan prime minister to appear before any investigating agency.

June 17, 2017: Sharif's younger brother and chief minister of Punjab Shahbaz Sharif are questioned by joint investigation team.

July 5, 2017: Sharif's daughter Maryam appears before joint investigation team.

July 7, 2017: Former Qatari premier Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al-Thani sends a letter to the joint investigation team, asking it to record his statement at his palace before submitting its final report to the Supreme Court.

July 10, 2017: The joint investigation team submits final report to the Supreme Court.

July 28, 2017: The five-member Supreme Court bench unanimously rules against Sharif, disqualifying him from office.

August 15, 2017: Sharif files three separate appeals in the Supreme Court to review its verdict in the Panama Papers case that resulted in his disqualification.

September 14, 2017: Sharif and his children summoned by an anti-graft court to appear before it on September 19 in two more corruption cases.

September 15, 2017: The Supreme Court dismisses the review petitions filed by Sharif, his children and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, challenging his disqualification in the Panama Papers scandal.

September 22, 2017: Pakistan's anti-graft body freezes accounts and seizes properties of Sharif and his family.

September 26, 2017: Sharif for the first time appears before an accountability court to face the corruption charges filed against him by the National Accountability Bureau in the Panama Papers scandal.

October 3, 2017: Sharif re-elected as the president of Pakistan's ruling PML-N party after Parliament passed a controversial bill, paving the way for the ousted prime minister's return to politics.

October 9, 2017: Maryam Nawaz, Sharif's daughter, son-in-law get bail in the Panama Papers case.

October 19, 2017: Pakistan anti-graft court indicts Sharif, his daughter, son-in law.

October 26, 2017: Pakistan court issues warrant for Sharif after he fails to appear.

November 2, 2017: Sharif returns home from UK to face trial.

November 15, 2017: Pakistan anti-graft court begins trial of Sharif, his family.

February 21, 2018: Pakistan Supreme Court disqualifies Sharif as PML-N chief.

April 13, 2018: Sharif barred from contesting elections for life after the Pakistan Supreme Court verdict.

July 6, 2018: Sharif sentenced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment in the Avenfield properties case.

July 10, 2018: Pakistan puts Sharif and daughter on exit control list.

July 12, 2018: Pakistan anti-corruption court dismisses Sharif's plea to transfer remaining two corruption cases.

July 12, 2018: Sharif and Maryam leave from London for Pakistan.

July 13, 2018: Sharif and Maryam arrested on their arrival in Lahore and taken to Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.

July 16, 2018: Sharif, his daughter and son-in-law file separate appeals in the Islamabad High Court against the verdict in a corruption case and seek their release from jail.

July 23, 2018: Medical board examines Sharif after reports of health related complications.

August 8, 2018: Pakistani authorities blacklist Sharif's sons, blocks their passports.

August 13, 2018: Sharif appears in Pakistan court, for the first time since his arrest, in remaining 2 graft cases against him.

September 11, 2018: Sharif's wife Kulsoom Nawaz dies in London.

September 12, 2018: Sharif, his daughter and son-in-law granted parole, reach Lahore to attend Kulsoom's funeral.

September 19, 2018: The Islamabad High Court suspends the jail sentences of Sharif, his daughter and son-in-law in a corruption case and orders their release from the Adiala Jail.

September 19, 2018: Sharif, his daughter and son-in-law released from prison. PTI AMS AKJ CPSSeoul, Sep 19 (AFP) North Korea's Kim Jong Un agreed to make a historic visit to Seoul soon and close a missile testing site in front of international inspectors at a summit with the South's President Moon Jae-in in Pyongyang Wednesday.

Progress on the key issue of the North's nuclear arsenal was limited, but the two signed a document to strengthen ties between the two halves of the divided peninsula.

Building on a growing rapprochement, they agreed to create a facility to hold family reunions at any time, work towards joining up road and rail links, and mount a combined bid for the 2032 Olympics.

The agreement "carries the people's fresh hope and the people's strong, flaming desire for reunification", Kim said.

His trip to Seoul would be the first by a Northern leader since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War, when hostilities ceased with an armistice rather than a peace treaty, leaving them technically in a state of war.

Moon added that the visit could happen this year and would be a "monumental milestone in inter-Korean relations".

In their agreement, the North also agreed to "permanently close" a missile engine testing site and launch facility in Tongchang-ri "in the presence of experts from relevant nations".

Moon, who brokered Kim's historic summit with US President Donald Trump in Singapore in June, had hoped to bring fresh momentum to stalled talks between his hosts and Washington.

Whether that would happen remained unclear.

In Singapore Kim declared his backing for denuclearisation of the peninsula but no details were agreed. Washington and Pyongyang have since sparred over what that means and how it will be achieved.

Trump welcomed Wednesday's declaration, tweeting that Kim had "agreed to allow Nuclear inspections, subject to final negotiations" and adding: "Very exciting!" But experts were sceptical.

The North -- whose ballistic missile programme is banned under UN Security Council resolutions -- has carried out several long-range rocket launches from the site, also known as Sohae, but has also used many other locations including Pyongyang airport.

Satellite pictures in August suggested workers were already dismantling an engine test stand at Sohae.

"Kim is playing this brilliantly: verify that I dismantle a single site that I no longer need anyway while I mass-produce the missiles the site helped me develop," said Vipin Narang of MIT.

Moon also said the North could close its Yongbyon nuclear plant if Washington takes "corresponding measures" -- a significant caveat.

Arms control expert Jeffrey Lewis said the consensus view was that the uranium enrichment facility at Yongbyon "was built for (the) express purpose of being sacrificed".

After the high symbolism of Moon and Kim's first meeting in April in the Demilitarized Zone, and the Singapore summit, progress has largely stalled.

Washington is pressing for the North's "final, fully verified denuclearisation", while Pyongyang wants a formal declaration that the Korean War is over and has condemned "gangster-like" demands for it to give up its weapons unilaterally.

Ahead of the Pyongyang summit there had been speculation Moon could secure a promise from Kim of a list of the North's nuclear assets, but no such document was mentioned.

"On the denuclearisation issue, the agreement fell short of expectations," Korea University political science professor Yoo Ho-yeol told AFP.

Wednesday's declaration came 13 years to the day after the North committed at the Six Party Talks to "abandoning all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programmes".

But the two Koreas have been pressing ahead with their own rapprochement, with Kim looking to secure economic cooperation from the far wealthier South, and Moon trying to reduce the risk of a US-North Korean conflict that would devastate his country.

The Rodong Sinmun newspaper, the mouthpiece of the North's ruling party, has carried dozens of photos of the two leaders embracing on Moon's arrival Tuesday, parading together through the streets of the capital, enjoying a concert and toasting at a banquet.

On Wednesday evening Moon's party will dine at a new fish restaurant in Pyongyang opposite Mansu hill, where giant statues of Kim's predecessors -- his grandfather Kim Il Sung and father Kim Jong Il -- look out over the city.

It was chosen after Moon expressed interest in dining at a local restaurant with ordinary citizens. However, a retail shop there sells North Korean caviar at $50 for a 50-gramme jar -- a luxury far beyond the reach of most North Koreans.

Afterwards, Moon will attend a performance of the "Mass Games" -- North Korea's spectacular propaganda display featuring tens of thousands of performers against an ever-changing backdrop, made up of 17,490 children turning the coloured pages of books in sequence.

The premiere of the latest version of the show, called "The Glorious Country", earlier this month featured video footage of Moon and Kim together at their first summit in Panmunjom -- prompting the unusual sight of tens of thousands of North Koreans applauding images of the South's president.

Before returning home on Thursday, Seoul said, Moon will travel to Mount Paektu, the spiritual birthplace of the Korean nation on the Chinese-North Korean border.(AFP) AMS

AMSWashington, Sept 19 (PTI) President Donald Trump has escalated his tirade against China and accused it of trying to influence US mid-term elections by attacking American farmers, ranchers and industrial workers, a charge denied by Beijing.

Trump did not offer evidence to support his accusation nor did he specify whether it was the upcoming mid-term elections in November China was allegedly targeting.

"China has openly stated that they are actively trying to impact and change our election by attacking our farmers, ranchers and industrial workers because of their loyalty to me," the president tweeted.

He followed up with a threat of additional tariffs, adding: There will be great and fast economic retaliation against China if our farmers, ranchers and/or industrial workers are targeted!

The accusation comes one day after China promised to take "countermeasures" against Trump's plan to impose tariffs on an additional USD 200 billion worth Chinese imports.

The new duties, which take effect on September 24, will begin at 10 per cent, then rise to 25 per cent on January 1, 2019.

China responded to the latest announcement by hiking tariffs on USD 60 billion worth of US imports. The more than 5,000 products affected include coffee, honey, and industrial chemicals, according to reports.

Reacting to Trump's accusation of election interference, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said, "Anyone who has some knowledge of China's diplomacy will know that we will not interfere in other countries' domestic affairs."

"We don't want others to interfere in our domestic politics, and we will not interfere in the domestic politics of others," Geng said. PTI NSA

NSA

NSABucharest, Sep 19 (PTI) Terrorism is an enemy of humanity and there is a need to create the needed atmosphere and global consensus for fighting the menace, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu said on Wednesday in Romania.

Naidu, who is visiting the southeastern European country on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of India-Romania diplomatic relations, met President of Romania Klaus Werner Iohannis and talked intensively on bilateral and multilateral issues of mutual concern including trade, IT, defence and space.

"We have to create the needed atmosphere and global consensus for fighting terrorism which is a menace to humanity.

"Terror has no religion, terror does not belong to any particular race, it's an enemy of humanity. Let us all work together to root out terror from the globe so that the world can move forward peacefully towards a prosperous future," Naidu said after his meeting with President of the Senate of Romania Calin Popescu-Tariceanu.

The vice president and Romania President Iohannis led delegation-level talks to further strengthen relations in trade, small and medium-sized enterprises, pharma, information technology, defence, agriculture, space and science and technology, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in a tweet.

He also met Liviu Dragnea, the President of Chamber of Deputies at the Palace of Parliament here.

The Petroleum Gas University of Polesti, Romanaia and Pandit Deendayal Petrolium University, Gujarat signed an MoU for capacity building and mutual training.

An agreement in the area of petroleum and gas was also signed between Indian and Romanian Universities on the sidelines of the meeting between Naidu and Popescu-Tariceanu, Kumar said.

"I am pleased to visit this beautiful country on the occasion of 70th anniversary of our strong diplomatic relations. I convey the wishes of 1.3 billion people of the Republic of India to the people of Romania for the Centenary year celebrations," Naidu said.

India and Romania relations are historic, warm and friendly, he said.

"My visit reflects our desire to strengthen our collaboration shared commitment to bolster our friendship and diversify our ties. We agreed that we shall work towards enhancing our already excellent trade relations.

"My talks with Popescu-Tariceanu were meaningful and constructive. The longstanding excellent relations between India and Romania provided the backdrop for our fruitful engagement," the vice president said.

India stands ready to intensify parliamentary visits and other high-level exchanges between India and Romania to strengthen ties in the political, economic and cultural areas, Naidu said.

He conveyed best wishes for the upcoming Presidency of Council of European Union in January, 2019.

"Romania has emerged as a respected leader in the Balkans. We appreciate Romania's spirit to succeed and have faith in its efforts for a better tomorrow. We agreed that we shall work towards enhancing already excellent trade relations," Naidu said.

The vice president arrived in Romania on Tuesday on the last leg of his three-nation visit to boost India's ties with the southeastern European country. He will be in Romania from September 18 to September 20. PTI CPS AKJ CPSSeoul, Sep 19 (AFP) South Korean President Moon Jae-in and the North's leader Kim Jong Un opened a new round of talks at a summit in Pyongyang on Wednesday with the North Korean nuclear arsenal high on the agenda, but Seoul warned they may not reach an agreement.

Moon is on a three-day trip to the North Korean capital for his third summit with Kim this year, hoping to reboot stalled denuclearisation talks between his hosts and the United States.

After the high symbolism of the two leaders' first meeting in April in the Demilitarized Zone that divides the Korean peninsula, and Kim's historic summit with US President Donald Trump in Singapore in June, pressure is mounting for substantive progress.

In Singapore, Kim declared his backing for denuclearisation of the peninsula, but no details were agreed and Washington and Pyongyang have since sparred over what that means and how it will be achieved. Washington is pressing for the North's "final, fully verified denuclearisation", while Pyongyang wants a formal declaration that the 1950-53 Korean War is over and has condemned "gangster-like" demands for it to give up its weapons unilaterally.

Asked if any deal on denuclearisation had been struck, Moon's spokesman Yoon Young-chan said: "It's difficult to say at this moment that the two leaders have reached any agreement."

They had "frank and sincere" discussions after Moon arrived in Pyongyang on Tuesday, Yoon told reporters in Seoul, adding: "They still need a lot more talks." "If and when" they reach an agreement, they would announce it jointly but not take questions, he said.

Wednesday's talks took place at the Paekhwawon official guesthouse on the outskirts of Pyongyang.

The two leaders were shown on television walking down a long corridor talking together, followed by their wives, before entering a room where the cameras could not follow.

The summit was taking place in a "festive mood", the South's Joongang Daily said in an editorial, but warned that "Moon and his entourage must not forget why he is visiting Pyongyang:. "Unlike the past, the success of the summit cannot be evaluated by the theatrics. The only standard is whether it contributes to creating a nuclear-free Korean peninsula. It must provide a breakthrough to revive stalled US-North Korea talks," it said. (AFP) AQS

AQSNew Delhi, Sep 19 (PTI) Following are the top foreign stories at 2000 hours:



FGN30 PAK-INDIA-UNGA-MEETING

Pak in talks with India for bilateral meeting between Qureshi, Swaraj at UNGA: FO

Islamabad: Pakistan on Wednesday said it is "engaged" with India to facilitate a bilateral meeting between Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York this month.



FGN31 PAK-SHARIF-LDALL COURT

Sharifs' jail sentences suspended in corruption case, to be released

Islamabad: In a relief to the still-grieving Sharif family, a top Pakistani court suspended on Wednesday the jail sentences of the embattled former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter and son-in-law in a corruption case that jeopardised their political career and ordered their release. By Sajjad Hussain



FGN27 PAK-SAEED

Hafiz Saeed to approach court to retrieve frozen assets of JuD, FIF

Lahore: Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed plans to launch next phase of legal battle to retrieve the assets of Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and its subsidiary Falah-i-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF) after Pakistan's Supreme Court allowed the two outfits to continue their activities in the country, the JuD's spokesman said on Wednesday. By M Zulqernain



FGN19 ROMANIA-NAIDU

Terror has no religion; need to create global consensus for fighting menace: Naidu in Romania

Bucharest: Terrorism is an enemy of humanity and there is a need to create the needed atmosphere and global consensus for fighting the menace, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu said on Wednesday in Romania.



FGN29 CHINA-PAK-BAJWA

Pakistan's new govt follows 'consistent policy' towards China: Gen Bajwa

Beijing: Visiting Pakistan Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa has assured China's top military official Gen Zhang Youxia that the new government, like the Pakistani military, follows a consistent policy of pragmatic cooperation with China. By K J M Varma



FGN32 WB-POVERTY-SASIA

Pace of extreme poverty reduction in S Asia faster than rest of the world: World Bank

Washington: South Asia has made remarkable progress in reducing extreme poverty as compared to the rest of the world, but a lot of work has to be done to improve the well-being of the relatively poor in the region, including in India, a top World Bank official said Wednesday. By Lalit K Jha



FGN24 PAK-ZARDARI-COURT

Zardari challenges Pak SC order seeking asset details

Islamabad: Pakistan's former president Asif Ali Zardari has filed a review petition against the Supreme Court's order seeking details of his and assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto's foreign assets, contenting that it is disrespect to a "martyr", according to a media report.



FGN20 US-KAVANAUGH-LD FBI

Woman who accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault calls for FBI investigation before she testifies

Washington Christine Blasey Ford, the California professor claiming that US President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her nearly 36 years ago, Wednesday demanded a "full investigation" by the FBI before she attends any Congressional hearing or "interrogation" into her accusations. By Lalit K Jha



FGN15 US-TRUMP-CHINA-ELECTION

Trump accuses China of meddling in US elections, China rejects charge

Washington: President Donald Trump has escalated his tirade against China and accused it of trying to influence US mid-term elections by attacking American farmers, ranchers and industrial workers, a charge denied by Beijing.



FGN11 CHINA-US-TRADE

No place for 'unilateralism' in trade disputes: Chinese Premier

Beijing: Amid the escalating trade war with US, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday appealed for global support for free trade, saying "unilateralism" does not offer solutions to trade disputes which should be redressed through consultation. By K J M Varma



FGN12 UK-INDIANS-HATE CRIME

Indian-origin family targeted in UK hate crime arson attack

London: An Indian-origin family of four in the UK had a lucky escape when their house was targeted in an "unprovoked" arson attack which the police is treating as a hate crime. By Aditi Khanna



FGN9 UN-INDIAN-PROBE

Indian national employed in UN Women dismissed following probe into sexual misconduct allegations

United Nations: In the strongest disciplinary measure available within staff rules in the United Nations, an Indian national employed in the UN agency for gender equality and women empowerment has been dismissed after an investigation determined he engaged in sexual misconduct. By Yoshita Singh



FGN14 NKOREA-KIM-2NDLD SKOREA

N Korea's Kim to visit Seoul, shut missile site

Seoul: North Korea's Kim Jong Un agreed to make a historic visit to Seoul soon and close a missile testing site in front of international inspectors at a summit with the South's President Moon Jae-in in Pyongyang Wednesday. (AFP)



FGN28 MALAYSIA-NAJEEB-2NDLD ARREST

Malaysia ex-PM arrested over USD 628 mn linked to 1MDB, to be charged

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia's toppled leader Najib Razak was arrested Wednesday and will be charged over allegations that USD 628 million linked to state investment fund 1MDB ended up in his personal bank accounts, officials said. (AFP)

PTI CPSDubai, Sep 19 (PTI) Christian James Michel, a British middleman wanted in India in connection with the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam, has till October 2 to challenge his extradition decision issued by a Dubai court, according to a media report Wednesday.

In a decision dated September 2, the Dubai Court of Appeals had ruled that he can be extradited to the authorities concerned in India. However, the extradition decision has to be approved by the UAE Minister of Justice before its implementation procedures can start, the Khaleej Times reported.

Michel, who is accused of organising bribes in exchange for a contract for VVIP helicopters, has 30 days from the day the decision was issued to appeal it, the report quoted a source as saying.

The Briton is out on bail, while his passport remains seized with the authorities here, the report said.

The ruling follows deliberation by a bench presided over by judge Eissa Mohamed Sherif, with member judges Rashid Mohamed Al Sumairi and Ashraf Mohamed Al Shawadfi. The September 2 decision, however, was pronounced by a different set of judges, it said.

Earlier Wednesday, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said it was awaiting confirmation from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on reports about extradition of Michel from the UAE.

The MEA had asked its embassy in the UAE to find out all the details relating to the issue.

Government sources in India said the country has not received any official communication from authorities in the UAE relating to extradition of Michel.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED), in its charge sheet filed against Michel in June 2016, had alleged that he received EUR 30 million (about Rs 225 crore) from AgustaWestland.

Michel is one of the three middlemen being probed in the case, besides Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa, by the ED and the CBI.

Both the agencies have notified an Interpol red corner notice against him after the court issued a non-bailable warrant.

On January 1, 2014, India scrapped the contract with Finmeccanica's British subsidiary AgustaWestland for supplying 12 AW-101 VVIP choppers to the IAF over alleged breach of contractual obligations and charges of paying kickbacks to the tune of Rs 423 crore by it for securing the deal.

The CBI has alleged that there was an estimated loss of Euro 398.21 million (approximately Rs 2,666 crore) to the exchequer in the deal that was signed on February 8, 2010 for the supply of VVIP choppers worth Euro 556.262 million. PTI SCY SCY

SCYNew Delhi, Sep 18 (PTI) Afghan President Ashraf Ghani will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday during which a host of issues, including regional security and the developmental partnership between the two neighbours, are expected to be discussed.

Ghani will arrive in India on Wednesday morning on a day-long visit. He will hold talks with Modi in the afternoon and attend a civic reception hosted by the India Foundation before heading back, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.

The visit comes just days after India and Afghanistan agreed to enhance cooperation under the New Development Partnership as part of which New Delhi had announced taking up 116 "high impact community developmental projects" in the war-torn country.

The decision to scale up cooperation and collaborate on infrastructure and high impact community development projects had been taken at the third meeting of the Joint Working Group on Political and Security Cooperation between India and Afghanistan in Kabul last week. PTI ASK GVSGandhinagar, Sep 19 (PTI) The Gujarat Assembly passed a bill on Wednesday by which the salaries of the MLAs, ministers, speaker, deputy speaker and leader of opposition will go up by at least Rs 45,000 a month.

Accordingly, the monthly salary of the MLAs will be hiked to Rs 1.16 lakh as against the existing Rs 70,727, a rise of about 64 per cent, while those of the ministers, Assembly speaker, deputy speaker and leader of opposition will go up to Rs 1.32 lakh from Rs 86,000, an increase of about 54 per cent.

The revised salaries will come into effect retrospectively from February 2017, with a disbursal of Rs 6 crore in arrears.

The new remuneration structure will put an extra burden of Rs 10 crore annually on the state treasury.

The Salaries and Allowances of Members, Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly, Ministers

and Leader of Opposition Laws (Amendment) Bill 2018 was introduced in the House by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Pradipsinh Jadeja and passed unanimously.

After tabling the bill in the House, Jadeja said the salary of the MLAs in the 182-member Gujarat Assembly was not revised since 2005, even as the remuneration of their counterparts in other states was comparatively much higher.

The salaries of the lawmakers in states like Uttarakhand, Telangana, Jharkhand and Maharashtra are Rs 2.91 lakh, Rs 2.50 lakh, Rs 2.25 lakh and Rs 2.13 lakh respectively, while in Bihar, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Odisha, their salaries are over Rs 1 lakh, he added.

The previous pay structure took the basic salary of an under secretary as the criterion to determine the remuneration of the MLAs and office-bearers.

The new bill will take the basic salary of the deputy secretary as the criterion, Jadeja said.

Citing an example, he said in Maharashtra, the basic pay of the principal secretary was taken into account while determining the legislators' salary.

Congress MLA Niranjan Patel supported the bill, saying costs had increased.

Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel supported the bill from the government's side. PTI PJT KA PD GK RCKolkata, Sep 19 (PTI) Ishrat Jahan, a petitioner in the triple talaq case, Wednesday welcomed the union cabinet's decision to bring an ordinance to make the practice a penal offence.

It is a big step towards "empowering Muslim women" in the country, she said.

Muslim men and religious leaders should now mend "their ways or be ready to face the music", she said.

"I welcome the Centre's decision to bring an ordinance to make triple talaq a penal offence. It is a huge step towards empowering Muslim women in the country," Jahan told PTI.

She is one of the five petitioners in the case against instant triple talaq. The practice of instant triple talaq was struck down by the Supreme Court on August 22 last year.

Jahan moved court after she was divorced by her husband over phone from Dubai by uttering 'talaq' thrice consecutively in 2014. She has a 13-year-old daughter and a seven-year-old son. PTI PNT SUN KK SMNNew Delhi, Sep 19 (PTI) India has lodged a protest with Pakistan over the killing of a BSF personnel along the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir, during the Directorate of Military Operations-level talks, Army sources said.

"In the functional-level talks held yesterday, India lodged a protest against a ceasefire violation along the International Border targeting the BSF personnel," the sources said.

Pakistani troops slit the throat of a Border Security Force jawan, Narender Kumar, after fatally shooting him along the International Border near Jammu on Tuesday.

The brutal and "unprecedented" incident that took place in the Ramgarh sector has prompted the security forces to issue a "high alert" along the IB and the Line of Control (LoC) even as the BSF has lodged a strong complaint with its counterparts -- the Pakistan Rangers.

Official sources said the body of Head Constable Kumar also bore three bullet wounds and it could only be retrieved from a spot ahead of the Indo-Pak fence after over six hours as the Pakistani side "did not respond" to the calls to maintain the sanctity of the frontier and ensure that the BSF search parties were not fired upon.

In May, the Director General of Military Operations of India and Pakistan had agreed to "fully implement" the ceasefire pact of 2003 in "letter and spirit" forthwith to stop cross border firings in Jammu and Kashmir.

This was agreed during a hotline conversation between the two countries against the backdrop of increasing ceasefire violations along the LoC.

However, tensions along the IB and LoC still prevail. PTI PR GVSNew Delhi, Sep 19 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday held wide-ranging talks with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on ways to further boost bilateral cooperation.

Ghani arrived here in the morning on a day-long visit.

"Strategic partners and a valued neighbour! PM @narendramodi warmly received President of Afghanistan, @ashrafghani at the Hyderabad House ahead of the bilateral talks," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

It is understood that Ghani briefed Modi about the status of the peace process in the war-ravaged country.

India has always been favouring an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process to bring peace and stability in that country.

India has also been actively involved in reconstruction efforts in war-ravaged Afghanistan. Since 2002, India has committed USD 2 billion for the socio-economic development of the country. PTI MPB SMNNew Delhi, Nov 19 (PTI) The CBI said Wednesday that it was awaiting confirmation from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on reports about the extradition of Christian Michel, an alleged middleman in AgustaWestland helicopter scam case, from the UAE.

A Dubai court had reportedly cleared the extradition of Michel to India on September 2, 2018.

CBI sources said the agency was in touch with MEA officials but they did not receive any official communication from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

"We are awaiting official communication in this regard," one of the sources said.

The CBI had filed charge sheet in the matter in September last year, naming former IAF Chief S P Tyagi as one of the accused.

Besides him, the agency has also charge-sheeted retired Air Marshal J S Gujral along with eight others, including five foreign nationals. Michel is one of the three foreign country-based middlemen charge-sheeted in the matter.

The agency has alleged that there was an estimated loss of Euro 398.21 million (approximately Rs 2,666 crore) to the exchequer in the deal that was signed on February 8, 2010 for the supply of VVIP choppers worth Euro 556.262 million.

The CBI had earlier alleged that during Tyagi's tenure as air force chief, the Air Force conceded to reduce the mandatory service ceiling for VVIP helicopters from 6,000 metres to 4,500 metres.

The Air Force was earlier vehemently opposing the service ceiling reduction on the grounds of security constraints and other related reasons.

It has claimed that reduction of the service ceiling, or the maximum height at which a helicopter can perform normally, allowed UK-based AgustaWestland to come into the fray as, otherwise, its helicopters were not even qualified for submission of bids. PTI ABS SMNNew Delhi, Sep 19 (PTI) India has not received any official communication from authorities in the UAE relating to the extradition of AgustaWestland middleman Christian Michel, sources said Wednesday.

A Dubai court ordered the extradition of the British national in the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP choppers deal case, official sources had said late Tuesday.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED), in its charge sheet filed against Michel in June 2016, had alleged that he received EUR 30 million (about Rs 225 crore) from AgustaWestland.

Michel is one of the three middlemen being probed in the case, besides Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa, by the ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation. Both the agencies have notified an Interpol red corner notice against him after the court issued a non-bailable warrant. PTI MPB ASK

ZMNNew Delhi, Sep 19 (PTI) RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat Wednesday said conversion by illegal and unfair means was wrong.

Responding to a range of questions on the last day of the three-day outreach conclave, he said the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh does not accept Article 370 and 35-A of the Constitution which give special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

He pitched for greater development of the state, saying it was essential to bring its people into the mainstream.

Responding to a question, Bhagwat said there is no anger against Hindutva and its acceptance is increasing across the world

To a query on women safety and rising incidents of rape, he said we have to create an environment where women feel safe and secure. Men, he said, have to learn to respect women.

He also said the LGBTQ community should not be isolated as they are part of society. But at the same time, gay rights is not the only pressing issue which should be debated.

Times are changing and society has to take a call on such issues, Bhagwat said. PTI JTR KR GVSJammu, Sep 19 (PTI) National president of BJP's Scheduled Caste (SC) Morcha and MP Vinod Sonkar Wednesday called for greater participation of the community to achieve the goal of 'New India'.

"The BJP has given due representation to SCs at every platformThe SC community has to play a vital role in the next year's parliament elections in the formation of New India," Sonkar said in a meeting of the state BJP SC Morcha at the party headquarters here.

He said the party's vision of "Antodaya" would ensure the uplifting of every neglected and downtrodden section of society.

"The responsibility of making right choice lies upon the morcha members by taking the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government to common masses," he said.

Referring to the upcoming urban local bodies and panchayat elections in the state, he asked the Morcha leaders to work extra hours for securing party's win on every seat.

Saroop Chand Rajan, in-charge of the state SC Morcha who also addressed the meeting, said only the BJP has given "true representation" to the persons belonging to the SC community.

"We must all contribute towards greater India. We must reach out to the inner circles of the SC community for understanding its needs and to meet its expectations," he said.

Senior BJP leader and MP Jugal Kishore Sharma said the party is committed to work for every sect, section and region without any prejudice and would ensure that every person gets ample opportunity for dignified living in accordance with the principle of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas". PTI TAS CKNew Delhi, Sep 19 (PTI) A Dutch national was apprehended at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) here for allegedly using a fake ticket to enter the terminal area, a senior official said Wednesday.

K Ozer was intercepted by Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel as he was about to leave the Terminal-3 building of the airport on Tuesday, the official said.

He was stopped and questioned as exiting the terminal area is not usually permitted for passengers, he said.

The man, holding a Netherlands passport, told the security personnel that he used a cancelled ticket to enter the terminal area to see off his female friend, who was travelling to Dushanbe, the official said.

The man was subsequently handed over to the Delhi Police as his ticket was a fake travel document and he was charged with alleged trespass, he added. PTI NES SNE

SNEAllahabad, Sep 19 (PTI) The Allahabad High Court has ordered registration of an FIR against a man who allegedly passed himself off as an advocate with the same name.

Jitendra Kumar Singh appeared before the court several times, posing as another Jitendra Singh - the one who is actually registered with the court.

The alleged imposter too had applied for a roll number - without which no lawyer can practise in the Allahabad High Court - but his application had been turned down.

He then began misusing the roll number of the advocate with the same name.

The bench comprising justices Vipin Sinha and I A Khan directed the courts Registrar General on Monday to lodge an FIR against the alleged imposter.

But at the same time, the judges said their order will be kept in abeyance for two months to enable him to seek any legal remedy.

The deception surfaced on August 29 when an appeal filed by Ram Gopal was called for hearing.

As Jitendra Kumar Singh stood up to argue for his client, the registered lawyer challenged him, telling the court that his roll number was being wrongly used.

The alleged imposter had also given out the registered lawyers address and his bar council enrolment number, the court was told.

Initially, the imposter said he might have mentioned the lawyers roll number by mistake. But then accepted that his application to be on the advocates roll had been rejected.

He was briefly taken into custody and a preliminary inquiry was conducted by the Registrar General.

The judges studied the inquiry report before ordering the FIR.

PTI CORR RAJ PTI ASH

ASHNew Delhi, Sep 19 (PTI) At least 30 Bru refugee families, who have been living in camps in Tripura for over two decades, returned to Mizoram on Wednesday as part of a Home Ministry-monitored rehabilitation package, an official said.

The Bru families would be given a one-time financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh, a house, a monthly assistance of Rs 5,000 and free ration for two years as per the agreement signed by the representatives of the Bru refugees, the governments of Mizoram and Tripura and the Centre.

"About 30 Bru (Reang) families from Tripura are going back to Mizoram after 20 years as part of central repatriation package," a senior Home Ministry official told PTI.

A total of 5,407 Bru families, who were displaced from Mizoram due to ethnic tension, have been living in various camps in Tripura since 1997.

The process Wednesday started after a group of the refugees walked out of the agreement signed in July alleging inadequate compensation for their rehabilitation.

The return of 30 Bru families were first since 1997 when around 8,000 Bru refugees have gone back to Mizoram in six batches and have been living peacefully in the state since then.

The total number of Bru community members is 32,876, who belong to 5,407 families currently living in temporary camps in Tripura.

The cost of the entire exercise will be Rs 435 crore till 2020-21 which will be provided by the Home Ministry.

The Mizoram government will ensure security of all repatriated refugees who were identified and verified as per the 1997 electoral rolls of Mizoram.

The Tripura government will ensure that Aadhaar cards are issued to all of them, a bank account is opened and updation of ration cards is undertaken for each of the Bru migrant families.

Eklavya residential schools, making available Jhum cultivation land, issuance of permanent residential and ST certificates, and a special development project for Bru families are the other measures planned for the cohesive resettlement of these families in Mizoram.

The central government, so far, has given Rs 348.90 crore to the Tripura government for the expenses it incurred on maintenance of the Bru familes and Rs 68.90 crore to the Mizoram government for providing assistance to the 8,000 Bru refugees who had already gone back to the state. PTI ACB SMNNew Delhi, Sep 19 (PTI) The Supreme Court Wednesday extended the house arrest of five rights activists, who were arrested from several cities in connection with the Koregaon-Bhima violence case, till tomorrow.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud will continue with the hearing tomorrow on the plea filed by historian Romila Thapar and four others.

At the last hearing in the case on September 17, the top court had said it may order a probe by a special investigating team (SIT) if it found that the evidence has been "cooked up". It had also said that the material, supporting the arrest of the five activists in the case, needed to be examined. PTI MNL ABA SJK RKS LLP ARCChandigarh, Sep 19 (PTI) Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij Wednesday said 194 government and private hospitals of the state have been empanelled under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.

"It will directly benefit around 80 lakh people of the state with free medical facilities of up to Rs five lakh," he said here.

Vij said "Haryana is the first state in the country to start this facility on pilot project basis from August 15."

"Under this, it was implemented in one government hospital each in all 22 districts, one ESI hospital and Medical College Hospital. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate this scheme nationwide on September 23 from Ranchi," he said in an official statement.

Under this scheme, 10 crore families of the country, including 15.50 lakh families of Haryana, will get free medical facilities up to Rs 5 lakh, he added.

The "Ayushman Bharat" scheme aims to holistically address health (covering prevention, promotion and ambulatory care) at primary, secondary and tertiary levels.

Vij said the facility had been introduced in government hospitals in all 22 districts, 35 sub-divisional hospitals, six community health centres, five medical colleges and four ESI hospitals in the state. PTI SUN IJTJaipur, Sep 19 (PTI) Months ahead of state assembly elections, the Vasundhara Raje-led Rajasthan government has promoted 6,000 police constables.

Speaking at an event here Wednesday, Raje said, "Rajasthan is a peaceful state and its police have made efforts to maintain law and order. Understanding the need of the hour, the state government for the first time has decided to promote 6,000 constables to head constables."

She said the crime graph had dipped in the last few years in the state and now there was a need for the police force to the raise the level of trust the public have in them.

The chief minister said the Rajasthan police academy has provided training to 79,000 policemen and the work done by the force on the field was commendable.

She said Rajasthan was part of the BIMARU states in 2013-14 when BJP came to power, but with continuous efforts in the fields of information and technology, skill development, education and health the state is no more a BIMARU state, she claimed.

Rajasthan will soon be a leading state in the country and effective policy making will play a more significant role here, Raje said. PTI AG IND

INDNew Delhi, Sep 19 (PTI) A pilot project for utilising services of the postal department for transport of sputum specimen for diagnosis of tuberculosis was launched at Karawal Nagar here on Wednesday.

A significant number of TB patients cannot get their sputum, a mixture of saliva and mucus coughed up from the respiratory tract, tested because the specimen due to non-availability of specimen transport mechanisms, an official statement said.

If a proper transport mechanism for collected specimen is in place, it spares the patients from travelling to the laboratory.

According to the statement, prompt transport of specimen followed by efficacious testing will enable appropriate management of tuberculosis patients and reduced disease transmission.

If the pilot project here turns out to be a success then specimen transport mechanism through the postal department can be adopted across the country.

Web-based application of Nikshay Version 2.0, for monitoring of TB patients under the Revised National Tuberculosis Programme (RNTCP) effectively, with better user interface and data structures, was also launched during the event. Its mobile application is also available. PTI PLB NSDNew Delhi, Sep 19 (PTI) Five students of the Delhi University's Delhi School Of Journalism are on an indefinite hunger strike against lack of facilities.

The students started the hunger protest on Tuesday.

The administration issued a notice saying students participating in protest will have to face disciplinary action.

"The students protesting inside the campus of the Delhi School of Journalism were asked to call off the protest on August 29 by the Proctor who promised to visit us on September 14 with solutions," said a DSJ student.

"On September 14, the Proctor did come to visit us. She told us that all our demands will be met in a year or maybe later. She clearly mentioned that nothing can be done to speed up the process," the student said.

From September 17, the students against started their protest but later alleged they were manhandled by police.

"We haven't received any response from the VC so far despite our repeated attempts to meet him," the student said.

"Later, it was decided that until the time VC Yogesh Tyagi comes to us with a solution to all our problems, five of our students will sit in an indefinite hunger strike," the student added.

However, the protesting students said they are not going to end the protest until the administration comes out with a solution to their demands. PTI SLB CKRudrapur, Sep 19 (PTI) Alleging that the Narendra Modi government has forgotten Lord Ram, former VHP president Pravin Togadia Wednesday said his supporters will march from Lucknow to Ayodhya on October 21 to awaken the Centre from its slumber.

Togadia, who now heads an organisation called Antarrashtriya Hindu Parishad, said the Centre has reneged on its promises.

"Our expectation was that that a Ram temple will be built in Ayodhya through an act of Parliament, that education will be made affordable and crores of our youth will get jobs. Petrol will become cheaper and farmers will be exempted from repaying their debts," Togadia told reporters here on way to Haldwani to attend a programme of his outfit.

Accusing the Modi government of belying all the expectations, he said it "has forgotten Lord Ram and become the advocate of Muslim women" on the issue of triple talaq.

He said the Parishad will take out a march from Lucknow to Ayodhya on October 21 to awaken the Centre from its sleep. PTI Corr ALM GVSRewards for failure: More than 900 PWC partners were paid an average 712,000

More than 900 UK partners at PwC were paid an average 712,000 last year.

The pay-outs increased by 9 per cent on the previous year despite the accountant being hit by record fines for poor work, including 10million for its handling of collapsed department store BHSs audit.

The UK wing of the business made profits of 935million on revenues of 3.8billion, driven by a surge in deals and tax advice.

The accounting sector is in crisis following a string of scandals that have spurred calls for a break-up of the so-called Big Four: PwC, Deloitte, KPMG and EY.

However, Kevin Ellis, PwC chairman, insisted a break-up was not the answer.

Were up for change and were up for more choice in the audit market but breaking up the Big Four firms does not improve quality, he said.

There is no silver bullet. We need to think through changes that create choice but do not damage quality.

PwC was fined 1.5million last August for its audit of professional services firm RSM Tenon.

KPMG has been fined 5.4million over its work for Quindell, and is being probed over its work at bust builder Carillion.Rogue trader Kweku Adoboli was jailed for seven years after losing 1.8bn

TRADER REPRIEVE Rogue trader Kweku Adoboli has been granted a last-minute reprieve as he fights deportation to Ghana.

The former UBS banker, 38, was jailed for seven years after losing 1.8billion on illicit trades.

Adoboli was due to be deported to his native country yesterday  where he has not lived since he was four  but has been told the Home Office will now review his case.

FEES PAY-OFF Credit card groups Visa and Mastercard, along with several banks, will pay 4.7billion to settle part of a long-running lawsuit brought by merchants over fees on credit card transactions.

BIG STRIKE Staff at McDonalds restaurants in ten US cities walked out yesterday over claims the fast-food giant is not doing enough to prevent sexual harassment.

BUYING UP Bosses at XPS Pensions Group  which provides administration services for the pension industry  have agreed to buy the retirement arm of construction company Kier for 3.5million.

LENDING LIFT Mortgage company Paragon Banking Group has more than 5billion of retail deposits on its books, up from 4.3billion in March.

SHARE SUCCESS Insurer Aviva has successfully bought back 600million of shares to boost the value of investorss holdings.

BANG TIDY Payments software firm Bango posted a 54 per cent boost in revenues to 2.6million in the six months to June 30 compared to a year earlier.

The firm made a 1.9million loss, up from 1.7million.

WHO BOOST Escape room operator Escape Hunt enjoyed a 76 per cent boost to sales to 800,000 in the six months to June 30 after it secured an exclusive five-year agreement with BBC Worldwide to create Doctor Who themed escape rooms.

PROJECT CASH London-listed explorer United Oil & Gas has raised 3million on the stock market to seek new projects.

SAUDI DEAL Swiss chemicals group Clariant is creating a joint venture in high performance materials with new shareholder Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), targeting sales of around 7billion.High flyers at insurance broker Jardine Lloyds Thompson will rake in 100million after it was bought by a US rival for nearly 5billion.

The Lloyd's of London stalwart accepted a takeover offer from Marsh & McLennan (MMC) worth 1915p a share, or 4.9billion.

JLT shares soared almost 31 per cent, or 440p, to 1872p.

Lloyd's of London stalwart Jardine Lloyds Thompson accepted a takeover offer from Marsh & McLennan (MMC) worth 1915p a share, or 4.9bn

MMC, which is worth more than 42billion, has pledged to pay 100million in retention bonuses to some senior management and staff.

But the bumper deal could also see almost 4,000 staff axed.

MMC admitted that as many as 5 per cent  equivalent to 3,750  of staff would lose their jobs across the two businesses following the tie-up.

It is not clear where jobs will be lost but JLT employs 4,000 of its 10,000 workers in the UK, where its main operations are located.

Job cuts are expected to affect staff in divisions such as finance, human resources, IT, operations, legal and administration.

JLT chief executive Dominic Burke, who has led the company for 13 years, said: 'This is an emotional day for me and for everyone at JLT.'

But he added: 'The entrepreneurial spirit that defines JLT will continue to prosper.'

JLT was founded in 1997 through the merger of Jardine Insurance Brokers, which was formed almost 50 years ago, with Lloyd Thompson Group.

MMC, which was founded in 1905, employs 65,000 staff with clients in more than 130 countries.

The merged group is expected to make revenues of 13.7billion a year. Burke will join MMC as vice chairman and sit on the group's executive committee.

The takeover is expected to complete in spring next year. Burke denied JLT was plotting to sell the business before it was approached by MMC, saying formal talks began earlier this month.

'We were not looking to sell, we were approached by MMC and it was a compelling offer,' Burke said.

'We saw it as opportunity rather than threat.'

Barrie Cornes, analyst at Panmure Gordon, said the offer was 'fabulous for JLT shareholders'.

He added that Burke 'deserves the plaudits'.

MMC plans to keep its headquarters in New York but will have 'a larger presence in London and the UK more broadly'.

Around 50 per cent of MMC's business comes from the US. Dan Glaser, president and chief executive of MMC, said the tie-up 'will create a platform to deliver exceptional service to clients' adding: 'At a personal level, I have come to know, and respect, Dominic Burke and his management team from my time both at MMC and as an underwriter.

'I am confident that the addition of JLT's talented colleagues will make us an even stronger and more dynamic company.'Brookfield Asset Management has been in talks with Toshiba over buying the proposed Moorside nuclear site

A Canadian investor has emerged as the latest potential rescuer of a troubled nuclear power plant planned for Cumbria.

Brookfield Asset Management has been in talks with Japanese corporation Toshiba over buying the proposed Moorside site.

A subsidiary of Brookfield bought Toshibas bankrupt nuclear subsidiary Westinghouse, whose UK arm had designed the reactors for Moorside, earlier this year.

Moorside was supposed to be up and running by the mid-2020s to provide around 7 per cent of Britains electricity.

However it ran into trouble after owner Toshiba suffered financial difficulties at the end of 2016, causing French backers Engie to pull out.

State-owned South Korean firm Kepco looked likely to buy Toshibas stake, but talks fell through and other potential buyers bought in.

Brookfield invests around 216billion in property, infrastructure and renewable power around the world.

It has more than 1,400 megawatts of solar plants as well as hydro and wind plants.B&Q owner Kingfisher has seen half-year profits plunge after suffering poor performance in its French arm as well as seeing a reduction in consumer spending in the UK.

The retailer posted a 30 per cent fall in statutory pre-tax profit to 281 million for the six months to July 31, with profits down 14.8 per cent on an underlying basis at 375 million, leading to shares falling as much as 8 per cent.

The profits slump came after earnings dropped by nearly a third in Kingfisher's French division while its bottom line was also affected by ongoing revamps and higher labour and range overhaul costs, the group said.

The retailer is in the middle of a turnaround that has seen 65 stores shut and 3,000 jobs cut

Sales fell 2.5 per cent on a like-for-like basis across B&Q in the UK and Ireland, after a mixed performance which was impacted by the poor weather at the start of the year and subsequently improved by the heatwave in the final quarter.

As a result, comparable sales of weather-related ranges rose by 4.9 per cent while sales of other products - including more big-ticket items in its showroom - dropped 5.4 per cent.

Like-for-like sales for Screwfix, also owned by Kingfisher, rose 4.5 per cent in the first half.

Retail profits for the overall UK and Ireland business crept 1.2 per cent higher to 281 million.

However, it was a 31 per cent drop in constant currency profits to 122 million at its French arm that weighed on wider group profits in the first half.

Sales at Castorama fell 5.8 per cent and were 1.7 per cent lower at Brico Depot.

Despite this, Kingfisher chief executive Veronique Laury insisted the group was making 'good progress' having now reached the halfway point in its five-year strategy overhaul.

She said: 'Transformation on this scale is tough, and there are challenges that we're working through.

'There is still much to do to improve our performance in France and to remove inefficiencies within the business as we continue to transform at pace.'

She confirmed that difficult retail trading conditions are 'making our task more difficult than expected'.

Brexit uncertainty has slowed the property market, meaning that there has been a drop in demand in the DIY sector, affecting profits at DIY retailers such as B&Q

The group said there was evidence of consumer 'belt-tightening' in the UK, while Brexit uncertainty was also holding back the property market, creating a knock-on effect on demand for DIY products.

However, not everyone is convinced. Neil Wilson, chief market analyst at Markets.com, said investors were still in doubt about Kingfisher's overhaul.

He said: 'It's still the same old story at Kingfisher with little sign that the turnaround is really working.

'With talk of activist investors circling, the French operation is one that could certainly be earmarked for hiving off, as previously argued on several occasions in the past.'

The retailer's turnaround saw B&Q shut 65 shops and cut around 3,000 jobs in the UK and Ireland over the last two and a half years.

The group has also been revamping its ranges, as part of its turnaround, as well as improving its online offerings and it recently announced it was investing 100 million as part of plans to lower everyday prices.

Kingfisher has almost 24,700 staff in the UK and Ireland and over 63,900 overall, with operations also extending across markets in Poland, Russia, Romania and Iberia, among others.

It currently has 296 B&Q stores and 598 Screwfix outlets in the UK and Ireland. American Consumer News, LLC dba MarketBeat 2010-2021. All rights reserved.

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His Democratic opponent, Anthony Delgado, is hitting Faso for his vote last year to terminate the Affordable Care Act - Obamacare.

Faso at the time said his vote was justified by GOP inclusion of his measure to end New York states requirement that counties chip in for the part of Medicaid financing borne by the state.

He portrays himself as a center-right nonideological Republican, pointing to his vote against the GOP tax bill late last year because it would severely limit deductions for state income and local property tax payments that New Yorkers depend on.

But if a blue-wave election is indeed shaping up over voter disenchantment with Donald Trump and the many controversies surrounding his presidency, Faso may find it difficult to stay afloat no matter his positions on individual issues.

The overall bill, the Opioid Crisis Response Act, passed the Senate late Monday on a vote of 99-1. It must be voted on again by the House before the president signs it into law. That vote could come next week, Faso said.

Sign up for The Knick  Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter.

The bills main features are the STOP Act, aimed at ending the flow of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids into the United States. Other aspects would require drug companies to disclose payments to health-care professionals other than doctors, more research funding for nonaddictive painkiller alternatives, and stepped-up monitoring of opioid prescriptions to prevent doctor shopping.

Faso said his Medicare Part D proposal is aimed at helping seniors understand the threat they face in treatment when doctors prescribe opioids for pain relief. The warning in You and Medicare (available on Medicare.gov) would also come with information on alternative treatments.

Faso said he was shocked to hear that 30 percent of prescriptions written under Medicare Part D were for opioids.

Thats a big number, he said. The potential for abuse is not just among the young and middle aged, but the elderly as well.

New York ranks 22nd among states with an opioid overdose death rate of 15.1 per 100,000 population, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.Troy

Hudson Valley Community College President Roger Ramsammy has dedicated much of his career to advancing science and technology education, and he knows the value that a highly trained technical workforce can have on a local economy.

Ramsammy, who has a Ph.D. in molecular biology and a master's degree in genetics from Howard University, is also a seasoned academic leader, having been president of the West Campus of Miami Dade College, and provost and chief academic officer at Northern Virginia Community College before that.

And while he was a professor of microbiology and anatomy and physiology at Palm Beach State College, he served as associate dean of STEM (i.e. science, technology, engineering and math) education and dean of academic affairs.

So it is no surprise that when Ramsammy became president of HVCC in July, he got right to work making connections with local employers, especially those who value a highly trained workforce that the college wants to help educate.

HVCC is part of the new C5 consortium of local community colleges that is focused on creating new workforce development projects, and Ramsammy and other consortium leaders were on hand Tuesday when the group held a news conference at the HVCC campus in Troy.

After that event, Ramsammy talked about his listening tour of local employers. Of course, the local workforce shortage  created by a low unemployment rate, a hot economy that has produced thousands of new local jobs, and a technical skills gap  was one of their top concerns.

"I had 79 visits at different (employer) sites within two-and-a-half months, and there isn't one particular place that I've been that didn't talk about the shortage that's there," Ramsammy said.

Ramsammy, who was part of President Obama's STEM Education College Opportunity Initiative and also won the Virginia Governor's Award for the most innovative STEM program in that state when he was at Northern Virginia Community College, believes that C5 is just the solution to the problem.

"I'm hoping with all five of us, the plan that were putting in place is going to be one that will really secure this region for the next 10 to 15 years, with us building on that to make sure in the future we don't have this kind of issue."

Ramsammy says that HVCC is well poised to help the coalition, especially with the construction of its new 37,000 square-foot, $14.5 Haas Center for Advanced Manufacturing Skills that will be at the forefront of manufacturing training locally once completed.

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"We have so much that is going on with our engineering department," Ramsammy added. "We have so much need for engineering students and so a lot of investments are being placed in this area."

Ramsammy says that in all of his experience in teaching and being an administrator, he has never seen a group of community colleges band together to work on solving an economic issue such as workforce development. However, the issue appears to be more severe here, he said, compared to in Florida and Virginia.

Ramsammy has worked in Miami-Dade County (population 2.7 million), Broward County (population 1.9 million) and Palm Beach County (population 1.3 million), all in Florida, and Fairfax County in Virginia (population 1.1 million). As a comparison, Rensselaer County where HVCC is located has a population of 160,00, although it has a second campus in Saratoga County which has a population of 230,000.

"I've worked in three of the biggest counties in Florida, and of course in Virginia, and now here in New York," Ramsammy said. "And no, there's never been a team like this anywhere that's come together to address an issue like this. But there is a greater need here."

Ramsammy says HVCC is also working to create a research program partnering with places like the University at Albany and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute that would bring research from those schools to be worked on at the HVCC Troy campus. He said that high school students and grade-school students could be exposed to that research as well.Washington

Seeking better-skilled workers, Cedar Electronics decided last year to return some of its manufacturing to the United States from the Philippines, only to run smack into a worsening U.S.-China trade war.

Cedar makes radar and laser detection systems. When it shifted the assembly of those machines to Westchester, Ohio, it provided jobs for 30 people. Yet with President Donald Trump escalating his tariffs on Chinese imports, Cedar must now pay hefty taxes on critical imported parts  tariffs it didn't have to pay when that manufacturing was done overseas.

"We're effectively being penalized for bringing back that product manufacturing from the Philippines to the U.S.," said Chris Cowger, the Chicago-based company's chief executive. "If we had known this time last year, we most likely would not have brought those jobs back."

On Monday, Trump intensified his trade war with China by announcing tariffs on an additional $200 billion of Chinese goods. That followed tariffs on $50 billion in goods that Trump had already imposed on Beijing, which retaliated in kind.

China swiftly announced that it would impose tariffs on $60 billion of U.S. exports. Caught in the crossfire are companies like Cedar that depend on affordable imports and other businesses whose exports may now become prohibitively expensive in China.

The tit-for-tat blows signal that the trade fight will likely escalate further. While most analysts say the latest tariffs will likely have only a minimal effect on the U.S. or Chinese economy for now, they stand to inflict real damage, in the United States and perhaps globally, beginning next year. The latest Trump tariffs will start at 10 percent next week but will jump to 25 percent on Jan. 1.

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What's more, Trump has warned that if China retaliates with its own tariffs, he's prepared to tax an additional $267 billion in Chinese imports. At that point, the Trump administration will have raised tariffs on virtually every good China sells the United States.

Because China said Tuesday that it would retaliate, Trump is now in a position, some analysts noted, in which he must follow through on his threat or lose credibility. That makes it more likely that the additional tariffs will be take place. Yet few think Beijing is prepared to yield.

"President Trump issued an ultimatum to China: Surrender unconditionally or face unprecedented tariffs," said Gregory Daco, chief U.S. economist at Oxford Economics, said. "China won't surrender."

Bill Adams, an economist at PNC Financial, said the trade confusion is making the United States a less attractive place for large companies to invest.Ballston Spa

A former dairy barn in Ballston Spa that now hosts weddings and other events is part of the agricultural sector that contributes about $500 million annually to the Saratoga County economy, according to a survey released Wednesday by the Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership.

Partnership President Marty Vanags unveiled the survey at the 250-acre Ellms Family Farm on Charlton Road, which co-owner Garth Ellms said draws about 30,000 visitors a year in an "agri-tainment" business.

And business has been good, he said, as the family-owned business, now in its third generation, is poised to grow to about 350 acres by the end of the year. In addition to the converted barn, it also includes a you-cut-them Christmas tree farm, pumpkins and corn, said Ellms.

Not surprisingly, the Saratoga Race Course and associated horse farms and other equine-related businesses represent the largest share of agricultural economic impact in the county, coming in at about $300 million annually and fueling about 2,600 jobs, according to Vanags.

Overall in the county, the value of crops and livestock produced, and acreage being farmed, have been going up, although the total number of farms fell from 641 in 2007 to 583 in 2012, based on the 2012 figures from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

During that same period, land being farmed rose from about 75,660 acres to nearly 78,900 acres, with the average farm growing from 118 aces to 135 acres. Overall sales increased from $58.2 million to nearly $80 million, with average farm sales going from about $90,800 to more than $137,000.

That is far cry from the county of a century ago, when there were more than 3,600 farms spread across 392,000 acres.

Saratoga County is one of the fastest-growing upstate counties, and farmland is being lost to development, said Northumberland Supervisor Bill Peck, who owns Welcome Stock Farm, a 700-acre dairy operation.

"It is easy if you do not want to farm to sell your land for development," said Peck, whose family has worked their farm since 1836.

Jennifer Koval, of Koval Brothers Dairy in Stillwater, said that currently only 4 percent of the agricultural land is protected from development by either a conservation easement or land trust. She urged that more resources need to be devoted to such preservation efforts as the county continues to grow.

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Peck and Koval, whose farm is a major dairy supplier to Stewarts Shops, were part of a panel at the Ellms farm that discussed the county's role in agriculture.

Another speaker, state Assembly member Carrie Woerner, said the state should do more to encourage another way that farms might make money  the conversion of livestock manure into energy.

Current state rules for energy-producing anerobic digesters don't provide enough incentive for farmers to sell unused power to the grid, said Woerner.

The state now has about two dozen such digesters, which take in manure and with a chemical reaction convert volatile gases into electricity. The process also keeps manure-derived methane, a potent greenhouse gas that drives climate change, out of the atmosphere.

For example, a 400-cow farm in Poestenkill, Rensselaer County, uses a digester that can produce enough electricity to power nearly 185 average homes for a year. Woerner said some digesters are in jeopardy of shutting down because farmers cannot make them economically viable.

"Cow power is one of greatest opportunities for green energy here in New York," said Woerner. The state is currently home to about 600,000 dairy cows.Did you hear the one about the Emmys' being super diverse this year?

The 70th Primetime Emmy Awards, which ran Monday night on NBC, opened not with hosts Michael Che and Colin Jost, but with a parade of beloved performers, including Kenan Thompson, Kate McKinnon and Ricky Martin, doing an awkwardly self-deprecating musical bit about Hollywood's commitment to inclusion called "We Solved It." From that point, the word "diversity" (or "diverse") lingered like a trending hashtag, hammered home by one person after another seemingly every few minutes.

It was the running theme of the night, while curiously the discussion around #MeToo at the first Emmys ceremony since The New York Times' Harvey Weinstein story broke last year was noticeably muted. This was especially glaring in light of the recent downfall of former CBS chief executive Les Moonves, long one of the most powerful men in television, who stepped down earlier this month after multiple allegations of sexual misconduct. (Moonves has denied the accusations.)

Here are some of the most memorable moments from the Emmy Awards.

The "SNL"-ification of the Emmys

NBC turned over this year's telecast to Lorne Michaels and the ceremony at times felt like a glammed-up installment of "Saturday Night Live," with a heavy dose of the show's past and present stars. As with most episodes of "SNL," the results were decidedly mixed. Performers like Thompson and Leslie Jones enlivened the evening, but several bits, like a running gag featuring Maya Rudolph and Fred Armisen as inept Emmy experts, fell flat.

As the hosts, Jost and Che reprised the give and take of their "Weekend Update" segments on "SNL," cracking wise about subjects like Ronan Farrow, Roseanne Barr and the death of traditional television.

"Our network NBC has the most nominations of any broadcast network," Che said. "Which is kind of like being the sexiest person on life support."

But if the writing and bits were hit and miss at best, "SNL" got the last laugh. It won the award for the best variety sketch show for the second year in a row.

"Mrs. Maisel" dominates comedy

With the perennial winner "Veep" out of the running this year, the Emmy Awards were guaranteed to crown a new top comedy. But the competition seemed like an even split between FX's whimsically avant-garde "Atlanta" and Amazon's period charmer "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel."

In the end, it wasn't close. "Mrs. Maisel" dominated the category, taking home five awards, the most of any program. The haul included the top award as well as best comic actress for Rachel Brosnahan and best comedy writing and directing for the creator, Amy Sherman-Palladino. When Alex Borstein was announced in the supporting actress category, she ascended the stage in delightfully dramatic fashion.

The Fonz finally wins

Henry Winkler deserved the biggest thumbs up of all Monday night. More than 40 years after his first Emmy nomination, he finally took home a statuette.

"Oh, my god. Oh, my god. Oh, my god!" said an ecstatic Winkler, 72, who'd leapt onto the stage to accept his award for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series, bringing the audience to its feet. He played Gene Cousineau on HBO's dark comedy "Barry."

"I wrote this 43 years ago," he said of his acceptance speech. Winkler was first nominated in 1976 for his role as Arthur Fonzarelli, who exemplified midcentury American cool in a black leather jacket, on "Happy Days."

"I can't stop yet," Winkler said as his allotted speech time wound down. "My wife, Stacey, oh, my god. My cast and crew, and the kids! Kids! Jed, Zoe and Max, you can go to bed now! Daddy won!"

"The reparation Emmys"

It has become commonplace for award shows to highlight the exclusion of minorities with a knowing wink at how far things have (sort of) come and the Emmys were no different. In addition to the opening musical number, Che appeared in a pretaped bit in which he handed out "reparation Emmys" to veteran black performers who have been overlooked by the voting academy.

Jaleel White ("Family Matters"), Marla Gibbs (nominated five times for her role as Florence on "The Jeffersons"), Tichina Arnold ("Martin," "Everybody Hates Chris") and Kadeem Hardison ("A Different World") were among the famous faces who happily accepted Che's acknowledgment of their impressive careers.

The catch: The co-host "stole" the statues from four-time winner Bill Cosby. But Cosby's wins did not actually have anything to do with those performers not having their own awards. Rather, these actors remain unsung by Emmy voters because of a system that has largely overlooked black artists for decades.

Even if that part of the sketch felt forced, it was nice to see the performers get some recognition. And Che is absolutely right: When it comes to sitcom actors, Arnold is, "pound for pound," one of the best.

'The Americans' gets a going-away present

Going into the Emmy Awards, fans of "The Americans" could be forgiven for indulging in some quixotic wishful thinking: Might the great FX spy series, virtually ignored by the Emmys throughout its run, claim the top drama award for its final season?

The answer was no  "Game of Thrones" won again. But "The Americans" did score awards for Matthew Rhys, for best actor in a drama, and the creators Joe Weisberg and Joel Fields, for drama writing. It was a nice send-off for one of the best shows of the past decade, one that almost made up for Keri Russell's being denied best actress honors for the past six seasons. Almost.

A director wins, then pops the question

In a mostly ho-hum ceremony, Glenn Weiss delivered a moment that left many in attendance slack-jawed and applauding. He proposed to his girlfriend on live television after winning an award. Weiss, who has now amassed more than a dozen Emmys, won for outstanding directing for a variety special for his work on the most recent Oscars telecast.

He started his speech paying tribute to his mother, who he said had passed away two weeks ago. "Mom always believed in finding the sunshine in things, and she adored my girlfriend, Jan," Weiss said.

Weiss was referring to Jan Svendsen, the chief creative officer at Charity Network, and added: "You wonder why I don't like to call you my girlfriend? Because I want to call you my wife."

Svendsen's jaw dropped and she said yes before Weiss had even popped the question. The crowd cheered as Svendsen walked to the stage. Once she arrived, Weiss told her, "This is the ring that my dad put on my mom's finger 67 years ago."

He knelt and said, "Will you marry me?"

She, of course, said yes (again), and the two walked offstage with an Emmy and a lifetime partnership.Beer-tasting reception Tuesday at Reel Seafood

Reel Seafood Co. in Colonie will host a harvest-beer tasting reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday featuring Queensbury-based Northway Brewing. In addition to a variety of beers, the event will include passed hors d'oeuvres and food stations.

Tickets, at $39.99, are available for advance purchase online at reelseafoodco.com.

Reel Seafood is at 195 Wolf Road.

Final fall for Panza's original building

Panza's Restaurant, open on Saratoga Lake for 80 years, is planning to raze the original one-story building with a new structure that will house the restaurant on the first floor and an event space upstairs. If the many approvals needed for the project are granted, the restaurant will be open through the end of the year, with demolition slated for January and construction to follow.

Owner Tony Panza said that trying to reopen in time for next year's track season is probably too aggressive a schedule; a fall debut is more likely, he said. In addition to the new building, the property will have an expansive patio and a 36-room hotel that will replace existing rental units.

Panza's, at 510 Route 9P, serves dinner from 3 p.m. Sunday and from 5 p.m. Monday and Wednesday to Saturday, closed Tuesday. Call 518-584-6882.

Magic show, dance party end June Farms season

June Farms, the bar and event venue in West Sand Lake, is approaching the end of its season. Thursday will feature an evening of magic, food and drink with New York City-based magician Chris Anthony. Of Anthony, June Farms owner Matt Baumgartner wrote, "I was blown away by the talent of this magician, so much so that I invited him to come to The Pony Barn at June Farms for a night of magic!"

Thursday's event includes three hours of top-shelf open bar, passed hors d'oeuvres and dessert, magic-themed cocktails and Anthony's performance. Arrival time is 6 p.m. Tickets, at $110.79 per person inclusive of tip, tax and service charge, must be purchased in advance.

The remaining events in June Farms' season are an '80s dance party on Saturday ($20) and, next week, a walking tour of the farm's five cabins that are available year-round for rent via Airbnb; the tours depart every half hour from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday ($45) and include wine and food pairings at each stop.

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Regular Pony Barn nights will resume late next spring.

June Farms is at 275 Parker Road. Visit facebook.com/JuneFarmsNY for full details and ticket links.

Quick-serve spot opens on Lark Street in Albany

A tiny storefront at 185 Lark St., Albany, that was home for several years to at least a couple of incarnations of a gyro shop re-emerged earlier this month as Jay & Brad Snatch N Grab. The eccentric menu, surprisingly large for such a small kitchen, includes burgers (lobster-topped beef patty, salmon, lamb, veggie), fried shrimp over french fries with cheese sauce, chicken wings with coconut-mango and other sauces, conch fritters, fried dough, breakfast sandwiches and more.

Hours are 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday to Friday, 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday, closed Sunday. Call 518-621-7441.

Compiled by Steve Barnes. Items to be considered for publication must be submitted to sbarnes@timesunion.com. Visit his blog, blog.timesunion.com/tablehopping.New York Army National Guard Maj. Amy Crounse of Glens Falls is the new commander of the 321 soldiers assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment of Joint Force Headquarters New York in Latham.

Crounse assumed command from Maj. AshLee Coye during a ceremony. Coye has been assigned to the National Guard Bureau in Arlington, Va. Her company includes soldiers who work for the two-star general who commands the New York National Guard.

Crounse enlisted in the Army in 1993 as a signals intelligence specialist (linguist). In August 2004, she earned a direct commission as a second lieutenant in the New York Army National Guard as a Military Intelligence Corps officer.

In her most recent assignment, Crounse deployed with the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team as part of the Joint Military Training Group in Ukraine, that provided training and mentoring to the Ukrainian armed forces. Prior to that she served as the deputy commander of the 2nd Civil Support Team (Weapons of Mass Destruction) in Scotia.

Crounse is on full-time Active Guard Reserve status with the Military Personnel Directorate. She holds a bachelor of science in organizational management from Nyack College.

Retirement ceremony

New York Army National Guard Master Sgt. John Batza of Watervliet has retired after 31 years of service. Batza was recognized during a retirement ceremony at Watervliet Arsenal.

Batza joined the New York Army National Guard in 1980. He served in the Army National Guard and Army Reserve until 1986. He left the service and re-enlisted in the New York Army National Guard in 1991. He joined the Active Guard and Reserve program in 2000. He served in a number of military personnel administrative positions, most recently as the noncommissioned officer in charge of the New York National Guard's military personnel database.

He has earned a Meritorious Service Medal, an Army Commendation Medal and an Army Achievement Medal.

Soldiers advance

Christopher Giebel of Clifton Park has been promoted to major while serving with the New York Army National Guard's Headquarters and Support Company, 42nd Infantry Division in Troy.

Matthew Williams of Ballston Spa was promoted to captain while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 2nd Battalion, 101st Cavalry (Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition).

Priscilla Burnah of Waterford advanced to chief warrant officer 4 while on duty with Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Recruiting and Retention Battalion.

Justin Leslie of Schenectady advanced to chief warrant officer 3 while on duty with Signal Company, 42nd Infantry Division.

Joshua Rowinski of Albany was promoted to chief warrant officer 3 while assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade.

Christopher Zacharakis of Saratoga Springs, advanced to first lieutenant while on duty with the Company G (Forward Support Company Infantry), 427th Brigade Support Battalion.

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Manuel Pardo of Albany was promoted to first lieutenant while assigned to Signal Company, 42nd Infantry Division.

Amanda Gundrum of Watervliet advanced to second lieutenant while on duty with 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

Micah Weaver of Hillsdale was promoted to second lieutenant while serving with Battery A, 1st Battalion, 258th Field Artillery.

Thomas Myers of Schodack advanced to sergeant first class while serving with 2nd Civil Support Team (Weapons of Mass Destruction).

Kristin Northrup of Glenville was promoted to staff sergeant while serving with 2nd Civil Support Team (Weapons of Mass Destruction).

Others promoted included:

Sergeant: Richard Amedure, Rensselaerville, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 2nd Battalion, 101st Cavalry (Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition).

Specialist: Micheal Ganesh, Schenectady, Company D, 3rd Battalion, 42nd Aviation; Jonathan Carroll, Troy, Division Signal Company, 42nd Infantry Division; Daniel Farley, East Greenbush, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 258th Field Artillery; and Jeffrey Allen, Schenectady, Intelligence and Sustainment Company, 42nd Infantry Division.

News of your troops and units can be sent to Duty Calls, Terry Brown, Times Union, Box 15000, Albany, NY 12212 or brownt@timesunion.com.Ibrahim Alkahraman escaped the war in Syria so his family could be safe together. Six years later, they're still separated and seeking security.

Alkahraman, his wife and his five youngest children were resettled as refugees in Albany a year and a half ago, but his three oldest sons who were over age 18 are living in Jordan and waiting to come to the U.S. Now it will be even more difficult to reunite the family as the State Department cuts the maximum number of refugees entering the country next year by a third.

"Because my kids are over there and I'm not next to them, I feel sad and bad," Alkahraman, 49, said outside RISSE, a refugee support organization in Albany, where he works as a driver. "Any families, they need to be together."

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Monday that the U.S. will cap refugee admissions at 30,000 for next year, down from 45,000 this year. Obama's administration set the cap at 110,000 the year before.

The actual number admitted this year hasn't even reached the cap though. As of July, the U.S. had received just more than 16,000 refugees, according to State Department data.

The number of refugees resettled in the Capital Region keeps plummeting. The Albany office of the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) has received around 200 refugees this year, said director Jill Peckenpaugh. That's half the average in years past. She said the agency could absorb as many as 600.

"Albany has been a very welcoming place to refugees, as has New York state," Peckenpaugh said. "There are more refugees than ever needing safety and people whose basic human rights have been taken away. The U.S. is built on immigrants and could absorb many more."

USCRI Albany has resettled more than 4,200 refugees since 2005 - 95 percent of all arrivals in the state, Peckenpaugh said. She said about half of the people arriving in Albany have family ties in the U.S. Others like Alkahraman are waiting for family members in war zones like Syria, the Congo and Afghanistan to join them here.

"We hear in the news about the awful tragedies that happen and the war that continues there," Peckenpaugh said. "Some people we've resettled in recent years, they lost family members because they don't get out in time."

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Peckenpaugh said although the agency's government funding is dependent on refugee arrivals, they have been able to diversify programs and haven't downsized yet. RISSE director Rifat Filkins said the organization hasn't felt the impact of reduced numbers because it serves refugees and immigrants who have already been here for years.

According to the United Nations, there are more than 68 million displaced people in the world. The U.S. has resettled three million refugees since 1980. The country accepts the highest number of refugees in the world per year but not the highest percentage of its population. If the U.S. population had the same proportion of refugees as Lebanon, for example, it would host 54 million refugees.

Pompeo told press Monday that the U.S. would focus instead on processing 280,000 more asylum seekers at the borders and strengthening security vetting. He said the refugee ceiling cap shouldn't be viewed "as the sole barometer of America's commitment to vulnerable people around the world" and cited the country's global humanitarian program that gave more than $8 billion this year.Washington

The woman who has accused President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee of sexual assault threw into doubt plans for an extraordinary Senate hearing to air her accusations, charging on Tuesday that some senators have already made up their minds and insisting that the FBI investigate first.

Speaking through her lawyers, Christine Blasey Ford did not explicitly rule out appearing next Monday before the Senate Judiciary Committee to testify along with Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh. But echoing Senate Democrats, she said an investigation should be "the first step" before she is put "on national television to relive this traumatic and harrowing incident."

Republicans are unlikely to negotiate an alternative date and could go ahead with the hearing without her or cancel it altogether if Blasey refuses to appear and move quickly to a vote on Kavanaugh's nomination. They have repeatedly stressed that Monday would be her opportunity to testify, either privately or publicly, and that they then planned to move forward with the confirmation process. They have also rejected the possibility of an FBI investigation.

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The apparent standoff was yet another turn in a high-stakes drama that has gripped the Capitol since Thursday, when the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee revealed that she had referred the sexual assault allegations to federal investigators. Blasey, a research psychologist in Northern California, has accused the judge of sexually assaulting her more than 30 years ago when both were teenagers, a charge that Kavanaugh has categorically denied.

"If she does not come on Monday, we are going to move on and vote on Wednesday," Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a member of the committee, told Fox News on Tuesday evening.Devastating flooding in North Carolina in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence has raised concerns about whether dams across the state, some of them already in poor condition, will be able to hold up under the strain.

State and local officials have been monitoring dam safety and say there have been at least two breaches so far that caused no major issues. But there have been several other locations of concern and false alarms about dam failures that have caused panic.

According to data submitted to the National Inventory of Dams for this year's deadline and obtained by The Associated Press, the state has 1,445 dams rated high hazard out of about 5,700 dams total, ranging from large federally owned ones to small private ones. That hazard classification does not indicate the likelihood of failure  just that any failure would be likely to cause the loss of one or more human lives.

Of those high-hazard dams, 185 had conditions of poor or unsatisfactory during recent inspections, the data show. And many of those dams were in areas that have been inundated with water.

Ahead of the storm, workers with North Carolina's Dam Safety Program identified vulnerable structures, contacted dam owners and operators to call attention to the threat and asked them to consider lowering impoundment water levels to temporarily increase storage capacity prior, Bridget Munger, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Environmental Quality said.

Dam safety personnel have also been deployed to the state Emergency Operations Center since before the storm, Munger added.

State Emergency Management Director Mike Sprayberry said Monday that there had been one dam breach in Brunswick County.

He said no homes were affected in the inundation area.

A failure at an unregulated dam in Anson County prompted the evacuation of about 12 homes Monday night but the water receded and the evacuees have since been allowed to return, emergency manager Rodney Diggs said Tuesday.

On Sunday night, an Associated Press reporter was with a U.S. Army swift-water rescue team in Fayetteville when a call came over the radio about a dam failure in Pinehurst, which turned out to be a false alarm. Then another call came in reporting another dam breach.

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Soldiers who had been resting on cots starting donning boots, helmets and life vests, and a team deployed toward a nearby fire department. About halfway there, the call was canceled  another false alarm.

A Facebook post claiming a dam in Hope Mills, a suburb of Fayetteville, had failed caused trouble there Sunday night, Mayor Jackie Warner said.

"It created a panic because people thought the dam had broken, and they didn't know which way the water would go," she said. Residents started calling asking if they needed to leave their homes, she said.

The dam held up just fine.NEW ORLEANS  McDonald's workers staged protests in several cities Tuesday in what organizers billed as the first multistate strike seeking to combat sexual harassment in the workplace.

In Chicago, one of the targeted cities, several dozen protesters rallied in front of McDonald's headquarters while a plane flew overhead with a banner reading, "McDonald's: Stop Sexual Harassment." In New Orleans, current and former employees chanted, "Hey, McDonald's, you can't hide  we can see your nasty side."Schenectady

The construction is complete at Union College's new Stephen Charles and Judith Gardner Ainlay Hall, which is a part of a $100 million makeover of its science and engineering complex.

It is named for recently retired college President Stephen Ainlay, under whom the project began, and his wife.

The private liberal arts college serving 2,200 students has long prided itself on its early entrance into STEM fields, a move more and more exclusively liberal arts colleges are having to make to remain competitive. In 1845, Union became the first liberal arts college in the nation to offer engineering programs.

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Union built its science and engineering center in the late 1960s to house its biology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, and computer, electrical and mechanical engineering programs. The building was dedicated in 1971.

Related: Union College planning $100M makeover of science centerJohn C. Lanzara

BALLSTON SPA - The longtime bookkeeper with the Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau pleaded guilty to charges of tax fraud and grand larceny Wednesday, according to the Saratoga County District Attorney's office.

Kathryn A. Price, 58, of Saratoga Springs, was arrested late last year after she was accused of forging close to 200 bureau checks, a loss estimated at $220,000.A man who stole someone's identity and then used it to obtain credit cards is among the people State Police are searching for as part of their Warrant Wednesday effort.

Victor Caldwell, 28, is wanted by State Police in Middletown on a charge of third-degree identity theft. Caldwell used someone else's identity to obtain credit cards and then failed to pay fines after his arrest.Kudos to Rep. Brian Higgins for co-sponsoring H.R. 3671, the Off Fossil Fuels for a Better Future Act, the most ambitious legislation to combat climate change in Congress. The science is clear: We need to transition from dirty fossil fuels to 100 percent renewable energy and the OFF Act puts in place the policies we need to achieve this critical goal by 2035. In doing so, we can create good green jobs while cleaning our air and protecting our water from fracking. Higgins joins every New York House Democrat, except Paul Tonko, in supporting this important bill. We hope Rep. Tonko will demonstrate his commitment to preventing climate catastrophe by co-sponsoring the OFF Act.

Eric WeltmanChinese tire maker Linglong Tire marked an important milestone in its Serbian plant project this week when chairman Wang Feng signed an investment framework agreement with Sinisa Mali, the minister of finance of Serbia. Aleksandar Vucic, the Prime Minister of Serbia, and other leaders also attended the signing ceremony.

Europe is one of Linglongs main export markets and it is hoped the plant in Serbia will increase the companys market penetration in the region. The more direct sales channel from the Serbian factory to vehicle OEMs and retail distributors in and around Europe will mean customers are served faster and more efficiently and at reduced logistics costs.

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The Chinese tire maker also hopes the opening of the factory will encourage a deeper cooperation between Linglong and some of the European auto makers including Volkswagen and Audi.

The factory will provide numerous employment opportunities in the region.

During the signing ceremony, Vucic said he will fully support the project in order to see completion of construction and the start of operations as soon as possible.[September 18, 2018] Indonesian Game Developers to Shine at the Asia's Biggest Video Game Expo, Tokyo Game Show 2018

Locally-developed video games stand to reap enormous financial growth in the long run. TOKYO, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Badan Ekonomi Kreatif Indonesia (BEKRAF), the Indonesian Agency for Creative Economy, is bringing seven Indonesian video game developers to exhibit at the largest video game show in Asia, Tokyo Game Show 2018, September 20-23, 2018. The selection process was administered by the Indonesian Game Association (AGI)'s strict screening committee since August 2018. Entitled "Archipelageek", the Indonesian booth comprises mobile, PC, and console video game developers, Agate and Studio Namaapa; online game portal developer, Megaxus; open source game engine by Melon Gaming; to intellectual property and game developer, by Lentera Nusantara, Wisageni Studio and Semisoft. Archipelageek is BEKRAF and AGI's support program to Indonesia's local game developers and it will take spot at New Starts Area Hall 1, International Conference Halls, Makuhari Messe, Japan.



As the leading hub of the global gaming industry, Tokyo Game Show 2018 gives thousands of game enthusiasts a first-hand preview of the latest games and game-related gadgets and technologies, created by the biggest game companies. Held once a year, it attracts more than 250,000 visitors to attend up to 2,000 booths from the world's key players in the industry. "By participating in the expo, we strive to connect Indonesia's leading developers in the gaming industry, with hundreds of new games, service providers, and potential partners from around the globe, and particularly from Japan. The mobile game industry continues to ride a growing wave each year, estimated to account for US$50 billion dollars globally. Thus, Indonesia, as the 6th largest population of internet users, is ready to tap into the global gaming market," said Joshua Puji Mulia Simandjuntak, Deputy Chairman for Marketing of BEKRAF.

Joshua added that all Indonesian exhibitors foster their local identities. "It works through the content form of their products, which often make Indonesian cultural and heritage references in their stories. One such online video game incorporates an Indonesian fable about a street musician. Moreover, we're taking a look at major shifts in the gaming industry, not only in Indonesia but also throughout Asia Pacific. Thus, we are optimistically expanding our gaming potential throughout the APAC region, specifically to Japan." With 43.7 million active gamers, Indonesia earned US$869.7 million from the industry in 2017, as stated in a report by Newzoo. This ranks Indonesia at #16 worldwide in terms of game revenues. According to Bank Indonesia, the gaming industry in Indonesia will contribute to 1.93% to the economy. Japan is the world's third-largest gaming market, with 65 million gamers spending a total of US$12.5 billion, making it a high-potential market for Indonesian game makers for expansion. With a growing base of smartphone users, Japan is undeniably the world's most mature market for mobile games, as well as consoles, which skyrocketed by more than 70% in sales last year. It is a market with huge opportunities for Indonesia's various thriving gaming clusters, including mobile gaming app, console, and social-network game developers, to promote the growth of the Indonesian creative economy. Media Contact: Boni Pudjianto , Director of International Market Development (+62-815-72914419)

, Director of International Market Development (+62-815-72914419) Mariaman Purba, Head Bureau of Legal and Public Communication (+62-813-17506456) Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20180918/2240970-1 SOURCE Indonesian Agency for Creative Economy (BEKRAF)

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ][September 18, 2018]

Carl Data Solutions Announces Stock Option Cancellation

CSE: CRL

FSE: 7C5

OTC:CDTAF

VANCOUVER, Sept. 18, 2018 /CNW/ - Carl Data Solutions Inc. (CSE:CRL, FSE:7C5, OTC:CDTAF) ("Carl" or the "Company"), announces that the Company has cancelled an aggregate of 2,169,786 incentive stock options (the "Cancelled Options") previously held by certain directors, officers, consultants and employees of the Company. The Cancelled Options were comprised of the following:









Number of

Cancelled Options Original Date of

Grant Expiry Date Exercise Price 919,600 January 20, 2016 January 20, 2021 $0.40 565,247 August 25, 2016 August 25, 2021 $0.45 684,939 March 20, 2017 March 19, 2022 $0.36



About Carl Data Solutions Inc.

Carl Data Solutions Inc. an Industrial IoT (IIoT) company focused on providing next generation information collection, storage and analytics solutions for data-centric companies. Building on its recent acquisitions, Carl helps its clients analyze and understand all forms of environmental data through a powerful platform of data collection, monitoring, reporting, and predictive analysis tools.

Carl Data continues to develop applications to work with new cloud-based mass storage services and analytics tools (Big-Data-as-a-Service (BDaaS) to provide scalability for municipalities, utilities and other industrial verticals. These data collection and storage methods allow the company to build smart Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)-based applications that can collect data from many diverse sources and provide deep insight for decision-making purposes. More information can be found at www.CarlSolutions.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors:

Greg Johnston

President, Chief Executive Officer, Director

Carl Data Solutions Inc.

The Canadian Securities Exchange (operated by CNSX Markets Inc.) has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this press release.

SOURCE Carl Data Solutions Inc.[September 18, 2018] 2018 Robot World to Suggest Direction for the Fourth Industrial Revolution

SEOUL, South Korea, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Showcasing the latest robot technologies from around the world, the 2018 Robot World will be held at KINTEX, Korea from October 10-13, 2018. The Robot World (eng.robotworld.or.kr/wp), celebrating its 13th anniversary this year, consists of four main programs: 'International Robot Industry Exhibition' for the robotics industry, 'International Robot Contest', 'International Robot Conference' and 'Promotion Hall' for the exhibition and demonstration of commercial robots. The "International Robotics Industry Exhibition" to be held in Hall 2 of KINTEX Exhibition Center 1 will serve as a venue for the robotics business. Over 200 companies from 20 countries will operate 500 booths to show their industrial robots, service robots, robot parts, smart manufactring solutions, smart application and software, and drones.



This year's exhibition will feature a "Specialty Pavilion" for the application of robots in everyday life and various industry sectors and a "Collaborative Robotics Pavilion" where visitors can get a glimpse of the collaborative robotics market and regulations as well as safety solutions for industrial sites. The exhibition will be followed by the "Global Robot Business Forum", "Korea-China-Japan Robotics Workshop", and "Korea-China Robotics Forum" where robotics engineers from around the world will present robot industry forecasts to those visiting the exhibition.

The "International Robot Contest" to be held in Hall 1 of Exhibition Center I is a global event that has been participated in by various types of competitors including students (elementary, middle school, high school, and college) and adults. The theme for this year is "The Coexistence of Humans and Robots." Based on this theme and a set of contest rules, participants will make robots and compete with each other in the areas of robot performance and in carrying out the missions. The 2018 International Robot Contest consists of 11 competitions and 29 categories. The 2018 Robot World is an important venue for those in the industry, academe, and research communities to exchange information on the latest trends and discuss technical issues. Participants in the exhibition and contest will also attend the International Robot Conference, where they can have an opportunity to form a network and review the development directions for new and convergence technologies taken by schools and businesses in Korea and abroad. The topic of this year's International Robot Conference is "International Robotics Forum: Biomimetic Robots and Technologies," so discussions will focus on biomimetic robots that can be applied in national defense, disaster relief, construction, and many other areas. According to Kim Hwanguen, Vice President of the Korea Association of Robot Industry who will supervise the event, the Robot World is the largest robot exhibition in Korea. "We will turn it into a leading global exhibition by adding a platform for smart factories and artificial intelligence to robotics, which will surely play a leading role in the Fourth Industrial Revolution," he added. Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20180914/2237996-1 SOURCE Robot World

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ][September 19, 2018] British Council in Korea announces launch of IELTS on computer

SEOUL, South Korea, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- IELTS, the world's most popular English test for higher education and migration can now be taken on a computer from 3 October 2018 onwards. We are continually enhancing IELTS to improve the experience for our test takers and stakeholders. Computer-delivered IELTS will not replace paper-based IELTS but rather offer a choice in delivery and more availability. Test takers can now choose the option and time to take IELTS that best works for them. They can also get their results faster, with results typically available between five to seven calendar days after the test has been completed. The test content and structure remain the same in both options and, importantly, the Speaking test remains face-to-face with a certified IELTS Examiner. Whether test takers take IELTS on paper or computer, they can be confident that they are taking the same trusted English language test. It's the same IELTS, at the same price, but with more choice. Test takers who choose the option of computer-delivered IELTS can also access support materials with which to prepare for taking IELTS on a computer. IELTS is one of the world's most popular high-stakes English language tests, with over three million tests taken in the past year, and is recognised by more than 10,000 universities, schools, employers and immigration bodies. IELTS is the most widely used test of English for migration to Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK. It is recognised by more than 10,000 universities, schools, employers and immigration bodies, including all universities in Australia and the UK and many of the leading institutions in the USA. Learn more abouttaking IELTS on computer: https://www.ieltsasia.org/kr/en/choose-test-format



Notes to editors About IELTS on computer

IELTS on computer was launched in Australia in December 2017 and is being introduced across the IELTS testing network in 2018. The test is the same as paper-based IELTS for content, scoring, level of difficulty, question format and security arrangements. IELTS on computer includes Listening, Reading and Writing. The Speaking test will continue to be face-to-face, as it is a more reliable indicator of communication and it is what our customers tell us feels more natural for them. This new option will not replace paper-based IELTS but rather offer a choice in delivery and more availability. Results from IELTS on computer are available between 5-7 days after taking all four test sections. The IELTS partners are committed to continuous investment in test development in order to enhance the IELTS experience. International English Language Testing System (IELTS) IELTS is the International English Language Testing System, the world's most popular English language proficiency test for higher education and global migration with more than 3 million tests taken in the last year. Over 10,000 organisations trust and accept IELTS as a secure, valid and reliable indicator of true to life ability to communicate in English for education, immigration and professional accreditation purposes. IELTS is jointly owned by British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge Assessment English. The British Council is the UK's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities and provides IELTS testing in more than 800 locations in over 100 countries. About the test Test takers are measured in listening, reading, writing and speaking skills. All tests are scored on a banded system from 1 (non-user) through to 9 (expert user). IELTS offers a choice of two tests, to serve both academic and non-academic purposes. IELTS Academic measures English language proficiency needed for an academic, higher learning environment. The tasks and texts are accessible to all test takers, irrespective of their subject focus. IELTS General Training measures English language proficiency in a practical, everyday context. The tasks and texts reflect both workplace and social situations. IELTS General Training is suitable for immigration purposes to Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom and Ireland. A sample of government and professional associations who recognise or require applicants to hold an IELTS test result include: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

Department of Home Affairs ( Australia )

) UK Visas and Immigration

Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools and National Council of State Boards of Nursing, USA

International Monetary Fund For further media information, please contact: Hyunkyung Choe, Head of Exams on +82 (0)2 3702 0631 or hyunkyung.choe@britishcouncil.or.kr SOURCE British Council (IELTS)

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ][September 19, 2018] WISeKey and OISTE.ORG to Launch at the Zermatt Summit the Anti-Illicit Trade Declaration, calling on the International Community to Address all Forms of Illicit Trade

WISeKey and OISTE.ORG to Launch at the Zermatt Summit the Anti-Illicit Trade Declaration, calling on the International Community to Address all Forms of Illicit Trade WISeKey and OISTE to Lead a Groundbreaking Anti-Illicit Trade Roundtable Discussion at the 7th Edition of the 2018 Zermatt Summit

(September 21-23, in Zermatt, Switzerland) Geneva, Zermatt - September 19, 2018 - WISeKey International Holding Ltd (SIX: WIHN, OTTCQX: WIKYY), a Swiss based cyber security and IoT company, today announced that in cooperation with OISTE Foundation will lead a groundbreaking anti-illicit trade roundtable discussion at the Zermatt Summit (September 21-23, in Zermatt, Switzerland). Today, illicit trade has become a major contributor to discrepancies in wealth between the developing and developed world, while fueling devastating conflicts and undermining the legitimacy of countries. In effect, counterfeiting is the conduit that supports destabilizing and dangerous activities in nearly every sphere of the global economy. From the illegal export of protected commodities, to the use of supply lines by terrorist groups and transnational criminal networks, counterfeiting and illicit trade hinders the fundamental building blocks of development, democracy, human rights and rule of law. It enables corrupt practices among government officials and private citizens alike. The value of illicit trade globally rivals the individual GDP of most members of the G8. To enhance awareness of the issue and respond to these challenges, WISeKey and the Zermatt Summit will be organizing a high-profile panel of experts moderated by Carlos Moreira, CEO of WISeKey, at the Roundtable on Technology and Innovation in the Fight Against Illicit Trade. Joining the panel:

 Alvise Giustiniani, Vice President, Illicit Trade Prevention, Philip Morris International

 Murat Seitnepesov, CEO, Integral Petroleum SA

 Philip Grant, President, Trial International ONG



The Roundtable will also focus on the urgency to develop an Anti-Illicit Trade Declaration, calling on the international community to address all forms of illicit trade, promote due diligence and supply chain controls, and to foster private public cooperation in developing sustainable solutions. The Zermatt Summit main theme this year is."How nature can change the way we do business." That's the promise of "Humanising Innovation," at the 2018 Zermatt Summit.



For centuries, we have plundered nature to get what we wanted. At a closer look, if we use what nature generously provides in abundance, we can serve the needs of people while regenerating and re-energizing our environment. If we use the space and resources available to us, we can grow an abundance of food and fuel as well as create jobs and income for all. In nature, nobody is left behind and all needs are met.



Speakers at the 2018 Zermatt Summit will turn existing business models upside down. They will present inspiring and disruptive cases that show that doing business inspired by nature will serve the needs of people and planet while generating better results for owners, employees, shareholders, suppliers and customers.



Many of the case studies that will be presented-from seaweed and bioplastics to Internet over light waves-can be replicated around the globe. This provides unique opportunities to build new businesses and makes the 2018 Zermatt Summit a "must" to attend for business leaders, investors, thinkers and do-ers who want to lead innovaton and contribute to groundbreaking change.







For more information on the program, registration fees, tickets, and speakers of the 2018 Zermatt Summit, visit our website: https://www.zermattsummit.org, or see the PDF program.



Please register using the discount code NETWORKPARTNER2018, which will provide a total discount of 20% on the entry fee.

To engage in discussions with our international experts, you can access our webpage at https://www.zermattsummit.org/ About Zermatt Summit



Since 2010, the Zermatt Summit has been held annually in Switzerland. It has focused on themes including servant leadership, common good, courage. and has consistently promoted a constructive, action oriented dialogue between key stakeholders from different universes who share the same purpose.



Between 21st and 23rd September 2018 the Zermatt Summit will be held again in Zermatt under the theme "Humanising Innovation."



More information:

http://www.zermattsummit.org About The OISTE FOUNDATION

Founded in Switzerland in 1998, OISTE was created with the objectives of promoting the use and adoption of international standards to secure electronic transactions, expand the use of digital certification and ensure the interoperability of certification authorities' e-transaction systems. The OISTE Foundation is a not for profit organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, regulated by article 80 et seq. of the Swiss Civil Code. OISTE is an organization in special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC) and belongs to the Not-for-Profit constituency (NPOC) of the ICANN. http://www.oiste.org/ About WISeKey

WISeKey is one of the fastest growing CyberSecurity companies in the world, being a leading Swiss information security and identity management software and services company. WISeKey's mission is to facilitate the global growth of secure electronic transactions by providing businesses, governments and individuals with advanced technology and services that authenticate the identity of communicators, signatures, and objects during Internet transactions. WISeKey is currently deploying large scale IoT digital identities ecosystems and has become a pioneer of the 4th Industrial Revolution movement launched this year at the World Economic Forum at Davos. WISeKey Swiss based Cryptographic Root of Trust integrates wearable technology with secure authentication and identification, in both physical and virtual environments, and empowers IoT and wearable devices to become secure transactional devices.www.wisekey.com Disclaimer:



This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning WISeKey International Holding Ltd and its business. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of WISeKey International Holding Ltd to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. WISeKey International Holding Ltd is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, and it does not constitute an offering prospectus within the meaning of article 652a or article 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or a listing prospectus within the meaning of the listing rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange. Investors must rely on their own evaluation of WISeKey and its securities, including the merits and risks involved. Nothing contained herein is, or shall be relied on as, a promise or representation as to the future performance of WISeKey. Press and investor contacts: WISeKey International Holding Ltd

Company Contact: Carlos Moreira

Chairman & CEO

Tel: +41 22 594 3000

info@wisekey.com WISeKey Investor Relations (US)

Contact: Lena Cati

The Equity Group Inc.

Tel: +1 212 836-9611

lcati@equityny.com

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ][September 19, 2018] Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Chooses Capgemini to Partner on Strategic Systems Renewal

The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company, the largest Canadian Property and Casualty Mutual insurer, has retained Capgemini to guide their Strategic Systems Renewal program to its completion. The program employs Core and Digital products from Guidewire Software, Inc. (NYSE: GWRE), provider of the industry platform Property and Casualty (P&C) insurers rely upon. This implementation is Capgemini's (News - Alert) largest insurance core system transformation initiative in Canada. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180918006184/en/ "We will benefit from the leadership capabilities Capgemini can provide from its many years of experience with Guidewire and insurance industry delivery knowledge, both with us, and many other large organizations throughout North America," said Carol Jardine, President of Wawanesa Mutual's Canadian P&C Operations. "Our partnership will create more capacity within Wawanesa to deliver on our 2018-2020 strategy and we will see more results - faster - with the processes Capgemini will implement." Wawanesa's business transformation covers the entire value chain with implementations of Guidewire InsuranceSuite, Guidewire Rating Management, Guidewire CustomerEngage, and Guidewire ProducerEngage. The objectives of the transformation are to streamline the way of doing business, accelerate speed to market, and reduce operational costs. "The key to a successful implementation at Wawanesa is two-fold: true collaboration between Wawanesa, Guidewire and Capgemini as well as our using Capgemini's methodology which allows multiple workstreams to be underway simultaneously providing quicker time to market and more value," said Shane Cassidy, Managing Director, Insurance Business Unit, Capgemini. Capgeini is also using its Applied Innovation Discover Center in Toronto to hold highly collaborative Strategic Assessment Workshops for Wawanesa. These workshops will establish governance and ensure leadership is fully aligned to a common vision and roadmap for Wawanesa's digital transformation. The Applied Innovation Discover Center is designed to encourage interaction and creativity and is integral to this transformation.



Mike Polelle, Chief Delivery Officer, Guidewire, said, "Capgemini is a leading systems integrator of Guidewire InsurancePlatform products and we look forward to another successful implementation as we team together on Wawanesa's digital transformation." About Capgemini

A global leader in consulting, technology services and digital transformation, Capgemini is at the forefront of innovation to address the entire breadth of clients' opportunities in the evolving world of cloud, digital and platforms. Building on its strong 50-year heritage and deep industry-specific expertise, Capgemini enables organizations to realize their business ambitions through an array of services from strategy to operations. Capgemini is driven by the conviction that the business value of technology comes from and through people. It is a multicultural company of 200,000 team members in over 40 countries. The Group reported 2017 global revenues of EUR 12.8 billion. Visit us at www.capgemini.com. People matter, results count. About The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company, founded in 1896, is the largest Canadian Property and Casualty Mutual insurer with $3 billion in annual revenue and assets of more than $9 billion. Wawanesa Mutual, with executive offices in Winnipeg, is the parent company of Wawanesa General, which offers property and casualty insurance in California and Oregon; Wawanesa Life, which provides life insurance products and services throughout Canada; and Western Financial Group, which distributes personal and business insurance across Western Canada. With over 5,000 employees, Wawanesa proudly serves over two million policyholders through nine regional offices and 41 service offices in Canada and the United States. Wawanesa actively gives back to organizations that strengthen communities where it operates, donating well above internationally recognized benchmarks for excellence in corporate philanthropy. Learn more at www.wawanesa.com/canada/. About Guidewire Software Guidewire delivers the industry platform that Property and Casualty (P&C) insurers rely upon to adapt and succeed in a time of accelerating change. We provide the software, services, and partner ecosystem to enable our customers to run, differentiate, and grow their business. We are privileged to serve more than 350 companies in 32 countries. For more information, please visit www.guidewire.com and follow us on twitter: @Guidewire_PandC. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180918006184/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ][September 19, 2018] Blockcloud Global Meetup Vietnam Stop: For Global Consensus & International Community

From the 15th and 17th of September, 2018, the Blockcloud Global Meetup arrived at its 8th stop: Hanoi, Vietnam, with the mission to gather professionals in the global blockchain industry, deliver the value of Future Internet and blockchain technology, as well as build a broader and stronger community. As an honored guest at the Cryptocurrencies & Digital Assets Dialogue Conference, Dr. Zhongxing Ming, CEO of the world's first protocol-level project Blockcloud, gave a detailed introduction to the technical issues in the area of blockchain, the prospects of Future Internet technology and the development progress of Blockcloud, attracting the attention of many authoritative media, experts and scholars. At the Blockcloud Meetup held at the Candlelight Hotel in Hanoi on the evening of September 17th, Dr. Zhongxing Ming gave a speech on "How will Blockcloud upgrade and evolve the current Iternet". He also discussed topics such as the technical system, implementation plans, etc. with the Blockchain enthusiasts, authoritative media, influencers and experts.



After the Cryptocurrencies & Digital Assets Dialogue Conference, Dr. Zhongxing Ming talked with Vitalik Buterin, Founder of Ethereum, who was also an honored guest, saying that Blockcloud aimed to upgrade and revolutionize the current Internet to enable TCP/IP to be better adapted to the future network development. Vitalik showed his interests and expressed optimism about the development of Blockcloud. Dr. Zhongxing Ming and Vitalik also discussed the direction of Liberal Radicalism and the potential of cooperation in this field. Dr. Zhongxing Ming indicated that the zero-knowledge proof and sharding technology have a good application prospect in the field of blockchain. Blockcloud has achieved outstanding accomplishments in the recently concluded KYC and community contribution plan, with more than 15,000 registrants from 108 countries and regions. Vietnam is among the countries with the highest participation rate. How will Blockcloud achieve the win-win cooperation in Vietnam? Perhaps as one Vietnamese expert said, the Future Internet is a high-profile development trend, and the scientist team and internationalized community of Blockcloud will strongly promote the development and launch of the project.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180918006237/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ][September 19, 2018] Alibaba and SAP Deepen Global Partnership to Accelerate Intelligent Enterprises in China

WALLDORF, Germany and HANGZHOU, China, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (NYSE:BABA) and SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) today announced plans to offer SAP S/4HANA Cloud and SAP Cloud Platform on Alibaba Cloud's infrastructure as a service (IaaS) in China to help customers transition to the cloud and build intelligent enterprises. Alibaba CEO Daniel Zhang and SAP CEO Bill McDermott outlined the expanded relationship today at the Computing Conference 2018 of Alibaba Group being held in Hangzhou, China. Alibaba and SAP joined forces two years ago to deliver enterprise cloud solutions in China through Alibaba Cloud, the cloud computing arm of Alibaba Group, to help customers adapt to fast-changing market demands. Beginning today, the two companies will collaborate, co-innovate and jointly go to market to offer SAP S/4HANA Cloud, the digital cloud suite of choice to run a successful business in the cloud. Alibaba Cloud's customers will also be able to deploy SAP Cloud Platform to extend their current business solutions, build new applications and integrate third-party technologies. "China has been SAP's second home for more than two decades," said SAP Chief Executive Officer Bill McDermott. "Alibaba and SAP's growing partnership expands our ability to empower digital China by building intelligent enterprises. SAP embraces the China Dream as we prepare for substantial expansion here in the years ahead." "We are pleased our partnership with SAP reached new heights today," said Daniel Zhang, Chief Executive Officer, Alibaba Group. "The availability of SAP's globally renowned ERP system S/4HANA Cloud on Alibaba Cloud is yet another milestone in our globalisation strategy, and exemplary of our mission to make it easy to do business anywhere. We have formed a close collaboration with SAP in the past, and it is exciting for us to expand our partnership." "The entrepreneurs who believe and embrace the future; and who can leverage new thinking, new concepts and new technologies will be future winners," said Jack Ma, Executive Chairman, Alibaba Group. SAP S/4HANA Cloud brings intelligence to the enterprise with its AI-powered automation and predictive analytics, hands-free conversational UX and next-generation business processes. With SAP S/4HANA Cloud, companies can migrate core business processes at a lower cost, experience faster deployment and innovation cycles and see shortened time to value. A growing number of businesses in China are adopting SAPS/4HANA Cloud.



SAP Cloud Platform is an open platform as a service (PaaS) that provides a unique in-memory database and a set of technology and business services for building, extending and connecting enterprise applications. As an open and agile application and integration platform, SAP Cloud Platform enables customers to transform and rapidly develop new applications and cutting-edge technologies as well as personalize and customize existing ones. Established in 2009, Alibaba Cloud is China's largest provider of public cloud services and according to Gartner Inc., the company is also among the world's top three IaaS providers. The partnership extends the global reach of SAP S/4HANA Cloud and SAP Cloud Platform to all top public clouds.

As part of the agreement, SAP will continue to employ Alibaba Cloud's technology, and Alibaba will adopt SAP S/4HANA software to drive its own innovation and new business model. Alibaba and SAP will explore further collaboration in areas around artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, New Retail and New Manufacturing, all of which are new initiatives by Alibaba Group. The collaboration is expected to offer solutions that will drive further development in the area of digital transformation and maximize value to customers. Visit the SAP News Center. Follow SAP on Twitter at @sapnews. About SAP As market leader in enterprise application software, SAP (NYSE: SAP) helps companies of all sizes and industries run better. From back office to boardroom, warehouse to storefront, desktop to mobile device  SAP empowers people and organizations to work together more efficiently and use business insight more effectively to stay ahead of the competition. SAP applications and services enable more than 404,000 business and public sector customers to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and grow sustainably. For more information, visit www.sap.com/china. About Alibaba Group Alibaba Group's mission is to make it easy to do business anywhere. The company aims to build the future infrastructure of commerce. It envisions that its customers will meet, work and live at Alibaba, and that it will be a company that lasts at least 102 years. Any statements contained in this document that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "intend," "may," "plan," "project," "predict," "should" and "will" and similar expressions as they relate to SAP are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. SAP undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. The factors that could affect SAP's future financial results are discussed more fully in SAP's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including SAP's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates.  2018 SAP SE. All rights reserved.

SAP and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP SE in Germany and other countries. Please see https://www.sap.com/copyright for additional trademark information and notices. For customers interested in learning more about SAP products:

Global Customer Center: +49 180 534-34-24

United States Only: 1 (800) 872-1SAP (1-800-872-1727) For more information, press only:

Christina Zhang, SAP, +86 1380-100-9944, christina.zhang@sap.com

Rajiv Sekhri, SAP, +49 6227 7-74871, rajiv.sekhri@sap.com

Lesa Beber, SAP, +65 9646 5529, lesa.beber@sap.com

SAP News Center press room; press@sap.com

Jowie Law, Alibaba Cloud, +86 136 2571 9035, yukman.lym@alibaba-inc.com

Luica Mak, Alibaba Cloud, +44 7905471332, luica.mak@alibaba-inc.com Please consider our privacy policy. If you received this press release in your e-mail and you wish to unsubscribe to our mailing list please contact press@sap.com and write Unsubscribe in the subject line. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alibaba-and-sap-deepen-global-partnership-to-accelerate-intelligent-enterprises-in-china-300715280.html SOURCE SAP SE

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ][September 19, 2018] Optium Cyber Systems Releases Short & Long Term Growth Strategies

THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NEWMEDIAWIRE -- Optium Cyber Systems, Inc. (the Company) (OTC:OCSY) today releases its short and long term growth strategies.

Short Term Growth Strategy The immediate plan for the Company is to develop new service contracts for the recently announced acquisition (the Acquisition). The Company is developing an advertising campaign consisting of cold calling, print advertising, social media and search engine optimization to aggressively market the new services offered under the Acquisition. The projected launch of this campaign is October 1, 2018. The initial target market will be the greater Houston area, expanding across the State of Texas, then nationally. The goal is to generate a minimum of $2 million in new client contracts for the upcoming fiscal year. Long Term Growth Strategy The Companys long term growth strategy is to grow through acquisition. The contract security industry is very fragmented with over 8,000 companies servicing the domestic market. The clear majority (96.4%) are smaller companies grossing under $5,000,000 revenue and are privately owned/operated. The owner demographic of these companies is on average 50+yrs old and beginning to think of retirement thereby motivated to sell. The acquisition program is designed to provide owners of these companies a viable option to selling privately, which is usually very costly and time consuming. It is the intention of the Company to expand by acquiring a select two or three of these companies a year. Each acquisition must complement the current operations, meet minimum standards, pass evaluations and thorough due diligence. With each acquisition the revenue of the Company will grow exponentially. If the ompany acquires three companies in the next fiscal year, and each acquisition generates a minimum of $2 million gross, the Company will be report consolidated revenue in excess of $6 million.



The Company is in talks to acquire its second acquisition. About Optium Cyber Systems, Inc.

OCSI has developed a proprietary process to analyze, identify and address cyber security vulnerabilities in an organizations critical IT infrastructure, which is scalable to any size organization in any industry. OCSI has recently launched in the health care sector, focusing on protecting health care facilities including hospitals, nursing homes and doctors offices from cyberthreats such as the manipulation of medical devices or theft of patient records. OCSI is a publicly traded company having its common shares quoted on the OTC Markets under the symbol "OCSY". Contact Investor Relations

Ten Associates LLC 11529 N. 120th St. Scottsdale, Arizona 85259 USA Telephone: 480-326-8577 Contact: Thomas E. Nelson Email: tenassociates33@gmail.com Optium Cyber Systems, Inc. 8350 Ashlane Way, Suite 104 The Woodlands, Texas 77382 USA Contact: George Rutherford Telephone: 936-559-7407 Web: www.optiumcyber.com Email: info@optiumcyber.com Forward-Looking Statements Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements and are subject to risks and uncertainties. See Optium Cyber Systems, Inc.'s filings with OTC Markets, which may identify specific factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Safe Harbor Statement This release includes forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and reflects management's current expectations. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations. Some of these factors include: general global economic conditions; general industry and market conditions, sector changes and growth rates; uncertainty as to whether our strategies and business plans will yield the expected benefits; increasing competition; availability and cost of capital; the ability to identify and develop and achieve commercial success; the level of expenditures necessary to maintain and improve the quality of services; changes in the economy; changes in laws and regulations, including codes and standards, intellectual property rights, and tax matters; or other matters not anticipated; our ability to secure and maintain strategic relationships and distribution agreements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ][September 19, 2018] Thanks to Boon, Google Pay is now Available to all Android Users in Italy

ASCHHEIM, Germany and MILAN, September 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Fully digital and contactless payments with Google Pay are facilitated by the boon android app Wirecard, the global leader in innovation for digital financial technology, is making its mobile payment solution boon available to download in the Google Play store for the launch of Google Pay in Italy. As a result, Italian users will benefit from a fully digitized prepaid Mastercard for mobile payments, regardless of which bank they are with. According to a recent survey, 74% of all consumers in Italy already use their smartphone for mobile banking. As of now, Android users in Italy can make secure contactless mobile payments at the till with Google Pay and boon. With the new boon Android app, customers can simply add their digital Mastercard to Google Pay. With boon, all Android smartphone users can register in a matter of minutes and then securely pay via boon and Google Pay. Georg von Waldenfels, Executive Vice President Consumer Solutions at Wirecard, says: "With boon, we are delighted to now offer Google Pay to every user of an Android device in Italy, from Android version 5 on. We welcome today's launch of Google Pay in Italy and together with boon, the digitization of payment processes is advancing." Florence iss, Head of EMEA Commerce Partnerships, Google, adds: "Starting today, boon users can link their card to Google Pay once and then use Google Pay to make safe, fast and delightful purchases in millions of places in Italy and around the world including on their favorite apps and sites."



Users can top up their boon account using any Mastercard or Visa and via bank transfer. As a result, it is not necessary to already own a credit card from a bank supported by Google Pay. Furthermore, boon facilitates free, real-time money transfers between boon users. Thanks to the Google Pay integration, Android users can use boon especially quickly and easily: Users simply take their mobile end device, hold it over the till terminal - without even having to open up the app - and the payment is complete. boon is the industry's first fully digitized mobile payment solution and can be used independently from banks and telecommunications providers. boon is already available on Android devices in Germany, Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands, Austria and Spain. The app runs on both the Android operating system and iOS, where boon is already available in the UK, France, Italy, Ireland, Switzerland and Spain.

Further details can be found at: http://www.boonpayment.com About Wirecard: Wirecard (GER: WDI) is one of the world's fastest growing digital platforms in the area of financial commerce. We provide both corporate clients and consumers with a constantly expanding ecosystem of real-time value-added services built around innovative digital payments by using an integrated B2B2C approach. This ecosystem concentrates on solutions in the areas payment and risk, retail and transaction banking, loyalty and coupon programs in addition to data analytics and conversion rate enhancement across all sales channels (online, mobile, ePOS). Wirecard operates regulated financial institutions in several key markets, in addition to holding issuing and acquiring licenses from all major payment and card networks. Wirecard AG is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (TecDAX, ISIN DE0007472060). Visit us on http://www.wirecard.com, follow us on Twitter @wirecard and on Facebook @wirecardgroup. Wirecard media contact:

Wirecard AG

Jana Tilz

Tel.: +49(0)89-4424-1363

Email: jana.tilz@wirecard.com





[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ][September 19, 2018] Body and Mind Inc. ("BAM") Obtains Ownership Interest in Ohio Medical Cannabis Production License

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Body and Mind Inc. (CSE: BAMM, US OTC: BMMJ), (the Company or BAM) is pleased to announce the Company and its strategic in-state investment partners received notification that the State of Ohio awarded a medical cannabis production license to NMG, Ohio LLC ("NMG Ohio", "Applicant"). The Company's subsidiary, Nevada Medical Group LLC ("NMG") currently maintains a 30% ownership interest in NMG Ohio.

On June 7, 2018, the Company announced NMG Ohio was also awarded a medical cannabis dispensary license. Together, these recently awarded production and dispensary licenses in Ohio advance the Companys vision towards vertically integrated operations in Nevada and Ohio. Ohio Medical Cannabis Dispensary and Production License Highlights: NMG Ohio obtained 1 of only 12 Ohio medical cannabis production licenses awarded to date. Ohio has a population of approximately 11.5 Million.





NMG Ohio obtained 1 of only 56 Ohio medical cannabis dispensary licenses awarded to date. Development for the dispensary in Elyria, Lorain County has commenced.





NMG is currently in negotiations with other members of NMG Ohio to increase its ownership interest, however, there can be no guarantee that the NMG will be successful in increasing its ownership in NMG Ohio above 30%.





Location of production license is in the city of Huron, Erie County, Ohio, approximately 27 miles from the dispensary license in Elyria, Lorain County, Ohio.





To date, less than five cultivation operations in Ohio have been awarded production licenses creating a significant opportunity for partnerships with cultivators.





Ohio production facility will be replicated using NMGs operational history and experience.





NMG anticipates executing management agreements to operate the NMG Ohio production and dispensary facilities.





State of Ohio received 104 medical cannabis production license applications.





First-mover position in Ohio provides the Company with the ability to expediently expand its premium Body and Mind brand and products to an additional state.





Body and Mind branded products including cannabis-infused edibles, creams, vape pens, cartridges and other non smokable medical delivery offerings are anticipated to be sold through local dispenaries.



The Ohio medical marijuana program provides access to medical cannabis products such as edibles, oils, patches and vaporizers to authorized and approved patients having one or more of 21 medical conditions. Medical marijuana patients and their caregivers will be required to register with the Ohio Board of Pharmacy to receive patient identification cards necessary to buy medical marijuana from licensed dispensaries. Patients and their caregivers will be allowed to possess up to a 90-day supply.

In addition to the license award described herein, the Company has applied for and was previously denied an application for a cultivation license in Ohio. The Company is currently assessing whether to appeal the Ohio cultivation license application which was previously denied. A number of unsuccessful Ohio cultivation license applicants have appealed the decision based on a perceived flawed scoring system by the State regulator in determining the award of cultivation licenses. There can be no assurances that the Company will be successful regarding any potential appeal. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For further information regarding Body and Mind Inc . please contact: Michael Mills

778-389-0007

mmills@bammarijuana.com About Body and Mind Body and Mind is a publicly traded company investing in high quality medical and recreational cannabis cultivation and production and retail. Our wholly owned Nevada subsidiary was awarded one of the first medical marijuana cultivation licences and holds cultivation and production licenses. Body and Mind products include dried flower, edibles, topicals, extracts as well as GPEN Gio cartridges. Body and Mind marijuana strains have won numerous awards including the Las Vegas Hempfest Cup 2016, High Times Top Ten, the NorCal Secret Cup and the Emerald Cup. Body and Mind continues to expand operations in Nevada and Ohio and is constantly reviewing accretive expansion opportunities. For more information please visit our web site at www.bammarijuana.com Notice regarding Forward Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statement address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks including the inability of the Company to obtain shareholder and exchange approval, or to raise additional equity as well as the various risk factors discussed in the Company's disclosure documents, which can be found under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com. Body and Mind Inc. undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law or the Canadian Securities Exchange. We seek safe harbour.

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ][September 19, 2018] Reliant Bank Celebrates Opening of New Murfreesboro Branch

Reliant Bank recently hosted a Grand Opening celebration at their new Murfreesboro branch located at 1835 East Northfield Boulevard in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. "The retail branch remains a vital channel and key component of success in the banking arena," said Kim York, EVP/Chief Strategy Officer for Reliant Bank. "With all the options available today, people come to a branch because they want a personal experience - nothing can replace a handshake, a smile, or a familiar face when it comes to building trust and providing reassurance to customers." Reliant's new branch embraces an evolved concept that focuses on design, service and people. Cash automation devices, i.e., recyclers, perform manual cash operations quickly and accurately. This technology builds efficiency and productivity while reducing labor and other operating costs. It also allows staff to focus on customers - and moves the retail channel from a transaction-driven culture to a more consultative, hands-on approach with customers. The branch design conveys a strong sense of community and openness. The lobby is bright with a soothing color pallet and simple wall graphics that provide core product messages. A digital bar equipped with iPad and iPhone (News - Alert) evices give the perception of progressive change while office artwork pays tribute to the past with historical photographs of old Murfreesboro including the historic square, train depot, and Oaklands Mansion. Modern, current-day imagery is displayed in the lobby and hospitality area along with a localized version of the bank's tagline, "Let's Grow Together Murfreesboro."



The Rutherford County Chamber conducted the ribbon-cutting ceremony and officially opened Reliant's Northfield Boulevard branch. As part of the festivities, attendees received special gifts and personalized caricature sketches. "We are excited to add our presence to the dynamic Murfreesboro landscape," said Natalie Hughes (News - Alert) , Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager. "Our goal is for Reliant Bank to become a financial hub of commerce and community for residents and businesses who live and work here. Murfreesboro is the perfect market for the Reliant brand, and we invite everyone to stop by and tour the branch."

About Reliant Bancorp and Reliant Bank Reliant Bancorp, Inc. is a Brentwood, Tennessee-based bank holding company which operates banking centers in Davidson, Robertson, Sumner, Williamson, Maury and Hickman counties, Tennessee, along with loan and deposit production offices in Rutherford and Hamilton counties, Tennessee, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Reliant Bank. Reliant Bank is a full-service commercial bank that offers a variety of deposit, lending and mortgage products and services to business and consumer customers. As of June 30, 2018, Reliant Bancorp had approximately $1.7 billion in total assets, approximately $1.1 billion in loans and approximately $1.3 billion in deposits. For additional information, locations and hours of operation, please visit their website at reliantbank.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180919005037/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ][September 19, 2018] MakerSights Appoints Tom Miltonberger Vice President of Engineering as Adoption by Major Fashion Brands Skyrockets

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- MakerSights announced that Tom Miltonberger has joined the fast-growing company as vice president of engineering. With experience in SaaS, mobile apps and advanced analytics as well as a long history of innovative and executive management in Silicon Valley companies, Miltonberger will lead establishing, enhancing and communicating MakerSights engineering vision and strategy. He will ensure strong alignment throughout the company as it continues to build a world class engineering team and market leading product. MakerSights is experiencing rapid growth as many of the world's most well known brands in fashion and retail have adopted its easy-to-use solution to dramatically improve how they make decisions to develop products and bring them to market. MakerSights pairs modern consumer engagement software and artificial intelligence to help brands make smarter, more informed decisions throughout the product development lifecycle. The company engages consumers at scale through mobile-first surveys and experiences, collecting data on their product preferences. This feedback then flows through the company's machine learned algorithms and predictive models, outputting actionable recommendations around which products and trends to invest behind, and in what quantities. Brands typically see a 2-4% gross margin lift by de-risking new inventory buys, minimizing markdowns and doubling down on best-sellers based on learnings from MakerSights. "We're thrilled to welcome Tom to the MakerSights team. As a software company working to drive actionability in the retail industry and develop solutions customers need and want, it was important for us to have a leader with an impressive techology pedigree and experience in product management and problem solving," said Matt Field, co-founder and president, MakerSights. "Additionally, as our customer base grows, and we scale our team to meet demand and expand our value proposition, hiring great people is priority number one."



Miltonberger was attracted to MakerSights' strong business vision and the opportunity to transform an entire industry using digital engagement and advanced analytics. "It's not just a better mousetrap, but a completely new way of approaching retail product development," said Miltonberger. "Retail is moving to be more customer centric so the product development process must also incorporate the voice of the customer, but in a faster and more scientific way than has been possible in the past."

Prior to joining MakerSights, Miltonberger was the founder and CEO of Guardian Analytics a leading provider of analytics-based fraud prevention solutions for online banking. He has also been in product and engineering leadership roles at companies such as Advanced Decision Systems, Decisive Technology, Quova, Xora and Granular. "Tom's deep experience and proven track record in building innovative and scaled enterprise software, SaaS and analytics businesses, as well his dynamic personality and shared passion for our mission to change the way the industry works, makes him the perfect fit for our company," Field said. "We've only touched the surface on what we'll be able to do with our industry partners. The future of retail is bright, but it will be very different than what it has been. It's exciting to be in the middle of that transformationhelping our industry partners create the futureand we're excited for Tom to help us lead the way." About MakerSights

Founded in 2015, MakerSights is a product development and merchandising platform built for modern retail. Leading brands such as Ralph Lauren, Shinola, Saucony, Taylor Stitch, MM. LaFleur, True Religion and Wolverine Worldwide partner with MakerSights to create more of the products that customers want, in the right quantities. By pairing the voice of customers with artificial intelligence, teams can inform and de-risk critical product decisions in real time, throughout the development lifecycle. The MakerSights team combines retail industry veterans who understand the unique challenges faced by retailers, and consumer internet entrepreneurs with experience building platforms to engage millions of customers. MakerSights has financial backing from leading executives behind today's biggest retail and software companies including Oracle, Warby Parker, Birchbox, Kate Spade and Bobbi Brown, among others. MakerSights works with customers across apparel, accessories, footwear, home and lifestyle. For more information, please visit makersights.com. Media Contact

Pam Njissang

Bhava Communications for MakerSights

pnjissang@bhavacom.com

510-396-0677 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/makersights-appoints-tom-miltonberger-vice-president-of-engineering-as-adoption-by-major-fashion-brands-skyrockets-300715152.html SOURCE MakerSights

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ][September 19, 2018] New Research Indicates Non-Prime Hispanics Have a Leg up on Financial Health

When it comes to personal finances, Hispanics in the U.S. are more stable and optimistic than other groups studied. A newly released study from Elevate's Center for the New Middle Class (CNMC) found that non-prime Hispanics - or those with credit scores below 700 - experience higher levels of employment and less volatile monthly income. When compared to the broader non-prime community, non-prime Hispanics in the U.S. are: 65% more likely to plan for major expenses

86% more likely to feel financially stable

38% more likely to save money each month

20% less likely to have had a vacation expense in the last 12 months

23% less likely to spend on routine medical expenses

50% more likely to be able to cover a $1200 unexpected expense

3x more likely to regularly pay using a smartphone

20% less likely to have a credit card

25% less likely to have a personal retirement account

2x more likely to regularly give money to a child or grandchild

40% more likely to be employed "We found several bright spots in Hispanic experience, including: financial stability, savings, and employment," said Jonathan Walker, Executive Director to the Center for the New Middle Class. "We also found that U.S. Hispanic families are far more financially integrated and often rely on one another for advice. This is a particularly valuable finding in that small investments in financial literacy can pay off many times over." However, the study identified specific challenges that might suggest future difficulty. Non-prime Hispanics are significantly less likely to spend on routine medical expenses, a distubing statistic that can impact one's future physical health. While the non-prime population as a whole suffers from inadequate retirement savings, the non-prime Hispanic community lags even further behind, with only 9% of the group having a retirement account.



Non-prime Hispanics in the U.S. bank differently. They are more likely to adopt new financial tools like mobile apps and peer-to-peer payment systems, yet lag behind in more traditional banking features like checking accounts and credit cards. Notwithstanding their willingness to use technology, they are more likely to use cash than the general population. Employment for the non-prime Hispanic population also stands out. The group experiences considerably higher employment rates than their peers, but also higher rates of job change. Additionally, among prime and non-prime groups, U.S. Hispanics feel the tug of entrepreneurship with high levels in both groups expecting to start a business in the next two years.

Another interesting fact the study uncovered: Household Spanish dominance and acculturation rates do not vary from prime to non-prime. U.S. Hispanic families are far more financially integrated than the general population. "A stronger sense of community exists for U.S. Hispanics; thus, they are more likely to help family and friends with their finances than other demographics," said Jonathan Walker. "Along those same lines, they are also significantly more likely to seek financial help from their parents and to support their children financially." The landmark financial study was conducted online and in person, in English and Spanish, with acculturated, unacculturated, and bicultural Hispanics. The findings reflect the prime, non-prime, and unbanked experience. About the Research This study represents results from a survey of 1311 U.S. consumers (878 Hispanic and 433 drawn from the general population). Of the 1311, 473 identified as non-prime, 170 as credit "invisibles" (meaning they did not have enough credit history to have a credit score), and 668 as prime. Interviews were conducted July 5-18, 2018. To view the entire report, click here. About Elevate's Center for the New Middle Class Elevate's Center for the New Middle Class conducts research, engages in dialogue, and builds cooperation to generate understanding of the behaviors, attitudes, and challenges of America's growing "New Middle Class." For more information, visit: http://www.newmiddleclass.org View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180919005080/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ][September 19, 2018] Weather Telematics Inc to Present at 2018 U.S. DOT Road Weather Management Stakeholder Meeting

TORONTO, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Internet of Things Inc. (TSX VENTURE: ITT; OTC: INOFT; FRANKFURT: 7IT) (IoT Inc. or the Company) a strategic investor and operator of emerging technology companies with innovative IoT, AI and Blockchain solutions, is pleased to announce that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Weather Telematics Inc. (WTX Inc. or Weather Telematics), will be presenting at the 2018 United States Department of Transportation Road Weather Management Stakeholder Meeting . Weather Telematics CEO Robert Moran will be sharing the WTX Inc. thesis, opportunities, and industry trends.





The U.S. DOT notes that of the more than 5.7 million vehicle crashes each year, approximately 22% of these crashes are weather related. The purpose of the event is to provide a venue for peer exchange between the transportation and weather communities consisting of State Departments of Transportation, local agencies, academia, vendors, weather service providers (public and private), and consultants. The event will include presentations, facilitated discussions, and networking opportunities for all participants. Our team is successfully executing on plans and is establishing Weather Telematics as a recognized authority in the global road weather management and connected vehicle ecosystem. We are very pleased to be presenting at the 2018 U.S. DOT Road Weather Management Stakeholder Meeting and to show how Weather Telematics' platform can enhance vehicle and operator safety and reduce the goverments operating costs, said Robert Moran. This is the United States largest road weather management technology conference, and we look forward to sharing our latest product development advancements and are excited to be showcasing Weather Telematics to new audiences.



To view the Internet of Things investor presentation, please visit the Investors page of the Company website here . About Weather Telematics Inc.

Founded in 2010, Weather Telematics Inc. is a Canadian-based, IoT data science company offering road safety data products for industrial, government and consumer markets. Weather Telematics uses a proprietary vehicle-mounted mobile IoT sensor network and AI machine learning system to generate real-time and predictive road weather conditions, road hazard risk alert notifications and dynamic routing applications. The Weather Telematics platform mitigates weather risk, reduces traffic congestion and makes connected and autonomous navigation safer in all types of road conditions.

To learn more, visit: www.weathertelematics.com Follow Weather Telematics on: Twitter: https://twitter.com/weathertx About Internet of Things Inc.

Internet of Things Inc. is a strategic investor and operator of emerging technology companies with innovative technology solutions. The Company creates value through its portfolio companies expertise in IoT, AI and Blockchain solutions, by turning data into actionable intelligence to drive more efficiency into organizations. The Company owns Weather Telematics Inc., has a joint venture partnership, New Hope IoT Intl Inc., with New Hope Data Technology Co. Ltd., and has its headquarters in Toronto, Canada. Follow Internet of Things Inc. on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InternetofThingsInc/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/iotintl

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/internet-of-things-inc- / Internet of Things Inc.

Kim Nguyen, Director of Corporate Communications

Tel: (416) 792-9088

Email: knguyen@iotintl.com

To learn more, visit: www.iotintl.com Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this news release, which are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements that involve risk, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. All forward-looking statements included in this news release are based on information available to the Company on the date hereof. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results of the Company to differ materially from the conclusion, forecast or projection stated in such forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to factors referenced in the Companys other continuous disclosure filings, which are available at sedar.com. Readers should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities laws. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ][September 19, 2018] GSX 2018: Kingston to Showcase Cybersecurity Solutions as well as Extreme Storage and Memory Products

Kingston Digital, Inc., the Flash memory affiliate of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., a world leader in memory products and technology solutions, announced it will showcase an array of products at Global Security Exchange (GSX) (booth 2685 Central Hall), the most established trade event for security professionals. The company will display its full line of industry-leading encrypted USB Flash drive solutions, including the IronKey (News - Alert) brand purchased in 2016, as well as upcoming high-density business and enterprise SSDs and Server Premier memory. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180919005399/en/ Kingston Technology Full Line of Encrypted USB Drives (Photo: Business Wire) "When it comes to memory and data storage solutions, it is imperative that security professionals trust the products they use and the companies that make them. For over 30 years, we have been an unquestioned leader in this field," said Richard Kanadjian, encrypted USB business manager, Kingston. "For storage-bound applications, Kingston stands ready as the industry shifts away from traditional 15k SAS toward NVMe, where the performance gains in terms of IOPS and lower latency is tremendous. GSX (News - Alert) is the perfect venue for us to show the security industry our ability to provide it with the most complete line of superior data performance solutions for their varied security, data, audio/video or other applications." GSX 2018 takes place at the Las Vegas Convention Center from September 23-27. Kingston is located in booth #2685 in the Central Hall. What Kingston Will Be Showing: Encrypted USB Drives Kingston encrypte USB drives are designed to protect data that require high security, maintain a productive and efficient mobile workforce, and serve as an additional element in compliance with the EU's GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation). These drives help users meet specific agency directives, such as encryption, TAA and FIPS compliance, and are ideal for government or corporate use. The line includes both IronKey drives available in 4GB to 128GB capacities; and, Kingston DataTraveler models available from 4GB to 64GB.



Solid State Drives (SSD) for Business and Enterprise In business applications, Kingston SSDs increase performance, help secure data, and extend the life of older systems.

In enterprise applications, Kingston SSDs offer increased reliability and power fail features to keep mission-critical environments up and running 24/7.

The upcoming DC500R is a high-performance 6Gbps SATA SSD designed for read-centric data-center workloads. It is designed with strict QoS requirements to ensure predictable random IO performance as well as predictable latencies over a wide range of read/write workloads. Special power-loss safeguards help reduce the likelihood of data loss and ensure that the drive will successfully re-initialize on the next power-up of the system.

The DC1000M 2.5? U.2 NVMe SSD features high-storage capacity and best-in-class enterprise performance. Its high-performance Gen 3.0 x4 PCIe NVMe interface enables high throughput and low latency on a standardized low-cost platform. The drive's advanced architecture enables delivery of up to 600k IOPS of random read performance and a potent 3GB/s of throughput. Its strict QoS requirements ensure predictable random IO performance as well as predictable latencies over a wide range of workloads. The "mixed-use" workload drive makes it ideal for running a wide range of applications. Server Premier Memory

Kingston server memory is a worldwide industry standard. Server Premier modules are manufactured using a locked bill of materials (BOM). They are designed for big data centers, people who implement high-quality branded provisioned servers to those who use or build white-box systems and require a consistent brand and revision of DRAM. The line offers a variety of embedded memory products that provide maximum performance and flexibility For more information visit kingston.com. Kingston can be found on: YouTube (News - Alert) : http://www.youtube.com/kingstontechmemory

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kingstontechnology

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KingstonTech

Instagram: https://instagram.com/kingstontechnology/

LinkedIn (News - Alert) : http://www.linkedin.com/company/kingston About Kingston Technology Company, Inc. Kingston Digital, Inc. ("KDI") is the Flash memory affiliate of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., a world leader in memory products and technology solutions. Established in 2008, KDI is headquartered in Fountain Valley, California, USA. For more information, please call 877-546-4786 or visit www.kingston.com. Editor's Note: For additional information, evaluation units or executive interviews, please contact David Leong, Kingston Technology Company, Inc., 17600 Newhope Street, Fountain Valley, CA (News - Alert) USA 92708, 714-438-1817 (Voice). Press images can be found in Kingston's press room at kingston.com/company/press/ Kingston and the Kingston logo are registered trademarks of Kingston Technology Corporation. IronKey is a registered trademark of Kingston Digital, Inc. All rights reserved. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. 2018 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180919005399/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ][September 19, 2018] RippleNet is Now Live in over 40 Countries across Six Continents

Ripple, provider of the leading enterprise blockchain solutions for payments, announced today that its network (RippleNet) is now live in over 40 countries across six continents. The milestone was hit earlier today as new payment corridors opened up in North America, Asia, Africa, Europe and South America. These new open corridors create more connection points for RippleNet members around the world. This provides their customers with more flexibility when sending money to countries where payments are challenging. Today's new corridors are in countries where there are large remittance and small business payment needs: United Kingdom to Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh (via RationalFX, Xendpay & InstaReM)

Canada to Nigeria (via Remitr & FlutterWave)

Brazil to Spain, Italy, Germany, France and Portugal (via Beetech & InstaReM). "By opening up new corridors across North America, Europe, Africa and Asia, we're expanding the global footprint of individuals who can benefit from faster and cheaper cross-border payments," said Marcus Treacher, SVP of Customer Success at Ripple. "Whether it's global banks or technology-forward payments providers like RationalFX, Remitr and Beetech, financial institutions are focused on building connections between themselves so that they can better leverage Ripple's blockchain technology to help people and businesses in need." Chris Humphrey, CEO of RationalFX, said, "This is an exciting new partnership for RationalFX, and continues our strategy to offer a unique service and reach for both our business and private clients." Paresh Davdra, Co-Founder and CEO of Xendpay said, "Working with leading blockchain technologies allows us to maintain our promise of driving down the cost of cross-border payments, combined with access to faster more secure money transfers to even more corridors across the globe."



RippleNet allows financial institutions to use either fiat currency or XRP for payments. About Ripple

Ripple provides one frictionless experience to send money globally using the power of blockchain. By joining Ripple's growing, global network, financial institutions can process their customers' payments anywhere in the world instantly, reliably and cost-effectively. Banks and payment providers can use the digital asset XRP to further reduce their costs and access new markets. With offices in San Francisco, New York, London, Luxembourg, Mumbai, Singapore and Sydney, Ripple has more than 100 customers around the world. About The Rational Group: The Rational Group is a leading London based group of companies involved in financial services and payment technologies. Founded in 2005 by Rajesh Agrawal, Executive Chairman (also Deputy Mayor of London for Business), and Paresh Davdra (Co-Founder and CEO of Xendpay), the group has presence in London, Birmingham, France and Spain. Since inception, the group has processed more than 8bn in international payments in over 50 countries and is set to turnover 10.7m in 2018. The company has in excess of 180,000 registered customers in 60 different countries and just shy of 100 employees speaking 15 different languages. Its growth has been achieved organically and is independently owned by its two founders. The Rational Group is a firm believer in giving back to the community and regularly supports several charities, including Oxfam, The Prince's Trust and the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women. Companies that are part of The RationalFX Group include: RationalFX - A leading UK payments & foreign exchange provider, launched to facilitate businesses and private individuals to transfer foreign currency either through a currency specialist or online 24/7, at highly competitive rates. http://www.rationalfx.com/

Xendpay - the world's first Pay What You Want money transfer service, to democratise the global remittance industry and to help small businesses manage their international payment needs. http://www.xendpay.com/ RationalFX is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 507958) under the Payment Services Regulations 2009, for the provision of payment services. It is also a member of SWIFT. Issued by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) Rational Foreign Exchange Ltd trading as RationalFX is a registered Money Service Business (MSB) - Money Laundering Regulation number: 12206957. Xendpay is an agent of Rational Foreign Exchange Limited, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under the Payment Services Regulations 2008. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180919005164/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ][September 19, 2018] Trustwave Managed Security Services Executive Wins Thought Leadership Award from SC Media

SC Media has named Trustwave Senior Vice President of Managed Security Services Chris Schueler to its exclusive list of industry thought leaders in the second-annual SC Media Reboot Leadership Awards. At a time when cyberattacks and threats are on a sharp rise both in frequency and severity, Schueler has been a driving force in shaping how organizations incorporate the managed security services model to complement internal security efforts. His deep understanding of the evolving threat landscape has directly led to new modus operandi within Trustwave around how managed security services are delivered to customers using actionable threat intelligence to identify and remediate security anomalies and eradicate attacks quickly. "We at SC Media have witnessed many impressive achievements in cybersecurity in the past year," said Teri Robinson, executive editor, SC Media. "But Chris Schueler has truly distinguished himself through his valuable contributions, which continue to advance the industry as it grows in both size and importance." Schueler's vision and architecture of the newly launched Trustwave SpiderLabs Fusion Center, a pioneering cybersecurity command center for managed security services delivery, weighed heavily in SC Medias recognition choice. The center "fuses" ethical hackers, forensic investigators and threat hunters forming highly specialized teams that monitor for, detect and instantly kill even the most concealed threats inside an organization down to individual endpoints. Critical research and new threat intelligence derived from the Center is pushed to Trustwave Managed Security Services customers allowing for preemptive action against rapidly spreading malware or attack campaigns targeting specific vulnerabilities and industries.



"The shortage of high-level security talent needed to contend with a growing multi-billion-dollar criminal empire focused on stealing data and infiltrating systems is forcing organizations to consider the managed security services model to help shore up defenses," said Chris Schueler, senior vice president of managed security services at Trustwave. "Through the Trustwave SpiderLabs Fusion Center we have redefined how threat intelligence is used, and security resources distributed to remediate threats. I'm honored for SC Media's recognition and my team's great accomplishments." A celebration of industry leaders who are positively impacting and advancing the field of cybersecurity, the awards program is an extension of SC Media's annual Reboot edition. In this end-of-the-year special, which is published both in print and online, the almost 30-year-old brand's editorial team identifies the best and brightest cyber professionals and their many achievements.

The contenders who were nominated for various categories faced a thorough judging process conducted by SC Media's editorial team. This included a review of their professional backgrounds, references and work undertaken to benefit the wider industry, as well as any other research deemed necessary by editorial leaders. Winners were then chosen based on their outstanding service, qualifications and advancements in the cybersecurity industry. For Chris Schueler's SC Media Reboot Leadership Awards full profile, go to scmagazine.com. About Trustwave Trustwave helps businesses fight cybercrime, protect data and reduce security risk. With cloud and managed security services, integrated technologies and a team of security experts, ethical hackers and researchers, Trustwave enables businesses to transform the way they manage their information security and compliance programs. More than three million businesses are enrolled in the Trustwave TrustKeeper cloud platform, through which Trustwave delivers automated, efficient and cost-effective threat, vulnerability and compliance management. Trustwave is headquartered in Chicago, with customers in 96 countries. For more information about Trustwave, visit https://www.trustwave.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180919005445/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ][September 19, 2018] Cavirin Delivers Breakthrough Resource Visibility and Security Posture Intelligence for Hybrid Cloud Infrastructures

Cavirin Systems, Inc., the only company1 providing risk, cybersecurity and compliance posture for the enterprise hybrid cloud, today announced the general availability of its Summer 2018 CyberPosture Intelligence release. CyberPosture is a consolidated risk score for the hybrid infrastructure, based on configuration checks, vulnerabilities, and risk, security and compliance audit frameworks requirements, permitting the CISO's team to immediately compare the organization's current security posture against the desired 'golden posture' and immediately take corrective action. CyberPosture Intelligence provides a set of visibility and control capabilities that allows organizations to automate security policy across their hybrid cloud data centers to reduce a growing attack surface and assure compliance with industry regulations. "Cavirin for the first time is truly integrating continuous compliance and cloud security posture management into a single, actionable view for the CISO and their teams," said Nemi George, Senior Director of Information Security and Service Operations at Pacific Dental Services. "This innovation will help cut through the myriad of operational noise (event alerts and notifications), helping to identify the real risks across our hybrid infrastructure whilst providing actionable intelligence." According to research conducted by ESG2, businesses plan to increase the number of workloads they have deployed in a public cloud platform. However, as more organizations leverage the flexibility of both on-premise and public cloud platforms to gain agility in an increasingly competitive business environment, the need for cybersecurity and mitigating risk becomes complicated by the resulting expansion of the intrusion surface. The new CyberPosture Intelligence capabilities from Cavirin close the loop for protection, monitoring, and remediation across cloud workloads and cloud security posture management, while permitting organizations to retain full control of their assessment data, important in many verticals such as those subject to FedRAMP. This approach differs from a SaaS (News - Alert) -based solution where confidential data is sent outside of the user's environment. "With hybrid cloud growth, enterprises need a solution that includes both workloads as well as securing their portion of the cloud under the shared responsibility model," said Doug Cahill, Senior Analyst and Group Director at ESG. "Cavirin's approach is another great example of the convergence of disparate controls which makes a ton of sense for both security and operational reasons."



The latest Cavirin CyberPosture Intelligence release delivers technical innovations for the hybrid enterprise on multiple fronts: A new 'CISO Dashboard' delivers a "credit-score" like representation of the organization's risk, security and compliance posture across Amazon Web Services (News - Alert) (AWS), Google Cloud, Azure, containers and on-premise infrastructure. CyberPosture scores help organizations prioritize and respond to their most important issues. Cavirin's CyberPosture scoring extends the NIST CyberSecurity Framework by factoring signals of risk including those indicated by over 27 security and compliance benchmarks for AWS, GCP, Azure, Docker, Kubernetes and on-premise infrastructure. Organizations can also influence issue prioritization by differentiating resources based on their confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.

A new integrated cloud workflow scales to large deployments to identify, monitor, and then automatically remediate cloud services. The solution's closed-loop capabilities are available via a Cavirin authored AWS Lambda function, with Google (News - Alert) Cloud and Azure planned by end of 2018.

New Google Cloud security posture capabilities include over five hundred individual network policies as well as support for a set of key CIS policies to maintain account integrity. This is in addition to the system's current support for target VM and container workloads on Google Cloud. Cavirin has co-authored the new CIS Google Cloud Platform Foundation Benchmark, available vis CIS.

A new policy definition language permits Cavirin and partners to rapidly map new standards and benchmarks to technical controls. Examples of this include support for the recent CIS Azure Benchmark, Azure and Google Cloud network policies, and frameworks supporting California Consumer Privacy Act technical controls as well as IT General Controls (ITGC). "I'm proud of innovations delivered for CyberPosture Intelligence for multiple clouds with this release," said Brajesh Goyal, Vice President of Engineering at Cavirin. "While adding new capabilities, we continue to focus on ease of use and time-to-value, with our CyberPosture Intelligence solution deployable equally well by Fortune 500 enterprises, commercial accounts, and Managed Security Service Providers."

Cavirin removes security compliance as a barrier to cloud adoption by automating with the broadest set of customizable frameworks, benchmarks and guidelines available. The company's solution secures both the public cloud control plane as well as target hybrid cloud workloads (servers), on-premise, within the public cloud, and within containers. Cavirin maintains its cost-optimized footprint, quick deployment on-premise or within AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure, and less than 30 minutes to first remediation on-par with SaaS-based offerings. Contact Cavirin for trials. About Cavirin Santa Clara, California-based Cavirin is a global provider of risk, cybersecurity and compliance posture intelligence for the enterprise hybrid cloud. Cavirin is the only organization that delivers CyberPosture intelligence for the hybrid cloud by providing real-time risk & cybersecurity posture management and continuous compliance, while further integrating security into DevOps. For more information, visit the company's website, and follow the company on Twitter (News - Alert) at @Cavirin and on LinkedIn. 1 Source (News - Alert) : Closing the Hybrid Cloud Security Gap With Cavirin, ESG, June 2018 2 Source: ESG Master Survey Results, Trends in Hybrid Cloud Security, March 2018 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180919005492/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ][September 19, 2018] Designed for the Experts and the Hobbyists Alike: Snoppa ATOM -- The World's Smallest Gimbal

The ATOM reinvents conventional gimbals with its lightweight portability, rich functionality and expanded APP extensions. SHENZHEN, China, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Snoppa Technology introduces the ATOM, a gimbal that reimagines the way people experience videography and photography. Made for an age in which consumers increasingly demand both functionality and portability, the ATOM drives innovation with its feature-packed design. The ATOM, as the world's smallest gimbal, is easy to carry, making it great for everyday use. It is lightweight, weighing only about the combined weight of 3 smartphones. The ATOM's foldable structure also makes it great for storage as it could fit in a small bag or pocket and could be easily retrieved through its side strap buckle. Despite its small build, the ATOM has a payload of 310g which makes using external accessories effortless. Setting it up does not consume much time and it guarantees that the phone is always centered when placed on the slot. Made of high-end American nylon, the ATOM is sure to be durable and steady. Smartphones of various sizes including the recently released iPhone Xs / iPhone Xs Max, Samsung S9+ and Huawei P20 Pro among others could fit in the ATOM's smartphone slot easily and could be plced freely because of the gimbal's unconventional motor arm structure. The inclined arm design also makes shooting videos hassle-free as the side motor will not touch or block the phone.



The ATOM is packed with two built-in 2000 mAh 26350 batteries to supply it with a 24-hr battery life. It has a built-in QI wireless module, supporting phones capable of wireless charging and a type-C port for phones that need wired charging. Users need not worry about their phones' battery life as this feature allows for making videos while charging devices. Shooting is done easier using the ATOM as the buttons provide ease of access to the user. With just one hand, a person could reach for the joystick, zoom slider, portrait and landscape switch, trigger, and the record/stop buttons in just seconds. There are also two customizable buttons which could be designated for the given controls.

The ATOM also features a microphone port for third-party mics, enabling flexibility and more support for live or recorded videos. With the Snoppa app, users could explore the ATOM even more. The app highlights photography and videography features such as motion and static time lapse, long exposure, auto panorama, slow motion, face tracking, and others. The gimbal is offered in Mystery Black and Sakura Pink. Snoppa ATOM's crowdfunding project starting from September 17th where regular backers can get a 46% off discounted price of $79/pc. For more information, please check their indiegogo page: https://igg.me/at/gimbal. A bout Snoppa Snoppa Technology Co. Ltd. is based in China. The company specializes in making film shooting facilities for both professionals and the masses and gears toward developing multi-axis stabilizing technology. Aside from the ATOM, they also have other photography and videography gadgets such as handheld and on-vehicle type stabilizers. These include Kylin M, Snoppa M1, and Snoppa GO. The products could be used with either smartphones or action cameras. For more information, please check on Snoppa's website: http://www.snoppa.com/index.html?language=en View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/designed-for-the-experts-and-the-hobbyists-alike-snoppa-atom----the-worlds-smallest-gimbal-300715476.html SOURCE Snoppa Technology Co. Ltd.

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ][September 19, 2018] Institute of Human Virology (IHV) Awarded $12M to Combat Opioid Epidemic Through Clinical Research Trials

The Institute of Human Virology (IHV) at the University of Maryland School of Medicine will lead a $12 million dollar project to improve the morbidity and mortality of people with opioid use disorder (OUD). Utilizing a novel compound, IHV researches will implement a series of investigations, entitled SEARCH, to evaluate the underlying mechanisms of craving reduction as a strategy to prevent opioid misuse, dependence, and relapse. The grant is awarded through the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) Initiative, made possible through groundbreaking funding from the U.S. Congress. "We are pleased to have the opportunity through Dr. Shyam (News - Alert) Kottilil's terrific team here at the Institute to meaningfully address the critical issue of addiction," said Robert Gallo, MD, The Homer and Martha Gudelsky Distinguished Professor in Medicine, co-founder and director, Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and co-founder and director, Global Virus Network. "Dr. Kottilil and I recently published an op-ed in The Baltimore Sun outlining the importance of better equipping infectious disease specialists to concomitantly treat substance use disorders. This grant is an important step in doing just that." "My colleague, Senator Elizabeth Warren and I, introduced legislation this past spring to significantly boost federal funding to combat the rising opioid crisis in the U.S., which leads to tens of thousands of deaths each year," said U.S. Representative Elijah Cummings (D-Md.). "Baltimore City, one of the hardest hit communities in this national crisis, is a prime location for these clinical trials. I am pleased that the NIH recognizes that the IHV, with its vast expertise, is wel-positioned to lead these trials and begin to address the opioid epidemic devastating cities and towns across the nation."



Nationally, 64,000 Americans died from opioid overdose in 2016, surpassing peak HIV-related deaths at the height of the HIV epidemic. Maryland has one of the fastest rising rates of opioid overdose death in the nation, from 17.7 deaths per 100,000 individuals in 2015, to 30 deaths per 100,000 individuals in 2016. In Baltimore, it is estimated that 11% of Baltimore City residents have a substance use disorder, which underscores the staggering drug overdose death rate of 112.9 deaths per 100,000 individuals in 2016. In 2016, 454 people died as a result of heroin overdose, outpacing the number of homicide-related deaths in the same year. The investigational agent, ANS (News - Alert) -6637, developed by Amygdala Neurosciences, is a selective ALDH2 Inhibitor that may prevent pathophysiologic dopamine surge and associated craving, without changes to basal dopamine. Given the role of craving in the cycle of addiction and relapse, this drug has the potential to be used as pharmacotherapy for any substance and behavior-based addiction.

"We are pleased to partner with the NIH to test this novel therapeutic in our research clinics, with the hope that we can help people living with substance use disorder better manage their disease," said Shyam Kottilil, MBBS, PhD, professor of medicine, director, Division of Clinical Care & Research, Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. The six-year project comprises a comprehensive series of investigations led by IHV faculty. The initial investigation, a pre-clinical study of pharmacokinetics, will be conducted at the NIH in collaboration with NIH investigators. Subsequently, the IHV will lead a series of phase II investigations at research sites spanning Washington DC and Baltimore, to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ANS-6637 to reduce craving, drug use, and the risk of comorbid conditions including hepatitis C and HIV. "While there are evidence-based strategies to reduce harm in individuals with OUD, including medication assisted treatment and syringe exchange, craving remains a major impediment to sobriety," said Sarah Kattakuzhy, MD, assistant professor of medicine, Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. "The SEARCH investigations will evaluate a new therapeutic mechanism of action, which if successful, could be part of a comprehensive therapeutic strategy that addresses both the physical and psychological symptoms of addiction. The SEARCH program will build upon our research expertise in high throughput phase II investigations, and our experience in hepatitis C treatment and harm reduction in persons with OUD, helping to take clinical care of this marginalized population into the future." About the Institute of Human Virology Formed in 1996 as a partnership between the State of Maryland, the City of Baltimore, the University System of Maryland and the University of Maryland Medical System, IHV is an institute of the University of Maryland School of Medicine and is home to some of the most globally-recognized and world-renowned experts in all of virology. The IHV combines the disciplines of basic research, epidemiology and clinical research in a concerted effort to speed the discovery of diagnostics and therapeutics for a wide variety of chronic and deadly viral and immune disorders - most notably, HIV the virus that causes AIDS. For more information, www.ihv.org and follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) @IHVmaryland. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180919005601/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]Nimble Rated Small Business CRM Market Leader By Office 365 And G Suite Users, Says G2 Crowd

Nimble, the simple smart CRM for Office 365 and G Suite, announced today it has been named a CRM Market Leader for small business teams, according to G2 Crowd (the world's leading business software reviews platform). Rankings are based on verified user reviews and market presence.

Nimble's (News - Alert) Market Leadership in CRM is based on receiving a high Customer Satisfaction score, with 95% percent of users rating it 4 or 5 stars. Ninety-four percent believe Nimble is headed in the right direction, and 91 percent reported they are likely to recommend it. Nimble CRM also ranks among the top small business solutions based on ROI, user adoption, ease of implementation, ease of doing business with, and quality of support.

Simple Smart CRM That Works for You

"We believe your CRM should work for you, rather than the other way around, so you can focus on building lifelong relationships with customers and prospects to grow," explained Jon Ferrara (News - Alert) , CEO of Nimble. "We are deeply grateful to thousands of customers who continue to share their Nimble experiences and successes, affording us Market Leading status for the sixth consecutive year."

G2 (News - Alert) Crowd also rated Nimble #1 Sales Intelligence Tool for Customer Satisfaction for small businesses as well as a Market Leader in email tracking.

What Customers Are Saying About Pairing Nimble With Office 365 And G Suite

Fast-growing small business teams and lean startups use Nimble CRM within Office 365 and G Suite to organize contacts into a single system of record; to prospect smarter; to build lifelong relationships anytime, anywhere using fewer tools; and to close more deals with less busywork:

" Nimble is the right fit for us ," said Brooke Sellas, founder of B Squared Media. " We are a fast growing small business, so anything we can do to save the time wasted on inputting data and focus more on selling is a big win." Enabling Brooke to use social media more effectively to sell was a key factor in her decision making. Because Nimble and Office 365 work together effortlessly, she was able to replace her company's software tools, including Dropbox, Gmail, and Zoho (News - Alert) CRM. " The Nimble and Office 365 pairing saves us time and money , which is very important to me."

," said Brooke Sellas, founder of B Squared Media. " Enabling Brooke to use social media more effectively to sell was a key factor in her decision making. Because Nimble and Office 365 work together effortlessly, she was able to replace her company's software tools, including Dropbox, Gmail, and Zoho (News - Alert) CRM. " " We have a focus and commitmet to being the best at what we are here to do, which is building our influencer program. Nimble is 100 percent a part of that," said Heather Dopson, GoDaddy Community Builder. " We have evolved from using Nimble as a database to taking advantage of it as a means to measure engagement and interaction, as well as move people through a pipeline. I'm very excited to see the influencer program continue to progress with Nimble and Office 365 so that it's easy and efficient for us to achieve our goals. "

said Heather Dopson, GoDaddy Community Builder. " " Nimble has changed how we work-and helped us improve the quality of the experience we offer ," said Mike Wittenstein, founder of StoryMiners . "By doing the research and data entry for us, Nimble frees us up to communicate individually and meaningfully with each person we know. Instead of spending hours googling people and working in batches on a schedule, Nimble lets us work on-the-fly. As we think of something, we act on it, either in Office 365 or wherever we're working. As a reminder comes to us, we handle it."

said Mike Wittenstein, founder of StoryMiners "Nimble has proven to be the right tool to achieve our goals of qualifying prospects quickly, increasing sales effectiveness, managing sales activity and tracking, and scaling our business," said Oliver Deng, CEO of headhuntr.io. The 50-person tech company is on track to grow at triple-digit rates in 2018. "Nimble's ability to automate sales processes and quickly access background and social information within G Suite has been key to making this happen."







About Nimble

Nimble's pioneering social sales and marketing CRM helps teams and professionals turn relationships into revenue, without the time-intensive busy work. Everyday, people use Nimble to successfully nurture their personal and business relationships across email, social networks, and more than 130 cloud-based business applications. Nimble's simple, smart CRM for Office 365 and G Suite has been named best CRM in Market Leadership, Ease of Use and Satisfaction by many experts including: 2017 CRM Watchlist Winner for three consecutive years, CRM Market Leader for Small Businesses by G2 Crowd in Fall 2018 for the sixth consecutive year, #1 Sales Intelligence Tool for Customer Satisfaction by G2 Crowd for the sixth consecutive time, and #1 Small Business Sales and Marketing CRM by Fit Small Business. Nimble combines the strengths of traditional CRM, classic contact management, social media, sales intelligence, and marketing automation into one powerful relationship management platform that delivers valuable relationship insights everywhere you work. Try Nimble's 14 day free trial today, or learn more at Nimble.com.

Located in Santa Monica, Nimble is in the heart of the Southern California Silicon Beach tech community and was recently Voted The Most Loved Santa Monica Tech Startup. For more information, visit http://www.nimble.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180919005667/en/[September 19, 2018] Insight Select Income Fund Declares Quarterly Dividend

Dividend Declaration The Insight Select Income Fund (INSI) (the "Fund") declared a dividend of $0.20 on September 19, 2018, payable on October 31, 2018, to shareholders of record at the close of business on October 3, 2018, with an ex-dividend date of October 2, 2018. The dividend of $0.20 per share would equate to an annual dividend payment for the last four quarters of $0.80 per share. The Fund is a diversified closed-end management investment company whose investment objective is to seek a high rate of return, primarily from interest income and trading activity, from a portfolio principally consisting of debt securities. The Fund will also seek capital appreciation principally by purchasing debt securities at prices that the Adviser believes are below their intrinsic value. The Fund will also look to benefit from trading securities to optimize the risk adjusted yields in the Fund. Insight North America LLC, the Fund's investment adviser, provides fixed income asset management to a variety of institutional clients includingcorporations, governmental entities, employee benefit plans, private funds and registered investment companies.



This press release is not for tax reporting purposes but is being provided to announce the amount of the Fund's distribution that have been declared by the Board of Trustees. A portion of the Fund's current distribution may include sources other than net investment income, including a return of capital. Investors should understand that a return of capital is not a distribution from income or gains of a Fund. As required under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, a notice with the estimated components of the distribution will be sent to shareholders at the time of payment if it does not consist solely of net investment income. The notice should not be used to prepare tax returns as the estimates indicated in the notice may differ from the ultimate federal income tax characterization of distributions. After the end of each calendar year, investors will be sent a Form 1099-DIV informing them how to report distributions received during that year for federal income tax purposes. Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined by the United States securities laws. You should exercise caution in interpreting and relying on forward-looking statements because they are subject to uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Fund's control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

An investor should consider a Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180919005826/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ][September 19, 2018] Litigation Researchers Believe - Dutch Court Ruling - Big Blow to Petrobras' Arbitration Strategy

Battea Global Litigation Research, Inc. believes today was a big milestone win for a large group of international investors supporting a coalition of law firms and the Dutch Stichting Petrobras Compensation Foundation ("SPCF" or "Foundation") in the Netherlands, in their litigation over losses relating to the Petrobras "Lavo Jato" or "Operation Car Wash" scandal. The Rotterdam District Court ruled on whether the Foundation representing investors, who purchased securities outside of the United States, has the right to sue Petrobras in Dutch courts. Petrobras has been fighting investors both in the U.S. and internationally and has sought to drag investors to arbitration in Brazil. However, on January 3, 2018, Petrobras announced that in connection with the losses investors suffered from the "Lavo Jato" bribery scandal, it had agreed to a USD $3 billion settlement with investors who purchased ADRs (American Depository Receipts/American Depository Shares) and USD denominated bonds in the U.S. The U.S. litigation and settlement left investors that purchased primary shares of Petrobras traded in Brazil and via linked markets in Europe and bonds bought outside the U.S., without any compensation for their investment losses in those securities and subject to Petrobras' continued claims of innocence and calls for any dispute to be resolved via arbitration in Brazil. Today, the Dutch court ruled that the Company's own articles calling for arbitration, did not meet the standard for which Dutch courts determine to be valid ground to deny the investors and the Foundation constitutional access to bring litigation and claims against Petrobras in the Netherlands. It is important to note that Petrobras has multiple subsidiaries, including Petrobras Global Finance B.V., which are headquartered in the Netherlands and the impact of the briberies and other fraud related acts extends to the Netherlands and involves Dutch companies and provides a strong nexus for jurisdiction for international investors to demand litigation and ultimately restitution there. The ruling is a big step toward investors' outlook for recovery of some of the billions lost, whether losses incurred in U.S. dollars, Euros, Brazilian Reals (Real) or other currencies. The arbitration requirement has been much touted by Petrobras and reflected in the media. In the opinion of Battea Global Litigation Research, Inc., today's ruling is definitely a big blow to Petrobras' arbitration strategy. Petrobras' controversial statements of innocence is in stark contrast to its agreement to a USD $3 billion settlement for securities traded in the U.S. alone. Strong and growing skepticism to any meaningful outcome resulting from Petrobras' calls for arbitration at the Brazilian stock exchange, have prompted institutional investors from around the world to rally for proper objective court litigation and a fair resolution in the Netherlands. Peter Hansen, Chairman of Battea Global Litigation Research, commented: "We have been following the U.S. Petrobras settlement, as well as the litigation efforts taking place outside of the U.S., very closely. Pricing of Petrobras securities, whether traded in Brazil, the U.S. or elsewhere, are very closely linked in real-time markets. In fact, the Petrobras fraud impacted investors, on a global scale, with the same relative ratio of losses." Hansen continued, "It would be absurd, if Petrobras was able to get away with paying only holders of U.S. ADR shares and U.S. issued bonds and it would be nothing short of inequtable, to use $3 billion in company funds to make a "special distribution", to only a select group of shareholders and investors, and conversely, have the remaining group of international shareholders and investors pay for it!". Hansen concluded that "the Dutch ruling, restores normalcy in shareholders avenues for recourse and expectation of equal treatment".



On a more technical level, the Dutch courts today in summary ruled for granting jurisdiction in the Netherlands as follows: Dutch Defendants

The court accepted jurisdiction in respect of the Dutch defendant PETROBRAS GLOBAL FINANCE B.V., for below allegations: 1. The initiation and maintenance of the large-scale fraud; 2. The unlawful concealment of fraud; 3. The publication of inaccurate, incomplete and/or misleading financial information; 4. The issuance of Petrobras securities (shares and bonds) based on inaccurate, incomplete and/or misleading information; 5. The issue of Petrobras securities during the fraud period (i.e. knowing that the funds obtained would be misused); 6. Consciously inspiring the confidence of investors during the fraud period (i.e. saying that the company was highly transparent, had a proper whistle blower arrangement in place, etc.); 7. Acting in violation of (other) applicable regulations (i.e. breaching various (mainly) Brazilian governance and other legal obligations). The court also accepted jurisdiction in respect of allegations against the special purpose vehicles PETROBRAS OIL & GAS B.V and PETROBRAS INTERNATIONAL BRASPETRO B.V. for their role in the fraudulent scheme, notably certain specified projects. Brazilian Defendants In respect of PETROLEO BRASILEIRO S.A. - PETROBRAS (Petrobras Brazil), Gabrielli, Foster and the other Brazilian defendants, the court accepted jurisdiction for below allegations: 1. The unlawful concealment of fraud; 2. The publication of inaccurate, incomplete and/or misleading financial information; 3. The issuance of Petrobras securities (shares and bonds) based on inaccurate, incomplete and/or misleading information; 4. The issue of Petrobras securities during the fraud period (i.e. knowing that the funds obtained would be misused); 5. Consciously inspiring the confidence of investors during the fraud period (i.e. saying that the company was highly transparent, had a proper whistle blower arrangement in place, etc.) Next Steps in the Dutch Litigation With the favorable ruling announced on September 19, 2018, the District Court schedule in Rotterdam is as follows: October 18, 2018 : Petrobras to file a skeleton argument-statement listing the various defenses Petrobras intends to present on both the merits and the standing of the Foundation;

: Petrobras to file a skeleton argument-statement listing the various defenses Petrobras intends to present on both the merits and the standing of the Foundation; November 14, 2018 : The Foundation can respond to that statement;

: The Foundation can respond to that statement; December 18, 2018 : A potential case management hearing will take place. Confirmation of the date of when this hearing will be decided by the court after November 14, 2018. The coalition and Foundation leading the litigation, have significant support from institutional investors from around the world including investors in the U.S., UK, Brazil, Netherlands, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries, South Korea, Japan and others. Individual institutional investor losses range in the millions, tens of millions and in some instances close to 100 million Euros. International, including U.S. investors, who purchased shares of Petrobras purchased in Brazil on the Brasil Bolsa Balcao S.A. or B3 - Brazil (formerly BM&FBOVESPA) and linked markets in Europe and also bought primarily non U.S. dollar denominated bonds outside the U.S. and believe they were damaged by losses related to the "Lavo Jato" or "Operation Car Wash" scandal, should contact the coalition's administrator, or the Dutch counsel representing the Foundation. For you convenience, we have included their contact information below. *********************** CONTACT INFORMATION INVESTOR PARTICIPANT ADMINISTRATION

For administration purposes, the Dutch Foundation has appointed International Securities Associations & Foundations Management Company (ISAF) to coordinate all administration with investors, including contingency success fee based funding of all investor litigation cost. www.isafmanagement.com.

ISAF Management, Adam Foulke, +1-203-252-3378

afoulke@isafmanagement.com LEGAL - FOUNDATION COUNSEL

Lemstra Van der Korst N.V., Flip Wijers, Martijn van Dam & Jurjen Lemstra +31 (20) 2050567

f.wijers@lvdk.com, m.vandam@lvdk.com, j.lemstra@lvdk.com STICHTING PETROBRAS COMPENSATION FOUNDATION

Stichting Petrobras Compensation Foundation

board@pbcompensation.com

www.pbcompensation.com BATTEA GLOBAL LITIGATION RESEARCH, INC. ("BGLR")

Battea Global Litigation Research, Inc., Peter Hansen, +1-203-987-4949

hansen@battea.com Battea Global Litigation Research, Inc. is comprised of the world's foremost corporate research analysts providing research and litigation support relating to business valuation and complex securities litigations. BGLR's experience in the United States and Internationally, combined with our industry knowledge and expertise in economics, finance and complex business litigation research make us uniquely qualified to assist international investors in evaluating litigation events, coalitions and participation procedures. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180919005868/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]XDA-Developers have obtained an early build of Android Pie 9.0 for the Samsung Galaxy S9+, which includes the new custom skin and some of the new applications for the new operating system. The biggest change: a new AMOLED-friendly dark theme that looks gorgeous.

But there's also some new gestures on the way.



The dark theme is not only for cool looks  with an AMOLED screen, it could save your phone quite a big of power. In AMOLEDs, each pixel is its own light source so, when theres a 100 percent black point, that organic LED dot will be just totally off and not use your phone's juice.

Since a screen can use as much as 50 percent of the power consumed by your phone, having a dark interface with 100 percent black backgrounds and minimal use of color for the user experience can translate to extended battery life.

The new Samsung Experience 10  the skin that will be used in the Galaxy S9s incoming upgrade to the Android 9.0 Pie operating system  uses a dark theme through its entire interface. According to XDA-developers, its called Night Theme. There will be a light theme too, but it appeared to be broken in this apparently quite buggy version of the OS.

MORE: Samsung Galaxy S10 Rumors - Everything You Need to Know

The other big aesthetic change, aside from new icons, is the new card-style UI that has extremely curved corners in the same fashion as Googles own Material Design language. Some of the images show the new rounded corner card-style. However, at this point, the spacing doesnt look great.





(Image credit: XDA Developers)

There are apparently user interface updates through the entire operating system and applications. Not only turning the previous interfaces dark, but updating element layouts. The lock screen, the quick settings panel, the call dialer, the new messages with RCS, Bixby, Mail, Gallery, My Files, and Camera have all been updated. The Camera app, in fact, gets a entirely new user interface.

The XDA-developers blog also reports on a new gesture control scheme. Apparently, Samsung is not following Googles own new gestures in Android 9.0 but is including its own  something that doesnt make much sense, as it will only confuse consumers coming from other Pie phones to Samsungs and viceversa.

Hopefully for Samsung users, the Korean company will release this update soon. Back on August 30, Samsung claimed that it was going to take Android updates more seriously. Judging by the early release of this build, it seems that the update may be coming faster than the Oreo update, which took ages to arrive to its flagships and it is still delayed for most Samsung mid-range phone users.Nvidias GeForce RTX 2080 Ti is the first card weve tested able to deliver smooth frame rates at 4K with detail settings maxed out. Its halo features arent used in any games yet, but as those come online, the Turing architecture is expected to shine even brighter.

Nvidias GeForce RTX 2080 Ti is the first card weve tested able to deliver smooth frame rates at 4K with detail settings maxed out. Its halo features arent used in any games yet, but as those come online, the Turing architecture is expected to shine even brighter.

GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Founders Edition

GeForce RTX 2080 Ti is fast. Nobody will argue against that. What bothers gamers most is its price tag. The Founders Edition board costs $120071% higher than the flagship GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Nvidia launched back in 2017. Perhaps disappointingly, then, GeForce RTX 2080 Ti averages about 26% faster than its predecessor across our suite of 13 games at 4K.

But what if we told you it also beats Nvidias Titan V? In Battlefield 1, GeForce RTX 2080 Ti is 20% faster. In Forza Motorsport 7, the 2080 Ti enjoys a 22% advantage. Based on the two cards specifications, we werent expecting such a dramatic finish. Although the $3000 GV100-based Titan V is made for deep learning and not gaming, those results sure put GeForce RTX 2080 Tis $1200 price into context. Thus, if you can afford it, the RTX 2080 Ti, is one of the best graphics cards around.

Even more significant for the growing group of enthusiasts with 4K monitors, GeForce RTX 2080 Ti gives you playable performance at 3840x2160 without sacrificing detail settings. Yes, we turned off taxing anti-aliasing modes to test at 4K. However, our benchmarks reflect high-res, high-quality PC gaming above 60 FPS in every single title.

This is a moment weve anticipated for years. GeForce GTX 980 Ti was playable at 4K if you dialed down the details. Although GeForce GTX 1080 got us a little closer to gaming nirvana, it clearly wasnt the stunner needed for smooth performance at max-quality 4K. Then, GeForce GTX 1080 Ti tempted us to finally declare a 4K champion. But were glad we held off. GeForce RTX 2080 Ti finally makes those Ultra settings viable at 3840x2160.

TU102: The Makings of a Gaming Beast

How does GeForce RTX 2080 Ti achieve this? Well, if you missed our comprehensive analysis of the cards inner workings, check out Nvidias Turing Architecture Explored: Inside the GeForce RTX 2080. To summarize, though, todays subject is based on TU102, a 754-square-millimeter GPU composed of 18.6 billion transistors fabricated on TSMCs 12nm FinFET manufacturing process. It's loaded down with higher quantities of rendering resources that operate more efficiently than anything we've ever tested.

A complete TU102 processor comprises six Graphics Processing Clusters (GPCs) made up of a Raster Engine and six Texture Processing Clusters (TPCs). Each TPC is composed of one PolyMorph Engine (fixed-function geometry pipeline) and two Streaming Multiprocessors (SMs). At the SM level, we find 64 CUDA cores, eight Tensor cores, one RT core, four texture units, 16 load/store units, 256KB of register file space, four L0 instruction caches, and a 96KB configurable L1 cache/shared memory structure.

Multiply all of that out and you get a GPU with 72 SMs, 4608 CUDA cores, 576 Tensor cores, 72 RT cores, 288 texture units, and 36 PolyMorph engines. Those resources are fed by 12 32-bit GDDR6 memory controllers, each attached to an eight-ROP cluster and 512KB of L2 cache yielding an aggregate 384-bit memory bus, 96 ROPs, and a 6MB L2 cache. Each SM does contain a pair of FP64-capable CUDA cores as well, yielding a double-precision rate thats 1/32 of TU102s FP32 performance.

GeForce RTX 2080 Ti FE GeForce RTX 2080 FE GeForce GTX 1080 Ti FE GeForce GTX 1080 FE Architecture (GPU) Turing (TU102) Turing (TU104) Pascal (GP102) Pascal (GP104) CUDA Cores 4352 2944 3584 2560 Peak FP32 Compute 14.2 TFLOPS 10.6 TFLOPS 11.3 TFLOPS 8.9 TFLOPS Tensor Cores 544 368 N/A N/A RT Cores 68 46 N/A N/A Texture Units 272 184 224 160 Base Clock Rate 1350 MHz 1515 MHz 1480 MHz 1607 MHz GPU Boost Rate 1635 MHz 1800 MHz 1582 MHz 1733 MHz Memory Capacity 11GB GDDR6 8GB GDDR6 11GB GDDR5X 8GB GDDR5X Memory Bus 352-bit 256-bit 352-bit 256-bit Memory Bandwidth 616 GB/s 448 GB/s 484 GB/s 320 GB/s ROPs 88 64 88 64 L2 Cache 5.5MB 4MB 2.75MB 2MB TDP 260W 225W 250W 180W Transistor Count 18.6 billion 13.6 billion 12 billion 7.2 billion Die Size 754 mm 545 mm 471 mm 314 mm SLI Support Yes (x8 NVLink, x2) Yes (x8 NVLink) Yes (MIO) Yes (MIO)

Putting It All Together: GeForce RTX 2080 Ti

The TU102 found on GeForce RTX 2080 Ti isnt a complete processor, though. Whether Nvidia wanted to leave room for a Titan-class model or found yields of fully-functional GPUs unsatisfactory above a certain bin, the RTX 2080 Ti has two of its TPCs disabled, leaving the card with 4352 CUDA cores, 544 Tensor cores, 68 RT cores, 544 texture units, and 34 PolyMorph engines.

One of TU102s 32-bit memory controllers is also turned off, creating an aggregate 352-bit bus that moves data to 88 ROPs and 5.5MB of L2 cache. Nvidia matches its strategically-hobbled GPU to Microns MT61K256M32JE-14:A modules. Eleven of these populate the RTX 2080 Tis PCB, leaving one emplacement vacant. Nevertheless, theoretical peak bandwidth rises sharply compared to the previous generation cards due to GDDR6s higher data rate. At 14 Gb/s on a 352-bit interface, youre looking at 616 GB/s. In comparison, GDDR5X at 11 Gb/s held GeForce GTX 1080 Ti to 484 GB/s.

On the Founders Edition card, a base core frequency of 1350 MHz jumps all the way up to a typical GPU Boost rate of 1635 MHz, so long as GeForce RTX 2080 Ti is running cool enough. And because Nvidia cites peak compute performance using GPU Boost numbers, its top-end model achieves up to 14.2 TFLOPS of single-precision math.

That frequency is overclocked relative to Nvidias reference specification. As a result, the Founders Edition model has a slightly higher 260W TDP rating. A PCIe slot, an eight-pin power connector, and a six-pin power connector would theoretically be capable of servicing such a limit. However, Nvidia instead uses two supplementary eight-pin connectors, giving its GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Founders Edition potential headroom for overclocking.

Moving back from the PCIe connectors to GeForce RTX 2080 Ti's power supply, we count three phases for the GDDR6 memory and a corresponding PWM controller up front. A total of 13 phases remain, according to Nvidia. But that can't be right, can it? Even with six phase-doubled circuits, there would be one phase leftover to act as a load balancer. The numbers just don't add up.

In reality, it appears that five phases are fed by the eight-pin connectors and doubled. With two control loops per phase, 5*2=10 voltage regulation circuits. The remaining three phases to the left of the GPU are fed by the motherboard's PCIe slot and not doubled. That gives us Nvidia's lucky number 13 (along with a smart load distribution scheme). Of course, implementing all of this well requires the right components...

GPU Power Supply

Front and center in this design is uPI's uP9512 eight-phase buck controller specifically designed to support next-gen GPUs. Per uPI, "the uP9512 provides programmable output voltage and active voltage positioning functions to adjust the output voltage as a function of the load current, so it is optimally positioned for a load current transient."

The uP9512 supports Nvidia's Open Voltage Regulator Type 4i+ technology with PWMVID. This input is buffered and filtered to produce a very accurate reference voltage. The output voltage is then precisely controlled to the reference input. An integrated SMBus interface offers enough flexibility to optimize performance and efficiency, while also facilitating communication with the appropriate software.

All 13 voltage regulation circuits are equipped with an ON Semiconductor FDMF3170 Smart Power Stage module with integrated PowerTrench MOSFETs and driver ICs.

As usual, the coils rely on encapsulated ferrite cores, but this time they are rectangular to make room for the voltage regulator circuits.

Memory Power Supply

Micron's MT61K256M32JE-14:A memory ICs are powered by three phases coming from a second uP9512. The same FDMF3170 Smart Power Stage modules crop up yet again. The 470mH coils offer greater inductance than the ones found on the GPU power phases, but they're completely identical in terms of physical dimensions.

The input filtering takes place via three 1H coils, whereby each of the three connection lines has a matching shunt. This is a very low resistance to which voltage drop is measured in parallel and passed on to the telemetry. Through these circuits, Nvidia is able to limit board power in a fairly precise way.

Unfortunately for the folks who like a bit of redundancy, this card only comes equipped with one BIOS.

How We Tested GeForce RTX 2080 Ti

Nvidias latest and greatest will no doubt be found in one of the many high-end platforms now available from AMD and Intel. Our graphics station still employs an MSI Z170 Gaming M7 motherboard with an Intel Core i7-7700K CPU at 4.2 GHz, though. The processor is complemented by G.Skills F4-3000C15Q-16GRR memory kit. Crucials MX200 SSD remains, joined by a 1.4TB Intel DC P3700 loaded down with games.

As far as competition goes, the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti is rivaled only by the $3000 Titan V. We add that card to our test pool this time around, along with GeForce GTX 1080 Ti, Titan X, GeForce GTX 1080, GeForce GTX 1070 Ti, and GeForce GTX 1070 from Nvidia. AMD is represented by the Radeon RX Vega 64 and 56. All cards are either Founders Edition or reference models. We do have some partner boards in-house from both Nvidia and AMD, and plan to use those for third-party reviews.

Our benchmark selection now includes Ashes of the Singularity: Escalation, Battlefield 1, Civilization VI, Destiny 2,Doom, Far Cry 5,Forza Motorsport 7, Grand Theft Auto V, Metro: Last Light Redux, Rise of the Tomb Raider, Tom Clancys The Division, Tom Clancys Ghost Recon Wildlands, The Witcher 3 and World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth. Were working on adding Monster Hunter: World, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Wolfenstein II, and a couple of others, but had to scrap those plans due to very limited time with Nvidias final driver for its Turing-based cards.

The testing methodology we're using comes from PresentMon: Performance In DirectX, OpenGL, And Vulkan. In short, all of these games are evaluated using a combination of OCAT and our own in-house GUI for PresentMon, with logging via AIDA64.

All of the numbers you see in todays piece are fresh, using updated drivers. For Nvidia, were using build 411.51 for GeForce RTX 2080 Ti and 2080. The other cards were tested with build 398.82. Titan Vs results were spot-checked with 411.51 to ensure performance didnt change. AMDs cards utilize Crimson Adrenalin Edition 18.8.1, which was the latest at test time.

MORE: Best Graphics Cards

MORE: Desktop GPU Performance Hierarchy Table

MORE: All Graphics ContentAs many of us know -- and regret -- faith communities in America have sometimes been the promoters of racism, perhaps starting with their support of slavery and, later, their cooperation with Jim Crow laws and other methods of maintaining...Kansas City #MeToo Oversight

Sexual assault activists in KC closely watching Kavanaugh allegations Members of the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault are monitoring developments in Washington with the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court. After thousands of pages of documents were examined and days of hearings, Sen.

Double Trouble In JoCo

Pair of Johnson County murder suspects to appear in court Wednesday OLATHE, KS (KCTV) -- A pair of Johnson County murder suspects will appear in court on Wednesday. Vincenzo Lucasta, 49, of Paola, KS, is charged with first-degree murder after David Paterno, 57, was stabbed outside his Shawnee home. It happened in the 21900 block of W. 51st Place.

Metro Midweek Flipout

Woman arrested after chase crosses state line, ends in crash OVERLAND PARK, KS (KCTV) - Kansas Highway Patrol troopers arrested a woman Wednesday morning after a chase crossed state lines before ending in a crash. The chase started before 8 a.m. when a woman in a black sedan fled from police near 31st Street and Roanoke Parkway in Kansas City, MO.

Kansas Question Amid Crisis

Legislators Demand Answers After Child Allegedly Raped In Foster Contractor Custody In the wake of rape charge filed in an attack on a 13-year-old girl in the office of a foster care contractor, Kansas lawmakers said Tuesday they'll investigate what went wrong. One legislator said state officials and the contractor responsible for watching over the alleged victim will face tough questions later this month.

Dust Mask Bandit Strikes In The Stix

Adrian Bank robbed in Cass County CASS COUNTY, MO (KCTV) -- The FBI Kansas City Field Office is looking for a suspect accused of holding up the Adrian Bank in Cass County. The robbery happened Tuesday at 11:20 a.m. at 302 SW Outer Road in Archie, MO. The suspect entered the bank and demanded money, then fled the scene on foot heading south.

Metro Biz Deal Gone Bad

Kansas City investors sue Overland Park investment group over 'zero risk' deal that went awry - Kansas City Business Journal A "zero risk" deal that went awry has spurred 10 Kansas City-area investors to sue the Overland Park investment group that recommended the investment, The Kansas City Star reports. Their collective investment totals $2.5 million in Florida-based 1st Global Capital, which advertised itself as a merchant lender that advanced short-term cash to small businesses.

Gone But Not Forgotten

Family marks 500 days since Liberty teen disappeared KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Pure hell and heartbreak-is how Desirea Ferris's family puts it. The same pain is shared by the many people who came to a vigil held by Ferris's family. They chose the Jackson County Courthouse as the location to demand accountability from those who work inside the building.

More Deets On Latest KCMO Shooting

Man suffers life-threatening injuries in shooting near 37th, South Benton Kansas City police are investigating a shooting Tuesday evening that left a man hospitalized with life-threatening injuries. Police were called at 6:16 p.m. to 37th Street and South Benton Avenue on a reported shooting. Officers found the victim outside a home in that area. Investigators discovered dozens of shell casings.

With respect to, here's much more relevant local drama on crime topics that deserve note . . .Developing . . .Kansas City shooting leaves man with critical injuries KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A shooting Tuesday evening has left one person with critical injuries. Police responded to the shooting just after 6 p.m. at 38th and S. Benton, just east of Prospect Ave, on reports of multiple gunshots being heard.

Aftermath of more local shooting and the rising quotient of violence throughout the metro.Read more:1 dead, 1 hospitalized after double shooting in Independence INDEPENDENCE, MO (KCTV) -- Police are investigating a homicide after one person was found dead and another was hospitalized following a shooting early Tuesday morning. Officers were called about 4 a.m. to a residential complex in the 1100 block of Quail Creek Drive.

More violence to the East as this scorching September raises tempers as well. Read the round-up for those who haven't already:In latest legal twist, ethics reform question back on Missouri ballot JEFFERSON CITY * A state appeals court has put an ethics reform package back on the November ballot. The Missouri Western District Court of Appeals ruled that the so-called "Clean Missouri" initiative can stay on the ballot pending future court decisions.

Back and forth on this ballot issue has been tough to follow but STL's paper rounds it up better than anybody else. Take a look:A Chinese property developer is offering a BMW 3 Series or a BMW X1 to anyone who buys a three-bedroom unit or townhouse at its development property in Shanghai. The developer, China Merchants Shekou Industrial Zone Holdings Co., is pulling out all the stops to lure buyers in the wake of lending curbs and funding constraints that have squeezed their finances. The giveaway is just one example of the lengths Chinese property developers are going to for the sake of boosting sales.

Would you take the developer up on offer?

Would you take up China Merchants Shekou Industrial Zone Holdings offer of a BMW 3 Series or X1 to buy an apartment or townhouse in its swanky building? It sounds like a good deal, at least until you realize that the units actually cost 3.1 million yuan.

Throw that number in the currency converter machine, and itll spit out around $621,000.

That, by the way, is for an 89-square-meter apartment, which is roughly around 957 square-feet. Not exactly as sweet of a deal as you thought, is it?

The truth is, thats how the real estate game is playing out in China these days. Developers have resorted to offering freebies like free BMWs just to entice would-be buyers to sign on the dotted line. Its not just free luxury items, either. Hefty discounts have become prevalent offers among developers. According to The Business Times, the Chinese developer is throwing in perks that could cut the cost of buying its properties by as much as 26 percent. Its even throwing discounts to buyers referred by company employees. And accepting down-payments of as little as five percent, a steep drop from the usual 30-percent deposit required by local governments in the country.

All the giveaways and discounts are part of last-ditch strategies among developers that have suddenly found themselves debt-laden and tight on cash. Its become a prevalent issue in China among property developers, at least according to Sabrina Wei, head of Northern China research at Cushman & Wakefield in Beijing. Financing is becoming hard for everyone, even including the giant players," Wei told The Business Times. "They need discounts to boost sales and collect cash."

The cooling property market is evident in China Merchants Shekous development where only 25 of the 235 apartments have been sold.

Its not just China Merchant Shekou, either. Rival developers like Gezhouba Real Estate and Sanding Impression Co are experiencing similar buyer droughts. Gezhoubas 223-unit project in west Shanghai only has eight buyers so far while Sanxiangs 161-unit complex has been filled up by a total of five buyers.

The buyer drought is real, and that explains why these companies are resorting to throwing in freebies like free BMWs to get people to buy their units. Who knows, if they cant find takers with these free Bimmers, they might as well start offering free Bentleys or Rolls-Royce models.

Further reading

Read our full review on the 2016 BMW 3 Series.

Read our full review on the 2016 BMW X1.

Top Selling Model: BMW 3 Series

Read more BMW news.The EU, as South Africas biggest investment partner, welcomes President Ramaphosas strong commitment to building a new social compact around investment. This discussion paper outlines key challenges that are of particular concern to European investors whilst outlining possible ways forward to be discussed with South Africa.

South Africa is the European Unions only Strategic Partner in Africa. The economic dimension of such relationship is fundamental as the EU is South Africas first trading and investment partner, accounting for 25% of South Africas trade and 75% of its foreign direct investments (FDI). Direct jobs dependent on this economic relationship are well in excess of 500 000 jobs.

The strength and strategic nature of the EU-SA economic relationship is that it encompasses virtually all economic sectors of the South African economy, thus contributing to economic diversification, export-orientation and inclusive growth. Car manufacturing, citrus and wine industries are just a few notable examples in this respect.

The recently ratified SADC-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) creates a free trade area with SACU and Mozambique, multiplying opportunities for strengthening trade and investment relations with South Africa and the region. A committed and forward-looking EPA implementation is thus a promising way to ensure that EU investors maintain confidence in South Africa and the regions investment potential.

Data shows that FDI from the EU in South Africa has proven resilient despite the deteriorating investment climate of the past years, but remains insufficient to contribute to higher GDP growth. European investors stand ready to invest in strategic and labour-intensive sectors both through greenfield and brownfield investments, in support of South Africas growth and transformation agenda, however, a more certain and attractive investment and business climate is needed.

The EU welcomes President Cyril Ramaphosas strong commitment to building a new social compact around investment, accepting that without investment  foreign and domestic  the country cannot grow above 2%, as National Treasury has systematically warned. The target to attract a minimum of $100 billion in new investment over the next five years is an encouraging statement and the EU appreciates that investment-friendly language of the new leadership has been coupled with the concrete actions. The following specific actions are acknowledged in particular:

Appointment of experienced and well-trusted officials to key Ministerial positions;

Appointment of Presidents Economic Advisor and four Special Investment Envoys, who are trusted and respected by the local and international markets

Appointment of credible boards at the key State-Owned Enterprises

Signature of the 27 outstanding power purchase agreements under the Renewable Energy Power Producers Programme

New Integrated Resource Plan

Establishment of Invest SA One-Stop-Shops

While all these are very positive signs, European investors continue to exercise caution as these steps are insufficient to compensate for the deterioration of FDI protection and business environment that has occurred over recent years. At the moment, foreign investors continue to monitor macroeconomic stability and overall policy certainty in the country. There is hope for a clearer language on investment-led growth, which would complement redistribution-led growth, including through public investment in infrastructure, education and skills development, as well as by improving the financial health of the State Owned Enterprises.

In anticipation of South Africas Investment Conference planned for the 25-27 of October 2018 as well as the EU-SA Presidential Summit in November 2018, this discussion paper outlines key challenges that are of particular concern to European investors. The paper also presents proposals to be discussed with South Africa on how these challenges could be improved and/or even overcome.

Extensive consultations with the EU Member States as well as European business (EU Chamber, Bilateral Chambers, specific companies across different sectors) have identified three main constraints to potential FDI (and trade) that would benefit from the governments urgent attention:

Black ownership requirements under the B-BBEE Codes of Good of Practice. Localisation requirements in Public Procurement. Delays in obtaining letters of authority from the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications.

There are other issues that mark the investment environment, especially as Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) with EU countries have been unilaterally terminated causing a worrisome dive in the level of protection enjoyed by investors. In the absence of BITs, uncertainty around property rights is of particular concern, which has been amplified by the Parliament-led consultations on constitutional changes to land ownership rights.

Policy certainty is also pending in relation to other policy initiatives, such as the Expropriation Bill (recently withdrawn from Parliament), Regulation of Land Holdings Bill, Copyright Bill, Competition Amendment Bill, Private Security Industry Regulation Bill and Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Amendment Bill. The new Protection of Investment Act which has just entered into force deprives investors of important guarantees contained under pre-existing BITs. While South Africas institutions remain robust and the policy debate is conducted within sound principles, the effects of pending proposals on prospective investors cannot be discounted.

Other pertinent issues that are having a negative impact on the investment environment include stringent visa restrictions on foreign management staff and their family members of overseas subsidiaries, requirements for short-stay visas for the citizens of eight EU Member States, corruption, serious and organised crime, rising electricity prices, port and rails costs, and challenges with the registration on the Central Supplier Database. Governments steps towards resolving these issues would further contribute to paving the way to a more investor-friendly business climate sought by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Conclusion

The EU, notably through its representation in South Africa, its Member States and associated entities (such as the Chambers of Commerce and Industry) remains eager to engage on all the issues highlighted above, which we believe are equally beneficial to all investors.

The establishment of a regular EU-SA forum where investment related matters could be addressed, including participation by private sector representatives, would be welcome.

Specific to the EU, the resolution of pending differences in the implementation of the SADC EU EPA should be swiftly resolved, hopefully by the time the announced EU-SA Presidential Summit takes place. Without an effectively functioning EPA, the value of the EU-SA Strategic Partnership would otherwise be seriously undermined as a platform for inviting further trade and investment.Trade in Africa has become one of the driving forces of integration on the continent. In 2012, the Heads of State and Government of the African Union adopted a decision to establish a Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and endorsed the Action Plan on Boosting lntra-Africa Trade.

Consequently, the need for reliable and exhaustive statistics on external trade of the African Union Member States, preferably derived from data provided by the countries themselves, has also grown rapidly.

The main objectives of the AfCFTA are to create a single continental market for goods and services, with free movement of business persons and investments, and thus pave the way for accelerating the establishment of the Customs Union. While this political process is ongoing, the transition situation on the continent is diverse as there are several stakeholders such as Regional Economic Communities (RECs), Customs Unions and Monetary Unions. Producing trade data that serve all purposes is difficult.

In this context, harmonised and high quality data of trade statistics play an important role for trade negotiations and constitute an essential source of information for balance of payments statistics, national accounts and economic studies. Beyond that, the compilation of trade aggregates for the whole of the AU is a first step towards harmonisng of practices and methodologies for trade statistics across Member States.

In June 2016, the Assembly of the African Union furthermore decided in Kigali to finance AU activities from the contributions of Member States based on an extra imports levy (0.2%). To implement this decision, the availability of intra and extra trade data has become an imperative both for the AUC and for the African countries. These data on trade statistics will also be needed to evaluate the effectiveness of the measures taken by African leaders to boost Intra African trade, which has a strong impact on the economic development of the entire continent.

Therefore, the African Union Commission (AUC), in collaboration with Eurostat, has for the first time published a Time Series of Annual Trade Data for the period from 2010 to 2016. The Statistics Division at the AUC (AUSTAT) compiled data provided by the NSOs of Member States or other institutions responsible for the production and dissemination of trade statistics in Africa and estimated the data when it was not possible to collect data directly from Member States. The joint endeavour was supported by experts contributing through the Pan African Statistics (PAS) programme, funded by the European Union.

These data were almost fully stem from AU Member States themselves and thus are authentic but the reader should be aware that, due to the urgent need for such data, international organizations proceed for the estimation of their own data. The most common source of data is UN COMTRADE which is a repository of official international trade statistics and relevant analytical tables provided by United Nations. The AUC plans to continue with this new publication and will then enrich its metadata, intensify its validation efforts and improve its reconcilliation with other data sources.

The publication presents data about international trade in goods only. Intra and extra-AU trade in goods data are collected by the customs authorities and are based on the records of trade transactions in customs declarations. Goods for and after processing are included, whereas goods in transit are excluded from both trade systems. Exports include re-exports and imports include re-imports.

Short overview of African Union trade development

The whole of the African Union (AU-55) accounts for approximately 3% of the worlds trade in goods valued in USD. During the period 2010-2016, AU annual exports and imports were fairly stable (at around 500 billion of USD), its imports slightly exceedng exports in the most recent years. The trade balance up to 2012 was positive. The ratio of goods exports/goods imports has however changed over the period: in 2010, the AU was a net exporter (the ratio of exports over imports reached 103%), whereas in 2016 it became a net importer (the ratio of exports over imports reached 74%). Among countries the main net exporters in 2016 were Angola (ratio 265%), Gabon (ratio 162%), Cote dIvoire (ratio 127%), and Botswana (ratio 121%).

In 2016, the three major African importers (Egypt, South Africa and Algeria) and three major exporters (South Africa, Nigeria and Angola) accounted together for 39% of total AU imports and exports.

Intra African trade is very important for the economic development and integration of the continent. However, the share of Intra African trade in Africas total imports and exports remains rather low: on average 13% for intra-imports and 17% for intra exports over the period of the last seven years. While the value of total exports decreased, the share of intra-exports trade increased by 30 % in 2016 in comparison with 2010.

Extra African trade makes up more than 80% of the total trade. The volume of extra exports and extra imports are similar: on average 450 billion USD for exports and 490 billion USD for imports.

The main player in Intra African trade is South Africa, with a share in intra exports which varies from 27 to 30% over the period of 7 years. It is followed by Nigeria (8%) and Gabon (7%). South Africa is also a leader for intra imports (13%), followed by Botswana (8%) and Namibia (8%).

The main product group in total African imports and exports are mineral fuels and mineral oils (HS 27). However, these products are more significant in exports: the share of mineral oils reached 57% of total exports in 2012 and decreased to 34% in 2016. Decreasing oil market prices and trade in mineral products had a crucial impact on the decline of exports between 2012 and 2016.

Although the majority of African exports is sent to non-African countries, the global product structure for extra and intra exports are similar: the two dominant product groups are mineral fuels and oils (HS27) and natural and cultured pearls (HS71), accounting together for 21 % for extra exports and 30% for intra exports. However, extra exports are more diversified with agricultural products: edible fruits and nuts (2.6%), cocoa and cocoa preparation (2.4%), products of animal origin (1.3%), coffee, tea, spices (1.2%), fish and crustaceans (1.1%).

As for imports, mineral fuels and oils (HS27) accounted for 12% of total imports in 2016 with the majority being imported from non-AU Member States. Mineral fuels are followed by machinery and mechanical appliances (HS 84), electrical machinery and equipments, sound recorders and reproducers (HS85) and vehicles (HS87). These three product groups made up 29% of extra-AU imports and 14% of intra imports. Within extra-AU imports the second most important product group was cereals (HS10) (5%), while within intra trade it was sugars and sugar confectionery (HS17) (6%).

For the period 2010-2016, China remained by far the most important AU trading partner accounting in 2016 for 13% of extra-AU exports and 17% of extra-AU imports. The value of goods imported from France, Germany and United States made up approximately 6% for each.

The largest destination markets for AU goods, after China, are India and the United States, accounting for 7% of extra African exports each, followed by France, Spain and Italy (6% each).

The African Union Trade Statistics Yearbook is the result of a close collaboration between the African Union Commission (AUC), the Regional Economic Communities (REC) and the National Statistical Offices (NSOs).This past Friday, lots of people came out to recognize Mark Burrows (second from right), for his work to make Transylvania County a better place.

Described as an advocate for the citizen, with a tireless commitment to the community, Mark Burrows closed a 30-year chapter of service to Transylvania County residents at a reception at Brevard Brewing Company on Friday.

Surrounded by people who expressed their gratitude, Burrows never stopped shaking hands, and receiving the affection of old and new acquaintances, all characters in a history of a person who came to Transylvania County with his wife, Betsy, in 1990, and has seen it through growth and difficulty.

"What I'll miss most is the engagement with people," Burrows said in an interview earlier that week. "I enjoy being able to facilitate conversations and connect people and ideas."

Burrows was born in Iowa and grew up in Merritt Island, Fla. After graduating high school, he worked as a ranger at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico.

He got his undergraduate degree in economics at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, where he met Betsy during the spring semester of their freshmen year.

She was an English major, who later got her master's at UNC Chapel Hill, while he got his master's in environmental management at Duke University's School of Forestry program, now called the Nicholas School of Environment.

Eventually, Burrows landed the position as Transylvania County's first planning director, and Betsy began teaching at Brevard High School.

At the time, Burrows said there was no planning office, but there was an "influx" of people coming to the community.

"The county was experiencing growth, so there was a real need for planning, and in '92, I was asked to take the lead in consolidating the City of Brevard's building permits department and the county's building permits department," Burrows said.

In 1996, Burrows became the planning and economic development director, and from there he oversaw The Transylvania Partnership, now the Transylvania Economic Alliance, implemented three economic strategic plans that helped the county to recover from the closure of three large manufacturing plants during 2002 and then the 2008 recession, and recruited countless new businesses to the county and assisted in the growth of already existing businesses.

"I've had time to reflect on this a lot, and there has been a lot of change, and at the same time the place has stayed small, robust, and a charming community," Burrows said. "What we've seen is the addition of DuPont State Forest, Gorges State Park and most recently Headwaters State Forest. I mean, that's amazing when you think of the component of the environment and recreation. And a lot of what we were working at bringing in 10 years ago supported the recreation industry, like SylvanSport and Carmichael Training, and then there is Brevard College, with the development of its wilderness program."

Then, Burrows said, there were the hard times.

"The most difficult time for me was when we were transitioning away from a manufacturing-based comm-unity up until about 2002, when we lost up to 2,200 manufacturing jobs as a result of the closure of DuPont, Ecusta and the Coats plant all in the same year," Burrows said. "What's amazing is that this community did rebound in reestablishing without that base manufacturing."

There were people who were forced into retirement and weren't able to benefit, but the "overall health" of the county had gotten better by 2005.

However, the recession of 2007 and 2008 came, he said.

"Our county did so well in the mid-2000s because a lot of people at DuPont and Ecusta were shift workers. On their off shift they were doing construction on the side," Burrows said. "So, when those plants shut down, a lot of people started into the construction industry full time, and with new residential construction, retirees, resorts and residential, that was an industry that took off. And then it collapsed entirely with the Great Recession, and that's when we saw more people hurting, but now we are 10 years past that, and this is a very vibrant community right now."

In retrospect, trying to help people who were impacted by the plant closures find new sources of income, whether it be through retirement or retraining at Blue Ridge Community College, was difficult.

"I just felt the enormous weight of these people who were hurting because of the loss of jobs," Burrows said. "Then the rug was pulled out from under them again with the recession, when a large number of homes went into foreclosure."

Still, Burrows found resources and connected people who were wanting to help.

"In 2002, a group of retired individuals literally came into my office and asked how they can help," he said.

From there, Burrows created the award-winning Senior Resource Network, a local volunteer network organization consisting of senior executives, managers and professionals who provide consulting and advisory services.

"It was very cool to have these 60 people in a network, who, if we had a business that needed expertise in marketing, or an expertise in financial accounting, we had a depth of volunteers that could help the county, and ultimately help businesses that were here," Burrows said.

Another major achievement is the 2025 Comprehensive Plan, a 30-month effort "involving the management of staff, 40 volunteer advocates and over a dozen unique communication initiatives" that resulted in a long-range guide for making development and policy decisions in the county.

The plan won the 2018 American Planning Association Award of Merit in the small jurisdiction category and the 2018 N.C. Marvin Collins Planning Award in the Outstanding Planning Award in the small community category.

In light of a multitude of projects and organizations, including the application and administering of nearly $5.4 million in grants from public and private sources and the leveraging of $400,000 through grant money to get Blue Ridge Community College's building of technology built, Burrows said he's most proud of his family.

Betsy now teaches at Brevard College. Their son, John, and daughter, Brooke, grew up in Brevard.

John graduated in 2010 as a Morehead Cain Scholar, went to UNC-Chapel Hill and ended up going to Duke University into the same graduate program Burrows himself completed.

John works for the National Outdoor Leadership School in Lander, Wyo.

Brooke graduated a year after John and studied at Columbia University in New York City, and then spent two years in Armenia with the Peace Corps.

She returned to Brevard and completed a nine-month program with AmeriCorps, working for Bart Renner in the Cooperative Extension in Transylvania County while contributing several articles to The Transylvania Times on the French Broad River.

Having studied in Germany and India, she is now enrolled in a doctorate program at the University of Massachusetts, studying social psychology, with an emphasis on the psychology of peace and violence.

"What's really incredible to me is we have this community with a school system of phenomenal teachers who made a difference for Brooke and John, and it continues to support education and growth of our youth here," Burrows said.

A project Burrows started and said he and Betsy will continue to work on is Project Empathy, a program started to "promote greater community dialogue."

"It's been something I've really enjoyed working on, considering the things that are happening in the nation with the racial incidents, and some of the things we've seen here locally in working with the NAACP and tying that in also with a living wage group and, again, tying that in workforce housing," Burrows said. "Those are the things that I have really been able to spend more time on, for several years, with the change from planning and economic to planning and community development."

Burrows, who is now on vacation in Wind Rivers, Wyo, celebrating this transitional period, said he doesn't know what's next.

"I'm not one who can just sit around," Burrows said. "If I had a dream it would be to try to replicate the skill sets I have in working with people in terms of creating new opportunities, but, really, it's to be determined."

On Burrows

The following comments were collected about Burrows.

During a recent meeting, Transylvania County Commissioner Mike Hawkins said of Burrows: "I don't think over the past 25 years that there has been anyone involved in the county more than Mark Burrows has. You name it, he's worked on it, and he's worked on it with energy and without asking for credit. "He's led a planning department in a county in which it's sometimes hard to operate a planning department. There are challenges. And he's worked really well with a number of different planning boards that sometimes had different perspectives.

"He's always in that work. He's always placed the importance of citizen input and participation at the top of the list. He's been a tremendous planning leader.

"He's also worked in areas that I call community development, things like transportation planning, housing, utilities infrastructure, grant acquisitions, and a lot more. He's always been a great advocate for Transylvania County and a champion for the community in the true sense, and by that I mean he's always tried in the work he's been doing to bring people together to build bridges, rather than to create division."

Susan Threlkel: "I can't remember a time when I was not working with Mark. Through the years I have experienced his commitment to community and his care and concern for the people who live here. As part of a celebration event we burned the mortgage for the Arts Council building together, we've participated in VISION, where he created an amazing fountain for the courthouse lawn on Arts Day. "We served on the Community Task Force for Focus 2020 and, most recently, on the Empathy Project Committee. Always goal-oriented, organized and dedicated, Mark, to me, is a perfect example of the type of individual you want in a responsible government position. I have a great appreciation for the skills and talents he has shared with both nonprofits and in his job of furthering economic and community development in Transylvania County. Mark has served us well and, personally, my life has been enriched through knowing him. I can't wait to see what he does next."

Joy Fields, planner for the county's Planning and Community Development Department: "I worked for Mark two-and-a-half years. Throughout that time, I found Mark to be a very thoughtful and kind boss who worked tirelessly to make Transylvania County a better place."

Kalen K. Lawson, the department's program support assistant: "I am grateful to have worked with Mark for almost three years. His leadership created a very respectful and productive environment. He always strove to make Transylvania County a better place for all of its citizens, and the impact of his efforts can be seen throughout county. Mark is one of the most genuine and kind people I've had the pleasure to know."

Former Commissioner Ray Miller: "I worked with Mark for eight years from 1999 to 2006. During that time the local economy was impacted by the closure of our major industrial plants - Ecusta, Dupont and Coats American. Mark worked diligently to find solutions for the local economy. His positive attitude, ability to work with people, groups and organizations helped bring the county through difficult times. It was a pleasure to work with him. I wish him the best in his future endeavors."

Of his many leadership positions, Burrows also served as vice chair of the Asheville Regional Housing Consortium since 1993.

Former Consortium councilman and chair Brownie Newman: "I feel fortunate that Mark served on the Home Consortium during the time that I was chair. Mark had served on the Consortium prior to my time there.

Burrows and his wife, Betsy.

"His experience and insights were very helpful to me and the whole organization. Mark did a great job advocating for Transylvania County, while at the same time promoting a cooperative, regional approach. Mark and I sat through a lot of long meetings together.

"His thoughtful input and good humor contributed to better decision making, better relationships between local governments and organizations, and led to the implementation of projects that have improved the lives of thousands of people and families in Western North Carolina. Thank you, Mark."Vietnam veteran Mike Kuhne explains the significance of the POW/MIA Missing Man Table to young visitors at the WNC Military History Museum. (Courtesy photo)

The United States' National POW/MIA Recognition Day will be observed across the nation on Friday, Sept. 21.

Transylvania County residents are encouraged to take time to honor and remember the sacrifices and service of those Americans who were prisoners of war (POW) and those who are still missing in action (MIA), and their families.

According to the Congressional Research Service, 725 Americans were POWs during the Vietnam War (1961-1973). Of that group, 661 returned to U.S. military control and 64 died while prisoners of war. In military actions since that time, another 37 Americans have been interned and all but one have been released. More than 142,000 Americans have been POWs since WWI, more than 17,000 of whom died while imprisoned.

As of Aug. 29, 2018, 1,594 Americans are still MIA, 38 of whom are North Carolinians.

The POW/MIA Flag

The POW/MIA flag flies below the American flag at the Transylvania County courthouse. It was created in 1972 for the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia and was recognized by Congress as "the symbol of our Americans still prisoner, missing and unaccounted for." The flag features a silhouette of a POW in front of a watch tower and a strand of barbed wire. The flag bears the motto: "You are not Forgotten."

The Missing Man Table

The National League of POW/MIA Families is also responsible for the creation of the Missing Man Table, also known as the Fallen Comrades Table, which has become part of dining services for all branches of the military. Every aspect of the table setting holds significance for the families of prisoners of war and those missing in action. The table is often displayed in American Legion and VFW dining rooms.

Transylvania County resident Ray Alcorn was a POW in North Vietnam for seven years. Upon their release, Ray Alcorn, front row, center seat, and his fellow POWs cheered as their plane crossed the South Vietnam coastline.

The Missing Man Table is on display at the WNC Military History Museum as 21 E. Main St. in Brevard, with an explanation of the significance of such items as a pinch of salt, a slice of lemon, a burning candle, a red rose, a yellow ribbon and an upturned glass.

Museum curator Emmett Casciato encourages the public to visit this exhibit on Sept. 21 for an explanation of the table's design. The museum is open on Sept. 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This is an opportunity to pay tribute to our country's prisoners of war and missing in action, and to the families who suffer the uncertainty of the fate of their loved ones. Let them know they are not forgotten.

(In cooperation with writer Michel Robertson and the WNC Military History Museum, The Transylvania Times will publish an article featuring Vietnam veteran and POW Dave Grant as part of their Vietnam Veterans series.)Attending the awards ceremony were, left to right, Dr. Bryan Abernathy, principal of BHS, Lt. Col. Charles Megown, MCJROTC instructor, and Sharon Jenkins, regent of DAR chapter.

On Friday, Sept. 14, the JROTC cadets from Rosman and Brevard high schools assembled in the auditorium of the WNC Military History Museum. The 44 cadets were called to order by their commander, Hali Chapman, who then presented Lt. Col. Charles Megown. In addition to addressing the cadets, Megown introduced Sharon Jenkins, Regent of the Waightstill Avery Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Jenkins recognized the Daughters who were present and informed the cadets that she was going to have two surprises for them.

Before getting to the surprises, Jenkins told the audien...AmiciMusic, the award-winning chamber music organization based in Asheville, will make its debut in the Brevard area with an exciting vocal show called Songs Of Passion that will feature soprano Simone Vigilante, tenor John Kaneklides and pianist/artistic director Daniel Weiser.

They will perform arias and duets from the worlds of opera, operetta and musical theater, including music by Puccini, Verdi, Lehar, Jerome Kern, Gilbert and Sullivan, and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Vigilante is an Asheville resident who has sung many times with the Asheville Lyric Opera and across the country...The Brevard Academy: A Challenge Foundation Academy Board of Directors received a report on instructional support for teachers at the board meeting last Wednesday evening.

School director Ted Duncan reported that the instructional support team, which includes himself, Lisa Malaquin-Prey, Camy Sterling, Lori Luhrs, Kim Best and Crystal Holland had already performed 78 walk-throughs of classes. During a walk-through, which can last from five to 15 minutes, they have a checklist to see if teachers are following best teaching practices.

We were doing it on day one, said Duncan, who a...

Search News Archive : Fast Travel News Promotion Via Search, Social Media + Email Follow Us On : B2B HOSPITALITY OFFERING ATTRACTIVE ALL-INCLUSIVE RAJASTHAN HOLIDAY PACKAGES AT COMPETITIVE PRICES Industry: Tours

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CONTACT INFORMATION Name: B2b Hospitality Company: B2B Hospitality P. Ltd Phone: +911128084890 Email: query@b2bhospitalityindia.com Web: PRESS RELEASE TAGSAn award winning lifestyle wellness hotel welcomes journalists and bloggers from Italy as a part of Air Italy inaugural flight to Thailand



(TRAVPR.COM) BANGKOK - September 19th, 2018 - Well Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 hosted a familiarization trip led by Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Rome office in partnership with Air Italy. The members of the FAM trip consisting of Italian journalists, bloggers, TAT Rome officer and a representative from Air Italy flew to Thailand on 9 August 2018 with the inaugural flight from Milan to Bangkok.

Our TAT Rome office has been working hard to promote Thailand and the unique experiences travelers could gain while visiting the country. The opening of the new direct flights from Milan to Bangkok will help bring Italian tourists to Thailand easier than before, along with the airline domestic networks to other major cities in Italy such as Rome, Naples, Lamezia Terme, Palermo and Catania. During the FAM trip, our group had visited many hidden gems in and around Bangkok including the Rom Hub market, Talad Plu, Wat Pho, famous dining spots from the Michelin Guide, cooking class, a rooftop bar, a night market and on our last day we attended the Thai herbal cocktail workshop and healthy lunch hosted by our host hotel. That was such a good experience, said Mario DeglInnocenti, TAT Rome marketing officer.

We are glad that we could once again work with TAT Rome in hosting this FAM trip as Italy is our number one long haul market and it is among the top six nationalities for this property (Well Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20), which the first five countries are from Asia. We have been working closely with TAT, DMCs as well as media, bloggers and influencers to push our presence to this market. The direct flight from Milan to Bangkok will shorten the travel time and I am sure will help boost the number of Italian tourists to Thailand, commented Supa-arpha Itthikaiwan, Well Hotels & Resorts - Director, Brand & Marketing Communications.

The group spent five days from 10 to 15 September 2018 in Thailands capital exploring top tourist attractions, gaining new skills and local experience as well as attending a press conference and gala dinner of Air Italy inaugural flight to Thailand held in Bangkok.

###The first time Paul Barton played a piano for elephants, an old, blind male named Plara was closest to the piano. He was one of the many residents at a sanctuary for sick, abused, retired and rescued elephants in Thailand, where Barton had decided to volunteer.

"He was having his breakfast of bana grass, but when he heard the music for the first time, he suddenly stopped eating with the grass protruding from his mouth and stayed motionless all through the music," Barton tells Treehugger in an email interview.

"I returned ... with the piano and stayed for long periods. There wasn't many visitors back then so I could spend a lot of time each day alone with Plara and the other elephants. Plara really liked slow classical music and each time I played piano or flute, he curled his trunk and held the tip trembling in his mouth until the music was over."

Barton says he was heartbroken when Plara died. The elephant's previous owner had removed and sold his tusks and an infection had set in. Despite the best efforts of the sanctuary veterinarians, the elephant didn't survive the infection.

A self-taught pianist and classically trained artist, Barton had moved to Thailand for three months to teach piano at a private school. But then he met Khwan, a wildlife artist and animal lover who would become his wife, and they decided to stay. That was 22 years ago.

Here Barton plays to Lam Duan, a blind elephant who is one of the sanctuary's current residents.

'He let me live'

When Barton first found out about the sanctuary, he wanted to do more than just visit the animals.

"I wondered if these old, rescued elephants might like to listen to some calm, slow classical piano music, so I asked if I could bring my piano along and play to the elephants," he says. "They allowed me to do that."

Barton soon became a regular. He would sit down at the bench, drawing different reactions from the various elephant residents and sometimes worrying their keepers, called mahouts.

Bull elephant Romsai is enraptured with Barton's music. Paul Barton

"One of the most memorable [reactions] was playing 'Moonlight Sonata' to a big bull elephant called Romsai at night. Romsai is an elephant that mahouts keep away from people due to his strength and dangerous temperament. To be so close to him at the piano under the moon and stars and play music to him was quite special," Barton says. "He seemed to be listening and, from his reaction, liked the music. He let me live."

Barton says he knows there are inherent dangers being around such massive creatures, especially the large males. But these are the animals that seem to love the music the most.

"With the bull elephants I am always aware they could kill me at any moment, and the mahouts are aware of it too and I can tell they are nervous for me," he says. "Up to now, its been these dangerous and potentially aggressive bull elephants that are always kept well away from people that have reacted the most to expressive, slow classical music. There is something about the music in the moment that makes them feel calm."

First impressions matter

Each elephant responds in a different way to Barton's music. And he says his relationships are different with each elephant. Barton says his connection with that first elephant, Plara, is still probably his most amazing experience.

Barton plays piano for another bull elephant called Chaichana. Paul Barton

Barton says he has learned that first impressions count with elephants.

"If you want to get on friendly terms with an elephant, the first time you meet, you give bananas. It's said elephants memorize your scent and will think of you as a friend next time you're together," he says.

Some people have told him that elephants can smell fear.

"I was wondering about this as Chaichana, the bull elephant in this photo [above], outstretched his trunk towards me over the piano top and sniffed around my head as I was playing to him," Barton says. "When I play music to elephants I always feel calm and happy and I thought in that moment as his trunk was close to my face that at least whatever scent I was giving off and he was picking up wasn't fear. Perhaps Chaichana could smell and recognize the scent of someone that liked him very much indeed? I hope so."Treehugger and our third-party partners use cookies and process personal data like unique identifiers based on your consent to store and/or access information on a device, display personalized ads and for content measurement, audience insight, and product development. To change or withdraw your consent choices for Treehugger.com, including your right to object where legitimate interest is used, click below. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data. List of Partners (vendors)editorial@tribune.com

Vijay C Roy

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 19

Companies will soon be able to read the mind of consumers and accordingly plan their marketing strategies through the intelligent face-tracking software developed by a team of IIT Ropar.

Even before the technology came out of the laboratory, a global electronic giant has bought it. The firm would modify and use it to map the mood of people captured in selfies, said Dr Abhinav Dhall, an assistant professor in IIT Ropar. Dhall did not disclose the details of the technology transfer, citing a non-disclosure agreement with the company.

There could be various applications of this artificial intelligence-based software as it will analyse hundreds of faces in a group photo and provide mood score, which is data related to potential group behaviour, he said. Companies can also obtain real-time data pertaining to the consumer profile such as age and gender. Dhall and his team in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Ropar, have developed the technology.

The software captures three interesting types of information in an image; facial expression, upper body gestures and information related to the surrounding, he said. The research has been made in collaboration with researchers from the University of Oulu, Finland and University of Trento, Italy.

The softwares aim is to assess the overall mood of a group from a single shot, Dhall said. By looking at a sequence of frames in a video, it could even gauge the mood of a crowd in realtime. If the mood score goes down over the time, we can assume that the group is getting angry, he said.

Giving details of the usage of the technology for selfies, he said, In the era of social media, we post hundreds of images in different moods under different scenarios. It will be interesting to analyse the overall moods. This technology is already sold and the same will be used by selfie-lovers to select their pictures in right mood.

The IIT-Ropar has also signed an agreement with a company to study employee behaviour. Though the software could be used officially to improve HR practices of the company, experts say that it might be invasion to the privacy of the staff.

The software can be quite useful by the law-enforcement agencies in pre-empting the mob behaviour and take corrective measures in advance to avoid precipitation of any violence. Dhalls team is developing an app to detect person under intoxication and substance abuse through their facial expressions. The software cannot only detect but also disclose vital data such as duration of substance abuse and the possibility of persons recovery.

Its applicationsRajesh Ramachandran

Rajesh Ramachandran

We ought to be a failed society to send our neighbours down the septic tanks to certain death or a life of filthy ignominy. Eleven people have died in seven days this last week in septic tanks and sewers, six of them in the national capital. Their corpses, their needless deaths are exemplifiers of our pyramidal, hierarchical caste system with all its oppressive feudal facets. We believe that a certain group of people are born to carry on their head others waste and excreta. When the dry toilets gave way to more modern ones with flush tanks, our modernity pushed the same old unfortunate people into newer septic tanks and municipal sewer lines. The IITian Chief Minister who wielded the broom  the symbol of the sanitation workers servitude  to seek their votes still has not thought about a mechanised alternative to people diving into pools of excreta. Did the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi or the Centre stop him from getting the Delhi IIT or the Kharagpur IIT to design robots to clean the clogged sewers? According to the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis, one sanitation worker has died every five days since January 2017.

Sanitation workers belong to the lowest of the low rungs in the Indian caste ladder, whatever their religion be. Hindu, Sikh, Christian, or Buddhist, the sanitation workers are discriminated against, often by even other Scheduled Castes. The worst aspect of Dalit politics is that it has always been dominated by the agricultural labour or cobbler castes like Jatav, Mahar, Mala, Pulaya or Holaya, to the extent of making the children and grandchildren of sanitation workers invisible in public life. So far, Valmikis or Madigas or Thotis have not really mattered in politics or bureaucracy. The token Dalit representative of the Congress was always from castes other than sanitation workers, so was the anti-Congress Dalit messiah Dr BR Ambedkar, a Mahar. Indias first Dalit President KR Naryanan, the celebrated Congress leader Jagjivan Ram, the BSP founder Kanshi Ram, his heiress Mayawati, the first Dalit Chief Justice of India KG Balakrishnan, the first Dalit Speaker of the Lok Sabha, GMC Balayogi, Bihar strongman Ram Vilas Paswan the list of Scheduled Caste leaders from the agricultural labour class is endless. So was the case when the BJP chose a Dalit to be President of India.

Worse is the situation in bureaucracy. Some leaders listed above pushed their children into the civil services, cornering quotas and denying opportunities to the children of manual scavengers. Now, reservation in politics and bureaucracy is just preservation of privilege for the children of empowered people. Their politics, too, is a curious extension of the colonial constructs of the separate nation and separate electorate meant to Balkanise the idea of India. Gandhis idea of eradication of untouchability, which he believed was more important than Independence, was to live and work with sanitation workers, impart dignity to their work and confidence in them as fellow beings, while shaming the upper castes and forcing them to clean their own toilets. The British countered this with the idea of a separate electorate and rituals like celebration of the Mahar valour during the battle of Koregaon. The greater instance of Mahar valour was the battle of Srirangapatna, when on May 4, 1799, a grenadier of the Bombay Army, possibly a Mahar soldier, shot Tipu Sultan through the temple, thus silencing the roar of the Tiger of Mysore and helping East India Company take control of the western coast.

So, while creating separate electorates and separate nations for Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Anglo-Indians and SCs, Koregaon  and not Srirangapatna  was convenient for the British rulers to create a narrative of fractured identities, mutinying against one another. This colonial narrative cannot create an equal society, but only sharper divisions. Instead of militantly agitating against the state and the Centre for continuing with the inhuman practice of pushing men and boys into sewer lines, the so-called Dalit radicals continue sharpening the edges of the colonial percepts of our fractured identities, celebrating the victory of a British contingent against an imbecile Peshwa some 200 years ago, for what? About a century ago, identity politics of the Hindutva, Islamic and Dalit varieties have all been at the behest of the British. VD Savarkar had sought mercy and was granted freedom by the British, Ambedkar was a member of the Viceroys Executive Council and Jinnah was a British ally and all three were opposed to the Quit India movement. So, it was no surprise that while opposing Gandhi, Ambedkar had, in 1931, praised the Hindutva proponent Savarkar as a true friend of the Dalits, I however wish to take this opportunity of conveying to you my appreciation of the work you are doing in the field of social reform. If the Untouchables are to be part and parcel of the Hindu society you must destroy chaturvarnya. I am glad that you are one of the very few who have realised this. According to Ambedkars biographer Dhananjay Keer, in 1937 Ambedkars publication Janata wrote that Savarkars service to the cause of the Untouchables was as decisive and great as that of Gautama Buddha himself.

Savarkars followers claim that Ambedkar tried to help him while he was being tried for Gandhis murder. Manohar Malgonkar in The Men Who Killed Gandhi quotes the Savarkar Memorial Committee publication to claim that Ambedkar told Savarkars counsel in January 1949, There is no real charge against your client; quite worthless evidence has been concocted But take it from me there just is no case. This may not be true at all, but it is sadly true that some Ambedkarites do celebrate East India Companys victories and worship Mayawatis statues, instead of forcing her to disassociate forever from Hindutva forces and to rescue manual scavengers from the sewers.harinder@tribunemail.com

Ananya Panda

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 18

The Congress' student wing NSUI alleged that the newly-elected president of the Delhi University (DU), Ankiv Baisoya of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has submitted fake" marksheet and certificate of Thiruvalluvar University (TU) to secure admission in MA in Buddhist Studies in Delhi University  an allegation rubbished by the right-leaning ABVP calling it nothing but a slander campaign by the NSUI.

The National Students' Union of India (NSUI) wants Baisoya be expelled for allegedly indulging in forgery. It released a letter from TU sent in response to a communication dated September 7, 2018 from the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee.

It is informed that the copy of the BA certificate of Baisoya (registration no. TVU/BA/500203) has been verified and found that the said certificate is not genuine. It is a fake certificate, read the response from the varsitys Controller of examinations to the Congress Tamil Nadu unit.

NSUIs national secretary Farooqui claimed that the Thiruvalluvar University has clearly denied having enrolled a student of such name saying no marksheet of such serial number is in its record.

The ABVP is following the footsteps of their parent organisation RSS and also BJP where the candidates contest and win the election by unfair means, alleged the NSUI leader. He added that the NSUI will carry out a demonstration at Arts Faculty of the North Campus tomorrow demanding that the DU administration takes strict action and file an FIR against him.

Incumbent on DU admin to investigate and expel Baisoya if certificate fake, said Ruchi Gupta, NSUI national in-charge.

However, the ABVP termed the NSUI allegation propaganda and Baisoya is contemplating legal action.

ABVPs national media convenor Monika Chaudhary questioned the authenticity of the documents, shared as purported communication from the Thiruvalluvar University.

The letter circulated by the NSUI didn't mention any letter no and date.... Its simply a propaganda by NSUI, she said adding that the DU must verify documents of all DUSU officebearers to stop future rumours.

Delhi University gave admission to Basoya after due verification of its documents.... Even today DU has all the right to verify documents of any student enrolled in university. But, it is not the job of NSUI to provide certificates to any person, the ABVP leader said.

The DU administration could not be reached for a response.ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM

The government has opted for a convenient tactic to address the Rs 10 lakh plus crore mess in public sector banks (PSBs). Dena Bank  one of the worst performing PSBs  was forbidden by the RBI from extending new credits under its stringent prompt corrective action (PCA). But it has now received a fresh lease of life by the recent three-bank merger. With this deft move, the government has effortlessly shifted Dena Banks liabilities to two healthier siblings  Bank of Baroda and Vijaya Bank. The logic is appealing. Two strong banks will absorb a weak bank and create Indias third largest bank with much greater lending power. The government seems unmindful of the fact that rogue banks such as Dena got into trouble because of indiscriminate, often farudulent, lending. Will the merger absolve Dena Bank of its misdemeanours? If not, who are the culprits for the sorry state of Dena Bank? Will the merger become a cover to conceal a financial crime and protect the offenders, including irresponsible bank officials, forever? The people, the ultimate owners of public sector banks, must be informed unambiguously.

In its hurry to contain the rising non-performing assets (NPAs), the government should not commit another blunder. It should professionally evaluate the State Bank of India experiment before proclaiming it as a universal solution. The net profit of SBI has dropped alarmingly after it was forced to absorb five of its associate banks besides the Bharatiya Mahila Bank. Similarly, the takeover of the ailing IDBI by LIC cannot be termed as a sound business decision.

There is nothing wrong in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) per se. They are acceptable tools for corporates to expand and consolidate their businesses. M&As must, however, happen purely on commercial considerations and must not be politically imposed. While PSBs are promoted by the government, they are run by their respective professional boards, which alone should take such decisions. Their state of affairs suggests that the right approach should be to change their governance structure to eliminate excessive political interference that resulted in unmanageable NPAs.ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM

Its back to the same yearly story: overabundance of foodgrain and limited covered storage. Paddy procurement will begin in Haryana from October 1, but grain markets are already chock-a-block with wheat and rice from last year. Millers will be at the door with custom-milled rice from mid-October, but it will be months before any consequential clearing of grain takes place. The state has been for long talking of state-of-the-art steel silos for the scientific storage of grain. The government has proposed the construction of silos across 16 cities, as part of the Central Government project to create 100 lakh MT storage capacity, which is all very well, but the progress is sluggish. While the total storage capacity at present is 123 lakh MT, the outward movement every month is only about 5 lakh MT, leading to a spillover.

In 2015, the Shanta Kumar Committee submitted its report on the restructuring of the Food Corporation of India. On the issue of storage it recommended that the corporation outsource its stocking operations to the Central Warehousing Corporation, State Warehousing Corporation and the private sector under the Private Entrepreneur Guarantee scheme through competitive bidding, and use containers to move grain to cut transit losses. It is now 2018 and the talk still revolves around the glut of grain and their scientific storage. The situation is no different in Punjab, which too suffers in the absence of effective post-harvest grain management. While Haryana has done well to station enough paddy stubble mulching machines in its fields, Punjab needs to roll up its sleeves on that score.

The surplus story is stuck on an endless loop. As is established, a high-tech expansive silo system is critical, along with the timely movement of grain and distribution to cut huge losses. The states need to take it up on priority, in the absence of which the outcome is predictable  rotting grain. In a country where a large number still goes to bed on an empty stomach, such wastefulness is simply unpardonable.editorial@tribune.com

Our Correspondent

Sonepat, September 19

After knowing about the brutal killing of Head Constable Narender Singh of the BSF allegedly by the Pakistan Rangers, residents of his native village, Thana Kalan, in the district are in the state of shock.

They have urged the Prime Minister to avenge his martyrdom.

Union Minister of State for Planning Rao Inderjit Singh, who was participating in a programme at Murthal on Wednesday, condemned the killing. He said that India would take revenge.

Congress MP from Rohtak, Deepender Singh Hooda, also condemned the killing of Narender and demanded that India should reply in the same language. People are with the Indian Army and strict action must be taken against Pakistan as well as terrorist groups in Jammu and Kashmir. We are proud of the supreme sacrifice of Narender, he said.

Village Sarpanch Balram said that the villagers have urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to avenge Narenders martyrdom. The gram panchayat will raise a memorial on panchayat land. The school and stadium in the village will be named after him.

Narenders uncle Ashok and other villagers said that the body was being brought by road from Jammu to the village by Narenders family members. They are likely to reach the village early morning tomorrow. Narender is survived by his wife and two sons.editorial@tribune.com

Sumedha Sharma

Tribune News Service

Gurugram, September 19

Having been notorious for decades for fooling people by selling fake gold bricks, Mewat fraudsters have come a long way from the traditional Tatlu gangs.

From low-priced business deals advertised on websites to fake social media friendship and marriage proposals, fraudsters in the district are luring people from across the country to rob them or abduct them for ransom.

Given a whopping 60 per cent increase in such cases in the last one year, the Mewat police have cautioned people against such calls and offers.

The caution notice signed by Ferozpur Jhirka SHO Ashok Kumar had been circulated on social media, asking people to be wary of coming to the district lured by any online deals or friendship with women.

As per the notice, the police highlighted the fact that several gangs were active in the region, advertising cars on online portals at unbelievable rates to lure people.

The police warned that if anybody saw such an advertisement or was called to the district, he must be cautious and inform the police on designated numbers.

Caution is better than resolution. The police have cracked down on many gangs. We believe that preventing a crime is more important that solving it. There has been a spurt in people being called and getting robbed or abducted, besides honey trap instances, said the SHO. The warning was being circulated on all social media platforms.

Prior to this, the Rajasthan Police had adopted this method to deal with the menace in the Mewat region of the state. They had put up boards and flex sheets and raised awareness on social media.editorial@tribune.com

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 19

WhatsApp calling is causing disconnect between the Chandigarh Police and accused on the run in the HCS paper leak case. Nearly a year after the scam surfaced, the Chandigarh Police on Wednesday told the Punjab and Haryana High Court that the accused, yet to be arrested in the case, were changing mobile numbers frequently and using WhatsApp calling facility, making it tough for the investigating agency to track their location.

As the case came up for resumed hearing, the Chandigarh Police referred to a recorded conversation between two accused, Sushila and Sunita, before telling a five-Judge Bench that they had even discussed the idea of getting the paper cancelled in case they could not pay for the leaked paper. The Bench was told that Sushila was a 43-year-old housewife, who topped the examination.

Taking up the matter, the full Bench of Chief Justice Krishna Murari, Justice Rajesh Bindal, Justice Rajan Gupta, Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Arun Palli questioned the efficacy of police investigation in the matter after being told that the accused on the run could not be arrested.

Speaking for the Bench, Justice Gupta said it was not a crime involving militants. He also asked the prosecuting agency to explain how the accused got a whiff of its activity before mincing no words to say the prosecution meekly handed over statements of witnesses recorded under Section 164 of the CrPC during the pendency of the investigation. He added that a challenge was made only after the court pointed it out.

Statements under Section 164 were admissible in evidence unlike the ones recorded by the police and were kept in sealed cover. The High Court had earlier noticed that the district courts order on handing over of copies of the 164 statements to the accused, Registrar (Recruitment) Balwinder Sharma, was neither challenged by the prosecuting agency nor brought to the Benchs notice, though it was monitoring the proceedings on regular basis.

The Bench also asked the administration to explain the possible effect release of the accused on interim bail would have on the ongoing investigation. The query came after the Bench observed that the accused could not be kept in custody forever.

UT special public prosecutor RS Rai and additional public prosecutor Gautam Dutt said the accused were getting information through newspaper reports on court proceedings. The Bench also took up the bail plea of accused Sushila. She and three other accused had moved the High Court for bail. The case would now come up after a week. The hearing was adjourned after Sushilas counsel sought time to seek instructions.editorial@tribune.com

Our Correspondent

Chamba, September 18

In a campaign launched against drug menace, the Chamba police seized 10 kilogram charas from two different places in the district in the past 24 hours.

Disclosing the information on WhatsApp here on Tuesday, SP Dr Monika Bhutungru said during a nakabandi at the Tunnuhatti barrier on the Chamba-Pathankot national highway, the state narcotics crime control unit on suspicion intercepted a car going towards Pathankot. On conducting a check, recovered charas weighing 7.56 kg from the possession of Daleep Kumar of Amritsar.

The SP said the Toyota Etios car bearing the registration number of Punjab in which the accused was carrying charas was impounded and the accused arrested. Accordingly, a case under Section 20 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act was registered at the Chowari police station, the SP said, adding that further investigation was underway.

In another incident, the police during a nakabandi at Behi-Koti on the Chamba-Tissa road, stopped a pedestrian and on checking his carry bag recovered 3.8 kg charas. The accused, Govind Ram (40) of the Churah area, was arrested.editorial@tribune.com

Ishfaq Tantry

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, September 19

Twentyeight years after the Gaw Kadal massacre, the police have said the kin of only six victims have been provided ex gratia whereas the whereabouts of the kin of 16 other victims are not known.

The J&K Police disclosed this in its report to the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC), which is hearing a complaint into the matter filed by human rights activist Ahsan Untoo.

In the massacre on January 21, 1990, 52 civilians were killed when security forces opened fire on a procession at a bridge in the Gaw Kadal area of Srinagar. However, an FIR into the incident mentioned death of 22 persons.

The police details received by the SHRC from the Kralkhud police station states that 22 persons were killed and 12 were injured in the Gaw Kadal massacre of 1990. The police reply said only six families, whose relatives were killed, were traced. They were provided relief and the rest of 16 families remain untraced as they had perhaps changed their residences as more than 25 years have passed since then, SHRC Chairman Justice (retd) Bilal Nazki said in his order on Wednesday.

The police report also said records were not available as to whether any relief was provided to any of the 12 injured persons.

The SHRC directed the prosecution to provide a list of the deceased as well as that of the injured to Untoo who may on his own try to locate the next of kin of the deceased and the injured.

The rights panel further directed the police to file a status report of the investigation as the petitioner flayed the state for not tracing the security personnel who resorted to indiscriminate firing at Gaw Kadal.editorial@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Jammu, September 19

The Government Industrial Training Institute (ITI), Jammu, has been ranked 51 among the total 13,348 ITIs across the country. It has also secured the top position in the state.

The ITI-Jammu has been awarded with an overall rating of 2.97 issued by the Directorate General of Training (DGT), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).

The ITIs in Kishtwar and Samba stood second and third in the state with an overall rating of 2.71 and 2.66, respectively.

A total of 11 Government ITIs, including eight from Jammu division and three from Kashmir division, had made it into the final grading list of the DGT-MSDE. Other ITIs with their grading points include those in Kathua (2.61), Hirangagar (2.52), Anantnag (2.32), Ganderbal (2.31), Sopore in Baramulla (2.29), Ramban (2.28), Udhampur (2.25) and RS Pura, Jammu (2.22).

As many as 13,348 ITIs, including both government and private, are providing vocational training to around 19 lakh youth in the country. To perform a quality check, the DGT decided to grade the ITIs on the basis of some key parameters to draw a comparison among the institutes, an ITI-Jammu official said.

Total 43 parameters were categorised into 10 heads for grading the institutes. These included civil works, trades, industry concept, outcome, instructors, production centre, capacity utilisation, key compliance, special achievements and miscellaneous. A global rating agency, Credit Rating Information Services of India Limited, carried out the entire grading process throughout the country under the National Council for Vocational Training, the official added.

To celebrate the achievement, a function was organised on the premises of the ITI-Jammu on Wednesday wherein Director, Technical Education, Anoo Malhotra was the chief guest.

Established in 1958

There are a total of 53 Government ITIs in J&K, including 26 in Jammu division and 27 in Kashmir division, that are providing training facilities in various trades of 1 to 2 years duration

Of the 53 ITIs, there is one each for women in Jammu and Bemina. Initially, two ITIs were established in J&K in 1958 at Jammu and Srinagar, respectively

Rating of top 3 institutesvinaymishra188@gmail.com

Manmarziyaan producers have deleted three scenes from the film after members of the Sikh community objected to a scene where Abhishek Bachchans character is shown smoking. The producers approached the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) regarding the deletion of the scenes.

According to a censor copy, the three deleted scenes include a 29-second smoking sequence of Abhishek, a minute-long scene featuring Taapsee Pannu and Abhishek entering a gurdwara and an 11-second scene where Taapsee is shown smoking. We have removed the three scenes from the film as peoples sentiments were getting hurt. The said changes have come into effect in metros from today and will reflect across India from the coming Thursday-Friday, a source from the production side said. Director Anurag Kashyap also addressed the controversy, saying there was never an intention to cause any hurt to the community, but the matter should not be politicised unnecessarily. He said utmost care was taken while shooting the scenes and they took guidance from the community to avoid misrepresentation.

Under guidance

We asked for guidance from Sikh people for the film. When we shot the sequence in gurdwara, we were told we cant shoot them getting married as it cant be faked so we made the actors do only Mattha Tekna, Anurag, who is out of the country, said in a long tweet.

When we shot the smoking scene, it was shot on the street and there were close to 150 people watching the shoot. We asked before doing the scene and were told that he has to take the turban off before he smokes away from his house. We were also shown how Robbie (Abhishek) should take the turban off with both hands and how he should hand it over and how the cousin should take it. It was never the intention to hurt the community and why would we do that when we got so much love from them. he added. Anurag said he was sorry if he had caused a genuine hurt to anyone but asked people to not make the issue unnecessary political because its not. To those whose hurt is genuine, I offer a genuine apology, that wasnt my intention. And for those who are doing it for attention, I am glad you have got the attention.  PTIrajivbhatia82@gmail.com

New Delhi, September 19

In a first, Afghanistan has deported an alleged ISIS sympathiser from Kerala, Nashidul Hamzafar, who along with 14 other youths had gone to join the terror organisation, officials said.

They said he was taken into custody by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on arrival from Kabul.

"Nashidul was detained by Afghan security agencies last year for illegally entering the country to join his associates in proscribed terrorist organisation ISIS/Daish," the agency's spokesperson said in a statement.

It is the first extradition of alleged ISIS sympathiser from Afghanistan, the officials said.

It is alleged that Hamzafar, a resident of Kasaragod in Kerala, along with his associates, had left the country on October 3, 2017 and travelled to Muscat, Oman before travelling to Iran and further reaching Kabul, Afghanistan, where he was detained.

"Pursuant to the conspiracy, 14 accused persons from Kasaragod district had left India or their work places in the Middle East between mid-May and early-July, 2016 before travelling to Afghanistan, where they joined ISIS/Daish," he said.

The agency has alleged Hamzafar participated in the conspiracy through encrypted social media platforms, with the other absconding accused persons known through college mates.

He was produced before a special court for NIA cases in New Delhi Wednesday.

He will now be taken to Kochi on transit remand for producing him before the special NIA court there that had issued warrant against him, the spokesperson said. - PTIuttara@tribuneindia.com

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 19

A day after some press reports claimed a Dubai court had ordered Christian Michela suspect AgustaWestland corruption scamto be extradited to India, The Tribune has learnt that what the reports called an order could infact be a legal opinion.

The Tribune has learnt from sources that UAE authorities had asked a court its opinion at the end of last month on whether a foreign citizen could be deported to a third country. The court is believed to have replied in the affirmative on September 2, and that it was this that some press reports could have interpreted as an order.

Its been learnt that the Indian Mission in UAE has been instructed find out what the court actually said.

Meanwhile, sources in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said they were awaiting confirmation on the courts supposed orders.

Press reports said on Tuesday that a court in Dubai cleared the extradition.

Sources said they were in touch with officials at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, but theyve yet to receive any official communication from UAE authorities.

"We are awaiting official communication in this regard," a source in the CBI said.

Michel, a suspected middleman in multi-crore deal scam, is British.

Michel is one of the three middlemen being probed in the case, besides Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa, by the ED and the CBI. Both the agencies have notified an Interpol red corner notice against him after the court issued a non-bailable warrant.

The CBI had filed charge sheet in the matter in September last year, naming former IAF Chief S P Tyagi as one of the accused.

Besides him, the agency has also charge-sheeted retired Air Marshal J S Gujral along with eight others, including five foreign nationals. Michel is one of the three foreign country-based middlemen charge-sheeted in the matter.

The agency has alleged that there was an estimated loss of Euro 398.21 million (approximately Rs 2,666 crore) to the exchequer in the deal that was signed on February 8, 2010 for the supply of VVIP choppers worth Euro 556.262 million.

The CBI had earlier alleged that during Tyagi's tenure as air force chief, the Air Force conceded to reduce the mandatory service ceiling for VVIP helicopters from 6,000 metres to 4,500 metres.

The Air Force was earlier vehemently opposing the service ceiling reduction on the grounds of security constraints and other related reasons.

It has claimed that reduction of the service ceiling, or the maximum height at which a helicopter can perform normally, allowed UK-based AgustaWestland to come into the fray as, otherwise, its helicopters were not even qualified for submission of bids. With PTImonicakchauhan@gmail.com

Satya Prakash

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 19

The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Assam NRC coordinator to commence the process for filing of claims and objections for inclusion in the Final Draft NRC from September 25.

A Bench of Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Rohinton F Nariman said those left out of the Draft NRC can rely on 10 of the 15 documents prescribed.

Window for filing of claims and objections shall remain open for 60 days.

The Bench said, "We are not shutting out the rest of the five documents. All that we are saying is that at this stage claims and objections shall be filed on the basis of 10 documents."

The Bench said it will consider after a month whether to allow the other five documents as well or not.

It asked Assam NRC coordinator Prateek Hajela to respond in 15 days to the latest affidavit filed by the Ministry of Home Affairs and posted the matter for further hearing on October 23.

It also restrained Hajela from sharing a confidential report he has submitted to the top court with any one from the legislature, executive or judiciary.

It also issues notice to the Centre, Assam Government and NRC coordinator on a petition filed two lakh Gorkhas excluded from the final Draft NRC.

Attorney General KK Venugopal and Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta tried to impress upon the top court on behalf of the Centre and Assam Government respectively that it needed to consider allowing the rest of the five documents as most of the people in rural areas we illiterate.

But the court repeatedly said it will consider allowing the rest of the five documents for filing of claims and objections after a month.monicakchauhan@gmail.com

Mukesh Ranjan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 19

Union Law and Justice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday said that the Union Cabinet has approved an ordinance to make the practice of instant triple-talaq a cognisable offence with penal provisions.

The Minister also insisted that the decision was taken under compelling necessity as the practice continued unabated despite the Supreme Court annulling it last year and had directed the government to bring about a legal framework to deal with the subject.

Announcing the decision of the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at a press conference here, Prasad accused the Congress of not cooperating in the passage of the Muslim Women Protection of Rights on Marriage Bill, pending in the Rajya Sabha, because of vote bank politics.

It is unfortunate that despite being led by a woman, the Congress was not forthcoming to support the law, which is aimed at giving equality and gender justice to Muslim women, he said.

I will again appeal to Soniaji that this ordinance has been brought in the interest of the country to bring gender justice. I appeal to you to rise above vote bank politics and help pass it in the interest of justice for women, the Minister said.

He also appealed to Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee to help in the passage of the bill pending in Rajya Sabha, where the government lacks numbers. The Lok Sabha has already passed the bill.

When asked pointedly if the ruling BJP, which is eager to provide gender justice, will also ensure political empowerment to Muslim women by giving them tickets in forthcoming elections, the Law Minister was quick to respond by saying: Gender equality and justice are bigger issue than what is being suggested.

Giving details of the provisions of the ordinance, Prasad said, a woman or her blood relatives will have to file a case before a police station to make the offence cognisable. But the offence is compoundable, as a compromise can also be reached before a magistrate after the affected woman gives her consent to it, he added.

Describing the practice as barbaric and inhuman, Prasad said nearly 22 countries have regulated triple-talaq. However, gender justice was given a complete go-by in a secular country like India because of blatant vote-bank politics.ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM

Smita Sharma

New Delhi

September 18



After saying no to the BIMSTEC military exercise, Thailand has indicated to India that it will be unwilling to join a new trilateral exercise proposed along with Singapore. The debut trilateral naval exercise with Singapore and another ASEAN country was announced by PM Modi during the Shangri La Dialogue in June. Subsequently Ministry of Defence officials pointed to Thailand as the third partner for staging the exercise in the seas. However Thai sources have told The Tribune that while the BIMSTEC withdrawal was because of budgetary considerations and not political reasons, China is a concern as far as the trilateral exercise decision is concerned. We would not like to upset the balance of powers between major countries in the region, said a source.



It is also learnt that Thailand communicated to visiting Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in August that there was no budgetary provision for a military exercise overseas. But just after three days PM still went ahead with the military exercise announcement at the BIMSTEC plenary which according to sources caught not just Thailand but also Nepal by surprise. Nepalese officials say that the announcement was unilateral and was not mentioned anywhere in a joint communique or flagged for consultations with the grouping.



Meanwhile Thailand officials feel that it has substantive military component ongoing with India including annual army exercise Maitree, coordinated navy patrol Corpat twice a year, a table top exercise with the Indian Air Force without equipments as well as the multilateral naval exercise Milan conducted since 1995 every two years. Keeping in mind its close ties with Beijing, Thailand at the moment feels another trilateral exercise in the waters with India could be seen adversely .

While sources suggest India could look at Indonesia or Malaysia as options, Jakarta too is not keen for another expanded maritime exercise at this stage. India is lining up a first bilateral naval and Air Force exercise with Indonesia later this year, Planning for any multilateral project needs to be well ahead of time including for budgetary reason. There is disposable budget to deploy at any time, said an Indonesian official. India has recently also started its own Malacca deployment after it was refused a green signal to join hands for the coordinated Malacca Strait Patrol conducted by Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.

.shalender@tribune.com

Sanjeev Singh Bariana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 19

Sporadic incidents of violence and skirmishes, mainly between Congress and Akali groups in five districts, were witnessed in Punjab during Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti polls on Wednesday.

The voting percentage was recorded at 58 per cent.

Mansa topped the polling chart, recording 71 per cent turnout, followed by Mohali and Sangrur (both 65 per cent). Lowest turnout was witnessed in Gurdaspur district where 47 per cent voters cast their vote.

Following incidents of "booth capturing", the State Election Commission has received recommendations for a re-poll for 31 polling booths, including 22 in Muktsar, eight in Amritsar and one in Moga. The re-poll will be held on September 21. Counting will be conducted on September 22, Friday.

Incidents of alleged booth capturing were reported from a number of places in Muktsar, Bathinda, Moga, Patiala and Ferozepur districts. There were reports about ballot papers being torn and polling closed even before the maarked time of 4 pm. The polling staff were also manhandled, while mobs brandished swords, iron rods and batons at certain places.

Except on odd complaint, polling in the Doaba and Majha regions was largely peaceful.

Over three-dozen people were injured during the poll-related violence in Ferozepur district as Akali and Congress workers clashed at several places. Stray incidents of gunshots being fired at about a dozen places were reported from Patiala district.

A small child was injured in a melee after firing was reported at Dulewal village in Bathinda following a clash between Congress and SAD workers. Jharo village in Sangrur district, too, witnessed a firing incident.

Former deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal allegedly roughed up a Congress supporter at Mandi Killianwali in Lambi Assembly segment in Muktsar district. Former Akali minister Sikander Singh Maluka staged a dharna at Kangar village in Rampura Phul against alleged booth capturing by Congress.

Residents of Dhaula boycotted elections to protest against the incidents of sacrilege. Residents of Hasta Kalan village of Fazilka district boycotted polling due to bifurcation of the panchayat.

The Akali Dal alleged that nominations of a large number of party candidates were cancelled, mainly in the Majha region. The party also levelled allegation of poll officers indulging in helping the Congress candidates by stamping ballot papers at many places, including Dera Bassi, Dhuri and Kumbarwar villages.

Following attempts for "booth capturing" in New Rode (Gurupur) village in Moga district, the district administration has recommended to the state election commission to cancel the polls. A re-poll has been recommended at Bakhsiwal in Patiala district, where Bahadar Khan, personal assistant of Cabinet minister Brahm Mohindra, was allegedly seen polling bogus votes inside a polling booth.

The Bathinda Deputy Commissioner has recommended re-poll at Dullewala village in view of booth capturing, while Sangrur DC has sought a detailed report from Dhuri Tehsildar after allegations of fake voting in Kumbarwal polling booth.

A total of 354 zila parishad and 2,900 panchayat samiti members are to be elected through these polls. There are 22 zila parishads and 150 panchayat samitis in the state.monicakchauhan@gmail.com

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 19

NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leaders on Wednesday petitioned the Comptroller and Auditor General demanding a probe into what they called a scam in the purchase deal of 36 Rafale jets from France on April 10, 2015.

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad led the delegation, which urged CAG to take note of the scam and alleged violation of the Defence Procurement Procedures.

The Congress said PM Narendra Modi scrapper the already under negotiation Rafale deal for 126 jets under the UPA and decided to buy 36 jets from France under governmental agreement.

The PM had no power to unilaterally change the deal. He never consulted the Defence Acquisition Council, said the Congress.

The principal opposition also demanded from CAG complete disclosure of per aircraft price negotiated by the PM vis-a-vis the price negotiated under the UPA.

If the base price of one jet is indeed 9 per cent cheaper than the UPA times, the Government needs to explain why it didnt negotiate all 126 jets on this same price, the Congress said.

The party also alleged favours by the government to Anil Ambani led Reliance Defence, which became the offset partner of Rafale maker Dassault Aviation in the BJP deal and urged CAG to look into domestic losses by way of exclusion of HAL, which was to make 108 jets in India under a transfer of technology clause finalised by the UPA.

The Congress is alleging loss of many thousands crores to the public exchequer by the BJP saying the PM bought the aircraft at a much higher price than what the Congress-led UPA had determined.

The Government has refused to disclose the final price of the jet citing secrecy clause in the Indo-French deal.gspannu7@gmail.com

Imphal, September 19

Manipur Police commandos on Wednesday arrested a couple who are allegedly the masterminds in the trafficking of Rohingyas from Myanmar into the state.

The couple  51-year-old Rashid Ali and his wife Khulakpam Tahir Begum  who hail from Uttar Pradesh were arrested from Yairipok Ningthounai Sabal Leikai locality in Imphal East district this morning around 5 am, Tengnoupal Superintendent of Police S Ibomcha Singh told PTI.

The couple was involved in trafficking of four Rohingya Muslims, including one woman in May this year, he said.

The couple has been absconding since May 1 and have been apprehended under sections of the Indian Penal Code, the SP said.

Ibomcha Singh, who supervised the operation, said that in May a person who was apprehended by the police in connection with trafficking of Rohingyas had confessed that at least six of them were brought into the state with the couples help.

Some documents were also seized from the possession of the duo, he said adding that investigations are on to unearth the nexus and the related funding process.

The Manipur Police are on the alert to apprehend Rohingyas who have entered the state illegally from the Indo-Myanmar border town of Moreh in Tengnoupal district and from Jiribam town in neighbouring Assam, he added.

In May, eight Rohingyas with forged documents were arrested from a rented house in Imphals Hatta Golapati locality, police said.

Ethnic Rohnigyas have fled the Rakhine state of Myanmar since that countrys army launched a crackdown on them following an attack by Arakan rebels on it and the police in 2016.

The crackdown led to massive displacement of the Rohingyas and their subsequent influx to Bangladesh and the north eastern states of Assam and Manipur, which share a porous border with Myanmar.

The Centre holds Rohingya Muslims in the country as illegal immigrants and that their continued stay posed serious national security ramifications.  PTImonicakchauhan@gmail.com

New Delhi, September 19

The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) said that it has rescued a 50-year-old woman from a house in Rohini where her brother had held her captive for the past two years.

According to the Commission, it received a call on its helpline number and informed about the woman being locked inside a house. A DCW team was immediately sent to the spot.

As the family members refused to open the gate, the DCW sought police's help to enter the house.

After several attempts, the team entered the house by climbing the neighbour's roof to found the 50-year-old woman lying on open terrace.

"The condition of the lady was pathetic. She has been starving for several days and reduced to bones. She was kept on open terrace which had no room or toilets and the terrace contained piles of the excreta of the woman," the DCW said in a statement.

The woman confirmed to the DCW that she was given a piece of bread only once in four days for the past two years and no one was allowed to visit her.

A DCW member said that an FIR has been registered at Rohini Sector 7 Police Station and the woman has been admitted to a local hospital.

"I am deeply shocked at the inhuman manner in which the lady has been treated. She is only 50 years, but she looks as though she is over 90. Her starvation is so extreme that she was unable to look after her basic needs. I urge all citizens to please come forward and report such incidents so that more girls and women can be saved," said DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal.

IANSrchopra@tribunemail.com

Smita Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 19

India and Pakistan are in discussion through their respective missions and ministries for a possible meeting between the two foreign ministers.

Official sources on both sides told The Tribune that a formal proposal is on the table for Sushma Swaraj and Shah Mehmood Qureshi to meet on the sidelines of the SAARC (South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation) Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in New York.

The SAARC meeting, an annual event on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly session, is slated for September 27.

Both sides are in touch. It is a work in progress. Though nothing has been scheduled yet, a senior official privy to discussion told The Tribune.

The possibility of a separate bilateral engagement a day prior to the SAARC meeting between Swaraj and the new Pakistan Foreign Minister in the Imran Khan cabinet is being looked into, say sources.

The meeting could help break the deadlock on the SAARC summit which Pakistan is to host, but an India-led boycott continues since the Uri terror strike of 2016.

Qureshi is currently travelling with Imran Khan on the Pakistani PMs maiden overseas visit to Saudi Arabia.

The Pakistan Army chief and Indian ministers, including Nirmala Sitharaman and Gen VK Singh, however, have indulged in provocative statements against each other recently on Kashmir and cross-border infiltration.

The two sides have also put the ball into each others court on the issue of opening the Kartarpur corridor which has snowballed into a political row in Punjab.

On Pakistan, the BJP government has stated that talks on terror are possible, but talks and terror cannot go together. The two countries have not had a sustained official dialogue since 2012.

Following the bilateral meeting between Narendra Modi and former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of the Ufa SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) summit in July 2015, Swaraj had travelled to Islamabad later that year for the Heart of Asia meeting. She had held talks with her then counterpart Sartaj Aziz.

The two sides had agreed to the resumption of a renamed Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue, but it got derailed with the Pathankot terror attack early next year.

NSA Ajit Doval had stayed in touch with his former counterpart Nasser Janjua and met him at overseas locations, including in Thailand and Russia.

However, a formal dialogue between the neighbours has not resumed. Prime Minister Modis congratulatory telephone call to Imran Khan after he won the election and the subsequent letter following his oath-taking ceremony raised hopes of a positive climate in ties.

The US recently said it would support a peaceful dialogue between India and Pakistan. Top serving diplomat, South and Central Asian Affairs, Alice Wells, who was part of the delegation of Secretary of State Pompeo during his visit to Pakistan and India, in a media interaction said, In general, the US supports dialogue between India and Pakistan that can reduce tensions. We understand and have had frequent conversations with our Indian partners on the expectation that there be demonstrable reduction in the cross-border terrorism and infiltration that will help create confidence for a dialogue to take place.rchopra@tribunemail.com

Indore, September 19

A 21-year-old dancer was attacked here with a chemical allegedly by her boyfriend who was against her frequent outstation visits for dance shows and meeting other men, police said on Wednesday.

The woman complained of blurred vision after the attack and was taken to a hospital, Additional Superintendent of Police Prashant Choubey said, adding that there were no burns on her face.

The accused identified as Mahendra Sen alias Monu (23), who runs a hair salon, was arrested, he said.

The victim, who is the member of a renowned folk dance group, told the police that the man called her to Banganga area on Tuesday and when she reached there, he threw some liquid chemical on her face, Choubey said.

The accused was wearing a mask at that time, he said, adding that the woman in her statement to the police identified him as Sen.

The incident was also captured in a CCTV camera installed in the area.

After the chemical attack, the woman complained of blurred vision and was admitted to a private hospital, where she was kept under observation for 24 hours, Choubey said.

The chemical thrown by Sen on the womans face is suspected to be toilet cleaner. The attack was not fatal as there was no sign of burns or blisters on the victims face, he said.

Samples of the chemical used in the attack will be sent to a laboratory for examination to find out what exactly it is, he said.

Asked about the reason behind the attack, the police official said Sen was pressing the woman for marriage for long.

He was apparently annoyed with her frequent trips out of the city in connection with her dance performances and her interaction with other men, Choubey said.

The accused was booked under Section 326 (A) (causing grievous hurt by use of acid) of the IPC, adding that a probe into the matter was under way. PTIamansharma@tribunemail.com

Satna (MP), September 19

A court here on Wednesday awarded death sentence to a contractual teacher for raping a four-year-old girl in this Madhya Pradesh district nearly three months ago, saying he turned out to be a demon instead of acting as a protector and the case fell in the "rarest of rare" category.

With this, 14 rapists have been sentenced to death in Madhya Pradesh since February 28 in 13 separate cases - for raping 12 girls and sodomising a boy.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Dinesh Kumar Sharma awarded the death sentence to Mahendra Singh Gond (27) after convicting him under IPC section 376 AB (rape on woman under 12 years of age) and section 5/6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

"Being a teacher, the accused has a duty to improve the society. But instead of acting as a protector, he turned out to be a demon with his act of raping a four-year four months and one-day old innocent girl, and inflicted barbaric injuries to her private parts," the court said.

"He committed the heinous crime on a hapless girl, who does not even know the meaning of sex," the judge observed.

The court said it is of the view that the accused poses a "great threat" to the society, and considers the case fit to be in the "rarest of rare" category.

"Therefore, according to the law he deserves death," the court said.

The victim, who was raped on July 1, is still in a critical condition and undergoing treatment at a Delhi-based hospital.

The court also sentenced the convict to seven years of rigorous imprisonment for kidnapping the girl.

"The court awarded death penalty to Gond after recording the statements of the girl and her parents over video-conferencing as they are in Delhi," District Prosecution Officer Rampal Singh told PTI.

The judge cross-examined 21 prosecution witnesses.

According to Singh, Gond was friendly with the victim's family. On the night of July 1, he went to their place in a village Satna in an inebriated condition to meet the girl's father. There, he saw the girl sleeping next to her father on a cot outside their house. He returned home after meeting the girl's father.

After some time, Gond came back and spotted the girl alone on the cot as her father had gone to relieve himself, Singh said.

"Taking advantage of the situation, Gond took the girl away from her house and raped her. After the sexual assault, he dumped her into the bushes," he added.

When the girl's father returned and did not find his daughter, he raised an alarm and the family launched a search for her. Later, they found her lying in the thick bushes.

Gond was later arrested by the police and a charge sheet was filed against him.

Madhya Pradesh was the first state to enact a law last December, providing death penalty for rapists of minor girls below 12 after coming under fire for growing number of such cases.

The Centre brought an amendment in the IPC to punish the rapists of minor girls below 12 with death on April 21.

In the first conviction in Madhya Pradesh, a court in Shahdol district had sentenced a 23-year-old man to death on February 28 for raping and killing a four-year-old girl.

Fifty special courts have been set up in the state to conduct trials in rape cases in the state.

Madhya Pradesh accounted for the highest 4,882 rape cases out of 38,947 recorded across the country in 2016, according to the last report of the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB).

The state recorded 2,479 cases of rape of minor girls, followed by Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh with 2,310 and 2,115 such cases respectively, the NCRB report said.

Madhya Pradesh recorded the highest number of rape cases (4,391) in 2015 as well, the report said. - PTImonicakchauhan@gmail.com

Lucknow, September 19

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said every urban local body in the state will develop an attractive road, which will be named as the "Atal Gaurav Path" after former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Along with the beautification of these roads, all necessary and modern facilities should also be provided, he said here on Tuesday, adding that the urban local bodies should also make arrangements for cleaning the drains and keeping them covered.

According to the Directorate of Local Bodies, there are 16 municipal corporations, 198 nagar palika parishads and 438 nagar panchayats in the state.

Reviewing various schemes such as "Namami Gange", "Amrut Yojana" and "Smart City Mission", Adityanath said people from various parts of the world will be visiting the Kumbh-2019, which will be held in Allahabad from January 15 to March 4 next year.

He said cleanliness in the Sangam area should generate a feeling of devotion among the visitors and devotees and added that the preparations should be done keeping this in mind.

Adityanath also said it should be ensured that from December 15, no sewage canal, industrial or soild waste falls into the Ganga or any of its tributaries.

From January 2019, the holy river should be clean and its flow should be uninterrupted from Bijnor to Ballia, he added.

The chief minister directed the Urban Development and Irrigation departments to hold a meeting in advance to ensure that there was adequate water in the Ganga during the Kumbh. PTIeditorial@tribune.com

Ruchika M Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 19

With paddy harvesting season round the corner, the Punjab government is rushing to address the issue of stubble-burning. But with just 30 per cent of equipment (for mechanised paddy stubble disposal) that it intends to buy this year, clear air over the state may not be possible.

Agriculture experts, government officials and NGOs working to control the paddy stubble-burning believe that though the pollution levels will be reduced than the last years, the smog that develops because of paddy straw burning each October, bringing life to a standstill across most parts of North India, may still hang in the atmosphere. The reason is simple: The equipment is still insufficient to remove paddy straw on 30 lakh hectares of area under paddy cultivation in Punjab within 15-20 days, before the farmers have to start planting the wheat.

A total of 220 lakh tonnes of stubble is expected to be produced along with the paddy this year. By their own admission, state Agriculture Department officials admit that with the equipment available now and the use of straw in biomass power production (50 lakh tonnes), only 55-60 per cent of the straw will be scientifically managed, while the remaining will be burnt by the farmers as an easy disposal alternative.

Dr JS Mahal, Dean, College of Agricultural Engineering, Punjab Agricultural University, agreed that though this year 100 per cent of area under paddy cultivation could not be covered, at least the first step to control the menace of burning of straw had been taken. The government has money in hand, but the equipment manufacturers do not have production capacities to supply these in the quantity and speed required. Though full-scale paddy harvesting will begin around October 7, we are hoping that more machines will be added for use. In the meantime, we are asking farmers to use rotavators and disc harvesters in fields harvested earlier, for disposing of the paddy straw, rather than burning it, he said.

So far, Punjab has bought 7,337 happy seeders, straw chopper shredder, reversible ploughs, rotavators and super SMS for combines and supplied these to individual farmers, registered cooperative societies and to the newly formed custom hiring centres (CHC). The target is to buy 24,315 machines this year under the in-situ paddy straw management project within this year (this should be done by the end of September, before the harvesting begins). The Union government has provided a budget to buy 45,000 machines for paddy straw management by the end of next year. However, there was delay in empanelling the equipment suppliers (120 companies were empanelled in August), which has pushed back our targets. But we are hopeful of getting the entire machinery targeted for this year by October end, and by the end of September, 14,000 machines will be available for scientific management of paddy straw. This year, the smog will be much less than the previous years, said Vishwajit Khanna, Additional Chief Secretary, Development, Punjab.

He added that during the days when paddy straw was to be managed, the government was thinking of imposing some curbs on vehicles that caused excessive pollution.

Umendra Dutt, who runs the Kheti Virasat Manch, an NGO that has been taking up the issue of ecological management of paddy straw, maintained that the equipment was too little to manage the entire scale of paddy straw in the fields. Technology and machinery alone cannot do wonders. As of now it is not a viable/sustainable option. We are equipping already over mechanised farms with more machinery that has to be used for just 20-25 days in a year, he said.

CLEAN AIR STILL A DISTANT DREAM

With just 30 per cent of equipment (for mechanised paddy stubble disposal) that the state government intends to buy this year, clear air over the state may not be possible.

Agriculture experts, government officials and NGOs working to control paddy stubble-burning believe that though the pollution levels will be lesser than the last years, the smog that develops because of paddy straw burning each October may still hang in the atmosphere.

The reason is simple: The equipment is still insufficient to remove paddy straw on 30 lakh hectares of area under paddy cultivation in Punjab within 15-20 days, before the farmers have to start sowing wheat.editorial@tribune.com

Tribune Reporters

Ferozepur, September 19

Over 36 persons were injured during poll-related violence in this border district. At several places, Akali and Congress workers clashed over the allegations of rigging. Some incidents of stone pelting and firing were reported.

At Dhindsa village, polling was halted for a few hours due to stone pelting by people allegedly owing allegiance to the Congress.

Akali workers alleged that the Congressmen roughed up their supporters and indulged in booth capturing even as cops remained mute spectators. The Congress workers also allegedly thrashed supporters of Independent candidate Mandeep Kaur. Her husband Gurjit Singh alleged that the Congress workers tried to capture the booth regarding which a video footage was also circulated.

Four persons  Lakhwinder Singh, Karanbir Singh, Balbir Singh and Jagvir Singh  were injured in the incident. Chamkaur Singh Dhindsa, DCC president, denied the allegations.

At Basti Ajij Wali, some unidentified persons fired in the air and broke the window panes of a car belonging to a SAD worker. At Jhoke Harihar, SAD and Congress workers threw stones at each other due to which around 20 persons were injured. Even at Basti Gulab Singh Wali in Mamdot block, SAD and Congress workers clashed due to which polling was halted for an hour.

Muktsar: Nearly 12 persons were injured, 15 vehicles damaged and a few rounds were shot in the air. Some Congressmen allegedly ran away with two ballot boxes and mob tore ballot papers at a number of polling booths.

In Lambi, the situation remained tense. The reports of booth capturing started coming in at 8.45 am. SAD Parkash Singh Badal claimed: A number of polling booths are being captured and the SSP is not even attending my calls.

At Mandi Killianwali, three polling booths were allegedly captured, first by Congressmen, and then by Akalis. Both parties accused each other. The poll presiding officers at booth numbers 48, 49 and 50 also admitted that the booths were captured by unidentified persons twice.

Two shots were fired in the air at Bhitiwala village. Congress workers took away two ballot boxes from a polling booth at Bhitiwala and ballot papers from another booth and polled bogus votes in yet another, alleged Tejinder Singh Middukhera, SADs zila parishad candidate from Killianwali zone.

There were reports of skirmishes between SAD and Congress workers at Tharajwala and Midda villages. At Mann village, SAD workers alleged: The Congressmen entered all the four polling booths and threatened us to go out. Thereafter, they polled bogus votes.

At Danewala in Malout, when Sukhbir Badal reached the polling station, it was found locked from inside. The Congress workers led by Deputy Speakers son Aman Bhatti captured booths at Danewala, Bhagsar, Lakhewali, Maha Badhar, Bhangchari, Sammewali and Tarkhanwala villages, said Harpreet Singh, former MLA.

The situation was almost similar in Muktsar sub-division. Three people were arrested along with a pistol and some cartridges in the town. Further, three fires were shot in the air by some Congressmen at Lambi Dhabh village, where the mob even damaged furniture inside a polling booth. A large number of people even thrashed polling staff at Sangu Dhaun village. Some cars were damaged and stones pelted outside the polling station here.

Moga: Masked youths allegedly tried to capture polling booths at many places in Moga district. At least, two persons were injured in the clashes. The district administration has recommended cancellation of polling at New Rode (Gurupura) village and sought fresh elections.

Sources said at least 50 youths allegedly belonging to the Congress tried to capture a booth at Machike village in Nihalsinghwala, but villagers thwarted their attempt. The youths attacked an SAD worker, Navjot Singh, with sharp weapons. They also damaged some cars parked outside the booth. Independent candidate Darshan Singh Sekhon was also allegedly roughed up by them. A similar incident took place at Demru Khurd village where a group of 50-60 masked youths tried to capture a booth, but the attempt was thwarted by villagers and the police.

District Magistrate Devinder Pal Singh Kharbanda confirmed the incidents and said the polling process was not disturbed. He, however, revealed that some youths managed to capture a booth at New Rode (Gurupur) village. They allegedly cast 44 votes of zila parishad and 149 of panchayat samiti in favour of Congress candidates.

Patiala: Twelve cases of booth capturing were reported in Patiala district in the rural bodies elections. In Bahadargarh and Nabha area, SAD and some AAP workers blocked roads, following which police took them to the nearby police post. They were later released. Similarly, roads were blocked in Fathgarh Channa, Ghanaur and Nabha, where Akalis alleged that the police were hand-in-glove role with the ruling party.

They barred the entry of voters and only local Congressmen and polling agents polled votes. Our official candidates were also not allowed to visit the polling booths, alleged former Cabinet minister Surjit Singh Rakhra.

Ludhiana: At Buddhewal village in Sahnewal, two persons sustained injuries in a clash between Akali and Congress workers. SAD MLA Sharanjit Dhillon alleged that the Congress was using muscle power to win elections. In Kakowal village, SAD and Congress workers came to blows.

Ministers PA polls bogus votes

Patiala: Bahadar Khan, personal assistant of Cabinet minister Brahm Mohindra, was allegedly caught polling bogus votes at Bakhshiwal. Enraged, Akali workers held him captive inside the booth. The police rushed to the spot and rescued the ministers aide. Mohindra demanded a probe to ascertain how Congress workers were held captive inside the booth. My PA was not there, he claimed. The police later registered a case against unknown men for creating ruckus inside the polling booth. TNS

Candidates sister beaten up

Jalandhar: The polling for the Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections remained largely peaceful in all four districts falling in Doaba on Wednesday. However, in Haripur Block Samiti, falling in Jalandhar, Pooja, sister of Independent candidate Manpreet Singh, was reportedly beaten up by some Congress leaders around 4 pm. His supporters then held a dharna outside the Adampur police station and blocked the Jalandhar-Hoshiarpur highway demanding registration of a case. TNS

(Inputs from Anirudh Gupta, Archit Watts, Kulwinder Sandhu, Aman Sood & Minna Zutshi)monicakchauhan@gmail.com

Tribuen News Service

Chandigarh/Muktsar, September 19

The Shiromani Akali Dal has alleged more than 60 incidents of booth capturing during the polling to zila parishads and panchayat samitis on Wednesday.

Party senior vice-president Daljit Singh Cheema and former minister Bikram Majithia said cases were registered against Akali candidates under the SC Act, mostly in the Majha region.

They alleged in Dera Bassi, the presiding officer in Amalala himself got ballot papers stamped in favour of Congress candidates. A packet was seized from his possession by the Akali polling agent, they said.

"In Dhuri, the presiding officer closed down the booth and started stamping the ballot papers in favour of Congress candidates. This happened in Kumbarwar under block samiti Sherpur," they claimed.

Replying to queries about a video of Akali Dal president Sukhbir Badal's security guards charging at some persons at Killianwali going viral, Majithia said they were trying to catch those who were capturing the booths in the village. They were seen capturing the village booth, he added.

The Akali Dal claimed papers of 249 of their candidates were rejected. In Makhu, Zira, Guru Harsahai and Patti and Dera Baba Nanak, either SAD candidates were not allowed to file nominations or Congress men snatched their papers and ran away, it alleged.

Former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, who was among the firsts to cast his vote at Badal village, alleged that they were getting reports of booth-capturing by the Congress workers from some places in the state with the collusion of the local administration.

However, the administration refuted the allegations.

Badal also visited Killianwali village, where a large number of Congress workers were allegedly present holding sticks. The former CM said he was in touch with the DGP and other senior police officers, but the SSP was not taking his phone calls.

In Muktsar, 10 people were rounded up with weapons and live cartridges from Manjinder Singh Bittu's hotel. Bittu is the son of Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh. He is contesting the Zila Parishad election from Udekaran zone.

Former SAD minister Sikander Singh Maluka, along with SAD workers, staged a protest on the Barnala-Bajakhana road alleging the misuse of official machinery by the Congress in Rampura constituency and alleged booth-capturing at Kangar village.

Kangar village is the native village of Power Minister Gurpreet Singh Kangar. However, the administration denied any such activity saying the voting at Kangar village was going on peacefully.gspannu7@gmail.com

Chandigarh, September 19

Senior Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia on Wednesday asked Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on which side of the fence was he onIndia or Pakistanin the wake of brutal killing of a BSF jawan by Pakistani troops.

Sidhu should tell the nation which side of the fence he is onIndia or Pakistan and whether he would now ask the Pakistan Army chief, whom he hugged, and his friend Pakistan PM Imran Khan why they were killing Indian soldiers on the international border and exporting terror into India, said Majithia in a statement here.

Pakistani troops slit the throat of a BSF jawan after fatally shooting him along the international border (IB) near Jammu.

Sidhu should tell (the public) whether he in agreement with Pakistan even now, especially at a time when barbarity was committed on an Indian soldier yesterday. Can he face soldier Narender Kumars family? he asked.

Majithia said the Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman had disclosed that no official communication had been sent to India for opening the Kartarpur corridor.

Now with authorities, including External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and the official spokesman of the Pakistan Foreign Ministry, making it official that there was no formal communication from Pakistan to India about the Kartarpur corridor, Sidhu has nowhere to run. He must face the fact that he blatantly lied to cover up the despicable act of hugging the Pakistan Army chief.

Majithia demanded Sidhu apologise to the people of the country and particularly the Sikh community for allegedly playing with their sentiments on a sensitive issue.  PTIeditorial@tribune.com

Our Correspondent

Hoshiarpur, September 18

An NRI woman, Sarabjit Kaur Dhami, was shot dead in a gun house in Tanda Urmar on Tuesday. The police have registered a case of murder against Amanpreet Singh, son of gun house owner Sarabjit Singh.

Canada-based Dhami had arrived in India a week ago to complete formalities regarding her deceased husband Gurminder Singhs property. He had died about seven months ago.

She and her sister-in-law, Dalveer Kaur, went to Chahal Gun House. After a heated exchange, Amanpreet allegedly fired at them with a revolver. Three bullets hit Dhami. She died on the spot, while Dalveer was injured. The latter was taken to the Civil Hospital, Tanda. In view of her serious condition, she was referred to Hoshiarpur. Amanpreet allegedly fled after locking the shop, leaving Dhami inside.

Local police officials reached the spot. They rounded up Sarabjit Singh and sealed the shop.

The NRI woman had come to India for 10 days, leaving her two children in Canada. Dalveer said they had no enmity with anyone. She stated that when they entered the shop, a woman was present there.

The latter left on seeing them, following which the accused opened fire, Dalveer added.editorial@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 18

As many as 523 employees, including women, who were terminated by the SGPC some months ago, staged a protest on Tuesday outside the main office of the SGPC.

With their demand to reinstate them, they continued the protest till late evening.

They were employed during the tenure of Kirpal Singh Badungar as the president of the apex body, but were laid off after Gobind Singh Longowal took the charge.

The protestors said they were victimised due to internal politics. On the other hand, allegations surfaced that they were the kin of SGPC members and the qualification and experience criteria was overlooked while employing them during the earlier regime.

After scrutiny, their services were terminated by the executive body and fresh applications were sought for the posts.

One of the agitating employees said he was posted in the Parikrama but was removed without citing any reason.

The agitating employees also met SGPC secretary Manjit Singh and demanded to fix an appointment with Longowal.

They said that they would continue their protest till they were reinstated.editorial@tribune.com

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Barnala, September 19

To protest against the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib during the SAD-BJP rule in Punjab and alleged subsequent failure of the Congress to punish the guilty, 90 per cent residents of Dhaula village under Barnala district boycotted the rural elections.

The sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib was done under the rule of the SAD-BJP government and they have committed a grave sin. The Congress is also equally responsible as it has failed to take required action against guilty persons, despite getting report from the Justice Ranjit Singh (retd) Commission. Today majority of villagers boycotted the polls and we protested at eight places in front of polling booths, said Parminder Singh, a member of a special committee of the village.

Four days ago, all villagers had called a meeting and formed a special committee to mobilise support to boycott elections.

Today villagers with banners having photos of SAD and Congress leaders with Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh protested in front of all polling booths and convinced village residents to boycott election.

AAP MLA from Bhadaur Pirmal Singh, who is a resident of Dhaula village, also supported the boycott and said that the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib had hurt the feelings of all Punjabis across the world.

By boycotting the elections, our village residents have highlighted their pain. All Punjabis must take a lesson from the residents of my village to show their anger, he said.

During protest, village residents raised slogans against SAD and Congress leaders.

When contacted, Barnala SDM Sandip Kumar confirmed that only 541 votes were polled, whereas the total number of voters was 5,227.ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM

THE Sukkur correspondent of the Daily Gazette, Karachi, gives a distressing account of people in certain villages having deliberately resorted to crime to escape starvation consequent on high prices. The recent dacoities in the Larkhana District have created a sense of insecurity of life and property in the villages and several people have taken shelter in the nearest towns. The failure of two crops in succession has added to the distress intensified by high prices. The correspondent writes:Some of them have become desperate and they prefer the rigour of jail life to a free life of starvation. The time has now come when the authorities should take immediate steps to face the situation.uttara@tribuneindia.com

Dehradun, September 19

A girl gang-raped in a leading school on the outskirts of the city and her father Wednesday recorded their statements before a local court while her medical report confirmed sexual assault, police said.

A check by the state education department found the school had violated several safety norms and could soon lose its license, an official said.

The victim and her father recorded their statements before the court of Additional District Judge (Civil) Manju Singh, Investigating Officer Naresh Rathore said.

Medical report also arrived confirming the victim was sexually assaulted, Rathore said.

Nine people, including the students accused of the crime, school officials and employees have been arrested in connection with the case. While three minors boys have been sent to a correctional home in Haridwar by the Juvenile Justice Board, their adult accomplice and five school employees, including its director and principal were sent to the district jail in Dehradun on judicial remand, he said. The school employees were arrested as they kept the heinous crime committed within the premises under wraps for a month, the police officer said.

The crime took place on August 14 and came to light only on September 16 despite the school authorities already knowing about it, Rathore said. The victim shared her ordeal first with her older sister who studied at the same school. She informed school authorities who, instead of approaching police, tried to cover up by threatening to throw the sisters out of school if they narrated the incident to anyone, an official said. The victims older sister eventually confided in a relative, who approached police. Meanwhile, the state education department announced it would cancel the schools licence and no objection certificate.

Chief Education Officer SB Joshi who visited the school said it had violated several norms, including having no CCTVs on campus and not deploying security guards for the safety of students. CBSE regional officer Ranvir Singh said he had recommended to the head office cancellation of the school's affiliation. Response to a show cause notice issued to the school to explain its actions was not found satisfactory, he said. PTIuttara@tribuneindia.com

Kabul, September 19

A series of devastating suicide attacks on Afghanistan's minority Shiite community has fuelled fears of more violence ahead of Ashura, one of the Muslim sect's holiest days, and prompted calls for civilians to arm themselves.

The religious holiday, which falls on Thursday, has become a major target for the Islamic State group since it emerged in the region in 2014 and began assaulting Shiites in overwhelmingly Sunni Afghanistan.

Sunni extremists, like Islamic State, consider Shiites apostates, and have carried out deadly attacks on the sect across the region, massacring hundreds.

The violence has escalated in recent weeks, with more than 60 people killed in suicide bombings at a wrestling club and an education centre in a heavily Shiite-populated neighbourhood of Kabul.

Burqa-clad suicide bombers also struck a Shiite mosque in the eastern city of Gardez last month, killing at least 35 people. Islamic State claimed responsibility for those attacks.

We are in constant fear, day and night, Ahmad Zia Ahmadi told AFP on Sunday as he oversaw repairs at the Maiwand wrestling club, which was badly damaged in the September 5 double bombing.

If the government does not provide security for us, we will have to arm ourselves. The Afghan government is frequently criticised for failing to protect Shiites, who number around three million in Afghanistan, and there are growing fears of vigilantism.

Hundreds of civilians were recruited last year to protect Shiite religious sites in Kabul and other cities ahead of Ashura, reinforced by police officers.

The move helped to reduce the number of attacks, a senior Shiite leader told AFP recently, but no such plan has been announced for this Ashura.

While hundreds of weapons distributed in 2017 were still being used to protect mosques, it was not enough, he said.

Last year they only gave us 1,250 guns that we distributed to 14 provinces with Shiite populations, he said on the condition of anonymity.

Some mosques are still unarmed.

Interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish told AFP that the government had a security plan for Ashura and the Islamic month of Muharram, but would not provide details.

We will do everything to provide security for our people in Kabul, Danish said on September 10, a day before the start of Muharram.

Ashurathe most important Shiite observancefalls on the 10th day of Muharram, which is the mourning period for the seventh-century killing of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.

Faithful gather to beat their chests and lash their backs with chains until they bleed in commemoration of Hussein's death.

Without faith in the government, many Shiites echo Ahmadi's fears that Islamic State could strike anywhere, and that they can only rely on themselves for protection.

We have been attacked in our mosques, schools, streets and gyms, Ghulam Reza told AFP at the wrestling club. We are thinking about arming ourselves.

On Facebook, users have been sharing the rumoured locations of planned attacks in Kabul.

Nowhere is safe for us anymore, one user named Hossien posted.

Our kids, religious scholars, wrestlers, and people from all walks of life are killed every day. Let's... stand up against it. Another Facebook user wrote: Standing in front of a mosque to protect your people is a way of fighting terrorism. When the government cannot provide security, you protect your institutions and values.

Afghanistan's intelligence agency announced Tuesday the arrest of 26 suspected Islamic State militants who were allegedly planning to carry out attacks during Muharram and on Ashura. Plans to divide Kabul into four security zones were announced by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on September 8.

He also said heavier security, such as a "green zone" similar to the one where many embassies and international organisations are located in Kabul, was needed in the city's Shiite-dominated west.

But more deliberation and consultation were required before the proposals could be implemented, he said in a statement.

The lack of action is no surprise to Ahmadi, who is collecting donations to repair the wrestling club.

We know the enemy will attack us, he said, as he studied bits of flesh stuck to the ceiling. But we dont expect the government to protect us. They cant.  AFPvermaajay1968@gmail.com

Singapore: Online ads in Singapore offering Indonesian maids for sale were on Wednesday condemned as unjust and demeaning, in a rare flare-up of tensions between the neighbours over domestic helpers. Singapore is home to almost 250,000 maids, mostly from poor parts of Indonesia or the Philippines, who head to the wealthy city-state to earn higher salaries. Reports that Indonesian helpers were being offered for sale quickly drew condemnation from rights groups. The adverts under the user name maid.recruitment reportedly offered the services of several helpers from Indonesia, while some ads indicated maids had been sold. AFP

UN fires Indian official accused of sexual misconduct

United Nations: In the strongest disciplinary measure available within staff rules in the United Nations, an Indian national employed in the UN agency for gender equality and women empowerment has been dismissed after an investigation determined he engaged in sexual misconduct. UN Women had said last month that the Office of Audit and Investigation of UNDP had completed its investigation into the sexual misconduct allegations involving the UN Women staff member. While the staff member has not been named throughout the process of investigation, sexual misconduct allegations were levelled against Indian national Ravi Karkara. PTI

Strawberry sabotage akin to terrorism: Australia PM

Sydney: The tainting of supermarket strawberries with sewing needles is comparable to terrorism, Australias Prime Minister said on Wednesday, as he demanded tougher sentencing in response to a nationwide scare. Urging Australians to make a strawberry pavlova this weekend to help struggling farmers, Scott Morrison demanded a change in the law to put the perpetrators behind bars for 15 years. Calling the perpetrator a coward and a grub, Morrison called on parliament to quickly raise the maximum sentence for such deliberate food contamination from ten to 15 years behind bars. Authorities have suggested strawberries be cut up before they are eaten. Australian police on Tuesday said they still did not know the motive behind the attacks. AFPThe Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise Board of Directors welcomes three new members. The additions include City Councilman Erskine Ogelsby, Jr., Steve Hunt from Berry & Hunt, and Andrea Glass from Hollywog.

Councilman Oglesby is the Council's vice-chairman for 2018-2019. He is currently the chair of the Council's Legislative Review Committee for 2018-2019. He worked for the United Way of Greater Chattanooga; Southeast Tennessee Development District's Tennessee Career Center; the Salvation Army in Mississippi and Louisiana; and spent 10 years in executive positions at the YMCA in Durham, N.C., Boston, Ma., Charlotte, N.C. and Jackson, Ms. Councilman Oglesby is also president of the 100 Black Men of Chattanooga, Inc. and treasurer of the 5th District of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. Councilman Oglesby is married to Chattanooga native Sheryl Oglesby. They have two children, son, Ryan, and daughter, Dominique with three grandsons. Mr. and Mrs. Oglesby are active members of Resurrected Baptist Church.

Since 1986, Mr. Hunts work efforts have concentrated almost exclusively in the area of office building development and redevelopment, commercial real estate leasing, sales and property management. He is a native of Chattanooga and is married to Kim Cannon Hunt. They have three sons: Spencer, Tucker (deceased) and Cannon. The Hunts enjoy time together fishing and boating, and enjoying Kims great cooking. Mr. Hunt currently serves as junior warden on the Vestry of St. Peters Episcopal Church. He is also serves on the Board of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce; the Commercial Realtors Council of the Greater Chattanooga Association of Realtors; the Tennessee Association of Realtors Commercial Forms Committee; and is a current and founding board member of Emilys Power for a Cure Foundation.

Ms. Glass is a Chattanooga native and works for Hollywog, LLC, a locally owned and operated medical device manufacturer, as the Quality Systems Coordinator. She previously resided in Nashville where she worked in Scholarship and Grant Management in the Educational Services Industry before moving back home to Chattanooga in the fall of 2015. She attended MTSU School of Business from 2005-2009 for her B.B.A in Entrepreneurship. In her free time, she dances Salsa, enjoys reading, staying active, and attending community events.

CNE is excited to add these smart and talented community members to the board, said Martina Guilfoil, president and CEO of CNE. As we continue to move forward as an organization, having the experience and leadership of these hardworking individuals will be a key asset to building a better Chattanooga.

For more information on Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise, please visit www.cneinc.org or call 756-6201.



traineesubeditor@tribuneindia.com

Washington, September 19

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is suing Facebook on behalf of three women job seekers who accused the social media giant of posting ads that are shown only to men.

The ACLU, along with the Communications Workers of America and the employment law firm Outten & Golden LLP, on Tuesday filed charges with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against Facebook.

The women job seekers accused Facebook for targeting ads for jobs in male-dominated fields to younger male Facebook users only  excluding all women and non-binary individuals, as well as older male users.

"The case is brought on behalf of three job seekers and the Communications Workers of America, on behalf of a proposed class of millions of job applicants. It alleges that these job advertising practices violate federal civil rights laws prohibiting sex and age discrimination in employment," Galen Sherwin from ACLU Women's Rights Project wrote in a blog post.

Facebook requires users to identify their sex in the binary categories of male or female in order to even open an account.

"While users can later change their sex designation and select from among a few dozen options to describe their gender identity, Facebook still requires users to choose gendered pronouns (male, female, or neutral), which it then offers to advertisers for purposes of gender-based ad targeting.

"Facebook delivers the ad accordingly, including a notice that the user is seeing the ad because of their sex," the ACLU said.

The lawsuit claimed that Facebook let 10 employers, including a police department, to run advertisements excluding women and nonbinary users.

Facebook responded to the allegations, saying there is no place for discrimination on Facebook.

"It's strictly prohibited in our policies, and over the past year, we've strengthened our systems to further protect against misuse," Download reported, quoting a Facebook spokesperson.

Facebook is "reviewing the complaint and look forward to defending our practices," the spokesperson added.

According to the ACLU, Facebook also offers advertisers the ability to use what it calls "Lookalike Targeting," which allows advertisers to target customers with traits similar to those of their customer base.

It's important to note that online platforms like Facebook are generally not liable for content published by others.

"But in this case, Facebook is doing much more than merely publishing content created by others. It has built the architecture for this discriminatory marketing framework, enabled and encouraged advertisers to use it, and delivered the gender-based ads according to employers' sex-based preferences," the ACLU emphasised.

Facebook must change its platform to prevent advertisers from exploiting user data for discriminatory purposes, and ensure once and for all that all users, regardless of gender, race, age, or other protected status, are given a fair shake, said the ACLU.  IANS.uttara@tribuneindia.com

Islamabad, September 19

Deposed Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter and son-in-law were released from prison Wednesday evening, hours after the Islamabad High Court suspended their sentences in a major corruption case that jeopardised their political career.

In a relief to the still-grieving Sharif family, a two-judge bench of the Islamabad High Court suspended the jail sentences of the embattled former prime minister Sharif, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Capt (retd) Muhammad Safdar in the Avenfield corruption case and ordered their release.

Sharif's younger brother and President of his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Shehbaz Sharif and other party leaders meet the former premier at the high-security Adiala Prison before he was released, Geo News reported.

The former premier, his daughter and son-in-law are being taken to Noor Khan Airbase amidst stringent security. They will leave for Lahore by a special plane, the report said.

A large number of party workers have also been accompanying the PML-N supremo to the airbase. Jubilant workers have been chanting slogans and showering the ex-premier's vehicle with rose petals.

Earlier, a two-judge bench of the Islamabad High Court heard the petitions filed by Sharif, Maryam and Safdar challenging their conviction related to the purchase of four luxury flats in London through corrupt practices.

"The instant writ petition is allowed and sentence awarded to the petitioners by the accountability court shall remain suspended till the final adjudication of the appeal filed by the petitioner," reads the judgment.

The accountability court judge Mohammad Bashir had sentenced the trio on July 6.

Sharif, 68; Maryam, 44; and Safdar, 54; were sentenced to 10 years, seven years and one year, respectively, in prison and fined in the Avenfield properties case.

The accused were also disqualified to contest elections or to hold public office for a period of 10 years after release. Both Maryam and Safdar are politicians. The accountability court verdict had ruined their political career.

Following the accountability court's judgment, the Sharifs filed separate petitions requesting the high court to suspend sentences and set aside the verdict.

The ruling by the Islamabad High Court comes just a week after Sharif's wife, Kulsoom Nawaz, died from cancer in London.

The trio were briefly allowed out of the high-security Adiala Jail on parole to attend her funeral. They returned to jail on Monday.

The two-judge bench ordered release of the former premier, his daughter and son-in-law from the Adiala jail in Rawalpindiand and asked them to submit bail bonds worth Rs 500,000.

According to jail officials, Nawaz, Maryam and Safdar will be released on Wednesday if the order is received prior to the expiration of lock-up time.

Quoting sources, Geo News reported that if the former premier, his daughter and son-in-law are released, they would be taken to Lahore by a special flight.

Pakistani media reported that the verdict would remain a temporary relief for the former prime minister and his family members until the court gives the final decision on their application seeking suspension of their conviction in the Avenfield case.

Apart from the Avenfield case, the Sharifs face jail terms if they are convicted in two more corruption cases related to Al-Azizia and Flagship cases.

The cases against the family stemmed from Panama Papers case in April 2016.

In a blow to Pakistan's anti-corruption watchdog, the Islamabad High Court also dismissed the National Accountability Bureau's request to first announce a judgment on the maintainability of the pleas. The bench also imposed a fine on the NAB lawyers earlier for using delaying tactics.

The NAB was also pulled up by the Supreme Court on Monday when it rejected its petition challenging the IHC's decision to hear Sharifs' petitions against the Avenfield verdict.

Chief Justice Saqib Nisar termed the NAB petition as frivolous and imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on the anti-corruption watchdog.

Sharif resigned as Pakistan prime minister last year after the Supreme Court disqualified him from holding public office and ruled that graft cases be filed against the beleaguered leader and his children over the Panama Papers scandal.

The Avenfield case was among the three corruption cases filed against the three-time former premier and his children by the NAB on the Supreme Court's orders in the Panama Papers case that disqualified Sharif.

Sharif has denied any wrongdoing and says the charges are political motivated. His supporters believe the real reason he was convicted was because he had fallen out with the country's powerful army.

Leader of the Opposition and Sharif's younger brother, Shahbaz, following the verdict, tweeted a Quranic verse to express gratitude on suspension of the sentences.

"Truth has come, and falsehood has departed. Indeed is falsehood, [by nature], ever bound to depart," he tweeted. PTIMany people dont have much choice about when they retire. Illness, job loss or caretaking responsibilities push them out of the labour force, ready or not.

But some people have the opposite problem: They do have a choice, and yet they cant quite bring themselves to quit working.Seven-year-old Zairion Alexander is being called a hero after he saved his relatives from a fire which destroyed 95 per cent of their Moriah home.

The fire occurred shortly after 11 p.m. on Monday.

Six people are now homeless after their single-storey home was destroyed.-:- Message from Tripadvisor staff -:-

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We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason.Vietnam here we come!! (just need some help from you!)

Vietnam here we come!! (just need some help from you!)

Hi all,

We are a couple in our 30's who fell in love with Vietnam last year, so time to book trip number 2! We will have 3 weeks from mid April to early May & want to focus our time in the North and travel down & finish up with some beach time in Central Vietnam. Our ideal holiday is immersing ourselves in the culture, getting into a bit of nature & finishing the trip off just relaxing. Of course, with some great food along the way! So...this is what we are thinking, any feedback would be welcome!

19/4 - Arrive Hanoi (4 nights)

23/4 - Travel to Sapa, 1 night homestay, 1 night hotel (2 nights)

25/4 - Return to Hanoi for one night by Sapa Express bus (1 night)

26/4 - Halong Bay area - maybe a 2 night cruise that covers Lan Ha and Bai Tu Long Bays, and one night on Cat Ba Island? Thoughts on this welcome!! (3 nights)

29/4 - return to Hanoi to catch a 6pm flight to Dong Hoi (what time will we need to leave Halong Bay & what is the best option for transport to the airport?)

29/4 - Arrive Phong Nha evening, staying at Phong Nha Farmstay - we stayed here last time & loved it. There is Reunification Day & Labour Day during this period, would this have any impact on our stay? (5 nights)

4/5 - early train to Hoi An, arrive afternoon - week of relaxation & beach time (7 nights)

Thanks in advance for your help! We are already so excited!!I have never written a trip review before, but I read so many and they were very helpful in the planning of our first visit to NYC that I thought I would write my review as we had such an awesome time. My husband and I are in our mid-40's, made our first visit to New York Sept 1-5, on Sept 5 we boarded an 8 day cruise, returning Sept 13. We flew into LGA via Southwest Airlines, terminal B and wow is it a mess! I understand construction to help make it a better airport, but some simple fixes I think would make it more user friendly. We had checked our bags so headed to the baggage claim area after we landed but there were absolutely no signs on which carrousel the luggage would come out on, there were multiple planes landing at the same time, so it took us a good 45 minutes to get our pieces of luggage after they started dropping. There were airport workers yelling directions at the crowd of people as to where to pick up taxis, hotel shuttles, Uber's etc. It was well after midnight so we had elected to take a taxi, it was $36 including 20% tip to get us to our hotel Springhill Suites Midtown at 5th/37th Street. I wrote a separate review on the hotel, but we really liked it.

We had previously purchased ticket for 10am for the 9/11 Museum for Sunday Sept 2, so we left our hotel by 8am to allow time for getting lost. We used the CityMapper app to help us navigate how to get to the area via the subway. The app is user friendly and we didn't have any problems finding our way to the subway station. We purchased 7 day unlimited rides cards, our first trip on the subway was a success! The first stop was to The Oculus and it did not disappoint, it is beautiful, we took pictures inside and outside and walked around St. Paul's Chapel. We headed to the 9/11 memorial fountains next. After spending some time outside we headed into the museum. Since we've been back our friends and family have asked what the museum was like or what we thought of it and really there are no words. It's somewhere everyone should go and experience for themselves. After the museum we went to a coffee shop to digest our emotions. We then headed to see the Charging Bull, it was very crowded. We made our way over to the ferry at Wall St./Pier 11 and took the ferry to the Brooklyn bridge. It was a hot day so we had some ice cream from the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory and it was delicious! After sitting down and taking in the sights and people watching we headed to the stairs to walk across the bridge. It was so crowed there also, I overheard someone say it was because it was a holiday weekend. I really don't see how riding a bicycle across the bridge that day could have been enjoyable because of how packed it was with pedestrians, but maybe on a different day it would be nice to bike across. The bridge was amazing but hard to appreciate while on it in the crowd. One of my husbands goals was to go to each of the 5 Burroughs at least once, even to just say we did! So we then walked back to the Wall St./Pier 11 to board the ferry to the Bronx. I had read this was a new route. It was nice to sit on the top of the ferry and take in the views of the Manhattan side and the Brooklyn side. We had intended to get off the ferry in the Bronx and get right back on, but the line to board at Southview in the Bronx was very long, and there's no shade while waiting in line so we used our CityMapper app to help navigate our way back to our hotel. We landed in Grand Central Terminal which was great because it was on our list of places we wanted to visit. We took in the sites there, taking pictures etc. then headed back to our hotel. On the way to the hotel we saw a sign for bubble tea which is something we had wanted to try after watching YouTube videos of foods in NYC, so we stopped in and the bubble tea was made fresh, we ordered the milk based and the tea based to try both and it was pretty good. We had no idea what to expect so chewing our drink was a little surprising but none the less it was good and refreshing. We had dinner that night at Reichenbach Hall, a German restaurant right by our hotel, the food was delicious, the beer was cold and the service was friendly. After relaxing at the hotel for a bit we walked to Times Square. It was also very crowded! I'm glad we went but like so many experts on this forum advise we didn't spend a lot of time there. More to follow.......

Edited: 3 years agoTransport by a cab or car service can be expensive because you are crossing state lines.

You can get fixed rate price estimates from car services such as Dial 7 or Carmel.(prices will be before tip and turnpike & tunnel tolls) Uber uses "surge" pricing so they raise costs at times of greater demand. (JH - since when are car service prices regulated by anything other than market forces?)

There is an Airtrain / NJ Transit connection for getting into Penn Station in Manhattan (about $13/person)

Once in Manhattan you could take the subway - your relatives should be able to advise the subway route from Penn Station. (Be aware you may need to carry luggage up/down stairs in some subway stations and most likely need to transfer subways to get to that part of Brooklyn)

Once within the city limits you could also take a Yellow cab - but it would be on the meter and the cost will vary by time/distance

(Short term rentals have been illegal here for a number of years - but as the situation has gotten worse there is a lot of public discontent about the loss of housing and enforcement has been increased - this is happening in many places worldwide.)

Edited: 3 years agoHello, I have a question for those of you that are locals in New York City. I will be commuting driving from Jersey City to Warwick New York. I need to be there at 3 p.m. on a Wednesday in October.

What time should I leave I will be leaving from Hoboken? I know it isn't very far you have two kids so I don't want to sit traffic any longer than we have to. Any suggestions?

Part 2. On my return it will be Friday and I need to return vehicle to LaGuardia Airport. I will be returning from Patterson New York. I'd like to get back to the airport before it gets dark but I realize that's already getting into Friday evening traffic. Is there a difference if I wait until Saturday morning to return the car? Ideally I would like to return car at noon Saturday at LAG.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated as well as specific routing.. Thank you so much.Three Blackhawk helicopters from the Tennessee National Guards 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion arrived in North Carolina late Monday to assist in the relief effort of Hurricane Florence. All three aircraft are equipped to conduct medical evacuation with rescue hoist capability, as well as transport medical patients, and supplies to those in remote areas.

Our aircrews are some of the best Ive had the privilege to work with in my entire Army career, said Col. Joe Miller, State Aviation Officer for the Tennessee Army National Guard. They get a lot of practice with missions in the Smoky Mountains and Im confident theyll provide top-notch support to the citizens of North Carolina.

Like Tennessees military police support to South Carolina, North Carolina was able to request this specific capability through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact process whereby states can ask for help in time of crisis, or other natural disasters. The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency is the mitigating agency for such requests and works regularly with other state emergency management agencies to facilitate these cooperative agreements.

The 1-230th AHB is part of the 30th Troop Command based in Tullahoma. The 30th TC maintains four aircraft with hoist capability in East Tennessee for rescue missions, when called upon, in the Smoky Mountains.

Last year alone various crews of the 1-230th AHB conducted 14 rescues in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In light of the deployment to North Carolina one aircraft will remain on station in Tennessee for any other potential missions.TROY, N.Y.- Annual alternative transportation festival Collar City Ramble returns to Troy for its fifth year with an expanded selection of tours and events.

The main event, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, will feature car-free fun and adventure as attendees explore downtown Troy and beyond.

Organizers of the Collar City Ramble festival encourage people of all ages to explore Troys urban trails by foot, bicycle, wheelchair, kayak, or any number of other means of getting around in this celebration of people moving under their own power.

One of the events of the broader Hudson River Valley Ramble, the Collar City Ramble is an initiative by Transport Troy, a citizens group dedicated to improving pedestrian and bicycle lanes throughout the city of Troy.

Several varieties of urban trails star in this years Ramble, from the wild hiking trails of South Troys Burden Pond Environmental Park which will include a pre hike historical talk by Michael Barrett, director of the Burden Ironworks Gateway Museum, to the new and developing River Front Trail, to the water trail on the Hudson River below the Troy Federal Lock and Dam, to the natural and landscaped trails in Prospect Park. Each trail provides a different experience, but all are located within the context of the city.

Organizers said the newly expanded Uncle Sam Bikeway trail will be a big focus of this years Ramble biking activity.

The event is filled with walking and biking group tours, self-guided tours as well as kayak rides and new for the second year, a representation in the international PARK(ing) Day, an annual worldwide event where artists, designers and citizens transform metered parking spots into temporary public parks. This year there are eight participant spaces that will be left up through Oct. 6, allowing exploration on Troy Night Out and the Sept. 30 Troy Farmers Market. Participating businesses include Sunhees Farm and Kitchen, The Shop, Elixir 16, Little Pecks, Plum Oyster Bar, TAKK House, Daily Grind and Ecobaby.

PARK(ing) Day reminds us that public space can be created in the most unconventional places, said Katie Hammon, executive director of the Downtown Troy BID, in a press release. Downtown businesses have embraced this idea and with the help of Transport Troy and the Collar City Ramble, have transformed spaces that invite downtown residents, workforce, students and visitors, to take a second, sit and enjoy their surroundings. This extended interpretation of a pop-up event is a great example of the artistic energy and grassroots community that exists here in Troy.

Monica Kurzejeski, Deputy Mayor of Troy, added, National PARK(ing) Day and the Collar City Ramble are tremendous examples of how Troy is embracing its creative and innovative spirit to further promote the city as a place to live, work, play, visit and shop. Troys historic architecture and unique position on the Hudson River provides visitors and residents an opportunity to explore our city from Lansingburgh to South Troy and all our neighborhoods in between. The city is thrilled to collaborate with our community partners to make this vision a reality. We look forward to developing future neighborhood focused initiatives that support the continued growth our Small American City.

Even lifelong residents of Troy may discover places theyve never seen in their own city.

Most people think of trails being in a park or forest, in nature, and we have those trails in cities as well, but an urban trail is a route that takes you from where you live to where you work or play or shop, said Karl Beard, upstate project director for the National Park Services Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) program in New York state, in the release. An urban trail is just like a trail in the woods  its marked and shows you where to go  but it may start closer to home than a trail that you have to drive to. These trails can be transportation routes or recreation routes. They can also be storytelling trails that may highlight things of particular interest  stories of our neighborhoods, our waterfront.

The RTCA program works to provide National Parks Service resources and expertise to communities throughout America. Transport Troy, organizers of the Collar City Ramble, requested assistance from RTCA to help them articulate a vision for a citywide system of interlock trails and complete streets.

We are especially interested in bringing the health, environment and economic benefits of trails to places where most people live, Beard continued. People shouldnt have to drive to a state park or national park to derive these kinds of benefits. They should have access to them in their own neighborhoods.

The Collar City Ramble continues its partnership with CDTA, which will provide free shuttle service between Ramble locations during event hours.

The main hub and information booth for the Collar City Ramble will be at the Troy Waterfront Farmers Market at Monument Square.

More information about the Collar City Ramble, including a full event schedule of events and locations, is available online at www.collarcityramble.com.WATERVLIET, N.Y.>> A Watervliet resident recently retired after 31 years of military service.

New York Army National Guard Master Sgt. John Batza, retired after 31 years of service.

Batza was recognized during a recent retirement ceremony at the Watervliet Arsenal.

Batza joined the New York Army National Guard in 1980 served in the Army National Guard and Army Reserve until 1986. He left the service and re-enlisted in the New York Army National Guard in 1991.

Batza joined the Active Guard and Reserve program in 2000. He served in a number of military personnel administrative positions, most recently as the non-commissioned officer in charge of the New York National Guards military personnel database.

Batzas awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal and Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon.I bet you have witnessed all the trendy hairstyles women try to put on for weddings. One has to look flashy if not classy. You have to look outstanding during the wedding of a family member or a friend in order to represent the squad in 'slaying'. The way one fancies to plait their hair can be regarded as a point of personal tailoring, sense of fashion and other external factors. However, real life ethics and popular considerations also impact some hairstyles. A great number of non-African people, find twist black hairstyles very thrilling in a good way.

A lot of Black women are very protective about their hair. So, if you see a woman looking good in your wedding, just know she went through a lot of patience in the salon to look as beautiful as she is. If you plan on attending a wedding and, you don't have an idea of what hairstyle you're going to rock, read the article below to know the twist hairstyles to plait.

Twist hairstyles for natural hair

Twist hairstyles for wedding are becoming a fast and popular option for women (and some men) with Afro-textured hair. They are hairstyles that come with more possibilities to customize it. Braiding hair is not the only way to go for a cool protective hairstyle. Twists are just as enjoyable, varying and easy to do. One can have natural hair short and sweet instead or, try twist hairstyles without extensions. If one is not into long and lovely locks, having it fake is an option. Twisting and curling your hairstyles for natural hair, into intricate designs that lay flat to your hair, is like opting for a shorter look, without actually going for a shorter look. Let's look at some of the famous African twist hairstyles.

READ ALSO: Marley braids hairstyles in Kenya

1. Short kinky twists

This hairstyle suits almost everyone who wants to wear their hair short. It requires little maintenance and it can suite the office environment. These twists are tightly fastened to your head and then twisted around each other, giving you a pretty amazing look. This twist hairstyles weddings are very elegant and give you a simple look.

2. Senegalese/ African twists

Senegalese twists are also known as rope twists and fall into the category of African twist hairstyles. They are a good style option because, not only will they protect your natural hair, but also make you look splendid! Also, they are very flexible, so youll be able to experiment with different gorgeous styles on a daily basis. Senegalese twist hairstyles keep your natural hair healthy without yielding your style. This hairstyle is suitable for women who want to take a break from plaiting their hair or, the ones who are not into the styling solutions that include heat and chemical ingredients.

Medium sized Senegalese twists

These Senegalese twists are beautiful and when youre feeling bold, they flow and are to be whipped back and forth, thats for sure. They can be fitted with lots of shades and colours depending on ones preference. There is nothing hard or technical that is needed to work this look.

Chunky Senegalese twists

This is chunky twist hairstyle, which is easily manageable. The Chunky Senegalese Twist are long lasting if maintained properly and have a bit of shoulder length. For those who prefer the long and largely twisted hair, this is the better option. They appear lovelier that way.

3. Twisted bun life

This is a combined twist, held and worn up hairstyle, for natural hair like Afro twist braid hairstyles, and a number of other designs. It is perfect for an alluring event when one needs to rock their best.

Flat twist bun

This falls under short flat twist hairstyles that are simple and lovely. The hair is flat twisted and, again twisted into a bun. From there, you can decide to either have it high or low depending on what you prefer. But you'll sure look beautiful and outstanding in the crowd.

4. Curved mohawk twist

Once in a while, a girl likes to feel some thrill and what a better way than to rock this look. It is edgy and modern. Adding some colour might spice the whole style and it fits so well with this kind of twists.

5. Long locks twists

This hairstyle is similar to dreadlocks. It is basically two strands of hair that are twisted around each other, however in contrast to dreadlocks, these are thicker, and also made up slightly differently in the makeup. You should not get the dreadlocks and this type of twists confused.

6. Simple flat twist

It is a slightly different type of look to rock and, it is way easy to do. It's a good way to start rocking it as your hair grows. To spice things up you can add colour or accessories.

Innocent flat twists

With this type of twists, you twist your hair and then twist the twisted hair. That twisted hair can be twisted again if you prefer. There are literally endless ways of rocking these twists.

Complex flat twist

They are wonderful and complicated updos with no necessary hard work to put into consideration. These fabulously twisted designs show you what you can achieve, protecting your hair.

READ ALSO: Best protective hairstyles for relaxed hair

7. Low puff flat twist

Flat updos are not only super quick to put in, but re really super easy. So easy in fact, that you could even do this at home. With very little effort, you could have a wonderful updo that screams sophistication and class. They will only take an hour or two to put together as you rush for that wedding looking fabulous.

8. Twist hairstyle with extension

This style weaves often take more hours, sometimes as many as eight to ten hours to fix up, but the end look will leave, not only you but also everyone you cross paths with amazed. They stand out and add beauty if you decide to wear them. This is the style for those girls who really know what they are up against because the hairdo takes a bit more to maintain.

9. Twist hairstyles with weave

Half n half styles are cute and lovely, theyre easy to do and have some benefits too. If you have, lets say greasy hair, or hair that doesnt look as good as you hoped it would look, you can hurl the top half up in a weave and put it in a bun, giving you only the bottom half to worry about at least. That will give you the confidence you anticipated for from the beginning.

10. Multi -twist

This kind of twist hairstyle will give you something that could easily incorporate a number of different ideas, twists and twirls depending on the kind of mood you were trying to set for the wedding. You can add colour to the hair to make it look more unique.

11. Short chunky mini marley twist

Just like the Marley twists, this hairstyle is a bit short and loosened too. These are mini twist natural hairstyles which will last for some time and protect your hair. However, the time spent preparing the extension is actually more than installing the extensions. For a person who likes big hair, this is the hair to rock for a wedding.

Marley rope twists

For medium length preference, these short rope twist hairstyles are a great option. Marley twists are generally considered better for longer styles, although both can work in both situations with the right stylist. These mid-length looks give you the best of both worlds, allowing you to intricately twist your hair up on the days where you need something styled away from your face. On the days when you feel like wearing your hair down, you can still do that. Just another reason why these twists are a great choice.

12. Yarn twists

With yarn twists, you have so many opportunities open to you, especially if you are into bright and bold colours. They are as big as the Marley twist and are preferable to people who like big hair. For festivals, these looks are absolutely right on.

13. Faux - hawk braided twist

These are short hair twist hairstyles that require low-maintenance. Not only that, they work on all manner of hair lengths. You can add them to very short hair or long hair, or with the various styling possibilities on top of that. There are various options to list on how you can style them.

14. Big & bulky twist

These twists are chunkier but very comfortable. Depending on the length you prefer you can never go wrong with this hairstyle.

READ ALSO: Best curly braids hairstyles

15. Fall toned kinky twist

Kinky twists are generally considered to have a slightly more natural look when it comes to twisting styles. They are a clever way of changing a regular look to slightly bring a totally new feel and finish to it.

16. Kinky braids twist

This is a great, almost sophisticated design that can still be pulled back when you feel like putting it up. Colours are also an option for this style. Kinky twists styles can be done in a variety of ways, by playing with styling options and creativity. Great as a protective look for your natural hair, kinky twists offer just as many benefits as they do style moments.

17. Accessorized twists

Some people love having rings on their fingers, so it just makes sense that they would love them in their hair too. This style has been added some blinded up hair rings to your twists and braids for a cool look. This is more or less Senegalese twists but made to perfection. These twists mostly take a long time to do but the end look is worth it. This hairstyle is then styled depending on what one desires or prefers. There are so many styles to hold the hair in place.

Most African hairstyles twist have become the most trending styles worldwide and they continue to make an impact because they are not only elegant but also stunning. Twist hairstyles at weddings really make a woman stand out even when attending the wedding.

READ ALSO:

African hairstyles for round faces for ladies

Latest Senegalese twist hairstyles

Best short weave hairstyles in Kenya

Best dreadlocks hairstyles for medium length

Simple cornrow braid hairstyles for natural hair

Source: Tuko News- A Murang'a resident wants EACC to remove Governor Wa Iria from office for misconduct

- He claims Wa Iria orchestrated an attack on water company employees that led to abuse of human dignity

- The police, he said, have not arrested anyone connected to the attack despite reports being filed

- The county chief has been on the spot for terrorising employees of the five water companies in the county

A Murang'a County resident has petitioned the Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (EACC) to take action against Governor Mwangi wa Iria for allegedly leading an attack against employees of Murang'a Water and Sanitation Company (Muwasco).

In a petition copied to EACC Chairperson , Attorney General and Chairperson Public service Commission, Jackson Kioko Ndegwa claimed no action has since been taken despite the assault being reported to the police.

Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens.

READ ALSO: Picha za gari lililotumika kumteka nyara Sharon Otieno, ni la mke wa mpambe wa Obado

A Murang'a resident want EACC to remove Governor Wa Iria from office for misconduct. Photo: Governor Mwangi wa Iria.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: ODM statement supporting Uhuru's proposing 8% fuel levy doesn't represent NASA - Moses Wetang'ula

The petitioner claimed the assault led to physical harm, loss of property besides the raid resulting to breach of human dignity.

Employees of the water company, including one with disability, were roughed up by the governor's team as waters wars in the county escalated.

"On Monday, August 27,some leaders from Murang'a County together with paid up thugs in the full glare of cameras and in presence of police invaded Kiawambeu work station which is owned by Murang'a Water and Sanitation Company where the petitioners are employed and physically assaulted, frisked robbed the belongings of the employees and chased them from the work station," read the petition seen by TUKO.co.ke.

READ ALSO: Government pays KSh 1.5 billion for EACC building valued at KSh 400 million in 2013

Ndegwa accused the following people for the attack:

Governor Mwangi wa Iria, Water CEC Paul Ngang'a Macharia, County Assembly Majority Leader Erick Kamande Kimani, MCA's Gerald Wambugu Mwangi, Jane Wanjiru Muigai, Alex Ndunda Makau, Stephen Chege Mwangi (Habile) and Gitui Ward Clerk Sammy Maina.

He claims Wa Iria (pictured) orchestrated an attack that led to abuse of human dignity including sexual abuse on women. Photo: UGC

Source: UGC

In a video seen by TUKO.co.ke, the Murang'a County boss is spotted accompanied by a group of people who mounted an attack against Muwasco employees.

READ ALSO: NASA strategist David Ndii refuses to support Uhurus proposal of 8% charge on fuel

"The above incidents were reported by the victims to the police in Murang'a but three weeks later, no arrest has been conducted and no charges have been preferred against any of the above listed persons or their agents," the petition further read.

TUKO.co.ke understands the workers at the water facility in question were opposed to changes mooted by Wa Iria.

The petitioner claimed police only watched as the governor conducted the vicious attack on them. Photo: UGC

Source: UGC

Among the changes included the firing of Peter Kahara Munga as chairman to the Board of Directors and replacing him with Joseph Kimura.

The changes brought forth bad blood between the governor and the water company employees who had also staged a demo in relation to the same case.

"In light of your commission's mandate as set in section 4 of the Act, I humbly request that your Commission do commence the disciplinary and removal of the said officers from their state/public offices in light of the highlighted abuse of office and violation of Chapter 6 of the Constitution of Kenya," the petitioner wrote.

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.

Angry Kenyan Sends Message to President Uhuru Kenyatta | Tuko TV.

Source: Tuko.co.ke- The NASA leaders said the 8% tax be implemented but for a period of one year only

- Jubilee leaders agreed to have the levy implemented after meeting President Uhuru

- Treasury is currently implementing the tax at 16% which has seen a liter of petrol sell at KSh 127

- A Court had ruled for the implementation of the tax be stopped but this was not effected

- Parliament had voted the tax be scrapped off and its implementation to start in 2020

- President Uhuru did not ascend to their demand and tossed the proposal back to Parliament

- NASA leaders vowed to return the unsigned bill to President Uhuru untouched

- A section of the citizenry feel betrayed by NASA leader after their decision to support implementation of the tax

Despite leaders allied to NASA leading spirited campaigns with the aim of opposing President Uhuru Kenyatta's 8% cut on fuel VAT, the leaders have finally conceded to supporting the proposal.

The Opposition MPs, however, on Tuesday, September 18, stated the tax should be implemented only for one year, after which it should be scrapped off.

Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens.

READ ALSO: Raila Odinga leads NASA MPs in supporting Uhurus stand on fuel tax

Treasury is currently implementing the tax at 16% which has seen a liter of petrol sell at KSh 127. Photo: UGC

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: 190 Jubilee MPs attended State House meeting and Uhuru seems to have won them over

Their decision irked many Kenyans who had assumed the Opposition MPs would sustain their calls for the tax to scrapped off completely.

Many who reacted took to different social media platforms where a section of them claimed the leaders had betrayed them by joining a clique of Jubilee leaders who supported the controversial tax.

READ ALSO: Uhurus rejection of Financial Bill is win for those of us who remained sober - Moses Kuria

Stephen Ouma McAnyal claimed NASA leaders had been compelled to support the proposal by coalition Leader Raila Odinga and ignored the plight of Kenyans set to be hit hard by high fuel prices

"NASA is advancing the interest of Raila as opposed to addressing the plight of the electorates. Let the robots in the name of Mpigs vote in favor of the 16% or 8% VAT," tweeted Stephen Ouma McAnyal.

Siaya Senator James Orengo and Dagoreti MP Simba Arati were among the vocal leaders allied to NASA who had vowed to oppose the implementation of either 16% or 8% tax.

READ ALSO: MP Simba Arati say MPs will compel Uhuru to sign bill delaying 16% fuel levy

READ ALSO: Uhuru rejects Finance Bill 2018, 16% fuel levy here to stay

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.

Raila Odinga: Kenya's Fuel Crisis Will Not Occur | Tuko TV.

Source: Breaking News- Kenneth Makate claimed he came up with the idea behind the free SMS service in 2000

- He took Vodacom, one of Safaricom's shareholders, to court to force the company to pay him

- The court in 2016 directed that Makate negotiates the compensation with Vodacom

- About three years later, the plaintiff is yet to be compensated

- Vodacom's CEO took over the matter after talks between Makate and the firm's lawyers collapsed

The man who claimed to have invented Safaricom's Please Call Me service is seeking KSh 45 billion in compensation for the use of the free SME service.

Kenneth Makate, a former employee of South Africa's Vodacom, which owns 35% shares in Safaricom, has been embroiled in a legal battle with the telco giant in his quest to reap the benefits of the callback service.

Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens

READ ALSO: Safaricom recognised in Fortune Magazines 2018 Change the World List of Companies

Vodacom's CEO Shameel Joosub (R) took over the Please Call Me negotiations after talks between Kenneth Makate (L) and the company's lawyers collapsed.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Customer outcry over fast data depletion forces Safaricom to ponder introduction of new plan

Reports seen by TUKO.co.ke on Tuesday, September 18, revealed Makate was yet to be compensated about three years later since he won the case over copyright of the free SMS service.

According to South Africa's weekly newspaper Rapport, Vodacom's CEO Shameel Joosub decided to take over the Please Call Me negotiations after talks between Makate and the company's lawyers hit a deadlock.

READ ALSO: Safaricom warns of service interruptions as it upgrades systems

While delivering a ruling on the matter two years ago, Justice Chris Jafta declined to grant Makate the KSh 45 billion he was asking for.

Instead, the judge directed that the complainant negotiates the compensation with Vodacom.

"Makate would be paid a share of proceeds from the product subject to terms to be negotiated between him and Vodacom if the idea is proven to be commercially viable," the judge ruled.

READ ALSO: Bob Collymore defends Safaricom over claims its stealing from customers

TUKO.co.ke understands the flashback idea was conceived in 2000 and Vodacom started implementing it in March 2001.

Makate reportedly went back to court to compel the company to pay him his dues after the negotiations talks failed.

The Please Call Me service is a free text message one user sends to another requesting the receiver to call them back.

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.

Winnie Pasaka's Story: From A Housemaid To An Engineer - Faces of Kenya - On Tuko TV

Source: Tuko- Prince William is expected to visit the British Army Training Unit Kenya unit in Nanyuki

- He will also visit Namibia and Tanzania as part of his public and private engagements in Africa

- It is not yet clear if the prince will meet President Uhuru Kenyatta

The Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, will visit Kenya on September 30, 2018, as part of his public and private engagements in Africa.

The 36-year-old prince announced during his first speech as patron of the Royal African Society (RAS) that he will also visit Namibia and Tanzania during his tour of Africa.

Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens

READ ALSO: List of MPS who have vowed to reject Uhurus proposed 8% levy on fuel

Prince William to visit Kenya weeks after Theresa May's visit

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Vehicle used in Sharon's kidnapping belonged to Governor Obado's PA

While in Kenya, the Prince will visit the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) in Nanyuki, Laikipia County in his role as Colonel of the regiment, Daily Nation reported.

His Royal Highness will visit the 1st Battalion Irish Guards Battlegroup, which will be training under BATUK, in his role as Colonel of the Regiment, read a statement released on Tuesday by Alice Simpson, a communication officer in the British government.

The Irish Guards Battlegroup, she said, will include an Infantry Company from the Kenyan Army.

READ ALSO: Muranga governor in hot water after leading raid on countys water company

Prince William to visit Kenya weeks after Theresa May's visit

Source: Facebook

Prince William's trip will also be centred on wildlife conservation which he said is suffering as well as the African people.

"Like so many others, I am deeply saddened by the numbers of elephant, rhino and pangolin who have been illegally killed for their tusks, horns and scales," said William.

"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," he added.

READ ALSO: ODM statement supporting Uhuru's proposing 8% fuel levy doesn't represent NASA - Moses Wetang'ula

The prince last visited Kenya in March 2016 and met President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House in Nairobi where they discussed matters including security and wildlife conservation.

It is not yet clear whether Prince William will meet the president this time round.

In April, 2018, Uhuru met the Prince at Windsor Castle in London during a UK tour that saw him attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

His visit comes barely a month after the United Kingdom's Prime Minister Theresa May visited the country to witness the signing of two agreements.

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.

Angry Kenyan Sends Message to President Uhuru Kenyatta | Tuko TV.

Source: Tuko- Mobile phone transaction excise duty will shoot up from 10% to 20%

- Excise duty on bank transactions will increase from 12% to 20%

- Cost of internet data services will equally go up by a whopping 15%

- These charges will be added to your bills besides the 8% VAT on fuel

Members of the 12th Parliament will on Thursday, September 20, hold a special sitting to approve or reject President Uhuru Kenyatta's recommendations on the Finance Bill 2018, and the 8% VAT on fuel would not be the only tax on the table.

Unknown to most Kenyans, the president had also recommended excise duty on bank and mobile phone money transactions and internet data services, which basically means you will pay more to stay online.

Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens

READ ALSO: List of MPS who have vowed to reject Uhurus proposed 8% levy on fuel

Members of Parliament will on Thursday, September 20, endorse or reject President Uhuru Kenyatta's recommendations on the Fiance Bill 2018.

Source: Twitter

READ ALSO: Picha za gari lililotumika kumteka nyara Sharon Otieno, ni la mke wa mpambe wa Obado

TUKO.co.ke on Wednesday, September 19, established the president's recommendations, if approved by the National Assembly, would have far reaching impact on your wallet and would make the cost of living unbearable for majority of Kenyans.

According to the revised Finance Bill 2018, Uhuru suggested that mobile transaction excise duty be increased from 10% to 20%.

President Uhuru Kenyatta had earlier rejected the amended Finance Bill 2018 and instead reduced the 16% VAT on petroleum products by half.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: 190 Jubilee MPs attended State House meeting and Uhuru seems to have won them over

The president also recommended the excise duty on bank transactions be pushed up to 20% from the current 12%. And that was not all.

"Telephone and internet data services shall be charged excise duty at a rate of 15% of the excisable value," he proposed.

READ ALSO: Uhurus rejection of Financial Bill is win for those of us who remained sober - Moses Kuria

Kenyans were already privy to the proposed 8% VAT on fuel, which lawmakers from both sides of the political divide agreed to endorse, but it seemed many were still not aware of the other taxes until Speaker Justin Muturi presented the president's memorandum on the Finance Bill 2018.

Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news.

When Uhuru, Ruto and Raila Met at State House - On Tuko TV

Source: Tuko.co.ke- The new uniforms stirred mixed reactions from Kenyans with many terming them ugly and uninspiring

- IG Joseph Boinett said the new uniforms would still be adapted even after the outrage from Kenyans

- Boinett welcomed ideas from Kenyans meant to improve the uniforms

The new police uniforms are not going away anytime soon despite harsh criticisms from the public and a section of leaders.

The Inspector General (IG) of Police Joseph Boinett said the uniforms are here to stay and only ideas on how to improve them would be welcomed.

Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens

READ ALSO: Kenyans convinced new police uniform is ugly and uninspiring

According to Uhuru, the new attire was meant to improve visibility of the police.

Source: Twitter

READ ALSO: Picha za gari lililotumika kumteka nyara Sharon Otieno, ni la mke wa mpambe wa Obado

Speaking during the third Editors Guild Press Club luncheon on Tuesday, September 18, Boinett also said the abolition of mandatory and free housing for junior officers would help integrate police into the society.

"There seems to be discomfort about this, but the public is welcome to give ideas on the new uniforms, he said.

Boinett's sentiments were echoed by National Police Service Commission (NPSC) Commissioner, Ronald Musengi, who said the officers had no right to criticise the uniforms but had a right to give their opinion.

READ ALSO: Traffic offenders to start paying instant fines of up to KSh 10K in latest court ruling

According to Uhuru, the new attire was meant to improve visibility of the police.

Source: Twitter

The officers may not have the right to criticise the new uniforms. Of course, we have seen people on social media saying the uniforms are similar to the PCEA Womens Guild or Girl Guide uniforms, but they have a right to give their opinions," he said while at the police training college in Nyeri

The NPSC also announced the procurement of the new uniforms would proceed despite the criticism by many Kenyans who termed the uniforms ugly and uninspiring.

The commissioner, however, did not give a precise date on when the uniforms would be available.

READ ALSO: Vehicle used in Sharon's kidnapping belonged to Governor Obado's PA

The new police attire have been subject of ridicule since President Uhuru Kenyatta unveiled them on Thursday, September 13, after merging the Administration Police (AP) and Kenya Police to form a general duty police unit.

According to Uhuru, the new wear was meant to improve visibility of the men and women in uniform.

Kenyans however thought otherwise with many of them terming the uniform ugly and uninspiring while others noted it was a copy of what Chinese police wear.

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 Tuko news.

Fuel Shortage in Kenya - GSU Officers to Escort Trucks from Depot - On Tuko TV

Source: Kenya Breaking News Today- Bobi Wine will land at Entebbe airport on the afternoon of Thursday, September 20

- Uganda police held several meetings to plan on security in Kampala ahead of Wine's arrival

- The officers said the procession was illegal and anybody participating in it would be arrested

- Wine was flown to US for medical attention after he was allegedly tortured by the police

- He was rearrested and released on bail by Lugulu Magistrates Court

- The MP was accused alongside other people of stoning Museveni's motorcade

Tension is high in Uganda after President Yoweri Museveni's government threatened to arrest anybody planning a procession from the Entebbe airport during the return of MP Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine.

Wine is expected to land at the airport on Thursday, September 20, after a three-week stay in the United States where he was hospitalised.

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READ ALSO: Picha za gari lililotumika kumteka nyara Sharon Otieno, ni la mke wa mpambe wa Obado

Uganda Police during a press conference where they gave guidelines on the return of Bobi Wine. Photo: Twitter / New Vision Uganda

Source: Twitter

READ ALSO: Bobi Wine rearrested shortly after Museveni drops charges against him

According to The Observer, while issuing guidelines for the return of the MP, Uganda police spokesperson Emilian Kayima said Wine would be received by a few family members and friends and no procession would be allowed.

Kayima said the Kyadondo East legislator had not applied for police permission to hold a procession and it would be illegal for anybody to engage in one.

"Theres no clearance whatsoever - but the law is very clear that; if anyone is planning any procession, they should seek clearance from police. And if you dont get, anything you do after that you shall be arrested" said the police spokesperson.

READ ALSO: Bobi Wine freed on bail to be flown to London for treatment

Several police meetings have been held since Wine announced his plans to return to Uganda and discussions held on how to beef up security in the city on Thursday.

The security officers resolved to use anti-riot police with the backing of the military along the Entebbe road, Kampala Central Business District, Kamwokya (the MP's childhood residence) and Kasangati where his home is.

In one of his Facebook posts, the musician turned law maker accused the police of planning to stage violence in the city and accuse his supporters of causing the chaos.

Bobi Wine was flown to America early September 2018, where he has been hospitalised. Photo: UGC

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Museveni bans foreign lawyer defending Bobi Wine from entering Uganda

He said some senior government officers have been printing T-shirts written People's Power, his popular slogan, and distributing them among a rogue group paid to cause violence on Thursday.

Wine said he was confident his supporters were only looking for their voices to be heard and had no intentions of causing chaos in Kampala town.

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Kenyans demand for the release of Bobi Wine | Tuko TV

Source: Tuko.co.ke- The former prison warder was arrested over the abduction and murder of Maribel Kapolon

- The officer is believed to have been the lover of Caroline Kemei, a magistrate and Kapolon's mother

- Kemei is the Senior Resident Magistrate at Githongo Law Courts in Meru

- Police said they interrogated the chief suspect and took his finger prints

-The second suspect is man who tried to demand a ransom from the family after they put a notice about the missing girl

Maribel Kapolon, a nine-year-old girl who liked to pose for photos with hands akimbo, could have been murdered due to love gone sour between her mother and a lover.

Little Kapolon, the daughter of Caroline Kemei a Senior Resident Magistrate at Githongo Law Courts, Meru, disappeared on Thursday, September 6, when returning home from school, only for her body to be found dumped in Gitoro Forest on Sunday, September 16.

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READ ALSO: Picha za gari lililotumika kumteka nyara Sharon Otieno, ni la mke wa mpambe wa Obado

Maribel Kapolon was abducted by a person believed to be familiar with her before she was later killed and dumped in Gitoro Forest. Photo: Mediamax.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: More pain for Kenyans as Uhuru revises upwards internet, mobile money transaction charges

In a report by The Standard on Wednesday, September 19, seen by TUKO.co.ke, Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) George Kinoti said detectives in the matter had a strong belief the minor was murdered because of the mother's disagreement with her lover.

"The person was abducted by a person well known to her. It was established she referred to the man who was waiting for her near their home in Milimani as her uncle. She assured her two friends she knew the man," sources from Meru Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) indicated.

The police arrested two people in relation to the heart wrenching incident, with the chief suspect being a former prison's officer who quit employment for unknown reasons.

The brutal murder of the minor sparked protests from Children Rights' activists and other social quarters. Photo: The Standard.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Police threaten to arrest Ugandans planning to welcome politician Bobi Wine at the airport

The other suspect, according to police, was a man who allegedly demanded for ransom to return Kapolon after a notice of her disappearance was made.

"The key suspect has been probed in detail and his fingerprints taken. The other man was a misguided opportunist who tried to extort the agonised family through such an unfortunate situation and invited trouble to himself in the end," a police officer confided.

Kapolon's death sparked demonstrations in Meru and condemnation from many quarters with children rights' activists urging the police not to rely on the love gone sour angle again but wholesomely probe the heartbreaking murder to nail the merciless culprits.

Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news.

Kenyans demand for the release of Bobi Wine | Tuko TV

Source: Tuko.co.ke- They were busted at a residential apartment in South C estate believed to be operating as a brothel

- Authorities said the 12 suspects would be deported back to their country of origin soonest

- Prostitution is an illegal business in Kenya although its is commonly practiced

The police are holding at least 12 Chinese nationals believed to be engaging in prostitution against the law of the land.

The Immigration officers with the help of crime busters from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, pounced on the suspects early on the morning of Wednesday, September 19, at two residential apartments in Nairobi's South C estate.

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READ ALSO: China protests Kenyas crackdown on ilegal immigrants, foreign workers

READ ALSO: Picha za gari lililotumika kumteka nyara Sharon Otieno, ni la mke wa mpambe wa Obado

During the 5 am swoop targeting wanted fugitives and human traffickers, 12 foreigners including eight ladies and four men of Chinese origin were arrested.

One of the men has been on the Immigration department radar since May 2017 on suspicion of being involved in prostitution and illegal gambling in the country and had been banished but sneaked back.

The Director of Immigration Services Alexander Muteshi confirmed his team was working to endure their safe deportation to China.

READ ALSO: Government issues number to report illegal immigrants in Kenya

"The 12 have been documented as prohibited immigrants and are being processed for deportation for not only violating our immigration laws but also breaching the fundamental standards of integrity with regard to working and doing business in Kenya," said Muteshi.

This is not the first incident involving foreigners allegedly trading their bodies to earn a living in Kenya.

In July 2018, detectives from the Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Protection Unit arrested 21 Nepalese girls working as strippers in lavish clubs in Nairobi.

In most instances, the victims often lack official documentation regularising their stay in Kenya.

The Interior Ministry has intensified a crackdown on illegal immigrants in the country.

Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news.

Breaking News Kenya: Angry Kenyan Sends Message to President Uhuru Kenyatta | Tuko TV:

Source: Tuko- Embattled Murang'a Water and Sanitation Company Chairman Peter Munga went to court to oppose his ouster and replacement

- Iria had sacked Munga and replaced him with Joseph Kimura on Wednesday, August 15

- Court granted temporary orders reinstating Munga but Iria went ahead to execute Gazette Notice 8391 replacing the chairman

- Munga returned to court and accused Wa Iria of contempt

Muranga Governor Mwangi Wa Iria has found himself in hot water for disregarding a court order barring him from interfering with Murang'a Water and Sanitation Company (Muwasco).

The county chief now faces contempt of court charges for effecting Gazette Notice No 8391 of Wednesday, August 15, and sacking Muwasco Chairman Peter Munga and replacing him with Joseph Kimura.

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READ ALSO: 'Obado in, KDF out': picha ya mandazi mapya sokoni yasisimua Wakenya

Embattled MUWASCO Board Chairman Peter Munga with Murang'a Governor Mwangi Wa Iria. The governor controversially sacked Munga from helm of water firm. Photo: DAily Nation.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: I will still vote against the 8% VAT fuel levy even after meeting Raila - Otiende Amollo

In court documents seen by TUKO.co.ke, Munga went to the Labour and Employment Relations Court on Tuesday, August 28, seeking for orders to stop execution of the gazette notice sacking him after 16 year of service in the water company's Board of Directors.

"Pending hearing and determination of this application herein. This court be pleased to issue conservatory orders restraining implementation and enforcement of Gazette Notice 8391 by respondent which was published on Friday, August 17," read part of Munga's application in which Iria is the respondent.

The former Equity Bank chairman also sought the combative governor to be barred from meddling in the water company's affairs.

"Respondent by himself or by agents is hereby restrained from implementing and enforcing appointment as conveyed by Gazette Notice 8391 dated Wednesday, August 15 and the applicant to continue serving as chairman board of directors. Respondent is prohibited from interfering with board and staff affairs at Muwasco," the High Court said on Tuesday, August 28.

Murang'a Governor Mwangi Wa Iria sacked Peter Munga and replaced him with Joseph Kimura in a Gazette Notice of Wednesday, August 15. Photo: Mediamax.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Key sectors affected as Treasury CS Rotich slashes 2018-2019 budget by KSh 55 billion

On Monday, September 3, Munga followed up the matter in court and applied for contempt of court charges against Wa Iria on allegations that he had disregarded a court order restraining him from implementing his duties.

The court directed the governor to file a response, accepted Water Services Regulatory Board to be enjoined as interested party and extended orders barring removal of Munga at the helm of Muwasco.

Wa Iria is also on the spot for leading a raid in one of the water firm's station where goons assaulted and chased away workers.

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.

Winnie Pasaka's Story: From A Housemaid To An Engineer - Faces of Kenya - On Tuko TV

Source: Tuko Breaking News- The man dressed and posed like a lady in his photos on his Facebook page

- He had lured 15 other men into his fake love trap and coned them money

- The pastor uncovered his trick after he realised he was in communication with another man

A 19-year-old Ugandan man has surprised many after he posed as a woman and successfully lured a pastor into his fake love trap.

Neatly dressed in female outfits with facial make up and female poses, Safani Musambi managed to lure a man of God from Kayunga-Bugerere in Uganda.

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READ ALSO: Picha za gari lililotumika kumteka nyara Sharon Otieno, ni la mke wa mpambe wa Obado

Safani Musambi managed to lure a man of God from Kayunga-Bugerere in Uganda. Photo: New Vision

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Governor Obado's wife summoned by DCI days after husband recorded statement

In a report by Uganda's New Vision, the poor man of God thought he had won himself a 'hot girl' and after some background check on the new catch, realised he was in communication with another man.

The pastor got angry and set a trap for the presumed girl who they were to meet at Bulopa trading centre.

Musambi was arrested and taken to Kamuli police station in Eastern Uganda where he revealed his secret of luring men into his money making trap.

Neatly dressed in female outfits with facial make up and female poses, Musambi lured 15 other men into his fake love trap. Photo: New Vision

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: More pain for Kenyans as Uhuru revises upwards internet, mobile money transaction charges

He recorded a statement and revealed he had lured 15 other men using his Facebook account.

Those who got into his trap could ask him for his phone number and he talked to them in a soft female voice and the unsuspecting men could send him money so that they meet up.

Musambi could then fake an emergency or say he was sick and would not manage to make it to the meeting.

Through his tricks, he was able to buy himself female clothes including bras and facial makeup to advance his business.

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

Mom's Blog with Chef Rachel: My Hospital Bag | Tuko Lifestyle

Source: Tuko News- Uganda Communications Commission issued the ban on Wednesday, September 19

- Delta TV, a Uganda local media house issued a memo to their staff on the ban

- Bobi Wine will land at Entebbe airport on the afternoon of Thursday, September 20

- Uganda police held several meetings to plan on security in Kampala ahead of Wine's arrival

- The officers said the procession was illegal and anybody participating in it would be arrested

- Wine was flown to US for medical attention after he was allegedly tortured by the police

- The MP was accused alongside other people of stoning Museveni's motorcade

The tough Uganda government has banned media houses from airing live coverage of the homecoming of Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine.

In compliance with the ban which was issued by the Uganda Communications Commission, Delta TV, one of the local media houses, issued a memorandum to its staff notifying them not to air any content of the event.

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READ ALSO: 'Obado in, KDF out': picha ya mandazi mapya sokoni yasisimua Wakenya

Delta Tv issued a memorandum to their staff notifying them not to air any content of Bobi Wine return. Photo: Twitter / The Observer

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Bobi Wine freed on bail to be flown to London for treatment

Early reports by TUKO.co.ke indicated Uganda police issued a warning against those who would engage in processions to welcome Wine saying they would be arrested.

Wine is expected to land at Entebbe airport on Thursday, September 20, after a three-week stay in the United States where he was hospitalised.

While issuing guidelines for the return of the MP, Uganda police spokesperson Emilian Kayima said Wine would be received by a few family members and friends and no procession would be allowed.

Bobi Wine was flown to America early September 2018, where he was hospitalised. Photo: UGC

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Museveni bans foreign lawyer defending Bobi Wine from entering Uganda

Several police meetings have been held since Wine announced his plans to return to Uganda and discussions held on how to beef up security in the city on Thursday.

The security officers resolved to use anti-riot police with the backing of the military along the Entebbe road, Kampala Central Business District, Kamwokya (the MP's childhood residence) and Kasangati where his home is.

In one of his Facebook posts, the musician turned law maker accused the police of planning to stage violence in the city and accuse his supporters of causing the chaos.

Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news

Kenyans demand for the release of Bobi Wine | Tuko TV

Source: TukoClariant announced an updated strategy and financial outlook as well as the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with SABIC on a significant collaboration opportunity between the two companies in the area of high performance materials. The Group intends to expand more strongly by focusing on customer-specific products and solution offerings with attractive growth prospects and above average value potential.

By 2021, following the creation of High Performance Materials and the divestment of the remaining Plastics & Coatings Business Area, Clariant expects to deliver significantly higher sales of around CHF 9 billion and an EBITDA margin of approximately 20 % with an operating cash flow of more than CHF 1.2 billion.

The portfolio upgrade together with the continuation of Clariants strategy enables the Group to realize a significant step change into higher value specialties, which will allow the Group to considerably augment value creation for all our stakeholders, said Hariolf Kottmann, CEO of Clariant.

The intended combination of Clariants Additives and high value Masterbatches (color, high temperature resins and health care) and parts of SABICs Specialties business will create a uniquely positioned provider of highly customer-specific high performance materials and solutions under the name High Performance Materials.

The combination of Clariants and SABICs offerings within Clariant is expected to result in significant synergies with an anticipated annual run-rate of CHF 100 million, realized over three years from closing. Implementation costs are estimated at CHF 80 million over the same time. The combination will be significantly EPS accretive in the first year.- Sean announced his debut to fans on his Instagram account

- Kibaki's grandson has a role in a new theater play dubbed The Money That Made Him Poor

- Sean doubles up as a model and social media influencer

Former president Mwai Kibai's popular grandson, Sean Andrews, has ventured into acting, TUKO.co.ke has learnt.

This became apparent recently after the young stud took to social media to inform his followers about his debut in the theater.

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READ ALSO: 'Obado in, KDF out': picha ya mandazi mapya sokoni yasisimua Wakenya

READ ALSO: Ex-lover to Kibaki's hot grandson reveals why she opted to find another boyfriend

Taking to Instagram on Friday, September 14, Sean shared a photo of himself followed by a caption revealing more details about his role in a theater play produced by award-winning Kenyan writer and producer, Tina Nduba.

TUKO.co.ke learnt the play, dubbed The Money That Made Him Poor, revolves around three core issues; greed, power and family.

READ ALSO: Kibakis HOT grandson attacks ex-girlfriend ,AGAIN

''Hey you there, if you're reading this I'm in a play and I know you want to come see it so click the link in the my bio to buy tickets for The Money That Made Him Poor or Poor Money starting from the 27th this month,'' Sean wrote.

It is not yet clear which role he will assume in the play.

Sean's fans were super excited following the revelation and thronged the comments section of his Instagram post to congratulate and support him.

READ ALSO: TV girl Dana De Grazia leaves tongues wagging after posting raunchy photo online

The play is a Tony Tini Tone production and features some of Kenya's greatest talents.

Benson Ochungho, Lucy Mwachala, Anne Mwaura and Noah Chiruyi are some of the big names featured in the play to be showcased at Nairobi National Museum, Louis Leakey Auditorium.

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.

Willy Paul Interview for Tuko Buzz: Willy Paul Reveals it All | Tuko TV

Source: Tuko Newspaper- Dida recorded a statement at Lang'ata Police station shortly after the raid

- Police discovered laptops, sex enhancers and makeshift studios

- The 12 Chinese occupants reportedly moved in the premises on September 2017

- One of the suspects had been on the Immigration department watch list over prostitution

Former Alliance for Real Change presidential candidate Abduba Dida on Wednesday, September 19, drove himself to Langata Police station for questioning over an alleged sex trade involving 12 Chinese nationals.

Early on the morning of Wednesday, September 19, at around 5am, Immigration officers and counterparts from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations raided a premises in Nairobi and arrested 12 Chinese suspects.

Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens

READ ALSO: 'Obado in, KDF out': picha ya mandazi mapya sokoni yasisimua Wakenya

READ ALSO: China protests Kenyas crackdown on ilegal immigrants, foreign workers

Intricate details emerged confirming the home comprising two residential apartments in Nairobi's South C estate where police believed was turned into brothels by the suspects, belongs to Dida.

The detectives having been tipped off by other tenants who claimed to have noticed frequent visits by youth streaming in and out of the house, discovered sex enhancing drugs and contraceptives.

They also discovered laptops, foreign currency notes and rooters while two other rooms had a makeshift studio and school desks fixed on each other.

The occupants reportedly moved in September 2017.

During the 5am swoop targeting wanted fugitives and human traffickers, 12 foreigners including eight ladies and four men of Chinese origin were arrested.

One of the men has been on the Immigration department radar since May 2017 on suspicion of being involved in prostitution and illegal gambling in the country and had been banished but sneaked back.

The Director of Immigration Services Alexander Muteshi confirmed in a press release they would be deported back to China.

"The 12 have been documented as prohibited immigrants and are being processed for deportation for not only violating our immigration laws but also breaching the fundamental standards of integrity with regard to working and doing business in Kenya," said Muteshi.

Dida is yet to make a public comment on the issue.

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.

Breaking News Kenya: Angry Kenyan Sends Message to President Uhuru Kenyatta | Tuko TV:

Source: TukoRonaldo looked baffled and kept professing his innocence, sitting down on the pitch in disbelief. The five-time world player of the year was clearly distraught as he left the pitch, still shaking his head. It was his first red card in 154 Champions League games, and the decision means he could miss a return to Old Trafford when Juventus plays Manchester United next month if he gets at least a two-match ban.If a roadmap for what is to be an energy transition to mitigate climate change is not carefuU.S. agriculture is at a crossroads. The path we've been on, industrial food production, is a dead end. It damages air, water and soil, harms rural communities, and limits future productivity.

But there's a better way. Scientists call it agroecological farming. We call it healthy farms. Healthy farms can be just as productive as industrial farms, but they're better for the environment, the economy, and the people who grow (and eat) food.

Healthy farm principles

A healthy farm practices sustainable agriculture, which means it must do three things well:

Productivity. A healthy farm produces food in abundance.

Economic viability. A healthy farm is a thriving business that provides a good living and fair working conditions to those who work on it, and contributes to a robust local and regional economy.

Environmental stewardship. A healthy farm maintains the fertility of the soil and the health of the surrounding landscape for future generations.

To meet these goals, farmers use an approach to agriculture that focuses on four qualities that characterize the healthy farm:

It is multifunctional, recognizing that productivity, while indispensable, is not the farm's sole objective. As well as providing food, the farm also performs important social, economic and environmental functions.

It is regenerative, using methods that constantly improve the fertility of the soil, foster biodiversity both within and beyond the farm's boundaries, and recycle essential nutrients.

It is biodiverse, incorporating a wide variety of crops, land use choices, and options for raising livestock and poultry.

It is interconnected, seeing the farm as an integral part of the landscape that surrounds it, not an isolated production facility.

Healthy farm practices

How can farmers turn all this theory into practice? Our experts have identified four key healthy farm practices:

A landscape approach. On a healthy farm, uncultivated areas are maintained as a resource, providing a home for beneficial organisms as well as a buffer to help keep farm nutrients from polluting nearby waterways.

Crop diversity and rotation. Using long, complex crop rotations, and expanding the farm's repertoire to include fruits, vegetables and/or energy crops, can yield multiple benefits, including healthier soil, reduced need for pesticides, and even higher profits.

Integrating crops and livestock. Well-managed pastures help maintain biodiversity, while the manure they produce is a valuable resource for soil fertility. And animals provide a market for some alternative crops, facilitating complex crop rotations.

Cover crops. Planting cover crops when soil would otherwise be bare reduces erosion, improves soil fertility and water-holding capacity, and helps keep weeds under control.

Healthy farm benefits

Together, these principles and practices add up to a healthy farmand the benefits are many. For instance:

Reduced need for chemical inputs. By increasing soil fertility and pest resistance, healthy farm practices enable farmers to greatly reduce their reliance (and expenditure) on chemical fertilizers, herbicides and insecticides.

Drought resilience. A healthy farm's soil is better at retaining water, so the farm is less susceptible to the devastating impacts of drought.

Increased biodiversity. A healthy farm is a far more welcoming home to pollinators and other beneficial organisms than its industrial competitors.

Reduced environmental impact. Common environmental impacts of industrial agriculture, such as nitrogen runoff and toxic pesticide residues, are greatly reduced on a healthy farm.

Helping healthy farms prosper

Many US farmers are already using healthy farm practices, but federal farm policy still stacks the deck in favor of outdated industrial methods. Smart new policies and investments can help level the playing field and give healthy farms a chance to thrive. Here are three things policymakers can do:

Offer greater financial incentives for farmers to adopt conservation measures and scientifically sound sustainable, organic, and integrated crop or livestock production practices.

Expand outreach and technical assistance that will provide farmers with better information about these transformative practices.

Increase publicly funded research to improve and expand modern sustainable farming.The United States Senate on Tuesday approved a compromise on the draft budget for 2019, which foresees the allocation of $250 million in security assistance to Ukraine.

"The U.S. Senate approved the bill of the National Defense Authorization Act, which was previously agreed with the House of Representatives and which provides for allocation $250 million in security assistance to Ukraine," the Ukrainian Embassy in the United States reported on Facebook.

As noted, the document includes the main provisions of the draft law on cybersecurity cooperation with Ukraine. The act also confirms the commitment to the United States-Ukraine Charter on Strategic Partnership, the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances and support for Ukraine's cooperation with NATO.

The National Defense Authorization Act will come into force after it is signed by US President Donald Trump.

ishA British delegation headed by Secretary of State for Defense Gavin Williamson has visited the area of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) in eastern Ukraine, the press service of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry has said.

"Britain's Secretary of State for Defense Gavin Williamson has visited the front line of defense, where he personally spoke with Joint Forces fighters," the statement says.

According to the Defense Ministry, Williamson noted he was most impressed by the resilience and courage of Ukrainian soldiers facing one of the world's most aggressive armies.

The British delegation also met with Joint Forces Commander Lieutenant-General Serhiy Nayev, who reported on the situation in the JFO area and provided specific facts of the use of Russian-made weapons against military units in eastern Ukraine. Nayev informed Williamson of measures being taken by the Joint Forces to deter Russian aggression and stabilize the situation in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

In addition, according to the report, the sides discussed a number of humanitarian initiatives of the Joint Forces command aimed at restoring critical infrastructure facilities and providing assistance to health institutions and children staying in villages close to the contact line.

After visiting the front line, the commander briefed British partners on the work of an entry and exit checkpoint, the ministry said.

The British official said at the end of the trip that the United Kingdom would continue to assist and fully support Ukraine.

opA total of 2,911 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in the fight against the Russian aggressor in eastern Ukraine.

"2,911 Ukrainian heroes gave their lives at the front," President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko said during a visit to Lviv, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

Its a price for the European choice of Ukrainian people, he noted.

At the same time, the President stressed that the struggle for the independent united Ukraine continued, but expressed conviction that Ukrainians would emerged the winners.

"Ukrainian people and Ukrainian authorities will never ask Putin for permission to move towards Europe," the Head of State assured.

Poroshenko also promised that Ukraine would "act resolutely, persistently and courageously" in the fight against the aggressor.

olThe layoffs are the most recent in a global staff reduction the Finnish telecommunications company began more than two years ago, after its acquisition of French-American rival Alcatel-Lucent. Nokia said in 2016 that the program is meant to reduce operating costs and that staff reductions could continue through the end of 2018.The whole democratic world, together with Ukraine, has no right to turn a blind eye to the existing challenges and global problems, especially those arising in the energy sector, in particular with regard to the Nord Stream 2 project.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman said this at a meeting with Norwegian Parliament President Tone Wilhelmsen Troen, according to the Ukrainian government portal.

"It is very important to us that the democratic world be stable in the defense of democracy and the rules of international law. The Nord Stream 2 project is an important issue in this context. We are telling the whole world - do not believe Russia's guarantees. You will not call any guarantee by Russia that it would implement today. The Budapest Memorandum, the latest judgments by the Stockholm arbitration court on gas contracts [...] are not being implemented. We are concerned that the (pipeline construction) project is moving forward, and we call on all countries to open their eyes and look at the impending threat. We have to pass on our countries to our successors stronger, not weaker. We have no right to turn a blind eye to such global problems," Groysman said.

In his opinion, an alternative is the joint management of the Ukrainian gas transit system. "We are talking about an alternative - joint management of the Ukrainian gas transportation system. It is reliable, so we will all be independent," he said.

He thanked Norway for the constant support of Ukraine's sovereignty and security, but the security context applies not only to defense initiatives, but also to the economic and, most importantly, the energy sphere.

Groysman stressed that an analysis of the situation and joint actions can prevent the threat of Russian monopoly.

"We hear all your remarks, and we support the idea that Ukraine's transit role should be preserved," Troen said.

Groysman thanked for this position and noted that Ukraine was currently experiencing the transformation process, implementing several very important reforms at once - from education and medicine to decentralization and the fight against corruption. "We are managing these processes at the same time," he said.

Troen, in turn, said that Norway was ready to be useful to Ukraine in energy issues and in the issues of reforms that are currently taking place in Ukraine and are very important in view of the country's economic development.

This is Troen's first visit to Kyiv and already the third visit by a top-ranking Norwegian official to Ukraine in the last three weeks.

opThe Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has passed the law on ratification of the agreement on funding the Danube transnational programme.

As an Ukrinform correspondent reports, 246 Ukrainian lawmakers voted in favor of the corresponding bill No. 0196.

Ratification of the agreement will create legal grounds for funding projects with the participation of Ukrainian partners to the tune of EUR 5 million within the framework of the Danube transnational programme as a financial instrument of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region.

The measures to be taken during the implementation of the programme include the implementation of cross-border cooperation projects aimed at social and economic development of Ukrainian part of the Danube region, which will contribute to the fulfillment of commitments defined by the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement.

The agreement on funding the Danube transnational programme was signed on December 7-8, 2017 in Brussels and on December 15, 2017 in Budapest.

olA trade turnover of agricultural products between Ukraine and Germany in 2017 increased by $223.9 million and reached $846.9 million.

Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Agricultural Policy and Food for European Integration Olha Trofimtseva said this at the 15th annual meeting of the German-Ukrainian Agricultural Committee, the press service of the Agricultural Policy and Food Ministry of Ukraine reported.

"There is a positive dynamics in the trade turnover of agricultural products, which increased by $223.9 million and amounted to $846.9 million in 2017," Trofimtseva noted.

She also focused on effective cooperation between the two countries within the framework of bilateral projects that help create a stable basis for the development of foreign trade of the Ukrainian agribusiness.

In turn, Parliamentary Under Secretary to the Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture Michael Stubgen noted that the Government of Germany saw Ukraine as a very powerful agricultural player with great potential in the global market. He added that five projects were implemented with the support of the Federal Ministry.

The German-Ukrainian Agricultural Committee meets annually to assess the effectiveness of bilateral cooperation, in particular, the implementation of common projects in the agricultural sector, as well as to discuss new promising areas for further cooperation.

ishSpeaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Andriy Parubiy called on the Norwegian Parliament not to support the construction of Nord Stream 2 as it is an aggressive energy project by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

He stated this at a joint briefing with President of the Storting [Norwegian Parliament] Tone Wilhelmsen Tren, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

"During the conversation [with a delegation of the Norwegian Parliament], I raised the issue of Nord Stream 2 and called on the Norwegian Parliament to show solidarity regarding the rejection of the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline as Putin's aggressive energy project aimed at increasing energy pressure on Europe," Parubiy said.

The speaker also noted that he had discussed with the head of the Norwegian Parliament the need for increased cooperation in the areas of cyberattacks and information attacks faced by Ukraine and the entire world.

In addition, the parties agreed on an increase in cooperation between Ukraine and Norway in humanitarian and cultural sectors.

In turn, Tone Wilhelmsen Tren assured that the Norwegian Parliament firmly supported the reform process carried out in Ukraine.

As known, Nord Stream 2 is a project on the construction of a gas pipeline from Russia to Germany, bypassing Ukraine across the Baltic Sea. Gazprom owns 51% of shares. Russia wants to build two lines of the gas pipeline (up to 55 billion cubic meters a year). The Baltic States, Poland, Ukraine, as well as the United States, actively oppose the project. In particular, on April 5, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine called on the world not to support the construction of Russias Nord Stream 2.

ishUkraine's Permanent Representative to the UN Yuriy Klymenko has called on the UN member states and international organizations to increase pressure on Russia to stop gross and systematic violations of human rights and release all Ukrainian citizens illegally held by Russia.

He stated this during a debate on the agenda of the 39th session of the UN Human Rights Council, the press service of the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva reported.

"We urge the UN member states and international organizations to take further steps to increase pressure on the Russian Federation in order to stop flagrant and systematic human rights violations and release all Ukrainian citizens illegally held by Russia," Klymenko said.

In this context, he once again drew attention to the shameful practice of Russia's using political persecution against Ukrainian and Crimean Tatars activists as a tool to deter and eliminate any opposition to illegal occupation and attempted annexation of the Crimean peninsula.

Klymenko said that the Kremlin had illegally detained over 70 Ukrainian citizens under trumped-up, politically motivated criminal charges and that the Ukrainian Ombudsperson had not been granted access to any of the Ukrainian political prisoners despite numerous appeals by the Ukrainian side and assurances by Russia, even at the highest level.

"The health condition of Oleg Sentsov, who went on an indefinite hunger strike on 14 May - 128 days ago by now - remains critical and deteriorates daily. Volodymyr Balukh continues an indefinite hunger strike for over 180 days; he is essentially between life and death. Moreover, a few days ago he was severely beaten in prison. Russia is trying to suppress the Crimean Tatars' community on the territory of the occupied Crimea through daily searches, intimidations, and limitations on the freedom of assembly and religion, etc. Such actions of the Russian occupation administration must not be tolerated any longer," Klymenko said.

opThe Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved a draft decree on signing an agreement on mutual abolition of visas with the Government of the Eastern Republic of Uruguay.

This decision was made at a government meeting on Wednesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reported. The ministers authorized Ukraines Ambassador to the Eastern Republic of Uruguay Yuriy Diudin to sign the document. ishThe Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved a draft order on signing an agreement with the Government of Georgia on mutual abolition of visa requirements.

This decision was made at a government meeting on Wednesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reported. The ministers authorized Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to Georgia Ihor Dolhov to sign the document. ishUkraine needs the legislative settlement of all issues related to the status of Ukrainian as a state language, President Petro Poroshenko has said.

He said this at the 25th Publishers Forum in Lviv on Wednesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"We face an extremely important task - to ensure the development and functioning of Ukrainian as a state language in all spheres of public life and throughout Ukraine, as well as increasing the role of the Ukrainian language as a consolidating factor in Ukrainian society, as a means of strengthening national unity," Poroshenko said.

The head of state stressed the need to legislatively resolve all issues related to the status of Ukrainian as a state language. "Moreover, we need an active position of the society aimed at expanding the sphere of functioning and application of the Ukrainian language, implementing all provisions of language legislation without exception," he said.

Poroshenko said that the state would support Ukrainian book publishing.

"Surveys show that we love our Ukrainian language, we want to hear it, and we want to speak it. It has become exciting, fashionable. We should definitely support this trend, because the Ukrainian language has to sound everywhere in full voice, and not only inside the country. It will reveal its potential most fully and is developing its future exactly in the printed form," he added.

At the same time, the president noted that today the quality and effectiveness of state support in the field of Ukrainian book publishing were not yet satisfactory. "We need incentives to encourage authors and performers to create a high-quality book and to meet the demands of a very exacting Ukrainian and European reader," Poroshenko added.

opThe Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) is calling on Canadas MPs to take a strong stand in support of over 70 Ukrainian political prisoners illegally jailed by Russia.

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress wrote this in a letter sent to all members of the Canadian parliament before the start of the new session.

The UCC urged Canadas MPs to support the immediate implementation of sanctions against Russian officials responsible for the illegal imprisonment and maltreatment of Ukrainian political prisoners.

Ukrainian political prisoners are subject to serious violations of their human rights, including documented cases of torture, ill treatment, and refusal to provide medical care. The names of the Russian officials responsible for these violations are easily identifiable, stated UCC CEO Ihor Michalchyshyn in the letter to MPs.

The continuing inaction of the Government of Canada on this issue is a matter of increasing alarm to the 1.3-million strong Ukrainian community in Canada. The UCC has raised this issue in numerous communications with high-ranking Canadian officials, he said.

In October 2017, Canadas Parliament adopted the Magnitsky Act, which gives the Government of Canada the tools to sanction foreign nationals responsible for gross violations of internationally recognized human rights.

Three political prisoners  Volodymyr Balukh, Oleh Sentsov, and Oleksandr Shumkov  are on hunger strikes lasting over 100 days in protest against Russias ongoing illegal detentions of Ukrainian political prisoners and violations of human rights, stated Michalchyshyn.

Canada, which aspires to leadership in supporting human rights around the world, needs to take immediate action against Russian officials responsible for their imprisonment, he stated.The Ukrainian community of Munich has sent another batch of humanitarian aid to a medical institution of Ivano-Frankivsk city.

"Another batch of humanitarian cargo (medicines, medical clothes, shoes, first-aid material) goes to Ukraine," Ukrainian activist in Munich Taras Berezhansky wrote on his Facebook page.

According to him, the Ivano-Frankivsk City or Regional Children's Hospital will receive this humanitarian aid.

He also added that a large cargo from Switzerland had been recently sent to the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Clinical Hospital, which included, among other things, hemodialysis chairs, wheelchairs and hospital beds.

ishThe New York-based co-working company previously used noncompete agreements that prohibited nearly all its employees from taking jobs with competitors, according to Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigans office. That included cleaners, mailroom workers, executive assistants and baristas, some of whom earn as little as $15 an hour, according to Madigans office.Oliver Loode is a human rights and development practitioner focusing on indigenous peoples and minorities. Between 2014 and 2016 Oliver was a Member of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. He hosts the "Indigenous Hour" podcast.

Crimea.Inform has talked to Oliver about indigenous peoples rights in Ukraine, ways to protect them and issues arising in this field from the occupation of Crimea.

Oliver, what makes indigenous peoples different from other peoples and how is Ukraine protecting them?

There are 400 million indigenous persons living in the world. The Ukrainian state after the 2014 Crimeas occupation by Russia recognized its indigenous peoples meaning Crimean Tatars, Krymchaks and Karaites. Soon after that Ukraine joined the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples originally adopted in 2007. Back then Ukraine abstained from supporting the declaration. By joining the document, it took the responsibility both in front of the world and domestically to uphold and to implement this declaration. I think every country that has indigenous peoples has the responsibility to make sure that their rights are respected, as rights of all other citizens. The unique thing about indigenous peoples, however, is that they also have collective rights which, for example, ethnic minorities do not have. And an important right is the right to self-determination.

What is the practice in other countries with respect to the exercise of the right to self-determination?

There is no ideal example of how that could be done. But there are practices in the world Ukraine can and should learn from. I often talk about the example of Greenland. What could be more realistic for Ukraine is the way Sami people organized and developed their institutions in Finland and Norway, namely the Sami parliaments. The states of Finland and Norway recognize the Samis as the indigenous people, support and work with their parliaments, engage in dialogue. Its not always smooth or pretty and there are thorny issues between the state and the indigenous people but as least the state recognizes the Samis as an indigenous people with corresponding rights.

I think now that Ukraine has supported the UN declaration it is very important that it implements is principle and ideas in reality. I understand that Ukraine finds itself in a very challenging situation in that the traditional lands of its indigenous peoples are occupied for now and Ukraine has limited opportunities to truly ensure their rights. However, there are still some things that it can do. By doing what it can Ukraine certainly will send a message to the world that Ukraine is taking its responsibilities with respect to the indigenous peoples seriously.

Could you talk in more detail about the Sami people? What has worked for them and which of those practices could be adopted in Ukraine?

It all starts with recognition of their representative institutions. In the Sami case these are Sami parliaments. They are funded by the state but they are independent from the state in their decisions and resolutions. There is variation between those three countries in the mandate of the Sami parliaments. In Finland, the Sami parliament is responsible for cultural autonomy and language issues, whereas in Norway the Sami parliament has more say over the use of the traditional Sami lands and natural resources. Basically, they are participating in the decisions on how Sami lands are used. The Norwegian example would be extremely difficult for Ukraine to follow because the land is occupied by the foreign power. But I think it is relevant in terms of the resources the state provides to the work of the representative institutions.

In 2016 there was an announcement that a Federal national cultural autonomy would be formed for the Crimean Tatars in Russia. What do you think of this initiative?

The reality of what Russia has done is the opposite of ensuring the rights. By banning Mejlis Russia is denying the Crimean Tatars the right to their representative institutions. Mejlis is a democratically elected representative body of the indigenous people which has self-identified as such and is perceived as such by most of the world. And the representative bodies of the indigenous peoples are the instrument for realization of their collective rights. Other approaches that the state is somehow setting up, establishing some other group, picking and choosing representatives of a particular group is completely against the spirit of the UN Declaration. Russia abstained from the vote on the Declaration the same way Ukraine did back in 2007 but the important difference is that Ukraine has now changed its position. Ukraine is on the way to acting in line with the UN Declaration whereas Russia continues with its old colonial and imperial habits of not respecting right of ethnic groups including the indigenous peoples. I think this is an example of curating and controlling.

How can the international community help Ukraine, its indigenous people and Crimea?

Now that Ukraine has endorsed the UN Declaration on the rights of the indigenous peoples, I think this emphasizes the direction Ukraine is taking by becoming more integrated with the global consensus on human rights including rights of the indigenous peoples. There are some practical benefits Ukraine can get from this. One possibility is to engage more with the three international mechanisms within the UN that focus on the indigenous peoples. They are the UN forum on the indigenous issues, the expert mechanism on the rights of the indigenous peoples and the special rapporteur on the rights of the indigenous peoples. Prior to 2014 Ukraine had paid practically no attention to those UN mechanisms. Since then interest has been growing. There is a very tangible near term opportunity for Ukraine to invite the special rapporteur for the rights of indigenous peoples Ms. Victoria Tauli Corpuz to Ukraine on a country visit to assess the situation with the rights of Ukraines indigenous peoples. Perhaps, this could be combined with a visit to the occupied Crimea. I think it will be important to bring more international attention to the situation of its indigenous peoples, especially those affected by Crimeas occupation.

Crimea.InformThe international group of representatives of the Human Rights Houses visited the occupied Crimea.

"The activity of the mission in Crimea was quite intensive. Over the past four days, the group managed to hold about 20 meetings, attended by about fifty people: victims of human rights violations in Crimea, relatives of political prisoners, lawyers, activists, journalists who work there. We managed to gather a fairly large array of information," chair of the board of the Human Rights Information Center Tetiana Pechonchyk said at a press conference, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

The visit of representatives of the Human Rights Houses from Azerbaijan, Belarus and Ukraine to the occupied Crimea took place on September 14-18. The human rights mission focused on the issues related to freedom of speech, peaceful assemblies and association as well as persecution of human rights activists and civic activists in Crimea.

"One of the goals was to test a possibility of making visits to Crimea in accordance with national legislation and to estimate the access from the Russian side, including possible obstacles for human rights defenders," the human rights defender added.

Pechonchyk specified that a detailed follow up report would be made public in October.

olfacebook like button Tweet tweet button for twitter

Published Sept. 19, 2018

Two representatives from the University of Louisiana Monroe are participating in the University of Louisiana System Management and Leadership Institute. The Institute is designed to maximize the participants effectiveness in management roles and gain a deeper understanding of management roles in higher education.



Dr. Julia Letlow, Executive Director of External Affairs and Strategic Communications, and Dr. Christopher Gissendanner, Associate Director of the School of Sciences and Graduate Coordinator for the College of Arts, Education and Sciences and the Biology M.S. program, are ULMs representatives.



Letlows experience in higher education began at ULM in 2003 as a teaching associate in the Communication Department. She continued her graduate studies at the University of South Florida and completed her Ph.D. in Communication.



Letlow began her professional career at ULM in 2007 working on special projects for the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs. She was then offered a position at Tulane University School of Medicine as the Director of Education and Patient Safety. During her tenure there she created a curriculum for physicians to strengthen their communication skills.



In 2014, she moved back to north Louisiana and accepted the position of Director of Marketing and Communications at her alma mater. She recently accepted more responsibility as the Executive Director where she serves as the governmental liaison on behalf of the university and provides oversight of strategic communications and initiatives to enhance a favorable public image of ULM.



Gissendanner was a member of the College of Pharmacy faculty for more than five years before returning to the School of Sciences in 2017.



He has a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Florida State University and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Cellular Biology from the University of Georgia.



Gissendanner completed his post-doctoral training at New England Biolabs in Ipswich, Mass., and has pursued an externally funded research program in developmental genetics as both a biology and pharmacy faculty member. Gissendanner has been involved in several undergraduate science education initiatives, including the Howard Hughes Medical Institute SEA-PHAGES program at ULM.



He serves on the External Advisory Committee for the Arkansas IDeA Networks for Biomedical Research Excellence and is the Associate Treasurer and At-large Executive Committee member for the Association of Southeastern Biologists.



Letlow and Gissendanner, along with colleagues selected from other ULS schools, will attend nine two-day sessions over two semesters at each of the ULS universities.



Kremlin should reconsider case against activist 'on humanitarian grounds,' says Vera Jourova.

European Justice Commissioner Vera Jourova has called on Russian Justice Minister Alexander Konovalov to release Ukrainian filmmaker Oleh Sentsov from the Russian prison where he's been in custody for more than four years.

"I would urge that you reconsider this case, on humanitarian grounds and bearing in mind Russia's international commitments on human rights, and release Mr. Sentsov," Jourova wrote in a letter seen by POLITICO's Brussels Playbook. "Such a gesture would send a strong signal to the world about Russia's commitment to abide international law and human rights."

Read alsoUkraine's Ombudsperson welcomes parliament's decision to nominate Sentsov for Nobel Peace Prize

The Ukrainian filmmaker, who was arrested in 2014 and sentenced to 20 years in jail on terrorism charges, is a vocal critic of Russia's annexation of Crimea. He has been on hunger strike since May to put pressure on Russian authorities to release 64 Ukrainians he says are also political prisoners.

"Pending the release of Mr. Sentsov, I would urge you to ensure access to him by Ukrainian authorities, including the Ukrainian ombudsperson," Jourova wrote, also calling for "an independent medical team to ensure appropriate treatment in line with the European Court of Human Rights interim measure of 25 July."

European lawmakers from the center-right European People's Party nominated Sentsov for the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought this year, saying in a tweet he has been "illegally imprisoned."The Senate changes need to be approved by the House of Representatives, after which the document will be signed by the U.S. President.

The U.S. Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2019 (H.R. 6157), which provides, among other things, for an increase in assistance for Ukraine's security needs to $250 million, has passed a vote in the U.S. Senate.

"The U.S. Senate has approved the bill on the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2019, previously agreed with the House of Representatives, which provides $250 million in assistance for the needs of Ukraine's security. This is $50 million higher than the budget of 2018 for the relevant programs of support of our state," the Embassy of Ukraine in the United States wrote on Facebook.

Read alsoU.S. Senate passes NDAA with $250 mln in security assistance to Ukraine, incl. for lethal weapons

"As it is noted in the bill, $250 million is allocated, among other things, for military training, the provision of military equipment, lethal weapons and logistics support, the replacement of previously provided weapons or military goods. The list of types of assistance also includes intelligence support for the armed and security forces of Ukraine."

The embassy says the Senate changes need to be approved by the House of Representatives, after which the document will be submitted to the president of the United States, who is to sign it.

The federal budget process occurs in two stages: appropriations and authorizations. This is an appropriations bill, which sets overall spending limits by agency or program, typically for a single fiscal year (October 1 through September 30 of the next year).

H.R. 6157 provides $674.6 billion in total discretionary budget authority for the Department of Defense for fiscal year (FY) 2019. The bill provides $606.5 billion for the Department of Defense base budget, which is an increase of $17.1 billion above FY18 levels, and $68.1 billion for the Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) account to support the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). This funding level is consistent with the National Defense Authorization Act as well as the recently enacted budget agreement.According to the document, it comes into force from the date of its publication.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's September 17 decree enacting a September 6 decision by the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) not to extend the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership between Ukraine and Russia was published in the government's official newspaper Uriadovy Kurier on Wednesday, September 19.

The decree was published in Issue No. 175 (6291).

According to the document, the decision comes into force from the date of its publication.

Read alsoPoroshenko to notify Russia of termination of friendship agreement by Sept 30

As UNIAN reported earlier, Poroshenko on September 17 signed a decree to enact the NSDC's decision not to prolong the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership between Ukraine and the Russian Federation.

Under Article 24 of the Law on International Treaties of Ukraine, the president will also submit a relevant bill to parliament.

Ukrainian presidential representative in parliament Iryna Lutsenko said Ukraine's Foreign Ministry would send a letter to the Russian side by September 30 to notify of the non-extension of the Treaty, which is expiring on March 31, 2019.

UNIAN memo. The Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation, and Partnership between Ukraine and the Russian Federation was signed by the then Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma and his Russian counterpart Boris Yeltsin on May 31, 1997. The document fixed the principle of strategic partnership, the recognition of the inviolability of existing borders, respect for territorial integrity and mutual commitment not to use its territory to harm the security of each other. It automatically renews on each 10th anniversary of its signing, unless one party advises the other of its intention to end the treaty. After Russia annexed Crimea and unleashed war in Donbas in 2014, there have been repeat appeals in Ukraine to sever the treaty.According to intelligence reports, three enemy troops were killed and another five were wounded.

Russia's hybrid military forces mounted 25 attacks on Ukrainian army positions in Donbas in the past 24 hours, with two Ukrainian soldiers reported as killed in action (KIA) and another one as wounded in action (WIA).

Read alsoRussian-led forces suffer losses amid chaos in "DPR" after Zakharchenko's assassination  intel

"Two Ukrainian soldiers were killed and another one was wounded in the past day. According to intelligence reports, three occupiers were killed and another five were wounded," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation (JFO) said in an update on Facebook as of 07:00 Kyiv time on September 19, 2018.

Russian occupation forces opened aimed fire from grenade launchers of various systems, heavy machine guns and small arms to attack the defenders of the villages of Stanytsia Luhanska, Krymske, Novotoshkivske, Luhanske, Pivdenne, Pisky, Novotroyitske, Starohnativka, Pavlopil, Hnutove, Vodiane, Lebedynske, and Shyrokyne.

The enemy also resorted to 120mm and 82mm mortars to shell the Ukrainian positions near Luhanske. In addition, the Ukrainian positions in Krymske came under fire from weapons of infantry fighting vehicles twice.

"Since Wednesday midnight, Russian-led forces have mounted three attacks on the Ukrainian positions near the villages of Troyitske, Berezove and Lebedynske, using heavy machine guns and small arms. There have been no casualties among Ukrainian troops since the start of the day," reads the report.Kozlov is currently hiding in Russian-occupied territory in Luhansk region.

The SBU Security Service of Ukraine has put so-called "prime minister" of the so-called "Luhansk People's Republic" ("LPR"), Sergey Kozlov, on the wanted list.

Read alsoEx-"LPR" leader Plotnitsky spotted in Moscow (Photo)

"Probably a stunning 'career' in the 'LPR' had blown the mind of the ex-colonel of the [Ukrainian] Civil Protection Service, or perhaps the traitor had just been waiting for an opportunity. One way or another, he was so imbued with ideas of independence of the 'people of Donbas' that he first headed the 'headquarters of LPR people's militia,' and then he was 'honored' to become an entire "prime minister' of terrorists," the SBU wrote on Facebook.

It is noted he is currently hiding in the temporarily occupied territory of Luhansk region.

The materials of the criminal proceedings opened against Kozlov for crimes against national and public security were sent to court.The practice landed here big after restaurateur Brendan Sodikoff and his Hogsalt Hospitality team met Hiroshi Sawada, the award-winning latte artist, at his Streamer Coffee Co. in Tokyo. Together they opened Sawada Coffee in Fulton Market in 2015 with the trademarked Military Latte. Its made by mixing vegetal green matcha powder and house-made vanilla syrup, feathering steamed milk in the house style and finishing with a Metropolis Coffee espresso shot plus cocoa powder on top. The Black Camo latte uses a stark black hojicha roasted green tea powder instead. You can also find both beautifully balanced drinks at Sawada Matcha in River North, which opened in February.(@FahadShabbir)

Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training, Shafqat Mahmood here on Wednesday said that Pakistan will seek and benefit from the support and expertise of Belarus in the field of skill development and now exploring new avenues of cooperation in the field of education and skill development.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Sep, 2018 ) :Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training, Shafqat Mahmood here on Wednesday said that Pakistan will seek and benefit from the support and expertise of Belarus in the field of skill development and now exploring new avenues of cooperation in the field of education and skill development.

He stated this during a call on meeting with Mr. Andrei Ermolovich, Ambassador of Belarus to Pakistan, a press release said. The meeting was also attended by Federal Secretary Education, Arshad Mirza.

Welcoming the Belorussian Ambassador, the Minister stated that Pakistan and Belarus enjoy good relations in the fields of education and professional training. Education is the government's top most priority and we would like to promote our cooperation with Belarus in this field, he added.

The Federal Minister said that a number of MoUs and Protocols have been signed between Pakistan and Belarus but we need to work on their rapid implementation and further strengthening this cooperation.

Shafqat Mahmood said that the Joint Ministerial Committee on Education between the two countries will be made more efficient and effective.

He also thanked the Ambassador for the technical support that was provided to Pakistan by Belarus in the establishment of Skill University.

Mr. Andrei Ermolovich congratulated the Minister on assuming the office and said that a number of agreements and protocols have been signed by Belarus with all the major universities and with the provincial and federal government for the promotion of education between the two countries. "We will provide Pakistan all out support in the fields of education and skill development besides the implementation of existing protocols which can work on new projects", added the Ambassador.

Both sides agreed to hold further meetings and to coordinate for the progress of education and increased cooperation between both the countries.

Earlier, Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan, Mr. Erik Beishembiev was also called on by the Minister here Wednesday and discussed with him the prospects of Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan cooperation in the field of education.

Both sides agreed on the establishment of linkages between Universities of Pakistan and Kyrgyz in the field of Medical, Agriculture, Defense and Strategic Studies and agreed to work for the promotion of skill development.(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Punjab and Denmark agreed upon joint initiatives for the awareness and cure of diabetes in Punjab.

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Sep, 2018 ) :Punjab and Denmark agreed upon joint initiatives for the awareness and cure of diabetes in Punjab.

Commercial Councilor of Royal Danish Embassy in Pakistan Ali Mushtaq Butt and Commercial Advisor Aslam Pervez called on Minister Health Punjab, Dr. Yasmin Rashid here on Wednesday and offered cooperation of their respective government.

The minister welcomed the offer and said that diabetes was a silent killer and dangerous disorder which was haunting 16.98 percent of adult population of Pakistan. "According to a recent survey as many as 35.3 million of adult population is suffering from diabetes which is very alarming," concerned the minister.

The minister noted that by changing lifestyle, the affects of diabetes could be reduced.

She said that Denmark had been successfully running diabetes awareness programme in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and now wanted to cooperate with the Punjab government as well.

"We assure all cooperation to Denmark for launching awareness programme in Punjab" she said.

Dr. Yasmin Rashid was of the view that school students should be engaged in healthy activities so that they could be prevented from diabetes in future.

Fighting with diabetes was not so difficult, with the help of will-power and proper medical consultancy one can get rid of intensity of diabetes, she observed.

Unfortunately luxury lifestyle is the major reason of falling in to diabetes after inheriting it, the minister regretted.

Commercial Councilor of Royal Danish Embassy Ali Mushtaq Butt on the occasion offered his government's support for diabetes awareness and said that a special informative brochure would be provided to public hospitals.

"Leadership Forums would also be conducted at various levels with the help of experts", headded.(@ChaudhryMAli88)

ABU DHBAI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 19th Sep, 2018) Mohammed Thani Murshed Al Rumaithi, Chairman of the UAE Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Husin Bagis, Ambassador of Indonesia to the UAE, discussed ways to enhance economic cooperation and promoting joint investments between companies and institutions operating in Abu Dhabi and Indonesia.

Al Rumaithi emphasised the importance of economic and trade cooperation between the UAE in general, and Abu Dhabi in particular, with Indonesia, who is considered an important trading partner.

However, the trade exchange figures between the two countries do not reflect their potential, which requires joint efforts to strengthen cooperation between companies and institutions in both countries, especially in the fields of industry, tourism, health services and education.

He also pointed out to exert efforts to introduce people in business and investors in the UAE to the available investments opportunities in Indonesia.

Bagis called on companies, businesspeople and investors in the UAE to invest in his country, especially in the fields of tourism, infrastructure and transportation.

He said that the Indonesian government is focusing on creating an attractive environment for investment through shortening procedures, promoting investment, modernising the economy and making Indonesia a competitive country.Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the international financial centre in Abu Dhabi, has signed Memorandum of Understanding with Emirates Telecommunications Group Company (Etisalat) and Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC)

ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 19th Sep, 2018) Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the international financial centre in Abu Dhabi, has signed Memorandum of Understanding with Emirates Telecommunications Group Company (Etisalat) and Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC) - Du to deploy and show case innovative solutions and integrated services to transform the digital offerings of information and communications technology and related services across Al Maryah Island, the leading financial free zone in Abu Dhabi.

Both signings were held at the 2018 FinTech Abu Dhabi Summit by ADGM which was held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council.

The MoU between ADGM and Etisalat formally establishes a framework where Etisalat will provide innovative and integrated telecommunications service offerings catering to ADGMs registered firms and entities. This will also facilitate further exploration and development of Etisalats research facilities and programmes focusing on various areas including FinTech, blockchain and cyber security. As part of the cooperation, Etisalat will pilot appropriate products and services on ADGMs financial freezone on Al Maryah Island before opening up to the wider community in the UAE.

The collaboration between ADGM and Etisalat was signed between Sultan Al Dhaheri General Manager of Etisalat Abu Dhabi and Khalid Al Suwaidi, Chief Operating Officer of ADGM, and witnessed by Saif Mohamed Al Hajeri, Chairman of the Department of Economic Development and Ahmed Al Sayegh, Chairman of ADGM.

Al Dhaheri said, "Today Etisalats digital initiatives are manifested through our diverse product portfolio, digital experience, network modernisation keeping in line with our strategy and vision to Drive the Digital Future to Empower Societies. We are proud to be partnering with ADGM to foster the digital ecosystem, stimulate technological innovation, and provide innovative solutions and smart services catering to ADGMs registered firms and entities and community in Al Maryah Island.

"

Du and ADGM will jointly explore appropriate business opportunities and collaborations in areas of communications, technology infrastructure, innovation platforms, pilot projects, digital services that cater to the evolving needs of ADGMs registered firms and community set up in Al Maryah Island. The agreement with du was signed by Osman Sultan, Chief Executive Officer of EITC and Khalid Al Suwaidi and witnessed by Saif Mohamed Al Hajeri, Chairman of the Department of Economic Development, Mohamed Al Hussaini, Chairman of EITC and ADGM Chairman.

Speaking on the occasion, EITC CEO said, "One of our key objectives at du, is to strengthen our partnerships both on the public and the private sectors to enable the digital transformation of innovative technologies in the UAE. Our strategic alliance with Abu Dhabi Global Market is a reflection of the confidence and trust reposed in our brand du, in undertaking the digital and ICT transformation agenda across all sectors. The mandate, will provide du the opportunity to collaborate in the development of bespoke mission critical solutions and innovative experiential services that will propel ADMC with a defining competitive digital advantage.

ADGM Chief Operating Officer of ADGM said, "Technology and access to current information are fundamental enablers of businesses, decision-making and opportunities. We are pleased to further our business collaboration with both leading telecommunications providers to introduce more innovative products and smart services to transform the business delivery and accelerate operational efficiency for our community and stakeholders on Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi and wider UAE."(@ChaudhryMAli88)

A delegation from the Al-Ghufran Tribe, one of the biggest tribes in Qatar, staged a sit-in Wednesday in front of the Broken Chair, which stands across the United Nations Palace in Geneva, to denounce the crimes of the Qatari regime which has revoked their nationality, displaced and tortured members of the tribe.

GENEVA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 19th Sep, 2018) A delegation from the Al-Ghufran Tribe, one of the biggest tribes in Qatar, staged a sit-in Wednesday in front of the Broken Chair, which stands across the United Nations Palace in Geneva, to denounce the crimes of the Qatari regime which has revoked their nationality, displaced and tortured members of the tribe.

The tribe called on the international community to take a decisive stand on the Qatari regime, whom, they claim, have violated a number of international conventions and treaties through its racist policy against the Al-Ghufran tribe.

The sit-in comes as part of a wider move by the tribe on the sidelines of the 39th session of the UN Human Rights Council.

They met with Mohammad Al Nsour, Chief of middle East and North Africa Section at the OHCHR, and submitted a letter detailing the suffering they have been subjected to at the hands of the Qatari authorities since 1996 and the crimes committed by the Qatari regime, including racial discrimination, forced displacement, imprisonment and torture which led to many psychological problems and deaths among the tribe members in the Qatari intelligence jails.

Al-Ghufran tribe is one of the biggest tribes in Qatar, whose legitimate and inalienable rights as Qatari citizens have been denied and violated by Doha since 1996.(@rukhshanmir)

Al Hilal Bank, rated A2 by Moody's and A+ by Fitch has successfully closed a US$500 million 5-year Senior Sukuk.

ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 19th Sep, 2018) Al Hilal Bank, rated A2 by Moody's and A+ by Fitch has successfully closed a US$500 million 5-year Senior Sukuk.

The transaction, under Al Hilal Banks new management team, marks the first Senior Public Sukuk from the UAE since April 2018, and re-opens the Capital markets for GCC issuers. Al Hilal Bank was last in the market with a Senior Public Sukuk in 2013.

The success of the transaction came on the back of an extensive marketing strategy aimed at updating International and Regional investors with regard to Al Hilal Banks strategy and financial performance.

The management team, led by CEO, Alex Coelho, met with over 90 institutional investors in London, Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi and Dubai prior to placing the Sukuk. Mr. Coelho was joined in the meetings by Craig Bell, CFO and David Whitcroft, Treasurer.

Mr. Coelho provided details to investors on the Banks strong shareholder support, the exceptional make-up and commitment of the Banks board and the prospects offered to the Bank by the Abu Dhabi economy.

He stressed quality as the key reference point for the Banks strategy. In particular, he highlighted the focus on high quality Financings and the "best-in-class" Risk Management and Governance. Coelho said that he was proud to reference the Banks highly valued and loyal customer base as a key strength.

"Given these factors," he noted, "The Bank has a very strong base and is ideally positioned to grow in alignment with the economic ambitions of the UAE." In the context of a return to Senior Public Sukuk issuance after a gap of 5 years, Mr. Coelho said that Al Hilal Bank is committed to accessing global markets to diversify funding sources and further enhancing the Banks strong liquidity profile.

Investors reacted positively to Al Hilal Banks strategy. The order book reached US$1.4bn (close to 3 times oversubscription) with demand from over 70 investors. The investor base was diversified geographically, with a 25% allocation to Europe, 20% to Asia and 55% to the middle East.

David Whitcroft, the Treasurer of Al Hilal Bank, commented, "The Bank's management team has taken the opportunity to continually promote and showcase the strength of the Abu Dhabi economy and the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 in all of our meetings with global investors. The Bank's positioning and strategy has been very well received. This has resulted in a deal that is seen by all parties to be considerable success for Al Hilal Bank."Mr. Coelho concluded, "Al Hilal Bank is very pleased with the success of this transaction, which highlights the confidence placed by investors in the Banks Board, management team and strategic direction. We are proud to have access to a diverse and International investor base, which allows us to implement our funding strategy in a timely and cost efficient manner. The capital markets are ever more important to us going forward and we, as always, appreciate investors confidence in our name."

Al Hilal Bank, Dubai Islamic Bank, Emirates NBD Capital, First Abu Dhabi Bank, HSBC, J.P. Morgan, Nomura and Standard Chartered Bank acted as Joint lead Managers and Joint Bookrunners on the Sukuk.

The Sukuk was issued as a "drawdown" under Al Hilal Banks US$2.5 billion Trust Certificate Issuance Programme, which is listed on the Irish Stock Exchange.Goose Island is also installing a two-barrel brewing system to create exclusive beers for the taproom, a growler filling station to pour two rotating beers to go and will also feature one beer carbonated with nitrogen (which creates a smoother mouth feel) rather than the usual carbon dioxide. Food will not be served, but visitors can bring food to the taproom and food trucks will be welcomed to camp outside, Stout said.(@FahadShabbir)

ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 19th Sep, 2018) The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, ENEC, participated in the 62nd Annual Regular Session of the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, General Conference, taking place from 17th to 21st September 2018, in Vienna, Austria. The ENEC delegation is led by Mohamed Al Hammadi, Chief Executive Officer of ENEC.

Speaking at an event - hosted by the UAE on the sidelines of the conference - Al Hammadi updated attending officials and representatives from IAEA member states on the status of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant project and the ongoing commissioning of Unit 1 of the plant.

"The UAE established a peaceful nuclear energy programme to support the achievement of several strategic goals," said Al Hammadi. "These include diversifying the nations economy and energy supply, increasing energy security, enhancing environmental sustainability, and providing talented young UAE Nationals with high-value, rewards career opportunities."

"The Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant Project, the cornerstone of the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Programme, is progressing safely and steadily. However, the success of the UAEs programme is not only in the delivery of four reactors - it also has a crucial role to play in demonstrating to the world that peaceful nuclear energy can be an engine of growth for a country, and that it is one of the few proven technologies that can power the world in a sustainable, emissions free manner," he added.

The UAE also co-hosted a side-event together with the International Youth Nuclear Congress, an international organisation which aims to promote the role of youth for the future of the nuclear industry.

Badreya Almarzooqi, Vice Chairwoman of the recently established Barakah Youth Council, presented the ongoing investment ENEC has made in human capacity development for the success of the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Programme.

The UAE Programme is built on the most rigorous standards of quality, transparency and security, making the UAE a role model for nuclear energy development worldwide. IAEA experts have conducted 10 peer review missions to assess key components of the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Programme, which shows unprecedented level of collaboration globally and reflects ENEC`s commitment to safety and safeguards. Before nuclear operations commence in Barakah, IAEA officials will visit the plants and review the operational readiness of the staff and equipment.

As of end of July 2018, Unit 2 construction competition percentage is now more than 93 percent, Unit 3 is more than 84 percent, Unit 4 is more than 75 percent, and overall progress rate of Units 1 to 4 is more than 89 percent complete. All four units will deliver safe, clean, reliable and efficient electricity to the UAE grid, and prevent the release of more than 21 million tons of carbon dioxide a year.(@rukhshanmir)

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, said the historic Jeddah Peace Agreement, signed recently by Eritrea and Ethiopia, has crowned a series of positive steps that have ended the conflict between the two neighbouring African countries.

ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 19th Sep, 2018) His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, said the historic Jeddah Peace Agreement, signed recently by Eritrea and Ethiopia, has crowned a series of positive steps that have ended the conflict between the two neighbouring African countries.

Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed signed the peace agreement in Saudi Arabia on Sunday under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia.

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed praised the agreement as ''a victory for Saudi diplomacy" and commended efforts made by King Salman to establish security, peace and stability in the Horn of Africa.

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed made his remarks while receiving Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki at the Al Shati Palace on Wednesday.

"The Saudi patronage of the peace agreement is yet another addition to its historic initiatives that signify its international presence and influence in strengthening world peace,'' he affirmed.

He also voiced the UAE's support for every effort aimed at resolving conflicts peacefully and bringing security, peace and stability that serve the interest of peoples of the region and the world at large.

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed stressed the need for mobilising energies of both African countries to build, develop and enhance security and peace in their countries.

President Afwerki valued the efforts of H.H. Sheikh Mohamed and his laudable initiatives for solidifying foundations of security and stability for the peoples of the region and beyond.

Sheikh Mohamed and the Eritrean leader discussed ways of bolstering ties of friendship and cooperation and took stock of an array of regional and global issues and developments of common concern.

They also explored the prospects for joint cooperation across economic, investment and development sectors so as to serve their mutual interests.

H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, attended the meeting.(@FahadShabbir)

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, chaired today at his office in Emirates Towers the annual brainstorming session with his team. The meeting agenda detailed new ideas and future plans.

DUBAI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 19th Sep, 2018) His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, chaired today at his office in Emirates Towers the annual brainstorming session with his team. The meeting agenda detailed new ideas and future plans.

During the meeting, His Highness said the UAE has become a model for the entire region and sustaining the countrys position as an icon for development and prosperity requires hard work and innovative ideas. Sheikh Mohammed affirmed, "Nothing can stop our ambitions."

"Ideas are like trees: they need a lot of care so we can reap their fruits", His Highness added.

Praising his teams efforts, he went on to say, "I am proud of every one of you and every one who serve this country."

H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and the Future, attended the meeting.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid discussed with his team a number of proposals and ideas in addition to local, regional and international initiatives organised by the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs and the Future.As part of the Scimitar-horned Oryx Reintroduction Programme, which is being led by the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi (EAD), in collaboration with the government of Chad and the Sahara Conservation Fund (SCF),

ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 19th Sep, 2018) As part of the Scimitar-horned Oryx Reintroduction Programme, which is being led by the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi (EAD), in collaboration with the government of Chad and the Sahara Conservation Fund (SCF), the Sahelian plains of Chad have welcomed 40 Scimitar-horned oryx new calves in 2018. The birth of the new babies brings the total herd to 180 animals.

The Programme not only succeeded in returning this once extinct-in-the-wild species to the Ouadi Rime-Ouadi Achim Game Reserve in Chad, but also aims to ensure that the oryx thrive in their new surroundings. It is the first time the species has been repatriated to an unfenced area and its goal is to establish and maintain a healthy, self-sustaining herd of over 500 animals over a five-year period, which will continue to grow and adapt in the wild as the years go by.

It is believed that the last Scimitar-horned Oryx disappeared from Chad in the late 1980s and the species was officially declared globally "Extinct in the Wild" by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 2000, with the only surviving animals persisting in ex-situ, or captivity in breeding programmes in zoos and private collections across the world.

Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, EADs Secretary-General, said, "The reintroduction of the Scimitar-horned Oryx into Chad has been described by many as the worlds most ambitious large mammal reintroduction programme. To see this initiative taking shape from a dream to a vision, a strategy and then a reality has to be one of the most gratifying experiences that anyone who is passionate about wildlife conservation could wish for."

"A project of such scale would not have been feasible without the collaboration between EAD, the Government of Chad and the Sahara Conservation Fund, not to mention the expertise and resources shared by the projects other international partners, and many years of hard work and dedication of all those involved," Al Mubarak added.

Another significant milestone in the programme was the recent release of a further 83 Scimitar-horned Oryx into the wild in Chad at the end of July. The animals selected for the reintroduction came from the world herd that EAD has been curating at its breeding facility in Delaija, Abu Dhabi. Many of the animals that make up the world herd were donated to EAD from the collection of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The genetic diversity of the blood-stock was increased with the addition of animals that were donated from a number of zoos and private collectors across the globe.

A very careful selection process took place at the Delaija facility whereby animals were carefully tested, and prepared for shipment to the pre-release facility within the protected area in Chad. After release, the wild herds continue to be protected by wildlife rangers of the Government of Chads Ministry of Environment and Fisheries. In addition, EAD continues to work closely with the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) and Zoological Society of London to carefully monitor the daily movements of the animals in the wild with the aid of satellite collars.

Commenting on this recent release, Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Executive Director, Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity Sector, at EAD said; "In preparation for the Oryx release, 73 animals were transported from the UAE in February to our pre-release facility in the Ouadi Rime-Ouadi Achim Game Reserve in Chad. The team collared 70 individuals of this group allowing us to remotely learn more about their movement, behaviour and mortality and know more about the ecology of the species in the wild. Overall, the data will tell us where they move to seasonally, how far they travel, whether they stay together or disperse into different social groups, and even if a poacher has taken an animal".

Dr. Shaikha said, "So far, our initial reports show the released animals appear to have gained good awareness of the area as they have been observed making efficient movements to and from the pre-release pens. Natural calving behavior is also being observed in the wild where the females separate from the group to give birth and then male/female pairs are temporarily formed. Reports also show that the longest distance travelled by one oryx is 139 km in one night, where the total area used by the oryx is approximately 12,000 km2."

She also noted; "There has been about 40 mm of rain in the reserve so far this year which is hopefully the beginning of a good rainy season, where there will be plenty of grass growth to sustain the oryx through the year".

Once widely distributed across the Sahel, from Senegal to Sudan, the oryx were hunted to extinction and killed during times of civil unrest in Chad and neighbouring regions. Climate change and habitat encroachment are key threats to the antelope. By releasing the oryx into their native habitat during the rainy season when better resources are available, giving them time to acclimatise in a large fenced area and hiring rangers to patrol the reserve, EAD and its partners are hopeful that the animals will now have a better chance of survival.(@FahadShabbir)

ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 19th Sep, 2018) Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy, said that the bilateral and economic relations between the UAE and Algeria are based on strong foundations of brotherhood and mutual respect, supported by their historical and cultural ties.

He added that the cooperation between the two countries has witnessed ongoing overall developments, especially in the areas of the economy, commerce and investment while highlighting their joint stances on many regional issues. He also stressed the importance of promoting future cooperation and dialogue, to serve their aspirations, achieve development, and address regional and international challenges, especially those related to politics, the economy and development.

He made this statement while meeting with Ahmed Oyahiya, Prime Minister of Algeria, in the Algerian capital, Algiers, on the sidelines of the "14th Joint Committee between the UAE and Algeria."

Al Mansouri highlighted the importance of continuing and developing the cooperation between the two countries through the outcomes and recommendations of the committee, which is a key platform for advancing their coordination, exploring mutual investment opportunities, and discussing the challenges facing both sides, with the aim of creating commercial and investment partnerships.

He also noted the economic sectors that have promising cooperation potentials, such as energy, renewable energy, tourism, hospitality, transportation, civil aviation, metal industries, petrochemicals, food products, agriculture and logistical services.

Al Mansouri affirmed that the UAE is looking forward to Algerias participation in the Expo Dubai 2020, especially with regards to transportation, which is a sector that Algeria specialises in.

The total value of foreign trade between the UAE and Algeria amounted to US$596 million in 2017 while Emirati investments in Algeria accounted for over $10 billion in various sectors, including energy, real estate, tourism, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, iron and steel.The CEOs Advisory Council of the UAE Banks Federation, UBF, hosted its third meeting this year in Dubai today to discuss the latest developments in the banking sector in the UAE and outline the federations priorities in line with the national agenda to stimulate the countrys economy.

DUBAI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 19th Sep, 2018) The CEOs Advisory Council of the UAE Banks Federation, UBF, hosted its third meeting this year in Dubai today to discuss the latest developments in the banking sector in the UAE and outline the federations priorities in line with the national agenda to stimulate the countrys economy.

Headed by Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair, Chairman of UBF, the meeting explored initiatives to promote the local real estate sector and boost financing for small and medium enterprises, SMEs.

"The UAEs economy is set to enter the next phase of growth driven by its robust and resilient industries and sectors. As key sectors of the economy, real estate and SMEs hold bright prospects for future growth, and with the support of the banking sector, we can contribute to achieving the strategic objectives of promoting foreign direct investments and boosting business in the country," Al Ghurair said.

"As an organisation representing the banking industry in UAE, we are keen to support the countrys efforts in enhancing financial and economic growth, by considering new initiatives to promote residential mortgage lending and encourage financing to SMEs," Al Ghurair added.

Identifying the real estate sector, which accounted for 6.9 percent of the UAEs gross domestic product, GDP, in 2017, as a critical sector in the countrys economy, the CEOs Advisory Council commended UBFs initiatives aimed at supporting the local mortgage market. The council also put forth a set of recommendations to streamline mortgage regulations to encourage residential mortgage lending.

Among the topics on the agenda of the CEOs Advisory Council was the review of the progress made by UBF in its efforts to promote financing for SMEs, which contribute more than 60 percent of the GDP of the UAE. The federation continues to hold consultative meetings with the Central Bank of the UAE and other stakeholders to enhance the SMEs access to finance. In the past, UBF had introduced several measures to the support the SMEs sector, including the "Modus Operandi" rescue initiative for firms experiencing repayment difficulties.

The meeting also commended the federations member banks for having achieved the Emiratisation targets stipulated in the UAEs Federal nationalization strategy. The council acknowledged that the outstanding achievement was a result of the banks unrelenting commitment towards realising the vision of the countrys leadership.

In addition, the members of the council were given an update on the progress of the UBFs annual event "middle East Banking Forum 2018," one of the leading banking conferences in the region. The council also approved the forums agenda and theme, "Banking 10 years from now". Set to take place on 11th November, 2018, at The Westin Dubai Al Habtoor City in Dubai, the forum will feature a stellar line-up of speakers and will gather more than 400 senior executives and officials from banks, financial regulators, government entities, consultancies, technology companies, law firms and other organisations to explore the future and discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the industry.(@ChaudhryMAli88)

In order to provide foolproof security to the mourning processions of Ashura, City Traffic Police (CTP) has finalized all the arrangements while 901 Traffic Wardens including 671 Warden Officers, 60 Inspectors, seven DSPs and 163 Traffic Assistants to perform special duties on 9th and 10th Muharram.

RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Sep, 2018 ) :In order to provide foolproof security to the mourning processions of Ashura, City Traffic Police (CTP) has finalized all the arrangements while 901 Traffic Wardens including 671 Warden Officers, 60 Inspectors, seven DSPs and 163 Traffic Assistants to perform special duties on 9th and 10th Muharram.

According to City Traffic Officer (CTO), Rawalpindi Muhammad Bin Ashraf, the traffic would be diverted on 48 different routes of the city on Ashura. Enhanced number of Traffic Wardens under the supervision of Inspectors and DSPs of the city traffic police would be deployed on city roads.

As part of the security measures, entry of vehicular traffic from Committee Chowk to Iqbal Road would strictly be banned on Ashura. No vehicle will be allowed on DAV College road and Iqbal road.

The public transport for City Saddar Road will be diverted to Mohanpura road and traffic from Novelty cinema will reach Pirwadhai through Kashmiri bazaar.

Traffic coming from Gunjmandi will be diverted to TB hospital, Pirwadhai and Dhoke Dalal.

All sector Incharges, DSPs of city traffic police will ensure implementation of the traffic diversion plan. There will be complete ban on parking of any vehicle, motorcycle or handcarts on the route of the procession.

The CTO said, emergency squads have also been appointed to maintain the traffic flow.

He directed the officials to ensure parking at the distance of 200 meters from the route of the processions.The traffic load on city roads would be provided alternate routes during Ashuraprocessions, he added.

The citizens particularly those use social media advised to visit facebook page 'city traffic police rwp' to get information about the traffic load and the plan.(@rukhshanmir)

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Sep, 2018 ) :The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday summoned chairman Evacuee Trust Property board (ETPB) for September 26 on a petition seeking directions for availability of crematorium for Hindu community in the city.

Justice Ali Akbar Qureshi passed the orders while hearing a public interest petition filed by Advocate Ishtiaq A. Chaudhry.

Earlier, local government officials appeared before the court on being summoned. They submitted that the department did not have any objection and a place could be reserved for crematorium, if directed by the court. However, they submitted that the matter is related to ETPB.

At this, the court summoned the chairman ETPB for Sept 26 to know his stance over the issue while adjourning the further hearing.

The petitioner-lawyer had submitted that the Hindu community living in Lahore had been facing difficulties in case of death of any of its members as the government had not built any cremation place for their last rituals.

The lawyer also pointed out that the rules of the Lahore Development Authority provided reserved place for cremation near residential areas. He urged the court to issue a direction to the authorities concerned to ensure availability of crematorium for Hindu community in the city.(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Balakot police on Wednesday registered a First Investigation Report (FIR) against the principal of Tameer Millat school and Sub Divisional (SDO) Wapda after initial investigation of the three children and a teachers those were electrocuted to death at Kawai Balakot.

MANSEHRA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Sep, 2018 ) :Balakot police on Wednesday registered a First Investigation Report (FIR) against the principal of Tameer Millat school and Sub Divisional (SDO) Wapda after initial investigation of the three children and a teachers those were electrocuted to death at Kawai Balakot.

The police have registered the FIR under section 322 indirect murder against the principal Mujahid Hussain Shah and SDO Wapda Mansoor Bajwa.

According to the school administration many time they have requested the Wapda official through proper channel to shift the electricity transmission line and the last application which was submitted on 31th August to the office of XEN Wapda , but they did not bother to pay attention to this serious issue.

Locals of the Village Kiwai while talking to media said that beside the negligence of the Wapda officials schools administration is also responsible for the accident.

On Tuesday morning three school children and a teacher were electrocuted to death when nfortunately despite using the bamboo or baton the they used an iron rod for lifting the flag which touched a High Tension (HT) electricity transmission line passing overhead of the school building.

When the teacher was electrocuted few students came for help and hold him resulting the three students and the teacher died at the spot while two other students were reportedly injured.

The ill-fated students were identified as Noman class 4rth, Bilal class 5th and Asif student of class 8th.(@FahadShabbir)

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sindh Syed Kaleem Imam on Wednesday said that he would himself monitor the security arrangements made for 9th and 10th Muharram.

KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Sep, 2018 ) :Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sindh Syed Kaleem Imam on Wednesday said that he would himself monitor the security arrangements made for 9th and 10th Muharram.

Visiting the Central Command and Control Center at Central Police Office (CPO), the IGP inspected the security monitoring/surveillance being conducted through CCTV cameras, said a statement.

Taking briefing about overall security measures, Syed Kaleem Imam ordered to further improve security measures at the venues and routes of small and large processions and Majalis.

He directed the officials concerned to enhance coordination with Pakistan Rangers Sindh and other law enforcement agencies and to increase timely sharing and collection of intelligence.

The Sindh Police chief said he himself would be monitoring the security from Command and Control Center.

He asked all the officials concerned to cooperate and strictly pursue the directions from Command and Control Centre.Hurricane/Tropical Storm Florence dumped a large amount of rainfall on the East Coast over this past weekend, resulting in major flooding. Many areas are currently inaccessible, leaving the citizens as well as Public Safety personnel in desperate need of assistance.

Hamilton County Unified Emergency Communications has over 30 Public Safety Telecommunicators trained and equipped to support requests for mutual aid assistance as members of a Telecommunicator Emergency Response Taskforce (TERT). TERT teams aid other Public Safety Communications Centers in times of disaster when their resources are limited and/or stressed.



On Monday, Hamilton County Emergency Communications responded to a Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) request for two TERT teams to deploy to disaster areas in North Carolina. In less than 12 hours, a six-person team was deployed to Beaufort, N.C. and a four-person team was deployed to Brunswick County, N.C.

Jeff Carney, director of Operations and National Joint TERT Initiative Committee Board member said, TERT is a vital program that highlights the drive to help that is at the core of each public safety communications professional. When Public Safety Emergency Communications Centers need help, we help each other as any family would.

These teams will work in and support the areas Emergency Communications Centers until such time they can return to normal operations.

For more information about TERT visit the website at www.njti-tert.org.

Walk the mustard aisle of any store, and "D" will stand for Dijon, a testament, perhaps, to the popularity of all those Grey Poupon commercials. But "D" also means Dusseldorf, an oft-overlooked style that has multiple culinary uses beyond garnishing a hot dog.



"Dusseldorf has much better flavor than Dijon," says chef Walter Staib of Philadelphia's City Tavern restaurant. "But it doesn't have the sex appeal of Dijon or the pedigree."



"I cook with mustard all the time. The Dusseldorf has more flavor," adds Staib, host of the public television series "A Taste of History." Yet even this German-born chef was forced to switch to Dijon when writing his "Black Forest Cuisine" cookbook. Dijon was more widely available, and his editors insisted on it.



"There's a boldness," he says of Dusseldorf. "It's better for cooking, for salads."



Like Dijon, Dusseldorf has many culinary uses. Yet it is Dijon that gets much of the respect and supermarket shelf space these days. But that may change, at least on a governmental level.



Like Dijon in France, Dusseldorf is an actual place, a city on the Rhine River in western Germany. An application was recently filed with the European Commission to award an appellation-like protected geographical indication status to "Dusseldorfer mostert." What that means, essentially, is a mustard labeled as Dusseldorf (or Dusseldorfer) has to be made there according to specific regulations, at least as far as sales in the European Union are concerned.



As defined in the application, Dusseldorf's mustard "consists exclusively of ground brown and yellow mustard seeds, unfiltered spirit vinegar produced in Dusseldorf, the special lime and mineral rich water of Dusseldorf, salt, sugar and spices." It has "a bright creamy consistency and a malt brown color" and contains "tiny pieces of husks (specks)." And the flavor? "Hot, malty, spicy," which the application credits to the triple grinding of the mustard husks.



Judging by what's on the shelves over here, U.S. mustard producers have differing ideas of what Dusseldorf mustard is.



"It may be a smooth brown mustard or more grainy or spicier," says Barry M. Levenson, founder and curator of the National Mustard Museum in Middleton, Wis. "Your Dusseldorf and my Dusseldorf could be totally different."



No wonder Olds Products Co., the Pleasant Prairie, Wis., maker of Koops' Dusseldorf mustard, tries to help consumers with the descriptions: "a smooth German style mustard" and "America's Brat Mustard."



While the mustard is great on brats and hot dogs and sausages, don't feel limited. Marlena Spieler, a California-born cookbook author now living in Waterlooville, England, reaches for Dusseldorf mustard when she wants to give a "subtly different flavor" to a dish.



"It's always strong and not sweet, just the way I like it," she says.



For Spieler, who thinks even the word "Dusseldorf" is cool, the mustard works with tuna, burgers, chicken salad and grilled cheeses of all types.



Dusseldorf can be darker in color than its Dijon counterpart, but Staib, for one, doesn't believe that's much of a problem, especially in a sauce that can be lightened with sour cream or another ingredient.



"Close your eyes," he says, "and you would think it was a very strong Dijon mustard."



Leeks with a Dusseldorf vinaigrette



Prep: 10 minutes

Cook: 10 minutes

Servings: 4



Note: This recipe from Marlena Spieler was inspired by one in her book "Williams-Sonoma Paris: Authentic Recipes Celebrating the Foods of the World." Spieler calls for precooked, packaged beets, but you can used leftover cooked beets or cook beets specifically for the dish.



Ingredients:

12 small to medium leeks, cleaned, trimmed (about 21/2 pounds)

2 tablespoons white wine vinegar, or mixture of half sherry vinegar and half white wine vinegar

1 tablespoon Dusseldorf mustard

5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 teaspoon salt

Freshly ground pepper

2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon or dill

1 package (8 ounces) cooked beets, diced



1. Cut leeks into 3 to 4 pieces. Cook them in a steamer over simmering water until just tender, 7-10 minutes.



2. Combine the vinegar with the mustard in a small bowl. Slowly whisk in the olive oil; season with salt and pepper to taste.



3. Arrange leeks on individual plates or on one serving platter. Drizzle with vinaigrette, sprinkle with chives and tarragon. Chill until ready to serve; sprinkle with beets (their color will run if added too early).



Nutrition information:

Per serving: 254 calories, 17 g fat, 2 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 24 g carbohydrates, 3 g protein, 448 mg sodium, 3 g fiber.China welcomes the agreements reached between North and South Korea during their recent summit in Pyongyang, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said Wednesday

BEIJING (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 19th September, 2018) China welcomes the agreements reached between North and South Korea during their recent summit in Pyongyang, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said Wednesday.

The summit, held on Tuesday and Wednesday, resulted in Seoul and Pyongyang signing a military agreement to cease large-scale artillery exercises and military flights near the demilitarized zone.

"During the meeting in Pyongyang, the leaders of South and North Korea signed a joint statement, and reached a new consensus on improving bilateral relations, on easing tensions in the region, as well as on promoting the process of denuclearization and peace talks. We welcome this and approve the positive efforts made by the two sides," Geng told a briefing.

He noted that China had always been in favor of improving relations between the two sides through dialogue and consultations.

"We hope that the parties will continue to implement the consensus reached in accordance with the statement, will make efforts to develop cooperation between the North and the South, and will make a positive contribution to a political settlement," Geng added.

The situation on the Korean Peninsula has significantly improved since the start of the year, with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in having earlier held two other bilateral meetings in April and May. In June, Kim reached an agreement with US President Donald Trump stipulating that North Korea would make efforts to promote complete denuclearization in exchange for the United States and South Korea ceasing their joint military drills, as well as potential sanctions relief.Belarus and Ukraine have adopted a programme on R&D and innovative cooperation for the period till 2020.

MINSK, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Sep, 2018 ) :Belarus and Ukraine have adopted a programme on R&D and innovative cooperation for the period till 2020.

The document was adopted at a session of the Belarusian-Ukrainian inter-governmental commission on cooperation in science and technology, the press service of the State Science and Technology Committee of Belarus told BelTA.

The document was signed by the committee's Deputy Chairman Sergei Shcherbakov and Ukrainian Deputy education and Science Minister Maksim Strikha.

Belarus and Ukraine intend to step up R&D cooperation in priority cooperation avenues: information and communication technologies, optoelectronic, nanotechnologies, healthcare and pharmaceutics, agriculture, and mechanical engineering.

The sides have also agreed to arrange a contest of joint R&D projects for the 2019-2020 period soon.Cases of bribery, ballot stuffing and compulsion to vote were registered in the second round of the gubernatorial elections in Russia's Primorsky territory, Russian Central Election Commission (CEC) chief Ella Pamfilova said Wednesday.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 19th September, 2018) Cases of bribery, ballot stuffing and compulsion to vote were registered in the second round of the gubernatorial elections in Russia's Primorsky territory, Russian Central Election Commission (CEC) chief Ella Pamfilova said Wednesday.

"The study of appeals received by the CEC, intra-system data and other information from different sources allows us to conclude that in a number of cases, mainly at the final stage, serious violations of the legislation took place in determining the results of voting," Pamfilova said at a CEC meeting.

"Ballot stuffing, changing data contained in the final protocols, non-observance of the established procedure for processing the results of voting by territorial election commissions, compelling voters to vote, bribing voters," she said.(@FahadShabbir)

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 19th September, 2018) A high-level delegation from Chile will arrive in Moscow in December to attend a meeting of the Eurasian Economic Commission, Chile's Ambassador to Russia Rodrigo Nieto told Sputnik on Tuesday.

"We are going to hold a meeting between Chile and the Eurasian Economic Union [EAEU] in mid-December in Moscow ...

a high-level Chilean delegation will arrive and we will continue to work to strengthen cooperation within the framework of the activities of the Eurasian Commission, which includes Russia," the diplomat said.

He added that the delegation would comprise officials from Chilean Foreign Ministry's main directorate of international economic relations and the directorate's head Rodrigo Yanez.

Chile continues to strengthen diplomatic relations with Russia at all levels and supports multilateral consultations, the ambassador added.(@ChaudhryMAli88)

China welcomed the consensus reached between Laos and Cambodia on the border issue, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Monday.

BEIJING, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Sep, 2018 ) :China welcomed the consensus reached between Laos and Cambodia on the border issue, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Monday.

According to reports, Laos and Cambodia have reached an important consensus on resolving border tensions, including drawing all troops and residents from the disputed areas and holding joint patrols.

Laos has already withdrawn its troops.

"As a common neighbor and friend of Laos and Cambodia, China always supports the two countries in resolving disputes through dialogue and negotiation based on peace and friendly spirits," spokesperson Geng Shuang said at a daily news briefing, adding that China is happy to see they reached a consensus on relevant issues recently.The tiny West African state of Equatorial Guinea on Tuesday demanded Brazil hand back more than $16 million in cash and luxury watches that border officials confiscated from a delegation accompanying the president's son.

Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, Sept 18 (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Sep, 2018 ) :The tiny West African state of Equatorial Guinea on Tuesday demanded Brazil hand back more than $16 million in cash and luxury watches that border officials confiscated from a delegation accompanying the president's son.

Foreign Minister Simeon Oyono Esono Angue denounced the seizure as "paltry and unfriendly behaviour" and demanded the items be returned, state television TVGE said.

Teodorin Nguema Obiang, vice president of Equatorial Guinea and son of its longtime ruler, President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, arrived Friday on a private plane at Viracapos airport near Sao Paulo as part of an 11-person delegation.

Federal police found $1.5 million (1.28 million Euros) in cash in one bag and watches worth an estimated $15 million in another, O Estado de Sao Paulo reported.

Brazilian law prohibits people from entering the country with more than 10,000 reais, or about $2,400, in cash.

"The vice president was on a private trip to Brazil," the Brazilian ambassador to Equatorial Guinea, Evalde Freire, who was called in to the foreign ministry in Malago, told TVGE on Monday.

"All international travellers are subjected to national airport procedures, where customs and police do their job," Freire said.

O Estado de Sao Paulo quoted a diplomatic source from Equatorial Guinea as saying the money was to pay for medical treatment Obiang was to undergo in Sao Paulo.

The watches were for his "personal use" and engraved with his initials, the report said.

Obiang junior, 49, was sentenced in France to a three-year suspended term in October 2017 for money-laundering.

He has visited Brazil several times, attending the 2015 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro when a samba school won top honours for a Equatorial Guinea-themed parade but was heavily criticised because its was allegedly funded by the Obiang regime.

Obiang senior, 76, seized power by ousting his own uncle, the first post-independence president Francisco Macias Nguema, who was then shot by firing squad.

He won a fifth seven-year term in 2016 with nearly 94 percent of the ballot. General elections last November saw his party win 92 percent of the vote. Both elections have been criticised as fraudulent.

Critics accuse him of brutal repression of opponents as well as election fraud and corruption.

Equatorial Guinea has become one of sub-Saharan Africa's biggest oil producers, but a large proportion of its 1.2 million population lives in poverty.The Nord Stream 2 pipeline will be completed as initially planned despite potential sanctions by the United States, as the current regulation does not prohibit support of European companies, ENGIE Executive Vice President Pierre Chareyre told Sputnik on Wednesday

BARCELONA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 19th September, 2018) The Nord Stream 2 pipeline will be completed as initially planned despite potential sanctions by the United States, as the current regulation does not prohibit support of European companies, ENGIE Executive Vice President Pierre Chareyre told Sputnik on Wednesday.

"The guidance which has been given by the American Administration on the sanction does not prevent us from supporting Nord Stream, if rules change we will assess our position. For the time being there is no change, as far as I know. Most of the orders have been passed, and I am convinced that whatever happens the pipe will be completed," Chareyre said on the sidelines of the Gastech conference in Barcelona, asked about US President Donald Trump's pledging on Tuesday not to punish EU companies for participating in the Nord Stream 2.

"Nord Stream is important for the security of supply in Europe, it's our policy to increase various sources of gas coming into European markets from Russia but also from other places. That's why we have decided to support Nord Stream 2 through our financing commitment. Nord Stream 2 is moving ahead. And nearly all permits was obtained except one. It's on time and on schedule. It will be ready as initially planned," he added.(@rukhshanmir)

Head of the German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution Hans-Georg Maassen was ousted from his office over remarks about the situation in the city of Chemnitz, which was hit by far-right protests, the German government's press service said on Tuesday in a statement.

BERLIN (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th September, 2018) Head of the German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution Hans-Georg Maassen was ousted from his office over remarks about the situation in the city of Chemnitz, which was hit by far-right protests, the German government's press service said on Tuesday in a statement.

Germany's spy chief has recently been facing pressure and calls to resign from opposition politicians, who have suggested he was supportive of right-wing views. The scandal erupted after Maassen said he had reservations about the authenticity of videos showing far-right violence amid the recent anti-migration protests in Chemnitz.

"After the negotiations between Chancellor and CDU [Christian Democratic Union] head Angela Merkel, Interior Minister and CSU [Christian Social Union] Horst Seehofer as well as head of the SPD [Social Democratic Party] parliamentary group, SPD chair Andrea Nahles, we say that the head of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution will be replaced.

Mr. Maassen will become state secretary of the German Interior Ministry," the statement said.

Chemnitz has seen a wave of mass anti-immigrant rallies and protests in recent weeks, with thousands of people, including far-right radicals, taking to the streets. The rallies were sparked by the murder of a German citizen on August 26, allegedly at the hands of two migrants from Iraq and Syria, who have since been arrested. One of the detainees has been released earlier in the day.(@rukhshanmir)

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani will leave for the US city of New York on Sunday in order to participate in the UN General Assembly, local media reported on Wednesday, citing Rouhani's Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications and Information Parviz Esmayeeli.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 19th September, 2018) Iranian President Hassan Rouhani will leave for the US city of New York on Sunday in order to participate in the UN General Assembly, local media reported on Wednesday, citing Rouhani's Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications and Information Parviz Esmayeeli.

According to the Fasr news agency, apart from participating in the General Assembly, Rouhani will also deliver a speech at a peace summit, held on the session's sidelines in commemoration of late South African anti-apartheid political leader Nelson Mandela.

The Iranian president's agenda also includes meetings with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, a number of international leaders and heads of some international organizations.

Rouhani is also set to hold a press conference and give interviews to several international media before returning to Iran on September 26.

While the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly opened on Tuesday, the high-level General Debate will start on September 25 and last for nine working days. The event will address international security issues, with a UN Security Council meeting on Iran, chaired by US President Donald Trump, set to be held on September 26.President Emmanuel Macron will separately meet his US and Iranian counterparts, Donald Trump and Hassan Rouhani, during the UN General Assembly in New York next week, the French presidency said Wednesday.

Paris, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Sep, 2018 ) :President Emmanuel Macron will separately meet his US and Iranian counterparts, Donald Trump and Hassan Rouhani, during the UN General Assembly in New York next week, the French presidency said Wednesday.

The meetings come as Macron and other European leaders try to salvage a landmark 2015 accord to curb Tehran's nuclear programme, which Trump pulled the US out of last May.

The 40-year-old French leader will meet Trump on Monday afternoon before having dinner with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

On Tuesday, the French president will address the assembly and hold talks with Rouhani, an Elysee Palace official said.

Trump has signalled that he might be willing to meet with Rouhani as well, after re-imposing sanctions against Iran last month.A miracle is a coincidence you know can't be a coincidence. How else could Carlos Gaytan explain what happened 17 months ago  with his West Town restaurant Mexique spiraling into debt, he and his wife, Iliamar, decided it could no longer go on. They owed $17,000 in back taxes, and business was drying up. It was a Monday. They would let their business and liquor license lapse after it expired Friday.

In their living room above the restaurant, the two dropped to their knees. "If it was meant to be, we'll close our doors," he prayed. "If not, give us a sign." The next morning, Gaytan says, he received a phone call from Michelin, which publishes its annual dining guidebook in major cities. Mexique was one of 16 restaurants to be awarded a one-star rating in Chicago, on par with Blackbird, Spiaggia and Tru, restaurants considered the finest in the city.

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None of the prognosticators expected Mexique to be in the mix. Neither did Gaytan. The day of the phone call, his restaurant drew 11 customers. Then word spread, and every day for the next week the house was packed. Pages of red ink in the restaurant ledger soon turned black. The timing of events was too neat to be random. It wasn't the first time, either, that they were rescued from some seemingly inescapable predicament.

Since then, these last 17 months have been strange, joyful days for Gaytan. Every day he gets stopped on the street by strangers, their phones already toggled to the camera function. He gets recognized not because of his restaurant but because he appeared on a reality cooking competition.

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The 43-year-old Gaytan competed on the most recent season of Bravo TV's "Top Chef," a show responsible for bold-faced Chicago names like Stephanie Izard and Dale Levitski. Exposure on that show doesn't translate to guaranteed success. Most of the chef-contestants quickly recede back into anonymity. Gaytan, however, has had blessed timing: The year before appearing on "Top Chef" was his restaurant's best year, much of that owed to Michelin's validation.

Then came the show, in which he placed fourth out of 17, and more important, his portrayal as the even-keeled, faithful, photogenic Latino. On television, where people are presented as black-and-white caricatures, Gaytan's mostly favorable image might be his best take-away. Before, he was only a semi-recognizable name among Chicago's fooderati. Now it's been exposed tenfold to an audience of Bravo viewers who aren't necessarily dining obsessives but will visit Chicago and have Girl & The Goat and Mexique on their itinerary before Alinea. A fan from Canada recently drove 11 hours, she told Gaytan, just to eat at Mexique.

Gaytan is under no illusion that success will last forever. Considering the difficult birth of his restaurant, he's happy just to stay financially afloat. But since November 2012, the wild, sudden swing from near foreclosure to overflowing reservation books, he believes, is more than just good fortune.

"I don't believe in coincidences. Not anymore," Gaytan said. "When your faith is so strong, there's not a chance to believe in that. That word disappears for you."

After this latest "miracle," Gaytan acknowledged the time has arrived to show his gratitude.

'El sueno Americano'

In the tight confines of La Casa de Dios in the Irving Park neighborhood, Sunday service was held simultaneously in three languages. In one corner of the converted living room, Gaytan's wife, Iliamar, preached in English; 10 feet away a teenage girl translated into Swahili. At the pulpit was Pastor Efrain Isaac delivering his message loudest of all in Spanish. It was less about the jumbled words than the spirited cacophony created. Standing in the back row, Gaytan bowed his head and raised his arms in praise.

Then percussion instruments were passed out to worshippers, and the music began. African rhythms and chants gave way to an up-tempo Latin beat. Gaytan's 11-year-old son, Liam, sat at the drum kit, settling into a syncopated groove; his 16-year-old daughter, Caliani, led the chorus and played guitar.

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La Casa de Dios  The House of God  is a family affair. Pastor Isaac is Gaytan's father-in-law. Iliamar is director of its youth music ministry. Her brother Hiram, a medical student, offers wellness checks to families. The nondemoninational Christian church and youth center is housed in a converted home on North Troy Street that was donated by Iliamar's mother, Iris. Gaytan helped build the church, pouring concrete and performing electrical work.

Running a restaurant requires a devotion most outside the industry can't comprehend. Holidays, weekends and nights are spent serving customers, so it's not an ideal business while raising a family. Mexique, however, isn't Gaytan's singular focus; the restaurant is the means to an end, the end being his church. The two are separate operations, but Mexique supports several church members by hiring them on staff. Many who attend La Casa de Dios are refugees from Africa and immigrant families from Mexico and Central America, and like Gaytan came to the country speaking little English and overwhelmed by the culture.

Gaytan grew up poor in the southern Mexican state of Guerrero. Pork and beef from the market were for the privileged. So Gaytan and his father hunted deer, wild turkeys and iguanas while his mother foraged from nearby fields. The dishes his mother cooked resembled no one else's, and when Gaytan's friends visited they'd complain her food lacked authenticity. And yet the next day, he says, those same friends returned for more.

The cooking gene was passed down from mother to son. She would own a taqueria, where every Saturday a 14-year-old Gaytan was in charge of slaughtering and cooking a whole goat. That was Gaytan's life for his foreseeable future. The prospects for a young, working-class Mexican man were dim, so like many friends, Gaytan says, he allowed that seductive phrase to enter his mind: el sueno Americano. The American Dream.

Gaytan borrowed the passport of a friend who bore a resemblance and entered the country at age 21. He headed for Wheeling, where a cousin lived, who helped him land a job many undocumented immigrants take: dishwasher.

Jeff Miller, then the hotel chef at the Sheraton Chicago Northbrook, remembered plucking Gaytan to his kitchen crew when one of the cooks fell ill. That was the last time Gaytan was paid to wash a dish. Miller took Gaytan under his tutelage. He taught Gaytan to carve fruits and vegetables into extravagant centerpieces.

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"He was my apprentice, and he took that ball and ran with it further than I was able to go," Miller said. "It was obvious he was passing me in terms of talent."

Gaytan learned to cook, too, and that position led him to an 8-year-stint at the Union League Club in the Loop, then as chef de cuisine at Bistrot Margot in 2004. Gaytan studied under chefs who trained in the classic French school of gastronomy, and that philosophy of precision became muscle memory. But he longed for the food of his youth. He saw few other chefs in town, besides Rick Bayless (Topolobampo) or Priscila Satkoff (Salpicon), who attempted to serve destination Mexican. The seed for Mexique was planted.

Once they closed on purchasing the Chicago Avenue property, the Gaytans planned to construct and open Mexique within four months. With Iliamar's background as an architect in restaurant design, they expected a smooth going. But the Gaytans were unprepared for the process.

They poured their savings into building Mexique. Construction dragged, and unforeseen expenses popped up. Soon they burned through the bank loan, and Iliamar's mother began supporting the Gaytans via her home day care. For a while, he says, they ate mostly spaghetti and bottled sauce for dinner.

At the same time, La Casa de Dios was taking root. Carlos and Iliamar say they were raised as nominal Catholics but grew into their religion when their faith was tested when Mexique was under construction. Then came what Gaytan called miracles, a series of unexpected occurrences he could attribute only to divine intervention.

He maxed out his credit cards several months into Mexique's construction and considered halting the project altogether. He asked his father-in-law for advice. Pastor Isaac said: "Pray." Two days later, Gaytan says, he received two American Express cards with a credit limit of exactly the amount they needed to continue. He doesn't remember applying for those credit cards.

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Another time, Gaytan overfilled his garbage container outside the restaurant. A city inspector wrote him a $700 ticket. On his drive over to City Hall, Gaytan prayed for leniency, hoping he could negotiate an installment plan. When he handed the ticket to the clerk, she said there was no record of the citation in the system. He was free to go. Gaytan says he ran back to his car and cried.

Then, already a year late opening, Mexique failed its final inspections. Iliamar worked on restaurant projects before and knew rescheduling a city inspection can take weeks. She says she prayed before walking in the Business Affairs and Consumer Protection Department at City Hall: "We are not asking for money. We are asking God to open the door." Iliamar then explained their situation to a city official. She needed the restaurant permit because it was her family's only source of income.

"This man picked up the phone and called every inspector and had them reschedule their inspection for our restaurant the following day," she said. "I sat back in awe and knew whose hand was on this."

Mexique opened in May 2008. The initial burst of goodwill faded as newer restaurants garnered buzz. When Michelin gave Mexique its "Bib Gourmand" designation two years in a row  a seal of approval for a good restaurant deal  it bumped business in the right direction but not enough for the restaurant to get in the black. Church members chipped in to help the restaurant repay its $17,000 in back taxes. That kept their doors open, but business was still fading.

In November 2012, Michelin released its list of "Bib Gourmands" for the 2013 guidebook. Mexique was taken off the list. Gaytan thought: "We're done for." About a week later, on the morning after he and Iliamar got on their knees in the living room and prayed, Michelin called to inform them of the upgrade to one-star status. The restaurant was packed the next night.

Paying back

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On a show like "Top Chef," which selectively edits its footage in service of a storyline, Gaytan's fellow contestants said his portrayal was fairly spot on.

"They definitely portrayed his passion, his love for family, country and fellow contestants," said Travis Masar, a "Top Chef" Season 11 competitor who roomed with Gaytan. "He was that father figure. He'd be up in the morning before we'd wake up and make us coffee and breakfast."

Said Louis Maldonado, another "Top Chef" colleague: "His beliefs, morals, family and church  that really shined through. He has that balance part figured out pretty well."

While most fan mail have been positive, Gaytan received a handful of emails from viewers condemning him for entering the country illegally. Someone sent Gaytan a photoshopped picture of himself under the caption: "ARREST THIS ILLEGAL ALIEN."

"This is a country I came to do good," he said. "What they don't see is I'm supporting 20-plus families at my restaurant. I'm trying to be a role model for their kids. I didn't come here to do damage, I came here to serve." (Gaytan became a U.S. citizen in 1998 after his marriage.)

"Top Chef" hired psychologists to consult with contestants on how to deal with their newfound celebrity. They told Gaytan: Engaging the nasty viewers will make them feel important. Don't give them the chance. He has decided to utilize his fame toward one cause.

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Several weeks ago, Gaytan flew six contestants from the show to Chicago. Seven chefs from his season reunited  minus the television cameras and countdown clocks  to contribute a dish each for a $200-a-head benefit reception at the Union League Club. The cause? La Casa de Dios. The 40-plus members of the congregation had outgrown the converted living room, and now they're raising the $150,000 needed to build an extension.

At the event, children from Sunday service performed on stage as Liam and Caliani Gaytan led the band. Fans snapped endless photos with Gaytan and his fellow Top Chefs. By night's end, they had raised $21,000 for the church Mexique built.

kpang@tribune.com

Twitter @pang(@FahadShabbir)

Almost all lawmakers of Afghanistan's federal parliament spoke for a revision of the security agreement with the United States in light of Washington's failure to fulfill its obligations, Shabaz Naseri, the chairman of the defense and security commission of the National Assembly, told Sputnik.

KABUL (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 19th September, 2018) Almost all lawmakers of Afghanistan's Federal parliament spoke for a revision of the security agreement with the United States in light of Washington's failure to fulfill its obligations, Shabaz Naseri, the chairman of the defense and security commission of the National Assembly, told Sputnik.

"We signed a security agreement with the US [allowing the US military to stay in Afghanistan after 2014], but the US does not think about security, and does not comply with the agreement at all," Naseri said.

"Almost all the lawmakers agreed that its provisions need to be reviewed. The security in Afghanistan is what our people and neighboring countries are striving for," he said.

Naseri said a number of Afghan political leaders and elders decided to counter the US presence if security in the country is not ensured.(@FahadShabbir)

Nepal, on Wednesday, observed the third Constitution Day also known as the National Day, marking the anniversary of the promulgation of the landmark constitution

KATHMANDU, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Sep, 2018 ) :Nepal, on Wednesday, observed the third Constitution Day also known as the National Day, marking the anniversary of the promulgation of the landmark constitution.

Three years have been passed since the Himalayan nation promulgated its new constitution through the historic Constituent Assembly on Sept. 20, 2015. Constitution day is being celebrated on Wednesday as per the Nepali Calendar across the country.

On the occasion, President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli issued a separate statement, and extended best wishes to all the Nepali citizens living inside the country and abroad.

To mark the day, a special function was organized at the Nepal Army pavilion in the heart of the Capital, attended by President Bhandari, Prime Minister Oli, and Speaker of House of Representatives Krishna Bahadur Mahara, high-ranking government officials, security chiefs, and diplomats among others.

Addressing the ceremony, Prime Minister Oli said that the constitution has guaranteed the fundamental rights and freedom to all citizens without any discrimination.

The event featured a march-past by Nepal Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, Nepal Scout and students along with the cultural procession from the local groups.

The new national charter named Nepalko Sambidhan 2072 was unveiled by the then President Dr Ram Baran Yadav in 2015.

It was the first full-fledged constitution drafted by the people's representatives after the South Asian country became Federal democratic republic in 2008 following the overthrow of the 240-year Monarchy.

Nepal government has announced a public holiday on Wednesday to mark the special day.(@ChaudhryMAli88)

A Turkish court has ordered to hold nine militants from the People's Protection Units (YPG) and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) suspected of involvement in a January 23 attack on Turkish soldiers in Syria's Afrin on remand, local media reported on Wednesday, citing judicial sources.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 19th September, 2018) A Turkish court has ordered to hold nine militants from the People's Protection Units (YPG) and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) suspected of involvement in a January 23 attack on Turkish soldiers in Syria's Afrin on remand, local media reported on Wednesday, citing judicial sources.

The militants are pending trial on charges of deliberate killing, terrorist group membership, and violation of Turkey's territorial integrity, according to the Anadolu news agency.

Tensions between Ankara and the Kurds escalated in July 2015 when a ceasefire between Turkey and the PKK collapsed over a series of terror attacks allegedly committed by the PKK members.

Ankara has long maintained that the YPG supports the PKK, which is considered a terrorist organization in Turkey.Director-General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Fernando Arias met with Algerian Foreign Minister Abdelkader Messahel and senior Algerian officials in Algiers on Tuesday, the OPCW press service said Wednesday in a statement.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 19th September, 2018) Director-General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Fernando Arias met with Algerian Foreign Minister Abdelkader Messahel and senior Algerian officials in Algiers on Tuesday, the OPCW press service said Wednesday in a statement.

"In his meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Director-General recognised the important role played by Algeria since the inception of the OPCW and its important contribution to peace and stability in the North Africa and Sahel region," the statement read.

The parties also vowed to continue cooperating in order to counter the threat of chemical weapons usage.

"After the meeting, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Director-General made a joint press appearance during which both sides pledged to continue to work together to address the threat posed by the use of chemical weapons while acknowledging the need to further enhance capacity-building, cooperation, and exchange in the field of the peaceful uses of chemicals," the statement added.

Arias also met separately with Algerian Foreign Ministry Secretary-General Noureddine Ayadi and head of the Algerian National Authority Maj. Gen. Djamel Gueroui, the press service said.Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi NI (M) has said that Pakistan wishes to further build on its relationship with the United States on the basis on mutual respect, and mutuality of interests.

WASHINGTON, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Sep, 2018 ) :Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi NI (M) has said that Pakistan wishes to further build on its relationship with the United States on the basis on mutual respect, and mutuality of interests.

He made these remarks while talking to representatives of Pakistan and American media at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington.

The Naval chief is in Washington to attend the International Seapower Symposium (ISS). This is the first high-level visit by any Pakistan civil or military official since the new government of Prime Minister Imran Khan which was sworn-in last month.

The Naval chief said Pakistan was a very active member of Combined Task Force 151 (CTF 151) which took part in counter piracy and anti narcotics operations. The multinational naval task force was set up in 2009 as a response to piracy attacks.

Its mission was to disrupt piracy and armed robbery at sea and engage with regional and other partners to build and improve capacities to protect global maritime commerce and secure freedom of navigation.

The Naval chief said Pakistan would be holding a multilateral naval exercise in February 2019 in which 50 navies from around the world would participate including Chinese and the American navies.

This showed Pakistan was an important member of the comity of nations in the field of maritime security and our aim was to remain an effective partner in this area, he added.

Commenting on the Pakistan-US relationship, the Naval chief stated that Pakistan wished to further build on its relationship with the US based on mutual respect and mutuality of interests.

He also reiterated Pakistan's position on the Afghan conflict and said that it would continue to support international efforts for peace in Afghanistan.

He said the government believed that an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace and reconciliation process was the only way forward.(@ChaudhryMAli88)

DAMASCUS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 20th September, 2018) Syrian President Bashar Assad has expressed condolences to Russian President Vladimir Putin over the crash of an Il-20 military aircraft and the death of the Russian military personnel, stressing that the tragedy was the result of Israel's "arrogance", state-run SANA news agency reported on Wednesday.

"I express my sincere condolences on behalf of the Syrian people in connection with the crash of the Russian Il-20 military aircraft in the Mediterranean Sea, which led to the death of Russian military heroes who performed the valiant task of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in the fight against terrorism in Syria," Assad said in a telegram to Putin as quoted by SANA.

"This sad incident is the result of the arrogance and reckless violence of Israel, which constantly uses the dirtiest methods to achieve its sinister goals and to carry out aggression in the region," Assad stressed.

According to SANA, Assad also expressed hope that such tragedies would not prevent Russia and Syria from joining efforts in the fight against terrorism.

The Russian Hmeimim airbase had lost contact with the Russian Il-20 military aircraft late on Monday during the attack of four Israeli F-16 aircraft on Syrian targets in the province of Latakia. The Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday that the Israeli military deliberately created a dangerous situation by using the Russian aircraft as a shield against Syrian air defense systems.(@ChaudhryMAli88)

The UK Foreign Office issued on Wednesday recommendations for its citizens to avoid visiting areas along Iranian border with Iraq and Afghanistan as well as the country's province of Sistan-Baluchistan over security concerns.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 19th September, 2018) The UK Foreign Office issued on Wednesday recommendations for its citizens to avoid visiting areas along Iranian border with Iraq and Afghanistan as well as the country's province of Sistan-Baluchistan over security concerns.

"The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise all British nationals against all travel to: within 100km of the entire Iran/Afghanistan border; within 10km [over 60 miles] of the entire Iran/Iraq border; the province of Sistan-Baluchistan; the area east of the line running from Bam to Jask, including Bam," the Foreign Office said in a statement.

The UK authorities also advised all British-Iranian dual nationals against all but essential travels to the rest of Iran over the risk to be arbitrarily detained.

"The Iranian authorities don't recognize dual nationality for Iranian citizens and therefore don't grant consular access for FCO officials to visit them in detention. If you're a British-Iranian dual national and are subsequently detained in Iran, the FCO's ability to provide consular support is extremely limited," the statement said.

The FCO pointed at the high level of terrorist threat across Iran as well as noted the need to respect local traditions, customs, laws and religion.

The statement added that UK nationals should make visa application in advance as application's processing may require long time.UK Minister of State for Europe and the Americas Alan Duncan called on Macedonians on Tuesday to vote in the upcoming referendum for the country's new name, and make a decision that would open the path to EU and NATO membership.

BELGRADE (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th September, 2018) UK Minister of State for Europe and the Americas Alan Duncan called on Macedonians on Tuesday to vote in the upcoming referendum for the country's new name, and make a decision that would open the path to EU and NATO membership.

"I hope that the people will participate in the referendum on September 30. I consider that it will be significant step forward for Macedonia and I believe that everyone, especially young people, will show interest for the decision ... Young people should realize that it is about their future and to understand that it is a step forward that will allow Macedonia to join other countries in NATO and the EU," Duncan said as quoted by the Macedonian Information Agency.

Duncan, who is currently visiting Macedonia, spoke after meeting with Koco Angjushev, Macedonia's deputy prime minister, responsible for economic affairs, and signing a memorandum on energy strategy.

On June 17, the Greek and Macedonian foreign ministers signed an agreement on renaming the former Yugoslav Republic to the Republic of North Macedonia after a decades-long dispute.

A referendum on the deal, reached in June, will be held on September 30. If the name change is approved, the country will be able to seek NATO and EU membership.To ease my conscience a tad, I use whole grain flour when making breakfast muffins. But no fear, these muffins wont taste like health food if you choose white whole wheat flour. Made from a variety of wheat that has a milder, less nutty flavor than regular whole wheat flour, white whole wheat flour has all the goodness without the heaviness. It is my preference when baking sweets, and is available from Gold Medal and King Arthur Flour in the supermarket aisle or online. I keep it in the freezer to prolong its shelf life.Hes the epitome of curiosity, which I consider to be one of the strongest markers of intellect, the art dealer said. Of course, commercially, one likes to have things that one can sell. But weve been in business more than 50 years. And you get a level of confidence that things are going to be fine commercially, which allows you to do whatever you want to do. And I think thats analogous to the way it is with great artists."Concentrate on what unites you rather than what separates you," Pope Francis advised Mozambican President Felipe Nyusi recently.

Paul Samasumo  Vatican News.

The President of Mozambique, Filipe Jacinto Nyusi has revealed that in his discussion with Pope Francis, in the Vatican, last Friday, Pope Francis gave him some advice regarding the ongoing peace process in his country. The Holy Father told me to focus not on what separates us but on what unites us. This came to light in an interview, conducted in the Vatican News studios, when the head of the Portuguese Service, Bernardo Suate, interviewed him.

Frelimo and Renamo making progress in peace talks

Asked about the state of progress in the peace process, the Mozambican President replied, "we are now in the phase of disarmament, demobilisation and integration of Renamo's armed men. We hope this will lead to an effective and lasting peace where all are equal, he said.

President Filipe Nyusi and the opposition Renamo leader Ossufo Momade, in July, announced agreement over the disarmament and integration of former Renamo rebels into the national police and army.

Concerns over evictions of peasants

In the Vatican News Interview, President Nyusi was also asked about concerns raised by the Catholic Bishops of Mozambique, in their April pastoral letter, concerning land conflicts and the alleged evictions of peasants. The President said that the state had not sold any land. In fact, to meet peasants' rights, the government had launched the "safe land" project where land rights and use are protected.

In Africa private investment based on ill-conceived projects has led to the displacement of local communities. Some of the displaced peasants have been removed from ancestral lands. According to President Nyusi, Mozambican laws recognise rights acquired by customary occupation as equivalent to the State Land Use and Benefit Right, or DUAT.The Bishops of Nigeria held their second Plenary of 2018 in Sokoto from September 6-14.

By Christopher Wells

Do not be afraid is one of the keynotes of the final communique of the Nigerian Bishops Conference, issued at the conclusion of their Plenary Assembly.

Confessing their belief in the abiding presence of God and his faithfulness, the Bishops invite all Nigerians to put their trust in God, while working hard to build a harmonious and peaceful nation.

State of the nation

In their statement, the Bishops condemn violence and insecurity in Nigeria, and call on the government to defend the life and property of every Nigerian citizen. They encourage office holders to work for the good of the whole country, instead of being focused on special interests. In particular, they urge the government to respect freedom of religion, as guaranteed by the constitution. At the same time, they say, we enjoin everyone to avoid acts of religious fanaticism in order to promote peaceful co-existence and harmony.

The Bishops also focus on national elections, which will take place in 2019. For our dreams to be achieved, we must embrace a new way of governing ourselves, they say. There is need for genuine repentance and sincere moral transformation. The Bishops encourage all Nigerians to take part in the electoral process, and emphasize the importance of ensuring that all can exercise their rights without being subject to intimidation and violence.

Calling for release of captives

In their communique, Nigerias Bishops demand that the Federal Government secure the unconditional release of Leah Sharibu, being held captive for refusing to reject her Christian faith; as well as the release of the remaining Chibok girls, and all who are being held captive against their will.

Sorrow and regret for clerical abuse

The Bishops also take note of the ongoing clerical sexual abuse scandal, expressing their union with recent Popes in expressing their sorrow and regret for those affected by clerical abuse. They reaffirm their commitment to priestly celibacy and chastity, and call on all clergy and religious to be mindful of their obligation to observe perfect and perpetual continence for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Power of prayer

In conclusion, the Bishops of Nigeria recall the importance of prayer, recalling that Our Lord Jesus Christ demonstrated the power of prayer during his earthly life. They call on the faithful of Nigeria to follow Jesus example of praying at all times; and especially recommend the daily recitation of the Holy Rosary, as well as other forms of devotion. We urge all Nigerians to continue to pray for our nation, the Bishops say. They continue, It is our firm belief that our collective prayers will never go unanswered. We therefore say to all Nigerians: Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged.The Catholic Church in Estonia is looking for inspiration in its first bishop, Servant of God Eduard Profittlich, ahead of Pope Francis Apostolic Journey to the Baltic nation next Tuesday.

By Devin Watkins

As Pope Francis makes an Apostolic Visit to Estonia on 25 September, the countrys Catholic Church is revisiting its roots and finding inspiration in its first bishop, Servant of God Eduard Profittlich.

Pope Francis will visit Estonia on the last leg of his Apostolic Visit to three Baltic nations, also making stops in Lithuania and Latvia.

Marge-Marie Paas, postulator for the diocesan phase of Profittlichs Cause for Canonization and Communications Coordinator for the Popes trip to Estonia, spoke to Devin Watkins about the life and legacy of the nations first Catholic bishop.

Listen to the full interview

Pope Francis will make a brief stop at St. Peter and St. Paul Cathedral before lunch on Tuesday. Ms. Paas says the Pope is likely to stop for a moment to pray before a memorial plaque of Servant of God Eduard Profittlich.

I can already imagine this moment, she said. The story of Eduard Profittlich will touch not only Pope Francis heart, but the Estonian Catholic Church and parishioners hearts.

Profittlichs case has been approved at the diocesan level, thus granting him the title Servant of God. Ms. Paas expects his Cause for Canonization to pass to the Roman phase sometime later this year or in early 2019.

Profittlich would be the first saint of the Estonian Catholic Church. If it is Gods will, we will have a blessed martyr, Eduard Profittlich, in Estonia, she said.

Life and legacy

German by birth (1890), Eduard Profittlich was a Jesuit priest. Pope Pius XI sent him as a missionary to Estonia in 1931 to become its second Apostolic Administrator and to head the Catholic Church.

He came to Estonia really as a missionary to build up parish life, and he noticed that the people didnt even have prayer books, or New or Old Testaments, Ms. Paas said.

She said Estonias Catholic Church was quite poor at the time, and lacked any organized parishes. Catholicism had been outlawed from 1561 until 1719, and even now makes up 0.4 % of the population.

He tried to find some solutions for how to build up the fledgling Catholic community, she said.

Eduard Profittlich became Estonias first bishop when he was ordained Archbishop on 27 November 1936.

Martyrdom in Russia

After the Soviet Union invaded and annexed Estonia in the summer of 1940, Profittlich, being a German, had to choose between leaving or facing the dangers of staying.

The situation was very critical in the Baltics after World War II, Ms. Paas said.

In 1940, Archbishop Profittlich wrote to Pope Pius XII requesting guidance. The Pope wrote back, Ms. Paas said, do as you feel in nomine Domini, to stay in Estonia or to leave to Germany.

She said the archbishop prayed a lot, and felt he should stay and face the dangers. Of course, he knew his destiny, Ms. Paas said.

The Soviets arrested Archbishop Profittlich on the night of 27 June 1941. Witnesses said he was very calm during the arrest and had blessed the nuns serving in the parish before being hauled off.

He was deported to the Gulag in Siberia. The Russians wanted to kill him, of course, [because he was] a Catholic bishop. Ms. Paas said they suspected him of espionage.

The situation in Kirov Prison was very difficult and very cold in wintertime, and he died before [they could shoot him], she said.

Archbishop Eduard Profittlich, SJ, died a martyr in Siberia on February 22, 1942.Pope Francis is preparing to set off on Saturday 22nd September for a three-nation Apostolic Journey. The Archbishop of Vilnius, Lithuania, talks about hopes and expectations for his visit.

By Linda Bordoni

Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are the three Baltic nations Pope Francis will visit during his 25th Apostolic Journey abroad starting on 22 and ending on 25 September.

According to his schedule he will spend time in Vilnius and Kaunas in Lithuania, in Riga and Aglona in Latvia, and in Tallinn in Estonia.

All three nations are celebrating their 100th anniversaries having declared their independence from Russia in 1918 before being incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1940 of which they were part of until 1991.

All three of them were visited by Saint Pope John Paul II 25 years ago.

Lithuania has the largest Catholic community in the Baltics, accounting for more than 75 percent of the nations nearly 3 million inhabitants.

Vatican News spoke to the Archbishop of Vilnius, Gintaras Linas Grusas about preparations, expectations and hopes for the papal visit.

Listen to Archbishop Gintaras Linas Grusas

25 years since the visit of Saint Pope John Paul II

Archbishop Grusas said preparations to receive Pope Francis are currently ongoing at a great pace and with enormous anticipation. Recalling that the visit falls on the month of the anniversary of Saint John Paul IIs visit to Lithuania 25 years ago, he said that is the framework in which we are receiving the message.

Pope John Paul II spoke to the people of Lithuania about the problems and the situation of 25 years ago coming out of communism he said.

Today, he continued we are waiting for Pope Francis, we are waiting for his words to address our current situation to bring hope and insight, and hopefully to infect us with his joy and his hope.

The challenges of freedom

Grusas remarked on how the peoples concept of freedom has changed in 25 years explaining how back then it was seen as something versus the oppression of an outside dictatorship and the lack of self-determination for a State. Today, he continued. we face the challenges of freedom in a completely different way: the ability to use our freedom correctly, to understand it and to use it for the common good.

In relation to this, he spoke of the current challenges posed by immigration and by a high percentage of alcoholism, suicide, as well as a high divorce rate which, he said, are in part impacted by the wounds of the past.

To be able to use freedom not just to do whatever people want but to understand freedom as also the obligations that it has for us looking towards the future he said.

Hopes and expectations

Archbishop Grusas said the people of Lithuania are hoping that the Pope will show the direction for hope and how to address the challenges faced by society, both locally and internationally.

Time of recovery for the Church

He pointed out Francis will visit countries where the people have suffered, where the Church has suffered, and where the faithful have learnt the importance of prayer and recovery: the last 25 years have been a recovery for our Church from the wounds it has experienced.

The Archbishop said that those wounds have also given much fruit mentioning that one of the places the Pope will visit when in Lithuania is the KGB prison as well as the Jewish Holocaust Memorial.

These are signs of great wounds in the body of Christ, he concluded,that we have experienced in the past hundred years and prayer and healing were the way that our societies had to go forward in order to heal these wounds.Pope Francis dedicated the catechesis of his general audience of Wednesday, September 19, to the fourth commandment: "Honour your father and mother".

Honouring parents leads to a long happy life, said Pope Francis during Wednesdays general audience, pointing out that the word happiness in the Ten Commandments appears only in relation to parents. In fact, the fourth commandment a promise  so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

Listen to our report

Through the help of human sciences, the Pope said, we are able to understand whether someone has grown up in a healthy and balanced environment or has experienced abandonment or violence in childhood.



Imperfect parents

The Holy Father said that the fourth commandment does not require mothers and fathers to be perfect, and speaks about the childrens duty regardless of their parents merits. Even if not all parents are good and not every childhood is happy, all children can be happy, because the achievement of a full and happy life depends on being grateful to those who have given birth.

Model saints

Regarding this, the Pope pointed to several examples of saints and Christians who despite a painful childhood have lived a luminous life, thanks to Jesus Christ, they have reconciled with life. One such example is the 19-year old Italian Nunzio Sulprizio, who will be declared a saint next month. He died reconciled with much pain and many things, because his heart was serene and he never denied his parents.

Saint Camillus de Lellis who built a life of love and service from a disorderly childhood; Saint Josephine Bakhita was raised in horrible slavery; Blessed Carlo Gnocchi was orphaned and poor; and Saint John Paul II lost his mother at an early age.

Born again

Whatever be a mans past, the Pope said, the fourth commandment gives us the orientation that leads to Christ in whom the true Father is manifested who invites us to "be born again from on high". Hence the enigmas of our lives are enlightened when we discover that God has always prepared us for a life as His children, where every act is a mission received from Him."

Through grace our wounds gain power to discover that the true enigma is no longer "why", but "for whom?" Thus everything is reversed and becomes precious and constructive.

In the light of love, our sad and painful experience becomes a source of health for others. Hence we can begin honouring our parents with the freedom of adult children and with a merciful acceptance of their limits.

Insult, never

In conclusion, Pope Francis urged Christians to visit their parents in their old age, and never insult them with ugly and abusive words, including the parents of others, because they have given life.

The very last cars personally owned, titled and registered to Burt Reynolds will go on auction Sat., Sept. 29, 2018, hosted by Barrett Jackson at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas. The Reynolds vehicle auction will be the cap to a three-day Barrett Jackson event.

Celebrities, friends and family members will be on the auction stage to celebrate his life and legacy. Collectors, fans and automotive enthusiasts will have an opportunity to bid on these one-of-a-kind pieces of memorabilia that have come straight from Reynolds Bandit Movie Cars personal collection.

Up for auction will be:

These vehicles have been signed during tours and special events by Reynolds and other actors in his films. They are also titled and registered in Burt Reynolds name.

Bandit Movie Cars worked extensively with Restore a Muscle Car to ensure that the re-creations meet the level of restoration and value expected by collectors and enthusiasts. Theyre history pieces of time from the 70s, and we want to keep them that way, said Reynolds friend and business partner Gene Kennedy of Bandit Movie Cars.

We were saddened to learn of the passing of our friend Burt Reynolds. Well cherish the memories weve had with him at our auctions, said Barrett-Jackson Chairman & CEO Craig Jackson. He planned to attend our Las Vegas event for the sale of his personal vehicles. We are very honored to continue his legacy by making them available and sharing the moment with his great fans.

Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada presents the inaugural Social Series event at Banger Brewing on September 29, at 11am -1pm. The Social Series is intended to help support the Junior Achievement financial literacy programs for students throughout Clark County.

Banger Brewery is located at 450 Fremont St, Las Vegas, NV 89101

The Social Series is a rotating group of events taking place at a different venue. This Social Series is brunch with a twist, including a Banger beer sampling, light bites, raffle, brewery tour and inspiring talk about entrepreneurship from the founders of the Bangers Brewing Company.

Tickets are $50 and can be purchased online at https://secure.qgiv.com/for/jssbbb/event/793218/preview.Many industry professionals assume that their fellow citizens are as in love with the local manifestation of the art as they are themselves. But the data show that while most Chicagoans have a vague awareness of the vaunted reputation of the citys theater industry, only a fraction of them regularly see shows. And the picture is no different when it comes to visitors. According to a survey on cultural tourism conducted about five years ago for the Choose Chicago agency, most visitors to the city also have a general sense of the citys theater scene. But that does not usually translate to the purchase of an actual ticket. That survey  which surprised Kelly  was part of his impetus toward creating the Year of Chicago Theater.International analysts meeting in Washington this week have said that Cambodias recent election was not representative of the will of the people following the banning of the countrys main opposition ahead of the vote.

At a meeting on Thursday at the Heritage Foundation, speakers said the newly one-party parliament did not reflect voters wishes to see pluralistic democracy in the country.

Its not representative of what a multiparty democracy should be. I mean, in a multiparty democracy, you have opposition voices in parliament. Youre allowed to disagree in a multiparty democracy, Lee Morgenbesser, assistant professor at the Griffith Asia Institute of Griffith University, Australia, told attendees.

The guests at the event said the Cambodian government should reverse its current political agenda and provide more space for opposition voices to be heard in Cambodias democratic institutions.

"The Cambodian government, in particular, should give voices, give space, to alternative opposition parties. But, the average person's voice right now, they are completely silent," Olivia Enos, a policy analyst at the Heritage Foundations Asian Studies Center, told VOA Khmer.

The new government should work towards more inclusive development, according to Sophal Ear, an associate professor at Occidental College in Los Angeles.

I would say that the reform should have to do with making the economy more efficient, reducing the amount of corruption, he said. If now that you have secured your position and you still cant imagine somehow losing all the things you have, you should be willing now to dedicate more resources toward frankly the development of the country.

Civil society groups and ordinary Cambodians should be heard on issues such as inequality and rights, Enos of the Heritage Foundation said.

But it can really only happen if reforms are undertaken. And, that includes granting voices to civil society that no longer have the space to speak their mind, average Cambodians, and also to the government official.

Morgenbesser told VOA Khmer that the electoral integrity should be a critical reform for the new government if they want to gain credibility.

I think they need to reread the recommendations of the international observers that have been offered since 1998 about improving the integrity of an election, especially around things like registration and vote buying," he said.

Enos said the Paris Peace Accord should hold the Cambodian government accountable in accordance with its commitments to pluralist democracy.

There is no space for opposing voices, little room for freedom of association for Cambodians to express their view. And, this is unacceptable, Enos said. Many signatories to the Paris Peace Agreement back in 1991 committed to actually holding Cambodia accountable if there were democratic backslides.[Editors note: Milton Osborne is one of Australias leading authorities on Southeast Asia. His latest work, Pol Pot Solved the Leprosy Problem: Remembering Colonial and Post-Colonial Worlds 1956-1981 is a memoir of his days as a young diplomat in Phnom Penh between 1959 and 1961 and of his later work as an academic and consultant to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. Osborne has penned numerous other works over his career, including Sihanouk: Prince of Light, Prince of Darkness, The Mekong: Turbulent Past, Uncertain Future, and The French Presence in Cochinchina and Cambodia: Rule and Response. He recently spoke by phone with VOA Khmers Sotheary You.]

VOA: Your new book is titled Pol Pot Solved the Leprosy Problem: Remembering Colonial and Post-Colonial Worlds 1956-81. Can you please give us the big picture of your book?

Osborne: Well, the book is an effort to provide some background on my own experiences in Cambodia and Vietnam over the period from when I first went to Cambodia in 1959, until 1981. Thats some 20-plus years that I had an experience of living through some of Cambodias most interesting periods and tragic periods, too.

VOA: What motivated you to write this book?

Osborne: Well, there are two things that motivated me. First of all, I wanted to record my experiences for my daughter but more broadly I wanted to focus on a period now that tends to be forgotten. Everybody is so concerned with very contemporary developments and yet what happened in the 1960s and 1970s remains of very fundamental importance.

VOA: What do you mean by focusing on contemporary development?

Osborne: Well, not just in relation to Cambodia and Vietnam but throughout the world there is so much news that people are constantly reading and consulting on the internet and they tend to forget the history of what had happened in earlier times. Not least in relation to Cambodia, people tend to forget the terrible events of the 1970s which led to Pol Pot coming to power in 1975.

VOA: What do you think about Cambodias social and political trends from your first visit until today?

Some people think that the 1960s were a golden age under Prince Sihanouk. Other people would say that it was not quite as wonderful as people had in their memory.

Osborne: Well, it has changed, of course, enormously. Cambodia was a very different country when I first arrived in 1959. You can look at it in several ways. You can look at it in terms of the size of the capital which has changed dramatically in that time. When I first went to Cambodia in 1959, Phnom Penh was a city of about 500,000 people, probably not even that many. And today Greater Phnom Penh is a city of 2 million people. So, theres such a change. It of course has gone through, the country has gone through a whole series of very dramatic political developments.

So, Cambodia today is very different from the Cambodia I first encountered in 1959, but my book is not about contemporary Cambodia. My book is about the Cambodia that existed in the 1960s and 1970s. As I said earlier, I think its very important for people today to look back and see what Cambodia was like in those years. Some people think that the 1960s were a golden age under Prince Sihanouk. Other people would say that it was not quite as wonderful as people had in their memory. One of the things that I was very concerned to describe in the book was the events of the 1970s and in particular the problem associated with the great refugee crisis that took place at the end of the Pol Pot period, when so many people fled from Cambodia into Thailand. So those are the issues that I wanted to describe in the book.

VOA: What are those issues? Why did it happen?

Osborne: Well, thats a very difficult question to summarize, why it happened. Cambodia was caught up in a whole series of international events. In many ways, the developments that took place in Cambodia in the 1960s and 1970s were part of a broader question in the cold war, the war that was taking place in Vietnam, the emergence within Cambodia of an extreme left wing group that came to power under the leadership of Pol Pot in 1975. Now you asked me why I wrote the book, part of the reason that I wrote the book was because I had a very large and very important (not so much large) group of Cambodian friends, only one of whom survived the Pol Pot period. I wanted to provide a background to what happened to those people during the terrible years that took place in the 1970s.

VOA: What do you think Cambodian leaders should learn about the past?

I think the period in the 1960s and then the period under Lon Nol in the first half of the 1970s emphasizes the extent to which embracing extreme points of view is ultimately very dangerous for any country.

Osborne: Well, I am a foreigner, so I am rather reluctant to tell other people what they should do. But I would suggest that people looking back over the period that I described in the book should be aware of the danger of embracing a point of view that provides no opportunities for different points of view, different political points of view. I dont want to describe contemporary politics because its over years since I was last in Cambodia and I dont follow contemporary politics in the same detail that I once did in the 1960s and the 1970s but certainly one of the lessons that emerged both in the 1960s and 1970s, its the extent to which there should be always a place for alternative points of view.

I think the period in the 1960s and then the period under Lon Nol in the first half of the 1970s emphasizes the extent to which embracing extreme points of view is ultimately very dangerous for any country. Knowing history is not a way of predicting the future but unless you understand the past, unless you understand history, you will be unable to understand the present.

VOA: From your point of view, how did Pol Pot take power?

Osborne: Thats the question that I think we are still struggling to understand but one of the answers or the partial answer to that is I believe Pol Pot was able to assemble enough supporters who believed that the government in Phnom Penh was so deeply corrupt that it had to be overthrown. Once the government was overthrown, Pol Pot and his associates were determined to completely remap the country. In doing so, of course, they took steps and actions that were terrible and extreme in their character. That was the basis for which you saw the terrible agricultural cooperative where people would work literally to death. It was the readiness to embrace a policy that executed people who did not agree with the regime because its a terrible period and I think in many ways Cambodia even today is still recovering from that period.

VOA: You arrived in Cambodia in 1959, well before the Lon Nol period. What did you see at that time regarding the countrys development?

Osborne: Economic development was quite still limited. Prince Sihanouk was enthusiastic for modernity, but it was extremely difficult to develop the country as he hoped. One of the things that was important in his eyes was to develop education and he founded a number of universities and promoted education. One of the great problems of that period was that there were very few jobs available when people completed their education. So, that was a major problem.

Politically, one of the difficulties certainly was apparent in the 1960s, while Prince Sihanouk for all of his many qualities believed that he and he alone should determine what policies should be followed - and that created a great deal of resentment from the people who did not agree with his position.

VOA: Do you think such a history of division can repeat in the future?

Cambodia has been dominated over a period of history both in my book and subsequently by the role of a very limited number of people and usually by one particular individual.

Osborne: Oh I think thats a very difficult question to answer. To expand a little more to what I said just a few moment a go, Cambodia has been dominated over a period of history both in my book and subsequently by the role of a very limited number of people and usually by one particular individual. If you look at the situation, Prince Sihanouk dominated the 1960s and in the early 1970s, Lon Nol and subsequently Serematak dominated the period until the Pol Pot regime, Pol Pot was dominant in the 1970s and then after the Vietnamese departed, toward the 1980s, the government or the leadership of the Cambodian Peoples Party by Mr. Hun Sen has been dominant. So a single individual figure has played a major part in Cambodias modern history.

VOA: What would you say was the most important thing for Cambodians to remember about their past?

Osborne: Well, I think perhaps one of the most important things they should not forget is the disunity that took place at of end of the 1960s and then in the 1970s, that led to a terrible crime of the Pol Pot regime. That is a situation or fact that they should not forget.

Note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.North Korean leader Kim Jong Un announced Wednesday he has agreed to allow international inspectors to observe the dismantlement of facilities key to Pyongyangs missile program. South Korean President Moon Jae-in said during the joint press conference that the era of a war-free Korean Peninsula has begun and invited Kim to Seoul, hopefully by the end of the year.

The second round of inter-Korean talks wrapped up Wednesday with the signing of the September Pyongyang Declaration and a comprehensive military agreement. The latter document, signed by South Korean Minister of National Defense Song Hyung-moo, and No Kwang Chul of People's Armed Forces of North Korea, outlined steps to ease military tensions.

The joint announcement made Wednesday concludes scheduled talks between the two leaders, although there will be additional cultural exchanges into the evening and Thursday.

Inter-Korean deal lauded as new era of peace

The September Pyongyang declaration covered a number of topics. These included the easing of military tensions, economic development, resolving family separation issues, furthering cultural exchanges, and denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula. Moon announced at the end of his remarks that Kim had accepted his invitation to visit Seoul, hopefully by the end of the year.

Kim Jong-un agreed during the talks to permanently dismantle the missile test facilities at Dongchang-ri under the observation of international inspectors. He also expressed an intent to dismantle the Yongbyon nuclear test site, although that would be contingent on the United States taking corresponding actions.

Harry Kazianis, Director of Defense Studies at The Center for the National Interest, tweeted one possible action would be a peace declaration, formally ending the Korean War.

The Trump Administration will now be faced with a dilemma of enforcing principles and risking strained relations with Seoul or getting on the euphoric peace train, wrote Heritage Foundation Senior Research Fellow Bruce Klinger in an email to VOA.

He added, Washington was looking for Moon to deliver on real, tangible, and unambiguous North Korean commitment to abandoning its nuclear and missile arsenal. The Pyongyang Declaration was not it. The regime continues to put the onus on the United States to take appropriate, though unspecified, measures first.

Cessation of hostilities

South Korean officials say the comprehensive military agreement signed Wednesday will create a permanent peace zone on the peninsula. As part of the agreement, the two militaries agreed to halt military exercises in the demilitarized zone beginning this November and will implement a joint military committee to facilitate regular communication and prevent accidental armed clashes.

National Security Advisor Chung Eui-yong said South Korea interpreted the pact as a non-aggression agreement and the first stage for arms control on the peninsula. He expected the agreements signed Wednesday would facilitate dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang.

That echoed comments made by South Korean President Moon, who said he hoped a second Trump-Kim summit would take place as soon as possible.

Resolving separated families and facilitating cultural exchanges

It was announced both governments would cooperate to resolve lingering issues related to separated families from the Korean War. North Korea will open a meeting facility on Mt. Kumgang to help connect loved ones and working with the Red Cross, the two governments will promote video calls and letter exchanges.

The two Koreas said they would further work to enhance cultural and art exchanges. Part of those efforts includes Seoul hosting the Pyongyang Art Company next month and both nations participating in international sporting competitions in 2020. President Moon said South and North Korea would also launch a joint bid to host the 2032 Summer Olympics.

In order to prevent the influx and spread of disease, Seoul and Pyongyang will enhance the cooperation in the prevention of epidemics, hygiene, and medical care.

To facilitate economic growth, North and South Korea said they will hold a groundbreaking ceremony, which will lead to the coastal railways and roads eventually connecting, reopening the Kaesong Industrial Complex, and resume Mt. Kumgang Mountain tourism operations. Seoul and Pyongyang are also to develop a western Special Economic Zone and an eastern Special Tourism Zone.

However, President Moon makes economic promises he can't deliver without UN and U.S. acquiesce to accepting blatant violations of UN resolution sanctions and U.S. laws, wrote Klinger.

A night out and a morning trip

Wednesday evening, President Moon and his delegation are to visit the Pyeongyang Daedonggang Seafood Restaurant. Presidential spokesman Yoon Young-chan told reporters it was a restaurant frequented by locals, who would join the South Korean delegation.

Following dinner, the entire South Korean delegation will head to May Day Stadium, the largest such facility in North Korea. Its expected the 150,000 person capacity stadium will be filled for a one-hour performance entitled Brilliant Fatherland.

A presidential spokesman announced South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will visit the Norths Mount Paektu Thursday morning. Its an active volcano on the North Korea - Chinese border and considered the spiritual home of Koreans.

President Moon and his delegation are expected to return to Seoul later Thursday morning.

Lee Ju-hyun contributed to this report.Computers are all based on what? Zeros and ones. [Without zero], we'd have no computers, no cellphones, no gasoline engines, no space exploration, no television, no radio. [Mathematician] Amir Aczel said that the invention of zero was perhaps the greatest intellectual achievement of the human mind.

So the very concept of zero did not always exist. And only after the concept developed into its use as a numeral was it possible for the decimal system to be developed, was it possible for calculations. It made it possible to multiply and divide. It made mathematics and calculus possible and those things made our modern world possible.

But the fact is: No, we have not always had a zero. Thousands of years ago, people had no concept of zero. Zero had not been invented yet. If you were in ancient Sumaria 5,000 years ago and you had three goats, you knew three: one goat, two goats, three goats. And if somebody bought your goats, there was no zero goats. There was only, I have no goats anymore.

Barron: Zero Project is something I'm working on as a radio broadcast journalist. I have been researching the discovery of zero. But the important thing to start with is the question that most people would ask: What is it that is so important about zero? Havent we always had a zero?

Washington  [Editor's note: Four decades after interviewing Cambodian refugees fleeing the Khmer Rouge, award-winning radio producer Greg Barron is preparing to tell a very different  and much older  story. In his upcoming Zero Project, Barron will challenge the popular perception that the numeral for nothingness was invented in India, instead crediting pre-Angkorian Cambodia with this crucial contribution to mathematics, science and technology. Hong Chenda sat down with Barron at VOAs Washington headquarters to discuss the project and its implications for Cambodia today.]

But it turns out that that isnt necessarily true. The BBC, as late as 2008, produced a groundbreaking documentary television series about the history of math. And in that series, they proclaimed  absolutely, positively  that zero was invented in India. And as proof of that they showed a stone tablet, a carving on a stone wall, in India. And it had what everybody in the world thought was the very first written record of a numeral zero. That tablet and that inscription was dated at 876 A.D. Archaeologists and scientists said, This is proof, this is the first record of any culture anywhere in the world using the numeral zero. But was it true? I don't think so.

Barron: It's all about who discovered zero. In schools today throughout America and Europe  and worldwide for that matter  we are taught that our number system is called the Hindu-Arabic system. It was widely thought that Arabian traders in the Middle East developed the numeral system we use today. And it was also thought that the numerals that we use today originated in India as a part of the Hindu and Buddhist religions.

VOA: Okay, so we know the number zero is important. What is your project all about?

The fact is there was a French archaeologist who discovered a stone tablet bearing a date that was carved and dated at almost two hundred years earlier. And where was it found? It was found in Cambodia, in a temple along the Mekong River, in 1893. But it was ignored  nobody really paid much attention to it. Then it was translated and recorded by another French archaeologist in 1929. But the stone was lost. It was stored at a museum in Phnom Penh temporarily, but nobody paid any attention to it.

Then, in 1975, it disappeared again following the occupation of Cambodia by the Khmer Rouge. The Khmer Rouge were known to loot and destroy archaeological artifacts, and the stone was feared to be lost. There were no photographs of it, so there was no proof that the number zero first appeared in Cambodia.

[Later], the mathematician Amir Aczel decided he would make it his passion to try to find that stone. He ultimately was able to track it down to a shed that the public is not allowed into, in Siem Reap near Angkor Wat. He found it and he rejoiced  he took pictures of it. It is now on display at the National Museum, and it is the oldest known record of the use of zero in the world.

VOA: So the stone is in a museum. Whats next?

But right now, the reason zero is important to the Khmer people is because it can legitimately, honestly be a source of pride. [Cambodia] is the first place in the world that used the number zero.

Barron: A couple of things. First, you have to ask yourself: Where did the zero come from? Was it an invention of the Cambodian people? Or could it have come to Cambodia from India?

In Southeast Asia and in Cambodia, the Hindu religion and the Buddhist religion were brought to the areas by the Indians. They came overland through the north and west, through what used to be Burma, and they came through the ocean near Java, brought by the trade winds, and they were traders. And because they were Hindu Indians, they influenced the pre-Angkorian Khmer people in the second and third centuries.

So one could ask: Did the Hindus bring zero to Cambodia, or did the Cambodians invent zero and give it to the Hindus, who took it back to India? Its also true that there is a great deal of evidence that the Indians were quite advanced in their concept of the number zero, the concept of the idea of zero, in part because the Hindu and Buddhist faiths embraced the idea of nothingness.

And its always possible that two cultures could develop the same concept at roughly the same time. Its also possible that new artifacts will be uncovered by archeologists in the future, which will tell us something entirely new. But right now, the reason zero is important to the Khmer people is because it can legitimately, honestly be a source of pride. [Cambodia] is the first place in the world that used the number zero.

VOA: What are you working on right now?

Barron: Ive done this research so that I can produce a radio feature telling the story and letting people know about these discoveries. In 2008, the BBC was reporting authoritatively that zero was invented in India. And they used the tablet there as proof. But now we know the first example was in Cambodia. The story does need to be told, and I hope to tell it. I hope to be able to produce, by early next year, a feature story that explains this discovery of zero, the importance of zero and why the Cambodian people can be so very proud.

VOA: What would you tell Cambodians about this discovery?

Barron: The Khmer people are ingenious people. They were in the forefront of the use of numerals in mathematics. They have much to be proud about  the innovations of their culture.

It was only two or three hundred years after the tablet containing the example of zero was carved in Cambodia that the great Angkorian civilization arose. Most Cambodians don't know that their country was home to the largest city in the world at that time. The city surrounding Angkor Wat was a city of elaborate canal systems, elevated roadways, suburbs, commercial centers, centers for worship, and it housed nearly a million people. At that time, London had 30,000 people and Angkor Wat had nearly a million! And the size of Angkor is amazing. Angkor is larger than the city of Los Angeles today. Its that big.

It seems to me that many Khmer people, especially younger Khmer people, simply do not understand the magnificence of their culture, and the contributions their culture has made to the world. Its a little-known secret. There needs to be a renewed pride in a wonderful culture that has made some of the most fantastic buildings in the world.

VOA: If it is proven that zero was indeed invented in Cambodia, what would that mean for the country?

Today in Cambodia there are still so many tensions some say its spiraling down into tyranny again. And the Cambodian people need something  and have something here  to be very, very proud of.

Barron: The question of who invented zero first is a matter of debate among the worlds greatest archaeologists and historians. If we could say absolutely that it was invented in Cambodia  and we nearly can  I would say simply that its an example of a culture that existed thousands of year ago that has made a mark on todays world of science and technology. That is something enormously important to any culture.

Today in Cambodia there are still so many tensions  some say its spiraling down into tyranny again. And the Cambodian people need something  and have something here  to be very, very proud of.

Note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.A prominent unionist has announced a large-scale demonstration if the newly formed government ignores a European Union resolution that threatens to end Cambodias tariff-free access to EU markets if the government does not improve the democratic process.

Rong Chhun, president of the Cambodian Confederation of Unions (CCU) and a former National Election Committee member, said the government must take action to avoid Cambodias suspension from the Everything But Arms preferential trade scheme.

"The benefits are for everyone, together..., but we are non-violent. And the only goal is that we want to raise the issue to avoid an economic crisis in Cambodia and keep jobs for the workers, he said.

He added that he was concerned for the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of garment sector workers who could lose their jobs if factories left Cambodia after its removal from the scheme.

"When this happens, the social situation could be difficult. This means that social instability causes our society to become insecure, and that's the problem we are stressing. So, in order to avoid any problems, the government must think and adapt to the requests of the European Union. "

The EU is Cambodia's largest export market, with garment exports to the EU alone amounting to about $700 million annually.

Last week the European Parliament voted for a resolution calling for political freedoms in Cambodia and further sanctions against the government. A fact-finding mission dispatched from Brussels to Phnom Penh has yet to report back its findings, which will be used to determine whether Cambodia should remain a part of the trading scheme.

The government has claimed that it would find other markets to export Cambodian products to in the event it was removed from the EBA scheme, but no other markets come close to meeting the demand, with the position of the second-largest export market, the US, also in question. Together, exports to the EU and US make up the vast majority of all Cambodian textiles exports.

Phay Siphan, a government spokesman, warned Chhun that he had to co-operate with the authorities if he was planning to organize a demonstration or officials would take action.The United States ambassador to Cambodia has said Washington is keeping a close eye on the Cambodian government and monitoring its commitment to reverse the deteriorating rights situation in the country.

William Heidt, the US ambassador, told VOA Khmer that he hoped Cambodia would move towards a more open political system in the coming year.

I think for the United States and for many other countries, we will be watching how these processes play out to see steps the government would take in the next period of time to return Cambodia that relatively open political systems just had a year ago, he said. So we'll be watching.

The ruling Cambodian Peoples Party, led by Prime Minister Hun Sen, won all 125 seats in Cambodias parliament in an election in July, months after members of his party ruled in the Supreme Court to ban the country's the main opposition. The US, EU, and Japan declined to send observers to monitor the vote following a widespread crackdown on civil society, independent media, and the opposition.

The White House called the elections neither free nor fair and said they failed to represent the will of the Cambodian people. Both The US and EU are considering further sanctions against Cambodia.

Kem Sokha, the former leader of the banned Cambodia National Rescue Party, which prior to the court ruling which dissolved it in November held a large minority in parliament, was released on bail in early September and is being held under house arrest. He was jailed last year on treason charges.

So I think our government's view is going to be influenced by what's happened from this point on in that case, Heidt said.

The US House of Representatives passed a resolution aimed at restoring democracy in Cambodia shortly before the election, with the backing of prominent senators Lindsey Graham and Dick Durbin introducing a bill calling for tough sanctions against the regime.

Let's be honest, those two bills, they reflect widespread concern up on Capitol Hill of the direction of events in Cambodia over the past year, Heidt said. And I was there this week meeting representatives of the House of Representatives and there's widespread concern so I think the degree to which Cambodia can make positive changes can sort of make events move in the right direction that will reduce the level of concern in our congress and that's what I hope happens.

The House bill called for sanctions on Prime Minister Hun Sen and his inner circle, including some of his children. Hun Sens chief bodyguard Hing Bun Hieng is now sanctioned under the Magnitsky Act.

However, the relationship at a personal and business level remains strong, according to Heidt.

The American people are really their friends, he said. They dont want to take over Cambodia. They dont want to take over Cambodian cities or anything like that or dominate Cambodias economy, but Americans really like Cambodia. They admire the culture. They admire how much progress Cambodias made.Korean leaders meet to forge common ground. New tariffs fuel new trade concerns. A criminal inquiry opens on Rohingya atrocities. Australia inspects is food. World fashion in New York, and ancient bread making.Facing incurable breast cancer at age 55, MaryAnne DiCanto put her faith in "precision medicine" in which doctors try to match patients with drugs that target the genetic mutations in their tumors. She underwent repeated biopsies to identify therapies that might help.



"She believed in it wholeheartedly," said her husband, Scott Primiano of Amityville, N.Y., a flood-insurance broker. "You live on hope for so long, it's hard to let go."



Around this point in the average news story, readers would learn how DiCanto mother to a blended family of five took a chance on an experimental drug that no one expected to work.



She would be the scrappy protagonist whose determination to "keep fighting" enabled her to beat the odds allowing us to celebrate the triumph of modern science and worry a bit less about our own mortality.



But there's a serious problem with talking about precision medicine for cancer this way.



It misleads the public.



In spite of DiCanto's high hopes, none of it helped. DiCanto died last year at age 59.



Doctors and hospitals love to talk about the patients they've saved with precision medicine, and reporters love to write about them. But the people who die patients like DiCanto, who succumb to advanced cancer despite the advanced testing still vastly outnumber the rare successes.



"There are very few instances in which we can look at a genomic test and pick a drug off the shelf and say, 'That will work,'" said Dr. Nikhil Wagle, a cancer specialist at Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute who helped develop precision-medicine tests. "That's our goal in the long run, but in 2018 we're not there yet."



Reflecting on his family's experience with "precision" treatment, Primiano said, "You think it's going to be more precise, like a laser versus a shotgun. But it's still a shotgun."



There has been real progress, of course.



Testing for genetic mutations has become the standard of care in lung cancer, melanoma and a handful of other tumor types. But the number of people with advanced cancer eligible for these approaches is just 9 percent to 15 percent, experts estimate. These targeted therapies help about half of patients who try them, said Dr. Vinay Prasad, an associate professor at Oregon Health and Science University.



Targeted therapies tend to be less successful in patients like DiCanto, who have exhausted all standard treatments. In a large study published last year in Cancer Discovery, precision medicine failed to help 93 percent of the 1,000 patients who signed up for the study.



At the most recent meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology the largest cancer meeting in the world researchers presented four precision-medicine studies. Two were total failures. The other two weren't much better, failing to shrink tumors 92 percent and 95 percent of the time.



The studies received almost no news coverage.



Some experts, including Dr. David Hyman of New York's Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, say that such testing should be available to everyone with advanced cancer, because no one can predict which individual might have a rare mutation that can be targeted with a new or experimental drug. When patients respond to these drugs, they tend to do very well, and some survive much longer than expected.



But Hyman acknowledged that many people who pursue precision medicine will be disappointed, because testing won't lead to a new treatment. Precision medicine "is not addressing the needs of the majority of cancer patients," he said.



Many of the doctors I interview as a health care reporter are uncomfortable talking about patients who don't survive.



While acknowledging that not all patients are helped by tumor sequencing, they quickly pivot to talking about people they've saved. They rush past the disappointing present and fast-forward to a future in which every patient gets the treatment she or he needs. If you don't listen carefully, you could easily be led to believe those future cures are already here.



Hospitals promote their precision-medicine programs by showcasing the stories of long-term survivors. Companies such as Foundation Medicine, Caris Life Sciences and Guardant Health which sell the tests that look for cancer mutations highlight only the best-case scenarios on their websites. In drug company marketing, patients are cheerleaders for the latest treatment fad.



Against this backdrop of hope and desperation, how are patients supposed to make informed decisions?



DiCanto gave precision medicine everything she had, including biopsies from her lungs and liver, where her cancer had spread. Over 21/2 years, her doctor sent seven blood and tissue samples to specialized labs for "next-generation sequencing," which can quickly scan hundreds of genes. The tests aim to locate a cancer's Achilles' heel a genetic vulnerability that can be targeted with a drug.



DiCanto's first genomic test matched her to a newly approved drug she would have tried anyway, Primiano said. When it stopped working, she had another biopsy.



That time, tests matched her to a different drug approved for breast cancer. But it proved so toxic that it "nearly killed her," Primiano said.



Additional tests matched DiCanto to drugs available only in clinical trials. Eligibility criteria for clinical trials are notoriously strict, however, and often exclude people who've been heavily treated with other medications. DiCanto wasn't eligible for any of them. Even when patients are eligible for trials, many turn them down. They're just too frail and sick to travel to the metropolitan areas where most trials are run.



Although DiCanto benefited from standard cancer treatments, none of the targeted therapies recommended through genetic testing extended her life, Primiano said.



"She didn't give up," Primiano said. "Her body gave up. Her body just couldn't take it anymore."



Primiano said patients should remember that precision medicine is in its infancy. Although scientists have identified tens of thousands of genetic "variations" changes from normal DNA that could play a role in cancer doctors have only a few dozen drugs with which to target them. In the majority of cases, genetic mutations are of "unknown significance"; they're essentially useless, because scientists don't know if they affect how patients respond to drugs.



Even when drugs are a good match for a specific mutation, they don't always work. A targeted therapy that works in melanoma, for example, doesn't help people with colorectal cancer even when patients have the exact same mutation, said Wagle, a member of the medical advisory board for Living Beyond Breast Cancer, a patient advocacy group in which DiCanto was active.



Paying for tests and treatment poses its own hurdles. Insurers often tell patients that next-generation sequencing is unproven. Even when insurers agree to cover the testing, they won't necessarily cover nonstandard or experimental treatments that sequencing companies recommend.



Primiano, an insurance broker, said his family was able to handle the costs: $500,000 out-of-pocket on his wife's cancer care over 13 years. But managing his wife's cancer "was a full-time job doing the research, finding the clinical trials, dealing with the insurance companies, managing the money."



He worries about people with fewer resources, especially patients tempted to drain their savings account to pay for a treatment with little to no chance of working.



The very words "precision medicine" suggest a high rate of success, Primiano said. While its successes should be celebrated, its failures must be acknowledged and tallied, reminding us how much is left to learn. When patients and their families have so much on the line, they deserve to understand what they're paying for.



"Let's not pretend this is something it isn't," Primiano said. "I'm not saying we shouldn't try it. I just don't want people to have false hope."



Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.This episode of Straight Talk Africa focuses on the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF). The African Union's specialized agency for capacity development has coordinated programs worth $700 million dollars, across 48 countries since 1991. Guest-host Vincent Makori examines th work of the foundation with Professor Emmanuel Nnadozie, Executive Secretary of ACFB and grantees Cynthia Coredo Moses, Program Manager of Boxgirls Kenya and Violet Moraa Mogaka an agricultural economist.President Donald Trump said the United States is considering establishing a permanent military base in Poland. At a joint news conference with President Andrzej Duda at the White House Tuesday, the Polish leader said his country would not only help pay for the military facility, it would also name it Fort Trump. White House correspondent Patsy Widakuswara has more.Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia where, comments from his finance minister suggest, he will seek financial help to stave off the likelihood of another IMF bailout.

Khan, on his first foreign trip since taking office last month, also plans to visit the United Arab Emirates, the Saudi Ministry of Media said.

Pakistan is trying to avert a balance of payments crisis stemming from a large current account deficit, and analysts have said they expect it to sign up for what would be its 13th bailout package from the International Monetary Fund since the late 1980s.

But Finance Minister Asad Umar said last month that an IMF rescue was a fallback option and that the government was exploring other avenues for assistance. That was broadly interpreted as seeking help from China and Saudi Arabia, which have both provided Islamabad with vast loans in the past.

In 2014, six months after Pakistan obtained its last IMF bailout, Saudi Arabia loaned it $1.5 billion that the government used to strengthen its rupee currency.

Umar and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi are accompanying Khan on the Gulf trip.

Pakistan's foreign office said Khan would discuss "issues of bilateral interest" with Saudi Arabia's King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Pakistan's current account deficit widened 43 percent to $18 billion in the fiscal year that ended June 30, while the fiscal deficit has ballooned to 6.6 percent of gross domestic product.

Khan's government came to power on the back of assurances to root out corruption and reduce poverty. On Tuesday it announced tax increases for middle and high-income earners and a spike in import duties on luxury products in a bid to raise 183 billion rupees ($1.48 billion) in additional revenue.Amnesty International on Wednesday accused Egypt's government of mounting a crackdown on freedom of expression that had turned the country into an "open-air prison" for critics.

The international human rights group said authorities had arrested at least 111 people since December for criticizing President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Egypt's human rights situation in a campaign that surpassed any under ousted President Hosni Mubarak.

"It is currently more dangerous to criticize the government in Egypt than at any time in the country's recent history," Amnesty's North Africa Campaigns Director Najia Bounaim said in a statement.

"Egyptians living under President al-Sisi are treated as criminals simply for peacefully expressing their opinions."

A government spokesman had no immediate comment on the Amnesty report when contacted by Reuters.

The security services had ruthlessly clamped down on independent political, social and cultural spaces, Amnesty said.

"These measures, more extreme than anything seen in former President Hosni Mubarak's repressive 30-year rule, have turned Egypt into an open-air prison for critics," it said.

Sisi's supporters maintain the president, who was re-elected in March, has been trying to combat an Islamist insurgency and restore order to the country following years of chaos after Arab Spring demonstrations forced Mubarak to step down in 2011.

They say that Sisi has improved security since 2013, when as army chief he ousted Islamist President Mohamed Mursi following mass protests against his rule.

Among those arrested were at least 35 people held on charges of "unauthorized protest" and "joining a terrorist group" after a peaceful protest against metro fare increases, and comics and satirists who posted commentary online, Amnesty said.

They also include prominent figures and possible presidential contenders, such as former military chief of staff Sami Anan and former presidential contender Abdel Moneim Abol Fotouh, as well as former state auditor Hesham Genena.

Amnesty said at least 28 journalists were among those detained since December 2017.

"President al-Sisi's administration is punishing peaceful opposition and political activists with spurious counterterrorism legislation and other vague laws that define any dissent as a criminal act," Bounaim said.Australia is dealing with a nationwide food scare involving strawberries inserted with sewing needles.

The tainted fruit was first discovered last week in the northern state of Queensland, and has since spread to all six Australian states. The scare has prompted massive recalls of the popular fruit from supermarket shelves, and forced strawberry farmers to destroy their crops, threatening the viability of the $115 million industry.

The scare has even spread over into New Zealand, where some stores have temporarily banned the sale of Australian strawberries.

Officials in Queensland have offered a $72,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons responsible for the tampering. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has urged lawmakers to increase the penalty for food tampering from 10 to 15 years.

"It's not a joke, it's not funny, you're putting the livelihoods of hard-working Australians at risk and you're scaring children," Prime Minister Morrison said Wednesday. "You're a coward and you're a grub and if you do that sort of thing in this country we will come after you."Candidates for Cameroons October 7th presidential election have largely avoided traveling to the restive English-speaking regions where armed separatists have vowed the vote will not take place. But all of them are proposing solutions to the problems that have crippled the English-speaking regions for two years now, leaving at least 300 dead.

The only presidential candidate in Cameroon who has visited an English-speaking town is Frankline Ndifor Afanwi, the flag-bearer of the Cameroon National Citizenship Movement. Afanwi said he mustered the courage to visit Mutengene when his supporters assured him there was calm after the military chased armed separatists from the southwestern town last week.

Afanwi said he is pleading with fighters to drop their guns.

"Let all those who are fighting stop the fighting. The insecurity is coming up because many people are acting out of grievances. Let them not be filled with grievances anymore. We are going to bring in what will satisfy the hearts of Cameroonians," he said.

Although the eight other candidates, including incumbent Paul Biya, have not been to the restive regions, they are proposing solutions to the crisis.

Main opposition candidate Joshua Osih, of the SDF, who is from the English-speaking southwest region, wants to adopt a federal republic granting each region greater autonomy.

"The problem is not the secession. The problem is the marginalization and injustices that led to that secession. Guess what, the secession will not necessarily solve that problem. When you have a president of the republic who understands these issue, the first thing that has to happen is to solve the problem of marginalization, said Osih.

Candidate Garga Haman Adji of the ADD party is from the French speaking far north region. He also thinks it is worth considering a more decentralized government and wants to see more English speakers appointed to ministerial positions.

"What is remaining is a joint commission to discuss the anglophone problem. They are my brothers and sisters. I want this problem to be solved," he said.

The candidates say their security is not assured in the English-speaking regions, where kidnappings, killings and burning of public property have occurred.

President Paul Biya is running to extend his 36 years in power. He said he is ready for dialogue, but opposes any discussion on changing the form of the state.

There are doubts the election will be held in Anglophone regions, where two years ago, residents began to press for more autonomy, complaining of the dominant use of the French language in the bilingual country.

Separatists took over the movement. Last year, they declared a new English-speaking state called Ambazonia had been born in Cameroon. The government responded by declaring war on them.

The separatists have vowed on social media that no election will take place and intensified attacks on towns and villages, provoking an exodus of people.

The countrys elections management body ELECAM says it has adopted security measures so the vote can take place.

The United Nations says 200,000 Cameroonians have been internally displaced and 40,000 have sought refuge in Nigeria.Fifty years after creating the Che Guevara poster that still adorns student bedrooms around the world, Irish artist Jim Fitzpatrick is delighted at its ubiquity, but concerned at its exploitation for commercial gain.

Fitzpatrick created the image in 1968 from a photograph of the Argentine Marxist revolutionary taken in 1960 by Cuban photographer Alberto Korda, and made it available for free to anyone who wanted to use it.

It was quickly adopted by left-wing movements, appearing on T-shirts, posters and leaflets, but has also been used by companies to brand products - something that annoyed Fitzpatrick and pushed him to reclaim the copyright in 2010.

"It didn't bother me at first, I couldn't give a hoot who was doing T-shirts," he told Reuters.

"But when a big commercial company, like a cigarette company, who have literally stolen my image, produce cigarette packs with my image twisted around the other way, left to right, as though that solves the copyright problem, then I have severe problems, because I detest that kind of commercial exploitation."

Speaking in his home studio in Sutton, north of the Irish capital Dublin, Fitzpatrick recounted how the image was created.

"I did a couple of posters of it, but the one that matters, the red and black one that everyone is familiar with, the more iconic one, that was done after (Guevara's) murder and execution while a prisoner of war, for an exhibition in London called Viva Che," he said, referring to Guevara's death at the hands of Bolivian forces in 1967.

"The Che is very simple. It's a black and white drawing that I added red to. The star was painted by hand in red," he said, displaying a large print of the image. "Graphically, it's very intense and straightforward, it's immediate, and that's what I like about it."

Fitzpatrick said he offered the copyright of the image to the Guevara family, who have not yet returned the documents necessary for him to turn it over to them, and that he may bequeath it to a local charity instead.China has held talks with the U.S. in an attempt to urge Washington not to require some Chinese state media outlets to register as foreign agents, China's Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.

Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said Beijing "communicated" with the U.S. about the issue and added it was opposed to "politicizing" the media.

The Wall Street Journal newspaper reported Tuesday the U.S. Justice Department has demanded that China's Xinhua news agency and its English language television station, CGTN, register as foreign agents.

The demand, also reported by Bloomberg News, came amid increasing scrutiny of foreign media groups that could influence U.S. public opinion.

Registering as a foreign agent could limit the news outlets' access in Washington. It would put them in the same legal category as lobbyists who work for overseas entities and could cause them to lose their congressional media credentials.

Most news outlets in China are state-run and heavily controlled. Beijing maintains strict limits on the presence of foreign media and its ability to cover events and travel in the country.

The issue could further escalate tensions between the two countries, which are engaged in an increasingly intense trade war.On the sandy banks of the Mekong River, local fisherman Mana Suttawong stitches together the ropes on a worn-out net, his hands chafed from years of pulling in hefty catches on the legendary waterway.

But the days of big hauls are gone for the 54-year-old, and the downsized fishing nets are a telling sign of diminished supplies.

"In the past we used 16 centimeters and 14 centimeters, but now we only use 10," Suttawong explained, referring to the size of the squared stitching in the net.

Water levels vary along the river because of the chain of seven hydropower dams along the Mekong, controlled primarily in China.

"In the next few days, the Chinese will release the water from their dams again and if the river floods, we will not have fish to catch and they will disappear," Suttawong said.

A surge in demand for electricity from China and its South East Asia neighbors has altered the river landscape.

Now, an economic plan could deliver even more damage to an already fragile ecosystem that helps support some 284 million people relying on the river and its tributaries for their livelihood, primarily through fishing and farming.

Belt and Road Initiative

China's Belt and Road Initiative promises to improve regional trade routes including the expansion of the Mekong, using explosives to blast the rocks and sandbars along a 1.6 kilometer stretch to make way for large 500-ton Chinese riverboats.

Environmental protests put the plan on hold last year, but despite evidence of impending harm to fish breeding grounds and farmland, many of the activists fear the expansion will proceed.

"The biggest problem from the dam is the unusual level of the water and its impact on the ecosystem," said Niwat Roikaew, Founder of Rak Chiang Kong environment group.

"The second issue is the sediment," Roikaew added, saying that rich organisms get trapped in the dam system, disrupting the river's biodiversity.

But China is adamant the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.

"I understand that when China and the Lancang-Mekong river basin countries start work on a cooperation project, attention is always paid to environmental assessments and care is taken to protect the local environment," said Geng Shuang, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, during a recent Beijing news conference.

"When implementing projects, local people are consulted for their opinions. All projects are carried out with the joint consent of China and the other relevant country," Shuang added.

Economic values

The environmental testing is a contentious issue, as critics point out the Thai government allows Chinese companies to complete their own research, a process some say is not entirely transparent.

"We need to research for the positive and negative benefits first, but the Thai government just lets the Chinese survey for the geology, rocks, ecosystem and economic values first," Roikaew said.

"If we talk about this in the technical term, the Chinese don't have enough information about this issue and it is the Chinese mistake," added Roikaew, who believes the focus of the move is purely economical.

"The Chinese expand their economic power. This is part of their strategy to have control and power with One Belt, One Road."

The environmental groups are not alone in this assumption.

"I think the true goals of the river expansion are to create a Chinese global sway, which will facilitate greater Chinese commerce but also economic patronage for China over countries in South East Asia," said Paul Chambers, International Affairs advisor at Thailand's Naresuan University.

Chambers views the move as an "economic neo-imperialist strategy."

"We kind of see the commodification of sovereignty in SEA countries. This means that these countries are really losing their legal identity, and Thailand is one of these countries," he said.

Despite opposition, some see the expansion as an inevitable development that has added benefits, including Sitthut Norasing, a local port manager in the riverside community of Chiang Kong.

"Many people are concerned that if we make the river wider, the Chinese boats will pass by Chiang Saen and not stop and they go to buy the products somewhere else, but I think this is not true," he said.

"It's up to us whether the tourists are going to come to buy our stuff or not, and the world is a competition, so we have to compete with the others and make it better," the manager added.

Sovereignty, security

But the risks of doing business with China are many, said Chambers, including sovereignty and security issues.

"The Chinese end up pushing more and more money for these projects, but they want the money back and they want interest and if you can't afford it then they want something tangible as an alternative," he said.

"We can look at Sri Lanka, where the government ended up offering a 99-year lease on a port. Basically, China took part of Sri Lanka," added Chambers.

Many critics, including Niwat Roikaew, see China as an aggressive power seeking to gain enormous hold over the region and add to their military bases in parts of Southeast Asia, like the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.

"Blasting the rapids project for the navigation is not just for navigating 500-ton trade boats only, but also bring security guard boats along to protect their trade boats," Roikawew said.

As China increases its financial clout in the region with promises of benefits for all, many are wondering if the environmental impacts on the lives of those who live along the Mekong will be worth it.

There are currently 11 proposed large hydropower dam sites on the Mekong River's lower mainstream and 120 tributary dams that pose a threat to the ecological health and economic vitality of the region, according to a study released by the Mekong River Commission earlier this year.Congress may weigh in on a rule governing the detention of migrant children.

The so-called Flores Settlement Agreement limits the time children may be held in immigration detention to 20 days. Flores has gotten in the way of Trump administration plans to detain families together as a unit after they cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally.

Earlier in September, the administration issued a proposed rule that would allow migrant children to be held longer than 20 days along with adult family members.

But as Republican Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin pointed out Tuesday at a hearing of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, the courts are not likely to let the proposed rule change stand.

Its going to be a high probability. The courts will intervene, and this rule-making will never be put into effect, Johnson said.

The rule is currently in a public comment period.

Without congressional intervention, the agencies enforcing immigration policy are in a bind. They have only two options when family units enter the country illegally.

And both of them are bad, Johnson said. We either have to enforce the law, and then were forced to separate parents from children, and nobody wants that to happen, OK? Thats no longer the policy. Or revert to the Obama-era policy  which is what were under right now  which is when we apprehend these families, we cant hold them, we cant really determine parentage, and we release them into the interior.

Inefficient system

The House of Representatives Appropriations Committee approved a budget amendment in June that would overrule Flores and permit children to be detained indefinitely.



But Democratic senators on Tuesday were heated in their opposition to detaining children at all.

Citing the high costs of building additional detention facilities and keeping people in them, Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri called for increasing the efficiency of the immigration system which can keep people on hold for years before their cases get through the immigration courts.

Our system on asylum determination and removal couldnt be more inefficient, McCaskill said. We should be starting with a bill that requires electronic records! Do you know, if they have to do a hearing in Texas and the file is in California, they have to FedEx the file? No system in this country is still all-paper. No system in this country is still all-paper except this one!

The immigration courts currently have a backlog of almost 800,000 cases.

Childrens mental health

To other Democratic senators, the issue is one of children's physical and mental health.

What this hearing comes down to for me is whether the federal government should be keeping children in detention indefinitely while waiting for a judge to review their case. Thats frankly not who we are as a country, declared Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire.

The number of children held in detention grew to 12,800 in September. Most are unaccompanied minors, but 419 are children who were separated from their families and have yet to be reunited.

Members of the panel of four government witnesses at the hearing pointed out that under the current system, disparity exists between single adults who illegally cross the border and families. The adults are put in detention; the families are released.

And according to Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Joseph Edlow, there is a big difference in the length of time to adjudicate cases. The immigration status of those in detention is about 40 days. For those not in detention, its 752 days.

The modification of the Flores Agreement is more so a deterrence ... by creating the legal framework that does not create disparity in the treatment of single adults and or family units, said Robert Perez, acting deputy commissioner of Customs and Border Protection.

Edlow indicated the federal government will stick up for its proposed rule. The department will stand ready to defend the challenges as they come forward, he told the senators.

To Johnson, the situation is an opportunity for Congress to act and pass a law and fix this particular problem.At this point in my life, Im 77, Tricoci said. Ive done shows and hair all over the world  Japan, China, Brazil, Italy, France, you name it. We have had, thank God, great success. We have a great staff. This is giving back  not to the industry, but to the community.The Trump administration announced this week that it intends to limit the number of refugee arrivals in the coming year to a record-low figure, but refugee advocates and lawmakers say Congress still has time to change the president's mind.

At a press briefing on Monday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the executive branch was proposing a ceiling of "up to 30,000 refugees" in the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1, which, if finalized, would be the lowest cap on refugee admissions since the start of the program in the early 1980s.

But before that decision can be made official by the president, by law Congress has to be consulted. And with 12 days to go before the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30, that hasn't happened yet.

Democratic Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts criticized the administration after Pompeo's statement:

"The Trump administration is proposing to slash refugee admissions before the legally mandated consultation with Congress. At every turn, we must resist this administration's efforts to isolate America and abandon the persecuted," he tweeted.

"This is simply a proposal that was put forward to Congress," a State Department spokesperson wrote to VOA, characterizing the cap as "an inter-agency number."

But the State Department bureau that handles refugee issues did not immediately return a request from VOA on Tuesday for information on when the consultation with Congress would take place.

Congress has acted before

Trump has implemented massive cuts to the U.S. refugee program, which was for decades the top recipient of refugees who could not stay in their countries of asylum and could not return to their home countries.

Under his administration, the number of arriving refugees plummeted. Staff from resettlement agencies lost their jobs in the U.S. and abroad. And in a move consistent with Trump's campaign promise to block Muslim immigration to the U.S., the number of Christian refugees is outpacing Muslims.

It's customary for administration officials to suggest a number before the official determination is made, said Jen Smyers, director of policy and advocacy at Church World Service, one of the leading refugee resettlement agencies in the United States. In that sense, Pompeo's Monday announcement does not fall outside the norm.

"The timeline is tight," she said Tuesday during a call with reporters and resettlement stakeholders, adding that Congress has succeeded before in raising the president's intended refugee ceiling.

"We would hope that the [congressional] consultation would be scheduled as soon as possible, and that we'll see the process unravel  which really makes now a critical time for members of Congress and the public and the media to put pressure not only on the administration but also on Congress to hold the administration accountable to setting a more realistic and a more historically relevant number."

During Trump's first year in office, the administration set the ceiling at 45,000 refugees, but has yet to reach the halfway mark with less than two weeks remaining in the fiscal year.

Pompeo reiterated a rationale frequently employed by the administration: Refugees pose a security threat to the United States. There are no data that support that claim, however.

"I think there's a misunderstanding of who the refugees are and what they are really looking for," Wilson Kubwayo, a resettled refugee, said on the call with journalists and advocates on Tuesday. "Nobody wants to be a refugee. It's because of circumstances that we find ourselves here."

U.S. perception abroad

Philemon Dushimire, a community organizer among his fellow Burundian immigrants and refugees in Maine, told VOA Swahili that the substantial reduction in refugee arrivals might affect how the United States is perceived abroad.

"The risk now [is that] America will be seen as a country which doesn't care about human rights violations in some places of the world, which doesn't care about the safety of people in danger," he said.

His point is not lost on politicians from both parties who were rankled by Pompeo's announcement on Monday. As a result, there may be some hope on Capitol Hill for those advocating for a higher refugee ceiling.

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Cuba-born Republican lawmaker from the Miami area, was quick to respond on social media:

VOA's Swahili service and Patrick Nduwimana contributed to this report.Another European Union leaders summit and more big decisions to make  on Brexit, migration and the future direction of the bloc. Or more likely there will be a postponement in making them.

This time the gathering is in the hometown of composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Austrias Salzburg, overlooked by the Alps.

Mozarts music was classical in style but full of contrapuntal complexities and at the Salzburg summit the EU leaders will once again grapple with "melodic" lines pulling against each other but without the skill of the composer to gather them into overall harmony.

Competing views



Two opposing camps will lock horns in Salzburg: one headed by French President Emmanuel Macron, who will lobby for ambitious reforms to boost integration between member states and to centralize economic governance, and the other headed by Hungarys Viktor Orban and like-minded nativists from Austria, Italy and Poland, championing an end to immigration from outside Europes borders and insisting on greater flexibility for national governments on how they govern and with less meddling from Brussels.



Clouding the meeting will be embarrassing revelations that former European politicians, including a former Austrian chancellor and a former Italian prime minister, were recruited after they left office by President Donald Trumps former campaign chief, Paul Manafort, to lobby covertly in the U.S. on behalf of Ukraines Kremlin-backed Viktor Yanukovych before a popular uprising ousted him.

Manafort, who pled guilty last week to two criminal charges filed against him by special counsel Robert Mueller, pulled together European politicians secretly in what has become known as the Hapsburg Group.

The lobbying effort has become part of Muellers legal case against President Trumps former campaign chief, but it also raises questions in Europe about the integrity of what some analysts describe as the EUs establishment class characterized by the readiness of some its members to cash in on their careers and to line their pockets by lobbying on behalf of interests they opposed when in office, adding to populist disdain of the EU.

Brexit deadlock

The British are holding out hopes that the Salzburg summit will break the Brexit deadlock and mark a way station in their efforts to secure a departure deal from the EU that Prime Minister Theresa May can sell to her divided Conservative Party and fractious House of Commons.

Discord has been the major theme of the long-running and often stalled Brexit negotiations, but in recent days EU negotiators have appeared to soften their tone in an apparent bid to give May a helping hand just days away from a likely feisty British Conservative conference, where the seeds of a challenge to her leadership could be sown by among others her former foreign minister Boris Johnson.

The EUs chief negotiator Michel Barnier has suggested a deal might be possible within two months and has recently talked uncharacteristically in jaunty terms about how opposing negotiators are eighty percent in agreement.

And European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker avoided inflammatory taunts about Brexit in his annual state-of-the-union address to the European Parliament this month.

Angela Merkel reportedly is keen to get a Brexit deal in order for the EU to focus on the even more potentially dangerous issues to the blocs cohesion, such as disputes over migration policy and rule-of-law challenges being mounted by populist nationalist leaders in Italy, Hungary and Poland.

Poland was banned Monday from an EU body representing member states judicial institutions for the perceived erosion of the independence of countrys judiciary following changes introduced by the right wing Law and Justice (PiS) government.

Brussels has threatened further sanctions over what it terms systemic threats to the rule of law in Poland after a purge of the Supreme Court through the forced retirements of one-third of the justices.

Polish President Andrzej Duda rebuffed EU threats telling supporters this week at a rally in the south of Poland, they should leave us in peace and let us fix Poland.



According to a readout from German and Austrian officials, Merkel and Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, who is hosting the summit, discussed Monday ahead of the EU leaders gathering the importance of avoiding Britain crashing out of the EU without a trade deal, which would hurt Britain more but would have an adverse impact on some EU states. We have the same view that we must do all we can to avoid a hard Brexit, the Austrian Chancellor said.

Brexit plan

The British hope the EU leaders will soften their instructions to Barnier and his team of negotiators, allowing him to make concessions on Mays so-called Chequers Plan. Her plan would see British firms being allowed frictionless access to the EU market in goods, but not in services and in return it would accept some rulings from the European Court of Justice and tie Britain to common standards and manufacturing regulations.

But theres still considerable resistance from Brussels to Mays plan, which was agreed by her cabinet at the Prime Ministers country residence known as Chequers. EU officials and member states see her proposal as amounting to cherry-picking, which could serve as an example to other member states to follow suit. They worry also that Britain could end up as a floating assembly plant for non-European manufacturers mainly from Asia, who could locate there enticed by low-tax deals and enjoy privileged access to the bloc.

Officially the Salzburg summit is an informal meeting of EU national leaders without the legal power to make binding decisions. By holding a talking-shop EU leaders hope that non-agreement on migration and the EUs future shape  as well as on Brexit  will not be seen as a setback, EU officials concede.

This allows them the opportunity to clear the air and talk more frankly without there being any expectations, an official told VOA. Any decisions that are informally taken could be rubber-stamped at a scheduled formal summit next month, he added.

Beefed-up border force

On migration, no one expects any breakthroughs. Every time EU leaders discuss migration policy they seem to worsen disputes.

The latest proposals, which include plans for controlled centers inside the EU to process migrants as well as the establishment of regional disembarkation platforms for migrants in North Africa have earned the scorn of both populists and liberals. Populists argue the centers should be closed camps arguing if they are open, migrants will just wander off. Liberals fear the closed camps will be squalid camps with migrants open to abuse. They point to the centers in operation in the Greek islands, where the poor conditions have been condemned by rights groups and the UN.

The EU Commission is also pushing for the establishment genuine border police and a beefing up the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (EBCG), which was created in 2016. But critics say the EUs border is too large for it to be effectively secured.

Some member states dislike the idea of EU police taking control of the border, preferring national border guards do that without meddling from Brussels. In June this year, the commission proposed strengthening the EBCG with around 10,000 border guards.

Mozarts most famous piece for string quartet, No. 19, was nicknamed Dissonance, because of its unusually slow introduction. It is not listed as one of the pieces to be played at any of the formal events during the Salzburg summit.

WATCH: Henry Ridgwell's Preview of SummitResearchers are using genetic analysis to connect the dots in the illegal ivory trade, linking multiple seizures of the valuable tusks to a common set of traffickers.

Targeting these ivory-smuggling cartels could have a major impact on the elephant poaching that is driving the animals to extinction, according to the authors of a new study.

The findings mean some suspects already facing charges from single arrests could face additional charges and stiffer penalties if convicted.

Ivory trafficking is a multibillion dollar transnational criminal enterprise with links to other illegal activities, including drug trafficking. Poaching claims an estimated 40,000 elephants each year.

Missing tusks

University of Washington biologist Samuel Wasser and colleagues have been analyzing tusks seized in ivory busts to track where poached elephants came from. They previously identified hotspots in Tanzania and Mozambique from where nearly all the ivory seized between 2006 and 2014 came.

The new findings emerged from the case of the missing tusks.

Wasser and colleagues noticed that when ivory shipments were confiscated, they often only contained one of an elephant's pair of tusks.

When they searched through genetic data taken from large-scale ivory busts between 2006 and 2015, they found 26 cases in which a tusk from one seizure matched one from a separate shipment.

In each case, the two shipments passed through the same port within a few months of each other. Wasser said that "suggest[s] that the same major trafficking cartel was actually responsible for shipping both."

The study, published in the journal Science Advances, traces the ivory back to three major cartels based in Lome, Togo; Mombasa, Kenya; and Entebbe, Uganda.

When traffickers are caught, they typically only face charges for one shipment.

The methods Wasser's group developed can link individual cartels to multiple shipments, and to each other.

For example, a key figure in the Uganda cartel currently is awaiting trial for one seizure. The new study links him to two others. One of those includes tusks from a 2012 incident in which poachers in a Ugandan helicopter shot 22 elephants across the border in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

"You can imagine, if this evidence is used, how much stronger a case we can build against him," Wasser said.

International links found

The new study also finds links between the Togo and Kenyan cartels. East African and West African tusks were found in a shipment seized in Malaysia. Ivory from this shipment matched tusks from separate seizures linked to Lome and Mombasa.

East African drug-smuggling suspects facing charges in the United States have been linked to the Kenyan ivory trafficking ring.

"The stories that emerge (from the research) are fascinating and important," said CEO Frank Pope of the nonprofit Save the Elephants. "Wasser's work is helping us to close in on those networks by telling the story of the connections between the different shipments."

Wasser's methods have already helped investigators disrupt international trafficking operations, according to Special Agent John Brown with the Department of Homeland Security Investigations.

But Brown notes that few countries are complying with a directive to send samples from ivory busts for DNA analysis. That makes it harder for law enforcement to get to the root of the problem, he added.

"A seizure of three tons of ivory looks very good on the front page of the local newspaper," Brown said. "But if we don't attack the transnational criminal organizations behind it, then the problem will continue."President Donald Trump plans to visit North Carolina on Wednesday to see the destruction left behind by Hurricane Florence, as well as the difficult relief efforts.

Trump tweeted Tuesday, "Everybody is saying what a great job we are doing with Hurricane Florence  and they are 100% right."

He called federal emergency officials, the military and first responders "unbelievable." But Trump also took a swipe at Democrats, saying they will soon start lying that the storm response has been a "disaster."

The president is angry at what he sees as Democrats inflating the death toll in last year's hurricane in Puerto Rico to make him look bad.

Florence has killed at least 32 people and left entire towns in North Carolina flooded with muddy, fetid water.

Officials across the state are cautioning residents not to be fooled by Tuesday's sunshine, saying more floods are expected this week.

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, a Democrat, said 16 rivers were at major flood stage Tuesday with three more expected to peak by Thursday.

"Road conditions are starting to improve in some parts of our state, but rising creeks, streams and rivers continue to make travel unsafe," Cooper said.

Parts of two major interstate highways were still under water Tuesday. Cooper warned residents of some coastal towns  including Wilmington, which was completely cut off from the outside world by flooding  to resist the temptation to return to their homes.

He sympathized with those who were forced to flee and are now relying on government-distributed boiled water and ready-to-eat field rations.

"I know it was hard to leave home and it is even harder to wait and wonder whether you even have a home to go back to," Cooper said.

Experts say the storm dumped more than 30 trillion liters of rain on North Carolina. Florence was an extremely slow-moving storm that hovered off the coast before moving inland, soaking up tremendous amounts of moisture.

The risk management firm Moody's Analytics said damage from Florence in North Carolina could be as high as $22 billion.

Florence is now a large low-pressure system and rainstorm moving across New England and into the Canadian Maritime provinces, but not before making itself felt in the mid-Atlantic with soaking rains and flash floods.

Florence spawned 16 tornadoes Monday in central Virginia, killing one person.Dozens of Islamic State fighters have been arrested in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, ahead of a religious observance in the country, Afghan officials said Tuesday.

Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security (NDS), the country's main intelligence agency, said in a statement Tuesday that its special operations forces arrested 26 IS fighters in different parts of Kabul.

"The group of fighters, led by Abdullah, was brought to Kabul to launch suicide attacks during the month of Muharram and on the day of Ashura (The death anniversary of Prophet Muhammad's grandson, Imam Hussain)," the statement said.

"Afghan security forces identified and arrested the ferocious terrorists, and thwarted their lethal plans," the statement added.

In a video released by NDS, the IS fighters confessed they were members of the terror group and were planning to wage attacks in the city.

Security measures

The arrests are part of a larger security plan put in place by the Afghan government to be proactive and better protect Shi'ite religious minorities against potential IS attacks during Muharram.

September 20 coincides with the 10th of the month of Muharram on the Islamic calendar, when Muslims around the world mourn Hussain's death.

The government is relying on hundreds of civilians it armed last year to protect Shi'ite mosques in the city.

WATCH: Shi'ite Civilians Armed to Protect Mosques



Najib Danish, a spokesperson for the Afghan Ministry of Interior, told VOA that more than 500 armed civilians are providing security for more than 100 mosques in the capital.

"Our focus is more on vulnerable areas. Our intelligence agencies are more active and strengthened. A joint security plan is already in place to provide security during the 10 days of Muharram," Danish said.

Ishaq, who is armed by the Afghan government to protect his local mosque against IS threat, told VOA that IS militants are killing people indiscriminately. Ishaq, like many other Afghans, uses a single name.

'Protecting my people'

"The group [IS] has no mercy at all. They kill children, athletes, students and journalists. I have armed myself to protect my people," Ishaq said.

Over the last few months, IS has claimed responsibility for several deadly attacks in Kabul, killing and injuring dozens of civilians.

On Sept. 5, a twin bomb blast at a wrestling club in Dasht-e-Barche, a mainly Shi'ite populated area west of Kabul, killed at least 20 people and wounded more than 60 others.

Last month, IS claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on an educational center in the same area, which killed 48 people and injured 67.

The majority of the victims were students under the age of 20.

IS's Khorasan branch has been carrying out deadly terror attacks in various parts of Afghanistan for several years. The group first emerged in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province in 2015, and since then has made inroads into other eastern provinces and parts of the north.

Analysts charge that by targeting the Shi'ite minority in Afghanistan, IS is trying to instigate sectarian violence in the country.The United States is seeking to negotiate a treaty with Iran that will cover both its ballistic missile and nuclear programs, the U.S. special envoy for Iran said on Wednesday ahead of U.N. meetings in New York next week.

"The new deal that we hope to be able to sign with Iran, and it will not be a personal agreement between two governments like the last one, we seek a treaty," envoy Brian Hook told an audience at the Hudson Institute think tank.

But Hook said Iranian leaders have not been interested in talking despite statements by President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo this year that the administration was willing to meet.

Trump announced in May that he was pulling the United States out of an Obama-era nuclear deal signed between Iran and six world powers.

The 2015 deal was an executive agreement that was not ratified by the U.S. Senate. A treaty would require approval by the Senate.

Opponents of the nuclear agreement have argued that Obama's failure to seek ratification of the deal allowed Trump to unilaterally scrap the deal in May.

"They did not have the votes in the U.S. Senate so they found the votes in the U.N. Security Council. That is insufficient in our system of government if you want to have something enduring and sustainable," Hook said, without elaborating on how the administration would negotiate.

Trump will chair a session on Iran during the U.N. General Assembly meetings in New York next week. In July, Trump said he was willing to meet Iran's leaders "anytime they want" prompting speculation that a meeting could occur at the U.N. meetings next week.

"The ayatollah, the president and foreign minister have all indicated they are not interested in talking," Hook said, referring to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

"We respect that though that does not change our plans. We have a sanctions regime that is underway, stronger measures are yet to come," he added.

Hook said the administration was expanding its diplomatic efforts to ensure that purchases of Iranian oil were "close to zero" by Nov. 4 when Washington reimposed oil sanctions against Tehran.Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has been arrested a third time in connection with the scandal-plagued 1MDB state investment fund.

The government's anti-corruption agency charged Najib Wednesday over allegations that he siphoned $627 million from 1MDB into his personal bank account. The agency said the former prime minister will appear in court Thursday to face several charges under a section of Malaysia's anti-corruption law that deals with abuse of power. He has previously said the money was a donation from the Saudi royal family.

Najib is already facing multiple counts of criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering involving claims that he transferred about $10 million of funds from a subsidiary of 1MDB into his bank accounts. He has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges.

Outrage over the scandal led to the shocking electoral defeat back in May of Najib and his National Front coalition, which had ruled Malaysia uninterrupted since gaining independence from Britain in 1957.They used to operate in the shadows, but increasingly, foreign lobbyists and influence peddlers are revealing their activities as the U.S. Justice Department steps up enforcement of the little-known Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).

The law, enacted in 1938 to counter Nazi propaganda, requires public relations professionals, law firms and others working on behalf of foreign governments in the United States to register with the Justice Department and report on their efforts every six months. Many lobbyists chose to ignore the requirement, because of lax enforcement and oversight in the past, but the special counsel's use of the law during the Russia investigation to prosecute violators has changed that.

WATCH: Manafort Trial Puts Spotlight on Lobbyists

Voluntary compliance with the law has spiked since 2016, when former Donald Trump presidential campaign chairman Paul Manafort's past lobbying efforts for Ukrainian politicians came to light. FARA registrations picked up further after Manafort and his former business partner, Rick Gates, were indicted last October on a slew of charges, including FARA violations.

Data from the Justice Department show the number of active FARA registrants with the agency has surged to 422 this week, up 24 percent since October and 35 percent higher than late 2016 levels. For nearly two decades prior to 2014, the number had been falling.

Aggressive enforcement

David Laufman, a Washington lawyer who advises companies and individuals on FARA compliance, said the surge has been driven in part by the Justice Department's aggressive enforcement of the law and increased participation by prominent consulting and lobbying firms.

"All of these combined to create an understanding and awareness on the part of lawyers representing companies in FARA matters that it's a new day at the Department of Justice for FARA enforcement and that there is heightened risk for companies that evade their registration obligations," said Laufman, who was in charge of FARA enforcement at the Justice Department from late 2014 to early 2018.

The Justice Department's enhanced enforcement of FARA includes both bringing criminal prosecutions and getting companies and individuals to comply voluntarily.

Before the Gates and Manafort indictments, the department had prosecuted just seven FARA cases in the 50 years since the statute was enacted. Since then, it has brought five more, including four by special counsel Robert Mueller's office.

Among them:

 Manafort pleaded guilty on Friday to two counts, including conspiracy against the United States an umbrella charge that includes FARA violations.

 In February, Gates pleaded guilty to two charges, including conspiracy to violate FARA.

 Also in February, the special counsel charged a Russian troll factory and a dozen Russian operatives with FARA violations, among other charges.

 In May, Pakistani national and U.S. permanent resident Nisar Ahmed Chaudry pleaded guilty to failure to file a foreign registration statement in connection with efforts to influence think tanks.

 And in August, Samuel Patten, a former consultant for Ukraine, pleaded guilty of failing to register as a foreign agent.

Because all criminal charges brought by the special counsel must first be approved by the Justice Department, Laufman said the recent FARA cases "should be viewed broadly as Department of Justice prosecutions in the vessel of the special counsel's office."

Laufman said he expected the uptick in new FARA registrations to continue.

"I don't know about the special counsel, but it's reasonable to expect the Department of Justice to keep its foot on the gas pedal with respect to FARA enforcement," he said. "When appropriate cases present themselves for criminal investigation and prosecution, I do continue to expect more FARA prosecutions by the department."



Toughened compliance

Joshua Rosenstein, a partner with the Washington law firm of Sandler Reiff Lamb Rosenstein & Birkenstock, said the Justice Department's FARA unit has toughened compliance in part in response to a critical 2016 audit by the agency's inspector general.

"Normally what would happen, when the FARA unit feels someone needs to register, they send a letter, wait for a response and then negotiate some sort of resolution," Rosenstein said. "Just the sheer volume of those inquiry letters, in my experience, has increased certainly over the last year, but even in the year and two before that."

According to the inspector general audit, the FARA unit issued about 130 letters of inquiry to potential registrants over 10 years. Laufman said the number has increased since.

Lydia Dennett, a FARA expert at the Project on Government Oversight in Washington, said loopholes in the law make it difficult for the Justice Department to monitor and detect foreign influence operations.

But Dennett said there is an effort underway in Congress to broaden the scope and enforcement of FARA, including giving the Justice Department greater investigative authority and the ability to levy civil penalties against violators.

"The congressional interest in reforming the law ... is great and very much needed to modernize it, bring it into the digital age and really clarify where it's vague as to what is required," she said.The head of Germany's domestic intelligence agency has been transferred from his job just weeks after he made remarks that appeared to downplay anti-migrant violence.

Hans-Georg Maassen has been embroiled in a controversy since anti-migrant protests began in the eastern German city of Chemnitz in late August. A video was uploaded on social media that appeared to show far-right protesters chasing a man while shouting xenophobic slogans.

Maassen told the Bild newspaper in September that the video might be "false information." He also said his agency had found no evidence that foreigners were being "hunted" in the city streets. His remarks contradicted those of Prime Minister Angela Merkel, who had condemned the attacks based on the video.

Maassen's comments caused an uproar among the members of Merkel's coalition government, with most calling for resignation or termination.

However, the far-right Alternative for Germany party praised Maassen and used his comments to further attack Merkel's "completely failed asylum policy.''

Merkel's interior minister and rival, Horst Seehofer, also backed Maassen.

On Tuesday, Merkel's government announced that Maassen would be relieved of his duties at the intelligence agency and be made deputy interior minister under Seehofer.

It is not clear who will replace Maassen as intelligence chief.Former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe said Tuesday in Iowa that he's not ruling out a 2020 Democratic campaign for president, as he took his national campaign to promote Democratic candidates for governor to the early presidential testing ground.

And while he said a decision remained months away, the former Democratic National Committee chairman touted his term as governor as a model for his party nationally.

"We took a red state and made it a blue state,'' McAuliffe said in an Associated Press interview during a day of meetings with Democratic Party officials and activists in Des Moines.



McAuliffe was adamant that his chief purpose for visiting Iowa was to promote candidates running in the November midterm elections, chiefly Democratic nominee for governor Fred Hubbell. The governorship is among roughly 10 in states now occupied by Republicans that McAuliffe said are within reach of Democrats. Democrats occupy only 16 governorships.

Iowa is among 19 states McAuliffe has visited since leaving office this year, though none of the others come with the same potential implications as Iowa, host of the leadoff 2020 presidential caucuses.

McAuliffe is viewed as a moderate prospect in an emerging field that could include progressives such as Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

Civil rights, fiscal policies

During the interview, he promoted civil rights policy such as his executive order to restore voting rights for felons, a move that reinstated roughly 173,000 people  disproportionately African-Americans -- to the voter rolls in Virginia. Likewise, he cast himself as a fiscal steward, taking office with a budget deficit and leaving with a surplus.



Though Democrat Barack Obama carried Virginia twice as a candidate for president, it has been an emerging swing state over the past decade. Last year, Democrats achieved sweeping gains in legislative elections, a feather for McAuliffe as he tests his profile nationally.

"Clearly Terry's looking hard at it,'' said veteran Democratic strategist Jim Margolis, a top adviser to Obama's 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns. "If he decided to, he could credibly make a run.''

McAuliffe also has influential friends in Iowa. He is in touch with Des Moines lawyer Jerry Crawford, a veteran operative and past campaign chairman for Hillary Clinton.

McAuliffe said he also plans to campaign for Democrats this fall in New Hampshire, home of the first-in-the-nation presidential primary, and this month held a fundraiser in Washington for Rep. James Smith, the Democratic nominee for South Carolina governor. South Carolina hosts the first Southern primary in 2020.

"I don't rule anything out,'' McAuliffe said, though insisting his focus would remain on 2018 until after the election. "Then you have to make some decisions through the end of the year and into the first quarter of next year.''So, Sen. Feinstein had a letter, written by Ford, alleging this horrible act by Kavanaugh. Yet rather than bring it up to him in private, or in public during his recent Senate confirmation hearings, or share it with her colleagues, she artfully held back until dropping it just as the Republican majority was about to put him on the court.An Iraqi court on Wednesday sentenced to death on terror charges a prominent jihadist described as a deputy of Islamic State group leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, after he was captured in Turkey.

"The Karkh criminal court in Baghdad sentenced to death by hanging one of the most prominent leaders of IS, who served as a deputy of Baghdadi," judicial spokesman Abdel Sattar Bayraqdar said.

The Iraqi authorities announced in February that Ismail Alwan Salman al-Ithawi had been extradited from Turkey after fleeing first Iraq and then Syria as the group's self-proclaimed "caliphate" crumbled.

The jihadist was tracked and detained through cooperation between Turkish, Iraqi and US intelligence agencies, a senior Iraqi official told AFP at the time.

He said the arrest came after an elite Iraqi unit hunting IS members "infiltrated the highest levels" of the jihadist group, which has claimed a string of deadly attacks in the West in recent years.

A native of the Iraqi city of Ramadi, Ithawi was accused of holding several positions including IS "minister" in charge of religious edicts.

Originally from Iraq, Baghdadi has been dubbed the "most wanted man on the planet" and the United States is offering a $25 million reward for his capture.

He has been pronounced dead on several occasions, but an Iraqi intelligence official said in May that he remained alive in Syrian territory by the Iraqi border.

In a purported new audio recording released last month, the IS chief called on Muslims to wage "jihad."

He made his only known public appearance in Iraq's second city of Mosul in July 2014.

Iraq has condemned several hundred people, including around 100 foreign women, to death for IS links, and dozens of convicted jihadists have already been executed.

Many more have been handed life terms, including nine Tajik women who were sentenced by an Iraqi criminal court on Wednesday for belonging to IS, a judicial official said.

The country has repeatedly faced criticism from international human rights groups over the high number of death sentences handed down by its anti-terrorist courts.

Iraq declared "victory" over IS in December after a three-year war against the jihadists who once controlled nearly one third of the country as well as swathes of neighboring Syria.

The Iraqi military has kept up operations targeting mostly remote desert areas where jihadists have continued to carry out attacks.

Over the border in Syria, U.S.-backed fighters last week launched a fierce assault against a dwindling pocket of territory held by IS in eastern Deir Ezzor province.U.S. counterterrorism officials say despite major strides in combating and regaining territory from terror groups like Islamic State and al-Qaida, the terror landscape has grown more complex.

"ISIS, al-Qaida, and their affiliates have proven to be determined, resilient and adaptable," U.S. Coordinator for Counterterrorism Nathan Sales said Wednesday, using an acronym for Islamic State. "They have adjusted to heightened counterterrorism pressure in Iraq, Syria, Somalia and elsewhere."

Sales made the comments in a briefing to reporters on the release of the State Department's 2017 Country Reports on Terrorism, which found that IS and al-Qaida have become more dispersed, turning to the internet to inspire attacks by distant followers, making them less susceptible to conventional military action.

The State Department report says as IS lost territory last year, it continued to shift away from a centralized command and encouraged its sympathizers around the world to use whatever weapons they have at hand against so-called "soft targets." The report says 2017 saw such attacks in Manchester, Barcelona, Sinai, Marawi, New York City and elsewhere.

While terror groups have become more resilient, Sales noted progress in the fight, with the United States and its allies working to expand information security, improve aviation security and enhance law enforcement capabilities.

The U.S. counterterrorism official said the coalition has succeeded in liberating nearly all the territory Islamic State fighters once held in Iraq and Syria, and increased pressure on al-Qaida.

Also in 2017, the total number of terrorist attacks worldwide decreased by 23 percent, and the total number of deaths caused by terrorism decreased by 27 percent. Sales said the main reason for that decrease is that the number of terrorist attacks and resulting deaths plummeted in Iraq.

Still, Sales says there is one country that leads others in supporting terrorism.

"Iran remains the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism and is responsible for intensifying multiple conflicts and undermining U.S. interests in Syria, Yemen, in Iraq, in Bahrain, in Afghanistan and in Lebanon, using a number of proxies and other instruments, such as Lebanese Hezbollah and the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps-Quds Force," Sales told reporters Wednesday.

Sales also noted that while al-Qaida has not been in the spotlight as much as in the past, the terror group has been expanding its numbers.

"Al-Qaida is a determined and patient adversary. They have largely remained out of the headlines in recent years as they've been content to let ISIS bear the brunt of the international response. But we shouldn't confuse that period of relative quiet with al-Qaida's abandonment of its capabilities or intention to strike us and our allies."Joseph Kabila's preferred successor as president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo will face a credible election challenge in December from two opposition leaders, the final list of candidates published Wednesday

showed.

Kabila has ruled since his father's assassination in 2001. He agreed last month not to defy term limits and stand for re-election, opening the door to the Central African nation's first democratic transfer of power.

His announcement calmed tensions that have seen dozens of anti-Kabila demonstrators killed by security forces since he refused to step down when his constitutional mandate expired in December 2016.

Kabila is backing Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary in the long-delayed Dec. 23 election. His biggest challengers are likely to be Felix Tshisekedi, the president of Congo's largest opposition party, and Vital Kamerhe, who placed third in the last election in 2011.

But in all, 21 candidates have been approved for the single-round contest, including several other prominent Kabila critics, which risks diluting the opposition vote and boosting Ramazani's chances.

Fairness questions

The authorities' exclusion from the race of other leading opposition figures, including former Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba and ex-provincial Governor Moise Katumbi, has also raised questions about the election's fairness.

The opposition accuses Kabila's camp of plotting to rig the elections with untested electronic voting machines, a charge the ruling coalition rejects.

In a rare opinion poll in July, Katumbi and Tshisekedi each received 19 percent support. Bemba received 17 percent and Kamerhe got 9 percent.

Ramazani did not receive enough votes to figure in the results but is expected to now benefit from the ruling coalition's financial and institutional muscle.

Opposition leaders have repeatedly said they intend to coalesce behind a single candidate but have traditionally struggled to present a united front. In 2011, Kabila won with 49 percent of ballots cast as the opposition vote split.

The final candidate list also includes former Prime Minister Samy Badibanga and longtime Kabila ally Tryphon Kin-Kiey.

Bemba was disqualified by the constitutional court earlier this month over a witness-tampering conviction, while Katumbi was prevented from re-entering the country last month to register his candidacy after two years in exile.

The electoral commission also validated more than 15,000 candidacies for parliamentary elections due to take place the same day.Kenya's Finance Minister Henry Rotich has cut the government's spending budget by 55.1 billion shillings ($546.90 million), or 1.8 percent, for the fiscal year from July this year, a Treasury document showed on Wednesday.

The government is facing a tough balancing act after a public outcry over a new 16 percent value added tax on all petroleum products forced President Uhuru Kenyatta to suggest to parliament to keep the VAT and cut if by half.



In the document detailing the new spending estimates, Rotich said the budget had to be adjusted because of the amendments to tax measures brought by lawmakers when they first debated it and passed it last month.



The proposed halving of the VAT rate on fuel has left the government with a funding shortfall, hence the cuts in spending.



Parliament will vote on a raft of proposals, including the 1.8 percent cut on spending, in a special sitting on Thursday.



Kenya's economy is expected to grow by 6 percent this year, recovering from a drought, slowdown in lending and election-related worries that cut growth in 2017, but investors and the IMF have expressed concerns over growing public debt.



While the next election is still four years away, the government's economic policies are chafing with citizens angered by increasing costs of living. Fuel dealers protested when the VAT on fuel kicked in this month and citizen groups have gone to court to try to block new or higher taxes.



Separate documents sent by Kenyatta to parliament ahead of Thursday's sitting underscored the debate in government over how to boost revenues without hurting the poor.



His government has to reduce a gaping fiscal deficit while boosting spending on priority areas such as healthcare and affordable housing.



In order to balance the government's books after the reduction of the fuel tax, he is trying to reinstate several tax measures struck out by parliament, including a 2 percentage hike on excise duty for mobile phone money transfers to 12 percent.



Kenya's biggest mobile phone operator Safaricom said in June it was opposed to any tax rise on mobile phone-based transfers, arguing that it would mainly hurt the poor, most of whom do not have bank accounts and rely on services such as its M-Pesa platform.



The president also asked parliament to double the excise duty on the fees charged by banks, money transfer services, and other financial institutions to 20 percent.



Parliament in August threw out an earlier version of proposed fees on bank transfers, a so-called "Robin Hood" tax of 0.05 percent on transfers of more than 500,000 shillings.



The president has not yet signed the budget due to the dispute over the planned tax hikes. Kenyatta's Jubilee party and its allies have a comfortable majority in parliament.



The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry this month said the government should widen the tax base. It also urged the state to cut expenditure, reduce wastage of public funds and deal with corruption, which some studies have found lose the government about a third of its annual budget.As South Korean President Moon Jae-in meets with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for their third summit, there is increasing concern that the inter-Korean economic projects Seoul envisions could violate sanctions and fracture the U.S.-South Korean alliance.

The South Korean government appears to be headed in the direction of, or inclined to violate bans on joint ventures with North Korea, support for trade with North Korea, and infrastructure projects with North Korea, all of which require the permission of the U.N. committee, said Joshua Stanton, a Washington-based attorney who helped draft the North Korea Sanctions Enforcement Act that former President Barack Obama signed in February 2016.

For South Korea to carry out joint economic projects with North Korea, it would need to seek exemptions on sanctions from the U.N. Security Council Sanctions Committee on North Korea.

However, the mandate of the committee does not include the authority to modify existing terms specified in various resolutions, said William Newcomb, a former U.S. Treasury official who is on the U.N. Security Councils Panel of Experts on North Korea.

Disruption of relationship

If South Korea does not ask for exemptions from sanctions, Seoul will face a risk of rupturing its relationship with the U.S., Stanton said.

It would be an extinction-level event for the U.S.-South Korean alliance, he said. This is an absolutely incomprehensible betrayal by a nation that calls itself our ally that Americans have defended with [their] blood and with their money.

And if sanctions are willfully violated, Stanton said South Korea would be, in its own way, a rogue nation. The roster of rogue nations includes North Korea, Iran, Sudan, Syria and others.

South Korea has been planning several joint economic projects with North Korea since Aprils inter-Korean summit. As the U.S. and North Korean relationship has thawed in the aftermath of the Singapore summit held in June between President Donald Trump and Kim, Seoul stepped up its plans, and a third inter-Korean summit began Tuesday in Pyongyang.

Days before Moon and Kim met, however, the U.S. announced new unilateral sanctions against North Korea. On Thursday, Washington targeted North Koreas China-based company, Yanbian Silver Star Network Technology, its North Korean CEO, Jong Song Hwa, and its Russia-based subsidiary, Volasys Silver Star, which sells IT services and products.

There is also talk of the U.S. using military force to curb North Korea from evading sanctions at sea by monitoring ship-to-ship transfers by coordinating its efforts with countries like Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Canada, France, and the U.K. as well as South Korea.

The projects South Korea has been planning with the North include constructing an inter-Korean railway, which Moon has publicly backed, reopening the Kaesong Industrial Complex, and resuming the tours to Mount Kumgang, a landmark of great natural beauty with a special hold on the Korean soul. The tours and the complex appeal to South Korean companies.

Possible sanction violations

Each could violate sanctions that were imposed on North Korea in 2016 in response to its fourth nuclear weapons test and a long-range missile launch.

In the absence of waivers and exemptions from the United Nations, which the U.S. as one of the Security Council members would have to support, Mount Kumgang and Kaesong would violate sanctions, said Troy Stangarone, senior director of the Korea Economic Institute, who is a specialist on South Korea trade and North Korea.

Under U.N. Resolution 2375 issued in September 2017, forming joint ventures or cooperative entities, new and existing, with DPRK (North Korean) entities or individuals is prohibited.

Additionally, any products manufactured using North Korean labor, potentially including items fabricated in the Kaesong Industrial Complex, will be banned from U.S. commerce. The Countering Americas Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) adopted in August 2017 stipulates that manufacturers purge any parts made with North Korean labor from their supply chains.

While Moon is expected to attempt to broker a denuclearization deal between the U.S. and North Korea at the summit and continue Seouls rapprochement with Pyongyang aimed toward eventual unification, South Korea must make sure that it does not violate sanctions as it pursues inter-Korean projects, Stanton said.

I dont think they actually did read the sanctions, he said. When you look at Moon Jae-in, he will go out and make all of these promises and when its pointed out that that theres a provision that youre violating here  they will respond by saying its not sanctions violation because its good for everyone to have peace.

One of the projects is the construction of a railroad to connect Seoul and Sinuju, the Norths northeastern border near the Chinese city of Dandong, via Pyongyang, eventually linking to Beijing and then venturing toward Europe via the Trans-Mongolian and Trans-Siberian railways.

Railway project concerns

William Brown, a former U.S. intelligence official who is currently a professor of North Korean economy at Georgetown University, said for the railroad project to move forward, South Korea would have to finance the construction, which could end up funding the North Korean government.

A big railway project wouldnt work without severe pullback of U.N. sanctions and probably U.S. sanctions as well, said Brown.

According to Stanton, providing both public and private financial support to North Korea is banned under U.N. Resolution 2321 adopted in November 2016.

However, plans for the railroad and the other projects are being formulated. Although South Korean officials said they do not expect to make any agreements on joint economic projects, top business leaders from Samsung, LG Group and Hyundai accompanied Moon to the summit.

Since Moons first summit with Kim, Hyundai has been developing a task force to prepare for restarting the Mount Kumgang tours and Kaesong factories.

When Mount Kumgang initially opened in 1998, Hyundai Asan had the exclusive right to operate tours. The company agreed to pay Pyongyang a fixed monthly sum, which was subsequently changed to a percentage of monthly profit when the attraction proved less profitable than anticipated, said Bradley Babson, an advisory council member of the Korea Economic Institute of America.

The tours ended in 2008 after a North Korean guard shot and killed a South Korean tourist.

Resuming the tours under an arrangement similar to the original deal would violate current sanctions.

Initially, the Kaesong Industrial Complex was mostly financed by the South Korean government and major South Korean companies. The complex that opened in 2004 included factories where South Korean manufacturers could employ inexpensive North Korean workers.

Each North Korean worker was supposed to be paid $70 a month, but they received a fraction of that from their government, Brown said.

Wages likely diverted

In February 2016 during the administration of Park Geun-hye, Seouls Unification Ministry said wages were paid in U.S. dollars to the North Korean government and not directly to the laborers, and most of the money is believed to have been diverted to the Norths Office 39, which is thought to finance Pyongyangs nuclear and missile programs.

The Treasury Department sanctioned Office 39, describing it as a secretive branch of the North Korean government that provides critical support to the regimes leadership in part through engaging in illicit economic activities and managing slush funds and generating revenues for the leadership.

Moon, who was elected in May 2017 after Parks impeachment, revived the sunshine policy of building ties with North Korea through aid and exchanges.

In July 2017, Moons office said that there was no proof that money from Kaesong funded North Koreas weapons program. But Stangarone said the money would have indirectly supported the Norths weapons program even if it did not directly finance it.

The primary issue, he said, is even if North Korea were  to only spend that money on other things rather than nuclear program or its military in general, that funding then frees up other funding they would have had to use and allow them to spend it on those weapons program.Macedonia's constitutional court has rejected two bids to declare illegal and unconstitutional the upcoming referendum on renaming the country "North Macedonia."



The vote on Sept. 30 has been hailed by western officials as a major chance for the small Balkan country to launch the process of joining NATO and the European Union.



Judges voted 7-2 on Wednesday to reject the two bids, filed by the World Macedonian Congress, a Skopje-based diaspora group, and the small, left-wing Levitsa party.



Renaming Macedonia is a key element of a deal with neighboring Greece to end a decades-old dispute. Greece says Macedonia's current name implies claims on its own northern province of Macedonia, and on its ancient heritage.



If the deal goes ahead, Greece will lift objections to Macedonia joining NATO and the EU.

Mexico's incoming financial intelligence chief said it was "shameful" how little had been done about bribes that Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht executives said were paid to secure Mexican public works contracts, and vowed to reexamine the case once in office.

Santiago Nieto will head the finance ministry's Financial Intelligence Unit, which analyzes suspicious financial records, once the new leftist government takes office on Dec. 1. He said in an interview last week that the unit had been misused for political ends, without elaborating.

"It's shameful that Mexico and Venezuela are the only countries in Latin America that haven't sanctioned anyone," he said of the Odebrecht case, which is at the heart of Brazil's Lava Jato, or Car Wash, corruption investigation that has reverberated across the region in recent years.

"In the case of Odebrecht, and in any other case, the first thing we would have to do is review what there is in the Financial Intelligence Unit related to the case," he said. Nieto does not yet have access to files and records kept by the unit.

In Brazil, Odebrecht executives admitted to paying bribes within Mexico. Prosecutors in Mexico have said they are probing business between the Brazilian conglomerate and state oil company Pemex.

Pemex has declined to comment on issues related to Odebrecht, citing the ongoing investigation. The office of Mexico's attorney general, the finance ministry and the Financial Intelligence Unit all declined to comment for this story. Odebrecht acknowledged receipt of an emailed request for comment, but did not respond further.

Anger at widespread corruption scandals, including the alleged bribes from Odebrecht, a lucrative house deal involving the family of President Enrique Pena Nieto, and hundreds of millions of dollars siphoned from government coffers through fake contracts, helped leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador win a landslide presidential victory in July.

Lopez Obrador pledged in his manifesto to clamp down on financial crime, and tighten money laundering, banking and tax regulations. He has given few details of how he will achieve this, but promises to set an example of probity from the presidency.

Tasked with helping to prevent and fight money laundering and terrorism financing, the financial intelligence unit receives and analyzes information that it should then pass on to prosecutors to investigate and construct a case.

A former lead prosecutor for electoral crimes, Nieto was dismissed in 2017 on the grounds that he broke a code of conduct when he gave an interview about his investigation into Odebrecht bribery during the 2012 presidential campaign.

Nieto has admitted his mistake, but denies breaking rules or revealing sensitive information. He said his firing was illegal.

Last month, two incoming administration officials told Reuters that Odebrecht may be blocked from participating in public works projects under the new government.

Odebrecht responded that wrongdoing at the company should not be used to impose sanctions against it in Mexico.

Corrupt System?

Nieto said he would press for more information sharing between federal departments that investigate tax, electoral and organized crime, and investigate possible corruption within the system.

"I have the impression that there is a factor of internal corruption," he said, without providing specifics.

The Financial Action Task Force, an international organization that sets global standards for fighting illicit finance, said earlier this year that in Mexico "financial intelligence does not often lead to investigations of money laundering, underlying crimes, and terrorist financing."

Following the report, Mexico's finance ministry and the attorney general's office issued a joint statement recognizing shortcomings and promising to improve efforts.

However, the Mexican government seized just 871 million pesos ($46.3 million) and $14.7 million between September 2017 and June 2018, and began just one criminal proceeding, according to official statistics.

Nieto, who called the outcomes "terrible," pointed to the financial intelligence unit and attorney general's office as the two "bottlenecks" holding back cases.

"It is a matter of impunity, a complicit government, and a lack of political will to fight corruption," Nieto said.A Hungarian appeals court will make its final verdict Thursday in the case of a man convicted of terrorism for throwing stones at police and trying to enter the country illegally, at the height of the migrant crisis in 2015.

Amnesty International says his actions can in no way be interpreted as terrorism. The human rights group says the hearing in Budapest is the first big test for the country's judicial system since the European Parliament voted last week to sanction Hungary over its record on fundamental rights.

The defendant, named as Ahmed H., was living in Cyprus at the time of the alleged offense. In the summer of 2015, he traveled to the Balkans to help his elderly parents and other family members as they fled the war in Syria. Like hundreds of thousands of other migrants and refugees, they were making their way from Turkey to Greece, through the Balkan states, trying to reach Western Europe.

Their journey was halted at the Hungarian-Serbian border as authorities closed the crossing. Ahmed took part in protests that erupted at the border

"He threw a few stones and he urged the police to let the refugees and migrants who had amassed there cross through to Hungary," said Eda Seyhan of Amnesty.

Ahmed was arrested by Hungarian police. In 2016, he was convicted on charges of terrorism and sentenced to 10 years in jail.

"The defendant himself shook the fence, and fiddled with the lock, and threw solid objects towards the policemen line on three occasions," the judge, Andrea Nagy, read after the verdict.

Following an appeal, Ahmed was again convicted of terrorism in a retrial. His latest appeal is his final hope of overturning the conviction in the Hungarian judicial system.

Amnesty's Seyhan says Ahmed's case is symptomatic of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's vilification of migrants.

"The Orban government have tried to justify their refusal of asylum-seekers and their ill-treatment of refugees by arguing that refugees and terrorism are in some way associated," Seyhan said. "Having found no evidence for this assertion, they've really used the Ahmed case to back up their claims."

The European Parliament last week voted to enact so-called Article 7 sanctions against Hungary for flouting EU rules on fundamental rights. During a debate ahead of the vote, Orban claimed he was legitimately defending Europe's external borders.

"Hungary is going to be condemned because the Hungarian people have decided that this country is not going to be a country of migrants," Orban told EU lawmakers.

But Amnesty sees the upcoming verdict as a new chance for Hungary.

"What we're hoping for on Thursday is that Hungary will see the trial of Ahmed as an opportunity to show to the international community and others that it is coming back on a path of the rule of law and of human rights," Seyhan said.

That battle over Hungary's future path played out Tuesday on the streets of Budapest as thousands of anti-government protesters demanded new elections.Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday called the downing of a Russian military plane by Syria "a chain of tragic, accidental circumstances," tamping down what could have turned into a tense situation with Israel.

Fifteen people aboard the Russian reconnaissance jet died when the Syrians shot it down, responding to an Israeli missile strike.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told his Israeli counterpart, Avigdor Lieberman, that Israel "bears full responsibility" and that Russia had the right to retaliate.

But Putin stepped in, calling it "a chain of tragic, accidental circumstances." He said Russia would respond by "taking additional steps to protect our servicemen and assets in Syria." He said "everyone will notice" those steps.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his sorrow at the loss of Russian lives and blamed Syria for the incident.

The Israeli military said its jets were targeting a Syrian military facility supplying arms to the Iranian-backed terror group Hezbollah.

Israeli warning

Israel said it had warned Russia of the airstrike in advance, and its jets were already back in Israeli airspace when Syria fired its missile.

The Russian defense ministry said Israel's warning came less than a minute before the airstrike. It accused the Israelis of using the Russian plane as a cover to avoid Syrian air defense systems.

While Putin did not appear to blame Israel outright for causing the Russian plane to be shot down, the Kremlin said it told Netanyahu that Israel had violated Syrian sovereignty and urged it "not to let such situations happen again."

President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House that, based on what he had been told, Syria shot down the Russian plane. He called the deaths of those aboard "a very sad thing."

Trump took a moment to say the United States has done a "tremendous job" in helping eradicate Islamic State from Syria and said "we are very close to finishing that job."

Putin is striving to maintain his good relationship with Israel, while continuing to back the Syrian government in its fight against the rebels.

Russia also has healthy relations with Iran, Israel's archenemy.

Israel has said it will not allow any permanent Iranian military presence inside Syria and has looked to the Russians to help keep Iranian-backed forces away from the Israeli-Syrian frontier.I wish we lived in a world where a man could say that he did a terrible thing when he was a kid, and he didn't realize until many years later how truly horrible it was, and that it shaped his life in ways that made him go out of his way to help victims of similar assaults, and that he had often thought of contacting the woman to apologize for his terrible behavior as a drunken youth, she wrote.Renovation work is nearly complete on an Armenian cemetery in Cairo whose graves reflect a 100 years of the communitys history in the Egyptian capital.

Workers have fixed and cleaned up tombstones, statues and busts that sit on top of graves.

The site dates back to 1924, when the Armenian community was granted a piece of land adjacent to an older one. It fused Egyptian, Armenian and European architectural designs.

There was a period when this place was neglected, and the renovation project was a great initiative because the area was restored to what it once was, said Nairy Hampikian, an archaeologist and conservation specialist who has overseen the renovation project.

The first thing we did was remove the dust from all the pathways inside the cemetery. After that the signs that you see over there that were mostly scattered on the ground and covered in dust appeared when we cleaned up.

Armenians began settling in Egypt in the Fatimid era from the 10th to 12th Centuries and were given a piece of land by Mohamed Ali Pasha in 1844 in an area now known as old Islamic Cairo.

The size of the Armenian community in Egypt would fluctuate, driven by the country's political and economic situation.

But it was not until after the events of World War I - when Ottoman forces killed as many as 1.5 million Armenians in 1915 - that a large number of Armenians fled to Egypt and other countries.

Turkey says many Christian Armenians who lived under the Ottoman Empire were killed in clashes with Turkish soldiers but contests the figures and denies that a genocide took place.

The Armenians in Egypt thrived in cosmopolitan cities such as Cairo and Alexandria, which were also home to Italian and Greek communities.

Today, the Armenian community in Egypt has shrunk to about 3,000 people, and according to the president of Goganian Armenian cultural club in Cairo, Kevork Erzingatzian.

But the burial ground serves as a reminder of the Armenians cultural and religious heritage.

We found tombstones that date back to the 1830s, 40s, and 50s, Hampikian said.

Restoration work began in 2014 and is scheduled for completion at the end of 2018. The Armenian Patriarchate of Cairo, with help from donations from the Armenian community, funded the project.A group of free speech advocates who conducted a peaceful demonstration in Yangon earlier this week, calling for the release of two detained Reuters journalists in Myanmar, have said they will continue their protests until the pair are released.

On Sunday, dozens of demonstrators held a protest in downtown Yangon, where they made speeches, chanted slogans calling for the publics right to information, and released balloons depicting images of Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, who earlier this month were sentenced to seven years in prison under the colonial-era Official Secrets Act.

At the time of their arrest, in December last year, the pair were investigating the army-led killing of 10 Rohingya men at Inn Din in northern Rakhine State at the height of the militarys crackdown in the region last year. The military later admitted that some of its members were involved.

The journalists trial attracted international condemnation. One prosecution witness said he burned his notes from the time of his arrest, while another testified the arrest was a set-up ordered by a police commander. Reuters Editor-in-chief Stephen J. Adler said the sentence was a major step backwards in Myanmars democratic transition.

Maung Saungkha, an organizer of Sundays protest, said the group was initially denied permission by authorities to host the event, but were eventually allowed to protest when organizers pointed out that a pro-military rally had been permitted in the same area earlier this year.

Protestors held placards with messages including if press freedom is shut down, democracy fails and a massacre is not a state secret, the latter a reference to the Inn Din killings. Maung Saungkha also conducted a performance, in which he wore a uniform associated with the ruling National League for Democracy party underneath a green army jacket and began beating journalists with a copy of the state-run Kyemon.

Ei Ei Moe, a member of local advocacy group Generation Wave, delivered a speech in which she said people in Myanmar have the right to information.

The jailing of Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo is like blinding the eyes and blocking the ears of the public, she said.

After the event, Maung Saungkha told VOA the case involving Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo had made the public angry.

We conducted the protest because we want people to learn about what happened because its not fair, he said, adding that further demonstrations were planned in the future, but did not elaborate.

A government spokesperson could not be reached for comment concerning the protests.

Before the event, organizers had said they hoped a few hundred people would attend, but there were less than many expected. Maung Saungkha said the group would continue to try and encourage people to become involved in their cause.

A Yangon resident, who asked not to be named, said he supports the groups cause and that the sentencing was unfair," but that he didnt attend Sundays protest out of fear of being arrested.

This is Myanmar, anything could still happen, he said.

Thar Lun Zaung Thet, founder of the Protection Committee for Myanmar Journalists, admitted the turnout was smaller than expect, but that he believed people would continue supporting the group.

We have many things to do while our brothers remain in jail, he told VOA. We have done a lot of campaigning, and have pressured the government to release them, but this is only the beginning. The government hasnt responded to our requests, so we need to do more.

Support for the Reuters reporters inside the country has been mixed. While some comments have been posted online accusing the journalists of being traitors, Thar Lun Zaung Thet said he believes the public is sympathetic to their cause.

Online you see comments attacking journalists, but on the ground that is not the case, he said. People really understand whats happening. They understand us and see that journalists are not working for power, but to inform the public.A campaigner for the legalization of euthanasia in South Africa has been charged with murder relating to the death of a man in 2013, police said on Wednesday.

Sean Davison, who founded right-to-die organization Dignity SA, is accused of assisting in the suicide of his friend Anrich Burger who was left quadriplegic after a car crash, local media reported.

"A 57-year-old man was arrested on a charge of murder [Tuesday] relating to an incident in Sea Point on November 2, 2013 which led to the death of a 43-year-old man," said police spokesman Andre Traut in a statement.

Davison appeared in court, was charged with premeditated murder and released on bail of 20,000 rand ($1,366, 1,169 euros), the News24 site reported.

Prosecutors told the court that "new information has come to light... the accused might have committed other similar offences," the site added.

In December 2016, South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal overturned a ruling that granted a man the right to medically-assisted death and could have opened the way to legalize euthanasia.

The government appealed against the initial judgement, saying it could lead to assisted-suicide legislation that would be open to abuse.

Medically-assisted suicide or voluntary euthanasia is illegal in South Africa, but in recent years there have been growing calls for it to be legalized.

South African retired Anglican archbishop and anti-apartheid icon Desmond Tutu, 86, has previously said he would like to be allowed the option of a dignified assisted death.The Somali government said this week that it was ready to send troops to help with security and enhance peace in South Sudan, where officials and opposition groups recently signed an agreement to end a five-year civil war.

The statement came days after the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, a regional bloc, proposed that Somalia and several other nations be allowed to contribute to a South Sudan joint peace force.

Speaking in Mogadishu, Somalia's deputy education minister, Abdirahman Jabir, said his country would not hesitate to contribute soldiers to South Sudan.

"Some may ask how is it possible a country like Somalia, that is coming out of conflict and enmity, can contribute to a peacekeeping force. What is stopping us from contributing?" he said, noting that Burundi had sent troops and assistance to Somalia while it was at war itself. "What is stopping us from taking part in peace building in other parts of Africa where there is conflict?"

The U.N. mission in South Sudan has 17,000 troops charged with protecting civilians, creating a safe corridor for delivering humanitarian assistance, and monitoring and investigating human rights violations. But Amnesty International has accused South Sudanese forces and militia groups of committing widespread abuses against civilians.

IGAD proposed that Sudan, Somalia, Uganda and Djibouti forces be included in the peacekeeping force in South Sudan to help build peace and improve security.

'Wrong notion'

But George Musamali, director of the Center for Risk Management in Africa, a security consultancy, said IGAD was trying to give the impression that Somalia had been stabilized.

"They are just playing with the minds of the people" in suggesting that Somalia is stable enough to be able to contribute troops to other hot spots, he said. "I think this is a wrong notion, because at the end of the day, al-Shabab is still thriving."

Somalis and their government are under the protection of 22,000 African Union troops who, with the help of Somali government soldiers, are fighting al-Shabab militants who have threatened to topple the internationally recognized government.

The United Nations has more than a dozen active peacekeeping missions in the world, and more than half of those are in Africa. Over the years, the less powerful countries in Africa have contributed to peacekeeping missions in conflict-ridden countries like Central African Republic.

But Musamali said that Somalia "is not ready to have troops used outside her borders. In fact, we should be enhancing the numbers and at the same time equipping them better so that they can deal with the problem within their borders."The U.S. State Department says it is scheduling meetings with members of Congress, after the countrys top diplomat this week proposed a record-low cap on refugees coming to the United States in the next year.

When Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday told reporters the proposed cap would be 30,000 refugees for Fiscal Year 2019, lawmakers and refugee advocates swiftly criticized the announcement.

What Pompeo did not explain  and it took the State Department a day to clarify in a news conference with the agencys chief spokesperson Heather Nauert  is that Pompeos announcement was a proposal included in an annual report submitted to Congress, not the final number.

A State Department spokesperson said Wednesday the agency sent the report, with the proposed refugee ceiling, to Congress on September 17, the same day as Pompeos announcement.

We are working to schedule an in person consultation with Members and a briefing for their staffs as soon as possible, the spokesperson said in an emailed statement to VOA.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, a Republican from Virginia, said in a news release Thursday morning the "leaders of the House and Senate Judiciary Committee have worked in good faith for weeks to schedule a consultation."

The report is created by the Department of State, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Health and Human Services on behalf of the president.

Every year, the president sets the so-called ceiling on refugees  the maximum number that will be allowed in over the 12-month period starting October 1  by a presidential determination. Part of the process is a consultation with Congress before the figure can be finalized.

The president has until the end of the month to make the presidential determination on the refugee ceiling. The full report is expected to be made public in the coming days, the State Department spokesperson added.

If the president sticks to the 30,000-refugee cap for FY2019, it will be the lowest ceiling on record since the U.S. refugee program began in the early 1980s.

The decision will come after a series of Trump administration decisions that have whittled down the program, citing unproven national security concerns.Tanzania's main opposition party on Wednesday said it would boycott the electoral process until further notice after by-elections that it said had been wrecked by "militarization" by the authorities.

Freeman Mbowe, president of the Chadema party, told a press conference, "We can no longer take part in elections of this kind. Democracy is being taken hostage.

"There is an excessive militarization of the electoral process. Going to vote these days is like going to war," he said.

The by-elections last Sunday took place in constituencies for two parliamentary seats and for 40 local officials.

The vote took place amid a massive presence by armed police and turnout was a record low.

"At many ballot stations, our representatives were prevented from observing voting, others were arrested or beaten," Mbowe said.

"These days, the outcome of elections is decided by the president and the security forces, in violation of our laws and constitution. It's as if there were no more laws," he said.

Mbowe vowed that Chadema would not stand by passively, announcing that it would petition the court of the justice of the East African Community (EAC), a regional bloc of six Great Lakes nations, and the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights.

It will ask the courts to set up an independent election commission, he said.

In August, the United States criticized "violence and irregularities" that had marred 70 by-elections in Tanzania, in a statement that sparked an angry rebuttal by the ruling CCM party.

Since his election in 2015, President John Magufuli has also closed several critical newspapers and rights groups have protested against the imposition of restrictive laws on freedom of expression.U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday he is not worried about his 2016 campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, agreeing to cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller in his wide-ranging investigation of Trump campaign links with Russia.

"I believe he will tell the truth," Trump told reporters at the White House as he headed to North Carolina to view the vast flood damage from Hurricane Florence. "And if he tells the truth, no problem."

Manafort, who headed the Trump campaign in mid-2016 when the then-real estate mogul was trying to lock down the Republican presidential nomination, cut a plea deal with Mueller last week, agreeing to tell him what he knows about Trump campaign operations in exchange for Mueller dropping several criminal charges against him.

Manafort, a 69-year-old longtime Washington lobbyist, pleaded guilty in Washington to two charges linked to his lucrative lobbying efforts for former Ukrainian leader Viktor Yanukovych that predated Manafort's involvement with the Trump campaign.

In August, a jury in nearby Virginia convicted Manafort of eight other tax and bank fraud charges, finding him guilty of hiding millions of dollars in income from U.S. authorities earned while working for Yanukovych and then lying about his income and assets on bank loans when the money from the Ukrainian leader dried up in 2014 when he was toppled in a popular uprising.

Manafort remains jailed, awaiting sentencing that could keep him imprisoned for a decade.

It is not known what information Manafort might be telling Mueller and his legal team.

But Manafort played a role in one key event Mueller is investigating, attending a June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower in New York, the candidate's campaign headquarters. Trump's oldest son, Donald Trump Jr., set up the meeting with a lawyer he was told was representing the Russian government and would provide incriminating information about Trump's Democratic opponent, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

As it turned out, the younger Trump said no such information was forthcoming. When news of the meeting first surfaced after Trump became president, he dictated a statement misleading The New York Times about the purpose of the meeting, but since then has said he had no knowledge about the meeting before it took place.U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has welcomed the "important commitments" made by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at a summit with his South Korean counterpart this week.

North Korea announced it would disassemble its nuclear missile test complex under a comprehensive agreement reached by the leaders of the two rival Koreas.

Pompeo said Wednesday that he had invited North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho to meet with him in New York at next weeks United Nations General Assembly. He also said Pyongyang's representatives have been invited to hold talks with the U.S. special envoy for North Korea in Austria at the earliest opportunity.

This will mark the beginning of negotiations to transform U.S.-DPRK relations through the process of rapid denuclearization of North Korea, to be completed by January 2021, as committed by Chairman Kim, and to construct a lasting and stable peace regime on the Korean Peninsula, Pompeo said in a statement.

President Donald Trump also welcomed the post-summit news from North Korea. "We had very good news from North Korea, South Korea. They met, and we had some great responses," Trump told reporters at the White House Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, he tweeted: "Kim Jong Un has agreed to allow Nuclear inspections, subject to final negotiations, and to permanently dismantle a test site and launch pad in the presence of international experts. In the meantime there will be no Rocket or Nuclear testing."

At the end of their three-day summit, Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in announced that Pyongyang had agreed to close the Yongbyong facility, coupled with a pledge to permanently shut down its missile engine testing facility and launchpad under the watchful eye of international experts.



We have agreed to make the Korean Peninsula a land of peace free from nuclear weapons and nuclear threats, Kim told reporters during the joint announcement with President Moon.

Moon traveled to Pyongyang Tuesday with the goal of breaking an impasse between North Korea and the U.S. over the pace of Pyongyang's intentions in ending its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. The two sides agreed to break the impasse during Kim's historic meeting with Trump in Singapore in June. Trump canceled Pompeo's trip to Pyongyang last month over the impasse.

The two leaders also said Kim will visit Seoul sometime before the year is out, which would make him the first North Korean leader to visit the South Korean capital since the two sides split in the 1950-1953 Korean War.

Moon will wrap up his final full day in Pyongyang, watching North Koreas spectacular Mass Games outdoor propaganda show.A Turkish court has detained 24 construction workers for protesting conditions at the building of Istanbul's third airport, according to Turkish media.

International condemnation was swift. "This is an appalling assault on the right to protest and organize and on the dignity of workers in Turkey," tweeted senior Turkey researcher Emma Sinclair Webb of the New York-based Human Rights Watch.

The 24 workers face charges of resisting police, violating protest laws and damage to public property. The detentions are in connection to protests involving thousands of workers over safety and poor conditions at the construction site of Istanbul's new airport.

The airport is planned to be one of world's largest, the centerpiece of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's scheme of mega-construction projects to create what he calls the "new Turkey."

The labor unrest at the airport site started Sept. 14, triggered by the reported deaths of four workers traveling on a service bus from their dormitories to work.

"Four of our friends died," said one protesting worker, speaking to local media anonymously. "The shuttle bus had an accident."

He added, "5,000, 6,000, almost 7,000 workers left work because they didn't get paid. We can't tell them don't go. Neither can we stay here like that."

Within hours of the protest, police using tear gas and armored cars moved in, arresting many strikers. Early Sept. 15, police raided the worker's dormitories, detaining as many as 500 people.

With more than 36,000 people building the airport, it's one of Europe's biggest construction sites, but it also has become a national focal point for the treatment of construction workers. The International Trade Union Confederation lists Turkey as one of the world's worst places for worker safety.

Media report that since construction on the airport started three years ago, more than 400 workers have been killed. The transport ministry says the number is 27.

Trade union officials claim workers are under intense pressure to meet next month's opening, which is timed to coincide with Turkey's Republic Day on October 29.

"What we call as demands are simply to correct the working conditions that belong to the middle ages," said Ozgur Karabulut, general manager of Dev IS Union. "Workers can't sleep because of cockroaches in the dormitories, they can't eat the food as there are worms inside."

Karabulut blames the deepening financial crisis in Turkey as a factor for the worsening conditions. The Turkish lira has plummeted more than 40 percent this year, driving up import costs.

"Because the costs are growing for the subcontractors, to make profit [they] cut from everything, from helmets to safety shoes," Karabulut said.

"This problem is not unique to the airport construction site," he added. "Any of the state's mega-projects all have the same conditions and problems, and because the workers are asking for the rights they are getting beaten, gassed and detained."

With nearly all mainstream media under control of the president or his supporters, the protesting workers have been labeled as "provocateurs" and "terrorists."

In Istanbul's central Kadikoy district Sunday, union officials reached out to the public and fringe media. Officials tried to read a statement outlining their demands and the conditions facing the workers.

Police quickly surrounded the officials and told them the Istanbul governor, Vasip Sahin, had banned the protest. Seconds later the officials were arrested, handcuffed and dragged away. More than two dozen people were detained.

Opposition parties are voicing support for the protesting workers.

Deputy leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party, Sezgin Tanrikulu, says the crackdown is unprecedented.

"Nowhere in the world, just for demanding better and more humane working conditions, more than 500 workers are taken into custody, gassed, beaten in raids on dorms in the middle of the night. For demanding adequate food, payments to be made to a bank account. It shows the level of democracy and law concerning workers' rights and workers," Tanrikulu said.

The consortium building the airport has not commented. However, Governor Sahin promised action, saying, "The employer has begun work to eliminate the problems of the employees of the airport construction."

But with less than six weeks left until the airport's planned opening, union officials claim pressure is being stepped up on workers.

Paramilitary police are now reportedly supervising the workers who've returned to work, while new workers are being brought in from Erdogan's traditional Black Sea voting stronghold.Poland might not yet be ready for a permanent US military base, the head of the US Army said Wednesday, the day after Polish President Andrzej Duda offered to host "Fort Trump."

Duda went to the White House on Tuesday to reiterate Poland's long-standing desire for a permanent US troop deployment to the eastern European country  a contentious move some worry would anger Russia and draw US troops away from long-established bases in Germany.

But US Army Secretary Mark Esper told AFP when he visited Poland in January, it appeared there was not enough space on offer to fulfill the training requirements for US soldiers.

"It was not sufficient in terms of size and what we could do in the maneuver space and certainly on the ranges," Esper said. "You need a lot of range space to do tank gunnery, for example."

He added that, in many cases, the terrain was "maybe not robust enough to really allow us to maintain the level of readiness we would like to maintain."

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Tuesday expressed similar concerns, saying there was a "host of details" that need to be studied alongside the Poles before any decision is made.

"It's not just about a base," Mattis told reporters. "It's about training ranges, it's about maintenance facilities at the base, all these kinds of things."

Trump said Poland is offering to pay Washington at least $2 billion to help meet the costs of the base, which Duda said could be called "Fort Trump," and that the US is "looking at it very seriously."

Duda said Russian military expansion, starting with a takeover of rebel areas of neighboring Georgia and more recently the annexation of Ukraine's Black Sea Crimea region, was part of "constant violation of international law."

Poland has been angling for a permanent US troop presence since at least a decade ago, when it was in talks with president George W. Bush's administration to host a missile-defense complex.

That deal eventually fell through under president Barack Obama, but Poland in March signed a $4.75 billion contract to purchase a US-made Patriot anti-missile system.

NATO last year opened a counter-espionage hub in Poland aimed at expanding the alliance's intelligence-gathering capabilities amid tensions with Russia.

The US-led alliance has also bolstered its forces in eastern Europe with four international battalions acting as tripwires against possible Russian adventurism in the region.

Esper is set to visit Europe next weekend, traveling to Germany, Bulgaria and France, where he will attend the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery for a commemoration 100 years after World War I.U.S. President Donald Trump introduced the new national strategy for combating disease outbreaks and bioterrorism Tuesday, on the anniversary of the 2001 anthrax attacks on the United States that left five people dead.

In a statement, the president said, "Biological threats emanate from many sources, and they know no borders."

In the 2001 attacks, letters containing anthrax spores were mailed to two Democratic U.S. senators and several news media outlets. Five people died in the attacks, and another 17 were infected by exposure to the spores. The identity of the person responsible for the letters was never discovered, although the prime suspect, a government scientist, committed suicide in 2008.

This year's strategy, the president said, builds on lessons learned from past biological incidents, including not only the anthrax attacks but the 2009 U.S. outbreak of influenza and the Ebola virus epidemic that killed thousands of people in West Africa in 2014.

Trump said he has authorized Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar to serve as the federal lead in coordinating implementation of the national strategy. He said he has also established a cabinet-level biodefense steering committee, and directed National Security Adviser John Bolton to review threats and prioritize biodefense actions annually.

In a news briefing Tuesday, Azar told reporters that biological threats are "very real, and they're growing." He said this year's strategy is the first by the U.S. to include naturally occurring threats.

Previously, the national biodefense strategy focused on the weaponization of biological threats by enemy forces. But Bolton told reporters at the briefing that there is no "particular immediate threat" of a biological attack.

Cuts to funding

Ashley Arabasadi, chair of the Global Health Security Agenda Consortium, told VOA on Tuesday that her collective welcomes the release of the strategy after several delays. However, she said in an email, "the administration's actions do not match its words."

She said the Trump administration's proposed budget cuts health security funding to the Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Agency for International Development, and withdraws unspent funding for Ebola defense.

"Without funds, we cannot continue to implement the programs on the ground and ensure that we are making the world [and the U.S.] safer from infectious disease threats whether natural, man-made, accidental, or intentional," she said.

The Global Health Security Agenda Consortium is an international group of nongovernmental organizations that promotes cooperation on world health security needs and defends against infectious threats.Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said Tuesday he may have to suspend a planned trip to the United Nations next week because of concerns his opponents would try to kill him if he travels abroad.



Maduro said he had hoped to attend to the U.N. General Assembly in New York, which he hasn't since 2015, to combat what he called a hate campaign directed against his socialist government from the U.S.



But he said opponents backed by the U.S. continue to look for ways to remove him and that security concerns would be paramount in his decision.



"I'm still evaluating whether to go to the U.N. General Assembly because you know they're looking to kill me," Maduro said.



While Maduro didn't provide evidence of any assassination plots afoot he pointed to last month's attack by two explosives-laden drones as he was delivering a speech to troops as evidence that plots against his life are ongoing.



"It's a permanent conspiracy," he said.



As Venezuela's economy has fallen deeper into crisis, calls for Maduro's removal from opposition groups, one-time aides and foreign leaders have grown louder. Last week, the head of the Organization of American States, Luis Almagro, in a visit to Colombia joined U.S. President Donald Trump in warning that a military intervention to remove Maduro shouldn't be ruled out.



But Maduro insisted that his military was unwaveringly loyal and helped detect two coup plots, one of them set to coincide with presidential elections last May. But he named and showed pictures of three retired officers authorities are seeking to arrest for allegedly conspiring from bases in Colombia, Miami and the Dominican Republic.The widow of an ex-KGB agent who was poisoned by a radioactive isotope in 2006 says Britain's swift medical and diplomatic response to the recent nerve agent attack on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter shows some improvement by British officials.

Skripal's case has drawn numerous comparisons to the case of Alexander Litvinenko, the Russian KGB-officer-turned-British-intelligence-agent and highly public critic of President Vladimir Putin.

Litvinenko died an agonizing death days after drinking tea laced with radioactive polonium-210 in a London hotel over decade ago, leaving British doctors struggling to identify the substance that killed him.

Speaking with VOA's Russian service, Marina Litvinenko, Alexander's widow, was asked whether British security officials had done enough to prevent  or at least prepare for  another attack.

She said that learning another former Russian spy had mysteriously fallen gravely ill on British soil  Skripal and his daughter were found unconscious on a bench in the English town of Salisbury last March  came as a shock and "very serious disappointment."

"But in this case, everything was different. There was no need to explain what was going on," she said.

When her late husband was first hospitalized in November 2006, doctors initially attributed the poisoning to a severe stomach bug or ingested chemical. Her repeated attempts to explain the rationale of a possible covert assassination attempt, she said, fell on deaf ears.

"The doctors had no idea what we were talking about," she said. "When we tried to explain that we were not just political refugees, but that [Alexander] had a very serious conflict with a special intelligence agency in Russia, the people acted like we lived on another planet. And not because they didn't believe us  they just couldn't comprehend what we were talking about."

In Skripal's case, however, "there was no need to explain what was going on," in part because of his official status with British authorities. Unlike Litvinenko's late husband, who advised British intelligence in an informal capacity, Skripal, she said, had received full asylum in a spy swap, meaning that security officials and forensic analysts were much better prepared to read the crime scene and outline a probable scenario.

Rapid confirmation of Skripal's personal background, she said, also prepared medical professionals for the possibility that they would be dealing with a highly exotic  and exceptionally lethal  substance.

"There was really no need to prove who wanted to poison Skripal or why," she said, adding that although she isn't aware of any formal mechanisms for safeguarding fugitive spies against future poisoning attempts, "the U.K. has shown that for the most part, it did learn a lesson."

Diplomatic response

"Literally a week after Skripal was poisoned, a completely different reaction followed, different from what was happening with our case," Litvinenko said. "[Prime Minister] Theresa May made a public statement that was quite harsh, but it's wrong to say that she immediately accused Russia. It wasn't quite like that. She simply said that there are suspicions, and that it is important that Russia immediately provide evidence that they did not do it. And what did we all see? Angry responses from Russia saying that they had nothing to do with it and that the case does not apply to them in any way."

As Britain launched a formal probe of the Salisbury chemical attack, which experts traced to a Soviet-era nerve toxin known as Novichok, Russia, she said, refused to discuss the possibility of pooling information, which might have entailed allowing international experts to investigate Russian chemical weapons labs.

"And then there was the international reaction," said Litvinenko. "The way Britain was immediately supported by the EU and USA; the mass expulsion of diplomats was impressive. Nothing like that happened after my husband was poisoned. Also, the way the U.K. started treating money from Russian investors  that [large foreign investments] are now vetted and treated much more seriously. And this is important to understand ... that people who benefit from this [Russian] regime should not be accepted in civilized countries simply as people with money.

"And I'm by no means saying that all rich people are thieves  absolutely not," she added. "But if we say that this regime is a threat, and these people get big money only because they are close to the regime and not because they are very talented, not because they created their own businesses ... these people need to understand that they cannot spend their money  stolen money, if you ask me  in America or in Europe."

Real estate markets in London, New York and Miami are all under varying levels of scrutiny for the unusually large number of all-cash transactions that can be legally anonymized via offshore shell companies or are frequently traced to wealthy investors from Russia or former Soviet republics.

Russia has vigorously denied having any role in the attacks on British soil, a denial that even family members of both victims support.

In 2012, for example, Walter Litvinenko, father of the dead spy, appeared on Russia's RT news outlet alongside Andrei Lugovoi, the man Britain accused of poisoning his son, to retract his longstanding opinion that Russian intelligence murdered his son on direct orders from Putin.

"I think [Walter] was used," Marina Litvinenko told VOA on Friday. "He had just then lost his wife. He was in a difficult financial situation living in exile in Italy. And I think Russian intelligence emphasized [Alexander's] cooperation with British agents, giving him an excuse to save face, to return to Russia and beg the president's forgiveness."

During that same broadcast, which also aired on state-run Channel One, the senior Litvinenko, who served as a doctor in a Soviet-era gulag and now resides in a pensioner's flat in Moscow, called fugitive Russians in the U.K. "hostages" of Western spy agencies.

Lugovoi, who Russia has long refused to extradite, blamed the 2006 murder on Alexander Goldfarb, a personal friend of the late Litvinenko, whom he described as an undercover CIA officer out to frame Russian operatives.

About a year before the RT broadcast, Lugovoi joined the State Duma representing the Kremlin-friendly Liberal Democrat Party, thereby securing lifetime immunity from domestic prosecution.

Goldfarb recently filed a libel suit in U.S. federal court alleging that both RT and Channel One aired deliberately misleading reports about the circumstances of Litvinenko's death. The suit claims that RT's rolling coverage of Skripal's case, which routinely touches on Litvinenko's murder, is part of a politically motivated Kremlin TV campaign to deflect blame from the real perpetrators of both attacks.

Libel suit

RT representatives issued a public statement saying they are in the process of reviewing the complaint.

Earlier this year, Viktoria Skripal, niece of the spy poisoned in Salisbury, repeatedly took to the Russian airwaves to express skepticism about Britain's handling of her uncle's investigation, suggesting that Britain's MI5 intelligence agency had been manipulating her cousin Yulia, who had refused offers of assistance from the Russian embassy in London after being poisoned alongside her father.

On July 3, Skripal's niece appeared on Russian television to announce that her candidacy for Yaroslavl region Duma elections had been endorsed by the pro-Kremlin Just Russia party.

"This is what Russian intelligence agencies still do," Litvinenko told VOA, explaining that turning family members against each other has a long history in Russia's spy community.

"They find a person who is easily influenced, who understands the benefits of his or her position," she said. "Both Viktoria and Walter Alexandrovich were in very difficult financial situations, so this allows them to improve their financial situation. Both now have a salary, and Walter Alexandrovich even has an apartment in Moscow. And Victoria Skripal is going to run for the Yaroslavl Duma," she added in a sarcastically cheerful tone. "This is a great start for her career."President Donald Trump says the U.S. economy is the "envy of the world." And with the unemployment rate at an 18-year low, Republicans are counting on the improving U.S. economy to make their case with voters in crucial midterm elections in November. VOA's congressional correspondent Katherine Gypson traveled to North Dakota to see if the president's economic policies and congressional Republicans' tax cuts will make a difference with voters.U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that "it's very hard for me to imagine" that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted a teenage girl 36 years ago when both were in high school, an alleged attack the woman says left her fearful for her life.

Trump said he hopes Kavanaugh's accuser, California psychology professor Christine Blasey Ford, testifies at a hearing next Monday before the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is considering Kavanaugh's nomination for a life-time seat on the country's highest court.

"I really want to see her, to see what she has to say," Trump said of Ford, now 51. The U.S. leader said it "would be unfortunate" if she does not appear.

Ford's lawyers late Tuesday called for an FBI probe of her claims before she testifies, but Trump and Republicans that control the Senate panel say an FBI investigation is unnecessary. Kavanaugh, who says he will appear at the Senate panel's hearing, has adamantly denied knowledge of the purported 1982 party at a suburban Washington home and said he has never attacked any woman.

Trump, speaking to reporters at the White House as he headed to North Carolina to view vast flood damage from Hurricane Florence, praised the 53-year-old Kavanaugh as "an extraordinary man." But Trump said "it's really up to the Senate" to decide how to proceed with the confirmation process.

WATCH: Fate of Supreme Court Nominee Rests With a Divided Senate

Meanwhile, Anita Hill, the law professor at the center of lurid 1991 confirmation hearings involving Clarence Thomas as a U.S. Supreme Court justice, supported Ford's call for an FBI investigation of her claims.

Hill told ABC's "Good Morning America" show, "The American public really is expecting something more. They want to know that the Senate takes this seriously.

Hill, now a law professor at Brandeis University, said Republican leaders are in an unnecessary rush to confirm Kavanaugh.

Either they dont take this seriously, she said, or ... they just want to get it over. Im not sure which is in play. Maybe theyre not concerned, or maybe they dont know how to handle this kind of situation.

The specter of Hill's allegations 27 years ago that Thomas often sexually harassed her when they both worked for a federal government agency hangs heavy over the current Kavanaugh confirmation proceedings.

Hill's accusations were largely dismissed then by the all-male Senate committee, but many American women sympathized with her claims against Thomas, saying they resonated with their own experiences in the workplace. Thomas was confirmed on a narrow Senate vote and remains a conservative stalwart on the court to this day.

The chairman of the Senate panel, Republican Senator Charles Grassley, said, The invitation for Monday still stands" for both Ford and Kavanaugh to testify.

Dr. Fords testimony would reflect her personal knowledge and memory of events, Grassley said. Nothing the FBI or any other investigator does would have any bearing on what Dr. Ford tells the committee, so there is no reason for any further delay.

Republican lawmakers are trying to win Senate confirmation for Kavanaugh ahead of the court's start of a new term on October 1, or if not by then, ahead of the November 6 nationwide congressional elections, to show Republican voters they have made good on campaign promises to place conservative judges like Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court.

Ford's lawyers told Grassley in a letter late Tuesday that some of the senators on the committee "appear to have made up their minds" and believe Kavanaugh.

"A full investigation by law enforcement officials will ensure that the crucial facts and witnesses in this matter are assessed in a nonpartisan manner and that the committee is fully informed before conducting any hearing or making any decisions," the letter said.

Death threats

The lawyers also said Ford has become the subject of death threats and harassment, and expressed fears that the committee planned to have her "relive this traumatic and harrowing incident" while testifying at the same table as Kavanaugh and in front of national television cameras.

"Nobody should be subject to threats and intimidation, and Dr. Ford is no exception," Grassley said in a statement later Tuesday.

The Republican senator said there were no plans to have Ford and Kavanaugh appear at the same time, and that the committee had offered her the opportunity to appear before a private hearing.

Ford alleged in a Washington Post interview that Kavanaugh groped her at the house party when she was 15 and he was 17.

She said Kavanaugh, "stumbling drunk," threw her down on a bed, grinding his body against hers and trying to pull off her one-piece bathing suit and the clothing she was wearing over it. Ford said when she tried to scream, he put his hand over her mouth.

She said she feared Kavanaugh might inadvertently kill her before she managed to flee.Zimbabwes president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, says his government will assist municipalities struggling to fight a cholera outbreak that has killed 32 people and affected more than 3,000 during the past three weeks.

After visiting the epicenter of the cholera outbreak in Harare, President Emmerson Mnangagwa vowed to help the Harare City Council with financial assistance and called on the corporate world to donate toward fighting the epidemic.

We are raising money, which has been coming in daily, so that we fix the burst pipes at Morton Jeffery Waterworks and the Central Business District, as well as the suburbs... we have been told that most of these pipes are old and are bursting at any given time, so we have found some well-wishers who are helping us. We will continue to support the Harare City Council In its programs meant to sanitize Harare, because the council does not have enough powers to be doing all the work alone, he said.

Nearby, David Shonhiwa, a vendor in Glen View, the suburban epicenter of Harare's cholera epidemic, says there have been improvements in the area's hygiene since cholera was detected, but more are needed.

The situation is better now. We have been receiving clean water and we got buckets, but it has not been possible for everyone to get something because there are difficulties which others have been encountering, he said.

Tuesday, a U.N. spokesperson in Zimbabwe, Sirak Gebrehiwot, said a U.N. emergency response fund may be activated as the cholera outbreak spreads to other parts of the country.

In light of the appeal announced by the government of Zimbabwe to respond to the cholera, the U.N. has scaled up its support," said Gebrehiwot. "The regional office of the U.N. Humanitarian Affairs has already deployed three U.N. emergency humanitarian specialists in the ongoing response. This is in addition to our colleagues from UNICEF and the WHO, are already engaged on the ground in this emergency response.

In 2008 and 2009, a cholera epidemic killed nearly 5,000 people. It only stopped after international organizations such as USAID, Doctors Without Borders, the Red Cross and U.N. agencies including UNICEF and the World Health Organization provided medicine and water treatment chemicals.Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily!

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Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.The Main St Farmers Market presents The Ugly Dinner on Saturday, Sept. 29, from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Syrup and Eggs will be hosting the event which will feature a four course dinner prepared by Shane Stone of High Haute Foods, Dane Frazier of St. Johns, Chris Babb-Chesnul of Blue Fox Cheese, and Megan Lewis. Each course will feature local foods that may be slightly "imperfect" and instead of becoming food waste, they will be the highlight of this unique culinary experience.

Signature cocktails for the event will be provided by the Bitter Bottle and Mad Priest, each utilizing something according to the theme of the event. Heaven and Ale will attend to provide beer and a few remarks about how their business supports farms with by products of the brewing process. The culinary team will speak about each dish prepared and a statewide initiative, Get Food Smart Tennessee, will have a representative at the dinner.

Holly Martin, manager of the Main St Farmers Market, said, "Our market has always been highly committed to sustainable living and we felt that this dinner would be a great way to engage the community in a conversation about food waste. Don't get me wrong, our farmers grow the most beautiful products of anywhere around, but there may be an occasional tomato with a small blemish and it needs to known that that tomato has a home outside of the trash can."

The topic of food waste and recovery is a popular one and some statistics suggest that 40 percent of the food produced in the United States is wasted. The far ranging consequences of food waste in the U.S. are many. From an increase in the need for landfill space, to perfectly good if slightly "ugly" fruits and vegetables that could be rescued and processed into prepared foods. Another consideration is the loss of resources that go into foods that are laboriously planted, watered, cultivated, harvested, and transported only to be discarded on a massive scale, said officials.

There are some robust consumer education efforts that aim to bring awareness to the many ways to store and use food before it spoils, but the results of those efforts are yet to be seen. Some entrepreneurs have seized this moment to capitalize on the ugly food movement and buy large quantities of blemished produce to sell in stores and perfectly imperfect community supported agriculture farm shares.

Detractors from these business efforts say imperfect food that is now being bought when it was traditionally donated to food banks and pantries is affecting the food secure population, who already largely lack access to fresh fruits and vegetables. The complexities of the current food system tend to create more questions than answers. And building a less wasteful food system will take time, but there are many ways consumers can make an impact, and a great start is in the home kitchen, said officials.

Tickets to The Ugly Dinner are $50 and can be purchased through Eventbrite or at the Main St Farmers Market, every Wednesday from 4-6 p.m. at the corner of Chestnut and Main.2. Cook Countys chief medical examiner walked jurors through McDonalds autopsy, describing each of McDonalds 24 entry and exit wounds in detail. Dr. Ponni Arunkumar testified that each of the shots contributed to McDonalds death. On cross-examination, Herbert revealed that an expert hired by the defense believes a gunshot wound to the chest killed McDonald. Herbert pressed Arunkumar on whether McDonald sustained the chest and neck wounds while still standing up, but she said she could not tell from the autopsy results. He had likely not yet fallen to the street, she said, but he could have been turning, falling. Its hard for me to say."Though OHare ranked low in the survey, it did earn slightly more points for customer satisfaction in 2018 than in 2017. It got 735 points, up from 723 but still below the segment average of 758. The airport improved in all categories measured by the study, which examines, in order of importance: terminal facilities; airport accessibility; security check; baggage claim; check-in/baggage check; and food, beverage and retail, said Michael Taylor, who leads J.D. Powers travel practice.Aaron Wiley, 37, was found about 4:45 p.m. in the 9700 block of South Charles Street, according to police and the Cook County medical examiners office. Wiley had been shot in the head and neck.Im calling on Pope Francis and Cardinal Cupich to send this hateful bigot packing, Mell wrote. If the church is serious about restoring trust with its parishioners and spreading a message of love and tolerance, this is a perfect opportunity. This is a hate crime  plain and simple. Im asking the City and Federal government to treat it as one.Its the idea, closely associated with Abe but also discussed around the world, that the advancement of women and economic development are necessarily linked. In Japan, as well as getting more women to work, Abe wants them to fill 30 percent of leadership positions by 2020. Hes working to fix daycare shortages and encouraging workplaces to be more accommodating, so mothers will feel more inclined to rejoin the workforce. Theres some urgency: Japan has the worlds oldest and most rapidly shrinking population, with the 15-64 age group forecast to fall to 45 million people in 2065 from 77 million in 2015.Even in the Whitneys absorbing and comprehensive exhibition, it can be difficult to hear the decency and sensitivity of Wojnarowiczs promiscuous world-making. For that, it is worth reading an extraordinary 1978 letter Wojnarowicz wrote to his mother, a letter, it seems, he never sent. It is one of the most powerful documents of LGBT life ever written, in which he responds to his mothers fear of a growing veil, or reticence, between them. With great discretion, he alludes to his sexual and intellectual adventures, and how they lead to his having more of an acceptance of characters and styles of living that seem to go against the established order of the church and society. And then he gently says hes sorry, not for who he is or what he has done, but for the inevitable pain he knows that it will cause her: Now to place that confusion in your hands or heart could very easily create a concern or pain when connected to your possible hopes for me.Joseph Karabin had already received treatment for sex abuse twice in the 1980s and had been assigned to serve as a hospital chaplain before Wuerls tenure began. Another complaint came in 1991 from an adult who said Karabin had fondled him and tried to have anal sex with him when he was 13 or 14, according to the grand jury report, which does not specify the year the alleged abuse occurred. Karabin admitted to making a sexual pass but said he was in an alcoholic stupor at the time, the grand jury found.When buying sheets, Selke recommends opening the package and touching the sheets  put your cheek up against them. If the quality of the sheets feels poor, they will feel even worse after washing. Good-quality sheets should get better and softer with each washing. If youre a hot sleeper, Selke advises buying crisp percale; the cotton will keep you cool and comfortable. However, Matouk cautions that if you dont iron percale sheets and they begin to form permanent creases, youll need to press them out; those permanent creases are more likely to tear over time. Selke says that linen is a great year-round choice  its cool in the summer and warm in the winter. But if youre looking for something smoother and more luxurious, try a silky modal fiber or sateen weave. Cotton sateen is less prone to wrinkling; it has more body so it resists the formation of wrinkles. However, that body makes sateen a little heavier and less breathable than percale.The boys family contemplated the very expensive helicopter rescue. But their dad had spotted a possible way around the danger. Could they portage (or walk) up a tree-filled slope and then down the other side with their canoes and gear? They decided to try. But first theyd have to get to the opposite bank of the river without getting swept into the rapids.After covering North Carolina with nearly three feet of rain, Hurricane Florence dumped more than six inches of rain in the Northeast, where it caused flash flooding. Cooper warned that the flooding is far from over and will get worse in places.His son said he had taken his father to lunch at a restaurant near his home in Chinatown. The son left briefly to pick up some items for dinner, intending to return to retrieve his father. But his father decided to walk home himself.Then theres Paul Manafort, Donald Trumps 2016 campaign chairman, accused  among other things  of using that relationship to squeeze millions for his lavish lifestyle. Tom Price, the former secretary of health and human services, resigned after using taxpayer-funded charter flights (no TSA lines for him!), also an issue for Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson raised eyebrows by allegedly diverting business contracts to his son. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross was reprimanded by the Office of Government Ethics for failing to sell off his stock holdings before taking office. And  breaking news  FEMA head William Brock Long is facing a possible criminal probe into misuse of government vehicles for personal trips.You are correct that your husbands boss is not following proper business etiquette. But this confusion is nowadays so common  about professional-versus-social, though perhaps also about gender  that she may not even realize she is abusing her authority. Rather than confront her with being rude, a safer solution would be for your husband to attend the portion of the event that runs until the close of business and then excuse himself.To reduce the stress of holiday travel, Headley offers a few tips. Be flexible and willing to fly during off-peak times, such as on a red-eye, or on the special day itself. Fly early in the morning to avoid the domino effect that could knock down flights later in the day. In addition, in the event of a cancellation, you will have an entire day to secure a seat on another flight. For connecting flights, choose an airport with lighter air traffic (say, Chicago Midway over OHare) and more moderate weather. Also opt for a longer layover, in case your first flight is delayed. You dont want to have to race to your gate like a running back.She is one of the foremost labor leaders in the country and has extensive knowledge of how local government works, he said. We look forward to using her expertise to forge a better relationship with our labor partners, especially in the realm of compensation.Officials said Keifline is on administrative leave, pending the outcome of an investigation, which is the departments standard procedure. The Prince Georges states attorneys office reviews all officer-involved shootings in the county and will investigate this one, according to authorities.Jealous has struggled to generate support from some of the states mainstream Democratic leaders, including Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett. Leggett said in July that he was concerned about the impact of Jealouss proposals on residents of the affluent county and wanted to discuss that and other issues before deciding whether to endorse him. Leggett met with Jealous last week and said Tuesday that they plan to meet again next month. He did not respond to questions about whether Jealous would get his support.Todays Headlines

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By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy PolicyHe said he has passed along details about what he saw and what he heard from residents to the fire marshal and will await the results of the investigation before reaching conclusions about the alarm and sprinkler systems. But Allen also said he cannot ignore what he personallyexperienced and plans to find out what happened.Court filings describe how the money flowed: One investor, for example, wired $500,000 to Delmarva and received a document showing that the money had been used to purchase two debt portfolios. Instead, prosecutors say, more than $400,000 was used to pay earlier investors and $60,000 to pay off Merrills own credit card debt and to make payments to relatives.They were resettled in September by Heartland Alliance, where Munaf still occasionally attends English classes. The agency has long been an integral part of aiding refugees in the Chicago area, but recently has come under scrutiny for its treatment of children separated from parents at the U.S.-Mexico border who were housed in its shelters.D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham said that, at this point in the investigation, police think the assailant was a stranger to Martinez. He said it did not appear that the attack was part of a robbery attempt. Police launched a search for the killer, but no arrest had been made as of Wednesday evening.And yet last year someone wrenched or cut or somehow removed two of the four figures in Family Circle, a group of dancing metal people installed in 1991 at 18th and Harvard streets NW. The cool thing about the silvery figures is that artist Herbert House created them in his signature style: by cutting and welding car bumpers.Brat was a little-known Randolph-Macon College economic professor four years ago when he beat then-House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in the GOP primary, a stunning upset fueled by an ascendant tea party. This year, Brat is contending with a strong challenge from Spanberger, a former CIA officer who could benefit from anti-Trump sentiment in the districts suburban areas and lingering resentment that Cantor supporters have for Brat. The Cook Political Report classifies the race as a toss-up.Riggleman and Cockburn are competing to represent a largely rural district that stretches from the Washington exurbs to the North Carolina line. Trump won the 5th by 11 points in 2016, even as Hillary Clinton took the state by more than five points. Amid a blue wave the next year, Republican gubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespie won the district by nine points even though Democrat Ralph Northam won Virginia overall by the same nine-point margin.In one example, Burge was asked to state whether you have ever used methods, procedures or techniques involving any form of verbal or physical coercion of suspects while in detention or during interrogation, such as deprivation of sleep, quiet, food, drink, bathroom facilities, or contact with legal counsel and/or family members; the use of verbal and/or physical threats or intimidation, physical beatings, or hangings; the use of racial slurs or profanity; the use of physical restraints, such as handcuffs; the use of photographs or polygraph testing; and the use of physical objects to inflict pain, suffering or fear, such as firearms, telephone books, typewriter covers, radiators, or machines that deliver an electric shock.Officer Luis Duarte, 31, had been hospitalized for treatment of gunshot wounds to his shoulder, hip and leg since the gunbattle just after 5 p.m. Thursday at the intersection of Cicero Avenue and the Stevenson Expressway. Daniel Mageo, 27, was ordered held without bail Saturday on charges of attempted first-degree murder of a police officer and aggravated battery of a police officer.Federal prosecutors in Massachusetts on Tuesday announced the indictment against Robert Chain, 68. He was arrested last month at his home and freed after agreeing to pay $50,000 if he violates any terms of his release.Paddling through the swamp that was once her front yard Tuesday morning, Megan Curry saw this waterlogged community through the eyes of someone who had lived there all her life.

That trash-strewn waterway was really a paved road. Those submerged shingles were the roof of the shed that held Currys childhood Christmas ornaments. And this sodden structure  with its walls buckling, its stairs crumbling, its floorboards detached from the foundation and floating in a foot of water  this was home. It was the house her grandfather built, on land her great-great-grandparents cleared, the house her family had finished repairing just 11 months ago in the wake of Hurricane Matthew.

But out there was the Lumber River, normally so distant its not even visible through the trees, now sloshing into her living room for the second time in as many years.

All Curry could think was, Again. It had happened again.



Megan and Edwin Currys home was flooded by the Lumber River in Lumberton, N.C. after Hurricane Florence. Megan and her husband Edwin planned for a disaster after being hit in Hurricane Matthew in 2016, but they didn't expect the floodwaters to ever be as bad and not so soon. (Eamon Queeney/For The Washington Post)

When it inundated North Carolina in 2016, meteorologists called Hurricane Matthew a 500-year rain event, the kind of downpour that was likely to occur once every half-millennium. But then, just two years later, here came Florence, a 1,000-year event that hit all the same places in all the same ways, if not harder.

This cant keep happening to us, said Charles Gregory Cummings, mayor of Pembroke, 10 miles upriver from Lumberton. We know what to do, but we need help.

[People have felt ignored: N.C.s Lumbee watch Florence and politicians response]

Local officials say improvements recommended in the aftermath of Matthew must be implemented in the wake of Florence so their communities will be ready when the next hurricane comes. But some residents wonder whether it is worth the risk to stay.

Cummings was sworn in amid the deluge from Hurricane Matthew two years ago. After local canals and drainage systems backed up during the 2016 storm, contributing to flooding in 70 percent of the town, Cummings worked with researchers at the local campus of the University of North Carolina to develop a plan for mitigating future disasters.

The mayor wants to clear the areas swamps and canals of fallen trees and debris from Matthew and past hurricanes, which he said would allow storm water to drain out of neighborhoods faster.

1 of 75 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  Tropical Storm Florence churns along the coast of the Carolinas View Photos More than 1.5 million people were ordered to evacuate from coastal areas of North and South Carolina. Caption More than 1.5 million people were ordered to evacuate from coastal areas of North and South Carolina. Chip Somodevilla Buy Photo Wait 1 second to continue.

But Cummings said he has been unable to get the Army Corps of Engineers to tackle the project. And his town of 3,000, in which 60 percent of people live below the poverty level, does not have the resources for that kind of undertaking.

Back in Lumberton, locals have infrastructure grievances of their own.

Robeson Countys Resilient Redevelopment Plan, conceived after Matthew, called for upgrades to the Lumber River levee and the construction of a floodgate where the levee opens for a railroad crossing. That would prevent what happened during the 2016 storm, when the river poured through the opening into largely low-income neighborhoods of south and west Lumberton. Hundreds of houses were damaged or destroyed.

But the construction of the floodgate requires coordinating with CSX, the freight company that owns the railroad track  or Gov. Roy Cooper (D) to force the issue by declaring eminent domain. Neither scenario has happened yet.

On the day that Hurricane Florence made landfall, dozens of volunteers and members of the National Guard worked in pouring rain to block the opening with sandbags and dirt. State Sen. Danny Britt (R), whose district includes Lumberton, said he had to get an order from Cooper to overrule objections from CSX.

In an emailed statement Friday, the railway company said: CSX is providing safe access for members of the Lumberton community who are working to minimize potential impacts of flooding from Hurricane Florence. We are in contact with local officials to ensure the safety of those working around railroad property and will closely coordinate with them on recovery efforts after the storm passes.

The temporary dam failed Sunday night, sending water rushing into the same neighborhoods that were inundated two years ago. If fewer people were affected this time, Britt said, it was only because so many of those who were flooded out of their homes after Matthew never returned.

Even for the projects that have made progress, the rapid pace of recent natural disasters has far outstripped government bureaucracies. Federal funding to elevate or buy up homes in Lumbertons flood plain had barely been distributed by the time this hurricane season rolled around.

The Lumbee tribe, which controls one of the dams that feeds into the river, was awarded a $1.5 million Federal Emergency Management Agency grant to upgrade the dam after it was damaged during Hurricane Matthew. But permits to begin construction are still about a month away. And two weeks ago, Pembroke began work on a $900,000 state-funded project to upgrade its storm-water drainage system, only to be sent scrambling when Florence hit.

Weve got a lot of work to do, said Pembroke public-works director Pierre Locklear.

Even as the sun shone Monday morning, water was barely sinking into the towns clogged drains. Barbara Pearson, who had spent five months in a FEMA-funded hotel room after Matthew heavily damaged her house in 2016, was stymied by waist-high water as she tried to visit her home in the center of town.

Instead of carrying storm water away from her neighborhood, a nearby canal had overtopped its banks.

I think it came further this time than it did with Matthew, said Pearson, 76. The retired schoolteacher had waited out Hurricane Florence in a hotel, but neighbors who had stayed through the storm told her their street looked like a lake.

Miss Barbara, Im so sorry this happened again, said Sherry Anderson, 51. This is just really terrible.

Pearson shrugged. It is what it is.

When she was able enter the house the following day, several inches of water had left stains on her walls and soaked her floors. The house smelled like mildew and the carpets would need to be thrown out, but her furniture and floors had survived. After what happened during Matthew, that seemed like a blessing.

Pearson put her beagle, Ben, in the bathroom to keep him safe, then got out a mop.



Barbara Pearson, 76, of Pembroke, starts the process of cleaning out her home as she returns after floodwaters receded in Pembroke, N.C. on Tuesday. (Eamon Queeney/For The Washington Post)

Flood-prevention efforts in Robeson County are made more pressing by the specter of climate change, which experts say contributes to the bigger and wetter hurricanes that wreak havoc in low-lying communities.

Ryan Emanuel, an environmental scientist at North Carolina State University who studies the Lumber River, said that dredging and levee projects are not long-term fixes for the escalating problem. Canals and levees have allowed people to build homes on river margins and in swampy areas over the decades, yet research shows that wetlands can mitigate flooding by temporarily storing water after storms. Emanuel said that moving to higher ground and restoring swamps to their natural state are better ways to alleviate the problem.

Yes, we lose . . . livable land, he said, but people converted that land artificially, and this is land that is underwater right now  not very livable.

Cummings, the Pembroke mayor, was skeptical. He treasures the wetlands and the winding Lumber River, with its waters the color of oversteeped tea. But he also has an entire town to look out for  a UNC campus to support, jobs to promote, people to protect. And those people love their homes.

For our people, this is where we settled, Cummings said. (Cummings and Emanuel are members of the Lumbee tribe, with deep roots in Robeson County.) We want to stay close and we want to develop, and we have to pay a price.

The price is growing steep.

Currys grandmother, who owns their home, did not have flood insurance when Hurricane Matthew hit. With assistance from the Baptist Ministry  and the contents of their savings accounts  the family was able to make the house livable again. They moved back in October of last year.

The house is insured now, but Curry is less certain that she will want to return. Even more than the $50,000 or so it will take to repair the damage from Florence, she cant bear the thought of it being destroyed again in the next storm.

This is my home, and I dont want to lose it, she said. But its like my grandmother told me last night: I cant be scared every time it rains."My hope is that she won't be a problem," he said of Barzee. "I do know how she treated Elizabeth during that time, and I still feel like she's very capable of doing the same thing."Greece to move 2,000 out of crowded migrant camp: About 2,000 asylum seekers will be moved out of a severely overcrowded migrant camp on the Greek island of Lesbos this month, a Greek official said as charities slammed conditions at the site, which has raw sewage running out of its main entrance. Dimitris Tzanakopoulos said those being moved out of the Moria camp, which was built for 3,100 people but houses 9,000, will be sent to the mainland so that their asylum claims can be examined.3 hurt outside London Muslim center in possible hate crime: Police are investigating after a car hit pedestrians near a Muslim community center in London, injuring three. Officials said that a confrontation erupted between four people in a car and a group of people visiting the community center and that anti-Muslim comments were made. The car then reportedly sped off, mounting the pavement twice and hitting three people without stopping. The case is "being dealt with as an Islamophobic hate crime and . . . as a racist hate crime," police said.Trump may finally be driven to go out in a hail of (symbolic) gunfire a la Butch and Sundance. In his case that would mean pardoning everyone involved and firing the attorney general and deputy attorney general so that he can install sycophants who will get rid of Mueller for him. But if he were to reenact the Saturday Night Massacre, he would only strengthen the case for impeachment  and it appears likely there will be a Democratic-controlled House to pursue such an inquiry in January. There could even be a small Democratic majority in the Senate. As with Butch and Sundance, Trumps end will be dramatic  but it is also looking increasingly likely.But throughout my schooling, snippets of Kellers story would come back to me. I would turn to the nearest computer wondering: How did she . . . ? In high school, I finally read her books and marveled that she excelled in college before the Americans With Disabilities Act, before digital Braille and before, of course, the Internet. She pioneered through the worlds unknowns in a way that inspired me as I carved a path for myself. If my school hadnt taught us about Keller, I might have do-si-dod a different direction entirely. When I tell people about the path I did take  law studies at Harvard University and work as a disability rights advocate  they think back to their own lessons on Keller. Learning her story sparks something students carry with them into adulthood.The United States did not become the most powerful country in the history of the world only by cherry-picking the best. Museums and art collections are built that way, not nations. America opened its doors even to those of us who, broken by displacement, were uncertain of our own worth. Our new home had more confidence in us than we possessed, a confidence that we would begin the process of blending into a single, imperfect people like no other. Loyalty, the essence of patriotism, is inspired when entry is granted like a lifeline to a drowning person.In this case, an impartial investigation would not just be for the sake of the alleged victim; it would also be good for Kavanaugh and the integrity of the Supreme Court. The Senate, after all, will soon take a fateful vote in circumstances that have already placed the legitimacy of the court at risk, even before the latest revelations: This will be the first time in American history that a president at risk of impeachment and under criminal investigation will name a justice to the Supreme Court. Neither Bill Clinton nor Richard Nixon nor Andrew Johnson did that.Sustained political commitment to pandemic preparedness is in some ways just as vital as the work to create medical countermeasures. The United States recognized the need by launching the Global Health Security Agenda in 2014, a five-year, $1 billion initiative. The aim was to establish an international effort to strengthen countries' ability to prevent, detect and respond to outbreaks. The initiative has been embraced by more than 60 countries so far, along with the World Health Organization and other organizations. The GHSA's successes so far include better tracking of multi-drug-resistant bacteria in Vietnam and faster responses to disease outbreaks in Uganda. But the GHSA's funding will run out next year, and although the Trump administration has expressed support for the initiative, future U.S. financial support is uncertain.The Republicans are resisting all Democratic efforts to slow and perhaps block what once seemed a smooth path to confirmation that would promote the conservative appeals court judge by the Oct. 1 opening of the Supreme Court's new term. Kavanaugh's glide to approval was interrupted last weekend when word of Ford's allegation became public, but GOP senators are showing no signs of slowing their drive to confirm him as quickly as possible.The answer depends on what you think punishment is for. If punishment's primary purpose is to make the community safer, then the appropriate sentence for Franklin was probably zero years in jail. No 15-year-old is going to be deterred from criminal acts by the prospect that he might go to prison in his 50s. Nor is prison going to rehabilitate Franklin, because news reports suggest that the prison term he had already served on unrelated charges had rehabilitated him; at the time of his arrest, he seems to have been quietly working at the same job driving an oil truck for more than a decade.Trump doesnt just blur the lines, he flat out tries to eradicate those lines, said Joyce Vance, a former U.S. attorney in Alabama nominated by President Barack Obama. He wants a consigliere, not an attorney general. On the one hand, its a pitiful thing to watch, but its also deadly serious, because the attorney general does not protect the president. The attorney general protects the American people. And the fact that we have a president who doesnt understand that is alarming.I mean, he was mixed up and confused, and people that worked with him for, you know, a long time in the Senate were not nice to him, but he was giving very confusing answers, Trump said. Answers that should have been easily answered. And that was a rough time for him.Ford and her family have moved out of their home as a security precaution, and she and her husband are staying apart from their two children. Shes spending her time trying to figure out the logistics of her life as it is now and how to keep herself and her family safe, the person said.I dont know why she sat on that letter as long as she did, said Sen. John Thune (S.D.) the third-ranking Republican senator. It just seems to me, at least, that if these allegations, if they took them seriously, that they would have made more of an attempt to get this into the discussion during Kavanaughs confirmation hearings.The Morgan County Grand Jury has returned eight indictments against inmate Robert Fusco and several co-defendants. The indictments stem from lengthy investigation into an attempt by Fusco to introduce contraband into the Morgan County Correctional Complex.

During the course of the investigation the Tennessee Department of Correction, in conjunction with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, collected evidence that Fusco  who was a minimum security inmate - breached the secure perimeter of the facility. This is a highly unusual case because the inmate was not trying to flee custody but was in fact attempting to introduce contraband into the facility. Todays grand jury returned indictments against Fusco for the following:



 Escape (felony)

 Conspiracy to escape (felony)

 Unlawful telecommunication device in penal facility

Throughout this breach of institutional security, Fusco was aided by the several people. Additional indictments include:



 William Richmond, 68, charged with conspiracy to escape; facilitation of escape and permit/facilitate escape;

 Megan Cheryl Jones, 29, charged with conspiracy to escape; facilitation of escape; tampering with evidence; sexual contact with inmate; facilitation of contraband in a penal facility;

 Jarrett Tolley aka Alyssa Tolley, 30, charged with conspiracy to escape; facilitation of escape; permit/facilitate to escape; escape implements;

 Cecil Kendall, 35, charged with conspiracy to escape; facilitation of escape; permit/facilitate to escape;

 Elizabeth Ashley England, 30, charged with conspiracy to escape; facilitation of escape; permit/facilitate to escape

 Ethan Self, 26, charged with conspiracy to escape; facilitation of escape; permit/facilitate to escape

 Josh Sexton, 34, charged with conspiracy to escape; facilitation of escape; permit/facilitate to escape; official misconduct.

When this breach was initially uncovered Commissioner Tony Parker said, While I appreciate the staff for their diligence in uncovering this situation, it is obvious that security protocols were violated. On Tuesday he said, This investigation and subsequent indictments should serve as a reminder that the department will not tolerate any threat to the safety and security of our facilities. We have been, and will continue to be, relentless in the prosecution of those that violate their oath and violate the law. Any person threatening this departments mission will be held accountable be it staff, inmate or community member.



Immediately following the incident inmate Fusco was classified as a maximum custody inmate and reassigned to West Tennessee State Penitentiary.



Again, the department must point out that this breach highlights the threat that contraband and those looking to introduce contraband pose to correctional facilities. This threat is not limited to TDOC facilities, but negatively affects prisons throughout the country. TDOC is actively working with law enforcement partners at all levels to not only detect contraband but prevent contraband from entering prisons.



In addition to this multi-agency partnership, Commissioner Tony Parker continues to meet with officials from the Federal Communications Commission in Washington, D.C. to discuss ways to continue to combat contraband.

While an editor at Black Enterprise magazine, I could see millions of dollars flowing in and out of the marketing business in efforts targeted at black consumers, and no publication was writing about that, Smikle told the Tribune in 1995. I saw the possibility for a new publication devoted exclusively to this area.We have agreed to make the Korean Peninsula a land of peace that is free from nuclear weapons and nuclear threat, Kim said. The road to our future will not always be smooth, and we may face challenges and trials we cant anticipate. But we arent afraid of head winds because our strength will grow as we overcome each trial based on the strength of our nation.Trump has framed the conflict as a necessary fight, arguing that China has been breaking global trade rules for years at the expense of American workers. The battle is popular among some labor groups: Union leaders in the Midwest have long blasted China for luring away factories with cheaper labor, and the White House has accused Beijing of stealing intellectual property from U.S. companies that enter its market.Why the police and prosecutors and not the profs and provosts? Because the authorities are likelier to be trained and experienced at these jobs. They know how to handle interrogations and evidence. They dont have a vested interest in protecting the colleges reputation, as administrators surely do. Nor are they subject to campus culture. They can go where the evidence leads.Ithawi is the most prominent member of the Islamic State, which is also known as ISIS and at its peak controlled one-third of Iraq, to have faced trial in Iraq and is among more than 300 Iraqis and foreigners, including women, to have been given death sentences.Without a fair and proper hearing on these allegations, one that at least includes the witness Kavanaughs accuser says was in the room, Kavanaugh will always be remembered as a judge who made it to the Supreme Court sneakily. A man who didnt advocate to clear his own name and let a womans life be destroyed in the process. He might go on to be as fair and principled a justice as weve ever seen, but that stain will remain.Al-Qaeda is a determined and patient adversary, Sales said. They have largely remained out of the headlines in recent years. They were content to let ISIS bear the brunt of the international response. But we shouldnt confuse a period of relative quiet with al-Qaedas abandonment of its capabilities and its intentions to strike the United States and its allies.Recently, the Tribune reported on an analysis of Chicago Public Schools enrollment trends, finding that CPS is vastly underenrolled and that African-American students have limited access to CPS high-performing schools. This information is difficult to reconcile with CPS recent decision to phase out National Teachers Academy (or NTA). NTA is one of CPS highest performing elementary schools (Level 1+). It is efficiently utilized, serving nearly 730 students more than 75 percent are African-American and 70 percent are from low-income households. NTA also provides its students with numerous supports, including an on-site health clinic, free team sports, low-cost before- and after-school childcare, and access to a Park District swimming pool. NTA is the type of high-quality school that CPS should be replicating. Instead, despite having thousands of empty high school seats districtwide, CPS is closing NTA Elementary School in order to use its building to open a brand new high school.Two thirds of adults believe today's generation of children will be 'worse off' financially than their parents.

Just 28 per cent feel confident the next generation will be "better off", making Australians more gloomy than the typical response in advanced economies of 34 per cent.

The results come from the latest annual global survey of economic attitudes released by the Pew Research Centre in Washington DC.

The percentage of Australians who think children will be worse off has risen sharply, from 53 per cent in 2013 to 65 per cent in the latest survey.

Australia has the fourth highest "experience-expectation" gap of the 27 countries surveyed  that is, the gap between the percentage of people who rate the current economic situation as good (67 per cent) and the percentage who say children will be better off financially (28 per cent).Businesses needed to "step up" and "give the unemployed a go" as part of accepting industry's social responsibility to the long-term unemployed says new Jobs Minister Kelly O'Dwyer.

Acknowledging that industry likes to have skilled and job ready workers and for the education and training system to do all the prepping for them, Ms O'Dwyer will use a speech on Wednesday to urge businesses to do more.

"Industry needs to accept more social responsibility and partner with the community to invest in the low-skilled and un-trained workers and individuals who havent worked in a long time if ever, but who will, in time, become productive and valuable workers," she said.

Minister for Jobs, Industrial Relations and Women, Kelly O'Dwyer. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The government is providing wage subsidies of up to $10,000 to support businesses to take people on, while they learn the ropes.As we mark a decade since the global financial crisis, Australian households appear to be slipping back into a pre-GFC habit: saving an increasingly skinny slice of their incomes.

Although the latest national accounts figures showed economic growth humming along, the household savings ratio slipped to just 1 per cent in the latest quarter, its lowest since late 2007.

The household savings rate has slumped to a 10-year low in the most recent quarter. Credit:Gabriele Charotte

On face value, that might sound worrying. It gives the impression of more Australians raiding their savings accounts to cover bills - which would be an alarming trend if that were the case. So should we be concerned about the low level of saving?

Well, it's probably not as big a worry as that - yet. But if the savings rate gets much lower, it will be a concern.Hoping to secure two tickets for Friday night's preliminary final?

Well, all you need is an extra $90,000.

Ticket prices continue to soar on eBay, sparking questions over the legitimacy of the sales, with some suspecting "troll bidders" were behind heavily inflated prices.

It comes as resales of AFL footy finals tickets are being pulled from eBay and classified site Gumtree as authorities launch almost 100 investigations into ticket scalping.A Senate inquiry into Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton's decisions to release two au pairs from detention has split along party lines, with one side concluding the minister misled Parliament while the other dismissed the investigation as a "witch-hunt".

The Greens have set the scene for a clash in Parliament on Thursday, vowing to move a no confidence motion against Mr Dutton on the basis of a majority finding in the report that the minister had wrongly denied any personal connections to the au pair cases.

But Liberal members of the inquiry said the inquiry had not found any inappropriate conduct, given the minister has the discretion to overturn decisions by his department to detain travellers.

The Liberals also rubbished the evidence given to the committee by former Australian Border Force commissioner Roman Quaedvlieg, saying his version of events was "severely lacking in credibility" and should be referred to the privileges committee of the Senate.Beijing: There is a growing view in Beijing that US President Donald Trump has no intention of doing a deal with China on trade. Instead, Trump wants to force American companies out of China and decouple the two nations' economies, some political analysts say.

How else to explain Trump ignoring more than 300 American companies who protested that imposing tariffs on $US200 billion ($277 billion) in Chinese consumer goods would hurt their business, and raise prices for US consumers?

Wanting to say good-bye to China? US President Donald Trump. Credit:Bloomberg

The fear is there has been a major shift in US policy on China, so that trade is no longer the ballast in the relationship, but rather another US weapon to contain China.

Chinese business magazine Caixin reported that JP Morgan chief China economist Zhu Haibin calculated the trade war would cost China 700,000 jobs and force US and Chinese companies to move their factories out of China.Beijing: North Korea has agreed to allow independent experts to inspect the dismantling of a key missile site, in what South Korean president Moon Jae-in has called the first specific steps for the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said he will also visit the South Korean capital of Seoul by the end of the year.

The two leaders emerged from a two-day summit in Pyongyang to sign declarations in front of the world's TV cameras. Work will begin by the end of the year on connecting rail and road links between the Koreas.

"The fruits of peace and prosperity are borne in Pyongyang today," Moon said at a press conference.In the other story, supporters argue that the actions of a 17-year-old Brett Kavanaugh are irrelevant to his confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court because they happened when he was in high school. An allegation of attempted rape is being brushed aside as a youthful indiscretion. Would his supporters say the same if this were attempted murder?More than two decades ago, Maezawa, then just a sprightly teen, had an epiphany - he envisioned the rest of his life and was disheartened by what he foresaw. At the time, he was a student at a prestigious feeder high school in Tokyo, which meant he was destined for university and after that a career, most likely in business. But as he rode the train for an hour and a half every morning from his home in Japan's Chiba prefecture, he told the Times in London he started noticing how all the people headed to their jobs appeared to be "tired and unhappy." "I think what I hated was the feeling that I was running along tracks that had already been laid down," he told the British publication in July. "I could see the rails stretching in front of me - school, university, career. I could picture myself as one of those people jam-packed in a rush-hour train. I wanted to derail myself." Yusaku Maezawathe chief executive of Start Today Co., speaks during a press conference In Tokyo. Credit:AP Armed with a fierce desire to be more than just a worker drone, Maezawa took swift action making a series of decisions leading to a life that has been nothing short of extraordinary.

It all began in the '90s, when Maezawa followed his then-girlfriend to the United States where he spent most of his time skateboarding along the streets of Santa Monica, California, he told reporters on Monday. While in the US, Maezawa, an avid musician, also followed one of his favourite bands, the Gorilla Biscuits, a New York-based hardcore punk group, the Times reported. Back in Japan, Maezawa was a drummer for Switch Style, a punk band he formed with friends that achieved moderate commercial success, according to the Nikkei Asian Review, a Japanese publication. His six-month stint in the U.S. would turn out to be a pivotal moment in his career, for it was there that he got the idea to sell music merchandise from Japan, Forbes reported. Upon returning to his home country, he launched a mail-order business selling T-shirts and CDs out of his kitchen, which became the foundation for a company he named Start Today, also the name of a Gorilla Biscuits album, according to the Japan Times. It was 1998 and Maezawa was 22 years old. Still touring and recording with his band, Maezawa started getting overwhelmed by the responsibilities that came with juggling a music career and running a company. After a few years, something had to give.

"When it became physically impossible to handle both, I chose my company - that was around when I was 25 or 26," he told the Japan Times. This was a decision that would prove fruitful for Maezawa. Start Today had shifted to focus more on fashion and apparel, eventually spawning an immensely popular e-commerce site called Zozotown, Forbes reported. According to the Japan Times, the website now features around 6300 brands and the company employs nearly 900 people. In July, the site launched its own in-house fashion line called Zozo, available in 72 countries, Racked reported. Maezawa now has a net worth of $2.9 billion, according to Forbes. While his company's success earned him fame in Japan, Maezawa dominated international news last year when he dropped more than $US110 million on a painting by American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat at a Sotheby's auction. The painting's sale price broke records and threw the art world into a tizzy. Called Untitled, the colourful graffiti-style depiction of a screaming skull became the sixth-most expensive piece ever sold at auction, the New York Times reported. According to NPR, the price Maezawa paid was the highest amount ever spent at auction for a work made in the U.S.

"I buy things on impulse - I have done since I was young," Maezawa told Christie's. "I have also always bought things up to my financial limit. And when I ran out of money, I would make more money - then I would buy again." But the Basquiat wouldn't just be a spur of the moment purchase that would end up hanging in Maezawa's home or office never to be seen by the public again. In May 2017, Maezawa posted on Instagram a series of photos of himself alongside the work, writing, "When I first encountered this painting, I was struck with so much excitement and gratitude for my love of art. I want to share that experience with as many people as possible." True to his word, Maezawa has sponsored an international tour for the artwork. Earlier this year, it was displayed at the Brooklyn Museum and the Seattle Art Museum, and is now making its way through Europe, the magazine Art News reported. Maezawa, whose extensive personal collection features works by Picasso, Alexander Calder and Willem de Kooning, among others, told Christie's he has plans to open an art museum in his hometown of Chiba. Like his sharing of art, Maezawa said on Monday that he also wants to share his experience of seeing the moon, explaining why he purchased every seat on the rocket for an undisclosed amount. "I did not want to have such a fantastic experience by myself, that would be a little lonely," he said. "I don't like being alone. I want to share these experiences and things with as many people as possible."

The interstellar trip is all part of Maezawa's grand project, which he has named Dear Moon. His plan is to bring with him six to eight artists from various disciplines, including film, architecture, painting, sculpture and photography, with the goal that upon their return to Earth they create works inspired by the experience. The idea came to him as he was looking at a Basquiat painting. "I thought, what if Basquiat had gone to space and had seen the moon up close or saw the earth in full view?" he said. "What wonderful masterpiece would he have created?" Jean-Michel Basquiat's painting 'Untitled' was purchased by Yusaku Maezawa. Soon, he started imagining if his other favourite artists, such as Andy Warhol, Michael Jackson, John Lennon and Coco Chanel, were also given the same privilege.Austin: A Texas man known for his quest to help Americans manufacture their own firearms at home using 3-D printers may be on the run in Taiwan, after police in Austin charged him for allegedly paying to have sex with a 16-year-old girl.

Cody Wilson, 30, who has described himself as a "crypto-anarchist," was charged by Austin police with sexually assaulting the unidentified girl by paying $US500 to have sex with her at a hotel. Police say Wilson met her on the website "SugarDaddyMeet.com," after bragging to her about his notoriety in the gun case. Surveillance video from August 15 shows the pair at a coffee shop and later at a hotel. The victim told authorities about the incident.

Cody Wilson, the founder of Defense Distributed, shows a plastic handgun made on a 3D-printer at his home in Austin, Texas. Credit:AP

At a press conference on Wednesday local time, a commander with the Austin Police Department said the agency was working with national and international authorities to locate Wilson and "bring him to justice" after he missed a scheduled flight home from Taipei.

A judge in Travis County, Texas, issued a warrant for Wilson's arrest.New York City: Stormy Daniels, the adult film star who claims US President Donald Trump paid her off to keep their tryst a secret, goes into uncomplimentary detail about their alleged sexual encounter in a new memoir, according to The Guardian newspaper.

Porn star Stephanie Clifford, who uses the stage name Stormy Daniels. Credit:AP

Daniels, 39, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, also told friends that Trump "doesn't even want to be president" during the 2016 campaign, according to the British newspaper, which said it had obtained a copy of the book Full Disclosure ahead of its October 2 release date.

Reuters was unable to review the book. Calls to the publisher, St Martin's Press, were not immediately returned on Tuesday. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The tell-all book will come out a little over a month before the crucial November 6 congressional elections. Democrats are seeking to take back control of one or both houses of Congress from Trump's Republican Party, a move that would imperil the President's legislative agenda and launch new oversight of his administration.They said McDonald was advancing on the officers, waving his knife at them. They said he raised the arm holding the knife, menacing them as they attempted to retreat. They said Van Dyke had to keep shooting until his gun was empty because McDonald was trying to get up, perhaps to attack them.The challenge for Chicago Bears coach Matt Nagy is contextualizing the development of Justin Fields with the need to get back on a winning track. Because while its easy to sell hope to a fan base when it comes to a potential franchise passer, that doesnt fly in the locker room where the other 52 players want to win.The public is invited to join in a celebration of accomplishments of the Opportunity Zone schools during the Community Celebration Phase II, scheduled for next Tuesday at The Howard School.

The Opportunity Zone schools will share their accomplishments and achievements over the past year.

Over 15 informational sessions will be available for teachers, parents and community members. The sessions will include information on Volkswagen eLabs, plans for events included in Parent University and mental health resources. There will also be teacher focus groups and much more during the celebration event.



Last years event, sponsored by Roots Hair & Beauty and Chat 2.0, was attended by more than 500 community members. The 2018 celebration includes a community partners hour from 5:30-6:30 p.m., followed by the community event starting at 6:30 p.m.

The community partners hour is a time for parents or residents of the community to get connected with community resources, programs and partners in the Opportunity Zone schools that could assist families. Over 20 agencies or organizations will have tables with information and representatives there to connect with interested families. Agencies represented in the community partners hour will include the UTC Upward Bound program, the Family Justice Center, the Chattanooga City Youth and Family Development Department, Project College and Signal Centers.The banks protection officer followed Bernard out of the bank into the parking lot, where two Aurora firefighters then joined the pursuit, according to the FBI account. They detained Bernard near an adjoining parking lot until Aurora police arrived, the account stated.With the world of business so disrupted by technology and changing dynamics its rare to see a family enterprise thats survived three generations of uninterrupted operation at the same location and continuing to thrive.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 18/9/2018 (1148 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

With the world of business so disrupted by technology and changing dynamics its rare to see a family enterprise thats survived three generations of uninterrupted operation at the same location and continuing to thrive.

Independent Jewellers Ltd.  or IJL as its now branded  has just started its latest chapter in a brand new building that just opened at the same site that the father and grandfather of current proprietors, Jeremy and Jonathan Epp, operated from, at the corner of Isabel Street and Notre Dame Avenue.

The Epps have spent at least $3 million  Jeremy Epp says thats a conservative number  on a 5,200-square-foot building immediately west of the former building. Construction was planned in such a way that the store was only closed for about six days in total.

Jeremy Epp is the co-owner of the 81-year-old third-generation family business. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press)

"It was funny but on some of the more chaotic days when there was demolition going on we were busier than ever," Epp said. "We had people coming and going through it all."

IJL is the only dealer in Winnipeg for such iconic luxury watch brands as Rolex, IWC Schaffhausen and Tag Heuer and Forevermark diamonds by De Beers.

With such strong connections to such valuable brands, Epp said it became apparent that the old building could no longer handle what the business needed.

"Rolex, for instance, wanted to invest in a space that they can have longer term partnership in," Epp said. "What is the expression, Dont put new wine in an old wineskin."

The new building also allows IJL to continue to maintain the tradition of being one of  if not the only  jewellery store in Western Canada with a full-time watch-maker, goldsmith, appraiser, and designer on site.

The Epps spent at least $3 million to build a new 5,200-square-foot building at the intersection of Notre Dame Avenue and Isabel Street. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press)

Not everything in the store cost tens of thousands of dollars but the neighbourhood certainly does not reflect that glamour of that which is on display inside. But dont try to bad mouth the neighborhood in front of Jeremy Epp.

"I think it takes time for things to get better," he said of the location kitty-corner to the less-than-glamorous Balmoral Motor Hotel. "There are a lot of surprisingly strong businesses in the area including a brand new Wilderness Supply store right next to us and there are some unbelievably good diners around here."

And why wouldnt he pump up the locale? His customers, some from four generations of the same family, have been coming to the same location for 75 years, located a few blocks down from its original location at 593 Notre Dame Ave. The company was founded in 1937 by Jeremy's grandfather John H. Epp, who started the business selling watches and shavers door-to-door in the North End.

You also get the the feeling the neighbourhood suits the Epps own modest style. Unlike the stereotypical jewellery store owner, Jeremy Epp is not dripping with gold and diamonds.

A simple wedding band and a 15 year old watch (he wouldnt show the brand) is all that he wears.

Independent Jewellers is the only dealer in Winnipeg of iconic luxury watch brands such as Rolex, IWC Schaffhausen and Tag Heuer and Forevermark diamonds by De Beers. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press)

A new advertising campaign that features Winnipeg Jets centreman Mark Scheifele discretely flashing a nice wrist watch, tagged, "Timing is Everything" effectively launches the re-branding of the store as IJL and its new building.

Epp said Scheifele was their first choice for the campaign. Scheifele projects an image of someone who has a dedicated passion for excellence.

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Epp said, "Were thrilled to have him as a partner. I dont know him well personally but from what I picked up, family is very important to him."

The retail space is about twice the size of the old store even though the building is smaller. (The old one had apartments above the store, though they had not been occupied for many years.) Elegant displays for all the exclusive watch brands occupy much of the wall space with jewellery in the centre.

Epp acknowledges that the business world certainly has changed over the years as has style and fashion.

Independent Jewellers is one of the only jewellery stores in Western Canada with its own full-time goldsmith who works on site. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press)

"But trust doesnt change," he said, pointing out that the long-time tag line for the family business has always been "A Tradition of Trust".

"You still need to trust people," he said. "At the end of the day what a good jeweller does... we get to be part of these great moments in peoples lives. The best part of what we do is sitting in this room having conversations about life, about why people love each other."

martin.cash@freepress.mb.caMayor Brian Bowman promised Wednesday to increase boots-on-the-ground policing without increasing taxes, but the head of the police union said the mayor is doing so on the backs of police officers.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 19/9/2018 (1147 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Mayor Brian Bowman promised Wednesday to increase boots-on-the-ground policing without increasing taxes, but the head of the police union said the mayor is doing so on the backs of police officers.

Bowman pledged to remove overtime when calculating retiring police officers' pensionable earnings; a plan he said would save about $1.5 million annually from the police budget, which could be used to pay for 10 to 15 more officers.

"The leader of the police union, Mo Sabourin, has been very clear in what he's looking for. He has said he wants more front-line officers. This provides a path forward in a way that doesn't ask taxpayers to pay more," said Bowman before a backdrop of the Harrow Park playground in River Heights.

Sabourin, the Winnipeg Police Association president, said 18 officers would be needed to staff an additional police car based on the six-shift model with training and time off.

"The numbers he's quoting of the number of officers that could be hired wouldn't even fill half of a cruiser car. He's trying to put the decision back on us," Sabourin said.

"What Mayor Bowman is doing is deflecting away from the actual problem of public safety. I think he's upset with our public safety campaign and he's trying to tarnish the (union) by bringing the fact to the public that overtime is pensionable. What a lot of people don't realize is the service has the ability to limit overtime."

Sabourin said Winnipeg receives "a bargain" because police overtime pays time-and-a-half, not double-time like many other police services in Canada.

Bowman said "it is ultimately council's decision should the pensionable earnings of overtime be eliminated" under the Winnipeg Police Pension bylaw and wouldn't need to be approved by the union or Winnipeg Police Board.

Mayoral candidate Jenny Motkaluk disputed that statement Wednesday in an emailed response.

"If he intends to add front-line police officers by eliminating overtime from their pensionable earnings, he will have to break a 2017 collective bargaining agreement with the Winnipeg Police Association," she stated. "And even if he did find a way to add 10 front-line officers, it would still be a drop in the bucket."

She said her community safety plan includes re-deploying dozens of officers to the front line.

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Bowman pledged to work with the police board in increase "efficient and effective core policing activities," and denied assertions that the police budget has been reduced.

"It's been increased every single year since 2014. Over the last four years, funding to the police has increased 10 per cent while the City of Winnipeg's overall budget has increased only eight per cent," Bowman said. He said the police service's $291-million budget is the largest of all city departments and represents 27 per cent of all city expenditures.

Bowman said he will create a new community safety and crime-prevention fund of $400,000 over four years from Civic Initiatives Fund resources. Community groups and non-profit agencies could access the money to help reduce crime and address safety issues in their neighbourhoods.

"No city can arrest their way into becoming a safe city, and it's not fair to expect our police department to do it all," Bowman said.

The civic election is on Oct. 24.

ashley.prest@freepress.mb.caOTTAWA  Winnipegs French-speaking refugees are struggling to find jobs and housing, according to a new report, despite Ottawa promising to boost francophone immigration to Manitoba.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 18/9/2018 (1148 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA  Winnipegs French-speaking refugees are struggling to find jobs and housing, according to a new report, despite Ottawa promising to boost francophone immigration to Manitoba.

"Weve found some ways to better facilitate this integration," said Faical Zellama, an associate professor at the Universite de Saint-Boniface, who co-authored the study for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Zellama and his colleagues interviewed 41 French-speaking refugees living in Winnipeg from 2006 to 2016, and found 41 per cent were unemployed, one-third were working and seven per cent were studying.

The researchers also heard from 17 organizations that help French-speaking newcomers, and found shortfalls in housing, employment, education, health and cultural adjustment.

Zellama said refugees with advanced degrees are placed in the same math classes as others who havent completed high school, because social systems try to get everyone to reach the same minimal standard. "Were mixing apples and oranges; theres no way of meeting the particular needs."

He said government funding is probably wasted on educational programs that dont fit newcomers long workdays, instead of helping them transition to better jobs. Similarly, there seems to be little to link refugees with labour-market gaps.

For example, Zellama researched agricultural businesses needing workers in Altona, Winkler and Morden. He said refugees would only need a few weeks of training to fill those jobs, but employment centres arent connecting them to the work and governments arent funding the required training.

Meanwhile, traumatized refugees who have languished in camps often have job qualifications, but need psychological help to overcome mental-health issues and culture shock. "Its not just giving them a health card or showing them how to access French health services in St. Boniface; they need more."

Of the five areas Zellama studied, housing was the most dire. The city has scant affordable housing, and whats available doesnt always accommodate multi-children families and those who live with grandparents.

Boris Ntambwe, housing director for the immigration hub Accueil Francophone, said refugees cant find long- or short-term homes in St. Boniface, and are pushed out to English-speaking areas such as Transcona or Windsor Park.

"Its about keeping the bilingualism in Canada alive," he said. "Its more than opportunities in French, but also keeping our French heritage."

Ntambwe hasnt heard whether the national housing strategy, unveiled last year, will do anything to address minority communities.

Dan Vandal, MP for Saint Boniface-Saint Vital, said the Liberals are still shaping that policy, but hes "confident" it will address minority-language housing needs.

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Vandal said his governments spending on minority-language communities has likely improved the situation since the studys interviews concluded in 2016. He said federal funding helped Accueil boost its office staff to 29 people, from 11.

"Theres room for improvement all over, but I think were on the right track," he said.

Zellama presented the report at a conference Sept. 12, and described it to the Free Press. He did not provide the document, as its property of IRCC, which did not respond when asked for a copy of the report.

A request for tenders shows Ottawa offered up to $30,000 for the research.

The federal government has pledged to boost immigration to minority-language communities, through both economic and refugee streams.

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.caCanadians shouldn't expect to see billboards, TV and radio commercials, or newspaper advertisements for cannabis when legalization begins Oct. 17. In fact, the federal government's strict rules on cannabis promotion effectively mean Canadians shouldn't see any traditional advertising for marijuana companies in public, where minors could be exposed to it.

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Canadians shouldn't expect to see billboards, TV and radio commercials, or newspaper advertisements for cannabis when legalization begins Oct. 17. In fact, the federal government's strict rules on cannabis promotion effectively mean Canadians shouldn't see any traditional advertising for marijuana companies in public, where minors could be exposed to it.

But beyond that sweeping prohibition, even cannabis industry professionals and the lawyers who advise them remain unsure exactly what kinds of promotional campaigns will be permitted by federal cannabis regulator Health Canada.

Industry players have taken to asking Health Canada outright whether particular advertising plans would comply with the new rules, says Rebecca Brown, CEO and founder of Toronto-based cannabis marketing firm Crowns Agency. But the regulator has been unwilling to rule on specific proposals, she says, instead advising companies to study the legislation and act accordingly.

"I talk to marketers, I talk to in-house counsel in the industry all the time, and everyone seems to be confused or stuck on the same things," says Brown.

SEAN KILPATRICK / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Health Canada has been unwilling to rule on specific advertising proposals, says cannabis marketer Rebecca Brown.

"And really what it boils down to is, can we get some clarity on specific use cases so that we can all proceed and make plans and be compliant?"

Because of that uncertainty, Brown expects some cannabis industry players might hesitate to launch new promotional campaigns at the outset of legalization.

"I'm hopeful that within the first ten to twelve weeks, people will try some things out," she says.

Promotional restrictions in the federal Cannabis Act will apply to all media, including newspapers and magazines, digital content, signage, broadcast media, and communications sent by mail. They don't only apply to promotions for marijuana itself, but also to accessories and cannabis-related services. Violations could carry heavy penalties, including prison time and fines of up to $5 million, or administrative penalties of up to $1 million.

The law prohibits promoting cannabis in any way that "could be appealing to young persons," or by using testimonials or celebrity endorsements. Mascots are also forbidden, as are false advertising and promotions in foreign media. Presenting a cannabis product  or even cannabis "brand elements" like brand names, logos, or slogans  can't be done in any way that "evokes a positive or negative emotion about or image of, a way of life such as one that includes glamour, recreation, excitement, vitality, risk or daring."

Still, the law leaves plenty of room for interpretation, says cannabis business attorney Trina Fraser of Brazeau Seller Law in Ottawa.

"There are certain things I can't give (clients) an absolute blessing on, because I just don't know yet, until we see it done and how or if Health Canada reacts to it."

Health Canada "has been holding information sessions to promote awareness and understanding of the Cannabis Act and its regulations," wrote a spokesman in a statement.

"This outreach includes topics such as the prohibitions contained in the Cannabis Act with respect to the promotion of cannabis, cannabis accessories and services related to cannabis."

Cannabis companies are responsible for ensuring their own compliance with the law, wrote the spokesman, who added Health Canada "is engaging all provinces and territories, federally licensed producers and other interested parties, such as advertising and promotion organizations, to help them understand the new legislative and regulatory requirements."

Certain promotional activities will clearly be allowed under the federal marijuana law.

"We know that you're going to be able to communicate directly with a database that you've developed of customers or potential customers... as long as you've taken reasonable steps to ensure that it's not being sent to a minor and being accessed by a minor," says Fraser.

"We know that there will be some promotion that's permissible within (cannabis) stores," she adds, as long as minors aren't allowed in those stores. Even within age-restricted cannabis stores, the law limits promotions to providing factual information about a product's availability and price.

DAVID FRIEND / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Representatives for Tweed Inc. mingle with concertgoers at the Field Trip music festival in Toronto in June. Companies have been unclear how to stay within the rule of law when it comes to advertising and promotions.

"I think that we feel fairly confident that private (promotional) events, or events that are in age-restricted environments... are compliant (with the law)," says Brown.

"I think there's some fuzziness around the content of those events."

Cannabis companies are especially concerned about how far they need to go to ensure digital promotions don't reach minors, says Brown. The traditional approach of "age-gating"  asking a website user whether they're old enough to legally view the content  might not be enough, she believes.

Brown says cannabis companies also want to know whether advanced digital advertising technology that delivers content only to specific demographic groups, like adults, would pass muster with Health Canada.

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"Ultimately it's to everyone's benefit for the industry to be able to promote itself within reasonable constraints, but promote itself enough that it has a chance to begin to get some traction with people, and disrupt the black market, which is why we have a legal framework," she says.

Amid all the uncertainty, Brown says one thing is clear: the future of cannabis advertising in Canada won't look anything like traditional exercises in brand-building.

"It's not going to be like a big shiny thing that you can point at, like a Superbowl ad. It's going to be lots and lots of smaller things that together add up to connect people to the world of a brand."

solomon.israel@theleafnews.com

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(Top image: Hadi Davodpour, Zlatko Najdenovski, Joey Sabey from the Noun Project. Illustration: Graeme Bruce / Winnipeg Free Press)The rise in the number of refugee claims made in Winnipeg has one lawyer asking the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada to bring back a permanent member to hear cases in the city.

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The rise in the number of refugee claims made in Winnipeg has one lawyer asking the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada to bring back a permanent member to hear cases in the city.

"This is a matter of resources that I believe are warranted in Winnipeg," Alastair Clarke said Tuesday, after sending a letter to the board asking it to beef up its presence in Manitoba.

"The Winnipeg border has become a focal point for many of the individuals in the U.S. looking for a crossing," the immigration lawyer said. "They know Saskatchewan is not a jurisdiction that supports refugees as much. For whatever reason, Emerson is a well-trodden crossing into Canada."

Manitoba is reporting refugee claimants arriving every month, but the board doesnt have a member posted in the province to hear cases.

Since the late 1990s, proceedings have been conducted by video conference with a board member in Vancouver or Calgary. On rare occasions, a visiting board member will conduct a hearing in Winnipeg. Last year, the board added a Winnipeg hearing room to conduct more meetings at the Victory Building on Main Street.

With more claims being filed and cases waiting to be heard, its putting a strain on that long-distance relationship, Clarke said.

In a Sept. 10 letter to the board, Clarke described two recent incidents that illustrate his concerns. One related how it is getting harder to reschedule hearings when a board member or a commissionaire (who is required to be present) has to postpone a video conference. The second issue involves sound problems with one of the hearing rooms (remote adjudicators have said they have a hard time hearing what people in Winnipeg are saying).

"In-person hearings are more personal and communication is easier," according to Clarkes letter.

The board said in an email response to Clarke it is looking into his concerns.

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Clarke said he hopes it takes action, because the flow of refugee claimants crossing into Canada from the United States isnt likely to stop any time soon. On Sunday, the U.S. announced it is slashing the number of refugees it will allow into the country in the coming year to 30,000 from 45,000.

"Its more rhetoric thats going to cause more people to look for alternatives, and more are going to look to Canada as a place where they may be safe," he said. "Its going to put more strain on the current system and increase the need for more resources."

The latest Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada data show Manitoba has the third-highest number of asylum seekers intercepted by RCMP after crossing into Canada from the U.S.

In August, 39 refugee claimants were intercepted in each of Manitoba and B.C., while 1,666 were picked up entering Quebec.

From January to August, Manitoba RCMP intercepted 309 refugee claimants, while in B.C. there were 329. In Quebec, the total was 13,749.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.caProposed changes to nursing shifts at Health Sciences Centre and Children's Hospital are being rushed and could adversely affect patient care, the president of the Manitoba Nurses Union says.

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Proposed changes to nursing shifts at Health Sciences Centre and Children's Hospital are being rushed and could adversely affect patient care, the president of the Manitoba Nurses Union says.

Darlene Jackson said the MNU has yet to receive official notice of the shift changes  even though hospital officials, in a videotaped session Sept. 11 with a handful of staff, set Jan. 11 as the implementation date. The video has since been removed from the Health Sciences Centre's YouTube page.

In an interview Tuesday, Jackson said the union has still not received an "employment security notice" from HSC that would officially launch the shift-change process under its collective agreement. The nursing shift changes are part of Phase 2 of the Pallister government's hospital reforms.

Jackson said while there had been "loose discussion" around the timing of the implementation of the shift changes, as far as the union is concerned the process does not begin until the MNU receives official notice from the employer, which has not occurred.

JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Manitoba Nurses Union president Darlene Jackson is concerned that HSC is rushing the launch of a promised shift-change process at the hospital.

"This is very rushed," she said. "We've asked them to slow down, to consult with us. These changes are massive and they're going to be very disruptive for nurses."

Jackson said because of the scheduling changes, experienced nurses could decide to leave the hospital, leave the province or retire.

According to the video, which was viewed by the Free Press, nursing rotation changes are planned for HSC mental health and dialysis units and in the emergency room, pediatric intensive care unit and CK5 unit at Children's Hospital. The CK5 area is a pediatric medicine unit that includes hematology, oncology, bone marrow transplant, renal transplants, neurology and cardiology patients.

"We knew that (Premier Brian) Pallister wanted to cut health care, but targeting the Children's Hospital? Really?" said Manitoba NDP Leader Wab Kinew.

He said his concern is there is no guarantee come January, when the shift changes are set to take effect, there will be an adequate supply of experienced nurses in specialized areas to care adequately for young patients.

DAVID LIPNOWSKI / THE CANADIAN PRESS NDP leader Wab Kinew questioned Premier Brian Pallister's plan to change nursing levels at the Children's Hospital in HSC.

"You say you're going to guarantee every nurse a job," Kinew said of the provincial government's promises. "But what guarantee is there for parents that when they show up with their kid at the ER that the nurses are going to have the right sort of skills to give them the health care that they need?"

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An official with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority was not immediately available for an interview Tuesday.

A spokeswoman said in a statement the hospital reforms are designed to better match staffing at all facilities across the region with the populations they serve.

"The current master rotations in some clinical areas no longer match when patients require the most care. Part of HSCs work to update master rotations to better address the demands and needs of our evolving patient base was successfully completed during Phase 1 of clinical consolidation with no impact to the safety or quality of care provided to patients. Additional work to complete these changes across the remaining units will begin within the coming weeks," she said.

"The WRHA will continue to work closely with the union as we move through this process, and some changes may be completed without deletion notices being issued."

A spokesman for Health Minister Cameron Friesen said Kinew is "attempting to scare Manitobans with wild claims" about the state of Manitoba's health-care system. "As usual, his shameful fearmongering has no basis in reality."

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.caA 25-year-old woman suspected in 19 Manitoba Liquor Mart heists and three retail store robberies was arrested Monday, after being stopped by store security officers and held until police arrived.

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A 25-year-old woman suspected in 19 Manitoba Liquor Mart heists and three retail store robberies was arrested Monday, after being stopped by store security officers and held until police arrived.

Winnipeg police said the woman is a suspect in the theft of liquor worth $3,760 from numerous locations between June 15 and Aug. 27. The suspect would enter a store, grab some alcohol and leave without paying for it, police said.

She is also suspected in thefts of merchandise worth about $655 from three retail stores, including one Aug. 4 on the 600 block of Empress Street, when two women reportedly used a metal pipe to threaten employees.

In a statement Tuesday, the Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Corporation said it was pleased to hear police were able to arrest and charge a suspect in connection with the robberies at its Liquor Marts.

MLL said it is continuing to work with police about the thefts at Liquor Marts, as well as preparing to meet with Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union representatives -- the union which represents 1,211 employees at liquor stores, administration, distribution and warehouse -- about the issue, later this month.

"While we continue to work diligently to find a solution to this problem, we would like to remind the public not to intervene should they witness a theft in progress," the MLL statement said. "Intervening could lead to someone being seriously, or gravely, injured."

Last week, Winnipeg police said there had been close to 1,300 thefts from liquor stores in the last year, while MLL provided statistics which showed about $800,000 worth of liquor was stolen from Liquor Marts during that time period.

Earlier this week, MGEU president Michelle Gawronsky confirmed thefts are also a problem at liquor stores in other areas of the province.

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Gawronsky said during the upcoming meeting with MLL executives union leadership will float the idea of looking at returning to a system when employees controlled the sale of alcohol instead of having customers shop for booze like they do groceries.

The MLL statement also said, after several days of news stories about thefts of liquor from its stores, it would no longer be providing any comment on its security policies and/or changes it might be looking into.

"Talking about security and anti-theft policies in a public forum is compromising the safety of our staff and customers and undermining the effectiveness of possible solutions to this problem."

The suspect arrested Monday was apprehended by officers after she tried to rob a retail store on the 1200 block of St. Marys Road a second time, police said.

Police said when the suspect first went to the retail store Sept. 10, she threatened security staff with a knife, said she had bear spray, and fled with about $95 worth of clothing. The woman came back Monday night, and tried to leave with $200 worth of clothing, but security staff intervened until officers arrived, police said.

Alicia Yvonne Leitch of Winnipeg is facing a number of theft and robbery charges. She is being held in custody.Recently, we have been inundated with stories of the meth epidemic and the rising crime rate, and campaigning politicians have called for more police. An announcement of the closure of several prison beds at the Milner Ridge Correctional Centre, the result of a dwindling prison population, was met with astonishment, given our crime problem.

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Opinion

Recently, we have been inundated with stories of the "meth epidemic" and the rising crime rate, and campaigning politicians have called for more police. An announcement of the closure of several prison beds at the Milner Ridge Correctional Centre, the result of a dwindling prison population, was met with astonishment, given our "crime problem."

You will probably be surprised to know that in Winnipeg you are safer now than you were in the late 1990s or early 2000s. In fact, despite massive increases in provincial custody, our crime rate only started going down in the early 2010s. Consider that in 2000, 18 years ago, our crime rate was about 11,000 incidents per 100,000 population. In 2017, it was around 7,300, a drop of 35 per cent. Violent crime decreased by 28 per cent.

I could go on with the numbers, but I am sure by now many readers are saying, "That cant be true!" If you think you are hearing more about violent crime, that is likely accurate. Our media outlets are increasingly stretched, and crime is easy to report on, and drug waves such as "meth" make for sexy reporting, much like "road rage" or past drug scourges including "angel dust" (PCP) and crack cocaine epidemics that were thought to be marking the end of society as we know it.

Union leaders emphasize potential danger, because their jobs are to protect their working ranks. But, I did not make up these numbers, and just because some commenters are saying things are getting worse does not mean it is true.

I am not trying to trivialize the rise in crystal methamphetamine use, or deny that it is fuelling at least some of the property and violent crime in the city. I am not advocating for massive layoffs of police or correctional officers. We had an old saying when I worked in corrections: "You dont get paid to get hurt." I do insist, however, that hiring more criminal-justice personnel is not the best expenditure of taxpayer money to make our city safer.

A normal human reaction after a serious crime is to think we need more police. In a muddle-headed way, we believe that somehow this will either prevent future crimes or get this one solved sooner. But, that is not how policing works. Offenders almost never get caught in the act. Police respond to calls and complaints and do followup investigations. No doubt, solid investigative work and forensic technology clears many crimes, but the number of offenders caught through the use of informants is sizable.

But, police would be more visible if we increased their numbers, and that would deter offenders, wouldnt it? That logic is also flawed, if you realize the number of police that would be required to accomplish that. Lets say the police patrol your neighbourhood twice a day; if we doubled the size of the force, that might increase it to four times a day, at massive expense. What are the odds you would be looking out the window when they go by, two or four times? Not very high. You would have to quadruple the size of the force before you might notice a difference in police presence.

In 2000, we averaged 1,100 inmates a day in provincial custody; now we have 2,000. But, if our crime rate is lower now than 20 years ago, how did the number of incarcerations double? A likely explanation is that the province invested heavily in hiring police and prosecutors about 10 years ago, paradoxically when crime was going down. Aggressive arrest policies and prosecutors resistance to bail increased the number of provincial remands drastically.

For offenders, double bunking, less recreation, less opportunity for support programs and less humane housing were all outcomes of this unprecedented increase in the rate of custody. In my research, I have observed that recidivism rates have remained relatively high. Programs have helped. However, for example, drug courts and the Winding Rivers Therapeutic community are two programs I have evaluated with positive results.

So what can be done?

With the crime rate rising and incidents of violent crime being highlighted by media sources, politicians and unions, if more police and custody are not the answer, what can our provincial government do?

1. Develop more addiction services outside of the criminal-justice system, including graduated detox residential treatment for crystal methamphetamine users.

2. Promote greater use of diversion and restorative justice by police and Crown prosecutors for minor offences.

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3. Be proactive on pending federal legislation by only incarcerating individuals on bail who have committed a new crime or represent an imminent threat to a witness/victim.

4. Close more prison beds and redeploy staff to community-based initiatives.

5. Expand use of the Responsible Reintegration Initiative from 20 to 100 offenders a day, by more aggressive screening and providing supportive community-based resources.

6. Target resources to Gladue courts to provide the judiciary with meaningful alternatives to custody.

I have been involved in the criminal-justice system, working in it or researching it, for almost 40 years. Governments and their agents owe it to taxpayers to spend their money wisely, and that may mean not spending lavishly on more police and prison beds each time the crime rate rises a few per cent. There are other ways to deal with crime, and prudent politicians should consider all the options.

Michael Weinrath, a former corrections manager, is a professor of criminal justice and director of the Justice Research Institute at the University of Winnipeg.In a statement released Wednesday, District 205 described Silagyi as a former district employee and contractor whom it said was not believed to have performed services for the district in at least five years. The district said it would continue to fully cooperate with prosecutors in their probe of the alleged conspiracy so that all will be held responsible to the fullest extent of the law.Kitty Block is acting president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States and presiInstalled in August, the four solar panels have generated enough energy so far to power the lights for a classroom or two. More importantly, the small step toward clean energy has sparked a lot of excitement among students in the schools Environmental Action Club, a 70-member group working to remind their peers that our world is worth protecting, said Elle Flock, a senior from New Lenox.You are the owner of this article.The following companies are subsidiares of Air Products and Chemicals: 7001 Hamilton Properties LLC, ACP Europe SA, ACP Zolder Invest NV, AJWAA Gases LLC, AP Services South America SpA, APCI (U.K.) Inc., Air Products (Anshan) Gases Co. Ltd., Air Products (BR) Limited, Air Products (Cangzhou) Co. Ltd., Air Products (Changsha) Co. Ltd., Air Products (Chongqing) Chem-Materials Co. Ltd., Air Products (Dongguan) Gases Co. Ltd., Air Products (Guangzhou) Electronics Gases Co. Ltd., Air Products (Hangjin Qi) Co. Ltd., Air Products (Hefei) Electronics Gases Co. Ltd., Air Products (Hong Kong) Co. Ltd., Air Products (Huaibei) Gases Co. Ltd., Air Products (Jiangxi) Co. 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(Illinois), East Coast Nitrogen Company LLC, East Coast Oxygen Co., Gardner Cryogenics (Pennsylvania), Gas Direct Limited, Gas Supply Services Ltd., Gas Technologies Ltd., Gases Industriales de Columbia S.A.  Cryogas, Gases Integrated Company Limited (GIC), Gasin II Unipessoal LDA, Gastel Limited, Goar Allison & Associates, Green BioFuel s.r.o., Harvest Energy Technologies (California), Harvest Energy Technology, Helap SAS, Indura, Indura Argentina S.A., Indura Holdings Colombia LLC, Indura Inversiones Limitada, Indura Peru S.A., Indura S.A., Indura S.A. (Peru), Indura Sociedad Comercial Limitada, Ingemedicas Santandar Ltda., Ingenieria en Redes de Gases S.A. - Gasproject S.A., Inversiones Air Products Holdings Limitada, Jazan Gas Projects Company, Jazan Integrated Gasification and Power Company (JIGPC), KRIG Holdings B.V., KRYVYI RIH Industrial Gas, Korea Industrial Gases Ltd., Kulim Industrial Gases Sdn Bhd, Lida SAS, Markaziy Osiyo Sanoat Gaz LLC, Matgas 2000 A.I.E., Napro S.A., Olin DNT Limited Partnership, Oxigeno Medicinal Domiciliario Limitada, Oxigeno de Sagunto S.L., Oxigenol S.A., Oxygen & Argon Works, Oxygen & Argon Works Ltd., Oxygen Center Ltd., Oxygen Warehouse Trade (1980) Ltd., PQ Ammonia, PT Air Products East Kalimantan, PT Air Products Indonesia, PT Air Products Indonesia Services, Permea China Ltd., Permea Inc., Procal (California), Prodair Air Products India Private Limited, Prodair Corporation, Prodair Escravos Limited, Prodair S.A.S., Prodair Services Limited, Prodair et Cie S.C.S., Quimica Basica S.A., ROVI Cosmetics International, S.I.Q. Beteiligungs, SAGA SAS, SCWC Corp., STP & DIN Chemicals Sp. Z.o.o., Servicios Indura Limitada, Sociedad Espanola de Carburos Metalicos S.A., Soprogaz SNC, Stravinsky Investments LLC, The Former SR Manufacturers Inc., Tyczka Industrie-Gase GmbH, Union Mobiliere Industrielle S.A.R.L., United Industrial Gases Company LLC, Vitalox Industrial S.L.U., WuXi Hi-Tech Gas Co. Ltd., Yangon Industrial Gas (Thilawa) Company Limited, Zibo Chuangcheng Engineering Design Co. Ltd., and ir Products Israel Ltd..Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, a diversified financial institution, provides various financial products and services to personal, business, public sector, and institutional clients in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through four strategic business units: Canadian Personal and Business Banking; Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management; U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management; and Capital Markets. The company offers chequing, savings, and business accounts; mortgages; loans, lines of credit, student lines of credit, and business and agriculture loans; investment and insurance services; and credit cards, as well as overdraft protection services. It also provides day-to-day banking, borrowing and credit, investing and wealth, specialty, and international services; correspondent banking and online foreign exchange services; and cash management services. The company serves its customers through its banking centers, as well as direct, mobile, and remote channels. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce was founded in 1867 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

Read MoreGenesee & Wyoming Inc. owns and leases freight railroads. It operates through three segments: North American Operations, Australian Operations, and U.K./European Operations. The company transports various commodities, including agricultural products, autos and auto parts, chemicals and plastics, coal and coke, food and kindred products, lumber and forest products, metallic ores, metals, minerals and stone, petroleum products, pulp and paper, waste, and other commodities. It owns or leases 122 freight railroads, including 105 short line railroads and 2 regional freight railroads located in the United States, 8 short line railroads located in Canada, 3 railroads located in Australia, 1 railroad located in the United Kingdom, 1 railroad in Poland and Germany, and 2 railroads in the Netherlands with a total of approximately 16,200 miles of track. The company also operates 6,200 additional miles of track that is owned or leased by others. In addition, it operates deep sea maritime containers and provides bulk haulage, including coal, aggregates, cement, and infrastructure services. Further, the company provides rail service at approximately 40 ports; rail-ferry service in North America, Australia, and Europe; and contract coal loading and railcar switching for industrial customers. Genesee & Wyoming Inc. was founded in 1899 and is headquartered in Darien, Connecticut.

Read MoreThere wasnt much Democrats in the Senate minority could do. They raised a fuss about the rushed process and the GOPs refusal to make public documents related to Kavanaughs public service. They questioned his finances and his truthfulness, but it felt like it wasnt enough to stop a confirmation vote.CEMEX SAB de CV engages in the production, distribution, marketing, and sale of cement, ready-mix concrete, and aggregates. It operates though the following geographical segments: Mexico; United States; Europe; South, Central America and the Caribbean (SCA&C); Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMEA); and Others. The Europe segment covers United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, and Czech Republic, Poland and Latvia, as well as trading activities in Scandinavia, and Finland. The SCA&C segment includes Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Caribbean TCL, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, Jamaica, the Caribbean, El Salvador, and Guatemala. The EMEA segment comprises of Egypt, Israel, the Philippines, and the United Arab Emirates. The Others segment refers to the cement trade maritime operations, information technology solutions business, and other corporate entities as well as other minor subsidiaries with different lines of business. The company was founded by Lorenzo Zambrano Gutierrez in 1906 and is headquartered in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Mexico.

Read MoreThe following companies are subsidiares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.: 2235158 Alberta Limited, A.J. Amer Agency, AHC Digital LLC, AIX Limited, AJG Coal LLC, AJG Financial Services LLC, AJG Meadows LLC, AJG North America ULC, AJG RCF LLC, AJGRMS of Louisiana LLC, ARM RE Ltda., AVIATION INSURANCE SERVICES, AVRECO, Ace IRM Insurance Broking Group, Acumus Holdings Limited, Acumus Interco Limited, Acumus Ltd, Adams & Associates International, Adaptive Marketing LLC, Adco General Corporation, Advanced Benefit Advisors, Aequus Trade Credit, Affinity Marketing Group, Ahrold Fay Rosenberg, Aires Consulting Group, Alesco Risk Management Services Limited, Alize Limited, Allied Claims Administration Inc., Alternative Market Specialists, Altman & Cronin Benefit Consultants, American Freedom Carriers Inc., American Security Services Corp., American Wholesalers Underwriting Ltd, Andrew-Anthony Insurance Agency, Anthony Hodges Consulting Limited, Antrobus Investments Limited, AquaSurance, Argentis, Argentis Financial Group Limited, Argentis Financial Management Limited, Argus Benefits, Armstrong/Robitaille/Riegle, Artex (SAC) Limited, Artex Cedar Hill, Artex Corporate Services (Malta) Limited, Artex Corporate Services Limited, Artex Holdings (Gibraltar) Limited, Artex Holdings (Malta) Limited, Artex Insurance (Guernsey) PCC Limited, Artex Insurance (Tennessee) PCCIC Inc., Artex Insurance Brokers (Malta) PCC Limited, Artex Insurance ICC Limited, Artex Intermediaries Ltd, Artex Risk Solutions (Bermuda) Ltd, Artex Risk Solutions (Cayman) Limited, Artex Risk Solutions (Gibraltar) Limited, Artex Risk Solutions (Guernsey) Limited, Artex Risk Solutions (International) Ltd, Artex Risk Solutions (Malta) Limited, Artex Risk Solutions (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Artex Risk Solutions (UK) Limited, Artex Risk Solutions Inc., Arthur J Gallagher (Norway) Holdings AS, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (AUS) Ltd, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (Bermuda) Limited, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (Illinois), Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Insurance Brokers of California Inc., Arthur J. Gallagher (Aus) Pty Ltd, Arthur J. Gallagher (Bermuda) Holding Partnership, Arthur J. Gallagher (Life Solutions) Ltd, Arthur J. Gallagher (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Arthur J. Gallagher (U.S.) LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher (UK) Limited, Arthur J. Gallagher Asesoria S.A.C., Arthur J. Gallagher Australasia Holdings Pty Ltd., Arthur J. Gallagher Brokerage & Risk Management Services LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher Broking (NZ) Limited, Arthur J. Gallagher Financial Services Professionals Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher Group Quebec ULC, Arthur J. Gallagher Holdings (UK) Limited, Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance Brokers Limited, Arthur J. Gallagher Latin America LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher Management (Bermuda) Limited, Arthur J. Gallagher Real Estate Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services (Hawaii) Inc., Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services Inc., Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services of Utah Inc., Arthur J. Gallagher School Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher Service Company LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher Services (UK) Ltd, Ashmore & Associates Insurance Agency, Atlantic Risk Management Corp., Atrex Insurance (Cayman) SPC Limited, Avantek Pty Ltd, Axe Insurance PCC Limited, BIS Insurance Services, Baker - Tillys employment benefits solutions, Ballard Benefit Works, Bankers Financial Benefits, Barmore Insurance Agency, Behnke & Co. Inc., Bellisle Pty Ltd, Belmont Associates Consultants, Belmont Insurance Holdings Limited, Belmont International, Belmont International Limited, Benefit Development Group, Benefit Management Group, BenefitLink Resource Group, Benefits Planning & Insurance Agency, Benefits Unlimited, Bennett & Shade Co., Bergvall Marine, Bergvall Marine A.S., Besselman & Little Agency, Big Savings Insurance Agency Inc., Blenheim Park Ltd, Blenheim Park Services Limited, Blue Holdings Pty Ltd, Blue Horizon Insurance Services, Blue Water Benefits, BluePeak Advisors, Blueleaf Consulting Pty Ltd., Bluewater Incorporated Cell Insurance Company, Bollinger Inc., Bollinger Insurance Services Inc., Bowen Miclette Britt & Merry of Arkansas Inc., Brendis & Brendis, Brim AB, Broker Benefit Services, Brokerage Professionals, Brown Hobbs & McMurray Insurance, Bultman/Bell Associates Inc., Burkwald & Associates, Burns-Fazzi Brock & Associates, Bushong Insurance Associates, C&B Consulting Group, CGM Gallagher Insruance Brokers (Trinidad & Tobago) Limited, CJM Solutions Inc., CMA Solutions LLC, Cairnstone Financial, California Insurance Center, Capital Bauer Insurance Agency, Capitol Benefits Group, Capsicum CRLA LLP, Capsicum Re Brasil Participacoes Ltda, Capsicum Re Latin America Corretora De Resseguros Ltda, Capsicum Reinsurance Brokers Bermuda Limited, Capsicum Reinsurance Brokers Miami Inc., Carefree Marketing Inc., Carpenter Cammack & Associates, Cashan & Co., Castle Insurance Associates, Centennial Insurance Agency, Charity First Insurance Services Inc., Charles Allen Agency, Charter Lakes Insurance Agency, Chris Schroeder Insurance, Christie-Phoenix, Cintran Claims Canada Limited, Classic Insurance Services, Cleaveland Insurance Group, Cohen & Lord Insurance Brokers, Cohn Financial Group, Coleman Group Holdings Limited, Coleman Holdings Limited, College and University Scholastic Excess Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Commercial Insurance Brokers, Complete Benefit Alliance, Complete Financial Balance, Complete Financial Balance Pty Ltd, Consolidated Casualty Specialties LLC, Construction Risk Solutions, Contego Underwriting Limited, Contego Underwriting Ltd, Continental Excess & Surplus, Convergence Risk Services Ltd, Copper Mountain Assurance Inc., Cornwall & Stevens Co., Corporate Benefit Advisors, Corporate Life Consultants, Countrywide Accident Assistance Limited, Coverdell & Company Inc., Coverdell Canada Corporation, Cowles and Connell, Craig M. Ferguson & Co., Crist Elliott Machette Insurance Services, Crombie Lockwood (NZ) Limited, Davis-Poston & Associates, Denman Consulting Services, Detlefs Johnson & Partners, DiBrina Group, Dickinson & Associates, Discount Development Services L.L.C., Discovery Benefit Solutions, Dodson-Bateman & Co., Donald P. Pipino Co. Ltd., E. S. Susanin Inc., EHE Holdings LLC, EHS Holdings Limited, Elantis Premium Funding (NZ) Limited, Elantis Premium Funding Limited, Elite Benefits Insurance Marketing Services, Employee Benefits Analysis Corp., Employee Benefits of The Carolinas, Encore Insurance & Bonding, Everett James, Evolution Risk Services Limited, Evolution Technology Services Limited, Evolution Underwriting Group, Evolution Underwriting Group Limited, Evolution Underwriting Limited, Excel Insurance Services, FYI Direct Canada Corporation, FYI Direct LLC, Farallone Pacific Insurance Services, Fenchurch Faris Limited, Fidelity Benefits & Insurance Services, Financial Profiles Inc., Finergy Solutions Pty Ltd, First Agency, First Iowa Insurance Agency, First Premium Inc., First Premium Insurance Group, Fish & Schulkamp, Fishermans Insurance Services, Foley Healthcare Limited, Fortress Financial Solutions Pty Ltd, Fortress Insurance LLC, Foundation Strategies, Fox Lawson & Associates, Franklin-Case Agency LLC, Fraser MacAndrew Ryan Limited, Friary Intermediate Limited, Fuller & O'Brien, G.S. Chapman & Associates Insurance Brokers, G.S. Levine Insurance Services, GBS (Australia) Holdings Pty Ltd, GBS Administrators Inc., GBS Insurance and Financial Services Inc., GBS Retirement Services Inc., GBS Specialty Markets LLC, GGB Finance 1 Limited, GGB Finance 2 Limited, GGB Finance 3 Limited, GGB Finance 4 Limited, GPL Assurance, GPL Assurance Inc., Gabor Insurance Services, Gale Smith & Co. Inc., Gallagher (Bermuda) Insurance Solutions Ltd., Gallagher - Grace/Mayer Insurance Agency, Gallagher Bassett Aires Inc., Gallagher Bassett Canada Inc., Gallagher Bassett Insurance Services Ltd., Gallagher Bassett International Ltd., Gallagher Bassett NZ Pty Ltd., Gallagher Bassett Services Inc. , Gallagher Bassett Services Pty Ltd., Gallagher Bassett Services Workers Compensation Victoria Pty Ltd., Gallagher Benefit Services (Canada) Group Inc., Gallagher Benefit Services (Holdings) Limited, Gallagher Benefit Services Inc., Gallagher Benefit Services Management Company Limited, Gallagher Benefit Services Pty Ltd, Gallagher Benefits Consulting Limited, Gallagher Bomford Couch Wilson, Gallagher Burgess, Gallagher Canada Acquisition Corporation, Gallagher Caribbean Group Limited, Gallagher Clean Energy LLC, Gallagher Communications Limited, Gallagher Community Clinic RPG LLC, Gallagher Consulting Ltda, Gallagher Corporate Services LLC, Gallagher Coyle, Gallagher CyberRisk, Gallagher Energy Risk Services Inc., Gallagher Fiduciary Advisors LLC, Gallagher Holdings (UK) Limited, Gallagher Holdings Bermuda Company Limited, Gallagher Holdings Four (UK) Limited, Gallagher Holdings Three (UK) Limited, Gallagher Insurance Brokers (Barbados) Limited, Gallagher Insurance Brokers (St. Kitts & Nevis) Limited, Gallagher Insurance Brokers (St. Lucia) Limited, Gallagher Insurance Brokers (St. Vincent) Limited, Gallagher Insurance Brokers Jamaica Limited, Gallagher International Cash Management s.r.l., Gallagher International Holdings (US) Inc., Gallagher Investment Advisors LLC, Gallagher Inwest Group, Gallagher Koster, Gallagher Lambert Group, Gallagher Madison Risk & Insurance Services, Gallagher Mauritius Holdings, Gallagher Mississippi Brokerage LLC, Gallagher RE Colombia Ltda Corredores de Reaseguros SA, Gallagher Risk & Reward Limited, Gallagher Risk Group LLC, Gallagher Risk Placements Pty Ltd, Gallagher SKS, Gallagher Service Center LLP, Gallagher-Tarantino, Galtney Group, Game Day Insurance Inc., Gardner & White Corp., Gardner Marine Agency, Garza Long Group, Gatehouse Consulting Limited, Gault Armstrong Kemble Pty Ltd, Gault Armstrong SARL, Giles Group, Giles Holdings Limited, Giles Insurance Brokers, Gillis Ellis & Baker Inc., Goodman Insurance Agency, Grandy Pratt Co., Greenseed Alternative Mangaers Platform Ltd, Grossman & Associates, Group Benefits of Arkansas, Group Insurance Associates, Gruppo Marcucci, HLG Holdings Limited, HMG-PCMS Limited, HPF Investments LLC, HR Owen Insurance Services Limited, Hagan Newkirk Financial Services, Hagedorn & Company, Hardman & Howell Benefits, Harlequin Insurance PCC Limited, Hartstein Associates Inc., Healthcare Professionals Purchasing Group LLC, Healthcare Risk Solutions, Heath Lambert Group Ltd., Heath Lambert Limited, Heath Lambert Overseas Limited, Heiser Insurance Agency, Henderson Phillips Fine Arts Insurance, Herbruck Alder & Co., Heritage Insurance Brokers (CI) Limited, Hesse & Partner AG, Hesse Consulting, Hexagon ICC Limited, Hexagon Insurance PCC Limited, Hill Chesson & Woody, Hogan Insurance Services, Home & Travel Limited, Honour Point Limited, Horseshoe Corporate Services Ltd, Horseshoe Fund Services (Cayman) Ltd, Horseshoe Fund Services Ltd, Horseshoe Fund Services USA Inc., Horseshoe ILS Services UK Ltd, Horseshoe Insurance Advisors US LLC, Horseshoe Insurance Advisory Ltd., Horseshoe Insurance Services Holdings Ltd, Horseshoe Insurance Services Holdings US Inc., Horseshoe Management (Gibraltar) Limited, Horseshoe Management (Ireland) Ltd, Horseshoe Management Ltd., Horseshoe PCC Limited, Horseshoe Re Limited, Horseshoe Services (Cayman) Ltd, Horseshoe Services (Pty) Ltd, Horton Insurance Agency, Housing Authorities Services Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Human Resource Management Systems, I-Protect Underwriting Pty Ltd, IBIS Advisors, IBS Reinsurance Singapore Pte Ltd, ILS Fund Services Ltd., ISG International, ITI Solutions, Igloo Insurance PCC Limited, Independent Benefit Services, Independent Fiduciary Services, Ink Underwriting Agencies Limited, InsSync Group Pty Ltd, Inspire Underwriting Limited, Instrat Insurance Brokers, Instrat Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd, Instrat Integration Holdco Pty Ltd, Insurance Acquisitions Holdings Limited, Insurance Associates Inc., Insurance Dialogue Limited, Insurance Dialogue Ltd., Insurance Plans Agency, Insurance Plus Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Insurance Point, Insurance Risk Managers of Missouri Inc., Insure My Villa Limited, Insure Pty Ltd, Integrated Healthcare Strategies, InterNational Insurance Group, InterPacific Underwriting Agencies, Intermountain Financial Benefits, Interstate Insurance Underwriters, JPGAC LLC, James F. Reda & Associates, James R. Weir Insurance Agency, Jenkins and Associates, Joe E. Martin Inc., John P. Woods Co. Inc., Jones Brown, Jones Brown Group Inc., Jones Brown Insurance Solutions Inc., Joseph Distel, Joseph James & Associates Insurance Agency, Just Landlords Insurance Services Ltd, KDC Associates, KRW Insurance Agency, Kahl Insurance Services, Kaler Carney Liffler & Co. Inc., Kane Group - Insurance Management Operations, Kelly Financial, Kent Kent & Tingle and RBS, Keyser Benefits Corp., Kingspark Enterprises Pty Ltd, L&R Benefits, LSG Insurance Partners, Learn About Money Limited, Lewis & Associates Insurance Brokers, Leystone Insurance & Financial, Life Plans Unlimited, Lincoln Financial Management, Longfellow Financial, Lucas Fettes Limited, Lucas Fettes and Partners Limited, Lutgert Insurance, MA Underwriting Pty Ltd, MDM Insurance Associates, MG Advanced Coal Technologies-1 LLC, MGA Insurance Services, MRS Holdings Ltd., Madison Scott & Associates, Managed Healthcare Solutions, Mannequin Insurance PCC Limited, Marchetti Robertson & Brickell Insurance, Marine Insurance Service, Martin Gordon & Jones Inc., McDowall Associates Human Resource Consultants, McIntyre Risk Management, McLean Insurance Agency, McNeary, McPherson Benefits Group, McRory & Co., Mecacem Insurance SPC Ltd, MedInsights Inc., Melton Insurance Associates, Memberworks Canada LLC, Merit Insurance, Metcom Excess, Metzler Bros. Insurance, Meyers-Reynolds & Associates, Mid America Group, Midwest Surety Services, Mike Henry Insurance Brokers, Mike Henry Insurance Brokers Limited, Mike Henry Insurance Funding Limited, Miller Buettner & Parrott, Miller-Harrison Insurance Services, Milne Alexander Pty Ltd, Minvielle & Chastanet Insurance Brokers, Monument Insurance (NZ) Limited, Monument Llc, Monument Premium Funding Limited, Mortgage Insurance Agency, Murphy Consultants, Mutual Insurance Services, NationAir Aviation Insurance, National Administration Co., National Ethics Association, National Transportation Adjusters, Nelson/Monarch Insurance Services, Nicoud Insurance Services, NiiS/Apex Group Holdings, Nonprofit Insurance Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Noraxis Capital Corp, Nordic Forsakring & Riskhantering AB, North Alabama Insurance, Nourse Insurance Brokers, O'Gorman & Young, OAMPS (UK) Limited, OAMPS Gault Armstrong Pty Ltd, OAMPS Limited, OAMPS Special Risks Ltd, Offshore Market Placements Limited, Optimum Talent, Orb Financial Services, Orb Financial Services Limited, Osprey Insurance Brokers Limited, Oval Group, Oval Healthcare Limited, Oval Insurance Broking Limited, Oval Limited, Oval Management Services Limited, Oxygen Insurance Managers, P2 Group, PEN Insurance Management Advisors Ltd, PT IBS Insurance Broking Service, Pacific Insurance Agency, Palmer Atlantic Insurance, Palmer Atlantic Insurance Ltd, Palmer Atlantic Risk Services Ltd., Park Row Associates, Parkstar Enterprises Pty Ltd, Parmia Pty Ltd, PartnerSource, Pastel Holding (NZ) Company, Pastel Holdings Pty Limited, Pastel Purchaser (NZ) Limited, Pastel Purchaser Pty Limited, Pavey Group Holdings (UK) Limited, Pavey Group Holdings Limited, Pavey Group Limited, Pearson Dunn Insurance Inc., Pen Underwriting Canada Limited, Pen Underwriting Group Pty. Ltd., Pen Underwriting Limited, Pen Underwriting Pty Ltd, Persing Dyckman & Toynbee Inc., Personal Advice Services Pty Ltd, Petty Burton Associates, Pointer Insurance Agency, Portmore Insurance Brokers (Wilshire) Limited, Portmore Insurance Brokers Limited, Potter-Holden & Co., Powell Insurance Agency, Premier Insurance Services Inc., Premier Risk Services, Premium Finance Corporation, Preston-Patterson, ProSource Financial, Professional Agents Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Professional Claims Managers, Proinova AB, Proinova Agency AB, Pronto California Agency LLC, Pronto California General Agency LLC, Pronto Florida Claims LLC, Pronto Florida General Agency LLC, Pronto Franchise LLC, Pronto General Agency Ltd, Pronto General Agency Management LLC, Pronto Holdco Inc., Pronto Holding California LLC, Pronto Holding Florida LLC, Pronto Insurance Agency of Laredo Inc., Pronto Premium Finance LLC, Property & Commercial Ltd., Property Insurance Initatives Limited, Property and Commercial Limited, Protected Insurance Company, Protection Plan Association Inc., Protek Group Limited, Providium Consulting Group, Ptarmigan Underwriting Agency Limited, Ptarmigan Underwriting UK Limited, Purple Bridge Claims Management Limited, Purple Bridge Finance Limited, Purple Bridge Group Limited, Purple Bridge Investments Limited, Purple Bridge Online Services Limited, Purple Bridge Publishing Limited, Quantum Underwriting Solutions Limited, Quillco 226 Limited, Quillco 227 Limited, R. L. Youngdahl & Associates, R.G. Speno Inc., R.W. Scobie, RA Rossborough (Guernsey) Ltd., RA Rossborough (Insurance Brokers) Ltd, REGENCY Group inc., RGA Referencing Limited, RGA Underwriting Limited, RIL Administrators (Guernsey) Ltd., RJ Dutton Inc., RSM Insurance Services Limited, Reassurance Holdings Inc., Rebholz Insurance Agency, Reid Manson Ltd., Reimbursement Services, Rentguard Limited, Reward Management Limited, Reynolds & Rodar Insurance Group, Riley & Associates, Rio 587 Limited, Rio 588 Limited, Risk & Reward Group, Risk Management Partners Limited, Risk Placement Services Inc., Risk Planners, Risk Services (NW) Limited, Risk Services (NW) Ltd., Risk Solutions Group Limited, Robert A. Schneider Agency, Robert Keith & Associates, Roberts & Roberts Insurance Service, Robinson-Adams Insurance, Rossborough Healthcare International Ltd, Rossborough Insurance (IOM) Ltd., Rossborough Insurance Services Ltd. (Jersey), S. A. Freerks & Associates, SEG Insurance Ltd, SGB-NIA Insurance Brokers, SHILLING Ltd, SKANCO International, SMERI AB, SRS Underwriting Pty Ltd, Secure Enterprises Pty Ltd, Securitas Re, Sellers Group, Sentinel Indemnity LLC, Septagon Insurance PCC Limited, Shuford Insurance Agency, Sigma II Insurance Agency, Sinclair Billard and Weld Limited, Sobieski & Bradley, Solid Benefit Guidance, Spanjers Insurance Agency, Spataro Insurance Agency, Specialised Broking Associates, Specialty Risk, Stackhouse Poland, Stackhouse Poland Bidco Limited, Stackhouse Poland Group Limited, Stackhouse Poland Holdings Limited, Stackhouse Poland Midco Limited, Stackouse Poland Limited, Stanton Group, Stark Johnson & Stinson Inc., Steel Agency, Strata Solicitors Ltd, Strategic Health Plans Corp., Strathearn Insurance Brokers, Strathearn Insurance Brokers (Qld) Trading Trust, Strathern Insurance Group Pty Ltd, Strathern Integration Holdco Pty Ltd, Strathern Unit Trust, Strong Financial Resources, Summit Insurance Group, Sunday and Associates, Sunderland Insurance Services, Super Advice Corporate Services Pty Ltd, Taylor Benefits, Texas Insurance Agency, Texas Insurance Managers, The BeneTex Group, The Buchholz Planning, The Chapman Group, The Commonwealth Consulting Group, The Daniels Group Inc., The EHE Group LLC, The EHE Insurance Agency LLC, The Eagle Insurance Agency LLC, The Eriksen Group, The Forker Company, The Gleason Agency, The Great Lakes Agency, The HR Group, The Hawk Agency, The Human Capital Group, The Lance Group, The Levitt/Kristan Co., The MW Bagnall Company, The Old Greenwich Consulting Group, The Parks Johnson Agency, The Plus Companies Inc., The Presidio Group, The Producers Choice, The Rains Group, The Splinter Group, The Titan Group, The Treiber Group, The Woodsmall Companies Inc., Title & Covenant Brokers Ltd., Title Investments Limited, Tom Sherwin Insurance Agency, Total Reward Group, Total Rewards Group (Holdings) Limited, Towle Agency, Transwestern, Tri-State General Insurance Agency, Triad Insurance Agency, Triad USA, Tribeca Strategic Advisors, Trinder & Norwood, Trip Mate, Trissel Graham & Toole, Tropp & Co., Tudor Risk Services, Tyloma Holdings Limited, Uni-Care Inc., Unison Inc., Universico Group, Unoccupied Direct Limited, V2V Holdings LLC, VEBA Service Group, Vasek Insurance Services Limited, Velo ACU LLC, Velo Holdings Inc., Verbag AG., Vertrue LLC, Victory Insurance Agency, Vincent L. Braband Insurance, Vital Benefits, Voluntary Benefits Solutions, W. E. Kingsley Co. Inc., WM. W. George & Associates, Walker Taylor Agency, Welling Associates, Wesfarmers Insurance - Insurance Brokerage Operations, Western Benefit Solutions, White & Company Insurance, Whitehaven Insurance Group, William Gallagher Associates Insurance Brokers, William H. Connolly & Co., Williams Insurance Agency Inc., Williams-Manny Insurance Group, Winn & Company Insurance Brokers, Wischmeyer Benefit Partners, Woodbrook Underwriting Agencies, Woods & Grooms, WorkCare Northwest, Worksite Communications, Y. S. Liedman & Associates, YOA Capsicum Reinsurance Broker Limited, Zenor Limited, Zuber Insurance Agency, and e3 Financial.But just because their work is in California doesnt mean they have to live there, they said. The industry has changed in the dozen years since she first was cast, Olszynski said.Conifex Timber Inc. primarily manufactures and sells lumber products in the United States, China, Canada, Japan, and internationally. It is involved in the timber harvesting, reforestation, and forest management activities; manufacture of finished softwood lumber from spruce, pine, and fir logs; manufacture, sale, and distribution of dimension lumber; processing logs into lumber and wood chips, as well as by-products or residues, such as trim blocks, sawdust, shavings, and barks; and providing value added lumber finishing services. The company also develops bioenergy and bio products; and operates a 36 megawatt biomass power generation plant, which produces renewable energy for commercial sale. The company was formerly known as West Fourth Capital Inc. and changed its name to Conifex Timber Inc. in June 2010. Conifex Timber Inc. was incorporated in 2007 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Read MoreThe following companies are subsidiares of Humana: 154th Street Medical Plaza, 516-526 West Main Street Condominium Council of Co-Owners, 54th Street Medical Plaza, American Eldercare, American Eldercare of North Florida, Anvita Health, Arcadian Health Plan, Arcadian Management Services, Atlantis Physician Group, CAC Medical Center Holdings, CAC-Florida Medical Centers, CDO 1, CDO 2, CHA HMO, CHA Service Company, Care Partners Home Care, CareNetwork, CarePlus Health, CarePlus Health Plans, Cariten Health Plan Inc., Certify Data Systems, CompBenefits, CompBenefits Company, CompBenefits Corporation, CompBenefits Dental, CompBenefits Direct, CompBenefits Insurance Company, Complex Clinical Management, Concentra Managed Care, Continucare Corporation, Continucare MDHC, Continucare MSO, Continucare Medical Management, Dental Care Plus Management, DentiCare, Emphesys, Emphesys Insurance Company, Enclara Healthcare, FPG, FPG Acquisition Corp., FPG Acquisition Holdings Corp., FPG Senior Services, Family Physicians of Winter Park, Go365, HUM Provider Holdings, HUM-e-FL, Harris Rothenberg International, Health Value Management, Humana Active Outlook, Humana At Home (Dallas), Humana At Home (Houston), Humana At Home (San Antonio), Humana At Home (TLC), Humana At Home 1, Humana Behavioral Health, Humana Benefit Plan of Illinois, Humana Dental Company, Humana Digital Health and Analytics Platform Services, Humana EAP and Work-Life Services of California, Humana Employers Health Plan of Georgia, Humana Government Business, Humana Health Benefit Plan of Louisiana, Humana Health Company of New York, Humana Health Insurance Company of Florida, Humana Health Plan, Humana Health Plan of California, Humana Health Plan of Ohio, Humana Health Plan of Texas, Humana Health Plans of Puerto Rico, Humana Healthcare Research, Humana Inc., Humana Innovation Enterprises, Humana Insurance Company, Humana Insurance Company of Kentucky, Humana Insurance Company of New York, Humana Insurance of Puerto Rico, Humana Management Services of Puerto Rico, Humana MarketPOINT, Humana MarketPOINT of Puerto Rico, Humana Medical Plan, Humana Medical Plan of Michigan, Humana Medical Plan of Pennsylvania, Humana Medical Plan of Utah, Humana Pharmacy, Humana Pharmacy Solutions, Humana Regional Health Plan, Humana Veterans Healthcare Services, Humana WellWorks LLC, Humana Wisconsin Health Organization Insurance Corporation, Humana at Home, HumanaDental, HumanaDental Insurance Company, Humco, Hummingbird Coaching Systems LLC, Independent Care Health Plan, KMG America, Kindred Healthcare, MCCI Group Holdings, MCCI Holdings, MCCI Medical Group, MCCI Specialty, MCCI/Lifetime of Aventura, MD Care, METCARE of Florida, Managed Care Indemnity, Medical Care Consortium Incorporated of Texas, MetCare, Metropolitan Health Networks, Naples Health Care Specialists, North Region Providers, Nursing Solutions, OSF HealthCare, PHP Companies, Partners in Integrated Care, Preferred Health Partnership, Preservation on Main, Primary Care Holdings, Primary Care Holdings II, Primary Care Specialists of the Palm Beaches, RMA Medical Centers of Florida, RMA Medical Group of Florida, ROHC, SeniorBridge, SeniorBridge Family Companies (CT), SeniorBridge Family Companies (FL), SeniorBridge Family Companies (IN), SeniorBridge Family Companies (MO), SeniorBridge Family Companies (NY), SeniorBridge-Florida, Texas Dental Plans, The Dental Concern, Transcend Population Health Management, and Transcend Population Health Management II.The elected officials stuck with that position on Monday, asking for more information about the services already provided by the city before they consider any cuts  the bulk of which might not come until 2020.The following companies are subsidiares of Hilton Worldwide: 259 Pitt Street Pty Ltd., 3750 Residential Management LLC, 90210 Biltmore Management LLC, 90210 Desert Resorts Management Co. LLC, 90210 Grand Wailea Management Co. LLC, 90210 LLC, 90210 Management Company LLC, ATM Hotels Pty. Limited, Adana Hilton Enternasyonal Otelcilik Limited Sirketi, Adda Hotels, Adda Properties Limited, Addis Ababa Hilton Private Limited Company, Admiral I Pty Limited, Admiral II Pty Limited, Admiral III Pty Limited, Admiral Investments Pty Limited, Andiamo's O'Hare LLC, Ankara Enternasyonel Otelcilik Anonim Sirketi, Avenue Louise Hotel Partners S.N.C., Bally's Grand Property Sub I LLC, Blue Bonnet Security LLC, Brighton at Kingston Plantation L.L.C., CHW Holdings LLC, Canopy Brand Management LLC, Chancel Service Corporation, Chesterfield Village Hotel L.L.C., Comfort Hotels International Limited, Comfort Hotels Limited, Comfort Inns BV, Conrad International (Belgium) LLC, Conrad International (Egypt) LLC, Conrad International (Egypt) Resorts Corporation, Conrad International (Indonesia) Corporation, Conrad International (Thailand) Limited, Conrad International Hotels (HK) Limited, Conrad International Investment (Jakarta) Corporation, Conrad International Manage (CIS) LLC, Conrad International Management Services (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Conrad Management LLC, Conrad Osaka Godo Kaisha, Curio Brand Management LLC, Curio Management LLC, DT Management LLC, DT Real Estate LLC, DTM Atlanta/Legacy Inc., DTR FCH Holdings Inc., DTR Houston Inc., Destination Resorts LLC, Doubletree De Mexico S.A. De C.V., Doubletree Hotel Systems LLC, Doubletree Hotels LLC, Doubletree International Franchise LLC, Doubletree LLC, Doubletree Management LLC, Dunkeld Lodges (Management) Limited, Embassy Development LLC, Embassy Suites Club No. 1 Inc., Embassy Suites Club No. Three Inc., Embassy Suites Club No. Two Inc., Embassy Suites Management LLC, Florida Conrad International Corp., Grand Hotel Imperial dd, Grundstucksgesellschaft Belvederer Allee Weimar mbH, H Alliance Inc., HBM Global Risk Corporation, HI Investment (Colombia) EU, HI US Finance LLC, HIC Dormant Holding LLC, HIC First LLC, HIC Gaming Inc., HIC Group International Luxembourg S.a.r.l., HIC Holdings BV, HIC Holdings LLC, HIC Hotels U.S.A. LLC, HIC Racing (Chiswick) Limited, HIC Racing Corporation, HIC Roissy Netherlands BV, HIC San Pablo Limited Inc., HIC Second LLC, HIC Treasury Limited, HIRO Hotel GmbH & Co KG, HIRO Verwaltungs GmbH, HLT Amity LLC, HLT Aro Manage Limited, HLT Audubon LLC, HLT Bradford Limited, HLT Brazil LLC, HLT Conrad Domestic LLC, HLT Drake LLC, HLT ESP International Franchise LLC, HLT ESP International Franchisor Corporation, HLT ESP International Manage LLC, HLT ESP International Management Corporation, HLT ESP Manage LLC, HLT English Operator Limited, HLT Existing Franchise Holding LLC, HLT Franchise V Borrower LLC, HLT German Manage GmbH, HLT German Services GmbH, HLT HSM Holding LLC, HLT HSS Holding LLC, HLT International Existing Franchise Holding LLC, HLT International Manage LLC, HLT JV Acquisition LLC, HLT Lifestyle International Franchise LLC, HLT Lifestyle International Franchisor Corporation, HLT Lifestyle International Manage LLC, HLT Lifestyle International Management Corporation, HLT Lifestyle Manage LLC, HLT London Manage Limited, HLT Managed Mezz VI-A LLC, HLT Managed Mezz VI-B LLC, HLT Managed Mezz VI-C LLC, HLT Managed Mezz VI-D LLC, HLT Managed Mezz VI-E LLC, HLT Managed Mezz VI-F LLC, HLT Managed Mezz VI-G LLC, HLT Managed Mezz VI-H LLC, HLT Managed Mezz VI-I LLC, HLT Managed Mezz VI-J LLC, HLT Managed Mezz VI-K LLC, HLT Managed Mezz XI-A GmbH, HLT Managed Mezz XI-B GmbH, HLT Managed Mezz XI-C GmbH, HLT Managed Mezz XI-D GmbH, HLT Managed Mezz XI-E GmbH, HLT Managed Mezz XI-F GmbH, HLT Managed Mezz XI-G GmbH, HLT Managed Mezz XI-H GmbH, HLT Managed Mezz XI-I GmbH, HLT Managed Mezz XI-J GmbH, HLT Managed Mezz XI-K GmbH, HLT Managed VI Holding LLC, HLT Managed VI-A Borrower LLC, HLT Managed VI-A Holding LLC, HLT Managed XI-A Borrower GmbH, HLT Managed XII-A Holding LLC, HLT Mexico LLC, HLT Operating Mezz III-K Limited, HLT Operating Mezz V-K Limited, HLT Operating Mezz VII-A Limited, HLT Operating Mezz VII-B Limited, HLT Operating Mezz VII-C Limited, HLT Operating Mezz VII-D Limited, HLT Operating Mezz VII-E Limited, HLT Operating Mezz VII-F Limited, HLT Operating Mezz VII-G Limited, HLT Operating Mezz VII-H Limited, HLT Operating Mezz VII-I Limited, HLT Operating Mezz VII-J Limited, HLT Operating Mezz VII-K Limited, HLT Operating VII-A Borrower GmbH, HLT Owned IX Holding Limited, HLT Owned IX-A Holding Limited, HLT Owned Mezz IX-A Limited, HLT Owned Mezz IX-B Limited, HLT Owned Mezz IX-C Limited, HLT Owned Mezz IX-D Limited, HLT Owned Mezz IX-E Limited, HLT Owned Mezz IX-F Limited, HLT Owned Mezz IX-G Limited, HLT Owned Mezz IX-H Limited, HLT Owned Mezz IX-I Limited, HLT Owned Mezz IX-J Limited, HLT Owned Mezz IX-K Limited, HLT Owned Mezz V-A Limited, HLT Owned Mezz V-B Limited, HLT Owned Mezz V-C Limited, HLT Owned Mezz V-D Limited, HLT Owned Mezz V-E Limited, HLT Owned Mezz V-F Limited, HLT Owned Mezz V-G Limited, HLT Owned Mezz V-H Limited, HLT Owned Mezz V-I Limited, HLT Owned Mezz V-J Limited, HLT Owned Mezz V-K Limited, HLT Owned Mezz VII-A LLC, HLT Owned Mezz VII-B LLC, HLT Owned Mezz VII-C LLC, HLT Owned Mezz VII-D LLC, HLT Owned Mezz VII-E LLC, HLT Owned Mezz VII-F LLC, HLT Owned Mezz VII-G LLC, HLT Owned Mezz VII-H LLC, HLT Owned Mezz VII-I LLC, HLT Owned Mezz VII-J LLC, HLT Owned Mezz VII-K LLC, HLT Owned V Holding Limited, HLT Owned V-A Holding Limited, HLT Owned VI-A Holding LLC, HLT Owned VII Holding LLC, HLT Owned VII-A Holding LLC, HLT Palmer LLC, HLT Prism LLC, HLT Secretary Limited, HLT Stakis IP Limited, HLT Stakis Operator Limited, HLT Waldorf=Astoria International Manage LLC, HPP Hotels USA LLC, HPP International LLC, Hampton Inns Management LLC, Hapeville Investors LLC, Hilmex Holdings S. de R.L. de C.V., Hilstock Hotel Holding Corporation, Hilton (Hellas) Monoprosopi EPE, Hilton (Maldives) Private Limited, Hilton Argentina SRL, Hilton Beverage Corporation, Hilton Beverage LLC, Hilton Brazil Operacoes E Participacoes Ltda., Hilton Canada Co., Hilton Chicago Beverage I LLC, Hilton Chicago Beverage II LLC, Hilton Chicago Beverage III LLC, Hilton Chicago Beverage IV LLC, Hilton Copenhagen ApS, Hilton Corporate Director LLC, Hilton Cyprus Limited, Hilton Domestic Franchise LLC, Hilton Domestic Management LLC, Hilton Domestic Operating Company Inc., Hilton Egypt Trading Company (a/k/a Hilton Lil Tigara), Hilton El Con Management LLC, Hilton El Con Operator LLC, Hilton Enternasyonal Otelcilik AS, Hilton Enternasyonal Otelcilik AS - Ankara branch, Hilton Finance (UK) Limited, Hilton Franchise Holding LLC, Hilton Garden Inns Management LLC, Hilton HHC Limited, Hilton HIH Limited, Hilton Hawaii Corporation, Hilton Holdings LLC, Hilton Honors Worldwide LLC, Hilton Hospitality LLC, Hilton Hotel Management (Shanghai) Co Ltd, Hilton Hotel Management (Shanghai) Co Ltd - Beijing branch, Hilton Hotel Management (Shanghai) Co Ltd - Shenzhen branch, Hilton Hotel Management Services Private Limited, Hilton Hotel Service Co Limited, Hilton Hotels (Ireland) Limited, Hilton Hotels of Australia (Melbourne) Pty Ltd, Hilton Hotels of Australia Pty Limited, Hilton Illinois Holdings LLC, Hilton Illinois LLC, Hilton Internacional de Venezuela CA, Hilton International (Bulgaria) EAD, Hilton International (France) SAS, Hilton International (Germany) GmbH, Hilton International (Moscow) LLC, Hilton International (Nederland) BV, Hilton International (Switzerland) GmbH, Hilton International (Thailand) Limited, Hilton International Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, Hilton International Australia Holding Pty Ltd, Hilton International Australia Pty Limited, Hilton International Barbados Limited, Hilton International Canada CRA ULC, Hilton International Co (Belgium) BVBA, Hilton International Ecuador LLC, Hilton International Entities Holding Limited, Hilton International Franchisor LLC, Hilton International GAMMA, Hilton International Holding LLC, Hilton International Holding USA Corporation, Hilton International Holdings LLC, Hilton International Hotels (U.K.) Limited, Hilton International IP Holding 2 Limited, Hilton International IP Holding Limited, Hilton International Jamaica Limited, Hilton International LLC, Hilton International LLC - Hong Kong branch, Hilton International Manage (Argentina) SRL, Hilton International Manage (Maldives) Pvt. Ltd, Hilton International Manage LLC, Hilton International Manage LLC - Canada, Hilton International Manage LLC - Costa Rica, Hilton International Manage LLC - Egypt, Hilton International Manage LLC - South Africa, Hilton International Manage LLC Branche (Tunisia), Hilton International Management (Middle East) Corporation - Ukraine Representative Office, Hilton International Management LLC, Hilton International Management LLC (Sri Lanka), Hilton International Master Holding Limited, Hilton International South Africa (PTY) Limited, Hilton International Trinidad Limited, Hilton International Trocadero, Hilton International Vermogensverwaltung GmbH, Hilton International Wien GmbH, Hilton Israel Ltd, Hilton Italiana Srl, Hilton Malta Limited, Hilton Management LLC, Hilton Management Liquor LLC, Hilton Mexico Promatora SA de CV, Hilton Munich Airport Hotel Manage GmbH, Hilton NUS HSS Inc., Hilton Nairobi Limited, Hilton PCB S.a.r.l., Hilton Reservations Worldwide L.L.C., Hilton Russia LLC, Hilton Russia LLC - Russian branch, Hilton San Diego LLC, Hilton Service Center GmbH, Hilton Supply Management LLC, Hilton Systems Solutions LLC, Hilton Telemarketing LLC, Hilton Tobago Unlimited, Hilton Travel Services LLC, Hilton U.S. Finance LLC, Hilton UK Corporate Director Limited, Hilton UK Hotels Limited, Hilton UK Manage Limited, Hilton UK Pension Trustee Limited, Hilton Worldwide Domestic FS Treasury LLC, Hilton Worldwide FS Treasury Limited, Hilton Worldwide Finance Corp., Hilton Worldwide Finance LLC, Hilton Worldwide Franchising LP, Hilton Worldwide Holding 1 Limited, Hilton Worldwide Holding 2 Limited, Hilton Worldwide Holding LLP, Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc., Hilton Worldwide International CRA Holdings C.V., Hilton Worldwide International Holding 1 LLC, Hilton Worldwide International Italy S.r.l., Hilton Worldwide International Japan Godo-Kaisha, Hilton Worldwide International Luxembourg Holding S.a r.l., Hilton Worldwide International Myanmar Company Limited, Hilton Worldwide International Puerto Rico LLC, Hilton Worldwide International Singapore Pte. Ltd., Hilton Worldwide International do Brasil Ltda., Hilton Worldwide Limited, Hilton Worldwide Limited Hong Kong Branch, Hilton Worldwide Limited Korea Branch, Hilton Worldwide Manage Branchco Limited, Hilton Worldwide Manage Branchco Limited (Ukraine), Hilton Worldwide Manage Branchco Limited - Sucursal em Portugal, Hilton Worldwide Manage Branchco Limited -Colombia, Hilton Worldwide Manage Branchco Limited Branch - Georgia, Hilton Worldwide Manage Branchco Limited Korea Branch, Hilton Worldwide Manage Branchco Limited spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia Oddzia w Polsce, Hilton Worldwide Manage Branchco Ltd - Uruguay Branch, Hilton Worldwide Manage Limited, Hilton Worldwide Parent LLC, Hilton Worldwide Services Limited, Hilton of Malaysia LLC, Hilton of Panama Limited, Hilton of Spain S.L., Hiro Grundstucks GmbH & Co KG, Home2 Brand Management LLC, Home2 Management LLC, Homewood Suites Management LLC, Hotel Clubs of Corporate Woods Inc., Hotel Corporation of Europe (Milan Branch), Hotel Corporation of Europe LLC, Hotel Maatschappij Schiphol BV, Hotel Management (Middle East) LLC, Hotel Management of Minneapolis Inc., Hotelbetriebsgesellschaft Hochstrasse GmbH, Hotels Statler Company Inc., Inhil Cp. Inc., Innvision LLC, International Brand Hospitality Austria GmbH, International Brand Hospitality GmbH, International Company for Touristic Investments S.A.E., International Hotels (Kenya) Limited, International Rivercenter Lessee L.L.C., Istanbul Park Hilton Enternasyonal Otelcilik Limited Sirketi, Izmir Enternasyonel Otelcilik Anonim Sirketi, Izmir Hilton Enternasyonal Otelcilik AS, Kayseri Hilton Enternasyonal Otelcilik AS, LXR Management LLC, Livingwell Australia Pty Limited, MAPLE HOTELS MANAGEMENT COMPANY LIMITED, MC Treasury Limited, Madagascar Hilton SARL, Margate Towers at Kingston Plantation L.L.C., Mayaguez Hilton Corporation - Puerto Rico branch, Mayaguez Hilton LLC, Mersin Hilton Enternasyonal Otelcilik AS, Milbuck Holdings Inc, Morning Light Co Ltd, Motto Management LLC, Munchen Park Hilton Zweigniederlassung der Hilton International LLC, Nagoya Hilton Co Ltd, Nippon Hilton Co Ltd, Odawara Hilton Co. Ltd, On Command Corporation, Operadora de Hoteles Loreto S. de R.L. de C.V, Osaka Hilton Co Ltd, P55 Beverage LLC, PH Hotel GP LLC, PH Hotel Partners LP, PT Hilton International Manage Indonesia, PT. Conrad Management Indonesia, Peacock Alley Service Company LLC, Potter's Bar Palmer House LLC, Promus Hotel Services Inc., Promus Hotels Florida LLC, Promus Hotels LLC, Promus Hotels Parent LLC, Promus/FCH Condominium Company L.L.C., Promus/FCH Development Company L.L.C., Puckrup Hall Hotel Limited, SALC II LLC, SALC III LLC, SALC Inc., Servicios y Recursos Administrativos Hoteleros S. de R.L. de C.V., Signia Hotel Management LLC, Societe d'Exploitation Hoteliere d'Orly EURL, Societe d'exploitation Hoteliere La defense SAS, Societe de Development Hotel Pointe des Blaguers B.V., Splendid Property Company Limited, Sunrise Resources (Australia) Pty Ltd, Tapestry Management LLC, Tel Aviv Hilton Limited, Thayer Hotel Investors Trust IV, Tokyo Bay Hilton Co. Ltd, Tru Brand Management LLC, UK Leasing Leicester Limited, Vista Real Estate Management Company, WA Collection International LLC, Waldorf=Astoria Management LLC, Washington Hilton L.L.C., and World Hotels B.V..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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"I am continuing to review the ruling and explore legal options, Meadows said. While I appreciate the board has subsequently amended its policy to be more explicitly in line with state law, I still do not believe it is appropriate to withhold publicly cited legal justifications for conduct that appears to have violated the Illinois Speech Right of Student Journalists Act."The following companies are subsidiares of Accenture: 2nd Road, 2nd Road Pty Ltd., ?What If!, ?What If! China Holdings Ltd, ?What If! Holdings Limited, ?What If! Innovation Singapore Holdings Pte, ?What If! Limited, ?What If! Shanghai Co. Ltd, ?What If! USA LLC, ACN Consulting Co Ltd, AD Dialeto Agencia de Publicidade SA, AD.Dialeto (Digital Agency acquired by Accenture), AGS Business and Technology Services Limited, ASM Research Inc., ASM Research LLC, ATAN, Accenture (Beijing) Mobile Technology Co Ltd, Accenture (Botswana) (Proprietary) Limited, Accenture (China) Co Ltd, Accenture (Shenzhen) Technology Co. Ltd., Accenture (South Africa) (Proprietary) Limited, Accenture (South Africa) Pty Limited, Accenture (UK) Ltd, Accenture 2 Business Process Services S.A., Accenture 2 LLC, Accenture A/S, Accenture AB, Accenture AG, Accenture AS, Accenture Africa Pty Ltd, Accenture Australia Holding B.V., Accenture Australia Holdings Pty Ltd, Accenture Australia Pty Ltd, Accenture Azerbaijan Ltd, Accenture BPM Operations Support Services S.A., Accenture BPM S.C.R.L., Accenture BV, Accenture Branch Holdings B.V., Accenture Bulgaria EOOD, Accenture Business Services for Utilities Inc, Accenture Business Services of British Columbia Limited Partnership, Accenture Business and Technology Services LLC, Accenture C.A, Accenture CAS GmbH, Accenture Canada Holdings Inc., Accenture Capital DAC, Accenture Capital Inc, Accenture Central Europe B.V., Accenture Chile Asesorias y Servicios Ltda, Accenture Cloud Services GmbH, Accenture Cloud Software Solutions Ltd, Accenture Cloud Solutions Australia Pty Ltd, Accenture Cloud Solutions LLC, Accenture Cloud Solutions Ltd, Accenture Cloud Solutions Pty Ltd, Accenture Co Ltd, Accenture Co Ltd., Accenture Communications Infrastructure Solutions Ltd, Accenture Company Ltd, Accenture Consulting Services Ltd Tanzania, Accenture Consultores de Gestao S.A., Accenture Consultoria de Industria e Consumo Ltda, Accenture Consultoria de Recursos Naturais Ltda, Accenture Credit Services LLC, Accenture Customer Services Distribution SAS, Accenture Customer Services Limited, Accenture Danismanlik Limited Sirketi, Accenture Defined Benefit Pension Plan Trustees Ltd, Accenture Defined Contribution Pension Plan Trustees Ltd, Accenture Delivery Poland sp. z o.o., Accenture Dienstleistungen GmbH, Accenture Digital France Holdings SA, Accenture Digital Holdings GmbH, Accenture East Africa Limited, Accenture Ecuador S.A., Accenture Egypt LLC, Accenture Enterprise Development (Shanghai) Co Ltd., Accenture Federal Services LLC, Accenture Finance (Gibraltar) III Ltd, Accenture Finance GmbH, Accenture Finance GmbH in liquidation, Accenture Finance II GmbH, Accenture Finance II GmbH in liquidation, Accenture Finance II Ltd, Accenture Finance Limited, Accenture Finance and Accounting BPO Services S.p.A., Accenture Finance and Accounting Services Srl, Accenture Flex LLC, Accenture GP LLC, Accenture Ghana Limited, Accenture Global Holdings Ltd., Accenture Global Services Ltd, Accenture Global Solutions Ltd, Accenture GmbH, Accenture HR Services Ltd, Accenture HR Services S.p.A., Accenture Healthcare Processing Inc., Accenture Holding GmbH, Accenture Holding GmbH & Co. KG, Accenture Holding GmbH in liquidation, Accenture Holdings (Iberia) S.L., Accenture Holdings B.V., Accenture Holdings France SAS, Accenture Holdings plc, Accenture Hungary Holdings Kft, Accenture Inc, Accenture Industrial Software Limited Liability Company (Accenture Endustriyel Yazylym Cozumleri Limited irketi), Accenture Industrial Software Limited Liability Company (Accenture Endustriyel Yazlm Cozumleri Limited Sirketi), Accenture Industrial Software Solutions Kft, Accenture Industrial Software Solutions SA, Accenture Insurance Services LLC, Accenture Insurance Services SAS, Accenture Insurance Services SpA, Accenture International BV, Accenture International Capital SCA, Accenture International LLC, Accenture International Limited, Accenture International Sarl, Accenture Japan Ltd, Accenture Korea BV, Accenture LLC, Accenture LLP, Accenture Lanka (Private) Ltd, Accenture Limited, Accenture Ltd, Accenture Ltda, Accenture Maghreb S.a.r.l., Accenture Managed Services SRL, Accenture Managed Services SpA, Accenture Management GmbH, Accenture Middle East B.V, Accenture Middle East BV, Accenture Minority I BV, Accenture Minority III Ltd, Accenture Mozambique Limitada, Accenture Mzansi (Pty) Ltd, Accenture NV/SA, Accenture NZ Limited, Accenture Newco LLC, Accenture Nova Scotia Unlimited Liability Co., Accenture OOO, Accenture Operations Sp. z o.o., Accenture Outsourcing SRL, Accenture Outsourcing Services, Accenture Outsourcing Services S.A., Accenture Oy, Accenture Panama Inc, Accenture Participations BV, Accenture Participations II Limited, Accenture Peru S.R.L, Accenture Peru S.R.L., Accenture Post Trade Processing SAS, Accenture Post-Trade Processing Limited, Accenture Process Ltd, Accenture Product Lifecycle Services, Accenture Properties, Accenture Pte Ltd, Accenture Puerto Rico LLC, Accenture S.A., Accenture S.C., Accenture S.L., Accenture S.R.L., Accenture SAS, Accenture SG Services Pte Ltd, Accenture SRL, Accenture Saudi Arabia Limited, Accenture Sendirian Berhad, Accenture Service Center SRL, Accenture Services (Mauritius) Ltd, Accenture Services AB, Accenture Services AG, Accenture Services AS, Accenture Services GmbH, Accenture Services Ltd, Accenture Services Morocco SA, Accenture Services Oy, Accenture Services Pty Ltd, Accenture Services S.r.l., Accenture Services SRL, Accenture Services Sp. z o.o., Accenture Services Sp. z.o.o., Accenture Services and Technology Srl, Accenture Services fur Kreditinstitute GmbH, Accenture Services s.r.o., Accenture Servicos Administrativos Ltda, Accenture Servicos de Suporte de Negocios Ltda, Accenture Solutions Co Ltd, Accenture Solutions Private Limited, Accenture Solutions Pte Ltd, Accenture Solutions Pty Ltd, Accenture Solutions Sdn Bhd, Accenture Sp. z o.o., Accenture Sp. z.o.o., Accenture SpA, Accenture State Healthcare Services LLC, Accenture Sub II Inc., Accenture Sub Inc, Accenture Sub LLC, Accenture Systems Integration Limited, Accenture Sarl, Accenture Tanacsado Kolatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Accenture Tanacsado Kolatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag KFT, Accenture Technologia, Accenture Technologia Consultoria e Outsourcing S.A., Accenture Technology Infrastructure Services Pty Ltd, Accenture Technology Solutions (Dalian) Co Ltd, Accenture Technology Solutions (HK) Co. Ltd., Accenture Technology Solutions (Thailand) Co. Ltd, Accenture Technology Solutions - Solucoes Informaticas Integradas, Accenture Technology Solutions - Solucoes Informaticas Integradas S.A., Accenture Technology Solutions GmbH, Accenture Technology Solutions Oy, Accenture Technology Solutions Pty Ltd, Accenture Technology Solutions S.A. de C.V., Accenture Technology Solutions SAS, Accenture Technology Solutions SRL, Accenture Technology Solutions Sdn. Bhd., Accenture Technology Solutions Slovakia s.r.o., Accenture Technology Ventures BV, Accenture Technology Ventures S.P.R.L., Accenture Uruguay SRL, Accenture Vietnam Co., Accenture Vietnam Co. LTD, Accenture Zambia Limited, Accenture do Brasil Limitada, Accenture plc, Accenture s.r.o., Acceria, Acquity Customer Insight Limited, Acquity Group, Adaptly LLC, Adaptly UK Limited, AddVal Technology, Adqptly, Advantium Inc., Agave Consultants Limited, Agilex Technologies Inc., Allen International, Allen International Consulting Group Ltd, Alnova Technologies Corporation S.L., AlphaBeta Advisors, Altima, Altima Asia Ltd., Altima SAS, Altitude, Altitude LLC, Analytics 8 LP, Analytics 8 Pty Ltd, Analytics8, Aorui Advertising (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Apis, Appaloosa Technology SAS, Arca, Ariba - BPO, Arismore, Aspiro Solutions (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Avanade, Avanade (Guangzhou) Computer Technology Development Co. Ltd., Avanade (Thailand) Co Ltd, Avanade Asia Pte Ltd, Avanade Australia Pty Ltd, Avanade Belgium SPRL, Avanade Canada Inc., Avanade Denmark A/S, Avanade Denmark ApS, Avanade Deutschland GmbH, Avanade Europe Holdings Ltd, Avanade Europe Services Ltd, Avanade Federal Services LLC, Avanade Finland Oy, Avanade France SAS, Avanade GZ Computer Technology Development Co. Ltd. (SH), Avanade Guangzhou, Avanade Holdings LLC, Avanade Hong Kong Ltd, Avanade International Corporation, Avanade Ireland Limited, Avanade Italy SRL, Avanade KK, Avanade Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Avanade Netherlands BV, Avanade Norway AS, Avanade Poland Sp. z o.o., Avanade Poland Sp. z.o.o., Avanade Schweiz GmbH, Avanade South Africa, Avanade South Africa Pty Ltd, Avanade Spain SL, Avanade Sweden AB, Avanade UK Ltd, Avanade do Brasil Limitada, Avanade Osterreich GmbH, AvantBiz Consulting Limited, Avenai, Axia Ltd., BABCN LLC, BCT Solutions, BCT Solutions Pty Ltd, BPO Servicos Administrativos Ltda, BRIDGE Energy Group, Beacon Consulting Group Inc., Beijing Genesis Interactive Technology Co. Ltd., Benext, Bionic, Blue Horseshoe, Boomerang Pharmaceutical Communications, Boomerang Pharmaceuticals Communications Ireland Limited, Bow & Arrow, Brand Learning, Brand Learning Group Limited, Brand Learning LLC, Brand Learning Ltd, Brand Learning Partners Limited, Brand Learning Pte Limited, Bridge Energy Group LLC, Brightstep AB, Byte Prophecy, CAS, CRMWaypoint, CadenceQuest Inc., Capable Marketer Limited, Capgemini - North American health practice, Capital Consultancy Services Inc., Certus Solutions Consulting Services Ltd, Certus Solutions Ltd, ChangeTrack Research Pty Ltd., Chaotic Moon Studios, Chengdu Mensa Advertising Co. Ltd., Cimation, Cimation UK Limited, Cirruseo, Cirruseo SAS, Clarity Insights, Clearhead, Clearhead Group, Clearhead Group LLC, ClientHouse GmbH, Cloud Sherpas, Cloud Sherpas (GA) LLC, Cloud Sherpas (SN) (PTE.) Limited, Cloud Sherpas New Zealand Ltd., Cloud Talent Limited, Cloudsherpas, Cloudsherpas Inc., Cloudworks, Codagenic Pty. Ltd., Computer Research and Telecommunications LLC, Concrete Desenvolvimento de Sistemas Ltda., Concrete Solutions, Concrete Solutions Ltda., Context Information Security, Coritel S.A., Corliant Inc., CreativeDrive, CustomerWorks Europe SL, Cutting Edge Solutions Ltd, D5 Global Holdings LLC, DAZ Systems Inc, DAZ Systems LLC, DAZSI Systems (India) Pvt. Ltd., DMA Solutions Limited, Davies Consulting, DayNine Consulting, DayNine Consulting (Australia) PTY LTD, DayNine Consulting (Deutschland) GmbH, DayNine Consulting (New Zealand) Limited, DayNine Consulting France SAS, DayNine Consulting Japan K.K., DayNine Consulting LLC, Declarative Holdings, Declarative Holdings LLC, Defense Point Security, Deja vu Security, Design Strategy and Research de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Designaffairs LLC, Digiplug S.A.S., Digiplug SAS, Digital Consulting & Software Services LLC, Droga5, Droga5 LLC, Droga5 Studios LLC, Droga5 UK Ltd., Duck Creek Technologies, Duck Creek Technologies LLC, Deja Vu Security LLC, ESR Labs, Elcurator SAS, Enaxis Consulting, Enaxis Consulting L.P., End-to-End Analytics, Energuia Web, Energuia Web S.A., Energy Management Brokers Ltd., Energy Quote Private Ltd., EnergyQuote JHA, EnergyQuote JHA Ltd., EnergyQuote Trading Ltd., Enimbos, Enkitec, Enterprise System Partners, Enterprise System Partners B.V. , Enterprise System Partners Bilisim Danismanlik Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, Enterprise System Partners Global Corporation, Enterprise System Partners Limited, Enterprise System Partners PR LLC, Enterprise System Partners S.A.S., Entropia, Epylon, Ethica Consulting Group, Evopro Group, Exactside Limited, Exton Consulting, Fairway Technologies Inc, Fairway Technologies LLC, Filmproduction ApS, First Annapolis Consulting, First Annapolis Consulting Inc., First Annapolis Consulting LLC, First Annapolis International, Fjord, Focus Group Europe, Focus Group Europe Limited, Formicary, Formicary Holdings Limited, Formicary Limited, FusionX, FutureMove Automotive, Gapso Servicos de Informatica Ltda., Genfour, Genfour Limited, George Group Consulting L.P., Gestalt LLC, Gestion Altima Canada Inc., Gevity, Global Public Firm S.L., GlobalView SAS, GoodFilm GmbH Filmproduktion Stuttgart, H.B. Maynard and Co. Inc., HRC Retail Advisory, Hagberg Consulting Group, Hangzhou Aiyunzhe Technology Co. Ltd., Happen, Hjaltelin Stahl, Hjaltelin Stahl K/S, Hytracc Consulting AS, Hytracc Consulting Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Hytracc Consulting UK Limited, Hytracc Holding AS, I-Faber S.p.A., IBB Consulting, IMJ Corp, IMJ Corporation, INCAD, INSITUM, IT One Company Limited, ITBS Servicios Bancarios de Tecnologia de la Informacion SL, Icon Integration, Imagine Broadband (USA) Ltd, Imagine Broadband USA LLC, Imaginea Inc, Industrie&Co, Infoman AG, Infoman Schweiz AG, Informatica de Euskadi S.L., Infusion Development Inc., Infusion Development UK Limited, InfusionDev LLC, Innoveer Solutions India Pvt Ltd, Insitum Consultoria Argentina SRL, Insitum Consultoria Brasil LTDA, Insitum Consultoria Colombia SAS, Insitum Consultoria Europa SL, Insitum Consultoria Peru SAC, Insitum Consultoria S.A. de C.V., Intrepid, Intrigo Systems Inc, Intrigo Systems India Pvt. Limited, Intrigo Systems LLC, Inventor Advertisement (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Inventor Technology Limited, InvestTech, Investtech Systems Consulting LLC, Javelin Group, Javelin Group (Bulgaria) EOOD, Javelin Group Limited (UK), Javelin Group SASU, K Comms Group Limited, KCS.net AG, KCS.net AG West, KCS.net Deutschland GmbH, KCS.net Holding AG, KCS.net Osterreich GmbH, Kaper Communications Limited, Karma Communications Debtco Limited, Karma Communications Group Limited, Karma Communications Holdings Limited, Karmarama, Karmarama Comms Limited, Karmarama Limited, Knowledge Rules Inc., Knowledgent, Knowledgent Group LLC, Kogentix, Kogentix LLC, Kogentix Ltd, Kogentix Singapore Pte. Ltd, Kogentix Technologies Private Limited, Kolle Rebbe, Kolle Rebbe GmbH, Kream Comms Limited, Kunstmaan, Kunstmaan NV, Kurt Salmon, Kurt Salmon Canada LTD, Kurt Salmon UKI, Kurt Salmon UKI Ltd., Kurt Salmon US LLC, LEXTA, LINKBYNET, LabAnswer, LabAnswer Government, LemonXL Limited, Logistics Market Place Limited (UK), Loud & Clear Creative Pty Ltd, MAXIM Systems Inc., MCG US Holdings LLC, Mackevision CG Technology and Service (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Mackevision Corporation, Mackevision Japan Co. Ltd., Mackevision Korea Ltd, Mackevision Medien Design, Mackevision Medien Design GmbH, Mackevision Singapore Pte. Ltd., Mackevision UK Ltd, Maglan, Maglan Information Defense Technologies Research Ltd., Maihiro, Matter, Matter Llc, Maud Corp Pty Limited, Maxamine International, Media Audits Ltd., Media Hive, Mediasenz Pty Ltd., Meredith Specialty LLC, Meredith Xcelerated Marketing, Meredith Xcelerated Marketing Corporation, Meridian Informed Purchasing Ltd., Mindtribe, Mindtribe Product Engineering LLC, MobGen, MobGen Technology S.L, Moonrise NV, Mortgage Cadence, Mortgage Cadence an Accenture Company, Most Champion Ltd, Mudano, N3 LLC, NBS Marketing Inc., NYTEC, Nanjing Demeng Advertising Co. Ltd., Nashco Consulting, NaviSys Inc., NellArmonia, Neo Metrics Analytics S.L., Neo Metrics Chile, Neo Metrics Chile S.A., New Content, New Content Chile SpA, New Content Editora e Produtora Ltda., New Energy Aborda, New Energy Associates Ltd, New Energy Group, New Energy S.r.l., NewsPage, NewsPage (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, NewsPage China Ltd., NewsPage Pte Ltd, Nice Agency Limited, Northstream, Northstream AB, Northstream Holding AB, OCTO Technology, OPS Rules Management Consultants, Octagon Research Solutions Inc., Octo Technology LTDA, Octo Technology Pty Ltd, Octo Technology SA, Octo Technology SPRL, Octoman SAS, Odgaard ApS, Olikka, Openmind, Openminded, Operaciones Accenture S.A. de C.V., OpusLine, Orbium, Orbium Consulting Ltd, Orbium GmbH, Orbium Holding AG, Orbium Inc., Orbium International AG, Orbium International sp. z o.o., Orbium Licences AG, Orbium Limited, Orbium Pte. Ltd., Orbium Pty Ltd, Orbium Services sp. z o.o., Orbium Sarl, Origin Digital, PCO Innovation, PCO Innovation Canada Inc., PCO Innovation EURL, PIXO PUNCH Limited, PLM Systems S.r.l, POC Holdings, PRION GmbH, PT Accenture, PT Asta Catur Indra, PT Kogentix Teknologi Indonesia, Pach Invest SARL, Pach Invest SAS, PacificLink Group, PacificLink iMedia Ltd., Paja Finanssipalvelut Oy, Parker Fitzgerald Inc, Parker Fitzgerald Inc., Parker Fitzgerald International Limited, Parker Fitzgerald Limited, Parker Fitzgerald PTY Ltd, Parker Fitzgerald Services Limited, Parker Fitzgerald Solutions Limited, Partners Technology Mexico Holdings BV, Pecaso Ltd., Pegasus Production K/S, Perseroan Terbatas. Accenture, Phase One Consulting Group, Pillar Technology, Pollux, Pragsis Bidoop, Pragsis Bidoop UK Ltd, Pragsis Technologies S.L, PrimeQ, PrimeQ Australia Pty Ltd, PrimeQ Ltd, PrimeQ NZ Pty Ltd, Procurian Germany GmbH, Procurian Inc., Procurian International I LLC, Procurian International II LLC, Procurian LLC, Procurian Singapore Pte. Ltd., Procurian Switzerland GmbH, Procurian USA LLC, Proquire LLC, PureApps Ltd., Qi Jie Beijing Information Technologies Co Ltd, Radiant Services, Radiant Services LLC, Random Walk Computing Inc., Reactive Media Limited, Reactive Media Pty Ltd., Real Protect, Realworld OO Systems Ltd., Redcore, Redcore (Asia) Pte Ltd, Redcore (India) Private Limited (India), Redcore (New Zealand) Limited, Redcore Group Holdings Pty Ltd, Redcore Pty Ltd, Renacentis IT Services, Revolutionary Security, RiskControl, Rothco, Rothco Holdings Designated Activity Company, Rothco Unlimited Company, S.C. EnergyQuote S.r.l., S3 TV Technology Limited, S3 TV Technology Ltd., SEC Servizi, SEC Servizi S.p.A., SOPIA Corp., Sagacious Consultants, Sagacious Consultants LLC, Salt Solutions, Sanchez Capital Services Pvt Ltd, Schlumberger Business Consulting, Seabury Airline Planning Group, Seabury Aviation & Aerospace (UK) Limited, Seabury Aviation & Aerospace Asia (Hong Kong) Limited, Seabury Aviation Consulting LLC, Seabury Cargo Advisory B.V., Seabury Consulting, Seabury Corporate Advisors LLC, Seabury Human Capital LLC, Seabury Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Seabury Structured Finance LLC, Search Technologies BPO, Search Technologies BPO Inc., Search Technologies GmbH, Search Technologies International LLC, Search Technologies LATAM, Search Technologies LATAM S.A., Search Technologies LLC, Search Technologies Limited, Sente Partners LLC, Sentelis, Servicios Tecnicos de Programacion Accenture S.C., Shackleton, Shackleton Barcelona S.L., Shackleton Chile S.A., Shackleton Madrid S.L., Shackleton S.A., Shanghai Baiyue Advertising Co. Ltd., Shun Zhe Technology Development Co. Ltd., Silveo, Simian Pty Limited, SinnerSchrader, SinnerSchrader AG, SinnerSchrader Commerce GmbH, SinnerSchrader Content GmbH, SinnerSchrader Deutschland GmbH, SinnerSchrader Praha s.r.o., SinnerSchrader Swipe GmbH, Sistemes Consulting S.L., Solutions IQ, Solutions IQ LLC, SolutionsIQ, SolutionsIQ India Consulting Services Private Limited, Storm Digital, Storm Digital B.V., Structure Consulting Group, Structure Consulting Group LLC, Sutter Mills, Systor AG, TQuila Limited (UK), Tadata Creative Unlimited Company, Tara Insurance DAC, Tara Risk DAC, TargetST8, TargetST8 Consulting LLC, Tech - Avanade Portugal Unipessoal Lda, Tecnilogica Ecosistemas S.A., Tecnilogica Ltd., Tecnilogica, The Brand Learning Partners Limited, The Callisto Integration Corporation, The Monkeys, The Monkeys Pty Limited, The Myrtle Group, Total Logistics, Total Logistics Supply Chain Consultants Limited, Tquila, Trivadis AG, Troop Studios Pty Ltd, VanBerlo, Verax Solutions, Verax Solutions Corporation, Vertical Retail Consulting (Shanghai) Ltd., Vertical Retail Consulting Hong Kong, Vertical Retail Consulting Hong Kong Ltd., Vertical Retail Consulting Ltd., Vivere Brasil Servicos e Solucoes SA, Vivere Brasil Solucoes De Credito Ltda., Wabion GmbH, Weblinc Pty Ltd, Wire Stone, Wire Stone LLC, Wire Stone Sarl, Wolox, Workforce Insight, Yesler, Zag, Zenta, Zenta Global Philippines, Zenta Global Philippines Inc., Zenta Mortgage Services LLC, Zenta Recoveries Inc, Zenta US Holdings Inc., Zielpuls, Zielpuls (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Zielpuls GmbH, avVenta, designaffairs, designaffairs Business Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., designaffairs GmbH, designaffairs group China Co. Ltd., dgroup, i4C Analytics, iDefense, and solid-serVision.com GmbH.Greencoat UK Wind PLC specializes in renewables infrastructure investments in energy, wind generation assets and onshore and offshore wind farm projects with a capacity of over 10 megawatt. For offshore wind farms, the fund seeks to invest 40% of the Gross Asset Value at acquisition and where a utility company retains an equity interest for a lock-up period. The fund ensures that the total of short-term acquisition financing and long-term debt is between zero and 40% of Gross Asset Value at any time, with average total debt being between 20% and 30% in the longer term. It prefers to invest in projects and assets based in the United Kingdom. The fund seeks to acquire 100%, majority, or minority interests in individual wind farms.

Read MoreThe following companies are subsidiares of Aptiv: A.E. Enterprises LLC, APTIVPORT SERVICES S.A., Alambrados y Circuitos Electricos S. de R.L. de C.V., Antaya Technologies, Antaya Technologies Asia Ltd., Antaya Technologies Corp., Aptiv (China) Holding Company Limited, Aptiv (China) Technology Company Limited, Aptiv (Shanghai) International Management Company Ltd., Aptiv (UK) Holdings Limited, Aptiv Asia Pacific Holdings (UK) LLP, Aptiv China Holdings (US) LLC, Aptiv Components (Shanghai) Company Limited, Aptiv Components India Private Ltd., Aptiv Connection Systems (Nantong) Ltd., Aptiv Connection Systems (Shanghai) Ltd., Aptiv Connection Systems Holding Deutschland GmbH, Aptiv Connection Systems Holding Hong Kong Limited, Aptiv Connection Systems Holdings (US) LLC, Aptiv Connection Systems Hungary Kft, Aptiv Connection Systems India Private Limited, Aptiv Connection Systems Korea LLC, Aptiv Connection Systems Services Austria GmbH, Aptiv Connection Systems Services Italia S.P.A., Aptiv Connection Systems Services Japan Ltd., Aptiv Contract Services Ciudad Juarez S. de R.L. de C.V., Aptiv Contract Services Matamoros S. de R.L. de C.V., Aptiv Contract Services Noreste S. de R.L. de C.V., Aptiv Contract Services Nuevo Laredo S. de R.L. de C.V., Aptiv Contract Services S. de R.L. de C.V., Aptiv Contract Services Sweden AB, Aptiv Contract Services Tamaulipas S. de R.L. de C.V., Aptiv Contract Services Tijuana S. de R.L. de C.V., Aptiv Contract Services Zacatecas S. de R.L. de C.V., Aptiv Contract Services d.o.o. Leskovac, Aptiv Contract Services de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Aptiv Corporation, Aptiv Electrical Centers (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Aptiv Electronics (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Aptiv European Holdings (UK) Limited, Aptiv Financial Holdings (UK) LLP, Aptiv Financial Investment Services (UK) Limited, Aptiv Financial Management LLC, Aptiv Financial Services (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., Aptiv Financial Services (UK) Limited, Aptiv Global Financial Services (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., Aptiv Global Financing Limited, Aptiv Global Holdings (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., Aptiv Global Holdings (UK) Limited, Aptiv Global Holdings 2 (Luxembourg) S.ar.l, Aptiv Global Holdings Limited, Aptiv Global Investments UK LLP, Aptiv Global Investments UK LLP Luxembourg Branch, Aptiv Global Operations Limited, Aptiv Global Real Estate Services (US) LLC, Aptiv Holdfi (UK) Limited, Aptiv Holding Company LLC, Aptiv Holdings (Austria) GmbH, Aptiv Holdings (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., Aptiv Holdings (UK) Limited, Aptiv Holdings (US) LLC, Aptiv Holdings Asia Pacific (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., Aptiv Holdings Deutschland GmbH, Aptiv Holdings France SAS, Aptiv Holdings Limited, Aptiv Holdings Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Aptiv Holdings US Limited, Aptiv International Company LLC, Aptiv International Financial Services (UK) LLP, Aptiv International Holdings (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., Aptiv International Holdings (UK) LLP, Aptiv International Holdings (US) LLC, Aptiv International Holdings 2 (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., Aptiv International Holdings UK Two LLP, Aptiv International Operations Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Aptiv International Services Company LLC, Aptiv Korea LLC, Aptiv Latin America Holdings (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., Aptiv Latin America Holdings (UK) LLP, Aptiv Luxembourg Financial Services S.a r.l., Aptiv Luxembourg Holdings (UK) Limited, Aptiv Luxembourg Holdings S.a r.l., Aptiv Malta Holdings Limited, Aptiv Manufactura e Servicos de Distribuicao Ltda., Aptiv Manufacturing Management Services S.a r.l., Aptiv Medical Systems LLC, Aptiv Mexican Holdings (US) LLC, Aptiv Mobility Services Austria MAT GmbH, Aptiv Mobility Services Deutschland GmbH, Aptiv Mobility Services Japan Ltd., Aptiv Mobility Services d.o.o. Novi Sad, Aptiv Properties Management Services (US) LLC, Aptiv S&P Mobility Services Spain S.L., Aptiv S&P Solutions Holdings (Spain) S.L., Aptiv Safety & Mobility Services Singapore Pte. Ltd., Aptiv Safety Services Deutschland GmbH, Aptiv Services 2 France SAS, Aptiv Services 2 US Inc., Aptiv Services 3 (US) LLC, Aptiv Services 4 US LLC, Aptiv Services 5 US LLC, Aptiv Services Austria GPD. GmbH & Co KG, Aptiv Services Belgium N.V., Aptiv Services Czech s.r.o., Aptiv Services Deutschland GmbH, Aptiv Services Honduras S. de R.L. de C.V., Aptiv Services Hungary Kft., Aptiv Services Italia S.r.l., Aptiv Services Macedonia DOOEL Skopje, Aptiv Services Netherlands B.V., Aptiv Services Poland S.A., Aptiv Services Tunisia Sarl, Aptiv Services UK Limited, Aptiv Services US LLC, Aptiv Services Ukraine LLC, Aptiv Technologies Limited, Aptiv Technology Services & Solutions S.R.L., Aptiv Trade Management Services (US) LLC, Aptiv Turkey Teknoloji Hizmetleri Limited Sirketi, Aptiv UK Pension Trustees Limited, Aptiv US Operations Holdings LLC, Aptiv US Services General Partnership, Arcomex S.A. de C.V., Arneses Electricos Automotrices S.A. de C.V., Auburn Enterprises LLC, Autoensambles y Logistica S.A. de C.V., Cablena S.L., Centro Tecnico Herramental S. de R.L. de C.V., Control Tec LLC, Control-Tec LLC, Cordaflex Espana S.A., Cordaflex S.A. de C.V., Daehan Electronics Yantai Co. Ltd., Delphi Automotive Systems Maroc S.A., Delphi Connection Systems Morocco S.A.S., Delphi Packard Kenitra S.A., Delphi Packard Meknes, Delphi Packard Moldova Noua S.R.L., Delphi Packard Tanger SA, Falmat Inc., Gabocom Ltd, Gabocom Sarl, Gabriel de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Harwich Holding GmbH, Harwich Holdings LLC, Harwich Holdings SAS, HellermannTyton (Proprietary) Limited, HellermannTyton (Wuxi) Electrical Accessories Company Limited, HellermannTyton AB, HellermannTyton AB Branch Office, HellermannTyton AS, HellermannTyton Alpha S.a r.l., HellermannTyton Australia Pty Ltd, HellermannTyton BV, HellermannTyton Beta S.a r.l., HellermannTyton Canada Inc., HellermannTyton Co. Ltd, HellermannTyton Corporation, HellermannTyton Data Limited, HellermannTyton Engineering GmbH, HellermannTyton Espana SL, HellermannTyton Finance PLC, HellermannTyton GmbH (Austria), HellermannTyton GmbH (Germany), HellermannTyton Group PLC, HellermannTyton Holdings AB, HellermannTyton Holdings Limited, HellermannTyton Kft, HellermannTyton Limited, HellermannTyton Limited Branch Office, HellermannTyton Ltda, HellermannTyton Manufacturas S. de R.L. de C.V., HellermannTyton Maroc S.ar.l., HellermannTyton OOO, HellermannTyton Private Limited, HellermannTyton Pte Limited, HellermannTyton Rohvel SL, HellermannTyton S. de R.L. de C.V., HellermannTyton SAS, HellermannTyton Services GmbH, HellermannTyton Services SARL AU, HellermannTyton Srl, HellermannTyton YH, HellermannTyton sp. z.o.o., Hellermanntyton Group, Hellermanntyton Morocco SARL AU, Inmobiliaria Marlis S.A., Inmuebles Wagon S.A., Interessengemeinschaft fur Rundfunkschutzrechte GmbH, Interessengemeinschaft fur Rundfunkschutzrechte GmbH Schutzrechtsverwertung & Co. KG, KUM Co. Ltd., KUM LLC, KUMAP Co. Ltd., Movimento (Shanghai) Co Ltd., Movimento Europe GmbH, Movimento Group, Movimento Group AB, Movimento Inc., Movimento International S. de R.L. de C.V., Noteco Comercio e Participacoes Ltda., On-Site Limited, Ottomatika, Ottomatika Inc., PT Aptiv Components Indonesia, Phoenix Assets Holdings Ltd., Pipe Holding GmbH, Potio Holding GmbH, ProSTEP Produktions Technologie AG, Productos Delco de Chihuahua S. de R.L. de C.V., PureDepth, PureDepth Inc., PureDepth Incorporated Limited, PureDepth Limited, Rebafin GmbH, Rio Bravo Electricos S. de R.L. de C.V., Staeng Limited, Tyson Intermediate Holdco Corp., Tyson Upper Intermediate Holdco Corp., Unterstutzungsgesellschaft mbH Delphi Deutschland, Unwired Holdings Inc., Unwired Technology, WF Global (BVI) Limited, WF Global (HK) Limited, Winchester Holding Inc., Winchester Interconnect, Winchester Interconnect (M) Sdn. Bhd., Winchester Interconnect (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Winchester Interconnect (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Winchester Interconnect CM Corporation, Winchester Interconnect Cable Assemblies LLC, Winchester Interconnect Corporation, Winchester Interconnect Hermetics LLC, Winchester Interconnect RF Corporation, Winchester Interconnect Ruggedized Corporation, YanCheng SeMyung Electronics Co. Ltd., gabo Systemtechnik, gabo Systemtechnik GmbH, nuTonomy, nuTonomy Asia Pte. Ltd., and nuTonomy Inc..Xcel Energy, Inc. operates as a holding company, which engages in the generation, purchase, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity. It operates through the following three segments: Regulated Electric Utility, Regulated Natural Gas Utility and All Others. The Regulated Electric Utility segment generates, transmits and distributes electricity primarily in portions of generates, transmits and distributes electricity in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado, Texas and New Mexico. In addition, this segment includes sales for resale and provides wholesale transmission service to various entities in the United States. It also includes commodity trading operations. The Regulated Natural Gas Utility segment transports, stores, and distributes natural gas primarily in portions of Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Michigan and Colorado. The All Others segment engages in steam, appliance repair services, nonutility real estate activities, processing solid waste into refuse-derived fuel and investments in rental housing projects that qualify for low-income housing tax credits. The company was founded in 1909 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, MN.

Read MoreThe following companies are subsidiares of Abbott Laboratories: 3A Nutrition (Vietnam) Company Limited, ABON Biopharm (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd., AGA Medical Belgium, AGA Medical Corporation, AGA Medical Holdings Inc., ALR Holdings, AML Medical LLC, APK Advanced Medical Technologies LLC, ATS Bermuda Holdings Limited, ATS Laboratories Inc., Abbott, Abbott (Jiaxing) Nutrition Co. Ltd., Abbott (UK) Finance Limited, Abbott (UK) Holdings Limited, Abbott AG, Abbott Asia Holdings Limited, Abbott Asia Investments Limited, Abbott Australasia Holdings Limited, Abbott Australasia Pty Ltd, Abbott B.V., Abbott Bahamas Overseas Businesses Corporation, Abbott Belgian Investments, Abbott Bermuda Holding Ltd., Abbott Biologicals B.V., Abbott Biologicals LLC, Abbott Bulgaria Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Capital India Limited, Abbott Cardiovascular Inc., Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc., Abbott Delaware LLC, Abbott Diabetes Care Inc., Abbott Diabetes Care Limited, Abbott Diabetes Care Sales Corporation, Abbott Diagnostics GmbH, Abbott Diagnostics International Ltd., Abbott Diagnostics Technologies AS, Abbott Doral Investments S.L., Abbott Equity Holdings Unlimited, Abbott Equity Investments LLC, Abbott Established Products Holdings (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Finance Company SA, Abbott Financial Holdings SRL, Abbott France S.A.S., Abbott Fund Tanzania Limited, Abbott Gesellschaft m.b.H., Abbott GmbH & Co. KG, Abbott Health Products LLC, Abbott Healthcare (Puerto Rico) Ltd., Abbott Healthcare B.V., Abbott Healthcare Costa Rica S.A., Abbott Healthcare LLC, Abbott Healthcare Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Healthcare Private Limited, Abbott Healthcare Products B.V., Abbott Healthcare Products Ltd, Abbott Holding (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding GmbH, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited Luxembourg S.C.S., Abbott Holdings B.V., Abbott Holdings LLC, Abbott Holdings Limited, Abbott Holdings Poland Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Hungary Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Abbott Iberian Investments (2) Limited, Abbott Iberian Investments Limited, Abbott India Limited, Abbott Informatics Asia Pacific Limited, Abbott Informatics Canada Inc, Abbott Informatics Corporation, Abbott Informatics Europe Limited, Abbott Informatics France, Abbott Informatics Germany GmbH, Abbott Informatics Netherlands B.V., Abbott Informatics Singapore Pte. Limited, Abbott Informatics Spain S.A., Abbott Informatics Technologies Ltd, Abbott International Corporation, Abbott International Enterprises Ltd., Abbott International Holdings Limited, Abbott International LLC, Abbott International Luxembourg S.ar.l., Abbott Investments Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Ireland, Abbott Ireland Financing Designated Activity Company, Abbott Ireland Limited, Abbott Japan Co. Ltd., Abbott Kazakhstan Limited Liability Partnership, Abbott Knoll Investments B.V., Abbott Korea Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Bangladesh) Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Chile) Holdco (Dos) SpA, Abbott Laboratories (Chile) Holdco SpA, Abbott Laboratories (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Abbott Laboratories (Mozambique) Limitada, Abbott Laboratories (Pakistan) Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Philippines), Abbott Laboratories (Puerto Rico) Incorporated, Abbott Laboratories (Singapore) Private Limited, Abbott Laboratories A/S, Abbott Laboratories Argentina Sociedad Anonima, Abbott Laboratories B.V., Abbott Laboratories C.A., Abbott Laboratories Finance B.V., Abbott Laboratories GmbH, Abbott Laboratories Inc., Abbott Laboratories International LLC, Abbott Laboratories Ireland Limited, Abbott Laboratories Limited, Abbott Laboratories Limited - Laboratoires Abbott Limitee, Abbott Laboratories NZ Limited, Abbott Laboratories Pacific Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Poland Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Laboratories Products B.V., Abbott Laboratories Residential Development Fund Inc., Abbott Laboratories S.A., Abbott Laboratories SA, Abbott Laboratories Services Corp., Abbott Laboratories Slovakia s.r.o., Abbott Laboratories South Africa (Pty) Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Trustee Company Limited, Abbott Laboratories Uruguay S.A., Abbott Laboratories Vascular Enterprises, Abbott Laboratories d.o.o., Abbott Laboratories de Chile Limitada, Abbott Laboratories de Colombia S.A., Abbott Laboratories de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Abbott Laboratories druzba za farmacijo in diagnostiko d.o.o., Abbott Laboratories s.r.o., Abbott Laboratories(Hellas) Societe Anonyme, Abbott Laboratorios S.A., Abbott Laboratorios S.A., Abbott Laboratorios del Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Abbott Laboratuarlari Ithalat Ihracat ve Ticaret Ltd.Sti, Abbott Laboratorios Lda, Abbott Laboratorios do Brasil Ltda., Abbott Limited Egypt LLC, Abbott Logistics B.V., Abbott Management GmbH, Abbott Management LLC, Abbott Manufacturing Singapore Private Limited, Abbott Mature Products International Unlimited Company, Abbott Mature Products Management Limited, Abbott Medical (Hong Kong) Limited, Abbott Medical (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Abbott Medical (Portugal) Distribuicao de Produtos Medicos Lda, Abbott Medical (Schweiz) AG, Abbott Medical (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Abbott Medical (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Australia Pty. Ltd., Abbott Medical Austria Ges.m.b.H., Abbott Medical Balkan d.o.o. Beograd (Novi Beograd), Abbott Medical Belgium, Abbott Medical Canada Inc./ Medicale Abbott Canada Inc., Abbott Medical Danmark A/S, Abbott Medical Devices Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Espana S.A., Abbott Medical Estonia OU, Abbott Medical Finland Oy, Abbott Medical France SAS, Abbott Medical GmbH, Abbott Medical Hellas Limited Liability Trading Company, Abbott Medical Ireland Limited, Abbott Medical Italia S.p.A., Abbott Medical Japan Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Korea Limited, Abbott Medical Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Abbott Medical Laboratories LTD, Abbott Medical Nederland B.V., Abbott Medical New Zealand Limited, Abbott Medical Norway AS, Abbott Medical Overseas Cyprus Limited, Abbott Medical Sweden AB, Abbott Medical Taiwan Co., Abbott Medical U.K. Limited, Abbott Medical spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Middle East S.A.R.L., Abbott Molecular Inc., Abbott Morocco SARL, Abbott Nederland C.V., Abbott Nederland Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Netherlands Investments B.V., Abbott Norge AS, Abbott Nutrition Limited, Abbott Nutrition Manufacturing Inc., Abbott Operations Singapore Pte. Ltd., Abbott Operations Uruguay S.R.L., Abbott Overseas Cyprus Limited, Abbott Overseas Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Overseas S.A., Abbott Oy, Abbott Point of Care Canada Limited, Abbott Point of Care Inc., Abbott Poland Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Procurement LLC, Abbott Products (Philippines) Inc., Abbott Products (Spain) S.L., Abbott Products Algerie EURL, Abbott Products B.V., Abbott Products Distribution SAS, Abbott Products Egypt LLC, Abbott Products Limited, Abbott Products Limited Liability Company, Abbott Products Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Products Operations AG, Abbott Products Operations LLC, Abbott Products Romania S.R.L., Abbott Products Tunisie S.A.R.L., Abbott Products Unlimited Company, Abbott Resources Inc., Abbott Resources International Inc., Abbott S.r.l., Abbott Saudi Arabia Trading Company, Abbott Scandinavia Aktiebolag, Abbott Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, Abbott South Africa Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Strategic Opportunities Limited, Abbott Trading Company Inc., Abbott Universal LLC, Abbott Vascular Devices (2) Limited, Abbott Vascular Devices Limited, Abbott Vascular Inc., Abbott Vascular Instruments Deutschland GmbH, Abbott Vascular International, Abbott Vascular Japan Co. Ltd, Abbott Vascular Limitada, Abbott Vascular Netherlands B.V., Abbott Vascular Solutions Inc., Abbott Ventures Inc., Abbott West Indies Limited, Abbott drustvo sa ogranicenom odgovornoscu za trgovinu i usluge, Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Inc., Alere, Alere (Shanghai) Diagnostics Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Healthcare Management Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Medical Sales Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Technology Co. Ltd., Alere A/S, Alere AB, Alere AS, Alere AS Holdings Limited, Alere BBI Holdings Limited, Alere Bangladesh Limited, Alere China Co. Ltd., Alere Colombia S.A., Alere Connect LLC, Alere Connected Health Limited, Alere Connected Health Ltd., Alere Diagnostics GmbH, Alere DoA Holding GmbH, Alere GmbH, Alere GmbH (Austria), Alere GmbH (Germany), Alere HK Holdings Ltd., Alere Health B.V., Alere Health BVBA, Alere Health Corp., Alere Health Sdn Bhd, Alere Health Services B.V., Alere Healthcare (Pty) Limited, Alere Healthcare Connections Limited, Alere Healthcare Inc., Alere Healthcare Nigeria Limited, Alere Healthcare S.L., Alere Holdco Inc., Alere Holding GmbH, Alere Holdings Bermuda Limited, Alere Holdings Pty Limited, Alere Home Monitoring Inc., Alere Inc., Alere Informatics Inc., Alere International Holding Corp., Alere International Limited, Alere Lda, Alere Limited, Alere Limited (New Zealand), Alere Medical BVBA, Alere Medical Co. Ltd., Alere Medical Pakistan (Private) Limited, Alere Medical Private Limited, Alere North America LLC, Alere Oy Ab, Alere Philippines Inc., Alere Phoenix ACQ Inc., Alere Pte Ltd, Alere S.A., Alere S.r.l., Alere S/A, Alere SAS, Alere San Diego Inc., Alere Scarborough Inc., Alere Spain S.L., Alere Switzerland GmbH, Alere Technologies GmbH, Alere Technologies Holdings Limited, Alere Technologies Limited, Alere Toxicology AB, Alere Toxicology Inc., Alere Toxicology S.r.l., Alere Toxicology Services Inc., Alere Toxicology plc, Alere UK Holdings Limited, Alere UK Subco Limited, Alere ULC, Alere US Holdings LLC, Alere s.r.o., Alisoc Investment & Co, Amedica Biotech Inc., Ameditech Inc., American Generics S.A.S., American Medical Supplies Inc., American Pharmacist Inc., Antares S.A., Apica Cardiovascular Limited, Aquagestion Capacitacion S.A., Aquagestion S.A., Arriva Medical LLC, Arriva Medical Philippines Inc., Arvis Investments Limited, Atlas Farmaceutica S.A., Avee Laboratories Inc., Axis-Shield AD III AS, Axis-Shield AD IV AS, Axis-Shield AS, Axis-Shield Diagnostics Limited, Axis-Shield Ltd., BBI Animal Health Limited, BBI Diagnostics Group 2 Public Limited Company, Banco de Vida S.A., Bioabsorbable Vascular Solutions Inc., Bioalgae S.A., Biohealth LLC, Biosite Incorporated, Bosque Bonito S.A., Branan Medical Corporation, Brandex Europe C.V., British Colloids Limited, CFR Chile S.A., CFR Interamericas EL Salvador Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, CFR Interamericas Nicaragua Sociedad Anonima, CFR Interamericas Panama S.A., CFR Pharmaceuticals, California Property Holdings III LLC, CardioMEMS LLC, Caripharm Inc., Cephea Valve Technologies, Cephea Valve Technologies Inc., Colibri Medical Aktiebolag, Comercializadora y Distribuidora CFR Interamericas Honduras S.A., Concateno South Limited, Concateno UK Limited, Consorcio Tecnologico en Biomedicina Clinico-Molecular S.A., Continuum Services LLC, Cozart Limited, Dextech S.A., Diagnostik Nord GmbH, Distribuciones Uquifa S.A.S., Domesco Medical Import-Export Joint-Stock Corporation, Duphar International Research B.V., Endocardial Solutions, Epocal (US) Inc, Esprit de Vie S.A., European Chemicals & Co, European Drug Testing Service EDTS AB, European Services S.A., Evalve Inc., Evalve International Inc., FARMINDUSTRIA S.A., Fada Pharma Paraguay Sociedad Anonima, Fadapharma del Ecuador S.A., Farmaceutica Mont Blanc S.L., Farmacologia Em Aquicultura Veterinaria Ltda., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV Ecuador S.A., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV S.A., Fernwood Investment S.A., First Check Diagnostics LLC, Focus Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Forensics Limited, Forestcreek Overseas S.A., Fournier Pharma Corp., Fournier Pharma GmbH, Fournier Pharmaceuticals Limited, Framed B.V., Gabmed GmbH, Garden Hills LLC, Global Analytical Development LLC, Globapharm & CO LP, Glomed Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Golnorth Investments S.A., Gynocare Limited, Gynopharm Sociedad Anonima, Gynopharm de Centroamerica S.A., Gynopharm de Venezuela C.A., Hi-Tronics Designs Inc., IDEV Technologies Inc., IG Innovations Limited, IMTC Finance B.V., IMTC Holdings B.V., IMTC Technologies Inc., Ibis Biosciences LLC, Igloo Zone Chile S.A., Igloo Zone S.L., Inmobiliaria Naknek S.A.C., Innovacon Inc., Instant Tech Subsidiary Acquisition Inc., Instant Technologies Inc., Instituto de Criopreservacion de Chile S.A., Integrated Vascular Systems Inc., Inverness Canadian Acquisition Corporation, Inverness Medical (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Australia Pty Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Hong Kong Limited, Inverness Medical Innovations SK LLC, Inverness Medical Investments LLC, Inverness Medical LLC, Inverness Medical Shimla Private Limited, Inversiones K2 SpA, Inversiones Komodo S.R.L., Ionian Technologies LLC, Irvine Biomedical Inc., Kalila Medical, Kangshenyunga S.A., Knoll UK Investments Unlimited, LLC VeroInPharm, Laboratoires Fournier S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano Lafrancol S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano del Ecuador S.A., Laboratorio Internacional Argentino S.A., Laboratorio Synthesis S.A.S., Laboratorios Lafi Limitada, Laboratorios Naturmedik S.A.S., Laboratorios Pauly Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Laboratorios Recalcine S.A., Laboratorios Transpharm S.A., Laboratory Specialists of America Inc., Lafrancol Dominicana S.A.S., Lafrancol Guatemala S.A. Sociedad Anonima, Lafrancol Internacional S.A.S, Lafrancol Peru S.R.L, Lake Forest Investments LLC, Lightlab Imaging Inc., Limited Liability Company Abbott Laboratories, Limited Liability Company Abbott Ukraine, Limited Liability Company VEROPHARM, Lung Fung Hong (China) Limited, Mansbridge Pharmaceuticals Limited, MediGuide LLC, MediGuide Ltd., Medscreen Holdings Limited, Metropolitana Farmaceutica S.A., Midwest Properties LLC, Murex Argentina S.A., Murex Biotech Limited, Murex Biotech South Africa, Murex Diagnostics Inc., Murex Diagnostics International Inc., Natural Supplement Association LLC, Negocios Denia Sociedad Anonima, Neosalud S.A.C., Nether Pharma N.P. C.V., NeuroTherm LLC, Normann Pharma-Handels GmbH, North Shore Properties Inc., Novamedi S.A., Novasalud.com S.A., Nutravida S.A., OJSC Voronezhkhimpharm, Omnilab Iberia Sociedad Limitada, OptiMedica, Orgenics France SAS, Orgenics International Holdings B.V., Orgenics Ltd., PBM-Selfcare LLC, PDD II LLC, PDD LLC, PT Alere Health, PT. Abbott Indonesia, PT. Abbott Products Indonesia, Pacesetter Inc., Pantech (RF) (PTY) LTD, Pembrooke Occupational Health Inc., Penagos S.A., Pharma International Sociedad Anonima, Pharmaceutical Technologies (Pharmatech) S.A., Pharmatech Boliviana S.A., Polygon Labs S.A., Quality Assured Services Inc., RF Medical Holdings LLC, RTL Holdings Inc., Ramses Business Corp., Recben Xenerics Farmaceutica Limitada, Redwood Toxicology Laboratory Inc., Rich Horizons International Limited, SC VEROPHARM, SJ Medical Mexico S de R.L. de C.V., SJM International Inc., SJM Thunder Holding Company, SPDH Inc., Saboya Enterprises Corporation, Salviac Limited, Scanax AS, Sealing Solutions Inc., Selfcare Technology Inc., Shandong Abbott Dairy Product Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Medical Devices Science and Technology Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Shanghai Si Fa Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Sinensix & Co., Spinal Modulation LLC, St. Jude Medical, St. Jude Medical AB, St. Jude Medical ATG Inc., St. Jude Medical Argentina S.A., St. Jude Medical Asia Pacific Holdings GK, St. Jude Medical Atrial Fibrillation Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Brasil Ltda., St. Jude Medical Business Services Inc., St. Jude Medical Cardiology Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Colombia Ltda., St. Jude Medical Coordination Center, St. Jude Medical Costa Rica Limitada, St. Jude Medical Europe Inc., St. Jude Medical Export Ges.m.b.H., St. Jude Medical GVA Sarl, St. Jude Medical Holdings B.V., St. Jude Medical India Private Limited, St. Jude Medical International Holding, St. Jude Medical LLC, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings II, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings NT, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings SMI S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings TC S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Mexico Business Services S. de R.L. de C.V., St. Jude Medical Middle East DMCC, St. Jude Medical Operations (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., St. Jude Medical Puerto Rico LLC, St. Jude Medical S.C. Inc., St. Jude Medical Systems AB, St. Jude Medical Turkey Medikal Urunler Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Standard Diagnostics Inc., Standing Stone LLC, Swan-Myers Incorporated, TC1 LLC, Tendyne Holdings Inc., Tendyne Medical Inc., Thoratec Delaware LLC, Thoratec Europe Limited, Thoratec LLC, Thoratec Switzerland GmbH, Tobal Products Incorporated, Topera GmbH in Liquidation, Topera Inc., Tremora S.A., Tuenir S.A., TwistDx, UAB Abbott Laboratories, UAB Abbott Medical Lithuania, Union-Madison Realty Company Inc., Unipath Limited (dba Alere International/aka Cranfield), Unipath Management Limited, Unipath Pension Trustee Limited, Veropharm, Veropharm Limited Liability Partnership, Vida Cell Inversiones S.A., Vida Cell S.A., Vivalsol, W&R Pharma Handels GmbH, Western Pharmaceuticals S.A., X Technologies Inc., Yissum Holding Limited, ZonePerfect Nutrition Company, eScreen Canada ULC, eScreen Inc.,      ( ), and Abbott Laboratories Baltics.iShares Global Materials ETF's stock was trading at $52.26 on March 11th, 2020 when Coronavirus (COVID-19) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, MXI shares have increased by 73.1% and is now trading at $90.44.

View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19.The mother of a 15-year-old boy who was killed by his father said Michael McElrath had been acting "manic" in the days leading up to the tragic incident in Hixson on Aug. 18.

Judge Alex McVeigh bound a charge of criminal homicide against McElrath, a former jail officer, to the Grand Jury.

He is charged in the death of Dylan McElrath, who was a sophomore at Hixson High School.

Ms. McElrath said her husband of 21 years began acting strangely on Thursday prior to the Saturday incident in which Scout, the family's Labrador Retriever, was also shot and killed.

She said the "odd behavior" began when McElrath said he wanted her to know that he had cheated on her. She said he asked for forgiveness, and she said she told him he would forgive him.

The witness said her husband also told her their son had had sex. She said the son was "petrified" about that statement and told her privately it had not happened.

She said McElrath told her and their son, "Good things are going to happen." She said he stated they were going to get $150,000 - either through his invention or the lottery. He said it was going to happen in three days.

She said the invention involved use of two TENS unit to relieve pain. She said her husband was in constant pain (complex regional pain syndrome) after a surgery. She said he was mainly confined to a wheelchair.

The witness said, "He was so excited that it was going to happen. He was happy."

She said she was able to calm him down, and she said she would buy some lottery tickets.

Ms. McElrath said her husband also talked about inventions, science and God. She said, "Everything was in threes."

She said her husband on Friday said "if he didn't die that something bad was going to happen the next night."

That Saturday she said she fixed his breakfast and "he seemed fine." She said he had her wake up their son and he talked more about God, religion and "wanting to get rid of war."

She said the family gathered in their master bedroom at their house on Cotter Road and he had them hugging each other. She said he told them he was God, their son was Jesus Christ and she was the Holy Spirit.

Ms. McElrath said she always used reading glasses, but he told her he would rub her eyes three times with a chemical and she would no longer need the glasses. She said he did so, but she still could not see well.

She said she told him he was "acting manic" so he calmed down. She said he then appeared to be fine.

Ms. McElrath said she went back to bed around 9 p.m. She said she sleeps with ear plugs and a mask over her face because her husband ans son would keep the TV on..

She said she woke up during the night and her husband came in carrying their dog Scout. She said he gave her a fierce hug with one hand while doing the same with the dog with the other.

The witness said she noticed McElrath had blood on the lower part of his shirt, but he said, "Don't worry about it. It's just a bad dream. Go back to sleep."

Then she said he asked her to shoot him in the head. She said she noticed that two handguns had been placed on the bottom of the bed.

She said she got up and saw the dog lying on the floor. "It looked like he was dead," she stated.

Ms. McElrath said she then went into her son's room and found where he had been sitting on his knees. She saw several wounds on his arms.

She said there were two gunshot wounds to his chest, and he had no pulse.

By then, she said McElrath was gone. She said she had not seen or talked to him since.

A county deputy said he found McElrath on the porch of a neighbor's house. The neighbors had called 911, saying a naked man was knocking on their door.

He said McElrath was still completely without clothes. Following commands, he slid down the front steps and was handcuffed.

The deputy said McElrath stated, "I'm so sorry. I shot my son. I don't know why."

He said McElrath afterward was lying on his stomach and saying he could not feel his legs. He was taken to a nearby hospital to be checked out.

McElrath then asked for a lawyer, it was stated.

County Investigator Adam Patterson said some 10 9mm shells were found in Dylan's bedroom. He said two handgun (a 9mm and a 22) were found on the TV stand.

Click here to listen to the court recording.When the polling firm asked residents if reconfiguring the district with fewer school buildings has had a positive or negative impact on the quality of education  or has made no difference  46 percent felt the impact has been positive and 28 percent felt the impact has been negative. Nearly one in five, or 17 percent, felt consolidating schools has made no difference on the quality of education.iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF's stock was trading at $73.54 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, IWS stock has increased by 66.0% and is now trading at $122.11.

View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19.SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Short Term High Yield Bond ETF's stock was trading at $24.85 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 (Coronavirus) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, SJNK stock has increased by 10.1% and is now trading at $27.35.

View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19.William Frey, a demographer with the Brookings Institution, said approximately 7 percent of the population in Illinois, ranging from those on their way to becoming naturalized citizens to others living here illegally. Illinois falling population means it's already on the cusp of losing one representative, but if immigrants decide they don't want to be counted, that could cost the state two seats, Frey said.On the Beach Group plc operates as an online retailer of short-haul beach holidays under the On the Beach brand name. It operates through four segments: OTB, International, Classic, and CPH. The company provides its services through onthebeach.co.uk, sunshine.co.uk, and onthebeachtransfers.co.uk websites in the United Kingdom. It also provides its services through eBeach.se website in Sweden and eBeach.dk website in Denmark, as well as through eBeach.no website in Norwegian; and operates online business to business portals, such as classiccollection.co.uk and classic-package.co.uk. In addition, the company offers transport brokerage and property management services. On the Beach Group plc was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Manchester, the United Kingdom.

Read MoreSotheby's operates as an auctioneer of authenticated fine art, decorative art, jewelry, wine, and collectibles in the United States, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, China, Switzerland, France, and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Agency and Finance. The Agency segment accepts property on consignment; and matches sellers to buyers through the auction or private sale process. It is also involved in the sale of artworks; and operation of an auction house for investment-quality automobiles. The Finance segment offers art-related financing services, such as term loans secured by artworks. In addition, the company provides art advisory service. The company is also involved in the retail wine operations; licensing Sotheby's International Realty and related trademarks; and licensing its Sotheby's brand name for use in connection with the art auction business in Australia, and art education services in the United States and the United Kingdom. Sotheby's was founded in 1744 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Read MoreThe following companies are subsidiares of SYNNEX: 2117974 Ontario Inc., Administrative Services and Technologies to Enterprises Ltda., Afina Peru S.A.C., Afina S.R.L., Afina Sistemas Informaticos Limitada, Afina Sistemas Informaticos S.L, Afina Sistemas Sociedade Ltda., Afina Venezuela C.A., Afinasis S.A. de C.V., Asset Ohio Fourth Street LLC, BPO Holdco Cooperatief U.A., Beijing Jumeng Technology Development Ltd., Brazil HoldCo Limited, CNX Services Jamaica Limited, Chongqing Jumeng Technologies Development Ltd., ComputerLand Corporation, Comstor Colombia S.A.S., Concentrix (Canada) Limited, Concentrix (Suzhou) Information Consulting Co. Limited, Concentrix Beteiligungen GmbH, Concentrix Brazil Outsourcing of Processes , Concentrix Business Services UK Limited, Concentrix CMG Canada ULC, Concentrix CMG Insurance Services LLC, Concentrix CRM Services Germany GmbH, Concentrix CRM Services Germany GmbH Belgium Branch, Concentrix CRM Services Germany GmbH Greece Branch, Concentrix CRM Services Germany GmbH Merkezi Almanya Istanbul Merkez Subesi, Concentrix CRM Services Germany GmbH Netherlands Branch, Concentrix CRM Services Germany GmbH Netherlands Branch , Concentrix CRM Services Germany GmbH Russelsheim Switzerland Branch Zug, Concentrix CRM Services Germany GmbH Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia Oddzia w Polsce, Concentrix CRM Services Germany GmbH Sucursal en Espana, Concentrix CRM Services Hungary Kft, Concentrix CRM Services RO S.R.L., Concentrix CRM Services UK Limited, Concentrix CVG (Mauritius) Ltd, Concentrix CVG Brite Voice Systems LLC, Concentrix CVG CMG UK Limited, Concentrix CVG Contact Tunisie S.A.R.L., Concentrix CVG Corporation, Concentrix CVG Customer Management Australia Pty. Ltd., Concentrix CVG Customer Management Delaware LLC, Concentrix CVG Customer Management Group Inc., Concentrix CVG Customer Management Group Inc. Costa Rica Branch, Concentrix CVG Delaware Inc., Concentrix CVG Delaware International Inc., Concentrix CVG Delaware International Inc. French Branch, Concentrix CVG Egypt Limited Liability Company, Concentrix CVG France S.A.R.L., Concentrix CVG Funding Inc., Concentrix CVG Global Services AZ Inc., Concentrix CVG Global Services El Salvador S.A. de C.V., Concentrix CVG Global Services Honduras S.A., Concentrix CVG Global Services Hong Kong Limited, Concentrix CVG Government Solutions LLC, Concentrix CVG Group Limited, Concentrix CVG Group Servicios de Apoyo Informatico S.L., Concentrix CVG Holding LLC, Concentrix CVG Intelligent Contact Limited, Concentrix CVG International Bulgaria EOOD, Concentrix CVG International Holding Ltd., Concentrix CVG International Holding Ltd. Dominican Republic Branch, Concentrix CVG International Sp. Z.o.o., Concentrix CVG Italy S.R.L., Concentrix CVG LLC, Concentrix CVG Learning Solutions LLC, Concentrix CVG Malaysia (Philippines) SDN. BHD. Philippine Branch, Concentrix CVG Malaysia (Phillipines) Sdn. Bhd., Concentrix CVG Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Concentrix CVG Nicaragua S.A., Concentrix CVG Philippines Inc., Concentrix CVG Pte. Ltd., Concentrix CVG Services Singapore Pte. Ltd., Concentrix CVG Services Singapore Pte. Ltd. ROHQ, Concentrix CVG Singapore Holdings Pte. Ltd., Concentrix CVG Singapore Holdings Pte. Ltd. ROHQ, Concentrix CVG Tunisie BPO S.A.R.L., Concentrix CVG Tunisie S.A.R.L., Concentrix Coop Holdco Limited, Concentrix Corporation, Concentrix Costa Rica S.A., Concentrix Daksh Services India Private Limited, Concentrix Daksh Services Philippines Corporation, Concentrix Digital Services Limited, Concentrix Duisburg GmbH, Concentrix Dusseldorf GmbH, Concentrix Europe Limited, Concentrix Frankfurt a. M. GmbH, Concentrix Free Trade Zone S.A., Concentrix GBS Limited, Concentrix Gera GmbH, Concentrix Global Holdings Inc., Concentrix Global Services GmbH, Concentrix Gmbh, Concentrix HK Limited, Concentrix Halle GmbH, Concentrix Insurance Administration Solutions Corporation, Concentrix International Europe B.V., Concentrix International GmbH, Concentrix International Services Europe B.V., Concentrix Investment Holdings Corporation, Concentrix Investment Holdings Singapore 1 Pte. Ltd, Concentrix Investment Holdings Singapore 2 Pte. Ltd, Concentrix Investment Holdings Singapore 3 Pte. Ltd, Concentrix Investments Europe B.V., Concentrix Ireland Contact Services Limited, Concentrix Ireland Limited, Concentrix Leipzig GmbH, Concentrix Logistics Corporation, Concentrix Management Holding GmbH & Co. KG, Concentrix Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V, Concentrix Munster GmbH, Concentrix New (BVI) Corporation, Concentrix NewHK Limited, Concentrix Nicaragua S.A., Concentrix Osnabruck GmbH, Concentrix Rechenzentrum GmbH, Concentrix Romania S.R.L., Concentrix Schwerin GmbH, Concentrix Service Hungary KFT, Concentrix Services (Colombia) S.A.S., Concentrix Services (Dalian) Co. Ltd., Concentrix Services (Dalian) Co. Ltd. Beijing Branch, Concentrix Services (Dalian) Co. Ltd. Shanghai Branch, Concentrix Services (Germany) GmbH, Concentrix Services (Ireland) Limited, Concentrix Services (Netherlands) B.V., Concentrix Services (New Zealand) Limited, Concentrix Services (Poland) spolka z o.o., Concentrix Services (Saudi Arabia) Corporation LLC, Concentrix Services (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Concentrix Services (Thailand) Co. Ltd, Concentrix Services (Uruguay) S.A., Concentrix Services Bulgaria EOOD, Concentrix Services Corporation, Concentrix Services Corporation Philippines Branch, Concentrix Services Germany GmbH Sverige filial, Concentrix Services GmbH, Concentrix Services Holdco (Netherlands) B.V., Concentrix Services India Private Limited, Concentrix Services Korea Limited, Concentrix Services Mexico S.A. de C.V., Concentrix Services Philippines Inc., Concentrix Services Portugal Sociedade Unipessoal LDA, Concentrix Services Pty Ltd, Concentrix Services Pty Ltd ROHQ, Concentrix Services Slovakia s.r.o., Concentrix Services Spain S.L.U., Concentrix Services UK Limited, Concentrix Services US Inc., Concentrix Technologies (India) Private Limited, Concentrix Technologies Limited, Concentrix Technologies Services (Canada) Limited, Concentrix Technology FZ-LLC, Concentrix VN Technologies Services Company Limited, Concentrix Verwaltungs GmbH, Concentrix Wismar GmbH, Concentrix Wuppertal GmbH, Convergys, Convergys Customer Management Colombia S.A.S., Convergys Customer Management Group Canada Holding Inc., Convergys Customer Management Group Inc. Philippines Branch, Convergys Customer Management International Inc., Convergys Customer Management International Inc. - Regional Operating Headquarters, Convergys Customer Management Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Convergys France S.A.R.L. (Mauritius Branch), Convergys Holdings (GB) Limited, Convergys Holdings (UK) Limited, Convergys Hungary Kft., Convergys India Services Private Limited, Convergys International Inc., Convergys International Nordic AB, Convergys Netherlands Investments B.V., Convergys Services Denmark ApS, Convergys Software Service (Beijing) Ltd., Convergys South Africa (Pty) Ltd., CyberLogistics Corporation, Dalian Jumeng Information Services Ltd., Dalian Jumeng Technology Development Ltd., EMJ America Inc., Encore Receivable Management Inc., Encore Receivable Management Inc. Philippines Branch, Foshan Jumeng Information Technology Service Co. Ltd, GLS Software S. de R.L., Guiyang Jumeng Technology Development Ltd., Hyve IT Solutions Israel Ltd, Hyve IT Solutions South Africa (PTY) Ltd., Hyve SNX Solutions Ireland Limited, Hyve Solutions (Taiwan) Corporation, Hyve Solutions Canada Limited, Hyve Solutions China Limited, Hyve Solutions Corporation, Hyve Solutions Europe Limited, Hyve Solutions HK Limited, Hyve Solutions Holding Company Limited, Hyve Solutions India LLP, Hyve Solutions Japan K.K., Hyve Solutions Korea Limited, Hyve Solutions Malaysia SDN.BHD., Hyve Solutions New Zealand Limited, Hyve Solutions Singapore Pte. Ltd, Hyve Solutions US Global Holding Corporation, IBM World Wide Customer Care, Intervoice Acquisition Subsidiary Inc., Intervoice Colombia Ltda., Intervoice GP Inc., Intervoice GmbH, Intervoice LLC Canada Branch, Intervoice LP Inc., Intervoice Limited, Intervoice Limited Partnership, Intervoice do Brasil Comercio Servicos e Participacoes Ltda., Jack Of All Games Inc., Japan Concentrix KK, LATAM HoldCo Limited, Lasting Holdings Corporation, License Online Inc, Minacs, Minacs Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., PT Concentrix Services Indonesia, PT Convergys Customer Management Indonesia, Pegasus Telecom LLC, SCGS (Malaysia) SDN. BHD., SGS Holdings Inc., SGS Tunisie S.A.R.L., SIT Funding Corporation, SYNNEX Canada Limited, SYNNEX Finance Hybrid II LLC, SYNNEX Information Technologies (Beijing) Ltd., SYNNEX Information Technologies (Chengdu) Ltd., SYNNEX Information Technologies (China) Ltd., SYNNEX Japan Corporation, SYNNEX Japan Holdings K.K., SYNNEX Servicios S.A. de C.V., SYNNEX Software Technologies (HK) Limited, SYNNEX de Mexico S.A. de C.V., SYNNEX-Concentrix UK Limited, Sennex Enterprises Limited, Servicios Afinasis S.A. de C.V., Shenzhen Shunrong Telecommunication Technologies Ltd., Shenzhen Shunrong Telecommunication Technologies Ltd. Foshan Branch, Sichuan 86Bridge Information Technology Ltd., Stream Business Process Outsourcing South Africa (Proprietary) Ltd., Stream Florida Inc., Stream Global Services - US Inc., Stream Global Services Danmark ApS, Stream Global Services Inc., Stream Holdings Corporation, Suzhou Ke Wei Xun Information Services Co. Ltd., Tech Data, The Global Email Trustee Limited, Tigerspike Co. Ltd, Tigerspike FZ LLC Rep. Office, Tigerspike FZ-LLC, Tigerspike Holdings Pty Ltd, Tigerspike Inc., Tigerspike Ltd, Tigerspike Products Pte. Ltd., Tigerspike Pte. Ltd., Tigerspike Pty Ltd, Velami Holdings Corporation, Vietnam Concentrix Services Company Limited, VisionMAX, WG-UK Holding Company Limited, WG-US HoldCo Inc, Westcon Brasil Ltda., Westcon CALA Inc., Westcon Canada Systems (WCSI) Inc., Westcon Corporation Ecuador WCE Cia. Ltda, Westcon Group Colombia Limitada, Westcon Group Costa Rica S.A., Westcon Group El Salvador S.A. de C.V., Westcon Group Inc., Westcon Group North America Inc., Westcon Group Panama S.A., Westcon Mexico S.A. de C.V., Westcon-Comstor, Xi'an Jumeng Technologies Development Ltd, and eTelecare Philippines Inc..Still he wanted to be a performer so he went to San Francisco where he started doing street work. I met Harry Anderson from Night Court. He was out there on the street, too, and he took me under his wing and showed me how to do comedy.Deutsche Multi-Market Income Trust is a closed-ended mutual fund launched by Deutsche Wealth & Asset Management. It is managed by Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc. The fund invests in the fixed income markets across the globe. It seeks to invest in income-producing securities such as US corporate fixed-income securities, debt obligation of foreign government their agencies and instrumentalities, debt obligation of US government and its agencies and instrumentalities, private mortgage backed issuers, and other income producing securities. For the fixed income component of its portfolio, the fund seeks a target allocation similar to 50% Credit Suisse High Yield Index, 25% Lehman Brothers Treasury Index, 15% Citigroup Non-USD World Government Bond Currency Hedged Index, and 10% Citigroup Non-USD World Government Bond Currency Hedged Index. It was formerly known as DWS Multi-Market Income Trust. Deutsche Multi-Market Income Trust was formed in January 23, 1989 and is domiciled in United States.

Read MoreThe following companies are subsidiares of Sealed Air: A.P.S. (Holdings) Limited, AFP Trading (China) Co. Ltd., AFPTOH LTD, APS Automated Packaging Systems GmbH & Co. KG, APS Verwaltungs-GmbH, Air Ride Pallets Hong Kong Limited, Austin Foam Plastics Inc. (dba AFP Inc.), Automated Packaging Systems, Automated Packaging Systems Asia Holding Company Limited, Automated Packaging Systems Comerciale Importacao do Brasil Ltda., Automated Packaging Systems Europe, Automated Packaging Systems LLC, Automated Packaging Systems Limited, Automated Packaging Systems Southeast Asia Co. Ltd., B+ Equipment, B+ Equipment SAS, Beacon Holdings LLC, Biosphere Industries, BluPack (New Zealand), Blue Dot Packaging Pty Ltd., Cactus (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Cryovac (Malaysia) SDN. BHD, Cryovac Brasil Ltda., Cryovac Holdings II LLC, Cryovac International Holdings Inc., Cryovac LLC*, Cryovac Leasing Corporation, Cryovac Londrina Ltda., Cryovac Packaging Portugal  Embalagens Ltda., Cryovac-Sealed Air de Costa Rica S.R.L., DELTAPLAM Embalagens Industria e Comercio, Diversey, Diversey J Trustee Limited, Diversey Trustee Limited, Entapack Pty. Ltd., Fagerdala (Chengdu) Packaging Co. Ltd, Fagerdala (Shanghai) Foams Co. Ltd., Fagerdala (Shanghai) Polymer Co. Ltd., Fagerdala (Suzhou) Packaging Co. Ltd., Fagerdala (Thailand) Limited, Fagerdala (Xiamen) Packaging Co. Ltd., Fagerdala Leamchabung Limited, Fagerdala Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Fagerdala Mexico S.A. de C.V., Fagerdala Mexico Supply Chain S.A. de C.V., Fagerdala Packaging Inc. (Indiana), Fagerdala Singapore Pte Ltd, Fagerdala Singapore Pte. Ltd., Getpacking.com GmbH, Invertol S. de R.L. de C.V., JSC Sealed Air Kaustik, KRIS Automated Packaging Systems Holding Company, Kevothermal LLC, Kevothermal Limited, Nelipak Holdings, Pack-Tiger GmbH, Polyrol Limited, Polyrol Packaging Systems LLC, ProAseptic Technologies S.L., Producembal- Producao de Embalagens LTDA, Reflectix Inc., SLD Air Packaging Paketleme Malzemeleri Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Saddle Brook Insurance Company, Sealed Air (Asia) Holdings BV, Sealed Air (Barbados) S.R.L., Sealed Air (Canada) Co./CIE, Sealed Air (Canada) Holdings B.V., Sealed Air (China) Co. Ltd., Sealed Air (China) Limited, Sealed Air (Israel) Ltd., Sealed Air (Korea) Limited, Sealed Air (Latin America) Holdings II LLC, Sealed Air (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Sealed Air (New Zealand), Sealed Air (Philippines) Inc., Sealed Air (Singapore) Pte. Limited, Sealed Air (Ukraine) Limited, Sealed Air Africa (Pty.) Limited, Sealed Air Americas Manufacturing S. de R.L. de C.V., Sealed Air Argentina S.A., Sealed Air Australia (Holdings) Pty. Limited, Sealed Air Australia Pty. Limited, Sealed Air Australia Real Estate Pty Ltd, Sealed Air B.V., Sealed Air Belgium N.V., Sealed Air Central America S.A., Sealed Air Chile SpA, Sealed Air Colombia Ltda., Sealed Air Corporation (US), Sealed Air Cyprus Ltd., Sealed Air Denmark A/S, Sealed Air Finance B.V., Sealed Air Finance II LLC, Sealed Air Finance Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Sealed Air Funding LLC, Sealed Air General Trading LLC, Sealed Air GmbH (Germany), Sealed Air GmbH (Switzerland), Sealed Air Hellas SA, Sealed Air Holding France SAS, Sealed Air Holdings (New Zealand) Pty. Ltd., Sealed Air Holdings South Africa Proprietary Limited, Sealed Air Holdings UK I Limited, Sealed Air Holdings UK Limited, Sealed Air Hong Kong Limited, Sealed Air Hungary Ltd., Sealed Air Investment and Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Sealed Air Japan G.K., Sealed Air LLC, Sealed Air Limited (Ireland), Sealed Air Limited (UK), Sealed Air Luxembourg (I) S.a.r.l., Sealed Air Luxembourg (II) S.a.r.l., Sealed Air Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Sealed Air Management Holding Verwaltungs GmbH, Sealed Air Multiflex GmbH, Sealed Air Netherlands (Holdings) I B.V., Sealed Air Netherlands (Holdings) II B.V., Sealed Air Netherlands Holdings V B.V., Sealed Air Norge AS, Sealed Air OY, Sealed Air Packaging (India) Private Limited, Sealed Air Packaging (Shanghai) Co. Limited, Sealed Air Packaging (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Sealed Air Packaging LLC, Sealed Air Packaging Materials (India) LLP, Sealed Air Packaging S.L.U., Sealed Air Peru S.A.C., Sealed Air Polska Sp. Zoo, Sealed Air Pty Limited, Sealed Air S.A S., Sealed Air S.r.l., Sealed Air South Africa (Pty.) Ltd., Sealed Air Svenska AB, Sealed Air Taiwan Limited, Sealed Air UK Limited Partnership, Sealed Air US Holdings (Thailand) LLC, Sealed Air Uruguay S.A., Sealed Air Verpackungen GmbH, Sealed Air de Mexico Operations S. de RL. de C.V., Sealed Air de Venezuela S.A., Sealed Air s.r.o., Shanklin Corp, Shanklin Corporation, TTS-Ciptec, TXAFP Asia Pacific Ltd., TXAFP GP LLC, and Trigon Industries.The following companies are subsidiares of Roche: 454 Life Sciences, Adheron Therapeutics, Adheron Therapeutics Inc., Anadys Pharmaceuticals, Anadys Pharmaceuticals Inc., Ariosa Diagnostics, Ariosa Diagnostics Inc., Arius Research, Ascur Versicherungsvermittlungs GmbH, BINA Technology, Bina Technologies Inc., BioImagene, BioVeris, BioVeris Corporation, Biopharm AG, Boehringer Mannheim, Borean Pharma, Chemical Manufacturing and Trading Company Limited, Chugai Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Disetronic Holding AG, Dutalys GmbH, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd / Jordan P.S.C., FLLC "Roche Products Limited", FMI Germany GmbH, Flatiron Health, Flatiron Health Inc., ForSight Labs, ForSight VISION4 Inc., Foundation Medicine, Foundation Medicine Inc., Foundation Medicine Securities Corporation, Galenus Mannheim Pharma GmbH, GeneWEAVE, GeneWEAVE Biosciences Inc., Genentech, Genentech Inc., Genentech P.R. Inc., Genentech USA Inc., Genia Technologies, Hoffmann - La Roche Ltd, Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., Hoffmann-La Roche Limited, Hoffmann-La Roche Products Limited, I5 Surviving Corp., IGEN International Inc., IGEN LS LLC, IQuum, IQuum Inc., Ignyta, Ignyta Inc., Inflazome, Infogenetik Molekuler Bilgi Hizmetleri Anonim Sirketi, Institut Roche SAS, InterMune, InterMune Holdings Limited, InterMune Inc., InterMune International AG, Jecure Therapeutics Inc., Kapa Biosystems, Kapa Biosystems (Pty) Ltd, Kapa Biosystems Inc., Limited Liability Company Roche Diabetes Care Rus, Limited Liability Company Roche Diagnostics Rus, MTM Laboratories, Marcadia Biotech, Medingo Ltd., Medingo Medical Solutions, Memory Pharmaceuticals, Memory Pharmaceuticals Corp., Mirus, Museum Tinguely AG, N.V. Roche S.A., P.T. Roche Indonesia, PVT Probenverteiltechnik GmbH, Phaor AG, Piramed, Productos Roche (El Salvador) S.A. de C.V., Productos Roche (Honduras) S.A., Productos Roche (Nicaragua) S.A., Productos Roche (Panama) S.A., Productos Roche Dominicana S.R.L., Productos Roche Guatemala (Sociedad Anonima), Productos Roche Interamericana S.A. (PRISA), Productos Roche Quimica Farmaceutica S.A., Productos Roche S.A., Productos Roche S.A. Quimica e Industrial, Productos Roche S.A. de C.V., Produtos Roche Quimicos e Farmaceuticos S.A., Promedior, Rabbit-Air Ltd, RoDiagnostics Egypt for Trading S.A.E, Roche (China) Holding Ltd., Roche (Hellas) S.A., Roche (Hungary) Ltd, Roche (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Roche (Philippines) Inc., Roche (Shanghai) Pharmaceuticals Consulting Co. Ltd, Roche (Shanghai) Pharmaceuticals Trading Co. Ltd., Roche - Moscow Ltd., Roche AB, Roche Algerie SPA, Roche Austria GmbH, Roche Bangladesh Limited, Roche Beteiligungs GmbH, Roche Biomedical Laboratories Inc., Roche Bolivia SRL., Roche Bulgaria EOOD, Roche Cameroun SARL, Roche Capital Market Ltd, Roche Capital Services Ltd., Roche Catalyst Investments Ltd., Roche Chemische Unternehmungen AG, Roche Chile Limitada, Roche Cote dIvoire SARL, Roche DC Japan K. K., Roche DC Mexico S.A. de C.V., Roche Deutschland Holding GmbH, Roche Diabetes Care (Switzerland) Ltd, Roche Diabetes Care Argentina S.A., Roche Diabetes Care Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Roche Diabetes Care Australia Pty Limited, Roche Diabetes Care Austria GmbH, Roche Diabetes Care Brasil Ltda., Roche Diabetes Care Deutschland GmbH, Roche Diabetes Care France SAS, Roche Diabetes Care GmbH, Roche Diabetes Care Inc., Roche Diabetes Care India Private Limited, Roche Diabetes Care Italy S.p.A., Roche Diabetes Care Limited, Roche Diabetes Care Middle East FZCO, Roche Diabetes Care Nederland B.V., Roche Diabetes Care Polska sp. z o.o., Roche Diabetes Care South Africa Proprietary Limited, Roche Diabetes Care Spain S.L., Roche Diagnostica Brasil Ltda., Roche Diagnostics (Hellas) S.A., Roche Diagnostics (Hong Kong) Limited, Roche Diagnostics (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Roche Diagnostics (Shanghai) Ltd., Roche Diagnostics (Suzhou) Limited, Roche Diagnostics (Switzerland) Ltd, Roche Diagnostics (Thailand) Limited, Roche Diagnostics Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Roche Diagnostics Australia Pty. Limited, Roche Diagnostics Belgium NV, Roche Diagnostics Corporation, Roche Diagnostics Deutschland GmbH, Roche Diagnostics France SAS, Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Roche Diagnostics Hematology Inc., Roche Diagnostics India Private Limited, Roche Diagnostics International Ltd, Roche Diagnostics K.K., Roche Diagnostics Korea Co. Ltd., Roche Diagnostics Limited, Roche Diagnostics Ltd., Roche Diagnostics Middle East FZCO, Roche Diagnostics NZ Limited, Roche Diagnostics Nederland B.V., Roche Diagnostics Norge A/S, Roche Diagnostics Operations Inc., Roche Diagnostics Oy, Roche Diagnostics Polska Sp. z o.o., Roche Diagnostics Proprietary Limited, Roche Diagnostics S.L., Roche Diagnostics S.p.A., Roche Diagnostics Scandinavia AB, Roche Diagnostics Turkey Anonim Sirketi, Roche Diagnostics a/s, Roche Ecuador S.A., Roche Eesti OU, Roche Egypt LLC, Roche Egypt for Manufacturing and Trading SAE, Roche Farma (Peru) S.A., Roche Farma S.A., Roche Farmaceutica Quimica Lda., Roche Finance Europe B.V., Roche Finance Ltd, Roche Financial Investments Ltd., Roche Financial Management Ltd., Roche Financial Services Ltd., Roche Forum Buonas Ltd, Roche Georgia LLC, Roche Glycart, Roche Glycart Ltd, Roche Health Solutions Inc., Roche Holding (UK) Limited, Roche Holdings Inc., Roche Hong Kong Limited, Roche Innovation Center Copenhagen A/S, Roche Innovatis, Roche International Ltd., Roche International Ltd. (Montevideo Branch), Roche Intertrade Limited, Roche Ireland Limited, Roche Kazakhstan LLP, Roche Kenya Limited, Roche Korea Company Ltd., Roche Laboratories Inc., Roche Latvija SIA, Roche Lebanon S.A.R.L., Roche Long Term Foundation, Roche Makedonija DOOEL, Roche Molecular Systems Inc., Roche Myanmar Company Limited, Roche Mustahzarlari Sanayi Anonim Sirketi, Roche Nederland B.V., Roche NimbleGen, Roche Norge A/S, Roche Operations Ltd., Roche Oy, Roche PVT GmbH, Roche Pakistan Limited, Roche Palo Alto LLC, Roche Pars Co. (Ltd.), Roche Pharma (Switzerland) Ltd, Roche Pharma AG, Roche Pharmaceuticals (Israel) Ltd., Roche Pharmaceuticals Middle East FZCO, Roche Pharmholding B.V., Roche Polska Sp. z o.o., Roche Privacy GmbH, Roche Products (India) Private Limited, Roche Products (Ireland) Limited, Roche Products (Mauritius) Ltd, Roche Products (New Zealand) Limited, Roche Products (Proprietary) Limited, Roche Products Ghana Limited, Roche Products Inc., Roche Products Limited, Roche Products Ltd., Roche Products Pty. Limited, Roche Products Saudi Arabia LLC, Roche R&D Center (China) Ltd., Roche Real Estate Services Mannheim GmbH, Roche Registration GmbH, Roche Registration Limited, Roche Romania S.R.L., Roche S.A., Roche S.p.A., Roche SAS, Roche Sequencing Solutions Inc., Roche Services (Asia Pacific) Sdn. Bhd., Roche Services (Europe) Ltd, Roche Services Americas Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada, Roche Services Holdings Ltd., Roche Servicios S.A., Roche Servicios de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Roche Singapore Pte. Ltd., Roche Singapore Technical Operations Pte. Ltd., Roche Sistemas de Diagnosticos Sociedade Unipessoal Lda., Roche Slovensko S.R.O., Roche TCRC Inc., Roche Thailand Limited, Roche Tunisie SA, Roche Ukraine LLC, Roche Vietnam Company Limited, Roche a/s Medicinalvarer og Kemikalier, Roche d.o.o., Roche d.o.o. farmaceutsko drustvo  Roche Ltd. Pharmaceutical Company, Roche farmacevtska druzba d.o.o., Roche mtm laboratories AG, Roche s.r.o., Santaris Pharma, Sapac Corporation Ltd., Seragon Pharmaceuticals Inc., Shanghai Roche Pharmaceuticals Limited, Signature Diagnostics GmbH, Spark Therapeutics, Spring Bioscience Corp., Stratos Genomics, Syntex Corporation, Syntex Pharm AG, Syntex Pharmaceuticals International Limited, Syntex Puerto Rico Inc., Tanox Inc., Tavero AG, Tensha Therapeutics, Tensha Therapeutics Inc., Therapeutic Human Polyclonals, Therapeutic Human Polyclonals Inc., Trophos, Trophos SA, Tusk Therapeutics, Tusk Therapeutics Limited, UAB Roche Lietuva, Ventana Medical Systems, Ventana Medical Systems Inc., Verum Diagnostica GmbH, Viewics, Viewics Inc., Viewics India Private Limited, mySugr, mySugr GmbH, and mySugr Inc..We have made it very clear from the onset of our discussions with Ryan and the city we do not have the money to finance a new museum on a new site, said Mark Trembacki, chairman of the DuPage Childrens Museum Board of Directors. The current proposal for the existing site poses great challenges in terms of parking, safety and access for our visitors, school groups and employees.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. 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Ltd., Thermo Life Sciences AB, Thermo Luxembourg Holding S.a.r.l., Thermo Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Thermo MF Physics LLC, Thermo Measurement Ltd, Thermo Measuretech Canada Inc., Thermo Neslab LLC, Thermo Nicolet Limited, Thermo Onix Limited, Thermo Optek (Australia) Pty Ltd., Thermo Optek Limited, Thermo Optek S.A., Thermo Orion Inc., Thermo Portable Holdings LLC, Thermo Power Corporation, Thermo Process Instruments GP LLC, Thermo Process Instruments L.P., Thermo Projects Limited, Thermo Quest S.A., Thermo Radiometrie Limited, Thermo Ramsey Italia S.r.l., Thermo Ramsey LLC, Thermo Ramsey S.A., Thermo Re Ltd., Thermo Scientific Microbiology Pte Ltd., Thermo Scientific Microbiology Sdn Bhd, Thermo Scientific Portable Analytical Instruments Inc., Thermo Scientific Services Inc., Thermo Securities Corporation, Thermo Sentron Canada Inc., Thermo Sentron Limited, Thermo Shandon Inc., Thermo Shandon Limited, Thermo Suomi Holding B.V., Thermo TLH (UK) Limited, Thermo TLH L.P., Thermo Trace Pty Ltd., Thermo-Fisher Biochemical Product (Beijing) Co. 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.The following companies are subsidiares of Zimmer Biomet: Abbott Spine, Beijing Montagne Medical Device Co. Ltd., Beijing Montagne Medical Device Co. Ltd., BioMet, Biomet 3i Australia Pty. Ltd., Biomet 3i Belgium N.V., Biomet 3i Benelux Holdings N.V., Biomet 3i Dental Iberica SL, Biomet 3i LLC, Biomet 3i Mexico S.A. de C.V., Biomet 3i Netherlands B.V., Biomet 3i Nordic AB, Biomet 3i Portugal Lda, Biomet 3i Switzerland GmbH, Biomet 3i Turkey, Biomet 3i UK Ltd., Biomet 3i do Brasil Comercio de Aparelhos Medicos Ltda., Biomet Acquisitions (Unlimited), Biomet Argentina SA, Biomet Australia Pty. 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Ltd., Citra Labs LLC, Clinical Graphics, Compression Therapy Concepts Inc., Compression Therapy Products, D.S. 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Ltd., Zimmer Biomet Austria GmbH, Zimmer Biomet BVBA, Zimmer Biomet CBT, Zimmer Biomet CBT 2, Zimmer Biomet CMF and Thoracic LLC, Zimmer Biomet Canada Inc., Zimmer Biomet Centroamerica SA, Zimmer Biomet Comp Ltd., Zimmer Biomet Denmark ApS, Zimmer Biomet Dental Canada Inc., Zimmer Biomet Dental K.K., Zimmer Biomet Deutschland GmbH, Zimmer Biomet Distribution LLC, Zimmer Biomet Finance Srl, Zimmer Biomet Finance US Holding Inc., Zimmer Biomet Finland Oy, Zimmer Biomet France Holdings SAS, Zimmer Biomet France SAS, Zimmer Biomet GK, Zimmer Biomet Global Holdings Switzerland GmbH, Zimmer Biomet Hellas SA, Zimmer Biomet Ireland Limited, Zimmer Biomet Italia Srl, Zimmer Biomet Korea Ltd., Zimmer Biomet Nederland B.V., Zimmer Biomet New Zealand Company, Zimmer Biomet Norway AS, Zimmer Biomet OUS Holdings AG, Zimmer Biomet Polska Sp. z.o.o, Zimmer Biomet Portugal Unipessoal Lda, Zimmer Biomet Pty. 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Ltd., Zimmer Dental Chile Spa, Zimmer Dental GmbH, Zimmer Dental Inc., Zimmer Dental Italy Srl, Zimmer Dental Ltd., Zimmer Dental SAS, Zimmer Finance Ireland, Zimmer France Manufacturing Sarl, Zimmer Germany Holdings GmbH, Zimmer GmbH, Zimmer GmbH Euro IP Branch (branch), Zimmer GmbH Winterthur Branch (branch), Zimmer Gulf FZ LLC, Zimmer Inc., Zimmer India Private Ltd., Zimmer International Logistics GmbH, Zimmer Investments LLC, Zimmer Knee Creations Inc., Zimmer Luxembourg II Sarl, Zimmer Luxembourg Sarl, Zimmer Manufacturing B.V., Zimmer Manufacturing B.V. (branch), Zimmer Medical Malaysia SDN BHD, Zimmer Netherlands Cooperatief U.A., Zimmer Orthobiologics Inc., Zimmer Orthopedics Manufacturing Limited, Zimmer Production Inc., Zimmer Pte. Ltd., Zimmer Slovakia sro, Zimmer Southeast Florida LLC, Zimmer Spine Next Inc., Zimmer Spine SAS, Zimmer Surgical, Zimmer Surgical Inc., Zimmer Surgical SA, Zimmer Switzerland Holdings LLC, Zimmer Switzerland Manufacturing GmbH, Zimmer Tibbi Cihazlar Sanayi ve Ticaret AS, Zimmer Trabecular Metal Technology Inc., Zimmer Trustee Ltd., Zimmer UK Limited, Zimmer US Inc., and Zimmer do Brasil Comercio Ltda..Stella suggested the children who were brought to America illegally by their parents should not be given preferential treatment. However, he said as long as theyve lived a good life and not broken laws and not committed felonies, I think we can think about a pathway to citizenship.iShares MSCI Canada ETF's stock was trading at $23.42 on March 11th, 2020 when Coronavirus reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, EWC stock has increased by 70.2% and is now trading at $39.86.

View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19.Wells Fargo & Co. is a diversified, community-based financial services company. It is engaged in the provision of banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance. It firm operates through the following segments: Community Banking, Wholesale Banking, Wealth & Investment Management, and Other. The Community Banking segment offers complete line of diversified financial products and services for consumers and small businesses including checking and savings accounts, credit and debit cards, and automobile, student, and small business lending. The Wholesale Banking segment provides financial solutions to businesses across the United States and globally. The Wealth and Investment Management segment includes personalized wealth management, investment and retirement products and services to clients across U.S. based businesses. The Other segment refers to the products of WIM customers served through community banking distribution channels. The company was founded by Henry Wells and William G. Fargo on March 18, 1852 and is headquartered in San Francisco, CA.

Read MoreA: It's hard to describe my job because it seems like no two days are the same. I'm a therapist, first and foremost, but I'm also a professor, a clinical supervisor, and a business owner. As a therapist, I help people through some of the lowest points of their lives, and helping them to climb out of that is incredibly rewarding. As a professor at Northwestern University and as a clinical supervisor, I have the privilege of educating future therapists and helping them to develop their clinical acumen. As a business owner, I am building my private practice and, for the first time in my life, get to be my own boss, which is pretty sweet. I also recently hired another therapist, which is an extra layer of responsibility, but it's really exciting!Tsoros said about 80 percent of the restaurants materials will be new, including a new kitchen and bar, and a new look for the storefront. Tsoros said that block of Marion Street reminds him of streets in Europe.National Merit semifinalists have the opportunity to continue in the competition for approximately 7,500 scholarships worth more than $31 million, which will be announced next spring. About 15,000 semifinalists are expected to be notified in February that they have advanced to the finalist round, from which the 2,500 winners of $2,500 National Merit Scholarships will be chosen.The Karbala massacre is notoriously known for being one of the darkest and saddest days in Islamic history. On the tenth day of the sacred Islamic month of Muharram, in the year 61 A.H., approximately 50 years after the death of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), his grandson Hussein was martyred along with all the members of his family, including women and children.

After leaving the region of Hejaz, Hussein and his followers made their way northwards on foot, hundreds of miles across the Arabian Desert, to the southern Iraqi city of Kufa. There, he was to meet an army that had pledged their allegiance to him via his representative in the city, in order to lead a rebellion against the Umayyad caliph Yazid I.

Yazids father Muawiyah had seized control of the Caliphate after his predecessor Ali, the son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), was assassinated by a renegade. Upon this, many of Alis followers immediately pledged their allegiance to his first son Hassan. However, for the sake of uniting the Caliphate, which had fallen victim to a blood feud fuelled by sectarianism, Hassan ceded power to his rival Muawiyah on the condition that he did not appoint his son as a successor.

However, this promise was broken when Muawiyah passed the leadership down to his son Yazid, who was seated in the new capital city of Damascus. This move signified the hijacking of the Caliphate, which had previously appointed its leaders by holding a consultation council meeting, thus turning it into a Umayyad family dynasty. This also angered the citizens of the former capital city of Kufa, which was known to be Alis stronghold. Fearing that they would lose their political and economic significance, the people of Kufa called on Alis second son, Hussein, to lead them.

They were further enraged when two companions of Ali, Muslim bin Akil, and Hani bin Urwa, were executed by the new Yazid appointed governor of Kufa, Ubeydullah. The prominent Islamic scholar of the time, Abdullah bin Abbas, advised Hussein not to answer their calls for rebellion. A famous poet also said the words Do not go to Kufa, their hearts are with you but their swords are with the sons of Umayya.

However, Hussein refused to listen to their advice and left with his followers to Kufa. Before arriving, they were intercepted about 100 kilometers from Baghdad in Kerbela. There, a group of Husseins followers abandoned him and joined the ranks of the Umayyad commander Umar bin Saad, who had been sent to halt Husseins advance. In the pursuing battle, all of Husseins guards were slaughtered until Hussein was left utterly defenseless. It was then that Umar bin Saad gave the order to march on Hussein. Hussein was struck on the head with a sword and then hit in the throat with an arrow. The killer blow was delivered by a Umayyad soldier called Shamir, who also fought alongside Yazids father Muawiyah in the Battle of Siffin against Husseins father Ali. 72 members of Husseins family and 88 soldiers from Kufa were martyred alongside him. The heads of the slain were first taken to Kufa, and then to Damascus. Some women and children who survived the battle were held for one year before being released.

A large portion of the family and descendants of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) were wiped out on that day. The caliph Yazid was left without competition, but the absence of a strong political opposition only gave birth to a new religious sect. Originally the word Shia, which in Arabic simply means faction, was only used to identify the political affiliates of Ali. However, this faction transformed the political cause of Ahl-ul-Bayt, a term used to describe the household of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), to a new cult with its own religious creed and understanding. Those who ascribe to Shia belief, the Shiites, believe that leadership of the Islamic world belongs to the descendants of the Prophet as a distinguishing factor between themselves and the majority of Muslims.

However, the tenth of Muharram is not just a tragic day for the Shiites. Rather, it is also a tragic day for all Muslims. Instead of being a day of division between Shiites and other Muslims, it is a day where Muslims unite and remember the pain of that day. All Muslims are united in their condemnation of Yazid and his henchmen for their actions, and recite poetry in remembrance of Hussein and his followers.

Husseins body was buried by his supporters in Kerbela, and a shrine was erected over his grave by the Abbasid caliph Mutawakkil. This shrine was renovated a number of times by the Buweyhids, the Seljuk sultan Melikshah, Ilkhanid leader Ghazan Muhammad and the Ottoman sultan Murad III.

Guncelleme Tarihi: 20 Eylul 2018, 10:55Once inside, the person stole various items of jewelry, including an Omega watch, a pearl Pandora necklace, two silver and gold color Pandora bracelets, a black Nikon light, a black Nikon camera, eight to 10 sets of pearl and diamond earrings, a gold engagement ring and a silver mens Rolex watch, police said.A: I really make an effort to relate to students. I let them know whats going on in my life, show them lots of pictures of my family. I really work on building a classroom community that is respectful but supportive.  The students in this community are a joy; theyre phenomenal. They inspire me and fire me up. Its the toughest job but the greatest job Ive ever had.  What I really want them to come away with: they need to hear that they count, they matter. Sometimes we forget to tell them that. This is such a great time to grow to be able to handle what life is going to bring you.David North, chairman of the International Editorial Board of the World Socialist Web Site, will address public meetings in Colombo and at Peradeniya University in Kandy organised by the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) in Sri Lanka in early October. These events will mark the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Fourth International and the 50th anniversary of the SEP.

North, who is also the chairman of the SEP in the United States, has played a leading role in the international socialist movement for four decades and is an internationally acclaimed authority on the history of the Trotskyist movement. His published works include, The Heritage We Defend, In Defence of Leon Trotsky, The Russian Revolution and the Unfinished Twentieth Century, The Frankfurt School, Postmodernism and the Politics of the Pseudo-Left and A Quarter Century of War: The US Drive for Global Hegemony19902016.

The Fourth International was founded in 1938 by Leon Trotsky, co-leader with Lenin of the October 1917 Russian revolution. Its purpose was to construct the political leadership required by the international working class to fight imperialism and its agenciesreformism and above all Stalinism, which had usurped the power from the working class in the first workers' state established by the 1917 revolution. The Fourth International, which has maintained an eight-decade heritage of principled struggle for the perspective of world socialist revolution, has been led by the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) since 1953.

The Revolutionary Communist League (RCL), the forerunner of the SEP in Sri Lanka, was founded in 1968 as the Ceylonese section of the ICFI. The RCL, along with other sections of the ICFI, was transformed into the SEP in 1996. The RCL/SEP has maintained a half century of struggle for Trotskyism, that is, socialist internationalism, against imperialism and its regional agenciesthe bourgeois regimes in South Asia and their associated political bureaucracies, including the Stalinists.

The long struggle waged by the Fourth International and the SEP for revolutionary leadership of the international working class is intersecting with the class struggles now emerging amid the deepening crisis of capitalism. This objective situation has opened important opportunities for building Socialist Equality Parties, as sections of the ICFI, in South Asia and internationally.

Addressing the Sri Lankan meetings, North will review the political lessons derived from the history of the Fourth International and explain their relevance for the struggle for socialism today. We urge workers, youth, intellectuals and WSWS readers to attend these meetings and participate in this critical discussion.

Meeting venues, dates and times:

October 3, 4.30 p.m.  Arts Theatre, University of Peradeniya

October 7, 3.00 p.m.  New Town Hall, Green Path, ColomboAfter weeks of strikes by educators, the teachers walkouts in the US state of Washington were shut down Monday. By Tuesday morning, all of Washingtons 1.1 million students and thousands of teachers and school staff will be back in the classrooms, with none of the basic issues resolved.

Washington teachers carried out their struggle in the wake of the public education strike wave of last spring, when rank-and-file teachers in West Virginia, Oklahoma and Arizona rebelled against the unions and carried out statewide strikes over low pay, poor health care, and school funding. They also joined the present back-to-school battles breaking out from Pennsylvania to California.

Like their counterparts across the US, Washington teachers face larger class sizes, dwindling funding for programs, poor infrastructure, and stagnant salaries and wages. They have had their pay frozen for years, even as costs of living in the region skyrocket.

As in the struggles earlier this year, the central obstacle in developing a united movement of teachers has been the unions, which worked to isolate every separate struggle. The development of a state-wide strike and a broader struggle of all teachers raised and continues to raise the need for educators to take the fight into their own hands through the formation of independent, rank-and-file committees.

Though Washington state typically staggers school district employee contracts to avoid simultaneous negotiations, the state legislature was forced to give out $7.3 billion in new education funding to all 295 school districts, with around $1 billion specified for teacher salary increases. This one-time infusion into district budgets came out of the 2012 State Supreme Court McCleary ruling, which argued in favor of parents who sued the state for failing to adequately fund K-12 public education, thereby violating the states constitution.

These particular legal and political conditions meant that teachers in every district were engaged in contract negotiations at the same time. The objective groundwork was present for teachers to link up all their struggles in a common fight to defend public education. Indeed, there was popular support among rank-and-file educators for a statewide fight, which could rally behind it broad sections of the working class, including families and students.

The school district boards and local affiliates of the National Education Association union worked to isolate teachers and push through sellout deals. The last thing the unions wanted was for teachers to launch a statewide strike, which would pit them in direct conflict with the state government that is dominated by the Democratic Party.

By the last week of August, forty contracts were finalized with two hundred under negotiation. Nearly 20 districts saw overwhelming strike authorization votes by educators and strikes broke out in eleven districts. In the districts where union negotiating teams could not reach an agreement with the district prior to a strike authorization vote, the unions primary objective was to avoid strike action by keeping educators in the dark about the negotiations and rushing through deals as quickly as possible.

In Seattle, the largest city in Washington, close to 5,000 teachers and support staff voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike if a deal was not reached before the start of school on September 5. The Seattle Education Association reached an agreement some days later on, August 31, but shared no details about the agreement until the evening before teachers were sent back to school without voting on the contract.

Less than a third of the membership showed up that Saturday to vote on the deal, which offered an insulting 10.5 percent wage increase to educators who have seen soaring costs for rent and health care alongside deteriorating conditions in their schools. This increase failed to make up for the decline in real wages due to the years-long pay freeze.

The sellout of the Seattle teachers paved the way for school authorities, the courts and the state government to ratchet up threats against teachers in Tacoma, Battle Ground and Tumwater, who were the last to remain on strike. The courts and school districts claimed that the continuation of the strikes would do substantial harm to students. Emboldened by the treachery of the unions, authorities pursued legal action to force the teachers back to work.

However, teachers were prepared to defy the court orders. Tacoma teachers protested against the 3.1 percent raise offer outside the central office the day before school board threatened legal action. On September 12, Tumwater teachers voted overwhelmingly to defy a back-to-work order issued by a Thurston County judge the day before. Two days later, Battle Ground educators voted by 89 percent to keep striking after they received their legal notice.

The votes of defiance against state orders expressed the pent-up opposition of teachers, who in the course of their struggle have directly confronted the entire political establishment.

Rather than defend rank-and-file teachers by mobilizing support among teachers and workers statewide, the unions rushed through deals. Educators in these districts had less than 24 hours to review the tentative agreements before voting on them.

None of the contracts, even in the handful of areas that got pay raises of 20 to 30 percent, address the fundamental crisis in public education. School districts have commented on their rising budget deficits, which they claim will only get worse with this years pay increases, threatening future cuts. Seattle Public Schools expects a $44 million annual budget shortfall by 2019 and $68 million by 2021.

As they wrap up the strikes and negotiations, the unions and districts hope to redirect educators frustrations to the midterm elections in November and the following state legislative session in 2019. Teachers must, the officials say, rely on the largely Democratic-run legislature to fix the inequities in the funding of state education through more flexibility in local income and property taxes.

Promotion of the Democratic Party is at the heart of the American Federation of Teachers and National Education Associations strategy, the latter of which has taken up the teachers hashtag #RedForEd as the title for its initiative in standing up to lawmakers to ask for better pay and school funding. AFT President Randi Weingarten summed up the strategy, The most important piece right now is to try to build on the strikes and create transformative change in state after state by changing whos in the elected leadership because most education policies happen in state legislatures, executive chambers and local school boards.

The unions want teachers to forget the fact that Democrats, no less than Republicans, are hostile to their interests and to public education. The Obama administrations Race to the Top program continued on the Bush administrations attack on public education through the promotion of charter schools and the victimization of teachers. This attack is now being escalated by Trump and his education secretary, Betsy DeVos.

In Washington, right-wing and so-called progressive Democrats have based their calls for public education and social program funding on regressive tax levy schemes that hit the working class the hardest. The main proposal to fix the education budget advocates raising the limits on local property and income taxes.

Tellingly, this regressive tax proposal is backed by Jesse Hagopian, the leader of the Social Equity Educators faction of the Seattle Education Association and member of the International Socialist Organization. At the strike authorization vote in August, Hagopian spoke like a capitalist politician, telling teachers, Once the contract is signed, we build a campaign to pass the local school levy and immediately begin organizing to get all WEA locals to demand that the legislature lift the levy lid and finally fulfill their obligation to fully fund education.

The Democrats proposals are especially grotesque considering their eagerness to give huge tax cuts to major corporations. Democratic Governor Jay Inslee engineered the largest corporate tax cut in US history in 2016, handing over $8.7 billion to Boeing, the Washington-based airline manufacturer and defense contractor.

In the ten years following the financial crash of 2008, the corporate and financial elite and its Democratic and Republican representatives have engineered the greatest transfer of wealth at the expense of the working class. While the two Washington residents and richest people in the world, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates, have seen their combined personal wealth surpass $240 billion, school funding in the state rose by only 2.7 percent between 2008 and 2015.

Teachers must reject the absurd lie that there is no money for public education, and that any improvements in wages and conditions must be acquired by heavier burdens on the working class. They have no reason to accept the scraps of long-overdue pay increases, which the government and unions used to pit teachers in each district and state against one another.

The fight to defend public education and secure the rights of teachers requires a frontal assault on the wealth of the ruling elite. This can only be achieved through the independent organization and political mobilization of the entire working class against the capitalist system.

The independent initiative of educators, against the isolation of the unions and dictates of the government and corporations, must find organized expression through the building of rank-and-file school committees. These committees will be tasked with opening up coordination between teachers, students and families in every district, in order to order to prepare a common struggle in defense of public education, along with other social rights like health care, decent jobs, and affordable housing.

The fight for education waged by teacher committees will intersect with the emerging economic and political struggles of growing sections of the working classsuch as workers at Amazon and UPS, and in the auto, airline, health and service industriesalong with the fight in defense of immigrants and refugees, against internet censorship, police violence, and imperialist war.

Far from being over, the teachers struggle has just begun. The working class battles that are re-emerging after decades of artificial suppression will require the building of a mass workers movement in opposition to the entire capitalist system and for the socialist reorganization of economic life.Credit: Mary McCartneySome artists listen to their back catalog obsessively. Others revisit their sonic past on occasion. Then there's Paul McCartney, who says he hasn't listened to his Beatles music in a long time -- half a century, to be exact.

The Fab Four's 1968 self-titled double album, which we've all come to know as The White Album, is getting a 50-year reissue next month, and Macca tells the Canadian Press that helping to prepare the reissue inspired him to actually give it a listen.

"I havent listened to it in 50 years," he admits. "I dont really listen to stuff we did. Then it comes around again [like with last year's reissue of] Sgt. Pepper [and] I go, 'Woah, check this out those kids are good!' It all comes flooding back."

McCartney says when he listens, "I remember where we were and the circumstances of recording each of the tracks," and that the feeling is sometimes "amazing because there I am, right in the room with John and George and Ringo  but John and George particularly because theyre no longer with us.... Its quite emotional."

Back in June, McCartney told DIY magazine the White Album reissue is "very cool and it sounds like you're in the room."

In addition, McCartney said the expanded collection will include "some demos of the songs, so you get things stripped right back to just John [Lennon's] voice and a guitar. [It sounds] amazing."

The 50th anniversary White Album hits stores and digital outlets on a to-be-announced date.

Copyright  2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.The Engineering and Information Technologies Division of Chattanooga State Community College will hold an open house on Saturday, Nov. 3 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Center for Engineering, Technology, Arts & Sciences (CETAS) building starting at the WACKER Institute on the main campus, 4501 Amnicola Hwy.



Hands-on demonstrations will include the fields of welding, robotics and smart manufacturing, green energy and radiation protection. Plan to observe radiation by creating a cloud chamber, collect data with Xplorer GLX and program a life-sized robot.

There will be light refreshments and snacks at the event.

Reservations for the event may be made through Breanne Kintz, at 423-697-3252 or breanne.kintz@chattanoogastate.edu. Walk-ins are welcome.



Officials said, "The Division of Engineering & Information Technologies offers highly accredited education and training for todays modern workforce and the careers of the future. More than ever, people are retiring in fields requiring technical know-how. In addition, as distribution centers, automotive manufacturers, IT and technology start-ups, and chemical processors move into the area, the demand for highly skilled workers continues to increase.



"To meet the demand, the Engineering & Information Technologies Division offers five Associate of Applied Science degrees with twenty-one concentrations in the fields of Information Computer Information Technology, Engineering and Engineering Technology, a Computer Science transfer path, an Engineering transfer program, and a Technical Certificate in Computer Aided Drafting.



"Participants will discover pathways to high demand, high wage STEM careers through Engineering, Computer Programming, Cyber Security, and Computer Network Administration programs of study. Come to see the Colleges state-of-the-art labs, equipment, facilities, and meet some of the very best engineering and computer science technology educators in this part of the country."



For more information visit www.chattanoogastate.edu/engineering-technology or call the Engineering & Information Technologies Division at 423-697-4434.



See https://pointsmap.com/chattstatecampus/, then click on CETAS for the event location.Country

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Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of ZimbabweThe indictment said Person A allegedly gave Murchek a $1,000 donation from his business, which was a towing firm that did work for the Sheriffs Department, and a personal check for $500 from one of the business employees. Person A had given an employee $500, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office, and the employee then wrote a check to Murcheks campaign.I believe emails were deleted, and I was left with trying to hit the ground running, when I really did not know what I was doing or even what questions to ask. I should have asked for assistance in a timely manner and now realize my error in not doing so.That's cause for concern, according to a half-dozen GOP officials, operatives and commentators familiar with the race, most of whom spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to offer candid assessments of the contest. They say Braun appears to be coasting at a time when he ought to be investing more of his own money and rallying the base.Hillary Clinton joined The Rachel Maddow Show, where she and Maddow discussed, among many other things, the anonymous op-ed that appeared in the New York Times in which an alleged senior official wrote about a resistance within the Trump administration. Clinton believes this will lead to widespread firings after the midterm elections in November, and based on a prediction she made on the show just over a year ago, she might be right.

On Sept. 14, 2017, Clinton told Maddow, The people around him [Trump] have to be our first line of defense against him doing something that will have serious repercussions.

Since that prediction has proved true, Clinton made another: What I worry about, Rachel, is that after this election this presidents going to wholesale fire people. Thats my prediction for tonight, like my prediction from last year. She added, And if we dont have one or both houses of Congress in place, he will be even more uncontrollable and unaccountable. He will fire people in the White House. He will fire people in his administration who he thinks are crossing him, questioning him, undermining him.

As of now, based on Trumps own words, Attorney General Jeff Sessions is widely speculated to be one of the first to go. Trump has constantly taken shots at Sessions for recusing himself from the Russia investigation and has said Sessions job is safe at least until after the elections.

The Rachel Maddow Show airs weeknights at 9 p.m. on MSNBC.

Watch Steve Bannon defend his new film about Trump against propaganda accusations:

Read more from Yahoo Entertainment:

Tell us what you think! Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, or leave your comments below. And check out our host, Kylie Mar, on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.1st SpaceX passenger: 'I choose to go to the moon!' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

SpaceX announced on Monday night that its first moonshot passenger will be Yusaku Maezawa, a billionaire estimated by Forbes to be the 18th-richest person in Japan.

He'll be the first private passenger to visit the moon in the company's much hyped Big Falcon Rocket -- if the launch happens.

"I choose to go to the moon!" said the 42-year-old Maezawa, who founded Japan's largest online fashion mall and is worth almost $3 billion.

SpaceX has signed the worlds first private passenger to fly around the Moon aboard our BFR launch vehiclean important step toward enabling access for everyday people who dream of traveling to space. Find out whos flying and why on Monday, September 17. pic.twitter.com/64z4rygYhk  SpaceX (@SpaceX) September 14, 2018

The announcement was made at the company's headquarters in Hawthorne, California. The launch is scheduled to happen in 2023.

"I love the moon," Maezawa told ABC News' David Kerley following the announcement. "I like to do the things that never have been done before. So I want the challenge to go to the moon."

The announcement was a relief for the Japanese billionaire, who punctuated a question about the announcement with "finally." He told ABC News he's long dreamed of going to the moon.

"It's always been there, it's always been inside of me," Maezawa said, before transitioning to Japanese to say the moon has always "felt like it's protecting me."

"In Japan, you look up at the moon, and it looks like a rabbit," he said, noting that 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit in the Chinese zodiac.

PHOTO: SpaceX founder and chief executive Elon Musk, left, announces Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa, right, as the first private passenger on a trip around the moon, on Sept. 17, 2018, in Hawthorne, Calif. (Chris Carlson/AP)

It's not the first time the company has made this kind of announcement. In February 2017, SpaceX founder Elon Musk announced the first two paying customers had put down a deposit to fly around the moon without landing in the smaller Falcon Heavy rocket sometime this year. In June, the company announced that wouldn't happen.

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Earlier this year, on Feb. 6, the Falcon Heavy rocket successfully launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, launching a red Tesla Roadster driven by a Starman mannequin.

Earlier in the day, Musk was sued for defamation by the British driver he had accused of being a "child rapist" and pedophile via tweets and emails to media.

(MORE: SpaceX founder Elon Musk sued by diver who helped with Thai cave rescue)

SpaceX has succeeded in its goal of building reusable rockets.Deadly flooding from Florence leaves 'long road ahead' for the Carolinas, governor says originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

Florence's deadly flooding means "a long road ahead" for North Carolina, Gov. Roy Cooper said at a joint briefing with President Donald Trump Wednesday.

"Thank you, Mr. President, for coming to North Carolina as our rescue and recovery continues," Cooper said. "Our state took a gut punch and our people are still reeling."

PHOTO: President Donald Trump and North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper listen while attending a briefing, after Trump arrived at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point to visit areas impacted by Hurricane Florence, Sept. 19, 2018, in Havelock, N.C. (Evan Vucci/AP)

"We have never seen one like this," Cooper added. "This one has been epic, it has been disastrous and it has been widespread. I'm asking you, sir, for your help every step of the way."

PHOTO: Lisa Shackleford hugs her pet dogs Izzy and Bella as she wades through flood waters to safety while the Northeast Cape Fear River breaks its banks in the aftermath Hurricane Florence in Burgaw, North Carolina, Sept. 17, 2018. (Jonathan Drake/Reuters)

PHOTO: Mary and Phil Pongonis look at the damaged roadway from Hurricane Florence in Boiling Spring Lakes, N.C., Sept. 18, 2018. (Ken Blevins/The Star-News/AP)

(MORE: How to help those impacted by Hurricane Florence)

Trump pledged that the federal government will "do whatever we have to do to make this perfect."

After the briefing the president stopped by a local church where he helped hand out meals to families affected by the storm.

PHOTO: President Donald Trump greets people while distributing food after Hurricane Florence in New Bern, N.C., Sept. 19, 2018. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

Trump then headed to New Bern, North Carolina, which was devastated by the storm, and spoke with residents on the streets.

"We'll be here," the president said as he shook hands with men and women.

At least 37 people, including several young children, have died from Florence, which brought unprecedented rainfall and flooding to the Carolinas.

(MORE: 1-year-old swept away in floodwater among those killed by Florence)

Trump called Florence "one of the most powerful and devastating storms ever to hit our country."

He told family members who lost loved ones in the storm that "America grieves with you and our hearts break for you. God bless you. We will never forget your loss. We will never leave your side."

PHOTO: President Donald Trump walks down a street while on a tour of Hurricane Florence recovery efforts in New Bern, N.C., Sept. 19, 2018. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

Trump also a toured a neighborhood in Conway, South Carolina, with Gov. Henry McMaster. He later visited an emergency operations center in Horry County for a disaster relief briefing.

McMaster stressed that the worst is yet to come" in terms of rising floodwaters.

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"Whatever we need from Washington, we are there," Trump assured McMaster.

(MORE: Hurricane Florence: NC nursing home patients ride out the storm despite warnings: 'It would be difficult for us to move them')

The hurricane has prompted widespread evacuations and about 10,000 people still remain in shelters.

PHOTO: Oliver Kelly, 1, cries as he is carried off the sheriff's airboat during his rescue from rising flood waters in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence in Leland, North Carolina, Sept. 16, 2018. (Jonathan Drake/Reuters)

Officials on Tuesday distributed goods including food, water and tarps to Wilmington, North Carolina, residents who lined up in cars and on foot.

Among those who showed up were Robert and Karen Foster.

"Everybody's closed, so we're hoping we can at least get a tarp here, maybe two," Karen Foster told ABC News.

Through tears, she said she has survived hurricanes Floyd in 1999 and Matthew in 2016 but "this has been the absolute worst one."

PHOTO: A car sits in a flooded parking lot at an apartment complex near the Cape Fear River as it continues to rise in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence in Fayetteville, Sept. 18, 2018. (David Goldman/AP)

ABC News' Jordyn Phelps and Alex Mallin contributed to this report.Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader, steps further into spotlight at inter-Korean summit originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

Behind the scenes of Pyongyangs grand welcome ceremony for a South Korean delegation Tuesday was the mysterious Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un.

Kim Yo Jong was the watch commander of the greeting event, caught on camera running around the red-carpeted airstrip in Sunan International Airport making sure everyone knew their path. Sitting beside Kim Jong Un during the first round of inter-Korean talks in the three-day summit, she made her presence known as his trusted confidante.

Widely known as Kim Jong Uns younger sister, Kim Yo Jong was appointed the first vice department director of the central committee of the Workers' Party of Korea this February. Before that, she was named vice director of the Workers' Party's Propaganda and Agitation Department, according to CNN.

(MORE: Who is Kim Yo Jong? Kim Jong Un's mysterious sister readies for her close-up at the Winter Olympics)

Kim Yo Jong roamed around Tuesday's events in a black two-piece suit, stealing the show on the live broadcast screen in Seoul's press center for inter-Korean summit. Nearly 3,000 journalists watched her giving directions to South Korean President Moon Jae-in himself as the two Korean leaders stood on stage facing North Korean honor guards. She stood only a few steps behind the first couples, closely engaged the whole time.

PHOTO: Kim Jong Uns sister, Kim Yo Jong, far left, provided a pen of her own for his use at the June 12, 2018 summit between Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump. (AP)

"Kim Yo Jong is practically Kim Jong Un's political partner and right hand," Han-Bum Cho, senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, told ABC News. "She takes the role of his political comrade by being the chief secretary, chief presidential secretary and policy director She is the only person that Kim trusts."

Kim Yo Jong first caught the public's attention as part of North Korea's delegation to the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in February, and as the North Korean leaders special envoy to deliver his letter to Moon.

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PHOTO: In this image made from video provided by Korea Broadcasting System (KBS), South Korean President Moon Jae-in, left, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pose after signing documents in Pyongyang, North Korea Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018. (AP)

(MORE: Kim Jong Un's sister set to make appearance at Pyeongchang Olympics)

Since then she has been part of every landmark moment in inter-Korean relations. Not only did she attend the first inter-Korean summit in April at the border village of Panmunjom, she also played her role as Kim Jong Un's shadow during the historic U.S.-DPRK summit in Singapore in June.

"Kim Yo Jong is an authority figure," Philo Kim, an associate professor at the Institute for Peace and Unification Studies at Seoul National University, told ABC News. "She is the one who can speak frankly to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, not only as a high official of North Koreas ruling party, but also as a family member."

PHOTO: Kim Yo Jong, North Korean leader's sister, directs the welcoming ceremony for South's delegation at Sunan International Airport, Pyongyang, North Korea, Sept. 18, 2018. (Pyeongyang Press Corps. )

Standing by her brother's side as he and Moon signed a denuclearization agreement Wednesday, Kim Jong Un would only use the pen Kim Yo Jong handed him to sign the joint statements.

Kim Yo Jong shares with Kim Jong Un the Baektu bloodline that flows from late North Korean leader Kim Il Sung, which they say legitimizes the Kim dynastys regime. They both have the same mother, Ko Yong Hui.

While Kim Jong Un said Wednesday he plans to visit Seoul, his sister was the first member of the Kim family dynasty to step foot on South Korean soil when she arrived ahead of the Olympics.

She is also known to have accompanied the North Korean leader in his overseas studies in Switzerland.

PHOTO: In this file photo, North Korea's Kim Jong Un's sister Kim Yo Jong arrives for the opening ceremony of the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at the Pyeongchang Stadium, Feb. 9, 2018. (Patrick Semansky/AFP/Getty Images, FILE)

(MORE: Kim Yo Jong, North Korean leader's sister, pregnant with 2nd child: Report)

During Tuesday's two-hour closed-door meeting with Moon, the golden sister sat to the left of Kim Jong Un, proving her position as an influential figure in the Workers Party of Korea.

On the right was Kim Yong Chol, the vice chairman of the Central Committee of the Worker's Party of North Korea, who has kept his spot during every important summit talk Kim Jong Un has held. He also visited the White House earlier this year as the U.S. and North Korea prepared for June's historic summit. Moon sat with Chung Eui-yong, South Korea's top security adviser, and National Intelligence Chief Suh Hoon.Moon, Kim sign agreement for North Korea to take further steps to denuclearize (ABC News)

Moon, Kim sign agreement for North Korea to take further steps to denuclearize originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

North and South Korea issued a joint statement Wednesday laying out more steps North Korea is prepared to take to denuclearize, but offering few details as to how they will get there.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pledged to permanently shut down the Tongchang-ri missile launch and engine testing facilities with independent inspectors present. Kim also said he is prepared to permanently shut down his nuclear production facility at Yongbyon, but only if the U.S. takes "reciprocal steps" in the spirit of the June 12 agreement signed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

It was unclear what those "reciprocal steps" would be.

In this image made from video provided by Korea Broadcasting System, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, and South Korean President Moon Jae-in shake hands at the end of their press conference in Pyongyang, North Korea Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018. (AP)

Trump excitedly responded to the agreement in a pair of tweets late Tuesday. He said that Kim had allowed nuclear inspections "subject to final negotiations" -- an agreement not mentioned by the Koreas Wednesday -- and highlighted that the two Koreas will also submit a bid to host the 2032 Summer Olympics. He did not shed further light on what the U.S.'s reciprocal steps would be either.

Kim Jong Un has agreed to allow Nuclear inspections, subject to final negotiations, and to permanently dismantle a test site and launch pad in the presence of international experts. In the meantime there will be no Rocket or Nuclear testing. Hero remains to continue being........  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 19, 2018

....returned home to the United States. Also, North and South Korea will file a joint bid to host the 2032 Olympics. Very exciting!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 19, 2018

Any true denuclearization efforts would require intrusive inspections and extensive verification, experts say.

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"The core matter is the removal and storage of existing spent fuel rods when the North purportedly would shut everything down, Jinwoo Kim, adjunct professor at the Graduate School of Political Studies at Kyonggi University, told ABC News. Unless shipped out of the country or pried away from North Korea's control, they remain a big problem.

The Koreas also agreed to work toward easing military tensions on the Korean peninsula, increasing communication and cooperation and facilitating more family reunions.

Kim promised he will visit Seoul in the near future, and Moon Jae-in commented Kim would be the first North Korean leader to visit the South.

(MORE: Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader, steps further into spotlight at summit)

"This summit contributed in breaking down walls between Koreas -- a real process for both North and South Koreans," John Delury, a North Korea expert at Seoul-based Yonsei University, told ABC News. "People want something new. Obviously Kim coming to Seoul is new."

North Korean Defense Minister No Kwang Chol and South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo signed a military agreement outlining steps to disarm the jointly controlled border village of Panmunjom, starting with the removal of landmines, according to The Associated Press.

The joint statement signed by the countries military chiefs on Wednesday said the Koreas will aim to remove the mines in the Joint Security Area in the truce village of Panmunjom in October and also remove guard posts from the area.

PHOTO: In this image made from video provided by Korea Broadcasting System (KBS), South Korean President Moon Jae-in, left, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pose after signing documents in Pyongyang, North Korea Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018. (AP)

The second day of summit talks took place Wednesday at Baekhwawon state guesthouse in Pyongyang, North Korea.

The guesthouse is the same location where former South Korean Presidents Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun stayed during the inter-Korean summit talks with late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il in 2000 and 2007, respectively.

The Souths delegations was served lunch at Okryugwan, a Pyongyang restaurant famous for its cold noodles. Moon was scheduled to visit facilities related to science and technology in and around Pyongyang city Wednesday afternoon. A farewell dinner banquet will follow.

(MORE: South Korean president lands in North Korea for latest summit)

Moon will visit Mount Paektu with Kim Jong Un Thursday morning, South Koreas presidential office announced. The volcano is considered sacred and Moon said during the April inter-Korean summit it was his longtime dream to go trekking on the mountain.

After the hike, Moon is expected to return to Seoul from Samjiyon Airport.

PHOTO: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un welcomes South Korean president Moon Jae-in and at North Korean citizens at Sunan International Airport, Pyongyang North Korea. Sep 18, 2018. (Pyeongyang Press Corps)

Moon and his 150-member delegation arrived in Pyongyang on Tuesday, greeted by Kim and his wife with much flag-waving and music followed by a fancy car parade through Pyongyang's streets.

After a closed-door summit, the Souths delegation, including top business executives and musicians, joined Kim and North Korean officials at Pyongyang Grand Theatre for an orchestral performance by the Norths Samjiyon orchestra.

The dinner banquet that followed was amicable throughout the whole three hours, officials said, with it wrapping up past 11 p.m.

ABC News' Soohyun Kim and Liz Sunwoo Kim contributed to this report.Let's check out the Yahoo Finance charts of the day. Abbvie (ABBV): Shares are down in early trade, at around .67%. Abbvie is being sued by an insurance regulator in California for allegedly giving kickbacks to health-care providers for prescribing Humira, an arthritis drug. AutoNation (AN): Shares up here, at around 2.5%. The company's CEO, Mike Jackson, will step down from his role in 2019 to become the company's executive chairman. AutoNation is searching to find its next chief executive. E-Trade (ETFC): Shares up here, around 2.7%. The online broker's stock was upgraded to "buy" from "hold", citing an attractive valuation as well as the company's scale and revenue diversity at a time when competition in the space heats up. For more on today's big stock movers check out the Final Round, live at 3:30 p.m. ET, right here on Yahoo Finance.The Daily Beast

The View/ScreenshotThe parade of conservative guest hosts auditioning to replace Meghan McCain continued this week on The View. And this time, yet another former Trump administration official took her turn, trying and failing to score gotcha points against the shows guest, in this case Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA).Schiff, who was there to promote his new book Midnight in Washington: How We Almost Lost Our Democracy and Still Could, fielding primarily friendly questions from the shows four left-leanIstanbul (AFP) - Turkish activists and the opposition on Monday expressed outrage after a court jailed 24 workers ahead of a trial over their actions in protests against labour conditions at Istanbul's giant new airport.

Activists said that the authorities should be listening to the workers' grievances rather than jailing them as work continues at breakneck speed to ensure the facility is finished on time.

Hundreds of employees from the airport were rounded up at the weekend after reportedly protesting and striking over alleged labour violations during the rush to open the airport next month.

Most of those detained were released without charge but 43 appeared before a judge at a court in the Istanbul district of Gaziosmanpasa late Tuesday.

Of them, 24 were remanded in custody while 19 were allowed to go free under judicial control after an overnight court session, the DHA news agency reported.

The figures were confirmed by construction labour union Insaat Is-Sendikasi on its Twitter account. There had been uproar on social media over the initial detentions under the hashtag #Koledegiliz (we are not slaves).

- 'Intimidation' -

Those under arrest were presented with charges including damaging public property, violating demonstration laws and defying police orders, DHA added.

"This is an appalling assault on the right to protest and organise and on the dignity of workers in Turkey," said Emma Sinclair-Webb, the Turkey director for Human Rights Watch, on Twitter.

Activists led by senior lawmakers from the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), which takes a leftist stance on economic issues, staged a protest outside the Metris jail in Istanbul where those arrested are being held.

HDP MP Serpil Kemalbay said the detentions were a "form of intimidation" of workers who were exercising their right to protest.

She said the minister of labour should have gone to the airport in person to talk to the workers but instead "armoured vehicles and gendarmerie led a siege there".

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The airport is a $10 billion project championed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to make Istanbul a global travel hub and turn flag carrier Turkish Airlines into an aviation giant.

But workers at the airport have made complaints ranging from alleged violations of labour safety which led to dozens of deaths on the site to a lack of properly-organised transport to take them to and from the new airport close to the Black Sea.

"My nephew was arrested there. They were in the rain and waiting for buses that didn't arrive," said Ahmet Yildirim outside the prison.

- 'Without delay' -

Some 36,000 people are working at the site as the clock ticks to the official opening on October 29 and a complete shift of flights from Ataturk International Airport which is then to be immediately closed.

It is targeting a 90 million passenger annual capacity after opening, rising to 250 million when all facilities are completed.

Despite the imminent opening it has yet to be named -- with speculation that it could be named again after Ataturk, a sultan like the reactionary late Ottoman era leader Abdulhamid II or even Erdogan himself.

The Turkish authorities have in recent years moved quickly to clamp down on any sign of nascent protest movements, after being caught off guard in summer 2013 when small rallies opposing the redevelopment of Istanbul's Gezi Park turned into a nationwide uprising.

The transport ministry on Tuesday issued a statement blaming "marginal groups" for the airport protests and insisting that the official opening was still scheduled for October 29.

It said IGA -- the Turkish consortium building the new airport -- had talked to workers to discuss their demands.

"Measures were taken without any delay. The works are continuing," the ministry added.Express Enrollment services are offered at the following Ivy Tech-Lake County locations: in Gary at the Arts & Sciences Building, 35th Avenue and Broadway; at the Crown Point-Merrillville Center, 9900 Connecticut Dr.; and in East Chicago, 410 E. Columbus Dr. The same suite of services is available at the Valparaiso campus, 3100 Ivy Tech Dr., and Michigan City, campus, 3714 Franklin Dr.Anita Hill on Wednesday said the Senate Judiciary Committee should absolutely honor Christine Blasey Fords request for an FBI investigation into her claims that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when they were in high school, urging lawmakers not to rush the process and potentially turn it into a sham proceeding.

The American public really is expecting something more, the law professor said in an interview on ABCs Good Morning America. We are really under the impression that the Senate doesnt take this seriously and doesnt see this as part of their core responsibility.

EXCLUSIVE: Anita Hill advises Senate to push the pause button on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh after sexual assault allegation. https://t.co/mzz6iKmo6Z pic.twitter.com/PuSg2tErD0  ABC News (@ABC) September 19, 2018

Attorneys for Blasey said Tuesday night that she will not agree to testify before the Senate, which has planned a hearing next week, until the FBI investigates her claims.

All of this is really something that I dont think can be avoided if you really want to get to the truth, if thats the purpose of this hearing, Hill said Wednesday, after writing a similar New York Times op-ed this week urging lawmakers not to repeat the mistakes they made 27 years ago.

In 1991, a Senate panel of all white men, led by then-Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.), humiliated Hill when she came forward with sexual harassment claims against Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas. They asked her graphic questions about Thomas behavior and seemed dismissive of her claims, demonstrating a lack of understanding about the issue. They also declined to hear testimony from other women who accused Thomas of sexual misconduct or could corroborate Hills claims, and he was later confirmed.

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On Wednesday, Hill raised the question of whether history could repeat itself with Kavanaugh and Blasey, whether or not it is going to be anything more than just a sham proceeding so that the senators can say, We gave her a chance to talk, and then move on to doing exactly what they were intending to do before she came forward, she said.

Six days is not enough for the senators, who probably know very little about these kind of claims, she continued. Its not enough for them to inform themselves, and so thats why its important to have an investigation.

Anita Hill speaks at the Texas Conference For Women 2017 at the Austin Convention Center on Nov. 2, 2017, in Austin, Texas. (Photo: Marla Aufmuth via Getty Images)

Asked if she had any advice for Blasey, given her own experience in the spotlight, Hill put the onus on the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

My advice is to push the pause button on this hearing, get the information together, bring in the experts and put together a hearing that is fair, that is impartial, that is not biased by politics or by myth, and bring this information to the American public, she said.

Hills 1991 testimony is widely credited with changing attitudes and rhetoric about sexual misconduct in the workplace. Since the groundswell of the Me Too movement last fall, Hill has chaired a commission formed to improve Hollywoods handling of sexual misconduct and gender inequality.

Related Coverage

Anita Hill Tapped To Cure Hollywood's Epidemic Of Sexual Misconduct With New Commission

Anita Hill Weighs In On Kavanaugh: It's Still 'Incredibly Difficult' For Accusers

Anita Hill: Joe Biden's Apology Is 'Not Enough'

How Little Has Changed Since Anita Hill Spoke Out Against Clarence Thomas

Christine Blasey Ford Calls On FBI To Probe Kavanaugh Accusation Before Hearing

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.(Reuters) - Apple Inc Chief Executive Tim Cook, whose products have been spared from new U.S. tariffs imposed on Chinese goods, said on Tuesday he was optimistic that the United States and China will eventually work through their trade differences.

"I'm optimistic because trade is one of those things where it's not a zero-sum game," Cook told ABC News' "Good Morning America" program on Tuesday.

"We can trade something and we can both win. So I'm optimistic that the two countries will sort this out and life will go on."

The iPhone was not among the wide range of products that Apple told regulators would be hit by the $200 billion round of tariffs in a Sept. 5 comment letter to trade officials. Apple had feared for its Apple Watch and its wireless AirPod headphones, but both were left off the list announced on Monday.

"The iPhone is assembled in China, but the parts come from everywhere," Cook said, when asked why Apple had been spared.

"I don't want to speak for them, but I think they looked at this and said that it's not really great for the United States to put a tariff on those type of products."

If Trump expands the tariffs to an additional $267 billion worth of goods then nearly every Chinese import would be affected, including the iPhone, along with all other smart phones.

Apple's shares were last up 1.4 percent at $220.93 in early trading.

(Reporting by Susan Heavey in Washington and Munsif Vengattil in Bengaluru; editing by Patrick Graham)Paris (AFP) - French senators on Wednesday grilled President Emmanuel Macron's disgraced former security aide Alexandre Benalla over an assault scandal that tarnished Emmanuel Macron's reputation.

Alexandre Benalla made global headlines in July after Le Monde newspaper revealed him as the man filmed roughing up demonstrators at a May Day rally in Paris, apparently posing as a police officer with a police helmet and armband.

The 27-year-old, who was a security official in the presidency and often seen by Macron's side, said he was attending the demonstration as an observer and stepped in to help police bring the protests under control.

The footage of him hitting a young man and forcibly removing a young woman from the demonstration caused widespread shock, which was compounded when it was revealed that Macron had known about the incident and did not report Benalla to the authorities.

He is seen, wearing a helmet and unceremoniously grabbing the young woman and hitting her companion on the chest and head.

The two people filmed being accosted by Benalla, were questioned at length by investigating judges in Paris court for the first time on Wednesday.

They admitted hurling projectiles on the day in question but denied being part of a militant group, according to their lawyer.

- 'Storm in a teacup' -

Macron, who had campaigned on a promise to clean up French politics, dismissed the scandal as a "storm in a teacup".

But while his government survived two no-confidence votes, the affair was nonetheless seen as a blight on the record of the centrist and led to calls for greater checks on his powers.

Benalla, a former bouncer who has been charged with assault and impersonating a police officer, was head of Macron's security team during the 2017 campaign and followed him to the Elysee Palace after his win.

Both during and after the campaign he was seen flanking Macron during public outings, but on Wednesday he denied that he had ever acted as his bodyguard -- a job reserved for elite members of the gendarmerie which comes under the interior ministry.

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"I was never a police officer nor the president's bodyguard," said Benalla, who wore a suit and tie and chose his words with care, adding that his role was more like that of "a director or conductor".

Members of the Senate committee investigating the scandal dubbed "Benallagate" did not quiz him about the assault.

Their two and a half hours of questioning focused mainly on whether the presidency encroached on the role of the government, which is officially separate from the presidency, by giving him extraordinary powers.

Benalla, a fan of the film "In the Line of Fire" about a US secret service agent trying to thwart a presidential assassination plot, admitted he carried a Glock 43 handgun during some outings with Macron.

"I would arrive in the morning with the gun on my belt and leave in the evening with the gun on my belt," he said, while insisting he bore arms for his "personal security".

He also admitted to securing an exclusive badge granting him access to the National Assembly on a "personal whim", so he could use parliament's gym and library.

- 'Betrayal' -

Macron's approval ratings took a tumble over "Benallagate" and have continued to fall since, dragged down by disappointing growth and jobs data and a perception that his policies are tilted towards the rich.

A Kantar Sofres poll published Monday showed only 19 percent of the French satisfied with his performance.

His refusal to answer questions about the Benalla scandal for several days after it broke prompted critics to accuse him of authoritarianism and arrogance.

Addressing members of his Republic on the Move (LREM) party at the height of the affair, he accused Benalla of "betrayal" and said he took full responsibility for the affair.

"Let them come and get me," Macron said, despite the fact that French presidents are immune from prosecution.

LREM lawmakers boycotted Wednesday's Senate hearing, accusing the opposition-dominated upper house of parliament of mounting a deliberate ploy to get at the president.Salzburg (Austria) (AFP) - Former Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern, head of the opposition Social Democrat (SPOe) party, said Wednesday he could make a bid to succeed Jean-Claude Juncker as EU Commmission president next year.

Asked by journalists on the sidelines of the EU summit in Salzburg whether he would put himself forward as a candidate to take over from Juncker, Kern replied: "Yes, that is correct. I am available.

"There are other candidates, too, that's clear. But we'll find the very best candidate."

Kern, 52, became chancellor in 2016, but lost in a snap election to conservative Sebastian Kurz just a year later.

Kern was attending the EU summit in Salzburg to drum up support for his candidacy ahead of a meeting in Lisbon in December where the Social Democrat (S&D) grouping will choose its contenders.

Earlier this week, Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic, a 52-year-old Slovakian national, announced his candidacy for the S&D grouping.

"We have to restore Social Democracy here in Europe. We have a lot of issues and challenges. We have to define a strategy, we have to define the issues, we have to define the campaign to request one of the leading positions in Europe," he said.

Juncker is scheduled to leave office at the end of October 2019 after a term marked by a series of crises, including a huge influx of refugees, soaring debt and Brexit.

His successor will be chosen by a so-called "Spitzenkandidat" procedure, a term meaning "lead candidate" in German, which was used was for the first time to appoint Juncker in 2014.

Under the system, the largest party in the European Parliament after elections nominates its candidate for the post.

The next European parliamentary elections are being held in May 2019.

The S&D is currently the second biggest group in the European Parliament after the right and centre-right PPE from whose ranks Juncker came.

German MEP Manfred Weber has already announced his candidacy for the PPE grouping.PARIS (AP)  An appeals court has upheld a lower court decision throwing out a case brought by the country of Azerbaijan which accused two French journalists of defamation for calling the country a "dictatorship."

Wednesday's ruling by the Versailles Appeals Court ends the case against Elise Lucet and the then-news director of France-2 TV, accused over a 2015 investigative report for the station. The report called Azerbaijan a "dictatorship ... one of the most ferocious."

The appeals court ruled that no state, including Azerbaijan, can bring defamation charges.

Free speech activists had called the actions of the former Soviet republic an effort to export censorship. At the trial a year ago, media watchdog Reporters Without Borders testified for the defense, as did an Azerbaijani journalist and exiled human rights activists.Its feared six separate brands of brands of strawberries have been contaminated with needles. Source: Facebook/ Joshua Gane

A young boy has been arrested in Australia after admitting to putting needles in strawberries.

At least six brands of strawberries have been found to be contaminated with sewing needles and pins in recent weeks.

New South Wales Acting Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith said today that a young boy had been apprehended over behaviour that could be a prank.

He said: Obviously in the last few days we found a young person has admitted to a prank, including putting needles in strawberries, and hell be dealt with under the youth cautioning system.

The maximum sentence in the region for contaminating a food source is 10 years in prison.

Needles were also found in an apple and banana in NSW, police confirmed this week.

Truckloads of fruit have been dumped in Australia over fears of contamination.



Needles were first discovered in fruit in Queensland before the scare spread across the nation, with discoveries in all six Australian states.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison condemned the deliberate contamination earlier this week.

He said: This is a shocking and cowardly thing for this individual and others who have jumped onto the bandwagon here to have engaged in.

Queensland Strawberry Growers Association vice president Adrian Schultz said what had started as a single act of commercial terrorism had brought a multimillion-dollar industry to its knees.

Im angry for all the associated people, its the farmers, the people who supply them, the packaging people, the truckies with families to support, who suddenly lose their jobs  its far-reaching, Mr Schultz said.

Major Australian supermarket chains Coles and Aldi have pulled all strawberries from their shelves across Australia except in Western Australia state as a precaution.Rio de Janeiro (AFP) - Brazil's jailed former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Wednesday strongly criticized the far-right vice presidential candidate who blamed social problems among youth on the absence of a father figure.

Reserve general Hamilton Mourao is running alongside far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro, a frontrunner in the heated upcoming election for president.

On Monday he said "social problems" take root "from the moment a family is broken up."

"The poor areas, where there is no father or grandfather, but mothers and grandmothers, are factories for non-integrated individuals who tend to enter the ranks of drug traffickers," he said.

On Wednesday Lula -- who recently gave up his audacious bid to stand in the October 7 first round-presidential election from prison -- struck back.

"General Mourao, do not judge grandmothers and poor mothers with your mediocre ideas about the human race," he said in a letter written from his cell that was released by his Worker's Party.

"My seven brothers and I were raised by an illiterate woman named Dina Lindu, and I do not think anyone in Brazil has ever educated her children better than she."

"General, take lessons in humanism."

Mourao has been on the front lines of his party's campaign since ex-army captain Bolsonaro -- accused by his detractors of racism, sexism and homophobia -- was hospitalized after being stabbed on the campaign trail.

The right-wing vice presidential hopeful in 2017 made headlines after saying that if corruption scandals continued to plague Brazilian politics the army would be forced to step in.

Bolsonaro has spoken fondly of the military dictatorship that ruled Brazil from 1964 to 1985.Ryan, who last year became the departments first female K-9 and officer team, later said she believed Bandit, who, along with the Mavrovics was about 50 feet away at the time, barked at Nyx shortly before the incident. Ryan got Nyx to release her hold of the dog, and the Mavrovics took their pet to the Hobart animal clinic, a release said.Brett Kavanaugh, the presidents Supreme Court pick being accused of sexual assault when he was in high school, bragged about keeping tight-lipped about what he got up to while at his school.

MSNBC just aired this footage from a speech by Judge Kavanaugh at the Columbus School of Law from 2015







"What happens at Georgetown Prep, stays at Georgetown Prep. That's been a good thing for all of us" pic.twitter.com/pIOztUx7Zs  Jon Levine (@LevineJonathan) September 18, 2018

We had a good saying that weve held firm to to this day, as the dean was reminding me before the talk, Kavanaugh said during a 2015 speech at the Catholic University of Americas Columbus School of Law in Washington, D.C. Which is what happens at Georgetown Prep stays at Georgetown Prep. Thats been a good thing for all of us.

It was while he was attending that high school, said Christine Blasey Ford  now a professor at Palo Alto University in California who goes by Christine Blasey professionally  that he tried to force himself on her when the two were teenagers.

I thought he might inadvertently kill me, she told The Washington Post on Sunday.

She said that she was 15 and the then-17-year-old Kavanaugh was drunk when he held her down, covering her mouth with his hand as he attempted to take off her clothes.

Blasey said Kavanaugh and a friend of his, Mark Judge, turned up music to drown out her screams.

Kavanaugh has flatly denied the claim, and he and Blasey could have a chance next week to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee about the alleged episode.

As Mother Jones points out, a book by Judge mentions Kavanaugh and his apparent love of binge-drinking while at the school. And in an April 2014 speech to the Yale Law School Federalist Society, Kavanaugh relayed his drinking adventures with friends.

Story continues

Of course, many young people drink before theyre 21. But sexual aggression is not a rite of passage for boys, and the allegations against Kavanaugh are far more disturbing than simply a young person who drank alcohol during high school.

Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.The woman who has accused Donald Trumps Supreme Court nominee of sexual misconduct will not publicly testify until her claims have been investigated by the FBI, her lawyer has said.

Earlier this week, Republican Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, invited both Brett Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford, to appear before the committee on Monday.

Ms Ford has accused Mr Kavanaugh of trying to take her clothes off at a high school party three decades ago, and he has stridently denied the allegation. Mr Grassley and the White House had hoped to move the issue forward by having both appear and answer questions from senators or else an independent lawyer.

But on Tuesday evening, Lisa Banks, a lawyer for Ms Ford, a California-based professor, said the priority for her 51-year-old client was having the FBI thoroughly probe the allegation she has made about Mr Kavanaugh. She has said the alleged incident, which she did not talk about for years and which she was very concerned about speaking publicly about, took place at a party in Maryland in 1982.

In a letter to Mr Grassley, Ms Fords lawyer said the investigation should precede any testimony. A full investigation by law enforcement officials will ensure that the crucial facts and witnesses in this matter are assessed in a non-partisan manner, and that the committee is fully informed before conducting any hearing or making any decisions, the lawyers wrote.

In the 36 hours since her name became public, Dr Ford has received a stunning amount of support from her community and from fellow citizens across our country. At the same time, however, her worst fears have materialised.

Lisa Banks, attorney for Christine Blasey Ford, calling for an FBI investigation: Theres no reason that we should have a public hearing on Monday. This is being rushed through, and its too important to be rushed through.#Maddow pic.twitter.com/H1puWII4W0  Polly Sigh (@dcpoll) September 19, 2018

They added: She has been the target of vicious harassment and even death threats. As a result of these kind of threats, her family was forced to relocate out of their home. Her email has been hacked, and she has been impersonated online.

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The lawyers added that while Ms Fords life was being turned upside down, they organised for her to testify at the same table as Judge Kavanaugh in front of two dozen US senators on national television to relive this traumatic and harrowing incident.

The hearing was scheduled for six short days from today and would include interrogation by senators who appear to have made up their minds that she is mistaken and mixed up, they added.

While no sexual assault survivor should be subjected to such an ordeal, Dr Ford wants to cooperate with the Committee and with law enforcement officials.

Later, speaking to CNN, Ms Banks was asked if Ms Ford would appear on Monday, as many had expected her to.

Theres no reason that we should have a public hearing on Monday. This is being rushed through, and its too important to be rushed through, she said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the committees Republican members, said the panel would vote on the nomination next week whether or not Ms Ford testified. A vote in committee would be a precursor to action in the full Senate.

If she does not want to come Monday, publicly or privately, were going to move on and vote Wednesday, he told Fox News.

In a statement on Monday, a representative for the Justice Department said the FBI had followed protocol forwarding information about the allegation to the White House. The FBIs role in such matters is to provide information for the use of the decision makers, the statement said.

On Tuesday, Mr Trump doubled down on his defence for his nominee and even expressed sympathy.

I feel so badly for him that hes going through this, to be honest with you, Mr Trump told a news conference, according to Reuters. This is not a man that deserves this.

He added: Hopefully the woman will come forward, state her case. He will state his case before representatives of the United States Senate. And then they will vote.Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh is facing sexual assault allegations. (Photo: Melina Mara/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

When Brett Kavanaugh was nominated for the Supreme Court, there was a rush of people willing to publicly say what a nice guy he is.

I dont know Kavanaugh the judge. But Kavanaugh the carpool dad is one great guy, read the headline for one Washington Post op-ed by Julie OBrien, a woman who knows Kavanaugh through their daughters school.

Lisa Blatt, a self-described liberal Democrat and feminist, wrote a piece in Politico telling the Supreme Court to confirm Kavanaugh and even introduced him at his Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing, giving him a boost of bipartisan credibility.

And then there were the letters. Eighty students who had Kavanaugh as a professor at Harvard Law School signed a letter saying he was an inspiring professor. Thirty-four of his former clerks said he has been a role model to us personally as well as professionally.

And Yale University, where he went to undergraduate and law school, issued a glowing press release with five distinguished professors and faculty members congratulating him and extolling his intellectual talent.

All of that came before there were allegations that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted a woman when they were both in high school. The day after those allegations came out, 65 women who knew Kavanaugh in high school were still willing to issue a letter attesting to his character and his treatment of women.

But that, too, was before Christine Blasey Ford publicly identified herself and fully told her story, alleging that Kavanaugh, then 17, locked her in a room and attempted to remove her clothes while putting his hand over her mouth so she couldnt scream. She was 15 at the time.

HuffPost contacted all the aforementioned supporters of Kavanaugh when contact information was available.

The vast majority of people didnt reply, which could mean any number of things (e.g. they dont want to publicly stand by him anymore, they didnt see the comment request, etc.).

HuffPost responses: Former Harvard Law students: Eighteen still support Kavanaugh, three do not. Nine requested anonymity. Former clerks: Twelve still support Kavanaugh. Four requested anonymity. Yale faculty: Two responded saying they were not endorsing Kavanaugh for confirmation. Women who knew Kavanaugh in high school: Eight still support Kavanaugh.

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The couple dozen who did respond all stood by Kavanaugh, except for three of Kavanaughs former Harvard Law students  one of whom requested anonymity  who seemed more uneasy with the allegations.

I signed the initial letter from Harvard Law alums based on what I knew of Judge Kavanaughs character at the time of the request, said Elizabeth Knox, Harvard Law School 16. I could not support any nominee who acted in the ways described in this allegation. I would urge the Senate to refrain from holding a confirmation vote until more information is known.

We know one of two scenarios is true: either 1) the allegations are true and the Judge lied, in which case his lie alone should automatically disqualify him from consideration; or 2) the allegations are false, but there will always be a cloud of doubt surrounding him were he to be confirmed to the court. Given that reality, no, I dont still support his confirmation, and I think the White House should withdraw his nomination and put someone else forward, said Esther Mulder, Harvard Law School 14.

Two Yale professors who were featured in the universitys press release on Kavanaughs nomination wanted to make clear that they were not endorsing him. Indeed, at the bottom of the fawning press release, there was a disclaimer that it was not an endorsement. But it sounded like one.

Yale Law Professor William Eskridge said his comments were only about Kavanaughs excellence as a legal intellect and thinker, and Professor Abbe Gluck said that her personal views about Judge Kavanaugh were separate from [her] views regarding confirmation on the merits, and that those depended on a full and thorough hearing of the Judges record. She added that she believes the allegations require a full airing before any vote should occur.

Another former Harvard Law student, Renee Gerber Burbank 09, didnt respond to HuffPost but did tweet that she was appalled by the allegations. She also criticized Republicans for using these letters as weapons against Ford.

Until this weekend, I told ppl that even if I disagreed with Kavanaugh, I thought he was a good man. That *should* be part of the analysis. I am gutted that may not be true  heartbroken for Ms. Ford, & mad that politics & ambition will probably trump doing the right thing  Renee Burbank (@ReneeABurbank) September 16, 2018

Also, fuck you Judiciary Cmtee Republicans for weaponizing statements, which largely were NOT made as a defense against these allegations, to imply that these people dont believe her. Just because people in good faith said nice things doesnt mean they dont #believewomen  Renee Burbank (@ReneeABurbank) September 16, 2018

Interestingly, of the 42 responses HuffPost received, 12 said they stood by Kavanaugh but did not want their name published  despite the fact that they already attached their name to a public letter saying they supported him.

Id prefer not to be named in any piece on this issue, said a former Harvard Law student, but will reiterate that Judge Kavanaughs character did impress me and ... these allegations strike me as very out of character.

Of the people who were willing to go on the record, they said they stood firmly by the man they knew.

Justin Walker, Harvard Law School 09, said he believes Kavanaugh because the Judge I know would rather lose a job than tell a lie. Hagan Scotten, a former Kavanaugh clerk, said he is a man and a judge of unimpeachable character. And Daniel McEntee, Harvard Law School 12, called Kavanaugh one of, if not the best, instructors Ive ever had in all my years of primary and secondary education.

Hes seriously a Ned Flanders type personality, McEntee added. I cant say that I knew the teenage Brett Kavanaugh, but the alleged incident is so unlike the Brett Kavanaugh I know that I have a difficult time believing it.

Without a doubt I would still sign the letter supporting Brett, added Paula Duke Ebel, one of the women who knew Kavanaugh in high school. He is a man of outstanding character and would never assault anyone.

Neither Blatt, the feminist law professor, nor OBrien, the carpool friend, returned requests for comment.

After Ford went public with her allegations, hundreds of women who went to her high school  including actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus  signed a letter supporting her.

This piece will continue to be updated as more responses come in.

Matt Ferner, Hayley Miller, Lydia OConnor, Molly Redden and Jessica Schulberg contributed reporting.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation is in limbo after a woman came forward with claims he tried to rape her when they were both in high school. (Photo: Alex Wroblewski/Reuters)

If youre following the allegations against Brett Kavanaugh, President Donald Trumps Supreme Court nominee, you could, for a moment, lose track of who the victim is.

To recap, Kavanaugh is the federal appeals court judge who is accused of drunkenly sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl when he was 17, allegedly pinning her down on a bed with his body weight, groping her, attempting to rip off her clothes and stifling her screams with his hand to the point where she says she couldnt breathe.

Christine Blasey Ford is the psychology professor at Palo Alto University who reluctantly came forward to share what she said was a violent, terrifying attack that altered the trajectory of her life  knowing that speaking out would expose her to a barrage of harassment.

I thought he might inadvertently kill me, Ford said of the alleged assault.

They will both publicly testify on Monday. Kavanaugh flatly denies the allegations.

Listening to Kavanaughs defenders, one gets the impression it is his life that is being annihilated. He is in danger of being brought down by accusations, according to a lawyer close to the White House. Democrats want to destroy the life of a distinguished public servant for the sake of appeasing their base, the conservative Judicial Crisis Network said. He was just a teenager, Minnesota state Sen. Scott Newman (R) wrote on Twitter. Even if Fords allegations are credible, he should be judged by his character now, said Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah). He is a really good man, Hatch added.

Yes, we have arrived at the stage where people are hyperbolically lamenting the apparent destruction of a powerful mans life, while ignoring the potential consequences of the alleged assault on the victim herself. To be clear, Kavanaugh is not facing criminal charges or prison time. No one is saying he should disappear from public life. At most, some are wondering if a person who may have tried to rape a young girl should not get the privilege of a lifetime appointment to one of the countrys most powerful institutions. He is not entitled to a Supreme Court seat; this is, in essence, a job interview.

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But you know what can be completely life-changing? Experiencing sexual assault as a teen.

The research is very clear, said David Finkelhor, director of the Crimes against Children Research Center at the University of New Hampshire. It is one of the most predictive variables in looking at later life adversities  things like alcohol and drug abuse, subsequent victimization, domestic violence, depression, anxiety disorders.

Besides associating sex with fear during a formative phase of ones life, one of the most insidious ways sexual violence affects teen victims is by making them feel powerless, Finkelhor said.

Adolescence is an important period in formulating your view about how and whether to plan for a future, based on a sense of how able you will be to control what happens, he said. When bad and unexpected things blindside you, it can disrupt your sense of your ability to control, and create pessimism and apathy.

In other words, victims can lose faith in their ability to create a positive future for themselves. If terrible things are going to happen anyway, why bother?

By Fords account, her life was dramatically altered by the alleged assault. She told The Washington Post that she struggled academically and socially afterward. She experienced post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. And it interfered with her relationships with men.

I think it derailed me substantially for four or five years, Ford said.

Ford has come forward, with full knowledge that she is likely to experience threats, smears, the usual gamut done to women who speak out against men in power. Kavanaugh might  maybe  just lose a job.

So, wait, who is the victim here?

Related Coverage

Alumnae Of Christine Blasey Ford's High School Circulate Letter Of Support

If Brett Kavanaugh Is Confirmed, The Message To Women Will Be Clear

Brett Kavanaugh And His Accuser Will Publicly Testify Monday

Also on HuffPost

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.In October 1991, a 35-year-old African American lawyer sat before a panel of all white senators and told them the man set to become the next Supreme Court justice had sexually harassed her.

Anita Hill claimed that Clarence Thomas had told her about his love of pornography, even that involving animals and rape scenes, and bragged of his own sexual prowess. She said he had done so 10 years earlier when he was her boss at the US Department of Education and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

It is only after a great deal of agonising consideration and a sleepless number  a great number of sleepless nights that I am able to talk of these unpleasant matters to anyone but my close friends, she said, dressed in a turquoise blouse, her eyes fixed on her written statement.

Thomas adamantly denied the accusations, and many in the country believed him. A number of senators certainly did; he was eventually confirmed in a narrow vote  52 to 48  and remains a justice on the court, still denying the accusations made of him. He is now aged 70.

Next week, 27 years later, the Senate Judiciary Committee is set to hold a rerun of sorts. Christine Blasey Ford, 51, a professor from California, is set to tell the committee about an incident at a high school party in Maryland three decades ago, when the latest nominee for the court, Brett Kavanaugh, allegedly pinned her to a bed and tried to take off her clothes. Kavanaugh has denied the alleged 1982 incident took place, and will do so again on Monday.

This is a completely false allegation. I have never done anything like what the accuser describes  to her or to anyone, he said.

The questioning of Hill has come to be recognised as one of the ugliest moments in a city where politics frequently turns sordid and distasteful. Many senators appeared to fawn before Thomas and act in a dismissive manner when speaking to Hill. Republican Arlen Specter asked her why she would have been upset if Thomas had spoken to her about womens large breasts. That is a word we use all the time, he insisted. That was the most embarrassing aspect of what Judge Thomas had said to you?

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Joe Biden, the former vice president, chaired the committee and is generally considered to have failed to protect Hill or permit testimony from witnesses who could have supported her. He has frequently voiced regret, though never apologised.

It would be tempting to think some things have changed and, superficially perhaps, they have. Race will be less of a factor. Ford is white, though three decades on, the committee questioning will contain only three people of colour.

The White House appears to know that in the #MeToo era, it needs to tread carefully. Desperate not to have Kavanaugh lose the support of two pro-choice female Republicans, senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, they need to ensure an orderly process. White House counsellor Kellyanne Conway said Ford should not be insulted and she should not be ignored.

But even before Conway had given this reasonable-sounding comment to Fox News, the knives were already out. Donald Trump Jr posted on Twitter remarks that appeared to mock a confidential letter Ford had passed to her local congresswomen and Senator Dianne Feinstein. Oh boy, the Dems and their usual nonsense games really have him on the ropes now, wrote the presidents eldest son.

Elsewhere on the internet, conservatives were posting Fords personal details  including her address  and suggesting she had been motivated by a case in which Kavanaughs mother had ruled against her family on a foreclosure case in Maryland. The Daily Beast pointed out Sebastian Gorka, a right-wing nationalist and former Bretibart editor and Trump administration official, had tweeted: Why has Blasey Fords social media profile been scrubbed?

People are doxxing Christine Blasey Ford and publishing her home address and phone number. This is why women dont come forward and why women REALLY dont come forward when it involves SCOTUS nominees. Also, if you see this happening, please report it. https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/americans-didnt-believe-anita-hill-how-will-they-respond-to-kavanaughs-accuser/ Amee KavaNOPE Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) September 16, 2018

It said, elsewhere in the bowels of the internet, QAnon 8chan conspiracy theorists found a Facebook pornbot named Christine Ford and attacked it as though it were Kavanaughs accuser herself.

Donald Trumps words were reasonably measured, though he made clear he believed his nominees denial. This is something that shouldve been brought up long before this  Thats a long time ago and nobody mentioned it until the other day  Its very unfortunate that they didnt mention it sooner.

Two Republican members of the 1991 committee who questioned Hill are still members and will be present on Monday  chairman Chuck Grassley and Orrin Hatch.

In 1991, Hatch said he believed Hill was working in tandem with slick lawyers and interest groups bent on destroying Thomass chances to join the court. This week, he told CNN he had spoken to Kavanaugh, that he believed his denials and assumed Ford must be mistaken.

Some worry that Ford  who has said she did not talk about the alleged 1982 incident for years and did not want to speak publicly as she feared the backlash already under way  is going to be similarly badly treated.

I am stunned that this is happening again, Barbara Boxer, a former Democratic senator from California who, as a representative in 1991, marched across Capitol Hill to demand their own party give Hill a fair hearing, told the New York Times. But it is not surprising because our culture has not completely dealt with inequality between men and women.

One person with insights about how things might be different is Hill herself, who continued to be attacked years after her testimony and was even the subject of a 1993 book, The Real Anita Hill, by Republican-turned Democrat David Brock, who claimed to reveal her true motives for testifying. He has subsequently admitted the book was a piece of character assassination and apologised.

Writing in the Times on Tuesday, Hill, now aged 62 and a professor of social policy, law, gender and sexuality studies at Brandeis University in Massachusetts, said there was no way to redo 1991, but there are ways to do better.

With the current heightened awareness of sexual violence comes heightened accountability for our representatives. To do better, the 2018 senate judiciary committee must demonstrate a clear understanding that sexual violence is a social reality to which elected representatives must respond. A fair, neutral and well thought out course is the only way to approach Dr Blasey and Judge Kavanaughs upcoming testimony, she wrote.

Clarence Thomas continues to deny the accusations against him (Getty)

She added: Finally, refer to Christine Blasey Ford by her name. She was once anonymous, but no longer is. Dr Blasey is not simply Judge Kavanaughs accuser. Dr Blasey is a human being with a life of her own. She deserves the respect of being addressed and treated as a whole person.

Trump is desperate for his nominee to succeed and be confirmed before Novembers midterms, so he can deliver another gift to evangelical Christians and conservatives who may not otherwise support him. He apparently believes the 11th-hour testimony from Ford is a Democratic-hatched plot to derail his man. His candidate spent nine hours at the White House on Monday, meeting with lawyers and strategists to plan their approach. One key element will be testimony from women who worked for him; already a letter signed by 65 women who said they had worked with the judge and supported his candidacy, has been circulated by his supporters.

Two other things are worth pointing out. Clarence Thomas was a hugely popular candidate. A poll taken after his 1991 nomination by George HW Bush suggested 52 per cent of Americans supported his confirmation, with 17 against. Kavanaugh, by contrast, is an unpopular choice; a poll taken in July by Fox News suggested only 38 per cent of voters supported him.

And as the website FiveThirtyEight pointed out, three decades later, and after revelations of sexual abuse about everyone from Harvey Weinstein (which he denies) to celebrity chefs, peoples attitudes about sexual harassment have markedly shifted.

One 1986 Time poll found only 17 per cent of Americans believed sexual harassment was a big problem for women in the workplace. A 2018 poll by ABC News/Washington Post, suggested 72 per cent of Americans said sexual harassment was a serious problem for women in the workplace.

While Hills story was not believed and Thomas was confirmed, the following year saw a backlash against what transpired and the way she was treated. In 1992  the so-called Year of Women  more women were elected to Congress than ever before.

Analysts believe 2018 is going to break the record again, with as many as 100 congresswomen entering the House of Representatives. The midterm elections are just 50 days away.

If Republicans fail to listen to Christine Blasey Fords claims with dignity and sensitivity, they could find themselves being punished very badly at the polls in November.A UK flag flies in the EU area of Brussels. Photo: Getty

The Brexit process is not a reason to stop suspected criminals from being extradited to the UK under the European arrest warrant, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled.

In a landmark judgement, the Luxembourg-based court said that warrants must continue to be executed as normal for as long as the UK remains a member of the EU. It also said there are no grounds to believe that suspects subject to a warrant would be deprived of their rights even after the UK leaves the EU.

The court ruling comes in the case of a male murder, rape and arson suspect, known only as RO, who is currently in the Republic of Ireland.

MORE: Barnier calls for realism from UK over post-Brexit security

The UK issued two warrants for RO in 2016. The suspect was arrested by Irish authorities in February 2016 and has remained in custody since.

RO has raised objections to his surrender to UK authorities, citing Brexit-related issues as evidence he could suffer inhuman and degrading treatment.

The suspect argued that legal uncertainties arising from the Brexit process mean that he would not be guaranteed rights that exist in EU law.

The UK governments plan to withdraw from the EUs Charter of Fundamental Rights is one of the concerns raised.

The main court room of the ECJ in Luxembourg (ECJ)

As a result, the high court of Ireland asked the ECJ whether the UKs decision to trigger Article 50 was reason to reject the warrants.

The ECJ ruled on Wednesday that: Mere notification by a member state of its intention to withdraw from the European Union in accordance with Article 50 cannot be regarded, as such, as constituting an exceptional circumstance  capable of justifying a refusal to execute a European arrest warrant issued by that member state.

To do so would represent a unilateral suspension of the system by Ireland, the ECJ said.

The judgement also sets out how, irrespective of EU law, the suspects rights are protected by UK law.

MORE: May warns EU plans put at risk post-Brexit security cooperation

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There is no concrete evidence to suggest that RO will be deprived of the opportunity to assert those rights before the courts and tribunals of that Member State after its withdrawal from the European Union, states the ruling.

EU Brexit chief Michel Barnier has said the UK will not be allowed to remain part of the European arrest warrant after Brexit because of the decision to ditch the ECJ and the Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Speaking in June, he said: These are not bureaucratic issues. This is about the lives and liberties of our citizens.

Judicial cooperation will instead be based on a new streamlined extradition system between the UK and EU, he suggested.

The UK recently issued a high-profile European arrest warrant for the two men suspected of being behind the Salisbury poisoning.



The famous Belgian frite in its natural habitat - under dollops of delicious mayonaise. - Lonely Planet Images

Britons will be served up shorter chips this year as potato farmers across Europe struggle to cope with the worst summer drought for decades.

Britain eats 1.75 million tonnes of frozen chips every year and is, alongside the US, the worlds largest importer of the product. Almost all frozen fry imports to Britain, about 750,000 tonnes, come from the Netherlands and Belgium.

The hot weather and lack of rain has hit European crop yields, resulting in a drop of about 20% in Northern Europe, and made the potatoes, usually the size of a small brick, smaller. That will mean smaller, shorter chips, potato experts in Britain and Belgium have warned.

The remaining million tonnes of frozen fries eaten ever year are made from British potatoes but even British farmers are facing a 10 to 15 percent drop in yield. Britons are one of the biggest potato eaters in the EU, eating a 100kg of potatoes per person ever year.

This was the hottest British summer since 1976, which any potato person will tell you was an almost mythical year, said Cedric Porter, editor of World Potato Markets, it is still talked about in potato circles.

The chips are down, he said, You can expect smaller chips in Britain and in Europe.

Mr Porter said that Belgian and Dutch farmers had been hit hard and could struggle to fulfil their contracts. Potatoes sold on the open market, rather than under contract, were selling for 10 a ton last year but were now selling for 250 a ton.

The squeeze on frites has appalled Belgians, who cherish the chip as their national dish. The traditional Bintje, tuber and the newer Fontane varieties have been much smaller with crop yields dropping by 25 percent in Belgium.

Pierre Lebrun is the coordinator of the potato sector of Wallonia, Belgiums French-speaking region. He told local media that the poor crop would mean frites from tubers being shortened by as much as 3 centimetres from their usual length of 8 to 9 cm.

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We will all eat small fries, said Mr Lebrun, who added that farmers in Western Germany, France, the Netherlands and the south of Britain were all in the same boat.

"The soils are very dry, it does not make it easy for farmers to work," Mr Lebrun said, "Generally, to have long fries, we work with tubers with a diameter of more than 50mm."

"Then you get fries of 8 to 9 cm This time, as the tubers are smaller, the fries will be smaller."

Belgium is one of the largest exporters of frozen fries in the world, exporting 2.3 million tonnes of frozen fries every year. In the year ending June 2018, Belgium exported 344,000 tons of frozen frites to the UK, a 9.3 percent increase on the previous year, despite Brexit.

The Belgian frozen fry industry has been waging a campaign to boost its exports by using a James Bond style character with a licence to fry. James Bint insists the frites are called Belgian, rather than French, fries.Brussels (AFP) - Belgian prosecutors called Wednesday for the brother of jihadist Salah Abdeslam, the sole surviving suspect in the Paris attacks, to be jailed for four years for aggravated robbery.

Mohamed Abdeslam is on trial alongside two alleged accomplices for stealing 68,000 euros ($79,000) of public money in January from the gritty Brussels district of Molenbeek.

The money, that has not been recovered, was stolen in broad daylight as local administration employees emerged from a car to deposit cash bags at a bank.

Mohamed was accused of being the brains behind the robbery and driving the getaway car.

He was living off unemployment benefits at the time and needed money for a project to open a sheesha bar in Brussels, the court heard.

Mohamed has denied any violence was used and claimed the robbery was "a piece of theatre".

His lawyer Yannick De Vlaemynck told AFP after the hearing that four years was too long.

"That's a sentence for robbery with violence, but if there was no violence I believe it's a disproportionate sentence," he said.

Mohamed was sacked in 2016 from a job he held for 10 years in the Molenbeek local administration.

The defence will be heard on Thursday and a verdict is expected in about a month.

Salah Abdeslam, in custody in France over the November 2015 attacks that left 130 people dead, has refused to cooperate with French judges since his arrest five months after the atrocities. He is expected to go on trial in 2019.Sofia (AFP) - Bulgaria's defence minister said Wednesday his country would oppose EU sanctions against Hungary, which Brussels accuses of posing a "systematic threat" to the bloc's founding values and the rule of law.

"The Bulgarian government took a unanimous decision to prepare a position in defence of Hungary," Defence Minister Krasimir Karakachanov said in a statement.

Any punitive action against Hungary "would create a dangerous precedent," he said.

Hungary joins Poland in opposing EU action against Hungary. The Polish government said last week that it would veto any EU sanctions against Budapest.

Karakachanov, leader of a nationalist formation that is a junior coalition partner in the conservative cabinet of premier Boyko Borisov, did not say when the Bulgarian government's position will be issued.

Hours later, however Borisov, speaking on the sidelines of an EU summit in Austria, played down the statement by Karakachano, saying that the Hungary issue was discussed but no formal decision had been taken.

"There is no drama, nothing has been decided," he said, while suggesting that it might be good for Hungary to adjust some of its most controversial politics.

Last week, the European Parliament initiated a procedure which could ultimately see Hungary stripped of its EU voting rights over a series of controversial reforms that Brussels says undermine democracy.

Borisov pinpointed Wednesday that five of his GERB party's six lawmakers in the EU legislature had already voted against the motion last week while one abstained.

The motion is already highly unlikely to succeed as Poland -- a fellow ex-communist state that is also facing the same procedure -- has promised to wield its veto to prevent such sanctions.

Borisov's conservative government has also come under scrutiny for systematic failures to impose the rule of law.

If the EU does decide to sanction Hungary then Poland and possibly Bulgaria could be next, Karakachanov has argued.

Bulgaria joined the EU in 2007 but is still subject to special monitoring for failing to curb widespread corruption and improve the independence and efficiency of its judiciary -- problems also faced by Hungary.By Tsvetelia Tsolova SOFIA (Reuters) - Bulgaria will support Hungary in its standoff with the European Union, a Bulgarian deputy prime minister said on Wednesday, adding that the countries of eastern Europe had to stand together in their dealings with Brussels. The European Parliament, in an unprecedented vote last week, backed sanctions against Hungary, accusing Prime Minister Viktor Orban's right-wing government of flouting EU standards on democracy, civil rights and corruption. This could theoretically result in Hungary losing its EU voting rights - but any one member state could veto such a move, and both Poland and the Czech Republic have already said they would do so. Krasimir Karakachanov, a member of the anti-immigrant United Patriots, junior partner in Bulgaria's ruling coalition, said the cabinet had unanimously agreed to forge a common position that would oppose any sanctions against Hungary. "We think that this is a violation of the sovereignty of an equal member state of the European Union," Karakachanov told reporters after a cabinet meeting. "Today it is Hungary, tomorrow it could be Poland, and one day it could be Bulgaria in the dock. Central and eastern European countries should act in solidarity and help each other because they have common problems," he said. Poland is also being investigated by the EU over its record on democracy and the rule of law. Bulgaria, although criticized by Brussels for failing to effectively impose the strict rule of law, is not facing any such investigation. Its center-right prime minister, Boyko Borissov, an ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel in the EU, played down the significance of the cabinet agreement, saying it had been taken at an "operative meeting" and had no legal value. Speaking to reporters upon arrival in Salzburg to attend an EU leaders' summit, Borissov said his government had agreed that if there were a decision one day to strip Hungary of its EU voting rights, which he thinks could happen in two years from now, Sofia would be against it. "There is no drama, there is nothing decided," Borissov told reporters. Borissov said he believed Orban needed to adjust some of his policies, pointing to restrictions imposed on Hungary's Central European University, founded by U.S. financier George Soros. But Borissov's GERB party voted against the censure motion in the European Parliament last week. He needs the support of the United Patriots to stay in power, while Bulgaria is regularly criticized by the EU over its failure to tackle corruption and organized crime. Like Hungary and other ex-communist states, Bulgaria has been critical of Merkel's decision to take in more than a million migrants, mostly Muslims fleeing conflicts in the Middle East, since 2015. Also like Hungary, Bulgaria has built a fence along its southern border - with Turkey - to deter illegal migrants trying to enter the EU, but has argued that their human rights should be respected. (Reporting by Tsvetelia Tsolova; Editing by Gareth Jones and Robin Pomeroy)Martin admitted that he participated in the removal of the victim's vehicle and helping to dispose of several items that were used during the murder of Ms. Garnett including the clothes the suspect was wearing as well as the knife used to commit the crime, according to a probable cause affidavit in Lake County court records.Ottawa (AFP) - Firefighters trying to put out a record number of wildfires in westernmost Canada recently found themselves in an unexpected tug-o-war with a fire devil for control of their hose.

In a terrifying moment, the vortex made up of smoke and ash sucked the hose into an orange-red cloud along a dirt road near Vanderhoof, British Columbia, and melted the nozzle.

A member of the crew battling the blaze, M.C. Schidlowsky posted a video of the skirmish on Instagram, showing three fellow firefighters struggling to hold on to one end as the other disappears into the darkened sky.

One of them rushes out of their fire truck and gets pulled toward the funnel cloud but loses his grip on the hose, and turns back.

"Fire tornado destroyed our lines," Schidlowsky said in a caption.

"It threw burning logs across our guard for 45 minutes and pulled our hose 100 plus ft (30 meters). in the air before melting it. That's definitely a first."

Eventually the firenado grew to over 200 feet tall, she added, but the smoke was too thick to see it clearly in the video.

A record 1.3 million hectares of forests in British Columbia were blacked by 2,066 wildfires in recent months, fueled by hot and dry weather.

Currently, 333 wildfires are still burning, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service, including 10 that have been burning since June.

Last month, the regional government declared a province-wide state of emergency as Canada's military and crews from Australia, Mexico and New Zealand joined firefighters in trying to douse the blazes. It has since been lifted.

Meanwhile, cities from Vancouver on the Pacific coast to Winnipeg in the Prairies region about 2,300 kilometers (1,400 miles) to the east were blanketed over the summer with smoke from the fires, triggering air quality warnings.In this March 21, 2006 file photo, pills move through a precision weighing machine at a pharmaceutical manufacturers trade show in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

Canadian officials are considering how to take aim at the massive U.S. pharmaceutical industry in the event of a full-blown trade war with the United States, according to an Ottawa-based law professor with knowledge of the situation.

The plan would target valuable U.S. patents, granting Canadas generic pharmaceutical firms the right to copy, sell and potentially export American drugs.

Amir Attaran, a biomedical scientist and University of Ottawa law professor, said the move would stun Wall Street and the White House, while mobilizing the powerful U.S. pharmaceutical lobby behind Canadas cause.

Canadian officials are aware of and studying the proposal in case the United States decides to impose a major retaliation on Canada, he told Yahoo Canada Finance on Tuesday. Im positive its being considered.

Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland travelled back to Washington to resume NAFTA negotiations on Wednesday. U.S. officials have demanded a deal by Oct. 1., upping the pressure to resolve long-held sticking points such as the dispute resolution mechanism, cultural protections, and the supply-managed dairy industry.

Attaran spelled out how Canada could employ a pharma-based retaliation strategy in a magazine column in June. He declined to disclose who in the federal government is now considering the plan, saying only that it is not the officials negotiating the trade deal with the U.S.

Global Affairs Canada did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication.

I think one plausible reaction for the Canadian government would be to say if the Americans operate radically outside of NAFTA, as by penalizing our car industry, we will pursue their pharmaceutical industrys interests, Attaran said. At that point, you have exited the negotiating model of resolving our differences, and you are resorting to brute force.

The Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America was the fourth largest U.S. lobby group in 2017, spending nearly US$26 million that year, according to the nonpartisan Centre for Responsive Politics. The Washington D.C.-based trade groups members include drug industry giants Pfizer, Sanofi, and Johnson & Johnson.

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Attaran said a threat by Canada to suspend U.S. patents on Canadian soil would be impossible for those companies to ignore.

Pharma would be putting in phone calls out to everyone in Congress whom they made campaign donations to. And that is nearly everyone, he said. Pharma spends more on lobbying than banking and defence combined, and each of those are a huge lobby.

Copying U.S. brand name drugs is nothing new for Canadas generic drug industry. In 1969, the Patent Act was amended to allow firms to import the active ingredients needed to produce and sell copies of branded drugs still under patent. Canadian companies were only required to pay a four per cent royalty fee to the firm that invented the drug.

Decades of pressure from multinational drugmakers has brought Canadas policies closer in line with more restrictive U.S. standards. But Attaran is confident that Canada can compulsory license, or essentially expropriate, U.S. drug patents without running afoul of the law.

Its 100 per cent legal, he said. The World Trade Organization agreement known as TRIPS (Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) is restrictive of compulsory licensing, but it is not prohibitive.

It could happen, but will it?

Dr. Joel Lexchin, a University of Toronto professor and emergency physician with more than 30 years experience researching pharmaceutical policy, said the plan may work, on paper.

Its possible, but only in a theoretical sense, he said. This would be very contentious. It would trigger probably even more fury from Donald Trump.

Dr. Lexchin warned the Americans may not even take the threat seriously, given the potential risks it could pose in Canada.

There would be the question of whether or not the brand name (U.S.) companies would cut the supply of medications to Canada. They might threaten to do that. Generic drug companies wont be able to take over all the current brand name drugs because there is the issue of getting access to the active ingredients, he said. I dont see it being done in Canada. It wouldnt be worth it.

Attaran said Canada would need to target only a handful of drugs in order to get the deep-pocketed U.S. pharmaceutical lobby to speak up on its behalf. Even that, he said, may not be necessary if Canada becomes the first country to threaten to weaponize drugs patents in a trade war.

Brazil has done so. Indonesia has done so. Thailand has done so. But these are typically middle-income countries that are looking to save a buck on medicines by circumventing patents. We would be doing it as retaliation rather than public health strategy, Attaran said. At that point, you would elicit an utter reaction of panic from the pharmaceutical industry in the U.S. and its allies in Congress. You probably never would have to do it for real.

Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android.By David Ljunggren OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland on Monday said she would return to Washington, this week for fresh talks on NAFTA as time is running very short to meet a U.S. demand for a deal by October 1. Freeland, speaking after a phone conversation with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, said a date for the latest round had not yet been set. Although the two have met in Washington in each of the last three weeks, officials are still seeking common ground on major issues in the trilateral North American Free Trade Agreement. "We agreed we would continue to talk in Washington later this week ... there are some conversations it's better to have face-to-face and I think it's absolutely the right thing for us to meet this week," she told reporters, without giving details. U.S. President Donald 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 favorable to the United States. {nL2N1VY10K] Washington wants the text of a deal by Oct. 1 so the pact can be signed by the outgoing Mexican administration. Canadian officials say though that they will not be rushed, given the size of the obstacles. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has repeatedly said that he is prepared to walk away from NAFTA rather than sign an unsatisfactory deal, later said the two sides were moving toward what he called "a decision point" on the treaty. "We're not there yet ... we might be days or weeks away now, it might not be," he said during a live televised interview with Maclean's magazine. The two nations are trying to solve differences over dispute resolution mechanisms and deal with a U.S. demand for more access to Canada's protected dairy market. Earlier on Monday, Trudeau said Canada would stand up for the so-called supply management system of import tariffs and production limits that ensure high prices for dairy, egg and poultry products. "We have been very very clear - we will protect supply management," Trudeau told legislators. That said, Canadian officials say privately that Ottawa will most likely offer U.S. producers more access to the market. This alarms the powerful dairy industry, which requested a meeting with Freeland last week. She said the two sides had a long and good conversation but gave no details. (Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Clive McKeef)Montreal (AFP) - Fighting global warming will necessarily require taxing carbon emissions, or setting a price on carbon pollution, the World Bank's chief executive said Wednesday at a G7 environment meeting in Canada.

"We believe very strongly that we can send an economic signal by introducing a shadow price for carbon," Kristalina Georgieva told AFP, referring to a method of calculating a price per tonne of carbon that includes the social costs of pollution.

"We are the last generation that can do something to fight climate change but we are also the first generation that has to live with its consequences," she said.

"There is a consensus among scientists and economists that carbon pricing is the best way to signal to economies that the behavior has to change."

According to the Institute for Climate Economics, 46 countries and 26 subnational governments have established a carbon pricing policy as of April 1, either using a carbon tax or a carbon market in which quotas are set for big polluters who then have the option to buy or sell credits from other companies.

These policies added US$30 billion to government coffers, with prices per tonne ranging from US$1 to US$133.

But, according to the OECD, the amount being charged is insufficient to meet climate targets.

The World Bank is "making every major step to integrate climate action into all of our lending policies," Georgieva commented.

One week after UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned that the world has only two years left to act in order to avert disastrous consequences of runaway climate change, Georgieva added her voice to the call to arms, saying it was "critical" that nations take action now.

The gathering of the Group of Seven industrialized nations along with the EU in the Canadian port city of Halifax is looking also to adopt new international rules to stop plastics from further accumulating in the world's oceans.By Jeff Mason CONWAY, S.C. (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump warned South Carolina on Wednesday "water is coming your way" from more floods as the death toll from Hurricane Florence rose to at least 36 after a sheriff's van was swept away killing two women. "Over the next couple of days, it's going to get rough in South Carolina... Whatever you need from Washington, we are there," Trump told an official briefing in Conway, South Carolina. "Now it looks nice, but it's really the calm before the storm," he said referring to water draining into rising rivers after Florence's epic deluge over the weekend. Trump visited a neighborhood in Conway where residents were loading moving vans in anticipation of more flooding. Florence has killed at least 36 people, including 27 in North Carolina, eight in South Carolina and one in Virginia. Two of the South Carolina victims were mental health patients who drowned on Tuesday when a van carrying them was swept away by floodwater. More than 15,000 people remain in shelters and more than 200,000 customers are without power across North Carolina because of Florence, according to state officials. Although the storm is long gone, river flooding still poses a danger. The Cape Fear River was expected to crest at 61.5 feet (19 meters), four times its normal height, on Wednesday in Fayetteville, North Carolina, a city of 200,000 near the Fort Bragg Army base in the southern part of the state, according to the National Weather Service. Floodwaters have disrupted efforts to restore power, clear roads and allow evacuated residents to go home. Wilmington, just down the coast, remains almost completely cut off by flooding from the Cape Fear River and earlier storm surges from Florence. ENVIRONMENTAL TOLL At least 16 rivers remained at a major flood stage, with three others set to crest in the coming days in North Carolina, the state said. The toll of environmental damage was also mounting as human and animal waste gets swept up in the roiling floodwaters. North Carolina is one of the leading U.S. hog-producing states and the floodwaters have caused 21 hog "lagoons," which store waste from pig farms, to overflow, creating a risk of standing water contaminated with bacteria like salmonella, according to the state's Department of Environmental Quality. Trump promised North and South Carolina would have strong federal support. "We're going to be there 100 percent," Trump told officials at a briefing shortly after arriving at the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in Havelock, North Carolina. Trump, who has been criticized for his handling of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico last year, also thanked first responders for their work since Florence made landfall on Friday. He was accompanied by Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, Federal Emergency Management Agency chief Brock Long, Senators Richard Burr and Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Senators Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott of South Carolina. Trump visited a church in New Bern, a town of 30,000 located at the confluence of the Neuse and Trent rivers that was hit especially hard by flooding, and joined volunteers in passing out boxed meals to locals in a drive-through line. He also walked through a neighborhood lined with discarded wet furniture, hugging residents and posing for pictures. Thousands of rescues have taken place in the Carolinas. Fire and rescue crews were waiting to go into many areas to assist with structural damage resulting from Florence, which dumped up to 36 inches (91 cm) of rain in parts of North Carolina. (Reporting by Jeff Mason and Ernest Scheyder; Additional reporting by Roberta Rampton in Washington, Bernie Woodall in Miami; Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; Jessica Resnick-Ault and Barbara Goldberg in New York; and Anna Mehler Paperny in North Carolina; Writing by Bill Trott; Editing by Bill Tarrant and Lisa Shumaker)A man carries bundles on a bamboo pole over his shoulder as he walks past a shopping mall in Beijing on Oct. 19, 2016. (Qilai Shen/Bloomberg)

Is China still a developing country?

To the Trump administration, the answer is likely to be No. President Donald Trump has taken to Twitter to address the issue, calling China a great economic power and the fact that it is considered a developing nation within the World Trade Organization (WTO) is unfair to the U.S. Larry Kudlow, his economic adviser, suggested China is a first-world economy, behaving like a third-world economy.

But China has a different answer. At the World Economic Forum on Wednesday, Chinas Premier Li Keqiang reiterated the governments long-held view on Chinas development status.

We are aware that China remains a developing country. We still rank at the lower end of the world in terms of per capita GDP, said Li. He promised China will further open itself to the world at a faster pace. We will also create a better business environment and expand market access to foreign-owned companies by streamlining processes so they can compete on a level playing field in the Chinese market, he added.

Chinas Premier Li Keqiang speaks on Worlds Economic Forum. (EFE/ Foro Economico Mundial)

Lis speech in Tianjin, China comes one day after Trumps announcement to move forward with 10% of tariffs on about $200 billion worth of imports from China. Li, who manages the worlds second-largest economy, knows the importance of Chinas status as a developing country in trade negotiations. Under the WTO, developing countries can take on fewer commitments and put more tariffs and non-tariff barriers to foreign competitors compared to their developing counterparts. By maintaining its status as a developing country, China was able to keep more preferential trade deals over the years.

The rest of the world has a different opinion. The World Bank said China remains a developing country because its per capita income is still a fraction of that in advanced countries. Chinas GDP per capita, measured with PPP (Purchasing Power Parity), was $16,660 in 2017, a vast improvement over where it was in 1986 when it started to negotiate terms to join WTO. But it is still a long haul from the U.S. ($59,501). According to Chinas poverty standard, there were 55 million poor in rural areas with less than 2300 RMB yearly income ($400) in 2015.

Story continues

Since 2001, when China joined the WTO, China has grown into one of the worlds economic growth engines and a rising superpower. The big economic leap comes with a widening wealth gap, Chinas Gini Coefficient data was 47% in December 2016, higher than the U.S.s (41.5%).

Simon Lester and Huan Zhu, analysts at Cato Institutes Herbert A. Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies, think China should adapt to its larger economy.

Even if it continues to maintain its developing status, as Chinas economy grows it should take on additional international obligations and play a more equal role in international economic organizations such as the WTO, wrote Lester and Zhu in a commentary in April.

Krystal Hu covers technology and economy for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter.

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Human rights activists have called on members of congress to fight Donald Trumps effort to reduce the number of refugees permitted to enter the US to a record low, even as the number of such individuals around the world continues to soar.

Secretary of state Mike Pompeo announced this week that for the second year in succession, the number of refugees will be cut, from 45,000 to 30,000. It will be the lowest number permitted since the the refugee programme began in 1980.

Mr Pompeo sought to see off criticism by saying the US would process more than 280,000 asylum claims in addition to more than 800,000 already inside the country who are awaiting a resolution of their claims. These expansive figures continue the United States long-standing record as the most generous nation in the world when it comes to protection-based immigration and assistance, he said, according to the Associated Press.

But activists have condemned the administrations decision. Amnesty International said the Trump administration was abandoning this countrys promise to refugees.

Todays announcement demonstrates another undeniable political attack against people who have been forced to flee their homes, said Ryan Mace, of Amnesty International USA.

This is the lowest goal in the history of the programme, and compounded by this administrations history of creating roadblock after roadblock for refugees to arrive, this must be perceived as an all-out attack against our countrys ability to resettle refugees both now and in the future.

Pointing out that the USs historic average has been 95,000 per year, and it even averaged 70,000 in the years after the 9/11 attacks, he added: We urge Congress to make clear their opposition to this, especially as they finalise FY19 appropriations.

Amnestys comments were echoed by leading Democrats. The Trump administration is not only abandoning Americas long bipartisan history of humanitarian leadership, but also threatening national and regional security, Senator Dianne Feinstein and Senator Dick Durbin said in a joint statement.

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CNN said that around the world there were 25.4m refugees last year, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, with many more people internally displaced within their home countries. Most aid groups and governments advocate resettlement as a last resort, preferring to allow refugees to return to their homes if conditions improve, rather than permanently moving to another country.

When internally displaced people were included, the number rises to above 68m. That is a record high, up from 65.6m in 2016.

On Tuesday, the UN refugee agency UNHCR declined to criticise Mr Trump decision, saying it was up to the US to decide its own policy.

Decisions on which refugees will be resettled and where they go are made solely by the governments of countries that, like the United States, admit refugees for resettlement, UNHCR spokesman William Spindler said in Geneva."I wanted to combine those four groups and from there we got together to establish one chamber [of commerce]," said Moreno. The next step was to establish a cultural landmark not unlike the Puerto Rican flags we find in Humboldt Park, according to Moreno. In fact, the original idea was to build one iron structure on each end of 26th St.Nicosia (AFP) - Cyprus and Egypt on Wednesday signed an agreement paving the way for the Mediterraneans first subsea pipeline to carry Cypriot natural gas to the Arab country for re-export to Europe.

"Todays signing is an important milestone, not only for Cyprus but also the entire eastern Mediterranean region," said Energy Minister George Lakkotrypis after he signed alongside visiting Egyptian Oil Minister Tarek el-Molla.

He said the agreement, "the first of its kind in our shared region", was crucial for channelling gas from the islands "Aphrodite" offshore field to Egypt and to attract multi-billion-dollar infrastructure investments.

A joint committee would be set up in 30 days to oversee the project.

Texas-based Noble Energy in 2011 made the first discovery off Cyprus in the Aphrodite block estimated to contain 4.5 trillion cubic feet (130 billion cubic feet) of gas but it has yet to be extracted.

The Aphrodite consortium, which also includes Israel's Delek and Royal Dutch Shell, seeks to renegotiate terms before it taps the gas.

It is currently in talks with the Cypriot government over a bigger share of profits to make the project viable.

The discovery of nearby Egypts huge Zohr offshore reservoir in 2015 has stoked interest that Cypriot waters could hold the same riches.

Wednesdays agreement is backed by the European Union in its search to diversify energy sources.

"We are essentially talking about a European pipeline, intended to transport Cypriot natural gas to Egypt for re-export to Europe in the form of liquified natural gas (LNG)," said Lakkotrypis.

The pace of construction of the pipeline to deliver gas to Egypt would depend on commercial agreements with investors.

Cyprus aims for natural gas to start flowing to Egypts LNG facilities in 2022, thus generating its first revenue from natural gas.

The island has also issued exploration licenses to ENI of Italy, the US firm ExxonMobil and Frances Total.Mexico City (AFP) - Violence erupted when Mexico City authorities evicted a squatter camp Wednesday, with residents hurling stones at riot police in clashes that left dozens of people wounded.

Residents of the tent city in the central Juarez neighborhood said authorities arrived early in the morning along with men in civilian clothing and started hitting them without warning.

"They beat us, the police took their guns out in front of the kids.... They just arrived and started hitting us -- children, women, the elderly," said Margarita Margarito, 30, a street vendor who, like many in the camp, is from the indigenous Otomi people.

The camp sprouted up more than 20 years ago in an empty lot beside an abandoned building. Some 100 families lived there, according to the authorities.

Margarito, who had a large gash on her forehead, said the police did not show any eviction order. The men in civilian clothes meanwhile stole residents' money and belongings, she said.

Residents responded by throwing stones, swinging large sticks and rushing at riot police clustered behind protective shields, in clashes that lasted several hours, said AFP correspondents at the scene.

An AFP photographer had to be hospitalized after he was hit in the head with a rock. Children and police were also among the wounded.

Exploding petrol bombs ignited fires in the alleys of the tent city. It was unclear who threw them.

The city's public security ministry blamed the clashes on residents resisting an eviction order.

Some 100 riot police cordoned off the camp, refusing to allow furious residents inside to get their belongings.

The violence erupted amid commemorations and protests in Mexico City for the anniversaries of two deadly earthquakes -- one last year that killed 369 people, and one in 1985 that killed more than 10,000.

The squatter camp was located next to an abandoned building that was damaged in last year's earthquake, but there was no apparent connection with the anniversary.

Elsewhere in the capital city of 20 million residents, people left homeless by the quake held protests accusing the authorities of turning a blind eye to their plight and breaking their promises to help them.A suspected drink driver ploughed down the stairs of a train station after driving through a red light and colliding with a car.

The video shows cars crossing a busy junction with traffic lights, when suddenly the driver of a Mazda, 47, speeds through a red light, according to reports.

The dramatic incident took place at the Akademiya Nauk (Academy of Science) metro station in the capital of Belarus, Minsk.

A Mazda is sent hurtling onto the pavement as the alleged drink-driver crashes the Lada SUV across the junction and skids to a halt.

The crushed car in the underground passage (CEN)

A suspected drink-driver vanishes down the stairs of a metro station after running a red light and being hit by a car (CEN)

The motorist in the Mazda loses control of the vehicle, then it hurtles down the stairs of the station.

Thankfully nobody was injured in the incident, though the Lada was severely damaged, according to local press.

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Officers claim the Mazda driver is to blame for the accident and they suspect he was drunk when he ran the red light.Vienne (AFP) - The EU must convince Italy, Spain and Greece to back a plan to bolster the bloc's external borders, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said Wednesday as bloc leaders met in Salzburg to discuss the controversial issue of migration.

EU Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker "has put forward a proposal to widen the mandate of the Frontex (border agency) and make repatriations (of refugees) more effective," Kurz said in an interview with the Austrian daily Der Standard.

"Some member states are still rather sceptical. It's our task to convince them," said Kurz, whose country currently holds the European Union's rotating presidency.

Hungary, and its fiercely anti-immigration Prime Minister Viktor Orban, has already vowed to oppose the EU plan.

And speaking to reporters ahead of the meeting in Salzburg, Orban insisted that Hungary was "able to protect our own border. We insist on the right that it is our job."

In the newspaper interview, Kurz said that Italy, Spain and Greece, as key entry points into the bloc for many refugees fleeing across the Mediterranean, were similarly sceptical about the plans to beef up the Frontex border agency.

"It's about their sovereignty rights, as well as concerns about the improved registration of migrants," the Austrian leader said.

Under the EU Commission's proposals, the number of Frontex border guards will be increased to 10,000 by 2020 and they will be able to intervene to better regulate the influx.

Germany and France in particular advocate improving the system for registering migrants.

Speaking to reporters in Salzburg, Kurz noted that Hungary had shown a willingness to clamp down on illegal migration, while others which had not been as tough.

"It's important to see how (Frontex's) mandate will be defined, in particular for those who appear capable of defending their borders," Kurz said.

Also speaking in Salzburg, EU Council chief Donald Tusk urged leaders to "stop the migration blame game".

Noting that the number of people entering Europe illegally had dropped dramatically since the 2015 migration crisis, Tusk said that "instead of taking political advantage of the situation, we should focus on what works and just get on with it".

"We can no longer be divided between those who want to solve the problem of illegal migrant flows and those who want to use it for political gain," Tusk added, alluding to the anti-immigration parties that made gains in several recent European elections.Brussels (AFP) - The EU opened an in-depth probe into alleged collusion by major German carmakers over anti-pollution technology Tuesday, a fresh blow to the scandal-hit industry three years after the notorious "dieselgate."

Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said BMW, Daimler and VW are suspected of agreeing "not to compete against each other on the development and roll-out" of anti-pollution systems for petrol and diesel passenger cars.

"If proven, this collusion may have denied consumers the opportunity to buy less polluting cars, despite the technology being available to the manufacturers," she added.

The probe lands three years to the day after shock revelations following a United States investigation that VW installed software in millions of its diesel vehicles around the world to cheat emissions tests.

The latest case does not involve these so-called "defeat devices", but instead focuses on alleged delays in the deployment of state-of-the-art control systems that reduce smog-causing pollution, such as nitrogen oxides and particulate matter.

The Commission said the probe was working with evidence of meetings and collusion by a group it called the "circle of five": BMW, Daimler, Volkswagen, in addition to VW units Audi and Porsche.

The commission said that the "circle of five" discussions also involved other subjects including crash tests and top speeds for cruise control, but these did not "at this stage" show evidence of collusion.

Contacted by AFP, the companies said that they will cooperate with the investigation.

A Daimler spokesman said the company had put itself forward as whistle-blower in the case, a special status that if accepted would allow for leniency by the EU authorities.

BMW affirmed "its full commitment to the principles of free market and fair competition," adding that the group is itself investigating the charges.

Story continues

And Volkswagen suggested that the opening of the investigation represents only a "procedural step", which was entirely expected by the group.

The price of collusion can be dear. In 2016 and 2017, Brussels slapped its biggest ever cartel fines totalling nearly four billion euros on Europe's top truckmakers, accusing them of colluding to fix prices and dodge the costs of stricter pollution rules.

- 'Above the law' -

The probe comes at a sensitive time for VW, which faces a raft of court cases in the coming months over its pollution test cheating.

These include several courtroom rebellions by shareholders, who say they were told too late about the cheating.

Investors are seeking compensation for the losses they suffered after VW's share price plunged by 40 percent when the cheating was revealed in September 2015.

VW insists that the cheating was carried out by a small group of engineers without superiors' knowledge.

"On the third anniversary of Dieselgate, this new investigation into collusion between German carmakers ... is a timely reminder that German car industry puts profits above people and the law," said Greg Archer of the European environmental NGO Transport & Environment.

Marking the anniversary, the NGO released a report alleging that 43 million "dirty diesels" remain on Europe's roads.

"The number of grossly-polluting diesel cars and vans on our roads has increased by five million since last year and is up 14 million on when the Dieselgate cheating was exposed on this day three years ago," it said.By Stephen Nellis and Greg Roumeliotis

(Reuters) - Qualcomm Inc is preparing at add at least two new directors to its board, people familiar with the matter told Reuters, as the U.S. smartphone chip maker looks to appease shareholders who withheld voting support for its board last March.

Qualcomm has been forced to defend its track record this year after upsetting some investors by rebuffing a $120 billion takeover bid from rival Broadcom Inc, failing to secure Chinese regulatory approval for its $44 billion acquisition of NXP Semiconductors NV, and failing to resolve a longstanding patent dispute with Apple Inc.

Investors expressed dissatisfaction with the company last March when most of Qualcomm's board directors, including Chief Executive Steve Mollenkopf, were elected with voting support of less than 50 percent of the shares outstanding even though they were unopposed.

That followed the exit of the board's chairman Paul Jacobs, who stepped down to explore a long-shot acquisition offer for the company, which has yet to materialize.

Irene Rosenfeld, who stepped down last year as CEO of U.S. snack foods company Mondelez International Inc, and Martin Anstice, CEO of semiconductor equipment manufacturer Lam Research Corp, are in advanced talks to join Qualcomm's board, the sources told Reuters on Tuesday.

Their addition to the board would expand it from 12 directors to 14. Qualcomm appointed Neil Smit, vice chairman of U.S. cable operator Comcast Corp, and Mark Fields, former CEO of car maker Ford Motor Co, to its board in June.

More additions to the company's board next year are possible, the sources said. Board member Thomas Horton, the former chairman of American Airlines Group Inc, is considering whether to seek re-election next year after serving as a director for 10 years and has yet to make a decision, according to two of the sources.

The sources asked not to be identified because the deliberations are confidential. Qualcomm declined to comment.

Story continues

Qualcomm is under pressure to deliver on the financial goals it laid out while defending itself against Broadcom. The hostile bid was blocked in March by U.S. President Donald Trump over national security concerns.

The financial targets include a sharp increase in earnings per share. Qualcomm is targeting $6.75 to $7.50 in fiscal 2019, compared with $4.28 in fiscal 2017, its last full year. That hinges on resolving its licensing disputes and continuing to diversify revenue.

The San Diego-based company kicked off a $30 billion stock buyback earlier this year, it resolved a patent row with client Samsung Electronics Co, and said it expects to bring in $1 billion in sales from chips for smartwatches and speakers, part of the $5 billion in sales this year it expects from sources outside its core mobile phone chip market.

Qualcomm's efforts are satisfying some investors. Its shares have risen more than 50 percent since April and recently hit an almost four-year high.

(Reporting by Stephen Nellis in San Francisco and Greg Roumeliotis in New York; Additional reporting by Liana B. Baker and Jessica DiNapoli in New York; Editing by Bill Rigby)(Reuters) - More than 53,600 U.S. homes and businesses, mostly in North Carolina and South Carolina, were still without power on Wednesday, after Hurricane Florence hit the North Carolina coast last week, power companies said. That was down from a peak of 1.9 million customers that lost power during the storm. Duke Energy Corp , the biggest utility in the area, on Wednesday said power had been restored to 1.6 million customers out of nearly 1.7 million customers who experienced an outage during the storm. (https://bit.ly/2MO6JcD) The company said it expects to restore power to most customers by Sept. 26. Florence, which made landfall on Friday as a Category 1 hurricane before it was downgraded, has already killed at least 36 people, including 27 in North Carolina and eight in South Carolina. Rivers and waterways, swollen after Florence's historic deluge, rose dangerously across the Carolinas, closing roads, inundating communities, hindering rescue and repair efforts and preventing evacuees from returning home. (Reporting by Swati Verma in Bengaluru; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Grant McCool)Summits between North and South Korea are closely watched for both spectacular symbolism -- on grand display at the Panmunjom summit in April -- and smaller hints of meaning.

Tuesday's meeting between the South's President Moon Jae-in and the North's leader Kim Jong Un -- their third so far this year, but Moon's first trip to Pyongyang as president -- was no exception.

Here are five things we have learned so far.

- Sister act -

Kim's younger sister Yo Jong, whom he sent to the South's Winter Olympics as his special envoy, has emerged as one of his closest advisers and is regularly seen at his side at public events. But she is developing a tendency to stray into shot.

At the first Panmunjom summit, she walked behind Moon and her brother, who were otherwise alone on the red carpet, until she suddenly peeled away.

And again at Pyongyang airport she briefly joined them on a platform where they were to watch a welcome ceremony, before drifting into the cameras' vision several times as the two leaders and their wives made their way past well-wishers.

- Field of view -

All major South Korean television channels carried wall-to-wall coverage of Moon's arrival in Pyongyang, showing the airport events live and then switching to studio commentary and discussion until the next footage appeared.

But the North's media is tightly controlled, even when reporting events in the country itself, and often eschews live broadcasts, preferring to show recorded footage.

As Kim and Moon embraced on the tarmac the North's main state television channel showed only a test card, with eight unchanging vertical blocks of colour.

- Disputed islands -

The unification flags waved by North Koreans at the airport showed a map of the peninsula, clearly including Dokdo, islands controlled by Seoul but claimed by Tokyo.

When similar flags were used ahead of the Winter Olympics in the South, Japan swiftly protested, and Seoul rapidly came up with an alternative version without the blue specks.

Story continues

But Pyongyang is strongly nationalistic and constantly denounces Japan's 20th-century colonisation of the peninsula and its wartime atrocities.

A weekend commentary on the official KCNA news agency condemned Tokyo as a "political dwarf", adding that Pyongyang was "keenly watching Japan adding more crimes to the past ones and will have Japan pay dearly for them".

- Domestic bliss -

In their constitutions both North and South Korea claim sovereignty over the whole of the peninsula.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Republic of Korea -- the North and South's official names -- were founded 70 years ago but each still technically regards the other as an illegal entity.

Relations between them are handled by Seoul's unification ministry and Pyongyang's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Country, rather than their foreign ministries.

As such, a journey between them would not be regarded as an international flight.

And when Kim stepped onto the tarmac to welcome Moon, he emerged from a door marked "Domestic departure".

- Bait and switch -

Kim and Moon got into separate vehicles at Pyongyang airport before driving away.

But by the time the convoy arrived at the Paekhwawon State Guesthouse where Moon and his closest advisers are staying -- the name means "100 different flowers bloom" -- they were in the same open-topped car.

It later emerged that they had switched vehicles on the edge of the city and paraded together past thousands of citizens lined up along the streets.

"Reunification of the country!" the crowds chanted in unison, as the motorcade drove past the Kumsusan Palace where Kim's predecessors -- his father and grandfather -- lie in state.Donald Trump, the US president, right, and Andrzej Duda, the Polish president, left, during a press conference in the White House - AFP

Donald Trump has expressed interest in creating a permanent US military base in Poland after the countrys leader said he would cover $2 billion of the costs and name the facility Fort Trump.

The US president said in a White House press conference on Tuesday that he was considering the proposal because it would boost military protection and help bring down Americas defence costs.

The comment came after Andrzej Duda, the Polish president who appeared alongside Mr Trump to address the media, warned that Russias military build-up on Europes eastern border needed to be countered.

The plan was first pushed by the Polish government earlier this year. It is eager to have a permanent US military presence in its country to counter the Kremlin.

Mr Duda mentioned the proposal to Mr Trump in the Oval Office as the pair chatted in front of the cameras about Polands security.

Donald Trump speaks during a news conference with Polish President Andrzej Duda in the East Room of the White House Credit: AP Photo/Alex Brandon

I hope that we will build Fort Trump in Poland together, Mr President, Mr Duda said. Mr Trump responded by saying that the countrys security was very important to him.

In a press conference later on Tuesday, Mr Duda explained in more detail why he felt Americas permanent military presence was needed in Poland.

He said that Russia had been pursuing very strong militarisation in recent years and displaying aggressive behaviours.

Mr Duda said: I am convinced that there is no more an effective method of preventing a war than a decisive stance demonstrating that we are ready at any moment to repel possible attack. "

He added: When we have a strong military presence in this part of Europe, where there is a potential threat, there will be no war happening ever.

The scene in the White House for the joint press conference Credit: Jim WATSON / AFP

Mr Trump confirmed that he was interested in the proposal when he spoke next, though the US president did not go as far as to fully endorse the plan.

Poland would be paying the United States billions of dollars for a base. We are looking at that more and more from a standpoint of defending really wealthy countries and not being reimbursed," he said.

Mr Trump added: The president offered us much more than $2 billion to do this and so we are looking at it from the stand point of number one military protection for both countries and also cost.

The US president has long complained that allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation [Nato] are not delivering on a pledge to spend 2 per cent of their GDP on defence.Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paqueta has been linked with a switch to Europes biggest clubs, including Manchester United

Late drama and stunning goals  the Champions League returned in all its glory last night.

But forget Bobby Firminos late winner for Liverpool against PSG, Spurs implosion at the San Siro and Napolis thrilling goalless draw at Red Star Belgrade.

There are just 104 days left until the January transfer window open.

That means Manchester United only have 149,760 minutes left to plan their mid-winter business and appease Jose Mourinho  if he is still there come 2019.

READ MORE:

PSGs loss to Liverpool raises further questions

READ MORE:

Cold reality hits Pochettino after Tottenhams dispiriting loss

READ MORE: Liverpool have the stamina to stick to Klopps gameplan in PSG thriller

And they are being linked with new players all the time, which is a relief, because frankly we are all bored of Paul Pogba gossip.

The focus of todays rumours is Lucas Paqueta, a 21-year-old attacking midfielder playing for Flamengo in his native Brazil.

As is the case with any South American starlet, Le10Sport report United are far from the only club said to be watching Paqueta closely.

The youngsters deal at Flamengo ends in December 2020, but reportedly includes a 50m release clause  pocket change for a Premier League powerhouse.

Which is why Manchester City and Liverpool have been tipped with a move, as have Barcelona and PSG.

After making his debut for Brazil in friendlies against the USA and El Salvador earlier this month, Paqueta appears destined for the top and may well have a pick of the top European clubs, if the rumours are to be believed.

While City, United and Liverpool are continually linked with signing players, this weeks crisis club Spurs may be in danger of losing one of the stars.

Son Heung-Min was signed by Spurs from Bayer Leverkusen back in 2015 and has gone from strength to strength in his three years under Mauricio Pochettino.

Bayern Munich are contemplating a move for Heung-Min Son

South Koreas victory in the Asian Games mean that Son will not have to return to his home country and complete his military service too, making him an even more attractive signing for the European big boys.

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And it is Germanys super club, Bayern Munich, who, according to CalcioMercato, are interested in splashing the cash on the 26-year-old and bringing him back to the Bundesliga.

Given Spurs lack of signings over the summer, Pochettino will be loath to lose one of his key men, but there is no guarantee that Daniel Levy would turn down a large offer if it came.

Talking of success with your country, Gareth Southgates choice of game last night was questionable.

Gareth Southgate took in Premier League games at the weekend, before watching Derby 0-0 Blackburn last night

Liverpools starting XI had five English players in it against PSG, but Southgate decided to watch Chelsea loanee Mason Mount play for Derby against Blackburn Rovers.

That game ended 0-0 and it is surprising that he passed up the chance to watch Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Jordan Henderson and Daniel Sturridge take on the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.

James Milner was the fifth Englishman, and as much as Southgate might wish he hadnt retired from international duty, hes unlikely to change his mind.SALZBURG, Austria (Reuters) - European Union leaders met in Salzburg, Austria for an informal summit to discuss migration and Brexit. Below are comments of leaders arriving for a dinner on Wednesday before the main summit day on Thursday. BRITISH PRIME MINISTER THERESA MAY "I believe this (Chequers) is the right proposal because it maintains frictionless trade. It's the only credible and negotiable plan on the table that delivers no hard border in Northern Ireland and also delivers on the vote of the British people. "If we're going to achieve a successful conclusion then, just as the UK has evolved its position, the EU will need to evolve its position too. "I'm confident that with good will and determination we can agree a deal that right for both parties. Question on Barnier comments about improving Irish backstop solution "I welcome the fact that Michel Barnier is recognizing the need to find a new solution. The original proposal put forward by the European Commission was unacceptable to us. "We've always recognized that there are unique circumstances that apply in Northern Ireland, for example in relation to checks for some agricultural products. But what we cannot accept is seeing Northern Ireland carved away effectively from the United Kingdoms customs territory. "There are prominent Labour members like the mayor of London who are now trying to take us back to square one and are backing a second referendum and postponing the Brexit date, the exit day. I want to be absolutely clear: this government will never accept a second referendum. The British people have voted to leave the European Union and we will be leaving on the 29th of March, 2019." LUXEMBOURG PRIME MINISTER XAVIER BETTEL "There are still efforts to make. We need to find a deal, a no-deal is a really bad solution. It's a terrible solution for the UK and a bad solution for Europe. So we need to find a deal." AUSTRIAN CHANCELLOR SEBASTIAN KURZ "We are convinced that we need a deal. We must do everything to avoid a hard Brexit. It would not just harm British, but would also cause damage for us in Europe. "We are striving to make a compromise possible. (EU Brexit negotiator) Michel Barnier is doing well, he has our full support. He has taken a step toward the British. Now we expect a willingness to compromise from the British hopefully to bring about a deal. "We will propose today there is an extraordinary summit in November and if the member states support this, it will happen. Hopefully by then we will reach an agreement with Great Britain." SLOVENIAN PRIME MINISTER MARJAN SAREC "We hope there will be a deal. There is even a chance in October ... but we'll see. It's not just one negotiator - if Britain also support this ... it's possible." (Reporting by Brussels newsroom)Geneva (AFP) - Hungary's foreign minister accused UN officials Wednesday of "spreading lies" with their criticism of Budapest's anti-migration policies, insisting his country would "never be a country of migrants".

"It is obvious that the UN officials spreading these lies about Hungary are biased pro-migration officials," Peter Szijjarto told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Hungary, he said, will "never be a country of migrants... We will never allow one single illegal migrant to enter the territory of our country."

"Hungary will remain a country of the Hungarians, which is happy and which is proud of its more than 1,000-year-long history and Christian culture and traditions," he said.

Szijjarto, whose appearance at the UN's top rights body was announced less than 24 hours before his speech, did not cite any UN officials by name.

But his address came after the new UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet and a group of UN rights experts last week harshly criticised Hungary's policies.

He slammed UN officials for stating "nonsense about Hungary" and for issuing documents that "were not more than collections of lies".

Without providing specifics, he said UN officials had issued documents that "basically question the maturity of the Hungarian people (and) suggest that it would be better to place Hungary under a guardianship."

"These documents suggest that they want to protect Hungarian people from themselves," he said.

- 'Not independent from truth' -

He noted that UN officials criticising Hungary "usually say that they are independent from the member states."

"I don't doubt that this might be the case. But they must not be independent from truth... And they must not use their position to insult the citizens and the peoples of the member states," Szijjarto said.

In the written version of her maiden speech to the council on September 10, Bachelet pointed to "shocking reports" that "food has been withheld from migrants held in transit zones on the Hungarian-Serbian border."

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She also took issue with measures adopted by the Hungarian government in June enabling "authorities to arrest, criminally charge and immediately remove from Hungary's border area any lawyer, adviser, volunteer or legally resident family member suspected of helping a person to make an asylum claim, obtain a residence permit, or take other perfectly legal actions."

In a separate statement, seven independent UN special rapporteurs, including for migrants' rights, freedom of expression and the rights activists, also slammed Hungary's anti-immigrant policies last week, and voiced alarm at "smear campaigns" against civil society.

Those experts called on "European institutions to continue addressing the deteriorating human rights situation in Hungary and keep on taking decisions reflecting the core values of the European Union: democracy, the rule of law and the protection of human rights."

Last week, the European Parliament initiated a procedure that could ultimately see Hungary stripped of EU voting rights over controversial reforms that Brussels says undermine democracy.Funding for syringe clean-up among four new ARPA proposals

Access Point Pueblo, a syringe access program, was one of four American Rescue Plan Act proposals presented during a Nov. 8 council work session.(Reuters) - The accuser killer of Iowa college student Mollie Tibbetts, whose disappearance produced national headlines, pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder at a court appearance on Wednesday.

Cristhian Bahena Rivera, a 24-year-old farm worker from Mexico accused of stabbing 20-year-old Tibbetts, appeared in a black-and-white striped jumpsuit at his arraignment in Poweshiek County Courthouse in Montezuma, Iowa.

"Mr. Rivera pleads not guilty," his lawyer Chad Frese told the judge as Rivera listened through black headphones to a translator.

District Court Judge Joel Yates set his trial for April 16. Rivera was ordered held on $5 million bail at a previous court appearance.

Tibbetts, a University of Iowa student, vanished while jogging on July 18, and her body was found about a month later in a field near Brooklyn, Iowa.

Law enforcement officials told reporters that Rivera was in the country illegally. His defense lawyer has said in a court filing that Rivera had legal status.

The case further fueled a national debate over illegal immigration and crime, with U.S. President Donald Trump saying Tibbetts' death was a result of weak immigration laws.

In an opinion piece for the Des Moines Register earlier this month, Tibbetts' father, Rob Tibbetts, called on politicians not to "distort" her death to advance views "she believed were profoundly racist."

(Reporting by Barbara Goldberg in New York; Editing by Joseph Ax and Bill Berkrot)Mbabane (eSwatini) (AFP) - The tiny country of eSwatini, until recently known as Swaziland, is ruled by a playboy king with many wives and supreme control over a nation struggling with poverty and HIV.

As Swazis go to the polls on Friday, here is some essential background about the landlocked kingdom wedged between South Africa and Mozambique.

- King in control -

King Mswati III was crowned in 1986 when he was only 18, four years after the death of his elderly father, Sobhuza II.

Now aged 50, he has been in power for 32 years, making him one of the longest-serving rulers in Africa.

With unrestricted political power over his 1.3 million people and ruling by decree, he is the only absolute monarch on the continent and one of the few remaining in the world.

His surprise declaration in April that the kingdom would return to its pre-colonial name, eSwatini, was criticised as an example of his authoritarianism.

Mswati has 14 wives -- his father is said to have had at least 70 -- and the right to choose a new one at the annual Reed Dance, when thousands of bare-breasted virgins dance for him.

- Political parties banned -

After independence from Britain in 1968, Sobhuza II abandoned a British-style system and in 1973 restored a traditional form of government that gives the royal family supreme power.

It effectively bans political parties, which are barred from parliamentary elections held every five years.

Candidates for the 69-member parliament stand as individuals; the king directly appoints 10, as well as the prime minister, senior cabinet members and the judiciary.

The government stifles dissent and demonstrations, including by pro-democracy trade unions.

A much-criticised 2008 Suppression of Terrorism Act has been used to arrest and charge democracy and opposition activists.

- Widespread poverty -

Around 63 percent of Swazis live in poverty and a quarter of children under five show signs of malnutrition, according to UN agencies.

About 26 percent of the labour force is unemployed and 77 percent of Swazis rely on subsistence farming, with severe drought leaving many in need of aid.

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The country has little developed industry, with sugar production being among the most important, and is heavily dependent on South Africa, which provides 85 percent of its imports and receives 60 percent of exports, the World Bank says.

Its key textile sector lost thousands of jobs after the United States removed the kingdom from a lucrative trade pact in 2014 due to concerns over workers' rights.

It was admitted back into the African Growth and Opportunity Act in December 2017.

- World's highest HIV rate -

Around 27 percent of adults aged 15 to 49 were living with HIV last year, according to UN figures, the highest prevalence of the AIDS-causing virus in the world.

However the number of new HIV infections has halved since 2010 and AIDS-related deaths are down 28 percent, according to UNAIDS.

This is after campaigns to boost access to virus-suppressing drugs and male circumcision.

Around 3,500 people died from the disease last year, from a peak of in 7,900 in 2005, while 44,000 children were AIDS orphans.

- Freedoms flouted -

The government has almost total control of the media and the only independent newspaper, the Times of Swaziland, is routinely intimidated into retracting articles that are critical of the authorities.

Homosexuality is outlawed, miniskirts were banned in 2012 and in 2017 the government ordered that only Christianity could be taught at primary and secondary schools.

The Economist Intelligence Unit 2017's democracy index ranks Swaziland 144 out of 167 countries, placing it firmly in the "authoritarian" category.A gunman opened fire outside a crowded Pennsylvania courtroom Wednesday afternoon, shooting at police and others before an officer fired multiple shots at him, killing him.

Fayette County District Attorney Richard Bower said Wednesday evening that a German Township police officer shot and killed the gunman after he entered the lobby in Masontown with a handgun drawn and opened fire injuring four people. Bower declined to name the gunman, saying only that he was due in court on charges related to a recent domestic violence incident.

Bower said Masontown police Sgt. R. Scott Miller first encountered the gunman and was injured when he exchanged gunfire with the shooter. When Miller took cover, Bower said the gunman proceeded to fire shots injuring two men and one woman.

"In this case, as is so often the case, the German Township police officer ran toward the danger, not away. He protected over 30 to 40 people from injury or death," Bower said.

"These police officers and these emergency management people risk their lives every day ... and today they all were a shining light to our community," he added.

Bower declined to say whether any of the civilian victims were related to the domestic violence allegations. He said the gunman was facing charges of strangulation, aggravated assault, terroristic threats and simple assault. He said there was a protection of abuse order against the gunman in the strangulation case.

A Fayette County 911 center supervisor confirmed the three civilian victims were taken to the Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, West Virginia, for treatment. Amy Johns, public affairs director at the hospital, said late Wednesday they had received a 47-year-old male, 35-year-old male and 39-year-old female from the shooting and all were in fair condition as of about 5:45 p.m.

Masontown Mayor Toni Petrus was at the hospital Wednesday afternoon checking on Sgt. Miller. She said he was in good condition and was being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Story continues

State Police troop commander Lt. Steven C. Dowlin said that even though the shooting happened near the office of District Judge Daniel Shimshock, neither he nor his staff appeared to be the intended target of the shooter.

Dowlin said the judge, assistant district attorneys, lawyers, police officers and others were in the courtroom near the lobby when shots were fired.

Joyce Royster was in the courtroom at the building Wednesday. She told WTAE there were dozens of people inside the courtroom when the shooting started just outside. She said people fled the courtroom as the shooter started to move inside and took shelter in offices and other courtrooms.

Dowlin said this is the second mass shooting that state police have responded to in Fayette County this year. He said troopers stopped a young individual at a Uniontown High School from carrying out a shooting.

"It's becoming way too common," he said.

___

Associated Press writer Ron Todt in Philadelphia contributed to this report.Most of the products in Jacks will be own brand (PA Images)

Tesco has opened the door to its first Jacks stores  a new discount concept designed to tempt shoppers away from Aldi and Lidl.

Two Jacks shops will officially open on Thursday in Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, and Immingham, North East Lincolnshire.

Most of the products on the shelves will be own-brand and eight out of 10 Jacks food and drink products will be grown, reared or made in Britain, according to Tesco.

Aldi and Lidl have tempted middle class shoppers away from the big four supermarkets in recent years (PA Images)

They will employ a low-cost business model to keep prices low, in line with the the German discounters.

Tesco plans to open another 15 branches over the next year, five of which will be converted from existing Tesco stores.

Ahead of the opening Tesco has released the price details of some products.

A tin if own-label baked beans will cost 29p

A 350g broccoli will cost 48p

6 Cox apples will cost 77p

4 pints of semi-skimmed milk will cost 1.09

500g of turkey breast mince will cost 3.35

The launch is an attempt to claw back market share from Aldi and Lidl, who have enjoyed a surge in popularity over the past five years.

In the past five years the two shops doubled their market share and now take 13.1% of the market.

Aldi was the fastest growing supermarket over the most recent period, and the majority of their growth came from the fresh and chilled aisles.

Tesco is still Britains grocery market leader with a share of 27.4%

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Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Kantar Worldpanel, said earlier this year: Traditionally focused on own-label lines, Lidl has actually seen fastest growth among its branded products, which are up by 28% and now account for 12% of all sales.

Story continues

Not to be outdone, Aldi also increased sales by 16.2% to hold a market share of 6.9%  up 0.7 percentage points. Aldi experienced particular success with its premium Specially Selected range, which saw sales climb by 26 million.

The first Jacks stores officially open on Thursday 13 September (PA Images)

Tesco chief executive Dave Lewis said: [Tesco founder] Jack Cohen championed value for customers and changed the face of British shopping.

Hes an inspiration for all of us and that same spirit still drives Tesco now.

Its fitting that today, we mark the beginning of Tescos celebration of 100 Years of Great Value by launching a new brand, and stores bearing his name: Jacks.Baghdad (AFP) - An Iraqi court on Wednesday sentenced to death on terror charges a prominent jihadist described as a deputy of Islamic State group leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, after he was captured in Turkey.

Ismail Alwan Salman al-Ithawi was hunted down, caught and extradited after a joint operation involving Turkish, Iraqi and US intelligence agencies, according to the Iraqi authorities.

"The Karkh criminal court in Baghdad sentenced to death by hanging one of the most prominent leaders of IS, who served as a deputy of Baghdadi," judicial spokesman Abdel Sattar Bayraqdar said.

The Iraqi authorities announced in February that Ithawi had been extradited from Turkey after fleeing first Iraq and then Syria as the group's self-proclaimed "caliphate" crumbled.

A senior Iraqi official told AFP at the time that the arrest came after an elite Iraqi unit "infiltrated the highest levels" of IS, which has claimed a string of deadly attacks in the West in recent years.

It was the first time Iraqi authorities managed to have a top leader of IS extradited from Turkey.

A native of the Iraqi city of Ramadi, Ithawi was accused of holding several positions including IS "minister" in charge of religious edicts and head of a IS committee that decided on senior appointments.

Originally from Iraq, his boss Baghdadi has been dubbed the "most wanted man on the planet" and the United States is offering a $25 million reward for his capture.

Baghdadi has been pronounced dead on several occasions, but an Iraqi intelligence official said in May that he remained alive in Syrian territory by the Iraqi border.

In a purported new audio recording released last month, the IS chief called on Muslims to wage "jihad".

He made his only known public appearance in Iraq's second city of Mosul in July 2014.

- Hundreds on death row -

Iraq has condemned several hundred people, including around 100 foreign women, to death for IS links, and dozens of convicted jihadists have already been executed.

Story continues

Most of the women were from Turkey and republics of the former Soviet Union.

Many more have been jailed for life, which in Iraq is equivalent to 20 years.

They include nine Tajik women who were sentenced by an Iraqi criminal court on Wednesday for belonging to IS, a judicial official said.

Iraq has repeatedly faced criticism from international human rights groups over the high number of death sentences handed down by its anti-terrorist courts.

Iraq's anti-terrorism law empowers courts to convict people who are believed to have helped IS even if they are not accused of violence.

It also allows for the death penalty to be issued against anyone -- including non-combatants -- found guilty of belonging to IS.

Iraq declared "victory" over IS in December after a three-year war against the jihadists, who once controlled nearly one third of the country as well as swathes of neighbouring Syria.

The Iraqi military has kept up operations targeting mostly remote desert areas where jihadists have continued to carry out attacks.

Over the border in Syria, US-backed fighters last week launched a fierce assault against a dwindling pocket of territory held by IS in eastern Deir Ezzor province.Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - Israeli security forces shot dead two Palestinians in clashes along the Gaza border on Tuesday evening, the health ministry in the Palestinian enclave said.

The two men, who were not immediately identified, were killed during fresh protests near the Erez checkpoint between Gaza and Israel, the scene of regular confrontation between stone throwing youths and Israeli soldiers in recent months.

Hundreds of Palestinians approached the border crossing shortly before sunset Tuesday, when the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur was set to begin.

The protests are part of months of demonstrations against Israel's decade-long blockade of the enclave.

Since they began on March 30, at least 183 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in Gaza.

One Israeli soldier was shot dead by a Palestinian sniper.

The Erez checkpoint was closed for a week this month after a similar protest damaged the crossing.

Separately, two Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike late Monday night after planting a suspicious device on the border, the Israeli army said.

Israel says its strict measures against Gaza are necessary to isolate the strip's Islamist rulers Hamas, with whom it has fought three wars since 2008.JERUSALEM (Reuters) - A Palestinian man was shot on Tuesday by Israeli police who said he tried to stab a Jewish worshiper near Damascus Gate outside the walled Old City on Yom Kippur, the holiest fast day in the Jewish calendar. A police spokesman said the attacker had been "neutralized." Witnesses said police sealed off a street in which a body lay on the ground covered with a sheet. The spokesman said the assailant was a 26-year-old Palestinian from Qalandia in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, and that his presence in Jerusalem was illegal due to an entry ban on Palestinians during the Jewish High Holy Days. "Officers identified an assailant who ran towards a Jewish (worshipper) and tried to knock him to the ground. He then continued running towards the policemen while brandishing a sharp object in his hand intending to harm them," the spokesman said. Palestinian witnesses said they saw a young man fleeing, pursued by police who opened fire. Palestinian street attacks against Israelis, many carried out by assailants with no known affiliation to militant groups, have been sporadic since 2015, a year after peace talks collapsed. On Sunday, a Palestinian fatally stabbed an American-born Jewish settler in the occupied West Bank and was then himself shot and seized by armed civilians who gave chase. (Reporting by Stephen Farrell; Writing by Ori Lewis; Editing by Toni Reinhold)Rome (AFP) - An Italian naval vessel was used to smuggle crates of cigarettes while returning from a mission to stop migrants from travelling from Libya to Europe, the navy confirmed on Wednesday after revelations in the press.

The Caprera ship had aboard more than 700 kg of contraband cigarettes, a total of 3,600 cartons in 72 boxes, according to the website of TV programme Le Iene.

The vessel had spent three and a half months in the port of Tripoli on an assistance mission with the Libyan coastguard to intercept and rescue migrant boats in the mediterranean.

When the Caprera returned to the southern Italian base of Brindisi in mid-July, the commander ordered a complete search that revealed the crates of foreign cigarettes, according to a statement from the navy.

The cigarettes have been seized and a judicial inquiry and internal investigation has begun.Milan (AFP) - An Italian court on Wednesday acquitted energy major Eni and ex-CEO Paolo Scaroni of bribery in Algeria, but fined a subsidiary and jailed its former boss.

Eni, Scaroni and subsidiary Saipem went on trial three years ago over payments of 197 million euros ($230 million) to Algerian officials between 2007 and 2010 to win energy contracts.

The payments helped Saipem win contracts worth 8 billion euros, and the court fined the subsidiary 400,000 euros and jailed former boss Pietro Tali for four years and nine months.

The court also ordered 197 million euros be seized from Saipem.

Prosecutor Isidoro Palma in January called for Eni and Saipem to be fined 900,000 euros and for Scaroni and Tali to be jailed for six years and four months.

The court found however that Scaroni could not be held responsible for Saipem's actions.

Prosecutors said that bribes were paid to officials at Algerian state energy firm Sonatrach, where several top executives including the president have resigned over the scandal.If you run for office, youre essentially applying for a job. And voters are your hiring managers. So if you want the job and you believe youve got what it takes to do it well, why would you skip the interview?

Thats why when I decided to run to be the next state representative for Tennessees 30th State House District, I committed to attending as many forums and debates as possible. Typically, these are hosted by community leaders, civic institutions, and neighborhood associations. Its an important part of the electoral process and attending is a clear sign that you respect your voters enough to show up and talk about the issues.

Since I announced my campaign, weve discussed a diverse range of important issues: whether or not we should raise the minimum wage, how to properly fund our local schools and pay teachers what they deserve, and where I stand on expanding access to TennCare to over 280,000 working families across Tennessee. Who the next state representative is for Tennessees 30th State House District is going to have an important say on these issuesand many more.

Esther Helton, my opponent, and I have real differences on those issues and very different visions for our state. Thats why it is so important that voters have an opportunity to ask us questions and hear those ideas discussed in a neutral and fair space. Campaigns shouldnt just be a handful of managed meet and greets in controlled environments with pre-planned questions. Thats not reflective of the tough and important decisions faced by our legislators and its cheating the very people were signing up to serve.

When community leaders and residents get together to learn more about their candidates, its not an ambush. When a moderator asks a tough question about the issues, its not a public fight. And when we are asked to explain our position, its not mudslinging. Thats part of the job.

Our community deserves a robust series of debates, hosted in each region of our diverse district, focused on the decisions that matter most to working families. I am committed to accepting and attending as many as I possibly can because theres nothing more important than having a discussion about the future of our state.

The election is less than two months away and I know there are a wide range of neighborhood associations and organizations willing to step up and host these discussions. Ive reached out to Ms. Helton and asked her to join me at these events in talking about what matters in this electionthe issues. Im hopeful she will and that we are able to have a respectful, in-depth, and productive conversation about how to move Tennessee forward.

Joda ThongnopnuaRome (AFP) - A South African man has been ordered to leave Italy after flying his drone near the Vatican, Italian police said on Wednesday.

Police arrested the 25-year-old as he flew his drone over the main Via della Conciliazione that leads towards Saint Peter's Square where the pope was leading Sunday prayers.

"He was given an order to leave the country and his drone and camera confiscated," Rome police said in a statement.

The South African embassy declined to comment his arrest and expulsion.

Under Rome's strict security measures, it is illegal to overfly the city, including with a drone.

Two French tourists flying a drone near the Colosseum last year were fined around 3,000 euros ($3,500) and had their equipment confiscated and destroyed, police said.Senate committee head says no need for delay after Christine Blasey Ford urges investigation before she testifies

Supreme court nominee Brett Kavanaugh has been accused of sexual assault by Christine Blasey Ford. Photograph: J. Scott Applewhite/AP

Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who has accused supreme court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault, wants the FBI to investigate her allegation as a first step before she testifies to the Senate judiciary committee  a demand Republicans seem unwilling to meet.

In a letter to the committee on Tuesday night, Fords attorneys in effect eliminated the possibility that she would appear at a high-stakes public hearing scheduled for Monday that will likely determine the fate of Kavanaughs nomination.

The attempt to postpone the hearing injected further confusion into an already chaotic and partisan process, setting the stage for an extraordinary showdown over Donald Trumps second supreme court nominee just weeks before the midterm elections in November.

Speaking through lawyers, Ford said she wanted to cooperate with the committee and implied that she would be willing to testify about her assault allegation a later date.

A full investigation by law enforcement officials will ensure that the crucial facts and witnesses in this matter are assessed in a non-partisan manner, and that the committee is fully informed before conducting any hearing or making any decisions, her lawyers wrote in a letter.

In response, Republican Chuck Grassley, the committee chair, stressed his position that Ford deserves to be heard and that the invitation to testify on Monday still stands.

However, he said in this statement: Dr Fords testimony would reflect her personal knowledge and memory of events.

Nothing the FBI or any other investigator does would have any bearing on what Dr Ford tells the committee, so there is no reason for delay.

Though her lawyers do not explicitly reject the invitation to appear, they raise concerns that she would face an unfair interrogation by senators who appear to have made up their minds that she is mistaken and mixed up. In an appearance on CNN on Tuesday evening, one of Fords lawyers, Lisa Banks, sidestepped several direct questions about whether her client would appear at the Monday hearing  though Banks strongly suggested she would not.

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Shes not prepared to talk with them at a hearing on Monday, Banks said. This is going to take some time. There shouldnt be a rush to a hearing here. Theres no reason to do that.

Ford, a research psychologist at Palo Alto University in northern California, has accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her more than 30 years ago, at a high school party when both were teenagers. He has categorically denied the accusations.

The letter comes as Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill clashed fiercely over the terms of Mondays hearing. Grassley said Kavanaugh and Ford would be the only witnesses, drawing fierce pushback from Democrats who demand an FBI investigation first and believe additional witnesses and experts should be called to testify.

Republicans, already incensed that Kavanaughs confirmation has been delayed by allegations that they say were kept secret until the 11th hour, insisted that Monday was Fords chance to tell her story. They said she had the choice to testify privately or publicly.

It is unclear if Republicans would proceed with the hearing without Ford. But GOP senators on the committee have indicated they would move forward with a vote to advance Kavanaughs nomination by the end of next week regardless of whether she appears.

Lindsey Graham, a Republican committee member from South Carolina, suggested that the demand for an FBI investigation was a partisan stalling tactic.

Its not about finding the truth, but delaying the process until after the midterm elections, Graham said in a statement on Wednesday. It is imperative the Judiciary committee move forward on the Kavanaugh nomination and a committee vote be taken as soon as possible.

But Fords attorneys say her life has been turned upside down since sharing her story in the Washington Post on Sunday. They said she has been inundated by vicious harassment and even death threats. And the letter states that Ford was forced to relocate her family from their home for security reasons, her email was hacked and she was being impersonated online.

While Dr Fords life was being turned upside down, you and your staff scheduled a public hearing for her to testify at the same table as Judge Kavanaugh in front of two dozen US senators on national television to relive this traumatic and harrowing incident, the lawyers wrote. A spokesman for Grassley said the claim was unfounded and never a part of the plan.

Democrats moved to support Fords request for an investigation into her allegations. Senator Dianne Feinstein, the ranking member of the committee said she agreed with Ford 100% and said senators should honor Fords wishes and grant a delay.

I agree with her 100% that the rushed process to hold a hearing on Monday has been unfair and is reminiscent of the treatment of Anita Hill, Feinstein said, referring to the woman who accused Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment during his supreme court confirmation hearing in 1991 and inspired a record number of women to run for office the following year.

Feinstein was among those women elected to the Senate in 1992, but she has come under fierce scrutiny from Republicans and the president for not raising the allegation sooner in the process after Ford contacted her in July. But Feinstein said she was respecting Fords request for anonymity. Ford reluctantly changed her mind and came forward publicly when the accusation began to circulate.

Republicans, meanwhile, are working furiously to save Kavanaughs confirmation, though the request to delay the hearing appeared to consolidate support among senators who might have been wavering.

On Tuesday, Trump repeatedly defended his nominee, calling him a great gentleman and lamenting that his wife and beautiful young daughters had to endure a public airing of the accusations.

The president told reporters at the White House on Tuesday that Kavanaugh was anxious to testify. I dont know about the other party, he said.Washington (AFP) - In 1991, a visibly uncomfortable law professor named Anita Hill swore to tell the truth before an all-male panel as she levelled detailed allegations of workplace sexual harassment against Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas.

Nearly three decades later, the stage is set for another eerily similar high stakes, high profile showdown: this time, Christine Blasey Ford, a research professor from California, is preparing to testify against conservative judge Brett Kavanaugh, Donald Trump's pick for the nation's highest bench, after accusing him of sexually assaulting her when they were teenagers.

The public hearing, scheduled for Monday, has sent a feeling of deja vu through the US capital, and in the context of the #MeToo movement, has raised the obvious question: will this time be different?

Hill herself expressed skepticism, observing in a New York Times opinion piece Tuesday that lawmakers appeared to have "learned little from the Thomas, much less from the more recent #MeToo movement."

But she added: "With the current heightened awareness of sexual violence comes heightened accountability for our representatives."

On October 11, 1991, Hill faced a grilling over her accusations that Thomas, her boss in the 1980s, repeatedly made sexually explicit remarks to her at work over an extended period of time.

Thomas, who was president George H.W. Bush's pick and like Hill is black, flatly denied the allegations and denounced the proceedings as "a high-tech lynching for uppity blacks."

The hearings reached some 20 million American homes as Hill's testimony was met by palpable skepticism from the 14 white men on the Senate Judiciary Panel, who spent much of the three-day event probing her credibility.

"Are you a scorned woman?" she was asked. "Did you have a militant attitude towards civil rights?"

"How reliable is your testimony?"

Thomas ultimately prevailed by a narrow vote of 52-48, and sits on the Supreme Court to this day.

Story continues

But though Hill lost her fight, she became an inspiration to many Americans.

The following year was dubbed "The Year of the Woman," as 1992 saw a record number of women voted into office.

And in the years to come the number of workplace sexual harassment complaints doubled.

Now, 28 years after Hill, another academic is following suit.

- A new era? -

Ford, a 51-year-old psychology researcher has accused Kavanaugh, 53, of sexually assaulting her at a party in the 1980s.

She says that Kavanaugh and one of his friends -- both "stumbling drunk" -- pinned her down, groped her and tried to pull off her clothes. When she tried to scream, she said, Kavanaugh covered her mouth.

Ford said she managed to get free and fled the house.

Like Hill, Ford initially sought to preserve her anonymity and her accusations leaked to the press, as the nomination process was well underway.

And again like Hill, she took a lie detector test at the request of her lawyer to prove her credibility.

And perhaps the strongest, though perhaps most predictable, similarity: like Thomas, Kavanaugh strongly denies the allegations.

Next Monday, Ford and Kavanaugh will face the same committee Hill and Thomas did -- but the United States of 2018 is not that of 1991.

The number of women elected -- although still markedly lower than that of men -- has increased, and the judiciary panel now includes four women senators.

And the #MeToo movement has sparked a national conversation over entrenched sexual violence and gender inequality, triggering the ouster of dozens of men from power positions since Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein's fall in October 2017.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, a Republican, canceled Thursday's vote considering Kavanaugh's nomination, saying "anyone who comes forward as Dr Ford has done deserves to be heard."

And senior White House aide Kellyanne Conway said Ford should neither be "insulted" nor "ignored."

But whether she will be taken seriously remains an open question.

Many Republicans and conservative voices have already labeled the proceedings a last-ditch bid to derail Kavanaugh's court appointment.

Writing in the Times, Hill said the fact that the committee "still lacks a protocol for vetting sexual harassment and assault claims that surface during a confirmation hearing suggests that the committee has learned little from the Thomas hearing, much less the more recent #MeToo movement."

"The public expects better from our government than we got in 1991," Hill said, emphasizing that her own hearing "gave employers permission to mishandle workplace harassment complaints throughout the following decades."RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. (AP)  The Latest on the fatal shooting of a sheriff's deputy near Sacramento, California (all times local):

3:45 p.m.

A deputy and a bystander injured in a shootout with a gunman near Sacramento have been released from the hospital.

Sacramento County sheriff's department spokesman Sgt. Shaun Hampton says Deputy Julie Robertson and the unidentified bystander were released on Tuesday.

Robertson's partner, Deputy Mark Stasyuk, was shot and killed when the officers responded to a call about a disagreement at an auto supply store in Rancho Cordova on Monday. The suspected shooter was apprehended following a second shootout with other responding officers.

Hampton earlier Tuesday identified the alleged gunman as 38-year-old Anton Lemon Moore of Rancho Cordova. He says Moore remains hospitalized.

___

11:10 a.m.

Authorities have identified a 38-year-old man accused of shooting two Sacramento County sheriff's deputies.

The sheriff's department said Tuesday that Anton Lemon Moore of Rancho Cordova is hospitalized after being shot multiple times during a shootout with deputies Monday. He's also known as Anton Lemon Paris.

Sheriff Scott Jones says Moore shot at deputies when they responded to a routine call about a conflict at an auto parts store in Rancho Cordova, just outside Sacramento.

Twenty-seven-year-old Deputy Mark Stasyuk was killed and 28-year-old Deputy Julie Robertson was shot in the arm. Robertson is expected to recover.

The sheriff says Moore was captured after a shootout with two other deputies nearby.

The sheriff's department says a bystander who was hit in the crossfire is stable but remains hospitalized.

___

12 a.m.

Flags at California's Capitol are flying at half-staff after a Sacramento County sheriff's deputy was killed and a second wounded in a confrontation at a Pep Boys store.

A bystander and the suspected gunman also were wounded in Monday afternoon's shootout at the auto parts store in Rancho Cordova, just outside Sacramento.

Story continues

Authorities say deputies were answering a report of a dispute between a man and a store employee when, without warning, the suspect opened fire.

Twenty-seven-year-old Deputy Mark Stasyuk was killed and 28-year-old Deputy Julie Robertson was shot in the arm.

Sheriff Scott Jones says the suspect and the bystander are expected to survive. Their names haven't been released.

Stasyuk had been with the department for over four years.Fox News host Laura Ingraham made it clear to viewers Monday night that she was skeptical of the sexual misconduct allegation against Brett Kavanaugh.

This all has a whiff of a political smear masquerading as a sexual assault allegation, she said on set.Its impossible to prove a negative and questioning Ms. Ford and Brett Kavanaugh on this matter? Its unlikely to reveal anything new.

Elsewhere on the show, Ingraham noted that the judge had no prior issues with sexual misconduct and cited glowing testimonials from those close to him.

When someones a creep, you know it, she said. Ive never heard anything like that about him.

Also Read: Hannity Asks Laura Ingraham: 'Do You Have to Get in Trouble Every Week?' (Video)

On Monday, news emerged that the Kavanaugh vote in the Senate Judiciary committee would be delayed to allow both Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford to offer sworn testimony.

In a Washington Post report on Sunday, Ford publicly accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her while drunk at a party during the early 1980s when they were both in high school. Her lawyer subsequently described the incident as attempted rape.

Kavanaugh has categorically denied the incident ever took place.

Also Read: Time's Up Demands Senate Postpone Brett Kavanaugh Confirmation

The allegation has nevertheless thrown his once smooth nomination into turmoil, with the full weight of the MeToo movement now bearing down. On Monday, the womens legal advocacy organization Times Up called for an immediate delay in the vote until the allegations could be fully investigated.

A man who could be our next U.S. Supreme Court Justice has been accused of sexual assault. There is no path forward for Brett Kavanaughs nomination until those credible and serious allegations have been investigated, said the group in a statement.

We demand that the U.S. Senate postpone any vote on Judge Kavanaughs nomination until a thorough and complete examination has been completed.

Read original story Laura Ingraham Calls Kavanaugh Accusation a Political Smear Masquerading as a Sexual Assault Allegation At TheWrapScooch over helicopter parents, lawnmower mums and dads are the new pushy parents [Photo: Getty]

Helicopter parents. Weve all met them. Theyre those mums and dads who take an active (read: excessive) interest in everything their kids do.

But, theyre not the only pushy parents at the school gate. Now, lawnmower parents are here to make their mark.

The term was coined by an anonymous writer on the We Are Teachers blog and is defined as parents who go to whatever lengths necessary to prevent their child from having to face adversity, struggle or failure.

Instead of preparing children for challenges, they mow obstacles down so kids wont experience them in the first place.

The writer, an educator, described their own brush with a lawnmower parent when they were called to the office to collect something from a pupils dad.

Assuming it would be something important the student needed like their lunch or an inhaler, the teacher was surprised to see the childs father holding an insulated water bottle.

Remy kept texting me that she needed [the bottle]. I texted back, Dont they have water fountains at your school?, but I guess she just had to have it out of the bottle, the father said sheepishly.

The writer went on to explain that though lawnmower parents intentions are likely well meaning, they could actually be doing more harm than good.

I think that most lawnmower parents come from a good place, they wrote.

But in raising children who have experienced minimal struggle, we are not creating a happier generation of kids.

We are creating a generation that has no what idea what to do when they actually encounter struggle. A generation who panics or shuts down at the mere idea of failure.

Experts are warning lawnmower parenting could do more harm than good for children [Photo: Getty]

The difference between helicopter parents and lawnmower parents is that while the former hover over their kids ready to swoop in and rescue their children whenever an issue arises, the latter bypass the hovering stage.

Instead, they mow or plough right through to sort a problem before it has even been raised.

And some experts are concerned about the message this is sending children.

Story continues

If you say, Oh, I took care of this for you, it inadvertently gives that message of you cant do this yourself, you cant succeed, Stephanie Samar, a clinical psychologist at the Mood Disorders Center of the Child Mind Institute, told ABC News.

That can lead to other problematic things  maybe increased anxiety, low distressed tolerance  (a) discomfort that comes with having conflict helplessness about heir situation.

Explaining that lawnmower parents often focus on short-term goals, for example a parent calling a teacher because they dont agree with the grade their child got, Stephanie went on to warn that this can hinder children from developing coping skills.

When parents are removing obstacles for their child they are really taking away that opportunity for kids to learn those problem-solving techniques, she said.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for non-stop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. For Twitter updates, follow @YahooStyleUK.

Read more from Yahoo Style UK:

Why its time to stop childcare shaming working mums like Holly Willoughby and Kate Silverton

Women are sharing selfies with their tea to mark Mums Equal Pay Day

Study reveals measures parents take to get their child into a good schoolBy Lesley Wroughton and Hyonhee Shin WASHINGTON/SEOUL (Reuters) - The United States said it was ready to resume talks with North Korea after Pyongyang pledged on Wednesday to dismantle its key missile facilities and suggested it would close its main Yongbyon nuclear complex if Washington took unspecified actions. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he had invited North Korea's foreign minister to meet in New York next week, with the aim of completing its denuclearization by January 2021, after a Pyongyang summit between the leaders of the two Koreas. The United States appeared eager to seize on commitments by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at his talks with South Korean President Moon Jae-in even as critics said the steps did little to put Pyongyang on a course for irreversible denuclearization. North Korea will allow experts from "concerned countries" to watch the closure of its missile engine testing site and launch pad at Dongchang-ri, Moon said at a joint news conference with Kim after their meeting in the North Korean capital. North Korea will also take additional steps such as closing its main Yongbyon nuclear complex if the United States undertook unspecified reciprocal measures, Moon added. The sudden revival of diplomacy followed weeks of doubts in U.S. President Donald Trump's administration's about whether North Korea was willing to negotiate in good faith after a June summit between Trump and Kim yielded few tangible results. The January 2021 completion date was the most specific deadline set in what is expected to be a long process of trying to get the North to end its nuclear program, which may threaten U.S. allies South Korea and Japan as well as the U.S. homeland. In addition to inviting North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho to meet when both are in New York next week for the annual U.N. General Assembly gathering of world leaders, Pompeo said Washington invited Pyongyang's representatives to meet the U.S. special representative for North Korea, Stephen Biegun, in Vienna at the "earliest opportunity." Pompeo cited Kim's decision to "complete the previously announced dismantlement of the (Dongchang-ri) site in the presence of U.S. and international inspectors as a step toward the final fully verified denuclearization of North Korea." SKEPTICISM Some U.S. officials were deeply skeptical. Speaking before Pompeo's announcement, two senior U.S. officials involved in U.S.-North Korea policy voiced fears that Kim was trying to drive a wedge between Washington and Seoul. At the summit, the two Koreas agreed on plans to resume economic cooperation, including working to reconnect rail and road links. They agreed as well to restart a joint factory park in a border city and tours to the North's Mount Kumgang resort. U.S. officials suggested Kim was trying to ease the economic pressure on him to curb his nuclear programs and to undercut the rationale for U.S. troops being based in South Korea by improving relations between Pyongyang and Seoul. The United States has some 28,500 U.S. troops in South Korea to deter North Korean attack. Pyongyang has long sought their withdrawal and Trump has questioned their rationale and cost. "There is nothing the North has offered so far that would constitute irreversible movement toward denuclearization, however you define that, by January 2021 or any other time, or even a reduction of the military threat it poses to the South and the region," said a U.S. intelligence official. "Everything thats out there now is conditional on U.S. actions that would reduce the pressure on the North to cooperate or (is) filled with loopholes and exit ramps," added the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. U.S. officials said the ambiguity about what Washington was supposed to do for the North to close its nuclear complex at Yongbyon gave Kim room to argue that Washington had not done enough for North Korea to follow through on its pledges. TRUMP: 'HE'S CALM, I'M CALM' Even if North Korea were to shut down Yongbyon, officials and experts believe it has other secret nuclear facilities. South Korea's national security adviser, Chung Eui-yong, said the reciprocal U.S. steps could include an end-of-war declaration. South Korea and the United States remain technically at war with North Korea because the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice and not a peace treaty. Despite the doubts of U.S. officials and outside analysts, North Korea's pledge at the summit with the South Korean president drew an enthusiastic response from Trump. In late August, Trump abruptly canceled Pompeo's planned trip to North Korea, publicly acknowledging for the first time that his effort to get Pyongyang to denuclearize had stalled since he met Kim in Singapore. Satellite images and other evidence in recent months have suggested North Korea is continuing to work on its nuclear program clandestinely. Speaking before Pompeo's comments, Trump welcomed Kim's pledges, calling them part of "tremendous progress" with Pyongyang on a number of fronts, and hailing "very good news" from the summit between the Koreas. "He's calm, I'm calm - so we'll see what happens," Trump, who last year threatened to destroy North Korea, told reporters. 'THEATRICAL PROMISES' Speaking in Pyongyang, the two Korean leaders agreed to turn the Korean peninsula into a "land of peace without nuclear weapons and nuclear threats." Kim pledged to work toward the "complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula" during two meetings with Moon earlier this year and at his summit with Trump. But discussions over how to implement the vague commitments have since faltered and North Korea has consistently refused to give up its nuclear arsenal unilaterally. Washington has demanded concrete action, such as a full disclosure of North Korea's nuclear and missile facilities, before agreeing to Pyongyang's key goals, including an easing of international sanctions and an official end to the Korean War. While North Korea has stopped nuclear and missile tests in the past year, it did not allow international inspections of its dismantling of its Punggye-ri nuclear test site in May, drawing criticism that its action was for show and could be reversed. The day after the June 12 Trump-Kim summit, Pompeo said he hoped to achieve "major disarmament" by North Korea by the end of Trumps first term in January 2021. His latest statement that the process "should be completed by January 2021" may be a signal Washington will not wait forever. "The statement clearly implies that inter-Korean summits and theatrical promises to dismantle the odd facility simply cant substitute for a negotiating process on the nuclear issue," said the Asia Society Policy Institute's Daniel Russel. "Invoking the end of Trumps term in January 2021 is another way of saying to the North that American patience is not unlimited and that Kim Jong Un wont be able to sidestep denuclearization indefinitely," Russel added. (Reporting by Lesley Wroughton in Washington and Hyonhee Shin in Seoul; Additional reporting by Joyce Lee, Soyoung Kim and Joint Press Corps, Jeongmin Kim, Haejin Choi and Ju-min Park in Seoul, and Roberta Rampton, David Brunnstrom and John Walcott in Washington; Writing by Yara Bayoumy and Arshad Mohammed; Editing by David Gregorio and Peter Cooney)Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Wednesday argued that the Senate Judiciary Committee should proceed as soon as possible with Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaughs confirmation, saying that a longer process would be not about finding the truth, but delaying the process till after the midterm elections.

His comments hint at a concern of many Republicans: that they need to confirm Kavanaugh quickly in case the GOP loses its chance if Democrats take back control of the Senate in Novembers election.

Graham tweeted that the committee should not honor the request of Christine Blasey Ford, who goes by Christine Blasey professionally, that the FBI investigate her sexual assault allegation against Kavanaugh before she testifies.

Requiring an FBI investigation of a 36 year old allegation (without specific references to time or location) before Professor Ford will appear before the Judiciary Committee is not about finding the truth, but delaying the process till after the midterm elections.  Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) September 19, 2018

It is imperative the Judiciary committee move forward on the Kavanaugh nomination and a committee vote be taken ASAP.  Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) September 19, 2018

Of course, delaying a Supreme Court nomination until after an election isnt anything new. Just ask Republicans, who in 2016 tabled the confirmation process of Merrick Garland, President Barack Obamas Supreme Court pick, arguing that the American people needed to have a say via their presidential vote.

Garland never even had a chance. Republicans held the seat open for almost a year  until President Donald Trump took office, after which they quickly confirmed Justice Neil Gorsuch.

With Kavanaughs confirmation, Republicans seem poised to proceed as planned, having scheduled a hearing for next Monday.

Story continues

Attorneys for Blasey have said she is willing to testify before the Senate about the incident, in which she alleges Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her at a party when they were in high school. But on Tuesday night, they said she wants the FBI to conduct an investigation before her testimony.

Several Republican committee members, all of whom are male, have suggested the investigation is unnecessary. Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is among them.

The invitation for Monday still stands, Grassley said in a statement Tuesday night. Dr. Fords testimony would reflect her personal knowledge and memory of events. Nothing the FBI or any other investigator does would have any bearing on what Dr. Ford tells the committee, so there is no reason for any further delay.

Related Coverage

Here Are The Ways Christine Blasey Ford's Story Is Being Dismissed

Republicans Consider Using Female Staffers To Question Christine Blasey Ford

Sen. Chuck Grassley: No Need For FBI To Investigate Kavanaugh Allegation

Christine Blasey Ford Calls On FBI To Probe Kavanaugh Accusation Before Hearing

GOP Strategists Are Dreading A Hearing On Kavanaugh Assault Allegation

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.Paris (AFP) - President Emmanuel Macron will separately meet his US and Iranian counterparts, Donald Trump and Hassan Rouhani, during the UN General Assembly in New York next week, the French presidency said Wednesday.

The meetings come as Macron and other European leaders try to salvage a landmark 2015 accord to curb Tehran's nuclear programme, which Trump pulled the US out of last May.

The 40-year-old French leader will meet Trump on Monday afternoon before having dinner with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

On Tuesday, the French president will address the assembly and hold talks with Rouhani, an Elysee Palace official said.

Trump has signalled that he might be willing to meet with Rouhani as well, after re-imposing sanctions against Iran last month.

A new round of even harsher sanctions is set to go into effect in November targeting Iran's vital oil sector.

The Elysee official said the US strategy on Iran would be high on the agenda.

"We see that it's a strategy of maximum pressure," the official said. "But what is the timeframe, what is the true objective, with what incentives?"

The US sanctions have hit Iran's economy hard since foreign companies can no longer operate in the country without running the risk of being hit by US penalties.

However US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said last week that Washington was still considering offering waivers for certain countries or businesses once the new sanctions are imposed.

The US accuses Iran of destabilising the Middle East by pursuing missile development and its intervention in conflicts in neighbouring countries including Syria and Yemen.

Iranian officials have repeatedly indicated they have no plans to hold talks with Trump when the general debate opens at the assembly on Tuesday, nor re-negotiate the 2015 deal which saw Tehran commit to renouncing its nuclear weapon ambitions.

Macron claims friendship and a good working relationship with Trump, though he has not been able to convince the US leader to stick with the hard-fought nuclear deal, also signed by Britain, France, Germany, Russia, China and the EU.

The French leader has also failed to avert Trump's launching of a trade war with the EU, imposing tariffs on a range of products to retaliate for what he calls "unfair" dealings.

It is also "very likely" that Macron will meet Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and possibly Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu in New York, an Elysee official saidLondon (AFP) - A 35-year-old man pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to murdering a British tourist in Cyprus, in an alleged premeditated hit-and-run attack which also seriously injured a second victim.

The accused appeared at the criminal court in the coastal city of Paphos, southwest Cyprus, where he denied killing 39-year-old Robert Birch.

The Welsh tourist, who was known as Charlie, had been on holiday with his family when he was hit by a car north of Paphos in the early hours of June 24.

A 32-year-old British man who had been walking with Birch suffered serious injuries and the defendant on Wednesday pleaded not guilty to his attempted murder.

Police apprehended the suspect after his car was found dumped in the sea, while a woman was also arrested but later released without charge.

The court adjourned the case until January 29 and ordered the defendant be remanded in custody.Four people have been injured and taken to the hospital including a reported police officer in Pennsylvania after a gunman opened fire at a district judge's office, several local reports indicate.

The reported gunman was killed at the scene, a spokesperson for the Fayette County Emergency Management told The Independent.

The shooting occurred sometime after 2pm local time in Masontown, Pennsylvania, and the Fayette County coroner has been called to the scene, an employee at that office has confirmed.

Two of the victims were airlifted to JW Ruby Memorial Hospital in West Virginia after the shooting, and one was taken to that hospital through emergency ground transportation. Another victim was transported privately to Uniontown Hospital in Pennsylvania.

The shooting prompted a soft lock down at Masontown Elementary School, and state police told local media that students there are being released to their parents as they arrive. Meanwhile, some students at the nearby AG South Middle School were being transported to the Masontown Fire Hall, where their parents can pick them up.

Police asked that the public stay away from District Magistrate Daniel Shimshock's office in Masontown, but said that there is no imminent threat to the community.

The judge's office was scheduled to have preliminary hearings on Wednesday, according to the court schedule. Sixty cases were scheduled to start at 1pm.

One 8-year-old, Kylie Martellin, told the Herald Standard that she was walking out of the bathroom when the shooting started.

"I heard shooting and I didn't know if I was OK. I was more concerned about my mom.

She said that the bathroom was covered in blood, but she was not sure where it came from.

"I was never around something like this before," the girl, who the newspaper reports was grabbed by a stranger and taken outside after she exited the bathroom, said.

It was not immediately clear why the gunman opened fire at the office.By Elizabeth Piper and Gabriela Baczynska SALZBURG, Austria (Reuters) - Prime Minister Theresa May appealed directly to fellow European leaders on Wednesday to drop "unacceptable" Brexit demands that she said could rip Britain apart, and urged the bloc to respond in kind to her "serious and workable" plan. Over Wiener schnitzel in Salzburg, May tried to win over the leaders of the European Union by effectively asking them what they would do if they were asked to agree a "legal separation" of their countries -- something she says the EU is asking for by insisting Northern Ireland might stay under EU economic rules. It may be a high-risk strategy. EU officials again said Britain had to move its own position over what has become known as the Irish backstop - how to avoid erecting border posts between the British province and EU member Ireland - as well as on future economic cooperation after Brexit day in March. A government source suggested Britain would come up with other proposals to try to reach agreement on Northern Ireland "in due course", but May has so far been reluctant to move from her Chequers plan, hashed out at her country home in July. With just over six months to Brexit day, both sides agree on one point - that time is running out to secure a deal that will mark Britain's biggest policy shift in almost half a century. "I believe that I have put forward serious and workable proposals. We will of course not agree on every detail, but I hope that you will respond in kind," she told the other leaders at the Felsenreitschule theater -- known to film fans for a scene in the musical 'The Sound of Music'. "The onus is now on all of us to get this deal done," she said, according to the senior British government source. BORDER PLAN "NOT CREDIBLE" The talks, which have gone on for over a year, are bogged down in how to ensure that what will become Britain's only land border with the EU, between Northern Ireland and Ireland, will not become home again to the checks and tensions of the past. May has rejected an EU proposal to keep the province in a customs union with the bloc if they fail to reach a deal to keep the entire EU-UK border open, instead offering a time-limited customs arrangement that would cover the whole of Britain. Over dinner, she said the problem could be solved by securing the type of "frictionless trade" envisaged in her Chequers plan, and that Britain was still committed to agreeing a fall-back scheme with the EU. "However, the Commission's proposal for this protocol - that I should assent to a legal separation of the United Kingdom into two customs territories - is not credible," she said. May has shown little sign of moving away from her Brexit plan, shrugging off criticism not only from Brussels but also at home over her proposals for future trade relations and Northern Ireland. She may have little option. Facing the annual Conservative Party conference later this month, she is keen to show hardline Brexiters who have called on her to "chuck Chequers" that her plan is the only one that can be negotiated with the EU. And, possibly for that audience, she told the EU leaders that although time was short, "delaying or extending these negotiations is not an option" and rule out the option of a second referendum on Britain's EU membership. EU officials are minded not to paint May into a corner, aware of the increasing opposition to her plans in her Conservative Party, and that she needs a victory of sorts to persuade a reluctant parliament to back a deal. But while they were keen to emphasize the positive movement seen in the Chequers plan, some said no deal could be reached until there was movement from Britain on Northern Ireland. "NO PROGRESS" Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar told reporters there had been no advance on the issue: "I don't think we're any closer to a withdrawal agreement than we were in March, so I can't report any progress, unfortunately." European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said a deal with Britain was still "far away". According to an EU official, chief negotiator Michel Barnier has suggested going to the "bare bones" on any checks between the rest of Britain and Northern Ireland, which could be further reduced if there is a trade facilitation agreement similar to that with Japan. The government source said Britain had yet to receive a formal proposal. But he did say London would offer proposals for regulatory aspects of the backstop to try to move the talks forward. He did not say when. EU negotiators say the problem is not only about customs but also ensuring the goods coming into the EU are produced according to EU rules, which Britain wants to shed. May expects little immediate feedback at the dinner. She will attend a morning session on Thursday to discuss security, where she will raise the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Salisbury. She will also have a face-to-face meeting with Varadkar. She will then be out of the room when the other 27 leaders discuss her Brexit proposals over lunch, and will find out about their reactions only when Tusk briefs her separately afterwards. But the senior British source said Britain believed momentum was growing for a deal, noting Tusk's plan to convene a special summit in mid-November to ink a hoped-for treaty. "I think this signals that very serious discussions are now taking place," the source said. "We are confident of getting a deal." (Additional reporting by Alastair Macdonald, Francois Murphy Andreas Rinke, Jean-Baptiste Vey, Jan Strupczewski in Brussels, and William James in London; Editing by Kevin Liffey)Mexico City (AFP) - Mexico held memorials and protests Wednesday in memory of the two earthquakes that devastated the country on September 19 -- one that killed 369 people last year, and another in 1985 that killed more than 10,000.

Raising their fists in the air -- the symbol used by rescue workers to call for quiet as they search for signs of life in the rubble -- Mexico City residents held a minute of silence for the victims of both quakes.

Then, as it does every year, the sprawling capital of 20 million people held an earthquake drill, preparing for the inevitable next quake in one of the most seismically active regions on Earth.

As the city's deafening earthquake alarms droned out their chilling message -- "seismic alert, seismic alert" -- some residents broke down in tears.

"The trauma is still there, even though time has passed, even though we know this isn't real," said Ofelia Gomez, 39, a bank teller.

- 'That enormous building danced' -

The 1985 earthquake, which measured 8.1 in magnitude, left huge swathes of Mexico City in ruins.

In an early morning ceremony, locals paid tribute to victims of one of the worst collapses, the 15-story Nuevo Leon apartment building, where 472 people died.

Former resident Fernando Lopez Padilla, 67, recounted the moment of the quake.

"At 7:19 am, that enormous building started to dance, to break into pieces," he told AFP.

"In a matter of seconds, the whole thing collapsed."

The government was so overwhelmed by the disaster 33 years ago that residents had little choice but to take matters into their own hands.

Thousands of civilian volunteers flooded the streets and tunneled through the rubble of collapsed buildings, frantically searching for survivors.

Many Mexicans say the quake changed the country forever. Political analysts often say the ensuing outrage drove Mexico's transition from a one-party state to a nascent democracy over the next 15 years.

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- A drill turns real -

The many changes wrought by the 1985 quake included the installation of Mexico City's alarm system. Using seismic monitors, it aims to give residents up to a minute's warning before a quake strikes.

Every year since it was installed in 2015, the city has held a massive drill on September 19.

One year ago, the capital had just completed the annual rite when, some two hours later, the ground started trembling for real.

Ironically, because the epicenter of the 7.1-magnitude quake was just 120 kilometers (75 miles) away -- and not on the Pacific coast, where the seismic monitors are concentrated -- the alarms did not sound until the city was already shaking violently.

Scenes reminiscent of 1985 unfolded across the capital: dozens of buildings collapsed into tangled mountains of concrete and steel, which were soon swarming with frantic volunteers racing to reach those trapped inside.

- Lingering scars -

Mexico City, a vibrant and cosmopolitan capital, has largely bounced back in the past year.

But look closely, and the scars are still visible.

At the Tlalpan housing project on the south side of the city, some 100 people still live in an improvised camp beside what used to be building 1C -- left homeless by its collapse, which killed nine people.

Former residents protested there Wednesday, accusing the authorities of turning a blind eye to their plight and breaking their promises to help them.

Nearby, at the Rebsamen elementary school, where 19 children and seven adults were killed, families held an emotional religious ceremony.

"A school should be a child's second home, not her grave," said Alejandro Jurado, whose seven-year-old daughter Paola died in the collapse.

He is part of a group of parents who have pressed charges against local authorities, after experts determined the private school collapsed because of illegal construction practices.

The irregularities included allowing the owner to build herself a penthouse apartment above the school.

It is one of dozens of buildings that experts say collapsed because of corruption by owners, construction companies and the authorities meant to regulate them -- despite rigorous changes to the building code adopted since 1985.Janos (Mexico) (AFP) - Hundreds of years ago, the American bison roamed freely across the widest natural range of any herbivore on the continent -- a vast habitat extending from northern Mexico across the United States to Alaska, and Canada.

Today, genetically pure buffalo -- as the species is also known -- subsist within four preserves in the United States, but also on a ranch in Mexico's northern Janos desert where the species was introduced a decade ago.

Weighing up to a tonne and as tall as 1.7 meters (5.6 feet) from the humps on their backs to their hooves, almost 200 bison live in a state of semi-captivity on the El Uno ranch, some 230 kilometers (150 miles) from the northern border city of Juarez.

Characterized by their distinctive humps, horns and dark coffee-colored fur, the herd, which is the only group of wild bison in the country, has grown from 23 individuals brought to the region from the US in 2009 to 140 adults and 44 calves born this year.

The goal, explained El Uno official Pedro Calderon Rodriguez, is to preserve the pure lineage of the species.

Having undergone a drastic decline in the 19th century, the American bison has partially recovered, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) which today lists the species as "near-threatened" because of its dependence on conservation projects to survive in the wild.

Canada, the US and Mexico all list bison as both wildlife and livestock, according to the IUCN, and while commercial production has meant a significant rebound in numbers, such population growth does not contribute to the species' conservation in the wild.

According to Calderon Rodriguez, the fence on the US-Mexico border can inhibit the bisons' and other species' ability to roam freely in their historical habitat, one of the reasons they're considered at risk in Mexico.

El Uno is part of a network working to conserve bison which includes the four preserves in the US and is part of the Biosfera de Janos, which encompasses the grasslands and other species such as prairie dogs and certain types of birds that migrate across the continent each year.

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Grazing in the brown desert under the blue sky, the herd has also contributed to the growth of pastures in the area. Among the most diverse and important ecosystems on the planet, the grasslands are also one of the most affected by human action.

"The grasslands need animals like bison to trample over them, they need their manure, their urine, their saliva, their activity. The disturbances created by the bison herds, the grazing -- it tills and fertilizes the land," said Calderon Rodriguez.

At birth, bison calves weigh some 20 kilograms (44 pounds). Adult females can weigh between 400 and 600 kilos and the males average between 600 and 900 kilos, though there are examples of individuals that surpassed a tonne, or more than 2,200 pounds. According to the Mexican environment ministry, various indigenous groups venerated the species for this large size and impressive presence.

They typically live 15 to 20 years.Multiple people have been injured in a shooting at an office building in Wisconsin, where the suspect was shot and killed by police.

Middleton Police Chief Charles Foulke said officers responded to reports of an active shooter in the suburban area around 10:25 am local time. The suspect shot three victims, he said, before the officers fatally wounded him. There were no other suspects in the attack.

I know you have a million questions and so do I, and I dont know those answers," Mr Foulke said at an afternoon press conference. "The main thing we can say right now is that the suspect was neutralized.

A UW Health University Hospital spokeswoman confirmed to The Independent earlier on Wednesday that four people had been transferred to the hospital with injuries. Two people were in serious condition and one was in critical condition, she said. The condition of the fourth was unclear at the time.

Officers from the county sheriff's department and the regional office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) also responded to reports of an active shooter on the 1800 block of Deming Way in Middleton that morning.

Message from Middleton police on active shooter  pic.twitter.com/lnyTvbK08L  Leah Linscheid (@news3leah) September 19, 2018

The block houses offices for software companies WTS Paradigm and Esker, but employees of the latter told local news outlets the shooter had not entered their office. A witness to the shooting who works for WTS Paradigm told the Wisconsin State Journalthat the shooter was an employee of the company.

The witness said he heard about a dozen gunshots from what sounded like a handgun. He estimated the company had about 160 employees at that location.

The scene was still active more than an hour after the first report, with police warning residents to shelter in place. An Esker employee told the Associated Press that he and his colleagues hid in their office cafeteria for more than an hour after the shooting. The employee, Gabe Geib, said he watched people running away from the building in full sprint.

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At least three schools in the area were also on lock down, as was the shopping centre next to the office building. Occupants of the office building and several others around it were evacuated to a nearby hotel.

"Please lock all doors, stay inside and shelter in place until further notice," the police department said in a news alert.

Judy Lahmers, a business analyst at WTS Paradigm, told the Associated Press that she ran out of the building and hid behind a car when she heard the shots. The building's glass entrance had shattered, she said.

Im not looking back, Im running as fast as I can," she recalled. "You just wonder, Do you hide or do you run?'

US Senator Tammy Baldwin, who represents the state, thanked local law enforcement and said her office was monitoring the situation.

"My heart goes out to the people involved in the shooting," Middleton Mayor Gurdip Brar said. "You never would think this type of thing would happen in your city. Really, so sad that this happened here."Ottawa (AFP) - There is still a way to go to reach a new North American Free Trade Agreement, Canada's prime minister said Wednesday, brushing off US pressure for a quick deal as high-level talks resumed in Washington.

"Our team is in Washington this morning to continue to see if we can get a good deal for Canada, a good deal for everyone," said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

"We remain confident that there is always a deal possible, but it will take more work," he added.

As he spoke in Ottawa, Canada's top diplomat Chrystia Freeland, who leads the Canadian negotiating team, was meeting with US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer in Washington.

Negotiations to modernize the 1994 accord between Canada, the United States and Mexico started a year ago at the behest of US President Donald Trump, who called it "one of the worst trade deals in history" for sending many manufacturing jobs -- notably in the auto sector -- to Mexico.

Freeland told reporters on Wednesday that negotiators had worked through the night. She emerged from meetings with Lighthizer saying officials were "tired but in good spirits."

"Our negotiators have been really hard added including an all-night session last night of one team. So we are working very, very hard," she said.

The United States and Mexico sealed their own two-way deal at the end of August, and Trump has since ramped up pressure on Canada to accept his terms.

But Ottawa has seemed reluctant to heed Trump's push to sign a deal before US midterm elections in November and the transfer of power in December to Mexican President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador -- as Trudeau's Liberals also need a win to hold up to voters when they return to the polls in one year.

- Dairy farmers on edge -

Ottawa and Washington remain at odds over Canada's protected dairy sector and cultural subsidies, as well as Canada's demand for an international system for resolving disputes.

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Earlier, Canadian dairy farmers publicly urged Trudeau not to cave to US demands for increased access to Canada's dairy market, noting that the US already sells five times more milk to Canada than Canada sells to the US.

"We call on the government to ensure that any final NAFTA deal has no further negative impact on our dairy sector," Pierre Lampron, the president of the Dairy Farmers of Canada, said at a news conference.

Flanked by dairy farmers from all of Canada's 10 provinces, he said Ottawa had given milk and cheese carve-outs to the EU and 10 member nations in the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact in order to secure free trade with those blocs.

This cost Canada Can$250 million (US$193 million) in lost milk production, Lampron said. The Canadian industry is valued at Can$19 billion.

"This doesn't only hurt dairy farmers. From equipment dealers, to feed manufacturers to veterinarians to truck drivers, to processors, all are negatively impacted by these (trade) deals," Lampron said. "Enough is enough."

The supply-managed sector sees milk, egg and poultry production and prices controlled by the government, resulting in higher prices for consumers but a stable income for farmers.

"We will continue to defend supply management," Trudeau said. "This is a system that works for Canadians. It works for our agricultural industry."By Ahmed Eljechtimi TANGIER, Morocco (Reuters) - African emigrants are defying a campaign by Morocco to keep them away from land and sea crossings to Spain, which has become the main entry point to Europe for migrants and refugees following crackdowns elsewhere. Moroccan police conduct regular raids of areas popular with people from elsewhere in Africa and have bussed thousands to the other end of the country since 800 people stormed a fence to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in northern Morocco in July. The transports drew criticism from human rights groups after two men from Mali died en route and Reuters has found that many people have simply returned, hiding in forests or back streets of the main city of Tangier and planning their escape to Spain. "We came to Morocco to stay in the north until the time was right to force our way through the Ceuta fence. We have no other choice," said Aboubakar, a 25-year-old sociology graduate from Guinea who withheld his surname for fear of repercussions. His account and those of his companions sleeping in a forest overlooking the poor Tangier neighborhood of Mesnana show how hard it is to stop people who are determined to cross to Europe. The number of people fleeing war or poverty in Africa, the Middle East and Asia who cross to the European Union has dropped to about 80,000 this year from more than a million in 2015, but the issue is divisive and has bolstered far-right and other anti-establishment groups. And as Italy closes its ports to most asylum-seekers, more are entering Spain. So far this year 38,852 people have followed that route, U.N. data shows, at least twice as many as the same period of 2017. More than 310 have died at sea. The vast majority come via Morocco, which foiled a further 54,000 illegal migration attempts by August, Khalid Zerouali, migration and border control director at the Interior ministry, told Reuters. "We received tip-offs that trafficking networks were emboldened after the July crossing into Ceuta and were preparing large-scale assaults on security forces at the border this summer," he said. The North African kingdom is a destination in itself and has granted 56,000 residency permits to foreigners, mostly from Sub-Saharan Africa, since it reformed its migration policy in 2013. Some of these people now say they have been forced from their homes, caught up in the campaign to stop illegal migration. Zerouali said Morocco was under enormous pressure. MASS RETURN While some migrants try to reach Ceuta and another Spanish enclave, Melilla, others pay smugglers to put them on boats, as Spain is just 14 km across the western end of the Mediterranean. Countries can return people arriving irregularly if asylum requests are refused. Yet when the fence was stormed again in August, Spain returned more than 100 people en masse, drawing criticism from rights groups; Madrid said it followed protocols. The incident held echoes of an earlier spike in border stormings in 2005 accompanied by expulsions from Spain. Human rights groups accused Morocco of bussing people into the desert. The new mass return is a sign of the sensitivity of the migrant issue in Spain, one of a dwindling number of European countries where the public has not turned against immigration. Opposition politicians said the expulsions clashed with the tone set by new Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez when he welcomed a ship full of migrants turned away by Italy in June. No far-right party has been in parliament since Spain's right-wing dictatorship ended in 1975 but the nationalist Vox party has criticized Sanchez over migration and his government's minority means a new election may come before it is due in 2020. Morocco, which other Africans can visit without visas, became the main launchpad for Europe in July after Italy's tougher line and EU aid to the Libyan coastguard stemmed flows from Libya, where people-smugglers had thrived. "The presence of some nationalities that in the past had mainly passed through Libya indicate that some migratory flows may have shifted to the Western Mediterranean route," the European border agency Frontex said on Friday. FOREST Reuters found a dozen migrants hiding in the forest near Tangier some 70 km from Ceuta -- sleeping rough on blankets. Some had entered Morocco legally and either worked as day laborers or farm hands or begged on the streets to save enough to pay smugglers for the boat trip. "We were arrested in our houses early in the morning in late August, taken for identification at a police station and then handcuffed and forced into a bus," said Aliou, a Guinean national, asking like others not to use his full name. He had to leave all his belongings in his rented apartment in Tangier. "We were given just one sandwich on the 10-hour trip before being abandoned near the city of Tiznit," he said. Six days later he and other migrants managed to return to the forest near Tangier but they expect authorities to come back any time in what migrants call a "black man hunt", because it excludes Moroccans and Syrians who also try to cross to Spain. At a much larger makeshift camp opposite the bus station of commercial hub Casablanca, some 300 km south of Tangier, people said they were on their way back north after being bussed south. Mamadou, a young man from Cameroon who came via Algeria, said he had tried to scale the Ceuta fence in July, but had hurt his leg. He was bussed to the southern city of Agadir, but scraped together enough money for a bus ticket to Casablanca. "Now, I will stay here until I get a ticket to go back to the north to pursue my dream of reaching Europe," he said inside a tent made of remnants of wooden boxes and blankets. Authorities described the bussing of people from the border as a crackdown on trafficking gangs, and called on the European Union for more help. The European Commission promised more money to help Spain and Morocco cope last month, but declined to give a figure, saying funds were limited. Morocco, like other North African countries, rejects an idea suggested by some European officials that it should host centers to decide on asylum requests outside the EU. "When we find a paperless Sub-Saharan who is preparing to cross the border illegally we just remove him from the north to other cities," Zerouali said. "It is better for them to be sent to a city such as Marrakech than stay in the forests surrounding Tangier." Seventy-four trafficking networks had been dismantled since January, he said, adding that the kingdom spends at least 200 million euros annually to keep its borders safe. He dismissed reports of human rights violations, saying that sending migrants to the south "takes place in full compliance with the law". DAWN RAID Human rights groups say the campaign is an indiscriminate and forcible displacement violating freedom of movement. Citing figures from local groups, Amnesty International said some 5,000 Sub-Saharans had been put on buses without checking their legal status, and abandoned in remote areas. A coalition of Sub-Saharan community associations in Morocco (ASCOMS) said "excessive use of force" during expulsions caused the deaths of two Malians last month. Officials reject this account. In the Tangier district of Branes where many sub-Saharans live, Aissatou Barry, who has been in Morocco for eight years after fleeing Ivory Coast, said police raided her house at 5 a.m. on Aug. 9. Even though she has a residency card, she said she and her children were taken with others to a police station and only let go later in the day. When she returned to the house she rents for 410 euros per month, her valuables had been stolen. She said she filed a complaint about the raid to the regional human rights council; the council said it had received complaints from Barry in the past, but declined further details. Barry, who founded the Ponts Solidaires association to help migrants integrate in Morocco and give up the idea of the risky sea crossing, said she felt humiliated. "I have always considered Morocco my home, now after this raid I no longer feel so," she said. GRAPHIC: Spain, the new entry point IMG - https://tmsnrt.rs/2KV6i0d (Additional reporting by Isla Binnie in MADRID and Gabriela Bacynska in BRUSSELS; editing by Ulf Laessing and Philippa Fletcher)Moscow (AFP) - Moscow on Tuesday summoned the ambassadors of Switzerland and the Netherlands over what it called "unsubstantiated accusations" that Russian spies had attempted to hack Swiss targets.

Swiss envoy Yves Rossier was told such "confrontational rhetoric" could seriously harm otherwise constructive ties between the two countries, Moscow's foreign ministry said.

A separate statement said Dutch ambassador Renee Jones-Bos had been summoned in connection to a media "campaign to whip up spy mania".

Swiss officials have said that Russian agents launched separate cyber attacks on the Spiez laboratory in Bern and the Lausanne office of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

The lab, which does analytical work for the Hague-based Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), was investigating the poisoning of Russian double agent Sergei Skripal in Britain.

WADA for its part has been a thorn in Moscow's side for several years over drug cheating in Russian sport.

Dutch officials and media reports said the spies were arrested in the Netherlands and then expelled.

Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis is due to meet with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in New York next week over the spat.Mbabane (eSwatini) (AFP) - Political parties cannot be involved, there are no campaign rallies and the king wields absolute power, choosing the prime minister and cabinet: a parliamentary election in eSwatini is a vote like no other.

Opposition activists in the tiny southern African country formerly known as Swaziland say Friday's election is a mockery of democracy and reveals how its 1.3 million citizens have long lived under a repressive regime.

Around 540,000 eligible voters must choose from candidates who have no party affiliation and who are almost all loyal to King Mswati III, one of the world's last absolute monarchs.

Winners from the 59 constituency ballots take seats in a parliament over which the king has complete control. He also appoints a further 10 directly.

"It is a total misnomer to even call them elections," Alvit Dlamini, head of the Ngwane National Liberatory Congress, the oldest political party in eSwatini, told AFP.

"Elections are a competitive process between political parties. This is a non-election -- an appointment system by the royalists. If you participate, you can't advance your own political ideas."

But King Mswati's government is a fierce defender of the unique approach.

It says that constituencies are at the heart of Swazi life and provide a direct link between voters and those elected.

It describes the system as a "home-grown" reflection of traditional society.

The constitution enshrines "individual merit" as the basis for election, meaning that political parties -- which were banned by the king's father in 1973 -- are deemed unnecessary.

- A 'monarchial democracy' -

Parties are now allowed to exist under the 2005 constitution, but have suffered repeated security crackdowns as well as court defeats in their battle for legal recognition and to be allowed to take part in elections.

Such restrictions anger many young Swazis, including supporters of Pudemo, a party that was designated a terrorist organisation in 2008 under draconian new laws widely seen as targeting government critics.

Story continues

"The election is fixed, and parliament has no power. It is all with the king," Pudemo's new leader Mlungisi Makhanya, 40, told AFP.

"We don't have people running in the election. If a candidate wants to be quietly known as a Pudemo supporter, we say 'no thanks -- you can't do anything even if you are elected'."

Nearly 20 members of Pudemo remain on bail after being charged with terrorism offences between 2009 and 2014.

Among the charges the group face are allegations they chanted pro-reform slogans at a rally and wore party T-shirts.

King Mswati, who has 14 wives and more than 25 children, has shown few signs of reforming what he calls the country's "monarchial democracy".

On the throne since the age of 18, this year he celebrates both his 50th birthday and 50 years since his country's independence from Britain.

Often dressed in traditional robes, the king retains widespread support in rural eSwatini despite his reputation for lavish spending on planes and palaces while 63 percent of his subjects live below the poverty line.

The country, landlocked between South Africa and Mozambique, suffers the highest HIV adult prevalence rate in the world at 27.2 percent.

The king demonstrated his untrammelled authority earlier this year when making a surprise announcement that Swaziland would officially change its name to eSwatini ("land of the Swazis").

- 'People are scared' -

In addition to curbs on opposition parties, anti-government protests are also effectively banned.

Marches are planned this week by striking civil servants, teachers and nurses, but the government said it "expected" trade unions to halt the action.

In June, police used rubber bullets to break up a rare demonstration by 500 trade unionists protesting against alleged government theft from the national pension fund.

"People can't express their views freely, they are scared," Shireen Mukadam, a researcher at rights group Amnesty, told AFP.

"eSwatini is an extremely closed society. There is a pervasive culture of secrecy.

"People are used to submitting to the king. The constitution itself says that he has absolute power."

Donor nations have had little success in lobbying for greater freedoms.

The European Union, which gave 20 million euros ($23 million) in aid in 2015, says it is "critical of the democratisation process".

The Commonwealth sent observer missions for the last three elections, but has not sent a team this week, although the Southern African Development Community bloc and African Union will deploy monitors.

After the 2013 vote, the Commonwealth's experts reported they "cannot conclude that the entire process was credible."Mbabane (eSwatini) (AFP) - Political parties cannot be involved, there are no campaign rallies and the king wields absolute power, choosing the prime minister and cabinet: a parliamentary election in eSwatini is a vote like no other.

Opposition activists in the tiny southern African country formerly known as Swaziland say Friday's election is a mockery of democracy and reveals how its 1.3 million citizens have long lived under a repressive regime.

In addition to curbs on opposition parties, anti-government protests are also effectively banned.

Undercurrents of dissent have surfaced this week with trade union protests over low wages by being broken up by riot police.

At least 11 people were hurt on Tuesday, a trade union official told AFP.

On Wednesday in the second city of Manzini, riot police and water canon trucks dispersed several hundred protesters, AFP reporters witnessed.

"We have been told to stop the protests but we will continue. We have had thousands of people," Mduduzi Gina, secretary general of the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland, told AFP.

In June, police used rubber bullets to break up a rare demonstration by 500 unionists protesting against alleged government theft from the national pension fund.

Around 540,000 eligible voters must choose from candidates on Friday who have no party affiliation and who are almost all loyal to King Mswati III, one of the world's last absolute monarchs.

Winners from the 59 constituency ballots take seats in a parliament over which the king has complete control. He also appoints a further 10 directly.

Election posters line many main roads in the county, encouraging people to vote, under the slogan "We are building our nation".

But there was only a handful of individual candidate campaign posters.

Other large street posters, picturing the king, celebrate his 50th birthday and 50 years since national independence, dubbed the "50/50" celebrations.

- 'This is a non-election' -

Story continues

"It is a total misnomer to even call them elections," Alvit Dlamini, head of the Ngwane National Liberatory Congress, the oldest political party in eSwatini, told AFP.

"Elections are a competitive process between political parties. This is a non-election -- an appointment system by the royalists. If you participate, you can't advance your own political ideas."

But King Mswati's government is a fierce defender of the unique approach.

It says that constituencies are at the heart of Swazi life and provide a direct link between voters and those elected.

It describes the system as a "home-grown" reflection of traditional society.

The constitution enshrines "individual merit" as the basis for election, meaning that political parties -- which were banned by the king's father in 1973 -- are deemed unnecessary.

Parties are now allowed to exist under the 2005 constitution, but have suffered repeated security crackdowns as well as court defeats in their battle for legal recognition and to be allowed to take part in elections.

Such restrictions anger many young Swazis, including supporters of Pudemo, a party that was designated a terrorist organisation in 2008 under draconian new laws widely seen as targeting government critics.

"The election is fixed, and parliament has no power. It is all with the king," Pudemo's new leader Mlungisi Makhanya, 40, told AFP.

"We don't have people running in the election. If a candidate wants to be quietly known as a Pudemo supporter, we say 'no thanks -- you can't do anything even if you are elected'."

- 'Absolute power' -

Nearly 20 members of Pudemo remain on bail after being charged with terrorism offences between 2009 and 2014.

Among the charges the group face are allegations they chanted pro-reform slogans at a rally and wore party T-shirts.

King Mswati, who has 14 wives and more than 25 children, has shown few signs of reforming what he calls the country's "monarchial democracy".

On the throne since the age of 18, this year he celebrates both his 50th birthday and 50 years since his country's independence from Britain.

Often dressed in traditional robes, the king retains widespread support in rural eSwatini despite his reputation for lavish spending on planes and palaces while 63 percent of his subjects live below the poverty line.

The country, landlocked between South Africa and Mozambique, suffers the highest HIV adult prevalence rate in the world at 27.2 percent.

The king demonstrated his untrammelled authority earlier this year when making a surprise announcement that Swaziland would officially change its name to eSwatini -- "land of the Swazis".

"People can't express their views freely, they are scared," Shireen Mukadam, a researcher at rights group Amnesty, told AFP.

"eSwatini is an extremely closed society. There is a pervasive culture of secrecy.

"People are used to submitting to the king. The constitution itself says that he has absolute power."



Tiffany Haddish and Kevin Hart are two of cinemas biggest comedy heavyweights, and so were understandably thrilled that theyre appearing together in Night School, the new comedy from the director of Girls Trip.

The film is about a gang of outsiders  including Harts Teddy  who are sent back to school to earn a General Equivalency Diploma. The GED gives high school drop outs the chance to prove they have what it takes to succeed beyond education.

Tiffany Haddish and Kevin Hart square off in Night School. (Universal Pictures)

Wer really excited to share a new look at Night School  in UK cinemas 28 September  with a brand new exclusive clip. In the new sneak peek Teddy (Kevin Hart) is in the training ring with Tiffany Haddishs tutor Carrie. Shes there to put him through his paces while also throwing general knowledge questions at him.

The diminutive comic star is no match for Haddish though, whose mental and physical gymnastics easily overpower him, despite encouragement from Ben Schwartz outside the ring.

Pop quiz hot shot whats the capital of Belgium? (Universal Pictures)

Synopsis: Star Kevin Hart and producer Will Packer, who partnered for the hit Ride Along and Think Like a Man series, bring their signature style to Night School. The comedy from director Malcolm D. Lee (Girls Trip) follows a group of misfits who are forced to attend adult classes in the long shot chance theyll pass the GED exam.

Co-stars Tiffany Haddish, Rob Riggle, Taran Killam and Romany Malco join Hart onscreen for the film that Hart produces for his Hartbeat Productions, and Packer via his Will Packer Productions.

Night School is in UK cinemas from Friday 28 September. Watch a trailer below.





Read more

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Mary Poppins Returns set visit reportWere thrilled to report that the herds of wild horses that roam North Carolinas Outer Banks have emerged from Hurricane Florence unscathed.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore and Corolla Wild Horse Fund both confirmed on social media over the weekend that their equine populations are safe and sound following Hurricane Florences lashing last week.

Corolla Wild Horse Fund herd manager Meg Puckett told The News & Observer that the wild herd found higher ground and grouped together against the wind and rain. People on the island also kept an eye on them.

So far its been business as usual for them, out grazing in all the normal spots, Puckett said. The horses are back out at all their usual haunts.

Further South, Cape Hatteras National Seashore confirmed that their herd of ponies on Ocracoke Island fared well in the storm. We are happy to announce that all of the Ocracoke ponies are safe and that the pony pen did not sustain any damage from Hurricane Florence, the national park wrote alongside a photo of the ponies grazing happily.

Leading up to Hurricane Florence, Sue Stuska, a wildlife biologist based at Cape Lookout National Seashore, explained to the Associated Press that the horses are highly sensitive to weather changes and instinctively know what to do in a storm.

"Naturally, they are meant to be outside and they have high ground and they have thick places to hide," Stuska said. "Don't worry about them. They've survived for hundreds of years, and we expect that they'll be just fine."

Were so glad she was right!On September 13, South Chinas Guangdong province announced a series of investment incentives and cost-cutting measures to offset the impact of the worsening trade war with the US.

The measures, outlined in the Policy Measures for Expanding Opening-up and Using Foreign Investment, consist of a 10-point plan to attract foreign investment by opening market access, offering talent and land-use incentives, supporting R&D, and strengthening intellectual property (IP) protection.

Most notably, the plan allows foreign investors to set up wholly foreign-owned enterprises (WFOEs) to produce special-purpose and new energy vehicles (NEVs), drones, aircraft, and other high-tech industries  where joint ventures were previously required.

The plan is in response to a July 31 directive from the central government instructing regional governments to roll out market opening measures and policies to maintain economic stability. Nevertheless, while the plan offers a variety of measures to bolster the economy, they primarily target strategic high-tech industries rather than the firms that might be most vulnerable to the escalating US tariffs.

In this article, we discuss key aspects of Guangdongs plan to promote foreign investment in the province  a combination of previously announced policies from the central government as well as region-specific incentives.

Market opening

The 10-point plan calls for Guangdong to fully implement the 2018 update to the Foreign Investment Negative List, which came into effect on July 28. The 2018 Negative List opens up market access for foreign investors by reducing industry-specific restrictive measures from 63 to 48.

Moreover, the plan seeks to implement other market opening measures previously announced at the national level but not yet applied locally, such as allowing WFOEs in NEV manufacturing. The central government announced in April that foreign investment limits on NEVs would be scrapped by the end of this year, but not every region has put the new policy in motion.

Guangdongs plan further opens up its finance market by canceling the foreign equity limits of Chinese banks and financial asset management companies, and allowing foreign banks to set up joint ventures with 51 percent ownership.

Financial incentives for foreign investors

In addition to market opening measures, the plan includes financial incentives to attract investment.

These include cash rewards of up to RMB 100 million (US$14.59 million) for certain investment projects and the same amount for FIEs that establish regional headquarters in the province. Dongguan, one of Guangdongs major manufacturing hubs, announced similar incentives for establishing headquarters in June.

Further, major investment projects worth at least RMB 2 billion (US$291.18 million) may be granted free use of land, while foreign-invested R&D institutions can apply for subsidies of up to RMB 10 million (US$1.46 million)..

Qualified development zones and industrial parks are also able to offer incentives, such as reduced corporate income tax rates, based on the size and nature of investment projects.

Improving business environment

Beyond financial incentives, the plan includes several measures to improve the provinces business environment by streamlining administrative procedures and offering incentives for top foreign talent.

These include the full implementation of the One Window, One Form policy to streamline business registration, as well as the setting up of a fast track option for qualified foreign investors. Foreign investors should now be able to register their businesses within five business days.

In terms of talent incentives, senior managers of foreign-invested enterprises and other qualified talent can acquire a work permit and residence permit valid for five years. They will also be entitled to local housing, education, medical care, and pension benefits and be able to employ foreign domestic workers, among other incentives.

To allay foreign investors concerns over intellectual property, the province will accelerate the development of the China (Guangdong) Intellectual Property Center, which it also pledged to do last year.

Other measures to facilitate foreign investment, such as fully implementing the Negative List system to manage foreign investment, reducing investment approval items, and reducing the time it takes for an approval by a quarter, are also listed in the plan.

Guangdongs incentives to move up the value chain, retain manufacturing power base

Beyond the 10-point plan, Guangdong has recently released other measures to strengthen its economy.

In August, Guangdong announced that between 2018 and 2020, it would invest over RMB 450 billion (US$65.65 billion) in strategic and emerging industries. These industries include artificial intelligence, green technology, high-end equipment, new materials, and biomedical technology, among others.

On September 10, provincial authorities announced cost-cutting measures that include reduced land use, electricity, and social security rates, which are expected to reduce business costs by over RMB 200 (US$29.18 billion) billion during the same time period.

The raft of incentives that Guangdong has recently introduced are partly designed to withstand the escalating trade war with the US. As Chinas manufacturing heartland, Guangdongs economy is highly export-oriented  it accounts for nearly a third of Chinas total exports  and therefore more vulnerable to tariffs. In August, Guangdongs manufacturing sector contracted for the first time in 29 months, according to the governments purchasing managers index (PMI), which dropped to 49.3.

However, though the timing of the measures may be in response to the trade war, they largely address structural changes to the nature of Guangdongs economy. After years of rapidly rising land and labor costs in Guangdong, many low-value manufacturers have been relocating to lower-cost locations like inland China, Vietnam, and India.

Before the trade war officially started, Guangdongs economy was already showing symptoms of its structural pressures. For example, through the first half of the year  before US tariffs on Chinese products went into effect  exports had already declined by 3.3 percent year-on-year. Meanwhile, the government and firms that remain in the province are embracing strategies to move up the value chain, by promoting R&D in high-tech and investing in robotics and automation.

Taken together, many of Guangdongs new incentives are not designed to lessen the burden on smaller low-value manufacturers that are the most vulnerable in the trade war. Rather, they seek to expedite Guangdongs transformation into a high-tech manufacturing power by promoting the development of the industries of the future and attracting world-class talent.

As a result, the measures only serve to accelerate pre-existing dynamics; promoting investment in emerging strategic industries while leaving those most vulnerable to the trade war exposed and potentially facing relocation and other financial stress.By Maria Caspani

(Reuters) - A growing number of Americans said they opposed President Donald Trumps Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, as the candidate's confirmation hearings took place and as he fended off a sexual assault claim, a Reuters/Ipsos poll showed.

The Sept. 11-17 poll found that 36 percent of adults surveyed did not want Kavanaugh in the Supreme Court, up 6 points from a similar poll conducted a month earlier.

Only 31 percent of U.S. adults polled said they were in favor of Kavanaugh's appointment.

If support for his nomination remains this weak, Trump's pick would rank among the lowest-supported Supreme Court nominees to later be confirmed, according to historical data from Gallup.

"Not after the sexual charges," said Jeffrey Schmidt, 56, from Colorado, who opposes President Trump and his policies. "Before the allegations, I was not sure."

Kavanaugh has denied the claim that he assaulted a woman while in high school in 1982, calling it "completely false."

Support for Kavanaugh was higher among Republicans, but fewer than two out of three, or 64 percent, said they were in favor of his nomination.

Thirty-five-year-old Karis Reeves, a Republican-leaning professional from Arizona, said he supported Kavanaugh's nomination, but added he wasn't "informed enough" and that the timing of the sexual misconduct allegation was "conspicuous."

More women -- 33 percent -- opposed Kavanaugh's nomination in the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll, up seven percentage points from a month earlier.

"It was already a 'no' but now it's a stronger 'no,'" said Bonnie Mann, 29, when asked about whether her view of Kavanaugh's nomination had changed since the allegation.

Christine Blasey Ford, a university professor in California whose sexual assault allegations have roiled a confirmation process that once seemed smooth for Kavanaugh, wants her claim to be investigated by the FBI before she appears at a Senate hearing, her lawyers said on Tuesday.

Story continues

Trump has stepped up his defense of Kavanaugh and expressed sympathy toward his nominee, saying on Wednesday that it was hard for him "to imagine anything happened."

The Reuters/Ipsos poll surveyed 2,196 adults online across the United States and has a credibility interval, a measure of precision, of 2 percentage points.

(For a graphic on Kavanaugh's support/opposition click https://tmsnrt.rs/2NQwwpm)

(Reporting by Maria Caspani, Editing by Bernadette Baum)Randy Bryce, Bryan Steil (Photos: Scott Olson/Getty Images, Jeffrey Phelps/Getty Images)

The race for House Speaker Paul Ryans seat turned personal this week when the Democratic candidates mother denounced an attack ad against her son  featuring his own brother.

The Congressional Leadership Fund, a PAC closely aligned with Ryan, announced earlier this week it was launching a $1.5 million television ad campaign against Randy Bryce, the Democrat running for the seat Ryan has held for 10 terms. (Ryan is retiring at the end of the year.) One of those ads features Bryces brother, James, a Milwaukee police officer, attacking the candidate for not supporting law enforcement and endorsing his bothers Republican opponent, Bryan Steil.

On Wednesday morning, the Milwaukee Sentinel Journal published excerpts from a letter from Nancy Bryce, Randy and Jamess mother, that was given to them by the Bryce campaign. Yahoo News has obtained a copy of the letter.

Im used to my sons getting into disagreements with each other  every mom is. And I understand that my boys see the world differently when it comes to politics, Nancy Bryce wrote. There is now a group of people from Washington who consider it a good idea to pit my boys against each other for their own political gain. But they didnt consider a mothers pain at seeing her children used as tools in a political fight, splashed with millions of dollars of ads across the airwaves.

In the letter, Nancy does not condemn James for making the ad but directs her ire toward Republicans, including Ryan and Steil, and asked them to take down the ad. The Journal Sentinel reported in May that James Bryce had considered running for the Republican nomination and had donated to Steil.

I am disappointed and, frankly, disgusted that we are at a point where the Republican party is so focused on sowing division in our families and communities, with such little regard for the truth, Nancy Bryce wrote. Shame on this super PAC for running these ads, shame on its leader Paul Ryan for funding them, and shame on people of good conscience who choose to sit idly by and watch this pain inflicted upon a family in the name of partisan politics.

Story continues

She added that her husband, the father of the two brothers, was in law enforcement. Randy, an ironworker and union activist, is 53, three years older than his brother; the family also includes a sister.

James Bryce, brother of Democratic candidate Randy Bryce, endorsing Republican candidate Bryan Steil in a campaign ad. (Screengrab: CLFSuperPAC via Youtube)

I might be getting up in years, but I still have some fight in me, and Im not going to let these people take cheap shots at my boys. I think it might help for people to know the truth, she wrote. Randy and James father was a police officer, and Randy is proud to come from a family of law enforcement officials. He also stands for justice and fairness, and speaks up when he sees a wrong being committed.

The ad says Randy Bryce has been arrested nine times. He was stopped for DUI in 1998, and several times subsequently for driving without a license. His two most recent arrests, in 2011 and 2018, were due to protesting at the offices of Ryan and Republican Sen. Ron Johnson. The March 2018 protest outside Ryans Racine office was over the DREAM Act. Bryce was one of more than 20 people arrested. Everyone arrested received a citation and was released.

There is no excuse for what I did 20 years ago when I got behind the wheel and operated under the influence, said Bryce in a statement to CNN earlier this summer. I made a mistake and I regret it. Ive worked very hard to learn from my mistakes so I can be a man my son can be proud of. Im not perfect, but I know the struggles working people go through. I understand the mistakes that any of us can make. Ive certainly learned from mine.

Screengrab of Randy Bryce with his mother, Nancy Bryce in a Randy Bryce for Congress campagin ad. (Video still: Randy Bryce for Congress via YouTube)

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates Wisconsins First District as Lean Republican. A New York Times poll conducted last week showed Steil with a 6-point lead.

Bryce  who goes by the nickname and Twitter handle Iron Stache  has been a popular figure since launching his campaign last year, raising over $6 million for the race that was originally against Ryan before he announced his retirement. An Army veteran and cancer survivor, Bryce has campaigned on a progressive platform that includes Medicare for all and the abolition of ICE.

For those steeped in American history, the episode recalled an 1871 Senate race in Delaware, in which three brothers, Willard, Gove and Eli Saulsbury, competed for the same seat, held at the time by Willard, a notorious drunk who once drew his pistol on the Senates sergeant at arms. All three were Democrats; senators in those years were chosen by the state legislature, which chose brother Eli, who held the seat for the next 18 years.

_____

Read more from Yahoo News:(Photo: Mark Wilson via Getty Images)

Theres one person Christine Blasey Ford says was in the room when she was allegedly sexually assaulted by Brett Kavanaugh while they were in high school  and he appears to publicly back Kavanaughs denial that any sexual assault took place.

Yet Republicans are adamant about not calling conservative writer Mark Judge to testify at a hearing set for Monday, resisting Democrats demands for additional witnesses, beyond Blasey and Kavanaugh  even though Judge has backed the Supreme Court nominees claim that the accusation is false.

Wait, what!?

Its the kind of testimony youd think the White House and Senate Republicans would be eager to have. More than that, why wouldnt Judge, a classmate and friend of Kavanaughs during his years at Georgetown Prep in Maryland, himself want to help clear his old high school buddys name?

Judge responded after being contacted by reporters by telling The New Yorker on Friday that he had no recollection of any such assault. Later that day, he told The Weekly Standard the accusation is absolutely nuts, and claimed, I never saw Brett act that way.

Still, Judge wrote a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday in which he stated he had no intention of cooperating with the committee in any way, while reiterating he had no memory of the incident Blasey described.

Heres Judges chance to come to the aid of Kavananah, whom he proudly referred to in a Facebook update shortly after his school chum was nominated to the Supreme Court in July (quipping that Kavanaugh has the same hair as the night I met him in 1981). But hes completely backing away. Why?

That the question has to be asked at all is the reason why Judge, as well as others who were present at the party Blasey described, must be subpoenaed by the Judiciary Committee to testify.

Judge may repeat under oath that he has no memory of any sexual assault by Kavanaugh. But he can also be asked questions about Kavanaughs behavior in high school, including his drinking habits and partying (Blasey said both Kavanaugh and Judge were drunk during the alleged assault) and whether he and Kavanaugh drank so much in those days that they might not remember a sexual assault.

Story continues

Judge has written several memoirs, including, Wasted: Tales of a Gen X Drunk, in which he discussed being a blackout drunk in high school and attending wild parties with his classmates. His testimony is critical to understanding what happened back then.

If Senate Republicans actually cared about getting to the bottom of what happened, they would want Judges testimony. (Photo: Mark Wilson via Getty Images)

Tuesday night, after GOP Senate leaders resisted Democrats calls for additional witnesses, Blasey announced shell only testify after the FBI investigates her accusations. Her attorney, Debra Katz, had said on Monday that her client would be eager to testify, but didnt want to be part of a bloodletting ritual. She clearly wanted a real investigation, rather than to simply be used as a fig leaf for the GOP. Judiciary Committee Republicans almost immediately responded by saying that if Blasey didnt accept the invitation on Monday, they would proceed with a vote on Kavanaughs nomination anyway.

Regardless of whether there is an FBI investigation, and whether Blasey testifies before the Senate committee, Judge must be subpoenaed. According to Blasey, Judge was part of the assault, laughing maniacally  an alleged accomplice who watched and even jumped on Kavanaugh and Blasey while Kavanaugh molested her.

What seems evident, however, is that Republicans on the committee know that Judge would be a disaster as a character witness for Kavanaugh. Not only would there be much focus on his writings about being highly intoxicated at high school parties, but it would open Kavanaugh to questions about the slew of other offensive things Judge has written. For instance, his piece on how some women dressed in a way that might provoke rape  even though theres never any excuse for rape.

In a 2006 piece called Gay Sex, Judge trafficked in the most base anti-gay stereotypes, asking, Why are they still getting AIDS, the most preventable disease since alcoholism? Why were 90 percent of the priest abuse cases involving priests with teen-age boys?

He went on to further compare homosexuality with alcoholism and compulsion, speculating that along with the genetic or hormonal hardwiring that makes someone gay comes a level of pathological compulsiveness. Its there waiting to explode the way alcoholism is, and requires a constant struggle to tamp down.

Were Judge and Kavanaugh friends all through these years since high school, and does Kavanaugh share some of these bigoted views? Those arent questions Kavanaugh or Republicans want the media to dwell on.

But protecting Kavanaugh from tough questions shouldnt be the priority here. If Senate Republicans actually cared about getting to the bottom of what happened, they would want Judges testimony.

The fact that they dont, and their rush to make Blasey testify, speaks volumes.

Michelangelo Signorile is an editor-at-large for HuffPost. Follow him on Twitter at @msignorile.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.Officials have reported that at least one person was killed after tornadoes hit Virginia in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence, which was downgraded to a tropical depression.

The fatality occurred in Chesterfield County just south of Richmond, the states capital, after a building collapsed on Monday afternoon.

Chesterfield County Lieutenant Jason Elmore confirmed the reports of the death via Twitter.

We can confirm one fatality at the building collapse, he wrote. All other employees accounted for. We transported one other minor injury to hospital. He later added: Recovery effort is complete. The deceased male has been removed from the collapsed building.

The Wakefield, Virginia National Weather Service had previously issued multiple tornado warnings to various areas in Virginia, warning residents to take cover.

According to a local CBS report, more than 6,000 Virginia residents are reported to be without power in the Richmond area, where multiple tornadoes were reported.

Richmond-area resident Thomas Livingston described what it was like to hear the tornado strike nearby in an interview with the Richmond Times-Patch.

"I heard something coming, he said. You recognise that it wasnt normal, but it keeps coming, louder and louder, snapping and tearing, and you could hear every bit of it.

Residents in North and South Carolina continue to cope with floodwaters as the death toll from the storm has risen to at least 32.Nairobi (AFP) - A rights group on Wednesday accused the government of South Sudan and its allied militias of carrying out "war crimes" of "staggering brutality" during an offensive earlier this year.

Amnesty International's report, based on research following a government offensive on Leer and Mayendit counties in the northern Unity State between April and June, catalogued the testimonies of around 100 civilians who escaped the attacks.

"The offensive was characterised by staggering brutality, with civilians deliberately shot dead, burnt alive, hanged in trees and run over with armoured vehicles," Amnesty said.

The group also documented "systematic sexual violence", rape and gang-rape as well as abductions of women and girls, and the deliberate killing of young boys and male infants.

The killings echo the type of brutality meted out to civilians that has characterised South Sudan's war since the start.

Amnesty said the latest offensive began in April and continued until early July, "a week after the latest ceasefire was brokered on 27 June".

That ceasefire paved the way for the signing last week of another peace agreement between President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar aimed at ending the vicious five-year-old civil war that has killed tens of thousands of people, pushed millions to the brink of starvation and scattered refugees across East Africa.

- 'End impunity' -

The battle for power between Kiir, a member of the Dinka tribe, and Machar, a Nuer, meant the conflict quickly took on an ethnic character with civilians targeted by both sides for massacre and widespread rape.

UN rights experts have warned of "ethnic cleansing" and the threat of genocide.

Amnesty blamed a failure to prosecute perpetrators for the continuing violence.

"The only way to break this vicious cycle of violence is to end the impunity enjoyed by South Sudanese fighters on all sides," said Joanne Mariner, Amnesty's senior crisis advisor.

Story continues

In a rare example of justice, 10 soldiers were found guilty earlier this month of an attack on a hotel in the capital Juba in which five foreign aid workers were gang-raped and a South Sudanese journalist killed.

But commanders and their political masters are not held to account.

A so-called "hybrid court" to try war crimes and crimes against humanity, proposed by the African Union as part of a failed 2015 peace agreement, has not been set up.

South Sudan, the world's youngest nation, broke away from Sudan in 2011 after a long and bloody independence struggle, but just two years later the new war began triggering one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.You are here: Arts

NourEldin Mohamed Abdelaal, from Egypt, declined offers from a number of elite universities in the West and joined the Beijing Institute of Technology to study computer sciences in September.



The 20-year-old had received multiple offers from universities in countries including the United States and Britain. The University of Cambridge also reserved a spot for him for his post-graduate studies.

However, he said he was attracted by China's booming computer industry and decided to come to China for his bachelor's degree.

NourEldin won the honor of "Best Arab Young Innovator in the World" in 2016 for his creation of a parallel network which exceeds the current internet speed by 32 times.

"China's computer industry is developing rapidly. I want to study here and find entrepreneurship opportunities," NourEldin says.

NourEldin's decision to study in China is supported by his father, who worked for a Chinese automobile company in Egypt for many years. His father has made more than 20 business trips to China and says the country is a "unique" place.

NourEldin came to Beijing in August 2017 to take a Chinese language course, but besides the language, he is also learning about traditional Chinese culture.

He is now a big fan of Chinese tea and enjoys watching Peking Opera.

After class on his first day at BIT, he went to Lao She Teahouse and watched a Peking Opera show with his dad.

He likes the costumes and the singing.

"The high-pitched tunes are like a nightingale singing," he says.Moscow (AFP) - Russia's election commission on Wednesday recommended re-running a key regional poll, an unprecedented move triggered by claims of vote-rigging in favour of a candidate backed by Vladimir Putin.

If the results of a runoff governorship vote in Russia's Far East are declared invalid because of multiple irregularities, it would likely be the first such case in the history of modern Russia.

The crisis erupted in the Far Eastern region of Primorsky Krai where an opposition candidate accused a ruling party representative endorsed by Putin of "stealing" his victory in the vote last Sunday.

Communist Party candidate Andrei Ishchenko, 37, seemed poised to become the next governor of Primorsky Krai until the results suddenly changed overnight allowing his Kremlin-backed rival to claim victory.

Sunday's vote was a second-round runoff after the Moscow-backed candidate, Andrei Tarasenko, failed to win at least 50 percent of the vote in a first stage.

Voters are angry over rising poverty under Western sanctions and a controversial pension reform.

While nearly every election in Russia is marred by claims of vote-rigging, the opposition and ordinary Russians said ballot-stuffing and other irregularities during the far eastern vote were especially brazen.

In a rare move, the head of the Central Election Commission said on Wednesday that the Primorsky Krai vote was marred by irregularities and recommended that regional officials invalidate it.

- 'Serious violations' -

"In a number of cases, mostly at the final stage, there were serious violations of the legislation," Ella Pamfilova said at an emotional meeting with members of the commission, referring to instances of ballot-stuffing and bribes.

She denied however that the vote was rigged in favour of the Kremlin-backed candidate, saying both candidates complained of irregularities.

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Kremlin supported the election commission's stance but added that acting governor Tarasenko would for now remain in the post.

Story continues

If regional election officials declare the results invalid, new polls are supposed to take place in three months.

Earlier this month Putin appeared to throw his support behind Tarasenko.

"I know you face a second-round runoff," Putin told him during a meeting. "I think everything will be alright."

Peskov sought to play down that gesture of support Wednesday, saying that the "transparency and fairness" of the polls were more important.

According to the official results, Tarasenko won 49.55 percent of the vote after a sudden surge, while Ishchenko received 48.06 percent.

That result came despite the Communist Party candidate enjoying a five-point lead when more than 95 percent of votes were counted.

- 'Harmful precedent' -

The Communist Party rejected the invalidation of the poll, urging the authorities to instead call the race for its candidate.

Political analyst Kirill Rogov said the authorities should simply cancel vote results at several polling stations as opposed to declaring the entire election invalid.

"Ishchenko has won the election," he wrote in a blog post. He said authorities wanted to render void "the victory of an opposition candidate. And this is a very harmful precedent."

Governorship elections were scrapped in 2005 but reinstated in 2012 as claims of mass fraud in the 2011 parliamentary elections prompted tens of thousands of Russians to rally against Putin.

The Kremlin this month suffered election blows in the regions of Khabarovsk, Khakasia and Vladimir, where ruling party candidates failed to win in the first round.

Second-round runoffs are scheduled in those regions on Sunday.By Darya Korsunskaya and Stephen Farrell MOSCOW/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that the shooting down of a Russian military plane near Syria's seacoast was the result of a series of tragic and chance circumstances. His comments appeared to somewhat defuse a possible crisis involving outside powers that back opposing sides in Syria's complex civil war, after Russia's Defence Ministry accused Israel of indirectly causing the incident. The ministry said that while Syrian anti-aircraft had mistakenly shot down the plane of a close ally, Israeli jets flying nearby had put the Russian jet in the path of danger, and it threatened to retaliate over what it called a hostile act. Putin told reporters: "It looks most likely in this case that it was a chain of tragic chance events, because an Israeli aircraft did not shoot down our aircraft. But, without any doubt, we need to seriously get to the bottom of what happened. "As for retaliatory measures, they will be aimed first and foremost at further ensuring the safety of our military personnel and facilities in Syria. And these will be steps that everyone will notice," Putin said. He also told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by phone that Israel's air force had been conducting operations in breach of Syria's sovereignty, a Kremlin statement said. "In this case, Russian-Israeli agreements on the prevention of dangerous incidents were not observed. As a result a Russian airplane came under fire from Syria's anti-aircraft systems. The President of Russia called for the Israeli side to avoid such situations from now on," the statement said. Russia's Defence Ministry said the Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft, with 15 Russians on board, was downed by Syrian government anti-aircraft guns in a "friendly fire" incident. But the ministry said it held Israel responsible because, at the time of the incident, Israeli jets were attacking targets in Syria and had only given Moscow one minute's warning, putting the Russian aircraft in danger of being caught in cross-fire. "We view the actions of the Israeli military as hostile," Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov told Russian state television. "As a result of the irresponsible actions of the Israeli military, 15 Russian service personnel perished." Netanyahu's office said that in his conversation with Putin he blamed Syria for the aircraft's downing but offered "all necessary information" for the investigation into the incident. (Syria areas of control https://tmsnrt.rs/2JCynMn) Any dispute between Israel and Russia could crimp Israel's ability to carry out air strikes inside Syria on what it sees as the greatest threat to its security from the war - build-ups of Iranian forces or groupings of the Shi'ite Hezbollah militia. Since intervening in Syria in 2015, Russia has usually turned a blind eye to Israeli attacks. Israel has launched about 200 such raids in the last two years, Israeli officials say. Amos Yadlin, Director of Tel Aviv University's Institute for National Security Studies, said on Twitter the downing of the Russian plane could "limit the bid to stop Irans entrenchment in Syria and the transfers of advanced weapons to Hezbollah." "INACCURATE" SYRIAN ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE In a statement the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also voiced sorrow at the deaths but blamed the Syrian government and its main regional allies Iran and Hezbollah. The IDF said the initial Israeli inquiry into the incident found "extensive and inaccurate" Syrian anti-aircraft fire "caused the Russian plane to be hit and downed". "The Syrian anti-air batteries fired indiscriminately and from what we understand, did not bother to ensure that no Russian planes were in the air," the statement said. It added that by the time the Russian plane was struck, the Israeli jets were already back in their own airspace. The Russian plane was "not within the area of the operation" carried out by the Israeli jets, it said. After the incident, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told his Israeli counterpart, Avigdor Lieberman, that Moscow held Israel wholly responsible, Russian news agencies reported. In his conversation with Putin, Netanyahu's office said, the prime minister stressed the importance of defense coordination with Russia that had managed "to prevent many losses on both sides in the past three years" in Syria's war. "COVER" Moscow said its plane disappeared from radar as it came in to land at the Hmeymim air base in western Syria late on Monday. According to the Russian Defence Ministry, Israeli F-16 jets carrying out air strikes used the Russian plane as cover to allow them to approach their targets on the ground without being hit by Syrian fire. "Hiding behind the Russian aircraft, the Israeli pilots put it in the line of fire of Syrian anti-aircraft systems. As a result, the Il-20 ... was shot down by the (Syrian) S-200 missile system," the ministry's Konashenkov said. He said the Israeli pilots "could not have failed to see the Russian aircraft, as it was coming in to land from a height of 5 km (three miles). Nevertheless, they deliberately carried out this provocation," Konashenkov said. "This absolutely does not correspond to the spirit of Russian-Israeli partnership." The Israel military said that overnight its fighter jets had "targeted a facility of the Syrian armed forces from which systems to manufacture accurate and lethal weapons were about to be transferred on behalf of Iran to Hezbollah in Lebanon". It said the weapons targeted in the Mediterranean coastal city of Latakia "were meant to attack Israel and posed an intolerable threat against it". Several countries have military operations under way around Syria, with forces on the ground or launching strikes from the air or from ships in the Mediterranean. Foreign powers involved in the conflict - including Israel and Russia - operate hotlines to exchange operational details to avoid one side accidentally attacking the other's forces. However, diplomats and military experts have warned that the risk of inadvertent strikes is high. Separately, Turkey said on Tuesday it would send more troops into Syria's rebel-held Idlib province after striking a deal with Russia that has averted a government offensive there. (Refiles to make start of Putin quote in paragraph 4 read "It", instead of "I".) (Additional reporting by Tom Balmforth and Andrew Osborn in Moscow; Maayan Lubell and Ori Lewis in Jerusalem; John Irish and Sophie Louet in Paris; Phil Stewart in Washington and Nayera Abdallah in Cairo; Editing by Mark Heinrich)Burt Reynolds and Sally Field (Credit: Universal)

Sally Field has revealed that Burt Reynolds was jealous and controlling over her during their five-year relationship.

In her new memoir, called In Pieces, she also hints that he may also have been physically aggressive towards her at times, saying that on the occasions that she would assert herself, he tightened his grip, sometimes literally.

Field starred with Reynolds in the movie Smokey and the Bandit in 1977, after which they began dating in what she describes as an instantaneous and intense relationship.

By the time we met, the weight of his stardom had become a way for Burt to control everyone around him, and from the moment I walked through the door, it was a way to control me. We were a perfect match of flaws, she writes.

Blindly I fell into a rut that had long ago formed in my road, a pre programmed behavior as if in some past I had pledged a soul-binding commitment to this man.

If he found that she had met with another man in any capacity, Burt would pinch my face in his hand, demanding I tell him who the guy was and what kind of relationship Id had with him.

(Credit: Simon and Schuster)

No matter who it was, if I knew him well or only barely, Id lie with my heart racing as though Id been caught at the dinner table with pink lips, she went on.

During the filming of Smokey and the Bandit, Field writes that she also encountered his drug use at the time, and he would often use addictive painkillers like Percodan and sedatives like Valium.

He was zooming the car down narrow roads, barely able to see around the forest of equipment and spouting reams of dialogue while I fed him barbiturates hand over fist. Clearly I didnt have my wits about me, she writes.

Field later recounts that Reynolds would try to belittle her career, and had tried to stop her taking the leading role in the movie Norma Rae in 1979, for which she later won an Oscar.

He also tried to get her to cancel a trip to the Cannes Film Festival the same year, in favour of house hunting with him, and during an argument branded it a waste of time for her, lashing out: You dont expect to win anything, do you?

Story continues

She in fact won the award for Best Actress at the festival, and describes the experience of being away from Reynolds as making her feel wondrously free.

(Credit: Rex)

Fields describes Reynolds as a tortured soul who couldnt breathe, and who was engulfed by his instant notoriety.

Field said in a recent interview with the New York Times that she is glad that Reynolds would not get to read the book, as it would have hurt him.

I felt glad that he wasnt going to read it, he wasnt going to be asked about it, and he wasnt going to have to defend himself or lash out, which he probably would have, she said.

I did not want to hurt him any further.

Reynolds died earlier this month at the age of 82, following a heart attack.

Following news of his death, Field said: There are times in your life that are so indelible, they never fade away. They stay alive, even forty years later.

My years with Burt never leave my mind. He will be in my history and my heart, for as long as I live. Rest, Buddy.

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Residents and city officials in Conway, South Carolina, scrambled to prepare the town on Wednesday, September 19, as forecasters said the Waccamaw River would keep rising for another week and beat its previous record.

The flood stage beneath the US 501 bridge in Conway is 11 feet; on Wednesday, the depth was 15 feet. The rivers record  just under 18 feet  was set in 2016 when the area was hit by Hurricane Matthew. The National Weather Service predicted the river would be above 20 feet by early Monday.

The first video here shows city workers raising the dock pilings near the US 501 bridge.

Conway is about 14 miles inland from the coast. Credit: City of Conway via StoryfulSEOUL, South Korea (AP)  The broadly smiling North and South Korean leaders embrace each other as cheering Pyongyang residents wave fake flowers. The two inspect goose-stepping soldiers and ride together in a convertible Mercedes limousine for a parade. The leaders praise one another for taking the initiative to open a new era of inter-Korean detente.

These striking images were captured Tuesday after South Korean President Moon Jae-in arrived in Pyongyang during closely watched talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un about the fate of Kim's nuclear arsenal.

Here's a look at some of the key moments on the first day of Moon's three-day trip to North Korea:

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MOON'S DOG

When Moon left his hillside presidential palace in Seoul on Tuesday morning, his dog Maru, a white Korean Pungsan, joined presidential officials to see him off.

Photos showed Moon walking with Maru as his wife, Kim Jung-sook, held the dog's blue leash. The couple then took a helicopter to a military airport near Seoul to fly to Pyongyang.

Moon, a pet lover, has also adopted a shelter dog named Tory, a mixed breed, to raise public awareness of the problem of animal abandonment. He also has a cat called Jjing-jjing.

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KIM'S ENTHUSASTIC WELCOME

Upon Moon's arrival at Pyongyang's international airport, he was greeted by thousands of neatly dressed Pyongyang residents who chanted orchestrated rapturous slogans like "national unification" while waving pink and red plastic flowers and North Korean and unification flags.

A smiling Kim, dressed in his trademark dark Mao suit, waited at the airport tarmac with his young wife, Ri Sol Ju, before they exchanged warm handshakes and hugs with the Moons.

The two leaders later inspected a goose-stepping North Korean honor guard carrying bayonet-tipped rifles. A military band played rousing ceremonial music used for the highest-level state events.

Kim's powerful younger sister and propaganda chief Kim Yo Jong moved around the site, checking to see if things were going smoothly.

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Before Moon left the airfield, he deeply bowed and approached to exchange handshakes with some of the cheering crowd who were bouncing with excitement.

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PYONGYANG PARADE

On the way to Moon's guest house, the two got out of their respective cars at one point and walked together a bit while waving to residents gathered along perfectly manicured Pyongyang streets. They later got in a black open-top Mercedes limousine together.

When their limousine drove a few kilometers (miles), South Korean media pool footage showed that the convoy of black vehicles and motorcycles were the only ones on the route, which was lined with artificial flower-waving residents, mostly women wearing colorful Korean traditional hanbok dresses.

When they got out of the limousine at the guest house, they both fixed their hair.

An estimated 100,000 North Korean residents were gathered for the parade.

When Moon's friend and liberal predecessor Roh Moo-hyun visited Pyongyang in 2007 for a summit with Kim's late father Kim Jong Il, he held a similar parade with Kim Yong Nam, the North's nominal head of state.

Another liberal South Korean president, Kim Dae-jung, rode together in a limousine and held about a half-hour of talks with Kim Jong Il on the first day of a visit in 2000. He reportedly turned down an offer to be in an open-topped car for security reasons.

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WARM WORDS

After they arrived at the guest house, Kim Jong Un, 34, extended his hand to let Moon, 65, enter the building first. After their two previous summits, Moon described Kim as "polite" and "caring about his elder."

Standing with their wives, the two smiled broadly and exchanged warm words. Kim said he had felt sorry in May because he thought he didn't give Moon sufficient hospitality during their second summit at the North Korean side of the Panmunjom border village. Moon said his "heart was full" when he saw Pyongyang residents welcoming him.

Later at the start of their summit, Kim said he feels closer to Moon because of his "tireless efforts" to help improve the North's ties with South Korea and the United States. Moon responded by thanking Kim for making a "bold decision" to attend February's Winter Olympics in South Korea, which was the start of ongoing inter-Korean rapprochement.A team of seniors from the Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering outside of Boston collaborated with Mitsubishi Electric to use technology to encourage older adults to cook together remotely. Users can share recipes and techniques, in part through networked wristbands that let them demonstrate to one another their special touch for whisking eggs or flipping crepes.

Students farther west at Worcester Polytechnic Institute have helped an Australian not-for-profit collect data on microplastic pollution in the ocean, which lawmakers can use to help create policy for a cleanup effort.

And undergraduate business students at Bucknell University in central Pennsylvania have designed play areas for a local children's museum that teach about concepts like air and gravity, which they have presented to the museum's board.

Each of these activities is a class or project incorporating two key elements that many undergraduate institutions are increasingly building into their engineering and business curricula. First, the work combines technical study in preprofessional fields with approaches often associated with the liberal arts, such as nurturing big-picture thinking and developing analytical and writing skills.

In addition, colleges are asking students to apply their efforts to real-world needs, working in teams and with actual clients just as they will after they graduate.

Engineering and business are common "get-a-job" college program choices, with about 1 in 5 college graduates in 2016 majoring in business and 5 percent earning degrees in engineering, according to federal data. The fields also command some of the highest average starting salaries, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

But many such programs have traditionally centered around teaching the technical nuts and bolts of business and engineering. Now, as automation, new technology and other forces transform the global workforce, many schools are responding to the demands of employers who are putting a premium on graduates who have both technical know-how and creative and communication skills.

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[Read: College Programs Offer a Path to Professional Degrees.]

Emily Gross, a 2018 Bucknell grad who was part of the children's museum play-area design project, says it helped her break out of her comfort zone and gain confidence in her creative abilities. She worked closely with the museum's board and staff, and had to juggle conflicting feedback -- giving her a taste of real business settings.

"Even if you have the most beautiful design and model, your idea won't be chosen unless you can communicate clearly and persuasively to your client," she says.

Madison Healey, a senior mechanical engineering major at WPI who was in the group that went to Australia to study microplastic pollution, also found the project sharpened her communication skills and ignited her passion to pursue a career in environmental sustainability. Healey was expecting primarily to solve math problems in her college program, just as she had in high school, so she was a little surprised that most of her engineering courses have included writing reports and making presentations.

"Professors are always saying how the industry values writing and people skills as much as the technical skills we are learning," she says. Plus, emerging evidence shows that integrating the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and math -- plus medicine -- with the arts and humanities at the higher ed level can improve problem-solving, communication and teamwork skills, according to a report released in May from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

Indeed, through partnerships with and feedback from employers, many schools are increasingly recognizing that, while narrowly focused technical curricula may help students get that first job, they will need broader skills to move up, to start their own businesses or to blaze an unconventional career path.

At Franklin and Marshall College, a liberal arts institution in Pennsylvania, business is approached more as a cross-disciplinary social science than as a preprofessional major, which helps to develop students' big-picture thinking, says Bryan Stinchfield, associate professor of organization studies and former chair of the school's Business, Organizations and Society department.

"Students want a program that's going to allow them to blend their intellectual curiosities with their passions, and business education at a liberal arts school really allows that," he says. Every course in the department, even statistics, involves plenty of writing, and class sizes are capped at 16 to 25 to allow faculty time to provide feedback and individualized help.

Bucknell's management majors take the same core liberal arts classes as English majors, and they also must complete at least three writing-intensive courses in the management school or elsewhere in the university, says Raquel Alexander, dean of Bucknell's Freeman College of Management.

[Read: Find an Undergrad B-School That Helps You Stand Out.]

Innovative engineering programs often encourage students to apply their skills as they acquire them instead of making them achieve a certain level of overall mastery before they're let loose in the lab or the workshop.

"Students are tired of the math-science death march: two years of courses when what they really want to do is make stuff," says Khanjan Mehta, vice provost for creative inquiry at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, which offers a variety of ways to pursue integrated studies among its three undergraduate colleges: arts and sciences, business and engineering. The overall objective is to steep students in ideas like design thinking, global citizenship and evidence-based problem-solving.

Lehigh's Mountaintop Initiative has repurposed a former Bethlehem Steel research facility into a 120,000-square-foot space where students can pursue such cross-disciplinary projects as making and testing 3D printed concrete or developing a Facebook widget that measures the political polarization of a user's news feed.

"When you work on real projects and see why your knowledge is relevant, it makes you learn your math and science better," Mehta says.

Many engineering programs, including Olin, WPI and Rochester Institute of Technology in New York, are taking their cues from the National Academy of Engineering's Grand Challenges Scholars Program, a combined curricular and co-curricular effort designed to prepare students to address 14 global issues for the field, such as securing cyberspace, making solar energy economical and developing better medicines.

More than 50 undergraduate engineering schools have a program approved by the NAE, and dozens more are in development. They're allowed to execute in any way they see fit -- as long as the work is multidisciplinary, multicultural and designed to promote creativity, original research, social consciousness and entrepreneurship.

The multidisciplinary component is especially key, says Karen Oates, a professor of biology and immediate past dean of arts and sciences at WPI. "None of these problems will be solved just by an engineer, so we are interested in combining the very best of engineering and the very best of liberal arts and science."

Rather than creating new interdisciplinary courses as some institutions do, WPI incorporates social context directly into its existing engineering curriculum, and pairs engineering and other faculty -- for example, a biomedical engineer and a political scientist -- to participate in one another's courses.

Their joint course might cover the technical aspects of producing large amounts of a vaccine and a device for dispensing it, but also the social implications of getting it out to the populations that need it and providing it at a reasonable cost.

Robert Martello, associate dean for curriculum and academic programs at Olin, estimates that roughly 15 to 25 percent of the school's classes combine liberal arts with technology in some form.

"Engineering for Humanity," co-taught by an engineer and an anthropologist, has students devise solutions for the challenges of specific people: for example, designing measuring cups and a cutting board for use by a woman with macular degeneration who has lost the center of her field of vision, or creating videos and learning aids for new immigrants learning English.

Mary Martin, a 2018 Olin grad who was part of the remote cooking capstone project, was attracted to the school's holistic approach and the freedom it offered to design her own education. That led her to projects like creating a laser maze that players had to navigate without breaking the beams and setting off an alarm.

The exercise gave her five-person team a technical workout and tested their design and budgeting skills. "It's been a great conversation starter at networking events," says Martin, who joins Bose Corp.'s new business development lab this fall as a mechanical engineer.

RIT has 30 students involved in the first year of its NAE Grand Challenges Scholars Program, and the school is providing funding to help them cover the costs of design projects and international trips. Among the ways that RIT has integrated the liberal arts is a general education course for incoming freshmen that links engineering and other disciplines.

The current iteration is called "Clean Water," and it brings together engineering and philosophy faculty to explore water management -- both the technical, like removing salt from ocean water, and the ethical, like how to address the lead-tainted water system in Flint, Michigan, or allocate scarce water in the American Southwest.

Such courses are just the start of a multiyear, cross-disciplinary curriculum that culminates in senior design projects like medical centrifuges for places without electricity or 3D printing of prosthetics.

Even many large public universities, where students sometimes have to apply to be a part of business or engineering majors, are looking to broaden their preprofessional programs to include the development of critical thinking and writing.

San Francisco State is working to increase the breadth of its business offerings and researching a minor in sustainability to complement current undergrad business electives, says Denise Kleinrichert, director of the university's Center for Ethical and Sustainable Business.

[Read: Business Schools Give Undergraduate Programs a Liberal Arts Twist.]

The University of Wisconsin--Madison is exploring ways to incorporate cross-disciplinary content across a school of about 31,000 undergrads, says Suzanne Dove, assistant dean for academic innovations at the university's Wisconsin School of Business.

Recently the B-school used the common text from a universitywide reading program -- the book "Just Mercy" by Equal Justice Initiative executive director Bryan Stevenson -- to spark first-year business undergrads to create visual representations of some of its civil rights and justice themes.

"One of our students said, 'Gosh, I thought I was going to have to give up my artistic side when I went to be a business major!'?" Dove says. "It was great news for the students to know that we value all of these aspects of their personalities and want them to bring those out."

This story is excerpted from the U.S. News "Best Colleges 2019" guidebook, which features in-depth articles, rankings and data.

By Tulay Karadeniz and Suleiman Al-Khalidi ANKARA/AMMAN (Reuters) - Turkey will send more troops into Syria's Idlib province after striking a deal with Russia that has averted a government offensive and delighted rebels who said it kept the area out of President Bashar al-Assad's hands. The deal unveiled on Monday by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Assad's most powerful ally, and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan will create a demilitarized zone from which "radical" rebels must withdraw by the middle of next month. Damascus also welcomed the agreement but vowed to continue its efforts to recover "every inch" of Syria. Iran, Assad's other main ally, said that "responsible diplomacy" had averted a war in Idlib "with a firm commitment to fight extremist terror". The agreement halted a threatened Syrian government offensive. The United Nations had warned such an attack would create a humanitarian catastrophe in the Idlib region, home to about 3 million people. The Idlib region and adjoining territory north of Aleppo represent the opposition's last big foothold in Syria. Assad has recovered most of the areas once held by the rebels, with decisive military support from Iran and Russia. But his plans to recover the northwest have been complicated by Turkey's role on the ground. It has soldiers at 12 locations in Idlib and supplies weapons to some of the rebels. Erdogan had feared another exodus of refugees to join the 3.5 million already in Turkey, and warned against any attack. In striking the deal, Russia appears - at least for now - to have put its ties with Turkey ahead of advancing the goal of bringing all Syria back under Assad's rule. That goal is also obstructed by the presence of U.S. forces in the quarter of Syria east of the Euphrates that is held by an alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias, and at a base near the borders with Jordan and Iraq. U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis played down any notion the Turkey-Russia agreement had resolved the situation in Idlib. "Idlib is one of the most complex problems in a complex theater (of conflict) right now. So I'm quite sure it's not all sorted," Mattis told reporters at the Pentagon. Analysts cautioned that implementation of the deal faced big challenges, notably how to separate jihadists from other rebels - a goal Ankara has been struggling to achieve. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said the "moderate opposition" would keep its weapons and the "region will be cleared of radicals". Turkey would "make additional troop deployments" and its 12 observation posts would remain. The deal was "very important for the political resolution in Syria". "If this (Idlib) had been lost too, there would be no opposition anymore," he said. Mustafa Sejari, a Free Syria Army (FSA) official, said the deal "buries Assad's dreams of imposing his full control over Syria". Yahya al-Aridi, spokesman for the opposition Syrian Negotiations Commission, expressed hope a government offensive was now off the table for good. The Syrian government, in a statement published by state media, said it welcomed any agreement that spared blood. It also said the deal had a specific time frame, which it did not detail. "I see it as a test of the extent of Turkey's ability to implement this decision," Ali Abdul Karim, Syria's ambassador to Lebanon, said in an interview with Lebanon's al-Jadeed TV. "We do not trust Turkey ... but it's useful for Turkey to be able to carry out this fight to rid these groups from their weapons." 'CATASTROPHE' AVERTED Moscow said the deal "confirmed the ability of both Moscow and Ankara to compromise ... in the interests of the ultimate goal of a Syrian settlement by political and diplomatic means". "Is this merely a stay of execution? Or is it the beginning of a reprieve?" U.N. aid chief Mark Lowcock asked during a monthly meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Syria. The demilitarized zone will be monitored by Russian and Turkish forces, the countries' leaders said. Neither Russia nor Turkey has explained how it plans to differentiate "radically minded" rebels from other anti-Assad groups. It was also not immediately clear how much of the city of Idlib fell within the zone. Putin said the decision was to establish by Oct. 15 a demilitarized area 15 to 20 km (10-12 miles) deep along the contact line between rebel and government fighters. Naji Abu Hufaiza, spokesman for the National Front for Liberation, said he did not have details of the agreement, but added that while he saw it as a success for Turkish diplomacy, his group did not trust Russia to uphold it. Idlib is held by an array of rebels. The most powerful is Tahrir al-Sham, an amalgamation of Islamist groups dominated by the former Nusra Front - an al Qaeda affiliate until 2016. Other Islamists, and groups fighting as the Free Syrian Army banner, are now gathered with Turkish backing under the banner of the "National Front for Liberation". The area is also the last major haven for foreign jihadists who came to Syria to fight the Alawite-led Assad government. Putin said that, at Erdogan's suggestion, by Oct. 10, all opposition heavy weapons, mortars, tanks, rocket systems would also be removed from the demilitarized zone. Earlier this month, Putin publicly rebuffed a proposal from Erdogan for a truce when the two met along with Iran's president at a summit in Tehran. (Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi in Amman and Tom Perry, Dahlia Nehme and Ellen Francis in Beirut, Tuvan Gumrukcu in Ankara, Dominic Evans in Istanbul, Thomas Balmforth in Moscow, Michelle Martin in Germany, Parisa Hafezi in Ankara, Daphne Psaledakis, Alissa de Carbonnel in Brussels, Michelle Nichols in New York and Phil Stewart in Washington; Writing by Tom Perry; Editing by William Maclean, Richard Balmforth and Peter Cooney)DETROIT (AP)  Tesla Inc. has turned over documents to the U.S. Justice Department after statements by CEO Elon Musk about taking the company private, the electric car maker confirmed Tuesday.

The Palo Alto, California, company cooperated with the request and believes the matter should be resolved quickly once federal prosecutors review information they have received, according to a company statement.

News of a potential criminal investigation pushed Tesla stock down 5 percent in morning trading Tuesday, but the decline subsided a bit by early afternoon to 3.4 percent, at $284.89.

"We have not received a subpoena, a request for testimony, or any other formal process," Tesla's statement said.

Bloomberg News reported Tuesday morning that the Justice Department is running a criminal probe parallel to an investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The news service cited two people familiar with the matter that it did not identify.

The Justice Department generally does not confirm or deny investigations, spokeswoman Nicole Navas Oxman in Washington said. The U.S. Attorney's Office in San Francisco took the same stance.

Tesla said it was contacted by prosecutors after Musk tweeted last month while driving to the airport that funding was secured to take the company private. The announcement raised the stock price 11 percent in one day, but it has since fallen.

Later the company admitted that funding wasn't lined up and eventually Musk abandoned the idea.

Short-sellers, who bet against the stock appreciating, complained that Musk's announcement was done to manipulate the stock price and cost them money.

Stephen Crimmins, a former deputy chief of litigation for the SEC, said prosecutors probably are looking at Musk's tweets to be cautious. "It automatically becomes so high profile that the government enforcers have to be particularly conscientious in taking a look at things," he said.

Crimmins said Musk "speaks loosely," but his conduct probably doesn't rise to the criminal level. Prosecutors would have to prove Musk lied in order to move the stock price, which would be difficult, Crimmins said. Any loss to short-sellers would be for a short period and wouldn't be worth the risk of Musk intentionally manipulating the stock price, Crimmins said.

The SEC likely would pursue a civil remedy that would include a provision that someone at Tesla review Musk's tweets on corporate matters before they are sent out, he said.You are here: Arts

An exhibition featuring the works of three Italian art masters of the Renaissance period opened Tuesday in Tianjin.

A total of 68 works by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael will be shown at the exhibition in the Tianjin Art Museum. The exhibition will run through Nov. 14.

The exhibits include paintings and sculptures as well as a large number of sketch manuscripts, which will offer audiences a glimpse into the creative processes of the three masters.

"At the exhibition, the audience will also enjoy the splendid beauty of the Renaissance art and the humanistic light of Florence some 600 years ago," said a senior curator of the museum.

The exhibition, sponsored by the Tianjin municipal government, is co-hosted by the Tianjin Art Museum, Nanjing Museum, and Italy's MetaMorfosi cultural foundation.A Texas woman has been arrested for mistreating the kids in her care. (Photo: Getty Images)

A Texas early childhood development professional was arrested over the weekend for endangering and medicating the children in her care. According to one grandmother who previously used her services, she is not surprised.

Last week the Mesquite Police Department received a complaint about 60-year-old Rebecca Anderson, who owns Beckys Child Care, from a parent who placed a discreet camera on his 6-month-old sons car seat after suspecting she was mistreating his son, Mesquites Sgt. Thompson told Yahoo Lifestyle. The video revealed Anderson roughly yank the boy out of the car seat and feed him an unknown substance using a plastic liquid syringe, according to the incident report obtained by NBC 5. The video also showed Anderson pick the baby up using the bib fastened around his neck.

After viewing the evidence, detectives obtained a search warrant for Andersons home, where she operated her daycare center, and upon arrival, Anderson told police that there were just five children in the home. However, police discovered four more  three children strapped to car seats in a dark master bedroom closet and one more in the master bathroom. The arrest warrant also said detectives found shoelace-like cords around their necks, and that some had to be cut off, according to NBC 5. Anderson admitted she used the string to limit the childrens movement.

The supposed childcare professional also admitted she had likely given Tylenol to all of the children, according to NBC 5, and that she left the children in the car seats for as many as seven hours each day. Police later found that Anderson treated the children in her care to unnecessary doses of over-the-counter medicine, extended periods of restricted movement and poor hygiene practices.

Keonna Oliver of Forney, Texas, was not completely surprised by the news. Her grandson Tristan was in Andersons care from age seven months to two years, and she had her suspicions the entire time.

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He lives with me, Oliver told Yahoo Lifestyle of Tristan. I went onto the Better Business Bureau website and found Becky there. I wasnt referred by a family member or friend, I found her on their website. I was looking for daycares in the area and she came up as one of the best, she explained. Her daughter, Tristans mom, just graduated college and is in the process of moving back home.

When she heard the news, Oliver immediately jumped on Yelp and left Anderson a one-star review. So very disappointed in Mrs. Becky! she wrote before detailing her experiences with Anderson, who she described as a slick talker. Andersons business has 11 reviews total, all of which are one-star, except two 5-star reviews from 2014 and 2015.

I saw all the signs but I didnt want to believe it, Oliver told Yahoo Lifestyle. My first mind told me to put a camera in his bag because you never were allowed to go in the house after the initial visit with her. On her website, Anderson advertises an interview process in which they could discuss the goals youd like to set to foster your childs educational growth. She wrote that during the interview, families could tour her childcare areas, giving you an overall impression of how your child will spend their day.

But after that, parents were never let inside again.

You had to wait outside and all the parents were doing it; you would see one parent waiting for their kid, shed hand them their kid, and then you go up or vice versa. If I was at the door, another parent would wait in their vehicle until I walked away, Oliver explained. I just thought this was what we were supposed to do. But now I realize she kept the parents from interacting on purpose. They also had to text her when they were on their way to get their child, according to Oliver. I assumed she had cameras because as soon as we pulled up, the baby would be running out the door. She described Andersons guidelines as so weird. She often had the childs car seat waiting outside when the parents arrived. So I asked her about it and she said, Well I put it outside so you can take that to the car, and then come back and get Tristan, and I was like, Oh, that makes sense, shes just trying to help us out. But really, she just didnt want you to come inside.

The other daycare establishments Oliver looked into said she could pop by to visit whenever, while Anderson insisted they set up an appointment, and it had to be on the weekend. Oliver said the house was spotless when she went. The one red flag was that she had cribs and baby beds in her bedroom. And I knew that was against state regulations for daycare but I was like, if the babies are coming early  that didnt change my mind.

Beckys Child Care was registered by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) in 1989 and was up for renewal in 2019. It had received zero admin penalties, corrective actions, or adverse actions, which are taken when an operation has been cited for deficiencies that pose a risk to the health and safety of children, or if there are indications of a continued failure to comply with standards, rules or child care law. During Andersons last inspection in December 2016, she received only one violation and it was for fire safety. In 2015, she received zero violations. The police didnt have any standing complaints about her and I dont believe the DFPS had any complaints on her either, Sgt. Thompson said.

Good reviews on the BBB and Google, and an award won Oliver over.

In 2014, the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children gave Anderson the Teacher of the Year award.

According to her website, Anderson has been serving the Mesquite area since 1995. Caring for children is my passion. Ive been a dedicated teacher for 37 years, and I cant imagine a better way to spend my life, her website reads.

She was nice and immaculate, Oliver recalled. She could talk you out of your drawers. She seemed sane. She just seemed like she was exhausted. This gave her pause. When you pick the kid up, she was always sweating. I said to my daughter once, I bet she keeps those kids asleep and has a drink or something because shes always sweating. Plus, why was she always so willing to chat? Shed come to the door and say, You see that news today? She hates Donald Trump. She would talk to you about Donald Trump for an hour and I was thinking, You need to go inside and check on the kids.

But Oliver sometimes wondered if there were any other kids besides Tristan, and that made her suspicious. I never heard any other kids when I would go to the door, because sometimes I would just try to make conversation with her to see if I saw another kid by the door or at least listen for another kid, and Id think, Tristan might be the only kid she has because Im not seeing any other kids in that house. But often I would see parents picking them up, but where are they? she would wonder. Andersons website is full of photos of happy toddlers playing outside and with toys. Ive never seen any of those kids in the pictures, she probably just had a photo shoot for the day.

Turns out her suspicions were accurate. When I saw this on the news, I said, Oh my God, I turned around in my car three times and went and confronted this lady about bruises on my baby. But Miss Becky always had an answer. She sugarcoated it every time.

At one point, Tristan was repeatedly getting severe diaper rashes to the point where he was bleeding and Oliver had to take him to the doctor. But then I read there was also poor hygiene.

In terms of the Tylenol, Oliver, who works in health care, does believe the kids were medicated, but with something else. I dont even believe its Tylenol. It had to be like Dimetapp or something to really get them to sleep. When I would pick up Tristan, he would be like, slow. Hed be tired and couldnt get it together.

Oliver recalled texting her about bruises once and Anderson answering, Oh, he slid down the slide. Thats the only thing I can think of. Im so sorry, please monitor it, if it gets worse let me know. Tristan constantly came home with abrasions around his neck or a hoarse voice, his grandma said. I would be like, Are you getting sick? No, he was probably crying for hours.

She asked Anderson about the neck bruising a couple of times. I called her once and said, Im in the car looking at his neck, hes got some little, like, bruises around his neck. Of course, Anderson had an answer. She said, Oh, when you guys text me to tell me that youre on your way, I put his clothes back on, because I keep them off so when I feed him they dont get dirty, so I put his shirt on a little too rough. I [thought], OK, Im gonna watch this too and see if it gets worse. It never got worse, so Oliver put it out of her mind. It looked like rough play, boys being boys. The neck incident happened twice. I said to myself, I dont even want to think shes putting something around his neck, this lady is too sweet to do that. Im not gonna even think that. However, that is exactly what was happening. And because of it, Tristan is traumatized.

He just stopped going there the first week of August. He wasnt excelling with her, thats the reason we switched him. He wasnt saying anything, hes 2 and he cant say mama, da-da, none of that, Oliver explained. We even took him for speech lessons and they were like, Are you guys working with him? Is he in daycare? His motor skills should be better. I just felt like he wasnt learning anything with her.

Tristans time at Miss Beckys has also affected his behavior, in good and bad ways. When we started to enforce bedtime at home, 8:30 p.m. in bed in the dark, he did not put up a fight ever, Oliver said. He went straight to the bed in the dark and I would be like, he cant see in there, so I would turn on the nightlight, but he would just lay there so patient like a little angel. She chalked it up to Miss Beckys successful naptime procedure. I didnt know it was in a dark closet or dark master bathroom.

Tristan also gets aggressive. This baby fights, he cries, he does not want to be affectionate. If you hug him, he swings at you. If I take his tablet, he cries, she explained. Theres definitely trauma there. The crazy thing is, we were going to put him in counseling anyway. But now we know why.

When they took Tristan out of Miss Beckys care last month, it wasnt because of abuse. When we were getting ready to leave her she was like, Please write a review on me, please give me five stars. Oliver told her she would. She said, You guys arent moving him because of me, are you? I told her the schedule didnt work for me. And I told her he wasnt progressing and she said, Im working with him. I have 5-year-olds and they know everything about science.

At that point, she didnt completely distrust Anderson. If she had not admitted to some of the allegations, I would probably be like, I think something was going on but not to that extent. When they say she had them wrapped for restricted movement, I would have been like, What do they mean? Thats crazy. I dont think Miss Becky would do that. I was rooting for her. She was tricked into thinking maybe it was Tristan who was the problem.

Oliver wasnt the only parent expressing their thoughts about the case on Yelp. Once upon a time, I had a review up on Yahoo, but that was way back in 2006-07 criticizing this day care, but I cant find it anymore, someone named Robin S. wrote yesterday. When my kids were with her, I suspected stuff, but could never prove anything. My oldest son didnt walk until he was almost 17 months old and then couldnt say more than baby sounds until he was almost 3 and we put him with Child Find for a speech delay. They alerted me that no one was home when they came to work with him. I got there that afternoon infuriated and she told me she had taken them shopping. Robin immediately pulled her son out of Andersons program. My kids are teenagers now and dont even remember her, but dear God, what did they go through? I am just so sick right now. She has been arrested for abusing the kids in her care in abhorrent ways and I simply want to hold my kids a bit closer tonight.

Sgt. Thompson said all the kids in her custody when she was arrested were retrieved by their parents and taken to the hospital. I believe they are all OK, he told Yahoo Lifestyle.

Oliver is hurt, disappointed and feels like she betrayed her daughter. Miss Becky, come on, we put our trust in you, she said.

Anderson was transferred to the Dallas County Jail on Sunday. And while he doesnt know if any lawsuits will arise from this, Sgt. Thompson said that would not be surprising.

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Tiffany Haddish never misses an opportunity to make a statement with her red-carpet fashion. (Never forget the $4,000 Alexander McQueen dress she wore to three different events.) And at the 2018 Emmys, the comedian once again walked the red carpet wearing a garment with a very personal story.

Haddish arrived in a custom multicolored gown by designer Prabal Gurung, which she explained was inspired by the Eritrean flag, the country in northeastern Africa where her late father was from. "It's custom actually," she told E!. "I asked them to make a dress that represents my father's land."

Check out the gorgeous dress.

tiffany haddish dress 1 John Shearer/Getty Images

tiffany haddish dress3 John Shearer/Getty Images



tiffany haddish dress 2 Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

This isn't the first time Haddish has honored her father's home country on the red carpet: She wore a traditional Eritrean gown to the 2018 Oscars as a way of honoring him after he passed away. "My father is from Eritrea, and he passed away last year," she said on the red carpet that night. "He said one day I would end up here, and if I ever end up at the Oscars, to honor my people. So I'm honoring my fellow Eritreans."

This is Haddish's first time attending the Emmys, where she's picking up a trophy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her turn on SNL. As to where she's keeping it? She said she's "putting it in the bed next to me so I feel like somebody's sleeping with me... I'm busy I don't sleep with nobody." Oh, Tiffany.Addis Ababa (AFP) - At least 58 people were killed during ethnic violence at the weekend on the outskirts of Ethiopia's capital, an Amnesty International researcher told AFP on Wednesday.

And another source involved in the investigation, who saw and counted the corpses, told AFP a total of 65 people had been killed, mostly in the city's western suburbs.

The figures are more than twice that given by state media which on Monday said the death toll from violence in and around Burayu stood at 23.

Fighting broke out last week in Burayu, a western suburb of Addis Ababa, and continued through the weekend, forcing hundreds to flee and sparking protests that paralysed the city on Monday during which police killed five people.

Speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, the investigation source said most of the deaths had occurred in the city's western suburbs although others were killed in the centre.

"The 65 cases are from Burayu, Ashewa Meda, Kolfe and Kirkos," the source said, referring to three areas in the west and Kirkos in the centre.

Some of the victims had been stabbed while others died after being beaten with sticks and rocks.

None had been shot and the toll does not include five alleged looters killed by police on Monday.

- Targeted by Oromo mobs -

Fisseha Tekle, a Nairobi-based researcher with Amnesty International, said he had compiled a similar tally of 58 dead.

Residents told Amnesty International they saw "eight dead bodies on Friday, 21 on Saturday," he said.

"On Sunday they saw about 11 people and on Monday the number of dead bodies they've seen was 18."

Government spokesmen could not immediately be reached for comment.

Burayu lies on the outskirts of Addis Ababa but within the Oromia region that surrounds the capital and which is home to the Oromo people, Ethiopia's largest ethnic group.

People who fled the clashes told AFP they were targeted by Oromo mobs because they are members of minority ethnic groups.

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- Police failings -

Fisseha said the government must investigate the conduct of the Oromia and federal police, whom he accused of failing to quell the violence.

"They have to investigate why they have not responded on time, why they have failed to protect the vulnerable communities there," Fisseha said.

The violence began last week in the run-up to Saturday's return of the once-banned Oromo Liberation Front, a rebel group that returned to Ethiopia following a string of radical political reforms pushed through by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

An Oromo himself, Abiy took power in April and has won popularity for his aggressive reform agenda which has seen him freeing jailed dissidents and overhauling the security services, who have long been accused of violating human rights.

He has also pushed through a landmark peace deal with Eritrea, which was signed in July, ending two decades of enmity sparked by a border conflict.

But bloody ethnic clashes have broken out repeatedly since his inauguration, with the worst clashes occurring in the south where fighting between the Oromo and Gedeo minority has displaced nearly one million people.NEW YORK (AP)  There were princess looks and stars pretty in pink, liquid metallics and a contingent in red for TV's big night at the Emmy Awards.

Claire Foy in custom Calvin Klein by Appointment, Jessica Biel in ruffly Ralph & Russo and Scarlett Johansson in Balmain represented in white Monday, as did RuPaul in a jacket adorned with Andy Warhol designs of black Statues of Liberty on one side.

Yellow came in a variety of shades, from neon (Regina King) to mustard (16-year-old Gaten Matarazzo) to gold (Gwendoline Christie) to the lightest Easter hue, worn by a few.

And then there was Tracee Ellis Ross. Love her or scorn her in voluminous Valentino Haute Couture with a puffy top that surely set a world record.

"I almost shed a tear when she hit the carpet," said Julee Wilson, fashion and beauty director for Essence magazine, of the "black-ish" star. "She cements her status as a style icon every time she gets dressed. But then again, she was birthed by Diana Ross, so it makes sense."

Other best-dressed votes for Ellis Ross rolled in after the parade of fashion on the Emmys gold carpet in Los Angeles.

"If you plan to make the carpet all yours, it makes sense to go all out and do the volume of Valentino Haute Couture," said Avril Graham, executive fashion and beauty editor for Harper's Bazaar. "Absolutely perfect."

It was bright pink. It had volume to spare all the way to the ground.

Sarah Conly, executive fashion market director for Cosmopolitan and Seventeen magazines, also voted "yes" for Ellis Ross, but she appreciated some of the night's Old Hollywood glamour as well. Particularly, Rachel Brosnahan's asymmetrical ombre red from Oscar de la Renta, with a delicate drape effect and a matching red lip on the "Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" star and winner of her first Emmy. Her ears were adorned by diamonds courtesy of Tiffany & Co.

Also on Conly's stunning list: Zazie Beetz of "Atlanta." There's no way to overstate the chunky blue tone jewels that adorned armor-like pieces falling down each shoulder from the halter neck of her body-hugging velvet Ralph Lauren gown.

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"The detail on the cutouts on the shoulders were exquisite," Conly said.

Erin Cunningham, senior fashion editor for the millennial-focused style site Refinery29, lauded Ellis Ross for never holding back, fashion wise, but also among her top looks was actress Poppy Delevingne in seafoam, ruffle-caped Giambattista Valli couture. It included an oversized silhouette that began just above the knee.

"The color is unexpected and a rarity on the red carpet, and she topped the look off with a cute ribbon bow in her hair," Cunningham said.

Delevingne also sported $200,000 worth of Amwaj citrine and diamond earrings, plus ring.

Cunningham noted pink had a renaissance in shades that felt less saccharine than usual, including Ellis Ross.

"There was Tracee's magenta dress, Leslie Jones' holographic Christian Siriano suit (in pink and blue) and Thandie Newton's one-sleeved bubblegum pink gown," she said, referring to Newton's one-shoulder Brandon Maxwell that looped at the neck in a long cape effect on one side.

Supermodel Gigi Hadid wore the look on Maxwell's recent New York Fashion Week runway.

"Red carpets are always filled with your classic black and 'naked' dresses," Cunningham said, "and it's nice to see stylists pushing their clients a bit more when it comes to color and silhouette."

Conly was also a fan of Newton's dress.

"She epitomizes the dreamy princess look that was so popular," she said.

So where do these people shop? Well, while others ripped their outfits off runways or wore custom gowns, Meghan Mullally purchased her Carolina Herrera sheer black look with floral detailing online. Kristen Bell wore a classic white column gown from an unexpected brand, Solace London.

While basic black is always abundant, Wilson had kind words for Keri Russell of "The Americans," for elevating the color in Zuhair Murad couture. It was beaded black crepe with a peplum ruffle in feathers atop a black pleated chiffon skirt.

Wilson's verdict for Russell: "Feathers, legs and cleavage, oh my!"

Wilson was also a fan of Issa Rae's pale blue Vera Wang custom look, with 3,000 crystals on a top that fell to the ground with a slit revealing what appeared to be loose, matching trousers. The silk V-neck was actually a jumpsuit with a split away skirt, the crystals sewn on by hand.

"There is nothing more awkward then a skirt and pant hybrid gown, but she pulls it off with such grace and ease," Wilson said.

Penelope Cruz was in the white camp with a touch of soft gray, in feathered Chanel, landing on some highlight lists. Tiffany Haddish was a breath of fresh air and a rainbow at the same time, in bright stripes of green, red, yellow and blue, representing the Eritrean flag in honor of her dad, and courtesy of Prabal Gurung.

Sandra Oh wore crimson Ralph & Russo, though she fell short of making history when she did not win an Emmy.

Offsetting all the yellow, red, white, metallic (hello, Samira Wiley in Jenny Packham) and jewel-crusted looks was Dakota Fanning in gorgeous Dior Haute Couture. It was in a shade of jade, made of a creased pleated chiffon with a crossover front, tiny straps and a tied back.

As for the guys, Milo Ventimiglia wore a white evening jacket, but John Legend went for a navy blue tuxedo with black lapels from Gucci.

"I love when a fella strays from the traditional black tux and nails it with something a bit unexpected," she said of Legend's look.

His wife's sparkly sheath gown draped in silk tulle? Not so much. It was fully beaded in geometric antique silver motifs from Zuhair Murad.

"Chrissy is stunning, smart and sassy, but this dress is the exact opposite," Wilson said. "That bodice, neckline makes her look matronly."

Brian Tyree Henry of "Atlanta" went for a yellow-and-black print jacket. Tracy Morgan went for pinstripes, head to toe, spats on his dress shoes. Darren Criss stood out in a John Hardy look in a black diamond print with silver zigzags. Peter Mackenzie showed up in a kilt.

But back to Ellis Ross and her big statement in the big color of the night.

"She really worked the volume of the dress on the red carpet," Conly said, "and owned it rather than it owning her."President Donald Trump speaks during the Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration in the East Room of the White House: Getty

President Donald Trump has accused China of trying to influence US elections, just hours after slapping tariffs on $200bn worth of Chinese goods in an escalating trade war between the two countries.

China has openly stated that they are actively trying to impact and change our election by attacking our farmers, ranchers and industrial workers because of their loyalty to me, the president tweeted.

He followed up with a threat of additional tariffs, adding: There will be great and fast economic retaliation against China if our farmers, ranchers and/or industrial workers are targeted!

The White House announced a 10 per cent tariff on $200bn worth of Chinese goods on Monday  in addition to the $50bn worth of Chinese imports the US sanctioned in July  as punishment for alleged intellectual property theft.

The tariffs now cover nearly half of all Chinese imports into the country, and are set to increase to 25 per cent next year.

As it it has done before, China responded to the latest announcement by hiking tariffs on $60bn worth of US imports. The more than 5,000 products affected include coffee, honey, and industrial chemicals, according to the Associated Press.

Beijing has previously targeted American agricultural products such as soybeans, wheat, and beef, which are produced primarily in Trump-supporting farm states. If the tariffs make residents of these states unhappy enough, experts say, voters could revolt against Mr Trumps party in the upcoming midterm elections.

While the long-term effects of the tariffs remain to be seen, a recent NBC News poll found that a plurality of registered voters in crucial midterm states like Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Texas believe tariffs will increase the costs of products and harm the US economy.

Some farmers had already started expressing their displeasure about the trade war this summer, even before the latest tariffs were announced. Iowa Agriculture Secretary Michael Naig said in July that China has already cancelled orders for products it usually imported from the state, such as soybeans.

Story continues

[Farmers] have spent a lot of time and energy to build this market, particularly China and soybean, and wed like to see that effort pay dividends, not be wasted, he said at the time.

Mr Trump, however, seemed unconcerned by the situation this week.

What China does not understand is that these people are great patriots and fully understand that China has been taking advantage of the United States on Trade for many years, he tweeted on Tuesday, referring to American farmers.

They also know that I am the one that knows how to stop it, he added.Chuck Grassley maintained the hearing would take place Monday morning after Fords lawyers demanded an FBI investigation

Senate Republicans are refusing to delay a high-stakes public hearing with the supreme court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford, the professor who accused him of sexual assault, as Donald Trump offered a vigorous defense of his embattled nominee.

The hearing was thrown into doubt when Fords lawyers demanded an FBI investigation as a prerequisite to her appearance on Capitol Hill on Monday, setting up a showdown with the Senate judiciary committee chairman, Chuck Grassley. He said on Wednesday that the hearing would take place on Monday at 10am in Washington, as scheduled. In a letter to Fords lawyers, he gave her until 10am Friday to submit her biography and prepared remarks if she intends to testify.

I have reopened the hearing because I believe that anyone who comes forward with allegations of sexual assault has a right to be heard, Grassley said in the letter, referring back to Kavanaughs original, tumultuous hearing earlier this month.

He continued: You have stated repeatedly that Dr Ford wants to tell her story. I sincerely hope that Dr Ford will accept my invitation to do so, either privately or publicly, on Monday.

Republican Senate leaders postponed a committee vote on Kavanaughs nomination that was scheduled for Thursday. But by Wednesday afternoon, a handful of key Republican senators said they were prepared to move forward with Kavanaughs nomination even if Ford chose not appear.

I think its not fair [to] Judge Kavanaugh for her not to come forward and testify, the Republican senator Susan Collins, seen as a decisive vote on Kavanaughs nomination, told local radio station WVOM on Wednesday. I just dont understand why the hearing shouldnt go forth.

Ford, a research psychologist at Palo Alto University in northern California, has accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her as a teen at a high school party  an allegation he has forcefully denied.

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In an interview with the Washington Post on Sunday, Ford said Kavanaugh had pinned her to a bed at a house party in the early 1980s and tried to remove her bathing suit. He allegedly placed his hand over her mouth to stifle her screams, she said, and she escaped only when a friend toppled them.

Earlier on Wednesday, Trump said it would be very hard for me to imagine anything happened between Kavanaugh and Ford.

But he said Ford deserves to be heard and that he hopes she will share her story at a hearing on Monday.

If she shows up that would be wonderful, if she doesnt show up that would be unfortunate, he said, stating: If she shows up and makes a credible showing, that will be very interesting and well have to make a decision.

Speaking through lawyers on Tuesday night, Ford said she wanted to cooperate with the Senate judiciary committee but in effect ruled out appearing in front of the panel on Monday. Her lawyers said it would be premature to hold a hearing before an FBI investigation into her claims. The president and Republicans have rejected such calls.

On Wednesday, the Department of Justice said Fords allegation does not involve any potential federal crime. A spokesman for the department said the FBI had followed proper protocol, and forwarded a letter describing the incident to White House counsel, after receiving it last week.

The FBI does not make any judgment about the credibility or significance of any allegation, the statement said, concluding: The FBIs role in such matters is to provide information for the use of the decision makers.

In a separate letter to Democrats on the committee, Grassley said he had offered to fly his staff to California or anywhere else to interview her. In a tersely worded letter that blamed Democrats for failing to shield Fords identity from the public, Grassley revealed that Republican staff had sought to set up interviews with three alleged witnesses, including Mark Judge, a classmate of Kavanaughs who Ford said was present but has said he has no recollection of the incident and does not want to testify publicly about it.

Republicans and the president have targeted the Democratic senator Dianne Feinstein for not informing the committee of the allegation sooner. Feinstein, the ranking member on the Senate judiciary committee, received a letter from Ford in July outlining the alleged incident. She said she did not reveal its contents out of respect for Fords request for confidentiality. That changed when her name leaked last week.

President Trump, Feinstein said in a tweet on Wednesday, Dr Blasey Ford did not want her story of sexual assault to be public. She requested confidentiality and I honored that. It wasnt until the media outed her that she decided to come forward. You may not respect women and the wishes of victims, but I do.

In a letter from Fords lawyers to the Senate panel on Tuesday night, they say her life has been turned upside down since she went public with the allegations. She had received vicious harassment and even death threats and her family was forced to relocate from their home, the lawyers said.



On Capitol Hill, Kavanaughs supporters suggested Ford may have mistaken the identity of her attacker. .By Sarah N. Lynch and Warren Strobel WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump has directed the Justice Department to immediately declassify more information related to the investigation into possible election meddling by Russia, the White House said on Monday. Trump's demands mark his latest effort to turn up the heat on the Justice Department, whom he and his Republican allies have accused of running a tainted probe into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Among the documents Trump ordered the Justice Department and the director of national intelligence to make public are 20 additional pages of FBI surveillance warrant applications related to his former campaign adviser Carter Page. Trump also ordered the release of FBI interview reports with Justice Department official Bruce Ohr related to the Russia probe, and FBI interview reports related to the Page surveillance warrant applications, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said in a statement. Finally, Trump directed the Justice Department to release, without redactions, text messages relating to the Russia probe from former FBI Director James Comey, former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe and other officials, including FBI agent Peter Strzok. Trump fired Comey in May 2017, originally citing the Russia probe, and then saying that the firing was not "because of the phony Russia investigation." McCabe was fired in March by Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Strzok was also recently fired, and has been criticized for sending texts disparaging Trump as a presidential candidate. Democrats say that Trump and his allies are politicizing a law enforcement investigation in order to protect the White House. A spokeswoman for the FBI declined to comment on Trump's directive. The Justice Department said it was working to comply with the order. But one source familiar with the process, speaking on condition of anonymity, said neither the Justice Department nor the FBI had any idea how the declassification process was supposed to work in this case - suggesting Trump's order had taken them by surprise. Representative Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, sharply criticized Trump. "President Trump, in a clear abuse of power, has decided to intervene in a pending law enforcement investigation by ordering the selective release of materials he believes are helpful to his defense team and thinks will advance a false narrative," Schiff said. "With respect to some of these materials, I have been previously informed by the FBI and Justice Department that they would consider their release a red line that must not be crossed as they may compromise sources and methods," Schiff said. Republican Representative Matt Gaetz praised the directive. "These documents will reveal to the American people some of the systemic corruption and bias that took place at the highest levels of the DOJ and FBI, including using the tools of our intelligence community for partisan political ends," he said. A U.S. intelligence official expressed concern that Trump's move could reveal the identity of intelligence or law enforcement agencies' confidential sources, making it more difficult to recruit additional sources, regardless of the subject matter. "The danger (is that) decisions such as this, especially if they might appear to be politically motivated, suggest that the U.S. Government can't be trusted to keep its own secrets," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity. "Some people aren't likely to risk their lives or their families' under those conditions." PAGES ON PAGE The material involving Page amounts to 412 pages of documents, comprising an October 2016 bureau application to the secretive Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court for a warrant to monitor Page's communications for three months, and applications to extend the monitoring for three subsequent 90-day periods. All four applications were approved. Parts of the material were first declassified and released by the FBI on July 21. In the original application, the FBI said it believed that "Page has been collaborating and conspiring with the Russian Government." Page has denied that he conspired with Russia, and has not been charged with wrongdoing. The pages that Trump ordered declassified concern Page's links to the Russian government and alleged ties to Russia's intelligence services, including his 2004-2007 residency in Russia, where he began business dealings with state-owned Gazprom. They also appear to concern a dossier of unverified information on Russian financial and personal links to Trump and his associates that was compiled by former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele. Republicans contend that the FBI sought the warrant to monitor Page based on the dossier. But the documents declassified in July show that the dossier played only a small part in its warrant application. Trump has denied colluding with Russia and Russia has denied meddling in the 2016 election, though major U.S. intelligence agencies agree that Russia interfered. (Reporting by Sarah Lynch and Warren Strobel, Additional reporting by Jonathan Landay, John Walcott and Lisa Lambert; editing by Leslie Adler and Rosalba O'Brien)WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump hailed Wednesday's summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in, and said there had been "tremendous progress" with North Korea on several fronts including Pyongyang's denuclearization. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said agreements reached between the two Korean leaders at the meeting, in which North Korea said it would permanently abolish its key missile facilities with witnesses, was "very good news." "He's calm and I'm calm, so we'll see what happens," Trump said, referring to Kim. (Reporting by Roberta Rampton; Writing by Susan Heavey)China will roll out new measures including cutting customs clearance time, streamlining port services and improving the export tax rebate policy to increase opening up and facilitate the steady growth of foreign trade, the State Council's executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang decided on Tuesday.

Premier Li Keqiang also stressed the imperative for further opening up when meeting the press earlier this year after the National People's Congress.

"The growth of foreign trade directly bears on boosting economic growth and upgrading domestic consumption. It is important to further improve current policies regarding export tax rebate and financial services," Li said.

The meeting has made the following decisions:

First, to advance trade facilitation, this year will see further steps to shorten the overall time for both import and export customs clearance and reduce the number of documents required for customs clearance by another one-third.

The cost of customs clearance will also be further cut. In principle, companies will be able to get the customs clearance documents processed online and go through verification at ports.

Further progress will be made to realize one-time joint inspection by customs, border control and maritime safety authorities. The list of government administrative charges at ports will be released before the end of the year. No charges beyond the list should be collected.

Second, costs of import and export companies will be cut, and the export rebate policies will be further improved. The frequency of inspections for exports will be lowered, and the coverage of export credit insurance will be expanded.

Financial institutions will be encouraged to increase the use of the credit loan under export credit insurance and the export tax rebate account pledged loan to scale up financing support to import and export companies, especially the micro, small and medium-sized ones.

By putting forward efforts in streamlining administration, delegating powers and improving services, the General Administration of Customs has played a positive role in promoting stable growth of imports and exports.

"Today's new measures should be introduced in a timely way and implemented with concrete measures, so that tangible benefits will be delivered to businesses engaging in foreign trade." Li said.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 : - "What will be disclosed is that there was no basis for these FISA Warrants, that the important information was kept from the court, there's going to be a disproportionate influence of the (Fake) Dossier. Basically you have a counter terrorism tool used to spy on a presidential... [0842 EDT] - ....campaign, which is unprecedented in our history." Congressman Peter King Really bad things were happening, but they are now being exposed. Big stuff! [0845 EDT] - China has openly stated that they are actively trying to impact and change our election by attacking our farmers, ranchers and industrial workers because of their loyalty to me. What China does not understand is that these people are great patriots and fully understand that..... [0850 EDT] - .....China has been taking advantage of the United States on Trade for many years. They also know that I am the one that knows how to stop it. There will be great and fast economic retaliation against China if our farmers, ranchers and/or industrial workers are targeted! [0855 EDT] - Happy 71st Birthday to our GREAT United States Air Force! [0926 EDT] - Right now, everybody is saying what a great job we are doing with Hurricane Florence  and they are 100% correct. But dont be fooled, at some point in the near future the Democrats will start ranting... [1150 EDT] - ...that FEMA, our Military, and our First Responders, who are all unbelievable, are a disaster and not doing a good job. This will be a total lie, but thats what they do, and everybody knows it! [1150 EDT] - Thank you to our great Coast Guard for doing such a tremendous job - thousands of lives being saved! https://instagram.com/p/Bn34sD1jwbk/ [1159 EDT] - Today, I took action to strengthen our Nation's defenses against biological threats. For the first time in history, the Federal Government has a National Biodefense Strategy to address the FULL RANGE of biological threats! [1421 EDT] - Today, it was my great honor to welcome @prezydentpl Andrzej Duda of Poland to the @WhiteHouse! [1720 EDT] - (Video tweet: https://bit.ly/2Nl08vw) [1942 EDT] - The Supreme Court is one of the main reasons I got elected President. I hope Republican Voters, and others, are watching, and studying, the Democrats Playbook. [2345 EDT] -- Source link: (http://bit.ly/2jBh4LU) (Compiled by Bengaluru bureau)WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump said Tuesday he was "very seriously" considering a greater U.S. troop presence in Poland as he conferred with a top NATO partner at the White House.

Joined by Poland President Andrzej Duda, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that Poland was "willing to make a very major contribution to the United States to come in and have a presence in Poland." The U.S. president said it was "something we will discuss."

Facing Russia's increased military activity in the region, Poland has been pressing for the 3,000 U.S. troops now deployed in Poland on a rotating basis to be upgraded to a larger, permanent presence. A decision from the U.S. could come early next year.

Security, trade and energy topped the agenda as Trump welcomed Duda to the White House for the first time. Duda credited Trump for making Warsaw the first stop on the U.S. president's inaugural European trip last year and said Trump's speech was a "very important moment" for the relationship between the two countries.

Trump renewed his criticism of a planned new natural gas pipeline linking Germany with Russia. Trump says it's "ridiculous" and bad for the German people.

Poland wants to increase the volume of liquefied gas contracts with the U.S. as a way to cut its dependence on gas imports from Russia.Istanbul (AFP) - A Turkish court on Wednesday ordered 24 workers and union activists to stay in jail after they were detained in a mass crackdown over protests on working conditions at Istanbul's giant new airport.

Hundreds of workers from the airport had been rounded up at the weekend after reportedly protesting and striking over alleged labour violations in the frenetic construction to finish the airport on time for its opening next month.

The airport, which has yet to be officially named, is a key project championed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to make Istanbul a global travel hub and turn flag carrier Turkish Airlines into an aviation giant.

But workers at the airport have made complaints ranging from alleged violations of labour safety which led to dozens of deaths on the site to a lack of properly-organised transport to take them to and from the new airport close to the Black Sea.

Some 36,000 people are working at the site as the clock ticks to the official opening on October 29 and complete shift of flights from Ataturk International Airport which is then to be immediately closed.

Most of those detained in the weekend sweep were released without charge but 43 appeared before a judge at a court in the Istanbul district of Gaziosmanpasa late Tuesday.

Of them, 24 were remanded in custody while 19 were allowed to go free under judicial control, the DHA news agency reported.

The figures were confirmed by construction labour union Insaat Is-Sendikasi on its Twitter account. There had been uproar on social media over the initial detentions under hashtag #Koledegiliz (we are not slaves).

Those under arrest have been presented with charges including damaging public property, violating demonstration laws and defying police orders, DHA added.

The transport ministry had on Tuesday issued a statement blaming "marginal groups" for the protests and insisting that the official opening was still scheduled for October 29.

It said IGA -- the Turkish consortium building the new airport -- had talked to workers to discuss their demands and their problems.

"Measures were taken without any delay. The works are continuing," the ministry added.Leah Washington (left) and Vicky Balch are said to have taken legal action against Alton Towers. (PA)

The two young women who each lost a leg in the Smiler rollercoaster crash at Alton Towers are suing the owners of the park for millions of pounds.

Vicky Balch, 23, and Leah Washington, 20, were both sitting in the front seats when the ride slammed into a stationary carriage.

Miss Balchs legal team claim the injuries she suffered during the 2015 Smiler crash were as a result of negligence and or breach of statutory duty of Merlin Attractions Operations Ltd.

Smiler crash victim Leah Washington (Getty)

Vicky Balch (right), pictured with her mother Karen in 2016, needed a leg amputation after the theme park accident. (PA)w

A claim to the High Court this week accuses Merlin of failing to take any or any adequate care to ensure the reasonable safety of the Claimant whilst on the Smiler.

Merlin has already been hit with a 5million fine after judge Michael Chambers branded the theme park a shambles.

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Miss Balchs claim states: In his sentencing remarks, the judge said the accident was foreseeable and he was satisfied the Defendant fell far short of the appropriate standard.

Paul Paxton of law firm Stewarts, said: Our clients suffered life-changing injuries as a result of the accident. Whilst money cannot make up for what they have endured over the past three years, financial security can at least help the victims to lead a full and active life.

Alton Towers re-opened the Smiler ride in March 2016, nine months after the accident. (PA)

It is predicted that the two young women could be awarded around 2million each for their initial injuries and the subsequent complications.

Fellow Smiler crash victims Meera Chauhan and her daughter Vanisha Singh have also filed their own legal action. Their claim cites the psychological effects of the crash.

Merlin said: From the outset we have admitted liability and have engaged fully at all times to achieve settlement for all the claimants as quickly as possible.By Lesley Wroughton WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States is seeking to negotiate a treaty with Iran to include Tehran's ballistic missile program and its regional behavior, the U.S. special envoy for Iran said on Wednesday ahead of U.N. meetings in New York next week. Iran has rejected U.S. attempts to hold high-level talks since President Donald Trump tore up a nuclear deal between Tehran and six world powers earlier this year. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo listed a dozen demands in May that he said could make up a new agreement, although Hook's reference to a treaty, which would have to be approved by the U.S. Senate, appears to be a new focus. "The new deal that we hope to be able to sign with Iran, and it will not be a personal agreement between two governments like the last one, we seek a treaty," envoy Brian Hook told an audience at the Hudson Institute think tank. Among Pompeo's demands was the release of Americans jailed by Tehran, an end to its nuclear and missile programs and for Iran to withdraw its forces and end financial support for sides in the conflicts in Syria and Yemen. But Hook acknowledged Iranian leaders have not been interested in talks despite statements by Trump this year that the administration was willing to meet. The 2015 deal was an executive agreement that was not ratified by the U.S. Senate and covered only Iran's nuclear program. A treaty would require approval by the Senate. Some opponents of the nuclear agreement have argued that Obama's failure to seek Senate approval of the deal allowed Trump to unilaterally withdraw. "They did not have the votes in the U.S. Senate so they found the votes in the U.N. Security Council. That is insufficient in our system of government if you want to have something enduring and sustainable," Hook said, adding that Washington hoped U.S. sanctions would force Tehran to negotiate. Iran views the United States as acting in bad faith by withdrawing from a deal and has longed blamed Washington for stoking instability in the Middle East. It has said Trump's offer to negotiate contradicts his actions and accused Washington of trying to foment regime change. Trump will chair a session on Iran during the U.N. General Assembly meetings in New York next week. In July, Trump said he was willing to meet Iran's leaders "anytime they want" prompting speculation that a meeting might take place at the U.N. meetings next week. "The Ayatollah, the president and foreign minister have all indicated they are not interested in talking," Hook said, referring to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. "We respect that though that does not change our plans. We have a sanctions regime that is underway, stronger measures are yet to come," he added. Hook said the administration was expanding its diplomatic efforts to ensure that purchases of Iranian oil are drastically reduced by Nov. 4 when Washington reimposes oil sanctions against Tehran. Hook said Iran posed an international threat to peace and security that went beyond the six major powers that signs the initial nuclear deal. European and Asian countries have been trying to salvage the nuclear deal despite new U.S. sanctions against Tehran. "If we want to have a stable and prosperous Middle East it starts with constraining Iran," Hook said. (Reporting by Lesley Wroughton; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Alistair Bell)London (AFP) - The mega-merger of British supermarket giant Sainsbury's and Walmart-owned Asda will face an in-depth competition probe, regulators said Wednesday.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced in a statement that it will investigate the blockbuster deal, which is effectively a takeover bid with Sainsbury's acquiring a 58-percent stake in the combined group and Walmart the rest.

Sainsbury's and Asda, the nation's second and third biggest supermarket chains respectively, had unveiled merger plans in April to create a retail king that would leapfrog UK number one Tesco.

The CMA had launched an initial or Phase One probe in August, but will now carry out a Phase Two or in-depth investigation after concluding that the deal poses concerns.

"The deal raises sufficient concerns to be referred for a more in-depth review," the regulator said in a statement.

"The companies are two of the largest grocery retailers in the UK and their stores overlap in hundreds of local areas, where shoppers could face higher prices or a worse quality of service."

The probe will also consider issues relating to the sale of motor fuel, general merchandise such as clothing, and increased buying power over suppliers.

The mega-merger comes as long-established UK supermarkets battle fierce competition from online US titan Amazon, as well as discounters like German-owned groups Aldi and Lidl.LONDON (Reuters) - Britain on Wednesday advised British-Iranian dual nationals against all but essential travel to Iran, tightening up its existing travel advice and warning it has only limited powers to support them if detained. "The Foreign Secretary (Jeremy Hunt) has taken the decision to advise against all but essential travel by UK-Iranian dual nationals to Iran," a foreign office spokeswoman said in an emailed statement. "British citizens who also hold Iranian nationality face risks if they travel to Iran, as we have seen all too sadly in a number of cases. The Iranian government does not recognize dual nationality, so if a dual national is detained our ability to provide support is extremely limited." Earlier this month Britain's Middle East minister Alistair Burt used a visit to Iran to discuss cases of detained dual nationals, alongside other diplomatic issues. Britain is seeking the release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a project manager with the Thomson Reuters Foundation who was arrested in April 2016 at a Tehran airport as she headed back to Britain with her daughter, now aged four, after a family visit. She was convicted of plotting to overthrow Iran's clerical establishment, a charge denied by her family and the Foundation, a charity organization that is independent of Thomson Reuters and operates independently of Reuters News. (Reporting by William James, Editing by Alistair Smout, William Maclean)Geneva (AFP) - Former vice president of Guatemala Eduardo Stein has been appointed Joint Special Representative for Venezuelan refugees and migrants, the United Nations refugee and migration agencies announced Wednesday.

Four years of recession have seen 1.6 million people flee Venezuela since 2015, the UN says, creating a migration crisis in the region.

Stein, vice president between 2004 and 2008, will promote "a coherent and harmonised regional approach to the Venezuela situation in coordination with national governments, international organisations and other relevant stakeholders," the UNHCR and IOM said in a joint statement.

Colombia, struggling to cope with the flood of migrants from Venezuela, sent foreign minister Carlos Trujillo to Geneva to demand an emergency fund be set up and a senior official put in charge of the UN response to the crisis.

"The sooner the better," Trujillo had told reporters after meeting the new UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet on Monday.

Colombia, which shares a 2,200-kilometre (1,370-mile) long border with Venezuela and has taken in more than a million migrants.

"We are very concerned by the trend these figures represent because if this goes on there will be nearly four million Venezuelans outside their country at the end of the year," the minister said.Juba (AFP) - The United Nations warned Wednesday that entrenched suspicion was clouding a newly-minted deal to restore peace to South Sudan, as Amnesty International accused government forces of war crimes.

"There's currently a key ingredient that is lacking. That's trust," said David Shearer, head of the UN mission in South Sudan, referring to the September 12 peace accord.

"Those who signed the agreement have in the past been former friends and foes," he said. "From my discussions with them, suspicion is still widespread."

The agreement was signed by President Salva Kiir and rebel leader and former vice president Riek Machar.

"We also need to see clear evidence that all the warring factions have the political will to stop the violence," Shearer said.

"We have not seen anything concrete at the moment. What needs to happen first (is) we need to see a disengagement of the forces."

Recent clashes in the southern region of Central Equatoria were the subject of an investigation, he said.

Government security forces had also shot a Nepalese peacekeeper in the southern town of Yei over the weekend, he added.

- Northern 'war crimes' -

South Sudan, the world's youngest nation, broke away from Sudan in 2011 after a long and bloody independence struggle.

But just two years later, war broke out, triggering a severe humanitarian crisis.

A struggle for power between Kiir, a member of the Dinka tribe, and Machar, a Nuer, meant the conflict quickly took on an ethnic character with civilians subjected to massacres and widespread rape by forces on both sides.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed and millions pushed to the brink of starvation or forced to flee their homes in one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

In a report released on Wednesday, Amnesty International said it had uncovered evidence of "war crimes" in a brutal government offensive on Leer and Mayendit counties in the northern state of Unity.

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It said the offensive began in April and continued until early July "a week after the latest ceasefire was brokered on 27 June".

The ceasefire paved the way for last week's peace agreement.

- 'Shot, burnt alive, hanged' -

"Civilians (were) deliberately shot dead, burnt alive, hanged in trees and run over with armoured vehicles," it said.

Amnesty said its report drew on testimony from around 100 civilians survivors.

The group also documented "systematic sexual violence", rape and gang-rape as well as abductions of women and girls, and the deliberate killing of young boys and male infants.

But Michael Makuei, South Sudan's minister of information, lashed out at the report as seeking to sully the country's image.

"These are the people who do not want peace for South Sudan," he said.

"These are people who keep on sending such reports so that the international community is made to believe that South Sudan is not at peace."

The details outlined in the report echoed the type of brutality that has been characteristic of South Sudan's five-year civil war.

UN rights experts have warned of "ethnic cleansing" and the threat of genocide, while Amnesty has blamed the ongoing violence on Juba's failure to prosecute perpetrators.

A so-called "hybrid court" to try war crimes and crimes against humanity, proposed by the African Union as part of a failed 2015 peace agreement, has yet to be set up.The rate and scope of the opening up of China's financial markets in the past year and half has been unprecedented, according to Mark Leung, chief executive officer of JPMorgan China. He made the remarks during a panel discussion themed on "China's Financial Opening" on Sept. 18, in the Summer Davos, held in Tianjin.

Leung said that JPMorgan Chase has always been concerned about China's development. The unprecedented opening of China's financial markets is making global investors focus on China's market and development.





On April 10, President Xi Jinping, in his speech at the 17th Boao Forum, announced plans to further open China's economy. One of the key highlights of these new measures is the opening of the financial sector to foreign competition, which was confirmed by the governor of the People's Bank of China, Yi Gang.

Helen Zhu, managing director and head of the China Fundamental Equities, BlackRock, said foreign investors are very interested in the Asian market because they think the policies offer more good opportunities for investment.

While European Commission Vice President for the Euro and Social Dialogue Financial Stability, Financial Services and the Capital Markets Union, Valdis Dombrovskis, said that the financial opening measures in China are positive for the Chinese economy and European market participants.

He said that market access will be in a better condition with market competition. The entire economy will have a strong drive for growth.Washington (AFP) - US leaders remain ready to negotiate with their Iranian counterparts but Tehran is still refusing President Donald Trump's overture to do so, a senior US official said Wednesday.

Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo "have all made clear that we are ready to negotiate and to have those discussions," Brian Hook, the US special representative for Iran, told the Hudson Institute, a Washington think tank.

"There hasn't been any aversion to meeting with the Iranians," he added.

Hook stressed the goal was a "comprehensive deal" with Iran, based on a tough set of conditions Pompeo laid out in May.

The United States seeks a treaty ratified by Congress to replace the nuclear pact Trump withdrew from in May.

Washington insists such a deal should address Iran's ballistic weapons capabilities, its nuclear capacity and its "destabilizing" and "malign" regional influence.

According to Hook, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif "have all indicated that they're not interested in talking. That's their position, we respect that."

Trump and Rouhani will both be in New York next week for the United Nations General Assembly.

The US president is to lead a Security Council meeting that will discuss Iran, among other topics.

While Rouhani will hold talks with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, no US-Iranian meeting has been announced.

The US re-imposed sweeping sanctions against Iran last month, and a new round of even harsher sanctions is set to go into effect November 5 targeting Iran's vital oil sector.London (AFP) - The main sticking point in Brexit negotiations is the future of the Irish border once Britain leaves the EU, with Brussels and London seemingly at loggerheads over the issue.

As EU leaders meet in Salzburg in Austria on Wednesday and Thursday to discuss the status of the negotiations, here is an outline of the issue and what the two sides are saying:

- Why is this an issue?

As things stand, when Britain leaves the European Union, the border between the British province of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland will become an external EU border.

If Britain leaves the bloc's customs union and single market, as it says it wants to, border checks would be required.

But both London and Brussels have pledged to avoid any physical infrastructure, a so-called "hard border".

Residents and businesses on both sides of the now largely invisible 300-mile (500-kilometre) border have also emphasised the importance of maintaining the free flow of trade and passenger traffic.

Around 31 percent of Northern Ireland's goods exports -- worth 2.4 billion (2.7 billion euros, $3.16 billion) -- went to the Republic of Ireland in 2016, the last year for which official data is available.

It is also estimated that at least 30,000 people cross the border every day for work, with many residents of border regions living on one side and working on the other.

- Is there a security risk?

British and Irish army checkpoints along the border were removed in the wake of a peace deal in 1998 known as the Good Friday Agreement, which largely ended three decades of conflict in Northern Ireland in which around 3,500 people were killed.

The border during The Troubles was a flashpoint for attacks and a lucrative smuggling route that helped fund paramilitaries.

Police have warned that any new infrastructure along the border could become a target for paramilitary activity by dissident militants who have not signed on to the peace deal.

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- What is the EU proposing?

The EU and Britain agreed in December last year to have a fallback plan or "backstop" that avoids a hard border if they cannot find any alternative solution to the issue.

Brussels proposes that Northern Ireland retain elements of the EU's single market and customs union, including accepting EU rules on animal welfare and quality standards, and applying EU tariffs.

- What does the British government want?

Prime Minister Theresa May says the EU plan would erect a "border in the Irish Sea" and undermine the unity of the United Kingdom.

Northern Ireland's biggest external market is Great Britain, accounting for 58 percent of sales outside the province.

These sales are worth nearly four times the value of exports to the Republic of Ireland in 2016, according to official data.

May proposes a broader plan for Britain as a whole to follow a "common rulebook" with Brussels to allow for frictionless trade in goods that would keep the Irish border open.

- Is Brussels softening its position?

EU negotiator Michel Barnier has said Brussels wants to "improve" its proposal on Northern Ireland in a bid to break the deadlock.

"We can clarify that most checks can take place away from the border, at the company premises or in the market," he said.

"We need to de-dramatise the checks that are needed".

But the checks in ports and airports would remain, which Britain opposes.Aden (AFP) - The Saudi-led coalition said pro-government forces in Yemen launched a new offensive on Monday night against the rebel-held port city of Hodeida, after an 11-week pause during UN efforts to hold peace talks.

"A military operation to liberate Hodeida and its port has begun on multiple fronts," a senior coalition official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Brigadier General Ali al-Taniji, the commander of coalition forces on Yemen's west coast, confirmed the operation in remarks to state media in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia's main partner in the coalition.

Pro-government forces launched air raids against rebel positions in and around the city of 600,000. Residents told AFP they had heard explosions.

The coalition accuses the Tehran-aligned Huthi rebels of smuggling arms from Iran through Hodeida and has imposed a partial blockade on the port, which the rebels seized in 2014.

In June, it launched a major operation to retake both the city and its port, the entry point of most of the impoverished country's imports and aid.

The troops, backed by coalition air strikes, have retaken a number of towns across Hodeida province but have not yet breached the city.

The coalition in July announced a temporary ceasefire in Hodeida to give a chance to UN-brokered peace talks.

The UN's Yemen envoy, Martin Griffiths, arrived Sunday in the rebel-held capital Sanaa.

He is pushing for new negotiations after a failed attempt to bring the two sides together in Geneva earlier this month.

Saudi Arabia and its allies intervened in 2015 in the conflict between embattled Yemeni President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, whose government is recognised by the United Nations, and the Huthis.

Nearly 10,000 people have since been killed and the country now stands on the brink of famine.Sanaa (AFP) - More than five million children are threatened by famine in war-torn Yemen as prices soar, a charity said Wednesday, warning an entire generation may face death and "starvation on an unprecedented scale".

The three-year conflict between Yemen's Saudi-backed government and Huthi rebels linked to Iran has pushed the already impoverished country to the brink of famine, leaving many unable to afford food and water.

"Millions of children don't know when or if their next meal will come," said Helle Thorning-Schmidt, head of Save the Children International.

"This war risks killing an entire generation of Yemen's children who face multiple threats, from bombs to hunger to preventable diseases like cholera."

The already dire humanitarian situation is being exacerbated by the battle for the lifeline port of Hodeida, which is threatening what little aid is trickling into the country.

"Any disruption to food and fuel supplies coming through Hodeida port could cause starvation on an unprecedented scale," said Save the Children.

Located on Yemen's Red Sea coast, the port city of Hodeida is controlled by the rebels and blockaded by Saudi Arabia and its allies.

At a hospital in Abs, north of Hodeida, skeletal children cried as they were tended to and weighed by doctors and nurses, an AFP photographer reported.

Aid agencies have sounded the alarm over escalating violence between the Huthis and Saudi-led government alliance, which is now edging towards Hodeida after a UN attempt to bring warring parties to the negotiating table this month failed.

"The humanitarian situation is very fragile," David Miliband, head of the New York-based International Rescue Committee, told AFP as he wrapped up a visit to Yemen on Wednesday.

"My takeaway in three days in Yemen is that the humanitarian imperative doesn't just demand better flow of goods and better access for humanitarian workers," said the former British foreign secretary.

Story continues

"It also demands a ceasefire to allow the peace process to proceed."

- 'Too weak to cry' -

The World Food Programme last year said food had become a "weapon of war" in Yemen, where fighting, cholera and looming famine have created what the UN calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

Having already identified four million children at risk of starvation, Save the Children said an extra one million could now face famine as the Hodeida battle escalates.

A total of 5.2 million children across Yemen are now at risk of starvation, the Britain-based charity said.

"In one hospital I visited in north Yemen, the babies were too weak to cry, their bodies exhausted by hunger," said Thorning-Schmidt.

Food prices in some parts of the country have doubled in just a few days, and the non-governmental organisation said families faced impossible choices on whether to pay to take a sick baby to hospital at the expense of feeding the rest of the family.

The United Nations this week said food prices were up a whopping 68 percent since 2015, when a regional military coalition led by Saudi Arabia joined the government's war against the Huthi rebels.

The cost of a food basket, which contains pantry staples and canned goods, has increased by 35 percent and cooking gas and fuel prices by more than 25 percent in the past year, according to the UN humanitarian agency OCHA.

The UN has said any major fighting in Hodeida could halt food distributions to eight million Yemenis dependent on them for survival.

The country's economy and population of 22 million people depend almost entirely on imports.

- 'Time running out' -

Deadly clashes resumed on Monday night around Hodeida after UN-sponsored talks collapsed in Geneva this month.

UN officials are now pushing to find a solution to the Hodeida fighting.

World Food Programme director David Beasley on Wednesday warned "time is running out" for aid groups to keep Yemen from "slipping into a devastating famine".

"We cannot afford any disruption to the lifeline we are providing for the innocent victims of this conflict," Beasley said.

The UN Yemen envoy Martin Griffiths was in Riyadh on Wednesday after a three-day visit to Yemen aimed at restarting negotiations between the government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi and the Huthis.

The United Nations' humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, Lise Grande, was also in Hodeida on Wednesday, according to a high-ranking Yemeni military source.

Nearly 10,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed since the Saudi-led coalition intervened in the Yemen conflict in 2015.Products from various countries, be they cherries from Chile, rose essential oil from Bulgaria, or crystal ware from the Czech Republic, can be found in the national or regional pavilions of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone.

So far, 10 such pavilions have been set up on behalf of Australia, Chile, and the combined 16 Central and Eastern Europe Countries, etc., displaying over 7,000 commodities. They have become an important platform for economic cooperation between China and the outside world.

According to Wu Yuanfeng, chairman of China Chile Central, the South American country overtook Thailand to become the biggest fruit exporter to China in 2016, with cherries the dominant product. The organization jointly sets the standards for importing cherries from Chile with relevant Chinese authorities, ensuring domestic customers easy access to fresh fruit from the other side of the Pacific Ocean.

Wu said the success of Chilean cherries serves as a good example. "Some [other] South American countries want to sell their goods to China," he said. Wu also disclosed that countries including Colombia and Argentina have expressed their intention to join the pavilions.

These pavilions also lower the threshold for small and medium enterprises from other developing countries to enter the Chinese market. Besides, they help Chinese enterprises go global. The China Australia Central has helped a company from Wuxi City set up a joint venture company with a nursing home in Australia.

"The pavilion is an incubator not only for foreign goods entering China, but also for Chinese enterprises going global," Wu added.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.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday that Syrian forces were to blame for the downing of a Russian military jet off Syrias coast but he offered all necessary information to investigate the incident.

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Putin said earlier that the shooting down was the result of a chain of tragic and chance circumstances and appeared to somewhat defuse the situation though he said Russia needed to look further into what happened.

(Photo: MCT, EPA, Ohad Zwigenberg)

The prime minister expressed regret on behalf of the state of Israel for the death of the Russian soldiers and said responsibility for downing the plane was placed on Syria, Netanyahus office said in a statement following their phone conversation.

(ImageSat International ISI)

It said Netanyahu emphasized the importance of defense coordination with Russia that had managed to prevent many losses on both sides in the past three years in Syrias civil war, where various outside powers have backed opposing forces.

Netanyahu and Putin hold frequent meetings and phone conversations and military officials communicate to ensure their respective aircraft avoid accidentally clashing in the regions airspace.

(Photo: ImageSat International )

Since intervening in Syria in 2015, Russia has usually turned a blind eye to Israeli attacks. Israeli officials say Israel has carried out about 200 such raids, often targeting Iran or Lebanons Hezbollah militia group, both close allies of the Syrian government, over the last two years.

Netanyahu offered to send the Israeli Air Force commander to Moscow to deliver all the necessary details for the investigation, the statement said.

(Photo: ImageSat International )

He added that Israel was determined to halt Irans military entrenchment in Syria and the attempts ... to transfer to (Iranian-backed) Hezbollah, lethal weaponry (to be used) against Israel.

Netanyahus statement was issued as sirens sounded throughout Israel to mark the beginning of the Yom Kippur religious fast day, when much of the country falls silent, with radio and television broadcasts going off the air and all transportation stopping for 24 hours.Throughout Yom Kippur 20 Palestinians breached the Gaza border fence but all of the perpetrators retreated immediately to the strip.

Some of them left explosive devices near the fence.Police shot and killed a Palestinian terrorist on Tuesday evening who attempted to carry out a stabbing attack against a Jewish man and police officers near Jerusalems Old City during the festival of Yom Kippur.

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Police opened fire when the Palestinian man charged at his intended victima Jewish worshiperwith a screwdriver on HaNeviim Street at 7pm, shortly after Yom Kippur began, the holiest day of the Jewish year during which Jews fast for 25 hours.

Scene of attempted terror attack (Photo: Israel Police National Spokesman )

No one was injured in the attempted attack carried out by the 26-year-old terrorist from Qalandiya.

Scene of attempted terror attack (Photo: Reuters)

As part of the extensive preparations for the eve of Yom Kippur, policemen stationed on the route used by worshippers spotted the attacker running toward a Jew, attempted to harm him and bypassers tripped him up, a police statement said.

Scene of attempted terror attack (:  )

X

Afterward, he continued to run at police officers while brandishing a sharp object in his hand at them to stab the officers. The police acted immediately and with determination and neutralized the attacker, concluded the statement.

According to police, he remained in Israel illegally, thereby breaching a closure imposed around the West Bank for the duration of Yom Kippur as part of beefed-up precautionary security measures.

(Photo: Israel Police National Spokesman )

Also on Tuesday, Gaza's Health Ministry claimed that two Palestinians were killed and at least 46 wounded by the IDF fire in the northern Gaza Strip during violent demonstrations which took place on Yom Kippur.

The IDF said hundreds of Gazans participated in the riots, burning tires and throwing explosive devices and rocks at the soldiers. In one incident a grenade was thrown at the troops, prompting the forces to respond with crowd dispersal measures in accordance with IDFs open-fire regulations.

Israel began placing a closure around the West Bank overnight Monday while shutting the Erez and Kerem Shalom border crossings between Israel and the Gaza Strip ahead of Yom Kippurthe Jewish holiday of atonement and repentance.

The precautionary measure, which was also accompanied by the presence of beefed up security forces in various locations, took place against a background of heightened fears of terror attacks during the Jewish festivals on the month of Tishrei, particularly in the wake of Sundays deadly stabbing attack on 45-year-old Ari Fuld.The leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah militia says his group may reduce the number of its fighters in Syria because of an easing of the conflict, particularly after a recent Russian-Turkey agreement that prevented an offensive on the last rebel stronghold.

Hassan Nasrallah on Wednesday welcomed the agreement but said Hezbollah won't be leaving Syria.

"The calm on the front lines may naturally affect the number of forces present" as responsibilities and threat levels change, Nasrallah said in a televised speech.Gaza's Health Ministry claimed on Tuesday that two Palestinians were killed and at least 46 wounded by the IDF fire in the northern Gaza Strip during violent demonstrations which took place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year.

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The IDF had no initial knowledge of any casualties or that live fire had been used, a spokeswoman said. Israel was marking the Yom Kippur fast day from dusk on Tuesday, and very few officials were available for comment.

Gaza protests (Photo: AP)

Many youths burnt tires and hurled stones at Israeli security forces, local residents said. A doctor at Gazas Indonesian Hospital said both men were hit by live ammunition. Three of the wounded were also hit by bullets.

On Wednesday, 20 Palestinians breached the security fence in the southern Gaza Strip, spray painting an IDF outpost and leaving incendiary devices near the border fence.

Most of the perpetrators retreated back to the strip soon after the breach.

The IDF said hundreds of Gazans participated in the riots, burning tires and throwing explosive devices and rocks at the soldiers. In one incident a grenade was thrown at the troops, prompting the forces to respond with crowd dispersal measures in accordance with IDFs open-fire regulations.

Gaza protests (Photo: AP)

No injuries among the Israeli security forces were reported.

In addition, two incendiary balloons were found in the Eshkol Regional Council, resulting in four fires breaking out in the area. Firefighting crews managed to gain control of the flames.

Incendiary balloon

Also on Tuesday, police shot dead a Palestinian man who charged at a Jewish worshiper with a screwdriver and attempted to stab several police officers near Jerusalems Old City shortly after Yom Kippur began.

Israel began placing a closure around the West Bank overnight Monday while shutting the Erez and Kerem Shalom border crossings between Israel and the Gaza Strip ahead of Yom Kippurthe Jewish holiday of atonement and repentance.

Late Monday night, two Palestinians were killed by an Israeli missile strike on terrorists who the IDF said were placing a suspicious object near the Gaza border fence.

An Israeli military spokesman said in a statement that an aircraft fired at "terrorists (who) suspiciously approached the security fence in the southern Gaza Strip and placed an object adjacent to the fence".Ma Dongmin, special assistant to the chairman of Chinese internet giant Baidu, has donated 100 million yuan ($14.5 million) to the University of Science and Technology of China.

The money will be used to support the university in several areas, including development of the School of the Gifted Young, an extension of its Class of the Gifted Young, according to a news release issued by USTC.

The statement describes Ma's current title as special assistant to the chief executive officer of Baidu, which is chaired by Robin Li, Ma's husband.

Instead of naming the fund after her, she named it after her favorite flower, qiangwei, or Rosa multiflora, which Ma called "very vibrant".

The Class of the Gifted Young at USTC opened in 1978, when China began its reform and opening-up.

"Since then, we have been provided with a wide range of educational opportunities and chances to guide our own lives," said Ma at a brief donation ceremony at USTC on Sunday.

The class, the first of its kind in China, permits students to skip a few years of middle school and high school before entering the university. Ma was enrolled in the class in 1985 at age 15.

She went to the United States for further education after five years of undergraduate studies at USTC and earned a PhD. She met her husband in 1995 in the US and married him the same year. The couple returned to China and jointly founded Baidu in Beijing in 2000.

USTC said the donation is the largest ever made by an individual in its 60-year history.

Ma said she made the donation partly to congratulate the university on its 60th anniversary. A large number of alumni will gather at a celebratory event on Thursday.

Ma was ranked the ninth richest Chinese woman in 2017, with personal wealth of 28 billion yuan, according to the Hurun Research Institute.

Earlier this year, Li and Ma donated money and assets valued at 660 million yuan to Peking University, where Li finished his undergraduate studies, to mark the university's 120th anniversary.

The donation to Peking University was made by the couple's company funda practice that is popular among China's IT tycoons.

Last year, Liu Qiangdong, founder and CEO of JD, donated 300 million yuan to Beijing-based Renmin University of China for an education fund named after the company, from which the money came.

Ma's practice has been adopted by other billionaires. In 2015, Jack Ma, chairman of Alibaba, donated 100 million yuan of his own money to Hangzhou Normal University for an education fund named after him.

All the donations were made ahead of major anniversary celebration events.

In another development, Liao Qingqing, a graduate of South China University of Technology, donated 50 million yuan to the university on Tuesday. It was the largest donation since 2012. A building on campus was named after Liao.

Liao was admitted into the university's chemical engineering department in 1963. She and her husband, Ye Chenghai, jointly founded Shenzhen Salubris Pharmaceuticals Co in 1998. It was listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in 2009.MARENISCO (AP)  A township in Michigans Upper Peninsula is suing to stop the closing of a prison.

Marenisco Township in Gogebic County says the state didnt do an economic-impact study as required by law. However, a judge on Monday rejected a request for a restraining order which was filed by Marenisco Township.

The Michigan Corrections Department in August announced plans to close the Ojibway prison in the months ahead.

The prison has 203 employees, including some who live in Wisconsin. Local officials say closing the prison would greatly harm the economy.

Corrections Department sp...Melbourne's market, particularly its south west, is alive and kicking as properties up for grabs in the area are being snatched in a much faster rate than last year, according to Real Estate Institute of Victorias (REIV) latest Days on Market data.

REIV President Richard Simpson said that the quickly selling properties are a clear trend in the south west, suggesting intense competition in the area.

Melbournes south west is becoming increasingly popular with buyers, especially young families, who are attracted by access to public transport, proximity to the CBD, plenty of green open space, shopping centres and community facilities, Simpson explained.

The report noted that properties in Williams Landing were sold 41 days faster in August this year compared to 2017, while those in Seabrook were listed for 35 fewer days. The suburb of Point Cook, meanwhile, saw listings being sold 19 days faster. Finally, the days on market for Altona were cut by 16 days.

The median house price for Point Cook and Williams Landing are both below the $840,000 median house price for Metropolitan Melbourne and below the $750,000 cut off for first homebuyer incentives. The median in Point Cook increased 13.4% in the 12 months to 30 June 2018 to $706,000 while Williams Landings median went up by 10.6% to $685,000.

Meanwhile, days on market increased four days (from 32 days in August 2017 to 36 days in August 2018) for Metropolitan Melbourne. Nonetheless, this slowdown was counterbalanced by Regional Victoria whose properties were on the market from 47 to 43, down by 4 days.

Private property listings do not last long in the Yarra Valley with the REIVs Days on Market

data showing that homes are snapped up within 10 days in Millgrove, 13 days in Upwey, 14

days in Woori Yallock, 15 days in Yarra Junction and Launching Place and 17 days in

Warburton, Simpson revealed.

The South Gippsland town of Lang Lang stood out, after seeing the most decrease in days on market between August 2017 and August 2018. The regions days on the market were slashed by 63 days (from 82 to 19).

Also included in the list of strong performers were Skye, Narre Warren South, Doreen, Cranbourne East and Cranbourne West where properties lasted just 20 days on market.News

Laredo, Texas - Border Patrol agents assisted in preventing loose exotic livestock from striking vehicles traveling on State Highway 255.

Laredo Sector Border Patrol agents helped

direct traffic and reached out to Texas Parks and

Wildlife and Webb County Sheriff's Office to

enhance public safety and facilitate the recapture

and return of a small herd of exotic African Cape

Buffalo that had escaped from a local ranch.

On September 12, agents working near the intersection of Texas State Highway 255 and Farm to Market 3338 were notified of some stray exotic animals on the highway. Once agents arrived in the area, they noticed some African Cape Buffalo along the roadway. Agents immediately requested assistance from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Webb County Sheriffs Office.

While agents and the sheriffs department controlled vehicle traffic in the area, the owners of the animals were subsequently able to sedate and transfer the animals back to their ranch.

To report suspicious activity such as alien and/or drug smuggling, download the USBP Laredo Sector App or contact the Laredo Sector Border Patrol toll free at 1-800-343-1994.News

Yuma, Arizona - Border Patrol agents from the Yuma and Wellton Stations retrieved three illegal aliens during two weekend rescues.

In the first event at approximately 10 a.m. Saturday, Wellton Station agents learned that two men from Mexico had called for help on a cell phone and lit a signal fire after they ran out of water. Agents located the subjects south of Interstate 8, near Wellton. After determining that neither subject required medical attention, agents arrested them for immigration violations.

At approximately 11:15 p.m. Sunday, Yuma Station agents assigned to the Marine Patrol Unit saw a man struggling to stay afloat in the Colorado River near County 7th Street and used a rescue bag to pull him to safety. The subject, an illegal alien from Mexico, was assessed for injuries and transported to Yuma Station for further processing.

Yuma Sector agents are specifically trained to provide humanitarian assistance to individuals they encounter in distress while conducting their border security mission. All agents gents are trained as first responders, and many have advanced training and specialized equipment to perform water rescues and treat heat-related illnesses.Arizona News

Douglas, Arizona - The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) hosted a Land Acceptance Ceremony on Friday, Sept. 14, 2018, to officially accept a parking-lot donation from the city of Douglas. The parking lot, located on First Street and Customs Avenue, has become property of the U.S. government and CBPs Raul Hector Castro Port of Entry.

The event included brief remarks from a few distinguished guests from the federal, state and local governments.

The Raul Hector Castro Port of Entry is the third largest commercial port in the state of Arizona. In calendar year 2017, the port of entry processed over 30,000 commercial truck arrivals. The value of imported goods at Douglas during calendar year 2017 was just over $1 billion. Additionally, the port processed more than 1.7 million arriving cars and over 850,000 pedestrians in CY2017, and a combined total of over 4.1 million arriving passengers and pedestrians.

Mrs. Petra Horne, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Acting Director Field Operations - Tucson Field Office commented, On behalf of CBP, I would like to thank the City of Douglas for their hard work, generosity, and forward thinking. It brings me great joy to know that the border cities such as Douglas recognize the importance of our ports of entry to the economic stability of the United States. Partnerships are vital to our overall success on cross-border trade and travel.

Speakers at the event included: Douglas Mayor Robert Uribe, Mrs. Petra Horne, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Acting Director Field Operations - Tucson Field Office; and Mr. Anthony Kleppe, GSA Region 9 Program Manager.Arizona News

Quartzsite, Arizona - Blythe Station Border Patrol agents responded to what they thought was a single vehicle accident Wednesday evening, only to end up dealing with an assaultive subject and in a stolen pickup truck.

At approximately 7 p.m., agents operating along Highway 95 near Quartzsite observed a truck sitting in the desert that appeared to have also struck a bicycle. Thinking the truck had actually struck a bicyclist, agents immediately called Emergency Medical Services and the La Paz County Sheriffs Office for assistance.

When agents arrived at the trucks location, they encountered sole male in the truck who had apparently run over an abandoned bicycle while driving through the desert. As agents made contact with the trucks driver, he became combative, forcing agents to use a less-than-lethal device to gain control until a Sheriffs deputy arrived.

In the course of an onsite investigation, the deputy learned that the tuck was reported stolen out of Santa Ana, California, and that no bicyclist was in the area at the time of the incident.

The subject, a 48-year-old U.S. citizen, declined medical treatment. The deputy then arrested the man for assault and possession of stolen property.Border News

Bisbee, Arizona - Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents supported by a National Guard helicopter aircrew assigned to Operation Guardian Support apprehend five illegal aliens with the aid of the onboard camera technology south of Bisbee Tuesday evening.

Brian A. Terry Station agents using land-based cameras south of Bisbee spotted multiple illegal aliens about a mile north of the international border. The OGS aircrew responded and directed agents to the location of five Mexican nationals, which included a mother and small child.

The group consisted of two females and three males, all between the ages 5 and 29. They were taken to the Border Patrol station and processed for immigration violations.

Operation Guardian Support continues to prove to be a valuable asset in the border security mission. Thanks to the air assets and OGS personnel, the Border Patrol has been able to put more agents on the front lines.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has a decades-long relationship working with the Department of Defense. The National Guard supports CBP with aerial detection, repairing border infrastructure and logistical support so that CBP resources can focus on enforcing immigration laws.Latest News

Wikieup, Arizona - Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents working near Wikieup, Arizona, arrested eight people Wednesday night during an immigration stop.

The incident occurred at approximately 10 p.m. when Blythe Station agents working traffic observation on Highway 93 conducted an immigration stop on a 2007 Dodge van with eight occupants. As a result, agents learned all of vehicles occupants had entered the U.S. illegally. Agents charged the subjects for immigration violations and seized the vehicle.Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business.China welcomed the consensus reached between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Republic of Korea (ROK) Wednesday to improve inter-Korean ties, ease military tensions in the region and advance the denuclearization process and peace talks on the Korean Peninsula.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in, left, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pose after signing documents in Pyongyang on Sept. 19, 2018. [Photo: AP]

"China, as a close neighbor, always supports the efforts of the north and south of the peninsula to improve their ties and push forward reconciliation and cooperation through dialogue and consultation," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said at a regular press briefing, commenting on the Pyongyang summit between leaders of the DPRK and the ROK.

The DPRK's top leader Kim Jong Un and visiting ROK President Moon Jae-in Wednesday signed a joint declaration, agreeing to take additional steps toward making the Korean Peninsula free of nuclear weapons and threats of armed conflict.

China welcomes the consensus and appreciates the efforts of both sides to this end, Geng said.

It is the shared aspiration of the people on the peninsula and across the region to realize peace and prosperity, as well as reconciliation and cooperation, Geng said.

China hopes that the two sides will continue to implement the consensus, endeavor to promote interaction and cooperation and play a positive role in achieving a political solution to the peninsula issue as well as lasting peace in the region, said the spokesperson.Microsoft founder Bill Gates suggested that Jack Ma, the Chinese billionaire who is stepping down as chairman of e-commerce giant Alibaba next year, use his digital prowess to improve financial services in poor regions.

"We should all look forward to him bringing the same type of new thinking and energy to philanthropy that he brought to the success of Alibaba," Gates said during an online interview with Chinese media last week.

Ma recently announced his plan to retire on Sept 10, 2019 and hand over the leadership of the $400 billion e-commerce juggernaut to Daniel Zhang, the current CEO.

Gates said he had not exchanged thoughts with Ma on his retirement plan, but he believed in Ma's capability to advance philanthropy in a Chinese context.

"I'm sure his experience in the digital worldjust like I did with minewill help inform ways that we can use digital approaches in areas like health, education and helping people with savings," he said.

Gates singled out Ant Financial, a financial services company affiliated with Alibaba, for its philanthropic potential.

"Ant Financial offers valuable experience in the digitization of money and lowering transaction costs," he said.

Low transaction fees enable poor people to devote more money to purchasing necessities or covering tuition fees for their children, and the Gates Foundation has already worked with the company to promote digital currencies in India, according to Gates.

"There's a saying that from those to whom much has been given, much is expected. Jack could be a really strong example of that," Gates said.

Earlier this month, Ma told Bloomberg that he could never be as rich as Gates, but "one thing I can do better is to retire earlier".

He delivered on his promise by announcing last week that he would retire at 54, four years ahead of Gates who stepped down as chairman of Microsoft at 58 in 2014.

His planned departure and commitment to charities fueled discussions on China's social media, as such a move is unusual for a business leader of his prominence.

Deng Guosheng, deputy director of the Institute of Philanthropy at Tsinghua University, told China Daily that Ma's decision to retire is rare.

"China's rapid economic growth has brought plenty of good corporate leaders, and we are now in urgent need of excellent philanthropists with a corporate background," he said.

"But some cultural stigmas, such as misunderstanding of donations from the rich, and policy restrictions related to taxation and foundation registration, have hampered their activities," Deng said.

"Ma's commitment to philanthropy sets a great example to foster other business leaders' charitable ambitions, and we are looking forward to seeing more people follow his step."iShares MSCI Austria ETF's stock was trading at $15.26 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, EWO stock has increased by 74.5% and is now trading at $26.63.

View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19.William Lyon Homes (NYSE:WLH) posted its earnings results on Wednesday, November, 6th. The construction company reported $0.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.30 by $0.07. The construction company earned $466.90 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $487.15 million. William Lyon Homes had a net margin of 3.04% and a trailing twelve-month return on equity of 6.98%. The firm's quarterly revenue was down 12.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.68 earnings per share.

View William Lyon Homes' earnings history.In this era, your fashion taste can make people judge your personality. This makes African ladies to always want to be on top of their fashion game. In Ghana, there are designers that are working so hard to bring fashion into a new level. So far, they have created amazing dress designs that define the true beauty of the African ladies. Fashionable African dresses are what almost every African woman is looking for.

This article, will offer you fashionable African dresses 2019 to help any lady to re-discover their fashion sense. Keep scrolling

Ready to wear Ankara dresses

Ankara has lively colors as well as patterns making the fabric to be a favorite to most ladies. The fabric is versatile and you can create a beautiful dress piece for attending any occasion. It is undeniable that the Ghana fashion industry has truly evolved. Ghanaian ladies are very lucky because their designers never disappoint them. We bet that you will fall in love with our collection and definitely get inspired to own a piece.

1. Knee length Ankara dress

If you are looking for a formal dress, then these dress will give you an idea of what to look for. It has a sober look and the belt spices up its fashion sensation. Create a unique piece to look expensive as well as presentable. You can complete your elegant looks with classy accessories such as hairstyle, shoes, and earrings.

2. Ankara mini dresses

Ankara mini dress will not disappoint you in either a formal or an informal event. Those Ghanaian ladies that are in love with Ankara, should consider themselves lucky because now ready-made dresses are available. It is sometimes stressful to choose an Ankara fabric, looking for a trusted designer who will make something classy for you. What makes the process tiring is the fact that you might end up disappointed.

3. Ankara print A-line dresses

Ankara print A-Line dress comes with a beautiful maxi silhouette that will definitely give you a modish look. Ankara fabric is available in variety of colors as well as patterns and therefore it spoils you with choices. To complete the nice looks, you can wear loop earrings and classy shoes.

4. Multi-colored sleeveless Ankara dress

Such Ankara dresses are vibrant. By owning a piece, you will be able to keep up with your fashion sense momentum. It will give you an elegant look that is unforgettable. We bet that you will turn many necks whenever you walk around because the dress sis outstanding.

5. Elegant off-shoulder Ankara dresses

Off-shoulder dresses are so feminine and very attractive. These dresses allows one to feel good, comfortable, and attracting. In simple words, such dresses makes a lady to feel free to roam around the city. What you should put into consideration is your bra. You should always wear a strapless bra or a bra that has colorless straps.

6. Ankara styles for short gowns

When you are choosing a short gown, you have to follow some simple rules. If a dress has a free cut, then it suits ladies with wide hips. An Ankara dress with v-neckline should help you to lengthen your neck visually. In case you want to boost your breasts, then choose an Ankara style that is decorative at the chest area. Finally, mini-dresses looks best on ladies with thin legs though any brave girl can rock with the outfit.

7. Ankara fashionable African maternity dresses

You should rock and look fashionable even when you are expectant. You can even purchase ready made plus size dresses if you are an impatient lady. For an expectant lady, your first priority should be your comfort with the dress. Also, wear comfortable shoes that will not hinder your daily activities.

Dashiki African fashion wear dresses

Here we have Dashiki samples to inspire you so that you can create a unique piece. Check out the dashiki pictures of African dresses.

8. Long-sleeve, floral pattern, split V-neck dashiki dress

The V-neck Dashiki dresses are so sexy and it will make you get attention from all over. You can wear your classy dress in non-formal occasions such as parties. With an effortlessly hairstyle, beautiful shoes, and other accessories will make you stand out.

9. Knee-length body-fit dashiki dresses

Such dresses makes any lady to look seductive because they are skimpy. Ensure that the dashiki combination you go for is exceptional. Most ladies love the dashiki fabric made up of polyester as well as spandex.

10. Tight-fitting one shoulder dashiki dresses

Dashiki has variety of bright and dull colors that spoil us with choices. Create a tight fitting dress and rock with it. It can be flared at the bottom of the skirt or a pencil skirt. When you look good, you tend to boost your confidence even when you are addressing people.

Kitenge fashionable African print dresses

Kitenge dresses as so beautiful and they will never be out of fashion even in decades to come. Nowadays, Ghanaian ladies rarely wrap the Kitenge fabric around their waist because Kitenge styles have evolved. Here are Kitenge modern African dresses to inspire you.

11. Kitenge modern African maxi dresses

These dresses are for ladies who are fashion conscious. To spice up your interesting looks, you can create a neck-strap that have a free-back finish. This will allow the maxi dress to have a good flowing appeal. With this decent and presentable dress, you will not have any regrets. You can complete the cute looks with big loop earrings and comfortable shoes. Your hairstyle should also trendy and the accessories on point. You look good and you should not let anything spoil your looks.

READ ALSO: Latest Ghanaian Dresses

12. Kitenge shirt dresses

In Ghana, most ladies are embracing the kitenge shirtd resses because of their ability to swap from a beach wear to a fancy dinner wear. All you have to do is to swap out the flip-flops for your heels as well as add sparky accessories. Most teenage Ghanaians rock with this amazing kitenge style because it makes them look sexy.

13. Kitenge midi-bustier dresses

If you want to look sexy, then try out this body-skimming midi-bustier dress. You can also wear a belt to emphasize your waist. Such outfits is for attending casual events such as engagements as well as parties.

14. Kitenge with lace

This dress will make one look outstanding especially if worn at a wedding. You can rock in a headscarf too that is neatly tied.

Fashionable African dresses are so beautiful. We believe that you got inspired to create a piece. You can also mix the rich African fabrics. For instance, the lace fabric or chiffon, can blend well with all the fabrics as far as the colors match.

Source: YenTwo airplanes, formerly used by Topbrass Aviation Services Limited, have allegedly been stolen from where they had been kept. The aircrafts, both Bombardier Dash 8 Q300 models, are the subject of court case in Nigeria.

According to the report sighted on Guardian.ng, the planes have registration numbers 5N-TBB and 5N-TBC.

Seagold Investment Limited and Topbrass Aviation Services were mentioned as the two parties who were in a legal battle over the crafts.

It is also reported that certain individuals from the Nigerian presidency had paid for the planes even when a court had advised against buying them.

READ ALSO: Denying the pregnancy - Some of the reasons Ghanaian men give

The report also mentioned the fact that the planes cannot be found at where they are kept in the General Aviation Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos.

It is however believed that similar planes have been kept in another location but with their registration numbers wiped off. This has raised suspicion and put up another twist to the already complex story.

In an expected reaction, social media responded with shock and jokes

READ ALSO: 7 students killed in head-on collision

In a related development, an official of an airline company has rubbished the fears that the planes were stolen. According to Captain Ado Sanusi, stealing a plane is almost impossible and thus one could only suggest the planes have been misplaced.

Ghana News Today: Kofi Annan Burial Ceremony | Yen.com.gh

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Source: Yen- The National Concerned Spare Parts Dealers Association has revealed that it sponsored Akufo-Addos 2016 election campaign with an amount of GH200k

- This was because it believed if Akufo-Addo became president, things would be better economically to boost their sales

- The association is accusing President Akufo-Addo of causing severe economic hardship and not fulfilling his promises

Members of the National Concerned Spare Parts Dealers Association have expressed disappointment at President Akufo-Addo for what they called hard economic times.

The association has also accused Akufo-Addo and the NPP of failing to deliver wealth and prosperity after promising to make Ghana better when he wins the election.

The members also revealed that as part of efforts to aid Akufo-Addo's to boot out the then-President John Mahama from power, they contributed GHS200,000 to his (Akufo-Addo's) 2016 campaign.

President Akufo-Addo

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Kofi Annan buried on stolen land  Ga-Dangme Youth

However, according to them, since Akufo-Addo assumed power, none of his promises to them has been met.

The motive was because we thought Mahama was cheating us and not helping us, so, we wanted to boot Mahama out so Nana Addo will come in, the association revealed in a report sighted by YEN.com.gh on Classfmonline.com.

The revelation was made the public relations officer of the group, Mr. Takyi Addo.

Mr. Takyi Addo decried what he said was the rate at which taxes, high import duties, and governments failure to make the cedi better had crippled the economy.

He revealed further that Akufo-Addo promised to meet with the spare part dealers after the elections to fashion ways to make their business better.

He said almost two years after that promise, however, the president had yet to fulfil it.

The government intends to sit down with us [but] how many months now? 18 months, so, our business should collapse before the government will come in? That is the problem; the government wants our business to collapse before stepping in. No! This is unfair, Mr. Takyi Addo was quoted as saying.

READ ALSO: Blame NPP government for cedi depreciation  Kennedy Agyapong

The spare parts dealers also accused the vice president, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, of making many promises to them, which they have now realised were deceptive.

Vice President Dr Bawumia [then-running mate to Mr Akufo-Addo] gave us a lot of promises, so, we were thinking that when you compare the two [Mahama and Akufo-Addo], they [NPP] can help, because our businesses were collapsing at that time but not knowing they are rather coming to deceive us, Mr. Takyi Addo stressed.

The PRO, who claimed to be part of the group that presented the GH200K to Akufo-Addos campaign team, said after sponsoring the president with such a huge sum, they could no longer keep quiet and look on while their businesses collapsed.

READ ALSO: Seth Terkper appointed part-time lecturer at UGBS

He is reported to have said: I gave you money as help but you are rather killing my business [and] you want me to be happy? Helping you to come to power, protecting the ballot box, helping you financially, [with] my everything, [then] after getting power you are rather collapsing my business?

So, I should sit down and fold my arms and be watching you? No! This is unfair, we are all Ghanaians and we need to call a spade a spade. We want to tell the politicians to sit up. They shouldnt compare Ghana money to Argentina money, I didnt vote for Argentina, I voted for a Ghanaian president, period!

Consequently, the association served notice of a demonstration slated for Friday, 21 September 2018, in Accra to register their displeasure with the government.

Meanwhile, YEN.com.gh earlier reported that the outspoken Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong, had accused his own party of being the cause for the fast depreciation of the cedi.

He said the government was lying to Ghanaians about the real cause of the cedi depreciation.

READ ALSO: New video gives credence to Nana Ama McBrown pregnancy report

Kofi Annan Farewell Ceremony: Ghana Says Goodbye to Kofi Annan - Ghana News Today | Yen.com.gh

READ ALSO: Northern Regional police commander's mud bungalow collapses

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Source: Yen.com.gh- The government has announced ongoing deliberations to have Nissan establish an assembling plant in Ghana

- This comes after the government signed an MOU with Volkswagen to establish its assembling plant in Ghana

- The vice president, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, said this is in line with governments strategy to boost the local automobile sector

The minister of trade and industry, Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanteng, has disclosed that Nissan Motor Co. Ltd will soon establish an assembling plant in Ghana.

According to the minister, discussions are ongoing between the government and Nissan to get the plant set up in the country.

He added that Nissan, like Volkswagen, has expressed interest in helping Ghana to develop its automobile sector through that initiative.

Allan Kyeremanteng, Minister of Trade and Industry

Source: Instagram

READ ALSO: Akufo-Addo deceiving us after we gave him GHC200K for campaign - Spare parts dealers

VW has already signed the MOU and the latest to join is Nissan far advanced with discussion to establish in Ghana, he announced.

Allan Kyeremanteng made this revelation at the ongoing Ghana Industrial Summit and Exhibition in Accra, monitored by YEN.com.gh on GHONE TV.

"We have added the automobile industry into our key initiatives to move the industrial transformation of this country. We have received a massive response from the private sector after we send the strong signal of industrialising the economy," Mr Kyeremanteng said.

READ ALSO: Blame NPP government for cedi depreciation  Kennedy Agyapong

He added that the move was not to discourage the local industry players, but to supplement their efforts in making Ghana an industrialised nation.

Government is ready to partner the local industry to boost the various sectors including the automobile industry, YEN.com.gh heard the Trade Minister say.

Meanwhile, the government has also finalised plans with VW to establish an assembling plant in Ghana, and a memorandum of understanding (MOU) has been signed to that effect.

This comes at a time some Ghanaians are complaining of severe hardship and the fast depreciation of the cedi.

READ ALSO: New video gives credence to Nana Ama McBrown pregnancy report

YEN.com.gh earlier reported that members of the Spare Parts Dealers Association were among those who had complained of hardship in the country. In an explosive interview, they accused President Akufo-Addo of deceiving them.

The association revealed that it donated an amount of GH200,000 towards Akufo-Addos 2016 campaign with the promise that he would make its business successful when he won power.

They said 18 months after winning, however, Akufo-Addo had not shown any interest in fulfilling any of the promises he made to them.

On the issue of the cedi depreciation, the NPP Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong, has said the government is to blame for the free fall of the cedi.

READ ALSO: GMB Akua finally reveals why she married millionaire Dr Oteng of many wives

Kofi Annan Farewell Ceremony: Ghana Says Goodbye to Kofi Annan - Ghana News Today | Yen.com.gh

READ ALSO: Kofi Annan buried on stolen land  Ga-Dangme Youth

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Source: Yen.com.ghA 17-year-old internet fraudster has been captured on camera spraying cash around to flex his financial muscle.

A video of the said sakawa boy has since gone viral on social media, as he is known for often throwing money around.

In the video, the teenager is seen being driven in a Honda CRV with registration number GY 170-13 which appeared to be part of a convoy.

READ ALSO: Anas receives $11,000 journalism excellence award in India

He continuously threw the bundles of money through the window of the car, as residents of the community rushed to pick them up.

The residents kept cheering him on as he continued to throw more money to the ground.

It is unknown what the teenagers real name is, but his is popularly referred to as Money Beast.

YEN.com.gh has published several stories about the antics of 'Sakawa' boys in Ghana.

In an interview with the Daily Graphic, some internet fraudsters opened up about their wealth and the source of it.

They said they have millions of dollars in the bank, some of which they have used to buy the latest cars, build costly mansions and acquire many good things of life.

However, they confessed that their lives are characterised by pain and sorrow because of ritual sacrifices they have to perform every month.

Meanwhile, some social media users expressed varying views by the CSR act of this 'Sakawa' boy.

Top 3 Ghana Richest Women: Who Are They? | Yen.com.gh

READ ALSO: 5 companies you can work for without a university degree

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Source: Yen.com.ghGhana President, Nana Akufo-Addo has been chosen as the recipient of the 2018 U.S.-Africa Business Center Outstanding Leaders Award.

The award which will be presented by the U.S. Chamber of Commerces U.S.-Africa Business Center (USAfBC) on September 24 will be held in New York.

READ ALSO: Latest News from GHANAWEB - Read Now on YEN.COM.GH

Akufo-Addo will be given the award for his efforts in championing trade and investment in Ghana and Africa.

READ ALSO: Anas receives $11,000 journalism excellence award in India

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the worlds largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.

Its International Affairs division includes more than 80 regional and policy experts and 25 country- and region-specific business councils and initiatives.

The U.S. Chamber also works closely with 117 American Chambers of Commerce abroad.

Ghana News Today: Kofi Annan Burial Ceremony | Yen.com.gh

READ ALSO: 5 companies you can work for without a university degree

Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page.

Source: Yen- Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu, has turned down a request to investigate former president Mahama and his then Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah over alleged impropriety

- The request for a probe was turned down because the matter in question is already being investigated by the Economic and Organised Crime Office, EOCO

The Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu, has decided to stay clear of the case involving former president John Mahama and his then-Chief of Staff Julius Debrah on an alleged transfer of Ghc40 million from the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited (BOST).

According to Accra-based Citi FM, the office of the Special Prosecutor has turned down the request to probe the pair for reasons that the said case is already being investigated by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).

A group called the Centre for National Affairs had sent a petition to the Special Prosecutor to have the aforementioned duo investigated over their roles in the transfer.

Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Anas receives $11,000 journalism excellence award in India

In their petition, the Center said over GHc40 million was transferred from BOST to the presidency between August 2015 and early January 2017 when the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was in government.

letters covering the transfer suggests the transfer of funds is in respect of monies accrued from the security fees taken from Bulk Oil Distribution Companies (BDCs) invoices to effect payment on cost of petroleum products supplied by GOIL, sections of the letter read.

The petitioners, therefore, called on the Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu, to investigate and possibly prosecute Mahama and Julius Debrah if found guilty.

We wish to stand on provisions in the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959), Section 3(1a and 1b), which empowers your office to investigate and prosecute alleged or suspected corruption and corruption-related offences under the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), and any other relevant law involving public officers, politically exposed persons and persons in the private sector to call on your office to initiate an investigation into the said account.

But it now appears that the group will not have their wish granted, as Mr. Amidu believes it would be inappropriate to interfere with case already in the hands of EOCO.

READ ALSO: Akufo-Addo to receive Outstanding Leaders Award in New York

Meanwhile, this is the latest in a series of alleged scandals that have hit BOST in recent years. Early this year, it emerged that about 600,000 litres of the companys contaminated fuel had disappeared.

Ghana News Today: Kofi Annan Burial Ceremony | Yen.com.gh

READ ALSO: 5 companies you can work for without a university degree

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Source: Yen NewspaperMany Ghanaians appear frustrated by the recent increase in fuel prices and have wasted no time in airing their views on the development.

There had been reports that the price of fuel would imminently go up and, the increase took effect at the pumps on Monday.

Currently, a litre has hit the GHc5 mark, a development which many Ghanaians unhappy about.

READ ALSO: Anas receives $11,000 journalism excellence award in India

The likes of Shell, GOIL, and other fuel stations are selling a litre for more than GHc5.10, to the surprise of many motorists.

However, some Ghanaians have been talking following the fuel increment. The majority of them took to social media to reveal the frustration about the development.

While some blamed the government for the fuel hikes, others felt it was as a result of the global rise in fuel prices.

One user said: This Government has no intention to make life hard for the ordinary Ghanaian. The fact that we have reduced fuel price in March 2018 and November 2017, reduced electricity tariffs by 17.5% for residential users and over 30% for industrial users, a reduction in water tariffs by 10% and taking away the burden from parents on payment of fees at SHS and creating an unprecedented number of jobs shows clearly that the Governments sole intention is to make life better.

Another said: It's the change we changed for the change in fuel prices that changed Ghanaians hope in the kind of change we change.

A third person said: Leave Akuffo Addo and his people alone, they are only teaching us how to make the right choice when we get another opportunity to do so.

READ ALSO: Akufo-Addo to receive Outstanding Leaders Award in New York

One other user added: When lies win you power, it's only a matter of time before you get exposed.

Another who sounded rather sarcastic said: The hikes are timely and delicious. We hope to have more in times coming. A country of majority foolish people deserve this sumptuous meal. Ignorance is no excuse...we bless God for interesting times. Keep it coming; even 10ghc per liter is very manageable.

Last week, IES Research and Policy Analyst, Mikdad Mohammed in the Institutes bi-monthly window release had said: every single indicator IES examined is pointing to an increment in local fuel prices for September 2nd Pricing-window.

Explaining the factors, Mr Mohammed said average Brent crude price is up by 6.2%; finished products prices have shot up by 1.64% and 5.01% for Gasoline and Gasoil respectively, which portends that an increment is in the offing.

Is Kofi Annan an Example for All? - Ghanaians Speak | Yen.com.gh

READ ALSO: Ghanaian celebrities who abandoned fame to preach the gospel

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Source: Yen Ghana- Menzgold Ghana Limited has extended its deadline on their suspension of gold vault operations

- The new date has been set for September 28 after an earlier September 19 date was set

- This follows issues the gold outfit is having with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

The operations of gold dealership firm, Menzgold, remains closed to the public after the suspension of the companys Gold Vault Market services was extended to September 28, YEN.com.gh has learnt.

The company, in a press statement issued in Accra on Tuesday, revealed the new date and urged customers to be patient. The company stated that its dividends payment and Gold Vault Market services remained suspended until September 28.

Last week, YEN.com.gh reported that Menzgold was directed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to shut down its gold trading activities.

READ ALSO: I married Dr Kweku Oteng out of love and his humility  Akua GMB

The outfit, however, reportedly called the bluff of SEC and gave reasons why it was not going to shut down.

Nana Appiah Mensah, in reacting to the issue, revealed that he was also a Ghanaian and had to be treated as such.

The issue, however, led to the gold outfit suspending its activities till September 19 and assuring its loyal clients of getting back on track earlier or latest by that date.

The directive from SEC came just a few weeks after several disagreements between Menzgold and the Bank of Ghana (BoG) over the formers operations.

The latest standoff with SEC reportedly triggered mass panic withdrawals from the firm, with customers besieging Menzgolds East Legon office last Wednesday to demand their deposits, which led to the manhandling of some members of the media by staff of the company.

The gold dealership firm subsequently bowed to the demands of SEC by suspending its gold trading activities, but assured that its operations wouldd be open to the public on Wednesday [September 19, 2018].

READ ALSO: "Them bad boys wanted to come out and play" - Yvonne Okoro on her 'tight' red dress

The fresh statement from Menzgold, extending the suspension of its Gold Vault Market services, following an inconclusive meeting with SEC, is set to now leave its customers disappointed.

Following our correspondence with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), we regret to advice that the Gold Vault Market product will continue to be suspended until the September 28, 2018 to enable us reach a useful conclusion with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)," the statement said

The inconvenience, caused by factors beyond our control is deeply regretted, the statement added.

Some award-winning celebrities, including Stonebwoy, Okyeame Kwame, Benedicta Gafah and a host of others, have also urged customers of the outfit to be patient till all issues were resolved.

Some customers of the gold hub have also threatened to go out and demonstrate against any saboteur who wanted to bring the company's operations to a halt.

READ ALSO: Akufo-Addo to receive Outstanding Leaders Award in New York

Watch: Top 3 Ghana Richest Women: Who Are They? | Yen.com.gh

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Source: YenActress and movie producer, Yvonne Nelson, has issued a stern warning to people who says unpleasant things about her daughter, Ryn.

According to the award winning actress she will go all out to protect her baby daughter from people who say bad things about her.

A report by 3news sighted by YEN.com.gh, the actress has been criticized for getting pregnant for her UK photographer boyfriend, Jamie Roberts, and eventually giving birth to a baby girl.

READ ALSO: "Them bad boys wanted to come out and play" - Yvonne Okoro on her 'tight' red dress

Many have questioned the rationale behind her decision to give birth before getting married and why choosing her photographer boyfriend.

Others simply passed a straight verdict on her decision, describing it as immoral.But

But hanging out with the 2018 Ghanas Most Beautiful (GMB) contestants on Tuesday, Yvonne indicated that she is personally unfazed about news stories that put her in a bad light.

READ ALSO: I'm back with Shatta Wale - Michy

She stated, however, that she will not take it lightly with people who try to involve her daughter in those stories.

But I dont really care about negative stories. I think Im used to it. People just want to sell their newspapers and whatever, so you just leave them but if you talk about my baby, I will come for you.

She narrated an instance where she had taken on someone  whose identity she failed to disclose  for making some unpleasant commentary about her baby.

READ ALSO: I married Dr Kweku Oteng out of love and his humility  Akua GMB

Like the recent one that happened: I dont want to mention his name but he was talking about the baby, she told the ladies.

He kept making very weird comments about her and the last one I just felt it was too much so my lawyer wrote to him and he retracted and apologized.

She explained that the name of her daughter is a combination of the initials of her boyfriend and her own names  Robert and Yvonne Nelson (RYN)  and that she wants her daughter to have her parents names with her wherever she goes.

She used the opportunity to advise the ladies who are vying for the GMB 2018 cash, car and crown never to give up on their pursuits in life even if they fail the first time.

The 10 ladies, who were unveiled Sunday, September 16 at Takoradi,were ushered into the GMB Reality House on Monday and are poised for action.

Your stories and photos are always welcome. Send us a message via YEN's official Facebook page.

Source: Yen- South Africas highest court has legalised the use of cannabis and marijuana

- The country becomes the third in Africa after Zimbabwe and Lesotho to legalise cannabis

- The South African government has thus been called on to drop charges against people found in possession of the drug

South Africa has become the third country after Zimbabwe and Lesotho  second and first countries, respectively  to legalise the use of cannabis.

This is contained in a BBC report sighted by YEN.com.gh.

The legalisation was made by the countrys highest court to allow adult citizens to use cannabis in private places.

Marijuana plant

Source: Getty Images

READ ALSO: Akua GMB reveals why she married 'old' Dr. Oteng of many wives

Excited pro-marijuana activists were reported to have cheered in the public gallery and chanted Weed are free now when the constitutional court gave its landmark ruling.

In a unanimous ruling, judges also legalised the growing of marijuana for private consumption.

It will, however, remain illegal to use cannabis in public, and to sell and supply it, the court stressed.

The South African government had opposed its legalisation, arguing the drug was harmful to peoples health.

READ ALSO: Kofi Annan buried on stolen land  Ga-Dangme Youth

Three cannabis users who had faced prosecution for using the drug brought the case to the court, saying the ban intrudes unjustifiably into their private spheres.

Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, in his judgement, said: It will not be a criminal offence for an adult person to use or be in possession of cannabis in private for his or her personal consumption.

The Cannabis Development Council of South Africa welcomed the ruling, and subsequently called on the government to drop charges against people found in possession of the drug.

However, Jeremy Acton, the leader of the Dagga Party, which campaigns for the use of cannabis, said the ruling should have gone further to legalise the carrying of marijuana in public places.

Cannabis is referred to as dagga in South Africa.

READ ALSO: New video gives credence to Nana Ama McBrown pregnancy report

The court thus gave parliament 24 months to change the law to reflect its ruling.

In the interim, adults who used marijuana in private would be protected by the ruling until the law was amended, the report said.

The court stated that South Africas parliament would have to decide on and specify the quantity of cannabis a person can grow or use in private.

READ ALSO: Blame NPP government for cedi depreciation  Kennedy Agyapong

In April, Zimbabwe became the second country in Africa, after Lesotho, to legalise the use of marijuana for medical use.

This judgement is a reminder that South Africas hard-won constitution is among the most liberal in the world, backing individual rights, and in this case the right to grow and smoke your own marijuana in private, against the governments concerns about public health and public order.

The constitutional courts ruling focuses on the issue of privacy, and a persons right to do as they please in their own home.

READ ALSO: "Them bad boys wanted to come out and play" - Yvonne Okoro on her 'tight' red dress

Kofi Annan Farewell Ceremony: Ghana Says Goodbye to Kofi Annan - Ghana News Today | Yen.com.gh

READ ALSO: Akufo-Addo deceiving us after we gave him GHC200K for campaign - Spare parts dealers

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Source: Yen NewsThe General Overseer of the Gods Crown Chapel, Prophet Reindolph Oduro Gyebi, has warned Ghanaians of an apparent immenent explosion that will happen at the Accra Mall on Thursday, September 20.

According to Prophet Oduro Gyebi popularly known as Eagle Prophet, the Accra Mall will be the site of an explosion on Thursday, September 20. The religious leader preached his prediction in a video circulating on social media.

In the company of supposed members of his congregation, the Eagle Prophet put the time of the incident between 11:30 AM and 12 noon.

According to the dire prediction, the explosion will occur when a fuel tanker using the Tema Motorway gets involved in an accident. The ensuing explosion will then spread to the Accra Mall.

READ ALSO: Actress Martha Ankomah says she is single and searching for a man

Prophet Oduro Gyebi like many other spiritual leaders, is believed by cross-section of the genral public. It is to them that he warns of a terrible number of deaths on the day of the explosion.

He has in the the past taken credit for other misfortunes that have had national attention. One such was the killing of tourists who had visited a waterfall at Kintampo in the Brong Ahafo Region.

READ ALSO: I miss Anas because of what is happening at BOST - Ken Agyapong opens up

It remains to be seen if the security services would deem this as an attempt to create fear and panic.

In the meantime, YEN.com.gh will monitor this developing story and update our readers on it.

Ghana News Today: Kofi Annan Burial Ceremony | Yen.com.gh

Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page.

Source: Yen.com.gh- A drug dealer is in police custody for stabbing a 24-year-old man

- The suspect accused the victim of stealing his cocaine

A 38-year-old drug dealer has accused a 24-year-old man of stealing his cocaine and stabbed him in the head with a broken bottle at the weekend at Akyem Oda.

The suspect, Michael Okyere Darko (alias Mike), has been arrested by the Oda police and charged with dealing in narcotics and use of an offensive weapon. He is being processed for court.

According to a report by Daily Graphic sighted by YEN.com.gh, the Oda Divisional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Mr F. S. Adikah, said at about 5 p.m. on September 3, 2018, the police patrol team burned two settlements used by illicit drug dealers at Oda after the dealers had escaped arrest.

READ ALSO: Man, 36, arrested in robbery after he lost his job at a bank

He said the following day, the police had information that Okyere Darko had assaulted the victim, Kwame Brako, 24, for stealing his bag containing cocaine while they were fleeing, as the police patrol team was approaching.

ACP Adikah said on reaching the scene of the incident, the police found out that Okyere Darko had wounded Brako on the head with a broken bottle and he was bleeding profusely.

He stated that the police sent Brako to the hospital for medical attention and later to the police station to write his statement during which he narrated how Okyere Darko had accused him of stealing his cocaine in a polythene bag after they fled on seeing the police.

READ ALSO: Meet Kevin Okyere: The 38-yr-old Ghanaian who built a $1bn oil company

ACP Adikah said even though Brako denied any knowledge of the missing cocaine, Okyere Darko and his friends brutally assaulted him.

He said the suspect stabbed him on his head with a broken bottle and fled.

The Oda Divisional Police Commander said the police mounted a search for Okyere Darko and arrested him at his hideout last Monday, September 10, 2018.

READ ALSO: Strika's former headmaster reveals why the actor ended up on the streets

According to the Divisional Commander, Okyere Darko admitted during interrogation that he stabbed Brako with a broken bottle for stealing his money but not cocaine, as the complainant claimed.

He said the suspect would soon be put before court and charged with dealing in illicit drugs (cocaine) and use of offensive weapon.

Top 3 Ghana Richest Women: Who Are They? | Yen.com.gh

Your stories and photos are always welcome. send us a message via YEN's official Facebook page.

Source: Yen.com.ghVictoria Aikins Mensah, an ECG prepaid vendor has been murdered at her shop.

According to Joy News report sighted by YEN.com.gh, the police have thus started investigations into circumstances that led to the gruesome murder of the vendor at Awoshie, a suburb of Accra.

Victoria Aikins Mensah, 53, was in her shop when she was accosted by two robbers demanding money from her.

53-year-old ECG vendor murdered by armed robbers (Photo credit: Myjoyonline.com)

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Anas receives $11,000 journalism excellence award in India

Her delay in granting their request led to her being shot in the head.

Two of the attendants who were with her at the time of the incident were made to lie face down before she was shot in the head.

Joy News Maxwell Agbagba visited the area and spoke to the deceased's husband who said he found her in a pool of blood.

READ ALSO: Blame NPP government for cedi depreciation  Kennedy Agyapong

According to Ignatius Aikins Mensah, one of the robbers  the first to arrive at the shop  engaged the deceased in a friendly conversation.

Moments after, the second robber rode in on a motorbike, and then both started demanding money.

They were asking where is the money, where is the money? Ignatius narrated.

READ ALSO: Nigerian musician praises Ghana airport

The plea for patience by the deceased while the money was gathered for them, was ignored by the robbers.

After demanding the money twice, he pointed the gun to my wifes forehead and shot her, he added.

The robbers then took the money and rode off.

Family of the deceased wants the government to ban the use of motorbikes.

Maxwell said shop owners in the area have resorted to closing earlier than usual out of fear of being attacked.

Top 3 Ghana Richest Women: Who Are They? | Yen.com.gh

Your stories and photos are always welcome. Send us a message via YEN's official Facebook page.

Source: YenDonald Trump's attempt to get another conservative ally appointed as a justice on the U.S. Supreme Court faced a setback this week when a woman who accused nominee Brett Kavanaugh of attempted rape went public. In a country where long overdue attention is finally being paid to powerful men who get away with sexual assault, these allegations are enough to at least slow down, if not stop, what was presumed to be an easy nomination.



The manner in which the Trump administration and Congressional Republican leadership have responded, however, illustrates just how far we still have to go to make it safe for women to come forward and expose sexual harassment. Republican leaders reacted to the charges initially with aggressive denials and sexist messaging.

On September 14, the same day it was first publicly revealed that Kavanaugh was accused by a then anonymous woman of attempted rape, Sen. Chuck Grassley, the Republican chairman of the Judicial Committee, released a letter signed by 65 of Kavanaugh's high school friends and acquaintances attesting to his "friendship, character, and integrity" and claiming "he has always treated women with decency and respect."

The 65 friends were all women, and the intent and message of the letter were clear. Kavanaugh did not rape those women, but in fact treated them very well, so how could Kavanaugh have sexually assaulted anyone?

That Kavanaugh's friends would have signed a letter in his support is not surprising. He attended an elite prep school in the DC area, and the fact that he is good at networking and making political allies is not questioned by anyone. His was a prep school where the scions of powerful families drank and caroused in preparation for frat lifestyles in college. But the letter tells us nothing about what Kavanaugh may or may not have done one night 35 years ago at a party that none of the signatories attended. Not one of the 65 people who signed the letter were actual witnesses.

The idea that a man should be absolved of scrutiny because he is good to his friends is one of the very reasons that make it hard for women to come forward. For years, it was assumed that comedian Bill Cosby couldn't have sexually assaulted anyone because of his image as a likable father figure on TV. In April 2018, he was convicted of three counts of sexual assault.

Men who commit sex crimes are often slick and manipulative. Even serial murderers like Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer were known for being "gentlemen" as they lured their victims in. This is to say that the intended message of the letter is based on an absurd logical flaw and nothing more.

When men commit sexual improprieties, they are often dismissed as "boys being boys." Donald Trump, caught on tape talking about "grabbing women by the pussy" and kissing them without their consent, stated that his comments were merely "locker room talk," and the Republican Party rallied around him.

The first instinct upon hearing a sexual assault allegation should not be to try and stop the inquiry in its tracks and attack the accuser. Men and women who had no knowledge of the facts rushed to defend Kavanaugh. The 65 women who signed the letter wanted to use their status to defend a powerful man seeking more power. They were mostly just ordinary people, so we can't blame them too much. But Senator Grassley, who posted the letter publicly, was a powerful man who should have known better.

The campaign to preemptively defend Kavanaugh, however, backfired. After seeing so many people dismiss the allegations, the accuser, who is a professor, went public. Since then, she has been attacked by some conservative websites. One blog, Grabien, scoured RateMyProfessor.com for negative reviews. "Something is wrong with her," their headline read, purporting to quote one of her students. Shortly after, the editors issued this retraction, "We apologize for the error, but we've since learned there are two Christine Fords working in clinical psychology in California and we wrote this report about the wrong Christine Ford."

Trump, predictably, is not backing down from defending Kavanaugh. On the contrary, his administration put out a statement saying that he would fight even harder to get his nominee approved. Trump has defended his friends and administration officials every time they are exposed as sexual assault perpetrators, in one case he even endorsed a Republican nominee for the Senate in Alabama, Roy Moore, who had preyed on teenage girls. It's interesting at this point to note that the president himself is facing at least 20 sexual assault allegations.

The conservative media attacks women for having consensual sexual relations but defends Trump for sexual assault and adultery. During the campaign, Trump allegedly paid $130,000 in hush money to a pornographic actress, Stormy Daniels, with whom he allegedly had an affair. After his election, Daniels went public. One of the most popular prime time cable news pundits on Fox News, Tucker Carlson, now attacks Daniels and her lawyer for supposedly being immoral.

Daniels' lawyer, Michael Avennati, put it best during an argument with Carlson:

"Why is it that you don't call Donald Trump the creepy porn president? He's the one that had sex with a four-month old son at home with my client without a condom."

A society that elects an adulterer who commits sexual assault to the presidency, and pushes through the nomination of an alleged sex assault offender, also condemns a woman simply for having consensual sex. This is a flagrant double standard that exists in many countries and systems and must end. Let's hope the Kavanaugh nomination doesn't become yet another manifestation of that double standard.

Mitchell Blatt is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:

http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/MitchellBlatt.htm

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.On the south of the West Lake, Leifeng Pagoda is considered the top scenic structure around West Lake due to its stunning silhouette in the glow of evening.

For almost a thousand years the pagoda withstood fires and wars, but finally collapsed in 1924, due to the removal of bricks as souvenirs by locals.

Rebuilt on historic ruins, the pagoda was restored in 2000 in the style of the Southern Dynasty (AD 420-589) and opened to the public in 2002. The 71.7m-tall pagoda is eight-sided with five stories.[China.org.cn/Photo by Xiao Yuanpan]



 Flash

China's top legislator Li Zhanshu held talks with Nuriddinjon Ismailov, speaker of the Legislative Chamber of Uzbekistan's Supreme Assembly, on Tuesday.

Li, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said that since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties 26 years ago, the relations between the two countries have forged ahead on a fast track.

He said the two countries had become good neighbors, good friends and good cooperative partners, with enhanced bilateral political mutual trust, economic and trade cooperation, people-to-people exchanges and strategic coordination.

China is willing to cooperate closely with Uzbekistan to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, with the major focus on the joint building of the Belt and Road, Li said, citing Uzbekistan as one of the earliest countries to support the Belt and Road Initiative proposed five years ago and also one of the earliest countries to score progress in this regard.

He said China attached great importance to its friendly cooperation with Uzbekistan's Supreme Assembly, and would further strengthen bilateral exchanges.

Ismailov said that Uzbekistan's Supreme Assembly looks forward to more exchanges and cooperation with the National People's Congress of China, expressing the will to learn from China's experience in promoting reform and development, and in strengthening the rule of law.

On Tuesday, Wang Yang, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and Wang Chen, vice chairperson of the NPC Standing Committee, also met with Ismailov respectively. Flash

Iran's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday welcomed a recent agreement between Russia and Turkey to create a demilitarized zone in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib.

"The recent meeting between Russian and Turkish presidents and their agreement on settling the Idlib issues is a big step towards eliminating the remnants of terrorists in Syria," Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi said in a statement on Tuesday.

By facilitating political approach to settle Syria's issues, considering all humanitarian aspects, the agreement can help restore peace to Syria and end the life of terrorist groups in the country, Qasemi said.

"We hope that the outcome of the Sochi meeting, within the framework of positive and successful Astana process and in a continuation to the recent Tehran Summit ..., would quickly help end disasters for the Syrian people," he added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed on Monday to establish a demilitarized zone within Idlib province, the last major rebel stronghold in Syria. Flash

The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) expressed on Tuesday regret over the termination of the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership between Ukraine and Russia, local media reported.

"I was sorry to hear this news about the termination of the treaty between Ukraine and Russia," said Chairman of the CIS Executive Committee Sergei Lebedev.

Lebedev said that he has read a lot of comments. Most of them agreed that the termination of the treaty with Russia will hurt Ukrainian nationals harder than it will hurt Russians.

"It is not in the interests of Russia, Ukraine or other Commonwealth member states," he added.

Lebedev also said the CIS hopes that Ukraine will stay with it. "So far, we have not received any notification on Ukraine's withdrawal from the CIS and we hope that we will not receive it," he said, adding that Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has been invited to the CIS summit in Dushanbe on Sept. 28.

On Sept. 17, Poroshenko signed a decree to enforce a decision of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) on terminating the key partnership agreement with Russia signed in 1997.

Relations between Kiev and Moscow have been deteriorating since early 2014 over their different stances on the developments in Crimea and eastern Ukraine.

The CIS was founded in 1991 as a regional association of former Soviet republics. Its members include Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Ukraine and Turkmenistan are associate members of the organization.



 Flash

Chinese President Xi Jinping met on Tuesday with his Estonian counterpart Kersti Kaljulaid, who is in China to attend the Summer Davos Forum in the northern port city of Tianjin.





China proposes building a community with a shared future for humanity, which means that China advocates mutual respect, equal treatment, harmony within diversity and win-win cooperation between different countries, Xi said.





"Each country, regardless of its size, has its own merits and is an equal member of the international community," said Xi, calling for abandoning the "law of the jungle."





Hailing Estonia as a country with a good geographical location, Xi said the ecological environment, green agriculture and digital economy of Estonia are unique, and the country actively participates in international affairs.





China hopes to work with Estonia to promote bilateral ties on the basis of mutual respect and equal treatment, Xi said.





"The two sides should build up political mutual trust, synergize the Belt and Road Initiative with Estonian national development strategies, enhance pragmatic cooperation and carry out more high-quality people-to-people exchange activities," said Xi.





He said China supports the European integration and is willing to work with the European side to maintain multilateralism, oppose unilateralism and build an open world economy.





He also said China is ready to strengthen cooperation with the Estonian side within the framework of Central and Eastern Europe and China cooperation.





Kaljulaid said Estonia highly appreciates that China treats small countries like Estonia equally. "We hope to reinforce cooperation with China in trade, e-commerce, logistics and other fields and expand people-to-people exchanges."





Estonia supports multilateralism and free trade, appreciates China's important role in global affairs, hopes to closely communicate and coordinate with China in multilateral affairs and jointly safeguard international rules and order, Kaljulaid said.Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who was in Tianjin to attend the Summer Davos Forum annual meeting.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meets with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Tianjin on September 19, 2018. [Photo: Xinhua]

Li said China will work with Serbia to continue to support each other on issues concerning the core interests of both sides and to make efforts to expand common interests and cement public foundation for bilateral ties.

Li said that China is willing to seek better synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and Serbia's development strategy while trying to make major projects, such as transport infrastructure construction and capacity cooperation projects, play a leading role in deepening pragmatic cooperation of mutual benefit.

He said that as China and Serbia share same goals and views within the 16+1 cooperation mechanism, which is a cooperative platform between 16 Central and Eastern European countries and China, China will further work with Serbia to enhance relevant cooperation, so as to inject vigor to the two countries' and regional development.



Vucic said that Serbia attaches great importance to its relations with China and is willing to learn from China's experience on economic and social development.



Noting that the Belt and Road Initiative is mutually beneficial and that relevant projects have played a significant role in promoting the Serbian economy, Vucic said the Serbian side expects to reinforce all-around cooperation with China and score win-win progress.

 Flash

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who is in China to attend the Summer Davos Forum annual meeting in Tianjin.





Hailing the traditional friendship and deep trust between China and Serbia, Xi said the two countries have seen fruitful outcomes of pragmatic cooperation. He welcomed the implementation of consensus reached between him and Vucic on bilateral cooperation, which has injected strong power into the development of China-Serbia relations.





China is willing to work with Serbia to firmly support each other on issues involving their respective core interests and major concerns, and jointly safeguard multilateralism and international justice, he added.





Xi mentioned the smooth cooperation between China's Hebei Iron and Steel Group and Serbian Smederevo steel plant, and the fact that the project has become Serbia's second-largest exporter.





China and Serbia should join hands in the Belt and Road construction, and synergize their development strategies to deepen bilateral cooperation and better benefit the two peoples, Xi said.





For his part, Vucic said Serbia appreciates China's help and is willing to become a truehearted partner of China and continually support each other to consolidate their friendship.





Noting that the Belt and Road construction is beneficial to all people along the route, Vucic said the revival of the Smederevo steel plant served as a strong evidence that the Belt and Road Initiative contributed to an increase of jobs and economic growth in Serbia.





He said Serbia will actively participate in the initiative and explore new cooperation areas with China under the China-Central and Eastern European Countries cooperation framework.





After the meeting, the two leaders witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents. Flash

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi on Tuesday, pledging further support for the Pacific island country's push for economic development.





During the meeting at the Great Hall of the People, Xi voiced his appreciation for Tuilaepa's contribution to the development of China-Samoa ties. The Samoan prime minister is in China to attend the forthcoming Summer Davos Forum in the coastal city of Tianjin.





"Samoa was one of the first Pacific island countries that established diplomatic relations with China," Xi said, noting that the Chinese side cherishes the traditional friendship with Samoa and appreciates the country's firm and long-lasting adherence to the one-China principle.





"China will continue supporting Samoa's efforts to develop the economy and improve people's livelihoods, as well as those to safeguard the legitimate interests of Samoa and other South Pacific island countries in international and regional affairs," said the Chinese president.





Xi said China stands ready to grasp the opportunity of building the Belt and Road to expand practical cooperation with Samoa.





The Chinese side understands and attaches great importance to the special concern of Samoa and other Pacific island countries on climate change and will work together with Samoa and the international community to proactively advance the global process of addressing the problem.





Hailing their mutual trust and friendly relationship based on the one-China principle over the past 43 years since the establishment of the diplomatic relations, Prime Minister Tuilaepa said the Samoan side values the ties with China and is willing to boost people-to-people exchanges as well as trade, investment and tourism cooperation with the Chinese side within the Belt and Road framework.





The Samoan side is appreciative of China's leading role in addressing climate change and will increase cooperation with China in multilateral affairs, said the prime minister. Flash

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with his Latvian counterpart Raimonds Vejonis in Beijing Tuesday.





Vejonis is in China to attend the annual meeting of the Summer Davos Forum in north China's Tianjin.





"China stands ready to deepen political trust, expand economic and trade cooperation and enhance people-to-people exchanges with Latvia based on mutual respect and equality so as to benefit the two peoples," Xi said.





Noting that Latvia is the first among countries in the Baltic Sea region to sign a document on cooperation with China on the Belt and Road initiative, Xi said the two countries should facilitate the alignment of their development strategies, increase cooperation in such areas as logistics and infrastructure construction, and help promote interconnectivity between Asia and Europe.





"China and Europe, as two stabilizing forces in the world and two major economies, should strengthen strategic communication, maintain opening up to each other, and jointly uphold multilateralism and build an open world economy through China-Europe cooperation, to contribute to world peace, stability and development," said Xi.





This is the common responsibility China and Europe share, he said.





Deeming the cooperation between China and the Central and Eastern Europe Countries (CEEC) "an important component of China-Europe relations" as well as "a bridge connecting the Belt and Road initiative with Europe," Xi proposed China and Latvia step up cooperation within the framework of China-EU and China-CEEC cooperation mechanism.





Vejonis spoke highly of the China-proposed Belt and Road initiative and the China-CEEC cooperation mechanism, saying he hoped the two countries could strengthen cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, transportation, logistics and tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.





"Latvia is committed to promoting the development of Europe-China ties," said Vejonis.





Xi and Vejonis also witnessed the signing of cooperative documents after their meeting. Flash

Turkey will deploy more troops in Syria's northwestern Idlib province after a deal signed by Ankara and Moscow for a demilitarized zone in the rebel stronghold, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Tuesday.





"We will need extra troop reinforcements. Turkey and Russia will patrol on the border areas. Civilians and moderate (opposition) will stay here," Cavusoglu said at a press conference with his Jordanian counterpart.





"The borders of Idlib will be protected. Status of Idlib will be preserved. Russia will take necessary precautions to prevent attacks against this region and to keep the regime from entering there," he stated.





The minister noted that Turkish army will continue to keep 12 observations in Idlib and drones will support the monitoring of 15-20 km-wide buffer zone along the line of contact between rebels and government troops, and all radical groups will be eliminated from these territories.





Asked about radical groups, Cavusoglu said officials from Turkey and Russia on the ground will work on this issue, but these groups will not be directed to Turkey-controlled areas in the north.





Russia and Turkey have decided to set up a demilitarized zone between the armed opposition and the government troops in Syria's Idlib province by Oct. 15 after a bilateral meeting of leaders in Sochi on Monday. Flash

A Chinese student was awarded on Tuesday the third prize of the 30th European Union Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS), the highest prize ever won by China since its participation in the contest in 2003.

Zhang Sijia, an 18-year-old student from China's northeastern city of Changchun, won the third prize for her social science project named "Investigation into the verbal conflict problem existing in middle school students' families," which was done by her before she graduated from middle school this summer.

Zhang, now a freshwoman of a university in China's northeastern city of Harbin, and eight others were selected by a 20-member jury as winners of the core or top prizes of the contest, which include three first prizes, three second prizes and three third prizes.

The three first prizes were awarded to siblings Adrian Fleck and Anna Amelie Fleck from Germany for their co-project "FleckProtec--Body Protection Made From Starch"; Nicolas Fedrigo from Canada for his project on improving spinal fusions, and Brendon Matusch also from Canada for his project related to autonomous vehicle development.

The winners of the first prizes will receive 7,000 euros (8,160 U.S. dollars) for each of the three projects, while the three second prize winners and three third prize winners will receive 5,000 euros (5,850 dollars) and 3,500 euros (4,095 dollars) separately.

Apart from these core prizes, there are also some other prizes for the contestants.

According to the organizers, nearly 140 contestants from 38 countries bringing some 90 projects participated in this year's six-day contest which was officially opened on Saturday by Irish President Michael D. Higgins at Royal Dublin Society, a building complex in the Irish capital mainly for convention and exhibition purposes.

Most of the participants are from the EU member countries while representatives from non-EU countries such as China, Canada and Israel have also taken part in the contest at the invitation of the organizing committee.

All the contestants must be aged between 14 and 20 and have previously won first prizes in their home countries' science competitions, according to the organizers.

China sent to this year's competition a three-member team. In 2017, a female Chinese contestant won a non-core prize for her chemistry-related project at the 29th EUCYS, the first prize ever won by China since its participation in the contest 15 years ago.

EUCYS is a science event first launched by the European Commission in 1989 with an aim to promote cooperation and interchange between young scientists. It is a part of the European Union Framework Programmes on Research.

The EU contest is held annually in a different European country. This is the second time that Ireland has hosted the contest. Flash

Chairman of Nepal Communist Party (NCP) and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda said that China's vision of a community with a shared future for mankind and Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) provide important inspiration and useful reference for a world of peace and stability.

"All countries should work together in promoting world peace since our planet has become a village and mankind shares the same future as a community," Prachanda said during his visit to China ahead of the commemorative event for the International Day of Peace 2018.

He stressed that China has made tremendous contributions to the maintenance of world peace and regional stability.

"Building on the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, the BRI put forward by China not only promotes economic development but also heralds new opportunities for countries pursuing peace and stability," said Prachanda.

Prachanda also noted the positive role media, think tanks and NGOs play in upholding peace and stability. "I believe that all parties share important responsibilities for global peace, stability and prosperity. While the governments play a decisive role, media, think tanks and NGOs make distinctive contributions," he said.

China and Nepal are good neighbors and partners. In recent years, the two countries delivered encouraging results on economic cooperation, people-to-people exchange and infrastructure connectivity.

According to Prachanda, China will soon begin a cross-border Sino-Nepali railway project, which after completion, will further boost economic development, promoting peace and stability in Nepal.

Prachanda is now visiting China to attend the commemorative event for the International Day of Peace 2018. During the three-day event, a series of activities will be held in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu province from Sept. 18 to Sept. 20, including two forums on peace and security, a thematic commemorative ceremony, and a symphony concert. Flash





The top leaders of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and South Korea signed a joint declaration in Pyongyang on Wednesday, agreeing on further steps toward denuclearization and concrete peace moves on the Korean Peninsula, including setting up buffer zones on their borders.

The DPRK's top leader Kim Jong Un and visiting South Korean President Moon Jae-in signed the joint declaration before meeting the press.

"The September declaration will open a higher level for the improvement in relations (between the DPRK and South Korea) ... and bring closer the era of peace and prosperity," Kim told the press conference at the state guest house Paekhwawon on Wednesday soon after their second round of talks.

Kim said that he wished to make the Korean Peninsula nuclear-free and that the DPRK is willing to take further steps toward the peninsula's denuclearization if the United States takes corresponding actions.

Further steps toward denuclearization



Under the joint declaration, the DPRK said it is willing to continue with additional steps toward denuclearization such as the permanent destruction of its main Yongbyon nuclear facility if the United States takes corresponding actions in line with the spirit of the DPRK-U.S. agreement reached at a summit in Singapore in June.

Kim said that the Panmunjom Declaration, signed by him and Moon during their first inter-Korean summit in April, would serve as the groundwork for a new era of peace on the peninsula.

The DPRK leader also said he would visit Seoul, the capital of South Korea, in the near future, which would make him the first ever top DPRK leader to do so in modern history.

During the joint press conference, Moon said that both leaders discussed the steps toward denuclearization for the first time. They also agreed on steps to end military tensions by transforming the inter-Korean border into a peace zone.

The DPRK "has agreed to permanently shut down its Dongchang-ri missile engine testing facility and missile launch pad under the participation of experts from related countries," Moon said.

Moon also said he hoped the talks between the DPRK and the United States would "quickly resume."

China has welcomed the latest peace developments on the Korean Peninsula. Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations Ma Zhaoxu said at a Security Council meeting on Monday that "the situation is now on the correct track of dialogue towards political settlement."

"China wishes to see both the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea (ROK) implement the outcome of their summit," he said.

Talks between the DPRK and the United States had stalled as the U.S. side recently called off a scheduled trip to Pyongyang by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, citing lack of progress in the denuclearization process.

The official Rodong Sinmun of the DPRK said in a commentary on Tuesday that the United States was to blame for the stalemate in the DPRK-U.S. dialogue by "stubbornly insisting on the theory of 'dismantlement of nukes first' which was rejected in the past DPRK-U.S. dialogues."

In a related development, the South Korean side said Moon will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump later this month as he is scheduled to travel to New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly.

Buffer zones on borders



South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo and DPRK Minister of the People's Armed Forces No Kwang Chol signed a separate agreement, the Military Agreement to Implement the Panmunjom Declaration, at a ceremony witnessed by Moon and Kim.

The military agreement outlined concrete steps to stop all hostile acts between the two Koreas, building on the Panmunjom Declaration which lacked details.

Under the agreement, which Moon's top security advisor called an "effective nonaggression agreement," the Koreas agreed to stop military exercises in the border areas on land and sea and in the air by setting up buffer zones near the heavily armed inter-Korean border.

A 10-km long buffer zone would be set up near the military demarcation line (MDL) which divides the two Koreas at present. Any artillery drill and field maneuver would be banned in the zone.

The water areas about 80 km near the western and eastern inter-Korean sea boundaries would be designated as maritime buffer zones, where live-fire and maneuver drills by either side will be banned.

A no-fly zone would be set up near border areas to prevent any accidental clash in the air. It would take effect from Nov. 1.

They agreed to withdraw 11 guard posts from the demilitarized zone (DMZ) each by the end of this year on a trial basis, with the target of eventually pulling all guard posts out of the DMZ.

A consultation body would be formed to disarm a military area at Panmunjom. The disarming process would begin from Oct. 1 with a landmine removal.

The two sides would jointly excavate the remains inside the DMZ of fallen soldiers killed during the 1950-53 Korean War, according to the military agreement.

The military authorities of the two sides agreed to continue talks on measures of gradual disarmament by forming a joint committee.

Economic, sports cooperation



In their joint declaration, Kim and Moon called for steps to further improve inter-Korean relations.

The two sides agreed to begin the work to reconnect their severed railways and roads across the heavily fortified border and hold a ground-breaking ceremony before the end of 2018, according to the agreement.

If conditions are met, South Korea and the DPRK would normalize the operations of the Kaesong Industrial Complex and the Mount Kumgang tourism project and hold consultations on the formation of the West Sea joint special economic zone and the East Sea joint special tourism zone.

For humanitarian purposes, the two sides agreed to open a standing venue in the Mount Kumgang area as early as possible to reunite Korean families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War.

The two sides also agreed to increase exchanges and cooperation in culture and sports. Specifically, they would consider a joint bid to host the 2032 Summer Olympics.

Moon arrived in Pyongyang on Tuesday morning for a three-day visit amid mixed prospects for the denuclearization talks between the United States and the DPRK.

In a gesture of goodwill, Kim appeared at the Pyongyang International Airport to receive Moon in person and with a grand welcoming ceremony. They rode together in a procession on the way to the state guest house and held talks for about two hours in the afternoon.

The DPRK's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said that the two leaders on Tuesday had an "in-depth exchange of opinions on various issues arising in further accelerating the development of the north-south relations by honestly implementing the Panmunjom Declaration in an all-round manner."

Kim hosted a banquet for Moon on Tuesday evening.

Moon's entourage included ministers, senior officials, lawmakers, representatives of the cultural sector and corporate leaders, obviously in line with the recent drive of the DPRK for economic reforms.

Moon is expected to conclude his three-day visit to Pyongyang on Thursday.In a landmark move, the Indian government Wednesday approved a ban on triple talaq, a prevalent practice of instant divorce common among the country's minority Muslims, by passing an executive order.

The Indian Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gave its nod to the ordinance making triple talaq an offence after the government failed to pass an amended legislation in Upper House of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) due to lack of support from some opposition parties.

Indian Muslim women shows the victory sign after the historical judgement of Supreme Court on Triple Talaq has been declared unconstitutional on Tuesday, 22nd August, 2017 in Kolkata, India. [File photo: VCG]

"The Cabinet has passed the triple talaq ordinance. The Supreme Court has already banned the practice," Indian Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told the media in the national capital, hailing it as a major victory for Muslim women.

Indian President Ram Nath Kovind will now have to sign the executive order for making it effective, officials said.

However, the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017, has diluted three provisions.

While the first amendment allows only a woman to lodge a police complaint against her husband for instant divorce, the second one permits her to drop the case after a compromise with her husband, an official said.

Under the third change, a court can give bail to the husband after hearing his wife in a case.Allegations Against Kavanaugh Contact: Mat Staver, Liberty Counsel , 407-875-1776, Liberty@LC.org

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19, 2018 /



Ford, a professor at Palo Alto University, identified herself as the anonymous woman who wrote a letter to Rep. Anna Eshoo alleging Judge Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her in 1982 when they were in high school. However, Ford has apparently changed her story dramatically over the years. In fact, news reports indicate she can't even remember the location, the year, how she got to and from the home, or how many people were involved. Below are disturbing facts that undermine her story: WASHINGTON, Sept. 19, 2018 / Christian Newswire / -- Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh "categorically and unequivocally" denies a 36-year-old, unconfirmed allegation by Christine Blasey Ford of an alleged drunken sexual assault when both were teenagers. Ford graduated in 1984 from Holton-Arms School, an all-girls school in Bethesda, Maryland, which is located seven miles away from Georgetown Prep, the all-boys school Kavanaugh attended during the same period.Ford, a professor at Palo Alto University, identified herself as the anonymous woman who wrote a letter to Rep. Anna Eshoo alleging Judge Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her in 1982 when they were in high school. However, Ford has apparently changed her story dramatically over the years. In fact, news reports indicate she can't even remember the location, the year, how she got to and from the home, or how many people were involved. Below are disturbing facts that undermine her story: Ford waited 36 years to reveal this alleged incident. In 2012, she brought up this alleged assault in a couples therapy class at the same time Mitt Romney was running for president and Brett Kavanaugh's name was being mentioned in the media as someone Romney might appoint to the Supreme Court should he win the presidency. However, she never mentioned Kavanaugh's name and claimed the alleged assault involved four people. Now, she changed her story to two people.



Ford is a registered Democrat who has made donations to Bernie Sanders, the DNC and ACT BLUE, a far-left political action group. She also signed an anti-Trump letter on border policy and was part of an anti-Trump march involving the president's alleged cutting of funding for science research. She made a hat to look like a brain patterned after the offensive hats worn during the so-called "Women's March" in D.C. protesting President Trump.



Ford's attorney, Debra Katz, has a history of Democratic activism and spoke in public defense of Bill Clinton against the accusations by Paula Jones. Katz also said that former Minnesota Democratic Senator Al Franken should not resign, even though multiple women accused him of ongoing sexual harassment. Katz is the vice chair of the board of the Project On Government Oversight, an organization funded by George Soros, which co-signed a letter to Senator Dianne Feinstein and Senator Grassley along with a variety of leftist groups demanding Kavanaugh records.



The one alleged witness who Ford claims was at the scene was Mark Judge, Kavanaugh's Georgetown Prep classmate. Judge said Ford's allegation never happened: "It's just absolutely nuts. I never saw Brett act that way." In addition, Mark Judge wrote a critical book about private prep schools and how he witnessed debauchery and out-of-control behavior from students at these schools. It seems apparent that if he had seen this alleged assault, Judge would have written about it. He didn't and doesn't even know Ford.



Senator Diane Feinstein reportedly held the letter since July from Ford. Feinstein remained silent until Senate Democrats failed to have the hearings canceled. She did not take the letter seriously until pressured by other Democrats and liberal groups to release it.



Ford has a brother, Ralph Blasey, who worked for Baker Hostetler, a law firm that retained Fusion GPS, the infamous DC company that produced the unverified Steele dossier on President Donald Trump and Russia, sparking the Russia investigation. "The 36-year old allegation against Judge Brett Kavanaugh by Christine Blasey Ford is a shameful, desperate attempt to destroy a person in order to stop his nomination to the Supreme Court," said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel. "Judge Kavanaugh has gone through six FBI background investigations for his work in the White House, confirmation to the Court of Appeals, and now the Supreme Court, with not a hint of improper actions toward any woman. It's apparent that Democrats are trying to pull out every nasty tactic to block Judge Kavanaugh from serving on the nation's Highest Court because he adheres to the Constitution. We saw the same thing happen to Justice Clarence Thomas, but the despicable tactics have escalated. This is a serious injustice to a man who has by all accounts led a life of respect for God, women, and the law, by someone who has an ever-changing story with plenty of political motivation. A 36-year old unverified allegation during high school that runs counter to everyone who knew Brett Kavanaugh should not be given an opportunity to turn the confirmation process into a circus," 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.



Share TweetXinhua | Sep. 19, 2018

A Turkish Airlines aircraft made an emergency landing with a passenger suspected of typhoid fever late Tuesday on Otopeni Airport, north of Bucharest, local television reported, adding that all the passengers are isolated in the aircraft at the airport.Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site.

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Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349The Third Sino-French Cultural Forum, intending to promote mutual understanding between China and France, opened on Sept 18 in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, with more than 500 representatives from all walks of life in both countries in attendance.

Launched in 2016 in Beijing, the forum is a platform to promote cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and France in various fields and promote dialogue and integration of world civilizations.

At the forum, Chen Zhu, president of the Chinese Overseas Students Association, said

learning from each other is a must for the development of civilization.

Different cultures of the East and the West were exchanged and cooperation occurred in regions along the ancient silk road, which promoted the integration of global civilization.

As the starting point of the ancient Silk Road and an important node involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, Xi'an plays an important role in spreading Chinese culture and developing international exchanges, Chen explained.

The Belt and Road Initiative is a pass-on of the cooperative and win-win spirit people used to have when they traded with people from other regions.

He also expressed his confidence that Sino-French cultural exchanges will lead to closer relations between China and other European countries.

Former French Prime Minister Jean Pierre Raffarin stressed the important role civilization integration plays in the stable and prosperous development of society.

Xi'an is both a historic and modern city, offering an integration of inheritance and innovation.

He said he hoped the forum would be a platform of sharing and a chance for people in China and France to learn more about each other, particularly in the aspect of culture.

Shaanxi province is one of the important cradles of the Chinese nation and Chinese civilization.

The local government is now making efforts in opening-up by building new economic modules to promote exchange and cooperation with other countries.

Hu Heping, secretary of the Shaanxi Provincial Party Committee, said more cooperation in commercial trade, education, tourism, technology and culture will be encouraged between China and France to deepen Sino-French relations, which would at the same time contribute to the maintenance of world civilization diversification.

The three-day forum will hold six main activities including the Sino-French Mayor Dialogue, eight parallel cultural sub-forums and nine cultural exhibitions such as the Dialogue Picture Exhibition between Daming Palace and Versailles.Taking God to Work in Hurricane Florence Cleanup

Contact: David L. Winters, 571-331-5083



WASHINGTON, Sept. 19, 2018 /Christian Newswire/ -- Washington: Clean-up from Hurricane Florence is the perfect opportunity for Christians to demonstrate their faith in action. Authors of the new book, Taking God to Work: The Keys to Ultimate Success, suggest everyone involved in the recovery effort is executing God's plan for work.



"God created work as His plan for humans to take care of each other. If we can grasp that concept, we open the door to a better attitude, improved performance and more success," said Co-author David L. Winters. "So many have volunteered to help with the recovery effort, but many find the recovery effort falls within their vocation."



"With the divisive environment surrounding politics in America, it would be easy to use such an event to make points with one's political base," Winters said. "Instead, everyone on both sides of the political spectrum should join forces with first responders and speed relief to those who need it. Use this as an opportunity to forget the political squabbling in Washington and focus on bringing Christian love to hurting people."



In the new book, Winters and co-author Steve Reynolds share biblical principles about lasting success:

Get motivated by understanding God's plan for work



Learn how to resist temptations that sink careers



Find a job you love that maximizes your potential



How to know when to abandon ship with your current employer



How to recover from a major mistake



Ways to deal with incompetent leaders and cure your co-worker's bad behavior



Real Christians prepare for retirement by finding their next assignment

"It's all very practical advice aimed at making us better human beings," said Co-author and Pastor Steve Reynolds. "With growing secularism in the world, there are forces at work trying to crowd God out of offices, job sites and stores everywhere. God doesn't fit with everyone's agenda. The literal good news is that Christians using their faith to display kindness and care for their customers, bosses and co-workers is exactly what is needed today."



Winters worked for 33 years with the federal government, including over 25 years in the Washington, DC area. He used his 20 years in management to Taking God to Work with Steve Reynolds, a best-selling author and his pastor. Reynolds pastors Capital Baptist Church in Annandale, Virginia.

We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on!

Go to formIn secret, behind locked gates, our Nation's Oldest City dumped a landfill in a lake (Old City Reservoir), while emitting sewage in our rivers and salt marsh. Organized citizens exposed and defeated pollution, racism and cronyism. We elected a new Mayor. We're transforming our City -- advanced citizenship. Ask questions. Make disclosures. Demand answers. Be involved. Expect democracy. Report and expose corruption. Smile! Help enact a St. Augustine National Park and Seashore. We shall overcome!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.Comics / Press Releases

Bluefin Announces New York Comic Con 2018 Products

By The Editor





ABC/Alycia MonacoAmid coming down with blood clots, a staph infection and getting hit by a bus, Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker has had a rough summer. Now, he's reportedly seeking legal recourse.

According to documents obtained by TMZ, Barker is suing a medical office in Santa Monica, California after a routine checkup in June allegedly turned into the drummer being stuck with a needle more than 40 times while technicians continued to be unable to find a vein. Barker claims the technicians used a dirty needle and gave him the staph infection.

Meanwhile, Barker is also reportedly suing the driver of the bus that hit him during an accident in July, as well as the bus company.

Because of all of his medical issues Barker has been unable to tour, forcing Blink-182 to cancel dates throughout the summer and fall.

Copyright  2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili.

"MapleStory" is a 2-D horizontal scroll online game produced by WIZET and NEXON of Korea.If you loved this article so you would like to acquire more info with regards to MapleStory M Mesos please visit the web page.It was officially launched in mainland China on July 24, 2004 and operated by Shanda Network.

Champions come in all shapes and sizes in MapleStory. Forge your own mighty vanquisher from one of 20 playable classes, including the mysterious Demon Avenger, ferocious Beast Tamer and explosive Cannoneer. Level up and customize your play style with job selections and robust skill trees.

Unleash your true nature by choosing from hundreds of varied hair styles, skin tones, facial features and outfits to create your fully customized character.If you have any sort of inquiries pertaining to where and how you can make use of cheap MapleStory M Mesos, you could call us at our own webpage. The available options in MapleStory are nearly limitless, allowing you to design a hero that will stand out from the crowd.Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 19)  It's the main event for lipstick! MAC Cosmetics has finally revealed its newest lipstick shade in collaboration with actress Maine Mendoza.

Described as a "muted peachy beige with a matte finish", the lipstick shade "@mainedcm" claims to be fit for all Filipina skin tones and appropriate for any occasion.

It comes in new exclusive packaging with a kiss-print design, created by Mendoza herself.

MAC's collaboration project with Mendoza has been in the works since January this year. The makeup company has been dropping hints and trivia in the development of the lipstick's shade and formula, building up to its reveal.

Mendoza is the first Filipina to collaborate with the international brand. It also revealed that Mendoza has already been using the product for several of her events.

Fans and beauty enthusiasts shared their joy and excitement on social media. #MaineForMAC, #MainedcmMacMakerLaunch and Maine Mendoza are dominating Twitter's trending topics nationwide.

Im so happy right now. *as ing may legit happy tears* So proud of you, @mainedcm #MaineforMAC

 Janeeva Verceles (@janeevakaila) September 18, 2018

@mainedcm will be available in online store Lazada on September 21, SM Megamall on September 22, and in all MAC Cosmetics stores on September 23.Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 18)  Four newly-crowned queens with different sets of advocacies will soon hold the torch for the Philippines in international beauty competitions after conquering Mutya ng Pilipinas.

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the annual beauty pageant on Sunday crowned its new winners at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Sharifa Akeel of Sultan Kudarat, who was named the Mutya ng Pilipinas-Asia Pacific International, centered her campaign on promoting religious awareness in the country.

"I am a Maguindanaon and as an Islam, I believe it is a religion of peace and I want to promote mutual understanding between the Christians and the Muslims," Akeel told CNN Philippines.

"I had my education at a Catholic School and I learned the values of charity and compassion so I want to erase the negative stigma and to bridge the understanding between the two religions," she added.

Akeel will have the home crowd support when the country rolls out the red carpet for the Miss Asia Pacific International competition this October.

Newly-crowned Mutya ng Pilipinas-Miss Tourism International Aya Fernandez of Taguig, meanwhile, is pushing her advocacy for inclusive and sustainable livelihood.

The Broadcast Communication student from the University of Philippines Diliman is the founder of Project Lily PH, a livelihood project for persons with disabilities.

The said project manufactures eco-friendly charcoals made from water lily and coconut husks.

Kesha Ramachandran of Iloilo, who bagged the Mutya ng Pilipinas-Tourism Queen of the Year International crown, said her advocacy is to stop criticism and bullying in the country.

She said as a victim of criticism, she wants to stop people from being bullied based on how they look, their skin color or religion.

"We need to unite as one country because we have to make the Earth a better place to live," added Ramachandran who will head to China for the said contest later this year.

Bohol's Pauline Amelinckx, the newest Mutya ng Pilipinas-Miss Global Queen, meanwhile highlighted the importance of sustainable tourism development and inclusive growth in the country.

Amelinckx, who has worked as a municipal tourism officer, was also named the Mutya ng San Mig Light during the coronation night.

This year's pageant featured an advocacy theme of "Beauty Tourism," and also highlighted the recurring issue of body positivity and beauty in diversity.

The newly-crowned queens were tapped not only to promote the country as a major tourism destination, but also to champion their personal causes.

See the full list of winners below:

Mutya ng Pilipinas Asia Pacific International: Sharifa Akeel

Mutya ng Pilipinas Miss Tourism International: Aya Fernandez

Mutya ng Pilipinas Tourism Queen of the Year International: Kesha Ramachandran

Mutya ng Pilipinas Miss Global Beauty Queen: Pauline Amelinckx

Mutya ng Pilipinas Overseas Communties: Jade Roberts

1st runner-up: Mary Justine Teng

2nd runner-up: Kristine MalicsiMetro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 19)  The owner of the importation company behind the alleged smuggling of 6.8 billion worth of shabu is now detained in the Senate.

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Wednesday cited Marina dela Cruz Signapan of SMYD Trading in contempt for allegedly lying on the witness stand.

"After several attempts at compassion, after several attempts at understanding, on the basis of the fact that she has already lied on her status as a consignee The chair hereby declares Mrs. Signapan under contempt of the Senate and hereby confined here at the Senate," Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chairperson Richard Gordon said.

Gordon said Signapan would be transferred to the Pasay City Jail after three days if she refuses to tell the truth.

She joins Jimmy Guban, former officer of the Customs' Intelligence and Investigation Service, who was placed under Senate custody last week, for allegedly telling lies also. Guban is accused of facilitating the entry of four magnetic lifters, which the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said was emptied of 6.8 billion worth of shabu.

Signapan said she received a package from a Cavite scrapper named Joel Maritana, who supposedly paid her P180,000 in exchange of being a consignee on record. Maritana denied this, saying he does not have this amount of money, and accused Signapan of lying.

Throughout the hearing, Signapan insisted she was telling the truth and even said Guban may be behind Maritana, as Gordon pressed her on who really paid her to acknowledge the controversial shipment.

At one point, Gordon said she could be charged with perjury. "You're making a deliberate assertion of a falsehood."

Guban said he was ordered by his superior, a dismissed police officer named "Col. Acierto", to choose SMYD Trading as consignee for hire. Gordon said Acierto should attend the Senate's hearings.

The Senate is investigating the entry to the country of four magnetic lifters found in a warehouse in Cavite last month, similar to the two containers with P3.4 billion worth of shabu seized in the Manila International Container Port. The Bureau of Customs and even President Rodrigo Duterte said it is mere speculation to say that the magnetic lifters in Cavite also contained shabu, insisting that they tested negative for drug residue. PDEA stood by its claim that K9 sniffer dogs detected traces of drugs in the lifters.One of Sirisenas prime concerns these days is to seek solutions to the post war issues

The alleged revealing of an assassination plot on President Maithripala Sirisena and former military official now turned politician Gotabaya Rajapaksa has given the Government authorities and the defence establishment plenty to think about the security of VIPs and the countrys citizens.

The alleged revelation is directly linked to those who are engaged in drug peddling. The person who made the revelation has said that the would be assassin (Not named yet) wanted to bump off Sirisena and Gotabaya because the duo are against the drug trade. This threat could also severely hamper Sirisenas movements in public in the run up to the elections.

A prominent feature about Sirisena is his ability to accommodate the ideas of others

One of Sirisenas prime concerns these days is to seek solutions to the post war issues

sirisena is readying himself to submit a set of special proposals to the UNHRC

In the context of elections, this could be a master plan by someone who wishes to stifle the president. Sirisena is someone who moves freely with the crowd. Seeing the president mingle with people could have the effect of throwing sand in the eyes of those who oppose him as the ruler of this nation. The same analysis is applicable to Gotabaya who has given rise to so much speculation in being one of the next presidential candidates. The Premier speaking in Parliament quite rightly said that Gota should be provided with security if he makes a request, but added that no one should try to gain political advantages from this incident.

As much as Gotabaya wishes to showcase himself as a future president, Sirisena has shown the desire to be reelected to the top seat in politics. It is no secret that there are some politicians who have links with the drug trade. So the would be assassin of the these two political figures perhaps represents a drug-dealing community which wishes to have a president wholl allow such nefarious activities to continue.

Given the talk about assassinations, in a hypothetical sense and with all respect to the first citizen of this country, could this writer pose this question; is this the time to assassinate Sirisena?

The alleged revealing of an assassination plot on President Maithripala Sirisena and former military official now turned politician Gotabaya Rajapaksa has given the Government authorities and the defence establishment plenty to think about the security of VIPs and the countrys citizens.

In 2015 the country voted in Sirisena as president, largely to appose Mahinda Rajapaksa and not because of any proven credentials Sirisena possessed. A prominent feature about Sirisena is his ability to accommodate the ideas of others. The current president agreed to restrict the term of a president to two terms, through the 19th Amendment, and is also said to be in agreement with the contents in the proposed 20th Amendment; which will see much of the powers of the president being taken away and the premiers portfolio in parliament being strengthened.

A balanced man

We also see the premier exercising much power and engaging in the task of forging ties with other nations and building business bridges.

Wickramasinghe has always been skilled in forging international relations and striking deals which are beneficial to the country. Sirisena has allowed the premier to engage in such talks and most importantly offered the opportunities to Wickramasinghe to work on his strengths. If we have seen the best of Wickramasinghe we have seen it during the Yahapalana regime. His biggest victory in politics came when he survived a no-confidence motion which was moved against him.

President Sirisena has a balance when executing his duties as the head of state. He has given the minorities the opportunities to safeguard their status in the country. After being sworn into power he has worked closely with India, the super power of South Asia. The Yahapalana regime, under Sirisena, has allowed India to build houses in the north and the Central Provinces. It wouldnt be an exaggeration if this writer states that this nation has a president who possesses the ability to work even with the devil!

One of Sirisenas prime concerns these days is to seek solutions to the post war issues. There is a threat of economic sanctions being imposed on Sri Lanka by the UNHRC. This is following an initiation taken by the Tamil Nadu Government urging the Government of India to move a resolution against Sri Lanka in connection with issues related to the war, that concluded. In response to this the president is readying himself to submit a set of special proposals to the UNHRC Commissioner on September 25.

A friendly India would always ensure that Sri Lanka has a neighbour who doesnt rock her boat, in terms of peace. This is why two highly ambitious members of the Rajapaksa family made a recent visit to India and met Premier Narendra Modi

President Sirisena is quite aware of the importance of forging healthy ties with India. A friendly India would always ensure that Sri Lanka has a neighbour who doesnt rock her boat, in terms of peace. This is why two highly ambitious members of the Rajapaksa family made a recent visit to India and met Premier Narendra Modi. For the record the Tamil Community voting against Rajapaksa at the last presidential elections was hugely influenced by an Indian factor.

Indias support

At present the relationship between Modi and Sirisena is well cemented. India has already pledged support to develop ports and aviation facilities in Sri Lanka. If a quick comparison is made regarding the relationship between the two nations during the Rajapaksa regime and Yahapalana Government, the latter has been preferred by India. This is because Sirisena has allowed a larger Indian presence in Sri Lanka compared to what Rajapaksa did, which was the opposite. One cant blame Sirisena for the stance taken in forging relations with India because the Indian Ocean Region is set to define the destiny of the planet in the 21st century.

At the time of writing, the Sri Lankan President is alive and kicking despite the talk of assassination attempts on him. A close analysis of this death threat on the president makes us wonder whether anyone who was privy to the plan would spell out everything to the police given that he would later encounter untold problems. Whats alarming is that a high-ranking Police official is also privy to this alleged assassination plot. It seems that these efforts have been made to shake up the president in making him lose focus of the important task at hand; which is preparing for the run-up to the upcoming elections.

Drug peddling and trafficking have continued for so long despite tight security measures being taken to control such activities. Even if Sirisena opposes drug peddling and wishes to reimpose the death penalty on those who deal with drugs, these narcotics would be freely available in this island. The only hassle would be to find the green notes which give one the buying power to purchase them.

Sirisena has committed few or no errors during his tenure as president, given the financial situation the country is in. The only fault in the president, as Mahinda Rajapaksa has pointed out, is his habit of going to sleep by 10 oclock in the night.The Cabinet of Ministers on Tuesday gave approval to declare Thripitakaya, which includes Buddhist teachings, as a national heritage.

The Cabinet Paper in this regard was submitted by President Maithripala Sirisena, Buddha Sasana Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera and Higher Education and Cultural Affairs Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe.

Accordingly, the Buddha Sasana Ministry was vested with the power to oversee the reprinting of the Thripitakaya and its related matters.The shift from landed housing to apartment living is a growing trend in Colombo; 24hr security, convenience of amenities, managed maintenance and elite community, adds to the allure of it all. The Citys unrealized potential for livability is being addressed with a steady supply of luxury apartments, and with Port Citys impending rise, Colombo will undoubtedly transform to a cosmopolitan big city, joining the ranks of richer nations in the region. The Beira Lakefront especially is fast becoming a sought after location for city-living with lifestyle conveniences in the immediate surrounding. Capitol TwinPeaks, as the purely residential project on the Lakefront, is introducing two-storey Duplex units or Sky Bungalows that stack two apartments together to create magnificent double height units. The spectacular vistas of the surrounding Ocean and Lake are heightened and can truly be enjoyed in these purpose-built units. This, as well as the ability to customize standard units, rather than accept cookie-cutter models, has increased the popularity of the project for the easy transition from traditional housing to sky living.

Capitol Developers as a member of the Sanken Group, is in a unique position to extend this custom design opportunity with synergy as Contractor/Developer. Sanken is the trusted name in construction for timely delivery and responsible for a vast majority of the Colombo skyline. The renowned P&T Group of Singapore as architects has designed a contemporary classic for TwinPeaks, incorporating 75% glass to its sparkling facade. Capitol TwinPeaks has thus, got good bones, evident with sales surpassing fifty percent of the 435 units on offer. The project is also well ahead of schedule in construction at level 17 of 50; building at a rate of one floor per week. Ready for occupation in December 2020 is the Groups promise and judging by their track record, a promise likely delivered.

Capitol TwinPeaks, along with Colombo City, is rising fast, and investors are encouraged to book before 1 December 2018 to avail themselves of Sky Bungalows and custom units at 24 Staple Street, Colombo 2. A visit to the model apartment at 18 Lillie St, Colombo 2 will have you talking with the sales and engineering teams of Sanken Group, to design and build your own piece of sky in the heart of new Colombo City. Lines are open 24/7 on 077 869 3787.Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne, who left for Mexico last week, for an official visit, had arrived in the country this morning.

Earlier, the the Criminal Investigations Department summoned Admiral Wijegunaratne, to record a statement with regard to harbouring a suspect wanted in connection with the abduction of 11 youths in 2008 and 2009.

However, he left the country on September 10, to attend the 208th Independence Commemoration Ceremony of United Mexican States, representing Sri Lanka on the invitation of Mexican Defence Minister General Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda.

An official said earlier that the CDS had informed the CID in writing about the visit and had requested for another date to appear before the CID.(Darshana Sanjeewa and T.K.G. Kaila)Colombo Fort Magistrate M/s. Lanka Jayarathne today ordered the government analyst to submit an immediate report on the recorded telephone conversation over an alleged attempt to assassinate President Maithripala Sirisena and former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

The magistrate also ordered to check whether the recordings were compared with the voices of Police Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) DIG Nalaka de Silva and Anti Corruption Force Organisation working Director Namal Kumara.

The suspects were ordered to provide a convenient date and a time to appear at the Government Analyst's Department and Ordered the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers to seek orders from the Court to inform the suspects.

Rejecting a request made by the CID to prevent both the complainant and the suspect from travelling abroad claiming this as a serious incident, the Magistrate ordered the CID to provide a detail report as based on which Act and Clause that would prevent them from travelling abroad.

Following a request made by a motion, the complaint was recalled and the mobile phone which relates to the incident was produced and handed over to court. (Manopriya Gunasekera)The National Police Commission (NPC) today ordered IGP Pujith Jayasundera to send DIG Nalaka Silva on compulsory leave with immediate effect following a directive from Law and Order Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara.

Minister Madduma Bandara recommended the NPC to send DIG Silva on compulsory leave to facilitate an independent inquiry.

DIG Nalaka de Silva, was earlier in charge of the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) but is currently mired in a controversy over a leaked phone conversation of an alleged plot to assassinate President Maithripala Sirisena and former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa. (Darshana Sanjeewa)South Korean President Moon Jae-in arrived in North Korea on Tuesday for his third and possibly most challenging summit yet with leader Kim Jong Un in which he hopes to break an impasse in talks with the United States over the Norths denuclearization and breathe energy into his own efforts to expand and improve relations between the Koreas.



In what are by now familiar images of the two Korean leaders hugging and exchanging warm smiles, Kim greeted Moon at Pyongyangs airport. They have met twice this year at the border village of Panmunjom, but Moons visit is the first by a South Korean leader to the North Korean capital in 11 years.



Moon was expected to have talks with Kim on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to Moons chief of staff. Moon and Kim were also expected to jointly announce the results of their talks on Wednesday if things go smoothly. Moon is to return to Seoul on Thursday.



Moon and his wife, Kim Jung-sook, were greeted by Kim and his wife, Ri Sol Ju. The North Korean leader then led his guests to meet some of his senior officials, and they exchanged mutual greetings with Moons delegation. Thousands of North Koreans cheered and waved flower bouquets and national and unification flags. North Korean soldiers and naval troops quick-marched into position to welcome Moon, and the two leaders inspected the honour guard, according to South Korean media pool footage from the site. A signboard said, We ardently welcome President Moon Jae-in.



As Moon arrived, the Norths main newspaper said the United States was responsible for the lack of progress in denuclearization talks. -PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP), 18 September 2018Tomorrow is the United Nations World Day of Peace and we all need to be channels of peace though the big powers like the United States, while talking of peace, provide bombs to the Saudi Arabia led coalition which recently dropped one such bomb, killing scores of schoolchildren in Yemen.

Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on September 21. The UN General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and people. The UN member states adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals in 2015 because they understood that it would not be possible to build a peaceful world if steps were not taken to achieve economic and social development for all people everywhere, and ensure that their rights were protected. The Sustainable Goals cover a broad range of issues, including poverty, hunger, health, education, climate change, gender equality, water, sanitation, energy, environment and social justice, the UN says.

The theme for 2018 is The Right to Peace - The Universal Declaration of Human Rights at 70. The theme celebrates the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - a milestone document in the history of human rights. Drafted by representatives with different legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world, the Declaration was adopted by the UN General Assembly in Paris on December 10, 1948 as a common standard of achievement for all people and all nations. The Universal Declaration  the most translated document in the world, available in more than 500 languages is as relevant today as it was on the day it was adopted.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in a message to mark the event says It is time all nations and all people live up to the words of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which recognizes the inherent dignity and equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human race. This year marks the 70th anniversary of that landmark document.

The Universal Declaration states in Article 3 Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person. These elements build the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world. Yet, the Universal Declaration does not include a separate article on Right to Peace. This is why the UN is asking the people this year What does The Right to Peace mean to you? The UN urges people to share their views through #peaceday and #standup4humanright.

The UN Chief says this foundational document is a reminder that peace takes root when people are free from hunger, poverty and oppression and can thrive and prosper. With the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as our guide, we must ensure the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. I encourage you to speak up, for gender equality, for inclusive societies and for climate action. Do your part at school, at work, at home. Every step counts, he says.

In Sri Lanka, President Maithripala Sirisena was elected to office in January 2015, with his rainbow coalitions main pledge being to restore sustainable peace by bringing about religious and racial unity in diversity. It is significant that President Sirisena won mainly because the majority of minority communities voted for him. After the August 2015 Parliamentary elections, the Presidents Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the United National Party which played a major role in bringing him to office pledged their priority would be racial and religious unity in diversity. But some three years and nine months after the historic election of January 8, some progress has been made towards interracial and interreligious unity in diversity but much more needs to be done.

Party politicians will be party politicians for their personal gain or glory with bribery or corruption being rampant before January 2015 and even now. Therefore we urge the people to mark world peace day by making a pledge to make me a channel of peace, where there is hatred, let me bring love, where there is offence, let me bring pardon, where there is discord, let me bring union, where there is error, let me bring truth, where there is despair, let me bring hope, where there is darkness, let me bring light, where there is sadness, let me bring joy.From left: Shakti Ranatunga - Director Group Human Resources - MAS Holdings, Chamindra Mirando - General Manger -Operations MAS Fabrics Matrix, Ziyan Zahir, Director - Direct Brands, MAS Intimates, Dulani Dilrukshi Ganegoda, President Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) MAS Intimates Slimline, Shirendra Lawrence - Chief Operating Officer - MAS Holdings, Surangi Madhuwanthi Perera, Secretary Joint Consultative Committee (JCC)  Unichela Panadura, Suren Fernando, Chief Executive Officer - MAS Intimates, Ruwan Keragala, Director Finance - MAS Intimates and Rajiv Dharmendra, Chief Marketing Officer - MAS Intimates

MAS Holdings made history by being recognized as the Exporting Conglomerate of the Year at the Presidential Export Awards 2018 held at the BMICH under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday.



At the same event, MAS Intimates was honoured with the coveted Exporter of the Year Award as well as also receiving the Overall Awards for Net Foreign Exchange Earner and Contributor from the Region to the Export Supply Chain.



In addition to the four overall awards, MAS walked away with two Sectoral Awards, the Highest Foreign Exchange Earner  Apparel award won by MAS Intimates and the Highest Foreign Exchange Earner  Footwear award won by MAS Fabrics Matrix.



Commenting on the occasion, Chairman and Co-founder of MAS Holdings, Mahesh Amalean said, Today, consumer dynamics have evolved, and digital commerce is disrupting the traditional retail landscape. Digitization is creating opportunities while Innovation will play an important role in transforming the apparel industry.



He goes on to state MAS is proud to have contributed towards positioning Sri Lanka as an ethical and sustainable destination for high value-added, technologically advanced design-to-delivery apparel solutions. These awards are a testament of the hard work and commitment shown by all our associates across the country and beyond.



The Conglomerate of the Year Award was adjudged based on criteria that encapsulated a companys export turnover, financial performance, value addition and creation of employment opportunities. Focused areas such as product and market innovation as well as the implementation of sustainable policies where MAS Holdings has displayed industry-wide dominance and leadership over the years were also evaluated.From left: MAS Holdings Director Group Human Resources Shakti Ranatunga, MAS Fabrics Matrix General Manger Operations Chamindra Mirando, MAS Intimates Director Direct Brands Ziyan Zahir, MAS Intimates Slimline President Joint Consultative Committee Dulani Dilrukshi Ganegoda, MAS Holdings Chief Operating Officer Shirendra Lawrence, Unichela Panadura Joint Consultative Committee Secretary Surangi Madhuwanthi Perera, MAS Intimates Chief Executive Officer Suren Fernando, MAS Intimates Director Finance Ruwan Keragala and MAS Intimates Chief Marketing Officer Rajiv Dharmendra

MAS Holdings made history by being recognized as the Exporting Conglomerate of the Year at Presidential Export Awards 2018, held at the BMICH, under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena on Tuesday.



At the same event, MAS Intimates was honoured with the coveted Exporter of the Year Award and also received the Overall Awards for Net Foreign Exchange Earner and Contributor from the Region to the Export Supply Chain.



In addition to the four overall awards, MAS walked away with two Sectoral Awards, the Highest Foreign Exchange Earner  Apparel award won by MAS Intimates and Highest Foreign Exchange Earner  Footwear award won by MAS Fabrics Matrix.

Commenting on the occasion, MAS Holdings Chairman and Co-founder Mahesh Amalean said, Today, consumer dynamics have evolved and digital commerce is disrupting the traditional retail landscape. Digitization is creating opportunities while innovation will play an important role in transforming the apparel industry.



He went on to state, MAS is proud to have contributed towards positioning Sri Lanka as an ethical and sustainable destination for high value-added, technologically advanced design-to-delivery apparel solutions. These awards are a testament of the hard work and commitment shown by all our associates across the country and beyond.



The Conglomerate of the Year Award was adjudged based on criteria that encapsulated a companys export turnover, financial performance, value addition and creation of employment opportunities. Focused areas such as product and market innovation as well as the implementation of sustainable policies where MAS Holdings has displayed industry-wide dominance and leadership over the years were also evaluated.Uh-oh! It could be you, or it could be us, but there's no page here.Law and Order Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara recommended the National Police Commission (NPC) to send DIG Nalaka Silva on compulsory leave to facilitate an independent inquiry.

DIG Nalaka de Silva, who was in charge of the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) and is currently mired in a controversy over a leaked phone conversation of an alleged plot to assassinate President Maithripala Sirisena and former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

He was transferred temporarily to the Police IT division, but the Minister has now urged the NPC to send him on leave.(Darshana Sanjeewa)Everybody had been eager to comment on the wedding of Chathura Senarathne. This wedding was celebrated at Temple Trees. Chathura has become a controversial character in the political arena in the recent past. The following are excerpts of an interview Lanka Deepa had with him.

This was an event where Trade Unionists, Civil Society members, Farmers and workers participated

I wish to remind those who make allegations against me that I have settled all bills

Under this Government the health Services developed remarkably

In addition to the number of hours Temple Trees was reserved by me, I paid for every additional hour at the rate of Rs 80,000, and in full settlement I have paid Rs2.180,000

As the wedding couple even we did not take to the floor to dance

The Civil society representing all 25 districts were invited for this wedding

The food, decorations, chairs and tables were all brought from outside by us

I am happy that I was able to treat, even in a small manner, the large crowd who helped me

Q There were many who spoke about Chathura Senarathnes wedding celebrated with much fanfare. How was it made possible?

This was not a Royal wedding, but I think the place where it was held at created all this fuss. This was an event attended by the people from the lowest rungs of the society and those in the higher echelons.

This was an event where Trade Unionists, Civil Society members, Farmers and workers participated. It was a wedding where a large number of people close to me participated in. Now everybody is worried about this wedding being held at Temple Trees.

If I had celebrated it at Hilton or Shangri-La no one would be bothered and no one would have made any comments. If that happened all that money would have gone to the hotel. I paid much more than I would have had to pay the hotels in order to reserve Temple Trees.

There is no regulation stipulating that the weddings of only selective people can be celebrated here. Anyone can state his genuine reasons and after making the required payments obtain it.

Q Why were you so crazy about having the wedding at Temple Trees?

There were many who joined hands with us at the 2015 January 08th Elections. I wanted the majority of these people invited for my great day in life. My request was considered by the Prime Minister who allowed me to use Temple Trees. I wish to remind all those who make allegations against me that I have settled all bills up to the very cent. These bills could be made available for anyones perusal. In addition to the number of hours Temple Trees was reserved by me, I paid for every additional hour at the rate of Rs 80,000, and in full settlement I have paid Rs 2.180,000. This place can accommodate a large crowd and after I justified my reasons for holding the event there I was able to obtain it. I am happy that I was able to treat, even in a small manner, the large crowd who helped me.

Q What made the Prime Minister heed your request and allowed you to celebrate the wedding at Temple Trees?

When I spoke to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and presented my reasons, he gave his approval. Thereafter his secretary did the coordinating. My letter of request addressed to the Prime Minister was not sent under my official letterhead. The Civil society representing all 25 districts were invited for this wedding. Initially I stated that all charges due under the circulars and the cost of time spent on prearrangements would be reimbursed.

Q What were your justifiable reasons in obtaining Temple Trees to celebrate your wedding?

As an individual mingling with the people and as a leader who represents the two most largest Civil Societies and my invitations to these people and the keenness of many others to attend this function were all highlighted. The Prime Minister was aware of how we risked our lives in order to win the struggle on January 08. Therefore the Prime Minister decided and I should have this venue. We only got the reception hall from Temple Trees. The food, decorations, chairs and tables were all brought from outside by us.

Q Can anyone obtain the Temple Trees bungalow to celebrate a wedding like the way you did?

There is no regulation stipulating that the weddings of only selective people can be celebrated here. Anyone can state his genuine reasons and after making the required payments obtain it. The main requirement is that the dignity of this place should always be maintained at the highest level. We observed it to the very letter. There cannot be activities like those that are witnessed at other hotels. As the wedding couple even we did not take to the floor to dance. The celebration was completely devoid of any alcohol. Anyone may be able to obtain this place by observing its rules and regulations. The state too earns revenue from this.

This reception hall was sometime back taken care of by the Navy due to want of maintenance. The Dansalas (Places where free meals are given) that were conducted here during the previous Government are not there now. Therefore it needs regular maintenance. Our wedding generated the highest income to the Government as a result of us using this venue. I am happy that I was able help the Government earn this income through my wedding because otherwise these monies would have gone to either Hilton or Shangri-La.

Our wedding generated the highest income to the Government as a result of we using this venue. I am happy that I was able help the Government earn this income

Q As an MP and a civil society leader didnt you think that without spending so much money to celebrate a wedding it would have been better to have done some social welfare work instead?

My involvement in civil society work and the struggle of the people delayed my wedding. I am a youth who postponed my wedding during the past 11 years. I sacrificed it for the welfare of the people and country. I am a person who is deeply involved in the welfare of the people and on the great day of my life what was more important was to be with those who were close to me.

All the expenses incurred at my wedding were those which were necessary. My closest associates provided me with the other important requirements. There were also contributions made by my wifes party.

Q Having criticised the previous Government of conducting Dansalas at Temple Trees, you celebrated the wedding at the same place. there are several others who are levelling charges against you.

All those who made allegations had to backtrack when I produced all bills and receipts. During Mahinda Rajapaksas time there were many weddings registered and celebrated here. Even the expense for the milk rice that was served at those receptions was borne by the state. These facts were revealed by Lasantha Wickramatunga at that time. The cost of wedding receptions held at te Temple Trees was never borne by the couples. The peoples money was lavishly spent. We did not resort to such practices. If I had requested I could have got this place free of charge, but we did not do that. Mahinda Rajapaksas sons have no right to criticise me. We did not make Temple Trees a mad house by having a reception where liquor was served. We know what exactly took place here during those days.

Q After your wedding party at Temple Trees the Prime Minister has now said that Temple Trees would not be given for future weddings.

Yes. It would have been made clear that the dignified manner in which we held our function would not be observed by another party. There is also a possibility of some unscrupulous persons reserving this place and creating a situation that would endanger the security and the dignity of this place. If that happens then the Prime Minister would get the bad name.

The state too earns revenue from this. This reception hall was sometime back taken care of by the Navy due to want of maintenance

Q Isnt it unjust that the opportunity you got is being denied to others in the country?

If someone else also makes the required payments and makes a justifiable request to have the celebrations in a dignified manner, he or she might get this venue. It is true that depriving them of such an opportunity would create injustice. This is something the Prime Minister and the relevant authorities should decide on. However if there is no arrangement to invite a large crowd like I did, there appears to be no point in reserving this venue because there is an alternative of reserving a reputed hotel in Colombo. The latter is a better proposition. The cost would also be lower.

Q Your father and Mahinda Rajapaksa were very close. How is that they were not invited for your wedding?

Based on a principle only a few respectable individuals from the Joint Opposition were invited. Likewise individuals from the ruling party whose names have been mentioned for being involved in frauds and corruption were not invited. Please remember that for our wedding only 22 relatives were invited and the rest were all ordinary people of the country.

During Mahinda Rajapaksas time there were many weddings registered and celebrated here. Even the expense for the milk rice that was served at those receptions was borne by the state.

Q Though you maintain that on principle the JO members were not invited, members of Wimal Weerawansas family are close friends of your parents. Why were they overlooked?

There is no reason for me to invite Wimal Weerawansa. A person like Wimal Weerawansa, who possesses two Passports, is not wanted at my wedding or even at my funeral. I am going to write in my last will not to welcome such type of fraudsters to my funeral house. Wimal Weerawansas wife had a close association with my mother for some years. The wedding was a private affair and my father or mother never intervened in covering up their fraudulent acts. But there are some holding the highest positions in this Government who helped Wimal Weerawansa. We know who called the Airport and instructed not to take them into custody. There is no point in mentioning his name. We showed our opposition to this type of favouritism and made agitations. People are aware of it.

Q Your father was honoured as Suwapathi, but there are hospitals in the country which do not have basic medicine.

Do not say that. Under this Government the health Services developed remarkably. But when taken as a whole there are deficiencies, a fact which I accept. It is our concern to minimize such shortcomings and establish a superior health service in the country, which is our responsibility.

If I had requested I could have got this place free of charge, but we did not do that. Mahinda Rajapaksas sons have no right to criticise me. We did not make Temple Trees a mad house by having a reception where liquor was served.

Q Your father organised a grand show at Nelum Pokuna to celebrate the occasion of receiving the Suwapathi award.Your comments?

Winning such an award was not something easy. International fame was won for the work that was done. It is not necessary to organise such shows in our country to commemorate these events. I also think that it was quite unnecessary. Winning the award was a great achievement though.There are words and terms that get bastardized due to improper usage, over-use and association with error, political noxiousness and flippancy. Reconciliation is one which has some currency in this regard and perhaps is second only to yahapalanaya (good governance). In a different time we had peace. Even seemingly benign and indeed wholesome terms such as sustainability have suffered the natural and sad consequences of being hijacked and re-defined to mean the exact opposite of the original meaning.

And so we have yahapalanaya as a cuss word and we have reconciliation as a joke. Nevertheless good governance is and will always be a wholesome project while reconciliation is something this country needs to obtain as a non-negotiable for progress of any kind.

Reconciliation, in its current usage, refers to unresolved issues among communities. These include all manner of grievances which include threat, vulnerability, inequality and other citizenship-anomalies. Whether they are real or perceived is another matter that also needs to be addressed because claims need to be substantiated and aspirations less than ridiculous given current realities.

We dont have a happy starting point apart from the fact that theres no armed conflict right now. The absence of war helps. However, the lack of will on all fronts to be rational, desist from selectivity in citing history and a predisposition to let the political prerogatives of the moment, frame engagement has not helped.

Reconciliation, in its current usage, refers to unresolved issues among communities. These include all manner of grievances which include threat, vulnerability, inequality and other citizenship-anomalies

As in most cases, there are immediate issues to sort out and there are medium and long term objectives to achieve. There are immediate issues such as people in custody, those who are said to have disappeared and lands occupied by the military. Some of these are being addressed.

There is demilitarization, for example, perhaps not at the speed that would please some, but its happening. On the other hand, demands such as wanting the military out of the North and East are silly. We cant have the military stationed in space or at sea. Furthermore, we are talking of a 30-year armed conflagration and it is prudent always to err on the side of caution. Demilitarization, yes, but complete removal of military presence therefore, a resounding no.

That said, there iss no reason why properties occupied by the military should not be released to owners or, in the event that strategic consideration require continued occupation, alternative land be alienated to the particular citizens. Furthermore, as makes sense in times of peace, the focus should be on reconciliation of key issues and enhancing military intelligence operations, even as military presence is decreased.

There is the issue of those in custody. It has been made complex by Tamil politicians including those who supported the LTTE calling for the release of all LTTE suspects even as they demand military personnel accused of wrongdoing during conflict be tried. On the other side of the divide, Sinhala nationalists are hell-bent on protecting all military personnel regardless of whether or not the particular infringement had anything to do with military activities.

In this regard, the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) came up with a decent enough proposal, citing inter alia the unofficial amnesty that sorted out similar issues pertaining to the insurrection of the late eighties. They also noted that the affirmation of the principle of equal treatment where soldiers are to be charged would require the re-arrest of some 12,000 LTTE cadres who surrendered (many with weapons) and were released almost immediately following rehabilitation way back in 2009.

The JHU called for a classification of crimes by the LTTE, military and para military groups currently in custody in terms of whether they were related to the conflict and whether they were in the pursuit of personal matters. Any individual, regardless of which military outfit he/she belonged to or post held, accused of pursuing objectives unrelated to the war or contravened conventions related to the execution of military action (e.g. rape, abduction, theft), in or out of uniform, should be tried, they said. All others, including the 60 plus LTTE cadres in custody should be released immediately. General Amnesty is what they have called for. Finally, they have said that with such a move all claims and demands pertaining to this issue should end. This makes sense. They have not, after all, called for the abolition of the Office of Missing Persons. Thats a separate issue, a medium-term one, one might add.

I have already addressed the issue of citizenship anomalies when it comes to religious communities in a previous article in this series (see Notes for a Manifesto: State, Religion and Rationalization) and shall not go into it. Instead, lets move to the long-term.

Its thorny, naturally. Its about grievances and addressing of the same. The biggest problem here is that people have their preferred outcome and tailor grievance (with lots of frills) as well as the terms of engagement accordingly. There is the issue of language, where the legislation is in place but operationalization lagging due to lack of political will and resources, but theres certainly progress.

There are historical claims (e.g. The Exclusive Traditional Homelands of the Tamils for example, as claimed) based on which devolution solutions are proposed with scant regard for history (the archaeological and historical records are either ignored or corrupted, myth replacing truth more often than not), demography (close to 50% of Tamils live outside the North and East), geography (boundaries have no basis in history but were drawn arbitrarily by the British for their own purposes) and economic logic (uneven distribution of resources does not support the devolutionist case).

The vandalizing-intent of the Tamil politicians (proceeding from where the LTTE stopped) as well as moves to create a Tamil-only territory (again proceeding from where the LTTE stopped) will not help obtain reconciliation

This is where reason must come to replace emotion. An historical audit need to be done. Grievances must be shorn of frills and whats obtained should be the basis of the reconciliation proposal. These issues have always been ignored in all consultative processes so far. Moreover, as was recommended by the LLRC (Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission), devolution should satisfy all communities. Key term, all communities.

Any solution that aggrieves one community (e.g. the Sinhalese) will not resolve, but make for renewed agitation. The vandalizing-intent of the Tamil politicians (proceeding from where the LTTE stopped) as well as moves to create a Tamil-only territory (again proceeding from where the LTTE stopped) will not help obtain reconciliation. Similarly, the nonsensical moves by state authorities to establish a Buddhist mark in certain areas of the Northern Province (putting up Buddha statues) offends and can only re-open wounds that are yet to fully heal.

The key word is rationalization. Take it out and we dont obtain reconciliation but a grotesque creature by that name; misnamed, misbegotten and made for continued tensions or worse among communities.

This, like the previous articles in this series, is also addressed in particular to Nagananda Kodituwakku, Rohan Pallewatte, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Patali Champika Ranawaka, Ranil Wickremesinghe, Maithripala Sirisena and any other individual entertaining hopes of becoming the next President of Sri Lanka.

Malinda Seneviratne is a freelance writer.

malindasenevi@gmail.com

www.malindawords.blogspot.comBy Nishel Fernando

Sri Lanka is gearing towards an export-oriented economy as the exports increased by 50 percent during last three years, while the government with the private sector would continue to introduce business-friendly economic policies and strategies to enhance the competitiveness aimed at diversifying the countrys export basket, Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrama told Sri Lankas top exporters, this week.



Addressing Presidential Export Awards 2018 held this Tuesday, organised by the Export Development Board (EDB), he said, We are on track to achieve the target of US $ 17.2 billion in total exports for 2018. This shows that our exports have increased by 50 percent over the past three years. This shift towards a more export-oriented economy, after years of being too domestic-economy-focused, is an important move in the right direction  in the direction of a more dynamic and private sector-oriented growth model.



However, the minister stressed that the country has a long road ahead, catching up with its peers in the ASEAN region, who export 10-15 folds more than Sri Lanka.



To put it in context, Singapores exports are US $ 480 billion, Taiwan is US $ 340 billion, Thailand is US $ 254 billion and Vietnam is US $ 250 billion.



Samarawickrama emphasised that export diversification is crucial to become a truly export-oriented economyan area Sri Lankan exporters remain weak.



Although under GSP Plus we have around 6,000 items open to us, we keep sending a handful of few products lines. We must diversify this by looking at what the markets want, what products are required and catering cleverly to this.



He announced that the EDB would launch the Enterprise Innovation Programme to support transformative innovation to diversify Sri Lankas product basket next year.



According to the EDB, the programme would provide grants for SME exporters  medium-scale exporters as well as large-scale exporters to invest in innovation to diversify their export baskets.



The programme is likely to be presented to the Cabinet during next three weeks by Samarawickrama, seeking approval for a Rs.200-300 million allocation for the programme over the next two years.



The EDB also recently launched the Market Access Support Programme to provide market intelligence through grants to potential exporters, where the EDB already has received 250 applications.

Speaking of the EDBs 2,000 Exporter Programme, the minister said, We are going district by district  finding and fostering a whole new cohort of potential exporters, to make this trade-led growth more inclusive than ever before. Our vision is for every enterprise to aspire to export and giving them assistance to make that aspiration come true.



He also revealed that the much-awaited Innovation and Entrepreneurship Strategy would be launched soon to foster a climate for new high-tech products and services to emerge and also for start-ups to thrive.



Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe last week revealed that a new investor incentive scheme would introduce to the IT/BPM sectors shortly.

The minister also revealed that the government is exploring solutions to address the worker shortages faced by several sectors in the country, limiting the potential to expand their businesses.



We will discuss this at the highest level and come back with a solution in a short time. I intend to discuss with the president and prime minister and find a solution soon, he said.



However, the minister insisted that Sri Lankan industries should be opened to the idea of attracting the know-how from aboard similar to Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, etc.



We should not miss getting the know-how from any part of the world. This is the same way that apparel industry grew  we shouldnt be afraid to get the know-how from anywhere  to add to our existing talent, to complement it.



This is also important for the IT-related services sector. This sector has the potential to generate hundreds of thousands of the kind of jobs that our young people are aspiring to. And we need to marry our talent and competencies with targeted talent from abroad. We are also supporting the universities to turn out more engineering and IT graduates, he pointed out.



The minister acknowledged that the exporters are facing challenges with the new Inland Revenue ACT and said that the Finance Ministry has agreed to amend the taxes to encourage the small-scale exporters.



We recognized the issue the exporters faced with the new tax law and now the Finance Ministry has agreed that even if you export a small volume, you will pay the lower tax rate on the profits made from what you export. This will encourage even the smallest enterprise to export, he said.



In addition, Samarawickrama said that the government would carry out a Trade Adjustment Programme for local firms to face with competitions arising from trade liberalisation.



When it comes to attracting FDI to tradable sectors, he said that the Board of Investment (BOI) would roll out several investment promotion programmes in three cities in Germany, in Mumbai as well as Shanghai.



We have an investment promotion drive in Germany next week and this will be followed by visits to Shanghai and Mumbai soon. Our mission to Japan earlier this year has already generated many strong leads, which we are now pursuing, he noted.



Samarawickrama also announced that the government would set up two new industrial zones in Milleniya and Bingiriya within next year, as public-private partnership projects with the help of the BOI.Mahaweli Development and Environment Ministry would buy a high tech ocean cleaning vessel through Spanish funds in near future, Deputy Minister of Environment Ajith Mannapperuma said.

The vessel is capable of cleaning waste in saline water, he said.

He was addressing a press conference at UNP headquarters Sirikotha this morning.

The ship would be bought following a request made by the Mahaweli Development and Environment Ministry.

He said the Ministry hoped to use the ship in special projects to clean 14 tourist beaches and to upgrade them among the best beaches according to international standards.

He said that a cleanliness of a beach was a main factor tourists considered when making decisions on destinations.

The Deputy Minister said the ship would be also used in removing oil spills like the recent incident at the Uswetakeiyawa Beach.

He said that the President had already discussed with the Minister of Ports and Shipping, to lease out the ship to the Sri Lanka Port Authority (SLPA) when the vessel was not engaged.

He said the Government could settle the funds obtained for the ship to the Spanish Government.

Ocean cleaner ships are capable of collecting marine debris, macro plastic waste and cleaning up ocean oil spills. (Thilanka Kanakarathna)

Video by RMBy Nishel Fernando

Sri Lanka plans to hold ministerial level talks with the Chinese government this November to resume negotiations on the proposed China-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

We are hoping to meet them (the Chinese) in November. We will take it from there; we are quite hopeful that negotiations will start soon, Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrama told Mirror Business on the sidelines of the Top German Brands Sri Lanka relaunch organised by German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka (AHK Sri Lanka).



The FTA negotiations between two countries had been stalled due to several disagreements between the two parties. Sri Lankan negotiators had proposed to liberalise 90 percent of tariff lines in a phased out manner over a 20-year period. However, Chinese officials had insisted on outright liberalisation of tariff lines between the two countries. Also China had objected the inclusion of a review clause to reassess the FTA after 10 years. Meanwhile, speaking on the proposed Economic and Technological Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) with India, Samarawickrama said that negotiations would conclude by end of this year or early next year. The 11th round of ETCA negations is scheduled to commence in the first week of October. The minister highlighted that the agreement would be tabled in parliament prior to its signing, though its not a legal requirement.



Sri Lanka is also expected to commence a joint feasibility study with Indonesia to explore the potential for a FTA between two countries. Commenting on the committee appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena to study the Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SLSFTA), Samarawickrama said: If anyone who can show us specifically which clause is harmful to the country, we will certainly look at that. However, so far nobody has done that. Speaking of investments, the minister revealed that the Board of Investment (BOI) has approved investment projects worth US $1.6 billion up to July this year.



BOI is also expected to carry out several investment promotion activities, including Germany this year, to attract more foreign investments to the country.

Samarawickrama said an investment promotional programme would be kicked off in Hamburg, Frankfurt and Berlin coordinated by AHK Sri Lanka between 24 to 26th this month to promote investments into Sri Lanka.



He was confident that FDI flows to Sri Lanka would reach US$ 2.5 billion this year to meet the governments target.In reference to the request by Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka to grant a general amnesty to the LTTE cadres and military personnel involved in war-related crimes, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) said today that the two groups could not be equated at all.

Making his remarks on this matter, TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran told the Daily Mirror that Tamil political prisoners had been arrested and held up for long years.

He said their cases were not over. They are being dragged on, he said.

He said these prisoners had been arrested on confessions made by them and detained for a long time.

However, he said the unidentified atrocities perpetrated by the military could not be equated with those of Tamil political prisoners.

MP Sumanthiran said there should be a truth-seeking mechanism in place to trace the kind of crimes committed before considering any amnesty. (Kelum Bandara)(Colombo) REUTERS: Sri Lanka may have to downgrade its full-year forecast for tea production after output tumbled 14 percent in August from a year earlier due to a prolonged drought, the State-run Tea Board said yesterday.





The August decline meant output for the first eight months of this year fell 1.5 percent from the same period a year ago, it said. The fall is mainly because of the drought, Sri Lanka Tea Board Director-General S.A. Siriwardena told Reuters, referring to the August data.



There was no rain and the drought has been continuing. We will have to revisit the data and will have to revise the full-year projection.



Industry officials have expected 2018 production to reach 320 million kg.



Tea is Sri Lankas top agricultural export and one of the main foreign currency earners for the US$ 87 billion economy.



Earnings from tea exports for the first six months rose 0.1 percent to US$ 728.9 million, compared with the same period last year. Sri Lankas tea output rose 5 percent to 307.1 million kg last year, recovering from a seven-year low of 292.6 million kg in 2016.



Tea production in 2017 was affected by severe drought followed by flooding and poor application of fertilisers, while a government ban on pesticides and restricted labour added to the sectors problems.Sri Lanka has secured a US $ 50 million loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for rooftop solar power generation project under the much hyped Soorya bala sangramaya or battle for solar power programme.



A Finance and Mass Media Ministry statement said the loan facility will help Sri Lanka to achieve its 200 MW target by 2020 and 1000 MW by 2025 through solar power generation.



Clean and sustainable power generation will be enhanced through the proposed project by increasing debt facilities and funding for the rooftop solar power generation, developing solar rooftop market infrastructure and bankable subproject pipeline, the statement said.

It is expected to add 50 MW to the national grid under this project.



The project will operate under the Enterprise Sri Lanka subsidized loan scheme, which has introduced a donor-funded refinance loan scheme to make provisions for rooftop solar power generation project with the aegis of the ADB.



The households and the entrepreneurs will be provided maximum credit facilities up to Rs.7.5 million on a lending rate of 8 percent per annum.



The Development Finance Department of Finance and Mass Media Ministry, which is the Implementing agency of the project, will coordinate with the selected banks and financial institutions to provide credit facilities to the customers to purchase rooftop solar panels from reliable suppliers who have registered under the Sustainable Energy Authority. The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and Lanka Electricity Company Ltd (LECO) will support the project implementation by providing technical recommendations to the Financial Institutions regarding technical proposals of the applicants (customers) and reviewing and approving applications for connection of solar rooftop systems to the distribution network.



In addition, customers will be benefited financially through one of the system among net metering, net accounting or net plus as a result of connecting solar electricity generated by this project to the national grid.



The total investment cost of this project is US$ 59.8 million of which US$ 50 million will be provided by ADB. Equity contribution by customers for the subprojects will be US$ 9.8 million.It is said that Sri Lanka has a free education system and a free health service. To some extent, it is true as the Government schools and hospitals do not levy fees legally from students and patients. However, in a sense, one cannot call the countrys education and the health services free because authorities have developed various methods to levy money from the students and the patients or push them to the wall, where they have to spend money for the same services.

It is a well-known fact that the Government schools, especially those categorized as popular schools solicit hundreds of thousands of rupees as donations when students are admitted to them.

In fact, they are not donations but some sort of ransom. For the past several decades, the Education Ministers have been saying in the month of January each year that they would not allow Principals to receive this type of donations but except for one or two incidents, where Principals were caught, no student can get admitted to most of the schools in the country without paying this donation.

Trade Unions in the education and health sectors as well as Opposition and Leftist political parties are occasionally clamouring and sometimes taking trade union action against the purported moves by the Governments to privatise education and the health services.

But they turn a blind eye when some of the sections of these services were left to be privatised in a subtle manner during the past two decades. Interestingly, it is the very people who are shouting at the top of their voices against privatisation who are implementing this subtle method of privatisation and benefitting from it.One cannot deny the fact that todays students cannot pass the GCE Ordinary Level and the Advanced Level examinations without attending tuition classes.

The situation is such that the OL and AL students of even the most prestigious schools in the country are attending tuition classes. The irony is that in some cases it is the same teachers who are teaching in Government schools, who are conducting these tuition classes.And a considerable number of such teachers are those who are against privatisation of education. In short, education above Year 10 at the Government schools has been unofficially privatised with the help of those against privatisation.

In the health sector, the privatisation is making inroads in an even subtle manner, with the help of some of the doctors. The purported scarcity of medicine, especially expensive ones, is one factor that compels the patients to spend money on them and sometimes to go to the private hospitals. Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne had to ban prescription of blood tests to be done at private laboratories for the in-house patients at Government hospitals some time ago. And the private sector having well-known that their businesses would thrive has opened so many permanent private laboratories around Government hospitals.It is logical to conclude that it is the doctors who are shouting against privatisation and not the patients who want those tests to be done at private hospitals.

At the same time, authorities had announced several times that plans were afoot to issue bills to the patients at the Government hospitals just for their information on the expenditure that the Government incurs on the services provided to them.It is also a well-known fact that some of the doctors citing the shortage of medicines and certain facilities such as certain tests at the Government hospitals persuade and guide the patients towards private hospitals where they practise.

One service in the health sector that is almost fully privatised by now is the service of attendants. There was a time when relatives of in-house patients at the Government hospitals had to beg with the doctors and the nurses to stay in the wards with their patients. Rarely were those requests entertained in those days. However, now the doctors and the nurses force the relatives to find somebody to stay with the patients at the wards. And there are people to be hired for this purpose in and around the wards and the hospitals. They charge at will, sometimes Rs. 2,500 per night, for this service.

And now there are unregistered companies that hire such private attendants and these private attendants take charge of three or four patients or sometimes more than that at a time. Can we call education and health free?The Sun Siyam resort collection is the biggest hotel portfolio in Maldives and the proud owner of 4 resorts in 2 destinations; Maldives and Sri Lanka. The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi, Sun Aqua Vilu Reef, Olhuveli Beach and Spa in Maldives and Sun Aqua Pasikudah in Sri Lanka. The Management of Sun Aqua celebrated and announced the launch of the chains latest resort "Sun Aqua Iru Veli, Maldives" on 18th September at 41Sugar Colombo.

As an internationally awarded resort chain, expanding fast in Maldives and Sri Lanka, the Sun Siyam group introduces Sun Aqua IruVeli, as a premium all inclusive resort, equipped with 125 rooms/villas with private pool as the premium property of the chain. The resort is located in the island of Dhallu atoll. The island is filled with sprawling native flora and fauna to add to the true Maldivian hospitality and authentic local cuisine that the Sun Aqua Iru Veli is ready to offer.

Commenting on the event Mohamed Hilmy Cluster General Manager Sun Aqua mentioned at Sun Aqua resorts, theres no end to luxury. And theres no end to how far will we go to make sure that when you leave our premises, you leave with nothing short of a dream vacation filled with joyous memories and experiences. Speaking about Sun Aqua IruVeli there is no other place in the world where one can boast of sailing luxuriously in yachts, diving on pearly coral reefs; exploring pristine and isolated islands and sandbanks

Tucked in the lushness of tropical greenery, the suites provide utmost privacy with glimmering features like private pools, ocean views and unparalleled hospitality. The guests can elevate their experience by indulging in utmost luxury at the Sultane Suites that have private indoor pools right in the courtyard - an ideal for couples and honeymooners. The resort is ready to provide many discounts and complimentary offers to everyone who visits the resort. As a special offering the resort also features a one-time fine-dining sojourn at the Wine Cellar. In addition, Guests can enjoy complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages throughout their stay. Activities and experiences available for the guests include Personalized Spas, Dolphin Cruise, Guided Snorkeling Safari Tour, Sunset Cruise, Local Island Discovery, Non-Motorised Water Sports, Snorkeling Equipments, Jet Ski and Wind Surf Lessons.

Sonika Adlakha Cluster Director of Sales Sun Aqua further added We are pleased to announce the opening of Sun Aqua Iru Veli, our premium all-inclusive resort. It has been an exciting journey for us as we grow and introduce you to the new adventure that we all have been waiting for

Sun Aqua is a 100% Maldives brand owned by Dr Ahmed Siyam, the man who built an empire with just $900 in hand in 1998. Following his dreams, the group is expanding the resort chain and the group ventured off-shore with their second property Sun Aqua Pasikudah, and it is first 100% Maldivian owned and operated brand to go overseas.

With the entrance of Sun Aqua group to Sri Lanka, it has helped the Sri Lankan Tourism to expand its horizons to international standards and build recognition in the world about Pasikudah as a major destination of choice as equal to Maldives.

Sun Aqua Pasikudah is gaining immense popularity with the accessibility to the East Coast in Sri Lanka which is now 75 minutes away from Colombo via a Scenic Domestic Flight. East Coast has become an ideal destination for luxury tourism and has a more pristine beach than the south. So as a member of an internationally acclaimed hotel chain, Sun Aqua Pasikudah is a perfect renowned as the preferred luxury beach resort in the East Coast.





Another inclusive feature of the resorts of Sun Aqua group is the strict policies of sustainable tourism that these resorts follow. Every decision and action is taken giving key prominence to the environment and the local communities. All suppliers to the resorts are taken from local villages to develop rural economy and it helps the brand grow, communities rise in prosperity and it gives an example to the Sri Lankan tourism industry

'Sun Aqua IruVeli' will be opened in grandeur in November 2018 as the 5th resort joining the Sun Siyam group, the holding company of Sun Aqua Resorts. Room rates at Sun Aqua IruVeli start at US$1,000 for two adults and two children, and the Bookings began in May 2018 for the November opening.Negotiation on a Sri Lanka-Thailand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) would be concluded by 2020, the Thailand Nation reported today quoting a high-ranking Thai official.

Auramon Supthaweethum, Director-General at the Thailands Department of Trade Negotiations said Thailand will host the second Thai-Sri Lanka FTA negotiations from Wednesday until Friday.

The first meeting was hosted by the Sri Lankan government in July when the two countries discussed brief outlines of the FTA, Auramon said.

In the second meeting from September 19-21, we will start discussing the details of the FTA. We will discuss issues concerning market opening, trade in services, and further economic cooperation between the two countries, she said.

She said they will create seven working panels to evaluate and discuss different issues within the FTA.

For example, the first panel will work on trade in goods between Thailand and Sri Lanka and will focus on negotiating tariff reduction. Meanwhile, the second panel will work on the rule of origin, a criterion that determines which type of goods are eligible for tariff reduction under the FTA, she said.

Sri Lanka is Thailands fourth-largest trading partner in South Asia. Thai-Sri Lankan trade was valued at $319.6 million from January to July this year, with Thailand enjoying a large trade surplus with Sri Lanka. Thai imports were worth $47.9 million while exports were valued at $271.7 million.

Auramon said the prospects for Thai-Sri Lankan trade were promising, as the total trade value had increased by 6.7 per cent compared to the same period last year. Apart from opening markets to boost trade in goods, Thailand will also place emphasis on trade in services as Thai investors have a growing interest to invest in Sri Lankas tourism industry.

Various Thai international hotel brands have already invested and established themselves in Sri Lanka such as the Dusit Thani, Central, Minor Hotel and Amari groups.

Thai investors are already investing in Sri Lanka without the FTA, hence, with the FTA, issues such as investing in established businesses, cooperation negotiations and buying Sri Lankan stocks will become more convenient. Sri Lanka presents a good trading opportunity for Thailand because it is beginning to open up its economy to foreign investors. Hence, if Thailand enters as one of the early investors in Sri Lanka, it may get tariff reduction benefits in the future when it comes to trading, Auramon said.

Furthermore, Sri Lanka currently has FTAs with India, Pakistan and Singapore and is also a part of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative. Therefore, Sri Lanka can also be a pathway for Thailand to enter the Indian market, she said.

Thailands main exports to Sri Lanka are dried fish, rubber and automobile parts while Thailand imports jewellery, gold and plant products from Sri Lanka. Thailand aims to increase bilateral trade to $1.5 billion by 2020.The Green leader recently attended a meeting of the partys electoral level organizers of the Kandy district held to review the progress of the partys crash propaganda programme planned out in connection with the upcoming provincial and national polls.



Addressing the gathering, the Green leader announced that they had no alternative but to remove the weak organizers to make way for the new blood. No sooner had the party leader issued this ultimatum than a din rose from the audience calling for the immediate removal of a Diyawanna member and another electorate organizer from their posts.



The Diyawanna member they had wanted to be ousted from his organizer post immediately is a politico hailing from a political family dominating an electorate adjoining the Kandy district. This member had been in the news in the recent past for some shenanigans of his which the public had

frowned on.



The Green leader, thereupon, called on the partys Kandy district Lucky leader to suitably deal with the two organizers who had drawn a howl of disapproval from the audience.In AD 1405,Emperor Yung-lo, the third in the Ming Dynasty, organised and sanctioned a series of maritime voyages overseen by Admiral Zheng He. Referred to (casually and informally) today as the Ming treasure voyages, these marked the first real time that Imperial China set out to discover the world outside.

There were seven voyages in total. It is said that if they had continued, and if the Emperor had not constrained them on account of internal conflicts, China would have outdone Columbus in the discovery of the New World. Doubtful though the intentions of these treks are - some argue that they were peaceful expeditions, others point at them as evidence of the Empires colonialist ambitions - theres no doubting the fact that they were a milestone for China.

First voyage (1405-1407) took them to Java, Malacca, Calicut, and Sri Lanka

Zheng Hes objective, de Silva observes, was to take back the Dalada

Parakramabahu VI actively strove to unify the fragmented country

The first voyage (1405-1407) took them to Java, Malacca, Calicut, and Sri Lanka, among other places. Originally, the voyagers had not planned on entering the Bay of Bengal, but two or three days after they left the Kingdom of Lambri (in Sumatra), one ship sailed off to Andaman and Nicobar. A week later, the fleet spotted the mountains of Sri Lanka, and two days later, they embarked on the islands western coast. But this country did not take too kindly to the visitors, since soon after embarking, the fleet had to retreat on account of the hostility of the king, Vijayabahu VI.

Just what the motives of the fleet were in landing at Sri Lanka, we dont know. K. M. de Silva contends that the Chinese harboured imperialist ambitions, and that they desired a key symbol of the islands Buddhist culture: the Sacred Tooth Relic. Zheng Hes objective, de Silva observes, was to take back the Dalada. Not that Chinese interest in the Dalada was new, since in 1284Kublai Khan himself had dispatched a mission to the island for the same purpose; it had returned to China with its main aim unaccomplished but, seemingly and fortunately for Sri Lanka, without a sense of grievance. This thesis flatly contradicts other accounts which depict the voyage to Sri Lanka as an accident. In any case, theres no doubt that Zheng He, rebuffed and forced to retreat, wanted to return, to show the islanders that they were a fleet to reckon with.

Here it is pertinent to dwell on the paradigm shift that had transpired in China by the time of the seven maritime voyages. The Ming Dynasty had defeated the Mongols, of the Yuan Dynasty, but it was the Mongols who had opened up the sea and the desert, the two outlets through which China would soon claim prosperity. This set a precedent for the country, since as the eminent historian Fernand Braudel observed, China was, though rich and fertile, a semi-immobile economy which refused to look beyond its frontiers or to open them up to outside civilisation.

Neither feudal nor capitalist in the Western sense of those terms, Chinese society was more secular than continental Europe, so much so that the three great religions (or theologies) which passed through it - Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism - became as favoured as Islam and Catholicism, which too got rooted in Chinese soil. Until the Yuan Dynasty, however, China kept on looking inward. And yet, while its economic record was modest compared to that of the West (which grew at a tortoises pace of 0.12% per year, according to Professor Ha Joon-Chang, at a time when the East grew at a snails pace of 0.04%) because of this, it had successfully tapped into its reserves of wheat, maize, rice, and manpower, thereby doing away with the need to look out.

Though it was slow in catching up with the West (Braudel writes on how, even in the 18th century, sugar cane was cut, not by machines, but by craftsmen), China did not abandon the transition from pre-industrial to industrial society. For this, however, a thriving market needed to be in place. It was at the time of the Yuan Dynasty that such a market first emerged, with traders willing to spend money on the pride and vanity of public ostentation. Even in the 13th century, Kamalika Pieris observes, China had become a powerful arrival in the trade sector.

Once the Yuan Dynasty (which had lasted for almost a century) was defeated in 1368, the Ming Dynasty shut down the sea and desert the Mongols had opened earlier, in keeping with tradition. But never again would it look inward; the new Empire sought instead to add to the gains made by the Mongols through naval conquests.

It was this attitude, which could be taken as paternalistic or imperialist depending on how you see it, that gave the impetus to all seven of Zheng Hes voyages. Whether or not the capture of the Tooth Relic figured in his scheme of things is impossible to ascertain, regardless of de Silvas contention, but it is true that all seven voyages were premised on two objectives: discovery of the outside world, and conquest of treasures and valuables, albeit through peaceful and diplomatic means.

Five years would pass before He and his fleet returned. Even here the records are notoriously difficult to verify. Most scholars argue that Zheng He returned to the island in 1411, while on his way back to China. Edward Dreyer, on the other hand, contends that he returned on the OUTWARD journey, in 1410. This difference of one year is significant, for if Dreyer is correct and Hes fleet did return to Sri Lanka during the outward journey, it indicates that one of its primary motives on this voyage was to display its power to the adamant Vijayabahu VI. If that is so, it confirms the thesis, sustained by some, that Sri Lanka, on the whole a peaceful civilization, was interfering in the foreign relations of the Ming Dynasty in the subcontinent to such an extent that Imperial China needed to express its discontent in military terms.

Five years would pass before Zheng He and his fleet returned. Even here the records are notoriously difficult to verify. Most scholars argue that Zheng He returned to the island in 1411, while on his way back to China

Historians are fortunately not divided on what Zheng He did once he landed in the island. Vijayabahu VI became the first monarch after Mihindu V to be defeated and held captive by an Eastern power. (It is a sign of how peaceful Zheng Hes army were that while holding the King captive, they did not telescope the invasion of Kotte into an invasion of the country; that was left for the Europeans, whose exploits were more remorseless.) But while the invasion has been conclusively sketched out, theres one aspect to it that has not been so conclusively determined: the fate of the Tooth Relic. Certain sources indicate that Zheng He took it to China, only to return it home with the captured King, while other sources indicate it was never taken, since subsequent reports on the possession of the Relic make it evident that it continued to be in Kotte.

It is said that Vijayabahu VI felt so humiliated, not only at being captured by the Chinese, but also at being allowed to return to Sri Lanka so liberally, that he gave up any hope of reclaiming his throne. The only monarch who had suffered his fate before had been Mihindu V, but that had been the result of defeat at the hands of a powerful outside army. In Vijayabahus case, the outside army had not only entered his domain, they had also left it with him. Worse, they had even groomed a (Chinese) successor to the throne, with whom they were to return to the island three years later, in AD 1414, as a show of strength, solidarity, and friendship, a telling demonstration of Chinese strength and Sinhalese weakness.

The invasion obviously shook the fabric of Sinhala society. The Chinese encounter would explain, in part at least, why the later Parakramabahu VI actively strove to unify the fragmented country, becoming the first (and last) Sinhalese monarch since Parakramabahu I and Nissanka Malla to bring the whole country under one rule.

In any case, no Eastern power would conquer the island again, save for one moment in the Second World War when the Japanese attacked Colombo and the Trincomalee Harbour. It is said that Winston Churchill considered this the most dangerous moment in the War. That aptly sums up Sri Lankas place in the world: in 1942 as in 1410 (or 1411), the threat of outside invasion by a power as dominant as China or Japan (and not India, which had been assimilated to Sinhalese society during the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa periods), was just too dangerous to shrug off. It could afford to be indifferent to such threats only at the cost of a later invasion. At any rate, that was the lesson that Zheng He, predating the more aggressive Europeans, had taught us.

The writings of Prof. K. M. de Silva, Kamalika Pieris, Fernand Braudel, Prof. Ha-Joon Chang, and Edward Dreyer were used for this article.There is a top team member busy these days seeking appointments to meet Colombo-based envoys from nations, which are key players in the world scene.



A gabby one often found talking out of turn, this politico entered the scene as a Left radical and has now moved over to the countrys traditional Right.



The politico has now set his heart on trying his luck at the upcoming big poll and is keen on soliciting the blessings in whatever form from a select group of countries, sources close to him say.



He is said to be claiming that a sizable section from both the Blue and Green camps and a formidable civil society group have already pledged their support to him.iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) -- Senators on both sides of the political aisle seemed to agree Tuesday that the sexual assault allegation from Professor Christine Blasey Ford against Judge Brett Kavanaugh ought to be discussed and included as part of the body of information lawmakers will use to inform their vote on Kavanaughs Supreme Court nomination.



But Republicans and Democrats also appear divided on how to proceed, with Republicans asserting that a Judiciary Committee hearing, scheduled for Monday, is the best venue, and some Democrats calling for the FBI to open and complete a full investigation before the Senate proceeds.



We dont know what the facts are and thats the reason why you have an open hearing like this and you allow individuals to make up their own minds, Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., told reporters.



Mondays event is slated to feature two back-to-back solo interviews for both accuser and accused, with all committee members able to ask questions.



But as of Tuesday afternoon, neither Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, nor ranking member Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., had confirmed with Ford that she would attend on Monday. Feinstein accused Senate Republicans of not working hard enough to get in touch with Ford and confirm her attendance at Mondays hearing.



As I understand it shes been emailed hopefully by now the majority who regretfully is not working with us on this will pick up the phone and call and talk with her, and I think thats the appropriate thing to do, Feinstein said.



Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., was asked if it was poor optics for an all-male panel of Judiciary Committee Republicans to be questioning Ford about her allegations (there are four women, all Democrats, also on the committee).



We have to see if people are earnestly telling the truth or there to advance a political agenda. My guess is it will be an equal mix of both, Tillis responded.



Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., suggested he wanted more witnesses present than just Kavanaugh and Ford, although Grassley said Monday there will only be the two.



Both parties seem to suggest that they have memories of what happened so I hope that they will do a good job of making the way that they remember the events clear for us. I think itd also be helpful to have the eyewitness that doctor spoke about available as well, he said, presumably referring to Kavanaughs high school friend Mark Judge, who Ford, according to the Washington Post, says was in the room during the alleged assault.



In a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Judge said he does not remember Kavanaugh acting "in the manner Dr. Ford describes."



He added that he has "no memory of this alleged incident" and that he does not "wish to speak publicly regarding the incidents described in Dr. Ford's letter."



Asked if the allegations being true would be disqualifying, Scott responded, Well if the allegation is proven to be true, of course.



If Ford does not attend Mondays hearing, at least one Senate Republican said he didnt know why it would be necessary to hold it at all.



This is mainly an opportunity to accommodate her. We look forward to giving her a chance to tell her story, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, the Senate Republican whip, told reporters.



Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, who has not yet announced how she will vote, said Ford deserved her day before the committee. We have a woman that has come forward, she deserves to be heard, it's important that her voice and story is shared and determinations will be made at that point.



Unlike Republicans, some Democrats were calling for the FBI to launch a full investigation into the matter before proceeding with additional witness testimony. On Monday, all ten Judiciary Committee Democrats signed a letter urging President Donald Trump to request a follow-up inquiry from the FBI.



During a press conference Tuesday, Trump said it was up to the bureau to reopen the case, suggesting he would not request it.



It wouldn't bother me other than the FBI said that they really don't do that. That is not what they do, the president said.



The FBI has not commented on Trump's contention that the agency does not want to get involved. According to sources familiar with the FBI's background investigation process, the allegation was passed on to the White House, but the agency would take no further action unless ordered to do so by the White House.



Democrats who do not sit on the Judiciary Committee were also joining their colleagues calls for the FBI to investigate before proceeding to a committee hearing.



I believe there should be a full investigation beforehand, conducted by the FBI and then I think we should have a full hearing so that all of the relevant witnesses are in and can describe what happened, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said.



Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., who has said she was inspired to run for the Senate based on the 1991 Senate Judiciary Committee treated Clarence Thomas accuser Anita Hill, told reporters she had Hills experience in mind when considering how much time and energy should be devoted to uncovering the facts behind Fords allegations.



Committee members need to have the facts, that's why they're asking for an FBI background investigation and I believe that that would produce a much better hearing. It's serious. And I hope all the members on that committee take this seriously and do this in the right way because it wasn't done in the right way with Anita Hill, Murray said.



Sen. Doug Jones, D-Ala., a centrist Democrat, said the committee should slow down and allow for a little bit more investigation before it holds its hearing.



I was a prosecutor, I've done these cases it takes a little time to try to sift through the facts and let whoever it is, the FBI to do some things and I think they need to let this play a little bit, he said.



Feinstein, the top Democrat on Judiciary, would not say Tuesday afternoon whether she would participate in Mondays hearing if the FBI does not plan to fully investigate Fords claims.

Copyright  2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 19)  Former Health Secretary Janette Garin has filed charges of reckless imprudence, resulting to homicide, against her successor Paulyn Ubial over the alleged Dengvaxia-linked death cases.

In a complaint-affidavit filed Wednesday before the Department of Justice (DOJ), Garin said Ubial violated Article 365 (Imprudence and negligence) under the Revised Penal Code.

Under Philippine law, reckless imprudence "consists in voluntary, but without malice, doing or falling to do an act from which material damage results by reason of inexcusable lack of precaution on the part of the person performing of failing to perform such act, taking into consideration his employment or occupation, degree of intelligence, physical condition and other circumstances regarding persons, time and place."

Garin said the decision of Ubial to implement a community-based dengue immunization program rather than a school-based one was seen as the "only possible cause" of the reported deaths of the children.

She added "deaths were reported soon after the implementation of Sec. Ubial's community-based program started." Ubial assumed the Health Secretary post in 2016.

The former secretary said her successor also expanded the coverage of the immunization, and also allegedly "relaxed the consent protocol" for immunization authorization contributing to the death cases.

"It is unfortunate that several complaints were filed against me and other DOH officials when in truth only Sec. Ubial's negligence contributed to the alleged reported deaths," the complaint read.

Garin and other public health officials were slapped with criminal complaints over the controversial nationwide Dengvaxia vaccination program which started in 2016.

The Public Attorney's Office in August said it expected to file three more complaints against the health officials, bringing the total number of cases to 15.

A study earlier this year by the Philippine General Hospital's Dengue Investigative Task Force revealed that two out of 14 deaths being linked to Dengvaxia may have been caused by the vaccine's failure, while some of the other cases were unrelated to the vaccine.

Out of the 14 deaths, experts said three died of dengue shock syndrome, including the two who may have died due to Dengvaxia failure.

The government halted the nationwide anti-dengue program in December 2017.UK Export Finance Underwrites 5Bn Sale of Eurofighter, Hawk Trainers to Qatar



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MEDIA  Dont let their beauty fool you. The spotted lanternfly is a bad bug, an invasive insect with a taste for grapevines, fruit trees and other agricultural goodies.

Its bad news for the region that the lanternfly has been spotted in Delaware County, Philadelphia and Montgomery County.

A spokeswoman for Delaware County issued a press release warning the public about the insect.

The spotted lanternfly hails from Southeast Asia and China turned up in 2014 in Berks County and began spreading.

While the spotted lanternfly prefers to feast on Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus), another invasive species, it can eat more than 70 other trees and plants, said Heather Leach, a Penn State Extension spotted lanternfly associate in the universitys entomology department.

These include the grape, tree-fruit, hardwood and nursery industries, which bring nearly $18 billion to the states economy.

Penn State is working with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of Agriculture to stem the tide of the pesky bug and keep it quarantined in southeastern Pennsylvania. However, colonies have appeared in New Jersey and in northern Virginia in the Winchester area, Leach said.

Orchards, wineries, hardwood and nursery industries across the county could be impacted, said Delaware County Council Chairman John McBlain, in a press release. We want to make residents aware of the threat and inform them about the best ways to control the population. While they dont pose a health risk, they do present a threat to Delaware Countys and the states agricultural businesses.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture advises that the adult spotted lanternfly and nymphs can be mechanically destroyed, such as being swatted with a shoe. If you encounter an egg mass, they suggest scraping the mass into a bottle that can be sealed. Otherwise, mechanically destroy it as best as possible. Check your car and any furniture before exiting a quarantine zone. The species are known as hitchhikers and camouflage themselves in blankets and on cars. If moving furniture or wood out of the quarantined area, please make sure they are free of egg masses.

The quarantine has been imposed on Berks, Bucks, Chester, Dauphin, Delaware, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia, and Schuylkill counties.

Delaware Countys Department of Intercommunity Health, the Delaware County Conservation District and the Penn State Extension have partnered to hold a presentation for residents and business owners regarding the threat of the Spotted Lanternfly and methods to control the species this fall. More information will be released when a date and time are scheduled.

More information on the Spotted Lanternfly can be found:

www.extension.psu.edu/spotted-lanternfly

www.agriculture.pa.gov/spottedlanternfly

The Penn State Extension Hotline: 1-888-422-3359The four candidates for Del Mar City Council faced off in a forum on Thursday, Sept. 13, answering questions from the public on a variety of topics, from affordable housing to short-term rentals to downtown revitalization.

The event was moderated by the San Diego chapter of the League of Women Voters, and attended by all four qualified city council candidates in the Nov. 6 election: Brian Fletcher, Dan Quirk, Terry Gaasterland and incumbent Mayor Dwight Worden.

The candidates are vying for two seats on the council, which will be awarded to the two highest vote-getters in November. Worden is seeking his second four-year term on the council, following a long legal career during which he served at one time as Del Mar's city attorney.

Councilman Terry Sinnott opted not to run for another term. In Del Mar, council members are elected by all city voters, and the mayor's post rotates among council members.

The forum was held at Del Mar's civic center, and the candidates answered questions asked by audience members.

On the issue of affordable housing, the candidates proposed a number of solutions for meeting the city's state-mandated goal of 22 new housing units over a five-year period that ends in 2021.

Some of the candidates, such as Gaasterland and Fletcher, suggested that dilapidated housing on the Del Mar Fairgrounds could be renovated and repurposed for year-round worker housing.

"We need to renovate our way out of this," said Gaasterland, who suggested the city could buy apartment buildings and remodel them for use as affordable housing units.

Quirk suggested the city should conduct an environmental study of a vacant parcel next to Del Mar's public works yard as a potential site for affordable housing, while Worden proposed looking at a number of options, including those proposed by the other candidates and the designation of accessory units as affordable housing.

"What I'm for is a robust community process to vet those (options) and determine how we will achieve our goal," Worden said.

The candidates were also asked about their vision for Del Mar's progress over the next five years, and what policies need to be enacted now to achieve those goals.

Fletcher said he envisions a thriving downtown in five years, with such projects as a mixed-used development at Camino Del Mar and 10th Street completed, along with a city streetscape program along Camino Del Mar between 9th Street and the Plaza Del Mar shopping center. He also wants to see completion of a utility undergrounding project.

Quirk said he would also like to see the utility undergrounding work completed, as he was involved with Measure Q, a 1 cent sales tax increase approved by voters in 2016, which will fund the undergrounding effort.

Quirk also said he would like to see a new trail segment between the Grand Avenue bridge and the Canyon Crest trail, which would create a six-mile loop trail in the city.

Gaasterland, a professor of computational biology and genomics at UCSD, said she wants to see property values preserved and a plan to adapt to sea level rise in place, as well as the utility undergrounding project completed.

Worden agreed with the projects mentioned by the other candidates, and added that he would like to see a beach sand replenishment project underway, which is considered one way of protecting the shoreline against sea level rise.

The candidates also talked about how they would conduct business at City Hall. Quirk said he would like to see the city conduct surveys on major issues to gauge the sentiments of the public.

And the candidates also pledged to be open to hearing the views of their constituents if elected.

Worden pointed to his website, which has a button that allows emails to be sent to his mailbox, and that he also holds regular office hours, and has published his phone number for the community.

"I'll talk to anybody at any time on any issue," Worden said.

Gaasterland said she learned the value of community participation while serving on a committee that drafted a plan to deal with sea level rise.

Quirk reiterated his goal of conducting surveys to gather community input on major issues, contending such a step would lead to fewer meetings but better decisions. "Let's get hard numbers and data to make decisions," he said.Craft superfood bowls have arrived in Carmel Valley as the latest Everbowl location opened in Carmel Country Plaza in August. Everbowl was founded by San Diego native Jeff Fenster to stoke a healthy lifestyle for all, specializing in build-your-own bowls of superfood fuels, stuff thats been around forever.

Bowls can be customized with acai berries, acerola cherries, pitaya, the bright pink flesh of a dragonfruit or graviolawhich has the flavor of strawberry and pineapple with the consistency of a banana and layered and loaded up with unlimited toppings.

Everbowl founder Jeff Fenster with an acai bounty in Brazil. Courtesy

The first Everbowl opened in Poway in 2016 and Fenster has gone on to open 14 stores with locations throughout San Diego County and spots in Oceanside, Temecula and Menifee. In addition to Carmel Valley and a new Encinitas store that opened in July, Fenster aims to expand to 20 locations by the end of the year with new stores in San Elijo Hills and on the San Diego State University campus.

Ive been wanting to get into Carmel Valley forever, said Fenster, who was frequently in the area as a member at Bay Club Carmel Valley. This is the perfect location, its a great neighborhood and were really excited.

Fenster, 35, is a self-described serial entrepreneur who created several companies before founding Everbowl. After graduating from Thomas Jefferson School of Law, Fenster started his own successful payroll company in his mothers kitchen at age 24: i-CHEX, which he sold to Canopy HR Solutions in 2010.

Fenster created five other smaller companies and a digital marketing agency before deciding to pursue his true passion in the health and wellness industry in 2016.

Fenster is a fitness enthusiast and healthy lifestyle advocatehe is known to put whipped cream on zucchini to get his kids to eat their veggies. For years he made his own bowls his freezer was frequently stocked with superfood ingredients that many people never heard of. It was important to him to make healthy choices, it made him feel good, and he wanted to help make it easier for others to make those same good choices rather than settle on a fast food, fried and sedentary lifestyle.

Everbowl is for everybody, said Fenster of his mission to promote happiness and health. This is my passion. I was grateful to have success with my previous companies but to find a way to put my energy into something that Im truly passionate about is a dream.

With Everbowl, Fenster tried to tackle all of the excuses of why people dont like to eat healthy: It costs too much, It doesnt fill me up, It doesnt taste good, and I cant find it. Everbowls cost $8 a bowl no matter how many toppings are loaded on and they are bigger than most bowls so it can fill you up, he said.

Everbowls have no added sugar so Fenster said some may find them to be less sweet than the average acai bowlfor those who want a sweeter bowl, natural sweeteners on the menu include honey and agave.

The Whatever bowls allow guests to pick a base of acai, acerola, graviola or pitaya and then choose a liquid to blend it with from options of almond milk, coconut milk, chocolate almond milk, apple juice or cashew milk.

The unlimited toppings include strawberries, pineapple, bananas, cacao nibs, chia seeds, flax seeds, granola, peanut butter, kiwis, dates and more. There are also super stuff options like bee pollen, hemp protein, maca or whey protein.

There is no wrong way to build a Whatever bowl, Fenster said, noting that the combinations are endless and the carefully built bowls often end up looking like works of art.

A loaded pitaya Everbowl, Courtesy

The menu also includes pre-designed Local Favorites. Fensters 13-year-old daughter is the brains behind the Chewya combination of acai with blueberries, strawberries, bananas, peanut butter and almond milk, topped with granola, peanut butter, more bananas and coconut.

Its our second most popular bowl, Fenster said.

The family influence is also felt in the Everoats on the menu, which uses Fensters mother Frimas recipe for overnight oats, raw oats soaked in nut milk which can be customized with toppings. Everbowl also has grab-and-go salads, smoothies and flavored fermented Kefir water on tap.

Fenster takes pride in the fact that Everbowl distributes its own product from Brazil, sourcing the highest-quality organic and sustainable berries. On a recent trip to the Amazon, he climbed a 30-foot-tall tree to pick his own acai berries and visited the Everbowl factory to track the process from start to finish. He met with the local artisans who make leftover acai seeds into bracelets called Everseeds that are stacked on his wrist and sold in his stores to provide income for the families. The leftover seeds are also used to help provide power for part of the factory, reducing the reliance on fossil fuels.

With Everbowl, Fenster created the word un-evolve as the company mottothe word appears on all of the employees t-shirts.

Un-evolve means getting back to living and eating the way we were meant to, eating stuff thats been around forever, Fenster said.

Fenster believes the key to life is movement and the key to motion is fueling the body with good foods. By making all that good fuel easy and accessible for more people, he likes to think of Everbowl as encouraging people to live an active lifestyle, eating stuff that makes people want to get out and enjoy life.

Carmel Valley Everbowl is located at 12750 Carmel Country Road. For more information, visit everbowl.comThe San Dieguito Union School District board approved pay raises for all classified employees at its Sept. 13 meeting -- .05 percent salary increases that have already been given to all management and certificated teachers. The California School Employees Association (CSEA) reached a tentative agreement for the 2017-2018 school year that was ratified by the general membership on June 14 this year but it had not yet been officially approved by the board.

The vote to approve the raises was 4-1 with trustee John Salazar in opposition.

I understand that the budget is tight, however, CSEA is the only group that has not received a pay increase and it results in many negative emotions, said Roberta Blank, a 20-year classified employee at the district who is currently an administrative assistant at Carmel Valley Middle School. At best it makes us feel that we are not appreciated or valued in our school community. At worst, it makes us feel like we just dont matter.

The classified staff is the backbone of our schools, asserted Amy Gibson, a Canyon Crest Academy and Carmel Valley Middle School parent. They are no less indispensable than our teachers and our administrators...As a parent volunteer I rely on classified staff all of the time, every day that I am at school."

In voting to support the pay increases, trustees said they do value the contributions that classified staff makes to the district. San Dieguito Union High School District (SDUHSD) Vice President Mo Muir said they are often the face of the campus, the first to greet students and parents with a smile, as well as supporting teachers and keeping campuses looking beautiful.

We value our classified staff tremendously, said SDUHSD Clerk Joyce Dalessandro. Without classified staff, we wouldnt exist as a district.

According to SDUHSD Associate Superintendent for Business Services Tina Douglas, the .05 raise will be retroactive to July 2017 and will cost the district about $120,000 for one year. Douglas said she believes that the district can afford the increases noting that they closed the books on 2017-18 with an additional $5 million in the ending fund balance, bringing their deficit spending down from an anticipated $8 million at second interim to $3.1 million.

This recommendation for a .05 percent raise assists our classified employees with the increase in last years health benefits as well as a small cost of living increase, said SDUHSD Associate Superintendent of Human Resources Cindy Frazee. It also keeps the district competitive in acquiring and retaining outstanding employees.

In December 2017, the board approved the same .5 percent salary increases to all certificated employees and in April, the board approved the same pay raises for all management employees, both retroactive to July 1, 2017. The total cost of the raises for the certificated group was $370,844 and for the management and non-represented employees, it was $44,700.

Salazar voted against the classified staff salary increases just as he did against the raises in December and Aprilthe management raises he said he vehemently opposed." He also opposed the 12.5 percent raises in the 2015-16 school year.

There gets to be a time when we look at the budget and say we just cant afford this, Salazar said. To put bad on bad, the retroactive pay raise is ridiculous. It doesnt happen in the real world, Id never heard of it until I became a member of this board. I think its absurd.

The district is projecting a $3.7 million deficit for the 2018-19 school year and Douglas said that staff will continue to look at ways to reduce spending.

During public comment, taxpayer Rita Raden said she is still very concerned about the deficit and its impact on the reserves.

I think we really need to have a real-world discussion about our finances, she said, echoing fellow taxpayer Wendy Gumbs request for a forensic audit before the new superintendent comes on board.

Gumb also made a suggestion for the district high school foundations moving forward, proposing a more collaborative and inclusive fundraising effort. Rather than have four foundations at each high school site, Gumb suggested having Parent Teacher Student Associations at each high school to run activities and then having one district-wide foundation. She said a district-wide foundation would cut out a lot of the overhead it takes to run the four individual foundations, which she said amounts to about $800,000.By Matthew Brown

18 September 2018

BILLINGS, Montana (AP)  The Trump administration on Tuesday rolled back an Obama-era rule that forced energy companies to capture methane  a key contributor to climate change thats released in huge amounts during drilling on U.S. and tribal lands.

A replacement rule from the Interior Department rescinds mandates for companies to reduce gas pollution, which Trump administration officials say already is required by some states.

Within hours of the announcement, attorneys general for California and New Mexico filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking to reinstate the 2016 rule.

Weve sued the administration before over the illegal delay and suspension of this rule and will continue doing everything in our power to hold them accountable to our people and planet, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said.

The change by Trump could save companies as much as $2 billion in compliance costs over the next decade. It comes a week after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed weakening a separate methane emissions rule affecting private land and some public lands.

Were for clean air and water, but at the same time, were for reasonable regulations, Deputy Interior Secretary David Bernhardt told reporters.[]The prior regulation would have cut methane emissions by as much as 180,000 tons a year. Emissions of potentially hazardous pollutants known as volatile organic compounds, which can cause health problems if inhaled, would have been reduced by up to 80,000 tons a year.The change could also result in the loss of $734 million in natural gas that would have been recovered over the next decade under the old rule. Those savings would have offset some of the industrys compliance costs.Democratic U.S. Sen. Tom Udall of New Mexico criticized the rollback as a giveaway to irresponsible polluters.An estimated $330 million a year in methane is wasted on federal lands, enough to power about 5 million homes. [more]Subscriber content preview

BOSTON (AP)  The pressure in natural gas pipelines prior to a series of explosions and fires in Massachusetts last week was 12 times higher than it should have been, according to a letter from the state's U.S. senators to executives of the utility in charge of the pipelines.

Democratic U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey sent the letter Monday seeking answers about the explosions from the heads of Columbia Gas, the company that serves the communities of Lawrence, Andover and North Andover, and NiSource, the parent company of Columbia Gas.





. . .Subscriber content preview

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER

AP Economics Writer

WASHINGTON  Seeking better-skilled workers, Cedar Electronics decided last year to return some of its manufacturing to the United States from the Philippines, only to run smack into a worsening U.S.-China trade war.

Cedar makes radar and laser detection systems. When it shifted the assembly of those machines to Westchester, Ohio, it provided jobs for 30 people.





. . .Subscriber content preview

SEATTLE (AP)  The King County Council has approved $135 million in public funds for improvements at Safeco Field where the Seattle Mariners play.

The funding package narrowly passed in a 5-4 vote Monday.





. . .Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 19)  President Rodrigo Duterte believes the five-decade long insurgency of communist rebels will end by 2019.

"I think that kung maawa ang Panginoong Diyos , this will be over by about the second quarter of next year. Ang dami na kasi nagsu-surrender. And ang maganda diyan is ang armas," Duterte told troops during a visit at Camp Melchor F. Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela on Tuesday.

[Translation: I think, God forbid, this will be over by about the second quarter of next year. There are plenty of surrenderees. And what's good is that they will also surrender their weapons.]

He said communist fronts in Mindanao have already failed.

"I think we are winning the war finally. Maraming front sa Mindanao bumagsak na, especially on the right side, eastern  Davao, Agusan, 'yan banda. Dito sa western, wala naman silang malakas na front because the Moros are there," he said.

[Translation: I think we are winning the war finally. There are many fronts in Mindanao that have failed. Especially on the right side, Davao and Agusan. In the west, they have no strong fron because the Moros are there.]

Duterte also lauded the military's efforts, which have led to almost a hundred members of the New People's Army (NPA)  the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)  to surrender.

"The development of our nation has always been hindered by insurgency and terrorism. I therefore commend the active involvement and relentless efforts of the 5th Infantry Division against various threat groups in your area of operations," he said.

But CPP founder and the chief political consultant of the National Democratic Front Jose Maria Sison, belied the President's remarks.

"Duterte is delusional by claiming that he shall have destroyed the CPP-NPA and the entire revolutionary movement of the people by the middle of next year," Sison said in a statement on his Facebook page. "He is taking too much of Fentanyl. Thus, he is pipe dreaming."

Sison said the Duterte government is bankrupt, and weakened by corruption in the administration and the military, ballooning debts, trade deficits, higher tax policies and rising prices of goods.

He then said Duterte is now the target of people's hatred.

"It is more likely that Duterte would be ousted from power than that he could destroy the peoples revolutionary movement by the middle of next year," Sison claimed.

Duterte previously accused communist rebels of conniving with opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes and members of the Liberal Party. The three, Duterte warned, are reportedly plotting his ouster this September 21  a claim which all three parties have denied.

READ: Duterte warns of ouster plot from Liberal Party, Trillanes and communists

Peace talks between the Reds and the Duterte government have ended in November. More than a week later, the President formally signed a proclamation designating the CPP-NPA as a terrorist organization.baidu.com

ir.baidu.com

What is Baidu?CNBC International video above published Sep 6, 2018: Baidu, the company behind China's most popular search engine, is now venturing into AI and self-driving cars. CNBC's Uptin Saiidi explores what's behind one of China's tech titans.Principal domain:Investor Relations:Inside Baidu's high tech headquarters in BeijingCNBC International video above published Sep 5, 2018: Inside the campus behind China's largest search engine, CNBC's Uptin Saiidi explores its facial recognition technology and autonomous vehicle ambitions.Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 19)  A Makati court ordered TV station GMA Network News TV to authenticate its report on Senator Antonio Trillanes IV having availed of amnesty and admitting to "breaking rules" when he staged a mutiny.

Makati RTC Branch 150 Judge Elmo Alameda on Tuesday ordered a company executive to produce a "duly authenticated copy" of its report published on January 5, 2011 entitled "Trillanes avails of amnesty, admits 'breaking rules'".

The court asked GMA to submit it by Wednesday.

Branch 150 on September 14 held its first hearing on the petition of the Department of Justice to issue an arrest order and travel ban against Trillanes after President Rodrigo Duterte voided his amnesty.

Trillanes' lawyer Rey Robles presented the media report of Trillanes filing his amnesty application, but Alameda said it is secondary evidence. The judge asked for a copy of the application form.

Branch 150 handles Trillanes' rebellion case which was dismissed in 2011. But the prosecution insisted since his amnesty was voided through Duterte's Proclamation 572, the case is still active and they have to present their evidence against Trillanes.Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 19)  Presidential son and former Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte filed another libel complaint against Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Wednesday.

This time, it's for linking him and his father, President Rodrigo Duterte to drugs.

The younger Duterte in his complaint said Trillanes should be held criminally liable for calling him and the President "illegal drug smugglers" in connection with the P6.4 billion worth of shabu shipment that slipped into the country in May 2017. Libel is punishable with up to six months imprisonment under the Revised Penal Code.

"Worse, respondent has also defamed and labeled me and my father as 'principal actors' in the illegal drug trade in Davao City," Paolo Duterte said. The case was filed before the Office of the City Prosecutor in Davao City.

Paolo Duterte attached a transcript of Trillanes' phone interview with CNN Philippines' Senior Anchor and Correspondent Pinky Webb last June 14.

He dismissed Trillanes' claims as "black propaganda," saying they are "downright false, baseless and unfounded" and based on hearsay.

In the interview, Trillanes cited claims made by Customs fixer Mark Taguba, who testified in legislative hearings that the so-called "Davao Group" had been asking brokers for bribes to hasten the release of shipments at the Bureau of Customs, dropping the names of Paolo Duterte and brother-in-law Mans Carpio.

Taguba later clarified he was not implicating the two members of the presidential family but was only saying that their names were mentioned by members of the "Davao Group" whom he knew only by their aliases.

Trillanes also mentioned claims of former police officer Arturo Lascanas that the President and his son were behind the so-called "Davao Death Squad" which killed personal and political rivals of the Dutertes. Trillanes said Lascanas, not him, was the first to implicate the younger Duterte to the drug trade.

The newest complaint comes after Trillanes on Tuesday took a swipe at Paolo Duterte, saying he should have filed a libel case over the senator's claims the younger Duterte is part of a Chinese drug triad organization. But the resigned vice mayor said he was prevented from doing so since Trillanes made the statement during a Senate hearing, meaning the senator has legislative immunity.

Trillanes said he is ready to fly to Davao City to answer the complaints filed against him before its prosecutor's office which had ordered him to file a counter-affidavit within 10 days.

The two libel complaints were for Trillanes' September 2017 claims that the younger Duterte and Carpio extorted money from ride-hailing firms.

Trillanes, a staunch critic of the Duterte administration, is also facing possible arrest as the Makati Regional Trial Court hears the Justice Department's petition for a warrant and hold departure order against him. This is after President Duterte voided the amnesty granted to him in 2011 for his involvement in mutiny attempts against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.We were invited to the Premiere Night of Nakalimutan Ko Ng Kalimutan Ka last night , If you need advise if you should or should not watch it from adults from different side of the planet and other side of the gender then read on.

Nakalimutan Ko Ng Kalimutan Ka starts showing in Philippines Cinemas today September 19,2018.

What Marcus Thinks of It? His POV

I have only seen a small number of Filipino made movies, and I have come to realize that I am not the target audience for these movies. Yes, of course there is a language difference, but it is always nice to see English subtitles, although I am told that the translation doesnt always capture the depth of meaning of the original speech. What I mean by these films not being made for me, is that there are things that seem to bother me about how they are made that dont seem to bother any of my Filipino friends. Some technical, film-making things distract me, but obviously this is not a problem, and so I will limit my focus on that for my review.

I think I need to preface this review by saying that I have never been truly broken hearted. I have been sad when relationships ended, but nothing crushed me. Maybe thats a man thing. Maybe I have a heart made of ice, but its so nice when it gets hot outside.

The story of Nakalimutan isnt actually bad. However, I think there were some things that the writer/director tried to do that didnt work. There are many flashback and dream sequences that are often confusing. There also seems to be an element of fantasy versus reality, but it is unclear always what is intended to be literal. Does it take away from the intent of the film? Probably not. I think, like many Filipino romance stories, it only tries to invoke an emotional response without regard to making the storyline fluid or clear. This film plays on hugot moments, what Im told is really not easy to translate to English. I personally didnt feel it. I SAW the sad moments and I could understand how someone would be sad if those things happened, but I didnt FEEL them with the character. This was probably because there was no setup of the romance. It was done in small flashback moments, so I didnt get a real sense of the relationship to be sad about it ending. The story tried to break up the sadness with funny moments. More were just silly and did make me laugh some.

Alex Gonzaga did a great job. The second half of her drunk scene was very authentic and well done. Jerald Napoles and her played off of each other very well. Some of the scenes appeared to be unscripted and were my favorite moments of the film. Id also like to give a shout out to Joj and Jai Agpangan. I loved their part in the film. I met them recently and they are now some of my favorite people.

Nakalimutan is not a very clever story, but it had some fun moments. If you are broken hearted or ever been through that, you will be able to relate to the story and have a good time. I dont know if it will give you any answers to deal with what youre going through, but as they say, misery loves company.

What Earth Thinks of It? Her POV

For someone who has been there and done that, Nakalimutan Ko Ng Kalimutan Ka is a very relatable story for girls like me I guess. While I dont have a broken heart anymore and I havent had my heart broken in a long time (I hope I never get to have experience it again ever anymore) I felt like all my silliness in life was shown to me via the big-screen.

I saw some people who were with us in the movie cry, so maybe they are young and just recently broken. So the movie is for everyone I guess some will cry coz the memory is still fresh and some elwill laugh because been there done that dont wanna be there anymore kinda thing.

Alex Gonzaga and Jerald Napoles had a good rapport delivering their lines to each other and I believe Jerald is more of the leading man here than Vin Abrenica, who is actually the villain in the movie. Oooops did I give away a spoiler? Sorry!

Joj and Jai were hilarious in the movie! Totally different in person or slightly different haha . Good job girls!

I love how they were able to show a different side of Bataan , watching it made me want to go there, never been there!

If you area rom-com Filipino movie fan, go for it watch it, not a waste of money but a good laugh or cry. For a first movie of Fifth Solomon he did well. Congrats Wilbros Films! Looks like a box-office movie !

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Cobb delegates meet in the Netherlands for fifth grandparent stock roundtable



Cobb's grandparent production managers from across Europe recently met in the Netherlands this summer for the region's fifth grandparent stock roundtable.



For two days, delegates from Cobb distributors in Germany, Spain and Sweden joined Cobb managers from the Netherlands and the UK to review the latest technical information and exchange best practices.



Together, this group of close to 15 poultry experts is responsible for all grandparent-level stock, providing customers in Europe with Cobb parent stock.



During the roundtable, attendees reviewed techniques to maximise performance of the company's quality products - particularly bringing breeding stock into lay. Additional roundtable agenda items included the importance of body weight control on production and hatchability, how feed strategy impacts a male's fleshing score and sharing best practices with customers as part of Cobb's technical support programme.



Roundtable participants also visited a Cobb grandparent farm at the Wilzing family facility in Zeewolde. There, attendees reviewed on the evaluation of a bird's fleshing in order to determine if they are ready for light stimulation - a technique implemented across the region in 2017.



"These new practices have allowed us to more efficiently make decisions regarding fleshing, leading to a dramatic increase in hatchability," said Richard Weatherley, production director of Cobb Europe.



The group also discussed priorities for the region in the year ahead, which include optimising preparations for males to mate and females for production.



"The roundtable is an invaluable opportunity to spend time with people who are the experts in their field, comparing notes and sharing stories," said Patrick van Trijp, Cobb Europe's senior account manager.



"Cobb Europe is proud to work with these distributors and we take great pride in knowing that our parent stock customers will receive high quality birds and genetic lines."



- CobbEIB Board meeting in Bucharest agrees on support for sustainable development and innovation

Largest ever EIB support for Romanian agriculture signed

EUR 1.2 billion for new energy schemes and EUR 1.1 billion for transport projects

Sustainable transport, renewable energy, industrial innovation, social housing, internet and mobile telecommunications investment will benefit from EUR 5 billion of new financing approved by the European Investment Bank (EIB). During the two-day meeting in Bucharest this week the Board of the European Investment Bank decided to support transformational projects across Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.

Europe works  it has never been as important to recall this fact as it is today. And the EIB works extremely well. We demonstrate it every day in a very concrete way. In July we exceeded our target under the Juncker Plan, mobilising 335 billion Euros in new investment across Europe since 2015. We are already busy working towards the 500 billion EFSI 2020 objective set by the Council, the Parliament and the Commission . We shouldnt forget that this comes on top of the operations the EU Bank finances as part of its normal activity in the EU and beyond, which deliver strong, concrete benefits to Europeans and those outside the Union, said Werner Hoyer, President of the European Investment Bank.

Record EUR 450 million agriculture loan signed ahead of Bucharest board meeting

Ahead of the board meeting EIB President Werner Hoyer and Vice President Andrew McDowell, responsible for lending operations in the country, confirmed the EIBs largest ever agriculture financing in Romania. The new EUR 450 million loan will support agriculture investment at 3,000 farms and improve public services in rural areas.

During the visit President Hoyer discussed the EIBs engagement and Romanian investment priorities with Minister of Public Finance Teodorovici and attended the launch of the Three Seas initiative with Vice President Vazil Hudak.

It is great for the EU Bank to meet here in Bucharest ahead of the Romanian EU presidency, which will preside over crucial developments, the European elections and Brexit. It is only fitting that the EIB focuses today on Romania, where we have provided more than EUR 13 billion to support 183 projects since 1991. This week the EIB provided its largest ever support to agriculture in the country. All these are marks of the exceptionally fruitful partnership between the EU Bank and this country. The welcome we have received has been extraordinary, and I wish to thank Minister of Public Finance Teodorovici for the wonderful hospitality. We look forward to supporting the Romanian presidency in every way we can, as we further strengthen this strong, positive relationship, added Werner Hoyer.

The EIB Board of Directors, representing the 28 EU member state shareholders and the European Commission, meets once a year in the country that will hold the next EU Presidency. Romania will hold the rotating EU Presidency from 1st January, 2019.

Unlocking urban development and improving social housing

EIB support to improve the energy efficiency of housing was amongst EUR 482 million of financing for urban and housing projects agreed by the September board meeting.

Additional financing was approved for the construction of new energy efficient housing in Wilhelmshaven, urban development in Wrocaw and the Italian region of Friuli.

Harnessing renewable energy and cutting energy use

A total of EUR 1.2 billion of new lending for five energy projects was agreed. Among the projects to be financed by the EIB are 21 new wind farms to be built across Spain, as well as new solar and renewable energy projects in the country.

The EIB will also back investment into industrial energy efficiency schemes in Uzbekistan and the development of a dedicated terminal at the Port of Brest for the construction of offshore wind projects.

Backing industrial innovation and improving competitiveness

The EIB decided to provide more than EUR 820 million for six projects to support industrial investment across Europe.

This includes research and innovation by the Italian company Piaggio to reduce fuel consumption by scooters, motorcycles and commercial vehicles and develop a range of electric vehicles.

Additional financing will be provided for digitalisation investment by metals company Eramet and the worlds largest water soluble polymer manufacturer S.P.C.M.

Supporting private sector investment with local partners

The board approved new support for investment by agriculture, tourism, industrial and service focused companies in Italy and SMEs across Spain, alongside a new EUR 70 million microfinance initiative to help micro enterprises in the Western Balkans and North Africa.

Enhancing mobile and broadband communications

The EIB has a strong track-record supporting telecommunication investment around the world, including development of new technology, improving mobile coverage and the roll-out of high-speed broadband networks.

The board decided to support the design and roll-out of a new fibre-to-the-home network that will transform internet access for 410,000 households in rural communities in south-western France.

It also approved financing to deploy a 5G mobile broadband across Finland and upgrade and expand existing 4G services.

Strengthening urban and national sustainable transport

The EIB board supported new urban rail projects in Augsburg, Kaunas, Buenos Aires and Dhaka. Existing rail infrastructure in the Czech Republic will be modernised and rail traffic management across 13,600 km of the Polish network transformed through new EIB backing.

New EIB investment will better protect road networks in Laos from extreme weather and help to improve road safety in Montenegro.

Improving sanitation and access to clean water

The EIB is the worlds largest international financier of water investment. Proposals to support the construction of a water treatment facility in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh and water infrastructure across Bolivia were approved by the September board meeting alongside financing to enhance the supply of clean water and sanitation in Uzbekistan.

EUR 4.7 billion of new investment backed by the Investment Plan for Europe

Financing for 14 projects approved by the EIB board will be guaranteed by the European Fund for Strategic Investments and mobilize an estimated EUR 4.7 billion of total investment. These include medical research, new sustainable transport infrastructure and renewable energy schemes.

EIB support for sustainable investment in citiesMetro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 13)  A heated argument between two local officials in Bacolod City turned into a brawl.

During a regular session of the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) Wednesday, councilor Jesus Claudio Puentevella threw a punch at his fellow Dindo Ramos following a disagreement over the proposed construction of a second cell in a sanitary landfill in Barangay Felisa.

Other local officials at the meeting were quick to pacify the two. Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran then called for a two-minute break.

Puentevella had been barred from joining the session.

Ramos said he plans to file charges against Puentevella for direct assault and disruption of legislative assembly. Puentevella could not be reached for comments on the incident.

Bacolod SP leader Councilor Caesar Distrito said under their internal rules any member of the council can immediately be reprimanded and excluded from a session if they commit any disorderly behavior.(CNN)  China has accused Taiwan's intelligence agencies of recruiting university exchange students as spies, in an effort to "infiltrate" and "sabotage" activities on the mainland.

The accusations, made as part of a massive state media blitz, included claims Taiwanese spies had lured Chinese students into sexual relationships or offered money in an attempt to recruit them as foreign agents.

"(The Taiwanese spies) use money, love, seduction and internet hook-ups to develop spies into mainland China and build the espionage network ... It is extremely vicious to use students for espionage," a report on state media CCTV claimed.

In one alleged example, described in the state-run China Daily, an 18-year-old Chinese exchange student who studied in Taiwan was turned into an informer after entering a sexual relationship with a Taiwanese spy.

"The authorities said that, over three years, the student provided (the spy) with about 100 pieces of information on science and technology related to national defense and was paid about 45,000 yuan," state media claimed.

Taipei has furiously refuted the allegations, saying Beijing's accusations would just create "more doubts and misunderstandings" between the two governments.

Beijing views the democratically self-governed island, which has never been controlled by the Communist Party, as part of its territory. Cross-strait tensions have been rising since the election of Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen in 2016 and Beijing's subsequent actions towards her government. Tsai's party has historically been in favor of full Taiwanese independence.

A statement from Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council accused Beijing of attempting to stop Chinese students coming to the island to study.

"The mainland wanted to use media propaganda and indiscriminately accuse our people without due process of democracy and the rule of law, which could only arouse more doubts about mainland China's motives and purposes," the statement said.

'Prepare for the worst'

The Chinese state media campaign included at least six outlets, including CCTV, China Daily and the Global Times.

In one ominous editorial, China accused Taiwan of jeopardizing cross-strait relations and suggested that "under mounting pressure, the mainland must prepare for the worst."

The editorial added that "those targeted students were supposed to have a promising future. Studying in Taiwan should have been an opportunity to improve themselves. Trapping these young people and ruining their lives, the Taiwan intelligence authorities also committed a moral crime."

The media blitz, which began on Saturday and continued through into Monday, was part of "Thunderbolt 2018," a government-led initiative launched by China's state security department, intended to root out espionage activities.

The CCTV report was required viewing at workplaces and universities across China, according to notices posted on websites and on bulletin boards.

"All departments are required to organize the teachers and students to watch the news broadcast on September 15 and the interviews on September 15 and 16 ... I hope that all teachers and students will be vigilant," a notice posted to the Chinese University of Petroleum website on Friday said.

Tensions across the Taiwan Strait

Relations between Beijing and Taipei are at their worst point in years, as attitudes on the island have increasingly turned against unification with China and towards full independence.

As well as taking an aggressive attitude towards any suggestion of a change in Taiwan's current status, Beijing has also offered some carrots to ordinary Taiwanese people. From September 1, Taiwanese citizens were able to apply for residency permits in China, giving them a range of privileges. According to state news agency Xinhua, 22,000 people from Taiwan had applied for the permit in the first week.

At the other end of the scale, in recent months Beijing has worked to force companies across the world -- including a large number of international airlines -- to stop listing Taiwan as a separate country, by, for example, describing it as part of China (along with Hong Kong and Tibet).

China's Foreign Ministry has also ramped up a decades-long effort to isolate Taiwan diplomatically, significantly whittling down its list of diplomatic allies over the course of 2018, and the Chinese military has held large-scale live-fire drills in the Taiwan Strait.

"(If) the Chinese see the vulnerability of Taiwan, not getting US support, then they would be thinking about starting scenarios where they would be able to take Taiwan over," Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu told CNN in July.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "China accuses Taiwan of manipulating university students to become spies."Putin: Israeli plane didnt shoot our plane

Russia's Vladimir Putin gave information about the downing of the Russian military plane in Syria and absolved Israel.

Yesterday, Putin and Hungary's Viktor Orban met in Moscow before the meeting leaders in a press conference. In the conference, journalists asked Putin about the downing plane in Syria.

"ISRAELI AIRCRAFT DID NOT SHOOT DOWN OUR AIRCRAFT"

Putin told reporters: It looks most likely in this case that it was a chain of tragic chance events because an Israeli aircraft did not shoot down our aircraft. But without any doubt, we need to seriously get to the bottom of what happened. 

"TWO SITUATIONS WERE DIFFERENT"

Responding to a reporters question as to whether the incident in Latakia could be compared to the downing of the Russian Su-24 by Turkey in 2015, Putin said the two situations were different.

As for retaliatory measures, they will be aimed first and foremost at further ensuring the safety of our military personnel and facilities in Syria. And these will be steps that everyone will notice. Putin said.

PUTIN AND NETANYAHU TALKED ON THE PHONE

On Tuesday evening, Putin spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by phone. He urged Israel to avoid such incidents in the future and said that Tel Avivs military endeavors in Syria violate the countrys sovereignty.The World Bank debarred an Indian construction services company Wednesday for faking past experience in the bidding process for a road project in India.

M/s Om Sakthi Constructions submitted a fraudulent certificate of past experience in its bid for a highway construction contract, the World Bank said.

The 15 month debarment is for fraudulent practices related to the Second Tamil Nadu Road Sector Project in India.

The World Bank financed $300 million of the $780 million project.

The project was designed to improve rural accessibility in areas covering 26 districts and strengthen institutional capacity for sustainable rural road maintenance in Tamil Nadu, India, the World Bank said.

The company acknowledged responsibility for the offenses and agreed to cooperate with the Integrity Vice Presidency.

During the debarment, Om Sakthi is ineligible to participate in World Bank-financed projects.

The debarment qualifies for cross-debarment by the Asian Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the African Development Bank.

A list of all World Bank debarred entities and individuals is here.

____

Harry Cassin is the managing editor of the FCPA Blog.(CNN)  Syria antiaircraft fire downed a Russian military plane after an Israeli attack on Syrian positions, killing 15 people on board, Moscow said.

Russian state media said Syrian missiles shot the maritime patrol aircraft down amid an attack by Israeli jets in the Latakia region of northwest Syria.

Moscow blamed Israel for putting its aircraft in the line of fire and said it had only a minute's notice of the strike.

"As a result of the irresponsible actions of the Israeli military, 15 Russian servicemen were killed, which is absolutely not in keeping with the spirit of Russian-Israeli partnership," said Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, spokesperson for the Russian military, according to RIA-Novosti.

In a rare acknowledgment of its military activity in the region, Israel expressed "sorrow" for the loss of Russian life, but blamed the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad. The Israeli Defense Forces said it had followed well-established protocols in communicating with Moscow, which are intended to prevent such incidents.

"Israel holds the Assad regime, whose military shot down the Russian plane, fully responsible for this incident," the IDF said in a statement, adding that Iran and Hezbollah were also accountable.

According to the statement, Syrian antiaircraft batteries "fired indiscriminately and from what we understand did not bother to ensure no Russian planes were in the air."

The incident presents Moscow with a diplomatic conundrum, as the country has a strong relationship with both Israel and the Syrian regime.

On Tuesday Russian President Vladimir Putin called the incident a tragedy and said that Russia will concentrate on taking additional security measures to "protect our servicemen and our assets in Syria."

"Here it's more like a chain of tragic accidental circumstances, because Israel didn't shoot our plane down. But there's no doubt, no doubt at all, that we will have to take a serious look at what in fact happened, and our view of this tragedy is set out in the statement issued by the Russian Federation Ministry of Defense, which has been fully agreed with me," Putin said.

In a phone conversation with Putin, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed "the importance of the continuation of security coordination between Israel and Russia, that has succeeded in preventing many losses on both sides in the past three years," according to a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office.

Netanyahu promised that Israel would transfer all relevant information about the incident to Russia and proposed sending the Commander of the Israeli Air Force to Moscow to personally hand over the information.

Earlier in the day Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman talked by phone with his Russian counterpart, Army Gen. Sergei Shoigu, both sides said. According to a readout of the call from the Russian Ministry of Defense, Shoigu described the actions of the Israeli air force as irresponsible and told Liberman that fault "rests entirely with the Israeli side."

"We reserve the right for further reciprocal steps," Shoigu said, according to the readout.

At a press conference Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump said it was his understanding that Syria was responsible for the incident.

"That's not a good situation," Trump said at a press conference, noting reports were still preliminary. He called it a "very sad thing."

Trump defended his strategy in Syria, saying "we have done a tremendous job" battling ISIS in the war-torn nation.

Anti-aircraft system 'sold to Syria by Russians'

The target in Syria's Latakia coastal region that Israeli warplanes struck Monday was believed to be a facility that Iran was using to house sensitive military equipment that could be assembled into weapons, and then transferred to Lebanese Hezbollah, according to two US defense officials.

The officials would not detail the intelligence that led the United States to this conclusion. But they pointed out a major concern of both Israel and the United States: that Lebanese Hezbollah is gaining access to Iranian missiles that are increasingly precise and longer range in order to attack Israel.

U.S. and Israel surveillance routinely monitors Iranian air and ground shipments into Syria. But the identification of a site focusing specifically on assembly of weapons underscores an effort by Tehran to continue to try to hide the capabilities it is trying to ship to Lebanese Hezbollah.

The officials could not say if this is the first time a facility associated with assembly of weapons has been struck by the Israelis. But one of the officials said it's the U.S. understanding that Israel has not struck in this area for nearly five years.

Earlier Tuesday, Israel hinted at the type of target it struck. The IDF wrote on Twitter that jets "targeted a facility of the Syrian Armed Forces from which systems to manufacture accurate and lethal weapons were about to be transferred on behalf of Iran to Hezbollah in Lebanon."

"These weapons were meant to attack Israel, and posed an intolerable threat against it," the IDF said.

The IDF alleges that by the time Syrian antiaircraft missiles had been launched, Israeli warplanes responsible for the overnight operation were already back within Israeli airspace.

The IDF also says that the Russian plane was not "within the area of operation" while the Israeli strike on Latakia was underway. Russia bases much of its Syrian military presence in Latakia.

The Russian military said Israel notified the Russian side about the planned operation only a minute in advance, and that Israeli controllers would have seen the Russian plane, which was coming in to land, RIA reported.

Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Yevgenyevich Konashenkov claimed the Israelis used the plane as cover, effectively putting it in the cross hairs of the Syrian air defenses, according to RIA.

The Russian aircraft was shot down by an antiaircraft system sold by Moscow to the Syrians several years ago, a US official with knowledge of the incident told CNN Monday. The Syrian air defense network in western Syria is very densely populated with antiaircraft missile and radar systems.

In February, the two-man crew of an Israeli F-16 ejected from their aircraft when a missile exploded near them, damaging their plane as they finished conducting a mission against Syrian forces.

An Israeli defense official told CNN earlier this month that Israel has struck Syria 200 times in the past 18 months to prevent the deployment of Iranian weapons in the region.

Demilitarized zone in neighboring Idlib

The incident occurred on the same day that Russia announced a joint agreement with Turkey to create a demilitarized zone in Syria's Idlib province, which neighbors Latakia, potentially thwarting a large-scale military operation and impending humanitarian disaster in the country's last rebel stronghold.

Speaking alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin at talks in Sochi on Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the creation of a 15- to 20-kilometer (approximately nine to 12 miles) demilitarized zone will prevent a "humanitarian crisis" in the northwestern province.

All heavy military equipment tanks, ground-to-air missiles and mortars of all the opposition groups will be removed by October 10, the leaders said. The zone, which will be patrolled by Turkish and Russian military units, will become operational from October 15.

Erdogan described the agreement as a "solution" to the issues in the region.

Speaking Tuesday, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov said that the downing of the Russian aircraft would not affect the Sochi agreement "in any way," adding that "this is an important, breakthrough agreement."

In recent weeks, Syrian and Russian planes have conducted scores of airstrikes in Idlib in the run-up to an anticipated offensive by Russian-backed Syrian forces to retake the last part of the country under armed opposition.

Last week, UN officials said that more than 30,000 people fled the province in anticipation of the government offensive.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Syria accidentally shot down a Russian military plane."Job Title: Consultant, Governance & Transparency

Employer: The B Team

Location: Flexible (New York, London, Berlin)

Description: The B Team is seeking a consultant to join the Governance and Transparency team for a long-term assignment (3-6 months). The assignment will help us drive new norms of integrity, responsibility and transparency in the private sector, advancing The B Teams relationships and key partnerships with business, investors and civil society and contributing to The B Teams agenda to rebuild trust in business and government. . . . Continue reading



Blippar, a London, UK-based developer of augmented reality and computer vision technology, raised a 28.2m in Series-E funding.

The round was led by Candy Ventures and Qualcomm Ventures with participation from existing investors.

Founded in 2011 by Ambarish Mitra, Blippar provides business tools & solutions using world-leading augmented reality, computer vision, artificial intelligence & visual search technologies. The company has created a range of products that can be harnessed across a wide range of sectors from an AR SDK to web-based AR which requires no app.

Since launching in the UK in 2011, Blippar has expanded with offices in the UK, US, India and Singapore and its technology has been used by brands such as PepsiCo, Porsche, Nestle, LOreal, GSK, General Mills and Procter & Gamble to create experiences and deepen consumer engagement.

In June 2014, it acquired AR company Layar.

FinSMEs

19/09/2018Phoenix Molecular Designs, a Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada-based biotechnology company designing precise cancer therapeutics by targeting essential kinases, completed a $2.7M financing.

The financing included an over-subscribed $2M round in venture-backed capital and over $670K in non-dilutive capital.

The venture round was led by Pallasite Ventures with participation from new angel investors and existing angel investors from prior funding rounds. In conjunction with the financing, Chris Bissonnette, Ph.D., Managing Partner of Pallasite Ventures, joined PhoenixMDs Board of Directors.

The company intends to use the funds to advance its lead asset PMD-026 through IND-enabling studies and to develop a companion diagnostic test to determine which patients have high levels of activated RSK2, the protein that PMD-026 disrupts.

Led by Sandra E. Dunn, Ph.D., CEO, PhoenixMD is a biopharmaceutical company designing precise cancer therapeutics and companion diagnostics by targeting kinases, a class of highly druggable enzymes to treat a wide range of oncology indications.

The company is focused on developing first-in-class inhibitors against ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK), an important drug target for cancer, heart disease, and inflammation.

PhoenixMD has entered into partnerships with recognized academic, non-profit institutions and development companies such as the National Cancer Institute (NIH), University of Florida, Kyushu University, Mayo Clinic, and University of Hawaii Comprehensive Cancer Center.

The company has U.S. operations in San Diego, CA.

FinSMEs

18/09/2018Prodsight, an Edinburgh, Scotland, UK-based startup enabling businesses to gain insight from customer support conversation data, secured 115k in seed funding.

The Royal Society of Edinburgh invested 45k in the company and a pre-seed round raised a further 70k. Investors in this first round include a number of Scottish angel investors such as Alistair Forbes, Rob Dobson, Judy Wilson and Andrew Barrie. Over half of the SeedHaus tech incubator partners have invested in the company including Robin Knox and Paul Walton formerly of Intelligent Point of Sale.

The company intends to use the funds to hire new staff, refine the product and grow the customer base.

Founded by Lithuanian-born Tadas Labudis, Prodsight takes conversational data from live chat facilities such as Intercom and then uses its software and AI to turn information into summarized insights about customer needs. This allows data-driven decisions to be made quickly and efficiently, allowing product teams to identify problems, education issues and prioritize fixes and improvements.

The company also has plans to use the funding to work with two Natural Language Processing experts from the University of Glasgow to improve and refine the products conversation analysis processes.

FinSMEs

19/09/2018One of the most significant and important markets in America right now is marketing. Catering to a generation that is hooked on the internet, their phones, constantly browsing, and enjoying the instant gratification of e-commerce might seem easy, but brands have to have insights into who they cater to and how. They also have to keep up with constant updates in technology and strategy.

Marketing relies on creativity to stay ahead of the competition. There are some little-known facts about SEO and marketing strategy that may surprise you.

SERP and the Top Five

SERP, which stands for Search Engine Results Page, is the analytic procedure meant to find the top web pages that utilize a specific keyword or topic. In short, it is the process of analyzing search results. The key to marketing success is in the SERPs, and the proof is in the numbers: the top 5 search results on the SERPs get 75% of the users clicks, meaning if youve made it to the top five, youre golden.

Ask Google

Were so used to information at our fingertips. When we cant remember something, we always have Google to help us out. According to reports, 131 billion searches are conducted monthly, worldwide.

Googles Got it All

Its hard to compete with Google, seeing as they have 65-70% of the search engine market share.

Youve Got Mail

While social media, blogs or online shopping may seem like what we spend the brunt of our time on the internet doing, search and email are actually the top two internet activities.

Can You Hand Me My Phone?

Apparently, most searches come from mobiles or at least start there 50% to be exact. It is projected to increase in the coming years.

Whats the Title?

Although content writers break their fingers trying to get the best and most concise information into copy, studies show that page titles are actually the most important on-page element (though content is a close second). Because of such frequent searches, users have to put emphasis on how their title works with SEO and if it will catch the audiences attention.

Superior Social

Google not only has a monopoly over searches, but also social, with Google+ being the highest social factor for SEO ranking.

Blogs Mean Business

Starting a blog could be your best decision yet as a business owner, with statistics showing that 81% of businesses count their blogs as an important asset.

On-Page vs. Off-Page

While it may seem like on-page SEO is doing most of the work, in actuality off-page SEO accounts for 75% of its overall function.

Dont Forget the Content!

Content creation is a fundamental part of SEO, an agency called HQ SEO would agree that 72% of online marketers say that content creation is their most lucrative and effective SEO tactic.

If youre in marketing, thinking of starting a business, or simply want to be in the know about SEO and SEO pricing, youll need these statistics in the long run..          .    ,             ,       ...Its a beautiful, sunny day on the shores of Gulf waters.

Outside of his balcony, looking over Fort Myers Beach, hes plotting.

Planning the next move is always important, but even more so for him.

A phone conversation with Republic Records, laying the groundwork for whats next, is on the forefront of his mind.

Sean Paul is a Grammy-winning, platinum selling recording artist-yet the fire still burns.

Walking back into the Lani Kai hotel room, relaxation once again takes over, as he enjoys the scenery overlooking the beach, preparing to meet and greet the fans who have come out to support him.

Well, its a nice sunny day. Im taking it easy. Always been treated good down here so, I take it as a plus, said the Kingston, Jamaica native on how it feels to be back in Southwest Florida.

105.5 The Beat, in collaboration with the Lani Kai Island Resort, hosted Paul for an exclusive VIP event from 6-8 p.m. last Thursday to show some love and share his latest album releases with his fans.

Paul was very gracious of the opportunity to work with 105.5 again, a station that was one of the first in the country to play the Dancehall/hip-hop superstars tracks in the early 2000s.

Yeah, thats my home. It feels amazing to be home, he said. When you go home you relax, you feel like its your people. You feel like everybody there understands where youre coming from. And youve been trying to spread the message of the culture, in terms of my art work, and when people get it. It feels amazing.

Pauls career really took off in late 2002, with the release of his second studio album,Dutty Rock.

Chart toppers included Gimme the Light, Get Busy, Like Glue and Im Still in Love with You.

Dutty Rock won reggae album of the year at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards in 2004.

During this time, Paul was featured on the No. 1 hit across all musical spectrums, Baby Boy by Beyonce.

His third studio album, The Trinity, was released in September of 2005, and once again produced hit after hit.

We Be Burnin, Give It Up to Me and Temperature were just a few of the titles off the immensely successful album.

In 2016, he was featured on the chart-topping Sia song, Cheap Thrills.

This past June, Paul released his newest collection of work, titled: Made Love: The Prequel.

I worked with a couple different kind of producers to try and make Dancehall from their perspective, Paul said of the new album. (The) Beatfreaks are kids from Nigeria who live in England and they are definitely afro-beat type producers, who got together with Banx & Ranx, who are afro-Caribbean kids who live in Montreal. So its a mix. A mixing bowl of different types of production. I think its a great body of work. Big ups to all the artists that came through on it for me. From Migos to Dua Lipa to Becky G to Jhene Aiko. Its been a crazy ride to know that Ive been in the biz for a long time, but to put out a message and say Hey, I want you on the track, and theyre immediately like, Yes bro.'

Currently, Paul is working on a music video with Aiko for their collaboration on Naked Truth, this coming October.

Thats gonna be the next push from my camp, in terms of a single with this EP.

Im in the middle of doing a whole album, and I, as usual, like to test the waters with singles and what not. And I put so many singles out off of it, I think it really caused a vibe where, people wanted to get a body of work from it. So, I did, Paul said. I mean theres younger people checking out the vibe every day because Ive done songs with their favorite artists. I wouldnt say that was the objective, but it was what I was kind of looking for. To try to get in young peoples ear shot who might think that I dont make music for them. I make music for party people, for people who want to enjoy themselves, for people who feel free. So thats that kind of vibe Im coming at with this album.

Paul is enjoying the connections hes making with other artists with different, yet similar backgrounds as himself.

He is getting lots of requests to work with lots of different artists, something he takes humbly and is grateful for.

As for one artist hes particularly found a connection with, that kind of surprised him?

Tory Lanez was one of them. I didnt know if it was going to hit off in the right way. What he added was kinda simple to the song, and thats all it really needed, said Paul of the Toronto native. I respect him as an artist that can sound different ways, like a mumble type of rap kind of sound, and can spit hardcore lyrics and sound like you know what I mean anyone would respect the vibes hes doing. He can also sing, and it has a Caribbean kind of vibe to him also, him coming from Barbados. So, it was kind of cool working with him, and I have a lot of respect for his work.

Pauls career has spanned two decades, having won many music awards and setting the Dancehall community ablaze.

Five of his albums have been Grammy-nominated, hes worked with the biggest names in the industry and is continuing to spread his message of good vibes and love.

Paul has taken his opportunities and made the most of them, while also remembering he is not bigger than the stages he takes or the arenas he plays.

Its pretty cool bro, pretty cool, Paul said of his longevity in the profession that he loves. The industry is a vehicle for my art work. I think that people take their art work to be the be all and end all. I dont take my art work to be the be all and end all. I know that it goes through a system of people that help me out. Deejays, producers, Ive been writing songs with other people right now also. So, I owe it to the fans in general, and I owe it to them, these people (radio station), who keep the thing running when Im not in the town, not in the city, or when Im abroad doing a show somewhere else. That Im being heard, being played, even spoken about by this whole system of people which helps me out. I think that me lasting so (many) years, I think thats me being humble to that system, and knowing my art work is dope. But Im not the be all and end all of art. Working with the system and trying to get the art work out there through that vehicle is important to me, and I think that people see that and they like to work with me. So its a symbiotic thing.To the editor:

I sent a personalized version of this plea directly to Ms. Patton via USPS

I am following the example of my wise friends and fellow island residents by sending an open request: Chris Patton, reconsider and withdraw the lawsuits filed against the town of Fort Myers Beach concerning the TPI Margaritaville project. Suits described in the Aug. 9 issue of the Observer. Fort Myers Beach resident files case against town over Margaritaville

Ms. Patton, asking why you feel it is reasonable to request your fellow citizens to pay your attorney fees, with our tax dollars?

You are choosing to challenge a project that the majority of islanders support! The TPI team spent over three years developing a proposal that fits FMB. To put your minority view ahead of what is a fine plan that will provide Estero Island so many benefits including rejuvenation and beautification of a blighted area of dilapidated building. Plus Margaritaville will bring jobs along with visitors- the life blood of the island  residents and businesses.

I implore you to think of what will be best for the entire island and your fellow island residents.

Please, withdraw your lawsuits!

Ellen Vaughan

Fort Myers BeachNow celebrating its 30th anniversary, National Estuaries Week (NEW) is a nationwide celebration of our bays and estuaries and the many benefits they provide to us all. Much like Estero Bay, estuaries provide vital food supplies, clean water, and support the local economy. Yet more than a quarter century after the first National Estuaries Day in 1988, threats to our estuaries and coasts have never been more pressing.

We invite the public to join us Saturday, Sept. 22, at 718 Fishermans Wharf, Fort Myers Beach, in celebration of our estuaries and the vital role they play in our community.

The open house in celebration of the 30th anniversary of National Estuaries Week will be held from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

We have lost more than half the nations original coastal wetlands over the past 200 years. Everything from salt marshes along the Atlantic and Pacific shorelines to the mangrove swamps ringing Florida and the Gulf Coast have seen declines.

With the ongoing concern about our nations economic and financial health, it is important to recognize the value that protecting and restoring our estuaries delivers to both our local economy and nation.

Nationally, our coasts and estuaries are worth nearly $1 trillion annually to the American economy. Coastal waters add more than $800 billion in trade and commerce and tens of billions in recreational dollars. 43 percent of us live in coastal areas, accounting for 40 percent of all employment nationally 69 million jobs in all and a whopping 43 percent of our overall economic output. Here in Fort Myers Beach alone, the commercial fishing industry contributes over 80 million dollars to our local economy second only to tourism.

Locally, the San Carlos Island based Ostego Bay Foundation Inc. is doing its part to help educate and inform residents and vacationers the importance of our estuaries, especially Estero and San Carlos Bays. In fact, we have many volunteers eager to meet our goals.

About the Ostego Bay Foundation Marine Science Center

Founded in 1991, the Ostego Bay Foundation Marine Science Center is a self-funded 501(3)(c) nonprofit educational organization. The mission of the Ostego Bay Foundation, Inc. is to promote the understanding, preservation and enhancement of our unique marine environment through education, research and community involvement. The Foundation provides interactive educational experiences to encourage stewardship of our natural resources. Call the Science Center at 239-765-8101 or visit www.OstegoBay.org for more informationIts time to hop aboard a trolley and carouse around Fort Myers Beach.

The Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce will host the 16th Annual Tapa Hop, Thursday, Sept. 20.

Attendees get to ride along Estero Boulevard in themed trolleys while sampling seven beach restaurants signature entrees in small plate samples, along with drinks.

Tickets are $35 in advance and $45 at the door if capacity allows. The event is open to the paying public.

Its a great way to meet new people and for the restaurants to showcase their food and what they offer, said Chamber President Jacki Liszak. It will certainly help the servers this year.

Its more than just a trolley ride and food tour ? there are prizes to be won and bragging rights to be had.

The Tapa Hop event features a theme each year; and Chamber members go all-out. Each trolley team decorates their trolley, and many people put together costumes to go with the theme.

This year, the Chamber chose United Nations.

Weve been doing movies and music, but we hadnt done anything cultural, Liszak said. I think everyone is really embracing the theme.

Trolleys will be assigned a country to emulate: Mexico, Jamaica, the United States, Ireland and Germany.

We heavily encourage costumes, Liszak said.

The costumes arent a joke, either ? Tapa Hop attendees usually get really into the theme and representing it both in their trolleys decor and in their garb. Last year, the theme was music; Chamber ambassador Dan Allers dressed up as an astronaut to represent the iconic clip used on MTV. This year, hes on the Germany trolley ? and hes already planning.

Watching the faces of people that have signed up, not knowing what to expect, to me is the best. There is never a shortage of laughter and fun, Allers said.

Megan Zelenak, Allers fiance and fellow Chamber ambassador, said the two start brainstorming their costumes as soon as the theme is chosen. This year, the Tapa Hop date falls within the traditional Oktoberfest celebration in Germany.

Who doesnt want to ride around on a trolley singing beer songs? Zelenak said.

Zelenak appreciates that the event is held during off season, giving locals the chance to patronize businesses and help the local economy.

Besides good food and good company, there is a poker run and raffles and prizes throughout the evening. Liszak said there are lots of good deals to be grabbed through the raffles, from two-night stays at island resorts to restaurant gift cards and more.

Water quality issues have hit Fort Myers Beach businesses and residents hard this summer; the Chamber has been collecting economic impact data for weeks. The Tapa Hops occurrence in September, which is one of the slowest months of the year even without impaired water quality, will be good for the beach.

Especially in light of everything going on, its the chance to support our island businesses and have some fun at the same time, which we desperately need, Liszak said.

Check-in begins at 3 p.m. at South Beach Grille, 7205 Estero Blvd. This years participating restaurants are Bayfront Bistro, Castaways Bar & Grill, Junkanoo on the Beach, Nauti Parrot Dock Bar, Pinchers, South Beach Grille and Sunset Beach Tropical Grill.

The Chamber has moved to a new location: 2450 Estero Blvd., within the Keller Williams Realty office. To get tickets in advance, call 454-7500 or email events@fmbchamber.com.

Its a great event to meet new people while supporting our local economy, Allers said. Every year, I seem to make new friends.This blog covers software patent news and issues with a particular focus on wireless, mobile devices (smartphones, tablet computers, connected cars) as well as select antitrust matters surrounding those devices.Blog Archive Nov 2021 (22) Oct 2021 (58) Sep 2021 (67) Aug 2021 (62) Jul 2021 (54) Jun 2021 (50) May 2021 (58) Apr 2021 (44) Mar 2021 (57) Feb 2021 (64) Jan 2021 (93) Dec 2020 (82) Nov 2020 (62) Oct 2020 (50) Sep 2020 (45) Aug 2020 (51) Jul 2020 (56) Jun 2020 (53) May 2020 (70) Apr 2020 (66) Mar 2020 (169) Feb 2020 (211) Jan 2020 (184) Dec 2019 (54) Nov 2019 (56) Oct 2019 (55) Sep 2019 (63) Aug 2019 (54) Jul 2019 (69) Jun 2019 (56) May 2019 (65) Apr 2019 (68) Mar 2019 (72) Feb 2019 (76) Jan 2019 (62) Dec 2018 (55) Nov 2018 (69) Oct 2018 (90) Sep 2018 (82) Aug 2018 (58) Jul 2018 (36) Jun 2018 (47) May 2018 (44) Apr 2018 (64) Mar 2018 (63) Feb 2018 (68) Jan 2018 (92) Dec 2017 (85) Nov 2017 (64) Oct 2017 (82) Sep 2017 (54) Aug 2017 (89) Jul 2017 (60) Jun 2017 (86) May 2017 (84) Apr 2017 (62) Mar 2017 (86) Feb 2017 (91) Jan 2017 (113) Dec 2016 (109) Nov 2016 (100) Oct 2016 (82) Sep 2016 (95) Aug 2016 (84) Jul 2016 (84) Jun 2016 (99) May 2016 (93) Apr 2016 (106) Mar 2016 (145) Feb 2016 (125) Jan 2016 (103) Dec 2015 (83) Nov 2015 (80) Oct 2015 (100) Sep 2015 (111) Aug 2015 (94) Jul 2015 (98) Jun 2015 (151) May 2015 (125) Apr 2015 (109) Mar 2015 (122) Feb 2015 (113) Jan 2015 (135) Dec 2014 (131) Nov 2014 (115) Oct 2014 (146) Sep 2014 (112) Aug 2014 (128) Jul 2014 (94) Jun 2014 (104) May 2014 (140) Apr 2014 (132) Mar 2014 (81) Feb 2014 (89) Jan 2014 (141) Dec 2013 (100) Nov 2013 (96) Oct 2013 (99) Sep 2013 (94) Aug 2013 (95) Jul 2013 (95) Jun 2013 (91) May 2013 (139) Apr 2013 (179) Mar 2013 (73) Feb 2013 (76) Jan 2013 (85) Dec 2012 (59) Nov 2012 (71) Oct 2012 (85) Sep 2012 (70) Aug 2012 (71) Jul 2012 (53) Jun 2012 (51) May 2012 (52) Apr 2012 (52) Mar 2012 (69) Feb 2012 (76) Jan 2012 (70) Dec 2011 (60) Nov 2011 (54) Oct 2011 (57) Sep 2011 (75) Aug 2011 (72) Jul 2011 (64) Jun 2011 (76) May 2011 (56) Apr 2011 (73) Mar 2011 (114) Feb 2011 (71) Jan 2011 (80) Dec 2010 (92) Nov 2010 (82) Oct 2010 (73) Sep 2010 (95) Aug 2010 (86) Jul 2010 (81) Jun 2010 (76) May 2010 (71) Apr 2010 (74) Mar 2010 (74) Feb 2010 (82) Jan 2010 (101) Dec 2009 (108) Nov 2009 (182) Oct 2009 (136) Sep 2009 (102) Aug 2009 (120) Jul 2009 (151) Jun 2009 (136) May 2009 (180) Apr 2009 (145) Mar 2009 (113) Feb 2009 (113) Jan 2009 (124) Dec 2008 (108) Nov 2008 (69) Oct 2008 (89) Sep 2008 (76) Aug 2008 (75) Jul 2008 (87) Jun 2008 (80) May 2008 (99) Apr 2008 (93) Mar 2008 (115) Feb 2008 (147) Jan 2008 (162) Dec 2007 (124) Nov 2007 (95) Oct 2007 (67) Sep 2007 (42) Aug 2007 (78) Jul 2007 (75) Jun 2007 (123) May 2007 (110) Apr 2007 (108) Mar 2007 (92) Feb 2007 (136) Jan 2007 (119) Dec 2006 (41) Nov 2006 (34) Oct 2006 (12) Sep 2006 (13) Aug 2006 (13) Jul 2006 (16) Jun 2006 (12) May 2006 (21) Apr 2006 (38) Mar 2006 (27) Feb 2006 (25) Jan 2006 (18)Reese Witherspoons life imitated her 2002 movie Sweet Home Alabama.

When I read the script I was like, Do these people know my life story? Witherspoon said at The Town Hall in New York on Monday night while promoting her new book, Whiskey in a Teacup, with Woodford Reserve.

Because no matter how much you love where youre from, when you get a little bit older you get nostalgic for it. When I was 18, I was like, I am out of here! I am never coming back!

Sweet Home Alabama starred Witherspoon as a New York fashion designer who returned home to Alabama to get her estranged husband (Josh Lucas) to sign divorce papers so she could marry the mayors son, played by Patrick Dempsey.

When I was going through Sweet Home Alabama I was like, This is exactly how so many young people feel. You want to leave home and then you realize that theres so many important things about the closeness of family or people who knew you before. And I feel really like that movie really encapsulated those ideas. And it was a lot of fun. It was so much fun. I had a great time doing it.

Witherspoon, 42, added that she never thought she would move back to Nashville after leaving to pursue her acting dreams, but when she started having kids she had a change of heart. She later bought and lived on a working farm.

I went real Little House on the Prairie there for a moment because I was so nostalgic for home, she laughed.

This article originally appeared on Page Six.Jane Fonda endured personal tragedy at age 12 when her mother committed suicide in 1950.

The 80-year-old actress and activist opened up in an upcoming documentary about growing up with a mother who was bipolar and how she eventually learned to understand and forgive her.

The HBO documentary, titled Jane Fonda in Five Acts, will premiere Sept. 24.

If you have a parent who is not capable of showing up, not capable of reflecting you back through eyes of love, it has a big impact on your sense of self, Fonda told People magazines Editor-in-Chief Jess Cagle Wednesday in The Jess Cagle Interview: Jane Fonda.

As a child, you always think it was your fault  because the child cant blame the adult, because they depend on the adult for survival, Fonda admitted. It takes a long time to get over the guilt.

The actress' mother was Frances Ford Seymour, a Canadian-born socialite who married American actor Henry Fonda in 1936. The couple had two children, Jane and Peter Fonda.

In 1950, at age 42, Seymour took her own life by slitting her throat while at a mental institution.

Henry Fonda told the children their mothers death had been a heart attack. Fonda would later discover the horrifying truth by reading about it in a movie magazine.

When I wrote my memoir [2005s My Life So Far], I dedicated it to my mother because I knew that if I didI would be forced to really try to figure her out, said Fonda. I never knew her because she suffered from biopolarity.

Fonda went on to access her mothers medical records, which revealed Seymour suffered from the disorder.

When you go through that kind of researchif you can come to answers, which I was able to do, you end up being able to say, It had nothing to do with me, said Fonda. It wasnt that I wasnt lovable. They had issues. And the minute you know that you can feel tremendous empathy for them. And you can forgive.

Back in 2013, Fonda opened up about Seymour in her blog, revealing her mother had suffered privately before her passing.

My mother was sexually abused as a young girl, long before people knew the life-long damage it causes or that there are ways to heal the wounds  the worst of which are not what happens physically but what is done to the identity, the emotions, the brain of the victim, particularly if the person is not believed, not understood, not heard, wrote Fonda.

Fonda revealed she was able to obtain her mothers medical records while writing her memoir.

I did not know this about my mother until I was in my sixties although I had sensed all my life that something bad must have happened to her when she was little because she was always sick, unable to really love, self-mutilated in the form of excess plastic surgery, felt evil and worthless, hated her body, was promiscuous and eventually committed suicide when she was forty-two."

Fonda hoped that by opening up about her past and Seymours struggles, others would find the courage to speak up and seek treatment.

I want to tell anyone reading this blog who is a victim of trauma, including veterans of combat, that to seek treatment is the brave thing to do, she said. As Dr. Judith Herman says, Accepting help is an act of profound courage. It shows strength not weakness, initiative, not passivity. Remembering and telling the truth about terrible events are prerequisites both for the restoration of the social order and for the healing of individual victims.

I wish my mother could have told and been believed.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).John Legend appeared in a Twitter ad Wednesday opposing Brett Kavanaugh's nomination for the Supreme Court.

The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Inc. released the ad, which featured the acclaimed singer and actor explaining why he believes Kavanaugh is "unfit" to join the nation's highest court.

"Who becomes the next Supreme Court Justice is the decision of a lifetime  your lifetime," said Legend, 39. "Brett Kavanaugh's troubling views on the issues that matter most and his rushed confirmation process make him unfit for a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court."

The ad goes on to show a group of people saying that the Supreme Court will make decisions that impact their lives.

"This fall, your senators will vote on Kavanaugh," Legend added, stating: "How they vote will impact you for a lifetime. Tell them to vote no on Kavanaugh. Remember, they answer to you."

Legend isn't the first star to voice his opinion on Kavanaugh's nomination. Julia Louis-Dreyfus tweeted on Monday that she signed a letter in support of her fellow graduate, Professor Christine Blasey Ford, who has accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her.

The allegations brought against Kavanaugh last week date back to the 1980s, when Ford claims the Supreme Court nominee, while in high school, pinned her down, tried to remove her bathing suit and put his hand over her mouth when she attempted to scream.

Fords attorney, Debra Katz, said her client considered this to be an attempted rape.

Upon learning of Fords claims, the Senate Judiciary Committee overseeing the confirmation of Kavanaugh invited her to testify under oath in a public or private setting.

Katz initially said her client would be willing to appear before the panel, but on Tuesday evening Ford said she wants the FBI to investigate her claim before she accepted an invitation to share her story with the committee.

Fox News' Brooke Singman contributed to this report.Princes William and Harry may be heirs to the British throne, but their late mother, Princess Diana of Wales, was always determined to give her sons a sense of normalcy.

And she did.

Her former butler Paul Burrell recently told U.K.s Mirror the familys Saturday nights easily mimicked any other home at the time.

The three of them would nip to McDonalds for a Big Mac and fries before coming back to watch Blind Date, the 60-year-old recalled.  All three of them would squat on this massive, stuffed hippopotamus Diana had in her sitting room. They loved Blind Date and youd hear them all screaming things like Oh dont pick him!

Burrell wasnt the only one to notice the trio bonded over fast food. Former Buckingham Palace chef Darren McGrady, who worked in the palace kitchen for 11 years before going on to serve the Princess of Wales, told Marie Claire in 2017 that the princes couldnt resist McDonalds, especially when their mother offered.

I remember the Princess came into the kitchen one day and said, Cancel lunch for the boys Im taking them out, were going to McDonalds, said McGrady. And I said, Oh my God your royal highness, I can do that, I can do burgers.

"She said, No, its the toy they want. Yeah, the boys loved McDonalds, and going out [for] pizza and having potato skins sort of the American foods. There were royal princes but had childrens palates.

And Diana treasured her time with William and Harry. In 2017, Dianas biographer Andrew Morton told Fox News that while Diana coped with the end of her marriage to Prince Charles, she relied on her sons for support.

Diana and Charles divorced in 1996 after four years of separation.

As the boys got older and became like her counselors and friends as sons, she began to enjoy life a lot more, said Morton. Diana was very protective of William and Harry. [If] you ever criticized the boys... she would be on you like a tigress.

"She was the only one who could criticize those two. Of course, she indulged them She wanted to be a full hands-on parent herself. And interestingly, Prince William recently said the same about his own children... He wants them to enjoy a relatively normal upbringing.

Diana died at age 36 from injuries sustained during a car crash in Paris.Authorities fear thousands of victims may have been sexually assaulted by a California orthopedic surgeon and ex-reality TV star after both he and his girlfriend were charged with drugging and sexually assaulting two women.

Grant William Robicheaux, 38, and Cerissa Laura Riley, 31, were charged with rape by use of drugs, oral copulation by anesthesia or controlled substance, and assault with intent to commit sexual offense, the Orange County District Attorneys Office said Tuesday.

They were also charged with possessing large quantities of drugs and Robicheaux faces an additional charge of possessing an assault weapon.

SURGEON SEEN ON BRAVO REALITY SHOW, GIRLFRIEND ALLEGEDLY DRUGGED, SEXUALLY ASSAULTED WOMEN

Robicheaux, an orthopedic surgeon, appeared on the Bravo television show Online Dating Rituals of the American Male four years ago.

But the authorities claim the two women may not be the only victims of Robicheaux and Riley. The investigators have reportedly seized over thousands and thousands videos that involve the couple and other unidentified women who appear intoxicated in the clips.

I have not seen a case in my career that involved this many videos and sexual acts and possible crimes, District Attorney Tony Rackauckas said during the press conference.

"I have not seen a case in my career that involved this many videos and sexual acts and possible crimes."  Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas

The authorities believe Robicheaux and Riley used their looks to prey on their alleged victims. We believe the defendants used their good looks and charms to lower the inhibitions of their potential prey, Rackauckas said. We've all heard of a wolf in sheep's clothing. Well, a wolf can wear scrubs or doctors clothing. Or a wolf can be a beautiful woman.

There are thousands and thousands of videos and images ... There are several videos where women in the videos appear to be highly intoxicated, beyond the ability to consent or resist. They are barely responsive to the defendants sexual advances, he added. Based on this evidence, we believe there might be many unidentified victims out there.

"There are several videos where women in the videos appear to be highly intoxicated, beyond the ability to consent or resist. They are barely responsive to the defendants sexual advances."  Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas

When pressed how many videos of different victims the authorities have, the district attorney replied with many and agreed that there might be hundreds or even thousands of such victims.

Philip Cohen and Scott Borthwick, the couples attorneys, denied the allegations in a statement provided to multiple media outlets.

They have been aware of these accusations for a number of months and each of them will formally deny the truth of these allegations at their first opportunity in court, the statement reads.

Dr. Robicheaux and Ms. Riley believe that such allegations do a disservice to, and dangerously undermine, the true victims of sexual assault, and they are eager to have the proper spotlight shed on this case in a public trial.

"Dr. Robicheaux and Ms. Riley believe that such allegations do a disservice to, and dangerously undermine, the true victims of sexual assault, and they are eager to have the proper spotlight shed on this case in a public trial."  Philip Cohen and Scott Borthwick, the attorneys for the couple

The revelation of a vast number of potential victims came after Robicheaux and Riley were charged for drugging and sexually assaulting two women. According to a press release from the Orange County District Attorneys office, the charges stem from two separate incidents.

Prosecutors say that Robicheaux and Riley met the first woman, 32, at a Newport Beach restaurant in April 2016. On April 10, they allegedly invited her to a party and brought her back to Robicheauxs apartment once she was intoxicated.

The defendants are accused of supplying multiple drugs to the victim, then raping and orally copulating her while she was prevented from resisting due to intoxicating and controlled substances and they should have reasonably known of her condition, the district attorney's office said.

TEXAS JURY CONVICTS DOCTOR OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING PATIENT

The second case unfolded less than six months later, on Oct. 2, 2016.

The pair were said to have met the second woman at a Newport Beach bar, where they drank with her until she was unconscious.

Prosecutors say they took her back to Robicheauxs apartment, where they sexually assaulted her with intent to commit rape. Officials say she woke up and screamed for help, prompting a neighbor to contact police.

The couple is due back in court on Oct. 25. They are currently free on $100,000 bond, according to court records.

Fox News Paulina Dedaj contributed to this report.Blue Bloods star Tom Selleck has stepped down from the National Rifle Associations board of directors, the actor's publicist confirmed to Fox News.

Selleck, 73, has been a member of the NRA since he was 8 years old, The Trace, a non-profit website covering gun violence in America, reported Tuesday. He also received the most votes in the boards election in 2017. A spokeswoman said he resigned because of time commitments.

Selleck, an avid gun collector, has donated a few rifles and revolvers from his movies to the NRAs National Firearms Museum.

Annett Wolf, the actors publicist, told The Trace that Selleck stepped down from the board due to his work schedule, but noted that he was never truly active on the board.

Selleck is still an NRA member, Wolf added.

Wolf confirmed to Fox News that Selleck stepped down from the board and declined to comment further. A request for a comment from the NRA was not immediately answered.

TOM SELLECK GAVE HIS BLESSING FOR MAGNUM P.I. REBOOT, STAR SAYS

He has nothing to do with policy, Wolf told the outlet. Hes never been active on the board or anything the NRA engages in. Hes almost always been a silent board member."

The former face of Magnum P.I. came under fire following comments he made on The Rosie ODonnell Show in 1999 for his firearms advocacy. He went on the talk show to promote the film The Love Letter, but instead got into a debate with ODonnell about guns in the wake of the Columbine massacre.

THE WEEKND, DAFT PUNK SUE BY SONGWRITER FOR REPORTEDLY STEALING SONG STARBOY

But you cant say that guns dont bear a responsibility, ODonnell asked. If the makers of the TEC-9 assault rifle Why wouldnt the NRA be against assault rifles? This is a gun that can shoot five bullets in a second. This is the gun that those boys brought into the school. Why the NRA wouldnt say, as a matter of compromise, 'We agree, assault weapons are not good.'

Im notI cant speak for the NRA, he replied.

But youre their spokesperson Tom, so you have to be responsible for what they say, ODonnell said.

But Im not a spokesperson. Im not a spokesperson for the NRA, Selleck said.

MSNBC star Lawrence ODonnell also brought up Sellecks role in the NRA in 2013 following the Sandy Hook shooting, saying he questioned Sellecks humanity.Travis Barker is reportedly suing those responsible for recent medical issues that have prevented him from touring and drumming with his band, Blink-182.

The 42-year-old has targeted a bus driver that struck his SUV in California in July as well as a medical office for allegedly giving him a staph infection.

TMZ reports that Barker is suing a school bus driver and bus company after its driver allegedly made an illegal left turn that caused a collision with his car in Calabasas this summer. Its unclear how much the star is asking for in either lawsuit, but the outlet reports the amount will likely be a lot given that the injuries suffered have caused him to miss shows with the band and turn down numerous others.

As previously reported, Barker suffered a staph infection this summer, which he claims happened when he visited the Medical Imaging Center in Santa Monica. He came in for a routine checkup and MRI prior to his upcoming tour. However, when technicians had difficulty finding a vein, they reportedly stuck him more than 40 times before they got it right. Barkers lawsuit allegedly claims that a dirty needle was used, leading to the infection.

Drumming is my life and it kills me that I cant perform for you guys this weekend. I hope to be back as soon as I can, Barker said in a statement accompanying a show cancellation at the time.

Representatives for Barker had no additional comment when reached by Fox News.ABC News The View co-host Joy Behar declared that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh is probably guilty of decades-old sexual assault allegations and slammed old," "white men in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.

These white men, old by the way, are not protecting women, Behar said of congressional Republicans who stand by Kavanaugh. Theyre protecting a man who is probably guilty.

California professor Christine Blasey Ford claimed Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her more than 35 years ago, but it's been unclear if she's willing to testify on Capitol Hill because she's asked the FBI to investigate first  which would delay the hearing.

Behar  an outspoken liberal and regular critic of President Trump -- urged Kavanaugh to take a lie detector test to prove his innocence.

Lets see that from you, or are you a coward? Behar asked before claiming Republicans are vehemently for overturning Roe V. Wade.

Ford went public on Sunday, alleging that Kavanaugh forced himself onto her and covered her mouth in the 1980s, when Kavanaugh was 17 and she was 15. A growing number of Republican senators are saying its time move ahead to a vote if Ford doesnt show up for Mondays planned hearing.

Behar isn't the first ABC News personality to weigh in on the controversy swirling around the vacant Supreme Court seat. Earlier this week, Behars colleague -- ABC News chief political analyst Matthew Dowd  was ridiculed after he called Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas a sexual predator when attempting to smear Kavanaugh.

It was despicable and outrageous what happened to Anita Hill more than 25 years ago, and a sexual predator was given a lifetime seat on the SC. Lets hope history doesnt repeat itself in 2018, Dowd tweeted on Monday, obviously referring to a sexual assault allegation against Kavanaugh.

Justice Thomas, a conservative appointed to the bench by President George H.W. Bush, faced an accusation that he had sexually harassed attorney Anita Hill during his confirmation process back in 1991. Hills accusations resulted in last-minute hearings, but Thomas denied the claim and was confirmed. He has spent the past 27 years on the bench.

Last week Behar apologized after saying God forbid President Trump lives another 20 years during a conversation about the presidents recent comments about Hurricane Florence and his response to last years tragic storm in Puerto Rico.

Unfortunately the real power is in the presidency hes the one who calls the shots, the ABC star said. This man will never apologize, if he lives another 20 years, God forbid, not God forbid.

Fox News Alex Pappas contributed to this report.Break out the tissues  this ones a tearjerker.

An Army captain serving in Iraq for much of the past year arranged to surprise her two young daughters by showing up at their school on Tuesday, and the girls couldnt have been happier.

Capt. Cynthia Jones, a Chinook pilot with the U.S. Army, made a surprise appearance at the Galt Adventist School in Galt, Calif., just before her daughters Mary and Naomi were let out of class, Fox 40 reported. Arriving in full uniform, Jones first met with the principal  herself on the verge of tears  to help facilitate the surprise.

MILITARY MOM'S JOYOUS REUNION WITH SON AT GEORGIA AIRPORT GOES VIRAL

Footage of the heartwarming moment shows kindergartener Mary spotting her mother first, and quickly running into her arms. Mary then runs back toward the other schoolchildren to find her third-grade sister Naomi before she, too, runs forward to embrace her mom.

I was so happy, Mary told Fox 40.

I dont know what Id do without a mom in my life, added Naomi. It made me really proud to see that she was home.

MICHIGAN SCHOOL REPLACES HOMECOMING QUEEN WITH 'EXCELLENCE AWARD'

Jones husband, too, was just as glad to see his wife after nearly a year. "It's awesome having her back, said Dan Jones, himself a veteran who previously served in Afghanistan. He also said he spent some time trying to keep [the girls] occupied, make the time go by faster in his wifes absence.

The best news of all? Capt. Jones wont be leaving her daughters to go back to Iraq, as she has finished her overseas deployment.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS

"They've grown so much and there's probably a lot that's happened over this last year that I've missed," Jones, who will now serve with the Army National Guard, told Fox 40. "But I'm excited to come back and be a part of this."A handful of churches in South Carolina are offering their members a gluten-free option for Holy Communion.

Several churches made the decision to offer the specialized bread during the Holy Eucharist for members who have celiac disease or a sensitivity to gluten.

Its an easy enough gesture to do to extend a hand of welcome, Rev. Adam J. Shoemaker, who serves as rector at St. Stephens Episcopal Church said to The Post and Courier.

BALVENIE SCOTCH AD FEATURING ANTHONY BOURDAIN SLAMMED AS 'INAPPROPRIATE' AND 'UNETHICAL'

At St. Stephens, the gluten-free and gluten wafers are kept on different plates to avoid mix-up.

Shoemaker considers the small change to be a way to serve all people.

It compels us to consider every individual. Some may hear the numbers and say Gosh, its a small amount of people, why bother doing it, Shoemaker said, referring to the five members of the 170-member congregation who require gluten-free bread. I think its worth the small effort.

In July, the Vatican declared gluten-free bread would not be allowed in the Catholic Church,

Hosts that are completely gluten-free are invalid matter for the celebration of the Eucharist, Cardinal Robert Sarah said in a letter to bishops in June and made public in July.

BANANAS: AIRLINE PASSENGER ASKS FOR GLUTEN-FREE BREAKFAST, GETS RIPE BANANA

Bread and wafers used in the celebration of the Eucharist must be unleavened, purely of wheat, and recently made so that there is no danger of decomposition, Sarah said in the letter.

However, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston said the diocese has no policy on the gluten-free wafer option, The Post and Courier reports.

Each individual priest is responsible for having a dialogue with and trying his best to accommodate those parishioners with celiac disease or other complications, so they may receive Holy Communion without experiencing any health problems, the diocese said.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS

This is not the first time churches have made adjustments to the Eucharist for their members.

The Rev. Dr. Robert Kennedy, who pastors St. Peters AME Church in North Charleston, told The Post and Courier that his church has offered grape juice as an option during Communion, and recently starting offering water to members with diabetes.

We look at the symbolism, Kennedy said. The water is symbolic also.Better save your appetite, Cracker Barrel fans  the home-style restaurant chain is rolling out bone-in fried chicken across all 660 locations.

Nations Restaurant News is reporting that the trendy dish will be available at all of chains restaurants by next summer. At present, the finger-lickin staple is only available at just 45 locations.

ALABAMA WOMAN CLAIMS RESTAURANT CALLED HER 'CRAZY B----' ON RECEIPT FOR ORDERING BURGER WITHOUT CHEESE

Our timeline is aggressive, CEO Sandra Cochran told Restaurant News said of the move, made in part to combat disappointing quarterly sales.

Nevertheless, Cochran is confident about the potential that bone-in fried chicken brings.

We are excited about how much the guests love it, she added.

According to the outlet, over 170 Cracker Barrels across the country will be featuring the four-piece fried-chicken platter, which also comes with two sides and bread, by Thanksgiving 2018.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS

In other news, Hurricane Florence impacted roughly 37 locations of Cracker Barrel, which is headquartered in Lebanon, Tenn. Five remain closed, while the rest have resumed regular operating hours, according to Restaurant News.Employees at a restaurant in Minnesota surprised their deaf co-worker with a special gift for his birthday.

Erick Curry, whos worked as a busser and barback at Yard House in St. Louis Park for four and a half years, lost his hearing when he was three months old from spinal meningitis.

ALABAMA WOMAN CLAIMS RESTAURANT CALLED HER 'CRAZY B----' ON RECEIPT FOR ORDERING BURGER WITHOUT CHEESE

"Erick is a breath of fresh air, Kimberly Goettsche, one of Currys co-workers, told Fox 9. He works with his disability with a smile and he's just easy, an easygoing soul."

His fellow employees usually communicate with him through written messages, but for Currys birthday they wanted to make sure he felt loved and appreciated.

"I just thought it was important to show a team member that he is more than cared about on the floor, said Goettsche. He's cared about as a person, as a friend, as a family."

Thirteen of Currys fellow Yard House employees learned to sign the happy birthday song and recorded themselves doing it in front of the restaurant, then posted the video on Currys Facebook page.

"It was a mix of emotions, Curry told Fox 9. I couldn't stop crying. It was so great that they did that for me. I love it. I love that feeling. Its like a family."

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS

Some of Currys co-workers were inspired to learn more sign language so they can better communicate with him.

"He deserves it, Goettsche said. He deserves to be able to be communicated with in the language he knows and that's sign language."Neighbors who have come together to celebrate Christmas early for a dying 2-year-old boy in Ohio said they wont let the alleged actions of a few vandals stop them from spreading the holiday spirit for him.

Perry Matten, a Colerain Township resident who has put inflatable decorations out for Brody Allen, who was given weeks to live after stopping treatment for a rare brain cancer, said hes had to patch up the decorations twice so far.

Its nice seeing the love, but then you got that 0.1 percent that want to kind of ruin it for that little boy, and I just dont get it, just cowards, Matten told WCPO.

GEORGIA BOY, 4, TREATED FOR RABIES AFTER MOM SHOOTS RACCOON DEAD IN PORCH ATTACK

The boys father, Todd Allen, echoed Matten and said you cant break Christmas.

The neighborhood has been decked out in Christmas lights and all that comes with the holiday season since earlier this month, after Brodys family put out the call for help on social media.

Brodys illness began with a fall, which doctors suspected may have been related to an inner ear infection, but led to a stay at Cincinnati Childrens Hospital, where scans revealed a tumor on his brain stem. He was eventually diagnosed with Embryonal Tumor with Multilayered Rosettes, which are fast-growing tumors that form in the brain and spinal cord.

Treatment failed to slow the tumors growth, and the family shared on their GoFundMe page that they decided to stop chemotherapy, allowing him to live his final weeks at home.

VIETNAM WAR VET DONATES KIDNEY TO FELLOW AIRMAN

When Brodys chemo treatment journey ended, we made a promise to each other that we were going to make each and every single day that he had left better than the next, McKenzie Allen, the boys 21-year-old sister, told CBS News at the time. And we wanted to do everything that we could and give him as much joy and happiness that we could, even though he only has a short time left.

Brody cant walk anymore, and hes lost the use of his left arm, but his family said seeing the Christmas decorations from the comfort of his wagon has helped lift his spirits.

Since going public with their plea, cards and gifts have been flooding the Allen home for the boy, who is the youngest of six siblings. But according to Todd Allen and Matten, a few rogue vandals have threatened to ruin the spirit, which they wont allow to happen.

Well fix it again were just doing it because that little boy should be happy the rest of the time hes here on earth, Mattan told WCPO.

Brodys mom, Shilo Allen, has been sharing photos and videos of her son enjoying the lights and reading cards sent to the home on their "TEAM BRODY" Facebook page.A Georgia boy is being treated for rabies after he was attacked by a raccoon on his familys front porch last week. Chandler Mahaffey, 4, was attacked on Thursday, his mother said, and was found in the grips of the rabid animals paws.

They got into a tussle on the floor and he was trying to fight the raccoon off of him, and as he tried to fight him off, the raccoon kept holding on to him and biting him repeatedly, Amber Mahaffey, the boys mother, told Fox 5 Atlanta. So we kicked the raccoon off of him. It ran around the house trying to attack everyone.

4 LITTLE GIRLS WHO BEAT CANCER REUNITE AT HOSPITAL FOR TOUCHING PHOTO

Mahaffey said she then shot and killed the animal, and rushed her son to Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston. Health officials recommend bringing children who have been bit by a suspected rabid animal to the emergency department immediately, so that treatment can begin before symptoms set in.

The rabies virus is typically transmitted by a bite from a wild infected animal, such as a bat, raccoon, skunk or fox, according to KidsHealth. If the bite goes untreated and rabies develops, it is almost always fatal.

The first symptoms may appear from a few days to more than a year after the bite occurs, and can include tingling, twitching, fever, headache, muscle aches, loss of appetite, nausea and fatigue. As the infection progresses it may lead to irritability, excessive movements, confusion, hallucinations, seizures and more.

According to KidsHealth, if the infection advances, patients may experience double vision, abnormal breathing issues, difficulty swallowing or increased production of saliva in addition to other issues. Treatment typically involves checking for tetanus immunization and shots of immune globulin as well as a rabies vaccine.

MICHIGAN RESIDENT INFECTED WITH DEADLY MOSQUITO-BORNE ILLNESS, HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY

Mahaffey said her son received his first rabies shots on Friday.

According to the CDC, about 7,000 cases of rabies in animals are reported each year to the agency. Raccoons are typically the most common carriers in the U.S., but bats are more likely to infect people. Newton County Animal Control officials confirmed this is the first rabies case reported in the area for 2018.

It makes you nervous a little bit but Ive lived in the woods all my life, Joseph Scroughams, a neighbor, told Fox 5 Atlanta. Ive been wanting to get with the neighbors take some shotguns to walk through the woods, three or four of us together.Heads up, parents in Michigan: Three school districts in the state have reported separate cases of viral meningitis, according to a local report.

Clio Area Schools, Caro Community Schools and the Frankenmuth School District have all reported cases of the illness, which is an inflammation of the tissue that covers the brain and spinal cord, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

INFANT DIES DAY AFTER SHOWING SYMPTOMS OF MENINGITIS, FAMILY SAYS

A person, who has not yet been identified as a student or staff member, at Edgerton Elementary School in Clio, a student at McComb Elementary School and another student at E.F. Rittmueller Middle School were all diagnosed with viral meningitis, WNEM-News reported.

"Out of an abundance of caution, we are sharing this information with you. While this can be upsetting, the chance of your child also becoming ill with this disease is very small," Pete Newman, superintendent with Caro Community Schools, said in a letter to parents, according to the news station.

Viral meningitis  not to be confused with the serious and potentially deadly bacterial meningitis  can spread if a person with the virus comes into close contact with a person who doesnt have it.

WHAT IS BACTERIAL MENINGITIS? SIGNS, SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT FOR THE INFECTION

However, only a small number of people who get infected with the viruses that cause meningitis will actually develop viral meningitis, the CDC noted, adding common symptoms of the illness include a stiff neck, headache, fever, vomiting, sensitivity to light, among other signs.

Most people with mild viral meningitis usually get better on their own within 7 to 10 days, the CDC said.Swimmers in Illinois are being warned after a person who visited a public pool tested positive for a highly contagious parasite.

Officials say anyone who visited Tazewell County public pool on or after Aug. 21 may have been exposed to cryptosporidium, a parasite that causes watery diarrhea.

We have one confirmed case, and there are several people that are ill, Sara Sparkman, Tazewell County Health Department communications manager, told the Journal Star.

BOY, 4, TREATED FOR RABIES AFTER MOM SHOOTS RACCOON DEAD IN PORCH ATTACK

The county did not identify which pool the swimmer had visited, but warned on Tuesday that anyone feeling ill should get tested immediately.

Cryptosporidium is a parasite with an outer shell that enables it to survive outside the body for long periods of time and makes it tolerant to chlorine disinfection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Its considered a leading cause of waterborne disease in humans, with symptoms generally beginning two to 10 days after infection, and lasting between one and two weeks.

Those with weakened immune systems are at most risk of serious complications, but healthy individuals may experience watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, dehydration, nausea, vomiting, fever and weight loss. It can be tested for in stool samples, with symptoms being managed depending on severity.

VETERAN DONATES LIFE-SAVING KIDNEY TO FELLOW AIRMAN

Sparkman warned that patients who have recovered are still at risk of shedding the parasite and should avoid water activities for at least two weeks.

We want to make sure other people arent being exposed, she told the news outlet.Two Vietnam veterans who reunited nearly 50 years after they served in the Air Force together now share more than war stories.

Doug Coffman donated a kidney to Jim McGee on Tuesday, just three months after they reunited since last seeing each other in 1971 at training in California, FOX5DC reported. The two U.S. airmen were catching up at a memorial service for a fellow Vietnam veteran when Coffman learned McGee needed a new kidney.

We have not seen each other face-to-face until we met in Monterey [California] about three months ago, which was an excellent time," McGee told FOX5DC. "Doug, at that point, volunteered a kidney, and to me, it's the gift of life."

4 LITTLE GIRLS WHO BEAT CANCER REUNITE AT HOSPITAL FOR TOUCHING PHOTO

McGee  a retired foreign service officer from Florida and former U.S. ambassador to Zimbabwe and Madagascar  underwent dialysis three times per week while waiting for a new kidney. He added that he couldve waited another three to five years if he didnt reconnect with Coffman.

"Our blood and tissue type match is good," Coffman said. "And to me, it just is living proof that we're all part of one human family. The chances of our match  I don't know what the odds were, but we beat them."

Coffman and McGee were admitted MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C., and underwent the operation on Tuesday. The surgeon said Coffman, 70, had kidneys like a 35-year-old.

GEORGIA BOY, 4, BEING TREATED FOR RABIES AFTER MOM SHOOTS RACCOON DEAD IN PORCH ATTACK

McGee told FOX5DC that hes grateful for the kidney transplant.

"It means that I can continue the things that I'm so passionate about trying to move ahead," McGee said, about the operation. "One of the things that I'm most passionate about right now is making certain that everyone understands that there's a national crisis  100,000 people are waiting for kidney transplants, another 15,000 for liver transplants.

It's people like Doug who stepped forward and make the difference. That's the real story here today, he said.NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

President Trump has ordered that numerous documents involving the Russia investigation be declassified. The records have long been sought by Congress under lawful subpoenas. Yet, the FBI and Department of Justice have consistently obstructed the release of these materials under the guise of classified secrets. This is a convenient alibi all too frequently employed to cover-up wrongdoing and abuse of authority by those we entrust to uphold the law.

These days, overzealous government officials automatically designate nearly all matters as national security risks, regardless of whether they truly are.

Whenever the FBI orders Chinese take-out, it is labeled top secret because you know it involves the Chinese. False classification has reached absurd proportions.

How do we know? Every time information is declassified we learn that the material should never have been classified to begin with. It was nothing more than a subterfuge. Here are two recent examples:

In July, a substantial portion of the wiretap warrant applications presented to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court was declassified. It turns out that no vital sources or methods were revealed in a way that jeopardized either national security or the FBIs secret investigative techniques. Instead, we learned that much of the application to spy on a Trump campaign associate, Carter Page, was based on an unverified dossier that was funded by Hillary Clintons campaign and composed by a British spy, Christopher Steele, who was fired by the FBI for lying.

This critical information was never fully or candidly disclosed to the FISA judges. They were deceived and defrauded. Regulations clearly state, only documented and verified information may be used to support FBI applications to the (FISA) court.

In February, the Republican version of the House Intelligence Committees memo on the Russian investigation was also declassified. Once it was made public, we discovered that there was nothing therein that justified its suppression at the highest level of classification, top secret. Indeed, it should never have been classified at all.

The FBIs real objection was that it contained material omissions that made the bureau look bad. That is not a legitimate reason for originating or maintaining classification status, as noted by Washington Post columnist and Fox News contributor Marc A. Thiessen in a recent column . In fact, it is in direct violation of Executive Order 13526 that was signed by President Obama in 2009. Hiding lawlessness or embarrassment by government officials under the contrived protection of a classified designation is against the law.

If the FBI, DOJ and others in the alphabet soup of government agencies had their way, none of their activities would ever be subject to scrutiny even by members of Congress who have constitutional oversight responsibility. Americans would be kept in the dark about how unelected officials are wielding their immense power in ways that are not always fair and judicious. Sometimes, they are corrupt.

A sane, decent and civilized democracy must never operate completely in the furtive shadows of concealment by its own government. The Constitution gives Congress the implied powers to hold executive branch officials accountable for their actions by lifting the veil of secrecy. This is the only way to prevent malfeasance and deceit.

The Trump-Russian investigation is a case study in how personal and political bias motivated top officials at the FBI and Justice Department to misuse their authority to target Trump and to spy on his campaign in defiance of the rule of law.

As I explain in my book, The Russia Hoax, James Comeys FBI violated department guidelines in launching its investigation in July 2016. There was never an articulable factual basis for the investigation, as regulations demand. There was no probable cause, no credible evidence of crimes, and no plausible intelligence to justify a counterintelligence probe. Facts were invented or exaggerated based almost entirely on a fabricated dossier.

Nine months later, the FBI still had no evidence of collusion between Trump and Russia, according to a transcript of FBI lawyer Lisa Pages recent closed-door deposition before Congress. This is corroborated by text messages she exchanged with her paramour, Peter Strzok, who served as the FBIs lead investigator. Nevertheless, Robert Mueller was named special counsel despite a dearth of evidence.

Under federal regulations governing his appointment, evidence of a suspected crime is a necessary predicate. It never happened. Instead, Mueller was granted broad authority to investigate matters that are not necessarily criminal at all. A special counsel is not authorized to search for a crime; there must be evidence of a crime first. This did not exist, rendering Muellers appointment illegitimate and invalid. The authorization order itself was defective inasmuch as it did not set forth the required specific factual statement of a defined crime.

Despite their own admission that collusion was an unproven fiction, Strzok and Page traded text messages bragging about their media leak strategy with the DOJ designed to plant stories with reporters to damage Trump.

They even congratulated themselves on their success: The article is out! Well done, Page.

Leaking classified information to the media is a crime. This is some of the most incriminating evidence yet that Obamas Justice Department and Comeys FBI were engaged in a deliberate scheme to use their government positions for illicit and illegal purposes to frame Trump.

All of this seems to be lost on Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., the ranking minority member of the House Intelligence Committee, who has repeatedly championed the collusion canard. Schiff claims that the current FBI Director, Robert Wray, and Deputy Attorney General, Rod Rosenstein, have proclaimed that the presidents declassification order crossed a red line.

While Schiff is notorious for hyperbole, his assertion of a red line is rather stunning. Does it mean Rosenstein and Wray will defy the presidents direct order and continue to obstruct lawful subpoenas issued by congress? If so, they should be fired for rank insubordination.

In the alternative, they may endeavor to delay or slow roll the release of documents hoping that the political winds may shift or that control of Congress itself will change hands in the upcoming election.

Rosenstein has every reason to suppress the records. They may incriminate him. He affixed his signature to the final renewal of the FISA warrant application to continue spying on Carter Page. He vouched for the authenticity and veracity of the information contained therein. But if it was largely based on a dossier that was unverified and uncorroborated, Rosenstein may have been complicit in misusing his position of power in pursuit of a president who was wrongfully targeted by the FBI and DOJ.

Either way, the future does not bode well for Rod Rosenstein. He appointed a special counsel without proper authority.

He then refused to recuse himself as a key witness in the very case he oversees.

All along the way, he has been obstructing Congress by withholding records they are entitled to have.

He surely knows what the declassified documents portend for himself.NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

It is clear that Democrats in the Senate are prepared to do whatever it takes to block Judge Brett Kavanaugh from becoming an associate justice on the Supreme Court.

Now the Democrats are trying a new the 11th hour ploy to derail Kavanaughs nomination. They called Tuesday for an FBI investigation of allegations by California college professor Christine Blasey Ford that Kavanaugh tried unsuccessfully to rape her when they were both in high school about 36 years ago. The Democrats also want multiple witnesses to appear before a scheduled Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Fords charges on Monday.

On Tuesday evening it was revealed that Christine Ford said she would not testify in front of Congress unless the FBI investigates her claims against Kavanaugh. Also on Tuesday evening, a U.S. official told Fox News' Tucker Carlson that the FBI will not investigate Kavanaugh because it would not be a federal crime. That source said the FBI would only investigate if the White House asks for it.

AS MIDTERM ELECTIONS APPROACH, REPUBLICANS MUST DO THIS

The allegations by Ford did not become public until after the conclusion of Kavanaughs confirmation hearing. They also came after hundreds of testimonials affirming the integrity and good character of the nominee and after the committee has reviewed Kavanaughs 300-plus opinions as a judge and hundreds of thousands of pages of other records about him.

Ford is a professor and research psychologist at Palo Alto University and the Stanford University PsyD Consortium, a clinical psychology program where she teaches statistics, research methods and psychometrics.

The professor is also a registered Democrat. She has contributed to left-wing organizations and has taken part in protests against President Trump.

Interestingly, Fords parents faced foreclosure proceedings on their home some years ago, and Brett Kavanaughs mother  Judge Martha Kavanaugh  was involved in court proceedings on the case. This has raised questions about whether actions by the Supreme Court nominees mother have played any role in Fords motivations.

Democrats on the Judiciary Committee, who oppose adding another conservative justice to the Supreme Court, all said they will vote against Kavanaugh, even before Fords allegations became public. So their votes will not change no matter what conclusions they draw about Fords accusations against the judge.

However, if Kavanaugh loses the support of just two Republican senators in the wake of Fords allegations becoming public, he could not be confirmed to the Supreme Court without picking up Democratic support  and getting such support is looking increasingly unlikely.

If the new hearing on Kavanaughs nomination is held on Monday, it could play a decisive role in determining whether President Trumps pick will be allowed to serve on the Supreme Court.

In a letter to Sen. Diane Feinstein, D-Calif.  sent in July  Ford maintains that at a party at a house in a Maryland suburb of Washington a drunken teenage Brett Kavanaugh lay on top of her and tried but failed to take her clothes off. She says that Kavanaugh was laughing, along with his friend Mark Judge, who eventually piled on top of the two young people and caused them to tumble off a bed onto the floor.

In the confusion, as the two boys roughhoused, Ford says she managed to escape, headed downstairs and then home.

Her lawyer says Ford was sure Kavanaugh meant to rape her. Ford says in her letter: With Kavanaugh's hand over my mouth I feared he may inadvertently kill me.

These charges of sexual assault against Kavanaugh must be taken seriously. However, as far as what is known publicly right now, this is a he said-she said situation where Ford and Kavanaugh are telling diametrically different stories.

Kavanaugh has emphatically and strenuously denied the allegations, even claiming that he did not attend the party in question.

I have never done anything like what the accuser describes  to her or to anyone, Kavanaugh said in a statement Monday. Because this never happened, I had no idea who was making this accusation until she identified herself yesterday.

Kavanaughs friend Mark Judge also disputes the accusations.

There are some holes in Fords story. She cannot remember the exact year the alleged episode took place, where precisely it happened, who owned the house or how she got there. She remembers other aspects of the evening, though, in great detail, including that she only drank one beer.

Ford never mentioned the incident until 2012, when she latched onto the memory in the course of couples therapy.

Unless some witness emerges who places Kavanaugh at the scene  or some source can show that Ford has made the story up entirely  the Senate Judiciary Committee and the public will decide who they believe.

Unfortunately, in in the wake of the #MeToo movement, with the pendulum having swung too far, women are most often given the benefit of the doubt and men are sometimes denied a presumption of innocence.

Even more unfortunately, many people have probably already made up their minds.

Republicans see this last-minute challenge as a desperate Democratic attempt to keep another conservative justice from serving on the Supreme Court, eager to deny that elections have consequences, as President Obama once said.

Supporters of Kavanaugh sense that the accusations are entirely out of character; everything we have heard about him suggests he is an upstanding moral person who has treated women with respect.

Many Democrats will assume that Kavanaugh  already suspected of wanting to undermine womens rights  is guilty, regardless of what he says in his own defense.

To be sure, the manner in which the allegations were delivered is unsavory and has overtones of political hit job. Feinstein sat on Fords letter for weeks, either because she did not consider the charges credible or because she knew that revealing the accusations just days prior to a committee vote would wreak the greatest damage on Kavanaughs candidacy.

After all, that approach almost allowed Anita Hill to derail the confirmation of Justice Clarence Thomas 27 years ago.

Feinstein did not bother to ask Kavanaugh about Fords story, nor did she tell her colleagues on the Judiciary Committee about Fords charges. Even as she interviewed the judge in her office, she hid the potential bombshell, rather than allow him to defend himself. Was she interested in discovering the truth or engaging in political dirty tricks?

We know the answer.

After Ford went public, Grassley arranged for a call between Judiciary Committee members and Kavanaugh to ask him about the accusations. Republicans participated on the call; the Democrats didnt bother. That says it all.

Democrats will portray Ford as a victim, reluctant but ultimately willing to sacrifice her privacy for the good of the country.

If Republican senators get to question Ford they will walk on eggshells, careful to be respectful of Ford while at the same time challenging her recollection and her motives.

Republicans should ask Fords opinion on whether false memories can be created during therapy, a subject that is a hot topic in psychology circles.

Some experts claim the revelations of past abuse or trauma recovered during therapy sessions are unreliable. It would be reasonable to press Ford on this topic.

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This is a difficult dance, but in case Republican senators fail, it will be not nearly as difficult as explaining to their supporters months from now why Kavanaugh is not seated on the Supreme Court.

Make no mistake, putting conservatives on the Supreme Court was one of the principle reasons that millions of Americans voted for President Trump. With the midterm elections approaching in November, failure is not an option.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE FROM LIZ PEEKNEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

The more we learn about the allegations from Christine Blasey Ford, the woman accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault, the more apparent it becomes that she likely wasnt ever comfortable coming forward publicly.

Rather, all evidence seems to point to her being a victim of the strong arm of the Democratic Partys political machine. Theyre very likely putting the pressure on and promising her the sun, moon and the stars, in exchange for using her as a political prop in a last ditch effort to sink Kavanaughs nomination, and provide momentum into the midterm elections.

If women really want to be treated equally then they need to stop asking for special treatment. Sexual assault allegations affect everyone involved, including the accused, which people often forget in this day and age where men accused of misconduct are often presumed guilty until proven innocent.

The men involved are often someones husband, father and son. Women have a responsibility to be sure theyre accusing the right man before they set out to shred a mans reputation and ruin his career with allegations filled with holes and fuzzy on details.

Lets recap the chain of events. Ford initially wanted to remain anonymous, according to Sen. Diane Feinstein, D-Calif. Feinstein received a letter written by Ford alleging sexual misconduct by Kavanaugh in July and was reluctant to share it with anyone, including fellow senators who were meeting with Kavanaugh, until the 11th hour.

Was it a last minute power play to drop a political bombshell, or did she sit on it for so long because even she didnt think the allegations were credible? Just yesterday she said she didnt know if everything in the letter was true. Perhaps she just showed her hand. You be the judge.

After the letter leaked publicly Ford came forward this weekend in a Washington Post article outlining her allegations from more than three decades ago. This came less than a week before the Senate Judiciary Committee was scheduled to vote on Kavanaughs nomination.

Ford certainly isnt behaving like someone who wants to be heard, and shes not behaving like a woman who is sure of anything. Shes behaving like someone whos feeling the unrelenting pressure of the Democrats. As if shes just the latest act in their circus.

The next morning Fords lawyer made the TV rounds and emphatically announced that Ford wanted to be heard and was ready to testify. However, after Republicans agreed that it was a good idea to hear from both her and Kavanaugh before moving to a vote, her lawyer released a statement yesterday saying Ford wanted the FBI to investigate before she testified.

Ford certainly isnt behaving like someone who wants to be heard, and shes not behaving like a woman who is sure of anything. Shes behaving like someone whos feeling the unrelenting pressure of the Democrats. As if shes just the latest act in their circus.

Kavanaugh suggested the other day this was a case of mistaken identity. If thats the case, shame on the Democrats and Feinstein, the supposed feminist, for pouncing on this opportunity and taking advantage of her.

Fords account of the alleged incident leaves a lot of unanswered questions, because theres much she doesnt remember. She has no recollection of either the time or exact location where the incident allegedly took place.

Kavanaugh has vehemently and unequivocally denied the allegations and said he is more than willing to testify publicly before the Senate Judiciary Committee and answer any questions. Two of the men named in Fords letter as being aware of the alleged incident have also come out and said what Ford is alleging never happened.

Countless women have emerged recently and attested to Kavanaughs character. These women span the course of Kavanaughs life, and have known him both personally and politically.

We always need to take charges of sexual assault seriously, but we need to be 100 percent sure those allegations are directed at the correct person. We cant convict good men based on poor memories and no evidence. They have families  and in Kavanaughs case, two young daughters.

Just because a woman said so does not make it so.

The Senate has given Ford the opportunity to testify and be heard on Monday. If she doesnt want to do so, Sen. Grassley and the Republicans need to shut what is effectively a smear campaign down and vote on Kavanaughs nomination. Theyre not running a circus, theyre running a democracy  at least thats what were told.

Senators Collins, R-Maine, and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, need to send a strong message on behalf of all women and vehemently condemn Feinstein and the Democrats' tactics. There is nothing courageous about women who throw out sexual misconduct allegations without evidence or facts to back them up.

It is deeply irresponsible. It doesnt just potentially ruin a decent man, it undermines credible sexual assault allegations from women.NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

Officials in states hit by Hurricane Florence are on the lookout for price gouging.

People who engage in excessive pricing face up to 30 days jail time, said North Carolinas attorney general. South Carolina passed a "Price Gouging During Emergency" law that imposes a $1,000 fine per violation.

Gouging is an issue during every disaster because when supplies are short, some merchants raise prices.

These are bad people, said Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi angrily during a previous storm.

Bad people?

I thought Republicans were the party that believed the market determines prices.

Gougers deserve a medal, Nobel Prize-winning economist Milton Friedman once told me. Thats because higher prices are the best indicator of which goods people want most.

This is a hard concept for people to understand.

They're not heroes. They're scabs who prey off the desperate, wrote James Kirkpatrick in the comments after watching my latest video about this. Only Stossel would praise greed, added Paul Nadrotowski.

I dont praise greed. Pursuing profit is simply the best mechanism for bringing people supplies we need. Without rising prices indicating which materials are most sought-after, suppliers dont know whether to rush in food, or bandages, or chainsaws.

After Hurricane Katrina, one so-called gouger was John Shepperson of Kentucky. Watching news reports, he learned that people desperately needed generators.

So Shepperson bought 19 of them, rented a U-Haul, and drove it 600 miles to a part of Mississippi that had no electricity. He offered to sell his generators for twice what he paid for them. People were eager to buy.

But Mississippi police said that was illegal. They confiscated Sheppersons generators and locked him up.

Did the public benefit? No. The generators sat in police storage (I suspect some cops took them home to use while Shepperson sat in jail).

Who will bring supplies to a disaster area if its illegal to make extra profit? Its risky to invest in 19 generators, leave home, rent a U-Haul and drive 600 miles.

Being moral is loading up supplies and donating them to people in need, a person named Meirstein wrote on my YouTube page.

Yes, but in real life, not enough people do that to satisfy the needs of thousands of desperate people.

You can make a law against someone like Shepperson making extra profit, but you cant force apathetic people to bring in supplies.

Prices are not just money. They are information.

They are what signal entrepreneurs to go into a given business. Rising prices are the clearest indicator of what most customers want.

Without extra profit, suppliers tend to stay home. Thats easier and safer.

If prices dont shoot up during disasters, consumers hoard. We rush to gas stations to top off our tanks. Stores run out of batteries because early customers stock up. Late arrivals may get nothing.

America should have learned that when Richard Nixon imposed price controls on gasoline. That gave us gasoline shortages and long gas lines. But politicians dont learn.

Fortunately, kids who learn about free markets via the Stossel in the Classroom charity know better.

We ran a contest inviting students to write an essay or make a video about price gouging.

Some pointed out that price controls make it hard for people everywhere to get the goods they need.

In modern day, you see countries like Venezuela suffer from the fact that their governments place price controls on all items, said 17-year-old Annelise Kofod of Raleigh, North Carolina. She won the high school video award.

After researching prices and disasters, Maggie Hroncich of Grove City, Pennsylvania, winner of the high school essay contest, said, actually, the price gougers are the moral ones.

I wont make claims about their morality. But I do know that allowing prices to rise, even sharply, is the best way to help desperate people get supplies they need.

As supplies rush in, prices quickly return to normal. We shouldnt call it gouging. Its just supply and demand.

The best thing price police can do in a disaster is stay out of the way.NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

Like many Americans, watching the unfolding drama resulting from the shifts in U.S. immigration policy  families torn apart at our borders, parents deported back to dangerous areas without their children, toddlers crying for their mothers from detention facilities  was a profound experience, whatever your policy perspective, of witnessing lives disrupted, dreams abandoned and families divided.

As president of the Lasker Foundation, an organization devoted to advancing medical research excellence since 1945, I was curious as to what impact immigrants have had on biomedical science. How has medicine been impacted by the historic waves of migration to Americas shores?

I discovered that more than 60 winners of the Lasker Award for basic science or clinical research were immigrants, including the co-recipient of the 2018 Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award, Michael Grunstein, a Romanian-born child of Holocaust survivors. These scientists  leaving their homelands to search for a better life  made profound contributions to research, enriched our understanding of medicine and brought the promise of a healthier world.

Many of these Lasker Laureates came to the U.S. as children:

Philip Levine was 8 years old when his family escaped Tsarist Russia to come to America. Levine was the first to posit that Rh antibodies made by a pregnant mother were the cause of a fatal anemia of the newborn, an advance recognized with a Lasker in 1946.

Mario Capecchi was a 4-year-old living in Italy when his U.S.-born mother was arrested by the Nazis. After years of surviving alone on the streets, Capecchi was found again by his mother, who brought him to America. He won the Lasker in 2001 and the Nobel in 2007 for his breakthrough creation of genetically-modified knock-out mice, which today serve as models for many human diseases.

Eric Kandel was 9 when he and his brother traveled alone from Austria to New York to escape the Nazis. Today in his office hangs a copy of the ships manifest documenting his journey to America, alongside photos of him receiving the 1983 Lasker and the 2000 Nobel for his studies of memory.

We can only imagine the loss to the world had these immigrant scientists been returned to their countries of origin instead of finding hope, purpose and opportunity in America.

As President Lyndon Johnson pointed out, America was built by a nation of strangers. From a hundred different places or more they have poured forth into an empty land, joining and blending in one mighty and irresistible tide. The land flourished because it was fed from so many sources  because it was nourished by so many cultures and traditions and peoples.

With its culture of entrepreneurism, innovation and creativity, America has long been a beacon of opportunity for science. In fact, some of our Lasker Laureates came to the US because the best scientific training could be obtained in our universities.

Choh Hao Li emigrated from China for postgraduate studies at Berkeley. He went on to receive the 1962 Lasker for isolating several pituitary hormones, including those that control the adrenal gland.

Gunter Blobel journeyed to America for research training after receiving his medical degree in Germany. Blobel won the 1993 Lasker and the 1999 Nobel, for elucidating how proteins in each cell have a virtual ZIP code that guides them to exactly where they need to be.

Emil Unanue came to America to do post-doctoral research after receiving his PhD at the University of Havana. He won the 1995 Lasker for his explorations of how T cells work, providing insights critical to vaccine development and our understanding of autoimmune diseases.

Others came because of job opportunities that allowed them to make the best use of their passion and expertise:

Miguel Ondetti was educated in Argentina and started his chemistry career at a branch of the Squibb laboratories in Buenos Aires. Company leaders were so impressed with his work that they recruited him to the Squibb Research Institute in New Jersey. There, he developed Captopril, which has helped cardiac patients around the globe and was honored with the Lasker in 1999.

Rachel Schneerson, born in Poland and educated in Israel before being recruited to a position in the US, won a Lasker in 1996 for developing the H. flu vaccine that has prevented disabilities and deaths among children around the world from this devastating bacterial disease.

The list goes on. Their paths to our country were diverse, but all made deep and lasting contributions.

Because Americas doors were open these many decades  and with that, because there was opportunity for scientific excellence and innovation to thrive  we have a better understanding of the human brain, a deeper grasp of the workings of the immune system, and treatment advances ranging from vaccines to antibiotics to cardiac drugs that have saved millions of lives.

Open doors create the opportunity for sometimes unforeseen medical-science brilliance to flourish, and when that happens, we all benefit.NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

In his new book "Fear," Bob Woodward recounts that in April 2017, after President Trump saw images of dead Syrian children with their mouths foaming from a sarin attack, he called Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and issued an order: Get me a plan for a military strike to take out Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

"Let's f -- ing kill him!" Trump told Mattis, according to the book. "Let's go in. Let's kill the f -- ing lot of them." Mattis, Woodward writes, assured the president that "he would get right on it." But as soon as Mattis hung up the phone, he told a senior aide: "We're not going to do any of that." Instead, Woodward says, the defense secretary gave Trump options for more-limited strikes.

Today, as Assad menaces 3 million civilians in the last rebel stronghold, the Idlib province, it's clear that Trump's instinct was right. We should have taken out the Syrian dictator last year.

When Trump was elected in 2016, many worried that he would usher in a new age of American isolationism and withdrawal. That hasn't happened. Trump has pursued a foreign policy that is not only not isolationist but also a significant improvement over his predecessor's.

In Syria, while Trump did not eliminate Assad, he did enforce President Barack Obama's red line against the use of chemical weapons, punishing violations not once but twice -- and restoring America's credibility on the world stage. Last week, Trump launched the U.S.-led coalition's assault on the Islamic State's last stronghold on the Syrian-Iraqi border, which will eliminate its physical caliphate. And unlike Obama, Trump is not taking America's boot off the terrorists' necks. The Post reports that the president has approved a new strategy that "indefinitely extends the military effort" in Syria until a government acceptable to all Syrians is established and all Iranian military and proxy forces are driven out. Conservative columnist Patrick Buchanan, a die-hard isolationist, recently asked: "Is Trump Going Neocon in Syria?"

In Israel, Trump moved the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, which he recognized as the country's capital -- something three of his predecessors promised, but failed, to do. He also withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal and refocused U.S. efforts in the Middle East on shoring up relations with allies such as Israel and Saudi Arabia instead of courting Iran.

In Afghanistan, after a careful deliberative process in which Trump (correctly) pressed his generals for answers to tough questions, the president reversed his campaign position favoring a troop pull-out and sent additional forces, with no timetable for withdrawal.

In Turkey, Trump is taking a hard line with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's regime, imposing tariffs as the Turkish lira has gone into free fall. Trump's move was intended to punish Erdogan for his continued detention of an American pastor, Andrew Brunson, and followed his threats against U.S. forces in Syria and his plans to buy an S-400 advanced air-defense system from Moscow.

Trump has also taken a surprisingly tough line with Russia. He approved a massive arms and aid package for Ukraine, expelled 60 Russian diplomats and authorized new sanctions against Moscow at least four times for: (1) interfering in U.S. elections, (2) violating the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, (3) launching a chemical-weapon attack against a Russian national in Britain and (4) violating North Korea sanctions. And the Trump administration recently warned Russia that it would face "total economic isolation" if Moscow backed the Assad regime's assault in Idlib. Trump's policies more than make up for his disastrous Helsinki news conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin in July.

On North Korea, Trump issued credible threats of military action, which brought Kim Jong Un to the negotiating table. The chances of successful denuclearization are slim, but every other approach by Trump's predecessors has failed. And there is reason for hope that Trump will not sign a bad deal, because he set a very high bar for a good deal when he withdrew from Obama's nuclear agreement with Iran.

The list of good foreign-policy moves goes on. Trump has taken a strong stand against the narco-dictatorship in Venezuela, and his administration even considered supporting coup plotters seeking to remove the Maduro regime. He strengthened NATO by getting allies to kick in billions more toward the alliance's collective security. He declared war on the International Criminal Court, which purports to have jurisdiction over U.S. soldiers and citizens even though America is not a signatory to the treaty creating the ICC.

Liberals might not like any of these developments, but long-standing policy goals of conservative internationalists are being achieved. There may be chaos in the Trump White House, but so far at least the chaos is producing pretty good results.NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

Those who believe the elite left-wing blue wave theory for the 2018 elections should look at what happened in Texas on Tuesday

In a special election runoff, Republican Pete Flores successfully flipped Texas State Senate District 19, which borders Mexico and had been in Democratic control for 139 years. Flores, a political newcomer competing against a seasoned former Democratic congressman, won in a district that is 73 percent Hispanic and African American  despite virtually all political analysts expectations. I am studying this election for a future op-ed, but I have been told by many Texas Republicans that Flores was able to win because he ran a big choice campaign.

Republicans everywhere should also study this Texas state special election and make the 2018 midterms a big choice election for all American voters. And with only 48 days left until November 6, they must act now.

Candidates, consultants, campaign managers  Republicans at every level  must break out of the small-ball, district-by-district campaign model and create a national message that defines a set of big choices that contrast the Republican positions and those of the left. Otherwise, the Democrats are very likely to achieve the so-called blue wave the liberal media has been touting for months.

I outlined the need for this kind of campaign (and provided an in-depth look at how to implement it) in my recently released political strategy paper called The Republican Choice for 2018: Win or Lose, which I have shared with a number of Republicans around the country and have made available for Kindle on Amazon.

Big choice elections focus on big differences and describing magnets of a better future to attract the voter, while they simultaneously hammer home wedge issues to drive the opposition away from the voter.

The paper is broken into four parts, but Id like to focus on the first, critical concept that I think can help Republicans design and execute the kind of campaign we need to win in 2018  and again in 2020.

Starting right now, Republicans need to develop a set of core big issues that create a clear vision for a better future for Americans  in completely personal terms, not platitudes. These issues (and the Republican position on them) must be broadly appealing to the vast majority of Americans.

In the paper, I discuss a set of issues that Republicans could include in this big choice election narrative  such as favoring work over welfare, paychecks over food stamps, safe and orderly immigration over dangerous borderless chaos, personal health versus bureaucratic health, and others  but I will expand on those in a future piece. In the meantime, Republicans should think critically  and listen closely to their constituents  to develop and communicate a robust set of big choices to voters over the next few weeks.

Its critical that each of these big choices is popular. When we developed the Contract with America in 1994 we polled every policy position to be included. Every pledge in the Contract had 70 percent support from Americans  some had 80 percent support. Issues that didnt have wide appeal, didnt make it into the Contract. It was that simple.

Despite constant left-wing attacks and media bias, if Republicans put together a set of highly-supported, issues and policies, and contrast them vividly with the unpopular liberal Democratic positions, the American people will support Republicans.

Contrasting the Republicans better future with the Democrats destructive future will make it easier to communicate the rest of the big choice campaign.

However, it is not enough to attract support for our issues. We also must clearly express how the Democratic alternatives to our positions are personally bad for Americans. This will drive powerful wedges between the Democrats and the American people. As I explain in the paper:

Big choice campaigns invariably describe a better future, a future worth voting and fighting for, in personal terms. (You will be better off. Your family will be better off. Your community will be better off.) At the same time, the emerging majority describes the threat that the other side presents to potentially make life worse, in similarly personal terms. These arent campaigns about abstract philosophy or ideology. These are campaigns about two different ways of life, with two different impacts, at personal levels. They work very hard at finding the right words and images and picking the right fights. Attacking Nancy Pelosi personally seems tactically clever, but tying her to outrageous and unacceptable policies is strategically far more powerful.

Small choice campaigns look for petty, personal weaknesses. Big choice elections focus on big differences and describing magnets of a better future to attract the voter, while they simultaneously hammer home wedge issues to drive the opposition away from the voter. Too many Republican consultants and candidates have no faith in the American people. They run small choice campaigns because they think that voters can only understand small things.

The great leaders have all had faith that the American people can understand a lot if it is framed in clear, direct language. This is the job of a big choice campaign.

Implementing this first key step of developing and contrasting the Republicans better future with the Democrats destructive future will make it easier to communicate the rest of the big choice campaign.

Not only will developing a suite of popular, big choice positions attract the support of the American people, but it will also help Republicans grow support within the party, build a governing coalition, and strengthen their ability to find and nurture future leaders within the GOP.

In doing so, it will be easier for Republicans to speak with the American people with one voice. This will have the added benefit of allowing us to be more effective in fighting against distortions from the elite media and assaults from the left.

If Republicans are going to win in 2018, they must not fall into the old campaign habits of personal attacks, niche issues, relying on special interests, or skirmishing district-by-district.

Furthermore, even though the Trump-Republican-led government has brought us an incredible economy, historically low unemployment, a slew of strong judicial appointments, and many other successes, we cannot take for granted that voters will be considering these things on Election Day.

If Republicans want to continue to lead  and continue making America great for all Americans  they must give the voters big choice in November. The clock is ticking.NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

Tucker Carlson: In Democrats feminist kangaroo court, Kavanaugh is a man -- and that makes him guilty

All of Washington is girding for next Monday, just days from now. That's when Palo Alto University Psychology Professor Christine Blasey Ford has been invited to testify on Capitol Hill about the assault that she says she suffered at the hands of Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh sometime around 1982.

Editors note: After this monologue aired, Christine Blasey Fords attorney told the Senate Judiciary Committee that her client wants a full investigation by the FBI before she will appear before the committee.

Now, both Republicans and Democrats say they want Ford to testify on the Hill although no one has explained exactly what the rest of us could possibly learn from that.

Ford says she has already recounted all that she can remember. The details at this point are thin including when and where that assault allegedly took place. Brett Kavanaugh, for his part, has denied that any of it ever happened. And so is his high school friend Mark Judge whom Ford claims was also there that night.

So that's where we are. That's the sum total of what we know. And it's still a matter of "She said. They said."

Without a lot more evidence it is hard to see anybody proving anything regardless of how many hearings are held. But that does not stop leading Democrats from reaching a firm conclusion in this case. How do they know for certain what happened 36 years ago?

Well because Brett Kavanaugh is a man, therefore, he is guilty. All men are guilty. It's the Y chromosome. Watch as Hawaii Senator, and noted geneticist, Hawaii Democratic Senator Mazie Hirono explains it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAZIE KEIKO HIRONO, JUNIOR UNITED STATES SENATOR, HAWAII: Not only do women, like Dr. Ford, who bravely comes forward, need to be heard, but they need to be believed.

Guess who's perpetuating all of these kinds of actions? It's the men in this country. And I just want to say to the men in this country, "Just shut up and step up. Do the right thing for a change."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARLSON: Did you catch that? It's not just Brett Kavanaugh who's guilty. It's "The men of this country." Every single one of them because they're men. Christine Ford, meanwhile, is telling the truth because she's a woman. She's female. You must believe her.

That's a command from the United States Senator. It's not optional. It's mandatory. So repeat after Mazie Hirono, men always lie, women never do. One sex is evil. The other is holy. That's the catechism of the Church of Late-Stage Feminism.

Does anyone actually believe this nonsense? Of course, not, because it's ridiculous. It's also divisive and crazy.

Virtue is not restricted to a single gender or for that matter to a single race. And for a time, it seemed like we had moved past ideas like those. They're corrosive. But now they're back, in force. They're the inevitable terminus of identity politics.

So because the left has already decided conclusively what happened in 1982, further evidence is irrelevant. As several (ph) Democrats explained today, there is nothing Brett Kavanaugh could do to prove his innocence.

Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, for example, was asked how exactly Kavanaugh might clear his name. The Senator's reply "That's kind of very hypothetical."

Very hypothetical? Well it's not very hypothetical to Brett Kavanaugh and his wife and their daughters.

Imagine you were accused of a sex crime and then informed by a lawmaker that there was really no way you could beat the charge. No matter what evidence you presented you could never be declared innocent except in some "very hypothetical way" how would you respond to that?

You probably wonder what country you were living in. Definitely, not America. These are the Democratic Party's new standards. And it goes without saying they are highly subjective. They're not applied to everyone.

It depends entirely on how useful you are.

Senator Ted Kennedy drove his Oldsmobile off a bridge with a young woman inside. He fled the scene and left her but he never summoned help. He didn't want the DUI arrest. The young woman, Kennedy abandoned, slowly asphyxiated over a period of hours.

Yet just 10 years after doing that Kennedy ran for president as a Democrat. He died a liberal hero. The Democratic Party needed Ted Kennedy so they excused virtually everything he did.

You're watching something similar unfold with the Deputy Chair of the Democratic National Committee, Keith Ellison. Last month, Ellison was credibly accused of physically abusing an ex-girlfriend named Karen Monahan.

Apparently, Mazie Hirono never heard about it because nobody in the Democratic Party seems to believe Monahan despite the fact that she is a woman. As Monahan put it "I've been smeared, threatened, isolated from my own party," all for the sake of the allegations she made, for daring to speak in public.

Well we asked the DNC today about the Ellison case and they did not have much of a response. "We take allegations of sexual abuse seriously and we're working with the state party to review the allegations."

Right. We're confident it'll be a thorough investigation.

On the other hand, why would it be? Because let's be honest. None of us ought to be in the investigations business in the first place. Political parties, college administrators, cable news yappers, all of us, we're not people you want determining anybody's guilt or innocence. We're not qualified for that.

We've got a legal mechanism for doing that. It's not flawless. But for almost 250 years, our justice system has functioned pretty well, in fact, better than any other country in the world.

It's pretty straightforward. If you believe a crime has been committed against you, you report it. That would include theft, embezzlement, and yes, sexual assault. Go to the police. It's not always easy, obviously, but it's still your obligation as a citizen, not at least (ph) to protect the rest of us from whomever you believe did it.

The police investigate. A judge or jury renders a verdict. That's due process. It's the cornerstone of our system. It's one of the main reasons people move to this country from other places because it works. It's certainly more fair than trial by CNN or a summary judgment from self-appointed gender judge, Mazie Hirono.

So, let's not give up on it. It's one of the best things that we have.NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

The final word of the late Charles Krauthammer, the dean of conservative commentators, was announced by his son, Daniel, on Tuesday.

The Point of It All: A Lifetime of Great Loves and Endeavors is a collection of works by the longtime Fox News contributor Krauthammer, a Pulitzer Prize winner, Harvard-trained psychiatrist and best-selling author. He died in June at the age of 68.

His son said Krauthammer had trusted him to bring the book to completion on his behalf.

Daniel wrote in The Weekly Standard that the book, to be released in December, will ensure that his lifes work  his words, his ideas, his extraordinary contributions to the political life of our country  will continue to live on.

Daniel Krauthammer took on the task of editor as his fathers health declined, and he said he was grateful for the opportunity.

I know I am far from alone in believing that my fathers voice was a uniquely insightful and powerful one in our national discourse, he said. I truly believe that the world will be a better place the longer his voice, and its echoes, are heard and read.

The elder Krauthammer achieved mastery in such disparate fields as psychiatry, speechwriting, print journalism and television.

He won the Edwin Dunlop Prize for excellence in psychiatric research and clinical medicine. Journalism honors included the Pulitzer for commentary for his Washington Post columns in 1987, and the National Magazine Award for his work at The New Republic in 1984. His book Things That Matter: Three Decades of Passions, Pastimes and Politics, became a New York Times bestseller, remaining in the No. 1 slot for 10 weeks, and it held a spot on the celebrated list for nearly 40.

Krauthammer delivered his views in a mild-mannered, steady and sometimes philosophical style, consistent with his background in psychiatry and his detailed analysis of human behavior. Borrowing from that background, Krauthammer said in 1990, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, that the post-Cold War world had gone from bipolar to unipolar, with the United States as the sole superpower.

He also coined the term Reagan Doctrine, among others.

Last week, Fox News reported that Krauthammer would be memorialized through a scholarship awarded to the children of Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network employees.

Charles was a beloved member of the Fox News family, but more importantly, he was an incredible mentor and role model for millions of Americans across the country, Suzanne Scott, CEO of Fox News, said in a statement. We are proud to honor Charles, his legacy, impact and countless contributions with a new scholarship program enabling the next generation of thought leaders the opportunity and education they need to reach their dreams.

Fox News partnered with the National Merit Scholarship Program, which will accept applications through March 31, 2019; winners will be announced in spring 2020. The scholarship will award winners $2,000 per college year for a maximum of four years.

Fox News Elizabeth Llorente contributed to this report.NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

Senate Judiciary Committee ranking Democrat Dianne Feinstein on Tuesday blamed Republicans for failing to get in touch with Brett Kavanaugh accuser Christine Blasey Ford ahead of a planned hearing on Monday, even as GOP leaders said they've made repeated attempts to reach out, and accused Feinstein of refusing to help.

Feinstein, who has vouched for Ford's credibility, also admitted she could not verify that Ford's allegations were entirely true.

"I have no say, I'm the lead Democrat. ... I think it's really too bad that no one called her, or called her lawyer," Feinstein, D-Calif., told Fox News on Tuesday. "My understanding is she got emails. This is a woman who has been profoundly impacted by this. Now, I can't say everything's truthful. I don't know. But I do know that you've got to contact her lawyers." Ford's attorney, Debra Katz, did not respond to Fox News' requests for comment Tuesday.

Late Tuesday, Ford broke her silence and said the FBI should investigate her accusations before she testifies before the Senate, saying she felt some senators had already pre-judged her case. The development throws the entire hearing into doubt: Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley had threatened to nix the proceeding if Ford refused to participate.

"I can't say everything's truthful. I don't know."  Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.

In a letter to Grassley, Ford's attorneys demanded a "full investigation by law enforcement officials" which they say "will ensure that the crucial facts and witnesses in this matter are assessed in a non-partisan manner, and that the Committee is fully informed before conducting any hearing or making any decisions."

The letter continued: "We would welcome the opportunity to talk with you and Ranking Member Feinstein to discuss reasonable steps as to how Dr. Ford can cooperate while also taking care of her own health and security."

Democrats had called for an FBI investigation into Ford's claims, which Republicans characterized as a delaying tactic to push a vote on Kavanaugh's confirmation until after the midterm elections. Feinstein did not alert the FBI to the accusation against Kavanaugh when she learned of it in July, and instead waited until last Thursday to forward the information to federal officials.

The FBI then sent the information to the White House. Because the allegations do not involve any federal crime within the applicable statute of limitations, Fox News has learned that the bureau would require explicit instructions from the White House to conduct any additional probe.

Contrary to Feinstein's claim on Tuesday, Republicans had told Fox News they left both emails and voicemails with Ford's attorney and have offered to hold either a public or closed-door session with the California professor, who went public as Kavanaugh's accuser on Sunday after sending an anonymous letter to Feinstein's office in July detailing her accusation that Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her more than 35 years ago. A person close to Ford told The New York Times that the accuser is "effectively in hiding" and has arranged for private security for herself and her family.



For her part, speaking only hours before Ford suggested she wouldn't attend the hearing, Feinstein acknowledged Ford's participation would be critical.

"I hope that people will let her be, and I hope that her lawyers will let her come back and straighten this out," Feinstein said as she left her Senate office late Tuesday. She also told Fox News that, if Ford doesn't testify, "I can't tell you what impact" there would be on Kavanaugh's confirmation.

Republican leaders excoriated Feinstein on Monday for revealing the existence of Ford's letter only last Thursday, after a report describing it was published by The Intercept -- which Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., suggested was the result of a coordinated leak by Senate Democrats.

LAWYER FOR KAVANAUGH ACCUSER DOWNPLAYED SEX ASSAULT ACCUSATIONS AGAINST CLINTON, FRANKEN

"The Minority withheld even the anonymous allegations for six weeks, only to later decide that they were serious enough to investigate on the eve of the committee vote, after the vetting process had been completed," Grassley, R-Iowa, said in a statement Monday, which also noted that "Dr. Ford deserves to be heard."

Grassley also accused Feinstein of refusing to help set up follow-up calls involving Kavanaugh and Ford, which he called "standard procedure" when there are updates to a nominee's background file.

"I asked Senator Feinsteins office yesterday to join me in scheduling these follow-ups," Grassley wrote. "Thus far, they have refused. But as a necessary step in evaluating these claims, Ill continue working to set them up."



In a tweet Tuesday evening, Feinstein dismissed the suggestion that she had delayed revealing the accusation to derail Kavanaugh's nomination, and instead praised Ford for her bravery.

"During every step of this process, Ive found every single piece of information from Dr. Christine Blasey Ford eminently credible, sincere and believable," Feinstein wrote. "She knew this would have a huge effect on her life and she was incredibly brave to come forward."

WHO IS CHRISTINE BLASEY FORD, THE WOMAN ACCUSING KAVANAUGH OF SEXUAL ASSAULT?

The California senator reiterated her view that the FBI should probe the accusations, writing that the agency similarly "investigated Anita Hills allegations of sexual harassment against Clarence Thomas."

Feinstein's comments came as Mark Judge, a friend of Kavanaugh whom Ford accused of being in the room during the alleged sexual assault, told the Judiciary Committee he did not want to testify.

"I did not ask to be involved in this matter nor did anyone ask me to be involved," Judge wrote in a letter to Grassley. "The only reason I am involved is because Dr. Christine Blasey Ford remembers me as the other person in the room during the alleged assault."

Judge continued: "In fact, I have no memory of the alleged incident. Brett Kavanaugh and I were friends in high school but I do not recall the party described in Dr. Ford's letter. More to the point, I never saw Brett act in the manner Dr. Ford describes."

Judge could still be subpoenaed by congressional Republicans, but top Judiciary Committee members have signaled that won't happen.

FEINSTEIN FACES GOP HEAT FOR SITTING ON KAVANAUGH ALLEGATIONS

No reason to, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., told reporters. Hes already said what hes going to say. I want to hear from her, if she wants to speak, and I want to hear from [Kavanaugh]."

Graham dismissed a reporter's comparison to the widely televised Judiciary Committee hearings into alleged sexual harassment by Thomas in 1991, in which Anita Hill and other witnesses testified before his eventual confirmation to the Supreme Court. Thomas called the hearings a "circus" and a "high-tech lynching" of a black conservative.

Hill on Tuesday wrote an op-ed in The New York Times urging that the hearings into Ford's accusation not be rushed, and claiming the nominee to the nation's highest court "has the burden of persuasion."

"Youre talking about history," Graham said. "Were not looking back. Were looking forward.

Senate Democrats have called for Monday's hearing to be delayed pending a full FBI investigation.

Other prominent Republicans came to Kavanaugh's defense on Tuesday. In an interview with Politico, former President George W. Bush said, Laura and I have known and respected Brett Kavanaugh for decades, and we stand by our comments the night Judge Kavanaugh was nominated.

Kavanaugh worked in the Bush White House Counsel's office, and later married the president's personal secretary.

President Trump on Tuesday also continued his defense of the nominee.

"This is is not a man who deserves this," Trump said, noting that Ford's claims "should've been brought up long ago."

Adding that he felt "terribly" for Kavanaugh's "beautiful young daughters," Trump added that "hopefully the woman will come forward, state her case. ... before members of the U.S. Senate."

Ford alleged that Kavanaugh forced himself onto her and covered her mouth in the 1980s, when Kavanaugh was 17 and she was 15. Ford did not mention the incident to others by her own admission until 2012, according to The Washington Post, when her therapist recorded her claim that four individuals had committed the assault.

Ford has since claimed that the therapist incorrectly recorded that detail, and that she had said there were only two people in the room. Her husband has maintained that Ford mentioned Kavanaugh and Judge's name in the therapy sessions.

The allegations have upended Kavanaugh's confirmation process, delaying a planned Judiciary Committee vote on Thursday on whether to advance his nomination to the full Senate.

Some Republicans had voiced concern at the optics of having the all-male Republican contingent on the Judiciary Committee questioning Ford, prior to her suggestion that she would not attend the hearing Monday pending an FBI probe. Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins, a moderate, has suggested that Kavanaugh and Ford's attorneys initially question the witnesses.

Fox News' Adam Shaw and Jason Donner contributed to this report.NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

Former President George W. Bush is standing by his earlier support of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh amid the sexual assault allegations raised against him last week.

Politico reported on Tuesday that Bush said he and his wife, Laura, "have known and respected Brett Kavanaugh for decades.

We stand by our comments the night Judge Kavanaugh was nominated, the statement continued.

Kavanaugh served under Bush for five years as a White House counsel and staff secretary. In 2006, Bush appointed him to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

COLLINS WANTS KAVANGH AND ACCUSER TO BE CROSS-EXAMINED BY LAWYERS AT HEARING

After his nomination was announced in July, Bush voiced his support, for Kavanaugh, calling him a fine husband, father and friend  and a man of the highest character.

Just days before the Senate Judiciary Committee was set to vote on the Kavanaugh nomination, a woman named Christine Blasey Ford came forward with sexual assault allegations dating back to the 1980s.

She claims that an intoxicated Kavanaugh pinned her down during a party in Marlyand and attempted to remove her clothing. She said he covered her mouth with his hand as she attempted to scream. At the time of the alleged encounter, Ford was 15 and Kavanaugh was 17, she said.

He has issued full-throated denials of all the allegations.

A hearing in front of the committee is scheduled for Monday, but details remain tentative.NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

Christine Blasey Ford, the California professor claiming Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her more than 35 years ago, late Tuesday demanded a "full investigation" by the FBI before she attends any congressional hearing or "interrogation" into her accusations.

In response, Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, who said Ford is still invited to speak to the committee, countered that "nothing the FBI or any other investigator does would have any bearing on what Dr. Ford tells the committee, so there is no reason for any further delay.

Lisa Banks, one of Ford's lawyers, told CNN that her client "will talk to the committee," but she is not prepared for the hearing on Monday.

She said her client has been faced with threats and she has been figuring out how to protect her family.

"There should be no rush to a hearing," Banks said.

Other top Republicans, including Arizona Republican Sen. Jeff Flake, who had said they wanted to hear from Ford before voting on Kavanaugh's confirmation, have indicated they would move forward with a vote if Ford chose not to testify.

Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., tweeted late Tuesday that Republican leadership "took immediate action" to ensure Ford and Kavanaugh could be heard.

"If we dont hear from both sides on Monday, lets vote," he tweeted.

Republicans had repeatedly invited Ford and Kavanaugh to testify next week after delaying a planned Judiciary Committee vote that had been scheduled for Thursday. Kavanaugh accepted the committee's invitation, but Ford stayed mum until Tuesday night.

Ford's insistence on an FBI investigation, which a federal law enforcement official told Fox News was "totally inappropriate," throws the entire hearing into doubt: Grassley, R-Iowa, had threatened to nix the proceeding if Ford refused to participate.

It was also sure to add fuel to Republican claims that the allegations -- which were known to ranking Judiciary Committee Democrat Dianne Feinstein in July, but revealed to federal authorities just last Thursday -- are part of a concerted effort to stall Kavanaugh's nomination at the last minute.

"While Dr. Fords life was being turned upside down, you and your staff scheduled a public hearing for her to testify at the same table as Judge Kavanaugh in front of two dozen U.S. Senators on national television to relive this traumatic and harrowing incident," Ford's attorneys wrote to Grassley.

But Republicans on the Judiciary Committee directly disputed that claim Tuesday night, writing in a statement that Ford had been offered a chance to testify privately, and had never been told she would need to sit near Kavanaugh.

WATCH: FEINSTEIN ADMITS SHE CAN'T BE SURE ACCUSER IS BEING ENTIRELY 'TRUTHFUL'

In the letter, Ford's lawyers went on to assert that Ford's family "was forced to relocate out of their home" and that "her email has been hacked, and she has been impersonated online."

"The hearing was scheduled for six short days from today and would include interrogation by Senators who appear to have made up their minds that she is 'mistaken' and 'mixed up.' While no sexual assault survivor should be subjected to such an ordeal, Dr. Ford wants to cooperate with the Committee and with law enforcement officials."



The lawyers, Debra Katz and Banks, said historical precedent supported the delay, echoing comments by Feinstein, who on Tuesday wrote on Twitter that the FBI had also "investigated Anita Hills allegations of sexual harassment against Clarence Thomas," the Supreme Court justice.

However, Thomas was accused of sexually harassing Hill while both worked at federal agencies, in potential violation of federal law; Ford has accused Kavanaugh of sexual harassment that would fall well outside of any applicable federal or state statute of limitations because the alleged episode occured decades ago.

LAWYER DEBRA KATZ HAD DOWNPLAYED ALLEGATIONS OF SEX ASSAULT AGAINST CLINTON, FRANKEN

"Now, I can't say everything's truthful. I don't know."  Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.

"As the Judiciary Committee has recognized and done before, an FBI investigation of the incident should be the first step in addressing her allegations," the letter continued. "A full investigation by law enforcement officials will ensure that the crucial facts and witnesses in this matter are assessed in a non-partisan manner, and that the Committee is fully informed before conducting any hearing or making any decisions."

But a federal law enforcement official told Fox News, "It's totally inappropriate for someone to demand we use law enforcement resources to investigate a 35-year-old allegation when she won't go under oath and can't remember key details including when or where it happened."

Because Ford's allegations do not involve any federal crime within the applicable statute of limitations, Fox News has learned that the bureau would require explicit instructions from the White House to conduct any additional probe.



The document concluded: "We would welcome the opportunity to talk with you and Ranking Member Feinstein to discuss reasonable steps as to how Dr. Ford can cooperate while also taking care of her own health and security."

The Judiciary Committee statement Tuesday night condemned any threats against Ford, but maintained that her request for an FBI probe was unfounded.

"The FBI has indicated to the committee and in public statements that it considers the matter closed," Grassley and other top Republicans wrote. "The FBI does not make credibility determinations. The FBI provides information on a confidential basis in order for decision makers to determine an individuals suitability. The Senate has the information it needs to follow up with witnesses and gather and assess the relevant evidence."

The Republicans also disputed the suggestion in Ford's letter that the committee had not been accommodating: "Contrary to suggestions by Dr. Fords attorneys, the committee had no plans to place Dr. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh on a panel together, and never indicated plans to do so. Grassleys staff offered Dr. Ford multiple dates as well as a choice of providing information in a public or private setting."

Meanwhile, Feinstein and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer released statements backing Ford.

"I agree with her 100 percent that the rushed process to hold a hearing on Monday has been unfair and is reminiscent of the treatment of Anita Hill," Feinstein said. "I also agree that we need the facts before senatorsnot staff or lawyersspeak to witnesses.

"We should honor Dr. Blasey Fords wishes and delay this hearing," Feinstein continued. "A proper investigation must be completed, witnesses interviewed, evidence reviewed and all sides spoken to. Only then should the chairman set a hearing date."

FEINSTEIN FACES GOP HEAT FOR SITTING ON KAVANAUGH ALLEGATIONS FOR WEEKS

Feinstein had told Fox News earlier Tuesday that she could not be sure Ford was being entirely truthful.

"This is a woman who has been profoundly impacted by this," Feinstein said. "Now, I can't say everything's truthful. I don't know."

Eric Holder, the former attorney general, tweeted late Tuesday that the FBI should do a "routine, normal inquiry concerning new Kavanaugh allegations. This is basic background investigation procedure."

In a separate statement, Schumer said an FBI probe would be consistent with "precedent," adding, "Dr. Fords call for the FBI to investigate... demonstrates her confidence that when all the facts are examined by an impartial investigation, her account will be further corroborated and confirmed."

Earlier Tuesday, Judiciary Committee member Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., rejected a comparison to the Clarence Thomas episode.

"Youre talking about history," Graham said. "Were not looking back. Were looking forward.

The attorneys' letter was yet another curveball in Kavanaugh's ongoing nomination drama, which began last week after a leak to The Intercept revealed that Feinstein was in possession of a supposedly damning letter relevant to his confirmation. Republicans have charged that Senate Democrats orchestrated that leak, which then prompted Feinstein to discuss the letter and its then-anonymous accusations publicly and with the FBI.

Ford went public on Sunday, alleging that Kavanaugh forced himself onto her and covered her mouth in the 1980s, when Kavanaugh was 17 and she was 15. Ford did not mention the incident to others by her own admission until 2012, according to The Washington Post, when her therapist recorded her claim that four individuals had committed the assault.

Ford has since claimed that the therapist incorrectly transcribed that detail, and that she had said there were only two people in the room. Her husband has maintained that Ford mentioned Kavanaugh in the therapy sessions.

Ford also told The Post she could not remember in whose house the alleged incident occurred, the exact month of the episode, or why there was a gathering there.

Republicans on Tuesday also reiterated Grassley's criticism of Feinstein for not telling Republicans, even privately, about the claims against Kavanaugh during days of private and public hearings on the nominee.

"Ranking Member Feinstein first received a letter with allegations against Judge Brett Kavanaugh from Dr. Ford in July," the Republicans' statement read. "However, Feinstein neglected to notify Committee Republicans of the letter until the day of the first Committee markup, six weeks after receiving the letter and well after the vetting and hearing process had concluded."

The statement concluded by charging that Feinstein had not taken the matter "seriously."

"Feinstein referred the letter to the FBI, which added it to Kavanaughs background investigation file," it continued. "She should have treated these allegations seriously, as Grassley has done, in immediately acting upon hearing of them."

Earlier Tuesday, a key potential swing vote senator, Arizona Republican Jeff Flake, said he would move to push Kavanaugh's nomination forward if Ford refused to show up to the hearing planned for Monday. Graham, R-S.C., has also said that if Ford refused to testify, the committee would move forward with a vote within the week.

Fox News' Jake Gibson and Alex Pappas contributed to this report.NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

As Democratic socialists chalk up victories across the country during primary season, there are indications that the wave is having an impact on the Democratic Party at large.

Backed by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, a slew of liberal candidates have pulled off upsets in Democratic primaries across the country this year by embracing a Democratic socialist platform, with agenda items such as implementing Medicare-for-all, free college tuition, abolishing the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency and impeaching President Trump.

Among candidates embraced by the left wing of the party who have won primaries in major contests this year: New York Democratic congressional candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Maryland Democratic gubernatorial nominee Ben Jealous and Florida Democratic gubernatorial nominee Andrew Gillum.

The results have been a mixed bag, however, with a number of candidates falling flat. Most notably, Sex and the City actress and New York gubernatorial challenger Cynthia Nixon was soundly beaten by establishment Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo last week despite a high-profile campaign.

Cuomo mocked the idea of a left-wing wave in remarks Friday, saying that his brand of pragmatic progressivism was where the real revolution was.

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.

But there is no sign that left-wing push is slowing down and party elders are warning the party not to go too far to the left. Even the liberal former President Jimmy Carter is expressing concern that Democrats could alienate independents.

Independents need to know they can invest their vote in the Democratic Party, Carter said Tuesday during a speech at his post-presidential center and library in Atlanta.

Joe Lieberman, who was the Democratic Party's candidate for vice president in 2000, said in an interview with Fox News last month that Ocasio-Cortezs ideas will struggle to gain support across America.

"When I see somebody who really says she's a socialist -- she's a very captivating, charismatic candidate -- when you look at those policies, those policies will not be supported in many places across America," Lieberman said.

ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ SHUNS HOLLYWOOD ELITES IN WEST COAST TOUR

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has also expressed concerns about the left-wings push for the impeachment of Trump, calling it a gift to Republicans.

Pelosi told Politico in May that impeachment was popular in her district, but that she still didnt support it: Im not walking away from impeachment for political reasons and Im not walking toward it for political reasons. I just think its divisive and I think what we should do is always try to unify.

But there are signs that the groundswell of hard-leftism is having an effect on more mainstream, national candidates.

For instance, while Cuomo brushed off Nixons challenge, he had also dipped his toe into some left-wing positions such as abolishing ICE, at the same time as Nixon was calling it a terrorist organization.

Controversially, Cuomo took a left-wing turn in August and declared that America was never that great.

We have not reached greatness, we will reach greatness when every America is fully engaged, we will reach greatness when discrimination and stereotyping against women, 51 percent of our population, is gone, he said.

"I think this is just another example of Andrew Cuomo trying to figure out what a progressive sounds like and missing by a mile," Nixon told NY1.

Top 2020 Democratic prospects have also started endorsing some of those radical ideas. Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Kamala Harris, D-Calif., and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, have all expressed support for abolishing or overhauling ICE. President Barack Obama recently voiced his support for Medicare-for-all healthcare plans.

Polls are showing increasing support for socialism, once a dirty word in American political discourse. According to a Gallup poll released in August, more Democrats view socialism positively than they do capitalism.

Fifty-seven percent of Democrats polled by Gallup have a favorable view of socialism, while just 47 percent of Democrats in the poll have positive feelings about capitalism.

Republicans meanwhile, are licking their lips at the prospect of a hard-left turn by Democrats. President Trump, in an interview with Fox News Maria Bartiromo in July, predicted that if Democrats push to abolish ICE, they will get beaten in elections.

Well I hope they keep thinking about it. Because theyre going to get beaten so badly, he said.

Fox News Alex Pappas and Lukas Mikelionis contributed to this report.NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

California Gov. Jerry Brown ramped up his criticism of President Trump in an interview that aired Monday  calling the president a saboteur in the fight to combat climate change and saying that somethings got to happen to this guy.

Speaking to MSNBCs Andrea Mitchell at an environmental summit in San Francisco last week, Brown tore into Trump for the presidents controversial tweets about the death toll in Puerto Rico from last years Hurricane Maria and urged voters to vote for Democrats in Novembers midterm elections in an effort to thwart Trumps agenda.

We never had a president who was engaged in this kind of behavior, Brown said. I mean hes not telling the truth; he keeps changing his mind; hes sabotaging the world order in many respects.

Brown added: Its unprecedented, its dangerous, and hopefully this election is going to send a strong message to the country; the Democrats will winsomethings got to happen to this guy, because if we dont get rid of him, hes going to undermine America and even the world."

Under Brown, California has become one of the main opponents to the Trump administrations policies on everything from land use to immigration. But there is perhaps no area where California has been more combative against the White House agenda than the environment.

California has positioned itself as the center of the Trump resistance, Jessica Levinson, a clinical law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, told Fox News. Its bloody combat.

Earlier this month, Brown signed two pieces of legislation effectively banning the construction of any new offshore oil and gas pipelines in the states waters. The new laws are meant to thwart a Trump plan to open nearly 1.7 billion acres of coastal waters to drilling.

Shortly before the climate conference began last week, the governor also put his signature on legislation phasing out electricity in the state produced by fossil fuels by 2045.

Its really extraordinary that the president can deny science like that, Brown told MSNBC of Trumps questioning the veracity of climate change. Its bad, and how we counteract it is with a climate summit, with normal people respecting the truth, and communicating that with other normal people, and combating the President of the United States in what are lies, distortions, and quite frankly, bizarre behavior."

Browns criticism of Trump appears to have fallen on deaf ears at the White House, as the administration announced on Tuesday that it was rolling back an Obama-era rule meant to curb climate-changing pollution and easing restrictions on energy companies that allow huge volumes of natural gas to escape after drilling it from U.S. lands.

The move rescinds much of a 2016 rule adopted under President Barack Obama that forced energy companies to capture methane, a key contributor to climate change. The replacement rule from the Interior Department does not have the same mandates for companies to reduce gas pollution.

It comes a week after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed weakening a similar rule for emissions from public and private lands.

"We're for clean air and water, but at the same time, we're for reasonable regulations," Deputy Interior Secretary David Bernhardt told reporters.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

A new poll shows a Republican candidate in a highly contested swing district in California is leading by 10 points over her Democratic opponent -- who was endorsed by former President Barack Obama but whose candidacy was plagued by accusations of sexual misconduct.

Young Kim, a former representative in the California State Assembly, is leading Democrat Gil Cisneros among likely voters in Californias 39th Congressional District, according to a Monmouth University poll released Tuesday.

The support among the candidates is divided mostly along racial lines, with most Hispanic voters supporting Cisneros, who made his riches in lottery winnings, while Asian voters and non-Hispanic white voters are supporting Kim.

Both Kim and Cisneros arent well recognized by the voters, but the Republican enjoys a positive 32-11 favorability rating, while Cisneros is viewed unfavorably by 24 percent of surveyed voters and only 23 percent have a favorable view of him.

The district has been leaning toward the Republicans for years, electing Rep. Ed Royce by 14 points, though Hillary Clinton won the district by eight points in 2016.

The Democrats have targeted the seat in their red to blue program, providing organizational and financial support in a bid to flip the seat in the upcoming midterm elections.

The Cisneros campaign benefited from Obamas rare campaign visit in California  even though the former president didnt initially endorse Cisneros  where he stumped for him and other Democratic candidates who are running in Republican districts.

But despite the support, the Democrat is struggling to make strides in the polls, with some pointing to the accusations of sexual misconduct that were weaponized by Republicans.

OBAMA TO STUMP FOR CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATS -- INCLUDING ONE FACING SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ACCUSATIONS

A Republican group released an ad earlier this month that asserts Cisneros times up over the allegations of propositioning to a fellow Democrat and suggesting sex-for-donations to her campaign.

Gil Cisneros thinks the rules dont apply to him, said Courtney Alexander, communications director of the Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC that works to get Republicans elected to the House. Gil Cisneros has been accused of sexually harassing a fellow California Democrat, inviting himself to her hotel room and demanding sex in exchange for campaign funds. California voters deserve better than Gil Cisneros.

The ad stems from allegations raised by Democratic activist and documentary filmmaker Melissa Fazli, who ran an unsuccessful primary campaign for a state Assembly seat in California. She accused Cisneros of propositioning to her during the California Democratic Party Convention in San Diego in February.

Fazli accused Cisneros of seeming intoxicated during a conversation in an elevator about donations to her campaign, then asking her, Should we go back to your room?

Fazli claims she spoke with Cisneros over the phone again regarding the donations. Cisneros allegedly asked her, What are you going to do for me? in a suggestive manner.

Either he wants me to be his spy or he wants me to have sex with him. After the encounter at the elevator in San Diego, I thought he wanted to have sex with me in exchange for a $4,400 donation, Fazli said in a story posted on social media.

I know there will be skeptics and people who will publicly flog me for coming forward, but I thought it was necessary to let people know what kind of man is Gil Cisneros, an unethical creepy man who is using inappropriate and bullying tactics to intimate others in order win a seat in Congress, she added.

The Cisneros campaign, meanwhile, accused the woman of spreading false allegations against the candidate.

Fazli falsely claims she and Cisneros had an inappropriate encounter in an elevator around the 11pm hour at the San Diego Bayfront Hotel. She alleges Cisneros was intoxicated and propositioned her, the statement from the campaign reads.

The interaction between Cisneros and Fazli was witnessed by Thomas Rivera. Rivera confirms Cisneross account that he was neither intoxicated nor did he proposition Fazli, the statement added, though without acknowledging that Rivera is a campaign staffer for Cisneros.NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

Democratic Sen. Mazie Hirono blasted the men in this country, blaming them for sexual assault and urged them to just shut up and step up amid allegations of misconduct against President Trumps Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh.

At a press conference Tuesday evening, the Hawaii Democrat made the sweeping generalization against the men in the U.S. for perpetuating sexual assault.

I expect the men in this country and the men on this committee, because we all signed onto this letter, to demand an FBI investigation, Hirono said, referring to a request that the FBI investigate the claims made by Kavanaughs accuser, Christine Blasey Ford.

TRUMP SAYS 'WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION' ON KAVANAUGH'S FUTURE IF ACCUSER GIVES 'CREDIBLE' TESTIMONY

But really, guess who is perpetuating all of these kinds of actions? Its the men in this country. And I just want to say to the men in this country: just shut up and step up, do the right thing for a change, Hirono said.

Not only do women, like Dr. Ford, who bravely comes forward, need to be heard, but they need to be believed, Hirono added. We cannot continue the victimization and the smearing of someone like Dr. Ford.

Fords identity was revealed in a Washington Post article published over the weekend, following an anonymous letter obtained by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., alleging sexual assault. The California-based professor said that Kavanaugh, 36 years ago while in high school, pinned her down, tried to remove her bathing suit and put his hand over her mouth when she attempted to scream. Ford alleged that she was in the room with Kavanaugh and another man, who has been identified as Mark Judge.

Both Kavanaugh and Judge denied the allegations.

This is a completely false allegation. I have never done anything like what the accuser describesto her or to anyone, Kavanaugh said in a statement Monday. Because this never happened, I had no idea who was making the accusation until she identified herself [Sunday.]

ELIZABETH WARREN SLAMMED OVER EDITING OF KAVANAUGH VIDEO

The Senate Judiciary Committee invited both Ford and Kavanaugh to testify in either a public or private setting over the allegations.

Kavanaugh said he was willing to speak to the committee in any way deemed appropriate to refute this false allegation and to defend his integrity.

Fords attorney Monday suggested she would be willing to testify before the committee under oath, but has yet to officially accept the invitation to appear before the panel.

Ford has said she doesnt want to appear until after an FBI investigation takes place.

A highly-placed law enforcement source told Fox News on Wednesday that there will not be an FBI investigation into the allegations leveled at Kavanaugh.

The source told Fox News there cannot be a criminal investigation, because there is no crime alleged where the statute of limitations hasn't run. The source also said there are no allegations of a federal crime.

KAVANAUGH ACCUSER CHRISTINE BLASEY FORD DEMANDS 'FULL INVESTIGATION' BY FBI BEFORE TESTIFYING, IN LETTER FROM HER LAWYERS

The FBI only handles background check investigations, the source said, and should they find information, they would pass it along.

"This is a political issue, not a law enforcement one," the source told Fox News.

The committee has already delayed Kavanaugh's confirmation vote, which was originally scheduled for Thursday. A hearing is now scheduled for Monday.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said that the hearing to examine the allegations set for Monday could be canceled if Ford does not accept the committee's invitation. Grassley said that his office has reached out several times to Ford and her attorneys to discuss her allegations, but has not received a response.

Fox News' John Roberts contributed to this report.NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

The FBI will not launch a criminal investigation into the sexual assault allegations leveled against President Trumps Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh, according to highly-placed law enforcement sources.

The sources told Fox News on Wednesday that there were no allegations of a federal crime, therefore the bureau would not open a criminal investigation.

This is a political issue, not a law enforcement one, one source told Fox News.

The allegations brought against Kavanaugh last week date back to the 1980s, when Christine Blasey Ford claimed the Supreme Court nominee, while in high school, pinned her down, tried to remove her bathing suit and put his hand over her mouth when she attempted to scream. Fords attorney, Debra Katz, said her client considered this to be an attempted rape.

Upon learning of Fords claims, the Senate Judiciary Committee, overseeing the confirmation of Kavanaugh, invited her to testify under oath in a public or private setting, or even over the phone. Katz initially said her client would be willing to appear before the panel, but Tuesday evening, Ford demanded that the FBI investigate her claim before she accepted an invitation to share her story before the committee.

Its totally inappropriate for someone to demand we use law enforcement resources to investigate a 35-year-old allegation when she won't go under oath and can't remember key details including when or where it happened, another source told Fox News.

The FBI conducts background investigations prior to an appointed officials confirmation to determine whether the nominee could pose a risk to the national security of the United States, according to a Justice Department spokesperson.

In an FBI background investigation, the bureau is only responsible for finding information and passing it along, which they have done in the Kavanaugh case, a source said. The source said the FBI would not investigate the information found.

The FBI does not make any judgement about the credibility or significance of any allegation, a Justice Department spokesperson said in a statement earlier this week.

According to the Justice Department, on Sept. 12, the FBI received a letter dated from July 2018, obtained by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., alleging that Kavanaugh engaged in an incident of misconduct in the 1980s.

The FBI forwarded this letter to the White House Counsels Office, the spokesperson said. The allegation does not involve any potential federal crime. The FBIs role in such matters is to provide information for the use of the decision makers.

An FBI spokesperson, earlier this week, said in a statement that Fords Sept. 12 letter was included as part of Judge Kavanaughs background file, as per the standard process.

So while the bureau will not launch a criminal investigation into the allegations against Kavanaugh, according to February testimony by FBI Director Christopher Wray, the only way the bureau would further probe the information as part of the background investigation would be if the White House requested a follow-up inquiry.

Wray was discussing the issue of former White House aide Rob Porter, and the allegations of domestic abuse brought against him.

The background investigation process involves a fairly elaborate set of standards, guidelines, protocols, agreements, et cetera, that have been in place for 20-plus years, Wray explained to the Senate Intelligence Committee this winter.

Wray explained that the bureau completed a background investigation into Porter, finding information of abuse.

We received request for follow-up inquiry, and we did the follow-up Wray explained.

When asked whether he would direct the FBI to further investigate, Trump said it would seem the FBI really doesnt do that.

Theyve investigated him about six time before and it seems they dont do that, Trump said Wednesday to reporters. I would let the senators take their course. Let the senators do it.

Trump said if Ford appears before the committee and makes a credible showing, that would be very interesting and well have to make a decision.

He added: If she shows up, that would be wonderful. If she doesnt show up, that would be unfortunate.

Kavanaugh has vehemently denied the allegations brought against him.

This is a completely false allegation. I have never done anything like what the accuser describesto her or to anyone, Kavanaugh said in a statement Monday. Because this never happened, I had no idea who was making the accusation until she identified herself [Sunday.]

Fords identity was revealed in a Washington Post article over the weekend.

Kavanaugh has said he is willing to speak to the committee in any way deemed appropriate to refute this false allegation and to defend his integrity.

The committee has already delayed Kavanaughs confirmation vote, which was originally scheduled for Thursday. A hearing, which Ford has been invited to, is now slated for Monday.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said that the hearing to examine the allegations set for Monday could be canceled if Ford does not accept the committees invitation. Grassley said that his office has reached out several times to Ford and her attorneys to discuss her allegations, but has not received a response.

Fox News John Roberts and Jake Gibson contributed to this report.NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

In northern Georgia, the race for a state House seat is back on after a judge ordered a brand-new election.

State Rep. Dan Gasaway was originally beaten by Chris Erwin in the Republican primary for the seat in May. But after Gasaways wife told him her co-worker wasnt able to vote for him because his name wasnt on her ballot, Gasaway became suspicious and investigated, WAGA-TV reported.

Eventually, Gasaway filed a lawsuit challenging the validity of the election.

After hearing testimonies, Judge David Sweat ruled this week for a new election to take place in December. Only Erwin and Gasaway will be on the ballot in the Dec. 4 race in Banks, Habersham and Stephens Counties, Now Habersham reported.

Its the courts view that a new election will have to be held so that people will have confidence in the results, Sweat said.

During the trial, Habersham County Board of Elections Supervisor Laurel Ellison said her office discovered 70 Republicans voted in the wrong district in the election. Gasaway lost the May primary by 67 votes.

This was the right ruling and this should encourage all citizens to know that people are looking out for their system, Gasaway told Now Habersham. I didnt do this just for me  but if votes arent counted right, that should concern everybody in our country and everybody in our state and everybody in our counties.

Erwin said he thought his team proved our case to the judge and is deciding whether to appeal the decision. He said he was surprised by the decision.

We felt we were in the right from the beginning with the information given to us, he told the newspaper.

Gasaway and Erwin are the only two people running for the state House seat.NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley and other top Republicans on Wednesday urged Christine Blasey Ford in a letter to reconsider her apparent refusal to testify next week about her decades-old sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

In a separate, scathing letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats, Grassley sharply condemned what he called their persistent "abuse of this confirmation process" through "delay and obstruction ... with every argument available." Grassley reiterated that Monday's hearing would remain on the calendar despite Democrats' objections.

"I will view any additional complaints about this process very skeptically," Grassley wrote.

Meanwhile, sources tell Fox News that the White House confirmation team conducted a so-called murder board with Kavanaugh Tuesday in preparation for Mondays scheduled hearing. Sources say he did well in the session, and that "he was solid - there was no wavering."

On Tuesday night, Ford's lawyers wrote to Grassley that "an FBI investigation of the incident should be the first step in addressing her allegations," rather than a Senate hearing before politicians "who appear to have made up their minds."

grassltr by Fox News on Scribd

The attorneys, Lisa Banks and Debra Katz, asserted that her family "was forced to relocate out of their home" and that "her email has been hacked, and she has been impersonated online."

They also criticized Grassley for proposing to put Ford at "the same table as Judge Kavanaugh in front of two dozen U.S. Senators on national television to relive this traumatic and harrowing incident."

In response, Grassley flatly denied that he had ever suggested Ford sit near Kavanaugh, and insisted he has made every effort to accomodate the accuser in a variety of ways.

KAVANAUGH ACCUSER DEMANDS 'FULL INVESTIGATION' BY FBI BEFORE SHE'LL TESTIFY

"In recognition of how difficult it can be to discuss allegations of this kind in public, I have also offered [Ford] the choice of testifying in either a public or closed session of the hearing," Grassley wrote Wednesday to Ford's attorneys.

In his letter to Senate Democrats, Grassley noted that his staff was willing to "fly to California, or anywhere else, to meet" Ford and interview her privately or publicly. He also criticized Democrats for refusing to respond to offers by committee Republican staffers to set up meetings with Kavanaugh, Ford, and others.

"You have stated repeatedly that Dr. Ford wants to tell her story," Grassley wrote to Ford's lawyers. "I sincerely hope that Dr. Ford will accept my invitation to do so, either privately or publicly, on Monday. In the meantime, my staff would still welcome the opportunity to speak with Dr. Ford at a time and place convenient to her."

Grassley was joined in that sentiment by Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins, a moderate considered a key potential swing vote on Kavanaugh's confirmation.

"I hope that Dr. Ford will reconsider and testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday," Collins tweeted. "It is my understanding that the Committee has offered to hold either a public or a private session, whichever would make her more comfortable."

WATCH: FEINSTEIN ADMITS SHE CAN'T BE SURE ACCUSER BEING COMPLETELY 'TRUTHFUL'

Fox News has learned from a source close to Collins that the Maine senator called the FBI's Deputy Director on Wednesday to learn more about the FBI's potential role in the proceedings as part of her "due diligence."

Grassley maintained in his letter that it was not the FBI's job to review the allegations against Kavanaugh.

"It is not the FBIs role to investigate a matter such as this," he wrote. "The Constitution assigns the Senate, and only the Senate, with the task of advising the President on his nominee and consenting to the nomination if the circumstances merit. We have no power to commandeer an Executive Branch agency into conducting our due diligence."

The top Judiciary Committee Republican repeated that assertion in his letter to Senate Democrats, saying their request for a comprehensive FBI probe "demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding" of the agency's role.

The FBI conducted a background check of Kavanaugh as part of the Supreme Court nomination process. When Senate Judiciary Committee ranking Democrat Dianne Feinstein alerted federal authorities to the allegations against Kavanaugh last week, they forwarded the information to the White House.

Fox News has learned that the FBI would need explicit instructions to investigate the matter further, because it falls outside any applicable statute of limitations and seemingly does not involve a federal crime.

On Tuesday, a federal law enforcement official told Fox News, "It's totally inappropriate for someone to demand we use law enforcement resources to investigate a 35-year-old allegation when she won't go under oath and can't remember key details including when or where it happened."

Grassley dismissed comparisons made by Ford's lawyers to the FBI investigation of Anita Hill's sexual harassment allegations against then-nominee Clarence Thomas in 1991, saying that Hill's allegations were non-public when the FBI conducted a few days of background interviews to assess their validity before forwarding them on to the White House.

Once Hill's allegations became public, Grassley wrote, the Judiciary Committee did not request additional FBI assistance.

"We are in the same position the Committee was in after Professor Hill's allegations were leaked," Grassley said. "After that leak, we did not ask the FBI to conduct an investigation. Instead, we reopened the hearing and assessed the testimony that was given on our own."

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, President Trump called Kavanaugh's treatment "very unfair," and added that the FBI has "investigated about six times before, and it seems that they don't do that," meaning conduct the kind of extensive follow-up requested by Ford.

"If she shows up, that would be wonderful. If she doesn't show up, that would be unfortunate," he said. "If she shows up and makes a credible showing, that will be very interesting, and we'll have to make a decision. But I can only say this: He is such an outstanding man. Very hard for me to imagine that anything happened."

POLYGRAPH EXAM TAKEN BY KAVANAUGH ACCUSER COMES UNDER SCRUTINY

Kavanaugh's nomination troubles began last week after a leak to The Intercept revealed that Feinstein, since July, had been in possession of a supposedly damning letter relevant to his confirmation. Republicans have charged that Senate Democrats orchestrated that leak, which then prompted Feinstein to discuss the letter and its then-anonymous accusations publicly and with the FBI.

Prior to last week, Feinstein had not shared the letter with other members of the Judiciary Committee or federal authorities, even privately. Top Republicans accused the California Democrat of sitting on the information to prompt a last-minute delay in Kavanaugh's confirmation and push a vote to after November's critical midterm elections.

Ford went public on Sunday, just days before a scheduled Judiciary Committee vote on Kavanaugh's confirmation, alleging that Kavanaugh forced himself onto her and covered her mouth in the 1980s, when Kavanaugh was 17 and she was 15. Ford did not mention the incident to others by her own admission until 2012, according to The Washington Post, when her therapist recorded her claim that four people were involved.

Ford has since claimed that the therapist incorrectly transcribed that detail, and that she had said there were only two people in the room. Her husband has maintained that Ford mentioned Kavanaugh in the therapy sessions.

KAVANAUGH CLASSMATE REPORTEDLY AT PARTY: 'NO KNOWLEDGE' OF ANY IMPROPER CONDUCT

Meanwhile, Patrick J. Smyth, who attended prep school with Kavanaugh, wrote a letter to Grassley and Feinstein after he said Ford had identified him as an individual present at the party at which Kavanaugh committed the alleged sexual assault.

"I have no knowledge of the party in question; nor do I have any knowledge of the allegations of improper conduct she has leveled against Brett Kavanaugh," Smyth wrote. "Personally speaking, I have known Brett Kavanaugh since high school and I know him to be a person of great integrity, a great friend, and I have never witnessed any improper conduct by Brett Kavanaugh towards women. "

On the advice of Katz, a lawyer who has previously downplayed sexual assault allegations against former President Bill Clinton and former Sen. Al Franken, Ford took and passed a polygraph exam, the Post reported.

Katz has refused numerous requests by Fox News for comment on the polygraph. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., has questioned who paid for the polygraph examination, and numerous former FBI officials and psychology experts have told Fox News that polygraphs would have trouble detecting not only certain kinds of deception, but also false memories that were inadvertently induced during therapy or the passage of time.

Ford told The Post she could not remember in whose house the alleged incident occurred, the exact month of the episode, or why there was a gathering there.

The very fact that Ford's identity was now public, Grassley suggested Wednesday, was largely the result of Democrats' cynical mishandling of the situation and leaks to the press.

"I fear that the leaks of confidential information will discourage whistleblowers and victims from cming forward in the future," he wrote.

Fox News' John Roberts and Mike Emanuel contributed to this report.NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley on Wednesday unloaded a torrent of criticism on Sen. Dianne Feinstein for her handling of the sexual assault accusations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, telling the ranking Democrat on the committee, "I cannot overstate how disappointed I am."

Saying Feinstein "chose to sit on the allegations until a politically opportune moment," Grassley demanded she immediately turn over an unredacted copy of the letter from Kavanaugh's accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, that Feinstein received July 30.

Feinstein, D-Calif., shared the letter with federal authorities and other senators only last week, days before a key Judiciary Committee vote on Kavanaugh's confirmation, after a leak about the letter was published in The Intercept. Republicans have accused Democrats of orchestrating that leak.

Grassley, R-Iowa, who called the document a "significant piece of evidence in Judge Kavanaugh's confirmation process," said that despite multiple requests, he still has access only to a redacted copy of the letter included in supplemental background materials provided by the FBI to a select group of senators.

SUPPOSED WITNESS IMPLICATES KAVANAUGH WITHOUT FIRST-HAND KNOWLEDGE -- THEN DELETES POST AFTER QUESTIONS SURFACE

He asserted that he needs the full version of the document in order to "prepare for Monday's hearings" into the allegations against Kavanaugh. Ford's lawyers strongly suggested in a letter late Tuesday that she won't appear at the hearing until the FBI conducts a "full investigation" into her claims.

In a follow-up letter Wednesday, the lawyers, Lisa Banks and Debra Katz, doubled down on that request, even as Republicans characterized it as a stall tactic that did not excuse Ford from providing sworn testimony before the Senate.

"Dr. Ford was reluctantly thrust into the public spotlight only two days ago. She is currently unable to go home, and is receiving ongoing threats to her and her family's safety," the lawyers wrote. "Fairness and respect for her situation dictate that she should have time to deal with this. She continues to believe that a full non-partisan investigation of this matter is needed and she is willing to cooperate with the Committee. "

Just days ago, on Monday, Katz had said her client was willing to testify, telling CBS News, "My client will do whatever is necessary to make sure that the Senate Judiciary Committee has the full story and the full set of allegations to allow them to make a fully informed decision."

And Banks said in an interview, "She will agree to participate in any proceedings that shes asked to participate in.

But on Wednesday, the lawyers suggested that more witnesses should be called in order for any hearing to have legitimacy. Earlier in the day, a former classmate of Kavanaugh's said that he had no "recollection" of any incident at the house party Ford described, while another witness who had backed up Ford deleted her account online after inconsistencies surfaced and she admitted her statements were not based on any first-hand knowledge.

"The Committee's stated plan to move forward with a hearing that has only two witnesses is not a fair or good faith investigation; there are multiple witnesses whose names have appeared publicly and should be included in any proceeding," Ford's attorneys wrote. "The rush to a hearing is unnecessary, and contrary to the Committee discovering the truth."

POLYGRAPH TAKEN BY KAVANAUGH ACCUSER COMES UNDER SCRUTINY -- HOW DOES THE TEST WORK?

Sources told Fox News that Senate Republicans aren't the only ones working to get ready for Monday's factfinding hearing, which appears ready to proceed even without Ford's participation. The White House confirmation team on Tuesday conducted a so-called "murder board" with Kavanaugh, to test him with tough questions he might face during his testimony. Kavanaugh did well in the session, the sources said, adding that "he was solid - there was no wavering."

"I cannot overstate how disappointed I am."  Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley

However, GOP leaders have signaled there will be no hearing if Ford refuses to show. If shes not attending I dont know what the point of going forward would be, said Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, a member of the Judiciary Committee. Republican senators gave Ford a deadline of Friday to indicate whether she will testify next week.

Feinstein appeared to wash her hands of the process in a brief interview outside her Senate office with Fox News on Tuesday, saying, "I have no say, I'm the lead Democrat. ... I think it's really too bad that no one called her, or called her lawyer."

WATCH: FEINSTEIN ADMITS SHE CAN'T GUARANTEE ACCUSER BEING ENTIRELY 'TRUTHFUL'

She added: "This is a woman who has been profoundly impacted by this. Now, I can't say everything's truthful. I don't know."

Top Republicans have said they repeatedly called and emailed Ford's lawyers, and have offered to fly staffers to California "or anywhere else" to speak with Ford. They have also offered her either a public or private hearing, but haven't heard back.

In his letter Wednesday, Grassley unequivocally dismissed Feinstein's suggestions that her delays were motivated by a desire to protect Ford's identity, and suggested that her actions had in fact compromised any legitimate desire to preserve her anonymity.

"These allegations could have been raised to me, or to Judge Kavanaugh, while protecting Dr. Ford's anonymity," Grassley said. "Had Dr. Ford not made her allegations public via The Washington Post over the weekend, I still would not know her identity."

He continued: "These allegations could have been raised both within the last seven weeks and in a way that protected Dr. Ford's anonymity. Instead, you chose to sit on the allegations until a politically opportune moment. I cannot overstate how disappointed I am in this decision."

President Trump echoed that line of argument Wednesday, even as he encouraged Ford to speak to the Judiciary Committee and said she deserved to be heard.

"Why did [Democrats] wait until everything was finished and then bring it up? That doesn't look good," Trump said.

Also on Wednesday, Grassley sent two other letters -- one to Ford's attorneys urging her to appear at Monday's scheduled hearing into her allegations, and another scathing missive to Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats.

READ GRASSLEY'S OVERTURE TO FORD'S LAWYERS, SCATHING LETTERS TO DEMS

In those letters, Grassley railed against Democrats' "abuse of this confirmation process" through "delay and obstruction ... with every argument available." He reiterated that Monday's hearing would remain on the calendar despite Democrats' objections."

"I will view any additional complaints about this process very skeptically," he said.

The Judiciary Committee chairman flatly disputed claims by Ford's lawyers that he had requested Kavanaugh sit at the same "table" with Ford during Monday's hearing, or that he had only sought a publicly televised hearing. Instead, Grassley said, Ford was offered the chance to testify privately in a confidential session with Republican senators and staffers, without Kavanaugh nearby.

Grassley has also repeatedly rejected suggestions by top Democrats and Ford's lawyers that an FBI probe would be appropriate. He specifically dismissed comparisons made by Ford's attorneys to the FBI investigation of Anita Hill's sexual harassment allegations against then-nominee Clarence Thomas in 1991, saying that Hill's allegations were non-public when the FBI conducted a few days of background interviews to assess their validity before forwarding them on to the White House.

Once Hill's allegations became public, Grassley wrote, the Judiciary Committee did not request additional FBI assistance.

"We are in the same position the Committee was in after Professor Hill's allegations were leaked," Grassley said. "After that leak, we did not ask the FBI to conduct an investigation. Instead, we reopened the hearing and assessed the testimony that was given on our own."

For her part, Hill told PBS' "NewsHour" Wednesday that the Judiciary Committee could not be trusted to probe the accusations against Kavanaugh fairly, "because I doubt they are qualified to carry out an investigation in a neutral fashion."

On Tuesday, a federal law enforcement official told Fox News, "It's totally inappropriate for someone to demand we use law enforcement resources to investigate a 35-year-old allegation when she won't go under oath and can't remember key details including when or where it happened."

Fox News has learned from a source close to Sen. Susan Collins, a moderate considered a potential key swing vote in Kavanaugh's confirmation, that she had called the FBI's Deputy Director David Bowdich on Wednesday to learn more about the FBI's potential role in the proceedings as part of her "due diligence."

Meanwhile, Missouri Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill tweeted Wednesday night that she would not vote for Kavanaugh. In her message, she explicitly wrote that his legal rulings and ideology, and not the allegations by Ford, were the reason for her decision. McCaskill is locked in a tight re-election race in a red state that Trump won handily in 2016.

Fox News' Jake Gibson and John Roberts contributed to this report.NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

Although Christine Blasey Ford has been invited to give her testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee  in private or public  the California professor is pushing for the FBI to investigate her alleged sexual assault by Supreme Court Justice nominee Brett Kavanaugh decades ago.

Ford, a psychology teacher at Palo Alto University, publicly accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her in the early 1980s before the Judiciary Committee was set to vote on his appointment to the nations highest court.

Ford said she was 15 and Kavanaugh was 17 when he allegedly assaulted her at a house party in Maryland. She claims he pinned her to a bed, attempted to remove her clothes and put his hand over her mouth to prevent her from screaming.

I thought he might inadvertently kill me, Ford told The Washington Post. He was trying to attack me and remove my clothing.

Kavanaugh, a federal appeals judge, has denied the accusations and says hes willing to testify before the Judiciary Committee to prove his innocence.

Fords lawyers are calling for a full investigation by the FBI before she agrees to appear before lawmakers, saying it would ensure that the crucial facts and witnesses in this matter are assessed in a non-partisan manner, and that the [Judiciary] Committee is fully informed before conducting any hearing or making any decisions.

As the Judiciary Committee has recognized and done before, an FBI investigation of the incident should be the first step in addressing her allegations, lawyers Debra Katz and Lisa Banks said in a letter to the committee.

Trump doesn't believe the allegations are something that would fall under the FBI's jurisdiction.

"Well, it would seem that the FBI really doesnt do that. Theyve investigated about six times before, and it seems that they dont do that," Trump told reporters Wednesday.

Here's a look at why the FBI might not investigate.

Not a federal crime

A highly-placed law enforcement source told Fox News an FBI investigation will not occur for multiple reasons, especially since there's no allegation of a federal crime. The source also dismissed the possibility of a criminal investigation because of the statute of limitations.

This is a political issue, not a law enforcement one, the source said.

WHO IS CHRISTINE BLASEY FORD, THE PROFESSOR WHO ACCUSED BRETT KAVANAUGH OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT?

The Department of Justice also said Fords allegation does not involve any potential federal crime for the FBI to investigate.

It's totally inappropriate for someone to demand we use law enforcement resources to investigate a 35-year-old allegation when she won't go under oath and can't remember key details including when or where it happened," another federal law enforcement official told Fox News.

White House probably wont make the request

Because Ford's allegations do not involve any federal crime within the applicable statute of limitations, Fox News has learned the bureau would require explicit instructions from the White House to conduct any additional probe.



The FBI could interview Ford, Kavanaugh and others about the allegation if Trump asked the bureau to reopen its background investigation, but the president has rejected that idea, saying the FBI has already done its work.

When asked specifically if he would require the FBI to look into the allegations on Wednesday, Trump told reporters he's going to "let the senators take their course."

Background checks are different from investigations

The FBI is tasked with handling background checks for presidential nominees to the Supreme Court. But it is not tasked with judging the credibility of the allegations, the Justice Department said.

The Justice Department said the FBI already evaluated whether the nominee could pose a national security risk and provided that information for the use of the decision makers.

TRUMP SAYS WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ON KAVANAUGHS FUTURE IF ACCUSER GIVES CREDIBLE TESTIMONY

Greg T. Rinckey, a lawyer who specializes in federal employment issues, explained the FBI generally looks into criminal or national security issues when conducting background checks.

Of course, if something like this comes up in a background check, theyd report it. Are they going to go into an investigation? No, Rinckey told Fox News. Theyre going to do a detailed background check on [the nominee], but they dont do an investigation.

What do Republican lawmakers say?

Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Judiciary Committee member, said the demand for an FBI investigation is not about finding the truth, but delaying the process until after the midterm elections.

It is imperative the Judiciary committee move forward on the Kavanaugh nomination and a committee vote be taken as soon as possible," he added.

TRUMP'S SUPREME COURT PICK NEEDS SENATE APPROVAL: A LOOK AT THE CONFIRMATION PROCESS

Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley said nothing the FBI or any other investigator does would have any bearing on what Dr. Ford tells the committee, so there is no reason for any further delay.

And Democrats?

Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein noted the death threats and other harassment Ford and her family has received since she publicly accused Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct.

We should honor Dr. Blasey Fords wishes and delay this hearing, Feinstein said in a statement. A proper investigation must be completed, witnesses interviewed, evidence reviewed and all sides spoken to. Only then should the chairman set a hearing date.

I support Dr. Blasey Fords request for an FBI background investigation before a hearing, said Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif. She should not be bullied into participating in a biased process and we should not rush forward before facts are gathered.

Fox News Jake Gibson, Gregg Re, John Roberts and The Associated Press contributed to this report.NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

Another former classmate of Judge Brett Kavanaugh has denied having any knowledge of a high school party where the future Supreme Court nominee allegedly sexually assaulted Christine Blasey Ford.

In a letter penned by his attorney, Eric Bruce, and sent to Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., Patrick Smyth said that he has no knowledge of the party in question nor any knowledge of the allegations of improper conduct that Ford has levelled against Kavanaugh.

"I understand that I have been identified by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford as the person she remembers as 'PJ' who supposedly was present at the party she described in her statements to the Washington Post," Smyth, who graduated the same year as Kavanaugh from Georgetown Prep in North Bethesda, Maryland, said in the letter that was obtained by CNN. "I am issuing this statement today to make it clear to all involved that I have no knowledge of the party in question; nor do I have any knowledge of the allegations of improper conduct she has leveled against Brett Kavanaugh."

Smyth is quoted in the letter saying: "Personally speaking, I have known Brett Kavanaugh since high school and I know him to be a person of great integrity, a great friend, and I have never witnessed any improper conduct by Brett Kavanaugh towards women.

A spokesperson for Grassley confirmed to Fox News that the lawmaker had received the letter, but would not discuss its contents.

Ford, a research psychologist at Palo Alto University in California, came forward over the weekend to allege that Kavanaugh pinned her on a bed and tried to take off her clothes during a high school party in Maryland in the 1980s. Kavanaugh denies the allegations, which would be beyond the statute of limitations under Maryland law.

The accusations have thrown the once-formulaic Supreme Court confirmation process into a tailspin as lawmakers on both sides of the aisle try to figure out how to move forward with the hearings for President Trumps pick.

Lawyers for Ford say that before she testifies on Capitol Hill, she wants the FBI to investigate her allegations. But Grassley says an FBI investigation wouldn't have any bearing on Ford's testimony so "there is no reason for further delay." Other Republicans are suggesting that Ford will have only this one opportunity to testify.

A former classmate of Ford's also came forward on Wednesday to say that she remembers hearing about the alleged assault, but added that she has no first-hand information to corroborate the allegations.

Writing in a Facebook post that has since been deleted, Cristina Miranda King wrote that This incident did happen. ... Many of us heard about it in school and Christines recollection should be more than enough for us to truly, deeply know that the accusation is true.

That account drew widespread skepticism, primarily because Ford had said the alleged incident happened in the summer -- when school was out of session.

On Twitter, King added that she had removed her statement from Facebook because it served its purpose and I am now dealing with a slew of requests for interviews.

Kings Twitter account has since been deleted.NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

The parents of a young girl who was sexually assaulted by former Michigan State University doctor Larry Nassar praise Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Schuette in a pair of new campaign ads, saying he gave a voice to the voiceless in his handling of the case.

As Michigans attorney general, Schuettes office filed criminal charges against Nassar, who will spend multiple decades in prison for child pornography and assault. Hes been accused of molesting hundreds of people, including Olympic gymnasts and Michigan State athletes, over a decades-long span.

Schuette is now running for governor in a tight race against Democrat Gretchen Whitmer. Fox News has ranked the Michigan gubernatorial election as a tossup.

In recently released campaign ads, Lee and Mark Weick applaud Schuette for his handling of the case against Nassar. The couple from Midland, Michigan, said their daughter, Helena, had been assaulted by Nassar when she was just 12 years old.

When Larry Nassar preyed on my daughter and hundreds of other young women, Bill Schuette stepped forward. Bill and his team stood by the survivors and their families and put Nassar behind bars for life, Mark Weick said in one ad. Take it from a grateful father: Bill Schuette is unwavering in his commitment for justice and healing for the survivors.

In a longer ad, Lee Weick said Schuette had the approach of giving a voice to the survivors, of giving a voice to the voiceless. She said he prosecuted the case with tenacity and compassion until Nassar was convicted and there was justice for our daughter and for all of the survivors.

FOX NEWS MIDTERM ELECTION HEADQUARTERS

During Nassars sentencing hearing earlier this year, more than 200 people in two counties were able to give statements, detailing the emotional and physical abuse they suffered at the hands of Nassar.

Nassar had pleaded guilty to assaulting seven people in the Lansing area between 1998 and 2015.

Schuette told The Detroit News his office pushed for the allowance of the victim impact statements as part of Nassars plea deal, despite objections from the former doctor and his lawyers.

They didnt want a public discussion about this, Schuette said. He wanted to plead guilty, and I said, Fine, but every survivor who wants to make a victim impact statement in open court or in a written statement had to have that opportunity.

Schuette added his office had initially only expected about 50 survivors to speak, as opposed to the 204.

KANSAS HOUSE CANDIDATE PAUL DAVIS SUBJECT OF NEW ATTACK FOR HIS HISTORY WITH STRIP CLUBS

Lee Weick said her family hasnt been very political, but they wanted to back Schuette because of the support he gave to them.

We havent been involved in politics, but we feel strongly that when someone takes on a responsibility and is a public servant and does their job well  that needs to be appreciated and supported, she told The Detroit News. Thats what Bill Schuette did.

Schuette isnt the first candidate to use support from Nassars survivors for a campaign. Rachael Denhollander and Kaylee Lorincz appeared in a commercial titled Justice for Lt. Gov. Brian Calley, who lost the GOP primary, earlier this year.

Republican Gov. Rick Snyder is prevented from running for re-election this year due to term limits.

Schuette has been endorsed by President Trump.NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

The foundation behind the planned Obama Presidential Center in Chicago has a tentative agreement with the city to pay just $10 to use 19.3 acres of city park space for 99 years, according to a report.

The accord is described in legislation that Mayor Rahm Emanuel's administration will send to the City Council on Thursday, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

If approved, the proposals will bring the estimated $350 million project closer to reality.

Per the agreement, the city will own the buildings and grounds, while the Obama Foundation will be responsible for the centers upkeep and management, Crains Chicago Business reported.

This is the next step in a process that has been ongoing for years, Planning and Development Commissioner David Reifman said.

Under terms of the deal, the Obama Foundation must prove it can cover the cost of construction without taxpayer subsidies, a condition that contrasts with the 11 official Museums in the Parks, which all receive taxpayer money and have lease agreements in perpetuity.

The project must also pass a federal review under the National Environmental Policy Act, Crain's reported.

But the deal to develop on Jackson Park has not been without controversy. Margaret Schmid, co-founder of Jackson Park Watch, criticized the idea of leasing public land to the foundation.

The idea of leasing invaluable, irreplaceable public parkland to a private entity for $10 for 99 years is astounding in this era when public lands and natural resources are under attack in so many places, Schmid said. Besides, Chicagos finances are extremely precarious. Yes, this is symbolic, but symbolism is significant.

The idea of leasing invaluable, irreplaceable public parkland to a private entity for $10 for 99 years is astounding in this era when public lands and natural resources are under attack in so many places.  Margaret Schmid, co-founder, Jackson Park Watch

And earlier this year, the environmental group Protect Our Parks filed a lawsuit in federal court against Chicago and the Chicago Park District arguing that the presidential center should not be given access to public land because it is not a presidential library, the Chicago Tribune reported.

The foundation said in May 2017 that Obamas official presidential library will not be housed at the Jackson Park campus. A permanent location for the Obama Presidential Library is still being determined.

The foundation did not publicly address the lawsuit until Tuesday.

"We believe the suit is without merit, but we are taking it very, very seriously."  David Simas, chief executive, Obama Foundation

David Simas, chief executive of the foundation, said the suit is without merit, but we are taking it very, very seriously. He argued that in practice, the presidential center amounts to a public park and will abide by Park District rules.NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

One day after Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., raised concerns about the polygraph test taken by Brett Kavanaugh accuser Christine Ford, her attorney is refusing to comment on who paid for the examination or provide additional details on how it was conducted.

And experts contacted by Fox News confirmed that while polygraph examinations can be useful, they are ultimately fallible tools that "can be beaten." Without mentioning any particular instances, one former senior FBI agent said polygraphs would have difficulty detecting deception by sociopaths, psychopaths and committed liars lacking a "conscience."

Even well-intentioned individuals who have come to believe that their false stories are, in fact, true -- whether because of therapist-induced memories or other causes -- can sometimes pass polygraph tests, former FBI officials and psychology experts told Fox News.

Ford provided The Washington Post the results of a polygraph examination conducted by a former FBI agent in August, which reportedly showed that she had been truthful in her allegations. According to the Post, Ford took the polygraph on the advice of her attorney, Debra Katz.

Katz did not respond to numerous requests for comment by Fox News on Tuesday concerning the polygraph.

ATTORNEY FOR KAVANAUGH ACCUSER DOWNPLAYED SEX ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS AGAINST CLINTON, FRANKEN

Speaking to Fox News' "Hannity" on Monday, Graham questioned who had paid for the polygraph, which experts told Fox News could cost anywhere from $500 to $1,000.

"If Ms. Ford really did not want to come forward, never intended to come forward ... why did she pay for a polygraph in August, and why did she hire a lawyer in August? And who paid for it?" Graham asked.

Democratic politicians and operatives have repeatedly cited the claim that Ford had passed a polygraph exam to bolster her claims.

"The woman who says Kavanaugh attacked her has reportedly passed a polygraph test," Paul Begala, a onetime aide to former President Bill Clinton while he was besieged by numerous accusations of sexual misconduct while in office. "Will Kavanaugh take one?"

KAVANAUGH ACCUSER DEMANDS FBI PROBE BEFORE TESTIFYING UNDER OATH

But several experts told Fox News that viewing polygraphs as reliable lie-detector machines is a dangerous oversimplification.

"If someone is a psychopath or a sociopath, if you don't have a conscience ... you can beat it."  Former FBI agent James Gagliano

"It's not the result of the polygraph; it is what polygraph subjects say during the polygraph interview that is most valuable," said Thomas Mauriello, a lecturer in criminology at the University of Maryland who worked as a senior polygraph examiner at the Defense Department.

"The result of a polygraph simply is whether you did or did not respond to a particular question. A response is not a lie, because the polygraph is not a lie detector as most think," Mauriello added. "A response is the activation of your sympathetic nervous system when answering a question asked during the examination."

WATCH: FEINSTEIN ADMITS SHE'S NOT SURE IF ACCUSER IS BEING ENTIRELY 'TRUTHFUL'

James Gagliano, a former FBI agent who led a SWAT team in New York for several years and now teaches at St. John's University, told Fox News that while polygraphs are valuable, they "can be beaten."

"In this case, if they want to put this out as irrefutable evidence that this woman is telling the truth because she passed a polygraph -- that's not the way polygraphs work," Gagliano added. "If that were the case, I would've taken every drug dealer, gangbanger, and pedophile I investigated, and I would've thrown them on the polygraph."

Gagliano, who said he was subjected to several polygraphs at the FBI but never administered one himself, said people can sometimes pass polygraphs if they've convinced themselves they are telling the truth: "It's not a lie if you believe it," he said.

"Everyone knows polygraph exams can be beaten," Gagliano added. "If someone is a psychopath or a sociopath, if you don't have a conscience, if you don't know right from wrong -- you can beat it."



Ford announced on Tuesday she would refuse to testify about her allegations, despite numerous invitations from Senate Republicans, until the FBI conducts a full investigation into the events she claims occurred at a house in Maryland more than 35 years ago. Ford has been unable to identify who owned the house in question, or why she was there.

"It's totally inappropriate for someone to demand we use law enforcement resources to investigate a 35-year-old allegation when she won't go under oath and can't remember key details including when or where it happened," a federal law enforcement official told Fox News.

Gagliano explained that polygraphs are typically conducted by highly trained professionals who first establish a "baseline" physiological response by asking simplistic questions. Then, Gagliano said, polygraphists often attempt to "scare" examinees by asking a question to make them think they're in trouble, which provides an additional data point.

Speaking separately on "The Ingraham Angle" Monday night, Mauriello explained that numerous factors -- including how questioners pose those complicated interrogatories -- can affect polygraph results.

Asked what it meant that Ford had passed a polygraph, Mauriello said flatly, "absolutely nothing."

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., the ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, seemed to admit as much Tuesday night, even as she insisted Ford was credible.

"This is a woman who has been profoundly impacted by this," Feinstein told Fox News. "Now, I can't say everything's truthful. I don't know."NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

President Trump said Wednesday he would have to make a decision about the future of Brett Kavanaughs nomination to the Supreme Court if accuser Christine Blasey Ford gives credible testimony about her allegation.

Speaking to reporters outside the White House, the president said if Ford appears before the committee and makes a credible showing, that will be very interesting and we'll have to make a decision.

If she shows up, that would be wonderful, Trump said. If she doesn't show up, that would be unfortunate.

Yet its not clear if the California professor who claims Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her more than 35 years ago will ultimately accept an invitation to testify on Capitol Hill, amid an impasse with Republicans, who have invited her to elaborate on her claims Monday.

In a new letter to Fords attorneys on Wednesday, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley said he hopes Ford will still decide to appear.

You have stated repeatedly that Dr. Ford wants to tell her story, Grassley wrote to her lawyers. I sincerely hope that Dr. Ford will accept my invitation to do so, either privately or publicly, on Monday.

Ford says she doesn't want to appear until after an FBI investigation takes place, something law enforcement sources tell Fox News is not happening. Responding to Fords call for the FBI to investigate the allegations first, Grassley said its not the FBIs role to investigate a matter such as this.

The Constitution assigns the Senate, and only the Senate, with the task of advising the President on his nominee and consenting to the nomination if the circumstances merit, Grassley said.

Meanwhile, a growing number of Republican senators are saying its time move ahead to a vote if Ford doesnt show up for the planned hearing.

"If we dont hear from both sides on Monday, lets vote," Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., tweeted.

South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, dismissed the calls from Democrats for the FBI to investigate the allegations before Ford testifies. Graham said those calls are not about finding the truth, but delaying the process till after the midterm elections.

ELIZABETH WARREN SLAMMED OVER EDITING OF KAVANAUGH VIDEO

It is imperative the Judiciary committee move forward on the Kavanaugh nomination and a committee vote be taken ASAP, he said.

Arizona Republican Sen. Jeff Flake, who had previously called for Ford to testify before voting on Kavanaugh's confirmation, indicated he's willing to move forward if she doesn't show.

"I think we'll have to move to the markup," Flake told CNN.

Trump said Wednesday he wants the Senate to move quickly, expressing sympathy for Kavanaugh and saying he has an unblemished record.

This is a very tough thing for him and his family and we want to get it over with, the president said.

Also on Wednesday, a spokesman for George W. Bush said the former president still stands by his support for Kavanaugh, who worked in his White House.

Laura and I have known and respected Brett Kavanaugh for decades, and we stand by our comments the night Judge Kavanaugh was nominated: He is a fine husband, father, and friend  and a man of the highest integrity. He will make a superb Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, Bush said.

Late Tuesday, Kavanaughs accuser demanded a "full investigation" by the FBI before she attends any congressional hearing or "interrogation" into her accusations.

In response, Grassley said "nothing the FBI or any other investigator does would have any bearing on what Dr. Ford tells the committee, so there is no reason for any further delay.

Republicans had repeatedly invited Ford and Kavanaugh to testify next week after delaying a planned Judiciary Committee vote that had been scheduled for Thursday. Kavanaugh accepted the committee's invitation, but Ford stayed quiet until Tuesday night.

LIZ PEEK: THE KAVANAUGH CONTROVERSY IS SERIOUS AND THE GOP MUST UNDERSTAND THAT FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION

A federal law enforcement official told Fox News Ford's insistence on a FBI probe is "totally inappropriate."

"It's totally inappropriate for someone to demand we use law enforcement resources to investigate a 35-year-old allegation when she won't go under oath and can't remember key details including when or where it happened," the official said.

A highly-placed law enforcement source also said there wont be a FBI investigation because there are no allegations a federal crime was committed. The bureau has also already conducted a background investigation.

This is a political issue, not a law enforcement one, the law enforcement source said.

The demand for a FBI investigation was also sure to add fuel to Republican claims that the allegations -- which were known to ranking Judiciary Committee Democrat Dianne Feinstein in July, but revealed to federal authorities just last Thursday -- are part of a concerted effort to stall Kavanaugh's nomination at the last minute.

"While Dr. Fords life was being turned upside down, you and your staff scheduled a public hearing for her to testify at the same table as Judge Kavanaugh in front of two dozen U.S. Senators on national television to relive this traumatic and harrowing incident," Ford's attorneys wrote to Grassley.

But Republicans on the Judiciary Committee directly disputed that claim Tuesday night, writing in a statement that Ford had been offered a chance to testify privately, and had never been told she would need to sit near Kavanaugh.

In the letter, Ford's lawyers went on to assert that Ford's family "was forced to relocate out of their home" and that "her email has been hacked, and she has been impersonated online."

The document concluded: "We would welcome the opportunity to talk with you and Ranking Member Feinstein to discuss reasonable steps as to how Dr. Ford can cooperate while also taking care of her own health and security."

The Judiciary Committee statement Tuesday night condemned any threats against Ford, but maintained that her request for an FBI probe was unfounded.

"The FBI has indicated to the committee and in public statements that it considers the matter closed," Grassley and other top Republicans wrote. "The FBI does not make credibility determinations. The FBI provides information on a confidential basis in order for decision makers to determine an individuals suitability. The Senate has the information it needs to follow up with witnesses and gather and assess the relevant evidence."

The Republicans also disputed the suggestion in Ford's letter that the committee had not been accommodating: "Contrary to suggestions by Dr. Fords attorneys, the committee had no plans to place Dr. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh on a panel together, and never indicated plans to do so. Grassleys staff offered Dr. Ford multiple dates as well as a choice of providing information in a public or private setting."

Meanwhile, Feinstein and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer released statements backing Ford.

"We should honor Dr. Blasey Fords wishes and delay this hearing," Feinstein said. "A proper investigation must be completed, witnesses interviewed, evidence reviewed and all sides spoken to. Only then should the chairman set a hearing date."

Feinstein had told Fox News earlier Tuesday that she could not be sure Ford was being entirely truthful.

"This is a woman who has been profoundly impacted by this," Feinstein said. "Now, I can't say everything's truthful. I don't know."

In a separate statement, Schumer said an FBI probe would be consistent with "precedent," adding, "Dr. Fords call for the FBI to investigate... demonstrates her confidence that when all the facts are examined by an impartial investigation, her account will be further corroborated and confirmed."

ABC NEWS STAR MATTHEW DOWD SLAMMED FOR CALLING JUSTICE CLARENCE THOMAS A 'SEXUAL PREDATOR'

Ford went public on Sunday, alleging that Kavanaugh forced himself onto her and covered her mouth in the 1980s, when Kavanaugh was 17 and she was 15. Ford did not mention the incident to others by her own admission until 2012, according to The Washington Post, when her therapist recorded her claim that four individuals had committed the assault.

Ford has since claimed that the therapist incorrectly transcribed that detail, and that she had said there were only two people in the room. Her husband has maintained that Ford mentioned Kavanaugh in the therapy sessions.

Ford also told The Post she could not remember in whose house the alleged incident occurred, the exact month of the episode, or why there was a gathering there.

Fox News' Gregg Re, Brooke Singman, John Roberts and Mike Emanuel contributed to this report.NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

Hackers working on behalf of a foreign government are still targeting the personal accounts of senators and their aides and Senate security isn't stopping it, a Democratic lawmaker said in a letter to U.S. Senate leaders on Wednesday.

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., claimed that "at least one major technology company" has warned senators and their staff that their accounts are being targeted by hackers from foreign governments.

The Senate Sergeant at Arms (SAA) isn't defending the lawmakers, Wyden, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, alleged.

A spokesperson from the office told The Associated Press it would have no comment.

"Given the signficance of this threat, I was alarmed to learn that SAA cybersecurity personnel apparently refused to help Senators and Senate staff after these attacks," Wyden wrote.

The senator said that those who "asked for helped" were told the SAA "may not offer cybersecurity assistance for personal accounts."

Wyden argued that the 2016 presidential election "made it clear that foreign governments, including Russia, are leveraging cyberspace to target the fundamental pillars of American democracy," and noted the Trump administration has said Russia is continuing its hacking operations.

US SENATE IN RUSSIAN HACKERS' CROSSHAIRS, CYBERSECURITY FIRM SAYS

The senator proposed legislation that would allow the SAA to offer digital protection for personal accounts and devices  which the security office said it lacks the authority to protect  in the same way it does with official versions.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

President Trump on Wednesday traveled to the Carolinas to visit areas ravaged by Hurricane Florence last week, assuring local families and officials that the federal government would provide "a lot of money," and that there will be "nothing left undone" in recovery efforts.

At his first stop in Cherry Point, N.C., Trump participated in a hurricane briefing, where he praised all agencies involved in recovery efforts, calling Florence the most powerful hurricane to hit the Carolinas.

Speaking directly to families in North Carolina, the president offered his support.

"America grieves for you, in our hearts, and prays for you," the president said. "We are with you."

The president assured locals that federal funding would be available.

"Weve had a lot of help from Congress, in all fairness," Trump said. "Were ready and they are ready to do whatever we have to do to make this perfect, and unfortunately that means the money will be a lot, but it will come as fast as you need, but to take care of everybody."

Trump said federal resources would be there "100 percent."

"We started early, well be here late," Trump added.

"Were getting all teed up for a lot of money to come down to the area. Youre going to need it. We have it, and we will be supplying it," the president said. "There will be nothing left undone. You will have everything you needgoing to be probably a rough two weeks and then itll get a little bit softer."

Trump added: "People dont realize how a very difficult phase is beginning, even with the beautiful sunshine."

Trump traveled with North Carolina Republican Sens. Richard Burr and Thom Tillis; South Carolina Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott; Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, chief of staff John Kelly, Small Business Administrator Linda McMahon and Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney.

The president met Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Brock Long on the ground in North Carolina.

Following the briefing in Cherry Point, the presidents motorcade traveled to the city of New Bern, where he visited Temple Church, a Baptist church serving as a distribution center. Trump was greeted by the local pastor.

The church was stocked with 1,200 meals for locals in need. The president helped volunteers distribute the meals.

The president then toured a neighborhood in New Bern, telling locals that the government was "going to be here with you, you know that, were with you already, well get it fixed up."

Later Wednesday afternoon, the president arrived in South Carolina, where he went on a walking tour of hurricane damage in Conway, near Myrtle Beach.

Trump greeted some residents and told them things are "going to be OK," while other residents thanked him for coming. He also attended a briefing with officials, which was joined by Graham and Scott.

At a second briefing with emergency officials in Horry County, S.C., Trump warned that "over the next couple of days, it's going to get rough in South Carolina."

"You're going to have a rebuilding process and we are behind you from day one," the president added. "Washington is with you, Trump is with you, we are all with you 100 percent and we'll get through it."

The storm dumped nearly three feet of rain in North Carolina. At least 27 of the 37 Florence-related deaths happened in North Carolina.

In South Carolina, two women died on Tuesday after a van was overtaken by rising floodwaters.

According to the White House, 20,000 federal employees have been mobilized to assist with Florence recovery, with FEMA conducting more than 2,000 rescues in the region, and sheltering 15,000 people.

The White House said the administration was prepared for Florence, "prestaging numerous resources and planning federal assistance."

Federal authorities have been working with private partners as well, including the American Red Cross.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters that the president "wanted to see the areas that were hit the hardest and most impacted by flooding," adding that he also wanted to make sure to meet with people in those areas.

Fox News Serafin Gomez, Matt Leach, Kristin Brown, Jennifer Bowman and The Associated Press contributed to this report.NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

President Trump will travel to North Carolina on Wednesday to survey the impact of Florence, the White House said.

Sarah Sanders, White House press secretary, confirmed the president's travel plans Tuesday.

The president is scheduled to arrive at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in mid-morning on Wednesday to visit storm-ravaged Eastern North Carolina, South Carolina's the State reported.

U.S. Rep. David Rouzer, R-N.C., whose district includes many areas hit hardest by Florence, will join the president in his visit, the report said.

Trump is scheduled to spend much of the day in the area so he may also visit South Carolina, according to the paper.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said Tuesday that he didn't yet know if the president would be visiting his state.

We dont know. Wed love to have them, McMaster told the News & Observer of Raleigh, N.C. Ill tell you what, though, we are delighted to have had the attention and communication with President Trump and with (his) administration  officials and cabinet members.

A source familiar with the trips planning told the State on Monday that Trump was set to visit Horry County with a stop in the Conway area.

Conway and other Horry County communities are experiencing historic flooding that's expected to worsen over the next week, the paper reported.



The president is scheduled to return to the Washington area by 6:15 p.m., the report said. Other details on his schedule before his return were not immediately available.

Trump tweeted thanks Tuesday to the "great Coast Guard for doing such a tremendous job," with a video showing the Coast Guard at work.

Later Tuesday, he tweeted another video, thanking the "incredible men and women who have done such a great job in helping with Florence."

"This is a tough hurricane. One of the wettest we've ever seen from the standpoint of water," Trump said in the video. "Rarely have we had an experience like it. And it certainly is not good."

He lauded the work of FEMA, the military and the Coast Guard as "really something special."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.Watch out for this big boss.

A great-grandmother in Texas recently killed a massive alligator, according to a Facebook post.

One shot -> One Big-un down! Facebook user Scott Hughes wrote on Monday when sharing snaps of the creature nabbed by Livingston mayor Judy B. Cochran.

Hughes post said the male gator weighed in at 580 pounds.

GIANT 'CONTRACTING CREATURE' SPOTTED ON BEACH STUNS FAMILY: 'IT'S ALIVE'

The woman's kill recently went down at her ranch in Goodrich, the Houston Chronicle reported.

"We think this is the gator that ate one of our miniature horses several years ago, as big as this gator was, he couldve easily eaten it, Cochran told the newspaper. Typically the gators dont bother us, but weve been looking for (this one).

Cochran said the creature would be used for food and fashion.

GREAT WHITE SHARK LAIR IN PACIFIC OCEAN DISCOVERED BY SCIENTISTS

Moye Taxidermy will be processing it, well eat the meat, have the head mounted and have the ridgeback part of the tail in my office, she explained.

Cochran added, Well have the hide tanned to make some boots out of it, you can only make boots from the belly.

The hunt was ethical, according to the mayor.Archaeologists believe they have found the final resting place of Captain James Cook's ship, HMS Endeavour, off the East Coast of the United States.

The possible discovery of the ship Cook used to sail to Australia could solve one of the greatest ever maritime mysteries.

Archaeologists from the Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project (RIMAP) think they have located the resting place of the famous vessel, which carried Cook to Australia in 1770.

CLICK FOR MORE FROM THE SUN

The ship was later used in the American war of independence where it was scuttled, along with 12 other vessels, off Newport, R.I., in August 1778 to act as a blockade.

There are now plans to try and excavate the sunken vessel next year  the 250th anniversary of his arrival in Oz, according to The Age.

Britain could stake a claim for the wreckage to be housed in the U.K.

The breakthrough will be officially announced on Friday after a 25-year search for the exploration ship.

The Australian National Maritime Museum and the RIMAP will release 3D images of the wreck site.

It is thought to be located just off Goat Island, a small island in the Narragansett Bay.

Kathy Abbass, director of the RIMAP, told Fairfax Media: "We can say we think we know which one it is.

"It is exciting, we are closing in.

"This is a vessel that is significant to people around the world."

Divers are currently working to confirm whether one of five shipwrecks in the area is the Endeavour.

The vessel was made of oak and pine in the north of England and has been under the waves for more than 200 years.

Scientists are not sure what condition the wreck will be in once it is extracted from the sea bed.

The Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission is now the custodian of the shipwrecks.

The U.S. Space Shuttle Endeavour is named after the ship.

The Endeavour made it into the history books as the first European ship to reach the east coast of Australia at what is now called Botany Bay.

Approximately one month after his return, Cook was promoted to the rank of commander.

In November 1771, he was sent on a second expedition aboard HMS Resolution.

He was killed during an altercation with Hawaiians at Kealakekua Bay on Feb. 14, 1779.

This story originally appeared in The Sun.



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.Residents affected by the aftermath of Hurricane Florence may have noticed something unusual floating in the storms floodwaters: islands of fire ants.

"Fire ant colonies construct their nests in the soil. Sometimes these nests can grow to be 3-4 feet deep. Flooding after a storm event, like Florence in The Carolinas, will saturate the soil and push the ants up and out of their nest," Adrian Allen Smith, a research biologist and head of the Evolutionary Biology & Behavior Lab at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, told Fox News in an email Wednesday.

"So, when they are displaced from their nest, they cluster together and form a living raft. Workers cling to each other and provide their nest mates ground to stand on," he continued.

The ants will "float like this until they drift into dry land or the flood recedes and they can dig into the soil and rebuild their nest," Smith said, noting to The Charlottesville Observer the ants will "float indefinitely" if no dry land is found. "Thats when you get reports of people bumping into them."

Fire ants, much like other creatures, such as snakes, can be displaced from their habitats during hurricanes or heavy rainfall that results in flooding.

As for colonies of fire ants, the creatures will form a loose ball, float, and flow with the water until they reach a dry area or object they can crawl up on. Floating fire ant colonies can look like ribbons, streamers, mats, rafts, or an actual 'ball' of ants floating on the water, Texas A&M University Agrilife Extension specialist Paul Nester said.

SOUTH TEXAS RESIDENTS SEE INCREASE IN MOSQUITOES, SOME REPORTEDLY QUARTER-SIZED

These amoeba-like ant masses contain all of the colonies members: brood (eggs, larvae, pupae), queen ants, winged reproductive males and females, and worker ants, he continued.

While the ants work to survive, the insects can prove to be dangerous to humans who cross their path.

According to Smith, rafting fire ants are "in a state where their entire colony is unprotected and vulnerable to would-be predators" when they're displaced and floating to find a new area to call home. This can result in the ants producing more venom, he said, adding the insects have been known to deliver multiple stings if humans come into contact with them.

"Fire ants are notorious for their painful stings. A floating fire ant colony is 10s to 100s of thousands of stinging ants out in the open. Unlike honeybees, an individual fire ant is able to deliver multiple stings," Smith said.

Avoid contact with floating mats of fire ants. If you are in a row boat, do not touch the ants with the oars since they can 'climb aboard' via the oars. Occasionally, floating ant masses are encountered even indoors in flooded structures, Nester advised in the handout.

Fire ant stings can be treated by washing the affected area with soap and water, or using over-the-counter anti-itch or pain relieving creams, according to Healthline. Those allergic to fire ant stings could have a serious reaction if stung. Signs of a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction include nausea, dizziness and difficulty breathing, the publication warns.

North Carolina residents still dealing with the aftermath of Florence should wear protective clothing  such as boots gloves, long pants, long-sleeve shirts, and socks. Spray insect repellent containing DEET onto your shoes and lower pants legs, Nester recommended.

OHIO'S 'BEE MAN' REMOVES MASSIVE HORNETS' NEST FROM CAR IN SHOCKING VIDEO

Spraying fire ants with a mixture of water and biodegradable liquid dishwashing detergent has been known to sink the ants as well, according to Nester.

After Hurricane Harvey, Texas residents also saw an influx of floating fire ants.An angler in Georgia recently reeled in a Kemps ridley sea turtle off a pier in Tybee Island.

The angler, John Amann, accidentally caught the Kemp's ridley sea turtle  the most endangered of all sea turtles  on Monday, according to the Savannah Morning News.

James Fleullan, who witnessed the event, posted pictures of the sea creature to the North American Field Herping Associations Facebook page.

"As a certified naturalist and environmental educator, I was keenly aware of the species and the significance of the sighting," Fleullan told Fox News on Wednesday evening.

Fleullan emailed the state's department of natural resources to report the finding, he added.

FLORIDA BEACH LITTERED WITH 'HUNDREDS' OF DEAD FISH, MARINE LIFE

According to the North Florida Ecological Services Office, the range of the Kemp's ridley includes the Gulf coasts of Mexico and the U.S., and the Atlantic coast of North America as far north as Nova Scotia and Newfoundland."

The World Wildlife Fund estimated there are roughly 1,001 to 10,000 nesting females currently. The North Florida Ecological Services Office said more than 40,000 nesting females were estimated in a single arribada in 1947.

GEORGIA HOTEL HOUSEKEEPERS FIND SEA TURTLE HATCHLINGS IN TRASH CAN, POLICE SAY

The population declined mainly due to human activity, namely the direct harvest of adults and eggs and incidental capture in commercial fishing operations, according to the ecological office.

The turtle caught on Monday was measured at 26 inches in length before it was released back into the water, the Savannah Morning News reported.A lagoon in western Greece is starting to look more like an abandoned home's basement than a picturesque shoreline. The greenery surrounding the lagoon in Aitoliko is buried in thick, sticky cobwebs.

The webs are filled with Tetragnatha spiders  known as "stretch spiders" for their long bodies. There are hundreds of species of these spiders that live in various parts of the world.

Wildlife experts say it's not uncommon for spiders to build massive nests for mating, especially when it's hot and humid toward the end of summer.

Maria Chatzaki, professor of molecular biology and genetics at Democritus University of Thrace, told Newsit Greece's high temperatures are creating the perfect climate for reproduction.

INDIANA MAN WARNS LOCALS TO 'BEWARE' OF GIANT SPIDERS AFTER SPOTTING 6-INCH CRAWLER AT WORK

"It's as if the spiders are taking advantage of these conditions and are having a kind of a party. They mate, they reproduce and provide a whole new generation," Chatzaki told the Greek news site, according to a translation from the BBC.

Fortunately, the spiders shouldn't cause any permanent damage to the area's plants. Plus, they probably won't stick around too long.

"There are huge numbers of male and female spiders mating [underneath the webs]," Chatzaki said. "The spiders will have their party and will soon die."

GEORGIA WOMAN FINDS 30 BROWN RECLUSE SPIDERS INSIDE NEW HOUSE: 'WE SHOULD JUST BURN IT DOWN'

Local Giannis Giannakopoulos shared pictures Monday of what he described as a "strange and unprecedented spectacle" on his Facebook page, garnering dozens of shares.

Giannakopoulos said it appeared the spiders were gathering on the eastern side of the beach, adding there was a "huge veil" of them covering palm trees and other vegetation. He noted they seemed to be catching plenty of mosquitoes.

"It is probably a reaction of nature to balance the system by limiting mosquitoes," he wrote.The verdict is in from the first round of reviews of the new Apple iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max, and the overall consensus is that consumers should wait for the iPhone XR.

While the new iPhones are set to hit shelves on Sept. 21, the Xs and Xs Max are almost visually the same as the iPhone X, except for the larger screen of the Max. The iPhone Xs is a direct replacement for the 2017 iPhone X with a 5.8-inch screen, starting at $999. The iPhone Xs Max, the largest iPhone yet, is a more expensive phone, starting at $1,099 and has a 6.5-inch screen.

Despite the design upgrade, reviewers say the extra pixels may not be worth the hefty price tag, especially since the iPhone XR starts at $749, has a 6.1-inch screen and is available in stores on Oct. 26.

WALL STREET ANALYST THINKS $749 IPHONE XR IS TOO CHEAP

Joanna Stern of The Wall Street Journal told current iPhone owners to sit tight for the XR.

Unless you are in an iPhone upgrade program or absolutely dying for that Max screen, dont jump from the X to the Xs," Stern wrote. "Going back to last years model, I missed the speed boost a bit, but not enough to drop another grand or more.

She added that her Xs Max screen cracked after it fell onto wood, completely weakening Apples claim the new phones have the most durable glass in the world.

Raymond Wong of Mashable concurred, writing that holding off for the iPhone XR makes sense as it has almost the same features as the Xs and Xs Max.

If the prices are still a turn-off, consider holding off until the iPhone XR launches in late October; it starts at $749 and has virtually all of the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max features minus the superior OLED screens and secondary rear camera," Wong wrote. "Plus it comes in colors like blue, red, yellow, and coral.

Wired journalist Lauren Goode was also seemingly unimpressed, calling the iPhone XS and XS Maxs upgrades an evolution rather than a revolution.

APPLE WATCH WILL CALL FOR HELP IF YOU FALL

Aside from one of the phones having a giant display, the iPhone XS and the larger iPhone XS Max dont feel much different from last years iPhone X. This years phones dont spark strong feelings  except maybe chagrin that they cost so much, Goode wrote.

Its impressive incrementalism: Theres a noticeably faster chip, and a camera that captures a greater level of detail that you can actually see," Goode continued. "Apple has nudged innovation in smartphones forward again, even if some of the results (like new apps that will use the new tech) have yet to be experienced.

Finally, Gareth Beavis writing for TechRadar, said consumers should consider Samsung, Sony or OnePlus phones if they want to have the impression of carrying a thinner device with a large screen.

He noted:

The iPhone XS Max design is deceptive. Pick it up, and the rounded sides of the handset make it feel noticeably thick. The result is a phone that doesnt sit as comfortably in the hand as it could, and considering the size and cost of the XS Max its a phone you want to be able to securely hold. This is only half the story though.

APPLE MAKES HISTORY WITH MASSIVE NEW IPHONE, APPLE WATCH

We compared the iPhone XS Max to a number of phones during our in-depth review, including the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 (6.4-inch screen), OnePlus 6 (6.2-inch) and Sony Xperia XZ3 (6-inch), and the iPhone felt thicker, and less planted in the hand then all of them.

The funny thing is though, the iPhone XS Max is thinner than all of those phones at just 7.7mm."

So before shelling out $1,000 for the iPhone XS or XS Max, it might be worth waiting just one more month for the iPhone XR that comes at a cheaper price and has many of the same features.Facebook and Google could be forced to pay billions to media publishers, music companies and filmmakers if a proposed copyright rule is formally adopted in Europe.

The proposed copyright directive could upend the internet as we know it. Article 11, which has been dubbed a link tax by critics, would mandate that news aggregation platforms like Google and Facebook pay publishers for showing news snippets or linking to news stories on other websites.

Europes largest news agencies have urged lawmakers to support it, having accused the two tech giants of plundering the news and vacuuming up their advertising revenue.

FACEBOOK ACCUSED OF ALLOWING GENDER BIAS IN JOB ADS

As it stands, Google and Facebook are estimated to account for 57.7 percent of 2018 digital ad revenue in the U.S, while Amazon garners 4.15 percent, according to research firm eMarketer.

Article 13 would force platforms like YouTube to seek licenses for content such as music videos, which creatives have said would help them negotiate better royalty payments.

This is a great day for Europes creators. The Parliament has sent a clear message that copyright needs to be modernised to clarify obligations of platforms with regard to the creative works they distribute, Helen Smith, executive chair of European music organization Impala, said in a statement.

Google pays traffic acquisition costs (TAC), which consists of payments made to affiliates and online firms that direct traffic to their website. In the three months ending June 30, Google paid $6.4 billion in TAC. Facebook does not pay TAC, but it does share revenue with publishers from several different ways, including its Audience Network, Facebook Watch and its subscription tools, something Google also offers.

"People want access to quality news and creative content online. Weve always said that more innovation and collaboration are the best way to achieve a sustainable future for the European news and creative sectors, and were committed to continued close partnership with these industries," a Google spokesperson told Fox News.

Critics of the proposal claim it will radically alter the internetputting the kibosh on sharing remixes and memes forever. In Italy, Wikipedia blocked readers from its site on Tuesday in protest over the lawwhich Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales has called disastrous.

In June, 70 major players in technologyincluding World Wide Web inventor Tim Berners-Lee, a range of academics and advocacy groupssigned a letter to EU lawmakers which stated that article 13 would take an unprecedented step towards the transformation of the internet from an open platform for sharing and innovation, into a tool for the automated surveillance and control of its users.

AIR FORCE CITES NEED TO DEFEND AGAINST ENEMY'S HYPERSONIC WEAPONS

The EU parliament on Wednesday approved amended versions of the copyright laws more controversial directives, known as articles 11 and 13.

The damage that this may do to the free and open internet as we know it is hard to predict, but in our opinions could be substantial, the letter also said.

Still, proponents like Alex Voss, a German Christian Democrat Minister of European Parliament, claim the law will end "cultural theft" and "protect Europe's creative, artists and journalists."

The music industry has long argued that platforms like YouTube exploit artists by harnessing the lack of legal protection for music videos in order to pay creators miniscule fees.

YouTube's Content ID initiative has paid out at least $2 billion to rightsholders by monetizing content uploaded to the platform, while YouTube has also paid more than $3 billion to the music industry.

Google-owned YouTube says it pays $3 per 1,000 streams, which the video-sharing site says is higher than Sweden-based Spotify.

The proposal, which faces a final vote in the European parliament in January, will now enter three-way negotiations with the European commission and the Council of the European Union, according to the Guardian.

Fox News has reached out to Facebook for comment.After 19 years, one of Disneys classic nighttime shows is finally ending. IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth, the evening spectacle that has lit up Epcots World Showcase Lagoon since 1999, will be no more.

The stirring retelling of Earths origins from creation to community has long been a crowd favorite, performed nightly in the center of Epcots 11 country pavilions. IllumiNations final show wont be until end of next summer, but luckily, its replacement will be right behind it.

According to Disney Parks Blog, the subsequent show will debut immediately after IllumiNations final bow, giving guests yet another reason to visit the parks in 2019 beyond Mickey Mouses first ride and the opening of Star Wars: Galaxys Edge in late fall.

What exactly will Epcots new nighttime extravaganza entail? No ones certain, but its likely that IllumiNations successor will feature familiar characters more often seen at parks like Disneys Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom. Disneys dedication to updating the theme park to be more of a family-friendly destination has spurred a multi-year transformation, marked by the arrival of a "Ratatouille" ride and "Guardians of the Galaxy" indoor roller coaster before Walt Disney Worlds 50th Anniversary in 2021.

Its a significant shift from the roots of Disneys technology- and science-centric theme park, which grew out of Walts plans for an idyllic futuristic city, but fans of the nearly two-decade-old show need not be heartbroken. Walt Disney Worlds replacement of longstanding Magic Kingdom nighttime fireworks show "Wishes with Happily Ever After" last year received widespread praise. The forward-thinking, visually stunning masterpiece has since become a cant-miss part of a Disney World vacation for its storytelling, special effects, and delightful soundtrack.

Its all but guaranteed that a combination of similar jaw-dropping features will make IllumiNations replacement even more of a spectacle, honoring Epcots innovative origins in its design, whether or not a spinning globe cracks wide open at the end.

In terms of technology specifically, we find it no small coincidence that Disney performed a drone show over a similar-size body of water for Christmas two years back. Whether or not they are actually put to use, one thing is for certain: 2019 is going to be a big year for Orlando.

This article originally appeared on Travel + Leisure.A Singapore Airlines pilot has been suspended by his employer after failing a random breathalyzer test before captaining a transcontinental flight from Melbourne, Australia, to Wellington, New Zealand.

Though the flight was quickly canceled, one frustrated passenger claims that the airline staffers initially told those on board a clear lie that the termination of the trip occurred because the pilot was under the weather.

On Sept. 15, crew members aboard Singapore Airlines flight SQ247 were was asked to take the random drug and alcohol test by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority before takeoff around 7 a.m., Channel News Asia reported.

DELTA AIR LINES PILOT GROUNDED FOR CONCEALING 'MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER' TO KEEP FLYING

The unnamed male aviator "did not pass the test due to having higher than suitable blood alcohol limit," a rep for the airline confirmed to Fox News.

The spokesperson further confirmed that flight SQ247 and the return flight SQ248 were indeed canceled as an operating crew member was deemed unfit to fly.

Civil Aviation Safety Authority officials undertook a random drug and alcohol test of all crew prior to them starting their pre-flight checks, the rep said. The pilot in question did not pass the test due to having a higher than suitable blood alcohol limit. The pilot in question was stood down and has been suspended from all duties effective immediately.

He has returned to Singapore where a full investigation will be undertaken, they added. We will also work closely with the Australian and Singaporean authorities to ensure they are supplied the information they require.

"We sincerely apologize to those affected by the cancellation of these flights. However, the safety of our customers and crew is our highest priority."

The identity of the pilot has not been disclosed.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS

Meanwhile, a disgruntled passenger has said hes exasperated with Singapore Airlines for initially telling passengers a clear lie as to why the flight was canceled.

One traveler, who identified himself as Muteki, told News.com.au that passengers were waiting to board when airline staffers announced that there was an issue.

My impression was that they were sick. Then 15 minutes later they said it was the captain. All the communication was that the pilot was 'sick' or 'not in the condition to fly,' Muteki said.

Later, when I spoke to airline staff, they told me the pilot had eaten something bad. That was a clear lie.

According to the outlet, passengers were then rescheduled on different flights to reach Wellington.

Many of the affected travelers took to Twitter to voice their grievances, describing the overall experience with Singapore Airlines as terrible and appalling.

According to Singapore's Civil Aviation Authority (CAAS), this is the first case of its kind to be investigated within the CAAS in 10 years, the Straits Times reported.

Singapore carriers generally enforce rules that stipulate all pilots and crew must abstain from alcohol for 8 hours before a flight, but Singapore Airlines requires its crew to abstain for 10 hours, the outlet added.Four men who said they were sexually abused as boys by a teacher at a Catholic church have reached a $27.5 million settlement with the Diocese of Brooklyn.

The New York Times reports Tuesday that the agreement is one of the largest settlements ever awarded to sexual abuse victims within the Catholic Church. The men will each receive about $6.8 million.

The settlement comes just two weeks after the New York attorney general subpoenaed all eight Roman Catholic dioceses in the state as part of an investigation into the handling of sex abuse allegations. A grand jury report this summer found rampant sexual abuse of more than 1,000 children by about 300 priests in Pennsylvania.

"These were boys who were abused in second grade through sixth grade, for years for some of them," said Ben Rubinowitz, one of the lawyers for the victims. "The egregious nature of the conduct is the reason that the church paid what they did."

Lawyers for the victims say 67-year-old Angelo Serrano, a lay teacher of religion at St. Lucy's-St. Patrick's Church in Brooklyn, repeatedly abused the victims between 2003 and 2009. Serrano is serving a 15-year sentence after pleading guilty in 2011 to inappropriate course of sexual conduct with a child.

"We hope this is another step forward in the healing process for these claimants," the Diocese of Brooklyn said in a statement. "The Diocese remains committed to ensuring that its parishes, schools and youth programs remain safe and secure for the young people who are entrusted to our care."

The statement added that Serrano was a "volunteer worker" at a local parish and "was not clergy or an employee of the Diocese or parish."

Since June 2017, 414 victims have applied for settlements through the Independent Reconciliation Compensation Program in Brooklyn. Other dioceses in the state run similar programs.

The latest settlement comes just two weeks after New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood subpoenaed all eight Roman Catholic dioceses in the state as part of an investigation into the handling of sex abuse allegations.

___

Information from: The New York Times, http://www.nytimes.comA Northern California jury on Tuesday found guilty a career criminal thought to be the "Gypsy Hill Killer" of raping and murdering two teenage girls more than 42 years ago.

The San Mateo County jury deliberated for a little more than an hour before finding Rodney Halbower guilty.

Authorities believe the 69-year-old is responsible for other rapes and murders of young women in Northern California and Reno, Nevada, over a five-month span in 1976. In 2004, advances in DNA technology connected Halbower to the murders. He was in an Oregon prison at the time.

Halbower is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 10 in Redwood City, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of San Francisco. The judge is required to sentence Halbower under the sentencing laws of 1976, the year the crimes occurred.

District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said the stiffest sentence available then was life with the possibility of parole. Wagstaffe said the judge can impose consecutive sentences, meaning if Halbower was given parole for one murder, he would start serving the life sentence for the second.

"Our expectation is that this monster of a killer will never, ever, be allowed to be free on our streets again," Wagstaffe said.

The six murders remained a mystery for four decades until a cold-case detective re-opened the investigation. He scraped DNA samples from cigarette butts found at the scene and in 2014 they were discovered to match Halbower's genetic makeup. DNA taken from the victims also matched Halbower's DNA, prosecutors told jurors.

It took four years to start Halbower's after he was charged with two of the murders. He routinely fired his attorneys and demanded to represent himself. A judge also ordered a trial to determine if he was sane enough to stand trial. A jury in 2017 found him sane.

The start of the murder trial almost ended as soon as it started on Sept. 7 with Halbower disrupting the proceedings.

"I am not guilty!" he yelled at the jury. "I have never raped or murdered in my life!"

The judge declined public defender John Halley's calls for a mistrial and Halbower ceased his outbursts.

"He doesn't get to set up his own mistrial," Judge Mark Forcum said.

He stopped the outbursts after that and Wagstaffe said Halbower calmly congratulated prosecutor Sean Gallagher after the verdicts were read.

Prosecutors said they charged him with the two murders with the strongest evidence and expected he would be locked up for life if convicted.

Gallagher told the jury about the two teen girls who were abducted, raped and killed in a once-tranquil suburb, and that DNA from semen found in both women and preserved for decades matched Halbower's DNA. One of the victims was stabbed to death and the other was beaten in the head with concrete and stabbed in her heart.

Authorities in the 1970s said the killings were linked and dubbed the attacker the Gypsy Hill Killer for the location where one of the first victims was found. Halbower is also suspected of raping and killing a nursing student in Reno during the same period as the five California killings.

It's possible that Halbower would never have been linked to the attacks had he not escaped from a Nevada prison in December 1986. He made his way to Oregon, where he was arrested on suspicion of rape and attempted murder within days of his escape.

An Oregon jury convicted Halbower and sentenced him to 15 years in prison in that state. First, he was returned to Nevada to finish that state's prison term.

When Nevada paroled him in 2013, he was sent back to Oregon, where prison officials took a DNA sample and submitted it to the national database investigators use to revive stalled investigations. Authorities say the results linked him to the Gypsy Hill case.

Court records show Halbower has spent the past 53 years in prison or on the lam.Elizabeth Smart said Tuesday that she's been assured the woman who helped kidnap her when she was 14 and stood by as she was sexually assaulted will be closely watched when she's released from prison.

In an interview on "CBS This Morning," Smart said she believes Wanda Barzee remains a danger. Barzee is expected to be freed Wednesday after 15 years in custody because Utah authorities had miscalculated the amount of time the 72-year-old woman should serve.

Smart said she doesn't know all the conditions of Barzee's release but that she's been told a federal agent will keep a "close eye" on Barzee and that she would be returned to prison "as soon as she messes up."

Barzee will be under federal supervision for five years. If she violates terms that include required mental health treatment and an order not to contact Smart's family, she would go back to prison.

Smart, now 30, said she has faith in federal probation officers, but lacks faith in Barzee.

Smart said she's gone through a roller coaster of emotions since she found out last week Barzee would be released five years earlier than expected. She said she feels concerned for herself and the community as she remembers being mistreated during her nine months in captivity with Barzee and her husband, Brian David Mitchell, who kidnapped Smart from her Salt Lake City bedroom in 2002. Mitchell is serving a life sentence.

"The feeling that kind of radiated from her, it just was dark. And it was evil," Smart said. "I just knew that she wasn't there to help me, that she wasn't there to protect me."

Smart said Barzee encouraged Mitchell to rape her, something that happened daily, she said. They also forced her to drink alcohol.

"She was evil and twisted," Smart said.

___

This story has been updated to correct the kidnapper's last name to Mitchell.The U.S. border wall with Mexico is frequently in the news, but few people have a chance to visit it up close, or to see details of the various sections.

Kenneth Madsen, an Ohio State University geography professor and border wall expert, hopes his new photo exhibit will help bring the border closer to people at a time of heated discussion about the role of the wall, and of barriers in society overall.

"Up Close with U.S.-Mexico Border Barriers" opens Wednesday at the LeFevre Art Gallery on the Ohio State campus in Newark, 40 miles (64 kilometers) east of Columbus. The free exhibit of 33 poster-sized pictures features border wall photos and maps.

One of the exhibit's goals is creating awareness about the wall, which can include low-grade sections in rural areas meant to stop vehicles and much stronger barriers in cities meant to stop people, Madsen said.

"People don't generally have a chance to see something up close, at that level of detail, to know what's going on out there," he said.

President Donald Trump has held out the possibility of a government shutdown before the November elections over his effort to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, even as Republican congressional leaders publicly urged him away from that path and predicted it wouldn't occur. "Build the wall!" was a frequent rallying cry during Trump's 2016 campaign.

Madsen has studied the border wall since his graduate school days 20 years ago. His photo exhibit consists of pictures taken with his iPhone mostly in 2017, when he was on sabbatical.

In one image, children play at a Mexican playground beside a barrier in Tijuana near the Pacific Ocean while a U.S. border agent watches from his SUV on the American side just a couple of hundred feet away.

In another, stadium lights atop tall poles oversee a pedestrian barrier stretching for miles along a section of the wall between Douglas, Arizona, and Agua Prieta in the Mexican state of Sonora.

In a third, a post-on-rail type wall snakes through a Colorado River flood plain between Arizona and Baja California in Mexico, a design meant to minimize soil disturbance in fragile landscapes, as well as to prevent it being washed away in a flood.

U.S. communities tend to grow away from the border wall, while Mexican communities tend to hug them up close, Madsen said. That helps account for large murals or brightly painted panels along several sections on the Mexican side.

Madsen is also an expert on waivers along the wall, whereby the government can exempt fence construction from a variety of federal requirements, including archaeological and environmental surveys.

Madsen plans to attend an international conference on border walls next week in Montreal.

Another border expert attending that conference says it's important to share the experience of the border with people through such exhibits because so many stereotypes about the wall are wrong.

"The social construction of the border is negative and it's perpetuated by people that have never even seen it, been here, touched it, felt it, crossed it," said Irasema Coronado, a political science professor at the University of Texas-El Paso and a past president of the Association for Borderland Studies.

Madsen's exhibit isn't overtly political, and provides useful information for people on both sides of the border debate. But he notes the irony that wall building has increased with the rise of globalization.

Though the free-flow of capital means more freedom for more people, "there also are these border walls and fences to restrict movement of people of lesser economic means with fewer opportunities available, who are maybe stuck in bad situations," he said.

___

Andrew Welsh-Huggins can be reached on Twitter at https://twitter.com/awhcolumbus.The man who unknowingly starred in a viral video that showed him shaving his face aboard a train was reportedly trying to make himself presentable while enroute to his brothers house after having lived in a New York City homeless shelter.

Anthony Torres, 56, was on the train leaving New York's Penn Station, bound for New Jersey on Thursday evening when he was caught on video shaving, according to The Associated Press. In the recording, Torres is seen going over his entire face before flicking excess shaving cream towards the floor.

Prior to the train ride, Torres had been living in a homeless shelter, he told the outlet. He was able to buy a ticket to make his way towards his brothers Atco, New Jersey home after receiving money from another relative. However, he hadnt been able to shower or shave before setting off, he said.

VICTORIA BECKHAM DANCING TO SPICE GIRLS SONG INSIDE LONDON CLUB BECOMES VIRAL HIT

My life is all screwed up, Torres told The Associated Press. That's the reason I was shaving on the train.

I don't want to say that I'm homeless, let everybody know, he said.

Throughout his life, Torres was employed in several careers, such as a casino security guard, and would relocate for work when necessary, he told The Associated Press.

Torres  whos says he's been plagued with two strokes in recent years  said he's also taken to resting at bus stations and residing in motels.

The video  which was viewed online more than two million times  drew sharp remarks from some, who labeled Torres a slob and an animal. However, others warned against judging him, saying that perhaps the video didnt capture the moment accurately.

MILITARY MOMS JOYOUS AIRPORT REUNION WITH YOUNG SON GOES VIRAL

Torres was both hurt and surprised after learning that hed been featured in the video, he told The Associated Press, saying: I never thought it would go viral, people making fun of me.

Thomas, Torres 57-year-old brother who was giving him a place to crash, said his younger brother hadnt experienced an easy life but also had a tendency to make short-sighted choices and didnt always think about the impact of his actions.

When he did what he did, that to him was normal, Thomas said, referring to shaving on the train. He's not that kind of person that does it because of spite or because he wants the attention.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.Dozens of family members and friends of four slain women who investigators say were the victims of a U.S. Border Patrol supervisor gathered Tuesday evening in South Texas to remember them at a vigil.

In a park near San Agustin Cathedral in downtown Laredo, they held small candles and photos of their loved ones while praying, crying and exchanging hugs. Many described still being in disbelief and experiencing numbness, saying the women didn't deserve to die.

Members of Melissa Ramirez's family wore pink and carried signs that read, "We want justice for all victims."

Claudine Anne Luera's relatives held roses and photos of her during the vigil. They described her as a loving mother of five.

"She was loved. Just like these other victims, they had families. They are much more than what's being told about them," her sister, Colette Mireles, said.

Juan David Ortiz was arrested Saturday while hiding in a hotel parking garage. Investigators believe he fatally shot four women during separate attacks after taking each of them to desolate areas outside of Laredo. Investigators say a fifth victim escaped and contacted authorities.

Ortiz is facing several charges, including four counts of murder.

Authorities have said the women were believed to have been sex workers who the suspect knew and targeted for their vulnerability.

Relatives acknowledged that the victims had fallen on hard times for one reason or another and ended up on Laredo's streets, but they said the women still were loved by their families. They pointed to the crowd at the vigil, saying the women will not be forgotten and that family members will continue to fight for justice.

Those killed include 29-year-old Ramirez and 42-year-old Luera. A third victim was a 28-year-old transgender woman who authorities said had the birth name Humberto Ortiz but was known as Janelle. The fourth victim's name hasn't been released.A T-6 Texan trainer from Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph crashed roughly 30 miles from the base near Rolling Oaks Mall, Air Education and Training Command officials said Tuesday.

The crew ejected and is safe with minor injuries reported at the site, AETC said in a Facebook post.

There were no civilian casualties, and the extent of damage to property has not been assessed, officials said.

Members from the bases fire and safety units from the 12th Flying Training Wing responded to the incident alongside local responders, the announcement said.

Two parachutes were seen deploying from the aircraft, indicating the airmen ejected prior to the crash, Col. Dedra Witham, AETC spokeswoman, told reporters during the Air Force Association Air, Space and Cyber conference.

The Air Force is investigating the incident, Witham said.

Click for more from Military.com.Mark DAmico, who along with his girlfriend helped raise roughly $400,000 for a homeless good Samaritan - only for the money to never be fully handed over - promised Tuesday that details of what happened would ultimately become crystal clear.



DAmicos remarks to a reporter came while he was at a courthouse in New Jersey for a separate case, according to The Associated Press.

Criminal charges have not been filed against DAmico or his girlfriend, Kate McClure, who together created a GoFundMe account and raised funds for Johnny Bobbitt, a homeless veteran who in November 2017 gave McClure his last $20 after she was stuck on the side of a Philadelphia roadway.

The Burlington County Prosecutors Office previously said they were investigating the couple.

HOMELESS PHILADELPHIA MAN JOHNNY BOBBITT WILL GET HIS $400G, GOFUNDME SAYS

Following the encounter between Bobbitt and McClure, roughly $400,000 was raised for him as a thank you.

In the time since, the groups relationship has deteriorated, with Bobbitt filing a lawsuit against the couple and his attorney claiming that he received just a portion of the funds.

Once the money came in, Bobbitt said he gave some to relatives and also spent it on drugs, and the couple claimed they withheld the money to help him.

He ultimately received roughly $75,000 from the GoFundMe, which he used to purchase a camper and SUV  both of which he no longer has.

POLICE RAID NEW JERSEY COUPLES HOME AFTER $400G IN GOFUNDME CASH THEY RAISED FOR HOMELESS VETERAN DISAPPEARS

Bobbitt accused the two of mismanaging the donations, which the couple initially denied. Last month, DAmico claimed that he controls the funds and will dispense the money when Bobbitt gets a job and stops using drugs.

The lawyer for McClure and D'Amico ultimately told a court that he learned there was no money left. Its unclear what exactly happened to the money.

The pairs New Jersey home was raided earlier this month by authorities and a black BMW vehicle was caught on video as it was carted away.

Fox News Nicole Darrah and The Associated Press contributed to this report.Two pilots are safe after ejecting from an Air Force training plane on Tuesday before it crashed into a field on the north side of San Antonio, a report said.

The pilots survived the bailout from the T-6 Texan II training aircraft and sustained minor injuries, The Houston Chronicle reported.

The commander of the 12th Flying Training Wing suspended the training flights at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, the report said.

The crash was roughly 30 miles from the base near Rolling Oaks Mall, Air Education and Training Command officials told Military.com.

Obviously, this is a serious accident, so we have to follow the protocol established by the Air Force, Randy Martin, the wing's spokesman, told the Chronicle.

The cause of the crash was not immediately known, but an Air Force investigation team was on the ground.

The T-6A is used to train instructor pilots, according to the paper.

There were no civilian casualties, Military.com reported.Three people were wounded during a shooting at an office building in a suburb of Madison, Wisconsin on Wednesday.

The suspect died after being shot by police, a city official told The Associated Press.

The incident occurred at WTS Paradigm, a software company, in Middleton. The building where the shooting was reported also houses Esker Software.

The suspected shooter, who allegedly had a semi-automatic weapon, was an employee of WTS Paradigm, according to local media.

City Administrator Mike Davis initially said four people were injured during the shooting, but he and Middleton Police Chief Chuck Foulke said the correct number is three, not including the suspect.

The extent of the injuries weren't immediately known, but those wounded had been transported to a hospital.

"It appears the situation is stable now," Davis said.

ACCUSED FLORIDA COP KILLER SAYS IN JAILHOUSE VIDEOS HE WANTED BABY TO COME OUT WITH MY TRAITS

Others who evacuated from the scene of the shooting were being transported to a nearby hotel. At least 40 people were gathered in the hotel's parking lot, waiting to be interviewed by police.

Judy Lahmers, a business analyst at WTS Paradigm, said she was working at her desk when she heard shots at around 10 a.m. She said it sounded "like somebody was dropping boards on the ground, really loud."

Lahmers told The Associated Press she ran out of the building and hid behind a car. She said the building's glass entrance door shattered.

"I'm not looking back, I'm running as fast as I can. You just wonder: 'Do you hide or do you run?"' she said.

Lahmers said she knew one co-worker had been grazed by a bullet but was otherwise OK. She said the shooting was "totally unexpected. We're all software people. We have a good group."

The Wisconsin State Journal reported one woman, being held up by another person, was taken out of the building screaming about the "devastating loss."

3D MODEL OF HEAD RELEASED IN HOPES IDENTIFYING REMAINS FOUND IN GEORGIA WOODS

Andrew King, an employee at TrafficCast, told the Wisconsin State Journal he saw a person with a gun.

"I saw a dude walking with a gun inside the building," King said. "He was just walking with it, and I didn't see any shooting."

The shopping center next to the building, Greenway Station, was locked down at the direction of police, according to the center's general manager, Corey Kautzky. There are 34 stores and restaurants in the center that were temporarily closed, Kautzky said.

Multiple police cruisers and ambulances were sent to the scene and the Wisconsin State Journal reported FBI agents had also arrived. The Dane County Sheriffs Office confirmed they were assisting Middleton police. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives of St. Paul tweeted it was responding to the scene, too.

WTS Paradigm makes software for the building products industry. A Wisconsin State Journal profile from 2014 listed company employment at about 145 employees, and noted the company was looking to move to a larger location at the time. The company's website was down Wednesday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.A 3D model of a man's head may just be the thing to help authorities in Georgia identify a set of human remains found in the woods of an Atlanta suburb over three years ago.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday unveiled the model of what authorities believe the man looked like. It was crafted by a forensic artist using characteristics of the skull.

"This is an actual sculpture on top of his bones in an effort to figure out what he looks like," Kelly Lawson told WSB-TV.

The skull and other remains were found back in July 2015 in a wooded area in the Atlanta suburb of Buford by a group of construction workers, who initially thought they were a Halloween decoration.

Authorities said at the time the remains had been in the woods for several years, and that there were no obvious signs of trauma or foul play noted at the spot where the discovery was made, FOX5 reported at the time. No clothing or personal possessions were located at the scene.

The skull recovered from the woods had multiple composite fillings and one root canal involving a tooth of the lower jaw, according to FOX5. A second search of the area in March 2017 revealed four additional bones that were linked to the remains discovered in 2015.

It appears the bones were out there for an extended period of time, Gwinnett County police Cpl. Michele Pihera told WSB-TV, adding that authorities are still not sure how the man died.

REMAINS FOUND AT GEORGIA LANDFILL ID'D AS MISSING WOMAN THANKS TO HER DISTINCTIVE TATTOOS

Last year, police released a reconstruction sketch based on the remains, which said the man was estimated to be between 25-40 years of age and 5-foot-3 to 5-foot-7. Larson told WSB on Tuesday that people should not get distracted by the model's eye color, hair style and skin tone, which are just guesses.

"There are certain things that we can certainly derive from the skull, like how a person's eyes would be shaped, how their nose is shaped, and length," she told the television station.

Authorities told WSB the remains are not that of Justin Gaines, a man from Gwinnett County who has been missing for several years. Anyone with information based on the new model is asked to contact the Gwinnett County Police Department at 770-513-5300.A student at an Alabama elementary school shot himself in the hand after bringing a gun to school, police said.

The student, who has not yet been identified, is reportedly a second-grader at Blossomwood Elementary School, AL.com reported. The student, who reportedly brought the gun to the Huntsville school on Monday, was showing the weapon to some of his classmates in a bathroom in the school gymnasium when it went off.

FLORIDA WOMAN ALLEGEDLY YELLED 'I'M A KARDASHIAN' BEFORE PUSHING NEIGHBOR, POLICE SAY

The student was not seriously harmed, Police Chief Mark McMurray said, according to The Associated Press. He added there was no intent to harm anyone.

41-year-old Letroy Cole Jr., the students father, was arrested Tuesday and is facing charges of receiving stolen property and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, the Huntsville Police Department said in a statement.

SHOOTING AT ALABAMA MCDONALDS LEAVES 1 DEAD, 4 WOUNDED, POLICE SAY

His arrest came after officials obtained evidence that the firearm was originally possessed by the students father, the police department said, adding Cole Jr. is being held at the Madison County Metro jail on a $15,000 bond.

A spokesperson for Blossomwood Elementary did not immediately return Fox News request for comment Wednesday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.The U.S. Forest Service says the largest wildfire on record in California is 100 percent contained.

The agency made the announcement Wednesday about the so-called Mendocino Complex of twin fires that erupted in July.

The fires north of San Francisco killed a firefighter, destroyed 157 homes and scorched 720 square miles (1,865 square kilometers).

That's an area more than twice the size of New York City.

Officials say 460 firefighters remain in the area, working to prevent erosion and monitoring spots that are still burning.

The blazes prompted the evacuation of thousands of people in Mendocino, Lake, Colusa and Glenn counties.

Authorities are still investigating what started the fires.Two women who were being transported from one mental health hospital to another drowned when the medical van they were in was swept away by Hurricane Florence floodwaters in South Carolina, officials said.

Horry County Sheriffs Deputy Tom Fox told reporters the medical transport van was headed west on Highway 76, less than a mile from Little Pee Dee River, when it became overcome by rising floodwaters.

Two sheriffs deputies who staffed the vehicle attempted to extricate the two women, but were unable to open the doors as the floodwaters rose rapidly, the sheriffs office said in a statement, according to WPDE-TV.

A high water rescue team arrived at the scene and was able to rescue the two deputies from the top of the van, but was unable to reach the two victims.

They were trying to negotiate through fast-running water, and it just didnt work out, Jerry Richardson, Marion County coroner, told the Associated Press.

Little Pee Dee River is one of the bodies of water officials in South Carolina are watching closely as water continues to pour into the state from North Carolina following the heavy rains of Florence.

Fox said the incident is under investigation by state police. The womens names have not been released and the two deputies were sent to a local hospital for observation.

Tonights incident is a tragedy. Just like you, we have questions we want answered, Horry County Sheriff Phillip Thompson told WPDE-TV. We are fully cooperating with the State Law Enforcement Division to support their investigation of this event.

More than 35 people have lost their lives since Florence made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane late last week.

Among the dead is 1-year-old Kaiden Lee-Welch, whose body was found Monday after he had been swept from his mothers arms by rushing floodwaters in Monroe, N.C. The boys mother, Daize Lee, was rescued.

"I couldn't hold on anymore, and he let go," Lee told Fox 46 Charlotte.

She told WSOC-TV that they were in Union County visiting family.

When water came in, I was trying to calm my son. He was confused, that's all he was. He was just confused but I told him it's OK, don't panic, even though I was panicking, I told him don't panic," Lee told the station.

Forecasters predict some rivers in the northeastern area of the state might not reach their highest levels until later this week or next week.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.The relaxed new dress code at public schools in the small city of Alameda, across the bay from San Francisco, is intentionally specific: Midriff-baring shirts are acceptable attire, so are tank tops with spaghetti straps and other once-banned items like micro-mini skirts and short shorts.

As students settle into the new school term, gone are restrictions on ripped jeans and hoodies in class. If students want to come to school in pajamas, that's OK, too.

The new policy amounts to a sweeping reversal of the modern school dress code and makes Alameda the latest school district in the country to adopt a more permissive policy it says is less sexist.

Students who initiated the change say many of the old rules that barred too much skin disproportionately targeted girls, while language calling such attire "distracting" sent the wrong message.

"If someone is wearing a short shirt and you can see her stomach, it's not her fault that she's distracting other people," said Henry Mills, 14, an incoming freshman at Alameda High School who worked with a committee of middle school students and teacher advisers to revise the policy. "There was language that mainly affected girls, and that wasn't OK."

Dress codes have long been the territory of contention and rebellion, but the reversal in Alameda shows a generational shift that students and teachers say was partly influenced by broader conversations on gender stemming from the #MeToo movement against sexual misconduct and a national resurgence of student activism.

Approved by the school board on a trial basis over summer break, the new dress code is stirring back-to-school discussions about what role schools should have in socializing children.

There are sharply critical voices of the new dress code.

Math teacher Marie Hsu said she's all for equity but that the new rules send an unintentional message that it's fine, even appropriate, to "sex it up."

"It's good not to punish girls for being distractions. I fully, fully get that," said Hsu, who teaches at Lincoln Middle School and is an Alameda resident with two young children. "But I think it's extraordinarily misled."

Alameda mother Paula Walker says she may be "old school," but she didn't mind the bans against revealing clothing.

"They say kids are starting everything younger, and I'm like, well, that's because you're throwing it in their faces," Walker said.

Dress codes and their severity vary widely nationwide. Twenty-four states have policies that give local school districts the power to adopt their own dress codes or uniform policies, according to the Education Commission of the States, a nonprofit that tracks education policy.

Some have statewide policies, like Arkansas, which passed a 2011 law requiring school districts "to prohibit the wearing of clothing that exposes underwear, buttocks, or the breast of a female."

A Texas high school was recently criticized for a back-to-school video on dress codes that only featured girls. The video shown at Marcus High School in a Dallas suburb showed girls in short shorts getting reprimanded as the song "Bad Girls" by M.I.A. played in the background. Students slammed it as sexist on social media, prompting the principal to apologize, saying the video "absolutely missed the mark."

Alameda's new dress code was modeled after a suggested policy by the Oregon chapter of the National Organization for Women, drafted in 2016 to "update and improve" dress codes, avoid rules that reinforce gender stereotypes and minimize unnecessary discipline or "body shaming."

Portland, Oregon's public school district adopted a new policy in 2016, followed by Evanston, Illinois, in 2017, both of which incorporated NOW's suggestions.

Portland's relaxed dress code is considered a success, said Carol Campbell, principal at Grant High School.

Campbell said students wear appropriate clothing most of the time and it was "a huge relief" that staff could now focus on teaching, rather than necklines and hemlines.

"It's changed the culture of how students view each other," she said. "When we have rules and dress codes that particularly target one group it sounds like we're blaming that group, which always tended to be women."

Students in Alameda, Portland and Evanston have freedom to wear mostly anything as long as it includes a bottom, top, shoes, covers private parts and does not contain violent images, hate speech, profanity or pornography.

Vague language in the old Alameda policy caused confusion, which led to arbitrary enforcement, students and teachers said. There was, for example, a "three-finger" rule on the width of tank top straps and a ban on shorts and skirts shorter than "mid-thigh" and a rule against "low-cut tank tops."

Girls with more developed bodies often were singled out for discipline ranging from lunch detention, picking up trash on campus, a phone call home or having to change into baggy clothing.

Stella Bourgoin said she makes her sixth-grade daughter dress modestly but she supports the policy mainly for convenience.

"If you go to a store, every pair of jeans has a rip in it. It's easier this way," Bourgoin said.

___

Associated Press writer Gillian Flaccus in Portland, Oregon, contributed to this reportA class-action lawsuit has been filed against the utility that operates pipelines linked to a series of explosions and fires last week that shook three Boston-area suburbs.

The lawsuit against Columbia Gas of Massachusetts and its parent company NiSource alleges the company was negligent and did not invest in its aging infrastructure while building more pipelines, MassLive.com reported.

The suit was filed Tuesday in Essex County Superior Court by law firm Morgan & Morgan and lists Francely Acosta of Lawrence, Mass., as the plaintiff.

Columbia Gas has "the worst record of pipelines in this country, said Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an environmental attorney representing the plaintiff.

Kennedy said his firm will conduct its own investigation into what caused the blasts, according to WBUR radio.

The explosions in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover last Thursday resulted in at least 70 fires, injured more than two dozen people and killed an 18-year-old Lawrence resident who died after a chimney fell on his vehicle.

Those injured and the family of the man killed, who are expected to be represented separately, are not included in the lawsuit.

Thousands were displaced from their homes, and despite their return over the weekend, they are expected to be without gas and utilities for weeks.

Preliminary investigative reports show over-pressurized gas lines are the believed to be the cause of the disaster. The pipelines were some of the oldest in the country and were in need of millions of dollars in repairs, attorneys argue.

Safety regulators said that pressure in Columbia Gas pipes reached 12 times higher than the systems allow for prior to the explosions, according to MassLive.

The pressure in the gas was 12 times higher than normal, according to a letter from Massachusetts senators demanding the utility responsible for the lines comply with federal investigators.

The federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has reported that the pressure in the Columbia Gas system should have been around 0.5 pounds per square inch, but readings in the area reached at least 6 PSI  12 times higher than the system was intended to hold, U.S. Sens. Edward J. Markey and Elizabeth Warren wrote in a letter addressed to the two companies.

Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera called the lawsuit shameful and said the company was living up to its corporate responsibility.

"I think it's shameful that people are trying to get victims today who are hungry for information and they are preying on these people's desire for information," Rivera said in a news conference. "That needs to stop."

Frank Petosa, head of Morgan & Morgan, said the lawsuit will give his client more options.

"It's never premature to give people the ability to have access to justice and access to information to ensure that if they are asked to sign any form with a corporation that has caused, as this company has, mass damage and destruction, that they understand why it happened, and if they're going to be offered any compensation of any capacity, before they sign that they have an opportunity to understand fully their rights," Petosa said.

Columbia Gas announced Tuesday it would donate $10 million toward a relief fund for victims, Boston FOX affiliate WFXT-TV reported.

"The citizens of this community are hurting, and as a step in the longer process, Columbia Gas would like to announce they will make an immediate 10 million contribution," Bryant said.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it will conduct its own investigation, though that could take up to two years.Wanda Barzee, who helped her husband kidnap Elizabeth Smart in 2002 from the then-14-year-olds Salt Lake City home, was released Wednesday from Utah State Prison.

Utah Department of Corrections said Barzee, 72, was released just after 8 a.m., FOX13 Salt Lake City reported.

Barzee will be under federal supervision for five years and is already on Utah's sex offender registry. She's ordered not to contact Smart's family and must stay in an emergency housing facility given by her probation officer. Her future residence must be approved.

Barzee will be required to follow a curfew of 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

If she violates terms that include mental health treatment she could go back to prison.

Officials announced last week that Barzee had served her full sentence after crediting time she did in federal prison. They initially miscalculated the time Barzee should served and denied her early parole in June during a hearing Barzee chose not to attend. Barzee also had refused to take a psychological exam and set a release date of January 2024.

On September 19, Ms. Barzee will have spent 15 years in custody, which is the maximum amount of time allowed by her state conviction and sentence, Greg Johnson of the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole said earlier. Ms. Barzee cannot legally be held in the Utah State prison beyond the length of her sentence.

ELIZABETH SMART SAYS KIDNAPPER WANDA BARZEE IS 'STILL A BIG THREAT' TO THE PUBLIC

Barzee pleaded guilty to helping her husband Brian David Mitchell kidnap Smart in 2002 and holding her captive. 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.

Smart, now 30 and soon-to-be mother of three, told CBS This Morning on Tuesday that her kidnapper is still a big threat to the public.

I do believe she's still a danger, Smart told CBS anchor Gayle King. Through my sources, I've heard that she's still carrying around this 'book of revelations' that Brian Mitchell wrote ... that said he should kidnap me, and not just kidnap me but six other young girls, and that we'd all be his wives ... clearly, she hasn't let it go.

"[Barzee] is still a big threat, and not just to me but to the public in general, I mean, to any person who's vulnerable out there, she added.

FAMILY OF ELIZABETH SMART KIDNAPPER SAYS THEY WON'T TAKE IN FELON WHEN SHE'S RELEASED

Smart said Barzee encouraged Mitchell, whos serving life in prison, to rape her while she was being held captive.

I know just how bad she really can be. She would encourage him to rape me. She would sit right next to me. Like, the side of her body would be touching me, Smart said.

Smart said shes been assured Barzee will be closely monitored after her release.

I have been informed on who the agent is, who the federal agent is, who will be supervising her, she said. And I do believe that he will do the job to the best of his ability. I have faith in him. I just lack faith in her.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.A police dog in Florida proved on Monday what a good boy he is.

The Pasco County Sheriff's Office said the K-9 named "Titan" helped take down a man who tried to kidnap a child from a home in New Port Richey, located northwest of Tampa on Monday.

The man, identified as 24-year-old Kevin Wilson, had arrived at the home and climbed up to the second-floor window. Wilson entered the home, argued with a woman inside and then grabbed a child and took off.

The sheriff's office said that there was a no-contact order in place, and Wilson was not supposed to have contact with the mother or to enter the home. The child's uncle grabbed his gun and confronted Wilson in the front yard before the 24-year-old released the child and fled, police told FOX13.

FLORIDA K9 SINKS TEETH INTO ESCAPING SUSPECT ON VIDEO

Wilson drove off but ended up crashing his car. He ran into the woods, which caused several schools to go into "controlled campus" as police searched for Wilson with a helicopter and K-9 units.

An officer and Titan eventually caught up with the 24-year-old while he was running in the woods, and the police dog quickly went to work. In surveillance video released by the sheriff's office, Titan can be seen latching onto Wilson's arm with his teeth as a deputy commands the 24-year-old to get onto his stomach or else the dog would not let go.

Wilson has been charged with interference with custody, child neglect in addition to violating his no-contact order, and is being held at the Pasco County Jail.Neighbors are complaining about a Florida man who's apparently getting a little too comfortable in the area. They claim the man, who lives in Stuart, frequently does outdoor chores completely nude.

And witnesses of the nudity say they've seen enough.

"He works on his car, and he does it naked and everyone has called the police, he is just out there doing his yard work ... naked," Melissa Ny, one of the man's neighbors, told WBPF-News.

FLORIDA WOMAN ALLEGEDLY YELLED 'I'M A KARDASHIAN' BEFORE PUSHING NEIGHBOR, POLICE SAY

Charlie Estes, another neighbor, voiced concerns about kids potentially seeing the naked man.

"Have some respect ... Kids catch the bus here. Its wrong," Estes added.

Indecent exposure is illegal in public places in the state. But while some may be disturbed by the mans choice to go in the nude, officials with the Martin County Sheriffs Office previously told WBPF-News they're unable to take any action against him because the man is on private property and is not touching himself inappropriately."

Martin County Sheriff William Snyder told Fox News on Wednesday authorities are currently in the process of obtaining a warrant to arrest the man if he is spotted in the nude again.

Were putting the case together as we speak, he said.

Precedents set by previous court rulings led officials to believe we have the elements from two different state statutes to possibly arrest and prosecute the man, Snyder said, adding the sheriffs department worked with a legal advisor with the county's state attorneys office to make this determination.

We may have a case since hes in the front yard, Snyder said, adding the sheriffs office first received reports of the man in 2015. At that time, however, he was only spotted nude through a window.

The man has only recently begun to venture outside, Snyder said.

Authorities plan to notify the man in the next couple of days of the possibility of his arrest, which would occur "only if he persists, he said.Florida police are trying to identify a woman captured in a photograph hugging a large block of marijuana that washed up on the beach last week.

The Flagler County Sheriffs Office posted a photo on its Facebook page of a woman with her arms wrapped around a package of marijuana. She was wearing a yellow bikini and white and red sunglasses, and had several distinctive tattoos on her back.

FLORIDA PROSECUTOR ACCUSED OF SHOPLIFTING BEAUTY PRODUCTS

This woman is wanted in connection to the marijuana that washed up on Flagler County beaches [on] 9/13/18. If you have any information contact Flagler County Sheriffs Office, the caption read.

The sheriffs office said in a press release on Thursday that packages of marijuana have been washing up on beaches in St. Johns, Flagler and Volusia counties. The office said about 100 pounds of marijuana has washed up on the beaches shores in the last week.

MAN CHARGED WITH KILLING WIFE AT SEA SOUGHT TO INHERIT HER ESTATE, PROSECUTOR SAYS

One man has been arrested after he allegedly tried to steal the marijuana bundle. A woman called police saying she saw a few people trying to open the marijuana packages.

The man, Robert Kelley, told officers he was holding the bundle in his vehicle until law enforcement arrived at the scene. Officers found an 11-pound brick of suspected marijuana in his cars trunk. The brick was wrapped in a beach towel. The package tested positive for marijuana, the press release stated.

Kelley was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana over 20 grams, the Miami Herald reported. He was released on a $2,500 bond.A Florida prosecutor who oversees cases against sexual predators is facing a shoplifting charge after surveillance video caught her swiping $43 worth of cosmetics from a grocery store, police said.

Stacey Honowitz, 56, was suspended from her $108,000-a-year- job as a Broward County assistant state attorney pending an investigation and was charged with misdemeanor theft, the Sun Sentinel reported.

Security footage released by the Aventura Police Department shows Honowitz shopping with her parents and daughter on Saturday at a Publix grocery store in the small city 20 miles north of Miami.

She is seen browsing the cosmetics aisle placing the beauty products into her purse. She later paid a cashier $125 for groceries and then got in line again to purchase a lottery ticket.

A manager confronted Honowitz and she handed over the allegedly stolen goods, the Miami Herald reported.

She shouldnt have done that, a shopper told FOX affiliate WSVN-TV in Miami. Shes helping the law, and shes also shoplifting? That definitely does not make sense.

Honowitz was not jailed. Instead she was given a notice to appear in a Miami-Dade County court.

She was suspended from work and will take vacation time until the case is sorted out, a Broward State Attorneys Office spokeswoman told the Herald.

We have been made aware of the incident by the prosecutor. She has been suspended pending an administrative review. She will be utilizing her vacation time until we complete the investigation, said spokeswoman Constance Simmons.

Honowitzs attorney, Jayne Weintraub, called the incident an honest mistake and that her client simply forgot to pay for the items.

After reviewing the video it confirms what we have said, Weintraub said. She put the lipstick and mascara in her purse and intended to pay and forgot. Had she put it in the cart, it would have fallen through cracks of the cart. She had every intention of paying and simply forgot."

The veteran prosecutor was the supervisor of the sex crimes and child abuse unit when she was suspended and has been involved to several high-profile cases, WSVN reported.

Over her 30-year career, Honowitz built a reputation as a tenacious prosecutor and advocate for victims rights, according to the Sun Sentinel.

She is highly regarded and respected in the legal community for her honesty and professionalism, former prosecutor David Frankel, who has known Honowitz for more than 30 years, told the newspaper. She has never been afraid to fight for the rights of children in an area most people would rather not know anything about. There are literally hundreds if not thousands of children who are safer and whose lives are better because of her.

She is the author of two self-published childrens books on sexual abuse and routinely appears as a legal analyst on cable television shows to discuss crime stories.

Five years ago, she appeared at a Miami courtroom when her brother was arrested on theft and forgery charges. During the hearing, she mentioned her job several times, the Herald reported.

The judge freed her brother from jail.

I went down there as a loving sister, Honowitz told the Miami Herald at the time. I just happen to be a prosecutor. This is a terrible ordeal.A Florida woman announced she was a Kardashian before assaulting her neighbor for allegedly being too nosey, police said Monday.

Crystal Kohler, 35, was charged with simple battery, according to the Marion County Sheriffs Office.

She was arrested Friday after she randomly approached a neighbor and said, Im a Kardashian, Im going to [expletive] you up, the sheriffs office said. Kohler then allegedly pushed the neighbor.

The woman told deputies the victim was being too nosey. The victim told deputies there had been an ongoing problem with Kohler, alleging Kohler screamed at the neighbor for no reason, authorities said.

Kohler was being held in Marion County Jail on $500 bond.An unidentified gunman was killed by a police officer Wednesday after opening fire at a Pennsylvania magistrate's office and injuring several people, officials said.

Among those wounded in the shooting incident at District Magistrate Daniel Shimshocks office in Masontown, Fayette County was a law enforcement official, Pennsylvania State Police Troop B confirmed on Twitter.

A German Township police officer fatally shot the unidentified gunman, Fayette County District Attorney Richard Bower said, according to The Associated Press. The gunman, who had marched into the building's lobby with a handgun, exchanged gunfire with an officer, who was then wounded, before firing at three other people, Bower said.

A Fayette County Emergency Management spokesperson told ABC News that four individuals were wounded and transported for medical care.

A Masontown police officer sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the shooting, according to Masontown Mayor Toni Petrus. The officer was receiving treatment for hand injuries at a hospital in nearby Uniontown.

The wounded civilians were brought to a West Virginia hospital, whose spokesman said they were listed in fair condition.

After hearing about the shooting, County Commissioner Vince Vicites arrived at the building and learned that the coroner was called to the scene because the shooter had died, he told The Associated Press.

At this time we have multiple victims and injuries one being a law enforcement official. There is heavy police presence, state police tweeted. We are asking the public to stay away from the area at this time.

The location is secure and there were no lockdown orders for nearby schools, businesses or offices, police said.

Authorities asked that anyone with information contact the State Police-Uniontown at 724-439-7111.

Fayette County officials in a tweet said they were "deeply saddened" by the incident in Masontown.

"Fayette County officials will continue assisting state and local police by any means necessary," the tweet said. "Our thoughts are with the victims and their families."

Masontown, Pennsylvania is located roughly 60 miles south of Pittsburgh.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.The devastating effects of Hurricane Florence have left at least 3.4 million chickens and turkeys dead in North Carolina, the states Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services told Fox News on Wednesday, as a top chicken producer warns millions more birds are at risk.

Andrea Ashby, director of public affairs at the department, said the assessments is based on reports and information given to them by people on the ground.

So far, poultry losses, as of Sept. 18, are 3.4 million birds. This does exceed poultry losses in Hurricane Matthew, she said.

Sanderson Farms, Inc., one of Americas largest chicken producers, said its lost around 1.7 million of those birds to Florence and is warning another 6.3 million are at risk if it cant gain access to farms that have been isolated by floodwaters.

The Company estimates that approximately 1.7 million head of broiler chickens out of an average live inventory of approximately 20 million head, ranging in age from six days to sixty-two days, were destroyed as a result of flooding, it said in a statement this week.

Sanderson Farms, which operates 880 broiler houses in North Carolina, where chickens are raised for meat consumption, reported that 60 of the facilities have been flooded and another six wont be able to house chickens again until repairs are made.

In addition, approximately thirty farms, housing approximately 211,000 chickens per farm, in the Lumberton, North Carolina, area are isolated by flood waters and the Company is unable to reach those farms with feed trucks, it added. Losses of live inventory could escalate if the Company does not regain access to those farms.

Ashby said the state has 819 million chickens overall and 33.5 million turkeys. The swine losses are estimated to be around 5,500, she said, citing a state veterinarian.

Joe Sanderson Jr., Sanderson Farms chairman and CEO, said the company will provide ice, water, food and other necessities to those affected by this catastrophic storm."

While we will work hard over the next week to get our operations back on line, our primary focus will be to respond to the needs of our local communities, Sanderson Jr. said. We will continue to help those whose lives have been more seriously disrupted.As a new work day begins, helicopter search and rescue technician Trey Young walks into the North Carolina National Guard Base in Raleigh armed in a black flight suit adorned with colorful patches, eager to help with post-Hurricane Florence air rescue missions.

He is here on loan from his usual day job, firefighting in Asheville, to be part of the North Carolina Helicopter and Aquatic Rescue Team, also known as NCHART, a highly specialized program combining the National Guard, State Highway Patrol and North Carolina Emergency Management with local rescue technicians to conduct helicopter rescues. Young is among a cadre of highly trained local civilians helping in the aftermath of the storm, assisting local and state authorities as they rescue those trapped by rising waters.

The best part of this job is the opportunity to help people who cant be otherwise helped, Young said. If were there, its because there is no other way to get to those peoplewalking has failed, boats have failed, were sort of the last resort to get people to safety.

Brandon King, lead pilot for the states HART team, said having local civilians incorporated into rescue missions gives the state a special skill set and is a huge asset.

This is our homewe know this state like the back of our hand, like you know your backyard, said King. We know where the rivers are, we know where the waters are going to flood at.

North Carolina was the first state to institute the HART program 14 years ago, with South Carolina and Texas soon following. Today, several other states are in talks to start recruiting.

Initial training is a week-long classthen about three days of flying in a helicopter, then we do monthly training after that year-round, said fellow HART rescuer Bobby Cooper, whose full-time job is EMS Director for Transylvania County. We have to practice with all the different equipment and scenarios we may run intowe train in anything from flat ground to cars that are simulated into moving watergoing into windows of buildingsgetting someone who is stuck in a tree

We find that on these missions, the things that we do in training on a monthly basis are often more difficult than what we actually encounter in the field and thats just a credit to a very strong training program, said Young.

Cooper said that the people he rescues are sometimes surprised to learn that a fellow civilian saved them.

They get a little nervous at first, but once they realize that youre there to help themthey know theyre in good hands at that point, he said.

About 120 rescues have been performed by the National Guard in coordination with HART since Hurricane Florence hit North Carolina on Sept. 14, with a total of 225 people and five animals rescued from dangerous floodwaters.

Teams go out on these challenging rescues using UH-60 Blackhawks or UH-72 Lakotas from the Guard or the Highway Patrol's Bell-407. Rescuers are sent down, one to two at a time, by way of a cable and hoist, but they say even with top-of-the-line equipment, planning the logistics of a rescue can be difficult.

Our biggest challenge is moving into a rescue without the complete picture, said Young, as he prepared the hoisting basket in the back of the helicopter for his next rescue. Were often left with the responsibility of determining what the rescue problem is from the air, often without communication with the ground.

Young said even with decades of rescue experience shared among the HART team, the widespread scale of natural disasters still surprises and humbles them.

The team is dispatched not only to rescue in North Carolina, but all over the country, depending on demand. Several were sent to help when Hurricane Harvey hit Houston last August.

Its incredibly difficult to describe just the widespread nature of the destruction there, said Young. Certainly, were seeing similar things here with Florence, but Harvey was to a scale that I certainly had never seen before and so it was very eye-opening.

As the states rivers prepare to crest, or reach their highest point, late this week, HART team members are preparing for what likely will be more rescues.

Florence has gone and moved on, but the effects are still here and theyre still growing, said Young. In this state, its one team and one mission. The Guard may be doing the aviating and we might be doing the rescue technician work, but its one team and one mission.Police were hunting Wednesday for the mysterious man who fatally stabbed a female jogger in a seemingly random attack on a Washington, D.C., street Tuesday night.

After she was attacked around 8 p.m. in the Logan Circle neighborhood, the woman, 35-year-old Wendy K. Martinez, stumbled into a takeout restaurant, where customers attempted to save her life, police said.

In surveillance video, Martinez appeared to alert customers to her attacker. Some people ran out to look for the assailant while others helped the jogger, Fox 5 DC reported. Police don't believe Martinez previously knew her attacker.

She later died at a hospital. The knife used in the assault was found at the scene.

It is more likely a random act than anything else, but were going to look at all possibilities, Police Chief Peter Newsham said during a Wednesday news conference, adding patrons at the restaurant "did the best they could" to save Martinez's life.

"Its horrible to see something like this happen in the city," he said.

Authorities are desperately searching for the suspected assailant, last seen in blurry surveillance video wearing a mustard-colored shirt, dark-colored pants and sandals with white socks. He fled the scene heading southbound on 11th Street, police said.

Newsham said Martinez lived near Logan Circle, which he described as a very safe neighborhood. Martinez was an avid runner and was known to run for miles around the city. She worked as the chief of staff for the software company FiscalNote.

The woman's family said in a statement to local media: We are deeply saddened by this senseless tragedy. Wendy was the light of our lives. Not only was she an avid runner, but she was a devout Christian, a wonderful friend, and a driven professional.

The entire FiscalNote family is shocked and deeply saddened to learn that Wendy Martinez, our Chief of Staff, was killed last night. Wendy was an invaluable member of our team and a vibrant member of the community. Our thoughts and prayers are with Wendys family and friends, the company said in a statement Wednesday.

Police are offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. People with information are urged to call police at (202) 727-9099.A woman who was shot and killed by New York City cops after she lunged at them with a knife moments after reporting an intruder, had a history of calls" for assistance to authorities, officials said.

Susan Muller, 54, was shot and killed Monday after calling 911 around 5:30 p.m. to report an intruder inside her home in the Maspeth section of Queens. Muller told four officers at the scene she was the 911 caller and claimed there was someone with a knife in her home.

As officers walked into her home, Muller suddenly lunged at them with a 10-inch knife, police said. She was shot three times when she ignored the cops commands to put down the blade.

Muller was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officials said there was a history of calls made by police officers to Mullers home in Queens. At least nine calls for assistance were made between August 2000 and the day of the shooting, Newsday reported. Two of the calls were about an emotionally disturbed person, while others were in regards to intoxication, domestic issues and an animal, according to the report.

Muller was taken to the hospital on Sept. 9 after police were called to the Queens home about an emotionally disturbed person.

Ed Rogers, Mullers boyfriend, told ABC7NY the 54-year-old suffered from alcoholism and delusions. He said he wasnt at the home at the time of the fatal shooting and had dropped Muller off about a half hour earlier.

"I remember her as a very caring and lovable person and I could not see her getting volatile with the police, but I wasn't here when it happened," Rogers, a retired NYPD sergeant, told the news station.

Kevin Tang, Mullers neighbor, also said hes heard yelling from the home.

"They did keep to themselves, they just didn't keep the noise to themselves," Tang recalled. "Not the type of people you would want to live next to."A North Carolina woman was shocked Sunday to find a large black bear trapped in her minivan, helplessly thrashing around and tearing up the seats.

Nicole Minkin Lissenden told The Asheville Citizen Times she was at her parents house in Asheville when her minivan door seemingly cracked open on its own, as a stream of trash spilled out. Lissenden said she was embarrassed and went to the minivan to close the door.

About a half hour later, she noticed her windows were fogged up and she saw paw prints on the windows.

That's when Lissenden realized she had accidentally trapped a now-agitated black bear in her vehicle.

The bear was getting more and more upset and thrashing around a lot, and that set off the alarm and started honking the horn, Lissenden told the newspaper.

Lissenden said she called her husband and Animal Services, and a neighbor also came over to help, the Citizen-Times reported. Alex Lissenden, Nicoles husband, attempted to open the sliding door via remote control -- but it was to no avail as the bear had damaged the door.

So my husband had to go up and unlock the windows on the doors, Nicole Lissenden said.

The drivers side window came down a bit and the bear was able to pop out and escape.

He tore all of the kids' car seats out and tore up the seats to the car, Nicole Lissenden said. He was just thrashing and clawing trying to get out of that van.

Karen Brown, a neighbor, said the bear went toward her house next. She came home to find paw prints and open drawers in her kitchen, adding the bear walked past her fresh pumpkin bread and chili, instead grabbing muffin mix.

The bear left the premises shortly after.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.The Latest on the release of a woman who helped kidnap Elizabeth Smart in Utah (all times local):

5:50 p.m.

Elizabeth Smart says she's moving forward with her life and trying not to live in fear now that one of her kidnappers has been released from prison.

Smart gave a speech Wednesday at Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania, telling reporters beforehand that it was "a statement in my moving forward" that she was able to come to the school to speak about sexual violence.

Smart said she's grateful for the support she received during her "roller coaster of emotion" after the surprise announcement that 72-year-old Wanda Barzee was being released from a Utah prison years earlier than expected.

Barzee served 15 years in the 2002 kidnapping of Smart. She pleaded guilty to helping her husband, street preacher Brian David Mitchell, who took Smart from her bedroom at knifepoint.

____

3:25 p.m.

Documents say a woman released from prison in Utah after serving 15 years for kidnaping Elizabeth Smart will live in emergency housing chosen by her probation officer.

Court documents filed Wednesday say 72-year-old Wanda Barzee will stay in the facility until another home is approved.

The records do not reveal additional information about the site.

Barzee's lawyer says she voluntarily agreed to stay away from places frequented by the Smart family. She's prohibited from contacting any member of the family and must get mental health treatment.

Barzee will also have 9 p.m. curfew.

Barzee will remain under federally supervised release for five years and could go back to prison if she violates the conditions of her release.

___

1:45 p.m.

As one of her kidnappers was about to be released from prison, Elizabeth Smart called for people to watch over friends and family members.

An Instagram post early Wednesday by Smart urged her supporters to watch out for "anyone who would seek to hurt or take advantage."

Smart said she's grateful for the support she received during her "roller coaster of emotion" after the surprise announcement that Wanda Barzee would be released from prison years earlier than expected.

Smart told reporters last week she was worried that Barzee remains a threat, something the woman's lawyer denies.

Smart did not immediately speak out publicly after Barzee was released.

She is scheduled to make a planned speech at Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania later in the day.

___

12:30 p.m.

The lawyer for a woman who helped kidnap Elizabeth Smart in Utah says it's unfair to call her a threat now that she's been released from prison.

Attorney Scott Williams made the comment Wednesday after Smart's father said he is concerned that 72-year-old Wanda Barzee remains capable of abusing another child.

Barzee was released from a Utah prison after serving 15 years in the 2002 kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart, then 14.

Williams told reporters there's no reliable evidence that Barzee will be dangerous.

He says she wants to be left alone and will comply with the conditions of her supervised release. He said he's concerned about her safety but did not elaborate.

Under the terms of her release, Barzee must undergo mental health treatment and not contact Smart and her family.

___

11:10 a.m.

Elizabeth Smart's father says he's grateful that one of her kidnappers will be watched closely by federal agents now that she's been freed from prison, but he remains concerned about Wanda Barzee's mental state.

Ed Smart said Wednesday that he's heard reports that Barzee still believes in the teachings of David Brian Mitchell, the street preacher who took the teenage Elizabeth Smart from her bedroom at knifepoint in 2002.

Ed Smart says Mitchell's so-called divine revelations prompted Barzee to help kidnap the girl and even sit next to her as Mitchell raped her.

He fears Barzee remains capable of abusing another child.

Barzee will be on federal supervised release for five years and is now a registered sex offender.

Under the terms of her release, she must undergo mental health treatment and not contact Smart and her family.

Mitchell is serving a life prison sentence.

___

10 a.m.

One of Elizabeth Smart's kidnappers has been placed on the Utah sex offender registry after her release from prison.

The online registry shows Wanda Barzee's conviction on federal and state charges in the 2002 kidnapping of then 14-year-old Smart.

The registry shows the addresses of convicted Utah sex offenders and is a condition of Barzee's release.

Barzee's registration shows her address as the Utah State Prison in Draper, outside Salt Lake City.

Prison and probation officials did not immediately respond to email and phone messages seeking comment on when her address outside prison would be listed on the site.

She was released Wednesday morning after 15 years in custody.

Federal agents overseeing her five years on supervised release have said she will have a place to live, but haven't released specific information.

She pleaded guilty to helping her husband, street preacher Brian David Mitchell, who took Smart from her bedroom at knifepoint.

9:25 a.m.

A woman who helped kidnap Elizabeth Smart when she was a teenager has been released from a Utah prison after 15 years in custody.

Utah State prison spokeswoman Kaitlin Felsted said in a statement that Wanda Barzee was released Wednesday following a surprise announcement last week that authorities had miscalculated the amount of time she should serve.

The 72-year-old was previously scheduled to be released in 2024.

Barzee was not seen by reporters leaving the prison in the Salt Lake City suburb of Draper. She will be under federal supervision for five years.

Smart, now 30, is shocked Barzee is being released and said she hopes she will be closely watched and given treatment.

Smart says that during her nine-month abduction in 2002 and 2003, Barzee would encourage her street-preacher husband to rape her.

6:50 a.m.

Elizabeth Smart says the woman who helped kidnap her when she was 14 and stood by as she was sexually assaulted fell short on her court-ordered apology.

Part of Wanda Barzee's plea deal was a requirement that she write an apology, Smart said in an interview aired Wednesday on "CBS This Morning."

Barzee is expected to be freed Wednesday after 15 years in custody because Utah authorities had miscalculated the amount of time the 72-year-old woman should serve.

In the interview, Smart also stressed that victims like herself shouldn't be blamed, tempting though it may be.The Latest on President Donald Trump's visit to the Carolinas to review Hurricane Florence damage (all times local):

4 p.m.

President Donald Trump says South Carolina is in for a "rough few days" in the aftermath of Florence, but assures the state that the federal government "is behind you."

Trump spoke Wednesday at an emergency management center in the city of Conway, near Myrtle Beach.

He noted that he visited North Carolina earlier in the day to survey other damage caused by Florence. He tells South Carolina "all that water is coming your way."

Trump says that, although the weather outside may be nice, "it's really the calm before the storm."

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said during the same briefing that "the worst is yet to come" for his state.

Both Carolinas are grappling with the effects of severe flooding, with more flooding expected as rivers crest.

___

3:40 p.m.

President Donald Trump is getting an update on how South Carolina is recovering from Hurricane Florence.

Trump was participating in a briefing Wednesday with South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott and other officials.

Television screens on the walls at the county emergency management center in Conway, South Carolina, showed scenes of flood damage from around the state.

Officials say Conway hasn't seen the worst of the flooding yet.

Trump surveyed flood damage earlier Wednesday in parts of North Carolina before arriving in Conway by helicopter.

___

3:20 p.m.

President Donald Trump has toured a South Carolina neighborhood that's bracing itself for more severe flooding due to Florence.

Trump greeted people Wednesday as he walked along a flooded street in the city of Conway, near Myrtle Beach.

He told people things are "going to be OK," and others thanked him for coming.

Trump put his hands on people's shoulders and promised that a "lot of money" will be coming from Washington.

Trump arrived in South Carolina by helicopter a short time after he toured storm-damaged areas of neighboring North Carolina.

__

2:30 p.m.

President Donald Trump has arrived in South Carolina on the second leg of a two-state trip to survey damage caused by Hurricane Florence.

Trump arrived by helicopter Wednesday afternoon at an airport near the city of Conway, which is near Myrtle Beach.

Earlier in the day, Trump visited the city of New Bern, North Carolina, which experienced severe flooding due to Florence. The president helped hand out meals at a Baptist church serving as a food distribution center and walked along a neighborhood street strewn with trash, branches and sodden furniture.

He offered hugs and handshakes and posed for photos with people cleaning up their homes after the powerful storm.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper also briefed the president on the recovery effort.

___

1:10 p.m.

President Donald Trump is touring a North Carolina neighborhood that sustained heavy flood damage during Hurricane Florence.

Trump walked along a street strewn with piles of trash, branches and sodden furniture in storm-wrecked New Bern, offering hugs and handshakes and posing for photos outside of damaged houses.

He's also asking how people are doing as he surveys the block.

As he arrived, Trump's motorcade crossed a swollen river with busted docks and damaged boats, including one that had washed up against a hotel.

New Bern's residential streets are lined by debris, including siding and furniture, with sofa cushions and mattresses scattered about. Trees are down and piles of destroyed furniture are stacked outside houses.

New Bern is part of Craven County, which voted nearly 60 percent for Trump in 2016.

___

12:10 p.m.

President Donald Trump is handing out warm meals and a bit of encouragement to some North Carolinians recovering from Hurricane Florence.

Trump is assisting volunteers at Temple Baptist Church in New Bern, North Carolina, Wednesday.

He's passing out Styrofoam containers with food, including hot dogs, chips and fruit and asking how those driving through are doing.

"How's the house?" he was heard asking one person. "You take care of yourself," he said.

Trump is also applauding organizers and thanking volunteers at the site as well as posing for photos and hugging volunteers, including a young boy.

One volunteer said the site handed out 1,200 meals on Tuesday to those in need.

___

11:55 a.m.

President Donald Trump has arrived at a North Carolina church that is serving as a distribution center for supplies after Hurricane Florence.

Trump is visiting Temple Baptist Church in New Bern. The area suffered significant damage, with branches down and piles of debris.

Church volunteers have containers of hot dogs, chips and fruit and have been handing out food to people in need.

The president is visiting the region Wednesday after the powerful storm left widespread destruction and flooding. Officials cautioned that the flooding is not over yet.

Trump stressed his sympathy for the victims of the storm and pledged resources for recovery during an earlier storm briefing at a nearby marine base.

__

11:30 a.m.

President Donald Trump is pledging to help the people affected by Hurricane Florence as he arrives in North Carolina to survey damage wrought by the powerful storm.

Trump says during a briefing by local and federal officials, "We will be there 100 percent" following flooding he described as "epic" and "hard to believe."

He says, "There will be nothing left undone."

Trump at times has struggled to project empathy during national crisis. But on Wednesday he offered comforting words to families who suffered losses, saying, "America grieves with you and our hearts break for you."

When the state's governor asked for federal support, Trump declared: "I'll be there,"

Trump is also praising first responders during his visit to a coastal marine base, the first of several stops on his schedule.

__

10:45 a.m.

President Donald Trump has arrived in storm-ravaged North Carolina to take in the devastation left by Florence.

Trump traveled south Wednesday as the state was still grappling with massive recovery efforts. He was heading to a briefing at a Marine Corps air station where Air Force One landed in the coastal town of Havelock, one of many communities hit by the torrential rains.

Trump told reporters as he departed the White House that he will also visit South Carolina before he returns to the White House later Wednesday.

The president says he wants to say "hello" to everyone from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the military that are working hard to help residents recover from the storm.

Adds Trump: "I think it will be an incredible day."A Long Island man, 45, was arrested Tuesday for allegedly threatening to shoot an 11-year-old boy after losing to him in an online video game, New Yorks FOX 5 reported.

Michael Aliperti sent threatening texts and online voice messages to the Kings Park boy Monday night after losing in an Xbox game called Fortnite, police said. Aliperti allegedly threatened to shoot the boy at school, FOX 5 reported.

Aliperti was arrested around 1:40 a.m. on Tuesday in his Huntington home. Police Chief of Department Stuart Cameron said authorities found a plastic pellet gun in the home.

Aliperti was charged with second-degree aggravated harassment and acting in a manner to injure a child, according to Suffolk County Police Department. Cameron said there was an increased police presence at the boys school.

We took this as a school threat. That was done out of an abundance of caution, Cameron said.

Aliperti was arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on Tuesday. He pleaded not guilty, according to the Suffolk County district attorneys office.

Alipertis attorney said he is seeking transcripts of the alleged threats, Newsday reported.

Salty language is a two-way street and its normal behavior in the gaming community, his attorney said. He added that Aliperti is going through a bitter divorce.

Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice Andrew Crecca set Alipertis bond at $10,000 and issued an order of protection for the boy, Newsday reported.

Aliperti is due back in court on Oct. 4.

Both Huntington and Kings Park are located in Suffolk County on the north shore of Long Island.Federal law enforcement is intensifying the search for a Pennsylvania man who allegedly said he wanted to put a bullet in President Trumps head.

Authorities found an abandoned truck in Mansfield, Ohio, last weekend that they believe was stolen by fugitive Shawn Richard Christy, 26, The New York Times reported on Tuesday.

Christy has been on the run since June 19 after allegedly threatening John M. Morganelli, the district attorney of Northampton County, Pa., and Trump in a Facebook post.

Keep it up Morganelli, I promise Ill put a bullet in your head as soon as I put on ein the head of President Donald J. Trump, Christy allegedly wrote.

The Facebook post has since been deleted, Washington's FOX 5 DC reported.

A federal warrant was issued for Christys arrest after the post, The Times reported. But Christy had already been on authorities radar after bailing on a previous court appearance for an aggravated assault trial, said Deputy U.S. Marshal Robert Clark.

Christy is a self-described survivalist, and tracking him down has been difficult, said Clark.

The search, which now involves the U.S. Marshals Service, the FBI, and the Secret Service has spanned several states and as far north as Canada. Clark said Christy has stolen supplies and at least six vehicles and lived in wooded areas to evade authorities.

[T]heres certainly potential for a confrontational conclusion, which is what we do not want. Were just hoping that this investigation can come to a safe conclusion.  Robert Clark

Clark said Christys possession of firearms makes the scenario of a standoff with authorities a possibility. He said Christy should be considered armed and dangerous.

[T]heres certainly potential for a confrontational conclusion, which is what we do not want, Clark said. Were just hoping that this investigation can come to a safe conclusion.

In a recent Facebook post, Christy allegedly wrote that he had injured his knee, but was determined to finish the job, Newsweek reported.

Authorities have offered a $20,000 bounty for information leading to the capture of Christy.

Fox News' Ryan Gaydos and The Associated Press contributed to this report.A Maryland man was arrested and charged with assault Saturday after he allegedly yanked on a leash that was around his wifes neck.

A witness said William Wolford, 66, was walking around the York Fair in Pennsylvania over the weekend with an approximately 8-foot-long dog-style leash attached to his wifes neck, the York Daily Record reported, citing charging documents.

Wolford tugged on the leash, which caused his wife's head to snap back and left red marks around her throat, the witness added, according to paper citing documents.

The 66-year-old told police that his wife, Catherine Wolford, suffered from advanced-stage dementia and that he decided to use a leash to keep track of her after she wandered off for more than an hour at the fair last year, FOX 43 of York, Pa., reported.

Wolford said the leash was originally around her waist, but it somehow managed to move up to her neck, the Record reported citing documents. When his wife walked away, Wolford said the slack became tight and he gently tugged on the leash so she would stop.'"

He was charged with simple assault and released on $5,000 unsecured bail. Wolford is scheduled to appear in court Oct. 18, according to the paper.

The couple's son vouched for his father, telling police he was not abusive, FOX 43 reported.

Catherine Wolford received medical attention and was very disoriented, the paper reported, citing documents.A Massachusetts man is in custody after the woman he was with was struck and killed Wednesday by a tow truck, prompting him to stab the driver of the vehicle, police say.

Watertown Police responded to an alleged road rage incident at approximately 11:20 a.m. near the intersection of Nonantum and Galen Streets in Watertown, Mass., according to the Middlesex District Attorneys Office.

Police found the 60-year-old woman who was apparently struck by a tow truck dead at the scene.

Investigators say the man whom she was with engaged in an altercation with the tow truck driver stabbing him multiple times in the abdomen. He remained on the scene and was taken into police custody.

He was transported to an area hospital for treatment.

The driver of the truck involved was also taken to Boston-area hospital where he remains in critical condition.

It was not immediately clear where the dead woman and her companion were at the time of the incident.

Police have not identified the woman pending notification of next of kin.

The relationship between the man in custody and the victim remains unclear. The District Attorneys office described him as a man who is known to the woman.Cristhian Rivera, the illegal immigrant accused of killing Iowa college student Mollie Tibbetts, pleaded not guilty to murder charges at his Wednesday arraignment.

Rivera's trial is set to begin April 16 of next year.

Rivera, 24, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder on Aug. 21 after police searching a cornfield about 12 miles southeast of Brooklyn discovered the body of Tibbetts, a 20-year-old University of Iowa student.

Tibbetts was last seen jogging in Brooklyn on July 18 and the desperate efforts to find her drew widespread media attention.

Prosecutors allege Rivera abducted Tibbetts while she was out for an evening run, killed her and disposed of her body in the secluded location.

Authorities announced last month preliminary autopsy results from the state medical examiner's office showed Tibbetts was the victim of a homicide and died from "multiple sharp force injuries."

A criminal complaint alleges Rivera confessed to authorities during a lengthy interrogation, saying he drove his car to follow Tibbetts' jog, eventually got out on foot to talk to her and then chased after her. Rivera told investigators he panicked after Tibbetts threatened to use her cellphone to call police. He claims he blacked out at that point and later came to as he was unloading Tibbetts' bloody body from the trunk of a car, according to the complaint.

Mollie's father, Rob Tibbetts, in a eulogy at her funeral in late August, thanked the volunteers and law enforcement officers who joined in the search for his daughter. He also thanked the media, whom he credited with generating 400,000 tips about Mollie's potential whereabouts.

"Today, we need to turn the page," Tibbetts said. "We're at the end of a long ordeal, but we need to turn toward life  Mollies life. Because Mollie's nobody's victim."

Mollie's brother, Jake Tibbetts, described his older sister as someone who worked to bring together people with differences.

"You've seen how hard Mollie is working upstairs in heaven," Jake said during the funeral.

President Trump, in an interview at the time with "Fox & Friends," described Tibbetts as a "beautiful young girl" who was killed by a "horrible person that came in from Mexico, illegally here."

Investigators have said Rivera arrived to the U.S. illegally from Mexico at some point between 4 and 7 years ago and an immigration detainer was placed on him after his arrest.

In August, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services told Fox News "a search of records by USCIS revealed Rivera did not make any DACA requests nor were any grants given.

We have found no record in our systems indicating he has any lawful immigration status, the agency added.

DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, was instituted during the Obama administration and allows some immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children to remain in the country.

A search of Iowa court records also revealed no previous criminal history for Rivera, and it's unclear whether he'd ever been subject to prior deportation proceedings.

Fox News Lucia I. Suarez Sang, Samuel Chamberlain and the Associated Press contributed to this report.A Pennsylvania woman was arrested Tuesday after police determined she had killed her 2-year-old son last month with an overdose of prescription medicine, authorities said.

Jennifer A. Clarey, 42, was charged with a count of criminal homicide in connection with the death of her son Mazikeen Curtis, FOX 29 reported.

Authorities said Clarey provided Curtis with a lethal dose of Vicodin in his sippy cup Aug. 25, before she attempted suicide by slashing her wrists in their Tullytown home in Bucks County.

I cant imagine what would make somebody want to do something like that. I mean you got a two year old kid and they look up to them. Youre the one thats supposed to protect them, you know and bring them up and teach them wrong from right. I cant imagine, one of Clary's neighbors told FOX29. Its sick. Its twisted.

Around 10:05 p.m. that evening, Bucks County Children and Youth Services employees stopped by Clareys home to conduct a wellness check on Curtis, according to a criminal complaint cited by the Inquirer.

The complaint said Clarey appeared intoxicated, and wouldnt cooperate. The Youth Services called Tullytown borough police, who found the childs body on the bed. The bed was covered in blood, according to the complaint.

The complaint said the childs brain condition showed signs consistent with a drug overdose. District Attorney Matthew Weintraub said he believed the toddler had been dead for several hours before authorities arrived.

Weintraub said during a news conference he believed the childs death was intentional.

Plain and simple, this was a murder, Weintraub said.

Clarey was hospitalized for her wrist injuries, the Inquirer reported. The next day, investigators found a knife and razor blades caked with blood, an empty prescription bottle for 120 Vicodin pills, and an empty 4-ounce bottle of childrens Benadryl in the trash, the Bucks County Courier Times reported.

Investigators said a man had left Clareys home the night of the alleged homicide and suicide. When contacted by police, the man said the child was alive and Clarey was home when he left the house. It was not immediately clear what the mans relationship to Clarey or her son was.

Clarey was arraigned in Briston District Court Tuesday afternoon and ordered held without bail, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.The Chicago police officers clearly do not want to be in court testifying against a colleague accused of murder, with one of them so uncomfortable he couldn't bring himself to point to the man on trial, something witnesses are routinely asked to do.

But one after another  whether they want to or not  officers at the scene the night of Oct. 20, 2014, when white officer Jason Van Dyke emptied his gun into black teenager Laquan McDonald are being called to testify, as prosecutors seek to chip away at the "blue wall of silence" long associated with the city's police force and other law enforcement agencies across the country.

Testimony was expected to resume Wednesday.

None of the officers has criticized Van Dyke in testimony over the first two days of his trial, but each has bolstered the contention by prosecutors that what Van Dyke did was "completely unnecessary." Van Dyke's attorneys say he feared for his life and acted according to his training.

Those testifying in Van Dyke's murder trial have included his partner that night, Joseph Walsh, one of three officers indicted on charges that they conspired to cover up what happened to protect Van Dyke. While video released more than a year after the shooting shows McDonald veering away from officers, Van Dyke and others on the scene initially said the 17-year-old had lunged at them with a knife.

Walsh, who is no longer on the force, acknowledged Tuesday that he "could have" fired, before answering, "Yes," to the question of whether he chose not to. But he also defended his partner's actions, saying he was "confident officer Van Dyke took necessary action to save himself and myself." And he maintained that he saw McDonald raise his right arm to swing it "in our direction," even though video of the shooting that played as he spoke doesn't show that. He maintained that he had a different vantage point.

Another witness, officer Joseph McElligott, was so reluctant to testify that prosecutors finally gave up trying to get him to point to Van Dyke after he was asked the routine question of whether he knew the defendant.

According to some experts, Walsh's testimony  and that of other officers  represents a shift in the landscape for a police force that the U.S. Justice Department in January 2017 described as having a "pervasive cover-up culture."

"The fact that you have officers forced to testify is a huge moment," said Matt Topic, an attorney who waged an ultimately successful legal battle to force the city to release the video of the McDonald shooting in 2015.

Van Dyke is the first Chicago police officer in decades to be charged with murder for an on-duty shooting. He's pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, aggravated battery and official misconduct.

To Phil Turner, a former federal prosecutor who is now a defense attorney in Chicago, the blue wall of silence isn't weakening so much as video evidence is revealing the truth. He points out that some officers are testifying only because they would otherwise be held in contempt of court. He sees police using video as key  not because it will make officers reluctant to lie to cover for their fellow officers but because it renders those lies "irrelevant."

"If they refuse to talk, who cares, they've got the video," he said.

Topic agrees that video has been important in Van Dyke's case.

"All of those officers had to know there was dashcam video and still they felt safe enough to provide a narrative that wasn't true," he said.

Dora Fontaine is the only officer to challenge statements attributed to her in police reports about the shooting. She arrived as Van Dyke was firing 16 bullets into McDonald. Fontaine testified Monday that she saw the knife in McDonald's right hand, but she did not see him raise his arm or charge at the officers.

Officer McElligott, who also testified Monday, was responding to reports that someone was breaking into vehicles in a trucking yard when he encountered McDonald.

McElligott said that even after McDonald stabbed the tire of his squad car, he didn't think it was necessary to fire his weapon. Instead, he and his partner were waiting for an officer to show up with a Taser to use on McDonald.

"We were just trying to be patient," he told the jury.

___

Sign up for the AP's weekly newsletter showcasing our best reporting from the Midwest and Texas: http://apne.ws/2u1RMfvA 32-year-old woman with a history of driving drunk led police on a wild pursuit across two New Jersey airport runways Tuesday before she fled on foot, hopped a barbed wire fence and made it home -- where she was arrested, authorities said.

The woman, who wasnt immediately identified, followed an authorized vehicle through an open security gate at Teterboro Airport before a guard was able to stop her, a Port Authority spokeswoman said in a statement to NJ.com.

The woman drove across the runways while Port Authority police chased after her, according to NJ.com. The woman eventually stopped her vehicle and fled on foot. Though she initially escaped, police later arrested her at her Moonachie home. Authorities said there were no planes on the runways at the time of the breach.

The incident is being investigated to determine how to best prevent a recurrence, Port Authority said in the statement, adding the woman reportedly has a history of drunk-driving convictions.

The woman suffered cuts on her hands and thighs from barbed wire during her escape from the airport, WABC-TV reported.A woman who helped kidnap Elizabeth Smart and stood by as the Utah girl was sexually assaulted was released from prison Wednesday amid concerns that she remains a threat 15 years after the chilling crime.

Wanda Barzee, 72, quietly left the state prison in the Salt Lake City suburb of Draper, avoiding a throng of reporters gathered outside.

Court documents say she will stay in unspecified emergency housing chosen by her probation officer until another home is approved.

Barzee's release followed a surprise announcement last week that Utah authorities had miscalculated her sentence and she would be freed about six years earlier than expected.

Under the terms of her release, Barzee must undergo mental health treatment and not contact Smart and her family.

"I'm not going to let these people, this woman, stop me from living the life I want to live," Smart said in a speech Wednesday night at Lock Haven University, without mentioning Barzee by name.

She said it was "a statement in my moving forward" that she was able to come to the college to speak about sexual violence.

Smart, now a 30-year-old mother, speaker and activist, has said she was shocked and disappointed by the announcement of Barzee's release.

"The past few weeks have been an absolute roller coaster of emotion," Smart said Wednesday. "I so appreciate everyone's comments of love and support and outrage. It's made a really big difference to me personally."

During her speech, Smart recalled some of the horrors she experienced as a 14-year-old when she was snatched from her Salt Lake City home in 2002 by Barzee's then-husband, street preacher Brian David Mitchell.

Smart said last week that Barzee saw her as a slave during the nine months she was held by the couple and encouraged Mitchell to rape her.

"So do I believe she's dangerous? Yes," Smart said.

Barzee's attorney Scott Williams said there's no reliable evidence that his client remains a threat to anyone.

"It is unfair and counterproductive," Williams told reporters, adding that Barzee wants to be left alone and will comply with the conditions of her supervised release.

He said he's concerned about her safety but did not elaborate.

Ed Smart, the victim's father, said he's glad Barzee will be watched over closely by federal agents during her five years of supervised release, but he's concerned about reports that she still believes Mitchell's ideas.

Aiding Mitchell in following his so-called "divine revelations" prompted Barzee to help him kidnap Elizabeth Smart and even sit next to her as Mitchell raped her, Ed Smart said.

"My hope is that she won't be a problem," he said of Barzee. "I do know how she treated Elizabeth during that time, and I still feel like she's very capable of doing the same thing."

Smart was found in captivity while walking with Barzee and Mitchell on a street in suburban Sandy by people who recognized the abductors from media reports. Mitchell is serving a life sentence after being convicted of kidnapping and rape.

As another condition of her release, Barzee was placed on the Utah sex offender registry, but her address was still listed online Wednesday as the Utah prison. Her mug shot on the registry shows her with a wide smile, blue eyes and chin-length gray hair.

She's also voluntarily agreed to stay away from places frequented by the Smart family, Williams said.

Barzee could be returned to prison if she violates the terms of her release.

Barzee's niece Tina Mace has said her aunt's testimony against Mitchell seemed like a turning point, but her mental state appears to have changed in prison. Mace said she's unaware of any family members who would give Barzee a place to live.

Barzee was treated at Utah State Hospital for about five years following her arrest. She testified in 2010 against Mitchell and was given a plea deal on state and federal charges. She was transferred to the Utah prison in 2016 after finishing a federal sentence in Texas.

The Utah Board of Pardons and Parole initially set a 2024 release date. Her attorney questioned whether the term included time Barzee had served in a federal prison. The board decided last week that she had served her sentence.

___

AP writers Russell Contreras in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Walter Berry in Phoenix contributed to this report.next Image 1 of 2

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AP bureau chiefs Eric Talmadge in Pyongyang and Foster Klug in Seoul report on the two countries' views of this week's summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

___

THE VIEW FROM PYONGYANG

North Koreans have been barraged with a lot of astounding images this year. First came photos of senior officials flying off to rival South Korea to meet with their counterparts at the Winter Olympics. Then it was leader Kim Jong Un himself hugging South Korean President Moon Jae-in on the southern side of the Demilitarized Zone. And soon after that, Kim was in Singapore with the president of archenemy the United States, Donald Trump.

Even a staunchly patriotic North Korean could be forgiven for not knowing what to make of it all.

But North Korea's packaging of the first images of Moon's visit to its capital this week, as broadcast on state television a full day after the rest of the world saw them, offers some guidance  and some important insight.

The official North Korean narrative is all about ethnic pride, unity and how Kim is paving the way for a Korean-led solution to the decades-old problem of how to bring peace to the peninsula.

"Korean-led" is the key point here.

In the 30-minute edit of Moon's first two days as Kim's special guest, there was no mention of the United States, or denuclearization, or Trump. A commentary run by the ruling party newspaper on Tuesday, the day Moon arrived, took care of that  blaming Washington's "stubborn" and "gangster-like" demands for the North to unilaterally give up its nuclear weapons as the sole cause of the breakdown in U.S.-North Korean talks.

In North Korea, the day-to-day status of negotiations with Washington isn't what people care about. Or, at least, it's certainly not what they are supposed to be fretting about. Whatever happens down the road between Kim and Trump, or Kim and whoever follows Trump, since North Korean leaders tend to outlast American presidents, this is to be regarded as a moment of triumph.

Coming so soon after last week's lavish celebration of North Korea's 70th birthday, Moon's visit is being cast as something of a tribute, a show of respect. When the first images of Moon came on the TV screens, people across Pyongyang, the capital, stopped what they were doing to watch and savor the moment.

The underlying message being delivered by the state propaganda machine is clear  it was the wisdom of Kim that has opened up the way to a brighter future and it is only the stubborn interference of imperialists and reactionaries that can stand in the way. For most North Koreans, that's probably a comforting and hopeful thought. It is, course, also nothing if not familiar.

It has pretty much always been North Korea's official message to its people.

Of course, the North can't simply ignore the big, pressing issues that loom before it.

In contrast to the optimistic message being fed to the masses, there has been a feeling of tension in Pyongyang these days. Security has been tight, well before Moon's arrival, and officials are enforcing more restrictions on the ability of foreign journalists to talk to people on the street and for foreign diplomats to move around outside the capital.

The North Korean leadership is well aware that the stakes are high, and that a breakdown in talks with Washington could have dire consequences. Though it wasn't packaged that way for the domestic audience, Kim's meeting with Moon could just as easily be seen as a big message for Trump, one that was perfectly in keeping with what North Korea has been proposing since the Trump summit ended.

We can make a deal, the two Korean leaders seemed to suggest. But forget about what your hard-line advisers are saying.

We want you to follow our lead.

___

THE VIEW FROM SEOUL

The Korean leaders' surprisingly substantive summit announcement is a huge step toward a durable peace on the Korean Peninsula  and a Nobel Peace Prize for Kim Jong Un and Moon Jae-in. No, no, it's the death rattle of the once formidable U.S.-led pressure campaign against the North as it crumbles under the false optimism of inter-Korean engagement. Or maybe it's just the latest empty promise from a North Korean regime famous for backstepping?

How you see the third summit this year between Moon and Kim  and there could be another in the works, with Kim promising to come to Seoul soon  may depend on where you're sitting, both geographically and politically.

The view from Seoul will largely be relief, mixed with a sort of built-in wariness that many here wield as a default reaction to anything having to do with their northern neighbors. South Korea is a deeply divided place politically, with a chasm between conservatives who hate the North and liberals who want to reach out. But for Moon, whose aides have been hinting at his eagerness to secure protection from the North's conventional weapons, this looks like a domestic win, provided the two sides can follow through.

After all, much of what Moon and Kim agreed to on Wednesday  beginning to disarm their border, the world's most heavily armed, removing land mines, setting up buffer zones to prevent accidental skirmishes and dismantling, under outside inspectors' supervision, a North Korean missile launch pad  could tangibly improve South Koreans' safety.

"The South and North today have agreed to remove every threat in all areas of the Korean Peninsula that can cause war," Moon declared as he stood by Kim's side in a guesthouse in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang. "By creating the Korean Peninsula as a permanent space for peace, we will be able to return the normality of our lives."

While there are fears of nuclear war among some in the South, a much more common worry is that some sort of clash along the border, where millions of troops and pieces of artillery face each other, could spiral out of control and restart the Korean War, which still officially continues because it was ended in 1953 by a cease-fire, not a peace treaty.

The two Koreas have had multiple bloody naval clashes along their disputed sea border. In 2010, a torpedo attack blamed on the North killed 46 South Korean sailors, followed several months later by a North Korean artillery attack that killed four South Koreans, including two civilians, and prompted a South Korean return strike.

South Koreans are famous for their ability to keep calm and carry on in the face of North Korean belligerence, but it would be a mistake to think there isn't concern  and a clear recognition of the potential danger  when animosity rises.

About 25 million people live in the greater Seoul area, which is in easy artillery range of the nearby border. And while South Koreans mostly ignore North Korea's vows to turn Seoul into a "sea of fire," they also know that it could technically be done, more or less; the first time Pyongyang made that now-common threat, in 1994, it caused panic in Seoul.

Many here will wisely reserve judgment on whether the South Korean president's lofty claim to have removed "every threat" of war is correct  recent Korean history is littered with grand-sounding rhetoric that dissolved in the winds of the rivals' enmity  but if Moon and Kim can pull off what they've agreed to this week, there could be an outbreak of that rarest of feelings when it comes to inter-Korean ties: optimism.

___

Klug reported from Seoul. He is AP's bureau chief in South Korea and has been covering the Koreas since 2005. Follow him at www.twitter.com/apklug

Talmadge has been the AP's Pyongyang bureau chief since 2013. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram: @EricTalmadge.next Image 1 of 2

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Ethiopia's stunning political reforms are now threatened by long-standing ethnic tensions that have roared back to life since a young prime minister took power just five months ago and promised greater freedoms.

While exiled groups once banned as terror organizations are welcomed home to join political dialogue, deadly violence erupts on the fringes of celebrations. On Saturday, tens of thousands of people gathered peacefully in Addis Ababa's Meskel Square to cheer one group's return. Two days later, police fired tear gas there to disperse people protesting killings blamed by some on youth from the same ethnicity.

Suddenly, the government of 42-year-old Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed appears to be reaching for security tactics whose unpopularity helped to bring down the previous government, while some Ethiopians who cheered Abiy's reforms now accuse him of being soft on the unrest that poses his biggest challenge so far.

The internet winked off this week across the capital, a once-common act to control dissenting voices. The National Security Council has vowed "all necessary measures" against those spreading anarchy, the state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate reported. Some have even called for the return of the state of emergency that Abiy lifted in one of his first acts in office.

The prime minister himself, who shocked the country with a dizzying series of reforms that included freeing imprisoned opposition figures and vowing free and fair elections in 2020, has made warning sounds against the unrest.

"There's nothing more shameful than a group of people committing these types of crimes against their fellow citizens," Abiy said Tuesday while visiting a camp for those displaced by the latest violence.

Stability is crucial in a country whose fast-growing economy, 100 million-strong population and security ties make it the powerhouse of the turbulent but strategic Horn of Africa region.

Ethnic-based conflicts mainly over scarce resources are common in Ethiopia, which is home to more than 80 ethnic groups, but now the communal violence is spiraling at a scale that alarms many.

"If this trend continues, I fear a time will come soon when Ethiopians yearn for the old dictatorial times," Mussie Tefera, a university student, told The Associated Press.

Ethiopia since 1991 has been led by a ruling coalition and allied parties that hold every seat in Parliament and for years were accused by human rights groups of suppressing critical voices. That grip on power slipped after anti-government protests that began in late 2015 in the Oromia and Amhara regions, home of the country's two largest ethnic groups.

Abiy's arrival in power was a surprise. He is the first prime minister from Ethiopia's largest ethnic group, the Oromo. As the son of a Muslim father and Orthodox Christian mother who converted to Islam he has spoken out for tolerance. On an exuberant tour of the United States that drew large crowds, he spoke to Ethiopian communities and invited emotional exiles long wary of the government to return.

His appeals to peace and openness, however, have not healed long-standing ethnic fractures between groups such as the Oromo and the Somalis. Some disputes have worsened. The number of the country's internally displaced people has reached 2.8 million, up from 1.6 million at the beginning of the year, according to the United Nations.

For some, the surge in unrest comes with the recent shifts in power.

"Local cadres and officials are instigating this violence for a petty political gain," Ethiopia's disaster prevention chief, Mitiku Kassa, told The Associated Press after fighting between the Oromo and others in the Gedeo and West Guji zones.

Over the weekend, the U.S. Embassy was among those issuing safety warnings amid the violence on the outskirts of the capital as many Ethiopians expressed outrage over the alleged targeting of people based on ethnic identity. More than 20 people were killed.

"We demand justice," some protesters chanted as they passed by the prime minister's office on Monday en route to Meskel Square. By the end of the day, mobile internet service across Addis Ababa was blocked as citizens and Amnesty International pointed out hate speech against non-Oromo groups on social media. Internet service returned on Wednesday.

While some accuse "paid agents" of trying to paint a bad image of Oromo youth emboldened by Abiy's rise to power, others suggest some unrest is being orchestrated by groups in the ruling coalition that lost power when he took office.

Any internal frictions could be exposed when the ruling coalition holds its congress early next month, when it is expected to take steps to implement Abiy's whirlwind political and economic reforms.

"In a system where party and state have long been indistinguishable, the (coalition's) fragmentation would be a dangerous thing," Michael Woldemariam, assistant professor of international relations at Boston University, wrote this month in Foreign Affairs.

Ethiopians have long expressed grievances over the country's federal structure that is largely based on ethnic lines and has been held together by the ruling coalition and its security forces.

"If the federal structure is implemented properly, it is fine," said Berhanu Nega, whose Patriotic Ginbot 7 opposition group had been listed by Ethiopia as a terror group alongside the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab before being welcomed home from exile by the new government. "But what we have now here is a structure based mainly on ethnic identities and hence creating all these problems."

Abiy's administration is failing to guarantee law and order, said Awol Kassim Allo, a lecturer in law at Keele University School of Law in Britain.

"At this defining moment for this country and its people, the state needs a commander-in-chief that stirs the ship out of the storm," he said. "If we fail to defend this moment of ours and support this understandably challenging transition, we will all lose a great deal."

___

Follow Africa news at https://twitter.com/AP_AfricaPalestinians protested Wednesday at a new location along the perimeter fence between Israel and Gaza as Hamas intensified demonstrations at the border after Egyptian-led cease-fire talks stalled.

The militant Hamas group was hoping its indirect talks with Israel would result in the lifting of a crippling blockade that Israel and Egypt placed on Gaza when it took over the territory in 2007 from the Palestinian Authority, but it accused the West Bank-based PA of thwarting the negotiations.

For months, the marches were limited to Fridays but Wednesday's protest is the third this week, with new grounds including Gaza's northwestern tip at the Mediterranean where land and sea boundaries converge. On Tuesday, Palestinian protested outside Erez, the only crossing point for people into Israel or the West Bank.

"This thunderous march will not stop until the ordeal is over. This is our resolution," Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh said during the funeral of a Palestinian killed a day earlier at a protest.

For Hamas, giving new momentum to the protests aims at building more pressure on Israel.

"Creating new ways and tactics and diversifying the marches is meant to achieve the coveted goal of ... the lifting of the siege," Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said.

The protests have persisted since late March, driven in large part by the desperation of living under the blockade.

Hamas was close to reaching a deal and the mediation efforts reached their peak in August, but intervention by President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority resulted in "confusing and slowing" the discussions, Qassem said.

With limited options, Hamas resorted to escalating the protests in response to "its feeling that it was let down," said independent Gaza analyst Akram Attallah.

Hamas expects the persistence of the protests will become "annoying to Israel and invite a renewal of mediation diplomacy," he said.

Israeli gunfire has killed 133 people who were either present or participating in the demonstrations, including three paramedics and two journalists. In July, an Israeli soldier was killed by a Palestinian sniper from Gaza.

At the protests, Palestinians burn tires, hurl rocks and sometimes firebombs at Israeli forces and snipers perched atop earthen mounds behind the boundary fence. For some time, protest activists sent incendiary kites and balloons across the fence to set fire to Israeli farmland.next Image 1 of 2

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New Zealand became the first nation in the world to allow women to vote 125 years ago, and hundreds of people celebrated the anniversary on Wednesday by turning out to gatherings and speeches. Some wore period costumes or white camellia flowers, a symbol of the historic movement.

New Zealand's female lawmakers also marked the occasion by re-enacting an all-male photograph of lawmakers taken more than a century ago. This time, the photograph featured New Zealand's third female Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in the center, holding her 3-month-old baby Neve.

Ardern was also the guest editor for the "suffrage edition" of the country's largest daily newspaper, The New Zealand Herald, although some questioned whether that move could taint the political neutrality the paper seeks in its journalism.

Liberal lawmakers introduced a new bill Wednesday that they say is aimed at addressing historic lower pay for women by making it easier for workers to make claims for pay equity.

"It reminds us that that is what we are here for," said Acting Minister for Women Eugenie Sage, referring to the photo session, proposed law change and other advancements for women. "That is why we got the vote."

Earlier in the day, Ardern spoke to hundreds of people gathered in Auckland, telling them her own great-great-grandmother had signed the petition for women to get the vote back in 1893.

In her edition of the newspaper, Ardern wrote that she felt an "enormous sense of responsibility" to capture women's voices and highlight the extraordinary within the ordinary. She pointed out that she left the content and placement of political stories to the news editor.

The paper featured a photograph of Ardern, who is liberal, with New Zealand's two previous female prime ministers, Jenny Shipley and Helen Clark. The focus on a diverse group of women throughout the paper was applauded by many readers.

But conservative commentator David Farrar compared the treatment of Ardern by the newspaper, which also featured her in a large billboard, to North Korea's reverence for its leader Kim Jong Un.

"This is very efficient," Farrar wrote on his site Kiwiblog. "Having the PM edit the Herald directly cuts out the middle man!"

The news organization Stuff pointed out that while New Zealand had made global history by giving women the vote, one of its own newspapers had been on the wrong side of that history by saying in an editorial at the time that the "shrieking sisterhood" had forced the vote on women.

Other parts of The Press editorial have better withstood the march of history.

"They must take part in the elections," the 1893 editorial said of women. "They, too, must study public questions, and seek to make their influence felt."A Pakistani court suspended the prison sentences of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter and son-in-law on Wednesday and set them free on bail pending their appeal hearings.

The Islamabad High Court made the decision after the Sharifs petitioned to appeal their sentences, handed down by an anti-graft tribunal earlier this year in a corruption case against them.

The development is the latest twist in a series of scandals involving the former Pakistani prime minister, beginning with his ouster from office last year and serving jail time, to several corruption cases and trials he faces. His party, the ex-ruling Pakistan Muslim League party, meanwhile, lost in parliamentary elections this summer and has now taken on the mantle of the opposition to new Prime Minister Imran Khan's government.

In Wednesday's decision, the court also ordered that Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Mohammad Safdar, be released once they each post a bond of half a million rupees, or about $4,000.

The prosecutors in the case, the National Accountability Bureau, said they would appeal Wednesday's ruling and take their case against Sharif to the country's Supreme Court.

Following the decision on Sharif, his supporters rushed to the court in jubilation, chanting pro-Sharif slogans.

"This is a triumph of justice," said Sharif ally and former Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif.

Amjad Pervez, a defense lawyer, said the required bonds have already been posted and that Sharif and his family would imminently be released from Adiala prison in the nearby garrison city of Rawalpindi where they have been serving 10-year, seven-year and one-year prison sentences, respectively.

Sharif was briefly released on parole earlier this month to attend the funeral of his wife, Kulsoom Nawaz, who died at a London hospital after a long battle with cancer.

In July 2017, the Pakistani Supreme Court disqualified Sharif from office over corruption allegations. He faced several court cases at home and was later convicted of concealing assets abroad. The charges stemmed from the so-called leaked papers from a Panama law firm. Sharif faced two more cases before the anti-graft tribunal.

Reacting to Wednesday's decision, Senator Javed Faisal, a close aide of Prime Minister Khan, said the court only suspended Sharif's sentence and those of his family members, and did not acquit them.

"Their supporters should not celebrate so much as they will likely have to go again to Adiala prison," Faisal said.

However, analysts see the decision as a "temporary relief" and a definite boost for Sharif's party and supporters.

"If the court finally quashes Sharif's conviction, that will be a cause of concern for the new government," said Tauseef Ahmed, adding that "Sharif is still a popular leader and has the capability to mobilize masses."

Ahsan Iqbal, Sharif's party lawmaker and former interior minister, said the anti-graft tribunal had convicted Sharif, his daughter and son in-law without any legal grounds, but "based on a vendetta."Russian President Vladimir Putin has accepted Israel's offer to share detailed information about its air raid which triggered fire by Syrian forces that downed a Russian reconnaissance plane, the Kremlin said Wednesday.

Syrian forces mistook the Russian Il-20 for Israeli aircraft, killing all 15 people aboard on Monday. Russia's Defense Ministry blamed the plane's loss on Israel, but Putin sough to defuse tensions, pointing at "a chain of tragic accidental circumstances."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Putin on Tuesday to express sorrow over the death of the plane's crew, blamed Syria and offered to dispatch Israel's air force chief to Moscow to provide details.

Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Wednesday that Russian experts will study the data to be provided by the Israeli air force chief.

While the Russian leader took a cautious stance on the incident, he warned that Russia will respond by "taking additional steps to protect our servicemen and assets in Syria."

Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov said Wednesday that those will include deploying automated protection systems at Russia's air and naval bases in Syria.

Business daily Kommersant reported that Russia also may respond to the downing of its plane by becoming more reluctant to engage Iran and its proxy Hezbollah militia, to help assuage Israeli worries.

Moscow has played a delicate diplomatic game of maintaining friendly ties with both Israel and Iran. In July, Moscow struck a deal with Tehran to keep its fighters 85 kilometers (53 miles) from the Golan Heights to accommodate Israeli security concerns.next Image 1 of 2

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British Prime Minister Theresa May urged EU leaders to compromise and back her Brexit blueprint Wednesday, ahead of a key meeting of the bloc's leaders in Salzburg, Austria.

Writing in German newspaper Die Welt, May said Britain "has evolved its position" and argued that "the EU will need to do the same."

With six months to go until Britain leaves the EU in March, major differences remain between the two sides. But May said a divorce deal is within grasp if both sides show "good will and determination."

May argues that the U.K. and the EU face a choice between her proposal  which would keep Britain aligned to the EU rulebook in return for seamless trade in goods  and an economically disruptive Brexit in which Britain crashes out of the bloc without a deal.

But the EU has reservations about the plan, and the two sides remain divided over how to ensure there is no hard border between the U.K.'s Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland.

The British government says the EU's fallback plan would effectively keep Northern Ireland in a customs union with the EU after the rest of the U.K. leaves  creating a border down the Irish Sea.

"Neither side can demand the unacceptable of the other, such as an external customs border between different parts of the United Kingdom," May wrote in Die Weit.

Chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier said Tuesday that the EU is ready to adapt its proposal on the Irish border in order to "de-dramatize" the issue.

He said the EU is not proposing "a border, neither on land or at sea.

"No. It is a set of technical controls and checks, a lot of which, most, can be put in place and carried out in places other than physically in Northern Ireland," Barnier said.

Pro-Brexit members of May's Conservative Party also oppose her deal, saying it would keep Britain tethered to the bloc, with no say over its rules and unable to strike new trade deals around the world.

Former Brexit Secretary David Davis  who quit the government in July over opposition to May's plan  predicted Wednesday that the EU would press Britain to make more concessions.

"All these things will come back and we'll see more and more pressure, and (May) will have a deal she won't be able to bring back to the House of Commons because it'll be lumbered with loads of other EU demands, so she's going to have to have something else," Davis told the BBC.

___

Jill Lawless and Gregory Katz in London and Frank Jordans in Berlin contributed to this story.next Image 1 of 2

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The U.N. food agency said Wednesday time was running out for aid groups working in Yemen to prevent a "devastating" famine in the war-torn country.

World Food Program said new entry points were urgently needed to bring in humanitarian food aid and commercial imports in and to address what it called a "growing hunger crisis" across the impoverished Arab nation.

Yemen's civil war has wrecked the country's already fragile ability to feed its population of 29 million people.

U.N. figures show the number of Yemenis who face starvation without aid has risen to 8.4 million. That number is likely to soon jump by another 3.5 million because of the national currency's falling value.

The war pits Shiite rebels known as Houthis, who hold the north of the country, against a Saudi-led coalition fighting on the side of Yemen's internationally recognized government. The coalition's main tactic has been to bomb the Iran-backed rebels into submission with an air campaign in support of the government forces.

In addition, relief workers in Yemen are concerned over an ongoing assault by the Saudi-led coalition forces trying to take the rebel-held Red Sea port city of Hodeida. Nearly 80 percent of Yemen's imports come through this port, including much of the humanitarian aid.

Save The Children said this week the lifeline from Hodeida could be damaged or temporarily closed by renewed fighting, reducing the supply of available food and fuel and further driving up prices.

The international charity also raised by 1 million the number of Yemeni children at risk of famine, bringing the number to 5.2 million. "

Already, more than two-thirds of Yemen's population doesn't know where their next meal is coming from, it added.For A Good Cause: Ways you can help othersDriving and texting : Police will target motorists on their cell phones

BONN This Thursday, police in NRW will be cracking down on motorists who are using their cell phones while driving. An information booth at Munsterplatz in the city center will inform people about the dangers of distracted driving.

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Just a quick check of the e-mails or writing a short WhatsApp message: Police in all of North Rhine-Westphalia will be on the lookout this Thursday for prohibited mobile phone use by motorists. The NRW police are participating in the nationwide initiative in Germany called Sicher. Mobil. Leben. (Safe. Mobile. Live.) Bonn police will also be taking part. In addition to the crackdown on motorists, there will be an information booth set up between 10:45am and 3pm on Munsterplatz, highlighting the dangers of mobile phone use while at the wheel.

Distraction by the use of smartphones is thought to be a common cause of serious traffic accidents. Studies from Austria even suggest that distraction plays a role in every third fatal accident. The interior ministers of the German states decided in autumn of 2017 to organize such an initiative on an annual basis.

About half of all drivers use their mobile phone while driving without a hands-free device, reported Wuppertal police. In the age group of 30- to 44-year-olds, a whopping 77 percent used the smartphone while at the wheel. Every sixth motorist writes text messages while driving.Danger for dogs : Razor-laced cold cuts found on the Heiderhof

HEIDERHOF People out walking on the Heiderhof came upon what they believe to be dangerous bait for dogs. Police are now investigating the situation.

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For every dog owner, its a nightmare: Your four-legged friend finds something to eat along the pathway, bites into it and gets sick or even dies. People out walking on the Heiderhof made such a terrible discovery, finding cold cuts laced with razor blades.

A photo of the discovery spread quickly on Facebook among animal rights activists, causing consternation. It was put up a few days ago by the owner of a dachshund who wanted to remain anonymous. She also reported it to police and filed a complaint. "The dog people on the Heiderhof know each other," she said. One woman told her she had often found similarly arranged sausages and cold cuts in the area and disposed of them.

The baited cold cut and sausage ensemble was actually found by a man who always goes out walking with his labrador on the Heiderhof. It was an afternoon, and the sausages and cold cuts were found at the base of a tree stump. The sausage had been cut into so that it gave off an enticing smell for dogs. The razor blades were hidden between slices of cold cuts. Had a dog eaten the laced cold cuts, it could have caused internal injuries. But there was also danger because of the packaging of the other pieces of sausage. The casing and metal clips used at each end of the sausage could cause suffocation and intestinal obstruction if consumed by a dog. "This is a painful death for the dog and agonizing for the dog owner, because we love our animals as our children," said the woman. Her dachshund was totally excited about the sausage and if she had not held him back, "he would have been all over it".

The Godesberg resident says it is incredibly sick for someone to lay such bait. She could imagine that some people are angered by dog owners who dont clean up dog poop, and she shares this anger. "There are many dogs on the Heiderhof, unfortunately, not all dog owners carry bags (for dog waste)," she said. She has plenty of them in her pockets and a supply at home.

In any case, the baited cold cuts are now a topic of conversation on the Heiderhof and police are taking action. According to Section 17 of the Animal Welfare Act, some acts of violence against animals can result in a fine or imprisonment of up to three years.

Three times this year, there were similar cases in Oberhausen. In one of them, a dog had a sausage with razor blade in its mouth but the owner was able to take it away. After incidents in a Berlin park, signs were put out to warn people. In the case of the Bonn incident, people on Facebook made comments like unbelievable, sick world and monster.

Anyone who finds the baited cold cuts and sausages should call police, and not clear it all away. Any tips can be called in to: (0228) 1 50.Latvian English

Riga, Latvia, 2018-09-19 07:45 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ABLV Bank, AS in liquidation hereby publishes the consolidated and separate annual financial report for 2017.

The key financial indicators of 2017 are as follows:

the banks operating income totalled EUR 101.4 million, while the profit amounted to EUR 44.7 million,

t he amount of the deposits with the bank equalled EUR 2.68 billion as at 31 December 2017, and the assets of the bank amount to EUR 3.68 billion,

he amount of the deposits with the bank equalled EUR 2.68 billion as at 31 December 2017, and the assets of the bank amount to EUR 3.68 billion, the banks loan portfolio equalled EUR 996.1 million,

the banks capital and reserves amounted to EUR 361.0 million,

the group paid EUR 20.9 million in taxes to the state budget.

The financial reports for 2017 were prepared based on the going principle. Yet after the decision of the European Central Bank and the Single Resolution Board, the shareholders of ABLV Bank, AS were forced to take a decision about voluntary liquidation. On 12 June 2018, the Financial and Capital Market Commission (FCMC) approved the application for voluntary liquidation submitted on 5 March 2018, which makes 12 June 2018 the official day of commencement of liquidation of the bank. The deadline for lodging the creditors claims announced by ABLV Bank, AS in liquidation is 18 September 2018.

The amount of assets is fully sufficient to cover the claims of all creditors. The assessment of the banks voluntary liquidation plan carried out by another international auditor and submitted to the FCMC on 16 April 2018, the value of assets is exceeding the amount of the liabilities also in the framework of the liquidation plan.TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Orca Exploration Group Inc. ("Orca" or the "Company") (TSX-V: ORC.A, ORC.B) announced today that its board of directors has commenced a global search process for a new Chief Executive Officer. The search process will target individuals with the skills and experience to maximise the value of, and diversify the risks facing, Orca's business while increasing the liquidity in the trading of Orca's shares.

Orca Exploration Group Inc.

Orca Exploration Group Inc. is an international public company engaged in natural gas exploration, development and supply in Tanzania through its subsidiary PanAfrican Energy Tanzania Limited. Orca trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbols ORC.B and ORC.A.

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.Winter weather has begun, even if the official start to winter is still weeks away. And while we desperately need the rain, we must be on guard for the dangers it can present. The large storm that drenched Santa Cruz County on the evening of Oct. 24, while most welcome...Myanmar's largest non-state army has upped its persecution of Christians, detaining pastors and destroying churches in areas bordering China and Thailand in Shan state, a new report has revealed.



Asia Times reports that the China-backed United Wa State Army (UWSA), a 30,000-strong ethnic armed group comprising the military wing of the United Wa State Party (UWSP), recently released a six-point statement instructing all of its military officers and administrators to "find out what the [Christian] missionaries are doing and what are their intentions."



The Chinese language statement also vows to punish any local administration cadres who support missionary activities, bans the construction of new Christian churches, and requires that priests and workers in existing churches must be local not foreign.



Additionally, the announcement bans religious teaching in schools in the Wa Hills area and UWSP functionaries are no longer allowed to be members of any "religious organizations."



Rev. Soe Naing from the Catholic Clergies Group told Radio Free Asia that Christians have already been targeted by the new order.



"We have heard that the UWSA has called and questioned clergy members about whether they are doing development work or persuading people to convert to Christianity," he said.



"If an individual or an organization builds a church in any area, they investigate to see whether it is being built because it is in a Christian community or whether it is being built to proselytize to get people to convert to Christianity," he continued, adding that so far, no arrests have been made.



Nyi Ran, a UWSA communications official at the army's office in the town of Lashio in Shan state, told RFA that Wa military leaders believe there are "religious extremists" in Wa territory, including missionaries who have not obtained official permission and clergy members who are operating outside the law.



UWSA soldiers have already apprehended "suspects" and are questioning them, he added.



American evangelical missionaries converted some Wa to Christianity around a century ago. Currently, Christians comprise about 30 percent of the 450,000 Wa.



The announcement comes just after John Cao, an ethnic Chinese pastor and permanent US resident of the state of North Carolina, was arrested in China in March for illegally crossing the Sino-Myanmar border. The pastor, who helped build 16 schools that serve around 2,000 children in the Wa Hills area, was sentenced to seven years in prison on immigration-related charges.



Cao's wife, Jamie Powell, reportedly said her husband, who was a prominent figure in China's illegal "house church movement," "was shocked by the poverty he saw" in the Wa Hills, which straddle the border between China and Myanmar. He saw "children without clothes" and a "makeshift school with a pigpen adjacent to the classroom."



The Asia Times points out that "while there is no reason to believe that Cao was more than a philanthropic church worker," the "Chinese as well as the UWSP may see the emergence of faith-based organizations and movements as a challenge to their authority."



In August, the U.S.-based persecution watchdog group ChinaAid launched an official White House petition urging the release the North Carolina pastor.



"While working to build schools for impoverished children in Myanmar, John was detained at the Chinese border on March 5, 2017. Twenty days later, he was charged with 'organizing illegal border crossing,' despite the fact that he had used the same route between China and Myanmar for this humanitarian work for years," explains in the We the People website petition.



"In three years, John helped build 16 schools that serve more than 2,000 children. He was unfairly sentenced to seven years in a Chinese prison."



The text calls on America to "pressure the Communist Party to unconditionally release Pastor John Cao and allow him to return home to America to see his wife and sons again."



As ChinaAid also states on its website, it wants the White House to take action on behalf of Cao to "uphold its commitment to religious freedom, human rights, and rule of law."

Governments around the nation are working to design the best vaccine policies that keep both their employees and their residents safe. Although the latest data shows a variety of polarizing perspectives, there are clear emerging best practices that leading governments are following to put trust first: creating policies that are flexible and provide a range of options, and being in tune with the needs and sentiments of their employees so that they are able to be dynamic and accommodate the rapidly changing situation.Amid concerns about bottlenecks to access, Louisiana regulators agreed Monday to loosen limits on how many medical marijuana patients doctors authorized to dispense cannabis can treat.Louisiana's State Board of Medical Examiners voted 8-1 to remove a cap established in 2016 that limited physicians to 100 medical marijuana patients. People seeking the treatment pushed elimination of the cap, worried they will have difficulty getting the medication when it becomes available later this year, estimated around November.Dr. Victor Chou, who has opened a medical marijuana clinic in Baton Rouge, reached the patient cap months ago and said hundreds of people are on his waiting list."Many of them feel locked out because they either cannot find physicians or the physicians they find already have hit the 100-patient limit," Chou told the board.Why Is Democratic Primary Turnout Higher This Year?

Does Primary Turnout Matter?

In the last two midterm elections, enthusiasm ran high on the Republican side while Democrats were dispirited. As a result, the GOP came to dominate state politics more than at any time since the 1920s.It's likely to be a different picture this time around.There's no guarantee that Democrats will see a "blue wave" as powerful as the GOP tides of 2010 and 2014. But it's clear that Democrats have closed the enthusiasm gap that dogged them in midterm races during the Obama presidency.The primary season came to a close last Thursday in New York. Across the country this year, citizens cast nearly 23 million votes in Democratic primaries. That's more than the 19 million votes that were cast in Republican primaries -- and a big jump over the 14 million votes cast in Democratic primaries back in 2014. That year, 15.5 million votes were cast in Republican primaries.Democratic turnout doubled in 14 states this year, compared with 2014, while doubling in only one state's GOP primary. That was Vermont, where Democratic turnout increased by an even greater percentage. Republican turnout was up at least 70 percent in Connecticut, Florida, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin."Republicans have tended to show up more than Democrats, but there's a lot of enthusiasm among Democrats for remaking the composition of state and local bodies," says Edie Goldenberg, a University of Michigan professor of public policy.Democrats this year appear to be motivated in large part by the presidency of Donald Trump, whom they view with nearly universal disdain."Unfortunately, anger's a pretty powerful motivator, and the left is motivated -- more so by the president and others in Washington than me -- but they're motivated," Wisconsin GOP Gov. Scott Walker toldin an interview last month.Trump's support among Republicans remains solid, in the mid to high 80s, according to recent Gallup polling . But there's a risk of complacency settling in among his backers.Polling conducted for the Republican National Committee earlier this month and leaked to reporters over the weekend shows that most Republicans -- especially strong Trump supporters -- don't think Democrats can take over the U.S. House in November. In part, that's because they dismiss the findings of pollsters who predicted Trump's defeat in 2016."They dont believe there is anything at stake in this election, the GOP pollsters wrote.Republican politicians and strategists are hoping to fire up their party's voters by convincing them that serious losses are a real possibility. In the meantime, however, they note that it's not as if Republicans aren't turning out this year. GOP primary turnout did increase compared with 2014 -- just not as sharply as Democratic turnout."Republicans were energized in both 2010 and 2014, so if Republican turnout is up compared to those two midterms, that's a pretty strong indicator," says GOP consultant and pollster Whit Ayres. "It's a very low bar for the Democrats -- they were disheartened in 2014."Political scientists generally believe that primary turnout isn't particularly indicative of who will vote in the fall, or which party they will favor."We should be skeptical of reading too much into primary turnout," says Patrick Miller, a political scientist at the University of Kansas. "It's one of many tea leaves."But it is an indication of enthusiasm. Voters are already less likely to turn out for primaries than general elections, so if one side is seeing a big bump in the primaries, it could be a good sign for the fall."Part of what drives presidential party losses in the midterms is that the other party is more angry and excited, and also more interested in politics," Miller says.Primary turnout may just be one tea leaf among many, but several other indicators are also looking positive for the Democrats. They are well ahead in generic preference polls asking which party voters would prefer to see in control of Congress. They have performed well in special elections. And they've been able to field large numbers of candidates.This year, there are Democrats running in all but two U.S. House districts, nominating the most candidates ever fielded by a party, according to Ballot Access News . At the legislative level, 5,176 Democrats are running for the 6,066 seats available, compared to 4,608 Republicans. Democrats are running fornearly every seat in states such as Georgia and North Carolina where they had left dozens of districts uncontested in recent years.More candidates has led to more competition, which in turn draws out more voters. It's possible that there were simply more interesting races on the Democratic side than in GOP primaries."If one party has an interesting primary and the other has an incumbent running effectively uncontested, that might skew participation toward the party out of power," says Henry Olsen, a senior fellow at the conservative Ethics & Public Policy Center in Washington. "Since in many states that party is the Democrats, on the margin, that might skew things in their direction."The share of the overall vote cast this year in Democratic primaries -- 53 percent -- is roughly in line with that taken by Republicans in 2010 (56 percent) and 2014 (55 percent) and by Democrats in 2006 (54 percent), according to John Couvillon, a GOP consultant in Louisiana. All of those midterms ended up being considered "wave years" for the party that had dominated primary voting."The signs of stronger commitment to vote by Democrats suggests to me that there will be a closing of the gap between Republicans and Democrats," says Goldenberg, the Michigan professor, "and indeed that Democrats may have higher turnout than Republicans."On Tuesday, in the morning, at Government House, His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC and Mrs Kaye de Jersey hosted an Investiture Ceremony for residents of Queensland who were recipients of awards under the Australian Honours and Awards System, announced in the 2018 Queens Birthday Honours Lists, and the Governor addressed guests.

In the afternoon, at Government House, His Excellency and Mrs de Jersey hosted a second Investiture Ceremony for residents of Queensland who were recipients of awards under the Australian Honours and Awards System, announced in the 2018 Queens Birthday Honours Lists, and the Governor addressed guests.

Following, at Government House, His Excellency received the High Commissioner for the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh, His Excellency Mr Mohammad Rahman, and Counsellor, High Commission for the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh, Mr Md Sayfullah.Description

GIS  19 September 2018: The President of Emirates Airline, Sir Timothy Charles Clark, paid a courtesy call this afternoon on the Prime Minister, Minister of Home Affairs, External Communications and National Development Unit and Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, at the New Treasury Building in Port Louis.

In a statement, Sir Timothy Charles Clark pointed out that the purpose of his visit to Mauritius was to attend the conference organised on 18 September 2018 by Air Mauritius and the International Air Transport Association in the context of Aviation Day. The conference, he underlined, which gathered world class industry leaders and experts from the aviation sector, was very successful.

As regards his meeting with the Prime Minister, the President of Emirates Airline stated that discussions were constructive and touched upon several issues namely operations of Emirates in Mauritius and their strong relations with Air Mauritius, as well as the hospitality sector. He added that they have several projects with Mauritius which will come to fruition in one or two years.

Sir Timothy Charles Clark has been in the civil aviation business for his whole professional career, having joined British Caledonian in 1972. In 1975, he moved to Gulf Air in Bahrain and subsequently in 1985 to Dubai where he became a member of the founding team of Emirates as Head of Airline Planning.

In 2003, he became President of Emirates Airline, one of the world's fastest growing airlines, which currently serves more than 150 destinations in 83 countries with a fleet of 256 wide-bodied aircraft. Between April 1998 and March 2008, Sir Timothy Charles Clark was also the Managing Director of Sri Lankan Airlines, the latter position resulted from Emirates' acquisition in April 1998 of a major stake in the airline with full management control.

In the 2014 Queens New Years Honours list, he was invested as a Knight of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for services to British prosperity and to the aviation industry. In November 2009, he was conferred an Officier de la Legion dHonneur by the French government for services to transport and aviation, and he holds the 2009 Gold Award from the Royal Aeronautical Society for his contribution to civil aerospace.A recent BuzzFeed article focused on the work of several teachers who have leveraged Instagram and Teachers Pay Teachers to promote and sell the classroom resources they make. In so doing, these teachers are serving as social media influencers and creating personal educational brands of themselves.Im not sure these teachers influencing and branding efforts cross ethical lines, though they could. In reading about these Instagram self-promoters, I was reminded of last years debate over teachers who served as brand ambassadors for ed tech companies and the ethical concerns this raised.The dispute started with a 2017 New York Times article that highlighted a North Dakota teacher who branded herself and her classroom practices and developed a large social media following as a result. The teacher also became a brand ambassador for some ed tech companies, receiving software and company swag in exchange. Another teacher featured in the article had become a brand ambassador for 3-D printing and coding companies in exchange for expensive equipment for his classroom.In the article, comparisons were made between the teachers and the products they promoted with the way the pharmaceutical industry has leveraged its influence with medical doctors over the years, offering valuable freebies to those willing to prescribe a companys medications.Comparing schoolteachers to medical doctors is a stretch, especially considering the salary disparity of their professions and the chronic underfunding of public schools. But its a valid point when educators become ambassadors for a particular company or product, raising questions about their objectivity. And depending on the individuals level of influence within a school or district, purchasing decisions can be swayed.Apple's Distinguished Educators, Google for Educations Certified Innovators, and Microsofts Innovative Education Experts are all efforts by industry leaders to bring educators into their folds as brand ambassadors, and offer them various honors and opportunities in return. Smaller ed tech companies are also trying to leverage teachers influence in similar ways. Its not unusual to visit the vendor hall of an ed tech conference and find teacher brand ambassadors working in their associated companies booths, or presenting conference sessions on a companys behalf.For a school district, having teachers with the expertise required to become a brand ambassador for a particular product can have its advantages  especially if the district has already adopted specific digital tools the teachers are promoting. If a Google for Education Certified Innovator leads a schools teacher professional development session using Google Classroom, it can add an additional level of credibility to the class.For those of us who have worked in districts with individuals who became brand ambassadors for a particular product or company, we should be wary of our colleagues enthusiasm for their adopted partners. As a district administrator with employees who also served in brand ambassador capacities, I had to manage both the employees influence, as well as their leave requests to travel on their associated companys behalf. (We required staff to take personal days for such travel.)Over the past several years, there have been several high-level school district administrators in the news who led their districts to make ed tech purchases from companies with whom, it was later revealed, they had relationships that personally or professionally benefited the administrator. Though by scale these administrators transgressions dont compare to a teacher who simply serves as a brand ambassador at a technology conference, nonetheless it can be a symptom of the same concern: public education employees vested with doing whats best for their students, who may opt instead to focus on building their resumes.Having employees who work in brand ambassador capacities is not an inherently bad practice for school districts. But individuals interested in doing side work for education-related companies  or for their personal brands  should be sure that in doing so theyre not compromising their objectivity and integrity as district educators. And in dealing with situations or questions where conflicts of interest may arise, educators with brand relationships should be up-front and transparent about their affiliations, and recuse themselves if necessary. Its not unlike a hiring situation where a person has a friend applying for an open position. Simply putting in a good word for the person is a potentially acceptable practice, as long as one is clear about the existing relationship and doesnt push additional influence on the friends behalf.To prevent possible issues, school districts should have in place clear and well-publicized policies that define expectations for employees ethical behaviors and state what constitutes a potential conflict of interest. These policies should also include the types and amount of compensation employees can receive from third parties. By example, the Dallas Independent School District has a thorough (though somewhat dated) employee Handbook of Ethics and Integrity that covers these topics.With education-related companies seeking educators endorsements, coupled with the far-reaching scope and influence of social media, the lines defining educators advocacy roles are becoming blurred. As a result, the importance of current, inclusive, widely publicized and enforced school district employee ethics policies are more important than ever.(TNS)  SOMERSET  Plans are in the works to provide Chromebooks to every student at Somerset Middle School, like has been done at Somerset Berkley Regional High School.The one to one technology initiative at Somerset Middle School would start for the next school year.School Superintendent Jeffrey Schoonover said the middle school has about half of the Chromebooks needed for the initiative so the others will have to be purchased and funding for that would be included in the budget for Fiscal Year 2019. There are currently 618 students at the middle school.Somerset Middle School Principal Pauline Camara said providing Chromebooks to students in grades six through eight is an initiative that has been in the works for a couple of years. She said she had been hoping to get it in the budget for this school year, but said this year can be used to train teachers on how to utilize the technology in their classrooms. She said teachers have been talking about the initiative and have already had some training. Camara said training isn't about replacing teachers, but about employing other teaching and learning strategies.Camara said Chromebooks are used in every English/language arts class at the middle school now, but the one-to-one initiative will mean students will be bringing the devices to all of their classes. Because of their use of them in the English/language arts classes, Camara said the students are already familiar with how to use the technology.Camara said that she, along with Schoonover and Lindsey Albernaz, the director of business and finance for the schools, will be visiting a middle school where all of the students have been issued Chromebooks by the school.Camara said the one to one technology initiative at the middle school will help students to transition better to high school. She said a lot of the school's curriculum is online, so it will be a lot easier for students to access materials and they won't have a need for as many books. She said the Chromebooks will also cut down on the amount of supplies that parents have to buy their children for school.Camara said they are ironing out how the Chromebooks will be issued to the students at the middle school. Parents at the high school were asked to pay for insurance for Chromebooks. Camara said insurance options would definitely be given at the middle school.About eLearning days

(TNS)  ANDERSON  As Mary Kate Short, 9, did her school work at the computer on the desk in the second-floor study of Debbie Sebastians house, her brother Matthew Short, 6, sat on his grandmothers lap as he worked on a packet of Johnny Appleseed math worksheets.We have to do one activity for each thing. This is a lot of stuff about Sept. 11, said Mary Kate, a fourth-grader at Eastside Elementary School.The children were engaged in their assigned school work last Wednesday during a scheduled Anderson Community Schools eLearning day. It is believed to be the first eLearning day taken this year by a school district serving students in Madison County or surrounding school districts.Put in place a couple of years ago as an alternative to makeup days for weather-related closures, schools and districts also are using the eLearning days for other purposes, such as professional development or schoolwide illness.The eLearning days help schools meet their various needs while adhering to the requirements of their teacher contracts and the states legal requirement of 180 instructional days.Because of the 1:1, or One to One, technology initiatives in most school districts, students now have access to electronics, such as iPads and Chromebooks, on which they can complete their assignments even though they never leave home. For those who do not have internet access at home, the school buildings may be open, and assignments usually arent due until the following week.However, Matthew completed his homework the old-fashioned way with pencil and paper.Were counting to 100, the Eastside Elementary School first-grader said. Were doing the cutting and gluing later.Sebastian, who typically watches her grandchildren while their parents work, said snow days typically were free days for which she had to find things to keep the children busy. Though there still is a lot of free time, she said, the eLearning day is a little more structured for the children, who arrive about 7:30 a.m.Mary Kate said she likes the variety, being able to work a little before doing a fun activity.We can do stuff like were making enchiladas today and get to play outside, she said.Though the eLearning days solve some problems for schools and districts, they dont do much for one ongoing problem faced by families: day care for the younger children of working parents.I wonder and kind of worry about children who dont have grandparents here in town for working parents, Sebastian said.ACS Assistant Superintendent Ryan Glaze said the district has scheduled four eLearning days this school year, including two for professional development. The district used one last school year as a makeup day for a snow day.The state went ahead and allowed us to use more this year, he said. The state will no longer allow us to take half-days for professional development. This is just an opportunity for us to make sure our kids have their guaranteed 180 days.In addition, Glaze said, the eLearning day maintains the continuity of learning and instruction, with students doing the same lessons they would have done had they been required to attend the bricks-and-mortar school that day.It is a day of learning, he stressed.Though he concedes child care remains a problem, Glaze said its probably easier for parents to enlist someone for a full eLearning day than for half a school day.As more than 72 percent of the students are eligible for free lunch, an indicator of poverty, Glaze said its reasonable to be concerned about internet access when students are home. However, in an internal district poll of about 1,000 students, officials learned more than 90 percent had access to WIFI and/or a device at home.More people had access than what I would have thought, he said.Though we live in a digital age where classes can be taken full-time at home, Glaze cautions that eLearning days are a temporary solution for limited situations because of the varied educational needs of students.Research will tell us over and over again that technology is just a tool. We still need teaching. And we still need relationships with teachers, he said. The state gives us a lot of flexibility on how we use them. I would not want to use them for just any situation.In January, Liberty Christian School used an eLearning day at its high school where more than 20 percent of students and staff had come down with the flu.It was really, really effective. We got great feedback from the students, said the schools Superintendent Jay McCurry. We told the students you need to check in with your teacher by 9 oclock that morning either by email or Google Classroom.Had the school faced such an emergency in the past, McCurry said, a makeup day or Saturday session would have had to be tacked on toward the end of the school year. But with eLearning, that wasnt necessary.Because they were high school students and able to take care of themselves, for the most part, child care was not a problem, McCurry said.Its a fantastic tool, really. Im thankful for the state to allow this as another option. We hope not to have to use it, but were thankful that its there, he said.The Indiana Department of Education established the Flex program in 2011 and the Virtual Option for Inclement Weather in 2014. Those programs were combined starting in the 2017-18 school year.According to the IDOE website, eLearning Days may be used on a day when school is canceled, as a planned day or as a makeup day.School districts do not have an automatic ability to tap into eLearning days but must apply to and be approved by the IDOE.Videos

Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos.(TNS)  Rick Dove is an environmental paparazzi operating at more than 1,000 feet above the ground.A senior adviser with the Waterkeeper Alliance, he circles the floodwaters from Hurricane Florence in the back seat of a tiny propeller plane, gripping his camera while searching for toxic problems below.Like a shutterbug hunting for a scandal-plagued celebrity, he points the pilot toward a hog farm near the overflowing Trent River in eastern North Carolina. There are two open-air lagoons where waste from the animals is deposited, and one appears to have been inundated.Some of the manure may have escaped, seeping back into the river and contributing to hazards that environmentalists have been warning about since before Florence made landfall Friday morning.They said they fixed it so it wouldnt happen again, said Dove, 79. Well, Mother Nature had different ideas.Hog farms are one of the most problematic environmental challenges after Florence dumped a historic amount of rain on the region, but theyre far from the only one. Advocates have been keeping a close eye on coal ash basins, where the residue from power plants is stored, and toxic sites across the state. Floodwaters can rise high enough to mix with contaminants and then deposit them back into rivers and wetlands that provide drinking water and natural habitats.These fears have existed for years in a low-lying state with a network of rivers that can disperse pollutants for miles. Now climate change is increasing concerns that storms like Florence will strike more often, altering the calculus for where industries will be safe from flooding.This is a time to recognize that theres a new normal in environmental protection right now, said Thomas A. Burke, an associate dean at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.In the past, powerful storms have prompted sweeping changes in North Carolina. After Hurricane Floyd battered the state in 1999 and dead hogs floated in the floodwaters, the state bought out farms in vulnerable areas.It remains to be seen whether Florence will prompt similar policy changes, with farms or any other industry. Researchers and advocates said its time to update rules for where facilities can be located and how waste can be stored as hurricanes appear to be growing more common and bring heavier rainfall with them.These are changes that are consistent with what we would see from the effects of climate change, said Martin Doyle, a Duke University professor who studies rivers. Its a totally different calculus.Florence has caused havoc with the states infrastructure since it began hammering the coastline last week. The Cape Fear Public Utility Authority lost electricity as the storm arrived, and then a backup generator failed. About 5.25 million gallons of partially treated wastewater were released in the nearby river before it was safe for workers to repair the generator.It was unavoidable, Jim Flechtner, the utilitys executive director. Its just not safe to send people out in high winds and heavy rains.Another problem was suffered at a shuttered Duke Energy power plant near Wilmington, in the southeastern corner of the state. About 2,000 cubic yards of coal ash were displaced when water ran into a landfill, although its unclear how much reached the nearby Cape Fear River.Monitoring trouble spots is a severe challenge after a hurricane. The same floods that have trapped people in their homes have also cut regulators off from the facilities they need to monitor. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency planned to deploy teams Wednesday to high-priority toxic sites, and state officials are trying to do the same.Many roads are still impassable, so it is not safe to inspect, said Megan Thorpe, the communications director for the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality.The challenge is why the Waterkeepers Alliance, which monitors rivers, lakes and other waterways for pollution, has been relying on a tiny air force of four prop planes, clocking more than a dozen hours in the sky since Monday. All of them have been taking off out of a small regional airport in New Bern, where metal siding from damaged hangars, shorn off by the hurricane, still litter the ground.Dove has been taking environmental reconnaissance flights for a quarter of a century, and Tuesdays flight was his second after Florence. The Cessna 172 bumps through the air like a low-riding jalopy on a pockmarked country road. Its roughly the size of an original Volkswagen Beetle with wings attached, and nearly as old too.The pilot, Aaron Stranathan, 21, is in no rush to return to land, indulging Doves requests to bank left and right to get the best shot of a flooded farm.The longer you want to fly, the longer I can wait before I go home to no power, said Stranathan, who lives in Newport, N.C.Dove doesnt have any electricity back at his house either, relying on a generator since the storm knocked out power. He lives along the Neuse River about a dozen miles from downtown New Bern, a city that had some of the worst flooding in the state. His house was generally unscathed, but his boat dock was destroyed.There are 3,300 hog lagoons in North Carolina, according to state regulators. Four have suffered Florence-related structural damage of some kind. Some waste may have escaped 13 others during flooding, another nine have been inundated, and dozens more remain at risk. The numbers are reported by the farmers themselves.So far, we seem to be weathering this storm pretty well, especially in light of the Armageddon-type reporting weve seen, said Michael Formica, an assistant vice president at the National Pork Producers Council.He added, The forecasts are detached from reality.Dove isnt so sure, and from the air he spots what he thinks could be a small breach in the side of a lagoon. The waste is pink from the bacteria that breeds inside, and traces of the color outside of the berms could signal a problem.See where theres a little bit of pink there? Dove says, pointing. Looks like theres a cut there.The camera clicks, and then Dove guides the plane toward Duplin County, the heart of North Carolinas pork industry. Even at 1,300 feet and nearly 100 knots, theres a brief whiff of manure with the Cessnas windows open. Flooded farms stretch across the landscape, the water shimmering in the sunlight as it saturates fields, homes and roads.Hog farmers were barred from building new lagoons in 1997, but they werent required to close the old ones. North Carolina is one of the top states in the country for pork production, with 9 million hogs in the state.The pork industry is incredibly powerful in North Carolina, said Alexis Andiman, an associate attorney with Earthjustice, an environmental law organization. State regulators havent done enough.The North Carolina Pork Council said it prepared for the hurricane by lowering the levels of the lagoons to accommodate more rainwater, using the manure as fertilizer in nearby fields.Our guys have more attention on them, and have had more attention on them, than anyone else, Formica said. And they do a heck of a job.It could be days, weeks or even months before the full extent of the damage from Florence becomes known. Rivers are still expected to rise, and flooding could reach more farms, coal ash basins and other industrial sites.Its a slow process that can hurt the ecosystem and the people who live there. And fixing the problems can be just as slow.Environmental protection is the long-term problem, long after the media has gone, Burke said. Recovery is really tough, and you have to keep people safe through the entire process.2018 Los Angeles TimesVisit the Los Angeles Times at www.latimes.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Back in 2016, several major phone carriers approached the city of McAllen, Texas, about building state-of-the-art 5G wireless networks. With the promise of ultra-fast internet connection speeds and an array of potential commercial and public applications, city officials eagerly entered into discussions about amending local ordinances to accommodate the necessary infrastructure. Months later, they were close to reaching an agreement on establishing a large-scale pilot program.It all started to unravel, though, when McAllen and other Texas cities heard about a proposal in the legislature setting statewide rules for 5G installation and prohibiting local governments from negotiating their own deals. McAllen City Attorney Kevin Pagan says the wireless providers initially assured him they werent interested in asking for state legislative help. But then the bill started gaining traction. Company representatives stopped responding to Pagans emails about the licensing agreement, and he says he hasnt heard from them since.The legislation sailed through both chambers and was signed into law last spring. McAllen has joined other Texas cities as lead plaintiff in suing the state over the bill. Id like to say it was a fight, but when the score has already been determined in advance before the starting gun goes off, its difficult to call it a fight, Pagan says. Nothing that we suggested of any substance was [included] in S.B. 1004.Across the country, telecom companies are beginning to lay the groundwork for 5G wireless networks. The buildout often pits states against cities, as in Texas. But a proposal that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is set to vote on Sept. 26 would not only upend future local agreements, but also preempt states. If approved, localities across the country would have drastically less authority over 5G infrastructure.The arrival of 5G represents a major advancement in wireless technology. Its expected to provide speeds at least 10 times faster than the typical 4G connection that many places now have. Testing is underway in select cities, and the FCC will start auctioning licenses for 5G spectrum in November. The first 5G-compatible smartphones are expected to follow next year.Some localities are already looking to use the technology in ways that go well beyond improving internet speeds. Kansas City, Mo., partnered with Cisco and Sprint on building a public Wi-Fi network covering part of the citys downtown. It supports pedestrian sensors and interactive kiosks along a streetcar line. Bob Bennett, Kansas Citys chief innovation officer, envisions a litany of potential future applications once 5G is enabled. Air quality and temperature sensors detecting pollution, he says, could play a role in determining where kids wait for buses. Others have hailed 5G as crucial for transmitting data to autonomous vehicles.The key building blocks of 5G networks are small-cell antennas interwoven throughout city infrastructure, affixed to streetlights, utility poles or buildings. Providers typically describe them as the size of pizza boxes. But in actuality some of the antennas are much larger, while others are hardly noticeable at all. They generally need to physically connect to wireline fiber, so the first places expected to get 5G are densely populated urban areas with high consumer demand and existing fiber networks. One study conducted by the municipal advocacy group Next Century Cities, of jurisdictions considered to be leaders in technology, reported that 60 percent of communities with a wireline fiber connection to residences had small cells in place, while the same was true of only a third of those without existing fiber.Unlike cellphone towers, small-cell nodes have limited range and poor ability to send signals through physical barriers. So telecoms may need to install hundreds of small cells to cover a relatively small area -- an undertaking that becomes cost-prohibitive in less urbanized areas. For this reason, Blair Levin, a former FCC official who oversaw the National Broadband Plan, says 5G is likely to further widen the digital divide that has disadvantaged parts of rural America.Supporters of the FCC proposal and state laws governing 5G frequently maintain that the laws will speed up construction, as well as potentially facilitate its use in currently unserved areas. In their pitches to Nebraska state lawmakers last year, lobbyists argued that a statewide rule would accelerate rural deployment. Citing comments provided by telecom providers, the FCC proposal similarly concluded that resources consumed in serving one geographic area are likely to deplete the resources available for serving other areas.But local officials contend that carriers wont bring their 5G networks to outlying areas absent market demand. There is not a shred of evidence that suggests a penny saved in New York immediately gets invested in Montana, Levin says. McAllens Pagan adds that his city offered companies a healthy subsidy to deploy internet service in unserved areas, but they werent interested.Whats certain is that the FCC wants to lower the cost of deployment. As of early this summer, 20 states had enacted legislation aimed at facilitating 5G small-cell deployment, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures . FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr has stated that the order wouldnt alter nearly any provisions of the 20 existing state laws. But any that do not satisfy the proposed federal rules would be preempted.One major point of contention is the fees localities charge providers to mount small cells on poles and other public infrastructure. Cities argue that they should be able to charge carriers market rate fees based on land values or the value of nearby private property. State legislatures usually set much lower caps on the annual fees that localities can charge telecoms for each pole.Texas state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, a Houston-area Republican who co-sponsored the Texas bill, believes local governments should levy only limited administrative fees. We just dont need to make this a major revenue source, he says. We should keep government out of the way of technology and let technology get us all there.Before the state law passed in Texas, Houston was charging $2,500 per small-cell node annually, while San Antonio was charging $1,500. The state law sets the maximum right-of-way rate at $250 per network node. For a large city with potentially thousands of nodes once the technology is fully implemented, the difference amounts to millions of dollars a year. Nationally, jurisdictions surveyed for the Next Century Cities study reported a median lease rate of $1,200 per pole, with areas of high-priced real estate levying much higher fees.Separately, video and cable companies pay Texas localities franchise fees based on their gross revenues for using public rights-of-way. Under the new state legislation, the Texas Municipal League fears that lower fee caps will incentivize cable companies to convert to 5G or wireless internet, meaning franchise fee revenues could one day disappear. Dallas, for instance, would lose up to $40 million annually under such a scenario. We have to treat it like its private property and the taxpayer has to be reimbursed on the market basis, says Bennett Sandlin, the municipal leagues executive director.Nearly 40 local governments in Texas are participating in the lawsuit against the state, arguing that the law violates the state constitution. The suit largely hinges on a provision in the constitution prohibiting the legislature from authorizing localities to grant public money or a thing of value to corporations. The cities say that a fee limitation of $250 per pole essentially represents a gift. In the past, the Texas Supreme Court has upheld laws if their "predominant purpose" is to accomplish a public purpose and provide localities a return benefit. Most other states do not maintain a thing of value prohibition.The FCC proposal, modeled after laws in Texas and other states, calls for all recurring fees not to exceed $270 per small cell. Localities could levy higher fees, but would need to show they represented reasonable approximation of maintenance and other costs incurred. Fees also must be nondiscriminatory, in that one company cant be required to pay more for similar uses than another.Levin, who advises nonprofits and tech companies, thinks cities shouldnt charge more than their cost burden, but also says local officials are in the best position to evaluate what those costs are. Cities incur construction management and permitting expenses for the installation of network nodes, along with potential liability expenses. Degradation costs result if mounted small cells lower the lifespan of infrastructure. Then there are opportunity costs representing what a pole might otherwise be used for. Its likely to become more relevant once smart sensors, public safety gunshot locators and other technologies command more real estate.Cities have further expressed concerns over the way state laws pare their ability to regulate where and how small cells are installed. Wilton Manors, Fla., Mayor Gary Resnick, who testified before a U.S. Senate committee earlier this year, points out that individual localities possess their own unique construction challenges, such as Floridas islands and coastal areas. By preempting, you take away the ability to work through some of these issues with the carriers, he says. The ability to come to a win-win [scenario] is becoming harder and harder.Some localities prone to severe storms, for instance, require that utility lines be buried. For cities, one of the more concerning provisions of the FCC proposal is that it considers such a mandate an effective prohibition of wireless service if required of all installations, a violation of the order.Theres a lot of prep work cities need to do before considering applications from 5G providers. Lincoln, Neb., has entered into agreements with multiple providers wanting to mount antennas and other equipment on public infrastructure. So theyve introduced an electronic permitting system enabling multiple departments to review applications simultaneously. Staff must also draft local rules. The Tampa City Council, for example, approved a 120-day moratorium on new small-cell applications last year in order to do so, prompting a lawsuit from the wireless industry trade group CTIA.To speed up deployment, the FCC order sets time limits for cities to process small-cell permit applications: 60 days for those where other equipment is affixed to existing poles and 90 days for new construction. Observers are concerned that cities might not be able to handle the workload if theyre flooded with hundreds of applications at once. The FCC guidelines allows for batch permitting if proposed installations meet certain criteria, meaning cities might need to review several hundred applications within the 60-day window. Seattle reports it increased staffing in several departments to review requests.Network installations pose technical hurdles as well. Some poles are unable to handle the extra weight and electricity of a network node, says David Young, Lincolns right-of-way manager. Additionally, the proliferation of small cells has prompted worries over potential health risks, particularly given how close some pole-mounted antennas are to homes. The FCC last updated its radiation exposure guidelines more than two decades ago, based mostly on existing cellphone towers. Citizens in several communities have protested installations, and the agency is in the process of updating its standards.One of the most common complaints from residents and officials concerns the aesthetics of small cells, which sometimes take the form of unsightly large boxes and wires hanging from poles. Crown Castle, a wireless infrastructure provider, has worked with several jurisdictions on designing small cells to blend in with the individual neighborhoods, such as white decorative light poles constructed along a boardwalk in Ocean City, Md. Crown Castles Richard Rothrock says many of the most successful deployments have occurred when the company has been left to work with city staff.Several local governments have already reached agreements with telecom providers to achieve various policy objectives, but their fate may now depend on the FCC order. When wireless providers approached the city of San Jose, Calif., about deploying 5G nodes, officials made improved access to areas with low internet participation a precondition for reducing fees. The eventual agreement, announced this summer, set tiered costs per network node installation, with lower fees for companies deploying more nodes. Along with this incentive, three companies pledged to contribute a total of $24 million over the next decade to a digital inclusion fund. The agreement is proof, says San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, that cities can work with the industry to bridge the digital divide.San Joses agreement, covering what is thought to be the largest small-cell deployment so far, has been widely cited as a model by government associations. The wireless industry, though, feels otherwise. It would  be a mistake to take such an arrangement -- negotiated by a locality with significant leverage and particular unrelated needs and challenges -- and treat it as a model nationwide, Verizons Will Johnson wrote on the companys website But it might not matter, as the FCC order includes no carve-out exempting any existing local agreements. FCC officials did not address multiple requests for comment on whether the proposal was intended to preempt agreements that local governments already have in place. The order is based largely on recommendations developed by the FCCs Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee last year and earlier this year. State, local and tribal officials made up only four of 25 members of a committee on state and local regulatory barriers. One of those members, San Joses Liccardo, says it quickly became apparent that the industry was dominating the outcome, and he resigned his position in January. What were seeing through the FCC, Congress and many state legislatures, Liccardo says, is a willingness of those public officials who have been co-opted by private industry to impose on local taxpayers the obligation to subsidize big telecom.FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has repeatedly hinted that state and local authority over small cells would be scaled back. The more difficult government makes it for companies to build a business case for deployment, the less likely it is that broadband providers -- big and small -- will invest the billions of dollars that are necessary to connect consumers with digital opportunity, he said in a speech last year If the FCC order is approved, industry observers anticipate litigation will follow. A Senate bill , the STREAMLINE Small Cell Deployment Act, outlines similar rules for states and localities. The legislation, while unlikely to pass this year, already has attracted some bipartisan support.A popular payment portal among government agencies potentially exposed the personal information of millions of citizens. And while theres been no confirmed exploitation of customer data, the vendor community is urging public agencies to use caution moving forward. Krebsonsecurity.com , the news and investigations website created by formerreporter Brian Krebs, reported on Sept. 18 that it had alerted Indiana-based Government Payment Services Inc. to the inadvertent exposure of at least 14 million customer receipts dating back to 2012. In his coverage, Krebs characterized the situation as the leaking of more than 14 million customer records dating back at least six years, including names, addresses, phone numbers and the last four digits of the payers credit card.Government Payment Service Inc., known online as GovPayNet, works with around 2,300 government agencies across 35 states handling payment for things like parking tickets and licensing, a spokesman confirmed.Until this past weekend, it was possible to view millions of customer records simply by altering digits in the Web address displayed by each receipt, Krebs wrote, adding that he had alerted the company to the situation on Sept. 14 and received a response two days later showing it had reacted to a potential issue. A company spokesman also provided the statement toGovPayNet has addressed a potential issue with our online system that allows users to access copies of their receipts, but did not adequately restrict access only to authorized recipients. The company has no indication that any improperly accessed information was used to harm any customer, and receipts do not contain information that can be used to initiate a financial transaction, the company said in the statement.GovPayNet also indicated the majority of the information in the receipts is a matter of public record that may be accessed through other means. But, out of an abundance of caution and to maximize security for users, the company said it has updated its system, to be sure only authorized users can view individual receipts.In an interview with, a spokesman for GovPayNet challenged Krebs characterization of the incident as a leak and stressed that the information in question appears to not have been acted upon.Its a bit of a mischaracterization to refer to this as a leak, or certainly, a leak of that many records. Weve seen no evidence so far to indicate there was an effort to access a large quantity of these receipts, the spokesman said, noting that GovPayNets self-assessment is ongoing.Theres a universe of information that could have been accessed by someone who knew how to do it, but so far  and were obviously continuing to assess  so far weve seen no evidence there were large-scale attempts to access that information, the spokesman added.It remains unclear which state and local governments utilize GovPayNets services.Jessica Ortega, a website security analyst at Scottsdale, Ariz.-based SiteLock, which designs website security products to prevent and remediate malware infections, praised Krebs vigilance and GovPayNets quick action. But she acknowledged bad actors could already have obtained the information and stockpiled it before the issue was identified  noting the information in this incident is likely very similar to data disclosed in the 2017 Equifax breach , making it hard to trace the origins of any malicious activity.I think were probably OK, but its always a good idea for people to be vigilant whenever a breach has occurred, Ortega said in an interview. She recommended government agencies be diligent in evaluating third-party vendors and asking questions about how data is stored and displayed on a website; and how credit card information is protected.You are ultimately responsible for the vendors in your supply chain, but this was a widely adapted service that was contracted. Up to this point we had no reason to suspect there was an issue, so again it just all comes back to being proactive. That proactive evaluation of data storage is so crucial in these days, Ortega said, suggesting governments that suspect residents data was compromised consider contacting residents via email or placing a message on their agency website.In a statement provided to, Carl Wright, CEO of AttackIQ, a San Diego, Calif.-based creator of attack simulations that test and measure an enterprises security posture, lamented that customer data leaks have become commonplace, and often caused by security issues that are easily prevented. He urged agencies to have a strategy in place against future events.Exposure of any type of customer data is an issue. Always. Every organization should have a plan to continuously assess the viability of their security controls the same way the adversary does, said Wright, whose company works with local and federal government agencies.Audi of America, Inc. will partner with Arcadia Power, a nationwide digital utility service, to allow owners of Audis first all-electric vehiclethe e-tron (earlier post)to support renewable energy production, and to help offset at-home charging and other electricity consumption.

Through the partnership, US e-tron customers who receive energy bills from their local utilities can offset their home electricity consumption by supporting renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. To get started, customers can visit www.arcadiapower.com/audi, connect their electricity bill to Arcadia Power, and select a renewable energy project to support.

With Arcadia Power, e-tron owners can invest in renewable energy without the added costs of a rooftop solar installation. Any ownerno matter if they rent or own their home or apartmentcan subscribe to a remote solar project by signing up for Arcadia Powers nationwide Community Solar program. Subscribers then receive savings on their monthly electricity costs, depending on the projects energy production.

By signing up, interested Audi owners can join a community of more than 175,000 renters and homeowners in 50 states who are supporting renewable energy.Cummins Inc. unveiled PowerDrive, a suite of plug-in hybrid electric powertrain solutions spanning light-, medium- and heavy-duty applications, at the 2018 IAA Commercial Vehicle Show. The Cummins PowerDrive offers both parallel and series capabilities.





The PowerDrive replaces the conventional transmission and switches in real time between two hybrid and two pure electric modes, optimizing the powertrain for the best fuel economics in any driving situation.

The flexible hybrid architecture seamlessly shifts between pure electric for environmentally sensitive areas with a 50-mile (80 km) range and hybrid for jobs requiring more than 300 miles (480 km). It operates as a hybrid in either series or parallel configuration modes.

Series is better suited to low road speeds such as urban driving (stop/start conditions), while parallel is ideal for higher road speeds on the highway.

In a series hybrid, the electric motor is the only means of providing power to the wheels. The motor receives electric power from either the battery pack or from the engine-generator. In a parallel hybrid, the engine and electric motor combine to provide the power that drives the wheels. The third mode of electric plus comes online when higher energy is required when the system senses gradient climbing or acceleration for overtaking.

This hybrid system is showcased in the Cummins booth in an electric hybrid utility truck, a Kenworth T370. The vehicle is also configured with exportable grid-quality electric power to recharge vehicles and a recovery crane operating on either electric or engine power take-off.

The Cummins PowerDrive system has travelled more than six million miles in a fleet setting in the United States and China, and work is underway to introduce it to the European market in the near future. Its flexible architecture means the PowerDrive system can be combined with various sizes of diesel or natural gas engines and battery pack outputs.

The Cummins PowerDrive is intelligent, versatile and compact, providing our on-highway customers the flexibility needed to meet the demands of their diverse jobs and markets. Cummins is ready to offer the new PowerDrive suite through our OEM partners. Julie Furber, Cummins Executive Director of Electrified Power

The Cummins PowerDrive 6000 is paired with a Cummins B6.7 in the Kenworth T370, a US Class 6 truck. The vehicles gross weight is 33,000 lbs (15 mt gvw). The service vehicle was commissioned by Cummins to support EV and PHEV vehicle field tests and pilot routes. It showcases three vehicle charging stations (1: 100 kW fast charge and 2: 6.6 kW standard chargers) with direct charging cables from the truck to the PHEV or EV vehicle requiring charging.WayRay, a leader of holographic AR displays for cars, announced new investment from Porsche, Hyundai Motor, Alibaba Group, China Merchants Capital, JVCKENWOOD and Consortium of Sovereign Wealth Funds (among them Russia-Japan Investment Fund, formed by JBIC and RDIF; Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Bahrein). The newly raised funds will bolster the companys focus on R&D, industrialization and team expansion to become a supplier of holographic AR solutions for car manufacturers.





Porsche first joined forces with WayRay for a pilot project at Startup Autobahn, Europes biggest platform for automotive innovation. Now the premium German car manufacturer is leading investment Round C, along with China Merchants Capital, one of the largest Chinese investment companies. The collaboration between WayRay and Porsche will now be strategically developed to actively drive forward the future-oriented technology and its use cases in the automotive industry.

The WayRay team has unique expertise with a solid background in space engineering, hardware and software development. Their innovative ideas and products have great potential. We are convinced that on this basis well be able to offer our clients customized Porsche solutions. That is why we have made this strategic investment decision. Lutz Meschke, Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board and Member of the Executive Board for Finance and IT at Porsche

Since its inception in 2012, the Swiss startup has raised more than $100M. By the end of 2019, the company aims to have a $1-billion valuation.

In its transition from startup to scaleup, WayRay plans to use the raised funds to establish an affiliate with a pilot production line in Germany. The investments will also help to diversify WayRays portfolio of applications in different sectorsfrom AR in transportation to AR smart glass in the smart home business and construction industry.

WayRays holographic AR solutions create a true augmented reality experience, where virtual objects are seamlessly integrated into the world around the car. Compared to the conventional HUDs (head-up displays) available on the market, WayRays technology features a smaller projection system that can be installed in almost any car model.

WayRay has remarkable expertise in both hardware and software development for holographic AR display systems. The HyundaiWayRay collaboration will help us establish a brand new eco-system that harnesses AR technology to enhance not only navigation systems but establish an AR platform for smart cities and smart buildings, which are Hyundai Motor Groups new business interests, in the long term, providing innovative customer experiences to our drivers. Dr. Youngcho Chi, Chief Innovation Officer and Executive Vice President of Hyundai Motor Group

Its exceedingly wide field of view allows for displaying more virtual objects at a comfortable distance for drivers eyes. There are currently no other technologies capable of matching those parameters, the company says. Another key competitive advantage of WayRays solutions is the customizability for both drivers and passengers, conventional vehicles and self-driving cars, consumers (aftermarket) and businesses (OEMs).A protester in Chicago during yesterdays ten-city McDonalds strike. Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images

Yesterday, protesters in ten cities organized the first nationwide strike in U.S. history focused on sexual harassment, specifically targeting McDonalds. As the lunch rush began, hundreds of workers walked out of stores in markets such as L.A. and Milwaukee. They shouted with megaphones from the parking lots, and even flew a plane over Chicago headquarters with a Stop Sexual Harassment banner. The New York Times reports that a suburban St. Louis location filled with chants of Hold your burgers, hold your fries. Keep your hands off my thighs, and Vox declared the strike whats next for #MeToo.

The event was organized by Fight for $15 and workers who, in May, filed EEOC complaints alleging a culture of harassment at the chain. Asked about this weeks strike, a company spokesperson told Grub Street, We have strong policies, procedures and training in place specifically designed to prevent sexual harassment. In fact, at least 27 women have filed charges against McDonalds over the last two years.

Yet the problem is hardly unique to McDonalds. The entire restaurant industry is at a tipping point  abuse runs rampant and several groups are fighting to make sure that changes as quickly as possible.

Protesters outside of a McDonalds in Los Angeles. Photo: Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg via Getty Images

According to the Data, the Entire Restaurant Industry Is Plagued by Harassment

Exact numbers are difficult to come by, but an often-quoted Hart Research Associates survey from 2016 cites that 40 percent of female fast-food workers experience unwanted behavior in the workplace. Troublingly, its one of the more conservative estimates.

In 2017, data put Carls Jr.s sexual-harassment rate at an astounding 66 percent. McDonalds has faced its litany of complaints, and Papa Johns has been accused of creating a culture where female employees feel objectified and harassed.

One commonly cited 2014 report found that 80 percent of women and 70 percent of men in the broader restaurant industry say theyve experienced harassment while working, and a full 90 percent of female workers claim theyve encountered unwanted come-ons. Fifty-two percent say that at least once a week they get harassed at work by managers. Forty-two percent who experience harassment feel they have to accept the behavior in order to keep their jobs, and one in five women who do report it face retaliation. In December, BuzzFeed added another important layer of data-crunching: It took the 170,000 sexual-harassment claims that the EEOC received between 1995 and 2016, and catalogued them by industry. By far, the worst offender was Full-Service Restaurants, a category accounting for 10,057 claims, which comes to 1.3 claims per day for 21 years.

When the EEOC was created back in 1965, the commissioners thought theyd be dealing with racial discrimination, explains Annelise Orleck, author of We Are All Fast-Food Workers Now and a Dartmouth history professor. It was mostly women of color at first, but they were filing harassment complaints. An analysis of all complaints filed between 2005 and 2015 found that the food service and hotel industries accounted for almost 15 percent of them.

Yet even these numbers dont tell the whole story. Researchers have long acknowledged this trouble, and even the EEOC estimates that only 6 to 13 percent of victims ever lodge formal complaints. Good data on this just doesnt exist, says Stefanie Johnson, a University of Colorado Leeds School of Business professor who wrote a Harvard Business Review paper earlier this year on sexual harassment in the industry. As a researcher, you can say, Have you ever been sexually harassed? and a person will respond, No. But then you ask them, Has anyone ever forced you to have sex with them to keep your job? and theyll say, Yes.

What Are Companies Doing to Fix This Problem?

Critics say the fast-food industrys response to these alarming figures is not enough. Of course, all fast-food companies have anti-harassment policies in place, but the effectiveness is questionable. Some Papa Johns employees have told Grub Street that they received no on-the-job training. And McDonalds remains vague about its procedures, but Fight for $15 believes that only supervisors get official instruction. The group goes on to say that some employees dont even know they have a legal recourse if management fails to respond to a complaint.

McDonalds, meanwhile, continues to reaffirm the effectiveness of its own internal anti-harassment training, and announced that experts from RAINN, the countrys largest anti-sexual-violence organization, will work alongside Seyfarth Shaws legal-compliance arm to evolve the companys procedures. However, the choice of Seyfarth has also met criticism. The group represents the Weinstein Company in court, and has defended at least 200 other clients accused of sexual harassment, including big corporations like Dominos, Costco, and United Airlines. It has also been called one of Americas most infamous anti-labor law firms. Organizers of yesterdays strike argue that employing Seyfarth seems simply designed to protect the employers interests.

One Chain Shows Promise

The Dallas-based chain Mooyah Burgers, which operates over 100 locations in 20 states, started conducting its own comprehensive anti-harassment training back in 2015. Employees have a third-party hotline to call, and Mooyah warns employees that itll take action for harassment that occurs even online. We dont differentiate anymore between harassment on social media and harassment in the workplace, says VP of training and people development Dennie Laney. She adds that a complaints validity often gets borne out by a Facebook comment these days: Its almost easier to prove now that we have texts and emails and screenshots. While the chain would not share numbers about how many complaints it receives, the efforts show promise.

What Do Some Other Solutions Look Like?

For full-service restaurants, one labor group, ROC United, has won several notable victories: Its One Fair Wage initiative  which aims to require the restaurant industry to pay all of its employees at least the regular minimum wage to reduce the need for tips  is now law in eight states; Washington, D.C.; and Flagstaff, Arizona. Our 17 years of research shows the most effective way to eliminate harassment is to pay workers a full wage, rather than forcing them to rely on a tipped income, president Saru Jayaraman tells Grub. States that pay the One Fair Wage have half the rate of sexual harassment.

The restaurant-worker advocacy group also runs Sexual Harassment/Assault Response & Prevention training, a program that got its start at the Upper East Side restaurant Amali. In the aftermath of the #MeToo movement, ROC has trained staff at hundreds of restaurants, held closed-door meetings with chefs, and worked with the James Beard Foundation to facilitate conversations.

Finally, Kim Lawson and Tanya Harrell are two organizers of yesterdays strike that were tired of waiting for McDonalds to update its procedures, so they have introduced their own anti-harassment training. The sessions discuss appropriate versus inappropriate workplace behavior, and include cards with a hotline number workers can call anytime. Were giving the training our employer should have given us a long time ago, Lawson explains, adding she was not trained after she got hired three years ago. (When Grub asked McDonalds about this worker-led training, the company declined to comment.)

Lawson recalls one Chicago anti-harassment protest where a worker cried nonstop, but couldnt talk about it. I let her know, Its okay, you being here is enough courage for us. That same worker then showed up at a St. Louis training session. I asked if anyone wanted to share their story, Lawson says. She stood up and started crying again. But she said she found the courage to do it because workers like me and Tanya told her nobody was going to blame her or put her down. That stuck with us.Opinion

Leave Johnson alone he is Labours greatest asset

I address you today to ask you to give whatever support you can to the Society for the Protection of Boris Johnson, the SPBJ, and my remarks are especially directed to the opposition parties. Leave him alone. Until the recent past



Haiti - PetroCaribe : The PM Ceant must allow the nation to see clearly what happened... dixit Jovenel Moise





Yesterday Monday, at the National Palace, the President of the Republic Jovenel Moise delivered a speech on the occasion of the inauguration of the Prime Minister, Jean Henry Ceant, https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25562-haiti-politic-inauguration-of-prime-minister-jean-henry-ceant.html in which he reminded the new PM that he must allow the nation to see clearly what happened in the use of Petro Caribe funds https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-25561-icihaiti-corruption-where-is-petro-caribe-s-money-the-answer-is-in-the-hands-of-the-state.html



"Ladies and gentlemen

My dear compatriots,



I have been able, in other circumstances, to thank the Government Jack Guy Lafontant for having put himself at the service of the Nation, in a context - we must not be afraid to say it - where serving the Republic becomes a dangerous exercise, punctuated by accusations of all kinds, coming from all over the world, thus discouraging many citizens from serving the Republic.



I wish to express again, in the name of the Republic and the principles that have made it one of the least bad forms of government that a people can give themselves, all my gratitude to all those who have accepted to serve the Fatherland.



It is undeniable that those who have led Haiti have not always been in a position to dispel suspicion about the public actions they undertake or have undertaken on behalf of all.



Today the exemplarity of those who lead or aspire to direct the destinies of the Haitian nation is an absolute necessity. It is about our credibility, the confidence of citizens in the state and the sustainability of the Republic.



Mr. Prime Minister,



I chose you to lead the Government according to your human qualities, your love for Haiti, your ability to materialize my campaign commitments to meet the needs of the people. I chose you because you have faith in the future of the Fatherland.



On behalf of the Haitian people, I take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the parliamentary assemblies, the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, who have expressed their confidence in your general policy.



The government that you have set up, wanting to be inclusive, is the result of a series of consultations that have been going on for more than two months with a very large number of political and socio-professional groups in the country. You could not meet all expectations. It is physically impossible to form a government with all the sectors that manifest themselves to take part, the permanent dialogue with all sectors of the national life will have to be your compass to facilitate the widest possible participation of the organized groups in the decisions which concern the life of the Nation.



My dear compatriots,



Several files are waiting for the new government. As I explained in my message of Prime Minister Jean Henry CEANT to the nation and included in the statement of the general policy statement presented to Parliament, Prime Minister CEANT must allow the nation to see clearly what has happened in the use of PETROCARIBE funds. Genyen twop chire pit sou dosye petrocaribe a. Fok nou depolitize dosye a.



The people are asking for explanations on the use of this money. The competent services of the State, notably the Central Financial Intelligence Unit (UCREF), the Anti-Corruption Unit (ULCC), the General Inspectorate of Finance (IGF) will be mobilized on the PETROCARIBE file. Besides the work of the Court of Auditors and Administrative Litigation, it is up to these technical services of the State to provide answers to the request for explanation of the population.



Institutionally, the State must provide answers to the PETROCARIBE file. I ask people to remain calm and wait for the results of the work of the relevant institutions. We must avoid making amalgams so that honest citizens are not victims or unjustly indexed in the PETROCARIBE file.



The State is there to guarantee everyone the right to life and honor. This is why, at the institutional level, the State must treat the PETROCARIBE dossier with the necessary rigor and give explanations to the citizens.



In search of a better-being, the Haitian people demand more justice. More social justice, more economic justice, more transparency and rigor in the management of public funds. The Haitian youth wants to recover faith, confidence in the future. Accountability must now be a principle that can not suffer from any derogation. There can be no excuses, no extenuating circumstances for those who have mismanaged state resources.



No development is possible without justice. The greatness of a nation depends on the quality of justice. Justice must act independently. I ask your government to facilitate a fair and equitable distribution of justice.



Ladies and gentlemen,



If we do not say it, no one will say it for us. If we do not do it, no one will do it for us. Haiti has everything it needs to live up to the glorious history forged by the heroes of 1804. Haiti has the resources necessary for its development. Remember, we have capable men and women, we have fertile lands under a mild climate, we have water resources. Haiti, this sacred land that has been bequeathed to us is rich in all aspects, we have the responsibility to exploit the resources it has to improve the well-being of its citizens If we do not say it, no one will say it for us. If we do not do it, no one will do it for us. Haiti has everything it needs to live up to the glorious history forged by the heroes of 1804. Haiti has the resources necessary for its development. Remember, we have capable men and women, we have fertile lands under a mild climate, we have water resources. Haiti, this sacred land that has been bequeathed to us is rich in all aspects, we have the responsibility to exploit the resources it has to improve the well-being of its citizens and to ensure that they live in honor and dignity.



The sites waiting for you are difficult but exciting. They have been listed in other circumstances. By taking the right steps, we can sustainably and positively change the living conditions of the population. You must succeed in :



find and sign with the private business sector a pact for jobs and inclusive growth ;



find a sustainable solution to the minimum wage issue ;



enable the country to have universal and compulsory medical insurance ;



accelerate ongoing work in the field of infrastructure (energy, agricultural, road, hydraulic, etc.) ;



find the appropriate financial mechanism for the construction of the missing classrooms so that all school-aged children attend school in good conditions and remain there ;



to supervise and continue the work undertaken in the framework of the reform of the State ;



strictly apply the decree on the reduction of the lifestyle of the State ;



take appropriate measures to resolve social crises in neighborhoods ;



improve the working conditions of the security forces and ensure that the new army under construction is mobilized in the vast site of environmental rehabilitation ;



strengthen social programs ;



make the tabling in Parliament of the finance bill 2018-2019 as soon as possible.



These are, among others, the files on which your Government is expected and which it must address with diligence.



Mr. Prime Minister, I have noted that your general policy statement accurately reflects these orientations recalled above and is in line with my commitments to the Haitian population summarized in the seven (7) priorities of my five-year term. The latter must primarily serve as a compass for the work of the government.



Mr. Prime Minister,



Ladies and Gentlemen, Ministers and Secretaries of State,To all members of the Government, I wish you every success in the accomplishment of your respective missions which are exclusively in the interest of the people and the Republic. The exercise coincides with an election year of great importance for the future of the Nation. Each one of them must work for the organization of elections, transparent, honest and democratic.



The time has come to consolidate the pillars of our Republic. The time has come to reconnect with the traditions and deep values of our country. The union is strength, it is necessary to gather Haitians around an ideal of progress and fraternity. We need national unity to address issues of social concern, peace to succeed economically, and security to triumph collectively. In this mobilization for national redemption, we must arm ourselves with the strength of the spirit to guide the people and mobilize their energy in projects and activities that give meaning to their lives.



The government must create the conditions for decent investment and job creation to free us from chronic dependency, because it is through work that we can bring material comfort to our people.



Uniting in diversity is a national imperative. At the crossroads where the country is today, every Haitian must make the effort to create the conditions for a lasting peace. I support all the initiatives advocating national unity and harmony because I want a united Haiti so that we all can work for the economic and social development of our country, write a new page in our history and turn our backs definitively on the led egoists that only darken the national destiny. The rule of law we want is the matter of all citizens.



I wish you all good work.



Long live the Haitian people!

Long live the Republic !

Long live Haiti!"



HL/ HaitiLibre





















iciHaiti - Economy : The new Minister of Commerce wants to be part of the continuity





On Tuesday, Dr. Ronell Gilles, new Minister of Commerce and Industry (MCI), was installed in his new position by the Minister of Public Works, Transport and Communication, Mr. Fritz Caillot, representing the Prime Minister, Jean-Henry Ceant.



In his words of circumstances, Dr. Ronell Gilles invited all executives and employees of the MCI to collaborate with him for the renewal of the said ministry. In addition, the new MCI holder wants to build on the continuity of projects already underway while ensuring that these and the new projects that will be implemented are in line with the general policy statement of the Prime Minister, Jean Henry-Ceant.



For his part, Mr. Fritz Caillot, on behalf of Prime Minister Ceant, reminded Dr. Gilles that it is his task to achieve the vision of the President of the Republic in terms of the commercial sector and industry, especially with regard to consumer protection.



While Patrice Garcia Brutus, chief of staff of the outgoing minister, while presenting the record of the 18 months of office of the latter assured the new holder that he will find in the ministry of employees and competent and dynamic executives.



The Director General of the Ministry, Daniel Denis, also praised the progress made during these 18 months, including the physical window, the Digital Professional Identity Card and the commercial and industrial policy of Haiti. He also took the opportunity to assure Dr. Gilles of his frank collaboration and the collaboration of all the executives and employees of the Ministry to face the challenges and dynamize the Haitian economic sector through the redefinition of a productive, commercial and industrial sector flourishing.



IH/ iciHaiti





















Haiti - Security : Balance of the operation Boukle lari





The National Police of Haiti (PNH) is satisfied with the operation "Boukle lari" (Closing the street) launched in early August https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25241-haiti-security-operation-boukle-lari-a-the-pnh-deploys-3-000-police-officers.html whose mission was to ensure the safety of the population and tourists during the last two weeks of the summer season, where no less than 3,000 police officers were mobilized for this purpose at this operation.



At a press conference on Friday, Michel-Ange Louis-Jeune, spokesman for the PNH on the operation "Boukle lari" pointed out that "many controls were carried out during this period at the level of drivers, vehicles without plates were confiscated. 500 drivers were checked. 2,340 vehicles were subjected to controls. We removed the shades of 400 vehicles for which there was no authorization," said Commissioner Jeune, adding that" 1,585 people were controlled, "87 of whom were arrested for offenses of all kinds."



As part of this operation the Central Directorate of Road Police (DCPR) and police stations have confiscated 160 vehicles without plates, they were returned to their owners after they have solved their situation, others are still in confiscation.



HL/ HaitiLibre





























Haiti - Politic : A presidential candidate plans to close 3 consulates





The presidential candidate of the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), Francisco Dominguez Brito, proposed Tuesday the closure of three Dominican consulates in Haiti.



At a press conference, the former senator and former attorney general suggested leaving only the consulates of Port-au-Prince and Juana Mendez open.



The PLD central committee member also criticized the fact that the Dominican consulates are issuing between 80,000 and 120,000 visas each year in Haiti, which he considers as "a disproportionate quantity".



Dominguez Brito argued that the consulates of Belladere, Anse-a-Pitre and Cap-Haitien "have no reason to be".



At the same time, he found it "inadmissible and painful" that to seek a visa in Haiti, the applicant is not obliged to visit the consulates personally.



The Dominican Republic, according to the former Minister of the Environment, "is the only country in the world" to grant this privilege to Haitians.



S/ HaitiLibre





















iciHaiti - Politic : USA looks forward to working with Ceant and the new Haitian





"The United States looks forward to working with Prime Minister Ceant and the new Haitian government.



We will continue to partner with Haiti to strengthen the rule of law and enhance public security; pursue economic growth through mobilized domestic resources and support for private investment; strengthen good governance, anti-corruption and counter narcotics efforts; and to increase access to health care and education.



The United States will continue to collaborate with Haiti to strengthen border security through our work with the Haitian National Police and the Haitian Coast Guard.



The United States is proud of our partnership with Haiti as we work together towards our shared goal of a prosperous, safe, self-reliant, and democratic Haiti," one can read on an U.S. Embassy Haiti Statement on Haitis New Government.



TB/ iciHaiti

















The overtime ban will apply to all sectors covered by PAM. We are already preparing for political strikes and other industrial actions in co-operation with other trade unions, declared Ann Selin, the chairperson of PAM.

Service Union United (PAM) on Tuesday announced that its executive board has decided to launch a union-wide overtime ban.

The industrial actions are an attempt to force the government to abandon its plan to allow businesses with no more than 20 staff to make lay-offs on personal grounds.

Measures are under preparation at workplaces to demonstrate to the government that service sector employees will not approve of any negative adjustments to their protection against unilateral termination, said Selin.

The overtime ban will start at a yet-to-be-determined date.

The Industrial Union, Transport Workers Union (AKT) and Trade Union Pro have already launched an overtime ban in protest of the much-discussed draft bill. The Union of Health and Social Care Professionals in Finland (Tehy) and the Finnish Union of Practical Nurses (Super), meanwhile, will launch a three-day overtime and shift-trading ban on Wednesday, 26 September.

If passed, the bill could lead to arbitrary, face-based lay-offs. It would also especially affect young employees. We cannot accept this, commented Marko Piirainen, the chairperson of AKT.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT

Source: Uusi SuomiKKO on Thursday issued a rare unprompted legislative proposal to the government for establishing the independent agency, pointing out that it is currently impossible for people to request a cost-free statement from an impartial authority on medical insurance-related legal disputes.

The Supreme Court of Finland (KKO) has called for the establishment of an independent authority to issue medical insurance statements.

Harry Harkimo (Now) lauded the proposal, predicting that it would spell the end of the supremacy of medical insurance doctors.

Timo Keistinen, a ministerial counsellor at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, told Uusi Suomi that the problem has been recognised for a while and assures that the recommendation will be taken seriously.

Lets just say that we recognise and take seriously the fact that well have to find a solution to this issue, he stated.

The legal disputes have revolved around questions such as should insurance companies grant disability pensions to people with brain damage. The National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira) issued independent statements on medical insurance-related disputes until the workload became too great in 2011. Finnish university hospitals, in turn, decided to stop issuing the statements last year.

The issue falls primarily under the purview of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health but also under that of the Ministry of Justice, which has drawn attention to it also before the proposal from KKO.

Valvira and university hospital are reluctant to take over the responsibility for issuing the statements largely due to them both having their own primary responsibilities, according to Keistinen. The ministries, he added, are also considering establishing an expert group that would issue the statements as a de facto public authority.

It may be difficult to find a solution that is satisfactory to everyone, admitted Keistinen.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT

Source: Uusi SuomiThe new graduates at the APTC graduation ceremony in Vanuatu.Quack duped dozens of men into having billy goat testes implantations

Americas most outrageous quack, Dr. John R. Brinkley, never finished medical school but made millions exploiting his one insight: When it comes to their gonads, men are morons.

For centuries, men robbed by age of lead in their personal pencils had been buying potions said to jump-start Mister Johnson. In 1917, Brinkley premiered a most audacious aphrodisiac scamtransplanting goat testicles into the scrota of men chasing the vigor of youth. The scheme made Brinkley rich and famousand damn near got him elected governor of Kansas.

Born in 1885 in tiny Beta, North Carolina, Brinkley longed for greatness. At 20, he married a local girl and they joined a traveling medicine show. The dough they collected singing, dancing, and peddling a bogus cure-all

nspired Brinkley in 1908 to enroll in Chicagos Bennett Eclectic Medical College, an unaccredited institution, part of a popular 19th-century fad steeped in plant-based treatment. Soon he dropped out, ditched the wife and kids, and, drinking heavily, hit the road.

He surfaced in Greenville, South Carolina, in 1913, billing himself as an electro-medic doctor. His specialty was charging impotent fellows $25 to inject colored water into their buttocks. Fearing dissatisfied customers, he fled to Memphis, where he met and four days later married Wife No. 2. Arrested for passing bad checks and practicing medicine without a license, Brinkley was saved from jail when his new father-in-law covered the bounced checks. Brinkley promptly enrolled at Eclectic Medical University of Kansas City, which issued a diploma to anyone willing to pay $100.

In 1917, Dr. Brinkley set up shop in little Milford, Kansas. Patient Bill Stittsworth, a farmer, complained of a listless libido, joking that he wished he were as randy as his billy goats. Brinkley persuaded Stittsworth to let him insert a baby goats testicles into his scrotum alongside the original equipment. Two weeks later, Stittsworth returned all smiles, probably thanks to the placebo effect. Brinkleys appointment book filled with men demanding goat glands. Suddenly a surgeon, he traveled to Chicago to study that discipline. He failed the course but told his professor,

I have a scheme up my sleeve and the whole world will hear of it. Soon Brinkley was doing 50 goat surgeries a monthat $750 perand sponsoring a Little League team, the Brinkley Goats. Touring Los Angeles and Chicago, he revitalized an editor, a judge, an alderman, and other notables. He began offering infertile women goat-ovary implants but found far fewer female suckers.

In 1923, Brinkley established radio station KFKB in Milford and began touting his treatments on the air. Note the difference between the stallion and the gelding, he intoned. The former stands erect, neck arched, mane flowing, champing the bit, stamping the ground, seeking the female, while the gelding stands around half-asleep, cowardly, listless

Through the 1920s, hundreds of listeners wrote Brinkley seeking medical advice, leading to another scam: patent medicines labeled not with names but numbers. After reading a listeners letter on the air, the pseudo-doctor would say, My advice is No. 61 and stay on it for about ten years. Joy juice sales hit $10,000 a week.

Brinkleys house of goat gonads inevitably collapsed. In June 1930, the Federal Radio Commission revoked KFKBs broadcast license. That September, the Kansas medical board yanked his license to practice medicine, citing gross immorality and unprofessional conduct. Three days later, Brinkley announced his candidacy for the governorship. Under Kansas law, the governor appointed the medical board and Brinkley wanted his license back.

He was too late to get his name on the ballot, so he ran as a write-in candidate.

Barnstorming Kansas in his own plane, Brinkley harangued hordes drawn to see the radio star. Playing the populist card like other demagogues of the day, he promised old-age pensions and lower taxes and sold himself as a saintly martyr. The men in power wanted to do away with Jesus before the common people woke up! hed bark. Are you awake here? In Depression-ravaged Kansas, Brinkleys bunkum went over well. Terrified of a Brinkley win, the state attorney general ruled that the doctors write-in votes had to read J.R. Brinkley; other spellings voided votes. Officials needed 12 days to finish the tally. Democrat Harry Woodring won with 217,171 votes. Brinkley came in third with 183,278, but even Woodring admitted that if misspelled ballots had counted, the doctor would have won.

Irate, Brinkley relocated to dusty Del Rio, Texas, on the Mexican border. He opened a clinic, resumed his goat-gland work, and added equally sketchy prostate surgeries. To outfox federal radio regulators, he bought Mexican station XER, pumped its power to a million watts, and returned to the air. A huge radio tower propelled his hokum as far as Alaska. Brinkley loved yakking on the radio, ballyhooing his operations, praising Jesus, and delivering right-wing diatribes. Between monologues, the station played country music, blanketing the hemisphere with a genre once restricted to the Appalachian Mountains.

Brinkley got richer. He built a palatial mansion. He bought three yachts. In 1938, however, Morris Fishbein, editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association, published a devastating expose on the doctor. Documenting instances in which goat-gland surgery killed or maimed patients, Fishbein called Brinkley a blatant quack.

Brinkley sued for libel, triggering a trial that was pure tabloid fodder. Physicians testified that Brinkleys goat-gland and prostate operations were frauds and that medicines he hawked were mostly water and dye. The most damaging witness was Brinkley himself. He couldnt explain how his nostrums worked, and his tales of surgery were terrifying. Sometimes he implanted goat glands whole, sometimes slices. Sometimes he sewed animal parts into a patients abdominal muscles, sometimes his scrotum. He might hollow out a mans testicles and sew goat glands inside. Grossed-out jurors ruled for Fishbein, finding that Brinkley should be considered a charlatan and quack. Suits bankrupted Brinkley and ended his career. He died of a heart attack in 1942.

Brinkleys legacy includes another facet of the American libido. In the 1950s, XER, that high-wattage music station, hired disk jockey Robert Weston Smith. Smith called himself Wolfman Jack and played a sexy new sound that blended country, pop, and electric blues. It was called rock n roll. Unlike goat-gland transplants, its still quite popular.In 1917 the most troublesome, breakout-prone Allied POWs were sent to a land-locked prison called Holzminden. By assembling such a group with dozens of attempts under their belts, the Germans unwittingly created an Escape University. Its practiced artists taught each other how to detect weaknesses in the camps defenses, build secret caches, create makeshift compasses, smuggle in supplies, tailor German uniforms, pick locks, and engineer any number of elaborate constructions to get beyond the walls. Nine months after Holzminden opened, its prisoners orchestrated the wars greatest escape. Twenty-nine got out, 10 made it to freedom, and their effort inspired the Allies in the darkest time of the war. In WWII, these escape artists guided MI-9, the secret British escape and evasion service, that aided tens of thousands of men reach freedom after being caught behind enemy lines.

Here are their hard-fought lessons that I gleaned from reading dozens of their memoirs, letters, and notes on their lectures:

1. Be prepared. In WWI pilots and soldiers had little to no supplies if they found themselves behind enemy lines. A small compass, knife, maps, a knife, portable food, first aid kitall these will help evade capture in the first hours/days. 2. Once captured, your best chance of escape is the immediate one. Take a breath, assess your surroundings, and go when the opportunity strikes. In transport, there are few guards and you are likely closer to safer ground. The further into enemy territory you go, the harder things become. Once in a camp, your options become more limited. 3. When you find yourselves in a prisonor the likeagain, your chances of breaking out are often in the earliest days. Guards have not yet detected weaknesses in security. Take advantage. 4. If it looks like you are in for the long-term, remember that no prison is impregnable, regardless of commandants warnings otherwise. Reconnoiter the whole place. Walk the perimeter. Time guard rotations and movements. Watch entrance and exits. Who is allowed in and out? What kind of passes do they need to show? Are interior walls solid? What kind of locks secure doors? Are there dark areas where the lights do not shine? Are there work duties that allow greater movement? What kind of uniforms do staff where? Are their tools that can be stolen? Is communication beyond the walls possible? Can supplies be smuggled inside? Opportunities exist. They only need be found. 5. Find partners. Solo escapes are often the most difficult. Ideas need to be hashed over. Many hands make light work. You need lookouts, diversions, skills that others have. Morale support is also imperative. Further, once outside the walls, traveling in pairs or threes, is often easier. Watches can be set so one can rest. Again, having someone to lean on in tough moments is helpful. 6. The former notwithstanding, secrecy is essential. Spies are often everywhere. A slipped word, an indiscreet remark, can foil the best of plans. Keep the cabal small, and information limited to those who need to know. 7. Allies among the guards. Foster these. Make nice. A bribe might do. They need not know your plansor even intentions to escapebut they can provide information, and sometimes key supplies. 8. Be patient. There will be roadblocks thrown into your path. That is to be expected. Do not lose hope. 9. It is not enough to get beyond the walls, one has to make it to a place of safety, whether a border or otherwise. Plan accordingly. Secure supplies for your run. Food, good boots, a compass, and maps are key. A headstart also helps, so weave that into your plans. The longer you have to get away from the prison before you are discovered missing, the wider the search range, the better shot you have of getting away for good. Have a cover plan too. What if you run into a local or even a policeman? What story do you have to tell? Travel by night. Rest by day. Steer far from populated areas. Never cross a bridge if you can ford the barrier below. 10. Last, but certainly not least, luck favors the bold. Often the most audacious plans are rewarded with the most success. The massive tunnel escape at Holzminden proved this lesson.

Neal Bascomb [nealbascomb.com] is the award-winning, bestselling author of The Winter Fortress, Hunting Eichmann, The Nazi Hunters, Red Mutiny and other books. A former journalist, he is a widely recognized speaker on war and has appeared in a number of documentaries. To learn more about the Holzminden escape, read Bascombs new book, The Escape Artists: A Band of Daredevil Pilots and the Greatest Prison Break of the Great War (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, New York, $28).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.

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The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those.WASHINGTONThe Alex and Elisabeth Lewyt Charitable Trust has made a generous donation to the Humane Society of the United States to support our efforts on the ground rescuing and caring for animals in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence.

Melissa Rubin, senior vice president of animal rescue, care and sanctuary for the Humane Society of the United States, said: These critical funds are going directly to help our rescue and relief work on the ground with our teams in North Carolina and South Carolina and will pay for the transport of animals out of harms way. We are grateful for the ongoing generosity of the Lewyt Charitable Trust and for their passionate support of animal protection during our disaster work and beyond.

The Alex and Elisabeth Lewyt Charitable Trust is a private foundation charged with the task of carrying on the Lewyts pioneering vision of improving the lives of companion animals, reducing animal cruelty and euthanasia rates, and supporting programs for the general betterment of all animals.

Humane Society of the United States Hurricane Florence videos and photos:Industry Reacts To Music Modernization Act Passage: AIMP, BMI. A2IM, NMPA, SoundEx, ASCAP, More

[UPDATE 4] The music industry was quick to react to the United States Senate's unanimous passages of S. 2823 the Music Modernization Act, a bipartisan bill cosponsored by more than 80 Senators that brings the music licensing system into the digital age.

Michael Eames, President of the Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP); Alisa Coleman, AIMP New York Executive Director; and John Ozier, AIMP Nashville Executive Director issued a joint statement: The AIMP applauds todays unanimous passage of the appropriately named Orrin G. Hatch Music Modernization Act (MMA) in the U.S. Senate, clearing the path for its much-needed reforms to become law once ratified in the House and signed by the President. With support from both sides of the political aisle, along with unprecedented cooperation between the music and technology industry, the MMA will be a massive step forward for the independent publishing community and the music industry in general, which has been hamstrung by antiquated copyright laws for far too long. Now, independent publishers and songwriters will enjoy a more modern and realistic rate standard, a central public database to ease royalty payments from digital services, the end of evidence limitations placed on rights-holders arguing for more accurate royalty rates, the ability for PROs to be heard by more than just the same two judges, and a clear and final determination that digital services must pay for the use of pre-1972 recordings. None of this would be possible without NMPA President & CEO David Israelite and his staff, who have been instrumental in crafting and passing the MMA, and the AIMP thanks them along with Sen. Lamar Alexander for his articulate explanation of why this legislation is so important, and every U.S. Senator who has recognized the rights of independent publishers and songwriters by passing this legislation.

BMI President & CEO Mike O'Neill

The Senates unanimous passage of The Music Modernization Act is a monumental step forward in getting this critical piece of legislation signed in to law. This bill has been the product of unprecedented collaboration across the entire industry, and we thank Senators Hatch, Alexander, Grassley, Feinstein, Whitehouse, Coons, and the entire Senate, for helping to ensure that songwriters and composers can continue to earn a living creating the music that is loved all over the world.



A2IM CEO Richard James Burgess

The passing of the MMA bill is yet another example of what can be achieved when creators and their representatives stand together for fairer remuneration. A2IM is grateful to all the people involved in finally making this a part of our music industry reality. All creators should be compensated fairly and A2IM is a strong advocate to ensure that happens not only for independent artists and labels, but for all music creators and the businesses that support them. We look forward to the bill becoming a law, and giving all music creators what they have deserved for so long. A2IM is grateful to both chambers of Congress for turning this historic and enormously relevant bill into a law. Without the support from the community of music  independent and major  and almost every Member of Congress for creating a bill that will equally benefit all American music creators for decades to come.

NMPA President and CEO David Israelite

Today is a momentous day for songwriters, artists, composers, producers, engineers and the entire industry that revolves around them. The Senate vote marks a true step forward towards fairness for the people at the heart of music who have long been undervalued due to outdated laws. This was a long and complex process but ultimately the music industry has come out stronger and more united than ever. We commend Senators Orrin Hatch, Lamar Alexander, Chuck Grassley and Senate Leadership for swiftly moving this bill to the floor. Now we anxiously await the Houses final approval of the MMA and seeing it signed into law.

Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow

"The passage of the Music Modernization Act by the Senate is a historic moment for the tens of thousands of music creators across the nation," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of the Recording Academy. "Since first proposing the music industry unite around a common bill in 2014, our members have lobbied in Washington and all 50 states to achieve this vision. When creators raise their voices for fairness, they make great progress."

Recording Academy National Advocacy Committee Co-Chair and four-time GRAMMY nominated producer and songwriter Harvey Mason Jr.

"The passing of the Music Modernization Act by the Senate is a huge turning point," said Harvey Mason Jr., Recording Academy National Advocacy Committee Co-Chair and four-time GRAMMY-nominated producer and songwriter. "This vote says loudly and clearly that music and those that create it are valued by our government and its citizens. We are all so thankful for this step to ensure music makers are compensated fairly."

SoundExchange President and CEO Michael Huppe

"The future of the music industry got brighter today. Creators of music moved one step closer to getting paid more fairly. And industry forces that fought to maintain an unfair and harmful status quo were rebuffed. Now, SoundExchange's 170,000-member community has just one word for the House of Representatives: Encore." "The Music Modernization Act proves what can happen when constructive industry leaders work together towards a greater good. The SoundExchange community joined a historic coalition of artists, labels, songwriters, music publishers, streaming services, performance rights organizations, producers, engineers and unions. The outcome of this collaboration is a law that sets a new framework to guide the future of the music industry. There are still issues regarding creator fairness that we need to address, but today we celebrate a new era of cooperation and progress across the industry."

ASCAP Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Matthews

Todays unanimous passage of the Music Modernization Act in the Senate represents a Herculean industry-wide effort to promote and celebrate songwriters and ensure their right to a sustainable livelihood. We applaud Senators Hatch, Alexander, Grassley, Feinstein, Whitehouse, Coons and the entire Senate for recognizing the value music has in both society and our hearts.

Songwriter, ASCAP President and Chairman of the Board Paul Williams:

American songwriters work tirelessly behind the scenes to create the music that fans all over the world enjoy. Today, we made history by joining together and working for Senate passage of the Music Modernization Act, bringing us one step closer to a music licensing framework that reflects how people listen to music today. We urge the House of Representatives to swiftly pass the Senate bill, so the President can sign it into law and music creators can begin to see the benefits of this critical reform.  Paul Williams, songwriter, ASCAP Chairman of the Board and President

Mitch Glazier, President, Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)

As legendary band the Grateful Dead once said in an iconic pre-1972 song, what a long strange trip its been. Its been an epic odyssey, and were thrilled to almost be at our destination. For the modern U.S. Senate to unanimously pass a 185-page bill is a herculean feat, only achievable because of the grit, determination and mobilization of thousands of music creators across the nation. The result is a bill that moves us toward a modern music licensing landscape better founded on fair market rates and fair pay for all. At long last, a brighter tomorrow for both past and future generations of music creators is nearly upon us. We are indebted to the leadership of Senators Hatch, Grassley, Feinstein, Alexander, Coons, Kennedy and Whitehouse for helping get us there.

Frank Scibilia, partner, Pryor Cashman LLP

The Music Modernization Act is an historic achievement. As part of an unprecedented compromise between music creators and rights owners on the one hand and digital services on the other, the services now have a means by which they may easily obtain the requisite mechanical licenses for interactive streaming on a blanket basis and thereby avoid the risk of streaming music without proper licenses, and royalties that had previously gone unpaid will now find their way to creators and rights owners. A quirk in the law has been eliminated so that the great legacy artists that provide so much value to satellite radio and similar services will now be compensated for such services use of their recordings in the same manner as current artists. And the standard applicable to the Copyright Royalty Boards determination of rates for section 115 licenses for musical works has now been changed to the willing-buyer-willing-seller standard, which is both a market-based standard and consistent with the standard applicable to the Boards determination of rates for section 114 licenses for sound recordings.

Content Creators Coalition (c3) and MusicAnswers

The Content Creators Coalition and MusicAnswers applaud the Senate passage and expected prompt House passage of the Music Modernization Act. The bill is a great step forward towards a fairer music ecosystem that works better for music creators, services, and fans. Our organizations have been pleased to join in the efforts of the music creator community in support of this bill." We also are gratified that our two organizations, in collaboration and independent of other groups, were able to make meaningful contributions to the final legislation, including comprehensive and publicly available audits of the MMAs new Mechanical Licensing Collective and ensuring that the Collective uses best practices to find the owners of unclaimed royalties. We appreciate the receptivity of key legislators and their staffs to these fundamental notions of transparency and accountability." Going forward, we pledge to work with other committed music creator organizations to ensure that songwriters and composers receive the royalties their work has generated and to see that, despite the lack of equal representation for songwriters on the board of the Collective, unclaimed royalties are distributed to the songwriters who earned them. We thank our many thousands of members and signatories for their support of our efforts as we continue to fight for the rights of music creators.

Share on:Leading up to the fair, the BerkshireWorks Career Center will offer several special events in honor of older workers, all in conjunction with National Employ Older Workers Week, the last full week of September.

BerkshireWorks Marks National Employ Older Workers Week

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  BerkshireWorks, in collaboration with Elder Services of Berkshire County, Age Friendly Berkshires and AARP of Massachusetts, is hosting a 50-Plus Job Fair, featuring companies that are age-friendly or thinking about developing a multi-generational workforce.



The targeted job seekers who are looking for full-time or part-time work will be able to use their age and experience to their advantage. Job seekers will also have the opportunity to learn about free resources from AARP and other organizations to help with their job search.



In Berkshire County, 40 percent of the population is over the age of 50 and many are actively looking for employment opportunities both full and part time.



The job fair will be held Wednesday, Sept. 26, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Berkshire Athenaeum at 1 Wendell Ave. For a complete list of participating businesses and organizations, visit the website.



Leading up to the fair, the BerkshireWorks Career Center will offer several special events in honor of older workers, all in conjunction with National Employ Older Workers Week, the last full week of September. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, this week recognizes the role of older workers in the workforce and aims to increase awareness of this labor segment and develops innovative strategies to tap in.





iciHaiti - Politic : Haiti-France a mutual attachment





The new French Ambassador to Haiti, Jose Gomez, believes that France and Haiti are united by a friendship rooted in shared values and language. "My mission and that of the Embassy is to further enrich this relationship so unique and strong," he said, adding that "the intensity of political exchanges between our two countries, including the interview in December 2017 between Presidents Emmanuel Macron and Jovenel Moise, after the visit of President Hollande in May 2015, testifies to this mutual attachment.



The intellectual proximity and language between our two countries makes education, thought, arts, privileged areas for our exchanges.



Thus French cooperation contributes to the modernization of the education sector, from basic to higher education, through technical education. The French Embassy will work with the French Institute to promote our artistic exchanges and our intellectual dialogue.



French cooperation supports institutions and the rule of law to build a more efficient public administration, serving all Haitians.



We plan to work more with our Haitian partners on the environment and adaptation to climate change, a phenomenon that is seriously affecting this country.



The Francophonie that unites us, which owes so much to Haiti, its writers and its intellectuals is this fertile ground that carries all our exchanges: we will cultivate it together."



IC/ iciHaiti

















A 26-year-old Nigerian identified as Silas Adekunle, credited for building the worlds first gaming robot has just become the highest paid in the field of Robotic engineering.

He achieved this feat after signing a new deal with the worlds reputable software manufacturers, Apple Inc.

The robotics engineer was also named as Someone to Watch in 2018 by the Black Hedge Fund Group. Adekunle is currently the founder and CEO of Reach Robotics, a company developing the worlds first gaming robots.

He also recently graduated with a 1st class degree and has four years background in robotics.

Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Adekunle studied in Nigeria before relocating to the UK as a teenager.

After completing his secondary school education, he proceeded to the University of the West of England where he graduated with a first class graduate in Robotics. In 2013, he founded Reach Robotics and developed a lot of experience on robotics within a space of four years.

Adekunle was also a team leader of Robotics In Schools programme, a programme which encourages and pays attention to students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

The programme encouraged him to develop robotics to make education more entertaining for STEM students. In 2017, MekaMon, he released the worlds first gaming robot, with the special ability to customise the gaming bot to perform personalised functions.

The initial launch of Mekamon sold 500 bots, generating $7.5 million, according to The Guardian. Following this feat, Adekunle received support from various organisations including London Venture Partners ($10 million) and in the same year, his company, Reach Robotics signed a deal with Apple securing exclusive sales in Apple stores.

Impressed by the quality of his robots and their ability to show emotion with subtly-calibrated movements, Apple priced his four-legged battle-bots at $300 and has put them in nearly all of its stores in the United States and Britain.

Early customers skew towards male techies but a growing number of parents are buying the robots for their children to get them interested in STEM, Adekunle told Forbes in an interview this year.

The young entrepreneur who once indicated that the secrets to his success are balance, shared ideas, time management and being oneself, was recently listed in the 2018 Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe: Technology.

Adekunle, who has taken over the world with his inventiveness, is currently located at the Bristol Robotics Lab which is said to be the best robotics research center in the UK.Senator Shehu Sani has dropped his two cents on the on going debate of ban of cell phones at polling units by the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC).

According to the lawmaker, it would be a difficult task for the electoral commission as Nigerians have a strong attachment to their phones.

Senator Sani while speaking via twitter on Wednesday said Nigerians are yet to abide to simple instructions like putting of their mobile phones in worship centres, Gas Stations and other sensitive places.

Therefore, the new polling unit instruction according to the Senator will be a hard nut to crack for INEC as Nigerians treat their phones as part of their body makeup.

He wrote:

Ban on the use of phones at worshiping places,Gas stations,Banking Halls has proven difficult to enforce;that of polling booths will be unenforceable.People treat phones as part of their anatomy & lives,that they cant do without. We are at a point when many see it as a shield.  Senator Shehu Sani (@ShehuSani) September 19, 2018The Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) had attracted heavy criticisms from Nigerians after the announced a ban on cellphones and any recording device in polling units.

According to the commission, this is to help curb vote buying and selling that has been an issue in recent times.

Many who have commented on the issue, have lambasted the commission for trying to trample on the rights of Nigerians as it doesnt have the power under law to do so. 

Some even argued that this move will even triple rigging as it would make polling agents more bribe-able.

Well, we took a look at the statement by the commissions chairman, Yakubu Mamood while speaking with stakeholders in Osogbo but heres what the statement really means.

As opposed to popular belief or understanding, INEC didnt ban the use of Smartphone around the polling unit areas, but what INEC really said is that as soon as a prospective voter enters voting cubicle to cast his or her vote, he/she wouldnt be allowed to go with a cellphone or recording device. With this development, the prospective voter would be able to snap sheet as evidence for receiving payment.

Simply put, this will in no small measure cripple See and buy voters snapping sheet as evidence for getting paid by party agentsThe Peoples democratic Party(PDP) has asked president Muhammadu Buhari to stop parading himself as Mr. Integrity, following revelations that the Federal Government smuggled the former minister of finance, Kemi Adeosun out of the country to prevent her from exposing how the Presidency fleeced the nation of trillions of Naira.

The opposition party said in congratulating Adeosun, even after she had admitted her culpability on issues of forgery and corrupt practices, has further showcased the APC as a party of corruption; an iniquitous fold, where thieves receive medals instead of condemnation.

In a statement by the PDP on Monday, it said there are clear evidences that Adeosun could not have circumvented the DSS, Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA), National Security Adviser (NSA) the Police and even the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). The party noted that Adeosun left Nigeria with the tacit approval of the president.

The PDP accused the present administration of wasting N10 trillion in 3 years and must bring Adeosun back to explain.

It also stated that the Buhari administration and the APC lack the moral rectitude to pontificate on corruption as they have become directly complicit.Former minister of finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has said Nigeria must now consider weather based insurance approach to tackle flooding in Nigeria.

Okonjo-Iweala, who was recently appointed into the twitter board said it was sad that flooding which used to occur once in 30years has now become a regular occurrence .

The former finance minister said this over twitter on Tuesday. According to her, Nigeria must consider using a strong risk mitigation and risk management strategy.

She wrote:

Time for Nigeria to consider weather based insurance approaches and a strong risk mitigation and risk management strategy in the context of climate change. @African Risk Capacity  Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (@NOIweala) September 18, 2018

A few days ago, there were reports that major flood in Kano claimed many lives and properties.Nigerian celebrity blogger, Linda Ikeji, who welcomed a bouncing baby boy few days ago, turned a year older today and to celebrate her day, the new mother shared a beautiful story of how she begged God to make her a mother and a wife before her 38 birthday.

Linda who admitted that she was getting nervous over if she will able to give birth successfully because of her age, said that God answered her prayers and gave her a child two days before her birthday.

She also shared photos of when she tried to catch a glimpse of her son seconds after he was born and placed in her arms, adding that she has already done something very crazy for him.

Here is her testimony and her birthday message in full below;

Happy birthday to me. Yay! Today September 19th, I turn 38 and I can say without any doubt that 2018 has been the best year of my life so far! I became a mum. Something that I always wanted and wondered when it will happen for me.

On my 37th birthday last year, I went down on my knees and told God, youve blessed me beyond what I thought was possible but theres something I want more than anything else; to be a wife and a mum before my next birthday. We will talk about the wife one laterbut the one that was more important, the one my heart desired the most, he gave to me. My own child.

Two days before my next birthday. Dear Lord in heaven, thank you. I dont know what I did, or what I keep doing to make you continually bless me and answer all my prayers.

Above pic shows me trying to catch a glimpse of my son seconds after he was born and placed in my arms. It took me the whole of two minutes to push him out. I recorded it and Ive watched the video over and over again in wonder.

I thought I would be in the labour room for hours especially because of my age and how people say the older you get, the harder it is to give birth but my son was placed in my arms exactly 2mins 19secs after I began to push.

I saw many comments on here of people praying I deliver like the Hebrew women and your prayers were answered. My delivery went so well. I cant wait to go through this journey of pregnancy and child birth again. By far the most amazing experience of my life. And the guys at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta are the best. . Ill recommend them.

Thank you guys for all the birthday wishes. God bless you and yours and I hope everything you ask God for, He gives to you. May blessings never cease in your life. Amen. Kisses.

By the way, I did something crazily crazy for my baby boy. You will hear about it soon!. My mum has been giving me and my dad bad eyes since. Hahaha.

Furthermore, Linda Ikeji finally opened up on who her baby daddy is and its Sholaye Jeremi as alleged when she first announced her pregnancy months ago.

She also revealed her sons name as Jayce Jeremi.

Writing on her social media page, the New mother-of-one wrote:

Going home with my prince. Beginning of the best years of my life! His name is Jayce by the way, Jayce Jeremi. . Will share pictures soon! Vanguard

The Plateau State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has set a five-man Dialogue Committee to discuss with the 10 governorship aspirants on its platform with a view of either getting a consensus candidate or reducing the number of aspirants contesting for the seat.

Thisday

The INEC has, however, clarified that it had not ban the use of Smartphone around the polling unit areas, but the moment a prospective voter entered voting cubicle to cast his or her vote.

The Sun

The political development in Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) resonated in Edo State, on Tuesday, with a chieftain of the party in the state, Mr. Charles Idahosa, expressing hope that Governor Godwin Obaseki would not experience the predicament being faced by Governor Akinwumi Ambode.

Daily Times

As the primaries for the 2019 presidential election approaches, the entire leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State are warming up to collectively choose the partys aspirant to support.

Guardian

Leadership

President Muhammadu Buhari and 87 other Presidents are expected to address the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly Tuesday, Sept. 25 at the UN headquarters in New York.

The NationA controversial Man of God stirred up controversy recently when he asked his members to drink bleach, which has been transformed into the Blood of Jesus.

The Senior Pastor of the Ark Centre Ministry in Makgodu Village, Limpopo, South Africa told Daily Sun that he has the powers to change any toxic liquid into the Blood of Jesus.

Yes, it was Jik before I made the declaration. But after I declared it to be the blood of Jesus Christ it means its no longer Jik so it wont harm anyone who consumes it.

He likened his act to the Bible, where Jesus gave his servants wine to drink but had said to them this is my blood.

Limpopo police spokesman Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe said they had not received any complaints. He urged the affected congregants to come forward and open a case so cops could investigate.

Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva, chairwoman of the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural Religious and Linguistic Communities, told Daily Sun they condemned such acts in the strongest possible terms.

She said this was an act of people seeking popularity.

A true man of God will not do such, she said.

Well be meeting with the religious umbrellas on Thursday to have a conversation about such acts. We want them to stand up and say, Not in our Gods name.Handshake

A buoyant global economy is the most important driver of M&A activity, but US tax reform and BEPS are two of the five key factors aside from this, according to a new report by Taxand.

Records confirm that 2017 was the fifth most active year for M&A, and high-value deals are more common so far in 2018. Deal volume is lower so far in 2018, but the value of those deals is rising  the number of deals worth more than $5 billion is set to be twice as high in 2018, says Thomson Reuters.

Although global economic strength clearly is providing fuel to this hot deal market, the following key factors are also fanning these flames, encouraging active market participants to continue engaging in M&A and those sitting on the sidelines to abandon their wait-and-see approaches, said Jim Stanley, head of the M&A tax service line at Alvarez & Marsal, a Taxand member firm.

However, one experienced US tax director doubts that there is a clear trend in M&A relating to BEPS.

While there now may be a bit more certainty as most of the BEPS recommendations have been finalised and we now know which of the largest economies are going to implement which of the BEPS recommendations most of the BEPS changes do not directly encourage M&A activity, he said.

But of course, the M&A market in the worlds largest economy has been given a shot in the arm by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA).

There have been noticeable changes in the US M&A market that can be directly linked with tax reform, and I think those changes will continue, as the full implications of the reforms are not yet fully understood, said the now retired tax director. Some of the effects appear to be counter-intuitive and could encourage both investment within the US, as the President hopes, but also overseas investment as all the implications are worked through.

US tax reform incentivises companies to change the way their international tax structures are arranged, mainly due to the base erosion anti-avoidance tax (BEAT) and global intangible low-taxed income (GILTI) provisions.

Moodys estimated that at the end of 2017, US companies were holding roughly $1.4 trillion in offshore cash; if repatriated, these large cash reserves will likely boost corporate involvement in M&A and potentially whip up the already frothy valuations the market exhibits, said Stanley.

One area of the high-end transactional market, which has been effectively curtailed by tax reform, is inversions. This opens up a new line of work for inverted companies, though.

"There is no reason why an inverted company cannot create or expand US operations to enjoy the new 21% US tax rate, which was the principal corporate tax benefit of the TCJA, while continuing to enjoy the benefits that caused the company to invert in the first place," said Jim Ditkoff, senior tax adviser at US multinational Danaher Corporation, in a recent interview with International Tax Review.

Getting cash back to the US for investment is no longer the problem it once was and after-tax returns could be higher, justifying higher prices for assets, said the tax director. Depending on profile and activities, investing outside the US could also have higher post-tax returns.

To set against that, the changes apparently intended to discourage some foreign investment in the US through the BEAT seem to be having some effect although that could perhaps make some targets values more attractive for US investors, he concluded.

BEPS uncertainty clears as Actions 6 and 15 take hold

As the BEPS project has progressed, the OECD has been able to provide more clarity on how the measures will be implemented. This is increasing M&A activity, says Taxand.

The fog is clearing, and the impending completion of Actions 6 and 15 (concerning tax treaty benefits and the multilateral instrument (MLI), respectively) has been key to the transactional market.

In Chile, an OECD member country, tax treaties consistently follow the OECD Model Tax Convention, meaning that changes arising from the MLI will be largely uniform and predictable.

The most recent tax conventions concluded by Chile, such as those concluded with Japan and Italy, have included provisions that prevent treaty abuse, said Carola Trucco and Fernando Barros, partner and founding partner at Barros & Erraruiz Abogados.

Chile is also part of an ad hoc group of 94 jurisdictions in charge of developing the MLI, giving it the inside track on developments in that space. For these reasons, transactional activity in Chile is no longer seeing much of a negative effect from BEPS.

In Russia, some aspects of Action 6 are already part of national law, reducing the uncertainty it could bring and allowing the transactional market to move more freely.

For example, beneficial ownership is a well-defined concept that the tax authorities apply to passive income coming from abroad to prevent treaty abuse, meaning new BEPS-inspired legislation in this area is not necessary.

But, BEPS has necessitated defensive structuring activity in other areas.

New legislation has been implemented, including new CFC rules, residency criteria, the definition of beneficial ownership with regards to double tax treaties, CbCR rules, modified thin cap rules, and VAT on digital services provided by foreign companies, said Andrey Tereschenko and Irina Schtukmaster of Pepliaev Group.

Exceptions to the rule

It is worth noting, however, that BEPS has not impacted transactions in every country. In Brazil, for example, there isnt a great deal of BEPS-related legislation passing through the legislature.

The effect of BEPS on areas such as interest deductibility and the use of debt in acquisitions are not yet known, says the Taxand report.

Brazil is engaged in the OECD discussions, but few references have been formally made regarding BEPS in Brazilian tax legislation, said Trucco and Barros.

Exceptions include Action 13 (country-by-country reporting) and Action 5 (harmful tax practices). Normative Instruction 1,634, issued in May, concerns ultimate beneficiary disclosure and Brazils corporate taxpayer registry (Cadastro Nacional da Pessoa Juridica; CNPJ) regulations.

Since July 2017, companies have had to disclose ultimate beneficial owners when they update their records with the CNPJ  or, if no updates are made, by December 31 2018 at the latest.

The legislation affects all Brazilian-registered companies, as well as authorised clubs and mutual funds, foreign owners of assets including but not limited to real estate, vehicles, ships and financial investments, importers, foreign banks that trade currencies, and more.

Sanctions can be severe, meaning many companies have had to rearrange their assets or re-evaluate their corporate structures to be compliant with the new legislation.

Similarly, there has been little action in the US on Actions 6 or 15. The US is unlikely to become a signatory of the MLI at all, and for domestic political reasons the United States has not ratified any new income tax treaties in the last several years  though the US model treaty does contain limitation on benefits articles, said Adam Benson and Ernesto Perez of Alvarez & Marsal.

Although tax is only one aspect in M&A considerations, its impact on decisions is being noticed. While a few years ago tax considerations could be a factor in deciding not to undertake a transaction, today the opposite is true. Although tax professionals have been very busy in 2018 they are now able to share positive outcomes in boardroom meetings rather than urging caution.

The material on this site is for financial institutions, professional investors and their professional advisers. It is for information only. Please read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy before using the site. All material subject to strictly enforced copyright laws.  2021 Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC. For help please see our FAQ.

Share this article"We are still very much beholds to our contracts, we still have to ask very much to have permission to do anything like I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here," she added. "We are always reminded that we are ambassadors for The Real Housewives brand and to not sign up to anything that could affect the brand."

Sources previously revealed that RHOS "will begin filming in 2019" after a year hiatus and apparently they were going to be adding new cast members "to shake things up and change the dynamics."

As previously reported, the controversial show was rejected by U.S. network Bravo for being too extreme - this was the first time a Real Housewives franchise was not immediately picked up for syndication.If you recall, the fate of the show was in question after Bravo decided not to commission the show for being "too extreme" for American viewers, in which Foxtel's head of television Brian Walsh revealed that he was concerned about the cast, hinting changes would have be made to the housewives line up."A lot of the women in this show were nasty for nastys sake and have no redeeming features," he said. "I particularly felt Lisa Oldfield and AthenaX Levendi were driving their own agendas."Brian said he would be steering changes in the second series to make sure the women were better behaved and more friendly towards each other."Ive raised my concerns with the production team from this season. I felt the bad language and behavior throughout the series did go too far," he toldWhile there was many hints that Lisa Oldfield and Athena X Levendi were being cut from the show, is understood a revolt from fans of the show have forced producers to reconsider.Lisa and Athena may be confrontational on screen, but fans love them, the source toldback in July. When rumors came out that bosses were keen to cut them, fans were not impresses, now Foxtel is being forced to reconsider.The publication claimed that while all the women are under three season contracts, Matchbox Pictures, who produce the show, can let any cast members go at their discretion.Lisa Oldifield's husband David hinted that the show was not returning for a second season when the couple where contestants on Ten's reality show, "I'm a Celebrity... Get Me out of Here!" earlier this year.Particular taking a dig at Lisa's RHOS nemesis Krissy Marsh, David said: "She doesn't understand that the show is over. A couple of them we know are not dealing with the fact that whatever they were... they are not that now."Dismissing the cast as a bunch of 'fame whores', he added: "They really did have their 15 minutes of fame."While the series was not picked up by U.S. network Bravo for being "too extreme," but the show found international success in New Zealand and the U.K.The Sydney cast consists of spiritual goddess AthenaX Levendi, businesswoman Lisa Oldfield alongside former model Krissy Marsh, day spa queen Matty Samaei, 90s pop star Melissa Tkautz, former Miss World Nicole ONeil and socialite Victoria Rees.Photo Credit: FoxtelPeggy Sulahian is slamming her formerco-stars, in particular Kelly Dodd. During a recent interview onthe '100th Housewife' claimed that Dodd used a racial slur against her.During the reunion, you guys didnt see, [Shannon Beador] cursed me out three times with her finger, said Peggy according to. I was called, I dont want to say it, it starts with an I. I was called that by one of the girls. Its four letters, it starts with an I and ends with an S.Sulahian later revealed that word is ISIS and alleged that Dodd was the one who called her that slur.[Kelly] was very horrible, Peggy shared. We were in Iceland and it came to a point that I had gone to the hospital with Vicki. When I came back from the hospital, s**t hit the fan.I told Kelly, I cant handle you. I asked her, do you know who I am? I am a mother and I am respected in the community. Do you know who I am? Kelly said to me, I know who you are. Youre ISIS.'However, Dodd is denying Sulahian's allegations and is denying being a racist.Peggy is a one hit wonder and is mad that she got the bullet and still wants to be in the limelight, Dodd told. Cant she go away? she asked, continuing, My best friend is Armenian and I have a ton of Persian friends and a ton of Jewish friends.I am not a racist and anyone who knows me would vouch for that. I am not even going to go there with her, Dodd added. I have experienced racism towards my race, which is Mexican. But I am definitely no racist.Photo Credit: BravoPrivacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.FOCUS ON DEFENSE CAPABILITY DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTHEAST ASIA AND OCEANIASebelum Anda bermain, Anda perlu mengetahui apa yang Anda butuhkan untuk masuk ke dalam permainan roulette kasino online ini. Jika Anda sudah mendaftar di situs judi casino online dan sudah memberikan user ID, login terlebih dahulu dan pilih menu live casino yang tertera di situs judi tersebut. Pertama pilih dealer dan putuskan sendiri, lalu pilih meja atau kursi di dalam ruangan. Jika namanya tertera dan berwarna coklat, maka kursi tersebut sudah ditempati oleh pemain lain, dan pilihlah kursi kosong berwarna hitam.

Kasino Roulette adalah salah satu permainan paling populer di situs perjudian kasino. Jadi dalam permainan ini kamu harus menebak angka berapa yang akan keluar. Ada 36 nomor berbeda dalam permainan populer ini di mana sebuah bola kecil diputar dan dilemparkan ke dalam mesin roulette. Anda harus menebak dari mana bola kecil itu masuk dan di nomor berapa ia berhenti. Ada banyak jenis pilihan angka dari 0-36, dan mereka dihitung secara berbeda. Sebagai agen casino terpercaya, panduan permainan roulette ini juga memberikan informasi tentang jenis pilihan dan nama permainan roulette casino online sebagai berikut:

Jika Anda ingin bermain roulette di situs kasino online, caranya sangat sederhana. Anda dapat bermain di Kasino ION, Kasino Sbobet, dan Situs Kasino. Di bawah ini adalah artikel panduan bermain di mana Anda dapat mempelajari roulette langsung dan memainkannya di situs judi online mana pun.

tangkapan layar

Sebelum Anda bermain, Anda perlu mengetahui apa yang Anda butuhkan untuk masuk ke dalam permainan roulette kasino online ini. Jika Anda sudah mendaftar di situs judi casino online dan sudah memberikan user ID, login terlebih dahulu dan pilih menu live casino yang tertera di situs judi online tersebut. Pertama pilih dealer dan putuskan sendiri, lalu pilih meja atau kursi di dalam ruangan. Jika namanya tertera dan berwarna coklat, maka kursi tersebut sudah ditempati oleh pemain lain, dan pilihlah kursi kosong berwarna hitam.

Panduan Bermain Online Kasino Roulette

Kasino Roulette adalah salah satu permainan paling populer di situs perjudian kasino. Jadi dalam permainan ini kamu harus menebak angka berapa yang akan keluar. Ada 36 nomor berbeda dalam permainan populer ini di mana sebuah bola kecil diputar dan dilemparkan ke dalam mesin roulette. Anda harus menebak dari mana bola kecil itu masuk dan di nomor berapa ia berhenti. Ada banyak jenis pilihan angka dari 0-36, dan mereka dihitung secara berbeda. Sebagai agen casino terpercaya, panduan permainan roulette ini juga memberikan informasi tentang jenis pilihan dan nama permainan roulette casino online sebagai berikut:

1. Straight Up: Penempatan angka tunggal dari 0 hingga 36. Contoh perhitungan straight up adalah mengalikan taruhan dengan 35. Ini adalah jenis taruhan tertinggi dalam permainan roulette kasino, jadi 50 dikalikan dengan 35 memberi Anda 1750, mengapa jenis taruhan ini menghasilkan pengembalian yang begitu tinggi? Hal ini karena tidak mudah untuk memenangkan pilihan nomor dengan memilih hanya satu nomor dari banyak.

2. Taruhan split: Jenis taruhan yang ditempatkan pada dua angka atau di antara dua angka yang berbeda. Misalnya, menempatkan di sela-sela angka 9 dan 12 atau 13d dan 14 dihitung sebagai jenis taruhan split. Setiap nomor dapat ditempatkan dalam jenis ini selama nomor tersebut berdekatan dan persis seperti Gambar A dan B. Untuk taruhan ini, jika Anda memenangkan contoh dan mengalikannya dengan 850, Anda akan menerima jumlah taruhan yang dikalikan dengan 17. .

3. Taruhan jalanan: bertaruh dengan 3 angka ke bawah, misalnya 1,2,3 atau 10,11,12. Semua taruhan jalan akan menerima kemenangan dikalikan dengan 11. Misalnya, 50 dikalikan 550.

4. Taruhan sudut: Jenis taruhan di mana empat angka ditempatkan saling berhadapan, seperti 13,14,16,17 atau 19,20,22,23. Semua angka valid karena terdiri dari 4 angka yang diisi seperti kotak dan taruhan dikalikan 8 (misalnya 50 kali 800).

5. Taruhan baris: Atau, Anda dapat mengatakan bahwa ada 6 jenis taruhan yang terdiri dari 2 baris, tetapi 6 poin dengan 2 peregangan, seperti taruhan jalanan. Misalnya, jika Anda memilih angka 7 hingga 12 dan 13 hingga 18, taruhan 50 adalah 5 kali dan kemudian dikalikan dengan 250 kemenangan.

6. Kolom Inner Bet: Jenis taruhan vertikal dengan 12 poin berturut-turut, seperti kolom numerik 1,4,7,10,13,19,22,25,25,28,22,24,34 atau kolom lainnya. Dan jika dia memenangkan kolom, 50 taruhan digandakan dan 100 taruhan.

7. Lusin : Jenis taruhan menempatkan 12 angka tetapi menempatkannya pada kotak berbentuk seperti contoh Kolom A dengan angka 1 sampai 12 dan odds dengan kolom lain untuk dipilih dengan memilih 1 kotak pertama untuk Kolom A. Kalikan dengan 2, 50 taruhan 100.

8. Zero part : Cara bertaruh 0.1,2,3 sama persis seperti di gambar, karena berdekatan dengan angka 0, anda hanya bisa bertaruh 0.1,2,3. Menempatkan taruhan ini mengalikannya dengan 50. hingga 8.

9. Zero Corner: Bertaruh pada angka 0.1,2 atau 0.2,3 adalah dua pilihan karena Anda hanya bertaruh mendekati angka nol. Jenis taruhan ini dikalikan 11 jika taruhan menang.

10. Two Dozen: Jenis taruhan dengan hanya dua pilihan: 1-18 atau 19-36. Jika taruhan Anda adalah 50, itu dikalikan dengan 1 hingga 50 jika Anda menang.

11. Merah atau Hitam: Masukkan taruhan Anda dengan memilih Merah atau Hitam sebagai warna angka yang muncul saat taruhan 50.

12. Genap/Ganjil: Pilih angka yang menghasilkan jumlah jenis taruhan ganjil.SPRINGFIELD, Ore. -- Cheetahs were running around in the Eugene-Springfield area Tuesday afternoon.

Don't worry though, this was all part of an outreach program through Wildlife Safari in Winston.

The cheetahs made stops at Royal Caribbean in Springfield and Kendall Automotive in Coburg for handlers to share their message of conservation.

Marketing Director Jacob Schlueter said the Safari also reached out to people in our area who may have made a connection with Wildlife Safari in the past.

"What we're trying to do is get back out and say now you've got kids, now you've got grandkids, now you still have an opportunity to make that connection as well," Schlueter said. "It's important for everybody, and it's especially important for our locals here in Eugene."

Andy Hitchcock, a manager at Royal Caribbean, said this visit was important to them, as well.

"It's been a great opportunity to have them here today," Hitchcock said. "Royal Caribbean has done things like partner with (World Wildlife Fund) and other organizations around the world to make lives better for our employees and wildlife. Anything we can do to spread that throughout the community -- I think we're all on-board for that."

Wildlife Safari is the number one cheetah breeder in the United States, and they said they will be making more stops in our area in the near future.PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- A former non-military employee of the Oregon National Guard is accused of seeking $6.4 million in fraudulent reimbursements from the U.S. Department of Defense for work that was never completed.

The Oregonian/OregonLive reports 46-year-old Dominic Caputo appeared Monday in federal court in Portland, pleading not guilty to counts of wire fraud and making a false statement in a document.

Caputo managed the repair of small-engine parts and generators at Camp Withycombe outside Portland. The federal indictment claims he submitted false work orders and sought fake reimbursements for repairs on 1,380 engines, generators and other parts from 2012 through November 2014.

Caputo has retained defense lawyers David Angeli and Tyler Francis. He remains out of custody.

A trial date has been tentatively set for Nov. 20.VALE, Ore. (AP) -- An eastern Oregon judge halted a double murder case after finding the defendant mentally unfit to stand trial.

The Argus Observer reports that Circuit Judge Tom Ryan on Tuesday ordered Anthony Montwheeler transferred to the Oregon State Hospital.

Prosecutors say Montwheeler, who is from Nampa, Idaho, kidnapped and killed his ex-wife Anita Harmon last year and then crashed his car during a police pursuit.

Another man, 38-year-old David Bates, died in that crash.

A hearing has been set for Jan. 2 so Ryan can review the case.

Montwheeler was found guilty in 1996 of kidnapping his first wife and son, and spent years in state mental hospitals.

He was released in 2016 after saying he'd been faking his mental illness to avoid prison.

Harmon was murdered three weeks later.ROSEBURG, Ore.  The Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General has released a report on its review of the Roseburg VA after accusations of retaliation against employees and concerns about patient care.

The report, which was compiled after an unannounced visit in March 2018, found the new leadership team at the VA is trying to restore a culture of trust, as well as improve employee and patient satisfaction and quality of care.

Inspectors found no substantial organizational risk factors at the VA, according to the report, but found certain areas that need work to improve the hospitals one-star rating.

In November 2017, KEZI 9 News spoke with a former surgeon at the Eugene VA clinic, which is part of the Roseburg VA Healthcare System, who said he was fired for bringing up concerns about patient care.

SPECIAL REPORT: Eugene VA staff fear retaliation

Five nurses also spoke with KEZI at the time, saying mismanagement, retaliation and bullying were common at the Roseburg and Eugene clinics.

Doug Paxton resigned as VA director in February 2018 along with other leadership staff after the allegations came to light.

The Inspector General report acknowledges concerns related to ineffective leadership, toxic work culture, questionable personnel practices and alleged inappropriate hospital admission practices to improve performance ratings.

In January 2018, a New York Times report claimed the hospital limited the number of patients it admitted in order to boost its quality of care rating. At the time, a spokesperson for the Roseburg VA called the story false.

READ MORE: Roseburg VA responds to negative report on patient care

As for patient care, the report found concerns at the VA related to pain medication shortages, authorizing patient services to certain providers and communication between medical staff and logistics.

In an email to Roseburg VA staff, Interim Director David Whitmer said all of these concerns have been addressed and corrected. He said there will soon be a review of the hospital by the Joint Commission, which accredits and certifies healthcare organizations in the U.S.

Whitmer also said he is preparing to transition back to his position in Florida and hire a new, permanent VA director, with interviews happening next week.AUSTIN, Minn.  Its no secret theres need for childcare in Minnesota. According to the United States Department of Human Services, the amount of childcare facilities dropped from about 12,000 in 2012 to just 10,000 in 2016.

In Austin, Catherwood Childcare Center is the only facility that accommodates kids with parents who work outside the traditional 9-5 shift.

Thats why its getting major renovations from a group of organizations in Austin.

Having a really safe place for them to drop their kids off and be reassured while their at work is really important. Having one facility we really need to make sure it's in tip top shape, Allie Gearhart, with United Way, said.

United Way of Mower County is hosting 4 Days of Caring during which volunteers will put in hundreds of hours to renovate the facility. The renovations include projects like painting the buildings swing set and replacing its deteriorating porch.

Other organizations helping out Catherwood are Austin HRA, Habitat for Humanity and private donors. Overall, the childcare center is getting about $100,000 from the organizations as part of a DEEDS Grant.

If people want to help with volunteer work, they can sign up here.ALBERT LEA, Minn.-With all the flooding happening in the South, A local group in Albert lea is making sure theyre prepared for a natural disaster.

The group First Dert, which stands for disaster early response team, was started after major flooding two years ago.

KIMT spoke to Ann Austin whos the executive director of United Way of Freeborn County and also one of the organizers. She says the city relied on a lot of disaster relief teams to help residents clean up their homes in 2016.

Now they learned their lesson and wants to make sure the community is prepared.

We can respond to disasters more quickly and more effectively and efficiently and we can have all the tools locally to help people recover, she said.

Some of the topics that will be discussed are removing mold and cleaning debris flooding or severe weather.ROCHESTER, Minn.  A former southern Minnesota police officer accused of criminal sexual misconduct has made bail and is out of jail.

The Olmsted County Sheriffs Office said Wednesday that Julio Baez is out of jail. He was held on $500,000 bond with conditions.

Stew Peters is a bail enforcement investigator and owns a bail bond company in Minnesota.

He tells KIMT Baez approached his company, but they declined to represent him.

If Baez were to go through a bail bond company, 10-percent of the $500,000 bail means Baez would've had to pay $50,000 as a premium.

Peters explains due to updated rules in 2016, Baez could've paid less than that up front.

"That Consent Order allows for a bail bond company on bonds over a certain amount to even take less than 10-percent," Peters said. "They can collect as little as 30-percent of that premium which in Mr. Baez' case would be $15,000."

Peters wants people to know the importance of the private bail system. He says everyone has a right to bail and to be free, pending the outcome of the case.

"This is the United States. You're innocent until proven guilty," Peters said. "A lot of people will look at Mr. Baez like he's an animal. I mean you're a cop, you're alleged to have done some really heinous things, but what if he didn't. Now he's locked up in jail, didn't have the opportunity to bail, because there's no private bail system."

Baez is facing charges in Olmsted and Dodge counties.

Baez was arrested on June 19 on two counts of 1st degree and one count of 3rd degree criminal sexual conduct in Olmsted County.

One count alleged Baez engaged in sexual contact with a victim under 13 years of 13.

Baez is facing charges of criminal sexual conduct with three victims.

One victim told investigators that she was sexually assaulted from age 5-16. Another victim stated she was sexually abused beginning at age four.

Authorities have said that Baez, 51, attempted suicide and was discovered June 2 to have self-inflicted gunshot wounds.ALBERT LEA, Minn.  According to the United States Department of Veteran Affairs, 20 veterans take their lives daily.

Thats 20 too many. Danielle Elg works at the Albert Lea Veterans Clinic and calls these statistics heartbreaking. Thats why the clinic is hosting a suicide awareness walk on Wednesday, September 19.

She said even small events can create real change if people become more aware of suicidal behaviors, like self-harm.

If a family member were to notice some of those symptoms then maybe they could, maybe, help to say hey, do you need some help, Elg said.

The walk will be 20 minutes long to represent the 20 veterans who commit suicide daily. The public is encouraged to join the walk.

People can meet at the Albert Lea Veterans Clinic at 4:30pm.MASON CITY, Iowa - A pursuit that reached speeds of 100 miles per hour in Cerro Gordo and Worth counties resulted in an Osage man facing numerous charges.

Eric Jensen, 37, is facing charges of felony eluding, possession of a controlled substance, third or subsequent offense, driving while barred, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving while suspended.

The Cerro Gordo County Sheriffs Office said it tried to make a traffic stop at 12:21 a.m. Wednesday on B20 near the intersection of Mallard Ave.

The vehicle drove away at a high rate of speed and a pursuit which reached speeds of 100 miles per hour a few times began.

The pursuit lasted several minutes, according to authorities, and stretched into southern Worth County.

The vehicle eventually left the roadway on Highway 9 west of Hanlontown and went into a cornfield where a short foot pursuit ensued.

Two Cerro Gordo County Sheriff vehicles were damaged and a 2002 Chrysler Town and Country van sustained front end damage.

The Worth County Sheriffs Office and the Iowa State Patrol assisted in the pursuit.

Jensen was found to be in possession of meth, police said.

Jensen was charged earlier this year in a similar case in Cerro Gordo County where authorities said he eluded police at speeds around 110 miles per hour before crashing into a power pole.

Eric Jensen Eric Jensen

With these two pursuits, KIMT spoke with law enforcement about what goes into making the decision to go on a pursuit.

In his his 35 years with the Cerro Gordo County Sheriffs Department, Chief Deputy David Hepperly has been in some high speed chases.

"All pursuits are dangerous for the people that we're pursuing, for the general public, and for our officers."

But he notes that there are certain guidelines and protocol as to when it's OK to give chase, such as time of day, location, speeds and weather conditions.

"If it's a minor violation, the risk of a pursuit is not worth continuing, especially if we know who the driver may be."

Trooper and Public Resource Officer Keith Duenow with the Iowa State Patrol has also been in pursuits in his 13 years with the agency, and says troopers must also follow certain protocols, and those can change at a moment's notice.

"They just initially weren't stopping, going 70 mph on the interstate, and now they've decided to ramp it up to 100-110 mph, well that changes the safety factor. If they decide they're going to turn on to a gravel road or they're going to go into a town, that changes the safety factor."

He says a pursuit can be cancelled by the officer or their supervisor if there is a justified reason.

"Seeing as one of the first things we do is notify a supervisor, they are always also monitoring the pursuit as we call out the speeds, the locations. And they at any point in time can order us to terminate the pursuit."ROCHESTER, Minn. - Mayo Clinic announced Tuesday its plans to expand the Gonda Building.

The project will add 11 floors to the building. Its a part of Mayos three-phase plan for the building, this construction project being the final phase.

Four floors will be used for clinical care, specifically for high-demand departments that are in need of more space, such as cancer care and surgery.

"We need this space to continue to meet that demand. Cancer care has become increasingly complicated and so the opportunity to bring new therapies to the patient at the bedside as opposed to having the patient move from place to place is going to be a real plus, we believe, to serve those patients," says Dr. Jan Buckner, head of Mayo's cancer center.

"We also have the possibility of implementing the surgical procedural practice with the medical practice. Imagine a patient coming in and never having to leave the Gonda facility to get an outpatient procedure," adds Dr. Heidi Nelson, chair of the department of surgery.

Seven floors will be used for a hotel and public spaces including restaurants and meeting areas. According to Dean of practice Dr. C. Michel Harper Jr., patients have been asking for a hospitality facility at Mayo for years. "There's a bit of a gap and that we need to meet that gap, particularly if we're going to be attracting national and international patients and compete with national competitors," he explains.

While inviting the public into Gonda with this hospitality area, Mayo is working to find ways to maintain patient privacy. Plans are still preliminary, but Mayo is expecting to have separate entrances for patients and hotel patrons.

"...To get into the gonda building but allow enough separation to be respectful for patient privacy as well as the needs to have the hotel open all the time or at hours when the Gonda Building might be closed or the practice might be closed," says Dr. Harper.

The project is a partnership with Singapore-based Pontiac Land Group. Construction is expected to begin late 2019 or early 2020 and complete in 2022. Mayo expects some inconveniences during construction, but also anticipates the building being fully functional during the process.ROCHESTER, Minn.  A Rochester man is facing felony drug charges after authorities said he was found with heroin concealed in his underwear.

Robert Collins III, 25, has been under investigation since July by the Minnesota BCA and Grand Rapids Police.

Authorities found out Collins III was going to be selling heroin on Monday and conducted surveillance before he was arrested in the Cub Foods parking lot at 1021 15th Ave. SE.

Collins III was found to be in possession of 11 grams of heroin packaged in his underwear and is facing a charge of second-degree sales of a controlled substance.ROCHESTER, Minn.  The Salvation Army continues to search for answers after one of its stores was burglarized and vandalized over the weekend.

The Salvation Army Store, located at 4821 West Frontage Road NW, reopened its doors Tuesday. They closed the store on Monday.

Rebecca Snapp is the director of community engagement for the Rochester Salvation Army. She tells KIMT sometime between store close on Saturday and Monday morning, someone broke into the store, stole cash, and vandalized property.

I think it's a really low blow that someone would choose to target a place like this, Snapp said.

Shoppers are left wondering who would take from a place where the mission is to give.

Well I think it's a wonderful organization, Michelle Isle, of Stewartville, said. They help so many people and if they needed food, or shelter, or medical care they would've helped them. Instead, they just stole from the organization.

Snapp was also shocked something like this could happen.

This is a place that's meant to help people and to provide for people who are struggling financially and also then to provide money for our programs downtown, Snapp said. This is really not a place where, ya know, it's meant to bring in cash like crazy. It's meant to help people.

Security cameras are in place, and Snapp said the surveillance footage will be used in the investigation.

Monica Hedman, of Rochester, shops at the store about once a month. She unfortunately sees things like this becoming more common.

Businesses are getting vandalized, especially small businesses, Hedman said, and I don't know what can be done about that, but it's just very difficult to see.

The organization is now trying to move forward, and hopes the community moves with them.

We really just want to encourage people not to lose trust in what this store, what this organization is trying to do, Snapp said. Just keep the faith and know that we're doing what we can to make sure this doesn't happen again and to make sure that everything is safe, our employees are safe, and to catch the culprit.

Rochester Police didnt have much information about what happened.

They do say they responded to a small fire just before 11:00 Monday night in the 2300 block of 18  Avenue NW.

When they arrived, the found a duffel bag on fire which contained items from the burglarized Salvation Army Store. That included receipts, costume jewelry, silverware, and financial bank bags.(Kitco News) - Financial markets are expecting to see the third U.S. interest-rate hike this year in another week, which would be the eighth in the current tightening cycle, but one gold market analyst says this could eventually lead to higher gold prices.

Joe Foster, portfolio manager and strategist for the VanEck Gold and Precious Metals Strategy

In a recent report, Joe Foster, portfolio manager and strategist for the VanEck Gold and Precious Metals Strategy, warned that tighter monetary policy is reducing liquidity in financial markets, which in turn is putting pressure on weak emerging markets.

Although all the focus is on next weeks Federal Reserve meeting, Foster said that all major central banks are looking to tighten monetary policy. He noted that the Bank of England has stop easing, while the European Central bank is expected to end its bond-purchase program in December and could start raising rates next year.

Last months EM currency crisis, sparked by economic uncertainty in Turkey, is a symptom of a much larger issue, Foster said.

As the liquidity that fueled the expansion is slowly drained away, those areas of the financial system that are most vulnerable will be the first to fail, he said. We believe Turkey was the first domino to fall, with its years of monetary mismanagement and over-borrowing made possible by low rates and ample liquidity.

As central banks continue to tighten, we expect more Turkeys to come out of the woods. The U.S. may find it hard to remain an island of prosperity, he added.

Foster added that in this environment, investors could turn to the yellow metal for its safe-haven qualities.

Gold is a unique asset class due to its uncorrelated nature and its ability historically to perform well amidst global financial turmoil, he said. We think of it as financial insurance. Like health or auto insurance, a small allocation can go a long way when hardship occurs.

Although Foster expects to see higher gold prices by the end of the year, he said that in the near term the market could continue to consolidate around $1,200 an ounce. He added that the current gold prices could continue to support gold producers. December gold futures last traded at $1.207.10 an ounce, up 0.36% on the day.

Most gold companies have ample flexibility to weather a slump in gold prices. Debt has been reduced to levels that are manageable at lower gold prices and many companies have no net debt, Foster said. The average all-in mining cost for the majors and mid-tiers is around $835 per ounce.

Quoting research from Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Foster said that at current prices gold producers see aggregated industry free cash flow of about $2 billion this year. He added that prices would have to drop to $1,100 an ounce for the sector to no cash flow.Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low around 45F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low around 45F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph.By Jhoo Dong-chan







Citibank has brought about meaningful changes in society through its various corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities.







Under its three social contribution principles of "Employee participation," "Long-term commitment" and "Leading activity," the bank said it has not just donated money but also conducted various long-term activities through partnerships with government agencies.







Citibank employees have also participated in the programs and donated their talents to help the needy.







The lender has financially helped young students from low-income families through its scholarship program, "Think Money," since 2006. More than 500,000 students have benefitted from the program.







It has carried out a non-governmental organization (NGO) internship program jointly with Kyung Hee University since 2006 to foster social leaders. Over 1,100 students have experienced NGO activities through the program.







Citibank has also been operating the Ewha-Citi Global Finance Academy program with Ewha Womans University since 2001.







Separate from its social contribution in education, Citibank introduced the Korea Social Enterprise Awards in 2017 to financially help the nation's social enterprises.







From the second half of 2018, the lender has started supporting social ventures under a partnership with Social Solidarity Bank, an NGO micro-credit institute established to help those who are running or planning to start a micro enterprise.







Under its social venture supporting program, Citibank is seeking to study the social values they create while introducing a new program to improve their capabilities.







To this end, Citibank is set to conduct a job conference designed for social ventures which experience difficulties in hiring people. In a bid to help the mission, Citibank's executives will also participate in the event.







Citibank was also the first firm in Korea to ink a partnership with Habitat For Humanity Korea in 1998 to have since built houses for homeless people.







"Citibank will continue its CSR activities to help those in need to bring about meaningful changes for the society," said a Citibank official.

By Kim Bo-eun



Key allies of South Korea expressed wishes the ongoing inter-Korean summit would contribute to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo hoped for the success of the summit, in a phone call with Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, the foreign ministry stated, Tuesday.

The two expressed their views on the summit late Monday, after a phone call earlier the same day, in which Kang informed Pompeo of the preparations for the summit.

Meanwhile, referring to a U.N. Security Council meeting called by the U.S. to discuss sanctions on North Korea, Pompeo tweeted "Global sanctions are an essential part of efforts to achieve denuclearization. We are as committed as ever to enforcing them."

China also expressed wishes for the summit to play a role in improving inter-Korean relations, and stated its support for the Koreas achieving denuclearization of the Peninsula as well as lasting peace and stability in the region.

"China hopes that the summit in Pyongyang can achieve positive outcomes and play a positive role in strengthening the coordination and the interaction between South and North Korea, sustaining and consolidating the improving situation on the Korean Peninsula and continuously promoting a political settlement of the Peninsula issue," China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said in a regular press briefing, Monday.

"China will continue to fully support South and North Korea in improving their relations."

and contribute to achieving the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the lasting peace and stability of Northeast Asia at an early date," he said.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga in a news briefing on Tuesday stated the key issue is whether North Korea will carry out its promise to completely denuclearize the Korean Peninsula according to the agreement produced at a summit between leaders of North Korea and the U.S. in June.

The summit in Pyongyang between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un comes after weeks of stalled denuclearization talks between Pyongyang and Washington. With denuclearization among the main agendas of the summit, South Korea is seeking for talks with the North Korea leader to lead to a resumption of talks between North Korea and the U.S.

It is yet to be seen whether the summit will elicit a pledge from the North Korean leader on taking tangible and verifiable denuclearization measures, such as submitting a list of its nuclear inventory. Pyongyang has been calling for the U.S. to declare an end to the 1950-53 Korean War first, as a means to protect its regime. Differences over which measure should be taken first led to a deadlock in the denuclearization process.



North Korea leader Kim Jong-un, left, and U.S. President Donald Trump shake hands at the end of their summit in Singapore. AP-Yonhap



By Oh Young-jin



Is U.S. President Donald Trump watching the news from Pyongyang?



You bet.



Would North Korea be giving President Moon Jae-in the red carpet treatment with Trump in mind? Kim Jong-un has every reason to do so.



Not that Kim takes Moon lightly. After all, Moon has played well his stated role of honest broker between the U.S. and the North. Moon did so for a one-two summit in April and May, leading to the first summit between the leaders of the North and the U.S.



Now work is under way for a second Trump-Kim summit _ and the likelihood will go up dramatically if Kim and Moon come up with tangible results that can boost Trump's waning fortunes ahead of the U.S. mid-term elections.



But as seen in public and disclosed in Bob Woodward's new book "Fear: Trump in the White House," Trump's ignorance, impulsiveness and big ego make for his weakest point _ vanity.



On the first day of his three-day visit, Moon was greeted by Kim and his wife and a large welcoming group at the airport.









By Jung Da-min







South Korea's main conservative Liberty Korea Party (LKP) says President Moon Jae-in should settle for nothing less than actual results on the North Korean nuclear issue.







"The summit should result in a great achievement in accelerating the complete denuclearization of North Korea," the party's spokesman Rep. Yoon Young-seok said Tuesday.







"Denuclearization of North Korea is a national desire to achieve for the safety of the people of the Republic of Korea and for the sake of national security."







The LKP also said Moon's visit to the North should not be limited to achieving a resumption of talks between North Korea and the U.S., on which the President said he would focus.







Meanwhile, North Korea's propaganda websites, including DPRK Today, Uriminzokkiri and Arirangmeari, on the same day published articles lambasting the South Korean conservative parties.







In particular, Uriminzokkiri criticized former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, who served during former President Park Geun-hye's term, calling him an "opportunist."







The outlet also criticized LKP leader Kim Byung-joon.

U.S. President Donald Trump / AP



U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed developments on Wednesday at an inter-Korean summit in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang as "very exciting".

"Kim Jong Un has agreed to allow nuclear inspections, subject to final negotiations, and to permanently dismantle a test site and launch pad in the presence of international experts," Trump said on Twitter, referring to agreements the North Korean leader made in talks with South Korea's President Moon Jae-in.

"In the meantime there will be no Rocket or Nuclear testing," Trump added.

Referring to the repatriation of remains of U.S. service people killed in the Korean War, which Kim and Moon also discussed, Trump said:

"Hero remains to continue being returned home to the United States. Also, North and South Korea will file a joint bid to host the 2032 Olympics. Very exciting!" (Reuters)





Mount Paektu / AFP



By Ko Dong-hwan, Joint Press Corps

SEOUL/PYONGYANG  South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un agreed Wednesday to visit Mount Paektu the following day.

South Korean presidential office Cheong Wa Dae released the news that Kim proposed the idea of visiting the highest peak of the peninsula and Moon accepted it.



The fresh agenda of the pair's third three-day summit came after the pair faced the world earlier Wednesday with their newly signed Pyongyang Peace Agreement with which two Koreas promised to build the peninsula nuclear-free and blossoming with stronger ties.South Korean first lady Kim Jung-sook, second from right, and her counterpart Ri Sol-ju, talk on their way to the Kim Won Gyun University of Music in Pyongyang, Tuesday. The first ladies toured North Korean facilities for two consecutive days on the sidelines of the third inter-Korean summit that ends today. / Joint Press Corps









By Park Ji-won



The two Koreas' first ladies, who have been somewhat overshadowed by their husbands, took to the main stage of diplomacy on the sidelines of the third inter-Korean summit, seemingly building a special rapport.



For two consecutive days, South Korea's Kim Jung-sook and her counterpart Ri Sol-ju jointly toured North Korean facilities without their husbands.



Since President Moon Ja-in and his wife arrived at the North Korean capital's airport and were greeted by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his spouse, the first ladies paired up and have mostly been seen together.



On the second day of the visit, Wednesday, the first ladies planned to the Mangyongdae School Children's Palace art school, while their husbands had a closed-door meeting and signed a summit agreement at the headquarters of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea in the morning, according to Yoon Young-chan, the President's senior spokesman. It is unknown why Ri was absent.



On Tuesday, the first ladies spent several hours together visiting the Okryu Children's Hospital and the Kim Won Gyun University of Music.



During their time together, Kim and Ri talked about the visit and expressed hopes for a fruitful outcome to the summit.



Experts say the move is likely part of the North's efforts to solidify its image as a "normal" country by paralleling the figures of the two first ladies along with their husbands, as most of the summit schedule was proposed by the North.



"As you all know, Kim and Ri have a common background in that they both studied music," Yoon told reporters during a press briefing at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul, Tuesday.



Since March, Ri has started appearing more in public and accompanying her husband on official meetings with foreign envoys. Ri traveled to China in June with her husband for the North-China summit.



This is in stark contrast to the last North Korean first lady, who was not seen in public. At the previous inter-Korean summits in 2000 and 2007, Lee Hee-ho and Kwon Yang-sook accompanied their husbands, President Kim Dae-jung and President Roh Moo-hyun, but did not meet the wife of then North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.

President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un pose for photographs with the joint statement in Pyongyang, North Korea, Wednesday. Joint Press Corps/Reuters



By Kim Yoo-chul, Joint Press Corps



SEOUL/PYONGYANG  President Moon Jae-in is in Pyongyang, the capital city of North Korea, for a three-day summit with Kim Jong-un. The North Korean people just can't seem to get enough of Moon.



The North's Kim greeted Moon with a warm embrace, handshake, hug and a military band in addition to a rapturous welcome from a cheering crowd at the Sunan International Airport as Moon stepped off the presidential plane at the airport.



A red carpet was ready. Moon reviewed a North Korean honor guard for 15 minutes.



Throngs of people waited for Moon's arrival to the North Korean capital with people lining the main streets of Pyongyang everywhere he went on the first day there. Clean streets and some skyscrapers were seen as the motorcade passed Ryomyong Street, a new residential district for middle-class residents opened last year under Kim's initiative to modernize the city.



The huge excitement in North Korea for the visit of the South Korean leader has never been this high, according to chief presidential press secretary Yoon Young-chan. It was the first time that the North's Kim and his wife Ri Sol-ju greeted a visiting head of a state at the Sunan airport.



The first and second round of their third summit took place at the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) headquarters where Kim's main office is located. Opening up the WPK headquarters for the head of a state for meetings was also a first.



After a fancy banquet and musical performances on Moon's first day there, he moved to a new dining destination along the North Korean capital's Taedong River including an area for indoor fishing, Wednesday.



Such hospitality represents a staging post on the journey to peace on the Korean Peninsula, according to political analysts.



"It's understandable that Moon would like to be involved, given the South's proximity to the North. I feel that President Moon can serve as a positive bridge between Washington and Pyongyang. As a third party, he can both support progress and help diffuse challenges to the progress of nuclear disarmament talks," Ariel Goldfarb, a professor at Northwestern University, Chicago, said in an email.



Goldfarb, also a managing director at CurtisAlan Partners, a top-tier consultancy in the United States, said the apparent sincere hospitality was also a response by the North's Kim to praise Moon's efforts to facilitate and mediate denuclearization talks between Washington and Pyongyang.



"Kim has a thirst for change. By letting President Moon into the newly-built Pyongyang Taedong River Seafood Restaurant, North Korea wants to show its commitment to the international community in how its government works to improve the living standards of Pyongyang residents," said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul.



President Moon met Kim in April and May this year. Since then, he played a key role in brokering the June summit in Singapore between U.S. President Donald Trump and Kim.



But because the Singapore summit failed to produce a specific timeline on when and how the North would shut down its nuclear weapons programs, there has been very slow progress toward the U.S. goal of the North relinquishing its nuclear warheads.

By Kim Hyun-bin



Kim Yo-jong, the younger sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has been seen alongside her brother and South Korean President Moon Jae-in at almost all of the two leaders' meetings.



She was constantly accompanying Kim Jong-un and also arranging and monitoring scheduled ceremonies



At Sunan International Airport in Pyongyang, Kim conducted a last minute check for a welcoming ceremony for Moon one-and-a-half hours before his arrival.



An hour later, she could be seen walking around the event venue. Wearing a black suit with a handbag and a smartphone in one hand, she walked across the red carpet and checked the lineup of troops and the North Koreanswho were part of the welcoming crowd.



After Moon deplaned, she followed closely behind him and first lady Kim Jung-sook, holding flowers for the first lady who received them from two young girls.



She also went to the Paekhwawon Guest House, where the President and first lady are staying, to check on preparations.



Many experts say Kim Yo-jongis one of Kim Jong-un's closest aides and an influential figure in the regime. She holds the title vice director of the Propaganda and Agitation Department of the Workers' Party of Korea. And she was the top North Korean figure to attend the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Games held in February in Gangwon Province, South Korea. She was also by her brother's side during the first and second Korean summits.



USA Today reported that Kim Yo-jong's presence has helped revamp and remake the young dictator's rough image, which "reeks from?generations of cruel?authoritarianism."



However, some believe she does not have a crucial role in making important decisions but only accompanies Kim Jong-un to enhance his public image.



"Kim Yo-jong is not in a position to discuss key strategy with Kim Jong-un," Ken Gause, director of the International Affairs Group at CNA, told Radio Free Asia.



Gause said Kim Yo-jong is there to enhance her brother's public image and act as his personal secretary, while other senior officials of the Workers' Party of Korea, including Kim Yong-chol, are involved from a strategic standpoint.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, right, gestures as he welcomes President Moon Jae-in and first lady Kim Jung-sook to the Paekhwawon Guest House, in Pyongyang, Tuesday. Joint Press Corps



By Kwak Yeon-soo



North Korean leader Kim Jong-un once again projected a candid and humble image by publicly acknowledging his country's shortcomings unlike his father Kim Jong-il, who spent his lifetime promoting the image of a "socialist paradise."



At the Paekhwawon Guesthouse where President Moon Jae-in and first lady Kim Jung-sook are staying during their three-day trip, the North Korean leader apologized to the President for having him stay at "a shabby place compared to hotels in developed countries."



In late April, Kim unexpectedly cried over his country's poor infrastructure and advised President Moon to fly to North Korea in September because the nation's roads were in bad shape.



According to analysts, Kim appears deferential partly because the young leader wants to project himself as a frank and open-minded leader unlike his stoic father. His attempt to break through isolation and boost economic ties is also portrayed in his speeches, they say.



"Kim Jong-un's era is different from his late father's," Kim Hyung-deok, president of the Korea Peace and Prosperity Center, told The Korea Times. "Kim Jong-il was born when North Korea was wealthier than South Korea and has lived through the glory of the nation. But Kim Jong-un, the 35-year-old leader, experienced capitalism while living in Switzerland and has witnessed the decline of the nation."



Kim also noted that Kim Jong-un is trying to shift his key policy from nuclear development to economic reform. "Capitalism is becoming an ever-greater force in North Korea and Kim is well aware of this change. Thus, he wants to restore the country's blighted economy by strengthening ties and bringing in investment from South Korea," he said.



Another analyst saw Kim Jong-un's humble speech as moving away from the old bureaucracy. "It's highly unusual for a leader to be outspoken and talk of the nation's economic defects," said an expert on the North Korean economy, who declined to be named. "Kim Jong-un's humble speech runs counter to the concept of Kim Jong-il, who tried to propagate himself as a God-like figure."



The expert mentioned that North Koreans are positive about their leader's straightforward personality as shown in his New Year's speech. "In his 2017 New Year's speech, Kim Jong-un stated that there were many shortcomings despite his attempts to improve the lives of the North Korean people. This statement reflects Kim's humility," she said.

Cheong Wa Dae declares de facto end of inter-Korean war



By Lee Min-hyung, Joint Press Corps



SEOUL/PYONGYANG  The two Koreas reached agreements on easing possible armed conflicts, and carrying out systematic disarmament near the border, according to a joint statement issued after the inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang, Wednesday.



This is a follow-up to the April 27 Panmunjeom Declaration under which Seoul and Pyongyang signed a broad range of peace agreements to alleviate lingering military tension and join hands for lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.



"As of Nov. 1, the two Koreas agreed to suspend any military exercises near the military demarcation line (MDL)," the joint military statement said.



In particular, both sides reached a consensus to stop conducting any artillery drills and regimental-level field training exercises within a 10-kilometer buffer zone along the border.



At sea, Seoul and Pyongyang also agreed to set an 80-kilometer maritime buffer area in the East and West Sea, as part of steps to prevent any accidental military conflicts near the inter-Korean sea border.



"We will turn the area near the western sea border or the northern limit line (NLL) into a sea of peace from a sea of conflict," the agreement said.



The Ministry of National Defense said the latest agreement is expected to help put a complete end to any artillery firing near the inter-Korean maritime border. But the ministry said it will maintain the current level of military readiness there to brace for possible threats.



Both Koreas also agreed to set up a no-fly zone about 40 kilometers west of the MDL and 80 kilometers east of the line. This is part a step for the two Koreas to prevent any accidental aerial conflict, according to the agreement.



Steps to disarm peninsula





By Park Ji-won, Joint Press Corps



SEOUL/PYONGYANG  North Korean leader Kim Jong-un promised to make a return visit to Seoul this year following a summit with President Moon Jae-in in Pyongyang, Wednesday.



Moon and Kim announced in a joint statement that Kim would visit Seoul "by this year," unless there were special circumstances during a joint press conference held after their talks in Pyongyang. Before the conference, the two leaders signed the Pyongyang Joint Declaration which reaffirms the abolishment of all threats of war on the Korean Peninsula.



Kim pledged to visit Seoul "in the near future" to seek peace and prosperity for the people of the two Koreas.



If this materializes, he will be the first-ever North Korean leader to visit South Korea since the separation of two Koreas.



Emphasizing the possible visit to Seoul would bea "turning point" in the two Koreas' relations, Moon said, "Kim decided to visit Seoul in the near future. It means that it will take place within this year if there are no special circumstances."



"I promised President Moon Jae-in to visit Seoul in the near future. We will act together by holding hands firmly and taking the lead on this holy journey to advance to peace and prosperity so that the tragedy of separation can be ended, and the sorrow and wounds in the people's hearts caused by division can be dissipated a little," Kim said.



Moon said he had extended the invitation to visit Seoul to Kim.



Previously, Kim's father Kim Jong-il pledged to visit Seoul "at an appropriate time in the future" during the first inter-Korean summit with then President Kim Dae-jung in 2000, but failed to do so.



Experts said it was too early to talk about venues for discussions on the trip, but they will likely be confined to Cheong Wa Dae for security reasons.



Kim's move is likely based on a desire to show his trust in the South, they pointed out.



Former Vice Unification Minister Lee Kwan-se said during a television interview with KBS, "As well as the relationship with Moon, relations with South Korea based on trust helped Kim to decide on the trip to Seoul."



Another expert said the visit to Seoul would be largely affected by the results of denuclearization talks between the North and U.S.



"If North Korea shows some crucial steps on denuclearization and makes progress in talks with the U.S., it will be no problem for whoever comes to Seoul. But it is largely dependent on the talks between the North and U.S," said Yu Young-soo, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies.



Meanwhile, presidential security adviser Moon Jung-in, who is part of the delegation visiting Pyongyang, said that Kim himself had made the decision to go to Seoul.



"Visiting Seoul was completely Chairman Kim Jong-un's own decision and nobody could stop him," the South Korean top advisor told reporters during a press conference at the Koryo Hotel after having a luncheon with North Korean officials at the Okryu Restaurant.



"I had a conversation with one of the key members of the North's unification unit sitting next to me, who said everyone around Kim opposed his visit to Seoul."



Citing a history of the North's opposition to using the term "return visit" in a past joint declaration made in 2000, he commented, "In that sense, the North's chairman made a pretty tough decision and Moon encouraged it."





By Jung Da-min, Joint Press Crops





SEOUL/PYONGYANG  Over 50,000 people had signed a petition on the Cheong Wa Dae website as of Wednesday night criticizing the "no-show" of three party chiefs for a meeting with North Korean officials on the sidelines of the Pyongyang inter-Korean summit.







Lee Hae-chan of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), Chung Dong-young of the Party for Democracy and Peace (PDP) and Lee Jeong-mi of the Justice Party were supposed to meet Kim Yong-nam, the North's president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) on Tuesday.







But because South Korean ministers including Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and Unification Minister Cho Myong gyon did not attend the talks between President Moon Jae-in and North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un, SPA president Kim Yong-nam met the ministers. It was then arranged for SPA vice president An Tong-chun to meet the three South Korean political leaders.







But the South Korean trio did not show up because they was expecting to meet the SPA president.







The issue was raised with Kim Jong-un at a dinner on Tuesday night and the meeting eventually went ahead at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Among the agendas during the 50-minute meeting was holding an inter-Korean parliamentary meeting within the year as well as a joint event for the 100th anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement next year.







The main conservative Liberty Party of Korea (LKP) floor leader Kim Sung-tae on Wednesday criticized the three party chiefs for their no-show, saying they are not helping President Moon's trip to Pyongyang.

This is the congratulatory message from H.E. Riyad Almubaraky, Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the Republic of Korea.  ED.





Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Vice President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Defense of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia H.E. Riyad Almubaraky

The 23rd day of September 1932 was a glorious day in our history where the founding King Abdul Aziz bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud had unified the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. With such precious national occasion every year, we celebrate and remember with pride, appreciation and dignity, the efforts and sacrifices made by the founding King and his sons, the Kings who came after him, and who followed his approach in building, developing and serving the Kingdom and its people.

This year we celebrate the 88th anniversary, while the Kingdom continues the process of development and modernization in all fields, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and the trustworthy Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. The Kingdom is experiencing a qualitative renaissance despite regional and international developments and challenges.

In recognition of the leadership's keenness to invest all national resources to serve the country and its citizens, the Kingdom's "Vision 2030" was announced, with its national contents, development and future plans, to diversify sources of income, increase efficiency of government performance and modernize regulations and administrative structures. Marking the beginning of a new phase of development and the hard work for a better future, "Vision 2030" aims to keep up with developed countries, to achieve comprehensive development, to employ the Kingdom's potentials and its energy, by taking advantage of the Kingdom's strategic location, while adhering to the genuine faith of Islam and preserving the genuineness of our society and its principles.

The Kingdom plays a key role in maintaining security and stability in the region, and it enjoys a regional, Arab, Islamic and international status, while playing an active and influential role in international decision-making, and its continuous pursuit for international peace and security.













Moreover, the Kingdom is one of the largest countries in the world supporting the humanitarian and relief work, aware of the importance of alleviating human suffering and ensuring a decent life for those who are vulnerable and needy. The foreign aid provided by the Kingdom during the last two decades has amounted to more than $84.7 billion.



Taking this opportunity, I would like to praise the strategic, friendship and cooperative relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Korea, which dates back to 1962. Through a long history, the two countries have witnessed a qualitative leap and great development in many fields, including politics, military, economy, education, culture and health.

These achievements were consistent with the policies and principles set out in the agreements and memoranda of understanding signed between the two friendly countries.

Saudi-Korean bilateral relations are a model of relations among nations, where they have often coincided with common positions on various international events, bilateral coordination, mutual understanding and mutual support in international bodies and organizations.

The trade data confirm the volume of trade exchange between the two friendly countries amounted to $26 billion last year and amounted to $17 billion until July of this year (2018). Korea is the Kingdom's fifth-largest trading partner, while the Kingdom is Korea's largest supplier of crude oil and the largest market in the Middle East for Korean products. Korean companies acquire the highest market share and more Korean companies invest in the Kingdom.

The industrial sector has recently witnessed significant activities and achieved notable progress in 16 projects for joint cooperation out of 40 joint projects that were identified by the two countries, as part of their huge economic cooperation after selecting the Republic of Korea as a strategic partner within the framework of the Kingdom's "Vision 2030."

Both leaders of the two friendly countries have common interests and desires to strengthen relations and develop cooperation to achieve, promote and serve the common interests of the two friendly countries and their peoples and contribute to regional security, stability and world peace.

I sincerely wish the two countries and the two friendly peoples continued prosperity, security and stability.Companies conduct on-site job interviews with applicants at last year's job fair for foreign residents in Seoul. / Courtesy of Seoul Business Agency



By Lee Suh-yoon



Seoul Global Center and the Seoul Business Agency (SBA), a city-run support center for small- and medium-sized businesses, will host the city's fifth job fair for foreign residents this Friday.



The job fair, an annual event started in 2014, will take place at COEX center in southeastern Seoul.



At last year's event, 1,686 on-the-spot job interviews were conducted, and 81 jobseekers landed jobs at the time. Considering the number of participants from previous years, organizers expect about 2,000 foreign residents to take part this year.



About 70 companies, including big names such as POSCO, Gucci Korea and Jeju Air, will set up booths at this year's conference. There will also be numerous startups such as Amuse Travel and Vision Works.



English speakers will not be the only attractive candidates at the fair as many of the participating firms are eyeing expansion into non-English-speaking countries.



"Many of the participating firms are small- and medium-sized businesses trying to expand into China or Southeast Asia. There will be lots of entry-level jobs looking for someone who can speak Chinese, Indonesian or Vietnamese," Paul Carver, head of Seoul Global Center, told The Korea Times. "Last year, there were quite a few positions for people from India, Russia and Uzbekistan as well."



About half the participating companies are in the service industry. There will also be around a dozen firms each from IT and manufacturing.



The fair is not just open to those with long-term residency permits as companies can directly sponsor visas for foreign workers. Some smaller companies, however, will only accept applicants who already hold long-term F-visas to begin with.



While the online reservation for job interview slots closed Wednesday, jobseekers can also sign up at the site for a job interview between 10 a.m. and noon or 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. Applicants must present a resume at the interview.



Free consulting services on resume writing, interview preparation and visa issues will also be available on the site. Around 60 volunteers will also be present to help participants navigate application forms.

Foreign residents who do not have some grasp of Korean, however, may have trouble navigating the fair.



"We are not providing a separate English brochure, because most of the firms are looking to hire foreign residents with at least some Korean communication skills," Shin Su-min, the SBA assistant manager in charge of the event, said over the phone. "That's why most of the job ads by these individual companies  posted on our website  are only provided in Korean."



Many of the firms require at least a TOPIK 4 level proficiency in the Korean language, according to organizers. Most of the on-site job interviews will also be conducted in Korean.



This year's job fair will be jointly held with a similar event catering to marriage migrants living in Korea. This separate job fair will take place at a separate location filled with mostly restaurants and hotel businesses looking to hire service workers. .



Kim In-sook, a city official in charge of foreign residents and multicultural policy in Seoul, hopes the event will be beneficial for both foreign jobseekers and domestic firms.



"I hope this job fair will help foreign residents find employment and improve their job-seeking capabilities. At the same time, this will be a good opportunity for domestic companies to hire talented foreign residents," Kim said. "Seoul City will continue its efforts to help domestic firms and talented foreign residents develop hand-in-hand."





By Jung Hae-myoung







A professor at Sunchon National University has been sentenced to a six-month jail term for his offensive remarks about former sex slaves during a lecture, the Gwangju District Office said, Monday.







He was put behind bars from the courtroom right after the ruling.







The professor, surnamed Song, insulted the women in front of 14 students during his lecture on April 2017 by saying, "Those women followed the Japanese soldiers because they were trying to flirt with them."







His remarks created a stir, causing a civic group supportive of the former sex slaves to file a complaint with the prosecution against Song for defamation.







"The professor has publicly slandered the elderly women who were forced to become sex slaves during the Japanese colonial era," the court said. "He also tried to escape his responsibility as an educator."







Song protested the court's decision and appealed to the Gwangju High Court right after the ruling.







The university expelled the professor over his remarks in October last year. Song asked the Appeal Commission for Educators to nullify the expulsion, but the request was declined in January.

Kyung Hee University President Choue In-won delivers the opening speech during last year's Peace BAR Festival held on the campus in northeastern Seoul. / Courtesy of Kyung Hee University



By Kim Jae-heun



Kyung Hee University is hosting its Peace BAR Festival (PBF) 2018, an annual conference commemorating the United Nations International Day of Peace, on its campus in northeastern Seoul.



Global think-tanks _ the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationships with the United Nations and the World Academy of Arts and Sciences _ co-organized the three-day event which will run through Thursday.



Participants of this year's conference are discussing the future of a sustainable global community under the theme "The Korean Peninsula in an Age of Transformative Civilization: Values and Philosophy."



Prof. Peter Wadhams of Cambridge University began the conference with the topic "Farewell to Ice: Climate Change and Global Peace."



Wadhams warned about the global warming issue and talked about how seriously it was affecting the world. The scholar said the world has to take immediate action to cope with the problem that is becoming a huge threat to people.



Former Secretary General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization Irina Bokova moderated the panel discussion held afterward.



On the second day of the festival, chief editor Adam Michnik of the Polish news daily Gazeta Wyborcza and former Korean Deputy Prime Minister Han Wan-sang will hold special lectures to suggest new perspectives on establishing a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula.



Following the lecture, the two scholars will participate in a roundtable conference discussing the main theme of the festival along with Kyung Hee University President Choue In-won, Wadhams, Michnik and Prof. Thomas Reuter of the University of Melbourne.



On the last day, Prof. Thomas Weiss of City University of New York, who studies the U.N., will give a lecture on the topic of "A World Without the U.N.?" He will stress the importance of global civil society's role by imagining a world without the U.N. and a world where the U.N. effectively operates.



In line with the festival, the Seoul Peace Forum will be held on the last day, co-hosted by the university, the Korea International Cooperation Agency, the National Human Rights Commission and the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The participants will talk about the role of official development assistance for international peace and sustainable development.



Kyung Hee University held its first international conference commemorating the U.N. International Day of Peace in 1982 under the theme of "International Peace and Crisis of Modern Society."



It became the motto of the current Peace BAR Festival, which took its acronym BAR from "spiritually Beautiful, materially Affluent, and humanly Rewarding."



Since 2007, the event has covered more general and philosophical topics dealing with various problems and peace issues in the 21 century.





Army First Lieutenant Kim Yu-kyung, right, and Staff Sergeant Jang Su-ah pose with their motorcycles in this file photo. They are the Army's first female motorcycle riders. / Courtesy of Republic of Korea Army



By Lee Min-hyung



Two Army policewomen riding motorcycles are gaining the spotlight here, as this is the first time female soldiers have undertaken the role.



They are Army First Lieutenant Kim Yu-kyung and Staff Sergeant Jang Su-ah. Kim said she decided to join the military police because she felt attracted to motorcycles whenever watching riders execute special performances with their bikes.



She started her military career last year by being commissioned as an Army military policewoman. To realize her dream of becoming a motorcycle rider, she got a motorcycle license this August.



Kim encourages more would-be female soldiers to challenge themselves by applying for male-dominated positions.



"Not all the positions are available for female Army military policewomen at the moment," she said. But she urged more female soldiers to have the courage to break the norms and keep trying something different that is unexpected.



"You can get one step closer to your goal by overcoming one challenge after another," she said. "I had never ridden motorcycles before, but tenaciously challenged myself to do so. While carrying out the exercises, I had a number of bruises all over my body, but kept on exercising."



Jang began serving in the military in 2008. She has many years experience in the martial arts, holding a fourth-degree black belt in taekwondo and second-degree in judo.



Even before starting her military career, she rode motorcycles. She developed her interest in motorcycles partly due to influences from her father who shares the same interest.



"I feel fulfilled when riding a motorcycle safely to my destination," Jang said. "My short-term goal is to enhance my riding ability to be more responsible for what I do in my unit."



She said she also hopes to experience other military fields as well rather than just riding motorcycles for the rest of her life.



"I also want to study criminal psychology to carry out special military missions, such as counter-terrorism preparatory measures," she said. "After that, I am looking forward to becoming a profiler sometime in the future to contribute more to the military and country."



"I am thrilled and feel a sense of achievement and self-respect while conducting such special tasks," she said.



By Choe Chong-dae





Colombia is a land of geographical and cultural diversity. Though it lies in South America, far from Korea, it has now become a bit closer to the Korean consciousness through a special exhibition titled "El Dorado: the Spirits, Gold and the Shaman."







Thanks to the visionary efforts of the National Museum of Korea's Director-General Bae Ki-dong from Aug. 4 to Oct. 28 people in Korea can learn about the great myth and mystery of pre-Colombian civilization at the museum. Numerous visitors, including foreigners, have shown great interest in the 322 ancient golden jewelry ornaments and other artifacts such as funerary urns that are on loan from the Museo del Oro or Gold Museum in Bogota.







The artifacts on display shed light on the cultural context of pre-Colombian civilization and are grouped into four major themes: "Revival of El Dorado," "Assimilation of Nature," "Transformation to Shaman" and "Encounter with God".







A media podcast, "Revival of El Dorado," introduces visitors to the famed land the Spanish conquistadors called El Dorado. There are stories of those who wished to lay hands on the gold, those who wanted to safeguard it and those who made sacrifices to the gods by throwing gold into Lake Guatavita.







"Assimilation of Nature" shows the life of native Colombians who regarded themselves as part of nature. Their bodies and household goods had animal decorations such as jaguars, frogs, lizards and birds.







Finally, "Transformation to Shaman" and "Encounter with God" reveals a variety of golden ornaments and tattoo tools connected to religious ceremonies performed by shamans, who were known as the mediators between humans and the gods.







Contrary to European understanding, the native pre-Colombians saw the golden objects not as symbols of material wealth but as a prestigious bridge to their gods. Gold was a sacred metal used in religious offerings and a recipient of the Sun's life-giving energy, which is also a source of fertility.







An ancient legend tells of a Muisca king who enveloped himself in gold dust during religious festivals then jumped from a raft into Lake Guatavita with offerings of gold and emeralds to the gods. Eventually the mysterious legend of El Dorado was proven true when a small golden object known as the "Muisca raft" was discovered in a cave near Pasca in 1969. The raft portrayed a standing chief, priests and flag bearer in a shamanistic ritual. El Dorado, which means the Golden One in Spanish, was actually a person, not a place as the Spanish conquistadors had thought.







Gold was used by indigenous societies to express complex, social and religious hierarchies between 500 B.C. and 1500 A.D. The pre-Hispanic goldsmiths of Colombia crafted some of the most elaborate objects in ancient South America. What they left behind include decorations such as masks, pectorals, nose rings, pendants and pear-shaped poporos depicting humans and animals. While the goldsmith was popular, metal instruments was not developed for daily necessities during this ancient pre-Colombian period.







Through this exhibition, I became an explorer of unique artwork that demonstrated our timeless connection to nature, and appreciated the spirit of native Colombians, "the unity of human and nature," as well as the significance of gold. The displays led me on an appreciation journey of the pre-Colombians and how they related to nature via goldsmiths.







Furthermore, the exhibition helped me imagine a path of discovery through the Amazon rainforest and up the slopes of the Andes to discover a forgotten golden civilization.









Choe Chong-dae (

) is a guest columnist of The Korea Times. He is president of Dae-kwang International Co., and director of the Korean-Swedish Association.

By Kim Rahn





When the health authorities said earlier this month that they had discovered the first case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in three years, not only this editor but also many others remembered the nightmarish situation back in 2015, when dozens of people fell ill from the foreign, unfamiliar disease, and nobody could guess when and how the epidemic would end.



As a journalist, this editor braced herself for an expected flood of related stories and an everyday increase in the number of patients for weeks or months.



However, such concerns, tension and mental preparation have proven to be an over-reaction because the situation is quite well under control!



Not a single transmission has been reported since the first patient was confirmed on Sept. 8. The health authorities confirmed Tuesday that the patient was fully recovered, saying the situation seems virtually "over."



The patient, having suspicious symptoms when in Kuwait, headed straight to an emergency room upon arriving in Korea by taxi  an action that minimized the number of people exposed to the virus.



Samsung Medical Center, which was said to be the hotbed of the MERS epidemic back in 2015 with 90 out of 186 patients contracting the disease there, was different this time as well.



As the patient talked about his symptoms and travel history to the Middle Eastern country, the hospital suspected possible MERS infection and kept him in isolation, preventing contact with other patients in the emergency room. It then reported the possible MERS case to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) and transferred the man to Seoul National University Hospital, a state-designated hospital for infectious diseases.



The public response was also different  it improved.



More than 400 people were monitored by the health authorities as they came into contact with the confirmed patient, mostly passengers travelling on the same plane. Around 20 were in close contact with him, including flight attendants, passengers who sat around him, immigration officers, his wife and medical staffers.



All were told to stay at home until the up to two weeks incubation period for the virus passed, and officials from the regional health authorities contacted them every day to check on their condition.



Back in 2015, some people who were supposed to be quarantined did not follow the authorities' instructions and moved around, causing dozens of more people to be placed under quarantine.



At the time, the government did not disclose which hospitals the patients had visited  a bad decision because this made hundreds of people keep visiting the places and thus coming into contact with the virus. This time, the government immediately let the public know which places the confirmed patient has visited, urging people to report to the authorities if they had visited the same places and showed MERS-like symptoms.



Such an improvement in dealing with MERS may have mainly came from awareness of the disease, as the country had to pay a lot to learn how to cope with the unfamiliar infection three years ago, as the social costs and sacrifices included 38 deaths, the closure of a dozen hospitals and thousands of schools, and the cancellation of major gatherings among others.



Of course everything was not perfect this time. Quarantine officials at the airport did not screen the patient although he was feeling sick after his trip to the Middle East, because the patient did not have a fever or respiratory symptoms at the time. Regarding what a suspected patient needs to do, some staffers at local hospitals and regional health authorities provided information at odds with the central government's, as reported in the Sept. 11 edition of The Korea Times.



In general, however, the responses were quite good. In this country where one of the most frequently-mentioned sentences in news stories is "the system has failed to prevent the incident from recurring despite past failures," it is very rare that past mistakes have been almost completely corrected.



Some may say it was "locking the barn door after the horse was stolen." But even if a horse is stolen, it is important to lock the door tightly so there will be no more stealing.



An artist works on a portrait of Kofi Annan outside the Accra International Conference Centre in Ghana, Sept. 13, during the funeral ceremony for the Ghanaian diplomat and former secretary-general of United Nations. Annan died Aug. 18 at 80. /AFP-Yonhap



By Alan Doss



Time to get tougher with doctors for illegal practices



Recent cases of medical doctors ignoring their professional ethics are raising concerns about their disregard for the Hippocratic Oath. Medical professionals are required to swear to uphold specific ethical standards regarding patient treatment according to their ability and judgment, but never with a view to causing injury or any other wrongdoing.



However, some medical doctors and nurses were found to have committed illegal and "nonsensical" medical practices with no respect for human life. Such acts are against not only medical ethics, but also the law. They only tried to fatten their wallets.



A famous cosmetic surgeon in Gangnam, southern Seoul, was arrested and indicted on charges of having injected propofol illegally for 10 patients addicted to the powerful anesthetic agent, which can be fatal in large doses. He is suspected of pocketing about 500 million won ($454,000) in profits from April to June.



In another case at a Busan clinic, a salesman of a medical equipment company performed surgery on a patient suffering from shoulder pain on behalf of a surgeon, leaving her brain-dead.



"Ghost" surgery is a signature malpractice in the medical world that must end. It is shocking that the Busan operation was conducted by a salesman. The case clearly shows how seriously that surgeon's occupational ethics were damaged.



Of course, most medical doctors and hospitals respect the value of life and treat their patients as dignified human beings. However, those only seeking to earn money by ignoring medical ethics should be expelled for good.



The Medical Services Act is too lenient toward medical doctors involved in illegal practices, calling for a maximum one-month suspension of their license. The government should strengthen punishment so as to strip doctors of their licenses permanently in serious cases. At the same time, it should ensure they take civil and criminal responsibility for their bad practices.

Two Koreas should faithfully implement new agreements



The third summit between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has produced substantive progress in improving inter-Korean ties and reviving the momentum for the North's denuclearization. It can be said that the two leaders have created an upbeat mood for peace and the denuclearization process on the peninsula.



On Wednesday, Moon and Kim signed the Pyongyang Joint Declaration, agreeing to take some steps toward denuclearizing the North. This agreement, the first of its kind between the two sides, is seen as a meaningful move which could lead to a breakthrough in the stalled nuclear negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington. In this regard, it is worth noting that the North has agreed to permanently shut down its Tongchang-ri missile engine testing facility and missile launch pads with the participation of international experts.



Furthermore, the North has expressed its willingness to take additional steps, such as the permanent shutdown of its Yongbyon nuclear facilities, if the U.S. takes corresponding measures. Those steps may signal that the Kim regime is willing to break the impasse with the U.S. over how the North will denuclearize.



However, it is still unclear that Pyongyang is ready to comply with the U.S. demand to hand over a list of its nuclear weapons, fissile material and nuclear facilities. The North has so far called on Washington to formally declare an end to the Korean War as a condition for starting the denuclearization process.



U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed the new agreements between Moon and Kim. Referring to them, he said on Twitter that there will be no rocket or nuclear testing. It is fortunate that Trump struck a positive note over the North's move. However, it is still too early to tell whether Kim will take the path to final, fully-verified denuclearization (FFVD) as demanded by Washington.



Thus, it is necessary for the U.S. and the North to resume their talks to narrow their differences over the method of denuclearization. Time is not sufficient as President Trump needs to make tangible progress in this well before the November midterm elections in the U.S.



Against this backdrop, Trump is required to work more closely with Moon to realize their shared goal of the compete denuclearization of the North. Trump also needs to hold a second summit with Kim to persuade him to give up his nuclear arsenal in return for security guarantees. On its part, the North should no longer drag its feet in dismantling its nuclear weapons.



Besides the denuclearization issue, Moon and Kim also agreed to ease military tensions and develop better ties. They have promised to resume operations of the now-closed Gaeseong Industrial Complex and restart the suspended Mount Geumgang tourism project, if certain conditions are met. Also notable is their commitment to seek to jointly host the 2032 Summer Olympic Games.



Now it is time for the two Koreas to translate the new agreements into action. They must ensure that accelerating inter-Korean detente should keep pace with the North's denuclearization. We hope Kim Jong-un will visit Seoul soon, possibly within this year, as he promised, to usher in a new era for peace and co-prosperity on the peninsula. Yet he should not forget that denuclearization holds the key.









S-Oil CEO Othman Al Ghamdi delivers a gift package containing songpyeon (crescent moon shaped rice cakes), groceries and daily necessities to a low-income family in Mapo-gu, western Seoul, Wednesday. The refiner said its employees delivered gift packages to 800 low-income households in the area, after making songpyeon, which is eaten during the Chuseok holidays. / Courtesy of S-OilRonald Ro, co-founder and CEO of Awair / Courtesy of Awair



Awair thrives amid growing public awareness of indoor air quality



By Jun Ji-hye



Ronald Ro decided to build a device that could track chemicals and toxins in the air while looking for a way to create a healthy indoor environment for his daughter who suffers from eczema, a skin disease that makes her skin itch and get sore.





Awair Mint / Courtesy of AwairSeen above is a computer-generated image of WayRay's holographic augmented reality navigation system. Hyundai Motor decided to invest in the Swiss technology company to develop a holographic navigation system. / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor



By Park Jae-hyuk



Hyundai Motor aims to install a holographic augmented reality (AR) navigation system in its vehicles starting 2020, through its recent investment in Swiss technology firm WayRay, the carmaker said Wednesday.



Founded in 2012, WayRay has emerged as a premier developer in connected cars by applying aerospace technology to land navigation. The Swiss company has an R&D center in Russia, and in January showcased its holographic AR heads-up display at the CES 2018 held in Las Vegas.



The company recently raised $80 million from Hyundai, Porsche, Alibaba Group, China Merchants Capital, JVCKENWOOD and a consortium of sovereign wealth funds. Hyundai did not provide the amount of its investment.



"WayRay has remarkable expertise in both hardware and software developments for holographic AR display systems," said Chi Young-cho, chief innovation officer and executive vice president of Hyundai Motor Group.



"The Hyundai-WayRay collaboration will help us establish a brand new eco-system that harnesses AR technology to enhance not only navigation systems but establish an AR platform for smart cities and smart buildings, which are Hyundai Motor Group's new business interests in the long term, that will provide innovative customer experiences."



WayRay CEO Vitaly Ponomarev said: "As a deep-tech company, we are committed to creating fundamental innovations that bring us far beyond holographic AR displays and new interfaces. A growing number of projects with carmakers and strong investors are fueling the company's growth and boosting our confidence in implementing complex innovations. We are proud to be recognized as a reliable partner able to meet the high standards set by investors such as Porsche and Hyundai."



Compared to the conventional heads-up displays on the market, WayRay's holographic AR system uses a small projector that can be installed in almost any car.



The system can create a realistic AR experience, where virtual objects are seamlessly integrated into the world around the car. Its wide field of view allows for displaying more virtual objects at a comfortable distance for drivers' eyes.



With the recent investment, Hyundai is seeking to apply holographic technology to wearable robots that the group will develop as its new growth engine. Hyundai Mobis and Hyundai MnSOFT will also participate in the Hyundai-WayRay collaboration to take the lead in development of innovative technologies.



According to industry officials, the size of the global holographic display market will be $3.6 billion in 2020, as the market has shown an annual growth rate of 30 percent over the past few years.

Freely accessible local news is vital. Please power our reporters and help keep us independent with a donation today.

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The San Bernardino Catholic Diocese plans to release the names of every priest who has been credibly accused of sexually abusing children over 40 years.

Diocese spokesman John Andrews said Tuesday that the list will be published on the diocese's website within two weeks.

The disclosure will be among the latest made or planned by dioceses around the country, including in San Diego, which last week added eight names to its list of accused priest abusers.

The Diocese of San Jose also plans to release the names of alleged predators by mid-October.

The current wave of disclosures follows a Pennsylvania grand jury report released last month detailing allegations that Pittsburgh-area priests had molested more than 1,000 children.

After that, San Bernardino Bishop Gerald Barnes called a meeting with diocese priests, deacons, religious sisters and others in the community.

"He wanted to talk about what the diocese can do locally to address the genuine angst and disappointment that have come with the release of that report ... ," Andrews said in an interview with KPCC/LAist.

Among the top suggestions from the meeting: publicize a comprehensive list of accused priests.

"That would be done in a spirit of transparency towards the faithful, and also for victims of abuse," Andrews said. "Sometimes to see their abuser's name made public is beneficial in the healing process."

First, some history. Before the diocese in San Bernardino was formed in 1978, Catholic churches there were part of the San Diego diocese. San Diego's recently released list included Rev. Raymond Etienne. He served as a pastor in a San Bernardino church 20 years after he allegedly sexually assaulted seminarians in Riverside.

In 2007, the San Diego diocese agreed to pay $198 million to 144 people who accused clergy members of sexually abusing them. It was among the largest settlements of its kind in the country.

Joelle Casteix of Orange County, a victims' advocate, formed the group Survivors Taking On Predators, or STOP, four months ago. She says the latest release of names by some California dioceses is too little, too late.

"Child protection and transparency should never be a fad," Casteix said. "These priests and these names should have been made open and transparent when the diocese first found out these guys were molesting children, not 15, 20 or 30 years later."

Casteix is pushing for changes in the laws. She especially wants to allow child victims to sue their attackers even if the statutes of limitations have expired.

Victims' advocates are calling for a statewide investigation in California.

Since the clergy sex abuse scandal first broke in Boston in 2002, attorneys general in just four states have forced the Catholic Church to turn over their records.

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra doesn't discuss potential or ongoing investigations, but confirmed to reporters at a news conference this month that clergy sexual abuse was on his radar.

"We are very aware of the allegations, the actions that were taken in Pennsylvania and the professed actions that other states are planning to take," Becerra said. "California is a leader when it comes to just about everything you can think of. We'll take a backseat to no one when it comes to protecting our people."

Aaron Schrank covers religion, international affairs and the Southern California diaspora under a grant from the Luce Foundation.

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.



Please start by watching the two and a half minute video, the first for Kevin de Leon's Senate campaign. If it feels familiar it's because it was made by the same filmmakers who were responsible for the Randy Bryce video launch that electrified us all. This one is also very powerful, very emotive and compelling-- and uniquely Californian.





Blue America specializes in finding great state legislators and helping them become national leaders. Some of the best members of Congress showed what they could do in leadership positions in their state legislatures-- Ted Lieu, Pramila Jayapal, Jamie Raskin, Karen Bass, Jeff Merkley, Judy Chu, Keith Ellison... were all in leadership positions in state legislatures when we met them and started helping to promote them to national office. Now they are the hope of the Democratic Party and the hope of the United States. Kevin de Leon's record of accomplishment as president of the California state Senate-- on virtually every aspect of the progressive vision from Medicare-for-All to Climate Change amelioration-- led me to beg him to run for the Senate seat Dianne Feinstein has used to hinder and blockade the progressive agenda for 26 years.





I've known Dianne Feinstein long before that-- since she was the fake Democrat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors trading grubby favors for cash from wealthy developers. When ardent progressives, Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone were gunned down in City Hall, Feinstein made her big move, first as mayor and then senator, always using her elected positions to create mind-boggling business opportunities for Richard Blum, her husband. Today she's one of America's wealthiest politicians. And today she's 85 and unable to debate the issues with KDL. Unable. So instead, she's assembled a team of character assassins to denigrate Kevin and threaten anyone working in state politics that if they work for the KDL campaign their career is finished. She's assembled a truly vile warchest. Up against the $1,310,851 in grassroots money he's raised, she put together $15,263,210 (a third of which, $5,006,050, she just took from the money she and her husband have made from her influence-peddling).





It's time for her to go-- and she knows it. And she plans on it as well. She's done. She just wants one thing-- to keep "her" seat from falling into the hands of a progressive. If she wins this election, she'll retire quickly, allowing neoliberal corporate Democrat Gavin Newsom to appoint another conservative Democrat-- probably Blue Dog/New Dem Adam Schiff. Then when the special election comes, Schiff-- who has no electoral opposition in his (my) congressional district and has raised $4,624,476-- will be able to run as an incumbent. Yep... all packaged with a red ribbon bow on top.





The one spanner in the plan: the California Democratic Party, shockingly, rejected Feinstein's reelection bid and endorsed Kevin. This one will make a big difference. He's a real game-changer, a proven one. She's neither effective nor even awake and just a stalking horse for another conservative who will get in without being elected. So bad for a state like California! Anyway, see that Act Blue thermometer up top? Please tap on it and contribute what you feel comfortable giving to Kevin's campaign.Freely accessible local news is vital. Please power our reporters and help keep us independent with a donation today.

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Mexico has Cholula.* Korea has gochujang. Southern California has Sriracha, the pride and joy (and occasional source of conflict) of Irwindale. In China, when people want to bring the heat, they turn to Lao Gan Ma, the country's best-selling hot sauce.

With its signature red label featuring an image of its unsmiling founder, each jar of Lao Gan Ma (direct translation: the godmother) contains a mix of chili flakes and onions soaked in soybean oil and some combo of garlic, fermented cabbage, mushrooms and black beans, depending on the varietal. The company makes two dozen chili-based condiments but its first, most basic chili oil remains its best seller with some 2 million bottles of the stuff produced daily at its homebase, in Southwest China.

A contestant takes part in a chilli pepper-eating competition on July 8, 2018 in Ningxiang, China. It's not at all related to this story but it's a crazy photo, right? (AFP/Getty Images)

Thanks to the ever expanding Chinese diaspora, Lao Gan Ma has become a staple on the shelves of the San Gabriel Valley's Asian grocery stores. Now, it wants to dominate the hot sauce aisles in the rest of America's supermarkets.

You can thank Tao Huabi, the woman who started it all. Growing up poor in a rural village in China's Guizhou province, she wanted something better. In 1989, at age 42, she opened a hole-in-the-wall noodle shop in the capital city of Guiyang, where she served her homemade chili oil alongside the food. The sauce, a mix of peppers, spices and fermented soybeans, outshone everything else on the menu. Tao went all in, founding Lao Gan Ma in 1996.

Lao Gan Ma chili oil on the shelves of Ranch 99 in Alhambra, California. (Fiona Ng/LAist)

The first bottles of her product arrived in the United States less than a decade later, in the early 2000s. Like many popular foreign foods, the demand was driven by immigrants who craved a taste of their homeland. As America's Chinese population grew, sales of Lao Gan Ma boomed. Today, the 71-year-old Tao is reportedly worth more than $1 billion.

Eddy Xu, who manages LGM USA, the company's U.S. distribution and marketing arm, says they went from importing 10 cargo containers full of the stuff in early 2000s to ten times that amount this year. Along the way, Lao Gan Ma has inspired a cult following, one that extends beyond the Chinese diaspora.

At New York Fashion Week this month, Tao became an unlikely star when images of her face popped up on hoodies from Opening Ceremony. Don't feel like paying $120 for a sweatshirt? Don't worry, you can probably pick one up for $10 on Canal Street right now.

my hypebeast cousin was not impressed with the opening ceremony  hoodies... now thats spicy  pic.twitter.com/PgUx7z04kq   (@smashedmcdouble) September 13, 2018

Becoming a fleeting fashion icon is all well and good but Tao and her company have their sights set on a loftier goal. "All the Asian Chinese like the Lao Gan Ma but not people in the mainstream," Xu says.

He's on a mission to change that. Working from the company's recently established satellite office in Irwindale, Xu wants to make Lao Gan Ma a household name in the U.S. The first step? Walmart, of course.

Later this month, the mega-retailer will start selling Lao Gan Ma in 400 of its brick-and-mortar stores, probably in areas with a significant Asian American population. After that, the company is eyeing Kroger and Costco. Eventually, Xu wants to get the sauce into the hands of non-Chinese chefs and restaurateurs.

Lao Gan Ma, in addition to its array of chili oils, produces bean paste, pickled vegetables, fermented bean curd and a hot pot soup base. Fans of the chili oil use it on just about everything, from fried eggs and dumplings to hot dogs and pizzas. Purists heap onto plain white rice so they can savor it, unsullied by other flavors.

Whether or not the company achieves mainstream domination, its legion of fans remain devoted. The condiment's unrivaled popularity has spawned a saying in China: "Wherever there are Chinese people, there's Lao Gan Ma." With nearly 4 million Chinese and Chinese American people living in the U.S., the Godmother knows: Success is a dish best served cold  preferably with a heaping spoonful of fiery chili oil.Freely accessible local news is vital. Please power our reporters and help keep us independent with a donation today.

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Students walk on campus at West Los Angeles College in L.A. in November, 2016. (Photo by Susanica Tam / For KPCC)

The numbers were embarrassing to everyone involved. Eight out of ten students at California's community colleges needed remedial education. In other words, courses just to get them up to college-level work.

Those classes did not count toward a degree, but they cost just as much. And the students identified as needing them were significantly more likely to be black or Latino than white or Asian.

Now, by next year, those remedial classes will be almost entirely eliminated. In the higher education world, it's a shift on the magnitude of turning a battleship on a dime.

HOW WE GOT HERE

The change started around 2010. Armed with data that showed remedial classes weren't helping students, college professors and administrators started to think differently.

What if -- instead of getting high school graduates up-to-speed -- they adapted the college classes to prepare for the students?

They focused on the 2.1 million student, 114-campus California Community College system.

STEP ONE: WAS THE TEST FAIR?

Those studying the problem found that the test used to determine if a student needed remediation was flawed. The remedy? Assess students using multiple measures.

Another finding: Students fared better when they took non-remedial college classes and got extra help. In fact, those students were finishing more classes.

"We've been putting students in remedial classes who were perfectly capable of performing in a college-level class," said Katie Hern, a community college professor who is Executive Director of the California Acceleration Project.

Hern, whose group has been helping community colleges create alternatives to remedial classes, walked us through some milestones that led to this fundamental shift:

CIRCA 2010

The California Acceleration Project starts talking to faculty and administrators about the data that showed that remedial classes weren't helping students. They also began working on alternatives.

2014

Up until now, colleges relied on a single test to determine who needed remedial classes. This year, the Multiple Measures Assessment Project begins helping campuses figure out how to weigh more factors, such as high school grade point average and types of high school classes taken.

2017

The Cal State system eliminates a key stumbling block for many community college transfers: the intermediate algebra requirement.

The move to get rid of it was huge. That's because many community college students transfer to a Cal State university and requiring that class was a barrier some students could not get past. The change instead allowed community colleges to offer alternative math courses that met the threshold for a student to transfer to a CSU.

In addition, AB 705 was signed by Governor Jerry Brown. The legislation gives students the right to choose community college English or math classes that give them the best chances of success. Remember, research shows that's college level classes not remedial courses. And that really cleared the way for what's happening now.

2018

Publications including PPIC 2018, A Seat at the Table, Leading the Way, Up to the Challenge spread the word, highlighting successful reforms at campuses such as San Diego Mesa College and Cuyamaca College. Showing campus leaders that the strategy was resulting in more students staying in school encouraged them to follow at their own colleges.

Here's why: California community colleges that made the changes early have seen improved rates of students earning an associate's degree, as well as more students transferring to a four year university.

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.Through the windshield that is Reyner Banhams book, Los Angeles: The Architecture of Four Ecologies, the latest La Jolla Historical Society exhibit looks to re-examine something most of us do on automatic. San Diego: The Architecture of Four Ecologies explores our towns four independent terrains  beaches, freeways, sub/urban and the border  and how they are connected through cars.

Opening Sept. 22 at the La Jolla Historical Society Wisteria Cottage Gallery, 780 Prospect St., the exhibit runs through Jan. 20, 2019.

To curator Rebecca Webb, who has had a hand in UC San Diegos Art Power! film selections and the San Diego Wonder Spaces exhibit downtown, the presentation is both a critique and a tribute to Southern Californians use of cars. The concept is based on British architectural historian Banhams work and intended to intersect with the work of Webbs father, architect Michael Webb, as well as other artists.

In Banhams book  he viewed Los Angeles through his car. He was an outsider who fell in love with LA, noting its architecture and various environments, Webb said. We all have a love affair with Southern California cities through our cars. Being from the East Coast, I still feel like an outsider because I never had to drive before and now I have to drive everywhere. I explored Banhams book, my fathers work and my own experiences in my car for this exhibit and its about access, the environmental impacts (of car use) and where were going with our cars, speculatively.

Reflecting on Banhams holistic approach to the concept, La Jolla Historical Society executive director Heath Fox added: Architectural historians have traditionally looked at (things one by one)  this architect designed this building, that architect designed that building. Banham was more interested in the macro look at the big buildings by the big architects, but he also appreciated the hot-dog stands, roadway systems and neighborhood grids, infrastructure support and all those things that make up the modern urban environment. For this exhibit, Rebecca did a great job selecting works of art that respond in some way to one of the four ecologies of San Diego.

Further, Webbs fathers contextual architecture pieces also looked at the integration of cars and the home, and three of his drawings are included in the show.

Ultimately, the whole exhibit is a localized homage to my father. Hes been practicing architecture since the 1960s and I revere him. His main body of work really explored the intersection of cars, landscapes and architecture. He looked at how we drive and come home ... some of us park the car in the (garage) and then the car becomes park of the house, Webb said.

San Diego: The Architecture of Four Ecologies curator Rebecca Webb Courtesy

For the San Diego exhibit, the car and freeways as they connect the border, the beaches and the urban/suburban communities, will be interpreted in various media by Doug Aitken, Abe King, Cy Kukenbacker, Robert Minervini, Margaret Noble, Jens Ochlich, Rene Peralta, Hector Perez, Iana Quesnell, Philipp Scholz Rittermann, Dustin Shuler, Paul Turounet, UCSD Design Lab/Colleen Emmenegger, Gareth Walsh and Michael Webb. Artist Kent Yoshimura, writer Bruna Mori, SDSU professor Larry Herzog and SDSU professor Bruce Appleyard each contributed essays on one ecology, and Jennifer Luce FAIA contributed the catalog essay.

Notable pieces include a sculpture of cars arranged so (Webb says) they look like theyre dancing, a floor-to-ceiling drawing of aerial-view floor plans that a UCSD grad student created after years of actually living in her car, photos from the border, architectural drawings, an interactive piece that depicts the impact cars have on different environments, and more. The exhibit is separated by the ecologies on which the pieces are based, with spaces dedicated to all four.

Cars as Shish Kabob by Dustin Shuler Courtesy

But one piece both Webb and Fox say they are excited about is the video installation.

The UCSD Design Lab made a suit a person could wear that looks like a car seat. Someone put on the suit, got in the car and drove around so it looked like a self-driving car. They recorded that and looked for how people reacted to it, and we are going to show that video, Fox said. It suggests that the use of the automobile  self-driving or not, used on a small-group basis  is going to continue to be the transportation of choice for the foreseeable future. What does that mean? What does that tell us about what the future holds?

Webb added: There are a lot of layers in this show, but the main one is getting people to think about how they engage with their environment through the car. Its not meant to be a negative thing  there are great personal freedoms to having a car and using them  its more about not doing something so automatically, but more mindfully.

As a related feature of the exhibit, Michael Webb discuss and sign his book Two Journeys (a comprehensive dissertation with more than 200 drawings and essays), 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 24 at Warwicks, 7812 Girard Ave. warwicks.comThe La Jolla Riford Library has added to its permanent art collection thanks to a gift from San Diego-based landscape painter Erin Hanson. Titled Magenta Lights, the oil on canvas is a semi-abstract depiction of the oak-dotted dawn hills of a winery in Paso Robles, Calif.

The painting really enhances the public experience of sitting here in our reading area, said branch manager Shaun Briley. Look at the colors and how it matches the scheme. Its as if it was always intended to be in this spot.

Arlene Powers, co-chair of the librarys art committee, added: Everybody on staff has fallen in love with it.

The painting had been on loan since the librarys Spring 2018 exhibition, Colors of Spring. While the library didnt officially ask for the loan to graduate to a gift, Briley admitted commenting to Powers: Gee, couldnt this stay here a little longer? That comment made its way back to Hanson, who was so happy to oblige, she even paid to have a title plaque made herself.

Hanson called the Friends of La Jolla Library  who in 2014 made her the focus of their first solo show  one of the reasons she relocated her life, and art gallery, from L.A. to San Diego two years ago. (Her gallery is in Miramar.)

Everyone was so excited to have me there, I thought, This is really cool, Hanson said. So when I decided to move out of L.A., I decided on San Diego.By a vote of 6-3-1, the La Jolla Development Permit Review (DPR) committee recommended that the La Jolla Community Planning Association (CPA) ratify presenter Michael Mortons application for a Coastal Development Permit (CDP) to remodel and add to an existing two-story single dwelling at 5251 Chelsea St.

However, this was the committees second vote on the project at DPRs Sept. 11 meeting at the Rec Center. After trustees objected to the size of the roof deck (1,700 square feet) and a separate second-floor overhang  as originally presented  Morton agreed to move the deck 3 feet further from its side yard locations and reduce the overhang to 8 feet. (That motion failed 4-5-1.)

Morton then volunteered to throw in reducing the overhang to 6 feet above the face of the second-floor windows, as well as installing a planter buffer inside the new guardrail. That garnered a majority vote, with trustees Mike Costello, Elizabeth Gaenzle and Matthew Welch opposing.Costello said the roof deck could be very noisy and destructive to the neighborhood, in addition to noting that the renovated house plan looks crowded, like a large rectangle across the lot.

Neighbors rally

Most of the 23 members of the public crowded in the tiny room were there to express their objection to the Newmann Residence Project at 7742 Whitefield Place, which seeks a Site Development Permit and CDP to demolish an existing one-story single-family dwelling to construct a new, two-story, 10,861-square-foot unit with basement and attached garage.

In fact, DPR chair Brian Will moved the project up on the agenda as a courtesy  with the approval of the presenter bumped down by the move.

Neighbor Bob Steiner (standing and holding paper) expresses his opposition to the Newmann Residence Project. (COREY LEVITAN)

The average-sized house in our neighborhood is 3,000-4,000 square feet, next-door neighbor Bob Steiner told presenters Lindsay King and Paul Benton of Alcorn & Benton Architects.

This is three-to-four times the average size, Steiner continued, also noting that the previous owner built a swimming pool on the property that collapsed.

Theres a reason theres a 300-square-foot house where it is, built on solid ground, Steiner said, and theres a reason that beyond that, things collapse.

The presenters were asked to return with a number of different photos and to reduce square footage by 80 to comply with required floor-area ratio (FAR).

Kretowicz opposed

In a preliminary review, builder Ure Kretowicz proposed replacing decorative paving currently within the public right-of-way adjacent to his house at 7957 Princess St., with new granite porcelain tiles and signage identifying public access to a nearby pocket beach.

DPR chair Brian Will questioned the plan, claiming it looks like it discourages public access. Trustee Diane Kane suggested that, even as is, the right-of way looks too much like a private courtyard and should be redone to look like a City street.

Its public, Kane said. Its not yours.Costello said he would bring to the next DPR meeting a letter suggesting a course of action to CPA in advance of a California Coastal Commissions (CCC) hearing on this new issue in October.

(Kretowicz has previously challenged the CCCs requirement of the beach access path through his property, which was held up by both a 2013 San Diego Superior Court and a 2015 state appellate court decision.)

Consolidation considered

A preliminary review of the Ryan Lot Consolidation Project, at 5673 Linda Rosa Ave.,had applicant Rick Turner requesting a CDP to combine two lots into one. Gaenzle discovered two open permits for construction here already, to which Turner replied that one should have been closed and that the other is an active concurrently processing permit, whose FAR determination will impact the current permit.

Expressing concern that another nice little house will grow to four times its size, trustee Angeles Leira said she was uncomfortable just playing with the numbers to increase bulk and scale.

Turner was asked to return with plans for a proposed structure/remodel and to show the canceled permit.

Also at DPR

Approval of a tentative map waiver and CDP, to convert three rental units to condos at 7210 La Jolla Blvd., passed swiftly, 8-0-2, with the committee expressing admiration for the property. (Known as Heritage Place, its a collection of three historically designated homes, dating back to the late 1800s, that were moved together for protection.)

 DPR next meets at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 9 at the Rec Center, 615 Prospect St.La Jolla to host culinary hall-of-fame induction

The first Disciples Escoffier International Induction and Celebration Dinner in Southern California will take place Oct. 8 at The Marine Room in La Jolla. The event is sold out.

The organization, an esteemed culinary hall of fame in France, will honor San Diegos finest chefs and chef/owners including: Bernard Guillas of The Marine Room; Patrick Ponsaty of 1500 Ocean; Jeffrey Strauss of Pamplemousse Grille; Mark Kropczynski of the U.S. Grant Hotel; Javier Plascencia of Mision 19; Luis Gonzalez of the Puesto Restaurant Group; and Dame Flor Franco of Indulge.

I am honored and humbled to be inducted into the Disciples Escoffier International, said Guillas, who will do double duty during the ceremony as both inductee and chef. It is a milestone in my career.

Disciples Escoffier International  an invitation-only society of chefs, food and wine producers, sommeliers and other hospitality-industry professionals  was created in 1954 by chef Jean Ducroux to honor Auguste Escoffier, the pre-eminent French chef of the early 20th century.

This event was organized by Les Dames dEscoffier San Diego and will feature Michel Escoffier, Augustes great-grandson.

Man shot by deputy outside Del Mar concert pleads not guilty

A man shot by a sheriffs deputy, after allegedly pulling out a gun and firing several rounds into a crowded area when he couldnt get a ticket to rapper Ice Cubes concert at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, Sept. 2, pleaded not guilty, Sept. 17, to felony charges.

Daniel Elizarraras, 22, was arraigned in his hospital room at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla on charges including assaulting a peace officer with a semiautomatic firearm. Deputy District Attorney Michael Runyon argued that the defendant was a danger to the public, and Judge Michael Groch increased Elizarraras bail from $100,000 to $300,000.

Witnesses said Elizarraras fired his weapon at the Stretch Run ticket window about 6:40 p.m. on Sept. 2.

Deputies responded to the scene and 11-year veteran Tyler Eikermann fired four rounds, striking Elizarraras with all four shots. No deputies or civilians were hurt.

Elizarraras faces up to 19 years in prison if convicted. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for next month.  City News Service

Tickets on sale for San Diego Polices Gold Shield Gala

The San Diego Police Foundation holds its seventh annual Gold Shield Gala, 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22 at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront, 1 Park Blvd.

The fundraiser  which includes dinner, dancing and a talk from San Diego Police Chief David Nisleit  supports the K9 Crimefighter Campaign, which funds all new police dogs for Americas Finest K9 Unit as well as equipment and training.

Tickets are $300, tables $3,000. For information, call (619) 232-2130 or visit, sdpolicefoundation.org

Music Society musical chairs

Susan Danis, scheduled to fill La Jolla Music Societys (LJMS) highly visible president/CEO vacancy on Oct. 1, has backed out. Instead, she will remain as general director/CEO of the Florida Grand Opera (FGO).

According to a joint press statement released by LJMS and Danis, the mutual decision was reached following the disclosure that a letter defaming (Danis) and FGO had been sent to LJMS board chair and members of the staff by a disgruntled ex-employee of FGO, Graham Fandrei.

The statement explained that Fandrei has since retracted the letter, acknowledged that it was based on false information, was sent with malicious intent, and has apologized to FGO, LJMS and Danis.

It is unclear why a defamatory letter based on false information that has since been retracted would prompt Danis to stay put. But the statement furnished a quote from Danis stating: I am appreciative of the support I received from FGO as I responded to, and discredited, the information contained in the Fandrei letter. This action by Mr. Fandrei has been deeply affecting me. Given the support I received during this time from FGO, I have withdrawn my application.

The sudden reversal comes only seven months before the scheduled opening of the societys new $78.5 million Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, which Danis was hired in large part to guide. LJMSs last president, Kristin Lancino, also resigned unexpectedly, in January, barely two years after she came on board.

The statement said that the LJMS will resume its search for its next president and CEO as David Kitto continues to serve as the nonprofits interim president.

In the meantime, LJMS is about to open its 50th Anniversary season. For a schedule of concerts and performances, visit ljms.org

UCSD launches medical imaging center

UC San Diego recently opened the Nikon Imaging Center, a collaborative microscopy center providing local researchers with access to the latest imaging technologies.

In addition to offering standard imaging techniques, the center has two microscopes that can image with what is called super-resolution, which allows us to resolve structures with two-to-10 times the precision that standard microscopes can achieve, said Eric Griffis, the centers director.

Situated inside the School of Medicines Leichtag Family Foundation Biomedical Research Building, the center is only the third in North America, following similar Nikon facilities at Harvard Medical School and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

 Compiled by Corey LevitanLa Jollans love their pets. They seem to take them everywhere  including where they are not legally allowed to.

The scope of the problem of service-animal fraud is unclear, since no organization keeps records. However, weve all seen likely abuses while shopping. The Nextdoor app is full of complaints.

Ive seen a guy with three Pit bulls with heavy chains as collars, inside the market disregarding the rules, wrote one La Jollan Nextdoor poster. Hes not the only one. People place them in the shopping carts meant for groceries. The rules are there because its a health issue!

La Jolla resident Melody Cloud was so fed up, she sent the Light a video, taken with a cell phone, of a bearded man in a T-shirt, shorts and flip-flops, visiting the salad bar at an upscale market in La Jolla while cradling a white poodle.

No one asked this person to leave and employees clearly saw him walking around the store with a PET! Cloud wrote in her e-mail, in which she also forwarded the complaint she sent to the San Diego County Health Department reporting consistent fake-service dog sightings inside that store.

My neighbors who shop different days and hours have also seen this as a reoccurring health issue, Cloud wrote.

The laws regarding service animals in California are a confusing tangle of state and federal regulations that conflict on key issues. For instance, California requires all service dogs to be identified by a tag on their collar or harness, according to Terisa Harju, supervisor of licensing for the San Diego Humane Society, which now licenses all pets in the City of San Diego. In the City, the Humane Society issues a circular metal tag to animal owners who provide a doctors note or prescription reading, according to Harju:  Im treating so-and-so and their condition would improve greatly with use of a service dog. 

However, federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) law states that service dogs are not required to be identified in any way when out in public. Nor are they required to be registered or certified by any organization. And, because federal law supersedes state law, establishments may be reluctant to confront customers with suspicious service animals.

Most businesses will tolerate the illegitimate service dog coming into the store for fear they can be sued or be the subject of bad publicity, Harju said.



The health code

Live animals are not permitted inside a food-handling facility, according to California Health and Safety Code Article 6, Section 114259.5. The exceptions include police dogs, animals intended for consumption and service animals that are controlled by a disabled employee or person. (The Health Department did not get back to the Light by press time to reveal the penalty a business faces per code violation.)

The question becomes how a food-handling business is expected to identify a service animal. According to County communication officer Jessica Northrup, ADA guidelines put responsibility on the owner of the food facility to check with the owner of the animal to ensure it is a service animal, and to also check what service the animal is trained to provide, before allowing them into the customer areas of their food facility.

In fact, when an establishment suspects an animal entering its premises of not being a service animal, all it can to ensure compliance with the County Health Code is ask these two questions. Any other question (such as about the nature of the persons disability or how the dog was trained) is a violation of the ADA, punishable in California by a fine of $2,500.

Realistically, therefore, any County resident can expect to be able to walk a dog into any food establishment, claim it is a service animal trained for a certain purpose, and not be asked to prove it. All they need to do is lie in response to the two questions they might be asked.

Unfortunately, yes, Harju confirmed. Businesses only have a right to ask a customer with an animal to leave if the customer admits it is not a service animal or, Harju said, if the animal is out of control and cannot be brought under control either through voice command or leash, or if they are not housebroken.

Of course, the liars are committing service-dog fraud, which  as defined by Section 365.7 of the California Penal Code  is a misdemeanor punishable by a $1,000 fine, six months in prison or both. Thats the toughest such law in the country. But its apparently all bark and no bite, since neither Harju nor the Light could not identify a single case of its enforcement.



Confusing definition

La Jolla Open Aire Farmers Market founder Sherry Ahern says the few dogs you will ever see being walked through the Sunday marketplace  which have spurred their own Nextdoor complaints because food is served and no dogs allowed signs posted  are all service or therapy dogs whose paperwork has been checked at least once.

The truth is we could have (non-service) dogs in the market, but they cant be near the food, Ahern said, and thats not a slope Im willing to go down. So, Ahern said, for years she has had dog-walking service Dogzenergy offer to dog-sit out front, and to monitor any dogs being walked in.

It is so rare that we ever see a dog and approach them to find theyre not supposed to be in there, Ahern said, but thank you to those of you who are observant.

Heres where it gets fuzzy again: The ADA does not recognize emotional-support dogs, therapy dogs or comfort dogs as service dogs  except those that comfort veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Therefore, therapy dogs would be in violation of County Health Code  which, according to Northrup, defers to federal law  if they get near the food.

Ahern said she was unaware of this. But her confusion is understandable due to the definition of a service animal according to Section 113903 of California Code. It seems to include therapy dogs, defining a service animal as individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual or other mental disability, or that is in training to do that work or perform those tasks. (Only dogs can qualify as service animals under ADA  although miniature horses are also recognized.)

Harju called the issue very complicated. She said: Basically, a legitimate service animal is either leading a blind person or helping someone with their balance. They are smelling a persons low-blood sugar or when theyre about to have a seizure and alerting them. If theyre out with their handler, theyre working.

According to a 2015 UC Davis study, too many emotional-support and therapy tags have been issued by California  a 1,000 percent increase between 2002 and 2015  and many have been issued incorrectly.

The Assistance Dog Identification tags were mistakenly issued to some dogs which do not fall within the definition of assistance dogs under the law, such as emotional-support animals, the study said. This indicates that the state governmental registering system does not work properly.



Health department responds

Cloud eventually received a response to her Health Department complaint. Staffer Leah Anderson replied that she spoke to a manager at the upscale market, who told her that the store policy is to ask the customer to take any non-service animal outside the store immediately, and they will also sometimes have an employee hold the dog outside, so that the customer is able to shop.

In the e-mail, Anderson wrote that she directed the manager to train the employees to ensure that everyone is aware of and following the non-service animal policy. (Read below to see how the market fared when the Light attempted to browse there with a non-service animal.)

It is unfortunate that some members of the public, in order to bring their dogs along with them, try to pass them off as service dogs, Harju said. When they do this, not only are they breaking the law, they do an injustice to individuals who truly rely on their service dogs to function as independent members of society.



DID SLATER GET AWAY WITH IT?

Slater COREY LEVITAN

Slater is not a service animal. Therefore, California Health Code does not allow him inside a food-handling establishment. So, on a random Saturday afternoon, this 'La Jolla Light' reporter brought his pet (a Dachshund/Miniature Pincher mix, in case you wondered) grocery-shopping to test whether anyone would ask questions. To enhance suspicion, Slater was walked on a leash instead of cradled or placed in the child seat of a shopping cart.

Slater was walked around the produce section, back and forth along the front of the cashier lines, and then by prepared foods, where employees scooped fried chicken and rolled raw fish behind glass. Never in seven years had he seen an entire building dedicated to such deliciousness.

During a total of eight minutes inside the supermarket, at least half of the 30 employees Slater passed stared at him, but not one asked whether he was a service animal and what service he provided  not even the employee wearing a white coat and wheeling a cart containing two roasted chickens around, who nearly crashed it into Slater because he wasnt expecting a dog down there.

In contrast, Slater was only walked around the upscale market for four minutes before an employee approached by the salad bar.

Is this dog a service animal required by a disability? he asked.

When informed that Slater was not, he politely motioning toward the exit and said: Then Im afraid Im going to have to ask you to leave the premises.Following some serious changes to litter-reduction and trash pick-up along Avenida de la Playa  and just in time for famed oceanographer Walter Munks 101st birthday  the La Jolla Shores Association (LJSA) launched efforts to make their community a beacon of eco-friendliness.

During the boards Sept. 12 meeting, LJSA members voiced various ideas for making the area more environmentally conscious, including a plastics reduction campaign and an all-out water conservation program.

I think it would be fabulous if this board decided to be at the forefront of pushing green efforts and making La Jolla Shores one of the key communities with this, said LJSA chair Janie Emerson, introducing a larger conversation.

Friends of La Jolla Shores and the newly formed Walter Munk Foundation are spearheading an effort to reduce single-use plastics and single-use plastic straws in La Jolla Shores. At past meetings, Friends of La Jolla Shores president Mary Coakley-Munk said there might be options to subsidize businesses that invest in alternatives, whether these be biodegradable straws or reusable straws. She was not at the meeting to elaborate, so the topic was carried over to the next meeting.

Additionally, Ocean Girl apparel-store owner Terry Kraszewski said she would like the City to look into any environmental or health hazards associated with RoundUp weed killer and consider more natural options in public parks, starting with Kellogg Park.

Trustee Joe Dicks introduced the concept of waterless and flush-less urinals for all new developments and redeveloped public spaces in La Jolla Shores, and growing from there. Im really excited about this prospect because I dont think there are any other water-saving device ideas that this City can endorse than will save more water more quickly than this one. It is a virtual no-brainer, he said. When you look at all the toilets in San Diego, youre talking about hundreds of thousands of flushes every day, with different numbers of gallons per flush. Thats millions of gallons of water! And in some places, you dont even have a choice because the toilets flush automatically!

Dicks said he researched other cities that implemented this practice, and found flushless urinals cost the same or less than conventional toilets, but save in maintenance because there are no valves or anything to repair, and they use no water. He found options for men and women that could go in both single-sex and unisex bathrooms.

The model Dicks liked, was one used in Pismo Beach. Its most recent Municipal Code mandates all urinals installed in a new building, new additional restroom within an existing building or replacement of an existing urinal shall be waterless. It also lists some, limited, exceptions. It also requires all existing urinals be retrofitted to be waterless.

Its silly that this is not mandatory for any new construction or reconstruction, Dicks opined.

The board voted to authorize Dicks to speak to the appropriate City agencies about the feasibility this system, and report back.

In discussing the new trash cans the City recently added along Avenida de la Playa, the board was apprised of small changes that could reduce litter. Since July, residents have lamented the insufficient trash pick-up on their main street, and in August, the City increased the number of trash cans, added liners to the receptacles, and upped its collections frequency.

Renee Robertson, interim deputy director of Environmental Services Department explained: Previously in the summer we had a schedule (of trash pick-up) seven days, and then we would drop it in the wintertime (to five days a week). Weve increased our service schedule to twice a day to address the concerns and continue our seven-day-a-week collection indefinitely at this point.

At the same time, she said City staff would work with Shores businesses to encourage them to add private trash cans to further assist, and she suggested food-service businesses reduce  if not eliminate  Styrofoam use. Try to have a model that keeps services in-house to reduce takeaway plates and such to reduce waste in the first place, she explained. There are also plastic containers that are completely recyclable businesses can use.

In other LJSA news:

Fall Fest canceled: La Jolla Shores Business Association president Angie Preisendorfer said a Fall Fest celebration would not be held this October, without further elaboration.

Traffic increase coming: Move-in week for UC San Diego started Sept. 15 and continues through Sept. 25, so university officials warned there will be changes to traffic patterns on streets that feed into the campus, as well as surrounding grocery and furnishing stores.

Ranger absence: LJSA trustee John Sheridan expressed concern that there was not enough attention being paid to The Shores by park rangers. He, and a subcommittee, collected statistics for the month of June and found rangers only made contact with those breaking laws, once every couple of days. The majority of these were over off-leash dogs or dogs on the boardwalk where they are not permitted.

We have more than 3 million people that visit The Shores in a calendar year ... we need a higher level of engagement and stronger law-enforcement presence, Sheridan explained. The other thing that is quite frustrating, is that by their own admission, the rangers sent me a note indicating they seek the lowest amount of public controversy. So over one calendar year, theyve written no tickets. Its a silly situation. There are no consequences for the actions of repeat offenders. There has to be something done about this.

Emerson noted: The community expectations are not being met by the lack of interaction.

A motion to authorize Emerson and Sheridan to speak to City officials about the issue passed unanimously.

 The next Shores meeting will focus on cumulative greening efforts, as well as celebrate Walter Munks birthday at a reception 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10 at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 8840 Biological Grade. Munk will turn 101 on Oct. 19. lajollashoresassociation.orgThe design phase for the Princess Street beach access project got a $38,000 boost from the California Coastal Conservancy this month, giving the Environmental Center of San Diego the green light to proceed with the next big step toward reopening the long-closed access that starts alongside 7957 Princess St. and goes down to the beach.

During the California Coastal Conservancys Sept. 6 meeting in Eureka, a motion for Consideration and possible authorization to disburse up to $38,860 to Environmental Center of San Diego to conduct planning and prepare designs for the Princess Street Coastal Access Trail in La Jolla, San Diego County, passed on the consent agenda and without discussion. The Environmental Center of San Diego, which is working to develop and reopen the access, will contribute another $2,520 to the grant.

Environmental Center of San Diego board member Pam Heatherington explained that the funding will get the group through the design phase. Carmel Valley-based Rana Creek Living has been contracted to execute the design work.

In recapping progress thus far, she said: We did the staking survey to provide a general layout of where the trail will be, last year. A few months ago, we completed the biological assessment (to evaluate the potential effects on local species). Were getting ready to do some brush-cutting along the staking, so we can do a topographical survey. Once the topographical survey is done, the design team comes in and gives us an idea of what we can do to make it safe, stable and natural.

The grant will pay for the plans, but once the design is complete, the Environmental Center of San Diego would likely fundraise through community outreach to implement it. Heatherington said the design plans would likely be complete at the end of this year or early next year.

In a perfect world, Id like to have the trail open by end of 2019, she said. Im excited that we are constantly moving forward; there is a flow that has been working for us and we hope to keep that going.

Keeping that momentum going, the brush-cutting would begin Oct. 13 and be carried out by volunteers. Brush-cutting would be limited to six inches, to avoid erosion.

At the same time, a decision to hardscape the Princess Street-access at the top of the street will be heard at the California Coastal Commissions (CCC) Oct. 12 meeting at the Wyndham Hotel San Diego Bayside, 1355 North Harbor Drive, downtown.

Homeowner Ure Kretowicz looks to, according to the CCC report, replace existing private paving material currently located within a public street right-of-way in the La Jolla community of San Diego with a revised paving material (of granite porcelain tile) that includes delineation of a walkway to a public vertical access-way on the applicants property and that the proposal  raises concerns regarding privatization of this public space.

The CCC would hear the proposal because: Allowing public rights-of-way or public access-ways to be altered or managed by private individuals or associations can potentially deter public access and recreation in several ways. If the appearance of the public area is substantially different than the surrounding public streets, it may appear to be exclusive or under private ownership.

The discussion was originally set to be heard in September, but because the CCC meetings rotate locations, residents advocated for having the issue presented locally so those with interest could attend and speak out.

As previously reported in the Light, the access has been closed by way of a gate that has been posted and locked since the 1970s, when former property owner Jane Baker built her house. Since that time, the CCC has requested a public-access easement be dedicated. In 1999, the Kretowiczs entered into litigation, arguing it would be too dangerous for the public to access the beach through the since-eroded bluffside.

But the CCC found there was a history of public access at the site, and easement documents were filed with the City of San Diego and CCC that note there is a public access lane adjacent the property that will be part of the property record going forward.Last month, in a post, Florida's Lovely Beaches-- Over-Run With Deadly Human Waste , we looked at a gigantic problem for Floridians that their politicians aren't adequately addressing. When I woke up yesterday, I was glad to see a headline from a Florida newspaper, Rick Scott campaign stop besieged by red tide protesters

Zac Anderson wrote that "Protesters jammed the sidewalk and spilled into the street around Mojos Real Cuban, forcing Scott to enter the restaurant through the back door and leave the same way after just 10 minutes as members of the crowd shouted 'coward.'... With the noxious odor of red tide hanging in the air and a fresh wave of dead fish washing up on nearby Gulf beaches, a large crowd of people incensed about the devastating algae bloom that has plagued the region for months directed their anger at Gov. Rick Scott during a campaign event in Venice Monday." And does Scott ever deserve it!



The Republican governor is on the defensive about his environmental record as he tries to unseat Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson. Protesters gathered Monday took aim at Scott for cutting funding for environmental agencies early in his first term, arguing Scotts cost-cutting and deregulation have kept the state from implementing measures that could have helped minimize naturally occurring red tide blooms.





The more I learn about red tide the more I can point to Rick Scott making it worse, said Venice resident Rich Peabody, 71. Its not his fault, but hes making it worse.





Peabody stood by the back door to Mojos and shouted coward at Scott as he left the restaurant.





Hes a coward; he wouldnt face these people, said the semi-retired Peabody, who moved to the area nine years ago. Look at our beaches.





...Scotts critics say his policies have exacerbated the problem. Red tide blooms start offshore but can feed on nutrients found in nearshore waters. Leaky septic tanks, lawn fertilizer found in stormwater runoff and other factors can add to nutrient levels in nearshore waters.





Scott signed off on legislation that repealed a mandatory septic tank inspection program. The inspections were intended to identify failing septic tanks that are leaching pollutants.





The governor also cut $700 million from the states water management districts, which help implement a range of water quality programs. And Scott reduced staffing at the state Department of Environmental Protection and pushed to speed up and streamline environmental permitting, leading some to accuse the state of cutting corners in protecting the environment.





...The unusually strong red tide bloom that has lingered along a vast stretch of Southwest Florida coastline for nearly a year and a separate blue-green algae bloom that originated in Lake Okeechobee and is fouling estuaries on both coasts have mushroomed into major campaign issues in Floridas midterm election.





Sarasota resident John Citara, 52, came out to protest Scotts visit wearing a white hazmat suit and a gas mask.





Citara said he used to take his sons to the beach on a regular basis to go swimming, but now they go to document the environmental devastation.





Once you wipe out the economy and the tourism, Floridas dead, Citara said. If this doesnt show us we need to do things differently and hold people accountable, what will?





Nokomis resident Kim Hileman, 60, moved to the area from Pennsylvania in April for quality of life.





Thinking I would escape the snow and enjoy the warm weather and beaches, Hileman said.





But there have been very few nice beach days since Hileman moved south. So on Monday she led the crowd outside Mojos in a chant of: Hey hey ho ho red tide Rick has got to go. The red tide Rick moniker was featured on a range of other signs.





Jane Hunter helped organize the protest as a leader with the liberal-leaning Englewood Indivisible group.





We need to make a statement back to our community and the Scott campaign that you cant just totally befoul the Southwest coast of Florida and then run for Senate and vote against the environment, Hunter said. Nope. Not gonna happen. There needs to be some accountability. older | Main Largehearted Boy Page | newer 

September 19, 2018

In the Book Notes series, authors create and discuss a music playlist that relates in some way to their recently published book.

Previous contributors include Jesmyn Ward, Lauren Groff, Bret Easton Ellis, Celeste Ng, T.C. Boyle, Dana Spiotta, Amy Bloom, Aimee Bender, Heidi Julavits, Hari Kunzru, and many others.

Imaginative and often surreal, Kimberly Lojewski's Worm Fiddling Nocturne in the Key of a Broken Heart is one of the year's most impressive short story collections.

Kirkus wrote of the book:

"Magic realism meets bildungsroman... In just a few pages, Lojewski creates deeply imaginative and textured worlds. However mundane the plights of her characters--a crush on a boy, a tense mother-daughter relationship--those surreal environments make magic of the moments."



In her own words, here is Kimberly Lojewski's Book Notes music playlist for her story collection Worm Fiddling Nocturne in the Key of a Broken Heart:







My stories stem from obsessions and fascinations. And a lot of these are musical. I am absolutely that person that plays a song over and over and over again, in order to evoke whatever imagining Im trying to get on paper. Talk to anyone who has ever been a passenger in my car and they will bemoan the torturous repetitions of sea shanties, twangy bluegrass, humpback mating calls, and Cajun Zydeco.

The playlist for my short story collection, Worm Fiddling Nocturne in the Key of a Broken Heart, spans the breadth of Klezmer Circus Punk to Polish lullabies. I narrowed it down to one song for each story, with the exception of the Ballad of Sparrowfoot which has three picks because, really, that entire story is about the power of song.

Lochloosa by JJ Grey and MOFRO

The title story of my collection is about a worm fiddler and an alligator wrestler and it takes place in the strange and sweltering Florida swamps that I grew up in. Pretty much every song that JJ Grey has ever written depicts this world far more eloquently than I ever could, but this song in particular always makes my pulse slow down to a southern crawl and I can nearly smell the silty black waters and see the slow creep of alligator eyes dotting the surface.

Cape Cod Girls by Baby Gramps

Sea shanties were the theme for About the Hiding of Buried Treasure, and Baby Gramps became my go-to musician for this. In this story, the main character, Charlie, lives on a remote, treasure-filled island with his adopted sister Jezebel, a hot air-ballooning rake, and a rummy old pirate of a father. Baby Gramps, who has a Popeye the Sailor-type of singing voice, became the inspiration for the father. This song is a straight-up salty sailors anthem, replete with a didgeridoo-like vocal performance, historically accurate south Australian sea shanty lyrics, and a fervor that would compel any good man or woman to devote their god fearin soul to the mighty, mighty ocean.

The Midnight Special by Leadbelly

In Baba Yagas House of Forgotten Things, a group of kids are sentenced to a juvenile delinquent camp run by a troupe of terror-inducing grannies and overseen by Baba Yaga, the monster-witch of Slavic folklore. Although I was tempted to use one of the polkas that the grannies would have played on their record player, I settled on Leadbellys rendition of this traditional prison folk song. This is because I love the fact that when Leadbelly played this song at Angola Prison in 1934, he adlibbed a few verses about a prison jailbreak. It would have given those poor kids in the granny camp such hope.

Dearly Departed by Shakey Graves

The story How to Get Rid of a Ghost (and other Lessons from Camp Pispogutt), is about an alcoholic camp counselor who is being haunted by her dead friend. With its ghostly refrain and bone clacking rhythm, I like to think this song makes a fitting companion to the story. It is practically made for driving with the windows rolled down, a bottle of whiskey stashed in the glove compartment, a filicidal flying squirrel on your hands, and about a billion other problems that you dont want to face. Especially when youre a girl trying to escape your ghost.

The Fiddler and the Devil by Bellas Bartok

Bellas Bartok is one of my favorite bands, and they also used to be my next door neighbors. I listened to their music a lot when I was writing The Ballad of Sparrowfoot. Literally. Being that they lived next door. But it was a lucky fit. This song is such a fun clash of circus gypsy music, Klezmer punk, and handlebar mustaches. It is absolutely perfect for a bunch of misfit monsters in a Beastie Bazaar planning an insurrection. I think I may have actually seen a macaque riding a tricycle and wearing M. Bastiens stolen top hat at one of their shows.

The Littlest Birds by The Be Good Tanyas

This one is for Sparrowfoot herself. Although she cant sing throughout most of the story, I feel sure that once she escapes the Beastie Bazaar and finds her voice, she travels through the bayous of Louisiana warbling this refrain. Its a song for liberated bird-girls everywhere.

La Vie en Rose by Edith Piaf

Minette is a French-Cajun water nymph who riles up the monsters and helps Sparrowfoot plan her escape. I imagine her singing this wistfully in her cage as she pins turtle shells and waterweeds in her hair.

Byl Sobie Krol (There Was a King) by Bachka Konieczna

A kolysanka is a traditional Polish lullaby. My grandmother used to sing these to me as a child, and that is where the inspiration for When the Water Witches Come Dancing for Their Supper comes from. Kolysanki are unbelievably beautiful and creepy, much like the rusalki who try to lure Hannah outside in the story. The song itself is about a king, a princess, and a page who find themselves in a love triangle. In an unlikely turn of events (if my Polish translations can be trusted) they are all horrifically slaughtered when a dog eats the king, a cat eats the page, and a mouse eats the princess. Then they all turn into sugary confections. And that is why Polish fairytales make for such wonderfully bizarre and macabre inspiration.

Cornbread and Butterbeans by Carolina Chocolate Drops

The story One for the Crow is an Appalachian re-telling of The Handless Maiden. Most of the principal action happens during an all-night husking bee in Hannahs fathers cornfield. Had the Carolina Chocolate Drops been there that night, I feel certain they would have been playing jigs and reels from the sidelines. This band is amazing for resurrecting traditional songs and instruments and infusing them with some solidly modern Julliard-trained talent.

Dominique by Soeur Sourire

I picked this song for The Church of the Living God and Rescue Home for Divine and Orphaned Children, which is about a group of orphaned fairytale children who have been taken in by some self-serving nuns. Soeur Sourire, the Singing Nun, always pops into my mind whenever I imagine how the nuns would have entertained their magical wards.

Der Holle Rache by Lucia Popp

I listened to a few different operas while I was working on The Decline of a Professional Marionette, and this aria from Die Zauberflote became one of my favorites. The staccato parts are absolutely stunning. Cressida, the main character of the story, is an accomplished marionette who has been classically trained at the Salzburg Marionette Theatre. When she suddenly finds herself stranded in a small English village full of provincial puppets, they do not appreciate her need to burst into fancy opera numbers. Which is difficult for Cressida. Just imagine, if you could sing like this, how hard it would be to keep quiet.

I Am Stretched on Your Grave by Vintage Wildflowers

In Thinking Like a Hog Deer in the Himalayas, the main character is a homesick moth girl who pines for the mudflats and mangrove forests of her native Sundarbans. She wants to return to the place where her mother is buried. Although this folk ballad comes from a 17th century Irish poem, I think it captures the tone of longing and homesickness that Gurdeep feels in the story.

There is a River by Gaither Vocal Band

Swamp Food at the Rapture Cafe is about a bunch of gospel singing carnival freaks in the swamps, and the storys protagonist is in love with a golden-throated wolf boy named Percival. David Phelps became the inspiration for that character after I heard him perform at a Gaither Homecoming show while I was dreaming up the concept for the story. If anyone can bring a girl to spiritual salvation with their voice as quickly as Percival the wolf boy, its this fellow.



Kimberly Lojewski and Worm Fiddling Nocturne in the Key of a Broken Heart links:

excerpt from the book

Foreword Reviews review

Kirkus review



also at Largehearted Boy:

Support the Largehearted Boy website

Book Notes (2015 - ) (authors create music playlists for their book)

Book Notes (2012 - 2014) (authors create music playlists for their book)

Book Notes (2005 - 2011) (authors create music playlists for their book)

my 11 favorite Book Notes playlist essays

Antiheroines (interviews with up and coming female comics artists)

Atomic Books Comics Preview (weekly comics highlights)

guest book reviews

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permalinkEarlier this month, the New York Review of Books, arguably the foremost magazine of ideas in the United States, published a cover story online about Jian Ghomeshi, the Canadian broadcaster who was credibly accused of choking and punching non-consenting women during sexual encounters. Did I say about Ghomeshi? Sorry, the essay was by Ghomeshi. In it, he attributes his firing from the CBC to allegations [that] circulated online and were amplified by a media storm; admits only to being demanding on dates and pushy when he didnt get his way and offers readers a glimpse into how much he has suffered in the four years since he became, as he put it, one of the bad men.

The October issue of Harpers also includes a personal essay by a recently disgraced man. In a long and often meandering piece, the award-winning journalist John Hockenberry describes how he has lived in the darkness of exile ever since he was accused of touching, kissing and sexually harassing female colleagues. He portrays himself as having had bad judgment and making awkward attempts at courtship, but insists he hasnt done anything that could be construed as criminal or coercive, certainly not anything that would result in his losing his contract, his reputation or his relationships. The essay ran to 7,000 words.

John Hockenberry on stage at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival in New York. (Astrid Stawiarz / Getty Images for the Tribeca Film Festival)

The decision to give prime space to accused predators may seem puzzling, but it has a lot to teach us about which stories are valued in the culture and which are not. Notably absent from either issue of the New York Review of Books or Harpers are essays by the women who came forward, sometimes at great professional risk to themselves, to speak about their experiences. Perhaps, if such pieces had been commissioned, readers might have heard that the accusations against Ghomeshi were not made randomly online but were carefully and thoroughly reported by the Toronto Star; that the several women he said had accused him, numbered 24; and that he escaped prosecution on one count because he publicly admitted to wrongdoing. (The website CanadaLand ran an extensive fact-check of the piece, for those who may be interested.)

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One year after the revelations about Harvey Weinsteins vile behavior sparked new life in Tarana Burkes #MeToo movement, some of the accused celebrities are seeking a return to public life. The comedian Louis C.K. recently did an unannounced set at the Comedy Cellar in New York; Soon Yi Previn spoke out in defense of her husband Woody Allen (who has been accused by his adopted daughter Dylan Farrow of abuse) in an interview conducted by a family friend; and former Today show anchor Matt Lauer is reportedly planning a return to television.

Harvey Weinstein arrives at the Oscars in Los Angeles in 2016. (Al Powers/Invision/AP)

Its in this context that the recent essays from the points of view of accused predators must be read. Ian Buruma, until recently the editor of the New York Review of Books, told Slate in an interview that Ghomeshis perspective seemed like a story that was worth hearing  not 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. He went on, The exact nature of his behavior  how much consent was involved  I 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.

This explanation, whatever one makes of it, has the merit of being clear. Ghomeshis story, Buruma argues, is narratively appealing. A man who has reached the pinnacle of success finds himself accused of sexual violence; he is taken to court, where he is acquitted of charges yet remains shunned by everyone around him; how will he cope with his startling fall from grace? Literature is filled with similar confessional stories by transgressive men. Think about Albert Camus The Fall, J.M. Coetzees Disgrace, or Tayeb Salihs Season of Migration to the North. Perhaps this is why the New York Review of Books chose to call the issue with Ghomeshis essay The Fall of Men.

But men havent fallen. They constitute 80% of representatives in Congress, 92% of film directors in Hollywood and 95% of CEOs in Fortune 500 companies. In other words, they hold vast political, cultural and economic control. Its the cultural part that interests me here. Stories are the primary means by which we interpret the world around us  they help us understand what is happening, learn from it, remember it and pass it on to others. The people who tell public stories, or get to tell public stories, hold narrative power. Quite apart from the New York Review of Books dramatic and misleading headline, the deeper question is why this particular mans story was taken to be inherently more interesting than, say, a womans experience of abuse. The editors intellectual curiosity and imaginative empathy seem to be restricted to the man behaving badly rather than to the many women behaving bravely.

Tarana Burke, center, at the #MeToo Survivors March against sexual abuse in Hollywood on Nov. 12, 2017. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)

In his interview with Slate, Buruma dismisses out of hand the question of consent, focusing instead on the specifics of the legal case. Ghomeshi faced eight counts of varying seriousness and was eventually acquitted of all but one, for which he publicly admitted wrongdoing and apologized to the victim. Yet the complainants maintained, in troublingly similar fashion, that he never sought their consent for violent behavior during sexual encounters. If there is indeed to be nuance in discussions of #MeToo, shouldnt women be given the same opportunities as men to speak about what happened? (The glaring imbalance may have caused the NYRB to part ways with Ian Buruma, though the circumstances of his Wednesday departure remain unclear as of this writing.)

If Ghomeshi intended his essay to prepare for his return to public life, he will be disappointed by the outrage with which it has been met instead. Perhaps that is because his writing doesnt suggest he has spent much time thinking about how his actions have affected his colleagues at the CBC or the women he dated over the years. There is no hint of concern about how their private and professional lives may have been upended. His focus is on everything he has lost. As a confessional narrative, its so focused on redemption that it skips over atonement.

The confessional narrative works well in fiction because there are no victims. Readers can approach the plot with detachment and can engage in the intellectual and imaginative exercise of seeing the world through the eyes of a range of characters, including predators. In the real world, however, there are victims and they too ought to be given the opportunity to tell their own stories. I happen to believe that everyone makes mistakes. None of us are perfect creatures. But in order to receive forgiveness, one has to seek it first. And that begins with letting the women who have been silenced for so long tell their own stories.

Laila Lalami is the author of The Moors Account, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.

UPDATES:

12:00 p.m This article was updated to reflect the departure of New York Review of Books editor Ian Buruma on Wednesday, Sept. 19.When the CalPERS Board of Administration comes together for its regular three-day monthly meeting starting Monday, the agenda will include the annual performance review for the pension funds chief executive, Marcie Frost.

This wont be any ordinary review. Or to put it bluntly, it shouldnt be an ordinary review.

Thats because questions have been raised publicly about Frosts educational experience. Frost doesnt have a college degree, but thats not the issue; its whether, when she was recruited and interviewed for her job, she misrepresented her enrollment in a higher-education program aimed at garnering her baccalaureate and masters degrees.

The board seems poised to examine Frosts performance behind closed doors, as a personnel matter. But the California Public Employees Retirement System manages $360 billion in pension assets for 1.9 million workers and health coverage for 1.4 million workers and their families. When its board turns its attention to Frosts performance or whether her current wage of $387,000 should be raised or reduced, it owes these members a full, public accounting of its considerations.

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Ive been clear from the start that I dont have a college degree. CalPERS CEO Marcie Frost

Clearly the board needs to address this issue, says Margaret Brown, a CalPERS board member. Brown says shell ask that the issue be placed on the public agenda for the meeting.

The questions about Frosts background were initially aired by Susan Webber on her financial blog nakedcapitalism.com. Webber has covered CalPERS aggressively, including its botched hiring of former Chief Financial Officer Charles Asubonten, who was bounced from his post earlier this year when it emerged that his resume was full of holes (an episode that occurred entirely on Frosts watch). The questions Webber raises are legitimate. As was the case with Asubonten, CalPERS needs to confront them directly and in detail  for its own credibility and the benefit of its members.

It has never been a secret that Frost, who was named CEO in July 2016 after a stint as director of the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, doesnt have a college education. A degree wasnt listed as prerequisite when the job was posted, and CalPERS officials who participated in the hiring process say Frost didnt claim to have one. Frost was hired, the officials say, on the basis of her record as a Washington public pension executive.

But in the announcement of her hiring, CalPERS stated that Frost was pursuing dual bachelors and masters degree in public administration from Evergreen State College in Olympia, Wash. Evergreen is known for its unconventional approach to academics. Evergreen administrators say, however, that the college doesnt offer a program for a dual bachelors and masters degree in public administration.

One can get a bachelors degree at Evergreen, and one subsequently can apply for its masters in public administration program, according to administrators at the school. But a single program that leads to both degrees doesnt exist.

CalPERS officials also told me that Frost had enrolled in a prior learning from experience program at Evergreen, in which credits toward a degree can be earned from workplace experience. But Evergreen says thats applicable to bachelors degrees only, not graduate-level programs.

Participants in the prior learning program are required to take two writing courses. CalPERS spokesman Wayne Davis says Frost enrolled in the courses in 2010 but didnt submit any writing samples before her career took off in Washington and she abandoned the effort.

CalPERS officials plainly would like to put these questions behind them, arguing that since Frost has been in place for two years and earned high marks as CEO, there should be no big deal about her educational credentials.

In a sense, thats true. College diplomas dont come with guarantees of their holders ability. Plenty of people without any formal education have made important contributions to their chosen fields and society at large; by the same token, not a few graduates of our most distinguished institutions of higher learning have led entirely discreditable careers.

In an emailed statement, Frost told me, Ive been clear from the start that I dont have a college degree. During her interviews with the executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles and members of the CalPERS board, she says, I discussed my education and educational goals. She says she concluded that she couldnt act as CalPERS CEO while still pursuing her college education.

Davis says Frost told Heidrick & Struggles that she had enrolled at Evergreen in 2010, and still harbored the goal of receiving her diplomas. Yet if Frost inaccurately suggested at any point along the line that she was enrolled in a program that doesnt exist, thats a serious matter calling her integrity into question. (Even business executives with long tenures at the top and distinguished records of accomplishment have lost or given up their jobs for padding their resumes.)

CalPERS has tied itself up in knots trying to deflect concerns about Frosts background. The funds communications staff say they blame themselves for any confusion. I take accountability for whats in that press release, Davis says.

But thats not an acceptable answer. Its implausible that the communications office simply fabricated the assertion that Frost was pursuing a dual bachelors and masters degree at Evergreen in 2016. More recently, the communications office has pointed a finger at Heidrick & Struggles. According to a document Webber reproduced, Heidrick & Struggles informed CalPERS in 2016 that Frost was currently matriculated in a dual degree program for a bachelors and masters degree at Evergreen. But where did that impression come from?

A Heidrick spokesman declined to comment about that. But its hardly unreasonable to conjecture that the claim that Frost was enrolled as of 2016 in a nonexistent dual program came from Frost herself.

Another mystery is how the claim persisted so long in public, if it was not true. On the CalPERS website, the claim appeared on Frosts bio page as recently as Dec. 19; the bio was subsequently revised to remove the reference. It also appeared on the archived version of the press release announcing Frosts appointment until Tuesday, when we brought the language to CalPERS attention.

Davis says Frost did not see Heidricks report to the board, and that she asked for the claim about Evergreen be removed from her bio in early 2017; that didnt happen for reasons that are unexplained. The error was caught during a routine review later in the year, Davis says.

Several members of the CalPERS board have spoken up in Frosts defense. Says Richard Costigan, who sits on the CalPERS board ex officio as a representative of the State Personnel Board and participated in Frosts job interviews, Im still trying to figure out what the issue is, other than this press release that talks about pursuing the dual degree.

Costigan says he has been blown away by Frosts performance on the job. In Sacramento I hear from legislators, policymakers and interest groups all the time about CalPERS and I only hear great things about her.

On Tuesday, the pension fund circulated a letter of support signed by 27 CalPERS division chiefs attesting that it is refreshing and reassuring to have a CEO who is sensitive to and supportive of the staff and condemning the divisive personal attacks in the media.

Read the letter of support for CalPERS CEO Marcie Frost 

But the questions raised about Frost arent attacks on the CalPERS staff or its mission. Nor has Frosts tenure been spotless. The Asubonten case was a spectacular failure in governance, if not a demonstration of pure incompetence, and the responsibility belongs to Frost.

Asubonten took office as CalPERS chief financial officer in September 2017; the press release announcing his hiring said that most recently, he was the managing director in a private equity firm. Any reasonable due diligence performed before he was hired surely would have revealed that he didnt have all the experience he claimed and that the experience he did have didnt come close to qualifying him to be the CFO of the largest public pension fund in the country. The private equity firm was a mail drop outside Washington, D.C., and he had bestowed the title of managing director on himself.

When questions had first emerged about Asubontens background in April (thanks to Webber), Frost gave him an unconditional endorsement. In a phone conversation with me, she said, We thought Charles would be an excellent candidate, and over the last five months that has proven to be exactly true.

CalPERS subsequently determined that Asubonten had misrepresented his work history and earnings, and let him go in May. What still hasnt been revealed is how CalPERS, under Frost, managed to overlook misrepresentations hiding in plain sight.

There are signs of emerging discontent with the shifting stories about Frosts hiring. Terrence J. McGuire, who represented the office of then-State Controller John Chiang on the CalPERS board for nearly eight years, wrote to board members earlier this month that he has grown concerned that the Board may overlook the issues that were uncovered. That would be a travesty for the organization.

McGuire, who is retired, told me the board is ignoring the point that she created the perception that she was undertaking efforts to get her degree. If that wasnt true, it needs to be documented, he says. Hes right. A board with a lively sense of its professional responsibilities would take steps to bring all the facts into the open, not circle the wagons. CalPERS long has stood for good corporate governance. Its board should do no less than what it expects of the companies in its portfolio.

Keep up to date with Michael Hiltzik. Follow @hiltzikm on Twitter, see his Facebook page, or email michael.hiltzik@latimes.com.

Return to Michael Hiltziks blog.The European Unions antitrust cop has taken an aggressive lead in regulating U.S. tech giants in recent years. But with its latest query into Amazon.com Inc., the EU is echoing the views of a 29-year-old legal scholar across the Atlantic.

EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said Wednesday that her department had begun a preliminary probe into whether data that the e-commerce giant collects from retailers that sell on its site gives Amazon an edge in marketing its own products to customers and squeezing out more sales as a result.

Vestager said the EU was looking into the issue because it came up in a broad e-commerce sector investigation concluded last year, but also because this is also what a lot of people are talking about by now, so we do the follow-up.

And to a large degree, Lina Khan, an academic fellow at Columbia University Law School, helped shape that debate.

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As a student at Yale Law School, Khan wrote a paper for the Yale Law Journal called Amazons Antitrust Paradox, which argues that the current antitrust enforcement framework is ill-equipped to tackle Amazons dominance and the potential harm it poses to competition. Her work was cited by the head of the Justice Departments antitrust division, Makan Delrahim, in a speech in April as an example of fresh thinking on digital platforms.

Khan has highlighted what the EU cited Wednesday as a preliminary concern: that Amazon can exploit information it collects about third-party sellers to better compete against them. At a press conference in Brussels, Vestager noted Amazons dual role as a platform for retailers to sell their goods as well as a merchant in its own right. That position makes Amazon privy to data about the customers of retailers it competes with.

The question here is about the data Amazon collects from smaller merchants on its site, Vestager said. Do you then also use this data to do your own calculations, as to what is the new big thing, what is it that people want, what kind of offers do they like to receive, what makes them buy things? That has made us start a preliminary investigation, she said.

Khans ideas on Amazon fit into a broader movement, dubbed hipster antitrust. That movement is led by a small group of policy wonks who are encouraging tougher competition enforcement by the U.S. government and looking to return antitrust policy to its early 20th century roots  when regulators went after monopolies in railroads and oil  to take on new corporate giants, particularly in the tech sector.

Similar to Vestagers concerns, Khan says Amazons current business structure presents a conflict of interest that stems from how it competes with the same companies that depend on its platform to reach consumers. That dynamic allows Amazon to solidify dominance and thwart competition, she said.

Amazon uses its marketplace as a petri dish to identify which independent sellers goods are doing well and then rolls out direct replicas, Khan said in an interview Wednesday. That lets Amazon appropriate rewards from the risks that independent sellers take on, she added.

In a forthcoming paper in the Columbia Law Review, Khan argues for separating Amazons business of selling its own products and its business as a platform used by other retailers. Such a structural fix isnt radical, she insists, and has been used in other industries.

We should recover this principle for dominant tech platforms that serve as critical intermediaries, she said.

The hipster antitrust movement is resonating due to the dominance of technology firms and evidence that markets are more concentrated and less competitive, said Maurice Stucke, a law professor at the University of Tennessee, who has written about big data and competition policy.

You see this evolution in thinking around how data can provide a competitive advantage, said Stucke.

While Vestager and the EU in general have long taken a more aggressive approach to regulating data and tech companies more broadly, Washington is also starting to wonder if it should take a fresh look at how it defines competition and antitrust. The new chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, Joe Simons, has said one of his key goals is to examine the online economy and whether tech giants such as Google, Facebook and Amazon are undermining competition.

The debate surrounding antitrust scrutiny for Amazon has also picked up steam because the company has come under fire in recent months from U.S. President Trump, who has accused the company of crushing small businesses, violating anti-monopoly laws, dodging taxes and taking advantage of the U.S. Postal Service.

On the opposite end of the political spectrum, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has taken aim at the e-commerce giant for underpaying its warehouse workers and treating them poorly.

Amazon has said Sanders has made inaccurate and misleading accusations about wages and benefits and has said the Postal Service makes money from its packages because the company does most of the processing itself.

Amazon has already been in the powerful EU antitrust regulators crosshairs, but has so far come out relatively unscathed.

The EU ordered the Seattle-based company in 2017 to repay Luxembourg 250 million euros ($294 million at the time) in allegedly unpaid taxes, a pittance compared to the 13 billion euros the regulator ordered Apple Inc. to pay back. Amazon also escaped fines in a 2016 EU settlement over e-book contracts with publishers.

By contrast, search powerhouse Google has been mired in antitrust investigations in Europe for almost 10 years and has been hit with record fines of 4.3 billion euros.

Drozdiak and McLaughlin write for Bloomberg.Jeff Bezos will invest just over $1 billion next year in Blue Origins New Glenn rocket program, and the company will fly people to space this coming year, the Amazon.com Inc. chief executive said Wednesday.

Speaking during a keynote address at the Air Force Assn.s Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Md., Bezos said a big team of people is working on the rockets development. The Kent, Wash., company has said the rocket will be available in two- and three-stage versions, and has already netted several commercial satellite launch orders.

The rockets BE-4 engine test program is also going very well, Bezos said. The engine, which will be propelled by liquefied natural gas and liquid oxygen, is being considered for use in the first stage of the next generation Vulcan Centaur rocket under development by a joint venture of Lockheed Martin Corp. and Boeing Co. known as United Launch Alliance.

Analysts have said New Glenn could compete with the likes of Hawthorne-based SpaceX and ULA for national security launch contracts, as well as commercial orders.

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Blue Origin opened a 650,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Florida and has been constructing its launch pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The two represent a total investment of about $1 billion, Bezos said Wednesday.

In addition to satellite launch contracts, Blue Origin expects to generate revenue through space tourism with its New Shepard launch vehicle and crew capsule. Well be putting people in space this coming year, Bezos said.

The company has already conducted a number of tests of the system, though ticket prices for the suborbital flight have not been announced.

samantha.masunaga@latimes.com

Twitter: @smasunagaDanske Bank, the largest financial institution in Denmark, is at the center of yet another European money-laundering scandal.

And at the epicenter is its tiny Estonian unit, which the bank reported on Wednesday handled as much as $234 billion of funds from 2007 to 2015  a figure thats almost nine times the Baltic nations gross domestic product.

A big chunk of those money flows may involve laundering, the banks chairman admitted in a broadcast interview.

The lead investigator today has informed that he believes theres reason to believe that a large part [of the $234 billion] potentially can be classified as suspicious, Chairman Ole Andersen said on Bloomberg Television.

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The remarks by Andersen indicate that the scandal appears to be far larger than thought. Previous criminal complaints suggested that some $9.1 billion in illicit funds, mostly from Russia, were laundered in the eight-year period.

Thomas Borgen, 54, the banks chief executive, stepped down Wednesday in the wake of a bank-issued report on the scandal, and Andersen, 62, hinted that he may leave as well once the case has been brought to an end.

Danske is the latest in a string of big European banks tainted by money-laundering scandals, prompting authorities in the bloc to look into tougher regulatory measures.

Deutsche Bank was fined almost $700 million last year for helping wealthy Russians move about $10 billion out of their country. ING Group this month agreed to pay about $900 million to settle a laundering case.

Meanwhile, the Danish government and central bank are both warning that Danskes involvement in laundering could hurt the reputation of Denmarks entire financial system. S&P Global Ratings even said the case might end up affecting Denmarks AAA credit rating.

Rasmus Jarlov, Denmarks business minister and the man in charge of overseeing financial legislation in Danskes home market, said Wednesday that the bank is potentially facing a fine of as much as $630 million if found guilty.

Analysts surveyed by Bloomberg have estimated that Danskes total price tag may total even more, about $800 million in fines.

The scandal has triggered widespread indignation across Denmark, where corruption is generally perceived to be low and transparency high.

Official investigations are ongoing in Denmark and Estonia, and Danish media reported last month that the U.S. government is also looking at the case.

The bank said that its review of transactions at the Estonian unit between 2007 and 2015 covers about 15,000 accounts, of which roughly 6,200 have the highest risk indicators. The bank said almost all of these customers have been reported to the authorities.

Still, analysts and investors said Danskes report Wednesday left a lot of key questions unanswered.

Danske said it cant provide an accurate number for how much dirty money it may have laundered. But the $234-billion estimate of total flows through its Estonian unit raises major questions about how serious management was about preventing money laundering.

The report unfortunately does not draw a line under the issue as we had hoped, analysts at Citi Research wrote in a client note.

At Jefferies, analysts took heart that the bank didnt refer to any sanctions violations, which is a relief given concerns of an investigation by U.S. authorities. Its unclear what the basis of any fine is at present, Jefferies said.

But investors were not pleased. Shares in Danske fell more than 8% in the Danish capital, bringing losses this year to 32%. Since its latest peak in May 2017, Danskes market value has plunged by about $14 billion.

Borgen, who was promoted to run the bank in 2013, will continue in his job until a replacement is found. Danske did not give any indication of how long that might take.

It is clear that Danske Bank has failed to live up to its responsibility in the case of possible money laundering in Estonia, Borgen said in a statement. I deeply regret this.After a year and a half of negotiations and protests, the Disneyland Resort has reached a tentative contract agreement with the union that represents about 2,700 hotel workers.

The agreement reached early Tuesday by the leadership of Unite Here Local 11 and Disney management would raise the starting salary to a minimum of $15 an hour, up from $13.25, and pay workers a $1,000 bonus that was promised after the Republican tax plan was approved last year.

The workers are scheduled to vote on the four-year contract Friday, Saturday and Sunday. If approved, the contract would take effect Sept. 24.

We are pleased to have reached a tentative agreement with Unite Here Local 11 that provides a 40% increase in minimum wages for our cast members over the next two years, Disneyland Resort spokeswoman Liz Jaeger said.

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The contract will pay housekeepers at least $15.80 an hour, she said.

In addition to raising the minimum wage, the new agreement includes fair workloads for housekeepers and a new, affordable health insurance option, according to union officials who declined to provide more details pending the membership vote.

The unions for Disneyland Resort workers have been aggressively pushing Disney management to increase pay and benefits over the last year or so.

In February, a study commissioned by the unions was released, showing that 73% of employees questioned said they dont earn enough to pay for such expenses as rent, food and gas. The study of workers at Disneyland and California Adventure Park also said that 11% of resort employees have been homeless or have not had a place of their own in the last two years. Disney officials called the study inaccurate and unscientific.

Earlier this year, union members also collected about 20,000 signatures to place a measure on the Nov. 6 ballot in Anaheim that requires all large hospitality companies that accept a tax subsidy to pay a living wage.

Union leaders say the measure, if passed by a majority of voters, applies to the Disneyland Resort because it is benefiting from a 1996 bond agreement approved by Anaheim to build a six-story resort parking garage. Business leaders in Anaheim say the measure does not apply to the resort.

If the measure is passed, the wage increases called for in the initiative would supersede the union contracts of those companies in Anaheim that accept a tax subsidy.

hugo.martin@latimes.com

To read more about the travel and tourism industries, follow @hugomartin on Twitter.President Trump built his trade policy on an obsession with cutting fat U.S. deficits with China, Mexico, Europe and others.

But for weeks, Trump has barely mentioned that once-singular economic focus. No tweets about trade deficits since July. And the subject was conspicuously missing from his 371-word statement Monday announcing new tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports.

The reason? U.S. trade deficits have soared since he took office, driven up by strong consumer spending but also by the blizzard of tariffs he unleashed to lower deficits. Eager to avoid anticipated higher prices, American businesses have responded to tariffs by ramping up imports from China and elsewhere.

The overall U.S. trade deficit rose 10% last year to $552 billion, after being flat the prior two years. The deficit surged another 7% this year through July.

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Theres no good answer for him; thats why hes not talking about it, said Derek Scissors, an economist at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, referring to the large and growing negative U.S. trade balance.

Trump addressed the rising trade deficit at a news conference Tuesday.

I watch trade deficits because to me, deficits are very important, Trump said. But then he added a rare note of skepticism about deficits. Theyre not everything, and theyre not exact, he said. Sometimes you can have  a deficit and thats not such a bad thing.

And at least in the short term, deficits are likely to keep growing. Stronger economic growth, boosted in part by tax cuts, has given people more money to buy imported things, and American companies will keep trying to hedge against more and higher tariffs to come.

Everybody in their right mind is thinking about how they can get products to the U.S. and store them, said Matt Priest, president of the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America.

Shoes were excluded from the administrations list of about 6,000 Chinese-made goods that beginning Monday will be subject to 10% tariffs, rising to 25% in January. But Trump has threatened to slap duties on another $267 billion worth of Chinese goods. If that happens, footwear and virtually every other product from China will be hit with tariffs because annual imports from China total about $505 billion.

China this week responded by announcing tariffs on $60 billion in U.S. imports.

Economists agree that the U.S. has long been running trade deficits chiefly due to trends involving national savings rates and investments. As such, they say its misguided to regard the rise and fall of trade deficits as a scorecard on economic health or trade relations with any single country, as Trump tends to do.

The U.S. trade deficit in goods with China surged to $376 billion last year and is running 9% higher through July. Thats even with exports growing as fast as imports, thanks in part to U.S. soybean farmers rushing shipments to China to avoid retaliatory tariffs from Beijing.

Trump has been railing about Americas trade deficit for decades, going back to the 1980s when Japan was Americas biggest trade problem, not China. Some economists see the U.S. deficit as a symptom of U.S. industrial weakness, but even they would take issue with the way Trump has presented the trade balance as a kind of win or loss figure, however simple that may be for people to grasp.

The debate isnt just academic. Trumps tariffs and other nations counter-tariffs could eventually shrink overall trade, but not necessarily the deficit. Past experience has shown that tariffs on imports from certain countries often result in different nations simply filling the gap, with little effect on the deficit or U.S. production and jobs

Trumps fixation with the deficit also seems to have both confused and steered earlier negotiations with China and other parties. In a previous round of talks, Beijing thought it had a deal that would satisfy Trumps desire to cut the deficit as it offered to buy a lot more U.S. soybeans, liquid gas and other American products, only to have Trump later nix it.

With Trump more recently having toned down his fiery rhetoric about massive deficits, it may have become easier for administration officials to convey a clearer message to Beijing about what the U.S. is seeking from China: real reforms that would address systemic problems involving protection of intellectual property, market access for American firms and other state-controlled mercantilist policies, in compliance with Beijings World Trade Organization commitments.

Craig Allen, president of the U.S.-China Business Council, said there has been an evolution of thinking on China from the Trump administration. But now, he said, I have no doubt that the Chinese side is clear about what the U.S. expectations are. The challenge, he added, is whether the two sides will sit down and translate the American demands to concrete actions.

Despite the new tariffs and threats of more to come, Trump seemed to offer some optimism that a deal could be cut. Were making a lot of headway with China, he said. China wants to come over and talk, and we are always open to talking.

Andy Rothman, an investment strategist at Matthews Asia in San Francisco, thinks the Chinese still dont know for sure what Trump wants.

Whether Trump is still focused on the deficit or on other systemic issues may not make that much difference in the end, said Rothman, who was a former economic officer at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing.

When I look at the deals [Trumps] made with Mexico, South Korea and the EU, things that have been previously described as core issues, whether deficits or not, were not addressed, he said. It really comes down to: Does President Trump want to make a deal?

The latest from Washington 

More stories from Don Lee 

don.lee@latimes.com

Follow me at @dleelatimesThe Sunday opening of artist lauren woods American Monument at the University Art Museum at Cal State Long Beach was meant to protest police violence against African Americans. But the event turned into a different sort of public protest, after the recent firing of the museums director, Kimberli Meyer.

The centerpiece of the exhibition is woods interactive sound installation featuring 25 record players, lined up in rows in a gallery, emitting audio ephemera from cases related to African Americans who have died as a result of altercations with police. The audio includes the last voicemail of Sandra Bland to a friend before she died in prison in 2015; sound from the police bodycam footage from the 2016 shooting of Alton Sterling; as well as Philando Castilles girlfriends Facebook Live recording of his death. As visitors made their way through the exhibition, playing the recordings for themselves, the collective sound would commingle in the gallery.

But at the opening, it was silence that made the biggest impact.

During the event, woods (purposefully spelled lower case), welcomed guests and introduced her work before reading what would have been Meyers opening remarks. Then she played an excerpt of the Philando Castille Facebook Live recording before lifting the needle and bringing the audio to a halt. She then read her own statement, calling for Meyers reinstatement, and she switched off nearby turntables. Finally, four project supporters shed enlisted filtered down the aisles, switching off all the remaining record players.

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Silence enveloped the room. The artist then walked out, returning later to retrieve the acetate records.

It was something I felt I had to do, woods says. I dont want anyone to misconstrue that Im putting myself at the center of the work, or Kimberli at the center, but without her leadership, I cant do the work. The university could have made a different choice.

The exhibition, which runs through Dec. 9, is still open, now under woods direction, the museum says. But the sound installation part of it, and the public programming related to the larger exhibition, is paused indefinitely.

They said theyd lost confidence in me and said they didnt need to give me an explanation or tell me why. Kimberli Meyer

Meyer was fired on Sept. 11.

Meyer says that it was sudden and unexpected and that she hasnt been given a proper explanation as to why. She was in her office on campus, she says, and the dean of the College of the Arts, Cyrus Parker-Jeannette, came in for what Meyer had thought would be a regular monthly meeting followed by someone from Human Resources. But they requested her badge, offered a severance check and escorted her out the door, as she recalls.

They said theyd lost confidence in me and said they didnt need to give me an explanation or tell me why, Meyer says. All I can say is that Ive been fired and have been given no reason or cause, so Ive filed an appeal. Im shocked to have been so abruptly removed just days before the launch of Monument, and I just dont understand why.

The university issued a statement on Monday. While I cannot comment on personnel matters, Parker-Jeannette wrote in the statement, I can say this decision was part of a longer-term process. The American Monument project continues at the museum as directed by the artist lauren woods. The installation is designed to provoke open and free discussion. Our campus is a place for civil discourse and artistic expression. American Monument is part of this culture.

In an email to the campus arts community on the day of the firing, Parker-Jeannette called Meyer an asset to the museum and to the university who has helped expand the visibility of the museum in the community.

A display of documents unearthed by Freedom of Information Act requests as part of the American Monument exhibition at University Art Museum at Cal State Long Beach. (Linda Pollack)

Meyer came to University Art Museum at Cal State Long Beach from West Hollywoods MAK Center for Art and Architecture in 2016 with the vision, she says, of making the museums program more social justice oriented. The contemporary art museum organizes about three to four exhibitions a year. Its spring exhibition this year, Robert Irwin: Site Determined, was a survey of more than four decades of the artists planning materials. Its Pacific Standard Time LA/LA exhibition, in 2017, David Lamelas: A Life of Their Own, was the first U.S. monographic exhibition of the Argentine-born artist.

Meyer had hoped to give the program a more political edge, she says.

As director, Meyer says, my vision was to really try and take on the development of an anti-racist museum practice there  structural racism is everywhere, and cultural institutions have power, so how can that power be utilized to disrupt white supremacy? And this was my first big project there.

The exhibition, which is about language, law, violence and race, as the university describes it, takes over all the museums exhibition space and examines the cultural circumstances under which police killings of African Americans take place. While organizing the exhibition over about a year, Meyer, woods and university students spent months compiling documents related to police violence acquired through the Freedom of Information Act. Enlarged versions of some of those documents, including an autopsy diagram and the 911 call chain from the shooting of Tamir Rice, are on view as an integral part of the exhibition.

But we dont think of it as an exhibition, Meyer says. Its a monument, meant to transform the museum into a monument that helps people think about the cultural conditions under which African Americans lose their lives to police brutality. It was conceived as something that grows and moves beyond its first iteration, so its also process based, more work was to be done, more research.

Meyer says the reason for her firing remains the million dollar question.

woods says that she felt the choice to terminate her five days before the launch was an attempt to suffocate what the work was about.

Terri Carbaugh, a spokesperson for the university, says those sentiments are entirely off the mark.

It is important for people to understand that the departure of Kimberli Meyers is unrelated to the exhibits contents, Carbaugh said by email. We view our campus as an ideal place for important  and sometimes difficult  discussions to take place. While Ms. Meyers artistic vision is supported by the College of the Arts, the day-to-day and long-term operation of a university museum demands more.

Meanwhile, woods wrote a letter that will remain on view in the museum for the duration of the period the installation is paused for.

Its paused. Not pulled. But paused, she wrote. Its paused because I am calling for true partnership. I want to offer the university the chance to engage in a restorative process and demonstrate their commitment to the work of antiracism, an impulse that is evident by the choice to hire Kimberli Meyer, who declared upfront that this was the mission and vision for her tenure.

Parker-Jeannette and College of the Arts administrative services manager Chanel Acker will oversee the museum as it searches for a new director.

Meyers appeal, filed with the university on Monday morning, is in process.

I want to give them an opportunity to come back to the table and say, Hey, we do want to support this kind of work,  she says.

deborah.vankin@latimes.com

Follow me on Twitter: @debvankinIf I think that Im in my store in Milan  that I never thought I would have  with one of the most beautiful women in the world, [whom] I designed the collection with, its like a dream come true and I couldnt have asked for more, said Colombian designer Edgardo Osorio while looking at Claudia Schiffer on Tuesday.

Aquazzuras founder and creative director was joined by the German supermodel at the brands Milanese store to celebrate the second drop of the limited-edition Claudia Schiffer for Aquazzura footwear capsule collection.

For fall 2018, it follows the eight shoe styles presented last year at the Hotel dEvreux during Paris Fashion Week, which marked the debut of the partnership.

We were introduced at a dinner and we discovered we have a lot in common, we love the same things and [it was] one of those things where you just click with someone and you know that something is going to work out, recalled Osorio about his first encounter with Schiffer. On her end, the model said she was already admiring the designer and wearing lots of his shoes even before meeting him.

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The first collection [we did] was more of a summer collectionand we didnt have the chance to really explore boots and booties, which is obviously something Claudia loves and wears, continued Osorio.

Claudia Schiffer for Aquazzura. (Aquazzura)

Taking inspiration from the late Eighties and Nineties, the duos latest lineup comprises statement styles including the Bowie knee-high boot with contrasting leopard and tiger-patterned prints; the high-heeled Debbie bootie embellished with buckles and available in black patent leather and silver Lurex, and the Nena Ballet flat in leopard print with studded ankle straps.

In particular, at the launch event Schiffer wore the Nena pump option with an animalier motif, which she paired with a black, tight tulle dress and a leopard-printed clutch.

Claudia Schiffer and Edgardo Osorio (Aquazzura)

Asked about what she looks for in a shoe, Schiffer said, It has to look great and it has to be super comfortable. I never want to suffer in great shoes and all of Edgardos shoes are super comfortable, even the high ones.

If they are great shoes, you shouldnt have to suffer, thats the whole point, echoed the designer. I love women and for me its so important  if you dont feel good, you dont really look good.So for me its very important to have a balance and to mix both. The shoe first needs to be gorgeous because if its not beautiful youre not even going to try it on, but once you are, you want to walk in it, live in it and enjoy it to have a good memory of the shoe and also to come back to buy another pair.

Osorios designs are attracting an increasing number of fans, including a certain actress-turned-Duchess of Sussex who has been seen wearing his heels on multiple occasions, from her engagement announcement to Prince Harry to the widely watched Royal Wedding.

Im the luckiest boy in the world. Honestly, Im just very thankful and it just means I need to work extra hard to keep up [with all this], said Osorio, who said that its wonderful to have incredible women like Claudia [Schiffer] and the Duchess of Sussex wearing the shoes, its been an incredible honor.

But also I have so many friends that whenever I see them, theyre saying: Oh my God, you worked with Aquazzura, how can I meet Edgardo? And its just like I met some rock star. Its amazing, this whole following, Schiffer said.

Asked if there could be any mens style for Prince Harry in the future, Osorio revealed with a smile that he will launch his first mens footwear offering next year, but in a small way.

Its always been my dream to do a little bit of mens. I have launched now the sneaker, which is unisex, but were only selling it for women at the moment. Im hoping that at the beginning of next year we will also sell the mens and maybe something else, thats a surprise, he concluded.

In addition to the womens styles, the brand offers the Aquazzura Mini line for young girls, which debuted in June 2016.

Founded in 2011, the Florence-based footwear label is available in more than 58 countries and counts flagships in locations including London, New York, Miami, Las Vegas, Moscow, Dubai and Sao Paulo, among others.A longstanding plan to build a passenger rail system between Southern California and Las Vegas has a new financial backer, a company operating a privately funded rail project in Florida.

Miami-based Brightline, whose rail service will connect Miami to Orlando by 2022, said Tuesday it had acquired XpressWest, the high-speed rail project that failed to get off the ground over the last decade. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.



For the record: An earlier version of this story incorrectly gave an average speed for the future Brightline train between Barstow and Las Vegas rather than the Victorville and Las Vegas route. It also incorrectly stated that Brightline is currently operational between Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. The line is running between Miami and West Palm Beach.

The company said it would operate between Victorville and Las Vegas on a new track along the 15 Freeway by 2022. Construction would start next year.

Brightline is changing transportation in our country by connecting heavily trafficked corridors that are too long to drive and too short to fly, said Wes Edens, co-founder and co-chief executive of Fortress Investment Group, which backs Brightline. Our experience in Florida is proving that private-sector investment has a meaningful role to play in developing transportation infrastructure.

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Developers and entrepreneurs have proposed a bullet train to ferry gamblers for decades, but grand visions lacked the required capital or government backing to bankroll the concept.

In 2015, XpressWest said it had formed a partnership with China Railway International USA, a consortium led by the national railroad of the Peoples Republic of China. But China never invested in the project.

Brightline says it plans to invest private equity and possibly sell investors so-called private activity bonds that are tax exempt. Fortress Investment controls Brightline through private management funds. Fortress describes itself as a highly diversified global investment manager with approximately $41.4 billion of assets under management.

The model could follow the companys approach in Florida, where speeds are well below international bullet train speeds, costs are held down by avoiding exotic technology and private land takes are avoided. XpressWests plan for a 185-mile electric system was estimated at $7 billion, cheap by comparison to the California High Speed Rail Authoritys $77 billion for 500 miles of track.

But Brightline said it would significantly cut even XpressWests cost, aiming for a reduction of as much as 50%. It could use diesel locomotives. Speeds would be significantly slower. It would pass over major mountains, such as the Baker Grade, rather than through costly tunnels.

The company says its acquisition gives it a fully approved set of plans. But any business proposal probably would have to be modified, particularly if the technology, route or operating plan would undergo significant changes.

Another major question is the right of way. Brightline officials say they would like to go down the median of the 15 Freeway. But Bob Poole, a transportation expert at the Reason Foundation who has studied both the XpressWest and the Brightline systems, questioned whether the state would allow use of the median.

The I-15 is an important interstate freeway and if you take away the median you are precluding the ability to later widen it, Poole said.

Brightline is a sharp contrast to the California bullet train project, which is attempting to build a system that would be among the fastest and most ambitious in the world. The California project has so far only tapped public money and has a more than $50-billion funding shortfall.

Brightline acquired a rail right of way along coastal Florida in 2007 and sold track rights for freight to the mining conglomerate Grupo Mexico. It retained passenger track rights. When its Brightline service is completed, its diesel cars will carry passengers more than 235 miles from Miami to Orlando in about three hours.

At an average speed of 78 mph, the service does not qualify as high-speed rail, though the Federal Railroad Administration has called it higher speed. The advantage of such a design is in the cost  its first phase, which is in operation between Miami and West Palm Beach, is pegged at $1.9 billion.

The company also said Tuesday that it will acquire 38 acres of land along the Las Vegas strip for a station. The land would be west of the Mandalay Bay casino and most likely west of the 15 Freeway.

Brightline trains would take two hours or less to cover the 185 track miles from Victorville to Las Vegas, at an average speed of about 92 mph.

The appeal of a Victorville-to-Las Vegas system remains to be seen. From Victorville, a driver would have another three hours to Las Vegas  meaning the Brightline system might save just an hour of transit time, depending on traffic.

Eventually, company officials said, Brightline hopes to reach further into Southern California, which is not an easy or inexpensive ambition. From Victorville, the 15 Freeway drops more than 3,000 feet through the serpentine Cajon Pass.

The company did not make any passenger estimates.

Nevada and California officials issued encouraging statements about the plan.

The introduction of high-speed rail between Las Vegas to Southern California will bring significant economic and environmental benefits to our state and support increased tourism, said Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval.

California has a vision for a modernized rail network that is fast, clean, and convenient for travelers, and the introduction of Brightline service linking Southern California to Las Vegas will help us achieve that vision, said California State Transportation Agency Secretary Brian Annis.

ralph.vartabedian@latimes.com

Follow me on Twitter @rvartabedianUC Santa Cruz Chancellor George Blumenthal, whose affiliation with the University of California spans a half-century, will retire at the end of the academic year, the university announced Tuesday.

Blumenthals unusual longevity at UC  first as a doctoral student and then as a faculty member and administrator  has made him one of the leaders most knowledgeable about the systems institutional history, politics and culture.

I think the time is right for the campus to have new leadership, Blumenthal, 72, said in an interview. I can leave feeling satisfied that the campus has accomplished a lot and Ive been privileged to lead it.

Blumenthal arrived at Santa Cruz in 1972, he wrote, as a shy 26-year-old with long hair and a full beard after earning his doctorate in physics at UC San Diego. At Santa Cruz, he taught and researched astronomy and astrophysics and also served as chairman of the UC Academic Senate and faculty representative to the UC Board of Regents. In 2007, he was named chancellor after 14 months in an acting role.

He said he was particularly proud of the strides he made as chancellor in advancing diversity, encouraging philanthropy, improving the universitys academic standing and enhancing relationships with officials in the surrounding city and county.

The number of underrepresented minority undergraduates has increased by 50% during his tenure, the university said, and about 4 of every 10 entering freshmen now are the first in their families to attend college.

In 2013, Blumenthal launched the campus first comprehensive fundraising campaign, which raised $35 million more than its $300-million goal.

During his tenure, he said, the campus also has added academic programs and buildings, opened a Silicon Valley satellite campus and invested in a state-of-the-art coastal biology facility.

Although the campus, with its banana slug mascot, often is portrayed as a quirky hippie paradise, Blumenthal said faculty members in recent years have nabbed top international science awards, including the Kavli Prize for astrophysics and the Breakthrough Prize in biology. This month, UC Santa Cruz was named among the nations top 30 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. Times Higher Education, based in London, last year ranked the campus third in the world in research influence based on how many times scholars cited its work.

It really shows were in the big leagues, Blumenthal said.

He has worked to improve town-gown relations, forging a landmark 2008 agreement with local officials and neighbors to resolve longstanding litigation over water, housing and traffic.

The chancellor said he plans to stay on campus to teach, write and serve on university committees.

UC President Janet Napolitano praised Blumenthal for leading Santa Cruz with unstinting passion for the universitys public mission and core values and a sharp intellect, deep engagement, curiosity and wit.

While I wish him the very best, I want to acknowledge this news as bittersweet for the Santa Cruz campus, the larger UC community and for me, personally, Napolitano said in a statement. The list of Georges accomplishments, far too numerous to list here, is a testament to his devotion to a life of learning, teaching and public service.

Napolitano said she plans to convene a committee to conduct a national search for his replacement.

teresa.watanabe@latimes.com

Twitter: @teresawatanabeChristine Blasey Ford, the Northern California psychology professor who has accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault when they were both teenagers, is described by colleagues as a rigorous statistician who doesnt fudge the data or stray from the facts.

One psychiatrist who has collaborated with her on four academic papers told The Times that Ford is a woman of great integrity; another who has known her for more than 10 years described her as calm, measured and scrupulously honest.

Those assessments are certain to be challenged if Ford agrees to testify before the Republican-dominated Senate Judiciary Committee about the night, more than three decades ago, when she says a stumbling-drunk Kavanaugh pinned her to a bed, groped her, ground his body against hers and covered her mouth when she tried to scream.

As of Tuesday evening, committee members were embroiled in a partisan dispute over the timing and conditions of such a hearing.

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Kavanaugh, who was nominated to the Supreme Court by President Trump and has categorically denied Fords accusation, said he is prepared to testify at any time, setting the stage for a heated political drama with the ideological tilt of the nations highest court potentially in the balance.

Ford, a 51-year-old married mother of two, holds a masters degree from Pepperdine University, a masters from Stanford University and a doctorate from the University of Southern California. She is an unlikely star in the national political drama, friends and colleagues said.

Stanford psychiatry professor David Spiegel has known Ford for 14 years and co-wrote academic papers with her on subjects including people who suffered trauma from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the effects of hypnosis on depression.

Spiegel also studies survivors of sexual abuse and said he had been following news about an anonymous claim of sexual misconduct against Kavanaugh. He was shocked when the Washington Post identified Ford on Sunday as the accuser.

I know her to be an honorable, honest, straightforward, decent person. I cant conceive of her doing this for any other reason than she is honestly reporting what shes experienced, Spiegel said of Ford, a Palo Alto University professor who teaches in a consortium at Stanford.

Spiegel, who said he was speaking personally and not on behalf of Stanford, added that Ford is a solid biostatistician and a woman of great integrity.

C. Barr Taylor, a retired Stanford psychiatry professor, said he has known Ford for more than a decade and that she worked with his students to improve the statistical analysis in their dissertations.

Taylor said Fords personality  calm, measured and kind  suits the work she does.

Statistics involves its own ethics of sorts. You cant fudge the data. You cant just try to find things that arent there, Taylor said.

Ford, who declined to speak with a reporter for this story, admitted to the Post that she couldnt remember some key details of the events now at the center of Kavanaughs confirmation.

She believes it was in 1982 when she was 15 and Kavanaugh would have been 17, but shes not certain. She also said she didnt remember how she got to the sparsely attended party, or who owned the house.

But she said she vividly recalls a drunk Kavanaugh and another teenage boy forcing her into a bedroom while loud music was playing. Thats when she alleges Kavanaugh pinned her to the bed and began what she described as an attempted rape.

The ordeal ended when the other boy, who was also very intoxicated, piled on top, sending all three tumbling to the floor, she said.

Ford said she was able to escape to a nearby bathroom and lock the door behind her until Kavanaugh and the other boy stumbled back downstairs.

The other student, identified as Mark Judge in media reports, has strenuously denied the allegation. He has declined to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee, and his attorney, Barbara Van Gelder, said on Tuesday he is not talking publicly at this time.

The trauma of the experience left Ford troubled for years, unable to form healthy relationships with men, according to the Washington Post article. She had been married to her husband for a decade before he heard the details of the incident during a couples therapy session in 2012, the paper reported.

Jim Gensheimer, who has been friends with Ford and her family for several years, said she confided to him and another friend over lunch on July 11, telling them she was communicating with the Post and was deeply concerned her name would eventually become public.

Gensheimer, a freelance photographer who previously worked for the San Jose Mercury News, said he explained to her how journalistic ethics forbid identifying confidential sources without approval.

Ford, he said, was torn. She felt it her civic duty to come forward but worried that it would have no effect on the confirmation process, Gensheimer said. At the same time, he said, she was worried about ruining Kavanaughs career and was open to the idea that people can change.

He noted that she had resisted purchasing a home without a second exit from the master bedroom.

Obviously, something happened that traumatized her so much that shes afraid of being trapped, Gensheimer said.

Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa), chairman of the Judiciary Committee, which had appeared ready to confirm Kavanaughs nomination, has issued a letter signed by 65 women who say they knew Kavanaugh when he attended Georgetown Prep, a private boys high school in Rockville, Md. The letter says Kavanaugh behaved honorably and treated women with respect.

Days later, hundreds of women who attended Fords alma mater, the all-girls Holton-Arms School, signed a public letter declaring, We believe Dr. Blasey Ford and are grateful that she came forward to tell her story. Seinfeld and Veep actor Julia Louis-Dreyfus, class of 1979, said on Twitter she was among the signatories.

The public opinion circus is what friends say Ford feared when she debated coming forward in July after Kavanaugh was named as a possible replacement for retiring Justice Anthony M. Kennedy.

While the details of her personal life and politics will raise few eyebrows in progressive California, Ford is, in many ways, the perfect foil for conservative doubters: a registered Democrat who has given small donations to liberal causes, has joined at least two anti-Trump marches and teaches in the San Francisco Bay Area. She also eats organic and drives a hybrid, according to a published report.

But Ted Jenkins, who has lived next door to the Fords for more than a decade, said he was confident his neighbor would withstand the spotlight.

Shes believable, Jenkins said.

Times staff writers James Queally, Sarah D. Wire and Laura Newberry contributed to this report.

jack.dolan@latimes.com

Follow on Twitter at @JackDolanLATA San Diego woman known to her dark web customers as the Drug Llama has been arrested on charges of shipping more than 50,000 fentanyl pills throughout the country, authorities said Tuesday.

Though the charges against Melissa Scanlan stem from a federal grand jury indictment in Illinois, the 31-year-old woman is also being investigated in connection with two overdose deaths closer to home.

Scanlan is suspected of selling fentanyl that killed a 10-month-old boy and a woman in San Diego County in separate instances last September, said Assistant U.S. Atty. Sherri Hobson.

In one case, Scanlan is suspected of selling fentanyl to a father who then allegedly left the drugs within reach of his infant. The baby was found unresponsive in bed with his parents.

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The second overdose victim was a 41-year-old woman.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that has invaded the nations drug supply because it is cheap to make, easy to procure and extremely potent  up to 50 times stronger than heroin. It is also extremely deadly, especially if a user is not accustomed to its strength or takes a concentrated dose. A fatal dose of pure fentanyl can be the equivalent of a pinch of salt.

According to the investigation, the fentanyl in this case was smuggled from Mexico, sold via the dark web and shipped in the mail  all tactics that have been commonly used to distribute the drug to customers in the United States in recent years as the demand for opioids has exploded.

The federal charges are the result of a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration undercover operation in both San Diego and St. Louis, Hobson said. Other investigating agencies include the Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Department of Homeland Security.

From April to July, agents purchased nine items from the Drug Llama on the dark webs hottest underground marketplace, known as Dream Market. Her specialty was fentanyl pills, called pressed blues, which were disguised as oxycodone and stamped with M30, Hobson said.

When authorities searched her San Diego home last month, she admitted to obtaining the pills from a Mexican cartel, Hobson said. The indictment alleges she trafficked fentanyl since at least Oct. 1, 2016.

The indictment charges her with distributing more than 400 grams of fentanyl, but Hobson told a San Diego federal judge on Monday during a detention hearing that she was responsible for shipping more than 50,000 pills.

Pressed blues were not the only product on the menu. Hobson said the Drug Llama also offered genuine oxycodone, amphetamine, morphine, Percocet, temazepam, flexeril and an opiate powder pack.

The key to linking Scanlan to the sales rested in the return address on the parcels shipped to the undercover agents, Hobson said. The sender was listed as Samantha Cooper  a fake identity that turned out to be the names of Scanlans two dogs, Hobson said. The address traced back to an old business of hers, Hobson said.

Agents looking into a related PayPal account also discovered thousands of transactions linked to the drug sales, Hobson said.

When one undercover agent reached out to the Drug Llama in late July for an order, she boasted she could sell 100 to 500 pills at a time, Hobson said. But the seller did not want to meet in person, and instead offered to mail it, Hobson said.

Scanlan was arrested in early August on state drug charges after a search warrant was executed at her home. She was released from custody a few weeks later and proceeded to go to Mexico to negotiate two new deliveries of fentanyl  believed to be 500 pills each  to her house, Hobson said. Scanlan also redirected her customers to another dark web marketplace, Hobson said.

She was arrested on the Illinois charges Sept. 4. The charges include accusations that she conspired with others to distribute the drugs, that she misbranded drugs and that she was part of an international money-laundering conspiracy, according to court records.

Hobson argued to the San Diego judge on Monday that Scanlan was a flight risk and also a danger. Scanlan is about five months pregnant and was continuing to engage in criminal conduct, she said.

Scanlans attorney in San Diego could not be reached for comment Tuesday evening.

Online, Scanlan describes herself as a young professional that specializes in Operations Management for Start-up, Small, and Mid-Size Business.

Her past employment includes IriSys, a San Diego pharmaceutical product development and manufacturing service, according to her LinkedIn profile. Her duties there included ordering raw materials and managing overhead costs, resulting in reduced costs by 62% over two years, she said.

Her latest venture is Luxury Carbon Fiber, a business that ingeniously designs and manufactures Carbon Fiber products for the Modern Gentleman,  according to its Crowdfunder.com site. Advertised products include money clips, leather business card holders and laptop cases.

Hobson said that in many of the parcels sent to the undercover agents, fentanyl pills were contained in the same kind of leather pouches.

Davis writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune.Los Angeles, one of the worlds major fashion centers and long a symbol of glitz and glamour, is taking steps to ban the sale of new fur products, a move that would make it the largest city in the U.S. to do so.

A proposal to ban the sale of fur products advanced in the City Council on Tuesday. The council voted unanimously to direct the city attorney to draft an ordinance that will prohibit the manufacture and sale of new fur products. The ordinance must be presented to the council at a future date for final approval.

This is something that is not just a good legislative win, its a moral win, Councilman Bob Blumenfield said. We feel like were evolving as a city, as people, to stop this kind of unnecessary cruelty.

The vote also directed the city attorney to report back to the council on several issues, including how fur apparel is utilized by religious organizations, and possible exemptions, as well as potential conflicts with federal and state laws relating to sale of fur products derived from legally trapped animals.

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A ban would take effect two years after final approval of the ordinance.

The ban would cover apparel made in whole or in part of fur, including clothing, handbags, shoes, hats, earmuffs, jewelry and keychains. Only used fur products could be sold.

Councilmen Blumenfield and Paul Koretz submitted the motion.

Emek Echo holds a No fur sign during the Los Angeles City Council meeting. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Blumenfield said theres no reason to wear fur in 2018. Certainly not in sunny Los Angeles, he said.

Theres nothing humane about raising an animal and killing it for unnecessary vanity, Koretz said.

The effort to ban the sale of fur products in Los Angeles is part of a national movement, said Christina Sewell, campaign manager at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Millions of these animals are killed in the fur industry every year, and were just slowly chipping away at this  here in the United States, and we wont stop until every city in the U.S. is completely fur free, Sewell said.

Neighboring West Hollywood along with Berkeley and San Francisco already have fur bans, although their ordinances differ in some specifics. West Hollywoods law was changed to exempt fur from animals that are legally trapped under state law.

Major fashion companies, including Michael Kors, Armani and Gucci, have also moved away from using fur. This month, Burberry said it would stop selling real fur.

Activists condemn the fur industry as inhumane, contending that the animals are subject to brutal conditions and meet torturous deaths. A number of celebrities, including actresses Maggie Q and Joanna Krupa, as well as No Doubt bassist Tony Kanal, joined the news conference outside Los Angeles City Hall to support the ban before the unanimous vote.

Keith Kaplan, spokesman for the Fur Information Council of America, a trade group for manufacturers and fur merchants, denied the accusations and said the City Council motion is being put forward on the basis of lies and false studies.

A fur ban in the city could have an economic impact, Kaplan said Monday.

Theres a lot of fur sold in L.A. Its in over 500 designer collections, its on shoes, its on handbags, he said. So yes, it will have an impact on jobs, it will have an impact on tax revenues.

Retail fur sales globally accounted for $35.8 billion, and the fur industry employed more than 1 million people in 2014, the latest year that figures were available from the industry, Kaplan said.

Koretz said the ban would clearly disrupt the industry, but the phase-out period will allow a smoother transition. Its overdue, and we have to do it today, and I think we will set an example for the rest of the country and the rest of the world, he said.Two weeks after a gunman in Parkland, Fla., zigzagged from one classroom to another in his former high school, killing 17 people, a Beverly Hills High employee dialed 911 to report a stranger mumbling to himself and following her as she left campus.

Police confiscated a loaded handgun in the mans glove box and arrested him. But they felt compelled to do more. What if he was a copycat killer inspired by the Parkland shooting and obtained another gun after posting bail? Beverly Hills officers decided to try something theyd never done before and persuaded a judge to temporarily bar the man from having guns.

It was a successful use of a legal tool that proponents believe will help reduce gun violence as more members of the public and law enforcement learn about it.

In 2016, California became the first state in the nation to allow family members, roommates and police officers to ask a judge to block individuals believed to be dangerous from having firearms for up to a year. The legislation followed a 2014 mass shooting in Isla Vista, near UC Santa Barbara. Relatives of the gunman, Elliot Rodger, had previously alerted authorities to his potential danger.

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But so far, the gun violence restraining orders have been rarely used. Fewer than 200 were issued across the state during the laws first two years on the books, according to the state Department of Justice. With 32, Los Angeles County had the most, but some smaller counties, such as Santa Barbara and San Diego, had higher rates for their size with 21 and 18, respectively. Several counties had none.

(Los Angeles Times)

Gun rights advocates say there are other ways to flag unstable individuals to the police and argue the law violates the 2nd Amendment and due process rights.

As it stands, with so few orders issued, supporters recognize an urgency to better promote the law if it is to have a wide-scale effect.

Los Angeles City Atty. Mike Feuer, who held a news conference in 2016 touting the measure as a life-saving tool and vowing to fight for its success, acknowledged the low numbers.

The paucity of (orders) here in Los Angeles leads me to believe additional training will be very helpful, he said. His office has led two educational sessions about the tool and helped with a website that offers instructions on how to obtain a restraining order. He also recently contacted Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore and Los Angeles School Police Chief Steve Zipperman about doing in-person training sessions with officers.

CALIFORNIA POLITICS: The latest news 

Awareness is key, agreed Santa Clara County Supervising Deputy Dist. Atty. Marisa McKeown, one of the states leading experts on the restraining orders.

Its underutilized, she said.

While big money goes into passing legislation, theres often less capital put toward educating the public once it becomes law, McKeown said.

Even members of law enforcement struggle to keep up with the states evolving gun laws. McKeown learned about the gun restraining orders by chance in 2016, after receiving an urgent call from a police investigator in Campbell, a city southwest of San Jose. Authorities there had received a tip about a man with a truck full of guns who was driving toward his job at an auto shop. Police had reviewed text messages the man sent soon after a sniper killed five Dallas police officers. In one message, the man said to watch the news, adding that he planned to do worse with his guns.

I want to do a gun restraining order thing, the officer told McKeown.

I dont know what youre talking about, she responded.

Google it, the officer said.

The prosecutor hung up and began to research. There was a new law, she realized, and this seemed the perfect opportunity to use it.

After the man was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and his eight guns, including an AR-15-style rifle, were seized using a restraining order, McKeown become a crusader, leading informational sessions for police agencies across Santa Clara County.

In the first two years, state records show, 11 restraining orders were issued in Santa Clara County. McKeown said the number has jumped this year, but couldnt provide an official count.

This is an unbelievably powerful tool that fills a previous gap when dealing with a potential active-shooter situation or threat of suicide, she said. Before you had to wait for them to do something.

Since the Parkland shooting, a wave of states, including Florida, have enacted similar legislation, known as red flag laws, said William Rosen, managing director of state policy and government affairs of the nonprofit gun control group Everytown for Gun Safety. Thirteen states have such laws on the books, he said, and several others have considered similar legislation.

A nationwide study by the group found that in 42% of mass shootings, the suspect showed warning signs before the attack. In California, which like many other states doesnt require all firearms to be registered, more than 3,100 people died from gunshot wounds in 2016, according to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

With no comprehensive studies of Californias law, Rosen said, its hard to assess its true impact.

Members of law enforcement can request a gun-violence restraining order anytime from an on-duty judge by providing evidence someone is an immediate and present danger to themselves or others. If granted, the persons name is added to a state database and would pop up during a background check before buying a gun.

Relatives or roommates of someone thought to be dangerous must file a request during business hours at a local courthouse. A judge will consider evidence, such as recent threats or acts of violence, violations of protective orders, or a reckless use of a gun, and must rule by the following business day whether theres substantial likelihood the person possesses a significant danger to themselves or others in the near future. If the initial order, which lasts 21 days, is granted, the individual has to surrender, sell or store the firearms with a licensed gun dealer within 24 hours.

In both cases, guns can be confiscated only if less restrictive alternatives are inadequate.

Many of its backers view the gun law as a powerful tool ripe for expansion: Last month, state legislators sent a bill to the governor that would broaden the law, allowing teachers, employers and co-workers to request the restraining orders.

Craig DeLuz of the Firearms Policy Coalition, a group that advocates for gun owners, criticized the current law, saying it encroaches on peoples 2nd Amendment rights. While an individual has the right to testify at a hearing before a judge can revoke the guns for a full year, the temporary takeaway order can be granted without the persons knowledge, DeLuz said.

Due process that happens after youve lost a fundamental right is not due process, DeLuz said, adding that he thinks its problematic that the law relies on judges, not mental health professionals with proper training to determine if someone poses a threat.

The American Civil Liberties Union of California opposes the proposed expansion  stating that the law strikes the proper balance between preventing gun violence and protecting civil liberties, but broadening it upsets that balance and creates significant potential for civil rights violations.

Beverly Hills police Sgt. Max Subin said its critical that gun violence restraining orders are used judiciously.

We dont want to get overzealous, he said, adding that in the right cases  such as the Beverly Hills High School case  its an ideal tool.

At a court hearing in April, after listening to testimony from Subin and the man who had followed the school employee off campus, a commissioner extended the temporary order, barring the man from having guns for a year.

A review of court records in Los Angeles County found that the 21-day restraining orders typically are granted whether sought by a law enforcement agency or a relative. The successful requests to bar someone from owning a gun for a full year, however, almost always come from police.

In the spring of 2016, records show, a Hacienda Heights woman requested an order against her husband  whom she referred to as unstable and dangerous  declaring that he owned many firearms and constantly called her job to check on her whereabouts. He may go to my workplace to hurt people, she wrote, adding that her employer had changed the locks as a precaution.

A Superior Court commissioner granted the request temporarily, but denied the yearlong order after hearing testimony from the husband and the wife.

Among the restraining orders sought by law enforcement in L.A. County, many followed the same trajectory: A person contacted authorities about an unrelated issue and subsequently had their guns taken away.

In early 2016, a man called the Arcadia Police Department to report that his mother was withholding his psychiatric medications, court records show. He told an officer who arrived at the family home that hed spent the day downing shots and beers at a bar. His brother told the officer hed become concerned about his siblings ever-growing arsenal, adding that his brother had recently paced around the home with a pistol pressed to his temple, threatening to commit suicide.

The responding officer contacted a court commissioner, who issued an emergency order to remove the callers guns  two pistols, a pump shotgun and a semiautomatic rifle  as well as several boxes of ammunition. At a hearing several weeks later, a judge made a more permanent order, according to court records: The man couldnt have guns for a year.

In another case, a man called the states Bureau of Firearms line and left several strange voicemails in which he switched between a whisper, a deep voice and laughter, according to the petition filed by a special agent. In one message, records show, he mentioned then-Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris.

You better watch your backside, the caller warned.

A special agent ran the mans name through a state database, which revealed that he owned at least three guns, records show. A few days later, after a judge granted a temporary order, agents showed up at the mans Westchester home and seized more than 25 guns and dozens of high-capacity magazines, records show. The man ultimately reached a plea deal with the Department of Justice and agreed to sell his firearms, attend weekly Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and not have guns for three years, court records show.

In another case, a detective sought an order against Lisa Simpson, whose 18-year-old son, Richard Risher, was shot and killed by Los Angeles police in Watts in the summer of 2016.

The request came after Simpson spoke at a Police Commission meeting, telling then-Police Chief Charlie Beck of her pain and frustration that she hadnt received more updates about the case.

I have nothing to live for, Simpson said. When I leave here today, if I kill one of these officers, is it fair to me? Is it fair? Because they killed mine with no fairness. So I want to kill a few of yall with no fairness.

After the 21-day order was approved, Simpson filed court papers arguing that she didnt own guns and that her statements were taken out of context. She chided the police commissioners and Beck, accusing them of violating her 1st and 2nd Amendment rights.

A judge ultimately ruled that there was insufficient evidence to grant a longer restraining order, records show. It was the only instance during the laws first two years that a yearlong order sought by a police agency in Los Angeles County was rejected.

marisa.gerber@latimes.com

For more news from the Los Angeles County courts, follow me on Twitter: @marisagerberThree firefighters were injured in a blaze that broke out at a warehouse in Boyle Heights on Wednesday afternoon, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The massive commercial fire in the 2800 block of East Pico Boulevard was reported around 12:46 p.m., fire officials said.

It took more than two hours and about 150 firefighters to put out the flames. The blaze had sent up a massive pillar of smoke that could be seen miles away.

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Three firefighters battling the flames on the roof suffered some burns when the a portion of the roof gave way. At least one fell partially through the roof but managed to pull himself out with the help of the two others, officials said. The firefighters were able to escape from the damaged roof and were taken to a hospital.

Fire officials said contents inside the building appeared to have included clothing material. Property records show the commercial building was being used by a clothing wholesaler.

Officials said firefighters were able to prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent buildings.

The cause of the fire is under investigation , officials said.

ruben.vives@latimes.com

For more Southern California news, follow @latvives on Twitter.

UPDATES:

3:27 p.m.: This article was updated to reflect that the fire was put out.

3 p.m.: This article was updated with the number of injuries and more details on the building.

This article was originally published at 1:40 P.M.Eight years after immigration officials detained Fabian Rebolledo in his Baldwin Park home and deported him to Tijuana, the U.S. Army veteran has returned home.

Rebolledo crossed the border at San Ysidro on Wednesday morning, proudly wearing his Army uniform. It was the culmination of a years-long battle by the UC Irvine Immigrant Rights Clinic, which was able to reopen the case in December and regain his green-card status in August.

It took a few weeks to make preparations, but he was able to cross through today, and hes now in the U.S. and reunited with his family, said Annie Lai, a professor and co-director of the immigration clinic.

Rebolledo was recruited into the military as a young man. He served at Ft. Bragg and in 1999 was deployed to Kosovo, where he was a peacekeeper who retrieved bodies of villagers killed by Serbian forces. Upon his return to California, his Kosovo experience began haunting him. He sought help for post-traumatic stress disorder and struggled with alcohol, leading to a series of DUI charges.

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That experience was harrowing for him, Lai said. But thats all behind him now.

The veteran still worked diligently to care for his family and obtained several jobs. But in 2007, a check he received from one employer turned out to be fraudulent  that would be the offense that led to his deportation.

Crus Cuevas, mother of Fabian Rebolledo, wipes away tears as her son speaks at a press conference outside the family home in Azusa. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

In Tijuana, Rebolledo slept on the streets and in shelters before finding more permanent housing with another deported veteran. He found support among a group of veterans who had also been deported, and he began doing advocacy work. He even helped create a mural at Tijuanas Friendship Park to educate people about deported veterans.

In 2015, Proposition 47 made it possible for Rebolledos fraud charge to be reduced to a misdemeanor. Led by Lai, UC Irvine School of Law graduates Andani Alcantara Diaz and Danielle Nygren were able to file a motion with the Board of Immigration Appeals to reopen his case. In August, a judge closed the case, giving him the OK to return to the U.S.

Rebolledo will talk with reporters about the plight of deported veterans Wednesday in Azusa, where his family lives.

Its outrageous that our country deports veterans who have served the country and sacrificed their lives, Lai said. But its important to see this in a broader context. Our immigration laws are harsh on many people, and the fact that veterans are also affected illustrates just how much more congressional leadership is needed to look hard at our immigration system.

Lai added that many people of color who live in low-income communities are recruited into the armed forces. Those who are not U.S. citizens join with the promise that they will obtain citizenship.

When they come back, its not a surprise they may have criminal justice involvement sometimes related to their post-traumatic stress disorder, Lai said.

Rebolledo plans to continue advocating for the return of all deported veterans.

Rebolledo hugs Danielle Nygrenm 27, who worked on his case while she was at the UC Irvine Immigrant Rights Clinic. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

alejandra.reyesvelarde@latimes.com

Twitter: @r_valejandraA Santa Clarita woman was arrested Monday on suspicion of embezzling thousands of dollars from the Girl Scouts and a cancer organization, the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department said.

Patricia Cascione, who for 20 years served as a volunteer treasurer for several Girl Scout groups, is accused of embezzling more than $58,000 from multiple bank accounts belonging to the Girl Scouts of the USA troops and a Santa Clarita Girl Scouts service unit. She is also accused of theft by false pretense of more than $30,000 while she was CFO of the Beverly Hills Cancer Center.

A little over a year ago, a local Girl Scouts group alerted officials that they suspected the woman was stealing from them. The investigation got bigger after that, said David Chambers, a sergeant with the departments Fraud and Cyber Crime bureau.

Cascione, 52, was booked Monday at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriffs Station on suspicion of grand theft and was released on $200,000 bail. After her arrest, law enforcement served a search warrant at her home, where they said they found additional evidence of theft, including financial records like bank statements.

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Officials said they believe the thefts occurred in the last five years.

Cascione was also responsible for fundraising for several other organizations in the Santa Clarita Valley and investigators believe there may be other victims. Her three children  who are high school age or older  had been involved in youth groups, and officers suspect she may have embezzled funds from those groups, Chambers said.

The woman wasnt living a lavish lifestyle, and officials believe she was having financial difficulties, Chambers said.

Anyone with information about the suspect and the thefts can call the Sheriffs Department at (661) 471-1534.

alejandra.reyesvelarde@latimes.com

Twitter: @r_valejandraThe Long Beach Police Department has suspended its use of a mobile texting application that permanently erases messages after civil liberties advocates and media outlets raised concerns that the app could be used to hide evidence useful to the other side in criminal and civil court cases.

In a statement, the city said the decision to halt the use of TigerText came pending further review of whether the use is consistent with the citys record retention policy and administrative regulations for the use of mobile devices.

Civil liberties advocates had warned that the app could be used to delete communications that could be requested during the discovery process in court cases.

Records show the department began using the application in June of 2014, when Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell was still running the agency.

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In an interview Wednesday, McDonnell said the program was adopted at a time when the Police Department was trying to find a replacement for its BlackBerry phones and wanted an encrypted messaging system to use in criminal investigations. McDonnell said he was not aware that the application did not retain messages and he believed the application had been fully vetted by the city.

Sometimes with emerging technologies we fail to recognize all the ramifications, McDonnell said. He said he wouldnt make the same choice of application again.

The city moved to discontinue the app after a report in Al Jazeera on Tuesday in which two officers said they were instructed by superiors to use the app to have conversations with other officers that wouldnt be discoverable. Long Beach Police Chief Robert Luna denied those allegations.

A city document provided to The Times by the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California describes the app as a secure messaging platform for criminal investigations and confidential communication. The document shows that each yearlong license costs $96. With the app implemented on more than 100 phones, it cost the city more than $10,000 per year to use, records show.

According to the city, the TigerText application is installed on 145 of the 291 cellphones issued by the department. That includes the phones of the command staff, as well as homicide and internal affairs investigators. The law enforcement agency employs 1,214 workers and has used the app since 2014.The app deletes messages five days after they are sent, according to Luna.

Mohammad Tajsar, a staff attorney at the ACLU of Southern California, said it appears as though Long Beach is circumventing a California law that requires cities to preserve records for two years. He called on the department, along with the Los Angeles County district attorneys office, to investigate the use of the app.

It might potentially throw into doubt the validity of a whole host of cases, Tajsar said. You have the prospect of destroyed evidence in a whole bunch of cases. Its very important, in fact critical, that the city conduct a thorough investigation into the use of TigerText  how its officers communicated using it, what they communicated and the impact of those communications on prior cases.

In conjunction with Al Jazeeras reporters, Tajsar said the ACLU filed public records requests concerning the use of TigerText with 36 police departments in California. Long Beach police were the only agency they found to be using the application. Other large agencies, including the Los Angeles, San Diego and Sacramento police departments and the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, do not use the app, he said.

Tajsar was particularly concerned that the app was being used by Long Beach homicide investigators. If those investigators were using the app to discuss an officer-involved shooting, for example, Tajsar said their opinions would have been subject to discovery in a civil lawsuit.

If the detectives use it to talk at all about what they find, their opinions about what they find, people that they find more credible than other people, thats all incredibly important information in discovery, he said.

Tajsar said if all the department wanted was a secure method of communication, there were better options. Apps like Signal, Peerio and even Apples default iMessage system are all considered to be more secure than TigerText, he said. Luna said he also plans to review how the department vetted TigerTexts encryption compared with other applications.

During an interview Wednesday, the chief said officers document any information that would be subject to criminal or civil discovery in police reports.

From a standard and policy perspective there was no malice here, there was no intent to do anything wrong, Luna said.

Luna also said the app will cause a phone to repeatedly send out an alarm until a message is answered, something that is critical for when commanders need to contact one another during a high-profile incident at odd hours.

The app is billed on its website as a messaging solution for healthcare providers that is secure and compliant with federal patient privacy rules, with messages that automatically delete after a set amount of time. Its parent company, TigerConnect, launched seven years ago and has more than 3,000 clients. Its unclear how many more clients, if any, are law enforcement agencies.

Calls to the companys offices in Santa Monica were not returned on Wednesday.

The department plans to release more information about which officers and commanders were using the app, including their ranks and assignments, Luna said. Though he asserted that the department was not trying to hide anything, he said he understood how the agencys use of the app might look.

I know people are concerned about it, he said. Were very concerned about it.

Times staff writer Maya Lau contributed to this report

UPDATES:

8:30 p.m., Sept. 20: This article was updated with comments from Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell about the use of the application when he was police chief in Long Beach.

1:30 p.m., Sept. 19: This article was updated with additional background about the Long Beach Police Departments use of the application.

This article was originally published at 10:50 p.m. Sept. 18.A second rhino has become pregnant this year through artificial insemination at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, another milestone for an ambitious program to rescue a rhino subspecies with stem cells.

Researchers hope 10-year-old Amani and five other southern white rhinos will become surrogate mothers of northern white rhinos, which are critically endangered. The pregnancies of Amani, announced Tuesday, and Victoria, announced in May, are dry runs for the goal of implanting northern white rhino embryos.

Just two northern white rhinos are left in the world, both female and too old to reproduce. This means the subspecies is functionally extinct.

Nola, a northern white rhino at the Safari Park, died in 2015. She was then one of only four left. Sudan, the last male, died in March at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya.

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So if the northern white rhino is to have any future, it will come from human intervention.

The embryos are to be created from cryogenically preserved northern white rhino cells. These are stored at the Frozen Zoo, a project of San Diego Zoo Global, the zoos conservation arm. It was established in the 1970s by the late Kurt Benirschke, who foresaw that these cells might one day be turned into complete animals.

The process is complicated. The frozen cells will be thawed and converted into stem cells. The stem cells will be turned into germ cells  sperm and egg cells. After fertilization creates the embryos, researchers will implant them into the surrogate mothers.

If all goes as planned, these pregnancies will be carried to term, and the northern white rhino will have a second shot at survival.

Team members on the project include Jeanne Loring, a stem cell scientist at Scripps Research. The Frozen Zoo has 12 samples, nine of which have been thawed and reprogrammed into lines of stem cells. Five of those nine lines have been well studied, and are the subject of a recently submitted paper, she said.

While its unclear if the three remaining samples can be of use, the nine lines already recovered provide sufficient genetic diversity to generate a viable population, Loring said.

There are early signs of germ cell development, Loring said. Stem cells were allowed to spontaneously differentiate into adult cells of various types. Some of them became primordial germ cells, precursors of both sperm and egg cells.

But a lot of the work is ahead of us, she said. We need to purify those cells out of the rest and improve the methods for generating more of them.

In the meantime, the southern white rhino females are being acclimated to this unusual way of becoming moms. They have been carefully and patiently trained with positive reinforcement to voluntarily accept highly intimate medical exams from keepers. This is done to minimize stress, which could endanger the pregnancy.

The hope is that several years from now, each of the southern white rhino females will receive a northern white rhino embryo and carry it to term.

Its too early to tell if Amanis and Victorias current pregnancies will be successful. Southern white rhino pregnancies typically last 16 to 18 months.

And as for the birth of new northern white rhinos, Loring says shes optimistic, but it may take a while.

Im hoping it happens in my lifetime, she said. I cant really tell you how long its going to be. Theres a lot of work to be done, but it just seems really feasible to me. We can see the path.

bradley.fikes@sduniontribune.comThey laid dozens of makeshift coffins in the street to represent black people killed by police in California. Blocking traffic, the protesters climbed inside the purple caskets and each raised a fist in the air.

The spectacle was part of an hours-long Black Lives Matter protest Tuesday commemorating the sixth-month anniversary of the death of Stephon Clark, who was fatally shot by Sacramento police March 18 outside his grandparents home during a vandalism investigation.

Protesters marched and chanted outside the downtown Sacramento Convention Center, where a California Peace Officers Assn. training conference was underway.

We are here to make sure that they know that we know that their training is terroristic, said a demonstrator who tweeted a video from the protest.

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Protesters continue with die-in as police say anyone who doesn't leave the street immediately risks arrest or "serious injury." #StephonClark @KQEDnews pic.twitter.com/f3YhAuXBUX  Katie Orr (@1KatieOrr) September 18, 2018

Sacramento Police Sgt. Vance Chandler said Tuesday afternoon that extra officers had been monitoring the gathering since 11 a.m. When the group placed the makeshift caskets in the street, Chandler said, police issued numerous dispersal orders and brought in pastors to help move the group.

Eventually, the protesters moved to the sidewalk, Chandler said. Later, the group marched back into the street and police issued new dispersal orders. As of about 3:30 p.m., no one had been arrested and no injuries had been reported, Chandler said.

The demonstration comes at a tense time for law enforcement officers in the region. A day earlier, a Sacramento County sheriffs deputy was killed and a second was wounded when a gunman opened fire during a routine disturbance call at an auto shop in Rancho Cordova.

The deputies responded to a Pep Boys store, where workers were having a conflict with a customer. As they approached, the suspect  identified as Anton Lemon Moore, 38, of Rancho Cordova  turned as if to run away but spun around and began firing.

The slain officer was identified as Mark Stasyuk, 27, who joined the department more than four years ago. A second officer, identified as Julie Robertson, 28, was struck in the arm but shot back as the attacker fled.

Sacramento County Sheriffs Deputy Mark Stasyuk, 27, was killed after a man opened fire at a Rancho Cordova auto shop. (Sacramento County Sheriffs Department)

Robertson and a bystander who was hit in the crossfire were released from the hospital Tuesday, sheriffs Sgt. Shaun Hampton said.

Moore remains hospitalized with multiple gunshot wounds and is expected to survive.

After announcing Stasyuks death at a news conference Monday, Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones mentioned Tuesdays protest and urged community support for law enforcement officials.

I know people have this overwhelming urge to do what they can and not knowing what to do, Jones said. One of the things you can do is go down there, go down to the convention center tomorrow between 11 and 1 and show your support for law enforcement while they continue to protest law enforcement.

The Sacramento Bee reported that a cluster of counter-demonstrators gathered at the rally, including Robert Dixon of Granite Bay, who wore a flag shirt and carried an American flag and a God Bless the police sign.

Im out here to support the police, Dixon told the Bee, while others with Back the Blue signs and blue American flags surrounded him. God bless the police. This is un-American out here, we dont need this.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com

Twitter: @AleneTchekThe Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to ask the Sheriffs Department not to install audio recording devices in courthouse lockups.

In a letter to Sheriff Jim McDonnell, the supervisors said recording in satellite lockup facilities  essentially holding cells off to the side of most courtrooms  would raise significant concerns because attorneys regularly talk to their clients in them.

Confidential communications are at the heart of the attorney-client relationship, the supervisors wrote. Without this, effective representation is simply not possible.

The supervisors letter follows recent revelations that a conversation between a public defender and her client in a courthouse conference room was surreptitiously recorded at the request of a deputy district attorney with support from the Los Angeles Police Department and the Sheriffs Department.

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The sheriff has since apologized to the public defenders office and said it will not permit recording of attorney-client conversations in courthouse interview rooms without a court order. But the department has been planning to add audio recording capabilities to surveillance cameras in lockups.

As you can imagine, that is not acceptable to us, interim Public Defender Nicole Davis Tinkham said in a presentation before the board.

Tinkham said attorneys rely on the lockup facilities next to courtrooms to communicate quickly with clients in the middle of cases  for example, in the case that a plea deal is offered. If audio recording is allowed in those spaces, Tinkham said, clients would have to be moved to secure locations elsewhere in the courthouse, bogging down proceedings. Or they would have to have their cases postponed altogether, resulting in more jail time.

My clients  are faced with this issue because they are poor, Tinkham said. They are now in these jail facilities and subject to recording operations that people who have means and can bail out are not subject to.

Warren Asmus, the sheriffs chief of staff, said McDonnell takes this very seriously and he also understands the constitutional right for attorneys to have the privileged communication with their clients.

Asmus said in an interview that the sheriff will hold off on adding audio recording to camera systems until we  determine a plan thats going to benefit everyone  for safety, for due process [and] for privacy.

Supervisors Sheila Kuehl and Mark Ridley-Thomas urged the sheriff and the public defender to come up with a binding, written agreement.

There needs to be no equivocation as to how this gets buttoned up. None, Ridley-Thomas said.

nina.agrawal@latimes.com

Twitter: @AgrawalNinaDr. Grant William Robicheaux billed himself as an elite orthopedic surgeon catering to Newport Beachs famous and wealthy. It was a lifestyle he pushed not only in his medical work but on reality TV, where he appeared on a Bravo dating show wearing his hospital scrubs and a wide smile.

But Orange County prosecutors on Tuesday accused Robicheaux and his girlfriend of drugging and raping two women in separate assaults and said they suspect there are many more alleged victims. Orange County Dist. Atty. Tony Rackauckas said Tuesday that Robicheaux and Cerissa Laura Riley seemed like clean-cut, good-looking people but used their charms to prey on women they would meet in local bars and festivals such as Burning Man.

Robicheaux, 38, and Riley, 31, are accused of drugging their victims and bringing them back to his Newport Beach bachelors pad, where they would sexually assault and rape them.

Neither could be reached for comment Tuesday.

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Robicheaux appeared in 2014 on the Bravo show Online Dating Rituals of the American Male, which followed him as he looked for a girlfriend. He also was named Orange Countys Most Eligible Bachelor by Orange Coast Magazine in 2013. A Hoag Hospital profile describes him as an orthopedic surgeon who received his medical degree from Louisiana State University and did his residency at UC Irvine Medical Center. He is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who says he repairs sponsored athletes.

Rackauckas said detectives with search warrants found a video of the sex acts with one of the two identified victims. But he said they also saw what he describes as numerous other videos and photographs on the pairs phones of other potential victims.

There are a substantial number of videos. I cannot tell you if it is tens or hundreds, it is certainly more than tens, the top prosecutor said in an interview. It appears they are highly intoxicated beyond the ability to consent or resist, they are barely responsive to the defendants sexual advances, he said.

Rackauckas said his office cannot make those images public, but everything suggests those women were also victims of assault.

Those videos were recovered this year by Newport Beach detectives. Some of the images come from festivals across the western U.S. including Burning Man and the Splash House in Palm Springs, Rackauckas said.

The couple now face multiple felony counts including rape by drugs, oral copulation by anesthesia and assault with intent to commit sexual offenses.

The surgeon and his girlfriend came to the attention of authorities when a young woman screamed for help and the physicians neighbor called Newport police on Oct. 2, 2016.

A 32-year-old woman met the couple in a local restaurant in April 2016 and they invited her to a party, authorities alleged. She told authorities she consumed large amounts of alcohol before they invited her to Robicheauxs residence for an afterparty. But once inside, prosecutors allege, they plied her with piles of drugs and then raped and orally copulated her.

The woman immediately contacted the police the next morning to report that she had been assaulted and a subsequent test of her blood showed multiple controlled substances in her body, Rackauckas said.

Prosecutors alleged Robicheaux and Riley struck again Oct. 2, 2016. They are accused of drinking alcohol with a second woman at a Newport Beach bar until the alleged victim was no longer conscious. They brought her to Robicheauxs apartment and began sexually assaulting her with the intent to commit rape, officials said.

A subsequent search of Robicheauxs home on Jan. 9. 2018, turned up large quantities of illegal drugs along with a small arsenal of firearms.

Rackauckas said those drugs included GHB, the so-called date rape drug, MDMA and cocaine.

Robicheaux is also accused of possessing two illegal, unregistered assault rifles, four other firearms and several large-capacity magazines.

Newport Beach police turned over their investigation Sept. 6 to prosecutors, who filed charges Sept. 11. The next morning, detectives arrested the couple.

The California medical board has opened an investigation into Robicheauxs conduct.

Robicheaux and Riley are free on $100,000 bail each.

Asked why it took so long to arrest the couple given two reports to the agency in 2016, a Newport Beach police spokeswoman said the evidence initially did not meet the standard to make an arrest. We had our suspicions but we didnt have positive identity, said Jennifer Manzella, a department spokesman. She said she could not address specifically what information the victims initially provided. But Manzella said detectives continued to work the case for two years.

On the Bravo show, Robicheaux talked to a female friend about the kind of woman he wanted to meet.

I am not looking for a party girl. I am looking for a wife to raise a family with, he said in a voiceover. I just won the title of Orange Countys Most Eligible Bachelor, he says as an image appears of a story about him in Orange Coast Magazine. The story notes he beat out nine other finalists. I am trying to find that amazing beautiful woman.

Robicheaux told viewers he is the son of a single parent, his parents are divorced and he wants to be married only once. He is then seen driving a sports car to his first online date at an upscale restaurant on the coast.

I know how many kids I want. I want to have twins, he told his date.

She told the interviewer later, He seems a little too perfect. There might be some dark skeletons in that closet.

richard.winton@latimes.com

Twitter: @lacrimes

UPDATES:

5:20 p.m.: This article was updated with a statement from the Newport Beach police spokeswoman and comments by Robicheaux on the Bravo dating show.

This article was originally published at 4:35 p.m.Deputy PM Vuong Dinh Hue (right) receiving Bulgarian Minister of Economy Emil Karanikolov

On September 18, Deputy Prime Minister (PM) Vuong Dinh Hue received Bulgarian Minister of Economy Emil Karanikolov on his visit in Vietnam. At the reception, the two sides hoped to boost bilateral cooperation in various fields, especially economics.

Deputy PM Hue said Vietnam and Bulgaria have a good friendship tradition which is shown through state-level visits of leaders of the two sides and the close cooperation at international and regional forums, especially within the framework of the United Nations, ASEAN-EU cooperation and ASEM.

However, despite two-way export turnover reaching USD100 million a year, the trade relations are not stable. Thus, the two sides should cooperate to boost trade exchange and investment in hi-tech agriculture, in order to facilitate Vietnamese agricultural products to enter Bulgaria.

He asked Bulgaria to support the official implementation of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), and soon organize the 24th meeting of the Vietnam-Bulgaria Intergovernmental Committee on economic and science-technology cooperation to discuss how to expand economic and trade links between the two nations in the coming time.

Minister Emil Karanikolov expressed his thanks for the hospitality of the Government and people of Vietnam, while affirming the Bulgarian Government hailed the socio-economic achievements of the country in the renewal period. Bulgaria is actively promoting the EU to sign the EVFTA, and will be one of the first EU countries ratifying this agreement in Parliament.

He also informed about his working sessions with the Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade, representatives from the Hanoi Peoples Committee, and the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group./.A police officer in Woodlake in Californias Central Valley was charged Monday with 12 felony counts for allegedly using his status of an officer to sexually assault two women.

Oscar Robles, 26, is accused of threatening to arrest or deport women and then raping them, assault with the intent to commit burglary and dissuading a witness from reporting a crime, among other charges. If convicted, he faces life in prison, according to the Tulare County district attorneys office.

Robles was arrested last week after police encountered a woman on the street who told them she wanted to complain about an officer who sexually assaulted her, the Tulare County Sheriffs Office said.

Officials began investigating Robles and located another women who said he assaulted her. The two women did not know each other but identified Robles by name and described similar circumstances of their assaults, officials told reporters at a news conference Friday.

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Robles was in uniform at the time of the alleged assaults, which occurred in and around Woodlake, authorities said.

Robles was placed on paid administrative leave during the investigation, said Woodlake police Chief Mike Marquez.

Its an absolutely life-changing experience to everyone involved, from the law enforcement world to the shock to our community as well as to the victims of this case. said Sheriff Mike Boudreaux. We will hold accountable police officers if they so choose to tarnish the badge.

Boudreaux also asked for any other victims who were assaulted by Robles to come forward.

Were here for those victims and we would encourage  any potential additional victims of this suspect to please come and tell your story. Were here for you, we will protect you.

Robles had been a member of the Woodland Police Department since May 2014 and he had no other strikes on his record, Marquez said.

alejandra.reyesvelarde@latimes.com

Twitter: @r_valejandraRick Dove is an environmental paparazzo operating at more than 1,000 feet above the ground.

A senior advisor with the Waterkeeper Alliance, he circles the floodwaters from Hurricane Florence in the back seat of a tiny propeller plane, gripping his camera while searching for toxic problems below.



For the record: An earlier version of this article used the plural version of paparazzo.

Like a shutterbug hunting for a scandal-plagued celebrity, he points the pilot toward a hog farm near the overflowing Trent River in eastern North Carolina. There are two open-air lagoons where waste from the animals is deposited, and one appears to have been inundated.

Some of the manure may have escaped, seeping back into the river and contributing to hazards that environmentalists have been warning about since before Florence made landfall Friday morning.

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They said they fixed it so it wouldnt happen again, said Dove, 79. Well, Mother Nature had different ideas.

MORE: When a Category None hurricane is worse than a Category 5 

Hog farms are one of the most problematic environmental challenges after Florence dumped a historic amount of rain on the region, but theyre far from the only one. Advocates have been keeping a close eye on coal ash basins, where the residue from power plants is stored, and toxic sites across the state. Floodwaters can rise high enough to mix with contaminants and then deposit them back into rivers and wetlands that provide drinking water and natural habitats.

These fears have existed for years in a low-lying state with a network of rivers that can disperse pollutants for miles. Now climate change is increasing concerns that storms like Florence will strike more often, altering the calculus for where industries will be safe from flooding.

This is a time to recognize that theres a new normal in environmental protection right now, said Thomas A. Burke, an associate dean at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

In the past, powerful storms have prompted sweeping changes in North Carolina. After Hurricane Floyd battered the state in 1999 and dead hogs floated in the floodwaters, the state bought out farms in vulnerable areas.

It remains to be seen whether Florence will prompt similar policy changes, with farms or any other industry. Researchers and advocates said its time to update rules for where facilities can be located and how waste can be stored as hurricanes appear to be growing more common and bring heavier rainfall with them.

These are changes that are consistent with what we would see from the effects of climate change, said Martin Doyle, a Duke University professor who studies rivers. Its a totally different calculus.

1 / 27 A church is surrounded by floodwaters from Hurricane Florence in Conway, S.C. (Sean Rayford / Getty Images) 2 / 27 Floodwaters surround a barn after Hurricane Florence struck the Carolinas near Wallace, S.C. (Sean Rayford / Getty Images) 3 / 27 The Lumber River overflows onto a stretch of Interstate 95 in Lumberton, N.C. (Gerry Broome / Associated Press) 4 / 27 A resident surveys a flooded road in Lumberton, N.C. (Gerry Broome / Associated Press) 5 / 27 Tree limbs are caught under a railway bridge as Russell Maloy checks the level of the Cape Fear River in Fayetteville, N.C. (David Goldman / Associated Press) 6 / 27 An American flag flies in the wind as the Cape Fear River rises to near record heights in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence in Fayetteville, N.C. (David Goldman / Associated Press) 7 / 27 Scott Jones wades through about three feet of floodwater down the street he grew up on to check the condition of his fathers home after the Nuese River and a nearby creek overflowed during Hurricane Florence in Kinston, N.C. (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images) 8 / 27 Homes and a marina 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) 9 / 27 Bob Richling carries Iris Darden, 84, out of her flooded home as her daughter-in-law, Pam Darden, gathers her belongings in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence in Spring Lake, N.C. (David Goldman / Associated Press) 10 / 27 An above ground pool is surrounded by floodwaters from Hurricane Florence in Lumberton, N.C. (Gerald Herbert / Associated Press) 11 / 27 A man carries a flag to place on his truck as members of a punt team with the United States Coast Guard preform search and rescue through flood waters in Lumberton, N.C. (Jabin Botsford / The Washington Post) 12 / 27 Cars are submerged in a neighborhood in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence in Fayetteville, N.C. (Gerald Herbert / Associated Press) 13 / 27 Residents paddle a boat through a flooded neighborhood in Lumberton, N.C. (Gerry Broome / Associated Press) 14 / 27 A member of the United States Coast Guard is seen reflected in the window of a house as he wades through flood waters for a wellness check on citizens who choose to stay in their home in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence on Sept 16, 2018 in Lumberton, N.C. (Jabin Botsford / The Washington Post) 15 / 27 A man wades across a bridge flooded by Hurricane Florence in Pollocksville, N.C. (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP/Getty Images) 16 / 27 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) 17 / 27 Floodwaters surround buildings on Front Street in downtown Swansboro N.C. (Tom Copeland / Associated Press) 18 / 27 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) 19 / 27 A boat pushed ashore by Hurricane Florence rests in front of a damaged home in New Bern, N.C. (Gray Whitley / Associated Press) 20 / 27 Flood waters from Hurricane Florence surround a house and flow along the street in Fayetteville, N.C. (Joe Raedle / Getty Images) 21 / 27 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) 22 / 27 A man moves his horses from rising water in Lumberton, N.C., following flooding from now Tropical Depression Florence. (Gerry Broome / Associated Press) 23 / 27 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) 24 / 27 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) 25 / 27 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) 26 / 27 A resident walks from his flooded house toward the crew of the Cajun Navy in Lumberton, N.C. (Alex Edelman / AFP/Getty Images) 27 / 27 Floodwaters from Hurricane Florence rush down Cool Spring Street, inundating the St. James Church in Fayetteville, N.C. (Jim Lo Scalzo / EPA / Shutterstock)

Florence has caused havoc with the states infrastructure since it began hammering the coastline last week. The Cape Fear Public Utility Authority lost electricity as the storm arrived, and then a backup generator failed. About 5.25 million gallons of partially treated wastewater were released in the nearby river before it was safe for workers to repair the generator.

It was unavoidable, Jim Flechtner, the utilitys executive director. Its just not safe to send people out in high winds and heavy rains.

Another problem was suffered at a shuttered Duke Energy power plant near Wilmington, in the southeastern corner of the state. About 2,000 cubic yards of coal ash were displaced when water ran into a landfill, although its unclear how much reached the nearby Cape Fear River.

Monitoring trouble spots is a severe challenge after a hurricane. The same floods that have trapped people in their homes have also cut regulators off from the facilities they need to monitor. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plans to deploy teams Wednesday to high-priority toxic sites, and state officials are trying to do the same.

Many roads are still impassable, so it is not safe to inspect, said Megan Thorpe, the communications director for the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality.

The challenge is why the Waterkeeper Alliance, which monitors rivers, lakes and other waterways for pollution, has been relying on a tiny air force of four prop planes, clocking more than a dozen hours in the sky since Monday. All of them have been taking off out of a small regional airport in New Bern, where metal siding from damaged hangars, shorn off by the hurricane, still litter the ground.

Dove has been taking environmental reconnaissance flights for a quarter of a century, and Tuesdays flight was his second after Florence. The Cessna 172 bumps through the air like a low-riding jalopy on a pockmarked country road. Its roughly the size of an original Volkswagen Beetle with wings attached, and nearly as old too.

A hog farm near the Trent River in North Carolina. The pink lagoon, which gets its color from bacteria, appears untouched, but the other seems to have been inundated by floodwater. Its unclear whether any of the waste might have escaped the berms. (Chris Megerian / Los Angeles Times)

The pilot, Aaron Stranathan, 21, is in no rush to return to land, indulging Doves requests to bank left and right to get the best shot of a flooded farm.

The longer you want to fly, the longer I can wait before I go home to no power, said Stranathan, who lives in Newport, N.C.

Dove doesnt have any electricity back at his house either, relying on a generator since the storm knocked out power. He lives along the Neuse River about a dozen miles from downtown New Bern, a city that had some of the worst flooding in the state. His house was generally unscathed, but his boat dock was destroyed.

There are 3,300 hog lagoons in North Carolina, according to state regulators. Four have suffered Florence-related structural damage of some kind. Some waste may have escaped 13 others during flooding, another nine have been inundated, and dozens more remain at risk. The numbers are reported by the farmers themselves.

So far, we seem to be weathering this storm pretty well, especially in light of the Armageddon-type reporting weve seen, said Michael Formica, an assistant vice president at the National Pork Producers Council.

He added, The forecasts are detached from reality.

Dove isnt so sure, and from the air he spots what he thinks could be a small breach in the side of a lagoon. The waste is pink from the bacteria that breed inside, and traces of the color outside of the berms could signal a problem.

See where theres a little bit of pink there? Dove says, pointing. Looks like theres a cut there.

The camera clicks, and then Dove guides the plane toward Duplin County, the heart of North Carolinas pork industry. Even at 1,300 feet and nearly 100 knots, theres a brief whiff of manure with the Cessnas windows open. Flooded farms stretch across the landscape, the water shimmering in the sunlight as it saturates fields, homes and roads.

Hog farmers were barred from building new lagoons in 1997, but they werent required to close the old ones. North Carolina is one of the top states in the country for pork production, with 9 million hogs in the state.

The pork industry is incredibly powerful in North Carolina, said Alexis Andiman, an associate attorney with Earthjustice, an environmental law organization. State regulators havent done enough.

The North Carolina Pork Council said it prepared for the hurricane by lowering the levels of the lagoons to accommodate more rainwater, using the manure as fertilizer in nearby fields.

Our guys have more attention on them, and have had more attention on them, than anyone else, Formica said. And they do a heck of a job.

It could be days, weeks or even months before the full extent of the damage from Florence becomes known. Rivers are still expected to rise, and flooding could reach more farms, coal ash basins and other industrial sites.

Its a slow process that can hurt the ecosystem and the people who live there. And fixing the problems can be just as slow.

Environmental protection is the long-term problem, long after the media has gone, Burke said. Recovery is really tough, and you have to keep people safe through the entire process.

chris.megerian@latimes.com

Twitter: @chrismegerianFacing backlash over the decision to drastically limit the number of refugees who will be permitted to settle in the United States, State Department officials are attempting to defend the move and soften its impact.

But ultimately, the proposed new quota  down a third from last years number and an all-time low  will likely remain the same or even smaller because it fits into President Trumps broader policy, which critics say is aimed at reducing the number of foreign-born people in the United States.



For the record: An earlier version of this story said the proposed refugee cap was a third of last years number. It is down a third, from 45,000 to 30,000 refugees.

Amid what the United Nations calls the worst refugee crisis since World War II, millions of people have fled war, famine or political repression in the Middle East, Africa and more recently, Central and South America.

Despite some polls that show general public support for refugees, Trump has been accused of trying to build political capital among his base by stoking fear of immigrants and apathy toward refugees.

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Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo announced late Monday the administrations plan to slash the number of refugees accepted in the United States by a third, down to 30,000 from this years cap of 45,000 and the lowest since the Refugee Act was adopted nearly 40 years ago. It is the second consecutive year the ceiling has been lowered.

Pompeo said the lower goal was made necessary by the backlog of asylum seekers in the United States, numbering 800,000.

The cap reflects our commitment to protect the most vulnerable around the world while prioritizing the safety and well-being of the American people, as President Trump has directed, Pompeo said.

Barely 24 hours later, the decision was met with a scathing blast of criticism from members of Congress and immigrant-advocacy and human rights groups.

Refugee advocates described the proposed limit as appalling and an affront to front-line countries like Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey that have received millions of refugees.

The abysmally-low refugee cap ... is a shameful abdication of our humanity in the face of the worst refugee crisis in history, said Jennifer Quigley of the Human Rights First advocacy organization. By setting the lowest refugee cap in history, we have turned our backs not only on those in dire circumstances abroad, but on our own American ideals.

Ryan Mace, refugee specialist at the U.S. branch of Amnesty International, said the new ceiling, compounded by roadblock after roadblock for refugees, was an all-out attack on refugee resettlement.

Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) was one of several lawmakers, mostly Democratic, who condemned Pompeos proposal as a cruel move that will only weaken the United States. He said it was part of Trumps determination to build metaphorical walls around the country.

The State Department attempted to clarify that the new ceiling was merely a recommendation that would be reviewed by Congress before the White House would sign off.

The Trump administration wants to prevent immigration and floods of refugees by helping improve conditions in the home countries, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said Tuesday. At the same time, however, the administration is reducing much of the aid that would fulfill that goal, such as reconstruction money for Syria and Iraq and democracy-building assistance in Central America.

America is the most generous nation in the entire world, Nauert said. But, she added, Our pockets are not unlimited.

Limiting refugees is just the latest in a string of anti-immigrant policies under the Trump administration, including a spike in the rejection of asylum applications; stepped-up raids on immigrant communities; increased deportations; separation of immigrant families who entered the country illegally; and ending a special temporary-protection status of thousands of people from war-torn countries or those suffering natural disasters, such as Haiti, Yemen and El Salvador.

From the early weeks of his government, Trump has made clear that his overall goal is to reduce legal and illegal immigration. His policies could eventually change the ethnic makeup of the United States.

Trump has said immigration should be based on merit and favor those who can easily assimilate or as he once put it, come from places like Norway.

Trump reiterated that sentiment on Tuesday during the visit of Polish President Andrzej Duda when asked by reporters about visa waivers for Poles.

We love the people of Poland coming to the United States in any way, shape or form, Trump said. In contrast, he has criticized immigration from poorer nations in Africa and Central America, calling them shitholes.

In the last year, refugees admitted to the United States are overwhelmingly Christian, about 70%, to about 14% Muslim, according to State Department figures, even though about 40% of the more than 60 million displaced people worldwide are Muslim.

Early in his administration, Trump sought to declare a ban on people arriving in the U.S. from several mostly Muslim countries. The ban, after numerous court stays, only survived after adjustments to assure courts that Muslims were not being targeted.

The new cap would apply in the next fiscal year starting Oct. 1. Only about 21,000 refugees have been permitted in during the fiscal year now ending, fewer than half of those allowed under the current ceiling of 45,000, according to State Department data.

Even in Europe, which has received the brunt of refugee flows from the Middle East that ultimately created significant political backlash, numerous countries have majorities that approve of receiving refugees, according to a report released Wednesday by the Pew Research Center.

Spain, Germany, Sweden, Britain and other countries that have seen immigration spur a right-wing nationalist surge nevertheless have three-quarters or more of their populations favoring refugee arrivals, the Pew study, conducted this summer, said.

tracy.wilkinson@latimes.com

For more on international affairs, follow @TracyKWilkinson on TwitterWhen Mabrey Smith heard on Wednesday that President Trump might pass by the used-car dealership he runs with his girlfriend here, he dug through his belongings and emerged with two lawn signs from the 2016 campaign  Trump-Pence.

Then Smith placed them along the road and waited for Trumps motorcade to head to New Bern so the president could view damage from Hurricane Florence. While Trump has continued to face criticism for his administrations flawed response to Hurricanes Maria and Irma in Puerto Rico last year  and more recently for his false claims that the islands 2,975 death toll has been exaggerated by Democrats to damage him politically  Smith, 57, had no doubts about the presidents dedication to the Carolinas.

He would walk through fire for us, Smith said.

Florence has killed at least 37 people in North and South Carolina since making landfall on Friday, and officials have urged evacuees to stay away from damaged areas while the emergency response continues. Some neighborhoods remain flooded and rivers are expected to rise even more in the coming days.

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Trump arrived on Air Force One at a North Carolina military base, where he got a briefing from state and federal officials. He praised the recovery efforts as incredible and then lapsed into his typical hyperbole: Theyre talking about it all over the world, he said.

Trump appeared to have his business on his mind as well. At one point, he asked a state official about the status of Lake Norman, which is near Charlotte, more than 200 miles away.

I love that area. I cant tell you why, but I love that area, the president said. His company owns the Trump National Golf Club on the lake.

After leaving the military base in his motorcade, Trumps first stop was a church near downtown New Bern. Accompanied by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, Trump handed out packages containing hot dogs, peas and apple sauce to people affected by the storm who slowly drove by for the free meals.

Hi, everybody, hows your house? he said to people in one car.

Mabrey Smith, 57, watches President Trumps motorcade speed past in New Bern, N.C., on Wednesday. (Chris Megerian / Los Angeles Times)

The city of 30,000 was one of the hardest hit by Florence, and repairing the damage promises to be an arduous process. At a law office downtown, workers have been ripping out wood flooring that was damaged from water that bubbled up from below when the sump pumps failed. The office manager, Sissy Chesnutt, 61, fears crucial paper records could become moldy, adding to the storms toll.

Its more loss and more loss, she said.

Trumps motorcade headed toward a neighborhood near the Neuse River, which spilled over its banks during the storm. The contents of peoples flooded homes have been dumped in mounds on sidewalks  candy-colored carpet padding, wooden furniture, upholstered chairs, electronics, mattresses.

Trump hugged one woman and spoke to a man who told the president he named his dog after him. Thats nice, said Trump, who famously doesnt like pets.

The visit was not without its awkward moments. At one point he gazed at a yacht that had washed ashore onto an older mans property. Trump said to the man with a smile, At least you got a nice boat out of the deal.

They dont know whose boat that is, Trump said afterward to reporters. Whats the law? Maybe it becomes theirs.

1 / 27 A church is surrounded by floodwaters from Hurricane Florence in Conway, S.C. (Sean Rayford / Getty Images) 2 / 27 Floodwaters surround a barn after Hurricane Florence struck the Carolinas near Wallace, S.C. (Sean Rayford / Getty Images) 3 / 27 The Lumber River overflows onto a stretch of Interstate 95 in Lumberton, N.C. (Gerry Broome / Associated Press) 4 / 27 A resident surveys a flooded road in Lumberton, N.C. (Gerry Broome / Associated Press) 5 / 27 Tree limbs are caught under a railway bridge as Russell Maloy checks the level of the Cape Fear River in Fayetteville, N.C. (David Goldman / Associated Press) 6 / 27 An American flag flies in the wind as the Cape Fear River rises to near record heights in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence in Fayetteville, N.C. (David Goldman / Associated Press) 7 / 27 Scott Jones wades through about three feet of floodwater down the street he grew up on to check the condition of his fathers home after the Nuese River and a nearby creek overflowed during Hurricane Florence in Kinston, N.C. (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images) 8 / 27 Homes and a marina 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) 9 / 27 Bob Richling carries Iris Darden, 84, out of her flooded home as her daughter-in-law, Pam Darden, gathers her belongings in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence in Spring Lake, N.C. (David Goldman / Associated Press) 10 / 27 An above ground pool is surrounded by floodwaters from Hurricane Florence in Lumberton, N.C. (Gerald Herbert / Associated Press) 11 / 27 A man carries a flag to place on his truck as members of a punt team with the United States Coast Guard preform search and rescue through flood waters in Lumberton, N.C. (Jabin Botsford / The Washington Post) 12 / 27 Cars are submerged in a neighborhood in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence in Fayetteville, N.C. (Gerald Herbert / Associated Press) 13 / 27 Residents paddle a boat through a flooded neighborhood in Lumberton, N.C. (Gerry Broome / Associated Press) 14 / 27 A member of the United States Coast Guard is seen reflected in the window of a house as he wades through flood waters for a wellness check on citizens who choose to stay in their home in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence on Sept 16, 2018 in Lumberton, N.C. (Jabin Botsford / The Washington Post) 15 / 27 A man wades across a bridge flooded by Hurricane Florence in Pollocksville, N.C. (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP/Getty Images) 16 / 27 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) 17 / 27 Floodwaters surround buildings on Front Street in downtown Swansboro N.C. (Tom Copeland / Associated Press) 18 / 27 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) 19 / 27 A boat pushed ashore by Hurricane Florence rests in front of a damaged home in New Bern, N.C. (Gray Whitley / Associated Press) 20 / 27 Flood waters from Hurricane Florence surround a house and flow along the street in Fayetteville, N.C. (Joe Raedle / Getty Images) 21 / 27 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) 22 / 27 A man moves his horses from rising water in Lumberton, N.C., following flooding from now Tropical Depression Florence. (Gerry Broome / Associated Press) 23 / 27 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) 24 / 27 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) 25 / 27 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) 26 / 27 A resident walks from his flooded house toward the crew of the Cajun Navy in Lumberton, N.C. (Alex Edelman / AFP/Getty Images) 27 / 27 Floodwaters from Hurricane Florence rush down Cool Spring Street, inundating the St. James Church in Fayetteville, N.C. (Jim Lo Scalzo / EPA / Shutterstock)

Trump easily beat Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in Craven County, where New Bern is located, and by a narrower margin won the state on his way to his electoral college victory. Residents seemed buoyed by the presidents visit despite the devastation.

Everyone in this whole neighborhood lost everything they got, said Kenny Boyd, 64, a retired mechanic.

He evacuated his rented one-floor home when the water reached the street outside, and he took shelter in a family members upstairs apartment nearby. When he returned, the water line etched in the wall was nearly up to his knee, high enough to damage the electrical systems. Boyd flipped through old photo albums to dry out the pictures of his travels through the years.

After leaving New Bern, Trump flew by helicopter to Conway, on the South Carolina coast, where he visited with local officials and Republican Gov. Henry McMaster.

The state could see worse flooding as water flows south from North Carolina, McMaster warned. Trump promised that the federal government would provide support throughout the cleanup and rebuilding efforts.

You all know where to call me, the president said.

UPDATES:

3:25 p.m.: The story was updated throughout with staff reporting.

The story was originally published at 8:55 a.m.Good morning, and welcome to the Essential California newsletter. Its Wednesday, Sept. 19, and heres whats happening across California:

TOP STORIES

In 2016, California became the first state in the nation to allow family members, roommates and police officers to ask a judge to block individuals believed to be dangerous from having firearms for up to a year. The legislation followed a 2014 mass shooting in Isla Vista, near UC Santa Barbara. Relatives of the gunman, Elliot Rodger, had previously alerted authorities to his potential danger. But so far, the gun violence restraining orders have been rarely used. Los Angeles Times

Story of hope

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You can easily get discouraged about the monumental human catastrophe and the sprawl of tent cities. But rather than dwell on that now, I decided to take a look at how [Meg] Shimatsu made it home, and to see if theres something we can learn from her experience.  Columnist Steve Lopez on one womans journey out of homelessness. Los Angeles Times

Hes back

As director of Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art from 2010 to 2013, Jeffrey Deitch was responsible for some ambitious, populist and pop cultural exhibitions, including 2011s Art in the Streets, a historical survey of graffiti and street art that drew record crowds at the time, and a James Franco-organized show about the 1955 James Dean film Rebel Without a Cause. But his penchant for cross-disciplinary flash and sizzle was also a source of controversy at MOCA. Deitch resigned in 2013. Now he has resurfaced in the L.A. art world. Los Angeles Times

Get the Essential California newsletter 

Jeffrey Deitch, the former MOCA director, has returned to Los Angeles from New York. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

L.A. STORIES

Fudging the numbers? Is L.A.'s homeless population closer to 100,000? One nonprofit is offering an alternative view of the data. Los Angeles Times

Plus: In a scathing review of the states proliferating business improvement districts, a student project released Tuesday by the UC Berkeley law school accuses the nonprofit groups of systematically abusing homeless people. Los Angeles Times

Important story: In sadness and anger, female pastors open up about sexual harassment in black churches. Los Angeles Times

History lesson: The story of segregation in Los Angeles was preserved only by its black-owned papers. Quartz

IMMIGRATION AND THE BORDER

Down south: It was a Barbie-themed dream party, with carnival rides, hundreds of pink balloons and an elaborate set featuring gold chandeliers and a rose-colored throne. The guests of honor were the 7-year-old twin daughters of the worlds most notorious drug lord. Images of a decadent birthday bash thrown for the children of Joaquin El Chapo Guzman took Mexico by storm this week, with some criticizing the extravaganza as unseemly given how the family made its fortune. Los Angeles Times

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Struggling to keep up: When students enter school in California, they learn at a pace on par with  if not better than  those in other states. The problem is that they arrive far behind their national peers, and they never catch up. Los Angeles Times

Not unexpected: Far-right news sites began to smear a California professor after misidentifying her as the woman who has accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault. NBC News

By the Bay: San Francisco Dist. Atty. George Gascon faces a formidable challenge for his seat from Suzy Loftus. San Francisco Chronicle

Protecting taco stands: California Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a bill to make it easier for sidewalk vendors to operate legally in the state. Associated Press

Scandal: A San Diego diocese kept writing letters of recommendation for a priest accused of abuse. KQED

CRIME AND COURTS

Sad: One Sacramento County sheriffs deputy was killed and a second was wounded Monday when a gunman opened fire during a routine disturbance call at an auto shop in Rancho Cordova, authorities said. Los Angeles Times

Avoiding scrutiny: Current and former officers from the Long Beach Police Department in Southern California have told Al Jazeera that their police-issued phones had Tiger Text installed on them. The Tiger Text app is designed to erase text messages after a set time period. Al Jazeera

A chapter closes: SeaWorld and its former CEO, Jim Atchison, will pay more than $5 million to settle federal fraud charges that they misled investors about the impact the 2013 anti-captivity documentary Blackfish had on the theme park company. San Diego Union-Tribune

THE ENVIRONMENT

Da guvs legacy: Jerry Brown made climate change his issue. Now, hes not sure how much politicians can do. New York Times

Plus: California is leading the subnational efforts to curb climate change. The Economist

Wow: A mysterious great white shark lair has been discovered in the Pacific Ocean. SF Gate

CALIFORNIA CULTURE

Steamy: Adult film actress and director Stormy Daniels, who claims to have had an affair with Donald Trump in 2006, writes about their alleged sexual encounter in her forthcoming book, the Guardian reports. Los Angeles Times

Another shoe drops: The wife of recently departed CBS chief Les Moonves, Julie Chen, announced her departure from the CBS daytime show The Talk on Tuesdays edition of the program. Los Angeles Times

Deals, deals, deals: Lucid Motors, the Bay Area electric car start-up, has been struggling to raise money for more than a year. Now it appears to have found some: more than a billion dollars from Saudi Arabias sovereign wealth fund. Los Angeles Times

Ruh-ro: A criminal investigation into Tesla and Chief Executive Elon Musk could hurt the companys fundraising and recruitment. Los Angeles Times

CALIFORNIA ALMANAC

Los Angeles area: Partly cloudy, 80, Wednesday. Sunny, 83, Thursday. San Diego: Sunny, 76, Wednesday. Partly cloudy, 76, Thursday. San Francisco area: Sunny, 70, Wednesday. Sunny, 71, Thursday. San Jose: Sunny, 80, Wednesday. Sunny, 87, Thursday. Sacramento: Sunny, 88, Wednesday. Sunny, 92, Thursday. More weather is here.

AND FINALLY

Todays California memory comes from Carol Dale:

I moved to Los Angeles from Denver in 1973. I lived in Whittier for two months, then moved into an apartment for singles in Marina del Rey. Working in Beverly Hills as a legal secretary, I decided to skip work one day. Instead, I walked two blocks to the beach. Coming from Denver in my 20s, I couldnt believe that I was living in such a beautiful city, meeting single people and having a beach two blocks away! Sitting on my blanket, I looked to either side of me and saw that there was not one other human being on the beach for as far as I could see! Of course this was a one-time-only experience, never to happen again. What a wonderful start to my 45 years in Los Angeles.

If you have a memory or story about the Golden State, share it with us. Send us an email to let us know what you love or fondly remember about our state. (Please keep your story to 100 words.)

Please let us know what we can do to make this newsletter more useful to you. Send comments, complaints and ideas to Benjamin Oreskes and Shelby Grad. Also follow them on Twitter @boreskes and @shelbygrad.On Monday, it seemed that the Senate had found a satisfactory way to deal with a California psychologists shocking allegation that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her when they were high school students, a claim the nominee has categorically denied. Both Christine Blasey Ford and Kavanaugh would testify Monday at reopened hearings of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

But now the prospect of testimony by Ford is in doubt because of a request by her attorneys that her testimony be postponed until after a full investigation by law enforcement officials. An FBI investigation, they wrote in a letter to committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa), will ensure that the crucial facts and witnesses in this matter are assessed in a nonpartisan manner, and that the committee is fully informed before conducting any hearing or making any decisions.

Theres no guarantee that an investigation would bring any more clarity, or that its findings would make a difference in how the committee questions Ford and Kavanaugh. But given the stakes here, it could only help to have the FBI try to shed more light on the situation before the hearing is held.

Yet Grassley is standing firm. In a letter to the lawyers released on Wednesday, he repeated his invitation for Ford to testify on Monday, advising that if she decided to appear, her prepared remarks must be submitted by Friday at 10 a.m. As for the FBI, he insisted: It is not the FBIs role to investigate a matter such as this.

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Given the stakes here, it could only help to have the FBI try to shed more light on the situation before the hearing is held.

This is an obstructionist response that does no favors for Kavanaugh. As Grassley acknowledges elsewhere in his letter, its common practice for the FBI to conduct background investigations for Supreme Court nominees. While these arent criminal investigations, they do seek to acquire information about a nominees character.

Moreover, there is a precedent for expanding such investigations when new allegations surface. In 1991, after University of Oklahoma College of Law professor Anita Hill accused Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas of sexually harassing behavior when they worked together at two federal agencies, President George H.W. Bush ordered the FBI to look into her allegations. The interviews the bureau conducted took only three days to complete.

We see no reason why testimony by Kavanaugh, Ford and other relevant witnesses couldnt be postponed until after a similarly expedited investigation. And while Grassley is correct in noting that the Senate cant commandeer an Executive Branch agency into conducting our due diligence, he and other Republicans should urge President Trump to direct the FBI to expand its background check of Kavanaugh to include Fords accusations. (The president appeared reluctant to give such direction Wednesday, telling reporters: Well, it would seem that the FBI really doesnt do that.)

Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute from L.A. Times Opinion 

No matter what happens, we can expect plenty of partisanship and disingenousness at the hearing  even if the FBI can give senators a better factual basis to work with. Republicans are eager to speed Kavanaughs confirmation vote and Democrats are eager to delay it at least until the midterm elections are over. But the rest of us ought to focus on getting the information needed to understand whether theres something in Brett Kavanaughs past  or in his recent statements about that past  that ought to make us think twice about him serving on the Supreme Court.

It may well prove that the FBI will turn up nothing about an incident that allegedly occurred more than three decades ago that will make it any easier for senators to choose between the conflicting accounts of Kavanaugh and his accuser. But given the gravity of Fords allegations and the lifetime office to which Kavanaugh has been nominated, a rush to hold hearings is unnecessary and unseemly.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook.With the announcement Monday that the U.S. would accept no more than 30,000 refugees for resettlement in the coming year, the Trump administration has slammed the door on some of the worlds most vulnerable people  those displaced from their countries, primarily by war or civil unrest  who had hoped to rebuild their lives here free of violence or persecution.

For years, the United States has been the global leader in the number of resettled refugees. Since 1980, the U.S. has set an average annual cap of 94,650 refugees, with a high of 231,000 in 1980 in response to Vietnamese and Cambodian migration. For several years under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, the cap fell to 70,000, but it climbed back up by the end of the Obama administration to 110,000. Enter Donald J. Trump, who lowered the number to 45,000 this year, and now is slashing the cap again  to the lowest level since the Refugee Act of 1980 was enacted.

In the end, far fewer than 30,000 are likely to be resettled; that number is just a cap. So far this year, the U.S. has accepted a mere 20,000 refugees.

Cutting back on the number of refugees allowed into the country will not help the administration deal with the asylum seekers at its borders.

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Secretary of Defense Mike Pompeo announced the reduction to reporters Monday but took no questions. That was unfortunate, because more explanation is necessary. Breaking with past practices, Pompeo lumped refugees with asylum seekers and argued that the U.S. had to cut back on the former in order to deal with the humanitarian crisis caused by the latter. He referred to a backlog of 800,000 asylum seekers.

But the two are entirely different groups and are processed differently. Cutting back on the number of refugees allowed into the country will not help the administration deal with the asylum seekers at its borders. The government can set a limit on refugee resettlements, but under the law, asylum requests have to be dealt with as they come. (And saying, as Pompeo did, that the government will process more than 280,000 asylum requests doesnt mean that many people will receive it. Nearly 60% are rejected.)

Most refugees are first vetted overseas by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and, once referred for resettlement in the U.S., they are vetted again by the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department. No refugees are admitted until they are pre-cleared, a months-long process. Asylum seekers, conversely, often show up at the border unannounced or, if already in the country for other reasons  a student visa, say, or a cultural exchange  seek protection without advance notice. If the asylum seekers make credible arguments to border agents or immigration officials that they fear persecution if sent home, they are allowed to appear before immigration judges for a hearing.

Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute from L.A. Times Opinion 

But reducing the number of resettled refugees does not free up resources for clearing the immigration courts backlog.

The move to reduce the number of refugee resettlements must be viewed within the broader context of this administrations stingy approach to immigration, from its efforts to ban people from certain mostly Muslim nations to the demands for a wall on the Mexican border  what better symbol of a country shut off from the world than a wall?  to a drop in approved tourism visas and the erosion in the number of people granted citizenship even as applications have increased.

It is true that the nations immigration system is broken, and has been for years. Congress has been unwilling to live up to its responsibility to fix it, a dereliction that pre-dates Trumps time in the White House. But Trump has no interest in reforming the system, or even replacing it. He simply wants fewer immigrants even though the United States needs them in its economic future. And he wants fewer refugees, despite our moral obligation and historical commitment to those who seek our help.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or FacebookTo the editor: I do not always agree with the Times Editorial Board, but I have never been so hurt and deeply offended as I was by its editorial saying that it isnt anti-Semitic to oppose Israels right to exist.

Whether or not someone is critical of the government or was hurt by the establishment of the modern state of Israel is fair game in my mind. However, Israel is currently home to 6 million Jews, the largest population of Jews in the world. It is their homeland. Did the editorial board pause to ask, What would happen to these 6 million Jews if Israel were to no longer exist?

Without Israel, Jews would be subject to massacres and ethnic cleansing, like they faced in Europe prior to and during the Holocaust and more recently in the Arab world. Jews dont have anywhere else to go.

Calling for the destruction of the homeland of the Jewish people is deeply troubling, offensive and in my view bigoted. It causes deep pain for the majority of Jews. That is why it should not be acceptable on a college campus or elsewhere.

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Terry Fahn, Pacific Palisades

..

To the editor: I agree with The Times editorial that criticism of Zionism  or of Israel, which clearly is a political entity  is not to be conflated with anti-Semitism. But why is this false assertion of anti-Semitism being made in the first place?

I contend that it is because Israels consistent and well-documented record of violating Palestinians human rights presents proponents of Israel with a losing argument. They want to use lawfare to shut down the argument, particularly on college campuses, as they know they cannot successfully defend Israels record in an open debate.

The boycott, divestment and sanctions movement does not call for the end of the state of Israel. Its demand for equal rights for all people who are under Israeli control is a political one; it is not based on religion or ethnicity.

Rick Chertoff, Sherman Oaks

..

To the editor: The State Department definition of anti-Semitism now being used by the Department of Education isnt some dangerously broad leap by the Trump administration. Its essentially what the State Department has been using since it was mandated by a 2004 law to document and combat acts of anti-Semitism globally.

Thirty-one countries around the world have adopted the definition. Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kenneth Marcus wisely decided that the Education Department should use this widely accepted definition to help better understand how anti-Semitism is expressed today. The definition simply recognizes that while of course not all criticism of Israel is anti-Semitic, some is.

In 2016, the University of California system came to a similar conclusion, with the UC regents noting that opposition to Zionism is often expressed in ways that are not simply statements of disagreement over politics and policy, but also assertions of prejudice and intolerance toward Jewish people and culture.

The regents declared, Anti-Semitism, anti-Zionism and other forms of discrimination have no place at the University of California.

Using the definition will not in any way restrict anyones right to criticize Israel. Rather, the definition will simply help the Department of Education assess cases like the Zionist Organization of Americas against Rutgers University, and determine whether alleged discriminatory conduct is unlawfully motivated by bias against Jews.

Susan Tuchman, New York

The writer is director of the Zionist Organization of Americas Center for Law and Justice

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and FacebookTo the editor: I remember when Stanford University changed its mascots name from the Indians to the Cardinal to maintain political correctness. It appears time to change again  to the Hypocrites.

The schools leaders are planning to strip prominent campus references to Junipero Serra because he used harsh methods on Native Americans while establishing the California mission system. If only he had become a wealthy robber baron and exploited Chinese immigrants to build railroads during the late 1800s, they would have named a university after him.

Oh, wait, that person was a fellow named Leland Stanford, who named the university after his son, Leland Stanford Jr.

Casey Hamlin, Bell Canyon

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..

To the editor: Kudos to Stanford for removing the name of Junipero Serra from campus.

However, instead of replacing his name on a street with that of Jane Stanford, the wife of the founder of the university, school leaders might instead select the names of the local Native American tribes that suffered so badly under Serra.

Or perhaps they could use the name of Ishi, the native who was the last member of his tribe in that area.

Don Fisher, Claremont

..

To the editor: The Times article notes that Serra, who established the California mission system blamed for decimating Native American communities, is seen as an oppressor of early Californians. Today, Stanford community members tell of visceral feelings of harm, trauma, emotional damage, and damage to their mental health from seeing Serras name around campus.

So it follows that statues referencing the U.S. Army and westward pioneers should also be removed. Dont forget any mention of Columbus or the people who followed him to North America.

Land has been taken by force for millenniums; just ask the Ukrainians. It may not be acceptable here today, but it once was. Move on.

Suzanne Brugman, La Habra Heights

..

To the editor: Lets be clear: The California mission system was based on the enslavement of Native Americans.

Jedediah Smith, who led an expedition to explore the southwestern U.S. in 1826-27, kept a journal of his travels. When he arrived at the Mission San Gabriel, having been led there by two 16-year-old Indian boys, he recounted, My two Indian guides were put in prison immediately on my arrival charged with being runaways from the mission.

Smith describes the treatment of the mission Indians, who were kept in the strictest order being punished severely for the most trifling offense or neglect. They are whipped like slaves.

The California missions werent the wonderfully beneficial establishments that some would have you believe.

Trent Sanders, La Canada Flintridge

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and FacebookGeneral Secretary of the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party and President of Laos Bounnhang Vorachith (right) receives Director of the VPA's General Department of Politics Sen. Lieut. Gen Luong Cuong (Source: VNA)



The VPA delegation made courtesy calls to General Secretary of the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party and President of Laos Bounnhang Vorachith and Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen Chansamone Chanyalath during their official visit to Laos.

The Lao leaders welcomed the visit of the VPA delegation and the outcomes of the talks between the delegation and a delegation of political officers of the Lao Peoples Army.

They said the armies of the two countries should strengthen cooperation across the fields, especially in Party and political work in the current situation, in order to defeat all attempts to undermine and break up the special traditional friendship between the two countries.

The Lao leaders also emphasized the need to educate the young generations on the special ties between the two countries so that they will continue to nurture the ties.

Party General Secretary and President of Laos Bounnhang Vorachith affirmed that he will continue to support and facilitate defence ties between the two countries.

Sen. Lieut. Gen Luong Cuong said the VPAs General Department of Politics will continue to work closely and effectively with the Lao counterpart to strengthen the political and Party ideological position in the army, contributing to enhancing the defence partnership and the relations between the two armies and countries.

Earlier the same day, Sen. Lieut. Gen Luong Cuong held talks with Sen. Lieut. Gen. Vilay Lakhamphong, Deputy Defence Minister and Director of the General Department of Politics of the Lao Peoples Army.

At the talks, the two sides shared the view that the two General Departments of Politics have collaborated closely in instructing the responsible and effective implementation of the protocol for 2015-2019 and the plans on cooperation between the two Defence Ministries and General Departments of Politics.

They agreed that bilateral cooperation in the time ahead will focus on consolidating the direct and absolute leadership of the two Parties over the two armies, thus further cementing the mutual trust and effective cooperation between the two Parties, States, peoples and armies, maintaining the peaceful and stable environment for development in each country and defeating all conspiracies aimed at separating the Vietnam-Laos traditional friendship.

The two sides decided to intensify education campaigns to raise the understanding of army officers and soldiers about the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries and armies.

They vowed to work together to enhance the quality of training of high-ranking officers for the two armies, accelerate the search for and repatriation of remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Laos during wartime, while maintaining mutual visits and cultural and sport exchanges.

The two sides noted the need to collaborate to design plans for communication activities on the 70th founding anniversary of the Lao Peoples Army and the 75th anniversary of the Vietnam Peoples Army in 2019.

Also on September 18th, the VPA delegation paid floral tribute at the monument to fallen soldiers in Vientiane. They are scheduled to visit a number of units of the Lao Peoples Army on September 19th./.Sen. Dianne Feinstein was one of four female senators who rode into Washington in 1992 amid a political backlash over the all-male panel that quizzed Anita Hill on her sexual harassment allegations against Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas a year earlier.

Now as the top Democrat handling the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Brett M. Kavanaugh, the California senator finds herself in the middle of the political maelstrom over sexual assault allegations against another high court nominee.

Republicans accuse her of withholding the allegation until the most politically advantageous moment. Even some Democrats initially complained that she didnt share the explosive information with them earlier.

Next week, Feinstein may have to lead Democrats into a hearing  if it takes place  with Kavanaugh and possibly his accuser, Northern California psychology professor Christine Blasey Ford, that will likely determine whether Kavanaugh goes to the high court or watches his confirmation fall apart amid the #MeToo movement over sexual misconduct.

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Fords attorney said Tuesday that her client doesnt want to appear at a Senate hearing until the FBI investigates, mirroring a request Feinstein has made. Feinstein and other Democrats havent decided whether they will attend if Ford doesnt appear.

Democrats who earlier this month were frustrated that Feinstein wasnt sharing with them Fords allegation are now rallying to their colleagues defense as she faces criticism from Republicans as well as her Democratic opponent, state Sen. Kevin de Leon of Los Angeles, over how she handled the allegation she first received in July.

Feinstein has defended her handling of the sensitive information, noting that Ford initially did not want to be identified.

There is Dianne thinking: Here is a woman who may have been the victim of sexual assault who doesnt want her name made public, said Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.), who also sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee. That is a tough call at that point. You want to be sensitive to [Ford] and the reality of if it went public against her will.

Ford alleges that at a party while she and Kavanaugh were both in high school, he drunkenly pinned her down on a bed and groped her, covering her mouth with his hand when she tried to scream. In recounting the story to the Washington Post, Ford said she escaped when a third person jumped on the bed, sending all three tumbling off. Kavanaugh has denied the allegation.

Feinstein received word of the allegations in a July letter in which Ford requested confidentiality. The senator did not bring it up at Kavanaughs four-day confirmation hearing, in a private meeting with him or at a closed-door discussion between Kavanaugh and the full committee. But shortly after the hearing, rumors of the letter circulated among Democrats on the Judiciary Committee. They privately requested that Feinstein share the contents of the letter with them, according to Democratic sources.

Once the online news publication the Intercept reported on the controversy, Feinstein referred the letter to the FBI and said so publicly. That decision was the result of a meeting of committee Democrats shortly after the publication, according to Durbin. Days later, Ford decided to go public.

The political potency of the allegation has sparked a political firestorm in which Republicans have tried to keep the focus of their blame on Feinstein and Democrats for how they handled the allegation instead of the alleged victim of a sexual assault.

Theres a process here that seems to be a bit suspicious, said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a member of the Judiciary Committee.

Republicans argue that the call for a FBI investigation is just another attempt by Democrats to drag out a process that they have been trying to slow down since Kavanaughs name was first announced. Republicans have already had to delay a preliminary vote on Kavanaugh that had been planned for Thursday.

And theyve posed the question that if an investigation is so important, why wasnt the FBI told about the allegation until last week.

Feinstein said she was trying to protect Fords identity. I was asked to hold it confidential and I did as long as I thought it was wise, and then I referred it to the FBI, she told reporters.

Democrats have come to Feinsteins defense.

We cant let what happened back last summer dictate our full constitutional responsibility to get to all the facts, Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.) said on CNN. We got to play the hand were dealt right now and move forward.

But at least one Democrat is ready to publicly criticize. Feinsteins general election opponent, De Leon, lambasted her for not immediately confronting Kavanaugh with the accusation.

The American people deserve to know why the ranking member on the Senate Judiciary Committee waited nearly three months to hand this disqualifying document over to the federal authorities, and why Sen. Feinstein politely pantomimed her way through [the confirmation] hearing without a single question about the content of Kavanaughs character, De Leon said.

Feinstein landed in hot water Tuesday when she told a reporter that she cant say everythings truthful in Fords account, a comment that White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said makes clear why she didnt bring the allegation forward sooner.

Feinstein later tweeted that shes found every single piece of information from Dr. Christine Blasey Ford eminently credible, sincere and believable.

Republicans are carefully keeping their fire on Feinstein and not on Ford.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) accused Feinstein of egregiously mishandling the letter, suggesting that the senator must have withheld the letter because she didnt believe Ford.

If they didnt believe her and chose to withhold the information, why did they decide at the 11th hour to release it, McConnell said this week. Its really not fair to either of them the way it was handled.

President Trump criticized her, too.

What I dont like is that Sen. Feinstein had this letter for a period of like three months, from July, maybe even before that  but from July, Trump said Wednesday. That doesnt look good.

Staff writer Sarah D. Wire in Washington D.C. contributed to this report.

The latest from Washington 

jennifer.haberkorn@latimes.com

@jenhabPresident Trump has demanded the immediate declassification of sensitive materials about the Russia investigation, but the agencies responsible are expected to propose redactions that would keep some information secret, according to three people familiar with the matter.

The Justice Department, FBI and Office of the Director of National Intelligence are going through a methodical review and cant offer a timeline for finishing, said the people, who werent authorized to speak publicly about the sensitive matter.

The White House issued a statement on Monday listing material that Trump wants declassified immediately, echoing demands of the Republican lawmakers who share his contention that the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election was tainted by anti-Trump bias well before Robert S. Mueller III was named as special counsel to run it.

Among Trumps demands was the full public release of all text messages concerning the Russia probe by Justice Department official Bruce Ohr and by several former officials including two who were fired  former FBI Director James B. Comey and his deputy, Andrew McCabe. One person described the order to release text messages as unprecedented, and another said additional talks will probably be held with the White House over the matter.

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The Justice Department and FBI are expected to submit their documents and proposed redactions to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which will assemble all the material into a package and hand it over to the White House, according to the people.

Although the agencies want to guard against revealing classified sources and methods in the ongoing Russia investigation, doing so could put them in direct conflict with Trump, who as president has the power to override the agencies and declassify material on his own.

Its too early to say if any officials would resign in protest should Trump do that, one person said. Trump could ask the agencies to go back and scrub the redacted material further.

Critics, including leading congressional Democrats, contend that Trump has crossed a line by ordering release of the documents in order to interfere with and undermine the Russia investigation in which hes a key figure.

President Trump, in a clear abuse of power, has decided to intervene in a pending law enforcement investigation by ordering the selective release of materials he believes are helpful to his defense team and thinks will advance a false narrative, Rep. Adam B. Schiff of Burbank, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said in a statement Monday.

Triggering review

Trump took the rare step of ordering material released after a group of conservative House Republicans asked him to do so.

When the president issues such an order, it triggers a declassification review process that is conducted by various agencies within the intelligence community, in conjunction with the White House counsel, to seek to ensure the safety of Americas national security interests, a Justice Department spokesman said in a statement. The department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are already working with the Director of National Intelligence to comply with the presidents order.

Some of what Trump requested was well known to the Justice Department and FBI and was already under review for potential declassification.

They have already been reviewing whether and how to release more of a previously secret warrant application to eavesdrop on Carter Page, a foreign policy advisor to Trumps presidential campaign who was flagged by intelligence agencies as a target of Russian interest. Page hasnt been accused of wrongdoing and has said that although he had conversations with Russian officials, he wasnt an agent of the Russian government.

The agencies also have been reviewing whether and how to release reports of interviews with Ohr on his role in the Russia inquiry.

But another part of the White House statement caused confusion because it asked for all FBI reports of interviews prepared in connection with all Carter Page FISA applications, referring to paperwork thats required of the government under the four-decade-old Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

Confidential informant

The Justice Department is interpreting that request to mean information about the use of a confidential informant during the early parts of the investigation, one person said. The department had previously briefed the Gang of Eight, Republican and Democratic congressional leaders and heads of the intelligence committees, on the informant.

Trump and his supporters have repeatedly attacked the FBI and Justice Department for using details from a dossier on Trump compiled by former British spy Christopher Steele as part of its evidence to obtain a classified warrant on Page. They contend that Justice and FBI officials didnt fully disclose that Steele was paid in part by Trumps rival in the presidential campaign, Hillary Clinton.

Democrats have said information other than the Steele dossier was used to obtain the warrant on Page.

The initial warrant request called Page an agent of a foreign power and said the FBI believes Page has been the subject of targeted recruitment by the Russian government.Republicans hardened their position and closed ranks Wednesday in the handling of sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, ramping up their rhetoric and unifying around the idea that his accuser should testify  publicly or privately  by Monday.

Its a big political gamble. Republicans may be able to leverage their slim 51-seat Senate majority to quickly push ahead with Kavanaughs confirmation, despite Democrats objections and before any more public pressure has a chance to build.

But amid the #MeToo backlash over sexual misconduct, GOP leaders risk angering voters  particularly suburban women  if they seem to be dismissing the allegation of California professor Christine Blasey Ford or mistreating a woman who says she was a victim of attempted rape.

Theres a real risk, it seems to me. It further inflames Democratic and independent women, said David Brady, a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, a think tank. [Those groups] are the big danger in the midterms anyway. Id be polling the [heck] out of this.

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President Trump raised doubts Wednesday about Fords story. Ford, a Palo Alto University psychology professor, says Kavanaugh pinned her down, groped her and covered her mouth to silence her when the two were high school students in the early 1980s. Kavanaugh has denied the allegations.

Trump said its very hard for me to imagine anything happened, calling the accusation unfair. Trump added he hoped to hear from Ford.

I really would want to see what she has to say, Trump told reporters outside the White House. If she shows up and makes a credible showing, that would be very interesting. If she doesnt show up, that would be very unfortunate.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) had some of the harshest words Wednesday. This has been a drive-by shooting when it comes to Kavanaugh. Ill listen to the lady, but were going to bring this to a close, he told the Washington Post.

He and other Republicans say that if Ford does not share her story by Monday, senators should proceed to a vote on Kavanaugh next week.

Both Ford and Kavanaugh have expressed a willingness to testify. Without consulting Ford, the Senate Judiciary Committee scheduled a hearing for Monday. But Fords attorney said late Tuesday that she would prefer that the FBI look into the matter first, and Democrats are backing her.

Senate Republicans have rejected the call for an FBI investigation. In a letter to Fords attorney, Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) said that the FBI does not make a credibility assessment of any information it receives with respect to a nominee. Nor is it tasked with investigating a matter simply because the committee deems it important.

He said in the letter that Ford must submit her prepared testimony by Friday if she intends to participate, and Grassley said a decision on whether to cancel the meeting if she does not attend would likely be made at the last minute.

A key GOP voice in deciding Kavanaughs fate, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, on Wednesday joined fellow moderate Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) in calling for Ford to testify, either privately or publicly, on Monday.

Previously the pair, along with Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), appeared to diverge from GOP leaders by calling for a delay in the Kavanaugh confirmation vote in order to hear from Ford. But now Flake and Collins seem satisfied with Grassleys attempts to give Ford the opportunity to tell her story.

I hope that Dr. Ford will reconsider and testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday, Collins tweeted. It is my understanding that the committee has offered to hold either a public or a private session, whichever would make her more comfortable.

Abortion rights group NARAL Pro-Choice America warned that if Collins backs Kavanaugh, she is no ally to women and shouldnt rely on female supporters in her next election.

If its truly Sen. Collins intention to side with Brett Kavanaugh over Dr. Blasey Ford, she will never again be able to claim the mantle of an ally to women or survivors, and that is not something that women will ever forget  not next week, not next month, and not in 2020 when shes up for reelection, NARAL President Ilyse Hogue said.

Trump repeated his assertion that the FBI does not investigate such allegations as part of the background check process and that it would be up to senators to request that it does so. It would seem that the FBI really doesnt do that, Trump said.

Others familiar with the process said the White House could request further action by the FBI.

President George H.W. Bush ordered the FBI to look into the sexual harassment allegations brought against now-Justice Clarence Thomas by professor Anita Hill during his Supreme Court confirmation process.

Grassley said on Twitter on Wednesday that staff investigators are looking into the allegations and that no other OUTSIDE investigation is necessary for the [committee] to do its investigation.

The staff investigator title is a bit of a misnomer, according to Lisa Graves, former chief nominations counsel for Judiciary Committee Democrats. They are tasked with reading a candidates FBI file and summarizing it for senators, she said, and arent required to have legal or investigative experience.

Those are partisan investigators doing partisan work on behalf of their partisan boss, Graves said. It was always the FBIs role to conduct interviews and do an investigation.

Graves, who also vetted judicial candidates for the Justice Department for President Clinton, said it was ridiculous to say that the FBI cant add to Kavanaughs background investigation, or that its authority doesnt include investigating allegations made about a nominee. In the past, she said, senators were welcome to ask the FBI to provide more information about specific instances.

I cant believe the claims that are being made, she said.

An impartial FBI investigation could help clarify some of the conflicting stories circulating about what may have happened, Democrats say. Ford identified one person, Mark Judge, as witnessing the alleged assault, though Judge has said he has no recollection of it and does not want to testify about it.

Another risk for Republicans is that something that began as a fight over a Supreme Court seat will be drawn into the #MeToo movement.

Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) said Tuesday that Ford is under no obligation to participate in the Republican efforts to sweep this whole thing under the rug, to continue this nomination on the fast track and to participate in a smear campaign and basically a railroad job. This is what they did to Anita Hill.

Hill, who testified before the Judiciary Committee in 1991 that Thomas had sexually harassed her, urged senators Wednesday to push the pause button on plans to hold a hearing next week. She said the FBI should be allowed to investigate.

Hill warned that senators should avoid a sham proceeding.

The American public really is expecting something more, Hill said during an appearance on ABCs Good Morning America. They want to know that the Senate takes this seriously.

The latest from Washington 

More stories from Sarah D. Wire 

sarah.wire@latimes.com

Twitter: @sarahdwire

UPDATES:

1:50 p.m.: This article was updated with comments from Collins, Hoover Institution fellow David Brady and NARAL President Ilyse Hogue.

10:40 a.m.: This article was updated with comments from GOP Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, and Lisa Graves, former chief nominations counsel for Judiciary Committee Democrats.

This article was originally published at 8:10 a.m.Bus service in Burbank as well as street projects in both Burbank and Glendale were among the topics brought up during a recent meeting with representatives of the Arroyo Verdugo Communities Joint Powers Authority as they make their rounds to each member city and gather input about proposed regional transportation projects.

The first stop was at the Burbank Transportation Commission on Monday, when officials with Cambridge Systematics, a consultant hired by the joint powers authority, briefed commissioners on the proposed transit and street projects the city would like to see funded with Measure M monies over the next five years.

A steering committee, which was officially formed earlier this year, includes representatives from Burbank, Glendale, La Canada Flintridge, Pasadena, South Pasadena and the unincorporated areas of La Crescenta and Montrose.

The reason why these cities and neighborhoods formed a joint powers authority was to ensure that they receive funding from Measure M, a half-cent sales tax voters approved in November 2016 to generate revenue for countywide transportation improvements.

Jon Overman, a transportation analyst with Cambridge Systematics, said Metro, the agency in charge of distributing the funds, is leaning toward distributing money to the steering committee on a per-capita basis.

The transportation agency is expected to give the group about $24 million over the next five years to help pay for transportation projects approved by Metro.

Of that amount, Burbank is expected to receive almost $4.9 million, Overman said. Meanwhile, Glendale could get roughly $9.4 million because of its larger population.

According to the 2016 census, Glendales population was 200,831, while Burbanks was just 104,447.

Two transit projects requested by Burbank both involve replacing the buses used for the citys BurbankBus program. The city would need about $1.8 million to replace three buses in 2020 and approximately $3.25 million to replace five in 2023.

Mark Ehrhardt, transportation commission chairman, said he had concerns about using the money to replace buses, adding that the City Council and the commission have both struggled to decide whether to continue the city bus service.

For the past few years, city staff has said BurbankBus has struggled to perform well due to declining ridership and high costs.

Does the city of Burbank want to continue to be in the bus business at all? Ehrhardt said. That has been a question that has not been resolved, and its going to have to be resolved at some point.

Burbank officials are also looking to use some of the Measure M funding for two streets projects that would improve bicycle and vehicle mobility between Burbank and Glendale.

One involves connecting the Chandler Bikeway in Burbank to the Los Angeles River bike path in Glendale via the Burbank Western Channel and Victory Boulevard.

This project is estimated to cost Burbank roughly $3.5 million and Glendale about $7 million.

The other is a complete street renovation on Glenoaks Boulevard between Brand Boulevard in Glendale and Verdugo Avenue in Burbank.

The Burbank portion of the project involves constructing high-visibility crosswalks, sidewalk bulb-outs on corners and protected bicycle lanes along Glenoaks between Verdugo and Alameda avenues and on Verdugo between Glenoaks and Ikea Way.

Glendale will make the same improvements on Glenoaks from Alameda to Brand Boulevard.

Burbanks portion of the project is estimated to be $5 million, while Glendales part is projected to cost about $16 million.

Joint powers authority representatives are scheduled to return to Burbank on Oct. 16, when they are expected to present the regional projects to the City Council.

Steering committee officials are asking the public from each city and neighborhood to review the proposed projects and submit feedback.

A survey and list of potential projects can be found at tinyurl.com/AVCJPASurvey.

anthonyclark.carpio@latimes.com

Twitter: @acocarpioA rankings system considered flawed by Woodbury Universitys president did not rate the small, private nonprofit institution high in its latest round of reviews.

U.S. News and World Report gave the Burbank-based university 43 points out of a total 100, with other regional rankings faring a little better.

Woodbury tied for 59th place with Texas A&M Laredo among regional universities in the West, a zone that spans from Texas and Oklahoma to the east, Washington to the north and Alaska and Hawaii to the west.

I dont put a lot of stock into the rankings because theyre very generalized and some of the metrics that they use are incomplete or dont work for us, said David Steele-Figueredo, Woodburys president.

U.S. News and World Report has three systems for categorizing and ranking schools. There are national universities, which offer research and doctoral programs, undergraduate-focused liberal arts colleges as well as regional universities and colleges, which fall in between.

The rankings are based on a variety of criteria, including graduation and retention rates (27%), expert opinion (20%), faculty resources (20%), student excellence (10%), financial resources (10%), graduation-performance rate (8%) and alumni giving (5%).

In Southern California, Woodbury was No. 15 regionally behind a group that included Loyola Marymount, which was No. 1 in Southern California and third in the West, Chapman University, which came in No. 5 in the West, and the University of Redlands, ranked No. 11 in the West, which has a regional campus in Burbank.

Area universities such as UCLA and USC were listed in the national rankings and not included in the regional section.

For Woodbury, prior to this year, the biggest school [here] was architecture, and we dont have a four-year graduation program. Its either five years or six years, Steele-Figueredo said. Were immediately at a disadvantage when we measure ourselves with the four-year graduation rate.

Steele-Figueredo noted that Woodbury students are encouraged to take classes outside their major, or change majors while in school, which leads to educational plans that stretch beyond four-year windows.

Steele-Figueredo added that, although hes not content with the schools 79% retention rate, its still above the norm.

Were a small, private university with a high number of first-generation students and our retention rate is still above the industry average of 76%, he said. Wed like to be higher, but were already above average.

Woodbury stood out among its regional peers for a second straight year in percentage of international students, as it was No. 1 in the West among 130 schools, with 21%.

Diversity is fundamental to the American educational experience, and we, at Woodbury, are proud to be a beacon for international students, Steele-Figueredo said. Woodbury is and has always been a welcoming place, where diversity and inclusion have long been hallmarks.

Woodbury was also ranked No. 41 in Best Value Schools in the West and in the high 400s among total business schools, nationally and regionally combined.

Steele-Figueredo said he puts more faith behind industry and independent rankings, which traditionally have rated Woodbury higher.

The universitys animation program was ranked No. 17 in the West by Animation Career Review magazine last year and recently the architecture program was ranked 18th by the DesignIntelligence architectural research firm.

Princeton University was ranked highest among national universities, while Harvard was second and Columbia took third.

Stanford came in at No. 7 as Californias top school, while UCLA was the nations top public institution and was ranked No. 19 overall. Santa Clara University was rated the top regional university in the West.

andrew.campa@latimes.com

Twitter @campadresportsIts been billed as the greatest collection of California art that nobody has seen.

That might be a slight exaggeration, but the Buck Collection  donated to UC Irvine in November 2017  contains dozens of hidden gems of modern and contemporary California art that havent been shown publicly in years. Gems such as Richard Diebenkorns Albuquerque #9, a large, attention-grabbing abstract oil on canvas from 1952; Peter Alexanders Thrasher, a sweeping birds-eye view of Los Angeles at dusk from 1992; and Stanton MacDonald-Wrights Le Comble, an oil on canvas from 1955 and a perfect example of Synchromism, an important movement MacDonald-Wright co-founded that linked color and music.

These gems have been in storage  some for decades  in an unmarked Los Angeles warehouse, in the late Gerald Bucks home, in a former Laguna Beach post office and in a sail manufacturing plant on Balboa Peninsula. But starting Sept. 29, about 50 works will be on view to the public in the exhibition titled First Glimpse: Introducing The Buck Collection. The free show will run through Jan. 5 at UCIs University Art Gallery and Contemporary Arts Center Gallery.

Stephen Barker, dean of UCIs Claire Trevor School of the Arts, co-curated the exhibit with Kevin Appel, chair of the art department, and Cecile Whiting, chair of the art history department. Altogether, they took about six months to put together this show. And surprisingly, they were on the same page for about 90% of the choices, picking from about 3,200 works total.

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We have been so overwhelmingly delighted by not only the way in which the show has come together, but by the response we have received, keeping in mind that we have just begun bringing the public into this First Glimpse, Barker said.

Though self-taught as a collector, Buck, a successful Newport Beach developer, knew exactly what to collect. Most of it is regarded by critics and art aficionados as pretty significant work.

The list of artists in the collection reads like a whos who in California art, and in American art, in general: Alexander, Carlos Almaraz, John Altoon, Larry Bell, Billy Al Bengston, Karl Benjamin, Tony DeLap, Diebenkorn, Lorser Feitelson, Oskar Fischinger, Llyn Foulkes, Frederick Hammersley, Craig Kauffman, Roger Kuntz, Helen Lundeberg, John McLaughlin, Ed Ruscha, Wayne Thiebaud, James Turrell and Peter Voulkos.

Keen observers of art in Southern California will recognize several of these artists being prominently featured in exhibitions and museum shows throughout the region over the past 20 years.

Its a balance of looking at an overview of the history of modern California art, but at the same time, it has some idiosyncrasies to it so that its more thematically oriented instead of being a step-by-step historical viewpoint, co-curator Appel said.

The chair of UCIs art department said all of the attention the Buck Collection will potentially bring to UCI may get his students paying attention, too.

Its hard sometimes to get their interest, especially across campus, he said. Some students of mine have never been in the galleries, and theyre art majors. Hopefully, this will invigorate the arts for students. They are always looking at things, at art on their phones, and they see everything backlit. The way they experience color is a very different thing than seeing a painting in person.

The Buck Collection will be housed in the future UCI Institute and Museum of California Art (IMCA), which is expected to be built on Campus Drive, adjacent to the Irvine Barclay Theatre. The 100,000-square-foot building is anticipated to have 45,000 to 50,000 square feet of exhibition space, and cost between $150 million and $200 million, Barker said.

If all goes according to plan, a ground-breaking ceremony for the new structure will be held in the next five years, and the IMCA will open after funds have been secured.

Next year, in the fall, the museum will move to a 16,000-square-foot interim location on the UC Irvine campus. The interim IMCA will be on California Avenue in the research section of UCI by the medical school, according to those familiar with the project. The museum will also house the Irvine Museum Collection, gifted to UCI in October 2016.

In the meantime, the public will be able to view choice selections from the Buck Collection, which is valued between $30 million and $40 million. An opening reception is scheduled from 2 to 5 p.m. Sept. 29.

The collection spans a broad range of genres and media, with quintessential examples of abstract classicism, expressionism, pop, assemblage, Light and Space and hard-edge painting.

Highlights include Lee Mullicans Oblique of Agawam, an energetic, sun spectrum-like, 1950 oil on canvas; Llyn Foulkes introspective For Father W.B., a 1974 mixed media; Helen Lundebergs mystical The Wind That Blew The Sky Away, a 1951 oil on canvas; and DeWain Valentines pristine purplish resin sculpture, Circle Grey  Rose, from 1970.

At a recent soft opening for invited guests, members of the Orange County and L.A. art communities admired selections from the Buck Collection while artists Alexander, Bengston and Lita Albuquerque looked on. Laguna Beach gallery owner Peter Blake also attended, as did Jonathan Burke, president of the Laguna College of Art + Design.

Through the run of First Glimpse, the emerging IMCA will host a series of symposia and artists glimpse talks. Bengston will deliver a talk at 6 p.m. Nov. 13, followed by a reception. Helen Pashigan will offer a talk at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 6, followed by a reception. And Alexander and artist Chuck Arnoldi will offer their artists glimpse at a future date, to be determined.

Organizers say IMCA brings UCI full circle, as the original architect for the university, William Pereira, drew up a rectangle that represented an art museum in his initial blueprints. It was stationed at the northern entrance of UCI, approximately where the new IMCA will be located.

If You Go

What: First Glimpse: Introducing the Buck Collection

When: Sept. 29-Jan. 5; hours will be noon-6 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, open until 8 p.m. Thursdays

Where: University Art Gallery and Contemporary Arts Center Gallery, UCI, 712 Arts Plaza, Irvine

Cost: Free

Information: (949) 824-9854 or visit imca.uci.edu

Richard Chang is a TimesOC contributor.When James Sun was 12 years old, he would rub the insides of orange peels on his face.

He had read that orange peels had acid that neutralized oil, so he thought he had discovered an all-natural remedy to combat pre-teen acne.

Its too strong, but I didnt know it at the time, Sun said. But it felt good doing it, and thats the thing with beauty products  its gotta feel good.

Sun is the CEO of the popular Korean beauty website Beautytap, which opened its first retail store at South Coast Plaza last weekend.

Special guests included K-pop star and fashion icon Jessica Jung, whose Blanc & Eclare skincare line is featured in store; Young Kim, the Korean American politician running for Californias 39th Congressional District; and beauty influencers Fei Yang of HeyitsFeiii and Fifty Shades of Snails Jude Chao, who is also Beautytaps director of marketing.

Former Girls Generation member Jessica Jung held a meet and greet at the grand opening of Beautytap on Sept. 15. Her Blanc & Eclare skin care line is featured in the store. (Photo by Dean Hollis)

Chao began experimenting with Korean beauty products in 2013, around the time Korean beauty started to become more mainstream in America, with the formation of e-commerce companies like Peach & Lily, Glow Recipe and Soko Glam.

As a blogger, Chao amassed an avid following by writing reviews and educating readers about popular K-beauty ingredients like snail mucin (slime), which keeps skin hydrated and dewy. Recently, shes been recommending donkey milk-infused water drop creams, which are full of antioxidants, and turn into tiny beads of water when they touch the skin.

I think a lot of Asian cultures are more texture-driven than Western ones, Chao said. And its such a competitive market in Korea that they work so hard to create products that are fun to use, whether its the packaging, the interesting textures, or the cute animal characters.

Sun wants Beautytap to become a physical version of the welcoming community theyve built online. He wants beauty fans to come hang out, use their Wi-Fi, read curated skincare books, attend events and try new products theyll bring in every month without the pressure to buy.

If youre reading advice from a professional whos working on Kim Kardashians face, its intimidating, Sun said. But if someone is saying, `You have oily skin, and I also have oily skin, let me tell you what works for me. Thats way more open and transparent and enjoyable for everyone.

Ultimately, beauty is about self-care, said Anna M. Park, Beautytaps editor in chief.

When you take the time to learn what makes your skin healthy, and you do that ritual every morning and night, this is time you are taking to focus on yourself, she said.

Sun knows theres a male audience for his products as well.

My male friends think Im nuts because I do it all: the double cleansing, the toner, the serum, eye serum, definitely the masks, Sun said. But in Korea, every man does skin care. If you think about it, Koreans put pictures on their resumes, even when they are applying for a normal job. Thats why Koreans care so much about how they look and taking care of themselves.

Back in 2005, Sun gained some fame as a finalist on The Apprentice, Donald Trumps reality competition show featuring entrepreneurs. According to Suns account, when he asked why there hadnt been an Asian guy on the show before him, the casting directors told him Asian men dont make for good TV.

It just made me realize that even now, Asian Americans still have a hard time breaking through to mainstream audiences, said Sun, who comes from the tech industry. So after selling my last company, I made it my personal goal to become a bridge between Asia and the U.S.

Congressional candidate Young Kim joins Beautytap CEO James Sun at the ribbon cutting ceremony during the stores grand opening. (Photo by Dean Hollis)

Beautytaps grand opening is coming only a few weeks after an Irvine attorneys Facebook post complaining about all the Asians who flooded into Orange County and then took over our mall at South Coast Plaza went viral.

Shes saying that Asians taking over South Coast plaza is a negative thing, Sun said. But I think this just shows that shes wrong. In working with us, South Coast Plaza is saying, We want to work with this community. 

Suns theory is that if Americans love Chinese food, they cant say they dont like Chinese people. If they love Korean beauty, they cant say they dont like Koreans.

I want to help make Korean beauty really mainstream, Sun said. I want to make it like Chinese food.The Huntington Beach City Council on Monday reversed an earlier decision and agreed to remove the Pacific City commercial center and three hotels on Pacific Coast Highway from the Downtown Business Improvement District.

During a public hearing on renewing the BIDs annual contract, Pacific Citys chief retail officer, Stenn Parton, said all of the centers 67 tenants raised concerns about helping to pay for amenities that dont benefit their area on PCH, such as the Surf City Nights street fair, which is held Tuesdays along Main Street.

The Pasea Hotel & Spa and the Hilton and Hyatt waterfront hotels also have expressed doubts about the benefits of being in the BID, and they also were removed Monday on a 4-2 council vote.

BID members pay dues that help provide events in the downtown area along with private security, tree trimming, holiday decor, social media marketing and extra cleaning and daily porter services. In July, the BID hired extra security on Main Street to act as extra eyes for the Huntington Beach Police Department for a four-month pilot public safety program.

But some members voiced discontent in recent letters to city officials, saying they havent seen immediate benefits.

On Aug. 20, the City Council voted 4-1 to deny a request by Pacific City and the three hotels to opt out of the group because council members wanted to give the new BID leadership a chance to work out the problems.

But on Monday, Mayor Mike Posey, who was absent for the August vote, led a motion to modify the districts boundaries to exclude Pacific City and the three hotels.

Posey said in an interview that he met with representatives of the businesses before the vote and felt they made compelling arguments.

Council members Erik Peterson and Lyn Semeta, who voted last month to keep the BID as is, did so again Monday.

Councilman Billy OConnell recused himself because of his downtown business interests.

City Clerk Robin Estanislau said the city received 50 letters from BID members expressing dissatisfaction. The district has 270 members.

Some members used the public hearing Monday to voice their concerns.

If you take a step back and see the shoe on the other foot [and] downtown Main Street and Pier Plaza were required to pay dues for Pacific City, I dont think theyd be very happy about that, Parton said.

Parton said Pacific City tenants collectively contribute $36,000 a year in BID membership dues, or about 27% of the districts budget.

Louis Lopez, owner of Orange County Barbers Parlor on Main Street, contended the amenities provided by the BID dont benefit his shop.

Im a small-business owner; I can barely afford all the regular business fees, Lopez said.

Steve Daniel of Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory spoke in support of keeping the BID unified. He said a shuttle transporting guests in the hotels to other parts of town could help.

Were a gorgeous downtown, he said. We need to work together  the city and all the BID members.

BID President Matt Peterson did not immediately provide a comment Tuesday but said last month that he planned to aggressively court reluctant members.

Priscella.Vega@latimes.com

Twitter: @vegapriscellaCalling it an effort to maintain residents quality of life, the city of Huntington Beach will collaborate with the Orange County district attorneys office to devise a plan to crack down on illegal in-home businesses in residential areas.

On a 6-1 vote Monday night, the City Council gave City Attorney Michael Gates the green light to partner with District Attorney Tony Rackauckas and draft a proposal.

The partnership comes after council members Erik Peterson and Lyn Semeta directed Gates to devise a plan because the city receives a lot of quality-of-life complaints, inundating code enforcement officers.

Peterson has said the proposal is a way to cast a wider net and target unregulated sober-living homes and illegal short-term vacation rentals.

Police say complaints about such places typically are related to noise and parking.

A formal proposal will be given to the City Council in about a month.

Councilman Patrick Brenden dissented Monday, saying the plan could be interpreted as discriminatory of certain in-house operations, referring to sober-living facilities.

Gates said in an interview that Rackauckas gave the city approval to prosecute under the states Business and Professions Code against unfair business practices. It gives the city the legal tools to go after illegal businesses aggressively, Gates said.

Gates assured the council on Monday that his office would focus solely on illegal and unlicensed in-home businesses after hearing concerns from Brenden and Councilman Billy OConnell, who said he had been around long enough to see innocent people get sucked up in things.

Semeta said it is elected officials duty to help preserve the quality of life for residents.

City officials have said little can be done about sober-living dwellings with six or fewer residents that dont offer treatment, are zoned residential and dont require a license to operate. Those are classified as regular households.

Gates has said the city has paid close attention to cities such as Costa Mesa that also are trying to address the issue but have met with legal challenges. In February, a sober-living home operator filed a lawsuit against Costa Mesa alleging that its local regulations are discriminatory and unconstitutional.

Its unclear how many illegal sober-living homes are operating in Huntington Beach.

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.

Priscella.Vega@latimes.com

Twitter: @vegapriscellaPhoto for illustration (Source: Internet)



The event was jointly chaired by Standing Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son; Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Vietnam Peoples Army, Senior Lieutenant General Pham Ngoc Minh; and French Minister of State for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean Baptiste Lemoyne.

The deputy ministerial-level dialogue took place in the context of celebrations for the 45th anniversary of the Vietnam-France bilateral diplomatic ties.

At the event, Jean Baptiste Lemoyne showed his pleasure at the positive growth in the partnership between the two countries since they set up their strategic partnership in 2013.

He agreed on the need to increase the exchange of delegations at all levels and effectively implement cooperation mechanisms, such as a dialogue on security and defence strategy, a dialogue on defence policies, and an annual high-level dialogue on economy.

He underlined that economic cooperation is a key pillar in the Vietnam-France strategic partnership, noting that the two countries have become an important trade partner to each other, with bilateral trade reaching to USD4.6 billion in 2017.

Regarding defence collaboration, the two sides highly valued the delegation exchange between the defence ministries and militaries of both countries, and the visit to France by Vietnamese Defence Minister Ngo Xuan Lich.

They concurred to foster affiliation in personnel training, military medicine, hydrograph, the defence industry, and UN peace-keeping operations.

At the dialogue, the two sides also discussed regional and international issues of shared concern. They pledged to coordinate closely with each other at multilateral forums, while supporting initiatives and efforts to promote peace and stability in the region and the world.

The Vietnamese side affirmed that the country is ready to work with France in strengthening maritime security in the future./.Taking a break from its typical stable of writers who are sometimes deceased, classics-focused Antaeus Theatre in Glendale is launching its first festival showcasing the works of contemporary playwrights.

These could become new classics, said Rob Nagle, co-artistic director of the theater, alongside Bill Brochtrup and Kitty Swink.

The Lab Results festival will feature six readings over the weekend of Sept. 29-30. The full-length plays were all at least partially incubated in the theaters ongoing writing lab, where a group of mid-career writers and actors meets weekly for months to read and critique each others work.

Its a lot like a church or synagogue, Nagle said of the community and rigor of the lab that was first developed in 2013 and modeled on other notable writers groups, such as the Lark in New York.

Plays scheduled for Sept. 29 include Paula Cizmars Along The River, Almost Winter, which is an update of Shakespeares The Winters Tale set along the Sacramento River Delta during the Gold Rush; Stephanie Alison Walkers The Abuelas, which explores the repercussions of Argentinas military dictatorship; Alex Goldbergs Mayor of the 85th Floor, a dystopian tale about a young woman squatting in the Empire State Building in the near future; and Jennifer Rowlands Regular Joes, concerning the private, family drama behind a public sex scandal.

The following day will feature Steve Apostolinas Unbound, about the meeting of a paroled woman and the surviving member of the family she murdered, and Jennifer Maisels Eight Nights, centered on the lives of a refugee woman and her family, who inhabit an apartment from 1949 to 2016.

The goal is to see the plays picked up and produced, either at Antaeus or elsewhere, Nagle said.

The theaters donors and supporters will also get to see that Antaeus might not just do old, dusty plays that are on the bookshelf, Nagle said. There might be vital new works coming out of the theater.

The event will double as the premiere of Antaeus black-box theater as a performance space.

Previously located in a cramped, 46-seat space in North Hollywood, Antaeus opened in Glendale about a year ago after launching a capital campaign with support from several Glendale City Council members, Nagle said.

After securing roughly $1.6 million, the theater started building out an old Gateway computer store. It now houses an 80-seat theater, a convertible black-box theater, a library and office space.

An anonymous donation last year allowed the company to outfit the black-box theater, always intended to function as a classroom and performance space, with the necessary sound and lighting equipment.

Were sort of christening the black-box space, with this festival and an upcoming classics reading, Nagle said.

Not imagined as a one-off, Lab Results is intended as the first of a recurring festival. Even though dead writers are easier to work with, Nagle said jokingly.

Antaeus is located in the Kiki & David Gindler Performing Arts Center at 110 E. Broadway, Glendale.

For more information, call (818) 506-1983 or visit antaeus.org.

lila.seidman@latimes.com

Twitter: @lila_seidmanGlendale Community Colleges art gallery was named by Los Angeles Weekly magazine as one of the top 15 art galleries operated by a Southern California college or university.

LA Weekly compiled a list in August of the 15 best art galleries enlivening SoCal college campuses and the Art Gallery @ GCC was one of three in the San Fernando Valley to earn the distinction.

I have to tell you, it was a surprise, first of all, said David John Attyah, director of Glendale Colleges gallery. We didnt know it was coming out. It was definitely a pleasant surprise.

LA Weekly stated that Glendale Community College hosts exhibitions reflecting the diversity and talent of not just the students but the professors, too.

The periodical also listed a few of the gallerys highlights, including the Pinck Oogen sound installation by Los Angeles-based artist Silvie Deutsch and displays of faculty projects and artwork.

It was Deutschs project that Rhona Blaker, Glendale Community Colleges faculty coordinator for contextualized teaching and learning, thought not only garnered attention, but recognition from LA Weekly.

Silvie Deutsch turned the entire gallery into a harmonic harp that students from the music division were then able to come and play, and I think some of them even composed on that enormous room-sized harp, Blaker said during a college board meeting earlier this month.

Blaker added that the award was impressive, given that it was designated for colleges, not just community colleges, but colleges.

The Art Gallery @ GCC just opened a new exhibition, titled Four Artists in Paint, on Monday, which includes artist Nicole Petrous She, Zach Mendozas Sincerity, Katelyn Dorrohs 1% Brown Paintings and Argineh Zadoorians Otherness.

Attyah said hes struggled getting the Art Gallery @ GCC noticed in an area that lacks a central artistic hub.

Because Glendale doesnt have its own dedicated art museum like other communities do, weve really been trying to kind of increase the quality of the gallery program, Attyah said. Wed like to be telling people that youre seeing the same thing in Glendale that youd be seeing if you went to other parts of Los Angeles.

Cal State Northridge and Los Angeles Pierce College, located in Woodland Hills, joined Glendale Community College as San Fernando Valley galleries lauded by LA Weekly.

andrew.campa@latimes.com

Twitter @campadresportsWhat started as a routine wellness check by Glendale police officers on Monday led to the alleged discovery of an illegal marijuana grow operation and the seizure of more than 600 plants.

Officers with the Glendale Police Department were in the 100 block of Wonderview Drive at around 12:40 a.m. after receiving a call about a person yelling for help from one of the homes in the neighborhood.

After speaking with the homes occupant, 38-year-old Rui Yun Guan, officers entered the residence and discovered it had been converted into an elaborate marijuana grow operation, according to Tahnee Lightfoot, a spokeswoman for the department.

She said its unknown if Guan was the person who yelled for help.

She added that every room inside the home was filled with marijuana plants. A bed was also found in one of the rooms, and Guan was allegedly the only occupant.

As part of the illicit operation, the home was filled with a ventilation system to control the smell of the plants and high-powered lights to encourage them to grow, Lightfoot said.

Glendale police arrested 38-year-old Rui Yun Guan on Monday after they allegedly uncovered an elaborate marijuana grow operation in her home. (Courtesy of the Glendale Police Department)

There were no visible signs of the operation from the exterior of the house.

From the street, there were window coverings like curtains but, on the inside, they were all boarded up, Lightfoot said.

In order to power the equipment and circumvent paying utilities, Lightfoot said the home illegally tapped into the citys electricity grid.

Guan was taken into custody on suspicion of grand theft and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Officers confiscated the 604 marijuana plants in the home and disassembled the grow operation. City officials also yellow-tagged the home, meaning access to it is restricted.

The alleged crime remains under investigation, and anyone with information regarding the home is encouraged to contact Glendale police at (818) 548-3120.

andy.nguyen@latimes.com

Twitter: @Andy_TrucOn a recent Friday afternoon Jet Propulsion Laboratorys von Karman Auditorium opened its doors to a throng of high school students whose casual attire belied the seriousness of the high-level work they would conduct in the two months ahead.

About 40 high school seniors, mostly from La Canada High School, were there as enrollees in the JPL Space Academy, a program that lets students design and build rocket launchers in virtual tech startup companies they must promote and sell to stockholders. Another 10 student alumni will play consultant roles.

The program is the brain-child of Art Chmielewski, a JPL project manager for an international team that in 2004 helped launch the European Space Agencys Rosetta spacecraft toward the 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko comet in hopes of placing tiny lander Philae on its craggy, uncertain surface.

When the lander became lost and couldnt provide a communication signal, scientists worked for more than a year before the application of basic physics principles helped them pinpoint its location. Chmielewski shared the misadventure in a subsequent university lecture, and interested students built models to recreate the scenario.

Chmielewski began to imagine bringing physics lessons to life for high school students through a hands-on learning experience. LCHS physics teacher Nate Fulmer, who works as a consultant at JPL, was eventually enlisted to help with the curriculum and weekly lessons.

Kids study a physics book  they can memorize it, do 15 homework problems and get an A on the test, but still they dont know what it means, Chmielewski said. Here, every week they come out and present on a NASA stage.

Started in 2013, the academy has grown. Chmielewski received 140 applications from interested students at and beyond La Canada High School, so selected seniors for the honor. This year, each projectile will house its own payload, an electronic sensor that can record the maximum height of each elastic or gravitational launch.

And thanks to the involvement of the La Canada Flintridge Sister Cities Assn., participants this year will share their work with students of Villanueva de la Canada, Spain, home of its own European Space Astronomy Centre.

After a brief introduction Friday, students broke into small teams and were immediately tasked with forming a small company. With markers in hand, they brainstormed what their launchers might look like.

Your goal is to get this thing as high up in the air as possible and land safely with your entire payload intact, Fulmer explained. The most important rule out of all this is to have fun  pick up a few new skills, learn a thing or two and enjoy yourselves.

In less than an hour, eight teams were presenting their company names and having their designs and communication skills critiqued by Chmielewski and his cohort of consultants.

Ren Enterprises  comprising LCHS seniors Solenn Matsuka, Rajvi Kumar, Naiara Munich and Emily Truong  explained how their trebuchet design would launch a spherical projectile from a pouch fastened with stretchy exercise bands.

LCHS senior Kevin Oghalai, of company Up Chuck, admitted his teams cube- and triangle-shaped launcher was still a work in progress.

Were not exactly sure what our project is going to look like, he said. If it looks like its going to break were going to add more wood. If it looks like its not going high enough, well add more rubber.

In future classes, students will build launchers, pitch their companies to investors, wire circuits for the onboard sensors and make predictions based on physics. In late October, theyll take their rockets to JPLs Mars Yard and test their predictions in the first of several launches.

The class concludes with a simulated press conference, where students will be grilled on their products and companies in a Q&A session.

sara.cardine@latimes.com

Twitter: @SaraCardineThe Olympics are continuing to play a role in the rapprochement between North and South Korea, with the countries announcing Wednesday they intend to launch a combined bid for the 2032 Summer Games.

The plan was included in a joint statement following a Pyongyang summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

Kims offer to shut down a nuclear missile testing and launch site made the biggest headlines, but the Olympics have been a significant part of the warming North-South relationship.

Earlier this year, the nations cooperated when South Korea hosted the 2018 Winter Games, with athletes from the North marching in the opening ceremony and participating in a number of sports.

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The leaders statement offered no details on the potential campaign for 2032, which could also attract candidate cities from Germany, Australia and India.

The International Olympic Committee normally selects its host seven years in advance.

david.wharton@latimes.com

Follow @LAtimesWharton on TwitterThe Fairmont Grand Del Mar in San Diego this year earned three five-star ratings  for its hotel, restaurant and spa  from the Forbes Travel Guide. Now the luxury resort gives travelers a break with $299 rooms to mark its 11th anniversary.

The deal: The 400-acre property opened in 2007 as the Grand Del Mar until it was sold to the Fairmont brand in 2015.

The Fairmont Grand Del Mar opened in 2007. (Fairmont Grand Del Mar)

Rooms usually start at $500 a night. The anniversary price comes with a $50 food and beverage resort credit, free self-parking and a bottle of bubbly.

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When: You must book by Sept. 30 for stays through Jan. 31. Price is based on availability.

Tested: I checked several overnight weekend dates in October and November and found the $299 price available for a room with one king-sized bed or two queen beds. This is a good deal for anyone who wants to sample why this resort receives so much buzz.

The entrance to the Fairmont Grand Del Mar, where you can stay for $299 a night through Jan. 31. (Fairmont Grand Del Mar)

Info: Fairmont Grand Del Mar, 5300 Grand Del Mar Court, San Diego; (858) 314-2000

travel@latimes.com

Twitter: @latimestravelStand in the shadow of the Acropolis and Parthenon, visit coastal towns and islands, sail across the sea on a high-speed catamaran on a 10-day tour of Greece with Abercrombie & Kent. The 2019 tours, which focus on Athens and the Aegean Sea, blend ancient history and modern life in an itinerary that visits Oropos, Crete and Santorini, in addition to Athens. Highlights include visits to Athens icons of the ancient world, plus Cretes Heraklion Archaeological Museum and a cruise around the southern coast of Santorini. The tour also visits small towns known for weaving and olive oil production.

Dates: Departures May 22, June 5 and 19, Sept. 4, 13 and 18; Oct. 2 and Oct. 9

Price: From $6,495 per person, double occupancy; $2,295 single supplement. Includes lodging, most meals, transportation, museum fees and tours. International and internal airfare not included.

Info: Abercrombie & Kent, (888) 785-5379, lat.ms/athensandaegeanThe victims of the Oct. 1 mass shooting in Las Vegas are being remembered publicly as the first anniversary of the attack approaches.

The Las Vegas Portraits Project/1 October Memorial opened Sept. 17 in the Rotunda Gallery of the Clark County Government Center in downtown Las Vegas. At its core are tributes to the 58 people who died while attending the Route 91 Harvest country music festival along the Strip.

More than 800 people were injured as Stephen Paddock shot into the crowd from his 32nd-floor suite at the Mandalay Bay. He later killed himself. A motive is still unknown.

Las Vegas abundant sunshine illuminates portraits of each of the victims. Some were painted by family members; others were created by strangers using published photographs and profiles. The artists are from the United States, Canada, Greece and Peru.

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MORE: Memories of a massacre in Vegas: The aftermath of the nations deadliest shooting 

The 58 crosses placed at the iconic Welcome to Las Vegas sign in the aftermath of the Oct, 1, 2017, tragedy also are on display on tiered platforms. Victims photographs grace some of the white wooden crosses. Others contain handwritten personal memories such as We will love you forever and See you in the next life.

The Las Vegas Portraits Project/1 October Memorial in the Rotunda Gallery of the Clark County Government Center in downtown Las Vegas. At its core are tributes to the 58 people who died in the shooting. (Mark Damon/Las Vegas News Bureau)

The memorial also includes The Art of Healing, a mural painted by students from the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts, a magnet high school, and the Guerrilla Artz Foundation of Las Vegas. Dozens of stained glass angels, crafted by volunteers from Angels of Love in Orange, Calif., are displayed beside a TV monitor showing photos of those who died.

People affected by the tragedy and its aftermath will find support at the memorial. Trained therapists from the American Red Cross will be on hand, as will therapy dogs from Michaels Angel Paws of Las Vegas.

The paintings will be given to family members of the victims. The crosses will go into storage, for preservation purposes, at the Clark County Museum.

The Clark County Government Center is at 500 S. Grand Central Parkway in Las Vegas. The memorial will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday through Friday through Oct. 19. Admission is free.

travel@latimes.com

@latimestravelAt Aerospace Corp., Virginia Carter designed density gauges for U.S. Air Force aircraft and satellites. In addition, Carter was president of the Los Angeles chapter of the National Organization for Women.

In a Sept. 5, 1974, Los Angeles Times profile on Virginia Carter, staff writer Tia Gindick wrote:

Born in Quebec, Canada, in 1936; graduated from McGill University magna cum laude in math and physics; a flying offer with the Royal Canadian Air Force under a university reserve training plan; a masters degree from USC, and naturalization as a U.S. citizen in 1963, the same year she joined the technical staff of the Aerospace Corp. in El Segundo as a physicist.

While at Aerospace Corp., she published 23 papers and received considerable outside acclaim for her work. Nevertheless, she remained grotesquely underpaid, and her position with the firm showed no signs of a better future. 

The idea of a mid-career change was suggested by Frances Lear, founder of a firm called Marketplace, which specializes in finding qualified women for upper management jobs. Mrs. Lear arranged the appointment with her husband and, more out of curiosity than anything else, Ms. Carter drove up to Century City where Lear was then located. 

In 1973, Carter joined the Norman Lear production company and worked on the sitcoms All in the Family and Maude.

See more from the Los Angeles Times archives hereNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un offered Wednesday to shut down a nuclear missile testing and launch site in a development welcomed by President Trump, raising hopes of a second meeting between the two leaders in the quest for a long-sought Korean peninsula denuclearization deal.

Kim made the offer to close down the Dongchang-ri missile testing center and launch pad at a summit in Pyongyang with South Korean President Moon Jae-in. The two signed an agreement to eliminate all danger of war on the Korean peninsula, recommitting to the denuclearization of the peninsula.

Kim also agreed to close down the Yongbyon nuclear facility, the first time such an offer has been made by North Korea  but only if the U.S. offers reciprocal rewards. Washington expects North Korea to dismantle its nuclear facilities  in a verifiable manner  before concessions are made.

Kim agreed that international experts would be present to observe the dismantling of the Dongchang-ri facilities.

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While some experts suggested Kim was giving up facilities no longer important to him, given North Koreas development of nuclear missiles, Trumps instantaneous positive reaction on Twitter kept the door open to a possible new summit with Kim.

Kim last week requested a second summit, after the historic first meeting in Singapore in June, the first between U.S. and North Korean leaders. U.S. officials last week said preparations were underway for a second meeting to go ahead.

A second summit may hinge on a meeting between Trump and Moon expected next week, where Moon is to brief Trump on his summit with Kim.

Calling the developments very exciting. Trump tweeted Wednesday that Kim Jong Un has agreed to allow Nuclear inspections, subject to final negotiations, and to permanently dismantle a test site and launch pad in the presence of international experts. In the meantime there will be no Rocket or Nuclear testing. He added that the remains of U.S. servicemen killed in the Korean War would continue to be returned to the U.S.

U.S.-North Korea denuclearization talks stalled in recent months. Trump last month canceled a visit by Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo to North Korea for talks, citing lack of progress.

On Wednesday, Pompeo congratulated the two leaders for the successful outcome of their summit meeting in Pyongyang, he said in a statement. We welcome President Moon and Chairman Kims reaffirmation of the Singapore joint statement of complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, including the permanent dismantlement of all facilities at Yongbyon. On the basis of these important commitments, the United States is prepared to engage immediately in negotiations to transform U.S.-DPRK relations.

Pompeo said he invited his North Korean counterpart, Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho, to meet him next week in New York during the U.N. General Assembly meeting.

The leaders of the two Koreas appeared to move significantly closer at Wednesdays meeting: Kim accepted Moons invitation to visit Seoul in the near future, in what would be the first visit to the country by a North Korean leader. The two countries also decided to make a joint bid to host the 2023 Olympic Games.

They also signed a 55-page joint military agreement designed to ease tensions on the border, including creating a border buffer zone, removing landmines from the demilitarized zone, creating a no-fly zone along the DMZ and shutting down 11 guard posts.

Kim gave Moon a welcome that was full of photo opportunities and symbolic moments. He met Moon at the airport Tuesday and hugged him on the tarmac before the two drove through the streets of Pyongyang in an open-topped limousine as flag-waving crowds cheered.

The summit saw Moon eating North Koreas most iconic dish, a meal of cold handmade buckwheat noodles called naengmyeon, at lunch Wednesday, with Kim later joking that he was concerned Moon had to hurry the meal because of the summit agenda.

You have to slow down when you eat buckwheat noodles, Kim said, showing a softer side in contrast to his global image as a reclusive, ruthless and sometimes eccentric figure.

In another deeply symbolic move, Kim invited Moon to accompany him Thursday to visit Mt. Paektu , a volcano on the border with China that has great historical and cultural significance for both North Korea and South Korea.

Standing side by side at a joint news conference after their talks Wednesday, both Moon and Kim extolled their agreement as an important breakthrough for peace.

Kim called it a historic agreement that ended decades of hostility between the Koreas.

We will be ushering in a new era of peace at a faster pace, Kim said. We have agreed to make the Korean Peninsula a land of peace that is free from nuclear weapons and nuclear threat.

The road to our future will not always be smooth and we may face challenges and trials we cant anticipate. But we arent afraid of headwinds because our strength will grow as we overcome each trial based on the strength of our nation.

Moon said Kim had shown he was committed to full denuclearization.

I would like to offer my deepest gratitude to him for his courageous determination, Moon said. He said progress on improved relations between the Koreas had not slowed in the months since he and Kim met in April and May.

It looks as if it is going too fast, however it is not, because we have been preparing for this for a very long time and it is just unfolding before our eyes.

This path to complete denuclearization will be implemented and will be realized.

Kim said the two Koreas would make their way to peace, with no fears about external forces.

Trump recently tweeted and he and Kim would both prove everyone wrong! There is nothing like good dialogue from two people that like each other! That tweet on Sept. 9 came after a military parade commemorating the 70th anniversary of the founding of North Korea that did not include the usual display of intercontinental ballistic missiles, considered a sign of restraint by Kim.

Trumps national security advisor, John Bolton, said a day later that the U.S. was waiting for North Korea to denuclearize, but could not make the country do so.

Theyre the ones that have to take the steps to denuclearize, and thats what were waiting for, he said in a speech to the conservative Federalist Society. U.S. officials want concrete details on North Koreas nuclear arms, with a verifiable list of nuclear facilities and transparency on steps to dismantle them.

Kim fell short of that requirement Wednesday. Any future summit between Trump and Kim would have to make progress on that sticking point in order to break the long deadlock over North Koras nuclear weapons. If neither side budges, the future efforts toward denuclearization may stall again, as they so often have in the past.

North Korea has been brought to the negotiating table by crippling U.N. sanctions. In April, Kim announced he was changing direction from focusing on the development of nuclear weapons along with the economy, to a sole focus on the economy.

China has played a key role in maintaining pressure on North Korea through sanctions. But relations between Washington and Beijing have deteriorated sharply with the escalating trade war between the countries, and Trump on Monday announced 10% tariffs on another $200 billion of Chinese imports. China responded by slapping tariffs of 5% to 10% on $60 billion of U.S. goods and accusing Washington of acting in bad faith.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang Wednesday welcomed progress made at the summit between North Korea and South Korea, saying the countries broke important new ground.

We welcome it and highly appreciate active efforts by the two sides, he said.

robyn.dixon@latimes.com

Twitter: @RobynDixon_LAT

UPDATES:

2 p.m.: This article was updated with a statement from Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo.

This article was originally published at 8:15 a.m.Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh speaking at meeting (Photo: VNA)

At the meeting, Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Ngo Duc Manh reported to the Vice President about the operation of the embassy, the situation of the overseas Vietnamese community and the development of the Vietnam  Russia comprehensive strategic partnership, especially after the visit to Russia by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in early September.

Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh briefed the meeting on the socio  economic development situation of the homeland. She said that in the first nine months of 2018, Vietnams economy grew at a rate of 7.08%, the highest over the past 11 years. Most recently, the country successfully hosted the World Economic Forum on ASEAN, attracting the participation of 10 Heads of State and 1,000 large businesses in Vietnam and in the world. She emphasized that the event reflected that Vietnam is active in international integration to enhance its position and prestige on the global stage.

She added that Vietnam also reached encouraging achievements in poverty alleviation, active development in culture, education and health, as well as political stability and social security and order.

The Vice President suggested that in the coming time, the Vietnamese Embassy continue to promote its achievements, maintain and develop the solidarity, friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, and hoped that the overseas Vietnamese community would become a bridge to strengthen the traditional friendship between the two countries./.North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pledged on Wednesday to visit Seoul for the first time but made no concrete pledges on the dismantling of his nuclear program at the end of a summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in Pyongyang.

In a joint news conference, the two leaders pledged to end hostility and usher in a new era of peace and prosperity, but there was very little of substance to move the process of denuclearization forward, experts said.

The talks were supposed to pave the way for a second summit between Kim and President Donald Trump later this year, but experts said it was far from clear that Kim had made concessions that would make a summit an attractive proposition for the U.S. leader.

In a joint statement, North Korea pledged to permanently dismantle a missile engine test site and missile launcher at Tongchang-ri in the presence of experts from related countries. That is a site the North Koreans had already pledged to dismantle and doesnt amount to a major new concession, experts said.

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North Korea also expressed the will to continue taking further steps like permanent dismantlement of its main Yongbyon nuclear facility but only if the United States takes corresponding steps based on Trumps agreement with Kim at their June summit in Singapore.

Bruce Bennett, a senior defense analyst at the RAND Corp., told South Koreas Arirang TV that these promises were extremely vague and didnt amount to denuclearization, especially because Kims regime was continuing to manufacture nuclear weapons this year.

Talk is cheap, he said. What Washington has been looking for is action.

Moons arrival Tuesday in Pyongyang had been awash in pomp and flattery as he embraced Kim Jong Un and lavished praise on the North Korean leader to begin their third summit this year.

Moon and Kim did sign an agreement to ease tensions across the worlds most militarized border. That includes the establishment of a buffer zone near the front line to suspend artillery drills and field maneuvers, as well as an agreement to each pull back 11 border guard posts by years end.

They agreed to set up a buffer zone in the Yellow Sea to suspend firing of guns and maritime drills, as well as a no-fly zone in border areas to prevent accidental plane clashes.

But more ambitious was Moons attempt to remove an impasse between Pyongyang and Washington over who should make the next move in their dialogue about detente and denuclearization.

On that score, there appeared to be no progress  the Norths pledge to consider closing Yongbyon was clearly conditional on further action from the United States.

The United States wants North Korea to take a meaningful step toward dismantling its nuclear weapons program. Pyongyang, however, is pushing for the United States to declare the 1950-53 Korean War formally over and claims Trump made a promise to that effect in Singapore.

It was the first time since October 2007  and only the third time since the division of the peninsula more than six decades ago  that a South Korean leader visited the North Korean capital.

On Tuesday, Moon spoke grandly of a new era of cooperation between the two Koreas that would cut through continents and reach around the world.

This is the beginning. We can create a future that no one has experienced yet, he said at a dinner. For this, Chairman Kim and I will put our heads and minds together.

Kim said the two men were on a path of peace and unification without stopping. He expressed his deep gratitude to Moon for his outreach despite the obstacles.

Moon admitted that it would be hard to reach an agreement on the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula but said the two leaders enjoyed trust and friendship.

He even compared the way they had held hands when they first met in April to an affectionate couple.

If we put ourselves in anothers shoes, be understanding and considerate toward each other, there wont be any difficulties we cannot overcome, he said.

When he arrived at Pyongyangs airport with his wife, Kim Jung-sook, Moon was greeted warmly by the North Korean leader and his wife, Ri Sol Ju.

A military band played, and several hundred guests frantically cheered and waved flags that included the image of a unified Korean Peninsula.

The leaders then inspected a military guard and stood on a podium as goose-stepping troops marched past. Moon waved to and even shook hands with some members of the crowd, appearing genuinely moved by the reception  even though it was carefully staged by the most repressive regime on the planet.

Later, Moon and Kim drove through the streets, past more cheering crowds chanting Unification! Unification! They started in separate cars before joining each other in a single open-top car, Moon saluting the crowds enthusiastically and beaming broadly.

He later said he was surprised to see how developed Pyongyang was. There was no hint of concerns about its human rights record.

I could see Chairman Kims leadership and accomplishment in his attempt to improve the lives of the people through developing science and the economy, Moon said at the dinner.

Kim appeared marginally more grounded in reality as he escorted Moon to his lodgings at a state guesthouse earlier in the day.

Mr. President visits many countries around the world. Compared with developed countries, we are a bit shabby, Kim said, according to a pool report, adding that although the accommodation and itinerary might be subpar, they were presented with our best sincerity.

Moons first summit with Kim in April unleashed a wave of optimism in South Korea about the prospects for peace across the peninsula, but the good feelings have waned as the scale of the task ahead has become more obvious.

And Moons popularity has fallen sharply, albeit largely because of a rising unemployment rate and soaring property prices.

Moon brought with him an entourage including the heads of some of South Koreas largest conglomerates, as well K-pop stars. The two Koreas agreed to compete together at the Olympics from 2020 and make a joint bid to hold the Summer Games in 2032.

Business leaders sought to underscore the potential economic rewards for North Korea should it denuclearize, although deals cannot be made unless U.S.-led sanctions are lifted.It was a Barbie-themed birthday party most kids could only dream about, with carnival rides, hundreds of pink balloons and a theater-worthy set featuring gold chandeliers and a rose-colored throne.

The guests of honor were the 7-year-old twin daughters of the worlds most notorious drug lord, Joaquin El Chapo Guzman.

Photographs and videos of the decadent bash showed up on Instagram this week, giving Mexicans a glimpse into the lives of some of the countrys most controversial 0.1-percenters.

Guzman, the longtime leader of the Sinaloa drug cartel, was captured in Mexico in 2014 and three years later extradited to New York, where he is preparing to go on trial this fall on drug trafficking and murder charges. The federal indictment against Guzman also seeks the forfeiture of more than $14 billion in drug proceeds and other illicit profits.

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Efforts by U.S. Treasury Department and Mexican law enforcement to find and seize Guzmans assets have largely failed. That seemed evident from the Instagram posts, in which his family looked quite comfortable.

RELATED: The saga of El Chapo, one of the worlds biggest drug kingpins 

The party was thrown by Guzmans wife, Emma Coronel, who was photographed in 4-inch-high heels in front of a fake pink mansion and a long table covered with flowers, desserts and a towering birthday cake.

Images from the extravaganza, which took place at what appeared to be a real mansion in Culiacan, the capital of Sinaloa state, were uploaded by the event photographer.

Celebrating #MaximumElegance, photographer Antonio Tizoc wrote in one caption. In another, he praised the twins, Emali and Maria Joaquina, as princesses.

Reactions to the images ranged from amused to incensed.

Spectacular! one person commented on Instagram. Beautiful! said another.

Pure elegance!! wrote a third. Pity where the money came from.

In an interview, Tizoc said Coronel authorized him to publish images of the party, but he said he was prohibited from sharing other details, including who attended.

Tizoc, who is frequently hired to photograph the elaborate quinceaneras and weddings of Sinaloas wealthiest families, said he was distressed that some had criticized his birthday pictures.

They have attacked me, he said. But in Culiacan its really normal to have parties like this. Rich and poor, we like big parties.

Guzmans rise from rural poverty to leadership of Mexicos most powerful drug gang earned him folk hero status in his home state and beyond. He helmed the Sinaloa cartel for decades, even during long stints in Mexican prisons  from which he famously escaped twice, once through a mile-long tunnel.

But now that he is in solitary confinement in a high-security federal jail in Manhattan, Guzman, 61, is finally believed to have handed over the reins of his organization to his adult sons.

Alejandro Hope, a Mexican security analyst, said it is common for cartels to financially support the wives and children of leaders who have been killed or jailed.

Coronel, a 29-year-old former beauty queen who caught Guzmans eye at a pageant a decade ago, may also have her own family money. She is a niece of Ignacio Nacho Coronel, a onetime partner of Guzman who was killed in a July 2010 shootout with the Mexican army.

Emma Coronel, who was born in Los Angeles, gave birth to the twins in 2011 at a hospital in Lancaster.

The failure to seize Guzmans assets has not been for lack of trying by officials on both sides of the border, Hope said.

Soldiers escort Joaquin Guzman, alias El Chapo, upon his arrival to the hangar of the attorney generals office in Mexico City on Jan. 8, 2016. (Pedro Mera / TNS)

Drug kingpins are expert at laundering and concealing money  hiding it in real estate, small businesses and sometimes even holes dug in the ground. At the same time, Mexicos legal framework for seizing drug money is still under development and is less advanced than those of other nations, such as Colombia.

Chikinarcos, or narco juniors, as the children of Mexicos drug lords are called, have never been known for their modesty.

Damaso Lopez-Serrano, who is the son of another onetime Sinaloa cartel leader and believed to be Guzmans godson, famously posted photos on social media of his million-dollar jewelry, gold-plated guns and pet cheetah. Lopez-Serrano turned himself in to U.S. authorities last year and may testify against Guzman.

Curiously, expressions of wealth by Mexicos narco juniors are generally less reviled than those of mirreyes, or my kings, a derisive term Mexicans use to refer to the children of the nations political and business elite who show off their decadent habits without shame.

This year, the son of a general deleted his blog, titled Golden life, after he came under fierce public criticism for his posts showing off designer shopping sprees and trips on private jets. The daughters of Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto were similarly mocked after they posted photos of themselves at the presidential palace with a celebrity tattoo artist from New York whom they appeared to have flown in for a personal appointment.

Hope chalked it up to the same populist wave that helped anti-corruption and anti-poverty candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador win the presidency in July.

People get angry when its a politician or a politicians family, Hope said. When a narco flaunts his wealth, they get angry at the government.

Some people simply laughed when they heard about the party for Guzmans twins.

In a segment about the celebration, Telemundo newscaster Enrique Usales wondered what kind of precedent it set and how the girls would observe their 15th birthday, which in Mexico is generally marked with a blowout party.

If they celebrated the seventh birthday this way, he said, can you imagine the quinceanera?

kate.linthicum@latimes.com

Twitter: @katelinthicumTeens are invited to stop by the East County Regional Library to share their creative thoughts during the Teen Poetry Slam next week.

East County Regional Library Senior Librarian Head of Youth Services Angela Hall said they have held Teen Poetry Slams in the past, typically in April during National Poetry Month.

We decided to hold it more frequently, she said of the slam being held this month. We wanted to do it in the spring and the fall, maybe even quarterly.

Hall said its all about building relationships with the teens and keeping the momentum going.

The next Teen Poetry Slam will be held from 2:45 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 26. The Slam is open for freshmen, sophomore, junior and senior students. On occasion, Hall said they may have some tweens that participate as well.

Jill Jennings, who has been sponsoring the teen writers workshop, is very passionate about the Slam and is cohosting the event. Hall said she has published some poetry, as well as other writings.

We have a really strong presence from our teen community. We are situated between the middle school and high school campus, Hall said of why they have such an influx of teen patrons.

The Teen Poetry Slam, Hall said is a way for students to express themselves.

Literacy isnt just about reading a book. Its about artistic expression. It gives them a way to express themselves, what they are feeling and dealing with through artistic expression, she said.

The teens, in the past, have used the Poetry Slam, to share through the spoken word, music and theatrically.

Whatever they are comfortable with in terms of self expression, she said. It allows them to be creative. It allows them to find their own creative avenues . . . kind of finding themselves and discovering who they are. They can connect to themselves, as well as other people.

The Slam provides an opportunity for young people to find their voice.

They dont have to prove anything to anybody, she said, adding that its about how they are feeling and how they are processing any challenges they are faced with.

The teens who participate in the Slam will not be censored. Hall said there are no limits on what they write and talk about.

This is their baby. It is their work. Im not going to censor who they are, what they are writing about, or speaking about, Hall said. We want kids to be able to write the way they want to write. Not the way their English teachers want them to write, or their parents want them to write. Just the way they need to write.

Teens are encouraged to stop by the library and be ready to share their work.

No one is laughing, or making fun of you. No one is judging you. Come one, come all. This is their time to shine, Hall said.

The Slam is sponsored by the Friends of East County Regional Library. For more information call, 239-479-4636, or stop by the library at 881 Gunnery Road.A referendum asking voters in the Lehigh Acres Municipal District whether they want to give the agency the authority over some signage will not impact street signs or obligate the district to pay for them.

In a recent letter, State Rep. Matt Caldwell states that the proposed referendum allowing the district to erect decorative signs, monuments, banners and lights does not include all signage rights.

In the letter from to the districts board, Caldwell clarified the intent behind legislation and his position on the signage referendum. He states that the portion of the law authorizing signage powers did not envision regular street sign power, rather it was focused on signage relevant only to Lehigh Acres.

He goes on to explain that the regulation of street signs is a function of the Lee County government.

Caldwell ended his letter by giving his support to LAMSID in the referendum vote.

According to Lehigh Acres Municipal District Commissioner Michael Welch, the letter was partly in response to messages up on a local Facebook groups page, which he says is spreading erroneous information.

The page is telling Lehigh citizens to vote no on the upcoming referendum. It goes on to say that the district will be taking over all the street signs and that it would cost the district millions of dollars. This is completely untrue and we felt it important to clarify what the referendum really means, said Welch.

A community group recently posted a notice on its Facebook page asking people to vote no on the November referendum unless they would like their taxes raised. It goes onto say that under the referendum, LA-MSID would take over all street signage in Lehigh from the county and receive no money for this undertaking.

According to Welch, this initiative will not allow the district to control all signage in Lehigh Acres. It would only pertain to certain signs and monuments relevant to Lehigh Acres such as the cookie at the intersection of Homestead Road and Lee Boulevard.

Since what was posted on Facebook was not reliable information, we felt that we need to clean this up. I believe that people should make a well-informed decision based on the facts, not a bunch of hearsay and rumors being spread on Facebook, said Welch.

Welch went onto to say how misleading rumors such as these actually end up hurting the community, not helping it move forward.

A copy of Rep. Caldwells letter to the district and information on the referendum can be found on our website, said Welch.

For more information on the referendum, visit the LA-MSIDs website at www.la-msid.com, and click on the Signage link.The Greater Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce is holding two Meet the Candidate events for the community, providing them the opportunity to ask the hard questions, and learn more about who is running in the General Election.

The reason we are having two is simply because families are busy and we want to make sure they have a chance to come to one of them and ask the tough questions, Greater Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce Chairman Ed Moore said.

The Thursday, Sept. 20, event will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Lehigh Acres Senior Center, 219 Plaza Drive. The other, Politics at the Park, will be held outdoors under tents with tables and chairs, at the Lehigh Town Center, 25 Homestead Road North, on the corner of Alabama and Homestead, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 4.

My real hope is that we can pull in some nonvoters. I think that nonvoters are really crucial, not only to this election, but every election. People need to get engaged. If they want to change things in their community, this is where it starts, Moore said.

Some of those who will be attending include school board, water management, Florida House, Florida Senate and fire board candidates. Moore said some candidates will attend both events, while others can only make one.

Ive really been pushing getting out to vote, he said of why they are holding the Meet the Candidates events. Ive been pushing to learn what you are voting about.

In addition to the two upcoming events, the Chamber has hosted candidates at their luncheons for the past three months. He said it has provided the candidates with an opportunity to state what they stand for, while giving the audience a chance to ask questions.

Education is crucial, Moore said.

The last town hall event they held with school board candidates helped those who attended make a decision of whom to vote for, Moore said, adding a few attendees shared that before they attended the town hall they had their mind set on a specific candidate they had voted for in the past, but changed their mind after it concluded.

I want them to be exposed and ask the right questions, so they do know what the people stand for. If it does mean that you changed your mind, you got more information, If you dont change your mind, at least it solidifies that vote, Moore said.

One of the questions he hopes the audience will ask of the school board candidates is the half cent sales tax initiative.

That could be a huge benefit to our schools. Its not just the residents paying for that, but all of tourism that would be paying for that, he explained. Im personally going to vote yes for that because our school system needs that. A half cent on everybodys individual sales is much of nothing, but cumulative, is very powerful.Editors note: This year marks the 40th anniversary of Chinas reform and opening-up, and huge changes have been made in Beijing, capital of China, over the past 40 years. We have invited 40 foreign experts to participate in a series of interviews named New Era, New Insight jointly hosted by GMW.cnThe official website of Guangming Daily and the Information Office of Beijing Municipality and share their Beijing Stories. The following is a part of the interview with Greek photographer George Doupas.

George Doupas and her wife (Photo provided to Guangming Online)

My wife is a Chinese. She is a Beijingren. With my wife was through Internet. As we met in some website, we start have E-mail exchange.I started to learn some Chinese. She was learning English. So it was a good match.

But for about a year, we didnt see each other. We never knew who we were. Until the day when I came to Beijing, that was the first time we actually met.

She became my, I can say something like, a guide in Beijing. In this huge metropolis, I had her. She was my guide, she showed me the city. She showed me mostly the historical part of Beijing. And I was truly amazed by what this city has to offer. Later I came again and again, until the day we married. It happened very fast.

We met in 2005. At first, we became friends, and she was showing me Beijing. Every day she was with me, every day after her work, we met and we went different part of Beijing. And it came again and again, we became closer to each other. And in 2009, I and her, we married. Since then we lived together in Beijing.

Her job is a historian. So she knows pretty much about Chinese history and Chinese culture. She taught me a lot, and she showed me a lot. It was a great match for us.

Beijing has its unique blend of the old and the new. Its really wonderful match and mix how the past of Beijing is blending with the new modern architecture.

For example, if you ever visited Zhihua Temple, which is one of the oldest temples in Beijing, You can see behind the temple the new glamorous Galaxy SOHO.

These two buildings, two different kinds of architectures perfectly blend together. And places like are many in Beijing, not just Zhihua Temple.

Or in the Qianmen area which is one of the oldest historical places in Beijing. Now, one can visit the new compound called Beijing Fun, which is the modern structure of buildings, right in the middle of the very old Beijing.

And I found it blends very nice with the surrounding hutongs. Worth a visit, for a walk, or for coffee, or just visit a bookstore. Many people go there for a visit. For a cultural event, there is a perfect example of how Beijing culture blends with modern Beijing.

Here, two costumes of Peking Opera blending perfectly with modern architecture of Phoenix TV. This is just one of examples you can see in Beijing.

[ Editor: Zhang Zhou ]Red tide, blue-green algae, fish kills in the thousands. What is happening in Southwest Florida waters has taken a toll on the regions tourism, economy and ecosystem.

A question many residents and visitors may be asking is: Is the local seafood safe to eat? The answer is yes, provided it comes from a source that complies with consumer protection regulations.

Catching fish in red tide areas can present health risks that should not be taken lightly, but that does not mean what is being served on plates at restaurants, or available at local seafood markets, is an unsafe product.

Its definitely something to be concerned about, but with the federal regulations, HACCP (hazard analysis and critical control points) inspections and the FDA inspections that we have, were very confident that all of our products are safe for our customers. Thats for sure, David Keen, purchasing director for Merrick Seafood, a wholesale and retail supplier based in Cape Coral, said.

For example, grouper is one of the most popular fish to consume in the area.

Keen said a lot of grouper that wholesalers seek out is caught in deep waters and, although it is still a local product  caught in Gulf waters  it is not throw-a-line-off-the-dock local.

Our guys, when they go out fishing, theyre going out 90 to 100 miles for that (grouper). Its the same grouper that youve bought for years and decades, he said. Being a wholesale distributor, you need to make sure that youre on the forefront of everything thats coming out. Where are you getting it from? How is it getting processed?

Merrick is taking the same precautions with its shellfish, as they are filter feeders and have a much higher probability of contamination.

The company that we were dealing with that was local (for clamming) has actually moved up north in the Panhandle, where there is none of that algae or red tide, said Keen.

Their oysters are sourced locally as well, but from Gulf waters extending off of Texas and Louisiana.

Waters are always tested in various areas where shellfish are harvested, with officials making sure the water quality is in line with Florida Department of Agriculture regulations. For local product, there is a strict criteria and in-depth report system that has to be completed before it can be sold. This happens before the fish even leave the boat.

What we have to do is fill out reports saying where they caught the fish and what waters they were caught in. They have to be caught in certain waters and documented at what depth they were caught. How were they caught? Fishing reel? Bandit reel? Long line? All of that has to be traced, Keen said. They take samples out of a reasonable amount of fish and all of that gets checked before it even comes off the boat.

All of Merricks suppliers are HACCP certified, complete with letter of guarantee that they are in regulation with applicable FDA laws.

Merrick, a primary supplier to numerous area restaurants, then gives its wholesale customers the same letter of certification to ensure that their products are in compliance with the guidelines as well.

Its not worth it for me to endanger my customers and jeopardize all of this with an unsafe product, Keen added.

Merrick has ties and relationships with many local boats, as Keen said they want to help the people who work hard in Southwest Florida. The local fisheries have certainly taken a hit, with Keen getting requests from customers for fish not found domestically, when in reality the products coming from these businesses are A-OK.

Yes, we all understand its hurting our local seafood industry, and its going to, Keen said. But were going to survive and well all push through. But, the biggest thing we need to do is educate people and say, Look, eat your seafood. Its still good. Were buying out of the Keys, were buying out of the Panhandle. And its still a great product.

Though the boats may be docked in tainted waters, the product they bring back comes from hundreds of miles north, around the Panhandle and far south to the Keys. The FDA constantly has its thumb on the pulse of the waters and would shut down contaminated areas if needed.

The FDA puts these regulations out for us to follow. Whether there was red tide or algae here or not, we still have to follow them. We always have followed them. They shut down areas all the time, and they would shut more down if they werent safe, Keen said. That doesnt mean we cant eat seafood.

Local fisheries are not the only source Merrick has as its disposal. It buys seafood from all over, including Hawaii, South America and Trinidad, to name a few. But supporting the local crews that go through the ringer to provide a high-quality fresh product is the way to go, he added.

A lot of these products are easy to be able to go down to the Keys, easy to go up to the Panhandle, to grab the same exact product, Keen said. Its all coming out of the Gulf, its all the same exact product. Just a couple hundred miles this way, couple hundred miles that way.

Merrick supplies its products to 250 restaurants throughout Southwest Florida, meaning there are hundreds of restaurants serving fresh quality seafood that need not worry about their customers coming to dine.

The chefs know, the owners know, the GMs know. We all have to go through training, we all have to sign contracts. Theres a law to it. The FDA is on top of it, Keen said. Obviously the waters around here currently arent safe. But around our area is perfectly fine. Red tide is not reaching all the way up to the Panhandle. The Keys, Maderia Beach, all have much larger fisheries we can source from.

Getting Southwest Florida residents, as well as potential tourists, informed on the steps and regulations Merrick and other fish markets have to go through to ensure a safe product is what Keen thinks is most important.

The education is the big thing. Know that were following all the rules, we have a great product. Our wholesalers know, our customers know, now we just need the public to know, Keen said. You can come in and eat fish great fish especially here.

Keen, as well as the owner and operator of Merrick, encourages customers to ask questions  that they would be more than happy to inform anyone on their acquisition processes and safety regulations.

Ask your local fishmonger, they know what theyre doing, Keen said.

On Sanibel, Timbers Restaurant and Fish Market has felt the results of consumer unease, having a drop in business around 35 to 45 percent since mid-to-late July, according to Mark Blust, vice president of marketing and operations.

We have felt the effects of the red tide, continuing into a dismal August and September, he said. Our loss of business seems to be in line with a majority of the island.

Blust is confident that all Timbers products are safe for consumption, with the products being sourced from unaffected areas.

Grouper, snapper and other Gulf selections are typically caught 50 to 100 miles offshore and therefor not affected, he said. Fin fish such as sword(fish) and tuna come from the Atlantic side.

For shrimp, they are working off of last years harvest and are sourcing others from the Texas side of the Gulf, said Blust.

The local pink shrimp season runs from November to April.

Timbers get gets oysters and clams from the Cedar Key area or from beds located from the Panhandle to Texas, according to Blust.

Oysters and clams are rarely sourced this time of the year due to warm water and runoff from heavy rains, which can raise bacteria counts, he said.

This is why Timbers looks elsewhere to find a safe quality product.

Blust said it has been a bit more difficult recently to locally source seafood, and that he has been having to secure selections from different areas.

All of Timbers crab products are imported from other areas, Blust said.

What will be interesting is how it may affect the upcoming stone crab season, he said.

Blust said he has an educated staff who would love to talk with customers about their processes to ease any concerns about the quality of their product.

We have signage to ensure our customers know that we are committed to their safety by offering only products that have come from approved or inspected sources, he said. And we have an educated staff that is able to convey these messages.

As for local water quality for fishing, there were still high concentrations of red tide on shorelines stretching from Sarasota to Lee County as of Sept. 7, according to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission. Its prediction models showed little change heading into the next week.

The red tide poison, brevetoxin, concentrates in shellfish, so harvesting is closed during blooms, Rae Ann Wessel, natural resource policy director for the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, said.

The FWC has closed oyster harvesting in public reefs since July 1, and it remains closed until the end of the month.

Oysters are definitely a concern because they live in the bays and filter feed and can accumulate the brevetoxin for a while after the red tide has dissipated, Dr. Eric Milbrandt, marine laboratory director for SCCF, said.

Those who enjoy seafood should not do their own harvesting, at least not locally.

If people eat shellfish that has been in red tide they will get sick, Wessel said. In some cases, people have died. Cooking does not affect brevetoxin, it remains toxic.

Red tide toxin does not get into fish filets as far as has been tested and what is known by scientists. However, you should not eat any fish that appears to be dying, Milbrandt added. I would say that the scientists would want to test every fish tissue before it is sold. However, that would be prohibitively costly. Most of the populations of commercially harvested fish are not close to the coast, where red tide blooms are concentrated. Generally speaking, red tide historically has been patchy and therefore having limited effect relative to the population of a fishery in the Gulf of Mexico.

Official said reasons like this make it vital that the public knows the source of seafood purchased.The trickle-down effect of the blue-green algae and red tide events has moved through Southwest Florida businesses just as water releases have moved down the Caloosahatchee.

Both have left significant harm in their wake, with financial losses following the devastating environmental fallout.

On Sanibel and Fort Myers Beach, the economic impact has been drastic with the two losing nearly $41 million combined in the last two months. A survey conducted by the Sanibel Chamber of Commerce shows eye-opening statistics and staggering losses.

In July and August, the island economy incurred a total estimated loss of $19.1 million in lost revenue, with a 41.2 percent decline in August alone.

Hotels, resorts and vacation rental companies were asked if the current water quality has negatively impacted their business and all 42 businesses surveyed said yes.

The same 42 unanimously said they have had cancellations due to water quality. Collectively, they reported a loss of 11,198 room nights for a total of $3,119,874.

Twenty-six hotels/lodging businesses reported early departures as a result of water quality, at a collective loss of $144,584.

All 29 hotels/lodgings responding said that they have seen a year-over-year decrease in the month of August.

Those 29 reported booking 13,198 fewer rooms, representing almost 30 percent of their revenue.

Thirty-eight restaurants reported back to the survey, with all of them saying they have been negatively impacted.

All 38 reported a decrease in business for the month of August, costing them a combined 2,698 tables-42 percent of their revenue.

The same trends continued for retail, real estate, and all other industries.

Some $15,129,680 in losses were estimated on Sanibel in the month of August, along with $4,004,122 in July.

Environmental conditions on Fort Myers Beach have immensely improved, according to President of the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce Jacki Liszak, but not before impacting the local economy.

She said things were rolling along better than ever in July, with many restaurants and hotels reporting record numbers-but then things took a nose dive in August.

The Fort Myers Beach Chamber conducted a survey from July 27- Sept. 14.

For businesses, a total of $24,477,607 was estimated to be lost in that time due to the beach being a ghost town after a severe red tide outbreak washed dead fish onto white sands, accompanied by a foul smell.

And thats not even with our heavy-hitters (largest properties) being accounted for in the survey, Liszak said. We were cooking with gas and then hit a brick wall.

The chamber also surveyed 4,536 employees who reported a collective estimated loss of $985,951 in lost wages per week.

She said that August was one of the worst months shes experienced, with cancelations in the tens of thousands.

Though the numbers are quite discouraging, Liszak is hopeful that as beach conditions come back to normal, so will the activity theyre used to.

People are making a point to come and help the beach out, she said. There are lots more community events and locals are helping locals.

Some hope to make the recovery effort countywide.

The past few months have been very challenging for our community and our tourist industry, said Lee County Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass, chairman of both the Tourist Development Council and the Lee Board of County Commissioners, in a prepared statement. We need to spend money at our local shops and restaurants in support of the businesses and employees who have lost significant income due to harmful algae blooms.

To that end a new promotion entitled, #OneLee, has been started by the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau, that aims to help local businesses impacted by the red tide and algal blooms.

The campaign is designed to motivate residents to dine, shop and play locally, with dozens of deals from area businesses available.

There are a myriad of reasons that the #OneLee campaign is important but perhaps the two most significant are that it continues to build on the strength of the fabric of our community and promotes neighbors helping neighbors, said President and CEO of the Sanibel Chamber of Commerce, John Lai. Lee County is being put to the test but we are resilient. Our community is joining together to help local businesses, our citizens, and were working with local organizations to clean up our shores and do our part. There is no better nor important time to support each other, shop small, support local restaurants, and help your neighbor.

Residents can use the #OneLee hashtag on their social media accounts to support the movement.

Deals will launch Saturday, Sept. 15, and can be found online at www.fortmyers-sanibel.com/onelee.

Special offers will be from businesses in coastal communities such as Sanibel and Captiva, Bonita Beach and Fort Myers Beach.

Fort Myers Beach is getting a head start on the #OneLee movement.

The Chamber is working with five local radio stations to air commercials promoting the beach, hopeful that it will bring people back to the usually vibrant area.

Liszak advocated for the local waiters and waitresses who rely on tips for their income.

Continue to tip the bill (a growing movement to tip your server the same amount as your meal), continue to help local businesses, tell your family and friends-even those up north-that things are getting better and that the beach is beautiful, she said.

For Cape Coral, it is unclear the exact monetory hit the city and its businesses have taken, according to city officials.

The Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce is currently in the process of surveying its members to get a better idea of what businesses are going through. They also continue to work hard on getting people informed on the efforts of the city to mitigate the issue.

We are continuing to receive visitors in our welcome center daily. However, we are receiving calls from people who have their vacations booked during our seasonal months and are concerned about coming down, said Donna Germain, president and CEO of the Cape Chamber. We are sharing the information we have received regarding clean up efforts from the city and county and the long-term projects such as the Hoover Dike repair and the EEA Reservoir. And most importantly, we are encouraging them to keep their travel plans and to come visit Cape Coral and the surrounding areas.

Interim Cape Coral Economic Development Manager Terri Hall said that there are no hard numbers yet on the impact these water events have had on the economy, and that it may be some time until the city sees what the long-term impact truly is.

For the short term, she said, There has definitely been negative impacts for some businesses, especially those that rely on the water. But there are no specific numbers to see exactly what the losses have been.

It has also come to her attention that some short-term loans have been applied for by small businesses that may be affected, looking for relief until season begins.

In speaking with restaurants along the water, it was a mixed bag of reviews, according to Hall.

The real estate market hasnt seen too much of a change, according to Gloria Tate of Raso Realty in Cape Coral.

The Royal Palm Coast Association of Realtors Database shows that in the last 120 days, 361 Gulf-access homes were sold, including the crown jewel of Cape Harbour, 5832 Armada Court, for $4.125 million.

The 361 Gulf-access homes sold is a 59- house increase from last year, over the same 120 days.

Tate also hasnt heard of any cancellations for winter residents, and that she continues to get new inquiries every day from people wanting to spend the winter months in Southwest Florida.

She believes it will be a strong visitor season coming up.

Those of us who live here are cautious and concerned about conditions we see in our canals, Tate said. But we are optimistic that our government is working to fix the issue.

Lee County is also working to compile numbers on the impact of red tide and blue-green algae blooms on the economy.

On Sept. 4, the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau sent out a survey to 1,430 tourism industry people/businesses to gather data, asking for information on business revenue for July and August.

They asked the aforementioned to fill out the survey If you are experiencing losses due to red tide or algae blooms.

Those numbers are not yet available.

Lee County Economic Development is working to connect local businesses with state and federal resources, said Betsy Clayton, Lee County spokesperson. We continue to encourage businesses being affected by the Lake Okeechobee blue-green algae and red tide to complete a business damage assessment survey that can be accessed.

You can visit www.floridadisater.biz/BusinessDamageAssesments to find said survey, and then select as applicable; Lake Okeechobee/algae blooms or red tide.

The Small Business Development Center at Florida Gulf Coast University is also reaching out to those who complete the damage assessments that indicate that they want more information on bridge loans.

 Connect with this reporter on Twitter: @haddad_cjTo the editor:

It is time for county to cite people who refuse to cooperate with the Laws and ordinances in Le County?

1) Four- wheelers have to be cited for using them on county state local land not their own.

a  no more warnings because we have seen first hand that they tear up canals and cause flooding?

2) Semis and dump trucks. It is time to cite and tow all these people who park them in residential areas.

a- If they do not have required documentation, call authorities.

b- We cannot give years of warnings we must enforce the ordinances.

3) Trash cans- The ordinance of putting your trash can out on trash day and putting away

a  not leave them in the street seven days a week

b  The time for warnings is over; start writing tickets.

4) Lawns not maintained must be cited.

a- if you do not maintain your lawn, give them tickets.

5- Unregistered cars and trucks

a  give them tickets and make Lee County residents comply

6) Illegal signs- time to stop these people from littering.

a- give them tickets

7) Un-licensed contractors- put them in jail.

8) Illegal dumping  make it a jailable offense.

9) Using weed-and-feed: Make it a crime as it causing harm to our environment.

10) Start clamping down on slum landlords

a- do not allow 12 people to live in a 3-bedroom home

b  Look, this is a recipe for people getting hurt.

c- septic systems for a family is not meant for 12 people.

Look county leaders, its time to get tough and get out the ticket book and write tickets.

Eric Engelhart

Lehigh AcresIndustries #SilverCrest (TSXV: $SIL.V; NYSE: $SILV) Expands Las Chispas Inferred Resource 4.3



19.09.2018 18:25:22 - #Mining Stock News: #SilverCrest (TSXV: $SIL.V; NYSE: $SILV) Expands Las Chispas Inferred Resource 4.3 Million Tonnes at 3.68 gpt Au and 347 gpt Ag, or 623 gpt AgEq for 87 Million Oz AgEq; Includes 1.6 Million Tonnes at 1,091 gpt AgEq for 56 Million Oz AgEq



(live-PR.com) - #Mining Stock News: #SilverCrest (TSXV: $SIL.V; NYSE: $SILV) Expands Las Chispas Inferred Resource 4.3 Million Tonnes at 3.68 gpt Au and 347 gpt Ag, or 623 gpt AgEq for 87 Million Oz AgEq; Includes 1.6 Million Tonnes at 1,091 gpt AgEq for 56 Million Oz AgEq



Vancouver, British Columbia - September 19, 2018 (Investorideas.com Newswire) SilverCrest Metals Inc. (TSXV: SIL.V; NYSE - #Mining Stock News: #SilverCrest (TSXV: $SIL.V; NYSE: $SILV) Expands Las Chispas Inferred Resource 4.3 Million Tonnes at 3.68 gpt Au and 347 gpt Ag, or 623 gpt AgEq for 87 Million Oz AgEq; Includes 1.6 Million Tonnes at 1,091 gpt AgEq for 56 Million Oz AgEqVancouver, British Columbia - September 19, 2018 (Investorideas.com Newswire) SilverCrest Metals Inc. (TSXV: SIL.V; NYSE American: SILV) ("SilverCrest" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the updated mineral resource estimation for the Las Chispas Property, located in Sonora, Mexico. Inferred Mineral Resources are estimated at 4.3 million tonnes grading 3.68 grams per tonne ("gpt") gold (or "Au") and 347 gpt silver (or "Ag"), or 623 gpt silver equivalent ("AgEq"; based on 75 (Ag):1 (Au) calculated using long-term silver and gold prices of US$18.50 per ounce silver and US$1,225 per ounce gold, with average metallurgical recoveries of 86.6% silver and 98.9% gold). The Inferred Resource Estimate contains 511,800 ounces gold and 48.3 million ounces silver, or 86.7 million ounces of AgEq, using a 150 gpt AgEq cut-off grade and minimum true vein width of approximately 1.5 metres. The combination of the Area 51 zone (Babicanora Vein) and adjacent Babicanora Norte Vein hosts a combined Inferred Resource of 1.6 million tonnes grading 6.97 gpt gold and 568 gpt silver, or 1,091 gpt AgEq containing 56.3 million ounces of AgEq. Of the 30 veins in the district, eight veins were used for the updated resource estimate: Babicanora (including Area 51 zone), Babicanora Norte, Granaditas, Las Chispas, Giovanni (including La Blanquita), William Tell, and Luigi. For comparative purposes, please refer to the technical maiden resource report titled "Technical Report and Mineral Resource Estimate for the Las Chispas Property, Sonora, Mexico" and effective February 12, 2018, as amended May 9, 2018 ("Maiden Resource Report").



Read this in full at





Highlights of the Las Chispas Updated Resource (Sept. 2018) including comparison to the Maiden Resource Report (Feb. 2018):

 38% increase in AgEq ounces from 62.8 to 86.7 million ounces AgEq;

 26% increase in tonnes from 3.4 million to 4.3 million;

 10% increase in AgEq grade from 568 gpt AgEq to 623 gpt AgEq;

 75% increase in high-grade AgEq ounces greater than 1,000 gpt from 32.2 million (Area 51 zone) to 56.3 million (revised Area 51 and Babicanora Norte Vein);

 66% increase in high-grade tonnes grading greater than 1,000 gpt from 967,000 tonnes to 1,606,000 tonnes;

 Approximately 80% of the updated resource is in the Babicanora Area (3 veins) with 20% in the Las Chispas Area (5 veins).

 Five epithermal veins in the maiden resource, eight epithermal veins in the updated resource. Total of 30 epithermal veins defined to date in district controlled by the Company; and

 Discovery cost per AgEq ounce is estimated at US$0.30, inclusive of all property costs and G&A.

The increase in the Inferred Resource estimate is based on the following: (1) 24 additional drill holes in the Babicanora Vein, including Area 51 and Babicanora Footwall Vein, (2) expansion of Area 51 high-grade footprint from approximately 500 metres to 800 metres, (3) splitting the Babicanora Vein into three separate domains for statistical analysis and top-cutting, (4) discovery of the Babicanora Norte Vein with 40 drill holes, (5) discovery of the Granaditas Veins with 21 drill holes, (6) discovery of the Luigi Vein with 22 drill holes, and (7) expansion drilling of three additional drill holes into the Giovanni Vein.



N. Eric Fier, CPG, P.Eng and CEO, remarked, "The delivery of this updated resource estimate is another major milestone for SilverCrest as we continue to systematically expand high-grade mineralization in the Las Chispas district. In the spring of 2018, we started our Phase III drill program with a Q3 target of 75 to 85 million ounces silver equivalent at a grade of around 600 gpt AgEq. With the recent expansion and discovery of multiple high-grade veins and zones, this target has been exceeded with an updated Inferred Resource of 4.3 million tonnes grading 623 gpt AgEq for an estimated 86.7 million AgEq ounces. The most exciting aspects of this resource update are the high-grade resources identified in the Area 51 zone of the Babicanora Vein and the Babicanora Norte Vein. These two near surface adjacent zones cumulatively host 1.6 million tonnes grading 1,091 gpt AgEq for an estimated 56.3 million AgEq ounces which can conceptually be developed using the same underground infrastructure. The Company plans to continue exploration drilling with six to eight core drills operating up to Q1, 2019. A further resource update and a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") are planned for Q1, 2019. Congratulations to our team and supporters who have worked diligently to make several significant discoveries and milestones at Las Chispas over the last six months."







Notes:

* Area 51 zone only in maiden resource.

**Combination of Area 51 zone and adjacent Babicanora Norte Vein resource estimation.

(1) Conforms to NI 43-101, Companion Policy 43-101CP, and the Canadian Institution of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. Inferred Resources have been estimated from geological evidence and limited sampling and must be treated with a lower level of confidence than Measured and Indicated Resources.

(2) AgEq based on 75 (Ag):1 (Au), calculated using long-term silver and gold prices of U.S.$18.50 per ounce silver and U.S.$1,225 per ounce gold with average metallurgical recoveries of 86.6% silver and 98.9% gold.

(3) All numbers are rounded.

(4) Babicanora resource includes the Babicanora Vein with Area 51 zone and Babicanora Footwall Vein. Giovanni resource includes the Gio-mini and the La Blanquita veins.

(5) Resource estimations for the Las Chispas and William Tell veins and the historic dumps are unchanged from the Maiden Resource.

(6) Vein resource is reported using a 150 gpt AgEq cut-off grade and minimum 1.5 m true width (approximate), and surface stockpile resource is reported using a 100 gpt AgEq cut-off.

The mineral resource estimate is based on the Company's phase I, II, and III exploration programs from April 2016 to September 13, 2018 and is classified as an Inferred Mineral Resource. The effective date for the Updated Inferred Resource Estimate is September 13, 2018. Depending on the vein, drill sections were spaced 25 to 75 metres along strike, with intercepts on each section averaging 50 metres apart down dip. The most significant component of the data, collected and validated by SilverCrest between April 2018 and September 2018 (Phase III), are results from an additional 126 drill holes (38,635 metres).

Since the startup of the Phase I exploration program in 2016, a total of 306 drill holes (83,230 metres), 8,984 (7,212 metres) underground channel samples, and 2,895 dump samples have been completed and analyzed which comprise the database up to September 13, 2018. A majority of the resource is in unmined areas, with only the Las Chispas and William Tell veins being partially mined out and voids (stopes) being accounted for in the resource estimation. Since underground work continues in the Las Chispas Vein, details on revised pillar resources will not be complete until the next updated resource. Details of the drill assays, surface and underground sampling results can be found in various press releases from March 2, 2016 to September 13, 2018 and available on the Company's website. The resource remains open in several directions depending on which vein is considered. A Technical Report prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") will be filed on SEDAR at



The Las Chispas resource estimate is based on the following key assumptions. A specific gravity of 2.55 was used based on test work. Veins were modelled to capture mineralization grade of 150 gpt AgEq or greater. For the veins in the Babicanora Area (approximately 80% of the updated resource), a minimum of 1.5 metres true width (a range of 1.5 to 6.0 metres) from drill hole intercepts was used to create vein shapes for modeling. For the Las Chispas Area, the true widths are variable (1 to 5 metres) for creating vein shapes for modeling as presented and estimated in the February 2018 maiden resource. Grade capping (top cut) of silver and gold grades are at 97.4 to 99.9 percentile depending on the vein. Specifically, by applying a 98 percentile top cut to the Babicanora Vein, approximately 7.5 million AgEq ounces (14%) were deducted from the total ounces estimated for the vein. Raw data was composited to 1.0 metres. A 2 metre by 2 metre by 2 metre block size was used based on geological constraints and potential future mining method. Variography, ordinary kriging and inverse distance squared (ID2) were used to create both silver and gold block models. A comparative review of ordinary kriging verses ID2 was completed, with total resource ounces nearly the same and ID2 conforming better to geologic constraints.

Therefore, ID2 was used on all revised resources until infill drilling data is available to complete more representative variography. Block models were classified into Inferred Resources according to appropriate criteria based on geologic constraints, sample sets, and search radii. Details of these criteria will be presented in the Technical Report to be filed on SEDAR.



The Las Chispas resource estimate is focused on an estimated 5.5 kilometres of approximately 20 known kilometres of cumulative vein strike length in the district. As planned, the Company will continue the Phase III drilling up to Q1, 2019, which will focus on expansion and infill drill holes. Drilling priorities over the next six months are: (1) potential for Babicanora Norte Vein high-grade expansion, (2) potential for Granaditas Vein high-grade expansion, (3) further definition drilling on the Ranch veins, (4) further definition drilling for unnamed veins between the Babicanora Main and Babicanora Norte veins, (5) additional definition drilling on Babicanora Sur Vein, (6) Area 51 zone infill drilling for resource re-categorization, (7) initial infill drilling on several other high-grade veins, and (8) initial drilling on several other identified vein (new targets) on the Las Chispas Property. The Company intends to provide another updated resource estimate, with resource re-categorization, and deliver a PEA in Q1, 2019. There is no certainty that these Inferred Mineral Resources will be converted to the Measured and Indicated categories through further drilling.



Qualified Assurance Program and Quality Control Measures ("QA/QC")

SilverCrest has implemented QA/QC protocols including the insertion of duplicate, blank and standard samples in all drill holes and underground sampling. The samples were submitted directly to the ALS Chemex in Hermosillo, Mexico, and North Vancouver, BC, Canada, for preparation and analysis. SilverCrest's qualified person visited the Property numerous times, between February and September 2018. Duplicate and triplicate core sampling was completed with verified selective grades being reported to have a moderate to high nugget effect. SilverCrest's qualified person believes that all QA/QC work completed from February 2018 to September 2018 has been done to adequate standards. QA/QC work on the previous resource estimation announced in February 2018 was completed by P. James Barr, P.Geo. of Tetra Tech Inc. as an independent qualified person, with work completed to adequate standards.



Qualified Person

The Mineral Resources for the Las Chispas Property disclosed in this news release have been estimated by N. Eric Fier, CPG, P.Eng, and CEO of SilverCrest. Mr. Fier is a Qualified Person under NI 43-101 but not independent of the Company. Tetra Tech Inc. assisted with data statistical analysis, variography, and QA/QC review under the direction of P. James F. Barr, P. Geo., Senior Geologist and Team Lead - Geology for Tetra Tech and is independent of SilverCrest. Mr. Barr is a Qualified Person under NI 43-101. The Mineral Resources have been classified in accordance with CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. Mr. Fier has read and approved the contents of this press release as it pertains to the disclosed mineral resource estimate.



ABOUT SILVERCREST METALS INC.

SilverCrest is a Canadian precious metals exploration company headquartered in Vancouver, BC, that is focused on new discoveries, value-added acquisitions and targeting production in Mexico's historic precious metal districts. The Company's current focus is on the high-grade, historic Las Chispas mining district in Sonora, Mexico. SilverCrest is the first company to successfully drill-test the historic Las Chispas Project resulting in numerous discoveries. The Company is led by a proven management team in all aspects of the precious metal mining sector, including taking projects through discovery, finance, on time and on budget construction, and production.



FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. These include, without limitation, statements with respect to: the strategic plans, timing and expectations for the Company's exploration, rehabilitation and drilling programs of the Las Chispas Property, including drilling test water wells, permitting for various work, and optimizing and updating the Company's resource model; information with respect to high grade areas and size of veins projected from underground sampling results and drilling results; and the accessibility of future mining at the Las Chispas Property. Such forward looking statements or information are based on a number of assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things: the conditions in general economic and financial markets; availability of skilled labour; timing and amount of expenditures related to rehabilitation and drilling programs; and effects of regulation by governmental agencies. The actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of risk factors including: the timing and content of work programs; results of exploration activities; the interpretation of drilling results and other geological data; receipt, maintenance and security of permits and mineral property titles; environmental and other regulatory risks; project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; and general market and industry conditions. Forward-looking statements are based on the expectations and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. The assumptions used in the preparation of such statements, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statements were made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements included in this news release if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as otherwise required by applicable law.



N. Eric Fier, CPG, P.Eng

Chief Executive Officer

SilverCrest Metals Inc.



For Further Information:

Contact: Fred Cooper, Investor Relations

Telephone:+1 (604) 694-1730

Fax:+1 (604) 357-1313

Toll Free:1-866-691-1730 (Canada & USA)

Email:

Website:

570 Granville Street, Suite 501

Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 3P1



Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.



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American: SILV) ("SilverCrest" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the updated mineral resource estimation for the Las Chispas Property, located in Sonora, Mexico. Inferred Mineral Resources are estimated at 4.3 million tonnes grading 3.68 grams per tonne ("gpt") gold (or "Au") and 347 gpt silver (or "Ag"), or 623 gpt silver equivalent ("AgEq"; based on 75 (Ag):1 (Au) calculated using long-term silver and gold prices of US$18.50 per ounce silver and US$1,225 per ounce gold, with average metallurgical recoveries of 86.6% silver and 98.9% gold). The Inferred Resource Estimate contains 511,800 ounces gold and 48.3 million ounces silver, or 86.7 million ounces of AgEq, using a 150 gpt AgEq cut-off grade and minimum true vein width of approximately 1.5 metres. The combination of the Area 51 zone (Babicanora Vein) and adjacent Babicanora Norte Vein hosts a combined Inferred Resource of 1.6 million tonnes grading 6.97 gpt gold and 568 gpt silver, or 1,091 gpt AgEq containing 56.3 million ounces of AgEq. Of the 30 veins in the district, eight veins were used for the updated resource estimate: Babicanora (including Area 51 zone), Babicanora Norte, Granaditas, Las Chispas, Giovanni (including La Blanquita), William Tell, and Luigi. For comparative purposes, please refer to the technical maiden resource report titled "Technical Report and Mineral Resource Estimate for the Las Chispas Property, Sonora, Mexico" and effective February 12, 2018, as amended May 9, 2018 ("Maiden Resource Report").Read this in full at www.investorideas.com/CO/SILV/news/2018/09191LasChispas.asp Highlights of the Las Chispas Updated Resource (Sept. 2018) including comparison to the Maiden Resource Report (Feb. 2018): 38% increase in AgEq ounces from 62.8 to 86.7 million ounces AgEq; 26% increase in tonnes from 3.4 million to 4.3 million; 10% increase in AgEq grade from 568 gpt AgEq to 623 gpt AgEq; 75% increase in high-grade AgEq ounces greater than 1,000 gpt from 32.2 million (Area 51 zone) to 56.3 million (revised Area 51 and Babicanora Norte Vein); 66% increase in high-grade tonnes grading greater than 1,000 gpt from 967,000 tonnes to 1,606,000 tonnes; Approximately 80% of the updated resource is in the Babicanora Area (3 veins) with 20% in the Las Chispas Area (5 veins). Five epithermal veins in the maiden resource, eight epithermal veins in the updated resource. Total of 30 epithermal veins defined to date in district controlled by the Company; and Discovery cost per AgEq ounce is estimated at US$0.30, inclusive of all property costs and G&A.The increase in the Inferred Resource estimate is based on the following: (1) 24 additional drill holes in the Babicanora Vein, including Area 51 and Babicanora Footwall Vein, (2) expansion of Area 51 high-grade footprint from approximately 500 metres to 800 metres, (3) splitting the Babicanora Vein into three separate domains for statistical analysis and top-cutting, (4) discovery of the Babicanora Norte Vein with 40 drill holes, (5) discovery of the Granaditas Veins with 21 drill holes, (6) discovery of the Luigi Vein with 22 drill holes, and (7) expansion drilling of three additional drill holes into the Giovanni Vein.N. Eric Fier, CPG, P.Eng and CEO, remarked, "The delivery of this updated resource estimate is another major milestone for SilverCrest as we continue to systematically expand high-grade mineralization in the Las Chispas district. In the spring of 2018, we started our Phase III drill program with a Q3 target of 75 to 85 million ounces silver equivalent at a grade of around 600 gpt AgEq. With the recent expansion and discovery of multiple high-grade veins and zones, this target has been exceeded with an updated Inferred Resource of 4.3 million tonnes grading 623 gpt AgEq for an estimated 86.7 million AgEq ounces. The most exciting aspects of this resource update are the high-grade resources identified in the Area 51 zone of the Babicanora Vein and the Babicanora Norte Vein. These two near surface adjacent zones cumulatively host 1.6 million tonnes grading 1,091 gpt AgEq for an estimated 56.3 million AgEq ounces which can conceptually be developed using the same underground infrastructure. The Company plans to continue exploration drilling with six to eight core drills operating up to Q1, 2019. A further resource update and a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") are planned for Q1, 2019. Congratulations to our team and supporters who have worked diligently to make several significant discoveries and milestones at Las Chispas over the last six months."Notes:* Area 51 zone only in maiden resource.**Combination of Area 51 zone and adjacent Babicanora Norte Vein resource estimation.(1) Conforms to NI 43-101, Companion Policy 43-101CP, and the Canadian Institution of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. Inferred Resources have been estimated from geological evidence and limited sampling and must be treated with a lower level of confidence than Measured and Indicated Resources.(2) AgEq based on 75 (Ag):1 (Au), calculated using long-term silver and gold prices of U.S.$18.50 per ounce silver and U.S.$1,225 per ounce gold with average metallurgical recoveries of 86.6% silver and 98.9% gold.(3) All numbers are rounded.(4) Babicanora resource includes the Babicanora Vein with Area 51 zone and Babicanora Footwall Vein. Giovanni resource includes the Gio-mini and the La Blanquita veins.(5) Resource estimations for the Las Chispas and William Tell veins and the historic dumps are unchanged from the Maiden Resource.(6) Vein resource is reported using a 150 gpt AgEq cut-off grade and minimum 1.5 m true width (approximate), and surface stockpile resource is reported using a 100 gpt AgEq cut-off.The mineral resource estimate is based on the Company's phase I, II, and III exploration programs from April 2016 to September 13, 2018 and is classified as an Inferred Mineral Resource. The effective date for the Updated Inferred Resource Estimate is September 13, 2018. Depending on the vein, drill sections were spaced 25 to 75 metres along strike, with intercepts on each section averaging 50 metres apart down dip. The most significant component of the data, collected and validated by SilverCrest between April 2018 and September 2018 (Phase III), are results from an additional 126 drill holes (38,635 metres).Since the startup of the Phase I exploration program in 2016, a total of 306 drill holes (83,230 metres), 8,984 (7,212 metres) underground channel samples, and 2,895 dump samples have been completed and analyzed which comprise the database up to September 13, 2018. A majority of the resource is in unmined areas, with only the Las Chispas and William Tell veins being partially mined out and voids (stopes) being accounted for in the resource estimation. Since underground work continues in the Las Chispas Vein, details on revised pillar resources will not be complete until the next updated resource. Details of the drill assays, surface and underground sampling results can be found in various press releases from March 2, 2016 to September 13, 2018 and available on the Company's website. The resource remains open in several directions depending on which vein is considered. A Technical Report prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") will be filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com within 45 days.The Las Chispas resource estimate is based on the following key assumptions. A specific gravity of 2.55 was used based on test work. Veins were modelled to capture mineralization grade of 150 gpt AgEq or greater. For the veins in the Babicanora Area (approximately 80% of the updated resource), a minimum of 1.5 metres true width (a range of 1.5 to 6.0 metres) from drill hole intercepts was used to create vein shapes for modeling. For the Las Chispas Area, the true widths are variable (1 to 5 metres) for creating vein shapes for modeling as presented and estimated in the February 2018 maiden resource. Grade capping (top cut) of silver and gold grades are at 97.4 to 99.9 percentile depending on the vein. Specifically, by applying a 98 percentile top cut to the Babicanora Vein, approximately 7.5 million AgEq ounces (14%) were deducted from the total ounces estimated for the vein. Raw data was composited to 1.0 metres. A 2 metre by 2 metre by 2 metre block size was used based on geological constraints and potential future mining method. Variography, ordinary kriging and inverse distance squared (ID2) were used to create both silver and gold block models. A comparative review of ordinary kriging verses ID2 was completed, with total resource ounces nearly the same and ID2 conforming better to geologic constraints.Therefore, ID2 was used on all revised resources until infill drilling data is available to complete more representative variography. Block models were classified into Inferred Resources according to appropriate criteria based on geologic constraints, sample sets, and search radii. Details of these criteria will be presented in the Technical Report to be filed on SEDAR.The Las Chispas resource estimate is focused on an estimated 5.5 kilometres of approximately 20 known kilometres of cumulative vein strike length in the district. As planned, the Company will continue the Phase III drilling up to Q1, 2019, which will focus on expansion and infill drill holes. Drilling priorities over the next six months are: (1) potential for Babicanora Norte Vein high-grade expansion, (2) potential for Granaditas Vein high-grade expansion, (3) further definition drilling on the Ranch veins, (4) further definition drilling for unnamed veins between the Babicanora Main and Babicanora Norte veins, (5) additional definition drilling on Babicanora Sur Vein, (6) Area 51 zone infill drilling for resource re-categorization, (7) initial infill drilling on several other high-grade veins, and (8) initial drilling on several other identified vein (new targets) on the Las Chispas Property. The Company intends to provide another updated resource estimate, with resource re-categorization, and deliver a PEA in Q1, 2019. There is no certainty that these Inferred Mineral Resources will be converted to the Measured and Indicated categories through further drilling.Qualified Assurance Program and Quality Control Measures ("QA/QC")SilverCrest has implemented QA/QC protocols including the insertion of duplicate, blank and standard samples in all drill holes and underground sampling. The samples were submitted directly to the ALS Chemex in Hermosillo, Mexico, and North Vancouver, BC, Canada, for preparation and analysis. SilverCrest's qualified person visited the Property numerous times, between February and September 2018. Duplicate and triplicate core sampling was completed with verified selective grades being reported to have a moderate to high nugget effect. SilverCrest's qualified person believes that all QA/QC work completed from February 2018 to September 2018 has been done to adequate standards. QA/QC work on the previous resource estimation announced in February 2018 was completed by P. James Barr, P.Geo. of Tetra Tech Inc. as an independent qualified person, with work completed to adequate standards.Qualified PersonThe Mineral Resources for the Las Chispas Property disclosed in this news release have been estimated by N. Eric Fier, CPG, P.Eng, and CEO of SilverCrest. Mr. Fier is a Qualified Person under NI 43-101 but not independent of the Company. Tetra Tech Inc. assisted with data statistical analysis, variography, and QA/QC review under the direction of P. James F. Barr, P. Geo., Senior Geologist and Team Lead - Geology for Tetra Tech and is independent of SilverCrest. Mr. Barr is a Qualified Person under NI 43-101. The Mineral Resources have been classified in accordance with CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. Mr. Fier has read and approved the contents of this press release as it pertains to the disclosed mineral resource estimate.ABOUT SILVERCREST METALS INC.SilverCrest is a Canadian precious metals exploration company headquartered in Vancouver, BC, that is focused on new discoveries, value-added acquisitions and targeting production in Mexico's historic precious metal districts. The Company's current focus is on the high-grade, historic Las Chispas mining district in Sonora, Mexico. SilverCrest is the first company to successfully drill-test the historic Las Chispas Project resulting in numerous discoveries. The Company is led by a proven management team in all aspects of the precious metal mining sector, including taking projects through discovery, finance, on time and on budget construction, and production.FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTSThis news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. These include, without limitation, statements with respect to: the strategic plans, timing and expectations for the Company's exploration, rehabilitation and drilling programs of the Las Chispas Property, including drilling test water wells, permitting for various work, and optimizing and updating the Company's resource model; information with respect to high grade areas and size of veins projected from underground sampling results and drilling results; and the accessibility of future mining at the Las Chispas Property. Such forward looking statements or information are based on a number of assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things: the conditions in general economic and financial markets; availability of skilled labour; timing and amount of expenditures related to rehabilitation and drilling programs; and effects of regulation by governmental agencies. The actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of risk factors including: the timing and content of work programs; results of exploration activities; the interpretation of drilling results and other geological data; receipt, maintenance and security of permits and mineral property titles; environmental and other regulatory risks; project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; and general market and industry conditions. Forward-looking statements are based on the expectations and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. The assumptions used in the preparation of such statements, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statements were made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements included in this news release if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as otherwise required by applicable law.N. Eric Fier, CPG, P.EngChief Executive OfficerSilverCrest Metals Inc.For Further Information:Contact: Fred Cooper, Investor RelationsTelephone:+1 (604) 694-1730Fax:+1 (604) 357-1313Toll Free:1-866-691-1730 (Canada & USA)Email: info@silvercrestmetals.com Website: www.silvercrestmetals.com 570 Granville Street, Suite 501Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 3P1Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.SilverCrest Metals Inc. (TSXV: SIL.V; NYSE: SILV) is a featured company on Investorideas.comVisit profile pageGet News Alerts on SilverCrest Metals Inc.This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leadersDisclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investment involves risk and possible loss of investment. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Contact each company directly regarding content and press release questions. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. More disclaimer info: www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp . Disclosure: Investorideas.com is compensated by SilverCrest Metals Inc for annual news publishing effective January 2017.Additional info regarding BC Residents and global Investors: Effective September 15 2008 - all BC investors should review all OTC and Pink sheet listed companies for adherence in new disclosure filings and filing appropriate documents with Sedar. Read for more info: www.bcsc.bc.ca/release.aspx?id=6894 . Global investors must adhere to regulations of each countryPlease read Investorideas.com privacy policy: www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp Contact information:

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Phone: 800-665-0411 19.09.2018 18:25:22 -

Disclaimer: If you have any questions regarding information in this article please contact the author. Please do not contact Live-PR.com. We are not able to assist you. Live-PR.com disclaims content contained in this article. Live-PR.com is not authorized to give any information about content and not responsible for content posted by third party.In August, right before the backup of intermodal shipping containers in the Los Angeles areaEditors note: This year marks the 40th anniversary of Chinas reform and opening-up, and huge changes have been made in Beijing, capital of China, over the past 40 years. We have invited 40 foreign experts to participate in a series of interviews named New Era, New Insight jointly hosted by GMW.cnThe official website of Guangming Daily and the Information Office of Beijing Municipality and share their Beijing Stories. The following is the script of the interview with Andrey Kirillov, head of ITAR-TASSs Beijing bureau.

Andrey Kirillov, head of ITAR-TASSs Beijing bureau (Photo source: Guangming Online)

My name is Andrey Kirillov. Since 1998, I have been head of ITAR-TASSs Beijing bureau. In the recent 20 years, I didnt leave Beijing except when I was on vacation.

I would say Im a half-Beijinger. When I first came here, many Beijingers provided me with a lot of support and help. They treated me very well. They are very friendly.

In 1986, I first came to China. At that time, few people spoke foreign languages in Beijing. When most Beijingers talked to me at first, they felt very strange that a foreigner could speak Chinese.

I said to them that it was very normal, and many people could speak Chinese in Russia. Beijing has made great progress, so do Beijing people. Beijingers have already got used to foreigners speaking Chinese.

It seems not a big deal. Nowadays, many people in Beijing, especially college graduates, or even middle-school students can speak English.

If you go to Yabao Road, you would see many Chinese businesspeople speak Russian, some pretty well. Therefore, Russians coming to Beijing from Russia dont have to worry too much about language problems there.

The most important thing is that Beijing is an inclusive city. More Beijing people are very friendly to foreigners, and this shows the inclusiveness of the city.

My daughter has grown up. But when we just arrived in China, she was only a middle school student. She learnt Chinese from ordinary Beijingers. Now she is better than me in speaking Chinese.

When we go shopping or talk with Chinese people, she speaks Chinese more fluently and knows more than I do. I have lived in Beijing for so long. I feel happy.

Beijing is my second hometown. I hope that I can work longer in China, in Beijing. I love China. I love Beijing. I wish all Chinese, I wish Beijingers all the best and good health.

[ Editor: Zhang Zhou ]Leaders / Lifestyle

We speak to the man behind the website that is redefining luxury for the modern traveller.

Sep 19, 2018 | By LUXUO

Boasting over 40 years of experience in travel leadership at high-end airlines, luxury cruises, leading hotels around the world and many more, its easy to see why Mark Greedy is at the helm of Destination Elite. With a bespoke selection of hotels, resorts, luxury merchandise and real estate with a difference, Greedys website is shaping luxury and lifestyle experiences into something that lasts.

Below, Mark Greedy shares with us more about Destination Elite and the future of his company, as well as his take on some of the best travel destinations.

Interview with Mark Greedy, CEO of Destination Elite

What led you to define the concept of Destination Elite?

I have a unique and fortunate career path including the Marketing and Business leadership of the worlds finest airlines, hotels, resorts, travel agencies and tour operators. That is on top of affiliation with luxury cruises and Market Communications of the finest motor vehicles and products, amongst others.

From this, I came to recognise that the consumers of luxury are mostly the same people who share the same character and expectations no matter where they are from. They generally make their own independent decisions after consultation with peers and want their style and environment all translated on the same stage, whether thats a one-stop sophisticated shop of outstanding products or an amazingly curated collection online, presented and retailed.

So, my vision was to provide only the finest, together, within the same online eco-system in a wonderful environment  That Perfect Place  for these customers. Also, the concept of amazing offers available for the finest products and experiences for limited periods only is not a new model.

As well as communicating the beautiful image of Singapore Airlines or a Leading Hotel of the World, we successfully created For Sale opportunities of these same products at unbelievable savings or inclusion. Elite Affairs is and will be this for Destination Elite and its closed user group of Friends.

How different is Destination Elite from other travel-related websites?

Destination Elite aspires to be a platfom for showcasing and retailing the finest of all products and merchandise, whereas almost all other travel websites are limited to only hotels and resorts, and generally cater to the mass market  a bit like one big classified page.

There has not been one global online website that has successfully taken an ecosystem of luxury products to the luxury customer. The big guys have tried but they are not accustomed to being as one with the consumer of luxury; due to their expectations and nuances, they have tried unsuccessfully to adapt mass principles to exclusive culture.

Which destinations do you cover primarily?

Destination Elite offers a global selection of the finest from Japan Ryokans to Paris Hotels, to Mediterranean Cruising to Antarctica Expedition Adventures and more. However, being Asia-centric, we have developed an affinity with those nearby jewels such as the Maldives, Thailand, Indonesia, India, Japan and New Zealand, places where diversity and culture mix within just one portion of the globe.

Why would a customer come to you, and what added services do you provide versus the usual online travel agencies?

As mentioned earlier, a customer would come to Destination Elite for:

our diverse appreciation, understanding and range of products from cruises and adventure experiences or private islands and luxurious residences, all consolidated into one showcase;

our Elite Travel Concierge (ETConcierge@DestinationElite.com), which provides customised and personalised guidance and support from people who are themselves experienced and appreciative of the finest;

the best available pricing (often even better), because Destination Elite sources and invites the finest to be within our alliance. See Elite Affairs;

savings and designer features sculped to the luxury consumers aspirations; and

access to an enviable collection of important benefits, which is reserved for customers who choose to accept our Complimentary Invitation to become Friends of Elite.

Also, in recent times, Destination Elite has introduced its designer range of Speed Sale offers known as Elite Affairs. From islands to family to romantic to business to brief affairs, we have designed unmatched swift sale opportunities to the finest in market.

So, in conclusion, customers come to us for our curation of diverse and selective products, personalised customised service, value and benefits, and, dare we mention, price.

Currently, do you have any special offers that you feel would appeal to readers based on their luxury travel habits?

At this moment, we have:

Island Affairs 3 Nights at only US$2,999 to Huvafen Fushi, Maldives including all dinners and breakfasts, airport transfers and T&S. Pretty amazing.

Family Affairs to Gayana Marine Resort Kota Kinabalu and also one of Asias finest resorts Centara Grand Hua Hin where kids eat, play and stay for free.

Romantic Affairs to Oberoi Bali and Lombok

Business Affairs at The Murray Hotel, Hong Kong

Brief Affairs are on the design table now and at least another 40+ brand customised Affairs from Foreign to Gourmet to Summer to Steamy Affairs are on the way.

How do you see Destination Elite evolving within the next 2 years?

I believe Destination Elites recent partnering with a major luxury media business will significantly enhance the take up of Destination Elite by its Friends of Elite customers, whilst providing Destination Elite with an international voice and presence that it deserves.

From this enhanced platform, we will invite more wonderful and diverse products, and we will showcase and retail these products to its worldwide significant consumer audience.The consumer of luxury will have become more accepting of online retail and the showcase of luxury product, hence our business and returns will grow exponentially.

Our Elite Affairs brand and product will dominate the Speed Sale option within Asian countries and its 2 Billion population whilst having a global presence and affinity with a global audience. Finally, our products and their design will be international in their model, not just designed for one nationality then presented to all.

On a personal basis, which are your preferred destinations and resorts?

We love luxury lifestyle cruising and have cruised many times throughout the world. Cruise Elite features those we have selected as the finest in all categories. There are a few more that fit our protocols and we will invite them as and when.

Of course we are Maldive-files. Bali is always a wonderful return, Hong Kong is uniquely special, as well as New York on many occasions. London and Paris are great walking cities. Italy and Greece are too good to resist.

Discovering and reacquainting with the world is a never-ending endeavour, and staying with the best is always a joy and makes any experience a memory.

If you were to name one capital city in Asia that is close to your heart, which one would it be?

After living here for 33 years and being involved for many years before that, I know that to say Singapore may seem unimaginative, but Singapores past, present and future never ceases to amaze, entertain and grow in all directions. Our move to Singapore was life-altering and continues to evolve, so I say Singapore with a fondness for all Asian cities.

If you were to name one mentor who has influenced your life and the business choices you have made, who would that be?

In business, I have been uniquely fortunate to have worked with and for the very best, generally during their strong growth curve derived from great marketing and willingness to compete and achieve. Not being a runner for the Admin division.

To nominate one business mentor whose leadership, enthusiasm, knowledge, presence, skill and personality were an inspiration and creative guide, I would go for Mr. Paul McManus, who was for many years the CEO of The Leading Hotels of the World.

Paul and I never prepared or sent documented reports for 12 years. We knew and understood by conversation what we were doing or creating was generally great, well- constructed with pragmatic creativity to achieve the objectives and business blossomed during this time together.

In my personal and business life there has been only one mentor (and I know this sounds a bit soppy), and thats my wife Joy. Joy has a natural elegance, sophistication, intelligence and grace that sets her apart. At the same time, she is extremely practical, pragmatic, knowledgeable and good to be around. Since the day we met 43 years ago she has been the guiding light.

The finest, together.

www.DestinationElite.com

For Concierge Reservations and Support, contact ETConcierge@DestinationElite. comBEIJING, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping has sent a congratulatory letter to the World Conference on Science Literacy 2018, which opened in Beijing Monday.

Science and technology (S&T) is the primary productive force, and innovation is a crucial driving force behind development, Xi said.

Strengthening the coordinated innovation of the S&T industry and all sectors of the society while advancing openness and cooperation between countries is a significant way to enhance the role of the S&T development in the progress of human society, he said.

Xi stressed that China had been active in exchanging ideas with other countries on promoting science and enhancing science literacy.

He said he hoped participants in the three-day conference would exchange opinions, learn from each other, contribute to improving science literacy, help share scientific achievements and advance the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, read the letter at the conference's opening ceremony, and delivered a speech.

Xi has always highly valued S&T innovation and the S&T cause, and emphasized that S&T innovation depends on the rise of people's science literacy, asking for an equally significant position for science popularization with that of S&T innovation, Wang said.

The new challenges brought by the development of S&T need to be answered by humanity as a whole, and S&T innovation must be based on the consistent enhancement of people's science literacy and abilities, he noted.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also sent a congratulatory letter to the conference.

Before the conference opened, Wang met with foreign guests attending the conference.

Themed "Science Literacy for a Shared and Better Future," the conference has over 1,000 participants, including representatives from 23 international science organizations and 58 national science organizations from 38 countries.

3

1

[ Editor: Zhang Zhou ]Madinah Binti Mohamad said that member supreme audit institutions (SAIs) have high expectations for the 14th ASOSAI Assembly, especially in terms of sketching out the organisational strategy for the 2016-2021 period.

She said that the board will work to improve the efficiency of the implementation of programmes to strengthen ASOSAI capacity, while seeking orientations and strategy to deal with issues related to public auditing.

The ASOSAI Chairwoman said that the organisations 14th assembly will be a chance for the board to get a better understanding of the challenges and difficulties facing member SAIs.

She pointed out that one of the key challenges is how to reach a higher quality

of problem-solving in terms of explaining, preventing, finding the cause of, and handling issues thoroughly, thus ensuring confidence amongst society and winning over the communitys cooperation in providing information on wastefulness, fraudulent activity, or wrongdoings.

Madinah Binti Mohamad affirmed that currently, public auditing has a great responsibility to the public. Therefore, at the ASOSAI 14, member SAIs hope to foster partnerships and learn from each other for their common benefit.

Vietnamese Auditor General Ho Duc Phoc said that the State Audit of Vietnam hopes to continue working closely with other member SAIs and the Governing Board across all fields in order to strengthen its capacity and share experiences in dealing with existing challenges that are affecting transparency, accountability, and governance.

At the meeting, Vietnamese Deputy Auditor General Doan Xuan Tien delivered a draft Hanoi Statement, which is scheduled to be issued at the ASOSAI 14, that is comprised of ideas and recommendations from the organisation to the regional and global public auditing community.

Representatives from member SAIs also discussed the recommendations and annual issues of the organisation, such as finance and budget, along with the outcomes of the ASOSAI strategic plan for the 2016-2021 period and the plan of action to implement the strategic plan for 2018. They also sought ways to strengthen capacity for member SAIs and encourage experience sharing among them.

Participants at the meeting approved the minutes and discussed issues stated in that of the previous meeting. They also debated a number of reports, including that of the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) on information technology auditing.Former governor Nur Misuari of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao has asked the Sandiganbayan to dismiss the cases filed against him by the Ombudsman in connection with the alleged anomalous purchase of educational materials during his watch as the chief executive of the area. Misuari told the anti-graft courts Third Division said there was an absence of evidence that would pin him down to the allegedly irregular transaction. He also raised the issue of inordinate delay against the Ombudsman. Misuari, the former ARMM governor, is facing two counts each of graft and malversation by falsification owing to the alleged anomalous procurement of educational materials worth P115.2 million during his term. Misuari said he could not be held liable for the transaction that was done when he was no longer the ARMM governor. Misuari and his co-accused allegedly conspired to give unwarranted benefits, advantage and privilege to MBJ Learning Tools, CPR Publishing, and White Orchids Printing. He said the payments to MBJ Learning in December were released in 2003, CPR Publishing in July 2004, and to White Orchids Printing in July 2004 and September 2005.Since his term ended on Sept. 30, 2001, Misuari said his successor, Parouk Hussin was governor when the payments were made. It is likewise clear as day that accused Nur Misuari did not receive any [of the]money or funds [that are the] subject matter of the complaint as the demand for payment was made when he was no longer performing the functions of the Regional Governor of ARMM, Misuari said in his motion. He added the issue of conspiracy is farfetched since he was detained in Malaysia from December 2001 to January 2002 and for six years in the Philippines from 2002 to 2008. Misuari also said his case should be dismissed because the Ombudsman took a total of four years and four months to finish its preliminary investigation. Misuari is out on a P460,000 bail he posted in September 2017.Koreans remain the top foreigners who visited the country from January to August this year, but the total foreign visitors dropped by more than 1 percent, compared to the same period last year, according to the Bureau of Immigration. Records from the BI showed a total 4,352,929 foreign arrivals were recorded from the eight-month period, compared to 5,831,996 in 2017 or less than 1,471,067. The bureau said China came in the second while on the third spot is the United States. Data received from the BI showed that from January to August 2018, at least 1,214,463 Koreans visited the country while in 2017, there were 1,734,246 or lower by 519,783. Last year, Chinese visitors recorded an arrival of 1,095,188 but this year, only 973,614 came to visit the country, the BI record showed. Despite the dispute in the South China Sea, the Philippines and China continue to maintain good diplomatic relations and may have boosted last years number of Chinese visitors. Chinese visitors may increase as the holiday season nears and that thousands of Chinese prefer to celebrate the Chinese new year which falls on Feb. 5.For Japanese, only 467,461 came into the country this year, a decline of 161,302 visitors compared last year with 628,763. Almost all the top 10 foreign visitors in the Philippines dropped this year, the BI statistics showed. Australians came in fifth with 187, 685; followed by Canadians at 170,689. Other nationals were from Taiwan with 171,461 arrivals, UK at 158,392; Malaysia, 107,404, Singapore, 92,503 and Germans, 65,921. The BI record also revealed that only 1 visitor each from Puerto Rico, Aland Islands, Sao Tamo Principe, and the Virgin Islands visited the Philippines.Predictive Trading Model Suggests Falling Stock Prices During US Elections

Just in time for what appears to be a potentially massive market price rotation, our researchers have put together this post to highlight what we believe will become a surprise price correction in the US Equities markets. Our team of researchers believes the correlation of our predictive modeling tools, predictive cycle tools, and other indicators are set up for what may become a massive 5~8% price rotation over the next 60 days.

We were expecting this rotation to start unfolding around mid-September (now) but at this time the technical are still bullish so we are not betting against the market just yet.

The combination of new US tariffs ($200 Billion about to hit in the China trade war), as well as a combination of technical issues with regards to Technology Stocks and retail expectations, could jolt the market if a correction does take place as our predictive modeling tools suggest. A simple rotation of 2~3% is fairly common in the markets. These predictive modeling solutions are suggesting we are just 4~5 days away from the start of a much bigger correction in the US Equities and Indexes.

We believe the coming US elections in combination with the other aspects of the global economy are going to drive a downward price correction that many people are not expecting right now. But there is one pocket of stocks that could benefit from this tariff stuff which members or our Wealth Building Newsletter just got long today!

Anyway, Lets take a look at some of our index charts to see how this will likely play out.

This first chart is a Daily ES chart showing our Adaptive Dynamic Learning (ADL) predictive price modeling tool. The YELLOW/CYAN dashed lines over the price bars and into the future show the highest probable outcome from the ADL predictive modeling analysis. This instance that predicts a 5~6 day price advance before a price peak sets up consisted of 105 unique instances of correlative price data making up this predictive analysis. In other words, 105 unique instances of similar predictive price patterns and predicts future price moves based on the highest likely outcome of all instances of data.

In this case, the ADL modeling system is suggesting we have about 4~6 more days of moderately higher price activity before a price top/peak will setup  prompting a new downward price trend.

This ES Weekly ADL price chart correlates with the Daily chart almost perfectly. The Weekly chart predicts one additional week of upward price action before a massive 5~6% price decline drives prices lower. This massive price rotation executes over a 1 to 2-week span before briefly stalling, then an additional price decline of about 2% sets up driving prices to a predicted low near $2670 (-8.58%) on November 1, 2018 (just before the US elections).

This ADL analysis was generated by 112 unique instances of similar price data and the combined highest probability outcome is shown by the YELLOW and CYAN dashed lines on the chart. Simply put, we have a very high probability of a 5~8% price correction setting up over the next 20+ days in the US Equities markets with a projected bottom setting up near $2670.

This last Weekly Transportation Index chart displaying the ADL predictive modeling system paints a very interesting picture when you combine it with the two earlier charts. The Transportation index typically leads the major markets by about 3 to 6 months. We have seen continued upside price advances in the Transportation Index over the past 6 months which leads us to think the US equities markets will continue to push higher overall. Yet, this Weekly ADL predictive modeling chart shows two massive price rotations are likely to unfold before the end of 2018. The first one is set up for a downside price rotation, ending near $10,800, starting the week of September 17, 2018, and lasting about 3~4 weeks. Then, the ADL predicts the Transportation Index will rocket higher, near $11,800, for about 5~6 weeks before falling again to retest the $10,800 lows near early December 2018.

We believe critical global news and expectations regarding global trade, banking and credit may become the catalysts for these moves. The US is expected to enact over $200 billion in trade tariffs this week with China. We believe the ADL predictive modeling system is capable of identifying these massive price rotations and predicting the future rotations simply because of the massive amounts of data that it is capable of crunching. This Weekly ADL prediction consisted of 112 unique price instances and displays only the highest probable outcome. In other words, our predictive modeling system is suggesting these price moves are likely to happen based on its analysis with a greater than 50% probability.

Please pay close attention to our research posts and other articles throughout the end of this year and early into 2019. As we have been attempting to warn our followers, expect increased volatility and wider price rotation throughout the end of this year.

We expect to find a number of incredible opportunities for our members over the next few months and we have already been incredibly successful throughout this recent price rally. Our ADL systems predicted this upside price move in February of 2018 and we have stuck with it. Now, the ADL is predicting a massive rotation is about to take place  somewhat similar to February 2018. If you want to learn how to profit from these moves, visit www.TheTechnicalTraders.com to learn how we help our members stay ahead of these types of market moves.

Chris Vermeulen

www.TheTechnicalTraders.com

Chris Vermeulen has been involved in the markets since 1997 and is the founder of Technical Traders Ltd. He is an internationally recognized technical analyst, trader, and is the author of the book: 7 Steps to Win With Logic



Through years of research, trading and helping individual traders around the world. He learned that many traders have great trading ideas, but they lack one thing, they struggle to execute trades in a systematic way for consistent results. Chris helps educate traders with a three-hour video course that can change your trading results for the better.



His mission is to help his clients boost their trading performance while reducing market exposure and portfolio volatility.



He is a regular speaker on HoweStreet.com, and the FinancialSurvivorNetwork radio shows. Chris was also featured on the cover of AmalgaTrader Magazine, and contributes articles to several leading financial hubs like MarketOracle.co.uk

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100 years ago, the world was shaken by the October Revolution. We rightly celebrate this heroic act as the first instance of workers power in history. But how exactly did the Bolsheviks and the working class exercise a power never-before wielded by the proletariat? What problems did they face  economic, administrative, political and military, from within and outside Russia  and how did they meet them? Derek Gunby provides an analysis and balance sheet of 1918: the first year of the Russian Revolution.

1918 proved to be one of the most tumultuous and violent years the world had ever seen. Not only were vast armies from all countries and continents fighting a gruesome World War but also the victorious Russian Revolution of October 1917 was facing a huge wave of internationally financed armies, Russian and Foreign, dedicated to its overthrow. By the end of the year the World War was over. The Bolshevik-led workers and peasants government of Russia had withstood all possible trials to secure a vital foothold for the revolution and begin the long task of defeating all the elements of armed counter-revolution. Much remained to be done and it wasnt until 1921 that Soviet power had been fully consolidated in all of Russia. This article traces the key events and identifies the main challenges facing the revolution in 1918, the decisive role of the Bolshevik Party and its leaders and the lessons that remain for us today.

The Bolshevik-led workers and peasants government of Russia withstood all possible trials to secure the revolution / Image: public domain

A revolution involves a tremendous clash of class interests, as has happened at various junctures throughout human history, such as the English Revolution of 1642, the French Revolution of 1789, the Paris Commune of 1871 and then the Russian Revolutions of 1917. These are rare events that are important to understand for all those interested in human affairs, but especially Marxist revolutionaries who seek to change the world bourgeois order to a working class order that will pave the way for a classless society.

Revolutions are the highest expression of historical change. They mark a qualitative change in the development of human society. During such revolutions the masses enter into direct political action. In the normal course of events politics is conducted by relatively small numbers of people representing class interests. But, in a major revolution, such as occurred in Russia in 1917, large numbers of ordinary people throw off such inhibitions and directly participate to achieve a transfer of power. However, it also requires a conscious and clear-headed political agency with a political programme to channel and direct this creative energy to transform society.

As revolutionaries, our aim is to be a part of that critical political agency. We need to arm ourselves with past experiences to guide future action. We need to understand the processes that occur during a revolutionary period. These lessons cannot be applied mechanically but must be refracted through the prisms of subsequent history and our current experience. Nothing is ever repeated exactly. We take from the past and test its relevance and application today to see how this may offer some guidance as to how to adapt effectively to our own age.

Russia at the end of 1917

The Russian Empire at the end of 1917 was a huge conglomeration of nationalities and ethnic groups covering millions of square miles from the Pacific Ocean in the east to the Baltic and Black seas in the west. With a population of over 178 million people it was overwhelmingly a rural and agrarian society. Eighty percent of the population was composed of peasants living for the most part in scattered villages with poor communications between them. To the Russian peasants, the village and surrounding fields was, for all practical purposes, their world. Whilst in 1861 the peasants had been freed from serfdom, the legislation doing so had failed to modernise and develop agriculture and the conditions of the peasants still lagged way behind most other comparable European countries.

Russia in 1918 was mostly a rural and agrarian society / Image: public domain

Industry was concentrated in a few areas such as St. Petersburg and Moscow, with oil production in Baku in the south and coal mining in the Ukraines Donets Basin. A great proportion of the industrial capital was owned by foreign interests especially in St Petersburg, and the national capitalist class was both weak and divided, with much of it heavily dependent on the state. Some of its factories were very modern and even by world standards extremely large, especially in the capital St. Petersburg. This created a relatively compact and concentrated working class, much of it recruited relatively recently from the villages.

Nationalities

The Russian Empire consisted of a large number of different nations that had, over the years, been conquered and suppressed by the Russian Tsarist state. These comprised, among others, the Baltic States, Poland, Finland, the Ukraine, the various Caucasus States such as Georgia, Belorussia, Bessarabia, and a number of Asian States such as Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and others. Nationalism was, therefore, a potent force within Russia and something that required a response from all socialist parties.

This issue had provoked considerable debate in Marxist circles. It demanded creating federated socialist states on the basis of of international socialism in addition to the more immediate question of throwing off the yoke of Russian imperialism. Lenins approach was practical. He recognised, unlike Rosa Luxemburg, that in order for the working class to achieve victory in an empire of oppressed nationalities, they had to win over those masses, often peasants and other petty-bourgeois classes, by adopting the principle of the right of all nations to self-determination. Without this approach the task of the Socialist Revolution in Russia would have been impossible.

The Russian Orthodox Church

The power and wealth of the Russian Orthodox Church was considerable. But it was strongly linked to the Tsar and the old Imperialist order. Whilst it had held tremendous sway over the peasant masses, the experience of the First World War and the growing disapproval of the Tsar caused a significant loss of its authority. During the counter-revolution and civil war the Church unreservedly backed the reactionary forces, leading to an even greater weakening of loyalty from the masses. Its power, wealth and influence were considerably reduced by new Bolshevik government decrees confiscating Church land and privileges and restricting its operations and influence.

During the counter-revolution and civil war the Church unreservedly backed the reactionary forces, weakening the loyalty of the masses / Image: public domain

Classes and conditions in Russia in late 1917

Russia in late 1917 was clearly in crisis. The country had been involved in a devastating World War for three years. The soldiers were weary and rebellious, prone to mutiny, with many deserting and returning to their peasant homes. The Provisional Government that followed the February Revolution failed to tackle any of the acute issues of war, food or land and was plainly ineffective. The economy and general morale of the country was in tatters. The motor for change in Russia was the relatively small but powerful working class. They had organised themselves in Soviets that became a parallel power to the Government. The old governing structures of the State and local Dumas became the last redoubts of the bourgeois class, allied with some of the remnants of the old aristocracy.

The Provisional Government that followed the February Revolution failed to tackle any of the acute issues of war, food or land / Image: public domain

The bourgeois class  the bankers, capitalists, big business managers and senior civil servants  was small, though relatively wealthy and with access to resources. However, it lacked the weight and history of similar classes in Western Europe and the USA. The Russian bourgeois had been denied a full place in government due to the backward nature of the Russian state. Whilst they gained leading positions in the first Provisional Government after the February Revolution, they proved weak and ineffective. The vast peasantry was not homogenous but, rather, split into rich, middle and poor peasants with the poorest, often landless, by far the larger proportion. Most peasants were poorly represented in governing structures. Local administration remained in the hands of the large landowners and their supporters, including rural merchants and businessmen and kulaks (rich peasants).

The Red Guards

Armed workers militias, known as the Red Guards, had emerged at the time of the February 1917 Revolution, often in spontaneous form. Various factories and political parties sought to encourage and develop such units. The Bolsheviks were the most successful and ardent in promoting the idea of armed workers militias. There was a suppression of the Red Guards after the events of July 1917 but this was reversed in September in the face of the threat to the Provisional Government by General Kornilov, and the forces under his command, who were then threatening Petrograd. The Bolsheviks were entreated to assist the resistance and rapidly mobilised and armed 25,000 Red Guards. After that, the Red Guards remained a key feature of future struggles in all the major cities and at the moment of the October Revolution, numbered 200,000. After the revolution, the Red Guards performed the functions of the police and army until such times as new police and Red Army units were constituted, sometimes quite late into 1918.

After the revolution, the Red Guards performed the functions of the police and army until new police and Red Army units were constituted / Image: public domain

Political Parties and Leaders

By the autumn of 1917, the Bolsheviks had gained a majority following among the urban working class but had a minority position in the countryside. The Bolshevik Party had a number of strong distinguishing features that gave it a unique strength in the conditions of Russia in late 1917 and into the turmoil of 1918. They had a grounding in Marxist theory, especially dialectical thinking, which allowed them to analyse events from all angles and uncover the underlying forces that such events represented.

There was no culture of rigid and uniform thinking in the Bolshevik Party. In the heat of the revolution there were initially several splits and occasionally resignations and later re-joining. Lenin, outstanding as the most sober, the most realistic, the chief dialectician, and Trotsky, also a great dialectician, proved to be head and shoulders above all other Bolshevik leaders in their capacity to analyse events and urge decisive action. Within the Party there was a strong tradition of internal democracy and debate. Leaders were acknowledged but opposed if they were thought to be wrong. Conversely, leaders accepted decisions that went against them, even if continuing to oppose them in debate. This pertained even in the darkest hours and throughout 1918 and up to 1924, when Lenin died and Stalin took the reins and changed this key Party principle. Once Lenin arrived back in Russia in April 1917, the Party developed great elan and confidence, which they transmitted to the working class and spurred heroic efforts to protect and advance the revolution. The Bolsheviks embodied the aspirations of the most advanced layers of the working class and utilised their skills and energy. This convinced ever-widening layers of workers, soldiers and poor peasants of the value and aims of the Bolsheviks.

By the autumn of 1917, the Bolsheviks had gained a majority following among the urban working class but had a minority position in the countryside / Image: public domain

The Social Revolutionary Party (SR) was founded in 1902 and was a member of the Second International. The Party was an amalgam of various influences, including some Marxism and some of the ideas of the old populist and terrorist group the Narodniks, but were primarily a reformist party with a focus on land reform. Unlike the Bolsheviks, the SRs placed an emphasis on individual, rather than collective outcomes for successful land reform. It was essentially a peasant-based party and thus tended to vacillate between the classes in its positions, since the peasantry is composed of scattered and heterogeneous elements, some much richer than others. In 1917 it was the majority party of the countryside with strong support among ordinary soldiers, who were in the main of peasant origin. They played a major role in the formation and leadership of the Soviets, albeit in most cases playing second fiddle to the Mensheviks.

After the February 1917 revolution the SR Party became a major component of the new Provisional Government. As that Government moved to the right under the pressure of events and Kerensky took the reins of power, the left faction of the SRs, led by Maria Spiridonova, began to establish a separate position, more sympathetic to the Bolsheviks. At the Second Congress of Soviets in October 1917, when the Bolsheviks proclaimed the deposition of the Provisional government, the split within the SR Party became final. The Left SRs stayed at the Congress and were elected to the permanent Soviet Executive (initially refusing to join the Bolshevik government), while the Right SR Party and their Menshevik allies walked out. Later, the Left SR Party joined the Bolshevik government, obtaining three ministries. The Right SRs thereafter moved into opposition to the new Bolshevik-led government, eventually taking up arms and attempting uprisings and later linking with the reactionary White armies.

The Mensheviks were a socialist and Marxist party, but their Marxism was of a rigid and mechanistic form. Along with the Bolsheviks they had originally been part of the Russian Social Democratic Party. They split with the Bolsheviks over the definition of membership of the Party. But, in fact, the deeper cause for the difference between the two factions lay in the Menshevik belief that socialism could not be achieved in Russia due to its backward economic conditions, and that Russia would first have to experience a bourgeois democratic revolution and go through a capitalist stage of development before socialism was technically possible and before the working class could develop the necessary consciousness for a socialist revolution. Thus, the Mensheviks were opposed to the Bolshevik idea of the party and the pursuit of socialist revolution in Russia.

Their opposition to revolutionary Marxism led inexorably to a path of reformism and eventually, for most of them, opposition to the October Revolution. The Mensheviks gained a considerable following among the working class in the run up to the February Revolution and often held majorities in Soviets and a strong presence in local Dumas. But their support for the War and their participation in an increasingly unpopular Provisional Government saw their support melt away throughout 1917. Following the October Revolution they split between the majority right faction, led by Tsereteli, who favoured action against the Bolsheviks and the left faction, led by Martov, who tended to support the Reds in the civil war but refused to break completely with the right section. Many of the most militant Mensheviks joined the Bolsheviks.

The Anarchists were relatively small and unpredictable. At times supporting the Bolsheviks, at times opposing / Image: public domain

The Anarchists were relatively small and unpredictable. At times supporting the Bolsheviks, at times opposing. In the Spring of 1918 they were disarmed following attempts to stage an uprising within Russia. Initially the Anarchists were principally urban and drawn from the ranks of the intellectual and other petty-bourgeois elements, but in the Ukraine anarchist bands of guerrillas rested on the peasantry. There they eventually coalesced into a large force under Makhno, who fought all-comers, mainly the Germans, but later also the Whites and eventually the Reds.

The Constitutional Democratic Party (Kadets), formed in 1905, was the main bourgeois party, representing capitalist interests. They were broadly liberal, favouring a constitutional monarchy and bourgeois democracy. Following the February Revolution they held five portfolios in the first Provisional Government, including that of Prime Minister (Prince Lvov) and Foreign Minister (Miliukov). Their position steadily eroded as opposition mounted to the Provisional Governments War Policy. Following the October Revolution they called for the overthrow of the Bolshevik regime and supported counter-revolution. As a consequence they were banned in December 1917.

Consolidating gains, October to December 1917

It is not the task of this article to go into any detail of the seizure of power in October 1917. Leon Trotsky has brilliantly captured this event in his History of the Russian Revolution, John Reed in Ten Days that Shook the World and many other pieces, including recent articles from In Defence of Marxism. The fact of the matter is that the resounding slogan of the Bolshevik Party, "All Power to the Soviets! received an immediate and overwhelming endorsement from the soldiers and working class in virtually every town and city throughout the Russian Empire.

In fact, in Tallin, Estonia the Soviet seized power two days before the revolution in Petrograd, and on the day of that insurrection, successful transfers of power were also achieved in Minsk, Novorod, Ivanovo-Voznesensk and Tartu. Within eight days of the declaration of a new workers state, a further 21 towns and cities had achieved Soviet-led power. Resistance from either the Provisional Government forces or from hostile class forces was, initially, universally weak.

The exception to this was Moscow, where poor planning and preparation by the Bolsheviks and the local Soviet, coupled with a strong resistance from armed Kadets, meant that taking power involved some serious fighting over six days, leading to the loss of some 400 lives. But, by the end of 1917, most of the provincial areas of Russia had declared for Soviet power, usually under the leadership of the Bolsheviks. However, the separate nationalities in the Ukraine, the Baltic States and areas of southern Russia around the Don and in the Caucasus Region proved more resistant to socialist revolution and these were to be acute zones of struggle for years to come.

The first steps of the counter-revolution

While the taking of power proved relatively easy, the counter-revolution soon commenced and various attempts were made to turn back the tide of socialist revolution. In Petrograd, the first, ill-fated attempt to thwart the revolution was undertaken by military cadets, known as Junkers (sons of the bourgeois and middle class), who mounted an armed struggle against the Bolsheviks. After a short conflict, the Red Guards easily disarmed them.

More problematic for the new state was the effort by Kerensky, the former head of the Provisional Government, to wrest back control of the capital by using elements of the Cossacks. Having fled Petrograd in disguise, Kerensky tried to galvanise the Imperial Army from the Northern Front headquarters at Psov. However, the Imperial Army was divided and only General Krasnov agreed to organise an expedition against Petrograd. He set off with 700 Cossacks, hoping others would join him on the way.

These forces, lacking morale and any sizeable infantry support, were defeated by Red Guards, recruited from the Petrograd factories, on the Pulkovo Heights, just a few kilometres from Petrograd. These events occurred only five days after the successful revolution in Petrograd. This marked the end of Kerenskys direct role in Russian events and he fled to Paris. Krasnov was arrested but later released and went on to participate in the civil war on the side of White Russian counter-revolution.

Laying the foundations for a new socialist order

Following the defeat of these first attempted coups, the new Bolshevik Government was given some breathing space and proceeded to lay down the foundations for a new, socialist system. Lenin drove the pace of change relentlessly. Only a few months prior to the October Revolution, Lenin had completed one of his outstanding works, State and Revolution. This spelled out with great clarity the Marxist view of the state as an instrument of class domination and the need for a successful proletarian revolution to transform the machinery and practice of the state into a vehicle of working-class rule.

Lenin knew that it was vital to establish the outlines of a new workers state immediately after taking power / Image: public domain

Lenin knew that it was vital to establish the outlines of a new workers state immediately after taking power. Part of his thinking was that the revolution was unlikely to succeed unless and until revolution broke out in one of the advanced capitalist countries. It was therefore imperative to lay down all the markers of a new order so as to establish a guide for the future. Decree after decree was promulgated. By the end of 1917, just over nine weeks after the successful seizure of power, 25 major decrees had been passed, covering such issues as peace, land, the press, civic rights, abolition of estates and titles, right of recall of elected representatives, the judicial system, internal security, economic planning, workers control in industry, unemployment insurance, nationalisation of the banks, civil marriage and so on. Many more decrees followed in 1918. In December, the government established the Economic Planning Council to direct production and distribution.

Resistance to revolutionary change: the old classes and the reformist parties

Efforts to establish the new order were carried on amidst the mounting fury of the old order, frantically scrabbling to get a purchase on the situation. Unable, at this stage, to secure any military support against the new government, the old classes resorted to sabotage and non-compliance. Many of the higher-ranking civil servants refused to cooperate with the new powers unless forced at gunpoint.

The first Council of Peoples Commissars, established in late October 1917, comprised solely Bolshevik Ministers. The Left-SR Party was invited to take some government posts but refused on the grounds that they wanted a government that included all parties represented in the Soviets. This demand was taken up by the Right-SR Party and the Mensheviks. The Bolsheviks could not agree to this, as some parties were continuing to oppose the revolution and seek the overthrow of the government.

The Mensheviks used their dominant position in the Railway Workers Union Executive Committee to pressure the Bolshevik government to accede to the demands for a broad Coalition Government. This was no idle threat, as the railways were key to transport and the movement of arms, goods and other vital necessities. Moreover, they used this muscle to sabotage and disrupt the Bolshevik governments operations as much as they could. For instance, they refused to allow trains to send troops to assist the revolution in Moscow. They also sought to mobilise other trade unions against the Bolshevik government, many of whom had backward, bureaucratic structures led by Mensheviks.

12 Bolshevik members of the cabinet, including Zinoviev (pictured), argued for an all-socialist government in "broad coalition" / Image: public domain

While the majority of Bolshevik leaders rejected the idea of a broad coalition, Zinoviev, Kamenev, Rykov, Nogin and Milyutin  all members of the Bolshevik Central Committee  supported this demand, going so far as to resign from the committee when they lost the vote on 14 November.

Shortly afterwards, five out of the 12 Bolshevik members of the cabinet, including three of the above, resigned their posts and published a manifesto calling for an all-socialist government. Lenin responded robustly. He pointed out that the Left-SRs had been offered places in the government and had declined, and that the purely Bolshevik government had been created and unanimously ratified by the Congress of Soviets. Lenin denounced Zinoviev and Kamenev as deserters and pointed out that they had behaved in a similar strike-breaking fashion before the uprising. In the end, the reformist parties had no support among the broad mass of workers, nor in the Soviets, and the idea of a broad coalition collapsed.

While this set the scene for future battles with the Right-SRs and Mensheviks, the Left-SRs, under pressure from a Peasants Congress in late November, agreed to participate in the Bolshevik government and fuse with the Soviet Executive Committee. By the end of 1917, the Left-SRs received three places in the cabinet.

The Constituent Assembly and the issue of democracy

Holding elections for a Russian Constituent Assembly had long been a key demand of all socialists, including the Bolsheviks. It was seen as a popular demand to challenge the power of the aristocratic and upper-bourgeois classes entrenched in Dumas (the parliaments and city councils that operated prior to the establishment of the Soviets).

The Provisional Government endorsed the demand after the February Revolution and eventually set the time for elections in late 1917. After the October Revolution, when power had passed to the Soviets, Lenin took the position that the elections should be postponed. He argued that an elected Constituent Assembly represented the highest level of democracy in a bourgeois republic, but once power had been won by the workers on the basis of all power to the soviets, this new proletarian democracy represented a higher level still.

While socialists subscribe to democratic processes and indeed demand ever-improved ways of representing the mass of people, the precise form of democracy is not set in stone but must be chosen on the basis that the rights and needs of the exploited are fully and constantly represented. The new workers democracy that emerged in revolutionary Russia was not some formal, bureaucratic, once-every-five-years type of system, but a living, breathing, everyday democracy, where delegates were regularly changed in response to new events and new opinions. The right of recall meant that 50 percent plus one of the electorate could recall their delegate at any time.

Lenin was also against holding Constituent Assembly elections on very practical grounds, arguing that to hold the elections on the basis of out-dated electoral rolls did not reflect the split in the SR Party that had led to effectively two parties  Left-SRs-and Right SRs  and therefore could not accurately reflect political reality at that time. Moreover, he argued there was a need to lower the voting age to 18 and to outlaw counter-revolutionaries who were determined to overthrow the soviet government by force. Without these changes, the election would favour the declining forces of Right-SRs and Kadets. But he was out-voted by the other Bolsheviks, the majority still clinging to a formal notion of democracy.

As Lenin had predicted, the Constituent Assembly in the conditions of late 1917 was at best an irrelevance / Image: public domain

In the event Lenin was absolutely correct. The elections were held before the revolution had been consolidated. The result was that the SRs were by far the largest party, with the Bolsheviks some way behind in second place. But the result also confirmed two further facts. The first was that the whole country was overwhelmingly left oriented. Moderate socialists, including the SRs, gained 62 percent of the vote; and the Bolsheviks, as revolutionary socialists, around 25 percent. The main bourgeois party, the Kadets, achieved less than 5 percent and the Mensheviks, once so powerful, were reduced to 3.3 percent; much of this vote concentrated in the Caucasus, and Georgia in particular.

While these results seemed to show a powerful position for the SRs, it needs to be borne in mind that the Left-SRs were scarcely on the ballot, due, as Lenin said, to out-dated rolls and candidates. Had the Left-SRs been properly represented there is little doubt the result would have looked very different.

In addition, the Bolsheviks won overwhelmingly in all the urban areas and their immediate periphery, and among many of the key soldier and navy units based in the north. Socialist Revolutionaries who dominated the Constituent Assembly represented the political confusion and indecision of the petty bourgeoisie in the towns and the millions of peasants who were relatively distant from the capital and industrial centres. Anecdotal evidence suggests that many peasants were fully behind Bolshevik policies without realising they were Bolshevik, and also thought Lenin and other Bolshevik leaders were German spies. This latter, insidious lie was widely spread by the bourgeois and Right-SR leaders and their press to confuse peasant voters.

As Lenin had predicted, the Constituent Assembly in the conditions of late 1917 was at best an irrelevance and at worst provided another basis for seeking to overthrow the Bolshevik government. He set out his view with great clarity in an article in Pravda in December 1917. The Theses on the Constituent Assembly hammered home in 19 points the basic arguments Lenin had advanced to the Bolsheviks prior to the elections. He was to take up the issue of bourgeois and proletarian democracy again in a polemic he wrote to counter Kautskys revisionist pamphlet, The Dictatorship of the Proletariat, at the end of 1918.

Delegates to the Constituent Assembly began to arrive in the capital in December. Tension was high as the counter-revolution was underway in the Ukarine under General Kaledin and steps were also afoot to start a White Army in the Don region. The Kadets support for an armed counter-revolution led by Kaledin led the government to ban the party and the arrest of some of its leaders.

The Constituent Assembly met in January 1918. The Right-SRs were aware of the opposition they faced from the Soviets and the Bolsheviks and tried to prepare a defence, with a Military Organisation and a Committee for the Defence of the Constituent Assembly. They also had a paper (The Grey Overcoat) and the support of two regiments, plus other soldiers recalled from the front. They also had a strong terrorist group. Their main supporters, the peasants, did not seem very concerned about the outcome as they had primarily seen the SR Party and the Constituent Assembly as a means of getting land, which had already by then been promised by the Bolshevik Government through an important decree.

A Right-SR terrorist group had infiltrated the headquarters of the Bolshevik Party and laid plans to kidnap or assassinate its key leaders, Lenin and Trotsky. The leadership called this off when it became apparent that the plan had been leaked. A right-wing demonstration was held on 5 January, attended by the ranks of the citys petty bourgeois: clerks, intellectuals and so on. They were easily dispersed. It was a sort of botched insurrection. The two regiments that originally supported the SR Party came over to the Bolsheviks.

It was against this tense background that the first and only meeting of the Assembly took place. Sverdlov, on behalf of the Soviet Executive Committee, seized the presiding officers bell, declared the meeting open and proceeded to propose a long resolution endorsing all the actions and decrees taken by the Soviet government so far. This was ignored by the Right-SR majority, which proceeded to the election of a president.

Chernov, of the Right-SR Party, achieved 244 votes, as against 153 for Marie Spiridonova, the Left-SR, whom the Bolsheviks supported. Speeches were then made to a background of boos and catcalls from the soldiers in the gallery. When the Assembly refused to discuss Sverdlovs motion, the Bolsheviks withdrew. The Assembly rambled on, passing three laws on land, a similar one to the Bolsheviks on peace (agreeing to the armistice) and finally proclaiming a democratic federative republic. At 5am, the Assembly was ordered to close, as the guards were tired. It dispersed, never to meet again, as the All-Russian Soviet Executive Committee dissolved the Assembly, saying that it served only as a cover for the overthrow of the Soviets. There was popular indifference to this move and the Assembly faded into history.

By the end of 1917, the October Revolution had managed to survive and defeat all the initial forces ranged against it. Moreover, the spirit and mood of the workers and soldiers still coursed with energy. The flames of the revolution, far from sputtering into darkness were burning brightly. But major obstacles to a lasting victory remained. One of the most pressing in the new year of 1918 was the matter of how best to end the war with Germany and the Central Powers.

Taking control of finance and the economy

The Banks were the first important industries to be nationalised.

The state bank refused to pay out money to the new government and the managers went on strike. Eventually, after threatening the officials, the government managed to retrieve 5m roubles. Private banks also refused to assist the new government, leading to their forcible seizure and opening of their vaults. At end of December 1917, all banks were nationalised and fused with the state bank. Withdrawals were limited to no more than 250 roubles per week.

Large houses were taken into public ownership and industrial enterprises that refused to abide by workers management were generally taken over. All gold held privately was confiscated by the state. In January, all payments of dividends and dealings in shares were made illegal. In February, all foreign debts were repudiated. Big industry was not immediately nationalised but certain individual concerns of strategic interest were, such as the electricity industry, the Putilov munitions factories and the Belgian Metal Company.

Wages and salaries became the main source of income for all. The government took steps to equalize these. To establish a precedent, the salary of the Peoples Commissars was made equal to the average of a skilled worker (500 roubles a month), with an additional 100 roubles per month for each dependant. Lenin, Trotsky and other leading Bolsheviks set a strong example of austere living.

Proletarian organisation

Victor Serge in his book, Year One of the Revolution, mentions that Lenin had urged that miracles of proletarian organisation must be achieved in order to overcome the many-headed resistance of the bourgeois class. Only in this way, especially in these early stages, could their resistance and opposition be overcome.

Lenin urged that miracles of proletarian organisation must be achieved in order to overcome the many-headed resistance of the bourgeois class / Image: public domain

In fact, in the months after the revolution, the policy of the Soviet government consisted principally in awakening, stimulating, sometimes guiding, but more usually simply endorsing the initiative of the masses. The Peoples Commissars were ordered, by decree, to work in close contact with the mass organisations of working men and women, the sailors and soldiers. Workers took initiatives in many diverse ways. Certain trade unions, for example, undertook to organise sections of industries. In many enterprises, offices as well as factories, employees found that they had to manage their places of work as their superiors had abandoned their positions. This was regularised in a decree legalising the intervention of workers in the management of industry and other workplaces. Workers control of industry and offices became widespread.

Some degree of planning and coordination, however, was vital and in December the government established the Supreme Economic Council. This body had the task of coordinating all the activities of local and central organs, which managed and controlled production and distribution. This was the beginning of a centralised planning system that would supplant the rule of the capitalist market.

The press

The Bolsheviks, in common with many socialists, had called for the freedom of the press under the restricted and repressive conditions of the old order. Certainly, it was the early intention of the Soviet government to allow general press freedom. In an early decree on the press, reference was made to the fact that some suppression of the bourgeois press had been undertaken in the immediate period of the revolution. The slogan freedom of the press concealed the fact that it was freedom for the propertied class, as they had taken hold of the lions share of the press to poison, unhindered, the minds and obscure the consciousness of the masses.

The decree went on to state:

As soon as the new (socialist) order has been consolidated all administrative pressure on the press will be terminated and it will be granted complete freedom within the bounds of legal responsibility, in keeping with a law that will be broadest and most progressive in this respect.

Meanwhile the Bolsheviks reserved the right to suppress publications that called for open resistance to the new Government, used slander or distorted facts. In fact, the bourgeois press was operating, relatively freely, as late as May 1918, despite the pressures on the regime. This press remained vicious and slanderous. As conditions deteriorated, press freedoms were curtailed for a number of bourgeois publications and some of the SR publications. This was extended as the civil war intensified and foreign armies intervened in the civil war.

Later in July 1918, the new Constitution of the Soviet Union stated in article 14:

In order to ensure genuine freedom of expression for the working people, the RSFSR abolishes the dependence of the press on capital, and places at the disposal of the working class and the poor peasantry all the technical and material requisites for the publication of newspaper, pamphlets, books and all other printed matter, and guarantees their unhindered circulation throughout the country.

State security and the Cheka

As Lenin had spelled out in State and Revolution, the state is at root an instrument of class rule that depends on force to ensure its survival. In the last analysis, this is achieved through having available armed bodies of men, such as the army, police and security forces, to ensure the will of the ruling class. The transfer of one class rule to another is a process of immense struggle that has always involved armed confrontation. The new workers state therefore had to have its own bodies of armed men.

The Bolsheviks established the Extraordinary Commission for Struggle against Sabotage and Counter-Revolution, otherwise known as the Cheka, and placed in charge the Bolshevik leader Dzerzhinsky / Image: public domain

These took time to establish. In the first instance, they took the form of workers militias, which became known as the Red Guards. They acted as both the shock troops of the revolution and the upholders of order within the towns. In terms of internal security, every state deploys its own specialist services. The Bolsheviks established the Extraordinary Commission for Struggle against Sabotage and Counter-Revolution, otherwise known as the Cheka, and placed in charge the Bolshevik leader Dzerzhinsky. In the early stages this organisation proved relatively mild and in the first few months of the revolution there were remarkably few executions or instances of draconian action. However, as the struggle with the reactionary and imperialist forces intensified, the Cheka accrued additional powers and met force with force, achieving a formidable reputation.

Social and cultural changes

Early soviet decrees highlighted the desire of the new order to radically transform social, cultural and religious norms. Central to this was the release of women from their position of legal subservience and oppression in law. In future, only civil weddings were to be recognised by the state and divorce was to be made freely available to either partner. Men and women were given full juridical equality. Children born out of wedlock were to be given the same rights as offspring of marriages. The criminal code that outlawed homosexual activity was abolished, making Russia among the first in the world to do so.

Early in 1918, a law was passed that separated the church from the state. It declared the right of any citizen to profess any religion or none. Religious oaths were abolished, as were church schools. Churches were not allowed to own property and all such property was declared the property of the people, with local and state authorities having the right to hand over buildings of worship to religious societies for free use.

Under Lunacharsky, radical artists were promoted and Russia's rich cultural heritage was made available to the masses / Image: public domain

In further efforts to align Russia with the modern world, it was agreed to end the use of the Justinian Calendar and, from February 1918, to adopt the Gregorian and West European calendar. This added 13 days to the year and the Revolution of 25 October was subsequently celebrated on 7 November. The Cyrillic script used in printing materials was also simplified.

The orator and somewhat maverick intellectual, the Bolshevik Lunacharsky, was appointed Commissar of Education. His brief also included protecting and advancing the cultural heritage of Russia. He proved a brilliant choice for this office. He was able to cajole and persuade reluctant teachers and academics to continue their teaching and research work under the new regime, despite many of them opposing the new direction. Under his leadership, a major programme to combat illiteracy was embarked upon and he proceeded to reform teaching procedures in a progressive libertarian spirit. New ideas, including Marxism, were introduced into curricula. His approach aroused considerable international interest.

He sought to popularise the arts, taking music, drama, literature and the visual arts to the masses. He was not afraid of the avant-garde and promoted the likes of Chagall and Tatlin to key academies, alongside the work of Eisenstein, the radical filmmaker.

Justice and administration

Justice systems also reflect class rule and so there was an early wholesale change to the Russian justice system. All the general judicial institutions were abolished. Justices of the Peace (JPs) were replaced with local courts represented by a permanent local judge, elected on the basis of direct, democratic suffrage, and two alternate assessors selected by local Soviets. Former JPs and judges were not disbarred from standing for the new posts. Similar changes were made to district and higher courts. Other detailed changes were made to court procedure.

Local government had been largely run by city and council dumas and these were effectively replaced by local and regional soviets. Other local committees and structures also became important, especially the various peasant committees and later the committees of the poor. Local co-operative structures also gained more power after the revolution, although these waned somewhat during the harsh exigencies of 1918 when increased central control was exerted in all aspects of administration.

In July 1918, the All-Russian Soviet agreed a new constitution for The Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic. This was arranged into the following main articles:

Declaration of rights of the labouring and exploited people. General provisions, which set down a number of key principles. Organisation of Soviet power. The right to vote. The budget. The coat of Arms and Flag.

This is an important document as it marked the formal and encoded establishment of a new workers state with all its key principles and operating mechanisms. Although, given the acute crises facing Russia at this time, it was not possible to fully implement all its aspects, it nevertheless marked a highpoint of the struggle to overcome the old capitalist state. It was amended and enlarged in 1924 to take account of the creation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and other matters but its key principles remained, until amended by Stalin in 1936.

Peace and war

The Russian Revolution took place during World War One: war and peace were critical issues. The overthrow of the Tsar and the establishment of a democratic government in February 1917 were regarded by the Provisional Government, and by the SR and Menshevik majority in the Petrograd Soviet, as a justification for continuing the support of the war effort in the name of the defence of the revolution.

In practice, this meant defence of the bourgeoisie, since they were the class most empowered by the first Revolution in 1917. The Bolshevik Party insisted that war must end and peace must be achieved on the basis of no annexations or indemnities. Most Bolsheviks supported this. However, there were some in the party, notably Kamenev, who openly espoused the need for continuing the war on the basis of defending the revolution. Lenin opposed this position in his April Theses, recognising that the masses were desperate to see an end to war. He further argued that the position of revolutionary defencism within a bourgeois state was a confidence trick upon the workers and pandering to patriotism and jingoism. From April to October, the Bolsheviks maintained that a Bolshevik revolution, the ending of the war with a democratic peace and proletarian revolution in Europe, were all parts of a single process and in practice inseparable.

Internationalism and revolutionary war

The Bolshevik Party tradition was unreservedly internationalist in outlook. It believed that nationalism was part and parcel of the capitalist system and that wars were an inevitable consequence of that nationalism. They also took seriously the original Marxist international slogan, workers of the worlds unite, you have nothing to lose but your chains. In addition, the Bolsheviks were also strongly of the view that a Russian socialist revolution could not be sustained without one or more advanced capitalist countries also becoming socialist and linking up with the Russian proletariat.

Lenin opposed a 'revolutionary war', but was in a minority within the party leadership / Image: public domain

Bolsheviks believed that the ending of capitalism and landlordism in Russia would raise the morale of workers and peasants and make them stronger than any opponent. This new class war would rouse the masses internationally. This position was crucial to understanding why the party adopted various positions over the peace negotiations and the issue of revolutionary war. After the establishment of a workers and peasants state Lenin was not, in principle, against waging a revolutionary war against the imperialist powers but, looking at concrete reality, he understood the masses did not want to fight, even for a workers state, at this stage. In any event, the fledgling state had insufficient resources to wage a war of any kind and by December 1917 was faced with civil war. Therefore, Lenin implacably opposed a revolutionary war at this stage. But a majority in the party leadership did not. This set the scene for a prolonged and, in the end, damaging struggle within the Bolshevik Party, which was only finally settled in March 1918.

The peace decree and the armistice with Germany

One of the very first decrees, issued a day after the October Revolution, by the new government was on peace. It called upon all belligerent countries to halt the war immediately on the basis of a just and democratic peace with no annexations or indemnities, and to allow all nations the right of self-determination on a free vote. At the same time, the decree abolished secret diplomacy, calling for open and transparent negotiations, and annulled all secret treaties agreed by the old regime, stating that such secret treaties would be published. Finally, the government called for an immediate armistice.

A temporary armistice between Russia, Germany and her allies was agreed on 2 December 1917 / Image: public domain

After initial negotiations between the Soviet delegation and those of Germany and her allies, an armistice was agreed on 2 December. It allowed 28 days before full peace negotiations took place. It was agreed to maintain current military positions, and further agreed that Germany would not send troops to the western front because of the armistice and would allow a degree of fraternisation between troops.

Trotsky, after some resistance on his part, was appointed Commissar for Foreign Affairs and would eventually lead all negotiations, which were to take place in Brest-Litovsk: a small town on the Russian-Polish border, now in Belarus.

Foreign policy, under Trotsky, comprised largely of appeals to workers and revolutionary groups throughout the world to organise a world revolution. He paid scant attention to the traditional role of a Foreign Secretary, saying, My job is to publish the treaties, issue some revolutionary proclamations and shut up shop. Former secret treaties were quickly published, ambassadors recalled and new ones sent out. Money was made available for international revolutionary organisations. Agitational newspapers were published, aimed at foreign workers and prisoners of war. For their part, foreign governments rebuffed Russian attempts to obtain friendly responses and all countries opposed any rapprochement with the Bolsheviks. However, there were contacts between Russia and foreign ambassadors and initially the allies hoped to persuade Russia to continue fighting Germany. When this failed, their opposition to Bolshevik Russia noticeably stepped up.

Negotiations at Brest-Litovsk and Bolshevik splits

Following the armistice agreement, negotiations re-started at Brest-Litovsk, with Joffe initially leading the Russian delegation. These discussions were inconclusive. The Soviet delegation put forward their positions on annexations and the rights of nationalities to enjoy political freedom and ending colonies. The Central Powers (Germany, Austro-Hungary, Turkey and Bulgaria), led effectively by the German General Hoffman, played lip service to these demands as they had no intention of giving up Poland or those Baltic states under their control. Moreover, they now included in their delegation representatives of the Ukrainian Rada (a nationalist-led parliament), weakening the Soviet claim to represent all Russian territories. The Red offensive against the armed nationalists in Ukraine was only just underway.

Trotsky took over as leader of the Soviet delegation to the peace negotiations at Brest-Litovsk in 1918 / Image: public domain

Trotsky took over as leader of the Soviet delegation in the New Year, and hoping that delaying tactics would work in their favour, used the negotiations as a platform for propaganda. There were definite signs of revolt among workers in Austria and Germany and among their soldiers and sailors. Strikes occurred in Austria in mid-January and later in the month there were serious strikes in Berlin, Hamburg, Danzig and Kiel. Eventually, the Central Powers sought to break the deadlock by stating their demands for the Soviets to cede all territory currently occupied by Germany in the North and to negotiate the southern boundaries with the Ukrainian Rada. Trotsky decided that he now needed to return to Petrograd to discuss with the leadership the best response. There then began a series of debates and votes. In the first meeting, 63 leading Bolsheviks debated the issue of peace. Lenin argued for taking peace at any price to secure the bridgehead of the revolution and wait for better times. Despite Lenins prestige, he got only 15 votes. 32 votes, mainly Moscow Bolsheviks led by Bukharin, were for a revolutionary war against Germany and her allies rather than accepting their terms. Trotsky took a third position of neither war nor peace but to continue to delay the proceedings as long as possible in the hope revolution would break out in Germany of Austria and if necessary declare peace unilaterally when pressed. He got 16 votes.

A few days later the Central Committee of the party met and Lenin again called for immediate peace. Only Stalin was clear in his support so Lenin agreed to Trotskys delaying position and this passed 12-1. Only two, Bukharin and Dzerzhinsky, supported pursuing a revolutionary war.

Trotsky returned to the negotiations later in January, but after spinning it out as long as possible he made a unilateral declaration to end the war. He then walked out of the talks. Seven days later the German High Command announced it was going to resume hostilities. The Bolshevik unilateral declaration of peace was intended as a signal to all workers and soldiers involved in the war to rise up and oppose their leaders and join the struggle. This did not occur and the Central Powers immediately renewed hostilities. Meeting little resistance, they quickly advanced on all fronts.

Meanwhile, the Bolshevik Central Committee was in almost continuous session. Lenin again called for seeking terms with the Germans, but got only 4 votes against 6, with Trotsky voting against. Lenin then posed the question: what if the German army advanced and there was no revolution in Germany and Austria? By 6-1, with 4 abstentions (Trotsky went over to Lenin) it was agreed that, in that event, peace should be made. But the Germans were already advancing. The issue was debated the following day. Despite some movements, the vote for Trotskys hesitation again carried 6-5. But by evening it was clear the German advance was strong and Russia was threatened. At this point Trotsky went over to Lenin and the Central Committee agreed to ask for peace negotiations by 7-5. Other party and Soviet bodies rapidly ratified this decision, although not without division, and a telegram was sent off agreeing to a renewal of the peace negotiations.

The final Brest-Litovsk Treaty and its ratification

However, Germany was in no hurry to accept and took full advantage of its position, advancing deep into the Ukraine and other areas. Eventually, the Germans came up with new, much harsher terms than before: Soviet withdrawal from Ukraine, Lithuania, Estonia and Finland and the ceding of territory to Turkey in the south. The treaty also demanded Soviet recognition of the Ukrainian Nationalist Government or Rada. The implications of the Treaty for the economy of Soviet Russia were immense. They lost some of the most productive areas of Russia, especially in the Ukraine with its large assets in coal, industry and agriculture. In all they lost 40 percent of industrial capacity, 45 percent of fuel, 90 percent of sugar, 70 percent of the metal industry and 55 percent of wheat potential. The demand to withdraw the Red Guards from Finland led to a German-backed counter-revolution of considerable ferocity.

So harsh were these terms that many leading Bolsheviks, especially in the Moscow Region, again resisted acceptance and ratification. There followed another heated debate in the Bolshevik Central Committee. Lenin moved acceptance, this time saying he would resign if he didnt gain the vote. Trotsky opposed but, in the end, abstained, as did Dzerzhinsky, Joffe, and Krestinsky, giving Lenin a 7-4 majority. In early March, the Soviet Government signed the new terms of Brest-Litovsk. Full internal ratification had to go through various bodies and the debates raged on. At the Seventh Bolshevik Party Congress in March 1918, Trotsky again reiterated his opposition to accepting such harsh terms but declared he would not vote against Lenin. This was then carried by 28 votes to 9. At the all-Russian Central Executive Committee, after a speech by Lenin it was carried 116 votes to 84. On 16 March, the All Russian Congress of Soviets, after two days of stormy debate, ratified the governments decision by 784-262.

The Germans demanded Soviet withdrawal from Ukraine, Lithuania, Estonia and Finland, ceding of territory to Turkey in the south and recognition of the Ukrainian Nationalist Government or Rada / Image: public domain

These details are recounted to illustrate the tradition of debate and internal democracy within the Bolshevik Party and Soviet Russia at this time. This tradition, although necessarily curbed in the acute conditions of Civil War later in 1918, nevertheless remained at the heart of the Bolshevik Party as long as Lenin and Trotsky remained at the helm. It is instructive, in view of the later cult of the personality around Stalin, that Lenin, despite his immense standing in the party and among the workers, was consistently opposed by many leading comrades throughout this process. When he was defeated he accepted it and fought on with unflinching argument in meetings and in writing.

In fact, a notable feature of Lenin throughout is that at every stage and moment of the Revolution he was not only driving the process in practice, with attention to every detail, but also writing articles, resolutions and even longer works. It is true that, in the final stages of the debates on Brest-Litovsk, Lenin threatened to resign if his views were not accepted, but this was after months of exhaustive debate and at a critical moment for the survival of the revolution. Lenin always considered it vital, at this stage of world developments, to keep the core of the revolution secure.

The left wing of the party, around Bukharin, openly stated that they were prepared for a split in the party and were willing to sacrifice the revolution on the altar of an international revolutionary war. Lenin considered this absurd posturing and wrote a biting critique in February 1918, called Strange and Monstrous. In this piece Lenin shows how the process of debate within the party was carried out. He vigorously defends the left-wings right to express its view:

It is quite natural that comrades who sharply disagree with the Central Committee over the question of a separate peace should sharply condemn the Central Committee and express their conviction that a split is inevitable. All that is the most legitimate right of party members, which is quite understandable.

But, he did not fail to condemn their reasoning as strange and monstrous, nor hesitate to call them out for revolutionary phrasemaking. Immediately after the conclusion of this drawn out process of Peace he wrote a substantial text on the broader issues it raised and called it, Left-Wing Childishness and Petty-Bourgeois Mentality. He was to return to this theme two years later in 1920 when he wrote Left-Wing Communism: An Infantile Disorder.

Soviet foreign policy in 1918

Before returning to the immediate issues at home it is worth noting another issue that split the Bolsheviks at this stage and it again illustrates the division between the realists and what Lenin called a petty-bourgeois mentality. This occurred over the approach the Soviet Government should take in confronting the capitalist powers.

The left wing around Bukharin, stated that they were prepared for a split in the party over the question of revolutionary war / Image: public domain

The notion widely held at one time, that a workers government would have no truck with any capitalist power, proved untenable and unrealistic. The capitalist states were not a uniform bloc and divisions could be exploited. The leftists, led by Bukharin, refused to contemplate any deals with the capitalists. Lenin and Trotsky tended to operate on the pragmatic and realistic side, although, as we have seen, Trotsky sometimes took longer to reach the same conclusions as Lenin. Occasionally, it was the other way around, with Lenin acknowledging that Trotsky had been correct. In the Central Committee in February 1918, Trotsky argued in favour of accepting arms from any country, even capitalist ones, on the one condition that no political obligations were given to these countries in return. This was hotly debated and only carried 6-5 with Lenin not attending but supporting the proposal. In the end, this proposal was without effect because the vague offers of support from USA, Britain and France were predicated on keeping Russia in the war so as to keep Germany pinned down in the east. Once the Brest-Litovsk Treaty was finally signed the other imperialist powers declined Russia any assistance.

In the wake of the Brest-Litovsk Treaty a dual, inter-meshed foreign policy emerged: to promote world socialist revolution and defend the national security of the Soviet Republic. This would last as a consistent and integrated approach throughout the civil war and until the fight against the aggression of the allied powers finally ended in early 1921. Stalin later tried to portray a split between Lenin and Trotsky over the issue of world revolution or socialism in one country. In fact, this is entirely false and distorts the real split, which was between Lenin and the left communists that included Bukharin, Radek and Uritsky.

Lenin, like Trotsky, remained a powerful advocate of world revolution and indeed frequently said that it was the only hope for the long-term success of the Russian Revolution. Lenin said that if necessary he would be in favour of sacrificing the Russian Revolution for a German Revolution, if it occurred, which would be on a much higher level and would hasten world revolution. The difference between Lenin and Trotsky was essentially one of balance. Trotsky was slower than Lenin to realise that the German Revolution would take time to mature, over-estimating the prospects for revolution.

Early struggles on the periphery

The general headquarters of the Russian Army, a veritable citadel in a time of all-out war, was situated away from Moscow and Petrograd. Here the Bolsheviks were weak. The soldiers Committee of the Armies, which had been elected at the beginning of the February revolution, was controlled by the SRs and had a cosy relationship with the generals. Six days after the October Revolution, they decided to oppose the Bolsheviks and march on Petrograd. But the mood of the soldiers, who welcomed the revolution, prevented this. When Lenin then called on the soldiers to elect new delegates and organise for an armistice with Germany, the old army establishment was doomed. These elections were held on 18 November. Following these elections, General Dukhonin, the supreme army head, who had defied the Bolshevik Governments orders, was arrested and executed.

From October to March, the strong tide in favour of the Bolshevik-led Soviet Government had swept most urban and working-class areas of Russia. Even in the strongly nationalist areas of the Ukraine, parts of the Caucasus and the Don region, Red forces had been triumphant. Local soviets had sprung up everywhere. Most of the troops were with the Bolsheviks and the peasantry were broadly supportive as they saw their land needs being addressed. But from that point on the situation for the government became more and more difficult. The ending of the First World War proved a key factor in the west, as German troops occupied so much of the land that was highly productive for all parts of the economy. The Germans and their allies were keen to weaken Russia as far as possible and also to undermine Bolshevism by arming and encouraging nationalists and elements of the old order in Russia, principally the old Tsarist generals and officers, so that they could mount an effective counter-revolution. This, in effect, was the start of three years of brutal civil war.

Anti-Bolshevik, White forces in Russia, 1918 / Image: public domain

A number of generals and officers of the Imperial Army fled south to the Ukraine, where the Government was nationalistic and anti-Bolshevik. An Army of Volunteers, as the first White force was called, led by General Kornilov, gathered in the south, with more officers than men. Ukrainian nationalism, infused with certain elements of socialism, attempted a form of self-government under the old parliament, called the Rada. Eventually, struggles broke out between Bolshevik supporters in Kiev and the nationalists; the Reds took Kiev in January. Ukraine fell largely under Bolshevik control by February 1918.

After November there was a general strike in Finland. This was largely victorious but there was no revolutionary workers party prepared to take power. So, the workers took matters into their own hands and took power in Helsinki, driving out the bourgeois government. Still, the social democrat leaders failed to drive through a revolution and opted for radical but piecemeal change. The Russian Government passed a decree giving independence to Finland at the end of 1917. Momentum gathered in 1918 and by February a new constitution was established providing for an elected assembly every three years along with other highly advanced features.

The Finnish social democracy attempted the highest ever form of bourgeois democracy. But, in the circumstances, it was utopian and met with fierce armed reaction. The bourgeois launched a White terror, using a battalion of Finns in the German army. Red Guards and soviet supporters flocked to support the working class. Soviet forces had to withdraw under the terms of the Brest Litovsk Treaty. Vicious fighting then led to extreme white terror and the defeat of the Red forces. Up to a quarter of the proletariat were subsequently killed and murdered (100,000).

The Caucasus area was complex with many nationalities and conditions. This proved a difficult area for the pro-Bolshevik, revolutionary Red forces who were initially defeated by a combination of so-called socialist Georgians and reactionary Turks and Tartars.

In the Don region, another complex war occurred, involving several old imperial generals, complicated by divisions within the Cossacks population. The Cossack cavalry had traditionally been used by the Tsarist regime as a force for reaction. When the October Revolution, occurred the Don Cossack Council declared independence. General Kaledin welcomed former officers and some soldiers from the old imperial army and thus began the formation of a White army that was to play a lasting role in the ensuing civil war.

In December 1917, the Soviet government sent a Red Guard force to assert Soviet control. At this stage, the White forces were ill-equipped, poorly organised and unable to resist the Red forces. As a result, the Don Cossack Council agreed to yield to the Soviet forces, causing General Kaledin to commit suicide. The tide turned in May 1918 due to the German invasion in the west and the growth of the White forces under Generals Kornilov and Alekseev. The Cossack leadership rebelled against the Soviet administration and, with the improved White forces, armed and supplied by the French and British, were able to defeat most Red forces and resume control over large areas. In the process, there were many massacres and atrocities against Bolsheviks and the working class generally.

In Siberia and in the Central Asia regions Bolsheviks also achieved early success in the main centres, only to suffer reversals at a later stage.

The White Forces

The White movement and its armies were so-called because the colour white was associated with the Tsar. They represented the old defeated classes of the monarchy and the bourgeoisie. The movement, as such, did not have a strong social base. It drew in various elements dissatisfied with the Bolshevik regime, usually reactionary nationalist elements. Few wanted to see the Tsar restored, except the leaders and especially the army leaders, who became, in effect, petty dictators.

The Red Army, under Trotsky, achieved a strong, centralised leadership and had a clear purpose of defending the revolution / Image: public domain

In general, the White leadership was against separate national states and desired a return to a united empire. There was also a strong current of antisemitism within the White armies. Western sponsors expressed dismay at this, especially as the Bolsheviks had prohibited antisemitism and appeared more progressive. Winston Churchill personally warned General Denikin, whose forces effected pogroms against the Jews, that my task in winning support in Parliament for the Russian Nationalist cause will be infinitely harder if well-authenticated complaints continue to be received from Jews in the zone of the Volunteer Armies.

One of the abiding weaknesses of the White forces was their lack of unity. The leaders squabbled and there were many who joined the umbrella of the Whites simply because they opposed the Bolsheviks, rather than having a united vision of what they wanted. Ultimately, this played into the hands of the Red Army, which, under Trotsky's command, achieved a strong, centralised leadership, and, of course, always with the clear purpose of defending the revolution.

Backs against the wall

Whilst the broad mass of the working class continued to give their support to the Bolshevik Party, activists within the party were often split on crucial issues. The issue of whether or not to wage a revolutionary war against Germany and its forces of occupation proved one of the more divisive questions that very nearly led to a complete split in the party.

The division started in February, when the Moscow Region Committee took a left position and called for non-acceptance of the Brest-Litovsk Treaty and the heroic sacrifice of the Russian proletariat on the altar of internationalism. Lenin provided a powerful critique of this position, calling them Communists of misfortune and talking despair. By March this tendency had crystallised into an organised faction and were called Left Communists. They were led by Bukharin with the support of Radek and Uritsky, among others, and published a paper called the Kommunist. Several members of the faction were elected to the Central Committee but they refused to serve.

The two tendencies faced off at the 7th Party Congress in March 1918. Lenins position on peace was supported by Zinoviev, Smilga and Sverdlov. Trotsky also sided with Lenin but urged war in Ukraine against the German occupiers. Lenin, whilst not against such a move, argued for space and time to build up forces. It was at this Congress that the name Communist Party (Bolshevik) was adopted and it was agreed to review the Programme of the Party.

In April 1918 Lenin published The International Position of the Russian Soviet Republic and the Fundamental Tasks of the Socialist Revolution. In it, Lenin argued that at that time a brief respite existed when all efforts had to be made to tackle the issue of organising the new Soviet system in an administrative sense. This required honest accounting, no stealing and strict labour discipline. The most class-conscious workers must lead the drive to implement these slogans among the masses.

The aim was to establish a productive and efficient system that began to address the accumulated chaos of the war years and restore some order and benefits for people weary and close to despair. In the conclusion Lenin stated the situation clearly:

An extraordinarily difficult, complex and dangerous situation in international affairs; the necessity of manoeuvring and retreating; a period of waiting for new outbreaks of the revolution which is maturing in the west at a painfully slow pace; within the country a period of slow construction and ruthless tightening-up, of prolonged and persistent struggle waged by stern, proletarian discipline against the menacing element of petty-bourgeois laxity and anarchy: these in brief are the distinguishing features of the special stage of the socialist revolution in which we are now living.

Trotsky struck the same note in March when he gave a speech to a Party Conference. He emphasised the need for labour, discipline and order and urged that specialists be given a role in managing industry. In the same vein, he justified abandoning the principle of the election of officers in the Red Army, arguing that it was now a proletarian army and the need to challenge the Imperial officers through elections no longer applied. They needed the best, most-skilled and experienced to fill officer roles. The Left Communists published a critical response in their paper, Kommunist, which opposed the army reforms and at the same time called for the faster expropriation of capital and the cooperative organisation of production and distribution based on full workers control and management. Lenin replied in a series of articles in Pravda in May 1918, called Left Infantilism and the Petty-Bourgeois Mentality.

Lenin replied to the Left Communists in a series of articles in Pravda in May 1918 called 'Left Infantilism and the Petty-Bourgeois Mentality' / Image: public domain

The major debates that ensued through the Spring and Summer within the Party are important and instructive but require a more detailed analysis than can be offered here. Suffice it to say that, having lost the vote at the March Congress the Left Communists then lost their positions on the Supreme Council of National Economy and shortly afterward lost their control of the Moscow and Urals regional organisations. When the Soviet government, under different conditions, nationalised all large industrial enterprises in late June, many Left Communists considered this to be a correct economic policy and shifted their support back to Lenin. By the end of the summer, the Left Communists no longer existed as a distinct opposition group.

Political opposition outside Bolshevism

Efforts to overthrow the Bolshevik Government at home had not disappeared. In fact, in the harsh conditions of spring and summer 1918, when famine stalked the land, their efforts grew. Although the bourgeois parties, such as the Cadets and the Octobrists, had little support, there was lots of intrigue and rumour with foreign powers seeking to find suitable organisations to back. Several right-wing organisations and conspiracies were attempted. The Right or Moscow Centre (businessmen, landowners and conservative and liberal politicians) had a military department but was weak and disorganised. The National Centre, which split off from the Right Centre in June 1918, was a rallying point for the Cadet Party. Overall there was no real drive or unity between any of them and they were easily and, relatively leniently, dealt with by the Cheka.

The petty-bourgeois parties, which included the SRs of Left and Right, the Anarchists and the Mensheviks, did have a potential mass base given the weight of the peasantry in the country, and could have posed a serious problem for the Bolsheviks. But, as Lenin pointed out, the petty-bourgeois parties, like the class they represented, wavered and vacillated at every turn, becoming revolutionary one moment and, when things got difficult, siding with the bourgeoisie, or turning to terrorism. Not surprisingly the mass of peasants was largely uninterested.

The Right SR Party, lacking their base in the Constituent Assembly, had nowhere to go except an alliance with the White forces. This they did in a more and more overt fashion. In the spring of 1918 Savinkov, a veteran SR conspirator, helped to establish the Union for the Defence of the Motherland and Freedom. It claimed to have 5,500 members, but they were scattered all over the country. Its objective was to overthrow Soviet power and establish a military dictatorship. They had financial support from several imperial powers, notably France. Several leading members were arrested in May 1918 and its planned actions were foiled. Savinkov and others remained at large and tried to organise armed uprisings in several towns in July 1918, but these were easily overcome and the organisation faded away. Savinkov and other Right SRs re-emerged in the short-lived Samara Government on the Volga (described in more detail below).

The All-Russian Soviet Executive had representatives of all parties that participated in local and regional Soviets. Thus it had left Mensheviks, Left SRs and others. But in June, as the struggle for survival became paramount it was agreed to expel all those parties who were instigating civil war against the Soviets. This was both logical and necessary. This removed Right SRs and Mensheviks and left only Left SRs and Bolsheviks.

The terrorist wing of the Right SR Party, the so-called Battle Organisation, had one last throw of the dice at the end of August 1918 when they sought to assassinate a number of leaders, including Lenin and Trotsky. Lenin was shot by Fanny Kaplan and was lucky not to have been killed. Although struck in his shoulder and neck he survived and recovered after the operation and a short convalescence. The plot to kill Trotsky failed when he altered his planned route to Kazan at the last moment. Uritsky, the President of the Petrograd Cheka, was less lucky and was killed.

The Left SR Party ostensibly represented the poor peasantry but in practice tended to base themselves on the middle peasantry. They had a significant position in the Soviets. They left the government over the Brest-Litovsk Treaty in March 1918 but continued to offer critical support to the Bolsheviks for a period.

At the Fifth All-Russian Congress of Soviets in early July 1918, the Left SRs had 353 delegates out of 1,164. Nothing illustrates the vacillating and intemperate nature of petty-bourgeois revolutionaries better than the debates at this Congress, where the Left SRs hysterically attacked the Bolsheviks for their determination to maintain discipline in the Red Army on the border with Ukraine. The Left SRs had been agitating amongst these units, inciting them to join guerrilla bands inside the Ukraine and attack the German occupiers. Calling for discipline, Trotsky asked for approval of an order to shoot those responsible for fomenting such division and adventurism. The Left SRs erupted with fury but were soundly defeated in the vote.

When Dzerzhinsky, the Cheka leader, confronted the Left SR Committee in Moscow they arrested him and proceeded to use Cheka forces they controlled to occupy key parts of Moscow. With this act, they effectively 'committed suicide' / Image: public domain

Later, one of their leaders, Maria Spiridonova, made wild accusations against the Bolsheviks and was calmly rebutted by Lenin. Then news arrived at the Congress that Left SR agents had infiltrated the German Ukraine headquarters and assassinated the German ambassador, Count Mirbach. When Dzerzhinsky, the Cheka leader, confronted the Left SR Committee in Moscow they arrested him and proceeded to use Cheka forces they controlled to occupy key parts of Moscow. In the event, they lacked any popular support and the rebellion was put down in a day. Arrests and some executions followed. As Victor Serge says in Year One of the Revolution, The Left SR Party had committed suicide.

Anarchist groups were also present in most towns, but many were self-styled and close to banditry. They had gained some support, generally fighting with the Reds in November. They had their own Black General Staff, and were armed. In the period after March, they assumed a more anti-Bolshevik position and moved to violence. However, disarming them proved easy as they had little broad support. Hundreds were arrested but most of those who were genuine anarchists by conviction were released and allowed to operate more or less freely with their organisations, press and clubs. The anarchist movement in the Ukraine led by Makhno is a different story and is dealt with in a later installment.

After the October Revolution, the Menshevik Party became a shadow of its former self and had split into left and right factions. The weakness of the Mensheviks is revealed in the elections for the Constituent Assembly, when they only managed 3 percent of the vote. However, they were relatively strong in the Caucusus region, where they had taken a strongly pro-nationalist line. They had a majority position in Georgia and from May 1918 led an independent government, under the general permission of the Germans, known as the Democratic Republic of Georgia. Nationally, most Mensheviks who had not joined the Bolsheviks increasingly sided with counter-revolutionaries. Martov and the left faction continued to operate in a more principled fashion but became increasingly hostile to the Bolsheviks.

The end of the Romanovs

A brief mention should be made of the denouement of the Tsar and his family, the Romanovs, which occurred in the summer of 1918.

In July 1918, Ekaterinburg (where the Romanovs were being held) was virtually encircled by White forces and the Urals Soviet decided to execute the Tsar and his family / Image: public domain

After February 1917, the Romanovs had been held in comparative ease at the imperial palace at Tsarskoe Syelo. But after the July 1917 days of upheaval, the Provisional Government decided to place the family deeper into Russia in the remote Siberian town of Tobolsk. After the October Revolution, the question of what to do with the Tsar and his family became a more burning topic, as they clearly provided a rallying call for the counter-revolutionary forces. After a White Army approached the Tobolsk in April 1918, the Bolsheviks moved the imperial family west to Ekaterinburg in the Urals. In July, Ekaterinburg was virtually encircled by White forces and the Urals Soviet decided to execute the family.

The economic crisis and feeding the urban population

Prior to Brest-Litovsk and the German occupation of Ukraine, the Russian economy was already in a poor state. The effects of years of war and then the upheaval of revolution meant that production and distribution were massively disrupted. Moreover, as in all belligerent countries, the economy had become heavily oriented to the needs of war and the millions of troops that were required. The loss of the valuable economic areas of Ukraine, Caucasus and later the Don region provoked a major crisis after March 1918.

The primary and immediate problem was the need to obtain sufficient grain to feed the people, especially in the urban areas. The harvest was still to come. People were hungry and desperate. Riots and uprisings over lack of bread were not uncommon. Lenin said at this time, To get bread, that is the basis of socialism today. This called for desperate measures. The first of these was the creation of the Food Commissariat with sweeping powers (decree of 27 May) to supply the population with objects of primary necessity. The Food Commissar was Tsurupa, and among his powers was the ability to remove local commissars, override local soviets and in certain circumstances institute court proceedings against disobedient representatives of local soviets.

What ensued was a battle between the consuming, needy provinces and the producing provinces that held surpluses of food, often hoarded. Special armed detachments, recruited predominantly from Bolshevik-supporting factories, were attached to local food committees in the producing districts. Wealthy peasants, known as kulaks, were those mainly responsible for hoarding grain and other food resources. On 11 June, the Soviet regime set up Committees of the Poor all over the country. These committees were empowered to distribute grain, products of prime necessity and agricultural machines and to cooperate with local food brigades in taking surplus grain away from kulaks and other richer peasants. Incentives were offered to the poorer peasants to participate in this process. There was provision to exclude from any expropriation the slightly better-off peasants who possessed just a few livestock and hired one or two labourers, as long as they were basically self-sufficient. This was reinforced in August 1918 when a letter was circulated to try to prevent the alienation of middle peasants.

Certainly, there were many excesses and ferocious battles. 26 peasant uprisings were recorded in July, 47 in August, and 26 in September. In some cases, old scores were settled. In some instances, bandits and thieves joined the committees; and in some, genuine local communists were driven out of important and potentially lucrative posts such as the collection of local taxes. But, the tactic of splitting the villages on class lines was broadly successful. In regions where there was much poverty among the peasants the actions against kulaks and others were more severe. In areas closer to the big cities, there was greater control and order.

At their height, the Committees of the Poor numbered tens of thousands and as a policy they prevented a complete breakdown of society. There was famine and great hunger but it would have been much worse without such drastic, organised intervention. By November 1918, the crisis was passing and the Committees of the Poor were dissolved and there were new elections for local soviets, which included the best representatives of the old Committees. The two bodies were in effect fused. On 8 November 1918 Lenin declared Soviet policy in the village would be:

To reach an agreement with the middle-class peasantry, not relaxing for a moment the struggle against the kulak and relying firmly only on the poor.

The impact of the continuing food shortages can be seen in the major loss of population suffered by the towns and cities where people moved to the countryside to find food. Petrograds population, for example, declined from 2.3m in November 1915 to 1.4m in July 1918.

Meeting the military threat: Trotskys role as head of the army

The first soldiers of the revolution were the Red Guards, largely recruited from the working-class and Bolshevik soldiers and sailors. But in order to bring order and unity, a stronger and larger force was necessary. In the first stages of the revolution, no conscription was possible. The Bolsheviks had pledged peace and the old army was disintegrating and going home.

A decree on 28 January 1918 laid down the basis for recruiting a voluntary Red Army. There was an Initial sign-up for three months, and a salary of 150 rubles a month, along with some privileges and exemptions for the family. More than 100,000 recruits signed up in the next two and half months but efficiency and quality were often very low. The troops were liable to be ill-disciplined, to endlessly debate orders and make impossible demands. In addition, some criminal elements joined. This early Red Army was capable of defeating poorly organised, internal dissidents but no match for the German Army in Ukraine, nor the emerging White armies.

The Supreme War Council was set up on 1 March 1918 and took over the organisation of the Red Army. On 5 March, Trotsky was appointed chair. In early April, Trotsky was also appointed Commissar of War. He got to work immediately, determined to create a disciplined armed forces, in sufficient numbers and led by competent officers, with good planning and organisation. In these aims, he met plenty of opposition both from within and outside the Bolshevik Party.

In April, Trotsky was appointed Commissar of War. He was determined to create a disciplined armed forces, in sufficient numbers and led by competent officers / Image: public domain

Trotskys immediate task as the new Commissar of War was to conjure a new army out of practically nothing. Of the Imperial Russian Army, only the division of Latvian Riflemen was useful and reliable, and thus retained. The remnants of Red forces opposing the Whites on the various fronts often acted as scattered bands of partisans with little control and discipline. Red forces generally were poorly trained, equipped and led. But Trotsky rapidly transformed the Red Army into a disciplined, effective fighting force comprising several Red armies fighting on multiple fronts.

Trotskys first pronouncements on military policy in March 1918 were directed primarily at the party and the Soviets and called for Work, discipline and order. He noted that, in its first assault on power, the Bolsheviks had necessarily been anti-militaristic and had pressed for democracy in the army, electing commanders and challenging orders etc. But the new situation required a new approach that would enable the workers to defeat the enemy. This meant accepting former Tsarist officers who pledged to assist the Soviet government. Not only were they skilled in leadership but also often possessed technical and military knowledge lacking in the largely working-class layers that formed the Red Guards.

However, many within the Bolshevik Party, especially the Left Communists, fiercely resisted Trotskys proposals. Stalin, and some of the established Red military leaders, also opposed these ideas. Lenin and a majority of party leaders understood the necessity of adopting Trotskys position. Indeed Lenin took Trotskys theme of discipline, order and utilising skills from the within the old classes and adopted it in a much wider social and economic context, supporting the use of managers, professional and technical experts in running factories and other vital parts of economic life. For Lenin, as with Trotsky, the politics of the moment dictated the course of action.

Lenin laid his plans before the All-Russian Soviet Executive in April and they agreed on proposals for military training, new disciplinary codes and utilising the skills and expertise of former Tsarist officers. On 22 April, the government set out the policies in a Decree. Under this policy, all workers and peasants who did not hire labour would receive 12 hours of training over an 8-week period every year. The practice of electing officers was abolished and refusing to obey orders became a punishable offence and capital punishment was reintroduced for the most serious breaches of discipline. In seeking to improve army organisation, Trotsky created provincial, county and township war commissariats responsible, among other things, for the general military training of the adult population.

Trotskys scheme for a new Red Army did not pass without serious opposition. In April 1918, when he laid his plans before the All-Russian Soviet Executive, he met with opposition from many quarters. His decision to recruit former army officers provoked much outrage from Mensheviks and Left SRs. Martov accused Trotsky of paving the way for a dictator. More seriously, there was opposition from within the Bolshevik Party. The Left Communists rejected the idea of a centralised standing army and saw the recruitment of former officers as a compromise with the old regime.

Although the partys Central Committee backed Trotskys plan it was not without misgivings and much behind-the-scenes complaining. Trotskys position on the issue of hiring former officers and specialists touched on a wider issue of relations with the old order. Trotsky and Lenin recognised the reality that the new state lacked skilled professionals, technicians and managers from among the working class. The choice was to ignore the resources available and build from scratch, or to employ such resources on behalf of the revolution and use such people to help train new generations.

However, utilising these elements, who were inevitably conservative in outlook and sceptical of the revolution, carried dangers. Some officers were White sympathisers and later defected. But, in the crisis situation of the summer of 1918, the young new state had little practical alternative. To help offset the bias or deviation of the officer corps, political commissars were attached to all the levels of command in a form of dual power. To prevent officers from sabotage or deserting to the Whites, a register was kept of the officers families to be held as possible hostages.

The first to volunteer from the old Imperial Army was General Bonch-Bruevich, who was made head of General Staff. Trotsky discussed with other officers and they came over later in April. At the same time, Trotsky always sought to appoint communists and revolutionaries as officers if they had proven to be effective and disciplined leaders in military combat. Nevertheless, eventually the majority of officers were from the old army, and by the end of 1918, 30,000 former officers of the Tsarist Army were serving in the Red Army. Some proved to be traitors or unreliable and Trotsky used serious disciplinary measures if they stepped out of line, including the death penalty and using the officers family as hostages.

As well as creating a strong and centralised army, Trotsky set about establishing improved administration, equipment and supplies. In the conditions of 1918, this was difficult but gradually began to have an impact. This was greatly aided by the fact that Trotskys Deputy at the Supreme War Council, directing its day to day activities, was the brilliant organiser Sklyansky, whom Trotsky described as the Carnot of the Russian Revolution (Lazare Carnot was dubbed the Organiser of the Victory in the French Revolutionary Wars following the French Revolution of 1793).

By mid-1918, efforts to re-organise and invigorate the Red Army were still on-going and meeting resistance / Image: public domain

Finally, Trotsky laid great store in developing intensive educational and propaganda programmes to instil into the new army conscripts a spirit of commitment and devotion to the cause of the revolution. Agitprop techniques in drama, poster art and other methods were an integral element in creating a determined mood in a fighting, disciplined Red Army.

Forging an effective army was one matter but Trotsky also succeeded in reorganising the whole supply and administrative apparatus; again, not without struggle. Once the scale and urgency of the situation was realised, he was able to convince the government of the need to ensure the army was properly equipped and armed. This took time, but the process was started as soon as he took over as amy supremo. It was also quickly realised that a volunteer army was going to be insufficient to build the army rapidly to the level needed. This became apparent by the summer of 1918 and measures of conscription were introduced for working class and peasants only. Before conscription, Trotsky made appeals, especially to the Petrograd and Moscow workers, to volunteer, and many did so. These layers formed the heart of the new army, as they were committed and had self-discipline.

In May 1918, the Soviet government resorted to partial mobilisation as a response to the crisis caused by the Czech Legion turning against the Bolsheviks. The country was still war-weary and most of the peasants could not be relied upon, so the order applied only to conscript workers in Moscow and Petrograd, plus some in the regions most affected, such as the Don and Kuban areas; 51 counties in Siberia; the Urals and in the Volga Provinces. In July, orders were made to force those from bourgeois backgrounds aged 18-45 to undertake hard and dirty, non-combative tasks on the home front. This was sometimes carried out harshly. The formerly well-to-do classes in towns and countryside were forbidden to bear arms. Eventually, the principle of mobilisation was extended to young workers and peasants throughout the country. In August 1918, the Red Army numbered 331,000. This increased to 550,000 by September and 800,000 by end of the year. In October Lenin, foreseeing the end of the First World War, called for an Army of 1 million.

By mid-1918, efforts to re-organise and invigorate the Red Army were still on-going and meeting resistance. Luckily, the White forces were also ill-organised and fractious, whilst the imperial powers were still locked into the First World War. The initial foreign interventions were all peripheral at Murmansk, Archangel and Vladivostok. In central Russia, the Bolsheviks were able to consolidate their power in comparative safety.

The Czech Legion and the deepening civil war

By the end of March, Germany and her allies had occupied all the areas ceded under the Brest-Litovsk Treaty. There was no certainty they would stop at the agreed treaty line. Feeling that Petrograd was threatened, the Soviet government was moved to Moscow. One fall-out of the peace agreement was the position of a Czech nationalist force, augmented by 30,000 Czech prisoners of war, that had fought with the Russian army. They were now trapped in Russia.

Masaryk, the Czech nationalist leader, wanted to deploy them in France, so as to gain allied support for an independent Czechoslovakia after the war. To that end, he ordered them to make their way across Russia by the Trans-Siberian railway to Vladivostok for embarkation. Until this point, the relationship between Bolsheviks and the Czechs was reasonably good and there had been some collaboration against the advance of Germans into the Ukraine. But, despite an agreement on partial disarming and passage through Russia to the East, relations deteriorated. The more reactionary elements of the Czech leaders, urged on by Russian army officers who also served in the Czech army, led to resistance and a revolt by the Legion in May 1918. The British and French were only too eager to exploit Czech discontent to spark opposition to the Bolsheviks and thus establish new White fronts in the central and eastern areas of Russia. In this they succeeded. A plan by the Soviet Government to split the Czech forces as they made their way to the east led to tension, which boiled over in late May, and the Czech forces revolted, easily taking over several key towns along the Trans-Siberian railway. In many areas the Soviet power was weak and the Red forces lacked discipline and strong leadership.

In May, the Czech forces revolted, taking towns along the Trans-Siberian railway / Image: public domain

By June 1918, the French had moved from apparent neutrality to actively encouraging the Czech forces to stay and assist anti-Bolshevik elements. They saw the role of the Czechs to secure the Trans-Siberian railway in advance of a Japanese intervention from the East. By July, the Czech force had declared itself to be a new eastern front against Bolshevism. Resistance by Red forces in far eastern Siberia was stronger and the Czechs only managed to secure the areas around the railway near Vladivostok.

Two quasi-governments emerged following the success of the Czechs. The Western Siberian Commissariat announced its existence on 1 June. It derived its claim to authority from SRs who had been members of the Constituent Assembly. They declared for democracy, goods exchange and the re-establishment of the Constituent Assembly; and the autonomy of Siberia with its own flag. The general assessment of Siberia is that the peasants and workers were largely passive, not having the main concerns of war, hunger and so on of their western counterparts. They were not especially hostile to the Bolsheviks, but Bolshevism was weak in these territories. The initial Western Siberian Government, which had a radical tinge, was soon replaced by more conservative and reactionary elements and by July a purge and oppression of soviets and left elements began in the areas under its control.

The second quasi-government to emerge in the central/eastern region became known as the Samara Government, after a town in the Middle Volga where it was set up. Initially comprising SR Party activists it joined up with parts of the Czech Legion and rapidlyRob Sewell discusses the battles facing members of the civil service union, and why Socialist Appeal supports Janice Godrich for PCS assistant general secretary.

PCS, the British civil service union, has been in a constant rear-guard battle with governments for many years. Union members have experienced the brunt of austerity attacks, involving job losses, pay cuts and increased workloads.

PCS has also faced added difficulties, with cuts in facility time for union reps and the axing of the check-off system, which was an attempt to bankrupt the union. Only hard work from the unions leaders and dedicated members prevented this from happening.

More recently, PCS launched a national pay campaign to scrap the scandalous pay cap. A national ballot over pay produced a historic vote in favour of industrial action. Unfortunately, due to the Tory government's draconian anti-union laws, the record turnout of 41 percent - the highest ever reached  did not achieve the 50 percent required threshold.

The vote was nevertheless a fantastic achievement and reflects the determination to fight. Although blocked on the legal front, the union is still determined to continue its fight and build upon this important result.

Rifts and rivalry

This is the backdrop to the upcoming election of the PCS assistant general secretary (AGS).

Left Unity, the unions broad left, is currently in the process of selecting its candidate for this elected position.

Chris Baugh is officially backed by the Socialist Party. But Janice Godrich, the President of PCS, who is also a member of the Socialist Party, has thrown her hat into the ring / Image: Flickr, PCS

The present incumbent is Chris Baugh, who has held the position of AGS since 2004 and is officially backed by the Socialist Party.

Janice Godrich, the President of PCS, who is also a member of the Socialist Party, has thrown her hat into the ring and has also announced her intention to stand. Significantly, she has the support of Mark Serwotka, the left-wing general secretary of PCS, and other union members.

But what has caused this rift, with two candidates standing against each other?

Struggle vs deals

At the time of the PCS conference in May, it came to light that bitter divisions existed within the PCS leadership, especially between Mark Serwotka and Chris Baugh. But it would be naive to simply put this down to personal differences.

At the time of the PCS conference in May, it came to light that bitter divisions existed within the PCS leadership / Image: Satukis

Mark accused Chris, over a number of years, of attempting to undermine him and  more significantly  undermine the collectively agreed decisions of the NEC, which Chris had voted for and which the Socialist Party had supported.

Mark and Janice had become increasingly frustrated at what they regarded as Chriss lack of confidence in members to struggle, with an over reliance on doing deals.

In particular, Chris was accused of manoeuvring against Mark when he was in hospital undergoing a heart transplant, attempting to have powers removed from him. Other senior union officials have also accused him of briefing against collective decisions.

Chris has denied these allegations and has hit back with allegations of bureaucracy  an accusation that has angered many left activists, both inside and outside PCS. They rightly consider PCS as one of the most democratic and activist-led unions in the country, where consultation with members has been a vital part of the unions tradition.

Breakdown

Unfortunately, this state of affairs has led to a serious breakdown of trust at the very top of the union.

As Chris is a leading member of the Socialist Party, Mark even went to complain personally at different times to the Socialist Partys general secretary about this unacceptable situation. But the problem was never resolved. Instead it got worse, to the point that it became unsustainable.

It was this fact that forced Janice - with the backing of Mark Serwotka and others - to decide to stand for the AGS position.

It must be said that comrades in the Socialist Party have played a key role over the years  ever since the early 1970s  in battling the right wing within the union. They have helped to maintain the union in the most difficult of circumstances and against all the odds. This is an enormous credit to them.

The fact that many of these comrades, some of whom have given decades to the trade union movement, have now decided to back Janice Godrich means that something is fundamentally wrong.

Attacks

Rather than resolving concerns, however, the Socialist Party leaders have launched an attack on these comrades, accusing them of splitting the left. But it has been the failure of the Socialist Party leaders to listen, over a long period, which has forced them into this position.

Mark Serwotka fully supports Janice, and the Socialist Party is bitterly divided / Image: Socialist Appeal

The decision to attack Janice has lost them a lot of credibility on the left of the trade union movement.

Since her decision to stand, Janice has attracted widespread support, including a significant number from the PCS national committee. She is also supported by vice-presidents Kevin McHugh and Fran Heathcote, as well as virtually all the left political groups in Left Unity, and a great number of key independents.

Most significant is the full support she has from Mark Serwotka, with whom she has worked closely.

Corbyns Labour

PCS conference voted to conduct a consultation about how best to help achieve a Corbyn-led Labour government. As a result, the policy adopted by PCS at the recent national conference was to support Corbyn and the victory of a Labour government. Socialist Party comrades voted in favour of this very progressive policy.

According to the Socialist Party leaders, the Labour Party under Corbyn, the most left-wing Labour leader in history, with a 540,000 membership, is not a working class party! / Image: Socialist Appeal

The problem is the Socialist Party leaders have boxed themselves into a corner. They are trying to justify an old position when the situation has completely changed.

But to do so they are forced to dress it up as something else. They have invented a two Labour Parties theory, to justify their contradictory position. The Labour Party, you see, is made up of Corbyns side, as well as that of the Blairites

But in reality there have always been two Labour Parties: the rank-and-file and the right-wing, pro-capitalist leadership. Was this not the case under Wilson and Callaghan, when they led the Labour Party?

Any yet, according to the Socialist Party leaders, the Labour Party under Corbyn, the most left-wing Labour leader in history, with a 540,000 membership, is not a working class party!

Now, however, the Socialist Party leaders are attempting to muddy the waters over the unions pro-Corbyn policy, accusing Mark Serwotka of supporting Blairite Labour MPs and adding that he is pushing Labour affiliation, which is not true. They are busy inventing phony differences in order to discredit him.

It is this dishonest method that lies behind the tensions at the top of the union.

Battles ahead

In relation to Chris Baugh, no one can deny his commitment over the years. However, it has to be admitted that the only time he went head to head with a right-winger for AGS he only just scraped in. He has faced no challenger in his other elections.

We believe that the election of Janice for AGS would be extremely beneficial for the union and its members in the battles that lie ahead / Image: Socialist Appeal

Janice would be a very strong candidate and far better placed to win against any right-wing challenge. She has been elected 17 times consecutively as the President of PCS.

A new grouping around the Socialist View website has therefore been established to promote her candidature. She is in with a very good chance of winning the Left Unity nomination.

Janice is a committed socialist. She has demonstrated her commitment to the union and the wider labour movement. She has also personally endorsed the campaign to restore Clause 4, the Labour Party's original commitment to socialism. If elected, she has committed herself to take only a workers' wage, something which Chris Baugh has unfortunately refused to do.

In reality, Janice's candidature is more a Godrich-Serwotka ticket.

We believe that the election of Janice for AGS would be extremely beneficial for the union and its members in the battles that lie ahead. That is why we are urging PCS members to support her nomination.According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Vietnams seafood export turnover to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) hit US$612 million in 2017, up from only US$66 million in 1998.

Although the figure remained modest compared with exports to major markets like the US, the EU, Japan and China, ASEAN ranked fifth among the most important markets of Vietnamese seafood.

The 10-member group maintained this position in the first six months of this year, with most exports to ASEAN posting positive growth. Of note, ASEAN surpassed the Republic of Korea (RoK) to become Vietnams biggest fried fish paste and surimi importer with a value of US$43 million.

Among ASEAN countries, Thailand has been the largest partner of Vietnams fishery sector, as reflected through the export revenue of US$248 million in 2017 and more than US$185 million in the first eight months of this year.

Thailand is the only ASEAN country among the top 10 single markets of Vietnamese seafood, together with countries like the US, Japan, China, the RoK, the Netherlands and the UK.

After Thailand, the Philippines and Singapore are Vietnams second and third largest seafood importers in the group.

Vietnamese fishery products have been shipped to all other ASEAN countries, with top items being saltwater fish, tra fish, cuttlefish and octopus.

VASEP said Vietnam has potential to step up its seafood exports to the group with a combined population of 632 million whose seafood demand is forecast to rise from 24.5 million tonnes in 2015 to 36.9 million tonnes in 2030 and 41.7 million tonnes in 2050.

Seafood trading in ASEAN stands at US$20 billion each year and is expected to expand by 3.7% annually in the years to come.Chief Justice John G. Roberts had blocked a lower court order that would have required politically active nonprofits to disclose their donors. But on Tuesday the full Supreme Court overturned his stay.

Alex Wong/Getty Images

The Supreme Court on Tuesday insisted that many donations to predominantly conservative political nonprofit groups  whats often called dark money  be disclosed, seven weeks ahead of the 2018 midterm elections.

The ruling closes, at least for now, a loophole that has allowed wealthy donors to finance aggressive ads while staying anonymous. Crafted by the Federal Election Commission nearly 40 years ago, the loophole flourished after the 2010 Citizens United ruling.

Peter Overby

https://www.npr.org/2018/09/18/648722358/supreme-court-orders-disclosure-for-dark-money-as-new-report-unveils-some-donors

***

Dark Money  Award-winning political documentary, filmed largely in Montana, hits theaters http://www.matr.net/article-84209.htmlFunds Awarded by U.S. Small Business Administration will Support Montana Businesses

A federal grant used to fund export programs at the Department of Commerce will help Montana businesses expand to international markets.

The U.S. Small Business Administration awarded Commerce $325,000 through a State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) grant, which the department will match in-kind with another $108,333. Funds in turn will be awarded to Montana businesses for eligible export activities.

"International sales are a major part of Montanas economy, as exports last year hit a record $1.6 billion," said Commerce Director Pam Haxby-Cote. "The STEP grant funds programs to help small businesses tap into the incredible potential for growth that exports can provide."

http://commerce.mt.gov/News/PressReleases/department-of-commerce-secures-federal-grant-to-increase-montana-exportsArtsQuest, an arts and culture hub and economic development driver in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (which about 50 Billings Chamber of Commerce travelers visited last spring), has a $145 million annual economic impact on the Lehigh Valley.

But if theres one message the organizations chief operating officer, Curt Mosel, wanted to tell the crowd attending the chambers annual meeting Tuesday, its "be patient."

"Weve been doing this for 35 years," he said. "It doesnt happen overnight."

MIKE FERGUSON [email protected]

https://billingsgazette.com/news/local/arts-can-drive-billings-economy-but-it-ll-take-time/article_e5cde2a6-7121-59bf-b4f4-efdf070eefdf.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-2Last month the South African cabinet approved the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP 2019) that plotted the path for the nations generation technology mix to assuage the current energy crisis in the country. At Africa Oil Week (Africa-OilWeek.com) last week, its Minister of Minerals Resources and Energy, Honourable Gwede Mantashe, outlined the role that oil and gas will play going forwards.

He was at great pains to point out that hydrocarbons, particularly gas, will be an important part of the energy mix in the future. We intend to establish the first LNG hub in the Coega IDZ, in the Eastern Cape Province, he says. I have been talking to investors at this conference and they should take the opportunity to engage with our officials on this matter as it is an opportunity not only to invest, but to also help develop the gas industry in this country.

Infrastructure plans to harness gas potential

The plan is that the first LNG import terminal at the Coega Special Economic Zone (SEZ) site will lay the foundation for a breed of new gas to power plants as well as driving the conversion of existing power plants from diesel to gas. It is also intended as a base to import feedstock for the gas to liquids refinery in Mossel Bay. The framework for supporting this major programme will be announced by my department in the near term, Mantashe added Linked to this is an amendment to the Gas Act of 2001, which will be tabled in Cabinet soon.

Mantashe explained that South Africa gas to power technologies will provide the flexibility that is needed to back up the intermittent nature of renewable energy and meet peak demand during busy periods. In the short term the opportunity is to pursue gas import options, in the future, local and regional gas resources will allow for scaling up within manageable risk levels, he said. Indigenous gas like coal-bed methane and, ultimately, local recoverable shale and coastal gas are options we are considering. On the Upstream, work is underway on a Petroleum Resources Development Bill, which will be before Cabinet soon.

Our oil and gas needs to be harnessed to deliver modern energy services to all households and businesses. Our gas must power plants and other petrochemical facilities in our countries as it reaches for export markets. This will ensure that we do not always import beneficiated hydrocarbons.

Upstream aspirations for South Africa

On the regional front, Mantashe said that they have noted with great interest and a sense of admiration, the major gas finds in the Eastern part of the continent, especially in Mozambique and Tanzania. We remain patently aware that one of the oil companies in South Africa played a pivotal role in the monetisation of the earlier gas finds in Mozambique, he said. Earlier this year we also announced hydrocarbon finds by Total and its partners off the Mossel Bay coast. We are confident that this find will spur further interest in the upstream potential of South Africa.

We have taken note of global industry shifts and are encouraged that many countries in our continent have set themselves the vision to enter the global gas market and promote the development of a domestic and regional gas market. Natural gas can improve the efficiencies of many industries currently using sub-optimal fuel sources in their production processes and resulting in a turnaround in the industrial capacity and demand in the region.

A new energy future

Mantashe explained that the IRP reflects the fact that South Africas energy generation landscape is evolving. Old assumptions should give way, he added. For example, demand is not captive to the national grid; costs are declining as a result of technology advancements and our national utility, Eskom, is being restructured into its regulated functions of generation, transmission and distribution.

Coal will continue to play a significant role in electricity generation for South Africa, but renewable energy is growing in importance. We have a more than thirty-thousand-megawatt portfolio of existing coal power plants, and the abundance of the resource, he explained. New investments will be directed towards more efficient coal technologies, including underground coal gasification, and carbon capture and storage, to enable us to continue using our coal resources in an environmentally responsible way.

The IRP 2019 continues to make provision for significant rollout of renewable energy and storage. Combined with storage, renewables offer an opportunity to produce distributed power closer to where demand is; and to provide off-grid electricity to far-flung areas of the country. The next 12 months may well prove pivotal to the energy future for South Africa. As the government continues to balance the demands to lower carbon emissions with the need to supply power to its citizens, gas will certainly have a big part to play.

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LinkedIn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..

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LinkedInThe event, which is hosted by the Vietnam National Textile & Garment Group in collaboration with Vietnam National Trade Fair & Advertising JSC and Chinas CP Exhibition Hong Kong, attracts more than 118 enterprises from 12 countries and territories to display their products in an area of 4,600 m2.

The exhibition introduces textile products, such as micro-fiber fabrics, yarn, silk and materials using bamboo fiber, non-woven fabrics and cotton, as well as featuring modern equipment, machinery, automatic technologies and other auxiliary materials.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Cao Quoc Hung emphasised that 2018 will continue to be a challenging year for the domestic textile and garment industry as the sector needs to move forward in the global textile supply chain with a desire to bring greater value.

In addition, the fourth Industrial Revolution also has a major impact on the textile industry, forcing businesses to adapt and invest more strongly in equipment, as well as personnel, Hung added.

VITAS President Vu Duc Giang speaking at the exhibition opening. (Photo: NDO)

President Vu Duc Giang of the Vietnam Textile & Apparel Association (VITAS) said that although there are many challenges, especially the fierce competition in the global market, Vietnam still exported more than US$31 billion in textile and garment products in 2017, up more than 10% over 2016.

In the first eight months of this year, the export figures reached US$19.4 billion, up 15% over the same period last year, higher than the growth rate of 10.4% in the same period of 2017. The major markets, including Japan, the Republic of Korea, China, accounted for 75% of Vietnam's export value and increased more than 20% over the same period.

With such high export growth rate in the last eight months, combined with positive signs of the market, the forecast for Vietnam's garment exports in the latter months of the year is positive, likely to bring the total export value for the whole year up to US$35 billion.

The HanoiTex 2018 is considered a good opportunity for domestic businesses in the textile and garment sector to learn and equip themselves with advanced equipment and modern technology, as well as expanding cooperation to ensure they continue to develop strongly.

The exhibition will last until September 21.

The HanoiTex 2018 takes place at the Hanoi International Centre for Exhibition, No. 91 Tran Hung Dao street, from September 19 to 21. (Photo: VNA)At the meeting, Deputy Chief Justice of the Supreme Peoples Court Le Hong Quang, said that the visit of the delegation demonstrated the close relationship between the two courts and the friendly diplomatic relations between the two Parties and States.

Agreeing with the Vietnamese Deputy Chief Justice, Chief Justice of the Supreme Peoples Court of China Zhou Qiang said that cooperation activities between the court sectors of the two countries have had many bright spots over recent years, including the visit to China by Secretary of the Vietnam Communist Party Central Committee and Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court of Vietnam Nguyen Hoa Binh in May 5, 2018.

He noted that the two countries' court sectors share many similarities including the backlogs in the number of cases in big cities.

The guest said that People's Supreme Court of China has an institute specialising in carrying out research on unprecedented cases while expressing his wish for further bilateral cooperation in this area.

Chief Justice of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Court Ung Thi Xuan Huong informed the guests about the operations of the municipal court which is the leading court in the country to pilot many projects such as juvenile and family courts.Ohio Supreme Court Justice visits Morgan County Audio Article Ohio Supreme Court Justice Sharon Kennedy visited Morgan County on Thursday, speaking at a Womens Republicans Luncheon at Deanos Pizza. She spoke about her recent decision to run for Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court, the state of politics in the state and country as a whole, and more....

Veterans Day Parade plans announced Audio Article This years Veterans Day Parade will be on Thursday, Nov. 11. The parade will form at the Commons in McConnelsville at 9:30 a.m. and set out at 10 a.m. The American Legion Post 24 will render honors at the monuments at the Commons, the Riecker Building, the Square, at the...

HINDSIGHT 2021 Audio Article 10 Years Ago (2011)  The Morgan Metropolitan Housing Authority earned an Auditor of State Award from the Ohio Auditors Office. The award was presented to the county organization after receiving a clean audit report with no findings for recovery, material citations or weaknesses, significant deficiencies or questioned costs. Kelly...

Stockport Council solidifies hiring policies Audio Article The Stockport Village Council met at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 18, at the HECK Harkins Community Center, and opened with an invocation led by Councilman John Koch. Mayor Donna Dixon led the Pledge of Allegiance and called the meeting to order. Councilman Roger McBride and Councilwoman Lynne Myers were absent...

Extension Office presents report to Morgan County Commissioners Audio Article 4-H Update from Pam Montgomery and Lydia Flores CARTEENS leaders and Pam held a virtual CARTEENS program on October 12. 4-H Advisory Committee and 4-H Horse Sub-committee held meetings on September 22. In the next few months, they will be working, evaluating, updating, and changing things for 2022. Both Lydia...

Waterford FFA Soils Team headed to Nationals Audio Article The Waterford FFA Rural Soil Judging team is headed to Oklahoma, after participating in three different soil judging contests that lead them to becoming one of the best soil judging teams in Ohio. The first competition was the Washington County Soil Judging Contest which was organized by the Washington County...* China and Russia on September 18 agreed to further explore new areas of investment cooperation and create a more favorable investment and business environment for both sides.

* Iran's Foreign Ministry on September 18 welcomed a recent agreement between Russia and Turkey to create a demilitarized zone in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib.

* Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz called for a European response to the flow of migrants from Africa and the Middle East after bilateral talks in Rome on September 18.

* Operations of the Israeli air force are undertaken in violation of Syria's sovereignty, Russian President Vladimir Putin told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by phone on September 18. Putin made the remarks after the Russian Defense Ministry said earlier in the day its Il-20 surveillance plane with 15 servicemen on board was mistakenly downed by a Syrian missile on September 17 night due to a simultaneous Israeli air strike that confused Syria's air defense system.

* US President Donald Trump said on September 18 that the United States is weighing the idea of establishing a permanent military base in Poland, a proposal raised by visiting Poland leader.

* At least 265 anti-government militants, including key commanders, of various banned organizations, have laid down arms and surrendered to the government in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province on September 18, local media reported.

* The European Union should better understand the new demands of the economic situation in Tunisia, said Mohamed Ennaceur, President of the Assembly of the Representatives of the People, on September 18.

*The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is ready to inject investments worth US$500 million to promote the Tunisian economy, said Mouayed Makhlouf, IFC Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, on September 18.

*Thirty suspected armed separatist fighters were killed in Njikwa, a locality in the Northwest, one of the two strife-torn English-speaking regions of Cameroon, after government forces raided a base where the fighters have been camping, the Cameroon army said in a statement on September 18.

* The European Union (EU) will help Cyprus stem an influx of refugees from Syria after a recent boom of arrivals of irregular immigrants, an official said on September 18.

* The Yemeni government forces backed by the Saudi-led coalition made a new progress in the ongoing battles against the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in the Red Sea coast city of Hodeidah on September 18.

* The Italian Navy's hydro-oceanographic ship "Admiral Magnaghi" has arrived at Beirut Port for a 40-day extensive training program with Lebanon's Navy, the Italian embassy said September 18.

* A Turkish Airlines aircraft made an emergency landing late Tuesday (September 18) at Otopeni Airport, north of Bucharest, as a passenger was suspected of typhoid fever, local television reported.

* Australia's Minister for Energy Angus Taylor has ruled out extending the nation's renewable energy target (RET) beyond its peak in 2020. The RET dictates that 23.5 percent of Australia's energy must be sourced from clean sources by 2020.The VFF delegation will conduct their working visit to Russia from September 19-25. The delegation will meet and work with Chairman of the State Duma of Russia Vyacheslav Volodin; Leader of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (KPRF) Gennady Zyuganov; hold talks and sign a Memorandum of Understanding with leaders of the All-Russia Peoples Front on bilateral cooperation issues; join a roundtable on social monitoring practices organised by the All-Russia Peoples Front; work with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs I.V. Morgulov; work with Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council Iliyas Umakhanov; and visit the Vietnamese community in Saint Petersburg, among other activities.

From September 25-29, the VFF delegation make a working visit to Cuba. The delegation will greet senior leaders of Cuba and attend the 9th Congress of the Committee for the Defence of the Revolution of Cuba. VFF President Tran Thanh Man will also deliver a speech before congress.

In addition, the delegation will hold meetings with the President of the Committee for the Defence of the Revolution of Cuba, grassroots committees in residential areas, attend the State awards ceremony, and take part in several other activities.>>> Vietnam, France hold first security-defence strategy dialogue

During the talks, Minister Parly affirmed that her country highly values the role of Vietnam in the region and the world, and attaches great importance to developing bilateral ties with the Southeast Asian country.

Minister Lich said that his visit is part of activities to mark the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and France and five years of the bilateral strategic partnership. It aims to realise outcomes of the official visit by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong to France in March this year, he said.

The minister showed his delight at the comprehensive and effective development in bilateral relations in all fields, including politics-diplomacy, economy-trade, defence-security, culture, education, science, justice and health care.

At the talks, the two sides shared their views on regional and international matters of shared concern.

The French Defence Minister stated that France shared the stance with many countries on the need to ensure maritime and overflight security, safety and freedom on the foundation of international law.

She added that France will continue making contributions to the maintenance of an environment of peace, stability and development in areas in which the country has interests.

The two ministers agreed that all disputes must be settled peacefully in line with international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982.

Minister Lich declared that France is an important partner of Vietnam, adding that Vietnam highly appreciates the role of France in the world arena, and supports the European country in strengthening bilateral and multilateral partnership with the ASEAN as well as joining ASEAN mechanisms.

Vietnam hopes that France will continue to actively contribute to peace, stability and development in the region where the ASEAN is playing the central role, he stated.

The two ministers highly valued the positive developments in the Vietnam-France defence cooperation in recent times, stressing that the defence ties are one of the pillars of the strategic partnership between the two countries.

Since the two sides signed the Vietnam-France agreement on defence cooperation in 2009, the bilateral defence ties have achieved important results.

Especially, after Vietnam and France upgraded their relations to Strategic Partnership, the two countries have paid more attention to promoting their defence collaboration, and reached practical results in terms of exchange of strategic views, training, and UN peace-keeping operation participation, defence industry, and military medicine.

The two sides agreed to improve the efficiency of existing cooperation mechanisms and seek ways to enhance cooperation in the fields of their strengths and those of common concern in the coming time.

The ministers signed a joint vision statement on defence cooperation in 2018-2028, and an agreement on amending the Vietnam-France cooperation agreement signed in 2009.Speaking at a ceremony in Washington DC held by the Vietnamese Embassy in the US to mark the Southeast Asian nations 73rd National Day (September 2), Sullivan congratulated Vietnam on its achievements during the renewal and international integration process.

He appreciated the development of the US-Vietnam Comprehensive Partnership in bilateral aspects and in regional and international issues of mutual concern.

He noted the two countries still hold great potential for development cooperation, especially in trade, security and defence.

Vietnamese Ambassador Ha Kim Ngoc highlighted the significance of the countrys National Day to Vietnamese people.

Vietnamese Ambassador Ngoc confirmed that since bilateral diplomatic ties were set up in 1995, relations have developed strongly on the basis of mutual understanding and respect for each others independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and political institutions.

The establishment of the comprehensive partnership in 2013 has contributed to deepening cooperation both bilaterally and multilaterally, he added.

The diplomat also expressed his belief that bilateral ties will grow further, for the benefit of the two peoples and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

On the same day, the Vietnamese Embassy in Germany hosted a gathering to celebrate Vietnams 73rd National Day.The visit aimed to learn from New Zealands experience in many fields, including policymaking, developing smart cities, infrastructure, green technology and energy, education-training, and building e-government.

It was expected to help promote investment and trade cooperation between Hanoi and Wellington as well as between Vietnam and New Zealand.

The Vietnamese delegation held talks with Simon Woold - member of the Wellington Council, during which the two sides informed each other about their development and shared experience in operating council activities.

The Wellington side shared its experience in ensuring social welfare for local citizens and promoting sustainable growth; and on issues related to vocational training, health and social insurance, and the development of smart cities and transport systems.

They also discussed policymaking, including policies for socio-economic development.

The Vietnamese delegation had a working session with Carolyn Dick, senior advisor on strategy and administration of Wellington.

The two sides discussed the criteria for building smart cities, strategies for building social housing, immigration issues, and the role of consulting councils for issues concerning youth and women in building socio-economic development policies.

In a meeting with the delegation in Victoria University, Brook Panned from Wellingtons Economic Development Agency said he hopes the two sides will expand their collaboration in training, especially training management and leadership skills.

For her part, Vice Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Ngoc thanked the Wellington side for sharing its valuable experience.

She appreciated the fruitful development of Vietnam-New Zealand relations and between Hanoi and Wellington in particular in recent years, affirming these are solid foundations for the two countries localities to deepen their cooperation.

During their stay, the delegation also visited the Vietnamese Embassy in New Zealand, during which Vice Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Ngoc called on the agency to help further promote bilateral ties and cooperation between Hanoi and New Zealands localities.At the event, Vice President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee cum Chairman of the VMFA, Ngo Sach Thuc, sent his congratulations to Malaysian Ambassador to Vietnam Zamruni Khalid, and asked the diplomat to convey his best wishes to the Malaysian leaders and people on the occasion.

While expressing his joy at Malaysias great achievements across various fields, he noted that Malaysia has enjoyed high economic growth of about 5 percent. The countrys economic growth in 2018 is likely to reach 5-5.5 percent.

The country also recorded positive development in terms of culture, education, science-technology and social security, while the local peoples living conditions have been improved, and the nations position and international prestige has been raised.

Over the last 45 years, the Vietnam-Malaysia friendship and multifaceted cooperation have been bolstered across fields from politics, trade, security-defence, culture, labour and tourism.

As the key forces in promoting the friendship between the two countries people, the VUFO, the VMFA and Malaysian partners have made positive contributions in recent years.

Many practical activities such as exchanges and art performances have been organised by the two organisations, contributing to enhancing mutual understanding between the two people, thus promoting the bilateral relations.

Chairman of the VMFA Ngo Sach Thuc hoped for closer coordination and more effective support of one another between the VMFA and the Malaysian Embassy in Vietnam in the coming time, contributing to pushing the friendship and cooperation between the two nations.

For his part, Malaysian Ambassador Zamruni Khalid was pleased to announce that Vietnam and his country have reached important milestones in economic ties, especially in investment, trade and tourism cooperation.

Malaysia is the seventh largest investor in Vietnam with a total investment of US$12.2 billion. Malaysian firms mainly invest in real estate, production, banking and oil and gas sectors.

Two-way trade between Vietnam and Malaysia hit over 11 billion USF in 2017. Vietnams key exports to Malaysia are mobile phones, electronic products and rice.

Regarding tourism links, more than 480,000 Malaysians visited Vietnam in 2017, ranking tenth among the largest tourism markets of Vietnam.

Ambassador Zamruni Khalid said with the increasing number of flights between the two countries, the number Malaysian tourists to Vietnam will increase.

He believed that the Vietnam-Malaysia Strategic Partnership would become closer in the time to come.HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP)  A lawsuit that could result in drastic changes to how Pennsylvania funds public education goes to trial Friday in a Harrisburg courtroom, seven years after a handful of the states districts first went to court to challenge a system they consider unfair.September 19, 2018

Open Thread 2018-48

News & views ...

Posted by b on September 19, 2018 at 17:19 UTC | Permalink

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next page Breaking away from the position of many U.S. farmers, Christopher Ranch, the nations premier garlic company, announced on Tuesday, Sept. 18, that it fully supports the imposition of a 10 percent tariff on imported Chinese garlic (under the United States Trade Representative Section 301 Investigation).

Christopher Ranch applauds the decision of the U.S. trade representative to raise the tariff to 25 percent on Jan. 1, 2019, said Ken Christopher, executive vice president of Christopher Ranch, based in Gilroy.

For decades, Chinese exporters have flooded the US market with cheap and often illegally dumped garlic, and this tariff will help to level the playing field for American garlic farmers, said Christopher.

Recently, third-generation farmer Christopher flew to Washington DC to build bipartisan congressional support for the US garlic industry and to offer testimony to the US International Trade Commission in support of the enacted tariff. Officials from the Departments of State, Commerce, Homeland Security, Labor, Small Business Administration, and the office of the US Trade Representative were present to receive the testimony.

According to the US Department of Commerce, Chinese garlic exporters have defrauded the US government out of more than $600 million of billed but uncollected duties. This represents the largest single industry of the total $2.6 billion of total uncollected duties since 2001. https://www.gao.gov/assets/680/678419.pdf Unlike past duties, the proposed new tariff would require that fees be paid in advance, preventing exporters from engaging in illegal duty evasion schemes.

In broad macroeconomic terms, we recognize that an escalating trade war may not be in the nations larger economic interest, but immediate relief for the US garlic industry is needed, said Christopher in the company statement. Illegally dumped Chinese garlic continues to flood the US market, making its way to unassuming American consumers, and US farmers need our governments support.

The anticipated tariffs of Chinese garlic will go a long way to restoring a longstanding injustice on American garlic farmers.A report filed earlier this month to demonstrate the Krong No volcanic park in Dak Nong meets UNESCO criteria for recognition as a global geopark also revealed that the corpse of a young boy had been discovered in one of the areas many caves.

Museum director Nguyen Trung Minhs recent announcement said the excavation had uncovered two additional corpses, all of which date back nearly 7,000 years. Pieces of ceramics, stone and animal bones were also found in the cave.

This finding is the first of its kind in the area, Minh said, adding it is a shocking discovery  the Krong No volcanic cave system is one of the largest of its kind, and the only one in Southeast Asia where we have found traces of prehistoric people.

Krong No is a volcanic cave system that has made headlines for its impressive scale and length. (Photo: VNE)



These remains also bolster the sites case for recognition as a UNESCO site.

Professor Nguyen Lan Cuong, General Secretary of the Vietnam Archaeology Association, said the three corpses included two adults and a child of about four years old.

The bodies were found around one metre below the surface of the cave, surrounded by trace remains of ten total corpses.

A copy of the remains of a young boy found in a volcanic cave. (Photo: VNA)



The finding opens a new chapter in the study of Vietnams anthropology.

Scientists have also found traces of fires and rubbish, suggesting each cave had a designated purpose. Some could have served as long-term residences while others were merely temporary hunting camps.

The discovery happened thanks to a research project, chaired by La The Phuc of the National Museum of Nature, designed to establish a museum at Krong No on the cave heritage of the central highlands.

The museum will coordinate with experts in the coming months to continue research into the prehistoric people of the red basalt area. Scientists will propose areas for further study on the topic of volcanic cave archaeology in Southeast Asia.

The cave system, which stretches some 25 kilometres, was first discovered in 2007. It demonstrates a structure typical of caves formed by volcanic activity, and also contains traces of vegetables from millions of years ago.

C6.1 Cave contains vestiges of people living for long periods in ancient times. (Photo: VNE)

Other objects found at the site offer insight into its history. (Photo: VNA)The visit was made within the framework of her attendance at the ongoing Asia-Europe Women's Forum in Russia.

Speaking at the meeting, Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Ngo Duc Manh informed the Vice President on the embassys operations, expatriates affairs, and the development of the Vietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership, particularly after the visit to Russia by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong earlier this September.

For her part, VP Thinh spoke highly of the past efforts made by the embassy staff which have significantly contributed to fostering and developing the time-honoured bilateral relations between the two countries.

In the first nine months of 2018, Vietnams economy grew at a rate of 7.08%, the highest in 11 years, she said, adding that Vietnam has recently hosted the World Economic Forum on ASEAN, attracting the participation 10 countries heads of State and 1,000 domestic and international enterprises, reflecting the countrys active integration process and its enhanced position and prestige on the global stage.

The Vice President also expressed her hope that the Vietnamese embassy will continue to uphold the obtained achievements whilst the expat community will better serve as a bridge connecting the two nations.Daytons newest bakery hosts their official ribbon cutting today at 11am, just across from Lexis Nexis. Owners Jeff and Renee Hall chose to open this franchise, one of 260 Nothing Bundt Cake locations across the country, based on its commitment to high quality ingredients. Real eggs, butter and cream cheese are what make their fresh baked bundt cakes so good.



When you walk into their shop, youll be greeted by a selection of 8-10 inch cakes, tiered cakes (which can feed up to 30) and miniature bundtlets as well as bundtinis (bite sized cakes) by the dozen. Youll also find a selection of gifts, making this the perfect one-stop shop, where you can pick up cards, candles, balloons and the cake for your celebrations!

On Friday, September 21 cake purchases will benefit BOGG Ministries- the shop will be donating 20% of its sales to this local charity that serves the needy here locally. On Saturday, September 22nd youll want to be one of the first 59 guests in the doors when they open at 9am to win Free Bundtlets For a Year and later that day they will host a Family Fun Celebration from noon to 2pm.

Nothing Bundt Cakes

9632 Springboro Pike

Miamisburg, Ohio

(937) 505-8484

Monday  Friday 9am  6pm

Friday 9am  5pmHead of the International Relations Commission of the Cuban National Assembly, Yolanda Ferrer, who is also President of the Cuba-Vietnam Friendship Association, recalled the wholehearted fraternity of the Vietnamese people when they welcomed Fidel Castro during his visit from September 12 to 17, 1973.

With this trip, Fidel became the only foreign leader to visit the newly-liberated area in the south of Vietnam during the resistance war against the US, she said, adding that the then Commander-in-Chief of Cuba showed his sincere admiration for the Vietnamese people, laying a new and solid foundation for reinforcing bilateral relations.

Ferrer said that over the past two weeks, chapters of the Cuba-Vietnam Friendship Association across the country have held many activities to celebrate this milestone and reviewed the priceless lessons left by late President Ho Chi Minh and the Vietnamese people.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Cuba Nguyen Trung Thanh appreciated the concrete and practical actions that the Cuban people and the ICAP have taken to express and maintain the Vietnam-Cuba exemplary solidarity for future generations.

He said in the past, with the enormous support from international friends, especially Cuba, Vietnam has weathered all difficulties to succeed in gaining independence and national reunification.

Nowadays, with their resolve to move ahead on the path to self-reliant development, the Cuban people will also overcome all challenges and groundless policies imposed by other countries to successfully build a prosperous and sustainable socialist Cuba, Ambassador Thanh stressed, affirming that the Vietnamese people will continue to support Cuba on this path.

Also on September 17, Ambassador Thanh met with ICAP President Fernando Gonzalez Llort to discuss the two countries cooperation.

Earlier, the Organisation of Solidarity with the Peoples of Asia, Africa and Latin America (OSPAAAL) also held a meeting to look back on Fidels visit to Vietnam.Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with his Estonian counterpart Kersti Kaljulaid at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 18, 2018. Kersti Kaljulaid is in China to attend the Summer Davos Forum in the northern port city of Tianjin. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)

BEIJING, Sept. 18 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met here Tuesday with his Estonian counterpart Kersti Kaljulaid, who is in China to attend the Summer Davos Forum in the northern port city of Tianjin.

China proposes building a community with a shared future for humanity, which means that China advocates mutual respect, equal treatment, harmony within diversity and win-win cooperation between different countries, Xi said.

"Each country, regardless of its size, has its own merits and is an equal member of the international community," said Xi, calling for abandoning the "law of the jungle."

Hailing Estonia as a country with a good geographical location, Xi said the ecological environment, green agriculture and digital economy of Estonia are unique, and the country actively participates in international affairs.

China hopes to work with Estonia to promote bilateral ties on the basis of mutual respect and equal treatment, Xi said.

"The two sides should build up political mutual trust, synergize the Belt and Road Initiative with Estonian national development strategies, enhance pragmatic cooperation and carry out more high-quality people-to-people exchange activities," said Xi.

He said China supports the European integration and is willing to work with the European side to maintain multilateralism, oppose unilateralism and build an open world economy.

He also said China is ready to strengthen cooperation with the Estonian side within the framework of Central and Eastern Europe and China cooperation.

Kaljulaid said Estonia highly appreciates that China treats small countries like Estonia equally. "We hope to reinforce cooperation with China in trade, e-commerce, logistics and other fields and expand people-to-people exchanges."

Estonia supports multilateralism and free trade, appreciates China's important role in global affairs, hopes to ly communicate and coordinate with China in multilateral affairs and jointly safeguard international rules and order, Kaljulaid said.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 []ENFIELD, Conn. (AP)  A second arrest has been made in the stabbing death of a 16-year-old Connecticut boy.

Enfield police on Monday charged 20-year-old Michael Cerrato with hindering prosecution in connection with the Sept. 9 death of Justin Brady. Brady was found stabbed outside Cerrato's home. Cerrato is the son of Enfield's assistant town attorney, Mark Cerrato, who has been placed on leave by the town.

Police say Cerrato left the scene after the stabbing, and drove the suspect, 18-year-old Shyhiem Adams, to Hartford. Police say Cerrato changed his story about what happened several times.

Cerrato is being held on $50,000 bond and it was not clear if he has a lawyer.

Adams is charged with manslaughter and is being held on $750,000 bail. His lawyer says he was bullied in school.WALLINGFORD  The new owner of Craig Jewelers said recent renovations are focused on giving the established business a modernized look.

Were just doing painting, owner Mark Puglise said. I changed a little flair with box designs, box colors, just to give it a little more of a current look.

The store at 33 N. Main St., which specializes in custom design and jewelry repair, has been undergoing onsite renovations and rebranding.

Puglise said he decided to buy the store when previous owner Craig Healey announced he would retire.

Puglise hopes to grow wedding and engagement ring sales.

My main thing is to focus on customer service, Puglise said. Im the type of person that can build a relationship with the customer.

Puglise worked as the stores goldsmith since it opened about 20 years ago. In that job, he repaired watches, set stones and re-sized rings in his own shop in Hamden.

He said all repairs will now be done on site.

Economic Development Specialist Tim Ryan, a customer of the store, said having a longtime employee take over as owner will help continue the bond between the store and its patrons.

Having a jewelry store in town is a nice amenity. Having a trusted jewelry store is even better, Ryan said.

Puglise said he hopes the community welcomes him as a new owner. My one plus is that a lot of (customers) did know me and a lot of the newer ones that find out Ive been the goldsmith for as long as I have, they have that familiarity already, he said.

The store has been open throughout renovations and a grand reopening is scheduled for mid-October.

jroman@record-journal.com

203-317-2420

Twitter: @JenieceRomanChinese President Xi Jinping meets with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 18, 2018. Aleksandar Vucic is in China to attend the Summer Davos Forum. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)

BEIJING, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who is in China to attend the Summer Davos Forum annual meeting in Tianjin.

Hailing the traditional friendship and deep trust between China and Serbia, Xi said the two countries have seen fruitful outcomes of pragmatic cooperation. He welcomed the implementation of consensus reached between him and Vucic on bilateral cooperation, which has injected strong power into the development of China-Serbia relations.

China is willing to work with Serbia to firmly support each other on issues involving their respective core interests and major concerns, and jointly safeguard multilateralism and international justice, he added.

Xi mentioned the smooth cooperation between China's Hebei Iron and Steel Group and Serbian Smederevo steel plant, and the fact that the project has become Serbia's second-largest exporter.

China and Serbia should join hands in the Belt and Road construction, and synergize their development strategies to deepen bilateral cooperation and better benefit the two peoples, Xi said.

For his part, Vucic said Serbia appreciates China's help and is willing to become a truehearted partner of China and continually support each other to consolidate their friendship.

Noting that the Belt and Road construction is beneficial to all people along the route, Vucic said the revival of the Smederevo steel plant served as a strong evidence that the Belt and Road Initiative contributed to an increase of jobs and economic growth in Serbia.

He said Serbia will actively participate in the initiative and explore new cooperation areas with China under the China-Central and Eastern European Countries cooperation framework.

After the meeting, the two leaders witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents.Regional

Assam CM orders probe into jawans death

Guwahati, Sep 18 (Agencies) | Publish Date: 9/18/2018 1:17:49 PM IST

A day after the body of an Assam Police Jawan riddled with bullets was recovered from the security barrack attached to the official residence of Chief Minister at Kharghuli in Guwahati, an inquiry has been initiated by the Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal on this regard.

The deceased Assam Police Jawan has been identified as Lance Naik Sukleswar Kathar and had six bullets hit in the body, which were fired from his service weapon, an AK 47 rifle. It is being assumed to be a case of suicide until now as per the initial investigation. Talking to media, PC Saloi, the Guwahati Police Commissioner said it is particularly very difficult to comment at this moment as to whether it is a suicide or some other people are involved in killing Kathar.International

Moon, Kim hold talks in Pyongyang

South Korean president Moon Jae-in (right) and Kim Jong-un during a welcome ceremony at the Sunan International Airport in Pyongyang.

Pyongyang, Sep 18 (IANS) | Publish Date: 9/18/2018 12:49:25 PM IST

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un held their first round of talks here on Tuesday in a historic summit largely aimed at restarting a Washington-Pyongyang dialogue on denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Moon arrived in Pyongyang earlier on Tuesday for a three-day visit, becoming the third South Korean leader in history to have visited the North Korean capital, reports Yonhap News Agency. The third Moon-Kim meeting was held at the headquarters of the Central Committee of the Workers Party of Korea.

This is also the first time the North Korean leader has hosted any foreign leader at the headquarters. The two leaders first met in the border village of Panmunjom on April 27 and then again on May 26. Also on the agenda is the further reduction of military tension between the divided Koreas and improvement in their bilateral relations, which Moon says will help promote and even accelerate the Norths denuclearization process. Moon and Kim will meet again on Wednesday for a second round of talks.

Depending on the outcome of their talks, the two leaders may hold a joint press conference in Pyongyang to announce the outcome of their summit. Before his departure, Moon told the media that his goal was to break a deadlock in the denuclearization talks between the US and North Korea.

(My) North Korea trip would have a great meaning if it could lead to the resumption of North Korea-US dialogue, Moon said.

The talks have stalled after US President Donald Trump called off a scheduled trip to North Korea by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, citing what he called a lack of progress in the Norths denuclearization process.State

St Joseph University students call on Governor

Governor Acharya with students and lecturers of St Josephs University Dimapur at Raj Bhavan Kohima on September 18.

DIMAPUR | Publish Date: 9/18/2018 1:03:52 PM IST

Governor of Nagaland, PB Acharya interacted with students of Josephs University, Dimapur who participated in the Swachh Bharat Mission Summer Internship 2018 at Raj Bhavan Kohima on September 18.

According to PRO to Governor, highlighting the Governor on the Swachh Bharat Mission Summer Internship, Dr. Pramodini Magh Rengma said that the department of Social Work had organised a Swachh Bharat Mission Summer Internship (100 hours of Swachhta) at Woroku village under Wokha district from June 7 to 19, to promote swachhtain the village.

She stated the main objective of the internship programme was to engage youths across the country to develop their skills, orient them for sanitation related work and to make Swachh Bharat Mission a jan andolan. Dr. Pramodini also added that various activities were conducted by the students including interaction with adolescence girls, youth and villagers, street plays, waste material collection drive, training on solid waste management, etc.

Governor Acharya congratulated the students in being a part of the Swachh Bharat Mission Summer Internship and hoped that the experience would have a positive impact in every aspect of their life. He encouraged the students to practice and put into action the activities learned and to be agents of the Swachh Bharat movement.

The students were also given certificate of achievement by the Governor on completion of their internship programme. Nine students from the department of Social Work, St Josephs University along with two lecturers interacted with Governor Acharya.International

Vietnam jails 2 Vietnamese-Americans for 14 years

US citizen Angel Phan (C) is escorted by police to a court before her trial in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam August 21, 2018.

HANOI, SEP 19 (AGENCIES) | Publish Date: 9/19/2018 12:36:24 PM IST

A Vietnamese court sentenced two Vietnamese-Americans to 14 years in prison on Wednesday for attempting to overthrow the state, a court official told Reuters.

James Nguyen and Angel Phan were convicted, along with 10 accomplices who received shorter jail terms, after a two-day trial. The defendants all faced the same charge.

Phan and Nguyen were accused of running a network of underground operatives in Vietnam, some of whom were given titles in a shadow government such as governor of Saigon, or commander of national defense guards, the Ministry of Public Securitys official news website reported on Wednesday.

The pair assigned counter-revolutionary missions to the groups members in Vietnam, the report said, including a plan to broadcast anti-government propaganda from local radio stations, organize protests, and deface an image of former president Ho Chi Minh.

The remaining 10 defendants in the same trial received prison terms of between five and 11 years, an official at the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Court told Reuters by phone.

Phan and Nguyen will be deported after serving their jail term, Voice of Vietnam radio reported.

According to state media, the pair were acting on behalf of the Provisional National Government of Vietnam, a California-based organization run by Vietnamese-Americans still loyal to the now defunct state of South Vietnam.

The U.S. organization, which was listed as a terrorist group by Hanoi in January this year, dispatched Phan and Nguyen to Vietnam in February 2017 to carry out their alleged activities on Vietnamese national holidays, according to the Ministry of Public Securitys official news website.

In June, a court in Ho Chi Minh City upheld prison sentences against 15 members of the group it said were guilty of planting bombs in the international terminal of Tan Son Nhat airport in April last year.

In another case last month, police said it had arrested seven people from a separate group over the bombing of a Ho Chi Minh City police station in June.

That incident, in which two small explosive devices were detonated, injured three people in what police said was a terrorist case against the peoples government.

The Provisional National Government of Vietnam did not respond to a request for comment made via its website. The U.S. Embassy in Hanoi was not able to provide immediate comment.Post Mortem

Visiting Nagaland for the first time

By Nagaland Post | Publish Date: 9/18/2018 1:30:52 PM IST

As a New Zealander visiting Nagaland for the first time, I am struck by the grandeur of the mountains, the villages clinging to the sides of steep slopes, and Kohima town functioning on top of a mountain range. The ingenuity, the courage and stamina of your people, living in such challenging geography is an inspiration. The Naga people I have been privileged to meet and whose hospitality I have enjoyed, have been ever friendly and courteous.

But coming from a country which has challenging terrain itself, my husband and I were appalled at the conditions local people have to endure with your new four lane highway under construction by the National Highway Authority of India. It is of course a wonderful dream to link Dimapur and Kohima in a superhighway, but the logic of doing it all at once instead of in stages clearly puts all those using the road, locals and tourists alike, under extreme pressure.

While it is true that retaining walls are in position over some of the route, the potential for hillsides to slip shows that more attention needs to be given to land stability - the lengthy diversions already in place are a constant reminder of that. Nor is there clear evidence of drainage ditches to carry away monsoon rains. The unfortunate result of roadbuilding activity is that large stretches of road have become stream beds with monsoon rain flowing in the middle of them instead of in the drains. The endless pot holes are caused by these same streams.

I do hope that those in authority will plan how to ease the situation for the long suffering public and visitors like us who wish the best for the Naga people.I want my work to stay in China, said embroiderer Chen Yinghua, as the reason that she refused to sell her embroidery pieces featuring sky and clouds to the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

In 2006, Chen saw pictures of the starry sky and was so amazed that she decided to produce versions using needlework. After numerous attempts, Chen completed a total of 16 starry-sky themed pieces of embroidery within two years.

In 2012, Chen brought her collection to the 28th International Astronomical Union Conference. At first, her work received little attention, but after learning that they were embroidered, guests couldnt get enough.

A representative from NASA showed interest in buying the pieces of art, but Chen refused him instantly, without even asking how much he would pay for them.

These are my favorite pieces of art. I would prefer that they were collected by Chinese museums for exhibitions to the Chinese public, rather than being sold abroad, she said resolutely.

The Suzhou-born artist started to practice embroidery when she was 18. In the 1970s, it was traditional for girls to learn the skill when they were young. Chen was one of them.

As a beginner, Chen would practice 15 to 16 hours a day. Some said it was boring, but she enjoyed the peace of mind she found while stitching.

When she was 18, Chen stood out among her peers by finishing a piece depicting the magnificent Huangshan in eastern Chinas Anhui province.

From 2006, Chens workshop has helped innovate more than 100 embroidery pieces for the Palace Museum in Beijing.

Chen said her mission is to spread embroidery to more people. Every week, she goes to special education schools to teach students how to embroider for free, and they have become regular visitors to her workshop.

As long as they want to learn, Ill teach them, she said.A panda in the Dujiangyan Base of the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas.

While visiting panda breeding bases in China, journalists from Japan and the U.S. said they gained a deeper understanding of the cultural connotations of the giant pandas, Sichuan Daily reported.

Pandas are iconic in China, meaning they dont need to be advertised, the foreign reporters told local media during their visit to a panda base in Sichuan in southwest China.

I have to say that pandas are really charming, said Beijing Bureau Chief for the LA Times with the Chinese name Di Ruobing. Getting closer to the natural habitat of giant pandas, I hope to tell what I saw here to my readers, who are animal protection enthusiasts, she said.

In Japan, giant pandas represent China, said a reporter from Japan's NHK, adding that the Japanese peoples love for pandas is beyond imagination. Unlike man-made cultural symbols such as the Kumamon, giant pandas are very special and cannot be duplicated, he said.

The reporters said they think the Dujiangyan Base of the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas (CCRCGP) is the closest one to nature theyd ever seen.

Di said both she and her readers are deeply interested in protection and scientific research of giant pandas. The NHK reporter also said he came to Sichuan to find out the secrets and reasons behind the rising number of newly born pandas in China.

Di said the national giant panda park that the Chinese government is currently building is important to the protection of giant pandas and other animals. She suggests the building of diversified protection mechanisms and scientific research mechanisms to tackle the issue of releasing more giant pandas into the wild.

Japan was the first country to sign a scientific research agreement regarding pandas with China, the NHK reporter said. Over the past two decades, China and Japan have worked together to address a lot of difficult issues. He hopes that in the future, cooperation will be further strengthened.By PTI

MUMBAI: Billionaire Anil Ambani Tuesday announced that the cash-strapped Reliance Communications will be completely exiting the telecom business to concentrate on real estate in future.

The first priority for RCom, which is credited for democratising telecom services through cheaper offers in early 2000s, is to resolve its over Rs 40,000 crore debt, he told shareholders at the company's 14th annual general meeting here.

"We have decided that we will not proceed in this sector. And many other companies have taken a similar call. This is very much a writing on the wall, the future.

"As we have moved out of the mobile sector, we will monetise at an appropriate stage our enterprise business. Reliance Realty will be the engine of growth for the future of this company," Ambani said.

Pointing out to the 133-acre Dhirubhai Ambani Knowledge City (DAKC) on the outskirts of the financial capital, he said there is huge realty play opportunity that RCom's erstwhile corporate headquarters possesses, and pegged the potential value creation at the site at Rs 25,000 crore.

RCom owes over Rs 40,000 crore to a group of 38 lenders, including Chinese banks, and was resolving the debt through a strategic debt restructuring (SDR) process.

Ambani said he is confident of getting a resolution in the next few months, and added that other monetisation measures, including sale of telecom infrastructure and fibre to Reliance Jio, are at an advanced stage of closure.

He said the company is awaiting final approvals for spectrum sharing and trading from the Department of Telecom.

Anil Ambani also thanked his elder brother Mukesh Ambani, who is credited with conceptualising the undivided group's telecom foray and also bought the assets as part of the beleaguered RCom's monetisation efforts.

"It would be most appropriate for me to thank and acknowledge the support (and) guidance extended to RCom and me personally by my brother Mukesh bhai Ambani," the younger sibling told shareholders.

It can be noted that Mukesh Ambani re-entered the telecom sector by buying out a company which had successfully bid for 4G spectrum, along with which he also announced the end of a no-compete pact.

His company Reliance Jio's aggressive play is widely blamed for wrecking the telecom sector, which has seen an erosion of profits, asset sales, bankruptcies and consolidation following the entry of the deep-pocketed new entrant.

ALSO READ | Reliance Jios takeover of RComs internet assets a shot in the arm

Anil Ambani Tuesday said there has been a "creative destruction" of the telecom sector that has resulted in creation of oligopoly which is going towards a duopoly and may be even a monopoly in the future.

Banks are saddled with over Rs 7.7 lakh crore in debt and the financial troubles of operators have resulted in over 20 lakh job losses, he said.

He said the residual company will serve 35,000 businesses through the enterprise, data centres, undersea cables and international voice calling verticals and will get half of its revenues from abroad.

RCom is "committed" to exit these verticals as well to pay-off banks and will take a call on the same at an appropriate time, Ambani said.

Reliance Realty is a wholly-owned subsidiary of RCom, which will develop the DAKC in Navi Mumbai, he said, adding that it is an already registered IT and fintech park.

The company already has three million sq ft of built up space, which will be leased out to multi-nationals, Ambani said, adding that he expects revenue accruals through it this year itself.

Some of the shareholders appreciated efforts taken by the company, while wading through choppy waters, but there were a few critical ones as well.

When one such shareholder persisted, a company official patted him on the back, probably pointing to the time constraints.

When he complained, Anil Ambani said from the stage this is a pat and not a stab, and asked him to continue with the question.

The mention of the Rafale controversy prompted Anil Ambani to stop him from speaking further.

"Shailesh bhai, who is a very educated person and comes with non-facts, half-baked facts, untruth, lies, is in my father's words, a true well-wisher of all of you. I do respect, in a democratic world, his comments. But none of them have any relevance to what is in front of us today as a company and for all of you shareholders," Ambani said.

The RCom scrip was trading 6.10 per cent down at Rs 16.15 apiece on the BSE at 1242 hrs as against a marginal correction in the benchmark.By Express News Service

MUMBAI: Indian telecom sector has become oligarchic and is going towards a duopoly or even a monopoly, Reliance Communications (RCom) chairman Anil Ambani told shareholders at the companys annual general meeting on Tuesday.

Indicating that his company would exit the sector and concentrate on realty business, Ambani said that saddled with a debt, RComs priority is to resolve it.

Exorbitant spectrum fees paid to the government and high operational costs have dealt a body blow to the telecom sector further aggravated by the predatory pricing by some players, Ambani said. It is well known that Reliance Jio owned by his elder brother Mukesh Ambani, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea are the three main players in the telecom segment in the country today.

We have decided that we will not proceed in this sector. Many other companies have taken a similar call. This is very much a writing on the wall... As we have moved out of the mobile sector, we will monetise our enterprise business at an appropriate stage, Ambani said.

Anil Ambani also thanked his elder brother  Mukeshs Jio had bought RComs assets. It would be most appropriate for me to thank and acknowledge the support and guidance extended to RCom and me personally by my brother Mukeshbhai Ambani, he said.

RCom subsidiary Reliance Realty will develop Dhirubhai Ambani Knowledge City, a registered IP and financial technology park, in Navi Mumbai.Anuradha Shukla By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Pressure is mounting on Finance Ministry to investigate irregularities into the account books of Infrastructure Leasing & Finance Services Ltd (IL&FS), after whistleblowers have written to the ministry alleging corruption to the tune of Rs 91,000 crore and warned the state-run Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) and State Bank of India (SBI) against infusing more capital into the company.

Apart from whistleblowers, several agencies have pointed out irregularities in the account book. The RBI is already looking into the books of IL&FS and the matter is already being monitored by the Securities Exchange Board of India and the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. The government is keeping a watch over it. It is very likely that matter will be referred for an internal probe, said a senior official from the Finance Ministry, refusing to divulge further details.

After the rating agency ICRA Limited downgraded IL&FS over financial crunch, whistleblowers have written to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on September 14, accusing it of siphoning off funds and manipulating accounts.

The IL&FS group defaulted on payment of many banks as a significant percentage of its liquidity, to the tune of Rs 16,000 crore, was said to be stuck in claims and termination payments, which resulted in the downgrading of loans and debentures of IL&FS and its several group entities to non-investment grade.

At the end of March 2018, the gross debt of IL&FS was about Rs 91,000 crore.

Eyebrows were raised when LIC, the largest shareholder in IL&FS with 25.34 per cent stake as on March 31, 2018, came to the beleaguered companys rescue, announcing an immediate financial assistance to it to tide over the liquidity problem.

However, whistleblowers have claimed that this financial crunch is a massive scandal of over Rs 91,000 crore.

IL&FS is using a unique modus operandi of operating through a complex web of 225 group companies - all of which are in precarious financial condition. A majority of IL&FS operations are in forms of related party transactions, which accounts for unprecedented 71 per cent of total operations, the letter reads.

It further alleges that IL&FS was involved in land scams in Odisha, Nagaland, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Monday dismissed questions over the IL&FS mess, adding that the government will not intervene in the issue now and will let the companys Board and stakeholders to deal with the debt crisis.

I am not making any comments on this. Let their Board and stakeholders deal with the matter, Jaitley had said.By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today asked Russia's VTB Bank-promoted company NuMetal to establish that there was "subterfuge" on part of its rival bidder ArcelorMittal in divesting its shares in two debt-ridden firms before bidding for Essar Steel.

The observation by a bench of Justices R F Nariman and Indu Malhotra came when NuMetal accused steel and mining major ArcelorMittal of cheating Indian banks of Rs 7,000 crore owed by Uttam Galva Steels Ltd and KSS Petron by selling its shares just before bidding for Essar Steel.

During the day-long hearing, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for NuMetal, alleged that ArcelorMittal had disposed off its shares in a "tearing hurry" and this was contrary to the 'non-disposal' agreement signed with the bankers that the stakes in Uttam Galva cannot be sold without taking the consent of the lenders.

"Instead of paying dues to the banks, it (ArcelorMittal) says that it was aware of the disqualification. The only manner known to law to get rid of disqualification is to pay. The payment of dues of Uttam Galva is the condition precedent to apply for the bid. There was no scope of post-facto payment of dues," Rohatgi said.

The bench said irrespective of the claim that ArcelorMittal was the promoter at Uttam Galva, it has provided the documents to establish that it was not managing the affairs of Uttam Galva.

They were also not on its board and there was only a "co-promotion agreement" between them.

"There has to be subterfuge. There have to be documents to assume that this (sale of shares) was part of a devious and fraudulent design," the bench said, adding, "you (NuMetal) will have to show that they were the active promoters of Uttam Galva" and the fact that they (ArcelorMittal) owed the debt to "start with".

Rohatgi said that ArcelorMittal was also the promoter of debt-ridden entities Uttam Galva and KSS Petron and exited just before the bidding for Essar Steel.

"The bankers of Uttam Galva have a non-disposal agreement, and as per it, the promoters cannot sell their shares without the consent of lenders and sale of shares was to cheat the lenders," he alleged.

Senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for ArcelorMittal, objected to the submissions of Rohatgi and asked whether his submissions were part of the records.

To this, the NuMetal's counsel said he would deal with this aspect tomorrow.

Initiating submissions on behalf of NuMetal, Rohatgi said he would establish that the firm was eligible to bid for Essar Steel and no disability can be attributed to it just because some adverse findings have been recorded against VTB Bank of Russia by the authorities in the European Union and the USA.

The alleged actions against VTB were due to political actions taken by a comity of nations which are part of EU, just to "tighten screw on Russia" for its actions in Ukraine.

"There is no ban on VTB for its banking activities or for it to mobilise funds and conduct market activities," he said, adding that the apex court cannot decide on the disability of VTB based on some adverse findings.

He said the test would be whether a market regulator of other countries like SEBI here have recorded adverse findings against VTB and the actions of some nations or comity of nations against the firm due to some political reasons, "cannot be a ground to disqualify it from bidding for Essar Steel".

There was "no taint" on NuMetal, rather it was on ArcelorMittal whose bid should have been rejected as it had flouted the main condition of not clearing the dues of defaulting companies associated with them before submitting its bid.

He referred to the condition before the Section 29-A was brought into the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code providing further criteria for disqualification.

Rohatgi said the shareholders of NuMetal changed with the change in the law that the promoters of a defaulting company cannot bid for the same entity.

"What was wrong in that? Both Numetal and Arcelor were asked to curate and we did and they did not," he said, adding that Rewant Ruia of Arora Enterprise Ltd (AEL) exited before the filing of the second bid.

On Numetal acting in concert with Rewant, son of Ravi Ruia who was in control of defaulting Essar Steel, Rohatgi quoted SEBI's takeover code of 2011 to say that it could be possible only if he had a controlling stake in the bidding company or intended to have.

Salve, earlier in the day, concluded his submissions and opposed the allegations that steel magnate L N Mittal's relatives were associated with a lot of defaulting companies.

The advancing of arguments remained inconclusive and would commence tomorrow.

Earlier, ArcelorMittal had said that NuMetal was not eligible to bid for Essar Steel on several grounds, including that it was a "shell company" created by a firm in which Essar group promoters had majority shares.

NuMetal, a consortium of Russia's VTB-JSW, has also filed an appeal challenging the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) order allowing ArcelorMittal to take part in the bid and alleged that the firm stood disqualified due non-deposition of the money.

It had ruled that NuMetal's second bid for Essar Steel was eligible but the same by ArcelorMittal will qualify only if it cleared the Rs 7,000 crore dues of the two firms it was previously associated with.By Express News Service

BENGALURU: Cubbon Park police on Tuesday conducted a raid at the residence of Uday Gowda alias Uday K M, based on a search warrant from a lower court, in connection with a case of allegedly trying to encroach a property by creating fake documents. Three days ago, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy alleged that three to four persons known for running casinos were engaged in Operation Lotus to dislodge the coalition government and Gowda, a civil contractor, is said to be a kingpin of the four.

A senior police officer from Cubbon Park said that a case was registered against Gowda in Cubbon Park police station in 2017 under section 420 (cheating), 468 ( forgery for purpose of cheating) and 471 IPC (using as genuine a forged document or electronic record).

A special team conducted a raid on Vishal Palace in Malleswaram and seized some documents. The police also searched Gowdas associates K P Naidu and K V Nehrus residence in Dollars Colony and found photocopies of the documents pertaining to the case.

Uday Gowda and his associate Naidu allegedly created forged documents and tried to encroach Neelagiris Properties on Brigade Road and a complaint has been filed by the original property owner. Meanwhile, the duo had obtained a bail in the case so we could not arrest the accused. A series of notices were issued to him to appear before the police and produce original documents, so we had obtained a permission from the court and conducted the raid. The duo are currently absconding, the police officer added.Ranjani Madhavan By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: That ill-scented welcome on the national highway, dogs fighting for animal bones, a huge bury of non-vegetarian food waste, stench that makes people faint on the spot... this is the everyday story of residents living near Kanakapura road...Thats an online fund-raising petition by residents of Jarganahalli, JP Nagar. Fed up with the inaction by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) despite several complaints and petitions, the residents have come together and pooled in close to Rs 1 lakh to clean up a mound of garbage on a vacant plot, spilling on to the main road.

On July 7, CE reported that HMT Apartment residents spent their own money to install CCTV cameras. Through this, they caught the BBMPs auto tippers dumping waste at the spot. On July 24, CE reported how the same residents complained of continued dumping by other citizens and hoteliers at night, and how they had written to MLA Krishnappa, BBMP Commissioner Manjunath Prasad, Mayor Sampath Raj and other senior officials seeking a solution.

Come September, and no resolution in sight, residents of seven apartments got together and pooled in `84,377 (and counting). Their aim is to cross `1 lakh to clean up the place themselves.We spent two years following up on the issue and are sick of it. We realised our time is equal to money. Instead of us spending so much time running after BBMP officials, we can get the problem fixed ourselves. They were running away from the problem citing litigation over the plot of land, said resident Abhilash Kumar (name changed on request). BBMP is willing to co-operate and have pitched in `10,000, besides providing a contractor who will help clear the mound of waste. We have roped in an NGO, Lets Be The Change, to help out, he said.

CLEAN, FENCE, BEAUTIFY

We began cleaning with compactors and JCB diggers on Monday. This will be followed by fencing the plot using 12-foot-high metal sheets. We will paint the place and put flower pots too. The supposed owner of the plot kept promising to clean up and we were tired of waiting for him to get to it, says Abhilash, pointing out that one-time clean-ups by ward officials did not suffice either. Mahesh, health inspector of Jarganahalli ward, says, While this spot was no longer used as a garbage transfer point, dumping used to happen at night by residents and hoteliers nearby.

We used to clean at night, but the waste returned the next day. We have joined hands with residents of Jarganahalli and Yelachenahalli wards, along with an NGO, to clean up.He adds, We will put up a board asking people not to dump garbage, and about health risks of doing so. The footpath will be cleaned as well.

The logic behind the high wall is to make it impossible to throw waste. Mahesh says that the BBMP plans to host a music programme to raise awareness.For two months, other BBMP staffers and I will conduct night and day duty inspections to spot anyone littering, and will penalise them, Mahesh adds.This enthusiasm from officials, though welcomed by citizens, seems unhelpful as the tax payers are at the end of the day spending their own money and getting the job done themselves.

Santosh Kumar, assistant executive engineer (solid waste management), south division, says, We have been unable to track down the owner of this property. We dont even know if it is government or private land. It is under litigation and it appears that there are four to five people fighting over it.Santosh has written to the revenue department to locate the rightful owner but says he has not received any response. He and other officials feel they have been misguided by the supposed owner of this land, who promised a clean-up.

If this were government land, we would have resolved the issue immediately and got it cleaned up. Since there was a legal battle going on, we needed to be careful or the owners could send us a notice, says Santosh. In the interest of public health, we are helping them get this cleaned. If we work as a united front, no owner can send anyone a legal notice.By Express News Service

BENGALURU: To expand its infrastructure footprint across the country, online retailer Amazon.in opened its largest fulfilment centre (FC) in Karnataka, in the city on Tuesday. The centre, located near Attibele, is spread across 350,000 sqft with around 2 million cubic feet of storage space. In Karnataka, Amazon has close to 3.5 million cubic feet of storage space. Presently, Amazon has more than 50 fulfilment centres in 13 states across the country with combined storage space of close to 20 million cubic feet.

Gaurav Gupta, Principal Secretary, Department of IT, BT & S&T, Government of Karnataka, said, Amazon Indias further investment in Karnataka with the launch of their largest fulfilment centre signifies the growing interest of large global enterprises in the state. The FC will enable small & medium businesses selling locally created products such as apparel and handicraft to service customers seamlessly across the country. It will also provide support to the local economy by enabling the growth of ancillary businesses such as packaging, transportation, logistics, and hospitality across the state.

We are committed to enabling the ease of doing business and helping companies like Amazon to expand their presence in Karnataka.The fulfilment centre in Karnataka will cater to customer demand for products like consumer electronics, appliances, smartphones and consumable, and will be a logistics hub for the internet giant to deliver products to its customers.By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Fishermen from over 50 villages around the Pulicat lake on Tuesday withdrew their protest, urging the government to immediately dredge the mouth bar of Aarani river after the Collector promised action.

The river's mouth also connects the Pulicat lake with the sea, but it was clogged with sand deposits, preventing fishermens movement into the sea. The block also drastically alters the ecosystem, curbing healthy breeding of the catch, said K Saravanan, a fisherman, who works with the Coastal Resource Centre. As the lake gets locked out of the sea, the salinity, temperature and acidity of the water changes. This, in turn, affects the quality of fish apart from changing its reproduction patterns, he said.

Although this is a good season for fishing, we are unable to venture into the sea as the silt has blocked our access, said Durai Mahendran of Tiruvallur Maavatta Paarambariya Aikya Meenavar Sangam. He said that the livelihood of over a lakh fishermen were affected. Claiming that no one has been able to fish in the open sea for over a week, hundreds of fishermen staged a protest at the mouth of the lake on Monday and Tuesday. They, however, withdrew their protest after Collector E Sundaravalli visited the site and promised immediate action.

We have to take both temporary and permanent action. As temporary measures, we will clear the block and ensure that fishermen can take their boats to the sea again. The work for that will begin on Wednesday, she said. The work will be a part of the `39-lakh monsoon preparedness work to be taken up this year, of which `16 lakh would be spent on dredging the Aarani river mouth and `23 lakh would be spent to remove silt and blockage in the lake, she said.

A study by researchers from IIT-Madras, which proposed building of training walls, has not been implemented yet, said Durai Mahendran. This project, which is considered as a permanent solution, will involve constructing a stone wall ranging from 150m to 170m on their side and dredging the mouth to prevent silting on a long term. We have sent across the proposals for the permanent solutions and are awaiting funds and Coastal Regulation Zone clearance, said Sundaravalli.Steni Simon By

Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : A month after the floods, municipal officials are facing one of its biggest challenges- proper e-waste disposal. Television sets, mobile phones, laptops and refrigerators top the list. According to officials, if these electronic gadgets are not disposed well, it will pose a threat to the environment.

The state government had directed the Clean Kerala Company, a body which comes under the Local Self Government Department, to collect and dispose the waste. However, Clean Kerala members say that segregating the e-waste from the pile of total waste is their biggest challenge.  We have allocated one coordinator in each district who is in charge of coordinating the collection of e-waste in the district but it is taking time since people in these areas have dumped all kinds of e-waste, said Nagesh Kumar S S, senior assistant manager of Clean Kerala Company.

Clean Kerala plan to hand over the collected e-waste to Earth Sense Recycle Pvt Ltd in Hyderabad. We are directly channelising the e-waste from the collection centres in different places but only three tonnes of e-waste can be loaded in a vehicle. We have set up a dumping yard for collecting e-waste which is in Palakkad, Nagesh added.

Sreelal, Clean Kerala Company coordinator of Ernakulam district said that as of now they have collected about 110 tonnes of e-waste from the district and are running special drives in Ernakulam. He added that e-waste and non-biodegradable waste accumulated after the floods were high in Ernakulam.

Clean Kerala has not yet been able to calculate the total amount of e-waste collected from different districts. As we dont have enough time to segregate the e-waste because it may impact our health,, we are trying to move these e-waste to safer places immediately and then transport it to Hyderabad for disposing it in a scientific manner, he added.

The Company has so far collected 94 per cent of e-waste from different districts and only about three panchayats are left. Nagesh says,  Although the e-waste generated from flood-affected areas cannot be recycled, it will be taken to the respective dumping yards and then disposed off after checking its hazardous nature. Now, the segregation and pooling of these electronic waste is in progress.By IANS

LONDON: British police are reportedly investigating 11 allegations of sexual assault against disgraced American movie producer Harvey Weinstein, who is already facing similar charges in the US.

The Metropolitan Police said it has received allegations of sexual assault from 11 victims in connection to "Operation Kaguyak", the CNN reported.

Although the police statement did not identify the accused, in accordance with police policy meant to protect suspects who have not been charged, it has been widely reported that Operation Kaguyak is the name of the British investigation into Weinstein.

The Metropolitan Police have not confirmed this.

The latest allegation, which was received in August, relates to the sexual assault of a woman (identified only as "Victim 11") in an unidentified location in the early 1990s, according to the statement.

Many of the 11 allegations received date back to the 1990s, though others are from 2014 and 2015.

In August, CNN reported that Weinstein was facing new allegations of sex trafficking and rape in the US, after a German actress filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles alleging that Weinstein raped her during the Cannes Film Festival in 2006.

She is suing Weinstein for violation of human trafficking laws, assault, battery and false imprisonment. It is the second sex trafficking case filed against the disgraced Hollywood producer.

Weinstein, who also is facing criminal charges in New York, has denied all allegations of "non-consensual sexual activity", the CNN reported.

The former media mogul has pleaded not guilty to six felony sex crimes in the US -- two counts of predatory sexual assault, two counts of rape, one first-degree criminal sex act charge and one criminal sex act.

The charges against Weinstein came nine months after The New Yorker and The New York Times published accounts from several women accusing him of various forms of sexual misconduct.

Since then, more than 40 women, including actresses Ashley Judd, Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie, have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct. Weinstein was fired from the Weinstein Company, which has since filed for bankruptcy and been sold off.

The women's accounts -- and the public's willingness to believe them -- emboldened others around the world to stand up to powerful, abusive men in what has come to be known as the #MeToo movement.Leaders of two Koreas agree to denuclearize peninsula at Pyongyang summit

PYONGYANG/SEOUL, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of the two Koreas agreed Wednesday to end military tensions and try to achieve complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.

Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), and South Korean President Moon Jae-in made the pledge at a joint press conference in Pyongyang.

At the press conference, Kim said that Panmunjom Declaration would serve as groundwork for a new era of peace on the Korean peninsula and he wished to make the peninsula nuclear-free.

The Panmunjom Declaration was signed during Kim's first meeting with Moon in April at the truce village of Panmunjom on the border of the two Koreas.

Kim promised to accelerate the inter-Korean peace talks, further develop inter-Korean relations and visit Seoul, capital of South Korea, in the near future.

Moon said he and Kim have agreed on ways to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula for the first time. In addition, they agreed to end military tensions and transform the inter-Korean border into a "peace zone."

Moon noted that they reached consensus to eliminate all threats of war on the entire Korean Peninsula.

Before meeting the press, the two leaders signed a summit agreement.

Defense chiefs from both sides also signed a separate agreement on military affairs in the presence of the two leaders.

Moon and Kim had a two-hour-long talks Tuesday afternoon at the headquarters of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and an one-on-one meeting earlier on Wednesday.

During Tuesday's meeting, the two sides had an "in-depth exchange of opinions on various issues arising in further accelerating the development of the north-south relations by honestly implementing the Panmunjom declaration in an all-round manner," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Wednesday.

Under the joint declaration signed by Moon and Kim in Pyongyang, the DPRK expressed its willingness to continue additional steps, such as the permanent destruction of its main Yongbyon nuclear facility, if the United States takes corresponding measures in accordance with the spirit of the DPRK-U.S. summit agreement reached on June 12 in Singapore.By Online Desk

Bollywood film 'Genius' is being trolled online for depicting a Pakistani IT park as intelligence agency ISI's headquarters.

In a viral video, the lead actor (Utkarsh Sharma) of the film is seen demanding to meet the chief of ISI, while apparently being held captive by the agency. The scene then cuts to the areal shot of the 'headquarters'.

One of the trollers has written, 'so as per Bollywood, I am ISI agent now'.

"More funnier (sic) is that the building is shown to be in Islamabad, it's not the script writer but the movie editor that is responsible for such obvious blunder," wrote another user.

"ISI headquarters. Aman, what kind of weapons are you guys keeping there?" read a tweet by another user.

Many criticised the film for its lack of research in showing the ISI headquarters.

The official headquarters of Pakistan's spy agency is situated in Islamabad.

According to Twitter, the building depicted is Arfa technology park in Lahore, Pakistan.

My beautiful office and Pakistans IT hub: Arfa Technology Park (photo credit: Noman Ilahi). pic.twitter.com/hLM96BxFca  Umar Saif (@umarsaif) August 29, 2018

'Gadar' filmmaker Anil Sharma's 'Genius' was released on August 24th and worked as the launchpad for Sharma's son Utkarsh.

Arfa technology park making waves beyond borders.



P.S. Bollywood needs better script writers. pic.twitter.com/vCeff7GYSj  Umar Saif (@umarsaif) September 18, 2018

The film also stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Mithun Chakraborty and Ashish Vidyarthi in major roles.

Reviewing the movie for The New Indian Express, Shilajit Mitra had written: "Whatever chances the sweet-faced, spontaneous Utkarsh had of making a career in Bollywood is jinxed by his dads ancient filmmaking. Genius is exactly the sort of faux-techno-thriller-meets-cornball-actioner that we think was dead but keeps coming back"

(with PTI inputs)By PTI

NEW DELHI: In the flood of biopics in Bollywood, Nandita Das hopes to stand apart with "Manto", which explores the psyche of the famed short story writer at a time when sectarian violence was at its peak.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui embodies the character of Saadat Hasan Manto in Nandita's second directorial venture, which looks at the author's most turbulent and creative years, beginning from 1946.

Asked why artistes keep revisiting the Partition, Nandita said, "Why we have not forgotten and probably why we should not forget Partition is because we haven't learnt anything from it."

The actor-director said she was more interested in looking at this turbulent history through Manto's eyes.

"Today, it is the same sectarian violence and who suffered then and who's suffering now: common people.

Cyril Radcliffe drew a line that travels perhaps through a village and everything gets broken," she told PTI.

Nandita said it is rare that people use fiction to talk about facts but it is the case with Manto's stories, which draws a real sketch of the time.

Manto was someone who was caught in the middle like many and poured this pain out through his writings, like in Toba Tek Singh, where the crisis of millions is told through a Sikh locked in a mental asylum in Lahore.

ALSO READ | I didnt choose Manto, Manto chose me: Nandita Das

"Manto's short story 'Toba Tek Singh' is actually taught in some of the biggest universities of the world. I was shocked when I was at Yale doing a fellowship and I went to the library wondering if I'll find some of Manto's books -- there were 25 books in English, Hindi, Urdu and so many other languages.

Nandita Das says she has not directly shown the mass migration, killings, loot and rapes that happened during the Partition but "you see it through how he feels it".

"I then started talking to historians at Yale and Harvard and they said they teach 'Toba Tek Singh' and seldom is fiction taught to be a testimony of reality or facts. It's because the way he chronicled the time and so for me, Partition is the backdrop," she said.

The director said she has not directly shown the mass migration, killings, loot and rapes that happened during the Partition but "you see it through how he feels it".

"Through his stories you get a glimpse of it. As a sensitive writer, you see the whole violence in his eyes, almost," she added.

Manto's two daughters -- Nusrat and Nuzhat -- were recently in Mumbai to watch the film at a special premiere and it was an emotional moment for the director who felt an extra responsibility towards the writer's family.

Saadat Hasan Manto

The Urdu writer, who left Mumbai and moved to Pakistan in January 1948, can't be separated into nationalities, she said.

"Manto is a writer who belongs to both India and Pakistan. Let's never break him into nationalities," Nandita said, adding she is keen to see the film release in the neighbouring country.

Nandita said she was surprised to know that not many films have been made in India on the life of writers.

"We have not really celebrated our writers. I tried weaving Manto's stories in the narrative. The line between his work and his life is a bit blurred. You don't know if the character he is writing about really existed or was his creation."

"Manto", also starring Rasika Dugal, Tahir Raj Bhasin, Divya Dutta, Ranvir Shorey and Rishi Kapoor, releases this Friday.By PTI

PANAJI: Congress legislators in Goa Tuesday met Governor Mridula Sinha and demanded floor test by the BJP-led government to prove its majority in the Assembly.

The move by the opposition Congress, which has staked claim to form an alternate government, came at a time when 62 -year-old Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is admitted in the AIIMS in Delhi for a pancreatic ailment.

The Congress legislators, led by Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar, demanded that the governor should summon the one-day session of the Assembly for a floor test.

Kavlekar said the governor assured them that she would get back on the issue in the next three-four days.

During the meeting with the governor, the Congress MLAs contended that the Parrikar-led coalition falls short of a majority in the 40-member Assembly and that the Congress has the required numbers to form the government.

"Let the state government prove on the floor that they have majority or else we can show that we have more legislators than them," Kavlekar told reporters after meeting Sinha.

The Congress has 16 seats in the Assembly.

The state is being ruled by the BJP with the support of Goa Forward Party (GFP) and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), NCP and Independents.

The BJP has 14 seats in the Assembly, GFP and MGP have three each and NCP has one.

There are also three Independents.

In Delhi, Defence Minister and senior BJP leader Nirmala Sitharaman said the Congress move reflected the level of desperation to grab power.

"The chief minister is ill. He is not staying away from work otherwise. The Congress sees a chance as the CM is ill. It just shows what is the level of desperation (of Congress). Honestly, I feel sad for it," she said at a media interaction.

The Congress legislators also urged the governor not to allow dissolution of the Assembly.

Kavlekar said the BJP might force dissolution of the Assembly and another election in just one-and-a-half year.

The Assembly polls in the state were held in February last year.

"The BJP has a habit of recommending dissolution of the House when they dont have numbers with them. The governor should not allow such action in Goa as Congress is the single largest party in the House," Kavlekar said.

"We dont want another election within one-and-a-half years," the Congress leader added.

"If the (BJP-led) coalition can't run the government, then we are ready to take over," he said.

Kavlekar said a "race has begun within the government for chief ministership" as Parrikar is hospitalised.

"Some of the BJP leaders are in touch with us as they are upset because their own party is talking about hiring the leaders from outside for CMs post," he claimed.

Kavlekar said the Congress will announce its chief ministerial candidate when the governor summons one-day session of the Assembly to conduct a floor test.

"There is absolutely no dispute amongst us on who would be the Chief Minister.

We will reveal the name when floor test is called," he said.

Congress Legislature Party had yesterday submitted a memorandum to the Governor's office on Monday but could not meet Governor as she was out of station.

BJP leader Ram Lal, who along with two other leaders had been deputed by the central leadership here to take stock of the political situation, had said yesterday that the Goa government is stable and no demand has been made for a change in the leadership.

He stated this after a meeting with party MLAs, former legislators and core committee members.

He said the BJP's alliance partners - the Goa Forward Party (GFP), the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and Independents - conveyed that they will agree to any political decision taken by the saffron party.

Earlier too, the Congress had staked a claim on May 18, 2018, to form the government in Goa, citing the example of Karnataka where the largest party BJP was invited to form the government after the Assembly polls threw up a fractured verdict.

The Congress had said that it had not been invited to form the government in Goa after the Assembly polls in March last year despite it emerging as the largest single party.

The party had also met Governor on September 7, 2018 urging her to intervene as State Administration was suffering due to a sickness of the Chief Minister.By IANS

NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah on Thursday held a discussion with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to work out a seat-sharing formula between the two NDA allies ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Besides Shah and Kumar, BJP's Bhupender Yadav and poll strategist Prashant Kishor, who recently joined the party, were also present in the meeting held at BJP chief's residence. The meeting lasted about 30 minutes.

"The discussion was over seat sharing and we were satisfied with the outcome of the talks," a senior Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader told IANS.

Sources said that both parties have almost reached a consensus over seat sharing barring two or three seats. "It will be resolved soon," the source said.

Nitish Kumar, also JD-U President, is in Delhi since Monday for routine medical checkups at the All India Institute for Medical Sciences.

The meeting between the two leaders this time was quite in contrast to the much publicised last meeting between the two in Bihar's capital Patna.

Nitish Kumar had broken the JD-U alliance with Lalu Prasad's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress in the state in July last year and went back to its old ally BJP in the state.

Bihar sends 40 members to the Lok Sabha. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has four partner in Bihar.

Ram Vilas Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and Upendra Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) are the other two partners of the NDA in the state.

The JD-U contested the 2014 elections separately after breaking alliance with the BJP in 2013. It managed to win just two Lok Sabha seats in 2014 while the three other NDA allies in the state together won 31 out of the 40 seats.By PTI

NEW DELHI: Eminent citizens on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that a court-monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT) should be constituted to look into the entire spectrum of the Bhima-Koregaon case.

Senior advocate Anand Grover, appearing for the five arrested persons in the case, alleged before a bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud that there was deficiency in investigation and sought the court's interference to protect the individuals from the State's "oppressive prosecution".

Grover, claimed that the investigation is "unfair, biased and deficient" as indicated by "illegalities" in search of the houses of the activists.

"Mere assertions of criminality by the State in the background of the special circumstances of the case cannot become the basis for incarceration of those detained," he said.

He further claimed that the probe into the second FIR, lodged by Tushar Damugade, is not permissible as two FIRs cannot be lodged on the same facts and circumstances.

He said that the raids carried out at the residences of activists were illegal as proper procedure of law was not followed.

Senior advocate and former union law minister Ashwani Kumar, who also appeared for the eminent citizens claimed that criminal investigations prior to and following the arrests as also detention of the accused is "patently mala-fide and a gross violation" of their fundamental rights.

"Allegations of criminal conduct on the part of those arrested on 28th August 2018, criminal investigations prior to and following the arrests as also detention of the accused is patently mala-fide and a gross violation of their fundamental rights," the plea said.

He further said that this assertion is prima facie validated by the manner in which the focus was shifted from the original accused, that is, Milind Ekbode and Shambhaji Bhide named in the first FIR to those arrested on August 28, who were admittedly neither present at the Elgaar Parishad meeting nor are named in the FIR of January 4, 2018.

Kumar claimed that the facts on record including the manner in which criminal investigation is being conducted merits interference by this court to protect the individuals conceived from "oppressive prosecution and to ensure fair investigation under its own supervision".

He also said that action against citizens under stringent penal statutes such as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act must pass the test of "reasonableness, rationality and procedural fairness".

The apex court extended till tomorrow the house arrest of five rights activists --Varavara Rao, Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves, Sudha Bharadwaj and Gautam Navlakha-- at their respective homes.

The court had on September 17 said, it may order SIT probe if it found that evidence has been "cooked up".

The Maharashtra police had arrested the rights activists on August 28 in connection with an FIR lodged following a conclave -- 'Elgaar Parishad' -- held on December 31 last year that had later triggered violence at Bhima-Koregaon village.

Prominent Telugu poet Rao was arrested on August 28 from Hyderabad, while activists Gonsalves and Ferreira were nabbed from Mumbai, trade union activist Sudha Bharadwaj from Faridabad in Haryana and civil liberties activist Navlakha from Delhi.By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court Wednesday extended the house arrest of five rights activists, who were arrested from several cities in connection with the Koregaon-Bhima violence case, till tomorrow.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud will continue with the hearing tomorrow on the plea filed by historian Romila Thapar and four others.

At the last hearing in the case on September 17, the top court had said it may order a probe by a special investigating team (SIT) if it found that the evidence has been "cooked up".

It had also said that the material, supporting the arrest of the five activists in the case, needed to be examined.Rajesh Asnani By

Express News Service

JAIPUR: Bharatiya Janata Party chief Amit Shah ended his hectic, three-day election tour in Rajasthan on Tuesday, which was a massive bid by the saffron outfit to woo Jats, the biggest OBC community in the state.

Addressing a large gathering of Jats, a predominantly farming community in Nagaur district, Shah said that the Narendra Modi government was determined to double farmers incomes and that was why the MSP of many crops was hiked by 150 per cent.

Blaming the Congress for the sorry plight of farmers, Shah claimed, Only the BJP can improve the condition of farmers as the Modi government has provided better compensation for crop damage. After 2014, we have also ensured that farmers do not have to stand in queue to get urea as happened in Congress times.

On the first day of his tour on Sunday, Shah had held an OBC rally in Pali district of Marwar region with hopes of bringing backward communities under the BJPs umbrella.

Amit Shah said that the BJP was not a party of any one caste and he also tried to play the Hindutva card by raising the NRC issue in most of his speeches.

Shah also tried to placate upper castes upset with Rajasthan BJP, particularly the Rajputs.

Known to be BJP voters, they are angry with the saffron party over various issues, including handling of protests over the movie Padmavat. Sensing the damage that Rajput anger posed to BJPs prospects in Marwar, Shah began his tour from Pali and Jodhpur districts, accompanied by Jodhpur MP and senior Rajput leader Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, a minister in the Modi Government.

Shah had wanted to make him state party president, but due to strong opposition by Vasundhara Raje to Gajendras candidature, the post was kept vacant for 72 days and a low-profile Madan Lal Saini was eventually appointed to the post. This further annoyed the Rajput community.

To win the Rajputs back to the BJP fold, Amit Shah had recently appointed Gajendra Singh as the convenor of the crucial Election Management Committee where Raje is just a member, a move seen as a strong signal to the Rajput community.By Express News Service

KOLKATA: A BJP worker in West Bengal was arrested for sharing a morphed image of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee with her Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik on Facebook.

District-level BJP worker Babuya Ghosh, a resident of Shoula village in Paschim Medinipur district of West Bengal, shared the morphed image of the two Chief Ministers with their faces superimposed on an Odia movie posted with a comment: "If a guy doesn't get married on time, he may get mad but people of West Bengal are now understanding what happens when a girl doesn't get married on time".

Police arrested the BJP worker on Tuesday evening for posting obscene comments on the social media. The BJP worker had reportedly posted such comments on the social media before. Police sources revealed they are cracking down on other persons sharing derogatory comments against the Chief Minister.

The BJP worker is seen in a photograph with state BJP president Dilip Ghosh. The state's crackdown on persons sharing photos and memes against the Mamata Banerjee came after six years. Jadavpur University professor Ambikesh Mahapatra was arrested in 2012 for sharing a meme of Mamata Banerjee and her then confidante Mukul Roy, who has since joined BJP.Fayaz Wani By

Express News Service

SRINAGAR: In a major relief to the Governors administration, the State Congress on Wednesday decided to contest the forthcoming Urban Local Body (ULB) and panchayat polls in Jammu and Kashmir starting next month.

"We have decided to contest the local body and panchayat polls in the State with full force. We will be utilising all our resources to stop communal forces from entering these institutions," State Congress chief GA Mir told reporters.

The decision was announced by Mir a day after State Congress leaders held deliberations with party High Command in New Delhi.

"We have asked the Governors administration to provide security to contesting candidates and create a peaceful atmosphere for the polls. We have decided to contest elections on the basis of these conditions. The Congress doesn't want to run away from its responsibilities," Mir said.

He, however, said they would continue to monitor the security situation.

"We will come to know by September 25 what security would be provided by the government to the people who contest the polls," he said.

Mir said if the party feels that free and fair polls are not possible, then the Congress would assess the situation and take another decision. "We have not entered into a sell out."

Mir said boycott of polls by some parties may be a conspiracy to pave the way for communal forces to enter these institutions.

The four-phase ULB polls would be held on October 8, 10, 13 and 16 while the 9-phase panchayat polls would be held on November 17, 20, 24, 27, 29 and December 1, 4, 8 and 11.

The National Conference, PDP and CPI(M) have boycotted the polls on various issues.

The separatists have called on people to boycott the polls while militants have warned those contesting the polls of "dire consequences".By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: A boarding school in Dehradun district found itself in controversy after it was found that some students had allegedly gang-raped a Class 10 student and the school administration tried to sweep it under the carpet.

Four students and five school officials, including the director and the principal, were taken into custody, Additional Director General of Police, Law and Order, Ashok Kumar said.

Three juvenile students were sent to correctional homes, while the remaining six are in judicial custody. The students, taken into custody, are aged between 16 and 18 years.

Senior Superintendent of Police, Dehradun, Nivedita Kureti had received a tip-off following which the case came into public domain and action was taken.

Later, the teenager confided to her family that she was sexually violated on August 14 after she was called to a storeroom on the pretext of preparation for an event.

The girl, who lived in the hostel, first informed her elder sister about her ordeal when she fell sick.

Her elder sister, who studies in the same school, drew the attention of school authorities but instead of reporting the matter to the police, they tried to hush it up, the ADG told the media.

They threatened to expel the two girls if they disclosed the episode to anyone, Kumar said, adding that the school authorities were accused of trying to abort the pregnancy of the teenager.

The five school officials arrested were director Lata Gupta, principal, administrative officer Deepak Malhotra, his wife Tanu Malhotra and a maid identified as Manju.

The police will take the girl to a sub-divisional magistrate for recording her statement. A case of gang rape and destruction of evidence was filed under the IPC and the POCSO Act.

Earlier, a team from the Uttarakhand State Commission for Protection of Child Rights had visited a police station. During its investigation, the Commission had found that there was no CCTV present at the premises where the boarders stayed.

With Agency inputsChina's adoption of innovation driven development in Guangxi symbolizes its spirit of pushing for greater economic success

Thanks to Chinas advancing economy, once underdeveloped regions of the country including provinces such as Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region have attained staggering growth.

The ethnically diverse province is Chinas only provincial region that has both sea and land links with member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. It has been an important gateway for cross border trade and commerce, with exports and imports through the region hitting nearly $61 billion last year.

In spite of this sustainable growth, Guangxi seems to be taking a further leap ahead by adopting the innovation driven development strategy. This transformation is manifested in the sprawling 80,000 square meter Nanning Zhongguancun Innovation Demonstration base, which has been set up in an attempt to create an innovative ecosystem supported by information technology and dominated by the intelligent manufacturing industry.

The base is set up in the core area of the Nanning High Tech Zone and is made up of 13 European style buildings which include an innovation exhibition communication area and research and development centers for various companies.

This innovation exhibition harbors some of the technological breakthroughs undertaken by companies that are operating in the region and explores how they are being put to commercial use.

Some of the technological breakthroughs on display at the center include small robots which can be deployed in factories to ensure smoother functioning of industrial production lines and greater energy saving.

Another interesting product developed and manufactured in Guangxi is an unmanned aerial vehicle that can be used to monitor large areas of farmland.

Emergency surfboards which can be used efficiently by law enforcement agencies to handle emergencies on water were also on display. The center also showcases technological breakthroughs such as automatic water supply systems for farms and an electronic trainer to facilitate the recovery of those who suffer from hip or joint ailments, among numerous other technological breakthroughs.

The purpose of the demonstration base is to serve as an innovation and entrepreneurship service platform that facilitates the growth of strategic new industries. So far, leading enterprises and projects like Shanghai MJ Intelligent System, HIT Robot Group and Google AdWords Guangxi Experience Center have set up base in the center.

Additionally, to set up a healthy ecosystem, the authorities created the Mingjiang Intelligent Manufacturing Industry Investment Fund with a target of 500 million yuan.

The companies on the base have also acquired nearly 265 intelligent properties and scientific and technological projects, and are implementing over 70 research projects with an input of 26.33 million yuan.

Guangxi has a massive advantage due to its geographical location. Its coastlines, rivers and border areas hold immense potential for the region to grow as a trading hub. What is interesting, however, is the Chinese governments attempt to keep the region from becoming complacent because of these advantages.

It has realized that innovation is the primary impetus for growth, and has focused on creating the necessary environment for enterprises to emphasize innovation to boost the region's growth further.

Such efforts in the region showcase a lesson that many developing countries could learn from China, to never rest on their laurels and always try to push to ensure the greater good of the people.

The author is an Indian journalist and currently a fellow at the China Asia Pacific Press Center.By PTI

LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has arrested a BSF jawan from Noida on the charge of sharing vital information with Pakistan ISI agents, state police chief O P Singh said here on Wednesday.

Achutanand Misra, hailing from Rewa in Madhya Pradesh, was "honey-trapped" into sharing information about unit operational details, police academy and training centre by a woman who claimed to be a defence reporter, the Director General of Police (DGP) said.

Misra was interrogated by ATS and BSF officials for two days in Noida near Delhi and, prima facie, there is enough evidence to prove that he has committed crime under the Official Secrets Act, Singh said.

Misra, who was recruited in the Border Security Force (BSF) in 2006, had come into contact with the woman in 2016 and after some time, he started sharing information about unit location, details of ammunition and pictures of the BSF camp, he said.

Later, he started WhatsApp chat with a phone number registered in Pakistan and the details of the chat indicate that he was being influenced on religion conversion and Kashmir, the DGP said.

The Pakistani number was saved in his phone contact as "Pakistani dost" (friend), he said, adding that he will be produced before a court here.

There were inputs that Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) was "honey- trapping" jawans of the Army and para-military forces using Facebook and the Military Intelligence of Chandigarh had tipped off the UP ATS about a fake social media profile sometime ago.By PTI

PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was likely to meet top leaders of the BJP during his ongoing visit of New Delhi and thrash out the issue of seat-sharing for the Lok Sabha polls, his close aide said here on Tuesday.

"When our leader is in New Delhi, he would naturally meet leaders of our alliance partner. Moreover, I have said earlier that talks on seat-sharing are in final stages", JD(U) national general secretary RCP Singh told reporters.

He was replying to a query as to whether Kumar, who is also the JD(U) national president, was likely to meet BJP top brass and finalise sharing of seats during his tour of the national capital for a medical check-up.

The chief minister, who had made a dash to New Delhi on Monday, was on Tuesday admitted to AIIMS this morning with complaints of fever and problems in eyes and knees.

Singh, who is also the JD(U)'s leader in the Rajya Sabha, took a swipe at the opposition "Mahagathbandhan" with the sarcastic remark, "our full sympathy is with Hindustani Awam Morcha leader Jitan Ram Manjhi who has sought to contest 20 out of 40 seats in the state. After all, he is a former Chief Minister".

Manjhi had made a statement to the effect on Sunday.

However, his party on Monday had clarified that he was only expressing that the HAM was "ready" to contest 20 seats and there was no demand for a specific number of seats.

To a query about RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav's repeated barbs that Bihar government levied an "RCP tax" - an allusion to corruption - the JD(U) leader shot back "I was an Indian Revenue Service officer when he was not even born".

About the Congress' appointment of Madan Mohan Jha, an upper caste leader, as its state unit chief, Singh said "I do not wish to comment on any party's internal matter. But if anything is done purely out of caste considerations, it is not good".

Speaking in presence of former minister and the party's deputy leader in the state assembly Shyam Rajak, Singh announced that after having held "Ati Picchara" (extremely backward classes) conferences across the state, the JD(U) would now be organizing similar congregations of the Dalits and the Mahadalits.By PTI

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday held wide-ranging talks with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on ways to further boost bilateral cooperation. Ghani arrived here in the morning on a day-long visit.

"Strategic partners and a valued neighbour! PM @narendramodi warmly received President of Afghanistan, @ashrafghani at the Hyderabad House ahead of the bilateral talks," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

It is understood that Ghani briefed Modi about the status of the peace process in the war-ravaged country.

India has always been favouring an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process to bring peace and stability in that country.

India has also been actively involved in reconstruction efforts in war-ravaged Afghanistan. Since 2002, India has committed USD 2 billion for the socio-economic development of the country.By PTI

MUMBAI: Former media executive Indrani Mukerjea and her husband Peter Mukerjea, both accused in the Sheena Bora murder case, filed a petition for divorce by mutual consent on Tuesday.

The couple filed the petition in the Bandra family court here.

As per the legal procedure prescribed for consensual divorce, Principal Judge Shailaja Sawant referred the couple to a counsellor.

After the couple told the counsellor that they do not want to reconsider their decision to separate, the judge scheduled the final hearing on March 25, 2019, at the end of the mandatory six months' 'cooling off period'.

Indrani and Peter Mukerjea said in the petition that they had agreed to terms of settlement of division of their assets and bank accounts in India and abroad as well as valuables such as jewellery and luxury watches.

In April, Indrani (46), lodged in the Byculla Women's Jail here, had served Peter a legal notice for divorce on the ground that the marriage has "irretrievably broken down".

Peter Mukerjea (64), a former media baron, is lodged in the Arthur Road Jail here.

The couple had married in 2002.

Sheena Bora, Indrani's daughter from an earlier relationship, was allegedly murdered in April 2012.

Indrani was arrested in the case in August 2015 after her driver spilled the beans about the crime.

The Central Bureau of Investigation later arrested Peter Mukerjea for allegedly being part of the conspiracy.

As per the investigators, financial dispute, as well as Indrani's opposition to Sheena's relationship with Peter's son from his previous marriage, led to the murder.By PTI

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the Congress said Wednesday it would contest the upcoming urban local bodies and panchayat polls in the state but added it might review the decision if concerns related to security were not addressed by the state administration.

"We cannot allow a field day to the BJP and RSS. We will contest the local bodies and panchayat elections with full might to stop communal forces from occupying the institutions of grassroots level democracy," state Congress chief G A Mir told reporters here.

Mir, however, added that the Congress had time and again apprised Jammu and Kashmir governor's office of the security concerns, especially in the valley.

"We sent three delegations to the governor right from the time N N Vohra took over the reins of the state (on 19 June 2018) to convey our concerns about the security of candidates. So far, we have not received any response from the concerned quarters on the issue," he said.

Mir said his party will observe and assess the steps taken by the state administration on the ground to ensure peaceful, safe, free and fair elections.

"If this issue is not addressed, Congress party will deliberate and discuss it. We will be within our rights to review the decision (on participation in the polls)," he added.

Mir also said the Congress stood for safeguarding Article 35-A of the Constitution and will continue to do that.

"There are certain sections of people in our state who have some concerns. We have discussed those concerns minutely and found that those can be addressed by the state legislature without tinkering with Article 35-A," he said.

On National Conference (NC) and PDP boycotting the upcoming polls, the state Congress president said they have their own issues "but secular parties have a role to play in stopping the communal forces".

Mir lashed out at PDP saying the party was ruling in alliance with BJP till just a few months ago but today is making tall claims on various issues.

"When you lose power, you start dreaming," he said referring to PDP president Mehbooba Mufti's recent statements on Article 35-A.

Article 35A of the Indian Constitution provides powers to the Jammu and Kashmir legislature to define 'permanent residents' of the state and bestow special rights and privileges on them.

Mir claimed there was a possibility of a "tacit" understanding between the BJP and those parties staying away from local bodies polls with an eye on future elections in the state.

"It can be an understanding whereby the field is left open for BJP and RSS in this election and they (parties boycotting elections) getting a return favour later," he said.By PTI

MUMBAI: Two professors of a private college in Nashik district of Maharashtra were arrested for allegedly seeking sexual favours from a Class XII student in exchange of passing her in examination, police said Wednesday.

The incident came to light Tuesday evening, after the 19-year-old student lodged a complaint with Adgaon police station, an official said.

In the complaint, the victim alleged that the two professors demanded sexual favours from her to pass her in Class XII exam, he said.

Based on the complaint, the police booked the duo- Pravin Suryavanshi and Sachin Sonavane- under IPC sections 354 (A) (sexual harassment), 354 (D) (stalking) and 34 (common intention), and arrested them, the official added.

The victim said in her complaint that both the professors had been stalking her since 2015 and used to hold her hand and touch her in an inappropriate manner.

"Tuesday afternoon, when the victim was in the college, one of the professors approached her, held her hand and also touched her inappropriately," the official said.

Fed up with their sexual advances, the victim went home and narrated the incident to her parents, following which they filed a complaint against the professors, he said. Further investigation is on, police said.By Online Desk

NEW DELHI: The Union cabinet has cleared an ordinance to make the practice of instant triple talaq a penal offence, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said Wednesday, citing compelling necessity for the move as the practice annulled by the Supreme Court continues unabated.

Addressing a press conference, he accused the Congress party of not cooperating in the passage of the 'Muslim Women Protection of Rights on Marriage Bill, pending in the Rajya Sabha, because of vote bank politics.

READ| It is a welcome step: Petitioner Ishrat Jahan on Union cabinet's decision on triple talaq

Citing details of the ordinance, he said a woman or her blood relative will have to file a case before a police station to make the offence cognizable.

The offence is compoundable. A compromise can also be reached before a magistrate after the affected woman consents to it, he said.

"It is my serious charge that despite having a woman leading the Congress, the did not lend support to the bill," he told reporters. Describing the practice as "barbaric and inhuman", he said nearly 22 countries have regulated triple talaq.

However, gender justice was given a complete go-by in a secular country like India because of blatant vote bank politics.

"I will again appeal to Sonia ji that this ordinance has been brought in the interest of the country to bring gender justice. I appeal to you to rise above vote bank politics and help pass it in the interest of justice for women," he told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.

The Union minister also appealed to Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee to help in the passage of the bill pending in Rajya Sabha, where the government lacks numbers.

The Lok Sabha has already passed the bill. The Supreme Court last year banned the practice. But since the practice was still prevalent, a bill was brought to make it a penal offence.By Express News Service

LUCKNOW: In a bid to replenish the coffers by cutting down on state expenditure in the current fiscal, Yogi Adityanath government has unveiled a slew of austerity measures putting a freeze on fresh appointments, banning government events and conferences in 5-star hotels and asking government officials to fly in economy class. The move was imperative to keep the financial deficit under control.

Issuing a circular in this regard on late Tuesday night, Chief Secretary Anoop Chandra Pandey made it clear to the departmental heads that no new posts would be sanctioned in near future except medical and police departments. Moreover, the state government has also decided to dissolve the posts with minimum utility. Those deployed on such posts would be adjusted in other departments.

The subordinate staff for temporary positions like advisors, chairpersons, members of different boards would not be appointed. Surplus or outsourced staff will be deployed to fulfil these responsibilities. No new appointments of regular Class IV employees will be done and all the subordinate technical responsibilities will be carried out through outsourcing.

Seeking strict compliance of the circular, the Chief Secretary instructed the officers and departmental heads not to go for the purchase of new vehicles. Senior government officials have been asked to travel in economy class in fights. It has also instructed officials to do away with decoration of offices during the change of departmental heads. The departments, public undertakings and Authorities have been barred from opening new guest houses. Except district headquarters and divisions, no new office buildings will be constructed.

Departments have been asked to avoid organising events and conferences in five-star hotels. They have been directed to hold their events in government accommodations. Even the dead projects may be shelved after an analysis by respective departments. Those supervising the central and state projects would be given TA, DA, HRA, LTC and health benefits according to approved rates.

However, the education department has been asked to strictly maintain teacher-student ratio in schools. The department has also been directed to transfer teachers from schools with surplus staff to those facing teaching staff scarcity.

In a bid to cut down the expenditure on stationary, the state government has decided to use e-mails, video conferencing, and other electronic means for communication among various departments. Moreover, in the coming new year, the government will do away with the practice of giving new calendars, diaries and other gifts by various departments to their staff.

Plans are afoot to prevent the infamous 'March loot.' Many government departments are known to spend most part of the money allocated to them at the end of the financial year in the month of February and March. The pressure of spending the allocated budget often results in spending on those things which are not required, and this tendency is dubbed as 'March-loot.' According to the chief secretary, after the new orders only essential things will be purchased in these two months, which will help in curbing unnecessary expenditure.P Ramdas By

Express News Service

KOCHI: There is no legal impediment in arresting Bishop Franco Mulakkal as the Kerala High Court has not passed an interim order directing the police not to arrest him. At the same time, the police can desist from arresting him till the court takes a final call on the bail plea. Meanwhile, sources with the probe team stated the accused will be arrested if they can collect all the required evidence during the interrogation.

The investigating agency had stated there were contradictions in the statements of witnesses and this could be cross-checked through the questioning of the bishop. Former director general of prosecution T Asaf Ali told Express the court has every power to grant interim anticipatory bail or staying arrest.

The absence of such an order at this stage is very significant. After interrogation if the police find it is a fit case for arrest, they can arrest the accused, he said. A fool-proof investigation is possible only if the powerful accused of this stature is arrested at the earliest opportunity.

Asaf Ali added in rape cases, custodial interrogation of the accused is very essential for medical examination, including potency test and recovery. Normally anticipatory bail will not be granted in those cases where the custodial interrogation is necessary.

Nature and gravity of the accusation are very important factors to decide whether the accused is entitled to get the discretionary relief of pre-arrest bail. The necessity of granting anticipatory bail arises mainly because sometimes an influential person may implicate their rivals in false cases for the purpose of disgracing them or for other purposes by getting them detained in jail for some days. In the nuns case, the accused is a powerful person and not the victim.

The petitioner must make out a special case for the exercise of the power to grant anticipatory bail which was totally absent in the instant case. The discretion under Section 438 cannot be exercised with regard to offences punishable with death or imprisonment for life unless the court at that very stage is satisfied that such a charge appears to be false or groundless. Mere general allegations of mala fides in the petition are inadequate. There is no reason to disbelieve the version of the victim, said Asaf Ali.By Express News Service

VIJAYAWADA: Minister for IT, Electronics and Communication Nara Lokesh on Tuesday asked the World Economic Forum (WEF) to extend the Centres of Excellence (CEC) that it had proposed to set up in Mumbai up to Amaravati as well.

He invited the forum to work with the State government in leveraging Drone and Blockchain technology for better governance, to which the forum agreed.

Lokesh, who participated in the forums three-day Annual Meeting of New Champions that kicked off on Tuesday in Tianjin, China, interacted with heads of various organisations pitching Andhra Pradesh as a potential investment destination. He explained to the delegation the technological interventions and initiatives taken by the State government and the thrust it gave to promote FinTech, Blockchain and other technologies.

On the occasion, project lead Jayant Narayan expressed the forums readiness to work with AP in drones manufacturing, artificial intelligence and other fields. Lokesh also presented the Dashboard concept used by the State government to monitor the development and welfare programmes in the State.Artists perform the Old Street at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Sep. 16, 2018. (Photos: provided to People's Daily Online)

Old Street, an original play in central Chinas Henan dialect, has won warm applause from the audience at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on the evening of Sunday, Sept. 16.

The play had already been performed twice in the capital city earlier this month, at Beijing National Theatre on Sept. 9 and at Century Lecture Hall of Peking University on Sept. 12.

Old Street showcases the rise and fall of the Majie Quyi Fair in Baofeng County, Henan Province over the past 700 years, by telling the story of a group of ill-fated folk artists, revealing their persistence in cultural inheritance and cultural confidence.

Quyi, or Chinese folk art, has many forms including ballad singing, story telling and cross talk.

According to Fan Jun, the leading actor who played the role of Quyi fair champion Qisuihong, the play extols the responsibility of Chinese folk artists to inherit their traditional culture in the face of historical transition and thus explores the vigorousness of the Majie Quyi Fair.

Old Street is born and rooted in the blood of the Chinese nation," said Fan, we are telling good Chinese stories and spreading excellent Chinese traditional culture with enthusiasm and strength. The Old Street is an old street with cultural confidence and cultural perseverance.

Warm applause from audiences of more than 6,000 people demonstrated their affection for the legend of the folk art fair after the performance.

I learned a lot from Old Street, said Zhang Ruonan, a student from Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. The wheels of history keep moving forward, but there are things that we should not forget. Our generation has the responsibility to protect traditional culture.

Old Street sets a good example for conserving endangered Chinese folk art, said Zhao Liming, an expert on Women's Script and a professor at Tsinghua University. Many folk arts, like Henan Zhuizi, is unfamiliar to most youngsters. Old Street has done well in protecting folk art with modern methods. 

Old Street refers to Majie Village in Baofeng County. More than 600 acres of wheat fields in Majie Village nurtured the largest folk art fair in China, Majie Quyi Fair. Stone inscriptions in a Buddhist temple in the village show the gathering started during the early 14th century and flourished throughout the ensuing dynasties.

On Jan. 13 of the Chinese lunar calendar every year, thousands of folk artists from across the country gather in the village to demonstrate what they do best. Throughout the day, the village is filled with the sound of people singing, laughing and applauding.

Majie Quyi Fair was listed by the Overseas Chinese Affairs office of the State Council as one of the "top 10 folk customs of China" in 1996. In 2006, it was included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage list. In 2013, it was awarded the title of "worlds largest folk art fair" by the World Record Association.

Old Street is the second performance in a trilogy. The first session Old Soup has been performed in six provinces across China since its premiere in 2014 and has won unanimous praise from experts and audiences alike. The third addition to the trilogy, Old Home, is still in production, with the script to be completed in 2019.

Tasting the old soup, walking on the old street, and being back in your old home - this might be the primitive dream of every Chinese descendant. Hometowns will have new initiatives in the future. We will live up to the expectations and keep going, said Fan.By Express News Service

VIJAYAWADA: Congress president Rahul Gandhi once again made it clear that the first thing his party will do once it comes to power in 2019 is to grant special category status to the State, a commitment made during bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

Addressing a well-attended public meeting in Kurnool on Tuesday during his maiden visit to the State after taking over as Congress president, Rahul Gandhi recalled the services of great leaders of the party hailing from the region and paid tributes to Damodaram Sanjeevaiah, the first Dalit Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. He also remembered former Chief Minister Kotla Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy, former President Neelam Sanjiva Reddy and former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao, who represented the Nandyal Lok Sabha constituency when he was Prime Minister.

I am sharing their stories with you to tell you that I am also proud of them like you and I am confident that, in future, the Congress will produce such leaders from the region. Rahul Gandhi alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government betrayed the people of Andhra Pradesh by failing to keep their promises.

The then Prime Minister made a commitment to people of Andhra Pradesh of giving special category status for five years. The present Prime Minister and his party said it was not enough and the State should be given special category for 10 years. Since Narendra Modi became Prime Minister, it has been four years and he has not taken one step forward to fulfil the commitment that Government of India made to the State, he said.

The Congress president listed commitments made to the State including national status for Polavaram, steel factory in Kadapa, new railway zone, international airport, metro rail and highways for capital, 12 national educational institutions like IIT and IIM.

The fact of the matter is these are not empty words, but a commitment to the people of Andhra Pradesh from the Government of India. All the promises made to people of the State were broken by Narendra Modi. He does not understand that the promises to AP were made by the Prime Minister of India and that he is bound by them. When Narendra Modi does not give the State what is its due, he disrespects people of AP and its leaders, Rahul said.

The Congress chief reiterated that he will abide by the commitment and said it should not be treated as a gift from the Government of India, but a debt that is owed by the Prime Minister to the State. A Prime Minister cannot make a promise to a State in the country and break it, he said and added, I am not in the habit of making false promises. I am not going to come here like Mr Modi and lie to you. But I will tell you one thing that the moment the Congress comes to power in Delhi in 2019, it is our commitment to the people of AP, we respect them, the first thing we will do is we will give special status.

Interestingly, during Gandhis speech no mention was made of either the TDP government or Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. Earlier, he visited the ancestral house of former Chief Minister of AP Damodaram Sanjeevaiah at Pedapadu village and offered floral tributes. He also interacted with family members of Sanjeevaiah. Later, he paid a visit to the samadhi of another former CM Kotla Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy and paid homage.

When some people told the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who wanted to make Sanjeevaiah CM of AP, that he was dishonest and corrupt, Nehru sent a senior leader. When that leader visited Sanjeevaiahs village, they saw an old woman cooking food outside a small house and learnt that it was Sanjeevaiahs house and the woman was his mother. They returned and told Nehru that there was no way of Sanjeevaiah was dishonest and corrupt. Later, he was appointed the CM, Rahul said.By Express News Service

VIJAYAWADA:Justice CY Somayajulu Commission, which inquired into the Godavari Maha Pushkaram stampede that claimed 29 lives at Rajamahendravaram on July 14, 2015, gave a clean chit to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, and the State government apparatus and concluded that the tragedy might have occurred due to overcrowding caused by undue and unwarranted publicity for the Muhurtam of the onset of Pushkarams.

The one-man commission was constituted on Sept 15, 2015 to inquire into the circumstances that led to the stampede, shortcomings, if any, in making arrangements for the Pushkarams and if so, persons responsible for the same.

The commission did not hold a single person responsible for the stampede which took place on July 14, 2015, and instead sought to blame the media saying that it tried to encash on the opportunity presented by Pushkarams to promote their channels. (File photo | EPS)

The report was tabled in the Assembly on Wednesday.

The 17-page report went with the submissions of the district collector and other officials that adequate arrangements were made for the mega event and dismissed the affidavits filed by advocate and president of the Human Rights Council Muppalla Subbarao -- incidentally the only one to have submitted affidavits to the panel on time -- as intended only to find fault with the Chief Minister.

State played role of religious organisation: Report

In the immediate aftermath of the stampede, the Chief Minister was accused of causing it indirectly by spending a lot of time at the Pushkar Ghat that resulted in sudden surge of a large crowd once the ghat gates were opened. However, the commission concluded that the evidence showed the stampede began after the Chief Minister boarded his van after inauguration of the river festival. Surprisingly, the report found that the fact that the Chief Minister extended his stay for the entire period of Pushkarams and monitored the conduct of Pushkarams, and no other incidents took place anywhere in the area showed that proper arrangements were made for Pushkarams.

The report further observed that the affidavits (submitted by the advocate and representations made by others, including former MP Undavalli Arun Kumar, were filed with a view of finding fault with the Chief Minister but not to know the exact cause of the stampede and to gain publicity or with some other motive. To buttress its argument, the commission pointed out, The fact that Subbarao was the only person who sent his affidavit to me, though wide publicity was given and his appearance with a number of people ... filing stereotyped affidavits and his conversing with the press ... and his roping in of Undavalli ... showed that this was an attempt to gain publicity.

The report did not find merit in the contention of Subbarao and others that the Chief Minister had requisitioned the services of film director Boyapati Srinu and the National Geographic Channel to make a documentary on the inaugural of Pushkarams to quench his thirst for publicity.

It may not be relevant in deciding the question whether the Chief Minister inaugurating the Pushkarams at Pushkar Ghat was the cause of the stampede because even as per the affidavits submitted by Subbarao and others and even the video clippings showed the stampede took place after the Chief Minister finished his bath and went into his van, it said.

The commission further mentioned that the contemporary situation revealed that the parties who are not in power, or the parties who are not friendly or who are at loggerheads with the ruling party or their leaders, seize any and every opportunity or event, calamity or untoward incident, resort to mudslinging and always try to find fault with the ruling party leaders. They become intolerant even to a single lapse. All these persons, who submitted affidavits to me, do not appear to be actual eyewitnesses to the incident, the commission reported.

The report, without directly pointing out any lapses on the part of the government, said that the government assumed the role of a religious organisation and people of the State were welcomed for Pushkarams in large numbers.

The event to promote Brand Godavari, with one year of prior planning and with an estimated expenditure running into `1,500 crore was contemplated. Logo was selected from about 200 entries. About 275 ghats were developed in twin Godavari districts. The idea was not to confine the river festival to the twin Godavari districts, but to promote it in all 13 districts, neighbouring States and across North India, besides reaching out to Indian diaspora. The State government started a high decibel media campaign for this purpose as early as in 2014. The grand opening ceremony, laser shows and huge display of sky lanterns were instrumental in the mega marketing of this spiritual event, the report read.



The commission did not hold a single person responsible for the stampede and instead sought to blame the electronic media saying that it tried to encash the opportunity presented by Pushkarams to promote their channels. The media, which became an important instrument of publicity for promotion of products and personalities, had brought its own share of misery and inconvenience to the public at large, the report said.By Express News Service

BENGALURU/BELAGAVI: Representation for Ballari in the cabinet, another minister from the ST community, keeping DK Shivakumar out of Belagavi and Ballari and, more importantly, deputy chief ministers post for Ramesh Jarkiholi, according to sources, are the demands made by the Jarkiholi brothers to end the crisis that is threatening the survival of the coalition government.

While Ramesh and his brother Satish have acknowledged that they have made the first two demands, they have denied seeking the deputy CMs post or mentioning about Shivakumar.

Sources close to the brothers, however, insist that Rameshs demand to the coalition is to match what the BJP has offered him -- deputy chief ministers post.

Despite CM HD Kumaraswamy himself directly intervening (he met both Ramesh and Satish at a hotel in Bengaluru) to solve the crisis, sources suggest that pacifying the brothers will take more time. Meanwhile, taking the ongoing drama to Delhi, Satish Jarkiholi left for the national capital for a meeting with the Congress high command on Wednesday. Incidentally, KPCC president Dinesh Gundu Rao, former CM Siddaramaiah and DyCM G Parameshwara are also scheduled to meet AICC chief Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday.

Also Read | With JDS-Congress coalition on shaky grounds, BJP calls for special meeting

While Satish himself told the media that the meeting with Kumaraswamy was fruitful, sources close to the Congress MLA suggest otherwise.

The meeting held by Kumaraswamy to broker truce was insignificant. The Jarkiholi brothers will take a final call on whether to remain with the Congress or not after they meet Rahul, a source said.

While keeping Shivakumar away from Belagavi and Ballari politics is a priority for the duo and MLAs from Ballari, the offer made by BJP, according to sources, is lucrative enough for the brothers to demand the same from the Congress.

Read | Karnataka cabinet expansion put off again, leaders say likely date after October 3

The demand, however, is likely to put the Congress in a spot with the JD(S) as their coalition agreement had rejected the idea of two DyCMs. Unseating Parameshwara to accommodate Ramesh is expected to lead to more trouble, pushing the party into further crisis.

Speaking to media after meeting CM, Satish said there was no request for the DyCMs post.

No such demands have been made. He (Ramesh) already has a portfolio, he said.

Read | Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy intervenes to clean up Congress mess

Despite the crisis, Congress leaders maintained that all was well and said Wednesdays meeting in Delhi was to discuss Legislative Council polls. Only Siddaramaiah, Parameshwara and I are going to meet Rahul Gandhi to discuss bypolls to the Legislative Council, said Dinesh Gundu Rao. He also said the final list of candidates can be expected by Thursday. But, Satishs visit to Delhi at a time when three top leaders are also present there makes it evident that the political turmoil is likely to cloud the meeting with Rahul Gandhi.

At a time when speculations are rife that the Jarkiholi brothers are all set to cut off from the Congress, sources close to the family suggest that Rameshs dwindling financial status is one reason why he could switch over to the BJP. Ramesh, after the assembly polls, has been facing financial difficulties and realises that he will not be able to gain anything from the Congress as long as it continues the coalition with the JD(S). To revive his financial status, he is keen to grab BJPs offer without falling prey to Congress persuasions, a source said.Rashmi Belur By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: The state government is thinking of adopting the Delhi model to improve the enrolment of kids and also the quality of teaching in state government schools. State Primary and Secondary Education minister N Mahesh said that he will be going to Delhi along with senior officials of the department and visit government schools at Delhi. I have decided to visit Delhi government schools after Dasara festival. Even the Chief Minister asked us to study the way Delhi government schools are functioning.

He added that it was his aim to develop state government schools in the state. My aim is to bring our government schools on par with private schools in quality, infrastructure and even in students strength, said Mahesh.

After his recent visit to Delhi, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy called for a meeting of Primary and Secondary Education department officials and discussed how to improve enrolments in state government schools and he had asked the department officials to visit and study Delhi schools. The Chief Minister has asked us to study the Delhi government school model and if necessary, adopt the measures taken at Delhi government schools even in the state, said a senior official of the department.

Meanwhile, the CM has assured to provide necessary funds to improve the infrastructure in state government schools to bring them at par with private schools. Delhi government spends nearly `3,000 crore on government schools every year. When we told this to the CM during the meeting, he assured that even he is ready to spend on government schools, to improve their quality, mentioned official.

As a first step, the state government is sending selected teachers from state government schools to get training from experts at Singapore. Under the initiative by Parikrama Humanity Foundation, over 40 teachers from 20 government schools will be sent to Singapore for expert training.Basically, mathematics and science teachers have been chosen in the first phase for training. Parikrama, a non profit organisation, has tied up with another organisation in Singapore for this training.V Velayudham By

Express News Service

KOLAR: This is perhaps the most inspirational thing about what this inspecting block education officer (BEO) did in Karnataka district. He did not ask any awkward question to the students and teachers, but made them embarrassed by what he did.

During a visit to a Kannada Higher Primary School in Bangarpet block, the BEO started cleaning a blocked toilet as no one else was ready to do it.George Poikayil By

Express News Service

KASARGOD: For over four decades, Mankukutty T (60), a member of Moger Scheduled Caste community, had been working as a coconut and arecanut plucker for a 'pattar' - a term the workers use to describe the wealthy and landed Brahmins.

Every evening, Mankukutty would be at the landlord's courtyard to receive his daily wage. With cupped hands and stretched arms, he would be waiting.

"The 'pattar' used to stand at the wraparound of the house and drop the wage into my hands," said the Tulu-speaking Mankukutty.

The 'pattar' not only ensured he did not touch Mankukutty, but also made it a point to be seen not touching him. If the 'pattar' was not around, the woman of the house would place the money on the wraparound and step back. The coconut plucker would take the money and leave the courtyard.

This was not a practise of the bygone era. In Kasargod district's gram panchayats that border Karnataka, untouchability and caste discrimination is a part of everyday life.

"I still receive my wage like that," said Mankukutty, a resident of Thottathumoola colony in Bellur panchayat, just 40km from Kasargod town. But now there is a certain defiance in his voice and sounds unhappy about it. The other residents of the colony and neighbouring Posolige colony too have stopped working for the landlord.

"They realised the brutality of this discrimination when Manku's son Ravi was left to die when he was bitten by a snake while working for the pattar" said Jayan Kadakam, a local leader of the DYFI, the youth wing of the CPM.

Venom of untouchability

Last October, the landlord called Ravi to destroy a wasp nest in his property.

"It was getting dark and Ravi did not want to do that in the night. But the pattar insisted and offered Rs 1,000 for the job," said his friend Narayana Nayak (37), a rubber tapper.

When he was clearing the bushes under the tree, Ravi was bitten by the snake. The contractor, Damodaran, who was with Ravi immediately took him to the landlord's house and requested him to take Ravi to hospital.

"But the pattar refused to help. At that time, he had two vehicles in his courtyard," said Nayak. When Damodaran asked for water, he was directed to a tap outside the courtyard.

"No pattar in our area would have given their vehicle to transport my son to hospital. But at least they would have promptly arranged another car," said Sundari (42), Mankukutty's wife.

That the road cutting through the colony can be traversed only by SUV made diminished the chances of Ravi's survival. Residents carried him on the shoulders, and then shifted him to an autorickshaw and later to an SUV. He did not reach the hospital alive.

The entire colony turned against the landlord. But residents said that the practice of untouchability that took the life of Ravi runs deep across the border panchayats such as Enmakaje, Kumbadje, Bellur, Delampady, Karaduka, some parts of Badiadka, and Paivalige.

Saraswati T (59), who belongs to Maniyani community and is a native of Kumbadaje, said that they were not even allowed to touch the tulasi in their courtyard or draw water from the well.

Gruel in palm sheaths

For lunch, the workers said that they have to take dry sheaths of areca trees and go to their courtyard and keep it on the ground, upside down.

"The woman of the house will come and sprinkle some water and take the sheaths in. She will return with rice or gruel in it and place it outside the courtyard," said Mankukutty.

"If we choose to eat from there, we will have to purify the place where we sat with cow dung water before leaving," he said.

Nowadays, no one tells them to do this. "But they expect us to sprinkle the water. So we take the food to the fields and eat," he said.

A few landlords have built separate sheds, so that they can have food there.

Caste is the passport

During Navarati celebration, the labourers are invited by the upper-caste landlord as part of the ritual. "But we are served food separately," said Sundara Nayak (55), who rears the cattle of another Brahmin landlord.

Access depended on the castes or tribe of the people.

"Since I am from the Marathi community, I can go inside the house to bring out arecanuts and coconuts," said Nayak. "But even I cannot have access to the kitchen."

Apunjeri, who cuts grass for the cattle of a Brahmin landlord, said she could not even go to the courtyard. "After working till 6 pm, he would drop Rs 100 or Rs 200 into my hands depending on this whims," she said.

Rajeevi H (54), a resident of Posolige colony, said that she had access up to the verandah of the landlord. "But I can go only up to the courtyard," said her friend Bhavni T (44).

"They have to realise that they are big and rich people today because we work in their fields," says Rajeevi.By Express News Service

KOCHI: The interrogation of Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal, accused of raping a nun, has commenced at Tripunithura, near here. The Bishop, who came to Kerala after the investigation team served a notice directing him to appear for interrogation on Wednesday, arrived by 11 am at the office of Crime Branch SP.

A team comprises by IG Vijay Sakhare, Kottayam SP Harisankar and investigation officer Vaikom DySP K Subash is conducting the questioning. A lengthy questionnaire has been prepared by the sleuths.

Earlier, the questioning was scheduled to be conducted in the office of Vaikom DySP. However, the venue was shifted to the high-tech interrogation room in Tripunithura CB office, considering security reasons. The decision was taken in a meeting held by Kochi Range IG Vijay Sakhare and Kottayam SP Harisankar on Tuesday night.

In a police complaint, the nun had alleged that she has been raped and sexually exploited 14-times by the bishop since May 2014.

However, on Tuesday bishop moved the Kerala High Court for anticipatory bail, claiming that the allegations were wholly concocted and cooked up, only to wreak vengeance.

Meanwhile, a protest by a section of nuns continues in Kochi seeking the arrest of the bishop. The protesters took out a march to Kochi Range IG Office on Wednesday.By Express News Service

KOCHI: The 11-day-old nuns protest at High Court Junction demanding the arrest of former Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal has grown in stature as a movement with supporters from across the state thronging the venue. Many, including artists and people from film collectives, turned up expressing solidarity with the protest on Tuesday. The Save Our Sisters (SOS) Action Council declared they will continue with the protest state wide until justice is served to the victim.

There are indications the arrest is not imminent. But we wont back down. We will strengthen the protest. Truth cannot be undermined. Justice will be delivered in the end, said action council coordinator Fr Augustine Vattoli.

Joining the indefinite hunger strike of the sister of the victim, Hari Priya, a member of the AICC, said she will also continue the strike in order to support their protest. On Monday, social activist P Geetha joined the hunger strike announcing her solidarity with the protest. Shibu Baby John, the former Labour Minister, said such cases of rape must never come up in future. Sisters protesting on the streets is not a good sight to watch and the police must act accordingly in the case.A Seshacharyulu By

Express News Service

NALGONDA: Maruthi Rao had planned the murder meticulously. It was decided that after the incident, Asghar Ali, Abdul Bari and Subhash Sharma would go into hiding and after a few days, Asghar Ali and Subhash Sharma would surrender to the police claiming only the two of them were involved in the murder. Rao did not reveal the plan thinking he would tell others about it after the murder. Luck, however, played against him.

Soon after the murder, Bari called Rao and told him the work had been completed. Immediately after, Raos daughter Amruthavarshini called him to report her husbands murder. Following this, Rao panicked and switched off his mobile phone while the other three members were waiting for his instructions on what to do next.

Rao told his driver Shiva about the murder, asked him to abandon their car and flee. Meanwhile, Bari was waiting for further instructions from Rao. As there was none, he asked Asghar to plan the escape. Asghar and Subhash left for Nalgonda while Bari fled to Maharashtra. This was all the breakthrough that the police needed.

Also Read: Caste discrimination part of everyday life in panchayats on Kerala-Karnataka border

An unholy friendship

Mohd Asghar Ali, a college dropout, and Mohd Abdul bari, a school dropout, were friends since childhood. They had gone through similar hardships and circumstances in their lives. Both their fathers were policemen who died sometime around mid-nineties. Police say the duo went astray after their fathers died. Asghars father Wajeed Ali retired as an ASI while Baris father Abdul Azeez retired as a constable

The duo, who started with petty crimes and property offences, went on to be involved in the murder case of former Gujarat Home Minister Haren Pandya. However, they were acquitted later, said a police official. In the Pandya murder case, the duo were lodged in Chanchalguda central prison but were shifted to different locations later as they created nuisance in the campus. Bari was shifted to Rajahmundry central prison where he met Subhash Sharma, who was arrested in a robbery case. They became friends and the unholy alliance continued and culminated in the murder of Pranay.

Work completed

Pani Ayipoyindi, migata dabbulu ready chesukondi (translated - work completed, arrange the balance amount), were the first words Bari told Maruthi Rao after the murder. After the incident, Asgar Ali called Bari and informed him that they had killed Pranay. Two hours before the murder, Maruthi Rao went to Nalgonda and met a few officials at the Collectorate to give an impression that he was not in the town. Enroute after the murder, he first answered Baris call, after which he answered Amruthas call, who told that someone attacked Pranay at the hospital.

He got irritated to that and disconnected the call. He told his driver Shiva to abandon the vehicle at Nalgonda and went to Kattangur. He also asked his brother-in-law to arrange a vehicle saying his vehicle broke down. From Kattangur, he travelled to Hyderabad and took shelter at Shivas place.A Seshacharyulu By

Express News Service

NALGONDA: The police on Tuesday announced the arrest of seven persons including Maruthi Rao, Mohammed Asghar Ali, Mohammed Abdul Bari -- both of whom were acquitted in the killing of former Gujarat Home Minister Haren Pandya. Subhash Sharma, the man who hacked Pranay to death, besides three others and a local Congress leader Abdul Kareem.

The police, however, ruled out the role of Nakrekal MLA Vemula Veeresham in the conspiracy, as Amruthavarshini had alleged. There were two failed attempts to kill Pranay by the killers hired by his father-in-law T Maruthi Rao previously, before the fatal one. It was on the third such attempt on September 14 that Pranay was mercilessly hacked to death right before the very eyes of his pregnant wife Amrutha Varshini outside the Jyothi Nursing Home.

Four days after the sensational honour killing in Miryalaguda, chilling details emerged about the entire murder conspiracy today after the district police said that the conspiracy to kill Pranay had started in June itself. Maruthi Rao had shared his plans with his friend Abdul Kareem about killing Pranay for marrying his daughter in June. Kareem then approached Abdul Bari who in turn got in touch with his childhood pal Asghar Ali, both of whom are natives of Nalgonda. Thereafter, all of them met regularly to fine tune their plans.

In the month of July, all four met in their car at Auto Nagar in the town, where Asghar and Bari demanded `2.50 crore for killing Pranay. However, after negotiating, they settled for `one crore. Later, Maruthi showed them Pranays residence. As per the plan, Asghar used scooter and fake sim cards.

The gang started recce of the area from August 9, said AV Ranganath, Superintendent of Police, Nalgonda. On August 14, when Pranay and Amrutha came to a beauty parlour near their house, they tried first attempt to kill him, but as his brother Ajay accompanied them, they got confused between Pranay and Ajay and dropped the plan. Angered Bari decided to kidnap the couple and kill Pranay, while Amrutha will be handed over to her parents, but Maruthi Rao opposed this idea.

Meanwhile, Pranays family started preparation for grand wedding reception, which multiplied Raos pain and he got admitted to a hospital in Hyderabad from August 16 to 23 for a surgery of hydrocele, to avoid embarrassment. Till then he felt that many did not knew about his daughters marriage and he will get her back before the news spreads out, but with the reception, everyone in the town will know about the marriage and that will affect his status.

However, after coming to know about his daughters pregnancy, he felt a heart burn and pressurizes his associates to execute their plan at the earliest.Bari, asked his old friend Subhash Sharma from Samastipur district in Bihar to join them, to which Sharma agreed. On September 13, Amruthavarshini called her mother Girija and told that they would be going to check up on Friday. Following a tip-off Maruthi Rao informed to Bari and tells that it should be completed at any cost, who passes the information to Asghar and Subhash.

After the medical check-up, when the trio came out, Subhash approached him from the rear and attacked with a sharp weapon. After Pranay collapsed, Subhash and Asghar fled from the spot and arrived at Nalgonda by road.

Subhash went to Patna via Bengaluru, while Asgar went home in Nalgonda. Bari who was coordinating from Nalgonda, also fled to Maharashtra. Based on the CCTV camera footages, technical evidences and other clues, the accused are arrested and produced before the court for judicial remand. Maruthi Rao, Subhash Sharma, Asgar Ali, Abdul Bari, Kareem have direct link with the incident, while Sravan had a knowledge and Shiva helped Maruthi Rao by giving shelter after the incident. said Ranganath.

Though they did not offer a specific amount to Subhash, they gave him `30,000 for expenses.The general assembly of the Cassation Court slammed a statement on Tuesday issued by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on the Rabaa dispersal court rulings.



The statement issued by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet was beyond the powers and competencies of the UN human rights body, the assembly said.



The assembly stressed that Egypt's judiciary was fair enough and followed constitutional and legal procedures before issuing any ruling.



The assembly also called on the human rights commission to reconsider its position on this issue and to seek accuracy before publishing any similar statements in the future.

A Cairo criminal court issued earlier in September a death sentence to 75 members of the terrorist-designated Muslim Brotherhood group in the criminal case known as "the Rabaa Dispersal Case."

All convicted have the right to appeal the verdict within 60 days.

In her statement about the trial, Bachelet criticized the trial and requested the appeal court in Egypt to overturn the death sentences.

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HYDERABAD: A division bench of the Hyderabad High Court on Tuesday pulled up the Telangana government for imposing ban on staging protests, demonstrations and meetings at Dharna Chowk near Indira Park in the city.

This is India. The Constitution has guaranteed right to speech to the citizens of this country. The government cannot curb it. If inconvenience is caused to others because of such protests, then the government can impose reasonable restrictions as per the law.

Do you expect the people to hold dharnas at places which are 50 kilometers away?, the bench said. The PIL had been filed by senior Congress leader V Hanumantha Rao.By AFP

KABUL: A series of devastating suicide attacks on Afghanistan's minority Shiite community has fuelled fears of more violence ahead of Ashura, one of the Muslim sect's holiest days, and prompted calls for civilians to arm themselves.

The religious holiday, which falls on Thursday, has become a major target for the Islamic State group since it emerged in the region in 2014 and began assaulting Shiites in overwhelmingly Sunni Afghanistan.

Sunni extremists, like IS, consider Shiites apostates, and have carried out deadly attacks on the sect across the region, massacring hundreds.

An injured man is brought in to a hospital following a deadly attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018. Twin bombings at a wrestling training center in a Shiite neighborhood of Afghanistan's capital on Wednesday killed at least 20 people and wounded others, Afghan officials said.

(Photo | AP)

The violence has escalated in recent weeks, with more than 60 people killed in suicide bombings at a wrestling club and an education centre in a heavily Shiite-populated neighbourhood of Kabul.

Burqa-clad suicide bombers also struck a Shiite mosque in the eastern city of Gardez last month, killing at least 35 people.

IS claimed responsibility for those attacks.

"We are in constant fear, day and night," Ahmad Zia Ahmadi told AFP on Sunday as he oversaw repairs at the Maiwand wrestling club, which was badly damaged in the September 5 double bombing.

"If the government does not provide security for us, we will have to arm ourselves."

The Afghan government is frequently criticised for failing to protect Shiites, who number around three million in Afghanistan, and there are growing fears of vigilantism.

ALSO READ | Taliban attack Afghanistan security forces in north, killing 52 people

Hundreds of civilians were recruited last year to protect Shiite religious sites in Kabul and other cities ahead of Ashura, reinforced by police officers.

The move helped to reduce the number of attacks, a senior Shiite leader told AFP recently, but no such plan has been announced for this Ashura.

While hundreds of weapons distributed in 2017 were still being used to protect mosques, it was not enough, he said.

Last year "they only gave us 1,250 guns that we distributed to 14 provinces with Shiite populations", he said on the condition of anonymity.

Some mosques "are still unarmed".

Interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish told AFP that the government had a security plan for Ashura and the Islamic month of Muharram, but would not provide details.

"We will do everything to provide security for our people in Kabul," Danish said on September 10, a day before the start of Muharram.

Ashura -- the most important Shiite observance -- falls on the 10th day of Muharram, which is the mourning period for the seventh-century killing of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.

The faithful gather to beat their chests and lash their backs with chains until they bleed in commemoration of Hussein's death.

We know they will attack

Without faith in the government, many Shiites echo Ahmadi's fears that IS could strike anywhere, and that they can only rely on themselves for protection.

"We have been attacked in our mosques, schools, streets and gyms," Ghulam Reza told AFP at the wrestling club.

"We are thinking about arming ourselves."

On Facebook, users have been sharing the rumoured locations of planned attacks in Kabul.

"Nowhere is safe for us anymore," one user named Hossien posted.

"Our kids, religious scholars, wrestlers, and people from all walks of life are killed every day. Let's... stand up against it."

Another Facebook user wrote: "Standing in front of a mosque to protect your people is a way of fighting terrorism. When the government cannot provide security, you protect your institutions and values."

Afghanistan's intelligence agency announced Tuesday the arrest of 26 suspected IS militants who were allegedly planning to carry out attacks during Muharram and on Ashura.

Plans to divide Kabul into four security zones were announced by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on September 8.

He also said heavier security, such as a "green zone" similar to the one where many embassies and international organisations are located in Kabul, was needed in the city's Shiite-dominated west.

But "more deliberation and consultation" were required before the proposals could be implemented, he said in a statement.

The lack of action is no surprise to Ahmadi, who is collecting donations to repair the wrestling club.

"We know the enemy will attack us," he said, as he studied bits of flesh stuck to the ceiling.

But "we don't expect the government to protect us. They can't".By PTI

PARIS: President Emmanuel Macron will separately meet his US and Iranian counterparts, Donald Trump and Hassan Rouhani, during the UN General Assembly in New York next week, the French presidency said Wednesday.

Macron will meet Trump on Monday afternoon before having dinner with UN Secretary General AnSecretary-General on Tuesday, the French president will address the assembly and hold talks with Rouhani, an Elysee Palace official said.

The meetings come as Macron and other European leaders try to salvage a landmark 2015 accord to curb Tehran's nuclear programme, which Trump pulled the US out of last May.

Trump has signalled that he might be willing to meet with Rouhani as well, after re-imposing sanctions against Iran last month.

A new round of even harsher sanctions is set to go into effect in November targeting Iran's vital oil sector.

The sanctions have hit Iran's economy hard since foreign companies can no longer operate in the country without running the risk of being targeted by US penalties.

The US accuses Iran of destabilising the Middle East by pursuing missile development and its intervention in conflicts in neighbouring countries including Syria and Yemen.

Iranian officials have repeatedly indicated they have no plans to hold talks with Trump when the general debate opens at the assembly on Tuesday.By PTI

LUXEMBOURG: EU countries should continue extraditing criminal suspects to Britain until it leaves the bloc, the union's top court ruled Wednesday, rejecting a bid by a murder suspect to use Brexit to avoid facing justice.

A man suspected of murder, rape and arson challenged a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) issued by Britain after he was detained in Ireland, arguing that the UK's decision to leave the EU meant it was not clear that his rights would be guaranteed.

ALSO READ | British PM Theresa May tells EU: Your turn to respond to Brexit proposals

But the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in Luxembourg ruled that Britain's June 2016 vote to leave had no bearing on such warrants so long as it remained part of the EU.

"The notification by a member state of its intention to withdraw from the Union in accordance with Article 50 (of the EU treaty) does not have the effect of suspending the application of EU law in that member state," the court said.

The "principles of mutual trust and mutual recognition" continue until Brexit day -- March 29 next year, it added.

"The court concludes therefore that mere notification by a member state of its intention to withdraw from the European Union is not an 'exceptional' circumstance capable of justifying a refusal to execute an EAW issued by that Member State.

" The European Arrest Warrant system allows EU countries to request the extradition of suspects from other member states, with very few reasons allowed for refusal.

The suspect in the current case, identified only as "RO", was arrested in Ireland in 2016 on the British warrant and appealed to the Irish High Court on grounds including issues related to Brexit.

ALSO READ | EU, non-EU nationals to face similar post-Brexit immigration rules: Theresa May

The Irish court then asked the ECJ to rule whether it should refuse to surrender the suspect due to "the uncertainty as to the arrangements which will be put in place after the UK's withdrawal.

" The ECJ said courts should only refuse an arrest warrant from a state leaving the EU if there are "substantial grounds" to believe there is a risk of the suspect being deprived of his or her rights.By PTI

LOHORE: Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed plans to launch next phase of legal battle to retrieve the assets of Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and its subsidiary Falah-i-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF) after Pakistan's Supreme Court allowed the two outfits to continue their activities in the country, the JuD's spokesman said on Wednesday.

ALSO READ | Pakistan SC rejects government appeal against allowing Hafiz Saeed's JuD charity work

The government took over around 184 buildings schools, hospitals and dispensaries belonging to the JuD and FIF after the promulgation of the presidential ordinance last year and subsequently administrators were appointed there.

The government had also frozen all bank accounts of both organisations and stopped them from collecting funds.

Last week, a two-member bench of the Supreme Court rejected an appeal by the government against an interim order of the Lahore High Court on April 5 which had allowed the two groups to continue their "welfare work".

The high court had restrained the government from interfering with the social work of the two groups and also allowed their legal activities.

"The JuD and FIF have only got the permission for work but its entire infrastructure is still under the government administrative control.

The bank accounts are frozen and funds collection dried up.

We will move the Lahore High Court to get the control of JuD and FIF properties back and also seek de-freezing their bank accounts, JuD spokesman Ahmad Nadeem told PTI on Wednesday.

He said the Supreme Court's decision has given the JuD hope to get back its properties to resume its "social and charitable" works.

The JuD spokesman said: Getting all our buildings back, accounts restored and starting collection of funds are major legal challenges for us.

We will take legal route, which may be longer as getting court's permission for charity work almost took seven months but that is the preferred path for us.

" The Pakistani government had taken action against JuD and FIF as they were placed on the United Nations Security Council's (UNSC) sanction list.

Saeed was listed under UN Security Council Resolution 1267 in December 2008. He was released from house arrest in Pakistan in November.

ALSO READ | US backs India on Mumbai terror attack, calls Hafiz Saeed 'tremendous concern'

The JuD is believed to be the front organisation for the LeT which is responsible for carrying out the Mumbai attack that killed 166 people.

It has been declared as a foreign terrorist organisation by the US in June 2014.

The US Department of the Treasury has designated Saeed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, and the US, since 2012, has offered a USD 10 million reward for information that brings Saeed to justice.By PTI

ISLAMABAD: In a major relief to the Sharif family, a top Pakistani court suspended on Wednesday the jail sentences of former premier Nawaz Sharif, his daughter and son-in-law in a corruption case and ordered their release from a high-security prison.

A two-judge bench of the Islamabad High Court heard the petitions filed by former Sharif, 68, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Capt (retd) Muhammad Safdar challenging their conviction related to the purchase of luxury flats in London.



ALSO READ | Jailed Nawaz Sharif appears in Pakistan court in remaining two graft cases against him

Justice Athar Minallah read the judgment and suspended the sentences handed to them by the accountability court judge Mohammad Bashir on July 6.

Sharif, 68, Maryam, 44, and Safdar, 54, were sentenced to 11 years, eight years and one year, respectively, in prison in the Avenfield properties case.

The two-judge bench ordered the release of the former premier, his daughter and son-in-law from the Adiala jail in Rawalpindi.

Sharif, Maryam and Safdar were also directed to submit bail bonds worth Rs 500,000.

The court also dismissed the National Accountability Bureau's request to first announce a judgment on the maintainability of the pleas.

The bench also imposed a fine on the NAB lawyers earlier for using delaying tactics.

The NAB was also pulled up by the Supreme Court on Monday when it rejected its petition challenging the IHC's decision to hear Sharifs' petitions against the Avenfield verdict.

Chief Justice Saqib Nisar termed the NAB petition as frivolous and imposed a Rs 20,000 fine on the anti-corruption watchdog.

A large number of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders, including Shehbaz Sharif, Pervaiz Rashid and Khurram Dastgir, were present in the courtroom for the hearing.

Sharif resigned as Pakistan prime minister last year after the Supreme Court disqualified him from holding public office and ruled that graft cases be filed against the beleaguered leader and his children over the Panama Papers scandal.

The Avenfield case was among the three corruption cases filed against the three-time former premier and his children by the NAB on the Supreme Court's orders in the Panama Papers case which disqualified Sharif.By Associated Press

SEOUL: South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un announced a sweeping set of agreements after their second day of talks in Pyongyang on Wednesday that included a promise by Kim to permanently dismantle the North's main nuclear complex if the United States takes corresponding measures, the acceptance of international inspectors to monitor the closing of a key missile test site and launch pad and a vow to work together to host the Summer Olympics in 2032.

Declaring they had made a major step toward peace on the Korean Peninsula, the two leaders were side by side as they announced the joint statement to a group of North and South Korean reporters after a closed-door meeting Wednesday morning.

"We have agreed to make the Korean Peninsula a land of peace that is free from nuclear weapons and nuclear threat," Kim said as he stood by Moon's side at the guesthouse where Moon is staying. "The road to our future will not always be smooth and we may face challenges and trials we can't anticipate. But we aren't afraid of headwinds because our strength will grow as we overcome each trial based on the strength of our nation."

ALSO READ | Korean Summit: Moon Jae-in hopes to bolster legacy of former President Roh Moo-hyun

Kim and Moon earlier smiled and chatted as they walked down a hallway and into a meeting room to finalize the joint statement, which also said that the leaders would push for a Korean Peninsula without nuclear weapons and to "eliminate all the danger of war." They agreed that Kim would visit the South in the near future.

The statement caps off the third summit between Kim and Moon, who is under increasing pressure from Washington to find a path forward in its efforts to get Kim to completely  and unilaterally  abandon his nuclear arsenal.

But while containing several tantalizing offers, it appears to fall short of the major steps many in Washington had been looking for  such as a commitment by Pyongyang to provide a list of the North's nuclear facilities, a solid step-by-step timeline or an agreement to allow international inspectors in to assess progress or discover violations.

In this image made from video provided by Korea Broadcasting System (KBS), South Korean President Moon Jae-in, left, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un shake hands after signing documents in Pyongyang. (Photo | AP)

The question is whether it will be enough for President Donald Trump to pick up where Moon has left off.

Trump has maintained that he and Kim have a solid relationship, and both leaders have expressed interest in a follow-up summit to their meeting in June in Singapore. North Korea has been demanding a declaration formally ending the Korean War, which was stopped in 1953 by a cease-fire, but neither leader mentioned it as they read the joint statement.

Kim Jong Un has agreed to allow Nuclear inspections, subject to final negotiations, and to permanently dismantle a test site and launch pad in the presence of international experts. In the meantime there will be no Rocket or Nuclear testing. Hero remains to continue being........  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 19, 2018

....returned home to the United States. Also, North and South Korea will file a joint bid to host the 2032 Olympics. Very exciting!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 19, 2018

In the meantime, however, Moon and Kim made concrete moves of their own to reduce tensions on their border.

According a joint statement signed by the countries' defense chiefs, the two Koreas agreed to establish buffer zones along their land and sea borders to reduce military tensions and prevent accidental clashes. They also agreed to withdraw 11 guard posts from the Demilitarized Zone by December and to establish a no-fly zone above the military demarcation line that bisects the two Koreas that will apply to planes, helicopters and drones.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in, left, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrive at the Pyongyang Grand Theatre in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Photo | AP)

Though not directly linked to security, the leaders' announcement that they would seek a joint Summer Olympics was a significant move in terms of easing tensions and building trust. It also flows from the North's decision to participate in the Pyeongchang Winter Games in February, which was regarded as a success for both sides.

Other agreements aimed at removing some longstanding irritants from their relations  such as allowing more contact between families divided by the Korean War. Moon also appeared to be making good on his proposals to help build up the North's infrastructure and open cross-border rail links.

Unlike Trump's initial tweets praising the summit, the news brought a quick and negative response from Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, who tweeted he was concerned the visit would undermine efforts by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley to impose "maximum pressure" on Pyongyang.

Im concerned South Koreas visit is going to undermine efforts by @SecPompeo and Ambassador @nikkihaley to impose maximum pressure on the North Korean regime.



While North Korea has stopped testing missiles and nuclear devices, they have NOT moved toward denuclearization. https://t.co/VRnr6tn8dg  Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) September 18, 2018

"While North Korea has stopped testing missiles and nuclear devices, they have NOT moved toward denuclearization," he tweeted.

With the main business of the day over, North Korea was expected to hold a huge mass games spectacle in the evening, with Moon as the special guest.

The North had put the iconic games, which feature tens of thousands of performers dancing and flipping placards in unison to create giant mosaics and slogans, on a back burner for the past several years, but revived them for this month's celebrations of its 70th founding anniversary. In a performance for the anniversary, a giant photo of Moon and Kim shaking hands at their first summit in April was projected onto one side of the stands in Pyongyang's 150,000-seat May Day Stadium.

Kim has gone all out to make Moon's visit a memorable one.

North Korea's Samjiyon Orchestra perform during a welcome concert for the South Korean President Moon Jae-in and his wife Kim Jung-sook at Pyongyang Grand Theatre in Pyongyang. (Photo | AP)

On Tuesday, the first day of the summit, he greeted Moon and his wife at Pyongyang's airport and then rode into town with Moon in an open limousine through streets lined with crowds of North Koreans, who cheered and waved the flag of their country and a blue-and-white flag that symbolizes Korean unity.

The summit talks began at the ruling Workers' Party headquarters where Kim and Moon were joined by two of their top deputies  spy chief Suh Hoon and presidential security director Chung Eui-yong for Moon, and for Kim, his sister, Kim Yo Jong, and senior Workers' Party official Kim Yong Chol, according to Moon's office.

At the start of their meeting Tuesday, Kim thanked Moon for brokering the June summit with Trump.

"It's not too much to say that it's Moon's efforts that arranged a historic North Korea-U.S. summit. Because of that, the regional political situation has been stabilized and more progress on North Korea-U.S. ties is expected," Kim said, according to South Korean media pool reports and Moon's office.

Moon responded by expressing his own thanks to Kim for making a "bold decision" in a New Year's speech to open a new era of detente and send a delegation to the South Korean Winter Olympics in February.By PTI

LAHORE: Following is the chronology of the major events leading to the arrest and release of Pakistan's ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif:

April 4, 2016: The International Consortium of Investigative Journalism publishes the Panama Papers, exposing tax evasion by the world's elite through off-shore accounts and shell companies.

The documents include the name of the Sharif family.

April 5, 2016: Sharif sets up a judicial committee to investigate the allegations, denies charges.

April 26, 2016: Opposition parties reject the judicial commission set up by the government.

November 1, 2016: The Supreme Court decides to pursue a case related to Nawaz Sharif.

November 7, 2016: PML-N submits Qatari prince's letter to the Supreme Court containing information about the London flats that were at the centre of the Panama Papers scandal.

January 6, 2017: Sharif's daughter Maryam Nawaz submits details of assets after the Supreme Court resumes hearing.

April 20, 2017: The Supreme Court orders formation of a joint investigation team with a split 3-2 verdict to probe the corruption charges against Sharif.

May 5, 2017: SC formally constitutes the joint investigation team.

May 22, 2017: The joint investigation team presents its first bi-weekly report to the Supreme Court.

May 24, 2017: The joint investigation team sends questionnaires to Sharif and his two sons - Hussain and Hassan.

June 13, 2017: The joint investigation team submits report to the Supreme Court on obstructions to its work, blames government institutions for "creating impediments in the collection of evidence".

June 15, 2017: Sharif appears before the joint investigation team for questioning, becoming the first sitting Pakistan prime minister to appear before any investigating agency.

June 17, 2017: Sharif's younger brother and chief minister of Punjab Shahbaz Sharif are questioned by joint investigation team.

July 5, 2017: Sharif's daughter Maryam appears before joint investigation team.

July 7, 2017: Former Qatari premier Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al-Thani sends a letter to the joint investigation team, asking it to record his statement at his palace before submitting its final report to the Supreme Court.

July 10, 2017: The joint investigation team submits final report to the Supreme Court.

July 28, 2017: The five-member Supreme Court bench unanimously rules against Sharif, disqualifying him from office.

August 15, 2017: Sharif files three separate appeals in the Supreme Court to review its verdict in the Panama Papers case that resulted in his disqualification.

September 14, 2017: Sharif and his children summoned by an anti-graft court to appear before it on September 19 in two more corruption cases.

September 15, 2017: The Supreme Court dismisses the review petitions filed by Sharif, his children and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, challenging his disqualification in the Panama Papers scandal.

September 22, 2017: Pakistan's anti-graft body freezes accounts and seizes properties of Sharif and his family.

September 26, 2017: Sharif for the first time appears before an accountability court to face the corruption charges filed against him by the National Accountability Bureau in the Panama Papers scandal.

October 3, 2017: Sharif re-elected as the president of Pakistan's ruling PML-N party after Parliament passed a controversial bill, paving the way for the ousted prime minister's return to politics.

October 9, 2017: Maryam Nawaz, Sharif's daughter, son-in-law get bail in the Panama Papers case.

October 19, 2017: Pakistan anti-graft court indicts Sharif, his daughter, son-in law.

October 26, 2017: Pakistan court issues warrant for Sharif after he fails to appear.

November 2, 2017: Sharif returns home from UK to face trial.

November 15, 2017: Pakistan anti-graft court begins trial of Sharif, his family.

February 21, 2018: Pakistan Supreme Court disqualifies Sharif as PML-N chief.

April 13, 2018: Sharif barred from contesting elections for life after the Pakistan Supreme Court verdict.

July 6, 2018: Sharif sentenced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment in the Avenfield properties case.

July 10, 2018: Pakistan puts Sharif and daughter on exit control list.

July 12, 2018: Pakistan anti-corruption court dismisses Sharif's plea to transfer remaining two corruption cases.

July 12, 2018: Sharif and Maryam leave from London for Pakistan.

July 13, 2018: Sharif and Maryam arrested on their arrival in Lahore and taken to Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.

July 16, 2018: Sharif, his daughter and son-in-law file separate appeals in the Islamabad High Court against the verdict in a corruption case and seek their release from jail.

July 23, 2018: Medical board examines Sharif after reports of health related complications.

August 8, 2018: Pakistani authorities blacklist Sharif's sons, blocks their passports.

August 13, 2018: Sharif appears in Pakistan court, for the first time since his arrest, in remaining 2 graft cases against him.

September 11, 2018: Sharif's wife Kulsoom Nawaz dies in London.

September 12, 2018: Sharif, his daughter and son-in-law granted parole, reach Lahore to attend Kulsoom's funeral.

September 19, 2018: The Islamabad High Court suspends the jail sentences of Sharif, his daughter and son-in-law in a corruption case and orders their release from the Adiala Jail.

September 19, 2018: Sharif, his daughter and son-in-law released from prison.By Reuters

MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday that Israel's air force was conducting operations in breach of Syria's sovereignty, the Kremlin said in a statement.

Putin said that a Russian military plane had been shot down by Syrian anti-aircraft systems near Syria's coast because Russian-Israeli agreements on the prevention of dangerous incidents were not observed.

He also asked the Israeli side to avoid such situations in future, it said.By AFP

SYDNEY: The piercing of supermarket strawberries with sewing needles is comparable to terrorism, Australia's prime minister said Wednesday, as he demanded sentences of up to 15 years in response to a nationwide scare.

Urging Australians to make a strawberry pavlova this weekend to help struggling farmers, Scott Morrison demanded a change in the law to toughen sentences.

"We're not mucking about" said Morrison, after pieces of fruit were found to be contaminated with needles or pins. "This is not on, this is just not on in this country," he said.

Calling the perpetrator a "coward and a grub", Morrison called on parliament to quickly raise the maximum sentence for such deliberate food contamination from ten to 15 years behind bars.

That, he said, would put the crime on par with "things like possessing child pornography and financing terrorism. That's how seriously I take this."

New Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison takes part in an oath-taking ceremony to become the nation's new leader at Government House in Canberra. (Photo | AFP)

The scare has prompted a series of supermarket recalls, and some stores in New Zealand have temporarily banned the sale of Australian strawberries.

Farmers have been forced to pulp fruit and lay off pickers because of slower sales and lower wholesale prices.

"Just go back to buying strawberries like you used to and take the precautions that you should," Morrison told Australians in a televised address.

"Make a pav this weekend and put strawberries on it," he suggested, later adding in a video message that his wife Jen would actually be doing the baking in their house.

Authorities have suggested strawberries be cut up before they are eaten.

Police on Tuesday said they still did not know the motive for the attacks and were still looking for suspects.

They have asked the public for help with their investigation and are expected later Wednesday to increase a reward for information that helps resolve the case.

The authorities have also complained that the vast majority of the 100 reported cases were hoaxes, and warned that pranksters posting images on Facebook claiming that they have discovered tainted fruit could also face prosecution and potential jail time.

Police in New South Wales said a "young person" has admitted putting needles in strawberries as a copycat prank and will be dealt with under the youth cautioning system.The president's comments came as he inaugurated a military hospital in Menoufiya governorate, which will service locals and military personnel

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi vowed on Wednesday to hold accountable those responsible for the death of three patients earlier this week during a dialysis session at a local hospital in the Nile Delta governorate of Sharqiya.

"Anyone proved to be responsible will be held accountable," El-Sisi said during a conference inaugurating a number of healthcare projects in Menoufiya governorate in the central Delta.

Three people, died and 13 others went into a coma on Saturday after receiving dialysis treatment at the Dirb Negm Hospital.

Minister of Health Hala Zayed said during the conference that 11 of those who fell into a coma have been treated while the two others are still receiving treatment at the hospital.

Prosecutors are currently investigating the matter.

Zayed said the ministry has formed an independent technical committee to identify the cause behind the deaths.

El-Sisi inaugurated today a military hospital in Menoufiya governorate, which will service locals and military personnel across the Nile Delta governorates.

The president also opened a number of other healthcare projects in several governorates via video conferencing, including in Damanhour in Beheira and Giza.

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By AFP

SEOUL: South Korean President Moon Jae-in and the North's leader Kim Jong Un opened a new round of talks at a summit in Pyongyang on Wednesday with the North Korean nuclear arsenal high on the agenda, but Seoul warned they may not reach an agreement.

Moon is on a three-day trip to the North Korean capital for his third summit with Kim this year, hoping to reboot stalled denuclearisation talks between his hosts and the United States.

After the high symbolism of the two leaders' first meeting in April in the Demilitarized Zone that divides the Korean peninsula, and Kim's historic summit with US President Donald Trump in Singapore in June, pressure is mounting for substantive progress.

In Singapore, Kim declared his backing for denuclearisation of the peninsula, but no details were agreed and Washington and Pyongyang have since sparred over what that means and how it will be achieved.

Washington is pressing for the North's "final, fully verified denuclearisation", while Pyongyang wants a formal declaration that the 1950-53 Korean War is over and has condemned "gangster-like" demands for it to give up its weapons unilaterally.

ALSO READ | Korean Summit: Moon Jae-in hopes to bolster legacy of former President Roh Moo-hyun

Asked if any deal on denuclearisation had been struck, Moon's spokesman Yoon Young-chan said: "It's difficult to say at this moment that the two leaders have reached any agreement."

They had "frank and sincere" discussions after Moon arrived in Pyongyang on Tuesday, Yoon told reporters in Seoul, adding: "They still need a lot more talks."

"If and when" they reach an agreement, they would announce it jointly but not take questions, he said.

Wednesday's talks took place at the Paekhwawon official guesthouse on the outskirts of Pyongyang. The two leaders were shown on television walking down a long corridor talking together, followed by their wives, before entering a room where the cameras could not follow.

The summit was taking place in a "festive mood", the South's Joongang Daily said in an editorial, but warned that "Moon and his entourage must not forget why he is visiting Pyongyang:.

"Unlike the past, the success of the summit cannot be evaluated by the theatrics. The only standard is whether it contributes to creating a nuclear-free Korean peninsula. It must provide a breakthrough to revive stalled US-North Korea talks," it said.

Mass applause

The Rodong Sinmun newspaper, the mouthpiece of the North's ruling party, gave the summit blanket coverage, with 35 photos over the first four of its six pages.

On the front, the leaders shook hands and hugged each other upon meeting at Pyongyang International Airport, with more inside of them parading together through the streets of the city, enjoying a concert and toasting at a banquet.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and the North's leader Kim Jong Un opened a new round of talks at a summit in Pyongyang.

(Photo | AP)

Pyongyang has been keen to promote an image of modernity and togetherness, reflected in several aspects of the programme.

On Wednesday evening, Moon and his party will have dinner at the newly-opened Taedonggang fish restaurant on the banks of the eponymous river that flows through Pyongyang.

It stands opposite Mansu hill, where giant statues of Kim's predecessors, his grandfather Kim Il Sung and father Kim Jong Il, look out over the city.

The destination was chosen after Moon expressed interest in dining at a local restaurant with ordinary citizens.

But a retail shop at the complex sells North Korean caviar at $50 for a 50-gramme jar -- a luxury far beyond the reach of most North Koreans.

Afterwards, Moon will attend a performance of the "Mass Games" -- North Korea's spectacular, all-dancing propaganda display.

Members of media watch a huge screen showing South Korean President Moon Jae-in, left, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un hold documents after signing in Pyongyang, North Korea, at a press center for the inter-Korean summit in Seoul.

(Photo | AP)

The show features tens of thousands of performers against an ever-changing backdrop made up of 17,490 children turning the coloured pages of books in sequence to send images rippling across one side of the May Day stadium.

They portray scenes ranging from floral landscapes to portraits of the late Kims, interspersed with slogans including "We can win if we defend socialism" and "Our motherland is the strongest because of the Marshal" -- a reference to the current leader.

The premiere of the latest version of the show, called "The Glorious Country", earlier this month featured video footage of Moon and Kim together at their first summit in Panmunjom.

North Koreans always laud their leaders when they are shown their pictures at cultural events, so the crowd instantly responded, creating the unusual sight of tens of thousands of North Koreans applauding images of the South's president.

Ahead of the summit, a diplomatic source predicted the visit would see "Kim and Moon together receiving the same sort of applause".By Reuters

WASHINGTON: Another former classmate of Supreme Court appointee Brett Kavanaugh denies he attended a high school party where a California professor says the nominee sexually assaulted her three decades ago, CNN reported on Wednesday.

Patrick J Smyth sent a letter to Republican Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley and top Democrat Dianne Feinstein in which he denies seeing any "improper conduct" by Kavanaugh, a classmate at Georgetown Preparatory School, according to CNN, which obtained a copy of the letter.

The committee, which oversees Supreme Court nominations, has called a hearing for Monday in which both Kavanaugh and his accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, could testify.

Ford's lawyers said on Tuesday, however, that she wants her allegations to be investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation before she appears at a US Senate hearing.

A Kavanaugh friend, Mark Judge, who Ford has also said was present during the assault, previously told Grassley through a lawyer he did not want to speak publicly.

Judge, who has written about his teenage alcoholism, said he had no memory of party and had never seen Kavanaugh behave in the manner she described.

In the meantime, Smyth told the committee he volunteered the statement to safeguard his own privacy and anonymity.

"I understand that I have been identified by Dr Christine Blasey Ford as the person she remembers as 'PJ' who supposedly was present at the party she described in her statements to the Washington Post," Smyth said in his letter, CNN reported.

"I am issuing this statement today to make it clear to all involved that I have no knowledge of the party in question; nor do I have any knowledge of the allegations of improper conduct she has leveled against Brett Kavanaugh."

It was not clear where and when Ford had identified Smyth as being present at the 1982 party in suburban Maryland, where she said Kavanaugh pinned her down and tried to take her clothes off while another friend watched.

The accusations have roiled a confirmation process that once seemed smooth for Kavanaugh, who could consolidate the conservative grip on the top US court.

Democrats, already opposed to the conservative federal appeals court judge, have sought an FBI investigation, a request Republicans rebuffed.

Trump said on Tuesday both sides should tell their stories but fiercely defended his nominee.

The confirmation fight comes just weeks before November 6 congressional elections, in which Democrats seek to win control of Congress from Trump's fellow Republicans.By Reuters

SALZBURG: Prime Minister Theresa May will press EU leaders on Wednesday to back her proposal for a "fair arrangement" on future ties between Britain and the bloc, call off "unacceptable" demands and show the goodwill needed to avoid a disorderly Brexit.

ALSO READ | EU extraditions to Britain should continue until Brexit: European Court of Justice

Before a two-day European Union summit starts on Wednesday evening, May showed no sign of backing away from her Brexit plan, shrugging off criticism at home and in Brussels over her proposals for future trade relations, the biggest policy shift for Britain in almost half a century.

She may arrive in Austria feeling more optimistic after the EU's negotiator Michel Barnier signalled he was ready to do more to address her concerns on Northern Ireland, which will have the only UK land border with the bloc after Brexit day.

But a British government source said London could not accept the province being separated off from the UK customs territory and Barnier's comments only got a hostile reception from a small Northern Irish party on which May relies on in parliament.

The summit opens in Salzburg with a leaders' dinner that has become a significant staging post in a carefully choreographed series of meetings with the EU before Britain leaves in March.

With just over six months to go, time is pressing and both sides are keen to secure some kind of deal before the end of the year and ease concerns over a disorderly exit, which could plunge the economy into a downturn.

Writing in Germany's Die Welt, May said the two sides were "near to achieving the orderly withdrawal that is an essential basis for building a close future partnership".

"To come to a successful conclusion, just as the UK has evolved its position, the EU will need to do the same.

"With goodwill and determination on both sides we can avoid a disorderly exit and find new ways of working together."

At the dinner at the spectacular Felsenreitschule theatre -- known to film fans for a scene in the musical 'The Sound of Music' -- May will make another pitch for support for her Chequers plan, named after her country residence where a deal was hashed out with her ministers earlier this year.

Then she will be out of the room on Thursday afternoon, when the other 27 leaders discuss her Brexit proposals.

EU officials said May could then meet Donald Tusk, the summit chairman, to be briefed on their talks. These are expected to end in an agreement on an extra summit in November to sign off on any deal that has been reached and a discussion of the scale of a declaration on future ties, which Britain wants to be as detailed as possible.

NORTHERN IRISH CONUNDRUM

While both sides have been making positive noises, there is no deal yet over what has become one of the biggest obstacles - how to keep an open border between the British province of Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland.

"On Brexit, it's very difficult. We have nothing on Ireland," Jean Asselborn, Luxembourg's foreign minister, told Reuters.

EU officials are minded not to paint May into a corner, aware that she faces increasing opposition to her plans in her Conservative Party and elsewhere, and needs a victory of sorts to persuade a reluctant parliament to back a deal.

Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party, which backs May's minority government in Westminster, criticised Barnier's ideas for handling customs crossing the Irish frontier, saying they would still mean an unacceptable border between the province and the rest of the United Kingdom.

May has told lawmakers that they will vote either for a Chequers-based deal or to leave without an agreement. Mel Stride, a junior treasury minister, said pro-Brexit and pro-EU lawmakers could usher in a second referendum on EU membership if they reject her plan.

For now, against a frenzied political backdrop, it only benefits both the EU and Britain to keep the mood positive.

ALSO READ | London Mayor calls for second Brexit referendum

One EU official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said May's team had asked Brussels, and Barnier, not to say that "Chequers is dead" and that the bloc would highlight progress by talking about future ties.

"So we won't, we have Barnier trying to import parts of it - on security and cooperation on international affairs - to the declaration on post-Brexit ties. This is how we are trying to help her," the EU official said.By Reuters

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump hailed Wednesday's summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in, and said there had been "tremendous progress" with North Korea on several fronts including Pyongyang's denuclearization.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said agreements reached between the two Korean leaders at the meeting, in which North Korea said it would permanently abolish its key missile facilities with witnesses, was "very good news."

"He's calm and I'm calm, so we'll see what happens," Trump said, referring to Kim.By PTI

WASHINGTON: The US on Wednesday said the Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba militant groups continue to pose a regional threat and that Pakistan did not adequately address America's concerns on terrorism in 2017.

Although al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan has been seriously degraded, remnants of its global leadership, as well as its regional affiliate al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), continued to operate from remote locations in the region that historically have been exploited as safe havens, the US State Department said in its annual Country Reports on Terrorism for the year 2017.

"Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Tayyiba continued to pose a regional threat in the subcontinent," it said.

The report notes that from August to December 2017, the Trump administration placed a pause on spending new Foreign Military Financing for Pakistan, holding these funds until Pakistan addressed key US concerns, including the threat posed by the Haqqani Network and other terrorist groups that enjoyed safe haven with Pakistan.

"Pakistan did not adequately address these concerns in 2017," said the report.

Although Pakistan's National Action Plan calls to "ensure that no armed militias are allowed to function in the country," several terrorist groups focused on attacks outside of the country continued to operate from Pakistani soil in 2017, it said.

These groups included the Haqqani Network, besides the LeT and JeM which are directed against India.

Though Pakistan continued military operations to eradicate terrorist safe havens in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, their impact on all terrorist groups was uneven, said the State Department report.

According to the report, the Pakistani military and security forces undertook operations against groups that conducted attacks within Pakistan, such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.

Even as the Pakistani government pledged support to political reconciliation between the Afghan government and the Afghan Taliban it did not restrict the Afghan Taliban and Haqqani Network from operating in Pakistan-based safe havens and threatening US and Afghan forces in Afghanistan.

"Pakistan did not take sufficient action against other externally focused groups such as Lashkar e-Tayyiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) in 2017, which continued to operate, train, organise, and fundraise in Pakistan," the report said.

Pakistan detained Hafiz Saeed, leader of LeT and its front organisation Jamaat ud-Dawa (JuD), in January 2017, but a Pakistani court ordered his release from house arrest in November 2017, it said.

In its report, the State Department rued that progress remained slow on the Pakistan government's efforts to implement UN sanctions related to designated entities and enforce anti-money laundering/countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) controls.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), it said, continued to note with concern that Pakistan's outstanding gaps in the implementation of the UN Security Council ISIS and al-Qaeda sanctions regime have not been resolved, and that UN-listed entities  including LeT and its affiliates  were not effectively prohibited from raising funds in Pakistan, nor were they denied financial services.

"Although Pakistan's laws technically comply with international anti-money laundering/countering the financing of terrorism standards, authorities failed to uniformly implement UN sanctions related to designated entities and individuals such as LeT and its affiliates, which continued to make use of economic resources and raise funds," it said.By AFP

WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will chair a meeting of the UN Security Council on North Korea September 27 to urge the international community to keep up the pressure on Pyongyang.

The meeting of top diplomats will take place on the sidelines of the United Nations Annual General Assembly.

"Secretary Pompeo intends to chair a UNSC ministerial on North Korea on Thursday September the 27th," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said.

"At that meeting he will get the secretary a chance to update the Security Council on our efforts toward the final fully verified denuclearization of North Korea as well as underscore the need for all member states to enforce existing sanctions."

Pompeo has been pushing a tough stance against Pyongyang in recent months, including at the UN, warning that global pressure has eased since the June summit in Singapore between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

On Monday, the US ambassador to the UN accused Russia of cheating to bypass the sanctions regime.

Trump has also expressed doubts in recent weeks about China's attitude.

Kim Jong Un reiterated in Singapore an old and vague commitment to "full denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula."

But the terms and timing have been postponed to further bilateral talks, which have stalled.

Washington has pledged to keep up pressure and sanctions until the denuclearization is at least on track, leading Pyongyang to denounce its "gangster" methods.

The State Department has not said at this point whether Pompeo will meet a North Korean delegation at the UN General Assembly next week.

The United States currently holds the rotating Security Council presidency, which it intends to use to further its foreign policy goals.

Trump will preside on September 26 another meeting, devoted mainly to Iran, with the stated purpose of highlighting its "destabilizing" activities.By PTI

NEW DELHI: Batting for peace with the Taliban, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani Wednesday said a truce will help his government focus on pressing issues such as poverty and counter-terrorism in the country, where 40 per cent of the population lives below the poverty line.

Referring to the Eid ceasefire with the Taliban announced by his government this year, the Afghan president said the "bold move" was largely successful and welcomed by an overwhelming majority of people.

He said the Eid ceasefire was 98 per cent implemented.

"Why is peace with Taliban important? Because, if we arrive at peace with Taliban, we can concentrate on (matters like) counter-terrorism," Ghani said at an event organised by India Foundation.

With the presence of foreign terrorists and ISIS in Afghanistan, it is necessary to devise a method to separate the Taliban and others, he said.

"Consequences of this will enable us to embark on the real task. 40 per cent of Afghans are below poverty (line)," he said.

Asserting that peace must be "inclusive" and not "partial", Ghani said dictatorship has no place in the future of Afghanistan.

He said the ceasefire reflected that Afghans are willing to forget the sufferings of the past for a better future.

Ghani said at present, Afghanistan spends USD 6.2 billion on security, while its national revenue was USD 2.4 billion.

The government is committed to reducing it.

With US troops withdrawing from Afghanistan, he said his country's people have demonstrated that they can defend themselves.

He said Afghanistan has over 40,000 commandos in its special forces and they can reach any place in the country in a few hours.

Ghani, who was on a one-day visit to New Delhi, said India can play a major role to develop the underdeveloped resources of Afghanistan.

"That is how we can make every Afghan a stakeholder in society, in the economy," he said.

India has been undertaking several developmental projects in the country that has witnessed civil strife and war for decades.

It has also committed millions of dollars for aid, Ghani said.

He said nearly 15,000 Afghan students have been studying in Indian institutes.

"A stable Afghanistan will allow uplifting from poverty to prosperity, from dis-connectivity to connectivity in shared understanding. This is what Afghanistan and India were practising. This is where our common vision unites," he said.

Ghani also called for an international commission of civil society and security experts to investigate crimes on Afghans, which he termed as a crime against humanity.

He concluded his speech with 'Jai India, Jai Afghanistan' slogan.

In March, India welcomed the Afghan government's call to armed groups to cease violence and join national peace and reconciliation process that would protect the rights of all Afghans, including the women, children and the minorities.

"There can be no compromise with terrorism and action must be taken against those who continue down the path of violence and those who finance them and provide safe havens and sanctuaries," the Ministry of External Affairs had said in a statement.Reporter

Debra Pressey is a reporter covering health care at The News-Gazette. Her email is dpressey@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@DLPressey).A Giza misdemeanour appeals court handed on Wednesday a three month suspended sentence to Khaled Ali, the prominent labour rights lawyer and the 2012 presidential candidate, for offending public decency in an incident that dates back to 2017.

According to Egyptian law, Ali has the right to appeal Wednesday's court decision.

In September 2017, a misdemeanour court had sentenced Ali to three months in prison in the case and ordered a bail of EGP 1000 on charges of ofending public decency by making the middle-finger gesture outside of the State Council headquarters in January 2017.

The incident that led to Ali's conviction occurred as a crowd gathered to celebrate a successful court ruling won by Ali against the April 2016 Egypt-Saudi border demarcation agreement that placed the Red Sea islands of Tiran and Sanafir within Saudia Arabian territory.

Ali appealed the court ruling.

The case against Ali was filed by lawyer Samir Sabry.

Ali spearheaded the legal challenge to the Egypt-Saudi maritime border demarcation agreement, claiming that the two Red Sea islands were Egyptian territory and could not be transferred to Saudi Arabia by way of such an agreement.

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Reporter

Lyndsay Jones is a reporter covering education at The News-Gazette. Her email is ljones@news-gazette, and you can follow her on Twitter (@__lyndsayjones).Reporter/Columnist

Julie Wurth is a reporter covering the University of Illinois at The News-Gazette. Her email is jwurth@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@jawurth).One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021Cobb makes W-W history On Friday October 29, during the gritty game against the Commerce Tigers, Washington-Wilkes football quarterback Dalen Cobb made Wilkes County football history as the first player to ever have 1,000...

Anderson achieves sweeping win; Cullars and Hill retain seats Despite a relatively low voter turnout for this years city council election, Colonel Andy Anderson managed to sweep District Two, winning by a large margin. Larry Hill and Nathaniel Cullars...

Monument unveiled at Smyrna Methodist Church honoring past Wilkes County patriots On October 30, after many delays, the Sons of the American Revolution and company unveiled a monument at Smyrna Methodist Church cemetary honoring four men who served in the American...The president's comments on the much anticipated reforms in the education system came during a busy day inaugurating major health and other projects in various governorates via video conference in Menoufiya governorate

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi asked the public on Wednesday during a video conference in Menoufiya governorate to inaugurate various health projects "to wait and see the results of the new educational system in Egypt before criticizing it."

Addressing Minister of Education Tarek Shawky at the event, El-Sisi stated that he would personally monitor the progress of the schools himself, adding that Egypt has had strong experience in the past in improving and developing the education system for the better.

"I am going to visit lots of schools and I am going to sit with my grandchildren in order to follow up on the quality of the education and see how students and teachers are doing, said El-Sisi, while calling on all governors to provide their full support to the new educational system.

"If we succeed in developing and improving our educational system, our country will move to a higher and better level," he said.

The new academic year (2018-2019) of the Egyptian National education system will start next week in the country.

The Egyptian government signed a deal earlier this year with the World Bank for a $500 million loan to reform the state school system over five years.

The money will be spent on expanding quality kindergarten education for 500,000 children, creating 500,000 new teaching jobs, and making over 1.5 million digital-learning facilities available to educators and students.

El-Sisi also inaugurated a number of educational projects and new schools in several governorates, including a Japanese school that will adopt the Japanese education system Tokkatsu for the first time in Egypt.

The Tokkatsu education system focuses on achieving a balanced development of intellect, virtue and body by ensuring academic competence, rich emotions and healthy physical development.

According to Shawky, who spoke at the event, the Japanese schools in the governorates were ready to launch and that those schools accepted more than 13,000 students across five types of schools.

"The goal of the new educational system is to build a new, different Egyptian generation," Shawky said.

Shawky also announced that El-Sisi agreed to present free tablets, which will be available before the end of October, to the students in their first year of secondary school and that the Ministry of Telecommunication just finished connecting 2500 schools with fiber optics connections.

The minister added that 128,000 teachers across the country are 95% trained on the new educational system.

He also revealed that the ministry founded new applied technology schools for technical education and that the schools have accepted 144 new students who successfully passed their exams.

El-Sisi also spoke about the importance of technical education, expressing his appreciation for the support of Egyptian businessmen to the educational system in the country.

El-Sisi also inaugurated vis video conference a number of other healthcare projects in Menoufiya, Beheira and Giza governorates.

Earlier today, while inaugurating a new military hospital in Menoufiya, President El-Sisi vowed to hold accountable those responsible for the death of three patients earlier this week during a dialysis session at a local hospital in the Nile Delta governorate of Sharqiya.

"Anyone proved to be responsible will be held accountable," El-Sisi said during a conference inaugurating a number of healthcare projects in Menoufiya governorate in the central Delta.

Three people, died and 13 others went into a coma on Saturday after receiving dialysis treatment at the Dirb Negm Hospital.

Minister of Health Hala Zayed said during the conference that 11 of those who fell into a coma have been treated while the two others are still receiving treatment at the hospital.

Prosecutors are currently investigating the matter.

Zayed said the ministry has formed an independent technical committee to identify the cause behind the deaths.

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We are concerned with the situation where ordinary Zimbabweans countrywide are affected by the liquidity crisis and the fact that there is no money in the banking system yet the black market in border towns is well supplied, said Dr Zivhu. It is common cause that money changers have been in existence for a very long time and these need to be incorporated into the fiscus.We are encouraged and excited by the speech. It touches and focuses on the issues that the President undertook in his manifesto to pursue when he is in office. So he has been consistent. He wants to see that the issues he went with to Davos and also his desire to sanitise and clean the operating environment for investor, service delivery. For example, the Town and Country Planning Act has been a stumbling block in terms of planning and implementing projects. The Mines and Mining Act is another problematic area. It used to create conflicts between the communities and mining owners, said Chief Charumbira.Teachers did not sign any contract with Zimsec. Look at what happens during elections; civil servants do not have any contract with Zec hence whenever they offer services such as voter registration, they are paid for that. That is the same plea we have, we want our services to be appreciated, Mr Ndlovu said.She Gave the OK for Steel Used

in Navy Subs. Now, a Guilty PleaMarina Barsoum tracks Pope Tawadros II, Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Pope, on his four-state tour of the US

In his first papal visit to northern US cities, Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II is sending clear messages of trust in the Egyptian leadership, comfort and unity concerning the circumstances of Copts in Egypt and hope in the future of the country.

Pope Tawadros II left Cairo on Thursday 13 September for his first stop in Cedar Grove in New Jersey.

The pope's tour includes New York, New Jersey, Florida and California.

The organising committee member of the US visit Osama Ibrahim told Al-Ahram Weekly that the pope was expected to inaugurate 20 new churches in New York among a total of 68 during his tour, all under the auspices of Bishop David, bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church of New York and New England dioceses.

The pope is expected to spend 29 days in the US. He is staying in New York until 5 October, after which he will fly to Florida, then leave to San Francisco in California on 7 October, Ibrahim said.

Tawadros visit to the US is his second since he became leader of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria in November 2012. The first was in 2015 when he met the Coptic community in the western state of California.

Around 900,000 Egyptians reside in the US, according to 2017 figures from Egypts Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS).

During the holy mass at the inauguration of a new church in Queens in New York, named Queen Helana Church, Tawadros II gave a sermon in which he spoke to the congregation about the latest developments in Egypt.

Tawadros II stressed that the leadership of Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi prioritises unity among all the Egyptian community and understands the great danger of divisions and fragmentation that destroys societies.

The president leads the country like a maestro, and he refuses to name citizens by their religion. We are all one, but in some places, Egypt suffers from ignorance and intolerance, the pope said, highlighting that changing peoples way of thinking needs time.

He then warned the Coptic diaspora about fake news, highlighting that many news stories concerning Egypt and the Coptic Church are sometimes manipulated.

Do not listen to most of the news; 99 per cent of Facebook news is false and fake, Tawadros II said.

Manal Rizk, 53, who was among the congregation at the newly inaugurated church at Queens, spoke to the Weekly on how she felt when listening to Tawadros II.

I felt that all the statements concerning fake news are really true. It was good to hear this from His Holiness. It makes me feel more comfortable, Rizk said, adding that the younger generation always has mixed thoughts when reading the news, but that the pope knows how to reach them.

Speaking on improvements that have been made in Egypt, Tawadros II said, Egypt, like any other country, has white, black and grey pages, but that the situation has been improving over the past five years.

Among the signs of improvement, he pointed out, is the road network where around 3,000 kilometres have been added.

He added that Egypt is a developing country whose budget and capabilities are limited. Nonetheless, he said that the political leadership has a sincere desire to resolve existing problems.

No one can deny the existence of issues inside the church and in the community, Tawadros II said, but they are being calmly resolved.

Commenting on the popes messages, Coptic thinker Kamal Zakher told the Weekly that Tawadros II had presented the issues in a very balanced way.

It is the first time that a pope speaks openly about the issues and deals realistically with the situation, says Zakher.

The papal visit has had a positive effect on the Coptic diaspora living in the US. Rizk, who has been living in the US for the past 15 years, said she was excited that the pope was coming. We worked on the church for three years non-stop. It was an amazing experience.

Speaking about the churchs situation in Egypt, Rizk agreed with the message brought by the pope that change takes time.

Andrew Amir of the congregation at the Church of Saint Mark in Boston told the Weekly that the congregation rejoiced over the visit and the blessing of his holiness because such visits are not often repeated.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 20 September 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Papal assurances

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(Newser)  Dr. Google to the rescue: A 71-year-old woman who developed liver problems consulted the internet and determinedlikely correctlythat her turmeric supplements might be to blame. A blood test first showed the woman had elevated levels of liver enzymes, and after further tests she was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitisa condition in which the immune system attacks the liver, resulting in liver damage and inflammation, Live Science reports. Without treatment it can lead to liver failure, Newsweek adds. Three months later, she read online that turmeric supplements could be linked to liver issues. She had started taking turmeric eight months before the first blood test after reading about a study suggesting it may help prevent strokes, but had not informed her doctors she was taking it. After she stopped taking the supplements, her liver enzyme levels rapidly fell, according to BMJ Case Reports.

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The researchers from the University of Arizona say that to their knowledge, "this is the first documented report of turmeric supplement-induced autoimmune hepatitis," but they note that in 10% to 15% of cases of the illness, drugs or supplements do trigger it. It's not clear how, but the National Institutes of Health says that as the drugs break down, molecules that trigger an immune reaction might be formed. The researchers also looked at 35 other studies involving turmeric supplement use in humans and found that 5% of participants experienced liver problems due to the supplements. Some studies have found that turmeric, a spice used in curry powder, may have anti-inflammatory properties. The researchers say it's not clear whether the supplements caused the liver issues in this case, but that the case shows how important it is to discuss supplement use with your doctor. (Read more turmeric stories.)(Newser)  An infamous professional prankster who once went to great lengths to get his own fake obituary published in the New York Times is now actually dead, the Times reports, noting in its headline that it has the news "on good authority." Alan Abel, who has been called "America's greatest hoaxer" and said to be the precursor to such celebs as Stephen Colbert, died at his Connecticut home Friday at age 94 from, according to his daughter, complications of cancer and heart failure. The Times also confirmed his death with a hospice care center and a funeral home. Abel, who worked as a jazz drummer and stand-up comic before turning to a life of pulling off incredibly complex gags starting in 1959, needed a dozen cohorts in order to pull off his fake 1980 passing; they played roles including his widow and an undertaker (using a dedicated phone line with its own directory-information business listing) to confirm the death. After the obituary was published, Abel held a press conference and the Times retracted its obit.

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All of Abel's pranks involved similarly epic levels of planning, actors, costumes, and more. Among the gags: the Society for Indecency to Naked Animals, a group purportedly pushing to clothe all animals that staged activities for four years before it was outed as fake; "Omar's School for Beggars"; "Euthanasia Cruises"; "Citizens Against Breastfeeding"; and the "KKK Symphony Orchestra." The media was taken in again and again, covering the Abel-concocted activities, organizations, and characterswhich were sometimes meant as performance art, sometimes social commentaryas factual. The Connecticut Post sums it up thusly: "Long before 'Fake News,' there was Alan Abel." As Abel, who made a modest living by writing books and articles, making speeches, and producing mock-documentaries, once noted, the media "need an audience, and the only way theyre going to get an audience is to have perversions and calamities galore. They want excitement; they want drama. And I give them that." (Read more obituary stories.)(Newser)  Poland's leader pressed President Donald Trump on Tuesday to consider creating a permanent American military base in Poland, offering a tempting incentive: The installation would be called "Fort Trump." Polish President Andrzej Duda extended the invitation during a one-on-one meeting with Trump at the White House that focused heavily on the US presence in Poland as the country faces Russia's increased military activities in the region, the AP reports. Trump said during a joint news conference with Duda that he was considering the idea and noted that Poland had offered more than $2 billion to the US to pay for such an effort. Duda, for his part, came away confident that he had taken a major step toward lining up a permanent American military base in his country.

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"I was smiling when talking to Mr. President. I said that I would very much like for us to set up a permanent American base in Poland which we would call Fort Trump," Duda said through a translator, prompting Trump to raise his eyebrows and smile. "And I firmly believe that this is possible." Seeking a check on Russian aggression, Poland wants the 3,000 US troops now deployed in Poland on a rotating basis to be upgraded to a larger, permanent presence. A decision from the US could come early next year. Security, trade and energy topped the agenda as Trump welcomed Duda to the White House for the first time. Duda credited Trump for making Warsaw the first stop on the US president's inaugural European trip last year and said Trump's outdoor address in Poland was a "very important moment" for the relationship between the two countries. Trump said the two leaders agreed to bolster defense, energy and commercial ties, adding that the alliance between the two countries had "never been stronger."

(Read more President Trump stories.)(Newser)  Four young men who were repeatedly raped by their catechism teacher have received one of the Catholic Church's biggest-ever settlements with abuse victims. The New York Diocese of Brooklyn says the men, who were abused between the ages of 8 and 12 and are now ages 19 to 21, will receive $6.875 million each under the terms of the settlement, NBC News reports. Angelo Serrano, former director of religious education at St. Lucy's-St. Patrick's Church, was arrested in 2009 after one of the boys told his mother about the abuse. The 67-year-old is currently serving a 15-year sentence. Lawyers for the victims say other boys were severely abused, but "the statute of limitations prevents their claims from being brought."

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After the victims sued, the diocese argued that it shouldn't be held responsible for the abuse because Serrano was officially a volunteer, not an employee, even though he received a stipend from the church, the New York Times reports. A judge, however, found that priests and parish workers ignored signs of abuse, including the fact that Serrano regularly had young boys sleep over at his apartment. In a deposition, Father Stephen Lynch admitted that he had seen Serrano inappropriately embrace an 8- or 9-year-old boy and kiss him on the lips. "These were egregious incidences of sexual abuse," attorney Ben Rabinowitz tells the New York Post. "And this all happened after the priests were taught to recognize the signs of abuse." (Read more Catholic Church stories.)(Newser)  A Border Patrol agent accused of killing four women over 12 days wanted "to eradicate all the prostitutes," authorities in Laredo, Texas, tell USA Today, and they're not ruling out the possibility of more victims. The bodies of two women had already been found when 35-year-old Juan David Ortiz arrived at a gas station with a third woman around 9pm Friday. She ran to a state trooper for help, while Ortiz took off. He's alleged to have killed two more women before authorities found him at another gas station around 1am Saturday, per CNN. Ortiz ran to a hotel parking garage and tried to use his phone to suggest he had a weapon, but was arrested without incident, says Federico Garza of the Webb County Sheriffs Office, per the New York Times. Authorities say Ortiz may have used his service weapon to kill the "vulnerable" womenall US citizenswith drug or alcohol problems or ties to prostitution.

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Ortiz allegedly befriended sex workers before shooting them each in the head. The killing spree began Sept. 3 with the fatal shooting of Melissa Ramirez, 29, found near Texas Highway 255 in northern Laredo. Last Thursday, the body of Claudine Luera, 42, was found along the same highway just two miles east. Shortly thereafter, the bodies of a 28-year-old transgender woman and a fourth unidentified victim were discovered separately along Interstate 35, which Ortiz knew well as part of the Border Patrol's Highway Interdiction Team. "We're thinking that maybe he was preying on them  [thinking] no one's going to wonder if they go missing," Luera's sister tells the Times. Battling a heroin addiction, Luera "was loved by her family and her friends," she says. "She didn't deserve to die like this." Garza says officials plan to look for other victims "everywhere that [Ortiz] has been." (Read more serial killer stories.)(Newser)  Two female mental health patients detained for medical transport drowned Tuesday night when a sheriff's department van was swept away in rising South Carolina flood waters, authorities say. Horry County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Brooke Holden says a sheriff's office van was carrying two detainees and two deputies from Conway to Darlington when it was overtaken by flood waters, the AP reports. Officials say the van was traveling near the Little Pee Dee River, one of the bodies of water authorities in South Carolina are watching closely as water continues to pour into the state from upriver in North Carolina following the heavy rains of Hurricane Florence.

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Marion County Coroner Jerry Richardson confirmed to the AP earlier Tuesday that two women died in the incident. "They were trying to negotiate through fast-running water, and it just didn't work out," he said. Their names have not been released. Holden says the deputies tried to get the detainees out but couldn't open the doors. High-water rescue teams plucked the deputies from the top of the van. The incident is being investigated by the State Law Enforcement Division. In a release, Horry County Sheriff Phillip Thompson said his office would cooperate with a state police investigation. "Tonight's incident is a tragedy," he said. "Just like you, we have questions we want answered."

(Read more Hurricane Florence stories.)(Newser)  Christine Blasey Ford's lawyers say she wants the FBI to investigate her alleged sexual assault by Brett Kavanaugh before a Senate hearing on the incidentbut such an investigation is highly unlikely to happen by Monday, and Sen. Chuck Grassley says he's not going to delay the hearing, Politico reports. "The invitation for Monday still stands. Dr. Fords testimony would reflect her personal knowledge and memory of events," the Republican Senate Judiciary Committee chairman said in a statement late Tuesday. "Nothing the FBI or any other investigator does would have any bearing on what Dr. Ford tells the committee, so there is no reason for any further delay." In other coverage:

"Let's vote." Republican senatorsincluding some who initially called for a delaysay Kavanaugh's nomination should go to a vote if Ford doesn't testify, the Hill reports. "Republicans extended a hand in good faith. If we dont hear from both sides on Monday, lets vote," says Sen. Bob Corker.

Republican senatorsincluding some who initially called for a delaysay Kavanaugh's nomination should go to a vote if Ford doesn't testify, the Hill reports. "Republicans extended a hand in good faith. If we dont hear from both sides on Monday, lets vote," says Sen. Bob Corker. Calls for a delay. Ford, who accuses Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her when he was a 17-year-old Georgetown Prep student, hasn't confirmed whether she will be at the hearing if it goes ahead Monday, the Washington Post reports. Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein called for a delay, saying the "rushed process" is "unfair" and is reminiscent of the treatment of Anita Hill in 1991. Republicans have said only Ford and Kavanaugh will be allowed to testify.

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Life upended . In a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Ford's lawyer said she has had to move after receiving death threats. Her home address was posted online by white nationalists and she erased her social media presence amid heavy criticism from conservatives. Friends say the last few days have confirmed Ford's fears about going public, the Washington Post reports. "Shes spending her time trying to figure out the logistics of her life as it is now and how to keep herself and her family safe," one associate says.

. In a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Ford's lawyer said she has had to move after receiving death threats. Her home address was posted online by white nationalists and she erased her social media presence amid heavy criticism from conservatives. Friends say the last few days have confirmed Ford's fears about going public, the Washington Post reports. "Shes spending her time trying to figure out the logistics of her life as it is now and how to keep herself and her family safe," one associate says. "What happens at Georgetown Prep." The accusations have drawn fresh attention to a Kavanaugh speech in which he recounted tales of heavy drinking while at Yale Law School, the New York Times reports. In an excerpt from another speech, tweeted by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, he mentioned his high school days. "What happens at Georgetown Prep, stays at Georgetown Prep," he said, adding: "That's been a good thing for all of us."

The accusations have drawn fresh attention to a Kavanaugh speech in which he recounted tales of heavy drinking while at Yale Law School, the New York Times reports. In an excerpt from another speech, tweeted by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, he mentioned his high school days. "What happens at Georgetown Prep, stays at Georgetown Prep," he said, adding: "That's been a good thing for all of us." "No memory." Mike Judge, the friend of Kavanaugh's who Ford says was in the room during the alleged assault, said in a statement that he has "no memory of this alleged incident." He said he can't remember the party, and "more to the point, I never saw Brett act in the manner Dr. Ford describes." CNN reports that Judge wrote about heavy drinking at Georgetown Prep in his book Wasted: Tales of a Gen X Drunk, in which he mentions a "Bart O'Kavanaugh" throwing up in somebody's car.

Mike Judge, the friend of Kavanaugh's who Ford says was in the room during the alleged assault, said in a statement that he has "no memory of this alleged incident." He said he can't remember the party, and "more to the point, I never saw Brett act in the manner Dr. Ford describes." CNN reports that Judge wrote about heavy drinking at Georgetown Prep in his book Wasted: Tales of a Gen X Drunk, in which he mentions a "Bart O'Kavanaugh" throwing up in somebody's car. "Democrats Playbook." The AP reports that President Trump, who has expressed sympathy for Kavanaugh, has already rejected having the FBI reopen its background check of the nominee. "The Supreme Court is one of the main reasons I got elected President. I hope Republican Voters, and others, are watching, and studying, the Democrats Playbook," he tweeted Tuesday night.

(Anita Hill agrees that senators should have a neutral investigation before any hearing .)(Newser)  Proofreaders are important. That's the message Cathay Pacific is likely contemplating today after incredulous travelers spotted one of its new planes on the tarmac at Hong Kong International Airport, the airline's name misspelled in large letters on the side of the aircraft (see a picture here). Missing from the word "Pacific," per the BBC: the letter "f," which prompted "no one gives an f" jokes online.

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There's some head-scratching going on over the embarrassingly prominent mistake, with an engineer for one of the airline's sister companies telling the South China Morning Post: "The spacing is too on-point for a mishap. We have stencils. Should be a blank gap in between letters if it was a real mistake, I think." The airline, which may have to pony up a few thousand dollars to fix the error, tried to have a sense of humor about it all, posting pictures of the plane on Twitter and noting, "Oops this special livery won't last long! She's going back to the shop!" (The mistake in this Simpsons episode apparently went unnoticed for 20 years.)Egypt hopes to capitalize on the historic peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri met Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki last week in Asmara.

It was Shoukris first visit to the country after it restored diplomatic relations with neighbouring Ethiopia after nearly 20 years of enmity that included a two-year border war.

Egypt has always kept steady relations with Eritrea on the political and economic levels.

However, according to Mohamed Higazi, former assistant to Egypts foreign minister, the relationship gained a new dimension after the recent rapprochement between Eritrea and Ethiopia.

The deal was warmly welcomed by Saudi Arabia which awarded Ethiopias Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Afwerki the kingdoms highest medal on Sunday in recognition of the efforts by the two leaders to bring peace to the two countries.

The event was hosted by Saudi King Salman in Jeddah and in the presence of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

The two leaders had been awarded similar gold medals in the United Arab Emirates by Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed in July for the same purpose.

Eritrea is located near Bab Al-Mandeb, a shipping checkpoint on the Red Sea used by oil tankers and other cargo vessels en route to Europe and the US through the Suez Canal.

This makes the country a component in any economic and political alliance that has interests in the Red sea region.

The normalisation of Ethiopian and Eritrean relations together with good Egyptian-Eritrean ties can help the three countries take collective security measures that can contribute to the stabilisation of the Red Sea, Higazi said.

The fact that both the UAE and Saudi Arabia welcomed peace between the two countries, he added, indicated that they regarded Ethiopian-Eritrean reconciliation as an important factor in stabilising the Red Sea area and a step that will have a positive impact on African countries as well as the Gulf region.

Ahmed and Afwerki signed a declaration of peace in July that formally ended two decades of hostility. In line with that agreement, the two leaders reopened two land border crossing points for the first time in 20 years, clearing the way for trade between them.

Eritrea gained its independence from Ethiopia in the early 1990s. However, war broke out by the end of that decade over a border dispute.

A 2002 UN-backed boundary demarcation was meant to settle the dispute for good, but Ethiopia refused to abide by it.

A breakthrough came after Ahmed announced shortly after he assumed power that Ethiopia would hand back to Eritrea the disputed areas including the town of Badme where the first shots of the border war were fired.

Observers believe that a stable relationship between the two countries and Egypt will contribute not only to security in the Red Sea but to easing differences between Cairo and Addis Ababa regarding the Renaissance Dam.

Although Eritrea is not located on the Nile, it has an observer status in the Nile Basin Initiative that also includes the nine countries that share the river.

Thus the Renaissance Dam negotiations was one of the issues that topped Shoukris meeting with Afwerki in Asmara.

During his one-day visit to Eritrea, Shoukri delivered a message from President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi to his Eritrean counterpart.

President Afwerkis visit in January gave a genuine boost to bilateral relations. As a result, the last three months witnessed the signing of six cooperation agreements in health, electricity, agriculture and trade, added Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid in a statement.

Moreover, there is a noticeable hike in the rate of trade exchange between the two states together with an increase in the number of projects and joint cooperation programmes in various fields, the statement added.

It was not the first exchange of visits between the two countries. In January, Afwerki visited Cairo for talks with Al-Sisi on means of boosting cooperation in development and security scores. The talks also tackled the latest regional developments.

Afwerkis visit was the third since Al-Sisi came to power. He attended Al-Sisis inauguration in 2014. His second visit was in November 2016.

In addition to being members of the Nile Basin Initiative, the two countries have strong ties with various organisations, including the African Union, COMESA and the Arab League in which Eritrea holds observer status.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 20 September 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Catalyst for stability

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(Newser)  The man accused of murdering Mollie Tibbetts will stand trial in April. Cristhian Bahena Rivera on Wednesday pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder during his arraignment in Montezuma, Iowa. KCRG reports the 24-year-old waived his right to a speedy trial, and an April 16 trial date was set. He remains jailed on a $5 million cash-only bond and faces life in prison without parole if convicted, reports the Des Moines Register. (Read more Mollie Tibbetts stories.)(Newser)  Three years after anesthesiology professor Dr. Khaw Kim-sun's wife and 16-year-old daughter were found unresponsive in a Mini Cooper in Hong Kong, Khaw has been convicted of their murders and was on Wednesday sentenced to life in prison. The case received international attention due to its bizarre mechanics: The women succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning, and a deflated yoga ballone believed to have held the gasfound in the trunk was pinpointed as the murder weapon.

The New York Times reports Khaw's lawyer argued that his daughter, Lily Li-ling Khaw, used the ball to commit suicide. It reports Gerard McCoy claimed the intense pressure Khaw, 53, put on her to succeed academically led the teen to use the ball, whose lethal nature she had been warned about, to take her life. The South China Morning Post reports McCoy offered a different possible explanation in his closing remarks, saying it was possible she used it to kill bugs, which frightened her, without understanding just how potent the gas was.

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As for why the balls were filled with the gas in the first place, Khaw had been studying the impact of carbon monoxide on rabbits and says he brought the ball home to take care of a rodent problem. The Morning Post reports prosecutors argued Khaw designed the experiment to provide himself with a cover story that would allow him to obtain the gas. It notes their case was a circumstantial one, as there were no witnesses who saw who put the ball in the trunk and when.

As for motive, the Morning Post reports prosecutor Andrew Bruce didn't build his case around a love triangle, but he did reference it frequently: Khaw and wife Wong Siew-fing, 47, were described as having been estranged for years though they still co-habitated. Khaw had been seeing Shara Lee, a grad student, and was said to have traveled abroad with her after the May 22, 2015, deaths.

The Times reports High Court judge Mrs. Judianna Barnes Wai-ling noted that as a result of Wong's death, Khaw was poised to inherit property they jointly held. "It is shocking that a highly educated and successful man would conjure up such a calculated method to get rid of his wife," she said.

The jury deliberated for nearly 7 hours before reaching its unanimous decision. The Straits Times reports that upon hearing it, Khaw faced his three surviving children, who were crying, and shook his head "as if to say he did not do it."

(Read more murder stories.)(Newser)  Four people were shot and wounded during a shooting Wednesday at a software company in a suburb of Madison, Wisconsin, according to a city administrator. The suspected shooter was also injured critically during the late-morning shooting at WTS Paradigm in Middleton, City Administrator Mike Davis said. He said police have lifted a lockdown but did not immediately have additional information, the AP reports. A spokeswoman at University Hospital said the hospital has accepted four patients from the shooting. Their conditions were not immediately available. The Dane County dispatch center said shots were reported around 10am at the building, which also houses Esker Software. Police and multiple ambulances responded.

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Judy Lahmers, a business analyst at WTS Paradigm, said she was working at her desk when she heard shots. She said it sounded "like somebody was dropping boards on the ground, really loud." Lahmers said she ran out of the building and hid behind a car. She said the building's glass entrance door shattered and that one co-worker had been grazed by a shot but was OK. She didn't have any other information. She said the shooting was "totally unexpected. We're all software people. We have a good group." Gabe Geib, a customer advocate at Esker Software, said he was working at his desk when he heard a couple of shots coming from next door which "sounded like claps." He said he then saw people running "full sprint" away from the building.

(Read more Wisconsin stories.)(Newser)  Cody Wilson, the Texas man who runs a controversial 3D-printed gun company at the center of a legal fight, is accused of paying an underage girl $500 to have sex with her. According to an arrest affidavit filed in Travis County district court on Wednesday, the 16-year-old told a counselor about the encounter, and the counselor in turn told police. The girl told authorities during an Aug. 27 forensic interview that she created an account on SugarDaddyMeet.com and began communicating with someone using the name "Sanjuro," who later identified himself as Wilson and told the girl he was "a big deal." Authorities say the girl sent him nude photos, and he sent her pictures of his penis, before meeting Aug. 15 and having sex at a hotel, the Austin American-Statesman reports. Wilson, 30, faces a charge of sexual assault, a second-degree felony, the Washington Post reports.

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Police say they compared Sanjuro's SugarDaddyMeet.com profile photo to Wilson's driver's license photo and found they were the same person, and that they corroborated the girl's story via surveillance footage and hotel records. Wilson has not yet been arrested, though Ars Technica reports a judge signed the arrest warrant Wednesday; his last known whereabouts were in Taiwan, where he often travels for business, and police say they are working with international authorities to get him back to the US. Wilson was reportedly tipped off to the police investigation by a friend of the girl, and allegedly skipped his scheduled flight back to the US. The judge also ordered that upon his arrest, photographs of the inside of his upper legs be taken; Ars Technica notes this is presumably to help the alleged victim identify him. Court documents say he has a "uniquely identifiable skin condition." (Read more Cody Wilson stories.)(Newser)  Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter and son-in-law were released from prison Wednesday after a court suspended their sentences and granted them bail pending their appeals hearings, the AP reports. The Islamabad High Court made the decision after the Sharifs petitioned to appeal their sentences, which were handed down by an anti-graft tribunal earlier this year in a corruption case against them. The three were released from a prison in the garrison city of Rawalpindi. Prosecutors in the case, the National Accountability Bureau, said they would appeal Wednesday's ruling and take the case against Sharif to the country's Supreme Court. The development is the latest twist in a series of scandals involving the former prime minister, beginning with his ouster from office last year, to several corruption cases and trials he still faces.

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In July last year the Pakistani Supreme Court disqualified Sharif from office over corruption allegations. He faced several court cases at home and was later convicted of concealing assets abroad. The charges stemmed from leaked papers from a Panama law firm. Sharif faced two more cases before the anti-graft tribunal and has been banned for life from public office. When the anti-graft tribunal first convicted and sentenced Sharif this July, he was in London with his daughter, visiting his critically ill wife. The father and daughter returned home a week later and were taken to prison to serve their sentences; Sharif's wife died while they were in prison following a long battle with cancer, and Sharif was temporarily released earlier this month to attend her funeral. Sharif's party, the Pakistan Muslim League, meanwhile, lost in parliamentary elections later in July and has now taken on the mantle of opposition party to new Prime Minister Imran Khan's government.

(Read more Nawaz Sharif stories.)More than five million children are at risk of famine in Yemen as the ongoing war causes food and fuel prices to soar across the country, charity Save the Children warned Wednesday.

Disruption to supplies coming through the embattled Red Sea port of Hodeida could "cause starvation on an unprecedented scale," the British based NGO said in a new report.

Save the Children said an extra one million children now risk falling into famine as prices of food and transportation rise, bringing the total to 5.2 million.

Any type of closure at the port "would put the lives of hundreds of thousands of children in immediate danger while pushing millions more into famine," it added.

Impoverished Yemen has been mired in deadly conflict between Shia Huthi rebels and troops loyal to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi since 2014.

A Saudi-led alliance intervened in 2015 in a bid to bolster the president, accusing Iran of backing the Houthis, but nearly 10,000 people have since been killed.

Deadly clashes resumed around the Houthi-held port city of Hodeida following the collapse of talks in Geneva earlier this month.

"Millions of children don't know when or if their next meal will come," said Helle Thorning-Schmidt, CEO of Save the Children International.

"In one hospital I visited in north Yemen, the babies were too weak to cry, their bodies exhausted by hunger.

"This war risks killing an entire generation of Yemen's children who face multiple threats, from bombs to hunger to preventable diseases like cholera," she added.

The United Nations has warned that any major fighting in Hodeida could halt food distributions to eight million Yemenis dependent on them for survival.

Saudi Arabia and its allies accuse the Houthi rebels of smuggling arms from Iran through Hodeida and has imposed a partial blockade on the port.

The Houthis and Iran both deny the charges.

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Beijing:

China on Wednesday sought level playing field, transparent and fair environment for its enterprises in India while expressing concern over New Delhis reported move to exclude Chinese telecom companies Huawei and ZTE from 5G trials.

According to a report in Chinas state-run Global Times on Sunday, the Indias Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had barred Huawei Technologies and ZTE Corp from the list of companies allowed to work with local companies in 5G technology-based trials due to security concerns.

The move follows the US and Australia in banning Huawei and ZTE for national security reasons, it said.

Also Read | No formal communication received about Christian Michel's extradition from UAE: CBI

However, a top DoT official had said they were in the process of setting up a panel which will decide on areas where 5G technology can be used.

Telecom Secretary Aruna Sundararajan told PTI on September 14 that companies have come up with preliminary use cases. We are going to set up core group which will sit with them and look at what are the use cases that make sense to us.

Sundararajan said DoT had approached Ericsson, Nokia, Samsung, Cisco and NEC for development of 5G applications and running trials on the suggestion of Stanford University Professor Emeritus Arogyaswami J Paulraj - a member of the 5G panel that recently suggested spectrum roadmap for the technology.

We wrote to Ericsson, Nokia, Cisco, Samsung and NEC. Huawei has met me and they have said that they are interested. We said if you are interested then send us a proposal. We will see what their proposal is and we may go with them also, she said.

In Beijing, reacting to media reports, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a media briefing, I have seen relevant reports. The Chinese government has always encouraged overseas Chinese enterprises to abide by international rules and local laws while pursuing economic cooperation overseas.

Read More | Who is Yusaku Maezawa? Meet SpaceXs first billionaire space tourist to fly around the moon

We hope the relevant country would offer level playing field and a transparent fair environment for Chinese enterprises, he said, replying to a question about Indias reported move to exclude Huawei and ZTE from taking part in the 5G trials.

Economic cooperation between India and China is for mutual benefits and for win-win results. Overall, such cooperation between both sides is going on smoothly, Geng said.

Were cooperating actively with local telecom operators and the Indian government, and local authorities and partners hold an open attitude toward cooperating with us in meeting demand for 5G network construction, a Huawei official said in a statement quoted in the report last week.

The Chinese company is also working normally with the local telecom operators on 5G trials, Huawei added.

In August, the US banned government personnel from using Huawei technologies while Australia barred the company from providing equipment to support the countrys new telecommunications networks.

For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.New Delhi:

Brussels Airlines has decided to stop flights between India and Belgium for economic reasons, one-and-a-half years after launching services from the Belgian capital to Mumbai.

The airline, owned by Deutsche Lufthansa AG, would operate its last flight from Mumbai to Brussels on January 7, according to a release.

It is operating direct flights between Mumbai and Brussels.

Also Read | Nawaz Sharif, daughter Maryam Nawaz's jail term suspended by Islamabad High Court

The airline increased the services to six flights a week on this route. Initially, it was five times a week.

Since the service is not delivering the anticipated results, the decision has been taken to withdraw flights on this route, the release issued on Tuesday said.

The flight capacity would be utilised to serve its African network.

Read More | Manipur University row: VC AP Pandey suspended until completion of inquiry

For economic reasons, the airline has decided to cease its flight service between India and Belgium, the carrier said.

The airline said customers who are booked on its flights to or from Mumbai after January 7 are being contacted and offered alternative travel solutions.

For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.Los Angeles:

Angelina Jolie has been cast as the lead in new revenge thriller The Kept.

The film is the big screen adaptation of James Scotts 2015 novel of the same name, reported Variety.

The story is set in the winter of 1897, where a trio of killers descends upon an isolated farm in upstate New York.

Also Read | BSF head constable's throat slit by Pakistani troops near Jammu

Midwife Elspeth Howell (Jolie) returns home to the carnage: her husband, and four of her children, murdered. Before she can discover her remaining son Caleb, alive and hiding in the kitchen pantry, another shot rings out over the snow-covered valley. Twelve-year-old Caleb must tend to his mother until she recovers enough for them to take to the frozen wilderness in search of the men responsible.

The 43-year-old Oscar winner will also produce the project alongside Dan Friedkin and Bradley Thomas.

Jolie will also be seen in Maleficent sequel and Come Away, opposite David Oyelowo.

For all the Latest Entertainment News, Hollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.New Delhi:

Afghanistans Ambassador to India Dr Shaida Abdali on Wednesday announced his resignation as the Afghan Ambassador to India, saying stepping down was a tough but an appealing decision.

Abdalis resignation comes on the same day Afghanistans President Ashraf Ghani visited India and held wide-ranging talks with PM Modi to further boost bilateral cooperation.

Stepping Down - A tough but an appealing decision: On a high note ending a successful visit of HE the Afghan President in India, I resigned today as the Afghan Ambassador to India. Serving in India for more than six years was indeed a great honor and privilege... pic.twitter.com/VcfUA1ULGF  Dr Shaida Abdali (@ShaidaAbdali) September 19, 2018

Also Read | No official talks with India on opening of Kartarpur corridor: Pak

Abdali took to Twitter to announce his resignation and wrote, India not only gave me a home feeling but added a wealth of knowledge and plethora of experience to my over 2 decades long political career. The exceptional warmth, hospitality and friendship extended to me during my tenure will remain a hallmark in my political career, adding after serving his country for years, he now felt the need to serve his country from within.

.. for which Im deeply grateful to the friendly people and govt. of India. Serving my country for years in India, I felt the need to return and serve my country from within. During my tenure, I have had the honor of witnessing our relations going from strength to strength..  Dr Shaida Abdali (@ShaidaAbdali) September 19, 2018

Also Read | Nawaz Sharif, daughter Maryam Nawaz's jail term suspended

The limits to our exceptional relationship is only Sky and I wish my successor all the best and success in this extremely important endeavor. Long Live India - Afghanistan Friendship! Abdali tweeted.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.New Delhi:

Days after the united front of Left student groups AISA, SFI, AISF, DSF scored a massive win by bagging all four key posts in JNUSU Election 2018, JNU students' union president N Sai Balaji and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman got engaged into an intense war of words.

Stepping up his attack on the Narendra Modi government, the new JNUSU president said, "The government wants the country to talk about the national versus anti-national debate. They want to divert attention from the real issues - the Rafale deal, the Jio university, unemployment."

Sitharaman, who herself, is a product of the JNU, has not answered questions "why Ambani was helped in the Rafale deal".

"They want to end public-funded education and encourage corporatisation while the common man talks about nationalism and anti-national elements," he added.

Balaji's statement came days after Sitharaman hit out at JNU, alleging that there are forces in the varsity which are "waging a war" against India and said she herself has not answered questions on Rafale deal.

Read | JNUSU Election Results 2018: Left Unity bags four central panel posts, N Sai Balaji new president

"There are forces which are waging a war against India and it is they who are also seen with elected representatives of the students union. That makes me feel uneasy," the Defence Minister was quoted as saying.

"The kind of things which have happened in the last few years (in JNU) are not really encouraging at all. It is very different to have a party whose ideology you may not agree with. But the way in which they were probably got led by forces which are anti-India," she said.

"They are waging a war against India, say pamphlets. Such people leading the JNUSU or JNUSU members openly participating with such forces, you do not need to hesitate to say anti-India, therefore," Sitharaman said.

Read | Umar Khalid attack: Delhi Police detain two suspects in August 13 shooting

Sitharaman's comment came on the heels of Left groups victory on all four key posts in the JNUSU Election 2018, which witnessed a massive clash between members of the RSS-backed Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the Left-affiliated All India Students Association (AISA).

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.New Delhi:

Jalandhar bishop Franco Mulakkal, who has been accused sexual assaulting a nun, was grilled by Kerala police for seven hours on Wednesday and the interrogation will continue on Thursday, sources said.

aThe first phase of interrogation is over. He has been asked to be present tomorrow morning at 11 am for continued interrogation. He has agreed to it,a Kottayam Superintendent of police Hari Sankar said after the marathon questioning of the priest.

A five-member team of the Kerala police led by Vaikom Deputy Superintendent of Police K Subhash interrogated the bishop at the Crime Branch for allegedly raping a nun.

This is the second police interrogation that bishop Mulakkal will face in connection with the alleged crime. Earlier, a police team from Kerala had travelled to Jalandhar to question him.A

On Tuesday, Mulakkal, filed an anticipatory bail petition in the Kerala High Court claiming allegations against him were a "cooked up story to wreak vengeance".A The Kerala High Court adjourned the hearing of the application for September 25 when it will hear the police version. When the plea came up for the hearing before Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan this afternoon, the petitioner did not seek any interim relief to thwart his possible arrest.A

Citing convention, legal experts said police may not arrest Mulakkal, who recently stepped aside as the bishop of the Jalandhar diocese, since his anticipatory bail plea is pending before the high court. However, police can still arrest him if it has sufficient evidence, they said. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Kerala Police has asked him to appear before it Wednesday.

Here are the highlights:

#7: 05 pm: Interrogation of accused Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal to continue tomorrow.

We will continue to interrogate him (Kerala nun rape accused Franco Mulakkal) tomorrow: Kottayam SP Harishankar #Kerala a ANI (@ANI) September 19, 2018

#7: 01 pm:A All India Youth Federation-CPI hold protest as Kerala nun rape accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal leaves from CID Crime Branch office.

Kochi: All India Youth Federation-CPI hold protest as Kerala nun rape accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal leaves from CID Crime Branch office. pic.twitter.com/SMTjesKcdZ a ANI (@ANI) September 19, 2018

#10.58 am:A Accused Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal arrives at Crime Branch (CID) in Kochi where he will be interrogated by a 5 members team led by Vaikom DySP K Subhash.

Kerala nun rape case: Accused Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal arrives at Crime Branch (CID) in Kochi where he will be interrogated by a 5 members team led by Vaikom DySP K Subhash. #Kerala pic.twitter.com/BGWDGMH6b5 a ANI (@ANI) September 19, 2018

#10.00 am:A Kochi: Security heightened at Crime Branch (CID) where five members team led by Vaikom Dy SP K Subhash will interrogate accused Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal in Kerala nun rape case.

Kochi: Security heightened at Crime Branch (CID) where five members team led by Vaikom DySP K Subhash will interrogate accused Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal in Kerala nun rape case. #Kerala pic.twitter.com/v6vt94Rm9z a ANI (@ANI) September 19, 2018

In his plea, the 54-year-old clergyman has claimed the accusations by the nun, serving in a congregation under the Jalandhar diocese, is "wholly concocted and cooked up only to wreak vengeance for the actions taken by him on various complaints received against her". Claiming innocence, the bishop said the complaint was "nothing but a fictional story".A

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.New Delhi:

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday said the Hinduvta outfit was not against inter-caste marriage and it was an issue of compatibility between a man and woman.A Answering wide-ranging questions on issues like inter-caste marriages, education as well as the caste system, Bhagwat also said if there is a census on inter-caste marriages, the maximum cases will be those from the Sangh.

A On the last day of the three-day mega outreach conclave by the Hindutva outfit, the RSS chief also said India needs a new education policy.A

"If you do a survey of inter-caste marriages in India, maybe you will find the maximum percentage of those being swayamsevaks from Sangh," RSS Bhagwat said.

If you do a survey of intercaste marriages in India, maybe you will find the maximum percentage of those being swayamsevaks from Sangh: RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat in Delhi pic.twitter.com/lTeZjRxuh2 a ANI (@ANI) September 19, 2018

'Cow vigilantism should be there'

Speaking on the much-talked about cow vigilantism, Bhagwat said to take law into hands over any issue is wrong and strict action should be taken against those found gulity.A A A

"Why only over issue of cows, to take law into hands over any issue is wrong and a crime. Strict action should be taken. But cow is a matter of devotion. 'Gauraksha' should be there," Bhagwat said.

"Gau raksha should be done in a constitutional way, but gau rakshaks should keep cows first. There are many Muslims who run cow gaushalas with complete dedication. Don't link all such people to lynching. Don't link gau rakshaks to criminals," he said.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.Main suspect pleads guilty as court begins imam murder case hearing, Public Prosecution is seeking death penalty for the main accused

Main suspect pleads guilty as court begins imam murder case hearing, Public Prosecution is seeking death penalty for the main accused

The suspected killer of a Bahraini imam yesterday pleaded guilty before the High Criminal Court, it is learnt.

This was the 35-year-old Bangladeshi nationals first appearance before the court along with the second suspect in the case.

Meanwhile, the second suspect pleaded not guilty at the hearing, stating he was unaware of his co-defendants intentions to murder imam Abduljaleel Hamood.

According to sources, the suspect hit the imam with an iron rod on his back and head until the victim fell unconscious. He then cut the imams body into pieces and kept them inside plastic bags.It is common for companies to organize various informal events where workers can come with their partners. One of those...The United States is seeking to negotiate a treaty with Iran that will cover both its ballistic missile and nuclear programs, the U.S. special envoy for Iran said on Wednesday ahead of U.N. meetings in New York next week.

"The new deal that we hope to be able to sign with Iran, and it will not be a personal agreement between two governments like the last one, we seek a treaty," envoy Brian Hook told an audience at the Hudson Institute think tank.

But Hook said Iranian leaders have not been interested in talking despite statements by President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo this year that the administration was willing to meet.

Trump announced in May that he was pulling the United States out of an Obama-era nuclear deal signed between Iran and six world powers.

The 2015 deal was an executive agreement that was not ratified by the U.S. Senate. A treaty would require approval by the Senate.

Opponents of the nuclear agreement have argued that Obama's failure to seek ratification of the deal allowed Trump to unilaterally scrap the deal in May.

"They did not have the votes in the U.S. Senate so they found the votes in the U.N. Security Council. That is insufficient in our system of government if you want to have something enduring and sustainable," Hook said, without elaborating on how the administration would negotiate.

Trump will chair a session on Iran during the U.N. General Assembly meetings in New York next week. In July, Trump said he was willing to meet Iran's leaders "anytime they want" prompting speculation that a meeting could occur at the U.N. meetings next week.

"The ayatollah, the president and foreign minister have all indicated they are not interested in talking," Hook said, referring to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

"We respect that though that does not change our plans. We have a sanctions regime that is underway, stronger measures are yet to come," he added.

Hook said the administration was expanding its diplomatic efforts to ensure that purchases of Iranian oil were "close to zero" by Nov. 4 when Washington reimposed oil sanctions against Tehran.

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Manama : The Labour Fund (Tamkeen) has signed an agreement with Bahrain Technology Companies Society (BTECH) to support 40 enterprises that take part in the Bahraini National Pavilion (BNP) at GITEX2018. GITEX Technology Week will be held from October 14 to 18 at Dubai World Trade Centre, leveraging unrivalled business access to emerging markets, buyers and governments from more than 130 countries. The agreement aims to support 40 ICT companies and 20 Bahraini start-ups take part in the largest technology event in the Middle East, Africa & South Asia.

This event offers participants a promising opportunity for exposure and networking, said Dr Ebrahim Mohammed Janahi, Tamkeens Chief Executive, stressing the importance of this annual event. Supporting Bahraini exhibitors at GITEX2018 aims to increase the contribution of technology companies in the private sector, enhance their competitiveness, develop their business and bring their products and services to the regional and global markets, as well as encourage Bahraini ICT entrepreneurs to develop their ideas and projects, he added.

BTECH Chairman Ubaydli Ubaydli acknowledged that Bahrains consecutive annual participation @GITEX reflects positively on the development of the ICT sector in Bahrain, in line with Tamkeens strategy to develop programs for business development, in which the ICT industry is one of its main growth streams. Ubaidly assured the keenness of BTECH to invest this support by Tamkeen in achieving the desired goals as effectively as possible, calling on all ICT and telecom companies in Bahrain to take this opportunity of Tamkeens generous support to participate in BNP @GITEX2018, run by BTECH in collaboration with WorkSmart for the 12th consecutive year.US spaceflight venture SpaceX says Japanese entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa will become the first private passenger to fly around the Moon on its next-generation rocket.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk made the announcement alongside Maezawa at a rocket factory in Los Angeles on Monday. Maezawa is the CEO of Start Today Company, which operates the major online fashion website ZOZOTOWN.

Smiling widely, Maezawa said: "Finally, I can tell you that I choose to go to the Moon." He added he was excited, honored and grateful.

Maezawa said he will invite several artists from around the world to join him on board the Big Falcon Rocket for his trip to the Moon, scheduled for 2023.

The trip is expected to be the first by a private space company. The last time humans orbited the Moon was during the US Apollo missions in the 1960s and 70s.

Musk, who is also CEO of electric carmaker Tesla, said Maezawa is "the bravest person and best adventurer" and that "we're honored that he would choose us."

SpaceX plans to ferry crew to the International Space Station using a new spaceship as early as next year.

The company plans to go ahead with the private space travel after gaining knowhow through the manned flights. The Big Falcon Rocket is now under development. - NHKSwiss police arrested one of the pro-Brotherhood and Qatar regime supporters on Wednesday who attempted to attack Qatari and other Arab activists who were organizing a silent protest in Geneva outside the offices of the UNHCR to denounce terrorism and Doha's repressive practices against Al-Ghufran tribe.

The Al-Ghufran tribe, with the participation of a number of Egyptian, Yemeni, and Syrian activists were organizing a permitted silent protest in front of the Palais des Nations in Geneva against both human rights abuses, denaturalization and forced displacement policies by the Doha government as well as Qatari support for terrorism in Syria, Libya, Iraq, and Egypt.

The protest was organized by the Ecumenical Alliance for Human Rights and Development and the Dialogue Forum for Development and Human Rights.

The Muslim Brotherhood, which is designated as a terrorist organisation in Egypt and a number of Arab countries, reportedly deployed some of its Tunisian, Algerian and Libyan members, in addition to individuals who are reportedly illegally living in Switzerland, to attack the protest.

The Swiss police initially buffered the the attackers away from the protesters, but the pro-Qatar individuals returned attemptiing to use violence against the protesters.

An investigation has been open by the police into the incident.

The arrested Brotherhood follower was arrested stopped by the police after attacking some of Al-Ghufran protesters on their way to a subway station.

Many of the pro-Brotherhood elements ran away from the site of the incident to escape arrest.

A number of tourists and visitors in the area joined the protest, which angered the Brotherhood individuals who then tried to use force against the protesters, causing fear among some of them.

Some of the protesters clashed with the Brotherhood followers in a bid to stop their offensive on the demonstration.

Said Abdul Hafez, the president of the Dialogue Forum, condemned the acts of the Brotherhood, saying "the hired thugs of the Brotherhood and Qatar have were used in Geneva to stop any activities that seek to condemn the forced displacement and the denial of the rights of more than 6,000 Qataris of their citizenship, which leaves no doubt that trhe Qatari regime is involved in supporting terrorism."

Ayman Nasri, the head of the Ecumenical Alliance, said that the "terrorist Muslim Brotherhood relies on outlaws from different Arab nationalities, who are living illegally in Switzerland to protest on behalf of the movement."

Nasri added the Brotherhood wants these elements to conduct "acts of violence against peaceful protesters", with the aim of preventing his organisation from securing permits for peaceful protests in the future.

He noted that the case is now in the hands of Swiss authorities in Geneva, explaining that his organisation will follow up on the investigation's developments.

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The Modibbo Haruna Buhari Charity Organisation (BCO), an NGO, has passed a vote of confidence on President Muhammadu Buharis administration, saying he deserves a second term.Mr Modibbo Suleiman-Masaka, the National Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT) of the organisation, said this in an interview with the Newsmen in Keffi, Keffi Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, on Wednesday.Suleiman-Masaka said that Buharis laudable projects had direct bearing on the lives of Nigerians.He also drummed support for Buharis re-election bid, explaining that their support was based on the presidents numerous achievements in the areas of security, corruption, agriculture and economy, among others.Buhari has done a lot and is still doing his best; he deserves second term to enable him continue with the good works he has being doing for Nigerians.We have searched everywhere but there is no any candidate to compare him with President Buhari in 2019.President Buhari had done well and is still doing well, we will continue to mobilise and drum support for his re-election bid in the interest of development.It is in view of this that we as an NGO after assessing his achievements in office, we pass a vote of confidence on President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajos re-election bid come 2019 , he said.Suleiman-Masaka called on Nigerians to support Buharis anti-corruption crusade with prayers for the success of the war.He also called on Nigerians to offer special prayers for peace, unity and violence-free general elections in 2019 in order to elect God-fearing leaders.The BOT chairman restated the organisations continued commitment to preach peace and harmony among Nigerians in the interest of national development.Zainab Ahmed, acting minister of finance, was the star of the moment at Wednesdays federal executive council (FEC) meeting presided over ...

Zainab Ahmed, acting minister of finance, was the star of the moment at Wednesdays federal executive council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.





Ahmed, who had all along attended the meeting as minister of state for budget and national planning, was congratulated by her colleagues.





Buhari had appointed Ahmed on Friday, following the resignation of Kemi Adeosun, minister of finance.





Adeosun had resigned over the fake exemption National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate she presented to the national assembly for screening.





Mansur Dan-Ali, minister of defence; Heineken Lokpobiri, minister of state for agriculture; and Mohammed Bello, minister of water resources, led Ahmed to her new seat.





She was seen engaging with Audu Ogbeh, minister of agriculture; Udoma Udoma, minister of budget and national planning; and Abubakar Malami, minister of justice.



Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is still very much in the 2019 governorship race contrary to reports on social media that he has withdrawn to pa...

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is still very much in the 2019 governorship race contrary to reports on social media that he has withdrawn to pave way for the emergence of Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

There have been reports on social media that the governor has stepped down from the 2019 gubernatorial race, but government source said the news was simply fake.





A top government source said the report was the handiwork of persons bent on heating up the polity in the State and creating unnecessary confusion and tension within the All Progressives Congress (APC).





The report, which the authors had claimed was signed by the Governor, suggested that he(Ambode) after due considerations and consultations, had decided to suspend his campaign for second term and also endorsed another aspirant, Babajide Sanwo-Olu to emerge as the candidate of the party.





A source closed to the seat of power confirmed that the report was nothing but a hoax.





The source who craved anonymity, said it is not true, it is baseless, it is unfounded and the general public should disregard it.





I mean, how can Ambode withdraw from a race that he is very much into and he is consulting widely? This defiles logic and it is a tragic reflection of what social media has turned journalism into where any Tom, Dick, and Harry can just wake up in the corners of his room in Iyana Ipaja, Amukoko, Ikorodu, Oshodi or anywhere and concoct lies and present same to the world as the truth.





According to our source, there was a need for leading lights in the journalism world to rise up to save the profession from charlatans.



The All Progressives Congress (APC) has reacted to a recent claim by the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) that the Muhammadu B...

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has reacted to a recent claim by the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) that the Muhammadu Buhari government was planning a forceful change of leadership at the National Assembly.





Imo Ugochinyere, CUPPs spokesperson, on Tuesday, alleged that the government was set to file a suit to get an exparte order directing that one-third of the Senators/House members should open either chambers of the National Assembly.





A statement he signed said CUPP was informed that the plot also included the police inviting the leadership of the National Assembly before the controversial ruling and detaining presiding officers to pave way for the unlawful change.





Some of the security agencies will provide security cover for the coupists while a section of the media has been co-opted to churn out news and justification for such evil plots, he claimed.





Reacting, APC national publicity secretary, Yekini Nabena, said such crude practices were rejected templates of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which the CUPP represents.





He wrote, We consider these new rounds of falsehood by the sponsored Coalition as a last-ditch attempt by the outgoing and minority National Assembly leadership of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki; his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu and Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara to prevent the reconvening of the National Assembly and continue a minority-rule in an APC-dominated federal legislature.





We are in a democracy and are governed by laws. A few cannot hold the legislative arm of government to ransom through their selfish political games.



The Nigeria police force has filed charges against PDP governorship aspirant in the upcoming Osun State election, Senator Ademola Adeleke, ...

The Nigeria police force has filed charges against PDP governorship aspirant in the upcoming Osun State election, Senator Ademola Adeleke, at the Federal High Court in Abuja.





The charges against the Senator include examination malpractice, aiding and abetting, impersonation, and criminal conspiracy.





The School Principal of Ojo-Aro Community High School, Egbedore Local Government Area, Osun State, and three others are also to be arraigned for what the police describes as conspiracy with the Senator.





Police spokesperson, Jimoh Moshood, told journalists on Wednesday that investigations revealed that Senator Adeleke and his brother Sikiru Adeleke registered and sat for the National Examination Council Examination (NECO) 2017 as internal candidates, impersonating students of the school at the ages of 57 and 42 years respectively.





The police added that Senator Adeleke had made a cautionary statement and admitted that he registered for the 2017 NECO examinations as an internal student in the said school but did not sit for the examination.





Moshood explained further that both Senator Adeleke and his brother Sikiru Adeleke s pictures were captured in the schools photo book of 2017 but no NECO seal was found on their photos, unlike the rest of the students.



Senate President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant, Bukola Saraki, on Tuesday insisted that President Muhammadu Buh...

Senate President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant, Bukola Saraki, on Tuesday insisted that President Muhammadu Buhari does not understand governance and was not prepared to govern the country when he was elected in 2015.

Saraki stated this while addressing Oyo State delegates and members of the party ahead of the national convention of the PDP at the state secretariat of the party located at Molete, Ibadan.





The former governor of Kwara State, who said that Nigerians made a mistake by voting Buhari in 2015, added that Nigeria needed a digital President.





Saraki, who was accompanied to Ibadan by Senator Rafiu Ibrahim, Senator Abiodun Olujinmi, Captain Idris Wada, Dr. Doyin Okupe and Hon. Muhammed Wakil, declared that incumbent President Buhari of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) does not understand governance.





He noted that the mistake Nigerians have made over the years was electing people into positions of authority based on sentiment.





He specifically maintained that Nigeria needed a digital President who can relate well with Presidents of other counties.

Saraki, while speaking further, declared that he is the most capable for the job among the PDP Presidential aspirants, urging the Oyo State delegates to support his aspiration.





He said, The major mistake we are making is that we vote people who cannot do it. All other countries, they look for the best candidates. If you look at other aspirants, you will see that I can do it better than all of them.





The mistake we made is that the person who is there does not know anything. The person that is there does not understand governance.





If you have observed, you will discover that Presidents of other counties who have visited Nigeria in recent time did not sleep in the country. They will just come for two or few hours and go back.





The Senate President maintained further that what the country needs in 2019 is a capable President, as Buhari has shown that he is not capable for the task.





Saraki insisted that having worked with the President for over three years; he has discovered that the Buhari does not understand governance.



Former Senate President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant, Senator David Mark on Wednesday declared that he is the ...

Former Senate President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant, Senator David Mark on Wednesday declared that he is the bridge between the northern and southern parts of Nigeria and was ready to work with other intellectuals to rescue Nigeria out of the present socio-economic upheavals.

Mark made this declaration while addressing PDP delegates and members in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, ahead of the PDP presidential primaries.





The former Senate President, who declared that he would transform Nigeria within just 730 days if elected the next president of the country in next years polls, maintained that he knows the problems of Nigeria, and that he has the courage and capacity to tackle the problems.





Senator Mark revealed that he is currently working with a team of young Nigerians, adding that the recommendations of the team will be implemented to turn around the fortunes of the country within just 730 days if elected.





The former Senate President, however, stated that for PDP to win the 2019 presidential election, leaders of the political party must ensure free, fair and credible primaries.





Mark, who was received by leaders of the Oyo PDP led by its chairman, Alhaji Kunmi Mustapha, said: If all Nigerians see that we conduct credible, transparent, free and fair primaries, we will be sure of victory in the presidential election.





Mark remarked that he was in the race not because of his personal interest but for the interest of all Nigerians.





He said, It is not about myself, but about Nigeria. Mark my words. I may be the last aspirant to obtain nomination form, What I want to tell you today. There are 13 of us jostling to get the Presidential ticket of our great party. But let me tell you either me or any of the remaining aspirants emerges as the partys candidate at the end of the day, I am ready to work for the party.





It is not about myself, it is about the interest of our great party and our dear country. I have remained in the PDP since it was formed, and I have never for one day thought about leaving the political party for another one. At the end of the primaries, either I win or lose, I will remain in PDP and support whoever emerged.



The Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Assembly on Electoral Matters on Tuesday passed the fourth version of the Electoral Act Ame...

The Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Assembly on Electoral Matters on Tuesday passed the fourth version of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.

Before Tuesday, President Muhammadu Buhari had withdrawn assent three times.





The joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, while briefing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, denied removing the Electronic Card Reader, with which voters are accredited during elections, from the bill.





The committee explained that it had only harmonised versions of the legislation and passed them as a fourth bill.





Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission, Senator Suleiman Nazif, who doubles as chairman of the joint committee, recalled the reasons cited by Buhari for rejecting the bill on different occasions as well as what the lawmakers consequently did on the legislation.





The lawmaker described the bill as an issue of utmost national importance.





Nazif said in part, It is an opportunity for Nigerians to hear what we have done, how far we have gone, what transpired from the first Electoral Act Amendment Bill, to the second one, the third one and now to the fourth one.





I also want to assure colleagues and Nigerians that this joint committee is committed to ensuring that it strengthens INEC and at the same time, the National Assembly is also committed to deepening democracy in Nigeria. I also want to use this opportunity to assure Nigerians and everyone here that the National Assembly and indeed the executive are on the same page with respect to this amendment bill.



Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has announced that members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state will collectively decide...

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has announced that members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state will collectively decide on who to support among the numerous presidential aspirants for the 2019 elections.





Governor Wike gave this indication ahead of the presidential primary of the PDP, while responding to questions in an interview at the Government House in Port Harcourt.





The Governor said no single individual would determine the direction of Rivers PDP delegates but leaders of the party will meet at the state level and decide as a team on who to support.





Governor Wike denied assigning campaign coordinator to any of the presidential aspirants from the north, who he said had gone to other governors and have been given campaign coordinators.





He said several presidential aspirants have been coming to visit him and to request he nominate a liaison in support of their candidature, but he declined.





Wike mentioned former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Alhaji Sule Lamido, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, Senate President Bukola Saraki, Governor AminuTambuwal of Sokoto State, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau and Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa among those who have visited him.





The Governor said nobody would blindfold the people of Rivers State into supporting a presidential aspirant with compromised credentials.





Governor Wike also alleged that some of the PDP Presidential aspirants were being sponsored by the APC and the Presidency, stressing that he cannot be misled.





He also claimed that the head of one of the security agencies in the country had approached him to support one of the presidential aspirants.





Wike also tipped himself to remain in office after the 2019 elections, until 2023, when he said Rivers people would collectively choose his successor.





He said: At the end of the day, the leadership of the party will meet at the state level and decide where we are heading to. Then we will all be together. No one individual can do it alone. So, Rivers state will move as a team, I will listen to the leadership of the party, then we will move forward.





Who are we going to support? Where is the national survey? Who is more popular? This is how politics is played. I challenge any of the presidential aspirants from the north who have gone to other governors and they have given them campaign coordinators, I challenge them to mention if I have given them one name.





Can anybody say I have met him one day to say support so, so, and so Presidential aspirant? People have been coming here and I told them I will not, and I will never, nominate anybody to be a liaison to any of the presidential aspirants. Not one person, I challenge them.





But one thing you must take home is that I cannot be misled, I cannot be blindfolded; I know whats going on. I know what the presidency and the APC are doing to plant a presidential aspirant in the PDP.





I have not even mentioned how a very senior official of a security agency in the country told me which of the candidates to support! You can imagine me as a governor and the head of a security agency would tell me to support one or two persons. Head of security agency who is in a government controlled by the APC! Come on, you direct me on who to support for president?





It wont happen in my state, but I know they will kill a lot of persons. I can tell you they will kill a lot of us. No problem, this is the sacrifice we have to make for democracy to thrive.





Im on record and my friends, my colleagues, they know me and I have told them. I am a student of history, mention who has survived it. That you put your life, you put your blood to bring somebody. So as a student of History, I know it does not work that way.





I will do what I have come to do, to serve my people and when my time has come to an end, those who want to run, let them run. Let the people of Rivers State decide, it is you, it is him. .And that is the problem we are having, people want to continue to be Godfathers, how and that is the problem we are having without development.





When I hear some people make comments, with all due respect, I dont want to talk about persons, when I hear about one, they call him Tonye Princewill and I laugh. The young man forgot the interview He granted the Premium Times, He forgot the interview, and people forget history. That these things are documented, so I now hear what hes saying, I say oh my God.





How much Rivers State assets were sold by the previous Government to his friend and how it was used to fund election of Buhari and the rest. He forgot easily, today Hes saying a different thing and I say what kind of characters do we have?



A United States, US-based Nigerian group has protested strongly against the threat to kill the lone Christian captive in the hands of Islamic militant group, Boko Haram, Leah Sharibu, asking the Federal Government to allow interested parties pay the ransom to secure her release.The group also alleged that it reached out to be United Nations to intervene, when it got news of plans to kill the hostages in the detention centres of Boko Haram but lamented that no action was taken.In an open letter, titled: Terrorists Execute Air worker in the first ransom demand ever, threaten captive Christian schoolgirl, Leah, next, by the Managing Partner of US Nigeria Law Group Washington DC, USA, Emmanuel Ogebe, the group said: We note the unsettling report that Boko Haram (ISWA) executed a female aid worker held captive since March 1. We were only recently alerted that the hostages were about to be executed and to escalate advocacy for their lives.We reached out to the United Nations but the staff spoken to at UNICEF claimed not to be aware of the situation nor the fact that a UNICEF worker was captured but promised to attend to the matter.In view of the gravity of the situation, we then reached out directly to the UN Secretary-General in New York as we knew lives were in imminent danger.Thereupon, we disclosed same in the media to put the world on notice of the precarious condition of the hostages. We got an email and a call back trying to determine details of the hostages. We were able to verify some key facts around the attacks and confirmed the UN was, indeed, aware and updated them on a few facts. We received assurances of action.We are saddened at the unfortunate news of the horrific execution of humanitarian worker and mother of two, 25- year-old Saifura Ahmed whos frantic messages during the attack at Rann IDP camp alerted the world to what happened that fateful night.Our research indicates that Saifura had a distressing chat with a friend that they were under attack and had to run to the nearby military base for protection. Her last voice chat indicated the attackers eventually breached the military base where she and others were taking refuge and that she was about to be harmed. Her last message in Hausa was oh my God they are now coming in  they are going to kill meAt USNLG, we take the lives of victims seriously and did everything possible to elevate this issue at the highest levels. We regret that this did not result in a favorable outcome but it was not for lack of trying.Our condolences go to the family of Saifura, the Red Cross community, aid workers and humanitarians globally. We must remain undaunted in the face of victimization of humanitarians for good to transcend evil as it ultimately shall.We urge the Red Cross to provide generous death benefits for the family and educational scholarships for her little children including ongoing support to the hostages families now.We urge the UN Secretary General to elevate this hostage issue directly with Gen. Buhari. We are confused at Buharis plea to the international community for assistance when it is clear that the resolution lies squarely on Nigerias shoulders.Moreover, as the DSS claimed credit for negotiating the release of 100 Dapchi schoolgirls, we urge a repeat release through channels and mechanisms established.Joshua Iginla, the founder of Champions Royal Assembly, has given fresh prophetic warnings concerning the forthcoming 2019 general electio...

Joshua Iginla, the founder of Champions Royal Assembly, has given fresh prophetic warnings concerning the forthcoming 2019 general elections.

The clergy spoke on the state of the nation last Sunday in his Abuja-based church.





During the live service, Brother Iginla called for prayers for the country regarding the forthcoming elections.





He said, Im worried about what God is showing me in my visions. The outcome of the election is what you should be worried about.





According to him, It is obvious; the results will not be accepted. But lets pray that the outcome should not put this country in a snare.





The cleric said that the 2019 elections should not be made a do or die affair.





The pastor further said that political party leaders in the country should engage in a round table discussion concerning the upcoming elections.





He said that politicians should reach agreement, which should be sealed with a memorandum of understanding that whatever the outcome of the 2019 elections maybe, no form of violence should be employed and that politicians who are not contented with the results should seek legal assistance and redress.





Please, accept the results, whether the ruling party wins or the opposition. If you dont like the result, go to court. No soul should die because of you.



Senator David Mark, presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has once again promised to turn around th...

Senator David Mark, presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has once again promised to turn around the economy of the country within two years if elected president of Nigeria in the 2019 general elections.





Mark, a former Senate President, made the promise on Tuesday at the PDP state secretariat in Lokoja while on a campaign visit to solicit votes of the state delegates to the presidential primaries in October.





On his acceptance by Nigerians in the Northern part of the country, Mark said he had equally worked for candidates from the core North and that now it was their turn to support him.





He said: I think the core north should support me because we also have supported them. It is a give and take thing and we are talking about Nigeria.





We are not talking about a section of this country. If I dont have a national support, to be honest with you, I would not want to be a president of this country.





I want to be president of a united and indivisible country called Nigeria. Call it core north, core south or core whatever, wherever they are, let them support me because we too have supported them, he said.





On consensus candidate, the former senate president said that would be left for the aspirants and the party to decide.



Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has once again written the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), affirming his readiness...

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has once again written the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), affirming his readiness to make himself available at the commissions Abuja office after October 16, 2018 at 1pm.





Fayoses constitutional tenure is expected to elapse on October 16.





He, however, accused the anti-graft agency of demonstrating what he tagged hate prejudice, persecution and partiality.





Fayose said should the EFCC be so much in a hurry that its investigation cannot wait till October 16, 2018, without prejudice to Section 308 of the Constitution, I will be willing to answer questions from your team of investigators should they be willing to meet me in my office in Ado Ekiti on the 20th September 2018.





According to a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose said the letter written by the EFCC to the Customs and other agencies, directing them to put him on a watch-list and arrest him if he attempted to leave Nigeria before the expiration of his tenure, raised serious questions about the impartiality, independence or neutrality of the commission.





He reminded the EFCC that in 2007, precisely on the 19th day of December, I willingly presented myself for investigation at your Lagos office, adding that There is therefore nothing new or strange in my letter of 10th September 2018, which has been received and treated in bad faith and taste. I thought I was assisting due and fair process of law.









The letter dated September 14, 2018 read; As a responsible citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who currently enjoys immunity under Section 308 of the Constitution, it would amount to a breach of the Constitution which I swore to uphold if I appear in your office on any date earlier than 16th October 2018. If done otherwise, it will set a wrong precedent for the Constitutional Institution that I represent.





I carefully chose that date (October 16, 2018) being the next day after the expiration of my tenure upon which the immunity I enjoy will lapse to avoid any form of insinuation and was in good faith.





While drafting my response to your letter of 14th September 2018, my attention was drawn to your widely-publicized letter of September 12, 2018, directing the Comptroller General, Nigeria Customs Service and similar agencies, to watch-list and arrest me on an imagination that I might leave Nigeria to escape investigation.





It has finally put in context, your Commissions hurriedly deleted on-line statement via EFCC Nigeria @OfficialEFCC a day after the Ekiti governorship election that: The parri is over; the clock of immunity turn apart, and the staff broken. Ekiti Integrated Poultry Project/Biological Concepts Limited N1.3bn fraud case file dusted off the shelves. See you soon.





Your Commission by its actions, no doubt has presumed my quilt even prior to the commencement of investigation.





This raises serious question about the impartiality, independence or neutrality of the Commission in the matter. I feel harassed, intimidated and embarrassed by the imputation of crime and the innuendos of criminality underlining your correspondence which has been maliciously circulated widely. This in all implies a case of persecution rather than prosecution.





While I have handed a copy of your letter to my Solicitors for a careful study and advice, let me state here for the records, that there is nothing about me or my antecedents, as a long standing public figure to justify the Commissions action. I have never been a coward or criminal.





Notwithstanding, the demonstrated hate and prejudice, I reaffirm my willingness to make myself available to answer questions within my knowledge on the day you may indicate after expiration of my term of office on the 15th October 2018.





If for any good reason, your investigation cannot await the date suggested in my earlier letter, without prejudice to Section 308 of the Constitution, I will be willing to answer questions from your team of investigators should they be willing to meet me in my office in Ado Ekiti on the 20th September 2018 indicated in yours.



North Korea said on Wednesday it would permanently abolish its key missile facilities in the presence of foreign experts, in a new gesture by leader Kim Jong Un to revive faltering talks with Washington over his country's nuclear programme.

After a summit in Pyongyang, Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in said the North was also willing to close its main nuclear complex but only if the United States took unspecified reciprocal action.

The pledges Kim and Moon made at their third summit this year could inject fresh momentum into the stalled nuclear negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang and lay the groundwork for another meeting Kim recently proposed to U.S. President Donald Trump.

"I don't think President Moon got everything he was seeking from these interactions, but Kim Jong Un gave Moon some tangible things for which he can take credit," said Michael Madden, an analyst at the Stimson Centre's 38 North think tank in Washington.

"These are good-faith gestures which will likely facilitate further and more substantive negotiations," Madden said, adding a second summit between Kim and Trump was "highly probable".

Kim pledged to work toward the "complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula" during his two meetings with Moon earlier this year and at his historic June summit with Trump in Singapore.

But discussions over how to implement the vague commitments have since faltered. Washington is demanding concrete action towards denuclearisation, such as a full disclosure of North Korea's nuclear and missile facilities, before agreeing to key goals of Pyongyang - declaring an official end to the 1950-53 Korean War and easing tough international sanctions.

Trump welcomed the latest pledges, saying they were part of "tremendous progress" with Pyongyang on a number of fronts, and hailed the "very good news" from the Korean nations' summit. "He's calm, I'm calm - so we'll see what happens," Trump told reporters at the White House, referring to Kim. "It's very much calmed down."

But the United States is likely to be concerned economic cooperation plans announced by the two Korean leaders that could undermine U.S.-driven United Nations sanctions against North Korea.

Speaking at a joint news conference in Pyongyang, the two Korean leaders agreed to turn the Korean peninsula into a "land of peace without nuclear weapons and nuclear threats."

Kim said he would visit Seoul in the near future, in what would be the first-ever visit to South Korean capital by a North Korean leader. Moon said the visit was expected to take place by the end of the year.

The leaders also announced a series of steps to deepen bilateral exchanges in the economy, culture and sport.

VERIFICATION

Kim's latest promises come days before Moon meets Trump in New York at the U.N. General Assembly next week. South Korean officials hope Moon will be able to convince Trump to restart nuclear talks with Pyongyang, after he cancelled a trip by his secretary of state to North Korea last month, citing lack of progress.

Though North Korea has unilaterally stopped nuclear and missile tests, it did not allow international inspections of the dismantling its main nuclear test site in May, drawing criticism that its action was for show and could be easily reversed.

As a next step, North Korea will allow experts from "concerned countries" to watch the closure of its missile engine testing site and launch pad in the northwestern town of Dongchang-ri, according to a joint statement signed by Moon and Kim.

The facilities were a key test centre for North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missiles designed to reach the United States.

The North also "expressed its readiness" to take additional measures, such as a permanent dismantlement of its main nuclear facilities in Yongbyon should there be unspecified corresponding action from the United States, according to the statement.

Those U.S. steps could include an end-of-war declaration, South Korea's national security adviser, Chung Eui-yong, told reporters.

The neighbours remain technically at war because the Korean War ended in armistice and not a peace treaty.

North Korea has consistently refused to give up its nuclear arsenal unilaterally, and stressed that the United States should first agree to a formal declaration ending the war.

Satellite images and other evidence in recent months have suggested North Korea is continuing to work on its nuclear programme clandestinely.

Seo Yu-suk, a research manager at the Institute of North Korean Studies in Seoul, said the facilities at Dongchang-ri and Yongbyon were "almost obsolete" and the North has mobile missile launchers that are easier to use and harder to detect, while there are likely covert sites elsewhere.

SANCTIONS BUSTING?

At the summit, the two Koreas agreed to begin construction to reconnect railways and roads linking the countries within this year. They will also work to restart a joint factory park in the North border city of Kaesong and tours to the North's Mount Kumgang resort, when conditions are met.

Some experts worry those projects could constitute a violation of U.N. Security Council sanctions aimed at drying up resources for Pyongyang's weapons programmes, and upset Washington.

The two Koreas also agreed to pursue a bid to co-host the 2032 Summer Olympic Games, and actively work together in other international competitions including the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Later on Wednesday, Moon was scheduled to watch the North's signature "Brilliant Fatherland" Mass Game, with a formation of glowing drones, lasers and stadium-sized gymnastics shows designed to glorify the country.

On Thursday, the last day of his three-day visit, Moon plans to visit Mount Baektu in North Korea with Kim before returning home.

North Korea says Kim's grandfather and father were born at Mount Baektu, a centrepiece of the Norths idolization and propaganda campaign to highlight the ruling family's sacred bloodline.

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Red tide, blue-green algae, fish kills in the thousands.

Whats happening in Southwest Florida waters has taken a toll on the regions tourism, economy and ecosystem.

A question many Southwest Florida residents may be asking themselves is: Is the seafood here is safe to eat?

The answer is yes, provided it comes from a source that complies with consumer protection regulations.

Catching fish in red tide areas can present health risks that should not be taken lightly, but that doesnt mean whats being served on plates at restaurants, or available at local seafood markets, is an unsafe product.

Its definitely something to be concerned about, but with the federal regulations, HACCP (hazard analysis and critical control points) inspections and the FDA inspections that we have, were very confident that all of our products are safe for our customers. Thats for sure, said David Keen, purchasing director for Merrick Seafood, a wholesale and retail supplier based in Cape Coral.

For example, grouper is one of, if not the most popular fish to consume in the area.

Keen said that a lot of grouper that wholesalers seek out is caught in deep waters and that, although it is still a local product- caught in Gulf waters-its not throw-a-line-off-the-dock local.

Our guys, when they go out fishing, theyre going out 90 to 100 miles for that (grouper). Its the same grouper that youve bought for years and decades, he said. Being a wholesale distributor, you need to make sure that youre on the forefront of everything thats coming out. Where are you getting it from? How is it getting processed?

Merrick is taking the same precautions with its shellfish, as they are filter feeders and have a much higher probability of contamination.

The company that we were dealing with that was local (for clamming), has actually moved up north in the Panhandle, where there is none of that algae or red tide, said Keen.

Their oysters are sourced locally as well, but from Gulf waters extending off of Texas, and Louisiana.

Waters are always tested in various areas where shellfish are harvested, with officials making sure the water quality is in line with Florida Department of Agriculture regulations.

For local product, there is a strict criteria and in-depth report system that has to be completed before it can be sold.

This happens before the fish even leave the boat.

What we have to do is fill out reports saying where they caught the fish and what waters they were caught in. They have to be caught in certain waters and documented at what depth they were caught. How were they caught? Fishing reel? Bandit reel? Long line? All of that has to be traced, Keen said. They take samples out of a reasonable amount of fish and all of that gets checked before it even comes off the boat.

All of Merricks suppliers are HACCP certified, complete with letter of guarantee that they are in regulation with applicable FDA laws.

Merrick, a primary supplier to numerous area restaurants, then gives its wholesale customers the same letter of certification to ensure that their products are in compliance with the guidelines as well.

Its not worth it for me to endanger my customers and jeopardize all of this with an unsafe product, added Keen.

Merrick has ties and relationships with many local boats, as Keen said they want to help the people who work hard here in Southwest Florida.

The local fisheries have certainly taken a hit, with Keen getting requests from customers for fish not found here domestically, when in reality the products coming from these businesses are A-OK.

Yes, we all understand its hurting our local seafood industry, and its going to, said Keen. But were going to survive and well all push through. But, the biggest thing we need to do is educate people and say, Look, eat your seafood. Its still good. Were buying out of the Keys, were buying out of the Panhandle. And its still a great product.

Though these boats may be docked in tainted waters, the product they bring back comes from hundreds of miles north, around the Panhandle, and far south, to the Keys.

The FDA constantly has its thumb on the pulse of the waters, and would shut down contaminated areas if needed.

The FDA puts these regulations out for us to follow. Whether there was red tide or algae here or not, we still have to follow them. We always have followed them. They shut down areas all the time, and they would shut more down if they werent safe, Keen said. That doesnt mean we cant eat seafood.

Local fisheries are not the only source Merrick has as its disposal. They buy seafood from all over, including Hawaii, South America and Trinidad, to name a few.

But supporting the local crews that go through the ringer to provide a high-quality, fresh product, is the way to go, he added.

A lot of these products are easy to be able to go down to the Keys, easy to go up to the Panhandle, to grab the same exact product, said Keen. Its all coming out of the Gulf, its all the same exact product. Just a couple hundred miles this way, couple hundred miles that way.

Merrick supplies its products to 250 restaurants throughout Southwest Florida, meaning there are hundreds of local restaurants that are serving fresh, quality seafood, that need not worry about their customers coming to dine.

The chefs know, the owners know, the GMs know. We all have to go through training, we all have to sign contracts. Theres a law to it. The FDA is on top of it, Keen said. Obviously the waters around here currently arent safe. But around our area is perfectly fine. Red tide is not reaching all the way up to the Panhandle. The Keys, Maderia Beach, all have much larger fisheries we can source from.

Getting Southwest Florida residents, as well as potential tourists, informed on the steps and regulations Merrick and other fish markets have to go through to ensure a safe product, is what Keen thinks is most important.

The education is the big thing. Know that were following all the rules, we have a great product. Our wholesalers know, our customers know, now we just need the public to know, Keen said. You can come in and eat fish great fish especially here.

Keen, as well as owner and operator of Merrick, Patrick Krieg, encourages customers to ask questions- that theyd be more than happy to inform anyone on their acquisition processes and safety regulations.

Ask your local fishmonger, they know what theyre doing, Keen said.

For Krieg, apprehensiveness among residents across the area concerning seafood consumption has definitely hurt his businesses, including the Fish Tale Grill, located right next door to Merricks market on Southeast 47th Terrace.

Its been significant, Krieg said of the impact. Probably down over 30 percent from last year.

Many of Merricks wholesale accounts are beach destinations and places that have seen cancellations skyrocket because of the issue.

Krieg has been educating his regulars and other customers on the fact that their seafood is safe to eat.

He hopes the other residents of Southwest Florida do the same.

I would strongly recommend that people educate themselves, he said. Dont believe everything you read. Go to the source. Wherever that may be that youre buying your fish from or dining out. Ask the questions. If they cant answer to your satisfaction, then its understandable you might be a little leery. But definitely ask questions, and trust your local suppliers.

Krieg hopes that by the time season comes around, people will be properly informed.

Its no secret that Florida thrives on tourism, and the water quality issues are affecting many, many businesses.

We appreciate everyones support. Our local customers have been great. And even the tourists that are still around are asking the right questions to get the level of comfort that they need, Krieg said. We just need more people in the doors down here and all over.

Restaurateurs and fish mongers on Sanibel agree education is key.

Timbers Restaurant and Fish Market, at 703 Tarpon Bay Road on Sanibel, has also felt the results of consumer unease, having a drop in business around 35 to 45 percent since mid-to-late July, according to Mark Blust, vice president of marketing and operations.

We have felt the effects of the red tide, continuing into a dismal August and September, he said. Our loss of business seems to be in line with a majority of the island.

Blust is confident that all Timbers products are safe for consumption, with their product being sourced from unaffected areas.

Grouper, snapper and other Gulf selections are typically caught 50-100 miles offshore and therefor not affected, he said. Fin fish such as sword(fish) and tuna come from the Atlantic side.

For shrimp, they are working off of last years harvest and are sourcing from the Texas side of the Gulf, said Blust.

The local pink shrimp season runs from November to April.

Timbers get its oysters and clams from the Cedar Key area or from beds located from the Pandandle to Texas.

Oysters and clams are rarely sourced this time of the year, due to warm water and run off from heavy rains which can raise bacteria counts, he said.

This is why they need look elsewhere to find a safe, quality product.

Blust said that is has been a bit more difficult recently to locally source seafood, and that hes been having to secure selections from different areas.

All of Timbers crab products are imported from other areas, Blust said.

What will be interesting is how it may affect the upcoming stone crab season, Blust said.

He said he has an educated staff who would love to talk with customers about their processes to ease any concerns about the quality of product.

We have signage to ensure our customers know that we are committed to their safety by offering only products that have come from approved or inspected sources, he said. And we have an educated staff that is able to convey these messages.

On Fort Myers Beach, red tide and related fish kills have impacted beachfront businesses as beach-goers have steered clear of the usually popular destination or opted not to buy fresh seafood.

Trico Shrimp Company out of Fort Myers Beach has seen at least a 50 percent drop-off in business from last year, according to owner/operator Christine Gala.

Our sales have dropped drastically in the retail market, she said. Even when we tell customers its OK, theyre still not sure.

Gala said that their fishing boats go out 100 miles or more offshore, where there is no red tide, to catch their shrimp.

Were catching in Tortuga and Key West, she said.

Gala said that the majority of their shrimp goes to a processor in Tampa to be checked for quality by an FDA inspector.

Their location on Fort Myers Beach is also constantly visited for regulation compliance.

We get inspected about every two months, Gala said. By the city, county, state and federal agencies.

She is discouraged that no one is really coming to the beach, and that recently, conditions have been improving.

You could smell the red tide before. Its not nearly as bad now as it was in prior months, she said. Theres no more dead fish washing up.

The restaurants in the area have been hit hard, she said, adding the local places they source to are not buying as much product from them as before.

Our shrimp are fresh, caught far off shore in the Keys, where the water is clear as glass, Gala added, ensuring that Tricos product is safe for consumption.

As for local water quality for fishing, according to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission, there is still high concentrations of red tide on shorelines stretching from Sarasota to Lee County as of Sept. 7.

Their prediction models show not much change heading into next week.

The red tide poison, brevetoxin, concentrates in shellfish, so harvesting is closed during blooms, said Rae Ann Wessel, natural resource policy director for the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation.

The FWC has closed oyster harvesting in public reefs since July 1, and it remains closed until the end of the month.

Oysters are definitely a concern because they live in the bays and filter feed and can accumulate the brevetoxin for a while after the red tide has dissipated, said Dr. Eric Milbrandt, marine laboratory director for SCCF.

Those who enjoy seafood should not be doing their own harvesting, at least not here.

If people eat shellfish that has been in red tide they will get sick, Wessel said. In some cases, people have died. Cooking does not affect brevetoxin, it remains toxic.

Red tide toxin does not get into fish filets as far as has been tested and what is known by scientists. However, you should not eat any fish that appears to be dying, added Milbrandt. I would say that the scientists would want to test every fish tissue before it is sold. However, that would be prohibitively costly. Most of the populations of commercially harvested fish are not close to the coast, where red tide blooms are concentrated. Generally speaking, red tide historically has been patchy and therefore having limited effect relative to the population of a fishery in the Gulf of Mexico.

Reasons such as this, make it vital that you know where your seafood is coming from, officials said.

-Connect with this reporter on Twitter: @haddad_cjThe Animal Refuge Center has come to the rescue of animals housed in a shelter overwhelmed with need as Hurricane Florence approached the Carolinas.

The North Fort Myers no-kill shelter took in 19 cats and seven dogs on Friday from a South Carolina animal shelter, saving them from being euthanized.

Brother Wolf Animal Rescue made the 11-hour overnight trip from its home base to Fairfield County Animal Control in Williston, S.C. and then to Southwest Florida late Friday afternoon.

Brother Wolf and ARC have worked together over the years. For example, in 2015, they also brought 26 animals to ARC in the aftermath of Hurricane Joaquin, 11 dogs and 15 cats.

We saw the weather coming and I reached out to Brother Wolf to see if they needed assistance moving anybody out, said Wayne Leinen, ARC executive director. They said they were fine, but knew of a county shelter that was facing mass euthanasia as an option.

Leinen started talking to the shelter and arrangements were made quickly. It took Brother Wolf two hours to get to the shelter, then nine hours to drive south to ARC.

Leinen said that ARC will usually meet partners halfway, but because of the short notice and little in the way of logistics, it wasnt possible.

ARC was prepared for the likelihood of health issues, and set up an intake process in advance of the animals arriving.

Each rescued animal was cleaned up, fed and examined once at the shelter. At least two had heartworm and one was pregnant and expecting at any time.

Theres no way youre going to take animals from a situation like that and not expect medical issues when they get here, Leinen said.

After arriving, the animals were to spend at least 10 days in medical quarantine before being evaluated for adoption.

Leinen said other major disasters it has worked include hurricanes Harvey and Matthew. ARC has also taken in many animals from poor shelters in Louisiana, where many good animals have come from, as well as in mass hoarding situations.

ARC has formed partnerships with numerous other shelters and organizations.

But while it takes in a good many animals, they dont take them to other shelters.

We take animals in with the intention of keeping it happy, healthy and finding a permanent home for it, Leinen said. We try to have space available to everybody, but with a hurricane and the choice of taking in animals or have them be euthanized, its a no-brainer.

The Animal Refuge Center is at 11801 Old Bayshore Road in North Fort Myers.

ARC is Southwest Floridas largest no-kill shelter and vows that once an animal is accepted, it will not be destroyed to make room for another.After nearly three years of on-again, off-again negotiations and contretemps, the city of Cape Coral and its electric services provider, have reached a tentative franchise agreement.

At times, the talks were ugly, with lawyers getting involved to the tune of more than $1.5 million, meaning city residents were not only paying for power, but also for the attorney fees for both sides.

Now there may be light at the end of the tunnel.

During Mondays regular Cape Coral City council meeting, the new agreement will be introduced to the council for its consideration, with a vote scheduled for Sept. 24.

If city council agrees to the proposal, the board of directors at LCEC will decide Thursday whether to accept the new agreement, which will replace the 30-year franchise that expired in 2016.

Mayor Joe Coviello said he and LCEC Executive Vice President & CEO Dennie Hamilton got together and put together what he thinks is a fair and equitable agreement.

We expressed what we wanted to see in the agreement and had a mutual respect for where we were going with this. I got some give and take and Im happy with what I was able to put together, said Coviello, who was tapped by council to act as the citys negotiator in the latest talks.

Coviello said the best thing is that it eliminates the expense of attorneys on both sides. Coviello said the city has spent a half-million dollars on lawyers and staff time while LCEC has spent more than $1 million, which the ratepayers and taxpayers (all one in the same) have paid for.

I hope we can put that to rest and council likes what it sees and gives us its stamp of approval, Coviello said.

Karen Ryan, spokesperson with LCEC, said the last thing the co-op wanted was continued expenditures to be paid by city taxpayers and rate payers.

It would have been all that time and money for the same result, Ryan said. We commend city leaders for considering these options and looking for the best interests of the city.

Among the items in the agreement is:

n 20-year term with an automatic 10-year renewal unless either side wishes to amend or terminate the agreement 180 days in advance of the extension.

n The franchise fee to be paid by the utility and passed through to customers will be locked in at 3 percent for five years, after which the city will have the option to raise it to a maximum of 4.5 percent. After the 10th year, the maximum rate would be to 6 percent.

n The city will also have the option to purchase electricity from a third party, provided LCEC is notified in writing. LCEC will have 90 days to match the offer.

n As far as technology, which was a sticking point for both sides, LCEC will monitor new and emerging technology developments to operate as efficiently and effectively as is financially justified, according to the agreement.

n LCEC will also offer customers with qualified renewable energy systems the opportunity to sell excess energy back to LCEC.

Its hard to work with technology because much of what happens 10 years down the road we dont know what it is, Coviello said. I never thought I could put my cellphone on a pad and it would get charged.

Since well before the original agreement expired, the parties couldnt hammer out an agreement, with Hamilton, Cape Coral City Manager John Szerlag, and third parties including Cape Coral Council For Progress members Brian Rist and Joe Mazurkiewicz making varied efforts.

The election-reconfigured council took a different approach and Coviello was able to get LCEC back to the table.

Ryan said if both sides agree to the terms, Hamilton will be given approval to sign the agreement.

Ryan said she is happy they are so close after so much acrimony.

This is the closest weve been. I am very optimistic about it because its close to the original agreement, Ryan said. It got ugly and I cant explain why. We have always been willing to negotiate in good faith and not everyone was agreeable to that.

Ryan said the work Rist and Mazurkiewicz did was immeasurable, even if it didnt result in a deal, as they had the interests of everyone in mind.

In negotiations, everyone is out for their own interests. As a co-op, our interest is our members interest, Ryan said. They sought what would be the best for everybody. They made some ground even though they didnt get an agreement.

LCEC is an not-for-profit electric cooperative that serves Cape Coral, Marco Island, Sanibel and Captiva, North Fort Myers, Immokalee, and parts of Lehigh Acres. With 200,000 members, Cape Coral represent nearly 40 percent.If youre looking for vintage clothing, furniture or other classic decor, you might want to visit the Lee Civic Center this coming weekend.

Vintage Market Days will present something called Simply Vintage, an event that will feature vintage and vintage-inspired merchandise, architectural salvage, repurposed finds, jewelry and clothing live music, food trucks and much more.

Meri Stupes, who owns the franchise with her husband, said her ownership covers Lee, Charlotte and Collier counties and every year they put on a three-day event with about 100 vendors, most of them local.

Dont mistake this for a flea market. This is more upscale.

Its not your regular flea market. Many of the vendors work the circuit, going from one market to the other, Stupes said. Its a juried event, so we have to approve them to come out here. They dont just throw their stuff out there. Its very organized.

The business started in Oklahoma six years ago by two women who have grown it into 70 franchises nationwide.

Stupes bought her franchise last year and did her first event in Naples in February at the Collier County Fairgrounds. More than 5,000 people attended and vendors reported record sales.

That was an open-air site, and you cant do that in Florida in September, so this event is indoors, Stupes said, adding that she has that luxury as a franchisee.

It is also a necessity, since these events require lots of square footage and parking; there are few places she can go for an indoor show.

Stupes said she strives to get vendors from South Florida. Most of them for this event will be within two hours from the civic center.

Its very important for vendors to be busy so theyll come back. We have a lot of repeat vendors, Stupes said.

There will be art, clothing, jewelry, furniture and other upsourced material that is made to look vintage. There are even people who sell mantle pieces and barn doors they tear down and make art out of.

There will also be food trucks and giveaways.

The event will be Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $10 on Friday and $5 on Saturday and Sunday, which will allow you for re-entry for the entire weekend. Admission is free for kids 12 and under, as is parking.

For more information, go to vintagemarketdays.com.By CONGRESSMAN FRANCIS ROONEY and DR. MICHAEL SAVARESE

We, a United States Representative and a scientist from our regional state university, have come together to acknowledge that sea-level rise is an urgent problem for our community, but one that we must and can address.

Its not uncommon to hear people mention that they are worried about the future, whether environmental, social or economic. Partisanship and polarization seem to dominate our political landscape right now, with little interest in debate or compromise, making it difficult to come together to resolve differences of opinion. However, here in Southwest Florida, we know that our lives are intermingled with the water and the coastal environment, and many people have set aside political affiliations to come together to address serious challenges they face.

We have watched as higher seas, stronger storms and more frequent floods have become part of a new normal that is costlier for the average Floridian. This new normal can mean dozens of days of flooding in our homes and streets, even on sunny days, longer commutes caused by flooded roads, and leading to reduced value of our residential properties.

For our cities, these changes mean added costs for infrastructure and drainage systems and erosion of our pristine beaches. Rising seas can even push saltwater into our drinking water aquifers and threaten the viability of the Everglades marshes.

Collier County and three of its municipalities (Naples, Marco Island, and Everglades City), along with local leaders throughout the region, have recently embraced the need for adaptation to sea-level rise. Through a three-year, $1-million grant awarded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) made to the University of Florida and Florida Gulf Coast University, a team of scientists is working closely with managers and decision-makers to predict the effects of sea-level rise and stronger storms. Our leaders deserve the best information possible with which to evaluate and prioritize how to adapt to these changes, and this is what the science team is delivering with multiple storm intensity and sea-level rise scenarios. Now, these tools will be in the hands of nearly 100 decision-makers who can use them to make a difference in Collier County.

Inaction is already costing us billions. Hurricane Irma cost the United States $50 billion. We also know that 40-60 percent of small businesses never reopen their doors following a disaster, which has a ripple effect on our economy. Cities in Florida alone are already spending over $4 billion to harden infrastructure, improve drainage, renourish beaches and combat tidal flooding. This is the result of just 6 inches of sea-level rise over the last 30 years  were expecting as much as another 6 inches in the next 15 years alone.

Moreover, it is not enough to adapt to these changes locally and move forward without looking at the root causes and working toward a broader and more preventative solution. Adaptation should be accompanied by mitigation  which means a change in our nations usage of fossil fuels. We can control our destiny  clean energy policies can reduce sea-level rise and mitigate its costly impacts.

We know warming of the atmosphere and the oceans melts more glacial ice and causes seawater to expand, both of which increase the volume of water in the oceans. This same warming fuels changes in the development of tropical storms, causing them to strengthen more rapidly and more intensely than in our previous history. Even a few additional inches of sea-level rise can make a hurricane push more water onto shore and further inland, even if the hurricane itself doesnt make landfall. Had Irma continued on its forecast track instead of diverting easterly over Marco Island, more expansive portions of Collier and Lee Counties would have experienced this devastation first-hand. Everglades City and parts of Marco Island, which were located east of the storm eyes landfall, were less fortunate and experienced as much as 9 feet of storm surge.

How do we adapt to sea-level rise while working to mitigate the predicted additional rise if we do not change course in our use of fossil fuels? We must all collaborate to influence decisions that can make a difference. What better way to show this as a bipartisan effort than to pair an earth scientist with the Republican Congressman for Floridas 19th District as supporters, advocates, and end users of the NOAA project? Now we look ahead to create solutions, in a bipartisan way, for our burgeoning climate-related problems in Southwest Florida and beyond.

 Francis Rooney is the U.S. Representative for Floridas 19th congressional district. He is the Vice-Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and serves on the Committee on Education and the Workforce. He previously served as U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See under President George W. Bush from 2005 to 2008.

 Dr. Michael Savarese is a coastal geologist and professor at Florida Gulf Coast University.Other European leaders pushed back against Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit plan on Wednesday, hours before she was due to try to sell it to them at a summit in Austria.

EU summit chairman Donald Tusk repeated criticism of her proposals for future customs arrangements and for the border between the British province of Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland, saying these needed to be reworked.

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said Brussels had moved its position and Britain should respond in kind.

But May has shown little sign of backing away from her "Chequers" plan. In a carefully placed article in a German newspaper on the eve of the EU summit in Salzburg, Austria, she said the EU should drop "unacceptable" demands over Brexit, the biggest policy shift for Britain in almost half a century.

Tusk said some elements of the British plan, known as Chequers for the country house where it was hammered out in July "indicated positive evolution in the UK's approach".

But he added: "On other issues, such as the Irish question, or the framework for economic cooperation, the UK's proposals will need to be reworked and further negotiated."

May's proposal calls for Britain to remain in a free trade zone with the EU for agricultural and manufactured goods, that would be covered by a "common rulebook" of regulations after Brexit.

And she will not accept an EU proposal that would keep British-ruled Northern Ireland in a customs union with the bloc if there is no other plan in place to prevent a hard border across the island of Ireland.

A British government source said London welcomed the EU's commitment to finding a solution to the border issue, but could not accept any proposal that would effectively move the customs frontier into the Irish Sea.

With just over six months to go until Britain leaves the EU, time is pressing and both sides are keen to secure some kind of deal before the end of the year.

Writing in Germany's Die Welt, May said the two sides were "near to achieving the orderly withdrawal that is an essential basis for building a close future partnership".

"With goodwill and determination on both sides we can avoid a disorderly exit and find new ways of working together."

'SOUND OF MUSIC'

At a summit dinner at the Felsenreitschule theatre -- known to film fans for a scene in the musical 'The Sound of Music' -- May will make another pitch for support for her Chequers plan.

She will then be out of the room on Thursday afternoon when the other 27 leaders discuss her Brexit proposals.

Tusk said he would call an additional summit in mid-November to seal any deal with Britain.

Kurz, hosting the two-day summit, said he was still optimistic of reaching a deal, while warning that while a no-deal Brexit would be difficult for the EU, it would be terrible for Britain.

"If you want to make a deal both sides will need to try to find a compromise," he said. "I am still optimistic."

While both sides have been making positive noises, how to keep an open border between Northern Ireland and the Irish republic remains one of the biggest obstacles.

"On Brexit, it's very difficult. We have nothing on Ireland," Jean Asselborn, Luxembourg's foreign minister, told Reuters.

According to an EU official, Barnier has suggested going to the "bare bones" on any checks between the rest of Britain and Northern Ireland, which could be further reduced if there is a trade facilitation agreement similar to that with Japan.

But Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party, which backs May's minority government in Westminster said that would still mean an unacceptable border between the province and the rest of the United Kingdom.

The government source said: "We have been very clear that what we cannot accept is Northern Ireland being separated off from the UK customs territory."

EU officials are minded not to paint May into a corner, aware that she faces increasing opposition to her plans in her Conservative Party and needs a victory of sorts to persuade a reluctant parliament to back a deal.

May has told lawmakers that they will vote either for a Chequers-based deal or to leave without an agreement. Mel Stride, a junior treasury minister, said pro-Brexit and pro-EU lawmakers could usher in a second referendum on EU membership if they reject her plan.

"They'll end up in the situation where we could have a second referendum and we could end up not leaving the EU altogether," he told Sky News. "There is a danger of that happening."

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U.S. talks with North Korea over efforts to end Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program will be completed by January 2021, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday.

Pompeo said in a statement that he had invited North Korea's top diplomat to meet next week and that the United States had invited North Korean representatives to meet the U.S. envoy for North Korea, Stephen Biegun, in Vienna, Austria, as soon as possible.

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Egypt and Cyprus signed an agreement on Wednesday to construct a direct marine pipeline to transfer natural gas from the Cypriot Aphrodite field to Egypt and then to be re-exported to different markets, statement by the Egyptian petroleum ministry read.

Tarek El-Molla, Egypt's petroleum and mineral resources minister, signed the deal with Georgios Lakkotrypis, the Cypriot minister of Energy, Industry, Tourism and Trades, in Cyprus.

In May, El-Molla estimated that the planned pipeline connecting Cyprus Aphrodite gas field to Egypts liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities will cost around $800 million.

El-Molla said that this agreement is considered to be among "the main foundations in supporting the economic relations between the two countries and is an important step in maximizing the benefit of the discoveries of the Cypriot gas fields."

He added that the new deal will encourage further research exploration activities in the region and will contribute to further support joint cooperation in the field of gas and oil between the two countries.

Meanwhile, the Cypriot minister tweeted that "the signing of the IGA for a gas pipeline between Cyprus and Egypt is an important milestone for the creation of an EastMed NatGas corridor to the EU and strengthens the energy investment environment in our region."

El-Molla also stressed on the importance of the Egyptian role in the future of the gas field in the Eastern Mediterranean region with its strategic location, strong infrastructure, and the gas discoveries it has made.

He pointed out that Egypt has already taken a number of measures, as part of its national project initiative, to transform it into a regional hub for gas and petroleum trading.

"The Egyptian-Cypriot agreement is not only about the implementation of a maritime pipeline, but it will contribute positively to securing gas supplies to the EU," the statement read, adding that the signing of the memorandum of understanding for the partnership between Egypt and the EU in the field of energy last April opens up important prospects for the role that Egypt can play in the industry.

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Egypt's Investment Minister Sahar Nasr discussed on Wednesday means to boost economic cooperation with Germany in talks with a delegation from Germany's economy ministry.

Nasr said Egypt looks to increase German investments in Egypt, now standing at $641.4 million in over 1,100 companies operating in the fields of gas, steel, automotive and telecommunications.

Egypt has recently adopted a series of legislative reforms aimed to lure back investors to put money in the country, offering them a number of incentives including tax breaks.

Germany is one of the largest EU investors in Egypt, and is noted for its industrial mega projects in the area of developing the country's capacities in producing electricity.

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The festival's second edition which will take place from 20 to 28 September, will screen 80 films, including 11 world premieres and provide a multitude of workshops and panels

The second El-Gouna Film Festival will take place this from 20 to 28 September in the Red Sea resort town, with 80 films to be screened, including 11 world premieres.

A selection of the 80 films will participate in the festival's three main competitions: short films, documentaries and the feature narrative. A number of movies will be screened outside of the competition.

Thirty-eight countries are represented by the films being screened, but this year will see a particularly strong presence from French cinema, with over 29 of the 80 films produced by French movie-makers, or made with French participation.

The second edition of the festival will also honour Egyptian director Dawoud Abdel Sayed and Tunisian producer Dora Bouchoucha, for their achievements.

This years festival also features a number of other elements such as the CineGouna SpringBoard is a project development lab that provides opportunities for Arab filmmakers to obtain financial and creative support.

On the other hand, Cinema for Humanity will run panels on two significant topics: refugee stories in film, and the role of women in film.

There will also be a master class from director, writer and producer Paul Haggis. He wrote the screenplay for and produced Million Dollar Baby (2004) and wrote, produced and directed Crash (2006); both films won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Gianfranco Angelucci, who worked alongside Fellini as a script-writer and director for more than twenty years, will be offering his experiences and behind-the-scenes insights on the Italian masters works.

To honour the 25th anniversary of Fellini's passing, the festival will be screening two iconic Fellini films: Roma, and 8.

This year also marks the tenth anniversary of the passing of legendary Egyptian director Youssef Chahine, as well as the 100th anniversary of the birth of acclaimed Swedish director Ingmar Bergman.

Chahines film The Emigrant will be screened, and a special exhibition of original movie posters and collectibles from his films will be on display.

A concert conducted by maestro Hisham Gabr will be held on 23 September celebrating the best-known music from Chahines films, arranged by Gabr, in addition to original pieces.

The restored versions of Bergmans masterpieces Persona and Strawberries will also be screened, and there will also be an exhibition, which has been held previously in several countries, presenting pictures, videos and posters that document some of his iconic work.

For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture

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Trump has upturned all traditional reference points in the Middle East peace process, but this doesnt mean that peace can be imposed

On 13 September, the world celebrated the 25th anniversary of the historic handshake between Yasser Arafat and former Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin on the lawn of the White House, while former US president Bill Clinton was looking on.

For the first time since the bloody struggle between the Israelis and the Palestinians, the leaders of the two people had held, in this handshake, the dreams and aspirations of untold millions of Palestinians, Arabs and Israelis for a peace that had long eluded the world.

In the same vein, last Monday, 17 September, was the 40th anniversary of the Camp David Accords, signed at the White House in 1978.

The accords were the first official peace documents to be signed by the president of Egypt and an Israeli prime minister since 1948, the year Israel was established.

From 1948 till the October War of 1973, Egypt and Israel had fought five wars and, at long last, the world was close to a peace treaty between the two major Middle Eastern powers.

The treaty was signed six months later on 26 March 1979, at the White House, with former US president Jimmy Carter as witness.

The world had believed that a permanent, comprehensive and just peace was at hand, driven by the United States as the honest broker.

Late president Anwar Al-Sadat signed for Egypt, and Menachem Begin, the former Israeli prime minister, signed on behalf of Israel.

As an Egyptian diplomat who witnessed the signing ceremony of the Egyptian-Israeli Peace Treaty in 1979, and followed closely the implementation (or rather the non-implementation of the Oslo Accords), I feel entitled, today, to question once more the founding illusions of the peace quest between the Arabs, the Palestinians and the Israelis.

Who is to blame for the non-fulfilment of the peace promises of Camp David and Oslo? Was the Arab side, including the Egyptians and the Palestinians, led step by step, in the context of an American-Israeli strategy, to recognise Israel, normalise their relations with it, without securing their national rights or the withdrawal of Israel from Arab territories occupied in the June War of 1967? It is a legitimate question today, with all the talk coming of the Trump White House of the deal of the century that would seal this peace, long sought after and long promised, between two people who have been fighting for the same land for a century since the Balfour Declaration of 2 November 1917.

The gap between the White House of Jimmy Carter (1979), a Democrat, the White House of Bill Clinton (1993), a Democrat, and the Trump White House could not be greater when it comes to the fundamentals of peace between the Arabs and the Israelis.

The two former US administrations based their peace efforts on UN Security Council Resolution 242 of 22 November 1967.

The preamble to this resolution speaks on the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territories by force, and accordingly called for the withdrawal of Israel from the territories it had usurped from the Arabs in the June War.

The resolution encapsulated the land for peace formula that has been the cornerstone of what has become to be known as the peace process, it being understood that East Jerusalem has always been considered, under international law, occupied territory.

The Madrid Conference of October 1991, the Oslo Accords, the Jordanian-Israeli Peace Treaty of October 1994, the roadmap of 2003 (under the Republican administration of former US President George W Bush), and the two-state solution that the Security Council adopted unanimously in 2003, had been not only based but inspired by this famous land-for peace formula.

Neither the Trump White House, nor the present Israeli government, described by former secretary of state John Kerry in December 2016 as the most extreme right-wing government in the history of Israel, abide by the UN terms of reference for the peaceful resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict, on the one hand, and the Palestinian-Israeli question, on the other.

On the contrary, they are orchestrating the liquidation of the Palestinian cause as well as enabling Israel to annex most parts of the West Bank and the Syrian Golan Heights.

In other words, the Trump White House is an accomplice in the final chapter of the Zionist dream of Greater Israel.

For Egypt, the Palestinians and the Arabs it is the hour of reckoning instead of celebration.

I doubt if the late president Sadat could have ever imagined when he signed the Camp David Accords on 17 September 1978, and the Egyptian-Israeli Peace Treaty on 26 March 1979, that four decades later his grand peace vision would be scuttled deliberately and viciously by the very party with whom he signed for an honourable peace for future generations of Egyptians, Palestinians, Arabs and Israelis. I dare say that his vision was not shared by the Israelis from day one.

We are witness to a new uncertain chapter in the course of the Arab-Israeli conflict with all the destabilising consequences for all parties concerned, including the Israelis, who will never succeed in imposing their peace-for-peace formula on the Arabs and the Palestinians. The earlier they realise this, the better for the Middle East.

* The writer is former assistant foreign minister.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 20 September 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: From Camp David to Oslo and now

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The sentences of Muslim Brotherhood leaders in the Rabaa trial have been systematically misrepresented in the Western media

A famous line from the award-winning 1996 film The Usual Suspects says that the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didnt exist.

The Muslim Brotherhood group has had a similar motto throughout its 90-year existence as a terrorist organisation, during which it has had some success in masking its true motives from both the public, some of which trusted it, and the international media, which in some cases has treated members of the group as victims.

Then came the trial of the century for the Muslim Brotherhood, also known as the Rabaa trial in a reference to the armed encampment of Brotherhood supporters in Cairos Rabaa Al-Adawiya Square and the events following its dispersal in August 2013.

In a judicial process that has lasted over five years and a trial that had lasted 32 months, the Rabaa trial has long been characterised by heightened emotions and political intrigue. It has always been carried out in accordance with Egyptian law, despite what has been claimed by some in the international media.

Death sentences were handed down earlier this month to 75 Muslim Brotherhood and jihadist convicts in the Rabaa trial, and life sentences were handed down to others, including Brotherhood supreme guide Mohamed Badie.

These may appear to be aberrations of justice to those unfamiliar with the charges against the accused. However, the five years the judicial process has taken, and the sentences now handed down, will appear fully justified to those aware of the extent of the damage caused and the thousands of lives that have been lost as a result of this notorious terrorist groups activities.

The intention here is not necessarily to defend the death sentences, with capital punishment being questionable to many despite its application in 54 countries worldwide, including in the worlds two largest democracies, India and the United States.

Instead, the aim is simply to make it clear that in prosecuting those responsible for the Rabaa outrages the Egyptian state did not choose the path of extra-judicial punishment, or extra-judicial killings, which was chosen by many other countries in the aftermath of cataclysmic events, including the 9/11 attacks on the United States.

In the latter case, the US government chose to assassinate individuals accused of terrorism, including people having American citizenship, who were thought to be part of the 9/11 plot.

Extrajudicial killings were also utilised by the British army and the Northern Ireland Royal Ulster Constabulary, the local police force, to target Northern Irish rebels and liquidate them without trial during the conflict in the province in the 1970s and 1980s known as the troubles.

Unlike in these cases, the Egyptian authorities did not opt to liquidate Muslim Brotherhood leaders using extra-judicial means, even as they were aware that many countries, including some western countries, had used such methods. They did not institute quick trials and impose sentences either.

The Egyptian state did not use offshore prisons, as the US has done at its facility at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, to bypass national laws or due processes.

Instead, the authorities have opted for the regular trials of accused Muslim Brotherhood members, and these have been ongoing since 2013 amidst the most ferocious wave of terrorist attacks in the countrys history.

These important points have been neglected by the international media during the coverage of the Rabaa trial.

The US news network CNN and other news outlets have covered the trial in a manner that may have given the impression that it was set up recently and that those accused were freedom-fighters of some description and not members of one of the most notorious jihadist and terrorist groups in history.

During the judicial procedures, there have been killings targeting Egyptian citizens and officials. Former president Mohamed Morsi, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, now on trial on charges of spying for Qatar, was seen making a sign indicating killing before former attorney-general Hesham Barakat was assassinated by a car bomb in June 2015.

The latters death was one of many, with thousands of police and army officers being killed as they carried out their duties fighting a war on terrorism in North Sinai or simply ensuring domestic security such as those killed during the bombing of the Mansoura police headquarters in the Delta in December 2013.

This is not counting the hundreds of civilians who have been killed on the direct orders of the Muslim Brotherhood supreme guide or his assistants.

Some of the latter have now received the death sentence in the Rabaa trial, including Brotherhood leader Mohamed Al-Beltagi who once said during a TV interview that terrorism in Sinai would stop the moment that President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi reversed what Al-Beltagi called the military coup that had toppled Morsi.

This showed that Al-Beltagi and the Brotherhood group is responsible for orchestrating the terrorist attacks taking place in North Sinai.

The number of those sentenced to death or life in prison in the Rabaa trial has led some to question the verdicts, accusing them of being arbitrary. Nothing could be further from the truth.

These members of terrorist groups were not law-abiding citizens picked up from their homes. They were active parts of a major terrorist offensive launched against the Egyptian state in July 2013.

Documents seized from Brotherhood group leaders, together with their own statements, show that they considered themselves to be in a state of war against the Egyptian state, and this strips away the victimisation claims still being propagated in parts of the international media by exiled members of the group and its off-shoots in western countries.

The parts of the international media that have been defending Muslim Brotherhood members are in this case simply playing the role of useful idiots to the benefit of this proven terrorist group.

The fact that the Muslim Brotherhood group originates in Egypt and is believed to have over 500,000 active members explains the number of the arrests and sentences.

The latter have only targeted those among the Brotherhoods leaders that orchestrated the terrorist attacks that took place after the 30 June Revolution in 2013.

These leaders amount to a few dozen in number. Those who have been convicted of terrorism offences have been sentenced, while others have been found innocent of the charges against them by due processes of law. Still others are on the run in Turkey or Qatar.

If the leaderships of Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State (IS) group were to be captured by the United States they would amount to similar numbers, if not more, and if they were put on trial they would likely receive similar sentences.

There would likely be a higher number of convictions than in a regular court case because of the size of these terrorist groups. That said, the Rabaa trial is undoubtedly one of the largest, if not the largest, ever witnessed in an Egyptian court.

While not perfect, Egypts courts operate independently, and before the death sentences were handed down in the Rabaa trial, the Court of Cassation removed some of those who had received such sentences, including Muslim Brotherhood supreme guide Mohamed Badie, from a blacklist of suspected terrorists as it believed that proper procedures had not been followed.

This may sound odd, but it shows that each court in Egypt operates independently and that each may only rule on the basis of the provided evidence.

None of this has been mentioned in the international news outlets in their coverage of the trial, with these highlighting the death sentences but neglecting the deaths of the thousands of Egyptians who were the victims of those sentenced.

The Rabaa trial is not simply the trial of members of a terrorist group that has wreaked havoc on this country while its spin-offs have been destroying entire nations in the Middle East, including Syria and Libya.

It is also the trial of the international community, urging it to stand firm in the fight against terrorism in all its forms and not to make the mistake of taking Brotherhood propaganda at face value.

The worlds governments have sworn to protect their citizens from dangers to their lives. Yet, too often they still look the other way when it comes to the Muslim Brotherhood, which represents a ticking bomb set to explode at any time once the order is given.

* The writer is a political analyst and author of Egypts Arab Spring and the Winding Road to Democracy

*A version of this article appears in print in the 20 September 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Misconceptions of the Rabaa trial

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Trumps political gifts to Israel not only threaten the Palestinian cause, but may lead Tel Aviv to turning its back on the Oval Office

It would be mistaken to reduce the current political conflict in the US to the clash between the current occupant of the White House and the US press establishment.

President Donald Trump, in no time at all since coming to power, has succeeded in antagonising a vast circle of domestic and international parties, the only exception being Zionist circles in the US and in Israel.

Perhaps the friction between Trump and the US press is the clearest aspect of his current crisis because it is so publicised and can be followed daily in the press and on television.

Certainly, too, the recent publication of Bob Woodwards Fear: Trump in the White House riveted attention on the conflict between the White House and the press, especially given the advanced publicity given to the book and the sensation surrounding it after The Washington Post published a few excerpts that left readers mouths agape.

The campaign also included a recording of Trump, himself, speaking on the phone with the veteran journalist who authored the book.

Trump is heard reproaching Woodward for not getting in touch with him to learn his point of view. Woodward responds that he had, in fact, tried to reach the president numerous times and through many different people.

Listening to that recording, I was struck by the considerable respectfulness in Woodwards voice, which is to be expected from anyone addressing a president even if they are critical of his policies, and by the fact that Woodward informed Trump that he would record their conversation.

In fact, Trumps crisis extends far beyond the press and media establishment. It involves all minority communities: Latinos, Muslims, Blacks and all immigrant communities. It includes the political establishment and not just the opposition Democratic Party but also a large swathe of the Republic Party.

Internationally, the crisis covers a long list that includes many of the USs conventional allies, such as Canada and the UK; the Arabs, of course, with exceptions made for certain rulers; and the rest of the Third World.

During his electoral campaign, Trump excelled at playing on the emotions of the American public, especially the non-politicised segments.

His ultranationalist jingoism conjured up the cowboys-against-Indians spirit on which Americans have been nurtured since their childhood through Hollywood films.

In the process, he capitalised on the climate in the US after the 11 September attacks, the failure of the war in Iraq, the Guantanamo scandals and other painful events and setbacks.

However, his strongest weapon was his ability to exploit the widespread rejection of the US political establishment at a time when his electoral rival was Hillary Clinton, a living epitome of that establishment.

Trump chose a path and a method that were riddled with mines and doomed to failure. His opposition to all existing conditions and all influential circles opened endless fronts of conflict, keeping him engaged in numerous battles at the same time.

The only exception was the Jewish front which includes the Zionist lobbies. Trump never locked horns, opposed or criticised these once since coming to the White House in January 2016.

In fact, he threw himself into the embrace of those groups. Perhaps the clearest example of this was his decision to call occupied Jerusalem the eternal capital of Israel.

That step, which none of his predecessors ventured to take, threw into relief how feeble he was with respect to all political forces at home and abroad. At the same time, US Jewish circles were the least critical of Trump, even if they tended a bit to follow the general trend of ridiculing him.

The sarcasm did no harm and made Trump even more dependent on the support of effective Jewish circles.

We had thought that the decision to move the US embassy to occupied Jerusalem was the farthest Trump could go to please the Jews.

But then we were stunned by that inhumane decision to cut US aid to UNRWA which is responsible for meeting the essential needs of at least three million Palestinian refugees.

Trump, with this decision, effectively ordered the physical annihilation of the Palestinian refugees who depend on UNRWA for their survival. As such, this act was no different from the final solution, Hitlers rubric for the orders he issued during World War II calling for the annihilation of Jews in order to put a definitive end to Jewish question just as Trump wants to put a definitive end to the Palestinian question.

David Ben-Gurion famously said, referring to the refugees: The old will die and the young will forget. If the Palestinian dream still remains alive in the hearts of the Palestinian people 70 years after the founder of the Israeli state said that, leaders of that state, today, find it difficult to accept.

They attribute the continuity of the dream of return through new generations of Palestinians to the existence of a relief agency for refugees, the aid from which reminds the recipients that they are refugees living in lands that are not their home.

Accordingly, they believe that cutting that aid will cause the Palestinians to forget their dream and assimilate into their current environments.

But the logic is flagrantly flawed. Many of the refugees have no means for survival outside the support they receive from UNRWA.

They cannot be nationalised in the countries in which they reside and are not allowed to work there which keeps them permanently on the fringes in those countries.

When we add to this Israels refusal to grant the Palestinian refugees the right to return to their original homes, we realise that Trumps purpose in cutting $350 million a year in US aid is to present Israel with the final solution to the Palestinian refugee crisis.

Afterwards, Israel will no longer need Trump and it is not unlikely that the Jewish groups in the US will join the rest of Americans who are calling for Trumps impeachment or dismissal before he completes his first term in office.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 20 September 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Trumps final solution for Palestinians

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The only thing that can be predicted is that the Middle East region will remain unpredictable

They say that the Middle East is so full of surprises that there is no room for more.

Yet no conference, seminar or discussion on this region can pass without someone asking what the next surprise will be. When president Gamal Abdel-Nasser nationalised the Suez Canal no one could believe he actually did it.

The most recent case of nationalisations before that was Mohamed Mosaddeghs decision to nationalise the Iranian oil industry, for which he ended up paying with his overthrow.

In Egypt, the price was the tripartite aggression which brought the surprise of the withdrawal of the three invaders under pressure from the Arabs, international public opinion, Soviet threats and US opposition. That all these parties should agree on something was yet another surprise.

In 1967, it was not the Israeli aggression that was the surprise but the consequences of that aggression which ended with the Israeli occupation of the Golan Heights, Sinai, the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem.

It was commonly believed that the Arabs were too weak to do anything about this.

But then, the next surprise came, in 1973, with the use of the double-barrelled weapon of arms and the oil embargo. Nor would the surprises end there.

It would not be long before president Anwar Al-Sadat stunned all with his visit to Jerusalem and conclusion of a peace treaty with Israel.

There have been revolutions, coups, civil and regional wars of all sorts, but the academic community worldwide was taken by surprise by the so-called Arab Spring.

For a while, universities and political and strategic research centres conducted self-examinations and cross-examinations as they tried to figure out how all experts managed to fail to forecast that event.

There was some cheating in the process of this introspection. Political analysts and scholars rifled through their old notebooks and articles for a passage or a sentence that could be read as a prediction.

Even those who said a word or two in a play about the uneasy situation in the region cited their remarks as an early warning or a harbinger of the Arab Spring.

More surprises followed. No one had known that the Islamist movement had the ability to seize power in a number of Arab countries.

No one predicted that a branch of that movement  the Islamic State group  would found its own Islamic Caliphate which the world regarded aghast up to the time of its ignoble defeat.

The outbreak of lethal and destructive civil wars in several Arab countries came as a surprise. But the greater surprise was that after all that upheaval, the Arab state survived within its traditional borders even if the substance within those borders changed.

The state, if shaken and weary, made a comeback and political geography reasserted itself once more. It was not a kind of Sunni-Shia divide that stood between the Arabs and Persians, as was commonly argued for a while, but rather Iranian extraterritorial ambitions that are as clear as the print in ancient and contemporary histories of Iran.

The reforms that are being implemented in Arab countries such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia took many international institutions and agencies by surprise, especially given that some of the measures touched on seemingly inviolable taboos.

So, what is the next surprise that the Middle East holds in store? It must be something no one had expected or predicted even though it is a consequence of the fundamental changes that have swept this region.

Some might think Disneys return to Egypt is a surprise because it signals that Egypt is no longer regarded as a danger zone. But, in fact, it merely tells us that tourism is back. The Iranian missile strike against the Kurdish region in northern Iran is a surprise of sorts.

Yet, the Kurds there, like Kurds in Iraq and Syria, want to take advantage of current conditions in order to win a degree of autonomy  independence no longer being an option.

The question is why did Tehran use such a degree of brutal force? Was it driven by the fear of having to pay the price for its presence in Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and Iraq before that? The Palestinians find it hard to surprise anyone anymore.

The reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah comes as no surprise because history is filled with reconciliations that breakdown as soon as the ink has dried. Hamass talks with Israel surprise no one because neither this side or that really wants a strategic armistice. To them, ceasefires, like reconciliations, are tactical moves meant to serve domestic ends.

The biggest impending surprise on everyones lips is war between Iran and Israel. But if everyones talking about it, how can it be a surprise? Meanwhile, the escalating tensions between Iran and the US and between Iran and Israel are serving domestic purposes all around.

To be sure, there are essential contradictions at work creating a lot of friction. But if the intensity of the friction between the contradictions leads to a readiness to fight, it can also open the doors to negotiations.

One cannot help but to wonder what is going on in the back channels and with all the pulse taking. What are European capitals doing, especially those that had celebrated the Iranian nuclear agreement together with Moscow and Beijing, only to find the US withdraw from the deal and, moreover, reinstate the blockade against Iran and the sanctions against anyone that has any dealings with Iran?

None of the foregoing packs any real surprise because the succession of internal changes in the US and Europe have generated a volatile climate and where there is a volatile climate there is also a likelihood of a spark to ignite the flames.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guards have ignited flames in a number of Arab countries. After the destruction they wreaked in Iraq, Syria and Yemen, they have no problem destroying other places. But that type of madness also exists in large quantities in Israel.

In Syria, the conflict is about to culminate in the battle of Idlib. Will the surprise be that, rather than marking the beginning of the end of the war, Idlib turns out to protract it and give warfare a second breath?

The answer to this may not depend on the Revolutionary Guard or Syria or even Israel. Perhaps it all depends on the surprise contained in the forthcoming mid-term Congressional elections.

If the Democrats sweep the polls, as they hope, the surprise would mean that Trump might not serve a second term and globalisation can return to its good old days.

But what if the surprise is the reverse? What if the Republicans win or if their losses do not sufficiently alter the current balance of powers in Washington? At that point, the US media in New York, which had begun to count the days to Trumps exit from the White House, will hit the ceiling.

Of course, the surprise could be no surprises at all. Everything would just go on as is in the Middle East, the US, Europe and the rest of the world.

Fundamentally, the world is based on natural laws, the rules of institutions and the traditions of peoples and states. However, the basis is flawed for reasons there is no space to mention here, and perhaps we should gird ourselves for the next surprise, wherever or whenever it occurs.

* The writer is chairman of the board, CEO and director of the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 20 September 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Surprises in the Middle East

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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.Artist, blogger, and model, Chella Man, has given us an extremely intimate look into his life documenting many aspects of his transition. Across videos posted to YouTube and a recurring column in Them, he has brought us along in an ongoing personal journey that has been educational and inspiring.

Teen Vogue broke word today that Chella Man has been signed to modeling agency IMG. As a deaf, trans, Chinese, and Jewish individual, he has been a fierce advocate for inter-sectional inclusivity and representation making his signing all the more momentous. "It's surreal. Honestly, it has not quite hit me yet," Man said in response to the news. "I am honored to be a part of the IMG family as they have been nothing but welcoming and accepting. I actually had hoped to sign with them as close friends have told me they are one of the most inclusive agencies right now." Related | Model Aaron Philip Signs with Elite Model Management

Senior Vice President at IMG Models, David Cunningham said about the decision to sign Man "His ongoing efforts to promote change, specifically around diversity and inclusion in the fashion space, is truly inspiring and completely aligned with our missions here at IMG."

Currently studying Virtual Reality Programming and Game Design at the Parsons School for Design in Manhattan, Man was picked at the beginning of this year as one of PAPER's names to know in 2018 and voted most likely to melt our hearts. (He certainly did!) Since then, Man has given a TedX talk, fronted a GAP campaign, and walked the runway for Nicopanda at Macy's, plus there are three more months left in the year so who knows what else we can expect!

Photo via InstagramLos Angeles made history yesterday, becoming the largest U.S. city to ban the sale of animal fur. The City Council voted unanimously for the ban, ordering the city's attorney to devise an official policy making fur sales illegal.

The city projects that new rule will be finalized and signed into law within a month, and the ban will take effect in two years, over which retailers are responsible for selling their remaining merchandise.

"This is L.A. taking a stand and saying we will no longer be complicit in the inhumane and vile fur trade that's been going on for years," said council member Bob Blumenfield, who lead the charge. "We're trying to set an example for the rest of the state and the rest of the country."

The move will be than just symbolic, given Los Angeles's enormous fashion and retail market with thousands of apparel stores located in its downtown alone. As the policy is developed, legislators will have to address religious communities for whom fur products hold significance, such as Hasidic Jews, who wear traditional hats called shtreimels on Shabbat and other holidays.

As perceptions about ethical consumption transform with generations, major companies as well as cities are scrambling to keep up. Los Angeles follows suit behind San Francisco (the first major city to ban fur), Berkeley and West Hollywood, as well a series of brands including Burberry, Versace, Michael Kors, Gucci, Stella McCartney, not to mention the whole of London Fashion Week, and magazines like InStyle.



"I've been doing this job for about 10 years, and if you would have told me just two years ago that Gucci, Versace, Burberry, InStyle magazine, London Fashion Week, Norway, the Netherlands, Sao Paulo would be going fur-free, I wouldn't have believed you." J. Smith, the senior manager of fashion policy at the Humane Society of the United States told the New York Times. "But it's happening."Last season, after Queen Elizabeth II sat next to Anna Wintour at his show, Richard Quinn blew up. The designer rapidly attained Instagram followers, celebrity endorsements (Amal Clooney, Adwoa Aboah), and landed on major stockists (Machine A, 10 Corso Como, Dover Street Market). And it's all for good reason: Quinn has a singular vision and drive.

In a recent Business of Fashion profile chronicling his meteoric rise, Quinn said that his latest collection reflects "old kinds of couture shows, where you see definite groups of girls throughout." And the collection did seem divided into sections. There were Quinn's aliens, covered in velvet from head to foot, and his trademark pattern mixing (he runs his own print studio, and liberty prints are a signature). Models walked in clashing animal prints from head to toe, like safaris personified. And, perhaps in a nod to his most famous guest, Quinn introduced embellished, 1950s-style cocktail dresses, which he described as "hyper-glamorous."

But advocacy may have been the most important element of the show. Quinn invited art students from the London state schools he himself attended, alongside print students from Central Saint Martins (where he counts as one of many accomplished alumni). Quinn wanted to highlight the importance of arts education in Britain, and included a statistic in his show notes showing that there has been a 34% drop in arts GCSE entries (sort of the equivalent of American AP classes) in the past eight years. The designer pointed out that arts subjects are "under threat in secondary schools in England," and yet serve as the "foundation of [Britain's] 32 billion fashion industry."

Quinn urged attendees to write to the organization Bacc for the Future, which pushes government reps to keep arts education in schools. If we want more designers like Quinn, it's certainly a worthy cause.

Photos via ImaxtreeEarlier this month Patently Apple posted a report on the Apple-Qualcomm FRAND dispute titled "Magistrate Judge Rebukes Qualcomm for iPhone Patent Infringement Allegations." In a report covering round two in this dispute, Qualcomm is dealt another blow as detailed in an Amicus Brief filed in support of the FTC's motion for summary judgement on Qualcomm's Essential Patent Licensing Commitments.

On the FOSS Patents blog, Florian Mueller covering the latest developments in the Apple-Qualcomm dispute stated in regards to the FTC's motion: "It's odd that a mere reminder would be a potential game-changer, but that's the way it is because of Qualcomm's refusal to live up to the FRAND promise."

The Amicus brief (Amici Curiae) was filed by "The App Association and the Computer & Communications Industry Association." The entire brief is presented below for your convenience.

The two associations blast Qualcomm for its interpretation of TIA and ATIS IPR policies to refuse licensing to a competitor. They note that TIA requires that FRAND licenses are available to "all applicants." They further note that "To provide even greater clarity, refusals to license to 'competing modem-chip sellers' are prohibited.

In their conclusion the two associations state in the Amicus Brief that "A clear and direct promise to license on FRAND terms, without restrictions, cannot reasonably be interpreted to include hidden, unstated limitations."

FTC v Qualcomm - A Brief of Industry Association in Support of the FTC's Motion for Summary Judgement by Jack Purcher on Scribd

Florian Mueller is now covering a current court case regarding Qualcomm vs Apple in Germany. Quality analysis of the case will be forthcoming. In total, there are two such cases going to court this month in Germany.







About Comments: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit comments. Those using abusive language or negative behavior will result in being blacklisted on Disqus.Yesterday's Qualcomm v. Apple trial took place in the Mannheim Regional Court, Europe's leading venue for wireless patents. The trial took twice as long as the average Mannheim patent trial, reports Florian Mueller.

Mueller described the Apple v. Qualcomm case the commercially biggest patent-related dispute ever and could be truly seen as the World Series of IP cases.

Apple is trying to invalidate Qualcomm's patent titled "Switch with Improved Biasing" in this Mannheim case based on an expert opinion from Sweden.

Mueller wrote: "The potential silver bullet here is that Apple had submitted the original patent and its proposed combination of prior art references (which are, according to Apple, also at the heart of its German nullity complaint pending with the Munich-based Federal Patent Court) to the Swedish Patent & Registration Office ("PRV"), and received an expert opinion from an examiner according to which the patent-in-suit does lack an inventive step in light of the prior art."

There will be a formal post-trial brief for which Apple was granted leave, and a legal brief (no new facts) which Qualcomm announced. The court will announce a decision on December 4, 2018. That one could be a final ruling, a stay, or whatever other procedural order.

For more on Mueller's sense of the key points made in the case battled out in the Mannheim Court yesterday, read his full report here.

Update 3:10 pm PST: Later this afternoon Foss Patents posted a second report on the Qualcomm vs Apple case in Mannheim titled "Apple: Qualcomm's 13 German patent assertions part of "grand evil scheme" to force Intel out of wireless chip market."



Mueller pointed out in his second report that Dr. Hufnagel, Apple's antitrust counsel, "explained to the court that the analysis should be holistic, taking into consideration the entirety of Qualcomm's conduct, which he described--using this exact English term--a "grand evil scheme" involving different actions and measures such as exclusivity rebates for customers/licensees, the refusal to license rival chipset makers, and a multiplicity of patent assertions in different jurisdictions."

Though at the end of Mueller's report his position was that "Without a holistic assessment of Qualcomm's overall conduct, Apple's antitrust defense is likely a lost cause except in a case where a patent couldn't be worked around within a reasonable time frame." You could learn more about the second report here.

About Comments: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit comments. Those using abusive language or negative behavior will result in being blacklisted on Disqus.Patently Apple has been following the latest rash of reports supporting Samsung's future folding smartphone (one, two and three) with the latter covering a report about how Samsung SDI has developed a new clear adhesive for folding smartphones. Today we're learning that Samsung has selected Sumitomo Chemical, a Japanese electronic materials firm, to be their first foldable smartphone supplier for polyimide films.

The news was actually broken when Smimoto's President Masakaze Tokura said in a meeting in June that the Japanese firm had been chosen as the supplier for Samsung's foldable phone. His announcement at the time was not confirmed by the Korean tech giant. Even though the company got ahead of Samsung's announcement, the Korean report all but confirms it.

Samsung surprisingly chose Sumitomo Chemical over local South Korean supplier Kolon Industries, a company that we covered in a March 2017 report titled "A Breakthrough in Technology Supporting Foldable Smartphones was Announced Yesterday in South Korea."

However, Samsung reportedly chose the Japanese supplier because they could meet small supply orders. Samsung's first foldable smartphone will only be produced in a limited batch. If the new form factor becomes a market hit, Kolon may be chosen for volume shipments at a later date.

A polyimide transparent plastic film that protects the display placed underneath is considered a core component of foldable smartphones for its flexibility as well as durability.

Samsung's first foldable smartphone, tentatively named Galaxy F, is anticipated to be unveiled at the firm's developer conference in November and hit the shelves early next year.

Most of the premium smartphones utilize glass, like US firm Corning's Gorilla Glass, to protect the smartphone panels, but the glass-type components are not suitable for foldable devices as they are prone to breaking.

In recent years, electronic components makers have competitively joined the race to develop the protective film as major smartphone companies, like Samsung, have signaled that they would roll out smartphones with a new form factor in a bid to reinvigorate the global smartphone market facing slow growth due to fierce competition and high penetration.

The fact that Samsung will be introducing a foldable smartphone is no surprise to us as our Patently Mobile IP blog has been covering this development for years regarding Samsung display patents.

The only mystery to be solved is which form factor Samsung will choose for their first foldable smartphone as their patents reveal a wide variety of designs from simple to those that are more elaborate.

A simpler design resembles that of an old flip phone. A play on a flip phone design won't move the innovation needle much and may set Samsung up for ridicule. And because Samsung seems to be rushing a foldable form factor to market simply to win the honor of saying that they were first to market with such a device, they may skip delivering anything really sophisticated, exciting or meaningful at this time. Then again, we'll see what pops up at their developer conference in November.

Below are a sampling of Samsung's patent figures covering both simple and elaborate folding smartphone form factors.

Samsung's Simpler Styled Foldable Smartphone Designs





Samsung's more Elaborate Foldable / Scrollable Smartphone Form Factors









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.Mullahs' Messengers Say Iran's Oscar Choice Long On Art, Short On Politics

09/19/18

By Golnaz Esfandiari, RFE/RL



No Date, No Signature (2017)

Winner of Best Director & Best Actress awards, Venice Film Festival

Iran's clapperboard crowd has spent the past two decades amassing international audiences and acclaim, as evidenced by prestigious filmmaking awards from Cannes to California.

Directors like Jafar Panahi, Samira Makhmalbaf, and Asghar Farhadi have elevated an already proud cinematic culture and exposed millions of filmgoers around the world to the creativity and filmmaking prowess behind one of Iran's best-known exports.

But despite unprecedented recent success at the Oscars and nominations at some of the world's most discerning film festivals, the industry's arbiters of success are under fire from conservatives for not injecting enough politics into the process.

State media and a hard-line daily with ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) have suggested that the Farabi Cinema Foundation's selection of Vahid Jalilvand's award-winning drama No Date, No Signature to compete in the best foreign-language film category at the 2019 Academy Awards was a mistake, because its bleak portrayal of Iranian life risks playing into the hands of the clerically dominated leadership's biggest critics.

In a commentary titled Iran's Oscar Choice With Trump's Signature, the daily Javan said Jalilvand's "bitter and dark" film "portraying Iranian society as ruins under decay" could compromise national interests at a time of intense U.S. pressure.

A better choice, it suggested, would have been Damascus Time, a drama that puts a more positive spin on Iranian activities in Syria about an Iranian pilot and his son who are captured by Islamic State (IS) militants while trying to deliver humanitarian supplies.

Iran has deployed IRGC commanders and sent thousands of troops and volunteers into neighboring Syria to fight IS and other "terrorists" and to help prop up Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a longtime regional ally derided by the West since his brutal campaign to stomp out street protests in 2011.

More recently, President Donald Trump has unilaterally increased U.S. pressure on Tehran by abandoning a 2015 deal that eased international sanctions in exchange for restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities, reimposing many sanctions, and pledging to punish anyone doing business with Iran.

Iran's already struggling economy has been hit hard and its currency, the rial, has continued to plummet to record lows.

Javan cited a Bloomberg story in May that quoted Trump suggesting that the effectiveness of his policies invited the "question of will they survive" with respect to Iran's political leadership, adding that "under such conditions" Jalilvand's film was an inappropriate entry for an Oscar.

The film No Date, No Signature has been praised by critics as a "visual pleasure" with superb acting, and it won the best actor and best director awards at the 2017 Venice Film Festival. It explores feelings of guilt and culpability through the story of a forensic pathologist who is involved in an accident that he fears might have caused the death of an 8-year-old-child. The answer hints at economic and other divides in Iranian society.

The Farabi Cinema Foundation, which traditionally selects Iran's Oscar entries, said 42-year-old director Jalilvand's film was deemed fit to represent Iran for having been well-received internationally and also due to the efforts of its distributor in the United States helping the movie receive attention and recognition.

Damascus Time was reportedly produced with IRGC funding and has been praised by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and General Qassem Soleimani, who heads the IRGC's elite Quds Force, as highly valuable.

"Can the goal of the U.S. and Trump's bragging against the Islamic establishment and the revolution be anything else than the content of this film?" the daily asked.

Javan argued that by not selecting Damascus Time, the Farabi Cinema Foundation was missing a "golden opportunity" to explain the goals and strategy of Iran's 1979 revolution to an international audience.

'Too Dark'

Iran has seen sporadic protests over the past 10 months, including antigovernment demonstrations that quickly spread to more than 80 cities and towns in December and January.

Farabi Cinema Foundation dismissed calls for "the boycott of the Academy Awards" and described the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as a nongovernmental organization that "belongs to American cineastes."

"Iranian cinema as part of the country's cultural diplomacy can use the participation in the event as an opportunity for strengthening ties between nations, making an impact on the public opinion and pressuring the U.S. government," the foundation said in a statement released on September 14.

State-controlled TV, which plays a major role in the Iranian leadership's censorship efforts, acknowledged the artistic merits of No Date, No Signature but criticized the cinema foundation's choice.

"It's a good and powerful movie with ideal characters, yet it's a film that depicts a dark picture of the Iranian society for outsiders," a film critic told state TV before adding that Iran should instead introduce its many films inspired by the bloody 1980-88 Iran-Iraq War to the world.

Steer Clear Of Politics -- Or Else

Director Asghar Farhadi has won two Oscars for best foreign-language film -- for The Separation in 2011 and The Salesman in 2017. He did not attend the 2017 ceremony to protest a U.S. travel ban that targets Iran and several other mostly Muslim countries.

The Salesman is the story of a young married couple that must cope with trauma resulting from an assault on the wife. The Separation examines a family's difficult choice between moving to another country in search of a better future or staying in Iran and taking care of a parent who suffers from Alzheimer's disease.

Filmmakers living in Iran must work under strict censorship guidelines that, for example, prevent them from criticizing Islamic rules or showing couples touching each other.

Iranian authorities routinely ban award-winning movies from cinemas inside the country.

Many filmmakers steer well clear of politics in favor of social issues. But artists who fall afoul of such guidelines have been persecuted, including in some cases being sentenced to prison terms. They include director Panahi, a Cannes laureate who was banned from making movies or leaving the country over his support for a 2009 protest movement in Iran.

Panahi has made a few movies that have been screened outside the country despite the official ban, including a 2015 film, Taxi, that won the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival. Panahi has also remained outspoken on social media.



About the author:



Golnaz Esfandiari is a senior correspondent with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. She can be reached at esfandiarig@rferl.orgThe National Democratic Congress Appiah Stadium on Thursday went into uncontrollable tantrums and vituperative verbals attack at the forecourt of the parliament in Accra.



The object of his raving and ranting was the honourable MP for Asawase, Kumasi, Mohammed Muntaka.



The crime of the Member of Parliament was that he had prevented Appiah Stadium from accosting for President John Mahama for money.



Look at him, this man also calls himself an MP, my foot, this useless and hopeless man. No wonder NDC is out of power. This man doesnt deserve to be an MP in Ghanas parliament at ll. Appiah Stadium fumed and bleated.



If you wont give me money and someone else is ready to give me money, why should you prevent that person. This is absolute nonsense. I will deal with him when he comes to Kumasi, the son of harlot (Ashawo ba), he roared.



Inquires established that former President John Dramani Mahama had paid his respects to the late Kofi Annan at ICC and hopeful of garnering some votes, had crossed over the Parliament House and the Job 600 edifice to confer with NDC MPs.



Appiah Stadium, who apparently heard that John Mahama was in the vicinity, rushed there to scrape the former president but according to him he was prevented by Hon Muhammed Muntaka, leading to the vituperations.



In spite of pleas by standards that the place was not appropriate for his actions, Appiah Stadium would not be stopped. It was at the funeral rites of the esteemed personality; Busumuru Kofi Annan. Worse still, people of all walks of life had thronged there; MPs, chiefs, ambassadors, presidents and others.



All this happened at the full glare of the maverick Akumpreku himself; Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, MP for Assin Central who has had lots of verbal banter with the person in question on various airwaves; as well as Hon. O B Amoah, MP for Aburi and a host of other Ghanaian MPs.



In fact viewers were horrified and infuriated by his uncouth behavior. A reporter who tried to intervene received his acidic share of the unprintable attacks, to the extent of casting innuendos on the MPs present at the time.



Surprisingly none of them replied him.



Appiah Stadium is notorious for engaging in constant running battles with numerous personalities such as JJ Rawlings, J.A. Kuffour, Kennedy Agyapong, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, Nana Akuffo Addo, Pastors, Chiefs, Bishops etc except his king Otumfuor Osei Tutut for fear of retribution and ostricisation.

Source: The Daily Searchligh









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Featured VideoIt is becoming increasingly clear that one of the challenges facing Ghanaians, especially the media in discharging their duties, is the language barrier since it is not enough to have a command over the Queen's language, as French and Spanish are equally important.



The relevance of the French language in international discourse was brought to the fore when the President of Burkina Faso, Roch Marc Christian Kabore, paid a state visit to Ghana.



Ghanaian journalists faced an uphill task on Tuesday September 18, 2018 regarding the translation of the speech delivered by the Burkinabe President.



The Burkinabe leader spoke French to the teeming journalists and to the amazement of the media at the Jubilee House, there was no translation feed from President Kabore's address.



Of the fifteen West African countries, eight are French speaking, five are English speaking and two are Portuguese speaking.



Ghana, which is English speaking, is geographically surrounded by three French speaking countries of Togo, Burkina Faso and Cote DIvoire.



For Ghana to be able to relate very well with them, it is believed that she should do well to acquire French language communication skills.



President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo therefore realizing the confusion on the faces of the pressmen charged them to see French as an important language to learn as part of their core duties as journalists.



.... and the Ghanaian press as it is here, you have a really important reason why you have to speak French. And today you have the first class reason because there is no translator and there will be no translation; that is the end of the press conference, President Akufo-Addo told the media.



Earlier in his welcome address, Ghana's President hinted that the issue of Bagre Dam spillage has been discussed to find lasting solution to it in order to forestall the perennial devastation of Ghanaian farms.



 . . we are beginning to work our way to finding concrete solid solutions to the dam spillage. It has been an annual problem that we should have dealt with it sometime ago but there is always a time for dealing with matters . . .," he said.



President Akufo-Addo reiterated that the visit of President Kabore brings to the fore the need for the former to step up and organise the Joint Commission for Corporation as it is the turn of Ghana to host it in Accra before the end of the year.



Ghana is responsible for convening a meeting of the Volta Basin Authority which is about 6 member countries in the sub-region.



 . . we have agreed upon quarterly meetings in the year between the two sects of ministers of our countries that are dealing with the day-today concrete issues we have to address, President Akufo-Addo stressed.





Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]









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Featured VideoThe President of Burkina Faso, Roch Marc Christian Kabore is in Ghana for a two day working visit.



Mr Kabore's visit would seek to bolster ties between Ghana and Burkina Faso, as well as explore opportunities that both nations can collaboration for the good of their people, as well as solidify some decisions that were taken between both governments last year.



President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo received Mr Kabore at the Jubilee House on Tuesday after the Burkinabe President had inspected a full guard of Honour mounted by the Ghana Armed Forces.



The President Akufo-Addo thanked the Burkinabe President for visiting Ghana and for the reception accorded him when he paid a visit to his country last year.



President Akufo-Addo expressed his sympathies as well as that of Ghanaians for the casualties of the recent terror attacks in the Burkinabe capital, Ouagadougou, and condemned the act.



He pledged Ghana's support for Burkina Faso's efforts to reign in extremism and terrorism to make West Africa safe.



Both leaders are engaged in bilateral talks aimed at boosting the socio-economic development of the two states. The talks are expected to culminate in the signing of cooperation agreements.





Source: GNA









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Featured VideoThe Liberian government says it is investigating what has happened to two huge consignments of money that were printed abroad and brought into the country between November last year and August this year.



The money, said to be local banknotes worth about $60m (45.6m), has allegedly disappeared.



One media report says containers containing money left the port in the capital, Monrovia, under security escort in March and were thought to be headed for the central bank, but they vanished.



The consignment that came through the international airport cannot be accounted for either.



The justice ministry is asking the public to remain calm while a panel of security officers investigate the matter.



Minister of Information, Eugene Nagbe has told state radio that President George Weah, who took office in January, is unhappy that he was not informed about the situation until now.



This is alarming, Mr Nagbe said.



No arrests have been made so far, but the information minister says he is certain they will get to the bottom of the suspected scandal.

Source: BBC









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Featured VideoPresident Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Tuesday conferred Ghanas highest honour, The Companion of the Order of the Star of Ghana, on the President of Burkina Faso, Roch Marc Chrisitan Kabore.



The award, in recognition of his distinguished leadership and commitment to the progress of his people, Burkina Faso, West Africa and Africa, is the highest honour that could be bestowed on a foreign dignitary.



Mr Kabore was in Ghana for a two-day reciprocal state visit, following President Akufo-Addos visit to Burkina Faso last year.



Conferring the award on the Burkina Faso leader at a State Lunch in his honour, at the Banquet Hall of the Jubilee House, President Akufo-Addo praised him (Mr Kabore) for his distinguished leadership, saying, He is one of the outstanding figures of modern Burkinabe history.



He has distinguished himself as someone committed to the welfare of his people and the progress of Burkina Faso and indeed West Africa and Africa Indeed hes one of the most respected voices amongst my peers in the region and on the continent, he said.



Weve got ourselves a true friend and we should rejoice in that fact, he added.



During President Akufo-Addos visit to Burkina Faso last year, the governments of both countries agreed to strengthen the ties of cooperation that existed between the two countries.



The two countries reinforced their cooperation in the areas of railway and road transport, agriculture, water, security, trade, works and housing and energy.



They also agreed to reactivate the Joint Technical Committee on Integrated Water Resource Management to oversee and manage the annual spillage of the Bagre Dam in Burkina Faso, to reduce the perennial flooding downstream.



Both nations agreed to collaborate, with the support of ECOWAS, establish a Joint Border Post to facilitate trade and free movement of their people, goods and services. They also decided to work together in support of the establishment of the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) under the auspices of the African Union.



President Akufo-Addo described as fruitful the deliberations between him and Mr Kabore in Accra, as we have had personal meeting and meetings between delegations of both governments and have been able to cover a lot of grounds, and have no doubt when implemented, would benefit our populations.





Source: GNA









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Featured VideoSeasoned journalist, Kwesi Pratt Jnr., has descended heavily on Menzgold and its Chief Executive Officer, Nana Appiah Mensah, over the brouhaha involving the gold firm, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Bank of Ghana.



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.



Some sympathizers of the company have begun a social media appeal with #IstandwithMenzgold and #JusticeforMenzgold with others demonstrating against the State regulators, claiming they're on a "witch hunt" agenda.



But Kwesi Pratt has asked the Bank of Ghana, SEC and all the appropriate State regulators in the financial sector not to spare Menzgold if indeed they're not operating within the remits of the laws of Ghana.



He asked management of Menzgold to comply with the directives of the SEC and acquire the right documents and licence to operate as a gold company.

Kwesi Pratt also called on Ghanaians to reason out why Menzgold hasn't proceeded to court to present their case if the company believes they're acting lawfully and that the SEC is oppressing them.



If what the Securities and Exchange Commission is doing is unlawful, why doesnt Menzgold go to court? Go to court and present your caseThey should go to court and stop the Bank of Ghana, and stop the Securities and Exchange Commission.



He told host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's Kokrokoo that Menzgold as any company or individual is not above the laws of country.



Why should we spare someone saying if his company flouts the law and were sanctioning it, it will disturb some people? Whose company you touch wont worry other peopleThe Securities and Exchange Commission and Bank of Ghana are protecting us, why then do we fight them? he questioned.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Featured VideoFormer Chairman of the Confiscated Vehicles Committee under the late former President Mills administration, Sonny Carl Wilson, is pleading with Ghanaians, especially the youth, to forgive him for misleading them.



According him, he lured people to vote for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) but has regretted doing that, claiming the NPP-led government has failed the nation.



Mr. Wilson said in the run-up to the 2016 elections, he openly opposed his own National Democratic Congress (NDC) party, and called on the youth to vote for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) due to some policies they promised to implement.



Speaking in an interview with Onua FM on Tuesday, Mr. Wilson submitted: I am here to call on the youth to forgive me.



He explained, I called on the youth to change and vote for the NPP then in opposition but today I am here to ask for forgiveness.



Mr. Wilson suggested that coming events cast their shadows before them, stressing, the Akufo-Addo government cannot do anything for the nation. Like the Twi people say, agro be so a, efiri anopa.



Mr. Wilson said he openly campaigned for the NPP because of the welfare of the youth in this country but felt disappointed that the government has failed them.



Whatever we did, we did it for Ghana and I will not campaign for Akufo-Addo again if we should have elections today, he added.

Source: 3news.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 extravagant expenditure on high government appointees has come under criticism with a call by a former Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa, Prof. Kwame Karikari, on the government to cut down on some of these expenses.



According to him, looking at the economic situation in the country, Ghanaians could no longer stand the expensive lifestyle of these appointees and, therefore, something must be done about it.



Prof. Karikari, who is also the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Graphic Communications Group Limited, described as unfortunate Parliaments decision to go for a $ 22 million loan for the purchase of cars for parliamentarians at a time the government was grappling to find money to sustain free senior high school (SHS) education and national health insurance, build roads, address infrastructure problem, among others.



Scrap certain allowances



Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a two-day workshop to build the capacity of some selected media practitioners on the African Governance Architecture (AGA) in Ghana, Prof. Karikari said certain allowances given to these high officials as part of the conditions of service must be scrapped or structured in a manner that did not overburden the countrys finances.



The cost of maintaining the lifestyle of these high appointees, he said, was too high and draining the coffers of the state, thereby denying the country its progress.



Prof. Karikari observed that usually when the government ran into economic difficulties it made loud noise about the high cost of wages of people employed in the public sector.



But I am sure that the wages of ordinary secretaries, labourers, that the government cries about is not anywhere near the monies spent on these high political office holders, he said.



Publishing cost on officials



Ghanaians, he said, must demand from the government to publish the cost of serving the lifestyle of appointees at least yearly for the populace to know how much of the state money was being spent on them.



We should be concerned and worried about the extravagant level of expenditure on very high government appointees. We should know how much money any new government or government spends on cars for one, the Presidents Office, Vice-Presidents Office, Speakers Office, ministers, Members of Parliament, members of the Council of State, members of boards of statutory institutions, he added.



The issue of warm clothing allowance, for instance, he said, was built into their conditions of service to the extent that even if they travelled to Niger where the weather was about 45 degrees or Europe in Summer, they would still claim warm clothing allowance.



One fascinating issue is that it doesnt matter how many times the person travels to Europe or North America in a year, the person will claim warm clothing allowances.

Source: Daily Graphic









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Featured VideoA national survey looks at Canadians' attitudes towards e-cigarette use and the apparent prevalence of vaping among different age groups. An electronic cigarette is demonstrated in Chicago on April 23, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Nam Y. HuhJaswinder Garib, seen here with her dog Gracie, is donating $30,000 as part of the overall $500,000 pledge from the South Okanagans Indo-Canadian community to help acquire medical equipment for the Penticton Regional Hospital expansion.Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland speaks to reporters in the foyer of the House of Commons following a cabinet meeting on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean KilpatrickAn asylum seekers, claiming to be from Eritrea, is confronted by an RCMP officer as he crosses the border into Canada from the United States on August 21, 2017 near Champlain, N.Y. The number of asylum seekers who crossed into Canada irregularly in August increased slightly over the previous month, but did not reach the record spikes experienced over the summer months last year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul ChiassonLast Wednesday, Lee County Mosquito Control District commissioners decided to postpone their vote on whether to purchase Woodstock airstrip on PIne Island. Approximately 20- 25 Pine Island residents arrived at the meeting to voice their objections to the purchase.

Residents brought up legal issues, concerns about excessive noise, the effect of the airport on quality of life, possible reduction in home values, hurricanes and possible fuel and insecticide spills, budget questions, the use of Roundup products and pilots using helicopters to go to lunch at various restaurants on Pine Island.

Im very pleased with the turnout for this meeting, Woodstock Road resident Ndakhte Ndiaye said. We decided to try to get as many people to this budget meeting as possible because in their last board meeting the District Commissioners appeared to be reconsidering the purchase of the airport. They said they were putting the decision off until next months meeting and I thought this would be a good opportunity for Pine Islanders to have their say.

LCMCD proposed to purchase the 35-acre property last year as a satellite facility. LCMCD states that 70 percent of its mosquito spraying operations take place in Pine Island and western portions of Cape Coral. The ability to store the helicopters conducting those missions and, in turn, not having to ferry them from the Buckingham Airfield, will provide cost savings.

Several Gulf Coast Estates residents filed a lawsuit last year to stop the sale. The lawsuit, filed by William S. Peratino, Jamie M. Saunders, Debbie Memoli, Claudia Bringe and Joseph T. Scaccio, claimed the airstrip would violate zoning restrictions for AG (agricultural) zoned districts, and violates the special conditions of the prior 1975 exception. The group, known as the Woodstock Airport Opposition Group, filed an injunction stopping LCMCD from purchasing the property.

The lawsuit delayed the purchase of the property for 6 months. In the interim, in anticipation of the eventual purchase, LCMCD leased the property from the owners, Frank and Ila Valcarcel, for $10,000 per month.

In June 2018 a Circuit Court judge ruled in favor of Lee County Mosquito Control District stating the airport is permitted under the definition of aircraft landing facility, private and that the property meets the special permit issued in 1975. The Woodstock Airport Opposition Group filed an appeal.

John Lafara stated the Flamingo Bay Action Committee does not support the purchase of the airstrip and Claudia Bringe, president of the Greater Pine Island Civic Association, stated the GPICA also opposes the purchase.

As a homeowner I am concerned about noise, traffic and privacy, resident Jamie Saunders said. We are not against Mosquito Control. We feel this is a small private landing strip and that a commercial airstrip is the safest and most appropriate place for you to run your operation. This was never meant to be a big airport.

LCMCD has been advised that the airstrip is a licensed airport, offers an opportunity to store aircraft, save ferry time and consolidate two other helistops in Pine Island Center and St. James into one.

LCMCD attorney John Englewood advised that the lawsuit could take anywhere from 6 months to a year to resolve.

Bokeelia resident John Reynolds spoke in favor of the airport. Reynolds lives near the Harbor Drive heliport in Bokeelia said LCMCD is a good neighbor.

Among the many issues residents brought up at the meeting was easements on the property. According to Ndiaye, the Woodstock Airport Opposition Group believes there are several easements and roads that have been gated and made unusable by residents.

Mike Ellis, who chaired the meeting, said the options were: purchase the airport, dont purchase the airport or move it into next fiscal years budget. Commissioners present were Bruce Scott, Ed Brantley, Mike Ellis, Brian Farrar and George Mann. Thomas Hart was absent.

The commission voted 4-1 to move the purchase of Woodstock airstrip into next years budget (October 2018). Commissioner Scott voted no.

I was impressed that several commissioners, notably Commissioner Mann, clearly wanted more information on the serious issues that were raised such as permits, dedicated roads, the runway and zoning, Ndiaye said. There was visible concern when Director (T. Wayne) Gayle was unable to offer any assurance about the roads and easements, nor could their attorney, who twice was asked to approach the podium for answers.The trickle-down effect of the blue-green algae and red tide events has moved through Southwest Florida businesses just as water releases have moved down the Caloosahatchee.

Both have left significant harm in their wake, with financial losses following the devastating environmental fallout.

On Sanibel and Fort Myers Beach, the economic impact has been drastic with the two losing nearly $41 million combined in the last two months. A survey conducted by the Sanibel Chamber of Commerce shows eye-opening statistics and staggering losses.

In July and August, the island economy incurred a total estimated loss of $19.1 million in lost revenue, with a 41.2 percent decline in August alone.

Hotels, resorts and vacation rental companies were asked if the current water quality has negatively impacted their business and all 42 businesses surveyed said yes.

The same 42 unanimously said they have had cancellations due to water quality. Collectively, they reported a loss of 11,198 room nights for a total of $3,119,874.

Twenty-six hotels/lodging businesses reported early departures as a result of water quality, at a collective loss of $144,584.

All 29 hotels/lodgings responding said that they have seen a year-over-year decrease in the month of August.

Those 29 reported booking 13,198 fewer rooms, representing almost 30 percent of their revenue.

Thirty-eight restaurants reported back to the survey, with all of them saying they have been negatively impacted.

All 38 reported a decrease in business for the month of August, costing them a combined 2,698 tables-42 percent of their revenue.

The same trends continued for retail, real estate, and all other industries.

Some $15,129,680 in losses were estimated on Sanibel in the month of August, along with $4,004,122 in July.

Environmental conditions on Fort Myers Beach have immensely improved, according to President of the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce Jacki Liszak, but not before impacting the local economy.

She said things were rolling along better than ever in July, with many restaurants and hotels reporting record numbers-but then things took a nose dive in August.

The Fort Myers Beach Chamber conducted a survey from July 27- Sept. 14.

For businesses, a total of $24,477,607 was estimated to be lost in that time due to the beach being a ghost town after a severe red tide outbreak washed dead fish onto white sands, accompanied by a foul smell.

And thats not even with our heavy-hitters (largest properties) being accounted for in the survey, Liszak said. We were cooking with gas and then hit a brick wall.

The chamber also surveyed 4,536 employees who reported a collective estimated loss of $985,951 in lost wages per week.

She said that August was one of the worst months shes experienced, with cancelations in the tens of thousands.

Though the numbers are quite discouraging, Liszak is hopeful that as beach conditions come back to normal, so will the activity theyre used to.

People are making a point to come and help the beach out, she said. There are lots more community events and locals are helping locals.

Some hope to make the recovery effort countywide.

The past few months have been very challenging for our community and our tourist industry, said Lee County Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass, chairman of both the Tourist Development Council and the Lee Board of County Commissioners, in a prepared statement. We need to spend money at our local shops and restaurants in support of the businesses and employees who have lost significant income due to harmful algae blooms.

To that end a new promotion entitled, #OneLee, has been started by the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau, that aims to help local businesses impacted by the red tide and algal blooms.

The campaign is designed to motivate residents to dine, shop and play locally, with dozens of deals from area businesses available.

There are a myriad of reasons that the #OneLee campaign is important but perhaps the two most significant are that it continues to build on the strength of the fabric of our community and promotes neighbors helping neighbors, said President and CEO of the Sanibel Chamber of Commerce, John Lai. Lee County is being put to the test but we are resilient. Our community is joining together to help local businesses, our citizens, and were working with local organizations to clean up our shores and do our part. There is no better nor important time to support each other, shop small, support local restaurants, and help your neighbor.

Residents can use the #OneLee hashtag on their social media accounts to support the movement.

Deals will launch Saturday, Sept. 15, and can be found online at www.fortmyers-sanibel.com/onelee.

Special offers will be from businesses in coastal communities such as Sanibel and Captiva, Bonita Beach and Fort Myers Beach.

Fort Myers Beach is getting a head start on the #OneLee movement.

The Chamber is working with five local radio stations to air commercials promoting the beach, hopeful that it will bring people back to the usually vibrant area.

Liszak advocated for the local waiters and waitresses who rely on tips for their income.

Continue to tip the bill (a growing movement to tip your server the same amount as your meal), continue to help local businesses, tell your family and friends-even those up north-that things are getting better and that the beach is beautiful, she said.

For Cape Coral, it is unclear the exact monetary hit the city and its businesses have taken, according to city officials.

The Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce is currently in the process of surveying its members to get a better idea of what businesses are going through. They also continue to work hard on getting people informed on the efforts of the city to mitigate the issue.

We are continuing to receive visitors in our welcome center daily. However, we are receiving calls from people who have their vacations booked during our seasonal months and are concerned about coming down, said Donna Germain, president and CEO of the Cape Chamber. We are sharing the information we have received regarding clean up efforts from the city and county and the long-term projects such as the Hoover Dike repair and the EEA Reservoir. And most importantly, we are encouraging them to keep their travel plans and to come visit Cape Coral and the surrounding areas.

Interim Cape Coral Economic Development Manager Terri Hall said that there are no hard numbers yet on the impact these water events have had on the economy, and that it may be some time until the city sees what the long-term impact truly is.

For the short term, she said, There has definitely been negative impacts for some businesses, especially those that rely on the water. But there are no specific numbers to see exactly what the losses have been.

It has also come to her attention that some short-term loans have been applied for by small businesses that may be affected, looking for relief until season begins.

In speaking with restaurants along the water, it was a mixed bag of reviews, according to Hall.

The real estate market hasnt seen too much of a change, according to Gloria Tate of Raso Realty in Cape Coral.

The Royal Palm Coast Association of Realtors Database shows that in the last 120 days, 361 Gulf-access homes were sold, including the crown jewel of Cape Harbour, 5832 Armada Court, for $4.125 million.

The 361 Gulf-access homes sold is a 59- house increase from last year, over the same 120 days.

Tate also hasnt heard of any cancellations for winter residents, and that she continues to get new inquiries every day from people wanting to spend the winter months in Southwest Florida.

She believes it will be a strong visitor season coming up.

Those of us who live here are cautious and concerned about conditions we see in our canals, Tate said. But we are optimistic that our government is working to fix the issue.

Lee County is also working to compile numbers on the impact of red tide and blue-green algae blooms on the economy.

On Sept. 4, the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau sent out a survey to 1,430 tourism industry people/businesses to gather data, asking for information on business revenue for July and August.

They asked the aforementioned to fill out the survey If you are experiencing losses due to red tide or algae blooms.

Those numbers are not yet available.

Lee County Economic Development is working to connect local businesses with state and federal resources, said Betsy Clayton, Lee County spokesperson. We continue to encourage businesses being affected by the Lake Okeechobee blue-green algae and red tide to complete a business damage assessment survey that can be accessed.

You can visit www.florida disaster.biz/BusinessDamageAssesments to find said survey, and then select as applicable; Lake Okeechobee/algae blooms or red tide.

The Small Business Development Center at Florida Gulf Coast University is also reaching out to those who complete the damage assessments that indicate that they want more information on bridge loans.

Connect with this reporter on Twitter: @haddad_cj

Editors Note: Figures for the economic impact on Pine Island businesses is not yet available. As stated in the story, Lee County is still collecting data. The Pine Island Chamber of Commerce is in the process of conducting its survey of on-island businesses and an update will be provided when available.Fishing reports were good and improving over most inshore waters over the past week, then a change came for several areas over the weekend. Fish kills were noted a few miles off the beaches then by Saturday dead fish were floating along the coastline in areas including Blind Pass and Boca Grande.

Most believe the recent easterly winds were holding the toxins offshore then a change in direction with an onshore breeze resulted in the most recent outbreak. Not sure of the extent as reports were just coming in as this column was written.

During the week anglers noted the water looked good along the eastern side of Pine Island Sound and fishing was decent as well. Schools of large redfish were located off shorelines and sand holes in the northern Sound, with many fish running over 30 inches. Also during the week, snook and redfish were caught and released near the Gulf passes and along the beaches, plus mangrove snapper were caught in the passes over the slower or slack tides.

Up to this point, Matlacha has remained unaffected from the water issues and fishing reports were decent north and south of the bridge in Matlacha Pass. Redfish up to 28 inches were caught and released in south Matlacha Pass near Masters Landing while soaking cut ladyfish along shorelines. A couple snook were also caught and released. Sea trout were hooked while drifting shrimp under popping corks over 3 to 5-foot-deep flats off the east side of McCardle Island. Mangrove snapper to 12 inches took live shrimp around oyster bars and island points in the pass.

At the north end of the pass, redfish were reported in bays in the northwest area, trout numbers were good with fish up to 20 inches, plus mangrove snapper, a few flounder, Spanish mackerel and cobia.

Bokeelia and Charlotte Harbor also held good fishing all week. A variety of fish continue to come from the Bokeelia Fishing Pier, including mangrove snapper, black drum, pompano, Spanish mackerel, sharks, plus catch-and-release snook. A few redfish and snook were caught and released in areas between Bokeelia and Pineland along shorelines, and trout were hooked in the same area on low tide while fishing sand potholes. Across Charlotte Harbor, Spanish mackerel and ladyfish were schooled up feeding on small baitfish. Terns and gulls working an area was the best bet to find the hungry fish. A few tarpon were also sighted around the schools and one angler reported running across a school of big black drum finning at the surface on a calm morning in the middle of the Harbor.

Offshore, anglers are running out 15+ miles to find good water. In depths from 80 to 120 feet there were a couple reports of a mix of red grouper, snapper, porgy and grunts. Most fish were caught on cut bait.

As mentioned, not sure to the extent of the recent fish kills over the weekend, if its widespread or isolated. I really try to keep this article positive and write about catching fish, it gets difficult with the ongoing water crisis continuing to kill sea life. Its important that everyone keeps involved, demand action from local, state and federal government, and vote in November for those who have clean water as a priority.

If you have a fishing report or for charter information, please contact us at 239-283-7960, via the Website www.fishpineisland.com or email gcl2fish@live.com

Have a safe week and good fishin.

As a native of Pine Island, Capt. Bill Russell has spent his entire life fishing and learning the waters surrounding Pine Island and as a professional fishing guide for the past 18 years.KAMPALA Ugandas self-declared man of God William Paul Muwanguzi, better known as pastor Kiwedde is now a free man after completing his sentence.

Pastor Kiwedde was in 2013 arrested from Rakai District, where he was impersonating a Kenyan Catholic priest who was performing healing prayers and miracles from which he extorted huge sums of money from hundreds of unsuspecting followers.

However, after serving part of his sentence at Mutukula prison, in 2014, Pastor escaped from prison and managed to get out of the country through Mutukula border before going to Zimbabwe where he was expatriated back to the country to complete his sentence.

Pastor Kiwedde was sentenced to four years jail term for impersonation and he was added two extra years for prison break and being in possession of a fake passport in the names of David Mubiru.

Frank Baine, the Uganda Prisons Service public relations officer, confirmed that pastor Kiwedde was released after he completed his jail term.

Kiwedde became famous because of his activities at his defunct Pentecostal church under the name of Holy Fire Ministries on Entebbe road in Kampala where thousands of believers gathered for miracles.

He is said to have extracted a lot of money from his followers in which he accumulated wealth and bought lavish cars he branded with Kiwedde an expression meaning it is done.

RelatedFour people were shotnone fatallyin a workplace shooting in Middleton (WI) Wednesday morning. The suspected gunman was also shot and later died. It is unclear if the suspect was shot by police or if his wound was self-inflicted.

According to Madison.com, the shooting occurred at WTS Paradigm, a company that makes software for the building products industry.

A witness to the shooting who works for WTS Paradigm but asked not to be named told the Wisconsin State Journal the shooter was a company employee.ASCHHEIM, Germany and MILAN, September 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Fully digital and contactless payments with Google Pay are facilitated by the boon android app

Wirecard, the global leader in innovation for digital financial technology, is making its mobile payment solution boon available to download in the Google Play store for the launch of Google Pay in Italy. As a result, Italian users will benefit from a fully digitized prepaid Mastercard for mobile payments, regardless of which bank they are with.

According to a recent survey, 74% of all consumers in Italy already use their smartphone for mobile banking. As of now, Android users in Italy can make secure contactless mobile payments at the till with Google Pay and boon. With the new boon Android app, customers can simply add their digital Mastercard to Google Pay. With boon, all Android smartphone users can register in a matter of minutes and then securely pay via boon and Google Pay.

Georg von Waldenfels, Executive Vice President Consumer Solutions at Wirecard, says: "With boon, we are delighted to now offer Google Pay to every user of an Android device in Italy, from Android version 5 on. We welcome today's launch of Google Pay in Italy and together with boon, the digitization of payment processes is advancing."

Florence Diss, Head of EMEA Commerce Partnerships, Google, adds: "Starting today, boon users can link their card to Google Pay once and then use Google Pay to make safe, fast and delightful purchases in millions of places in Italy and around the world including on their favorite apps and sites."

Users can top up their boon account using any Mastercard or Visa and via bank transfer. As a result, it is not necessary to already own a credit card from a bank supported by Google Pay. Furthermore, boon facilitates free, real-time money transfers between boon users. Thanks to the Google Pay integration, Android users can use boon especially quickly and easily: Users simply take their mobile end device, hold it over the till terminal - without even having to open up the app - and the payment is complete.

boon is the industry's first fully digitized mobile payment solution and can be used independently from banks and telecommunications providers. boon is already available on Android devices in Germany, Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands, Austria and Spain. The app runs on both the Android operating system and iOS, where boon is already available in the UK, France, Italy, Ireland, Switzerland and Spain.

Further details can be found at: http://www.boonpayment.com

About Wirecard:

Wirecard (GER: WDI) is one of the world's fastest growing digital platforms in the area of financial commerce. We provide both corporate clients and consumers with a constantly expanding ecosystem of real-time value-added services built around innovative digital payments by using an integrated B2B2C approach. This ecosystem concentrates on solutions in the areas payment and risk, retail and transaction banking, loyalty and coupon programs in addition to data analytics and conversion rate enhancement across all sales channels (online, mobile, ePOS). Wirecard operates regulated financial institutions in several key markets, in addition to holding issuing and acquiring licenses from all major payment and card networks. Wirecard AG is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (TecDAX, ISIN DE0007472060). Visit us on http://www.wirecard.com, follow us on Twitter @wirecard and on Facebook @wirecardgroup.

Wirecard media contact:

Wirecard AG

Jana Tilz

Tel.: +49(0)89-4424-1363

Email: jana.tilz@wirecard.com



SOURCE Wirecard AGNew Anti-Russian Sanctions Will Slow Russian Economy Down, Kudrin Says

The new package of anti-Russian sanctions is expected ot be imposed by the United States in November. Apparently, this is not expected to become a disaster ofr the Russian economy, but it still may slow down the economic growth in Russia as well as the the flow of foreign investments to the country. This is what ex-Finance Minister of Russia Alexey Kudrin thinks on the matter.

During his recent interview to Business FM, Mr. Kudrin underlined that the new package of sanctions may touch upon the system of financial transactions between American and Russian banks. He also remined the audience that the first round of sanctions had come almost unnoticed to the Russian economy. However, the 2nd round of sanctions is still undefined. With that being said, the November sanctions may end uo being either mild or really tough for Russia, its economy and financial system, the expert says. If the sanctions affect the financial ransactions between American and Russian banks, this is going to be a serious blow affecting the pace of economic growth and investments in Russia, Mr. Kundrin assumes.

If that's really the case, this step will definitely take away a certain part of the Russian GDP, which is why it should definitely be taken into account. He also warned the audience that sanctions are planned to stay there for a long time, which is why the Russian authorities will have to get used to the sanctions and work out new investment and development strategies.

You are free to discuss this article here: forum for traders and investorsIf you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found hereWelcome Guest! You Are Here:Mount Sinai Queens Opening New Infusion Center The last week of October was marked by an expansion of health care capacity in the borough, as Mount Sinai Queens celebrated the opening of...

The Unofficial Election Results The unofficial election results from the general election on November 2, 2021, with well over 90% of scanners reported: MAYOR: Eric Adams (D) decisively...

Batty Over Halloween Celebration Was A Treat! The Central Astoria LDCs 6th annual Batty Over Halloween Celebration held on Sunday, October 24 was a real treat for everyone who came out. Excited...Investigators seek to extend ex-Kemerovo officials detention in mall fire case

 TASS, Danil Aykin

10:59 19/09/2018

MOSCOW, September 19 (RAPSI)  Investigators have filed a motion seeking to extend detention for ex-director of the Emergency Ministrys department for Kemerovo Region Alexander Mamontov involved in a case over tragic fire in Zimnyaya Vishnya (Winter Cherry) mall that left 60 people dead, the press service of the Central District Court of Kemerovo has told RAPSI.

The motion will be heard on September 21.

Investigators claim that Mamontov and chief of the ministrys directorate for Kemerovo Grigory Terentyev have not organized safety inspection in the mall since 2017 despite knowing that one should have been completed before March 18. In addition, Mamontov used his position to embezzle 1.8 million rubles ($27,000) from the Ministry and used it for benefit of other persons.

The fire occurred in the mall on March 25. According to investigators, 60 people including dozens of children were killed by fire. Initially it was reported that 64 people died.

Investigation has been already completed into seven defendants in the case, Yulia Bogdanova, CEO of the Kemerovsky Confectionary Combine, a company owning the mall, technical director of the malls owner company Georgy Sobolev, the malls manager Nadezhda Suddenok, a guard who allegedly turned off the emergency notification system when he received a fire signal Sergey Antyushin, CEO of the company System Integrator that developed the fire safety system Igor Polozinenko; an employee of the company, who personally installed the fire alarm Alexander Nikitin and fire team commander Sergey Genin.

Depending on their role they are charged with violation of fire safety regulation, provision of services that dont meet safety requirements and negligence.

As of today, there are twelve defendants in the case, eleven of them are in detention.Moscow court upholds house arrest for Culture Ministrys ex-official

 AGN Moscow, Kirill Zykov

16:50 19/09/2018

MOSCOW, September 19 (RAPSI)  The Moscow City Court has upheld extension of house arrest for ex-official of Russias Culture Ministry and current director of the Russian Academic Youth Theater Sophia Apfelbaum charged with embezzlement until October 19, the press-service of the court has told RAPSI.

An appeal against the Basmanny District Courts ruling of August 31 was dismissed.

Apfelbaum is a defendant in a criminal case involving the Gogol Center theater director Kirill Serebrennikov.

Serebrennikov was arrested in late August 2017 and then placed under house arrest. In early November, Moscows Basmanny District Court seized assets belonging to Serebrennikov including apartment, car, and money in the amount of more than 360,000 rubles ($6,000), over 60,000, and $4,000.

Investigators believe that he was an organizer of the budget money embezzlement. He allegedly created Seventh Studio stage company to actualize the Platforma project for promotion of art and invited other defendants into the organization. The defendant pleaded not guilty.

Investigators claim that ex-head of Seventh Studio stage company Yury Itin, ex-general producer Alexey Malobrodsky and former Seventh Studio chief accountant Nina Maslyayeva were falsifying data for the Platforma projects plans in 2011-2014 on the theater directors request. This data was provided to the Ministry of Culture as the rationale for financing from the state budget.

Earlier, Maslyayeva testified against Serebrennikov. She said that Serebrennikov, Malobrodsky and Itin organized embezzlement of money allocated for a cultural event. Serebrennikov and Malobrodsky cashed the money with the assistance of Maslyayeva. The woman also said that she entered falsified data in financial reports.

Apfelbaum has been also arrested and put under house arrest on embezzlement charges. According to investigators, from 2011 to 2014, she signed contracts on state grants in the amount of more than 214 million rubles ($3.7 million) with Serebrennikovs Seventh Studio on behalf of the Russian Culture Ministry, and provided further agreement of received reporting documents, which contained overstated information on quantity and cost of the held events. Thus, she has abetted embezzlement of about 68 million rubles ($1.2 million) by Serebrennikov and his accomplices, investigators claim.

The former official admitted that she controlled the movement of cash but denied involvement in embezzlement.

One more defendant, producer Yekaterina Voronova, has been arrested in absentia and put on the international wanted list.Bid to overturn arrest of alleged St. Petersburg terror act organizer in absentia denied

 flickr.com/Damien

17:33 19/09/2018

MOSCOW, September 19 (RAPSI)  The Moscow City Court has dismissed an appeal against arrest of an alleged organizer of the notorious St. Petersburg subway terror attack Sirozhiddin Mukhtarov in absentia, the courts press service has told RAPSI.

Moscows Basmanny District Court issued an arrest warrant for Mukhtarov, a member of Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad terrorist group prohibited in Russia, on August 23. The defendant is to stay in detention for two months after he gets apprehended by law enforcement.

Currently, Mukhtarov is on the international wanted list.

On April 3, 2017, an unknown device exploded in a train between St. Petersburg metro stations Technological Institute and Sennaya Ploshchad. According to law enforcement authorities, 16 people died in the blast including a suicide bomber, over 50 were wounded. 112 persons were acknowledged as victims in the criminal case.

Investigators believe that an organization with a goal of spreading terrorist activity, including attacks on Russia and its citizens, was founded in Syria. According to investigators, the suicide bomber Akbarzhon Dzhalilov manufactured two explosives and brought them to the St. Petersburg metro.

One of the bombs that Dzhalilov kept to himself exploded around 2:40 PM Moscow time between St. Petersburg metro stations Technological Institute and Sennaya Ploshchad. The second bomb located at Ploshchad Vosstaniya station failed to detonate due to its malfunction and was subsequently found and disarmed.



Bill on forced heirship for preretirement persons submitted to State Duma

 RIA Novosti

15:49 19/09/2018

MOSCOW, September 19 (RAPSI)  A bill giving persons nearing retirement age a right to forced heirship has been submitted to the State Duma, according to the database of the parliaments lower house.

Under the bill, a right to receive a legitimate heritage portion would be granted to women reaching the age of 55 and men reaching the age of 60.

Currently, minor or disabled children of testators as well as their disabled spouses, parents or other dependents could inherit no less than a half portion, the so-called statutory share, despite the contents of a will, according to the Civil Code of Russia. A right to forced heirship is aimed to support people in need of exceptional protection because of age and health state, including senior citizens.

The proposed amendments are to take effect when the pension age is changed in Russia.

On July 19, the State Duma passed the pension system bill in the first reading. Initially, the document, which was suggested in mid-June by the government, provided a gradual increase in the retirement age of up to 65 years for men and up to 63 years for women.

Earlier in September, President Vladimir Putin submitted amendments to a pension reform bill to the lower house of Russian parliament. The amended bill is to be considered by the State Duma in the second reading.

The President issued a set of suggestions on the pension system change on August 29. Putin proposed to lower the womens retirement age to 60 years. Morever, he made several proposals aimed to strengthen guarantees for persons nearing retirement age, in particular to protect them from discrimination and dismissal without a valid reason.Over 430 corruption crimes committed by penitentiary service officers in 2017 - senator

 RIA Novosti

12:45 19/09/2018

MOSCOW, September 19 (RAPSI)  Officers of Russias Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) committed over 430 corruption-related crimes in 2017, a member of the Federation Council Lyudmila Bokova said during a meeting the Presidential Council for Human Rights on Wednesday.

According to Bokova, 431 crimes were detected, 120 penitentiary officials were charged with corruption, and 57 persons were convicted.

The Federation Council member also said that prosecutors conducted 51,000 inspections last year and revealed 118,000 violations in the penitentiary system; 38,000 officials were subject to disciplinary actions. Moreover, 1,600 officials incurred administrative punishment for violations.ROK President Moon Jae-in (right) and top DPRK leader Kim Jong-un. [Photo/IC]

China's UN rep: resorting to force would be 'dead end' on issue of denuclearization

A senior Chinese envoy said Monday that there is no military solution to denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and confrontation is a "dead end".

"Resorting to force will only bring disastrous consequences to the peninsula," Ma Zhaoxu, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, told the UN Security Council at its meeting on non-proliferation.

In addition to addressing the legitimate security concerns of related parties and maintaining peace and stability of the peninsula, Ma said it is also key to uphold the goal of denuclearization and solve the issue through dialogue.

Positive changes have taken place on the Korean Peninsula, and the situation is now on the right track of dialogue toward political settlement, Ma said.

While expressing China's support for dialogue between Pyongyang and Washington on denuclearization, Ma said China wishes to see both the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea achieve a positive outcome to their summit scheduled for Tuesday to Thursday.

The denuclearization of the peninsula and continued defusing of military tension are expected to top the agenda of the summit between ROK President Moon Jae-in and DPRK's top leader Kim Jong-un when they meet face-to-face in Pyongyang.

"We hope related parties can work together to consolidate the current positive momentum towards long-term peace and stability of the peninsula," Ma said, praising efforts by the DPRK on denuclearization.

A significant breakthrough is expected during the next inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang, which will help resume stalled negotiations between the US and the DPRK, Cho Tae-yul, ROK ambassador to the UN, said at the meeting.

"No doubt the road ahead will be bumpy," he said. "We must pursue our shared goal of the complete denuclearization of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea with patience, persistence and, above all, a united stance and solidarity."

China has fulfilled Security Council resolutions on the DPRK and regularly submitted records of oil exports to that country, he said, emphasizing that violations, if found, will be handled in line with China's own laws.

The dual-track approach proposed by China, in which the DPRK would suspend its nuclear and ballistic missile programs while the US and the ROK would suspend their joint military exercises, is conducive to solving the peninsula situation, Ma said, adding that related parties should continue to make wise choices.

He urged the Security Council to remain united on achieving peninsula denuclearization and peace and stability, and said China is willing to continue to play a constructive role in that regard.

Rosemary DiCarlo, under-secretary-general for political affairs, briefed the council during the meeting. She noted several positive developments related to the DPRK's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs in recent months, including an immediate halt to nuclear explosive testing and flight tests of certain longer-range ballistic missiles.

US and Russian representatives exchanged accusations over the report of the Panel of Experts (of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006)) on the sanctions imposed on the DPRK.

US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said Russia, which has agreed to the UN sanctions, violated the UN sanctions on the DPRK, saying the US has evidence.

The final denuclearization of the DPRK is the goal of the entire international community, she said.

Russian Ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia denied the US allegations, saying Russia didn't exert pressure on the panel of experts. He said that the panel has become "hostage" to Washington.

Negotiations between the DPRK and the US are facing obstacles because one side offers "nothing in return" for its demands, he said, underlining that diplomacy is a two-way street.A bell-striking ceremony to mark the 87th anniversary of the "Sept. 18 Incident" is held at the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 18, 2018. (Xinhua/Yao Jianfeng)

SHENYANG, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- On Tuesday morning, air raid sirens sounded for three minutes in Shenyang and 13 other cities in northeast China's Liaoning Province to mark the 87th anniversary of the "Sept. 18 Incident", the start of Japan's invasion of China.

On hearing the sirens, Ji Ning, a 42-year-old guide at the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang, the provincial capital, knew that a large crowd of visitors would soon arrive at the museum and she would explain to them one of the darkest pages of China's history.

COMMEMORATION

The sirens on Sept. 18 each year serve as a reminder of Japan's aggression. The Sept. 18 Incident occurred in 1931 when Japanese troops blew up a section of railway under their control near Shenyang and accused Chinese soldiers of sabotage as a pretext for the attack. They bombarded Chinese barracks near Shenyang the same evening, beginning a large-scale invasion of northeast China.

"In the early years, many people even did not know why there were wailing air raid sirens. But they gradually came to learn the significance," said Ji.

Many countries, including China, keep the tradition of commemorating those lost during war even though war is just now a part of history, she said.

Ji leads four to five groups of people to visit 510-meter-long exhibitions, including over 800 photos, 300 physical objects, and several simulated war scenes, on almost every working day over the past 20 years.

"There is one Sept. 18 each year, but our routine work is all about 'Sept. 18'," she said.

HEROES

At the start of each tour, Ji begins with the "Sept. 18 Incident". "I prefer talking more about the Chinese army' and civilians' fight against Japanese invaders. It's inspiring to recount stories of the wartime heroes," she said.

As a mother, Ji feels hurt whenever she recounts the story of Zhao Yiman, a legendary heroine who fought in China's northeast and was captured and killed by Japanese occupation forces at the age of 31.

Zhao left her final words to her son in a letter, saying she regretted not fulfilling her duty of raising her son and hoped he would remember that his mother died for the motherland.

"What made a mother abandon her son?" said Ji, adding that if people understand Zhao, they would have a good understanding of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

Besides Zhao, there are many more nameless wartime heroes.

Since the "Sept. 18 Incident", China waged a war against Japanese aggression for 14 years and finally won the first full victory against foreign invasion since the Opium War in 1840 at the cost of over 35 million military and civilian casualties.

Ji recalled that one woman in her 70s from another northeastern province of Heilongjiang once visited the museum, carrying an old letter from her father saying he would join the anti-Japanese volunteer army in Liaoning. She had been searching for her father for many years, but all her efforts were in vain.

Ji led her to the national anthem wall and told her the original song of the national anthem "March of the Volunteers" was written for the volunteer soldiers like her father.

"After hearing my words, she burst into tears and then bowed three times in front of the wall," Ji said.

"We should not forget history. Otherwise, we feel sorry for the heroes," said Ji. She said she was glad that many visitors left words like "do not forget national humiliation" and "revitalize the Chinese nation" on the quest book.

PEACE

The museum, which hosts 1 million visitors annually, has become a major place for China to host the activities in commemoration of the war against Japanese aggression. Air raid sirens have sounded in Shenyang each Sept. 18 since 1995 to remind citizens of the war past.

In recent years, many other places in the country's northeast and elsewhere also sounded air raid sirens amid a spate of commemoration activities nationwide.

On Tuesday, around 1,000 people from all walks of life in Shenyang attended a bell-striking ceremony and vehicles on 27 main streets in the city stopped and honked their horns for three minutes to remember those who died in the war and pray for peace.

Similar air raid sirens sounded in Nanjing and other cities of east China's Jiangsu Province Tuesday morning and vehicles and pedestrians stopped in a silent tribute.

"To remember history is not to continue hatred. Commemoration of the Sept. 18 Incident does not conflict with the development of Sino-Japanese relations," Ji said.

Among the visitors, those from Japan and a former war prisoner impressed her the most, said Ji.

On Sept. 18, 2006, former Japanese prisoner of war Fujihara Sukeo became the first Japanese to attend a bell-striking ceremony. He also took part in a three-minute silence to express his remorse.

In 1943, 22-year-old Sukeo came to China as a Japanese soldier. In 1945, he was captured by the Red Army of the Soviet Union in Liaoning. He was set free by the Chinese government and repatriated to Japan in 1956.

"During the remainder of my life, I hope to tell my children and grandchildren the truth of war and history from my own experience. I will strive for Sino-Japanese friendship until the end of my life and hope there won't be any war in the future," Sukeo told museum staff through a translator before leaving.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship, and people of the two countries hope to get along well with each other.

Ji is busier during the days around Sept. 18 when over 10,000 visitors with different accents, young and old, throng to the museum each day.

"If the war had never happened, Zhao Yiman would surely have been a better mother and the volunteer soldier would have been a better father," Ji said. "Today, we talk about the war and remember the sufferings in a bid to live a peaceful life," she said.

People from all walks of life attend a bell-striking ceremony to mark the 87th anniversary of the "Sept. 18 Incident" at the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 18, 2018. (Xinhua/Yao Jianfeng)World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples - South Sudan: Murle

Publisher Minority Rights Group International Publication Date July 2018 Cite as Minority Rights Group International, World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples - South Sudan: Murle, July 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5ba20aad7.html [accessed 10 November 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Profile

Murle are a Surmic speaking group living in South Sudan's Jonglei State. Murle, while one ethnic group, are divided into a primarily agriculturalist eastern group residing in the mountainous Boma plateau and a primarily pastoralist western group residing in Jonglei's wetlands. Murle society is organized by age set. Both highland and lowland Murle are members of the same age-sets which may include men within a ten-year age range. The dominant age set typically is responsible for community security and border protection, and has the right to marry.

History

Murle joined the SPLA early in the war but abuses against civilians and the killings of some of their senior members soon turned many Murle against the SPLA. Under the leadership of Sultan Ishmael Konyi, many lowland Murle formed the Pibor Defence Forces (PDF). At the same time, the SPLA maintained a base in Boma and many highland Murle remained with the SPLA. The PDF were supplied by the Sudanese government and this wartime alliance led to widespread suspicion of Murle by the SPLM/A government following the 2005 peace agreement.

Murle have been subject to discrimination at the state and national level as well as being both victims and perpetrators of deadly inter-communal violence. Their rebellion in 2012, in response to state-sponsored violence, led to a peace agreement in 2014 granting them greater self-government under a 'Greater Pibor Administrative Area'. However, the creation of this regional authority was not matched with adequate resources to ensure its viability

In 2013, Murle communities were subjected to revenge attacks by Lou Nuer militias, after Murle youth had been accused of attacks on Lou Nuer communities several months earlier.

Current issues

Murle remain threatened by the ongoing conflict between Murle and other ethnic communities, including Bor Dinka and Lou Nuer. Murle militias have themselves been responsible for a number of brutal assaults on rival communities, reinforcing a cycle of revenge attacks that leave Murle civilians vulnerable to reprisals. In particular, the continuing actions of the Yau Yau militia, associated with the Murle community, led to a government crackdown and brutal disarmament campaign in Jonglei in 2012.

Murle have frequently been typecast as the primary aggressors in the vicious cycle of cattle raiding, child abductions and killings that has consumed Jonglei state for years - a position reinforced by the atrocities perpetrated in particular by Yau Yau militants. This, however, overlooks the complex reality of ethnic conflict from multiple communities that has frequently seen Murle targeted by militias from other ethnic groups, as well as the broader backdrop of their prolonged exclusion by dominant Dinka and Nuer within Jonglei.

Updated July 2018

Copyright notice:  Minority Rights Group International. All rights reserved.World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples - South Sudan: Shilluk

Publisher Minority Rights Group International Publication Date July 2018 Cite as Minority Rights Group International, World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples - South Sudan: Shilluk, July 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5ba20bb07.html [accessed 10 November 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Profile

The Shilluk are a Nilotic group that lives along the Nile and Sobat Rivers. They are the third largest ethnic group in South Sudan. The Shilluk kingdom is hierarchical and falls under the authority of the hereditary Shilluk king or reth.

History

Hundreds of years ago the Shilluk settled in their current area and developed an intensive system of agriculture as well as animal husbandry. During the colonial period many Shilluk began to convert to Christianity while maintaining the role of the reth.

In 1991, Dr. Riek Machar, a Nuer, and Dr. Lam Akol, a Shilluk, split with the SPLM/A. Many Shilluk followed Akol due to perceptions of ethnic bias in the SPLA. In 1997, Akol signed the Fashoda Agreement with the Sudanese government. During this period, some Shilluk lands began to be occupied by Dinka and other ethnic communities.

Following the CPA, Akol founded the largest opposition party in South Sudan, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement - Democratic Change. There were several attempts to 'disarm' Shilluk, leading to widespread violence, including against Shilluk women and children. Shilluk land claims were ignored by the government during this period and many blamed Dinka leadership in the SPLA for blocking them.

Current issues

While South Sudan's conflict is primarily driven by fighting between Dinka and Nuer forces, like other smaller ethnic minorities Shilluk have been drawn into the conflict as victims of targeted violence. In April 2015, for instance, reports emerged alleging that government forces had deliberately targeted members of the Shilluk community as punishment for their perceived support of opposition forces.

These attacks escalated further in early 2017 following a brutal government-led assault in the Upper Nile. While ostensibly targeting an armed opposition group, Shilluk Agwelek, government forces and ethnic Dinka militias also launched targeted attacks on civilian populations, looting and razing homes to the ground. The violence saw tens of thousands of Shilluk uprooted from their homes.

As Shilluk have begun to return to their homes in early 2018, the UN has been supporting conflict management efforts between Shilluk and other ethnic groups. Efforts have also been underway among Shilluk in Wau to provide veterinarian support to pastoralist cattle herds.

Updated July 2018

Copyright notice:  Minority Rights Group International. All rights reserved.Source: Times of Islamabad

BEIJING - Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) General Zhang Youxia has termed Pakistan China military relations as important pillar of strategic ties.

During the meeting with COAS General Qamar Javaid Bajwa, Gen Zhang Youxia said that China greatly values its time tested relations with Pakistan and its Army.

According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Gen Youxia said that China looks forward to further expanding this cooperation. He said that development of CPEC is aimed at bringing more benefits and prosperity to the people of both the countries.

The Vice Chairman termed Pak-China military cooperation as an important pillar of bilateral relations. He said that the two militaries should further strengthen this cooperation to safeguard common security challenges.

The Generals also discussed areas of further bilateral military cooperation in the field of counterterrorism, arms & equipment technology, and training. Pakistan army chief thanked Vice Chairman for the Chinese support and cooperation. Ambassador of Pakistan at China was also present during the meeting.

Yesterday (Sep 18), Gen Bajwa visited the headquarters of Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) in Beijing and met his counterpart General Han Weiguo.

Both the commanders discussed regional security environment, security of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and bilateral security cooperation.

The PLA chief appreciated and acknowledged the high professional standing of the Pakistan Army displayed while combating terrorism. He also appreciated the high degree of security being provided to CPEC by Pakistan Army.St. Albans, WV -- (ReleaseWire) -- 09/19/2018 --Evans Insurance Agency has been founded in the year 1981. This insurance agency provides world-class insurance for the people staying in St. Albans, West Virginia, Hurricane, Nitro, Charleston, Kanawha County, and the nearby areas for over three decades now. As an independent insurance agency, the company has connections with some of the famous insurance companies across the country.



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China on Monday hailed Pakistan Army for providing security to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Chief Gen Han Weiguo appreciated and acknowledged high professional standing of Pakistan Army displayed while combating terrorism. He also appreciated high degree of security being provided to CPEC by Pakistan Army, the ISPR said after a meeting between PLA chief and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa in Beijing.

Both the commanders discussed regional security environment, security of CPEC and bilateral security cooperation during Gen Bajwas visit to the PLA Headquarters, ISPR DG Major General Asif Ghafoor said on his official Twitter handle.

The Chinese general expressed his keen desire to benefit from Pakistan Armys combat experience and expand the bilateral cooperation.

The COAS thanked his counterpart for hosting him. He said that both armies had a history of cooperation and there were vast avenues for further enhancing the same.

Earlier, upon arrival at the PLA Headquarters, General Bajwa was presented a guard of honour.

On Tuesday, the COAS is scheduled to meet Central Military Commission (CMC) Vice Chairman Gen Zhang Youxia.Have child and have not slowed down! This blog seeks to chronicle the joys and challenges of taking kids hiking, camping, backpacking, skiing, biking, paddling and all-out exploring in the Canadian Rockies.General Zhang Youxia (R), Vice Chairman of Chinas Central Military Commission (CMC), met with visiting General Qamar Javed Bajwa (L), Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army, on the afternoon of September 18 in Beijing. (mod.gov.cn/Photo by Li Xiaowei)

BEIJING, Sept. 19 (ChinaMil) -- General Zhang Youxia, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), met with visiting General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army, on September 18 in Beijing.

General Zhang Youxia expressed that China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners. President Xi Jinping pointed out that China-Pakistan relations should be a model of good-neighborly friendship, a pillar of regional peace and stability, and a benchmark for international cooperation in the Belt and Road Initiative.

China has always prioritized the China-Pakistan relations in foreign affairs and appreciated the full support of the new Pakistani government in promoting the development of the bilateral ties.

Together with the new Pakistani government, China is willing to promote their friendly relations further, make every effort to promote the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and better benefit the two nations, Zhang said.

General Zhang Youxia added that the relations between Chinese and Pakistani militaries serve as an important backbone of the relations between the two countries. The two militaries should further enhance pragmatic cooperation in all areas, continuously improve the ability to cope with various security risks and challenges, and work together to safeguard the common interests of the two countries.

General Qamar Javed Bajwa said the friendship between Pakistan and China is higher than mountains and deeper than oceans. He thanked China for supporting Pakistan to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). The Pakistani side attaches great importance to the cooperation of the Quadrilateral Cooperation and Coordination Mechanism (QCCM) in Counter Terrorism by Afghanistan-China-Pakistan-Tajikistan Armed Forces and will fully support QCCM.

"The Pakistani military and its new government are consistent in their policy towards China," said Bajwa, adding that the Pakistani side is willing to continue to strengthen pragmatic cooperation with China in the areas of counter-terrorism, equipment technology, and personnel training to ensure the safe and smooth development of the CPEC.

Major General Zhong Shaojun (Director of the General Office of Chinas CMC), Major General Shao Yuanming (Deputy Chief of Staff of Chinas CMC Joint Staff Department), and Lieutenant General Zhou Songhe (Vice Commander of the PLA Army) also attended the meeting.

General Zhang Youxia (R), Vice Chairman of Chinas Central Military Commission (CMC), met with visiting General Qamar Javed Bajwa (L), Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army, in Beijing on the afternoon of September 18. (mod.gov.cn/Photo by Li Xiaowei)Indian shares opened slightly higher on Wednesday, tracking firm cues from global as investors looked past the latest escalation in the U.S.-China trade conflict.

The benchmark BSE Sensex was up 23 points or 0.06 percent at 37,313, giving up some earlier gains. The broader Nifty index was up 14 points or 0.12 percent at 11,292.

Healthcare stocks traded higher, with Cipla and Sun Pharma rising around 2 percent.

ONGC climbed over 3 percent as oil prices fell in Asian trade on data showing a surprise rise in U.S. crude stocks.

Reliance Communications tumbled 3 percent on news that it is exiting telecom and focusing on the real estate sector.

Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea were little changed after data showed Reliance Jio added a record 11.8 million users in July.

Hindalco advanced 1.5 percent after Shanghai copper prices rose sharply in early trade.

HDFC Asset Management Company slumped 6 percent after market regulator SEBI capped the total expense ratio for equity-oriented mutual fund schemes.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Market AnalysisOil prices steadied near $80 a barrel on Wednesday as investors eyed disruptions to global supplies once U.S. sanctions on Iran come into force.

Benchmark Brent crude was marginally lower at $79.02 a barrel after rising 1.3 percent on Tuesday amid reports that Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter, was comfortable with prices above $80.

U.S. crude futures were up 2 cents at $69.61 a barrel after climbing 1.4 percent in the previous session.

New U.S. oil sanctions will formally take effect on Nov. 4, but Iran's oil exports are already plummeting, leading to a supply shortfall in global .

Traders also took the Saudi comments as a sign that the country would not aggressively respond to the rise in prices with supply increases.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Market AnalysisDanske Bank A/S's Chief Executive Thomas Borgen resigned on Wednesday after the Danish lender announced the results of an internal probe relating to a money-laundering scandal in its branch in Estonia that involved payments of about 200 billion euros.

Danske Bank said its investigation covered about 15,000 customers and a total of around 9.5 million payments through the branch during the period from 2007 to 2015. The total flow of payments covered by the investigation amounted to around 200 billion euros.

The investigation was launched in 2017 and carried out by an external law firm, Bruun & Hjejle.

The bank said it was not able to provide an accurate estimate of the amount of suspicious transactions. However, some 6,200 customers were found to have hit the most risk indicators and they have been reported to the authorities.

Danske Bank added there is suspicion that there are employees in Estonia who have assisted or colluded with customers making suspicious transactions. However, its investigation concluded that the board of directors, chairman, and the CEO did not breach their legal obligations.

"The Bank has clearly failed to live up to its responsibility in this matter. This is disappointing and unacceptable and we offer our apologies to all of our stakeholders...," Ole Andersen, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Danske Bank, said.

Danske Bank said it will donate gross income worth 1.5 billion Danish kroner to an independent foundation that will be set up to support initiatives aimed at combating international financial crime.

Separately, CEO Thomas Borgen said he has informed the bank's board of directors of his intention to resign from his position at Danske Bank. However, Borgen will continue in his position until a new CEO is appointed.

"Even though the investigation conducted by the external law firm concludes that I have lived up to my legal obligations, I believe that it is best for all parties that I resign," Borgen said.

Danske Bank also lowered its forecast for 2018 net profit to a range of 15 billion to 17 billion Danish kroner. Earlier, the bank expected net profit to be at the lower end of the range of 18 billion to 20 billion kroner.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business NewsPresident Donald Trump has vehemently criticized Democrats for blocking the Senate Judiciary Committee's clearance of his Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, saying federal appeals court judge is "not a man that deserves this."

During a joint news conference with his visiting Polish counterpart at the White House on Tuesday, Trump was asked if he would support the FBI reopening their background investigation into Kavanaugh.

Trump replied that now that the FBI has conducted six background checks over the years, and as "Judge Kavanaugh has gone beautifully up a ladder," "they really don't do that; that's not what they do."

Trump expressed his dissent to the sexual assault allegations surfacing after Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing was completed.

"I feel so badly for him that he's going through this, to be honest with you. I feel so badly for him. This is not a man that deserves this," Trump said.

He added, "This should have been brought to the fore. It should have been brought up long ago. And that's what you have hearings for. You don't wait until the hearing is over and then, all of a sudden, bring it up."

Trump asked why Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., didn't bring up the letter Ford sent to her when she sat with Kavanaugh for a long period of time.

"Why didn't she bring it up? Why didn't she bring it up then? Why didn't the Democrats bring it up then? Because they obstruct and because they resist," Trump said.

"That's the name of their campaign against me. They just resist and they just obstruct," he added. "And, frankly, I think they're lousy on policy, and in many ways, they're lousy politicians. But they're very good on obstruction. And it's shame, because this is a great gentleman."

The process of Kavanaugh's confirmation has been hit by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford 's allegation that he attempted to rape her on the sidelines of a party in Maryland more than three decades ago, when they were teenagers.

Kavanaugh, 53, has "categorically and unequivocally" denied Ford's claims and the White House and Trump have stood by him.

After finishing four days of hearings, the Senate Judiciary Committee was scheduled to vote Thursday on whether to recommend that the Senate confirm Kavanaugh for a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court.

But after Ford's sexual assault allegation against Kavanaugh surfaced, Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, invited both of them to testify before the panel.

Ford's lawyers at that time said their client was willing to testify publicly before the Senate panel but have subsequently called for an FBI investigation of the allegations before the hearing is held.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Political NewsCalifornia's insurance regulator has filed a lawsuit against AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) for allegedly giving illegal kickbacks to care providers to prescribe its arthritis drug Humira.

The lawsuit filed in Alameda County Superior Court by the California Department of Insurance alleges that private insurers have paid out $1.2 billion in Humira-related pharmacy claims, making it the largest health insurance fraud case the Department of Insurance has ever seen.

According to the lawsuit, AbbVie provided kickbacks in the form of cash, meals, drinks, gifts, trips, and patient referrals, in addition to free professional goods and services to physicians, to induce and reward their Humira prescriptions.

These professional goods and services included free insurance processing and prior authorizations, gifts of medical practice management hardware and software, and even marketing assistance.

The lawsuit alleges that AbbVie succeeded in pulling off its scheme by inserting its own personnel directly into the homes of patients.

When doctors prescribe Humira, AbbVie sends its registered nurses, known as AbbVie Nurse Ambassadors, into patients' homes, representing them to be an extension of the doctor's office.

"AbbVie spent millions convincing patients and health care professionals that AbbVie Ambassadors were patient advocates - in fact, the Ambassadors were HUMIRA advocates hired to do one thing, keep patients on a dangerous drug at any cost," said California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones.

The California Insurance Department said that the allegations of AbbVie's misconduct were brought to its attention by a whistle-blower.

The department is seeking injunctive and equitable relief to end the kickbacks, civil penalties of $10,000 for each fraudulent Humira claim presented to an insurance company in California, in addition to attorneys' fees and costs.

In response to the lawsuit, AbbVie said the allegations had no merit.

"AbbVie provides a number of support services for patients, once they are prescribed Humira, that both educate and assist patients with their therapy, including nursing support, and these resources are beneficial to patients dealing with a chronic condition. They in no way replace or interfere with interactions between patients and their healthcare providers," AbbVie said.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business NewsElectric cars are plug-in electric automobiles that use electric motors for propulsion, using energy stored in rechargeable batteries.

Lithium-based batteries are often chosen for their high power and energy density, although may wear out over a long period of time.

For decades, governments have been reluctant to ban gasoline- or diesel-burning engines for automobiles due to the absence of alternatives to fossil-fuel powered transportation.

However, a renaissance in electric vehicle manufacturing has occurred since 2008, thanks to advances in battery technologies, concerns about surging oil prices, and the desire to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

While electric cars are less expensive to run compared to internal combustion engine vehicles due to lower cost of repairs and energy, on average, electric cars still cost significantly more to initially buy.

Several national and local governments have established tax credits, subsidies, and other incentives to promote the adoption in the mass market of new electric vehicles.

Norway, Britain, France, Germany and the Netherlands have set goals to ban sales of new petrol and diesel cars. The decision by these countries is seen as a victory for electric cars and a blow to the internal combustion engine.

China is currently the world's largest maker of pure electric vehicles.

The burgeoning electric vehicle market is currently dominated by Tesla. However, newer rivals are aggressively moving into the luxury electric vehicle space.

Here is a look at the ten major rivals to Tesla.



Here is a look at the ten major rivals to Tesla.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business NewsPresident Donald Trump has said he would like to see Dr. Christine Blasey Ford testify regarding her sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh but cast doubt on her accusations.

Speaking to reporters on the south lawn of the White House before heading to North Carolina on Wednesday, Trump described Kavanaugh as an extraordinary man of great intellect with an unblemished record.

Trump said he would still "really want" to see Ford appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee to tell her side of the story.

"If she shows up and makes a credible showing, that will be very interesting and we'll have to make a decision," Trump said.

"But I can only say this: He is such an outstanding man," he added. "Very hard for me to imagine that anything happened."

The comments from Trump come amid ongoing uncertainty about whether Ford will testify at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing scheduled for Monday.

Ford's lawyers sent a letter to Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, on Tuesday calling for an FBI investigation of her allegations before she will testify.

Trump has repeatedly dismissed the idea of reopening Kavanaugh's background investigation, noting he has been investigated by the FBI six times over the years.

In a statement, Senator Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., described the calls for a new FBI investigation as a delay tactic aimed at postponing a vote on Kavanaugh's nomination until after the midterm elections.

Grassley also argued that nothing the FBI does would have any bearing on what Ford tells the committee about her personal knowledge and memory of events.

Meanwhile, Democrats such as Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., have supported Ford's call to delay the hearing.

"A proper investigation must be completed, witnesses interviewed, evidence reviewed and all sides spoken to," Feinstein said. "Only then should the chairman set a hearing date."

Trump and other Republicans have accused Feinstein of obstruction after it was revealed she received a letter from Ford detailing the accusations against Kavanaugh in July.

(Photo: Gage Skidmore)

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Political NewsChina says it has no choice but to retaliate to U.S. President Donald Trump's 10 percent tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods, risking a further escalation of trade tensions between the world's two biggest economies.

On Tuesday, China announced a tariff hike on $60 billion of American products. In a brief statement posted online Tuesday, China's Commerce Ministry said, "To protect its legitimate rights and interests and order in international free trade, China is left with no choice but to retaliate simultaneously."

On Monday, the Communist Party backed Global Times newspaper warned that if Trump went ahead with the tariffs, China would not just play defense. At about the same time the Commerce Ministry statement was released, a research director for North America and the Pacific at the Commerce Ministry also delivered a commentary on China's state-run CCTV news network.

The official said the latest round of tariffs have brought uncertainty to ongoing efforts for representatives from both countries to meet again and hold trade talks.

"Under the party's strong central leadership, China has the resolve and confidence to press ahead and use deeper reforms and deeper opening up as well as the development of our domestic market to counter United States unilateralism," Li Wei said.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a daily briefing Tuesday in Beijing that talks are the only correct way to resolve the issue and accused the United States of being insincere. Last week, the United States extended an invitation to China's top negotiator, Liu He, to resume talks later this month in Washington.

The $200 billion in U.S. tariffs go into effect in less than a week, on September 24, leaving the two sides little time to sit down.

On Monday, President Trump warned, in a statement announcing his move, if China retaliates against U.S. farmers or other industries, Washington "will immediately pursue phase three, which is tariffs on approximately $267 billion in additional imports."Crude oil prices rose to a 2-month high on Wednesday, as data from U.S. Energy Information Administration revealed a drop in domestic crude supplies for the week ended September 14.

Traders also weighed the prospects of supply shortage once U.S. sanctions on Iran come into force. Tensions between Russia, a major non-OPEC crude producer, and Israel also continued to support oil's upmove.

Crude oil futures for October delivery ended up $1.27, or 1.8%, at $71.12 a barrel, the highest settlement since July 10.

On Tuesday, crude oil futures ended up $0.94, or 1.4%, at $69.85 a barrel.

According the weekly crude oil inventory report from the Energy Information Administration, domestic crude supplies fell for the fifth straight week, declining by 2.1 million barrels in the week ended September 14.

Supplies at Cushing, Oklahoma, decreased by 1.250 million barrels last week, the EIA report said.

The EIA report further showed that gasoline stockpiles were down by 1.7 million barrels for the week, while distillate stockpiles climbed by 800,000 barrels.

On Tuesday, the American Petroleum Institute's report showed U.S. crude stocks to have increased by 1.2 million barrels to 397.1 million in the week to September 14.

Following Saudi Arabia's comments on Tuesday that it was comfortable with Brent crude's prices above $80, it appears that the Kingdom would not aggressively respond to the rise in prices with supply increases.

OPEC and other producers including Russia are scheduled to meet in Algeria on September 23, to discuss ways to offset the loss of Iranian output, post sanctions from November 4.

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Sep-17-2018 16:30 TweetFollow @OregonNews Identity Thief from Nevada Sentenced to Four Years Reno Man Stole Multiple Identities, Millions of Dollars

Kenneth Gibson used the computers in this office to run a script that would automatically set up fraudulent accounts in the names of multiple victims whose identities he stole from his former employer.

Photo: FBI

(FBI/Reno, NV) - When police searched a suspected identity thiefs office last year in Reno, Nevada, they hit the investigative equivalent of pay dirtthe crime in progress, right before their eyes. There was no one working in the office, but eight computers were running an automatic script to open up online accounts using the names and identifying information the thief had stolen from his employer years earlier. He had a computer script that was doing this automatically, and the computers were opening credit products and moving money in real time, 24 hours a day, said FBI Special Agent Glen Lovedahl, who worked the case out of the FBIs Las Vegas Division. A few years prior, the thief, Kenneth Gibson, was working as an information technology professional for a large employer in Nevada. His job gave him access to the personal information of thousands of people, including employees and customers. He methodically copied that information and took it home. Gibson then opened about 8,000 fraudulent and unauthorized accounts with PayPal, an online payment company, in the employees names. Once the accounts were established, he would apply for linked credit accounts using the stolen identities. Gibson then engaged in a complex web of transactions to avoid detection, taking cash advances against the established credit and then moving the cash to the linked online account. And finally, hed use a debit card to access the cash. He was moving small dollar amounts, and that doesnt necessarily pop up on a companys radar screen, Lovedahl said. It was also a very sophisticated scheme; it took us several weeks to put all of the pieces together to figure out how he was getting the money and moving it around. Like a lot of criminals, Gibson eventually slipped up. After tiring of taking numerous trips to the ATM to get his stolen cash, Gibson had PayPal send a check to him, but the name on the check did not match his address because the accounts were in the names of his victims. A team approach was critical to finding and stopping Gibson. The FBI worked in close partnership with the Reno Police Department, U.S. Secret Service, Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Nevada in a task force model. Gibson was stealing money and identities, and we wanted to disrupt him as quickly as possible, said Lovedahl, a veteran agent who has worked many fraud cases. We had existing relationships with the other agencies, and everyone did their part to solve this case in about four months, which is fast considering the complexities of the transactions. While the fraud was still ongoing, Gibson and his family lived the high life with their ill-gotten gains. He quit the job that gave him access to the thousands of identities. Gibson also gambled and bought a boat, while his family traveled extensively. After he confessed, Gibson told investigators about his leased office space, where they found his script was still stealing on his behalf. Earlier this year, 47-year old Kenneth Gibson, pleaded guilty to wire fraud, mail fraud, filing a false tax return, and aggravated identity theft. He was sentenced to four years in prison in July. The government plans to pursue asset forfeiture in the case. Identity theft victims are generally not held responsible for fraudulent charges, but Gibsons scheme did add up to $3.5 million in losses. Worse for the victims was the hassle of having false information damage their personal credit. Many only realized their identities had been stolen when they applied for a loan or credit card themselves or were contacted by a collections agency. While theres no foolproof way to protect against identity thieves, Lovedahl suggests some basic vigilance steps that can help reduce your risk. Check your free credit report, watch your mail and statements, and keep an eye on your accounts. If youre a victim, always file a police report to document it, he said. For a relaxing change, remember, casino online gambling is not illegal. _________________________________________

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Articles for September 17, 2018 | Articles for September 18, 2018German luxury car brand Audi this week staged the global launch of a new electric sport utility vehicle on the home turf of rival Tesla, and highlighted a deal with Amazon.com Inc. to make recharging its forthcoming e-tron models easier.

The Audi e-tron midsize SUV will be offered in the United States next year at a starting price of $75,795 before a $7,500 tax credit. It is one of a volley of electric vehicles coming from Volkswagen AG brands, as well as other European premium brands including Daimler-owned Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volvo Cars and Jaguar Land Rover.

All aim to expand the market for premium electric vehicles and also to grab a share of that market from Palo Alto, Calif.-based Tesla, which has had the niche largely to itself. "I want Audi to be the No. 1 electric vehicle seller in America over the long term," Audi of America President Scott Keogh told Reuters in an interview on Monday.

Audi dealers, particularly those from California, where Tesla has made significant inroads, cheered the e-tron at Monday night's crowded event.

Analysts on Tuesday expressed concern that the vehicle's driving range may not measure up to that of the Tesla Model X. Audi officials said they do not have official range estimates for the e-tron SUV under U.S. testing procedures. They said the vehicle should achieve a range under less rigorous European testing standards of roughly 250 miles or 400 km.

Keogh told attendees at Monday's event that an e-tron had made a 175-mile journey over the mountains east of San Francisco with range to spare. He also emphasized that the e-tron is designed to recharge more rapidly than rival electric vehicles.

UBS analyst Patrick Hummel said in a note on Tuesday that the e-tron "fails to set new benchmarks in the premium EV segment, even though we consider it better than the Mercedes EQC." The EQC is a rival electric SUV the Daimler AG brand plans to launch in 2020.

The e-tron's 95 kWh battery has less capacity than the 100 kWh battery used in the Tesla Model X 100D model, but more than the base Model X 75D. The Model X 100D is rated at 295 miles (475 km) of range by the U.S. government.

Seven local businesses are finalists in the Samoa Business Network (S.B.N.) Awards to be held in Auckland on 29 September 2018.

This year marks the S.B.N.s fifth year anniversary since its inception in New Zealand. In line with fulfilling the networks greater vision of connecting Samoan businesses and entrepreneurs worldwide, S.B.N. has announced its hosting of the first international awards for Samoan businesses in the region.

S.B.N. Chairperson, Afamasaga Jackie Curry said the event is unprecedented and they will be the first to host a Samoan focused business awards in New Zealand and they make no apologies.

Our point of difference is we focus on our community, said Afamasaga.

And as a point of reference, we have been supporting the Tongans to create their own business network. We have professionals that are very influential in New Zealand and one of our main goals is to get our Samoan people and professionals supporting and lifting each other up, getting rid of tall poppy syndrome where we pull each other down.

In its fifth year of operation, Afamasaga says its time for the network to lift its game and fulfill its purpose of lifting the profiles of Samoan businesses around the world.

Being that its our fifth year anniversary, were taking it to the next level in realising our vision of connecting our Samoan businesses around the world. To achieve that, we will have events that capture peoples attention here in New Zealand, Samoa and Australia. Last years awards in Samoa showed how beneficial it was to local businesses to have their profiles exposed and lifted in order to reach their potential markets much more effectively.

One particular category is gaining a lot of attention and engagement online with votes being open to the public. The peoples choice award has taken a life of its own according to Afamasaga, and the award was about creating hype and fun with Samoans all over taking to social media and the S.B.N. website to vote for their favourite businesses.

Successful online SUGA magazine based in Australia are sponsoring the SUGA Business Woman of the Year (International) award, which features our local business woman, Tofilau Fiti Leung Wai as one of the three finalists.

The awards event will be staged at the prestigious Naumi Hotel in Mangere on Saturday 29, September. Fifty-eight entries were received from Samoan owned businesses from New Zealand, Samoa and Australia. Keil-Hall and Curry wish to acknowledge the support of the sponsors, major sponsor Pacific Media Network [PMN  Niu FM & 531PI], associate sponsors SUGA Magazine, Tanoa Tusitala Hotel, Bluwave, Emotions Events, RISE2025 and supporting sponsors N5 Consulting & Rimani Samoa. They also acknowledged the ongoing support of BNZ Manukau.

Here is the list of Finalists for the Award Categories & Finalists in alphabetical order:

1. Excellence in Small Business (NZ)

This award recognises a business that has accomplished significant growth in the previous 24 months.

Dvine Banquets

WE Accounting & Business Services Ltd

37 HZ Ltd

2. Excellence in Construction & Trades (NZ)

This award recognizes a business in construction and trades. Whether you excel at building, plumbing, roofing, electrical, painting, engineering or any other professional trade services.

Levi Plumbing

Solution Drive Management

Tempo Construction

3. Excellence in Hospitality (NZ)

This award recognises an outstanding accommodation venue, cafe, restaurant, caterer, pub or bistro facility. This business should pride itself on delivering exceptional customer service, high standards in presentation and delivery of both your accommodation, food and service.

Big River Catering

Dvine Banquets

Ilissias Catering

4. Excellence in Professional Services (NZ)

This award recognises a business in the professional services industry that is excelling at legal, accounting, real estate, broking, dentistry, medical services or any other professional service.

Home Graduates ECE Ltd

Pathfinder Solutions

WE Accounting & Business Services Ltd

5. Excellence in Innovation (NZ)

This award recognises a business that has made significant contributions to their business through the introduction or improvement of an idea, method, technology, process or application.

MYRIVR

Nora Swann Ltd

Staavias Ltd

6. Young Entrepreneur of the year (NZ)

This award recognises a young person aged between 18-35 years who, through their own commitment and passion, has built and operates a successful business, a young business leader who demonstrates outstanding entrepreneurial spirit, strategic direction and innovative ideas whilst providing inspiration to a new generation of upcoming young business people.

Fou Fale - Dvine Banquets

Gustavia Lui - Staavias Ltd

Epati Lafaialii - Tempo Construction

7. Start Up of the Year (NZ)

This award recognises a business that has been operating for less than 2 years that delivers a product/service/idea/invention with credible potential. This award recognises early-stage startups that have a solid chance of market success, and strongly displays the entrepreneurial spirit.

ARBEZ Ltd

Fair & Square Building Services Ltd

VAB Designz

8. Award for a Samoan based Business (Samoa only)

This award recognises a business in Samoa who is making a difference and contributing to the economic development of Samoa in a significant way, innovative in their approach to business, has a strong online presence & has shown significant success and growth in the last 12 months.

Chef John Tours

Netvo Samoa

Skyeye Ltd

SSAB

9. SUGA Business Woman of the Year (International)

This award recognises and celebrates a Samoan woman with outstanding business acumen, excellent leadership skills and has distinguished herself in her business and with her peers.

Elizabeth Sio [NZ] - Home Graduates ECE Ltd

Nora Swann [NZ] - Nora Swann Ltd

Tofilau Fiti Leung Wai [Samoa] - SSAB

10. Peoples Choice Award  Favourite Business (International)

This award is presented to the favourite business according to a popular vote, as voted by the public online. The winner will be announced on the night of the Awards  The contenders are:

Afa Ah Loo (U.S.A)

ARBEZ Ltd (NZ)

Arilei Couture (Samoa)

Chef John Tours (Samoa)

Dvine Banquets Ltd (NZ & Australia)

Lashfix Eyelash & Beauty (Australia)

Levi Plumbing (NZ)

Mailelani Samoa Body Care (Samoa)

Makeki Online (Samoa)

Netvo Samoa (Samoa)

SSAB (Samoa)

Staavias Ltd (NZ & Australia)

The Coconet TV (NZ)The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (M.N.R.E.) recently engaged students of the National University of Samoa in a forum targeting sustainable development process.

Following an invitation from the university for the Ministrys participation in the fourth Samoa conference earlier this month, the Water and Sanitation sector used the opportunity to support one of the key events  the student rally.

The rally was the first student forum for the university - a platform that sought to expose and engage students in sustainable development processes, a statement said.

The theme Fostering Sustainable Development: Can Education Deliver? set the students focus on the transformative contributions that education and academic institutions have to make in achieving Sustainable Development Goals, said the statement.

According to the statement, as part of the rally, break-out sessions were also conducted on many topics including Water and Sanitation: Ensuring the maximal engagement of young people which was facilitated by Ms. Ueselani, together with the selected panelists, Asuao Malaki Iakopo, A.C.E.O. Water Resources Division (M.N.R.E.), Emarosa Romeo (Hydro Division  M.N.RE..) and Fanueli Tuafale (Policy & Regulatory Division).

Students were able to ask questions and interact with the panelists during this break-out sessions. The aim of these sessions was to provide and equip students with the practical knowledge as to how universities can take the lead in education at every level, in delivering ways that foster sustainable development through leadership, innovation and collaboration.

The Water and Sanitation Sector supported the event by funding students packages, which included stationaries as well as catering for the event.Its a rare story but its true. Days before the General Election in March 2016, the Government couldnt contain its excitement about a certain company that had mysteriously moved from Tonga to Samoa.

The folks behind the company obviously saw an opportunity and so did the Government, especially with the nation about to head to the polls.

The company we are referring to by the way is Samoa Helicopters Company.

It arrived with a bang promising all sorts of services including medical evacuation and search and rescue operations. Back in 2016, Principal and founder, Rodger McCutcheon and his group made a beeline for Prime Minister Tuilaepa, who immediately issued a glowing endorsement for the company.

When it comes to private investments where lives will be saved then government must take decisive action. It is utter nonsense and ridiculous for any government to discard a service of this nature, Tuilaepa said.

At the time, Tuilaepa just couldnt help himself.

Incidentally, didnt the Opposition Party a few weeks back promised to launch a similar operation if they are elected into office in their vain attempts to lure voters? Tuilaepa said. Even if they (Opposition) by a miracle is elected as the new government, where in the world would they secure a fully privately funded investment like the Samoa Helicopters initiative?

As for the timing of the announcement, Tuilaepa rejected suggestions that it was an election ploy. To set the record straight, the helicopter project has been in the governments thinking tank for years. And unknown to the Opposition, government has been silently negotiating with the investors long ago through the Chief Executive of Tourism Authority, Papalii Sonja Hunter.

The general election was never in the equation when the proposal was initiated and the timing reaffirms what I have been preaching to the opposition again and again to stop picking up my administrations leftovers.

Well that was two years ago. There is no doubt that the services provided was wonderful while it lasted. You see, several months after the glowing endorsement by the Prime Minister, the company folded.

The helicopter stopped flying, it suddenly disappeared from Mulinuu where it had been proudly displayed.

This was until this week when the company made headlines again. This time, they are involved in a scrap with the Ministry of Revenue, who have threatened to sell the helicopter to recover the money owed by the company in terms of taxes.

Michael van der Zypp, who previously worked with Mr. McCutcheon in Tonga, is the man in the way. He said the Ministry of Revenue cannot sell the helicopter since it is owned by an Australian-based company, Helicopter Group.

It has now been two years and we have tried unsuccessfully to have it moved. It needs to come back to Australia to be re-serviced, I am not sure if it (helicopter) can be flown again, he said.

Well whatever the case is, the Ministry of Revenue is not moving.

The Ministrys C.E.O., Matafeo Avalisa Viali-Fautuaalii, in response to questions from Samoa Observer, said the impounded aircraft will not be released until the import goods and services tax (G.S.T.) payable on the helicopter is paid in full.

The Ministry had originally planned to auction the helicopter on Saturday but it has now changed its mind. In the statement, Matafeo highlighted that parties who claim to have interest in the helicopter are to write to her to reconsider her decision in seizing the helicopter.

The timeframe for written application for reconsideration is October 5, 2018. Once we receive the application, our Ministry will then assess the application, she said.

If the Controller does not receive any application within this set timeframe, then the original intended auction will proceed under section 283 of the Act.

From where we stand, this is a very simple matter. Whoever owns the helicopter needs to pay their taxes, all of it too. When that is done, they should be able to take their property and do whatever they like.

But where does that leave Prime Minister Tuilaepa and his fascination about these so-called investments?

Was he not the one who gave the glowing endorsement, which allowed this failed operation to go ahead full steam in Samoa? Indeed, where is the government who gave the glowing endorsement to your so-called fully privately funded investment days before the election? Maybe next time they should really find out why other countries  such as Tonga - rejected these so called investments.

Whats happened is that these so-called fly-by-night investors come and are given the red carpet treatment by the Government. They are welcomed and they go on to fool the Government in the process. All of a sudden they disappear without paying their taxes and yet the Government is so desperate it is taxing everyone to the bone  including Church Ministers  to try and make up for this shortfall.

This is so typical isnt it?

Someone in the Ministry of Revenue should tell us how much tax this company owes. Stay tuned!The village of Eva on the northern coast of Upolu will be undergoing a river rehabilitation project to provide stability to the bank as well as widening and deepening of the channel.

The rehabilitation project was made possible with the financial assistance of $50,000 from the Civil Society Support Programme in collaboration with U.N.D.P through the Adaptation fund.

Yesterday the launching of the project took place in Eva with representatives, Taupau Joseph Mulipola and Christina Taua, from C.S.S.P attending as guests of the village.

Eva is highly vulnerable to riverine flooding during the rainy season which was evident during and after Cyclone Gita when the floodwaters broke the river banks resulting in residential flooding causing severe damage.

The river rehabilitation project was proposed by the Village Council of Eva to construct a revetment wall along one side of the river to provide stability to the bank as well as widening and deepening of the channel.

The programme manager for C.S.S.P, Christina Taua, told the Samoa Observer that the project was made possible with their partnership with U.N.D.P through the adaptation fund.

According to Ms. Taua similar projects were implemented in other villages who applied to their organisation for funding

Theres a vetting process, she said. The assessment of each proposal and we work together with our steering committee to identify the most suitable projects that align with the requirements of the donors and the requirements of each of the programmes that provide funding for communities.

According to Ms. Taua the river rehabilitation project only applies to one side of the river and she explained that there are plans in the future to address the other side of the riverbank.

At the moment they only have funds to build one side of the wall but theres plans in the pipe line to rebuild the other side because there are families on the other side, she said.

We want to continue the initiative to improve the climate resilience of their community. Like every other vulnerable community in Samoa they faced extreme flooding in cases of erosion and as you can see now, its a big improvement to the past.

The standard period of implementation is 12 months and C.S.S.P will provide ongoing monitoring and support.The mission of the GI Film Festival San Diego is to honor and preserve stories of military service. One of the perspectives that can often be overlooked when it comes to military and film is the heroism of men and women on the home front who are caregivers for military veterans.

This year, one film features the strength and resiliency of veterans and their families as they rebuild their lives.

The Weight of Honor, directed by Stephanie Seldin Howard, is a documentary short about six women who meet the challenges of caring for their veterans wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. The film reveals their personal, emotional and physical struggles when their worlds are turned upside down.

It took us more than five years to complete The Weight of Honor, mostly because we needed to follow some very unexpected story lines that developed, said Howard, who also produced the documentary.

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The women youll meet in our film are courageous, brave and most of all, inspiring. They become 24/7 caregivers in the blink of an eye, or whatever it takes for an IED or explosion to cause physical and/or emotional damage to a warrior.

Micah and Linzi Anderson (Courtesy photo)

The San Diego premiere of The Weight of Honor, which has been nominated for Best Documentary Short, is Saturday, Sept. 29 at 1 p.m. at UltraStar Cinemas at Hazard Center.

In the category (or film block) of Life after Service, the premiere is paired with the world premiere of We Are Not Done Yet, a documentary about 10 U.S. veterans of varied backgrounds who come together at a poetry workshop to combat their traumatic military pasts through the art of written word.

Howard is scheduled to attend the screening and participate in a post-panel discussion on caregiving and life after military service. The panel will also include: Elizabeth Parks of Southern Caregiver Resource Center, a local nonprofit that provides support and problem solving skills to caregivers; Jeffrey Wright of HBOs Westworld and featured actor in We Are Not Done Yet; and We Are Not Done Yet filmmaker Sareen Hairabedian.

There are more than 5.5 million caregivers of wounded veterans in the U.S., Howard said. Our civilian audience needs to learn and understand that entire families become caregivers when their loved ones suffer the wounds of war. Were very grateful the GI Film Festival San Diego selected us so we can continue our goal of sharing the stories of military caregivers.

Katheryn Harris and her children (Courtesy photo)

To learn more about The Weight of Honor screening at the GI Film Festival San Diego, visit GIFilmFestivalSD.org.

Preview the The Weight of Honor trailer here.

Festival: Tuesday, Sept. 25 through Sunday, Sept. 30.

Screening times vary.

Where: Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park (for Sept. 25-28) and UltraStar Cinemas at Hazard Center (for Sept. 29-30).

All access passes and tickets available at GIFilmFestivalSD.org.

The Weight of Honor Saturday, Sept. 29 at 1 p.m. UltraStar Cinemas at Hazard Center.

About GI Film Festival San Diego

Established in 2015, the GI Film Festival San Diego aims to reveal the struggles, triumphs, and experiences of service members and veterans through compelling and authentic storytelling. The festival also includes the Local Film Showcase, which features San Diegos filmmakers, events, people, or places. Panel discussions with filmmakers, actors, and documentary subjects are also part of GIFFSD. The festival also includes a family movie night, bringing military-connected and civilian families together for an evening of movie magic and community spirit.

The festival is organized by KPBS in partnership with the GI Film Group and Film Consortium San Diego. The GI Film Festival San Diego is a proud member of the San Diego Veterans Coalition.

Denise Scatena is co-founder of Scatena Daniels CommunicationsThis years 50th anniversary of Hot Wheels is making yet another victory lap in its yearlong celebration. Toymaker Mattels tribute to its free-wheeling toy cars began April 28 with a 14-city tour to seek out crazy cars for a new series.

And now the U.S. Postal Service is honoring the diecast cars with a block of 20 Forever stamps showcasing some of the most outrageous designs from Hot Wheels history.

To be sure the stamps get a strong start, the USPS has chosen the Goodguys 26th Summit Racing Lone Star Nationals, Sept. 28-30, at the Texas Motor Speedway for the first-day-of-issue ceremony.

Five Hot Wheels cars will be on display all day Saturday, Sept. 29, and a postal-service booth will sell stamps. https://good-guys.com/lsn

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The 20 stamps showcase 10 Hot Wheels cars  two of each design. (Hot Wheels)

Arranged in diagonal rows, the 20 stamps showcase photographer Len Rizzis images of 10 Hot Wheels cars  two of each design  speeding along the orange track.

Each stamp features the name of the vehicle shown in one of the top corners and the words USA and Forever in one of the bottom corners. The Hot Wheels logo appears in the top right corner of the pane. The back of the panel displays the Hot Wheels 50th anniversary logo. William J. Gicker was the projects art director. Greg Breeding designed the stamps and was the typographer

Hot Wheels was born when Mattel co-founder Elliot Handler challenged his design team, which included a General Motors car designer and a rocket scientist, to create a toy car that was cooler and performed better than anything on the market. Mattel soon introduced its orange tracks, which provided children unlimited ways to test out stunts and racing skills. In 2011, Hot Wheels was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame.

Fans can view the ceremony live at facebook.com/usps.

Social media: hotwheels.com/Legends, #HotWheelsLegends and #HotWheels50

NAME THE HOT WHEELS

Top row (left to right):

 Purple Passion (1990)

 Rocket-Bye-Baby (1971)

 Rigor Motor (1994)

 Rodger Dodger (1974)

 Mach Speeder (2018)

Bottom row (left to right):

 The Twin Mill (1969)

 Bone Shaker (2006)

 The HW40 (2008), celebrating the 40th anniversary of Hot Wheels.

 Deora II (2000) The original surfboard-toting Deora was included in the first Hot Wheels line.

 The Sharkruiser (1987)Saying they want to avoid the awkward situation of discussing their own salaries, Carlsbad City Council members agreed Tuesday to place a formula for their future raises on a public ballot.

Its always very awkward when you are talking about your own compensation and raises, said Councilman Michael Schumacher, who served with Councilman Mark Parkard on a subcommittee that studied the issue. Schumacher and Packard both have terms that expire this year and are not seeking re-election.

The councils present policy limits raises to 5 percent annually, if approved by the members, but the council has only approved two raises in the past 10 years. It granted itself a 5 percent raise in 2009, and then retroactive raises totaling a 47.7 percent hike in 2015 to catch up with the previous years.

The new policy, if approved by voters, would limit increases to no more than the San Diego Regional Consumer Price Index, which was 2.8 percent in 2017. Each year in January, the council could either approve or waive the increase, and it could not seek retroactive increases.

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Council members agreed unanimously to place the measure on the next regular election ballot, which would be in 2020, or in the next regional special election if thats financially feasible. Its too late for this years November election.

By placing the measure on the ballot, any subsequent change in the compensation policy also would require a public vote.

Presently, the Carlsbad mayor receives $25,826 per year and a $450 monthly car allowance, and the four other council members get $24,626 per year and a $350 car allowance. They each also get an additional $75 for each Community Development Commission meeting they attend (up to $150 a month) and $100 for each Carlsbad Water District board meeting (maximum $300 per month).

Salaries for Carlsbads elected officials, with a population of 114,000 in 2016, are about midway among those of their counterparts in other North County cities, a staff report shows.

Escondido pays its mayor a $62,149 annual salary, while council members get $27,829 a year, including auto allowances. The citys population was 152,000 in 2016.

Oceanside, population 175,000, pays its mayor $32,928 and council members $30,528 annually, including car allowances and stipends for other meetings. Vista, with 102,000 residents, pays its mayor $32,659 and council members $31,459, plus stipends for other meetings and a $90 monthly cell phone allowance.

Compensation drops significantly in the smaller cities, the Carlsbad staff report states. San Marcos, population 95,000, pays annual salaries of $11,732 and a $300 monthly car allowance. Del Mar, the countys smallest city with a population of 4,365 in 2016, pays the mayor and council members $3,600 each per year.

Carlsbad Councilman Mark Packard said being a council member in his city is only a part-time job and it should stay that way.

Council members make policy decisions, not operational decisions, he said.

It is not intended to be a full-time position, he said. We need to make sure that the motive is to do the public good, not for a job.

Two residents briefly addressed the council on the compensation issue, and both said the members work hard and deserve raises.

San Diego city residents will get to vote in November on what would be their councils first pay raise in 15 years.

If approved, the measure would boost the San Diego mayors annual salary to $100,000 and council members salaries to $75,000. Additional increases would be added in December 2020 and December 2022.

philip.diehl@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @phildiehlThe threats were made in Spanish over the phone.

The target: San Ysidro School District trustee Rodolfo Linares.

During the first of two calls made on Nov. 6, the caller issued a threat of a massacre, warning he knew gang members.

Following a monthslong investigation into the phone threats, police identified a suspect. Now the case is under review by the District Attorneys Office.

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According to a police report obtained by The San Diego Union-Tribune, the first threat was called in to the Chula Vista Elementary School District at 2:40 p.m. A secretary told police the caller asked to speak with Linares.

When the secretary told the caller Linares was located at the San Ysidro School District, the caller asked for the right phone number.

The male then said (Linares) owes him for two kilos from the other side, the secretary told police. The male told me to tell (Linares) to take care of himself and his family because the (sic.) will be a massacre. The caller stated he knows gang members.

The caller said something about chemicals and for the other board members to watch themselves.

The caller told the secretary to go ahead and call police if she needed to, then hung up.

The secretary and other staff notified police in Chula Vista and San Diego, the San Diego County Office of Education and the security manager at the San Ysidro district.

While San Diego police officers who were sent to investigate were at the San Ysidro districts office, a human resources employee received the second call, which went to voicemail.

The employee listened to the message about 30 minutes later, about 4:40 p.m., and translated the voicemail for an officer.

The caller stated he wanted the message to go to Rodolfo Linares, according to the police report. The caller said to not hide. The caller also said that he brought him three kilos of coke and he owes him 180 for each.

Police investigators completed a follow-up investigation in February, then sent the case to the District Attorneys Office for review, said police Sgt. Michael Stirk. He said no arrests were made.

He declined to divulge other details of the investigation.

Linares, who was elected to the board in November 2014, said he was shocked by the calls and initially thought they were made as a joke.

I never had any problems with anyone, he said.

But he has had some rocky relationships with former board members and administrators.

Linares has been outspoken against former Superintendent Julio Fonseca and former Deputy Superintendent Arturo Sanchez-Macias. Linares has alleged both Fonseca and Sanchez-Macias were involved in financial misdeeds in their two-year stint with the district, which serves about 5,000 predominately low-income and Latino students.

A state audit of payments made to Fonseca and Sanchez-Macias found each was overpaid more than $147,000 in payouts for vacation days and term life insurance. Commissioned by the county Office of Education, the audit by the state-created Fiscal Crisis & Management Assessment Team was completed in June.

In July, Fonseca filed a lawsuit against Linares, claiming the trustee carried out a campaign of defamation that was malicious, despicable and intended to harm (Fonsecas) reputation both publicly and privately.

Filed in San Diego Superior Court, the lawsuit claims the accusations Linares made against Fonseca are false.

Linares has said he stands by the allegations he made.

In 2014, weeks before school board elections, Linares accused an opponent, Luciana Corrales, of threatening him while he was passing out fliers. He filed for a temporary restraining order against her, which he later dropped.

His term on the board ends in November. He will not seek re-election.

Email: david.hernandez@sduniontribune.com

Phone: (619) 293-1876

Twitter: @D4VIDHernandezDance and filmmaking have a long and memorable history. Think hippos twirling on pointe shoes in Disneys animated Fantasia (1940), Gene Kelly dodging a downpour in Singin in the Rain (1950), or Michael Jacksons monster moves in Thriller (1983).

In fact, if you ask dancer and choreographer Blythe Barton, the marriage between dance and film can be traced back to the very first motion picture.

Initially, film didnt have sound; it was all silent film, said Barton, co-producer of the 40 North Dance Film Festival, an event that begins Friday and continues at different venues through Oct. 6.

Essentially, film started as dance on camera because it was all captured movement. All the stories, all the slapstick was done with movement set to a musical score. Thats dance in its broadest sense.

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Now in its fourth year, the 40 North Dance Film Festival continues to celebrate dance in its broadest sense, but its a new, digital world, with technological advances and greater accessibility than ever imagined.

Choreographic storytelling can be accomplished simply with a single camera or extravagantly with cinematographers, musicians, animators and lighting experts. A film festival offers a win/win in that dancers meet with the common purpose of sharing ideas and reaching wider audiences through technology, and cinephiles have an opportunity to witness the entertaining and often illuminating results.

The 40 North Film Festival began with three co-founders and a three-and-a-half minute side project.

Barton choreographed Chelsea Zeffiro performing a solo dance and the duo collaborated with a videographer to make a short film that screened in Los Angeles. But there was no place to share the work in San Diego, where Barton and Zeffiro reside.

We brainstormed, and in 2015, we started developing the festival, Barton said.

We opened submissions to people all over the world, and we got about 50 films from 13 countries, the second year we got 100 submissions, and now we have about 160 submissions. Los Angeles has a huge dance film festival, and theres one in New York, of course. But we are the only ones doing a festival that is publicly producing dance film events in San Diego.

Rebecca Correia was the third co-founder in the beginning, assisting with marketing, sponsors and providing non-monetary awards to filmmakers. That first year, the festival featured a documentary from Brazil about a ballet school for the blind, and Correia, who has since moved to New York, connected with a pointe shoemaker and the festival was able to donate nearly 50 pointe shoes to the school.

Encouraged by their early success, Barton and Zeffiro continued the festivals momentum, which expanded this year to include four venues, panel discussions with industry experts, a dance jam with live music at the Whistle Stop and a selection of film premieres. The movies explore cultural dance, social and environmental issues and the personal experiences of dancers through the language of movement.

Dance on camera is not just choreographing bodies; you are honing the audiences eye, Barton said. In a sense, you are choreographing what the audience sees at any given moment.

The film events that Barton and Zeffiro are most excited about begin Friday at the Museum of Photographic Arts, where choreographer Cara Hagans movie Cygnus reveals the serene beauty of Minnesotas Battle Lake. And the sensual, seven-minute film A Guide to Breathing Underwater by Raven Jackson explores experiencing intimacy and the bodys relationship to its surroundings.

Zeffiro said she is looking forward to moderating a panel discussion at Art Produce on Oct. 4, which brings San Diego dance professionals together to discuss the ways the body archives movement. Professional dancers keep their years of training stored in the body  its not written down like a piece of music or a work of research. Yet it informs all future creativity. Dance film is one of the unique ways to capture and record that body of work, or an independent artists personal expression, without words.

You are integrating an idea of how you are being seen in varied ways and sometimes, stories are told better through dance, Zeffiro explained.

Issues that are heavy and tragic, like gun violence, are difficult to work through and a dance film can take us out of the journalistic reality and give us a new space to think about it. It takes something that has real implications and transforms it, and it can make people want to see. Thats magic.

40 North Dance Film Festival 2018

Sept. 21: Experimental Portraiture, Museum of Photographic Arts, 1649 El Prado, Balboa Park

Sept. 26: Poetics and/of/in Archive, Digital Gym Cinema, 2921 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego

Sept. 29: Women Forging New Spaces Art Produce Gallery, 3139 University Ave., San Diego

Sept. 30: Dance Films After Dark and Dance Jam, Whistle Stop Bar, 2236 Fern St., San Diego

Oct. 3: Collaging Home, Digital Gym Cinema, 2921 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego

Oct. 4: The Body in Movement & Archive, Art Produce Gallery, 3139 University Ave., San Diego

Oct. 6: Festival Finale, Art Produce Gallery, 3139 University Ave., San Diego

The Museum of Photographic Arts Experimental Portraiture on Sept. 21, Digital Gym Cinema shows on Sept. 26 and Oct. 3, and the Festival Finale on Oct. 6 are ticketed shows: $12 online or $15 at the door. The events on Sept. 29 and Oct. 4 are free panel discussions with industry leaders. Donations appreciated. Check 40northfest.com for times and details.

Manna is a freelance writer.The Italian government said on Tuesday it will no longer back a bid to stage the 2026 Winter Olympics jointly in Milan, Turin and Cortina after the mayors of the three cities failed to unite behind the project.

"The proposal does not have the support of the government so it dies here," Sports Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti told parliament. "Doubt and suspicion prevailed."

The government decision will make it almost impossible for the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) to press ahead with the plan, although local media said it might try to recast the proposal in the coming hours to salvage its bid. There was no immediate comment from CONI.

Three cities have already pulled out of the 2026 race, with Japan's Sapporo, Switzerland's Sion, and Austria's Graz all previously announcing their decision to withdraw.

Calgary, Stockholm and Turkey's Erzurum are the only three definitely left in the running, with the International Olympic Committee next month due to name the city or cities which will enter the one-year candidature phase.September 19, 1985 The Tribune

The San Diego Union-Tribune will mark its 150th anniversary in 2018 by presenting a significant front page from the archives each day throughout the year.

Thursday, September 19, 1985

In 1985 a devastating earthquake struck Mexico, collapsing buildings and killing thousands of people in Mexico City and three coastal states.

The earthquake, initially measured at 7.8 on the Richter scale, came just as the city's morning rush hour was beginning. An aftershock measuring 7.5 followed the next day.

Here are the first few paragraphs of the story:

Massive Mexico quake

Deaths, widespread damage in Mexico City, Acapulco

By Fernando Romero, Preston Turegano and Frank Stone, Tribune Staff Writers

A devastating earthquake shook central Mexico and its western coast today,destroying numerous high-rise buildings and causing deaths and widespread damage in Mexico City.

According to radio and television reports from Mexico City, deaths in the city were estimated from dozens to hundreds. Reuters news service reported at least 150 dead.

Twenty-five people were killed during Mass when a church collapsed in Cuidad Guzman, 420 miles west of Mexico City and 50 miles inland in the state of Jalisco, according to El Informador, a Guadalajara newspaper.

Office buildings, hotels and homes in Mexico City were leveled by the quake. A state of emergency was declared as thousands sought safety and aid. One-third of the city was without electricity and several gas leaks had been reported, the radio station said.

As much as 35 percent of the city's buildings had been damaged, one news report said. Most of the devastation was said to be in the central part of the ancient city, which over the centuries has been built on the site of a former lake.

Buildings in the metropolis, such as the old Cathedral of the Virgin of Guadalupe on the city's Zocalo plaza, have sunk several feet over the years because of poor foundations.

Mexico City television broadcasts monitored in San Diego showed that two 20-story buildings had collapsed. Officials feared many people were inside them at the time.

The quake had a magnitude of 7.8 on the Richter scale and hit at 6:18 a.m.PDT (8:18 a.m. Mexico City time), during the morning rush hour.

John Minsch, a geophysicist at the National Earthquake Information Center in Golden, Colo., said the quake took place 40 miles off the coast of Mexico and 250 miles from Mexico City. It was felt as far away as southern Texas.

The Spanish International Network said there were 10 aftershocks in thecapital and that government officials were asking for donations of gasoline for emergency vehicles.

The quake also caused heavy damage in Acapulco, officials in Tijuana said. Attempts to contact authorities in Acapulco and Puerto Vallarta were unsuccessful.

View anniversary front pages online at sandiegouniontribune.com/150-years. For more from the Union-Tribune digital archives, go to newslibrary.com/sites/sdub. Searching is free, with registration. A fee is required to view full stories.The first time, Gov. Jerry Brown wanted a satellite that would link government agencies around the state and allow rural doctors to consult with city health experts  and even monitor the environment

In retrospect, it seemed a pragmatic idea, one that might have even saved money in the long run. But in the late 1970s the idea of a state launching a satellite was far from the norm. It was so. . . out there. The proposal eventually was overshadowed by one of the most enduring nicknames in politics, one that it helped generate: Governor Moonbeam.

The moniker made the rounds again last week when Brown, in defiance of the Trump administrations cuts to NASAs Carbon Monitoring System, declared California will launch our own damn satellite.

Browns vow, which he first used nearly two years, was a rallying cry at the close of Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco on Friday. A co-host of the conference, Brown was perhaps the most in-demand person there, cementing his position as an international leader on combating climate change.

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That was a far cry from his first suggestion to launch a satellite, which often was met with skepticism and derision. The launching of a satellite these days is no big deal; governments and private companies do it all the time. Not so back then.

Initially, Brown talked about the state having its own satellite. Then his administration proposed the state buy into one with other agencies. In addition to providing fast and broad communication, especially during emergencies, the governor wanted to explore whether such an investment would save millions the state was spending on travel costs. The proposal didnt become reality at the time.

Brown already had displayed great interest in the possibilities of space, and the satellite gambit crystallized an image of a brash, somewhat eccentric young governor in the mind of legendary newspaper columnist Mike Royko of the Chicago Sun-Times. He coined the term Governor Moonbeam.

Royko came to regret what he later called a throwaway line and publicly disavowed it. He did so because Brown had earned his admiration.

During the 1980 Democratic convention, Brown made a speech that was far more sensible than any of the other babblings at that grim gathering, the late Royko recalled in a 1991 column. So I wrote a column renouncing the Moonbeam label. I not only renounced it, I denounced it, rejected and declared it unfair, inappropriate and outdated.

He expressed his disappointment that despite his efforts, the name stuck.

It was probably a pretty damn good idea back then, David Doak, a retired political consultant who worked with Brown in his latter campaigns, recently said about the satellite proposal. And he got a bad rap for it.

Royko wasnt the only skeptic Brown eventually won over during his first stretch as governor from 1975 to 1983. A former Jesuit seminarian, Brown was frugal in his own life and with the states purse. He eschewed many of the trappings of office. Instead of a limousine, he walked to work or drove around in, yes, a pale blue 1974 Plymouth Satellite.

The American Conservative said the young governor was more of a fiscal conservative than his predecessor, Ronald Reagan. Brown favored a balanced budget amendment. He opposed the property tax-cutting Proposition 13, but how he responded to its passage earned him praise from Howard Jarvis, the crusty author of the landmark initiative. Jarvis even appeared in a television ad for Browns re-election in 1978.

I wrote Proposition 13, Jarvis said, but it takes a dedicated governor to make it work.

(Browns fiscal moves havent always gained such accolades. The wisdom and financing behind the more recent high-speed rail and twin-tunnel water projects have been widely questioned. His gas-tax increase is the target of a November referendum.)

In his first two terms, Brown was known for a lot more than his fiscal dexterity. He worked to advance the rights of minorities, women and gays along with pushing environmental protection policies, including the creation of one of the first-ever tax incentives for rooftop solar panels. Those once-cutting-edge concepts, like launching satellites, are now commonplace.

Brown was a three-time presidential candidate who also ran for U.S. Senate, losing to then-San Diego Mayor Pete Wilson in 1982. He dropped out of politics for a while and went to Japan to study Zen Buddhism and to Calcutta to volunteer at Mother Teresas mission. He returned to politics and became the head of the California Democratic Party, then mayor of Oakland, state attorney general and governor.

Now finishing out the last of his four terms as governor at age 80, Brown has taken on the image of elder statesman since he was elected Californias chief executive again in 2010. He may be the best thing the so-out-of-power Republicans have in Sacramento, as he keeps a check on some spending proposals by fellow Democrats.

He continues to mix politics and philosophy, but he comes off as more of a pragmatic crusader than an eccentric one. After hundreds marched in San Francisco Thursday protesting the governors oversight of the states oil industry, Brown chided them for having their heads in the clouds.

Without a doubt, California has the most aggressive green energy plans in the Western Hemisphere, he said, according to the Los Angeles Times. In the world of dreams, you can do a lot of things. In the world of practicality, theres a way it works.

After bristling at the Mooonbeam label over the decades, he has come to embrace it.

Moonbeam also stands for not being the insider. But standing apart and marching to my own drummer, he told The New York Times when he ran for governor in 2010. And Ive done that.

Hes become one of the leading critics of President Donald Trump and his policies, particularly the efforts to roll back environmental regulations. In December 2016, he honed his message at a gathering of the American Geophysical Union.

Some people say theyre going to turn off the satellites that are monitoring the climate, he noted. Remember back in 1978, I proposed a Landsat satellite for California. They called me Gov. Moonbeam because of that. I didnt get that moniker for nothing. And if Trump turns off the satellites, California will launch its own damn satellite! Were going to collect that data.

Brown didnt deliver the line quite so cleanly in San Francisco on Friday. He later took to Twitter to drive home his mantra that is at once pro-science, pro-environment and anti-Trump: Were launching our own damn satellite!

Have they printed up the t-shirts yet?A San Diego woman known to her dark web customers as The Drug Llama has been arrested on accusations of shipping more than 50,000 fentanyl pills throughout the country, authorities said Tuesday.

While the charges against Melissa Scanlan stem from a federal grand jury indictment in Illinois, the 31-year-old woman is also being investigated in connection with two overdose deaths closer to home.

Scanlan is suspected of selling fentanyl that killed a 10-month-old boy and a woman in San Diego County, in separate instances last September, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherri Hobson.

In one case, Scanlan is suspected of selling fentanyl to a father, who then allegedly left the drugs within reach of his infant. The baby was found unresponsive in bed with his parents.

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The second overdose victim was a 41-year-old woman.

Fentanyl is a synthetic heroin that has invaded the nations drug supply because it is cheap to make, easy to procure and extremely potent  up to 50 times stronger than heroin. It is also extremely deadly, especially if a user is not accustomed to its strength or takes a concentrated dose. A fatal dose of pure fentanyl can be the equivalent of a pinch of salt.

According to the investigation, the fentanyl in this case was smuggled from Mexico, sold via the dark web and shipped in the mail  all tactics that have been commonly used to distribute the drug to customers in the U.S. in recent years as the demand for opioids has exploded.

The federal charges are the result of a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration undercover operation in both San Diego and St. Louis, Hobson said. Other investigating agencies include the Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Department of Homeland Security.

Between April and July, agents purchased nine items from The Drug Llama on the dark webs hottest underground marketplace, known as Dream Market. Her specialty was fentanyl pills, called pressed blues, where were disguised as oxycodone and stamped with M30, Hobson said.

When authorities searched her San Diego home last month, she admitted to obtaining the pills from a Mexican cartel, Hobson said. The indictment alleges she trafficked fentanyl since at least Oct. 1, 2016.

While the indictment charges her with distributing more than 400 grams of fentanyl, Hobson told a San Diego federal judge on Monday during a detention hearing that she was responsible for shipping more than 50,000 pills.

Pressed blues were not the only product on the menu. Hobson said The Drug Llama also offered genuine oxycodone, amphetamine, morphine, Percocet, temazepam, flexeril, and an opiate powder pack.

The key to linking Scanlan to the sales rested in the return address on the parcels shipped to the undercover agents, Hobson said. The sender was listed as Samantha Cooper  a fake identity that turned out to be the names of Scanlans two dogs, Hobson said. The address traced back to an old business of hers, she said.

Agents looking into a related PayPal account also discovered thousands of transactions linked to the drug sales, Hobson said.

When one undercover agent reached out to The Drug Llama in late July for an order, she boasted she could sell 100 to 500 pills at a time, Hobson said. But the seller did not want to meet in person, and instead offered to mail it, Hobson said.

Scanlan was arrested in early August on state drug charges after the search warrant at her home. She was released from custody a few weeks later, and proceeded to go to Mexico to negotiate two new deliveries of fentanyl  believed to be 500 pills each  to her house, Hobson said. Scanlan also redirected her customers to another dark web marketplace, Hobson said.

She was arrested on the Illinois charges on Sept. 4. The charges include accusations that she conspired with others to distribute the drugs, that she misbranded drugs and that she was part of an international money-laundering conspiracy, according to court records.

Hobson argued to the San Diego judge on Monday that she was a flight risk and also a danger. Scanlan is about five months pregnant and was continuing to engage in criminal conduct, she said.

Scanlans attorney in San Diego could not be reached for comment Tuesday evening.

Online, Scanlan describes herself as a young professional that specializes in Operations Management for Start-up, Small, and Mid-Size Business.

Her past employment includes IriSys, a San Diego pharmaceutical product development and manufacturing service, according to her LinkedIn profile. Her duties there included ordering raw materials and managing overhead costs, resulting in reduced costs by 62 percent over two years, she said.

Her latest venture is Luxury Carbon Fiber, a business that ingeniously designs and manufactures Carbon Fiber products for the Modern Gentleman, according to its crowdfunder.com site. Advertised products include money clips, leather business card holders and laptop cases.

Hobson said in many of the parcels sent to the undercover agents, fentanyl pills were contained in the same kind of leather pouches.

kristina.davis@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @kristinadavisA former Border Patrol agent was sentenced Tuesday to two years in prison for a cross-state gun purchasing scheme, as well as a year in an unrelated case in which he abused his authority as a law enforcement officer.

Martin Rene Duran will only have to spend two years in prison, however, as U.S. District Judge Marilyn Huff in San Diego allowed the sentences to run concurrently.

Duran, a supervisor at the Imperial Beach station, was first investigated after a Mexican man complained that hed been held repeatedly at the border crossings without cause. The man had accused Durans brother-in-law of molesting the mans two children in Mexico.

Authorities said Duran in 2013 responded to the allegations against his brother-in-law by harassing the man at the border, including entering false information in the federal computer system that accused the man of being linked to drug traffickers or carrying guns. In fact, the man is a lawful permanent resident with no criminal history.

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The man and his family were sometimes held for hours at the port of entry due to the computer entries, according to authorities.

Durans brother-in-law, Raymundo Estrada Figueroa, is headed to trial on charges that he sexually abused the mans two sons. Estrada was reportedly having an affair with the childrens mother in Mexico.

While investigating Duran, authorities searched his Chula Vista home in 2015 and found several guns that had been illegally purchased in Arizona. They say Duran bought guns in 2011, 2013 and 2014 using an Arizona drivers license indicating he was a resident, while he actually lived in California.

A jury could not reach a unanimous verdict in the first trial on the gun case, but he was convicted during a second trial on seven counts of illegal transportation of firearms and one count of possession of a short-barreled rifle.

In August, Duran pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of deprivation of rights under color of law in the other case.

kristina.davis@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @kristinadavisUC San Diego will begin the fall quarter next week with about 1,200 more students than anticipated, forcing the school to scramble to find enough housing for freshmen and transfers.

In some cases, the university will place three students in rooms originally expected to hold two.

The university  which also misread demand last year  says fall enrollment could approach 38,000, setting a record for a sixth consecutive year.

We thought wed get about 21 percent of the students we admitted (for fall 2018), but the figure was in the 30s, Chancellor Pradeep Khosla told the Union-Tribune on Wednesday.

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We have a responsibility to give them the greatest education experience possible. We will find room for everybody.

UC San Diego freshman Christy Huynh moves into The Village dorms, which is handling the overflow from an unexpectedly large fall class. Friend Janet Agustin helped her. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/San Diego Union-Tribune)

UC San Diego is dealing with an issue thats been vexing colleges and universities across the country. Its called the yield rate.

Each year, schools determine how many students they want to admit They typically offer admission to a higher number, knowing that only a certain percentage of students will enroll. For academic and financial reasons, they try to come as close as possible to their yield target.

It can be hard to hit that number for a variety of reasons, including changing tuition rates at some schools. And a blown forecast can produce disastrous results, as UC Irvine learned in 2017.

UCI rescinded admission offers to about 500 students when the school realized that it had grossly underestimated demand.

The decision caused an uproar that forced UCI to readmit most of the students  a saga that generated a lot of bad publicity.

UC San Diego didnt fare much better; it had to place roughly 400 students in temporary quarters because it underestimated how many people wanted to live on campus.

Forecasting enrollment is hard, and getting trickier.

The California State University system has made it comparatively easy to apply to multiple campuses at once. Many students do so, and are accepted at more than one school. In some cases, students wait until the last minute to notify the CSU of which campus they plan to attend.

Crowding can also affect yield rates.

In recently years, the University of California system has tried to divert applicants to campuses that have more room to grow than others. San Diego and Irvine are among the schools that are being used as outlet valves for the system. UC San Diego alone has seen its enrollment grow by more than 7,500 in just the past five years.

UC San Diego is expecting a fall enrollment close to 38,000, which would be a record. (UC San Diego)

Khosla says that the heavy demand means, in part, that students know that they can get a quality education here.

The university is ranked among the best in the country by US News and World Report, and it ranks in the top 10 in research funding.

UC San Diego issued a statement Wednesday saying, The campus has been planning for impacted housing for some time and this fall, every undergraduate with a housing guarantee has been offered a space on campus.

We are also making offers now from our wait-list for non-guaranteed students.

UC San Diego says it expects to house a record 15,803 students on campus this fall.

The figure will soon rise. The university is starting or deeply underway on three major projects that will collectively add about 4,200 student bedsLast year, Palomar Medical Center Escondido handled more than 107,000 emergency room visits, about 40,000 more than the new facility treated in 2012 when it opened its doors.

For the last few years, Palomars emergency waiting room has been packed during the busiest hours, creating an urgent need for more space.

A little more breathing room arrived over the weekend as state inspectors approved Pod D, Palomars fourth emergency unit, adding 14 beds and bringing the emergency departments total capacity to 72.

Judging by the state of Palomars waiting room at 5:30 p.m. Monday  most chairs were still occupied as a line of patients waited to be checked in  the upgrade has not brought supply into perfect harmony with demand. But many patients are now getting into a bed more quickly, noted Michelle Gunnett, Palomars emergency department director.

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We want to make sure that theyre out of the lobby and into a bed as quickly as possible, and this definitely helps make that happen, Gunnett said.

Capacity becomes an even-more-urgent factor with a recent decision by Tri-City Medical Center in Oceanside to shut down its psychiatric units on Oct. 2. Doing so, at least in the short term, is likely to send more law enforcement transports to Palomars emergency department when community members are taken into custody due to psychiatric incidents.

Gunnett said that while the new pod was not specifically brought on line to help cope with Tri-Citys psychiatric decision, the extra room will certainly help.

Dr. Charles Deng examines Cody Soto, 21, at Palomar Medical Center Monday. Accompanied by his mother, Angie Soto (right), and aunt Irma Richardson, Cody sustained a facial injury while dancing in a mosh pit at a local concert. (Charlie Neuman / Charlie Neuman)

For years now, Palomars emergency rooms in Escondido and Poway have followed a front care emergency model. Under that system, patients who show up with what appear to be lower-intensity problems are brought into special exam rooms right off the main waiting room so that nurses and doctors can make quick decisions,ordering tests and scans as soon as possible to minimize waits. That approach meant patients would be sent back to the waiting room while they waited for results.

The new unit, Gunnett said, should get those less-severe patients out of waiting room chairs and into a quieter environment while they wait for an explanation of what ails them.

On a busy day, we see upwards of 80 patients passing through those front care rooms off the lobby, and thats largely who were now seeing in Pod D. We think it will offer a better experience and, potentially, a better, quicker disposition for many cases, Gunnett said.

The idea remains, said Dr. Allan Hansen, Palomars emergency medical director, to maintain a space for patients whose problems look less urgent.

The patients that would be appropriate here are upper respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, upper respiratory infections, abdominal pain where the patient is able to be upright, Hansen said.

Examples of more-severe cases that routinely end up in the hospitals other emergency wards include anyone with abnormal vital signs, indicators of stroke or heart attack or sepsis, a potentially-deadly out-of-control immune system reaction.

According to the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the average time for a new emergency patient to be seen at Palomar by a healthcare professional is 20 minutes, six minutes better than the national average and seven minutes better than its peers across California that the government considers to have very high patient volume.

However, Palomars average visit was 222 minutes, significantly higher than the 171-minute national average and nearly a half-hour more than the statewide average.

Will the addition of Pod D push the length of stay in Palomars emergency department closer to the state or nationwide averages?

Gunnett said she didnt want to make any predictions, especially since speed of service is controlled not just by how many beds are available but also by how long it takes to perform and analyze the myriad tests that often are the key to deciding who goes home and who gets admitted.

Its a little hard for us to predict exactly what will happen with wait times overall, but we should know more in six months or so, Gunnett said.

Health Playlist On Now Video: Why aren't Americans getting flu shots? 0:37 On Now Video: Leaders urge public to help extinguish hepatitis outbreak On Now San Diego starts cleansing sidewalks, streets to combat hepatitis A On Now Video: Scripps to shutter its hospice service On Now Video: Scripps La Jolla hospitals nab top local spot in annual hospital rankings On Now Video: Does a parent's Alzheimer's doom their children? On Now Video: Vaccine can prevent human papillomavirus, which can cause cancer 0:31 On Now 23 local doctors have already faced state discipline in 2017 0:48 On Now EpiPen recall expands On Now Kids can add years to your life

paul.sisson@sduniontribune.com

(619) 293-1850

Twitter: @paulsissonSan Diego City Council members on Tuesday agreed to spend another $1 million on three large tents that serve as bridge shelters for homeless people.

Meeting as the citys Housing Authority, council members voted 8-1, with David Alvarez dissenting, to increase funding for the three shelters to $13.9 million in the 2018-19 fiscal year budget.

Most of the funding increase will be for staffing changes that city officials hope will move more homeless people from the tents and into housing.

The tents hold about 700 people and opened about nine months ago as bridge shelters, meaning they were intended to be a bridge from the street to a home.

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Alvarez had voted against funding the shelters in November, saying he opposed the citys use of money that could have been used for affordable housing, and raised similar arguments against the shelters Tuesday.

Councilwoman Georgette Gomez said she supported the funding increase, this time.

I wont support any other requests for expansions, she said. We need to stop doing a piecemeal approach.

Homeless advocate Michael McConnell, the only person to speak against the funding during public testimony, said the shelters have had a dismal performance of moving people into housing and questioned whether the money could have been better used.

Were looking at $1,400 a dollars a month per person or, for a family of five, $7,000, he said.

Several others, including service providers that run the shelters and homeless people who had stayed in the tents, urged council members to increase the funding.

Also speaking in favor of the shelters were Dan Shea, a chain restaurant operator and partner at Paradigm Investment Group, LLC, and San Diego Padres Managing Partner Peter Seidler.

The two philanthropists had been the first to propose using the large tents known as Sprung structures as temporary shelters in the city.

When we started this endeavor two years ago, we were told, Dont do anything because it doesnt help anybody, Shea said. We said, It helps those people on the street. And then they said, Nobody cares, and weve proven that to be incorrect with the people weve assembled in the private sector to come forward and help.

The tents opened about nine months ago and are run by three nonprofits that focus on different populations.

The Alpha Project operates a 325-bed tent downtown for homeless adults, Father Joes Villages operates a 150-bed tent downtown for families and single women, and Veterans Village of San Diego operates a 200-bed tent for veterans in the Midway District.

When funding to open the tents was approved in January, the council set a goal that 65 percent of people leaving the shelters after 30 days would move into permanent housing.

A report in June found only about 12 percent have moved into housing.

Under recommendations from Focus Solutions, a third-party evaluator hired by the city to study the shelter program, the goal has been lowered from 65 percent to 30 percent.

Lisa Jones, senior vice president of homeless housing innovations at the San Diego Housing Commission, told council members that the 65 percent goal was set with the expectation that many of the people coming in would already be matched with social workers connecting them with housing, she said.

Only 122 of the nearly 700 people in the tents actually were that far along, she said.

The new goal of 30 percent should be easier to reach because a successful exit now will include people leaving for various forms of longer-term housing rather than just permanent housing, Jones said.

Longer-term housing includes safe-haven programs, long-term residential treatment facilities, independent care facilities, long-term nursing care, foster care and transitional housing, she said.

If the 90 people who left for longer-term housing were counted along with the 242 who found permanent housing, the three tents would have a success rate of 28 percent, Jones said.

While the shelters have fallen short of the original goal, Mayor Kevin Faulconer told council members that they have provided a safe environment for hundreds of people who otherwise would be on the street.

We all agree that getting those folks into permanent housing is the goal, but we simply dont have enough affordable housing available, he said. While we wait for those units to be built, these shelters are helping people, caring for them and treating them with respect and dignity as human beings every day.

Jones said the staffing changes, also a recommendation from Focus Strategies, could help people in the shelters find housing faster by matching them with a variety of housing solutions.

The changes replace housing navigators, who had focused on finding permanent housing, with housing specialists and case managers. In all, the three shelters will have 14 additional full-time workers, including two new security guards at the Veterans Village San Diegos shelter.

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gary.warth@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @GaryWarthUT

760-529-4939A coalition of state and local leaders gathered in North Park on Tuesday to show their support for Proposition One, a bond initiative that could raise $4 billion for affordable housing.

Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, noted the broad coalition of supporters at the news conference, which was attended by representatives from businesses, labor, the health industry and nonprofits.

One in three Californians cant afford their rent, she said outside the San Diego Housing Fedeartion offices on Iowa Street. Thats why were here. It has become a humanitarian crisis. And we are a great state, and we are better than that.

Proposition One, the Veterans and Affordable Housing Act, is on the November ballot and would generate $4 billion for affordable housing, with $1 billion specifically for veterans.

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Father Joes Villages President and CEO Deacon Jim Vargas said the proposition would help the homeless clients his nonprofits serve, including seniors, people with disabilities and mental health problems, veterans and the chronically homeless.

State Assembly members Todd Gloria, D-San Diego, and Brian Maienschein, R-San Diego, spoke at the news conference and said the proposition has bi-partisan support.

This is something that Republicans and Democrats can agree on and get behind, Maienschein said, adding that housing costs are driving families apart because some people cant afford to live where they work.

Too many folks are working too hard to make ends meet, Gloria said. Often, not making ends meet. And that is not the city we want. We want a city where everyone can feel at home, where everyone sees a place for them in San Diego.

Not everybody is on board, however.

Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association President Jon Coupal wrote in a recent editorial in The San Diego Union-Tribune that the proposition would add to the states general fund debt and only create a small percentage of the states needed affordable housing.

Coupal also wrote that instead of increasing the debt, the state instead should address why Californias housing costs are so high, which he suggested was partly caused by legislators.

Speakers on Tuesday urged voters to support the proposition because of the immediate need for more affordable housing.

Kim Mitchell, president and CEO of Veterans Village of San Diego, said California has 24 percent of the nations homeless veteran population, and the local nonprofit serves 2,000 vets in need each year.

Lori Pfeiler, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of San Diego, said the proposition would help her organization build more homes for people in need, and Kaiser Permanente Senior Director of Public Affairs Rodger Dougherty said his organization supported the proposition because stable housing is essential to good health.

Also at the news conference were San Diego City Council members Myrtle Cole, Barbara Bry, Chris Ward and Georgette Gomez, San Diego Housing Commission President and CEO Rick Gentry, California League of Cities Executive Director Carolyn Coleman, Disabled American Veterans state Commander Richard Valdez and representatives from the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, San Diego Building Trades Council, Alliance San Diego, SEIU Local 221, Housing You Matters, Circulate San Diego, IBEW Local 569, Climate Action Campaign and other groups.

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gary.warth@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @GaryWarthUT

760-529-4939President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un started their second day of talks on Wednesday morning with no other officials present. They will announce any results in a joint press conference afterwards. On Tuesday afternoon after Moon arrived in Pyongyang, the two leaders sat down for a first round of talks in Kim's office at Workers Party headquarters with other key officials. Moon urged Kim to make more concrete commitments to denuclearization like handing over of a list of nuclear stockpiles, while Kim called for Washington to take a reciprocal step like declaring a formal end to the Korean War to reward him for dismantling the Punggye-ri nuclear test site. But despite essentially reiterating their known position, the atmosphere between the two leaders was cordial.



President Moon Jae-in (right) walks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang in this video grab from Wednesday. /Yonhap

"It is not too much to say that it's Moon's efforts that arranged a historic North Korea-U.S. summit," Kim said at the start of talks. "Because of that, the regional political situation has stabilized and more progress on North Korea-U.S. ties is expected." The two met twice before this year in the border truce village of Panmunjom. Moon replied that any progress has been possible thanks to Kim's "bold decision" to open a new era and added that he hopes their talks will bear abundant fruit. Also on the agenda was further cross-border cooperation and building a "peace zone" around the Northern Limit Line in the West Sea.

President Moon Jae-in (left) and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un wave as their car drives through Pyongyang on Tuesday.

Earlier Tuesday, Moon inspected an honor guard on arrival at Sunan International Airport in Pyongyang together with Kim and attended a welcome ceremony. They rode in an open car together as their motorcade passed through streets of Pyongyang before Kim and his wife showed the Moons into the Paekhwawon, the North's state guesthouse. "We have built trust and friendship between us, so I think [our talks] will be well," Moon said. "Now is really the time to achieve results, with spring in Panmunjom," where their first summit took place in April "leading to autumn in Pyongyang." "I think it was our people's wish that we come up with good results as fast as we can," Kim replied.A San Diego judge has denied the request of two migrant parents wishing to reunite with their young children, ruling Wednesday that the federal government has the discretion to determine if their criminal backgrounds present a possible danger.

The seriousness of a parents criminal history is the latest issue to be challenged as part of the massive, court-ordered effort to reunify some 2,600 families that had been separated at the border.

The case of Ms. Q.  accused in an outstanding arrest warrant in El Salvador of being a gang member  and Mr. C.  with a misdemeanor conviction from eight years ago for swinging a machete at his wife  were the first tests.

While U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw did not make a ruling as to whether either parent was unfit or a danger, he said the government appears to have vetted the parents in good faith and does not plan to take that discretion away.

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The ruling lays the groundwork for how challenges might proceed in as many as 27 other cases where reunification was withheld due to significant criminal histories.

In a court hearing Friday, attorney Lee Gelernt of the American Civil Liberties Union indicated there are parents in this category with seemingly more minor crimes, such as DUI and illegal entry, that would be challenged.

Where this much is at stake for children, there needs to be more than what the government has done, Gelernt argued.

When Sabraw first ordered the family reunifications as part of a preliminary injunction on June 26, he excluded from the class all parents with criminal histories. The blanket exclusion was a way to get the reunifications under way quickly, with the suggestion to government officials to be over-inclusive in granting reunifications. Sabraw at the time left open the possibility for individual challenges.

In his short ruling Wednesday, Sabraw noted that it appears the government has been reasonable in its examination of criminal histories due to the relatively small number of parents excluded.

The record indicates Defendants have vetted these parents in good faith and made principled decisions in light of their criminal history and overarching concerns regarding safety of their children and the public, the judge wrote.

Sabraw also noted that the government has the authority to decide who to detain and who to parole, and that nothing in the family separation litigation aims to limit that power.

In the case of both Ms. Q. and Mr. C., authorities determined neither were appropriate to be reunited with their children and then held at family detention centers, where other youth are housed.

These are not hard cases, U.S. Department of Justice attorney Sarah Fabian argued in a motion.

Ms. Q. entered the U.S. illegally at the Rio Grande Valley in Texas in March with her 3-year-old son, J. While in holding cells in Customs and Border Protection custody, the boy became sick, causing him to vomit with bouts of diarrhea, she reported.

The next morning, as the boy was sleeping in his mothers arms, the two were separated due to her criminal warrant out of El Salvador. She was taken to a processing center in Laredo, Texas, while he was transferred to a shelter in Chicago.

The warrant accuses her of affiliation with the MS-13 gang but does not include specific allegations of criminal activity or statements of probable cause, the ACLU argued.

An attorney in El Salvador investigated further and found that the warrant appears to stem from a larger anti-gang operation that involved an incident at the house where she had been renting a room.

Ms. Q. claims that she didnt know the other occupants well and never saw or suspected gang activity there. In July 2016, police raided the home with guns drawn. They questioned her about gang involvement, which she denied.

Days later, she was beaten in the face by apparent gang members, likely because they were aware of her police questioning, she reported. The attack caused significant injury to an eye.

While in ICE custody Ms. Q. passed a credible fear test, the first step in the asylum process. Later, the judge in her immigration hearing  after asking the government for more evidence but getting none  determined she was not a danger.

I do not have sufficient evidence or information in front of me upon which to find that she is a danger to the community, the judge stated. He did, however, deny her bond after finding she was a flight risk.

Government attorneys confirmed the warrant is still active: The government of El Salvador has expressed continued interest in the capture of Ms. Q., and will continue to work with ICE on the matter, authorities said.

ACLU attorneys and child advocates say Ms. Q.s son is suffering greatly without her. His potty training has regressed, he is exhibiting speech delays and doesnt recognize his mothers voice over the phone anymore, according to declarations filed on his behalf.

Mr. C. fled his homeland of Honduras and crossed illegally into the U.S. in April with his son, then 19 months old. He said he was escaping explicit death threats from gang members who had kidnapped and held him at gunpoint, as well as threats against his and his babys lives and threats from other gang members who had already killed several members of his extended family, according to court records.

He was separated from his son, D., after about three days in detention.

He thought he was going to be reunified with his son as part of Sabraws order and was moved from a Texas detention facility to one in New Jersey, close to where his son was being sheltered. But then he was told that there were questions about whether he was D.s real father. After he presented documentation showing he was the legal father, authorities denied reunification due to his criminal domestic violence conviction.

Mr. C. had pleaded guilty in 2010 to an aggravated assault charge in Louisiana for swinging a machete at his wife while calling her names in front of her friends, according to court records. He was sentenced to 48 days in jail.

His arrest report shows that he swung a machete at his wife  an act of violence that gives the government good reason to determine that he should not be placed in an open group setting with other parents and children, the government argued in its motion.

He has a final order of removal but his claim of fear of persecution should he be returned to his homeland is being considered by an immigration judge. He is being held in an Orange County jail in ICE custody.

The finding goes against that of child advocates who have worked with his son.

D.s child advocate observed that prior to their separation, Mr. C. and his son were very close, that the separation is devastating to D., and that there is no indication that Mr. C. had abused or neglected his son, the ACLU argued.

Gelernt responded to the ruling late Wednesday, saying, Nothing in this decision prevents the government from choosing on its own to reunify these young children, and we will continue to explore ways to make that happen.

kristina.davis@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @kristinadavisCody Wilson, the Texas man who sparked a fierce debate with his controversial 3D-printed gun company, has been accused of sexually assaulting a minor he met online, according to court documents.

The arrest affidavit, filed in Travis County District Court on Wednesday, does not specify the victims age  describing her only as a juvenile female under the age of 17.

The charges stem from an encounter in August, reported to the Austin Police Department by the victims counselor. During a forensic interview with the Center for Child Protection, the girl said she created an online profile using the website SugarDaddyMeet.com and traded messages with Wilson, who was operating under the screen name Sanjuro.

The 30-year-old businessman told the victim he was a  big deal and later identified himself by name. They traded numbers and continued their exchange by way of the Apple iMessage service on her phone, according to court documents.

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The victim noted in a followup interview with investigators that she had received images from Sanjuro of his penis and had sent a picture of herself naked as well.

The pair allegedly met for the first time in the parking lot of Bennu Coffee the night of Aug. 15. From there, they drove together to the Archer Hotel in Austin, where she and Wilson engaged in sexual intercourse and oral intercourse on the hotel rooms bed, according to the affidavit.

When they finished, the suspect allegedly paid her in five $100 bills before dropping her off in a Whataburger parking lot.

According to court documents, Wilson and the girl were caught on surveillance footage together in several locations, including exiting the hotel elevator and walking toward a guest room on the seventh floor. Hotel room 718 was booked under Wilsons name the same day the alleged assault occurred, according to investigators.

A security camera from Bennu Coffee also captured the victim getting into a black Ford Edge registered to Wilsons business, Defense Distributed.

The company was recently thrust to the center of the nations contentious gun control debate. A federal court earlier in August blocked Wilson from sharing blueprints that would allow for others to print their own plastic firearms, arguing the weapons posed a threat to national security and the public.

A day later, the Arkansas native announced he would sell the plans instead, arguing the federal order only prevented online publication.

Anyone who wants to get these files is going to get them, Wilson told reporters at the time. They can name their own price.

Wilson had not yet been booked into the Travis County Jail as of Wednesday morning, according to The Austin American-Statesman.A California surgeon who once appeared on a Bravo reality series has been arrested for allegedly using his good looks and charm to lure unsuspecting women, ply them with drugs and alcohol and rape them.

Dr. Grant Robicheaux, 38, and girlfriend Cerissa Riley, 31, were arrested Sept. 12 by the Newport Beach Police Department after two alleged incidents in which they were accused of raping or sexually assaulting a woman who claimed shed been given drugs and alcohol, said Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas.

The first attack occurred in April 2016 after the pair allegedly met a 32-year-old woman in a Newport Beach restaurant.

Rackauckas said Robicheaux and Riley invited the woman to a boat party, then took her to his apartment once she was intoxicated. There, they allegedly raped and sexually assaulted her. She reached out to police the next day, and underwent a forensic exam that tested positive for controlled substances.

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Months later, in October 2016, Robicheaux and Riley allegedly drank at a bar with another woman until she was unconscious, then brought her to his apartment and sexually assaulted her.

She allegedly came to and screamed for help until a neighbor called police.

Rackauckas said the two incidents make clear the couples scheme, which typically involved Riley kicking things off by introducing herself to the woman and inviting her to a party.

Robicheaux also filmed at least some of the incidents, as investigators are in possession of multiple videos showing highly intoxicated and barely responsive women.

The defendants are clean-cut and good-looking, Rackauckas said. A woman purporting to be his girlfriend clearly played a significant role in disarming the victims and making them feel comfortable and safe. We believe the defendants used their good looks and charm to lower the inhibitions of their potential prey.

He added that authorities believe there are likely more victims who have yet to come forward, and noted the couple has recently traveled to large events such as Burning Man, the Dirty Bird Campout Festival and Splash House, among others, which widens the possible victim pool.

Robicheaux, an orthopedic surgeon who completed a fellowship in New York City and graduated from Louisiana State University Medical School, previously appeared on one episode of the Bravo reality show Online Dating Rituals of the American Male in 2014.

His segment, called Threes a Crowd, featured his roommate helping him try to find his ideal woman on a dating website. The episode has since been pulled from Bravos website.

Robicheaux and Riley are due to appear in court Oct. 24. Both are currently out on $100,000 bail each.

Both are charged with rape by use of drugs, oral copulation by anesthesia or controlled substance, assault with intent to commit a sexual offense and two counts of possession of an assault weapon, among other things.

Cops in January found large quantities of illegal drugs along with two illegal unregistered assault rifles, four other firearms and several large capacity magazines at Robicheauxs house while on a search warrant, Rackauckas said. A case against the couple was submitted Sept. 6 by the Newport Beach Police Department to the Orange County district attorneys office before their arrest six days later.

Robicheaux faces 40 years in state prison if convicted, while Riley faces 30 years and eight months.

In a statement to the Daily News via their attorneys, Robicheaux and Riley denied all allegations of non-consensual sex, and said they have been aware of the allegations for a number of months.

Each of them will formally deny the truth of these allegations at their first opportunity in court, the statement read. Dr. Robicheaux and Ms. Riley believe that such allegations do a disservice to, and dangerously undermine, the true victims of sexual assault, and they are eager to have the proper spotlight shed on this case in a public trial.Detectives are investigating the death of a fraternity pledge in California after a late-night hike, and are looking into whether hazing played a role in his suspicious death.

Tyler Hilliard, 20, died Sunday after joining his fellow Alpha Phi Alpha brothers on a trip up Mount Rubidoux Saturday night, according to local reports.

The University of California-Riverside student allegedly collapsed after complaining of shortness of breath, and his fellow fraternity members called for medical aid around 9 p.m., mom Myeasha Kimble-Hilliard told The Los Angeles Times.

He was reportedly taken to the hospital alert and speaking with staff, but his health quickly worsened, and he died shortly after being transferred to intensive care.

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Though local police have yet to point the finger at hazing, Kimble-Hilliard believes it likely played a role in her sons death.

She said she found messages in Tylers phone that indicated hed been forced to eat an entire onion covered in hot sauce, drink excessive amounts of water and was paddled with a piece of cactus.

Im not saying that his death was a direct result of hazing. I dont know that for sure, she said. But I believe something happened that led up to his death.

Kimble-Hilliard also noted that Tyler had referred to the Mount Rubidoux hike as gold paddle day in text messages.

Riverside Police Officer Ryan Railsback said that Hilliards death is being treated as suspicious, but authorities arent totally sure hazing was involved.

Our detectives are having to backtrack, what exactly they were doing up on the mountain, who they were with, what type of activities they may or may not have been involved with, he said. Was it hazing? We dont know at this time.

Alpha Phi Alpha has a storied history as the oldest Greek-letter fraternity established for black men, and boasts notable members such as the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Thurgood Marshall and Duke Ellington.

Kimble-Hilliard said her son was excited to add his name to a roster comprised of such accomplished figures.

He did his research. He felt that this was a good fit for him because this organization appeared to be involved in community service, she told ABC News.

The fraternity  which suspended all activities at the UC-Riverside chapter  released a statement following Hilliards death doubling down on its commitment to an organization free of hazing.

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. does not condone and strictly prohibits any illegal acts, including hazing in any form, whether physical or mental, as a term or condition of membership in the organization, the statement read. Any member found violating the fraternitys anti-hazing policy will be immediately suspended with a recommendation for expulsion.

Still, Hilliards mother hinted that Saturdays incident wasnt the first time possible hazing may have affected her son.

She said he was hospitalized for chest pains after being forced to eat the onion, but was later released.

He was kind, he was sweet ... he had a bright future ahead of him, she told ABC. He was loving to everyone he came across... he was just a good person, a good son. He never gave his father and I any problems whatsoever.

An autopsy is reportedly pending.SAN JUAN  Hurricane Maria tore apart Marilyn Vieras house, contaminating it with dirty water and forcing her to evacuate.

Viera, 61, lives alone in Humacao, where the Category 5 hurricane made landfall Sept. 20 of last year. She hoped the Federal Emergency Management Agency would be able to help her  but she says FEMA inspectors blew off their first appointment at her home in the months after the hurricane, compounding her misery and threatening her mental health.

They canceled the visit. They said I wasnt home, so they denied me, Viera told the Daily News in Spanish at her home Sunday.

After that, I couldnt eat. I lost 30 pounds, and was hospitalized for depression, she said.

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Jose Guillermo Ortiz Pizarro, a retired fisherman, also lives in a house thats about to fall apart. He received $2,000 in aid from FEMA, but still lives under a blue tarp roof. (Megan Cerullo / New York Daily News)

Viera is one of the 331,000 island residents who were deemed ineligible for FEMA aid after the hurricane rendered them homeless, agency spokesperson Dasha Castillo Gomez told The News.

Viera spent months seeking shelter with neighbors, friends and in a rental apartment, while a pro bono lawyer helped her appeal the denial.

I had no house, no roof, no nothing, she said, shaking her head. Living with someone else isnt the same. I felt like I was invading their space.

FEMA, the agency coordinating the federal response to the disaster, has left residents frustrated, confused and tired of filling out paperwork to procure funds for basic necessities  including shelter  a year after the hurricane decimated the island. Some Puerto Ricans say theyve given up applying for aid after they were allocated insufficient funds or denied outright for a variety of reasons, including the inability to produce a property title.

Luiz M. Lebron applied for FEMA aid but was denied because he couldnt produce a property title. (Megan Cerullo / New York Daily News)

Many people in Puerto Rico are very humble; they receive a no, and thats it. If the letter says you dont qualify because you dont have a formal title, they accept it, said Adi Martinez, executive director of Fondo de Acceso a la Justicia, a not-for-profit that helps fund legal services.

Also, people are emotionally affected, depressed, tired, and they dont want to deal with it anymore, she said.

With the help of a lawyer, Viera was ultimately awarded about $8,000 to repair her home. As soon as her bedroom was livable, she moved in.

But even when an appeal is approved, oftentimes, the allocation of funds doesnt cover the cost of necessary repairs, according to Aracelis Ortiz, a social worker for P.E.C.E.S, a community organization that is helping Puerto Ricans rebuild their homes.

For Viera, the rest of her house remains unfinished; theres no way it could weather another hurricane. Her roof is incomplete and shes missing a ceiling. Broken doors and windows still need to be replaced. But she has given up on asking for more money. Tears begin to stream down her face at the thought of re-engaging in the appeals process.

People told me to appeal, but I dont feel like it. I dont want to because of the paperwork. Ill stay like this. Its OK as is, she said.

Another resident, Luiz M. Lebron, recalls returning to his home in Humacao the day after Maria.

The door was broken, there was muddy water everywhere, he said, pointing to a watermark on his wall.

He says he applied for FEMA aid but was denied because he couldnt produce a property title.

He had taken care of the homes owner and inherited the house when they passed away.

The owners children said he could have the house, but it was all by word of mouth. There was no paperwork. It was an informal thing where hes been living in the place his whole life, Ortiz said.

Nobody helped me. Not a single agency, Lebron said.

Gomez, FEMAs spokeswoman, said the agency is being as flexible as the law permits so we can cater to everyone and provide assistance.

We have a self-declaration in place for people whose houses flooded and lost their documents, she said.

Advocates for residents, however, say many people are unaware of this option.

We have this thing that can help people and they dont know about it, Martinez said.

Jose Guillermo Ortiz Pizarro, a retired fisherman, also lives in a house thats about to fall apart. He received $2,000 in aid from FEMA, but still lives under a blue tarp roof. When it rains, water leaks through his ceilings cracks, which let mice and roaches through.

Hes making do, but hes fearful that another hurricane might strike, sending him back to square one.

Its not the help we expected. I expected enough at least to fix the whole roof and all of the walls, he said, with a resigned smile.

But its been a year and I am tired of fighting.To Michael Cornelius, it was a no brainer.

The 34-year-old resident of Spring Lake, N.C., helped prevent a blind woman from drowning in Florence floodwaters on Monday. The dramatic rescue was caught on drone video by a North Carolina photojournalist.

Cornelius was in his car with his wife and four kids looking for a way out of town  he wanted to check on family members elsewhere.

My wife rolled down the window and said, Wow, look at that water, he recalled in an interview with The Associated Press.

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There were about 20 people on the edge of the water, and a woman appeared to be stuck near a guardrail. A man with her was in distress as well.

The next thing you know, we started hearing them say Help! Help! Help! Cornelius said.

Cornelius and two other men went into the water. The water went chest deep on Cornelius, who is 6-foot-2.

After one of the other men wrapped a tire strap around the woman, Cornelius carried her on his back out of the water. The other good Samaritans were able to get the womans male companion to safety.

I thought I was gone, Kathy Griffin told KARE. Because I cant swim and Im blind.

To be honest, the first thing I was thinking, this is a no brainer, Cornelius said. Gotta rescue these people. But halfway, the water started getting to my waist. I thought, they probably got gators and snakes here. Im from Louisiana. Am I gonna have to wrestle a gator today?

It was KARE crew members that called 911 when they saw the couple struggling, the TV station said.

Mike Morris, the man who was rescued, told KARE that they had been trying to get back to his house.

I didnt think it was bad enough that we wouldnt be able to cross, he told the station.

Loved ones watched from the car as Cornelius made the dramatic rescue.

You did good, Daddy, his daughter said from the backseat.

With News Wire ServicesIt seems this raccoon has gone from raiding trash cans to breaking into homes.

The masked bandit surprised a woman when it made its way into her Florida home Wednesday morning.

Photos shared by the Pinellas County Sheriffs Office showed the raccoon sitting in a bathroom on top of a cabinet.

A Pinellas County citizen was quite surprised to find this furry intruder in her home, the sheriffs office wrote in a Facebook post with a photo of the trespasser.

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The raccoon is seen sitting above a medicine cabinet and a vanity mirror, where it remained still enough for a sheriff to snap a picture.

Shared to Twitter, the photo was described as featuring Smokey...and the Bandit?

The Sheriffs office said the raccoon was safely caught and released.Hopes in finding survivors of a monster mudslide in the Philippines are fading.

The calamity, caused by Typhoon Mangkhut, sent tons of mud into a small mining town, burying homes, chapels and  more gruesomely  dozens of people in the province of Itogon.

One day after police officers pleaded with residents of the mining camp to find secure shelter amid an approaching typhoon, a monster landslide triggered by the deadly stormed buried the residents.

On Tuesday, 10 corpses had been recovered, reported Rappler.com. Among the missing is Benylyn Gumuwangs miner brother Harvey Gumuwang.

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I want to dig so that I could see, so that I could check for myself, she aid.

She waits patiently for authorities to call her name so she can assist in the dig, or worse, Harveys name, so that she can say goodbye to him, knowing that his body has been recovered.

Miners claimed to have seen Harvey disappear as earth toppled on top of him, but Benylyn prays he somehow found hollow ground and is waiting to be found.

Itogons mayor Victorio Palangdan told Rappler that he believes 99 percent of the buried victims have already died.

We will continue until we get them all, he said.

Another resident, Jonalyn Felipe, said she begged her husband, Dennis, to steer clear of the mine as the typhoon approached but he refused.

I was insisting because the storm was strong but he told me not to worry because he said theyre safe there, said Felipe, who claimed her spouse had been talking with other miners in the chapel before the mudslide flattened it.A veteran Caltrans worker died after he suffered major injuries early Wednesday after falling about 50 feet off a transition ramp from state Route 163 onto an embankment next to Interstate 805, officials said.

William Cas Casdorph, 57, was taken by ambulance to a hospital after the fall, which occurred shortly after 3 a.m. He died at the hospital.

Our Caltrans family is grieving today, Caltrans Director Laurie Berman said in a statement issued Wednesday afternoon. Our deepest sympathy and condolences go out to Mr. Casdorphs family and all those who worked with him.

William Casdorph (Courtesy Caltrans District 11)

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Casdorph, who had worked for Caltrans for 19 years, was based out of the Kearny Mesa Maintenance facility.

Caltrans said Casdorph is survived by his wife, Maria, and daughters Pricilla, Wendy, and Ana.

Caltrans District 11 mourns the loss of William "Cas" Casdorph, who fell while on the job and succumbed to his injuries earlier today. #SDCaltransAlert  Caltrans San Diego (@SDCaltrans) September 19, 2018

He was working with his landscape crew in the center divider on 163 right over the 805. We dont know exactly how or why yet, but he did take a fall over the center divide, California Highway Patrol Sgt. Brent Lowry told Fox 5. He got out of his truck, went to step over the wall. We dont exactly know how or why he fell.

Footage from the scene showed emergency crews assisting Casdorph after he fell into ivy next to the freeway lanes.

CHP Officer Jim Bettencourt said the connector road was shut down as officers investigated the accident. The road was reopened shortly after 6 a.m., he said.

Twitter: @karenkucher

(619) 293-1350

karen.kucher@sduniontribune.com

UPDATES:

2:50 p.m.: The story has been updated with information that the worker died from his injuries. It was originally posted at 7 a.m.San Diego police searched Tuesday for a gunman suspected of holding up two branches of the same insurance company within an hour of each other in Kearny Mesa and Clairemont, an officer said.

The first robbery happened about 5 p.m. at the Fred Loya Insurance branch on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard near state Route 163 in Clairemont, Officer John Buttle said.

The bandit walked into the business in a strip mall housing several insurance company storefronts, brandished a black handgun and demanded money, Buttle said. He was given an undisclosed amount of money and left the business.

Less than an hour later, at 5:44 p.m., and less than four miles away, the same man robbed another Fred Loya Insurance branch, this one also on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard at the Clairemont Town Square shopping center, Buttle said.

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He repeated his method from the first robbery, brandishing the handgun and demanding money, Buttle said. He made off with an undisclosed amount of cash.

It was unclear why the man chose to rob insurance branches, which Buttle said were unusual robbery targets. Police were still investigating the heists Tuesday night.

Twitter: @Alex_Riggins

(619) 293-1710

alex.riggins@sduniontribune.comSouth Korean tycoons who accompanied President Moon Jae-in to Pyongyang met North Korea's top economic official Ri Yong-nam on Tuesday for talks that were largely seen as window-dressing for the summit.

They made it clear to Ri that inter-Korean relations must improve before any economic projects can be pursued. But Ri said, "I am gaining faith in the possibility of active economic cooperation between the North and South. The most important is the inter-Korean railway project."

Five other North Korean officials took part in the meeting with 17 business executives from South Korea including the heads of its biggest conglomerates and state-run companies.

"I hope that we can get to know more about each other and bolster trust with this opportunity," Samsung chief Lee Jae-yong told reporters.

Also present was Hyundai Group chairwoman Hyun Jeong-eun, whose small conglomerate pioneered business with the North. "I hope that inter-Korean relations make progress and U.S.-North Korean talks go well so that tours to Mt. Kumgang can resume," she said, evidently keen to revive subsidiary Hyundai Asan's package tours to the scenic resort.A 10-year-old girl who went missing after being dropped off at Porter Elementary School in Lincoln Park Wednesday morning has been found, police said.

Police said the child was found on 43rd Street near Eta Street  about 1 miles from her school  around 1:45 p.m.

A parent who had received an alert about the missing girl spotted her on the street and notified authorities.

He stopped and asked her who she was, then called police, San Diego police Lt. Ernesto Servin told OnScene TV. She has been reunited with her family. We are still trying to find out what caused her to walk away from school.

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The girl told police she had been walking the entire time she was missing and had become disoriented. She was about 1  miles from school when she was found.

The fifth grader had been dropped off at school by her father. Friends told police they saw her walking away from campus before school started.

The police department issued an alert regarding the missing child shortly after noon Wednesday.

teri.figueroa@sduniontribune.com

(760) 529-4945

Twitter: @TeriFigueroaUT

UPDATES:

2:50 p.m.: This story was updated.

1:55 p.m.: This story was updated.

This article was originally published at 12:50 p.m.A former classmate of Brett Kavanaughs accuser recalled Wednesday that students at their high school discussed his alleged sexual assault after it happened, presenting another potential element of corroboration against the embattled Supreme Court nominee.

Cristina King, who says Christine Blasey Ford was a year or so behind her at Holton-Arms Preparatory in Bethesda, Md., made the allegation in a Facebook post.

This incident did happen, King wrote of Blasey Fords allegation that Kavanaugh drunkenly forced himself on her at a party in the early 1980s. Many of us heard about it in school and Christines recollection should be more than enough for us to truly, deeply know that the accusation is true.

King conceded in the post she has no first-hand knowledge of the purported assault.

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King said she was acquainted with Kavanaugh and his friend, Mark Judge, in high school, attending the same parties and seeing each other on their respective campuses. Kavanaugh and Judge attended the all-boys Georgetown Preparatory, which is 5 miles from Holton-Arms.

King was among hundreds of Holton-Arms graduates who earlier this week signed a letter in support of Blasey Ford, who went public with her allegations against Kavanaugh on Sunday.

Blasey Ford says she was 15 when an intoxicated Kavanaugh forced her into a room, pinned her against a bed and groped her. She alleges she thought Kavanaugh might inadvertently kill her as he kept her mouth covered to keep her from screaming.

The 51-year-old California professor provided the Washington Post with notes from a session she had with a psychiatrist in 2012, in which she discussed the alleged assault.

King, who lives in Mexico City, according to her Facebook page, said she is opposed to Kavanaughs nomination to the Supreme Court because he goes against everything sacred to me as a woman, mother, daughter, Latina, American and professional.

But, King said, thats not why she is standing by Blasey Ford.

If Kavanaugh truly has the integrity mentioned by those who support him, then he should be just as courageous as Christine and stop trying to dodge the accusations, King said. By doing this, he would be giving the next generation and our kids/teenagers a huge lesson in humility, dignity and humanity.

Kings post has since been deleted, but the Daily News was able to verify its authenticity.

In a subsequent tweet, King said she scrapped the post because she was taken aback by the media interest it prompted.

It served its purpose and I am now dealing with a slew of requests for interviews, King said.

She did not return a request for comment from The News. A White House spokesman declined to comment.

Blasey Fords allegations resulted in the Senate Judiciary Committee indefinitely delaying a confirmation vote on Kavanaughs nomination planned for Thursday. Kavanaugh and Ford are expected to testify about her shocking allegations Monday.

Kavanaugh, who was tapped by President Trump to succeed retiring Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, has vehemently denied Fords allegations.MeToo movement neednt make all men the enemy

Re Karla Petersons column Why did the Emmys send men to do a womans job? (Sept. 17): So do tell, a man is now forbidden to host the Emmys?

What exactly is the quota count for how many women should host it before a man is allowed back? Your idea of the perfect #MeToo world is disconcerting. How about a man and a woman co-hosting? Or would the man on that stage sully your viewing experience? Inclusion, not exclusion. Men are not the enemy.

Gregory Senoff

Advertisement

La Mesa

Karla Petersons opus on the Emmys failure to appoint a female host this year was shockingly short-sighted.

She failed to mention that the 70-year-old ceremony broke the glass ceiling in 1952 with Lucille Ball serving as host. Multiplying the slight, she failed to mention 20 other women who have served as hosts over the years, most recently including Jane Lynch, Heidi Klum, and Ellen DeGeneres.

Clearly, Peterson believes that popular movements should dictate every public statement opportunity. Those who are truly rational would only consider female candidates rather than follow their creative leadings.

I disagree. If anything, the Emmys producers showed genuine diversity by refusing to let gender prejudice their decision. Im surprised Ms. Peterson missed this. She would be well-advised to heed the sardonic message of the broadcasts opening song, thinking that appointing a female host might give anyone the license to say We Solved It.

Charles Chapman

Mission Hills

Letters and commentary policy

The U-T welcomes and encourages community dialogue on important public matters. Please visit this page for more details on our letters and commentaries policy. You can email letters@sduniontribune.com or leave a comment below.

Follow @UTLetters on Twitter and UTOpinion on Facebook.Poway City Council members informally agreed Tuesday night the city needs to get more proactive in dealing with steadily rising employee pension plan costs.

The city should seriously look into creating a Section 115 Trust into which surplus city funds can be invested, the council agreed during a non-binding workshop session. The fund would be used to make annual payments to the California Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS), which administers the pension plans for most of the citys employees.

Establishing a 115 trust would provide the city with an alternative to sending funds directly to CalPERS and would provide greater city control over assets and portfolio management, City Manager Tina White wrote in a staff report.

The matter will return to the council next month following a final report on the now-closed 2017-18 fiscal year. Once it is determined how much surplus is available, the council will decide what to do with the money.

The city will be paying about $4.6 million to CalPERS this fiscal year, White said, with employees contributing another $1.3 million.

Poway, like other cities, counties and districts throughout California, has been seeing substantial increases in their required contributions to CalPERS, White said. Mary Beth Redding, vice president of a consulting firm hired in March for $14,250 to examine the citys pension obligations, told the council the rate hikes will likely continue for many years and will not return to 2017-18 levels until about 2041.

Its not a pretty picture, Redding told the council. The long string of projected rate hikes are attributed in part to fund investment losses during the Great Recession, the fact that retirees are living longer and a policy change by the CalPERS government board to become more conservative with investments, she said.

The retirement account for the 52 citys safety employees, plus 44 retired employees, is 70.5 percent funded while the account for 176 miscellaneous worker, plus 239 retirees, is 73.3 percent funded. Together, that totals about a $47.5 million shortfall, the council was told. The last time the accounts were fully funded was 2007, the start of the Great Recession.

About 70 employees hired before 2012 are part of the now-closed Public Agency Retirement System. That plan is well funded since the council pumped $3.1 million in surplus money into it between 2015 and 2016.

Having the city withdraw from CalPERS is practically impossible, Redding said, as the fund would demand the city pay into the fund its full benefit obligations. That might cost the city between $170 million and $200 million, she said.

That leaves the options of either continue to pay directly to CalPERS or creating a Section 115 Trust, Redding told the council.

The trusts, around since 2014, have been a popular option with governmental agencies, Redding said, as the money placed into to them can be invested in a more broad range of categories.

The council sentiment seemed to be to proceed with establishing the fund and start it off with as much money as possible. How much that might be will be determined following a report on the close out of the 2017-18 fiscal year.

Email: editor@pomeradonews.com

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.The U.S. government continues to voice unease over inter-Korean economic cooperation that could weaken international pressure on North Korea to denuclearize as President Moon Jae-in flew to Pyongyang for a summit.

The U.S. State Department said Monday that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke over the phone with Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha. "They discussed... President Moon Jae-in's upcoming summit with... Kim Jong-un. In addition, Secretary Pompeo and Foreign Minister Kang vowed to maintain close coordination on continuing... denuclearization efforts and inter-Korean dialogue and cooperation."

The statement pointedly added that the two sides "affirmed the strength of [their] alliance and the importance to maintain pressure until we achieve the shared goal of final, fully verified denuclearization" of North Korea.

"Global sanctions are an essential part of efforts to achieve denuclearization," Pompeo tweeted. He mentioned that the U.S. called for a meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss violations of sanctions against North Korea and added, "We are as committed as ever to enforcing them."

President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at a joint press conference on Wednesday announced a range of agreements that fell short of a substantial breakthrough in denuclearization efforts.

After a private meeting without officials at the North's state guesthouse, Paekhwawon, the two leaders signed an agreement to reduce military tensions and prevent any accidental clashes in the border areas.

Moon said he invited Kim to visit Seoul and Kim agreed to come at his earliest convenience. Moon explained later that the visit will happen this year unless there are any unexpected obstacles.

Kim said both sides agreed to closely cooperate to open a new era of peace and prosperity through their "historical summit" by ending hatred and conflict between the two Koreas caused by their tragic national division.

Northbrook, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/19/2018 -- According to new market research report "Debt Collection Software Market by Component (Software and Services), End-User (Banks, Collection Agencies, Finance Companies, Healthcare), Organization Size (Large Enterprises and SMEs), Deployment Type, and Region - Global Forecast to 2023", The debt collection software market size is expected to grow from USD 2.64 billion in 2018 to USD 3.73 billion by 2023, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.2% during the forecast period.



For More info - https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/debt-collection-software-market-211244709.html



The growing need to provide customer-centric debt collection solutions, rising consumer requirements for self-service models for the collection process, and increasing specialized debt collection agencies across the globe are expected to drive the global debt collection software market during the forecast period.

Browse 66 market data Tables and 45 Figures spread through 143 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Debt Collection Software "



The software segment is expected to account for the larger market size during the forecast period.

The software segment is expected to hold the larger market share during the forecast period in the global debt collection software market. Over the recent years, increasing debt volumes and complexities have created difficulties for organizations to effectively manage and recover the delinquent debts. The growth in unrecovered debts and inefficient debt management process has fueled the adoption of debt collection software by organizations across the globe. Debt collection software empower enterprises by managing and collecting their bad debts while reducing their debt recovery period and optimizing their debt management and recovery process.



The large enterprises segment is expected to account for the larger market share during the forecast period.

Organizations with more than 1,000 employees have been categorized as large enterprises. The use of the debt collection in large enterprises is relatively higher as compared to that of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). This higher use is due to the affordability and high economies of scale, which enables large organizations to benefit from the debt collection. Large enterprises have left no stone unturned to compete in today's cut-throat competitive industry. Moreover, the need for a multichannel communication to reach debtors and improve the collection process would drive the growth of the debt collection software.



North America is expected to account for the largest market size during the forecast period.

North America is expected to be the largest contributor to the debt collection software market in terms of regional revenue. This region comprises developed countries, such as the US and Canada. North America is open to the adoption of new and emerging technologies, and its strong financial position enables it to invest majorly in the leading tools and technologies for effective business operations. North America is projected to be in the leading position over the next few years, due to the early adoption of digital technologies and cloud-based platforms to take hold of the increasing bad debts rate. Hence, organizations in North America have a competitive edge over the other organizations from various regions.



Ask For PDF Brochure - https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=211244709



Major vendors that offer debt collection software across the globe include FICO (US), Pegasystems (US), Temenos (Switzerland), Experian (Ireland), Chetu (US), FIS (US), EXUS (UK), Sopra Banking (France), Quantrax Corporation (US), Indus Software (India), Pamar Systems (US), Intellect Design (India), Kuhlekt (Australia), Adtec Software (UK), Katabat (US), Advantage Software Factory (Romania), Totality Software (US), CSS Impact (US), Nucleus Software (India), COFACE (France), Arvato (Germany), Ameyo (India), AgreeYa Solutions (US), SeikoSoft (US), and Debtrak (UK).



About MarketsandMarkets

MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions.



Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model  GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve.



MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledgestore" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets.

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sales@marketsandmarkets.comRockville, MD -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/19/2018 -- Resurgent growth in the construction sector since the past years coupled with increasing construction activities and infrastructure development continue to remain instrumental in driving sales of construction equipment, in turn influencing sales of undercarriage components worldwide. Growing technological advancements in earth moving equipment to meet the increasing demand for new construction projects has significantly fueled the demand for durable and efficient undercarriage components since the past years. Fact.MR envisages that the demand for undercarriage components is projected to expand at a steady rate at a CAGR of 3.2% throughout the period of assessment, 2018-2028. Sales of undercarriage components by the end of the year of forecast is estimated to cross US$ 10,800 Mn, says the report.



Request For Sample Report- https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=1623



Sales of undercarriage components through aftermarkets is likely to surpass those from OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) during the period of forecast. The aftermarket is likely to remain strong for undercarriage components on the back of low life of these components. Lower life span has resulted in frequent changing of undercarriage components owing to excessive use of construction equipment, which in turn is expected to increase the demand for undercarriage components in the aftermarket. However, development of undercarriage components with high durability is expected to impact their aftermarket sales as OEMs are striving to extend life of undercarriage components using wear-resistant undercarriage technology.



Demand for undercarriage components in the construction industry is expected to increase at significant pace during the period of forecast on the back of growing construction projects across the globe. For instance, expansion of airports, construction of new highways and road extensions, construction of dams, increasing commercial infrastructure projects and construction of railways are likely to augment demand for construction and earth moving equipment, in turn supporting the sales of undercarriage components. Moreover, demand for undercarriage components from the agriculture and forestry industry is projected to expand at a high rate during the period of forecast owing to growing use of agricultural equipment, particularly in the emerging economies.



Use of undercarriage components in crawler excavators and mini excavators has remained high since the past few years and is likely to witness an upswing in the years to follow, says Fact.MR report. Apart from construction of highways and dams, demand for crawler excavators has been increasing in the mining sector, which is expected to push their sales. This factor is anticipated to support the growth of the undercarriage components market during the assessment period. Moreover, with growing residential construction activities the demand for mini excavators is likely to witness a significant push. These factors are expected to auger well for the sales of undercarriage components in earth moving equipment such as crawler excavators and mini excavators during the forecast period, making them a lucrative business opportunity for undercarriage components manufacturers.



To get more Information on Undercarriage Components Market Trends, Visit - https://www.factmr.com/report/1623/undercarriage-components-market



Demand for track shoe/rubber tracks undercarriage components is projected to grow at a high rate during the period of assessment. According to the report, the sales of track shoe undercarriage components are estimated to surpass US$ 2,800 Mn by end of the year of forecast. This growth in sales can be attributed to their high efficiency in providing traction to the construction equipment to conveniently maneuver. In addition, the report forecasts that the demand for track chains, bushing and seals as undercarriage components, is projected to expand at a relatively high pace throughout the assessment period, making them a highly attractive market for stakeholders.



Sales of undercarriage components are expected to remain concentrated in the emerging economies of Greater China and India in the Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) owing to stellar growth in construction and infrastructure activities in the region. Major constructions projects such as InterBering-China-Russia-Canada-America High Speed Rail Road, DoIT  Brisbane to Melbourne High Speed Railway Link - New South Wales, Australia, Xinjiang-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Iran-Turkey Railway Link  China, NHAI  National Highway Development Program  India and MoLTM/MoT  South Korea to China Underwater Train Tunnel  South Korea, to name a few, have largely contributed to the growth of the construction equipment industry in the region, in turn fuelling sales of undercarriage components. Stakeholders in the undercarriage components market can expect a steady stream of opportunities from the APEJ region on the back of an optimistic construction scenario in the region.



To Buy Undercarriage Components Market Report, Visit- https://www.factmr.com/checkout/1623/S



About Fact.MR

Fact.MR is a fast-growing market research firm that offers the most comprehensive suite of syndicated and customized market research reports. We believe transformative intelligence can educate and inspire businesses to make smarter decisions. We know the limitations of the one-size-fits-all approach; that's why we publish multi-industry global, regional, and country-specific research reports.



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Read Industry News at - https://www.industrynewsanalysis.com/Stamp issued to mark Mid-Autumn Festival

From:chinadaily | 2018-09-18 10:56

China Post issued a set of stamp to celebrate the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival on Sept 15. The set, designed by Cui Jingzhe, comprises one stamp and has a nominal value of 1.2 yuan (around $0.2).

As the second set themed on the Mid-Autumn Festival following the 2016 stamp, this one continues the art technique of traditional gongbi (meticulous brush strokes) style. The upper part of the stamp shows the legend of Jade Rabbit pounding medicine, which symbolizes the wishes for a healthy and safe body, happiness and longevity. The lower part of the stamp portrays the folk custom of "walking under the moon", which symbolizes a happy marriage and fertility.Chinese consulate issues safety handbook for overseas students

From:Xinhua | 2018-09-18 22:29

John Thomas, chief of the Department of Public Safety of the University of Southern California (USC), addresses the launch event for a safety handbook issued by Consulate General of China in Los Angeles, the United States, Sept. 17, 2018. The Consulate General of China in Los Angeles issued a handbook at the University of Southern California (USC) Monday to enhance the safety awareness of overseas Chinese. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Consulate General of China in Los Angeles issued a handbook at the University of Southern California (USC) Monday to enhance the safety awareness of overseas Chinese.

China's Deputy Consul General in Los Angeles Sun Lushan said that China and Los Angeles have enjoyed a very close relationship in recent years, particularly related to people-to-people exchanges, and it is the Consulate's priority to protect Chinese individuals.

The handbook provides information on gun control and traffic rules, as well as on preventing sexual assault.

"Against potential risks for Chinese citizens overseas, the Consulate takes all necessary measures to protect their safety," said Sun.

According to Sun, over 1 million Chinese tourists visited Los Angeles in 2017. More than 600 Chinese companies have offices in Southern California and 50,000 Chinese students study in colleges and universities in the area.

"It's an ongoing effort to continue to provide information to Chinese students in USC regarding safety, taking precautionary measures to keep themselves safe while they are here," said John Thomas, chief of the Department of Public Safety of USC.

More than 200 Chinese students and representatives from USC attended the event.Home  Just In  Dahal hopes BRI support in infrastructure development in Himalayan region

Kathmandu, September 19

Ruling Nepal Communist Party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has expressed his confidence that the Belt and Road Initiative announced by China will be significant in giving a momentum to infrastructural development in the Himalayan region including Nepal.

He says the regional development project will also support development of transportation, energy, service and commerce among other sectors in Nepal so that the two neighbours can strengthen the bilateral ties.

Dahal, who is currently on a visit to Nepals northern neighbour, on Wednesday addressed a function organised on the occasion of International Peace Day in Nanjing of China, highlighting the significance of BRI.

We have confidence that this connectivity will increase productivity, and improve technologies. It will create employment opportunities to achieve prosperity for people of both countries.

On the occasion, Dahal also appreciated Chinas role in promoting international cooperation, peace, inclusive development and shared prosperity.

Meanwhile, Dahal is returning home tonight.As Nepal is marking the third Constitution Day on Wednesday, major Nepali and English broadsheet dailies published from Kathmandu today have highlighted what Nepal achieved and could not achieve in past three years after the promulgation of first republican constitution. The coverage of Constitution Day has left little space to regular big issues of broadsheet front pages. However, there are some other political, sociocultural and financial issues too.

As incidents of violence against women and children are more frequently reported these days, some newspapers continue to give the top priority to the issue. Likewise, the death of four Nepali migrant workers in Malaysia, reportedly due to consumption of substandard alcohol, has also received significant attention on the front pages.

Important

Three years on, constitution fails to meet expectations fully

Newspapers have expressed different comments on the first three years of 2015 constitution. Annapurna Post says the constitution has faced a number of challenges, but it is still going on smoothly. Nagarik has published a timeline of major political developments in past three years.

Meanwhile, Rajdhani says the political journey of the country with the constitution seems speedy, but its impacts have not been seen on development works. Reports in Republica and Nepal Samachapatra echo the same message.

Kantipur claims provincial governments have failed to prove their activeness thanks to the ignorance of the central governance. Recently, the Prime Minister has expressed his dissatisfaction with provincial chief ministers. In this context, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in an interview with Gorkhapatra has said provincial and local governments should not be taken as independent governments.

Four Nepalis die after consuming spurious alcohol

Nepal Samacharpatra, Rajdhani, Kantipur, Republica and The Himalayan Times report that four Nepali migrant workers died and 11 others were taken ill after they allegedly consumed spurious liquor. A Malaysian, an Indian and a Bangladeshi also died in the incident whereas five foreigners fell ill, according to the reports.

Meanwhile, ailed Nepalis are undergoing treatments at local hospitals.

Fast track cost may increase

Nagarik and Republica have reported that the Nepal Army, which has been assigned to construct a fast track connecting Kathmandu with Terai, has proposed adding two more tunnels to the road, and it will cost Rs 5 billion more.

The proposal has been sent to the National Development Implementation Committee led by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. The government is yet to give a nod to the proposal, according to the reports.

Ignored

Transitional justice mechanisms suffer serious cash crunch

The Himalayan Times reports in its lead story for the day that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons have not been able to carry out investigations as they lack budget.

However, the government has claimed it allocated sufficient money to the transitional justice mechanisms. On the other hand, the Home Ministry and the Nepal Rastra Bank have made different claims about the amount available in the peace fund, according to the report.

Finance Minister rules out supplementary budget

Though ruling Nepal Communist Party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal announced some days ago that the government was preparing to introduce a supplementary budget, Minister for Finance Yubaraj Khatiwada has ruled out the possibility, according to The Kathmandu Post.

During a press meet yesterday, the Minister said no discussion was held about the issue in the government yet.

Price hike to mar consumers during key festivals

Thanks to the continuous weakening of Nepali currency in comparison with the American dollar and recent increase in the fuel prices, Nepali consumers are likely to face a severe price hike in daily consumables ahead of and during major festivals of Dashain and Tihar, according to The Himalayan Times anchor story.

Apparels, food items, electronic equipment and vehicles among others will get dearer now, the report adds.

Meanwhile, public bus entrepreneurs have warned of withdrawing the plan to open advance booking that they announced for the Dashain festival if the government does not roll back the decision to hike prices of petroleum products, according to Karobar.

Interesting

Nepal to host investment summit next year

In its bid to attract more foreign investment to give a momentum to infrastructure development works, the government of Nepal is preparing to host an investment summit in March next year, a snippet in Abhiyan informs.

A meeting of the Investment Board of Nepal made the decision on Tuesday.We use cookies to ensure we provide you with the best user experience. If you continue without changing your settings, we'll assume that you are happy to receive cookies from our site. Learn more.$1,500 early booking discount

The first of five land-and-sea, in-depth explorations of Mexicos Yucatan peninsula departs Miami Jan. 23. A $1,500 early booking discount is available on reservations made before Dec. 15, 2018, for any of the Yucatan departures.

The 11-night Presidents Cruise & Land Safari fare includes a nine-night cruise aboard the 202-passenger Victory II, a two-night stay at Campeche, Mexico, return air from Campeche to Miami, beverages and all shore excursions.

The itinerary features a call at Key West, Florida; an overnight at Puerto Morales, Mexico (for excursions to Xcaret and Tulum); landside tour of Valladolid with an overnight at Chichen Itza and tour of Izamal; an overnight call at Progreso for tours to Mayapan, Merida, Nolo Mayan Village and Hacienda Sotuta de Peon; a two-night hotel stay in the colonial walled city of Campeche and flight back to Miami.

All-inclusive pricing

'Working closely with local governments and tourism organizations, we have crafted an immersive cruise and safari package unlike anything else offered in Mexico by a cruise line or tour operator,' Lagerweij said. 'Combine that with our all-inclusive offercomplimentary beer, wine and cocktails, fine dining aboard and ashore, exclusive tours to some of the most incredible sites, hotels, transfers and airfareand you have an unforgettable experience and an unbeatable value. I am excited to join our guests on the first cruise and share this adventure with them.'

Presidents Cruise programming includes a cocktail party hosted by Lagerweij, a special wine tasting and a Presidents Round Table question and answer session.

The subsequent four cruise departuresJan. 30, Feb. 10, Feb. 17 and May 2 (a 12-night cruise with an extra call at Havana, Cubawill alternate embarking Victory II at either Miami or Campeche. For example, the Jan. 30 Yucatan Cruise & Land Safari begins with a complimentary night at a Miami hotel followed by a flight to Campeche for two days of exploration. Travelers then board Victory II at Campeche for a reverse of the Presidents Cruise itinerary that ends with a stop at Key West and disembarkation at Miami.

Sunrise at the pyramids

A highlight of the Yucatan Cruise & Land Safari is an overnight stay at the Mayaland Hotel at Chichen Itza, the first hotel built within a Mayan archeological site. The adventure includes a 'Chichen Itza Noche de Kukulkan' sound and light show, followed the next morning by an 'Exclusive Sunrise at the Pyramids' experience for Victory Cruise Lines travelers only.

Other high points include visits to the Frida Kahlo Riviera Maya Museum, the 'Mexico Espectacular' dinner show at Xcaret, Casa de Los Venados and at Valladolid (the City of Museums), the famous cenote at Hacienda Selva Maya, the Museum of the Mayan World in Merida, Sotuta de Peonthe last working hacienda on the Yucatan peninsulaand Campeche, named by UNESCO as a model of colonial baroque city planning.

Prices for the 11-night Yucatan Land & Cruise Safaris start at $4,499 per person, double occupancy, however, with the early booking discount of $1,500 the all-inclusive base fare is $2,999. Port charges of $429 and gratuities of $15.50 per day (per person) are the only additional charges.Kathmandu, September 18

Leaders of the ruling Nepal Communist Party have warned of filing an impeachment motion against the seniormost Justice at the Supreme Court Deepak Raj Joshee.

The leaders claim Joshee had agreed to resign after the appointment of Chief Justice Om Prakash Mishra. But, as he failed to keep the promise, the legislative will come forward to remove him, they warn.

Earlier, the Parliamentary Hearing Special Committee had rejected Joshees name for the Chief Justice concluding he was not qualified for the position. After that, Joshee was expected to resign as a justice also on the moral grounds.

Joshee also stayed off duty on a leave for around a month. But, he has joined the court after Mishras appointment.

It has been learned that Law Minister Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal and Joshee had agreed that the justice join the duty, but resign after a couple of days.

Leaders of the ruling party suspect Joshee dared to break the promise in cahoots with the main opposition Nepali Congress.

A source says the party may file the impeachment motion after its Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal will return home from China.

After the registration of motion, Joshee will be automatically suspended. The constitution says at least one fourth of the House of Representatives members can file the motion. Two-thirds majority can pass the motion.

The NCP commands majority in the House, but its government has garnered two-thirds support.The deal will see an expected investment of up to $600m in the port to upgrade and expand the terminal and to turn it into one of the largest gateways on the US Eastern Seaboard, including $400m on a new 1.2m teu container facility at DuPonts former Edgemoor site, which was acquired by the Diamond State Port Corporation in 2016.

The Port of Wilmington is already the top North American port for fresh fruit imports and has the largest dockside cold storage facility in the US.

Plans for the port also include development of all cargo terminal capabilities at the facility and enhancement of its overall productivity. Gulftainer will also establish a training facility at the development site specifically for the ports and logistics industries that is expected to train and upskill up to 1,000 people per year.

The port deal represents the largest operation ever run by a UAE company in the US, as well as the largest investment ever by a private UAE company.

Find out more about smart ports at Seatrade Maritime Middle East in October 2018

The 50-year concession follows a year of negotiations and a thorough evaluation of Gulftainers capabilities globally, including in the US, where it operates the Canaveral Cargo Terminal in Port Canaveral in Florida, and provides services to the US Armed Forces as well as the US space industry. The Delaware concession agreement completes a preliminary agreement between Gulftainer and the state of Delaware, as well as the completion of a formal review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US (CFIUS), granting Gulftainer exclusive rights to manage the port.

Gulftainer chairman Badr Jafar said: We are proud to be making this long-term commitment to the state of Delaware, its community and its economy. This landmark agreement builds on Gulftainers 43-year track record of delivering excellence and dependability in ports and logistics operations around the world, and we are confident that this public-private partnership will propel the Port of Wilmington towards becoming the principal gateway of the Eastern Seaboard.

Jafar added: Since Gulftainers entry into the US through our operations in Port Canaveral in 2015, we have discovered major untapped potential in this sector and we will continue to look for attractive investment opportunities in the region.

Group ceo Peter Richards said: Gulftainer has been fortunate to be at the forefront of transforming port and logistics operations in four continents around the world. This deal is a milestone in our operating history, and will provide us the platform to make a real difference to the sector on the US East Coast by working closely with the state of Delaware to achieve significant enhancements across the board.In an expected reorganisation annoucement AP Moller  Maersk said Damco's Supply Chain Services will be integrated into Maersk Line's ocean product from the start of next year. Damco's supply chain services sold as Maersk products and services with an aim of providing an improved customer experience.

A new integrated commerical organisation will operate with one management team, one sales force, a single product organisation and one customer experience organisation. It will be headed by Vincent Clerc cco of Maersk with Klaus Rud Sejling, current ceo of Damco, taking on a new position as head of Maersk's Logistics and Services Products.

Meanwhile Damco's freight forwarding business will continue as a seperate business under the Damco brand with current Damco coo Saskia Groen In't Woud as ceo.

Sren Skou, ceo of AP Moller - Maersk said: "Today we are taking further steps in the transformation of our business on a structural level and how we go to market, enabling us to offer more solutions to our customers in a simpler way.

Until 2007 Maersk's logistics business was known as Maersk Logistics when it was rebranded as Damco, the Danish shipowner having acquired Damco Sea & Air as part of its buyout of P&O Nedlloyd.

Maersk has also rebranding its three regional container line companies as SeaLand  A Maersk Company.

Read more: Maersk bidding farewell to MCC and Seago names in SeaLand rebrandingStarting when he was 15 years old, Keeton, now 69, was one of the many local residents who drew a wage from the track.

It brought a sense of community, he recalls. A lot of people worked there.



When the Hazel Park Raceway closed in April this year, it was a bitter-sweet moment for the city. It marked the end of an era for the Detroit neighborhood, but it's paving the way for new growth.

Four months on, the city is already feeling the benefits of change and, with two new buildings planned for the site, city officials are excited about employment opportunities for residents.

Those opportunities come, however, at the cost of losing a stalwart institution.



"The raceway was an iconic business for the city of Hazel Park, says city manager Ed Klobucher. Opened in 1949 as the countrys first five-eighths-mile track, Klobucher says the landmark was what the city was best known for from the 1950s to the 1980s. He adds that its influence on Hazel Park's initial growth and development cannot be overstated.









At the height of its success, the raceway was Hazel Park's largest business, the largest employer and largest taxpayer, leaving a profound impact on the community. "In the 1950s, the revenue from the Hazel Park raceway was responsible for almost 50 percent of the city's general fund revenue," he explains. "That's how important the raceway was to the city then."At the height of its success, the raceway was Hazel Park's largest business, the largest employer and largest taxpayer, leaving a profound impact on the community.

"The racetrack was a great place to go on a Friday or Saturday night, to watch live racing and have a good time" says Klobucher. "It was a great night out."

Keeton remembers just how popular those evenings were.

It used to be so crowded that the side streets that lead off the track, they literally had to chain the side streets closed. Hundreds and hundreds of cars.



An icons decline



However, the glory days of the raceway didn't continue into the 21st century.

"By the time it left, the revenue that it was generating for the city of Hazel Park was probably less than 2 percent," Klobucher says. He believes it was new forms of legalized gaming that contributed to the decline of the track, and the racing industry statewide.

"The casino interests were very successful in thwarting any attempts to have any other types of gaming options at racetracks in Michigan," he says.



While it was sad to see a symbolic business close, Klobucher says there are "pros in economic development" for the site now. Keeton agrees, despite lamenting the loss of one of the last horse-racing tracks in Michigan.

In terms of the economics of Hazel Park, its going to help a lot. Its prime land, he says.



New owner Ashley Capital, a New York City-based developer, hasn't wasted any time with that development. Their tri-county commerce center near the intersection of I-75 and I-696 opened in 2017, and earlier this year they purchased the remaining land at the former raceway.



The 575,000-square-foot commerce center is home to tech and commerce giants Amazon, Bridgewater Auto Interiors, and LG Electronics Inc., which is still partially under construction.









LG Electronics plans to be fully operational at the commerce center this fall, and will generate approximately 300 jobs between the new Hazel Park plant and expansions at the current Troy facility, says their senior vice president of public affairs John Taylor.



The 295,000-square-foot auto parts plant will be the companys first factory to manufacture Electric Vehicle (EV) components and will be building the batteries for the Chevrolet Bolt, one of the first mass-produced electric cars in the US. "We're in the early stages," says Klobucher, "but all indications are that this will be very positive for the city.LG Electronics plans to be fully operational at the commerce center this fall, and will generate approximately 300 jobs between the new Hazel Park plant and expansions at the current Troy facility, says their senior vice president of public affairs John Taylor.The 295,000-square-foot auto parts plant will be the companys first factory to manufacture Electric Vehicle (EV) components and will be building the batteries for the Chevrolet Bolt, one of the first mass-produced electric cars in the US.

"That's pretty cool," says Klobucher. "So we are trying to position Hazel Park to take advantage of the high-tech, green, 21st-century economy."



Taylor says LG was impressed with the incentives Michigan, and Hazel Park, in particular, offered when choosing where to locate the new facility. The locations proximity to clients, training assistance from the state, cooperation with Hazel Park community colleges and the availability of trained staff were a big draw.

Its been a great community to work with, he says. Everyones been wonderful.



More development to come



With the commerce center up and running, plans for two new buildings are also now underway for the rest of the raceway site. The buildings will be developed one at a time and on spec, with no set tenants yet, says Ashley Capitals senior vice president Susan Harvey. Construction of the first 600,000-square foot center is set to begin in the fall, and Harvey describes the structure as a state-of-the art industrial building.



One challenge the developer faced was dealing with the environmental costs of the site. Before being a raceway, the location was used as an industrial landfill spot, and methane levels had to be addressed. The environmental cleanup costs werent a surprise to Ashley Capital, but the company does hope to recoup some of the expenses.

With the cooperation of the city and the state, we are now in the final stages of getting our brownfield plan approved, says Harvey.



Klobucher says Ashley Capital has proven itself a worthy partner for the endeavor, and he hopes the new buildings will be as successful as the tri-county center.

"That was a home-run for the city of Hazel Park," he says. "I would expect similar tenants. They'll be looking for industrial concerns, and businesses that want to do light manufacturing and distribution."



The city wont forget its racing history any time soon though, with Ashley Capital apparently planning to construct a memorial honoring the sites past as a racetrack, and residents like Keeton keeping stories from the track alive.



Photos by Joe Powers, In-Situ Photography

Jeffrey Keeton vividly remembers hot-walking the horses at Hazel Park Raceway as a teenager. Leading the thoroughbreds around in circles after their training to cool them down was one of the many jobs the former mayor of Hazel Park held at the legendary raceway.Press Release

September 19, 2018 HONTIVEROS HITS HISTORY TEXTBOOKS SANITIZING MARTIAL LAW "In the age of fake news and historical revisionism, one should be able to rely on our education system to equip our students with correct information and critical thinking skills." This was the statement issued by Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros regarding history textbooks that gloss over and sanitize the dark years of Martial Law. During the Senate's hearing of the Department of Education's (DepEd) proposed 2019 budget, Hontiveros asked Education Secretary Briones the status of the review of the said textbooks. "Have these textbooks been pulled out from our schools and replaced? Is there an approved set of textbooks that factually, truthfully and completely narrate the Marcos dictatorship?" Hontiveros asked. Hontiveros said that her office discovered two textbooks currently being used in schools that whitewash the atrocities committed during the Martial Law years. The Senator mentioned the book "Pilipinas: Bansang Papaunlad" that narrates Philippine history but ends in 1946. It says nothing about the Marcos dictatorship. It is currently being used in a public school in Bulacan. Meanwhile, the book "MAKABAYAN: Kasaysayang Pilipino" provided a lengthy narrative on the merits of the Marcos dictatorship. The book is reportedly being used in Valenzuela City public schools. Hontiveros also asked the DepEd the status of the implentation of the mandatory teaching of Martial Law atrocities in different levels of education as mandated by the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013. She expressed her hope that the mandatory and truthful teaching of Martial Law will help educate the youth of the democratic values and practices the nation adheres to and experiences today in contrast to the oppressive social order installed by the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos. "The Department of Education plays a big role in developing our children to become critical thinkers and truthtellers. Miseducation is a mortal misstep, especially in matters concerning civic education because it has dire implications for our political and democratic life," Hontiveros concluded.The New Zealand Shareholders' Association has elevated its concerns about dwindling confidence in capital markets to the very top - the prime minister.

The retail investor lobby group has already met with Finance Minister Grant Robertson and Commerce Minister Kris Faafoi to convey its worries about declining market confidence. Now it has raised the stakes by writing to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

NZSA chair John Hawkins said the Reserve Bank and Financial Markets Authority's investigation into failed insurer CBL Corp had exacerbated the association's pessimism because the two organisations couldn't agree on how to pursue the probe. A major issue was over what to disclose to the market, he said.

"For investors to entrust their savings to New Zealands capital markets, whether directly or in managed funds (including KiwiSaver), they must have confidence in the systems that protect them," Hawkins wrote. "NZSA is apolitical and in our view, a notable part of the problem is public perception that the market regulators are ineffective, and so investment in these productive areas is too risky."

Hawkins urged the prime minister to take whatever action is required to ensure the regulators cooperate to sort out problems quickly.

His letter reiterates a number of issues Hawkins raised in his speech to the NZSA annual meeting last month. At the time, he said a lack of oversight of the Financial Markets Authority let it drag its heels over some investigations.

The FMA rejected those claims at the time, saying it focuses its efforts where it sees greatest risks to investors and market integrity. In the CBL case, the FMA said it was aware at a high level of the RBNZ's concerns over the insurer's prudential requirements, but didn't have information at hand until early February to seek a suspension of trading.

The fact that a listed company is engaging with a regulator isn't necessarily material information or an indication of wrongdoing, it said.

"There are also considerations around the information that can be made public during an investigation, including the necessity for confidentiality to preserve the integrity of an investigation," the FMA said at the time. "Confidentiality also preserves the rights of firms and individuals under investigation."

(BusinessDesk)

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New Zealand shares rose as investors shrugged off a slightly gloomier outlook for Synlait Milk and joined a global rally as the latest bout in the US-China trade war wasn't as harsh as feared.

The S&P/NZX index increased 29.29 points, or 0.3 percent, to 9,345.06. Within the index 23 stocks gained, 18 fell and nine were unchanged. Turnover was $148.2 million.

Stocks across Asia followed Wall Street higher after US President Donald Trump's 10 percent tariff on US$200 billion of Chinese goods and the subsequent retaliation were more moderate than investors had anticipated. The Shanghai Composite index was up 1 percent in afternoon trading, while Japan's Topix gained 1.5 percent and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index increased 0.5 percent.

"The trade shots did not trigger a risk-off mode but acted as a catalyst to positive investor sentiment," CMC Market analyst Jonathan Chan said. "Risk assets such as equities found support in a robust manner."

The main local news was Synalit's near-doubling of annual profit to $74.6 million as the milk processor lifted sales of its high-value dairy products. However, the share price fell 6.6 percent to $11.94 due to chief executive Leon Clement playing down the outlook, saying infant formula sales will probably grow at a slower pace.

Rickey Ward, NZ equity manager at JBWere, said the result was pretty good and in line with expectations, but the outlook fell short of what people were hoping for.

"High multiples and good returns bring high expectations and the market is very sensitive to slight variations on that," he said.

A2 Milk Co gained 1.1 percent to $12.27.

Heartland Bank rose 1.8 percent to $1.70 after the lender's shareholders approved a restructuring to split the Australian reverse mortgage business form the bank, removing it from Reserve Bank prudential rules.

Exporter Comvita led the market higher, up 2.7 percent to $6.57. Dual-listed banks Westpac Banking Corp and Australia & New Zealand Banking Group gained 1.9 percent and 1.1 percent to $30.99 and 31.50 respectively.

Chorus gained 1 percent to $5, a record for the network company that was carved out of Telecom in 2011. Spark New Zealand increased 0.5 percent to $4.08.

Arvida Group gained 1.5 percent to $1.36. The retirement village operator yesterday told investors the cooling property market hadn't spilled over into its resales, which were still selling at widening margins.

Tourism Holdings extended its decline for another day, falling 2.9 percent to $5.09. Freightways fell 1.3 percent to $7.75.

New Zealand Refining slipped 0.4 percent after reporting its second-biggest throughput in July/August, at a smaller margin than a year earlier.

Kathmandu Holdings decreased 1.2 percent to $3.19. The retailer yesterday reported a 33 percent increase in annual profit and outlined plans for a dual-brand strategy in North America and Europe.

Pushpay Holdings fell 1 percent to $4.18. Morgan Stanley today emerged as a substantial shareholder with 5.4 percent.

Sky Network Television fell 0.5 percent to $2.11.

(BusinessDesk)

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Synlait Milk, the best performing stock on the benchmark NZX index this year, almost doubled annual profit and lifted its margins while outlining plans for further expansion into value-added dairy products.

Profit surged 89 percent to $74.6 million in the year ended July 31, while revenue rose 16 percent to $879 million, the milk processor said. Gross profit per metric tonne lifted to $1,294 from $792 as it increased its volume of consumer packaged infant formula to 28 percent of sales from 13 percent.

Over the decade since it was formed, Synlait has been foregoing dividend payments in favour of investing in new plant, which has allowed it to increase production of a diverse range of higher value dairy products.

In the latest year it has been working on new and expanded plants in Dunsandel, Auckland and Pokeno as well as a research and development centre in Palmerston North. Today it announced that it has inked an agreement to buy the Talbot Forest Cheese Temuka plant for between $30 million and $40 million as part of its expansion into everyday dairy products, an estimated $2 billion market in New Zealand.

"This has been a milestone year for Synlait as we grew both in capability and capacity," said chair Graeme Milne. "Were stepping up in terms of our performance and were looking ahead at where we want to be."

The Temuka specialised cheese manufacturing facility, commissioned in September 2017, can produce 12,000 metric tonnes a year and will allow Synlait to manufacture a variety of products to meet demand in local and international markets, the company said. As part of the purchase, Synlait will provide an $18 million loan facility to allow Talbot to complete capital works ahead of settlement in August next year.

Synlait's expansion has seen total net debt increase by $32.3 million to $114.9 million as it channeled $103.8 million into growth projects financed through a combination of operating cash flow and debt. Despite the extra spending, the company has maintained a ratio of net debt to earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of 0.8x, from 0.9x the year earlier, which it said leaves the balance sheet "well equipped to fund further growth".

Its shares have soared 78 percent so far this year. The stock gained 0.8 percent to $12.88 at today's open.

The milk processor said it expects to pay its farmer suppliers $6.75 per kilogram of milk solids for the 2018/19 season, down from its opening price forecast for $7/kgMS. It said it lowered its expectation due to declining commodity prices, mitigated to some extent by a weakening New Zealand dollar, and noted its forecast anticipates an improvement in commodity prices in the medium term.

Synlait confirmed its average milk price for the 2017/18 season was $6.78/kg, which consists of a $6.65/kgMS average base price and a seasonal and average value-added incentive payment of 13 cents/kgMS.

(BusinessDesk)

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The government will have to consider what could be a heavy burden for ratepayers upgrading the nation's three-waters systems, and work on how to deliver that will continue into next year, Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta says.

The Department of Internal Affairs has been reviewing the country's policy on drinking water, wastewater and stormwater for about a year, and was originally intending to have completed options and recommendations by the end of 2018.

The review builds on an independent inquiry into Havelock North's tainted water crisis in August 2017. Work to date estimates upgrading water treatment systems could cost as much as $575 million and improving wastewater infrastructure could be as much as $2.1 billion.

Mahuta told the Water NZ conference in Hamilton that anecdotal feedback indicated stormwater upgrades would add to that cost, making it even harder for some of the smaller local bodies.

"The costs of upgrading the system to meet expected standards will fall on already heavily-burdened ratepayers, and will take a very long time to accomplish," she said. "This is something we will need to consider as we consider options for service delivery here. [We must also think about] the need for professional skilled directors in any new options."

Cabinet will likely receive options on a dedicated water regulator and stronger regime before the end of the year, but won't make a decision until 2019. Following that, it will consider options for water services capability, funding, capacity and governance.

Fixing the regulatory regime is the government review's first priority, but Mahuta said service delivery will have to change to meet those requirements, customer expectations and providing for infrastructure.

She cited Wellington Water as a leading example and noted local bodies in Hawkes Bay and Manawatu-Whanganui are considering joint approaches to water policy. Mahuta has previously said the government is actively considering whether water services should be merged to achieve economies of scale.

Mahuta reiterated public ownership remains a bottom line and isn't seen as an obstacle to funding the necessary infrastructure.

(BusinessDesk)

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Officials have been ordered to reconsider New Zealand Steel's bid to have anti-dumping duties on imposed on Chinese steel imports.

The High Court has quashed a July 2017 decision not to impose the countervailing duties sought on imports of galvanised steel coil and has ordered the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment to reconsider NZ Steel's application.

Justice Jillian Mallon ruled the ministry was wrong in advising then-Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Jacqui Dean that banks providing loans, or firms supplying inputs such as hot rolled coil, to the Chinese producers did not qualify as being government entities. As a result, any benefits they provided did not constitute subsidies, MBIE believed.

Justice Mallon also ruled MBIE incorrectly discounted the findings of other overseas investigations at the time, which had found that the Chinese government had subsidised steel products. Accordingly, the minister's decision was inconsistent with the Trade (Anti-dumping and Countervailing Duties) Act 1988 and therefore unlawful.

NZ Steel, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Australia's BlueScope Steel, is the country's largest steelmaker. It considers that steel manufactured in China is subsidised by the government there and that imports of it cause material damage to the domestic industry. It has lodged three complaints with MBIE to date.

Chinese steel exports have been a bone of contention around the world as US and European producers accused the Asian nation's subsidies and overproduction of undercutting their local industries.

Last month MBIE made a provisional ruling that hollow steel sections imported from Malaysia had been dumped in New Zealand. But the same ruling rejected NZ Steel's complaint that the same type of product imported from China had also been dumped. MBIE ruled that the more expensive Chinese product had received only minimal levels of subsidy, consistent with its earlier decisions.

(BusinessDesk)

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Kathmandu, September 19

As Nepal is celebrating the third anniversary of promulgation of its constitution, the first in Nepals history which has been drafted by peoples representatives, Chairman of then Constituent Assembly Subas Chandra Nembang says he is very much delighted today.

Though some parties and sections of society still have dissatisfaction over the constitution, it has been acceptable to all in its first three years, he says. The case is similar in other parts of the world too. The constitution cannot satisfy everyone. But still, it is acceptable to all.

The leader of the legislative body that completed the Herculean task of writing the countrys new law in five years and eight months claims the process, however, was not easy.

Nembang claims he received numerous threats to delay the promulgation of constitution, without citing who those people were. The number of threatens went up when the parties stayed united for the constitution.

I do not want to name anyone now. Some foreigners also suggested that I do not rush to promulgate the constitution, politely sometimes and harshly other times, he informs, Some people said they would indict me on corruption charges. Some people said they would convince the army or the President to stop the process.

But, incidents that developed after September 20, 2015 indicate that, he claims, If we had failed to promulgate the constitution that day, the major parties would develop differences on the next course, and it is clear that the next course would be outside the Constituent Assembly in that case.

Meanwhile, Nembang also reveals that then President Ram Baran Yadav, too, wanted to defer the process so as to discuss the charters contents in a more detailed manner.

But, I think the constitution writing process was comprehensive and detailed in terms of peoples participation and discussions. We also dared to discuss whether we want to change the name of the country. We also discussed if we needed to changed the national flag, he questions those criticising the process, Do you think any process can be more democratic than this?New Zealand's economy expanded the most in two years, beating expectations and driving the New Zealand dollar to a three-week high.

Gross domestic product expanded 1.0 percent in the June quarter, up from a 0.5 percent rise in the prior quarter, and was up 2.8 percent on the year, Statistics New Zealand said. Economists had expected quarterly growth of 0.8 percent and 2.5 percent annual growth, according to the median in a Bloomberg poll. The central bank was forecasting growth of 0.5 percent.

The New Zealand dollar jumped following the release, reaching 66.52 US cents, its highest level this month. It was at 66.12 cents immediately before the announcement and was recently trading at 66.35 US cents.

The strong data will likely ease some of the central banks concerns about weak economic growth and quell expectations that it could move to cut rates.

Growth was broad-based with 15 of 16 industries recording higher production. Mining was the only industry to decline, due to an unplanned shutdown that stalled gas production.

Activity in the services industries  which account for about 66 percent of GDP  grew 1.0 percent in the quarter versus a revised 0.6 percent increase in the first quarter.

Once again, service industries led growth. Goods-producing and primary industries also saw rises this quarter, Stats NZ national accounts senior manager Susan Hollows said.

Growth in the retail trade and accommodation, wholesale trade and transport industries was helped by a combination of increased household spending and strong international spending, Stats NZ said.

Activity in the primary industries, which also includes forestry, logging and mining, rose 0.2 percent during the quarter, versus 0.6 percent in the prior quarter. The primary industries represent about 5 percent of GDP.

Agricultural activity jumped 4.2 percent  the strongest rise since September 2014 - primarily driven by increased milk production. The lift, however, was offset by a 19.9 percent fall in mining, the largest quarterly fall in almost 30 years due to an unplanned production cut at Pohokura, New Zealands largest gas field.

Forestry and logging activity rose 7.8 percent after falling 9.2 percent in the March quarter.

Within the goods-producing industries, which include electricity, gas, water and waste services, manufacturing and construction, activity rose 0.9 percent versus a 0.1 fall in the prior quarter.

Stats NZ said that both electricity and construction rebounded from falls in the March quarter. Electricity, gas, water and waste services lifted 3.7 percent after falling 0.6 percent in the prior quarter while construction was up 0.6 percent after falling 0.9 percent in the March quarter.

Total manufacturing was up 0.4 percent on the back of increased transport equipment manufacturing. In the prior quarter it had been up 0.6 percent.

On a per capita basis, GDP rose 0.5 percent in the June quarter, following a flat quarter in March. For the year ended June, GDP per capita grew 0.7 percent.

According to the statistics agency, per capita real gross national disposable income was up 0.4 percent following a 0.5 percent fall in the March quarter. In the year ended June, it was up 1.1 percent.

On an expenditure measure, GDP expanded 1.2 percent in the June quarter and 3.0 percent on the year.

The size of New Zealands economy in current prices was $289 billion, Stats NZ said.

(BusinessDesk)

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Consumer confidence fell to a six-year low in the September quarter as New Zealand households fret about the outlook for their own finances and the general economy, according to the latest Westpac McDermott Miller survey.

The Westpac McDermott Miller consumer confidence index declined 5.1 points to 103.5 in the September quarter, the lowest level since September 2012 and below the long-run average of 111.3. The present conditions index fell 4.2 points to 107.5, slightly below the long-run average of 108.7, while the expected conditions index dropped 5.8 points to 100.8, lagging behind the long-run average of 113.0.

A reading above 100 indicates that optimists outnumber pessimists.

New Zealand households are particularly concerned about the outlook for their own finances and the general economy over the next year, said Westpac New Zealand chief economist Dominick Stephens. Expectations for their own circumstances in the year ahead are at their lowest, outside of an actual recession, in the history of the survey.

A net 7 percent of the 1,556 people surveyed between Sept. 1-10 expect the economy to deteriorate over the coming year, compared to 1.2 percent of respondents who thought it would improve in the previous quarter. A net 14.9 percent are upbeat about the economic outlook over a five-year period, down from 16.9 percent.

The decline in consumer confidence is less severe than a plunge in business sentiment since the Labour-led government was elected last September and implemented a series of policies that have impacted business.

Stephens said there is no straight-forward answer as to what is playing on consumers' minds, noting smaller house price gains and rising fuel prices. Consumers may be starting to feel a real impact from the economic slowdown that began in 2017 "or it may just be that consumers are worried by what they are hearing about weak business confidence, he said.

Regardless, the results challenge Westpac's expectation that the economy will regain some momentum in the short term on the back of government spending.

(BusinessDesk)

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Kathmandu, September 19

The government is preparing to amend existing foreign employment law, which will allow Nepali migrant workers abroad to renew their labour permits at Nepals missions in their host countries.

They, however, can do so for maximum two times.

As proposed by the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, the Cabinet has already endorsed a bill to amend the Foreign Employment Act. It is waiting to be registered in Parliament soon.

The Ministry informs that both types of workersthose working for corporations and individual householdscan benefit from the new provision. In particular, this law will be more useful for domestic workers who have been living illegally due to their inability to come to Nepal to renew their permit.

The government had launched preparations to implement such provisions two years ago also. It, however, was not realised till date due to various reasons.We will turn Nepal into Singapore is what Nepalis have heard politicians say during their election campaigns. This is not the case just in Nepal; politicians from most developing Asian nations echo similar slogans during their electioneering. Perhaps they speak this sentence without thinking what turned Singapore into the most developed nation in East Asia in less than three decades.

There were various factors that helped the island nation jump from the third world to the first world. But, such a quick growth also poses an interesting question  what can Nepal learn from Singapore?

Leading from the front

Garry Lit, emeritus professor at Nanyang Technological University who specialises in economics, mentions how their founding father and first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew became the brains behind how Singapore jumped to success. He was a charismatic leader, he shares. If there was not him or his 31-year-rule, dont think Singapore would have reached here.

That stability helped Singapore grow both politically and financially. The country flourished on the inherited advantages and foresightedness of Yew to transform into the ranks of New York, London, and Switzerland as a global financial hub.

On the other hand, Nepal has hardly seen a leader like him. Here leaders only think about today, a reason why for the past decade Nepal has seen minimum development. The Himalayan nation, since 1990, has not seen any government last for more than three years. Nepalis have fed up with the instability. Of late, they have a slim hope that current KP Sharma Oli-led government will complete its five-year term.

Investing in people

Singapore was developed also because the country spent a lot on developing their human resources. Singapore does not have many natural resources, which is why our country spent a lot on making sure our citizens got the best education, shares Lit.

He adds that was possible because of a strong base they had from the time Singapore was a British colony. The British education system helped us a lot and Yew realising that. He made sure the best possible education and that still continued in Singapore. He did not want people to go abroad to study and wanted to create a good atmosphere in the country itself.

Yews dedication towards education is giving rewards to the country till today. Currently, two Singaporean universities are included in the top 20 universities in the world. We hug our books and mug (up) our books. Most of even sleep with our books because Yew established the importance of education which is really a key, he adds.

On the contrary, here in Nepal, the leaders hardly talk about improving human resources. More than 30,000 students leave Nepal every year to study aboard due to the poor level of education in the country. While a few might come back, most never do and the countrys resources are being wasted abroad. The country now relies heavily on foreign remittance.

Tackling corruption

Even though Yew was criticised by many for leading the country in an authoritarian style that stifled political and press freedom among other rights, his firm grip on power and maintenance of stability gave little scope for corrupt financial practices.

He made sure that, to eradicate corruption, the government officials had to be paid substantially higher. He wanted transparency and accountability, which is why the Prime Minister of Singapore is paid a whopping $2.2 million a year, adds Lit.

Lit shares that there was an argument in their Parliament regarding this issue, during which Yew highlighted that many leaders from their neighbouring countries had substantially less salaries; but these leaders had mansions in all the best parts of the country. But by paying officials more, Yew made sure that there was transparency, which made sure Singapore was not corrupt.

If you compare that to Nepal, the salary of the Prime Minister is little under $800 a month, which is relatively low. Other government officials are paid even less, which is why even though it is deemed illegal, officials are seen taking a bribe. If there is no transparency, you will surely see leaders who do not get paid much still living in big houses and driving fast cars, shares Lit.

Promoting FDI by reducing tax

One of the main reasons Singapore is a global financial hub is that many foreign companies have come and set up businesses there. For a foreign company to set up their business, the first thing that they will ask is how much is the tax. Only then, they will ask anything else and to promote that, Yew made sure the VAT and even income tax were low. That way, it gave people the incentive to work hard which was a win for all parties.

As the VAT is quite high in Nepal, foreign investors are reluctant to open bigger businesses here. In a recent interview, Joyas Zhu, Director of Huawei Technologies for Nepal, when asked if they planned to assemble phones in the country, said, We havent thought of that yet as there are various factors that we have to look at. Its not easy to do that in Nepal because there is no industry here. Everything has to be exported, which mean a lot of costs. Add to that the government which increases the taxes every year which doesnt make it feasible for us to set up a factory here.

Because it has been open to FDI, Singapore is home to the highest number of millionaires per capita in the world. Singapore status as a safe haven for foreign investors remains intact and it continues to be a magnet for the well-heeled from around the world.

For example, Facebook co-founder Eduardo Savering, who leads a steadily growing group of foreign-born entrepreneurs, gave up his US citizenship and became a Singapore citizen in 2011.

Being Singapore is not easy because a lot of factors went right for them. One such factor was luck. They were lucky to have a leader like Yew who focused on institutions rather than individuals. He along with his team made sure they found a solution every time they faced a problem. There are high doable things that can be learnt from Singapore which can help Nepal move forward into the future. But, will Nepal learn anything from them is a question that Nepalis have to ask to their leaders.Michael Rayappan, producer of STRs Anbanavan Asaradhavan Adangadhavan had long back filed a complaint at the Tamil Film Producers Council that the actor should offset the loss of Rs 20 crores as he only acted in 27 days whereas the number of dates mentioned in the agreement was 60.





Rayappan said that because of STRs unprofessional behavior, he faced a massive loss of Rs 20 crores. According to the producer, STR should not act in any other films before settling the loss amount but all the efforts of Rayappan were in vain as the actor successfully completed the shoot of Chekka Chivantha Vaanam which will be hitting the screens on September 27.



Home  Just In  On Constitution Day eve, Rajendra Mahato says charter failed to ensure peoples rights

Nepalgunj, September 18

Rastriya Janata Party Nepals presidium member, Rajendra Mahato, has said that constitution amendment still remains the main agenda of his party.

Talking to media in Nepalgunj one day before the country celebrates the third Constitution Day, leader Mahato said that the constitution failed to ensure the rights of Madheshis, Dalits and indigenous communities as it was incomplete.

Leader Mahato further said that they were not going to observe the Constitution Day as a festival since the constitution was not timely revised.

Recalling that they launched an agitation for six months, demanding constitution amendment, he said they supported the incumbent government from outside as constitution amendment was the main agenda of the party rather than joining the government.

He maintained, Supporting the incumbent government is not a crime. We supported it to make the two-thirds majority government stronger.

He informed although the RJPN held discussion with the ruling party leaders time and again over the issue of constitution amendment, no trustworthy environment was created for the same.

RSSChina denies meddling in US elections, demands 'respect'



Beijing, Sept 19 (AFP) Sep 19, 2018



China on Wednesday called on the United States to show "respect" in their trade spat and refuted President Donald Trump's claims that it was meddling in the US midterm elections by taking aim at his political base.

The comments follow a combative series of tweets claiming Beijing's retaliatory import duties on US goods were seeking to influence knife-edge midterm congressional elections due in November, where Trump's Republicans fear losing control of Congress.

But Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang rejected the claims, saying: "Anyone who has some knowledge of China's diplomacy will know that we will not interfere in other countries' domestic affairs."

"We don't want others to interfere in our domestic politics, and we will not interfere in the domestic politics of others," Geng said at a regular press briefing.

Accusations of election meddling are especially sensitive in the US, given the political maelstrom over Russia's alleged intervention to support Trump in the 2016 presidential vote.

The US announced Monday that it would push ahead with tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods, on top of $50 billion already targeted.

This means the additional levies will hit more than half of US goods from China -- its largest source of imports.

After China retaliated on Tuesday with duties on $60 billion of American products, Trump accused China of trying to sway the elections.



- 'Great and fast' retaliation -



"China has openly stated that they are actively trying to impact and change our election by attacking our farmers, ranchers and industrial workers because of their loyalty to me," Trump wrote on Twitter.

"China has been taking advantage of the United States on Trade for many years. They also know that I am the one that knows how to stop it," he added, warning of a "great and fast economic retaliation" if China targets American farmers and industrial workers.

Some of the items included in the new tariffs announced Tuesday include a slew of daily necessities like diapers and furniture -- which would hit US consumers hard -- as well as solar panels and liquified natural gas.

Beijing had in July announced a 25 percent increase in tariffs on soybeans, dealing a blow to Trump's rural base in the soy-growing American heartland.

China, the world's biggest importer of soybeans -- used in cooking oil and animal feed -- bought about one third of its beans from the US last year.

The US also accuses China of seeking global industrial dominance through industrial espionage and forced transfers of technology from foreign companies, state-sponsored corporate acquisitions, illicit market interventions, subsidies and dumping.

Despite the escalating trade tensions, Washington had last week asked China for a new round of trade talks led by US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.



- 'Mutual respect' -



"On the one hand the US is making contact for dialogue and extending invitations but on the other hand it is threatening with sanctions, with pressures," Geng said on Wednesday.

"These little actions by the US have become the routine, and we are prepared for them," he said, calling on Washington to show "mutual respect", "sincerity" and "good faith".

Meanwhile, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang railed against "unilateralism" in a veiled allusion to the trade war while also calling for disagreements to be worked out through consultations.

"It is essential that we uphold the basic principles of multilateralism and free trade," Li said in his speech at the summer session of the World Economic Forum in the eastern Chinese city of Tianjin.

Li also rejected claims -- made by Trump in the past -- that China was manipulating its currency to offset the cost of tariffs.

"For China, depreciation holds more negatives than positives," he said.

Still, he acknowledged China faced problems, like infrastructure investment levels falling to record lows and external trade friction.Alibaba's Ma says 1m US jobs pledge thwarted by trade row



Hong Kong, Sept 19 (AFP) Sep 19, 2018



Alibaba founder Jack Ma said his ambitious pledge to create one million jobs in the US had been scuppered by the trade row between Beijing and Washington, Chinese state news reported Thursday.

The billionaire owner of China's largest online shopping portal made the headline-grabbing promise to Donald Trump last year, as Beijing courted the then-newly elected president.

But Ma told Xinhua that his pledge had been made on the basis of continued cooperation and trade growth between the US and China, and would now be difficult to fulfill.

"However, the previous basis for trade has been undermined," he said in an interview on Tuesday.

"But we will continue to work hard to promote the healthy development of China-US trade."

Ma's bold pledge following his January 2017 meeting at Trump Tower was greeted with scepticism by analysts at the time, who said the move was more about good PR than substance.

One million jobs would be close to one percent of all jobs in the United States -- meaning that successfully delivering on the pledge would make Alibaba one of the country's largest private employers.

In April Ma doubled down on his pledge, claiming 10 million jobs could be created "if China and the US maintain good trade relations".

But the trade dispute between the world's top two economies has swiftly escalated since Trump took office, with a series of tit-for-tat tariffs brought on billions of dollars' worth of goods by both countries.

This week Trump said he would press ahead with 10 percent levies on $200 billion of imports -- on top of $50 billion already targeted -- prompting Beijing to target another $60 billion of US goods with five to 10 percent taxes.

Ma pointed to business opportunities in other regions such as Europe, South America, Russia and Africa, Xinhua said.

"There are still many things that Chinese companies should and can do. They still have many opportunities despite the trade frictions between China and the U.S.," Ma said.

"Trade is not a weapon and cannot be used for wars," he added. "Trade should be the propeller of peace."

Ma announced this month he would step down as head of the pioneering Chinese e-commerce giant in one year, handing over to CEO and anointed successor Daniel Zhang.

He has expressed a desire to follow in the philanthropic footsteps of Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

"I'm just 54, and I still have at least 16 years to do something new," Ma told Xinhua. "It's exciting to have more than a dozen years to take on a new career."

amz/wdPage Content

Announcements by American Airlines that it will increase its airlifts to St. Maarten starting in November, has sparked high interests in travellers wanting to return to St. Maarten, following its devastation just over a year ago by hurricane Irma.





American Airlines recently announced the return of its direct flight from Charlotte which will resume service to the destination on November 4th. American Airlines will also re-establish its direct flights from New York and Philadelphia starting on December 19th this year.





The Honorable Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic & Telecommunication TEATT, Stuart Johnson welcomed the good news of the return of the airlifts. He said that the announcement of the impending arrival of the airline's services shows the resilience of St. Maarten. These flights coincide with the reopening of some of the islands hotels and the addition of rooms for hotels that have already had a partial opening post-Hurricane Irma.





Johnson said naturally, the return of airlines and hotel rooms to the island "goes hand in hand with our overall recovery plans and is especially significant for St. Maarten's economic revitalisation. This also increases the job opportunities after such a long time of unemployment."





The minister also emphasised the significance of the increase in airlifts to the destination, as it fits well into his plans for improving the airports regional hub function. He said, The new airlifts from carriers such as American Airlines shows their commitment to St. Maarten and their belief in our country and peoples resilience. It also gives people in the region more ease of access to the USA and elsewhere and shows the importance of our airport as a hub destination for our regional partners.





The returning flights fit into the scheduled completion of the Main Terminal of the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA), which is set for November this year. He said completing the repairs on the main terminal is essential for the airport to be able to accommodate increased passenger arrival and departures such as those planned flights from American Airlines and the others that will follow.





American Airlines flights will return just under two months after the anniversary of the passing of hurricane Irma that forced many airlines to reduce airlifts. American Airlines said it has a long-term commitment with St. Maarten and it is great to be able to grow our presence on the island.





American Airlines Managing Director for the Caribbean Alfred Gonzales said tourism is a vital industry", and these additions [of flights] are important to the continued economic recovery and economic development [of St. Maarten].

The release stated that the flights from Charlotte and Philadelphia will operate daily with Airbus A-319 which carries eight first class seats and 122 seats in the main cabin. The New York flight will be operational only on Saturdays with a Boeing 757 which has 16 first class seats and 160 seats in the main cabin.





The American Airlines flight will leave Charlotte daily at 9:37 a.m. and arrives on St. Maarten at 2:37 p.m. It will then depart the PJIA at 3:22 p.m. and return to Charlotte, getting there at 6:47 p.m. The Philadelphia flight will leave daily at 9:00 a.m. and arrive on St. Maarten at 2:01 p.m.





It will depart St. Maarten at 3:45 p.m. and return to Philadelphia at 7:05 p.m. The direct flight to New York is scheduled to operate on Saturdays only, leaving JFK at 7:10 a.m. and arriving in St. Maarten at 12:22 p.m. It will depart St. Maarten at 2:48 p.m. and return to JFK at 6:34 p.m.8



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Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fd98f0308)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd9a32b78)', '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(0x7f3fd98f0308)') 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(0x7f3fd9a32b78)') 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(0x7f3fd99154a8)') 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(0x7f3fd9a32b78)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd9a32b78)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd93c9720)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fd995f598)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fd995f598)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0Home  Just In  Toxic liquor kills six Nepalis in Malaysia

Kathmandu, September 19

Six Nepali migrant workers have died after reportedly consuming toxic liquor in Selangor of Malaysia, reports Nepali Embassy in Kuala Lumpur.

Other Nepalis have been taken ill, according to Acting Nepali Ambassador Kumar Raj Kharel. Some of them are said to be critical.

They are undergoing treatment at various health institutions in the country.

Kharel informs that five had breathed last while undergoing treatment at Sungai Buloh Hospital whereas the other one was declared dead at Kajang Hospital.

It has been learned that the workers had indulged themselves in drinking and merrymaking on a public holiday. They had experienced problems in breathing and vomiting immediately after the gathering. They were rushed to the hospital without delay.

Meanwhile, the Nepali Embassy has mobilised two teams to facilitate the treatment of Nepalis, according to Kharel.

He said he also visited some of the hospitals.System error

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/var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17

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Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fd98b30e0)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd9ebeff0)', '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(0x7f3fd98b30e0)') 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(0x7f3fd9ebeff0)') 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(0x7f3fd98f1390)') 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(0x7f3fd9ebeff0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd9ebeff0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd93ca0f8)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fd9eb77c8)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fd9eb77c8)') 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: </%method> 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: </%perl> 28: <table width="90%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> 29: <tr> ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25

/usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951

/var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17

/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(0x7f3fd9cb7740)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd9ef61d8)', '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(0x7f3fd9cb7740)') 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(0x7f3fd9ef61d8)') 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(0x7f3fd9baa468)') 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(0x7f3fd9ef61d8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd9ef61d8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fd93ca318)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fd9ef46a0)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fd9ef46a0)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0#inflation BOK board members say inclusion of housing costs will heighten inflation The members of the South Korean central bank's rate-setting board have voiced concerns inflation could be higher than current levels if housing costs are taken into consideration, ...

#Yoon Seok-youl Yoon to visit Gwangju to apologize for defending ex-President Chun Main opposition presidential candidate Yoon Seok-youl was set to visit the liberal stronghold of Gwangju on Wednesday to apologize for remarks seen as praising a former authoritari...Sebastopol, CA (95472)

Today

Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 48F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 48F. Winds light and variable.Twenty-eight leading Canadian urban infrastructure, internet of things and artificial intelligence companies are in India on a five-day visit to explore collaboration opportunities with Indian businesses in the infrastructure and smart cities sector. The delegation will visit Lucknow, Mumbai, and Bengaluru to engage with business and government leaders.

In an official statement High Commissioner for Canada to India, Nadir Patel, said: Canada is globally recognized for its excellence in urban infrastructure and smart cities which includes high-level project management, specialized technical skills and for developing environmentally friendly technological solutions combined with innovative design. This is a great opportunity for Canadian companies to learn about the exciting developments and plans for transformation in Indias urban infrastructure and smart cities.

The mission has been organised by the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) of Global Affairs Canada, in collaboration with the Government of Ontario, the Government of British Columbia, the Government of Alberta, Air Canada and the Indo-Canadian Business Chamber. Groups of companies will hold events in Lucknow and Bengaluru, and the full delegation will reconvene to participate in Municipalika 2018, where Canada has been the partner country for the last three years.

At Municipalika, the High Commissioner for Canada will deliver an inaugural address, Canadian companies will exhibit their services, and members of the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service team will be present at the Canada pavilion to facilitate business interactions.

The delegates represent companies offering innovative technology solutions and services in sectors such as artificial intelligence, internet of things (IoT), water and wastewater, energy management, waterproofing, intelligent transport systems, e-governance and capacity building services, architecture, and engineering.

Some Canadian companies participating in the mission already have a foothold in India, while others are exploring the Indian market for the first time.

Meanwhile, Thirteen of Canadas leading business schools will be on a multi-city tour in India to present MBA opportunities during the 2018 Edu-Canada MBA Showcase. Scheduled from 17  25 September 2018, the representatives from these prominent Canadian universities will visit the cities of Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Mumbai.

This fifth edition of the Edu-Canada MBA Showcase will provide an excellent opportunity for young professionals, entrepreneurs and students aspiring to obtain a globally recognized management degree, meet with representatives of Canadian institutions and learn about their MBA programs. During the course of each event, attendees can take part in interactive sessions on a range of subjects such as admissions, visa procedures, and career opportunities.

The Edu-Canada MBA Showcase is an annual marquee event organized by the High Commission of Canada in India, in association with, the Indo-Canadian Business Chamber (ICBC).In 2009, Inderpal Virk of Ludhiana, Punjab lost the use of his legs in a road accident that also damaged his backbone.

When his son applied for immigration to Canada in 2016, the 64-year old was denied permanent residency as his treatment costs would exceed what was allowed under the Immigration Act for newcomers

But thanks to the changes in the rules, Virk and his wife Daljit are applying again.

The changes in the medical inadmissibility rules of Canadas Immigration Act are also happy news for a mother in Mohali Punjab who hopes the amendments will give her 14-year-old daughter with special needs easy access to permanent resident status.

I gave up hope the day I came to know from a relative in Canada that a family that had applied for PR renewal had to face deportation order on the grounds that its son had Down syndrome (a genetic disorder).

Another applicant, Sanjog Gulati from Panchakula said; I had almost cancelled moving to Canada fearing that my son who has been diagnosed with autism would be rejected.

The inclusivity of the new rule will benefit parents like me immensely, he told TNN.

Like Virk, Gulati and the mother from Mohali, hundreds of Indians applying for Canadian status stand to benefit from the changes to the medical inadmissibility provision recently approved in Ottawa.

Last year, about 1,000 individuals and their families were deemed inadmissible to Canada on medical grounds because of the excessive demand provision in Section 38(1)(c) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

Excessive demand applies to a primary applicant or an accompanying dependent with a medical condition for which the anticipated cost of treatment is determined by a Canadian immigration officer to be more than the annual cost threshold. For 2017, this threshold was $6,655 a year and $33,275 over five years. The Canadian authorities believed that cases like these, if granted residence, might affect the health or social services adversely. Anyone likely to put so much of a burden on the state was unwelcome.

The cost threshold has now been more than tripled to $19,812 CAD per year.

Immigration consultant Ajay Sharma told Indian media that the revisions in the policy will open up new avenues for immigration seekers from India, now that dependent children with learning disabilities and developmental syndromes have been secured under the changes.

Moreover, as the annual cost threshold has been increased three-fold, more people can apply without the fear of rejection on medical grounds, he said.

Chandigarh-based immigration law expert Sukhdeep Singh Bawa says that the families who were denied PR renewal due to excessive demand provision in Canada had to challenge medical inadmissibility in court to mitigate deportation.

These families bore the financial and psychological brunt of these medical assessments, while taxpayers ended up paying a substantial bill for the government to defend the excessive demand provision in court. However, those who cant afford going to court are neither able to challenge the assessments nor propose mitigation plans, he said.

Peter Salerno, associate lawyer at Green and Spiegel LLP said the changes are significant for foreign nationals who have been diagnosed with medical conditions and submit applications to IRCC to enter or remain in Canada as a Temporary Resident or Permanent Resident.

Even foreign nationals with immediate family members that have medical conditions can be potentially obstructed from entering Canada by the health provisions.

IRCC has, in the past, characterized these provisions as essential to reducing the impact of immigrants on the publicly funded Canadian health and social systems.

IRCC has recently changed its position and has taken steps to promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities in Canadian society.

As a result, applicants with medical conditions are much less likely to cause "excessive demand."

An inadmissibility finding may only be made if the services that a health condition may reasonably require exceed the new, much higher, cost threshold, Salermo wrote on his companys website.Taking top prize of $25,000 for the Dhahan Prize in Punjabi Literature was Sooraj Dee Akh for Suns Eye, novel by Baldev Singh from Punjab, India. Finalists for Shahmukhi Script were Jhootha Saacha Koi Na (Everything Goes), short stories by Nasir Baloch (Punjab, Pakistan).

Sponsor Coast Capital Savings Credit Union will be presenting the winners for the Dhahan Youth Awards Oct. 20 during the Prize Award Ceremony. Grade 11 and 12 students in British Columbia were welcome to submit short stories written in Punjabi and English. The finalist for the Shamuhkhi Script was Jhootha Saacha Koi Na (Everything Goes), short stories by Nasir Baloch (Punjab, Pakistan). The finalist for the Gurmkhi script was Prism, short stories by Harpreet Sekha (Surrey, British Columbia, Canada).

The 2018 Dhahan Prize winners are well recognized for their creative works, representing the three Punjabs  West, East and Diasporic. Their themes and stories are relevant and timely contributions in understanding the past and the fast changing cultures in the global village, said Barj S. Dhahan, Founder of the Prize.

The Dhahan Prize is the largest literary award celebrating the history of the Punjabi language. The Prize promotes Punjabi literature. The Dhahan Prize Youth Award encourages the youth of B.C. to embrace the Punjabi culture of the generations of families who have immigrated to Canada, specifically in British Columbia, through creative writing in the Punjabi language. Punjabi is now the third most spoken language in Canada.Trump studying possibility of permanent US base in Poland



Washington, Sept 18 (AFP) Sep 18, 2018



US President Donald Trump said Tuesday he is seriously considering building a permanent US military base in Poland.

"We're looking at it very seriously," Trump told reporters as he received Polish President Andrzej Duda in the Oval Office.

"Poland is willing to make a very major contribution to the United States to come in and have a presence in Poland.

"If they're willing to do that, it's something we will certainly talk about," Trump added.

During a subsequent press conference, Duda voiced support for the idea.

"I hope you will take the decision to deploy more units and equipment... I would like to see a permanent American base in Poland," he said, suggesting it should be called "Fort Trump."

Such a move would fuel tensions between NATO, of which Poland is a member, and Russia, which would see a new, permanent US base so close to its borders as a threatening military expansion.US hopes for 'meaningful' denuclearization move at Korean summit: official



Washington, Sept 18 (AFP) Sep 18, 2018



The United States expressed hope Tuesday that a summit between North and South Korea in Pyongyang would lead to "meaningful verifiable" denuclearization on the peninsula.

"It represents in our view a historic opportunity for Chairman Kim (Jong Un) to follow through his commitment that he made to President (Donald) Trump," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said.

"We hope to see a meaningful verifiable step toward the denuclearization of North Korea," she added about the third meeting between Kim and the South's Moon Jae-in.

During their June summit in Singapore, Kim had made a vague promise to Trump about aiming for complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.

The specifics and deadlines were due to be hashed out at a follow-up meeting that has yet to be set but that Seoul hopes to relaunch during the inter-Korean summit running through Thursday.

Asked about possible progress for Kim and Moon to formally declare an end to the Korean War -- which only concluded with an armistice in 1953 -- the American spokeswoman refused to specify whether Washington would join the statement and under what conditions.

"We will continue to consult very closely, carefully and regularly with the South Koreans as they continue to have their meetings in North Korea," Nauert said.

Observers worry that Trump could grant Kim a formal peace declaration without obtaining anything concrete in exchange.'Of course I don't think about leaving': Mattis



Washington, Sept 18 (AFP) Sep 18, 2018



US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis dismissed Tuesday a fresh round of rumors suggesting his days at the Pentagon might be numbered due to deteriorating relations with President Donald Trump.

The buttoned-up former Marine general is loathe to discuss politics or his dynamic with his mercurial boss, but a new book by veteran political reporter Bob Woodward has thrust the two mens' relationship into the spotlight.

Among other claims, Woodward said Mattis questioned Trump's judgment and likened the president's understanding to that of a 10- or 11-year-old child.

Citing current and former US officials, The New York Times published a story Saturday casting Mattis's future as being in doubt as Trump seeks to surround himself with hardcore loyalists and yes-men.

"It'll die down soon and the people who started the rumor will be allowed to write the next rumor too, just the way this town is," Mattis told Pentagon reporters.

"Keep a sense of humor about it."

Mattis has denied talking to Woodward and said he never likened Trump to a child.

"I wouldn't take it seriously at all," Mattis said.

"It's like most of those kinds of things in this town. Somebody cooks up a headline, they then call to a normally chatty class of people, they find a couple of other things to put in, they add the rumor, somebody on the other coast starts writing the same thing -- next thing you know you've got a story."

Mattis added he has no intention of quitting.

"Of course I don't think about leaving, I love it here," he said.

"I'm thinking about retiring right here, getting a little place down on the Potomac (River)."

Woodward's book describes a chaotic Trump with little understanding of how the government works and an apparent inability to absorb information from his national security team, including Mattis.

While he has acknowledged that policymaking was "inherently messy," Mattis has dismissed Woodward's account as fiction and said his "anonymous sources do not lend credibility."

The many ways the scholarly Mattis's worldview contrasts with that of his boss is an evergreen subject of stories in Washington, a fact that rankles the Pentagon chief, who says he despises being portrayed as an "adult" compared to Trump.S. Korean leader and North's Kim hold summit talks



Seoul, Sept 18 (AFP) Sep 18, 2018



South Korea's president and the North's leader Kim Jong Un drove together through the streets of Pyongyang on Tuesday past thousands of cheering citizens before opening a summit where Moon Jae-in will seek to reboot stalled denuclearisation talks between his hosts and the United States.

Kim and Moon embraced at Pyongyang's international airport -- where the North Korean leader had supervised missile launches last year as tensions mounted.

The North's unique brand of choreographed mass adulation was on full display as hundreds of people waved North Korean flags and another depicting an undivided peninsula -- while the South's own emblem was only visible on Moon's Boeing 747 aircraft.

Thousands of people, holding bouquets and chanting in unison "Reunification of the country!" lined the streets as Kim and Moon rode through the city in an open-topped vehicle.

"I am acutely aware of the weight that we bear," Moon told Kim as they opened two hours of formal talks at the headquarters of the ruling Workers' Party, adding that he felt a "heavy responsibility."

The talks covered "various issues arising in further accelerating the development of the north-south relations", the North's KCNA news agency said.

Kim and Moon "had a frank and candid conversation over important matters of mutual concern," it added, without providing details.

At a banquet after the first day of the summit, Moon said the "complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula and the establishment of peace" were priorities.

The South Korean leader said there would be challenges ahead but that he and Kim had "trust and friendship." Kim also hailed his relationship with Moon.

The North Korean leader declared his backing for the denuclearisation of the peninsula at his Singapore summit with US President Donald Trump in June.

But no details were agreed. Washington and Pyongyang have since sparred over what that means and how it will be achieved.

The US is pressing for the North's "final, fully verified denuclearisation," while Pyongyang wants a formal declaration that the 1950-53 Korean War is over and has condemned "gangster-like" demands for it to give up its weapons unilaterally.

A commentary in the Rodong Sinmun, the mouthpiece of the North's ruling party, repeated the criticism Tuesday, saying Washington was "totally to blame" for the deadlock.

The US called the summit "a historic opportunity for Chairman Kim to follow through his commitment that he made to President Trump."

"We hope to see a meaningful verifiable step toward the denuclearisation of North Korea," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said, adding that US officials were consulting closely with South Korean counterparts during the summit.

Moon will hold another round of formal talks with Kim on Wednesday, as he urges the North Korean leader to make substantive steps toward disarmament that he can present to Trump.

Moon is due to meet Trump later this month on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.



- 'Rosy headlines' -



The dovish South Korean president is looking to tie the inter-Korean process and the US-Northern talks closer together to reduce the threat of a devastating conflict on the peninsula.

At the same time Kim will look to secure closer inter-Korean cooperation as Seoul and Washington move at increasingly different speeds in their approaches to Pyongyang.

Analysts played down expectations.

The meeting "will probably generate rosy headlines but do little to accelerate efforts to denuclearise North Korea," Eurasia Group said in a note.

Kim would focus on "areas that promise economic benefits for the North," it added.

"Progressives inside and outside Moon's government will have strong incentives to inflate the summit's accomplishments, initially obscuring what will likely be a lack of major deliverables."

There have been many previous rounds of negotiations with the North, but deals have subsequently fallen apart -- Wednesday will mark 13 years to the day since Pyongyang agreed to abandon all of its nuclear weapons and return to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

It has since carried out six nuclear tests and launched intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching anywhere on the US mainland.



- 'First, second, third' -



Moon's own parents fled the North during the Korean War that left the peninsula divided and technically in a state of conflict.

His three-day visit is the first by a South Korean president to Pyongyang in a decade. It is also the two leaders' third meeting this year.

Moon -- whose poll ratings have fallen in the face of economic difficulties -- was accompanied by business tycoons including Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong and the vice chairman of Hyundai Motor.

Moon has been pushing inter-Korean engagement, which is complicated by international sanctions against the North. South Korean media have urged caution, calling for substantial progress towards denuclearisation first.

"Quite a number of people are now fed up with the surprise events between the leaders," the conservative Chosun Ilbo newspaper said in an editorial.

"President Moon must head to Pyongyang with the resolve that the first, second, third agenda of this summit is denuclearisation."Poland offering $2 billion to host US military base: Trump



Washington, Sept 18 (AFP) Sep 18, 2018



US President Donald Trump said Tuesday he is seriously considering a request from Poland for US troops to be permanently based in the strategically important country on Europe's flank with an "aggressive" Russia.

At a joint press conference with Polish President Andrzej Duda in the White House, Trump said Poland is offering to pay Washington at least $2 billion to help meet the costs of the base, which would likely irk an increasingly assertive Moscow.

"The president offered us much more than $2 billion to do this, so we are looking at it," Trump said.

"We are looking at it from the standpoint of, number one, military protection for both countries and also, cost.

"We're looking at it very seriously," the president said earlier. "If they're willing to do that (pay), it's something we will certainly talk about."

At the press conference, Duda said that NATO member Poland, which was long dominated by Russia and the Soviet Union, wants "a permanent American base in Poland."

He joked that the base could be called "Fort Trump."

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis praised Poland for taking a lead in increasing its military spending, but stressed that no decisions had been made regarding a permanent US troop presence.

"The questions are many," Mattis told Pentagon reporters.

"As you know, it's not just about a base. It's about training ranges, it's about maintenance facilities at the base, all these kinds of things, it's a host of details we've got to study alongside the Poles. So no decision's been made, we are studying it and we are working together on that."

Duda said Russian military expansion, starting with a takeover of rebel areas of neighboring Georgia and more recently the annexation of Ukraine's Black Sea Crimea region, was part of "constant violation of international law."

"There is a whole range of arguments in favor of the fact that the presence of the US armed forces in this area is absolutely justified," Duda said.

Trump -- accused by political opponents of having colluded in a shadowy Russian operation to aid his surprise 2016 election win against Democrat Hillary Clinton -- agreed with Duda's assessment.

"I think it's a very aggressive situation. I think Russia has acted aggressively," he said.

"They respect force. They respect strength as anyone does. And we have the greatest strength in the world, especially now."Pompeo to lead UN meeting on N. Korea



Washington, Sept 18 (AFP) Sep 18, 2018



US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will chair a meeting of the UN Security Council on North Korea September 27 to urge the international community to keep up the pressure on Pyongyang.

The meeting of top diplomats will take place on the sidelines of the United Nations Annual General Assembly.

"Secretary Pompeo intends to chair a UNSC ministerial on North Korea on Thursday September the 27th," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said.

"At that meeting he will get the secretary a chance to update the Security Council on our efforts toward the final fully verified denuclearization of North Korea as well as underscore the need for all member states to enforce existing sanctions."

Pompeo has been pushing a tough stance against Pyongyang in recent months, including at the UN, warning that global pressure has eased since the June summit in Singapore between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

On Monday, the US ambassador to the UN accused Russia of cheating to bypass the sanctions regime.

Trump has also expressed doubts in recent weeks about China's attitude.

Kim Jong Un reiterated in Singapore an old and vague commitment to "full denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula."

But the terms and timing have been postponed to further bilateral talks, which have stalled.

Washington has pledged to keep up pressure and sanctions until the denuclearization is at least on track, leading Pyongyang to denounce its "gangster" methods.

The State Department has not said at this point whether Pompeo will meet a North Korean delegation at the UN General Assembly next week.

The United States currently holds the rotating Security Council presidency, which it intends to use to further its foreign policy goals.

Trump will preside on September 26 another meeting, devoted mainly to Iran, with the stated purpose of highlighting its "destabilizing" activities.Five key points from the Pyongyang summit



Seoul, Sept 19 (AFP) Sep 19, 2018



North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and the South's President Moon Jae-in agreed a series of proposals Wednesday as they sought to deepen the ties between the two halves of the divided peninsula.

Following are the key points of the documents signed in Pyongyang after talks over two days.



- Seoul brothers -

The two leaders have met three times in the last six months and their declaration said: "Chairman Kim Jong Un will visit Seoul in the near future."

Moon told reporters that barring unforeseen circumstances the trip was expected this year.

It would be the first visit to the South by a North Korean leader since the end of the Korean War, aside from Kim's attendance at previous summits in the truce village of Panmunjom in the heavily fortified Demilitarised Zone (DMZ).

Between inheriting power from his father in 2012 and this year Kim rarely left his isolated country.



- 'Permanent' closure -

Moon had come to Pyongyang hoping for a gesture that would help rekindle stalled denuclearisation talks between the United States and the North.

In the declaration, the North agreed to permanently close its Tongchang-ri engine test site and missile launch pad -- also known as Sohae -- under the eyes of foreign inspectors.

"The North expressed a willingness to take further steps including the permanent dismantlement of the Yongbyon nuclear facility if the US takes reciprocal steps," the joint statement said, referring to the North's best-known atomic research site.

Analysts dismissed the Sohae promise, saying the facility was outdated and no longer needed, but US President Donald Trump tweeted that the pledge was "Very exciting!"

It came 13 years to the day after the North committed at the Six Party Talks to "abandoning all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programmes and returning, at an early date, to the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons".

It has since carried out six nuclear tests and launched missiles capable of reaching anywhere on the mainland United States.







- Lower the temperature -

The 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty, leaving the two sides still technically at war and divided by the DMZ.

Their defence ministries signed a pact intended to lower temperatures requiring both sides to remove 11 guard posts by the end of the year and halt military drills on the border from November 1.

They also agreed to set up a buffer zone in the flashpoint West Sea, suspend gun firing and maritime drills, and implement a no-fly zone in the border area to prevent accidental clashes.



- Mending fences -

The dovish Moon favours engagement with the North, and the two have pursued several joint projects since April's landmark summit.

In Pyongyang, the two leaders agreed to hold a groundbreaking ceremony this year for a project to connect cross-border railways and roads, and to "normalise" a joint factory zone in the North's border city of Kaesong.

That could be complicated by multiple sets of international sanctions imposed on Pyongyang over its nuclear and missile activities.

The South's previous conservative government shut the Kaesong Industrial Complex in 2016 after North Korea carried out a nuclear test and a missile launch.

On Wednesday the two sides also agreed to allow Southern tours to the North's scenic Mount Kumgang -- which ended after a Northern soldier shot dead a tourist who strayed off into a forbidden area -- to resume "under the right conditions".

Some critics have said joint projects serve only to fund Pyongyang's banned weapons programmes.



- Olympic bid -

This year's Winter Olympics in the South helped trigger the ongoing rapprochement on the peninsula and the two Koreas agreed to go even further with a bid to jointly host the 2032 Games.

"The South and North agreed to actively participate jointly in international competitions including the 2020 Summer Olympics and to cooperate in bidding for the South-North joint hosting of the 2032 Summer Olympics," their joint statement said.

Olympics chief Thomas Bach said this month he was open to talks with the two Koreas about marching and competing together at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Pyongyang boycotted the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics.



- Family reunions -

Hundreds of thousands of families were separated by the 1950-53 Korean War and resulting division of the peninsula. The rare reunions between relatives have been an emotional reminder of the human consequences of the conflict.

Direct civilian exchanges are banned between the two Koreas and the North has frequently used family reunions as a political bargaining chip with the South.

But the two leaders agreed Wednesday to open a facility at Mount Kumgang to host family reunions at any time, and to hold Red Cross talks on allowing exchanges of letters and live video broadcasts between divided relatives.Algeria sacks ground forces chief in army overhaul



Algiers, Sept 19 (AFP) Sep 19, 2018



Algeria's commander of ground forces has been retired, the defence ministry said Wednesday, a day after confirmation of the air force chief's ouster as part of a sweeping overhaul of the military.

The armed forces chief of staff, Ahmed Gaid Salah, is to preside over a ceremony on Thursday at which Major General Said Chanegriha will take over as ground forces commander.

He will replace "Ahcene Tafer, who has been retired", the defence ministry said in a statement.

Tafer had served as ground forces chief since 2004, after having first held the post between 1994 and 2000. The 74-year-old survived an Islamist attack on his convoy in 2008.

The defence ministry's announcement was the first official confirmation of Tafer's dismissal, which like other high-level army sackings had been reported in Algerian media.

It came a day after the ministry confirmed that Algeria's air force chief, Abdelkader Lounes, had also been pushed into retirement.

A broad shake-up of the military hierarchy was initiated earlier this year by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who came to power in 1999 and under the constitution is supreme commander of the armed forces.

In early July, the commander of the national gendarmerie was sacked, along with the heads of three out of six military districts.

The powerful director general of Algeria's police force, Abdelghani Hamel, was dismissed by the president in late June.

A string of other high-profile dismissals, including the air force chief of staff and the head of the air defence force, were reported by Ennahar TV but have not been confirmed by the government.

At the start of September, army monthly El-Djeich said the military overhaul was part of a normal process of changes at the top.

The firing of top army figures, who are considered king-makers in Algeria, comes just eight months ahead of the country's presidential election.

There is widespread uncertainty over whether the ailing 81-year-old Bouteflika will seek a fifth term in office.N. Korea's Kim to visit Seoul, shut missile site



Seoul, Sept 19 (AFP) Sep 19, 2018



North Korea's Kim Jong Un agreed to make a historic visit to Seoul soon and close a missile testing site in front of international inspectors at a summit with the South's President Moon Jae-in in Pyongyang Wednesday.

Progress on the key issue of the North's nuclear arsenal was limited, but the two signed a document to strengthen ties between the two halves of the divided peninsula.

Building on a growing rapprochement, they agreed to create a facility to hold family reunions at any time, work towards joining up road and rail links, and mount a combined bid for the 2032 Olympics.

The agreement "carries the people's fresh hope and the people's strong, flaming desire for reunification", Kim said.

His trip to Seoul would be the first by a Northern leader since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War, when hostilities ceased with an armistice rather than a peace treaty, leaving them technically in a state of war.

In their agreement, the North also said it would "permanently close" a missile engine testing site and launch facility in Tongchang-ri "in the presence of experts from relevant nations".

Moon later addressed an estimated 150,000 North Koreans at the close of a spectacular propaganda display known as the "Mass Games". He called for the peninsula to reunite after he received a standing ovation from the crowd.

"I propose that we should completely end the past 70 years of hostility and take a big stride of peace to become one again," Moon said according to South Korea's news agency Yonhap.

"Chairman Kim Jong Un and I will make a new fatherland, firmly holding the hands of 80 million Koreans in the South and the North."



- 'Short of expectations' -



Moon, who brokered Kim's historic summit with US President Donald Trump in Singapore in June, had hoped to bring fresh momentum to stalled talks between his hosts and Washington.

Whether that would happen remained unclear.

In Singapore, Kim declared his backing for denuclearisation of the peninsula but no details were agreed. Washington and Pyongyang have since sparred over what that means and how it will be achieved.

Trump welcomed Wednesday's declaration, tweeting that Kim had "agreed to allow Nuclear inspections, subject to final negotiations," adding: "Very exciting!"

He later said US relations with North Korea are making "tremendous progress" from the days before his presidency when the two countries appeared close to "going to war."

Trump said a recent letter from Kim confirmed the positive track, which he said has seen the North promise to halt its nuclear and missile test programmes.

But experts were sceptical.

The North -- whose ballistic missile programme is banned under UN Security Council resolutions -- has carried out several long-range rocket launches from the site, also known as Sohae, but has also used many other locations including Pyongyang airport.

Satellite pictures in August suggested workers were already dismantling an engine test stand at Sohae.

"Kim is playing this brilliantly: verify that I dismantle a single site that I no longer need anyway while I mass-produce the missiles the site helped me develop," said Vipin Narang of MIT.

Moon also said the North could close its Yongbyon nuclear plant if Washington takes "corresponding measures" -- a significant caveat.

Arms control expert Jeffrey Lewis said the consensus view was that the uranium enrichment facility at Yongbyon "was built for (the) express purpose of being sacrificed".

After the high symbolism of Moon and Kim's first meeting in April in the Demilitarized Zone, and the Singapore summit, progress has largely stalled.

Washington is pressing for the North's "final, fully verified denuclearisation", but Pyongyang has condemned "gangster-like" demands for it to give up its weapons unilaterally.

Ahead of the Pyongyang summit there had been speculation Moon could secure a promise from Kim of a list of the North's nuclear assets, but no such document was mentioned.

"On the denuclearisation issue, the agreement fell short of expectations," Korea University political science professor Yoo Ho-yeol told AFP.



- Spiritual birthplace -



But the two Koreas have been pressing ahead with their own rapprochement, with Kim looking to secure economic cooperation from the far wealthier South, and Moon trying to reduce the risk of a US-North Korean conflict that would devastate his country.

The Rodong Sinmun newspaper, the mouthpiece of the North's ruling party, has carried dozens of photos of the two leaders embracing on Moon's arrival Tuesday, parading together through the streets of the capital, enjoying a concert and toasting at a banquet.

On Wednesday evening Moon's party dined with Kim and his wife at a new fish restaurant in Pyongyang.

It was chosen after Moon expressed interest in dining at a local restaurant with ordinary citizens. However, a retail shop there sells North Korean caviar at $50 for a 50-gramme jar -- a luxury far beyond the reach of most North Koreans.

Before returning home on Thursday, Seoul said, Moon will travel to Mount Paektu, the spiritual birthplace of the Korean nation on the Chinese-North Korean border.Syria's Assad blames Israel over downing of Russian plane



Damascus, Sept 19 (AFP) Sep 19, 2018



President Bashar al-Assad on Wednesday blamed Israel for the downing of a Russian plane, which was accidentally hit by Syrian anti-aircraft fire during an Israeli missile strike.

"This unfortunate incident was the result of Israeli arrogance and depravity," the Syrian leader said, offering his condolences in a letter to his Russian counterpart for the death of 15 Russian crew members killed in the incident over Syria on Monday.

"We are determined that such tragic events will sway neither you nor us from continuing the fight against terrorism," he continued in the letter published by the official Sana agency.

The Russian plane was downed by Syria's Russian-made S-200 air defence system and all aboard were killed.

The Russian military has accused Israeli pilots of using the Russian plane as a cover, "exposing it to fire from Syrian air defences".

Israel said it had targeted a Syrian military facility where weapons manufacturing systems were "about to be transferred on behalf of Iran" to Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah.

It was the worst 'friendly fire' incident between Moscow and the Syrian regime since Russian forces intervened in the country in late 2015 to support Assad whose grip on power had been weakened by rebels and jihadist fighters.

Russian President Vladmir Putin described the incident as the result of "tragic accidental circumstances," warning Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against carrying out such operations in the future and pledging to beef up security for Russian forces in Syria.

Netanyahu on Tuesday expressed his "sorrow" to Putin in a phone call, offering to assist Moscow in the investigation.

However he insisted the Russian plane had been felled by "extensive and inaccurate Syrian anti-aircraft (fire)".

In recent months Israel has increased its attacks in Syria against the regime or its ally Iran.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Berlin, Sept 18, 2018 (SPS) - The German newspaper "Tagesspiegel" Monday published an important article on the question of Western Sahara highlighting the Sahrawi people long-duration refugee under the difficult circumstances.

The author of the article toured the origin of the Sahrawi conflict, which he described as "a forgotten conflict by the international community", emphasizing that Morocco illegally exploits the natural resources of the Saharawi territory.

The German newspaper spoke on the fishing agreement signed between Morocco and the European Union, focusing on the decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) that excluded the territory of Western Sahara and the waters adjacent to it from the scope of this Agreement . SPS

125/090/TRABelmopan, Sept 19, 2018 (SPS) - The Saharawi Republic represented by ambassador, Suleiman Tieb Henan, was received on Tuesday upon his arrival at the Belize airport by a Secretary of State, as Special Envoy of the Saharawi Government, in the Official Celebration Acts of the 37th Anniversary of Independence of that brother country, scheduled to be from Sept 18 to 21.

Saharwi diplomat held a Bilateral Meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belize, His Excellency Wilfred Elrington, to whom he transmitted a written message from the Saharawi President, Brahmin Gali addressed to the Prime Minister of Belize, S.E. Dean Barrow.

For his part, Chancellor of Belize reiterated to the Saharawi Envoy the firm position of his Government in supporting the struggle of the Saharawi people and the achievement of a solution based on self-determination and independence of the Saharawi people.

The Sahrawi Ambassador broached his interlocutors on the current situation of Western Sahara, expressing to the Minister his satisfaction with the work of the Personal Envoy of the Secretary General of the United Nations to revival the process of the negotiations between the parties.

In the following days, Ambassador Tieb Henan will participate in the State Receptions offered by the Governor and the Prime Minister of Belize, as well as in the other official acts of the Commemoration of Independence. SPSIt will be possible to create a functioning democratic political system within Sri Lanka if the public and the state gets used to such democratic traditions and principles.

by Prof. M.O.A. De Zoysa

( September 19, 2018, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) These days, a serious amount of discussion is taking place in the media as to whether the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa can contest for the upcoming Presidential elections for the third time. This idea stating that there is no legal barrier for Mahinda Rajapaksa to contest for a third time was brought up by none-other than the henchmen and slaves of Mahinda Rajapaksa representing the Joint Opposition. Their argument is that the 19th Amendment made to the Constitution of Sri Lanka does not apply to Mahinda Rajapaksa, as it has no retrospective effect and therefore there is no constitutional barrier for him to stand up for re-election.





But those who stand against this idea state that the whole argument presented by the Rajapaksa supporters are legally fraught and with the enactment of the 19th Amendment no person can contest for the Presidency more than two times. Nevertheless, arguments made for and against this particular issue are saturated with legal undertones therefore making it difficult to provide an absolute conclusion for a lay human being who has no understanding of law. But one must remember that the implications of such suggestions do not merely concern the domain of law but has moral and ethical aspects attached to it. Therefore, from a political perspective, Mahinda Rajapaksas attempt at contesting for a third time is extremely unethical and morally wrong.

Executive Presidency

The much talked about executive presidency, which is theoretically called a Presidential system of government, was introduced to the world by United States of America by the constitution which they adopted in 1787 which eventually came into force in 1789. According to the constitutional provisions of the American constitution, the executive powers of the state are to be carried out by the President chosen by the public for a period of four years. Interestingly, the Constitution of the United States of America did not contain a limitation on the number of times an individual can run for the Presidency. Despite this, George Washington who became the first President of the United States of America, held the post twice and declined from contesting for a third time. After Washington, till 144 years passed, meaning till 1933, 31 Presidents ruled America and nobody stood up for re-election after completing two tenures in the office which thereby established a very valuable democratic political tradition within the American polity.

Even though the historical experience was such, Franklin de Roosevelt, who became the 32nd President of the United States of America, after finishing two tenures in office, decides to contest for a third time and won the election in 1941. Roosevelt became the first President in the history of American to contest the election three times. Even after three terms, Roosevelt showed no signs of retiring and in 1944 he again contested and become elected as President. But in 1945, he died and Harry. S. Truman took over the Presidency in 1945 itself.

The American public, due to this behaviour of Roosevelt, clearly understood that a limit has to be enforced to the number of attempts a single individual can contest for the Presidency in order to protect the age old democratic political traditions and to curb the possibility of allowing a Constitutional autocracy to grow by warping the very provisions of the Constitution enforced to ensure democratic governance. It is believed that the American Public especially remembered the classic statement made by the French philosopher Montesquieu in 1748 when he expounded his thesis on the Separation of powers. According to him as history shows, if an individuals power is not curtailed and controlled by an equal amount of power, that individual will eventually end up misusing that power. Hence, we should always control power through power. Therefore, in order to protect the state and democracy and to stop a constitutional autocracy from building up, the American public along with the Congress brought in the 22nd Amendment to the American Constitution in 1951.

This amendment then limited the term of the Presidency for two tenures and it legally applied to all the individuals who were Presidents in America prior to its enactment. The most important thing to note here is that no President who was in office prior to this amendment never went to courts and challenged whether it is applicable retrospectively. Further, no President who was elected to office after that particular amendment never attempted to even change the clause in the hope of staying in power beyond two terms.

This example is one among many which shows how much the Americans respect, love and protect the traditions related to democratic principles of governance. After 1789 all the states which established Presidential systems of governments, excluding the states which has only one party or states which maintain authoritative systems some way or the other, limit the number of times an individual can contest for the Presidency to two terms.

Second Republic constitution

The Presidential system of government was introduced to Sri Lanka by J.R. Jayewardene in 1978 with the enactment of the Second Republic Constitution. J. R. Jayewardene took the American System as an example in creating the Presidential system of government in Sri Lanka. The office of the President thus created under the 1978 Constitution had far reaching executive powers and was very strong when compared to the office of the President in United States of America which made and make critics call it a constitutional autocracy. Even though the case was as such, J.R. Jayewardene took measures to curb the rise of a long term individual autocrat by inculcating certain provisions in the Constitution by way of bringing forth some checks and balances. The election of the President by the public, limiting one term to six years, the clause stating that an individual cannot contest beyond two times for the post of president and that the president is responsible to the parliament in carrying out his duties and function given in the constitution are some examples of such checks and balances.

Family affair

Hence, the most important two out of these are the limit applied to the number of times one can contest for the post of President and that the President should be elected at a Presidential Election by the people. By the 18th Amendment to the constitution, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa repealed article 31.2 of the 1978 Constitution. Here, the most important restriction and check enforced by J. R. Jayewardene to ensure democratic governance and curb autocracy was destroyed and taken out. Mahinda Rajapaksa enacted this change with the hope of establishing himself as an autocrat within the state for which he violated all known principles of democratic governance. Further, Mahinda Rajapaksa through this constitutional change managed to carve a path to ensure that, the heirs to the throne after him will be from his own immediate family and nowhere else.

The 19th Amendment to the Constitution in 2015 re-established the provisions of article 31.2 which was abolished by Mahinda Rajapaksa thereby again stating that no individual can contest for the presidency beyond two terms. Article 4.2 of the 19th Amendment states that No person who has been twice elected to the office of President by the people, shall be qualified thereafter to be elected to such office by the People. Thus, the henchmen of Mahinda Rajapaksa are actually trying to re-interpret this particular article in a fraught manner to bring back Mahinda Rajapaksa into power again. They argue that this article does not retrospective application and hence, Rajapaksa can contest for the 2020 Presidential elections without any legal hindrance.

When analyzing this situation, what becomes evident is that the supporters of Mahinda Rajapaksa have forgotten the whole political ethos of the 19th Amendment and are desperately attempting to mislead the civil society by using one article of the said amendment.

The main idea of the 19th Amendment is not to bar this one individual called Mahinda Rajapaksa from coming into power, but to ensure democracy within the governance structures and to stop an autocrat coming into power on constitutional terms. Therefore, this does not apply to the former President Rajapaksa alone but to anyone who gets elected to the post of president in Sri Lanka and it further acts as a safeguard of democracy, good governance, rule of law and constitutionalism.

It will be possible to create a functioning democratic political system within Sri Lanka if the public and the state gets used to such democratic traditions and principles. Thus, it becomes evident that the Mahinda Rajapaksa supporters by promoting such false and fraught propaganda are trying to break away from the democratic traditions of governance and establish an autocratic system of rule within the country.

Should we allow such anti-democratic and nepotistic forces to come into power? All those who love democracy should ask their conscience this very important political question. We also have to understand one important point here: that there is a legal as well as a moral and ethical base to politics. Mahinda Rajapaksa supporters have totally left out and forgotten this much important moral and ethical aspects of politics. So the public should seriously consider whether they should hand over the power of the state to such people who are overtly undemocratic in their political aspirations.

(The writer is former Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Peradeniya)A more recent publication of this set of statistics is available. Latest publication: Balance of payments and international investment position 2021, August

Published: 19 September 2018

Current account showed a deficit in the second quarter, the net international investment position weakened

The current account was in deficit in the second quarter of 2018. Exports of goods and services in balance of payments terms grew by 6 per cent year-on-year and the balance sheet of goods and services was slightly in surplus. The current account deficit increased from the year before as the deficit of the primary income account grew. The net international investment position weakened. The data appear from Statistics Finland's statistics on balance of payments and international investment position.

Current account and goods and services account

Current account

In the second quarter of 2018, the current account was EUR 2.1 billion in deficit. Of the sub-items of the current account, the primary income account was EUR 1.8 billion in deficit. The balance sheet of goods and services was EUR 0.3 billion in surplus and the secondary income account EUR 0.6 billion in deficit.

Goods and services

The trade account in balance of payments terms was EUR 1.0 billion in surplus in the second quarter of 2018. In the corresponding quarter of the previous year, the trade account was EUR 0.6 billion in surplus. The service account showed a deficit of EUR 0.7 billion in the second quarter of 2018.

In balance of payments terms, goods exports grew by 6 per cent from the corresponding quarter of the year before. Goods imports grew by 3 per cent from one year ago. The value of goods exports was EUR 16 billion and the value of goods imports EUR 15 billion.

In the second quarter of 2018, service exports grew by 7 per cent and service imports similarly by 7 per cent compared to the corresponding quarter of the previous year. Service exports rose to EUR 6.8 billion and service imports to EUR 7.5 billion. The deficit of the service account increased due to the deficit of EUR 0.8 billion in the travel balance. Travel expenditure from Finland to abroad grew by 11 per cent in the second quarter and travel receipts to Finland fell by 1 per cent compared to the corresponding quarter last year. More detailed import and export figures in balance of payments terms by service item and area can be found in the statistics on international trade in goods and services starting from 2015. Decreases and increases made to the Finnish Customs figures, which result in goods trade in balance of payments terms, are also broken down in the statistics on international trade in goods and services.

Primary income in the second quarter and revisions of annual data

The primary income account was EUR 1.8 billion in deficit in the second quarter of 2018. One year earlier, the deficit of the primary income account in the second quarter was EUR 0.9 billion.

Primary income for 2017 was revised from the preliminary data released in March. The revised primary income for 2017 is EUR 0.1 billion in deficit. In the data released in March, primary income for 2017 was EUR 2.7 billion in surplus. The revision of primary income was due to revisions in the source data concerning the non-financial corporations sector. As a result of the fallen primary income, the current account for 2017 also turned EUR 1.5 billion into deficit.

The primary income account includes compensation of employees, investment income and other primary income paid from Finland to abroad and from abroad to Finland. The deficit of primary income is mainly due to investment income, which includes returns on capital like interests and dividends.

Current account in balance in July 2018

The current account was in balance in July. The value of goods exports in balance of payments terms grew by 1 per cent from twelve months back. Of the sub-items of the current account, the primary income account was in surplus. The trade account in balance of payments terms, the service account and the secondary income account were in deficit.

Finlands current account and goods and services account, 12 month moving sum

Financial account and net international investment position

Net international investment position weakened

At the end of the second quarter of 2018, Finland had EUR 631.7 billion in foreign assets on gross and EUR 640.6 billion in foreign liabilities on gross. The net international investment position, that is, the difference between the stock of assets and liabilities, was thus EUR 9.0 billion negative as there were more liabilities than assets. The net investment position contracted compared to the end of the previous quarter, when the net international investment position was EUR -5.9 billion. Both the stock of foreign assets and liabilities increased in the second quarter, but liabilities grew more than assets.

Examined by sector, the weaker net investment position of non-financial corporations had most effect on the net international investment position in the second quarter of 2018. Social security funds had the biggest foreign net assets, EUR 144.6 billion, and the other monetary financial institutions sector held the largest foreign net liabilities.

Finlands net international investment position quarterly. The figure was corrected on 19 September 2018.

Capital flowed to Finland as portfolio investments

In the second quarter of 2018, net capital inflow to Finland amounted to EUR 3.7 billion, which weakened the net international investment position. Examined by type of investment, net capital inflow was mostly in the form of portfolio investments, EUR 7.2 billion. Portfolio investments include bonds, money market instruments and shares. Net capital outflow from Finland was mostly in the form of direct investments, EUR 3.9 billion.

At the end of the second quarter of 2018, international direct investment assets on gross stood at EUR 154.2 billion and the corresponding liabilities at EUR 119.8 billion, as a result of which the investment position of direct investments was EUR 34.4 billion positive at the end of the second quarter.

The net investment position of portfolio investments weakened in the second quarter of 2018, as the liabilities stock of portfolio investments grew more than assets. Portfolio investment assets amounted to EUR 319.8 billion at the end of the second quarter of 2018. Valuation changes increased portfolio investment assets from the first quarter, as assets in the form of financial transactions decreased. Portfolio assets were most in the form of bonds and mutual fund shares. The stock of portfolio investment liabilities grew from the first quarter as a result of financial transactions and valuation changes and was EUR 323.6 billion at the end of the second quarter of 2018. Bonds were the biggest item in portfolio investment liabilities, their stock being EUR 173.8 billion at the end of the second quarter. Portfolio investment liabilities grew most in listed shares in the second quarter.

Liabilities of other investments, such as loans from outside the group, deposits and trade credits, were EUR 47.9 billion on net larger than assets. The net liabilities grew from the first quarter as net capital inflow to Finland amounted to EUR 0.8 billion. At the end of the second quarter of 2018, assets as other investments amounted to EUR 127.2 billion and liabilities to EUR 175.0 billion.

At the end of the second quarter of 2018, Finland had EUR 0.4 billion in net liabilities related to derivatives. Liabilities related to derivatives grew from the first quarter and were EUR 22.2 billion at the end of the second quarter of 2018. Finland had EUR 21.9 billion in assets related to derivatives at the end of the second quarter of 2018.

Financial account in July 2018

In July, net capital outflow from Finland amounted to EUR 0.4 billion. Of the sub-items of the financial account, net capital outflow was mostly in the form of direct investments, EUR 1.6 billion. Net capital inflow was mostly in the form of other investments, EUR 1.7 billion.

Source: Balance of payments and international investment position, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Tapio Kuusisto 029 551 3318, Hanna Bjorklund 029 551 3296, balanceofpayments@stat.fi.

Director in charge: Ville Vertanen

Publication in pdf-format (326.2 kB)

Updated 14.09.2018

Referencing instructions: Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Balance of payments and international investment position [e-publication].

ISSN=2342-348X. July 2018. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 10.11.2021].

Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/mata/2018/07/mata_2018_07_2018-09-19_tie_001_en.htmlIf a fifth face were added to Mount Rushmore, which president would you choose?

Ronald Reagan (40%, 14 Votes)

Franklin D. Roosevelt (37%, 13 Votes)

John F. Kennedy (20%, 7 Votes)

Someone in the Civil Rights or Women's Rights movement would be more appropriate. (3%, 1 Votes) Total Voters: 35Shares is the leading weekly publication for retail investors. It is packed with investment ideas, news and educational material to help build and run portfolios and get more from your money.

Shares puts on free Investor Events throughout the year across the country. They provide an opportunity for investors to learn more about companies on the stock market and hear from a range of investment experts including fund managers and Shares journalists.The Chinese Navy reached another milestone in August 2018 when they began retiring their first generation of replenishment (at sea resupply) ships. The retired ship was the Type 905 Hongzehu that entered service in 1980 to support tracking ships sent deep into the Pacific to collect information on Chinese ICBM tests. The warheads of these ICBMs were filled with instruments and the tracking ships collected that information. The Type 905s were 21,000 ton ships that carried 10,500 tons of fuel, 1,000 tons of diesel, 400 tons of water and 50 tons of refrigerated items (mainly food, but also medicine). By the 1990s the Type 905s were primarily resupplying destroyers on long voyages. In 2008 the Type 905s became regular participants in the four month deployments of Chinese warships (usually a destroyer and a frigate) and a replenishment ship to spend three months with the international anti-piracy patrol off Somalia.

A single Type 905 could keep three destroyers supplied via at-sea refueling and was able to keep two warships operating off Somalia (although the 905s would make trips to ports to get more supplies itself). The Type 905s also had a helicopter pad and were armed with four twin-37mm anti-aircraft guns.

Four 905s entered service in the 1980s but two were disposed of (one became a civilian tanker while the other went to Pakistan as a replenishment ship.) At the time the Chinese Navy had little use for at sea replenishment. In the 1990s China developed and put into service two Type 908 replenishment ships which had twice the capacity of the Type 905s and are still in service. The experience with the Type 905 and 901 ships led to mass production of Type 903 ships. The first of these entered service in 2004, eight have been built so far and more are apparently planned.

In August 2017 China put Hulun Lake, its first Type 901 fast replenishment ship into service. This was a big deal. Chinese Navy officials noted that this fast supply vessel would, as expected, enable the only Chinese aircraft carrier (Liaoning) to operate much farther from its base and for longer periods. So far Liaoning and its escorts had not operated much farther than onboard fuel allowed. A second carrier, similar in design to the Liaoning, is nearly completed and expected to enter service by 2020 as are more Type 901s, with one more 901 already under construction.

The Type 901 is the largest (over 40,000 tons) replenishment ship China has produced and similar in size and capability to the twelve American T-AKE replenishment ships. The 40,000 ton T-AKEs service a much larger fleet than the Type 903s and Type 901s. The T-AKEs are part of a larger replenishment fleet required by American warships operating worldwide. But China has been expanding its replenishment ship force as it puts more warships into service and expects to eventually (by the 2030s) to rival the U.S. Navy worldwide.

The Type 901 has a top speed of 45 kilometers an hour (to keep up with a carrier task force) and room topside for two or more CIWS autocannon (similar to the American Phalanx) for anti-missile defense. At least one more Type 901 appears to be planned but the Chinese usually wait until a new ship type has a year or so at sea before more are ordered. The Type 901 seems more influenced by the four 48,000 ton T-AOE fast (45 kilometers an hour) supply ships the U.S. put into service during the mid-1990s. These are now being retired because the slower (37 kilometers an hour) T-AKEs and other supply ships got the job done more efficiently and cheaply. This is partly because the United States has access to more overseas ports for resupplying and refueling its carrier task forces.

Meanwhile, other types of Chinese supply ships are appearing. In early 2016 China revealed a new, smaller (2,700 ton) replenishment ship for its growing number of island bases in the South China Sea. This is a RO/RO (Roll On/Roll Off) type ship so it is easier to drive vehicles off onto the docks being built on many of these tiny (some man-made) islands. The new ship also has a helicopter pad for small (four ton) helicopters like the Z-9. One of these new ships appeared in late 2015 and apparently more are being built. They will replace the collection of commercial ships currently used to resupply these island bases.

Meanwhile, China has eight of its 25,000 ton Type 903A replenishment ships in service. During the first half of 2015 four of these ships were under construction simultaneously, a rare event for any country in peacetime. Since 2013 there has been a massive acceleration in the production of these ships. The first two of these tanker/cargo ships appeared in 2004. By 2008 these ships were regularly at sea supporting the task forces (each with at least two warships, plus the Type 903) sent to the anti-piracy patrol off Somalia for six month tours (which included additional port visits on the way home). The replenishment ship did just that, supplying fuel, water, food, and other supplies as needed. The replenishment ship would go to local ports to restock its depleted stores and return to the task force. China needed more Type 903s support the growing number of long distance training operations into the Western Pacific and the government has responded. One reason Chinese warships are now being seen all over the world (on official visits and to show off) is because there are enough replenishment ships to support this sort of thing.

With more long distance cruises China has, since the 1990s, trained more and more of its sailors to resupply ships at sea. Its now common to see a Chinese supply ship in the Western Pacific refueling two warships at once. This is a tricky maneuver and the Chinese did not learn overnight. They have been doing this more and more since 2004, first refueling one ship at a time with the receiving ship behind the supply ship and then the trickier side-by-side method. This enables skilled supply ship crews to refuel two ships at once.

China got a sharp reminder of how essential the replenishment ships are in April 2014 when they joined the international military effort to find missing flight MH370. China discovered it did not have enough Type 903s and without access to foreign ports for resupply the Chinese Navy could not sustain large numbers of ships far from China. Chinese naval planners have long warned of this and the political leaders are now paying more attention. China sent two dozen warships and support vessels into the southern Indian Ocean in April 2014 and it was obvious that without access to nearby Australian ports the Chinese ships would not have been able to remain in the area for long.

The classic solution to this problem is a large fleet of support (sustainment) ships to constantly deliver food, fuel and other supplies to ships at sea. China is rapidly building such ships, but not enough of them to maintain a large force for an extended period. China is unlikely to obtain the overseas ports it needs to support its current expansion plans because Chinese expansion plans have angered nearly all the nations in area. China does have a few allies, like Pakistan, Cambodia, Sri Lanka and Burma. This would not be enough if it came to outright hostilities and some of these friendly ports blocked by neighboring countries that are at odds with China. This apparently led to the decision to build the Type 903.

This logistical weakness is no secret but the Chinese have long played it down. After the April 2014 search for flight MH370 it became a much more visible issue. The MH370 search off west Australia was the largest Chinese fleet deployment in modern times. The made it clear that China could not yet keep warships at sea for long periods. This made the Chinese naval threat a bit less intimidating. But it was also obvious that this changes as China builds more sustainment ships and uses them regularly. That has been happening since 2014.

This is all part of a Chinese navy effort to enable its most modern ships to carry out long duration operations. In addition to the ships sent to Somalia, the Chinese have been sending flotillas (containing landing ships, destroyers, and frigates) on 10-20 day cruises into the East China Sea and beyond.

The Chinese have been working hard on how to use their new classes of supply ships most effectively. These vessels are built to efficiently supply ships at sea. In addition to learning how to transfer these supplies at sea the crews have also learned how to keep all the needed supplies in good shape and stocked in the required quantities. This requires the procurement officers learning how to arrange resupply at local ports in a timely basis. This was particularly important off Somalia, where warships often had to speed up (burning a lot of fuel in the process) or use their helicopters to deal with the pirates.

Modern at-sea replenishment methods were developed out of necessity by the United States during World War II because of a lack of sufficient forward bases in the vast Pacific. The resulting service squadrons (Servrons) became a permanent fixture in the U.S. Navy after the war. Since World War II ships frequently stay at sea for up to six months at a time, being resupplied at sea by a Servron. New technologies were developed to support the effective use of the seagoing supply service. Few other navies have been able to match this capability, mainly because of the expense of the Servron ships and the training required to do at sea replenishment. China is buying into this capability, which makes their fleet more effective because warships can remain at sea for longer periods.The May agreement on national presidential and parliamentary elections being held in December is falling apart because many of the larger militias in and around Tripoli are refusing to cooperate. These militias are acting on their own to make sure they do not lose power or income because of a unified government. This is largely a problem with militias loyal to the UN backed GNA (Government of National Accord) in Tripoli. This is one of the reasons the GNA is the weaker of the two existing national governments, despite occupying Tripoli (the national capital and largest city in the country). While the GNA is based in Tripoli and recognized by the UN it has proved much less capable than its eastern (Tobruk) rival the HoR (House of Representatives). The most obvious sign of GNA decline is its inability to keep the Tripoli airport open. Since August 31st the airport has been closed most of the time because of rouge militias either attacking the airport with rockets or occupying it. The government has spent the last few days trying to assemble enough loyal forces to regain control of the airport. There are doubts, especially by the UN, that the GNA can maintain control of the airport or Tripoli itself. Without the airport, operational international flights have to land at Misrata (210 kilometers to the east) the third largest city in the country and drive to the capital.

It was agreements between the GNA and HoR governments that made the December election plan possible but since May the GNA has declined to the point where it can no longer operate. The governments agreed to increase their cooperation (already functional enough) to improve the operation of the National Oil Company and the Central Bank of Libya. These two institutions are about the only two that are fully functional and are now looking to the HoR for protection. This security is essential because of the relentless efforts by various factions to corrupt the bank or the oil company. Keeping these two institutions going is essential to national survival because without the oil income living standards will plunge to levels that will force much, if not most of the current Libyan population to emigrate or starve.

The bank and oil company may limp along to stave off mass starvation but the GNA and HoR are not getting together to hold the national elections, at least not in 2018. The two governments were supposed to have agreed on election terms and procedures by mid-September and that has not happened. Now a lot more is not happening as well.

The collapse of the GNA and growing strength of the HoR and its military component the LNA (Libyan National Army) has meant that most of the gangsters have shifted their operations westward towards Tripoli and the Tunisian border. Most of the people smuggling is now directed towards Spain, which this year accounts for over 40 percent of the illegal migrants getting into Europe. Illegal migrant traffic is down over 40 percent this year (to 75,000 arrivals in Europe so far) and down 75 percent compared to 2016. About 1,600 illegals have died at sea this year. Italy is actively refusing to accept illegals and Greece is also difficult to get into. So now most of the smugglers concentrate on Spain, which is not happy with that and is becoming more hostile to the illegals and the smugglers involved.

The smugglers have seen their income decline over 70 percent since 2016 because more and more of the Libyan coast is controlled and policed by the LNA and Italy has made it much more difficult to get illegals to Italy. The cost of moving operations westward (often more than once) and keeping the smuggling routes from the southern border open has been high. The LNA has also been moving south and occupying key towns used by the people smugglers as they moved their clients north. Far fewer of those illegal migrants are making the journey because so many have failed (and often died in the process) since 2o16. The people smugglers provided a lot of income for local militias and with the sharp decline in people smuggling activity most of the militias loyal to the LNA have suffered sharp declines in income. A lot of desperate militia leaders are fighting over a shrinking pot of gold. Meanwhile the LNA is run more professionally and is much more dependable when it comes to payroll and logistics in general (especially medical care for those wounded in combat). LNA commanders take care of their troops and keep their casualties lower than militia leaders will, or can.

The LNA continues to defeat or absorb defiant militias, especially ones that are religion based or outright Islamic terrorists. While many Western nations consider the LNA, or at least some of its commanders, to be war criminals the fact is that pro-GNA faction leaders are no better and often a lot worse. The Arab nations that have long supported the LNA and its creator Khalifa Hiftar understand this and the fact that Hiftar is simply a more effective military leader. After living in the U.S. for over a decade, Hiftar knows first-hand what works. Hiftar always worked for the rival Libyan HoR government in Tobruk and has remained loyal to the HoR for as long as the LNA existed.

Most Libyans, having little or no personal experience living in a much less corrupt and more productive Western economy, just want someone to make all the chaos and pain go away. There is no easy way to make that happen. A first step would be to form a united government. That is still a work in progress but at least an effort is underway. Hiftar is also popular in Libya (and with other Moslem governments in the region) for his steadfast and effective opposition to Islamic terrorists and Islamic radicalism in general.

Hiftar has indicated that he might have to take Tripoli to end the war but he is not willing to fight a long and bloody battle for the city. More likely is he will continue his slow and methodical march west, where he encourages militias to join the LNA and only fights those that are basically Islamic terrorists. That does not include a lot of the pro-GNA militias composed of Islamic conservatives (and a few Islamic radicals). For decades the Kaddafi dictatorship encouraged Islamic conservatism (and promptly killed anti-Kaddafi Islamic terrorists). So a lot of Libyans are still comfortable with Islamic conservatism. But that means the Islamic conservative militias are willing to work with the LNA and a growing number already do, as do Berber and various tribes along the southern borders.

Oil Boom

The LNA continues to maintain security for oil production and movement (pipelines) facilities. Most of these are halfway between the coast and the southern borders. For August production hit a post-2011 record of 940,000 BPD (barrels per day). Thats a big increase from July (670,000 BPD). At the end of 2017 production was close to a million BPD but that was disrupted frequently in early 2018. The current goal is to reach 1.5 million BPD by the end of 2018 and 2.1 million BPD by the early 2020s. This is far in excess of pre-2011 levels (1.6 million BPD) but is necessary because of the need to finance reconstruction and adapt to the fact that the world price may be up now but is at risk of continuing to fall, despite OPEC (the Arab dominated oil cartel) efforts to reduce overall production and drive up the price. The problem is that the United States and Canada are producing a lot more due to new technologies (like fracking) that open up huge new sources that were long known but not reachable. The problem with increasing production is that it attracts more greedy militias seeking to get paid.

September 14, 2018: The UN extended its operations in Libya another year, to September 15, 2019. The UN also admitted that it was not likely to meet the May goal of holding national elections by the end of 2018.

September 10, 2018: ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) took credit for a failed attack on the National Oil Corporation headquarters in Tripoli. There were three attackers armed with guns and two of them wore explosive vests. The three attackers were killed, along with two security personnel. Ten other civilians were wounded. Two of the attackers killed themselves by detonating their explosive vests. The last major ISIL attack was in May, against the national election headquarters. That one also failed. There are believed to be over a thousand ISIL members still active in Libya and surviving in thinly populated areas away from the coast. These ISIL remnants survive by banditry and working for smugglers. There is a lot of less demand by smugglers for security services so ISIL struggles to remain operational in Libya. Security forces have detected small groups of ISIL members trying to establish themselves about 70 kilometers south of Sirte, which was the ISIL capital in Libya for about a year. The Sirte militias are even more hostile to ISIL since they drove the Islamic terrorists out in late 2016.

The ISIL attack in Tripoli was made possible by the general disorder in the city over the last month. In the week before the ISIL attack at least 70 people were killed during battles between militias. Many more were wounded.

September 1, 2018: The GNA government reopened the main border crossings to Tunisia. Libya had closed it for six weeks because of the dispute with Tunisia over smuggling operations based in Ben Guerdane (the area around the main crossing where much business is done). The closure was triggered in part by Tunisia ordering its security forces to crack down on Libyans who buy a lot of consumer goods in Tunisia and then seek to smuggle it into Libya.

August 21, 2018: The UN, which keeps track of such things, reports that so far in 2018 about 130 civilians have been killed as a result of fighting in Libya (which now has a population of about six million). There were many more casualties among the military forces (LNA and militias) as well as the few Islamic terror groups still operating. Various surveys indicate that nationwide fewer than 500 civilians died during 2017 from the fighting between militias, Islamic terror groups, criminal gangs and the LNA. The armed men in these groups suffered higher casualties, most of them among the Islamic terror groups, which were considered legitimate targets by everyone.While North Korea is officially still seeking to work out a deal that would result in the dismantling of their nuclear weapons program, most North Koreans and many foreign observers dont believe this will happen. The main reason for that negative attitude is that since the Cold War ended, along with regular and substantial foreign aid from Russia, in 1991 the North Korean leaders have been successful in promising much and delivering little in an effort to obtain foreign aid to replace what the Russians long supplied. The hustle was not successful in replacing enough of the Russian aid to avoid a deadly (over a million dead) famine and the collapse of the economy. Despite that North Korea diverted enormous resources to developing nukes and now North Korea is a nuclear power that is starving. Despite the privation, most North Koreans take the nukes as a plus. One thing North Korea has done that South Korea and Japan have not is create nuclear weapons. There are no other achievements worth mentioning (certainly not the mass starvation, labor camps and an oppressive police state). One thing North Korea has become very good at is extorting foreign aid by promising to reform but demanding large quantities of aid first. Then North Korea reneges, finding some way to blame their benefactor and waits for another opportunity to do it again. While many in the West and South Korea are willing to go along with another cycle of this scam the majority have noticed the pattern and are opposed to aid without verifiable denuclearization first. Kim Jong Un is doing his best to avoid that. Saying he will do it is easy but actually following though would be difficult and unprecedented. Kim Jong Un sees an opportunity in exploiting the new Cold War Russia and China are waging against the West by offering to cooperate with this northern neighbors in return for assistance in beating the sanctions and scaring some freebies out of South Korea and the West.

There are other reasons for the northern neighbors to help North Korea. China has a growing problem with the Americans waging a trade war (because of decades of economic scams). Russia is withering away because of corruption, low oil prices and sanctions (for attacking its neighbors). China has also triggered a regional arms race and the formation of a large anti-China coalition because of aggressive Chinese territorial claims. Anything North Korea can do to distract the Americans would be useful for China and Russia.

Even though China has also complied with imposing many (but not all) of the sanctions North Koreans still believe China is an ally. Thats because China still allows smugglers to operate. North Koreans know the Chinese can shut down smuggling if they want to and have done so in the past so the fact that China is willing to cooperate with North Korea in evading the sanctions is seen as a positive thing. Then again, China is the only powerful and prosperous friend North Korea has. Russia tries but really is too broke and weak to be much help. North Korea also believes that China is willing to live with a nuclear-armed North Korea as long as North Korea is stable and not in danger of falling apart and leaving the expensive cleanup to China. South Korea is a democracy and most of the voters are not willing to provide billions of aid in return for vague assurances that denuclearization will happen eventually, maybe.

Sanctions

Although North Korea is willing to talk about getting rid of its nukes and other unsavory (and often illegal) activities, actually doing anything is another matter. The UN monitors sanctions compliance and issues regular reports. As of mid-2018 North Korea is still exporting weapons (rockets, small arms and ammo are showing up in Yemen, Libya and Syria). With the help of Russian and Chines partners, North Korea is exporting its coal and importing oil. North Korea is also exporting more drugs like opium, heroin and methamphetamine (meth). These drugs have long been manufactured by the North Korean government for export to obtain foreign currency. The United States is organizing an international anti-smuggling patrol to counter North Korean smuggling at sea, particularly oil. The new joint patrol effort will include ships, satellites and aircraft from the U.S., Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, South Korea and France.

North Korea has also been caught selling software illegally by establishing companies in China and Russia that pretend to be local but are actually staffed and run by North Koreans. These two companies quietly offer semi-legal or obviously illegal software services as well and advertise on social media. The U.S. has imposed sanctions on these firms and their key personnel (who are largely North Korean).

Impossible Dreams

Any disarmament deal (involving nukes, ballistic missiles, chemical weapons and so on) would (according to the American demands) require verification. That would be done by foreign inspectors. In North Korea, there is the general belief that the Kim government would never allow treaty inspectors to check wherever they wished to validate compliance to a disarmament deal. Russian officials, who know how extensive, and well, the verification procedures used late in the cold war by Russia and the United States worked, doubt North Korea would put up with that sort of thing. Russians who have met with Kim or his close advisors do not believe there is any chance North Korea will give up its nukes. Yet the Russians also agree that the bold new tactics the Americans are using has the North Koreans worried. The U.S. is no longer seen as a pushover and easy to deceive. The Americans want verifiable disarmament (getting rid of nukes and ballistic missiles that can deliver them) or else (more sanctions and more enforcement). The North Koreans believe the Americans wont be able to keep this up and feel they can get away with delaying decisions about denuclearization until the Americans have a new government that is willing to do things the old way.

Another seemingly impossible development would be dismantling the inefficient command (communist planned) economy North Korea keeps alive. China has been suggesting economic changes with increasing urgency for over a decade. But now it is happening without anyone ordering it to happen. By allowing some legal markets, and then a growing list of privately owned enterprises North Korea has made it possible for the government planners to issue less detailed (and less likely to fail miserably) economic plans. The government officials know that if their plans fail spectacularly enough the supreme leader will feel compelled to order punishment (often execution) of the officials responsible. With the assistance of the growing donju (entrepreneur) class government planners allow activities that are quasi-legal and largely protected (from government interference) if they succeed. This has allowed government officials to concentrate on more urgent matters, like figuring out effective ways to extract bribes from donju and put away enough cash to get themselves and their families out of the country. That last bit gets little official attention but is a major preoccupation with the secret police and senior leaders. Many North Koreans have picked up on these new developments and view being a donju as a more attractive career than the traditional goal of getting into college and becoming a government official.

The donju make themselves very useful, even coming up with joint ventures that can include government run businesses as partners. These deals are increasingly acceptable because the donju get things done, sometimes by bending the laws in ways few government officials would dare try. In effect, the donju are quietly and gradually implementing the reforms the Chinese have been urging. The Chinese, both government officials and entrepreneurs, understand and respect the donju who in turn rely on Chinese businesses to help them out with advice and guidance. Chinese business publications and books are popular with the Donju and more of these are being translated into Korean because of the growing market for that knowledge in North Korea. A lot of practical business advice and information is available on the Internet and North Korean secret police note that a lot more of the electronic media being smuggled in consists of technically legal stuff from Chinese websites devoted to business matters. The illegal stuff is similar information from South Korean websites. Chinese advice for entrepreneurs is OK, the same stuff from South Korea can get you killed. Despite that, because most smuggled media comes in on tiny and easy to conceal SD (and micro-SD) cards most of it gets through.

Some forms of South Korean information is considered militarily significant, like the amount of food South Korean soldiers get compared to their North Korean counterparts. The worsening food situation in North Korea has, over the last few years, been felt by most members of the military. This was becoming a major morale problem for North Korean troops stationed close to the South Korean border (DMZ or demilitarized zone). Most of the North Korean military is stationed within fifty kilometers of the DMZ and many units are right on the DMZ and regularly patrol it. They occasionally see South Korean soldiers and the southerners appeared better fed and larger. North Korean propagandists tried to dismiss this as a South Korean deception but a lot of that South Korean media getting smuggled into North Korea reached the soldiers on the DMZ. Worse, a growing number of soldiers have kin who escaped to South Korea. There is some communication (illegal phone calls and smuggled messages, often home videos from the south) that makes it clear the southerners eat better and those taller, well-fed South Korean soldiers are no deception but the norm. There have also been cases where northerners living near the DMZ have obtained South Korean cell phones and, for a fee, will allow North Korean soldiers to make calls to kin in South Korea, or anywhere else in the world because cell phone calls outside North Korea are so cheap and legal. So in North Korea, the government has ordered an increase in the quality and quantity of food for frontline (near the DMZ) North Korean soldiers. Also ordered was a more energetic crackdown on the illegal use of foreign cell phones on the Chinese and South Korean borders.

Despite the growing efforts to keep South Korean media out, North Korea has ordered its propaganda officials to ease up on criticism of South Korean president Moon, who is seen as making a serious effort to work out a peace deal with the north. Moon is also trying to persuade South Korean legislators to approve over $400 million worth of aid for North Korea that is meant to persuade the north to do something in return. South Korean politicians note that the north has done nothing so far except talk about what they might do under the right conditions. Southern politicians have seen this routine before and consider it a scam to obtain foreign aid in return for nothing.

It has also been noticed that North Korea recently replaced several senior military commanders with younger men known to be more amenable to peace with South Korea. Kim Jong Un has been eliminating hardliners from the military leadership since he took power in 2012 and the results appear to have been what Kim wanted. The older hardline commanders were constantly complaining about how the military was starved for resources and increasingly unable to launch a credible offensive against South Korea. Kim saw that has as an unlikely and, for North Korea, unaffordable goal. Kim showed his displeasure by replacing the older commanders with younger ones who saw the situation more like Kim Jong Un did. Message delivered and acknowledged. The remaining hardliners are much less of a threat and becoming more so with each new retirement.

September 18, 2018: The leaders of the two Koreas met personally for the third time as South Korean president Moon Jae In flew into the North Korean capital for three days of meetings. The two leaders promptly signed an agreement in which North Korea said it would dismantle a rocket engine testing site and would allow foreign inspectors to observe. Kim also said there would be no more ballistic missile testing. Kim also agreed to allow inspections of nuclear weapons facilities after the United States reciprocated. In other words, Kim wants the U.S. to pay a lot to take a peak and hear more assurances that there might be denuclearization someday, somehow. Kim also said he would visit the South Korean capital sometime in the future and discuss more ways the north can reform its economy (with some economic aid from the south).

What it comes down to is Kim wants to get paid because his people, especially his soldiers, are hungry and not looking forward to another four months of very cold weather, little fuel to keep warm with and not much electricity either. China is doing whatever it can to assist North Korea in getting some (or a lot) of financial assistance from South Korea and the United States. China does not provide large quantities of aid but will sell you stuff and even do it on credit if you have collateral.

The first two meeting between Kim and Moon took place on April and May at the Peace Village on the DMZ. This had long been the scene of fruitless negotiations over disagreements between the two Koreas. North Korea leader Kim Jong Un and the South Korean president agreed that the Korean peninsula should be free of all nuclear weapons. The two also agreed that there should be an official end to the Korean War, which has been suspended (by an armistice) since 1953. The two also agreed that there should be more meetings between them.

September 17, 2018: Russia denied it had been aiding North Korea to evade the sanctions and import oil (via transfers at sea from Russian tankers) and export coal. Russia has been seen importing North Korean coal and then shipping it to South Korea as Russian coal.

September 14, 2018: Someone in North Korea leaked the lecture notes used for gatherings of key Workers Party members during the second week of September. The lectures emphasized the importance of North Korea nuclear weapons and the leadership of Kim Jong Un who kept the nuclear program going. These lectures are how the government informs key party members what current policy is. So while Kim Jong Un is telling South Korea and the United States that denuclearization is a possibility he is telling his key followers that the nukes are the reason why, as the lecture notes put it, North Korea is a nuclear superpower. The key points in these mandatory but technically secret lectures are usually evident in the chatter (on the street and via illegal phone calls to people outside North Korea). In North Korea, the chatter has always been that the nuclear weapons would never be surrendered. American intel officials report that they are monitoring increasing North Korean efforts to conceal all aspects of their nuclear weapons program. This involves more than putting all the facilities underground but also taking elaborate measures to conceal the movement of material and people to and from these hidden facilities.

South Korean leaders repeated their belief that South Korea must continue increasing its military capabilities as long as North Korea keeps its nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. South Korea has backed this up with more large orders for new military equipment. North Korean protests are seen as confirmation that the new gear is needed.

September 12, 2018: The U.S. has approved the sale of six P-8A submarine hunting aircraft and 64 PAC 3 anti-missile missiles to South Korea. Total value is $2.6 billion. At the same time, the U.S. also approved the sale of nine E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft to Japan. This will cost $3.1 billion. Both of these sales elicited an angry protest from North Korea, which has no access to such tech and couldnt afford it if they did.

September 10, 2018: The U.S. revealed that when the leaders of the two Koreas met last April Kim Jong Un commented that that denuclearization could be accomplished in two years.

September 9, 2018: In the North Korean capital there was an enormous parade and elaborate events to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of North Korea. There were no ballistic missiles in the parade this year. President Xi of China had said he would visit the North Korean capital as a guest at the 70th anniversary events. The presence of Xi would have been s 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 in 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. Yet there is some tension between Kim and Xi because the North Korean leader has indicated that North Korea will not give up its nuclear weapons. China does not want that and continues to pressure Kim to disarm or at least restore stability and order to North Korea.

The events in the capital were recorded for broadcast on the 10th and release to foreign news outlets. Most of the 600 invited foreign guests were government officials and not journalists so it was easier to control what foreign journalists saw and recorded. The official video had to be carefully checked to ensure there were no errors.

For the rest of North Korea, the 9th was a normal workday. Farmers were particularly busy because the harvest this year was poor and months of cold weather are imminent. The only other unusual activity outside the capital was the extra security at the borders and around the thousands of monuments to the Kim dynasty found all over the country. This extra security was to discourage North Koreans from expressing what many really thought about the last 70 years. It was feared that more people would either try to flee the country or deface the monuments. Both illegal activities are occurring with increasing frequency. There is also been more crime of all sorts, some out of desperation (literally stealing to buy food) but the more clever criminals are targeting the donju (entrepreneurs), often by impersonating police or government officials in order to steal from these newly wealthy North Koreans.

September 6, 2018: For the first time the U.S. identified and indicted a North Korea hacker (Pak Jin Hyok) for participation in major hacking attacks. The most famous of these was the Sony Pictures extortion in 2014 and the WannaCry ransomware in 2017. There were others involving attacks on banks. Pak got sloppy with a gmail account and that led to tracking him down and identifying him and many details of how he did what he did. The U.S. imposed economic sanctions on Pak and a week later North Korea denied all the charges. South Korea and the United States have been tracking down North Korean hackers for over a decade. This has become easier as North Korea produces more of these hackers and puts more pressure on them to raise cash for the Kim dynasty.

A South Korea delegation returned from North Korea and reported that they were told by Kim Jong Un that he wanted to proceed with denuclearization.

September 5, 2018: China was accused of allowing increased trade with North Korea back in May. 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.

September 4, 2018: In South Korea, army commanders warned that preparations would have to be made do deal with the millions of landmines in the DMZ. Many of these are over sixty years old and many are in unknown locations. If the Koreas are unified opening the DMZ to the public will be a big deal but that will not be possible until all the landlines and unexploded shells, bombs and grenades are found and disposed of.

August 30, 2018: In Japan, the government issued a document detailing its military strategy and justification for increased defense spending over the last decade. The document pointed out that while North Korea was still a threat, long-term China was a larger threat. Unlike North Korea, whose economy and military are a mess, China has a robust and growing economy and armed forces that continue to modernize.

August 29, 2018: South Korea complained to China that another Chinese military aircraft had violated South Koreas ADIZ (Air Defense Identification Zone) and remained in the ADIZ four hours before leaving. South Korea sent ten warplanes aloft to confront the intruder. This is the second such intrusion in a month. In 2013 China announced a new ADIZ that overlapped South Korean, Philippine and Japanese airspace. China demanded that any foreign military or commercial aircraft request permission before flying into this zone. South Korea and Japan protested while the United States quickly flew some B-52s into the disputed zone without asking for Chinese permission. China protested and the United States ignored them just as China ignores South Korean protests.

August 28, 2018: Russia and South Korea agreed to establish a hotline between South Korean and Russian air force commanders responsible for Pacific coast operations. This would make it easier to quickly resolve the growing number of incidents where Russian warplanes enter South Korean airspace (the ADIZ) without permission.The Green Sheep Group with Lord-Lieutenant of Warwickshire Tim Cox and Stratford MP Nadhim Zahawi. (Photo: Simon Apps. Professional Images (UK) Ltd)

A STRATFORD business has officially received the prestigious Queens Award for Enterprise within the Innovation category making it one of only four companies to receive this top accolade in the West Midlands.

Green Sheep Group (GSG), a UK-based nursery company in Snitterfield, near Stratford-upon-Avon, celebrated the Queens Award with staff and special guests, Lord-Lieutenant of Warwickshire, Tim Cox, Her Majestys formal representative in the county, and Stratford MP Nadhim Zahawi, who is also Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families.

During a special presentation at GSGs headquarters last Friday, there were smiles all round as the Lord-Lieutenant was joined by Green Sheep Group chief executive Roger Allen, Mr Zahawi, key personnel and the GSG team.

This is such an accolade for Green Sheep Group to win. There were only 230 Queens Award winners nationally and four only in the West Midlands, it is with great pleasure that I say many congratulations to all of you, Lord-Lieutenant of Warwickshire, Tim Cox said.

Mr Zahawi then added his congratulations to the Green Sheep Group award winning team when he said: It really is a great honour and something, very, very special. The Queens Award will enhance everything you do and is to be seen as a stamp of quality and service. In addition with my childrens and families role we can all take pride in the baby and nursery products you manufacturer. You truly are a success story because four years ago the turnover was 800,000 and now youre looking at 8 million. I am delighted that your selling to the world has made you part of the backbone of UK PLC.

Roger Allen, Green Sheep Group chief executive, said: The whole company was absolutely delighted to receive the news. It is testimony to the hard work and upbeat culture in every department that we have received such an incredible honour. The presentation evening will be a great way for us to celebrate our recent success and acknowledge each and every one of our employees that put in hard work on a daily basis.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 ...Welcome, DISH customer! Please note that we cannot save your viewing history due to an arrangement with DISH.

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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and United Kingdom on Monday launched a new UK-Pakistan Partnership on Justice and Accountability to check money laundering and bring back the stolen assets, besides agreeing to reactivate bilateral Prisoners Transfer Agreement.



This was announced during a joint news conference by visiting British Home Secretary Sajid Javid flanked by Law Minister Farogh Nasim and Prime Ministers Special Assistant on Accountability Shehzad Akbar after his talks with Prime Minister Imran Khan, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and other senior leadership of the government.



The British Home Secretary said the UK wants to work with Pakistan to help it come out of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list.



I heard the direct impact of money laundering has been on Pakistan. It reduces tax, takes money from basic services and is a barrier to investment. With the Prime Minister, I have agreed that tackling corruption is a priority for both of our governments. Thats why today I am launching a new UK-Pakistan Partnership on Justice and Accountability, the British Home Secretary announced, adding that the objective is that no one escapes justice or acts with impunity.



He also announced the appointment of a new British envoy on Justice and Accountability who will help cooperate between the two countries on the subject. He said that he also agreed with Prime Minister Khan that the Premier would work closely with his own adviser on accountability.



To a question whether extradition of former Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and the sons of former Premier Nawaz Sharif also came under discussion, he said that they did not discuss individual cases. This [UK-Pakistan Partnership on Justice and Accountability] is a new agreement and it will lead to much deeper cooperation on justice and accountability, he added.



He went on saying, Whether we have or havent received any individual extradition cases, it is an independent process. It is important that we work even more closely with government of Pakistan on one of its key priorities and the new Prime Minister made that clear, and we shared that, and that is for justice. I think the partnership that we announced today will make a big difference, he added.



He said, As part of our justice cooperation, the two sides have agreed to re-start Bilateral Prisoners Transfer Agreement which would help prisoners from both countries serve their sentences closer to their families.



The Prime Minister and I had a very constructive discussion on how we can work together even more closely. We discussed the strong links between our two countries, he said.



Im proud that Im one from 12 British MPs of Pakistani heritage sitting in the British parliament and I am proud of the enormous contribution British Pakistanis make for the success of the UK, he said.



But our interconnections also pose risks for both of our countries  the flow of illegal money, people, crime and terrorism  so it is vital we do all we can to encourage a strong bond between our two countries, he said, adding: We are cracking down on those who wished to abuse our laws.



He said that he discussed with the Prime Minister the strong cooperation against the shared threats from terrorism and extremism, adding that Pakistan has suffered more than most from terrorism. Terrorism is a threat that we all face. Therefore, we need more concerted efforts and work together, he added.



But my visit is not only about justice and security issues. As the first British minister to visit here since the election, I am here to strengthen our relationship across the board. The depth of this relationship is best illustrated through our investment in education which is central to the UKs work in Pakistan, he added.



Since 2011, he said that the UK has helped over 9.5 million children into primary schools, including 4.6 million girls, and over 5 million into secondary schools.



While the UK prepared to leave the EU, he said, historical partners like Pakistan are of renewed significance. With a growing population of over 200 million people, Pakistan has the potential to emerge as an increasing stronger trading partner for the UK, he added.



He said that the UK is Pakistans largest export market in the EU and second largest globally, adding that there is already over 120 British companies that operate in Pakistan.



On leaving the EU, we are aiming to maintain, indeed, to increase the level of access for Pakistan to the UK markets. We want to see more UK-based companies to invest in Pakistan, he said, adding that more companies need to consider Pakistan for exploring excellent opportunities to create jobs and prosperity for both the countries.



Asked whether the British government will support Pakistan in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the British Home Secretary said both the countries take money laundering very seriously and the work of FATF is very important. We want to work with Pakistan to help it come out of the grey list and it is not just because of the FATF, but I think the government of Pakistan wants these changes anyway and we will work and cooperate together, he added.



Im here in Pakistan to reaffirm this important relationship and establish new areas of cooperation. This morning I met with the foreign minister and interior minister to discus our work together on security, justice and regional stability, he said.



He stated: We firmly believe that Pakistan is UKs most committed and enduring partner. We provide more development assistance than anyone else. We are Pakistans biggest export market in Europe and major source of Pakistans foreign direct investment.



He also congratulated Prime Minister Imran Khan and his government on taking office, adding that the UK is firmly committed to working closely with the Prime Minister to build the strong foundation.



Further elaborating the declaration on the UK-Pakistan Partnership on Justice and Accountability, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Accountability Barrister Shehzad Akbar said that it will have single-point contact person on both sides to expedite the operational working on various cases of extradition, money laundering and other serious organized crimes.



He said, Work has already been started with National Crime Agency of UK and we are also discussing to have a joint fund on civil recovery of stolen assets. We appreciated the help and offer of the British government to set up this fund in which Pakistan will also contributeand we go for the civil recovery of the stolen asset as it is the initiative of this government.



He said that there are also discussions on appointment of Crown Prosecution Service with appointment of liaison at the British High Commission for helping and working with Pakistan law enforcement agencies for filing all the requests in terms of mutual legal assistance and extradition requests.



He said that a new program is also under discussion for capacity building of Pakistans law enforcement and various institutions with experts from the UK. He said that British government has also extended support to the Prime Ministers initiative of legislative reforms, adding that a few tasks force have been formed for reforms in the civil and criminal justice system.



On the prisoners agreement, he said that it has to go through the cabinet being a procedural requirement. But we have today to follow that up in coming days that will also be restarted, he said, adding that the agreement was already there but it was suspended for few years and now it is being restarted.



To a question regarding possible extradition of Ishaq Dar and the sons of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Minister for Law Barrister Farogh Naseem denied that the matter was discussed during the talks with the visiting British Home Secretary. We havent discussed individual cases, but discussed, in terms of prescribe a legal regime, under the auspices of which, we could work, he added.



To another question whether a list of wanted persons was handed over to the British home secretary, the law minister declined to comment on that, saying: I am unable to share the details at this stage.



Yet again to a question about extradition of Dar and Nawaz Shairfs sons, the minister said: As we have not discussed any details, so I would not wish to answer this question that is something on which we can come to the media and discuss it later.



To this question, Barrister Shehzad Akbar said that the matter is before the accountability court and international perpetual warrants have been issued from the court and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is the main agency dealing with the matter. If they [court and NAB] file a request, the government will support, but at the moment it is in their domain and we have not discussed individual cases.



Further elaborating on the declaration on UK-Pakistan Partnership on Justice and Accountability, Farogh Naseem said that it has a general implication and will not cover individual cases. However, he stated if it is applicable then it would be across the board.



Earlier, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi received the British Home Secretary Sajid Javid at the Foreign Office and discussed various areas of regional and bilateral cooperation, in particular regional security, counter terrorism, organized crime, migration, human trafficking, money-laundering and assets recovery.



According to a Foreign Office statement, Qureshi stressed the need for expanding Pakistan-UK cooperation and translate the existing ties into a tangible and multifaceted strategic partnership. He appreciated DFIDs contribution towards the development of socioeconomic sectors in Pakistan.



The British home secretary conveyed his governments desire to support and work closely with the new government in all areas of mutual interest. The two countries closely cooperate under the institutional framework of the Enhanced Strategic Dialogue, it added.



Synchronicity Films, producer of the soon to broadcast The Cry, has secured the rights to Heather Morris bestselling novel The Tattooist of Auschwitz, and is already in development as a multi-part, high-end international drama series.

Synchronicity, which has a first look deal with DRG, has also attached Jacquelin Perske to adapt Morris best-selling book. Perske wrote the screenplay for Synchronicitys forthcoming BBC One drama The Cry, adapting it from the novel of the same name.

The series of The Tattooist of Auschwitz is planned to be ready for broadcast in January 2020, to tie in with the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

First published in January 2018, The Tattooist of Auschwitz has gone on to receive huge critical acclaim, selling more than three quarters of a million copies to date. It tells of Lale Sokolov, a Jewish prisoner who was given the job of tattooing identification numbers on prisoners arms in the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp during World War Two and his love affair with fellow prisoner Gita.

Claire Mundell (pictured), founder and creative director at Synchronicity Films, struck the deal for the book rights with CAA, representing Bonnier Books UK. Mundell said: We are beyond thrilled to have secured the rights to this incredibly brilliant, confronting and uplifting book. I fell in love with it within a few pages and was desperate to bring it to the screen, to reach the widest audience possible for this unforgettable story. There was a huge amount of interest in this title and I am grateful that Heather Morris, Bonnier Books UK and CAA responded so well to our vision for the story.

Author Heather Morris said: Lale Sokolov placed a great deal of trust in me when he first shared his story. I am now passing that baton on and am so pleased that Synchronicity Films was successful in negotiating for the rights. Claire and her colleagues have an obvious passion for my book and have demonstrated clear sensitivity to producing a real persons story. I know Lale will be smiling down at this new phase of his and Gitas story.

Kate Parkin, Managing Director of Adult Trade, Bonnier Books UK: comments: The Tattooist of Auschwitz is a deeply personal story, with universal themes of courage, love and survival. Synchronicity Films was committed to this book from our very first conversation; they had a clear strategy and fully embraced the responsibilities of bringing this story to the small screen. We are delighted that Claire and her team have been successful in securing the rights and we will follow the series development with great interest.

Share this storyCan you evolve while being robust?







Vienna, Austria (SPX) Sep 18, 2018





It is often thought that DNA, together with the genes encoded in it, is the essence of life. But equally important is coordinating when genes are turned on and off. In fact, it is this process, called regulation of gene expression, that defines life by allowing organisms to react to their surroundings rather than being static automatons. As even the smallest organisms like bacteria have many genes, coordinating their expression is done by a dedicated set of proteins, which bind specific sites in t ... read moreTERENCE J SIGAMONY



ISLAMABAD: Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Wednesday informed the Supreme Court that properties of 2,700 Pakistanis have been identified in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and they have decided to summon them and take affidavits from them.



A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar was hearing a suo motu case regarding slackness in progress of pending inquiries relating to fake bank accounts.



The Chief Justice rejected the DG FIA Bashir Memons request for one month time to furnish the list and directed the FIA to file it within 15 days.



The court was informed that the federal government has signed an agreement with the United Kingdom (UK) for bringing back looted money. The bench observed that still many areas were not covered in the accord. Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan remarked still money is being transferred abroad through hawala, hundi and foreign accounts. He inquired what steps have been taken by the government to stop illegal transfer of money.



Attorney General for Pakistan Anwar Mansoor said that raids were conducted in Lahore, Multan, Karachi, Faisalabad and Peshawar to arrest people involved in hawala and hundi. Justice Ijaz said it means laws already existed but those were not implemented.



The AGP sought one weeks time to amend various laws pertaining to money laundering and corruption, adding after one week they would inform the court about the measures taken by the government to curb the menace of hawala and hundi. He said the authorities have been collecting information about Pakistanis having properties and bank accounts abroad. He said the report of task force will be submitted fortnightly.



Justice Ijaz observed that according to the report, 44 persons were arrested as they were involved in the hawala and hundi business.



The Chief Justice said they had great expectations from Governor State Bank of Pakistan Tariq Bajwa, but still no solution has been presented to bring back money shifted abroad.



The SBP governor informed the court that many amendments have been introduced in financial laws. He said until now efforts have been made to bring back money under domestic laws, while every country has its own laws regarding money laundering and corruption therefore it is required to study their laws.



Tariq Bajwa said due to the order of the apex court, the FIA can now send request for mutual legal assistance (MLA) to the relevant country, adding soon there will be positive result of it; and sought more time to do the needful.



The Chief Justice remarked that they had already given six months to the committee constituted by the Supreme Court. He said that except paper work, the committee members could not bring back even a single dollar. Many times I have asked FBR Chairman Jehanzeb Khan to provide the list of persons who have shifted money to foreign countries so that they could be summoned. He said if the FBR cannot summon them then give the list to the court so they could summon and question them.



Tariq Bajawa said that 550 properties of Pakistanis that had been identified in the UAE are just the start and could be taken as pilot project. He said it was also their desire that the apex court should pass an order in this regard.



The Chief Justice then asked him they would summon 550 persons who have properties abroad and inquired from them about the transfer of money. He said if somebody had transferred money to foreign country then under Article 183(3) they have power to pass an order for recovery of the repatriated money.



Tariq Bajwa said they are seeking to summon those people and take affidavit from them. The Chief Justice said if that is the case then they pass order for their appearance after Ashura.



The SBP governor stated it would be good if the Task Force summons them instead of the apex court.



The Chief Justice said they also wanted the government to take the ownership.



Addressing Director General FIA Bashir Memon, the Chief Justice said that according to information, Pakistanis have Rs 1,000 billion properties abroad. He said if they would provide the list then such persons who own billions of rupees properties abroad could be summoned by the court.



The AGP said that they would provide the list of such people next week.



The case was adjourned for two weeks.



Like his predecessors, President Trump is now convinced that staying the course militarily throughout the Middle East is our only choice, worrying that a hasty withdrawal would create a vacuum that terrorists would instantly fill. If that is the standard, we will stay forever

Despite this Presidents sometimes confused perspective on international relations, his world view always had a compelling redeeming quality: a seemingly genuine desire to chart a less intrusive, more pragmatic foreign policy. While many neocons and liberals have chastised him for forsaking Americas role in safeguarding the post-World War II economic and political world order, it is painfully clear that our hyper-interventionism of the last few decades has led to more problems than we have solved. But as it turns out, the neocons and liberals have been fretting for no good reason. While President Trumps verbal barrages against certain allies have been unsettling and some of his trade-related actions with other close allies will prove counterproductive, his military actions to date place him squarely in the same mold as his two immediate presidential predecessorsand this is nowhere more obvious than in his recurring acquiescence to the same Departments of State and Defense that have repeatedly led us into one quagmire after another in the Middle East.

Plus ca change, plus cest la meme chose

President Trump is allowing himself to be drawn deeper and deeper into Middle East conflicts that he had sworn he would avoid. Candidate Trump was keenly aware that many of our so-called Middle Eastern allies, especially Saudi Arabia, could not be trusted, and that same candidate seemed to understand that not every conflict required American intervention. This was particularly true of Syria, which he rightly sensed was a lose-lose situation and best avoided. No more.

In Syria, as in Iraq and Afghanistan, there has been no discernible change in our approach since the Obama Administration, except perhaps to ratchet up the rhetoric and further increase troop levels. It is true that Mr. Trump stopped the Obama penchant for setting deadlines for withdrawal, but that is a superficial change of no genuine value. Our policy-makers, who have considerable intellect but are devoid of wisdom, convinced Mr. Trump that setting timelines gives hope to our enemies. Yet, regardless of what we say or do not say, our enemies know that we cannot stay forever. As far as the Taliban, ISIS, Al Qaeda, Iran, and others are concerned, the Crusaders also never gave a timeline for withdrawal, but eventually they did withdraw.

When President Obama left office there were approximately 8,500 US troops in Afghanistan; there are now well over 14,000. Similarly, in Iraq, when Mr. Obama left there were about 5,200 troopsa number that has not dwindled under the isolationist Trump Administration, while the number of US troops in Syria has quadrupled under President Trump from about 500 to more than 2000, supporting various local militias whom we deem non-extremistsin much the same way we worked with Afghan resistance groups against the Russians in the Eighties, only later to discover that they were far more radical and anti-American than we had imagined.

Like his predecessors, President Trump is now convinced that staying the course militarily throughout the Middle East is our only choice, even though no one has made a convincing case for the continued squandering of American blood and treasure. As with Mr. Obama, Mr. Trump is worried that a hasty withdrawal would create a vacuum that terrorists would instantly fill. If that is the standard, we should be prepared to remain in the Middle East until our grandchildren are grandparents.

and the big fool said to push on

It was February 1968, and as we gathered around the lone TV in our house, the Smother Brothers show started. I was excited because I knew Pete Seeger would be on, and only a few months earlier he had been censored and prevented from singing his anti-Vietnam War song, Waist Deep in the Big Muddy. As he strummed his banjo and started singing, a strange, furtive thought came to mind: If I were that Captain in that song, I would do the same thing. I wouldnt turn around, I wouldnt go back. Hell, we were already half way across the river; it would be too cowardly, too weak, too un-American, to turn back. For the first time I understood why President Johnson and then Nixon found it so hard to turn back, and today why President Obama couldnt and now President Trump cannot bring themselves to correct our colossal strategic failure in the Middle East: Turning backdisentangling ourselves from Middle Eastern conflicts that do not directly threaten our vital national interestswould take more courage and wisdom than can be found in a craven little town like Washington.

Of course, we had good reasons to stick it out in Vietnam: the domino theory, reluctance to betray allies, national pride and prestige, an understandable desire to prevent bloodshed and violent retribution on a massive scale. And one cannot blame our military leaders for not wanting to give up; that is the correct military attitude. I know Vietnam vets who are still convinced that victory was right around the corner had we just given it another year, or if the protesters had been silenced, or if we had followed a more ruthless strategy. Im sure thousands of German vets felt the same way about Stalingradjust a little more time, a few more tanks, a better attack plan. We dont want generals who ever give up, but politicians and diplomats should know better. Not every battle is worth the cost; not every victory leads to a better world.

In Syria, mission creep is already upon usour objective in Syria is no longer just to eradicate ISIS, a goal which is now nearly complete. Just as in Afghanistan, where our objective quickly morphed from defeating Al Qaeda to destroying the Taliban to remaking an entire country in our own image, so too in Syria we now are redefining our objectives. We now insist we will stay until the removal of all Iranian military personnel and the establishment of a non-threatening government acceptable to all Syrians and the international community. In other words: We will stay forever.

Two Questions We should be Asking Ourselves

Our new objective in Syriato help establish a non-threatening Syrian government that is acceptable to all Syrians and the international community is laudable. But is it plausible? Is it realistic? Is it a standard that any Middle Eastern country could satisfy? Is the Saudi regime acceptable to its Shia minority? Is the Sisi regime in Egypt acceptable to the majority of Egyptians who voted for the ousted Muslim Brotherhood government? Are any of the states that comprise the Middle East genuinely non-threatening to their neighbors? By adopting this standard, we are willfully sentencing Syria to long-term dismemberment, where different factions will control different regions with no foreseeable hope of unification.

The second question we should be asking ourselves is even more important, but one that policymakers dont want to candidly confront: Was the 2003 invasion of Iraq a mistake? That is, do we now acceptalbeit however grudginglythat Iraq and the world were better off when Saddam Hussein was in control? Despite the fact that Saddam was a monster, despite the fact that he waged aggressive wars against Kuwait and Iran, despite his use of poison gas, despite his torturing of political opponents, is it not true that the Iraqi people have suffered more since his demise and that the entire region has become more unstable?

If one agrees with this assessmentthat the 2003 invasion was a strategic blunderthen we should accept, as the Russians have, that the only practical solution to the Syrian crisis must include, in some form, the continuation of the Assad regime. This is, of course, anathema to both those lovers of justice on the left and those lovers of Israel on the right, but President Assad remains indispensable to resolving the crisis and ensuring stability, just as Saddam was indispensable to stability in Iraq.

What is happening in Syria is a civil war and it is almost always a bad idea to get involved in civil wars. We understand that and so we sensibly declare that we want a cooperative approach with other nations, but then we petulantly insist like a bratty school girl that we wont invite Iran, Russia, or even Mr. Assad to the party. Not so long ago, President Trump seemed to understand that this approach was unreasonable and announced that our intention was not to depose President Assad, and he seemed inclined to work cooperatively with Russia on resolving the Syrian problem. But now we are back to wanting regime change, although it might be more exactly called regime change lite. The State Departments new representative for Syrian engagement recently reiterated that our policy is not that Assad must go, then irresponsibly added that Assad has no futureits just not our job to get rid of him. That gratuitous comment was too clever by half; the only thing heard in Moscow and Damascus and everywhere else is that the Americans dont want Mr. Assad to have any future. Mr. Trumps advisers, once again, have overturned his directive.

Aiding and Abetting the Wrong Side

There remain approximately 70,000 anti-government forces in Idlib province, many of whom are associated with Al Qaeda and ISIS. Taking control of Idlib is essential to Mr. Assads consolidating his power and restoring some semblance of unity to Syria, so this bastion of anti-government forces is now the focus of attention for Mr. Assad and his Russian allies. It is likely that an all-out attack will cause considerable civilian casualties and that the rebels will ruthlessly refuse to allow civilians to depart the areas that they hold. They will refuse to allow the civilians to leave and they will fight against the Assad forces more tenaciously thanks in part to us.

We have now made it clear that we will not tolerate large-scale civilian casualties and we have warned both President Assad and Russia not to escalate the conflict against these terrorist forces. No president wants to look weak or stand by idly while civilian anywhere are slaughtered. No president wants to lose a countryif Syria can even be called such a thing anymore. And certainly, messianic fervorthat desire to remake the world in our imageis a disease all presidents are susceptible to. This new (old) U.S. policy unwittingly aids and abets the terrorists that we know are our sworn enemies. Every American warning to President Assad and Russia reassures Al Qaeda and ISIS that we will counter the Syrian regime and they have no need to compromise or retreat. If they stand their ground and ensure a civilian bloodbath, we have unintentionally assured them that we will intervene on their behalf against Mr. Assad. This is not what we intended, but this is what we have ensured.

The Imaginative Conservative applies the principle of appreciation to the discussion of culture and politicswe approach dialogue with magnanimity rather than with mere civility. Will you help us remain a refreshing oasis in the increasingly contentious arena of modern discourse? Please consider donating now.Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin Alexander Irwan and Yanuar Nugroho (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, September 19, 2018 09:44 1148 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b3087737a097 3 Opinion land-redistribution,land-reform,economic-inequality,inequality,poverty-alleviation,forest Free

One similarity between the three Asian economies, namely Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, is their success in becoming high-income countries after World War II while maintaining a more equal distribution of income. Currently the Gini Index of Japan, South Korea and Taiwan are in the low 0.30s, while Indonesias index (a lower middle-income country) is around 0.40. Key to the ability of the three countries in maintaining a more equal distribution of income is land reform, which they conducted as early as the 1940s and 1950s.



The 2016 data from the Global Hunger Index and last years figures from the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization show that the worlds hunger and malnutrition cases increased from 777 million in 2015 to 815 million in 2016.



This problem is not solely due to lack of food, but is also related to villagers lack of access to land and concentration of land ownership in the hands of corporations. Lack of access to land and natural resources is among major contributing factors to increasing inequality.



Yet it is never too late to conduct land reform. The Indonesian governments plan to provide ownership certificates and long-term leases over land and forests totaling more than 21 million hectares to local communities living within or in surrounding forest areas needs to be supported.



With these certificates and leases, millions of poor rural Indonesians will have the necessary legal certainty to invest in those lands and forests as assets to improve their livelihoods and help ensure a brighter future for their children.



The governments social forestry program, for example, provides local communities and indigenous people legal access to manage forests and other natural resources within them.



Recent research by the Alliance of Indigenous Peoples of the Archipelago (AMAN) demonstrates that indigenous communities create significant economic value from their forest management.



The Kajang community in Bulukumba, South Sulawesi, creates approximately Rp 28.92 billion (almost US$2 million) of economic value per year from production of natural products and various crafts. The Moi Kelim community in Sorong, West Papua, creates even larger value, reaching Rp 41.23 billion per year. As a comparison, the Moi Kelim communitys economic value creation is significantly higher than the total Sorong regional domestic product, currently at $2,413 per year per capita (excluding oil and gas).



These findings rebuff the common assumption that indigenous peoples activities in forests bring less economic value in comparison to large-scale economic activities like plantations or mining.



It is thus only appropriate that Indonesia has been selected to host the 2018 Global Land Forum 2018, to be held in Bandung from Sept. 23 to 27. This forum is conducted only once every three years and is attended by international development organizations, UN agencies, government agencies, academics, non-governmental organizations, as well as civil society organizations (CSOs) and villagers working at the grass roots level.



In these times of global uncertainty and growing inequality, Indonesia can use the forum to showcase its efforts to reduce inequality through land and forest redistribution. Indonesias best practices, along with others from around the world, can be shared with the aim of finding solutions to increasing inequality in the low- and lower middle-income countries.



Indeed, Indonesia has much to share, not the least of which is the constructive collaboration between government agencies at all levels with CSOs and millions of villagers from across the archipelago to actualize the progressive land and forest redistribution agenda.



One example is the creation of a community forestry in Namo village, Sigi regency in Central Sulawesi. During the 1980s, the Namo community living around Lore Lindu National Park had limited access to the forest.



However, since the implementation of the hutan desa (village forest) program in Namo, the community set up zones in the forest for various types of forest management. Research by the Partnership for Governance Reform (Kemitraan) in 2016 shows an increase in monthly income of Rp 900,000 per household from managing non-timber forest products, like rattan or bamboo.



From abroad, another success story on community forest management comes from Honduras. Community forestry in Honduras has been characterized by little or no formal or legal rights over forest areas.



However, a study in three municipalities of the central highlands found that in the 10 years between 1994 and 2003, community forestry enterprises contributed approximately $7 million to the local economy. In one municipality, Lepaterique, local residents established small-scale logging operations in 1992. Five years later, a socioeconomic survey found the income of households involved in these logging activities had doubled and that 50 to 60 percent of their total income had come from forest activities.



The 2018 Land Forum will be held in Bandung, host city of the historic 1955 Asia-Africa Conference, which at that time represented nearly one-quarter of the worlds land surface and roughly 54 percent of its population. The final Communique of the Conference underscored the need for participating countries to provide technical assistance to one another through the exchange of experts and technological know-how, as well as the establishment of regional training and research institutes.



May the 2018 Global Land Forum deliver promises of the 1955 Asia-Africa Conference in bridging collaboration among emerging countries that are struggling to reduce inequality through land and forest redistribution.

***

Alexander Irwan is acting director of the Ford Foundation Jakarta office, and Yanuar Nugroho is deputy chief of staff for Analysis and Oversight of Strategic Issues on Social, Cultural and Ecological Affairs at the Executive Office of the President.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin Editorial Board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, September 19, 2018 08:27 1148 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877376dc2 4 Editorial #Editorial,Jokowi-administration,BPJS-Kesehatan,BPJS,deficit,state-budget,health-care,healthcare-policy Free

It was a beautiful dream: By early next year, all Indonesians would have access to health care at very low premiums. According to an initial plan launched on Jan. 1, 2014, 121 million people, or 48 percent of the population, were supposed to have universal health care (JKN) in the first stage.



That includes 86.4 million beneficiaries of the governments community health protection scheme, in addition to beneficiaries of the locally funded health insurance scheme, 16 million holders of state health insurance Askes, 7 million holders of the Jamsostek social security program in companies and 1.2 million members of the Asabri insurance scheme for police and military personnel.



Insya Allah [God willing], in the second stage, on Jan. 1, 2019, at the latest, all Indonesians will be able to benefit from the BPJS [Kesehatan], said then-president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, referring to the Healthcare and Social Security Agency.



Challenges were evident for what seemed to be the worlds largest government subsidized healthcare scheme, but the stages to eventually cover the whole nation were considered feasible.



But earlier this week, only a few months before the start of 2019, it was confirmed that the BPJS is in the red, facing a deficit of almost Rp 11 trillion (US$737.9 million) as hospitals complain their claims have not been paid. Deputy Finance Minister Mardiasmo said on Monday that the government would pitch in Rp 4.99 trillion to close the gap.



Another measure to plug the shortage is a revised presidential regulation on the national health insurance program signed just last week by President Joko Jokowi Widodo, though the deficit had long been predicted.



Mardiasmo told lawmakers that the new regulation would enable additional funding of BPJS Kesehatan from varied sources, including tobacco excise. From half of the tobacco excise received across the country, 75 percent could help plug the BPJS deficit, he said.



Even if this years deficit is covered, sustainable funding of the universal health scheme for more than 266 million citizens remains questionable. We should learn from similar schemes of countries that started offering universal health care decades before us, such as the United Kingdom with its National Health Service. These lessons might help prevent further deficits and save millions of patients from being stranded, mainly those needing costly health care.



Some quick education is urgent as Jokowis government jumped over the planned stages of his predecessor, modeling the national Health Indonesia Card (KIS) for citizens to access health care on the Jakarta Health Card (KJS, which was issued when Jokowi was governor of the capital.



Indeed, many Indonesians only pay their premiums when they are in need of health care, while the BPJS now enables access two weeks after the latest payment is made. This leads to patients and their families venting out their frustration on health workers when denied access.



Failure to reach a quick solution will see us end up in the vicious circle of people increasingly resorting to private care, with even less investment in hospitals joining the national healthcare scheme.Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin - (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta, Indonesia  Wed, September 19, 2018 15:43 1147 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b3087738ca70 4 Inforial Free

BKKBN, UNFPA and PPD organizing inter-ministerial conference to address South-South and Triangular Cooperation on Population and Development Issues Influencing the 2030 SDGs Agenda

. (./.)

In an increasingly interconnected world, inter-governmental cooperation and collaboration are all the more crucial as the global community works towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development underpinned by its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) whose ultimate pledge is to leave no one behind.

To fulfill this vision, a multilateral approach to population and development issues is more crucial than ever, an approach symbolized strongly by what is known as South-South and Triangular Cooperation in which developing countries work together across a range of programmes and platforms with a view to strengthening capacity, adapting and adopting best practices that would benefit all citizens - including women and girls, young persons, and marginalized and vulnerable populations.

It is in this context that the National Population and Family Planning Board of Indonesia (BKKBN), in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and Partners in Population and Development (PPD), is organizing an inter-ministerial conference from September 18 to 20 in Kuta, Bali, addressing the latest developments in South-South cooperation (SSC), to assist developing countries involved in attaining the 2030 Agenda by mainstreaming population and development issues across the SDGs.

The Bali conference will be attended by participants from around 50 countries.

Besides exchanging best practices on population and development issues, like-minded countries could also explore concrete bilateral or multilateral cooperation opportunities related to the 2030 Agenda enabling them to co-create programmes, which can leverage a higher magnitude of social impact related to the SDGs.

Countries joining this conference will also formulate a consensus which they will present to audience members attending the upcoming SSC high-level conference (the BAPA  Buenos Aires Plan of Action +40 conference) in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in March of next year.

Among the conference speakers in Bali are Minister of Health Nila Djuwita F. Moeloek, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Asia Pacific Regional Director, Bjorn Andersson (representing UNFPA Executive Director, Dr. Natalia Kanem), secretary of Partners in Population and Development (PPD) Susan Sabangu and BKKBN Chairperson, Dr. Sigit Priohutomo. Ministers from several countries will also participate in this conference.

Chairmans speech: National Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN) Chairperson, Dr. Sigit Priohutomo delivers the opening speech of the Inter-Ministerial Conference on South-South and Triangular Cooperation in Kuta, Bali, on Tuesday. The Sept. 18 to 20 inter-ministerial conference is being attended by delegates from 29 countries to discuss population and development issues that affect the sustainable development goals for 2030. (Courtesy of BKKBN/.)

Discussion panels will include experts and practitioners who work in the population, social and economic development sectors. The panel discussions will include case studies on how countries work together through South-South and Triangular Cooperation in the implementation of SDGs-related programmes in various countries, including critical evaluation of their implementation.

Specifically, the conference will cover six main topics.

The first one is the issue of low fertility rates and ageing populations, trends that are being seen in more and more countries globally, including many in the Asia-Pacific region.

The second is about what is called the demographic bonus and how to leverage the demographic dividend offered by achieving the potential of youth, as well as an increasingly important topic - youth, peace and security.

The third is about sexual and reproductive health as well as rights-based family planning whose success is vital for a countrys development.

The fourth is about humanitarian initiatives in a world that is witnessing more and more natural disasters and conflict-related crises, while the fifth technical session covers innovation in population data, including surveys and census methodologies, especially important ahead of the 2020 round of censuses in many countries.

The sixth session will discuss the impact assessment of SSTC in mitigating population and development challenges.

About South-South and Triangular Cooperation

The fundamental idea of SSTC was conceived in 1955, when the Indonesian government of the time, along with several other countries, organized the Asia Africa Conference in Bandung, West Java, to promote economic and cultural cooperation among both continents. The community has now expanded to include Caribbean and South American countries collectively forming whats known as the Global South.

Inter-ministerial agreement: National Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN) Chairperson, Sigit Priohutomo (second right) shakes hands with Seychelles Family Affairs Minister Mitcy Larue (second left) after signing a memorandum of understanding on the development of family welfare at the Inter-Ministerial Conference on South-South and Triangular Cooperation in Kuta, Bali, on Sept. 18, with Minister of Health Nila Djuwita F. Moeloek (right) and UNFPA Asia Pacific Regional Director Bjorn Andersson serving as witnesses. (JP/Zul Trio Anggono)

This cooperation stands on a sense of solidarity and shared vision among developing countries, bonded by shared experience and history, and based on the premise of equal partnerships. All countries involved are encouraged to collectively develop an adequate partnership system while evaluating the quality and social impacts of their socio-economic development programs.

SSC is seen as complementary to the North-South cooperation axis of inter-country collaboration.

Many high-level conferences addressing SSC have been organized, including the 2009 UN high-level conference in Kenya. Currently, SSC is focusing on population issues as key elements in a collective effort to attain the SDGs while taking into consideration the member countries sociological, economic and cultural aspects.

This collective deliberation allows member countries to come up with more effective solutions for a range ofchallenges while accelerating the implementation of possible solutions.

Indonesia itself has been very active in supporting SSC programmes in two areas: population and development issues. Since the 1980s, the Indonesian government has been actively sharing its experiences in implementing its family planning programme with other developing countries.

Indonesia has also been facilitating exchange programs for family planning professionals, so far involving 5,200 individuals from 104 countries in various capacity-building and training programs. Several cooperation programmes in the two domains -- where Indonesia plays a significant role -- have also been shown to positively impact the socio-economic development of many developing countries that adopt them.

The best practices of the South-South partnerships population and development programmes have also been adopted by countries that attended the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in 1994, where 179 countries came together and in which reproductive health and rights, womens empowerment and gender equality became central to sustainable development.

The ICPD Programme of Action and the myriad rights enshrined within remain central to both the work of UNFPA as well as the 2030 Agenda.

In 2019, the world will mark the 25th anniversary of ICPD  and the 50th anniversary of UNFPA itself  key milestones pertaining to which the continued strengthening and success of South-South Cooperation and its multilateral vision play a truly important role.Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin - (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta, Indonesia  Thu, September 20, 2018 00:02 1147 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b308773992a3 4 Inforial Free

Indonesia is moving toward a cashless future as Indonesians are increasingly confident about using digital payment systems and going cashless.

Eight out of 10 Indonesians (76 percent) say they can go without cash for an entire day, Visas Consumer Payment Attitudes study in 2017 has found.

According to the study, fewer Indonesians are carrying large amounts of cash because they are using electronic payments more often (57 percent) and feel using cards is safer than cash (61 percent). Sixty percent of respondents say they would like to eliminate the physical process of paying.

Several key trends indicate Indonesians readiness to embrace the country as a digital nation in the future. One of the trends is the growth of seamless digital payment methods.

Nowadays, people can easily make payments anytime using mobile wallets, QR codes, chat bots, virtual assistants and devices connected to the Internet of Things (IoT). These new experiences arent everyday life for everyone yet, but they are beginning to scale. It has been projected that 20.8 billion connected devices will be online by 2020.

The shift to a cashless future is also supported by the growing number of digital savvy consumers in Indonesia. In its recent Consumer Payment Attitudes study, Visa found that half of all Indonesian respondents would like the country to become a cashless society. Almost all Indonesians have made online purchases, and interestingly, 85 percent of them have made device-initiated payments with their smartphones  from shopping to booking a taxi to ordering and paying for food in a variety of restaurants.

With many consumers willing to go fully digital with regard to financial services, a set of digital propositions is emerging that will turn almost any device into a potential Point of Sale (POS). Merchants can now accept payments in a multitude of ways, including scanning a QR code and through contactless credit cards, wearables and digital wallets.

As Indonesian consumers become more digitally savvy, they want to be able to shop instantly and securely, anytime, anywhere, said Riko Abdurrahman, president director of PT Visa Worldwide Indonesia.

Visa continues to collaborate with our clients and merchants in embracing real-time and secure digital payment solutions, in support of the national goal for Indonesia to become truly cashless in the near future.

Recently, Visa teamed up with Cashlez in distributing 5,000 mobile POS devices to expand contactless payment acceptance in tourist destinations across the country, including Bali, Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara, Yogyakarta, Surakarta in Central Java, Surabaya and Malang in Eat Java, Medan in North Sumatra and Bandung in West Java. The new POS offers not just a place for checkouts, but also to build relationships and reward customer loyalty.

As payments become more digital and threats to payment confidentiality and integrity escalate, challenges in payment security are increasingly acute. In responding to these challenges, technologies such as EMV chips, point-to-point encryption, tokenization and stronger biometric authentication are widely developed to strengthen payment security.

Visa is also committed to ensuring that our network operates at the highest level of security available and will continue to steer the Indonesian payment industry toward the adoption of strong technologies based on industry standards, such as EMV chips, tokenization and point-to-point encryption, Riko explained.With a backpack filled with pirated books, Khalid wanders the streets of Rabat peddling cheap reads -- part of a flourishing black market eliciting howls of protest from bookshop owners.

"It's true that it's not legal, but the price of these books attracts readers," said Khalid, 25, who hawks his wares at cafes in the Moroccan capital.

A little more than a year ago, he sold pirated DVDs, but Khalid said that market was hit when it became possible to watch films on a smartphone.

One of a large number of young Moroccans working informally in a country with high youth unemployment, he quickly found bookselling the only way to make a living.

Along the main streets of Rabat's historical centre, dozens of other street vendors sell books in Arabic, English and French.

Pirated works can cost a tenth of the original price, with the average book going for just 20 dirhams ($2.10, 1.80 euros).

They include titles by Brazilian novelist Paulo Coelho, as well as French works by Moroccan-born writer Tahar Ben Jelloun and Yasmina Khadra from Algeria.

Despite being prohibited, the market in pirated books is largely tolerated in cities across the kingdom.

But Abdelkader Retnani, president of the Moroccan Association of Book Professionals, said the trade has led to "significant losses for publishing and distribution professionals".

He blamed the illegal book business on "an organised mafia which makes considerable profits".

"The authorities recently seized 120,000 pirated books, this sum is enormous but it's still early to estimate the losses" to booksellers, he added.

'Pirating suffocates bookshops'

Mohamed, who works in a small bookshop in Rabat, said the street trade "directly impacts our sales" in a struggling industry.

Additionally, he said the copies are "bad quality and take away all the prestige of a book".

Retnani said there are around 100 bookshops in the country, while Moroccan media put the figure at 250.

Read also: The hipster's guide to Melbourne's indie bookshops

In July, the Moroccan Press Agency's Bab magazine warned "pirating suffocates bookshops" and hits profits.

Hassan El Ouazzani, head of books, libraries and archives at the culture ministry, agreed the black market harms an already weakened sector.

Fewer than 3,000 books are published each year in the country, with an average print run of 1,000 copies.

But Ouazzani suggested the illegal sales "could encourage reading" among Morocco's 35 million citizens.

Although an increasing number of Moroccans are learning to read, figures from 2014 showed a third of the population was illiterate.

'Casablanca printers'

For the Moroccan Association of Book Professionals, cracking down on the illegal trade is essential for the survival of their industry.

Retnani called for greater controls at Moroccan ports, a request he plans to put to authorities later this month.

"The majority of pirated books are printed in Egypt and transported by sea to be stored... in illegal depots," he said.

But in a 2017 investigation, journalist Kenza Sefrioui interviewed a second-hand bookseller who said the black market trade began in 2005 in Casablanca.

A number of small-scale printers reproduced up to 20,000 copies of a Moroccan novel which featured in the school curriculum, before turning their attention to other works.

Cracking down on the street vendors would also boost state coffers, as the informal sector overall cost the state 34 billion dirhams ($3.6 billion, 3.1 billion euros) in 2014 lost tax revenues, according to the General Confederation of Moroccan Businesses.

Street vendor Khalid said he knew of four traders who were recently arrested, in an operation which has not been confirmed by Moroccan authorities.

They "earned a lot of money" importing pirated books, Khalid said, but their detention has by no means put an end to the trade in cheap literary works on Rabat's streets.Heartland rocker Bob Seger said Tuesday that he was retiring from touring, announcing final dates after a half-century career.

The 73-year-old songwriter -- best known for his hit "Old Time Rock and Roll," his 1979 tribute to what then already seemed like a retro musical style -- will tour across North America starting in November with a final date on May 2 in Houston.

Seger's representative said in a statement that the concerts would be his "final tour" but did not elaborate on the reasons.

But Seger has repeatedly hinted at retirement and last year underwent surgery for a ruptured disc in his back.

"I hope this pain goes away, 'cause they can never really guarantee it - and if it doesn't, then I'm done, dude," Seger told the music site Louder earlier this year, while emphasizing that he was recovering and his voice was unaffected.

Read also: Elton John to 'go out with a bang' on final tour

Seger, a collaborator of the Eagles, was also deeply affected by the 2016 death of the group's frontman Glenn Frey, to whom Seger dedicated a song on his latest album.

Born in Detroit, Seger found stardom with his Midwestern-influenced heartland rock, driven by a heavy guitar rooted in the blues and country with Seger's distinctly intense voice taking on themes of blue-collar life.

Seger -- whose hits also include "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man" and "Shakedown," the theme to the 1987 film "Beverly Hills Cop II" -- has grown increasingly political in his songwriting with recent songs defending the environment and taking to task President Donald Trump.Indonesian fashion designer attire and brands are slated to take part in an international Muslim fashion exhibition titled Contemporary Muslim Fashions. The exhibition, taking place at de Young museum in San Francisco, is to open on Saturday, Sept. 22. and will run until Jan. 6, 2019.

The museums website has listed 55 participating designers, including seven from Indonesia. They are Renni Andriani, Windri Widiesta Dhari for NurZahra, Anandia Putri for IKYK, Rani Hatta, Dian Pelangi, Khanaan Shamlan and Itang Yunasz.

Dian Pelangi, creative director of Dian Pelangi modest fashion brand, reportedly said in a press conference that Indonesian designers participation in the exhibition is a great accomplishment.

[The achievement is] not only [of] those [designers] who participate, but all [other Indonesian designers] who have taken part in promoting Indonesias modest fashion, Dian was quoted by Kompas.com as saying.

A fashion ensemble by Dian Pelangi (JP/Handout/Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Sebastian Kim)

When speaking of Muslim dress codes worldwide, with its complex and diverse nature, Indonesia is a country to highlight, the exhibition believes. The introduction to the exhibition points out how Indonesia, as the largest Muslim-majority country in the world, explores rich textile and costume traditions. This trait is represented by Itang Yunasz, Khanaan Shamlan and NurZahra, who employ luxurious fabrics in vibrant colors and complex patterns.

Itang, who also hosted the press conference in Jakarta alongside Dian Pelangi, said he presents collections with the theme Tribalux Sumba that features woven textile motifs from Sumba island.

He described that among his collections to be showcased is a contemporary style of kaftan and jacket with embroidery and beads.

An ensemble by Itang Yunasz (JP/Handout/Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco/Sebastian Kim)

Meanwhile, Khanaan is set to showcase collections inspired by kawung batik and Islamic architecture.

Read also: Eight modest fashion brands round out Jakarta Modest Fashion Week

Organizers of the exhibition also highlight that Muslim fashion is supported by a dynamic online community. They stated that online community leaders such as Dian Pelangi, alongside Hoda Katebi (Iranian student, activist, founder of fashion and social action blog joojooazad.com) and Leah Vernon (American plus-size model, Muslim feminist) help the exhibition look at how personal style can serve as a launch pad for larger conversation.

Furthermore, Contemporary Muslim Fashions could eventually draw attention to issues of sustainability and gender, racial and religious inequalities. (mut)Indonesian film Marlina Si Pembunuh dalam Empat Babak (Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts), directed by Mouly Surya, has been chosen to represent Indonesia in the nominee selection phase for the 2019 Academy Awards Best Foreign Language Film category.

Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts is Indonesias submission to the Oscars!



Marlina si Pembunuh dalam Empat Babak menjadi submisi Indonesia ke Oscars! #MarlinaForTheOscars pic.twitter.com/PFMaEOBIiK  Marlina si Pembunuh (@cinesurya) September 18, 2018

As reported by kompas.com, the film was proposed by the 2019 Oscar selection committee for Indonesia, which is part of the Association of Indonesia Movie Production (PPFI) led by actress Christine Hakim. It was chosen out of 101 films.

Marlina's producer, Fauzan Zidni, who is also a member of the selection committee, told kompas.com that the committee did not make a selection based on the best film, but selected a film that was suitable for the Oscars. "We have never entered the top five [Oscar] of nominations. Not even the shortlist," he said, adding that despite being a member he was not allowed to vote for his own film.

Each country is only allowed to submit one film for the Best Foreign Language Film category. "We would have liked to submit two or three Indonesian films; at least more than one. Unfortunately, each country only can submit one film," said Christine during a press conference on Tuesday.

Around 90 films are to compete for the coveted title at the 2019 Academy Awards.

On Twitter, Mouly shared her happiness and gratitude regarding the news.

Read also: Indonesian film 'Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts' screens in US

"Very happy to hear the trust given to Marlina by the selection team and friends, as well as audience on social media, who since yesterday have been campaigning on Twitter using the hashtag #marlinafortheoscars," read the post on Tuesday.

"Marlina was released last year, however [we] still feel its presence until today; it evoked an incredible [feeling] and touched me [when] reading it. Hopefully this opportunity and support continues as a way for Marlina to represent Indonesia."

The movie follows a Sumbanese widow named Marlina (Marsha Timothy), who kills a man trying to rob her house. Marlina then takes the head of the robber to a police station.

Prior to its premiere in Indonesian cinemas on Nov. 16, 2017, the film was screened at various film festivals, including the 2017 Cannes and Toronto international film festivals. Marlina has also been distributed to 18 territories in the United States, Europe and Asia. In early 2018, the film graced the screens of American and Canadian theaters.

Among the many international awards received by the film include Best Scenario at the 11th Festival International du Film de Femmes de Sale (FIFFS) in Morocco, Asian Nest Wave from The QCinema Film Festival in the Philippines, NETPAC Jury Award at Five Flavours Asian Film Festival 2017 and Best Actress for Marsha at Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival. (kes)While in recent years Paris has been joined by other cities as a major fashion destination, the City of Light remains the gold standard for many.

It is precisely this phenomenon that has drawn numerous aspiring designers from around the world to showcase their designs in the city that gave the world the likes of Dior, Chanel and Givenchy.

Indonesian actor turned fashion designer Tities Sapoetra will present a collection comprising 16 looks at the Fashion Division Paris Fashion Show Spring Summer 2019 on Sept. 28 at Hotel Le Marois - France Ameriques during Paris Fashion Week.

Im very excited to do this show. The idea had been thrown around at least three months ago, but I was confirmed for the show a month ago, Tities said, adding that he had no issues in terms of preparation as his production team had a lot of members.

Actually, one of the problems we encountered was in finding the colors. If its not what I had in mind, well redo the entire thing, so we spent a lot of time doing just that.

However, Tities also noted there were no fitting sessions for his clothes, as the models who will wear his pieces are all based in Paris, with the notable exception of Paula Verhoeven, a friend of Tities and the sole Indonesian model who will walk in the show.

We try to avoid body-hugging clothes, so the collection features oversized, loose silhouettes, coincidentally a signature of my brand.

Titled Beauty Voyage, the collection draws inspiration from the beauty of the feminine figure, manifested in floral patterns used as prints in whimsical pastels as well as opulent gold on black.

From when I first started out in 2015, Ive often subconsciously used themes surrounding women and beauty, often in soft colors. One of the prints is very girly with illustrations and pastel colors, while another one is a floral design in gold symbolizing the golden opportunity for me to showcase my work in Paris, Tities explained, adding that the black background came from his cosmetics partner Make Over.

While the full collection will make its premiere later in the gilded halls of Paris, Tities gave guests and members of the media a preview consisting of three looks.

Light femininity: Models showcase design by Tities Sapoetra that will be presented in Paris. (Courtesy of Make Over/-)

A structured high-low dress features playful, cartoonish prints on the front, with a solid lilac-colored panel on the back.

A touch of menswear is present in the form of a tailored suit jacket in black and gold floral, made feminine by being layered over a pleated knee-length printed skirt.

A shortened coat with oversized lapels in white and beige floral provide a touch of classic Parisian glamour, elevating the black and gold printed dress to one that can be worn day or night.

The organizer of the show, the Fashion Division, is an Indonesian startup that specializes in fashion for fashion students. Five young designers will showcase their works at the show, which will be closed with Tities collection.

While in Paris to organize the show, Fashion Division Paris CEO Khaled Khoualfi said in a video statement that Tities was chosen to be the star designer because of his creative and authentic designs.

We fully believe that he has the full potential to enter the French and European markets.

Khoualfi said the show would be preceded by a press conference attended by international media and fashion bloggers, while a cocktail after-party would allow for networking with industry figures.

Tities is hopeful the show will give him a foothold in the international fashion scene, as he will meet with buyers and owners of major department stores.

Its actually what Im aiming for, as I want to introduce Indonesian fashion that could stand on the same level as other brands. I want to show that Asia, especially Indonesia, has a lot of excellent designers.Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, September 19, 2018 07:04 1148 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877375cfd 4 City street-crime,drinking,Kemayoran,Central-Jakarta Free

A man, identified as Adi Yudha, died following an altercation with a group of four people celebrating a birthday in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, on Sunday.

Adi was walking with three friends when they ran into the four revelers. "The four were spraying water at each other, and the victim and his friends got sprayed," Kemayoran Police chief Comr. Saiful Anwar said on Monday as quoted by tribunnews.com.

An argument began that led to blows. "Two of them [Adis friends] were chased by two from the other group. The victim fell and he was beaten," Saiful said.

The police said one of the attackers stabbed Adi before fleeing the scene. Adi's friends took him to a nearby hospital but he did not survive.

The police have questioned several people and believe the attackers had been drinking alcohol. (evi)Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) London, United Kingdom  Wed, September 19, 2018 17:05 1147 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b3087738f47a 2 World #UK,#HateCrime,UK,hate-crime,mosque Free

Police in London launched an investigation Wednesday into a possible hate crime after a car hit a crowd outside a mosque, injuring three people.

The collision, in Cricklewood in north London in the early hours of Wednesday, followed the occupants of the car allegedly directing "comments of an Islamophobic nature" at the group, according to the Metropolitan Police.

The incident left a man in his 50s hospitalised with "a serious leg injury", while two other men in their 20s suffered minor injuries, it added.

Officers are working to trace the driver and occupants of the car -- three men and a woman, all aged in their mid-20s -- which fled the scene.

"This incident is not being treated as terror related but the hate crime aspect of the collision is being looked at by detectives as an aggravating factor," the Met said in a statement.

The incident began when security at the Al-Majlis Al-Hussaini Islamic centre learned the people in the car were "behaving anti-socially, drinking and allegedly using drugs," police added.

The vehicle occupants were asked to leave the private car park, sparking a "confrontation" with a large group of people outside the centre.

"Words were exchanged and comments of an Islamophobic nature were allegedly made by the group in the car," the Met said.

"The car then reportedly sustained minor damage by some of those outside the centre.

"It proceeded to make off at speed colliding with three individuals as it left."

Detective Sergeant Kelly Schonhage, from the local investigating team, said the incident was being treated "very seriously" and appealed for witnesses to come forward.

"Extra neighbourhood police patrols have been stepped up in the area and officers will be on hand to speak with those in the local community," she added.

The number of hate crimes in England and Wales increased by 29 percent in 2016-2017, according to the latest Home Office statistics.

On June 19 last year Darren Osborne ploughed a van into people leaving late-night prayers at a mosque in Finsbury Park in north London, killing one man and injuring 11 others.

Osborne, who had left a note in the van in which he said he was seeking revenge for Islamist terror attacks and a child sex scandal, was charged with terrorism-related murder and sentenced to life in prison in February.Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin Gael Branchereau (Agence France-Presse) Stockholm, Sweden  Wed, September 19, 2018 16:44 1147 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b3087738eed8 2 World #Nobel,#scandal,Nobel,sexual-abuse-scandal,Frenchman Free

The man at the center of a sexual assault scandal that prompted the Swedish Academy to postpone this year's Nobel Literature Prize denied two counts of rape at the start of his trial on Wednesday.

Frenchman Jean-Claude Arnault was an influential figure on Stockholm's cultural scene for decades, until the explosive sexual assault accusations against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein sparked a wave of similar allegations around the world.

Married to Katarina Frostenson, a member of the Swedish Academy which has been selecting Nobel literature laureates since 1901, Arnault ran the Forum club in Stockholm.

It was a key meeting place for the cultural elite and a popular spot among aspiring young authors hoping to make contact with publishers and writers.

The case against him erupted a month after the rape and sexual abuse accusations against Weinstein which sparked the worldwide #MeToo campaign.

Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter in November 2017 published testimonies of 18 women claiming to have been raped, sexually assaulted or harassed by Arnault.

Arnault appeared in Stockholm's district court on Wednesday to face two charges of rape against one woman.

"My client denies the charges," his lawyer Bjorn Hurtig told the court.

The judge then ruled the proceedings would be held behind closed doors, as is common in rape cases to protect the victim.

According to the charge sheet, a copy of which was obtained by AFP, the 72-year-old allegedly forced the victim -- who was in a state of "intense fear" -- to have oral sex and intercourse in a Stockholm apartment on October 5, 2011.

Arnault is also accused of raping her during the night of December 2-3 in the same apartment while she was asleep. He faces up to six years in prison if found guilty.

The victim's identity has not been disclosed, and she was not present in the courtroom at the opening of the trial on Wednesday though she was to appear later.

- 'Unwanted intimacy'-

The scandal rocked the Swedish Academy due to its long-standing and close ties to Arnault.

An internal Academy investigation revealed that several members, as well as wives and daughters of members, had also experienced "unwanted intimacy" and "inappropriate" behaviour from the accused.

Elise Karlsson, a writer who was one of the 18 who spoke out in Dagens Nyheter, said she was working under precarious conditions in 2008 when she was 27 years old.

"I suddenly felt his hands on my buttocks (and) at no point had I shown any interest. I was shocked and told him 'do not touch me' and slapped him," she told AFP in a November interview.

Karlsson said Arnault later approached her and said she "would never find work" in the sector again.

- 'Culture of silence' -

According to Swedish daily Svenska Dagbladet, Arnault was born in Marseille in 1946 to Russian refugee parents. He arrived in Sweden in the late 1960s to study photography.

In a 2006 interview with Dagens Nyheter on his 60th birthday, he said he participated in France's May 1968 civil demonstrations.

He had close ties to some of the Academy's 18 members.

The Academy, founded in 1786, is traditionally known for integrity and discretion, with its meetings and decisions shrouded in secrecy.

But the scandal has unveiled what critics have called "a culture of silence", "nepotism" and "stale macho values" within the prestigious institution.

Disagreements within the Academy on how to deal with the scandal divided its members.

Eight of them have either resigned or are on leave, including its first female permanent secretary Sara Danius.

The awarding of the 2018 Nobel Literature Prize has been postponed until 2019 as the Academy tries to rebuild itself.

It is expected to select new members in the coming months to read the works of dozens of authors and select two Nobel laureates -- one for 2018 and another for 2019.Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, September 19, 2018 18:05 1147 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877394352 1 City deputy-governor,Gerindra-Party,jakarta,nominations Free

Gerindra Party Jakarta executive board (DPD) chairman M. Taufik is confident that he will be nominated to fill the Jakarta deputy governor seat left empty by Sandiaga Uno, despite the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) having nominated two of its members for the same seat.

Gerindra DPD [will nominate] me, Gerindra's central board God willing will nominate me too, Taufik said on Wednesday, kompas.com reported.

He said the nominees for the deputy governor seat must be approved of by coalition parties Jakarta regional boards, adding that there had not been any deal between Gerindra and the PKS on the two nominees that the latter proposed.

I personally havent signed anything, Taufik said.

He said he had received support from his party's members in Jakarta and planned to invite Gerindra branch executive boards (DPC) to Jakarta to reach a decision together.

I want to expand the party leaders meeting. On Friday, I will invite all DPCs, [as part of] the Gerindra Partys decision-making process, Taufik said.

Taufik is now deputy speaker of the Jakarta Council.

In 2004, Taufik was found guilty of corruption when he was head of the Jakarta General Elections Commission in a case involving the procurement of election materials. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison for causing state losses of Rp 488 million (US$32,866).

Previously, the PKS announced the nomination of Ahmad Syaikhu and Agung Yulianto for the deputy governor seat.

PKS chairman Sohibul Iman said the party had told Gerindra chairman Prabowo Subianto about the nominations. (ami)Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, September 19, 2018 08:37 1148 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877377850 4 Business Go-Jek,Grab,government,ride-hailing-application Free

The two largest ride-hailing application providers -- Go-Jek and Grab  have welcomed the governments plan to establish its own ride-hailing application, with the aim of giving more choice to customers and nurturing fair competition.

The governments move will make it possible for people to choose the best transportation service. A level playing field and customer satisfaction should be prioritized, said Grab Indonesia managing director Ridzki Jramadibrata as reported by kompas.com on Tuesday.

Previously, the Transportation Ministry announced its plan to establish a ride-hailing application managed by a state-owned enterprise.

The ministry's public transportation and multi-mode director Ahmad Yani said on Friday that the ministry will cooperate with state-owned telecommunication company PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia to create the platform.

The platform will be like the one owned by the South Korean government, Yani said.

Ridzki expressed his readiness to cooperate with the government to improve app-based transportation, assuring that the service would be safe, convenient and affordable.

It is our objective to create more efficient transportation services, he added.

Meanwhile, Go-Jek Indonesia's chief of corporate affairs Nila Marita made a similar comment, stressing that the development of ride-hailing app technology will benefit the public.

We appreciate the initiative that will prioritize the interests of partners and consumers in the spirit of collaboration, said Nila, adding that the government, however, should continue to strive for a good business and investment environment. (bbn)Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin Ivany Atina Arbi (The Jakarta Post) Bali  Wed, September 19, 2018 10:33 1147 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b3087737c504 1 National family-planning,religious-beliefs,population,contraceptives,UNFPA,the-philippines,Muslim Free

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in collaboration with the National Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN), is promoting Indonesias approach of incorporating religious leaders in family planning campaigns abroad, describing the approach as effective in increasing the use of contraception.



Annette Sachs Robertson, a UNFPA Indonesia representative, said on Tuesday that Islamic leaders in other countries often perceived family planning and the use of contraception as unacceptable for Muslims, unlike many Indonesian religious leaders who believe family planning is part of Islamic teaching.



Robertson said religious leaders in Indonesia have also taken part in promoting maternal and infant health.



[They told Muslim adherents] to not have children if they are too young or too old [to bear children], she said. And they also told people not to have children to soon or too many.



The UNFPA, in collaboration with the BKKBN, has been inviting since 2013 religious leaders from at least 20 African and Asian countries  particularly those with a large Muslim population  to Indonesia to learn about family planning from Muslim leaders.



Among the countries are Afghanistan, Niger and Nigeria  of which the contraceptive prevalence rates stood at 25, 16 and 21 percent respectively in 2017.



Some [of the 20] countries even requested our staff, BKKBN staff and some experts to visit their countries and hold training sessions for their Muslim leaders, Robertson said.



The latest training session was set up in Mindanao, home to the majority of Muslims in the Catholic-majority Philippines, earlier this year.



UNFPA Indonesia program officer for advocacy Samidjo said Mindanao was doing what Indonesia does in carrying out a family planning program.



For example, Indonesia has a premarriage counseling program where engaged couples receive education on health and reproduction, as well as the family planning program, while Mindanao has a post-marriage counseling program.



Why post-marriage [counselling]? Because in Mindanao, it is prohibited for Muslim couples to meet before they are officially married, Samidjo said, adding that the counseling program was organized by the countries religious bodies, with the Indonesian body being the Religious Affairs Office.



Both Robertson and Samidjo were speaking to The Jakarta Post on the sidelines of the inter-ministerial conference on South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC), which is taking place in Bali from Tuesday to Thursday.



Indonesia and the Philippines have collaborated on Mindanaos family planning program since 2013, leading to an increase in the contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) in Mindanao.



The CPR in Mindanao increased to 40 percent in 2017 from 30 percent in 2013, yet it is far below Indonesias 63.6 percent.



Indonesia and the Philippines are set to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the exchange of religious leaders to help promote the family planning program in Mindanao on the last day of the SSTC meeting. The agreement will aim at extending a similar five-year pact, which will expire soon.



The BKKBN claimed success in increasing Indonesias CPR from 61.9 percent in 2012 to 63.6 percent in 2017.



Prior to 2012, the country had made little progress, with rising conservatism frequently blamed for undermining efforts to increase the CPR, which only increased by 2 percent from 60 percent between 2002

and 2012.



The SSTC meeting, attended by at least 250 officials from 45 member states, is expected to address population and development challenges in developing countries, grouped together as the Global South.Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, September 19, 2018 11:29 1147 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877381437 4 Business trade-war,Indonesia,Trade,policy Free

Trade Ministry International Trade Negotiation Director General Imam Pambagyo has said that Indonesia wants to stay out of a trade war by introducing policies that are committed to fair trade to avoid disputes with other countries.

Indonesia needs to minimize policies that could potentially violate international commitments, Imam said in Jakarta on Tuesday as quoted by kompas.com.

He said to face competition in the global market, Indonesia prioritized a positive approach and engagement through bilateral consultation, and preferred to stay away from trade wars that could lead to tension with other countries.

Through such an approach, Indonesia is expected to boost its exports and slow down imports by improving the competitiveness of Indonesian products and commodities.

Indonesia and other emerging economies have become victims of the trade war between the United States and China, each of which has introduced high tariffs to prevent inflows of imports from the other country.

Accelerating efforts to strengthen the competitiveness of our products will help us improve the balance of our exports and imports, he added.

He said that market diversification was also being afforded by the government to reduce the dependency on the traditional market. He added that the government was eyeing a number of African countries as potential new markets for Indonesia.

We want to diversify our markets for goods and services. We dont want to rely only on large markets like Japan and the US, he added. (bbn)Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, September 19, 2018 17:26 1147 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877391caf 4 Business Budi-Waseso,Enggartiasto-Lukita,rice-imports,debate Free

Indonesia will not have to import rice through June 2019 as the country has enough of the commodity in stock, said Budi Waseso, head of state-owned logistics firm Bulog.

Earlier this year, the Trade Ministry issued a recommendation to import 2 million tons of rice in 2018, which was approved during a coordination meeting of economic ministers.

Budi said that Bulogs warehouses currently stored 2.4 million tons or rice, while another 400,000 tons of imported rice would arrive in October.

From the 2.8 million tons of rice, 100,000 will be distributed as social assistance through rice welfare program Rastra.

Budi estimates that Bulog would be managing up to 3 million tons of rice by year-end as the agency purchases 4,000 tons of unhusked rice from farmers every day.

Bulog has set up a team whose members consist of independent experts as well as representatives from Bulog and the Agriculture Ministry.

The team recommend not to import rice up to June 2019, he told a press conference as quoted by Antara news agency.

He added that Bulog might not need to release the imported rice to meet market demand.

He also questioned the estimation of rice demand being between 2.4 and 2.7 million tons per month, based on the assumption that each person, including infants, consumed about 130 kilograms of rice per year.

If our rice demand was 2.7 million tons, our rice production would never be enough to meet the demand, he added. (bbn)Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, September 19, 2018 10:15 1147 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b3087737c268 4 Business liquor,imports,restriction,Enggartiasto-Lukita Free

Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita has announced that the government will tighten import restrictions on a number of goods, namely alcoholic beverages, tires, iron, steel, textiles and textile products.

He said the imported goods would have to enter the country through bonded logistic centers (PLBs) in an attempt to prevent smuggling.

These commodities must pass through PLBs so we can inspect them, said Enggartiasto in his office in Jakarta on Tuesday as quoted by kompas.com.

He said his office was drafting a regulation on the matter, which would be ready in October. The policy should be implemented in October, he said

Trade Ministry International Trade Director General Oke Nurwan said the regulation would be used as an instrument to curb imports. This is because the increase in imports has been quite high. Whether this is because of smuggling or not we don't know, he added.

The government recently introduced higher import tax on 1,147 consumer goods in an attempt to curb imports, which were partly blamed for the rupiah weakening against the US dollar.

Statistics Indonesia (BPS) data revealed a US$1.02 billion trade deficit in August and $2.03 billion in July. From January to August, the trade deficit reached $4.09 billion, with surpluses only occurring in March and June. (bbn)Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie and Nurul Fitri Ramadhani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, September 19, 2018 13:55 1147 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877385652 1 Politics Jokowi,NTB,NTB-governor,TuanGuruBajang,Zulkieflimansyah,presidential-election Free

Newly inaugurated West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Governor Zulkieflimansyah and his deputy Sitti Rohmi Djalilah have declared support for President Joko Jokowi Widodos reelection bid.

Zulkiefli is a member of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), which backs Jokowis rival Prabowo Subianto. Sitti, meanwhile, was previously a Democratic Party politician. She left the party along with her brother, former NTB governor Muhammad Zainul Majdi, who has also declared support for Jokowi.

During the gubernatorial election, the pair was endorsed by the PKS and the Democratic Party, which has also endorsed Prabowo and his running mate, Sandiaga Uno.

I follow the decision made by the Nahdlatul Wathan, Zulkiefli said after his inauguration at the State Palace on Wednesday. He was referring to a local Islamic group in the province that is led by Zainul.

[We] support Jokowi for a second period, said Sitti, who was standing beside Zulkiefli.

Zulkiefli went on to say that he had been close to Jokowi since the latter was Jakarta governor, and that the President often visited NTB and once visited Sumbawa Island.

Throughout history, no president has ever spent the night on the island [except Jokowi], he said.

He, however, emphasized that he would not join Jokowis campaign team to avoid division among the people of NTB, but refused to comment on his defiance of the PKS' stance.

On the contrary, Sitti said she was open to the possibility of joining Jokowi's campaign team. (ahw)Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin Nurul Fitri Ramadhani and Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, September 19, 2018 17:48 1147 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877393207 1 City PKS,Gerindra-Party,jakarta,HidayatNurWahid Free

The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) is insisting that the Jakarta deputy gubernatorial post belongs by right to it, dismissing claims made a by Gerindra Party politician that he had been nominated for the post.

The party said it opposed the nomination of Gerindra councilor Mohammad Taufik as Jakarta deputy governor, replacing Sandiaga Uno, who is running for vice president.

It argued that Gerindra had already taken enough prestigious posts. Is Gerindra going to take it all? asked PKS executive Hidayat Nur Wahid at the State Palace on Wednesday.

The PKS has conceded to Gerindras wish to pair its chairman, Prabowo Subianto, and its deputy chairman, Sandiaga, as presidential and vice-presidential candidates. The PKS had initially demanded that Prabowo be paired with one of its members as a representative of political Islam in the coalition.

The Prabowo coalition later appointed another Gerindra politician, Djoko Santoso, as chairman of the candidates campaign team.

The deputy governor post has been left empty since last month.

In politics, we have to keep the commitment of togetherness, Hidayat said, adding that the PKS had already prepared a party member to take the citys second-highest post. (ahw)Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, September 19, 2018 14:33 1147 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877387944 1 City theft,car-theft,suspects,arrest,East-Jakarta Free

Suspected car thieves have made millions of rupiah by selling the cars in East Jakarta. The police arrested two suspects, identified as Azizah Azmari and Muhamad, on Monday.

East Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Tony Surya Putra said reports had been lodged by several people whose cars had been stolen, most of whom were car rental owners. At least 44 cars have been reported stolen in the case.

The perpetrators committed the crime by renting cars from car rental companies or individuals, Tony said as quoted by wartakota.tribunnews.com on Tuesday.

They rented cars for two or three days, which cost them Rp 350,000 [US$23.50] to Rp 400,000. Once they had the cars, they immediately sold them, he added.

Tony said they often changed their phone numbers, making it difficult for the police to locate their whereabouts. The suspects reportedly confessed to the police that they had been doing the crime for six months, adding that they not only stole cars in East Jakarta but also in areas throughout Greater Jakarta.

They earned about Rp 30 million for each stolen car they sold, the police said. Of the 44 cars, the police have seized 14. (vla)Railway services to Kansai International Airport resumed Tuesday, restoring the main transport link to western Japan's major international gateway two weeks after a powerful typhoon ripped through the region.

West Japan Railway Co. and Nankai Electric Railway Co. restarted their services to the airport from early morning after JR West fixed tracks on a bridge damaged in the typhoon. About 80 percent of public transportation users to the airport, which sits on a manmade island in Osaka Bay, arrived by train.

"I used the train after learning about its restart. It's more convenient than a bus and I arrived here early," said Tomoya Nishida, a 21-year-old university student from Matsubara, Osaka Prefecture, who was heading to Kyushu from the airport.

Typhoon Jebi, which made landfall in the country's west on Sept. 4, caused a tanker ship to break away from its moorings and sent it crashing into the sole road and rail bridge connecting the airport with the mainland, severing half of the lanes and stranding an estimated 8,000 passengers and staff at the airport.

The storm also brought high tides that flooded one of the airport's two runways and the No. 1 terminal building, which typically services about 400 flights daily.

JR West said damage to the railway was smaller than expected, and it was able to complete work on the line ahead of its initial plan to reopen Friday, when the No. 1 terminal building will be fully restored and flight services there are scheduled to return to normal.

The restoration of the road sharing the bridge is expected to take longer, with transport minister Keiichi Ishii saying authorities aim to complete repairs by the Golden Week holiday in May.

Read also: Tourist industry worries as Osaka hit hard by typhoon

While three lanes were unaffected by the tanker collision, they basically remain off-limits and only special vehicles such as limousine buses are allowed to use them.

Tuesday's resumption of train services brought relief not only to airport users but also workers at the facility.

A 65-year-old worker at the airport, who had to commute by bus to the airport, welcomed the restart that was "earlier than expected," saying the train is faster and allows him to "stay at home 30 minutes longer."

Operators on Monday terminated the free bus service between a railway station on the mainland and the airport. While it takes five to six minutes by train to get to the airport from the station, the bus takes 15 to 20 minutes on average and passengers often could not board due to congestion.

Kansai airport has attracted a growing number of foreign passengers in recent years, particularly from China, South Korea and Southeast Asian countries, as it has been expanded for budget airlines.

The transport ministry will hold campaigns to promote tourism to western Japan for about a month from Friday to try and counter an expected drop in the number of foreign visitors to the region.Exhausted Londoners hoping to take a rest from their busy schedules are being offered an alternative to coffee breaks: a sleep pod where they can grab some shut-eye for 15 ($20) an hour.

Inspired by Japanese capsule hotels, Pop & Rest in Londons trendy Shoreditch area boasts four "sleep pods"  rooms with dark walls and a lavender aroma to aid relaxation, each supplied with ear plugs and an eye mask.

Mauricio Villamizar, 28, said he and his Pop & Rest co-founder Yoann Demont came up with the idea for their venture after observing Londoners hectic lifestyle and long working hours.

"You could see they were tired all the time and just with coffee and tea wasnt enough, so we thought we should set up something like a private space where they can relax in peace," he said.

According to Villamizar, Pop & Rest currently averages between 30-35 customers a week, among them many freelancers and people working in the gig economy.

Graeme Daniel is a director of a fashion company and has visited Pop & Rest several times since it opened in June this year.

The 58-year-old says that the pods are helpful to catch up on sleep after a late night followed by a busy working day.

Read also: Learning to nap in New York, city that never sleeps

"If I go out late in the evening and Ive got maybe meetings spread throughout the day, it's just nice to have one hour catch up on the sleep that I've probably missed the night before, he said.

"What can you get for 15 pounds in Central London, you know, you have a lunch So 15 pounds to have a decent rest and clear mind for the afternoon or for a meeting late on in the day is perfect as far as Im concerned," he added.

Designer Dan Andrews, 30, works in near Pop & Rest and says the pods offer him a chance to meditate.

"Even if you try and take that time to meditate or be mindful on a park bench or in the corner of the office or anywhere it's just really hard to get that disconnection," he said.

Andrews has visited the pods up to four times since June, and believes the cost to nap is "fair".

"Its good, if you think about the cost of your mental health and your sanity," he said.

Villamizar says he aims to flood the city with sleep pods, eventually expanding to other UK cities and across Europe.The organic system is a really difficult thing to explain. It cannot be described in a single blurb. Perhaps thats one reason why the term has been so misunderstood and consequently, its benefits have been overstated.

The biggest difference between conventional and organic farming is that organic farmers are heavily restricted in the types of pesticides they are allowed to use. That being said, organic does not mean pesticide free, but rather synthetic pesticide free. The organic system is meant to work with the environment rather than against it by means of preventative insect and disease control methods, but the evidence to support its success isnt fully there.

Image Source: Pexels

Synthetic isnt always bad. The manufactured fertilizers used in conventional farming are rigorously studied before theyre approved. Some studies indicate that natural pesticides may be more damaging to human health than their synthetic counterparts. The current anti-pesticide and GMO sentiment seems to be largely fear-based, and while the precautionary principle can be environmentally beneficial, unbiased research, rather than a fearful attitude, must follow.

As the world population is expected to rise to nine billion by 2050 and researchers believe that we have entered the sixth mass extinction, it is important that the way we produce food and treat the available soil is put into question. Considering the rate of anthropogenic climate changes, large-scale internationally agreed and evidence-based policies are required to reverse or at least decrease our impact on the environment.

One of the biggest questions scientists are asking to better understand how agriculture can be changed to promote economic, social, and environmental sustainability is the question of land-sharing or land-sparing. Land-sharing agrees with the organic ethos, in that land is shared between crops and native species. The thing is, crop yield for land-sharing tends to be much lower, meaning more land has to be converted to farmland. Most of the time it is rainforests and wetlands that are cut down.

Image Source: Pexels

Land-sparing requires a smaller area of land to attain the same yields and therefore leaves greater areas of natural habitat untouched. Land-sparing intensifies land use by way of new technologies like genetic modification and synthetic pesticides, which are not permitted organic practices.

Much research shows that land-sparing could prove more successful for wildlife protection. A 2011 Cambridge University study of Ghana and northern India showed that land-sparing achieves better results for biodiversity. Similar research is necessary for different countries because the optimal balance between land-sparing and sharing to maintain production and biodiversity differs between landscapes. There is a lot of local variation in land-use practices across the tropics that could influence whether land-sharing or land-sparing is the best alternative, says William Lawrence, a tropical forest scientists with James Cook University via Mongabay.

Sparing wont work without land set aside for protection. The land onto which farming is not expanded needs to be permanently preserved.

Many farmers are giving up their organic status. For most, the costs are just too high to be sustainable. We believe in the organic ethos, but it was an extra niche aspect for us. There are lots of reasons why people buy our milk, says Julia Quenaul, a farmer, via The Guardian. Because of its high costs and the bureaucracy associated with certification, organic farming can easily become an exclusive luxury not readily available in poorer areas.

But costs are not the only reason why farmers are opting out. Michael Johnston who farms sheep and cattle in Aberdeen gave up organic farming upon expanding his knowledge of soil biology and climate change. He decided that the organic system was not the best way to care for his soil.

Image Source: Pexels

There exists extensive scientific-evidence favouring both sides. That being said, even the Soil Association acknowledges the gaps in research relative to the merits of organic farming. For one, organic farmers often use the same antibiotics and vaccines as conventional farmers, but theirs are prescribed by a veterinarian. Also, nonorganic straw can be used as bedding for organic ranchers, but nothing stops the animals from eating the straw. As for nutritional content, there is a myriad of contradictory research.

Comprehensive studies suggest that it is not land sparing nor sharing that will alone bring us out of the environmental hole we have dug for ourselves. Different land masses have to be extensively studied to give us an idea of whats best for that area. For now, because the problem is so complex in nature and there isnt much conclusive research, Ivette Perfecto who studies farming and writes about it argues that smallholder farms that target food distribution rather than food production issues are the key to food security and environmental sustainability. Thats something to think about.Tucked away in the decadent, cosy confines of Blacks Club in Soho sits Aisha Badru.

Shes wearing a pink-ish red and white flowered shirt, and her braids are hanging loosely down her back. Candles light up the sound tech equipment, and hundred-year-old chairs squeak and squirm under the weight of a 20-strong crowd balancing booze on their laps.

In an event put on by the Society of the Golden Slippers, Aisha is supported by the beautiful and haunting Jack in Water. Alongside his friend and keyboard player, Jack stunned his intimate audience with perfect pitch control, heartfelt harmonies and gut-wrenching lyricism. His standout performance was found in the peaks and troughs of the conflicted ballad Maggie. We rode alongside him in his journey of heartbreak, euphoria and strength, feeling every emotion with him and shedding shared tears. His endearing stage presence and calm persona shone through his set, particularly as he chuckled at us staring while he tuned his guitar thrice over. It was a warming and welcoming opening to the evening.

Aisha took to the rickety wooden stage after a short break. Her UK debut, a half an hour set cuddled inside a warm, candlelit dining room surrounded by Jackson Pollock paintings and the smell of finely aged red wine, was nothing short of decadent. The richness of her tone echoed beautifully around the dark navy walls - small flecks of paint peeling in places - and we were taken on a journey.

More than just a performance, this was a storytelling experience with anecdotes, personal stories and reflections on her past and present, interspersed with song.

Celebrating her debut album

Pendulum

released earlier this year, Aisha opened the experience with the first cut from the record Mind on Fire.

Stripped back to the bare bones of an acoustic guitar and a single voice, Aishas bold lyricism shone brighter than ever:

Have you seen the girl with the mind on fire? She set out to tell the world how they suppress our desires / Said she wouldnt back down till the rules were amended / And she didnt give a fuck who she offended.

Its the tale as old as time; coming of age, learning to say no and following the path you feel, inside, is right for you. It also reflected Aishas ethical enlightenment; her decision to begin looking into who makes her clothes, questioning the status quo and asking why the system is the way it is.

In her own journey, Aisha came to a crossroads with her relationship with her father which turned sour after she prematurely left university. In turn, she battled with internal conflicts, the ever-spreading abyss of self-doubt and coming full circle to forgive and to build bridges. Bridges depicts her cycle of conflict with her father; attempting to root out the grudges she held over the years, remove them, and reinforce the foundations of her relationship. Aisha reminded us that, yes, its painful and, yes, youre allowed to be sad about it, so long as you persevere:



There'll be oceans for us to tread / There'll be bridges for us to mend / But I'll stick through it / Oh, I swear.

She spoke, softly as she does, about her relationships outside of family ties. About giving every piece of her essence to someone who couldnt do the same for her and about losing someone she never really had. Here, we were treated bare-bones rendition of Fossil Fuels - stripped of its clacking synths, instead replaced by a simple, mellow keyboard and her rich, full voice. 

Flowers cannot bloom without precipitation / And lovers will not last without reciprocation

"

rung out around the room, touching buried feelings and exposed nerves. Happy Pretending follows in the same ilk, tugging at heartstrings and giving space to Aishas sweet falsetto.

Closing out her UK debut set, at just over 30 minutes, Splintered encompassed our own personal (and wider societal) decay. Aisha spoke about her journey to India and spending time as a student of yoga in the beautiful traditional temples; how the world is divided in two by this tangible barrier, with the side most privileged completely blind to it.

We try not to see with our eyes / We fill out plates with dozens of lies / We try to hard to keep it in / We turn away from what lies within

she lamented, after encouraging us all to search for whats within us, and unearth the power we each old to make a difference in this world.

Aisha Badru's UK debut was nothing short of mesmerising. Unpicking the curtain to her soul, she exposed an approachable vulnerability, and in just a small slither of light came pouring out her frustrations, desires, past lovers, future endeavours, conflicts and resolutions. More than a performance, this was a healing and learning experience. It was a form of self-care.At 22 years old, Mason Maynard lives and breathes the Manchester nightclub scene. Returning to his home city after a residency at Eric Prydzs night in Ibiza, he gives us his hottest tips for Freshers gearing up for their big move to one of the UKs biggest student cities.

It suffices to say, Manchester is alive and buzzing. An eclectic dynamism of people, businesses, restaurants and venues, its no wonder it attracts one of the largest numbers of students to its streets every year.

Manchester has a mixed bag of people from all walks of life,

Mason echoes.

Theres always something going on, everyones friendly and its easy for someone whos never been here to come and make friends. People look out for each other even when theyre total strangers.

The warmth and welcoming nature of Mancunians also extends into its pumping nightlife scene. Iconic for its live music events, promotion of new, up-and-coming artists and plethora of diverse nightclubs, Mason has experienced first hand (as a young producer) how the citys creatives provide stepping stones for one another:

I think the different music scenes that we house make for a quite unified place in which everybody supports each other.

So, in terms of a night out, Manchester and good time are synonymous. For all of you preening yourselves ahead of a couple of weeks of Freshers mayhem, Mason is here to point you in the right direction. Heres the lowdown of his 5 best venues for a night youll never forget.

1. The Warehouse Project, Store Street

This venue I definitely call home...theres something about every single time youre queuing up on a dark wet Friday and Saturday, you just get a feeling that you can only describe having experience [it] yourself...Every single night Ive been there has been a highlight of clubbing...the line-ups are world class.

Hosting stonkingly good names including Annie Mac, Danny Howard, Chase & Status, Bonobo and Bugzy Malone (I could go on and on) Warehouse Project (WHP) is a haven for dance music lovers across the country.

Devastatingly, we will soon be saying goodbye to the infamous Warehouse Project at Store Street, after the final decision was made to close the venue at the end of 2018. Mason is sure it will continue to be

mecca

of clubbing in Manchester, and the UK.

2. Albert Hall

Havent you heard the saying that all good music venues are hidden away inside a restored and resurrected Wesleyan chapel? Well, Albert Hall certainly proves that. An unparalleled host of some of the biggest names in the industry, Mason (rightfully so) has

nothing but love" for this venue.

Similar vibe to Store Street in that you know everyone and all your mates are together in one place[it] makes the night all the better as everyone you want near you is at arms length.

From boozy bingo nights and Oktoberfest raves, to live performances from Jorja Smith, Sigrid and Sonny Fodera, Albert Hall certainly has it all.

3. Gorilla

This one is about 700 capacity and when its full, its a sweaty zoo which can make for some of the best nights around,

With a busy line-up of beautifully endearing sets from the likes of Alice Merton, raucous raves with Mitski and Sofi Tukker , and wildly daring hip-hop horror nights around Halloween, Gorilla is a smorgasbord of dynamic, diverse nights out.

4. Joshua Brooks

Since its inception in 1993, Joshua Brooks has stood at the very forefront of Manchesters music scene; it bursts with underground grooves and hosts some of the biggest names in electronic, house & techno.

This is another venue that has the sweaty zoo kind of feel. On any given night you can go here and easily have a blast,

If youve a penchant for the sticky, acid house raves of the 80s then Joshua Brooks is the place for you.

5. Sankeys

While you fresh-faced bunch wont be able to experience it in its prime, Sankeys is last - but absolutely not least - on Masons list.

[Sankeys] will forever live on as an iconic part of Manchester nightlife. 2 floors of raving until 6am , always busy with likeminded people and...an instrumental part in many DJs careers,

Set in an old soap manufacturing hall, the Sankeys dynasty was built on incredible underground electronic music - mainly house, techno and drum & bass with the odd theme night sprinkled in for good measure. Its down-to-earth ethos (and its popular no gum policy) attracted the likes of Daft Punk, The Chemical Brothers and local boys New Order, and successfully put Manchester on the global map of clubbing cool.Would you support the provision of English government services and documents in the in the Montreal metropolis? Why or why not?

As featured on Anick Perreault-Marquette-Quebec solidaire Since this is the first election in decades where sovereignty is not a main issue, what do yParisian-born comedian, Eddy King, began his stand-up career 12 years ago when, after years of observing the local Montreal comedy scene, he decided to take the plunge and embrace the spotlight.

I kind of stumbled into it. Its something that I always promised myself to try so when I saw a couple comics here and discovered the comedy clubs that we have in Montreal like the Comedy Works, the Comedy Nest and we used to have the Comedy Zone  and you know, hanging out there. At some point I decided to jump and try it on my own, King explained.

King hasnt looked back since his first time on stage and his act has garnered a lot of attention, especially in the French language circuit. Born and raised in Goussainville, a small commune in the metropolitan area of Paris, France, his first language has always been French. But as he honed in on his comedic voice, he was inspired by American and English-speaking comedians. This allowed him to practice speaking English, while crafting his own jokes in a different language. The skill to use both French and English on stage propelled him onto the scene. I started doing French comedy and English comedy kind of at the same time because I wanted to have the most stage time as possible, said King.

As his act grew, King found himself using French and English on stage, regardless of the audiences language preference. A bilingual stand-up performance isnt a novel idea in Quebec, anymore, but it landed him a spot on the lineup for the inaugural Festival Laval Laughs Bonjour! Hi! show on Saturday, Sept. 22 at Le Cabaret C (1600 Rue Robinson in Laval).

It used to be rare back then, now, no, its not that rare. More and more comics are crossing over from French to English and from English to French, said King. This is something that people will see more commonly because thats how Montreal is, a very bilingual city.

King will also be a part of two other shows at the festival, both held at the Theatre Marcellin-Champagnat (1275 Avenue du College A). On Thursday, Sept. 20  opening night  he will emcee Le Show de Chez Nous on Parle Lavalois! Its a show he describes as for Laval residents, by Laval comedians.

And on Tuesday, Sept. 25 he will be in the lineup for the Ethniquement Parlant show, hosted by his good friend, and bilingual comedian, JC Surette. The show will focus on comedians from different cultures and ethnic backgrounds.

King has performed in many venues around the world and he graced the stages of Montreals Just For Laughs in years past. His style of comedy touches on many topics, from politics to relationships, but nothing too heavy. King says its like a conversation at the dinner table with a few close friends.

A resident of Laval for the last 10 years, King was excited when the organizers asked him to host and perform at the inaugural event. Comedy is important to the people of Quebec, says King, and giving Laval the opportunity to host this event is good for the population.

Laval is its own region, its own place, and I feel like its a great thing to have something very specific to it, said King.

The Festival Laval Laughs runs Sept. 20-30. For tickets and more information, visit www.festivallavallaughs.caSuccess! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.Would you support the provision of English government services and documents in the in the Montreal metropolis? Why or why not?

As featured on Michelle Morin-Westmount-St-Louis-CAQ Since this is the first election in decades where sovereignty is not a main issue, what do yMANZINI  Their votes for the last phase of the elections count, and it was not surprising that there was a near stampede when they came out in large numbers yesterday.



Thousands of emaSwati braved the hot weather to participate in the Secondary Elections (Special Voting), which took place at the Mavuso Trade and Exhibition Centre yesterday.



The event was meant to start at 7am but there was a slight delay as the huge number of voters started pushing and shoving in a quest to gain entry to cast their votes.



The quick intervention of members of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force and the Royal Eswatini Police Service solved what almost became a nasty scenario at the main gate.

The pushing and shoving was caused by the fact that at first it looked like there was no smooth flow of the queue, as most of the voters crowded the main entrance.

The situation was made worse by the voters who seemingly did not want to respect the fact that the point of entry was small and could not allow them to enter in large numbers.

Also making the situation uncontrollable was that some of the voters were literally forcing their way into the front, and ignoring calls by the officers to allow for a smooth transition of the queue. For the officers, there was an issue with some voters who, after being told that they could not enter as they did not possess the required tags refused to move away from the entry point.

Other people added to the situation by not following instructions, one of which was that they had to stand a few metres away from the entry point if they had not come to vote.

Instead, they would stand in groups, showing no signs of wanting to move away. The situation eventually improved at around noon as the officers from the uniformed forces eventually mastered the art of ensuring that there was a smooth movement in and out of the centre.

The whole exercise ended at 6pm.MBABANE  Dancing, playing, strolling and loitering; these are some of the things pupils in most public schools were left to do yesterday after classes were suspended.



Today will mark yet another day of confusion regarding schools, as some parents are adamant that they will not send their children to school, while certain head teachers want the pupils in class.



On Monday, government released a press statement that schools should continue operating, denouncing an earlier statement that schools must be closed until Monday.



The confusion resulted in few pupils and teachers showing up yesterday in a number of schools around Mbabane. There were no lessons at KaBoyce High, Mater Dolorosa (MDS) High, Mbabane Central and SOS High. As early as 9:30am, Msunduza Primary pupils were found loitering around the school premises while others were playing in their classrooms.

At Mater Dolorosa High School (MDS), pupils were found dancing outside the school gate at around 10:40am. At this time, there were no pupils within the school premises as even the staffroom door was locked, while some of the classes remained open with no pupils inside. The security guard at the school was found trying to close the empty classrooms.

In an interview with some of the teachers who were found at the school, they said a few pupils turned up yesterday while others left early. Almost a quarter of KaBoyce High pupils turned up at the school and teachers who were found said they had decided to stick to the acting PMs statement to remain within the premises. However, some pupils decided not to go to school after they heard an announcement that schools had been closed.

. . .MBABANE  Congratulations are in order to you all! This is the message from National Commissioner of Police Isaac Magagula to 217 junior officers, who will be smiling all the way to the bank on pay-day this month following their promotion.



It is understood that the promotions have not been made public because of the countrys financial crisis and all police officers have reportedly been informed not to speak about them in any other platform.



However, some of the promoted officers told this publication that even though they had been promoted, they were not happy that their civil servant brothers and sisters were being ignored.



We have been told that the country is in a financial crisis and belt-tightening should be enforced, which means this should apply to everyone. Everyone must feel the pinch of the financial crisis, said the junior police officers.



The elevation of the junior officers from the ranks of sergeant to assistant inspector and constable to sergeant happens at a time when government has refused to offer civil servants a salary increase above zero per cent.



Also, the promotions have been effected despite a freeze on promotions, hiring and creation of new posts that was announced by Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service Evart Madlopha.



The Times of Swaziland newspaper has managed to see a copy of a communique from the police chief, addressed to all headquarters branches, all regional police stations, Ngonini OSSU, police posts and border posts.



In the communique, which is dated September 11, 2018, Magagula says the promotions are with effect from September 1, 2018.

Following the announcement of promotions covering the rank category of Inspector and above as Phase I, the National Commissioner of Police hereby announces Phase II of the promotions covering officers in the junior rank categories of Sergeant and Assistant Inspector, respectively, who were not included in the previously announced promotions as their respective cases were still being processed, reads the communique. In Phase I, those who were promoted were senior officers and their promotion is also effective September 1, 2018.





MANZINI  Several clashes between the police and protesting workers in Manzini City Centre saw five people being rushed to hospital with injuries.

The injured people included four workers and a vendor.



Reports are to the effect that the vendor is admitted to the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital as he was critically injured.

The first clash took place after the about 1 000 protestors diverted from their route right under the nose of armed police officers. The bloody clash happened at the central business district (CBD) during the first day of the three-day protest action hosted by the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA).



According to TUCOSWA Vice President Simangele Mtetwa, who was leading the protest action together with Patrick Mamba, who is the Treasurer of the workers federation, their route was supposed to start at King Somhlolo Park to Waste Centre (Nkoseluhlaza Street). She said from there, they were supposed to turn right towards Manzini Main Market and down past the Manzini Police Regional Headquarters (Mancishane Street). From there, she said they were supposed to protest past Eswatini Post and Telecommunications Corporation (EPTC) and back to King Somhlolo Park.



However, after reaching the traffic lights near EPTC Manzini branch, the protesters went straight towards Swaziland National Provident Fund (SNPF) instead of turning left to King Somhlolo Park.



Upon reaching the traffic lights by SNPF, the workers marched down against oncoming traffic towards KFC near the Manzini Bus Rank (Ngwane Street) and threatened to go to the rank to persuade public transport drivers and conductors to join them.

However, the armed police officers who were deployed to monitor the protest action formed a wall along the road leading to the bus rank and blocked the protesters in the process.



Meanwhile, traffic came to a standstill and businesses along the street, including banks, closed. Traffic which was destined to the bus rank had to turn back as the protesters were littered all over the road.

The protesting workers spent about an hour at the bus rank entrance road and during that time, no vehicle was able to make it into the rank. However, later on, they proceeded with their protest action by marching towards the traffic lights near Standard Bank and turned left towards King Somhlolo Park.

Again, instead of going into the park, the protesters marched and protested towards EPTC Manzini branch and turned left towards SNPF.

It was then that the police used stun grenades to disperse the protesters.

However, this seemed to have angered the protesters as they pelted the police with stones and all sorts of rubbish they came across. The clash lasted for about five minutes as the situation was calmed by the intervention of TUCOSWA marshals.



As they continued to protest by the traffic lights near SNPF, police called for backup and a group of armed law enforcers arrived in a foreign registered vehicle. Soon after their arrival, the riot police squad exploded several stun grenades, used water cannons to spray at the protesting workers and fired tear gas canisters and rubber bullets towards them.



It was after this incident that the police clashed several times with the protesting workers and in the process the four workers and vendor were injured. Some of the injured people were assaulted, while it is suspected that others were shot with rubber bullets.



Meanwhile, Mtetwa confirmed that five people were rushed to hospital after they were injured during the clash between the protesters and the police. She said there were three females and two men. She added that two of them were teachers while the others were members of the Amalgamated Trade Union of Swaziland (ATUSWA) and National Workers Union in Swaziland Higher Education (NAWUSHI), respectively.



Mtetwa blamed the police for the clash. She said before the clash, some police officers allegedly engaged her in talks about the diversion from the agreed routes.

I asked them where they were when the protesters diverted from the route because they had been blocking them by forming human walls along all the other junctions during the protest action, Mtetwa said.



She said her concern was why did the law enforcers decide to let the workers divert from the given route since they were there to ensure order and protect lives and property. She added that the officers had every tool at their disposal to stop the diversion but for reasons known to them, they allegedly decided to let it happen.



On that note, Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, said things did not go well in Manzini as there were three cases of malicious damage to property which were reported. However, Vilakati said there were no reports of injured people reported to the police so far.

Notably, a BMW sedan had its rear window broken and Pep Store was vandalised during the clashes.Spoken-word poet Carlos Andres Gomez will return to the University of Pittsburghs Titusville campus on Sept. 25 for his second show. The poet is well-known for his role on HBOs Def Poetry and his various appearances across media platforms, TV networks and film appearances.You have permission to edit this article.

Edit CloseThe National Museum of Contemporary Art in Athens (EMST) presents the interactive art project Face Forward... Into My Home, in cooperation with UNHCR and with the support of the European Commissions Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO). After its warm reception in Athens, the project has now traveled to the Makasi Gate in Iraklio, where it will remain through October 14, in the framework of the municipal festival Crete, One History, 5+1 Civilizations, and includes the participation of refugees who reside on the island. Face Forward focuses on the stories of people who have been forced to leave their homelands and are rebuilding their lives in Greece. It includes storytelling workshops inspired by a selection of contemporary artworks from the EMST collection and an exhibition featuring photo portraits and recorded personal stories of refugees and asylum seekers who are now living in Greece and benefiting from the UN Refugee Agencys integration and accommodation program (ESTIA). Opening hours are Mondays to Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m.

Makasi Gate, Plastira Avenue, Iraklio

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NEW YORK  Trezoros: The Lost Jews of Kastoria will air on the PBS station WNET Channel 13 on Wednesday, Sept. 26 at 10 PM. The documentary chronicles life in the picturesque town of Kastoria, where Jews and Christians lived in harmony and friendship for over two thousand years. The title Trezoros is the Ladino/Judeo/Spanish term of endearment meaning treasures. The film takes the audience on a journey from the joyful innocence of the pre-war years through the heartbreaking struggles of the Holocaust, to a unique place in time and history highlighting a Greek Jewish culture lost forever.

In October 1940, the peaceful life of the community changed forever with the invasion of Greece by Axis forces. Initially occupied by Italy, the Jewish community remained, but after Mussolini fell from power, the Nazis took control of the town, eventually gathering all the residents in a single day, and sent them to concentration camps.

Using never-before-seen archival footage, Trezoros vividly brings to life just one of many Jewish communities that had existed in Greece for centuries and even millennia before the end of World War II. The film is a story told by its survivors, with interviews filmed on location in Kastoria, Thessaloniki, Athens, Tsur Moshe, Tel Aviv, Miami, and New York.

Directed by Lawrence Russo, and co-directed and produced by Larry Confino, the film was widely praised on the film festival circuit with screenings in London, Cannes, Melbourne, Sydney, New York, and Los Angeles. Russo co-founded the independent studio The Shooting Gallery (Laws of Gravity, Sling Blade) and directed the Emmy-nominated PBS short film series ShortCuts. Producer/Co-Director, Confino is the Founder of Synapse Productions and Executive Director of ImageRescue, Inc. Based in New York City, Confino has produced documentaries and commercial projects on a multitude of subjects around the world.

Trezoros is an inspiring story of survival that resonates universally and is of particular interest to Jewish and Greek communities worldwide. The poignant story of one familys experience helps honor the memory of the once vibrant community and reminds us of mans inhumanity to man and also of the enduring spirit of the people who survived the horrors of the war. As George Santayana wrote in The Life of Reason, 1905, Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

Trezoros will also air on WLRN/Miami on Saturday, Sept. 29 at 10:30 PM.

The WNET 13 schedule is available online: https://www.thirteen.org/schedule/?search=trezoros

More information about the film and the television schedule is also available online: http://trezoros.com/.

Read more at thenationalherald.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ATHENS  The Pulitzer Prize winning, Greek-American author Jeffrey Eugenides is visiting Athens as part of the celebrations for the Athens 2018  World Book Capital organized by the Municipality of Athens, with the support of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation and the Embassy of the United States of America.

During his visit, on Thursday September 27, at 20:00 the author will have a discussion with author Kallia Papadakis and journalist and book critic MikelaHartoulari at the Alternative Stage of the Greek Opera House at the Stavros Niarchos Cultural Foundation.

At 11:00 AM the Mayor of Athens George Kaminis will receive the American author at the Athens Town Hall. From 11:30  12:30, Jeffrey Eugenides will hold a press availability.

Jeffrey Eugenides was born in Detroit and studied at Brown and Stanford Universities. He received a Pulitzer Prize for his novel Middlesex, which was also on the short list for the National Book Critics Circle Award, the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, and the Prix Medicis. His novel The Marriage Plot (2011) was a runner-up for the National Book Critics Circle Award and received the Prix Fitzgerald and the Grand Prix de lheroine Madame Figaro. In 2014, Eugenides was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. His books Middlesex, The Marriage Plot, and Fresh Complaint: Stories, have been published in Greek by Patakis Publishers.

During the discussion at the SNFCC, the author, with his Greek-Irish origin and its symbolic yet substantial influence on himself and his work, will speak about the issues of mixed and fluid identity in modern Western societies and on whether the biological or social factors determine our personality. He will also touch on the modern time challenges faced by the U.S. in conditions of crisis and the similarities and differences of this crisis from the one that struck his hometown, Detroit, a city that was a model of development, but fell deep into social and economic crisis.

Mayor of Athens George Kaminiswill address event participants as will the Alternate General Manager of Programs and Strategy of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, PanosPapoulias.

The conversation will be in English with consecutive translation. Entry is free for the public through an electronic pre-subscription that will begin on September 17, at 12:00 noon at SNFCC.org and with priority passes that will be distributed starting at 18:30 pm the day of the event at the SNFCC. The doors will open at 19:30. After the end of the event, the author will be available to sign copies of his books.

Also, in the framework of events for the U.S. as Honored Country at the 83rd Thessaloniki International Trade Fair, Jeffrey Eugenides will participate in a conversation with associate professor TatianiRapatzikou of the Department of American Literature, School of English, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and journalist Ioannis Kotsifos.

The discussion is taking place at Aula of Faculty of Philosophy (Old Building), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, on Tuesday, September 25, at 19:00 hrs with support from the U.S. Consulate General of Thessaloniki, and the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Entrance is free.

Jeffrey Eugenides visit to Greece has been arranged in cooperation with the organization Athens 2018 World Book Capital of the Municipality of Athens, the Embassy of the United States of America, the Patakis Publishers, and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center.

Read more at thenationalherald.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: Roferbia License: CC-BY-SAGrowing boom of new design, talent and the luxury market in Greece

Conde Nast International have announced the launch of Vogue Greece edition, a fashion and lifestyle magazine that will feature Greek creativity in fashion, design, culture, style, beauty, travel, art and so much more.

The launch which will debut both in print and online in Spring 2019, reflects the growing boom of new design, talent and the luxury market in Greece.

Karina Dobrotvorskaya, Executive Director of editorial development at Conde Nast International noted that there is a very interesting fashion landscape and audience in Greece who are eager to embrace newer international and local brands.

Twenty-nine year old Thaleia Karafyllidou, has been appointed Editor-in-Chief, becoming the youngest head of the fashion guide.

Speaking exclusively to Business of Fashion, Thaleia stressed how she brings passion and dedication to her role as Editor in Chief. She also has a strong vision for Vogue Greece, as she wants to create a multimedia brand  not just a magazine, but a social force with a lot of conferences and events.

Working with Thaleia will be Natassa Bouterakou as Publisher of Vogue Greece, Nicolas Georgiou as Creative and Fashion Director, Giorgos Tsiros as Managing Editor, Elis Kiss as Fashion Features Editor and Dionisis Andrianopoulos as Art Director.

Read more at Business of Fashion

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: flickr.comThe first private high school in Greece specializing in maritime vocation studies opened on Greece's eastern Aegean island of Hios (Chios) on Friday, operating as a non-profit institution fully funded by the Tsakos shipping group.

The school, named the Tsakos Enhanced Education Nautical School (TEENS), began with an inaugural class of 20 students, with a capacity to host up to 60 students in all three high school grades.

Read more at naftemporiki.gr

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: Michael W. Pendergrass License: CC-BY-SA pixabay.comGreek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias and the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani, had a two-hour meeting in Athens on Wednesday, focusing on bilateral cooperation between Greece and Qatar, ANA reports.

Both men underlined the mutual will of the two sides to strengthen cooperation in the cultural and economic fields, with particular emphasis on attracting Qatari investments to Greece.

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: Moushira License: CC-BY-SAThe center, which opened July 2017, hosts graduate students and faculty conducting research about Greece from ancient times to the modern era through the Provosts Global Research Initiatives (GRI) year round

ATHENS  In a handsome three-story building in Athens Kolonaki district, NYU has planted roots, and on September 17 its Hellenic home away from home was celebrated in a ribbon cutting ceremony with its President, Andrew D. Hamilton, presiding.

The center, which opened July 2017, hosts graduate students and faculty conducting research about Greece from ancient times to the modern era through the Provosts Global Research Initiatives (GRI) year round.

The popular NYU Summer in Athens program that just marked its 20th year its based there June through August. Maria Lampraki, GRI Operations Administrator in Athens, said the center will also be the site for educational and cultural events all year long.

Liana Theodoratou, Director of the Alexander S. Onassis Program in Hellenic Studies at NYU in New York and Director of CAS Summer in Athens, hosted the gathering that began with a brief speaking program in the ground level auditorium and concluded with a delightful reception on the roof

Hamilton, who is British, has been to Greece many times, beginning with backpacking trips in the 1970s. He explained that sites like the Athens facility are important Because the world now is lived on the internet. Every major academic volume can be accessed on the internet. But the world isnt lived and shouldnt be solely lived on the internet.

He believes It is vital, that our students get the opportunity to engage with the world, to become familiar, with the feet on the ground, with the culture of Greece, with the academic sources the historical riches, with the different dimensions of contemporary Greece as they play out in this wonderful country.

Alexis Phylactopoulos, President of College Year in Athens, which is more a school than a program, was present because he said it is important to support and acknowledge the efforts of all institutions of higher learning to establish research centers in Greece.

Summer in Athens combines classroom study of the language, history, literature, politics, art, and culture of Greece with cultural activities and field trips to introduce students to all aspects of Greek life. Local artists, scholars, and politicians, according to its website, which also notes that the program strives to provide students with a means of understanding Greek culture within the context of lived experience.

NYU has eight other Global Research Institutes and campuses in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai. The University also has eleven other sites around the world where students can study to become familiar with the challenges of the 21st century, Hamilton said.

Read more at thenationalherald.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: Memorial Student Center Texas A&M University License: CC-BY-SAThe United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has honoured the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF) as a Knowledge Partner on the sidelines of the General Assemblys meeting in New York City.



This is the first time any Arab organisation has been named Knowledge Partner, said a statement from MBRF.



The UNDP sought to honour the Foundation to mark 10 years of close partnership, which resulted in several leading projects in the Arab region and the world.



The ceremony was attended by MBRFs CEO Jamal bin Huwaireb, on behalf of Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Foundations Chairman, in addition to Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator; Saud Al Shamsi, Deputy Permanent Representative of the UAE to the UN; and Mourad Wahba, UNDPs Deputy Assistant Administrator and Deputy Regional Director for the Regional Bureau for Arab States.



The top UN honour is the culmination of the many international initiatives launched by the Foundation, most notable of which was the worlds first Global Knowledge Index, whose results were announced at the Knowledge Summit 2017, and covered 131 countries around the world.



Speaking at the ceremony, Bin Huwaireb underlined the strong partnership that has brought the MBRF together with the United Nations Development Program for a full decade, asserting that the collaboration was guided by the vision of the UAEs wise leadership, who has repeatedly proven its commitment to strengthening our partnerships with entities at both the local and international levels, in an effort to build knowledge societies founded on sustainability and investment in human capital.



The MBRF CEO conveyed Sheikh Ahmed's gratitude for the United Nations for honouring the Foundation as a Knowledge Partner to the UNDP, noting that this constitutes a significant addition to our record of achievements, which have had a notable impact on efforts to spread knowledge and develop human capital.



Highlighting the major milestones achieved during the decade-long partnership, Bin Huwaireb said: "The year 2015 witnessed a new and significant development in our relationship with the UNDP. That was the year we launched the Arab Knowledge Index, which seeks to track the state of knowledge in the Arab world on a yearly basis, taking into account the specificities of the region."



"The flagship project was accompanied by the launch of the Knowledge4All initiative  an electronic platform serving as a reference for those involved in the knowledge sector," he noted.



The following year, in 2016, we sought to look into all of the knowledge initiatives currently underway in the Arab region and evaluate their impact on their respective communities. To that end, we launched the Arab Reading Index in an effort to measure the popularity of reading in our region and propose solutions for the challenges that face it. The Index succeeded in systematically debunking many misconceptions about reading in the Arab world, he added.



In his address, Steiner said that investing in knowledge should be a priority for any country trying to achieve the ambitious Vision 2030, noting that the partnership between the MBRF and the UNDP was rooted in a shared vision centred around knowledge as a means for sustainable development.



Al Shamsi pointed out that noted that knowledge is the main engine for employment and economic growth, whereby entire categories of companies that were barely active on an international level are now dominating the headlines.

The Global Knowledge Index offers a roadmap for reforms and investment in many sectors  from school enrolment to labour, he added, concluding with an assertion that the partnership between MBRF and the UNDP sets an example for the ideal approach to handle the contemporary needs of nations," he added.-TradeArabia News Service

Fertilizer industry has a crucial role to play in addressing global food security challenges, as the worlds population continues to expand rapidly, driving demand for nutrition and resource availability, said top experts at the ninth edition of Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) Fertilizer Convention in Muscat, Oman.



The three-day event was yesterday (September 18) inaugurated by Dr Fuad Bin Jaafar Bin Mohammed Al-Sajwani, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Oman. More than 300 delegates from 30 countries are taking part.



In line with this years theme New frontiers and opportunities, the convention highlighted recent developments in the global and regional industry landscape, consolidation within the agri-nutrients business, sustainable agricultural solutions and opportunities for improvement in the fertilizer value chain.



Delivering the welcome address, Salim Al Aufi, the undersecretary, Ministry of Oil and Gas, Oman, urged the industry to be ready for the tremendous population growth that is set to occur globally.



"We need to be prepared for the challenge that lies ahead of us and ensure that we have enough food for the 10-12 billion people that will be living on this planet in the next 30-40 years to come," he stated.



Many nations, including the United Nations, have food security at the very highest level of their agenda, next to energy security, as they go hand in hand, particularly at the fertilizer level. To this end, I am excited to see GPCA choosing Muscat to host this event focusing on the challenges facing the fertilizer industry and the need for us to collaborate on research and technologies and the exchange of best practices and ideas for the good of this planet.



Global agricultural production will need to more than double by 2050 in order to meet growing demand for food, as the worlds population is expected to reach 9.7 billion people over the next three decades.



By 2050, demand for water will grow by more than 100 per cent, with the majority of the population living in cities due to rapid urbanization. This is creating significant opportunities for the fertilizer industry to respond to these challenges with a new generation of sustainable fertilizer products tailored towards increasing agricultural productivity, while addressing climate change, land degradation and decreasing water resources, speakers said.



In his address, GPIC President Dr Abdulrahman Jawahery said the fertilizer industry was arguably one of the most important industries globally.



"Fertilizers provide food security and nutrition for the global population, bring prosperity and growth to the agricultural sector, and  if applied in an efficient manner  help preserve our planets ecosystems," remarked Dr Jawahery, who is also rthe vice chairman of GPCA.



"In the next years, the role of the fertilizer industry in ensuring global prosperity will increase tremendously as the global challenges we face today are becoming ever more complex and difficult to address," he noted.



Without fertilizers more than half of current food production would be compromised, which highlights the industrys irreplaceable role in providing nutrition to billions of people on the planet. Our products are the essential engines of agricultural productivity. Fertilizers, if correctly used, can significantly protect and enhance a nations soil resources. This is particularly important for our region, as we live in an environment characterized by harsh climate conditions and scarce water resources, he added.



John Baffes, the senior economist at World Bank (Development Prospects Group), highlighted the industrys efforts to meet rising demand for food in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2) which focuses on ending hunger, achieving food security and improved nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture.



He also urged the industry to look for more differentiated approaches to address emerging global challenges.



Oman Oil Company CEO and Oman India Fertiliser Company (Omifco) Chairman Engineer Isam bin Saud Al Zadjali said: "It is with great pride that the Sultanate of Oman is hosting the GPCA Fertilizing Convention for the first time. By Omifco being a member of this prestigious association, we are privileged to partner with GPCA to host this large-scale event."



"This platform provides a significant opportunity to shed light on Omans local economy and its growing fertilizer and petrochemical industries; it is also an important occasion to exchange knowledge and best practices in the sector," he noted.



"We are pleased to be part of such a gathering that will bring together professionals and decision makers towards safeguarding global food security," he added.-TradeArabia News ServiceOman Air, the national carrier of the sultanate, has added another exotic destination to its expanding network - Athens, the capital of Greece. The airline said this was first of its several new routes to be launched in 2019.



The daily flight to and from Athens will be operated with the new-state-of-the-art Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, said a statement from Oman Air.



Oman Air flight WY 191 will depart Muscat at 2.45pm and reach Athens at 7.50pm, while on return it will take off from Athens airport at 12.20am and land in Muscat at 6.35am. The flight duration is approximately five hours, it added.



Outlining its 2019 plans, CEO Engineer Abdul Aziz Al Raisi said: "We are extremely proud and happy to add Athens to our rapidly growing network, as the first of several new routes to be launched in 2019. Oman has strong bilateral relations with Greece and the introduction of this new flight will certainly help strengthen relations even further."



"The new route will also enable Oman Airs guests to explore a remarkable city with an ancient civilization, steeped in history and amazing landscapes," he stated.



Lauding the Oman Air move, Athens Airport CEO Dr Yiannis Paraschis said: "This significant network addition is great news for travellers on both ends of the route, offering them the possibility to discover Athens and Muscat, two historic and exciting destinations."



"Furthermore, it is also an important development that enhances Athens connectivity towards strategic markets beyond Muscat. We wish all the best to Oman Air and are committed to supporting our new airline partner towards a highly successful presence in the Athens market," noted Paraschis.



Oman Air is currently undergoing an exciting fleet and network expansion programme, which will see the airline operate up to 70 aircraft to around 60 destinations by 2022.



"The airline is committed to consistently providing its guests with an award winning product, coupled with their legendary hospitality and seamless service," remarked Al Raisi.



The national carrier's fleet comprises four Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliners, six Airbus 330-300s, four Airbus 330-200s, five Boeing 737-900s, 21 Boeing 737-800s, four Embraer 175s and three 737 Max.



By the end of this year, Oman Air will have five more Max aircraft and three 787-9s thus taking its total fleet size to 51 aircraft, he added.-TradeArabia News ServiceExegy and TNS Partner on Global FX Trading Platform

Exegy Inc., a provider of managed services and low-latency technology for market data normalization and distribution, and Transaction Network Services (TNS), a global managed data communications and interoperability solutions, announce a partnership in offering a global FX trading platform.

The new offering combines TNS excellence in market connectivity and hosting solutions and Exegys Trade Port FX which delivers normalized FX market data and execution services to major FX venues as a fully managed and integrated FX trading platform.

Exegy is excited to be working with TNS to create a global, state-of-the-art FX trading platform, said Exegy Sales Director in Europe and Asia Carlos Lopez Lansdowne. TNS global presence, renowned reputation for superior customer service, coupled with Exegys FX market data and order execution solutions will deliver better performance, lower total cost, and a disruptive new model in the FX industry.

With evolving global regulation, increased market fragmentation, and the complexity and costs of building, maintaining, and managing an FX trading infrastructure, Exegy and TNS are aligned with a common goal to provide a comprehensive, cost-effective electronic FX trading solution.

The new partnership will include redundant, hardware-accelerated computing Exegy appliances installed in the main co-location centers globally, which will allow Exegy Trade Port FX to deliver single-digit, microsecond normalized FX market data from 44 live venues and order execution through a unified, FX-specific API. TNS will host these appliances and provide robust, reliable market connectivity to offer firms the flexibility to scale operations.

Bill Versen, Chief Product Officer at TNS, said: Were delighted to be working with Exegy to launch this new global FX trading platform. Our extensive hosting infrastructure enables us to make it easier for the trading community to access vital services, such as Exegys Trade Port FX solution, while gaining additional business benefits at the same time.

We are driven to support FinTech enablement within the financial markets to ensure that the advantages presented by new technologies can be harnessed in a secure, reliable, and flexible way that meets the demanding needs of our industry, added Versen. Using TNS gives firms looking to deploy the Exegy platform a highly available, cost-effective, and reliable option, which comes with round-the-clock customer support from our multiple network operating centers globally. We look forward to working with Exegy on this new initiative.

Traders who sign up to the new global FX trading platform will also be able to establish connections with TNS extensive financial community of interest which now counts more than 2,100 endpoints globally.

Optimized for electronic trading, TNS robust secure network is relied on by the global financial markets for mission-critical connectivity to multiple diverse trading partners, including many of the worlds most prominent and influential buy- and sell-side institutions, exchanges and alternative trading venues.

For more information on related topics, visit the following channels:| By Laura Lee

One hundred years ago, almost to the day, the Spanish Flu reached Baltimore, said M.J. Tooey, MLS, AHIP, FMLA, associate vice president for Academic Affairs at the University of Maryland Health Sciences and Human Services Library (HS/HSL) in remarks at the librarys latest exhibit Outbreak: Epidemics in a Connected World on Sept. 13.

(l-r) Tara Wink, MLS, HS/HLS librarian and archivist, Justin Ortiz, MD, MS, associate professor, UMSOM, and M.J. Tooey, MLS, Vice President of Academic Affairs, HS/HLS at the opening reception for the "Outbreak: Epidemics in a Connected World" exhibit.

2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the pandemic that killed between 50 million and 100 million people worldwide. Baltimore and the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) were not immune to the incredible international natural disaster.

The Outbreak exhibit, a collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution, also features 100 years Later: Baltimore and the Spanish Flu, a supplemental exhibit that highlights the impact the Spanish influenza pandemic had on Baltimore, which suffered the fourth-largest death toll in the United States.

Tara Wink, MLS, HS/HSL librarian and archivist, curated the Baltimore portion of the exhibit with items loaned from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), and the University of Maryland School of Dentistry.

The message behind these exhibits is one health,' said Wink. The Smithsonian exhibit and the supplemental Baltimore exhibit portray, Just how connected human beings, animals, and the environment are.

The Smithsonian exhibit visually presents how epidemics spread, are treated, and can be prevented in the 21st century. The Baltimore artifacts enhance the Outbreak message with a look at some of the recommended and the not so recommended snake oil treatments of the early 1900s. The gallery space also delves into how the University dealt with the epidemic.

Justin Ortiz, MD, MS, an associate professor in the Department of Medicine at UMSOM and an international flu expert, outlined the school's exciting research in the fight against influenza and worldwide pandemics. He noted researchers at the Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health are doing a great deal of work to better define the immune response for the influenza illness as well as the vaccination so that we can produce vaccines that can protect longer than just the influenza season.

The ultimate public health goal, he said, is to produce a universal influenza vaccine that can protect people from a number of emerging influenza viruses.

A universal vaccine is something that is conceptually possible and Im very pleased to be part of the University of Maryland School of Medicine because we really are at the forefront of that research, he said.

The exhibit runs until Oct. 14 in the Weise Gallery located on the first floor of HS/HSL.

Upcoming Events:

Oct. 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Flu Clinic  Flu shots available to all UMB faculty, staff, and students in the first-floor tower of HS/HSL. Please visit the HS/HSL website to RSVP.

Oct. 5 at 11:45 a.m. Lunch and Lecture: The 1918 Flu: Whats Past is Prologue by Philip Mackowiak, MD, SOM Class of 1970, emeritus professor of medicine and the Carolyn Frenkil and Selvin Passen History of Medicine Scholar-in-Residence. A light lunch will be served on the fifth floor of the HS/HSL in the Gladhill Board Room. RSVP to events@hshsl.umaryland.edu.Eduardo Stein addresses delegates gathered for the World Summit at the United Nations headquarters in New York in September 2005. Stein was then Guatemalan Vice President.  AP/Ed Betz

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the UN Migration Agency (IOM) are pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Eduardo Stein, as a Joint Special Representative for Venezuelan refugees and migrants in the region.

Mr. Stein brings vast professional experience, political leverage and deep knowledge of the region, which will be fundamental to support national government efforts to deal with the protection and solutions needs of an increasing number of Venezuelan refugees and migrants. Mr. Stein will be promoting a coherent and harmonized regional approach to the Venezuela situation in coordination with national governments, international organizations and other relevant stakeholders.

Mr. Stein will be working closely and reporting directly to both the UNHCR High Commissioner and the IOM Director General. He will work to promote dialogue and consensus necessary for the humanitarian response, including access to territory, refugee protection, legal stay arrangements and the identification of solutions for Venezuelan refugees and migrants.MSRTC employees strike continues 10 Nov 2021 | 8:34 AM Aurangabad, Nov 10 (UNI) Deadlock continues between striking MSRTC employees unions and state government on Wednesday even after the government set up a three-member committee directed by High court to submit a report on the demands of the state transport corporation employees. see more..

Marathwada registers 47 new COVID-19 cases, 2 more deaths 10 Nov 2021 | 8:03 AM Aurangabad, Nov 10 (UNI) Covid-19 cases in Marathwada region of Maharashtra have significantly come down as only 47 new cases and two more deaths were reported from the region during the past 24 hours, health authorities informed on Wednesday. see more..

Maha: MSRTC suspends 18 agitating workers 10 Nov 2021 | 6:24 AM Nagpur, Nov 10(UNI) The management of Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) Nagpur has suspended 18 agitating employees amid the ongoing strike all over Maharashtra to press for their demands, sources said. see more..

Fighting Substance Abuse (drugs) during Pandemic in Sikkim 10 Nov 2021 | 1:19 AM Gangtok, Nov 9 (UNI) The people who do their best to keep society healthy and away from devastating Drug Abuse & Alcohol serve as a blessing in disguise, Sikkim with a number of Non Govt Organisations has been tackling the issue with Govt assistance. see more..Published: September 18, 2018

Fish Smells Conjure Happy Memories for UT Senior

When Kaitlyn Gengler 19 opened her suitcase after traveling back from her internship this summer, the whiff of fish nearly knocked her back.



I opened my suitcase, and it was nasty, said Gengler, who was a marine mammal fellow for Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, where for nearly three months she cleaned and scrubbed pools and prepped frozen herring, capelin and giant salmon to feed the resident mammals. I would go to the grocery store after I was working all day, and people would give me side looks, and I was like, I know I smell bad. But now I like that smell, because it reminds me of good memories.



Gengler, who walked to work while seeing otters and seals hanging out in the bay, traded in the palm trees of Florida for snow-capped Alaskan mountains for an experience that will weigh heavily on her resume.



In this field, its more about the experience than the degree you have, said Gengler, a marine science-biology major from Paramus, NJ.



While the academics give her a base knowledge, shes been told since she was in middle school attending Sea World summer camps that the key to success is getting her hands dirty.



That stuck with me. I knew I had to be hands-on and start doing things to make myself stand out from all the other marine biology majors out there, she said.



While UTs Marine Science Field Station, a waterfront research facility, sold her on UT, the proximity of campus to the Florida Aquarium was a nice bonus.



My first month I got here, I reached out to them to express my desire to volunteer there, Gengler said. I emailed them and was like hey, can I volunteer? Any department, any way I can? They had an opening in the education department, so I started there and did education for three years.



This year she is working in the aquariums husbandry department, volunteering one-on-one with a biologist. Once a week, she arrives before dark at 6:45 a.m. for the morning meeting and then begins her tasks, most of which involve cleaning, at 7 a.m. She works for five to six hours, and then heads back to campus to attend classes.



Ive learned to use a pressure washer, which is harder than it looks, Gengler laughed. She helps clean the floors of the open aviary in the wetlands area of the aquarium, squeegee-ing the floors, vacuuming the drains, getting everything looking nice and clean. Then shell do other tasks as assigned, such as prepping food or observing the biologist train the seals for husbandry reasons, such as being able to open their mouths on command so biologists can brush their teeth, or teaching pelicans to walk to certain areas of the facility to eat.



Theres a lot that goes into it that you dont realize, Gengler said. This summer in Alaska, she worked with Stellar sea lions and saw how they were trained to lay down or present a flipper, which helps the veterinary team in doing health checks and bloodwork.



Gengler didnt grow up wanting to be a marine biologist  in fact, she wanted to open her own bakery. But then she started going to aquariums on family trips and became interested in the animals. Her summer camp experiences further cemented her love for animals, but it wasnt until she was volunteering for the Florida Aquarium that it clicked.



I realized I have this passion for teaching others about the animals and conservation, she said. That is exactly how I fell in love with marine biology and animals, so I love the idea of really sparking that interest in someone else and inspiring the next generation of marine biologists. The more people know about something, the more likely they are going to care for it and want to make a difference. If we aren't educating people about the impact we are having on the environment, then nothing is ever going to change for the better.

On campus, Gengler, who is vice president of her sorority Sigma Kappa, has worked for three years in Professor Jen Worthams marine lab as the animal and water quality maintenance worker.



She is in charge of feeding all animals, keeping the tanks in high quality and maintaining the overall condition of the lab, said Wortham, noting that her reliability has been top notch and a reason Wortham has assigned her roles to assist with her spider crab, blue crab and stone crab research. She is very driven, humble, congenial and knows what she wants to do.



Gengler said she would not be where she is today without the encouragement and support from Wortham, who was Genglers first-year seminar professor and became her mentor and cheerleader. Gengler also noted that her experience is likely what landed her the position in Alaska this summer. It was a combination of her work in education as a camp counselor last summer with Sea World San Diego, her work in Worthams lab and her volunteer experience at the Florida Aquarium.



Her long-term goal is to be a mammal curator at an aquarium overseeing all of the mammals and their daily care, as well as collaborating with other zoos and aquariums.



Being a mammal curator would allow me to share this strong passion with more people and share why I love aquariums and the animals so much, Gengler said. The main focus of many aquariums right now is working together to put a larger effort towards things like research projects (both in human care and in the field) and marine animal rescue and rehabilitation programs. I am really interested in being a part of this bigger picture.





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Read more UT Life storiesJonah Bank Executive to Speak with UW MBA Students

Kim DeVore, senior vice president, chief financial officer and a founding director of Jonah Bank of Wyoming, will speak with University of Wyoming Master of Business Administration (MBA) students Friday, Sept. 21.

DeVore brings her experience and background in business to the presentation as part of the UW MBA Programs emphasis on experiential learning.

Her career began through DECA while she was still in high school. Since then, she has filled almost every role within banking, and she was recognized as the 2015 Wyoming Woman of Influence in the banking and finance industry. DeVore is active in several community organizations.

Following DeVores presentation, second-year MBA students will present their summer consulting projects from the programs McMurry Summer Consulting Project.

The presentation group includes Ashley Bridges, of Cowley; Ann Francis, from Dallas, Texas; Ryan Gallagher, from Boston, Mass.; Doug Hodge, of Buffalo, Mo.; and Anna Huber, from Huntsville, Ala. Mark Peterson, UW professor of marketing and sustainable business practices, is the faculty adviser.

All UW MBA candidates participate in the programs summer consulting program. Students work in multidisciplinary teams to address real problems, challenges and opportunities for a variety of businesses. Businesses range from local startups and economic development entities to global corporations.

At the conclusion of the program, students present their recommendations and action items to business owners, executive committees or the companies board of directors. Student outcomes have often included opportunities for post-project consulting engagements and job offers, says Tanner Parmely, UW MBA Program coordinator.

The MBA Program is currently accepting company project proposals for summer 2019.

For more information, call Parmely at (307) 766-2449 or email tparmely@uwyo.edu.Vietnams Law on Competition came into effect on July 1, 2019, replacing the 2004 version of the law. In June 2018, Vietnam passed the new regulation, which focuses on competition restraining agreements, market dominance, economic concentration, and unfair practices.

Scope of the law

The new law has expanded its scope and now includes both Vietnamese and foreign companies and individuals in case their actions have  or potentially have  a competition restriction impact on the domestic market. A competition restriction impact is an influence that will exclude, reduce, or hinder competition in the market.

The government will also have authority over offshore activities if there is an impact on the domestic market. The law will apply to foreign entities part of competition-restricting agreements, economic concentration, or other unfair activities even if they do not have a subsidiary in Vietnam.

In addition, public service units  such as hospitals and schools  have been brought under the ambit of the law, which was not the case in the previous version.

Regulatory bodies

Under the new law, the existing Vietnam Competition Authority and the Vietnam Competition Council have been merged to form the National Competition Committee (NCC). The Competition Investigation Agency has also been established under the NCC; it will be responsible for monitoring and investigating breaches of competition law.

The NCC will be a unit under the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Anti-competitive agreements

The new law prohibits certain types of anti-competitive agreements if the firms are in the same market or if the agreements can impact market competitiveness.

Agreements prohibited in case firms are in the same market:

Directly or indirectly fixing prices;

Sharing customers or markets or supply sources; and

Controlling the number of goods produced, sold, or bought as well as services provided.

Agreements prohibited in case they have a negative impact on market competitiveness:

Restraining investments, technical, and technological capabilities; and

Forcing other companies to sign contracts related to the buying or selling of goods and services or bind them into commitments not related to the content of the contract.

Earlier, these agreements were only prohibited in case the combined market share of the parties was 30 percent or more.

A leniency program has also been introduced in the new law. Now, companies that are part of an anti-competitive agreement may be entitled to leniency if they voluntarily reach out to the government authorities before an investigation is formally opened.

This program will only be available to the first three applicants, with the first applicant being eligible for a penalty exemption of 100 percent, while the second and third will be eligible for an exemption of 60 percent and 40 percent respectively.

Exemptions

The new law allows for certain exemptions if they can satisfy certain conditions, such as promoting technical progress or business efficiency. However, the new law imposes a five-year limit on any exemption. Extensions are limited to a maximum of five years and the NCC will decide whether to continue the exemption within 90 days prior to its expiry.

Economic concentration

Earlier, economic concentration activities such as mergers, acquisitions, consolidations, and joint ventures were prohibited in case the combined market shares of the entities were above 50 percent.

Now the combined market share condition has been removed and such activities can be prohibited even if they have a significant competition restraining impact on the market. The NCC will make the final decision based on the following factors:

Combined market share;

Level of concentration before and after the economic concentration;

The relationship of the firms in the chain of production, distribution, or supply of goods/services or whose business lines acts as an input or is complementary in nature;

Competitive advantages due to the economic concentration;

The probability of the participating firms to significantly increase the prices or rate of profit after economic concentration; and

The capability of the firms to remove or prevent other firms to enter the market;

In the previous version, economic concentrations activities that could lead to a market share of 30 percent or more were required to be reported to the relevant authorities. Under the new law, economic concentrations need to be reported to the NCC if they are subject to certain thresholds based on the below factors:

Totals assets and turnover of the firms in the domestic market;

Transaction value; and

Combined market share.

Violations of economic concentration regulations will attract a penalty of five percent of the total turnover (preceding financial year) of the violating firm. Earlier the penalty was 10 percent.

Mergers and acquisitions

Before a merger, acquisition, or joint venture, the entities have to notify the regulator if certain thresholds are crossed such as assets and turnover as per the 2018 Law on Competition. While not mandatory, a pre-merger consultation with the entities involved and the regulator is helpful to see if there are any issues. This can be an informal, cost-free step to clarify merger regulations.

Once the entities submit to the regulator, the preliminary review should be completed in 30 days. If the NCC requires further time, it can extend the review to another 90 days, which can be further extended to 60 days for complex issues.

Market position and power

From July 2019, firms will be considered to be in a market dominating position if it has a market share of 30 percent or more and if it has significant market power. Market power will be determined by several factors such as:

The financial strength of the firm;

Technological advantages and technical infrastructure;

Ownership and the right to possess and access infrastructure or use items of intellectual property rights;

Correlation of market share among firms in the market; and

Other factors specific to their sectors.

Vietnams new law on competition builds on the previous regulation and provides investors with clearer guidelines on the regulations. The move underlines the governments intent to match Vietnams laws to international standards and this bodes well for foreign investors in the country.

Note: This article was first published in September 2018 and has been updated to include the latest developments.The municipal Peoples Committee Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung delivered a speech at the summit. - VNS Photo Vu Hoa

Addressing the ASOCIO Smart City Summit 2018, themed "Creating a smarter and more secure city with digital solutions," kicked off in Ha Noi on Tuesday, Chung said the capital is considered a global mega-city in terms of area and population density.

Rapid urbanisation and rising population have resulted in various problems relating to planning, traffic, security, health care, education, energy, housing development and pollution, he said. Given this, building a sustainable and smart city that ensures convenience, safety and hospitality for local residents is urgent for the city. To date, the city has issued various plans with priority given to building a smart monitoring centre, a smart transport system and a smart tourism system, he added.

Ha Noi is working towards its goal to become a smart metropolis which utilises the benefits of Industry 4.0 with cutting-edge technologies such as 3D printing, virtual reality, cloud computing, robotics, big data, blockchain and artificial intelligence that require co-operation of leaders, managers and technology experts in building a smart city. It would help improve living standards for people while promoting socio-economic development, he said.

Viet Nam is said to be a nation with the fastest urbanisation rate in the region and the world. According to a report by the Ministry of Construction, as of late 2017, Viet Nam had 813 urban areas, with the urbanisation rate of 37.5 per cent.

In August, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc approved a project to develop sustainable and smart cities. Viet Nam hopes to boost green growth and sustainable development, bringing into full play its potential and advantages, and increase the efficient use of resources. The country also wants to improve locals living standards, increase the economys competitiveness and step up international integration.

Until 2020, the project will work to build a legal basis for sustainable and smart city development, issue policies and mechanisms applied to the regions subject to pilot implementation, build and pilot the application of the ICT framework on smart city development, develop the GIS-based urban space data infrastructure, and build a national city database.

By 2025, the first phase of the pilot implementation of smart city development will be carried out, focusing on building and finalising legal corridors and regulations, applying the ICT framework to smart city development in Viet Nam, announcing national standards prioritised for building smart cities and developing the urban space data infrastructure. The first phase is expected to be completed by 2030. Ha Noi, HCM City and Can Tho will be chosen to be the core of smart city networks in the northern, central, southern and Mekong Delta regions, respectively.

ASOCIOs President David Wong cited a UN report predicting that the world would see two thirds of its population living in urban areas by 2050. Of which, Asia and Africa would witness the fastest growth. It is expected that the rate of people living in urban areas will increase from the current 53 per cent to 64 per cent thanks to urbanisation.

Such a high rate of urbanisation will lead to issues such as aging, overloaded infrastructure, environmental pollution, air pollution and noise pollution that affect peoples lives and business performance. Wong said Ha Nois plan to build smart cities should be carried out in three phases (by 2030), focusing on three core issues including health, transport and tourism.

Jay Jenkins, head of Southeast Asias Google Cloud Technology said Ha Noi is ready to become a smart city with data collected and stored by Google over the past 10 years. Every day, Google Maps tracks roads and traffic for millions of dwellers in the city. This information is processed at Googles data centres and is useful to hundreds of thousands of smartphone users.

Thus, there are a lot of smart city infrastructure elements available and Ha Noi can take advantage of those, said Jay Jenkins. A smart city can take advantage of new technologies and digitisation to simplify the process, bringing the highest quality for people and the best environment for businesses, Jenkins added.

Brian David Hull, general director of ABB Vietnam told Viet Nam News that there are many opportunities for Ha Noi to become a smart city as they have clear plans.

I think the good thing is companies like ABB are already investing in these areas. However, there are always challenges. I think the key is to develop the infrastructure in electricity, transport and water, he said, adding that the Government should work on data centres.

The two-day event, jointly held by the municipal Peoples Committee, the Asian-Oceanian Computing Industry Organisation (ASOCIO) and the Viet Nam Software and IT Services (VINASA), brings together over 600 local delegates who are leaders of central-level offices, Ha Noi, and other localities keen on building smart cities, associations, organisations and IT-related enterprises, together with nearly 70 foreign delegates from 20 nations and economies around the world.

They are expected to take part in six seminars on digital government and strategies to build smart cities, and use fewer cash transactions; along with sections on infrastructure, platform  principles for smart city, data driven city  data analysis & urban planning and smart industries.Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam tells the 35th ASEAN Social Security Association Board Meeting in Nha Trang on Tuesday the social security mechanism will have to be changed as the fourth industrial revolution and free movement of labour have led to new kinds of jobs and ways of working. - VNA/VNS Photo Van iep

Speaking at the two-day 35th ASEAN Social Security Association (ASSA) Board Meeting that opened on Tuesday in Khanh Hoa Provinces Nha Trang City, he said employment has become less stable because more and more people do seasonal and short-term jobs.

Vietnam has 200,000 freelancers, the Deputy PM said.

With a computer and the internet, people can work online for companies in other countries without travelling there.

The rate of self-employment has increased, he said.

These things require regulations, duties of employers and employees and co-ordination between relevant agencies relating to social security to be changed, Dam said.

The fourth industrial revolution is changing the world. Our responsibility is to make the changes become better. We should pay attention to solving problems the revolution brings about to develop better based on a goal which considers people as the centre of development.

Many countries like Vietnam are incorporating this goal into development policies to ensure no one is left behind, he added.

ASSA chairman Suradej Waleeittikul said advances in IT and digitisation have had profound impacts across industries, changing the nature of work and affecting the provision of social security.

The disruptive environment of globalisation has forced workers to become unemployed or look for jobs elsewhere. Many choose to work in the informal economy.

The resulting mobility of workers requires governments to ensure their welfare, and the fundamental issue is having social security provisions which guarantee their rights and entitlements, even across borders, he said.

For us, social security administrators, it creates both challenges and opportunities. As we develop policies and deliver services to the countrys labour force, new strategies are required to adapt to these emerging trends.

In many countries, e-services have been introduced to simplify the administration and increase transparency.

There is also the need to create a legal framework that can adapt continuously to globalisation. We have to keep up the leadership and understanding of these rapid changes in order to adapt and survive.

According to Nguyen Thi Minh, director general of the Vietnam Social Security, ASSA needs to have a creative approach and long-term vision to fully use the experience and technology of the members.

ASSA should work together as one for sustainable social security for all in the ASEAN Community.

Assoc Prof Dr Tran Dinh Thien, former head of the Vietnam Institute of Economics, said the country should formulate a digital transformation strategy and manage it intelligently.

The country should develop digitally-linked infrastructure and cyber security and create digital human resources.

Gobal digital connections, through the web and smart tools, are bringing great opportunities for people to increase their general income though high risks are not unavoidable.

The need for renovating social insurance activities would become vigorous and urgent, he added.

Jens Schremmer of the International Social Security Association said non-standard work is fast emerging because of the revolution.

Digital platforms are enabling new services, he said.

But the status of platform workers is often unclear. What are they: Employees? Self-employed? Or new categories? Why does it matter?

Labour market transformations and social impacts create challenges for social security, he said.

Social security institutions will make the difference.

International exchanges between social security institutions would play a key role, he added.

Robert Palacios of the World Bank said traditional social insurance coverage based on payroll tax deductions from formal sector workers would lose the race with populations ageing.

The approach of subsidising health insurance premiums for the poor, informal sector is helping increase the health insurance coverage and shows the way forward.

Emerging technologies can help us differentiate those in the formal sector that have more capacity to save or contribute so we can use limited resources more efficiently.

The line between social assistance and social insurance would increasingly be blurred to achieve universal social insurance coverage that is affordable, he added.Production line of Hanoi Beer Alcohol and Beverage Joint Stock Corp. Transparency was critical to enhance the efficiency of State-owned enterprises.-VNA/VNS Photo

This was the highlight of an online forum held by the Governments e-portal on Tuesday ahead of the meeting of the Prime Minister with SOEs to be held at the end of this month.

Dang Quyet Tien, Director of the Ministry of Finances Corporate Finance Department, said that many SOEs have still failed to improve governance and operation efficiency after being privatised.

An estimate by the Steering Committee for Enterprise Innovation and Development showed that 92 per cent of SOEs were equitised over the past two decades but only 10 per cent of the State capital was replaced by private capital.

Economic expert Luu Bich Ho said that transparency was a common problem for SOEs.

Ho said that transparency and good governance were critical for SOEs in the condition of rapid international integration and requirements for compliance with international rules.

SOEs need to change their thinking and working styles to create healthy businesses for efficient and sustainable development.

Phung Van Hung, permanent Member of the National Assemblys Economic Committee, said that after equitisation, many enterprises did not want to list on stock exchanges and did not want to publicise their operation results.

Hung said that it was necessary to push for the listing of SOEs which had already been equitised.

Tien agreed, adding that when listed on stock exchanges, the supervision of investors would force SOEs to improve governance and transparency following market practice.

He pointed out that there were about 700 SOEs which had been equitised but not listed. Of them, nearly 200 were planning to list and 300 were transforming into public companies while the listings of the rest were stagnant.

Public disclosure of information on finance and operation of SOEs is a top priority, Tien said, adding that improved transparency would help enterprises to raise capital at lower costs that banking loans.

Tien said that foreign investors focused more on governance efficiency rather than assets such as land in making investment decisions.

With regard to 12 loss-making projects under the management of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Tien said that only with transparent information, could solutions be found for these projects. Even bankruptcy or dissolution could be considered options if their operation remained inefficient.

According to Hung, Vietnam was in a much more sophisticated equitisation period due to the large scale of enterprises together with complex problems related to land and debt settlement, for example. This is requiring greater determination.

Regarding the operation mechanism of State Capital Management Committee which would supervise VND5 quadrillion (US$222 billion) worth of State capital at 21 SOEs, Hung said that it was necessary to enhance accountability to ensure efficiency in management of State assets.

The roles of the committee must be made clear, he said.

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On a recent sweltering weekend, nearly 400 self-identified witches, daemons, and vampires traveled from around the country to the Science History Institute in Philadelphia for two days of bookish revelry. The ladies  they were nearly all ladies  favored flowy cardigans and long crystal necklaces strung with alchemical symbols; they nibbled on punny delicacies (maca-runes); they attended lectures delivered by academics on such topics as the genetic mutations that might allow a creature to live forever by drinking the blood of others; they wept over alchemical manuscripts. Ive never experienced anything like it in my life, observed one of the librarians at the Institute. Usually we deal with people who are interested in petroleum engineering.

The women (I counted seven men in total) were gathered for the third annual All Souls Convention, a fan-organized celebration of Deborah Harknesss best-selling All Souls trilogy, the story of a professor of alchemical history who falls in love with a vampire and reluctantly learns to embrace her own power as a witch. In recent years, fans of epic fantasy have had no shortage of series-specific conventions to attend  Game of Thrones has at least two  but the All Souls trilogy stands apart as one of the only series to have its own convention before the release of a screen adaptation. Although the books are sometimes described as Harry Potter for grown-ups, they are set in the real world  primarily at Oxford, a chateau in Auvergne, and a cozy house in the woods of Madison County, New York. The final volume of the trilogy was published in 2014, but in May, The World of All Souls, a companion guide co-written by Harkness, landed on the New York Times best-seller list, and this week, a minor character will get his own spin-off in Times Convert. At the Science History Institute, anticipation for the new volume was so acute that one convention attendee warned me not to leave my advance reading copy unattended lest it magically vanish.

Upstairs, Harkness, in her own diaphanous cardigan and beaded necklace, flipped through a fake alchemical text central to the plot of the All Souls trilogy  a prop for the upcoming TV adaptation of the first book in the series, A Discovery of Witches, out this month in the U.K. on Sky One and next January in the U.S. on Sundance Now. (Teresa Palmer and Matthew Goode star as the leading witch and vampire, a choice the crowd heartily agreed with  the mere mention of Goodes name was enough to stir up cheers and sighs.) Harkness, 53, is blonde and dimpled and vivacious. When we met, she held out a vial hanging from her necklace  a gift from a fan  and instructed me to take a whiff. Its coffee! she declared, beaming.

She turned her attention to the prop manuscript, Ashmole 782, which is based on a real alchemical text that has been lost for hundreds of years. Harkness, an executive producer on the series, argued with the production team over the size of the manuscript  they wanted it to be larger, but the real dimensions of the book are recorded in archival documents, and Harkness insists on authenticity over style. There were tons of creative disagreements, she said. I was really a pain in the ass, to be quite blunt.

Deborah Harkness shows reporter Lila Shapiro artwork from the 15th century. Photo: Courtesy of All Souls Con

Like her heroine, Harkness got her start as an intellectual historian specializing in the Medieval history of alchemy. She was a 43-year-old tenured professor at the University of Southern California, with two academic books on magic and science in Elizabethan England under her belt, when she first decided to try writing a fantasy novel. (She had also spent many years moonlighting as a wine blogger.) As she recalls it, her students and colleagues were shocked and dismayed. One of my students asked me, Arent you afraid no one will take you seriously anymore? Even her agent, Sam Stoloff, whod worked with Harkness on one of her history books, was skeptical when he first got an email from the writer announcing shed begun work on a novel. My heart kind of sank, Stoloff told me. Because I have a lot of academic authors and journalist authors, and a lot of them have entertained the fantasy of writing the novel, and usually its trouble, because usually, theyre not that good at it. In the case of Harkness, he had reason to be even more skeptical than usual: the first draft of the book came in at over 1,100 pages, the first 120 of which contained no real plot; instead, they mostly featured descriptions of the heroine studying various alchemical manuscripts.

I would have read that, interjected Victoria Orzechowski, the librarian at the Institute, whod arrived to escort us into the rare books room where they keep the actual alchemical manuscripts. We examined a leather-bound book by John Dee, an alchemist and mathematician who served as the astrologer to Queen Elizabeth I and also shows up as a character in the second book of Harknesss trilogy. Harkness smiled warmly at Dees book, which catalogs conversations he claims to have had with angels. (Among other things, they allegedly told him that he should swap wives with a colleague.) She first encountered the books more than 30 years ago, when she was a junior at Mount Holyoke, in a class on occult science and the Renaissance. Poor John Dee, she mused, as she carefully flipped a page. He wrote major works of scientific scholarship, then he started talking to angels and people went: Okay, hes checked out. Harkness laughed  she could relate. I think theres still that tendency to think: Shes lost her mind!

Dees conversations with angels were the subject of Harknesss graduate school dissertation. Not long after she submitted it, she was paying one of her regular visits to Oxfords Bodleian Library when she had an uncanny experience that would later form the basis for the All Souls trilogy. Arriving at the library one morning to pick up a manuscript that shed ordered from the stacks, the librarian at the front desk informed her that the keeper of rare books wanted to see her. As if by magic, her call to the stacks had summoned up a manuscript from Dees collection, an ancient book of magic that scholars had long believed lost to history. As it turned out, its disappearance was a mere filing mistake. A Discovery of Witches begins in a similar way, with the protagonist accidentally unearthing a missing text that lays out the secret origin of vampires, witches, and daemons. We live in a world where we think the mysterious is retreating farther and farther from our lives and eventually we will know all there is to know, Harkess said. I love the idea that somehow, there are still things that can be magical. It felt magical for me to find a missing book hiding in plain sight in a library that was extremely well-documented and researched. How is that possible?

When Harkness finished writing the trilogy, she considered returning to academic writing, where she would once again have to limit her observations to facts she could prove. But after spending a year back in the classroom, she realized she had ten more books she wanted to write, and only one of them was straight history (an account of a 17th-century experiment undertaken by the Royal Society of London to study the magical properties of morning dew). She decided to stick with fiction, in part because writing the novels would require so much research that she wouldnt have time for much else. Times Convert primarily takes place in the Enlightenment era, 200 years after the period Harkness spent her academic career studying. To research her protagonist, a young surgeon in the Revolutionary War who was reborn as a vampire in 1781, she attempted to read every text he may have encountered in his life, beginning with the primers printed in New England to teach children how to read. I had a hell of a lot of reading to do, she said. I basically became a graduate student in 18th-century history.

Fans at the 2018 All Souls Convention. Photo: Courtesy of All Souls Con

Downstairs, at a lecture on the genetic composition of magical beings, a molecular biologist and community college professor sketched out a pair of witchs chromosomes on a whiteboard. If I had professors like you, I wouldnt have flunked biology twice, a woman remarked during the Q&A. Harkness seemed as delighted by her fans as they were by her. Not all fantasy authors are. Some struggle with the expectations of readers who always want more than they can give  more books, more inscriptions and selfies, more Q&As, more time. But Harkness insisted on adding several extra autograph sessions to the weekend so she could have a personal exchange with every reader, whose names she remembered more often than not. She asked each person she met how they were enjoying the convention; she asked after their spouses and their favorite All Souls characters; she offered professional advice and the occasional wine recommendation. (I had a frose for the first time recently, she told me, and Ive seen God now.)

Im super inspired by you as a person, said a woman in an All Souls T-shirt who wanted to become a history professor and a novelist. Hows your Latin? responded Harkness, ready, as always, to get into the details. For the classics, you really need it.

A previous version of this piece incorrectly stated that the All Souls trilogy was the only series to have its own convention before the release of a screen adaptation.Drake. Photo: Michael Steele/Getty Images

Drake has filed a lawsuit against a woman whom he claims to have had a consensual sexual encounter with, who then went on to allegedly make false accusations against him. The rapper met the woman, Layla Lace, after a concert in the U.K. in February 2017, when the lawsuit claims she voluntarily and seemingly happily performed oral sex on him. He then sent her home, which, according to the lawsuit, she did not like. Drake claims the woman created a fantasy relationship with him, and supplied text messages that he claims support this, which TMZ has posted. Lace then announced she was pregnant on Instagram in April of 2017, and even made an appearance on Sirius XM Radio to discuss the alleged pregnancy.

According to Drake, she then hired a lawyer in May and started demanding money from the rapper, but after allegedly refusing to take a paternity test, she ceased contact. The suit then claims that Lace went to authorities in New York to accuse Drake of raping her, and that the case was referred to authorities in the U.K. who interviewed and ultimately cleared him. She then hired a new lawyer who demanded money from the rapper in exchange for silence about the accusation. Drake is now suing Lace for civil extortion, emotional distress, fraud, defamation, abuse of process, and is also asking for unspecified damages.Jay Hernandez, Zachary Knighton, and Stephen Hill. Photo: Courtesy of CBS

As private investigator Thomas Sullivan Magnum, Tom Selleck never really got the credit he deserved for making audiences believe in the world of CBSs Magnum, P.I. That grin, that wink, that beefy physique, that mustache, and that sensitive tenor speaking voice made him the epitome of a TV leading man, likableness incarnate. But if you go back and look at the show now, it seems almost as rough as Miami Vice, which lit up rival network NBC around the same time and is often credited with anticipating the razor-wire brutality that would define cable dramas in the late 90s and early aughts. Created by Donald P. Bellisario and Glen A. Larson, Magnum was a transitional show, blending what TV had always been with what it would ultimately become. Nostalgists often think of it as representative of a time when the major broadcast networks still ruled the American imagination  a time before streaming, before cable even, when most of the big hits were comfort food that you could half-watch without really missing anything.

The striking thing about Magnum was how unapologetically adult it was, even when serving up scenic and human eye candy. Magnum lived on the Hawaiian island of Oahu in the guesthouse of an unseen millionaire author, Robin Masters, powered his red Ferrari through lush tropical landscapes, and was catnip to women, yet the series was more sophisticated about its setting than its hit predecessor Hawaii Five-O had been, portraying the state as a multicultural tapestry with a rich sense of history. And Magnum and the backup cast had more in common with Elmore Leonards and George V. Higginss eccentric tough guys and the main characters of The Rockford Files  where Selleck made his first classic-leading-man impression as hunky detective Lance White  than with the bland pot-stirrers you typically encountered on network-TV detective shows in the 70s and 80s, characters who were usually about as edgy as a plastic picnic knife. A lot of Magnums stories were about regret, nostalgia, and moral ambiguity; Magnum was a Vietnam veteran who had post-traumatic-stress disorder, though he didnt outwardly manifest it (all of the shows combat veterans had a touch of the condition). Hed served in naval intelligence and survived a stint in a POW camp, and he was constantly being drawn back into the past by the arrival of people he knew from the war  including a Soviet torturer whom Magnum executes in cold blood at the end of the 1982 episode Did You See the Sun Rise?, which predated The Sopranos legendary episode College (in which Tony Soprano kills a mob informant in witness protection while scouting universities with his daughter) by 17 years. Magnum was a sweet guy on the surface but hard underneath. Selleck was so subtle at conveying Magnums complicated feelings that you never thought of him as troubled, even though he was.

Its impossible to predict whether the CBS reboot of Magnum, supervised by executive producers Peter M. Lenkov and Eric Guggenheim, will do the original proud, since the network made only the first episode available at press time. But initial signs are promising. It nails the Selleck versions have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too sensibility, kicking off with a joyously ludicrous action sequence set in North Korea (director Justin Lin of the Fast and the Furious series helmed the pilot), only to turn around and assure us that the rest of the show wont be like this, then ultimately delivering something not terribly different from what it said it wasnt going to give us. But the vibe is relaxed and knowing, and everyone onscreen seems like a grown-up even when running around doing action-hero stuff. Magnum, played by Jay Hernandez, is a veteran of the War on Terror, which is proving be as potent a pop-culture manufacturing machine for disillusioned tough guys as Vietnam was back in the original Magnums day. His crew, all modeled on characters in the Selleck series, are spot-on in both writing and casting: Zachary Knighton as badass rich boy Orville Rick Wright, Stephen Hill as chopper pilot Theodore TC Calvin, Domenick Lombardozzi as Sebastian Nuzzo (all survivors of the same Iraqi prison camp where Magnum did time), and Perdita Weeks as Masterss estate manager, the MI-6 veteran Juliet Higgins (flipping the gender of a character John Hillerman played in the original). There are car chases, gunfights, martial-arts slugfests, and a climactic stunt that even Jackie Chan might find a bit much, yet you rarely question any of it because the storytellers and actors have nailed the no-big-deal tone.

Hernandezs performance ties the whole contraption together. Hes as quietly convincing as Selleck was, though with a different energy. His can-do spirit and wry humor make you believe in what common sense tells you is pure absurdity, while they soft-pedal the fact that this Magnum, like the last one, tends to run roughshod over anybody who stands between him and solving a mystery. This was a big part of Sellecks no-fuss brilliance: the way he somehow made you forget that if Magnum were somebody you actually knew, youd get to the point where youd run the other way the minute you saw him, because youd know from experience that he was going to badger, cajole, or coerce you into doing something that would get you in a heap of trouble.

Equally intriguing is the way the show lets Hernandez be a Latinx man while weaving his ethnicity almost invisibly into both the fabric of the show and the established history of the character as played by Selleck. This incarnation of the hero gives his full name as Thomas Sullivan Magnum, which doesnt immediately jibe with Hernandezs appearance, but we eventually learn that Magnums father was a fighter pilot who died when Thomas was just a boy. Maybe this tragedy led to his adoption by a white family or his mothers remarriage to a white man? Is his mother Latinx or white? Will Edward James Olmos appear as Magnums biological father, who isnt dead after all, merely serving as a triple agent while seeming to be a double agent, etc.? Then theres the moment when Magnum has to dive into the ocean to inspect a wreck; Rick offers to dive with him to allay any fear he has about sharks, and Magnum replies that Rick should be the one who worries, since sharks prefer white meat. Its a laugh line because its exposition that doesnt feel like exposition, and it hints at future plot developments that will have soap-opera fun with the character  just like the original, which had stretches that seemed to introduce and/or kill off more people from Magnums past than he could have possibly had time to get to know. If you want to remake a beloved older show and bring it into the modern, multicultural era without betraying what people loved about the first version, you could do a lot worse than this. To wink without winking is an art in itself.

*This article appears in the September 17, 2018, issue of New York Magazine. Subscribe Now!Emma Stone and Jonah Hill in a totally not-weird scene from Maniac. Photo: Michele K. Short / Netflix

Maniac is an experimental show about an experiment in curing mental illness. It is wild, audacious, addictive, and teeters so precariously between reality and fantasy that the audience will immediately question whats real and what isnt. The bold ten-episode series, one of the fall seasons best, repeatedly bounces in and out of its characters brains and hop-skips from genre to genre, yet somehow avoids spiraling out of control even when what transpires detours further into WTF-ville.

The unconventional narrative follows two New Yorkers, Annie Landsberg (Emma Stone) and Owen Milgram (Jonah Hill), who volunteer to participate in a pharmaceutical trial that purports to permanently cure them of all mental-health problems. During the study, a series of drugs push them to explore various corners of their subconscious while exhuming traumas they have tried their best to bury. By signing up to star in Maniac, Stone and Hill not only get to depict that clinical journey, they also assume a diverse array of personas that Annie and Owen take on in their minds once the drugs take effect. Among other things, Maniac features Stone as a kinda-sorta Legolas in a knockoff of Lord of the Rings, Hill as an Austrian government underling with an Austrian-Finnish-Swedish-Dutch-Italian-Icelandic accent, and both as a married Long Island couple in the 1980s who get involved in a Coen brothersesque caper involving a stolen lemur named Wendy.

If that sounds weird, please know that I have only scratched the surface of this particular synapse. Maniac also gives us a panicky Justin Theroux in an awful toupee, Billy Magnussen as a douche of many different colors, and Sally Field in a dual  or is it triple?  role that slyly tips its hat to her Emmy-winning performance in the mini-series Sybil. You know how sometimes in life you dont realize how much you needed something until it appears? That is how I feel about the moment in Maniac when a fired-up Field confidently throws her hands behind her head and says, Gas up the Miata.

The ringleaders of this psychological circus are creator and co-writer Patrick Somerville, who worked on The Leftovers, and Cary Joji Fukunaga, the True Detective season-one auteur who directs every episode of Maniac with understated but unmistakable verve. The fact that Somerville is responsible for this dramedy, based very loosely on a Norwegian series of the same name, makes sense. The pitch for Maniac could very easily have been Lets make a series where nearly every episode is like the International Assassin one from The Leftovers. (Nick Cuse, who co-wrote that episode of The Leftovers, is also a writer and co-producer of Maniac.) But Maniac is more than an exercise in switcheroos of form and tone. It also considers the psychological barriers that prevent human beings from shedding their baggage, and the factors that bond two people to each other. Because of its surprises and its interest in the relationship dynamic between Annie and Owen, Maniac could easily serve as a binge-watch companion piece to another of this seasons streaming TV delights, Amazons Forever.

The first episode zeroes in on Owen, while the second is told from Annies point of view, but both focus on what happens as they prepare to walk through the doors of Neberdine Pharmaceutical to engage in that three-day drug trial. Owen is a newly unemployed schizophrenic who spent time in a mental hospital because of his tendency to hear voices and see things that arent there. Hes one of several siblings, including golden boy Jed (Magnussen), in a very wealthy family that passive-aggressively ostracizes Owen. In one of the shows many droll visual moments, the camera reveals a massive, pretentious painting of every member of the Milgram family that hangs on the wall of their home, then pans a few inches to the right, where a tiny framed picture of Owen hangs all by itself. When Owen arrives at Neberdine and sees Annie, his delusions convince him that she has been preordained to partner with him and save the world.

Annie may have a firmer grip on reality, but she is untethered in her own ways, consumed by guilt over the rupture of her relationship with her sister Ellie (Julia Garner, who, between this and Ozark, is quickly becoming a Netflix MVP). Annie is eager to down those meds in the hope that they will finally relieve her of the guilt and sadness shes carrying. She is also dismissive of Owen at first, but after they disappear into the first of several medically monitored dream states, she finds reason to believe that perhaps the two of them have potential as a dynamic duo after all.

Every time Owen and Annie are under the influence, the people and issues they encountered in real life rear their heads in increasingly warped and fantastical contexts, like that previously mentioned lemur caper, or a seance at a secluded mansion circa 1947. Each episode unfolds at a concise (for Netflix) pace of 45 minutes or less, which keeps Maniac zipping along with the speed of an electrical impulse rocketing from neuron to neuron.

Maniac doesnt unfold in a consistently defined setting, particularly with regard to the time in which it takes place. Though its present-day scenes unfold in New York, its a version of New York thats either in a cockeyed future or an alternate version of right now. For example, practically everything runs on computers, but the computers look about as advanced as the ones in the movie WarGames. Instead of the Statue of Liberty as we know it, New York Harbor is occupied by what a tour guide calls the Statue of Extra Liberty. These kinds of paradoxical details are part of what makes the world of this series so fascinating. So does the superb production design by Alex DiGerlando (Beasts of the Southern Wild, True Detective) who infuses the Neberdine lab with classic sci-fi details, from the spare, white, Kubrickian subjects living area to the massive sensors that monitor patients brain waves and make them look like robots from a long-forgotten 50s outer-space flick.

Its also fun to watch the cast take some off-kilter risks. As Dr. James K. Mantleray, who assumes control of the pharma study three episodes in, Theroux ditches any semblance of heroics to morph into a nebbish in a pair of oversize glasses  the costumes by Jenny Eagan are terrific  and he radiates a sense of anxiety that only heightens when his mother, Greta Mantleray (Field) enters the picture. The hypercompulsive way that Theroux slathers on lip balm just before reuniting with his mom says everything you need to know about how freaky and dysfunctional that relationship is.

Field is  well, shes the great Sally Field. Shes as grounded as Greta Mantleray, a pop therapist diva whose best-selling titles include Im Okay, Youre a Bitch, as she is when playing the personification of the labs supercomputer, GRTA, at its most emotionally fragile. (Yes, one of the roles Field plays is a computer.) Sonoya Mizuno, whose oversize spectacles mirror the ones worn by James, also stands out as Mantlerays Neberdine colleague, Dr. Fujita. Repressed, fixated on the study, and constantly smoking, shes a compulsive tic in human form.

Ultimately, though, Maniac belongs to Stone and Hill, who are repeatedly offered invitations to gnaw the hell out of all the meticulously designed scenery around them and resist it every time. Hills Owen is mired enough in his condition that he often speaks in a monotone, but when he becomes other versions of himself during treatment, he shows loving, menacing, or totally goofy sides. Stone has no trouble at all dancing between the heartbreak of Annies confrontations with Ellie, the ludicrousness of becoming an elf in a pseudo-Shire embedded in her subconscious (Fantasy is my least favorite genre, Annie complains), or a sexy assassin with a southern accent who knows her way around a firearm.

Stone turns into that kill machine in the ninth episode, a real banger, complete with a Dr. Strangeloveesque scene that provides a showcase for Hill at his most absurd and a knockout gun battle that unfolds in one take, a reminder of that famous extended True Detective shot that established Fukunagas bona fides as a director.

Maniac is exhilarating to watch and a lot to process. Its not as interested in highlighting the realities of depression or other mental illnesses as it is in capturing the core truths about them: how they isolate people, play tricks inside the brain, and cant necessarily be cured through any single, simple means. Its most accurate to describe it as a drama, but its really a hybrid of a bunch of genres, including dark comedy. The fact that its so consistently able to elicit laughter is one of Maniacs best qualities. That, and its full embrace of utter randomness. Did I mention that at one point, Jonah Hill turns into a hawk on this show? Because if I didnt, its worth noting.

No one sees into your heads but us, James promises his subjects before the study gets underway. But thats not true. Maniac lets us see right into Annies and Owens synced-up, askew minds. Once we start peeping around in there, its next to impossible to look away.Suki Waterhouse. Photo: Raymond Hall/GC Images

During the New York premiere of the new film Assassination Nation, actress Suki Waterhouse confessed to actually shooting someone during filming, because kids today just dont know how to do blooper reels. I hurt somebody, the actress told the audience according to Page Six. The bullet ricocheted. They hadnt seen that in 20 years. The bullet came back at the guy and hurt him. Waterhouse also noted theyd only received about an hour of firearms training for the film at the most. Reps for the film couldnt elaborate on the incident further, so its not clear what the fate of the shooting victim was, but hey, theyre probably fine. Probably.The Purge The Urge to Purge Season 1 Episode 3 Editors Rating 3 stars * * *  Previous Next Photo: Patti Perret/USA Network

Technology, right? When doesnt it promise more than it can deliver? And doesnt it always fail at the worst moment? One day, youre happily signing up for an app that will allow you to track the progress of your hired assassin in real time as she goes about her deadly rounds on Purge Night. The next, youre watching it crap out at the worst moment, just as said assassin is due to show up on your bosss doorstep. And when the boss FaceTimes in, angry about some perceived screw-up, then gets an unexpected visitor at his doorstep, that frustration turns to embarrassment, even when the unseen person at the doorbell turns out to be somebody else.

Or is it? Its tough to read whats going on in that moment. Is David really just reaching out and chastising Jane in front of the others for not giving him an update on a deal that went down in the middle of the night? Is it really the pizza guy showing up with an unexpected delivery? His Kidding, obviously line blows that theory, but who is it? Has he struck a side deal with the assassin? Was it all a setup? Also, is David still working on the same drink he was sipping last week? So many unanswered questions!

Thats not the only reason Janes having a bad week. She closed the big deal in Japan, which is good news. Whats not good news: Alison has decided to remove all doubt as to whether she or Mark will be getting the big promotion by luring Mark out of the safe zone as part of the post-deal celebration, then stabbing him to death with a pair of scissors. Jane witnesses the murders final moments, but only she grasps the full extent of its senselessness. Not only was Mark a pussycat who was happy to let Alison jump ahead of him, we learned last episode that Jane had already decided that Alison had earned the spot. Its what passes for an O. Henrylike bit of dramatic irony in the world of The Purge, and it leads to the episodes one funny line (were currently getting about one funny moment per week) when a panting, blood-soaked Alison asks Jane, So, do you notify HR about my promotion or is that on me?

Jane isnt the only one whose Purge Night is taking a turn for the worse. The Urge to Purge opens with Lila and Jenna kissing by the pool and Jenna seeming far more receptive to Lilas advances than a happily married woman ought to be, to say nothing of a mom-to-be whos theoretically in a stable, long-term relationship. Yes, it turns out that all the not-so-subtle clues that Jenna was with child were exactly that.

This is troubling for several reasons, the most obvious being that Jenna and her husband Rick are in the mansion of the Stanton family, enthusiastic party members of the New Founding Fathers of America. Whats more, the patriarch of said family is Lilas dad, who tells Rick hed trade in all his riches for a grandchild. Does he care where said grandchild comes from? He certainly doesnt care about murdering an employee in cold blood as his first Purge Night kill of the year in front of a shocked Jenna and Rick, whose business hes just agreed to back even though its not the sort of endeavor he usually favors, what with it helping low-income residents getting a hand up and all. I help the poor once a year  April 15, he says, before adding, Im just kidding. I dont pay taxes. (Okay, maybe there are two laughs this week.) Hes a shrewd negotiator who keeps information to himself. Maybe hes just playing the long game here and has designs on Jennas baby. Sometimes you have to give a little to get a lot.

He clearly has designs on Ricks loyalty, asking him to indulge in the Purge by killing the accused thief himself. Is Rick tempted and pulled away only by Jenna? Its tough to say, but hes certainly more open to staying in a business arrangement with Stanton, a man they just witnessed murdering someone in cold blood, than Jenna. I suspect when the hard-sell comes to join the NFFA, hell be more susceptible than his wife.

Its not subtle, but this whole situation captures the real-world echoes that help make The Purge franchise effective. We all make moral compromises living in a system dominated by uncaring corporations, whether its turning a blind eye to the way Amazon treats its employees because Prime is just too convenient or watching The Lego Batman Movie even though it means putting more money in Steve Mnuchins pockets. Rick and Jenna are ready to make a big compromise by negotiating with Stanton to back their business because they tell themselves its for the greater good. But how big a compromise? And can you still justify it when you can see literal blood on the hands of the corporate overlord with whom youre dealing?

Miguel and Penelope get the flashback focus this week, even if their storylines move forward the least. We learn that not only were their parents killed in a previous Purge, they were victims of the first Purge, in which the residents of Staten Island agreed to be guinea pigs in exchange for a government stipend (as depicted in The First Purge). That makes them members of an OMF, an Original Martyr Family, and lends Miguel an almost celebrity-like cache when he talks to the two freelance journalists covering the Purge. The more Americans see this, the sooner it ends, one says hopefully. But Miguels been there from the beginning and isnt so sure.

After trading the muscle car he won running the gauntlet  a 1971 Chevelle SS, to be specific  to Pete the Cop for information, Miguel comes thisclose to finding Penelope, only to catch up with the glowing blue cult bus after theyve handed her over to some Purge participants dressed as creepy, glowing, murder-nuns. The search continues 

In many ways, this feels like wheel-spinning. Unless the show zags when it looks like its set to zig  a feat its yet to perform  Miguel will catch up with Penelope at some point. On the other hand, Miguels search has offered a tour of whats going down on Purge Night all over the city, and even if it lacks urgency, I was still left intrigued as to where it would go next  and the next turns the other storylines would take. The series keeps stringing out the intrigue, but I dont yet feel strung along.

Survival Tips

 William Baldwin plays Janes boss David Ryker, but IMDb lists the character as Donald Ryker. Was this a change to avoid too many comparisons to his brothers performance as another high-powered Donald?

 Unlike last weeks episode, none of the storylines cross each other, even via a telecast, though David does mention hes missing the Stanton party because of the Japan deal.

 Id almost forgotten about the masked guy whos driving around listening to the pro-Purge motivational speaker until he shows up at the end to  rescue a helpless woman from other Purge participants? Clearly this guy is a wild card and well be seeing more of him.

 I have a feeling we havent seen the last of Pete the Cop or that Chevelle SS. It feels like a case of Chekhovs muscle car.

 But have we seen the last of the cult? Penelopes out of their hands now, having parted ways with both her brainwashed fellow cult members and Good Leader Tavis. An unanswered question: Is the Good Leader a true believer, or is she using faith to make a buck off of the Purge?Photo: Getty Images, Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock, ABC Family, The CW

In an interview with the Paris Review in 2016, Jeffrey Eugenides admitted that the title of his career-launching debut, The Virgin Suicides, was meant to elicit a strong reaction. With your first novel, he explained, no one knows who you are, youve got to at least have a title that [would make] someone say What is that? Twenty-five years after its publication, the novels first sentence is still shocking, too: On the morning the last Lisbon daughter took her turn at suicide  it was Mary this time, and sleeping pills, like Therese  the two paramedics arrived at the house knowing exactly where the knife drawer was, and the gas oven, and the beam in the basement from which it was possible to tie a rope. Five teenage sisters  all smart, beautiful, beloved  are dead by their own hands.

The story unfolds during a hot 1970s summer, somewhere around Detroit. Cecilia, the youngest Lisbon sister, slashes her wrists but is rescued before she bleeds to death. A few weeks later, during a party given in her honor, guests hear the wet sound of her body falling onto the fence that ran alongside the house, and find her suspended there, impaled, dead. Over the next year, the four remaining Lisbon sisters withdraw from the world  until, exactly a year after Cecilias suicide attempt, they stage their own dramatic deaths.

The Virgin Suicides made an impact nearly as dramatic. Critics were captivated by the novels Greek choruslike first-person plural narrative voice  an unnamed group of neighborhood boys, who document every detail of the girls lives  which Eugenides pulls off without any sign of strain. For readers, its compressed time frame distills the haziness of youth into a song of misplaced nostalgia.

The girls themselves are kept at a distance, floaty figures who blend into a tantalizing, if murky, composite  a prepackaged ensemble of femininity. Their golden-haired good looks, glimpsed mostly through windows or from down a long school hallway, made readers want more. So six years after its publication, Sofia Coppola turned The Virgin Suicides into her first feature film, a languorous daydream of wispy chiffon and ripening teenage sexuality, punctuated abruptly by the sisters horrific deaths. In the years since, both the novel and the film have become shorthand for adults struggling to process their lost youth.

When the novel was published in 1993 we were pre-Bieber Fever, pre-13 Reasons Why, pre-nubile vlogger fame. Teenagers were consumers rather than influencers. Novels about teens were marketed to teens, and consisted of plucky strivers who overcame modest beginnings in classics like A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and I Capture the Castle; sexually curious high-schoolers of the Judy Blume ilk; or plasticine, melodramatic charmers like the perfect size six Sweet Valley twins. The Virgin Suicides was that rare book that focused on adolescence but sought adult eyes.

The rest of the 1990s would see a surge of narratives that relished the complexities of teenage life. In 1994, the year after The Virgin Suicides was published, Claire Daness quivery lip had its coming out via the poignant (and only) season of My So-Called Life; Party of Five, a bizarre cousin to The Boxcar Children, debuted on Fox. 7th Heaven, ostensibly framed around the entire Camden family but focusing much of its energy on teenage Matt, Lucy, Simon, and Marys hair, began its 11-season run in 1996. The WB launched its pursuit of teen viewers in 1997, starting with the ass-kicking high-schooler Buffy the Vampire Slayer and reaching its zenith with teary Dawsons Creek and angsty Felicity in 1998. Teens certainly tuned in. But the median age of a Dawsons Creek viewer was 27. 7th Heavens was 35. Buffy was taken up by clever, overgrown drama kids. Adults wanted nostalgia with a veneer of drama far more sensational than the stuff of their own fading memories. They wanted to slip into the wild emotions and hormone surges of teenage life  to ogle the chiaroscuro of innocence and darkness  from a safe distance.

The Virgin Suicides anticipated, and perhaps set off, that American adult obsession with teenage tragedy. It understood that those school days become barometers for every happiness or misery later in life, and it leveraged one of humanitys most potent sentiments: nostalgia. The novel somehow feels like youth itself, a collection of overheated memories. Eugenides creates an ideal of teenage life that never existed  that we, the readers, never knew, but that we all still fervently believe once happened. And then he takes it all away. Even now, 25 years after the book was published and about 40 years after it was set, we still subscribe to the The Virgin Suicides simulacrum of teenhood as quintessential.

Eugenidess plot recapitulates that imaginary journey through time. The sisters lives are documented rigorously by the boys, who collect specimens from the girls closets and bedrooms and backpacks  bras and makeup and term papers. They hold onto these trinkets into adult life, and refer back to them like lecturing professors as they narrate the Lisbons slow retreat from the world. They study the girls and we, in turn, study them, as they embellish their own memories, fixate on the tragedy they know is coming, and grapple with how theyve let it shape every minute of their lives.

In the novels long wake, teen-filled television has adopted the same narrative strategy: In Gossip Girl, Pretty Little Liars, and Riverdale, outsiders watch and document, as riveted as Nick Carraway peering over into Gatsbys yard. Eugenidess men never ask themselves why theyre so fixated on that year, and as readers we dont ask, either. Because we know: We rewrite the narrative of our own adolescence to fit the idea of who we want ourselves to be.

Photo: Picador

Despite their piteous ends, theres a lightness inherent in the Lisbon sisters, with their long locks and soft looks. The setting feels Edenic, too, Leave It to Beaver wholesome. The Lisbons live in a verdant pocket of Detroits suburbs, a neighborhood populated by fathers with paper-pushing arms, where boys build tree houses and kids stay outside all day. The boys explain that there has never been a funeral during their lifetimes: Even the elderly live free of the specter of death. Its a setting like Riverdale or Capeside or Pretty Little Liars Rosewood, unblemished until tragedy strikes.

Everyone we spoke to dated the demise of our neighborhood from the suicides of the Lisbon girls, the boys explain. In the year of their death, Dutch elm disease wipes out the neighborhoods stately verdure, just as the auto industry tips over into steep decline and the weather patterns turn alarming and severe.

This is the cultural legacy of The Virgin Suicides. It fetishizes and mourns the girls in equal measure, just as we fetishize and mourn our own childhoods, and neighborhoods, and personal tragedies. It gives adults permission to transport themselves back into the light and dark of their adolescent selves, to avoid coming to any firm conclusions, to stay unhealthily obsessed  just as the boys do  with an era in which we hadnt yet become who we are now. It should come as no surprise that three of the biggest franchises of the past 25 years  Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, Twilight  cater to adults imagining themselves back into a sensationalized version of their pasts.

After all, the story of The Virgin Suicides is only a collective memory, bolstered by the evidence that the boys gather as they work their way through the neighborhood, keen reporters out to record one vital story. They assemble any scrap they can find that might help them understand the central tragedy of their childhood, but they dont even know the shape of the puzzle.

The story theyre attempting to piece together is of the Lisbon sisters deaths, but really its the story of the moment when adulthood begins, and when choices start to matter. Which is why the transition from sunny teen sisters living in a suburban reverie to front-page tragedy in a desiccated neighborhood is so meaningful. The Virgin Suicides asks, Why does life go wrong? If you can trace the route back to the moment things fell apart, can you fix it?

But the story of the Lisbon sisters remains encased in amber. The boys end up with no answers: This is all a chasing after the wind. Readers are left in the same position  outsiders gawking over a tragedy, ears perked up for more gory details, ruminating over their own years past, worrying if they too have turned into ghosts of their former, younger selves.

Asked last year in an interview if he now finds it difficult to write about teens, Eugenides gave the answer any of us would, if we were honest with ourselves: I always can write about teens.  I used to be one, I still am one.A romance novelist charged with fatally shooting her husband seven years after writing the well known essay titled, "How To Kill Your Husband."

According to police, Nancy Crampton-Brophy went to her husband's job at the Portland culinary institute and where he worked and gunned him down.

Brophy, was charged with murder and unlawful use of a weapon three months after her husband, Chef Daniel Brophy, was killed.

On Monday, she pleaded not guilty to those charges as her friends and family watched. She is due back in court again Oct. 26. Crampton-Brophy describes herself on her website as an author of "fiction books under the Romance Suspense genre." One of her books, "The Wrong Husband," is about a woman who comes up with a plan to run away from her abusive husband while on an anniversary trip overseas with him.



According to a report, the essay titled, "How to Murder Your Husband" says,

"If the murder is supposed to set me free, I certainly don't want to spend any time in jail. And let me say clearly for the record, I don't like jumpsuits and orange isn't my color," the essay says. She lists guns as primary method of choice for carrying out the crime.

The day after Brophy, 63, was shot to death at his job in early June, Crampton-Brophy wrote on Facebook that she was "struggling to make sense of everything right now." The couple had been married for 26 years, according to NBC affiliate KGW.

She posted the following message on her Facebook page after police said she murdered her husband.A standoff Tuesday led to the arrests of two people, including a fugitive wanted in Ohio.

On Tuesday afternoon around 5 p.m., U.S. Marshalls attempted to serve an escape warrant on a 22-year-old Cornelius J. Phillips when officials said he barricaded himself in a home on Shady Lane.

Huntsville Police bomb squad along with a K-9 unit and crisis negotiators responded to the scene to try and coax him out.

By about 5:35 p.m., Phillips was taken into custody. He was charged for being a fugitive from justice as well as for obstructing justice.

According to ABC5 in Cleveland, OH, Phillips escaped custody from the Richland County Jail on Tuesday, Sept. 4 and threatened to get into a shootout with police if he was found.

ABC5 reported that Phillips has a history of simple battery against a police officer, obstructing official business, theft, drug trafficking and endangering children. He has also lived in Alabama, Tennessee, Ohio and Georgia.

He reportedly was picked up by a 23-year-old woman in a blue Hyundai Sonata.

When Phillips was taken into custody, Huntsville Police also arrested Dasia Monique Crutcher, 23, and charged her as a fugitive from justice as well. She has a hold placed on her from Richland County, OH.A woman in Wisconsin was able to get out of her handcuffs and escape a police station in Wisconsin  and it's all caught on tape.

Posted: Sep 19, 2018 8:43 AMPolice arrest a group of teenage criminals aged 11-14 after they pointed a gun at a 76-year-old man and beat him.

Posted: Sep 19, 2018 8:44 AMA 52-year-old man, Randall Whitten, is in the hospital after authorities say his 73-year-old father, Phillip Whitten, shot him.

The incident happened Tuesday afternoon at a residence near Martling Gap Road in Marshall County. Deputies responded after receiving reports of a fight and a shooting.

According to investigators, Randall lives in Crossville but drove to Marshall County to visit his father yesterday. Authorities tell us Randall assaulted and pistol whipped his father who then shot his son in the mouth.

Randall was airlifted to Huntsville Hospital, and his status is unknown at this time. Phillip was transported to Marshall Medical Center where he was treated for his injuries.

Randall is currently being held in the Marshall County Jail on a charge for Domestic Violence 2nd degree.UPDATE: U.S. Marshals were trying to serve an escape warrant to Cornelius Phillips out of Ohio around 5 p.m. when he barricaded himself in a home. Huntsville Police Department, the Bomb Squad, K9s and negotiators were all at the scene. Phillips was taken into custody around 5:35 p.m., and it is not clear yet if he was armed. The street was evacuated and residents will be allowed back inside soon.

---

Huntsville Police are at the 2200 Block of Shady Lane regarding a barricaded subject. A suspect is in custody.

WAAY31 has crews at the scene and will update as more information comes in.Five local women will soon receive awards from the Women's Economic Development Council Foundation at the "Women Honoring Women" event.

WAAY 31 sat down with one of the honorees, Brenda Martin, who is using her journey to self-confidence to inspire future generations.

Brenda Martin is a television personality who is well-connected in Huntsville. She is the host of "Inside Huntsville" on E-TV. Martin interviews state and local leaders, presses authorities on community issues and sifts through information to get to the root of a problem.

She started her television career on WAAY 31 in the 1980's. Martin anchored two talk shows called "Morning WAAY" and "Dialogue." The ambitious journalist would then go on to become the first news anchor for another local t-v station.

But, Martin wasn't always an assertive, take-charge woman. She lacked self-confidence. She was determined to turn things around, so she enrolled in charm school. "I was accepted, because I knew, based on what they taught, it would help me," she said.

The program taught her about social graces and how to enhance her social skills. The classes gave her the confidence to pursue modeling .

"I was blessed to work in the [United] States and eventually model for Amelia Pucci in Venice, Italy doing runway work."

It wasn't just Martin's physical beauty that had people talking, she was a quick-learner and very resourceful. She decided to pursue other career options.

Martin stopped modeling and got a job in corporate America, where she quickly moved up the ranks. "I started in customer service, sales, management and was eventually promoted to administrative employment manager in Xerox."

Her husband, Frank, was by her side the entire time. The high school sweethearts' hit a roadblock right at the peak of Martin's career.

"He was working for GT (sp?) at the time and told me, they only want me to go to this place called Huntsville, Alabama. We will only be there for 2 years."

Those two years, turned into several decades.

"I eventually realized that I was going to be here. I needed to decide what I was going to do," Martin said. She opened a school called "Tiffany's Academy." It's named after her daughter.

"Wherever I go, I run into one of my kids [from the program]. Some of them are judges and lawyers," said Martin.

Sadly, her husband of 43 years passed away. "When things would come to me as obstacles, challenges, I would just stand firm. I would stand firm, I would think about it and determine it was not going to break me."

She now lives by the motto, "There's no such thing as coincidences. To me, they are God-incidences. He gives you tests, these obstacles, to make you stronger."

Martin knows, her husband is watching over her family.

She encourages other woman to not let fear, or a lack of confidence stop them from pursuing their goals. "If you think you can, you can!"

Waay 31 is a proud sponsor of the WEDC Foundation's "Women Honoring Women" event. It is Thursday, September 20th at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville. Money raised from the event will go towards scholarships and educational workshops for college women.

To learn more about the organization, click HERE.Tuesday night Madison City Schools celebrated their 20 year anniversary, but also the district superintendent is telling parents what changes could be on the way. Superintendent Parker told us there are a few challenges facing Madison City Schools.

He said the biggest is that in 3 years the district will outgrow the middle schools and elementary schools.

"We've got to add a new elementary and middle school within 3 years," Superintendent Park told WAAY.

The second main issue is the class size to teacher ratio.

"We've got one of the highest, and I'll say this, the worst class size ratios in the state of Alabama," Parker.

He also told us the Pre-Kindergarten programs need to grow.

"We're turning away 150-200 a year because we don't have the space," Parker.

He says the solution is hiring more staff and building more schools.

"If we have to build an elementary, middle and high school it'll be over 200 million dollars," Parker.

Superintendent Parker told WAAY they haven't decided how exactly they will pay for these improvements, but one idea is to add a half-a-cent tax. Madison City Schools will be holding community input on these changes October 3rd at 6pm at Horizon Elementary and October 23rd at 6pm at Heritage Elementary.Senator Richard Shelby announced today that the Senate passed the Fiscal Year 2019 Defense Appropriations Act.

The bill provides $674.4 billion to the Department of Defense in an increase of $19.8 billion over the previous fiscal year's funding. The bill will now head to the House of Representatives, which will vote on its passage next week, and then to the President's desk.

This bill was included in a conference report that was approved by the Senate in a vote of 93-7.

According to Senator Shelby's Press Office, the bill contains necessary funding for defense priorities in Alabama. The legislation includes provisions that would affect the Department of Defense in areas directly related to North Alabama, like Army research and missile defense.

This historic legislation further highlights Alabamas strong national defense capabilities and provides our state with the opportunity to continue producing essential tools to support our men and women in uniform," Shelby said.WATERFORD has added a bright new museum to the range of Treasures in the Viking Triangle. Two weeks after the opening of the Museum of...WATERFORD is marking time with a new museum in the Viking Triangle. The Irish Museum of Time is the first of its kind in the...On 13 September 2018, the second meeting on PICARD Professional Standards (PS) Review was held at the WCO in Brussels. The meeting was attended by representatives from the Capacity Building Directorate and Academia. The meeting was officiated by the Deputy Secretary General of the WCO, Mr. Ricardo Trevino Chapa.

The PS have served over the last decade as benchmarks for academic development, support of in-house training of Customs Administrations, and a reference for recognition of Customs University courses; all of which have contributed to raise the profile of the Customs profession. Based on the successful results achieved over the last ten years, the WCO Secretariat launched a revision of the PS to include the new challenges stemming from the change in the operational environment along with other new factors that have arisen over the last decade.

With the critical support of highly qualified representatives from the North-West Institute of Management RANEPA (Russian Federation), Charles Sturt University (Australia), Universitat Munster (Germany), Universidad de Costa Rica, Cross-Border Research Association (Switzerland) and Riga Technical University (Latvia), the Secretariat is conducting a revision and update of the PS. The updated version will include, inter alia, cooperation between the public and private sector, the enhanced relationship between customs and revenue functions, and the new facets of Coordinated Border Management. It also seeks to increase awareness of emerging trends, security, trade facilitation, technological advancements and project management.

The two-day meeting also served to prepare for participation at a roundtable on the future of PS at the 13th PICARD Conference which will be held in Turkey in October 2018.

For more information on the PS, please contact capacity.building@wcoomd.org .Thursday, September 20, 2018 @ 6:30 pm  8:00 pm

The event is free and open to the public. Space is limited and available on a first come first served basis

Join The Nassau Institute at The University of The Bahamas Thursday, September 20, 2018 for a lecture by Phillip Magness on Slavery, Abolition, and Classical Liberalism: The forgotten link between the American Civil War and the British West Indies in the lecture hall at the Harry C. Moore Library at of The University of The Bahamas starting at 6:30pm.

Summary:

This lecture will examine the role of Classical Liberalism in two emancipatory events from 1865: the abolition of slavery in the United States due to the American Civil War, and the colonial upheaval of the British West Indies in the aftermath of Jamaicas Morant Bay massacre. In both cases, classical liberal thinkers provided the intellectual ammunition against state-sanctioned oppression, thereby advancing the cause of individual freedom in the United States and Caribbean.

About the Speaker:

Dr. Phillip W. Magness is an economic historian specializing in the long 19th century United States, as well as general macroeconomic trends. He is a leading expert on black colonization during the Civil War era, and its sometimes-strained relationship with the African-American emigrationist movement of the same period. He studies the political economy of slavery in the Atlantic world, and particularly its relationship to public policy. His broader research extends to the economic history of the United States and includes historical tariff policy, the federal income tax, and the relationship between taxation and wealth inequality. He also researches the history and political economy of higher education and the American university system.

Magness research has appeared in multiple scholarly and popular venues, including the Journal of the Early Republic, the Journal of the Abraham Lincoln Association, Slavery & Abolition, Constitutional Political Economy, the Journal of Business Ethics, the Journal of Supreme Court History, and Liberal Education.

His popular press writings have appeared in Newsweek, Britannica.com, the History News Network, and the New York Times. He has fact-checked Politifact, discussed the economics of higher education on NPRs Marketplace, and presented on Black Abolitionism for C-Spans American History TV.

Magness holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas. He obtained his MPP and Ph.D. from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, specializing in policy history. He has taught Public Policy at George Mason University and American University in the Washington, D.C. region. He is currently a Visiting Assistant Professor of Economics at Berry College for the 2017-18 academic term and Senior Research Fellow at the American Institute for Economic Research.

Visit Dr. Magness web site here

This event would not be possible without the generous support of:

Templeton Religion Trust

Find out more about the Nassau Institute here...Advertisement

By West Kentucky Star Staff

Sep. 18, 2018 | PADUCAH

By West Kentucky Star Staff Sep. 18, 2018 | 07:08 PM | PADUCAH

At its Monday meeting, the Paducah Planning Commission approved the use of the old Amerisource Bergen building for an agricultural hemp facility.



GenCanna Global USA, Inc. will manufacture hemp-derived products in the 120,000 square-foot building at 322 North 3rd Street.



The city has incorporated several conditions for GenCanna into the special use permit application, including improving the landscaping and tree canopy around the building, incorporating murals on the buildings faces, using no more than 10 percent of the building for warehousing, and opening a retail facility using at least 5000 square feet, which will be open to the public at least five days per week. The rest of the building would contain offices and research or manufacturing space.



The current zoning for the building is B-3, General Business Zone, which allows light industrial operations through Planning Commission approval.



City Manager Jim Arndt says, I applaud GenCanna for going above and beyond in their plans to incorporate the building into our riverfront and downtown landscape through murals, tree, and landscaping.



GenCanna President Steve Bevan says, What we are hoping to do in downtown Paducah is to establish a retail presence to show off the products that we manufacture for others, the many different brands. We want to literally bring together a storefront full of brands with Kentucky farmers hemp-derived products contained in them.



Bevan says he is meeting with farmers around Western Kentucky.



He said, We are just amazed by the land and farms. Its important that we farm with family farmers. Theres a great opportunity for Kentucky to re-capture some of its past hemp heritage in a big way. But at the same time, there are some high value products we want to manufacture in downtown from local farms nearby.



Currently, GenCanna is working through the purchase process for the facility. The next steps with the city would involve the submitting of development plans to the Planning Department, and their approval by the Planning Commission.



For more information about the Paducah Planning Commission including videos of meetings, visit http://paducahky.gov/planning-commission. Additional information about GenCanna can be found at https://gencanna.com/.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. 19, 2018 | 11:55 AM | BENTON

The Benton Police Department has been awarded a $280,000 Homeland Security grant, which it says it will use to purchase an armored vehicle.The department says their application for the grant has been approved, and the money will go toward the purchase of a Lenco Bearcat G3 armored vehicle."The vehicle will have many uses and applications. We look forward to explaining more about it in the near future as it will take a few months to be built from the factory," The department said in a Facebook post.As part of the same grant program, several other western Kentucky agencies will also receive awards. Click the link below to find out more about the program.

On the Net:Native American tribes in Montana and South Dakota sued the Trump administration today, claiming it approved an oil pipeline from Canada without considering potential damage to cultural sites from spills and construction.Attorneys for the Rosebud Sioux tribe and Fort Belknap Indian Reservation asked U.S. District Judge Brian Morris in Great Falls, Montana, to rescind the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline, issued last year by the U.S. State Department.The tribes argue President Donald Trump brushed aside their rights and put their members at risk when he reversed President Barack Obamas rejection of the $8 billion TransCanada Corp. project.The line would carry up to 830,000 barrels (35 million gallons) of crude daily along a 1,184-mile path from Canada to Nebraska. The route passes through the ancestral homelands of the Rosebud Sioux in central South Dakota and the Gros Ventre and Assiniboine Tribes in Montana.The tribes are talking about cultural sites, archaeological sites, burial grounds, graveyards  none of that has been surveyed and its in the way of the pipeline, said Natalie Landreth, an attorney with the Native American Rights Fund, which is representing the tribes.The tribes said a spill from the line could damage a South Dakota water supply system that serves more than 51,000 people including on the Rosebud, Pine Ridge and Lower Brule Indian Reservations.An existing TransCanada pipeline, also called Keystone, suffered a spill last year that released almost 10,000 barrels (407,000 gallons) of oil near Amherst, South Dakota.State Department spokeswoman Julia Mason said the agency had no public response to the lawsuit. The department has jurisdiction over the pipeline because it would cross the U.S.-Canadian border.Calgary-based TransCanada does not comment on litigation and was not named as a party in the case.In August, U.S. District Judge Brian Morris ordered the State Department to conduct a more thorough review of Keystone XLs path through Nebraska. The move came in response to litigation from environmentalists and after state regulators changed the route.In yet another lawsuit involving the line, the American Civil Liberties Union and its Montana affiliate sued the U.S. government last week for the release of details related to preparations for anticipated protests against the line.The groups cited confrontations between law enforcement and protesters, including many Native Americans, which turned violent during construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline through South Dakota.Two women who were being transported to a mental health facility drowned when a sheriff's department van was swept away in rising South Carolina floodwaters, according to authorities.

Two Horry County deputies were driving a van carrying the two women in the back on Tuesday night when it was overtaken by floodwaters in Marion County. Officials said the van was near the Little Pee Dee River, one of the bodies of water state officials are watching closely following the heavy rains of Florence.

"They got out and tried to open the van to get the ladies out," Thompson told reporters on Wednesday. "They were unable to do so. I'm not sure if it was the way the van was positioned, against a guardrail, or if it was pressure from the water, but unfortunately they were not able to get the van doors open and get the ladies out."

Thompson said it took rescue crews about 45 minutes to find the van and get to it via boat. By the time they got there, the van was underwater, and the deputies were on the roof.

It had gotten dark, and responders decided it wasn't safe to try to retrieve the women's bodies from the van Tuesday night. That effort resumed Wednesday morning, but Thompson said a specialized crew was being flown in from Charleston to assist.

Thompson identified the women as Windy Newton, 45, and Nicolette Green, 43. Earlier Wednesday, Marion County Coroner Jerry Richardson had identified Newton with a different last name.

"They're still under the water," Richardson told The Associated Press early Wednesday. "It's come up 2 feet (0.6 meters) since just last night."

Richardson said the van came across rising water and was carried off the road.

"They were trying to negotiate through fast-running water, and it just didn't work out," he told AP.

The incident has spawned investigations by the State Law Enforcement Division and Highway Patrol. Thompson said he has also begun an internal investigation and put the deputies involved  Joshua Bishop and Stephen Flood  on administrative leave.

Thompson said he did not think the women were in restraints in the back of the van, noting that restraints are used for combative patients "and I understand they were not." The sheriff said that the women were being transported as part of a court order, telling reporters that his agency acts as a courier in such situations, to follow a judge's wishes.

"Once those orders are issued, we don't place those people in a detention center," Thompson said. "When we get the order, we transport them."

Thompson also said he didn't know if the deputies had driven around any barricades blocking the roads.

Neither woman has an arrest record in South Carolina, according to documents obtained from state police. Their names also yielded no records in the Horry County jail and court index systems.

Newton had posted on her Facebook page, last updated in 2014, that she had been previously hospitalized for mental illness. She also posted multiple times about her struggles.

State police spokesman Thom Berry told the AP that agents were on the scene aiding in the recovery effort.

Justin Bamberg, a state lawmaker and lawyer who has represented the families of several people injured or killed by law enforcement officers, said Wednesday he's perplexed by the decision to transport anyone in such uncertain weather conditions.

"If that road is in an area where it is a flood risk, and waters were rising, why were they driving on that road anyway?" he said. "People need to know exactly how it happened. It makes it seem like someone took a very unnecessary risk in creating the problem in the first place."

___

Gerald Herbert contributed from Conway.By: Paige Cline Sometimes I am asked to reprint a column from the past. Here[Read More]President Donald Trump arrived in flood-ravaged North and South Carolina on Wednesday to assess the federal response to Hurricane Florence, which drenched the state last week.

Inside an airplane hangar at the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, situated along the bloated Neuse River, Trump lauded emergency workers in North Carolina even as he predicted a costly clean up.

Accidents, disasters and safety Continents and regions Donald Trump Government and public administration Government bodies and offices Hurricane Florence Hurricane Harvey Hurricanes Natural disasters North America North Carolina Political Figures - US Severe weather Southeastern United States The Americas Tropical storms United States US federal government Weather White House South Carolina Floods and flooding

"The job you've done has been incredible. They're talking about it all over the world," Trump said. "We want to keep it going that way. Some of the hard work is now."

"Even though it's nice and beautiful and sunny," there are still dangerous conditions for Carolinians, Trump said.

At least 36 people have died as a result of Florence, which made landfall in the Carolinas on Friday. He told those who lost loved ones that the country was in mourning with them.

"America grieves with you and our hearts break for you. God bless you. We will never forget your loss," Trump said. "To all those impacted by this terrible storm, our entire American family is with you and ready to help. You will recover."

After presentations from local authorities, the President made a personal inquiry, asking about conditions in the area around Lake Norman, near Charlotte. The Trump National Golf Club is situated on the shores of Lake Norman.

"I love that area. I can't tell you why, but I love that area," Trump said.

Lake Norman was not affected in a major way by Hurricane Florence.

Trump also traveled to Conway, South Carolina, where floodwaters are expected to rise again as early as Friday. He surveyed flooding and received briefings from local officials.

"It's going to get rough for South Carolina," Trump warned ahead of the expected flooding, speaking to first responders at the Horry County Emergency Operations Center.

"You're going to have a rebuilding process and we are behind you from day one," Trump said, calling this the "calm before the storm because you're going to have a lot of water."

Joined by a group of local and state officials, Trump promised the full support of the federal government.

"Washington is with you, Trump is with you, we are all with you 100% and we'll get through it," the President said, adding, "Anything you need, you know how to call me."

A day earlier, the President reiterated the strength of the federal response, though imbued his statement with a sense of political grievance.

"Right now, everybody is saying what a great job we are doing with Hurricane Florence -- and they are 100% correct," he tweeted. "But don't be fooled, at some point in the near future the Democrats will start ranting that FEMA, our Military, and our First Responders, who are all unbelievable, are a disaster and not doing a good job. This will be a total lie, but that's what they do, and everybody knows it!"

After storms last year, Trump made quick visits to the damage zones in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico. He was accused at moments of appearing overly congratulatory, even as conditions remained dire.

On his first visit to Texas after Hurricane Harvey flooded parts of Houston, Trump met with no storm victims, choosing instead to receive high-level briefings from state officials. He later returned to the state to meet with displaced families.

When he visited San Juan after Hurricane Maria ravaged Puerto Rico, Trump lobbed rolls of paper towels into a crowd at a church -- an image that has since come to illustrate what his critics say was a lackluster approach to the island's destruction.

Presidents have long sought to use natural disasters as a way to project executive leadership, often in a setting where politics are set aside. But pitfalls have abounded, including in 2005 when President George W. Bush faced intense criticism for his response to Hurricane Katrina.A gunman who opened fire Wednesday at a municipal building in a small Pennsylvania town was shot dead by a police officer responding to the incident in which four people were wounded, state police said.

The gunman entered the Masontown Borough Municipal Center around 2 p.m. and began firing, Lt. Steve Dowlin of the Pennsylvania State Police told reporters.

The four victims included a sergeant from the Masontown police department. Their injuries are not life-threatening, Dowlin said.

The suspect had a restraining order against him related to a choking case that was to be heard Wednesday afternoon, Fayette County District Attorney Richard Bower said.

The suspect had been charged with strangulation, aggravated assault, terroristic threats and simple assault as a result of a domestic matter several weeks ago, Bower added.

Bower would not identify the man, saying his next of kin had yet to be notified of his death.

The shooting occurred outside District Magistrate Daniel Shimshock's office, authorities said.

Shooter looked into courtroom, an attorney says

Eric Randolph, an attorney who was in the courtroom, told CNN affiliate WTAE that he heard one pop and wondered what it was. Then he heard several more pops.

The door flew open and people ran in yelling, "Shooter, shooter."

Seconds later a man with a gun entered the courtroom and swept his arm around until he pointed a gun at Randolph, the attorney said.

"It was the most intense, frightening sensation I've ever had in my life," he said.

Randolph said he put his head in his hands and when he looked back up the shooter was gone.

Door shot out

Video recorded by a helicopter for WTAE showed that one of the two glass front doors of the Masontown Borough Municipal Center had been shot out.

Amy Johns, a spokeswoman for West Virginia University Ruby Memorial Hospital, said it had three patients from the shooting.

They are a 47-year-old man, a 35-year-old man and a 39-year-old woman. All of them are in fair condition, she said.

A spokesman for Uniontown Hospital said it received one person.

"The patient was treated and stabilized before being transferred to a Pittsburgh hospital," Josh Krysak said.

Masontown is in southern Pennsylvania, about 55 miles from Pittsburgh and 20 miles north of Morgantown, West Virginia. The town has about 3,300 residents.MARCY  The Genesis Group got local leaders from Oneida and Herkimer counties together on Wednesday to share updates on economic progress in the region.

The event at SUNY Polytechnic Institute brought together representatives for the Herkimer County Industrial Development Agency, Mohawk Valley EDGE, leaders from the cities of Rome and Utica, and representatives from Empire State Development.

The Genesis Group says its important to bring people together on a regular basis to share ideas and to network.

Sometimes were always waiting for one big announcement of one company, but there are an awful lot of things that are being developed on a regular basis that are job creation related, said Ray Durso, executive director of the Genesis Group.

The Herkimer County IDA, for example, gave updates on the Frankfort 5S South Business Park, where the Tractor Supply Co. distribution center will soon open.

It was reported today that the number of former residents returning back to the local area is up three percent.The Lee Center Fire Department will be able to better protect local pets after receiving a donation of three pet oxygen masks.

The donation comes after a fire in Western on Stokes-Westernville Road two months ago, where six family pets died from smoke inhalation. All of the residents made it out safely, but that night stuck with some of the firefighters and they wanted to get better equipment to make sure it never happened again.

The company Invisible Fence donated a kit with small, medium and large masks, through its Project Breathe program.

Representatives with the company said they wanted to help give firefighters the tools they need to save pets lives.

"Our goal is to keep pets safe and this helps in a difficult situation of fire, that's a tragedy for whoever is involved in it," said Kurt Grage, the president of Invisible Fence for Central New York. "It's one thing [to lose] physical things, but humans and their pets, it's important to help save all of them and protect them as best we can."

The company has donated more than 23,000 kits to fire departments throughout the country and 100 of those are in the Central New York area.Rep. Claudia Tenneys campaign recently sent a memo out to staffers cautioning them that her opponent Assemblyman Anthony Brindisis family is criminal and thuggish, according to a report from the New York Post.

According to the article, the memo cautioned staffers not to go out at night alone, be aware of strange cars, be alert to whether you are being followed and examine your locks for tampering.

The memo told staffers that the precautions are necessary because of Brindisis father and brothers criminal history, according to The Post, which obtained the memo. The memo reportedly says, "As the Brindisi family watches Anthonys political career end, they may return to what they know  violence and intimidation," according to The Post.

In response to the memo, Brindisi said, "Its unfortunate and I dont think this is a strategy of a winning campaign and certainly my opponent has chosen to go to personal attacks and character assassination because they know that this is a race that day that they could potentially lose. I think people deserve to hear us stay away from character attacks. They should hear us talk about the issues, and my opponent doesnt want to talk about her record because if she did, people would know her true feelings and know that shes taken many votes against the people in this district."

Raychel Renna, Tenney's campaign manager, issued the following response:

"Anthony Brindisi wants to talk about every donor of Claudia Tenneys, but now that the tables have turned, he doesnt want to talk about his father  a man who has given him $5,400, a man who Brindisi is business partners with, and a man who Brindisi has called his 'mentor'. Brindisis fathers behavior is a matter of public record. As an Italian American, I find Brindisis attempts to drag the Italian community into this to distract from his family's well documented criminal past shameful. Given the family history, the corruption weve seen in New York, and Brindisis close ties to Silver and Cuomo, voters deserve answers from Anthony Brindisi.

State Sen. Joseph Griffo of Rome also reacted to the situation on Wednesday, releasing the following statement:

Italian Americans are honorable, hardworking people who have made, and continue to make, meaningful contributions to Americas greatness. Disparaging stereotypes are disappointing and unnecessary. Campaigns should focus on policy positions and the philosophical differences between the candidates and not on personal attacks.

Tenney, who was elected to the 22nd Congressional District in 2016, and Brindisi, who has served in the state Assembly since 2011, will face off in a general election on Nov. 6.ONEONTA  The Oneonta Municipal Airport will be able to remove snow more efficiently this winter thanks to federal funding secured by U.S. Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand.

The $225,000 was allocated through the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administrations Airport Improvement Program.

Schumer says the funds will be used to purchase new snow removal equipment.

Keeping our airports in top-notch shape is crucial to safe travel for area residents and in attracting business and tourism to Oneonta and Otsego County, Schumer said in a news release. These federal funds will allow the Oneonta Municipal Airport to purchase new snow removal equipment, which will help keep runways clear and flights on-time throughout all four seasons.

With this federal funding, the Oneonta Municipal Airport will be able to continue providing a high-quality and safe travel experience for people living in and traveling to Otsego County, Gillibrand said in the release. This investment will help the airport continue to operate even through the Upstate winters, and I will continue to fight for the resources that our airports across New York need.President Donald Trump arrived in flood-ravaged North and South Carolina on Wednesday to assess the federal response to Hurricane Florence, which drenched the state last week.

Inside an airplane hangar at the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, situated along the bloated Neuse River, Trump lauded emergency workers in North Carolina even as he predicted a costly clean up.

"The job you've done has been incredible. They're talking about it all over the world," Trump said. "We want to keep it going that way. Some of the hard work is now."

"Even though it's nice and beautiful and sunny," there are still dangerous conditions for Carolinians, Trump said.

At least 36 people have died as a result of Florence, which made landfall in the Carolinas on Friday. He told those who lost loved ones that the country was in mourning with them.

"America grieves with you and our hearts break for you. God bless you. We will never forget your loss," Trump said. "To all those impacted by this terrible storm, our entire American family is with you and ready to help. You will recover."

After presentations from local authorities, the President made a personal inquiry, asking about conditions in the area around Lake Norman, near Charlotte. The Trump National Golf Club is situated on the shores of Lake Norman.

"I love that area. I can't tell you why, but I love that area," Trump said.

Lake Norman was not affected in a major way by Hurricane Florence.

Trump also traveled to Conway, South Carolina, where floodwaters are expected to rise again as early as Friday. He surveyed flooding and received briefings from local officials.

"It's going to get rough for South Carolina," Trump warned ahead of the expected flooding, speaking to first responders at the Horry County Emergency Operations Center.

"You're going to have a rebuilding process and we are behind you from day one," Trump said, calling this the "calm before the storm because you're going to have a lot of water."

Joined by a group of local and state officials, Trump promised the full support of the federal government.

"Washington is with you, Trump is with you, we are all with you 100% and we'll get through it," the President said, adding, "Anything you need, you know how to call me."

A day earlier, the President reiterated the strength of the federal response, though imbued his statement with a sense of political grievance.

"Right now, everybody is saying what a great job we are doing with Hurricane Florence -- and they are 100% correct," he tweeted. "But don't be fooled, at some point in the near future the Democrats will start ranting that FEMA, our Military, and our First Responders, who are all unbelievable, are a disaster and not doing a good job. This will be a total lie, but that's what they do, and everybody knows it!"

After storms last year, Trump made quick visits to the damage zones in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico. He was accused at moments of appearing overly congratulatory, even as conditions remained dire.

On his first visit to Texas after Hurricane Harvey flooded parts of Houston, Trump met with no storm victims, choosing instead to receive high-level briefings from state officials. He later returned to the state to meet with displaced families.

When he visited San Juan after Hurricane Maria ravaged Puerto Rico, Trump lobbed rolls of paper towels into a crowd at a church -- an image that has since come to illustrate what his critics say was a lackluster approach to the island's destruction.

Presidents have long sought to use natural disasters as a way to project executive leadership, often in a setting where politics are set aside. But pitfalls have abounded, including in 2005 when President George W. Bush faced intense criticism for his response to Hurricane Katrina.INDIANAPOLIS  House Speaker Brian Bosma said State Rep. Tim Brown is making "positive progress" in an Ann Arbor hospital. Brown was involved in a motorcycle crash in Michigan last week.

According to a statement, Bosma said Brown remains in critical, but stable condition right now. He is in regular contact with Brown's family.

Brown and State Rep. Mike Speedy were riding their motorcycles near Mackinac Island when an SUV pulled out in front of them. Speedy was able to avoid the vehicle.

Brown was taken to a hospital in Petoskey, Michigan and later to Ann Arbor.

Brown represents parts of Tippecanoe, Montgomery and Boone Counties. He's regarded as one of the top-ranking Republicans in the Indiana Statehouse.

News 18 has been following this story daily since it happened. We will provide any updates on air and online at WLFI.com.FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP)  The Catholic bishop of a northern Indiana diocese has released the names of 17 former priests and one former deacon who have been credibly accused of sexually abusing minors.

Bishop Kevin Rhoades of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend on Tuesday released the names of the 18 men and the places where they served, dating back to 1922.

Eight of the men are now dead. The 10 others have been removed from the ministry and two of them are incarcerated.

The diocese says the list may be updated as additional information is received.

Rhoades announced in August that he would compile and release the priests' names in response to a grand jury's findings that more than 300 predator priests had abused more than 1,000 children in six Pennsylvania dioceses.It was a day of service at the Indiana Veterans' Home today.

90 tree industry professionals and volunteers came out to serve the ones who once served us.

50 trees were planted in honor of the 50 soldiers that never returned home from the Vietnam war.

Some trees in the area had to come down for safety reasons. The Indiana Department of Natural resources came up with the idea of replacing the area with new trees that will honor fallen soldiers.

Carrie Tauscher, Community and Urban Forestry Coordinator said shes honored to be apart of making the memorial grove.

For me there's nothing better to recognize people we've lost than buy doing something big. You know you can plant a tree but to plant a grove, that's a very different type of impact so I'm just super happy this was able to happen, said Tauscher.

Tauscher said shes especially grateful for everyone the vets that risked their lives as well as the the volunteers who came out to honor them.

"I just want to thank our vets. We wouldn't have this day of service without their sacrifice. I want to thank all of the volunteers that came out, there are so many companies bringing so much gear and making all this happen, Tauscher said as she held back tears.

Tauscher says $75,000 worth of tree work has been put forth today by those volunteering their time.



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Police say no further action after investigation into Wrexham councillor allegation  matter is closed

This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Sep 19th, 2018

North Wales Police have investigated an allegation made regarding Brymbo Councillor Paul Rogers and have said no further action is being taken, and consider the matter closed.

Cllr Rogers was suspended from the Welsh Conservatives last week following an alleged incident at an address in Brymbo.

North Wales Police told us this morning: The allegation of assault has been investigated and no further action will be taken.

The matter is closed.

Cllr Rogers moved from the Conservative grouping on Wrexham Council to non aligned, a position still listed as of this morning.

We have approached both Cllr Rogers and the Welsh Conservatives for comment.

A spokeswoman for the Welsh Conservatives has said this afternoon: The suspension of Paul Rogers will be reviewed shortly.

Earlier this year Cllr Rogers announced he was stepping down from his role as Lead Member for Youth Services and Anti-poverty on the Councils Executive Board, a position he had held since May 2017.The Chinese government yesterday announced new tariffs on $60 billion of American imports in retaliation for the Trump administrations decision this week to impose another tranche of tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods.

The US has already imposed tariffs on $50 billion of Chinese goods, to which China has responded in kind. The escalating trade war is heightening economic instability and fueling geo-political tensions, not only between the US and China, but internationally.

The latest round of US tariffs is likely to end a tentative proposal for US-China trade talks. We have been stressing that talks need to happen on the basis of parity, equality and good faith, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said. What the US has done shows no sincerity and good faith at all.

Fang Xinghai, vice chairman of Chinas securities regulator, warned that Trump was poisoning the atmosphere for negotiations. President Trump is a hard-hitting businessman, and he tries to put pressure on China so he can get concessions from our negotiations. I think that kind of tactic is not going to work with China, he said.

Fang, who was speaking at a World Economic Forum event in the port city of Tianjin yesterday, is regarded as close to Vice Premier Liu He, Chinas top trade representative and senior economic adviser to President Xi Jinping.

The level of the latest Chinese tariffs is in line with those imposed by the Trump administration which have initially been set at 10 percent, but could be escalated to 25 percent from January 1 next year if no agreement is reached with China. Beijing has responded with tariffs levied at 5 and 10 percent, instead of the previously proposed rates of 5, 10, 20 and 25 percent.

China is not in position to impose strictly equivalent sanctions on $200 billion worth of American goods as its imports from the US amount to a total of just $130 billion. As a result, Beijing could seek to hit back at other areas of the US economy.

For his part, Trump has threatened to dramatically intensify the trade war by imposing a third round of tariffs on $267 billion worth of China goods if Beijing supposedly targeted his electoral base of support. If these tariffs proceeded, Washington would in effect be imposing punitive measures on all Chinese exports to the United States.

China has openly stated that they are actively trying to impact and change our election by attacking our farmers, ranchers and industrial workers because of their loyalty to me, Mr Trump wrote yesterday. Later he lashed out more broadly, declaring: We are the piggy bank to the world, he said. We have been ripped off by China, we have been ripped off by the European Union.

The intensifying trade war has provoked expressions of concern around the world.

EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom told the media: This escalation is very unfortunate. Trade wars are not good and they are not easy to win. The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China issued a statement yesterday warning that the US-China trade war was now seriously disrupting global supply chains.

In an unusually blunt statement, top Australian official Frances Adamson warned that the US is unsettling the international trading system that has underpinned global economic growth for 70 years. Adamson, who is secretary to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said that smaller open economies such as Australia have much to lose if trade barriers rise around the world.

In a tweet last week, Trump made clear his intention to wage what amounts to an economic war aimed at undermining the Chinese economy. We are under no pressure to make a deal, they are under pressure to make a deal with us, he bragged. Our markets are surging, theirs are collapsing. We will soon be taking in Billions in Tariffs & making products at home.

There are certainly signs that the Chinese economy is under pressure as a result of US trade war measures. Its stock market is among the worlds worst performing with the Shanghai Composite Index falling by about 20 percent since the beginning of the year. Chinas yuan has weakened by about 6 percent since mid-June, which has in part offset US sanctions.

Economic data released last week pointed to a slowdown in the Chinese economy with investment in houses, factories, railways and other fixed assets growing at the slowest rate on record last month. Fixed-asset investment grew 5.3 percent in the first eight months of the year, the lowest figure since at least 1995 and the fifth consecutive record low.

US demands, however, have placed China in an impossible position. The Trump administration is not only demanding trade concessions to lower the US trade surplus with China, but is also insisting that Beijing halt its efforts to develop more competitive technologies under its Made in China 2025 program. Under the pretext of demanding a halt to intellectual property theft, the US is seeking to ensure that China is unable to challenge American technological dominance.

The hawkish state-owned Global Times on Monday published comments from Chinese analysts indicating a determination in ruling circles not to cave in. People tend to overlook the overall picture of the Chinese economy whenever there are any negative signs, Li Daxiao, chief economist at Shenzhen-based Yingda Securities, said. They always forget that the Chinese economy is still one of the fastest-growing in the world, that we have about $3 trillion in foreign exchange reserves and that China has a massive domestic market.

An article in the Financial Times pointed out that China is not as vulnerable to US trade pressure as Trump might imagine. The Chinese economys direct exposure to the US tariffs is limited. Gross exports to all countries equalled 18 percent of China gross domestic product last yearhigh compared with other large economies but down from a peak of 35 percent in 2006. Exports to the US alone accounted for only 4 percent of Chinese GDP.

The article also pointed out that the most vulnerable businesses in China would be foreign and privately-owned companies. Corporations with foreign investors, including joint ventures with Chinese partners, accounted for 43 percent of Chinese goods exported last year. Of the remainder, privately-owned Chinese companies contributed 44 percent of exports, and state-owned enterprises only 10 percent.

Contrary to views in Washington, China canand willdig its heels in, Bill Zarit, chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in China told the Financial Times. The downward spiral that we have previously warned about now seems certain to materialise.

While US tariffs and Chinese retaliatory measures were at the 10 percent rather than 25 percent level, there is no sign of a deal that might halt or slow the further development of an all-out economic war between the worlds two largest economies. As in the 1930s, the danger is that an escalating economic conflict will lead to world war with catastrophic implications for humanity as a whole.

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The implications of US-China trade war

[18 September]A September 13 statement by Facebook Product Manager Antonia Woodford, titled Expanding Fact-Checking to Photos and Videos, marks a significant escalation of the companys censorship efforts.

Under the pretense of combating so-called fake news and Russian interference, the social media giant has spent the last two years assembling an army of censors and established partnerships with 27 so-called fact-checker partners in 17 countries. The partners, include the Associated Press, (AP) Agence France-Presse (AFP), Pagella Politica in Italy, Animal Politico in Mexico and others, together with fact-checking sites such as Factcheck.org, PolitiFact and Snopes.com. At the end of last year, Facebook announced a partnership with the right-wing The Weekly Standard, prompting widespread outrage.

As the WSWS reported, the role of this latest partnership was highlighted last week when The Weekly Standard flagged an article posted by ThinkProgress with the headline Brett Kavanaugh said he would kill Roe v. Wade last week. The article was flagged as false on the preposterous claim that the word said in the headline implied a direct quote, rather than the dictionary definition of indicate, show, or communicate. The ThinkProgress incident is only the latest indication of the political character of the censorship by Facebook.

It is unknown exactly how many posts have been flagged as false by Facebook or its fact-checker partners since the program began two years ago. A false flag will reduce future traffic by 80 percent, according to CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Now the program is to be expanded to photos and videoa process that was first detailed in March this year.

The March statement headlined, Hard Questions: What is Facebook Doing to Protect Election Security? by VP of Product Management, Guy Rosen, announced, Were fact-checking photos and videos, in addition to links. Were starting in France with the AFP and will be scaling to more countries and partners soon.

The global expansion of the censorship campaign to photo and video was announced in the September 13 statement. Woodford wrote, We know that people want to see accurate information on Facebook, so for the last two years, weve made fighting misinformation a priority. One of the many steps we take to reduce the spread of false news is working with independent, third-party fact-checkers to review and rate the accuracy of content. To date, most of our fact-checking partners have focused on reviewing articles. However, we have also been actively working to build new technology and partnerships so that we can tackle other forms of misinformation. Today, were expanding fact-checking for photos and videos to all of our 27 partners in 17 countries around the world (and are regularly on-boarding new fact-checking partners).

The statement says that Facebook has built a machine learning model that uses various engagement signals, including feedback from people on Facebook, to identify false content. The company then sends photos or videos to fact checkers, or fact-checkers can surface such content on their own, Woodford writes. Many of our third-party fact-checking partners have expertise evaluating photos and videos and are trained in visual verification techniques, such as reverse image searching and analyzing image metadata, like when and where the photo or video was taken, she continued.

Based on research conducted since March, Facebook claimed that photo and video misinformation falls into three categories, (1) Manipulated or Fabricated, (2) Out of Context, and (3) Text or Audio Claim.

The claim that Facebook is motivated by the need for accurate content was refuted in an analysis presented last month by one of the companys other partners, the prominent military think-tank, the Atlantic Council.

Facebook announced last month that it had shut down the event page for a counter-protest to a fascist demonstration called by the organizers of last years Nazi rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, during which left-wing demonstrator Heather Heyer was murdered by a right-wing extremist. The company also announced that it had shut down 32 other pages, including ones opposing police violence and defending immigrant rights.

The Atlantic Council issued a report which said that the shut-down by Facebook targeted the left of the political spectrum and that the pages were an attempt to infiltrate left-wing American communities. The report said these pages sought to promote divisions and set Americans against one another.

The report stated that events created by inauthentic groups have a very real, organic, and engaged online community but that the intent of inauthentic activity appeared to be designed to catalyze the most incendiary impulses of political sentiment.

It is not so-called inauthentic groups that are the catalyst for incendiary political sentiment, but the conditions of social inequality, police repression and war confronting millions of people throughout the world. Facebooks attempt to suppress photo and video postings is an intensification of the companys attempt to hide the true state of American and world societyand more importantly the mounting opposition to itfrom the population.

Video footage of police killings has been the catalyst for demonstrations across the United States. A search in the video section of Google for police shooting yields 97 million results. The overwhelming majority of these are either bodycam or witness footage of unarmed victims of police violence.

Images of immigrant children sitting in cages after being torn from their mothers arms by immigration officers likewise provoke the justified outrage of millions of working people throughout the world.

Photographs of the body of three-year-old Alan Kurdi, who drowned in the Mediterranean Sea in 2015 after his family fled war-torn Syria along with thousands of refugees trying to reach Europe, were spread around the world, prompting international outrage.

These are the types of incendiary images Facebook is seeking to suppress. Over the past two years, Facebook, along with other technology giants such as Google and Twitter, have become the self-appointed arbiters of fake news and authoritative content.

Working with the intelligence agencies and both Democrats and Republicans, the technology giants are seeking to effectively blacklist any viewpoint opposing that of the official political establishment. The main target of this blacklisting is left-wing and, in particular, socialist viewpoints.

The World Socialist Web Site has been in the forefront of the fight against Internet censorship, exposing the conspiracy to censor the Internet beginning with Googles implementation of new algorithms in April 2017 that were aimed at blocking access to the WSWS and other anti-war and progressive web sites. Googles actions resulted in a 70 percent drop in search traffic to the WSWS. Google was quickly followed by Facebook and Twitter. The latest action by Facebook is a further escalation of this and must be opposed.In the several days since hurricane Florence made landfall near the border between North and South Carolina, the storms floodwaters have set one record after another. The storms official death toll now stands at 32 and is expected to rise with entire cities inundated by flood waters.

The Cape Fear River in southeastern North Carolina was predicted to crest Wednesday at 62 feet in Fayetteville, several inches higher than the previous record following Hurricane Matthew in 2016. Elizabethtown, another city along the river, has seen 36 inches of rainfall from Florence, and many nearby cities have seen 30 inches.

The Little River, which flows into the Cape Fear in Fayetteville, also exceeded its previous record from Matthew of 32 feet, reaching 36 feet. Most of downtown Fayetteville remains underwater as of this writing. Further west, the Lumber River is expected to crest Wednesday, also at record levels.

One of the largest poultry farm operators in North Carolina, reported that 1.7 million chickens have drowned in Florences deluge and 6 million more are at risk of starving to death after being cut off by flood waters. An as yet unknown number of hogs have also drowned. Some thousands were killed by flooding from Hurricane Floyd in 1999.

In addition to the immediate toll on human and animal life, flooding from Florence presents widespread danger to public health as hundreds of manure pondsopen-air septic tanks used in pork and poultry farmingare beginning to overflow from heavy rainfall. The manure ponds, or hog lagoons, hold animal waste while it decomposes, slowly turning it into fertilizer which is eventually pumped onto fields for nearby crops.

North Carolina is the second largest hog farming statebehind only Iowawith over 9 million hogs and 2,300 hog farms. Hog and poultry waste pits occupy 6,848 acres of land in the state. Smithfield Farms and parent company WH Group own the largest hog operations, generating nearly $1 billion in profits last year.

Animal excrement spilling into rivers could contaminate drinking water with dangerous bacteria like salmonella and E. coli, both of which can be lethal. This danger is most acute in rural areas where residents draw water from private wells.

In larger spills, livestock waste can fill affected waters with enough nitrate and phosphate-rich matter to cause algae blooms in swamps and rivers. This process starves aquatic life of oxygen, creating fish kills in rivers, estuaries and even coastal waters where seafood production could suffer for years.

On Sunday the Associated Press published images of a hog farm outside Trenton with a waste pit overrun with floodwaters. The N.C. Pork Council, an industry trade group, initially denied there had been any reports of spills and subsequently tried to assure reporters that all spills were minimal.

North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Michael Regan told a press conference Monday that the earthen dam at one hog waste lagoon in Duplin County had failed. He acknowledged reports of seven lagoons overflowing in Jones and Pender counties and four others that were inundated.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) largely allows hog farms to self-regulate, with only an estimated 33 percent of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, or CAFOs, operating with a point source pollution permit pursuant to the Clean Water Act. Likewise, North Carolina state regulations generally require waste lagoons be able to withstand 25-year floods, which have proven insufficient since 1999 when Hurricane Floyd swamped 50 such installations. Flooding from Florence now approaches 1,000-year levels.

Sixteen lagoons flooded during Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and environmentalists estimate that 62 industrial hog farms lie within North Carolinas 100-year floodplain.

In addition to the hazards of livestock waste, the regions main electrical power company, and the nations largest, Duke Energy, has several coal ash sites in the coastal area affected by Florence. By Saturday, one coal ash landfill collapsed at the Sutton Power Station near Wilmington, spilling 2,000 cubic yards of pollutionenough to fill 180 dump trucksinto nearby Sutton Lake, which is surrounded on three sides by the Cape Fear River.

Coal ash contains high levels of toxic elements such as mercury, cadmium, chromium and arsenic. Exposure to coal ash can cause cancer, heart disease and neurological damage in children. Duke Energy owns all 31 coal ash disposal pits and ponds in North Carolina. In 2014, a broken stormwater pipe flooded a Duke Energy pit in Eden, North Carolina, dumping 39,000 tons of coal ash into the Dan River. The company pleaded guilty to criminal negligence under provisions of the Clean Water Act and accepted obligations to overhaul drinking water piping in parts of North Carolina.

In January, Duke Energy agreed to pay a mere $84,000 in fines for leaky coal ash sites polluting the Catawba and Broad Rivers.

At the HF Lee power plant in Goldsboro, where more than 20 inches of rain fell, the Neuse River has flooded three older coal ash disposal sites which are now overgrown with trees. The company makes the specious claim that the overgrowth will prevent spillage into the river.

In Conway, South Carolina, National Guard crews rushed on Monday to bolster a coal ash containment pit near the Waccamaw River, placing giant sand bags and other material around the site. South Carolinas rivers are expected to crest later in the week as storm waters flow toward the coast. A spill in the Waccamaw river could have a catastrophic impact on the critical estuaries of Winyah Bay, a major spawning area for a number of aquatic species including shrimp.

In total, the EPAs Priorities List has more than 70 sites in the Carolinas, including former chemical plants, pesticide dumps and at least one former smelting operation near the coast.

The devastating impact of Florence in North and South Carolinatwo of the most business friendly states in the countrydemonstrates the immense costs of deregulation on the one hand and the need for socialist planning and public ownership of industry on the other. For years, the states governments have courted business investment with the promise of low wages, low taxes and a virtually non-existent regulatory environment.

While large portions of these states face saturation with carcinogenic neurotoxins and fecal matter, two individuals who have both fostered this political environment and profited handsomely from it are Charles and David Koch, whose estimated combined fortune stands at over $100 billion dollars. By contrast, the entire 2018-2019 budget for the state of North Carolina is $23.9 billion. South Carolinas legislature is discussing a budget of around $8 billion.On Friday, five years after the murder of left-wing student Clement Meric and after a 10-day trial, the three neo-fascist thugs who killed him were condemned to comparatively brief jail terms. During the trial, the court, which refused to recognize the overtly political character of the murder, obscured the main issues that it raised.

The sentences demanded by the attorney general were already minimal, for a political killing. He asked for 12 years of criminal imprisonment for Esteban Morillo, who admitted to punching Meric twice in the face; 7 years in jail for Samuel Dufour, who had worn combat rings on his fists intended as weapons; and 4 years in prison with 2 years parole for Alexandre Eyraud, who faced charges of voluntary violence.

After less than 10 hours deliberation, the court decided on 11 years for Morillo and 7 years for Dufour. Eyraud, who was also present during the assault on Meric, was acquitted. Thirty military police were posted in front of the courtroom to prevent clashes as the verdict was announced.

To justify the sentences he was requesting, the attorney general stressed the collective character of the action: The group was the motive force of the action. . There was among the accused, who professed their love for violence and hatred, a surge of adrenaline, of ill-begotten pride. He added that Rather than passing the victims by, the skinheads suddenly lunged in front of their adversaries. One, two, three, fourseven seconds, that was all the time it took for the blows to be exchanged, he said, calling it inexcusable savagery.

Witnesses insisted that Esteban Morillo was wearing brass knuckles, and intercepted SMS text messages from Samuel Dufour showed that the neo-fascist thugs indeed boasted of being armed with them. But the court ignored this. Despite the existence of a video of Merics murder, it took the police and the courts five years to launch the trial of his killers.

During the 10 days of the trial, the court only sought to determine who had dealt the fatal blow to Meric and whether the killer or killers were armed. The trial did not seriously investigate the political motivations of the three neo-Nazis who were members of the Revolutionary Nationalist Youth (JNR), the security detachment of the neo-fascist group Third Way.

Esteban Morillos lawyer immediately announced that he would appeal the verdict: The court brought down heavy sentences. We are in total disagreement with this verdict. This trial was the first round. There will be a second.

The cover-up of far-right crimes by the state and the courts over the last five years and the minor sentences given to the three accused neo-fascists ensure that this is not the last violent crime the fascists will attempt. Indeed, by demonstrating its forbearance and sympathy even before the appeals process starts, the police and the courts are encouraging the neo-fascists and setting the stage for other Meric affairs.

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Trial starts five years after fascist murder of French student Clement Meric

[14 September 2018]After five hours of deliberations, the Peruvian Supreme Court voted last week to sentence Abimael Guzman, his wife Elena Yparraguirre, Osman Morote and seven other members of the Maoist guerrilla group Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso) to life in prison for ordering the bombing in July 1992 of Tarata Street, a densely populated commercial area of the Miraflores district in Lima.

According to the daily Correo, The Shining Path leadership is charged with crimes against public tranquility, terrorism in the form of aggravated terrorism and crimes against public health.

The life sentences for the bombing of Tarata Street come on top of previous life prison terms for terrorism and treason dictated against the Shining Path leaders in 1992 by a secret military court, after they were captured by Peruvian intelligence forces. Several appeals followed, but all ended up in courts upholding the original sentences.

The Public Prosecutors Office, reports El Comercio, will appeal the acquittal of the defendants in the Tarata Case in relation to drug-trafficking charges.

The timing of the new terror trial serves a definite political function under conditions in which the entire Peruvian state apparatus, and in particular the judicial system, is enveloped in a wave of corruption scandals.

The former Wall Street banker, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, was forced to resign as president in March over charges relating to the sprawling corruption scandal involving the Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht.

His successor, President Martin Vizcarra, confronts a spreading crisis involving audiotapes of high-ranking judges, prosecutors and attorneys bargaining over verdicts, sentences and positions.

Under these conditions, the re-prosecution of Shining Path serves to divert public opinion by reviving the widespread resentments among the Peruvian people over the crimes committed during the 20-year war fought between the guerrilla group and the Peruvian Army.

In its final report, Perus Truth and Reconciliation Commission concluded that 69,280 people had been killed or disappeared between 1980 and 2000; 54 percent at the hands of Shining Path and most of the rest by the Peruvian Army. The overwhelming majority of the victims were drawn from the countrys 6 million citizens of indigenous origin, who make up about 20 percent of the population.

On the evening of July 16, 1992, two vehicles parked on Tarata Street, each loaded with 250 kilograms of explosives, were detonated, killing 25 people and wounding more than 200. The explosion was so powerful that it damaged 183 homes, 400 businesses and 63 parked cars.

The attack on a busy commercial center of Miraflores marked a turning point in public perception of the fight against Shining Path. For the first time, the bloody struggle had exacted victims in a neighborhood frequented by Limas upper classes, who had remained largely indifferent to the death and suffering experienced by the indigenous population in the Andes.

Adhering to the Maoist doctrine of peasant-based guerrilla warfare in the countryside, Shining Path began violent operations in the early 1980s. Its main source of recruitment was from among college students from Huamanga University in Ayacucho, where Abimael Guzman taught philosophy, the Huancayo University, also located in the central Andes, and the La Cantuta teachers university, along with two major national universities in Limathe National University of San Marcos and the National University of Engineering.

Shining Path began operations in Lima in 1983. In addition to blowing up electricity pylons, creating blackouts in large parts of the capital, Shining Path members set fire to factories and attacked bourgeois party offices. Eventually it would expand its operations, blowing up car bombs in the streets.

Initially, Shining Path gained popularity among the most oppressed peasant youth who were attending university in the highlands. It was able to capitalize on centuries of oppression and neglect by the central government toward the poorest Andean regions of the countryAyacucho, Huancavelica and Apurimac.

By 1991, Shining Path controlled most of Perus central and southern Andean region. The war cost the lives of tens of thousands of innocent peasants with mass casualties inflicted by both the Peruvian Army and Shining Path.

Shining Path soon lost its facade of a guerrilla movement fighting to liberate the Andean people from the oppression of the state. It began holding summary trials in the villages of poor peasants, accusing them of passing information to the Peruvian Army. Trials turned into mass executions.

Losing popularity among the peasants, who found themselves in the crossfire between the Peruvian Army and the guerrillas, by 1985 Shining Path turned increasingly toward acts of terrorism, including the assassination of leaders of leftist groups, local political parties, trade unions and peasant organizations.

Meanwhile, the killing of students suspected of being sympathizers of Shining Path was directed from the highest level of the government. Former president Alberto Fujimori, who claimed victory in the 1990s for capturing Abimael Guzman, was found guilty, together with his sinister adviser Vladimiro Montesinos, of crimes against humanity for having ordered the La Cantuta and Barrios Altos massacres carried out by the Colina death squad. Fujimori and Montesinos were condemned to 25 years incarceration for these crimes, along with separate sentences for acts of corruption.

In contrast to the re-prosecution of the Shining Path leadership, in December 2017, then-President Kuczynski pardoned Alberto Fujimori, who remains free to this day.

There are still more Shining Path-related trials yet to come. According to El Comercio, This ruling does not end the judicial processes of the terrorist leaders. They have to face two other trials  One of them is the process for the killing of 117 peasants from the Ayacucho town of Soras in 1984.

The other case involves a different set of defendants, who have not been implicated in any acts of violence or terrorism. These are the leaders of the Movement for Amnesty and Fundamental Rights (Movadef), founded in November 2009, and led by Alfredo Crespo, Abimael Guzmans defense lawyer. They are facing charges of being members of Shining Path and having received money from drug trafficking to finance their activities.

The group has focused on demanding a general amnesty for all those jailed in connection with Perus 20-year dirty war, from the Shining Path prisoners to Fujimori and members of the security forces. In 2011, the group sought recognition as a political party in order to run in elections, but its petition was denied by federal election officials.Militarizing police forces does not reduce crime or make police officers safer, according to a study published recently in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

On average, militarized police units do not appear to provide the safety benets that many police administrators claim, said Jonathan Mummolo, Assistant Professor of Politics and Public Affairs at Princeton University, the studys author.

The results of Mummolos research may not seem surprising, but they directly contradict the assertions of law enforcement officials across the country, from the local to the federal level.

After police responded to the 2014 protests in Ferguson, Missouri with assault rifles and tanks, Col. John Belmar, the top police officer in the county, claimed that military equipment had kept civilians and officers safe during the protests. Had we not had the ability to protect officers with those vehicles, I am afraid that we would have [had] to engage people with our own gunfire, Belmar told USA Today. I really think having the armor gave us the ability not to have pulled one trigger. If the armor was necessary to prevent the police from firing, one wonders why they carried assault rifles in the first place.

At a 2016 press conference, Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that New York City would be providing $7.5 million worth of military helmets and vests to its police force. An attack on our police officers is an attack on all of us, he said. And we have to make sure were taking every measure available to protect our officers with the latest gear, the latest technology, given the horrible scourge of guns in this country, and how weve seen these guns turned against law enforcement.

Militarization of the police started in the 1990s under the Department of Defenses Program 1033, which provides surplus military gear to federal, state, and local police under the guise of the War on Drugs. Examples of this war-making equipment included grenade launchers, armored vehicles and bayonets. These armaments flowed steadily to the police over the decades, with more than $5 billion in surplus gear transferred to date.

People around the world were shocked and outraged at the brutal response to the protests in Ferguson, and by the way that the police force had been transformed into an occupying army. As part of an effort to ease popular anger, the Obama administration slightly restricted, but did not eliminate, police departments ability to obtain surplus military gear.

Those restrictions went too far, said Attorney General Jeff Sessions when he addressed the 63rd Biennial Conference of the National Fraternal Order of Police last August. We will not put superficial concerns above public safety. Any reservations about turning police into soldiers who fight battles against citizens were thus superficial, in the eyes of the Trump administration. Sessions described the weapons as life-saving gear that are needed to fight terrorism and crime.

Mummolos research shows that such talk is no more than a pretense. For his research, he defined police militarization as a continuum dened by a combination of equipment, tactics, and culture that centers on violent conict. It is difficult to categorize certain localities as militarized because the degree of militarization varies from place to place. Mummolo overcame this difficulty by focusing on special weapons and tactics (SWAT) teams, which are modeled on military special forces units and represent a heightened commitment to the use of militarized equipment and tactics.

Through a public records request, Mummolo obtained information about every SWAT deployment in Maryland over the five-year period from fiscal 2010 through fiscal 2014. Maryland agencies had recorded all SWAT activity uniformly because of a state law, since expired, that had required them to do so. There were approximately 8,200 SWAT deployments during the period that Mummolo studied.

To determine the extent to which police militarization affects crime and ofcer safety, Mummolo combined data from the federal Census of State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies surveys (which describe whether agencies provide SWAT services) with FBI data on violent crimes and the FBIs Law Enforcement Ofcers Killed and Assaulted database.

Mummolo found that, far from fighting violent crime or terrorism, the purpose of approximately 91 percent of SWAT deployments was to serve search warrants.

Deploying a SWAT team for this purpose is to apply excessive and overwhelming force. The operation often involves percussive grenades, battering rams, substantial property damage, and, in rare cases, deadly altercations stemming from citizens mistaken belief that they are experiencing a home invasion, said Mummolo.

Less than 5 percent of deployments were responses to barricade scenarios, which involve an armed suspect who refuses to surrender to police. The data show that the vast majority of SWAT deployments occur in connection with nonemergency scenarios, said Mummolo. The soldiers-policemen enter homes forcibly in 68 percent of deployments and seize property in 84 percent of deployments. This shameless brutality can have no purpose other than terrorizing the working class.

The demographic makeup of Marylands localities varies in racial diversity. Mummolo found that the higher the percentage of black residents in an area, the greater the volume of SWAT deployments per 100,000 residents in that area. This correlation persisted after Mummolo controlled for local unemployment, education, household income levels and local crime rates. The data confirm that SWAT teams are used to attack the poorest layers of the population.

When he examined the data to evaluate the effect of a departments use of a SWAT team on violent crime, Mummolo concluded that there is no evidence that acquiring a SWAT team lowers crime or promotes ofcer safety. Using the available data, the benets of increased deployments [on crime and officer safety] appear to be either small or nonexistent. These findings expose the claims of Belmar and Sessions as fraudulent.

The study uses its results to also suggest that if only greater care is taken by the authorities in the deployment of military gear, police-community relations will benefit. [P]olice may suffer reputational damage when they deploy militarized units, said Mummolo. These results suggest that the often-cited trade-off between public safety and civil liberties is, in the case of militarized policing, a false choice. In other words, the aim is to convince the authorities to proceed with more caution as they continue their campaign to defend the status quo of record inequality and exploitation.

To examine how exposure to images of militarized police affects the publics attitude toward law enforcement, Mummolo conducted two surveys. He concluded that viewing photos of militarized police decreased respondents support for police funding and decreased confidence in the police.

One illuminating result is that Mummolo found little evidence that race influenced peoples response to images of militarized police, despite lower baseline levels of confidence in the police among African-Americans. This result suggests that workers regardless of their race correctly identify the police as their antagonists.

The reputational costs of militarization to law enforcement are troubling, said Mummolo, since prior work shows that negative views of police inhibit criminal investigations and are associated with stunted civic participation.

Contrary to what the report suggests, however, the police are not interested in greater civic participation in working class communities. Riot gear, percussion grenades, and assault rifles are not intended to encourage civic engagement, but to suppress it. Police terror is a means of silencing the working class and sending the message that any resistance to deteriorating working and living conditions will entail a heavy cost.

The repeal of the very mild Obama-era restrictions on police acquisition of military equipment comes as the struggles waged by teachers, UPS employees, and other workers across the country are intensifying. The fight for a living wage, for adequate health care, and for a more human existence is the real terror that militarized police are intended to combat.In a major raid in three federal states, police searched a total of 15 apartments yesterday morning and arrested one person. According to the police, the action was directed against suspects who were said to have participated in riots on the periphery of the G20 summit in Hamburg in July last year.

While the police have massively cracked down on the G20 demonstrators for over a year, even those suspected of merely having thrown a bottle, entire groups of neo-Nazis in Chemnitz, Kothen and other cities witch-hunt migrants, journalists and left-wingers and receive cover from the highest levels of the state apparatus.

On Tuesday, a 35-year-old man from Hamburgs Winterhude district was arrested. He was supposedly known to the police before the G20 summit and involved in riots in the Schanzenviertel. According to the Hamburger Morgenpost, he is accused of having thrown stones and bottles 19 times and looted two supermarkets. Apartments were searched in Schleswig-Holstein and North Rhine-Westphalia, and also in Dortmund. However, there were no further arrests.

According to police, the searches involved more than 10 suspects. They are said to have participated in riots in the Schanzenviertel as well as in the Welcome to Hell demonstration. They are accused, inter alia, of serious breaches of the peace, resisting law enforcement officers, assault and the plundering of supermarkets. According to Hamburg police spokesman Timo Zill, all the suspects had long been in the sights of the investigators. The police confiscated computers and cell phones, among other things.

Yesterday, the Hamburg police also launched a pan-European search for four alleged violent criminals. They are said to have been involved in setting fire to cars on the Elbchaussee on July 7, 2017. Those being sought are three men and one woman; one of the men is suspected of living mainly in France. The head of the special commission Black Block, Jan Hieber, said that the suspects activities were a commando actiona term usually attributed to terrorists like the Red Army Faction.

Significantly, the police also published several photos that supposedly show the wanted persons. The police spokesman rushed to emphasize that their publication had been approved by the court following an application by the state prosecutors office. Last December, in cooperation with Bild newspaper, the police had already published photos of hundreds of demonstrators and thus massively infringed their personal rights. As the WSWS wrote at the time, Nothing comparable has taken place since the founding of the German Federal Republic. The action was so scandalous that even many bourgeois commentators declared the behaviour of the police unlawful.

The massive police crackdown on alleged rioters is completely disproportionate. It serves to justify the further massive increase in the powers of the security apparatus and to prepare for the persecution and suppression of all left-wing protests. The violence surrounding the G20 summit was largely provoked by the police and then exaggerated in the media. All the horror stories in the police reports, leaked unchecked by the media, turned out to be lies.

For example, no evidence has been found to support the claim that protesters sought to throw stones and Molotov cocktails from roof tops. Despite intensive searches and a forensic investigation, the police have not been able to present any such objects, and despite comprehensive video surveillance, they are not able to definitively document their use. In fact, many of those who were on roofs or scaffolding were found to be film crews or curious onlookers.

A few weeks after allegations that the police had had masses of bottles, bollards, and firecrackers deliberately thrown at them from the ranks of a demonstration, as the police report said, a police video was leaked that refuted the story completely. The video clearly showed that there was no use of force against the police, but that the police in turn ran towards the demonstrators, who were shot at from the rear with water cannons.

Meanwhile, it is also known that the police themselves had infiltrated numerous provocateurs into the counter-protests of the G20 summit. During a court case against a G20 protester in May, a plainclothes police officer from a Saxony Police Arrest Unit interviewed as a witness said he and three other colleagues had disguised themselves among the demonstrators of the Welcome to Hell demo. They had dressed in dark clothes and pulled up a black scarf under their nose, Der Spiegel reported from the trial. We got a clothing subsidy for such garments from our employer, the police officer told the court. The Hamburg head of the German police union, Joachim Lenders, described the infiltrating of plainclothes police officers into left-wing demonstrations at the time as common practice.

The Welcome to Hell demo took place five days before the G20 summit and was violently broken up by the police after only a few hundred metres because some of the participants had their faces covered. This procedure then served as a pretext for a brutal police crackdown on peaceful demonstrators at numerous other protests. In the style of a civil war exercise, more than 20,000 police officers from all over Germany had been gathered in Hamburg, turning the city into a veritable garrison and suspending numerous basic rights. Among other things, numerous journalists were briefly deprived of their accreditation.

In the weeks following the summit, these acts of violence by alleged left-wing extremists were then used as a pretext to prepare an unprecedented campaign against left-wingers. Among other things, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, at that time still justice minister, had called for a Rock against the left concert. The fact that right-wing extremist groups such as the youth organization of the German National Party (NPD) and the hooligans against Salafists had called for participation in the protestsand numerous neo-Nazis had participated in themdid not come up.

The new constitutional protection report drawn up by the secret service, published a few weeks ago, makes clear that the narrative about supposed left-wing riots on the periphery of the G20 summit hides the real motive: to criminalize left-wing politics as being anti-constitutional and to portray the G20 protesters as fanatical left-wing extremists. The emphases of left-wing extremist agitation in 2017 were decisively influenced by the summit. The violence against police officers and the extent of street crimes practiced there are striking examples of the attitude prevailing among violent left-wing extremists towards violence, reads the introductory section on Left-Wing Extremism.

Since then, this portrayal of the G20 protests has been used to criminalize any left-wing opposition. This year, for example, the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party) was named for the first time in the secret service report, even though there is no accusation it has been involved in any violent action. Just a few weeks after the G20 summit, the then-Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere had used the events in Hamburg as an opportunity to ban the left-wing website linksunten.indymedia.Tensions remain high in Syria after the downing of a Russian Il-20 electronic intelligence plane and the killing of all 15 crew members aboard during a major Israeli airstrike against the Syrian port city of Latakia Monday night.

The attack on Latakia, a government stronghold and the site of Russias major military base in the country, represented a dangerous escalation of the war in Syria, which the Israelis almost certainly carried out in consultation with Washington.

Tel Aviv claimed that its strike was motivated by intelligence that weapons located there were being transferred from Iran to the Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah. A more powerful underlying motive, however, is the frustration of US imperialism and its allies, Israel and the NATO powers, over the increasing consolidation of control over Syria by the Russian-backed government of President Bashar al-Assad and the failure of the Al Qaeda-linked militias that they backed in a proxy war for regime change.

The Russian Ministry of Defense Tuesday acknowledged that its plane had been hit by Syrian anti-aircraft fire, but placed blame for the incident squarely on what it termed a provocation and hostile act on the part of Israel.

The Russian turboprop plane was returning to the Russian-run Hmeymim airbase, when it went off the radar screens in the midst of an attack by four Israeli F-16 fighter jets against Syrian defense industry facilities in Latakia.

The Israeli pilots were using the Russian aircraft as a shield and pushed it into the line of fire of the Syrian defense, Igor Konashenkov, the Russian defense ministry spokesperson, said on Tuesday.

Russias Interfax news agency quoted Konashenkov as describing Israels military strike as hostile and an act of provocation, warning, We reserve the right to take commensurate measures in response.

This response was echoed by Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, who declared that the blame for the downing of the Russian plane and the deaths of its crew members lies squarely on the Israeli side. He added, The actions of the Israeli military were not in keeping with the spirit of the Russian-Israeli partnership, so we reserve the right to respond.

Later the same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin demonstratively backed away from this sharp response and implicit threat of military retaliation.

Speaking in Moscow at a joint press conference with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Putin drew a distinction between Latakia and the 2015 incident in which a Turkish warplane had shot down a Russian S24 jet, after which Moscow imposed severe sanctions against Ankara.

The Turkish military, he said, had deliberately downed the Russian plane, while the Latakia incident looks like a chain of tragic circumstances, because the Israeli plane didnt shoot down our jet.

Subsequently, Putin took a telephone conversation from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who reportedly expressed condolences over the deaths of the Russian plane crewmembers, while reiterating Tel Avivs determination to continue carrying out strikes against targets in Syria that it claims are linked to Iran and Hezbollah.

Israeli government officials had placed the entire blame for the downing of the plane on Iran and Hezbollah, while stating that its immediate cause was extensive and inaccurate Syrian anti-aircraft (surface-to-air missile) fire.

The Kremlins readout of the phone conversation had Putin adopting a somewhat tougher line, reportedly telling Netanyahu that Israeli operations like the one in Latakia violated Syrian sovereignty and agreements around the prevention of dangerous incidents. The Kremlin added, The president of Russia urged the Israeli side not to allow such situations from now on.

Israel earlier this month acknowledged that it has carried out at least 200 airstrikes against Syria over the past 18 months, dropping some 800 munitions on targets across the country. Each of these was also a violation of Syrian sovereignty. They have been carried out, however, with the tacit permission of Moscow, which has received advance notice of these operations on an Israeli-Russian deconfliction line set up three years ago, and has thus far refrained from using its advanced antiaircraft systems deployed in Syria against Israeli warplanes.

Whether Russia will now deny Israel a green light for airstrikes in Syria, and for how long, remains to be seen.

The shifting tone in the response from Moscow to the deaths of its military personnel may reflect divisions within the Kremlin, or between Putins administration and the Russian military command. It almost certainly also expresses fears that the situation in Syria could quickly spill over into a wider military confrontation, including one involving the worlds two major nuclear powers, the US and Russia, as well as the regions only nuclear-armed state, Israel. Washington would almost certainly respond militarily to any Russian retaliation against the Israeli action in Latakia.

Putins government represents the interests of the Russian oligarchs who consolidated their power in the wake of the Moscow Stalinist bureaucracys dissolution of the Soviet Union. It has sought to promote Russian interests in the oil-rich Middle East, not only through backing the Assad governmentalongside Iranagainst the Western-backed Islamist militias employed as proxies in a war for regime change, but also by forging close ties with Israel, with which Russia has established military, trade and investment links.

This complex and conflicting set of relations also includes the attempt by Moscow to cement closer ties with Turkey, which has backed a range of Islamist militias in Syria, while joining the Astana talks together with Moscow and Tehran in search of a ceasefire in the Syrian conflict.

The attack on Latakia came within hours of the announcement Monday by Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of an agreement reached in the Russian Black Sea resort city of Sochi to establish a jointly patrolled demilitarized zone between Syrian government troops and the Western-backed rebels concentrated in Syrias northwestern Idlib province.

For weeks there had been predictions that a Russian-backed Syrian government offensive in Idlib was imminent, along with mounting threats by Washington and its allies, including Britain, France and Germany, to carry out a sustained military retaliation against an advance on the last major redoubt of the Al Qaeda-linked rebels.

The deal reached between Moscow and Ankara calls for the DMZ separating Syrian government forces from the Islamist militias to consist of a 15 to 20-kilometer buffer around the province. All radical, i.e., Al Qaeda-affiliated, militias are supposed to be removed from the area.

Turkeys Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters Tuesday that Ankara will deploy more troops to Idlib in the coming days to patrol the border areas. Turkish tanks and other military vehicles had already been dispatched to the south of the province, an area where Russian and Syrian airplanes had carried out strikes.

Asked where the Al Qaeda-affiliated militias would go, Cavusoglu said that Ankara and Moscow were still working on the issue.

The US has signaled that the more than 2,000 American troops presently deployed in Syria will remain indefinitely, not merely to complete their supposed mission of combating the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), but to roll back Iranian and Russian influence in both the country and the region and to deny Damascus control of the economically vital oil fields now under US control.

Washington has no interest in seeing the agreement between Moscow and Ankara over Idlib succeed. At a UN Security Council meeting Tuesday on Syria, where UN Special Envoy on Syria Staffan de Mistura called for a speedy implementation of the Russian-Turkish agreement, the US Special Representative for Syria Engagement, James Jeffrey, insisted that, The only way forward is a genuine and inclusive political solution, Washingtons euphemism for regime change. To this end, the US and its allies, Israel chief among them, are prepared to push the country and the region into a potentially world catastrophic war.Nearly 10.7 million teens are at risk for e-cigarette use and potential addiction, and now the FDA is trying to combat the fad by putting awareness posters in high school bathrooms across the country. Here's what else you need to know to Get Up to Speed and Out the Door. (You can also get "5 Things You Need to Know Today" delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up here.)

1. Trade war

Accidents, disasters and safety Hurricane Florence Hurricanes Natural disasters Severe weather Tropical storms Weather Africa Cameroon Central Africa Continents and regions Business figures Companies Elon Musk Law and legal system Lawsuits and claims Tesla Inc Trial and procedure Business, economy and trade Donald Trump Economic policy Economy and economic indicators International trade International trade law North America Political Figures - US Tariffs and customs The Americas Trade and development Trade regulation and policy United States Brett Kavanaugh

Prepare for another round of tariff-swapping in the ongoing trade escalation between the US and China. Starting next week, President Trump will impose tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods. That's the biggest round of tariffs so far, and it will affect consumer goods ranging from dishwashers to Fitbit fitness trackers to food seasonings. China is expected to respond with tariffs worth $60 billion. This tit-for-tat has worried investors for a while, but now some are REALLY starting to get uncomfortable. US markets are up right now, but a new pair of investor surveys show some experts think the US economy -- and the global economy in general -- will slow down soon. The CEO of FedEx isn't happy about the trade scuffle either. He told analysts this week that the US-China trade spat "is worrisome to everyone."

2. Brett Kavanaugh

There's been another major twist to the Kavanaugh confirmation saga. The SCOTUS nominee's accuser now says she wants the FBI involved. Attorneys for Christine Blasey Ford, who has accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her when they were teenagers in the 1980s, said yesterday in a letter that their client is not prepared to testify in a public hearing that had been set for Monday unless the FBI first investigates her allegations. This raises the stakes for Republicans. Should they delay the confirmation, potentially setting themselves up for a big political defeat? Or should they move forward with the confirmation, say they gave Ford a chance to say her piece and risk appearing like they aren't willing to respect a woman's accusations against a powerful man?

3. North and South Korea

A breakthrough on the Korean peninsula: During a joint news conference today in Pyongyang, South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un agreed to an "era of no war." The leaders committed to a series of joint diplomatic efforts, and both countries' defense chiefs signed an accord in which the two countries vowed to "cease all hostile acts against each other." Also, the subject of nuclear de-escalation came up in a big way. South Korea announced that North Korea would close a key missile test facility in the presence of "international experts" and potentially destroy its primary nuclear complex -- but only if the United States agrees to corresponding measures.

4. Cameroon

There's been a "horrific escalation of violence" in the central African nation of Cameroon. About 400 civilians have been killed this year in attacks between armed separatist groups and security forces in English-speaking parts of the country, including cases of kidnapping and a beheading, Amnesty International said. Most people -- and the central government -- in Cameroon speak French, and English speakers say they've been marginalized in educational and legal systems. Some English speakers want to secede, but Cameroon's government has alleged used its military to tamp down that sentiment.

5. Tesla

It seems more troubles are on the way for Tesla and its embattled CEO, Elon Musk. The automaker said yesterday that the Justice Department is looking into a tweet sent by Musk last month about Tesla's trading status. Musk tweeted that he was thinking about taking the company private, even naming a share price and saying he had the backing to do so. That never happened, but Tesla stock shot up right after his announcement. Some shareholders think he was intentionally trying to goose it. Meanwhile, a diver involved in July's Thai cave rescue filed a defamation suit against Musk this week after Musk repeatedly and called the diver a "pedo" (that's short for pedophile) on Twitter.

BREAKFAST BROWSE

Merriam-Webster adds new words, including 'rando,' 'hangry' and 'adorbs'

Don't you love it when the dictionary makes you feel old?

Michael Jordan donates $2 million to Hurricane Florence relief

Jordan is a Bull, a GOAT* and a Tar Heel -- he grew up in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Stormy Daniels shares XXX-rated details of alleged Trump affair

Don't click on this. You can live a full life without any of this information.

The new 'Captain Marvel' trailer is here

That sound you hear is the elated screams of millions of Marvel fans -- and Marvel accountants.

Sesame Street: Bert and Ernie are not gay, they are puppets

We support B&E however they want to live their lives, but is Sesame Street trying to tell us puppets don't have sexualities? What about Kermit and Miss Piggy?! Don't make me Google "puppet romance" -- because I WILL.

* "Greatest of All Time," and yes, Merriam-Webster has that, too.

HAPPENING LATER

The President visits the Carolinas

President Trump will visit Hurricane Florence-affected areas in North and South Carolina today, giving him a chance to flex some empathy and apolitical muscle.

TODAY'S QUOTES

"If Texas elects a Democrat, they're going to ban barbecue across the state of Texas."

Senator Ted Cruz, joking with his supporters after PETA showed up, unaffiliated with any candidate, to one of his campaign events offering samples of barbecued tofu

TODAY'S NUMBER

$10,000,000

The amount a Massachusetts gas company is donating to a relief fund to help residents displaced by a series of gas explosions last week that burned 40 homes and businesses and killed one person. Columbia Gas is now facing a Senate inquiry and a class-action lawsuit.

AND FINALLY

The SKILLS

I've been really into videos of people making stuff lately, but I don't think we're gonna find better than this guy, who makes an equine masterpiece out of glass in less than two minutes. (Click here to view.)Few groups have incited the ire of President Donald Trump more than MS-13 for the gang's recent vicious attacks and gruesome killings on US soil.

Charging that dangerous gangsters and criminals from Central America have been entering the United States through Mexico, the Trump administration in April launched a "zero tolerance" policy that has led to the prosecution and deportation of any adult caught illegally crossing the border.

There is no question the MS-13 gang must be stopped. It is a vile organization of hoodlums with no regard for life. But to entirely turn our backs on those who are trying to escape from being terrorized by the gang ignores the role that our government played in its monstrous evolution.

On the ground

Within an hour of landing in San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador, in 2005, where I was reporting on MS-13 for the National Geographic Channel, I was informed that a member of the notorious street gang had just been assassinated in the middle of the city. With my luggage in tow, I headed straight to the homicide location, where I saw a young man face down in a pool of blood, his body riddled with bullet holes.

I had reported on a number of different gangs in cities across America, but here I was in a country that was being terrorized and overtaken by street gangs, the largest of which was MS-13. What was astounding to me at the time was that 15 years prior to my visit, El Salvador had virtually no street gang presence.

MS-13 consists mostly of Salvadorans, but there are many Hondurans and Guatemalans who claim allegiance to the gang as well. To understand how MS-13 grew to become one of the deadliest gangs in the world, you have to understand the role the US played over the past four decades in the Central American countries from which most of these gang members come.

Money for fuel

Beginning in the 1980s, the United States government funneled billions of dollars to corrupt, human-rights abusing officials throughout the region to prevent it from falling into the hands of leftists who had been staging uprisings throughout those countries in Central America, known as the Northern Triangle.

A gruesome civil war between the government and Marxist guerrillas in El Salvador from 1980-1992 claimed 75,000 lives. The United Nations Truth Commission found that Salvadoran government forces, which included military officers trained by the US, paramilitaries and death squads, were responsible for more than 85 percent of the killings and torture.

One of the most brutal conflicts in Latin American history was that of Guatemala's 36-year war in which, according to a truth commission, more than 200,000 mostly indigenous people were killed after being accused of being sympathetic to leftist guerrillas. The US supported the government, despite knowing of its egregious human-rights abuses.

Honduras did not have a civil war but became a staging ground for the various conflicts in neighboring Central American countries, including for US-backed groups.

A gang is born

Years of brutal armed conflict have left the region utterly destabilized and led hundreds of thousands of people to seek refuge in the United States. Many Salvadorans began to settle in the barrios of Los Angeles in the early 1980s. In order to protect themselves from already established neighborhood gangs, a group of them formed their own gang called Mara Salvatrucha or MS-13.

It initially consisted of a bunch of heavy metal enthusiasts who chose devil horns as their insignia, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross. They would grow to become one of the deadliest gangs in L.A. and throughout the country.

In the early 1990s, ICE's precursor, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, began rounding up thousands of alleged criminal gang members and deporting them back to their countries of origin  even though many had left their homelands when they were small children fleeing war and had never been back since.

These new, criminalized arrivals began to wreak havoc on the streets of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras  countries that were still reeling from years of conflict and destabilization. It was a deadly combination. The gang problem exploded. As I witnessed in El Salvador in 2005, the country was paralyzed with fear of gangs like MS-13. By 2015, it had become the most murderous country in the world.

Give me shelter

In 2014, a massive wave of unaccompanied minors began showing up on the US-Mexico border, mostly from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. Most had been sent for by family members who had previously settled in the US in an attempt to create better and safer lives for themselves and their children.

Not long after, brutal killings began being reported in the US, mostly in cities on the East Coast where large communities of Central Americans reside.

As I experienced when reporting on the latest wave of MS-13 killings in Maryland for the premiere episode of CNN's "This Is Life With Lisa Ling" Season 5, newly arrived unaccompanied minors are continuing to come to the US and are being preyed on by an emboldened MS-13. They and their families, both in the US and back in their home countries, are threatened with death if they don't ally with the gang. Law enforcement officials in Fairfax County, Virginia, told me that violence is ordered from El Salvador.

So when the White House deems MS-13 members "violent animals," let's also acknowledge that US policies helped create this devastating situation. And when the innocent ask our government for shelter from the terror aided by our decisions, perhaps we shouldn't be so hasty to turn them away.GREENE COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) -

News 10 has learned new details about a Greene County murder investigation.

Authorities are now calling it a murder/suicide.

Officials told News 10 the three victims were 73-year-old Peggy Burks, 58-year-old Debra Floyd, and 71-year-old Lawrence Burks.

Authorities say the younger woman, Debra Floyd, was Peggy's caregiver.

Indiana State Police say a neighbor called 9-1-1 around 8:30 Tuesday morning after hearing screaming and gunshots.

LINK | THREE PEOPLE ARE DEAD, HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY IN GREENE COUNTY

The Greene County Sheriff's Office responded to a home on North State Road 43.

That's where deputies found all three dead.

Police say a protective order against Lawrence Burks was in place for Peggy.

At this time, authorities are still investigating a motive.

They are not releasing information about the cause of death and the murder weapon.GREENE COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) - Three people are dead as an active homicide investigation is underway in Greene County.

The Greene County Sheriff's Office is working with the Indiana State Police Crime Lab.

The investigation is being centered around a property in the 7000 Block of State Road 43, south of Hendricksville.

Indiana State Police told News 10 two females and one male are dead.

According to the 9-1-1 call, reports of shots fired came in around 8:00 Tuesday morning.

Authorities do not believe the public is in any danger.

The investigation is active.

Authorities say they hope to release the names of the victims on Wednesday evening.The Justice Department is investigating whether comments made by Tesla CEO Elon Musk last month about taking his company private were illegal, the automaker confirmed Tuesday.

The company said it had received a voluntary request for documents and is cooperating. Tesla said it had not been subpoenaed.

"We respect the DOJ's desire to get information about this and believe that the matter should be quickly resolved as they review the information they have received," a spokesperson said.

Tesla didn't give further specifics about what the Justice Department is looking at, or about reports of an investigation underway by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Shares of Tesla fell as much as 6% after the criminal probe was first reported midday Tuesday by Bloomberg. The shares came off that low later in the afternoon.

CNN has reached out for comment to the US attorney's office in San Francisco, which is leading the probe, according to the Bloomberg report.

Musk tweeted on August 7, in the middle of the trading day, that he was thinking about taking Tesla private at a price of $420 per share, and that he had "funding secured" for such a deal.

The stock shot up nearly 9% after the announcement but has declined substantially since then. By Tuesday, it was down more than 25% from the post-tweet high.

Musk abandoned the plan after less than three weeks. He later said his "funding secured" comment was based on talks with Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, which he said had urged him to take the company private and offered to increase its investment in Tesla.

Critics said such conversations were a long way from having "funding secured" for taking the company private at a stock price significantly higher than where it was trading.

Shareholders have filed lawsuits charging that Musk made the claim to manipulate the stock price, and several news outlets reported that the Securities and Exchange Commission is looking into the matter.

But SEC enforcement actions are almost always civil matters, resulting in fines or other sanctions, up to banning up an executive from serving as an officer of a public company.

Justice Department investigations are less common, and potentially more serious, because they entail possible criminal charges.

Criminal charges typically are reserved for corporate officers who are accused of repeatedly and willfully presenting false information.

Two former executives of Theranos, for example, face wire fraud charges over claims they made to investors and doctors about the company's blood testing process. Both have pleaded not guilty.

 CNN's Laura Jarrett contributed to this report.Update - This article has been corrected to show November 23 as the correct date.

WEST POINT, Miss. (WTVA) - The famous "Kansas City Southern" Christmas train is expected to stop in North Mississippi this holiday season.

The company made the announcement and said the 18th annual holiday express will roll into West Point as one of its 22 stops in 27 days.

The Daily Times Leader reports visitors can board the train, visit with Santa and his elves and tour the six-car train for free. Meanwhile, the train will accept donations for the Salvation Army.

The train will be in West Point on November 23 at the Sam Wilhite Transportation Museum around 4 p.m.BRUCE, Miss. (WTVA) - A fugitive from Missouri has been captured in Calhoun County.

The Bruce Police Department announced Wednesday that James Lee Daniels was taken into custody by police and the Calhoun County Sheriffs Department.

He was arrested on South Pontotoc Road Wednesday morning.

Police say he was wanted in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, on drug and assault charges.NOXUBEE COUNTY, Miss. (WTVA) - Two Noxubee County School District schools will soon close permanently.

Recently appointed superintendent Rodriguez Broadnax says Virgil Jones, Jr. Elementary and BF Liddell Elementary will close on October 5.

He says this is due to financial debt. This will affect 229 students.

Pre-K through 3rd-grade students will attend Earl Nash Elementary.

Fourth grade and 5th-grade students will attend Earl Nash Annex at the central office.

Sixth-grade students will attend BF Liddell Middle School.

Broadnax says he met with parents and faculty about the changes.

He says the state of Mississippi is giving the school district a $2.5 million loan. But for the district to become financially sound beyond the loan, this must be done.

So far, the state has only provided the district with $750,000.

It is my hope to build a new pre-K building along with a middle school near the high school, he said.

This summer, the state took over the school district and appointed Broadnax as the superintendent.The West Point Police Department is now asking for help from the public when it comes to reducing the amounts of thefts in the city.

According to The Daily Times Leader, the police department has been dealing with an increase in thefts from homes, vehicles and even a nursing home.

Police are saying that the thieves are getting smarter when it comes to not being caught and that some of them are scouting out locations before they strike.

They are urging the public to keep an eye out for suspicious behavior and to report it.

"If people would call in and say if something is suspicious, even if it isn't anything at all. But still, if you call in it will help a lot more then not saying anything at all, said Wavie Davenport, a former police officer from Columbus.AMORY, Miss. (WTVA) - One Amory Middle School student was granted a special wish.

Amory Middle School hosted a send-off ceremony for Xavier Lane Wednesday morning.

Xavier Lane Xavier Lane

He was excited when he learned his family and himself are on their way to Los Angeles to see country music star Jason Aldean in concert.

Lane had a choice between a trip to Hawaii or an Aldean concert.

This will not be the first time his family has been to an Aldean concert, but this time, hell get to meet the country star.

When asked how that made him feel, he was speechless.

His music alone has just gotten him through x-rays, cat scans, spinal taps, his mother said.

Lane is currently in remission for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

The family will fly out to Los Angeles Thursday morning.TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (The News Service of Florida) - A lack of uniformity among Floridas 67 counties has led to the number of rejected vote-by-mail ballots to vary greatly across the state, according to a report released Wednesday.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida released the study, which says the absentee ballots of young voters and racial minorities are more likely to be rejected than for other groups.

The ACLU does not know why certain groups are rejected more often. Ballots are often flagged for missing or mismatched signatures.

The ACLU report says the procedures to inform voters about rejected ballots and ways to fix them also vary from county to county.

Whether your vote counts or not should not depend on your zip code. It should not depend on the county that you live in. We need more uniform standards," said Howard Simon, Executive Director, ACLU of Florida.

While not speaking directly to the report, Leon County Supervisor of Elections Mark Earley tells voters it is always best to vote in person whenever possible, rather than through the mail.

We really prefer people, just because its a face-to-face environment and encounter, to either come on Election Day or to early voting," said Earley.

The Florida State Association of Supervisors of Elections disputes some of the findings of the report, pointing to a 2016 federal court ruling that directs county supervisors to contact people whose signatures have been rejected.

Before the court ruling, such a service was considered optional for a county supervisor.

Voting-by-mail has become increasingly popular each election cycle. During the 2016 election, nearly 30 percent of those who voted did so by mail.TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (The News Service of Florida) - The two leading candidates for governor on Tuesday launched competing plans to improve Floridas education system.

Republican Ron DeSantis wants to increase merit pay for teachers by requiring 80 percent of school funding to be spent in the classrooms and not on administration. DeSantis also wants to expand school voucher programs.

Meanwhile, Democrat Andrew Gillum outlined a proposal to provide a minimum $50,000 starting salary for teachers by increasing the state corporate income tax by $1 billion.

During a news conference in Tallahassee, Gillum said his Fair Share for Floridas Future plan would also spend more money annually on school construction and early childhood education programs.

You can tell a states or peoples priorities by where they spend their money," said Gillum. "I want this state to be measured by the investments that we make in kids. Not into as many tax breaks as we can manage, but in our children.

Some are leery of the economics of Gillums plan.

Robert Weissert with the fiscal think tank Florida TaxWatch feels teacher pay can be increased by finding savings within the current education budget, rather than through raising taxes.

Why is it that the only way we can raise teacher salaries, which should be done, is to make the system $31 billion, instead of finding just three percent's savings within a $30 billion dollar system?" said Weissert. "Freeing up that money and reallocating it is something we know will improve student learning.

Gillums plan would increase the states corporate tax rate from 5.5 percent to 7.75 on some of Floridas richest businesses.TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Gov. Rick Scott will travel to Puerto Rico on Thursday at the invitation of the Puerto Rican government.

Scott will join Gov. Ricardo Rossello and other officials as they pay tribute to those who lost their lives during Hurricane Maria.

Since before Hurricane Maria made landfall, Scott has been in contact with Puerto Rican officials to offer assistance and guidance in response to and recovery from, the storm.

Scott says he also established several disaster recovery centers to connect evacuees in Florida to assistance and services.

This will be Scott's eighth trip to Puerto Rico since the storm.TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Health officials all over the world are taking time Tuesday to share the dangers of contracting HIV/AIDS.

Here in Leon County, the focus was not just on young adults, but seniors as well.

The Florida Department of Health says seniors are at risk because they're at a time of their lives when they're looking for companionship.

Chris Tittel from the department of Health in Leon County also says many women don't use proper protection after they stop having children.

"The idea that folks over a certain age don't engage in sexual intercourse anymore, which is far from the truth," said Tittel. "So I think there's a lot of misinformation, a lot of stigma associated with HIV that would make people feel more isolated than they already feel."

Now, here's the bottom line from the presentation: If you don't know your status, health officials urge you to get tested.

They say the best way to take care of yourself is to know and not ignore the feeling that something might be wrong.THOMAS COUNTY, Ga. (WTXL) - A pedestrian was killed after being hit by a car on the side of the road in Thomasville.

According to Georgia State Patrol, 42-year-old David Newman was hit in Thomasville on Tuesday night at about 6:45 p.m. on Highway 319 near Hubbard Lane.

GSP states Newman was believed to be walking or riding a bicycle.

At this time, GSP is not sure whether or not he was physically on the bike riding it.

According to GSP, Newman was on the side of the road when a white Chevy Equinox, driven by 21-year-old Anthony Massey, hit him.

He was declared dead on scene.

Investigators are unsure whether or not charges will be filed against Massey at this time, but have no reason to believe that he was impaired at the time of the accident.

Blood samples from both Newman and Massey were taken and are being sent to the Moultrie crime lab.

This is an open and active investigation.

Thomas County Sheriff's Office assisted GSP on-scene.MARIANNA, Fla. (WTXL) - A Georgia man has been arrested after he broke into a Marianna apartment and tried to kidnap a child.

Ronald Redini Jr., 47, of Albany, Ga., was arrested by the Marianna Police Department on Monday.

On Sept. 17, at about 11:52 p.m., Marianna Police officers responded to Spring Gate Manor Apartments in response to a reported kidnapping attempt.

When officers arrived on scene, they were able to determine Redini entered an apartment without consent and tried to forcibly remove a child from the apartment.

Officers stated after Redini left the apartment with the victim, he began dragging the victim toward his car.

According to officers, the victim was able to break free of Redini's grasp and run to safety.

Residents of the apartment complex saw the events take place and called law enforcement.

Officers placed Redini under arrest without incident immediately following the investigation.

He is being charged with burglary to structure unarmed, aggravated abuse and neglect of a child, and kidnapping.

According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's website, Redini is also a registered sexual offender.

Redini was taken to the Jackson County Correctional Facility to await first appearance.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-18 15:52:12|Editor: xuxin

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ULAN BATOR, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Mongolian Prime Minister Ukhnaa Khurelsukh will pay an official visit to the United States from Sept. 18-20 to boost bilateral ties, the government's press office said Tuesday.

During his visit, Khurelsukh is expected to hold talks with top U.S. officials, and the two sides will exchange views on bilateral cooperation as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest, the office said in a statement.

"The two countries will outline a roadmap to further strengthen economic cooperation," it said.

Also, Khurelsukh will sign a declaration of agreement with U.S. aid-giving body Millennium Challenge Corporation.

In addition, Khurelsukh is scheduled to attend the 73rd UN general assembly session, and meet with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as well as Mongolian representatives living in the United States.

This will be Khurelsukh's first visit to the United States since becoming prime minister in October last year.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-18 21:43:42|Editor: Yurou

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Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (R) attends a joint press conference with his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi in Ankara, Turkey, on Sept. 18, 2018. Turkey will deploy more troops in Syria's northwestern Idlib province after a deal signed by Ankara and Moscow for a demilitarized zone in the rebel stronghold, Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Mustafa Kaya)

ANKARA, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Turkey will deploy more troops in Syria's northwestern Idlib province after a deal signed by Ankara and Moscow for a demilitarized zone in the rebel stronghold, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Tuesday.

"We will need extra troop reinforcements. Turkey and Russia will patrol on the border areas. Civilians and moderate (opposition) will stay here," Cavusoglu said at a press conference with his Jordanian counterpart.

"The borders of Idlib will be protected. Status of Idlib will be preserved. Russia will take necessary precautions to prevent attacks against this region and to keep the regime from entering there," he stated.

The minister noted that Turkish army will continue to keep 12 observations in Idlib and drones will support the monitoring of 15-20 km-wide buffer zone along the line of contact between rebels and government troops, and all radical groups will be eliminated from these territories.

Asked about radical groups, Cavusoglu said officials from Turkey and Russia on the ground will work on this issue, but these groups will not be directed to Turkey-controlled areas in the north.

Russia and Turkey have decided to set up a demilitarized zone between the armed opposition and the government troops in Syria's Idlib province by Oct. 15 after a bilateral meeting of leaders in Sochi on Monday.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-18 22:59:14|Editor: Liangyu

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Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress Ding Zhongli (L) meets with Myanmar's First Vice President U Myint Swe in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, Sept. 18, 2018. Ding visited Myanmar from Sunday to Tuesday at the invitation of Myanmar's House of Representatives. (Xinhua/U Aung)

YANGON, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC) Ding Zhongli visited Myanmar from Sunday to Tuesday at the invitation of Myanmar's House of Representatives.

During his visit, Ding met with Myanmar's First Vice President U Myint Swe, Speaker of the Union Parliament and Speaker of the House of Representatives U T Khun Myat, Speaker of the House of Nationalities U Mann Win Khaing Than, and held talks with Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives U Tun Tun Hein.

Ding said China and Myanmar are friendly neighbors linked by mountains and rivers and the Paukphaw (fraternal) friendship between the two peoples is long standing.

He said China's National People's Congress is willing to work with Myanmar's Union Parliament to actively implement the consensus reached by leaders of the two countries and take Belt and Road cooperation as an opportunity to enhance friendly cooperation.

Ding called on the two sides to provide legal and policy assurance for the long-term, healthy and steady development of China-Myanmar relations and push the China-Myanmar comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to a new stage.

Attaching importance to the Myanmar-China relations, the Myanmar side hoped to deepen the participation in the Belt and Road Initiative and continuously enrich the two countries' achievements of practical cooperation.

The Myanmar side said that Myanmar's Union Parliament would like to strengthen mutual exchanges with China's National People's Congress and contribute to the sustained development of the bilateral ties.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 00:44:45|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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BEIRUT, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese caretaker Minister of Public Works and Transport, Youssef Fenianos, said Tuesday that the transport strategy proposed by his ministry last year was not implemented because of a lack of funds.

The minister's statement was a response to the criticism from Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, who accused Fenianos of failing to present a proper transport strategy which resulted in the traffic chaos in the country.

"We have already drafted a strategy which was referred to the council of ministers in January 2017 right after the formation of the previous government," Fenianos was quoted by the National News Agency as saying.

The strategy, after receiving approval from the council, was referred in December 2017 to the Council of Development and Reconstruction, which was responsible for obtaining funds from the World Bank to implement it, the minister added.

However, the strategy was not implemented because of funds shortage, he said.

"The World Bank has approved a different strategy from the new one proposed by the Public Works and Transport Ministry," he clarified.

The World Bank said in March that it has approved a 295-million-U.S.-dollar package ushering in the overhaul of Lebanon's decaying transport sector and securing employment for thousands of unskilled Lebanese and Syrian workers.

The Beirut international airport has recently witnessed great congestion and chaos, raising concerns over the country's ailing traffic sector.

Officials have on many occasions called for the expansion of the airport in Beirut for the increasing number of passengers in addition to replacing old equipment.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 00:49:46|Editor: Liangyu

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SHANGHAI, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Vice Premier Liu He has stressed efforts to give full play to the role of entrepreneurs and researchers in technological innovation.

Liu, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks during his inspection trip to Shanghai on Monday.

The vice premier listened to opinions of a group of entrepreneurs and researchers on improving the innovation environment and stimulating initiatives during a symposium, after inspecting some technological innovation-based, middle and small-sized enterprises.

Liu urged efforts to deepen reform in state-owned scientific research institutions, stimulate the creativity of scientific researchers and roll out more original innovations.

Noting that more than 70 percent of technological innovation in China has been brought about by middle and small-sized enterprises, Liu stressed equal treatment of state-owned and private businesses, strengthened intellectual property protection and increased financial support for middle and small-sized companies.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 00:59:48|Editor: huaxia

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GABORONE, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Botswana's finance minister says the local economy will prioritize investment directed towards economic diversification.

Speaking at the annual budget strategy paper discussion on Tuesday in Gaborone, capital of Botswana, Minister Kenneth Matambo said emphasis will be on business reforms, infrastructure development and human capital development to spur diversification.

"These are deliberate strategic initiatives by government to try fostering a shift from the current growth model towards a more inclusive one that is private sector led," said Matambo.

The minister also expects positive growth rates for 2018, 2019 driven largely by the non-mining sectors.

"This underscores the importance of the private sector in leading future domestic economic growth and their active participation in defining a new growth model," said Matambo.

He challenged academics, development partners, civil societies and parastatals to participate in moving forward the 'seemingly stagnant annual growth rate'.

Statistics Botswana and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development data indicates GDP growth is expected to grow 4.5 percent in 2018 and 4.2 percent in 2019. EnditemSource: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 00:59:50|Editor: Yurou

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LONDON, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- The British government on Tuesday gave police 2 million pounds (2.63 million U.S. dollars) to launch a new unit in order to plan for a possible hard-Brexit amid warnings that it will be harder to protect the public after Britain leaves the European Union (EU) in March 2019.

A no-deal Brexit would make it harder to protect UK citizens, a leading police officer has warned. Brexit would mean the loss of an array of crime-fighting tools and that any planned replacements would be less effective.

Senior officers said that investigators will lose access to 40 crime fighting tools, including the European Arrest Warrant, which would hinder cross-border investigations such as the hunt for the Russian intelligence officers suspected of the Salisbury Novichok attack.

The British Home Office gave the new fund to police to work on replacing systems such as the European Arrest Warrant.

British police said it would take longer to identify foreign criminals being held in custody in the UK.

The 50-strong teams planning for a hard-Brexit will include police and civilian staff. It will focus on helping police forces with using fall back alternatives if the U.K. suddenly loses its access to the current EU data sharing and cooperation tools.

Police will have to revert to bilateral agreements and Interpol.

Sara Thornton, chair of Britain's National Police Chiefs' Council, said fallback systems would be slower and "ultimately less effective."

"It will make it harder to protect UK and EU citizens," she said. "We are determined to do everything we can to mitigate that but it will be harder."

Officers said one EU crime-fighting tool, the Schengen Information System database, was accessed by police 539 million times last year.

"Existing EU tools allows us to respond quickly and intelligently to crime and terrorism in the UK and the EU -- they make us better at protecting the public," Thornton said.

Deputy assistant commissioner Richard Martin, the national police lead for Brexit, said if police lost the EU tools they could no longer share real-time alerts for wanted persons, including serious criminals.

British police would also be slower responding to missing people on either side of the Channel.

The ability to track and map terrorist and criminal networks across Europe would also be reduced.

Martin said, "Criminals don't respect borders -- 70 percent of transient organised crime groups operate in more than three countries."

"If we lose all these tools it becomes much more challenging," he said. "Policing does not stop, but it will be slower and less effective."

Chief constable Charlie Hall emphasised that there was no intelligence of widespread disorder but they were planning for every eventuality.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 01:04:51|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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HELSINKI, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Finnish Chancellor of Justice Tuomas Poysti determined that the participation of Finnish Foreign Minister Timo Soini in an anti-abortion event in Canada last May was "problematic", the Chancellor's office said on Tuesday.

The Chancellor took the stand in response to citizens' complaints about Soini's actions. The Chancellor is an independent highest supervising official of legality in Finland.

Soini was on an official visit in Ottawa in May and participated in a "pro-life" vigil in the evening, outside the official program of the visit. His staff published the participation on social media, describing Soini as a foreign minister.

The chancellor said that Soini's behavior was not unlawful, but nevertheless contributed to giving "a false notion of the official policy of Finland towards abortion and the rights of women and girls".

"Finland accepts in its legislation abortion, and in its foreign and security policy Finland promotes the rights of women and girls, including their sexual and procreative health," the Chancellor said.

Soini has defended his behavior on the basis that freedom of religion prevails in Finland and abortion is in contravention of his catholic conviction.

Poysti noted, however, that in Finland "the state and persons representing it" are usually required to take "a neutral approach to various convictions". Poysti said that consideration should have been applied.

Talking to reporters in the parliament building on Tuesday after the publication of the Chancellor's stand, Soini did not give a direct answer to questions whether he would take a stand against abortions also in the future. "You know my stand," Soini said.

Later this week Soini is to face a vote of no-confidence motion in parliament. Most opposition parties have joined in a statement of no confidence.

Local observers believe, however, that the government parties will vote in favor of Soini, although both conservative and centrist ministers have in public disassociated from Soini's actions. A majority for no-confidence would most likely topple the cabinet and that is not in the current interest of the coalition parties.

Since becoming foreign minister in 2015, Soini has on several occasions in public statements diverted from the official Finnish policy line on women's rights and abortion. Earlier this year he welcomed the outcome of a vote in Argentina dismissing the right to abortion and deplored the outcome of a vote in Ireland where abortion was approved.

Soini's statements have routinely triggered notices of disengagement from his fellow ministers as not representing the official policy of Finland.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 01:34:59|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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SKOPJE, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Macedonia and Germany signed on Tuesday a deal on mutual recognition and change of driving licenses.

Under the Declaration on Recognition and Change of Driving Permits signed by Macedonian Minister of Internal Affairs Oliver Spasovski and the German Ambassador in Skopje Tomas Gerberich, Macedonian citizens with a driver's license who reside in Germany will not need an international driving license.

"Our citizens who are abroad in Germany for about 185 days will have the opportunity to replace the Macedonian driver's license with that of German and vice versa," said Spasovski after the signing ceremony.

Driving licenses will be recognized for adults with valid driving licenses by competent authorities in Macedonia and Germany who have legal residence in the territory of Macedonia (at least 180 days in a calendar year) or in the territory of Germany (at least 185 days a year).

With the entry into force of the Declaration of Mutual Recognition of Driving Licenses of both countries, all Macedonian citizens who live or stay in Germany no longer need theoretical and practical test, carry out control of sight and pass all the necessary processes.

Macedonian citizens in Germany now with a driving license can only drive in the first six months of their arrival. Then they need to give a driving license test, which costs about 1,500 euros (around 1,750 U.S. dollars).

So far, Macedonia has signed agreements for the recognition of driving licenses with seven countries, including Spain, Italy, Serbia, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Austria.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 01:50:02|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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ADEN, Yemen, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Yemeni government forces backed by the Saudi-led coalition made a new progress in the ongoing battles against the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in the Red Sea coast city of Hodeidah on Tuesday.

The government troops launched a fresh military operation in coordination with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) forces operating in Yemen, capturing key areas near the city's main port and university, a military official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

"The Giants Brigades forces continued in making ground advancement and plan to capture the strategic port of Hodeidah in the next days," the military source said.

After capturing the "Kilo16 road", the pro-government forces launched a new operation overnight and managed to seize areas close to Hodeidah University, he added.

More than 18 Houthi fighters were captured during the UAE-backed military operation that started Monday overnight, according to the source.

Residents in Hodeidah confirmed that intensified airstrikes continued to bomb Houthi-controlled sites in different areas of Hodeidah, causing huge blasts.

Last week, the Yemeni government troops backed by the UAE succeeded in cutting off the "Kilo16 road", the only supply route linking Houthi-controlled areas in northern provinces with the port city of Hodeidah.

In recent days, the Yemeni government seeks to expel the Houthi rebels out of the strategic port city of Hodeidah militarily despite warnings issued by international humanitarian agencies.

The impoverished Arab country has been locked into a civil war since the Shiite Houthi rebels overran much of the country militarily and seized all northern provinces, including capital Sanaa, in 2014.

Saudi Arabia leads an Arab military coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015 to support the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi after Iran-backed Houthi rebels forced him into exile.

The United Nations has listed Yemen as the world's number one humanitarian crisis, with 7 million Yemenis on the brink of famine and cholera causing more than 2,000 deaths.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 01:50:03|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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BEIJING, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- China plans to launch the heavy-lift carrier rocket Long March-9 in 2028, said an official of China National Space Administration (CNSA) at the World Conference on Science Literacy 2018 on Tuesday.

Li Guoping, director of the Department of System Engineering of the CNSA, said that the length of the Long March-9 will exceed 90 meters, and the rocket would have a core stage with a diameter of 10 meters.

It would be able to carry a payload of 140 tonnes into low-Earth orbit, five times that of the Long March-5, said Li.

The rocket's capacity would also reach 50 tonnes for Earth-Moon transfer orbit.

China is also developing a medium space rocket, the Long March-8, which is expected to make its maiden flight in 2020.

The Long March rocket series have been launched 284 times, sending more than 400 spacecraft into space.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 01:55:05|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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BUCHAREST, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Tuesday hailed the list of priority interconnection projects presented within the Three Seas Initiative (TSI) summit, emphasizing that this is a top-level political signal.

"Through this list, we give a top-level political signal to investors regarding the major interconnection projects that our countries consider to be a priority," the president told a joint press conference at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace, alongside his Croatian counterpart Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry.

"It was a successful meeting with tangible results," underlined Iohannis, adding that the member states have now a joint understanding as regards the main goals of the Initiative, that are pro-economic development in the region, strengthening EU cohesion and enhancing pro-transatlantic connections.

According to him, the fields of interest within the summit were the transport, energy and digital technology, and the officials attending the event have endorsed a joint declaration stipulating the fundamental principles that are at the grounds of the Initiative and the concrete objectives pursued by this platform.

Iohannis said that member states promised to channel political support for all the TSI projects, encouraging governments, companies and financial institutions to work together for quick and efficient implement of them.

All interested players are welcomed to cooperate for attracting the necessary financial means for the TSI projects, including the identification of all EU funds and other possible funds for their implementation, the president said.

According to the joint declaration, an important outcome of the summit was the first edition of the TSI Business Forum, which brought together over 600 business and academic representatives, as well as officials from member states, neighbouring regions and the United States.

Another achievement was the signing of a letter of intent on the establishment of the Investment Fund of the Three Seas Initiative.

Romania hosted on Monday and Tuesday the third Summit of the Three Seas Initiative. The Initiative is a flexible and informal platform launched in 2015 at the presidential level, bringing together 12 EU members located between the Adriatic Sea, the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea.

The first two summits of the initiative took place in Dubrovnik, Croatia in 2016 and in Warsaw, Poland in 2017 respectively.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 02:10:08|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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BRUSSELS, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- The European Commission on Tuesday released its first set of ideas for the modernisation of the World Trade Organisation(WTO), aiming to make the system adapt "sufficiently to the rapidly changing global economy".

The ideas in the proposal relate to three key areas, which are updating the rule book on international trade to capture today's global economy, strengthening the monitoring role of the WTO and overcoming the imminent deadlock on the WTO dispute settlement system.

"The multilateral trading system has for the past decades provided a stable, predictable and effective framework for companies across the world, helping many economies to grow rapidly. Also today, the WTO is indispensable in ensuring open, fair and rules-based trade," said Cecilia Malmstrom, the Commissioner for Trade.

"But despite its success, the World Trade Organisation has not been able to adapt sufficiently to the rapidly changing global economy. The world has changed, the WTO has not. It's high time to act to make the system able to address challenges of today's global economy and work for everyone again. And the EU must take a lead role in that," she added.

The reform proposals will be presented to EU partners in Geneva on Sept. 20 during a meeting convened by Canada.

And the EU will discuss with its WTO partners in the coming weeks with a view to preparing concrete proposals to the WTO.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 02:55:15|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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BUCHAREST, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Romania will hold a referendum for the redefinition of family on Oct. 6 and 7, the government spokesman Nelu Barbu announced on Tuesday.

The cabinet adopted in an extraordinary sitting the necessary legal papers for the unfolding of the referendum to amend the Constitution, Barbu told media after the extraordinary sitting.

The question the citizens will have to answer, with Yes or No, is "Do you agree with the Law for the revision of Romania's Constitution in the form adopted by Parliament?"

In the current form, the Romanian Constitution defines the family as the free-willed marriage "between spouses." However, more and more citizens want to amend it and the Coalition for Family launched an initiative in this regard in late 2015.

The initiative signed by 3 million citizens calls for a clear definition of the family concept as a voluntary union of a man and a woman, aiming thus to block any possibility of same-sex marriages in Romania.

Prime Minister Viorica Dancila stressed earlier that the referendum is not "against the sexual minorities", but "an outcome of a civic approach" and "the most adequate answer to an important topic."

According to her, the ruling Social Democratic Party supports the referendum to amend the Constitution and to redefine the family.

The Senate, as a decision-making chamber of the parliament, adopted on Sept. 11 this year the citizens' initiative which was previously passed by the Chamber of Deputies on May 9, 2017.

The amendment is supported by most politicians and the major Orthodox Church with over 85 percent adherence among the population, as well as many other religious groups in the eastern European country.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 03:00:15|Editor: huaxia

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DAR ES SALAAM, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- An official said on Tuesday Tanzania planned to come up with a new management plan for mangrove conservation.

Zawadi Mbwambo, Director of Resources Management with state-owned Tanzania Forest Services Agency, said adoption of the new plan will replace the existing one, which has been in place for nearly three decades.

Mangroves grow along coastal areas in deltas where cold water river enters the ocean. Tanzania is one of few countries which have been blessed with mangrove forests, with an estimated 115,000 hectares of the trees.

Mangroves are tropical trees that stabilize coastlines, protect communities from storms, provide critical habitats for many animals, and store vast amounts of carbon.

Opening a four-day National Mangroves Stakeholders Workshop , Mbwambo said the government through the agency and other local and international institutions were collecting data on mangroves that will be used to formulate the plan.

"The existing mangrove management plan was established 27 years ago. However, it has posed a challenge that we are currently not certain of the status of mangrove production and destruction," he said in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam.

The government is currently prohibiting people from harvesting mangroves which are facing extinction, said the official.

"We have suspended issuance of licences for harvesting mangroves because we doubt that they are among the endangered species," said Mbwambo.

According to him, the new management plan was delayed for years due to financial constraints.

"Surveying areas with mangroves is quite difficult due to the nature of the places where they grow. We can't walk into water to count them. We need water vessels like boats or some other technologies to do so," he said.

Mbwambo said there were institutions including the Wetland International, World Bank and the University of Dar es Salaam's Institute of Marine Science in Zanzibar and the World Wide Fund for Nature which were currently collecting data on mangroves.

He was optimistic that the data will be gathered in one year to be followed by the development of the new mangrove management plan.

Wetland International has spent about 150, 000 Euros (about 175,000 U.S. dollars) for conducting a survey of mangroves at the Rufiji Delta in Kibiti district, Coast region.

The survey is part of a 10-year project, which aims at surveying the entire coastal line where mangroves grow, said the Director of East Africa for Wetland International, Julie Mulonga. EnditemSource: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 03:25:20|Editor: huaxia

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HARARE, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Zimbabwe government said Tuesday redesigning of water and sewer pipes is the only long-term solution to stop the recurrence of cholera outbreaks in the country.

A cholera outbreak that has killed 30 people and infected more than 5,000 others has gripped Harare, the second such major outbreak in the country since 2008 when 4,000 people died from the water borne disease.

The Harare outbreak started at the beginning of this month and has since spread to other parts of the country.

The outbreak is linked to borehole water contaminated with sewer from burst pipes.

The Harare city council has been failing to provide potable water form some time, forcing residents to rely on unsafe water from community boreholes and open wells.

Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa told journalists that cabinet resolved at its Monday meeting that sewer and water reticulation infrastructure should be redesigned to avert outbreaks of diarrhoeal diseases in the future.

"Cabinet resolved that a two-pronged approach be taken to deal with the outbreak of the cholera epidemic, namely the ongoing implementation of interventions to address the current outbreak and the implementation of long-term measures centered on the provision of adequate clean water and upgrading of both water and sewer reticulation systems," she said.

She said cabinet had also resolved that resources be mobilized from external partners to modernize the water and sewer reticulation systems as well as address the challenge of illegal and unserviced human settlements in urban areas.

Mutsvangwa said cabinet also established an inter-ministerial committee to spearhead implementation of short and long-term measures to address cholera outbreaks in the country.

The government has since launched a 57 million U.S. dollars appeal to contain the outbreak with some of the financial resources earmarked towards revamping water and sewer infrastructure in cholera hot-spots. EnditemSource: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 03:25:20|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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BERLIN, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- German government on Tuesday dismissed its domestic intelligence chief Hans-Georg Maassen for his earlier controversial comments on the xenophobia protests in Germany's eastern city of Chemnitz.

Maassen will be removed from the secret service Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and will get a senior post at the interior ministry, according to an governmental statement.

The decision was made after a crisis meeting where heads of the three ruling parties attended, putting an end to their month-long divisions.

Maassen, during an interview with the local tabloid Bild, had cast doubts on the authenticity of a widely-shared footage showing rightist radicals chasing and beating migrants during a rightist demonstration in Chemnitz.

The far-right violence was triggered after the fatal stabbing of a German man which was blamed on two migrants on Aug. 28.

Maassen's comments directly contradicted Chancellor Angela Merkel's rhetoric on the incident, saying it "clearly revealed hate."

He has also since been under fire and accused of having contacts with the right-wing party Alternative for Germany (AfD) and disclosing classified information for it. Maassen denied the accusation, saying that he had only talked to some AfD members.

Whether or not to sack Maassen showed clear divergence among the federal government, the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), coalition partners of Merkel's conservative union, insisted to kick out Maassen. However, Horst Seehofer, leader of Merkel's Bavarian allies, backed Maassen to retain his post.

Local media commented the spat was seen as a reflection of Germany's current unstable political alliance and the contrasting attitudes towards migrants after Merkel's 2015 open-door policy to Syrian refugees.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 03:30:22|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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NICOSIA, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) will help Cyprus stem an influx of refugees from Syria after a recent boom of arrivals of irregular immigrants, an official said on Tuesday.

European Commissioner for Migration, Dimitris Avramopoulos, said EU is ready to afford Cyprus assistance across the board to tackle the increasing flow of refugees fleeing war-torn Syria.

Cypriot Interior Minister Constantinos Petrides said last week that immigration increased by 40 percent during the first six months this year, relative to the same period in 2017, with more than 4,000 people asking for asylum so far this year.

Avramopoulos said after talks with Petrides in Nicosia that EU will immediately send a team of experts to Cyprus to discuss ways to ease immigration pressure from Syria.

"Our assistance is on all levels: equipment, personnel, technical and financial," Avramopoulos said.

The Interior Ministry estimates that more than 5,770 people will arrive by the end of the year, compared to 4,599 refugees in 2017, when arrivals went up by more than 50 percent in comparison to the previous year.

Refugees arrive either by boat which sail from Turkey, Lebanon or Syria and by using the Turkish occupied part of Cyprus as a stepping stone.

Petrides said that Cyprus was now on the frontline and it was impossible for a country of its size to deploy disproportionate facilities to absorb the refugee pressures it was under.

"What we are seeking as a member-state is European solidarity in practice over a European issue that is impossible for us to handle alone," he said.

He said he explained to Avramopoulos that Cyprus, as an island, is at a disadvantage relative to other EU countries, as it cannot deny protection to people who sail in flimsy boats.

He asked EU to intensify talks with all countries neighboring Syria, like Lebanon and Jordan, and offer financial and technical help in return for them hosting higher numbers of refugees.

He also said that the influx of so many undocumented people presents security risks, as among those arrive there are people who may have been former fighters of Islamic State.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 03:30:25|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock on Tuesday asked for civilian protection in the creation of a demilitarized buffer zone in Syria's Idlib province.

Whether from within or outside the proposed demilitarized area, should civilians deem it necessary to leave, they must be allowed to seek refuge elsewhere, Lowcock told a Security Council.

Lowcock was talking about Monday's agreement between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to establish a demilitarized zone within Idlib.

In case of displacement from the demilitarized zone, all possible measures must be taken so that affected civilians are received under satisfactory conditions of shelter, hygiene, health, safety and nutrition and that members of the same family are not separated, he said.

It is also important that any screening to distinguish civilians from fighters be undertaken in accordance with international humanitarian law and clear standard operating procedures, ensuring humane treatment and accounting for those who have been screened, said Lowcock.

Special protection and assistance measures should be in place for civilians, in particular women and children family members who have been associated with or are family members of fighters, he said.

Regardless of location, whether within or outside the demilitarized zone, international humanitarian law obligations continue to apply. Warring parties cannot deliberately or carelessly disregard the distinction between civilians and combatants, or between civilian infrastructure and military objectives, said Lowcock.

He welcomed the Russia-Turkey agreement to set up a demilitarized zone in Idlib. If sustained and implemented in full respect of international humanitarian law, the agreement may avert the catastrophe the UN humanitarian system has been warning against, he said.

To succeed, demilitarization requires the agreement of all parties, he stressed. "Short of such agreement, it is foreseeable that force will be used to demilitarize, and thus civilians exposed to the very harm we are trying to avoid."

Across much of the country, the situation is now calmer than it was in January. But humanitarian needs still remain substantial, said Lowcock.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 03:40:26|Editor: xuxin

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People take part in a march marking the 5th anniversary of the murder of Pavlos Fyssas in Piraeus, Greece, on Sept. 18, 2018. Anti-fascist groups organized a series of events in Athens and other cities of Greece on Tuesday, five years after the killing of 34-year-old musician Pavlos Fyssas by a far-right party supporter. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)

By Natasha Pavlopoulou

ATHENS, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Anti-fascist groups organized a series of events in Athens and other cities of Greece on Tuesday, five years after the killing of 34-year-old musician Pavlos Fyssas by a far-right party supporter.

On Sept. 18, 2013, Fyssas, a rapper with an anti-fascist action, was stabbed to death in Piraeus port suburb of Keratsini by George Roupakias, a member of the neo-fascist Golden Dawn (Chryssi Avghi) party.

Leading the march on Tuesday was the banner of Fyssas' family including Fyssas' mother Magda Fyssa.

"You see on their faces that there is no trace of remorse. That is what makes you mad," she told local Real FM radio station, referring to her son's murderer and ultra-rightists.

The march started from the site where the killing took place outside a cafeteria and continued to Golden Dawn's offices, at the center of Piraeus. Police forces had been deployed in the area, fearing clashes between leftists and members of far-right groups.

Minor scuffles occurred with hooded protesters pelting rocks at anti-riot policemen who responded by using tear gas, Greek national news agency AMNA reported.

Fyssas' death was the first politically-motivated crime committed by a Golden Dawn supporter since the party's entrance in parliament for first time in 2012, amid voters' anger and disappointment at the harsh austerity introduced to deal with the financial crisis.

His murder sparked a judicial investigation that culminated in a criminal trial against the party and dozens of its members, which started in April 2015.

Since then a series of delays has stalled the procedure, while Golden Dawn has entered the parliament again in the 2015 general elections and today holds 15 seats in the 300-member strong assembly.

"September 18th is a day of suffering for every democrat, a black page in the modern history of our country. The murder of Pavlos Fyssas by the criminal gang of the neo-fascists of Golden Dawn reminded us in the most tragic way where the ideologies of hate are leading," Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras wrote on Twitter.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 03:45:28|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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ALGIERS, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Algeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday agreed to boost bilateral energy cooperation, Algerian Energy Ministry said in a statement.

The agreement was reached between Algeria's Energy Minister Mustapha Guitouni and visiting UAE Minister of Economy Sultan bin Saeed al-Mansoori in Algiers, the ministry said.

During the meeting, they discussed investment opportunities, particularly in the field of exploration and development of hydrocarbon production capacity, it said.

In November 2016, Algerian energy giant Sonatrach and the energy group of Cepsa, in which the Emirati IPIC group is the sole shareholder, agreed to extend the development contract of oilfield of Rhourde er Rouni II in southern Algeria for ten years.

The two companies also signed a memorandum of understanding to extend the development contract of the RAF (K) oilfield in the south of Algeria for a period of 25 years, in addition to a draft agreement to acquire the oilfield of Bir el Msana in the south of Algeria.

The visit of UAE economy minister to Algeria came as part of the 14th Algerian-Emirati joint committee held Monday in Algiers.

The UAE minister of economy revealed that the volume of UAE investments in Algeria amounted to 10 billion U.S. dollars.File Photo: A displaced Syrian girl stands outside her tent in a camp in Kafr Lusin near the border with Turkey in the northern part of Syria's rebel-held Idlib province on Sept. 9, 2018. (Xinhua/AFP)

UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock on Tuesday asked for civilian protection in the creation of a demilitarized buffer zone in Syria's Idlib province.

Whether from within or outside the proposed demilitarized area, should civilians deem it necessary to leave, they must be allowed to seek refuge elsewhere, Lowcock told a Security Council.

Lowcock was talking about Monday's agreement between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to establish a demilitarized zone within Idlib.

In case of displacement from the demilitarized zone, all possible measures must be taken so that affected civilians are received under satisfactory conditions of shelter, hygiene, health, safety and nutrition and that members of the same family are not separated, he said.

It is also important that any screening to distinguish civilians from fighters be undertaken in accordance with international humanitarian law and clear standard operating procedures, ensuring humane treatment and accounting for those who have been screened, said Lowcock.

Special protection and assistance measures should be in place for civilians, in particular women and children family members who have been associated with or are family members of fighters, he said.

Regardless of location, whether within or outside the demilitarized zone, international humanitarian law obligations continue to apply. Warring parties cannot deliberately or carelessly disregard the distinction between civilians and combatants, or between civilian infrastructure and military objectives, said Lowcock.

He welcomed the Russia-Turkey agreement to set up a demilitarized zone in Idlib. If sustained and implemented in full respect of international humanitarian law, the agreement may avert the catastrophe the UN humanitarian system has been warning against, he said.

To succeed, demilitarization requires the agreement of all parties, he stressed. "Short of such agreement, it is foreseeable that force will be used to demilitarize, and thus civilians exposed to the very harm we are trying to avoid."

Across much of the country, the situation is now calmer than it was in January. But humanitarian needs still remain substantial, said Lowcock.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 05:15:47|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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ANKARA, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- An anticipated Syrian military offensive on the northwestern province of Idlib is on hold after Turkey and Russia reached a deal following Ankara's guarantee on behalf of the rebel groups, experts said.

The deal was reached Monday by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Sochi, Russia, as the two sides agreed to create a demilitarized buffer zone in Idlib, the last rebel stronghold.

This agreement brings Turkey to a position of giving a guarantee on behalf of the rebel groups, the experts said.

"Moscow is convinced that it would not be able to handle the burden of a humanitarian tragedy in case of a military offensive in Idlib," said Metin Gurcan, a Turkish security analyst with the Istanbul Policy Center of Sabanci University.

Russia has also secured its airbases in northern Syria, including its airbase in Hmeymim as a guarantee by Turkey under the Sochi agreement, he said.

Gurcan recalled a trilateral summit of Turkey, Iran and Russia held in Iranian capital Tehran early September, which ended without agreement as Erdogan's call for a ceasefire in Idlib was rejected by Moscow and Tehran.

Erdogan's proposal for a ceasefire by all parties in Idlib was rejected by Putin on the grounds that those groups were not represented at the table there, he said.

"Now Turkey has given a guarantee on behalf of radical groups which Putin earlier said that ceasefire cannot be discussed because they were not represented at Tehran meeting," Gurcan said.

Now everyone is curious how Turkey has given guarantee to Moscow and how will those radical groups accept a proposal for demilitarization by surrendering heavy weapons and withdrawing from the demilitarized zone, Gurcan noted.

"Ankara has given this promise relying on its military power on the ground and on its capacity to convince armed opposition groups," he said.

Turkish army has reinforced its presence in Idlib in the past few months, and Turkey has 12 military outposts with 1,200-1,300 troops on the border line of the province separating the rebel stronghold from the pro-Iran militia-controlled South of Aleppo and the government-controlled southeast, Gurcan said.

Rebel groups, including the Free Syrian Army, in the region are gathered with Turkish backing under the banner of the "National Front for Liberation."

Putin and Erdogan agreed on Monday in Sochi to create a 15-20 km buffer zone along the line of contact between rebels and regime troops by Oct. 15.

The agreement entails the "withdrawal of all radical fighters" from Idlib as well as "heavy weaponry from this zone," Putin said at the joint press conference after signing the deal with Erdogan.

By the end of the year, transportation routes between the key port of Latakia and Aleppo as well as the city of Hama must be restored, Putin added.

The Russian leader also said all heavy weapons had to be withdrawn from the zone by Oct. 10, according to Erdogan's proposal.

Ankara has been warning against any military offensive by Russia-backed Syrian regime forces in Idlib, warning that it would lead to a humanitarian crisis and refugee influx to the Turkish border.

Turkey and Russia, along with Iran, are guarantors of the Astana deal which declared ceasefire in four de-escalation zones in Syria, including Idlib.

Turkey will deploy more troops in Idlib province after the Sochi deal, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Tuesday.

"We will need extra troop reinforcements. Turkey and Russia will patrol on the border areas. Civilians and moderate (opposition) will stay here," Cavusoglu said.

Another outcome of the Sochi deal is that Turkey and Russia prevented a possible attack by the United States in Idlib, Naim Baburoglu from Aydin University said.

He recalled that the U.S. was giving signals that it wanted to intervene in the situation in Idlib, if Syrian government troops launch an assault on the rebel stronghold.

Washington recently threatened to take swift and decisive actions against any use of chemical weapons in Idlib.

"This agreement showed that the U.S. has room for maneuver only in the east of Euphrates and Manbij region," Baburoglu said.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 05:55:55|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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MEXICO CITY, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- The plan of the future government of Mexico to cut red tape and reduce salaries, including that of the president, could have an immediate impact on employment and consumer spending, the consulting firm Moody's Analytics said Tuesday.

In its report, "Mexico, under the cycle of political transition," Moody's Analytics said that during 2019, the Mexican economy will face the traditional phase of a slowdown which occurs during the first year of a new government.

"And in addition, the new government has announced plans to cut red tape in a very significant way, especially in high-ranking positions, during its first year," said Alfredo Coutino, the firm's director of Latin America and author of the report.

"All of this will have an immediate impact on unemployment and in consumer spending, which in turn will affect domestic demand and could aggravate the slowdown in 2019," he said.

The Mexican economy, the second largest in Latin America, began to experience a slowdown during the second half of 2018, due to the fact that the outgoing government contained spending and new hires, Coutino said.

But in spite of this, Mexico's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) could grow around 2 percent in 2018, the same level as 2017, according to Coutino.

"In 2019, the economy will be subject to the effects of contraction that comes with political transition," he said.

"During the beginning of a new government, there is always a delay in implementing a new federal budget," Coutino said.

President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said he will reduce his salary by 60 percent, adjust the salaries and benefits of some 35,000 government employees and reduce the size of the government.

Lopez Obrador, of the leftist Morena Party, will take office on Dec. 1.

This time around, the adjustment period for the economy may take a bit longer due to the fact that the new government has an economic cabinet with less experience, Coutino said.

"All of this will be reflected in the usual slowdown in economic activity during the first year of the new government," he said.

"For this reason, the projected economic growth will be reduced to about 1.5 percent in 2019," Coutino said.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 07:26:06|Editor: Yurou

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HAVANA, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Cuban civil aviation authorities said on Tuesday they have finished recuperating the contents of two black boxes from the plane that crashed outside Havana's international airport in May.

Officials said they were now ready to review the recordings "second by second" to determine if the plane was brought down by human error or a technical problem.

Black boxes record both flight data and cockpit voices, and state-run television cited the president of the Civil Aviation Institute, Armando Daniel Lopez, as saying that 100 percent of the contents of the first and 95 percent of the second had been recovered.

Regarding the voice black box, Lopez said that investigators weren't able to understand all the phrases used by the pilot and other crew members on board but the most important moments were recorded clearly.

"The data black box provided important information and we began to work here in Cuba in a simulated flight which matches the movements and short air time the aircraft had that day," he added.

The government investigating committee will now analyze the information in each device to determine the possible causes of the tragic accident that claimed the lives of all but one of the 113 people on board.

The Cuban official said the investigation could last up to one year but it can end earlier taking into account the work that has been done so far.

Lopez said a meeting has been planned in the coming weeks for Cuban, Mexican and U.S. experts that have worked on the investigation to exchange views about the case.

The Boeing 737-200, leased by Cubana de Aviacion from Mexican company Damojh, crashed on May 18 moments after taking off from Jose Marti International Airport in Havana.

The victims included 101 Cubans, five foreigners and six crew members, all Mexicans.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 07:31:07|Editor: Yurou

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Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces (C), President of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, gavels to open the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 18, 2018. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- President of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 73) Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces on Tuesday afternoon opened the UNGA 73, and stated seven priorities ranging from gender equality to environment.

"I have taken the liberty of proposing the following seven priority items for this session: First of all, gender equality and empowering women must continue to be a priority until it is actually achieved," she said.

She explained that she is the fourth woman to occupy this position "in 73 years of the life of the United Nations," so she wishes to "dedicate this presidency to all the women of the world."

The second priority would be "promoting and implementing new global compact on migration and refugees," said Espinosa Garces.

"It is our duty to seek to protect the millions of refugees across the world and gear our efforts towards safe, orderly and regular migration," she noted.

Among other priorities are providing opportunities for decent work for youth, women and persons with disabilities, focusing more on the environment, strengthening political and social commitment to persons with disabilities, revitalizing the United Nations, and giving priority to peace and security.

"Making the United Nations more relevant to all will be the main focus of my work during the session," Espinosa Garces noted.

The UN General Assembly on June 5 picked Espinosa Garces, Ecuador's minister for foreign affairs and human mobility, to be its next president.

The 193-member General Assembly, one of the highest policy-making bodies at the UN, has a woman presiding over it for the fourth time in UN history.

Espinosa Garces beat Mary Elizabeth Flores Flake, permanent representative of Honduras to the UN, by 128-62 votes. She succeeded Slovakia's Miroslav Lajcak and began presiding over the 73rd session on Tuesday. The tenure is one year.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 08:46:15|Editor: Yurou

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ISLAMABAD, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- At least 265 anti-government militants, including key commanders, of various banned organizations, have laid down arms and surrendered to the government in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province on Tuesday, local media reported.

The militants surrendered in Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan, said government officials, adding that all the militants surrendered arms for the betterment and progress of the country.

The 265 former militants renounced violence and vowed to join the mainstream political system and work for the peace and development of the country, said local media reports.

The surrendering of militants was part of the ongoing political reconciliation in the province, which was started under the National Action Plan against terrorism in 2015. So far, roughly 2,000 militants have since surrendered to the authorities, said the officials.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 08:51:17|Editor: ZD

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U.S. President Donald Trump (R) and visiting Polish President Andrzej Duda attend a joint press conference at the White House in Washington D.C. Sept. 18, 2018. Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the U.S. was weighing the idea of establishing a permanent military base in Poland, a proposal raised by the visiting Polish leader. (Xinhua/Ting Shen)

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the United States is weighing the idea of establishing a permanent military base in Poland, a proposal raised by visiting Poland leader.

In a joint press conference at the White House, Poland President Andrzej Duda told reporters that he had suggested a permanent American base be set up in Poland in talks with Trump earlier in the day.

"We would call (it) Fort Trump," Duda said.

Responding to Warsaw's request, Trump said earlier that the United States was "looking at it very seriously."

"I know Poland likes the idea very much. And it's something that we are considering, yes," Trump told reporters before his meeting with Duda.

At the press conference, Trump said that the United States is reviewing the proposal from the standpoint of "military protection for both countries and also the cost."

"I think Russia has acted aggressively," Trump said, adding that Duda had offered the United States "much more than 2 billion (U.S.) dollars to do this."

"So we're looking at it," the White House host said.

Also on Tuesday, U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis said that no decisions had been made regarding the permanent military presence in Poland.

"It's not just about a base. It's about training ranges, it's about maintenance facilities at the base, all these kinds of things," the Pentagon chief told reporters.

"So no decision's been made, we are studying it and we are working together on that," Mattis added.

Poland, a NATO member, has repeatedly required permanent presence of U.S. troops on its territory.

Moscow has voiced concern about Warsaw's intention months ago, saying NATO's expansion towards Russia's borders would destabilize Europe.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 08:56:17|Editor: Yurou

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NEW DELHI, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated a friendship pipeline project and two railway projects along with his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina.

The inauguration was done via video conferencing by the two prime ministers -- Modi from India and Hasina from Dhaka on Tuesday.

The 130-km India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline Project, which will connect Siliguri town in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal and Parbatipur in Dinajpur district of Bangladesh, is to have capacity of one million metric tonnes per annum.

Modi hailed the cooperation between the two neighbors as an example for the world, an official statement said.

"Geographically we are neighbours. But emotionally, we are a family. Being part of each other's joys and sorrows, helping each other in development is part of our family," Modi said at the inauguration.

"The pipeline will add a new chapter in the friendship of the two countries," he added.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 09:16:19|Editor: Liu

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TRIPOLI, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on Tuesday condemned the renewed clashes in Libyan capital Tripoli, urging warring parties to commit to the ceasefire agreement.

"UNSMIL condemns the renewal of fighting in Tripoli and calls on all parties to adhere to the ceasefire agreement," UNSMIL said in a statement later on Tuesday.

"UNSMIL stresses that it won't be possible to proceed with the reform process while violence continues and Tripoli residents, who come from all over Libya, are paying a heavy price," the statement added.

Clashes erupted again in southern Tripoli Tuesday morning, causing a power blackout in the south and west of the country, according to a security source with the Libyan Interior Ministry.

Witnesses said that heavy explosions and gun firing could be heard in different parts of the city, forcing many families to flee their homes.

The UN political mission in Libya has recently brokered a ceasefire agreement between the warring parties in Tripoli, ending heavy clashes that have killed 78 people and injured 210 others.

Tripoli recently witnessed violent clashes between government forces and the so-called "Seventh Brigade" militia from the city of Tarhuna, some 80 km southeast of Tripoli.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 09:41:23|Editor: Yurou

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Zhang Sijia (2nd L), a third prize winner of the 30th European Union Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS), poses for a photo with prize awarding guests at the awarding ceremony in Dublin, Ireland, Sept. 18, 2018. Zhang Sijia, an 18-year-old Chinese student, was awarded here on Tuesday the third prize of the 30th EUCYS, the highest prize ever won by China since its participation in the contest in 2003. (Xinhua)

DUBLIN, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese student was awarded here on Tuesday the third prize of the 30th European Union Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS), the highest prize ever won by China since its participation in the contest in 2003.

Zhang Sijia, an 18-year-old student from China's northeastern city of Changchun, won the third prize for her social science project named "Investigation into the verbal conflict problem existing in middle school students' families," which was done by her before she graduated from middle school this summer.

Zhang, now a freshwoman of a university in China's northeastern city of Harbin, and eight others were selected by a 20-member jury as winners of the core or top prizes of the contest, which include three first prizes, three second prizes and three third prizes.

The three first prizes were awarded to siblings Adrian Fleck and Anna Amelie Fleck from Germany for their co-project "FleckProtec--Body Protection Made From Starch"; Nicolas Fedrigo from Canada for his project on improving spinal fusions, and Brendon Matusch also from Canada for his project related to autonomous vehicle development.

The winners of the first prizes will receive 7,000 euros (8,160 U.S. dollars) for each of the three projects, while the three second prize winners and three third prize winners will receive 5,000 euros (5,850 dollars) and 3,500 euros (4,095 dollars) separately.

Apart from these core prizes, there are also some other prizes for the contestants.

According to the organizers, nearly 140 contestants from 38 countries bringing some 90 projects participated in this year's six-day contest which was officially opened on Saturday by Irish President Michael D. Higgins at Royal Dublin Society, a building complex in the Irish capital mainly for convention and exhibition purposes.

Most of the participants are from the EU member countries while representatives from non-EU countries such as China, Canada and Israel have also taken part in the contest at the invitation of the organizing committee.

All the contestants must be aged between 14 and 20 and have previously won first prizes in their home countries' science competitions, according to the organizers.

China sent to this year's competition a three-member team. In 2017, a female Chinese contestant won a non-core prize for her chemistry-related project at the 29th EUCYS, the first prize ever won by China since its participation in the contest 15 years ago.

EUCYS is a science event first launched by the European Commission in 1989 with an aim to promote cooperation and interchange between young scientists. It is a part of the European Union Framework Programmes on Research.

The EU contest is held annually in a different European country. This is the second time that Ireland has hosted the contest.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 10:26:35|Editor: ZD

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Pyongyang, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Kim Jung-sook, wife of South Korean President Moon Jae-in, visited the Okryu Children's Hospital and Kim Won Gyun University of Music here on Tuesday afternoon on the sidelines of the third inter-Korean summit this year.

The South Korean first lady arrived in Pyongyang Tuesday morning with Moon on a three-day visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the first by a South Korean president in 11 years.

During the visit to the hospital and the university, Kim Jung-sook was greeted and accompanied by Ri Sol Ju, wife of Kim Jong-un, top leader of the DPRK, and Pak Thae Song, vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Korean Central News Agency reported on Wednesday.

At the children's hospital, Kim Jung-sook visited a therapy room for children suffering developmental disabilities and an educational center for long-stay patients, and talked to children there.

In the music university, she and her entourage looked around various classrooms and enjoyed a performance by the university orchestra.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 10:51:41|Editor: ZD

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SEOUL, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Defense chiefs of South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) signed an agreement on military affairs Wednesday at the Baekhwawon State Guest House in Pyongyang, with the leaders of the two Koreas standing behind the defense heads, live broadcast at the Seoul press center showed.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 10:51:41|Editor: ZD

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YANGON, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- The World Bank will help Myanmar in recovery and development of conflict-hit Rakhine state, Myanmar News Agency reported Wednesday.

The World Bank's aid program, led by Practice Manager Philip O'Keefe in Nay Pyi Taw on Tuesday, was discussed between Myanmar Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Dr. Aung Thu and visiting World Bank delegation.

Their discussion covered agriculture, livestock and rural area development sectors and also touched upon humanitarian assistance, creating job opportunities and research and development process.

The government has invited cooperation from local and international community in rebuilding and resettlement efforts for the conflict-torn Rakhine state.

The Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) extremist terrorists launched fresh attacks on police outposts in Rakhine on Aug. 25 last year, displacing residents from a number of areas in Maungtaw of the state to Bangladesh.

The process of repatriation of refugees is underway with the cooperation of UN organizations following the initial return of peace to the areas.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 11:01:43|Editor: ZD

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- U.S. and Polish leaders on Tuesday expressed their concerns here over Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, claiming it may lead to energy over-reliance on Moscow.

Visiting Polish President Andrzej Duda told reporters at a joint press conference with U.S. President Donald Trump that Poland was worried about "a threat of Russian energy domination."

Russia's Nord Stream 2 will expand the existing Nord Stream main gas pipeline by linking Russia and Germany via the Baltic seabed, bypassing Ukraine, Belarus, Poland and other eastern European and Baltic countries.

Poland, along with Ukraine, opposed Nord Stream 2, worrying that Russia will reduce or even cease delivering gas via their own countries, which will affect their economies.

Echoing Duda's words, Trump said that the two countries were committed to "energy diversity all across Europe."

"No nation should be dependent upon a single foreign supplier of energy," the U.S. president added.

Germany, due to its energy and commercial requirements, is a staunch supporter of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline in Europe. It thinks Europe needs Russia's gas and Russia wants to make money from Europe.

In order to maintain its strategic relations with Washington, Poland had said earlier that it would like to pay higher prices to import U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG).

A key LNG exporter itself, the United States is believed to be afraid that Nord Stream 2 would further weaken the voice of European countries in the natural gas market.A foundation for scikit-learn at Inria

We have just announced that a foundation will be supporting scikit-learn at Inria : scikit-learn.fondation-inria.fr

Growth and sustainability

This is an exciting turn for us, because it enables us to receive private funding. As a result, we will be able to have secure employment for some existing core contributors, and to hire more people on the team. The goal is to help sustaining quality (more frequent releases?) and to tackle some ambitious features.

A foundation? What and why? Open source lives and thrives by its base, the community of developers. And scikit-learn is a fantastic example of these dynamics. Because of its grass-root origins, it has focused on features that matter for the small and the many, such as ease of use and statistical models that work well in data-poor situations. Over the years, decisions have been based on their technical merit, rather than the importance of displaying a list of features that are trendy. A consequence of the breadth of contributors with different backgrounds is the library tends to be well-suited for many applications, including some models that are less mainstream. People with dedicated time to support the community That said, over time this is an increasing need for a core team of maintainers. As the library gets bigger, is it more and more difficult to have a full view of what is happening. Integration of new features, quality assurances, and releases are best done by developers who can dedicate a large amount of time to the library. Also, ambitious changes to the library, such as improving the parallel computing engine, need long efforts. For many years, we have always had people with dedicated time to support the community. In France, we were going through hoops to find public money to found them. As someone who has done this effort, I can tell you that is a complicated one . The ability to receive money from sponsors will enable us to scale up our operations. I was initially worried that we would have difficulties finding partners that accepted to give us money without asking for control on the project. However, I was proven wrong, and we have found a small set of great partners.

What will people work on? How will decisions be made? It can be a difficult exercise to balance how money is used in a community-driven project. The project should not loose its drive where the community of developers is important. Interests of the sponsors should not prime over interests of the user base. We will make sure that the money that the foundation receives is invested for the interest of the community. We have a technical committee that supervises the activity of the foundation. Its decisions will be informed by the community . For this, we have an advisory board composed of core contributors of scikit-learn. Beside the advisory board, the technical committee also comprises a delegate from each sponsor. I am excited about the input that our partners will provide us on the priorities for them, as they represent various industries. Voting power will be spread so that sponsors and community have the same voting power.

Why not an existing foundation such as NumFOCUS, or the PSF? There are several reasons why we choose this particular legal vessel. Our endeavor is slightly from the prominent foundations in our ecosystem, NumFocus and the PSF (Python Software Foundation). The first important aspect is that we want to employ full-time developers. Different countries have very different legal frameworks, and it is really hard to transfer money overseas in a non profit. Physical assets like employing people or owning real estate is even harder. We needed something in France. And there might be a need for something else in another country at some point. Another reason to be embedded in the Inria foundation is that it is giving us a really good deal. We basically get legal advice, accounting, office space, and IT support, for an 8% overhead. This is an excellent deal and is part of the sponsoring efforts that Inria will keep doing. Last, we feel that a foundation targeting specifically scikit-learn can raise money from different people than other foundations. I think that there is value having multiple foundations seeking money for open-source software. Indeed, a foundation builds a case and an image, to convince donors. Different donors require a different case and a different image. For instance the president of NumFOCUS argues for a name less focused on numerics. Yet, too wide of a scope can dilute the image. We have in mind to make it easy for other foundations to support scikit-learn. We have majors contributors at leading institutions, such as Andreas Mueller at Columbia or Joel Nothman at Sydney university. It is important that these institutions can easily gather donations too, in the legal framework suited to their country. Hence the name reflects that the foundation is embedded at Inria, leaving room for other initiatives.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 11:06:47|Editor: ZD

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LOS ANGELES, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Los Angeles City Council voted at a special meeting on Tuesday to prohibit manufacturing and sale of fur products in the second-most populous city of the United States.

The proposal, which was raised by two councilmen Pau Koretz and Bob Blumenfield, was approved on a 12-0 vote with three absences.

The city attorney's office will draft an ordinance based on the proposal. If the ordinance is ultimately approved by the City Council and signed by Mayor Eric Garcetti, it will become law and a two-year phase-in period set in the proposal will begin.

"Today the city council has a choice to make, to step up and tell the world that we will no longer tolerate the arcane and inhumane practice of the fur trade," said Blumenfield at the news conference before the meeting.

Joanna Krupa, Maggie Q and other celebrities also attended the news conference, hoping that Los Angeles would be an example for the rest of the country and the rest of the world.

Three cities in California have banned fur, including San Francisco, Berkeley and West Hollywood. The ban in San Francisco will take effect on Jan. 1, 2019 but allows furriers and other retailers to sell current inventory until Jan. 1, 2020.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 11:16:49|Editor: ZD

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PYONGYANG/SEOUL, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), and South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Wednesday signed a document after their second face-to-face dialogue in Pyongyang.

There is no immediate report about the content of the document, signed at the Baekhwawon State Guest House.

Witnessed by the two leaders, defense chiefs of the two countries also signed an agreement on reducing military tensions on the peninsula.

Kim and Moon are expected to hold a joint press conference before the luncheon.

Moon arrived in Pyongyang Tuesday for a three-day trip, the first visit to Pyongyang by a South Korean head of state in 11 years. Moon met twice with Kim earlier this year in the truce village of Panmunjom.

The South Korean president is set to return home Thursday.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 11:21:49|Editor: xuxin

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Kim Jong Un (R), top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), and South Korean President Moon Jae-in pose for photos after signing a document in Pyongyang, the DPRK, on Sept. 19, 2018. Kim and Moon on Wednesday signed a document after their second face-to-face dialogue in Pyongyang. (Xinhua/Pyongyang Press Corps)

PYONGYANG/SEOUL, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), and South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Wednesday signed a document after their second face-to-face dialogue in Pyongyang.

There is no immediate report about the content of the document, signed at the Baekhwawon State Guest House.

Witnessed by the two leaders, defense chiefs of the two countries also signed an agreement on reducing military tensions on the peninsula.

Kim and Moon are expected to hold a joint press conference before the luncheon.

Moon and Kim had a two-hour-long talks Tuesday afternoon at the headquarters of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK).

During Tuesday's meeting, the two sides had an "in-depth exchange of opinions on various issues arising in further accelerating the development of the north-south relations by honestly implementing the Panmunjom declaration in an all-round manner," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Wednesday.

The two leaders highly appreciated the present state of the north-south relations going forward on good terms after the previous two inter-Korea summits earlier this year, and had a frank and candid conversation over important matters of mutual concern, according to the KCNA.

Before leaving for Pyongyang, Moon said he planned to have a lot of frank talks with Kim in order to bring an "irreversible, permanent peace to the Korean Peninsula" and help restart the DPRK-U.S. dialogue on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Moon's ongoing visit is the first by a South Korean head of state to Pyongyang in 11 years. He and Kim had met twice earlier this year.

Their first meeting in April resulted in the Panmunjom Declaration, in which the two leaders expressed commitment to the "denuclearization of the Korean peninsula" and agreed on a range of measures to reduce military tensions on the peninsula.

The South Korean president is slated to wrap up his three-day trip to Pyongyang and return home Thursday morning.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 11:26:50|Editor: ZD

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SYDNEY, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- A chemical leak at a luxury Sydney hotel on Wednesday has seen six people taken to nearby hospital and 24 others treated at the scene, a New South Wales State Ambulance spokesperson said.

The guests at the Pullman Sydney Hyde Park Hotel were treated for "eye irritation and breathing problems," the spokesperson told Xinhua.

Despite the initial panic, he confirmed that everyone who was treated is now in a stable condition.

Four fire trucks and 16 firefighters responded to the incident on level 20, 21 and 22 of the building at around 9:00 a.m. local time this morning after a strong odor was detected.

"It happened on the pool level area," the spokesperson explained.

"Someone was doing some kind of work on the pool and apparently there was a mixture of chemicals that did not mix well together."

"Somehow the fumes have escaped and gone through the building."

The combination of chemicals, reported to be a mixture of chlorine and hydrochloric acid, then made their way into the ventilation system.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 11:36:51|Editor: Li Xia

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HANGZHOU, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- China will invest 100 billion yuan (about 14.6 billion U.S. dollars) for developing the digital economy in the next five years.

The investments will go to projects on big data, internet of things (IoT), cloud computing, smart cities and the digital Silk Road, according to an agreement signed by China Development Bank and the National Development and Reform Commission at the International Conference on Digital Economy and Digital Silk Road that opened Tuesday.

Development of digital economy is listed as an important task for building modern economic setup in China and achieve high-quality development. China has attained vital progress in the cause over the past years by way of rolling out a raft of measures, including a national big data strategy.

A report released by the Cyberspace Administration of China said that the size of China's digital economy grew to 27.2 trillion yuan last year, up 20.3 percent year on year and accounting for 32.9 percent of the country's gross domestic product.

The two-day International Conference on Digital Economy and Digital Silk Road, held in Hangzhou, a scenic city in east China's Zhejiang Province, is hosted by Zhejiang Provincial Government, under the auspices of the National Development and Reform Commission and the Cyberspace Administration of China.In this file photo, a health worker gives a polio vaccine to a child during a vaccination campaign in Kandahar city, Afghanistan, Aug. 7, 2018. (Xinhua/Sanaullah Seiam)

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- A fresh positive polio case, affecting a 14-month boy, had been detected in Afghanistan's southern province of Kandahar, bringing the number of confirmed cases of polio virus to 11 since January this year, a public health official said Tuesday.

"The case was detected in the Police District 9, Loya Wiyali area of the provincial capital Kandahar city recently," Abdul Qayum Pakhla, the provincial public health director, told Xinhua.

According to Pakhla, Loya Wiyali is located several kms north of the provincial capital city, where the residents use open toilets and have no access to clean drinking water.

Polio virus could be rapidly transferred and the only preventable way was vaccination, the official added.

In early August, Afghan Public Health Ministry, with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), launched a nationwide five-day campaign to give immunity vaccination dose to 9.9 million children under the age of five.

The ongoing insurgency and conflicts have been hindering the efforts to stamp out the infectious disease in the mountainous country as 1.2 million children from areas inaccessible to vaccination teams missed the latest vaccination drive.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 12:06:57|Editor: Li Xia

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KABUL, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- An Afghan court imprisoned 21 suspects including two women over smuggling drugs after investigating into 14 drugs-related cases elsewhere in the country, a statement said on Wednesday.

"Over the last seven days, during the Central Narcotics Tribunal (CNT) primary and appellate court's open sessions, up to 21 suspects including two women involved in 14 drug-related cases have been sentenced from 13 months to 15 years in jail," Criminal Justice Task Force of Afghanistan (CJTF) said in the statement.

Central Narcotics Tribunal (CNT) is a special Afghan court for jurisdiction of major drug cases.

Up to 28 kg heroin, 45 kg morphine, 451 kg of poppy opium, 363 kg hashish, 1 kg chemical stuff and 123 grams methamphetamine have also been seized from the suspects in different provinces of the country, the statement noted.

In 2017, some 9,000 tons of opium were produced in Afghanistan.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 12:27:00|Editor: Li Xia

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NEW DELHI, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- As many as 1,000 farmers from western Indian state of Gujarat have urged Japan not to release funds for the ambitious Bullet train project in India.

In a letter to the Japan International Cooperation Agency, these farmers whose land are to be acquired by the Indian government for laying down Bullet train tracks have alleged violation of its guidelines for the project, local media reported.

These affected farmers have also approached the Gujarat High Court, challenging the project, according to reports.

"They have also sought an appointment with Japan's Ambassador to India. The letter invited the Japanese Ambassador to Gujarat for understanding the farmers' plight," lawyer for farmers, Anand Yagnik, was quoted as saying.

The Bullet train project was launched by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe in September 2017.

The high-speed rail corridor is an under-construction high-speed rail line connecting the cities of Ahmedabad in Gujarat and India's financial capital Mumbai. It will be India's first high-speed rail line.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 12:42:01|Editor: Li Xia

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WASHINGTON,Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Christine Blasey Ford, the college professor who has accused U.S. President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault, is asking for an FBI investigation before a Senate hearing, multiple media outlets reported Tuesday.

Ford accused the judge of sexually assaulting her at a party in the 1980s when they were teenagers in high school. Kavanaugh has denied the allegations and Ford came forward publicly over the weekend.

In a letter addressed to Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley on Tuesday, Ford reportedly said she has been targeted by "vicious harassment and even death threats" since coming forward with sexual assault accusations against Kavanaugh.

On Tuesday night, Ford's attorney Lisa Banks told CNN that Ford was "not prepared to talk" at the Senate panel's public hearing scheduled for Monday.

"Asking her to come forward in four or five days and sit before the Judiciary Committee on national TV is not a fair process," Banks said.

Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat at the committee, said on Tuesday that the panel should respect Ford's wishes and thus delay the Monday hearing which she said is part of a "rushed" process.

"A proper investigation must be completed, witnesses interviewed, evidence reviewed and all sides spoken to. Only then should the chairman set a hearing date," Feinstein said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Trump defended Kavanaugh's reputation again, saying the FBI shouldn't probe into Ford's allegations.

"We are looking to get this done as quickly as possible," Trump said, "I don't think the FBI should be involved because they don't want to be involved."

Kavanaugh said in a statement on Monday that Ford made "a completely false allegation."

"I have never done anything like what the accuser describes to her or to anyone," the 53-year-old conservative federal appeals court judge said.

Trump nominated Kavanaugh in July to succeed retiring Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, who announced his retirement in June. It was the second time in two years that Trump has made a Supreme Court pick.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 13:07:06|Editor: Xiang Bo

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Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng (R), also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Russia, Sept. 18, 2018. Han arrived in Moscow on Sunday for a three-day visit. During his stay in the Russian capital, he also co-chaired the fifth meeting of the China-Russia Investment Cooperation Committee with Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Anton Siluanov and the 15th meeting of the China-Russia Energy Cooperation Committee with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

MOSCOW, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng met with Russian President Vladimir Putin here on Tuesday, vowing to further enhance coordination and cooperation so as to promote bilateral ties.

Noting that bilateral ties are at their best time in history, Han said China-Russia ties have maintained high-level development with cooperation in various areas keeping deepening under the strategic guidance of the heads of state of the two countries.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Putin met for the third time this year days ago in Vladivostok, Russia, reaching important consensus and charting course for bilateral cooperation, said Han.

China stands ready to work with Russia to take the occasion of the first meetings of the China-Russia Investment Cooperation Committee and the China-Russia Energy Cooperation Committee held after the two countries elected new governments to fully implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state and promote cooperation in the areas of investment and energy so as to inject new impetus into bilateral ties, said Han.

Calling Xi his real good friend, Putin said he had fruitful talks with Xi last week and both sides agreed to deepen bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination.

Speaking highly of the joint efforts by both countries to promote energy and investment cooperation and the fast development of major strategic projects, Putin called on both sides to continue to enhance coordination and explore cooperation in areas including digital economy, modern biological gene technology, deep space and high-tech so as to realize better development.

Han, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, was in the Russian capital to co-chair the fifth meeting of the China-Russia Investment Cooperation Committee with Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Anton Siluanov and the 15th meeting of the China-Russia Energy Cooperation Committee with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak from Monday to Tuesday.

Han arrived in Moscow on Sunday for a three-day visit. During his stay here, he also met with Alexei Miller, CEO of Russian natural gas company Gazprom and Igor Sechin, chief of Russian oil company Rosneft respectively.

He left for Singapore later Tuesday to continue his tour. This is Han's first overseas visit in his capacity as vice premier.TORONTO, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lithium Energi Exploration, Inc. (TSXV:LEXI) (LEXI or the Company) is pleased to announce that, as part of the ongoing engineering work now underway with IBC Advanced Technologies, Inc. (IBC), IBC has completed a Level One Assessment (LOA) on a sample brine provided by LEXI and is rapidly progressing in conducting successful bench trials for separating and purifying lithium (Li) ions  with a sufficient selectivity factor to produce 99%+ pure Li  utilizing IBCs proprietary, selective metals separation technology, known as Molecular Recognition Technology (MRT). IBCs work has focused on two of its proprietary SuperLig resin products for the selective separation and recovery of pure Li. The SuperLig resins are manufactured exclusively by IBC and are applicable to processing sample brines from the Lithium Triangle. The two SuperLig resins will allow for effective Li ion extraction from a wide range of brine solutions in which the lithium ions are dissolved. Ultimate selection of the final process conditions using the SuperLig materials are based on the chemical constituents in the solution and the desired final Li compound to be synthesized for end users.



LEXIs CEO, Steven Howard, praised IBCs accomplishments, noting, The superb chemical engineering team at IBC has spent three decades designing and implementing MRT at commercial scale for a wide variety of other metals, so we expected that validating MRT for lithium selectivity would be a correlated adaptation, not a start-up science project. This Level One Assessment marks a meaningful milestone in the engineering development for our planned lithium processing plant. The results could not be more timely, since LEXI recently announced its completion of geophysical field studies covering over 36,500 hectares in our northern claim cluster in the Antofalla Salar. Those geophysical results have yielded optimal locations for test wells as soon as circumstances allow. We continue to believe that IBCs engineering will be completed around the same time that LEXI achieves its first resource estimates.

IBCs tasks for the LOA included an evaluation of the brine composition, development of an initial flow sheet, assessment of the preliminary process design and throughput calculations, and determination of the most suitable SuperLig products and IBC processes for LEXIs prospective lithium processing plant to extract, separate, recover, refine and purify Li from the evaluated brine. The work involved a thorough review of IBCs proprietary database of SuperLig selectivities, the thermodynamic and kinetic properties of IBCs products and processes, and evaluation of engineering metrics. LEXI provided IBC with a candidate brine representative of actual production brine from one or more salars at or near LEXIs properties. As the composition of brines may vary across LEXIs properties, additional comparative work is expected to be undertaken.

From the LOA results, IBC has concluded that the two SuperLig resins each have the selectivity profiles required, as well as the requisite binding strength and kinetics, to allow for highly efficient Li sequestration from the sample brines provided by LEXI. The LOA portends that these SuperLig resins will enable Li ion extraction with (1) a Li purity factor of 99+%, (2) a single pass recovery rate of 99+% of the dissolved Li present in the brine, and (3) the minimal usage of weak acid for elution (i.e. releasing the Li ions) into the pregnant eluent at a Li concentration of 10+ grams/liter, allowing for efficient synthesis to produce lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide. The LOA further validates that suitable flow rates are achievable with relatively low volumes in the wash and elution steps and that energy requirements for operating the system will be chiefly limited to the fluids mixing in tanks, feedstock pumping, wash phases, elution inputs through the columns, and transport to other destinations in the plant, thus yielding very low overall energy requirements. Further substantiated in the LOA, the freezing point depression of the brine should allow for production and processing in severe winter climes with only wash and elution feeds likely requiring some minimal protection to counter sub-zero conditions.

Completion of the LOA has allowed the IBC team to move rapidly into the Test Work regime, which is the second of three phases in the testing and engineering services being performed by IBC. The Test Work phase involves lab analysis to validate LOA conclusions. It will enable optimization of brine treatment for Li separation by implementing flow/separation tests, as brine is passed through actual columns containing the chosen SuperLig resins. Loading and eluting cycles will yield critical kinetic and thermodynamic data, including separation coefficients and process efficiencies. The Test Work phase will also yield detailed flowsheet designs describing each unit operation, its sequential placement relative to other plant operations, its respective inputs and outputs, and the key engineering metrics, including materials of construction, flowrates, temperatures, pressures, and chemical compositions.

IBCs President, Steven Izatt, stated, We are excited about the positive conclusions noted in our Level One Assessment, especially following LEXIs recent announcement of positive geophysical results at the Antofalla Salar. As an integral partner with LEXI, IBC is committed to providing LEXI with a solid technical basis for direct recovery of lithium from brine and production of pure lithium products designed to meet end-user needs using green chemistry and green engineering SuperLig Molecular Recognition Technology. This successful Level One Assessment is an important milestone that demonstrates achievability of that goal.

In the final phase of the testing and engineering work, IBC will deliver the basic engineering including process flow and process block drawings, equipment specifications, tank, pump, and column sizes, feed preparation, Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs), Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs), general arrangement block diagrams, sequential step descriptions for all input/output changes, overall plant valve diagram, overall plant valve/pump on-off valve diagrams for each sequence step, and preparation of the operating manual.

MRT has been proven as one of the most advanced and environmentally friendly refining technologies in the world for selectively separating metals at very high purities and single pass recovery rates to meet demanding customer specifications. With IBCs collaboration, LEXI has conceived an MRT plant that will be unit-driven (i.e. engineering will be designed for a scalable, modular plant).

Under this agreement with IBC, LEXI has the exclusive right of first refusal to obtain site license(s) to use MRT for the separation, recovery, refining and purification of lithium from brine prospects in territories comprising approx. 20,000 square kilometers (7,500 square miles) in two areas of Catamarca Province, specifically including all areas in and around the salars of Antofalla and Hombre Muerto.

All process engineering will be coordinated with LEXIs expectations and requirements regarding field development, including drilling parameters, well spacing, pumping rates, and other characteristics critical to production from the salar basins in which LEXIs lithium properties are situated. Although some factors are outside the control of IBC or LEXI, the basic engineering is generally expected to be complete in 12 months or less.

The Company also reports that, as a result of a review by the British Columbia Securities Commission, it has made certain changes to information in the Companys corporate presentation dated April 2018, previously available on our website, that contained forecasts related to its MRT processing facility plans, including projected capital expenditures, anticipated gross revenues, and expected EBITDA from operations, potentially implying certain economics that were not yet supported by technical work made by the Company or IBC. This disclosure was not in compliance with section 2.3 of National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101). As a result, the Company has removed these references from its website, retracts that disclosure and any inferences regarding any economic viability and potential production results in respect of the Companys plans to utilize MRT for processing lithium.

Our revised presentation is available on our website. The reader is cautioned not to rely on the non-compliant information previously posted on the website or otherwise found in the public domain.

About Lithium Energi Exploration, Inc.

Lithium Energi Exploration Inc. is an exploration company focused on the strategic acquisition, exploration and development of lithium brine assets in Argentina. The Company is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario and has offices in Dallas, Texas and Catamarca, Argentina. The common shares of the Company are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV:LEXI) and the Frankfurt Exchange (FR:LO9). The Companys portfolio of prospective lithium brine concessions in the Argentina Province of Catamarca (heart of the lithium triangle) includes 90,241 hectares in and around the Antofalla Salar and a right of first refusal to acquire up to approximately 145,000 hectares, the majority of which is located in the Antofalla Salar complex, which hosts one of the largest basins in the region, extending 100 - 140 km in length with a surface area of well over 706 km2 (source: Roskill Information Services). On September 12, 2016, Albemarle Corporation, the worlds largest lithium producer, announced its acquisition of exclusive exploration and acquisition rights to a claim block located in the central section of this salar. In March 2017, Albemarle published its belief that the Antofalla Salar is the third largest lithium deposit in the world. With rights to over 200,000 hectares of prospective lithium properties located just west of FMCs producing properties and offset north and south of Albemarles properties, the Company believes that its claims could potentially host meaningful lithium values. Although there can be no assurance that any of its claims are economically viable or that it can successfully achieve production, the Company believes that its properties could yield great value to its shareholders if developed. Readers are cautioned that (i) mineralization in the subsurface brines contained within the Antofalla Salar basin complex may not necessarily be consistent, (ii) analysis of prospective, lithium-bearing brines underlying the Companys properties may differ substantially from one claim to another and from claims held by other companies or individuals, whose claims are also located in or near the Antofalla Salar basin complex; and (iii) no Qualified Person (as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects) engaged by the Company has verified any information announced by Albemarle Corporation and readers should not imply that the Company will obtain similar results in respect of its properties.

For more information about Lithium Energi Exploration Inc., please visit www.lithiumenergi.com or view the Companys filings at www.SEDAR.com.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Caitlin Jeffs, P.Geo., a consultant of the Company, and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Chris Hobbs

________________________

Chris Hobbs,

Chief Financial Officer and Director

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Lithium Energi Exploration, Inc.

Tel: 416 276-6689

Fax: 888 909-1033

Email: chris.hobbs@lithiumenergi.com

www.lithiumenergi.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such statements were made. Actual future results may differ materially as forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to materially differ from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include: receipt of all necessary stock exchange and regulatory approvals or consents in respect of any offering; the anticipated pricing of any offering; the absence of material changes with respect to the Company and its businesses; possible variations in mineralization, grade or recovery rates; actual results of exploration activities; conclusions of future economic evaluations; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; fluctuations in spot and forward prices of commodities; fluctuations in currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar to United States dollar exchange rate); change in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations pressures, cave-ins and flooding); the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); and title to properties. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure its shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended.

Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 13:27:09|Editor: Liangyu

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MEXICO CITY, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- China's ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing on Tuesday launched operations in Guadalajara, Mexico's second largest city, as part of its expansion plans.

"The next step will be Mexico City," said Pablo Mondragon, the company's head of operations for the nation's capital and nearby Toluca, the capital of central Mexico State.

Toluca is where Didi first tested the waters in Mexico starting in April. By August, Didi had expanded to the northern industrial capital of Monterrey.

"We want to continue to learn a lot about the market in Mexico, the company's first international foray outside Asia," Mondragon told Xinhua.

Guadalajara, the capital of western Jalisco state, has a thriving productive sector driven by technological innovation, creative industries, specialized manufacturing and agro-industry, among other fields.

Guadalajara and the larger metropolitan area are home to residents who spend up to 40 percent of their income on transport, according to the company.

Andres Valencia, head of the company's operations in Guadalajara, said Didi's "vision of maintaining a close, empathetic and transparent relationship with its driver partners is paying off."

"We are very pleased by the responses from drivers in Guadalajara," Valencia said in a company release about its latest move.

The ride-hailing service has partnered with some 10,000 local drivers, who are eligible for certain perks, such as a 500-peso (27-U.S.-dollar) coupon for gasoline.

In addition, the company offers a range of safety features to help drivers identify high-risk areas and alert operators in case of an emergency.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 13:37:11|Editor: Liu

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SINGAPORE,Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- The world renowned Lion King musical is presented here in Singapore, with its Asian and African cultural elements and artful performance to intoxicate the audiences.

On stage at Singapore's Marina Bay Sands Theatre, the show, which is transformed from the 1994 Disney animated film by American director Julie Taymor, continues to lure and entertain viewers.

Besides delicate performance and exquisite costumes, the show also features Asian-style puppets and African languages, which also contributed to the charm of the musical.

It is reported that more than 200 animal puppets were shown in the play, including the animatronic and cable suspension puppets, rod puppets, traditional African masked dance puppets and Indonesian shadow puppets. The puppets add to the vividness of the show. In the meantime, viewers could also see the faces of the actors or actresses who operate the puppets, which give a human touch to the story-telling.

"The arts of Asia are extremely prevalent in not just the designing of the costumes, but also in the various forms of mask and puppetry and dance," Taymor was quoted as saying to the English-language newspaper The Straits Times.

African languages are spoken in the show, such as the Congolese and Swahili, as this is a story happening in the African wilderness.

While the audiences are grabbed by the struggle of the Lion Simba, they can also enjoy the humor and wisdom in the show, which is brought together by an international cast and crew coming from 19 countries.

Hyojin Um brought her daughters who are four and eight years old to watch the show. She thought the music was very good and the costumes were great and easy for the kids to understand.

The musical is on an Asian tour which started in the Philippines in March and will go to South Korea and Japan after Singapore. It was on stage in Singapore from June 27 and will run until Sept. 23.

The Lion King musical with different performers was previously staged at the Marina Bay Sands Theatre in 2011 and was put on stage here for over eight months -- making it the longest-running musical in Singapore.

Since its debut in the New York theatre in 1997, the Lion King musical has been watched by more than 90 million people and has won more than 70 global theatrical awards.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 13:47:14|Editor: Liangyu

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CANBERRA, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- People found guilty of contaminating fruit in Australia will face up to 15 years imprisonment under tough new laws announced on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Attorney-General Christian Porter announced the changes in response to nationwide strawberry contamination, which has seen consumers finding pins and needles in their fruit.

Morrison described those responsible as "cowards" and "grubs" but urged Australians to buy strawberries to support farmers.

"It's not a joke, it's not funny," he told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday.

"You are putting the livelihoods of hard-working Australians at risk and you are scaring children, and you are a coward and a grub.

"Some idiot, for his own reasons, has engaged in an act of sabotage it would seem, and that has put all of that risk for these people out there having a go.

"And if you do that sort of thing in this country, we will come after you and we will throw the book at you."

Porter confirmed that the new laws, which will increase the maximum jail time for contaminating food from 10 to 15 years, would be drafted and put to parliament for a vote within days.

"Even if they did not intend that to be consumed by someone, you are potentially engaging in a very serious behaviour," he said.

The new laws put the maximum penalty for contaminating food on par with that for possessing child pornography and financing terrorism.

"That's how seriously I take this. And that's how seriously our government takes it," Morrison said.

"I don't care if you have a gripe with the company, I don't care if you have a gripe with your fellow worker, this is a very serious thing which is damaging our economy, but it is affecting families."

Authorities are continuing to search for those responsible for the strawberry contamination outbreak.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 13:52:14|Editor: Li Xia

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KABUL, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- About 16,633 Afghan refugees had returned or been deported from neighboring Pakistan and Iran to Afghanistan during the period of Sept. 9-14, the UN migration agency IOM reported Wednesday.

A total of 969 undocumented Afghans returned from Pakistan, making an increase of 8 percent compared to the previous week when 895 were registered after entering their homeland, said IOM in a statement.

Meanwhile, 15,664 Afghans had reportedly arrived over the period from Iran, 10 percent more than the previous week, according to the statement.

The IOM has provided post-arrival humanitarian assistance, including food and non-food items to 1,333 returnees.

More than 561,000 Afghan refugees have returned to the poverty-stricken country from the two neighboring states since Jan. 1 this year.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 14:07:16|Editor: Liangyu

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BEIJING, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping said Wednesday that China would unswervingly take the road of peaceful development and remain a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development and a defender of the international order.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in a congratulatory letter to the commemorative activities in Nanjing marking the 2018 International Day of Peace.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 14:22:20|Editor: Liangyu

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TIANJIN, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- China will stick to market-oriented reform of the exchange rate formation mechanism and won't pursue competitive devaluation of its currency, Premier Li Keqiang said here Wednesday.

"China will create conditions for a stable exchange rate," said Li at the opening plenum of the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2018, also known as Summer Davos.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 15:02:24|Editor: xuxin

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NEW DELHI, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- In a landmark move, the Indian government Wednesday approved a ban on triple talaq -- a practice of instant divorce common among the country's minority Muslims -- by passing an executive order.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 15:07:25|Editor: ZX

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TIANJIN, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has called for more efforts to advance mass entrepreneurship and innovation, at the opening plenary of Summer Davos on Wednesday.

"Greater enthusiasm and creativity of Chinese workers is a must for stimulating market vitality and social creativity, realizing inclusive growth, and developing new momentum," the premier said.

China has a labor force of nearly 900 million, 170 million of which have higher education or professional skills, according to the premier.

"The country should create an environment for college and high school graduates, people studying overseas, and migrant workers returning to the countryside to participate in innovation, so as to create jobs and wealth and fulfill their value," Li said.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 15:22:27|Editor: Yang Yi

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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang addresses the opening plenary of the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2018, also known as Summer Davos, in Tianjin, north China, Sept. 19, 2018. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

TIANJIN, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- China has become a fertile land for global entrepreneurs and innovation, with new growth drivers breaking new ground for the country's economic development, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Wednesday.

"Among all industrial sectors, high-tech and advanced manufacturing have been taking the lead, while new business models have been constantly emerging in the service industry, and the upgrading of industrial structure has been on the fast track," he said at the opening plenary of the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2018, known as Summer Davos.

"China's online retail sales went up by more than 30 percent annually, and emerging consumption, such as information consumption and green consumption, has also grown rapidly. Consumption has contributed more than 60 percent to China's economic growth," Li said.

Currently, significant changes are taking place in China's economic structure and growth pattern, while new growth drivers have contributed more than one-third to China's economic growth as well as to more than two-thirds of new jobs in Chinese cities and townships.

Full text of Premier Li Keqiang's speech at the Opening Ceremony of the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2018Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 15:27:27|Editor: ZX

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BEIJING, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- China has pledged to open up further to foreign firms and strengthen protection of intellectual property rights (IPR).

"China is putting in place a slew of opening up measures announced earlier this year and there are more such measures to come with greater intensity and at a higher level," Minister of Commerce Zhong Shan told the heads of six multinational companies in China at a symposium held earlier this week.

The symposium, held Monday, was attended by executives of foreign firms in the industries of information technology, automobiles, machinery manufacturing, finance, and consulting, from the United States, Britain, Germany, Japan and the Republic of Korea, according to a Ministry of Commerce (MOC) statement Tuesday.

"China will provide stronger IPR protection and a better business environment for enterprises. No business can secure a success via infringing on others' IPR. The same is true to a country," Zhong said. "It is in line with China's own demand of further development to better protect IPR, which is an endless pursuit."

"China's stable and positive economic performance so far this year has refuted doomsayers' expectations and, despite challenges and difficulties, the country has made steady progress in structural upgrading and transition of development momentum.

"We have the confidence and the ability to ensure the accomplishment of major targets and tasks."

Speaking of China-U.S. economic and trade frictions, Zhong said the two countries' economic and trade ties were "mutually beneficial and win-win, and cooperation is the only right choice for them."

"Entrepreneurs are all concerned about the possible outcome from trade conflicts between the world's two largest economies, which is something we don't want to see," he said. "U.S. unilateralism and protectionism will not just affect the two countries' interests, but will also hurt the global economy and benefit no countries."

Heads of multinational companies attending the symposium were from The Cohen Group, Emerson Electric Company, SAP, HSBC, Samsung and Toyota.Ferratum Oyj: Ferratum Group announces new senior leadership appointments

Directors Team strengthened with the appointment of key division heads

Dr. Clemens Krause, CFO, taking on additional risk management responsibilities

Helsinki, 19 September 2018 - Ferratum Oyj (ISIN: FI4000106299, WKN: A1W9NS) ("Ferratum" or the "Group") is pleased to announce a significant strengthening of its Directors Team, promoting eight members into senior leadership positions in addition to the six current members.

Adam Tonning, Head of Financial Planning & Analysis; Outi Ellila, Head of Marketing and Customer Experience; Scott Donnelly, Business Unit Director SME Lending; Kristjan Kajakas, Business Unit Director for Revolving Loans; Antti Kumpulainen, Business Unit Director for Installment Loans; Marius Solescu, Head of Human Resources; Sami Kalliola, Head of Strategic Partnerships; and Emmi Kyykka, Deputy Head of Investor Relations, have joined the Directors team, effective as of 12 September 2018.

With more than 40 years of combined experience within the Group, these individuals have played a central role in Ferratum's growth story and their promotions will ensure that their collective day-to-day operational knowledge and experience is fully integrated into the Directors Team.

In addition, Dr. Clemens Krause, Chief Financial Officer, will be taking on new responsibilities as Chief Risk Officer in addition to his position as CFO. He will continue to serve on the Directors Team along with the existing members Jorma Jokela, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Group; Lea Liigus, Head of Legal and Compliance; Ari Tiukkanen, Chief Operating Officer; Saku Timonen, Chief Commercial Officer and Jussi Mekkonen, Chief Executive Officer of Ferratum Bank p.l.c.

The enlarged Directors Team will collectively be responsible for leading the Group and delivering on key initiatives, led by Jorma Jokela.

Jorma Jokela commented:

"Our announcement today is a celebration and recognition of the depth and diversity of talent at Ferratum. We have been a profitable, growing business for 13 years and this would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of every business division and the talented individuals who lead those teams.

I look forward to the guidance and counsel this combination of individuals will bring to the Directors Team, as we continue on our journey."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Ferratum's business units

The Revolving Loans division is the Credit Limit product line at Ferratum Group. The Installment Loans division is made up of the Micro Loans, Plus Loans and Primeloans product lines.

Professional profiles of new senior leadership appointments:

Adam Tonning is the Head of Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) of Ferratum Group. Having joined the Group in 2010, his keen interest in the business led to a rapid expansion of his responsibilities to marketing and special project management. Adam successfully led the launch of the Group's first deposit business in Sweden in 2012 and launch of the lending business in Norway 2015. He later specialised in finance, taking on a role as regional finance manager for West and APAC region in 2014, after which he set up the FP&A unit in 2016. Adam's primary responsibility is driving continuous efficiencies within the operational and capital planning.

Outi Ellila is the Head of Marketing and Customer Experience and has been a part of Ferratum Group since 2016. Outi has specialised in data-driven marketing throughout her career, having previously worked at Google and Isobar Finland (part of Dentsu Aegis Network). She has an extensive understanding of integrated marketing and customer experience and continues to drive data-led customer and marketing campaigns across Ferratum's markets. Outi was also responsible for successful launch of Ferratum's new corporate branding in 2017.

Scott Donnelly is the Business Unit Director for SME Lending at Ferratum Group. Joining in 2012 as lead Data Scientist at Ferratum, Scott developed credit scoring models and data analytics tools that were used across all the Group's business lines. He launched the SME Lending business in 2015 and led the division to profitability within a year. The division is now present in eight markets globally. Scott's primary focus is the ongoing expansion of the SME Lending business, through better credit assessments in the existing markets and entering new markets. Prior to joining the Group, Scott was Senior Business Development Manager at Benedict and Associates.

Marius Solescu is the Head of Human Resources and has been a part of Ferratum Group since 2013. Based at Ferratum's central function in Berlin, he leads all HR related initiatives, including business and culture transformation and employee well-being and talent development. Prior to his current role, Marius led the successful market launch of Ferratum's brand into Romania in 2014. Marius has previously held a number of senior management positions in the retail banking division of Raiffeisen Bank Romania.

Sami Kalliola is Head of Strategic Partnerships at Ferratum Group, responsible for strategic partnerships for all Ferratum's products and services, primarily in new and emerging markets. During his two years of service at Ferratum Group, Sami has played a leading role in country launches into Brazil and Nigeria as well as securing the partnership with Thomas Cook Money, a white label partnership offering Thomas Cook customers mobile banking services. Prior to joining Ferratum, Sami was in the telecommunication industry as CEO of Swissphone Carrier AG in Switzerland.

Kristjan Kajakas is the Business Unit Director for Revolving Loans at Ferratum Group. He joined the business in 2010, initially serving in project management and product development, followed by a position as Deputy Head of Regions for Eastern Europe. Kristjan has been at the heart of the successful growth of Credit Limit, which currently accounts for almost half of the Groups revenues. He will now focus his efforts to boost the development of Revolving Loans. Before joining Ferratum, Kristjan was a client executive at AS SEB Pank.

Antti Kumpulainen is Business Unit Director of Instalment Loans (Microloans, Plus Loan and Prime Loan) at Ferratum Group and Chief Commercial Officer of Ferratum Bank Plc. He joined the Group in 2016 as Country manager for Finland, having previously served as Chief Risk Officer at Elisa Financial Mobile and Department Manager at Ab Compass Oy Ltd., Antti has a deep understanding of full-service mobile banking and payments. He has been a core member of Ferratum's growth trajectory and has extensive insight into the Group's lending business. Antti will continue to drive the expansion of the Installment Loans division, through developing bespoke loans catered to individuals' needs.

Emmi Kyykka is the Deputy Head of Investor Relations at Ferratum Group, responsible for capital markets communications and the Group's investor engagement programme. Having managed the corporate communications function and supported Chief Executive, Jorma Jokela, on overarching business strategy since 2014, Emmi has an extensive understanding of Ferratum's priorities and objectives. She will be responsible for driving financial communication and developing the investor relations function. Prior to joining Ferratum, Emmi held management positions in sales.

About Ferratum Group:

Ferratum Group is an international provider of mobile banking and digital consumer and small business loans, distributed and managed by mobile devices. Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, Ferratum has expanded rapidly to operate in 25 countries across Europe, Africa, South and North America and the Asia-Pacific region.

As a pioneer in digital and mobile financial services technology, Ferratum is at the forefront of the digital banking revolution. Ferratum Mobile Bank, launched in 2016, is an innovative mobile banking platform offering a range of banking services, including real time digital payments and transfers, within a single app. It is currently available in five European markets. Led by its founder, Jorma Jokela, Ferratum has approximately 2 million active and former customers who have been granted one or more loans (as at 30 June 2018).

Ferratum Group is listed on the Prime Standard of Frankfurt Stock Exchange under symbol 'FRU.' For more information, visit www.ferratumgroup.com.

Contacts:Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 15:32:28|Editor: xuxin

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Nepalese people take part in a special function celebrating the Constitution Day at Nepal Army Pavilion in Kathmandu, Nepal, Sept. 19, 2018. Nepal, on Wednesday, observed the third Constitution Day also known as the National Day, marking the anniversary of the promulgation of the landmark constitution. (Xinhua/Sunil Sharma)

KATHMANDU, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Nepal, on Wednesday, observed the third Constitution Day also known as the National Day, marking the anniversary of the promulgation of the landmark constitution.

Three years have been passed since the Himalayan nation promulgated its new constitution through the historic Constituent Assembly on Sept. 20, 2015. Constitution day is being celebrated on Wednesday as per the Nepali calendar across the country.

On the occasion, President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli issued a separate statement, and extended best wishes to all the Nepali citizens living inside the country and abroad.

To mark the day, a special function was organized at the Nepal Army pavilion in the heart of the Capital, attended by President Bhandari, Prime Minister Oli, and Speaker of House of Representatives Krishna Bahadur Mahara, high-ranking government officials, security chiefs, and diplomats among others.

Addressing the ceremony, Prime Minister Oli said that the constitution has guaranteed the fundamental rights and freedom to all citizens without any discrimination.

The event featured a march-past by Nepal Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, Nepal Scout and students along with the cultural procession from the local groups.

The new national charter named Nepalko Sambidhan 2072 was unveiled by the then President Dr Ram Baran Yadav in 2015.

It was the first full-fledged constitution drafted by the people's representatives after the South Asian country became federal democratic republic in 2008 following the overthrow of the 240-year Monarchy.

Nepal government has announced a public holiday on Wednesday to mark the special day.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 15:42:30|Editor: xuxin

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DHAKA, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Board of Directors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved additional loan financing of 110 million U.S. dollars for a project that is improving access to urban primary healthcare services in Bangladesh through public-private partnerships (PPPs).

"ADB's support to the government-led Urban Primary Health Care Services Delivery Project approved in 2012 has been filling a vacuum created by the lack of urban public primary healthcare by increasing access to quality services, especially for poor households," ADB Social Sector Specialist Brian Chin said in a statement on Wednesday.

"The new financing will focus on strengthening the service delivery system, building on the results of the 2012 project and two previous projects, to meet unmet demands and develop self-reliance in the running of the system."

According to the ADB statement, the new financing will build on previous efforts toward climate change mitigation by adopting solar panels, rainwater harvesting systems, and flood drainage.

The Urban Climate Change Resilience Trust Fund (UCCRTF), financed by the Rockefeller Foundation and the governments of Switzerland and Britain, will provide a 2-million-U.S. dollar grant, to be administered by ADB, it said.

The Bangladesh government will contribute 30 million U.S. dollars toward the cost of the additional financing, while the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) will provide 1.5 million U.S. dollars in-kind technical support, it added.

The project completion date is in March 2023.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 15:57:33|Editor: xuxin

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KATHMANDU, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Six Nepali nationals died and 16 Nepali nationals were injured from alcohol poisoning in the state of Selangor in Malaysia, the Nepali Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) confirmed here on Wednesday.

The ministry said in a statement that six Nepali nationals, who fell sick after consuming alcohol in Malaysia, died during their treatment at Sungai Buloh Hospital and Kajang Hospital based in Selangor.

"Sixteen injured Nepali nationals are now receiving treatment at Buloh, Kajang, Klang and Banting hospitals in Malaysia," the ministry stated.

The Nepali Embassy in Kuala Lumpur immediately contacted local police authorities in Selangor following local media reports that the Nepali nationals were among other foreign nationals who suffered from alcohol poisoning on Monday night.

On Tuesday, diplomats at the Nepali Embassy also visited local hospitals to take stock of the Nepali nationals following the incident.

"The local police have been launching investigation following the incident," the Nepali Embassy in Kuala Lumpur said in a press statement.

Nepali Foreign Ministry officials said that the dead bodies of the Nepali nationals will be brought back home once the post-mortem is over in Malaysia.

On Tuesday, Malaysian newspaper The Star reported quoting the local police authorities that the dead men comprised Malaysians as well as foreign nationals in the incident that took place Monday night.

The newspaper reported that the victims consumed the alcohol, which was purchased from various shops in the Klang Valley, the wider area in Selangor state that surrounds capital Kuala Lumpur.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 16:12:38|Editor: xuxin

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KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- At least 19 have died and more people are receiving treatment following a series of suspected alcohol poisoning in recent days, Malaysian authorities said Wednesday.

More than 50 cases were reported in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur and the neighboring Selangor state.

Selangor police said Wednesday that seven suspects, who are operators and shop workers selling alcohol, were arrested. Police also seized 1,030 bottles of whisky and 1,767 cans of beer in a series of raids in the state.

An earlier statement by the Health Ministry said three of those reported unwell are Malaysians while 48 of them are foreigners from Myanmar, Nepal, Bangladesh and India. About 19 have died and some are in critical condition, the ministry said.

Most of the victims had shown early signs of methanol poisoning, including stomachaches, nausea, vomiting, headaches and blurred vision with some developing shortness of breath, cramps and sudden unconsciousness.

They had consumed several brands of whiskey and beers purchased from multiple shops on Monday.

Samples of the alcoholic beverage taken during the investigation at the sale premises have been sent to lab analysis of the content, according to the ministry.

It warned that the number of causality is expected to increase with more patients coming in for treatment of methanol poisoning.

The Nepali Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirmed on Wednesday that six Nepali nationals died and 16 Nepali nationals were injured from alcohol poisoning in the state of Selangor in Malaysia.

The ministry said in a statement that six Nepali nationals, who fell sick after consuming alcohol in Malaysia, died during their treatment at Sungai Buloh Hospital and Kajang Hospital based in Selangor.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 16:32:44|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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TIANJIN, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Despite mounting economic uncertainties as anti-globalization sentiment looms, business leaders and economists attending Summer Davos in Tianjin know one thing for sure: China will not slow down the opening-up of its economy.

"China should maintain appropriate steps in opening-up, and can take some bigger steps when necessary," said Liu Shijin, vice chairman of the China Development Research Foundation, when explaining China's capabilities to counter external uncertainties at a panel discussion at the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2018, also known as Summer Davos.

Amid global economic uncertainties, China's capital market has undergone fluctuations in the past few months, while the Chinese yuan has also weakened against the U.S. dollar, raising concerns that further opening-up, especially in the financial realm, would exacerbate the situation.

"It is natural that the market will overreact to external shocks," Liu said. "China should unwaveringly live up to its opening-up promise."

Liu said that the Chinese economy was very large but had regional diversities, allowing it leeway for internal adjustments, making the economy as a whole more resilient.

China's reform and opening-up during the past 40 years has brought profound changes. From 1978 to 2017, China added around 375 million jobs, lifted 740 million people in rural areas out of poverty, and saw its GDP increase by 33.5 times, according to National Bureau of Statistics data.

"The success of China's reform and opening-up is unprecedented," said Albert Ng, chairman of Ernst & Young China.

Ng said China's recent opening-up measures were not rolled out under external pressure, but were something that has always been on the government agenda.

"China is pushing reforms at its own pace, and opening-up is the right way to go, " Ng said.

China has unveiled an array of measures to significantly broaden market access since the beginning of 2018, a year marking the 40th anniversary of the reform and opening-up policy.

Key among the measures is the opening of the financial sector, with decisions made to ease foreign ownership caps on financial services companies, including securities brokers, fund managers and insurance firms.

"The opening of China's financial market in the past 18 months has been unprecedented," said Mark Leung, CEO of J.P. Morgan China.

Leung said the company had been participating in a number of opening-up initiatives, including the stock connect programs and trading of Shanghai crude oil futures, which was launched this year.

Helen Zhu, head of China Equities for BlackRock's Fundamental Equities, also sees China's opening-up a long-term commitment that will bring substantial opportunities to foreign investors.

"While there might be some twists and turns in the process, China will not let external pressure sway its opening-up commitment, Zhu said. "The road is going in a certain direction, that's for sure. There is not going to be any kind of reversal."Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 17:02:49|Editor: Xiang Bo

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by Luis Brito

MEXICO CITY, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Inside a cavernous tent set up in the middle of the street, Petra Puebla doles out breakfast to fellow victims of the powerful earthquake that toppled buildings across Mexico City a year ago.

Like them, she found herself on the streets after the 7.1-magnitude temblor destroyed her apartment complex. Some 369 people were killed by the quake, most trapped in the rubble of collapsed buildings.

For months, the 65-year-old slept on a cot in a small tent, using a gas station bathroom and showering at a nearby gym.

"I was very depressed because it feels awful to see that you have nothing, that all of your objectives have crumbled," she told Xinhua.

Puebla is one of hundreds of former residents of a 10-building apartment block known as the "Tlalpan multi-family" residential complex, a well-known landmark in the south of the city that was built in 1957.

Though only Puebla's building collapsed completely, killing nine people, the others were so badly damaged that the government ordered the 500 families to evacuate.

Residents have since been awaiting the reconstruction of their apartments. Work only began in July after they protested to pressure authorities into getting the effort underway. The project could take up to 14 months, officials said.

"God give me the strength to live long enough to return to my apartment and begin to work again, because money is running out," Puebla said.

Most of her neighbors have gone to live with relatives or are renting in other parts of the city, but Puebla and around 20 neighbours have been living in a park since the earthquake.

They no longer sleep in tents now, thanks to an organization of students from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) who built most of them simple shelters, bathrooms and showers made of wood.

In her small temporary home, Puebla has a bed and a mini fridge that someone gave her. The only items she was able to recover from her destroyed apartment was a folder with official documents, a photograph and a painting.

Three times a day, she volunteers at the makeshift soup kitchen set up outside her former home, with the city supplying the foodstuffs.

The earthquake, which was felt across five central states, knocked down another 38 buildings around the capital, and damaged hundreds more.

According to the city government's Reconstruction Commission, as of August, officials had demolished 62 condemned buildings, started to tear down another four, and had a further 12 demolitions planned.

But perhaps the worst impact of the earthquake isn't so easy to see.

According to a recent survey by the local Citizen Council, 54 percent of capital residents suffer from varying degrees of psychological trauma and live in fear of another earthquake.

In a grim coincidence, last year's quake occurred on the 32nd anniversary of the devastating 1985 earthquake estimated to have claimed at least 10,000 lives.

In fact, on that day, the city's earthquake alarm had gone off earlier in the day as part of a commemorative emergency drill. When the alarm went off again, this time due to the actual quake, many people were stunned.

Like Puebla, Roberto Zarate, another pensioner and former Tlalpan block resident, sleeps in the park.

"Out of need, because rents are too expensive," said the 85-year-old, who walks with the help of a cane.

Besides, all of his furniture and other belongings are being kept in storage, for which he has to pay 3,000 pesos (around 159 U.S. dollars) a month. The only items he has with him are a crucifix and a photo of his young father.

Zarate struggles with the exposure to the weather, especially with the city's rainy season bringing daily downpours and colder temperatures, but he said he isn't afraid of sleeping under a tent.

He also holds out hope of one day returning to his apartment.

"One day, I'll return," he said.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 17:07:51|Editor: Xiang Bo

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Kim Jong Un (R), top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), and South Korean President Moon Jae-in pose for photos after signing a document in Pyongyang, the DPRK, on Sept. 19, 2018. Kim and Moon on Wednesday signed a document after their second face-to-face dialogue in Pyongyang. (Xinhua/Pyongyang Press Corps)

PYONGYANG/SEOUL, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- The leaders of the two Koreas agreed Wednesday to end military tensions and try to achieve a complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), and South Korean President Moon Jae-in made the pledge at a joint press conference in Pyongyang.

At the press conference, Kim said that the Panmunjom Declaration would serve as the groundwork for a new era of peace on the Korean Peninsula and he wished to make the peninsula nuclear-free.

The Panmunjom Declaration was signed during Kim's first meeting with Moon in April at the truce village of Panmunjom on the border of the two Koreas.

Kim promised to accelerate the inter-Korean peace talks, further develop inter-Korean relations and visit Seoul, capital of South Korea, in the near future.

Moon said he and Kim have agreed on ways to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, and that it was the first time that the two Koreas reached an agreement on steps toward denuclearization.

In addition, they agreed to end military tensions and transform the inter-Korean border into a "peace zone," Moon said.

Before meeting the press, the two leaders signed a summit agreement.

Under the joint declaration signed by Moon and Kim in Pyongyang, the DPRK expressed its willingness to continue additional steps, such as the permanent destruction of its main Yongbyon nuclear facility, if the United States takes corresponding measures in accordance with the spirit of the DPRK-U.S. summit agreement reached on June 12 in Singapore.

In addition, the DPRK agreed to permanently destroy the Tongchang-ri engine test site and missile launching pads in the presence of experts from the countries concerned, according to the Pyongyang joint declaration.

On the same day, defense chiefs from both sides also signed a separate agreement on military affairs in the presence of the two leaders.

Moon and Kim held two-hour-long talks Tuesday afternoon at the headquarters of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and a one-on-one meeting earlier on Wednesday.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 17:12:52|Editor: xuxin

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Kim Jong Un (R), top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), shakes hands with South Korean President Moon Jae-in after a joint press conference in Pyongyang, the DPRK, on Sept. 19, 2018. The two leaders agreed on Wednesday to end military tensions and try to achieve complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. (Xinhua/Pyongyang Press Corps)

PYONGYANG/SEOUL, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s top leader Kim Jong Un said here Wednesday that he and visiting South Korean President Moon Jae-in had agreed to take additional steps toward making the Korean Peninsula free of nuclear weapons and threats of armed conflict.

"The September declaration will open a higher level for the improvement in relations (between the DPRK and South Korea) ... and bring closer the era of peace and prosperity," Kim said at a press conference at the state guest house Paekhwawon soon after a second round of summit between him and Moon, referring to a joint declaration they had signed before meeting the press.

Kim said he wished to make the Korean Peninsula nuclear-free and stressed that the Panmunjom Declaration, signed during the first inter-Korean summit between him and Moon in April, would serve as the groundwork for the new era of peace on the peninsula.

The DPRK leader also said he would travel to the south to meet Moon in the near future, which would make him the first ever DPRK top leader to visit Seoul in modern history.

During the joint press conference, Moon said that both leaders had discussed the steps toward denuclearization for the first time.

The DPRK "has agreed to permanently shut down its Dongchang-ri missile engine testing facility and missile launch pad under the participation of experts from related countries," Moon said.

Moon also said he hoped the talks between the DPRK and the United States would "quickly resume."

Talks between the DPRK and the United States had stalled after the U.S. side called off a scheduled trip to Pyongyang by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, citing lack of progress in the denuclearization process.

The agreement signed by the two leaders called for steps to further improve inter-Korean ties.

The two sides have agreed to begin the work to reconnect their severed railways and roads across the heavily fortified border before the year's end, according to the agreement.

Defense chiefs from both sides also signed a separate agreement on military affairs in the presence of the two leaders.

Moon arrived in Pyongyang on Tuesday morning for a three-day visit amid mixed prospects for the denuclearization talks between the United States and the DPRK.

In a gesture of goodwill, the DPRK top leader appeared at the Pyongyang International Airport to receive Moon in person and with a grand welcoming ceremony. They rode together in a procession on the way to the state guest house and held talks for about two hours in the afternoon.

The DPRK's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said that the two leaders on Tuesday had an "in-depth exchange of opinions on various issues arising in further accelerating the development of the north-south relations by honestly implementing the Panmunjom Declaration in an all-round manner."

Included in Moon's entourage are ministers, senior officials, lawmakers, representatives of the cultural sector and corporate leaders, obviously in line with the recent drive of the DPRK for economic reforms.

Moon is expected to conclude his historic three-day visit to Pyongyang on Thursday.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 17:12:52|Editor: Xiang Bo

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PHNOM PENH, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni has appointed a total of 101 people as personal advisers and assistants to the country's Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, according to his Royal Decree released to the media on Wednesday.

The decree dated Tuesday showed that 46 people were appointed as personal advisers to the prime minister, and 55 others were named as his personal assistants.

"Samdech Techo Hun Sen, prime minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, must take responsibility to implement this royal decree from the day of signature," the decree said.

Hun Sen was re-appointed earlier this month as the prime minister of Cambodia for another five years after his ruling Cambodian People's Party won all 125 parliamentary seats in a general election on July 29.HELSINKI, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Finland is considering the construction of a wall on the Finnish-Russian border to prevent wild boars that can bring the African swine fever to Finland, media reports have said.

Sirpa Thessler, a senior official at the Finnish Natural Resources Agency, told public broadcaster Yle on Monday that the agency would figure out how long the wall could be and consider also the ecological impact of such a wall and the repercussions on other animals.

The investigation has been ordered by the Ministry for Agriculture and Forestry of Finland and should be completed by the end of the year.

The highly contagious disease has reached some Russian areas that border on Finland. It is no danger to people though.

Finland has stepped up prevention measures to keep the swine pest out of Finland. Hunting of wild boars has been encouraged and pork production farms have been required to install additional fences if pigs are kept outdoors during summer.

The swine pest can also be transferred via food carried by travelers. Finland has campaigned in ports with posters against meat products brought in by tourists. There are no formal customs controls for passengers entering Finland, except directly from Russia.

"Even one sausage brought from the infected area can be fatal," Katri Levonen, a senior official at the Ministry of Agriculture told the newspaper Maaseudun Tulevaisuus.

She explained the infection spreads with long leaps via food, while the spreading based on direct contact with animals progresses slowly.

Finnish officials and the pork industries were alarmed about the news that the swine fever had reached Belgium last week.

The most western reported infection before Belgium had been the Czech Republic. Levonen said the leap from the Czech Republic to Belgium must have been with food. The infection of the Czech Republic had resulted as wild boars had been able to open a waste container, she said.

Jukka Rantala, the production animal ombudsman of the Organization of Finnish Agricultural Producers, told Maaseudun tulevaisuus that detection of African swine fever can cause the pork exports to a standstill.

"Much pork would remain a burden for the European market. Problems are to be expected on the European pork market," Rantala said.English Danish

Company announcement

Announcement No. 55/2018

Holmens Kanal 2  12

DK- 1092 Kbenhavn K















19 September 2018





Danske Banks CEO resigns

Thomas F. Borgen, CEO of Danske Bank, has today informed the Board of Directors that he wishes to resign from his position at Danske Bank. The decision is announced in connection with Danske Banks presentation today of the conclusions of the investigations into the matters in Estonia.





It is clear that Danske Bank has failed to live up to its responsibility in the case of possible money laundering in Estonia. I deeply regret this. Even though the investigation conducted by the external law firm concludes that I have lived up to my legal obligations, I believe that it is best for all parties that I resign. As the CEO, I have the management responsibility for the things that take place in the bank, and, of course, I take on this responsibility. It has been clear to me for some time that resigning would be the right thing to do, but I have held off the decision, because I have felt a responsibility for seeing the bank through this difficult period towards presentation of the investigations.





It has been a great privilege to lead the more than 20,000 employees who each day work tirelessly to give our customers the best advice and services on the market, and I will miss them all. The bank obviously has a big job ahead of it because of this case, but has a strong foundation and is well prepared for the future, says Thomas F. Borgen.





Ole Andersen, Chairman of the Board of Directors, says:

It is with regret that we have to say goodbye to Thomas Borgen. We have, of course, discussed the situation on an ongoing basis, and I share his sentiments and respect his decision, which I agree is the right one. Thomas Borgen has made a tremendous effort for Danske Bank through many years  not least in the last five years where, as the CEO, he has been the driving force behind the banks transformation and progress. Danske Bank is on the whole in a completely different and stronger position today than at the time when he was appointed.

Thomas F. Borgen will continue in his position until a new CEO has been appointed.

Danske Bank





AttachmentSource: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 17:32:55|Editor: Xiang Bo

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RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Less than three weeks to go before Brazilians go to the polls to elect a new president on Oct. 7, the election is revealing an increasingly polarized society, according to political observers.

Pre-election surveys and the candidates' social media campaigns are painting a picture of a country divided into two distant camps: the progressives on the left and the ultra-conservatives on the right.

What is becoming apparent is an increasingly polarized scenario between the radical far right represented by candidate Jair Bolsonaro and the old left represented by the Workers' Party (PT), said Carlos Pereira, a political scientist at the Getulio Vargas Foundation, a think tank and center for higher studies.

The far-right Social Liberal Party candidate Bolsonaro's leading rival is former Sao Paulo mayor Fernando Haddad, who became the PT's presidential candidate after ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was declared ineligible.

The latest poll, released on Monday, showed Bolsonaro is still in the lead with 28.2 percent of support among voters and Haddad with 17.6 percent.

Haddad was officially announced as Lula's replacement last week, so his rapid rise to second place shows his candidacy is enjoying popular support.

Former state governor Ciro Gomes, candidate of the leftist Democratic Labor Party, is in third place with 10.8 percent support. Another 10 candidates are in the running.

"This polarization was started by the right in recent years with the PT governments of Lula and then Dilma Rousseff," Pereira said.

Both were reelected, though Rousseff was unable to conclude her second term after being impeached by a conservative-controlled congress.

The polarization "is most obvious on social networks," said the academic, adding that as the election day draws near, "the attacks between the candidates ... will become more evident and they will reveal the polarization."

A likely runoff on Oct. 28 between Bolsonaro and either Haddad or Gomes will split the country even more, he predicted.

"I think everything will be much more polarized in the runoff. I imagine both sides will resort to fear tactics in their campaigns, showing what a presidency under Bolsonaro would be like on the one hand, and what could happen if the PT returns to power on the other," Pereira said.

"There are still three weeks to go and a lot can change, but the scenario seems to be a done deal, at least in the first round," he added.

"The great unknown" lies in the "gripping" Oct. 28 runoff, said Pereira, since Brazil's political parties will then form alliances behind the top two candidates to either "impede a Bolsonaro victory or a win by the PT. It's impossible to make any predictions for Oct. 28."

Marco Aurelio Nogueira, a political scientist at the University of Sao Paulo, believed the country's more polarized landscape first came to light in 2014.

"The polarization was already evident in the last elections, when Dilma Rousseff defeated Aecio Neves of the right, but by a very narrow margin," said Nogueira.

"What had until then been political polarization spreads to form part of the day-to-day life of the people, not just the politicians," he said.

The division among Brazilians can best be seen on the Internet, which is teeming with negative campaign ads against the two front-runners Bolsonaro and Haddad.

"Without a doubt, the social networks will play a more decisive role in the runoff," said Nogueira, who also expects a finale between Bolsonaro and either Haddad or Gomes.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 17:42:57|Editor: Xiang Bo

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MANILA, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a 300 million U.S. dollars loan to support the Philippine government's effort to expand financial services across the country, especially among entrepreneurs, small businesses, farmers, workers, and individuals, including women and vulnerable households, the bank said Wednesday.

The Manila-based bank said the policy-based Inclusive Finance Development Program aims to help the Philippines develop a resilient and inclusive financial sector.

The project will help the government strengthen the country's institutional and policy environment for expanding financial services, invest in support networks and infrastructure such as the national retail payment system and the new national identification system, and improve the abilities of financial institutions, including rural banks, to offer financial products, particularly through the application of new technologies, the ADB said.

As a result, the ADB said more Philippine people are expected to open bank accounts, save more at financial institutions, and have access to a wider range of other financial products and services.

ADB Senior Financial Sector Specialist Kelly Hattel said public and private sector entities that provide financial services will benefit from the program.

Hattel said businesses, including micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, and individuals will also benefit as they will have better access to a wider range of appropriate financial services and stronger protection against economic shocks.

The Philippine economy grew 6.7 percent last year, the fastest among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. However, the Philippines ranks among the highest in income inequality, with a Gini coefficient of 0.44 in 2015.

In 2017, the ADB said only 34 percent of Filipino adults had a bank account, compared with 82 percent in Thailand and 49 percent in Indonesia.

As of last year, the ADB said just 12 percent of Filipino adults borrowed from a formal financial institution in 2017 and 35 percent of cities and municipalities had no banking offices.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 17:42:57|Editor: Xiang Bo

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MANILA, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Severn soldiers have been injured in a landmine explosion that hit the southern Philippines during a clash on Tuesday afternoon, the military said on Wednesday.

The Philippine military blamed the leftist rebels for laying the landmines that went off 3:45 p.m. local time on Tuesday in the municipality of Buenavista in Agusan del Norte of the southern Philippines.

"The soldiers sustained shrapnel wound," the Philippine military said in a statement.

Prior to the landmine explosion, the military said troops clashed with the New People's Army (NPA) rebels, resulting in the killing of a 23-year-old farmer suspected of being a member of the leftist rebel armed group.

The military said troops recovered M16 assault rifles and ammunition from the encounter site.

The Philippine military said the NPA has an estimated 4,000 members. The rebels have been fighting the government since 1969.

The government has been trying to forge peace with the leftist rebels since 1986 but the on-off talks have faltered many times in the past.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 17:58:02|Editor: Xiang Bo

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ULAN BATOR, Sept.19 (Xinhua) -- The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a world-class project that is significant to people around the world, a Mongolian academic said Wednesday.

"The BRI is a world-class project that offers great opportunities for cooperation between China and the rest of world in a wide range of areas, including infrastructure and trade," said Gelegpil Chuluunbaatar, first vice president of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, in an interview with Xinhua on Wednesday.

The BRI aims to build infrastructure and trade networks in areas along ancient trade routes to seek common development and prosperity. Chuluunbaatar described the initiative as "the most impressive development project of this century," saying it "is significant to not only us, but also people around the world."

The Mongolian scholar believed that his country will benefit a lot from the initiative proposed by China in 2013.

"Mongolia shares its 4,710-km land border with China, which is one of the world's fastest-growing economies and world's second-largest economy," he said.

"People all over the world have admired the achievements of China's socio-economic development in recent years. China is our country's main trade partner and biggest export destination," said Chuluunbaatar.

Mongolia has great potential to reap tangible benefits from the BRI, he said.

"Particularly, Mongolia has integrated its Development Road Initiative with the BRI," he added.

"I am fully confident that the integration will promote the landlocked Mongolia's development in various sectors such as infrastructure and economy," he said.

Regarding the BRI, China calls for win-win cooperation, mutual benefit and an alignment with the local development strategy in its implementation.

Chuluunbaatar said it is the right choice for Mongolia to accept an invitation to ride on China's "express train of development" and make more efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation with China.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 17:58:02|Editor: Xiang Bo

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BEIJING, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- China's central government has distributed funds totaling 150 million yuan (about 21.9 million U.S. dollars) in disaster relief to areas in Yunnan Province hit by an earthquake, according to the Ministry of Emergency Management.

The funds were allocated to Mojiang county, which was hit by a magnitude 5.9 earthquake on Sept. 8, with 28 people injured and nearly 5,000 residents relocated so far.

The funds will be used for relocation, emergency livelihood support, rebuilding damaged homes and compensation for the injured, according to the ministry.

China's disaster relief authorities have launched a level IV emergency response in the area, sending multiple workgroups to assist with local disaster relief work.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 18:18:10|Editor: xuxin

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KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- At least 16 militants have been confirmed dead as clash erupted in Shurabak district of the southern Kandahar province on Tuesday, provincial police chief Abdul Razeq said Wednesday.

The clash, according to the official, occurred after a group of Taliban militants stormed several police checkpoints in Shurabak district on Tuesday.

Police returned fire which lasted for hours, leaving 16 militants dead and injuring 14 others.

Two police personnel were also killed in the fighting, the official confirmed.

Taliban militants haven't commented yet.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 18:48:17|Editor: xuxin

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YANGON, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese non-governmental humanitarian organization, Blue Sky, conducted emergency rescue training course against natural disaster in Myanmar's Yangon Wednesday in cooperation with the Myanmar-China Friendship Association.

The Blue Sky's training course, attended by over 70 trainees, can help make emergency responses against natural disaster and reduce the danger when the disaster falls, training instructor Song Gongwen told Xinhua.

It was the third time that the Chinese rescue team conducted such training course, while the second was carried out in Yangon in July this year.

Established in 2007, the Blue Sky rescue team comprises more than 50,000 members so far.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 18:53:18|Editor: ZX

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CHENGDU, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- A joint training for special forces from China and Nepal kicked off Wednesday in the city of Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province.

The joint training is the second of its kind held by the two sides and the first one that has taken place within Chinese territory.

During the training, which focuses on hostage rescue in combating international terrorist organizations, the soldiers from both countries are scheduled to participate in exercises such as explosives removal and shooting.

They are also expected to learn more about tactical skills, training methods and procedures of commanding of each other by carrying out joint actions in simulated scenes.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 19:08:22|Editor: xuxin

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BERLIN, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- German intelligence chief Hans-Georg Maasen will be promoted to a more senior post in the interior ministry, the country's federal government announced on Tuesday night.

The decision to relieve Maasen of his duties as president of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) and instead offer him the better salaried position as secretary of state for interior- and cyber security was reached during an emergency cabinet session.

Earlier, the German Social Democrats (SPD) had threatened to quit the "grand coalition", formed together with the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Christian Social Union (CSU), unless Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) personally ensured that Maasen was sacked by Wednesday.

The previously-little known national intelligence services executive, the former BfV president, has recently sparked heated public debate in Germany by questioning the authenticity of a video footage in which right-wing extremists were seen chasing and accosting stereotypically foreign-looking civilians on the streets of Chemnitz. In doing so, Maasen directly contradicted chancellor Merkel and local security officers on the issue before backtracking on the statement in question during a subsequent report.

As a consequence, senior SPD politicians complained that the uncertainty created by Maasen and the resulting impetus provided to online conspiracy theories, as well as a growing impression that the BfV president has personal sympathies for the far-right, rendered him unsuitable for the task of protecting the German constitution.

Maasen has previously already been accused of offering clandestine advice to the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party on how to prevent its monitoring by the BfV, a claim he vigorously denies.

Nevertheless, interior minister and CSU leader Horst Seehofer, whose ministry is responsible for nominating the leadership of the BfV, insisted that his trust in Maasen remained intact.

In his new role, Maasen will once again report to Seehofer while receiving a monthly salary of 14,100 euros (16,500 U.S. dollars) compared to 11,500 euros at the BfV. The interior minister is scheduled to provide detailed information about the responsibilities of Maasen as secretary of state on Wednesday.

CDU leader Merkel, CSU leader Seehofer and SPD leader Andrea Nahles described Maasen's promotion as a sensible compromise which would ensure the continued existence of the "grand coalition" and thus enable the federal government to return to its regular work. However, the unusual personnel decision in response to widespread allegations of inappropriate behavior was met with a wave of criticism in the German media, the ruling parties themselves and the opposition.

The magazine "SPIEGEL" wrote that the final outcome and way in which a decision was reached in the affair offered an "exemplary case of how to promote frustration with politics."

SPD vice-president Ralf Stegner similarly told the German press agency (dpa) on Wednesday that the development was a "disaster" which would cause support in his party for a continuation of the "grand coalition" to fall even further to dangerously low levels.

For Kevin Kuehnert, the leader of the SPD youth organization (Juso) and one of the most outspoken critics of Merkel, Seehofer and Maasen, the time has come for the party to exit Merkel's fourth ruling cabinet. Kuehnert argued in the newspaper "Rheinische Post" that the "price for the continued existence of the coalition is too high." He lamented that Maasen's promotion was a "slap in the face" for everybody who had to shoulder the full responsibility for themselves and their behavior at work every day.

The Greens (Gruene) and Left party (Linke) both attacked the move as a being a "farcical" solution in separate statements. Free Democratic Party (FDP) vice president Stephan Thomae interpreted the surprising success of Maasen in securing a new government post under Seehofer as a sign of Merkel's rapidly eroding authority in her won cabinet.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 19:08:24|Editor: xuxin

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NEW DELHI, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- India Wednesday approved a ban on the Islamic practice of instant divorce or triple talaq common among the country's minority Muslims, in a landmark move hailed as a victory for the community's women.

By passing an executive order, the Indian Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, made triple talaq in any form -- spoken, written or electronic means like email or SMS -- an offence, though a ceremonial approval is still required from Indian President Ram Nath Kovind.

The Indian government resorted to passing the ordinance after it failed to garner support from some opposition parties, mainly the Congress, to get the triple talaq legislation through Rajya Sabha (the Upper House of Parliament) even though the Lower House already approved it.

Making the announcement, Indian Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the government was compelled to bring in the ordinance to ban instant divorce as it was still prevalent, despite being already annulled by the country's Supreme Court last year.

"Between January 2017 and September 2018, 430 cases of triple talaq have been reported. While 229 cases were reported prior to the Supreme Court judgment, 201 cases reported after the order," the minister told the media in the national capital.

"So we have now officially passed the (anti) triple talaq ordinance, making the practice an offence. It's a victory for Muslim women," he added.

However, the instant divorce law, formally known as Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017, has been passed with some riders.

"The core component of this ordinance is that an offence will be crime only when the FIR (First Information Report, a police case) is filed by the victim's wife or her close relations by blood or marriage," Prasad said.

Other amended provisions allows a woman to drop the police case after a compromise with her husband, while under another provision, a court can give bail to the husband after hearing his wife in a case, according to the Indian government.

The law minister also came down heavily on the Congress party for failing to support the government in passing the legislation in the Upper House of Parliament.

"We tried to reach out to the Congress party. It's shocking that a woman leader like Sonia Gandhi did not cooperate with government to get rid of the barbaric process of triple talaq," he said.

Though Talaq-e-biddat (instant divorce) has no mention in Sharia Islamic law or the Koran, the practice has existed for decades that allows a man to divorce his wife just by uttering the word "talaq" thrice.

Most Islamic countries have banned triple talaq, but the custom has continued in India, which actually does not have a uniform set of laws on marriage and divorce that apply to every citizen.

Though India's Supreme Court struck down the practice as "illegal" in a landmark judgment on Aug. 22 last year, the practice is still prevalent in India.

Campaigners have hailed the government's latest proposed move. "This will empower Muslim women, many of whom have for long suffered at the hands of their husbands," said Heena Khan, a Muslim activist.

Hindu couples in India, however, are required to go through a separation period to explore chances of reconciliation before being granted divorce by a family court.English Danish





Company announcement







Announcement No. 54/2018









Group Communications

Holmens Kanal 2-12

DK-1092 Kbenhavn K





19 September 2018

Danske Bank A/S donates DKK 1.5 billion and revises outlook downwards

Earlier this year, the Board of Directors and the Executive Board of Danske Bank A/S announced that Danske Bank does not wish to benefit financially from suspicious transactions that took place in the non-resident portfolio of its Estonian branch in the period from 2007 to 2015.

As the bank is not able to provide an accurate estimate of the amount of suspicious transactions made by non-resident customers in Estonia during the period, the Board of Directors has decided to donate the gross income from the customers in the period from 2007 to 2015, which is estimated at DKK 1.5 billion, to an independent foundation which will be set up to support initiatives aimed at combating international financial crime, including money laundering, also in Denmark and Estonia.

The donation of DKK 1.5 billion will be expensed in the third quarter of 2018.

We now expect net profit for 2018 to be in the range of DKK 16-17 billion. In addition to the donation of DKK 1.5 billion, the outlook revision is owing to the continuation of the subdued development in net trading income. When we announced our financial results for the first half of 2018, we expected net profit for 2018 to be at the lower end of the DKK 18-20 billion range.

The outlook remains subject to uncertainty and macroeconomic developments.

Danske Bank





AttachmentSource: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 19:28:31|Editor: ZX

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SHANGHAI, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- First owning an office in Shanghai's Pudong in 2004, Australian machine tool manufacturer ANCA now has its biggest sales office in the city.

"The last 10 years have been fantastic for ANCA in China, and we are hoping that the next five years will be as good as the last five years," said Jeffrey Foregard, general manager of the company's Asian operations.

Over the last five years, the company's sales in China have grown more than 30 percent yea-on-year on the back of strong smartphone business.

Thanks to the huge market, brisk growth in China and favorable policies in Pudong, multinational companies have encountered similar wealth stories in Pudong, the frontline of reform and opening-up.

"The fast economic growth and constantly improving policy environment in the past decades offered unprecedented opportunities for multinationals," said Hong Chow, general manager of Roche Pharmaceuticals China.

At constant prices, China's GDP rose 33.5 times from 1978 to 2017, with average annual growth of 9.5 percent, much higher than the world average of about 2.9 percent during the same period.

Roche set up its pharmaceutical plant in Shanghai in 1994, as one of the first foreign-invested companies to enter the Zhangjiang High-Tech Park in Pudong.

In the past 24 years, the company has built a complete value chain from R&D, production to sales, in recognition of the weight and growth prospects of the Chinese market.

"Roche's diagnostics and pharmaceuticals businesses will jointly showcase their scientific breakthroughs... demonstrating the important position of the Chinese market in Roche's global strategy," Chow said.

The importance of China for Roche is mainly due to the country's huge market potential, sound business environment and attraction for professionals.

China has become the world's second largest medicine market, with continuously rising demand from patients, Chow said.

"Meanwhile, Shanghai has always been willing to listen to the voices of companies with an open attitude, and has thus made policies dovetailing with companies' actual needs, especially after the setup of the free trade zone (FTZ)," she said.

In 2013, the country's first pilot FTZ was established in the Pudong New Area, and expanded to a larger area in Pudong in 2015.

"Preferential policies in the FTZ, including the negative list for foreign investment and the cross-border renminbi capital pool policy, effectively boosted the development of the company," Chow said.

The Shanghai FTZ published the country's first negative list with items that were off-limits for foreign investment, which has been rolled out across the country. The area also spearheaded the country's efforts in streamlining business registration, as well as speeding up customs clearance and corporate supervision. So far, more than 100 categories of institutional innovation have been duplicated in other parts of the country.

"The benefits of being in the FTZ are very clear," Foregard said, citing the ease of importing spare parts and accessories, tax preferences and good infrastructure in Pudong.

At present, Pudong New Area is home to 281 regional headquarters of multinational companies, accounting for 45 percent of Shanghai's total, according to local data.

"With the policy support in the Shanghai FTZ, more companies will surely come to Pudong," Foregard said. "Now, China accounts for about 15 percent in sales of ANCA worldwide. Today we have a much bigger facility, and each time we've grown, we almost doubled the size."

ANCA is planning to move a number of R&D staff into China in the next 12 months, employ local Chinese staff and set up a R&D center in the country.

"It is important that we support the Chinese economy, we have done very well in the last 10 years and now it is our turn to give something back," Foregard said.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 19:33:34|Editor: xuxin

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COPENHAGEN, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Thomas F. Borgen on Wednesday announced his resignation as the CEO of Denmark's Danske Bank following money laundering scandal in the bank's Estonian branch.

The decision is announced in connection with Danske Bank's presentation Wednesday of the conclusions of the investigations into the matters in Estonia, it said in a statement.

"It is clear that Danske Bank has failed to live up to its responsibility in the case of possible money laundering in Estonia. I deeply regret this," Borgen said in the statement.

"Even though the investigation conducted by the external law firm concludes that I have lived up to my legal obligations, I believe that it is best for all parties that I resign."

Borgen will however continue in his position until a new CEO has been appointed.

The bank said its Board of Directors has decided to donate the gross income from non-resident customers in Estonian Branch in the period from 2007 to 2015 to an independent foundation which will be set up to support initiatives aimed at combating international financial crime, including money laundering, also in Denmark and Estonia.

The donation, which is estimated at 1.5 billion Danish kroner, will be expensed in the third quarter of 2018.

Danske Bank on Wednesday also lowered its earnings outlook for 2018, expecting a net profit to be in the range of 16-17 billion kroner as against a previous forecast at the lower end of the 18-20 billion kroner range.

It added the outlook remains subject to uncertainty and macroeconomic developments.

Headquartered in Copenhagen, Danske Bank is the largest bank in Denmark and a major retail bank in the northern European region with over 5 million retail customers. (1 U.S.dollar = 6.38 Danish kroner)Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 19:43:38|Editor: xuxin

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TEHRAN, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Iranian coast guards arrested five crew members of a fishing vessel in Iran's territorial waters in the Gulf, Tasnim news agency reported Wednesday.

The foreign vessel was stopped while fishing off the southern coast of Iran's Khuzestan Province on Tuesday, Abdollah Nazarpour, commander of the coast guards, was quoted as saying.

The Iranian coast guards prevented these foreigners' illegal activity in the area, Nazarpour noted.

The arrested fishermen were handed over to judicial authorities, he added, without revealing their nationality.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 19:43:38|Editor: Liangyu

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TAIYUAN, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Having visited an impoverished village in the morning and attended a work conference in the afternoon, Wu Hongwen, the mayor of Datong in northern China's Shanxi Province, was on his way to a local company to hear about their difficulties.

Since taking office last September, Wu has been maintaining a tight daily schedule. "He is resolute and efficient," a local official said.

Datong, famed for its ancient Buddhist rock carvings, became China's "capital of coal" as demands for its rich energy resources took off in the 1980s. The city achieved an extended boom and accumulated enormous wealth.

However, the city's heavy dependence on coal inevitably sent it into economic woe as the country's industrial transformation began. Datong found itself at the bottom among cities in the province in terms of economic development two years ago.

Many put their hopes on Wu to turn things around.

Before Wu came, Datong had built a 250-acre panda-shaped solar farm that attracted global attention. Around the farm stood many wind turbines.

Datong has bright prospects for its ongoing energy reform, and Wu said he would continue to push forward the reform as there was more stimulus than stress and more opportunities than obstacles.

"Striving for the best, or ending up as the worst -- there aren't many options," Wu said. With a clear vision for the city's future, he is determined to transform the former capital of coal into a hub of clean energy.

Development of clean energy and elimination of outdated capacity look like a sure path to success. However, the results usually take a toll on the local economy. To replace coal-related industries with other profitable projects, Wu made attracting investment a top priority.

Within three months in office, Wu organized 37 investment promotion meetings on 12 occasions outside of Datong and landed 17 major projects.

Six months later, work on 176 new projects with a combined investment volume of over 160 billion yuan (23.3 billion U.S. dollars) started.

To offer an enabling business environment, the local government worked hard to improve services and made it easier for investors to start businesses in the city.

"It usually takes a year to get a project established and approved," said Chen Zhenhua, deputy general manager of Datong Zhengdao new energy automobile company. "But we got the approval within just three days."

So far, the city has phased out more than 30 million tonnes of coal production capacity. Leading economic indicators of Datong have led the province in the first half of the year. Over 70 percent of investment went into "green" projects that helped transform outdated industries.

Correspondingly, over 80 percent of the days as of early September 2018 reached the clean air standard, demonstrating an improving air quality in the city.

"We have specially established a new energy bureau. The installed capacity of thermal power in Datong will only decrease, and we will pool all resources to develop solar, wind and hydrogen energy and their industry chains," he said.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 19:58:40|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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by Federico Grandesso

VENICE, Italy, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- French filmmaker David Oelhoffen's "Freres Ennemis", or "Close Enemies" in English, which premiered recently at the Venice Film Festival, shows that the criminal life is far from adventurous or romantic.

The film tells the story of two childhood friends who end up taking opposite paths: Manuel embraces the thug life, while Driss becomes a cop. When Manuel's biggest business deal goes wrong, the two men come to realize that they both need each other in order to survive.

In an interview with Xinhua in Venice, Oelhoffen said that American movies "often show the romantic side of crime, so I thought it might surprise the audience to see the gap between certain Hollywood conventions and real life, at least in France."

The director explained that the project is based on the interviews with real offenders, whom he met through a lawyer friend with drug traffickers as clients.

"The reality of the criminal underworld was very far from what I had imagined it to be," said Oelhoffen. "I learned about their harsh conditions, in which they live in constant fear, not of the law but of violence perpetrated by their competitors."

With regards to the script, the French filmmaker explained that he aimed for a genre film with a classical storyline and unconventional touches like, for example, a cop with Algerian roots. "I left the actors free to change any parts that weren't faithful to the reality of the suburbs," he added.

Questioned about conditions in the tough French neighborhoods portrayed in the film, the director said that poverty generates violence and crime, which will only decrease if social inequality is reduced.

"Education is another important tool in the long-term fight against poverty and crime," he continued, adding that post-colonial France did not do enough to integrate immigrant labor from Northwest African countries.

"We needed them, but we forced them to live in ghettos without public services or transportation," said Oelhoffen. "We are now paying collectively for those mistakes."

"In those suburbs there is no hope and no integration," he said. "This could change thanks to education, but it will take time because the resentment runs very deep."

Asked what makes a crime movie successful, Oelhoffen said non-American filmmakers should stay local and focus on what they know, rather than trying to recycle the Hollywood point of view. He pointed to Italian filmmaker Matteo Garrone's 2008 movie Gomorrah, which was based on a book by crusading anti-mafia journalist Roberto Saviano and whose characters all speak in Neapolitan dialect, as an example.

"It stays true to a local community and its issues, which is also a way to tell a universal story," Oelhoffen concluded.

His movie Far from Men, set in 1950s Algeria and starring Viggo Mortensen and Reda Kateb, screened in competition at the Venice Film Festival in 2014.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 20:13:42|Editor: Xiang Bo

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BEIJING, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- China welcomed the consensus reached between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Republic of Korea (ROK) Wednesday to improve inter-Korean ties, ease military tensions in the region and advance the denuclearization process and peace talks on the Korean Peninsula.

"China, as a close neighbor, always supports the efforts of the north and south of the peninsula to improve their ties and push forward reconciliation and cooperation through dialogue and consultation," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said at a regular press briefing, commenting on the Pyongyang summit between leaders of the DPRK and the ROK.

The DPRK's top leader Kim Jong Un and visiting ROK President Moon Jae-in Wednesday signed a joint declaration, agreeing to take additional steps toward making the Korean Peninsula free of nuclear weapons and threats of armed conflict.

China welcomes the consensus and appreciates the efforts of both sides to this end, Geng said.

It is the shared aspiration of the people on the peninsula and across the region to realize peace and prosperity, as well as reconciliation and cooperation, Geng said.

China hopes that the two sides will continue to implement the consensus, endeavor to promote interaction and cooperation and play a positive role in achieving a political solution to the peninsula issue as well as lasting peace in the region, said the spokesperson.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 20:23:43|Editor: xuxin

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KUNDUZ, Afghanistan, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- A total of eight people including three security personnel and five militants were killed as clash flared up between government forces and Taliban group in Qala-e-Zal district of the northern Kunduz province on Wednesday, an army spokesman in the northern region Abdul Khalil Khalili said.

The clash erupted in Aqtepa area of Qala-e-Zal district Wednesday morning after the Taliban fighters attacked security checkpoints which triggered gun battle, the official said, adding two more security personnel have been injured in the fighting.

Sporadic fighting has been continuing in the area, according to the official.

Taliban militants have stepped up activities against government interests elsewhere in the militancy-crippled Afghanistan.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 20:33:45|Editor: ZX

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CHENGDU, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- A senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official on Wednesday stressed establishing accurate thinking on cybersecurity as well as safeguarding national cybersecurity and the public's legitimate rights and interests.

Huang Kunming, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks when he addressed attendees at the opening ceremony of the 2018 China Cybersecurity Week in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province.

It is fundamental to enhance the public awareness of cybersecurity and train talents in the field, Huang said, calling for expanding publicity, education and training concerning cybersecurity.

"Protection of key information infrastructure is the top priority and the Cybersecurity Law should be implemented earnestly," said Huang.

Huang noted strengthened data security and protection of personal information as a key task. He also called for more innovation and reforms to meet cybersecurity challenges.

China officially initiated the first China Cybersecurity Week in 2014. The theme of the publicity week on internet security this year centers on "cybersecurity for the people and cybersecurity through the people."

From Sept. 17 to 23, major events including the cybersecurity exhibition and cybersecurity technology summit will be held.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 20:43:46|Editor: ZX

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DOHA, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese tech giant Huawei said it has become one of the first fully owned technology companies in Qatar, state-run Qatar News Agency reported Wednesday.

"Huawei, a leading global provider of communications and information technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices, became one of the first technology companies with 100 percent ownership in Qatar," Huawei said in a statement on Tuesday evening.

According to the statement, Huawei opened a new office in West Bay area of Qatar's capital Doha, bringing its number of offices in the capital city to three.

The establishment of the third office will help promote the ICT industry in Doha, while expanding Huawei's support to other vital sectors in the city such as oil, gas, transport, education and health, the statement noted.

"This marks an exciting new period of growth for us in the country, and we are looking forward to expanding our activities and collaborating with our local partners and customers to further innovate and drive forward the local ICT industry," said Frank Fan, CEO of Huawei Qatar.

Mohammed Ali Al Mannai, president of Qatar's Communications Regulatory Authority, also expressed welcome to "Huawei's expansion" and "active contribution to the economy."

In 2005, Huawei opened its first office in Qatar. It has now about 180 direct employees as well as many local and international partners.

Over the past few years, the Chinese company has launched several major projects in Qatar, as the telecom giant is working on developing the fifth-generation technology, which is expected to provide better communication services between individuals, vehicles, homes, and appliances.

On May 24, Qatar's cabinet approved a draft law to encourage foreign investment in the country to boost economic development.

The draft law allows the access of non-Qatari investment in all economic fields with up to 100-percent ownership, and provides incentives for foreign investors, including allocating lands to carry out their investment projects, to support such action.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 20:53:48|Editor: xuxin

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BUCHAREST, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Indian Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu announced Wednesday to launch workshops of Ayurveda, a system of medicine, in Romania to meet the growing popularity of the Indian traditional medicine in Romania.

"India is happy to share from its millenarian yoga tradition with your country...we decided to organize Ayurveda workshops with the participation of experts, for curative-preventive purposes and so that the Romanian population will benefit all the advantages of the Ayurveda tradition," Naidu told a joint press conference held with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis.

The two officials appreciated the fact that their countries share not just similar visions, but also common goals and commitments, highlighting the fact that their meeting took place in the year when Romania and India celebrate 70 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, as well as five years from the establishment of the extended partnership between the two countries.

They considered it a good opportunity to strengthen the bilateral relations.

Remarking that Naidu is accompanied by a consistent business delegation, Iohannis encouraged the stimulation of bilateral economic relations and Indian investment in Romania.

"We also agreed that priority should be given to development, cooperation in the fields of culture, education and tourism, areas that have demonstrated throughout the history of the traditional relations between Romania and India that they are genuine bridges of friendship," he said.

"By intensifying investment and trade between the two countries, and also cooperation in such fields as infrastructure, logistics, agriculture, tourism, pharmacy, information technology, we can only bring benefits to both countries," the Indian vice president said in his part.

According to Iohannis, they also exchanged views on issues relevant to the United Nations for its agenda and institutional architecture in the future, taking into account that next week leaders from around the world will meet at the UN headquarters for the annual general assembly.

The Indian vice-president arrived in Bucharest on Tuesday for a three-day visit in Romania. He also had separated meetings with the presidents of the two chambers of the Romanian Parliament and will meet with Prime Minister Viorica Dancila this afternoon, during which the two officials will sign a memorandum of understanding between the two governments for cooperation in tourism cooperation.English French Dutch

Brussels, Wednesday September 19, 2018, 08h30 CEST --- According to Belgian transparency legislation (Law of May 2, 2007), BlackRock Inc. (55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY, 10055, U.S.A.) has notified Solvay S.A. that:

On September 13, 2018 BlackRock Inc. crossed upwards the 3% statutory threshold for direct voting rights, holding 3.00%. Including equivalent financial instruments, the total voting rights stood at 3.25%.

On September 14, 2018 BlackRock Inc. crossed downwards the 3% statutory threshold for direct voting rights, holding 2.99%. Including equivalent financial instruments, the total voting rights stood at 3.25%

Declarations by BlackRock Inc. are published in the Investor Relations Section of Solvay's website.

For the complete press release, please read the enclosed PDF.

Follow us on twitter @SolvayGroupSource: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 21:03:50|Editor: xuxin

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BERLIN, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Most Germans aged between 30 and 59, feel insecure in spite of having achieved a historically unprecedented standard of living, the 2018 "Allensbach" survey published on Wednesday by the German Insurance Association (GDV) finds.

In the latest survey, only 27 percent of members of the so-called "Middle Generation" polled in 2018 indicated that they had confidence in the political stability of Germany. Back in 2015, the share had still been measured at 49 percent. Additionally, two thirds of respondents (67 percent compared to 56 percent in 2016) expressed concern that societal cohesion was either "weak or very weak" with 42 percent going as far as to complain that they were living in "very difficult times."

"Despite being materially content, the Middle Generation is deeply rattled by global crisis, a loss of politically stability in Germany and a changing social climate," Renate Koecher, the president of the Allensbach Institute, which conducted the survey for the GDV, said during the presentation of the results in Berlin.

The GDV has commissioned the closely-watched opinion survey by the Allensbach institute on an annual basis since 2013. This year's findings were based on a representative survey of 1,048 men and women in July 2018.

Although the "Middle Generation" was significantly less optimistic about the general trajectory of their country, the share of respondents who were happy with their personal situation increased slightly to 42 percent in 2018. The group with ages between 30 and 59 hereby viewed their own opportunities and financial means as being greater than those experienced by their parents.

Questioned about their key life goals, health (90 percent), financial independence (82 percent) and a happy partnership (83 percent) topped the list of respondents' priorities in the survey. By contrast, only 14 percent pointed to frugality as an important principle to aspire to, with a further 66 percent admitting that their parents were less spendthrift than them.

As a consequence, GDV president Wolfgang Weiler warned that the "Middle Generation" was likely to fail to achieve their own goal of financial independence unless they started to take measures to ensure that they continued to enjoy a high standard of living in future years. "It must alarm us, when the Middle Generation is saving itself the saving," Weiler told press.

In total, there are more than 35 million people aged between 30 and 59 currently living in Germany. The demographic group is responsible for 70 percent of employment and 80 percent of taxable income, making it a crucial pillar of the country's social welfare system.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 21:03:51|Editor: xuxin

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CAIRO, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Egypt and Cyprus have signed an agreement on construction of an underwater pipeline, Egyptian Oil Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

"The pipeline will carry natural gas from the Cypriot Aphrodite gas field to Egypt to be liquefied before exporting to different world markets," the statement said.

The agreement, signed in the Cypriot capital Nicosia, "will help encourage more oil explorations in the region," said Tariq al-Mulla, Egyptian oil minister.

He pointed out the important strategic location and strong infrastructure of Egypt regarding the future of natural gas in the eastern Mediterranean.

The pipeline will also help contribute to the gas supply for European Union countries, Mulla added.

Meanwhile, Cypriot Energy Minister Yiorgos Lakkotrypis said the agreement aimed at ensuring development, construction, and operation of an underwater pipeline directly to Egypt through the two countries' exclusive economic zones.

Egyptian and Cypriot ties have strengthened since Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi took office in 2014. Leaders of the two countries have met for five tripartite summits in the past four years.

Egypt and Cyprus signed an agreement in November 2017 to cooperate on surveillance of the eastern Mediterranean region to prevent arms, human trafficking and terrorism.

"Thanks to the maritime demarcation deal, the gas deals and discoveries in Egypt raised the prospect of regional integration of energy markets and the potential for gas to run to Europe," Waleed Gab-Allah, a professor of financial and economic jurisdictions at Cairo University, told Xinhua.

The cooperation with Cyrus through the gas maritime deals will help Egypt transform into an energy hub in the region, he noted.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 21:08:53|Editor: xuxin

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ISLAMABAD, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- At least two security personnel were killed and another was critically injured when some unidentified militants sprayed bullets at their vehicle in Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province on Wednesday, local media reported.

According to the reports, the security forces personnel were on their routine duty when they came under attack in the Main Market area of Qila Saifullah, a district in the Balochistan province.

The attackers, riding on motorcycles, managed to flee from the scene following the attack, said the police.

After the attack, law enforcement agencies and rescue team rushed to the site and shifted the bodies and injured to Qila Saifullah Hospital in the district.

The Police cordoned off the area and kicked off a search operation in the surroundings to apprehend the on-the-run militants.

Chief Minister of Balochistan Jam Kamal Khan has condemned the terrorist attack on the security forces and expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives. No group or person has claimed the attack yet.

On Tuesday, security forces foiled a major terrorist bid in Balochistan and recovered huge cache of arms and ammunition during an operation. Meanwhile, at least 265 anti-state militants from various banned organizations have laid down arms and surrendered to the government in the province.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 21:23:57|Editor: ZX

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BEIJING, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- A recent survey by the China Research Institute of Science Popularization shows that the proportion of Chinese scientifically-literate citizens has increased to 8.47 percent, up 2.27 percentage points from three years ago.

The survey was released during the three-day World Conference on Science Literacy in Beijing, which concluded Wednesday.

The level of public science literacy matches regional economic and social development. According to the survey, well developed provincial-level regions had a higher proportion than the national average, and major cities such as Shanghai and Beijing were on the top, reaching over 20 percent.

"The gap in science literacy between urban and rural population is narrowing," said He Wei, researcher with the institute.

The urban proportion of the scientifically-literate population in China grew to 11.55 percent, up 1.83 percentage points from 2015, while the proportion of the rural population hit 4.93 percent, an increase of 2.5 percentage points.

"The younger generations, those born in the 1980s and 1990s, have a high proportion of science literacy, which lays a foundation for building an innovative country," He said.

Most Chinese are getting their science news or knowledge through television and online platforms, reaching 68.5 percent and 64.6 percent respectively, the survey said.

Wang Kangyou, director of the institute, said that the main reason for the growth was the government encouraging and investing in the promotion of science-based knowledge.

According to Wang, in 2016 China had 920 science and technology museums with 2.8 million square meters of exhibition areas in total, triple the number of 2006, and 1.85 million people working on popularizing science, an increase of nearly 230,000 from a decade ago.

China aims to have 10 percent of its population become scientifically literate by 2020, but inequity in scientific literacy is still a challenge.

To promote China's science popularization, the role of the market also needs to be strengthened, Wang said.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 21:29:59|Editor: ZX

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Local residents learn to make mooncakes in a community of Gu'an County, north China's Hebei Province, Sept. 19, 2018. The Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on Sept. 24 this year, is marked on the full-moon day of the eighth month of the Chinese lunar calender. The Chinese traditions to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival include eating mooncakes with one's family while gazing at the full moon. (Xinhua/Men Congshuo)Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 21:34:01|Editor: ZX

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YINCHUAN, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Celebrations are underway to mark the 60th anniversary of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Here are some basic facts about the region.

As one of the five autonomous regions in China, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region was established on Oct. 25, 1958.

The region covers an area of 66,400 sq km. It has a population of more than 6.81 million, including about 2.48 million people of Hui ethnic group, 36.31 percent of the region's total population.

Over the past six decades, the region's economy has expanded from 328 million yuan (47.8 million U.S. dollars) to over 345 billion yuan. In 2017, the region's GDP per capita exceeded 50,000 yuan, 290 times that for 1958.

The region's foreign trade volume topped 5 billion U.S. dollars in 2017, 715 times that for 1958. As of 2017, Ningxia has economic and trade relations with more than 180 countries and regions.

Ningxia is rich in coal resources, the proved reserves of coal in the region ranked the 6th in the country.

The wine industry is thriving in Ningxia in recent years. The grape-growing area in the region reached 38,000 hectares, and annual wine output totals almost 100,000 tonnes.

Ningxia has lifted more than 3.3 million residents out of poverty in the past 35 years, but there are still 238,900 people living under the poverty line in the region. The region aims to help poor population shake off poverty by 2020.

Ningxia is famous for its natural landscapes including mountains, rivers, desert, forest, gobi and wetlands, among others. More than 31 million visitors from home and abroad visited the region last year.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 21:34:02|Editor: ZX

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NANCHANG, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- China's first aircraft independently developed by a private company, the Guanyi GA20, made a successful maiden flight in east China's Jiangxi Province on Wednesday.

The GA20 is a four-seater, general purpose, single propeller-driven aircraft developed by Guanyi General Aviation, a private company based in Shanghai.

During the 26-minute maiden flight, the plane ascended to a height of about 300 meters, made a number of routine tests, before landing smoothly at an airport in Nanchang, capital of Jiangxi.

With an overall length of 8.1 meters and a wingspan of 9.4 meters, the plane is powered by a Lycoming O-320 engine and equipped with a Garmin aviation system. It is designed for multiple purposes such as aviation training, private aviation and tourism.

Guanyi began to develop the aircraft in 2014 and has settled its general aviation industrial base in the Nanchang High-tech Zone. It plans an annual output of 200 by 2022.

After the successful maiden flight, Guanyi plans to produce five more GA20s. The company is also developing self-driving cargo aircraft and twin-engine planes.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 21:39:06|Editor: xuxin

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BERILN, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Federal Constitutional Court in Germany has ruled on Wednesday that a controversial national census held in 2011 was compatible with the country's constitutional law (Grundgesetz).

The Karlsruhe-based judges hereby rejected closely-watched legal complaints filed by Berlin and Hamburg in which the two city states criticized the new micro-census methodology used in the population-counting exercise. The first census to be held since German re-unification revealed that the country has around 1.5 million inhabitants less than previously assumed, a finding which carried far-reaching fiscal implications for some regional and municipal governments.

Under the so-called "financial compensation" (Finanzausgleich) system in Germany, the country's 16 federal states and municipal governments are all allocated a share of the annual federal government which also corresponds with their population size among other indicators.

Large cities such as Berlin in Hamburg in particular have hence lost out on millions of euros in federal funds each year since the 2011 census in which their official populations shrunk. In total, around 340 cities and municipalities subsequently filed lawsuits in a bid to overturn the census.

Such hopes are now unlikely to be fulfilled given the latest verdict by the Federal Constitutional Court on the matter. The judges concluded that the micro-census practice to rely on surveys of only around 10 percent of the population and supplement this information with official data on residents from a range of government agencies is legally sound.

Presiding judge Andreas Vosskuhle said that a high quality of procedures to determine the number of German inhabitants was mandated by the constitution due to its "high political and financial importance" but saw no breach of the principle in the use of the micro-census methodology. Vosskuhle noted that other countries relied on this practice as well due to its lower costs and argued that it was actually "more considerate to the constitution" than the alternative because it required citizens to provide less personal data to authorities.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 21:49:08|Editor: xuxin

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BERLIN, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- The world's leading automotive trade fair for commercial vehicles, the biannual IAA Commercial Vehicles in the German city of Hanover, opened its doors for the 67th time on Wednesday.

This year's exhibition takes place under the motto "Driving Tomorrow".

Speaking at the opening press conference on Tuesday, Bernhard Mattes, president of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), highlighted that the automotive industry was facing up to the great challenges of the future such as digitization, connectivity, automated driving, electric mobility and other alternative drive systems.

The trade fair includes 2,174 exhibitors from around 48 countries. In total, exhibitors present 435 global premieres for the commercial vehicle sector, a record figures for the IAA, on an area of 282,000 square meters.

The market for commercial vehicles in Germany is growing. On Sept. 14, VDA announced that a new sales record is expected for 2018. In August, 33,500 new vehicles were registered. This means an increase of 12 percent compared to last year and "thus the highest domestic sales ever measured in August," said VDA President Mattes.

The industrialization of electric mobility is happening, especially in the commercial vehicle sector, according to Mattes and he points out that IAA trade visitors can test drive over 35 models with alternative drive systems such as electric vehicles on the IAA exhibition grounds.

Germany's roads, railways and waterways transport 4.3 billion tons of goods annually, according to the German ministry of transport (BMVI). On long-distance haulage, however, electric drives quickly reach their limits for heavy transporters in particular, industry expert Stefan Bratzel told the German press agency (dpa). Engines that use liquefied petroleum gas (LNG) as an alternative fuel could serve as a substitute, Bratzel added.

Bosch, Germany's largest automotive supplier, also attaches great importance to electric mobility. Bosch announced at the IAA that in 2030 one in four commercial vehicles would be electrically powered. In China, the ratio would even be one in three by 2030.

The diesel engine, which has come under heavy pressure in the exhaust gas scandal from both public and political groups in Germany as well as internationally, would remain the most common engine type, according to Bosch. Between 80 and 90 percent of all commercial vehicles would still be powered by diesel engines in 2025.

VDA President Mattes describes the suggestion by the European Union to reduce CO2 emissions of heavy commercial vehicles as "anything but easy to implement". In May, the EU Commission submitted a proposal in order to reduce CO2 emissions of newly registered heavy commercial vehicles. The proposal seeks to lower emissions from vehicles like trucks by at least 30 percent compared to 2019 levels by 2030.

"The clean and efficient Euro VI diesel will remain the top dog economically and ecologically in heavy long-haul traffic for the time being," said Mattes.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 21:59:09|Editor: xuxin

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NICOSIA, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Cyprus and Egypt signed an agreement for the construction of an underwater pipeline to export natural gas to Egypt, a statement said on Wednesday.

It said the deal was signed by Minister of Energy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism Yiorgos Lakkotrypis and Egypt's Oil Minister Tarek el Molla, in the present of an EU official who expressed support for the project.

The terms of the actual commercial agreement for the construction of the pipe will be discussed between the companies involved in the project, a Noble Energy consortium and the operators of a liquefaction plant at Idku, Egypt.

Lakkotrypis said the agreement was aimed at ensuring the timely and safe development, construction, and operation of an underwater pipeline directly to Egypt through the two countries' exclusive economic zones.

A joint committee will be set up in the next 30 days to oversee the project.

The pipe is intended to convey natural gas from Cyprus's Aphrodite natural gas field to a liquefaction plant at Idku, a town in Egypt's Beheira Governorate.

Aphrodite is operated by Texas-based Noble Energy in association with the Israeli Dalek Drilling and Royal Dutch Shell through its acquisition of British Gas.

It is estimated that Aphrodite field, some 160 kilometres off the south shores of Cyprus, contains between 3.6 and 6 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

The pipe will make use of existing Egyptian infrastructure from depleted gas fields to Idku.

The agreement includes a stipulation that liquefied gas from Idku will be mainly destined for European countries.

An official of the Directorate-General for Energy of the European Union present at the signing ceremony said that Europe is an attractive market for natural gas reserves in the eastern Mediterranean.

The official also said the European Commission supports the building of liquefaction plants on European soil if adequate quantities of gas are discovered, as well as the East Med project which is currently under study by Israel, Cyprus, Greece and Italy for the construction of a natural gas pipe from the eastern Mediterranean to the shores of Italy through Cyprus and Greece.

A field discovered by Italian state ENI company in Cyprus's exclusive economic zone is said to be among the top five gas fields in the world, but a final assessment of its capacity is still pending.

Exxon Mobil, in association with Qatar Petroleum, is scheduled to start an offshore exploratory natural gas drilling in the last quarter of this year.VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FinCanna Capital Corp. (FinCanna) (CSE: CALI) (OTCQB: FNNZF) a royalty company for the U.S. licensed medical cannabis industry is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Rosy Mondin to its Board of Advisors. Ms. Mondin is a leading advocate for the legalization of adult use cannabis in Canada and is the first woman to hold the role of CEO in a publicly traded company in the cannabis sector.



Specializing in corporate law, Ms. Mondin served as strategic advisor for several companies involved in the processing, distribution, and safe use of medical cannabis. She co-founded Soma Labs Scientific in 2014, which amalgamated to form Quadron Cannatech Corporation in 2016. Ms. Mondin is CEO and Director of the company, which focuses on extraction and processing solutions.

Ms. Mondin is also the co-Founder and Executive Director of the Cannabis Trade Alliance of Canada (CTAC) and Special Advisor to the Canadian Association of Medical Cannabis Dispensaries (CAMCD), where she works with industry leaders, government legislators and educators to develop an inclusive, safe, and ethical cannabis industry. Ms. Mondin has over 18 years of legal and entrepreneurial experience launching and managing startups and public companies.

We are honoured to have a woman with Rosys in-depth industry knowledge join our Board of Advisors. Her addition serves to further strengthen our team of well-respected industry thought leaders, said Andriyko Herchak, President and CEO of FinCanna Capital. Rosys credibility within government, advocacy, education, and business circles has earned her a solid reputation as an entrepreneurial leader, special advisor, and legislative authority in the cannabis space. We look forward to her contributions to FinCanna as our investee companies move towards commercialization and we expand our royalty portfolio.

I am very pleased to be joining FinCannas Board of Advisors, said Ms. Mondin. I am highly supportive of the companys positive stance with respect to the licensed medical cannabis sector and look forward to supporting the future growth and development of the company.

About FinCanna Capital Corp.

FinCanna provides financing to top-tier companies in the licensed medical cannabis industry in exchange for a royalty on revenues. FinCanna, led by a team of finance and industry experts, is building its diversified portfolio of royalty investments in scalable, best-in-class projects and companies in U.S. legal states, with a focus on California. For additional information visit www.fincannacapital.com and FinCannas profile at www.sedar.com.

FinCanna Capital Corp.

Andriyko Herchak, CEO & Director

Investor Relations:

Arlen Hansen

Kin Communications

1-866-684-6730

CALI@kincommunications.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release may involve forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements that relate to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", and "intend", statements that an action or event "may", "might", "could", "should", or "will" be taken or occur, or other similar expressions. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements about how the developing U.S. legal regime will impact the cannabis industry. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the risks identified in the CSE listing statement and other reports and filings with the applicable Canadian securities regulators. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made, and the respective companies undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances unless required by applicable law.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 22:09:11|Editor: ZX

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BEIJING, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Dialogue and consultations based on equality, sincerity and mutual respect are the only viable way out for the China-U.S. trade issues, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Wednesday.

After Washington announced the latest tariff offensive against China, U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross told media that the intention of the U.S. is to make constructive dialogue with China. As to whether and when the two sides would hold such dialogue, Ross said the matter is in China's ballpark.

In response, spokesperson Geng Shuang said at a daily news briefing that on one hand sending out negotiation invitations, on the other hand keeping up maximum pressure has become a routine trick of the U.S., while China has seen clearly and taken it calmly.

"Not long ago, China received an invitation from the U.S. to hold trade negotiations, and the two sides had been in discussion about the details," Geng said. "However, the U.S. on Tuesday announced additional tariffs to be levied on 200 billion U.S. dollars worth of Chinese goods, and threatening to adopt further tariff escalation measures."

Geng also mentioned two such cases that occured in June and August.

"Threats, intimidation and blackmail against China are useless," the spokesperson said, adding China would continue to steadfastly advance reform and opening up in line with its own timetable and roadmap while continuing to firmly safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.

"The essence of China-U.S. trade cooperation is mutual benefit," he said, adding that it is not terrible if there are differences, while dialogue and negotiations based on equality, sincerity and mutual respect are the only correct way to resolve China-U.S. trade issues.

"We hope the U.S. side could demonstrate goodwill and sincerity," he said.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 22:14:12|Editor: xuxin

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BERLIN, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Federation of German Trade Unions (DGB) and the Federal Association of German Tenants (DMB) have criticized chancellor Angela Merkel's government on Wednesday for failing to ensure an adequate provision of social housing for their citizens.

The DGB and DMB complained during a joint press conference that housing policies pursued by the ruling "grand coalition", formed by the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Christian Social Union (CSU) and German Social Democrats (SPD), were inadequate to halt steep rises in rental costs and create more affordable housing units for lower-income earners. The two organizations argued that the federal government would have to provide public annual funding of at least 6 billion euros in order to ensure the construction of a desired level of 100,000 social housing units per year.

Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) is scheduled to host a "housing summit" attended by all levels of German government on Friday to deliberate ways of addressing a growing housing shortage in spite of booming construction in major cities. Seehofer recently described affordable housing as the "key social question of our times" in a speech held in the federal parliament (Bundestag) after having named immigration as the "mother of all political problems" only a few weeks earlier.

During their press conference on Wednesday, the DGB, DMB and a host of other social organizations estimated that number of affordable housing units in Germany had fallen from 4 million 30 years ago to only 1.25 million in 2018 while rents and real estate prices have soared in both absolute and relative terms (to income, note).

Aside from intervening directly in the market by building more homes itself, the DGB and DMB recommended to the federal government to alleviate the situation by further tightening rent control legislation and offering more legal protection to tenants.

The Federal Association of the German Construction Industry (HDB) recently estimated that between 330,000 and 340,000 newly-built apartments will be completed in Germany 2018, slightly short of a government target of 350,000 needed to meet current levels of demand.

More worryingly, HDB drew attention to an overhang of 400,000 outstanding building permits which have yet to result in any actual construction. The association warned that the circumstance at least in part owed to the increasingly speculative behavior of investors in large cities who were delaying construction in anticipation of higher property prices.

Such speculation is particularly rampant in the German capital. Average rents have more than doubled in since 2008, the fastest rate of increase recorded in the country. It is not unusual for several hundreds of interested parties to compete for available apartments, while foreign-owned properties are kept empty in the hope that their value will rise as Berlin continues to grow.

The situation has become so dramatic that Berlin mayor Michael Mueller (SPD) is now openly mulling the imposition of bans on purchases of property by foreigners in the city. Mueller has argued that tighter legal restrictions on foreign real estate investment would help ensure an adequate supply of affordable housing for Berlin's 3.7 million inhabitants.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 22:19:13|Editor: Yurou

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Protesters participate in a gathering in Tokyo, Japan, on Sept. 19, 2018. Thousands of people across Japan rallied Wednesday to protest against the controversial security laws that were enacted by the parliament three year ago. Over 5,000 protesters gathered in Hibiya Park, downtown Tokyo on Wednesday evening, calling for scrapping the controversial security laws. (Xinhua/Du Xiaoyi)

TOKYO, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of people across Japan rallied Wednesday to protest against the controversial security laws that were enacted by the parliament three year ago.

Over 5,000 protesters gathered in Hibiya Park, downtown Tokyo on Wednesday evening, calling for scrapping the controversial security laws.

Tetsuro Fukuyama, secretary general of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ), said at the gathering that the security laws violated Japan's pacifist Constitution and the people would continue to fight for scrapping the controversial laws.

At another gathering near the parliamentary building, Hitomi Sugiura, a representative of a civil group dedicated to filing lawsuits against the controversial security laws, said that as of September this year, 25 such lawsuits had been filed with 22 courts across Japan with over 7,500 plaintiffs.

She said that the controversial security laws eroded into Japan's pacifist Constitution and could drag Japan into wars, and it's hoped that the lawsuits could alert people of the risks brought by the controversial laws.

Japanese military critic Tetsuo Maeda said that since the new security laws were enacted, integration between the U.S. military and the Japanese Self Defense Forces has been deepening, and the Japanese government has also been trying to revise the pacifist Constitution.

He called upon people to take actions and prevent such movements that could bring danger to Japan.

Protests of various scales were also held in the prefectures of Hokkaido, Niigata, Yamagata and Kagoshima.

The Japanese government forcibly enacted the controversial security laws on Sept. 19, 2015, which, marking a significant overturn of Japan's "purely defensive" defense posture, caused widespread concerns and criticism both at home and abroad.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 22:29:14|Editor: Yurou

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Photo taken on Sept. 19, 2018 shows the swearing in ceremony of Rwanda's newly-elected parliament members at the parliament in Kigali, Rwanda. Rwanda's newly-elected parliament members were sworn in for a five-year term in the capital city Kigali Wednesday. (Xinhua/Cyril Ndegeya)

KIGALI, Sep. 19 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda's newly-elected parliament members were Wednesday sworn in for a five-year term in the capital city Kigali.

The 80 members of the lower house Chamber of Deputies were voted in parliamentary elections conducted from Sept. 2 to 4, where the ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) and its six allied parties won 40 seats out of 53 seats directly elected by proportional representation. The other 27 seats reserved for special interest groups including women, the young and the disabled were elected indirectly.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who officiated the swearing-in ceremony, urged the lawmakers to hold government accountable in serving citizens and delivering development.

"It is about starting a new mandate and committing to working hard. Rwandans have placed their trust in you to serve them and work towards transforming this country into what Rwandans want and deserve," he said after the ceremony.

He also urged them to remain close to the citizenry.

After the swearing in ceremony, the lawmakers elected Donatille Mukabalisa of Liberal Party as Speaker for a second term with 80 votes out of 80. They also elected Edda Mukabagwiza and Musa Fazil Harelimana to Deputy Speaker.

More than 7 million voters participated in the elections, according to the National Electoral Commission.

Parties who also won seats in the elections include the Social Democratic Party, the Liberal Party, the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda and the Social Party Imberakuri.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 22:39:18|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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ADEN, Yemen, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Forces loyal to Yemen's internationally-backed government aborted an attack launched by the Houthi group in the country's central province of al-Bayda on Wednesday, killing at least 18 rebels.

According to a brief statement released by Media Center of the armed forces, the Houthis attempted to sneak into a military site manned by government forces in Malajem area of al-Bayda province.

But the government forces engaged in armed confrontations with the Houthis and managed to repulse the attack that resulted in killing 18 rebels, the statement said.

The statement said also that mid-level commanders of the Iranian-backed Houthi group were among the killed militants during the fighting with government forces in al-Bayda province.

The impoverished Arab country has been locked into a civil war since the Iranian-backed Shiite Houthi rebels overran much of the country militarily and seized all northern provinces, including capital Sanaa, in 2014.

Saudi Arabia with other Arab countries intervened militarily and began pounding the Houthi-controlled capital Sanaa in March 2015 in response to an official public request from Hadi to protect Yemen and roll back Iran's influence.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 22:44:19|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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DAMASCUS, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic State (IS) militants unleashed a counter-offensive Wednesday against the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) militia in eastern Syria, a war monitor reported.

The IS militants started its counter-offensive with the detonation of two booby-trapped vehicles targeting the Kurdish-led SDF positions in the Baghous area in the eastern countryside of Deir al-Zour province, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The counter-attack comes against the backdrop of the wide-scale offensive that has been launched by the SDF, with the backing of the U.S.-led coalition, on the last IS-held pocket on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River in eastern Deir al-Zour on Sept. 10.

The IS militants are also attempting to thwart the advance of the SDF through planting mines, some of which are advanced and laser-controlled that are difficult to be detected.

The terror-designated militants also carried out suicide bombings to stop the SDF from advancing in the areas of Baghous and Hajin in the last IS-held pocket in the eastern countryside of Deir al-Zour.

Recent reports said the IS-controlled Syrian territory has shrunk to one percent from almost half of the country a couple of years ago.

The Syrian army has cleared the IS from large swathes of areas in Deir al-Zour Province, including its namesake capital city, while the SDF is attempting to consolidate positions in the northern and northeastern countryside of the province.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 22:49:20|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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MOGADISHU, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Unknown gunmen have murdered a Somali journalist in central Somali town of Galkayo in the latest attack targeting media workers in the Horn of Africa nation, union officials said on Wednesday.

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) said the 29-year-old Abdirizak Said Osman, a newscaster and reporter for Radio Voice of Peace was stabbed to death on Tuesday evening.

"We deplore the barbaric killing of Abdirizak Said Osman the Puntland authorities must chase and catch the killers and those who masterminded Abdirizak's killing and bring them to justice," NUSOJ secretary general Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimuu said in a statement issued in Mogadishu.

Moalimuu said unknown assailants stabbed Osman at least six times in the chest and back in Garsoor village. He died from his wounds on his way to the General Hospital of Galkayo, according to his colleagues at Radio Voice of Peace.

The motive of the killing is still unknown and no one has so far been arrested following the brutal act, though the police said they are investigating the matter.

"Many crimes against journalists were committed with impunity but this time we demand the criminals to be prosecuted in front of justice," said Mahir Jama Aden, NUSOJ chairman.

Osman becomes the second journalist to be killed in Somalia in this year, according to the union.

On July 26, Abdirizak Kasim Iimaan, a TV cameraman, was killed by a policeman at a checkpoint in Mogadishu but no suspect has been arrested.

Somalia remains one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists with dozens having been killed, maimed or forced to leave the country.

The Committee to Protect Journalists has said about 30 journalists have been killed in Somalia from 2012 to date.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 22:49:20|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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BERLIN, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- The number of Chinese exhibitors at InnoTrans, the railway industry trade fair, in Berlin has been growing steadily for years, Senior Vice President InnoTrans Matthias Steckmann told Xinhua on Wednesday.

Around 180 Chinese exhibitors, with a total of exhibiting area of more than 6,000 square metres, have attended the bi-annual railway industry trade fair, the fourth largest after Germany, France and Italy, Steckmann said.

"This is reflected in the growing importance of China's mobility industry, not just at InnoTrans," Steckmann added.

According to him, this year's InnoTrans is more compact, innovative and informative than ever before. Innovations can be found in all five segments at InnoTrans: Railway Technology, Railway Infrastructure, Public Transport, Interiors and Tunnel Construction, Steckmann said.

Some 3,062 exhibitors from 61 countries and regions with over 400 new products have participated in the Berlin Exhibition Grounds. Over 62 percent of them are foreign participants.

"We look forward to the Chinese mobility industry's growing participation in InnoTrans," Steckmann concluded.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 22:49:21|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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JUBA, Sept.19 (Xinhua) -- South Sudanese women on Wednesday called on their leaders to show political will toward implementation of a recent peace agreement ahead of the World Peace Day to be marked on Sept. 21.

South Sudanese women staged a peaceful procession to welcome the recently-signed revitalized peace agreement.

Betty Sunday, a woman leader told Xinhua in Juba that the women in collaboration with civil society groups welcomed the signed final peace pact and urged President Salva Kiir, rebel leader Riek Machar and other parties to be genuine towards the peace implementation.

"We appeal to our leaders who have committed themselves to signing the revitalized final peace deal to put aside their political differences and implement the agreement in letter and spirit," Sunday said.

Mary Justo Tombe, information officer at the Women Monthly Forum, said all the signatories to the agreement should get it right this time round to bring a sustainable peace to the world's youngest nation.

"Signing of peace is a good thing, but the actual realization will be in the implementation and that is when we will feel peace is in the country," Tombe said.

She said women, children, the elderly, and the disabled should not continue bearing the burden and consequences of the conflict.

The peace march was organized by the Women Monthly Forum in conjunction with the South Sudan Peace Commission, United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) and brought together over 300 women from various women's organizations in Juba.

South Sudan's warring parties last week signed the final revitalized peace agreement to end five years of killing and suffering in the East African nation after conflict erupted in 2013 after forces loyal to Kiir and his former deputy Machar engaged in combat.

The 2015 peace agreement to end the violence was again violated in July 2016 when the rival factions resumed fighting in Juba which forced Machar to flee into exile.

Millions of South Sudanese civilians have sought refuge in neighboring countries as the conflict rages on despite attempts by international players to end it.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 23:09:25|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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DAMASCUS, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Around 7,000 people have returned home in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib within two days after the recent Russian-Turkish deal that averted a wide-scale Syrian military offensive, local news reported Wednesday.

The people returned to the countryside of Idlib and the nearby northern countryside of Hama province in central Syria, said the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The UN said more than 30,000 people fled their homes out of fear of an all-out assault on Idlib, the last major rebel stronghold in Syria.

The situation has changed when the Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed Monday to avoid a military confrontation in Idlib and establish a demilitarized zone instead.

Idlib is home to some of the government's staunchest opponents, including civilians and insurgents.

The deal minimized the sight of war in Idlib at least for the time being, causing people to start returning home.Dublin, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Laparoscopy and Endoscopy Devices Market: Focus on Surgical Procedures (Cholecystectomy and Hysterectomy) and Product Types (Arthroscopes, Neuroendoscopes, Cystoscope, and Bronchoscopes) - Analysis and Forecast, 2018-2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



In 2017, the overall laparoscopy and endoscopy devices market was worth $18.39 billion and is growing with a CAGR of 4.80% in the forecast period, 2018-2025.



Increasing number of surgical procedures performed using minimally invasive approaches (laparoscopy/endoscopy) is driving the growth of laparoscopy and endoscopy devices.



For example, nearly 15 million laparoscopic procedures are performed every year, globally and the U.S. alone contributes to 32% of the number, i.e. around 4,800,000 procedures. Since the advent of laparoscopy in the 1990s, the technique is used to perform 1.2 million cholecystectomies. However, high procedural cost, high learning curve, and an increasing number of standards & regulatory oversight likely to restrain the growth of the market.



Currently, endoscopy devices segment occupies the largest share of the market with an estimated value of $10.33 billion, and the market is growing with a CAGR of 3.60% in the forecast period, 2018-2025. The major reason for the sluggish growth is the maturity of this technology in the developed regions such as North America and Europe.



While there still exists a plethora of opportunities in the emerging regions, such as Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Latin America, due to a rising number of government-funded cancer screening programs. The endoscopy devices segment can further be categorized into Endoscopes and Endoscopic Systems; Video and Visualization Systems; Instruments and Accessories; and Other (Reprocessing and Sterilization); among others.



In 2017, endoscope and endoscopic systems had the largest market value of 4.23 billion; however, the video and visualization category is expected to be the fastest growing segment with a CAGR of 5.70% during the forecast period. The high growth rate for the video and visualization systems segment is primarily due to the rising demand for improving diagnostic accuracy from the medical community requiring enhanced image resolution.



The endoscopy devices market segment can further be bifurcated into rigid and flexible endoscopes. In 2017, the flexible endoscopic devices constitute the largest segment (53% of the overall endoscopy devices market in 2017) with the global worth of $2.26 billion and are growing with a CAGR of 2.90% during the forecast period. The major drivers facilitating the growth of flexible endoscope devices market include increasing number of patients suffering from chronic diseases and GI disorders such as colorectal, oesophageal, or pancreatic cancers, biliary disease, and inflammatory bowel diseases among others.



There also exist significant opportunities for endoscopic re-processors as every endoscope must be decontaminated after its use to prevent cross-contamination of patients. The endoscopic devices market is also shifting from manual to standardized automated processing, representing as an excellent opportunity for companies existing/entering the endoscopy devices market.



Key Topics Covered:



Executive Summary

1 Market Overview

1.1 Global Addressable Market Size and Growth Potential: Laparoscopy and Endoscopy Devices

1.2 Key Regional Markets for Laparoscopy and Endoscopy Devices

1.2.1 North America Addressable Market Size and Growth Potential: Laparoscopy and Endoscopy Devices

1.2.2 Europe Addressable Market Size and Growth Potential: Laparoscopy and Endoscopy Devices

1.2.3 Asia-Pacific Addressable Market Size and Growth Potential: Laparoscopy and Endoscopy Devices

1.2.4 Latin America Addressable Market Size and Growth Potential: Laparoscopy and Endoscopy Devices

1.2.5 Middle East and Africa (MEA) Addressable Market Size and Growth Potential: Laparoscopy and Endoscopy Devices

1.3 Recent Launches: Laparoscopy and Endoscopy Devices Market

1.4 Recent Technological Advancements in the Field of 3D Endoscopic Surgery



2 Market Dynamics

2.1 Overview

2.2 Impact Analysis

2.3 Drivers

2.4 Restraints

2.5 Opportunities



3 Competitive Landscape

3.1 Key Developments and Strategies

3.1.1 Product Launches and Development

3.1.2 Mergers and Acquisitions

3.1.3 Collaboration, Partnerships, and Joint Ventures

3.1.4 Business Expansion and Contracts

3.1.5 Others

3.2 Market Share Analysis

3.3 Industry Attractiveness

3.3.1 Threat of New Entrants

3.3.2 Threat of Substitute Products

3.3.3 Bargaining Power of Buyers

3.3.4 Bargaining Power of Suppliers

3.3.5 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry

3.4 Patent Analysis



4 Comparative Analysis

4.1 Demand Analysis

4.2 Opportunity Mapping

4.3 Cost Comparison

4.4 Patient Compliances and End-User Perceptions

4.5 Regional Comparison of Adoption Rate



5 Pricing Analysis

5.1 Cost Differences Between Robotic Assisted Procedures as well as Non Robotic Procedures

5.2 Pricing Analysis: Colonoscopy Verses Capsule Endoscopy

5.3 Laparoscopy and Endoscopy Devices: Price (in $)



6 Surgical Procedure Volumes (Quantitative Data)

6.1 Colonoscopy Procedure Volume

6.2 Endoscopy Procedure Volume

6.3 Laparoscopic Procedure Volume

6.4 Inguinal Hernia Procedure Volume

6.5 Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Procedure Volume

6.6 Cholecystectomy Procedure Volume

6.7 Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Procedure Volume

6.8 Hysterectomy Procedure Volume

6.9 Laparoscopic Hysterectomy Procedure Volume



7 Global Laparoscopy and Endoscopy Devices Market, by Product

7.1 Overview

7.2 Endoscopy, by Sub-Product

7.3 Endoscopy, by Region

7.4 Endoscopy, by Type

7.4.1 Rigid Endoscopes Market, by Type

7.4.2 Rigid Endoscopes Market: Urology Rigid Endoscopes Market, by Type

7.5 Flexible Endoscopes Market, by Type

7.5.1 Flexible Endoscopes Market: Gastrointestinal Flexible Endoscopes Market, by Type

7.6 Video and Visualization Systems Market, by Type

7.7 Instruments and Accessories Market, by Type

7.8 Capsule Endoscopy Market, by Sub Products

7.9 Laparoscopy Market, by Sub-Product

7.10 Laparoscopy Market: Video and Visualization Systems Market, by Type



8 Global Laparoscopy and Endoscopy Devices Market, by Application

8.1 Overview

8.2 General Surgery

8.3 Cardiac Surgery

8.4 Gynecology Surgery

8.5 Orthopaedic Surgery

8.6 Urologic Surgery

8.7 Bariatric Surgery

8.8 Neurological Surgery



9 Global Laparoscopy and Endoscopy Devices Market, by End Users

9.1 Hospitals

9.2 Ambulatory Surgical Centers

9.3 Others



10 Global Laparoscopy and Endoscopy Devices Market, by Region



11 Company Profiles



Arthrex Inc.

B. Braun Melsungen AG

Boston Scientific Corporation

CONMED Corporation

Cogentix Medical, Inc.

Cook Medical LLC

Fortimedix Surgical B.V.

FUJIFILM Medical Systems U.S.A., Inc.

Johnson & Johnson Corporation

KARL STORZ SE & Co. KG

Life Care Medical Devices Limited

Medtronic Plc

Olympus Corporation

Pentax Medical

Richard Wolf GmbH

Smith & Nephew plc

Stryker Corporation

Silex Medical, LLC

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/626pqp/global?w=12

Did you know that we also offer Custom Research? Visit our Custom Research page to learn more and schedule a meeting with our Custom Research Manager.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 23:14:27|Editor: Liangyu

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Chinese President Xi Jinping (2nd R) and his wife Peng Liyuan (1st R) visit Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni (2nd L) and Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, ahead of the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival, in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 19, 2018. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

BEIJING, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan on Wednesday visited Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni and Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, ahead of the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival, in Beijing.

Wishing the King and the Queen Mother a happy festival and good health, Xi said the close and special relationship between China and Cambodia is characterized by deep historical feelings.

Since the two countries established diplomatic ties 60 years ago, the China-Cambodia friendship, which was forged and cultivated by Chinese leaders of the older generation and Cambodian King Father Norodom Sihanouk, is growing more and more vibrant.

Applauding King Sihamoni and Queen Mother Monineath's significant contribution to the bilateral relations, Xi said China treasures the special friendship with the Cambodian royal family.

"From 2016 until now, I have met with King Sihamoni and Queen Mother Monineath every year, just like gatherings between family members," Xi said, adding that he and King Sihamoni have reached important consensus on inheriting and carrying forward the traditional friendship, leading the bilateral relationship to the best-ever period in history.

Xi called for frequent interactions between the two nations at a high official level as well as among the people "like close relatives."

Congratulating the successful general election in Cambodia, Xi expressed his wish that the Southeast Asian country win new and greater achievements in its national development.

Xi said China attaches great importance to its ties with Cambodia and will work together with the Cambodian side to carry forward the traditional friendship and step up the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership continuously.

Expressing their gratitude for Xi and Peng, King Sihamoni and Queen Mother Monineath said it feels like meeting family members every time they see President Xi and Professor Peng.

The Cambodian people are grateful for China's firm and long-lasting support and assistance as well as President Xi's great attention to the development of the Cambodia-China ties, said King Sihamoni and Queen Mother Monineath.

Recalling President Xi's historic visit to Cambodia in 2016, King Sihamoni and Queen Mother Monineath said the visit elevated the Cambodia-China relationship to a new high.

Hailing the firm friendship and booming cooperation between the two countries, the King and the Mother Queen said the royal family will inherit the friendship forged by King Father Sihanouk and continue advancing the comprehensive strategic cooperation between Cambodia and China.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 23:14:27|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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KATHMAMDU, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Amid increased economic engagement between Nepal and China, a lot of opportunity have been opened for Nepali banks to facilitate trade and investment between the two countries, a top official of Nepal's leading commercial bank said.

In an interview with Xinhua last week, Sunil K.C., chief executive officer of NMB Bank Limited which leads a consortium of five local commercial banks to finance the Hongshi Shivam Cement Private Limited, a Nepal-China joint venture company, said that growing involvement of Chinese companies as investors, contractors and suppliers of goods and services in Nepal has opened more business opportunities for Nepali banks.

In the last fiscal year 2017-18 that concluded in mid-July, Chinese investors committed a total of 404 million U.S. dollar to Nepal, which represents 84 percent of total foreign direct investment (FDI) pledged to Nepal. China pledged the highest FDI to Nepal three years in a row as since fiscal 2015-16, according to the Department of Industry which registers industries.

On the other hand, China is the second largest trading partner of Nepal with bilateral trading volume reaching 1.38 billion U.S. dollar in the last fiscal 2017-18. Chinese companies are involved in a large number of development projects awarded contracts by the Nepali government. Likewise, China has emerged as the second largest source market for Nepal's tourism, sending as many as 104,664 visitors to Nepal in 2017.

"We see a lot of opportunities for Nepali banks to finance or provide bank guarantee to the Chinese companies as they are involved in various infrastructure projects including roads, electricity transmission line, hydropower projects, construction of airports and supply of telecommunication equipments to Nepali telecom operators," K.C. said. "There is also the opportunities for Nepali banks to offer payment solution to Chinese tourists visiting Nepal."

According to K.C., Chinese companies can benefit from receiving loans from Nepali banks in local currency which will help them to avoid foreign currency risks. After increasing their capacity by four fold since last fiscal year, Nepali banks have also increased their capacity to large scale projects.

While Nepali banks have stepping up to finance Chinese companies operating in Nepal, the Nepali government and private sector have long been seeking a establishment of a branch of a Chinese bank or a Chinese joint venture bank in Nepal to facilitate trade and investment.

K.C. also said that the presence of a Chinese bank in Nepal would be welcomed as it not only facilitates trade and investment between the two countries, but also helps domestic banks to learn international best practices.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 23:14:27|Editor: Liangyu

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Shen Yueyue (L), vice chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and president of the All-China Women's Federation, meets with Romanian Chamber of Deputies Speaker Liviu Dragnea in Bucharest, Romania, on Sept. 17, 2018. (Xinhua/Chen Jin)

BUCHAREST, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Senior Chinese legislator Shen Yueyue called on China and Romania to enhance alignment of development strategies under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative as she ended a four-day visit to Romania on Wednesday.

Shen is vice chair of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) and president of the All-China Women's Federation.

During her visit, Shen met with Chamber of Deputies Speaker Liviu Dragnea, Prime Minister Viorica Dancila, as well as president of the Women's Organization of the ruling Social Democratic Party and European Funds Minister Rovana Plumb.

Shen said China is willing to work with Romania to implement the consensus reached between the leadership of the two countries, and enhance alignment of development strategies under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Proposed by China in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, which are aimed at building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes of the Silk Road on land and at sea.

Shen also called for more inter-parliamentary exchanges with Romania in such fields as governance and legislative supervision.

The All-China Women's Federation is willing to deepen cooperation with the Romanian side over women's exchanges and women's organizations, Shen said.

These efforts, she said, would help promote the Sino-Romanian partnership of comprehensive friendly cooperation and build a community with a shared future for humanity.

The Romanian side said that China is an important partner of Romania and hopes to strengthen pragmatic cooperation and push for continuous progress in bilateral relations.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 23:19:28|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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LUSAKA, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Zambian President Edgar Lungu on Wednesday fired a minister responsible for administration of a social cash transfer scheme after reports of misapplication of funds which has resulted in some donors suspending funding to the scheme.

This follows revelations that about 4.3 million U.S. dollars of donor funds for the scheme had gone missing, forcing some donors to suspend funding.

Chief Government Spokesperson Dora Siliya confirmed in a tweet that the Zambian leader has fired Emerine Kabanshi as Minister for Community Development and Social Services.

"His Excellency, President Edgar Lungu has acted swiftly, relieving Hon. E. Kabanshi as Minister of Community Development following misuse of funds allegations in her ministry," she said in a tweet.

She has since been replaced by Olivia Phiri, a governing party lawmaker.

Meanwhile, a statement from Lungu's office said he has ordered for a clean-up of the ministry.

The Zambian leader further met with heads of investigative wings to inform them of the administrative changes and directed them to constitute criminal investigations to establish whether there was criminal liability over the social cash transfer.

On Monday, British High Commissioner to Zambia Fergus Cochrane-Dyet confirmed that his government has suspended funding to the social cash transfer scheme after reports of misapplication of funds meant to benefit the poor.

Sweden has also announced the suspension of funding to the scheme, according to a statement released by the Swedish Development Agency.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 23:24:31|Editor: Yurou

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Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras (L) welcomes visiting European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos at the Prime Minister's Office in Athens, Greece, on Sept. 19, 2018. Mr. Tsipras and Mr. Avramopoulos had the opportunity to discuss about the refugee issue that continues to concern the European Union. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)

By Maria Spiliopoulou

ATHENS, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Greek government discussed on Wednesday the management of the refugee challenge with visiting European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos ahead of an informal EU Summit which will be hosted in Salzburg, Austria, on Thursday.

Issues related with the management of refugee flows in the coming period, the 2016 EU-Turkey Statement and coordination between Greek authorities handling migration and the European Commission were on the agenda, according to a statement issued by Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' office after the talks.

Migration is a European problem and must be tackled by Europe on the basis of solidarity and fair sharing of responsibilities, with respect for International Law, Tsipras will underline at Salzburg, Greek national news agency AMNA reported, citing government sources.

The same sources said that Tsipras will highlight the need for Europe to provide a comprehensive solution to the problem.

The prime minister is expected to point out among others the need for a rapid upgrading of the European asylum service to speed up the examination of applications, as well as the need to address the root causes of migration and provide substantial, developmental support for countries of origin in Asia and Africa.

Greece has been at the front of the refugee, migrant crisis since early 2015. More than 1 million people have landed on Greek shores and continued their journey to central and northern Europe until the closure of borders in the Balkan route in March 2016.

Although arrivals have been reduced since then following the EU-Turkey agreement to stem the influx, still dozens of people each day keep risking their lives to cross the Aegean Sea from the Turkish shores to reach Greece.

About 60,000 refugees and migrants are currently stranded in Greece, according to official data.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 23:24:31|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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KIEV, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine's presidential decree on ending the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership between Ukraine and Russia came into force on Wednesday.

On Monday, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed a decree to enforce a decision of the National Security and Defense Council on terminating the friendship treaty with Russia signed in 1997.

While commenting on the move, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Moscow regrets Ukraine's decision.

The Ukrainian-Russian treaty is a document which fixes the principle of strategic partnership between the two countries.

Under the agreement, Kiev and Moscow pledged to respect the inviolability of each other's borders and to settle disputes peacefully.

Relations between Kiev and Moscow have been deteriorating since early 2014 over Crimea and eastern Ukraine.

According to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, the two countries have either suspended or terminated 44 out of 451 bilateral treaties between April 2014 and April 2018.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 23:29:33|Editor: Yurou

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Photo taken on Sept. 8, 2018 shows children listening stories at Alternative Basic Education (ABE) School at Hafata camp for the displaced located in Baidoa, Somalia. Story telling tents supported by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) have motivated Somalia children to pursue formal education with passion despite setbacks linked to civil strife, poverty and natural calamities. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)

by Christine Lagat, Wang Teng

NAIROBI, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Story telling tents supported by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) have motivated Somalia children to pursue formal education with passion despite setbacks linked to civil strife, poverty and natural calamities.

Sixty Somalia children attended a story telling tent that UNICEF brought to Alternative Basic Education (ABE) School at Hafata camp for the displaced located in Baidoa, the capital of south western state of Somalia.

The story telling tent that was organized on September 8 and featured song, drama and poetry sought to extol the transformative power of education to children.

Mohamed Abukar Abdi, the minister for education in south west state of Somalia and Jesper Moller, the Deputy Representative, UNICEF Somalia country officer, attended the event that focused on the use of indigenous folklore to encourage children to pursue formal education.

Abdi said in his speech Somalia and its bilateral partners have joined hands to explore innovative ways to boost child literacy in a country where the number of school going children is below the global average.

Moller said that UNICEF supported children's story telling tent seeks to harness the power of songs, dance and poetry to amplify the importance of education to Somali youngsters.

"We at UNICEF decided to promote the craft and love of storytelling because stories make learning easy and fun, and they also hold a special place in Somali people's oral tradition," said Moller.

He noted that story-telling combined with performing arts always sparks imagination and curiosity among young learners while boosting their cognitive development.

As Somalia joined the rest of the world to mark this year's World Literacy Day whose theme was "Literacy and Skills Development", the country's educationists hailed the story telling forum, terming it a milestone in efforts to boost children's literacy.

"This event is so fantastic. We never had something like this before. The children were all excited and took part with great enthusiasm. I have never seen such participation from them," said Rahmo Alimiris, Head teacher.

Beaming faces of children and adolescents who attended the storytelling tent at the ABE School in Hafata camp for the displaced reaffirmed their determination to become future scholars.

"Back in my village there were no schools, so I had never been to one. I looked after the animals all day. I don't want to go back. I want to stay here so that I complete my education," said 14 years old Sofia Abdullahi.

"When I grow up, I want to be a teacher to teach children, such as those back in the village," she added.

Shukri Maalim, an 11 years old pupil was excited after participating in the Story telling tent that showcased the best of Somalia folktales to promote childhood literacy.

"I love stories, especially Somali folktales. There were no schools in my village. I came here to live with my grandmother so that I can go to school. I want to be a teacher because it is a respected profession in my community," said Maalim.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 23:29:36|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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VILNIUS, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Lithuanian government will consider measures to enhance competition among shopping centers, support small- and medium-sized businesses and reduce food prices, Lithuania's prime minister Saulius Skvernelis said on Wednesday.

Skvernelis was speaking after meeting with representatives of Lithuania's retail companies which operate country's largest shopping centers.

"I do not agree with representatives of shopping chains who claim that there are no problems in this area and that Lithuania remains a country of low prices," Skvernelis was quoted as saying in a statement released by his office.

In his words, official data from the European Commission show that food prices in Lithuania since 2010 grew "twice faster than raw material prices".

"We are among five European countries where prices grew the fastest and where people spend 21 percent of their budget on food, more is spent only in Romania," Skvernelis added.

The government plans to prepare new measures in three areas such as support of small and medium businesses, increase of competition and enhancing efficiency of state institutions, the government's statement reads.

Limiting working hours of shopping malls on Sundays and festive days in Lithuania are still on the table, Skvernelis said.

Currently, Lithuanian shopping malls and supermarkets are open seven days a week from early morning until some 10:00 or 11:00 p.m. in the evening.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 23:29:36|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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KIEV, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- The civilian death toll in the conflict in eastern Ukraine has surpassed 3,000, the United Nations (UN) Office in Ukraine said in a statement Wednesday.

According to the statement, over 9,000 civilians have been injured since the crisis broke out in the region in April 2014.

Millions of Ukrainians living near the 450-km-long "contact line," which separates the conflicting forces, are regularly exposed to sniper and small-arms fire, shelling and the risks related to landmines and other unexploded ordnance, the statement said.

Earlier in the day, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine said it has recorded 12 conflict-related civilian deaths and 93 injuries between May 16 and Aug. 15 this year.

Overall, the confrontation between government troops and pro-independence armed groups in eastern Ukraine has claimed the lives of more than 10,000 people, including civilians and combatants on both sides, and left some 24,000 others injured.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 23:29:37|Editor: Yurou

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Environmental and energy ministers from the Group of 7 attend a meeting on climate change in Halifax, Canada, Sept. 19, 2018. Environmental and energy ministers from the Group of 7 gathered here Wednesday for a three-day meeting focusing on joint efforts on climate change, ocean conservation and clean energy. (Xinhua/Li Baodong)

HALIFAX, Canada, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Environmental and energy ministers from the Group of 7 gathered here Wednesday for a three-day meeting focusing on joint efforts on climate change, ocean conservation and clean energy.

Ministers of the world's advanced economies -- Canada, France, the United States, Britain, Germany, Japan and Italy -- will also hold talks on sustainable finance, plastic pollution and energy security.

These were also main topics at the G7 Charlevoix summit in June, in which five of the G7 nations and the European Union (EU) agreed to the Ocean Plastics Charter, a non-binding accord to tackle ocean plastic waste and marine litter to support resilient coasts and coastal communities.

The United States and Japan did not sign the document.

Representatives from Norway, Vietnam, South Africa, Kenya, Argentina and other countries were also invited to the meeting.BRUSSELS, Belgium and HANNOVER, Germany, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WABCO Holdings Inc. (NYSE: WBC) ( www.wabco-auto.com ), the leading global supplier of braking control systems and other advanced technologies that improve the safety, efficiency and connectivity of commercial vehicles has signed a strategic agreement with RIO, the groundbreaking digital brand of global commercial vehicle manufacturer, the TRATON GROUP. Under the agreement, RIO will leverage WABCOs advanced Fleet Management Solutions (FMS) within its fast-growing cloud-based connectivity environment to support the European logistics industry.



This important agreement extends WABCOs FMS portfolio into a fully digital, cloud-based open platform for freight transport that supports all brands of truck. RIO, which is rapidly expanding its customer base across Europe, matches leading suppliers with the best tailored solutions to support fleets and enable them to pick and choose from a broad range of cutting-edge digital tools.

WABCOs advanced FMS solutions will interface with RIOs partners and will be available to RIO customers in early 2019. Specifically, RIO will integrate WABCOs TX-SOCIAL which analyzes and manages tachograph and driver recorded data as well as TX-TRAILERPULSE, an innovative and cost-efficient trailer-specific telematics solution.

Further extending WABCOs advanced FMS capabilities, this important new agreement represents the latest step in WABCOs acceleration of its industry partnerships. This includes recent agreements with a leading Indian original equipment manufacturer and a major global trailer builder.

We are proud to partner with RIO and look forward to an exciting new collaboration, the first ever integration of WABCOs advanced FMS solutions into an open cloud-based logistics portal serving the transport industry. This is a major milestone which harnesses the power of our respective digital capabilities and will serve to drive differentiating efficiency for the European transport logistics market, said Nick Rens, WABCO President, Aftermarket, Digital Customer Services, Trailer and Off Highway Division.

Fleets are increasingly looking to better integrate and simplify the latest digital tools to drive greater operational efficiency. This pioneering partnership will help empower fleets to be more competitive in an increasingly digital world, added Rens.

We are serving customers who are steadily demanding an all-in-one ecosystem to enable them to operate efficiently with the support of a selected number of tools  all bookable in the self-service Marketplace, said Jan Kaumanns, RIOs Chief Executive Officer. To achieve that, we are always on the lookout for Best of breed partners. WABCOs experience in truck and trailer telematics combined with RIOs advanced connectivity environment will deliver a powerful brand agnostic digital service to fleets and have a direct impact on their overall efficiency. We look forward to many successes in our newly formed partnership.

RIOs ground-breaking digital connectivity environment will be furnished with some of WABCOs newest, advanced FMS solutions including:

WABCO TX-TRAILERPULSE is an innovative, cost-efficient trailer-specific telematics solution that combines real-time track and trace functionality with additional trailer health and diagnostic information. Complementing WABCOs comprehensive trailer FMS solutions, TX-TRAILERPULSE can be easily installed by the manufacturer or as a retrofit. Enabling fleet operators as well as trailer leasing and rental companies to better track, safely maintain and manage their assets, TX-TRAILERPULSE provides a suite of essential remote management functions without incurring the large capital investment of a high-end trailer telematics solution.

WABCO TX-SOCIAL is an intuitive administrative software solution which helps fleets manage tacho read-outs and social data. The software supports fleet legal compliance thanks to the automated driver activity and expense reports produced by the system and is able to easily export the data for controlling authorities. The solution further helps to simplify payroll administration.

WABCO at IAA Commercial Vehicles 2018

WABCO will showcase its industry-leading technologies and services that improve the safety, efficiency and connectivity of commercial vehicles worldwide at IAA Commercial Vehicles 2018. This includes the latest technologies in braking, advanced driver assistance, fleet management solutions and aerodynamics.

Visit WABCO in Hall 16 at Booth B10

Deutsche Messe Exhibition Grounds, Hannover, Germany 30521

Press Day: September 19

Public Days: September 20 to 27

For more information about WABCOs participation at IAA Commercial Vehicles 2018, please visit

WABCO Press Conference

WABCOs press conference will be held on September 19 from 1:45 to 2:10 PM CET in the Convention Center, Rooms 13 and 14.

WABCOs Live Demonstrations at New Mobility World

WABCO will demonstrate daily its latest aerodynamics technologies for commercial vehicles, an advanced electronic security system, as well as its newest trailer cargo management solutions. Also on display during the demonstrations, WABCO will highlight its eTrailer prototype showcasing the future of trailer electrification. Visit New Mobility World Live in the outdoor exhibition area, north of Hall 26.

WABCOs Speaker at New Mobility World Forum

Forum Event: The New Era of Smart Data and Intelligent Telematics

Topic: Cargo Crime

Speaker: Christiaan Verschueren, WABCO Vice President, Trailer Systems

Date: September 27

Time: 10:00 to 11:00 AM CET

Location: Pavilion 11, Section D

About WABCO

WABCO (NYSE: WBC) is the leading global supplier of braking control systems and other advanced technologies that improve the safety, efficiency and connectivity of commercial vehicles. Originating from the Westinghouse Air Brake Company founded nearly 150 years ago, WABCO is powerfully Mobilizing Vehicle Intelligence to support the increasingly autonomous, connected and electric future of the commercial vehicle industry. WABCO continues to pioneer innovations to address key technology milestones in autonomous mobility and apply its extensive expertise to integrate the complex control and fail-safe systems required to efficiently and safely govern vehicle dynamics at every stage of a vehicles journey  on the highway, in the city and at the depot. Today, leading truck, bus and trailer brands worldwide rely on WABCOs differentiating technologies. Powered by its vision for accident-free driving and greener transportation solutions, WABCO is also at the forefront of advanced fleet management systems and digital services that contribute to commercial fleet efficiency. In 2017, WABCO reported sales of $3.3 billion and has nearly 15,000 employees in 40 countries. For more information, visit www.wabco-auto.com and, for WABCOs 2017 Annual Report, visit ar.wabco-auto.com .



WABCO global media contact

Nina Friedmann, +49 69 719 168 171, wabco@klenkhoursch.de

WABCO investors and analysts contact

Sean Deason, +1 248 270 9287, investorrelations@wabco-auto.com

About RIO

The TRATON GROUP has been providing an open, cloud-based solution for the entire transport and logistics ecosystem with its new digital brand RIO since 2017. RIO bundles digital services, interconnecting all the stakeholders in the supply chain for the first time through a unified information and application system that includes forecasting functionality. Historically it was often impossible to use data transparently in the transport industry because different stakeholders use different software systems that run as stand-alone solutions. RIO provides a shared solution which can therefore be used with any vehicle make. RIO won the 2017 Frost & Sullivan New Product Innovation Award in recognition of this technological innovation. RIOs innovation laboratory X-Lab was named among the top Company Builders 2018 by Capital magazine.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 23:39:43|Editor: Lu Hui

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Photo taken on Sept. 19, 2018 shows the venue of the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2018, also known as Summer Davos, at Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Center in Tianjin, north China. (Xinhua/Li Ran)

by Xinhua writers Cheng Lu, Lu Yun, Li Kun

TIANJIN, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Despite economic uncertainties at home and abroad, policymakers, business leaders and industry experts are optimistic about China's economy as they gather for the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2018, also known as Summer Davos.

"China's economy has sustained positive momentum and steady growth. In particular, new drivers of growth are evolving," Premier Li Keqiang said Wednesday when addressing the opening plenary of the Summer Davos in northern China's Tianjin.

China's GDP expanded 6.8 percent in the first half of the year, above the government's annual target of around 6.5 percent. The growth has remained between 6.7 percent and 6.9 percent for 12 consecutive quarters, highlighting its economic resilience.

In an interview with Xinhua, Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF), said that there had always been many critics and pessimists who forecast that China's economic growth would come to an end, but they turned out to be wrong.

Despite the fact that the world economy faces many challenges, such as trade friction, debt problems and even the impact of global warming, Schwab said that he is optimistic about China's economy.

NEW VITALITY

Facing downward pressure on the economy over the past few years, China has refrained from resorting to a deluge of strong stimulus policies, but focused on fostering new drivers, Li said.

China has been in transition from investment and export-fueled growth to a development model that is more reliant on innovation and consumption.

Li said that the new growth drivers have brought better-than-expected outcomes and played a key role in keeping economic growth stable, adjusting economic structure and increasing employment.

Thanks to government measures such as reducing corporate costs, enhancing intellectual property rights (IPRs) protection and cutting administrative red tape, companies representing the "new economy" are thriving.

In 2017, 16,600 new businesses were set up each day on average, up from 6,900 in 2013, proof that entrepreneurship is on the rise.

China's online retail sales went up by more than 30 percent annually, and emerging consumption, such as information consumption and green consumption, has also grown rapidly.

Consumption has contributed more than 60 percent to China's economic growth, Li said.

With government initiatives, some new sectors gained international recognition. China is now at the global forefront in sectors including electronic payment and new energy vehicles, according to Albert Ng, chairman of Ernst & Young China.

"Consumption and innovation are key to China's future growth," Ng said, adding that innovation should start at the grassroots level.

NEW OPPORTUNITIES

As China keeps opening up and supporting economic globalization, global entrepreneurs at the Summer Davos see a booming market here.

Elisabet de los Pinos, CEO of Aura Biosciences in the United States, believes that the premier's speech will encourage more international companies to invest in China.

She was impressed by China's reform and opening up and its commitment to enhancing globalization and strengthening IPRs protection.

"We look forward to doing business here," she said.

Delair, a France-based supplier of commercial drone solutions, had already taken action.

Delair announced at the Summer Davos the opening of its first office in China, as the company seeks to increase its presence in the rapidly expanding Chinese market.

"China is an extremely fast-growing and dynamic market with a wide spectrum of challenges and needs that are well suited to our drone solutions," said Michael de Lagarde, president and co-founder of Delair.

Oliver Cann, head of media content with WEF, summarized eight surprising facts about China in a recent article.

He cited recent research from Tsinghua University, saying two-thirds of global artificial intelligence (AI) investment is currently going to China, which has helped the Chinese AI industry grow 67 percent in the past year.

"The Chinese government is highly supportive of attempts to establish China as a leader in the field of AI, but it's not acting alone, as the private sector increasingly sees China as the best destination for investment," he wrote.

Established by the WEF in 2007, the Summer Davos Forum is held annually in China, alternating between the two port cities of Tianjin and Dalian.

Themed "Shaping Innovative Societies in the Fourth Industrial Revolution," the three-day event has drawn more than 2,000 politicians, businesspeople, scholars and media representatives to discuss issues that will shape the future, such as new economic engines and applications of advanced technologies ranging from AI and robots to blockchain.

The First Industrial Revolution used water and steam power to mechanize production; the second used electric power to make mass production possible and the third used electronics and information technology to automate production.

Schwab believes that future competition would not be based on the ability to produce with low costs but determined by being the first in adapting to and adopting new innovative products and services.

"China will certainly take the lead," he said.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 23:39:44|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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CAPE TOWN, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Six key syndicate members implicated in a massive trafficking of poached rhino horns have been arrested, police said on Wednesday.

The arrests were made on Tuesday in Mpumalanga Province by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks, in cooperation with other law enforcement agencies, according to the South African Police Service (SAPS).

The suspects, aged between 30 and 56, include two alleged syndicate leaders, two police officers and a former cop, SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said.

They appeared at the White River Magistrate's Court in Mpumalanga on Wednesday afternoon, facing charges of theft, conspiracy to commit a crime, illegal buying and selling of rhino horns, corruption and money laundering, said Mulaudzi.

The syndicate members allegedly ran poaching groups with the support of corrupt police officials as well as authorities from the private game farms, Mulaudzi said.

The expeditious internal disciplinary processes are already underway for the arrested police officers, he said.

The logistical, transport and communication support of the criminal group was well managed and controlled and allegedly succeeded in moving rhino horns from the protected areas to places where the transactions would take place, Mulaudzi disclosed.

The illegal transactions were also protected by alleged corrupt officials to ensure no detection from law enforcement, he said.

The significant breakthrough followed Project Broadbill, an investigative operation launched by the Hawks in January last year, Mulaudzi said.

The operation focused on the criminal supply chain of poached rhinos within the Kruger National Park and other state-owned or private reserves in Kwazulu Natal and Gauteng provinces.

Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya, the National Head of the Hawks, lauded the collaborative action as a huge success in the fight against rhino poaching in the country.

"We have often been seized with picking up the remains of endangered species and not finding and arresting the poachers and traffickers behind the crime.

"The operation spells hope for rhinos and other endangered species and we are fully committed to eradicating poaching and trafficking," he said.

Lebeya vowed to continue teaming up with key enforcement partners and government departments in carrying out crucial investigations and arresting those behind the slaughter of the wildlife.

The operation is still proceeding, and more seizures and possible arrests are expected, he said.

South Africa, home to about 90 percent of the world's rhino population, bears the brunt of rhino poaching, losing 1,028 rhinos to poaching last year.

The government has warned that the country's rhino population will be close to extinction by 2026 if no effective measures are taken to curb rhino poaching.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-19 23:44:48|Editor: Liangyu

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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid, who is here to attend the Summer Davos Forum annual meeting in Tianjin, north China, Sept. 19, 2018. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

TIANJIN, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- China stands ready to develop relations and carry out cooperation with Estonia on the basis of mutual respect, equality, inclusiveness and mutual learning, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said in Tianjin Wednesday.

Li made the remarks while meeting with Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid, who is here to attend the Summer Davos Forum annual meeting.

Li congratulated Estonia on its 100th anniversary of their declaration of independence and said a sustained, healthy and stable development of bilateral relations is in line with the interests of the two peoples.

He suggested the two sides strengthen synergy of development strategies, give full play to the 16+1 cooperation platform and Estonia's geographical advantages to carry out cooperation in fields of interconnection, oil and gas and timber processing.

Li encouraged companies from the two countries to cooperate in e-commerce, make joint efforts in building platforms that facilitate enterprise production and consumer consumption, and deepen cooperation on education, tourism and more high-quality people-to-people exchanges.

For her part, Kaljulaid applauded the stable development of bilateral relations and close communication of the two countries.

She said Estonia is ready to work with China to enhance energy, timber, agriculture and traffic infrastructure cooperation and deepen cooperation under the framework of the 16+1 cooperation, and facilitate regional interconnectivity.

She expressed willingness to promote people-to-people exchanges with China, noting Estonian people nowadays are more and more interested in Chinese culture.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-20 00:19:54|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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MOGADISHU, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- At least 12 al-Shabab militants were killed and several others injured after an airstrike hit al-Shabab militants meeting in Sakow town in Middle Jubba region in southern Somalia, officials said Wednesday.

Adam Isak Ali, deputy minister of information of Somalia, told state-owned Somali News Agency that international partners carried out successful airstrike overnight in Sakow, al-Shabab's major stronghold.

"We have report that more than 12 al-Shabab militants were killed and several others injured in an airstrike in Sakow town in middle Jubba region, about 37 militants were having a meeting when we carried out the attack there," Ali said.

He said senior al-Shabab militant commanders were among those targeted in the attack, saying former group's chief for Kismayo town in lower Jubba, Hassan Yacqub was among those injured in the attack.

Independent sources confirmed the attack on al-Shabab militants in Sakow town, saying at least three children were killed in a school.

A resident in Sakow town told Xinhua by phone that the warplane dropped four shells into the center of the town near the Jubba River there.

"I cannot tell you the number of casualties in the airstrike here because I did not get out of my home since this morning, but shells were four that created big fear," said the resident who asked for anonymity.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-20 00:19:55|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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LONDON, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Two people have been killed as storm Ali hits Ireland and parts of Britain Wednesday.

The storm brings winds of up to 100mph to parts of the British Isles, leaving thousands of households out of power.

Local media reported that a woman was killed as her caravan was blown off a cliff in the west of Ireland during the storm. Her body was found on a beach at Claddaghduff in County Galway on Wednesday morning.

Meanwhile, a man in his twenties died in Northern Ireland when he was struck by a falling tree. The incident left another man in his forties injured.

Ali batters Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and northern England, with amber weather warnings remaining in place.

Forecasters have warned that flying debris could pose a risk to life.

In Scotland, winds of more than 90mph were recorded and a cruise ship was detached from its moorings.

Rail, roads and ferry services have all been affected by the severe weather, while tens of thousands of homes and businesses were cut off power across Britain.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-20 00:19:56|Editor: Yurou

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NEW DELHI, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Wednesday reviewed progress of the multi-faceted bilateral strategic partnership between their countries.

"The two leaders expressed satisfaction over the increase in bilateral trade that has crossed the 1 billion U. S. dollars mark," said a statement issued by the Indian Prime Minister's office.

"The two leaders also appreciated the successful conclusion of the India-Afghanistan trade and investment show in Mumbai last week and expressed determination to strengthen connectivity, through Chabahar port and air-freight corridor."

According to officials, Modi reiterated India's support to the Afghan government's peace and reconciliation process.

Ghani on Wednesday arrived in New Delhi on a day-long visit to meet Modi.

"While expressing satisfaction at the coordination and consultation on activities at various international fora, the two sides agreed to strengthen this cooperation and also to work even more closely with their regional and international partners for prosperity, peace, stability and progress," a spokesman said.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-20 00:29:58|Editor: Liangyu

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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) holds talks with Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi in Tianjin, north China, Sept. 19, 2018. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

TIANJIN, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang held talks here Wednesday with Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, who is here to attend the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2018, also known as Summer Davos.

Noting that Samoa was one of the first Pacific island countries to establish diplomatic relations with China, Li hailed the development of bilateral ties and said China attaches great importance to developing relations with Samoa.

China appreciates Samoa's long-term and firm adherence to the one-China policy, said Li, adding that China supports Samoa's efforts to follow a development path in line with its national conditions and will strengthen cooperation with Samoa.

China will seek synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative with Samoa's development strategy and create more opportunities for cooperation in such areas as economy, trade, investment and infrastructure construction, said Li.

The Chinese premier called on the two countries to give full play to their respective advantages, strengthen cooperation in ports and tourism, and take more practical measures to promote people-to-people exchanges to deepen the bilateral friendship.

China values reasonable demands of Pacific island countries in dealing with climate change and is willing to continue to promote the effective implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change, said Li, adding that China will also strengthen coordination and cooperation with Samoa within such multilateral mechanisms as the United Nations and the Pacific Islands Forum, so as to safeguard the common interests of developing countries.

Tuilaepa said that Samoa enjoys the close friendship with China, expressing appreciation of China's support and assistance to Samoa over the years.

Noting that bilateral cultural exchanges are close, Tuilaepa said the number of Samoan students studying in China has increased year on year.

Moreover, Tuilaepa said the Belt and Road Initiative has a positive effect on promoting trade, tourism and culture, expecting to sign a memorandum of understanding on cooperation with China and build a closer partnership between the two countries.

After the talks, the two leaders watched the signing of several cooperation documents between the two sides.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-20 00:45:02|Editor: Liangyu

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BEIRUT, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese farmers Wednesday called on the government again to assist them in exporting their produce to the Gulf region through Nasib Border Crossing when the crossing between Syria and Jordan is re-opened.

"We want the government to support us in exporting our products by land to the Gulf region through the Nasib border after the big losses we have incurred since the closure of this crossing point three years ago," Ibrahim Tarshishi, president of the Bekaa Farmers Association, told Xinhua.

Jordan closed its border crossing with Syria in April 2015, following heavy clashes between rebel fighters, who encircled the Nassib crossing, and Syrian government forces near the area.

As the only functioning crossing between Jordan and Syria, Nasib is vital for the transport of goods from Lebanon and Syria to Jordan and Gulf states.

Lebanon's agricultural exports suffered heavily following the closure of the Nasib border, witnessing a drop of more than 35 percent.

The ongoing talks between Syrian and Jordanian officials with regard to the re-opening of the border have raised the hopes of Lebanese farmers that their losses in the previous years could be offset.

However, the Syrian authorities said earlier that Lebanon must send an official request to Syria for using the Nasib Border Crossing to send its exports to the rest of the world.

Meanwhile, Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri has officially refused to restore ties with the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad or visit Syria under any circumstances even if it would cost him his premiership.

Nonetheless, Tarshishi said this issue can be addressed.

He said Abbas Ibrahim, general director of the Lebanese General Security, has promised to solve this problem by discussing it with his Syrian counterparts during his visit to the neighboring country next week.

"Jordan is also very positive about allowing Lebanese products to be exported through this border," Tarshishi added.

The Lebanese association chief highlighted the closure of Nasib border as the most serious challenge facing agriculture in Lebanon.

"We lost around 1.2 billion U.S. dollars caused by the drop in our agricultural and industrial exports in 2017 after the closure of the Nasib border," he lamented.

The year 2018 is likely to witness the same amount of losses, Tarshishi added.

Antoine Howayek, head of Lebanese Farmers Association, agreed that no positive developments will take place in the agricultural sector if the Nasib border remains closed.

Lebanese farmers were forced to resort to the maritime route to export their produce after the border closure, Howayek noted.

But "the problem with maritime export is that it costs about double the price of land export, while the government subsidizes only less than half of the cost," he explained.

Howayek suggested the government purchase vessels to help export Lebanon's agricultural products to the rest of the world.

The importers in Lebanon could pay for the transport fees after the vessels carrying the agricultural products reach their destination, get loaded and return with the imports, he explained.

Unfortunately, mismanagement in the sector rules out the possibility, he noted.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-20 00:45:03|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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HANOI, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- China and Vietnam on Wednesday pledged to further enhance the judicial cooperation between the two countries.

The pledge was made by Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang and Zhou Qiang, China's chief justice and president of the Supreme People's Court, at their meeting here.

Zhou said that his visit aims at implementing the consensus reached between the leaders of the two countries.

China and Vietnam should further enhance pragmatic cooperation between their courts, jointly combat cross-border crimes to facilitate the development of bilateral trade ties and people-to-people exchanges as as to make positive contribution to the wellbeing of their peoples.

For his part, the Vietnamese president said his country attaches great importance to bilateral traditional friendship and will join hands with China to promote judicial cooperation in all fields so as to promote ties between the two countries and the two parties.

Zhou arrived here Tuesday for a two-day visit.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-20 00:50:04|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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BANGKOK, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Thailand has recorded no foreign tourist's death from dengue fever this year, the country's health department said on Wednesday.

Ophas Karnkawinwong, spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Health, said there has been an obvious decline of dengue infection since August as health departments have stepped up their efforts to eradicate Aedes, agenus of mosquito which is known to carry the dangerous virus.

The spread of the disease caused 52,670 people to fall ill countrywide, with 5,899 cases among Bangkok residents, according to official figures taken between Jan. 7 and Sept. 8 this year.

Nationally, the number of deaths rose to 69, five of which were reported in Bangkok.

The numbers seem high, but when they are compared with last year's figures over the same period, the situation shows an improvement, said the spokesperson.

There were 9,368 dengue cases in Bangkok while the total number across the country came to 53,190 from January to September last year.

Ophas said dengue fever is a mosquito-borne tropical disease, which is common in southeast Asia especially in monsoon season.

He said most of Thailand's dengue cases were recorded in humid remote rural areas where mosquitos can easily breed.

Cases were most commonly reported among those between 10 and 14 years old, while most of the dead are adults who receive treatments too late, said the official, who warned those who suffer from a fever for more than two days to see a doctor immediately before it becomes fatal.

He added that the mosquito which carries dengue virus is most active during daytime. He suggested that tourists wear long sleeves and long pants in risk zones and use mosquito repellent before having outdoor activities.

Tourists are advised to avoid jungle trekking and visiting waterfalls during the rainy season that starts from May and ends in November.English Lithuanian

MAXIMA GRUPE, UAB (hereinafter  the Company), legal entity code: 301066547, registered office address: Savanoriu av. 247, Vilnius, Lithuania. The total nominal value of the issued notes of the Company: EUR 300,000,000; ISIN code: XS1878323499.

On 19 September 2018, UAB "Vilniaus prekyba" being the sole shareholder of the Company adopted resolution to reduce the number of the Board of Directors of the Company from 8 (eight) to 6 (six) members. In this regard, the shareholder decided to amend the Articles of Association.

Current members of the Board of Directors Dalius Misiunas, Kristina Meide, Andris Vilcmeiers, Arunas Zimnickas and Tomas Kibildis shall remain in office until the end of term of office of the current Board of Directors. As previously informed, member of the Board of Directors Vygintas Sapokas who submitted the notice regarding resignation will remain in office until 30 September 2018.





Contact person: Ugne Bartasiute, Account Executive, Corporate Communication at MAXIMA GRUPE, UAB, +370 614 74046, ugne.bartasiute@maximagrupe.euSource: Xinhua| 2018-09-20 01:05:06|Editor: Liangyu

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Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff Qamar Javed Bajwa in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 19, 2018. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

BEIJING, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff Qamar Javed Bajwa here Wednesday, calling on the two countries to firmly support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests.

Bajwa conveyed cordial greetings from Pakistani President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan to Xi. Xi expressed thanks and asked Bajwa to convey his sincere greetings and best wishes to them.

Noting the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership and that the two countries are "iron friends," Xi said the two sides have been keeping "highly aligned" with each other on major international and regional issues.

China always places a high premium on China-Pakistan relations, Xi said, adding that the two sides had maintained a high level of mutual trust on issues of each other's major concerns.

During the meeting, Xi expressed appreciation for the support and security safeguard provided by the Pakistani side for the Belt and Road Initiative and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor construction.

"As long as high-degree mutual trust and concrete measures are in place, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor construction will succeed and deliver benefits to people of the two countries," Xi said.

"At present, the international and regional situation is undergoing complex changes, and the two countries are supporting each other, helping each other and enhancing mutually beneficial cooperation, which have yielded fruitful outcomes," Xi said, adding that such efforts comply with the trend of the times.

He also hailed the practical achievements reached during the deepening of cooperation between the two countries' militaries.

The two countries' militaries should further deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields and at all levels, take resolute measures against terrorist forces, make efforts to ensure the security of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor construction and serve as a reliable safeguard for the common interests and common development of the two countries.

Bajwa said the Pakistani side resolutely supports the Belt and Road Initiative, and Pakistan always places relations with China at a primary strategic position in developing foreign relations and always sides with China on issues involving each other's core interests.

He expressed Pakistan's sincere thanks to the help China has provided to the country in various fields.

He said the Pakistani side is willing to strengthen strategic communication, practical exchanges and counter-terrorism cooperation with Chinese military to maintain the common interests and strategic security of the two countries and contribute to international and regional peace and stability.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-20 01:15:09|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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MOSCOW, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- A MiG-31 fighter crashed in the Nizhny Novgorod region in the center of European Russia, with both pilots ejected, the Russian Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

"The flight was carried out without ammunition and the plane fell in a deserted place causing no damage on the ground," RIA Novosti news agency quoted a ministry statement as saying.

The aircraft was carrying out a scheduled training flight, the ministry said. Rescuers promptly evacuated the pilots, whose lives are not threatened, it said.

A commission of the ministry is working at the crash site to establish the causes of the accident.

According to preliminary data, the cause of the accident was a technical malfunction, the statement said.

A source in a law enforcement agency told RIA Novosti that the plane fell near the town of Kulebaki, some 188 km to the southwest of Nizhny Novgorod, the capital of the region.

The plane exploded after the fall and was completely burned, the source added.

MiG-31 is a supersonic fighter designed to intercept and destroy air targets at low and high altitudes.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-20 01:15:09|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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BERLIN, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- A journalist died on Wednesday after falling from a suspension bridge in Germany's western forest area of Hambach.

The pressman fell from the hanging bridge between two trees at a 15-meter height and was seriously injured. He was flown by a rescue helicopter to nearby hospital and died after, according to local media Westdeutscher Rundfunk.

His personal details were not disclosed.

The incident happened in a dense forest area where environmentalists had for many years built tree houses to protest against local coal mining and lumbering.

A large-scale police operation was conducted to clear the tree houses in recent days, citing lack of fire prevention and security measures as the reason.

However, some activists refused to leave and some had come to a standoff with the police.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-20 01:15:09|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan authorities on Wednesday arrested ten Ugandans who were being trafficked to the Middle East in the latest crackdown targeting illegal migrants in the East African nation.

Director of Immigration Services Alex Muteshi said the immigrants who were being trafficked by a Kenyan were arrested at a residential estate in Nairobi.

"The Kenyan trafficker will be arraigned in court in the soonest time possible. Our resolve to weed out criminal aliens from our country and streamline our immigration systems is as strong as ever," said Muteshi in a statement issued in Nairobi.

The Kenyan authorities have intensified the ongoing crackdown on undocumented migrant workers that have seen homes raided and hundreds of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers arrested around the country.

The country's immigration department has set up a hotline number for citizens to report irregular migrants in their neighborhoods and the authorities' actions have mostly affected refugees and asylum seekers.

Kenya had issued a directive in May ordering foreigners working in the country without official work permits to get documentation or be arrested at the lapse of 60 days saying the move will help the government get rid of tax evaders and criminals.

It explained that illegal migrants with fake working permits come to the country as tourists but take advantage of immigration loopholes to engage in business activities which are against the law. EnditemSource: Xinhua| 2018-09-20 01:35:13|Editor: Liangyu

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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF), in Tianjin, north China, Sept. 19, 2018. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

TIANJIN, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday called for enhanced discussions among all parties on problems facing the global economy so that common development and prosperity can be promoted.

Li made the remarks when he met with Klaus Schwab, World Economic Forum (WEF) founder and executive chair, in north China's Tianjin Municipality during the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2018, also known as the Summer Davos Forum.

Li said that China's cooperation with the WEF has not only provided a platform for communication between Chinese and foreign business circles but also opened a window for the world to better understand China.

He said China is willing to work with the WEF and all parties to jointly discuss the problems facing the global economy and promote the continuous improvement of the global governance system, for common development and prosperity.

"Facing opportunities and challenges arising from the new round of industrial revolution and technological innovation, all sides should join hands to promote sustainable and inclusive growth of the global economy, jointly safeguard multilateralism and free trade, and create a sound macro environment for world economic recovery and stable growth," Li said.

For his part, Schwab said this year's forum will be the largest so far, which fully reflects the high importance attached by all parties to the annual event.

The WEF stands ready to enhance cooperation with the Chinese side, support globalization and multilateralism and promote a rule-based global governance structure, Schwab said.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-20 01:50:16|Editor: Yurou

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KHARTOUM, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Sudan and Egypt on Wednesday reaffirmed commitment to cooperation on technical issues concerning the Nile water, official SUNA news agency reported.

At the conference of the Permanent Joint Sudanese-Egyptian Technical Commission for Nile Water that concluded on Wednesday in Khartoum, Khidir Qismal-Sid, Sudan's minister of water resources, irrigation and electricity, reiterated Sudan's firm commitment to the Nile water agreement.

He also voiced support for the activities of the joint commission to overcome all barriers to come, praising the establishment of the Nile water information center and its role in providing important strategic information.

Mohamed Abdel Ati, Egypt's minister of water resources and irrigation, also reiterated the importance of the continuation of technical cooperation regarding the Nile water.

"The Nile water agreement constitutes the corner stone in the relations between the two countries," said Abdel Ati, calling for hydrological studies on better usage of the Nile water.

The commission's 58th session, which began in Khartoum on Sept. 12, discussed issues such as reducing water loss in upper Nile and technical cooperation with the Nile Basin countries.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-20 02:15:19|Editor: Liangyu

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Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan delivers a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of a commemorative event for the International Day of Peace in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, Sept. 19, 2018. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

NANJING, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- China on Wednesday called on all countries, big or small, strong or weak, rich or poor, to behave as peace keepers, promoters, supporters and practitioners.

The call was made by Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan during his speech at the opening ceremony of a commemorative event for the International Day of Peace, held in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province.

"The International Day of Peace represents good wishes for world peace from people all around the globe," Wang said. "Chinese people, always peace-lovers, hope to pursue, maintain and enjoy peace with people from other countries."

Calling on all sides to adhere to peaceful coexistence and work for building a new type of international relations, Wang said China sincerely hopes all countries would "treat each other in the spirit of mutual-respect, fairness, justice and win-win cooperation, to find out a new interaction model featuring dialogue rather than confrontation, partnership rather than alliance."

He called on all parties to create "a peaceful environment and build a community with a shared future for mankind," follow the trend of historical progress, and strive for a world of lasting peace and common security.

Wang also met with foreign guests attending the event, including Mongolian Deputy Prime Minister Ulziisaikhan Enkhtuvshin, former Costa Rican President Oscar Arias Sanchez, former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, former Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, also known as Prachanda, and President of the National Regeneration Movement Yeidckol Polevnsky Gurwitz of Mexico.

Wang told the foreign guests that in globalization, people are more inter-dependant than ever before. Reform and opening-up is an imperative path for China, a country with more than 1.3 billion people, in its modernisation drive. Building a community with a shared future for mankind is an imperative proposal from China.

He voiced hope for further mutual understanding and trust, and joint efforts in dealing with the relationship between fairness and efficiency, as well as subsistence and development.

He also called for mutually-beneficial cooperation to contribute to balanced development and a better future for all.

The foreign guests expressed their support for solving current problems through multilateral approaches, saying differences could be managed through equal-footed negotiation in the spirit of mutual respect, mutual learning, understanding and inclusiveness.

They called for a peaceful environment for development, and a coordinated solution to deal with challenges such as the social divide between the rich and poor, political extremism, and global environmental changes.

The foreign guests voiced their appreciation for the idea "building a community with a shared future for mankind" proposed by China, support of the Belt and Road initiative, and expectation of China's leading role in the building of a new type of international relations.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his congratulations to the commemorative event in a video at the opening ceremony.

The International Day of Peace falls on Sept. 21 each year.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-20 02:20:20|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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DUBROVNIK, Croatia, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- At the 4th high-level meeting on tourism cooperation between China and 16 Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs) on Wednesday, Croatian coastal city Rijeka was presented as the European Capital of Culture 2020.

"European Capital of Culture" is a prestigious title designed to highlight the richness and diversity of cultures in Europe. Rijeka, the important Croatian port in the northern Adriatic, was awarded in 2016 for its program "The Port of Diversity".

Irena Kregar Segota, Development and Strategic Partnerships Director of the project Rijeka 2020, said on Wednesday that this is a key national strategic project. She emphasized the importance of diversity which is a significant value they would like to share.

For almost two years, the city, whose population is nearly 130,000 people, is working hard in program preparations that would re-examine cultural, social and economic challenges that contemporary Europe and the world currently face.

Currently, Rijeka is building 27,200 square meters of new cultural infrastructures, preparing more than 100 tourist attractions and 1,000 cultural events.

Kregar Segota announced that many Chinese artists will perform in Rijeka in 2020 and 2021.

"We would like to invite Chinese tourists to come in Rijeka and enjoy our city and the county," Kregar Segota said at the conference in Dubrovnik.

"European Capital of Culture" initiative was developed in 1985 and so far has been awarded to more than 50 cities across the European Union.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-20 03:05:26|Editor: Liangyu

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China sends twin BeiDou-3 navigation satellites into space on a single carrier rocket from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Xichang, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Sept. 19, 2018. (Xinhua/Liang Keyan)

XICHANG, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- China on Wednesday evening successfully sent twin BeiDou-3 navigation satellites into space on a single carrier rocket.

The Long March-3B carrier rocket lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center at 10:07 p.m. It was the 285th mission of the Long March rocket series.

The twin satellites are the 37th and 38th editions of the BeiDou navigation system. After a series of tests and evaluations, they will work together with 12 BeiDou-3 satellites already in orbit.

The twin satellites will provide danger alerts and navigation services for global users. A basic system with 18 orbiting BeiDou-3 satellites will be in place by the end of the year, which will serve countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.

The satellites and the rocket for Wednesday's launch were developed by the China Academy of Space Technology and the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, respectively.

Named after the Chinese term for the Big Dipper, the BeiDou system started serving China in 2000 and the Asia-Pacific region in 2012.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-20 03:15:29|Editor: Yurou

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A Yemeni man talks to a seller at a market in Sanaa, Yemen, on Sept. 19, 2018. In the historical old city of Yemen's capital Sanaa, people here are suffering badly from war and air-sea-land blockade that has been devastating lives of more than 25 million population for over three years. (Xinhua/Mohammed Mohammed)

by Mohamed al-Azaki

SANAA, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- In the historical old city of Yemen's capital Sanaa, people here are suffering badly from war and air-sea-land blockade that has been devastating lives of more than 25 million population for over three years.

The war pitted Sunni government forces backed by a Saudi-led coalition against Shiite Houthi rebels allied with Iran.

More than three attempts by the United Nations to convene the warring parties throughout the past three years into a negotiating table to find a political solution to end the horrible civil war have failed.

The streets in the capital have become almost empty of regular movement, as a week-long severe fuel shortage forced hundreds of thousands of vehicles to silently die off the roads.

The major fuel crisis mostly hit the northern cities under the control of the rebels, including Sanaa.

The crisis was triggered by the escalating war in the country's strategic Red Sea port city of Hodeidah following the collapse of peace talks brokered by the United Nations in Geneva earlier this month.

United Nations describes humanitarian situations in Yemen as the "world's most worsening humanitarian and economic crisis in the modern history," warning that time is running out to prevent Yemen from falling into mass famine.

Muhsin al-Ashwal, a resident and a father in the historical old city of Sanaa, believed that the ongoing war and economic blockade have deeply impacted his life.

"We have become very poor, exhausted by hunger and begging in the streets due to hike of food prices," al-Ashwal said, referring to his family.

"No petrol or cooking gas.. the war and blockade kill us, kill our livestock.. destroy our farms and deeply impact lives of our children," he lamented.

On the corner, Sadiq Ali standed in his shop, complaining that his business is at risk because "customers lacked money and were not able to buy anymore."

"People have left their jobs after months of salary cut... before four months, a 50 kg of wheat was sold at 7,000 rials (17.5 U.S. dollars), now the wheat (of the same quantity) is sold at 15,000 rials (23 U.S. dollars now)," said trader Ali. "We all live very difficult life."

Another shop owner, Bakil Saleh, said "the war has already bankrupted my business."

Resident Awnallah al-Yaremi said he and his family suffer a lot due to what he described as "economic war."

"I want war to end," al-Yaremi hoped.

Hodeidah port is the entry point of about 70 percent of the country's food, medicines, aid and fuel.

Yemen's war has killed over 10,000 people, mostly civilians, displaced three million others and threatened more than 20 million population with mass famine.

Saudi Arabia is leading an Arab military coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015 to support the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi after the Houthi rebels forced him into exile.

Trader Abduh al-Makhlaki said school students have stopped buying notebooks and pens from his shop.

"The economic war is worse than military war," he huffed. "Many families have become unable to afford the needs of their school children," al-Makhlaki said.

"Behead a man rather than cut off his livelihood," al-Makhlaki cited a famous Arab proverb as saying.TORONTO, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ontarios new provincial government has pledged to make Ontario open for business, but doing so will require significant reforms on taxes, electricity pricing and labour regulation, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.



Theres no silver bullet for the wide range of problems facing Ontario, and making the province competitive again will require big changes on many different policy fronts, said Ben Eisen, Fraser Institute senior fellow for Ontario prosperity studies and editor of Creating policy calling cards to attract business to Ontario .

The study, a collection of essays, outlines a number of areas for reform:

Cut corporate taxes : The government could reduce its provincial corporate tax rate from 11.5 per cent to 8 per cent for a combined federal/provincial rate of 23 per cent, making it the 7 th lowest combined rate among all provinces and states.

: The government could reduce its provincial corporate tax rate from 11.5 per cent to 8 per cent for a combined federal/provincial rate of 23 per cent, making it the 7 lowest combined rate among all provinces and states. Cut personal taxes : The government could introduce a flat provincial personal income tax rate of eight per cent to reduce Ontarios top combined federal/provincial personal ratecurrently the 2 nd highest in North America at 53.53 per centto 41 per cent.

: The government could introduce a flat provincial personal income tax rate of eight per cent to reduce Ontarios top combined federal/provincial personal ratecurrently the 2 highest in North America at 53.53 per centto 41 per cent. Reduce corporate welfare : Cutting some of the $4.9 billion in annual business subsidiesas identified by the provinces Financial Accountability Office earlier this yearwould reduce overall government spending and free up fiscal room to help pay for tax cuts.

: Cutting some of the $4.9 billion in annual business subsidiesas identified by the provinces Financial Accountability Office earlier this yearwould reduce overall government spending and free up fiscal room to help pay for tax cuts. Lower hydro costs : Between 2008 and 2016, electricity costs in Ontario increased 71 per centmore than double the national average increase. The government could cancel contracts with renewable generators (wind, solar, etc.) under the Green Energy Acta significant reason for the price increaseand reduce electricity costs for residents and industry.

: Between 2008 and 2016, electricity costs in Ontario increased 71 per centmore than double the national average increase. The government could cancel contracts with renewable generators (wind, solar, etc.) under the Green Energy Acta significant reason for the price increaseand reduce electricity costs for residents and industry. Introduce worker choice laws: The government could consider worker choice legislation, similar to the right-to-work laws in 28 U.S. states, which according to research, helps attract manufacturing investment, increase employment opportunities and raise average wages for workers.

Over the past few years, Ontario has made policy choices that have put the province at a disadvantage relative to competing jurisdictions in a number of important areas, be it taxes, electricity prices or labour regulations, Eisen said.

To open the province for business again, the new government must consider big, bold changes to regain those advantagesfor the benefit of Ontarians, their families, and the province as a whole.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Ben Eisen, Director, Ontario Prosperity Initiative

Fraser Institute

To arrange media interviews or for more information, please contact:

Bryn Weese, Media Relations Specialist

(604) 688-0221 ext. 589

bryn.weese@fraserinstitute.org

Follow the Fraser Institute on Twitter | Like us on Facebook

The Fraser Institute is an independent Canadian public policy research and educational organization with offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal and ties to a global network of think-tanks in 87 countries. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for Canadians, their families and future generations by studying, measuring and broadly communicating the effects of government policies, entrepreneurship and choice on their well-being. To protect the Institutes independence, it does not accept grants from governments or contracts for research. Visit www.fraserinstitute.org



Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-20 03:25:33|Editor: Liangyu

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BUDAPEST, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Hungary wishes to attract more and more tourists, especially from China, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Peter Szijjarto, on Wednesday told the Hungarian news agency MTI.

"Tourism is becoming more and more important in the production of Hungary's gross domestic product (GDP), which is why the country has an economic interest to continuously increase its tourist turnover," Szijjarto said in an interview given to MTI on Wednesday.

"It would be ideal if this growth could be achieved primarily from those countries where tourists are spending," Szijjarto explained, noting that Chinese tourists are among the best spending tourists of the world.

According to Szijjarto, it is a very good news that Chinese tourists in Hungary is dynamically expanding.

Last year, 227,000 Chinese tourists arrived in Hungary, 34 percent more than a year earlier. In the first half of this year, there were 140,000 Chinese tourists in Hungary, registering an additional 11 percent increase, he underlined.

He explained that the increase was also due to the fact that China's national tourism agency has installed its Central European regional center in Budapest.

"In order to further increase China's tourist traffic to Hungary, our foreign delegations can now receive visa applications in China in 14 different cities and issue travel permits in Hungary within 48 hours," he stressed.

It is also of the utmost importance that the transport connections between the two countries be constantly expanding, as this is one of the basic conditions for the growth of tourism, according to Szijjarto.

He announced that next to the Budapest-Beijing direct flight, another aviation corridor would be soon set up between Shanghai and Budapest.

He said it was also important that Chinese tourists to Hungary target not only Budapest, but also the area of the lake Balaton. "The wine regions and thermal baths should be also included among the destinations of Chinese tourists," he concluded.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-20 03:30:36|Editor: Liangyu

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Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng (L), also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean in Singapore, Sept. 19, 2018. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

SINGAPORE, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- China and Singapore on Wednesday agreed to promote bilateral cooperation and jointly safeguard multilateral trading system.

The agreement came as Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng met here with Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean.

Both sides pledged to promote the upcoming meeting of China-Singapore Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) to yield positive results and to promote talks on upgrading the bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

Hailing the sound development of bilateral ties since Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Singapore in 2015, Han said the two countries have worked together to implement consensus reached by both leaders and actively promoted cooperation under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.

China is willing to work with Singapore to enhance top-level design and set priorities for future cooperation, said Han.

He called on both sides to strengthen cooperation on international and regional issues and take the occasion of the 15th anniversary of forging strategic partnership between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to build a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future for humanity.

He also called on China and Singapore to jointly safeguard the rules-based multilateral trading system and contribute to the stability and prosperity of the world and the region.

Teo said Singapore spoke highly of China's remarkable achievements scored due to the reform and opening up policy since 1978.

Singapore looks forward to working with China to boost the synergy of development strategies with the Belt and Road Initiative, he said.

As a country that follows a strategy of trade for growth, Singapore puts connectivity as priority, said Teo.

He said the country stands ready to work with China to safeguard an open and rules-based multilateral trading system.

Also on Wednesday, Han visited the Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) International Pte Ltd.

Han arrived in Singapore on Wednesday for a three-day visit. He will co-chair the 14th China-Singapore JCBC Meeting and other bilateral high-level cooperative meetings with Teo on Thursday and is scheduled to meet Singaporean President Halimah Yacob and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong respectively during his stay.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-20 03:35:37|Editor: Liangyu

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A central government delegation receives warm welcome at the airport in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Sept. 19, 2018. The delegation, led by Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), arrived here Wednesday to attend festivities marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)

YINCHUAN, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- A central delegation led by China's top political advisor Wang Yang on Wednesday arrived in Yinchuan, capital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, to attend festivities marking the 60th anniversary of the region's founding. The central delegation presented the region with souvenirs, including a plaque with an inscription by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

It reads "building beautiful and new Ningxia, jointly realizing the great Chinese Dream."

Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, unveiled the plaque, alongside with Party chief of Ningxia Shi Taifeng.

Xi's inscription showed his care about people from all ethnic groups in Ningxia, said Sun Chunlan, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chinese vice premier.

The inscription indicated the hopeful prospect of Ningxia and will inspire the Ningxia people to further advance and join the national drive of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and realizing the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation, Sun said.

On Wednesday afternoon, the delegation visited an exhibition showcasing the region's achievements made in the past 60 years, including progress in economic development, reform and opening-up, ecological construction and ethnic unity.

Wang met with representatives of military forces stationed in the region, armed police forces, and officials of political and legal affairs there.

He also met with retired officials and people of various ethnic groups and from all walks of life, and extended greetings to them on behalf of the central delegation.

In the evening, Wang and other delegation members joined about 1,400 local residents at a grand gala, which presented a feast of dancing and singing.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-20 04:05:43|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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RABAT, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Morocco's Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and his Sierra Leonean counterpart Alie Kabba called here on Wednesday for stronger integration of African nations.

In a joint statement issued after talks between the two foreign ministers, they underlined the need for increased regional integration as key factor for the development of trade and common prosperity.

In this regard, they called for strengthening Morocco's institutional links with the West African region.

Kabba praised Morocco's vision and role for the emergence of an integrated, developed, stable and prosperous Africa, hailing the kingdom's willingness to share its expertise and know-how in technical cooperation.

He also thanked Morocco "for all actions and initiatives of solidarity with the Sierra Leonean people during difficult time."

For his part, Bourita commended the success of the political alternation in Sierra Leone, which was marked by the organization of free and democratic elections.

He also assured his Sierra Leone's peer of Morocco's support for the programs and projects initiated by the government of Sierra Leone in the field of economic and social development.

During these talks, the two ministers reviewed the state of bilateral cooperation and reaffirmed the commitment of both countries to further strengthening it in all areas of common interest.

They vowed to give strong impetus to bilateral ties during the next meeting of the Joint Commission for Morocco-Sierra Leone Cooperation, which will be held at its third session, emphasizing the role of the private sector in the promotion of mutually beneficial economic cooperation.Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad visit the Hmeymim air base in Latakia Province, Syria December 11, 2017. (Reuters photo)

DAMASCUS, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Wednesday offered condolences to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin for the death of Russian soldiers during a recent Israeli missile attack on Syria, state news agency SANA reported.

While offering his sincere condolences, Assad blamed the death of the Russian soldiers on the "Israeli smugness and arrogance."

On Monday evening, a Russian military aircraft with 15 Russian personnel onboard was mistakenly downed by a Syrian missile while the Syrian air defenses were responding to an Israeli missile strike that targeted Syria's Latakia province and lasted for one and a half hour.

The Russian Defense Ministry said a missile from Syria's S-200 air defense system shot down the Il-20 surveillance plane with Russian servicemen by mistake because an Israeli airstrike took place at the same time, blaming a simultaneous Israeli strike as the cause of the mistake.

The aircraft, which was on its way back to the Russian-run Hmeimim air base, disappeared from the radar on Monday night at a time when four Israeli F-16 fighters attacked targets in Syria's Latakia province.

The incident marked the first mistake strike between Syria and Russia, which is the main ally to the Syrian government.

"On behalf of the Syrian people and by my name, we express our deep condolence over the fall of the Russian jet on the Mediterranean, causing the martyrdom of the Russian heroes who were doing their noble duties along with their colleagues of the Russian military forces in the fight against terrorism in Syria," Assad said in his letter of condolences to Putin.

"We are confident that such painful acts would not affect you and us to continue fighting terrorism," Assad said.

Israel has carried out some 200 airstrikes over the last 18 months, claiming that the attacks aimed to prevent Iranian weapons convoys and stop Iran from establishing a military foothold in Syria.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-20 04:45:52|Editor: Yurou

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MEXICO CITY, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- One year on from the 7.1-magnitude earthquake that claimed 369 lives and destroyed hundreds of buildings, some families are still living in tents.

The vast Iztapalapa district in east Mexico City is home to some two million people. In the district's La Planta neighborhood, large blue tents donated by the Chinese government a year ago still stand firm.

One tent is occupied by 56-year old Mauro Martinez, who, along with various neighbours, was made homeless by the September 19 earthquake.

Despite being blind, Martinez keeps his tent and few possessions fastidiously tidy. His bed is cleanly made, his wooden table clear and the small cart from which he sells snacks and drinks organized.

Martinez has not lost his spirit, in spite of the difficult conditions.

Next door, 36-year old Carolina shares her tent home with six other family members.

Before last year's earthquake she lived in the house she owned, she told Xinhua.

Yet the September 19 earthquake was not the only devastating earthquake of 2017.

Twelve days earlier on September 7, an 8.2-magnitude earthquake struck Mexico's southern state of Oaxaca, destroying countless properties and making many families homeless.

After both events, international aid including specialist rescue teams, poured into Mexico from around the world. Among the aid to arrive were 3,000 tents and 500 foldout beds delivered by the Chinese government.

Last year's September 19 earthquake was felt across five central states and, in a tragic coincidence, fell on the 32nd anniversary of the 1985 deadly earthquake.

On Wednesday, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, assisted by the city's mayor Jose Ramon Amieva, led an official ceremony to remember the victims of both earthquakes.

The national coordinator of the Civil Protection Agency, Luis Felipe Puente, was also in attendance following the integral role the agency played in last year's rescues.

During the ceremony, the Mexican flag was flown at half-mast and a minute of silence was observed.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-20 04:55:53|Editor: Liangyu

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Rwandan Finance Minister Uzziel Ndagijimana addresses the reception celebrating the 69th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, in Kigali, capital of Rwanda, on Sept. 19, 2018. Uzziel Ndagijimana on Wednesday reiterated the commitment of the Rwandan government to further advance ties with China for their common purpose and mutual benefit. (Xinhua/Lyu Tianran)

KIGALI, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Rwandan finance minister Uzziel Ndagijimana on Wednesday reiterated the commitment of the Rwandan government to further advance ties with China for their common purpose and mutual benefit.

The exchange visits between the heads of state of Rwanda and China and Rwandan President Paul Kagame's attendance at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit held on Sept. 3-4, strengthen the relations and partnership between the two countries, said Ndagijimana.

Rwanda appreciates the support and collaboration from China as the central African country works to achieve its development goals in key sectors such as infrastructure, agriculture, health and capacity building, said the minister.

By adhering to the principles of sincerity, practical results, affinity and good faith, and upholding the values of friendship, justice and shared interests, China will work with Rwanda and carry out more exchanges on governance and guidelines of development, said Rao Hongwei, Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda.

China and Rwanda will further match the development strategies and seek to harvest more fruits across multiple areas, including the Belt and Road Initiative, public health, human resources training, E-commerce, mining, law enforcement cooperation, among others, Rao said.

The two countries will further enhance collaboration in regional and international arena and uphold the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries, he added.

The envoy also said Rwanda will achieve more across all areas of cooperation under the FOCAC through the joint efforts between the two countries.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-20 04:55:53|Editor: Liangyu

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BISHKEK, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- A delegation of Chinese historians from the Institute of History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) visited a number of historical cities of Kyrgyzstan, the country's Kabar news agency reported Wednesday.

The Chinese historians visited the southern cities of Uzgen and Osh as well as the medieval cities of Balasagyn and Suyab, during which they held talks with fellow historians and undergraduate students of Kyrgyzstan's Osh State University, the report said.

The delegation was invited by Kyrgyzstan's Muras Foundation.

The CASS Institute of History will soon sign an agreement with the Muras Foundation on cooperation in academic studies, according to the foundation.

The Muras Foundation was formed in 2012 by the presidential decree to study the historical and cultural heritage of Kyrgyzstan.An international container train departs from the Chinese port city of Qinhuangdao for the Mongolian capital of Ulan Bator on April 18, 2018. (Xinhua/Yang Shiyao)

ULAN BATOR, Sept.19 (Xinhua) -- The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a world-class project that is significant to people around the world, a Mongolian academic said Wednesday.

"The BRI is a world-class project that offers great opportunities for cooperation between China and the rest of world in a wide range of areas, including infrastructure and trade," said Gelegpil Chuluunbaatar, first vice president of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, in an interview with Xinhua on Wednesday.

The BRI aims to build infrastructure and trade networks in areas along ancient trade routes to seek common development and prosperity. Chuluunbaatar described the initiative as "the most impressive development project of this century," saying it "is significant to not only us, but also people around the world."

The Mongolian scholar believed that his country will benefit a lot from the initiative proposed by China in 2013.

"Mongolia shares its 4,710-km land border with China, which is one of the world's fastest-growing economies and world's second-largest economy," he said.

"People all over the world have admired the achievements of China's socio-economic development in recent years. China is our country's main trade partner and biggest export destination," said Chuluunbaatar.

Mongolia has great potential to reap tangible benefits from the BRI, he said.

"Particularly, Mongolia has integrated its Development Road Initiative with the BRI," he added.

"I am fully confident that the integration will promote the landlocked Mongolia's development in various sectors such as infrastructure and economy," he said.

Regarding the BRI, China calls for win-win cooperation, mutual benefit and an alignment with the local development strategy in its implementation.

Chuluunbaatar said it is the right choice for Mongolia to accept an invitation to ride on China's "express train of development" and make more efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation with China.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-20 05:00:54|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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JERUSALEM, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Israel's military said Wednesday that a delegation headed by the air force chief will embark on Moscow on Thursday in the wake of the downing of a Russian plane amidst an Israeli airstrike in Israel.

The unusual delegation follows the downing of the Russian reconnaissance plane caused by Syrian anti-aircraft fire launched in response to an Israeli airstrike on Iranian target in Syria's Latakia on Monday night.

Fifteen Russian aircrew members were killed in the incident.

Israel Air Force Commander Amikam Norkin and his delegation will "present the situation report of the event regarding all aspects, including the pre-mission information and the findings of the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) inquiry regarding the event," a military spokesperson said in a statement.

Additionally, they will present the "continuous Iranian attempts to transfer strategic weapons to the Hezbollah terror organization and to establish an Iranian military presence in Syria," the statement read.

The air force chief will be joined by the head of the military's International Cooperation Unit Erez Maisel, as well as other officers of the Intelligence Directorate, the Air Force and the Operations Directorate, the military said.

The fatal accident raised fears in Israel that ties between the two countries might be strained after Russian military officials held Israel accountable for the accident. But after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin talked over the phone on Tuesday afternoon, Putin issued a new statement saying the downing of the plane was part of "a chain of tragic accidental circumstances."

After the talk, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office released a statement saying Netanyahu expressed his regret over the death of the Russian soldiers and said that Syria was responsible for the loss of the plane.

Putin and Netanyahu have held regular meetings to coordinate their moves in the war-torn country.

Israel has carried out some 200 airstrikes over the last 18 months, claiming that the attacks aimed to prevent Iranian weapons convoys and stop Iran from establishing a military foothold in Syria.TORONTO, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

 Infill drilling at Swan Zone (Swan) continues to return intercepts with extremely high grades, substantial widths and visible gold - Key intercepts: 289 g/t Au over 7.45 m (ETW 6.0 m); 155 g/t Au over 11.9 m (ETW 9.9 m); 423 g/t Au over 3.55 m (ETW 3.2 m); 215 g/t Au over 7.2 m (ETW 5.9m); and 353 g/t Au over 4.0 m (ETW 3.4 m)



 High-grade, visible-gold bearing Swan mineralization intersected 200 m downplunge of current Mineral Reserves - Key intercept:



83.1 g/t Au over 8.6 m (ETW 6.8 m)





Significant growth in Swan Mineral Reserves expected in Fostervilles December 31, 2018 Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates. Abbreviations include: g/t Au: grams per tonne gold; m: metres; ETW: estimated true widths

Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd. (Kirkland Lake Gold or the Company) (TSX:KL) (NYSE:KL) (ASX:KLA) today announced new high-grade results from the ongoing underground drilling programs at the Fosterville Mine in Victoria, Australia. Underground drilling continues to target down-plunge extensions of Swan Mineral Reserves with results providing confirmation of the geological model and continuity of high-grade, visible-gold bearing mineralization on the Swan structure.

Results from 19 new drill holes, totaling 6,482 m, outside of the December 31, 2017 Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources in the Swan Zone continue to return intervals of exceptionally high grades with visible gold. The drilling demonstrates that high-grade, visible-gold bearing quartz veins extend at least 200 m down-plunge from current Mineral Reserves.

Tony Makuch, President and CEO of Kirkland Lake Gold, commented: We are quickly establishing Fosterville as a new, world-class gold camp, with the new drill results at Swan being the latest indication that there is much more to be found in terms of Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources. Todays intercepts confirm earlier drill results that demonstrated strong continuity of high-grade, visible-gold bearing Swan mineralization over 100 m down plunge from existing Mineral Reserves. They also include the intersection of high-grade Swan mineralization an additional 100 m down plunge, creating a potential 200 m envelope of exceptionally high-grade mineralization over substantial widths, with visible gold, which will drive future Mineral Reserve growth. With the new results, we are increasingly confident that our upcoming December 31, 2018 Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates will include a considerable increase in Mineral Reserves in the Swan Zone and a higher overall average grade and increased Mineral Reserve base for the Fosterville Mine as a whole.

In addition, there are many more targets to be explored at Fosterville, in the Lower Phoenix Gold System, as well as at Harrier South, Robbins Hill and through our regional Large Ore Deposit Exploration or LODE program. At Lower Phoenix South, we are following up on drilling earlier this year that intersected mineralization 750 m down plunge of the current Swan Mineral Resources. Work is also continuing to assess the new mineralized structure, called Cygnet, which runs parallel to Swan, and was first announced in July. We will also soon commence deep drilling from a new exploration drift at Harrier South, where we have seen a trend towards increasing grades with visible gold in quartz-carbonate veins at depth, comparable to the well documented progression to higher grades at Lower Phoenix. At Robbins Hill, we reported the intersection of visible-gold bearing quartz veins earlier in the year and have two surface drills working to further extend this highly-prospective mineralization, while a variety of exploration techniques are being used to explore multiple other targets in the surrounding area.

Swan Mineralized Zone Drilling Program

Results from the ongoing underground resource drilling program at the Swan Zone continue to demonstrate high-grade continuity down plunge from current Mineral Reserves.

High-Grade, Visible-Gold Bearing Intercepts Include:

289 g/t Au over 7.45 m (ETW 6.0 m), including 2,857 g/t Au over 0.75m (ETW 0.6 m) in hole UDH2551;

155 g/t Au over 11.9 m (ETW 9.9 m), including 1,566 g/t Au over 1.1m (ETW 0.9 m) in UDH2584A;

423 g/t Au over 3.55 m (ETW 3.2 m), including 760 g/t Au over 1.95m (ETW 1.8 m) in UDH2555;

215 g/t Au over 7.2 m (ETW 5.9 m), including 846 g/t Au over 1.55m (ETW 1.3 m) in UDH2590; and

353 g/t Au over 4.0 m (ETW 3.4 m), including 3,740 g/t Au over 0.35m (ETW 0.3 m) in UDH2552.

All drill results are presented in Table 1 and all drill collars are listed in Table 2.

Since the July 31, 2018 Kirkland Lake Gold News Release, underground diamond drilling in the Swan Zone has continued to return encouraging results down-plunge from current Mineral Reserves (Figure 1). Reported drill results are from 19 holes (6,482 m), of which 12 contain visible-gold mineralization with nine intervals of greater than 100 gram-metres and five intervals of greater than 1,000 gram-metres (i.e. gold grade x estimated true width) (Figure 2). All reported drill results are outside the December 31, 2017 Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources and highlight the continued significant Mineral Reserve growth potential of Swan.

Continued infill drilling into the December 31, 2017 Inferred Swan Mineral Resource has confirmed the strong continuity of high-grade, visible-gold bearing mineralization to a distance of up to 100 m down-plunge of Mineral Reserves. Two 1,000 gram-metre intercepts, 155 g/t Au over 11.9 m (ETW 9.9 m) from UDH2584A and 289 g/t Au over 7.45 m (ETW 6.0 m) from UDH2551, are located 100 m and 80 m down plunge from Mineral Reserves, respectively.

Previously drilling identified high-grade (>30 gram-metres), visible-gold bearing mineralization down plunge to 6230mN in hole UDE158 (November 7, 2017 Kirkland Lake Gold News Release). The intercept from UDH2494 of 83.1 g/t Au over 8.6 m (ETW 6.8 m), released today, demonstrates that exceptionally high-grade, visible-gold bearing mineralization (>100 grammetres) extends at least 200 m down-plunge of Mineral Reserves to the 6175mN northing and remains open for further extension.

Swan Footwall Splay

Infill drilling and ongoing interpretation of Swan has identified a mineralized footwall splay fault, named the Swan Footwall Splay (Figure 3). The fault emanates from and branches off the Swan Fault at approximately 6400mN and 4000mRL. The interpreted synthetic fault dips marginally steeper than the Swan structure at approximately 50 and has been defined down to the 3825mRL at a maximum separation distance of 20 m from the Swan Fault. Gold grades are highest on this structure immediately footwall to the Swan Fault.

Key Gold Intercepts:

24.0 g/t Au (1) over 2.6 m (ETW 2.2 m) in hole UDH2555; and

over 2.6 m (ETW 2.2 m) in hole UDH2555; and 8.1 g/t Au over 3.5 m (ETW 3.1 m) in hole UDH2552

(1) Visible gold drill intercept

Over the remainder of 2018, infill drilling from the Phoenix 4190 m drill platform will continue to target the December 31, 2017 Inferred Swan Mineral Resource down plunge of Mineral Reserves. It is anticipated that drill results will be returned from intercepts spaced at a nominal 25m x 25m separation to an approximate depth of 3900mRL and northing 6200mN on the Swan structure. This drill coverage is expected to be sufficient to support conversion to an Indicated Mineral Resource category and enable a Mineral Reserve evaluation to be completed in time for inclusion in the December 31, 2018 Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates.

To view the figures referenced in this News Release, visit the links below.

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7015019e-2765-497b-8311-dc8e593df183  Figure 1 - Long Projection of Fosterville Gold Mine

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/41966bda-1998-4507-8c1d-8dc96a094bd1  Figure 2 - Longitudinal Projection of Swan and Swan Footwall Mineralization, Fosterville Gold Mine

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2f130ba7-361a-4c28-ad98-fa9364e4ca9b  Figure 3 - Phoenix Mineralization System Schematic Cross Section 6250mN

Qualified Persons

Troy Fuller, MAIG, Geology Manager, Fosterville Gold Mine, is a "qualified person" as such term is defined in National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information and data included in this News Release.

Drilling and Underground Sampling Assay QAQC

Kirkland Lake Gold has in place quality-control systems to ensure best practice in drilling, sampling and analysis of drill core. All diamond drill hole collars (Table 2) are accurately surveyed using a Leica TS16 Total Station instrument and down-hole deviations are measured by electronic multi-shot cameras.

Sampling consisted of diamond drill core that was either full core or half core sampled. Half core samples were cut longitudinally in half with a diamond saw; one-half of the drill core was sent to an independent laboratory for analysis and the other drill core half retained for reference. Sample pulps are returned from the assay laboratory for reference and future geological or metallurgical studies. Drill core sample intervals vary between 0.3 and 1.2m in length and were determined from logging of sulfide and visible gold to geological boundaries.

Samples containing visible-gold or considered likely to contain visible-gold were separated from sulfide gold samples and dispatched independently for assaying. At the laboratory visible-gold jobs were processed through a single pulverizer and material barren of gold (quartz wash) was crushed before and after each sample to minimize the potential for gold to contaminate successive samples.

Assay results are based on 25-gram charge fire assays. Mean grades are calculated using a variable lower grade cut-off (generally 2 g/t Au) and maximum 2m internal dilution. No upper gold grade cut is applied to the data. However, during future Mineral Resource studies the requirement for assay top cutting will be assessed.

All samples were assayed at On Site Laboratories, an independent laboratory in Bendigo, Victoria. The facility is registered ISO 9001:2008 (CERT-C33510).

About Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd.

Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd. is a mid-tier gold producer with 2018 production targeted at over 635,000 ounces of gold from mines in Canada and Australia. The production profile of the Company is anchored by two high-grade, low-cost operations, including the Macassa Mine located in Northeastern Ontario and the Fosterville Mine located in the state of Victoria, Australia. Kirkland Lake Gold's solid base of quality assets is complemented by district scale exploration potential, supported by a strong financial position with extensive management and operational expertise. For further information on Kirkland Lake Gold, and to receive news releases by email, visit the Companys website www.klgold.com .

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This News Release includes certain "forward-looking statements". All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to planned exploration programs, costs and expenditures, changes in Mineral Resource estimates, potential growth in Mineral Resources, conversion of Mineral Resources to proven and probable Mineral Reserves, and other information that is based on forecasts of future operational or financial results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to future exploration potential, project economics, timing and scope of future exploration, anticipated costs and expenditures, changes in mineral resources and conversion of mineral resources to proven and probable reserves, and other information that is based on forecasts of future operational or financial results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management.

Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "estimates" or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. Exploration results that include geophysics, sampling, and drill results on wide spacings may not be indicative of the occurrence of a mineral deposit. Such results do not provide assurance that further work will establish sufficient grade, continuity, metallurgical characteristics and economic potential to be classed as a category of mineral resource. A mineral resource that is classified as "inferred" or "indicated" has a great amount of uncertainty as to its existence and economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that any or part of an "indicated mineral resource" or "inferred mineral resource" will ever be upgraded to a higher category of resource. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into proven and probable reserves.

There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Companys expectations include, among others, risks related to international operations, risks related to obtaining the permits required to carry out planned exploration or development work, the actual results of current exploration activities, conclusions of economic evaluations and changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined as well as future prices of gold, as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Companys Annual Information Form, financial statements and related MD&A for the periods ended December 31, 2017 and June 30, 2018 and other disclosures of "Risk Factors" by the Company and its predecessors, which are filed with the securities regulatory authorities in certain provinces in Canada and available on SEDAR. Although the Company has attempted to identify key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause unanticipated and unintended results. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors - Mineral Reserve and Resource Estimates

All resource and reserve estimates included in this news release or documents referenced in this news release have been prepared in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (the "CIM") - CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the CIM Council, as amended (the "CIM Standards"). NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators, which established standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. The terms "mineral reserve", "proven mineral reserve" and "probable mineral reserve" are Canadian mining terms as defined in accordance with NI 43-101 and the CIM Standards. These definitions differ materially from the definitions in SEC Industry Guide 7 ("SEC Industry Guide 7") under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Exchange Act.

In addition, the terms "mineral resource", "measured mineral resource", "indicated mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource" are defined in and required to be disclosed by NI 43-101 and the CIM Standards; however, these terms are not defined terms under SEC Industry Guide 7 and are normally not permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves. "Inferred mineral resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in very limited circumstances. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of a mineral resource exists, will ever be converted into a mineral reserve or is or will ever be economically or legally mineable or recovered.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT

Anthony Makuch, President, Chief Executive Officer & Director

Phone: +1 416-840-7884

E-mail: tmakuch@klgold.com

Mark Utting, Vice-President, Investor Relations

Phone: +1 416-840-7884

E-mail: mutting@klgold.com

Table 1: Drill Assay Intercepts for the Swan and Swan Footwall Splay Diamond Drilling, Lower Phoenix Mineralized System, Fosterville Gold Mine

(The results are outside of Indicated Mineral Resources appearing in the December 31, 2017 Technical Report on the Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves of The Fosterville Gold Mine, dated April 2, 2018, and available on sedar.com)





Hole ID From

(m) To

(m) Downhole

Interval

(m) Estimated

True Width

(m) Gold

Grade

(g/t Au) Geological

Structure/

Zone Swan Mineralization UDH2156(1) 282.6 291.0 8.4 7.1 86.9 Swan Including(1) 283.9 284.25 0.35 0.3 1,474 Swan and (1) 289.35 289.85 0.5 0.4 279 Swan UDH2484 368.45 369.55 1.1 1.0 2.5 Swan UDH2488 375.8 376.8 1.0 0.9 2.1 Swan UDH2493 (1) 387.6 389.5 1.9 1.5 40.4 Swan Including(1) 387.6 388.0 0.4 0.3 161 Swan UDH2494(1) 393.4 402.0 8.6 6.8 83.1 Swan Including(1) 398.3 400.0 1.7 1.3 366 Swan UDH2495(1) 366.2 372.5 6.3 5.8 11.7 Swan Including(1) 367.65 369.6 1.95 1.8 28.6 Swan UDH2496(1) 349.8 352.0 2.2 2.0 10.5 Swan Including(1) 349.8 350.55 0.75 0.7 27.1 Swan UDH2542 283.4 290.1 6.7 6.0 10.0 Swan Including 286.65 289.1 2.45 2.2 21.0 Swan UDH2545 No Significant Intercept Swan UDH2551(1) 308.0 315.45 7.45 6.0 289 Swan Including(1) 308.3 309.05 0.75 0.6 2,857 Swan UDH2552(1) 283.9 287.9 4.0 3.4 353 Swan Including(1) 284.4 284.75 0.35 0.3 3,740 Swan UDH2555(1) 267.0 270.55 3.55 3.2 423 Swan Including(1) 267.0 268.95 1.95 1.8 760 Swan UDH2584A(1) 310.35 322.25 11.9 9.9 155 Swan Including(1) 318.1 319.2 1.1 0.9 1,566 Swan UDH2587 285.1 290.3 5.2 4.4 20.0 Swan Including 288.3 289.8 1.5 1.3 35.3 Swan UDH2590(1) 292.8 300.0 7.2 5.9 215 Swan Including(1) 296.05 297.6 1.55 1.3 846 Swan UDH2598(1) 256.95 269.9 12.95 12.0 31.5 Swan Including(1) 265.1 268.05 2.95 2.7 101 Swan UDH2629 272.7 278.0 5.3 5.0 15.2 Swan Including 273.05 274.95 1.9 1.8 26.2 Swan UDH2632(1) 274.7 279.95 5.25 5.0 175 Swan Including(1) 279.0 279.95 0.95 0.9 930 Swan UDH2633 269.25 285.2 15.95 15.3 3.5 Swan Including 283.05 283.95 0.9 0.9 13.9 Swan Swan Footwall Splay Mineralization UDH2496 360.7 362.0 1.3 1.2 6.0 Swan Splay UDH2552 296.0 299.5 3.5 3.1 8.1 Swan Splay UDH2555(1) 279.4 282 2.6 2.2 24.0 Swan Splay UDH2584A 347.6 348.45 0.85 0.7 2.7 Swan Splay UDH2598 275.8 278.8 3.0 2.7 4.0 Swan Splay UDH2632 302.85 303.7 0.85 0.8 2.7 Swan Splay UDH2633 297.95 299.95 2.0 1.9 3.1 Swan Splay Notes: (1) - Visible gold observed in drill intercept.

Drill intercepts containing visible gold or greater than 30 Gram-Metre (gold grade x estimated true width) are shown in bold text.

Table 2: Underground Diamond Drill Hole Collar Locations, Fosterville Gold Mine

Hole ID Northing (m) Easting (m) Elevation (m) Collar Azimuth () Collar Plunge () Depth (m) UDH2156 6,357.3 1,406.5 4,192.6 102.0 -43.6 302 UDH2484 6,233.7 1,339.3 4,194.5 98.9 -33.2 396.1 UDH2488 6,233.7 1,339.4 4,194.5 98.9 -38.2 390.2 UDH2493 6,233.5 1,339.4 4,194.5 100.9 -45.2 426 UDH2494 6,233.5 1,339.1 4,194.1 105.5 -48.3 410.7 UDH2495 6,233.5 1,338.9 4,194.1 90.2 -47.6 386.7 UDH2496 6,233.9 1,339.1 4,194.0 83.9 -48.5 374.6 UDH2542 6,357.2 1,406.5 4,192.9 109.3 -34.3 324 UDH2545 6,356.1 1,406.4 4,192.7 115.8 -39.9 335 UDH2551 6,356.2 1,406.4 4,192.7 115.4 -49.0 330.2 UDH2552 6,357.3 1,406.5 4,192.5 110.2 -50.8 310.5 UDH2555 6,357.6 1,406.5 4,192.8 98.1 -50.1 296.9 UDH2584A 6,365.8 1,381.9 4,192.0 116.9 -55.9 356.6 UDH2587 6,356.2 1,406.4 4,192.8 104.6 -32.2 308 UDH2590 6,355.1 1,406.3 4,192.9 106.5 -47.0 308 UDH2598 6,355.2 1,406.3 4,192.5 98.2 -56.8 293.8 UDH2629 6,366.8 1,381.6 4,191.9 79.2 -60.6 296.7 UDH2632 6,366.6 1,381.7 4,191.9 87.7 -58.8 317.5 UDH2633 6,366.1 1,381.6 4,192.0 93.0 -57.8 318.2

Notes: Collar locations are in Fosterville Mine Grid coordinate system.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-20 05:05:55|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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MINSK, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) on Ukraine underscores the importance of humanitarian demining in Eastern Ukraine, Martin Sajdik, an official in the TCG on Ukraine, told local media on Wednesday.

Eastern Ukraine has become one of the most heavily mined places in the world, Sajdik said following the TCG meeting in Minsk.

Ertugrul Apakan, the head of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) special monitoring mission in Ukraine, underlined the importance of humanitarian demining in a systemic manner. Sajdik also drew attention to the importance of humanitarian demining.

The subgroup on security discussed the observance of the ceasefire and the separation of forces and assets.

The TCG will hold its next meeting in Minsk on October 2.

The TCG is a group of representatives from Ukraine, Russia and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) that was formed to facilitate a diplomatic solution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-20 05:15:56|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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ABUJA, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Nigerian government has suspended its much-publicized national carrier project, citing "strategic reasons" for its decision, according to a minister on Wednesday.

Minister of State for Aviation Hadi Sirika said the decision was made at the Federal Executive Council meeting led by President Muhammadu Buhari but did not give details of the "strategic reasons" for which the project, named "Nigeria Air," was halted.

"It has nothing to do with pressure from stakeholders and it also not for political reasons," Sirika told reporters in Abuja.

"The decision to come up with national carrier in the first place was as a result of the lack of capacity of the existing carrier to meet demands."

Nigeria unveiled the name and logo of the airline at an air show in London on July 18.

With an initial capital of 300 million U.S. dollars, the national carrier was supposed to begin operation in December.

Sirika said the government truly showed serious commitment to the project and its suspension would not affect the government's credibility before interested partners.

During the unveiling of its logo and name in July, the minister said the national airline would be driven by the private sector, with the government controlling only 10 percent of the equity.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-20 05:25:57|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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RABAT, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- French food group Danone has lost 18 percent of its revenues in Morocco during the first half of this year amid boycott from local customers, the French group said Wednesday.

According to Danone's first half results, the revenues declined to 261 million U.S. dollars from 322 million dollars a year earlier.

The biggest loss included revenues of fresh pasteurized milk, which decreased by 28 percent.

Last April, a consumer boycott was launched in Morocco on social media over unfair prices set by large businesses linked to elite class, and foreign brands in monopoly position.

Earlier this month, Danone announced a series of measures aimed at regaining trust of consumers.

Danone's Chief Executive Emmanuel Faber, who traveled to Morocco, unveiled a price cut on packages of fresh pasteurized milk and the creation of a new cheaper package of half skimmed milk in a pouch.

Faber also said the company has committed to disclosing to consumers information about the quality, the collection and the distribution of milk in the country.

The measures were taken after a widespread consultation of thousands of Moroccan consumers since July.

Danone, which makes 2 percent of its group sales in Morocco, said in July its dairy sales in the country decreased by 40 percent in the second quarter as a result of the boycott.U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo shakes hands with Democratic People's Republic of Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho at the Asean Regional Forum in Singapore, Aug. 4, 2018. (REUTERS Photo)

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday that the United States is ready to transform its relations with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) immediately.

In a statement regarding the outcomes of an earlier summit between leaders of South Korea and the DPRK, Pompeo said that "the United States congratulates President Moon Jae-in and Chairman Kim Jong Un on the successful outcome of their summit meeting in Pyongyang."

"We welcome President Moon and Chairman Kim's reaffirmation of the Singapore joint statement of complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," he said. "On the basis of these important commitments, the United States is prepared to engage immediately in negotiations to transform U.S.-DPRK relations."

He added that "this morning, I invited my counterpart Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho to meet in New York City next week where we are both already scheduled to be in attendance at the United Nations General Assembly meeting."

"Likewise, we have invited North Korean representatives to meet our Special Representative for North Korea, Stephen Biegun, in Vienna, Austria at the earliest opportunity," Pompeo added.

This will mark the beginning of negotiations to transform U.S.-DPRK relations through the process of denuclearization of the DPRK and to construct a lasting and stable peace regime on the Korean Peninsula, Pompeo noted.

Earlier on the same day, U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted that the fruits of the summit are "very exciting."

The DPRK's top leader Kim Jong Un and visiting South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Wednesday signed a joint declaration, agreeing to take additional steps toward making the Korean Peninsula free of nuclear weapons and threats of armed conflict.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said on Wednesday that China welcomes the consensus reached between the two nations.

"China, as a close neighbor, always supports the efforts of the north and south of the peninsula to improve their ties and push forward reconciliation and cooperation through dialogue and consultation," Geng said.

China hopes that the two sides will continue to implement the consensus, endeavor to promote interaction and cooperation and play a positive role in achieving a political solution to the peninsula issue as well as lasting peace in the region, Geng said.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-20 05:51:04|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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GAZA, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- A Palestinian boy was shot dead by Israeli soldiers on Wednesday night during clashes between dozens of Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli soldiers in southern Gaza Strip, according to Gaza Health Ministry.

Ashraf al-Qedra, spokesman of the Health Ministry in Gaza, told reporters that Mo'emen Abu Eyada, 15 years old, was shot in the head by Israeli soldiers' gunfire east of Rafah town near the border with Israel on Wednesday night.

Earlier on Wednesday, al-Qedra said that 13 Palestinians were injured, including five with live gunshots, during evening clashes between Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli soldiers east of the central Gaza Strip town of Deir el-Ballah.

Clashes on the border have been going on recently almost on a daily basis, amid calls of the Gaza-based High Commission of Marches and Breaking the Israeli Siege Imposed on the Coastal Enclave.

Over the past few days, dozens of Palestinian activists formed a unit called the unit of night confusion, which demonstrates every night near the border with Israel. They burn tires and try to cut the barbed wires of the border fence.

Over the past two days, four Palestinian demonstrators were killed and dozens of others injured in the night protests.

The Commission, founded on March 30, has been organizing weekly protests and rallies on the border with Israel every Friday.

The demonstrators demand Israel to end the nearly 12 years of blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip since Hamas movement violently seized control of the enclave in 2007.

Mediation efforts have so far failed to broker a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas-led Gaza factions due to deep differences between the Islamic movement and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah Party.Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-20 06:21:09|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- The northwest U.S. state of Alaska will receive over 10 million U.S. dollars from federal funds to help its fight against worsening opioid epidemic, the local KTUU TV channel reported Wednesday.

It said the money is part of a 1 billion-dollar grant dispersed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to address the looming threat of opioids plaguing the U.S. as a national public health emergency.

More than 4.027 million dollars to be used to help public access to medication-based treatment for opioid addiction, while about 6.386 million dollars will go to fund health treatment centers in Alaska to treat substance use disorder and mental health problems, said the TV report.

The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration said that while opioid use has dropped for the second year nationwide, Alaska has witnessed an increase in opioid use and subsequent opioid-related deaths.

Alaska state officials said in August that deaths in the state caused by opioids, specifically the synthetic opioid fentanyl, have increased over the past year.

A total of 623 opioid overdose deaths were reported in Alaska between 2010 and 2017, growing 77 percent, said the statistics by the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Section of Epidemiology.

In 2017 alone, 108 people died in Alaska from opioid-related causes, most of them by overdoses, and a good chunk from fentanyl.

Alaska Governor Bill Walker announced a disaster declaration on the state's opioid epidemic on Feb. 15, 2017, which he said "is an important first step in addressing our public health crisis."

Alaska has recorded one of the highest per-capita death rates for prescription opioid overdoses in the U.S. since 2012, according to official data.The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) wants to keep criminals in Hungary instead of expelling them, ruling Fidesz said in reaction to a recent CJEU ruling concerning Shajin Ahmed, an Afghan national who had obtained refugee status in Hungary.

The court said that Hungary should not reject the Afghan mans appeal for refugee status, even if he had attempted homicide, Fidesz communications director Balazs Hidveghi told a press conference.



Ahmeds refugee status was withdrawn and his request to get it back dismissed by the Hungarian authorities because of a final ruling by a Hungarian court that he was guilty of attempted homicide and other serious crimes, Hidveghi said.



It follows that the European court has sided with a convicted criminal rather than with Hungary, he added. Hidveghi also referred to another, more recent case involving an Afghan refugee who is suspected of having raped a woman in a Budapest fast-food restaurant.



The migrants in both of these cases were helped and represented by the rights organisation Helsinki Committee, which belongs to the Soros network, he said.



The Helsinki Committee and other pro-migration organisations have an interest in bringing as many migrants to Europe as possible even if they are dangerous people, for instance criminals, he added.



Fidesz insists that a person who has committed a crime is not eligible for asylum, especially if the crime was committed in a recipient country, Hidveghi said.



Photo: kormany.hu



Cooperation with Russia is in Hungarys economic and national security interests, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told public media in Moscow, ahead of a meeting between Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Hungary has always had an interest in pursuing pragmatic cooperation with Russia, based on mutual respect and common sense, he said.



A large portion of Hungarys energy supply comes from Russia, he noted. We in central Europe know that dialogue is ... necessary, and cooperation must be based on trust, he said. Outlined his talks in Moscow yesterday, Szijjarto said a cooperation and development pact that served Hungarys best interests was on the agenda.



The launch of a flight between Budapest and Kazan, the third between Hungary and Russia, is within reach, he said. Hungary is also set to increase its role in Moscows International Investment Bank, which already handles Hungarian projects worth 70 million euros, he said. Talks are under way on Hungary buying about 4.1 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Russian energy giant Gazprom to cover the countrys energy needs in 2020, he said.



Also, Budapests water company will receive commissions for value-added projects on the Russian market, he said. Szijjarto on Monday met Russian Minister of Trade and Industry Denis Manturov, Minister of Health Veronika Skvortsova, Nikolai Fyodorov, the first deputy chairman of the Federation Council, Deputy Finance Minister Sergei Storchak and Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller.



MTI Photo Foreign MinistyHungarys government is taking its challenge against the European Parliaments (EP) vote on the Sargentini report to the European Court of Justice, Gergely Gulyas, the head of the Prime Ministers Office said.

The report was only approved because abstentions were not counted and this breaches the Lisbon Treaty, he said.



The European Unions basic treaty clearly states that a two-thirds majority is required for a procedure to be valid, he noted, insisting that this was not achieved and therefore the procedure should not go ahead.



Gulyas said it was the first time the EP had held a vote on Article 7. He said house rules dictated that abstentions could be set aside in ordinary procedures but this rule did not apply in the case of special procedures.



Efforts are under way to subject Hungary to a kind of witch hunt due to the countrys position on migration, he said. You cannot protect the rule of law after crude breaches of the law, he said. Whats happening here shows that the Article 7 procedure should be launched not against Hungary but against the EP.



He said the government was not scared of any inquiry and it was unlikely that the procedure would get the go-ahead with a four-fifths majority needed in the European Council.



Moreover, the motion would certainly not get the necessary unanimity in a vote by the heads of state and government, he said.



The procedure launched by the EP would therefore not get as far as the withdrawal of voting rights, so it is clear that the vote was just a way to pressurise Hungary.



Nevertheless, Article 7 can be used as a means to punish Hungary during the EU campaign and this was obviously the intention of those who initiated and supported it, he added.



MTI Photo: Kovacs TamasA pro-government economist describes the European Parliament vote against Hungary as an attack by global liberal elites on Hungary and national sovereignty. A left-wing commentator believes that the EU wants to defend Hungarian national interests and democracy from the attack they are under from the government.

In Magyar Hirlap, Laszlo Bogar interprets the EU vote against Hungary as an important battle betweenglobal elites and national governments that put sovereignty and national interest first. The pro-government economist thinks that liberal democracy is nothing other than the dictatorship of global elites operating in secrecy.



He suggests that liberal global dictatorship threatens the world both in an environmental and cultural sense through consumerism and multiculturalism which both poison the Earth. If global liberal democrats win the 2019 EU Parliamentary Election, Europe and the world face inevitable destruction, Bogar concludes.

Nepszavas Robert Friss, on the other hand, accuses PM Orban of waging a war on democracy. The left-wing columnist writes that the Prime Minister damns all his critics as supporters of global migration and enemies of the nation.



On the contrary, Friss suggests that the EP vote against Hungary was fully justified, and its intentions to defend democratic institutions in Hungary  which is also the national interest of the country.

This opinion does not necessarily represent the views of XpatLoop.com or the publisher.

Your opinions are welcome too - for editorial review before possible publication online.

Click here to Share Your Story



MTI Photo: PM'S press Office Szecsodi BalazsDublin, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "5G Services Market by Vertical (Smart Cities, Connected Vehicles, Connected Factories, Smart Buildings, Smart Utilities, Connected Healthcare, and Broadband Services), Application (eMBB, MMTC and URLLC, and FWA), and Region - Global Forecast to 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global 5G services market is expected to grow from USD 53.93 billion in 2020 to USD 123.27 Billion by 2025, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 18.0% during the forecast period.



The rising demand for reliable and ultra-low latency connectivity services, increasing use of connected Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and growing data traffic are some of the factors expected to drive the 5G services market. However, the deployment cost of network services may restrain the growth of the 5G services market.



The broadband vertical is expected to have the largest market share in the 5G Services market by 2025. The 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) application would disrupt the broadband ecosystem, as companies have started deploying it on a trial basis in several cities. For instance, Verizon Wireless announced its plans to launch 5G FWA for a group of its residential customers in California, US.



The eMBB segment is expected to hold the largest market share during the forecast period. eMBB is initially considered as an extension to 4G services, and would be commercialized by late 2018 or early 2019. Therefore, due to the early adoption of this application, it is expected to hold the largest market share during the forecast period.



In terms of growth rate, North America is expected to grow at the fastest growth rate, due to its dominance via sustainable and well-established economies, which enable it to invest heavily in Research and Development (R&D) activities. Owing to the rising adoption of new technologies, such as IoT and smart cities, and increasing need for high-speed internet connectivity, telecom service providers have started trials and tests for 5G services.

In-depth interviews were conducted with Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), marketing directors, innovation and technology directors, and executives from various key organizations operating in the 5G Services market.



The key 5G services vendors profiled in the report are as follows:

AT&T (US)

Airtel (India)

BT Group (UK)

China Mobile (China)

China Telecom

Deutsche Telecom (Germany)

du (UAE)

Korea Telecom (Korea)

Sprint (US)

Saudi Telecom Company (Saudi Arabia)

SK Telecom (South Korea)

Telstra (Australia)

Vodafone (UK)

Verizon (US)





Key Topics Covered:



1 Introduction



2 Research Methodology



3 Executive Summary



4 Premium Insights

4.1 Attractive Market Opportunities in the 5G Services Market

4.2 Market Share of Top 3 Verticals and Regions

4.3 Market Investment Scenario



5 Market Overview and Industry Trends

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Market Dynamics

5.2.1 Drivers

5.2.1.1 Rise in Demand for Reliable and Ultra-Low Latency Connectivity Services

5.2.1.2 Rapid Increase in the Development of Connected IoT Devices

5.2.1.3 Continuous Increase in Data Traffic

5.2.2 Restraints

5.2.2.1 Cost Involved in the Deployment of Network Services

5.2.3 Opportunities

5.2.3.1 Infrastructural Development Initiatives, Such as Smart Cities

5.2.3.2 Transition From On-Premises Legacy Systems to Cloud-Based Solutions

5.2.4 Challenges

5.2.4.1 Vertical-Focused Business Model

5.2.4.2 Issues Related to Global Spectrum

5.3 Latest Implementation and Trials of 5G Services

5.4 Comparison Between Enabling Technologies



6 5G Services Market, By Vertical

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Smart Cities

6.2.1 Smart Signaling and Traffic Management Systems

6.2.2 Smart Parking

6.2.3 Environmental Monitoring

6.2.4 Public Safety

6.2.5 Water and Waste Management

6.3 Connected Factories

6.3.1 Connected Machineries and Sensors

6.3.2 Logistics and Supply Chain

6.3.3 Asset Tracking

6.3.4 Workforce Tracking

6.3.5 Incident Management and Communication

6.4 Smart Buildings

6.4.1 Connected HVAC

6.4.2 Smart Homes

6.4.3 Digital Content Management

6.5 Connected Vehicles

6.5.1 Autonomous Vehicles

6.5.2 Vehicle Telematics

6.5.3 Freight Information System

6.6 Connected Healthcare

6.6.1 Clinical Operations and Workflow Management

6.6.2 Inpatient Monitoring

6.6.3 Connected Imaging

6.6.4 Medication Management

6.7 Connected Retail

6.7.1 Advertising and Marketing

6.7.2 Point of Sale

6.7.3 Video Surveillance and Safety

6.8 Smart Utilities

6.9 Voice

6.10 Broadband

6.11 Others



7 5G Services Market, By Application

7.1 Introduction

7.2 MMTC and URLLC

7.3 EMBB

7.4 FWA



8 5G Services Market, By Region



9 Competitive Landscape

9.1 Overview

9.2 Key Players in the 5G Services Market

9.3 Competitive Scenario

9.3.1 Partnerships, Agreements, and Collaborations

9.3.2 New Product/Service Launches and 5G Trials

9.3.3 Mergers and Acquisitions

9.3.4 Business Expansions



10 Company Profiles



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/zhctqd/5g_services?w=12

Did you know that we also offer Custom Research? Visit our Custom Research page to learn more and schedule a meeting with our Custom Research Manager.Jennifer Walker is a British-Hungarian writer, whose sordid past includes a PhD in nuclear physics. She has has since thrown caution to the wind and works as a writer full time.

She works as a copywriter at an ad agency by day, but also freelances by authoring guidebooks (she is just putting the finishing touches on Moon Travel Guide's Prague, Vienna & Budapest book as co-author for the Budapest and Vienna sections) and writing articles for a range of international publications, and her work has appeared in Lonely Planet, National Geographic Travel, Conde Nast Traveler, BBC Travel, CNN Travel, Oxford Dictionaries, among others.



She is also one of the editors of Panel Magazine, a new Budapest-based literary magazine focussing on contemporary literature and art from Central and Eastern Europe.



1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here?

My mother is Hungarian, so I think I first visited Hungary when I was two (judging by the photos of me as a toddler outfitted in folk clothing proudly holding a chicken I caught in a village somewhere in Borsod). I moved here properly at age 8 (my mother wanted me to learn the language whether I liked it or not so put me in state school here), I went back to the UK at 11. I then returned 5 years ago partly to reconnect with my roots, but also because my plan A fell through, which was to move to Istanbul.

2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere?

Yes: Germany for a year, Spain for 7 years, plus a few months working in Georgia and India.

3. What surprised you most about Hungary?

I lived in Hungary as a kid, so I dont think there is anything that surprises me. Plus since my family is from Ozd in north-eastern Hungary, if you've been there as much as I have you become desensitized to culture shock. Although last time I took the bus up there the guy in the seat next to me started sharpening his knife (and then cut his szallonna/bacon for lunch), which was an experience.

4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do?

I always ask people what are you into? If bars are their thing I may take one for the team and take them to Szimpla - it may be a tourist hot spot but its still spectacular if youve never been and I remembered being wowed when I first walked in. The baths are great, too, but I love taking friends to the Childrens Railway or on the BKK boat on the Danube. I also think a hike up Gellert Hegy is a must. I do need to reign in my obsession with architecture some time, as I realise not everyone will want to go to Zuglo just to see a Lechner building.

5. What is your favourite Hungarian food?

Sztrapacska, which I know is technically Slovakian, but my mother is from Ozd, which is perched on the border and you can get amazing Sztrapacska there.

6. What is never missing from your refrigerator?

Wine or cheese. Preferably both.

7. What is your favourite Hungarian word?

The 12 year old British in me says Ifjusag. My father stayed in the Hotel Ifjusag when he came to Hungary in the 70s and thought it was the most hilarious thing ever and loves to repeat that story. I love innocent words in one language that sound filthy in another.

8. What do you miss the most from home?

Helpful and friendly customer service.

9. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?

Ive already gone through a few career changes and feel Im getting too old to do so again. Ive been a nuclear physicist, an English teacher, and Im hoping I can stick with writing for a while. I would love to travel the world and follow things that fascinate me, but not sure what career would allow for that. Or an event planner - Im good at putting events together. I host a few literary events (like the Budapest Friday Night Stories along with my friend Masha Kamenetskaya - we're doing the next one 12 October at Massolit so come on by *ends shameless plug*) and my dream is to throw a Surrealist-Dada Ball.

10. What's a job you would definitely never want?

Anything that involves working with children. I really, really respect people who do, but I could never do that.

11. Where did you spend your last vacation?

Pretty much all my travels this year have been to Austria for the book Im working on. I think Ive been to Vienna 10 times in the last 12 months, with a trip to Salzburg, Linz, and Baden, and not much else (Ozd doesn't count).

12. Where do you hope to spend your next one?

I have plans to go to India again early next year, lets see if that works out. My dream destination is Uzbekistan though and I will make it there some point.

13. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?

I became obsessed with astronomy when I was 7 and then got into physics after reading Stephen Hawkings A Brief History of Time when I was 14 and my life goal was to build a space ship (oh how dreams die). I actually did try to pursue that career - my undergraduate degree is in physics with satellite technology, but somewhere things deviated and I ended up doing a PhD in nuclear physics.

14. Apart of temptation what can't you resist?

Cats

15. Red wine or white?

Yes.

16. Book or movie?

Book

17. Morning person or night person?

Ive been in denial about this, but I have come to the realisation I have become a morning person.

18. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about?

Women's rights.

19. Buda side or Pest side?

Both have their charms. I've lived in Buda for the past 5 years so I guess I'm team Buda.

20. What would you say is your personal motto?

Everything has a solution and where there is none, there is wine.More Information

During Police Chief Dominic Rizzi Jr.s tenure:

 The budget increased.

In 2013, the first year Rizzi was a part of the budgeting process, the police departments budget was about $25,309,932.

This year, the budget is about $29,388,533, an overall increase of about 16 percent.

All budget changes have to be approved by the Yakima City Council and Council members can play a role in budget increases.

Some budget changes were the result of a City Council strategic priority to improve public safety, which specifically increased criminal justice expenditures by 7.8 percent from 2015 to 2017.

The budget increased in 2013 to expand the gang unit by two officers and add an officer to the Violent Offenders Task Force.

 The number of budgeted staff members increase slightly.

In 2013, the department had 192 budgeted positions for staff members  148 commissioned officers and 44 non-commissioned staff members.

In 2018, the department has 195 budgeted positions  148 commissioned officers and 47 non-commissioned staff members.

Like the budget, the Yakima City Council has to approve the addition of staff positions.

 Violent crime numbers varied. Heres how the violent crime rate per 10,000 people changed from 2010 to 2016, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigations Uniform Crime Statistics.

2016: 52.7

2015: 54.8

2014: 43.6

2013: 50.3

2012: 60.5  Rizzi joined the department in mid-2012

2011: 52

2010: 57SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today source{d}, the company enabling Machine Learning for large scale code analysis, announced the public beta of source{d} Engine and public alpha of source{d} Lookout. Combining code retrieval, language agnostic parsing and git history tools with familiar APIs parsing, source{d} Engine simplifies code analysis. source{d} Lookout is a service for assisted code review that enables running custom code analyzers on GitHub pull requests.



According to a recent Thomson Reuters report , by now all established companies in traditional industries like finance, retail, manufacturing have become technology companies. While source code is now a large part of every companys assets, that asset remains often underutilized. Large scale code analysis and Machine Learning on Code is the next logical step for companies as they progress on their digital transformation and IT automation journeys.

source{d}, the only open-core company building a tech stack for Code as Data and Machine Learning on Code (ML on Code), turns code into an analyzable and productive asset across an enterprises source code repositories, facilitating the adoption of Inner Source practices at large traditional companies.



With the right tools to retrieve and analyze all their code repositories, organizations can not only prevent quality and security issues but also streamline engineering efforts based on concrete metrics, says Eiso Kant, source{d} CEO. We envision every organization running a data pipeline over their software development life cycle, where source code becomes a unique, actionable dataset that can be analyzed and used in decision making and machine learning models.



source{d} Engine offers advanced code and architecture analysis to developers and, for C-level executives, engineering analytics and business intelligence. Key features include:

Code Retrieval and Unification - Retrieve and store the code history of the organization (both open-source and private repositories) as a dataset.

Language Agnostic Code Analysis - Automatically identify languages, parse programs, and extract the pieces that matter in a completely language-agnostic way.

History Analysis - Analyze not only the current version of your code base but also its evolution over time and individual contributions to each repository.

Easy querying with familiar APIs - Use Standard SQL to obtain insights from your source code and version control history, while classifying languages and parsing code through simple custom functions.

"Combining code retrieval, language agnostic and git history tools with familiar APIs parsing, source{d} Engine not only simplifies large scale code analysis but also lays the foundation for effective Machine Learning on Code," said Joseph Jacks, Aljabr CEO.

source{d} Lookout is the first step towards a full suite of Machine Learning on Code applications for assisted code review. Key features include:

Language Agnostic Static Analysis: code quality analyzers that are independent of the language they are written in.

Inferred code style: Recognize source code patterns related to programming style from a given organization or particular project and warn developers about inconsistencies related to style in the code being contributed.

source{d} helps companies modernize their codebases thanks to source code analysis and machine learning models.

If you are interested in testing these products click here .

About source{d}

Source{d}, the only open core company to turn code into actionable data and business intelligence, is building the tech stack that enables large-scale code analysis and machine learning on code. Used by top engineers at world leading companies, source{d} develops projects transparently, collaborating with the broader community of Machine Learning on Code researchers. Headquartered in Madrid, with US offices in San Francisco, source{d} has raised $10 million from Otium, Sunstone Capital and others. To learn more, visit sourced.tech .

Editorial Contact:

Joseph Eckert for source{d}

jeckert@eckertcomms.comOur fingers were crossed that our Giant Anteaters would repeat having another youngster, and we couldnt be happier that the breeding was successful a second time, explained Gregg Dancho, Zoo Director. We encourage everyone to follow the babys growth and progress on our Facebook and Instagram pages until the baby is a bit larger.

Proud parents are second time dad, EO, and third time mom, Pana. The pair was brought to Connecticuts only Zoo with the hopes of successful breeding, which occurred for the first time in 2016. Mother and baby are currently in seclusion most of the day, with brief forays into the outdoor habitat for fresh air and sunshine.

For the second time in the facilitys history, a Giant Anteater has been born at Connecticuts Beardsley Zoo . Arriving on the evening of July 30, the little male is now nine pounds and was born after a 175-day gestation period.

Female Anteaters give birth to one offspring, and the baby rides on moms back for the first several months of life, occasional venturing off not too far from mom to explore its surroundings. For the first week, mom spends most of her time sleeping while bonding occurs and the baby gains strength and weight.

When Pana and her son are outside, EO will not be allowed to be in the same habitat due to the mothers protectiveness and the potential of the father hurting the baby. Pana and the baby will be outside for guests to view into the fall, alternating with EO.

The Giant Anteater parents arrived at the Zoo from Palm Beach Zoo in Palm Beach, Florida. Both Pana and EO are nine years old. They arrived in late May 2015 and are a highlight of the Pampas Plains habitat, which opened in August 2015. Featuring animals from the Pampas region of Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil, the new exhibit represents phase one of the Zoos South American Adventure exhibit.

Giant Anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) can live up to 26 years old in human care and are usually solitary animals. They can weigh up to 100 pounds, and are five to seven feet long. Their home range is from southern Belize to northern Argentina and they live in grasslands, humid forests, and woodland areas.

Anteaters have one of the lowest body temperatures in the animal kingdom at 91 to 97 degrees Fahrenheit and can eat up to 30,000 ants per meal in the wild. The Latin name for Anteater is Vermillingua, meaning "worm tongue," which can be as long as two feet.Galera Therapeutics Inc., a Malvern company building a drug to reduce painful side effects of cancer radiation, has raised $70.2 million in new equity investment from East Coast-, Europe-, and China-based investors led by Clarus Ventures, Cambridge, Mass. The investors will advance an additional $80 million, for Galera to repay from future sales, when its drug, currently code-named GC4419, goes commercial.

Galera will use the $150 million to complete clinical trials and start new ones and build up a sales and marketing staff, chief executive Mel Sorenson, said in an interview.

Why is Galera growing, instead of selling out? The last time Sorenson, a GlaxoSmithKline veteran, ran a cancer-fighting start-up this promising, he sold Ascenta Therapeutics to Sanofi for $398 million. That was in 2010. Galera, like Ascent, has also received a lot of interest from big companies interested in buying the company or licensing its technology, Sorenson said Wednesday.

But instead, "we decided on the unusual step of raising such a large round, because the investor interest was so high," Sorenson said. "In general, if you have a treatment that's working, it's best to take it as far as you can on your own. We want to get this on the U.S. market as soon as possible." That would put Galera in a better position to continue expanding or sell at a higher premium.

The company currently employs 18, plus a larger group of consultants. "We will be growing," and adding staff, with the new investments, Sorenson said. He called the Philadelphia region, with its medical schools and drug research labs, a good place to grow such a business. "Philadelphia has one of the most educated populations in the biopharma medical field," both for developing therapies, and for their sales and marketing, he said.

First, Galera plans a Phase 3 trial this fall, "the last step before we get on the market" as a treatment to reduce mucositis in the nation's 40,000 annual head-and-neck cancer radiation patients, Sorenson said. Radiation is effective on head and neck cancers, but it generates a lot of mucous in patients' mouths, which leads to infections difficult to treat. The previous double-blind, randomized study tested 223 patients at 44 sites, mostly in the United States. The last trial will be larger.

Galera also plans to start trials focused on lung cancer patients, who face mucous infections in the esophagus, and those with other conditions where radiation therapy generates excess body fluid that leads to infections. Around half of all cancer patients get radiation treatment, and many of those are a potential market for Galera, the CEO said.

The drug works by rapidly converting superoxide, an irritant that is a byproduct of radiation treatment, into hydrogen peroxide, which healthy tissue can readily process.

Besides Clarus, whose managing director Emmett T. Cunningham Jr. will join the Galera board, other first-time Galera investors contributing to the $150 million include Adage Capital Management, Boston; HBM Healthcare Investors, Switzerland; Nan Fung Life Sciences, Hong Kong; RA Capital, Boston; Rock Springs Capital, Baltimore; and Tekla Capital, Boston.

Previous investors  Correlation Ventures, Galera Angels, New Enterprise Associates, Novartis Venture Fund, Novo Ventures, and Sofinnova Ventures  also bought into the new round of financing. Galera had raised $68 million in previous equity rounds, bringing the total committed by investors to at least $212 million since the company moved to suburban Philadelphia from its original home in Missouri.

"This significant raise further validates the dramatic and meaningful results of our randomized Phase 2b clinical trial and the potential of GC4419 to revolutionize radiotherapy," Sorenson said in his statement.

The FDA has given the treatment its fast-track status, noted Cunningham, the Clarus managing director, in the company's statement.Center City District Restaurant Week has come a long way since its premiere in 2003, when 40 restaurants offered $30 fixed-price dinners over six nights.

The restaurant week now actually spans two weeks  Sept. 23 to Oct. 5  and this time, 123 restaurants are offering dinner for $35. Some even serve on the Saturday between the weeks.

The $5 rise over 15 years suggests that many of these specials are true bargains.

Many restaurants also offer three-course lunches for $20. Municipal lots and garages offer discounted parking, too.

New participants for the fall 2018 edition include Brickwall Tavern, at 1213 Sansom St.; Casta Diva, at 227 S. 20th St.; Chez Ben Bistro, at the Renaissance Philadelphia Hotel, 401 Chestnut St.; the Palm, at the Bellevue, Broad and Walnut Streets; and Porta, at 1216 Chestnut St.

Perusing the list to seek out the bargains, you may encounter frustration: Even with less than a week before the start, many restaurants have not released their menus. But it's a good idea to get a reservation on the books, especially for dinner.

It's a given that the big-name, bigger-ticket restaurants  such as the Stephen Starr places like Alma de Cuba and Buddakan, Michael Schulson's Sampan, Osteria, and Harp & Crown, Jose Garces' Volver and Amada  will deliver value.

But the list is studded with unsung restaurants  joints that have been around without big marketing and PR budgets.

Here is just a sampling of restaurants worth a second look.

 READ MORE: Aki Nom Nom Sushi & Ramen

In its former life, Tom Lau's Aki was a plain-Jane Center City BYOB on Walnut near 12th known for its all-you-can-eat sushi special. Earlier this year, Alan Su of Nom Nom Ramen across town joined Lau to create a new restaurant. In comfy, contemporary digs, Aki Nom Nom retains the AYCE option ($28.95), while adding appetizers (gyoza, shumai, takoyaki) and ramen  the familiar tonkatsu and chicken chashu, as well as ton-toro, a pork-base soup that includes slices of pork jowl to add to the ramen. Aki Nom Nom's restaurant-week menu offers four courses  raw and cooked selections  capped with tempura ice cream.

Capofitto, 233 Chestnut St.

Stephanie Reitano, whose uncompromising approach to gelato led to the creation of Capogiro, applies the same passion to Italian food at her homey Capofitto in Old City  namely some of the most critically acclaimed Neapolitan pizzas in the city. Capofitto's restaurant-week menus start with appetizers such as the rich arancini, include one of 11 pizzas, and finish with Capogiro gelato.

Casta Diva, 227 S. 20th St.

After 16 years, Stephen Vassalluzzo's snug, charming Italian BYOB up a few steps from 20th Street in a Rittenhouse storefront is the epitome of "unsung"  despite, of course, the name, derived from the first act of Bellini's Norma. For its first restaurant-week menu, Vassalluzzo offers plenty of dinner choices, including a few salads, entrees including flat-iron steak, wild boar shank, branzino, and octopus with fusilli, and cannoli, flourless chocolate torte, or tiramisu for dessert.

La Peg, 140 N. Columbus Blvd.

There's high-ceilinged, industrial atmosphere aplenty at Peter Woolsey's brasserie inside the century-old FringeArts building beneath the Ben Franklin Bridge. The restaurant-week dinner menu, which starts with a chilled coconut-red pepper soup and wraps with a choice of four desserts, is a slice of Americana. Second- and third-course choices include cheese curds with marinara, crab cakes, heirloom tomato salad, half-chicken, pot roast  even oven-roasted cauliflower steak for vegetarians.

Malbec, 400 S. Second St.

The tango soundtrack sets a romantic air at this Argentine steak house across from Head House Square  which you old-timers may remember as the Artful Dodger. The house-specialty empanadas are offered on both the lunch and dinner restaurant-week menus, and the dinner menu includes churrasco (a 10-ounce skirt steak), two chicken preparations, and grilled salmon. Tres leches cake and flan are the dessert choices.

SuGa, 1720 Sansom St.

Susanna Foo set the city ablaze back in the 1980s and 1990s with French-influenced Chinese cooking in a polished setting at her long-ago Walnut Street destination. Nowadays in her sleek Center City bistro on Sansom, across from the Sofitel, the cuisine is far more global. Her popcorn pork raviolis  offered on the restaurant-week lunch menu  are addictive. Menus offer plenty of choices, including Vietnamese beef carpaccio, Peking duck, and Sichuan chili monkfish. Warm chocolate cake is for dessert at both lunch and dinner.

Trattoria Carina, 2201 Spruce St.

Fitler Square/Rittenhouse Square locals regard this airy trattoria at 22nd and Spruce Streets from the crew from Pub & Kitchen as a drop-in and a good dinnertime value. But can a good everyday value truly also be a good restaurant-week value? I'd say yes, given the selection and the fact that even though there's a liquor license, you can BYO. Start with antipasti and a salad, segue into a main dish such as the shells with spicy crab, the grilled branzino, or tagliatelle Bolognese, and wrap with olive oil cake, gelato, or chocolate torte.

Veda, 1920 Chestnut St.

This colorful Indian bistro in Rittenhouse, home of one of the better-value happy hours in Center City at its glassed-in bar, seems to burst with energy. I find it best enjoyed among at least three people so you can better "run" the menu. Restaurant-week lunch and dinner menus  starting with apps such as curried butternut squash soup and ending in a dessert such as malai kulfi (ice cream)  are similar to Veda's everyday bill of fare, and offer much to the gluten-free and vegetarian crowd. Don't miss the Calcutta pork rib and crispy spinach chaat at dinner.Bombardier and Malaysian Industry High Technology Government Group to collaborate on developing home-grown champions

Agreement reflects Bombardiers ongoing commitment to enhancing rail skills and expertise in its key markets

BERLIN, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Note to editors: To view the photos associated with this press release, please visit the following links:

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/178ea4d4-be81-49c8-81da-a0f4280e84f7

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d3aa7c82-4742-4bbc-856e-9e9317bf68ca

Bombardier Transportation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Malaysian Industry Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT) outlining their collaboration on developing home-grown rail industry expertise over the next year.

The collaboration with MIGHT, an agency under the Malaysia Prime Ministers Department with a mandate to develop high technology industries, will support small and medium enterprises from the manufacturing and maintenance, repair and operations sector by enhancing their technical rail industry skills. In Malaysia, Bombardier has been actively implementing a graduate program over the last two years along with university associations to prepare young talent as well as expand their capabilities in the rail industry.

Datuk Dr. Mohd Yusoff Sulaiman, President and CEO of MIGHT expressed, We greatly appreciate Bombardiers active participation in the development of both the capacity and capability of small and medium enterprises in Malaysia. MIGHT developed the Rail Industry Development Blueprint in 2012 through an Industry-Government consensus on the future direction for the local rail industry, focusing on securing more business for local players, human capital development as well as research and technology. MIGHT is also appreciative of the efforts by SME Corporation, being the funder for the High Impact Project for rail sector and the Malaysia Rail Industry Corporation for promoting this program among its members.

Jayaram Naidu, Head of Southeast Asia, Bombardier Transportation, commented, At Bombardier, we are committed to developing local expertise in the rail industry and investing in the communities where we operate. With several significant collaboration milestones in Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia focused on to developing local talent over the past four years, we believe these initiatives will drive productivity, increase performance and improve competitiveness - ultimately raising rail industry performance regionally as well as globally.



Bombardiers presence in Malaysia began in 1992 as lead supplier for the 27-kilometer Kuala Lumpur Sri Petaling and Ampang Line. Since then, several Bombardier transit systems have been delivered for the Kuala Lumpur International Airport and the 29-kilometer Kelana Jaya LRT, linking the western and eastern suburbs with Kuala Lumpurs downtown core in time for the 1998 Commonwealth Games. In 2017, the Kelana Jaya LRT network became the citys busiest line, moving up to 255,000 passengers daily with passenger demand expected to surge. In addition to supporting rising ridership, Bombardier is also adding value to the life cycle of the train fleets by refurbishing the original trains in-country.

About Bombardier Transportation

Bombardier Transportation is a global mobility solution provider leading the way with the rail industrys broadest portfolio. It covers the full spectrum of solutions, ranging from trains to sub-systems and signalling to complete turnkey transport systems, e-mobility technology and data-driven maintenance services. Combining technology and performance with empathy, Bombardier Transportation continuously breaks new ground in sustainable mobility by providing integrated solutions that create substantial benefits for operators, passengers and the environment. Headquartered in Berlin, Germany, Bombardier Transportation employs around 39,850 people and its products and services operate in over 60 countries.

About Bombardier

With over 69,500 employees across four business segments, Bombardier is a global leader in the transportation industry, creating innovative and game-changing planes and trains. Our products and services provide world-class transportation experiences that set new standards in passenger comfort, energy efficiency, reliability and safety.

Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, Bombardier has production and engineering sites in 28 countries across the segments of Transportation, Business Aircraft, Commercial Aircraft and Aerostructures and Engineering Services. Bombardier shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD). In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, Bombardier posted revenues of $16.2 billion US. News and information are available at bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter @Bombardier .

About MIGHT

The Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT) was established on 22 February 1993 as the technology think-tank under the purview of the Prime Ministers Department. It is governed by a Board of Directors, helmed through the joint-chairmanship of prominent private sector personality and the Science Advisor to the Prime Minister.

MIGHT emphasis on market intelligence initiatives using the foresight practices and methodology to identify technology and business opportunities. It is built on the strength of public-private partnership with members representing both local and international, from industry, government and academia.

www.might.org.my

Notes to editors

For news, related material and photos, visit our newsroom at www.rail.bombardier.com/en/newsroom.html . Please subscribe to our RSS Feed to receive press releases or follow Bombardier Transportation on Twitter @BombardierRail .

Bombardier is a trademark of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.

For information

Harsh Mehta

Media relations, India & Southeast Asia

+91 9820802228

harsh.mehta@rail.bombardier.com Global media relations

+49 30 98607 1687

press@rail.bombardier.comResearchers at Thomas Jefferson University announced their intention Friday to build what they called the world's largest patient database for medical marijuana, which will collect health information from over 100,000 users.

The national project  called the MMJ.org Initiative  will launch this summer and expects to reach its goal by the end of the year. Patients in marijuana-legal states will be recruited at dispensaries and through their physicians, said Charles Pollack, director of the Lambert Center for the Study of Medicinal Cannabis and Hemp at Jefferson.

"There are millions of patients using medical cannabis," said Pollack. "Not all will be interested in participating, but 100,000 is our initial goal. It's a scale that no one has ever dreamed of. If we get enough patients, then we can focus research on specific illnesses."

The Lambert Center is partnering with Boston-based startup ioVita, which will build the online platform to enroll patients.

Volunteer patients will be asked to keep health diaries to document their ailments and their use of cannabis medicines. They will not be paid and they will not receive any cannabis product for participating.

"Patients can decide what they want to do with the data," said Alex Frost, ioVita's founder. "They can keep it locked up, but they might choose to share it with researchers in an ethically approved research project." Frost, a tech entrepreneur, said patients can also share information with their health-care teams or with peers in a patient community.

Marcus Bachhuber, a physician and cannabis researcher at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, said the MMJ.org Initiative "could be an extremely effective project."

Bachhuber was lead author of a paper published in March that found that 85 percent of medical marijuana patients in New York would "definitely or probably enroll" in a research study if asked.

"They're really enthusiastic about contributing knowledge on this topic, because they feel that it's understudied. When we put out that survey, we got 500 responses in one day," Bachhuber said. "That's really a lot."

Bachhuber said the Jefferson marijuana patient database would be the largest he knows of.

Canadian researcher Philippe Lucas has assembled a database of 2,032 patients for the Tilray Observational Study of medical marijuana. Lucas said the first details from the study, done in conjunction with the Cleveland Clinic, will report on the efficacy of the drug on migraines and headaches.

Pollack, who is also an emergency room physician at Jefferson, said the MMJ.org Initiative will also include educational resources. "If they choose, they can be connected to other people who use marijuana for 'X.' They can opt in for as many or as few of the features they want."

Because the federal government has considered all forms of marijuana illegal for decades, there have been only about a half-dozen clinical trials on the drug.

Twenty-nine states have passed laws allowing cannabis to be used to treat some medical conditions. But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration remains adamant that marijuana has no medicinal value and considers it to be on par with heroin and LSD. With few exceptions, research institutions run the risk of losing federal funding  grants along with Medicaid and Medicare dollars  if they investigate marijuana's effects on humans.

On Thursday, the House Appropriations Committee voted to continue blocking the U.S. Department of Justice from interfering in state medical marijuana laws.

Until the federal agency changes its stance on the drug, randomized clinical trials  the gold standard of research  are nearly impossible. In the meantime, researchers are left to collect data and analyze it. Pennsylvania's state-sanctioned research program, expected to launch early next year, will work in a similar manner, gathering data from patients using medical marijuana.

"Patients are doing self-experimentation," said Frost. Though cannabis dispensaries recommend different strains and dosages for specific illnesses, information is not standardized. "If you allow them to share their results with each other and with scientists, they can drive the research and move this forward."Malware developed by a former Rutgers University student to disable Minecraft opponents brought down large swathes of the internet in 2016. Read more

As part of an unusual plea deal, a former Rutgers student who once called himself "Dread" has been ordered to work for the FBI as punishment for staging a cyberattack that brought down huge swathes of the internet across the globe.

Paras Jha, 22, was one of three men sentenced in Alaska on Tuesday for his role in creating Mirai, a powerful malware assault that knocked out thousands of websites in the Northeast, California, and Western Europe in September 2016.

Citing "substantial if not extraordinary levels of cooperation," federal prosecutors recommended equally extraordinary leniency.

Jha, of Fanwood, N.J.; Dalton "Uber" Norman, 22, of Metairie, La.; and Josiah "LiteSpeed" White, 21, of Washington, Pa., pleaded guilty Dec. 8 to conspiracy charges. Each was sentenced to five years' probation and ordered to pay $127,000 in restitution. They were also required to abandon "significant amounts" of crypto currency seized by investigators.

Most interestingly, each was ordered to serve 2,500 hours of community service "to include continued work with the FBI on cybercrime and cybersecurity matters," the sentencing document said. The men's assistance to the FBI already has "substantially contributed both to active complex cybercrimes investigations as well as the broader defensive effort on the part of law enforcement and the research community in this arena."

According to a report in Wired, the trio already has already donned white hats, helping domestic and international investigators on more than a dozen cases that also has included undercover work.

"The plea agreement with the young offenders in this case  will give FBI investigators the knowledge and tools they need to stay ahead of cybercriminals around the world," said Bryan Schroder, U.S. Attorney for the District of Alaska.

The case was prosecuted in Alaska because the lead federal investigator is stationed there, said Brian Krebs, a cybercrimes expert and journalist who publishes KrebsOnSecurity.com.

The Mirai malware, named after an anime film character, initially was designed to create an advantage for players of the online game Minecraft. Mirai hijacked and enslaved poorly secured Internet of Things devices to create a botnet that included computer routers, security cameras, and baby monitors. The botnet then could be deployed to hobble their Minecraft competitors. Jha and his buddies, however, soon discovered the Mirai botnet also could be used to launch widespread distributed denial of service attacks (DDoS) for criminal purposes that throttled internet service providers and websites.

Jha unleashed the first major attacks using Mirai in 2015 on the computer network at Rutgers, where he was enrolled as a student. During the intermittent attacks that caused significant disruptions on campus, Jha taunted the school's IT department.

"The Rutgers infrastructure crumpled like a tin can under the heel of my boot," he wrote.

Jha, who described himself as "the untouchable hacker god," then conspired with White to hire out the Mirai botnet to other criminal actors for $2,000 and $3,000 per attack. After building out the botnet to encompass hundreds of thousands of devices, Jha tried to monetize the botnet by sending out extortion notices to internet service providers (ISPs). When the ISPs didn't pay up in bitcoin, Jha unleashed a sustained DDoS attack on the companies.

The men also turned the enslaved Internet of Things devices into a tool that was used for "clickfraud," a scheme to make it appear that real users have clicked on advertisements to artificially generate revenue, prosecutors said.

When Krebs, the cybersecurity journalist, wrote about the attacks and smoked out the wrongdoers, Jha trained the malicious software on KrebsOnSecurity.com.

The men's involvement with Mirai ended in the fall of 2016, when Jha, wary of the FBI closing in, posted the source code online for anyone to use. Since then, Mirai variants have been employed in dozens of other cyberattacks, prosecutors said.

Jha, according to reports, is currently employed by a Silicon Valley tech company. He faces sentencing in New Jersey next week for his attacks on the Rutgers computer system.A view of the natural gas power generator under construction at SEPTA's Midvale Depot in Philadelphia, PA on September 18, 2018. Read more

SEPTA's natural gas power generator in Nicetown is nearly finished.

Construction of the $26.8 million facility is 80 percent complete, SEPTA officials said, and the generator, being built on the same property as the Midvale Bus Depot near the Roosevelt Expressway and West Hunting Park Avenue, is scheduled to begin operating in January.

Yet, in a small municipal hearing room at 16th and Arch Streets on Tuesday, the project's near-completion was no obstacle to fierce opposition from a coalition of environmental and community activists. They were before the Licenses and Inspections Review Board appealing an air permit the facility was granted  the latest fight in two years of opposition to the generator. The opponents have had little success stopping or even slowing the project but insist they will prevail.

>> READ MORE: SEPTA approves natural gas power plant

"We'll take the issue to the EPA," said Peter Winslow, a member of 350 Philadelphia, an environmental group that has led the fight. "We'll take the issue to City Council. This is not going to end."

The generator's opponents, which also include the Center for Returning Citizens and Neighbors Against Gas Plants, are framing their opposition as a public health issue.

Henry Cole, an environmental consultant, testified at Tuesday's hearing that the vehicles using the Midvale Bus Depot and the two large roads nearby have already created a pollution problem in a predominantly poor minority neighborhood. The generator produces the same kinds of pollutants, including nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide, as contained in exhaust from vehicles. In a June op-ed, City Councilwoman Cindy Bass noted that the neighborhood next to the bus depot has among the highest rates of children suffering from asthma in the city.

Cole also brought up concerns about ultrafine particles created by burning natural gas. The particles are small enough to pass through bodily membranes and may have associations with heart disease and respiratory problems. That issue is one of concern to workers, too, said Matt Wang, a member of 350 Philadelphia and SEPTA's Local 234.

SEPTA did environmental studies that found the plant would produce virtually no detectable contaminants and would lead to a 41 percent reduction of greenhouse gases compared with what's generated by burning oil at the site now. SEPTA already had an air permit for the site, and the additional material expected to be generated by the plant would be so minimal it would keep emissions within what is allowed by the original permit, said Erik Johanson, SEPTA's director of business innovation.

The science behind the harm caused by ultrafine particles is unclear. Many studies conclude only that more studies are needed to determine the particles' effect on human health.

>> READ MORE: SEPTA's new natural gas plant exemplifies environmental racism | Opinion

The fierceness of the opposition could suggest this sort of generator is new to the city. That isn't the case. There are 22 combined heat and power generators that, like SEPTA's, use natural gas in the city, according to a federal Department of Energy database. They include generators for hospitals, hotels, and office buildings. Most are small, generating a few hundred kilowatts of energy.

SEPTA's, which would generate 8,800 kilowatts, would be the third-largest in the city but is dwarfed by the 163,000-kilowatt generator in Grays Ferry at the Schuylkill Station. Also much larger is a 14,000-kilowatt station at the Northeast Water Pollution Control Plant operated by O'Brien Environmental Energy on the 3800 block of Richmond Street. Both are near residential areas.

Statewide, Pennsylvania has 78 combined heat and power installations that burn natural gas.

For SEPTA officials, the opposition to the plant is puzzling. Combined heat and power generators are considered more environmentally friendly than other types of power plants.

"They're framing this in such a way that this is a health risk," Johanson said. "We think this is a good project."

After Tuesday's hearing, Winslow acknowledged that the Nicetown generator has led to so much opposition in part because of what might follow.

"It's a precursor for additional projects that are similar," he said. "This is the initial step in a program that will expand over time."

Natural gas-burning generators present a challenge to groups concerned about the environment. They are much cleaner than coal-burning generators, and Pennsylvania's embrace of natural gas has led to a net decrease in the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change. As coal use has declined dramatically in Pennsylvania and natural gas use has grown, the amount of carbon dioxide, a key greenhouse gas, generated in Pennsylvania by 2015 was 41.0 million metric tons lower than it was in 2003.

Still, reduced emissions is not the same as zero emissions, and only Texas and California generated more carbon dioxide emissions as a result of energy production than Pennsylvania as of 2015, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Natural gas, particularly its extraction, still creates the kinds of emissions that worsen climate change, just less of them.

"Right now, Pennsylvania does not have a goal it is working toward as far as greenhouse gas reductions," said David Masur, head of PennEnvironment, an advocacy group not directly involved in opposition to the Nicetown facility. "Quite to the contrary, we just seem to be blithely indifferent to what we need to be doing to avoid disaster."

After two hours of testimony and cross examination of Cole, the L&I board called an end to the day's hearing. No decision was made on the effort to revoke the air permit for the Nicetown plant, and the activists who filled the room vowed they would be back when the hearing continues Oct. 16.

Meanwhile, construction on the generator carried on.Jonathan Jacobs' dream was to open a full-scale barbershop and spa with massage rooms, pedicure stations, perhaps a room for facials, and, of course, top-of-the line haircuts and beard trimming services complete with hot towels and  ahhh  steam.

But that was in 2010. And we were in the throes of a recession. The $2 million Jacobs needed to make that barbering brick-and-mortar dream a reality wasn't happening.

Jacobs tried to come up with ways to scale back his venture. One day, he found himself talking it over with a friend, who had a genius suggestion: Maybe you should put a barber station in a steamer trunk, making it portable.

Ethos, Jacobs' barbering biz featuring a traveling grooming station, was born. The station is a 6-foot, 4-inch-high, 42-inch wide, and 30-inch deep plywood trunk. It's permanently popped up in the lobby of the 1818 Market St. office building, where it does bustling business.

"It's a monster," said Jacobs, 42. The extent of his barbering experience is cutting hair back in the day as a side hustle, but a licensed barber he is not. "It really represents the blending of that new men's sartorial and grooming culture with the pop-up culture that everyone is excited about."

Ethos  the Greek word for image  offers haircuts, shaves, and Philly beard shape-ups for $50. The by-appointment-only services include hot towels, steam treatments, and massages as well as a complimentary drink. Think scotch and bourbon.

Before Jacobs took the entrepreneurial plunge, he worked for a Center City architectural firm; he was able to design and build the station so that it has everything a barber would need, including sinks for hot and cold water, mirrors, power outlets, a towel warmer, storage, and ample counter space for clippers, scissors, tiny combs, and Afro picks. Each station supplies two barbers. The only thing not included in the mobile set up are the swivel chairs.

It took Jacobs nearly two years and $12,000 to finish the prototype. After he was finished in 2013, it sat in his West Oak Lane garage for two years. Jacobs was burned out.

After having an inspiring business lunch in 2016 with a friend, Jacobs decided he'd give his Ethos idea another shot. He started slow, packing it in a U-Haul and setting it up as a pop-up in tony Rittenhouse Square locales like Banana Republic, ToBox, and Goorin Bros. Hat Shop, where he hired barbers to shape up dudes who happened by. In November, Jacob worked out a deal to set up his station permanently (remember, it does have wheels) in the Market Street space. He's more than tripled his investment.

Jacobs has big plans. By fall, he hopes to open a more permanent, brick-and-mortar men's grooming lounge on Callowhill Street, right off North Broad. And, he said, he's going to roll out two more Ethos mobile grooming stations by then.

"Hang out with us and we will help you establish your character." Jacobs said. "Our goal is to impact the culture of gentlemen in a positive way."

For more information on Ethos, go to www.ethosgsfm.com or call 267-225-5178.Digital resource specialist Omelio Alexander, left, helps Carl Haines apply to a job online at the Paschalville Library in Southwest Philadelphia on Friday, May 18, 2018. The branch is the only Free Library of Philadelphia location with a Job Readiness Lab, which helps community members find and apply to jobs. Read more

In a 103-year-old library in Southwest Philadelphia, where the roof is leaky, the windows are drafty, and the heating and cooling system is as finicky as an old crank, three men sat under dull lights at a bank of computers, trying to land a job.

Omelio Alexander peered over their shoulders, adjusting a resume line here, helping navigate a jobs website there. His title at the Paschalville branch is "digital resource specialist," which, here, means that his job is to help people find work in a community that desperately needs it.

In Paschall, the surrounding neighborhood, the unemployment rate is 17.3 percent. In the entirety of the city of Philadelphia, it's 5.8.

If the role of the library is to meet the needs of the community, Alexander can sum up the needs of this one in three words: "Jobs, jobs, jobs."

He runs the Job Readiness Lab there, the only one in the Free Library's 55 branches. Under his charge are three computers, set apart from the others, reserved for people looking for work.

Men and women looking for a better opportunity. Residents of the homeless shelter down the street. People returning from prison, trying to overcome the gaps in their resumes and the conviction on their records. Alexander maintains a cache of neckties for job applicants to borrow for interviews.

For some people who come in, the hardest part of the job search is filling out an application.

"Some of it's just physical  using a mouse, navigating the keys, how to look for what you're supposed to be looking for on a screen," Alexander said. Sometimes he helps with typing and capitalization. "If [employers] see any reason not to look at your stuff," he emphasizes, "they're not going to read it."

The jobs lab is one of the frontline programs in Philadelphia that are expanding the notion of what a library is and what it means to the community it serves.

"We need a redefinition of the word library" as something beyond just books, said Siobhan Reardon, the Free Library's president and director. "Because we happen to be in most cases the singular civic entity in a lot of communities."

The debate boils down to this: "What is a city library?" Reardon asked. In Philadelphia, it's becoming increasingly clear that they are not just repositories  they're dynamically responding to the needs of the people they serve.

We saw that plainly  perhaps more visibly than anywhere else in the country  a year ago this week, when Chera Kowalski, a librarian at the historic McPherson Square branch in Kensington, began saving the lives of overdose victims on the library lawn. The need among people in the heart of the city's opioid crisis was simply to stay alive.

What happened at McPherson was dramatic, but not an outlier. It's part of a philosophical shift playing out across the country.

It's a conversation I'll be writing about this summer, as I visit the libraries that lend much more than books to their communities.

It's a conversation that's becoming increasingly urgent in a dynamic city still marked by some of the worst poverty in the country. And then there's this stunning statistic: Half of working-age Philadelphians, about 550,000 people, lack "workforce literacy skills," and struggle to fill out job applications or follow written instructions.

It's a conversation that's happening inside crumbling buildings across the city that desperately need the repairs that the city's Rebuild initiative is promising.

Paschalville is at the top of the list; the branch was closed for a month in 2016 for a broken heater. It needs work "from top to bottom," said Jim Pecora, the Free Library's vice president of property management.

But that initiative is in danger of becoming mired in Philly politics.

City Council members have rightly raised the alarm over the need to enforce minority inclusion in the building trade unions, whose members will be repairing those struggling libraries and rec centers  and it's refusing to give the go-ahead for the construction until they're satisfied.

Mayor Kenney has vowed to plow ahead with the funds he has, saying the deal that he and union boss Johnny Dougherty have worked out is final. He's rightly argued that we need to act before the libraries become uninhabitable.

If one thing is clear, it's that both sides  both of which are raising legitimate concerns  need to get to the table. Now. It's not that we should be sacrificing minority jobs for library repairs, or vice versa. It's that we need to come to compromise before we further endanger programs that are helping some of the city's most vulnerable.

On Wednesday, Sonkarley Duo, a Liberian immigrant with a degree in business administration, sat at one of Alexander's computers at the Paschalville branch. The 54-year-old father of two got weary of his last job, on the graveyard shift at a T-shirt printing company that he had to take four buses to reach.

He was looking for something better. And he had come to the library to do it.

Alexander peered over his shoulder. "He's my teacher," Duo said, smiling.Like many African Americans, I am a lifelong Democrat. But today, as we approach the all-important midterm elections, I have a nagging question for my party: Why should black folks vote Democrat?

It is a serious question  one that deserves more than the knee-jerk response that Democrats don't publicly refer to us using racist rhetoric. That's not good enough. Nor is it good enough for Democrats to decry the effects of systemic racism without lifting a finger to change it.

At a time when racists are emboldened by a president who was endorsed by the Ku Klux Klan, black Americans face real danger. So while we'll be glad to see former President Barack Obama campaigning for the party in Philadelphia this week, we'd rather see Democrats produce the kinds of tangible legislative wins  like the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act  we haven't seen since the Lyndon Johnson administration.

In short, if Democrats can't produce real change for black people, it's time for us to start looking at other alternatives in the voting booth. To prevent that, the party must take action on the following fronts.

Protect the vote

For a party that sees blacks as a key voting bloc, Democrats have not done enough to protect black voting rights. That must change, and that change begins with the black youth who drive pop culture. Democrats should employ young blacks to formulate strategies to reach their peers. The Russians who meddled in the 2016 presidential election understood that. That's why they used online campaigns to convince frustrated young blacks that voting was a waste of time.

If the Democratic Party is to convince black youth that voting matters, the party has to show some fight. Hire lawyers who will challenge every voter suppression effort put forth by the other side  from voter ID and voter purges to closing polling places in black communities. Use social media to push protest in any state where the vote is challenged. Then, when all those things are put in place, join us in the streets. We don't trust you when you won't put your bodies on the line.

Protest police killings of unarmed blacks

I've grown increasingly frustrated watching Democrats pat themselves on the back for running to airports to challenge Donald Trump's travel ban. That's because I've never seen Democrats run en masse to the scene when police have killed an unarmed black person. I've seldom seen Democrats firmly denounce the violence that's visited upon black folks by those whose salaries we pay. I've seldom seen Democrats do much to make clear that they don't support brutality in our communities.

We need mayors to fire police chiefs who won't get rid of rogue officers. We need senators out in these streets when cops kill our babies. We need legislators writing bills that promote greater transparency in police shootings. We need special prosecutors appointed when the police are too cozy with the district attorney. We need local governments to stop approving police contracts that allow cops to kill us and get their jobs back  with pay. We need Democrats to decide that keeping black votes is worth protecting black lives.

Fight for black wealth

If Democrats want blacks to continue voting for them, the party must address the fact that for every $100 in white family wealth, black families have just $5.04. Just because slavery and Jim Crow no longer officially exist  though the criminal justice system is a reasonable facsimile of both  does not mean we can ignore discrimination in hiring, lending, and housing. And in many cases, Democrats perpetuate some of this discrimination.

In Philadelphia, for instance, the city mandates that large-scale city-funded construction go to union labor. The city knows that skilled building trade unions are overwhelmingly white and male because of discriminatory membership policies, but those unions are a part of the Democratic base. In Philadelphia and other cities like it, Democratic mayors must open up city-funded construction to nonunion labor. That would create more high-paying jobs for African Americans, and help black families to begin closing the wealth gap.

Stop lying to us

In Philadelphia, Mayor Kenney ran on a promise to end Stop and Frisk  a policing tactic that has been shown to be discriminatory. He changed his tune when he got into office. But that kind of bait and switch is not limited to Kenney and Philadelphia. Democrats do it all the time.

If Democrats expect to keep black voters in the fold, we need people like Gov. Wolf to do whatever is necessary to fix the disparities that gave Pennsylvania the largest funding gap between rich and poor school districts of any state in the country.

We need Democrats in Congress to get out of their offices and into the streets. We need Democrats to show that they're with us at a time when we're under attack.

Otherwise, we must ask once again: Why should we vote Democrat?

Solomon Jones is the author of 10 books. Listen to him weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon on Praise 107.9 FM. sj@solomonjones.com: @solomonjones1Last weekend, I attended a wedding in Atlanta between a brilliant Afghan writer and an equally brilliant young Chinese American doctoral student.

Their stories and their wedding are a graphic illustration of the vital contribution immigrants make to American society. They also illustrate the illogic of current White House efforts to slash the number of legal immigrants admitted to the United States.

I met Qais Akbar Omar over a decade ago in Kabul where he ran the family's carpet business. But he was also writing a memoir, in English, about his tumultuous childhood during the Afghan civil war and Taliban rule. At that time, I could never have imagined I would attend his wedding where Americans of many ethnic backgrounds danced to Afghan and Western music  and gorged on a fabulous Chinese buffet.

But Qais' memoir was so gripping that Farrar, Straus & Giroux eventually published it as A Fort of Nine Towers; the young Afghan writer was subsequently invited to do a master's degree in creative writing at Boston University. In his program, Qais met Mai Wang, a naturalized citizen who came here from Beijing as a child and is now pursuing a doctorate at Stanford University, while writing her own novel.

>> READ MORE: My award-winning Philly restaurant would not exist without immigrants | Perspective

Mai's father, a professor of philosophy at a top Beijing university, immigrated to the United States and became a successful software engineer. Her mother, an expert in ancient Chinese calligraphy, took waitressing jobs until she could open up a small printing business and work as a Chinese-English translator.

Theirs is the quintessential immigrant story: strivers who take a chance for a better life in a new country, contribute to the U.S. workforce, and pay taxes that outstrip any benefits they may have received. They often arrive with high skill levels that complement rather than compete with U.S. workers, and they add to overall economic growth.

The current, poisonous debate over immigration has totally defaced the actual portrait of legal immigrants. For example: How many Americans realize that legal immigrants are often as, or better educated than Americans?

Nearly half of those arriving between 2012 and 2016 had a college degree, according to the Migration Policy Institute. "The United States has creamed the best and the brightest of the world's emigrants for decades," says the Council on Foreign Relations' Edward Alden, an immigration expert. "Overall, they are an enormous net positive for the economy. But we're doing everything we can to discourage this."

>> READ MORE: When America feels like 'us' vs. 'them,' how do we welcome new citizens? | Opinion

Yes indeed. The Trump administration is trying to cut back legal immigration in myriad ways, capping refugee admissions at a record low, narrowing who is eligible for asylum, and shrinking the number of visas for high-skilled workers. Mountains of new bureaucratic hurdles are being imposed to shrink the numbers who qualify for permanent residency or citizenship.

Even worse, the image of all immigrants is being blackened by conflating illegals with legal immigrants, and implying that most newcomers are criminals. This is simply untrue.

Poll after reputable poll has shown that foreign-born individuals exhibit remarkably low levels of involvement in crime, whether documented or undocumented. And legal immigrants pay much more in taxes over their lifetimes than any benefits they may receive.

Moreover, illegal immigrants make up only a small portion of overall immigration. "The vast majority of immigrants are legal," says David Bier, an immigration policy analyst at the Cato Institute in Washington. Since 2007, he adds, illegal immigration has been declining.

And contrary to popular myth, the biggest group of new, legal foreign-born U.S. residents since 2010 are Asians, not Latin Americans.

You'd never get this picture, of course, from the scary imagery on partisan websites or propagated by President Trump and his administration. But the true face of immigration was on display at this wonderful wedding last weekend.

And this multicultural wedding was moving in ways that went beyond statistics.

>> READ MORE: Philly is strongest when immigrants and refugees can live and thrive | Opinion

For one thing, the parents of both Qais and Mai (with Qais' father beamed in from Kabul on FaceTime) were incredibly welcoming to the new couple, despite their ethnic differences. They demonstrated an inclusiveness that was once the hallmark of the United States.

For another thing, Qais' younger brother, whose life was threatened because he worked as a translator for the U.S. military in Afghanistan, was there with his family, having received a visa in a special program for such translators  a program that is now, shamefully, frozen.

And Qais, who just finished a novel, is safe in America, although his life would be threatened back in Kabul because of his writings. He has applied for asylum and hopes to teach creative writing. But his request is still pending, although he is exactly the kind of immigrant America should be welcoming.

In Atlanta, I saw the best of America, brought to us from abroad.Drake performs during the Summer Sixteen Tour inside the Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia on Sunday Aug. 21, 2016. Read more

Drake is reportedly down $200,000 after a trip to Atlantic City this weekend, where the Canadian rapper blew big bucks at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

The "In My Feelings" hitmaker headed to A.C. for a nightclub performance following a gig at the Wells Fargo Center in Philly on Saturday, according to Page Six. At the Philly stop on his ongoing Aubrey & the Three Migos tour, Drake brought out Meek Mill to perform the Philly native's "Dreams and Nightmares (Intro)"  a stunt previously pulled in Boston.

Drake reportedly arrived at Atlantic City's Daer Nightclub at around 3 a.m. on Sunday, apologizing for hitting the stage about an hour after his scheduled start time. The rapper performed five songs before heading to Scores, a strip club inside the Hard Rock where Drake's DJ, DJ Spade, was playing a set.

The club was too full, however, and Drake got the itch" to "go gambling," an A.C. insider told Page Six.

Drake and his entourage ended up in a high-rollers area, where they held a private party. The casino also reportedly opened its Sugar Factory restaurant to serve the group "mini burgers, chicken fingers, and french fries," along with a 60-ounce cocktail dubbed "The Drake," which included Virginia Black whiskey, sweet tea, peach puree, cotton candy, and sour peach gummies.

The Canadian rapper, however, "stayed at the table," a source told Page Six, and gambled away nearly $200,000 throughout the night. However, as Page Six reports, Drake still probably "had a nice chuck of change" leftover from his appearance that night.

While it isn't clear what Drake charges for private performances, the rapper did reportedly receive $250,000 for performing at a bar mitzvah for former NBC Universal president Jeff Zucker's son in 2011. A more recent estimate from 2016, Page Six reports, puts the figure closer to $300,000.

Drake last week ended his longtime feud with Meek Mill, bringing him out initially at a stop in Boston on Sept. 10. He repeated the move again on Saturday at his show in Philly, which the Inquirer's Drew Lazor wrote was the "most 2018 arena concert of 2018."Omarosa Manigault Newman, former assistant to President Trump, will appear at Temple University next week for a speaking engagement, book signing, and Q&A session.

Newman will be at Temple's Annenberg Hall at 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27, for the event, which is only for Temple students. The event is free, but for students only.

The appearance follows the release last month of her tell-all memoir, Unhinged, in which Newman details her time at the White House, where she worked as director of communications for the Office of Public Liaison. The book debuted at No. 1 on the New York Times list nonfiction best-sellers list.

During her time in Trump's White House, Newman reportedly recorded more than 200 secret tapes of meetings between staffers. Last month, she released the first of those recordings, causing an uproar in the press that has been described as "one of the worst security breaches" in U.S. history, according to Business Insider.

After finding fame as a contestant on NBC's The Apprentice, which Trump hosted, Newman joined the White House staff in January last year. She resigned in December 2017, and in February this year, announced she wouldn't be voting for Trump again. In Unhinged, she labels Trump a racist.Charles Peruto, Jr. left, and Julia Law, right. in file photo; Lifetime has made a movie about Law's death, "The Girl in the Bathtub," which will premiere Oct. 7 Read more

"I was madly in love with her. What possible reason could I have to kill her?"

That's actor Jason Patric in a trailer for Lifetime's The Girl in the Bathtub, the upcoming movie about the 2013 death of Philadelphia paralegal Julia Law (Caitlin Stasey, Reign), whose body was found in the tub of a condominium belonging to her boyfriend, defense attorney A. Charles Peruto Jr.

Patric's character, identified only as "Chuck" in an IMDB.com cast list, is described in Lifetime's press materials for the Oct. 7 movie as Law's boss, "a prominent Philadelphia lawyer whom she had recently begun dating," and who was interviewed as part of the investigation in to her death.

"But it is soon revealed her boss was just one of three lovers Julia had  raising questions about whether any of them may have had a motive to kill her. So the question remains  who killed Julia Law?"

A grand jury in 2014 found "no evidence of criminal activity" in connection with Law's death.

>>READ MORE: Peruto won't be charged in girlfriend's bathtub death

In an email last month, Peruto told the Inquirer and Daily News that Lifetime's announcement of the movie was the first he was hearing about it. "I don't know how I, or anyone, can be portrayed accurately, since no one in my firm, where she worked daily, myself included, was so much as asked a question," he wrote.

This post has been updated with a new trailer that includes the airdate.English French

GATINEAU, Quebec, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HEXO Corp. (HEXO or the Company) (TSX:HEXO) and Metro Supply Chain Group Inc. (Metro) announced today that they have signed a contract to manage a warehouse and distribution centre for Quebec adult-use webstore orders for the Societe quebecoise du cannabis (SQDC).



HEXO and Metro will work together to run the modern 58,000 sq. ft. facility located in Montreal. The facility consists of a warehouse and distribution centre, will house product from all the licensed producers who have contracts with the SQDC and will contribute to the creation of 35 new jobs in Quebec.

The distribution centre has been positioned in the Montreal area to facilitate logistics and provide a closer link to the majority of the Quebec population. The distribution centre will serve as the sole distribution point for all direct-to-consumer shipments within the province of Quebec for orders placed through the SQDC online webstore.

Additionally, HEXO has attained accreditation from the Autorite des marches financiers to contract with government organizations such as the SQDC. This is a required authorization for companies conducting over one million dollars in business with the government of Quebec for both services and the supply of products.

We are extremely proud to announce a distribution centre in Montreal, in collaboration with the SQDC and Metro Supply Chain Group, to serve the adult-use cannabis market, said Sonia Isabel, HEXOs Vice-President of Sales. Being invited to collaborate on this distribution centre speaks to our proven reputation for exceptional customer service and order fulfillment.

This is HEXOs third Quebec facility following the recent lease of office space in downtown Hull and its long established 143-acre campus in Masson-Angers demonstrating HEXOs deep commitment to and involvement in the province of Quebec.

Were pleased to have been selected by HEXO and the SQDC to bring our experience in distribution and e-commerce processing to this venture, said Daniel Smedo, Metros Vice-President of Operations. We look forward to working with all parties involved to deliver the systems and fulfillment expertise to ensure the success of this exciting new enterprise.

Metro will always have its roots in Quebec, added Metro CEO and Founder, Chiko Nanji, who started the company with a single warehouse in the province in 1974. Its very meaningful for us to be working as a partner with the SQDC and HEXO, another Quebec company.

The most recent agreement with SQDC combines Metros extensive warehousing and distribution efficiencies with HEXOs cannabis production and control expertise. Together, HEXO and Metro will combine forces to service the direct-to-consumer (e-commerce) cannabis fulfillment needs for Quebec.



About HEXO

HEXO creates and distributes innovative, easy-to-use and easy-to-understand products to serve the Canadian cannabis market. One of the countrys lowest-cost producers, HEXO is rapidly increasing its production capacity in the lead up to the adult-use cannabis market. The Company currently operates with over 310,000 sq. ft. of production capacity with construction on another 1,000,000 sq. ft. expansion set to be complete by year end. HEXO will serve the adult-use market under the HEXO brand, while continuing to serve its medical cannabis clients through the well-known Hydropothecary brand.

Investor Relations:

Jennifer Smith

Senior Manager of Investor Relations

1-866-438-8429

invest@HEXO.com

www.THCX.com

Media Relations:

Sarah Brown

sarah.brown@hexo.com

Director

Adam Miron

819-639-5498At the Franklin Institute, DuPont scientist Philippe Horvath, left, used the ZOOB construction toy to illustrate a bacterial defense mechanism called CRISPR, which has led to the development of a powerful gene-editing tool. He and eight others are getting awards at the museum Thursday. Read more

It began with the quest to keep yogurt from going bad.

Philippe Horvath, a soft-spoken food scientist who went to work for a French chemical company in 2000, was charged with identifying the best strains of bacteria for making the popular dairy product. Bacteria can be infected by viruses, just like humans and other living things, and Horvath was engaged in a constant effort to weed out the infection-prone strains that would no longer work.

But a few years into the job, he noticed an odd thing: Certain bacteria seemed to have incorporated snippets of DNA from the viruses that attacked them. He began to study this phenomenon, and in 2007, he and colleagues announced a finding that has electrified the fields of biology and medicine. These snippets were microbial "mug shots"  a record of past attackers that bacteria could use to recognize and fight off viruses the next time they showed up.

Horvath, now a senior scientist at DuPont, is in Philadelphia this week to receive a $250,000 prize from the Franklin Institute. That's because others have built on his bacterial discovery to develop a fast, inexpensive tool for editing genes.

In just a few short years, this CRISPR technique  pronounced "crisper"  has upended almost too many fields of science to name. It is being used to design greener plastics, disease-resistant crops, and new weapons against cancer, malaria, and sickle-cell anemia. And it is so straightforward that even high schoolers  with careful supervision  have used it.

Horvath is joined this week by eight other honorees at the Franklin Institute, including pioneers in such fields as climate change, computer science, and rechargeable batteries. CRISPR is a relative newcomer among these disciplines, and likewise Horvath, who turned 48 this week, is the youngest of the award-winners by at least a decade.

The gene-editing tool that emerged from his discovery is not without flaws, as well as legal battles, and even some of its proponents worry there is too much hype when careful science is essential. But these days, no one would deny that CRISPR is powerful.

Like Lego pieces

Horvath grew up in Colmar, in eastern France, inheriting a fondness for tinkering from his father, a toolmaker. He enjoyed Legos and puzzles such as Rubik's cube, and he went on to study molecular biology  working with DNA, the building blocks of life.

(In the same vein, the Franklin Institute illustrated his research Tuesday afternoon with a construction toy called ZOOB, while Horvath and other award-winners fielded questions from museum visitors.)

Horvath earned his Ph.D. from Louis Pasteur University  named for another French scientist acclaimed for his work with bacteria  and started work in 2000 at the food division of a company called Rhodia, which made cultures used in the production of cheese and yogurt.

He began to study the mysterious stretches of DNA in bacteria after learning of them at a conference in 2002, and was joined by colleague Rodolphe Barrangou in 2005, soon after Rhodia's food division was acquired by the Danish company Danisco.

The name CRISPR, coined by other scientists who were studying it, stands for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats  short, repeating stretches of bacterial DNA that were interspersed with the odd snippets that seemed to come from viruses.

Horvath's team found that bacteria exposed to viruses could indeed acquire these viral snippets, called spacers. And by artificially adding or deleting spacers, the researchers found they could increase or decrease the ability of bacteria to fight off infection.

They applied for patents on their discovery, then submitted the findings for publication in the leading scientific journal in the United States. No luck.

Horvath is not sure why, but his impression is that at least one reviewer simply did not believe the findings. Scientists had been studying the genetic codes of bacteria for years. And now he and his colleagues claimed to have discovered a kind of bacterial immune system no one had seen before?

After some tweaks, the authors resubmitted the study, and it was published in Science. But even Horvath failed to realize its full impact, at first.

"We understood that it was an important discovery," he said. "At the time, we did not anticipate it would become a revolution in biology."

Labs around the world started to explore the phenomenon further. Horvath and others went on to identify important roles for still other stretches of DNA next to CRISPR and the viral spacers  sequences they called "cas," for CRISPR-associated. One type of "cas" protein appeared to act as a knife, cutting genes in invading viruses as directed by the spacers.

Then by 2012, multiple teams of researchers demonstrated that a synthetic tool based on Horvath's research could be used to edit DNA in any organism. Bitter patent battles ensued.

Horvath  whose employer was acquired in 2011 by DuPont, which in turn merged with Dow last year  has steered clear of the acrimony. At his lab in the small town of Dange-Saint-Romain, a three-hour drive southwest of Paris, he does not even use the synthetic gene-editing tool that emerged from his research. Instead, he makes use of the CRISPR process in its natural form  dubbed "scissors in yogurt" by one media outlet in France. He exposes bacteria to selected viruses in order to determine which ones can resist infection.

"It's like a vaccination," Horvath said. "It's a natural process."

Crops and cancer

Others under the DowDuPont umbrella, however, are plowing ahead. The company's agricultural products division, Corteva Agriscience, is using a CRISPR-based tool to improve yields in a crop called waxy corn  a grain whose starchy properties are useful in industrial applications such as paper manufacture. The technique is not used to add "foreign" genes to the corn, but to disable one of the plant's naturally occurring genes  in effect, using gene editing as an efficient way to accomplish what is now done by breeding.

The field of medicine has embraced the tool as well. University of Pennsylvania researchers plan to use a CRISPR-based tool to treat melanoma, sarcoma, and multiple myeloma  removing immune-system soldiers called T-cells from patients, "editing" the cells so they will target the cancers, then re-implanting them in the body. At Christiana Care Health System in Delaware, researchers have used a CRISPR-based tool to fight lung cancer in mice, "knocking out" genes that cause tumor cells to resist chemotherapy and immunotherapy. And countless biology labs around the world use the technique for basic research, tweaking the genetic recipes of life to determine how they work.

Eric Kmiec, director of the Gene Editing Institute at Christiana's Helen F. Graham Cancer & Research Institute, also sees potential for CRISPR in education. He conducts workshops for teachers and students at the community college and high school levels, viewing it as a way to prepare students for the high-tech workplace.

One such student, senior Ally Kong at the Tatnall School in Wilmington, followed Kmiec's CRISPR "protocol" recently to disrupt a gene in yeast  causing the normally white organism to turn red when placed in a growth medium.

"It was so incredible," said Sharon Kreamer, a Tatnall biology teacher. Kong now plans to teach the technique to fellow students at the school in May.

As with previous gene-editing techniques, scientists are alert to the possibility that CRISPR could "edit" genes other than the one being targeted. What's more, the edits can leave behind a type of genetic scar tissue  an issue Kmiec's lab has addressed by devising what he calls a molecular "bandage."

He is a big proponent of CRISPR, but also is among those urging caution.

"CRISPR is good enough not to have any hype," Kmiec said. "It really is a remarkable tool, if we just move forward methodically and carefully."

Yet the initial advances were made at a startling pace once Horvath discovered the defense mechanism that bacteria have had for millions of years, said Jayatri Das, chief bioscientist at the Franklin Institute.

"It's really remarkable how this technology has gone from an observation in nature to a potential life-changing tool in medicine so quickly," she said.

The attention has led some to raise the prospect of an even bigger honor for CRISPR's early leaders: the Nobel Prize. That kind of talk makes Horvath uncomfortable, as he told the French publication La Nouvelle Republique in 2016.

"That seems to me like something on another planet," he said. "Very far from the little world where I work."

Here are the other winners of the 2018 Franklin Institute awards, to be given at a ceremony Thursday:Jettie Newkirk , 83, is among the wise local elders who shared the reasons for their resilience in the face of loss for a recent Inquirer article. MICHAEL BRYANT / Staff Photographer Read more

Joyce Abramson Sherman, 97, of Bensalem, was among the first to send an email after she read last week's Inquirer story about how resilient seniors thrive after losing many friends and family members. We had asked readers to share their tips.

"My address book has more Xs than addresses," wrote Sherman, a retired nurse who served in the Army during World War II.

She said it was tough to give up the car keys, but she still participates in a veterans and senior group. Her advice: "I try to remember only the good times, not the bad. I always have a goal to make. When that is reached, I make a new one. . Keep active. Watch Jeopardy, read, do handiwork, and try to go on more social engagements than the doctor."

Stephen Seplow, 77, a former Inquirer metropolitan editor, read the story before attending a funeral  his third for friends in six weeks. On the same weekend, though, he'd seen his grandson, an aspiring actor who is in high school, in a Fringe Festival play that he co-wrote and directed. "You just can't have one without the other," Seplow wrote. He told his grandson's other grandfather, "We are lucky sons of bitches to have nights like that."

Estelle Benson, 88, of Bala Cynwyd, said she has stayed exceptionally active since her husband's death six years ago. Founder of the Guillain-Barre Syndrome Foundation, she still works in the office every day, travels, and maintains a busy social life. "Working is therapy," she wrote. "Being with young people is the best. I get involved with their way of life and at the same time share my 'old age' wisdom with them! It saddens me to see so many of my contemporaries shut down and become a victim of circumstances, not a survivor."

Kathleen Valle, 79, of South Philadelphia, has a wonderful time with a group of friends from kindergarten through high school. They're all 78 or 79 now. Four of the original dozen have died "after terrible illnesses." Another is disabled. Those who are still standing meet monthly to eat out and even traveled to Florida to be with the "traitor" who retired out of state. Originally, they met in each others' houses for dinner. As they aged, they switched to lunch. Then they started eating in restaurants.

"Because we are so close, it is like whatever happens to one of us, happens to all of us. We are always there to comfort each other," Valle wrote. "Our advice to seniors is that you just have to stay close to your family and friends and to keep busy. We don't dwell on the things from the past that we can't change cause that only makes things worse. We live for today and look forward to tomorrow."

Online, a commenter named Nostromo talked about passing knowledge on: "When one becomes the last person who can name those folks in old, faded photographs, there comes a pause for weighty reflection. Throughout my life I gleaned information as I could from my loved ones, and still I realize just what a wealth of knowledge now lies just outside knowing. I impart as much as I can to my daughter, younger brothers, and stepson in hopes that some seeds will sprout and take hold."

Commenter Crashtest recommended hobbies as a way to build new relationships. "Watching TV as a hobby isn't a good alternative," he wrote.

Another commenter, Doctorhim, a caregiver, had a more sober view in a reply to a commenter who criticized an older relative. His 86-year-old father has outlived his wife, most of his siblings, and his closest friends. He has been resistant to making new friends. "I can imagine him saying, 'What's the point?' " Doctorhim wrote. "It's not easy to say what you'll do in the hurricane until the rain and the wind start picking up."Cody Wilson shows the first completely 3D-printed handgun, The Liberator, at his home in Austin, Texas on Friday May 10, 2013. Read more

Cody Wilson, the creator of 3D-printed gun designs who touched off a national debate in July over whether such files should be freely accessible to the public, was charged Wednesday with sexually assaulting a child last month in Texas.

A 16-year-old girl told Austin police that she had sex with Wilson, 30, at a hotel on Aug. 15 and was paid $500, according to authorities. The girl had created an online profile on SugarDaddyMeet.com, where she exchanged messages with a man who later identified himself as "Cody Wilson."

Wilson was in Taiwan, where he missed a scheduled flight back to the United States, Austin police said at a news conference. Before he left for Taiwan, he had been informed by a friend of the girl that she had spoken to police and that he was under investigation, said Austin Police Cmdr. Troy Officer.

Austin police were working with international authorities and the U.S. Marshals Service to locate Wilson. He frequently travels for business, but authorities don't know why he went to Taiwan, Officer said.

Wilson did not respond to attempts to contact him on Wednesday; a Houston lawyer representing Wilson in the 3D-printed gun matter did not immediately return a request for comment.

The alleged assault, first reported by the Austin American-Statesman, occurred about two weeks after a federal judge in Seattle put a temporary ban on Wilson's online publication of the gun-related files. On Aug. 22, the teen's counselor reported the assault to police.

Wilson used the profile name "Sanjuro" on the website; detectives matched his driver's license photo to the image in Sanjuro's online profile.

Wilson told the girl he was a "big deal," according to the affidavit. The girl did not know who he was but found news articles about him online. Wilson allegedly sent her photos of his penis, and she sent him a naked photo of herself.

The two met in the parking lot of an Austin coffee shop and then drove to a hotel in a car registered to Wilson's company, Defense Distributed. There, they had intercourse and oral sex, after which Wilson gave the girl five $100 bills, according to the arrest warrant. Wilson then dropped off the girl at a Whataburger restaurant.

Detectives matched the security footage, valet receipts, hotel receipt, and car registration from the day of the alleged assault to the girl's story and to Wilson's name.

Wilson, who has called himself a crypto-anarchist, became well-known for creating what was believed to be the first working 3D-printed gun in 2013. He was blocked, however, by President Barack Obama's State Department from distributing the files online under an arms export law. This spring, the federal government settled its case with Wilson, allowing him to publish the blueprints. He posted 10 files relating to 3D-printed guns in late July, one of which could be used to make a working gun.

A federal judge in Seattle blocked Wilson from posting online after attorneys general of 19 states and the District of Columbia sued Wilson, Defense Distributed, and the federal government. The ban is in place until the case is decided, but Wilson began selling and mailing the files instead.

Wilson also agreed in court to block Pennsylvania and New Jersey residents from accessing the site.

Wilson told the Inquirer and Daily News last month that he would fight any challenge to his dissemination of the files and "thought no matter what, there would be an outcome where I could post this stuff on the internet again."Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner speaks during a press conference to announce the charges being brought against former Philadelphia Police Officer Ryan Pownall at his office on 3 S. Penn Square on Tuesday, Sept. 04, 2018. Read more

A preliminary hearing to present evidence against former Philadelphia Police Officer Ryan Pownall, charged last month with killing a suspect after a traffic stop in 2017, was postponed Wednesday as prosecutors and defense lawyers clashed over whether they needed the proceeding or could move straight to a trial.

Pownall, 36, was not in the Criminal Justice Center courtroom packed with officers and supporters  and remains jailed without bail on criminal homicide and related charges. He is the first Philadelphia officer in nearly two decades to face charges over an on-duty shooting.

After a grand jury investigation, Pownall was charged Sept. 4 with fatally shooting 30-year-old David Jones in the back as Jones fled from a traffic stop in North Philadelphia in June 2017. Jones had a gun when Pownall pulled him over for riding an illegal dirt bike on the street, authorities have said, but the weapon fell to the ground before Jones started running away.

At the hearing scheduled before Municipal Court Judge Patrick Dugan, prosecutors were expected to begin disclosing the evidence that led to the charges and seek the judge's approval to move it forward to a trial. But before the hearing, the District Attorney's Office filed a motion seeking to skip the hearing and head straight to trial, arguing that the grand jury's decision to charge was sufficient to move forward.

"Simply put, to require lengthy, complex testimony from an investigative grand jury to be repeated, for the sole purpose of establishing probable cause a second time, is not only a waste of scarce judicial resources, but also a repetitious, costly, and superfluous layer of delay before trial," said the motion, signed by Assistant District Attorney Tracy Tripp.

Pownall's attorney, Fortunato Perri Jr., said a preliminary hearing should be held because the evidence does not support the charges.

"We're confident that at the end of this process, when a fair-minded court has an opportunity to review the evidence not steered in one way or the other, that Ryan Pownall will be exonerated," Perri said after Wednesday's court appearance.

That issue is being argued before a separate judge in the courthouse, and Dugan said it first needs to be resolved before he can move ahead with a preliminary hearing. He tentatively rescheduled the proceeding for Oct. 2.

The police union this month expressed outrage that District Attorney Larry Krasner had charged Pownall with the general count of criminal homicide. The charge prevents Pownall from being released on bail and opens the door to prosecutors' ultimately trying Pownall for first-degree murder, which carries a mandatory life sentence upon conviction.

In at least one other case this year  a fatal stabbing in Rittenhouse Square  Krasner's office told a judge before a preliminary hearing that it did not believe the evidence supported first-degree murder and that prosecutors instead intended to proceed on third-degree murder and related charges.

A third-degree murder charge enables defendants to apply for bail while awaiting trial and can ultimately mean a shorter prison sentence if they are convicted.

John McNesby, president of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5, the officers' union, said at a news conference after Pownall was charged that it was an "absurd disgrace" that Pownall had been booked on the state's most serious murder count.

"We will have a vigorous defense and expect him to be cleared, no doubt about it, to be cleared of all charges and get his job back protecting his community," McNesby said at the time.

Pownall was fired from the police force a year ago over the shooting. His family attended Wednesday's court appearance  as did Jones'  but left without commenting.

Jones' godmother, Donna Clement-Jackson, 49, said outside the courthouse: "We pray that justice will be served."John Greco creating pens in his workshop/gallery at GW Pens in Woodstown, Salem County. Read more

In a storefront studio in small-town New Jersey, artisan John Greco shapes shards of Americana  pieces of places and things freighted with historic or cultural import  into pens that are more art than writing implements.

Greco has made pens out of the wood from Independence Hall, the White House, the USS Constitution, the Grand Ole Opry, Ford's Theatre, Jack Daniel's casks, Yankee Stadium, and the Sandy-wrecked boardwalk of Seaside Heights.

He's also fashioned pens from World War II ammunition, shredded cash embedded in resin, and marble from the same Colorado quarry that supplied the Lincoln Memorial.

On his lathes in a former women's consignment shop on South Main Street in Woodstown, Salem County, Greco creates heirloom-quality work that garners him international acclaim among pen cognoscenti.

"My pens," says Greco, 44, a North Jersey native who lives with his wife and two children in Sewell, Gloucester County, "are not from the mass-produced world."

Hailed as a "passionate, unique artist" by pen maven Nicky Pessaroff, the editor-in-chief of Houston-based Pen World magazine (with a digital and print readership of 30,000 and rising), Greco has crafted pens for Chris Christie, Barack Obama, Prince Harry, and Pope Francis.

Tactile, visual, meaty, weighted  Greco pens feel like integrity itself in the hand, priced from $60 to $2,000 each.

"I have an analog soul," says Greco, revealing the animating essence of his life's work.

In a blinking, chirping, digital world, the pen is mightier than the algorithm for Greco and his ilk, who respond to a growing nostalgia for the old and the real.

Authentic tools

The world has long admired and pocketed fancy pens from established companies, such as Cross, Montblanc, and Montegrappa.

Around the country, though, independent pen-makers are popping up everywhere, says Pessaroff. Many of them aren't dedicated artists like Greco. They're hobbyists who unwind at the end of the day by contemplating the gratifying aesthetics of hand-engineered writing instruments.

Mostly they make fountain pens, prized for their gold or stainless steel nibs that can create lines from linguine-thin to broadly expansive, gliding like schooners over thick and ink-thirsty paper.

For pen users of high-end fountain, roller ball, or ballpoint pens, these are glorious times. "Millennials are getting back to analog tools because they are looking for something authentic to work with," Pessaroff says. "They crave a non-disposable writing element that lasts the rest of your, your child's, and your grandchild's lives."

Pens and other writing tools generated $16.2 billion in worldwide sales in 2014, and are expected to reach $20.2 billion next year, according to Technavio, a market-research firm.

Much of the renewed need for pens is being fostered by expanded interest in handwritten journals, especially bullet journals, a form of capturing information about your past, present, and future in bulleted lists.

People learn soon enough that a good pen can even affect the quality of writing itself, Pessaroff says.

Who wouldn't pause an extra moment while wielding a fine writing implement to contemplate whether the correct next word should be but, not and, thus avoiding a messy cross-out that would only sully the page and devalue the entire creative process?

With such a pen in hand, one doesn't jot  one composes. One doesn't dash off a line to a friend  one corresponds.

My people

Across America, pen shows are growing in number and size, including the largest pen gathering in the nation, the Washington, D.C. Fountain Pen Supershow, held every August. Around here, the big gathering is the Philadelphia Pen Show each January at the Westin Philadelphia.

When Greco first stepped into that exhibition hall (then at the Sheraton Hotel) in 2010 stocked with what seemed like acres of what he calls "the holy trinity"  pens, ink, and paper  he whispered to himself, "These are my people."

A lover of shop class as a kid, Greco, the product of a working-class family, made woodworking a hobby after he graduated with a political science degree from the College of New Jersey in 1997.

He handmade toys, then got a job at Staples, where being around pens "was a perk," he says. "I realized that I loved them. I'm a tactile person and I love the sense of the pen on the paper."

Greco made his first pen in 2010 and found his calling. "That's it," he declared. "I love this!"

He rented factory space in Pitman, then moved to the Woodstown store last October, calling it GW Pens (for Greco Woodworking). A local official remarked that seeing Greco work on pens in his front window brought to mind boardwalk taffy-makers down the Shore.

Greco believes his shop  in which he makes, displays, and sells his pens, and also has a small gallery of historic raw materials  is the only spot like it in the United States.

Pessaroff says he's not positive of that. But, he allows, GW Pens is rare.

Much of Greco's business is conducted online, with customers throughout America, as well as in Saudi Arabia, Australia, South Africa, Europe, and Japan.

Witness Wood

For his historic pens, Greco gets so-called Witness Wood from Bob DeMartino of North Jersey, a collector of rare wood who founded History Salvaged LLC.

DeMartino says he owns the only wood officially documented to have been removed from Independence Hall in 1897 during a renovation.

He possesses official correspondence, complete with seals and notarized signatures, that attest to the wood's authenticity.

DeMartino says he sleuthed the wood's whereabouts through the years, tracking it from late-19th-century Philadelphia to the home of a Long Island attorney in 2014.

"Then it took me four years to convince him to sell me one four-foot beam and smaller pieces," DeMartino says. The afterglow from that triumph still warms him.

DeMartino says he enjoys working with Greco. DeMartino had distributed a bit of Witness Wood to some pen-makers around America, to audition them. "Nothing they made came back good, except from John," he says.

The way it works is that DeMartino supplies Greco with historic wood free of charge. DeMartino pays Greco for the pens he makes with the wood, and the two share profits.

"John's meticulous, and his quality is second to nobody in the country," says DeMartino, who's especially impressed with Greco's ability to make pens out of marble and other stone, a toilsome process that foils other artisans, whose pens and patience crack apart with the effort.

Greco appreciates the kind words. And he figures the joy he derives from pens will keep him working in the business for decades more. He has, it turns out, only one pen-related complaint in life:

"I wish my handwriting were better."In this June 30, 2015, file photo Cardinal Donald Wuerl, archbishop of Washington, speaks during a news conference at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington. Read more

A dozen years before he became a top leader in the Catholic Church, Donald Wuerl was weighing a fateful decision. It was 1994, and Wuerl, then a bishop, had removed a priest accused of child sex abuse from a Pittsburgh-area parish. But the priest refused to get psychiatric treatment, and instead asked Wuerl for time off.

Wuerl  now a cardinal and the archbishop of Washington, District of Columbia  granted the leave of absence, allowing the Rev. Robert Castelucci to relocate to Ohio without alerting authorities or parishioners, law enforcement records show.

Only after police in Ohio began investigating a 16-year-old boy's allegation that "Father Bob" plied him with pornography and performed oral sex on him did Wuerl tell Castelucci he could no longer present himself as a priest in public, according to internal church documents obtained by The Washington Post.

The case, one of hundreds mentioned in a groundbreaking Pennsylvania grand jury report released last month, sheds light on how Wuerl handled sex abuse claims in the Pittsburgh Diocese from 1988 to 2006  a period that now threatens to rewrite his legacy and hasten the end of his career. Wuerl, 77, announced recently that he would go to the Vatican to discuss his possible resignation with Pope Francis and, although it is not clear when that meeting will take place, Wuerl is scheduled to be in Rome this weekend.

While Wuerl built a reputation as an early advocate for removing pedophile priests from parishes, a Post examination found that at times he allowed accused clerics to continue as priests in less visible roles without alerting authorities or other officials. The review focused on the 25 priests whose cases, according to the grand jury, Wuerl handled directly.

Six accused priests were permitted to return to clerical roles after receiving psychiatric treatment at church-backed facilities only to be removed after the sex abuse scandal erupted in 2002, records show. Three more were allowed to take leave or to remain on leave, staving off disciplinary proceedings and allowing them to present themselves as priests in good standing when they moved to Ohio, California, and Florida.

In a statement, a spokeswoman for the Pittsburgh Diocese defended Wuerl, saying he went to great lengths to move accused priests out of parishes even though the church's rules at the time limited his authority to remove them entirely. "He used any available channels to remove offenders from ministry and, if that was not possible, to remove them from parish ministry," spokeswoman Ann Rodgers said.

A spokesman for the Washington Archdiocese acknowledged that Wuerl's efforts "in a small number of cases may have been imperfect, but the goal was always to remove the priests from ministry involving children," said Edward McFadden. He also said Wuerl relied on medical advice when he returned priests to ministry.

By the time Wuerl left Pittsburgh in 2006, McFadden said, all priests who had been "credibly accused of child sexual abuse" during Wuerl's tenure had been removed from ministry involving minors.

Through McFadden, Wuerl declined an interview request.

The Post's examination of Wuerl's handling of sex abuse claims expands on the grand jury report by drawing on additional court, police and church documents and interviews with victims who have not previously spoken publicly. It found that Wuerl's actions in some cases did not prevent abuse from happening again.

In one instance, Wuerl allowed a priest who had admitted to abusing children to continue as a hospital chaplain in the 1990s, advising that he keep a "low profile," the grand jury found. The hospital told The Post it was not informed of the allegation and wouldn't have allowed him to work there if it had been. A college student who met the priest in the Pittsburgh-area hospital later accused him of sexual misconduct, according to the report, which did not provide details.

In another case, the grand jury found, Wuerl's staff disclosed to church officials in California only one of multiple sex abuse allegations against a priest who had moved there on leave, allowing him to continue as a priest. Last month, an advocacy group said a woman had come forward alleging the priest molested her in California when she was 9 years old.

Wuerl's supporters credit him with removing sexually deviant priests long before his counterparts in other dioceses across the country. It was an issue he was forced to confront from the start.

When he arrived in Pittsburgh in 1988, the diocese had just removed two priests from ministry after altar boys told a counselor they had been molested. In Wuerl's first six months on the job, those two priests were charged with over 100 counts of abuse, including "deviate sexual intercourse."

Wuerl formed a diocesan-level review board to look at allegations of sex abuse. He also hired a full-time social worker to oversee the response to victims. And in the mid-1990s, he was among a group of bishops who lobbied to extend the canonical statute of limitations on child sexual abuse cases.

But there were limits to the reforms.

Bill Cammarata, who led the state's Office of Children, Youth and Families in the Pittsburgh area, said he called the new bishop in November 1988 to make clear that he believed the church was mandated to report allegations of child abuse to civil authorities.

Cammarata, whose welfare agency office was a block away from the Pittsburgh Diocese's offices, remembers scheduling an appointment with Wuerl and arriving to instead find a monsignor and a lawyer for the diocese in a conference room, unwilling to concede. "I said to them, my position is you should be reporting these, the church, as an entity, are mandated reporters," Cammarata said. "The lawyer said we have a different opinion. That was the sum total of the meeting."

Months later, Wuerl was provided a summary report on the meeting, and letters between Cammarata's office and "the Bishop illustrated a disagreement as to whether the law's mandates applied to Diocesan personnel," the grand jury found.

Diocese officials have said that state law required them to report to law enforcement only abuse against those who were minors at the time of the allegation  not adults claiming prior sex abuse. The result was that for Wuerl's first 14 years in Pittsburgh there was no protocol for church officials to inform law enforcement when adults alleged past abuse.

Rodgers, the Pittsburgh Diocese spokeswoman, told The Post that Wuerl "was a reformer, but like any reformer he had to work within the law at the time."

"Throughout the 1990s, it was extremely difficult to permanently remove priests who had committed serious misconduct of any kind unless they admitted it or they were criminally charged and convicted," Rodgers said.

When allegations did reach law enforcement or the courts, Wuerl's response was forceful and decisive. In 1993, Wuerl traveled to Rome in hopes of overturning the Vatican's ruling that he had to reinstate an abusive priest who had been publicly accused of molesting a teenage boy but refused to get psychiatric treatment. Wuerl won his battle to remove Rev. Anthony Cipolla. But the bishop took a different approach to another case only a year later.

Wuerl's deputies in Pittsburgh got the first complaint about Robert Castelucci, the priest who would move to Ohio, in October 1994.

Ed Stamerra Jr., then in his early 30s, told church leaders Castelucci had abused him for years starting in the mid-1970s when Stamerra was a 13-year-old altar boy.

He has never spoken publicly about the abuse. He is referred to as "Victim 1" in the grand jury report, and he sued the diocese in 2004 under the name "John Doe IX," resulting in an out-of-court settlement that he said amounted to $60,000. He agreed to an interview with The Post  and faulted Wuerl for actions after learning of Castelucci's alleged abuse.

"He should have never become a cardinal," Stamerra said.

Stamerra, 55, grew up in a family of 10 children, attending a church with a largely Italian congregation in Braddock, just outside Pittsburgh.

Castelucci, he said, would regularly pull him out of Catholic grade school to assist with funerals. While cleaning up in the rectory, Castelucci engaged in anal and oral sex and masturbation with the teenage, said Stamerra, who estimated he was abused more than 50 times over several years. He said Castelucci paid him for sex.

"It always involved money," said Stamerra, adding that Castelucci would also give him cigarettes and beer as enticements.

Castelucci, who could not be reached for comment despite repeated efforts, has denied any wrongdoing.

Stamerra told Wuerl's deputies about the abuse in October 1994, the grand jury found. He told The Post that the diocese did not encourage him to report the abuse to civil authorities, despite the diocese stating in a 1993 policy change that it would begin urging victims to go to law enforcement.

Church officials in Pittsburgh found the allegations credible because Stamerra could describe Castelucci's anatomy in detail, according to the grand jury report. Stamerra said he told them Castelucci had one testicle. The diocese immediately sent Castelucci for a psychological evaluation, resulting in a recommendation he receive inpatient treatment.

Castelucci refused, according to the grand jury report. He was granted a leave of absence to care for his ailing mother, who lived more than 50 miles away in Negley, Ohio, records show.

At his mother's home, Castelucci was by all appearances a priest taking time off.

He wore clerical clothing  a Roman collar and black shirt  and was known as "Father Bob," Lt. Allan Young, a sheriff's detective in Columbiana County, Ohio, told The Post. Over the next five years, Wuerl granted Castelucci three extensions of his leave, the grand jury found.

The Pittsburgh Diocese spokeswoman said, given the difficulties of removing priests, Wuerl often put them on leaves of absence to keep them out of parishes. Under cannon law, she added, these leaves of absence must be renewed periodically to keep the cleric out of ministry.

In May 1999, an Ohio mother reported to authorities that "Father Bob" had given her 16-year-old son pornographic videos, according to a police report obtained by The Post through a public records request. The boy "has cut Father Bob's grass the past three (3) years," the report states. County detectives interviewed Castelucci, who was in his early 60s at the time, and determined he had performed oral sex on the teenage boy, Young said. They forwarded the findings to the county prosecutor.

In July 1999, the Pittsburgh Diocese learned of the investigation in Ohio. On July 23, Wuerl's vicar in charge of personnel fired off a letter to Castelucci, a copy of which was obtained by The Post.

"In light of the recent allegation regarding your conduct and by special mandate of the Most Reverend Bishop . . . your leave of absence for personal reasons is hereby revoked and you are hereby placed on Administrative leave . . . " the letter states. It prohibited him from performing the sacraments, wearing clerical attire or presenting himself as "a priest in good standing."

Wuerl also alerted church officials in Ohio to the previous allegations for the first time, according to another letter obtained by The Post. But the letter appears to have incorrectly characterized the 1994 allegations that led to Castelucci's initial leave of absence as "involving adults," not a 13-year-old.

"Father Castelucci some time ago asked for a personal leave to care for his elderly mother now living in Ohio," Wuerl wrote the bishop in Youngstown, Ohio. "His request coincided with allegations of sexual misconduct involving adults that would have necessitated his stepping aside from ministry while the issue was investigated and some determination made."

Wuerl wrote that "new allegations of inappropriate activity" had come to light and informed the bishop of the new prohibitions on Castelucci.

In an interview, the prosecutor at the time said he decided to pass on charges because the boy was the legal age of consent by months.

"Unfortunately, 16 years old was the age of consent, and there was never an allegation that this was anything other than consensual," said Robert Herron, the Columbiana County prosecutor then and now. The boy, now in his 30s, declined an interview request. The Post does not identify victims of abuse unless they agree to be named.

Between 2002 and 2011, three additional adults came forward with allegations that Castelucci abused them in the 1970s. In March 2002, after the first of those additional allegations, Pittsburgh church officials met with Castelucci and told him "it was in his best interest to voluntarily withdraw from ministry rather than be subjected to a canonical process," the grand jury found. Castelucci submitted a handwritten letter withdrawing and another denying any wrongdoing.

The Post attempted to reach Castelucci by phone, by email and by a mailed letter and asked a family member, an attorney who handled his 2001 bankruptcy, and the Pittsburgh Diocese for contact information in an effort to locate him. But he could not be reached for comment.

The Post also found that the diocese, under Wuerl, let a priest who had admitted prior abuse keep a job as a hospital chaplain without informing Braddock Hospital.

Joseph Karabin had already received treatment for sex abuse twice in the 1980s and had been assigned to serve as a hospital chaplain before Wuerl's tenure began. Another complaint came in 1991 from an adult who said Karabin had fondled him and tried to have anal sex with him when he was 13 or 14, according to the grand jury report, which does not specify the year the alleged abuse occurred. Karabin admitted to making a sexual pass but said he was in an "alcoholic stupor" at the time, the grand jury found.

Karabin stayed at the hospital as a chaplain. In the coming years, Karabin asked to be reassigned to parishes twice. Both times Wuerl said no. Handwritten notes on a 1997 letter Karabin sent to Wuerl state, in part: "Bishop Wuerl feels that it is best that he remain at Braddock Hospital and that Joe keep a 'low profile'," according to the grand jury report, which does not specify who wrote the notation.

Later that same year, in a memo cited by the grand jury, diocesan officials were discussing a new complaint against Karabin related to his hospital work. The details of that allegation are not included in the grand jury report. "There is nothing in our file relating to the more recent allegation you spoke of made by a college youth who met Father Karabin at Braddock Hospital," read a memo to the current bishop in Pittsburgh, David Zubik.

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, which had acquired the now-defunct Braddock Hospital in 1996, told The Post that it was not aware of sexual misconduct allegations against Karabin. It also said the diocese did not tell the hospital about Karabin's past.

"Had UPMC known or been made aware of the sexual abuse allegations against Rev. Karabin in 1996 at the time we were acquiring Braddock Hospital, the policies and procedures UPMC had in place would have resulted in an immediate suspension, followed by a thorough investigation, and termination if the investigation uncovered corroborating facts," a hospital spokesman said.

As the scandal in the Boston Archdiocese was unfolding in early 2002, Wuerl withdrew Karabin from the ministry. Karabin continued working at the hospital part-time as a social worker, the hospital said, but left in 2004, a month after a lawsuit was filed alleging Wuerl and the diocese enabled Karabin to abuse a teenage boy in the early 1980s. Karabin died in 2016.

In 1994, the Pittsburgh Diocese received a complaint about Ernest Paone, a priest who was on leave from the diocese and had been working in a middle school in Southern California for nearly two decades. A woman said her brother had been molested by Paone decades earlier in Pittsburgh and, according to the grand jury report, that "her father 'went to the rectory with a shotgun and told Father Paone that he better leave town.' "

According to the grand jury report, Wuerl notified his church counterparts in California of the allegation  but did not mention "multiple" abuse claims detailed in the diocese files, dating to the 1960s.

Paone was sent to a church-run treatment program and allowed to return to ministry in the San Diego area, where he worked under the auspices of the Pittsburgh Diocese.

In 1996, Wuerl again missed an opportunity to alert others of Paone's past abuses. Church officials in California wrote to Wuerl asking him to sign an affidavit for insurance purposes that Paone, who was returning to ministry, had no "history of sexual involvement with minors or others."

The Pittsburgh Diocese does not appear to have disclosed Paone's record from the 1960s. Wuerl's secretary for clergy wrote that "Father Paone has not had any assignment in the [Pittsburgh] diocese for over 30 years. Thus, the only appropriate information about him has already been communicated to you," the grand jury found. The grand jury report says Wuerl directed the secretary for clergy to respond but does not say whether he directed the specific response. Wuerl did not sign the affidavit.

The arrangement for Paone to stay in ministry in California finally ended in 2002, after the Boston Globe revealed a pattern of the church relocating pedophile priests from parish to parish and using sick leave to mask times that priests were in inpatient settings for psychiatric treatment.

In response to the Boston scandal, Wuerl's staff wrote to the San Diego Diocese regarding Paone. The letter said that due to the "recent difficulties in the Church and having raised the bar on allegations brought against our priests," Pittsburgh was withdrawing Paone's ability to practice as a priest and placing him on administrative leave.

In the months after Boston, Wuerl acted to permanently remove a total of five priests with long-standing allegations of abuse whom he had allowed to remain in some form of ministry.

In California, another allegation has since surfaced against Paone.

A woman last month contacted the Los Angeles chapter of SNAP, the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, saying she had been molested by Paone in the Pomona area when she was nine years old.

Esther Miller, president of the chapter who interviewed the woman, said the alleged victim remembers Paone repeatedly coming to her family's home for dinner after he celebrated Mass at St. Denis Catholic Church. In recent weeks, the parish in Diamond Bar, Calif., has also posted a note in its Sunday bulletin about Paone, who died in 2012, asking any one who may have been a victim to call a hotline number at the Los Angeles Archdiocese.

"They let him move out here, say Mass and didn't tell anyone," Miller said. They "were really sending out a monster. I find the church in Pittsburgh very culpable."

The Washington Post's Alice Crites and Michelle Boorstein contributed to this report.This 2-foot long alligator was found roaming in Collegeville in 2016. Read more

Police are looking for a 3- to 4-foot-long alligator on the loose in Atlantic County.

Without elaborating, Mullica Township police said there was a confirmed sighting of an alligator on Hamburg Avenue between the White Horse Pike and Duerer Street, an area bisected by two branches of Landing Creek in the Devonshire section, at about 4:45 p.m. Tuesday.

Police asked residents to report any sightings and to keep an eye on small pets.

Wildlife specialists are assisting the search for the reptile, police said.

Police are also trying to determine where the alligator came from.Medical marijuana patients in New Jersey were quick to praise Gov. Murphys announcement of major changes to the eight-year-old program. From the left, Jack Saphow, of Howell, Leah Bakos, of Bellmawr, Aubrey Conway, of Sayreville, Christopher Errickson, of Corbin City, and Erik Costanzo, of Somerdale. The patients use cannabis to treat an array of ailments and said the existing program failed to meet their needs. Read more

Behind the dramatic changes made to New Jersey's medical marijuana program last week was a desire to treat participants as "patients, not criminals," Gov. Murphy said as he announced plans for an immediate overhaul that could open the program to 100,000 or even 200,000 new patients.

Under the stringent rules imposed by his predecessor, Chris Christie, a limited number of patients were permitted to buy cannabis and only six dispensaries were allowed to open across the state, the governor said. To be eligible, a patient had to have one of about a dozen ailments, such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, and glaucoma, and could purchase only two ounces a month, under video surveillance.

Enrollment stalled and currently only 18,000 patients participate in the eight-year-old program, Murphy said.

Patients say the changes are long overdue.

"This may help get rid of the stigma surrounding marijuana," said Leah Bakos, a patient from Bellmawr, who attended the governor's announcement in Trenton. "Some people look down on you for using marijuana  they think you are a drug addict.  But when more sick people use it, and get better, the more they will spread the word to their friends, and that may start to change people's minds," she said.

The governor increased the number of qualifying ailments to about 50, adding broad categories such as chronic pain and anxiety to the list. Chronic pain includes arthritis, fibromyalgia, lupus, opioid addiction disorder, diabetes, and about 30 other conditions, while anxiety is associated with Alzheimer's, autism, and other ailments, according to the Health Department.

A review panel of medical and pharmaceutical experts last year recommended 43 ailments to qualify for cannabis use and grouped them under the broad categories. These recommendations were all adopted, effective immediately. Migraines also appear on the new list.

The governor said he doesn't know how many more people may now be eligible for cannabis but noted that Michigan, which has a population comparable to New Jersey's and which has a less restrictive marijuana program, has about 220,000 cannabis patients. "There will be growing pains" and existing dispensaries may initially struggle to keep up with demand, he said.

Ken Wolski, a registered nurse and executive director of the Coalition of Medical Marijuana New Jersey, said chronic pain alone could qualify an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 new patients if their doctors approve. He said the changes will not only welcome more patients to the program but also will address the problems that patients are experiencing now.

Murphy is also proposing the two-ounce limit per month be doubled.

Bakos, 34, says "opening the floodgates a little bit" will help because patients will have an alternative to addictive drugs to treat their ailments, and then they can "go out and educate others."

Bakos, who turns cannabis into pain creams and edibles to treat severe muscle spasms, said that she did a lot of research before she tried cannabis.

"While some people think marijuana is like heroin, marijuana is not addictive, and no one dies from it," she said.

To increase the supply, the dispensaries will be permitted to apply for satellite retail and cultivation centers and new dispensaries will be allowed to open. More sites mean patients won't have to travel as far to purchase cannabis each month, Murphy said.

South Jersey has two dispensaries  one in Bellmawr, 10 miles from Philadelphia, and one in Egg Harbor Township, near Atlantic City. Compassionate Sciences in Bellmawr offers oils and lotions along with smokable cannabis buds.

Murphy said he also will allow dispensaries to sell other edibles, something Christie vigorously opposed.

Christopher Errickson, a patient from Corbin City, Atlantic County, said lifting the restrictions may also reduce the costs associated with cannabis. He said it currently costs him about $5,000 a year.

Even though Errickson receives a veteran's discount from the dispensaries, he still has to pay about $400 an ounce, on top of an annual $200 state registration fee. He also had to pay about $300 to a doctor on the marijuana registry who required three visits to establish a "bona fide" relationship before he would sign off on a cannabis recommendation.

The governor said the registration fee will be halved, and reduced to $20 for all veterans and senior citizens. Previously, only people receiving public assistance were charged the discounted rate.

Murphy said the program overhaul also may encourage more physicians to participate in the program, further reducing the costs.

Only about 500 of the state's 33,000 licensed medical doctors participate in the program, and some physicians privately say they don't register because there is a stigma to appearing on a public list of cannabis doctors, the governor said. Doctors must still register but having their names appear on the list is no longer mandatory, he said.

Murphy said he hopes this change means more patients will be able to turn to their personal doctors for a cannabis recommendation instead of having to find a doctor on the registry and then paying for extra visits to establish a relationship.

Larry Downs, CEO of the Medical Society of New Jersey, said many doctors have said they did not join the registry because "of the weakness of the evidence in terms of the therapeutic efficacy" of cannabis rather than its stigma. The Medical Society and the American Medical Association have called for more research, he said.

Andrew Medvedovsky, a board-certified neurologist who recommends cannabis to 5,000 of his patients, said these associations are out-of-touch. He supports more research but says he has also found that "cannabis really works" for many patients and is a good alternative to addictive drugs.

One day after the governor's announcement, Medvedovsky said his medical staff at his Moorestown clinic and at his other offices received 100 inquiries and made appointments for 50 new patients. He said statistics show that about one-third of the population in New Jersey suffers from chronic pain.

Erik Costanzo, a marijuana patient from Somerdale, said that he initially balked at using marijuana but decided to give it a try after he had lingering pain following seven back surgeries. "I was nervous about using marijuana in the beginning because of the stigma," he said.

"It works," Costanzo said. "I'm so happy that it will be available to more people who need it."Medical marijuana educator Bob Kane (center) listens to Ida Ruggiero, 81, as she asks dosage questions regarding her cannabis lozenges at a New Jersey Alternative Health Medicine clinic in Turnersville. Her granddaughter, Diana Marino (left) brought her to the clinic. Ruggiero is among a rare group of elderly who have decided to try cannabis for their ailments. Read more

Ida Ruggiero, an opinionated great-grandma, remembered the deep embarrassment that crept over her when she told each of her five adult children her news.

Ruggiero, 81, was using weed, twice a day. With her doctor's permission, of course.

Yes, the same substance that she had sternly warned them not to try when they were teens growing up in a middle-class home in South Jersey in the '60s.

"I used to threaten that I would beat them," Ruggiero, a former school board member, said a few hours after she had popped a piece of a cannabis lozenge. None of her now-adult children objected to her decision to use it, she said.

Ruggiero is among a small but growing group of people in their 80s and 90s who have decided to experiment with marijuana, still an illegal substance under federal law. A majority of states have legalized it to treat a wide array of ailments and its popularity is rising.

Seventy percent of millennials favor legalization, for any reason, and a clear majority of baby boomers support both medicinal and recreational marijuana. In stark contrast, only 35 percent of those over age 72 approved of it, according to a Pew Research Center report released in January. Still, that's up from 29 percent in a 2015 Pew study.

The 2015 Pew report dug deeper and found "supporters of legalization mention its perceived health benefits, or see it as no more dangerous than other drugs. To opponents, it is a dangerous drug, one that inflicts damage on people and society more generally." The report said 52 percent of millennials had tried marijuana, but only 19 percent of the elderly have used it.

But as marijuana goes mainstream, even those who are up in years are starting to ask, "Why not me?" although Medicare does not cover it.

Five marijuana patients, ages 81 to 93, who live in New Jersey, where medical marijuana has been legal for eight years, agreed to be interviewed for this article. All five said that they were glad they tried it, as seniors, for the first time.

Most use the edible form because it's easier than smoking it and doesn't leave a telltale odor that makes them feel sheepish when visitors come to their home or assisted-living facility.

One Marlton woman learned about medical marijuana over a mah-jongg game at an independent-living facility during which two elderly players admitted they were using it and recommended it. She decided to give it a whirl and was stunned at how it eased her back pain and helped her sleep.

Declining to be named, she told a reporter that she doesn't want her neighbors to think she's "a dopehead.  The marijuana doesn't get me high, it's just for pain," she said.

Ruggiero, who has eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, also said marijuana does not make her giddy or giggly. "Only once did I feel the least bit screwy." During a recent interview Ruggierio came across as intelligent and well-spoken.

Diana Marino, a nurse and Ruggiero's granddaughter, suggested her "mom-mom" try it. "She has improved mentally and physically. I see a difference, and that in itself brings me happiness," she said.

Ruggiero said she has noticed her anxiety is now manageable, her depressed mood has improved, and her arthritis hurts less. But she admits that she still looks for "excuses to stop."

She still has concerns. Years ago, she said, there was a widespread belief that marijuana use would create a "white spot on your brain" that would be permanent. "This was hammered into us." She said that she now knows that is false, but the fear lingers.

When Ruggiero first tried cannabis more than a year ago, she smoked it in a pipe, but it worsened her lung condition. Then, she experimented with a $300 vaporizer, but she didn't get results. Converting it into oil also didn't work, and dissolving a lozenge under her tongue tasted awful, she said.

A couple of months ago, Bob Kane, a cannabis educator who works in her doctor's office, suggested she break the lozenges into pieces and swallow them, like pills, a few hours apart.

Ruggiero said that made a difference. Now, she takes 2.5 lozenges a day. They cost $60 for a pack of 35 at the dispensary.

Kane, who works for Andrew Medvedovsky, a board-certified neurologist with six marijuana clinics across New Jersey, said that elderly patients require extra counseling and follow-up care. "They're scared; they're often alone," Kane said. "They worry they will feel loopy and lose their balance."

Medvedovsky, who has recommended cannabis for more than 3,000 pain patients, said that only a fraction of his patients are older than 80. About five are between 90 and 99, he said. Most patients are in their 50s and 60s.

Many older patients are willing to try marijuana after other medications failed or produced unwanted side effects, he said. "We are getting mixed results," he said. "A lot comes down to their underlying conditions and overall health.  Also, there's so much anxiety about cannabis, about being high and not in control, and anxiety would limit their success."

Beverly Klein, 82, learned about marijuana from the internet. An article suggested marijuana could help patients get off steroids. For several years, she took prednisone for polymyalgia rheumatica, an inflammatory condition that causes pain and stiffness. She was up to four pills a day.

"I knew it was bad for me and I had to take more and more to relieve the pain," she said. "I'm not ashamed of using marijuana  it's my decision what I do with my body," said Klein, a great-grandmother.

Klein's friends at her assisted-living facility in Voorhees were afraid for her. "They are waiting for me to die," she said, saying that her generation was taught "marijuana kills."

After nearly three months on marijuana, Klein halved her steroid use. At the time of the interview, she expected to be completely weaned off shortly.

But Klein felt ill a few weeks ago. Her doctor told her to immediately stop using the marijuana because it was the newest medication she took.

"I have to do what he says because I'm feeling lousy," she said. "I have no regrets  I think marijuana probably works for 99 percent of the people."

Klein said too few doctors are familiar with how marijuana affects the elderly and how it should be administered to patients who have a host of medical issues.

Many cannabis patients say there is a severe shortage of doctors in the state who are willing to recommend cannabis to their patients, partially due to the stigma. Health Commissioner Shereef M. Elnahal recently began a series of lectures to make doctors aware of the potential benefits.

Another problem, health officials say, is that current rules make it difficult for caregivers to bring cannabis to nursing homes and hospice patients, though it might help with nausea and lack of appetite.

An 88-year-old Cape May man, who lives at home, said he was glad that he was able to get to the dispensary. Cannabis saved his life, he said. Without an appetite, he lost 70 pounds and was dangerously frail. He now smokes it at night and enjoys dinner. In the last four years, he said, marijuana has helped him gain 30 pounds.

David Knowlton, the CEO of the Compassionate Care Foundation dispensary in Atlantic County, said that he and others in the industry support bills that would allow cannabis to be delivered to nursing homes and hospice centers.

"We know there's a need for this," he said. "We have a lot of patients coming in with walkers and wheelchairs and there are many more people who can't get here."Deputy Paul Bryant with his cadaver dog, Don, at the Chester County Sheriff's Office in March 2017. The unit has come under increased scrutiny in recent weeks, thanks to an audit undertaken by the county's controller. Read more

Chester County's controller, in an audit report filed last week, expressed significant concern over how the county sheriff's K-9 unit has spent and accounted for nearly $200,000 in donations.

Controller Margaret Reif's report details how deposits into accounts associated with the unit from 2015 to 2017 were spent on meals, hotel stays, and other expenditures, including the leasing of night-vision goggles and the apparent reimbursement of personal credit cards. But Reif notes that her office's audit is incomplete due to a lack of requested records and has urged outside agencies to pick up the probe.

The report comes a little more than a month after Reif took the unusual move of issuing Sheriff Carolyn "Bunny" Welsh a subpoena for the K-9 unit's finances.

"It's not the responsibility of my office to prove fraud," Reif said Wednesday. "Our responsibility is to refer any concerns of potential fraud or misappropriation of funds that we find to the district attorney for further investigation. It's in his hands now."

 READ MORE: Chester County officials spar over dogged audit of sheriffs K-9 Unit

District Attorney Tom Hogan said Wednesday that his office was sent the report but is unable to investigate due to a conflict of interest: His office donated $6,500 to the K-9 unit to help train one of its dogs. Instead, Hogan has referred the investigation to the state Attorney General's Office and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Michelle Mucellin, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney, said Wednesday that she cannot comment on referrals. Joe Grace, a spokesman for Attorney General Josh Shapiro, confirmed that Shapiro's office had received the referral and will "conduct a thorough and complete review."

Welsh has described Reif's report as full of "egregious misrepresentations," stressing that the money spent was not from the county's general fund. Her office has hired an independent public accountant to prepare a parallel audit, one that will take a more comprehensive look at the unit's finances, according to Dawson R. Muth, the solicitor for Welsh's office.

"When we turned our records over to the controller, we presumed she was going to do a complete audit, look at recipients, expenditures, ask questions as to what they related to," Muth said. "She elected not to do that, so we turned the same documents over to a CPA, and we'll release the results when they're done."

Muth declined to identify which accountant the sheriff's office has hired, saying only that his report is expected to be released "within the next week or two."

The entity at the center of this probe, the Friends of the Chester County Sheriff's K-9 Unit, registered as a corporation with the state in February, records show. Months later, it received official nonprofit status, a move that Reif commended.

But for at least nine years prior, the K9 unit operated and received donations on its own.

The audit found that the K-9 unit was not compliant with state standards for charitable organizations before its related charity was granted nonprofit status in July. Before that, the unit falsely claimed to be a tax-exempt organization and did not pay sales tax on retail purchases, according to the report.

Welsh has said that the purchase, training and care for the nine active dogs in the K-9 unit were funded by state and federal grants, an expense that would otherwise cost the county $100,000 annually.

The salaries, insurance, and vehicles used by the officers who are partnered with the dogs come from the county budget, according to Reif. And, as her report concludes, the money solicited by outside donations was used on a variety of other expenses.

Included in that accounting was $7,000 paid out in reimbursements to credit cards in Welsh's name. Those three cards, which "appeared to be personal credit cards," were paid directly from funds in one of the unit's accounts, according to the report.

Reif's office found no evidence of an authorization process for paying credit card debt. Instead, the records appeared to indicate that a lieutenant in the sheriff's office had "unchecked control and discretion of how and when funds were spent," the report states.

The report also questions other purchases documented by the unit, including $3,600 for leasing night-vision goggles from the Navy, a $1,000 Christmas dinner at a Maryland seafood restaurant, and a $4,700 stay at a Baltimore hotel for eight members of the unit during a national sheriff's conference.

"The controller has been quoted as saying that her review raised more questions than it answered; however, what's significant is that no questions were ever asked of anyone connected to the Sheriff's Office as would be done in a professional audit," Muth said. "In addition, no one bothered to take an inventory of items and assets that were purchased with K-9 funds, items that have since benefited all county citizens in numerous ways."

Reif said that the subpoena's request for financial records was incomplete, with her office receiving only a partial account of the fund from 2015 to 2017. She added that her investigation ended when her auditors turned it over to the district attorney, therefore preventing her from asking questions.Dissident investor makes last-minute desperate attempt to buy votes, gain access to GrowMaxs cash reserves

Shareholders are reminded that the only way to save their investment is by voting their BLUE Proxy  FOR  the Fertimar/PrimaSea acquisition and  FOR  managements director nominees ahead of voting deadline on September 21, 2018

Proxy   the Fertimar/PrimaSea acquisition and   managements director nominees ahead of voting deadline on September 21, 2018 For assistance with voting contact Kingsdale Advisors at 1-866-581-1479 or contactus@kingsdaleadvisors.com

TORONTO, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GrowMax Resources Corp. (the Company or GrowMax) (TSX-V: GRO) today commented on BullRun Capitals value-destructing dividend scheme that would allow the activist to pocket $2.1 million of the Companys cash reserve.

The proposed scheme was hastily announced in a press release on September 18, 2018, just seven days before the Companys annual and special meeting of shareholders, and contradicts BullRuns business plan published in their proxy circular on September 10.

Shareholders deserve better than BullRuns flipflopping and back-of-the-napkin business plans, said GrowMax CEO Stephen Keith. A dividend for a company with a strong balance sheet is an easy short-term solution but wont create long-term value like our PrimaSea acquisition. This is nothing but a last-ditch desperate attempt to buy shareholder votes.

In contrast, the PrimaSea acquisition brings both near-term cash flow and maintains a significant cash balance, providing the potential for significant shareholder value and the potential to implement a regular dividend policy without risking the Company as a whole.

One thing to remember in the overall analysis is that a large number of shareholders are long-term holders of GrowMax shares and acquired shares at a significant premium compared to what BullRun has acquired over the last few months. Now, BullRun wants to pay themselves back for their short-term investment, loot the treasury and take away the significant potential that our cash balance and near-term cash flow bring in these volatile capital markets. And still, BullRun and its supporters have no plan for the future of the Company.



BullRuns dividend scheme reveals their true intentions: They want to get their hands on GrowMaxs cash. GrowMax has long-feared that BullRun has a hidden agenda to gain access to GrowMaxs strong cash position. Their proposed dividend scheme allows them to do just that. We estimate that, by receiving the $2.1 million, BullRun will retrieve between 60% to 70% of its total investment in GrowMax  a significant short-term gain for a short-term investor. Notably, BullRun still hasnt disclosed what they intend to do with the rest of GrowMaxs cash.

BullRuns dividend scheme is value destructing and not in the best interest of shareholders. BullRun proposes to simply transfer half of GrowMaxs cash reserves to GrowMax shareholders, which results in no substantial economic difference. In other words, any cash distributed to GrowMax shareholders would be offset by a corresponding decline in the value of GrowMax and its share price.



BullRuns business plan lacks credibility. In its proxy circular, dated September 10, BullRun makes no mention of a dividend. Instead, they outline a vague list of objectives including pursuing acquisitions in high growth areas with significant investor interest. By cashing-out with its dividend and slashing the Companys cash reserves in half, is BullRun saying that they now only have access to half as many acquisition opportunities? What is BullRuns real agenda? It appears BullRun will say anything to gain shareholder support.

The PrimaSea acquisition is transformative and value-enhancing. Unlike BullRun, managements nominees have put forward a detailed value-enhancing plan to leverage the Companys strong cash position to consolidate organic animal and plant nutrient assets in Latin America. GrowMaxs first transaction, the PrimaSea acquisition, gives GrowMax shareholders ownership of a multi-generational lithothamnion asset, immediate revenues, near term cash flow, and an enhanced team with international sales capabilities.

GrowMaxs fundamental investment thesis is based on: (i) the fact that the specialty plant and animal nutrient sector is attracting strong investor interest, as supported by significant share-price appreciation for several companies operating that sector, and (ii) the addition of a long-life asset with upside for production expansion.

VOTE YOUR BLUE PROXY TO KEEP GROWMAX ON THE RIGHT TRACK

Shareholders are encouraged to vote only their BLUE Proxy FOR the PrimaSea acquisition and FOR all of managements qualified and experienced director nominees.

Shareholders are asked to vote online at www.proxyvote.com to ensure votes are received in a timely manner as the deadline to vote is 10:00 a.m. (Calgary time), being 12:00 p.m. (Toronto time), Friday, September 21, 2018.

If you have already voted using another proxy, you may vote again on the BLUE Proxy. The later dated BLUE Proxy will count as it supersedes any previously given proxy.

Vote BLUE today at www.proxyvote.com or by contacting Kingsdale Advisors toll free at 1-866-581-1479 or by email at contactus@kingsdaleadvisors.com. There is a team standing by to help.

For more information, please contact:

Stephen Keith, P. Eng.

President and CEO

Tel.: +1 (647) 299 0046

Email: info@growmaxcorp.com

www.growmaxcorp.com

Media Contact:

Ian Robertson

Executive Vice President, Communication Strategy

Kingsdale Advisors

Direct: +1 (416) 867-2333

Cell: +1 (647) 621-2646

Email: irobertson@kingsdaleadvisors.com

About GrowMax Resources Corp.

GrowMax Resources Corp. is a publicly listed Canadian company holding exploration assets bearing phosphate and potassium-rich brine resources on its Bayovar Property, which is located in the Sechura Desert in northwestern Peru.

GrowMax has been focusing its efforts on leveraging its existing balance sheet to consolidate junior fertilizer assets in Latin America, targeting projects with favorable margins and generating cash flow. The Companys vision is to become a prominent player in the Latin American fertilizer industry.

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.Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R.,Pa.) listens during a campaign event at the Load Rite Trailers manufacturing facility in Fairless Hills, on Sept. 17. Read more

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a Bucks County Republican running in a hotly contested House race, has come out with a misleading TV ad tying his Democratic opponent to a notorious Philadelphia cop killer.

The ad contrasts Fitzpatrick's work as an FBI agent  serving in tribute to his uncle, a New York police officer killed in the line of duty  with donations made by Scott Wallace's family foundation to "a liberal organization that has given a voice to the convicted cop killer Mumia Abu-Jamal."

It quotes local law enforcement leaders as saying Wallace "sickens me," and is "reprehensible" and "dangerous."

The ad flashes a split screen of Wallace next to Abu-Jamal, a former Black Panther who is serving a life sentence for killing Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Faulkner in 1981.

Democrats have targeted Fitzpatrick's seat in their bid to take control of the House in November's midterm elections. So it's no surprise that there's already some controversy in the campaign.

It's true that Wallace's family foundation has contributed to Democracy Now!, a nonprofit news organization that has given favorable coverage to Abu-Jamal, who has argued that racism led to his conviction.

Fox News reported in June that Wallace's foundation has contributed $3 million to Democracy Now! since 2003, and that the news organization had given Abu-Jamal a platform "at least 20 times." The House Republican campaign arm seized on those donations, as well as contributions to groups that support the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement against Israel.

Here's what we wrote in June about the donations to Democracy Now!:

In the grant description in its 2016 tax filing, the Wallace Global Fund says its contribution to Democracy Now! was made to "promote independent voices in the media."

Of course, Wallace doesn't control the news organization's content, and it's a bit of a stretch to conclude that his donations implied support for a cop killer. [Wallace spokesperson Zoe] Wilson-Meyer said it showed Republicans are "terrified of losing this seat" and will use "any baseless, connect-the-dots smears they can think of to help" Fitzpatrick.

But Republicans think the issue could play well. They used a similar tactic in the 2012 Bucks County congressional race, paying for automated phone calls to voters that pointed to legal work the Democratic nominee's husband had done for a witness in Abu-Jamal's case and for Abu Jamal's literary agent. The incumbent  Michael G. Fitzpatrick, Brian Fitzpatrick's brother  won that election.

Abu-Jamal is so politically toxic that [Sen. Bob Casey] opposed one of President Barack Obama's nominees to the Justice Department in 2014 because the lawyer had supervised an NAACP Legal Defense Fund team that represented Abu-Jamal during an appeal of the inmate's death sentence.

We also noted:

The Wallace Global Fund had $144 million in assets as of 2017, according to its most recent tax filing. It made $12 million in grants and contributions in 2016; recipients included Greenpeace, an environmental group, and a group called Safe Hands for Girls, which works to end female genital mutilation.

The fund's stated mission is "to promote an informed and engaged citizenry, to fight injustice, and to protect the diversity of nature and the natural systems upon which all life depends."

Which is all to say: the ad is misleading. The contributions made by Wallace's family foundation don't translate to editorial control over Democracy Now!'s coverage. Some of the news organization's top stories as of Tuesday morning were headlined "North and South Korea Vow to Denuclearize, Co-Host 2032 Olympics" and "Michael Moore: Senate Must Take Dr. Christine Blasey Ford Seriously & Postpone Kavanaugh Hearing."

The Fitzpatrick campaign would have a stronger case if the contributions had gone to, say, Abu-Jamal's legal defense fund.

That said, the ad is technically accurate on the surface, and the heads of the Fraternal Order of Police in Philadelphia and Bucks County did issue statements, via the Fitzpatrick campaign, condemning Wallace for the contributions.

In a statement, Wallace campaign manager Eric Nagy said Fitzpatrick was trying to "distract from the issues" and accused the Republican of "race-baiting."

The Fitzpatrick campaign didnt respond to requests for comment Wednesday morning.President Trump said he found inspiration for his long-stalled plan to build a wall along the southern border in an unlikely spot  a memorial to 9/11 victims in Shanksville, Pa.

In a 45-minute interview with Hill.TV on Tuesday, Trump said he was impressed by the walls that comprise the Flight 93 National Memorial, constructed to honor the 44 passengers and crew who died fighting al-Qaeda terrorists who hijacked their airplane during the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001. Trump spoke at the memorial last week, on the 17th anniversary of the attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people.

"They built this gorgeous wall where the plane went down in Pennsylvania, Shanksville. And I was there. I made the speech. And it's sort of beautiful, what they did is incredible," Trump said on Hill.TV. "They have a series of walls, I'm saying, it's like perfect. So, so, we are pushing very hard."

Trump also repeated the misleading claim that his administration has already begun building the border wall, saying in the interview, "We've started an 80-mile stretch." According to Factcheck.org, the $1.6 billion Congress approved in late March is designated to replace existing border fencing deemed inadequate or dilapidated, and to add some fencing in new areas.

"The new barriers are not concrete and not like any of Trump's wall prototypes," according to Factcheck.org's Robert Farley.

Trump also told Hill.TV he was planning to use his executive powers to do more on immigration in the coming weeks, but was vague on the details.

"I'll be doing things over the next two weeks having to do with immigration, which I think you'll be very impressed at," Trump said.

The Trump administration has drawn controversy for attempting to rewrite the rules of a 21-year-old agreement in order to detain children who cross the Mexican-U.S. border with their parents indefinitely as the government works on their immigration cases. Currently, under the Flores settlement, children have been permitted to be held for 20 days.

According to government figures obtained last week by MSNBC correspondent Jacob Soboroff, of the 2,654 children separated from their parents under the administration's "zero tolerance" policy, 211 remain in government custody without their parents. Six are under the age of five.

About 12,800 migrant children are currently being detained at federally contracted shelters, a dramatic increase from the 2,400 children that were in government custody in May 2017, according to data obtained by the New York Times.

"The huge increases, which have placed the federal shelter system near capacity, are due not to an influx of children entering the country, but a reduction in the number being released to live with families and other sponsors, the data collected by the Department of Health and Human Services suggests," wrote Times reporter Caitlin Dickerson.At the Parkway Central Library, in the Music Department, customers can take advantage of the Musical Instrument Collection. Read more

September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month, and while physical books, ebooks, and audiobooks still rank chief among our most popularly checked-out items, the Free Library is home to a host of other materials and online resources that may just surprise you:

The Free Library system is the largest provider of free public Wi-Fi in the region, and with internet access as well as public computers available at every Free Library location with a library card, a world of possibility is opened as users can open email accounts, search for jobs, connect with family members via social media, conduct research, and much more.

Library-card holders looking to learn a new language or brush up on an old one can utilize Mango Languages to embark on a language journey, while Lynda.com allows card holders to enroll in online training on myriad topics taught by industry experts. Kanopy  the popular on-demand video streaming service  grants instant access to more than 30,000 movies, including award-winning documentaries and acclaimed films, rare and hard-to-find titles, and classics.

Looking to take the U.S. citizenship test? Your library card grants you access to a test prep portal, complete with study materials and practice tests, while the LearningExpress Library Career Center module offers sections on business writing, job search, and skills for successful interviewing.

If you were hoping to check something out  literally  a Free Library card is also your key to a variety of nontraditional items available for lending across the system. At the Parkway Central Library, in the music department, customers can take advantage of the Musical Instrument Collection and borrow an assortment of instruments suited for beginners and virtuosos alike. Each instrument comes along with a kit that includes a gig book, tuner, strap, and small amps and cables for the electrics.

The South Philadelphia Library is home to the Health Lending Library, from which patrons can borrow tools to help them live a healthier lifestyle, including food scales and blood-pressure cuffs. But if it's time for a cheat day, you can borrow a cake pan from the McPherson Square Library (and don't forget a cookbook to go with it).

If you've secured that job interview but don't know what to wear, borrow a tie, scarf, or jewelry from the aptly named "Tiebrary"  an integrated part of the Job Readiness Labs at the Paschalville Library  and make sure you're dressing to impress.

And if you're itching to explore the great outdoors and get up close and personal with the local fauna, several Free Library locations offer birding backpacks stuffed with a pair of binoculars, maps, and a field guide.

You can find it all  and much more  in our catalog, but don't forget: the first step is securing your library card. Head to freelibrary.org or visit one of our 54 neighborhood library locations to get yours today.

Siobhan Reardon is the president and director of the Free Library of Philadelphia.One of the more viral stories in the last few months has been an Inquirer story by Mike Newall about Kensington librarians who have been trained to administer life-saving drugs to overdosing addicts.

Narcan-toting librarians saving lives is clearly a tale that illustrates our horrifying opioid epidemic. This epidemic is a nationwide problem, and the national media have taken note of the library's response. It's a shocking story, but given the vital role that public libraries have carved out in communities in the last few decades, not a complete surprise. In fact, libraries have stepped forward to help reweave the social safety net, providing many of the services that people need, and Philadelphia's own library system has been at the forefront of this modern age of libraries.

So when are we going to return the favor and start administering life-saving money to the library system?

As in so many areas, Philadelphia boasts an excellent, forward-thinking system that has blossomed in inverse proportion to our pathetic financial support.

Libraries like ours have long ago given up their role as simply book repositories, and have become digital hubs, literacy trainers, havens for kids after school, resources for job seekers, language programs for non-English speakers, homework help for students, and vital hubs of communities.

The operating budget for the Free Library of Philadelphia, according to its most recent 2016 annual report, is just shy of $48 million. That's $8 million less than what the libraries got about 10 years ago, in the FY08 budget.

Ironically, that was also the year that then-Mayor Michael Nutter found out what the community thinks of its libraries when he suggested closing 11 branches in the devastating 2008-09 budget cycle. Public outrage was fierce, and he ultimately had to back down.

Still, while branches were saved, they weren't exactly indulged. Consider how other lesser cities fund their libraries: Seattle, which boasts about half our population, gives its library system $50 million a year. The budget for Boston, which is even smaller than Seattle, is only slightly shy of our own, at $40 million. San Francisco funds its libraries to the tune of $117 million.

This is a sad and familiar refrain for too many of Philadelphia's treasured institutions. But this one rankles in particular because this is where libraries were invented (by Benjamin Franklin, who founded the Library Company 286 years ago).

The $500 million Rebuild program announced by Mayor Kenney late last year will benefit libraries as well as parks and rec centers. But that money is intended to be capital improvements: fixing boilers, roofs, and windows of neglected buildings. Funded with a combination of city loans, capital funds, and an infusion from William Penn Foundation, this is essentially to catch up on long-deferred maintenance. It will bring libraries up to "inhabitable" status, especially during summer months, when some branches have to close because of outdated heating/cooling systems. But these updates are not the same as healthy and ongoing financial backing. That will take longer, and will require noisy public support. Now that it has become a matter of life and death, the stakes are even higher.New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official mobile application has got a couple of new features that include a volunteer platform, merchandise and micro-donations.

As part of the merchandise, users will be able to buy multiple items like T-shirts, mugs, caps, notebooks, etc.

The volunteer platform is first of its kind which has multiple tasks and events where a volunteer can contribute.

Now, get a variety of exclusive NaMo merchandise from the NaMo App. Make a stand and wear what you believe in. Download NaMo app at https://t.co/7Lo1b4O7mq pic.twitter.com/FD0cSSjJwZ  NarendraModi App (@NamoApp) September 18, 2018

"They are designed keeping in mind the taste of the youth. The proceeds of the sale will go to Clean Ganga Fund," BJP's national Information and Technology in-charge Amit Malviya told PTI.

The NaMo app has already around 10 million subscribers.

The Narendra Modi Mobile App was launched in 2015 to provide instant updates and an opportunity to receive messages and emails directly from him.

Apart from providing a chance to interact with the Prime Minister and share ideas and suggestions, the app also gives latest thoughts from Modi and his blogs.By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. You can find out more by clicking this linkNew Delhi: Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap's 'Manmarziyaan' has received mixed reviews with the lead actors of the film, Taapsee Pannu, Abhishek Bachchan and Vicky Kaushal being lauded for their performances. The film ran into a controversy in which sentiments of the Sikh community have been hurt over a smoking scene. Kashyap has now released a statement saying that everything in the film had been shot under guidance and that there was no intention of hurting the Sikh community. The filmmaker also wrote that 'Manmarziyaan is a story of three individuals and not their religion.'

Check out his full statement here on Twitter:

My statement on the brewing controversy. Read: https://t.co/VkB0eTyNrx  Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) September 19, 2018

The statement reads, I am not in India and I have been reading about the Sikh community feeling offended by the smoking scene. This film is not commenting on a community , it talks about individuals and their choices. Every step of the way, we asked for guidance from Sikh people for the film. When we shot the sequence in Gurudwara , we were told we cant shoot them getting married as it cant be faked so me made the actors do only Mattha tekna . When we were shooting scenes , no member of crew was allowed to smoke inside the houses . When we shot the smoking scene , it was shot on the street and there were close to 150 people watching the shoot. We asked before doing the scene and were told that he has to take the Turban off before he smokes away from his house. We were also shown how Robbie should take the turban off with both hands and how he should hand it over and how the cousin should take it . Most of the 150 people in the crowd were sikhs and we were told thats how it is. We created what we saw with our own eyes and after discussion. It was never the intention to hurt the community and why would we do that when we got so much love from them . The city of Amritsar opened their hearts and doors to us and everything was done with utmost care . Not a single thing was shot without guidance. We wanted to show things the way they are. No religion teaches crime or anything anti-humanity , yet those things happen. It doesnt mean they are offending the religion. Manmarziyaan is a story of three individuals and not their religion. I am sorry if anyone feels genuinely hurt but I would also request that please dont make this unnecessary political because its not. I have always put out things the way they are without an agenda. Technology does not allow us to cut a scene and it affects the story telling . So I definitely can not do that now.To those whose hurt is genuine , I offer a genuine apology , that wasnt my intention. And for those who are doing it for attention , I am glad you have got the attention.

The romantic drama marks Abhishek's return to the big screen after a gap of two years. The movie has been penned by Kanika Dhillon and is produced by the Anil Ambani-led Reliance Entertainment's Phantom Films joint venture.

Kashyap's last release 'Mukkabaaz' had won critical acclaim.New Delhi: Flipkart Internet, the online marketplace arm of the Walmart-backed company, has received over Rs 3,462-crore fund infusion from Flipkart Marketplace, Singapore, as per regulatory documents.

The fund infusion -- done in two tranches -- will provide more ammunition to Flipkart, which is locked in an intense battle with US-based Amazon for leadership in the burgeoning Indian e-commerce market.

"...In accordance with the Letter of Offer dated August 14, 2018 circulated by the company for the rights issue of shares, the board of directors of the company be and hereby allot 14,57,598 Class A equity shares...For an amount aggregating to Rs 30,07,02,46,740 for cash to Flipkart Marketplace Private Ltd, Singapore," regulatory documents filed with Corporate Affairs Ministry said.

The resolution was passed at the board meeting held on August 30, 2018.

The board, during the same meeting, also passed another resolution (in accordance to a Letter of Offer dated July 18) for allotting 2,21,002 equity shares for Rs 455.92 crore for cash to Flipkart Marketplace, Singapore.

The fresh capital also comes close on the heels of festive sale season that not only brings in discounts and deals for customers, but is also an annual showdown of sorts between the two largest players in the segment -- Flipkart and Amazon India.

Market watchers expect the competition between the two to be even fiercer this year as both companies have invested significantly through the year to ramp up product offerings as well as logistics infrastructure to ensure speedier delivery.

While Flipkart now has the backing of US retail giant Walmart (via a USD 16 billion deal signed earlier this year), Amazon India too has received millions of dollar in funding through the year from the US parent across operations like marketplace and payments business.

About 20 million people are expected to shop on various e-commerce platforms during the festive sale next month, translating into sales of around USD 3 billion for players like Amazon and Flipkart, according to a report by research firm RedSeer.

In a statement Tuesday, Flipkart said it expects to see a surge of 8-10X in sale of perfumes on its platform during the sale season. This growth, it said, would be on the back of an overhaul undertaken by the company.

"Project 'Authenticated' promises a revamp of Flipkart's portfolio comprising over 2000 perfumes and a seal of authenticity on the listing image, a new feature that showcases brand-approved sellers," it said.

The company will also add more exclusive partnerships and expand its collection of globally recognised labels in coming months, it added.

The size of the perfume industry as a whole is predicted to grow 50 percent to Rs 3,000 crores over the next five years, the statement said.New Delhi: Passengers travelling on Jet Airways economy (Light/Deal) class after September 25 will not get complimentary meals for domestic flights.

The company said that it will continue to complimentary serve tea and coffee to the passengers.

From 25th September 2018, guests travelling in Economy and booking 'Light'/'Deal' fares for travel from 28th September 2018 on its flights within India, will not only be able to avail competitive low fares but have the opportunity to buy meals from a specially curated on-board menu. Guests can choose from vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals, including hot meal options on select flights and pay using their debit / credit cards. Complimentary beverage service including tea and coffee to all guests in Economy (including 'Light'/'Deal' fares), will continue on eligible flights, Jet Airways said in a statement.

The airline will however continue to offer complimentary meals across 'Light'/'Deal' Fare Choices for guests who have made bookings prior to 24th September, 2018.

On flights within India, all features and benefits, including complimentary meals will continue for Economy fare options viz. 'Saver', 'Classic' and 'Flex and for all fare options in Premiere, the airlines added.

However, on international flights, all features and benefits under First class, Premiere and Economy remain unchanged.

"Service philosophies and models are being reviewed and remodeled by global airlines virtually every day given that guests today - especially millennial travelers  wish to be empowered and exercise their right of choice. We're sure this decision will be appreciated by our guests even as we continue to evolve and adapt to changing guest needs,"Raj Sivakumar, Senior Vice-President  Worldwide Sales & Distribution, said.PANCHKULA: A Class 9 student was on Wednesday arrested by the authorities two days after a Class 11 student was stabbed to death with the help of some local youths.

The victim was stabbed outside the Government Senior Secondary School in Sector 7 on September 17, according to ANI.

A Class 10th student was also reportedly injured in an attempt to save the deceased student.

Panchkula: A student of Class 9th of a government school arrested for allegedly getting his schoolmate of Class 11th stabbed to death with the help of some youths, in front of the school on Sept 17. Class 10th student injured in an attempt to save the deceased student. #Haryana pic.twitter.com/n8eqQ7WbAG  ANI (@ANI) September 19, 2018

Though it is not clear as to what led to a fight between the accused boy and the deceased, some reports claimed that the Class 11 student, identified as Vikas Kumar, was stabbed after he took a stand against eve-teasing.

While some other reports claimed that a rivalry between the two boys over a mobile phone snatching went out of hand and led to the stabbing of the Class 11 student.

The youths involved in the attack were suspected to be from the Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in the city.

The Haryana Police is also reported to have arrested some minors in connection with the Class 11 student's death.

The arrests were made on the basis of names given by the school students, who witnessed the shocking incident, and after examining the CCTV footage.

Two accused involved in the murder have been arrested and charged under Justice Juvenile Act, 2015. With the help of the CCTV footage and names given by students, cops managed to identify the minors,'' Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abhishek Jorwal was quoted as saying by media reports.

The investigation into the matter is underway, the DCP added.

The deceased boy's family members held a protest on Tuesday alleging police inaction in the case.

Relatives of the victim had blocked the Kalka-Shimla road for a few minutes on Tuesday, demanding quick action.

After much persuasion by the police officials, the family members of the victim allowed the post-mortem at the General Hospital in Sector 6.SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On September 7th, local time, TechCrunch Disrupt, which gathered the world's top technology start-ups, technology elites and venture capitalists, concluded successfully in San Francisco, USA. Haoyang Li, founder of China's "AI + Education" leading enterprise Yixue Squirrel AI Learning, eloquently addressed the conference, attracting attention of guests from all over the world and a number of company representatives to propose cooperation intentions.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e2041525-86f0-4715-9190-a6004ccc053c

Organized by TechCrunch, the largest technology media in the US, this year's TechCrunch Disrupt is the largest in history, attracting more than 1,200 start-ups from thirteen fields of technology including artificial intelligence (AI), virtual experience (AR/VR), biotechnology, blockchain, and FinTech and over 10,000 guests to be present. During the most anticipated venture contest, 21 start-ups took turns to take the stage, competing for the Disrupt Cup and the $100,000 prize. According to statistics, as of December last year, a total of 763 companies participated in the TechCrunch roadshow competition, whose total financing reaching $ 8.2 billion and 100 of whom having been successfully listed or acquired.

More than 100 heavyweights and big names, including Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, Zuckerberg's wife Priscilla Chan, Innovation Works Chairman Kai-fu Lee, Dropbox CEO Drew Houston, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, Goldman Sachs Group CFO Martin Chavez, were invited to the conference to discuss the cutting-edge topics of technology.

At the conference, Zuckerberg's wife Priscilla Chan pointed out that technology is a public resource. According to Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, the online taxi-hailing service will account for less than 50% of Uber's business in 10 years as Uber's long-term vision is to get rid of the dependence on passenger cars and place emphasis on pile-free bicycles, motorcycles and flying taxis. Martin Chavez, CFO of Goldman Sachs Group, clarified the media's report on Goldman Sachs' abandonment of the cryptocurrency trading desk and revealed that Goldman Sachs is developing a derivative for Bitcoin. Kai-fu Lee, Chairman of Innovation Works, indicated in his speech that China is beating the United States in the field of artificial intelligence.

"It is generally believed that the United States should dominate the AI market as it possesses an apparent advantage in the artificial intelligence researches. But in fact, China is catching up quickly. Just as Thomas Edison invented electricity, Americans invented artificial intelligence deep learning, and generously shared it with the world. China, a market with the largest amount of data, is really capitalizing on AI technology to create values for traditional enterprises, Internet companies and other fields," said Kai-Fu Lee at the conference. He also pointed out that China has a huge entrepreneurial ecosystem and most of the highest valued AI companies in the fields of computer vision, speech recognition and drones are Chinese companies. Besides, Chinese companies obtained nearly half of the venture capital investment in the AI industry. Chinese companies accounts for 43% of all AI companies around the world. The attention drew to the Chinese companies on this year's TechCrunch Disrupt seems to support his point of view.

Haoyang Li, founder of China's "AI + Education" leading enterprise Yixue Squirrel AI Learning, gave a speech on how artificial intelligence fundamentally changed the education industry, drawing great attention from founders of leading AI companies and venture capital executives worldwide.

Li pointed out the inefficiency of the current rigid education which greatly dampens the students' enthusiasm for learning. "It takes only a few minutes for some students to learn the same knowledge points and a whole class for others. And one may master some knowledge points quickly and others slow. But the current education system offers exactly the same content for all students, meaning 90% of which is a waste of time. The Squirrel AI system, on the other hand, can pinpoint the weak points in each student's knowledge and push the learning content in a targeted manner, encouraging the students to learn at the right time. "No two children should be placed in the same class. The Squirrel AI system can customize a completely different learning path for them to meet their individual needs," said Li. Moreover, Squirrel AI is capable of digging deep to the basics to help the students check their mastery of the most basic knowledge points in the knowledge system and close the knowledge gaps.

According to Haoyang Li, as the first K12 intelligent adaptive learning company in China, "Yixue Squirrel AI Learning" has made many industry leading achievements. For example, it carries out super-nano decomposition of knowledge points to pinpoint the students' weak points; it breaks up learning abilities and learning methods to help the students develop the habit of lifelong learning; it is equipped with the world's first non-related knowledge points association probability that allows the intelligent system to obtain more accurate judgments with a smaller number of test questions; it enables AI system to iterate through self-confrontation like AlphaGo Zero by simulating students and teachers. Then, Li demonstrated the remarkable effect of Squirrel AI system in in improving academic performance and its tremendous impact on students' personal development with stories from two students.

A number of guests present expressed keen interest in Li's speech and asked in depth about Squirrel AI's intelligent adaptive learning platform, company positioning, student learning effect, and application of AI technology in education. In the end, they discussed the possibility of future cooperation with Li.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9b543a23-f969-4b0b-ada4-045a0808e41b

Ms. Tigipko, founder of TA Ventures, a European investment company, expressed her concern about the internationalization of Squirrel AI. Li briefed her on the company's international R&D team, the research results jointly achieved with leading research institutes at home and abroad such as Stanford Research Institute (SRI) International, as well as the invitation as guest speaker at international leading AI and education conferences such as IJCAI and AIED. Ms. Tigipko showered praise on the product and expressed her interest in the expansion of Yixue Squirrel AI Learning into other European countries such as Ukraine, and offered to assist with the docking and pilot cooperation with schools in Ukraine.

Li also discussed Squirrel AI's globalization and overseas localization business development with representatives from various companies all over the world. For example, Li discussed with Mr. Jalakas, founder of Lingvist, the US' online smart textbook platforms, the possibility of cooperation on the embedding of overseas high quality education content into Squirrel AI's intelligent adaptive platform, and agreed to explore the implementation of Squirrel AI in American schools.

Mr. Chkuor, Chief Designer of Lenovo Group, expressed his expectations of the penetration of Squirrel AI's super teachers into every household around the world, and his belief that Squirrel AI will bring more disruptive changes to education worldwide.

According to statistics, Squirrel AI's products were officially launched in early 2017 after three years of incubation. At present, its end users are over 1 million and owns more than 1,000 AI self-study classrooms in over 200 cities. Li said that the company has secured financing up to RMB 1 billion yuan.

About YiXue Squirrel AI Learning Inc.

YiXue Squirrel AI Inc. is a leading AI-based adaptive learning service provider for K-12 students in China. Headquartered in Shanghai, China, YiXue offers after-school courses for Math, English, Chinese, Physics and Chemistry subjects, powered by its proprietary AI adaptive engine and custom-built courseware. Students on Squirrel AI 's platform enjoy a supervised adaptive learning experience that has been proven to improve both efficacy and student engagement across Squirrel AI's online learning platform and in-person learning centers. To learn more about YiXue Squirrel AI Learning, please visit http://www.squirrelai.us/.Hyderabad: In similar lines to a Dalit man hacked to death in Telangana, another man and his wife were on Wednesday stabbed in Hyderabad.

The man was stabbed by his father-in-law, against whom the police have registered a case under IPC section 307.

The couple has been admitted to a hospital for treatment. Police are, meanwhile, looking for the accused.

Hyderabad: Police has registered a case u/s 307 IPC against a man for stabbing his daughter and son-in law. Search for accused is underway, couple admitted to a hospital for treatment pic.twitter.com/dcABvMKDWY  ANI (@ANI) September 19, 2018

Last week, a Dalit man was hacked to death in front of his pregnant wife, who belongs to Vyshya (Baniya) community. The incident took place in Miryalaguda town of Telangana's Nalgonda district.

The man was killed while he was coming out of a clinic where he had gone for his wife's pre-natal check-up. The killer, who was given a contract, stabbed the victim with a machete to death.

It later emerged that the woman's father, who was unhappy with his daughter's marriage, gave a contract of Rs one crore to kill his son-in-law.

The man, who hacked the victim to death, was nabbed from Bihar's Samasthipur on Tuesday.Purnea: At least five juvenile prisoners escaped from a remand home here on Wednesday after killing the caretaker and a fellow inmate, police said.

The caretaker, Vijendra Kumar, and an inmate Saroj Kumar were shot dead while two other juvenile prisoners, Gaurav Sahni and Rohit Kumar, were injured as gunshots were fired by a group of boys lodged inside the remand home who opened the gate and fled the spot after the attack, Superintedent of Police Vishal Sharma said.

According to remand home's guard Suraj Kumar the group of five juvenile prisoners escaped from the remand home soon after the incident.

It was being investigated as to how the inmates got access to a firearm, the SP said, adding that efforts were on to trace them.

The injured inmates have been admitted to hospital.New Delhi: Afghanistan Ambassador to India Shaida Abdali on Wednesday submitted a resignation from his post. He made the announcement on Twitter Calling his decision 'a tough but an appealing' one, Abdali announced his step-down in a series of tweets.

"Stepping Down - A tough but an appealing decision: On a high note ending a successful visit of HE the Afghan President in India, I resigned today as the Afghan Ambassador to India. Serving in India for more than six years was indeed a great honour and privilege," he said.

Stepping Down - A tough but an appealing decision: On a high note ending a successful visit of HE the Afghan President in India, I resigned today as the Afghan Ambassador to India. Serving in India for more than six years was indeed a great honor and privilege... pic.twitter.com/VcfUA1ULGF  Dr Shaida Abdali (@ShaidaAbdali) September 19, 2018

He further said that India not only gave him a home feeling but also added a wealth of knowledge and a plethora of experience.

"India not only gave me a home feeling but added a wealth of knowledge and plethora of experience to my over 2 decades long political career. The exceptional warmth, hospitality and friendship extended to me during my tenure will remain a hallmark in my political career," he tweeted.

Abdali expressed gratitude to the Indian people and the government. "Serving my country for years in India, I felt the need to return and serve my country from within. During my tenure, I have had the honor of witnessing our relations going from strength to strength," he wrote.

In another tweet, he said, "The limits to our exceptional relationship is only Sky and I wish my successor all the best and success in this extremely important endeavor. Long Live India - Afghanistan Friendship!"

Sources in the Afghanistan Embassy confirmed that Abdali will be moving back to Kabul.

(With inputs from agencies)NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court will on Wednesday resume hearing on the inclusion of names in the controversial Assam National Register of Citizens (NRC) draft list.

The matter will be taken up by an apex court bench headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman.

The bench had last week deferred the hearing in the case till September 19 (Wednesday).

During the hearing last week, the bench had sought a detailed report from the Assam NRC coordinator Prateek Hajela regarding why those who want to be included in the NRC draft list were asked to provide fresh additional documents.

The bench sought responses from Hajela and the Centre on the issue of inclusion and omissions of names in the NRC draft list.

Earlier, the process of filing claims and objections was deferred to September first week. The court had asked for a recommendation report from Hajela regarding the feasibility of the proposed process.

The Centre, which is exploring to give second chance to nearly 40 lakh aggrieved people whose names have not been included in the list, had asked the NRC coordinator if the process was feasible.

The top court had earlier directed the Assam NRC coordinator to provide it with the data of district-wise percentage of the population excluded from the NRC draft in the state.

The apex court had sought the response of all the stakeholders including the All Assam Students Union and the All Assam Minority Students Union on the Centre's Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in this regard.

Further directing Hajela to make the draft NRC public, the court said that claims and objections would be accepted from August 30.

The top court had on August 7 held Hajela and Registrar General of India guilty of contempt of court, reprimanding them for making statements to media on the NRC Assam modalities when nothing had been informed to the court.

The second draft, which was released on July 30, included names of 2.89 crore people, out of 3.29 crore applicants in Assam, leaving out names of nearly 40 lakh people.

On July 31, the court, while the hearing case, observed that the process of filing objections by those whose names were not listed in the NRC draft should be fair, and directed the Centre to prepare a SOP for claims and objections.

The NRC draft features names, addresses and photographs of all Indian citizens residing in the state of Assam before March 25, 1971.

(With Agency Inputs)New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday extended the house arrest of five rights activists in connection with the Koregaon-Bhima violence case, till Thursday. A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud hear the matter on the plea filed by historian Romila Thapar and four others.

At the last hearing in the case on September 17, the SC had said it may order a probe by a special investigating team (SIT) if it found that the evidence has been "cooked up". It had also said that the material, supporting the arrest of the five activists in the case, needed to be examined.

The five rights activists - Varavara Rao, Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves, Sudha Bharadwaj and Gautam Navlakha - at their respective homes.

The Maharashtra police had arrested the rights activists on August 28 in connection with an FIR lodged following a conclave -- 'Elgaar Parishad' -- held on December 31 last year that had later triggered violence at Koregaon-Bhima village.

Earlier, the Maharashtra government had filed its response to the plea claiming the five activists were arrested due to the cogent evidence linking them with the banned CPI (Maoist) and not because of their dissenting views.

The state's response had come in the backdrop of the apex court, while ordering the house arrest of the five activists on August 29, categorically stating that "dissent is the safety valve of democracy".

The court had questioned the state police's move to arrest these activists nine months after the incident and said all of them were reputed citizens and "stifling the dissent" was not good.JAMMU: In an unpleasant development which may further escalate tension between the two nuke-powered countries, a Border Security Force (BSF) jawan was hacked to death by the Pakistani forces along the International Border (IB) near Jammu, said reports on Wednesday.

The slain BSF jawan's throat was slit by the Pakistani troops along the international border (IB) near Jammu on Tuesday, news agency PTI quoted an official as saying.

After the ''brutal'' and "unprecedented" incident, which took place in the Ramgarh sector, the security forces have issued a "high alert" across the entire IB and the Line of Control (LoC).

Meanwhile, the Border Security Force has lodged a strong complaint with its counterparts - the Pakistan Rangers.

Border Securty Force (BSF) has raised the issue of killing of its jawan with the Pakistan Rangers at the sector level. BSF has also sought Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) to raise the issue with Pakistan at its level.  ANI (@ANI) September 19, 2018

Official sources said the body of Head Constable Narender Kumar also bore three bullet wounds and it could only be retrieved from a spot ahead of the Indo-Pak fence after over six hours as the Pakistani side "did not respond" to the calls to maintain the sanctity of the frontier and ensure that the BSF search parties were not fired upon.

The Pakistan Rangers, the sources said, was asked to take part in a joint patrolling to trace the missing jawan, but they only came up to a point and cited water-logging issues in the area that prevented them from undertaking a coordinated action.

The BSF then waited for the sun to set and launched a "risky operation" to bring the jawan's body back to the post.

Officials in the security establishment said the incident of brutality with the jawan, probably a first at the IB, was taken "very seriously" by the Government and the Ministry of External Affairs.

The Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) is also expected to take up the issue with its Pakistani counterparts.

They said since the BSF patrol party that went ahead of the fence to cut the tall "sarkanda" grass to clear the field was first fired upon at 10.40 AM on Tuesday, hectic phone calls and communication exchanges went on throughout the day from the Indian side to across the border in order to locate the body of the jawan, who was first declared missing. r Security Force (BSF) jawan was hacked to death by the Pakistani forces along the international border near Jammu, PTI quoted an official as saying on Wednesday.

Interestingly, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had on Monday said that the heads of Pakistani soldiers are being cut-off, but they are not being displayed.

"Kaat to Rahe Hain, Display Nahin Kar Rahen (heads are being cut off, but are not being displayed)," she said.

Sitharaman made these remarks during an interview to a television news channel.

Pointing that during election campaigns for 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP had said that if Pakistan cut off heads of two Indian soldiers, India in retaliation would behead 10 Pakistani rangers, the interviewer asked, "During election campaigns, it was being said that if they (Pakistan) cut off heads of two Indian soldiers, we will behead heads of 10. Is it really happening?"

To which, Sitharaman said that the neighbouring country was once taught a lesson in 2016 when Indian Army carried out a surgical strike on terrorist launch pads across the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan.

The terrorists are not allowed to infiltrate into the country. They are being eliminated right at the borders, she added.

However, this is not the first time that the Pakistani forces had given an ''inhuman and barbaric treatment'' to the Indian soldiers.

Last year, the Pakistani forces had killed two Indian soldiers and mutilated their bodies after a targeted attack on frontier posts in Jammu and Kashmir - an act which was described as ''despicable'' by the Indian Army.

The slain soldiers were identified as Naib Subedar Paramjit Singh, a junior commissioned officer (JCO) with the Armys 22 Sikh Regiment, and Head Constable Prem Sagar of the BSFs 200 Battalion.

The 42-year-old Singh was from a village in Punjabs Tarn Taran district, while Sagar was a native of Deoria in Uttar Pradesh.

The Government of India strongly condemned the barbaric act and said the country has full confidence and faith in its armed forces, which will react appropriately.Panaji: The opposition Congress in Goa on Wednesday claimed that it had the support of over 21 legislators in the 40-member Assembly, giving it enough strength to form the government in the state.

The Congress, which is the single-largest party with 16 MLAs, has already staked claim to form the government in the coastal state.

The opposition party's claim comes at a time when Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar (62) is admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi for a pancreatic ailment.

Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Chandrakant Kavlekar told PTI that the Congress had enough support to form the government in Goa.

"We have the required numbers. I am not going to tell you whom we are in discussions with, but we need the support of 21 MLAs and we have more than that," he said.

The Congress legislators, led by Kavlekar, had met Governor Mridula Sinha on Tuesday and demanded a floor test by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government to prove its majority in the Assembly.

Kavlekar said his party was waiting for a response from the governor, who had assured them that she would get back on the issue in three-four days.

The state is being ruled by the BJP with the support of the Goa Forward Party (GFP), the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Independent MLAs.

The BJP has 14 seats in the Assembly, the GFP and the MGP have three each and the NCP has one. There are also three Independent legislators.

Kavlekar claimed the political situation in the state was in favour of the Congress as there was a lot of "discontent" among the ruling coalition partners.

"You have seen how the BJP observers came to Goa and met their legislators, former MLAs and alliance partners. They are also talking about inviting a leader from one of the allies to head the government.

"This has created a bitter situation as allowing one alliance partner to head the coalition will upset another," he said.

Kavlekar also claimed that a section within the BJP was upset over the possibility of a leader being "imported" from outside and was in touch with the Congress for joining the opposition party.

"We need not go to anyone with the proposal of supporting or joining us. In fact, they are coming to us with proposals," he added.

The Congress leader had earlier said the BJP might force the dissolution of the Assembly and another election in just a year-and-a-half.

The Assembly polls in Goa were held in February 2017.

Senior Congress leader and party spokesperson Ramakant Khalap said with three ministers including Parrikar in hospital, the ruling coalition is short of the halfway mark, which makes it imperative for the governor to call the single largest party to form the government.

Apart from Parrikar, two ministers -- Francis D'Souza and Pandurang Madkaikar -- are admitted to different hospitals.

"The effective strength of the House today is 37, of which one is Speaker and he has no right to vote if there is motion for trust," he said.

If the house meets tomorrow morning, the ruling coalition will not be able to show the majority," he said.

The Congress legislators have urged the governor not to allow the Assembly to be dissolved.

BJP national general secretary Ram Lal, who, along with two other senior leaders, was deputed by the party's central leadership to take stock of the political situation in Goa, had on Monday said the state government was stable and there was no demand for a change in the leadership.

He had said this after a meeting with the party's MLAs, former legislators and core committee members.

On May 18 too, the Congress had staked claim to form the government in Goa, citing the example of Karnataka, where the largest-party, the BJP, was invited to form the government after the Assembly polls threw up a fractured verdict.

The Congress had said it was not invited to form the government in Goa after the Assembly polls last year, despite emerging as the single-largest party.NEW DELHI: In a veiled attack against Sonia Gandhi and Congress party, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday claimed that the party never tried to end the practice of triple talaq over vote bank politics.

"It's my serious charge with full sense of responsibility that a distinguished woman leader is ultimate leader of the Congress, yet barbaric inhuman Triple Talaq was not allowed to be ended by a Parliamentary law for pure vote bank politics," said the law minister hours after Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved an ordinance making triple talaq a punishable offence.

#WATCH: Law Minister RS Prasad says, "It's my serious charge with full sense of responsibility that a distinguished woman leader is ultimate leader of the Congress, yet barbaric inhuman Triple Talaq was not allowed to be ended by a Parliamentary law for pure vote bank politics" pic.twitter.com/R6m3hsiP6c  ANI (@ANI) September 19, 2018

The BJP leader further accused the Congress of blocking the triple talaq bill in the Rajya Sabha.

Elaborating on the Ordinance, Prasad said, The core component of this Ordinance is that an offence will be cognizable only when the FIR is filed by the victim wife or her close relations by blood or marriage.

Secondly, it's compoundable, it can be compromised only at the insistence of the wife upon appropriate terms and conditions as determined by the magistrate.

Thirdly, a bail can be granted by the magistrate upon reasonable grounds but only after hearing the victim wife also, said the Law Minister.

In case of minor children, Prasad added, The mother or the victim wife will get custody of the minor child and the mother is entitled to a maintenance suitably determined by the magistrate for herself and the child.

Narendra Modi-led BJP government brought the triple talaq ordinance after failing to get the bill on the issue cleared by both the houses of Parliament.

The ordinance, to be brought by the Centre, will have similar provisions as The Muslim Women Protection of Rights in Marriage Act, which was cleared by the Lok Sabha with a voice vote last year. Triple talaq is the practice of instant divorce followed by Muslims.

In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court of India in August 2017 banned triple talaq with immediate effect calling it 'arbitrary' and 'unconstitutional'.NEW DELHI: Amid an ongoing war of words with the Centre over the Rafale fighter deal, a delegation of senior Congress leaders on Wednesday met the Comptroller And Auditor General (CAG) seeking a detailed probe into the controversial defence deal between India and France.

Congress delegation included Ahmed Patel, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mukul Vasnik, Anand Sharma, Jairam Ramesh, Randeep Surjewala, Rajeev Shukla and Vivek Tankha.

The also submitted a detailed memorandum to the CAG demanding a thorough probe into the Rafale jet deal between India and France.

We submitted a detailed memorandum along with enclosures which very clearly establishes irregularities in Rafale purchase. We hope that the matter will be looked into by CAG: Anand Sharma after meeting of Congress delegation with Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) pic.twitter.com/mUGMap4VZc  ANI (@ANI) September 19, 2018

Here is the Congress party's memorandum submitted to the CAG

MEMORANDUM

September 19, 2018

Attn: - Shri Rajiv Mehrishi,

Comptroller and Auditor General of India,

Pocket-9, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg,

New Delhi, Delhi 110124

Subject: - Loss to Public Exchequer, endangering of National Security, by-passing Public Sector Undertaking- Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), benefitting Crony Friends, & Violating the Mandatory Provisions of  Defence Procurement Procedure in the unilateral purchase of 36 Rafale Jets from Dassault Aviation.

Sir,

The Government of India is unforgivably guilty of compromising National Interest & National Security. The manner in which the deal to buy Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircrafts was suddenly shelved, the shoddy cover-up, the self-defeating assertions & the deliberate lies have caused grave apprehensions in the minds of the Indian people vis-a-vis a major scandal in the purchase of 36 Rafale Fighter Jets. Insurmountable loss caused to public exchequer stands exposed as Government refuses to state the truth, as also place facts in public domain. Modi Government remains opaque, intransient, obscure & obstinate to cover up the Rafale Scam

Factual Matrix:-

1. On 20.08.2007, UPA Government floated a tender for purchase of 126 Medium Multi Role Combat Aircrafts (MMRCA). Indian Air Force found two aircrafts technically equal i.e. Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon. Incidentally, the Request For Proposal (RFP) in the UPA tender had made it clear that the bids were to be inclusive of cost of initial purchase, transfer of technology, licensed production, etc (Annexure A1).

2. Pursuant to the technical shortlisting, financial bids were invited. On 12.12.2012, Rafale emerged as L-1 vendor with a publically disclosed price of US$ 10.2 billion. (6.3bn) [ 66.300 Cr i.e 526.1Cr per aircraft ] (Exchange Rate:  65 = 1US$ ) Out of 126 aircrafts, 18 aircrafts were to come from France in fly away condition with remaining 108 aircrafts being manufactured in India by Public Sector Undertaking (PSU), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) with transfer of technology. In addition, there was a 50% offset clause requiring the Dassault Aviation to invest 50% of the sale price by way of investment in India. (Annexure A2)

Even as per authoritative figures for Rafale pricing released by the French Senate in 2013-14, cost of Rafale aircraft comes to Rs 527 Cr per aircraft (Euro 68.8 Million) [Relevant extract from the 2014 Finance Bill: Defense: Equipment of the Forces and Technological Excellence of the Defense Industries from the French Senate is attached as Annexure 2A (French) and Annexure 2B (English). Link is - http://www.senat.fr/rap/a13-158-8/a13-158-814.html ]

3. On 13.03.2014, a Work-share Agreement worth approximately 36,000 Cr was signed between HAL and Dassault Aviation. 70% work of 108 Aircrafts to be made in India was to be done by HAL and 30% by Dassault Aviation. (Annexure A3)

Even in the Annual Report, 2013 of Dassault Aviation, Mr. Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO claimed that HAL was its partner in the Rafale Deal for manufacture of 108 aircrafts (Relevant Extract of the Annual Report is attached Annexure A4)

4. On 26th May 2014, Modi Government came to power. PM, Shri Narendra Modi visited France on 10th April, 2015. Two days before his visit, an official briefing by the Foreign Secretary, Shri S Jaishankar was held on 8th April, 2015. In his briefing, Foreign Secretary stated that in terms of Rafale, my understanding is, discussions were underway between the French Company, our Ministry of Defence, the HAL which is involved in this. There are ongoing discussions. These are very technical, detailed discussions. We dont not mix up leadership even in the security field. (Annexure A5)

Two facts stand out:-

[i] There were ongoing negotiations between Defence Ministry, Dassault Aviation and HAL for the purchase of 126 Rafale, 108 out of which were to be manufactured by HAL. And;

[ii] That PM Shri Modi would not be involved in the purchase of Rafale aircrafts as the issue was of a technical nature.

5. Despite this public admission by the Foreign Secretary, Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi unilaterally announced off-the-shelf purchase of 36 Rafale aircrafts in Paris on 10th April, 2015.

In fact the India-France joint statement dated April 10th, 2015 issued by French President, Mr Francois Hollande and PM Shri Narendra Modi clearly stated that the aircrafts would be cheaper as also that the aircrafts would have the same systems, i.e avionics and weapons as per the configuration that had been decided by Indian Air Force. These configurations were decided at the time of tender issued by the UPA-Congress Government. Relevant portion of the statement reads as follows:

The two leaders agreed to conclude an Inter-Governmental Agreement for supply of the aircraft on terms that would be better than conveyed by Dassault Aviation as part of a separate process

underway; the delivery would be in time-frame that would be compatible with the operational requirement of IAF; and that the aircraft and associated systems and weapons would be delivered on the same configuration as had been tested and approved by Indian Air Force, and with a longer maintenance responsibility by France.(Annexure A6)

Two implications of the joint statement were: [i] the price of the 36 Rafales would be cheaper than what had already been negotiated. In any event, as the aircrafts were being supplied in fly-away condition, they had to be cheaper than the 126 Rafales that Dassault had bid to supply in the MMRCA tender with Transfer of Technology. Moreover, [ii] the aircraft and systems were to be on the same configuration as had been tested and approved by the IAF in the MMRCA evaluation. That clear and emphatic affirmation in the joint statement nails the falsehood that has been spread since then  namely, that the price per aircraft is so much higher because of some novel India specific enhancements in the 36 Rafales now contracted.

On return of Prime Minister from France, Modi Govt proceeded to cancel the tender for purchase of 126 Rafale aircrafts on 24th June, 2015. Moreover in pursuance of the announcement dated 10th April, 2015 of PM Modi for purchase of 36 off-the-shelf Rafale aircraft, a final agreement was signed on 23rd December 2016.

6. That, while announcing the Rafale Deal on 10th April, 2015, PM Modi violated the mandatory Defence Procurement Procedure.

(i) No mandatory prior approval of Cabinet Committee on Security was taken before announcing purchase of 36 Rafale aircrafts on 10th April, 2015.

(ii) Mandatory requirement of Defense Procurement Procedure for Price Discovery through the instrumentalities of Contract Negotiation Committee (CNC) and Price Negotiation Committee (PNC) were not followed by the PM.

(iii) Transfer of Technology to PSU, HAL for manufacture of Rafale aircrafts in India was also sacrificed by PM, Shri Narendra Modi.

Not only this, the decision of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi in proceeding to announce purchase of 36 Rafale Aircrafts off-the-shelf on 10th April, 2015, when an international tender was already under negotiation as also the subsequent cancellation of the international tender on 24th June, 2015, is clearly violative of the Defence Procurement Procedure.

7. That the price of off-the-shelf purchase of 36 Rafale aircrafts announced by PM, Shri Narendra Modi on 10th April, 2015 in Paris, France is Euro 7.5 Billion ( 1670.70 Cr per aircraft). This price has been disclosed by Dassault Aviation in its Annual Report, 2016 (Annexure A7) as also Press Release dated 16.02.2017 of Reliance Defence Limited (Annexure A8)

That, as against the originally negotiated price of UPA deal, Modi Govts purchase price is over 300% higher, involving an extra outflow of money from public exchequer of  41,000 Cr approximately

8. Not only this, Rafale-Dassault Aviation also sold 48 Rafale aircrafts to two other countries i.e Egypt and Qatar (24 each) in 2015. Annual Report, 2016 of Dassault Aviation reflects the price of 48 aircrafts as Euro 7.9 billion as against the price of 36 Rafale aircrafts sold to India for Euro 7.5 Billion. Per aircraft price of Rafale aircraft sold to Egypt/Qatar comes to  1319.80 Cr as against the price per aircraft of 1670.70 Cr being paid by India. Even when compared with these two countries, India is paying an extra amount of 350.90 Cr per Rafale aircraft over the same price paid by Egypt/Qatar. Total extra payment by India would be 12,632 Cr approximately. (Annexure A7, referred to above)

9. In the originally invited tender for MMRCA by UPA-Congress Govt, Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon were found equal on all technical fronts. Rafale became L1 in the financial bid. However, after the induction of Modi Govt, Eurofighter Typhoon admittedly wrote a letter dated 4th July, 2014 to the then Defence Minister, Shri Arun Jaitley offering to reduce the price by 20% (Annexure A9).

Once PM Modi had decided to make a fresh purchase of Rafale on 10th April, 2015, both companies i.e Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon should have been asked to bid afresh through Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) route so as to arrive at the lowest price in favour of public exchequer. This would have immensely benefitted Indias public treasury. Its negation and consequence financial loss itself creates serious doubts on the intent and action of Modi Govt.

10. That soon after the announcement for purchase of 36 Rafale aircrafts off-the-shelf by PM, Shri Narendra Modi; the biggest body blow was dealt on the interest of Public Sector Undertaking, HAL, as they were by-passed without any reason or justification for the execution of the offset contract worth over 30,000 Cr.

In a classic case of crony capitalism, Modi Govt ensured that a 30,000 Cr worth offset contract was given to Reliance Defence Limited- a private company with zero experience of manufacturing fighter aircrafts. (Please See Press Release of Reliance Defence as Annexure A8,

Investor Presentation of R Infra as Annexure A10 and Annual Report, 2016 of Dassault Aviation as Annexure7)

Reliance Infra and Reliance Defence Ltd. now also claim to have secured an additional 1,00,000 Cr (1 Lakh Cr) of Lifecycle Cost Contract over and above the  30,000 Cr offset contract, taking the total value to be an astounding 1,30,000 Cr (Please See Reliance Infras Investor Presentation as Annexure A10)

11. While Dassault Aviation and Reliance Defence Ltd. claim that a 30,000 Cr offset contract has been awarded (Annexures A7, A8 & A10, referred to above), Defence Minister, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman in a press release dated 7.02.2018 claimed that no offset contract had been awarded (Annexure A11). These lies were being dished out to mislead the country despite the fact that French Defence Minister met Smt Nirmala Sitharaman in Delhi in the morning and then proceeded to lay the foundation stone of Reliance Defence Factory in Mihan, Nagpur accompanied by Union Minister, Shri Nitin Gadkari, Chief Minister, Shri Devendra Fadnavis and Shri Anil Ambani on 28.08.2015.

To the say the least, this apparent lack of knowledge of awarding of the offset contract to a private company i.e Reliance group on part of the Defence Minister, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman is intriguing and unexplainable.

12. The biggest shocker - Reliance Defence Ltd. (which got the offset contract from Rafale-Dassault Aviation for  30,000 Cr) was incorporated on 28th March, 2015 i.e 12 days before the announcement of purchase of 36 Rafale aircrafts by PM in France on 10th April, 2015. (Copy of incorporation proof is Annexure A12)

Not only this, Modi Govt gave the license to manufacture fighter aircrafts to another Reliance company called Reliance Aerostructure Ltd. Even Reliance Aerostructure Ltd was incorporated on 24th April, 2015 i.e 14 days after the announcement of purchase of 36 Rafale aircrafts by PM in France on 10th April, 2015. (Annexure A13)

This by itself tells a unique story.

13. Defence Offset Contract Guidelines (Extract attached as Annexure A14) of Defence Ministry warrant that permission of Defence Minister is necessary for granting the offset contract. Guidelines also require that offset contract has to be countersigned by the Acquisition Manager of the Defence Ministry. (Para 8.6 of the Offset Guidelines) Every Offset Contract has to be audited on a six monthly basis by the Defence Ministry and a final report has to be submitted to the Defence Acquisition Council (Para 8.17 of the Offset Guidelines)

In the present case, these guidelines have been violated with impunity as the Defence Minister claims that no offset contract has been signed as on 12th February, 2018, while the press release of

Reliance Defence (Annexure 8), Investor Presentation of R Infra (Annexure10) and Annual Report, 2016 of Dassault Aviation (Annexure 7) establish otherwise.

14. During a discussion in Parliament on No Confidence Motion, Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and Defence Minister, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman refused to disclose the purchase price of 36 Rafale aircrafts by citing a Secrecy Clause in terms of an Agreement between India and France dated January 25th, 2008.

The said agreement nowhere prohibits disclosure of commercial cost of procurement of aircrafts. (Refer Pages 2416-2425 (document page 2266 to 2275) in https://mea.gov.in/Uploads/PublicationDocs/177_foreign-relations-2008.pdf - Relevant portion attached as Annexure A15)

The scope of the agreement only extends to tactical and technical details of weaponry relating to the capability of the platform in question, and its performance and tactics in combat and does not include commercial details and costs. It is clear that PM and Defence Minister misled the Nation.

This is in spite of a commitment to make full public disclosure of the price of the 36 Rafale aircrafts on 17th November, 2017 by the Defence Minister, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman (Copy of the video link is - https://bit.ly/2vRmBF1 )

Outright refusal of Prime Minister and Defence Minister in not disclosing the purchase price of 36 Rafale aircrafts is even more intriguing when viewed in light of the fact, that both Dassault Aviation and Reliance Defence have disclosed the price in the Annual Report, 2016 and the press release dated February 16, 2017 (Annexure A7 & A8, referred to above)

15. While the PM, Shri Narendra Modis desperation in Parliament on 20th July, 2018 was apparent when he attempted to hide behind the statement of French Government for not disclosing the price, PMs stand is belied by the fact that the French President, Mr. Emmanuel Macron gave a public interview on 8th March, 2018 to a prominent news channel stating that if the Modi government wanted to disclose some of the details to be revealed to the opposition and Parliament, he wont interfere in such a discussion (Annexure16 and https://bit.ly/2FB6DWl)

Despite all the above, refusal of Prime Minister and Defence Minister to disclose the price reeks of a Huge Scam.

16. Lies of PM and Defence Minister are simply exposed by the fact that UPA-Congress had disclosed the commercial purchase price of various defence deals including the French MIRAGE Aircraft and the Sukhoi aircraft on the floor of the Parliament (Annexure 17). To illustrate:-

a) Unstarred Question No: 2822 in the Lok Sabha, dated 15.03.2010 where the revised cost of USD 2330 million for acquiring INS Vikramaditya was made public by the then Defence Minister Shri A K Antony

b) Unstarred Question No: 941 in the Lok Sabha dated 04.03.2013, where the cost of upgradation of Mirage Aircraft is clearly mentioned.

c) Unstarred Question No: 2318 in the Lok Sabha dated 09.08.2010, where the estimated cost of procuring Sukhoi Aircrafts is mentioned.

d) A press release by the Ministry of Defence on Kaveri engine development project was revealed on February 23, 2011

What is significant to point out that despite the so-called secrecy agreement dated 25th January, 2008, commercial price of the French fighter jet MIRAGE manufactured by Dassault Aviation was disclosed by the then Defence Minister, Shri A K Antony.

Hence the entire story weaved by Prime Minister and Defence Minister for non-disclosure of purchase price reeks of a Huge Scam

17. That as decided by Indian Air Force in the year 2000 (NDA Governments Tenure), the minimum operational requirement of Indian Air Force was 126 fighter aircrafts in order to supplement and substitute its ageing fleet of MiG 21. Neither the Prime Minister, nor the Defence Minister has disclosed the justification for reducing the number of aircrafts to be purchased from 126 to just 36. No one knows as to how was this wholly arbitrary figure of 36 aircrafts arrived at by PM, Shri Narendra Modi on 10th April, 2015 in France. Neither was the Indian Air Force taken into confidence, nor was the requirement adjudged by Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) or Defence Acquisition Council.

Not only this, Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi justified off-the-shelf purchase of 36 Rafale aircrafts as Emergency Purchase. Yet, despite the expiry of our 3 years from 10th April, 2015; not a single aircraft has been delivered so far. It is now stated that the first aircraft will only be delivered by September 2019, with the final aircraft delivery going up to the year 2022. This 8-year delay by itself proves that the National Security and our Defence preparedness have been severely compromised by Modi Govt.

18. Claim of Modi Govt that cost is increased on account on additional technical specifications is blatantly false. In fact, the Rafale aircraft being purchased earlier (UPA-Congress Govt) and now (Modi Govt) including its associated systems and weapons are the same as tested and approved by Indian Air Force during UPA-Congress Govt.

This is proved by a Joint Statement dated 10th April, 2015 issued by French President Mr. Francois Hollande and Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi which reads that the aircraft and

associated systems and weapons would be delivered on the same configuration as has been tested and approved by Indian Air Force (Please See Annexure A6, highlighted portion, paragraph 14)

19. That, as per law, the Government is bound to provide full information to the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). Entire deal, its contours, nature of contract, absence of favoritism and the principles of level playing field are part of CAGs domain to examine and to return a finding.

Even otherwise, Government is bound to disclose the price of 36 aircrafts to scrutiny by CAG, in accordance with law. Besides, there has to be a similar disclosure to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Chief Vigilance Commission (CVC), and Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence

20. The above facts reflect a clear-cut case of loss to public exchequer, deliberate by passing of Public Sector Undertaking, HAL, offset contract worth over 30,000 Cr and Life Cycle Cost Contract worth approximately  1 Lakh Cr being extended to a private entity with zero experience of manufacturing aircrafts and endangering our National Security apparatus.

We, therefore, request the CAG to undertake its constitutional duty by conducting a time-bound special and forensic audit by examining the record threadbare, so that the truth is told to the people of India in a comprehensive and transparent manner affixing the responsibility of Modi Government.

Warm Regards,

Yours Sincerely

The Congress has alleged blatant corruption in the deal by the Narendra Modi-led government to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets from France's Dassault Aviation.

The Congress party has alleged that the Modi government has caused a loss of over Rs 41,000 crore to the exchequer by paying a higher price for the aircraft than what was negotiated by the UPA.

Attacking the Centre on Tuesday, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said that the CAG and CVC are bound by their constitutional duty to look at the entire deal and all its papers - whether or not somebody moves them.

"Congress party at an appropriate time also intends to move an appropriate petition before CVC and CAG to expeditiously and quickly adhere to their constitutional duties," Surjewala said.

On behalf of his party, Surjewala also asked why the government was not setting up a joint parliamentary committee to probe the fighter jet deal.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had earlier rejected the demand, saying all the details on it have already been placed before Parliament.

Sitharaman also said that info leak on Rafale weaponry can help China and Pakistan.

Refusing to reveal the exact full price of each Rafale aircraft fitted with weaponry, the Defence Minister said that "information leaked about the weapon systems can ultimately help Pakistan and China."

Sitharaman, who recently appeared in 'Aap Ki Adalat' programme on India TV, said that 36 Rafale fighter jets being purchased by the government from France were nine percent cheaper than the price negotiated by the previous UPA government.

She even reportedly 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.New Delhi: India has lodged a protest with Pakistan over the killing of a BSF personnel along the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir, during the Directorate of Military Operations-level talks, Army sources said.

"In the functional-level talks held yesterday, India lodged a protest against a ceasefire violation along the International Border targeting the BSF personnel," the sources said.

Pakistani troops slit the throat of a Border Security Force jawan, Narender Kumar, after fatally shooting him along the International Border near Jammu on Tuesday.

The brutal and "unprecedented" incident that took place in the Ramgarh sector has prompted the security forces to issue a "high alert" along the IB and the Line of Control (LoC) even as the BSF has lodged a strong complaint with its counterparts -- the Pakistan Rangers.

Official sources said the body of Head Constable Kumar also bore three bullet wounds and it could only be retrieved from a spot ahead of the Indo-Pak fence after over six hours as the Pakistani side "did not respond" to the calls to maintain the sanctity of the frontier and ensure that the BSF search parties were not fired upon.

In May, the Director General of Military Operations of India and Pakistan had agreed to "fully implement" the ceasefire pact of 2003 in "letter and spirit" forthwith to stop cross border firings in Jammu and Kashmir.

This was agreed during a hotline conversation between the two countries against the backdrop of increasing ceasefire violations along the LoC.

However, tensions along the IB and LoC still prevail.CHENGDU, China, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- During Aug. 14-Aug. 17, Forbes China Innovation Summit 2018 (hereinafter referred to as the Summit) was grandly held in Chengdu. The Summit lasted 4 days, including 11 keynote speeches, 8 panel discussions and 2 award ceremonies. Around the theme New Drivers in Global Innovation, more than 400 Chinese innovative business leaders, business elites, China's top investment institutions and new prominent entrepreneurs discussed innovative development in global new economies and new trends.



Its understood that Sherman Lee, CEO of Forbes China, Ruimin Zhang, Board Chairman and CEO of Haier, Min Fan, Vice President and Co-Founder of Ctrip, Joy Tan, Global Media and Communication President of Huawei, Bob Daugherty, Executive Dean of Forbes School of Business & Technology, Haoyang Li, Founder of YiXue Squirrel AI Learning, Sabrina Ho, daughter of Stanley Ho, the Casino King of Macau, and partner of the UNESCO, were invited to attend the summit. According to the panel discussion on Education and Innovation among Haoyang Li, Bob Daugherty and Alice Ho, who is now a MIT student, there are already 80-90 million AI education users abroad. In China at present, though the market size for K12 education is up to 600 billion, most of the existing products have not got rid of the shortcomings of rigidity, no creation, centralized and standardized supply in Chinese education. Facing such market conditions, Haoyang Li, inspired by the global AI tornado at that time, creatively put forward the concept of AI super teachers. It took his team four years to create YiXue Squirrel AI Learning, Chinas first AI adaptive learning engine that has complete independent intellectual property rights and stresses algorithms.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e05b24b3-95ee-485b-97d6-1ff5ebd3c144

At the beginning of the summit, Sherman Lee, CEO of Forbes China, delivered a speech titled New Drivers in Innovation. He pointed out that innovation is the foundation of value creation. In China, new industries, new business forms and new models are emerging one after another. Internet+, artificial intelligence, big data, mobile Internet, AI, blockchain and other technologies are in the ascendant. The transition from old drivers to new drivers is speeding up The concept that sci-tech innovation drives development is deeply rooted in peoples hearts. The correlation between sci-tech innovation and business, industry and economic development is becoming stronger and stronger. This is similar to the idea that innovation creates wealth stressed by Forbes.

Russell Flannery, Editor in Chief of Forbes China, respectively interpreted the Innovation List and India List at the summit. He explained the reason why Forbes China launched the two lists. As to the Innovation List, Forbes China believes that only those enterprises with the real consciousness of innovation and reform can stand out in the waves of China's economic transformation and upgrading. As to the India List, Russell Flannery pointed out that India's innovation power has attracted worldwide attention; China and India have common development features, are relatively open and have relatively a lot of room for economic development; both sides should strengthen the research and exploration of relevant enterprises and help these enterprises to achieve benign development abroad.

In his keynote speech titled Haier: Creating an IoT Eco-Brand by Integrating Orders with Personnel, Ruimin Zhang, Board Chairman and CEO of Haier, used the theories of Frederick Winslow Taylor, Max Weber and Henri Fayol, the three pioneers of Western classical management theories, to prove that classical management theories are no longer applicable in the Internet era. Mr. Zhang believed that Haier must create a new model in line with the demands of the IoT era, which is Integrating Orders with Personnel.

Apart from the excellent keynote speeches, the panel discussions were also big highlights of this summit. Sherman Lee, CEO of Forbes China, Russell Flannery, Editor in Chief of Forbes China, and Jian Kang, Director of Strategic Development of Forbes China, respectively chaired the panel discussions. The guests had collisions of ideas respectively on such topics as Innovation Frontiers, How to Create Innovators, Sport Technology Innovation, Education and Innovation, etc.

In the panel discussion on Education and Innovation, Bob Daugherty, Executive Dean of Forbes School of Business & Technology, Haoyang Li, Founder and Board Chairman of YiXue Squirrel AI Learning, Alice Ho, Chairwoman of SYMPH, were invited to have in-depth exchanges on education and innovation. Alice Hos father Stanley Ho is a famous entrepreneur in Hong Kong and Macau. He is known as the Casino King of Macau. Alice Ho received offers from Cambridge and MIT at the same time. Now she is studying at MIT. She is also the Chairwoman of SYMPH.

About the issue whether human teachers will be replaced by AI teachers in the future, which is a general public concern, Haoyang Li also expressed his opinions in the panel discussion. He said: AI will not completely replace human teachers. We should not be afraid of that. I think AI can replace the teaching work of teachers. If teachers can be free from the complex teaching work, they will be able to communicate more with students and spend a lot of time paying attention to students' emotions, personality and even values, which is more conducive to the overall growth of students. Parents who have begun to try AI education will find that after a 3-hour in-depth algorithm test, an AI teacher will know the student better than a school teacher who has taught the student for 3 years does. In a report by Forbes China on YiXue Education (the current YiXue Squirrel AI Learning) titled YiXue Education: An Intelligent Adaptive Learning System that Knows Where You Are Wrong Better than Human Teachers Do in 2015, Haoyao Li said: education is a serious topic, and online education will not completely replace offline teachers. Today, his opinion hasnt changed, but has become more systematic and mature.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/abd07963-bd05-4f78-a53f-203d4c19e02e

At the end of the panel discussion, the guest Alice Ho expressed her appreciation of Haoyang Lis views. She had in-depth exchanges with Haoyang Li on the core courses and teaching ideas of MIT. MIT is the world's most innovative and research-intensive university of science and engineering. It has its own methods and ideas in technology application and student training. The world-class AI lab CSAIL in particular gathers MITs and the world's top AI technologies and wisdom.

In recent years, YiXue Squirrel AI Learning has been exploring new drivers for technological innovation in the education sector. It has established a Joint Lab for AI Intelligent Adaptive Learning with SRI International (SRI), and a Joint Lab for Parallel AI Intelligent Adaptation with the Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Science, to jointly explore sustainable technological innovation capability in the era of AI. Moreover, AI technology papers on AI Intelligent Adaptive System of Yixue Squirrel AI Learning have won awards at the world-top AI academic conference AIED for two years in succession. Yixue Squirrel AI Learning has won many awards and been invited to give speeches at many global top-class academic conferences on AI, such as CSEDU, UMAP and ACM TURC. The education sector is bound to have more effective means of education and models of teaching along with the innovative application of new AI technologies. Yixue Squirrel AI Learning will continue to pass on more quality resources and let technology to empower education faster.

About YiXue Squirrel AI Learning Inc.

YiXue Squirrel AI Inc. is a leading AI-based adaptive learning service provider for K-12 students in China. Headquartered in Shanghai, China, YiXue offers after-school courses for Math, English, Chinese, Physics and Chemistry subjects, powered by its proprietary AI adaptive engine and custom-built courseware. Students on Squirrel AI's platform enjoy a supervised adaptive learning experience that has been proven to improve both efficacy and student engagement across Squirrel AI's online learning platform and in-person learning centers.

To learn more about YiXue Squirrel AI Learning, please visit http://www.squirrelai.us/.



Ahmedabad: An IndiGo aircraft carrying 185 passengers made an emergency landing here Wednesday after suffering a tyre burst, according to an airport official.

The flight 6E-361, operated with an A320 aircraft, was coming from Mumbai.

The plane landed safely at 1921 hours and all passengers are safe, Ahmedabad Airport Director Manoj Gangal said in a statement.

However, an IndiGo spokesperson said there was no tyre burst and the aircraft did not make an emergency landing.

"After arrival at Ahmedabad, a tyre de-capping with full tyre pressure intact was observed. The aircraft has been towed to the parking bay. The wheel is being replaced and aircraft will be cleared for further flight," the spokesperson said in a statement.

The spokesperson also said that there were 177 passengers on board.

Generally, de-capping of a tyre refers to peeling off of a tyre's outer layer.

In his statement, the airport director said the IndiGo plane reported "tyre burst while taking off from Mumbai airport today evening".

According to him, the pilot had requested emergency landing at Ahmedabad which was immediately approved by the ATC.

"Emergency procedures were initiated at Ahmedabad Airport. The aircraft was accorded full priority... Total 185 passengers were on board. All of them are safe. The aircraft is now parked at Ahmedabad airport for a detailed inspection," he said.It was a verdict he had been longing for with anguish after nearly two and half decades of wait in the ISRO espionage case. But it was not to be.

Former space scientist K Chandrasekhar slipped into coma hours before the Supreme Court delivered its judgement on Friday, dismissing the espionage case as a frame-up.

In its verdict, the apex court held that former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientist Nambi Narayanan was "arrested unnecessarily, harassed and subjected to mental cruelty" in a 1994 espionage case.

It also awarded Rs 50 lakh compensation to 76-year-old Narayanan for being subjected to mental cruelty in the case, in which Chandrasekhar was also one of the six accused but was exonerated along with others in 1998.

Even as the ruling came at 11 am, Chandrasekhar's final journey from the world had begun.

"He fell into coma on Friday at 7.15 am and passed away at the Columbia Asia Hospital on Sunday at 8.40 pm. He was anxiously waiting for the verdict from early hours of Friday," said Chandrasekhar's wife KJ Vijayamma as tears welled up in her eyes.

Vijayamma recalled the final hours of the scientist who underwent untold agony and misery in the false case that shattered him and his family.

Chandrasekhar had undergone a surgery to remove gall bladder stone. On Friday at 3.15 am, he asked for coffee and spoke about the case too saying that the verdict would be pronounced today, she said.

"He knew that the verdict will come on Friday and he was confident that they all will win. But he wasn't there to listen to the news he had been waiting for more than two decades," Vijayamma told PTI in Bengaluru on Tuesday.

Chandrasekhar had worked as India's Representative to Russian space agency Glavkosmos since 1992.

It was her job in the public sector undertaking HMT as General Manager that saved the couple from the financial travails after the false case cost Chandrasekhar his job.

"We were leading a royal life and after this case we suddenly became penniless. We could manage to survive because of my job, said Vijayamma.

She claimed that there were attempts to dismiss her from the service for her husband's background.

Even today Vijayamma is anxious to know what made the intelligence agencies cook up a story and frame the six.

The espionage case, which hit the headlines in 1994, pertained to allegations of transfer of certain confidential documents on India's space programme to foreign countries by two scientists and four others, including two Maldivian women.

The case was first investigated by the Kerala police and later handed over to the CBI, which found no espionage as was alleged to have taken place.

The case also had its political fallout with a section in the Congress targeting then chief minister late K Karunakaran over the issue, that eventually led to his resignation.

In 1998, the top court granted a compensation of Rs 1 lakh to Narayanan and others, who were discharged in the case, and directed the state government to pay the amount.

Narayanan later approached the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) claiming compensation from the state government for the mental agony and torture he suffered.

The NHRC, after hearing both sides and taking into account the apex court judgement of April 29, 1998, awarded him a compensation of Rs 10 lakh in March 2001.NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Tuesday hit out at the Congress over allegations about the presence of large-scale duplicate votes in electoral rolls in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The poll body told the Supreme Court that no parry can direct the EC on how to conduct elections.

"The ultimate decision-making authority rests with the Election Commission of India and it cannot be compelled to follow the directives of any particular party or person," EC told SC.

The EC termed the Congress allegations "misleading and misconceived" and asserted that it had always upheld the integrity and purity of the electoral process and was committed to holding "free and fair elections".

Congress leaders Kamal Nath and Sachin Pilot had moved the SC alleging a large number of duplication of names in the voters list in the electoral rolls of the two states which will go to Assembly polls this year.

In Madhya Pradesh, the Congress leaders claimed, there are about 60 lakh duplicate voters. Responding to the allegation, the EC said it had already replied to Congress's charges.

"Insofar as the allegation of 60 lakhs duplicate, multiple entries are concerned, it is revealed on verification that the complaint is based on limited parameters of common name, relation and gender. It is significant to mention that the other necessary parameters of age and photo have not been included by the complainant in reaching the said figure of 60 lakhs," it said in court.

The poll panel said that the use of limited parameters to reach a figure cannot be categorized as demographically similar entries and, therefore, the multiple, similar, duplicate entries as alleged by AICC is "extrapolated".

The apex court had on August 23, sought reply of poll panel on the petitions filed by the Congress leaders in which they had alleged that they were not provided draft voter list in word format by ECI like it is doing in Rajasthan. Kamal Nath objected to ECI's move of not providing draft electoral roll in word format in Madhya Pradesh alleging that poll panel is giving it in the same editable format in Rajasthan.

However, the EC said that draft electoral rolls are being provided in PDF formats in poll-bound states to protect the privacy of voters and their profiling. Justifying its decision to provide draft electoral rolls in PDF format in Madhya Pradesh without any pictures of voters, it said that it was done to prevent manipulation of the electors data.

"It is submitted that the clause clearly mentions that the draft electoral roll is required to be put up in public domain at Chief Electoral Officer's website in PDF format. The second part of the clause, further, clearly envisages that the draft of the said electoral roll required to be put up in a text mode and no photographs would appear against the elector's details," the ECI said.

The poll panel in its reply filed through advocate Amit Sharma said that it does not, by any stretch of imagination or interpretation, mean or imply that the draft electoral roll has to be put up in the website in an editable or non-image PDF format.

The EC urged the SC that the petition filed by Kamal Nath alleging duplication of names in the voters list be dismissed as "not maintainable", "completely frivolous" and "an abuse of the process of court".Washington: The Trump administration on Wednesday praised India for its significant counter-terrorism actions and said Pakistan-based militant groups continued their terror attacks in the country.

In its annual 'Country Report on Terrorism', as mandated by the Congress, the State Department said the Indian leadership expressed resolve to prevent terrorist attacks domestically and to bring to justice the perpetrators of terrorism, in cooperation with the US and other like-minded countries.

The parts of India seriously impacted by terrorism in 2017 included Jammu and Kashmir, the northeast Indian states, and parts of central India in which Maoists remain active, it said.

"India continued to experience attacks, including by Pakistan-based terrorist organisations as well as tribal and Maoist insurgents. Indian authorities blamed Pakistan for cross-border attacks in the state of Jammu and Kashmir," the report said.

India, the report said, continued to apply sustained pressure to detect, disrupt and degrade terror operations within its borders.

Over the course of 2017, India sought to deepen counter-terrorism cooperation and information sharing with the US, including through the first-ever Designations Dialogue held in Delhi in December, it said.

In the same year, India and the US pledged to strengthen cooperation against terrorist threats from groups, including Al-Qaida, ISIS, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and D-Company, it said.

During a June 2017 summit, President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed officials to establish a new mechanism for cooperation on terrorist designations.

The report further said the Indian government closely monitored the domestic threat from transnational terrorist groups like ISIS and Al-Qaida.

The State Department praised India for its significant counter terrorism actions.

Citing an example of a significant counter-terrorism law enforcement action by India, it said the police arrested Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) leader Mohammad Idris from a hideout in Kolkata on March 8.

Idris was allegedly involved in the July 2016 Holey Artisan Bakery attack in Bangladesh capital, Dhaka.NEW DELHI: Amid an ongoing war of words with the Centre over the Rafale fighter deal, the Congress central leadership will on Wednesday meet the Comptroller And Auditor General (CAG) seeking a detailed probe into the controversial deal between India and France.

According to ANI, top Congress leaders are expected to meet the CAG this morning over the issue.

The Congress has alleged blatant corruption in the deal by the Narendra Modi-led government to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets from France's Dassault Aviation.

The Congress party has alleged that the Modi government has caused a loss of over Rs 41,000 crore to the exchequer by paying a higher price for the aircraft than what was negotiated by the UPA.

Attacking the Centre on Tuesday, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said that the CAG and CVC are bound by their constitutional duty to look at the entire deal and all its papers - whether or not somebody moves them.

"Congress party at an appropriate time also intends to move an appropriate petition before CVC and CAG to expeditiously and quickly adhere to their constitutional duties," Surjewala said.

On behalf of his party, Surjewala also asked why the government was not setting up a joint parliamentary committee to probe the fighter jet deal.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had earlier rejected the demand, saying all the details on it have already been placed before Parliament.

Sitharaman also said that info leak on Rafale weaponry can help China and Pakistan.

Refusing to reveal the exact full price of each Rafale aircraft fitted with weaponry, the Defence Minister said that "information leaked about the weapon systems can ultimately help Pakistan and China."

Sitharaman, who recently appeared in 'Aap Ki Adalat' programme on India TV, said that 36 Rafale fighter jets being purchased by the government from France were nine percent cheaper than the price negotiated by the previous UPA government.

She even reportedly 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.

(With Agency inputs)NEW DELHI: Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has triggered a fresh controversy by alleging that some forces in the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) were openly waging a war against the country and called them "anti-India".

"I feel sad for so many things happening there. During the election time, arguments, and disputes are normal but the kind of things which have happened in the last few years are not encouraging at all,'' the Defence Minister said.

"It's very different to have a party, whose ideology you may not agree with, but they have probably gone to be led by forces which are anti-India," Sitharaman said.

The Defence Minister made these remarks during an interactive session with female journalists here on Tuesday.

Sitharaman's remarks came two days after the United Left student group alliance swept the JNU Students' Union polls.

"They are waging a war against India in their pamphlets. Their brochures say that. When such people are leading the JNUSU and members are openly participating with such forces, you don't need to hesitate to call them anti-India," she said.

They are waging a war against India. Their brochures say that. Such people leading the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) or JNUSU members openly participating with such forces, you do not need to hesitate to say anti-India, therefor: Nirmala Sitharaman (18.918) pic.twitter.com/gPjjC1rJ72  ANI (@ANI) September 18, 2018

"Forces are waging the war against India and it is they who are also seen with the students` union`s elected representatives...that makes me feel uneasy," she said.

However, Sitharaman's remarks evoked a sharp reaction from the JNU students' union president N Sai Balaji who hit out at the Defence Minister and said that ''she herself has not answered questions on Rafale deal.''

Attacking the Centre, the JNUSU president said, ''The government wants the country to talk about the national versus anti-national debate. They want to divert attention from the real issues - the Rafale deal, the Jio university, unemployment."

''Sitharaman, who herself, is a product of the JNU, has not answered questions why Ambani was helped in the Rafale deal," the JNUSU president asked.

"They want to end public-funded education and encourage corporatisation while the common man talks about nationalism and anti-national elements," he added.

On February 9, 2016, an event against Afzal Guru's hanging was held on the JNU campus during which "slogans against the country" were allegedly raised, propelling the varsity to the centre of a countrywide debate on nationalism.

A JNU panel had in 2016 recommended rustication of Umar Khalid and two other students and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on Kanhaiya Kumar, the then students' union president, in connection with the campus event.

Kumar, Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya were arrested in February 2016 on charges of sedition in connection with the controversial event and are out on bail.

Their arrest had triggered widespread protests.

(With Agency inputs)New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday said that the people whose name did not appear in the Assam citizens' list, can file objections starting September 25.

The filing of claims and objections will continue for a period of 60 days until November 25.

The second NRC draft in Assam, which was released on July 30, included names of 2.89 crore people, out of 3.29 crore applicants in Assam, leaving out names of nearly 40 lakh people.

On July 31, the court, while the hearing case, observed that the process of filing objections by those whose names were not listed in the NRC draft should be fair, and directed the Centre to prepare an SOP for claims and objections.

The NRC draft features names, addresses and photographs of all Indian citizens residing in the state of Assam before March 25, 1971.NEW DELHI: In a major victory for thousands of Indian Muslim women, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved an ordinance making triple talaq a punishable offence.

According to reports, the Union Cabinet also cleared an executive order in this regard.

Giving more information, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, ''Cabinet has today approved an ordinance on Triple Talaq. The core component of this Ordinance is that an offence will be cognizable only when the FIR is filed by the victim wife or her close relations by blood or marriage.''

''Secondly, it's compoundable, it can be compromised only at the insistence of the wife upon appropriate terms and conditions as determined by the magistrate. Thirdly, a bail can be granted by the magistrate upon reasonable grounds but only after hearing the victim wife also,'' Prasad said.

''As for other provisions are concerned, the mother/victim wife must get the custody of the minor child and the mother is entitled to a maintenance suitably determined by the magistrate for herself and the child,'' the Law Minister said.

The BJP leader also accused the Congress party of blocking the triple talaq bill in the Rajya Sabha. ''It's my serious charge with full sense of responsibility that a distinguished woman leader is ultimate leader of the Congress, yet barbaric inhuman triple talaq was not allowed to be ended by a Parliamentary law for pure vote-bank politics," Prasad said.

#WATCH: Law Minister RS Prasad says, "It's my serious charge with full sense of responsibility that a distinguished woman leader is ultimate leader of the Congress, yet barbaric inhuman Triple Talaq was not allowed to be ended by a Parliamentary law for pure vote bank politics" pic.twitter.com/R6m3hsiP6c  ANI (@ANI) September 19, 2018

The Narendra Modi government decided to bring an ordinance on the issue after it failed to get the triple talaq bill cleared by both the houses of Parliament.

The ordinance, to be brought by the Centre, will have similar provisions as The Muslim Women Protection of Rights in Marriage Act, which was cleared by the Lok Sabha with a voice vote last year.

The triple talaq bill pushed by the Government had met tough resistance from several Opposition lawmakers in the Rajya Sabha.

While opposing the bill, the opposition lawmakers had pressed for sending the bill to a Select Committee for close scrutiny.

In view of the Opposition to the proposed legislation, the Centre had even sought the opinion of all state governments on the subject, and, most of them had supported it.

The bill, earlier approved by the Lok Sabha, makes instant "triple talaq" a criminal offence and proposes a three-year jail term for a Muslim man who divorces his wife by uttering the word "talaq" thrice.

The bill to make talaq-e-biddat void and illegal has provisions for imprisonment and fine for anyone invoking it.

It also deals with subsistence allowance to a Muslim woman and her children from the estranged man as well as custodial rights of minor children.

The bill terms instant triple talaq delivered in any form - whether delivered orally, including telephone or a mobile call, or in writing or through the electronic medium like WhatsApp or SMS - illegal.

The Supreme Court had last year declared instant triple talaq illegal and unconstitutional.

After the top court ruling, the Centre had formed a Group of Ministers (GoM) comprising Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad to look into the issue.

Several Muslim women had approached various courts, arguing that age-old practice of husbands divorcing them through "Triple Talaq", including by Skype and WhatsApp, violated their fundamental rights and rendered them helpless and unwanted in the society.Copanhagen: Danske Bank`s chief executive Thomas Borgen quit on Wednesday in a money laundering scandal which involved 200 billion euros ($234 billion) flowing through its Estonian branch between 2007 and 2015, most of which was suspicious.

"It is clear that Danske Bank has failed to live up to its responsibility in the case of possible money laundering in Estonia. I deeply regret this," Borgen said in a statement which detailed failings in compliance, communication and controls.

Regulators and the financial community will scrutinise the Danske Bank report, which follows calls by Brussels for a new European Union watchdog to crack down on financial crime after a series of scandals involving anti-money laundering controls.

Dutch bank ING this month admitted criminals had been able to launder money through its accounts and agreed to pay 775 million euros ($900 million) to settle the case.

A third of Danske Bank`s stock market value has been wiped out in the last six months, mainly driven by concerns over a possible inquiry by U.S. authorities and the penalties this could entail.

Danske Bank said its investigation into the affair concluded that Borgen, Chairman Ole Andersen and the board of directors "did not breach their legal obligations towards Danske Bank".

While Danske said it was not able to provide an accurate estimate of the suspicious transactions through its Estonian branch, it said the non-resident portfolio included customers from Russia, Azerbeijan, Ukraine and other ex-Soviet states.

The report found that Danske Bank failed to take proper action in 2007 when it was criticised by the Estonian regulator and received information from its Danish counterpart that pointed to "criminal activity in its pure form, including money laundering" estimated at "billions of roubles monthly".

And when a whistleblower raised problems at the Estonian branch in early 2014 the allegations were not properly investigated and were not shared with the board, Danske said.

While it took measures to get its Estonian business under control in 2014, these were insufficient, the report said.

Danske Bank also said it had decided not to migrate its Baltic banking activities onto its IT platform, because it would be too expensive. Accordingly, the Estonian branch did not employ Danske`s anti-money laundering procedures.

U.S. authorities earlier this year accused Latvia`s ABLV of covering up money laundering and the bank was promptly denied U.S. dollar funding, leading to its collapse.

While Danske does not have a banking licence in the United States, banning U.S. correspondent banks from dealing with it would amount to shutting it out of the global financial network.

The bank, whose shares fell as much as 5 percent following the release of the report, also lowered its expectations for annual net profit to 16-17 billion Danish crowns, from a previous range of 18-20 billion.New Delhi: An inter-ministerial team, headed by a special secretary of the Home Ministry, will visit Kerala for five days beginning Thursday to assess the damage caused by the recent devastating floods, officials said.

The move came after the Kerala government sent a detailed memorandum seeking Rs 4,700 crore as compensation for the damage occurred due to rains and floods, considered to be worst in a century.

The inter-ministerial team, headed by Special Secretary B R Sharma, will visit Kerala from September 20 to 24, a Home Ministry official said.

At least 488 people have died in Kerala due to the rains and floods this monsoon, which hit 14 districts of the state.

The Kerala government memorandum comprises details about the loss of human life, properties, infrastructure and crops.

In case of any natural calamity beyond the coping capacity of a state, the state government submits a detailed memorandum indicating sector-wise details of damage and requirement of funds for relief operations of immediate nature.

Accordingly, the Kerala government sent the memorandum, the official said.

According to the existing guidelines, the Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) will visit the state for on-the-spot assessment of damage and additional requirement of funds.

The IMCT report will be considered by the sub-committee of national executive committee (SC-NEC) headed by the Union home secretary in conformity with the norms and then by a high-level committee, chaired by the home minister for approving the quantum of additional assistance from the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF), another official said.

The financial mechanism to meet the rescue and relief expenditure during any notified disaster event is governed by guidelines on the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) and the NDRF, the official said.

The State Disaster Relief Fund has been constituted in each state in which the Centre contributes 75 per cent for general category states and 90 per cent for special category states of hilly regions every year according to the award of the successive Finance Commissions.

According to the guidelines, the Centre provides its allocation to the SDRF of each state in advance in two installments.

In case of any natural calamity, the state meets the expenditure of relief and rescue from the State Disaster Relief Fund already available at its disposal.

On August 21, the central government had released Rs 600 crore to flood-hit Kerala as promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Rs 500 crore) and Home Minister Rajnath Singh (Rs 100 crore) during their visits to the state. This was in addition to Rs 562.45 crore already made available in the State Disaster Relief Fund of Kerala.Boston, MA, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Skyword360 has been identified as one of the best Content Marketing Software Platforms, based on its high levels of customer satisfaction and likeliness to recommend ratings from reviews on G2 Crowd, the worlds leading business solutions review website.

Too often, marketers build strategies for their team in a slide deck presentation, email the presentation internally, and then pray that its implemented, said Tom Gerace, CEO of Skyword. We believe that strong customer reviews of Skyword360 are based on the results that our customers are achieving in knocking down silos and implementing a content-centric approach to creating and differentiating their brands and creating exceptional customer experiences. The days of crossing your fingers and merely hoping hours spent planning will be successful are behind us. Having a documented strategy that lives in Skyword360 that directly links to an operating plan that is executed on the platform now allows marketers to map the entire customer journey, and make specific investments in the personas and stages where marketing can drive the greatest return. Enterprises can then create unique customer experiences for those stages, moving the customer forward through the purchase cycle driving accurate, measurable results.

Skyword360 achieved a position as Leader on the Grid Report for Content Marketing Software by receiving positive reviews, from verified users compared to similar products in the Content Marketing Software category. For inclusion in the report a product must have received ten or more reviews.

Rankings on G2 Crowd reports are based on data provided to us by real users, said Michael Fauscette, chief research officer, G2 Crowd. We are excited to share the achievements of the products ranked on our site because they represent the voice of the user and offer terrific insights to potential buyers around the world.

Learn more about what real users have to say (or leave your own review of Skyword360) on G2 Crowds Skyword360 review page!

About G2 Crowd



G2 Crowd , the worlds leading business solution review platform, leverages more than 381,000 user reviews to drive better purchasing decisions. Business professionals, buyers, investors, and analysts use the site to compare and select the best software and services based on peer reviews and synthesized social data. Every month, more than one million people visit G2 Crowds site to gain unique insights.

About Skyword

Skyword liberates brands from ineffective marketing practices and inspires them to create deeper connections with their audiences. Skyword360 makes it easy to plan, create, and activate content at any scale to create personalized, lasting relationships. Skyword also provides access to a community of thousands of freelance writers and videographers, an editorial team, and program managers who help move clients content marketing programs to new levels of creative excellence. The book Storynomics , authored by CEO Tom Gerace and globally recognized story expert Robert McKee, guides marketers through this approach. Skyword is a privately held company headquartered in Boston, MA. The companys technology center is located in Pittsburgh, PA. Current investors include Rho Acceleration, Cox Media Group, Allen & Company, Progress Ventures, and American Public Media Group. Skywords customers include Abbott Laboratories, ADP, AutoTrader, GE Health, Glenmede, Groupon, HortonWorks, HP, Lahey Health, IBM, and other leading B2B and B2C brands.KOCHI: Bishop of Jalandhar Franco Mulakkal, who has been accused of raping a nun, arrived at the Kerala Crime Branch office here on Wednesday for questioning in connection with the case.

The accused bishop, who last week step aside from his post in the wake of rape allegations against him, will appear before Vaikom Deputy Superintendent of Police K Subhash for questioning in connection with the case.

A five-member team led by Vaikom Dy SP K Subhash will interrogate the bishop at the Crime Branch office here.

Kochi: Five members team led by Vaikom DySP K Subhash arrives at Crime Branch (CID) to interrogate accused Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal in Kerala nun rape case. #Kerala pic.twitter.com/UfISnAOryR  ANI (@ANI) September 19, 2018

The security has been tightened at the Crime Branch (CID) office ahead of the bishop's questioning in connection with the alleged rape case.

Kochi: Security heightened at Crime Branch (CID) where five members team led by Vaikom DySP K Subhash will interrogate accused Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal in Kerala nun rape case. #Kerala pic.twitter.com/v6vt94Rm9z  ANI (@ANI) September 19, 2018

Kottayam SP Harisankar is also expected to join the Vaikom Dy SP K Subhash and Kochi Range IG Vijay Sakhare during the bishop's questioning at the Crime Branch (CID) office.

The Punjab Police had last week served a notice to the bishop asking him to depose before the Kerala Police for questioning.



The Kerala Police has, meanwhile, asserted that scientific and technical errors still exist in the case and there are differences in the statements of witnesses.

"There are lots of contradictions in the case on the part of everyone - the complainant, the accused and the witnesses. This is an old case and is based primarily on oral statements. It is very difficult to gather scientific and technical evidence. We have to ensure that contradictions are ironed out suitably. As part of that process, Bishop Franco has been summoned to appear before the investigating officer on September 19 and notice for the same has already been sent," Inspector General Vijay Sakhare had told reporters.

Sakhare also informed that they have tightened the security of the nun after she complained of receiving death threats.

Reacting to the same, the public relations officer for the Jalandhar diocese, Father Peter K, said, "I have heard of the notice but haven't seen it yet. If they call the Bishop on September 19, we will surely cooperate and he will go to Kochi as required".

Father Peter also alleged that the ongoing protest against the Bishop was "a politically-motivated anti-Christian movement"

Amid fast-paced developments in the case, the National Commission for Women (NCW) Chairperson Rekha Sharma also spoke to Kerala's Director General of Police to get details of the investigation in the case.

NCW chairperson took to Twitter to share the developments and wrote, "Spoke to Shri Behera, DGP Kerala, this afternoon. He has assured me that Kerala Police will conduct a fair investigation and take strict action against Bishop Franco Mulakkal".

The Kerala Director General of Police also informed the NCW Chairperson that the investigation report will be filed in court on Thursday.

Kerala minister and CPI (M) leader EP Jayarajan also briefed media about the nun rape case and assured that the government is with the victim.

"Nuns protesting is a sad thing and the government is with the victim. They need not be concerned. We will take the right decision at the right time. Police will book culprits with the support of evidence. The investigation is on the right path. No one should try to outrage the modesty of a woman," he told reporters here.

A nun from Kerala had accused the 54-year-old priest of raping her on several occasions between 2014 and 2016.

However, the Jalandhar Bishop had refuted all allegations against him and accused the 'anti-church elements' of falsely implicating him in the case.

(With Agency inputs)CHANDIGARH: The polling for the 22 Zila Parishads and 150 Panchayat Samitis in Punjab are underway amid tight security on Wednesday.

The voting began at 8.00 AM and will continue till 4.00 PM.

Polling is being held for a total of 354 Zila Parishad members and 2,900 Panchayat Samitis, according to the election officials.

There are 1,27,87,395 total registered voters, comprising 60,99,053 female voters and 97 from the third gender.

Tight security arrangements have been put in place with around 50,000 personnel from Punjab Police have been deputed to prevent any untoward incident.

A total of 17,268 polling booths have been set up and 86,340 personnel put on election duty.

A total of 35 observers have been appointed to ensure peaceful conduct of the polls, the officials said.

The counting will take place on September 22.

While the ruling Congress has expressed confidence over registering a "clean sweep" in the local body polls, both Aam Aadmi Party and the Akali Dal-BJP combine are optimistic about there chances "provided the state election commission ensures free and fair elections."

Alleging that the ruling Congress wants to win the elections "by hook or by crook", opposition parties have expressed fear of "large-scale booth capturing" by the ruling party workers.

With the Congress being regarded as the most likely winner of the Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti polls after a gap of ten years, the main contest will be between the ruling party and Akali Dal-BJP combine.

Kin of a few state ministers, including Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Sukhbinder Sarkaria, and some legislators, including Fatehjang Bajwa, Balvinder Singh, are trying their luck in the Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti polls.

With Congress confident of victory on the back of fulfilment of poll promises - debt waiver and good governance, Akali Dal, BJP and AAP have targeted the state government for not honouring promises such as smartphones for youths, raising shagun scheme amount, among others.

Ever since the process of nominations started this month, opposition parties Akali Dal, BJP and AAP have accused the Amarinder Singh government of "murdering democracy" for allegedly stopping their candidates from participating in the upcoming polls by resorting to hooliganism.

The opposition has even accused the state election commission of acting at the behest of the state government.

A few clashes have also been reported between the Akalis and Congress workers during filing of nominations. Punjab cabinet minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa on Tuesday expressed confidence on registering a clean sweep by the ruling party in the polls.

SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal said he fears Congress workers will capture booths and instigate violence.

"I was told by a senior police officer that the CM has given directions to all the SSPs in the state to not take any action against Congress workers," alleged Sukhbir.

"The Punjab election commission chief should resign as he seems to be working as a Congress worker. If there is any incident of poll rigging and if our party worker is attacked, it will be the CM's responsibility," Sukhbir alleged.

Main opposition party leaders echoed Sukhbir's views.

Co-president of AAP's Punjab unit Balbir Singh said, "Our candidates are being threatened by Congress workers. Liquor is being offered to lure voters by Congress workers."Guwahati: Jahnu Barua directorial "Bhoga Khirikee", the first Assamese movie to be produced by Priyanka Chopra's banner, will release on October 26.

Produced by Priyanka's Purple Pebble Pictures and Shahnaab Alam's Easterly Entertainment, the movie will also open the second edition of the Guwahati International Film Festival (GIFF) at the Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra on October 25.

The announcement was made at a conference here on Wednesday in the presence of Pabitra Margherita, the Chairman of Jyoti Chitraban, GIFF Festival Director Monita Borgohain, producers Madhu Chopra and Alam, Barua, lead actor Zerifa Wahid, composer Ibson Lal Baruah, singer Anindita Paul, art director Phatik Baruah and executive producer Sartaj Alam.

"Bhoga Khirikee" also stars stellar performers like Seema Biswas, Joy Kashyap, Sanjay Khargharia, Kasvi Sharma, Mohommed Ali Shah and Bishnu Khargharia.

In an earlier interview, Barua had told IANS that the film is about a young village woman who has experiences in a situation that is socio-politically volatile.

While he was happy that a well-known name like Priyanka had come forward to support Assamese cinema, Barua said that ultimately a film is accepted based on the subject and issue one deals with, and how that is represented.

"Each and every social problem has a side of universality. Certain things are universal, and it can happen anywhere, so it is identified everywhere... In my films, the main graph is humanity... the cause of humanity, and that is same everywhere. So, I feel like earlier films also, this will also be accepted everywhere," Barua had told IANS.CHENNAI: An auto-rickshaw driver was allegedly pushed and hit by some BJP workers for asking tough questions on the rising fuel prices in Chennai on Monday.

According to reports, auto driver Kathir was pushed by BJP leader V Kalidass and hit after he sought to enquire about the rising fuel price hike when party'sTamil Nadu unit chief Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan was fielding questions from reporters on the sidelines of an event organised in connection with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday on Monday.

A video clip purportedly showing the elderly man being shoved aside also went viral on the social media, drawing widespread criticism.

Speaking to ANI later, Kathir said, ''I only tried to vent my grievance. The petrol price hike is hurting drivers like me more. I told her I just wanted to ask a question. I don't know who hurt me, it was dark and after that, the police took me away.''

The auto-rickshaw driver also alleged that the BJP leader talked to media about his drinking habits, which he said was a ''personal problem.''

''I don't want to make an issue out of it. I demand decrease in prices,'' Kathir said.

I told her I just wanted to ask a question.I don't know who hurt me,it was dark & after that police took me away.She told media about my drinking habits.That's a personal problem,she said that in public. I don't want to make an issue out of it. I demand decrease in prices: Kathir pic.twitter.com/bqFH2Ru4Lj  ANI (@ANI) September 19, 2018

However, in the wake of intense criticism, Soundararajan paid a visit to the auto-rickshaw driver's residence on Tuesday and enquired about his well-being.

After the visit, Soundararajan told reporters that she called on the driver as a "wrong depiction" was being made out regarding the incident.

She asserted that the man "was not manhandled as is being claimed by some channels.

A Friendly visit to house of Auto driver kathir today who wanted to speak to me.he himself acknowledged that no one hurted him. Request media friends to ignore false propoganda. pic.twitter.com/vcHEZ27x76  Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan (@DrTamilisaiBJP) September 18, 2018

''I did not even see him, but I did answer his question," she had told PTI.

The BJP leader also uploaded a video of her visit to Kathir's residence on Twitter in which she can be seen having a casual interaction with him and offering sweets to his family members.

Soundararjan, who was accompanied by her aides, also shared a couple of pictures she shot on the occasion.

Soundararjan had claimed on Monday that since the identity of the man was not known and as it was about 12.30 am, he was taken away by the party workers as part of security measures.

Soundararajan's visit to the auto-rickshaw driver's home came weeks after DMK chief MK Stalin visited employees of a restaurant in Chennai after they were allegedly assaulted by some party workers.

In that case, too, a video of the incident had gone viral, with netizens attacking the DMK.New Delhi: Search engine giant Google on Wednesday announced a new tool called Work Insights allows admins to monitor and check into the ways that G-Suite is deployed and used by employees in their organisations.

With Work Insightsnow available in betaadmins can quickly surface organizational insights about G Suite deployments at the team level (aggregated at 10 people or more) and understand adoption patterns for G Suite apps, Google wrote in a blog post.

The new tool is built specifically to help businesses measure and understand the impact of internal digital transformation and also for when organisations transition from legacy tools to G-Suite apps.

The doption charts in Work Insights allows admins analyse trends and track deployment progress over time. They can see which apps are widely adopted, and by which teams, as well as benchmark and identify which ones may need additional training on applications. This can be particularly valuable when an organization is transitioning from legacy tools to G Suite, Google wrote.

Work Insights can also be used to learn how how teams are collaborating across organization.

For example, an admin can quickly surface the percentage of users on the Sales team that are working with the Marketing team to see patterns, like if theyre working together in meetings or co-creating documents. This insight can help executives identify opportunities to strengthen collaboration and reduce siloes, Google further stated.

Google also announced the general availability of the Investigation tool in its G-Suite Security Centre to help organisations simplify their security management. The Work Insights tool is available in the beta version and the Investigation tool is available for G Suite Enterprise customers.DEHRADUN: At least nine people have been arrested, including four students and five staff members of a school, in connection with the gang-rape of a Class 10 student in Dehradun last month.

According to ANI, six accused (five staff members and one student) have been sent to 14 days judicial custody while three minors have been sent to the juvenile correctional home in connection with the case.

Dehradun: Six accused- 5 staff & one student (found adult) sent to 14 days judicial custody and 3 minor students sent to juvenile correctional home in case of gang-rape of a class-10 student of a Dehradun school last month. #Uttarakhand (18.08.18) pic.twitter.com/EJ4RrcphjB  ANI (@ANI) September 19, 2018

The shocking incident came to light only when the victim complained of constant stomach aches and sickness and was taken for a check-up after which she was found to be pregnant.

After the medical examination, the girl revealed that she was raped by at least four people.

Taking a serious note of the shocking incident, Uttarakhand Minister for Women and Child Welfare Rekha Arya directed the school's Education Secretary to cancel the recognition of the school.

Speaking about the incident, Superintendent of Police (Rural), Dehradun, Sarita Dobhal said, ''We received information that a juvenile girl was raped in her school. We reached there along with the Child Welfare Committee team. We have recorded the victim's statement and have registered a case. The family of the victim has also arrived."

Meanwhile, the Additional Director General (Law and Order) said that the school tried to suppress the matter.

''It's a month-old incident and has come to light only now. The school tried to hide the matter. All the accused including five staff members and four students have been arrested. Action will be taken against them as per the protocol," the ADG said.

A case has been registered against the accused and the school and the matter is being probed.

(With Agency inputs)MOSCOW: Hours after Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu held Syria responsible for the fatal crash of Russias Il-20 aircraft, President Vladimir Putin tried to defuse the situation by calling the incident a tragic chance event.

It looks most likely in this case that it was a chain of tragic chance events, because an Israeli aircraft did not shoot down our aircraft. But, without any doubt we need to seriously get to the bottom of what happened.

"As for retaliatory measures, they will be aimed first and foremost at further ensuring the safety of our military personnel and facilities in Syria. And these will be steps that everyone will notice," Putin said.

The Il-20 aircraft, with 15 Russians on board, was shot down by Syrian government on Monday after Israeli F-16 jets carrying out air strikes used the Russian plane as "cover".

Putin told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by phone that Israel`s air force had been conducting operations in breach of Syria`s sovereignty, a Kremlin statement said.

Despite calling it a "friendly fire" incident, the Defense ministry held Israel responsible.

At the time of the incident, Israeli jets were attacking targets in Syria and had only given Moscow one minute`s warning, putting the Russian aircraft in danger of being caught in cross-fire, said the ministry.

Shoigu also vowed to respond against actions on behalf of the Israeli Air Force.

"We have informed today our Israeli colleagues, and I have also informed personally the Israeli Defense Minister [Avigdor Lieberman], that such actions will not be left unanswered by us," said Shoigu, as reported by Russian news agency Tass.

Israeli F-16 jets delivered strikes on Syria using the Russian Ilyushin-20 reconnaissance plane as cover, since the Israelis believed that Syria's air defenses would not counteract against that trajectory, Shoigu added.

"We view the actions of the Israeli military as hostile," Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov told Russian state television. "As a result of the irresponsible actions of the Israeli military, 15 Russian service personnel perished."

With Reuters inputsPakistani Army is witnessing a generational shift in the anti-India stance that has long been ingrained in the minds of the military in Pakistan. For the young Pakistani Army officers, the growing internal security threats from a plethora of extremist groups in Pakistan are a bigger worry for the country instead of any military threat posed by India.

The finding is part of The Quetta Experience, written by retired US Army colonel David O Smith, who was an alumnus of the Command and Staff College in Quetta.

"Junior and mid-grade Army officers, particularly those who had served in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), tended to view terrorism as a much more immediate threat to Pakistan than India. These officers had spent the bulk of their military careers fighting this new threat, had seen their brother officers and soldiers killed and wounded by the groups, and watched their friends and their families lives shattered forever," the report states.

The study examines the experiences of US Army Foreign Area Officers who have attended the Pakistan Army Command and Staff College in Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan province. These are the only US personnel ever to have had sustained interactions over an extended period of time with three distinct groups of Pakistan Army officers: senior officers (brigadier and major general), senior mid-level (lieutenant colonel and colonel), and junior midlevel (captain and major).

The study was aimed at examining the attitudes and values of the Pakistan Army officer corps over a 37-year period from 1977 to 2014 to determine if it had changed over time.

The report also states that the fear of 'Islamisation' within the officer corps or its susceptibility to radical religious influence is exaggerated. "Many students joked among themselves about the need to be seen going to the mosque on Fridays, but no one seemed to think the country needed or wanted more Islam than more democracy."

"Nearly all the Pakistani students, including those with more conservative religious views, expressed the attitude that religion is a personal matter that does not influence the performance of military duties. They also see little value in Islamic governance, preferring democracy and civilian governance in overwhelming numbers. There also was no evidence of any friction between Sunni and Shia officers," the report states.

The report also states that the implications of strategic or tactical uses of nuclear weapons are not well understood, and no doctrine for nuclear warfighting is taught at the Staff College.

"Certain aspects of nuclear usage might have been discussed in a Pakistani students-only exercise that has been conducted annually for several years to rehearse plans to deal with an Indian Cold Start (now called proactive operations) attack, but even this is apparently limited to a short briefing by the Strategic Plans Division with no questions or discussion by students being allowed," the study states.

"No doubt because of the absence of any opportunity to discuss nuclear issues, the Students noted a complete lack of awareness about the connection between the tactical use of nuclear weapons, the potential strategic impact of their use given the relatively short distances involved in the India-Pakistan case, and the likely Indian reaction to Pakistani first use of any nuclear weapon in a future war," the study adds.

The report also finds that the young Pakistani officers perceived that for the first time in history, the United States had become a serious military threat to them.

"The reasoning was highly emotional: the United States uses Pakistan and then discards her; the United States doesnt respect Pakistani values; the United States is fighting people that Pakistani people support, such as the Palestinians; the United States is leading a crusade against Islam; the United States screwed up Iraq and blundered into Afghanistan and made things worse (for Pakistan)," the report adds.The Chief Justice of Pakistan has taken cognizance of the death of 10-year-old girl Amal, who became the victim of a stray police bullet in Karachi. Taking suo moto cognizance of the childs death, the court of the Chief Justice of Pakistan served notices to Advocate General, Health Secretary and Inspector General of Police, said a report in Geo News.

The child died after being hit by a bullet fired by a police personnel while attempting to kill a robber, who had targeted the family of the victim just minutes earlier.

Amal, along with her father, mother and sister, was on her way to a concert on the eve of Pakistans Independence Day when their vehicle was apprehended by a robber. He robbed the family of a mobile phone and bag and tried to flee the spot.

However, the police targeted and him and fired a bullet in a bid to neutralise him. But unfortunately, the bullet fired from AK 47 rifle shattered the windshield of the car and hit the 10-year-old girl.

Narrating their ordeal to Pakistani media, the parents said that they rushed their child to National Medical Centre in Karachi, but the hospital refused to provide treatment to the child, claiming it to be a medico-legal case.

The parents were asked to take the child to Jinnah Hospital, but were denied any ambulance by the NMC. By the time they reached the Jinnah Hospital, the child had succumbed to her injuries. The NMC has, however, claimed that the girl was brought dead to the hospital.

The incident triggered uproar in Pakistan and all leading media organisations, including Dawn News, Geo News and The Express Tribune brought the ordeal of the family to light.GENEVA: Highlighting the atrocities against Sindhis by Pakistan, a minority activist alleged that enforced disappearances are used as a tool of silence.

Pakistan agencies are using enforced disappearances as a tool to silence every voice and struggle of Sindhi people. The judicial system has provided no remedy and the perpetrators continue with impunity, Hidayatullah Bhutto,World Sindhi Congress at United Nations (UN).

There has been an upsurge in illegal detention of people in Sindh last year. Reportedly, over 1200 people belonging to different communities have gone missing since 2010.

Enforced disappearances of Sindhi political&human rights activists continue unabated. Since June 2018, 25 more Sindhi persons have been abducted, that's 10 persons per month. Since February 2017 more than 200 cases have been reported, he added.

Bringing up the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, Bhutto said, Additionally, the state is aggressively pursuing construction of mega projects CPEC and dams on river Indus without any consideration of rights of indigenous Sindhi people and the environment.

Protesters have long been demanding an end to human rights violation by the Pakistan government and release of all missing from Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.TORONTO, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ether Capital Corporation (Ether Capital, ETHC or the Company) (NEO:ETHC) is pleased to publish the following update to shareholders from the Companys Chief Executive Officer, Brian Mosoff, and President and Chief Financial Officer, Stefan Coolican.



We joined Ether Capital on July 23, 2018. In the weeks since, we have had very positive engagement with many Ether Capital stakeholders, both internally and with members of the crypto community, development teams, capital markets participants and others.

Obviously our shareholders are a key stakeholder group and were fortunate to have been able to connect with many individual and institutional shareholders over the last few weeks.

The most common questions we have received are:

What is happening with the price of Ether? What is your plan to grow the business of Ether Capital?

We would like to take this opportunity to address both of these important and related questions.

To the first question, Ether, the cryptocurrency of the Ethereum platform, has fallen significantly in price since the beginning of the year. As the market for Ether is global and trading volumes are driven substantially by retail investors, pinpointing exact reasons for the price decline is difficult and elusive. As assets that have the potential to provide outsized returns, cryptocurrencies are very volatile investments  they always have been and they will continue to be for the foreseeable future. The market, at times, appears to be driven only by those looking to capitalize on short term trading opportunities.

At Ether Capital, we eschew short term trading and are focused only on long term value creation. We believe that a pre-eminent world computer will likely garner trillions of dollars in market value. Our long term view remains that Ethereum will be the backbone of this computer and that substantial value will accrue to Ether as the commodity-like fuel used to access and use this computer.

And what gives us confidence in this thesis? In short, there are currently no competing platforms that rival what Ethereum has been able to achieve in terms of an operating product and network effects. From a historical perspective, Ethereum has been running for over three years with minimal interruption; it is battle tested code. From a mindshare perspective, over 250,000 developers globally are estimated to be working or building on the protocol. Large technology companies continue to lose talent to blockchain projects, most of those connected in some way with Ethereum.

We are often asked about Project A or Project B unseating Ethereum as the world computer. Our response is always: show us the code and its deployment and show us the developers who are building on the platform. That is not to say credible competitors will never emerge; but it is our view that no project currently rivals Ethereum.

To the second question, Ether Capitals strategic focus is on becoming the central business and investment hub for the Ethereum ecosystem. This means providing shareholders with financial exposure to the Ethereum protocol and key components of the infrastructure that will be the foundation of Web 3.

Web 3 and the Ethereum ecosystem are a movement towards an internet where users are in control of their data and its monetization and where users retain their privacy. It is an internet where rent-seeking middlemen have less power and where value transfer is a native feature of the internet itself. In other words, buying or selling a product or a service doesnt require you to necessarily interact with the traditional financial system in a separate and distinct manner.

Ether Capital is pursuing a long term business model built on three pillars:

Asset management through our holdings of Ether and tokens or equity of other projects

Technology development aimed at decentralized application (dapp) adoption

Ancillary blockchain services that generate income from passive assets

Our investment thesis is guided by our view of the development of the Ethereum ecosystem over the next few years. While we believe Ethereum will succeed as the world computer there are still many challenges before mass use and adoption of the platform can occur.

These challenges include: the lack of a decentralized stable unit-of-account, inefficient fiat-to-crypto onramps and insufficient blockchain scaling. Our investment and technology development efforts will focus on projects that address these important challenges.

In this regard, we are able to report that we have identified several potential investment opportunities, including one which we would characterize as near term. While we are not able to provide a timeline to closing on any prospective investment and there is no guarantee that the Company will be able to execute on these opportunities, we expect to be active in the coming months and we look forward to updating you again in due course in accordance with our disclosure obligations.

About Ether Capital Corporation

Ether Capital is a Toronto-based technology company whose objective is to become the central business and investment hub for the Ethereum and Web 3 ecosystem. Ether Capital has invested in Ethereums native utility token Ether as a strategic asset, and intends to selectively invest in projects, protocols, technologies and businesses that leverage the Ethereum ecosystem and Web 3 technologies. Founded by a highly experienced Board of Directors and management team, Ether Capital has the resources, experience and relationships to support businesses and invest in industry-shifting disruptive technologies. For more information, visit http://ethcap.co/ .

Further Information

For further information concerning this press release, please contact:

Brian Mosoff

Chief Executive Officer

Ether Capital

1-416-583-5541

http://ethcap.co/ Stefan Coolican

President and Chief Financial Officer

Ether Capital

1-416-583-5541

http://ethcap.co/

This press release is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States, and the securities described in this press release may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933.

Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, scheduled, intends, anticipates or does not anticipate, or believes, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will occur or be achieved. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements in regard to the prospects for blockchain technology and the Ethereum platform, the Companys business and strategy, and the Companys plans going forward including investment opportunities and timing thereof.

Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, geopolitical, technological and social uncertainties; uncertainties in regard to the development and acceptance of blockchain technology and the Ethereum platform; uncertain capital markets; and uncertainties related to investment opportunities. Although the forward-looking information is based on the Companys reasonable assumptions at the date such statements are made, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.Pyongyang: South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un signed an agreement at the end of their summit talks here on Wednesday.

The agreement was signed at a ceremony held at the North`s state guesthouse Paekhwawon and broadcast live in Seoul.

Details of the agreement signed by the leaders were not immediately available, Yonhap news agency reported.

Yoon Young-chan, Moon`s top press secretary, earlier said the two leaders would hold a joint press conference to announce the outcome of their third bilateral summit, which began on Tuesday.

The countries also signed a fresh military agreement that is widely believed to be aimed at further reducing tension between the divided Koreas.

Details of the military agreement, signed by the countries` defence chiefs, were also not available.

Earlier, it was reported that 31 civilians died in Donbas conflict since the beginning of 2018

Open source

2911 Ukrainian soldiers died since the beginning of combat actions in Donbas, as the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko said in the speech at Lviv Philarmonic. 112 Ukraine broadcasted it.

2911 Ukrainian heroes lost their lives on the frontline for our right to choose. Therefore, we will act decisively, persistently, courageously, Poroshenko said.

In early June, Ukraines Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin stated that around 240 children died since the Donbas conflict began.

Earlier, the UN report says that almost 3,000 civilians died in eastern Ukraine since the war began. 298 people who died in MH14 tragedy in 2014 were taken into account.

Related video:Over the past 24 hours, Russian occupant forces have violated the ceasefire regime in Donbas nine times. None of the Ukrainian fighters were killed or wounded due to the military actions in the specified period. The press service of the Joint Forces Operation HQ reported that on Facebook.

The enemy used grenade launchers, heavy machineguns and small arms; the attacks were observed in Krymske, Luhanske, Pivdenne, Pavlopol and Shyrokyne.

As we reported earlier, Mariinka checkpoint has been modernized and furbished, and now it continues working. Oleksandr Kuts, the head of Donetsk military and civil organization, reported that on Facebook. Two halls, air circulation system, video displays and a toilet for the people with special needs were set. Water and power line communications are in place, as well. The administration spent about 300,000 dollars on the upgrades. The test project will soon be implemented in other entry-exit checkpoints in Donbas  in Novotroitske, Hnutove and Mayorsk.Since the morning of September 18, Russian militants attacked Ukrainian positions in Donbas 25 times. The military action claimed lives of two Ukrainian servicemen; one more serviceman suffered light wounds. The Joint Forces Operation HQ reported that on Wednesday morning.

The Russian occupants twice fired mortars, banned by Minsk agreements; 82 and 120 mm mines hit Luhanske at the Svitlodarsk bulge. In all other cases, the enemy used small arms, grenade launchers and heavy machineguns. The skirmishes were observed in Stanytsia Luhanska, Krymske, Novotoshkivske, Pivdenne, Pisky, Novotroitske, Starohnativka, Pavlopol, Vodyane, Lebedynske and Shyrokyne.

In Krymske, the illegal armed units used BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle.

Since small hours of Wednesday, the enemy has opened fire near Troitske, Berezova and Lebedynske; there have been no casualties among Ukrainian servicemen since then.Also, Commander of Joint Forces Operation Serhiy Nayev informed the British partners on the work of checkpoints at the demarcation line

U.K. Secretary of State for Defense Gavin Williamson visited the zone of the holding of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) as the headquarters of the operation reported on Facebook.

The British delegation also visited Kramatorsk and met Lieutenant-General Serhiy Nayev, the Commander of the Joint Forces Operation.

Later the commander informed Williamson on the situation at the activity lane of one of the brigades during the work on the ground.

Particularly, Williamson visited the frontline of defense where he communicated with the JFO soldiers.

Then the commander informed the British partners on the work of checkpoints at the demarcation line.

As we reported President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and Secretary of State for Defense of the United Kingdom Gavin Williamson discussed the strengthening of the sanctions against Russia due to the poisoning of ex-GRU officer Sergey Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury.

Earlier Williamson claimed that Great Britain will leave its servicemen on the territory of Germany because of Russian aggression. According to the statement of the head of the Ministry of Defense, the United Kingdom postponed plans to withdraw the military from Germany until 2020. Currently, in Germany there are more than 200 British soldiers and 400 members of their families.

Related video:The materials of the criminal case opened due to the crimes against the bases of the national and public security were sent to the court

Open source

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) put the "Prime Minister" of the so-called "Luhansk People's Republic" (LPR) Sergey Kozlov on the wanted list as the SBU reported on Facebook.

"Possibly the stunning career development in the "LRR" eclipsed the common sense of ex-colonel of the Civilian Defense Service or possible the traitor just waited for the right time. Anyway, he imbued the ideas of the independence of "the Donbas people" so much that firstly he proclaimed "the headquarters of the people's militia of LPR", then he had great "honor" and become "Prime Minister" of bandits," the SBU claimed.

The materials of the criminal case were sent to the court.

"This not respectable person hides from the Ukrainian justice at the temporarily occupied territory of Luhansk region; he put on the wanted list. The materials of the criminal case opened due to the crimes against the bases of the national and public security were sent to the court," the message said.

As we reported the so-called Luhansk Peoples Republic plans to pass the prisoners of Sukhodilsk penal colony convicted in 2014 to Ukraine.

On August 16, Iryna Gerashchenko stated that Petro Poroshenko, the President of Ukraine, was ready to pardon the Russians kept in Ukraine in exchange for the Ukrainians kept in Russian Federation.

Reportedly, Lyudmyla Denisova, Ukraines Ombudsman, stated that 22 convicted Russians wrote Putin appeals with a request to exchange them for the Ukrainians political prisoners.

Related video:Viktor Medvedchuk: In terms of the "classically Russophobic" position, when it is radically anti-Russian, it is hard to talk about implementation of the peace initiatives

Open source

The process of unification, previously voiced by individual journalists and experts, would be perceived with hostility. Today, we can hear public calls for unification. Of course, many would oppose this: warmongers and many political forces that are currently fighting on another electoral spectrum. These are the parties represented in the parliament today, parties that consider themselves a separate opposition, they call themselves democratic.

This would not suit them, because they realize that if two such parties join together into a single political and social union, then this will be a serious challenge for everyone else. In this situation, those who are currently negotiating understand the aim  representation of the interests of the southeast and the Russian-speaking population.

Today, according to the estimates of all sociological centers, this is approximately 30-35% of the population. If such unification (a resource of two parties) is able to unite this electorate in the future, and if people trust those who unite in a political association and represent their interests, this will be a serious force that could not be ignored. The authorities and the warmongers in power and outside it, and all others calling themselves democratic opposition would contend with them...

Today, I am sure that even Mr. Poroshenko wants to do something, in the absence of a political resource he cannot do it. Moreover, today this political resource is even smaller. Why? Now it is connected with the election campaign; despite it begins on December 30 of this year, it has actually begun, and the candidates who claim the highest position in Ukraine have started working. This applies to Mr. Poroshenko.

Therefore, in terms of the "classically Russophobic" position, when it is radically anti-Russian, it is hard to talk about the implementation of the peace initiatives, while using the resource of Moscow in order to find a common language with Donetsk and Luhansk representatives and achieve what we have been talking about.

It is harder than it used to be a few months ago, harder than it used to be a year or two, or three years ago. But those who really want us to return people and territories (in this case, Donbas), they must continue to do so. If we do not do it today, it will not work tomorrow, even if the authorities change in 2019, when presidential and parliamentary campaigns will be held.

Watch the full version of the interview on NEWSONE.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or 112.International and its owners.Next month, Europes leading budget airline will begin regular flights from Ukraine to a host of EU destinations. This is the latest milestone in a Ukrainian aviation boom that is seeing additional routes announced on a weekly basis and record passenger numbers at airports across the country. Each new flight serves to broaden Ukrainian horizons and anchor the country more firmly within the wider international community. Meanwhile, there has not been a single direct flight between Ukraine and Russia since October 2015.



The changes in Ukraines air travel industry are just one of the many ways in which the country has turned away from Russia and gone global since the climax of the Euromaidan Revolution in early 2014 and the start of Vladimir Putins hybrid war. Since then, Russias share of Ukrainian exports has tumbled from 24 percent to around 9 percent, while Russian imports to Ukraine have halved. As economic ties between Kyiv and Moscow loosen, Ukrainian businesses have begun to discover life after Russia. In 2017 alone, Ukraine-EU trade grew by almost a quarter and India emerged as the largest international market for Ukrainian agricultural exports. On the domestic front, American companies are replacing longstanding Russian partners. The first General Electric locomotive engines recently arrived in Ukraine, while the countrys Soviet era aviation flagship Antonov is now working with Boeing.

Read the original article at Atlantic Council.

Related video:The decision depends on the results of the verification of the video where Ukrainians are issued Hungarian passports

Open source

Head of Ukrainian MFA Pavlo Klimkin claimed that early published on the net video with the issuance of Hungarian passports in Zakarpattia region is being verified. If it proves to be true, then the Hungarian Consul may be expelled from the country. The minister claimed this on Twitter.

I will meet with the Hungarian Minister in New York at the UN General Assembly. Besides, if the video about the issuance of the Hungarian passports to Ukrainians is no a fake, probably, he will have to go to Budapest to issue Hungarian passports. No way for Ukrainian citizens. There is more comfortable, he said.

Fake became a bad fashion. Hungary has two options: prove that the video with the issuance in the Consulate General in Berehove city is fake or to take measures right now. Think that the second option is only real, he added.

Reportedly, earlier, Ukrainian outlet Ukrinform published the video where a number of Ukrainian citizens receive Hungarian passports and take an oath of allegiance to Hungary in the Hungarian Consulate in Berehove. The procedure is followed with the advice of the Hungarian diplomat to not to tell Ukrainian authorities about the receipt of new documents.

Earlier, Hungarian Ambassador in Ukraine Erno Keskeny claimed that Ukrainian Hungarians have an absolute right to receive Hungarian passports when the former head of Zakarpattia Regional State Administration Viktor Baloha claimed that 90 thousand of Zakarpattia residents have Hungarian passports.TORONTO, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Partners Real Estate Investment Trust (Partners REIT or the REIT) (TSX:PAR.UN) is pleased to announce that it has agreed to sell 9 of the remaining 10 properties in its Western Canada portfolio (hereinafter Western Portfolio). The one property not sold is located in Manitoba and it will continue to be marketed for sale. The purchaser has completed its due diligence, but the sale remains subject to a number of closing conditions. The REIT is expecting closing to occur on October 22, 2018.



The sale of the 10 properties from the Western Portfolio, including the sale of Mariner Square that was completed on September 6, 2018, is expected to result in net cash proceeds to Partners REIT, after payment of related mortgages and transaction expenses, of approximately $50 million.

The REITs Board of Trustees has considered various alternatives for the cash proceeds and has concluded that a special cash distribution to all of the unitholders of a portion of the net cash proceeds is most appropriate and in the best interests of all unitholders. The Board will meet after the closing of the sale of the 9 Western Canada properties and decide on the amount of the special cash distribution based upon, among other things, the ongoing cash requirements of the REIT.

The Board currently anticipates that it will reduce the ongoing monthly cash distributions of the REIT following the special distribution. The reduction would be roughly in proportion to the amount of the special distribution and would reflect the smaller size of the REIT.

The REIT is also announcing that it has retained BMO Capital Markets to canvass the market for a possible sale of some or all of the REITs properties in the Province of Quebec. Partners REIT owns 11 retail properties in Quebec with a carrying value on the June 30, 2018 interim condensed consolidated financial statements of approximately $190 million. No agreements have been entered into for any properties in Quebec and the Board will decide whether or not to proceed with a sale depending on the interest expressed by third parties.

About Partners REIT

Partners REIT is a real estate investment trust that, following the sale of the 9 Western Canada properties, will own (directly or indirectly) 24 retail properties located in Ontario and Quebec, aggregating approximately 1.9 million square feet of leasable space. Partners REIT manages a portfolio of retail and mixed-use community and neighbourhood shopping centres located in both primary and secondary markets across Canada.

Disclaimer

Certain statements included in this press release constitute forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, those identified by the expressions expect, will and similar expressions to the extent they relate to Partners REIT. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect Partners REITs current expectations regarding future results or events. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations. Although Partners REIT believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guaranteeing of future performance and, accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Partners REIT Investor Relations

1 (844) 474-9620 ext. 401

investor.relations@partnersreit.com

Jane Domenico

Chief Executive Officer

(416) 855-3313 ext. 401It will take place on September 20, in Aachen

Vitaly Klitschko, the Mayor of Kyiv will address at the 10th International Trade Day conference in North Rhine-Westphalia state that will take place on September 20, in German city Aachen as the press service of Kyiv Mayor reported.

The biggest event in the sphere of the foreign trade of North Rhine-Westphalia state that takes place the 10th time this year will gather about 1,000 partakers, including the representatives of more than 50 German Chambers of Commerce, leading German companies holding the foreign trade activity and experts.

This year the topic of the conference is World Trade in a Changing World. The program includes panel discussions and workshops "Customs 4.0", "Quo Vadis China Business?", "Brexit: The Countdown" and others.

Earlier Klitschko claimed that Ukraine is interested in the further economic cooperation with Germany and expects the increase of German investments during the meeting with Vice-President of Bundestag Wolfgang Kubicki.

Related video:After the political decision is adopted, the forces must leave the region, the President noted

Open source

Moldovan President Igor Dodon claimed that the way of the reintegration of Transnistria would be decided at the referendum, Deschide.md reports.

He noted that the decision should be adopted after the Parliamentary election.

After the Parliamentarian elections, we will discuss specific scenario on the ways of the reintegration, it is very important that every form of the reintegration, coexistence to be discussed with the citizens of the Republic of Moldova in terms of the referendum, the President stressed.

After Moldova adopts its decision, it will be submitted for the consideration of the international community. At the same time, Dodon noted that after the way of the conflict resolution is chosen, the located there forces will have to abandon the region.

Reportedly, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic refused to support the withdrawal of Russian troops from the Republic according to the resolution of UN General Assembly from June 22, 2018. President Igor Dodon has also condemned the adoption of the document.This particular modification of the ammunition lets the missiles explode in the air several meters away from the target, which releases more pieces of shrapnel on it

Open source

The Ukrainian military successfully tested Oskol, the domestically made non-guided missiles. President Petro Poroshenko posted this on Facebook on Wednesday.

During this round of field probes, Sukhoi Su-24 frontline bomber carried the ammunition and fired it. This particular modification of the ammunition lets the missiles explode in the air several meters away from the target, which releases more pieces of shrapnel on it. The missiles are supposed to effectively hit the armored vehicles and firing positions of the enemy. Previously, the ammunition was tested on Mi-8 helicopters.

As we reported earlier, combat aircraft of the U.S. Air Force will participate in the Clear Sky military drills that are to be hosted in Ukraine soon. Stars and Stripes reported that; the Ukrainian defense ministry also confirmed this information.

The large-scale aviation exercise is to involve the vehicles and crews from nine countries - Ukraine, the U.S., Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania and the United Kingdom. Clear Sky 2018 will be held mostly in the area of Starokostyantyniv air base, central Ukraine; it is scheduled for the middle of October.Combat aircraft of the U.S. Air Force will participate in the Clear Sky military drills that are to be hosted in Ukraine soon. Stars and Stripes reported that; the Ukrainian defense ministry also confirmed this information.

The large-scale aviation exercise is to involve the vehicles and crews from nine countries - Ukraine, the U.S., Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania and the United Kingdom.

'Announcement of the Clear Sky multinational exercise comes days after Ukraine said it would establish a new naval base along the Sea of Azov to counter a more assertive Russia. The U.S. plans to send about 450 personnel from bases in the States and in Europe, a U.S. Air Forces in Europe spokesman said Tuesday. About 250 will participate in the exercise, including pilots and maintainers; the remainder will be in support roles', reads the story.

Clear Sky 2018 will be held mostly in the area of Starokostyantyniv air base, central Ukraine; it is scheduled for the middle of October.According to the U.S. President, America and other states are close to eradicating ISIS in the region

The U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Syria was likely to have shot down the Russian aircraft IL-20, as Reuters reports.

It sounds to me and it seems to me based on a review of the facts that Syria shot down a Russian plane. And I understand about 14 people were killed and thats a very sad thing but thats what happens, Trump said.

He added that the American military have done a tremendous job in Syria and in that region eradicating ISIS, which is why we are there. And we are very close to finishing that job.

Earlier several airstrikes were launched at Syrian port Lattakia. Russian Defence Ministry informed that IL-20 with 14 military servicemen got lost. It supposed to have been back at the Russian base Humaimam, Syria.

Reportedly, as a result of Russias airstrikes at Syrian province Idlib 13 people died. Later, Russia claimed to be continuing bombardments in Idlib, if necessary.The hidden section of the case contained 5.4 kilograms of the drug, as the holder was on its way from Warsaw to Tel-Aviv

A service dog of Ukraine's State Border Guard discovered a load of cocaine in the suitcase. The incident occurred at Boryspil airport, as the suitcase underwent a security check on its way from Warsaw to Tel Aviv. Oleg Slobodyan, the assistant head of Ukraine's State Border Guard posted that on Facebook. The press service of the authority also reported the incident on Wednesday.

'The service dog raised alarm when one of the bags passed by. During the detailed check of the suitcase, the workers found a hidden section with five wraps with a white, cocaine-like substance inside. The overall weight made 5.4 kilograms. The powder was sent for an expertise', he wrote.

Earlier this month, law enforcers arrested an officer of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) on suspicion of drug possession. Ukrainian Truth agency reported this with the reference to the Kyiv police press service. At night, the police officers of Pechersk district have detained a man who had a substance looking like drugs. He also had the identification documents of the NABU employee, Yana Nerush, the deputy head of the communication department of Kyiv police said.Open source

Ukraine intends to agree on the mutual cancelation of visa with Uruguay. Such decision was made during the session of the government as 112.ua reported.

Thus, the government approved the draft agreement with Uruguay on the mutual cancelation of visa demands and authorized ambassador to Argentine and concurrently to Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay Yury Dyudin to sign it.

According to Ukrainian News, the explanatory noted to the document specified that the signing of the agreement will promote the intensification of the contacts between the citizens of two countries, development of the partnership in economic, cultural, humanitarian and other spheres and will strengthen the negotiating position of Ukraine in the liberalization of the visa regime with other countries the citizens of which cross the border of the EU without visa.

Earlier Ukraine and Serbia signed an agreement on expanding a visa-free regime between the countries. Ukrainians will be able to stay in this country for up to 90 days.

Also, the visa free regime agreement between Ukraine and Antigua and Barbuda took effect on June 29.

Related video:At the same time, SAPO asks the court about the arrest of Omelyan's property

Open source

The anti-corruption bodies decided to not file an appeal to the court on the removal from the office of Volodymyr Omelyan, the Infrastructure Minister of Ukraine suspected in the illicit enrichment and declaration of false information. The source in the anti-corruption bodies claimed this as Ukrainian News reported.

"We decided to not remove him from the office," one of the parties said.

According to him, there is no need to do this.

Another party said that the remaining in the office of Omelyan does not influence the investigation of the case.

At the same time, the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) filed an appeal to the court on the arrest of the minister's property.

"The appeals were already filed to the court. No decisions yet. We expect them," the source said.

According to him, the issue is about the arrest of the property of Omelyan mentioned in declaration and open registers.

Particularly, the SAPO asks the court to arrest the flat of Omelyan in Kyiv, land plot in Lviv region, house in Kyiv region where he lives, BMW X5 and funds in the national and foreign currency.

As we reported Ukraines Anti-Corruption Bureau informed Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelyan of suspected illicit enrichment.

NABU representatives stated that within the period from January 1, 2000 to April, 26, 2018 Omelyan received $77,500 of official income. And his expenses within the period from 2008 till April 26, 2015 were at least $123,214.

Later, NABU detectives claimed that the crimes of Omelyan are not grave so they will demand to choose the restrictive measure for the minister in the form of bail in the sum of almost $179,000.

On September 14, Solomensky District Court of Kyiv released Omelyan on parole.

Related video:Open source

Kyiv District Court of Kharkiv has extended the arrest of Olena Zaitseva and Hennady Dronov, the defendants in the case of the deadly car accident in Kharkiv for 60 days until November 16 as Hromadske reported.

"The lawyer of Dronov asked the court to change the restrictive measure of his client for the house arrest with the bearing of an ankle bracelet due to the unreasonableness of the risks. Dronov also asked about the changing of the restrictive measure to have a possibility of seeing his 81-year-old mother," the message said.

It is noted that the lawyers of Zaitseva also asked about the house arrest so she will be able to receive the treatment.

As we reported earlier Lexus ran over a group of pedestrians in Kharkiv, northeastern Ukraine, on Wednesday evening. Alyona Zaitseva who drove the car violated the road traffic, crashing into the Volkswagen Touareg driven by Gennady Dronov which threw her car towards the pavement. Both drivers survived, but Lexus ran over eleven passing by people. Five pedestrians received lethal injuries; another six were taken to a hospital with injuries of various degrees of severity.

Zaitseva was detained for two months without a right to bail. The court revoked her driver license and arrested both cars that participated in the accident.

The prosecution stated that Zaitseva used opiates not long before the tragedy occurred. According to the information of the defense, the suspect took the sedatives.

The version of Zaitseva defense is that the driver of the Touareg is guilty as he moved on the yellow traffic light. The defense of Gennady Dronov denies the accusation and claims that the driver of the Touareg moved on the green traffic light.

Dronov was the witness in this case but the police claimed that his status can change. Later, the court refused to recognize Dronov sustained. Gennady Dronov was served with charge papers on November 2. The Court arrested Gennady Dronov for 42 days without the right to bail on November 8.

It was established on December 6 that Zaitseva used substances containing codeine.

On February 7, the court prolonged the arrest of two suspects in the car crash that killed six people - Olena Zaitseva and Hennadiy Dronov for two months without a right for bail.

Related video:In Mykolaiv, southern Ukraine, Chechen Movla Timarov, a citizen of Russia was released from the remand center from whom the extradition remand was removed on the agreement of Prosecutor General of Ukraine as News N reported.

Olexy Savchenko, the Head of Mykolaiv Regional City Administration and Taras Dunas, the Prosecutor of Mykolav region came to meet Timarov who fought at the Donbas Conflict for Ukraine in the battalion of Sheikh al-Mansur.

Timarov hopes that Ukraine will provide him a status of refugee.

Andry Lysenko, the spokesperson of Prosecutor General's Office reported on Facebook that as his guilt is not proved then the extradition of Timarov to Russia will not take place.

"The extradition of citizen of Groznensky District, Chechny Movla Timarov was not planned and it will not be signed. The Prosecutor General's Office sent the assignment to the prosecutor's office of Mykolaiv region to cancel the restrictive measure in the form of arrest for Timarov and release him from the remand center," Lysenko reported.

Timarov was forces to escape from Russia due to the political situation. In 2007 he was accused of the illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and put him on the international wanted list. Timarov does not plead guilty and claims that he is prosecuted in Russia for the opposition political opinion.

He fought in Donbas in 2015 as a member of the battalion of Sheikh al-Mansur.

Three months ago Timarov was arrested on the extradition request of Russia on the decision of Lenin Court of Mykolaiv. However, according to Taras Dunas, the Russian side did not provide any evidence of his guilt. So, the decision on the removal of the extradition remand was made.

On September 12, it became known that Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine extradited Timgoev to Russia, as the Russian federal security service requested. Explaining the decision, the Ukrainian side said that Timgoev is wanted by the Russian Federation as the ISIS militant; he allegedly served with the Islamic State fighters in Syria.

Tumgoev twice asked for the refugee status in Ukraine, but the request was turned down - in both cases.

Related video:TORONTO, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LSC Lithium Corporation (LSC or together with its subsidiaries, the Company) (TSXV:LSC) is pleased to announce that it has received encouraging pump test results from a 7-day continuous pump test at its Pozuelos-Pastos Grandes project (PPG Project).



HIGHLIGHTS

Constant pump rate over 7-days from well SP-2017-10W at 82m 3 /h

Measured drawdown is constant and full recharge within 3h after completion of pumping

Consistent grade with average 750mg/l Li and minimum of 736mg/l Li

Hydrogeological modelling shows that a production well in this area can consistently yield 130m 3 /h

Results confirm a second high-grade depocenter in the South-West of the salar, providing the basis for a resource update and expansion at Pozuelos

LSCs President and CEO, Ian Stalker, noted, These results exceeded our expectations of the potential of the Pozuelos depo centre. LSC is currently undertaking a PEA for the PPG project based on a target production rate of 20,000 tpa lithium carbonate.

Furthermore, we look forward to incorporating these high grades into the resource update of Pozuelos, which is expected to be completed in parallel with our PEA before year end. As the lithium grades are more than double the values currently assumed in this area, we anticipate the updated Pozuelos resource will be higher both in terms of grade and lithium tonnes.

Testing Methodology

Well SP-2017-10W was drilled in the south-west of the Pozuelos salar utilizing a tricone system to drill 100m at a diameter of 12. The well was cased with PVC screen casing from 63m to 99m at 8 to test the clastic horizon developed from 66.6m to end of hole. Two monitoring piezometers, PZ5 and PZ10, were installed at a distance of 5.12m and 10.23m respectively.

The static level of brine in the pump well recorded was 1.51m while the levels in the piezometers were recorded at 1.40m and 0.18m.

A 6 down-the-hole pump with 22kW motor supplied by a generator was installed and operated under constant supervision for a continuous period of 168 hours (7 days). Brine samples were collected for assaying at the following intervals:

Hourly for the first day

Every three hours for the second day

Every eight hours thereafter

During the pumping test, the piezometric levels in the pumping well and piezometers were measured manually with piezometric probes and automatically with datalogger. Flows were measured at a distance of 200m from the pumping well in a gauging tank with a hole in the base, of known area, determining the flow depending on the height of water that is produced inside the tank. This flow measurement was corroborated with volumetric measurements with an excellent coincidence between both values.

Results and Interpretation of Tests

Lithium grades were found to be very consistent, averaging 750mg/l Li with a minimum grade of 736mg/l Li.

A graph accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c7dedc2f-8d1a-42b5-a306-2d4747086a56

Pumping was performed steadily at a rate of 82.2m3/h. Drawdown was observed in both monitoring wells and the pumping well, with manually and digitally logged data showing excellent correlation. Drawdown levels remained steady after 2 hours of pumping approximately as follows:

23m in the pumping well

18m in PZ5

5m in PZ10

A full recharge to pre-pumping levels was observed within three hours after the completion of the pump test, with 80% of the recharge occurring within the first 5 minutes.

A graph accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/aec6f85e-aa8d-4dd5-9841-8ffd8dca8ba1

Conhidro, a Salta-based hydrogeology consultancy company, interpreted these results with a numerical model using the Infinite Extent software and accepted hydrogeological equations. They concluded that the maximum exploitation flow of this work is 130m3/h with a calculated dynamic level of 51.62m below the wellhead.

Furthermore, the fact that the observed drawdown reduces rapidly with distance, supports the view that pumping wells can be installed in a production grid to support a high-grade brine supply system for operations.

LSC will incorporate these positive results into the updated resource estimate of Pozuelos, which will be released together with the PEA towards the end of 2018. The data from this location supports the view of a second high-grade depocenter in the south-west of the salar.

Quality Assurance/Quality Control

Brine samples were collected in 1-litre sample bottles, sealed and transported daily to the assay laboratory. Sample data for collection date and time, sample number, pumping rate and other factors were recorded in the database. Sample assays were undertaken at Alex Stewart Argentina (ASA) in Jujuy, Argentina using ICP, gravimetric, potentiometric and volumetric methods as detailed in a press release from LSC dated April 10, 2017. ASA is independent of LSC and has significant experience in assaying lithium brine and is certified to ISO 17025 and ISO 9001 standards for quality control and quality assurance.

LSC has a well developed program of QA/QC. Certified standards are inserted in sample batches at a rate of at least 1 in 20, sample duplicates are run at a rate of at least 1 in 20. Blanks are inserted at a rate of at least 1 in 20 samples. LSC uses distilled water for blanks. ALS Global or SGS Argentina are used as secondary check laboratories to monitor primary laboratory results. Both ALS Global and SGS Argentina are certified to ISO 17025 and ISO 9001 standards and are independent of LSC.

Qualified Person

This press release is based upon information prepared and approved by Donald H. Hains, P.Geo. Mr. Hains is a qualified person, as defined in NI 43-101 and is independent of LSC. Mr. Hains has verified all sampling, analytical and test data underlying the information contained in this press release by on-site inspection during drilling, brine sampling; review of drill core photographs to verify lithology; review of certified assay certificates against the assay data base; review of pump test data. There are no drilling, sampling, recovery or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy and reliability of the data.

ABOUT LSC LITHIUM CORPORATION:

LSC Lithium has amassed a large portfolio of prospective lithium rich salars and is focused on developing its material projects: Pozuelos and Pastos Grandes Project, Rio Grande Project and Salinas Grandes Project. All LSC tenements are located in the Lithium Triangle, an area at the intersection of Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile where the worlds most abundant lithium brine deposits are found. LSC Lithium has a land package portfolio totaling approximately 300,000 hectares, which represents extensive lithium prospective salar holdings in Argentina.

For further information please contact:

LSC Lithium Corporation

Ian Stalker

President & Chief Executive Officer

40 University Avenue,

Suite 605, Toronto

ON Canada M5J 1T1

+416 306 8382

Email: info@lsclithium.com

Web: lsclithium.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance, including statements as to the timing and expected completion of delivering a PEA for the PPG Project, timing and expected completion of an updated resource statement on Pozuelos, expected depth of the depo centre of Pozuelos, potential production from the well and Pozuelos salar, expected grade and lithium values, interpretation of results by hydrogeology consulting firm, ability of results to support high-grade brine supply system, results and use of data from the pump test work on Pozuelos, ability, timing and successful completion of the drill program at the PPG Project, LSCs overall contained lithium inventory, and ability to produce more results on the Companys properties. The use of any of the words could, anticipate, intend, expect, believe, will, projected, estimated and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on LSC's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Whether actual results and developments will conform with LSC's expectations is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties including factors underlying management's assumptions, such as risks related to: title, permitting and regulatory risks; exploration and the establishment of any resources or reserves on the LSC properties; volatility in lithium prices and the market for lithium; exchange rate fluctuations; volatility in LSCs share price; the requirement for significant additional funds for development that may not be available; changes in national and local government legislation, including permitting and licensing regimes and taxation policies and the enforcement thereof; regulatory, political or economic developments in Argentina or elsewhere; litigation; title, permit or license disputes related to interests on any of the properties in which the Company holds an interest; excessive cost escalation as well as development, permitting, infrastructure, operating or technical difficulties on any of the Company's properties; risks and hazards associated with the business of development and mining on any of the Company's properties. Actual future results may differ materially. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and LSC is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. For more information, see the Company's filing statement on SEDAR at www.sedar.com .

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange Inc. 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.

The TSX Venture Exchange Inc. has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.The Ukrainian Yevhen Kolobychko who lived in the unrecognized Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic has twice left military unit over soldiers abuse

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) adjudged Russian Federation guilty of death of Ukrainian citizen Yevhen Kolobychko who was serving in the army of the unrecognized Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic and obliged it to pay 20,000 euros of non-pecuniary damage to the father of the deceased, as the Ukrainian News agency reported.

The father of Yevhen, Ivan Kolobychko is a citizen of Ukraine, but lives in Transnistrias Tiraspol. The case concerned the death of his son Yevhen during his service in the army of an unrecognized Transnistria.

In July 2007, the Transnistrian army drafted Kolobychko's son to a military unit located in Tiraspol. After 2 months, the rookie left the military unit and moved to his cousin. He explained that the soldiers beat him and mocked him. In October 2007, Yevhen Kolobychko was forced to return to the barracks, from which he escaped again a week later.

Later, his body was found on the riverbank of Dniester River in January 2008. The forensics concluded that he had drowned.

Military prosecutors office of Transnistria has opened the case and then closed it due to absence of the defendants. The father of Kolobychko also filed a complaint to the law enforcers of Moldova and Russia, but it also did not have any results. In the end, he filed to the European Court of Human Rights against Moldova, Russia and Ukraine.

The European Court found the lawsuit against Ukraine inadmissible.

ECHR decided that Russia was guilty of this incident and ordered it to pay the father of the deceased 20,000 euros of non-pecuniary damage and 2,400 euros to cover the expenditures.

As it was reported earlier, in Odesa, the law enforcers have detained a killer from the unrecognized Transnistrian Republic. A man was detained in Kyiv district of Odesa. A perpetrator drew the attention of the police patrol by an unstuck beard. A Makarov Pistol with bullets was confiscated during the inspection of a man.Nina Yuzhanina, the Head of the Committee on Fiscal and Customs Policy, hopes that these questions can be put on voting during the session, yet, now everything depends on the Government's reaction, on the Finance Ministry in particular

91 amendments were added to the bill on new excises for import cars, and 65 to the bill on fines for violations. The consolidated position of the Government is expected concerning which amendments to support and which to decline. Nina Yuzhanina, the Head of the Committee on Fiscal and Customs Policy, peoples deputy from Petro Poroshenko Bloc, said in the lobby of the Verkhovna Rada. 112 Ukraine broadcasted it.

91 amendments were submitted to the bill on changes of the rate of excise tax. They are different in content, but the majority concerns the change of formula. Most of the amendments concern the cancellation of the age index (of a car, - ed.) or its replacement by the ecology index or the decreasing coefficient to the age index, Yuzhanina said.

According to her, there are no amendments to the basic rates 50 and 75 for petrol and diesel-powered engines.

There are amendments only depending on the engine volume. Most of the amendments and proposals are to make the reduce the excise to 200-300. There are lots of amendments which concern the vehicles with electric engines, the Head of the Committee specified.

65 amendments were submitted to the second bill on amendments to the Customs Code. The worst is that it feels that all the amendments concern the cancellation of those controlled and blocking measures we intended to impose after customs clearance and after the permission to perform customs clearing under the new regulations, Yuzhanina said.

She noted that the tablets with the amendments were published on the website of the tax committee so that everyone is informed.

There is no point in considering the amendments till the second reading in the Committee. Working groups, representatives from all the ministries, who will be interconnected within the implementation of these laws and will be performing certain functions, were working on the bills for two years. So the amendments cant be considered without their opinion. And, most importantly, we have to receive the calculations of the Finance Ministry on which amendments have to be considered and which concern the rate of the excise tax, she said.

Yuzhanina specified that the Finance Ministry had to make new calculations concerning all the proposals under the new rates of excise tax.

According to her, that is why the Committee decided to appeal with a letter to all the ministries urging the Finance Ministry to provide a consolidated position of the Government on the matter.

The ministries have to accelerate this process. On October 2, we are having a session, we will be considering the bill on tax on the withdrawn capital. If till then we will receive the proposals from the ministries, I am ready to consider them. It not, we can have an extraordinary meeting next week, the peoples deputy noted.

She supposed that at best, these bills will be ready in early November.

Earlier, on July 13, 2018, on the last plenary day of the Verkhovna Radas session, the deputies supported two bills as a basis. The bills are to solve the problem of the vehicles with Euro-car plates which were not custom-cleared. One of them proposes to impose new rates of the excise tax, another  to increase the fines for the violations during the process of transferring a car into Ukraine.During the German occupation of Kyiv in 1941-1943, Babyn Yar was the place of the mass shooting of Jews and Romes

On September 18, the mournful march on "Death Road" to "Menorah" memorial at the territory of the National reserve "Babyn Yar" took place 112.ua reported.

The march is dedicated to the 77th anniversary of the tragedy in Babyn Yar. More than 150 people participated in it.

During the German occupation of Kyiv in 1941-1943, Babyn Yar was the place of the mass shooting of Jews and Romes, Soviet prisoners of war, prisoner of Syrets death camp, member of the Organization of Ukrainian nationalists and others.

Only for two days, on September 29-30, 1941, 34,000 Jews were shot there. Totally, during two years, 100-150,000 people, including two-thirds Jews, died there.

Related video:The local authorities are recommended to made same decisions on the imposing of the same moratorium

Open source

The peoples deputies of Lviv City Council decided to impose a moratorium on the public use of Russian cultural product on the territory of the region on September 18, as local media reports.

As it was specified, it was about the introduction of a moratorium on a public use of Russian cultural product in any forms on the territory of Lviv region till the complete end of the occupation of Ukraine.

This decision was made to avoid the escalation of tensions in the community and avoidance of stoking ethnic dissension to protect the Ukrainian informational space from the hybrid influence of the aggressor state and overcoming of the circumstances of a long-term language russification; considering multiple appeals of the patriotic and veteran NGOs.

In its turn, Lviv Region State Administration has to take measures concerning the creation of an interdepartmental working group (with the community, law enforcers and regional state administration) to conduct systematic explanatory work for the physical and legal entities on the moratorium on the public use of the Russian cultural product.

Moreover, the local authorities are recommended to made same decisions on the imposing of the same moratorium.

The executive apparatus of the regional council is entrusted to develop and present for considering an appeal to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine concerning the necessity of amendments to the legislative acts of Ukraine on the ban of public replication of audiovisual records in the language of the aggressor state.

Earlier, Lviv region council demanded the Ukrainian authorities terminate the diplomatic relationships and impose a visa-regime with Russia.The order of President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko on the decision of the National Security and Defense Council dated September 2018 "On Treaty on friendship, cooperation and partnership between Ukraine and Russian Federation" was published at Uryadovy Kuryer.

According to the proper order signed by the Ukrainian leader on September 17, it comes into force since the day it was published.

Earlier, the President Petro Poroshenko introduced the decision of NSDC on termination of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership with Russia.

As the presidents representative in the Verkhovna Rada Iryna Lutsenko noted, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine will inform Russia before September 30, and Poroshenko will introduce the bill to the parliament.

In its turn, Russia regretted Ukraines intentions to terminate the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership.

As it was reported earlier, the Ukraine-Russia Friendship Treaty of 1998 fixed the principle of strategic partnership, the recognition of the inviolability of existing borders, respect for territorial integrity and mutual commitment not to use its territory to harm the security of each other. The treaty automatically renews on each 10th anniversary of its signing, unless one party advises the other of its intention to end the treaty.

Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council approved the initiative of President Petro Poroshenko, who offered to discontinue the Treaty on Friendship, Partnership and Cooperation with the Russian Federation for ten years-long period.

Related video:Open source

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved the draft agreement on the trips on Ukrainian passports in the form of ID-cards with Georgia for the citizens of both countries as RBK-Ukraine reported.

The agreement provides that the citizens of Ukraine will be able to visit Georgia on the basis of the inner passports in the form of ID-cards which contain the contactless electronic medium.

At the moment, the agreement on the visa-free trips dated March 31, 1999 acts between the countries. It allows the citizens to not execute the extended visa for stay of living for more than 90 days.

It is expected that the implementation of the agreement on ID-cards trips will cause the increase of the incomes to the state and local budgets due to the increase of the number of tourists.

Earlier Ukraine and Georgia agreed to speed up the process of the implementation of trips between countries on inner biometric passports. The proper agreement was reached during the meeting of Oleksandr Saenko, the minister of the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers and Mamuka Bakhtadze, the Prime Minister of Georgia that took place in Tbilisi.

As we reported Ukraine intends to agree on the mutual cancelation of visa with Uruguay. Thus, the government approved the draft agreement with Uruguay on the mutual cancelation of visa demands and authorized ambassador to Argentine and concurrently to Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay Yury Dyudin to sign it.

Related video:Open source

The Ukrainian radio stations exceed the quotas of the Ukrainian-language songs. President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko claimed this at the creative evening of composer Myroslav Skoryk as 112 Ukraine reported.

"According to the monitoring, this year, the national radio stations exceed the established quotas of the Ukrainian-language songs for 24% and the local for 18%," the president said.

Earlier we reported that the final state of the implementation of the quotas for the Ukrainian-language songs and programs at radio began in Ukraine.

As we reported the Ukrainian media that broadcast to the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as to the territory of the annexed Crimea, will conduct 75% of their broadcasting in October this year in the Ukrainian language. The member of the National Council of Ukraine on TV and Radio Broadcasting Serhiy Kostinsky told about it.

Also, the volume of Ukrainian-language broadcasting content on TV became 98% after language quotas were adopted that is 23% more than the established quotas required.

In accordance with the law "On Amending Certain Laws of Ukraine on the Language of Audiovisual (Electronic) Media," all TV channels are required to observe a quota of 75% of Ukrainian-language broadcasts during the week between next hours 07:00 -18:00 and 18:00-22:00 on nationwide TV channels. For regional TV channels, the quota is reduced to 60%, although in the first reading this figure ever reached 50%. But this was not applied to news.

Related video:This sum is $50 million more than the 2018 budget of such support programs for Ukraine

U.S. Senate has supported allocating 250 million dollars for Ukraines defense in 2019. Ukraines Embassy in Washington reported this on Facebook.

The U.S. Senate has approved the bill of the Defense Appropriations Act, 2019 earlier agreed upon with the House of Representatives, which provides for allocating 250 million dollars for Ukraines defense. This sum is $50 million more than the 2018 budget of such support programs for Ukraine

As the bill states, $250 million is allocated for holding drills, providing military equipment, lethal weapons and logistic aid, changing weapons or military products provided earlier. The list of assistance includes intelligence support of armed and security forces of Ukraine.

The bill of the Defense Appropriations Act, 2019 will take force after the voting of the House of Representatives and then it will be passed for the president to sign.

As it was reported earlier, the U.S. Senates House of Representatives supported allocating $250 million to Ukraine for the security and defense. The document includes major fundamental provisions of the bill on "Cooperation with Ukraine in the cyber-security sphere", which in particular provides for strengthening defensibility against cyber attacks, securing governmental computer networks, reducing dependencies on Russian informational and communicational technologies, aiding in participation in information exchange programs.Rob M.

Back in June Canada legalized recreational cannabis for adults over 21. Retail sales begin in October. It was a huge signal to the rest of the civilized world that times were a-changing, and the freaks were winning the war. I assumed it bode well for us. After all, America is a nation of hubris, and we'd be damned if we let those weak-kneed, poutine-eating hippies beat us at any race.

Our friendly neighbors to the north received a not-so-friendly message last week when Todd Owen, executive assistant commissioner for the Office of Field Operations with the US Customs and Border Protection agency, told Politico that anyone working in the cannabis industry would not be allowed into the country and would be banned from entering for life. Those with a ban can apply for a waiver, which costs $585 and takes several months to process.

Most shocking was the revelation that anyone who has even invested in a cannabis company will also be barred from entering the US, on the grounds that they're benefiting from drug trafficking. This landed a huge hit to cannabis stocks, which MarketWatch reports fell in the hours following the report's publication.

Section 212 of the US Immigration and Nationality Act says a foreigner who is determined to be a drug abuser or addict, or anyone who is or has been an illicit trafficker in any controlled substance, is ineligible to receive visas or be admitted into the US.

According to Owen, travelers are not required to announce whether they have ever smoked cannabis or are involved in the industry, but border agents are instructed to ask questions if they believe they've smelled cannabis or if anything is detected by inspection dogs. He pointed out that lying to these agents will also be rewarded with a lifetime ban.

Call me a conspiracy theorist, but this seems like a really sneaky way to undermine the cannabis industry and force investors to flee. But despite the initial reaction, many of the cannabis companies reportedly made up their losses by the end of the day, begging the question: Why would the federal government be so stupid as to make a big fluff about this? Are we really going to start turning business people away at the border to prove a point? Canadians reportedly made more than 42 million same-day and overnight trips into the US last year. Come next month, that number will probably get chopped off at the knees.

N.M. Rejects Cannabis for Opioid Addiction Again

Surprise, surprise. New Mexico Department of Health Secretary Lynn Gallagher once again ignored science and the advice of experts to include opioid dependence on the department's list of conditions that qualify a patient to receive a medical cannabis card.

According to the Santa Fe New Mexican, Gallagher wrote in a decision: I cannot say with any degree of confidence that the use of cannabis for treatment of opioid dependence and its symptoms would be either safe or effective.

I can relate to an extentthere hasn't been much research in the area yet, thanks to federal bansbut calling it unsafe is ridiculous. And the research that does exist is incredibly positive and compelling. A couple of months ago, I talked to Associate Professor Dr. Jacob Miguel Vigil of the University of New Mexico about the psychology department's research into this exact subject. A paper co-authored by Vigil, Associations between medical cannabis and prescription opioid use in chronic pain patients gained plenty of press nationally for finding a correlation between decreased opioid prescriptions and the level of access a patient has to some form of legal cannabis.

I was shocked when he told me over a plate of tacos that he thought Big Pharma was actively keeping research from happening because it was so good at treating opioid addiction. When we were analyzing some of the data that showed that opiate use dramatically dropped, not only did I get chills, he told me, but there was explicit thoughts that the information may put us at physical risk of harm if it were disclosed.

I doubt Gallagher is unaware of the study. One thing she's definitely aware of is the 5 to 1 vote by the state's Medical Cannabis Advisory Board to recommend the condition be included. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, New Mexico doctors wrote 70 opioid prescriptions for every 100 people in 2015.

In 2016, we had a total number of 349 opioid-related overdose deaths in New Mexico. Compared to the number of cannabis overdose deaths (a whopping zero), the idea of saying you don't think it would be safe is laughable. For shame, Gallagher.

Gallagher also declined the advisory board's recommendations to add muscular dystrophy, Tourettes syndrome, eczema and psoriasis as qualifying conditions for the states medical cannabis program. She did add obstructive sleep apnea. What a peach.

Cannabis Industry Loves Lujan Grisham

Last week, The Associated Press reported Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham's campaign finance filings show a number of contributions from state medical cannabis companies.

According to the report, the candidate received more than $20,000 from cannabis contributors since July. Some of the companies included in the list were the Verdes Foundation and MJ Express-O.

Lujan Grisham has expressed support for legalizing recreational cannabis use for adults in New Mexico. Her opponent Rep. Steve Pearceon the other handweirdly said cannabis is an obstacle in front of people who are struggling to get out of poverty.An exhibition of large-scale paintings and a collaboration of poetry on glass. The works are inspired by mountain ranges around the globe.

Pilgrimage

Beau Carey, Joanne Lefrak, and Hakim Bellamy

August 14October 5

Gallery Reception: Saturday, August 11, 68:30 pm, poetry reading 7 pm

Richard Levy Gallery is pleased to present Pilgrimage, an exhibition of large-scale paintings by Albuquerque artist Beau Carey and a collaboration of poetry on glass by Santa Febased artist Joanne Lefrak and Albuquerque poet Hakim Bellamy. The artworks included in Pilgrimage are inspired by mountain ranges around the globe.

Individual landscape paintings are often about specific places. Beau Careys new paintings comprise multiple geographies. He paints each invented landscape from memory, plein-air studies, and photographs. Mountain ranges from Norway, Alaska, and Colorado are compressed and layered into single compositions. Carey has traveled to remote areas including Denali National Park and the Arctic Circle to paint.

Joanne Lefrak and Hakim Bellamy traveled together to visit Nepals sacred sites and trek through the Himalayas. From this experience, Bellamy wrote a book of poetry entitled Prayer Flags about the pilgrimage, mountains, and people of Nepal. Lefrak selected excerpts from these poems and fused the text into glass by pressing glass powder through a silkscreen before firing in a kiln.

Careys work has been published on Blouin Artinfo, ARTSY, Sothebys, and alibi.com. He is an instructor in the Art Department at the University of New Mexico.

Lefraks work has been exhibited at MASS MoCA, the Albuquerque Museum, and the New Mexico Museum of Art, among others. She is the director of education and the curator of public practice at SITE Santa Fe.

Bellamy was Albuquerques Poet Laureate from 2012 to 2014 and is the newly appointed Deputy Director of Cultural Services. He is also a 2018 Kennedy Center Citizen Artist Fellow.

The gallery reception is Saturday, August 11 from 6:00 to 8:30 pm and includes a reading of Prayer Flags by Hakim Bellamy at 7:00. Copies of Prayer Flags and collaborative limited edition screen prints produced onsite by T-Shirt Lab are available for sale during the reception.

Images for this exhibition can be found on our website www.levygallery.com.

High-resolution images are available on request. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @levygallery #BeauCarey #JoanneLefrak #HakimBellamy #tshirtlab #Pilgrimage #PrayerFlags

Dates: August 14October 5, 2018

Gallery Reception: Saturday, August 11, 68:30 pm, poetry reading 7 pm

Gallery Hours: TuesdaySaturday, 11 am4 pm

Location: 514 Central Avenue SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

Contact: 505.766.9888, info@levygallery.com, www.levygallery.com

Gallery Reception: Saturday, August 11, 68:30 pm, poetry reading 7 pmKingwood, Texas, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Jen Mortensens lice nightmare began when hosting relatives who brought head lice with them to her home in California. Little did she know it would lead to a new business opportunity. I freaked out, she admits. My husband went to the drugstore and bought every lice-killing treatment available. I cleaned the house like a maniac and put everything made of fabric outside.

The family thought they had solved their lice problem. But when the group traveled to Utah to visit more family members, things took a turn for the worse. The lice werent gone after all, Jen said, so we repeated the whole process with the drugstore shampoos and the cleaning. Once again, it didnt work, and we were all frustrated, exhausted, and getting angry.

Finally, the families found Lice Clinics of America. We took 11 people to Lice Clinics of America, Jen said. They patiently checked all of us, and four of us had lice. They took care of the issue in less than an hour per person and restored our sanity and our peace of mind. We were overjoyed, and my husband said we could do this for other people.

Lice Clinics of America is the exclusive provider of head lice treatment using the AirAlle, an FDA-cleared medical device clinically shown to kill live lice and more than 99 percent of eggs (nits) using heated air to dehydrate lice and eggs. Most treatments take about an hour and are guaranteed to be effective.

Jen has since opened Lice Clinics of America  Kingwood, a serendipitous opportunity as the family had been considering moving to the area. The clinic provides screening, diagnosis and treatment options for people infested with head lice and is staffed by certified operators of the AirAlle medical device.

I am determined to advocate for parents to prevent them from going through what we did, Jen said.

Many parents, like Jen, try and fail to treat head lice with traditional head lice treatment products. Head lice have become immune to the chemical pesticides in the most popular products. A recent study in the Journal of Medical Entomology found that 98 percent of so-called super lice in most U.S. states are resistant to the active ingredients. The pesticides used in traditional lice products have also been linked to developmental and behavioral problems in children.

A former teacher, Jen is aware that many schools and healthcare providers continue to recommend treatments that are no longer effective. We always sent people to the drugstore, Jen said. Im on a mission to make sure people dont relive our lice nightmare.

The AirAlle medical device is effective against super lice because it doesnt rely on pesticides. The device has treated more than 400,000 cases of head lice worldwide with a success rate better than 99 percent.

Lice Clinics of America  Kingwood is located at 2330 Timber Shadows Dr., Suite 102. The clinic is open seven days a week by appointment. The AirAlle treatment comes with a 30-day guarantee when all family members are treated or screened for head lice.

With more than 350 clinics in 36 countries, Lice Clinics of America (www.LiceClinicsOfAmerica.com) is the largest network of professional head lice treatment centers in the world. Lice Clinics of America and AirAlle (www.airalle.com) are brands owned by Larada Sciences, Inc., which is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.PLEASE NOTE!

Due to the March 23, 2020 NM DOH Public Health Order, These Event Listings Are Not Accurate!

All non-essential businesses are closed, public gatherings are prohibited!

(One day some of these events will be rescheduled or will resume, but they are not happening now!)PALO ALTO, Calif., Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VMware, Inc. (NYSE: VMW), a leading innovator in enterprise software, today announced it has been named a leader in the IDC MarketScape: Unified Endpoint Management Software 2018 Vendor Assessment.



As businesses plot their course to implement comprehensive device management platforms, IDC predicts 1 by 2023 more than three-quarters of enterprises expect to have either the majority, or the entirety, of their corporate PC deployments managed by Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) platforms. VMwares position in the UEM Software vendor assessment reflects its comprehensive approach targeted directly at PC lifecycle management installed bases, as enterprises continue to transition from traditional management approaches to modern management through a single console and platform.

According to the IDC MarketScape report, VMware, with its Workspace ONE unified endpoint management, is among the most aggressive in terms of pushing UEM capabilities to the broadest set of users and challenging incumbent PC lifecycle management platforms for migration to UEM and modern management.

Workspace ONE provides a consistent unified app catalog that enables single sign-on to all business applications  SaaS, internal, native, and virtual  bridging the gap for modern workforces. Through VMware Workspace ONE UEM , customers may leverage cloud-based modern management techniques to reinvent PC management and unify alongside, mobile, rugged, and IoT devices.

Our customers have the challenging task of meeting the diverse and evolving needs of a digital workforce. Our unified endpoint management platform serves as a foundational technology for enterprises as they embark on their digital transformation journey, said Noah Wasmer, senior vice president and general manager, End-User Computing, VMware. Were proud to be recognized by the IDC MarketScape for our breadth of capabilities in both UEM and EMM technologies as we continue to enable seamless IT and end-user experiences  no matter the device or OS platform  with intelligence-driven and automated end-to-end modern management capabilities in Workspace ONE.

VMware remains an industry leader and innovator through new offerings and solutions directly targeting industry and customer needs. The latest capabilities introduced include:

Windows 10 management capabilities across the entire lifecycle including comprehensive onboarding with out-of-box enrollment, configuration management supporting mobile device management (MDM) APIs and group policy objects (GPOs), no matter the domain, OS patch management and Peer-to-Peer Win32 software distribution.

Data driven analytics with Workspace ONE Intelligence , aggregating and correlating data across devices, apps, users, and networks to provide insights and recommendations across the entire digital workspace and automate common workflows to reduce IT time and cost and increase security.

, aggregating and correlating data across devices, apps, users, and networks to provide insights and recommendations across the entire digital workspace and automate common workflows to reduce IT time and cost and increase security. New Workspace ONE AirLift server-side connector enabling customers to automate the migration of System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) collections, app packages, and managed devices to Workspace ONE modern management.

Unique predictive patching leveraging Workspace ONE Intelligence to assess device readiness and risk based on CVE feeds.

First UEM platform to support 100% of GPOs utilizing industry recognized security benchmarks from Center for Internet Security (CIS) and Microsoft to simplify GPO management.

Consistent end user experience for all apps regardless of OS platforms across desktop and mobile with integrated virtual Windows app delivery and Win32 app management and distribution.

Efficient Mac management capabilities with modern management approach leveraging Apple Business/School Manager (DEP and VPP), lifecycle management of native Mac applications, and enablement of critical Windows and SaaS applications on macOS devices with a native Workspace ONE app catalog.

In recognition of its Workspace ONE UEM capabilities, VMware was also recently positioned as a leader in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Enterprise Mobility Management Software 2018 Vendor Assessment for its second consecutive year. To access an excerpt of the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Unified Endpoint Management Software 2018 Vendor Assessment (Doc # US43294318, August 2018) report, click here .

Additional Resources

Visit the VMware End-User Computing blog to learn more about Workspace ONE

to learn more about Workspace ONE For more information or to register for a free trial, visit the Workspace ONE product page.

product page. Follow VMware on Facebook , LinkedIn and Twitter

About IDC MarketScape

IDC MarketScape vendor analysis model is designed to provide an overview of the competitive fitness of ICT (information and communications technology) suppliers in a given market. The research methodology utilizes a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that results in a single graphical illustration of each vendors position within a given market. IDC MarketScape provides a clear framework in which the product and service offerings, capabilities and strategies, and current and future market success factors of IT and telecommunications vendors can be meaningfully compared. The framework also provides technology buyers with a 360-degree assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of current and prospective vendors.

About VMware

VMware software powers the worlds most complex digital infrastructure. The companys compute, cloud, mobility, networking and security offerings provide a dynamic and efficient digital foundation to over 500,000 customers globally, aided by an ecosystem of 75,000 partners. Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, this year VMware celebrates twenty years of breakthrough innovation benefiting business and society. For more information please visit https://www.vmware.com/company.html .

This article may contain hyperlinks to non-VMware websites that are created and maintained by third parties who are solely responsible for the content on such websites.

VMware, Workspace ONE, Workspace ONE Intelligence, Workspace ONE UEM and Workspace ONE AirLift are registered trademarks or trademarks of VMware, Inc. in the United States and other jurisdictions.

Media Contact

Angela Leaf

VMware Global Communications

Phone: +1 860 480 3367

aleaf@vmware.comCONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. and SANTA ANA, Calif., Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Allied Universal is proud to recognize security officers during the fourth annual National Security Officer Appreciation Week , September 16  22, 2018.



National Security Officer Appreciation Week honors the incredible efforts of our nations security officers to create safer and more secure environments, says Steve Jones, CEO, Allied Universal. The appreciation week is also an opportunity to profile the many roles security officers fill; debunk misconceptions and stereotypes; and raise awareness of the career opportunities that exist within the security services industry.

Security professionals are hard-working, highly trained men and women who are our protectors, guardians and first responders. These individuals deter crime, lead evacuations, provide information, work closely with local law enforcement and are constantly vigilant in their efforts to keep us safe. This annual event is featured in Chases Calendar of Events. Join in the celebration on social media using #ThankYouSecurity in your posts.

About National Security Officer Appreciation Week

National Security Officer Appreciation Week is celebrated annually during the third full week of September. Established in 2015, this appreciation week was developed to recognize the work of all contract and in-house security officers across all industries. For more information visit www.aus.com/ThankYouSecurity .

About Allied Universal

Allied Universal, a leading facility services company and the largest security force in North America with over 160,000 employees, provides unparalleled security services and solutions. With headquarters in Santa Ana, Calif., and Conshohocken, Pa., Allied Universal combines people and technology to deliver evolving, tailored solutions that allow our clients to focus on their core business. An unrelenting focus on clients success creates partnerships rooted in quality and value, and is supported by experience gained from being in business for over 60 years. Through our people and leading services, systems and solutionsAllied Universal is there for you. For more information, please visit www.aus.com .

Contact: Nancy Thompson, Vorticom Public Relations

Phone: 212-532-2208 Email: nancyt@vorticom.com

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/228be7f9-7c01-437f-9767-61ae8f84d724

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7cbe919e-183c-4da5-8b9b-22a78f27afddDAYTON, Ohio, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Panini is pleased to announce that effective September 17, 2018, Dan Napoles joined the company as Senior Vice President, Global Technical Services (GTS) and will lead the companys technical services functions worldwide including services delivery, services program definition & development, GTS commercial results & operational excellence, and GTS strategic direction & growth. Napoles will be instrumental to Paninis strategy to support continued growth while extending its market leadership position.



Mr. Napoles comes to Panini after a highly successful career in services with Avery Dennison, a $6.6 billion global materials science and manufacturing company with operations in more than 50 countries. During his tenure with Avery Dennison, Dan started as a field engineer in Los Angeles CA, servicing printers and radio frequency security systems, including system installation and contract sales responsibilities. He was promoted to Services Branch Manager where he managed a team of field service engineers and depot technicians. Dan was responsible for all branch operations, and in this role, Dan achieved dramatic business growth. He was then promoted to US Central Region Services Director, managing an extensive team of field engineers, major depot/repair centers and a pre-print center. He continued to demonstrate his capacity for maximizing customer satisfaction and business results, and based on Dans outstanding performance in the field, he was promoted to a corporate position responsible for all service operations administration for North American, South American, and Western European markets. By applying his first-hand field services expertise, Dan reengineered all aspects of service operations. His extensive experience in all aspects of global technical services is a tremendously valuable addition to the Panini team and a strong statement regarding Paninis commitment to world-class service and support.

Dan earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Management with honors from Capital University. He also completed an intensive executive services program at Oracle University Training Center.

Im delighted to add Dans talents, experience and enthusiasm to our team, says Michael Pratt, CEO, Panini. The addition of a senior executive of this caliber will be instrumental to our continued expansion while reinforcing our commitment to global service excellence.

About Panini

Founded in Turin, Italy, Panini has enabled clients to capitalize on shifts in the global payments processing market for over seventy years. Panini has a rich history of technology innovation, leveraging the companys expertise in research & development. Paninis market leading solutions are based on state-of-the-art engineering resources and ISO 9001 quality certified production. Panini offers check capture platforms which enable customers to fully realize the advantages and efficiencies available with the digital transformation of the paper check, resulting in the worlds largest deployed base of check capture systems, now exceeding one million devices. Paninis scalable solutions address the complete range of distributed check processing opportunities including teller capture, back-counter capture, remote deposit capture, check cashing and remittance processing and point-of-sale capture. The company operates on a global scale and has direct subsidiaries in the United States covering North America and in Brazil covering Latin American markets.

For more information visit www.panini.com.





Jessica Back, Communications

jess.back@panini.com

+1 937.291.2195VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trevali Mining Corporation (Trevali or the Company) (TSX: TV, BVL: TV; OTCQX: TREVF, Frankfurt: 4TI) announces that it has entered into an amended and restated credit agreement with a syndicate of lenders for a US$275 million revolving credit facility (the New Facility). The New Facility replaces the US$160 million term loan facility and the US$30 million revolving facility entered into in August 2017.



The New Facility will bear interest on a sliding scale: (i) at a rate of LIBOR plus between 2.0% to 3.0%; or (ii) at a base rate plus between 1.0% to 2.0%, based on the Companys consolidated leverage ratio. Commitment fees for the undrawn portion of the facility will also be on a sliding scale between 0.45% to 0.675%. The term of the New Facility is four years, maturing on September 18, 2022. The Company expects to realize savings of up to US$5 million over the term of the New Facility due to the reduction in interest and standby fee rates. Proceeds from the New Facility will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes.

We are very pleased to complete the refinancing of our credit facility and for the improved pricing that we have secured, stated Dr. Mark Cruise, President and CEO of Trevali. We are grateful for the ongoing support of our lenders and for the opportunity to introduce new lenders into the syndicate. The new facility provides increased financial flexibility going forward.

The Bank of Nova Scotia acted as Administrative Agent, Joint Bookrunner and Co-Lead Arranger and HSBC Bank Canada acted as Joint Bookrunner and Co-Lead Arranger. The lending syndicate is comprised of The Bank of Nova Scotia, HSBC Bank Canada, Societe Generale, Bank of Montreal, The Toronto-Dominion Bank, National Bank of Canada and ING Capital LLC.

ABOUT TREVALI MINING CORPORATION

Trevali is a zinc-focused, base metals company with four mines: the wholly-owned Santander mine in Peru, the wholly-owned Caribou mine in the Bathurst Mining Camp of northern New Brunswick, the 90% owned Rosh Pinah mine in Namibia and the 90% owned Perkoa mine in Burkina Faso.

The shares of Trevali are listed on the TSX (symbol TV), the OTCQX (symbol TREVF), the Lima Stock Exchange (symbol TV), and the Frankfurt Exchange (symbol 4TI). For further details on Trevali, readers are referred to the Companys website (www.trevali.com) and to Canadian regulatory filings on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of

TREVALI MINING CORPORATION

Mark D. Cruise (signed)

Mark D. Cruise, President

Contact Information:

Steve Stakiw, Vice President - Investor Relations and Corporate Communications

Email: sstakiw@trevali.com

Phone: (604) 488-1661 / Direct: (604) 638-5623

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of the Canadian securities legislation and forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the United States Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, or in releases made by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, all as may be amended from time. Statements containing forward-looking information express, as at the date of this news release, the Companys plans, estimates, forecasts, projections, expectations, or beliefs as to future events or results. Such forward-looking statements and information include, but are not limited to, statements as to interest and fees that will be borne on the New Facility and anticipated savings as a result of same, the anticipated use of proceeds from the New Facility, and the ability of the New Facility to provide additional liquidity and funding flexibility.

These statements reflect the Companys current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. If any assumptions are untrue, it could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including commodity prices, anticipated costs and ability to achieve goals.

Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause the Companys actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: risks related to joint venture operations; fluctuations in spot and forward markets for silver, zinc, base metals and certain other commodities (such as natural gas, fuel oil and electricity); fluctuations in currency markets; risks related to the technological and operational nature of the Companys business; changes in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls or regulations and political or economic developments in Canada, the United States, Peru, Namibia, Burkina Faso, or other countries where the Company may carry on business in the future; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected geological or structural formations, pressures, cave-ins and flooding); risks relating to the credit worthiness or financial condition of suppliers, refiners and other parties with whom the Company does business; inadequate insurance, or inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks and hazards; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities and indigenous populations; availability and increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses and permits and the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; diminishing quantities or grades of mineral resources as properties are mined; global financial conditions; business opportunities that may be presented to, or pursued by, the Company; the Companys ability to complete and successfully integrate acquisitions and to mitigate other business combination risks; challenges to, or difficulty in maintaining, the Companys title to properties and continued ownership thereof; the actual results of current exploration activities, conclusions of economic evaluations, and changes in project parameters to deal with unanticipated economic or other factors; increased competition in the mining industry for properties, equipment, qualified personnel, and their costs, as well as other risks as more fully described in the Companys annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2017, which is available on the Companys website ( www.trevali.com ) and filed under our profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty or reliance on forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, described or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements or information, other than as required by applicable law.

Source: Trevali Mining CorporationPartnership combines brand agency experience and creativity

with robust technology foundation to deliver unparalleled customer experiences

MEMPHIS, Tenn. and REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading brand communications agency Archer Malmo and B2C marketing automation platform Selligent Marketing Cloud today announced a partnership to deliver consumer-first digital marketing strategies for brands. The partnership pairs Selligent Marketing Clouds natively integrated marketing automation platform with Archer Malmos more than 65 years of experience crafting marketing campaigns to deliver best-in-class customer experiences for clients.

Archer Malmo has begun implementing Selligent Marketing Clouds capabilities for clients like Palm Beach Tan , an indoor tanning market leader in the U.S.. Selligents platform enables Palm Beach Tan to focus on delivering value and forging long-term relationships by capturing critical data and personalizing engagement across its customer base. Archer Malmos rich roster of clients include Hyatt Hotels, Delaware North, FedEx, and CITGO, among others.

Advertising moves at a pace that requires technology partners to be innovative and nimble in order to execute powerful campaigns, said Ken Rohman, Chief Digital Officer of Archer Malmo. No other marketing technology provider has been able to match the responsiveness and the ability to work with us hand-in-hand to support client needs like Selligent. Our client base will undoubtedly benefit from our relationship.

Palm Beach Tan is focused on building long-term customer relationships rooted in service, quality and value  key principles that both Archer Malmo and Selligent Marketing Cloud share, said Tom Barzizza, President of Archer Malmo Retail. Effective management and understanding of how the brands hundreds of thousands of customers across the nation are responding to our engagements is critical to delivering the experiences that they have come to expect.

As a forward-thinking agency bridging the gaps between branding, data, and technology, Archer Malmo leans on technology to help execute thoughtful, creative and leading-edge campaigns for clients that sell to digitally savvy consumers. Archer Malmo required a technology partner to support their growing needs  a sophisticated platform like Selligent Marketing Cloud is able to provide all of the tools the agency needs to deliver the most complex programs.

Great storytelling is at the heart of what makes Archer Malmo a leading agency. By working together, were allowing them to focus on doing what they do best while we do the technology heavy-lifting, said John Hernandez, CEO of Selligent Marketing Cloud. Supporting their work at every step of a customers journey allows us to build cohesive, tailored and data-powered brand-to-consumer experiences that result in trusted and valued relationships. Were excited to work closely with Archer Malmo and are committed to growing this partnership.

About Archer Malmo

Archer Malmo, with offices in Memphis, Tennessee, and Austin, Texas, combines brand thinking, data and technology to help growing brands adapt to the digital and creative complexities of today. Since 1952, weve continually evolved to changes in the industry, helping level the competitive playing field for progressive companies. The agencys combination of discipline specialists, strategic orientation, creativity and culture yields strong client relationships and business results. With more than 175 people, Archer Malmo is one of the oldest independent agencies in the U.S. and has been recognized by Advertising Age and others as a Best Place to Work and has been named to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in America for five consecutive years.

About Selligent Marketing Cloud

Selligent Marketing Cloud is a marketing automation platform that enables B2C brands to engage consumers across all critical channels. Built for the relationship marketer, Selligent Marketing Cloud is the only marketing cloud built on a single code base, featuring artificial intelligence and a Customer Data Platform with a universal consumer profile at the core of every action.

More than 700 brands across retail, travel, automotive, publishing, and financial services rely on Selligents proven platform. With 10 offices across the United States and Europe and more than 50 agency partners, Selligent serves over 30 countries with local, personalized service.PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hill International, Inc., the global leader in managing construction risk, announced it has received two contracts from Millenium Bioenergia S.A. to provide project management and construction management services for the construction of two ethanol plants. The two plants have a combined total project value of $300 million.



Located in Jaciara and Tabapora, Brazil, the ethanol plants are anticipated to be operational in late 2019. Millenium Bioenergia specializes in ethanol fuel production from sugarcane and corn (maize), dried distillers grains with solubles production (DDGS), and cogeneration of electricity, and is expecting the Jaciara Plant to produce 600,000 liters of fuel per day and the Tabapora Plant 900,000 liters per day.

Millenium Bioenergia has a clear vision for Brazils energy future, explained Luis Lugo, Hills Senior Vice President and Regional Manager, Southeast America/Caribbean/Latin America. These two plants, along with similar forward-thinking projects, will power the Brazilian economys rebound this year and beyond. Hills expertise, experience, and solutions on similar sustainable energy generation projects match well with the companys goals.

Hill International, with approximately 2,800 professionals in more than 50 offices worldwide, provides program management, project management, construction management, and other consulting services to clients in a variety of market sectors. Engineering News-Record magazine recently ranked Hill as the eighth-largest construction management firm in the United States. For more information on Hill, please visit our website at www.hillintl.com .

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements contained herein may be considered "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and it is our intent that any such statements be protected by the safe harbor created thereby. Except for historical information, the matters set forth herein including, but not limited to, any statements of belief or intent, any statements concerning our plans, strategies and objectives for future operations; and any statements regarding our intent to file late periodic reports or relisting on a national securities exchange, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations, estimates and assumptions and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. Although we believe that the expectations, estimates and assumptions reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could differ materially from those projected or assumed in any of our forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from estimates or projections contained in our forward-looking statements are set forth in the Risk Factors section and elsewhere in the reports we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including that unfavorable global economic conditions may adversely impact our business, our backlog may not be fully realized as revenue, our expenses may be higher than anticipated, and the review of the Company's accounting, accounting policies and internal control over financial reporting, and the preparation of and the audit or review, as applicable, of filings may take longer than currently anticipated or additional restatement adjustments may be identified. We do not intend, and undertake no obligation, to update any forward-looking statement.

Hill International, Inc.

Elizabeth J. Zipf, LEED AP BD+C

Senior Vice President

Hill International, Inc.

One Commerce Square

2005 Market Street, 17th Floor

Philadelphia, PA 19103

Tel: 215-309-7707

elizabethzipf@hillintl.com

Hill International, Inc.

Marco A. Martinez

SVP & Interim Chief Financial Officer

(215) 309-7951

marcomartinez@hillintl.com

New Integration Will Make Home Security More Accessible Than Ever Before

BOSTON, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SimpliSafe, maker of award-winning home security systems, today announced that the all new SimpliSafe now works with the Google Assistant, enabling customers to control their system using their voice. Customers can ask devices powered by the Google Assistant, including the Google Home Mini and Google Home, to arm their SimpliSafe security system in either Home or Away mode and verify the status of their system using a variety of voice commands. On the heels of three major smart integration launches in Q2, this marks SimpliSafes fourth integration announcement since unveiling the all new SimpliSafe home security system at CES in January 2018, following integrations with the August Smart Lock, Amazon Alexa, and Apple Watch.

With this integration, SimpliSafe customers are also able to use Google Assistant Routines. So now, with simple commands, your Assistant can perform several tasks at one time, including arming Simplisafe.

SimpliSafe is on a mission to make every home secure, said Chad Laurans, founder and CEO of SimpliSafe. This integration with the Google Assistant gives our customers even more options for easy and intuitive system arming.

How To Use

Rushing out the door to start the day? Customers can now say "Hey Google, set the security system to Away and it will arm SimpliSafe in Away mode, activating every sensor.

There are multiple ways to ask the Google Assistant to engage the Simplisafe security system. Users can simply say:

Hey Google, turn on the security system and the Google Assistant will respond intelligently, asking which mode you want to set.

Hey Google, arm SimpliSafe to Home

Hey Google, arm SimpliSafe to Away

Hey Google, set the security system to Home

Hey Google, set the security system to Away

Hey Google, is the security system armed?

Hey Google, am I protected?

When everyone is ready for bed, users can use Google Assistant to arm SimpliSafe in Home mode, which activates window and door protection, closes the SimpliCam privacy shutter, and sets any SimpliSafe-integrated smart locks into lock mode.*

Customers can also type their commands to the Google Assistant on Android and iOS phones.

Compatibility

To connect, customers must enable the SimpliSafe integration in both the Google Assistant and SimpliSafe apps. This integration is only compatible with the all new SimpliSafe and requires an active interactive monitoring plan.

About SimpliSafe

SimpliSafe fundamentally changed the alarm industry, pioneering a new way to make home the safest place on earth for everyone. Founded in 2006, SimpliSafe was the first to offer homeowners professional-grade monitored home security with no long-term contracts and at radically fair prices. SimpliSafe now protects over 2 million people. The company remains committed to its founding goal: to make every home secure.

The SimpliSafe logo is the trademark of SimpliSafe, Inc., and SimpliSafe is the registered trademark of SimpliSafe, Inc. in the US and other countries. Google, Google Assistant, Google Home, Google Home Mini, Google Assistant Routines and all related logos are trademarks of Google Inc. or its affiliates.

* Automatic door-locking requires a SimpliSafe-integrated smart lock set-up via the SimpliSafe settings and activation page.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4eb0d05f-24b4-469a-8330-803e7bcd8549



Media Contacts

Melina Engel for SimpliSafe

press@simplisafe.comMINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Atomic Data, a Minneapolis-based IT as a Service company, today announced its support for the Dakota Child and Family Clinic (DCFC). Dakota Child and Family Clinic is a Minnesota-based nonprofit corporation dedicated to the promotion of health in Dakota County, MN and the surrounding areas. Atomic Data donated $46,000 to assist the continued operation of the clinic, and has pledged, over time, to donate a total of $100,000 to further DCFCs mission.



"We are thrilled to partner with Atomic Data to strengthen our integrated, patient-centered model. Atomic Data's support will enhance the DCFC team's ability to carry out our mission of providing high quality health care, support and education to Dakota County and the surrounding areas, regardless of a patient's ability to pay, said Miranda Noll, Executive Director, Dakota Child and Family Clinic.

The Dakota Clinic recently faced a budget shortfall caused by the illegal activities of the previous Finance Manager. We reviewed the books, said Jim Wolford, CEO of Atomic Data, theyve cancelled all credit cards, brought in an independent CPA, and a new Director. Theres a proper system of checks and balances in place to prevent any future mismanagement. Beyond that, theres a community that needs this clinic. Thats the bottom line. Now that DCFC is stable, Atomic Data will be a major financial contributor moving forward.

Atomic Data plans to offer the clinic more than money, as theyve committed volunteer time and provided a connection to Atomic Datas vast network of non-profits. The time and assets should help deliver invaluable resources, drive awareness, create lasting community partnerships, and increase DCFCs donor pool.

Much of DCFCs patient base has limited access to primary care. Many are uninsured or underinsured. Atomic Datas pledge will help DCFC produce better health outcomes, allowing patients to lead healthier and more productive lives. The donation will be used for operational support to provide patients with high quality health care including a full range of pediatric and adults services, free support groups for the community, autism support in the Somali community, on-site counseling, interprofessional education of health care professionals, and more.

About Dakota Child and Family Clinic

At Dakota Child and Family Clinic, we believe that every person has the right to high quality, patient centered care, regardless of his/her ability to pay. Formed and governed by patients and families, Dakota Child and Family Clinic is a Minnesota-based nonprofit corporation dedicated to the promotion of health in Dakota County, MN and the surrounding areas.

About Atomic Data

Atomic Data ( www.atomicdata.com ) is an on-demand, always-on, pay-as-you-go expert extension of the enterprises IT team and infrastructure, always acting in the clients and the communitys best interest. Atomic Data  SAFE. SIMPLE. SMART.

Media Contact:

Scott Evangelist

marketing@atomicdata.comAwarded by the + Digital Institute recognizes the digital maturity of companies in different categories



SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In order for companies to be able to embrace digital, it is important that new business models are aligned with the company's overall strategy and can be defined from a new, collaboratively designed purpose to translate the essence of what the proposes to carry out at the moment, whether with employees, clients and society. By acting in this way, Stefanini  a $1B global IT provider - embarked on the digital journey, transforming itself to help transform its customers.

The company's movement, which have been reinforced in the last two years, was recognized on Thursday during the Digitalks Forum Expo 2018, held in Sao Paulo, Brazil. From a research carried out by + Digital Institute with various sizes and segments companies, Stefanini won as the company + Digital in the Multinational category along with eight other companies.

The award aims to recognize the best positioned organizations to meet the challenges posed by the digital world, and prepared to reap the opportunities of the connected world in which we live. The registered companies have received an online survey addressed to some of their executives, from the CEO to the financial, marketing, operations, innovation and human resources areas. The questionnaire calculates the level of digital maturity of each company in four dimensions: social, mobility, technology management and information management. For each one, a score of 0 to 100 is generated, which together generated the company's digital maturity index.

All the companies who answered the questionnaire received an Executive Summary after the award, which contains the notes for each of the four categories, as well as a comparison of performance in the digital to the market.

Monica Herrero, CEO of Stefanini Brasil, and Breno Barros, Director of Innovation and Digital Business, received the award and praised the initiative. "This award has a special value for Stefanini, who has put the issue of digital as a priority and has been implementing a series of successful projects, both in innovation for scalable efficiency in companies and in disruptive solutions to new business models. There is no doubt that digital transformation is a matter of time and that companies must adopt it to follow the changes that will be decisive for survival in an increasingly dynamic and competitive market, " says Monica Herrero.

For Breno Barros, digital transformation only exists because of people. However important technologies are for the evolution of society, they are only a way. Digital transformation, in fact, is a cultural transformation that starts at the head of the leaders and extends to all the people in the organization. "The recognition as the company + Digital in the Multinational category shows that we are on the right track," adds Mr. Barros.

About Stefanini:

Stefanini (www.stefanini.com) is a Brazilian multinational with 30 years of experience in the market, investing in a complete innovation ecosystem to meet the main verticals and assist customers in the process of digital transformation. With robust offerings aligned with market trends such as automation, cloud, Internet of Things (IoT) and user experience (UX), the company has been recognized with several awards in the area of innovation.

Today, the company has a broad portfolio of solutions that combine innovative consulting, marketing, mobility, personalized campaigns and artificial intelligence services for traditional solutions such as service desk, field service and outsourcing (BPO).

With a presence in 40 countries, Stefanini was nominated for the third consecutive year as the fifth transnational company more internationalized, according to the Dom Cabral Foundation ranking of 2017.FAIRFAX, Va., Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- InfinityQS International, Inc. ( InfinityQS ), the global authority on data-driven enterprise quality, announces that Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has joined its Global Partner Program . The new strategic alliance will enable TCS industrial clients to leverage the award-winning InfinityQS Quality Intelligence platform, Enact . It will also enable InfinityQS to utilize TCS wide knowledge in IT, business & technology services, and engineering, to support existing partners within the network.



TCS is a part of the Tata group, India's largest multinational business group. It helps manufacturers monetize connected products, operations, and customers. With Enact, TCS will be able to help its clients gain greater business value with end-to-end visibility and insights across their manufacturing processes. Together with TCS expertise in advanced manufacturing solutions and the digital transformation of industrial environments, InfinityQS Enact adds a critical component to its solutions portfolio.

For manufacturers to remain competitive, they need to evaluate their existing operational processes and optimize them in order to drive greater value from their entire supply chains, including the production environment. However, to do this effectively, they need real-time visibility into their end-to-end manufacturing operations and to be able to make informed decisions when and where it matters  InfinityQS Enact has become a vital component of this process.

Speaking about the partnership, Regu Ayyaswamy, Vice President and Global Head IoT & EIS at Tata Consultancy Services, said, Increasingly, were seeing demand from our clients for greater flexibility across their plant IT solutions and because of this, it was the right time to bolster our services portfolio by becoming part of the InfinityQS partner program. Doing so enables us to integrate our solutions and offerings with Enact easily and seamlessly while leveraging its global support. Now our clients can capture data streams from a variety of plants and can significantly improve their production processes globally.

Jason Chester, Director of Channel Programs for InfinityQS, said, TCS is, without a doubt, a revered global advisory company. We have successfully worked with TCS in the past on major projects with some of the worlds most recognizable manufacturing brands. To formalize this relationship through a new strategic alliance is a major opportunity for both our clients and prospects. Combining our best-in-class Enact solution with TCS exceptional services pedigree will be a transformative opportunity for the manufacturing industry.New York, NY., Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Tech Industries Group, Inc. (PINK: GTII), (GTII), a Nevada corporation, having been tasked at a recent Board of Directors meeting to explore the potential for creative partnerships in the growing cannabis-related healthcare field, is now actively seeking and pursuing such opportunities. Mr. David Reichman, CEO and Chairman of GTII, expressed confidence that this move could be in the best, long-term interest of the Company. One of our bedrock interests has long been in the global healthcare market. We believe that cannabis, especially as it relates to pain management and other chronic diseases, presents an unprecedented opportunity for us to get involved at the foundational level with companies in need of capital and guidance. Our Medical consultant group explored and reviewed the possible application of transdermal technology for drug delivery with one potential partner and they are very excited about this opportunity. The Company has since been in discussion with them for the past several weeks and we look forward to continuing the conversation. At the same time, we are on the lookout for additional opportunities.

Global Tech Industries Group, Inc. (GTII) is a publicly traded holding company, with subsidiaries and affiliates that hold intellectual properties and proprietary systems in the bioscience, clean tech, and global health industries, as well as interests in energy-related businesses, and restaurant services. For more information on Global Tech Industries Group, Inc., please call 212.204.7926, see our website: www.GTII-US.com

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In addition to statements which explicitly describe such risks and uncertainties, readers are urged to consider statements labeled with the terms "believes", "belief", "expects", "intends", "anticipates", projects "will", or "plans" to be uncertain and forward looking. The forward-looking statements contained herein are also subject generally to other risks and uncertainties that are described from time to time in the company's reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.Toronto, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- September 19, 2018 (Toronto)  The Investment Funds Institute of Canada (IFIC) announced the scheduled lineup of speakers for its 2018 Annual Leadership Conference. The event will bring together top minds from the North American investment funds and financial services industry, to discuss the major topics and trends that are affecting the industry and its investors.

Our conference this year will tackle the most pressing and impactful developments in the industry, said Paul Bourque, President and CEO, IFIC. New technologies, product innovation and deeper insight into investor needs and behaviours are re-shaping the industry and creating opportunities that will ultimately advance the advisor-client relationship.

Conference speakers include senior executives, regulators and thought leaders, as well as industry innovators and change agents. Panels and presentations will cover the latest trends and regulatory developments, industry reform, investor insights, product and distribution innovations and more. The full agenda and more information about the conference are available on IFICs website.

The media is invited to attend. Please register with Lisa Hall at lhall@ific.ca or 416-309-2317.

What: 2018 IFIC Annual Leadership Conference

When: Thursday, September 27, 2018; 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Where: The Carlu, 444 Yonge Street, Toronto

Conference Moderator:

Bruce Sellery, Business Journalist and Media Personality

Keynote Guest Speakers:

Nik Nanos, Renowned Pollster, Demographer and Current Affairs Expert



Gregor Jeffrey, NeuroCommunication Innovator



Plenary and Panel Speakers:

Karen Adams, President and CEO, Fundserv

Paul C. Bourque, President and CEO, The Investment Funds Institute of Canada

Sian Burgess, Senior Vice-President, Fund Oversight, Fidelity Investments Canada ULC

Raymond Chan, Acting Director, Investment Funds and Structured Products Branch, Ontario Securities Commission (OSC)

Jordy Chilcott, Head of Investment Distribution, Sun Life Global Investments

Melody Chiu, Partner, Tax Services, PwC Canada

Arthur Fish, Partner, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

Debra Foubert, Director, Compliance and Registrant Regulation Branch, OSC

Marsha Gerhart, Vice-President, Member Regulation Policy, Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada

Kevin Gopaul, Head, BMO Global Asset Management Canada, Global Head of ETFs and Chief Investment Officer

Michelle Hilscher, Senior Associate, BEworks

Nigel Johnston, Partner, Tax, McCarthy Tetrault LLP

Ross Kappele, EVP & Head Distribution, BMO Asset Management and Chair of IFICs Board of Directors

Hugo Lacroix, Senior Director, Investment Funds Branch, Autorite des marches financiers

Ron C. Landry, Vice President, Canadian ETF Services, CIBC Mellon

Gary R. Mottola, Research Director, FINRA Investor Education Foundation

Karen McGuinness, Senior Vice-President, Member Regulation  Compliance, Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada

Denise Morris, Manager, Policy, Investor Office, OSC

Sajith Nair, Partner, Cybersecurity & Privacy, PwC Canada

Ira Nishisato, National Leader, Cybersecurity and Cyber-Risk Management Group, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

Dave Nugent, Head of Investments, Wealthsimple

Bill Packham, President and CEO, Aviso Wealth

Grace Pereira, Senior Counsel, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

Mike Plantinga, Vice President, Information Technology, CIBC Mellon

Chris Pitts, Partner, National Asset and Wealth Management Leader, PwC Canada

Catriona Read, Partner, PwC Canada

Janice Russell, Tax Partner, BDO

Doug Sarro, Senior Advisor, Research and Regulatory Innovation, OSC

Sky Schapiro, Director, Taxation, BMO Financial Group

Michael Stanley, President, Sterling Mutuals Inc.

Laura Tamblyn Watts, Chief Public Policy Officer, CARP

Felicia Tedesco, Deputy Director, Operations, Compliance and Registrant Regulation Branch, OSC

Melaina Vinski, Behavioural Economics Lead, PwC Canada

Karen Woodman, Vice President, Dealer, Sun Life Financial Services (Canada) Inc.

About IFIC

The Investment Funds Institute of Canada is the voice of Canadas investment funds industry. IFIC brings together 150 organizations, including fund managers, distributors and industry service organizations, to foster a strong, stable investment sector where investors can realize their financial goals. By connecting Canadas savers to Canadas economy, our industry contributes significantly to Canadian economic growth and job creation.

For more information:

Lisa Hall

Senior Manager, Communications and Public Affairs

lhall@ific.ca

416-309-2317

For the latest social media updates:

Follow us on Twitter, #IFICConference18

Follow us on LinkedIn

Follow us on FacebookTORONTO, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MPX Bioceutical Corporation (MPX or the Company) (CSE: MPX; OTC: MPXEF) today announced it has entered into a binding share purchase agreement (the Purchase Agreement) to acquire all of the outstanding shares (the Spartan Shares) in the capital of Spartan Wellness Corporation (Spartan) from Ninth Square Capital Corporation and Veteran Grown Corporation (the Sellers) both of which are at arms length to the Company. Spartan is a Canadian organization whose mission is to help veterans suffering from various ailments, mostly psychological, to reduce or eliminate dependencies on opioids by directing them towards medical cannabis.



Pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, MPX will acquire all of the Spartan Shares for a total purchase price of up to $6,000,000 comprised of the following consideration and based upon the achievement of certain milestones as set out below during the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the date that is twenty-four (24) months following the date on which Canveda is fully licensed to produce, distribute and sell Cannabis products under Health Canadas Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (the ACMPR) (the Sales Period):

up to $4,500,000 satisfied through the issuance of 4,687,500 common shares in the capital of MPX (the MPX Shares) issued at a price of $0.96 per MPX Share; and

up to $1,500,000 satisfied through the issuance of 1,304,348 common share purchase warrants (the Warrants) each exercisable into one (1) MPX Share at an exercise price of $1.15 for a period of three (3) years from the Closing Date.

The first tranche of the aforementioned securities will be issued on closing with the remainder being issued based upon Spartan reaching certain milestones, including directing a percentage of its sales through Canveda Inc. (Canveda), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. Canveda is a Licensed Producer under the ACMPR having received its Cultivation License on June 12, 2017. Following the closing of the acquisition of all the Spartan Shares by MPX which is expected to take place on or about October 1, 2018, Spartan will be rebranded as Spartan Wellness by MPX.

Spartan is one of the leading Cannabis Access point providers for Veterans in Canada with its network of 500 patients consuming close to 500 kilograms annually. MPX plans to utilize Spartan as an additional sales channel to ensure continued growth in its patient user base and expects that Spartan will convert much of its pre-existing patient base over to its MPX/Salus Medical products. In addition to this valuable patient network, the acquisition of the Spartan Shares is expected to immediately contribute to revenue growth at the Company as Spartan receives sales commission from the licensed producers that supply its patients with cannabis.

Veterans benefit from insurance coverage provided by Blue Cross in cooperation with the Canadian Department of Veteran Affairs Canada, which provides them with improved access to medical cannabis. In 2017-2018, 7,298 veterans were reimbursed by Blue Cross for cannabis for medical purposes, at a cost of approximately $51 million. Under these policies, veterans are provided with reimbursement coverage for up to 3 grams of cannabis per day. However, Spartan can help these veterans through the exceptional approval process to secure coverage for up to 10 grams a day, thereby reducing their reliance on highly addictive and unsafe opioids as their only treatment option. As a result of these insurance policies that provide favorable coverage to veterans, the Company believes that men and women who have served in the military represent a major market for its medical cannabis products.

We are proud to contribute to the fight against opioid addiction, which has taken a devastating toll on veterans in Canada, said Michael Arnkvarn, Executive Vice President of MPX Canada. Medical cannabis can offer a safer, much less addictive alternative for patients, and potentially help them reduce or completely avoid opioid use. Spartan has a unique profile in the Canadian veteran community and attends military veterans' events across Canada on a regular basis. Through information sessions, they recruit and support new members/patients who are struggling with opioid addiction. We look forward to using this platform to engage more closely with veterans and emergency services personnel to help them live healthy, happy and productive lives.

According to a report in the Globe and Mail from May 2018, the number of Canadian veterans prescribed opioids or tranquilizers has declined significantly in recent years while those authorized to use medical cannabis has significantly increased, echoing trends in the U.S. where states that have legalized cannabis report declines in opioid overdoses.

Spartan is cash flow positive and acquiring it will enable us to build on its prior success to rapidly secure market share, grow patient numbers and ultimately secure retail sales for our Canveda operation in the highly competitive Canadian market, stated W. Scott Boyes, MPXs Chairman, President and CEO. Veteran patients have a premium value in Canada due to their enhanced insurance coverage. Furthermore, we expect Spartan to grow its patient numbers over time as it opens additional information rooms across the country to increase veteran support and awareness, among other initiatives. Achievement by Spartan of the final milestones will represent sales of the full production capacity of MPXs Canveda facility in Peterborough, Ontario.

Robert Kennedy, Co-Founder and Vice President of Spartan, commented, Many men and women who are serving or have served in the Canadian military struggle with addiction. Veterans who have traumatic experiences associated with military operations or day-to-day life in the military may also suffer from a mental illness, such as depression or post-traumatic stress disorder along with chronic physical injuries.

There is a major need for better support services for these patients, and here at Spartan we have put together a team of experts with a proven history of successfully treating veterans, understanding their needs and culture, stated Riad Byne, Co-Founder and CEO of Spartan. We are excited to become part of MPXs cannabis operations, which will give us the necessary resources to expand our network and help even more veterans beat opioid addiction.

As part of the acquisition, MPX along with the Sellers will create the Veteran Growth Fund (the Fund) that will be established using some MPX Shares and Warrants as an additional effort to assist veterans in need. The Fund will more effectively connect MPX with the Canadian veteran community, which is estimated to be approximately 700,000 individuals.

By reaching the milestones set out below, the Company will issue the following MPX Shares and Warrants to the Vendors:

Milestone Sales of Cannabis Sales

Units Sellers Fund Aggregate Through

Canveda MPX

Shares Warrants MPX

Shares Warrants Closing



N/A N/A 781,250 108,696 130,209 108,696 1



200,000 N/A 585,938 86,957 130,208 108,696 2 485,000



90,000 585,937 86,957 130,208 108,696 3 885,000



315,000 585,938 86,956 130,208 108,696 4 1,290,000



570,000 585,937 65,217 1,041,667 434,783 Totals 3,125,000 434,783 1,562,500



869,565

A Cannabis Sales Unit is deemed to be 1 gram of dried cannabis or equivalent amount of a class of cannabis specified in Schedule 3, Equivalent Amounts, of the Cannabis Act (Canada), being: (a) 1 gram of dried cannabis; (b) 5 grams of fresh cannabis; (c) 15 grams of solids containing cannabis; (d) 70 grams of non-solids containing cannabis; (e) 0.25 grams of solid or non-solid concentrates; or (f) 1 cannabis plant seed; however, notwithstanding the equivalence formula in the Cannabis Act (Canada), for the purposes of determining the milestones for the purchase price and cannabis oils shall be converted to grams of dried cannabis according to the equivalency supplied by the selling licensed producer as indicated on their website and the label on each product as required by the ACMPR.

MPX has agreed to pay a finders fee equal to 5% of the MPX Shares issued to the Sellers at the deemed price of $0.96 per MPX Share to Michael Yosher such that Mr. Yosher will be issued up to 156,200 MPX Shares, with 39,062 MPX Shares issued upon closing and an additional 29,297 MPX Shares issued upon the achievement of each of the above milestones within the Sales Period.

To be added to the distribution list, please email MPX@kcsa.com with MPX in the subject line.

About MPX Bioceutical Corporation

MPX, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries in the U.S., provides substantial management, staffing, procurement, advisory, financial, real estate rental, logistics and administrative services to medicinal cannabis enterprises in Arizona operating under the Health for Life (dispensaries) and the award-winning Melting Point Extracts (high-margin concentrates wholesale) brands. The successful Health for Life brand operates in the rapidly growing Phoenix Metropolitan Statistical Area. With the acquisition of The Holistic Center, MPX added another operating medical cannabis enterprise to its footprint in Arizona.

GreenMart of Nevada NLV, LLC (GreenMart NV) is an award-winning licensed cultivation, production and wholesale business, licensed for both the medical and adult use sectors in Las Vegas, Nevada, and is already selling wholesale into the Nevada medical cannabis market. GreenMart NV has also optioned suitable locations and intends to enter the higher-margin retail arena by applying for at least two dispensary licenses in the Las Vegas market which will operate under the Health for Life brand.

In Massachusetts, MPX is building out and will operate a cultivation and production facility as well as up to three dispensaries and manages three full service dispensaries and one producer in Maryland.

In Canada, MPX has acquired Canveda, which has received its cultivation license from Health Canada and will operate a cultivation and production facility in Peterborough, Ontario. The Company also leases a property in Owen Sound, Ontario, for which an application to Health Canada has been made for a cannabis production and sales license. In addition, the Company will continue its efforts to develop its legacy nutraceuticals business

About Spartan

Spartan is comprised of a network of Veterans, Physicians, Specialists and a support team of top-level administrators that work to support veterans and retired emergency services personnel with the support and tools necessary to lead healthy, happy and productive lives after serving their country.

Spartan has hand selected and been aligned with top-tier Canadian health care professionals. The team consists of subject matter experts with a proven history of successfully treating veterans, understanding their unique needs and culture. The teams benefit specialists ensure that all patients are aware of available options to get the best treatment and care for veterans and their families through existing platforms which may provide coverage. There are no fees or up-front costs for veterans or their families.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release includes certain forward-looking statements under applicable Canadian securities legislation that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, MPXs objectives and intentions. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic and social uncertainties; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; delay or failure to receive board, shareholder or regulatory approvals; those additional risks set out in MPXs public documents filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com ; and other matters discussed in this news release. Although MPX believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Except where required by law, MPX disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

MPX Bioceutical Corporation (formerly The Canadian Bioceutical Corporation)

W. Scott Boyes, Chairman, President and CEO

For further information, please contact:

MPX Bioceutical Corporation (formerly The Canadian Bioceutical Corporation)

W. Scott Boyes, Chairman, President and CEO

T: +1-416-840-3725

info@mpxbioceutical.com

www.mpxbioceutical.com

Media Contact:

Anne Donohoe

KCSA Strategic Communications

212-896-1265

adonohoe@kcsa.comSAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bugcrowd, the leader in crowdsourced security , today announced PlanetHoster has taken its bug bounty program public on the CrowdcontrolTM platform. The company, which has been running a private bug bounty program for the last year, is offering rewards up to $2,500 for vulnerabilities identified by Bugcrowd global Crowd of trusted researchers. The program helps bolster security for PlanetHoster, which provides premium web hosting for more than 100,000 customers in North America and Europe.

As a managed hosting company and an ICANN accredited registrar, clients trust us with their data. Every day we are combating DDoS, phishing, spam, and brute force attacks, on top of proactively making sure all our servers are continuously up-to-date and secure, said A. Saber Shenouda, CTO of PlanetHoster. Weve partnered with Bugcrowd to ensure that our customers can count on us to support their most valuable assets and conduct business as usual. As we continue our rapid growth, Bugcrowds team of highly experienced security experts is the perfect expansion of our current program.

There has been a steady increase in new and uncategorized vulnerabilities discovered over the past few years, including new Code Injection vulnerabilities at 12.5 percent of all critical bugs on the Bugcrowd platform and Infrastructure Misconfiguration bugs at 6.5 percent of all critical bugs on the Bugcrowd platform. PlanetHosters bug bounty program allows their security team to tap into the creativity and abilities of hundreds of researchers to find and report the most complex bugs without overwhelming our security and development teams.

Good-faith hackers are vital to the discovery, and ultimately the elimination, of critical vulnerabilities in software. As more companies are trusted with sensitive customer data, its imperative that organizations further their commitment to the security of their infrastructure by strengthening the continuous feedback loop between the breakers and the builders, said Ashish Gupta, CEO of Bugcrowd. PlanetHosters decision to launch a bug bounty program and harness the creativity of the Crowd demonstrates their dedication to protecting their customers, in both the near term, and long term.

Bugcrowd architects security expertise into the design, support and management of every program on its platform. Companies like Atlassian , Motorola , Fitbit , NETGEAR , OWASP and Fiat Chrysler of America rely on Bugcrowd service to optimize the success of their bug bounty programs. To learn more about why some of the biggest brands in the world rely on crowdsourced security, visit www.bugcrowd.com.

About Bugcrowd

Bugcrowd is the #1 crowdsourced security platform. More enterprise organizations trust Bugcrowd to manage their bug bounty, vulnerability disclosure, and next-gen pen test programs. By combining the largest, most experienced triage team with the most trusted hackers around the world, Bugcrowd generates better results, reduces risk through remediation advice, and empowers organizations to release secure products to market faster  with no hidden fees. Based in San Francisco, Bugcrowd is backed by Blackbird Ventures, Costanoa Ventures, Industry Ventures, Paladin Capital Group, Rally Ventures, Salesforce Ventures and Triangle Peak Partners. Bugcrowd. Outhack Them All. Learn more at www.bugcrowd.com.

About PlanetHoster

PlanetHoster provides managed web hosting and is an ICANN accredited domain registrar. They have their own redundant IP network (AS53589) and serve more than 60,000 customers using their HybridCloud infrastructure, which is distributed across facilities in France and Canada. PlanetHoster hosts more than 100,000 websites in North America and Europe using state-of-the-art technology including Anti-DDoS protection and Anycast DNS for redundancy. PlanetHoster manages its whole infrastructure from A to Z worldwide. Also, as an ICANN accredited domain registrar, customers can be assured that their data is in good hands. Lean more at www.planethoster.com

Michelle Dailey

Bugcrowd, Inc.

press@bugcrowd.comRockville, MD, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The color cosmetics market rides on the back of several macro-trends in the overall beauty industry. The distinct demand trajectories for color cosmetics has been witnessing several spikes over the past few years driven by changing fashion and fads. These changes have been increasingly being driven by consumers who are looking for newer and more effective formulations in skincare and anti-aging products. The growing inclination toward color cosmetics based on natural and organic ingredients has unlocked promising prospects in the market. Strategies on capitalizing on these avenues have led to notable product innovations in color cosmetics, especially in developing and developed regions. Market players are also leveraging the potential of online commerce to introduce new products and tap into emerging markets for color cosmetics.

According to Fact.MR, the opportunities in the color cosmetics market is expected to cross worth of US$80 billion by the end 2022. The demand for color cosmetics will rise at a promising pace over the forecast period of 20172022, projects the report.

Request For Sample Report- https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=64

There is a vast demand for lip care in the color cosmetics products, world over. The segment contributed a revenue share of around 40% in the global color cosmetics market and by the end of it is forecast to reach a worth of US$33 billion. A large chunk of this revenue, about half of it, is expected to come from Asia Pacific region. However, the demand of nail products is fast gathering steam among the users of color cosmetics. The rising popularity of color cosmetics applied on nail will give a substantial boost to the segment in the coming years, with estimated valuation in 2017 was nothing less than US$ 12 billion. The nail care segment is forecast to rise at a CAGR of 5.2% during 2017-2022.

Lucrative Avenues in Asia Pacific to impart Substantial Growth Impetus to Color Cosmetics Market

Asia Pacific is emerging as the regions with immense potential for companies in the color cosmetics market. This is attributed to the large lucrative avenues in key product segments notably facial make-up and hair color segments. A rapidly aging population has led to a burgeoning adult population, women as well as men, increasingly demanding hair dye brands. This is expected to lead to an extensive uptake of hair color cosmetics products in the region. However, in the coming years, players in the color cosmetics market may shift their attention to North America. A probable reason supporting this shift is the higher growth pace of the regional market, which is anticipated to rise at CAGR of 4.1% during the assessment period.

The facial make-up segment is equally attractive segment in the color cosmetic market. The segment is projected to expand at a CAGR of 4.6%. The opportunities was estimated at US$7 billion in 2017 and is anticipated to touch an approximate valuation of US$8.7 billion.

To Know more about Color Cosmetics Market, Visit - https://www.factmr.com/report/64/color-cosmetics-market

Companies find Substantial Prospects in Hypermarkets/Supermarkets

Hypermarkets/supermarkets are presently the most popular medium of sales channel for manufacturers and retailers of color cosmetics. Presently, the segments contribute the major share of revenue by sales channel amounting to over 75.0% in the global color cosmetics market. The segment is expected to hold its sway in the global color cosmetics market coming few years as well. The segment is projected to rise at 5.5% CAGR from 2017 to 2022 accounting to a revenue of US$18 billion. However, small retailers are offering stiff competition to change the status quo enjoyed by hypermarkets and supermarkets in the overall color cosmetics market. Over the assessment period, the revenue generated by retailers is projected to be US$5 billion.

E-commerce channels in the color cosmetics market are expected to proliferate at a robust CGAR in the coming years. In the year 2017, its revenue share was not substantial amounting to 11.6% in the overall color cosmetics market. However, there are several trends stoking the popularity of online channels for producers of color cosmetics. Rapid advances being made in the internet technologies, especially in emerging and developed economies, and changes in consumer buying patterns, are expected to fuel the demand for e-commerce sales channels in the color cosmetic products. The ease of the accessibility and rapid delivery of products are making e-commerce channel the cynosure of attention for users of color cosmetics.

To Buy Color Cosmetics Market Report, Visit- https://www.factmr.com/checkout/64/S

About Fact.MR

Fact.MR is a fast-growing market research firm that offers the most comprehensive suite of syndicated and customized market research reports. We believe transformative intelligence can educate and inspire businesses to make smarter decisions. We know the limitations of the one-size-fits-all approach; that's why we publish multi-industry global, regional, and country-specific research reports.Blair, Nebraska, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Great Plains Communications, the largest independent telecommunications provider in the state of Nebraska is pleased to welcome Mike Addy to the position of Enterprise Sales Representative. Mike will be working with potential and current Omaha, Nebraska customers offering technology services including fully scalable high-speed Internet, managed Ethernet, data center connectivity, and traditional and cloud-based voice services, all powered by the Great Plains Communications 9,500+ mile fiber network.

The quality, redundancy, and diversity of this network along with the fact that Great Plains Communications is a Nebraska-based business with over a century of experience is a winning combination for the Omaha market, stated Mr. Addy. It is an honor to be part of a team that truly understands the needs of Nebraska businesses, because they are a Nebraska business.

Mike Addys sales and marketing experience spans more than 16 years in Nebraska and Western Iowa. He specializes in helping clients identify optimal solutions to increase results and streamline processes. He has been consistently recognized as a top performer, relationship manager, and sales expert in the markets he has served. Mr. Addy received a bachelors degree in business administration from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Todd Foje, CEO of Great Plains Communications stated the following. Having an individual with solid experience and passion for the success of our clients is very important to us. We are confident that Mike Addy will be a fantastic addition to our team, serving our valued customers and adding new clients in the Omaha market.

About Great Plains Communications

Great Plains Communications is the largest privately-owned telecommunications provider in Nebraska. The company provides over 90 communities across the state with high-speed Internet, cable television, and voice services. Business solutions range from traditional and cloud-based voice and data products to installation and support of large business networks with scalable Internet, data center connectivity, and Ethernet solutions.

At the core of their service offering is an extensive 9,500-mile regional fiber network including over 300 fiber miles in the Omaha Metro area. The network offers community access rings, last-mile, and middle-mile solutions, fully supported by their 24x7x365 Network Operations Center. The company is financially strong with over a century of experience providing reliable and innovative solutions. For more information visit gpcom.com.STOUFFVILLE, Ontario, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- After travelling thousands of kilometres, a group of 59 dogs from remote communities in Manitoba have arrived at Ontario SPCA Animal Centres across the province to find new homes through the Year of the Northern Dog program.



After a stopover in Sudbury on Monday evening, the dogs were transferred to Ontario SPCA Animal Centres in Muskoka, Barrie, Orillia, Midland, Orangeville, Brockville, Cornwall, Napanee, Pembroke and Stouffville. Once they have received the necessary vaccinations, health checks, and are spayed or neutered, they will be placed up for adoption.

In addition to the vision of the leadership in the communities, which are located near the Ontario-Manitoba border, the transfer was made possible thanks to K9 Advocates and Earthdogs REASON Initiative, which gathered the dogs and worked together to transport them to Winnipeg. From there, volunteers and partnering animal welfare organizations, including Northern Legacy Horse Farm, which transported the dogs aboard its Bark Bus, helped the dogs on the next leg of their journey.

To bring awareness, attention and action to Northern dog overpopulation, the Ontario SPCA has declared 2018 the Year of the Northern Dog. In response to many caring and compassionate Northern communities, the Ontario SPCA and its partners have developed a network of individuals, organizations and communities aimed at bringing awareness to the issue and working alongside Northern communities with a common goal  to change lives.

Many barriers exist in the North that do not exist in the South, says Daryl Vaillancourt, Senior Director, Humane Programming & Community Outreach. The Ontario SPCA and its animal welfare partners are working together to find homes for dogs and to bring much-needed wellness services and supplies to remote communities.

For more information, including how you can get involved, visit northerndog.com .

Ontario SPCA and Humane Society:

Protecting animals since 1873, Ontario SPCA is Ontario's animal welfare organization. A registered charity comprised of close to 50 communities .

Since 1919, when Ontario's first animal welfare legislation was proclaimed, the Ontario SPCA, with the help of its Communities , has been entrusted to maintain and enforce animal welfare legislation. The Act provides Ontario SPCA Agents and Inspectors with police powers to do so.

Ontario SPCA provides leadership in animal welfare innovations including introducing high-volume spay/neuter services to Ontario and opening the Provincial Education & Animal Centre .

OntarioSPCA.ca

Adopt  Learn  Volunteer  Donate

Charitable Business Number 88969 1044 RR0002JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CSX is donating $100,000 to the American Red Cross to support Hurricane Florence recovery efforts.



James M. Foote, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, CSX is proud to operate throughout the southeastern region, states that are home to so many of our dedicated employees, customers and suppliers. We are equally proud to support the American Red Cross as they deploy to help the communities in this area that have been impacted by Hurricane Florence.

The CSX Foundation is also matching employee contributions made to the American Red Cross for disaster relief efforts dollar-for-dollar.

About CSX

CSX, based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a premier transportation company. It provides rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services and solutions to customers across a broad array of markets, including energy, industrial, construction, agricultural, and consumer products. For over 190 years, CSX has played a critical role in the nation's economic expansion and industrial development. Its network connects every major metropolitan area in the eastern United States, where nearly two-thirds of the nation's population resides. It also links more than 230 short-line railroads and more than 70 ocean, river and lake ports with major population centers and farming towns alike.

Contact: Bryan Tucker, Corporate Communications

855-955-6397AllAfrica publishes around 700 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.Bolingbrook, Ill., Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ATI Physical Therapy (ATI), one of the nations largest and fastest growing providers of physical therapy services, announced today the hiring of Diana Chafey as Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Counsel. Chafey, who has spent much of her legal career advising senior executives and boards of directors on complex legal compliance and risk management matters, will begin her role at the end of September.

Chafey takes over for Robert (Bob) McKenzie, who recently stepped down to pursue other opportunities outside of ATI. McKenzie, who has been with the organization since 2012, was instrumental in ushering the organization through its most successful expansion, growing ATI from 200 clinic locations to more than 800 today in 25 states. He will remain with the organization for a short time to ensure a smooth transition.

In her new role, Chafey will lead ATIs legal team in advising leadership and the organization on minimizing legal risks and navigating legal or regulatory issues the company may confront as it looks to expand services and offerings in the evolving and dynamic healthcare industry.

The ATI family, its leadership team and Board of Directors are excited about the addition of Diana Chafey as the Companys chief legal counsel. She brings proven expertise in building high-performing legal teams and advising with sound legal counsel in highly complex and regulated environments. Diana will focus on supporting the achievement of ATIs business and growth objectives, while protecting and enhancing the value of the organization, says Al Hamood, interim Chief Executive Officer of ATI Physical Therapy. We also want to thank Bob for his tireless dedication to the organization and helping to build one of the premier physical therapy companies in the U.S.

Chafey has a strong track record as a pragmatic, creative problem solver and business facilitator. Prior to joining ATI, she served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of The Warranty Group (of TWG Holdings Limited) since 2013. In this role, she provided global oversight of corporate governance and related affairs, while leading a complex restructuring of the companys ownership. Chafey has also served as legal counsel with DLA Piper US (LLP), Ross & Hardies (McGuire Woods), Interstate Insurance Group and Jefferson Insurance Group (comprised of subsidiaries of Firemans Fund Insurance Company, Allianz Group). Chafey brings more than 20 years of legal expertise to ATI Physical Therapy.

About ATI Physical Therapy

ATI is a privately held, nationally recognized healthcare company, specializing in outpatient rehabilitation and adjacent healthcare services. With a focus on delivering a remarkable experience to every patient, every day, ATI has more than 800 locations from coast to coast. ATI was named Best Physical Therapy Practice in the Nation by ADVANCE magazine and was one of the first physical therapy companies in the country to achieve URAC Core Accreditation, a mark of distinction that recognizes its commitment to quality healthcare. Based in Bolingbrook, Illinois, ATI gives back to communities across the country through the ATI Foundation, a non-profit established by ATI, which has provided more than $4 million in resources and funding to children with physical impairments. For more information on ATI Physical Therapy, and a complete list of clinic locations, services and the ATI Foundation, please visit ATIpt.com.

AttachmentZimbabwe: Govt Declares War on Cholera The Herald, 19 September 2018 Government has set up an inter-ministerial committee to come up with a lasting solution to the cholera outbreak in Harare and other parts of the country. Read more 

Zimbabwe: 21% of Cholera Victims Aged Under Five, Says Minister Moyo New Zimbabwe, 18 September 2018 About 21 percent of cholera victims in Harare are children below the age of five, local government minister July Moyo has revealed. Read more 

Zimbabwe: Vending Banned With Immediate Effect - Govt New Zimbabwe, 18 September 2018 The government has banned "all types of vending be banned with immediate effect", cabinet ministers revealed Monday as the country battles a cholera epidemic that has claimed 30 Read more 

Zimbabwe: Govt Avails U.S.$6,7 Million to Curb Cholera Outbreak The Herald, 18 September 2018 Government has availed $6,7 million for urgent health related needs and City of Harare's infrastructural requirements as it intensifies efforts to curb the cholera outbreak in Read more 

Zimbabwe: CBD Clean-Up - Restoring Legacy of Sunshine The Herald, 18 September 2018 IN the wake of the cholera epidemic that has so far claimed 30 lives leaving thousands hospitalised, it is commendable that Harare City Council, with assistance from the Zimbabwe Read more 

Zimbabwe: Minister Nyoni Reiterates Call to Ban Illegal Vending The Herald, 18 September 2018 Government will not allow vending at undesignated areas and sites without toilets and other requisite infrastructure as this is contributing to the spread of diseases such as Read more 

Zimbabwe: Gweru Council On High Cholera Alert The Herald, 18 September 2018 Gweru City Council is on high cholera alert and has implemented a raft of measures including burying refuse and attending to water bursts as soon as the report is received. Read more 

Zimbabwe: Govt Seeks U.S.$57 Million Cholera War Chest The Herald, 18 September 2018 Government has launched an appeal for $57 million to contain the cholera outbreak, which has so far claimed 30 lives and left 5 000 people seeking treatment. Read more ?? Postales de la marcha #ReformaYa que se realizo en respaldo a la cuestion de confianza (Fotos: Eddy Ramos/ ANDINA) https://t.co/Kx7fcej6rb pic.twitter.com/yUGR7ndAzaHamilton, Bermuda, September 19, 2018

On August 31 Nordic American Offshore Ltd. (NAO) received notice from the NYSE.

It was noted by NYSE that the NAO stock price had been under USD 1 dollar per share which is required by the NYSE continued listing rules. NAO has a program to correct this.

NAO has a six-month cure period as from end August 2018 and the issue would go away following the implementation of such a cure program.

NAO had a conference call for shareholders and investors on September 10, 2018. A transcript of the conference call is available on the NAO web site: www.nao.bm

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts.

The Company desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "forecast," "project," "plan," "potential," "will," "may," "should," "expect," "pending" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, our management's examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although we believe that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter rates and vessel values, changes in demand in the PSV market, as a result of changes in the general market conditions of the oil and natural gas industry which influence charter hire rates and vessel values, demand in platform supply vessels, our operating expenses, including bunker prices, dry docking and insurance costs, governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities as well as potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, the availability of financing and refinancing, vessel breakdowns and instances of off-hire and other important factors described from time to time in the reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contacts:

Herbjrn Hansson, Executive Chairman

Nordic American Offshore Ltd.

Tel: +1 866 805 9504 or + 47 901 46 291

Bjrn Giver, CFO

Nordic American Offshore Ltd.

Tel: +1888 755 8391 or +47 91 35 00 91

Gary J. Wolfe

Seward & Kissel LLP, New York, USA

Tel: +1 212 574 1223

SK 28327 0001 8063228 v2







Within this framework, the Cabinet chief stressed lawmakers' decision to approve a bill last Tuesday aimed at reforming the National Council of the Magistracy (CNM) now called National Justice Board unanimously and without major changes.





and with the same willingness," the government official indicated. "() I urge my colleagues to pass the three political reforms as quickly as they did in this case, at the same speedwith the same willingness," the government official indicated.









"The four reform bills are part of such plan, of this comprehensive project () required to produce the great change in history. Therefore, we will not accept a partial but a complete approval," he pointed out.





According to the Cabinet chief, this was a commitment arising from the civilized dialogue between political forces and the Executive Branch.





(END) FHG/CCR/RMB/MVB

The Executive Branch seeks a comprehensive plan to produce the great change in the country; therefore, it will not accept a partial approval of the proposed reforms, Peru's Prime Minister Cesar Villanueva said on Wednesday.Published: 9/19/2018



The reforms will have a positive impact on the country's competitiveness and on Peruvians' well-being since they will lead to progress () these reforms represent a major inflection point to achieve the development all Peruvians want," he stated.





Reforms





The country has not carried out important reforms over the past 30 years, he said, and this is a great opportunity to do so and improve its prospects for the next decades.





"We fully support what President Vizcarra has proposed. Our Government is undertaking a frontal fight against corruption and is in favor of institutions," the official emphasized.





Institutionalism and fight against corruption are the two pillars of this administration's policy, as announced by a supreme decree a few months ago.





"These two pillars are very important. We believe Peru is getting a great opportunity to implement important reforms ," he underlined.





Corruption









He referred to the political discussion around the reforms, recognizing it as a great opportunity to improve and to put political noise aside.





(END) RGP/RGP/RMB/MVB

Economy and Finance Minister Carlos Oliva on Tuesday noted that President Martin Vizcarra's reforms will raise Peru's competitiveness and improve the quality of life of its citizens.Published: 9/18/2018YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS. With the support of Business Armenia, regional high-tech development manager at Enterprise Incubator Foundation and the executive director of Gyumri Information Technologies Center, Ms. Amalya Yeghoyan paid a business visit to California, USA. A conference on the foreign direct investment in the IT sector of Armenia was held for 50 businessmen, Business Armenia said in a press release.

New investment agreements were signed within the scope of the business visit.

Based on one of such documents signed by Ms. Amalya Yeghoyan and Executive Director of Alena Solutions Mr. Asbed Kassis, the company is planning on opening offices in the IT Centers of Vanadzor and Gyumri. Alena Solutions is a company offering technology solutions to various businesses.

The other agreement was signed with the founding co-chief executive officer of Hireclout Mr. Avetis Antaplyan. The company is planning on opening an office in Gyumri conducting the marketing of Hireclout. The main offerings of the company are technology recruitment and consulting.

Business Armenia is ready to utilize its large network of representatives to support the foreign investments in Armenia. We are happy that these investments are to be directed to the marzes" stated the CEO of Business Armenia, Mr. Armen Avak Avakian.

Gyumri, Vanadzor, Gavar are promising for investments in high-tech. Those have rich infrastructures, university branches. The first two have techno parks. This is remarkable because we are implementing a strategy of decentralizing the investments mentioned the Regional high-tech development manager at enterprise incubator foundation and the executive director of Gyumri Information Technologies Center Ms. Amalya Yeghoyan.

At the meeting with businessmen, Ms. Amalya Yeghoyan also presented the roadmap for establishing a company in Armenia, creating jobs, attracting and training highlyqualified professionals, succeeding in business.YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS. During todays first session of the parliamentary ad hoc committee on the wiretapping of the National Security Service director and Special Investigative Committee director, Republican MP Gevorg Kostanyan recommended the members to invite experts from international organizations.

The first session mainly focused on working, technical issues.

All factions have presented their candidates for the committee. We have set up this committee for rather concerning facts, Kostanyan, a former prosecutor general, said.

The committee is composed of five Republican MPs, two MPs from Yelk bloc, three from Tsarukyan faction and one from the ARF.

All members are to present recommendations within a week.

Edited and translated by Stepan KocharyanYEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS. Former President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan has reiterated his willingness to be engaged in politics in Armenia.

In an interview to the Russian Kommersant newspaper, Kocharyan said he is still considering formats for his activities.

Asked what specific option of political activities he is more likely to choose, Kocharyan responded: You could say that I havent decided yet.

Kocharyan also noted that he has never left politics. As they say, presidents dont leave politics. Ive been passive for 10 years. I have expressed my stance about principled matters which I havent agreed with, but I havent displayed other activeness. Now I will express myself a lot more actively, Kocharyan told Kommersant.

Speaking about the recent domestic developments in Armenia, the former president argued that Nikol Pashinyan has felt the discontent and protesting moods and acted timely. It was impressive, Kocharyan said.

Edited and translated by Stepan KocharyanSPRINGDALE, Ark., Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In response to flooding in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence, Tyson Foods will send teams to prepare meals for those affected by and responding to the disaster.



A cook site will be set up in Fayetteville, North Carolina, at the Walmart store at 7701 S. Raeford Rd. Free, hot meals will be provided onsite beginning Thursday morning at 11 a.m. for anyone who is in need. In addition, a distribution network will be established with local authorities and disaster relief organizations to deliver meals to flood victims in the Fayetteville area.

Teams from Tyson Foods operations in Clarksville and Texarkana, Arkansas; Claryville, Kentucky; New Holland, Pennsylvania; Shelbyville, Tennessee and Glen Allen, Virginia, will arrive onsite Wednesday and begin preparations to serve meals Thursday.

The companys Meals that Matter mobile disaster relief truck will be sent from its home in Springdale, Arkansas, and is also expected to arrive onsite Wednesday. The company is sending three tractor-trailer loads of product totaling 100,000 pounds, one tractor-trailer load of bagged ice and one tractor-trailer load of bottled water.

With more than 6,000 team members throughout the state of North Carolina the damage left by Hurricane Florence hits close to home, said Debra Vernon, senior director, corporate social responsibility. This deployment wouldnt be possible without the support of our team members, disaster relief partners and customers who are all volunteering time and resources to make sure our response is as successful as possible.

Tyson Foods will be working closely with its disaster relief partners American Egg Board, Bimbo Bakeries USA, Harris Baking Co., Hugg & Hall Equipment Co., Peppersource and Salvation Army to maximize relief efforts.

Team Rubicon, another disaster relief partner comprised of military veterans, has deployed two mobile command centers to North Carolina. The command centers were donated by Tyson Foods in 2014 and 2017 and include sleeping quarters, as well as office and storage space for Team Rubicons staff and volunteers.

For continuing updates on Tyson Foods disaster relief efforts, please follow the company on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS. The Investigative Committee of Armenia has issued a statement about the police search in the Yerevan Today news websites head office.

The Investigative Committee has presented certain clarifications, and responded to Yerevan Today editor-in-chief Sevak Hakobyans statements.

A task force has been set up, and together with tactical-intelligence bodies necessary actions are being carried out to reveal all circumstances surrounding the wiretapping and leaking the phone conversation of heads of two law enforcement bodies and to reveal the circle of suspects, the Investigative Committee said, adding that the investigation into the wiretapping of National Security Service director Arthur Vanetsyan and Special Investigative Service Sasun Khachatryan is continuing.

The statement mentions that based on information, investigators had filed motions and subsequently were granted search warrants from courts for six different addresses, including the head office of Yerevan Today.

Considering the public interest, we once again note that the lawful search which was carried out in the editorial office has nothing to do with their journalistic activities, and is exclusively aimed that ensuring a comprehensive, objective and complete investigation of the case, the statement said.

The Investigative Committee also mentioned Article 42 of the Constitution  which guarantees the right to freedom of expression, which includes press freedom.

The Investigative Committee respects the freedom of mass media, attaches importance to maintaining required mechanisms for safeguarding its exercise, and hasnt anyhow obstructed and doesnt obstruct news media with its actions in spreading any information, and in such circumstances viewing a judicial and investigative action, which was carried out within the law, as an attempt to silence the media outlet is to say the least strange, and has nothing to do with reality, the statement reads.

At the same time, it mentions Article 33 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to the freedom and confidentiality of correspondence, phone conversations and other types of communication.

According to the Investigative Committee, the audio recording of the wiretapped conversation was first uploaded on YouTube on September 5, but was widely distributed on social networks and mass media only on September 11. However, according to the Investigative Committee, Yerevan Today has uploaded the video on September 9, according to Googles search system, which became subject of investigation.

Yerevan Today Editor-In-Chief Sevak Hakobyan has said that they havent uploaded it on September 9, and that the misunderstanding is caused by an error in the Google search system. The Investigative Committee said they are probing this claim also.

The Investigative Committee said that it has to investigative and reveal whether or not in fact Yerevan Today uploaded the recording on that day, because any information on the matter is significant for the proceedings.

It mentioned that investigators have confiscated only the computer which was used for the upload, and that three hard drives have been taken for an expertise.

We believe that the editor of the website too should be interested in the lawful clarification of the abovementioned fact, whereas he has hurried to give unlawful and unethical assessments to the investigators implementation of constitutional functions, and has distorted factual circumstances, the statement said.

It reminded that the police search of Yerevan Todays office took place in pursuance of a court warrant, within the law.

The editor-in-chief himself was present during the search, along with his two lawyers.

The editors statement claiming that the actions of the [investigators] were aimed at obstructing journalistic activities is baseless and fictitious, the statement said, reminding that theyve confiscated only one computer out of many. It said that the confiscation was a necessity.

Moreover, the editors were allowed to take the copy of any information they need for work from the hard drives, before they were taken.

The full statement of the Investigative Committee is available in Armenian.

Edited and translated by Stepan KocharyanYEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS. A session of Ambassadors of Francophone countries took place in Brussels on September 18, dedicated to the 17th summit of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie to be held in Yerevan.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Armenia, the session was organized by the Armenian Embassy in Belgium in collaboration with the permanent representation of the OIF to the EU and the Embassy of Canada in Belgium. OIF Secretary General Michaelle Jean, heads of 85 diplomatic missions participated in the event.

Ambassador of Armenia to Belgium and Luxemburg, head of the Armenian mission to the EU Tatul Margaryan gave opening remarks.

Afterwards, Armenias representative to the OIF, Ambassador Kristian Ter-Stepanyan presented the preparatory works of the upcoming OIF summit.

OIF Secretary General Michaelle Jean also gave a speech, who particularly noted that Yerevan is ready for the upcoming summit and expressed confidence that it will be held at a high level.

A reception took place after the session during which a footage dedicated to the Yerevan summit of the OIF was shown.

Translated and edited by Tigran SirekanyanAt retirement, the superannuation balances of women are on average 40 per cent less than men  a whopping $113,000.

In a bid to close this gap, the Labor government has announced it will dedicate $409.2 million towards strategies which will make sure womens superannuation accounts dont gather dust.

Also read: Where do Australias richest retirees live?

On Wednesday, the Labor government unveiled plans that would see the super balances of new parents topped up when they take parental leave; the abolishment of the minimum $450 threshold for super; the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 amended; and greater transparency around how gender is considered across the government.

Super will be paid when new parents take leave

Under the Commonwealth Paid Parental Leave (PPL) scheme, parents who earn less than $150,000 are currently entitled to $719.35 a week before tax for 18 weeks  but this doesnt include contributions to their super.

Labors new announcement would see a super contribution be paid either directly to the parents superannuation account or via the employer while a parent takes paid leave. This would apply to both new mothers as well as dads and partners taking parental leave, and is estimated to benefit 167,000 new mums under the PPL scheme and 80,000 dads and partners from 2020-21.

The minimum $450 eligibility threshold would eventually be scrapped

Currently, Australian employers dont have to make superannuation contributions to employees that earn below $450 a month.

Under a Labor government, this minimum threshold would be phased out beginning 1 July 2020, meaning those who have have part-time, casual or contract roles with multiple employers will be able to accumulate super.

So, from 1 July 2020, the threshold would be dropped to $350 a month, and gradually get down to $0 by 1 July 2024. Labor estimates that 400,000 Australians would be eligible for superannuation in 2024-25.

Also read: Superfunds to consolidate low balance accounts for free

Story continues

We know that more and more people, instead of working one full-time job, work in multiple jobs, said shadow minister for women, education and training Tanya Plibersek.

They are working part-time, theyre working cattle, doing seasonal work  quite often they are missing out on superannuation in all of those jobs.

Amend the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 and improve transparency

Labor plans on asking the Australian Human Rights Commission to determine the best legislative way forward in seeing to it that businesses can make higher contributions to womens superannuation accounts if they so choose.

The political party also pledges to release a yearly womens budget statement that would provide information on how the government factors in gender and the policy impact on budgets.

The new measures are aimed at reducing the superannuation gap between men and women over time, Plibersek said.

It is absolutely unconscionable that today, in Australia, the fastest-growing group of people moving into homelessness are single, older women.

Also read: GET YOUR SUPER BACK: Millions of Aussies to get thousands back

Addressing this superannuation gap will help reduce that terrible statistic.

The Australian Services Union, the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees, ad the Financial Services Council have already welcomed the changes.

Minister for Women hits back: Get serious

On Wednesday afternoon, Minister for Women and Jobs and Industrial Relations Kelly ODwyer responded to the measures and suggested the Labor party was not sincere about improving retirement outcomes for Australian women.

If Bill Shorten was serious about improving womens superannuation, Labor would vote to pass the Coalition governments Protecting Your Superannuation Package, ODwyer said.

The Package is currently before the Parliament and involves a cap on admin and investment fees on low-balance super funds, banning exit fees, introduce an opt-in basis for insurance for young and low-balance members, and giving the Australian Taxation Office more powers to consolidate accounts.

Labor may pretend to be concerned about womens superannuation, but instead they stand with big insurance companies and high fee-charging funds.

Last Monday, 19 industry super funds jointly announced a new initiative that would see inactive super accounts identified and consolidated with active accounts owned by members of the participating funds, free of charge.Residents in Mexico complained of a foul smell, leading to the discovery of more than 150 corpses stored in a container near their homes.

Authorities rented the container after mortuaries in the city of Guadalajara were all full, and laws prevent the cremation of bodies linked to violent crime.

The refrigerated trailer, containing 157 bodies, was initially parked at a warehouse in the neighbourhood of Duraznera, but after two weeks residents there complained of a foul smell and said it was attracting flies.

A police officer walks past an abandoned container full of bodies in Tlajomulco de Zuniga, Jalisco, Mexico. Source: Reuters

It was then transported to the suburb of Tlajomulco de Zuniga, but residents there complained of the stench at the weekend.

We have a lot of children in this neighbourhood. It could make us all sick, said resident Jose Luis Tovar.

We dont want it here. They need to put it somewhere else, it stinks.

On Monday, the container was moved to a warehouse near Jalisco state prosecutors office in Guadalajara.

A truck leaves with an abandoned trailer full of bodies that has been parked in Tlajomulco de Zuniga, Jalisco, Mexico. Source: Reuters

Local authorities say they are searching for a long-term solution after a recent wave of violence.

We ran out of cemetery plots where we could bury them, said Luis Octavio Cotero, head of the Jalisco forensic investigators unit.

More than 200,000 people have been killed or have disappeared in Mexico in the past 12 years after the government tried to tackle organised crime.

Like other parts of Mexico, Jalisco is suffering from a crime wave that led to a record 31,000 homicides in 2017. The state is home to one of Mexicos most violent and powerful drug gangs, Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

Officials recorded 16,339 homicides across Mexico in the first seven months of this year, an increase of 17 per cent from the same period of 2017.

Men stand by the foul smelling abandoned trailer full of bodies. Source: Reuters

The surging numbers of deaths has overwhelmed Jaliscos morgue and work is underway on a new facility that would hold 700 bodies in its first phase, the states general secretary Roberto Lopez said.

Story continues

When it is built, these bodies will be transferred, Mr Lopez said. He added that the new facility will be completed in a month and a half.

On Monday, Mr Lopez acknowledged that the use of the truck showed a lack of respect and promised to launch an investigation.

The government will not tolerate displays of indifference or laziness, he wrote on his Twitter account.

The identity of the bodies was not immediately clear and how they died, although Mr Lopez was reported in Mexican media as saying they were unidentified victims of organised crime.Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas has invited Middle East envoys, foreign ministers and Security Council diplomats to a meeting in New York next week to discuss prospects for peace, the Palestinian ambassador said Wednesday. The meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly debate was called amid a crisis in ties with President Donald Trump's administration over its recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and cuts to Palestinian aid. Abbas will meet with the group of 30 ministers and diplomats including the heads of UN committees that deal with Palestinian issues on September 26, a day before he is scheduled to deliver his address at the General Assembly. Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour did not provide details, but he told reporters that there had been a "radical shift" under the Trump administration to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. The Palestinian leadership cut off contact with the White House after Trump decided to move the US embassy to Jerusalem, whose eastern area the Palestinians claim as their own capital. Palestinian leaders see Trump's administration as blatantly biased in favor of Israel. Abbas addressed the Security Council in February to call for an international conference to re-launch the peace process under a new mediator to replace the United States. Trump has tasked his son-in-law Jared Kushner and lawyer Jason Greenblatt with the drafting of a peace plan, but there has been some skepticism about whether the proposals will materialize. It remains unclear whether there will be contacts between the Palestinians and the US administration on the sidelines of the weeklong General Assembly debate. Shortly after Abbas delivers his address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will have his turn at the podium to deliver what is likely to be a strong rebuttal. Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas is organizing a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to discuss prospects for Middle East peaceA series of devastating suicide attacks on Afghanistan's minority Shiite community has fuelled fears of more violence ahead of Ashura, one of the Muslim sect's holiest days, and prompted calls for civilians to arm themselves. The religious holiday, which falls on Thursday, has become a major target for the Islamic State group since it emerged in the region in 2014 and began assaulting Shiites in overwhelmingly Sunni Afghanistan. Sunni extremists, like IS, consider Shiites apostates, and have carried out deadly attacks on the sect across the region, massacring hundreds. The violence has escalated in recent weeks, with more than 60 people killed in suicide bombings at a wrestling club and an education centre in a heavily Shiite-populated neighbourhood of Kabul. Burqa-clad suicide bombers also struck a Shiite mosque in the eastern city of Gardez last month, killing at least 35 people. IS claimed responsibility for those attacks. "We are in constant fear, day and night," Ahmad Zia Ahmadi told AFP on Sunday as he oversaw repairs at the Maiwand wrestling club, which was badly damaged in the September 5 double bombing. "If the government does not provide security for us, we will have to arm ourselves." The Afghan government is frequently criticised for failing to protect Shiites, who number around three million in Afghanistan, and there are growing fears of vigilantism. Hundreds of civilians were recruited last year to protect Shiite religious sites in Kabul and other cities ahead of Ashura, reinforced by police officers. The move helped to reduce the number of attacks, a senior Shiite leader told AFP recently, but no such plan has been announced for this Ashura. While hundreds of weapons distributed in 2017 were still being used to protect mosques, it was not enough, he said. Last year "they only gave us 1,250 guns that we distributed to 14 provinces with Shiite populations", he said on the condition of anonymity. Some mosques "are still unarmed". Interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish told AFP that the government had a security plan for Ashura and the Islamic month of Muharram, but would not provide details. "We will do everything to provide security for our people in Kabul," Danish said on September 10, a day before the start of Muharram. Ashura -- the most important Shiite observance -- falls on the 10th day of Muharram, which is the mourning period for the seventh-century killing of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. The faithful gather to beat their chests and lash their backs with chains until they bleed in commemoration of Hussein's death. - 'We know they will attack' - Without faith in the government, many Shiites echo Ahmadi's fears that IS could strike anywhere, and that they can only rely on themselves for protection. "We have been attacked in our mosques, schools, streets and gyms," Ghulam Reza told AFP at the wrestling club. "We are thinking about arming ourselves." On Facebook, users have been sharing the rumoured locations of planned attacks in Kabul. "Nowhere is safe for us anymore," one user named Hossien posted. "Our kids, religious scholars, wrestlers, and people from all walks of life are killed every day. Let's... stand up against it." Another Facebook user wrote: "Standing in front of a mosque to protect your people is a way of fighting terrorism. When the government cannot provide security, you protect your institutions and values." Afghanistan's intelligence agency announced Tuesday the arrest of 26 suspected IS militants who were allegedly planning to carry out attacks during Muharram and on Ashura. Plans to divide Kabul into four security zones were announced by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on September 8. He also said heavier security, such as a "green zone" similar to the one where many embassies and international organisations are located in Kabul, was needed in the city's Shiite-dominated west. But "more deliberation and consultation" were required before the proposals could be implemented, he said in a statement. The lack of action is no surprise to Ahmadi, who is collecting donations to repair the wrestling club. "We know the enemy will attack us," he said, as he studied bits of flesh stuck to the ceiling. But "we don't expect the government to protect us. They can't". The Islamic State group has carried out deadly attacks on Afghanistan's Shiites, massacring hundreds There are growing fears that Islamic State will target Afghanistan's Shiites on Ashura, one of sect's holiest daysThe African Union has called on Italy's far-right interior minister to withdraw comments he made last week in which he referred to Africans as slaves. But Matteo Salvini on Wednesday insisted that his comments had been misinterpreted and that there was no need to apologise. An AU statement issued Tuesday evening expressed "dismay" at Salvini's comments. It called on him to "retract his derogatory statement about African migrants" adding, "name-calling will not resolve the migration challenges facing Africa and Europe". Salvini's remarks were made on Friday during a clash with Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn at an EU meeting in Vienna. Asselborn had suggested that ageing Europe needed immigrants. "In Italy we feel it's necessary to help our children make more children. And not to have new slaves to replace the children we're no longer having," Salvini retorted. His comments were filmed in a meeting closed to the press. Salvini himself posted a video of them on his Facebook page to mark his clash with Asselborn. In comments to reporters on Wednesday however, he said his comments had been distorted. "In fact, in Vienna I said exactly the opposite, to defend asylum seekers and immigrants who some people in Europe use as slaves," he argued. "There is nothing that requires apologies from me," he said, adding that poor work by a French-speaking translator might have been behind the misunderstanding. In its statement, the African Union pointed out that Italy had itself benefited from mass emigration, with more than 26 million Italians leaving their home country in between 1861 to 1976. It was a matter of record, the statement added, that "Italy has benefited greatly from its huge diaspora through remittances and trade". Salvini is the leader of the anti-immigration League party, part of Italy's ruling coalition, where he also serves as deputy prime minister. Within days of becoming interior minister, he delivered on a campaign promise to close Italian ports to immigrants and asylum-seekers. Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini says his comments referring to Africans as slaves were misinterpretedTurkish activists and the opposition on Monday expressed outrage after a court jailed 24 workers ahead of a trial over their actions in protests against labour conditions at Istanbul's giant new airport. Activists said that the authorities should be listening to the workers' grievances rather than jailing them as work continues at breakneck speed to ensure the facility is finished on time. Hundreds of employees from the airport were rounded up at the weekend after reportedly protesting and striking over alleged labour violations during the rush to open the airport next month. Most of those detained were released without charge but 43 appeared before a judge at a court in the Istanbul district of Gaziosmanpasa late Tuesday. Of them, 24 were remanded in custody while 19 were allowed to go free under judicial control after an overnight court session, the DHA news agency reported. The figures were confirmed by construction labour union Insaat Is-Sendikasi on its Twitter account. There had been uproar on social media over the initial detentions under the hashtag #Koledegiliz (we are not slaves). - 'Intimidation' - Those under arrest were presented with charges including damaging public property, violating demonstration laws and defying police orders, DHA added. "This is an appalling assault on the right to protest and organise and on the dignity of workers in Turkey," said Emma Sinclair-Webb, the Turkey director for Human Rights Watch, on Twitter. Activists led by senior lawmakers from the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), which takes a leftist stance on economic issues, staged a protest outside the Metris jail in Istanbul where those arrested are being held. HDP MP Serpil Kemalbay said the detentions were a "form of intimidation" of workers who were exercising their right to protest. She said the minister of labour should have gone to the airport in person to talk to the workers but instead "armoured vehicles and gendarmerie led a siege there". The airport is a $10 billion project championed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to make Istanbul a global travel hub and turn flag carrier Turkish Airlines into an aviation giant. But workers at the airport have made complaints ranging from alleged violations of labour safety which led to dozens of deaths on the site to a lack of properly-organised transport to take them to and from the new airport close to the Black Sea. "My nephew was arrested there. They were in the rain and waiting for buses that didn't arrive," said Ahmet Yildirim outside the prison. - 'Without delay' - Some 36,000 people are working at the site as the clock ticks to the official opening on October 29 and a complete shift of flights from Ataturk International Airport which is then to be immediately closed. It is targeting a 90 million passenger annual capacity after opening, rising to 250 million when all facilities are completed. Despite the imminent opening it has yet to be named -- with speculation that it could be named again after Ataturk, a sultan like the reactionary late Ottoman era leader Abdulhamid II or even Erdogan himself. The Turkish authorities have in recent years moved quickly to clamp down on any sign of nascent protest movements, after being caught off guard in summer 2013 when small rallies opposing the redevelopment of Istanbul's Gezi Park turned into a nationwide uprising. The transport ministry on Tuesday issued a statement blaming "marginal groups" for the airport protests and insisting that the official opening was still scheduled for October 29. It said IGA -- the Turkish consortium building the new airport -- had talked to workers to discuss their demands. "Measures were taken without any delay. The works are continuing," the ministry added. Activists address the media outside Metris prison after a Turkish court kept 24 workers in custody ahead of a trial over their actions in protests against labour conditions at Istanbul's giant new airport Istanbul's giant new airport is due to open officially on October 29 and target an annual capacity of 90 million passengers, rising to 250 million when completedBeleaguered ex-president Cristina Kirchner appeared in court on Tuesday to answer questions relating to a money laundering case, a day after an Argentine judge asked that her legislative immunity be lifted. The 65-year-old, who now sits in the senate, has recently appeared twice before a judge in a separate corruption case in which she is accused of having received tens of millions of dollars in bribes. Tuesday's appearance before judge Sebastian Casanello is related to a case known as "the K-money route" relating to $60 million dollars of capital allegedly expatriated and then repatriated in an attempt to legitimize it. "Not only do I know nothing about this transaction but there is no evidence that links me to it," said Kirchner in a written submission to Casanello. The money was allegedly moved around between 2010 and 2013, while the center-left Kirchner was president, having succeeded her late husband Nestor in 2007. The case centers around a former bank cashier called Lazaro Baez, who created a business empire in Santa Cruz, some 2,500-kilometers (1,500-miles) south of the capital Buenos Aires, where he won tenders for oil and public works during the Kirchners' presidencies from 2003 to 2015. Baez owns 25 ranches comprising 400,000 hectares in the southern Patagonia region, as well as dozens of properties and landholdings. Ten days ago, one of his properties was excavated in search of buried containers believed to be full of money, but nothing was found. A defiant Kirchner said in her statement that authorities could track her movements, tap her telephone calls and "dig up the whole of Argentine Patagonia" because "they will never find anything to implicate me as I never took any illicit money." - 'Unprecedented' - Kirchner said nothing to the press throngs outside the court in the Comodoro Py neighborhood but stated on Twitter that it was her eighth appearance before a judge, describing her situation as "unprecedented." Her last two audiences with judge Claudio Bonadio related to the "corruption notebooks" scandal in which a ministerial chauffeur kept meticulous records of millions of dollars of bribes paid by businessmen to government officials to win public works contracts. Bonadio asked on Monday that Kirchner's immunity be lifted so she can be remanded in custody. Argentina's Senate voted last month to partially lift Kirchner's parliamentary immunity so her three luxury homes could be searched for evidence that she took bribes. As a senator, she retains immunity from imprisonment, although not from prosecution. The "corruption notebooks" case has implicated more than a dozen former government officials and 30 elite businessmen. Prosecutor Carlos Stornelli has said a total of $160 million in bribes was handed over between 2005 and 2015. Kirchner is under investigation in seven corruption cases in total, but claims she is the victim of "judicial persecutions" aimed at derailing her bid to run for a third presidential term in next year's elections. She has compared her lot to that of Brazil's jailed leftist ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, currently serving 12 years for having accepted a seaside apartment as a bribe. As the opposition's leading candidate, Kirchner has been commanding 30 percent approval ratings in opinion polls. Former Argentina president Cristina Kirchner is back in court to answer questions on a $60 million corruption case Cristina Kirchner, the former Argentina president, says she has been interviewed by a judge over corruption eight times alreadyFrench senators on Wednesday grilled President Emmanuel Macron's disgraced former security aide Alexandre Benalla over an assault scandal that tarnished Emmanuel Macron's reputation. Alexandre Benalla made global headlines in July after Le Monde newspaper revealed him as the man filmed roughing up demonstrators at a May Day rally in Paris, apparently posing as a police officer with a police helmet and armband. The 27-year-old, who was a security official in the presidency and often seen by Macron's side, said he was attending the demonstration as an observer and stepped in to help police bring the protests under control. The footage of him hitting a young man and forcibly removing a young woman from the demonstration caused widespread shock, which was compounded when it was revealed that Macron had known about the incident and did not report Benalla to the authorities. He is seen, wearing a helmet and unceremoniously grabbing the young woman and hitting her companion on the chest and head. The two people filmed being accosted by Benalla, were questioned at length by investigating judges in Paris court for the first time on Wednesday. They admitted hurling projectiles on the day in question but denied being part of a militant group, according to their lawyer. - 'Storm in a teacup' - Macron, who had campaigned on a promise to clean up French politics, dismissed the scandal as a "storm in a teacup". But while his government survived two no-confidence votes, the affair was nonetheless seen as a blight on the record of the centrist and led to calls for greater checks on his powers. Benalla, a former bouncer who has been charged with assault and impersonating a police officer, was head of Macron's security team during the 2017 campaign and followed him to the Elysee Palace after his win. Both during and after the campaign he was seen flanking Macron during public outings, but on Wednesday he denied that he had ever acted as his bodyguard -- a job reserved for elite members of the gendarmerie which comes under the interior ministry. "I was never a police officer nor the president's bodyguard," said Benalla, who wore a suit and tie and chose his words with care, adding that his role was more like that of "a director or conductor". Members of the Senate committee investigating the scandal dubbed "Benallagate" did not quiz him about the assault. Their two and a half hours of questioning focused mainly on whether the presidency encroached on the role of the government, which is officially separate from the presidency, by giving him extraordinary powers. Benalla, a fan of the film "In the Line of Fire" about a US secret service agent trying to thwart a presidential assassination plot, admitted he carried a Glock 43 handgun during some outings with Macron. "I would arrive in the morning with the gun on my belt and leave in the evening with the gun on my belt," he said, while insisting he bore arms for his "personal security". He also admitted to securing an exclusive badge granting him access to the National Assembly on a "personal whim", so he could use parliament's gym and library. - 'Betrayal' - Macron's approval ratings took a tumble over "Benallagate" and have continued to fall since, dragged down by disappointing growth and jobs data and a perception that his policies are tilted towards the rich. A Kantar Sofres poll published Monday showed only 19 percent of the French satisfied with his performance. His refusal to answer questions about the Benalla scandal for several days after it broke prompted critics to accuse him of authoritarianism and arrogance. Addressing members of his Republic on the Move (LREM) party at the height of the affair, he accused Benalla of "betrayal" and said he took full responsibility for the affair. "Let them come and get me," Macron said, despite the fact that French presidents are immune from prosecution. LREM lawmakers boycotted Wednesday's Senate hearing, accusing the opposition-dominated upper house of parliament of mounting a deliberate ploy to get at the president. Former Elysee senior security officer Alexandre Benalla being sworn ahead of testifying before a French Senate inquiry Biographical elements on Alexandre Benalla, former presidential bodyguard who has been charged with assault and impersonating a police officer after he beat and manhandled protestors on May 1.English French

Alstom signs Memorandum of Understanding

with Ukrainian Railways for electric locomotives

19 September 2018 - Alstom and Ukrainian Railways (UZ) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding officialising cooperation for the provision and maintenance of electric locomotives. The MoU was signed today by Yevgen Kravtsov, Acting Chairman of the Board of Ukrainian Railways, and Henri Poupart-Lafarge, Alstom's Chairman & CEO, during the InnoTrans 2018 railway trade show in Berlin.

The strategic priority of UZ is the renovation of its electric locomotive fleet. The total requirements of UZ over the next 10 years cover 495 locomotives, including freight locomotives of different voltages (25kV, 3kV, and dual-voltage) and dual-voltage passenger locomotives, as well as associated services and maintenance for up to 25 years. It also encompasses the homologation of the product in Ukraine and the provision of all relevant documentation by Alstom.

"I am very pleased to be officialising this cooperation with Ukrainian Railways today. Alstom is present in over 60 countries and we are proud to count Ukraine among them. Wherever we are, we adapt to local conditions and propose suitable solutions to our customers. We see the high potential of the Ukrainian market, and we would be proud to contribute to the modernisation of the country's railway infrastructure and its further integration within the broader European railway market," said Henri Poupart-Lafarge, Chairman and CEO of Alstom.

"Alstom is one of the world's leading rail transport manufacturers. I am pleased with the fact that today's memorandum is a starting point for our cooperation with the French company. Our strategic goal is to renew our fleet of locomotives. As we already have a strategic partner in the supply of diesel locomotives, we are actively exploring the possibilities for the effective cooperation on the renewal of the electric locomotive fleet. Almost 47% of Ukraine's railways have been electrified, but the goal is to increase the number of electrified areas up to 54% within two years. Cooperation with Alstom is also very important for us because the company has considerable experience in the manufacture of 1520mm gauge electric locomotives. Moreover, the possibility of maximum localization at Ukrainian enterprises is the essential condition in the cooperation with Alstom", said Yevgen Kravtsov, Acting CEO of Ukrainian Railways.

Following preliminary meetings held in April this year between Alstom's management and Ukrainian authorities, Alstom has opened a representative office in the country.

The Ukrainian railway network is 1520mm gauge with over 22,000 kilometres of track. The country plans to develop international railway routes to Europe and to modernise its transport infrastructure in all segments, from urban with trams and metros, to mainline with regional and intercity trains or high-speed lines.

Alstom can already boast significant experience in 1520mm gauge railways, specifically in Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, where it has been delivering freight and passengers locomotives adapted to the local requirements since 2010. These include heavy freight Prima T8 locomotives, which feature very high hauling capacity. They ensure the highest tractive efforts on electrified networks, with appropriate comfort and maximum safety for covering long distances. The latest Prima T8 versions, such as the KZ8A for Kazakhstan and the AZ8A for Azerbaijan, can haul up to 9,000 tons and can run at 120 km/h. They include adaptations for the harshest conditions, including desert environments and extreme cold down to -50C.

About Alstom

As a promoter of sustainable mobility, Alstom develops and markets systems, equipment and services for the transport sector. Alstom offers a complete range of solutions (from high-speed trains to metros, tramways and e-buses), passenger solutions, customized services (maintenance, modernisation), infrastructure, signalling and digital mobility solutions. Alstom is a world leader in integrated transport systems. The company recorded sales of 8.0 billion and booked 7.2 billion of orders in the 2017/18 fiscal year. Headquartered in France, Alstom is present in over 60 countries and employs 34,500 people.

www.alstom.com

Press contacts

Samuel Miller - Tel. + 33 1 57 06 67 74

samuel.miller@alstomgroup.com

Christopher English - Tel. + 33 1 57 06 36 90

christopher.english@alstomgroup.com

Investor relations

Selma Bekhechi - Tel. + 33 1 57 06 95 39

Selma.bekhechi@alstomgroup.com

Julien Minot - Tel. + 33 1 57 06 64 84

Julien.minot@alstomgroup.comBert and Ernie of "Sesame Street" may only be puppets, but that hasn't stopped audiences from speculating over the years that the two roommates might be more than just best friends. A longtime writer from the beloved children's show on Tuesday appeared to confirm they were in fact a "loving couple," only for its creators to deny the pair are together or have a sexual orientation. The writer, too, later seemed to backtrack. Mark Saltzman, who was a staff writer on the program between 1981 and 1990, told the website Queerty he had based the pair's dynamic on his own long-term relationship with film editor Arnold Glassman. "I remember one time that a column from the San Francisco Chronicle, a preschooler in the city turned to mom and asked 'are Bert & Ernie lovers?' And that, coming from a preschooler was fun," he said. "I always felt that without a huge agenda, when I was writing Bert and Ernie, they were. I didn't have any other way to contextualize them. "I was already with Arnie when I came to 'Sesame Street.' So I don't think I'd know how else to write them, but as a loving couple." Saltzman added the Bert and Ernie's interactions mirrored his own with Glassman, who was his partner for more than 20 years until his death in 2003. "I was Ernie. I look more Bert-ish. And Arnie, as a film editor ? if you thought of Bert with a job in the world, wouldn?t that be perfect? Bert with his paper clips and organization? And I was the jokester," Saltzman said. Saltzman later told The New York Times his comments were misinterpreted. He said that he and Glassman were much like Bert and Ernie, opposites who found a way to love each other, the paper said. "As a writer, you just bring what you know into your work," The Times quoted him as saying in a phone interview on Tuesday night. "Somehow, in the uproar, that turned into Bert and Ernie being gay," he said. "There is a difference." Sesame Workshop, which produces the show, denied the pair's relationship was anything more than platonic. "As we have always said, Bert and Ernie are best friends. They were created to teach preschoolers that people can be good friends with those who are very different from themselves," the non-profit organization said. "Even though they are identified as male characters and possess many human traits and characteristics (as most Sesame Street Muppets do), they remain puppets, and do not have a sexual orientation." - Dumbledore moment? - Saltzman's initial, seeming "outing" of Bert and Ernie is reminiscent of British author J.K Rowling's decision in 2007 to reveal that wizard Albus Dumbledore, one of the main characters in her Harry Potter books, was gay. But while that disclosure caught many readers by surprise -- many have said there was no indication of the character's sexuality in the books -- the Sesame Street duo's relationship has long been questioned by viewers. In 2011, gay rights activist Lair Scott launched an online petition signed by some 7,600 people that called for the pair to get married on the program to teach acceptance of gays and lesbians, spawning an extensive online debate on the topic as well as less popular pages opposing the two characters tying the knot. In response, the show issued a similar statement to that released on Tuesday. That did not prevent the pair from appearing on the cover of The New Yorker in 2013, shortly after the US Supreme Court legalized gay marriage across the country, which Saltzman described as a "kind of vindication." They were shown cuddling on the couch watching a television that showed the Supreme Court judges. A longtime writer from the beloved children's show appeared to confirm puppets Bert and Ernie were in fact a "loving couple," only for the creators of 'Sesame Street' to deny the pair are together or have a sexual orientationA young boy has been arrested after admitting to putting needles in strawberries.

On Wednesday, NSW Acting Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith said detectives had already arrested one young boy over behaviour that could be a prank.

Obviously in the last few days we found a young person has admitted to a prank, including putting needles in strawberries, and hell be dealt with under the youth cautioning system, the acting assistant commissioner said.

A young boy has been arrested over putting needles in strawberries in a prank. Photo: AAP

In NSW the maximum penalty for deliberately contaminating a food source is 10 years in jail.

Detectives believe all the incidents of fruit contamination in the state have been the work of copycats and pranksters and have vowed offenders will feel the full weight of the law.

Needles have been found in more than 20 punnets of strawberries across NSW in the past week after the fruit was first sabotaged in Queensland.

Woolworths took the extraordinary step on Thursday of removing sewing needles from its store shelves.

In Perth parents were sent letters about sabotaged strawberries at four Perth schools.

Needles have also been discovered in an apple and a banana, NSW Police confirmed on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday announced urgent and harsh new Commonwealth criminal penalties for contaminating food as the ongoing needle crisis brings many Australian farmers to their knees.

This is a shocking and cowardly thing for this individual and others who have jumped onto the bandwagon here to have engaged in, Mr Morrison told reporters in Canberra.

He wants the maximum penalty for food contamination increased from 10 to 15 years in prison, in line with child pornography and terror financing offences.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has promised to stand shoulder to shoulder with farmers.

It is beyond belief that anybody would deliberately sabotage fruit to try and harm people in the process, harm our hardworking fruit farmers and the industry, she told parliament.

Story continues

This is a disgusting act designed to instil fear in consumers and to undermine our agricultural industry.

NSW produces around one per cent of Australias strawberries. The states strawberry picking season is expected to begin in the next six weeks, according to the premier.Bulgaria's defence minister said Wednesday his country would oppose EU sanctions against Hungary, which Brussels accuses of posing a "systematic threat" to the bloc's founding values and the rule of law. "The Bulgarian government took a unanimous decision to prepare a position in defence of Hungary," Defence Minister Krasimir Karakachanov said in a statement. Any punitive action against Hungary "would create a dangerous precedent," he said. Hungary joins Poland in opposing EU action against Hungary. The Polish government said last week that it would veto any EU sanctions against Budapest. Karakachanov, leader of a nationalist formation that is a junior coalition partner in the conservative cabinet of premier Boyko Borisov, did not say when the Bulgarian government's position will be issued. Hours later, however Borisov, speaking on the sidelines of an EU summit in Austria, played down the statement by Karakachano, saying that the Hungary issue was discussed but no formal decision had been taken. "There is no drama, nothing has been decided," he said, while suggesting that it might be good for Hungary to adjust some of its most controversial politics. Last week, the European Parliament initiated a procedure which could ultimately see Hungary stripped of its EU voting rights over a series of controversial reforms that Brussels says undermine democracy. Borisov pinpointed Wednesday that five of his GERB party's six lawmakers in the EU legislature had already voted against the motion last week while one abstained. The motion is already highly unlikely to succeed as Poland -- a fellow ex-communist state that is also facing the same procedure -- has promised to wield its veto to prevent such sanctions. Borisov's conservative government has also come under scrutiny for systematic failures to impose the rule of law. If the EU does decide to sanction Hungary then Poland and possibly Bulgaria could be next, Karakachanov has argued. Bulgaria joined the EU in 2007 but is still subject to special monitoring for failing to curb widespread corruption and improve the independence and efficiency of its judiciary -- problems also faced by Hungary. Bulgarian Defence Minister Krasimir Karakachanov, pictured April 2017, says that the Bulgarian government has made a "unanimous decision to prepare a position in defence of Hungary"Canada's Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland, showing off her waggish side, wore a t-shirt with the words "Keep calm and negotiate NAFTA" on it to Washington for high level continental trade talks Wednesday. The minister was spotted at the Ottawa airport late Tuesday sporting the white shirt as she walked to the gate to catch her flight. A photo was posted on Twitter. Her spokesman Adam Austen told AFP "it was a gift from her children! She wears it all the time." The related "Keep Calm and Carry On" slogan dates back to 1939, when the British government put it on motivational posters in preparation for World War II to reassure the public in the face of predicted mass air attacks on major cities. It has resurfaced in the last decade on t-shirts and other paraphernalia. Canadian media have touted Freeland's attire as a sign that Ottawa is not prepared to cave to US negotiating pressures. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a telephone call with US President Donald Trump on Tuesday "reaffirmed his commitment to a deal that works for both countries," according to a readout of the call. Freeland was scheduled to meet with US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer at 11 a.m. (1500 GMT) to try to hammer out a deal to revamp the North American Free Trade Agreement, which she said last week after a round of tense talks was "eminently possible." For the meeting, however, she changed into a more formal black dress accented with a pearl necklace. - Ottawa in no rush for deal - Negotiations to modernize the 1994 accord between Canada, the United States and Mexico started a year ago at the behest of president Trump, who called it "one of the worst trade deals in history" for sending many manufacturing jobs -- notably in the auto sector -- to Mexico. The United States and Mexico sealed their own two-way deal at the end of August, and Trump has since ramped up pressure on Canada to accept his terms. But Ottawa has seemed reluctant to heed Trump's push to sign a deal before US midterm elections in November and the transfer of power in December to Mexican President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador -- as Trudeau's Liberals also need a win to hold up to voters when they return to the polls in one year. Stumbling blocks to a deal remain, including over Canada's protected dairy sector and cultural subsidies, as well as its demand for an international system for resolving disputes. Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland will set her cheeky t-shirt aside and don formal attire when negotiations resume in Washington to revamp the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)Fighting global warming will necessarily require taxing carbon emissions, or setting a price on carbon pollution, the World Bank's chief executive said Wednesday at a G7 environment meeting in Canada. "We believe very strongly that we can send an economic signal by introducing a shadow price for carbon," Kristalina Georgieva told AFP, referring to a method of calculating a price per tonne of carbon that includes the social costs of pollution. "We are the last generation that can do something to fight climate change but we are also the first generation that has to live with its consequences," she said. "There is a consensus among scientists and economists that carbon pricing is the best way to signal to economies that the behavior has to change." According to the Institute for Climate Economics, 46 countries and 26 subnational governments have established a carbon pricing policy as of April 1, either using a carbon tax or a carbon market in which quotas are set for big polluters who then have the option to buy or sell credits from other companies. These policies added US$30 billion to government coffers, with prices per tonne ranging from US$1 to US$133. But, according to the OECD, the amount being charged is insufficient to meet climate targets. The World Bank is "making every major step to integrate climate action into all of our lending policies," Georgieva commented. One week after UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned that the world has only two years left to act in order to avert disastrous consequences of runaway climate change, Georgieva added her voice to the call to arms, saying it was "critical" that nations take action now. The gathering of the Group of Seven industrialized nations along with the EU in the Canadian port city of Halifax is looking also to adopt new international rules to stop plastics from further accumulating in the world's oceans. The World Bank's chief executive says a carbon tax on emissions is necessary to fight global warmingGut-wrenching video has been shared of a leashed dog desperately running after a truck as it pulled out of a service station with the pet still tied to the vehicle.

Just by chance, a police patrol car happened to be at the petrol station as the semi-trailer took off and spotted the tethered animal giving chase, trying to keep up with the rig. An Arizona sheriffs office shared dashcam footage of the incident.

Gut-wrenching video has been shared of a leashed dog desperately running after a truck as it drives off. Source: Yavapai County Sheriffs Office

The Patrol Volunteer in Protection (VIP) car tooted its horn, but the driver failed to notice, so its lights and siren were then activated alerting the truck to pull over.

The driver told police volunteers he had made the potentially fatal mistake of forgetting the dog had been leashed to the back of the truck before driving away.

The dog remains attached to the moving vehicle as it pulled away from a petrol station, headed to the highway. Source: Yavapai County Sheriffs Office

A very grateful owner retrieved his pet and expressed deep appreciation for the VIPs efforts, the Yavapai County Sheriffs Office said in an online statement.

Patrol VIPs act only as eyes and ears when they are in the field, but this exception to use lights and siren to save this dog from injury or death has been deemed warranted by YCSO Command Staff.

Police said the driver was simply distracted as he headed towards the highway and forgot to unleash his dog.

No charges are being sought.Denver, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TiE Denver , the Colorado chapter of TiE Global , a nonprofit venture devoted to entrepreneurs across all industries, in all stages, today announced the creation of the Colorado Startup Power Rankings.

Within our cluttered investor space, there is a huge challenge for investors and entrepreneurs alike to arrive at a reasonably standard approach to ranking companies ready for funding, said Jeff Schell, director of community partnerships. As a part of the new TiE Denver, we are bringing in our community partners to collaborate with Colorado entrepreneurs and investors in a unique evaluation method.

Promising Colorado startups will be assessed and ranked by employing metrics used by venture capitalists to create the Colorado Startup Power Rankings. Once compiled, the rankings will help investors both within and outside of TiE to have a quick point of reference when sourcing investment opportunities. TiE stands for The International Entrepreneurs.

The rigorous startup evaluation will follow a standardized rubric, and the Power Panel of three judges will evaluate each startups presentation according to the scoring rubric. Judges are vetted as TiE Charter Members and qualified officials of a TiE Community Partner.

The initial Colorado Startup Power Rankings judging session will take place at Denver Startup Week , followed by quarterly Power Ranking Socials. TiE Denver has been selected for two presentations at Denver Startup Week, including the Propel Pitch event, a pitch competition where the ranking will first be utilized.

TiE Denver and Community Partners will celebrate the top 50 companies in the Colorado Startup Power Rankings at a gala event in November. The Power Rankings kickoff will be during Denver Startup week Sept. 25th at 6:00 p.m. at Galvanize. Register at denverstartupweek.org .

About TiE Denver (formerly TiE Rockies):

Mission: TiE Denver is a Colorado non-profit, global community welcoming entrepreneurs at all stages. Our mission is to foster entrepreneurship, funding and economic growth in Colorado by providing the highest level of mentoring and programming through TiE Denver while leveraging our TiE Global connections and local strategic partner relationships.

Purpose: Our purpose is to be a leader in making Colorado a top hub for entrepreneurship by leveraging the expertise of our TiE Charter Members, the TiE Global Network and creating entrepreneurial alliances with strategic partners including other Colorado incubators/accelerators, investors and economic development agencies.

For more information, please visit www.rockies.tie.org .

###A criminal court in Ecuador suspended a hearing on Tuesday meant to decide whether to call former president Rafael Correa to trial over the kidnapping of an opposition lawmaker in Colombia. Barely an hour into the hearing, judge Daniela Camacho postponed the hearing until Friday to provide more time to study prosecution documents into the 2012 kidnapping of Fernando Balda. Correa, who lives in his wife's native Belgium and cannot be tried in absentia, blasted the decision as "shameful" on Twitter, calling on the prosecutor in charge to "resign." "He had a month and a half to prepare for this hearing," fumed Correa. The hearing, attended by international observers on behalf of Correa, is due to decide whether or not he should face trial or if the case should be dismissed. In July, Ecuador's National Court of Justice ordered the arrest of Correa and alerted the international police organization Interpol. Correa dismissed that as a political "plot" led by his successor, President Lenin Moreno. The two were once allies -- Moreno was Correa's vice president from 2007 to 2013 -- but have since fallen out. The power struggle between the pair led to a crisis within their left-wing PAIS Alliance party, which has been in power since Correa won his first election in 2006. Moreno has recently come out on top in that struggle as Ecuadorans voted in February to bar Correa from making a comeback in 2021 by backing a referendum on reimposing presidential term limits. Former Ecuador president Rafael Correa denies involvement in the 2012 kidnapping of a rival lawmakerThe EU must convince Italy, Spain and Greece to back a plan to bolster the bloc's external borders, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said Wednesday as European Union leaders met in Salzburg to discuss the politically charged issue. EU Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker "has put forward a proposal to widen the mandate of the Frontex (border agency) and make repatriations (of refugees) more effective," Kurz said in an interview with the Austrian daily Der Standard. "Some member states are still rather sceptical. It's our task to convince them," said Kurz, whose country currently holds the EU's rotating presidency. As the primary entry points into the EU for many of the refugees fleeing across the Mediterranean, Italy, Spain and Greece are sceptical about the plans to beef up the Frontex border agency, Kurz said. "It's about their sovereignty rights, as well as concerns about the improved registration of migrants," the Austrian leader said. Under the EU Commission's proposals, the number of Frontex border guards will be increased to 10,000 by 2020 and they will be able to intervene to better regulate the influx of migrants. Kurz hinted that southern countries were "probably not unhappy" with the current situation in which many of the new arrivals, after setting foot in the EU, can continue more or less unhindered into central Europe. Germany and France in particular advocate improving the system for registering migrants. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has also vowed to oppose the EU plan. The fiercely anti-immigration premier said the plan would "strip Hungary of its right to protect its own borders". "We will not give up our right to defend a border. No one can take an iota of that away from us," he told parliament in Budapest on Monday. As the primary entry points into the EU for many of the refugees fleeing across the Mediterranean, Italy, Spain and Greece are sceptical about the plans to beef up the Frontex border agencyEuropean leaders will gather Wednesday for a summit to put summer tensions over migration behind them and to set up the last stretch of talks for a Brexit deal. The European Union's top officials face intense pressure in the coming weeks to seal a divorce deal and a plan for future ties with Britain to avert a chaotic exit in March. In effect, the Salzburg gathering has become the first in an expected series of three summits in successive months to finalise London and Brussels' break-up. EU negotiator Michel Barnier insisted Tuesday that the long-planned October 18 summit in Brussels remains the "moment of truth" for his team and his British counterpart. But he appeared to tacitly accept that more talks would follow, when he said of October: "We will see if an accord is within reach and we'll see if the Irish issue is solved." By "Irish issue" the French official meant efforts to ensure that Britain's decision to leave the union does not result in the reimposition of a "hard border" between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. British Prime Minister Theresa May will brief her 27 EU counterparts on the state of the Brexit talks at a dinner hosted by Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz on Wednesday. The leaders will then meet without May on Thursday to discuss the hurdles to a deal and a parallel statement on future relations with Britain. Diplomats expect little headway in Salzburg as both sides act cautiously before May's divided Conservative Party begins its annual conference on September 30. Officials said that 80 percent of the divorce settlement is agreed, but that progress must be made quickly on Ireland and on the parallel political statement that will lay out a blueprint for future relations. - Future ties - London wants a detailed timetable for building trade ties in exchange for paying billions of euros the Union says it is owed in dues. "We will discuss how to organise the final phase of the Brexit talks," EU Council President Donald Tusk said, in a letter inviting the 28 leaders to the informal summit. They will consider, he added, "the possibility of calling" a special summit in November after having initially set October's formal summit as the deadline. November would still give the British, European and member state parliaments enough time to debate and ratify the terms before March 2019, when Britain would otherwise crash out without a plan. "Unfortunately, a no-deal scenario is still quite possible. But if we all act responsibly, we can avoid a catastrophe," wrote Tusk, who organises EU summits. EU officials and many British experts are worried that a no-deal Brexit would damage economic and financial ties between the globe's biggest trading bloc and one of the world's leading economies. A senior EU official told reporters it was possible the two sides might settle on arrangements that would include specifics, but leave wiggle room to allow for clarifications during a transition period through 2020. In Brussels for pre-summit briefings, Ireland's foreign and trade minister Simon Coveney warned a deal must be found by the October summit instead of being allowed to drag into November. - End 'mutual resentment' - The EU has proposed that Northern Ireland stay aligned with the remaining 27 bloc members after Brexit as part of a "backstop", or insurance policy to avoid the reimposition of border checks. But Britain, fearing the EU proposal would break up its territory, has suggested instead that the whole country remain aligned with the EU in certain areas, but only until the end of 2021. The summit will also seek to ease tensions over migration after a summer showdown with Italy's populist government. Italy has repeatedly turned away rescue ships carrying hundreds of African migrants to force other member countries to share responsibility for them. The migrants were finally relocated to member states and non-member Albania on an ad-hoc basis, but EU countries have so far found an overall solution elusive. They have yet to work out ways to implement proposals agreed at a June summit to set up centres in Europe and north Africa to separate genuine refugees from economic migrants who could be deported. The EU is still confronted with the refusal of Hungary and other former communist eastern countries to admit asylum seekers, particularly from Muslim countries. Tusk, who chairs the council of EU member state leaders, has played down expectations on migration. "I am hoping that in Salzburg we will be able to put an end to the mutual resentment and return to a constructive approach," he said in the invitation letter. Light at the end of the Chunnel?: Therea May will brief her EU counterparts on the state of the Brexit negotiations EU chief negotiator for Brexit, Michel Barnier says the October summit will be a 'moment of truth' Many British experts believe a no-deal Brexit would damage economic and financial tiesAfrica draws just five percent of the world's tourists despite boasting attractions ranging from the Pyramids and Victoria Falls to wildlife safaris and endless strips of pristine beach. But the continent's huge potential can be unlocked by eco tourism, cultural experiences, domestic travel and political stability, said experts at an African tourism conference hosted by Airbnb in Cape Town last week. "When you look at the success stories, it's those countries who've embraced trends," said the African Tourism Association's (ATA) managing director Naledi Khabo who spoke at the summit. "When you look at some countries which have made sustainability a focal point, like Tanzania, or Rwanda, they're very attractive for certain travellers." Eco-friendly safaris and carbon-neutral lodging draw increasing numbers of tourists from Europe and North America. The number of tourists visiting Tanzania has more than doubled since 2006 to above one million contributing 14 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP), according to Tanzania Invest. Khabo, who speaks for the African tourism sector, said other success stories included South Africa, "which is promoting the diversification of their products beyond the safari". South Africa has witnessed a boom of experience-based tours, taking travellers to disadvantaged township and rural communities as well as wine farms and game lodges. Abigail Mbalo founded the 4RoomEkasi concept to showcase food and lifestyles in South Africa's black communities to visitors "We tapped into the development of tourism in rural and township spaces," she said. "We are now starting to see cultural inclusivity. Those areas have been untapped." - 'A safe place to travel'? - Tourism is a major employer of poor black South Africans and accounts for nearly 700,000 jobs -- a rare success story in a country with an unemployment rate of almost 27 percent. The World Bank, which spoke at the tourism summit, praised the emerging trend for community-based travel projects like Mbalo's for creating opportunities for women and young people. "Every new business, destination, route or visitor creates opportunity for local people," said the World Bank in a statement. While many African destinations have courted foreign visitors' hard currency, Kenya has invested heavily in promoting "staycations". The country moved to promote domestic travel after dips in foreign arrivals following violent unrest and criminal attacks in recent years. "We have managed to develop the domestic market. Twenty-one percent of Airbnb occupancy is domestic market. It's benefiting us," said Kenya's Tourism Minister Najib Balala at the conference. Tourism, now the second largest driver of Kenya's GDP growth, was worth $1.2 billion in 2017. But many countries on the continent have struggled to woo foreign visitors fearful of political instability and violence. "The biggest challenge is perception," said Khabo. "Sometimes there is a real threat and sometimes it's just perceived." - Rwanda's transformation - Rwanda is one country that has successfully transformed its global image. The small east African nation was torn apart by a genocide in 1994 but has since established itself as a high-end destination. "Tourism is the number one foreign exchange earner, which is amazing to see in a country like Rwanda," said Rosette Rugamba who was appointed by President Paul Kagame as head of Rwanda Tourism from 2003 to 2010. "It is a huge contributor to the image-building of our country." Zimbabwe, which is home to some of Africa's best game and Victoria Falls, has enjoyed a boost in visitor numbers since long-serving despot Robert Mugabe resigned in November. While the number of foreign visitors to Victoria Falls jumped nearly 50 percent in the first quarter of this year, the country still operates far below its tourist potential. "The onus is on African governments and tourism boards to be more proactive in addressing perceptions," added Khabo. One African country that has seen its tourism industry squeezed is Egypt, once a magnet for travellers that has since the 2011 revolt seen visitor numbers plummet, despite the huge draw of the Pyramids and the Red Sea. Another is the Democratic Republic of Congo, which for years has been riven with often deadly political and ethnic unrest. "There's an enormous amount the DRC has to offer" including gorillas, pristine national parks, and smouldering volcanoes, said tourism author Anita Mendiratta, who spoke at the conference. "That's limited now because of the safety and security." Tanzania's Zanzibar has become a magnet for tourists in the past decade Tourism is now the second largest driver of growth in Kenya, home to some of the world's most visited safaris Cultural tourism is becoming more of a trend across Africa Adventure tourists keen to see gorillas up close are flocking to Rwanda Visitor numbers to Egypt plunged after the 2011 revoltAn Iraqi court on Wednesday sentenced a prominent jihadist described as a deputy of Islamic State group leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to death on terrorism charges. "The Karkh criminal court in Baghdad sentenced to death by hanging one of the most prominent leaders of IS, who served as a deputy of Baghdadi," judicial spokesman Abdel Sattar Bayraqdar said. Ismail Alwan Salman al-Ithawi was extradited from Turkey earlier this year having fled Syria as the group's self-proclaimed "caliphate" crumbled. He was tracked and detained through cooperation between Turkish, Iraqi and US intelligence agencies, a senior Iraqi official told AFP in February. A native of the Iraqi city of Ramadi, Ithawi was accused of holding several positions including IS "minister" in charge of religious edicts. Iraq declared "victory" over IS In December after a three-year war against the jihadists who once controlled nearly one third of the country as well as swathes of neighbouring Syria. Baghdadi has been pronounced dead on several occasions, but an Iraqi intelligence official said in May that he remained alive in Syrian territory by the Iraqi border. The IS chief called on Muslims to wage "jihad" in a purported new audio recording released last month. IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has been pronounced dead on several occasionsMalaysia's toppled leader Najib Razak was arrested Wednesday and will be charged over allegations that $628 million linked to state investment fund 1MDB ended up in his personal bank accounts, officials said. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission said in a statement that it had detained Najib as part of its investigations into the fund and "the entry of 2.6 billion ringgit ($628 million) into his personal account". Allegations that huge sums were looted from the investment vehicle by Najib and his cronies were a major factor in the shock defeat of his long-ruling coalition at elections in May to a reformist alliance headed by Mahathir Mohamad. Since losing power, Najib has already been arrested and hit with seven charges related to claims he pocketed some $10 million from a former unit of 1MDB. However his arrest Wednesday related directly to one of the most damaging allegations in the long-running scandal -- that huge sums from the fund flowed into his bank accounts ahead of a hotly contested election in 2013. When the allegations surfaced in 2015, they dramatically ratcheted up the scandal surrounding Najib and his inner circle. The attorney-general later cleared him of any wrongdoing, saying the money was a personal donation from the Saudi royal family. Najib will appear in court Thursday afternoon to be charged over the allegations, the anti-corruption commission said. Malaysia's former prime minister Najib Razak (centre) leaves Duta court complex in Kuala Lumpur on August 08, 2018There is still a way to go to reach a new North American Free Trade Agreement, Canada's prime minister said Wednesday, brushing off US pressure for a quick deal as high-level talks resumed in Washington. "Our team is in Washington this morning to continue to see if we can get a good deal for Canada, a good deal for everyone," said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. "We remain confident that there is always a deal possible, but it will take more work," he added. As he spoke in Ottawa, Canada's top diplomat Chrystia Freeland, who leads the Canadian negotiating team, was meeting with US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer in Washington. Negotiations to modernize the 1994 accord between Canada, the United States and Mexico started a year ago at the behest of US President Donald Trump, who called it "one of the worst trade deals in history" for sending many manufacturing jobs -- notably in the auto sector -- to Mexico. Freeland told reporters on Wednesday that negotiators had worked through the night. She emerged from meetings with Lighthizer saying officials were "tired but in good spirits." "Our negotiators have been really hard added including an all-night session last night of one team. So we are working very, very hard," she said. The United States and Mexico sealed their own two-way deal at the end of August, and Trump has since ramped up pressure on Canada to accept his terms. But Ottawa has seemed reluctant to heed Trump's push to sign a deal before US midterm elections in November and the transfer of power in December to Mexican President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador -- as Trudeau's Liberals also need a win to hold up to voters when they return to the polls in one year. - Dairy farmers on edge - Ottawa and Washington remain at odds over Canada's protected dairy sector and cultural subsidies, as well as Canada's demand for an international system for resolving disputes. Earlier, Canadian dairy farmers publicly urged Trudeau not to cave to US demands for increased access to Canada's dairy market, noting that the US already sells five times more milk to Canada than Canada sells to the US. "We call on the government to ensure that any final NAFTA deal has no further negative impact on our dairy sector," Pierre Lampron, the president of the Dairy Farmers of Canada, said at a news conference. Flanked by dairy farmers from all of Canada's 10 provinces, he said Ottawa had given milk and cheese carve-outs to the EU and 10 member nations in the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact in order to secure free trade with those blocs. This cost Canada Can$250 million (US$193 million) in lost milk production, Lampron said. The Canadian industry is valued at Can$19 billion. "This doesn't only hurt dairy farmers. From equipment dealers, to feed manufacturers to veterinarians to truck drivers, to processors, all are negatively impacted by these (trade) deals," Lampron said. "Enough is enough." The supply-managed sector sees milk, egg and poultry production and prices controlled by the government, resulting in higher prices for consumers but a stable income for farmers. "We will continue to defend supply management," Trudeau said. "This is a system that works for Canadians. It works for our agricultural industry." Ottawa and Washington remain at odds over Canada's protected dairy sector and cultural subsidies19 September 2018

HARGREAVE HALE AIM VCT PLC (the Company)

Offer for Subscription, Issue of Prospectus and Related Party Transaction

On 19 September 2018, the Company launched an offer for subscription of ordinary shares of 1p each to raise up to 20 million, together with an over-allotment facility of up to a further 10 million ("the Offer"). Full details of the Offer are contained in a prospectus ("the Prospectus"), which was published by the Company on 19 September 2018.

The Company has entered into an Offer Agreement dated 19 September 2018 between the Company, the Directors of the Company, Howard Kennedy Corporate Services LLP ("the Sponsor") and Hargreave Hale Limited ("the Investment Manager"). Under the Offer Agreement, the Sponsor has agreed to act as sponsor to the Offer. The Investment Manager has undertaken, as agent of the Company, to use its reasonable endeavours to procure subscribers under the Offer. Under the Offer Agreement, the Company will pay the Investment Manager a commission of 3.5% of the aggregate value of accepted applications for ordinary shares received pursuant to the Offers. Out of this fee, the Investment Manager will pay all other costs and expenses of or incidental to the Offers. The Investment Manager is a related party. As such, this transaction is a smaller related party transaction as defined in LR11.1.10R.

The Offer opened on 19 September 2018 and will close on 31 August 2019 (unless fully subscribed by an earlier date or closed at the Directors' discretion). Persons intending to apply for ordinary shares under the Offer for the 2018/19 tax year should note that the deadline for such applications is 12.00 p.m. on 5 April 2019.

The Prospectus as well as the Offer application form, will be available until the Offer closes from the registered office of the Investment Manager at:

Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management - Talisman House, Boardmans Way, Blackpool, FY4 5FY

The Company's website at http://www.hargreaveaimvcts.co.uk

The Prospectus has been submitted to the Financial Conduct Authority and will shortly be available for inspection at the National Storage Mechanism, which is located at:

http://www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/NSM

Hargreave Hale AIM VCT

For further information please contact:

Stuart Brookes

Company Secretary

Hargreave Hale AIM VCT plc

01253 754740Poland might not yet be ready for a permanent US military base, the head of the US Army said Wednesday, the day after Polish President Andrzej Duda offered to host "Fort Trump." Duda went to the White House on Tuesday to reiterate Poland's long-standing desire for a permanent US troop deployment to the eastern European country -- a contentious move some worry would anger Russia and draw US troops away from long-established bases in Germany. But US Army Secretary Mark Esper told AFP that when he visited Poland in January, it appeared there was not enough space on offer to fulfill the training requirements for US soldiers. "It was not sufficient in terms of size and what we could do in the manoeuver space and certainly on the ranges," Esper said. "You need a lot of range space to do tank gunnery, for example." He added that, in many cases, the terrain was "maybe not robust enough to really allow us to maintain the level of readiness we would like to maintain." Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Tuesday expressed similar concerns, saying there was a "host of details" that need to be studied alongside the Poles before any decision is made. "It's not just about a base," Mattis told reporters. "It's about training ranges, it's about maintenance facilities at the base, all these kinds of things." Trump said Poland is offering to pay Washington at least $2 billion to help meet the costs of the base, which Duda said could be called "Fort Trump," and that the US is "looking at it very seriously." Duda said Russian military expansion, starting with a takeover of rebel areas of neighboring Georgia and more recently the annexation of Ukraine's Black Sea Crimea region, was part of "constant violation of international law." Poland has been angling for a permanent US troop presence since at least a decade ago, when it was in talks with president George W. Bush's administration to host a missile-defense complex. That deal eventually fell through under president Barack Obama, but Poland in March signed a $4.75 billion contract to purchase a US-made Patriot anti-missile system. NATO last year opened a counter-espionage hub in Poland aimed at expanding the alliance's intelligence-gathering capabilities amid tensions with Russia. The US-led alliance has also bolstered its forces in eastern Europe with four international battalions acting as tripwires against possible Russian adventurism in the region. Esper is set to visit Europe next weekend, traveling to Germany, Bulgaria and France, where he will attend the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery for a commemoration 100 years after World War I. US Army Secretary Mark Esper told AFP that when he visited Poland in January, it appeared there was not enough space on offer to fulfill the training requirements for US soldiersUS Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will chair a meeting of the UN Security Council on North Korea September 27 to urge the international community to keep up the pressure on Pyongyang. The meeting of top diplomats will take place on the sidelines of the United Nations Annual General Assembly. "Secretary Pompeo intends to chair a UNSC ministerial on North Korea on Thursday September the 27th," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said. "At that meeting he will get the secretary a chance to update the Security Council on our efforts toward the final fully verified denuclearization of North Korea as well as underscore the need for all member states to enforce existing sanctions." Pompeo has been pushing a tough stance against Pyongyang in recent months, including at the UN, warning that global pressure has eased since the June summit in Singapore between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. On Monday, the US ambassador to the UN accused Russia of cheating to bypass the sanctions regime. Trump has also expressed doubts in recent weeks about China's attitude. Kim Jong Un reiterated in Singapore an old and vague commitment to "full denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." But the terms and timing have been postponed to further bilateral talks, which have stalled. Washington has pledged to keep up pressure and sanctions until the denuclearization is at least on track, leading Pyongyang to denounce its "gangster" methods. The State Department has not said at this point whether Pompeo will meet a North Korean delegation at the UN General Assembly next week. The United States currently holds the rotating Security Council presidency, which it intends to use to further its foreign policy goals. Trump will preside on September 26 another meeting, devoted mainly to Iran, with the stated purpose of highlighting its "destabilizing" activities. Pompeo has been pushing a tough stance against Pyongyang in recent months, including at the UN, warning that global pressure has eased since the June summit in SingaporeAfter years of tensions, Portugal and its one-time African colony Angola are seeking to put relations back on track, with high-level visits planned to push economic ties and repair their troubled past. Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa arrived in Luanda on Monday, while Angola's President Joao Lourenco is due to visit Lisbon on November 23 and 24. The diplomacy marks an effort to move beyond the legacy of colonial rule over Angola that ended in 1975 when Portugal withdrew without handing over power and Angola sank into civil war until 2002. Angola also entered a new era last year when Jose Eduardo dos Santos, who ruled the country with an iron fist from 1979 to 2017, stepped down and was replaced by Lourenco. "Angola and Portugal are emerging from a difficult phase. What's important is that both sides are able to identify the obstacles and troublesome elements in order to overcome them," Angola's Foreign Minister Manuel Augusto said last week. A key source of friction was removed in May when a Portuguese court decided that Angola's former vice president Manuel Vicente can be tried in Luanda, rather than in Portugal, on corruption charges. Lourenco had demanded that the trial take place in his country, "so that relations between Angola and Portugal can return to the level of the recent past." On the eve of his visit, Costa said the legal breakthrough presented a major opportunity. "Ties were good economically but there was frustration related to a judicial issue. Now that has passed, nothing impedes our relations," he told a Portugese paper on Sunday. Angola is a key trading partner with its former colonial master, and the third largest recipient of its investments. - 'Very important step' - Portugal, battered by the global financial crisis, avoided bankruptcy with a bailout from the European Union, while Angola has become the tenth largest foreign investor in Portugal. The visit by Costa, which has been postponed several times, is a "very important step" toward normalising relations, said analyst Alex Vines of Britain's Chatham House think-tank. Vines said rocky relations with Luanda had provoked "a great deal of anxiety" at Portugal's foreign ministry as Angola seeks to broaden its diplomatic horizons and establish other global ties. During a recent European tour, President Lourenco had voiced interest in Angola joining the British Commonwealth and the International Organisation of Francophonie, the association of French-speaking nations. "The animosity between the two countries seems to have dissipated, but the damage remains which, even though it can be fixed, will be felt for some time," Victor Silva, director of the Jornal de Angola, said in an editorial. - Ex-president's daughter dismissed - Lourenco has pledged to fight corruption and rebuild the economy of the second-largest oil producer in sub-Saharan Africa, which has still not recovered from the plunge in oil prices in 2014. He has ousted relatives of his predecessor, dos Santos, from leadership positions at institutions and public companies in a move to boost transparency. But his removal of dos Santos' daughter Isabel from the top job at national oil giant Sonangol raised fears that Sonangol could withdraw its stakes in Portugal's energy company Galp or the BCP bank. Angolan investigative journalist Rafael Marques de Morais said "the Portuguese and Angolan governments are still complicit in the looting of Angola". "With Joao Lourenco as president, it is to be hoped that these relations will enable them to collaborate in the repatriation of the funds stolen in Angola and placed in Portugal, by Angolans as well as by Portuguese," he told AFP. Lourenco has pledged to fight corruption and rebuild the economy Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa visited Luanda on MondayIllegal coca plantations in Colombia reached record levels last year following a 17 percent increase from 2016 to around 423,000 acres (171,000 hectares), the United Nations said on Wednesday. The UN Office on Crime and Drugs (UNODC) said that translated to a potential 31 percent increase in cocaine production from last year to almost 1,400 tons. Coca leaf is the primary ingredient in the production of cocaine and current plantations generate 33 percent more leaves than they did in 2012. "I want to express my deep concern about the amount of money that is moving around illicit drugs," said Bo Mathiasen, the UNODC representative to Colombia, at a press conference in Bogota. Colombia remains way ahead of the rest of the world in terms of illegal coca plantations, while it is also the top producer of cocaine, much of it destined for the United States, the biggest consumer of the white powder. "The report presented today by the UNODC is really very worrying," said Colombia's Justice Minister, Gloria Maria Borrero. The worst affected region is Narino on the border with Ecuador. On its own, Narino has more farmland dedicated to coca plantations than Peru, the country with the second largest area of such fields, at almost 110,000 acres. Riddled with FARC guerrillas as well as drug trafficking gangs, Narino is one of the country's most dangerous regions. - 'Illicit financial flows' - The UNODC report said that the "potential production of cocaine has a value of $2.7 billion in the local market" and warned that those proceeds "could undermine peacebuilding efforts, weaken the culture of lawfulness, strengthen armed groups and delegitimize democratic institutions through corruption and illicit financial flows." Colombia's border regions with Ecuador to the southwest and Venezuela to the east and north east are the principle theaters of armed conflict between government forces and a combination of drug gangs and Marxist rebels. Although cocaine production is increasing, so too are efforts to halt it. Cocaine seizures increased by 20 percent to 435 tons in 2017, while 4,820 laboratories were destroyed, up 12 percent. However, the UNODC highlighted the fact that those figures remained below the "increase in potential production" of cocaine. Colombia president Ivan Duque, who was inaugurated on August 7, has vowed to wipe out at least 350,000 acres of coca plantations during his four-year mandate, with Washington expressing concern about the increase. Duque has criticized his predecessor Juan Manuel Santos's policy of encouraging the voluntary substitution of coca plantations through agreements with local farmers. Santos's government blamed the increase in drug culture on compromises made in negotiations with FARC rebels in order to sign the historic 2016 peace accord. That agreement obliged the former guerrillas to help in the fight against the very drug-trafficking that provided much of their funds during their half-century insurrection. The increase in plantations has led to Duque examining the possibility of resuming aerial fumigations using glyphosate, suspended since 2015 due to the weedkiller's potentially harmful effects on nature and public health. Colombia's coca plantations keep on spreading and have reached record levels, the United Nations saysTwo Melbourne families have become the latest victims of the fruit tampering crisis.

Both families purchased Granny Smith apples from Melbourne supermarkets before discovering needles embedded in the fruits.

The Chaurasia family bought Granny Smith apples from Woolworths in Camberwell, south east of Melbourne.

Twelve-year-old Manya Chaurasia says she took a bite of her Granny Smith apple and almost ate a needle hidden inside.

I was very scared, because I was like thinking to myself, imagine if I could have eaten the needle, Manya said.

Her mother was horrified by the dangerous discovery.

The Chaurasia family bought a sabotaged apple. Source: 7News

She was like, mum, mum and Im like, what is it? and she said, theres a needle in the apple, mother Neelam Chaurasia said.

I thought she was joking. The people who are doing this, theyve got such a sick mind.

Ms Chaurasia returned the apples to Woolworths in Camberwell, where an investigation is now underway.

A second family purchased dangerous Granny Smiths from Coles in Boronia, east of Melbourne.

Grandmother Denise OHalloran almost served one of the fruits to her grandson, 10-month-old Max.

You need to be caught and you need to stop because youre going to hurt a lot of people, especially little kids, Ms OHalloran said, in a message to fruit saboteurs.

Manya Chaurasian found a needle in her apple. Source: 7News

Theyll end up in hospital and trying to get a needle out of their throats.

Due to the growing number of cases, the Federal Government will increase the jail time for anyone found guilty of sabotaging food to 15 years.

Since the first needle discovery last week, the fruit crisis has widened dramatically. There have now been more than 100 potential cases, including a primary school student in Newcastle who found a needle in a banana.

So far, the main culprits are yet to be found, but NSW police has spoken to one young copycat prankster who admitted to tampering with fruit.

Its not a joke. Its not funny, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.

Youre putting the livelihood of hardworking Australians at risk.

Story continues

Youre scaring children and youre a coward and youre a grub.

Denise OHalloran (right) bought a tampered apple. Source: 7 News

Fruit tampering crisis hits Adelaide

Seven News can reveal a man from South Australias mid-north is under investigation for sticking needles in strawberries.

Federal police are joining local authorities in a desperate attempt to find those responsible.

Seven News has been told the man bought a punnet of strawberries, then returned it to the shop with a needle inside.

Like everyone, we are alarmed and very concerned by what we are seeing occurring around the country, Commissioner Andrew Colvin, of the Australian Federal Police said.President Bashar al-Assad on Wednesday blamed Israel for the downing of a Russian plane, which was accidentally hit by Syrian anti-aircraft fire during an Israeli missile strike. "This unfortunate incident was the result of Israeli arrogance and depravity," the Syrian leader said, offering his condolences in a letter to his Russian counterpart for the death of 15 Russian crew members killed in the incident over Syria on Monday. "We are determined that such tragic events will sway neither you nor us from continuing the fight against terrorism," he continued in the letter published by the official Sana agency. The Russian plane was downed by Syria's Russian-made S-200 air defence system and all aboard were killed. The Russian military has accused Israeli pilots of using the Russian plane as a cover, "exposing it to fire from Syrian air defences". Israel said it had targeted a Syrian military facility where weapons manufacturing systems were "about to be transferred on behalf of Iran" to Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah. It was the worst 'friendly fire' incident between Moscow and the Syrian regime since Russian forces intervened in the country in late 2015 to support Assad whose grip on power had been weakened by rebels and jihadist fighters. Russian President Vladmir Putin described the incident as the result of "tragic accidental circumstances," warning Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against carrying out such operations in the future and pledging to beef up security for Russian forces in Syria. Netanyahu on Tuesday expressed his "sorrow" to Putin in a phone call, offering to assist Moscow in the investigation. However he insisted the Russian plane had been felled by "extensive and inaccurate Syrian anti-aircraft (fire)". In recent months Israel has increased its attacks in Syria against the regime or its ally Iran. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says the downing of a Russian plane is "the result of Israeli arrogance and depravity" Map locating the flight path of a Russian reconnaissance plane which was mistakenly shot down by Syria during an Israeli air raid on arms depots.

A teenager almost died after a caterpillar sting at an outdoor wedding left him unable to breathe.

Ryan Parrish, 16, was attending an outdoor wedding on August 25 in Brooklet, in the US state of Georgia, when a puss caterpillar, also known as the asp caterpillar, attached itself onto his left forearm.

A puss caterpillar is a poisonous bug which, when stung by its venomous spines, can cause extreme pain and health complications to its victims, having left many hospitalised before.

Despite the hairball looking bug only being attached to him for a few seconds, Ryan fell unconscious 30 minutes later.

Ryan Parrish, 16, was hospitalised after a puss caterpillar, also known as the asp caterpillar, attached itself onto his left forearm hospitalising him. Source: Caters

His mother, Megan Tuten, hopes to raise awareness as to how others should react if they are stung by a puss caterpillar.

When he was at the wedding, Ryan leaned against a van and when he got up realised there was a puss caterpillar on his forearm, Ms Tuten said.

The caterpillar released itself after a couple of seconds, but just half an hour later the venomous hairs had injected and caused him to fall unconscious.

Ryan was rushed to hospital having seizures and breathing altercations.

The teen at a football game. Source: Caters

Ms Tuten said the family were all worried for the worst and doctors told them they had never seen such a big sting as his blood pressure lowered. He was eventually dismissed with steroids but kept falling in and out of consciousness.

He then returned home, but still had chest pains, pain in both of his arms and numbness in both of his hands and arms, his mum said.

Two hours later he couldnt take the pain any longer so we returned to hospital where they worked to get his blood pressure back.

But Ryan was out of it  his eyes were locked into stare for approximately 30 minutes.

The 16-year-old spent three days in the hospital.

Ryans arm with marks from the bug. Source: Caters

He had a variety of tests and we found out that it was the puss caterpillar that had done this  and it had messed internally with his heart enzymes and rhythm, Ms Tuten said.

Ryan was extremely weak and was unable to even lift up a spoon.

Story continues

But then after 10 days he was able to open a screw-top drink and that was a massive achievement for him.

Despite having been stung almost a month ago, Ryan is still suffering from complications caused by the bug.

A puss caterpillar, also known as the asp caterpillar, has venomous spines. Source: Getty Images

Ms Tuten is now speaking out about what happened to her son in order to stop this from happening to others.

My advice to anyone injected by the venomous hairs is to get tape and immediately apply it to the injected spot and rip it as if youre waxing your arm, she said.

This will remove the hairs and hopefully get rid of the toxins and stop people from being in Ryans situation.

It was the scariest thing that has ever happened to us  to go from a strong young man to being unable to even feed yourself is crazy.Thousands of residents of Syria's last major rebel bastion Idlib headed home within 48 hours of a deal being announced to avoid a government offensive to retake the province, a war monitor said on Wednesday. As air strikes intensified earlier this month, the looming threat of a Russian-backed assault had prompted tens of thousands of civilians to flee areas near the front line. But many headed home after a deal was reached between Russia and rebel supporter Turkey to create a demilitarised buffer zone along the front line, as the first step in a wider settlement, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. "Around 7,000 people have returned to their towns and villages since the announcement of the deal on Monday, especially in the southeast of Idlib and the north of (neighbouring) Hama," said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Britain-based Observatory. At a camp for the displaced in the town of Atme on the Turkish border on Tuesday, dozens of Syrians held up banners welcoming the agreement. "We will return, God permitting," said one. "Thank you to our Turkish brothers," said another, signed by the people of a town in the north of Hama province that had been bombarded in recent weeks. One of the demonstrators, Marhaf al-Jadou, said he was tired of running from the shelling and air strikes. "Enough of being displaced and sitting in tents. We want to return to our homes and our children to their schools," he said. The United Nations has given cautious backing to the Russian-Turkish agreement. It "will allow for the delivery of humanitarian assistance and for the saving of civilian lives," UN humanitarian coordinator in Syria, Ali al-Zaatari, said on Tuesday. "We are engaging with all parties involved for more information and how this can be used to allow us to further access people in need," he told AFP on Wednesday. The civil war in Syria has killed more than 360,000 people and displaced millions more since it erupted with the brutal repression of anti-government protests in 2011. Around half of the three million residents of the rebel zone in and around Idlib have fled from other parts of Syria recaptured by government forces in previous offensives. Thousands of civilians who fled a threatened government offensive on Syria's last major rebel bastion Idlib have headed homeA Turkish court on Wednesday ordered 24 workers and union activists to stay in jail after they were detained in a mass crackdown over protests on working conditions at Istanbul's giant new airport. Hundreds of workers from the airport had been rounded up at the weekend after reportedly protesting and striking over alleged labour violations in the frenetic construction to finish the airport on time for its opening next month. The airport, which has yet to be officially named, is a key project championed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to make Istanbul a global travel hub and turn flag carrier Turkish Airlines into an aviation giant. But workers at the airport have made complaints ranging from alleged violations of labour safety which led to dozens of deaths on the site to a lack of properly-organised transport to take them to and from the new airport close to the Black Sea. Some 36,000 people are working at the site as the clock ticks to the official opening on October 29 and complete shift of flights from Ataturk International Airport which is then to be immediately closed. Most of those detained in the weekend sweep were released without charge but 43 appeared before a judge at a court in the Istanbul district of Gaziosmanpasa late Tuesday. Of them, 24 were remanded in custody while 19 were allowed to go free under judicial control, the DHA news agency reported. The figures were confirmed by construction labour union Insaat Is-Sendikasi on its Twitter account. There had been uproar on social media over the initial detentions under hashtag #Koledegiliz (we are not slaves). Those under arrest have been presented with charges including damaging public property, violating demonstration laws and defying police orders, DHA added. The transport ministry had on Tuesday issued a statement blaming "marginal groups" for the protests and insisting that the official opening was still scheduled for October 29. It said IGA -- the Turkish consortium building the new airport -- had talked to workers to discuss their demands and their problems. "Measures were taken without any delay. The works are continuing," the ministry added. Hundreds of workers were rounded up after reportedly protesting over labour conditions at Istanbul's giant new airportMobile, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --



Austal USA was awarded a contract modification by the U.S. Navy today to build two additional Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ships, its sixteenth and seventeenth ships in the class. The award of LCS 32 and 34 is a clear sign of the continued confidence the Navy has in Austals LCS program. The specific value of each contract is under the congressional cost cap of $584 million per ship.



To be awarded these Independence-variant contracts in such a highly competitive environment is a great honor, said Austal USA President Craig Perciavalle. This is a testament to the hard work and commitment of our talented employees and dedicated supplier network, and further evidence of the important role Austal plays in building the Navys 355-ship fleet.

Austal continues to reduce cost and deliver on schedule handing over three Independence-variant LCS to the Navy this year, all under the congressional cost cap. The littoral combat ship has been identified as a key component to the Navys ability to gain sea control through distributed lethality. This, along with the highly-successful Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) program, positions the company well to rapidly and efficiently support the Navys desired fleet of 355 ships with affordable solutions.

This amazing team effort highlights the value and importance of the American industrial base, and these awards will keep Austal busy building ships into 2023 said Perciavalle. Construction of LCS 32 is scheduled to begin in 2019.

Austal delivered the future USS Charleston (LCS 18) to the Navy last month and is scheduled to deliver USNS Burlington (EPF 10) before the end of the year. With eight LCS and nine EPFs already delivered, Austal-built ships are impacting worldwide operations.

Its exciting to hear the positive feedback from the fleet commanders on how well our ships match their mission requirements as they operate globally, said Perciavalle. We will continue to build these ships in a safe and timely manner with the quality and craftsmanship that Austal has come to be known for.

AttachmentThe main sticking point in Brexit negotiations is the future of the Irish border once Britain leaves the EU, with Brussels and London seemingly at loggerheads over the issue. As EU leaders meet in Salzburg in Austria on Wednesday and Thursday to discuss the status of the negotiations, here is an outline of the issue and what the two sides are saying: - Why is this an issue? As things stand, when Britain leaves the European Union, the border between the British province of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland will become an external EU border. If Britain leaves the bloc's customs union and single market, as it says it wants to, border checks would be required. But both London and Brussels have pledged to avoid any physical infrastructure, a so-called "hard border". Residents and businesses on both sides of the now largely invisible 300-mile (500-kilometre) border have also emphasised the importance of maintaining the free flow of trade and passenger traffic. Around 31 percent of Northern Ireland's goods exports -- worth 2.4 billion (2.7 billion euros, $3.16 billion) -- went to the Republic of Ireland in 2016, the last year for which official data is available. It is also estimated that at least 30,000 people cross the border every day for work, with many residents of border regions living on one side and working on the other. - Is there a security risk? British and Irish army checkpoints along the border were removed in the wake of a peace deal in 1998 known as the Good Friday Agreement, which largely ended three decades of conflict in Northern Ireland in which around 3,500 people were killed. The border during The Troubles was a flashpoint for attacks and a lucrative smuggling route that helped fund paramilitaries. Police have warned that any new infrastructure along the border could become a target for paramilitary activity by dissident militants who have not signed on to the peace deal. - What is the EU proposing? The EU and Britain agreed in December last year to have a fallback plan or "backstop" that avoids a hard border if they cannot find any alternative solution to the issue. Brussels proposes that Northern Ireland retain elements of the EU's single market and customs union, including accepting EU rules on animal welfare and quality standards, and applying EU tariffs. - What does the British government want? Prime Minister Theresa May says the EU plan would erect a "border in the Irish Sea" and undermine the unity of the United Kingdom. Northern Ireland's biggest external market is Great Britain, accounting for 58 percent of sales outside the province. These sales are worth nearly four times the value of exports to the Republic of Ireland in 2016, according to official data. May proposes a broader plan for Britain as a whole to follow a "common rulebook" with Brussels to allow for frictionless trade in goods that would keep the Irish border open. - Is Brussels softening its position? EU negotiator Michel Barnier has said Brussels wants to "improve" its proposal on Northern Ireland in a bid to break the deadlock. "We can clarify that most checks can take place away from the border, at the company premises or in the market," he said. "We need to de-dramatise the checks that are needed". But the checks in ports and airports would remain, which Britain opposes. Around 31 percent of Northern Ireland's goods exports -- worth 2.4 billion (2.7 billion euros, $3.16 billion)-- went to the Republic of Ireland in 2016 Map and key statistics on the border between the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar (L) and European Union Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker at their joint press conference in Dublin on June 21, 2018A Sydney woman said her greyhound was lucky to be alive after she caught the dog eating meatballs laced with rat poison found along a popular walking track.

Lily Kenny rushed her pet to the vet after finding a large amount of rat poison pellets hidden in mince along the Bay Run at Lilyfield on Monday.

A greyhound is lucky to be alive after she ate meatballs laced with rat poison found along a popular Sydney walking track. Source: Lily Kenny

She believes the bait was deliberately planted around a popular dog walking spot in Sydneys inner west.

While Lola is reportedly recovering from surgery, Ms Kenny has warned other dog owners to heed caution when walking their dogs.

The dog owner believes the bait was deliberately planted around the popular dog Bay Run park. Source: Lily Kenny

Today something happened that I could never imagine happening. Lola ingested a large amount of rat poison that had been purposely planted in a local oval by some horrible person, Ms Kenny wrote on Facebook.

Luckily I saw one of the pellets and was able to get her to the vet to get rid of the large amount she had already eaten.

If I didnt see that pellet I dont even want to think about what wouldve happened to her.

One of the pallets found in the meatballs. Source: Lily Kenny

Ms Kenny said she has contacted the local council and the RSPCA to report the large amount of poisoned-laced meat balls she found after returning to the park at the end of Perry Lane, just south of Leichhardt Park.

Please be aware of your dogs if you see them eating anything and check the surrounding areas if you do.

It breaks my heart that people can be this horrible and heartless, I really hope no other dogs were affected by this, but please be cautious guys, she wrote.

RSPCA launches an investigation

RSPCA NSW confirmed it was investigating a report of rat bait pellets hidden in meat around the park.

Inspectors are investigating this matter further, and wish to remind certain members of the public that this is a serious offence, the organisation said in a statement.

Story continues

The animal welfare organisation said deliberately poisoning dogs could result in a $22,000 fine and five years in jail. Further penalties may also apply if protected wildlife suffer or die as a result of deliberate poisoning.

A large number of poisoned meatballs was found along the Bay Run at Lilyfield, at the end of Perry Lane, just south of Leichhardt Park . Source: Lily Kenny

RSPCA NSW is urging any members of the public that might have seen anything suspicious in the area to make a confidential report to our cruelty hotline on 1300 CRUELTY (1300 278 3589).

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the online reporting page.More than five million children are threatened by famine in war-torn Yemen as prices soar, a charity said Wednesday, warning an entire generation may face death and "starvation on an unprecedented scale". The three-year conflict between Yemen's Saudi-backed government and Huthi rebels linked to Iran has pushed the already impoverished country to the brink of famine, leaving many unable to afford food and water. "Millions of children don't know when or if their next meal will come," said Helle Thorning-Schmidt, head of Save the Children International. "This war risks killing an entire generation of Yemen's children who face multiple threats, from bombs to hunger to preventable diseases like cholera." The already dire humanitarian situation is being exacerbated by the battle for the lifeline port of Hodeida, which is threatening what little aid is trickling into the country. "Any disruption to food and fuel supplies coming through Hodeida port could cause starvation on an unprecedented scale," said Save the Children. Located on Yemen's Red Sea coast, the port city of Hodeida is controlled by the rebels and blockaded by Saudi Arabia and its allies. At a hospital in Abs, north of Hodeida, skeletal children cried as they were tended to and weighed by doctors and nurses, an AFP photographer reported. Aid agencies have sounded the alarm over escalating violence between the Huthis and Saudi-led government alliance, which is now edging towards Hodeida after a UN attempt to bring warring parties to the negotiating table this month failed. "The humanitarian situation is very fragile," David Miliband, head of the New York-based International Rescue Committee, told AFP as he wrapped up a visit to Yemen on Wednesday. "My takeaway in three days in Yemen is that the humanitarian imperative doesn't just demand better flow of goods and better access for humanitarian workers," said the former British foreign secretary. "It also demands a ceasefire to allow the peace process to proceed." - 'Too weak to cry' - The World Food Programme last year said food had become a "weapon of war" in Yemen, where fighting, cholera and looming famine have created what the UN calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Having already identified four million children at risk of starvation, Save the Children said an extra one million could now face famine as the Hodeida battle escalates. A total of 5.2 million children across Yemen are now at risk of starvation, the Britain-based charity said. "In one hospital I visited in north Yemen, the babies were too weak to cry, their bodies exhausted by hunger," said Thorning-Schmidt. Food prices in some parts of the country have doubled in just a few days, and the non-governmental organisation said families faced impossible choices on whether to pay to take a sick baby to hospital at the expense of feeding the rest of the family. The United Nations this week said food prices were up a whopping 68 percent since 2015, when a regional military coalition led by Saudi Arabia joined the government's war against the Huthi rebels. The cost of a food basket, which contains pantry staples and canned goods, has increased by 35 percent and cooking gas and fuel prices by more than 25 percent in the past year, according to the UN humanitarian agency OCHA. The UN has said any major fighting in Hodeida could halt food distributions to eight million Yemenis dependent on them for survival. The country's economy and population of 22 million people depend almost entirely on imports. - 'Time running out' - Deadly clashes resumed on Monday night around Hodeida after UN-sponsored talks collapsed in Geneva this month. UN officials are now pushing to find a solution to the Hodeida fighting. World Food Programme director David Beasley on Wednesday warned "time is running out" for aid groups to keep Yemen from "slipping into a devastating famine". "We cannot afford any disruption to the lifeline we are providing for the innocent victims of this conflict," Beasley said. The UN Yemen envoy Martin Griffiths was in Riyadh on Wednesday after a three-day visit to Yemen aimed at restarting negotiations between the government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi and the Huthis. The United Nations' humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, Lise Grande, was also in Hodeida on Wednesday, according to a high-ranking Yemeni military source. Nearly 10,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed since the Saudi-led coalition intervened in the Yemen conflict in 2015. Save the Children says disruption to supplies coming through Yemen's embattled Hodeida port has put an extra one million children at risk of starvation, bringing the total to 5.2 million A Yemeni child suffering from malnutrition is weighed at a hospital in the northern district of Abs in the northwestern Hajjah province on September 19, 2018Another union representing public employees has endorsed Onondaga County Comptroller Bob Antonacci for the 50th Senate District seat.

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees is supporting Antonacci, a Republican, to succeed retiring state Sen. John DeFrancisco. The union has more than 400,000 members.

AFSCME's affiliates include the Civil Service Employees Association, which also endorsed Antonacci in the state Senate race.

Brian McDonnell, AFSCME's political and legislative director, wrote a letter to Antonacci informing him of the labor organization's endorsement.

"We wish you the best of luck in your campaign and look forward to working with you to improve the lives of all New Yorkers now and in the future," McDonnell wrote.

Antonacci celebrated the endorsement and touted his family's connections to organized labor. His father was an electrician and member of United Auto Workers.

"Thanks to him, I learned the importance of a strong labor movement and the positive effect it can have on the hardworking men and women in our communities," Antonacci said.

Most of the labor backing in the 50th district race has gone to Democratic candidate John Mannion, an Advanced Placement biology teacher at West Genesee High School in Camillus.

Mannion has received several endorsements from unions, including the New York State AFL-CIO, New York State United Teachers and United Auto Workers.

Antonacci and Mannion are vying for the 50th district seat in what's expected to be one of the most competitive state Senate races. Both parties have said the race is a top priority.

It's the first time the Syracuse-area seat has been open in more than 25 years. DeFrancisco, R-DeWitt, has held the seat since 1993.

Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0A bill that would commission a study to determine whether Fort Ontario in Oswego should be designated as a national park received final congressional approval Tuesday.

The U.S. Senate passed the Fort Ontario Study Act by unanimous consent. The action came more than a year after the House of Representatives advanced the bill by voice vote.

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and U.S. Rep. John Katko sponsored the bill in their respective houses. Last year, Gillibrand and Katko visited the Safe Haven Holocaust Refugee Shelter Museum to urge the Senate to act on the legislation.

Katko, R-Camillus, celebrated the bill's passage in a statement released Tuesday night.

"Fort Ontario and Safe Haven Holocaust Refugee Shelter Museum are treasures in our community and a testament to the important role of central New York in our nation's history," Katko said. "I'm thrilled that the Senate has moved forward this important, bipartisan and bicameral measure that I passed through the House in January of last year."

Katko also urged President Donald Trump to swiftly sign the Fort Ontario Study Act into law.

The legislation would require the National Park Service to conduct a special resource study at Fort Ontario. A special resource study requires congressional action and is needed before adding new sites to the national park system.

Fort Ontario was a military post during the French and Indian War, Revolutionary War and War of 1812. The U.S. Army had a presence at the fort through World War II.

Near the end of World War II, the fort was used to house predominantly Jewish refugees who escaped the Holocaust. The fort served as a temporary shelter for 982 refugees.

In 1946, the fort was transferred to the state. Seven years later, in 1953, it became a state historic site.

There has been a push to designate Fort Ontario as a national park, but the special resource study is the first step in that process. Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Katko introduced bills in 2015 and 2016 to commission the study. While the House passed the Fort Ontario Study Act, it wasn't considered by the Senate.

The lawmakers reintroduced the bills in the current Congress. The House quickly passed the measure in January 2017. And then came the Senate's action Tuesday.

Gillibrand and Katko believe Fort Ontario should be designated as a national park. After her tour of the site last year, Gillibrand described it as "incredible."

"A national park designation for Fort Ontario and Safe Haven National Refugee Shelter Museum would help further preserve this central New York treasure and I urge the president to sign this bill into law," Gillibrand said Wednesday.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who cosponsored the Fort Ontario Study Act and supports efforts to designate the historic landmark as a national park, said the legislation is a "vital first step" in that process.

"Achieving recognition from the National Park Service will allow people to learn about the vast history of this site and attract new visitors to the area," he said. "I will continue to work hard in the Senate to ensure that official recognition becomes a reality."

Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0As President Donald Trump plans to reduce the cap on how many refugees the U.S. will accept in the next fiscal year, U.S. Rep. John Katko and a bipartisan congressional caucus are hoping he will reconsider.

In a letter to Trump that was provided to The Citizen, members of the Refugee Caucus urged the president to maintain the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and for the administration to set a level for accepting refugees that "will continue to align with global need and signal to the international community the U.S. will continue to be a global leader in refugee protection."

News reports this week indicate that the Trump administration will seek to lower the refugee cap to 30,000. It would be the third time since Trump took office in January 2017 that the cap has been lowered. It was 110,000 when Trump became president. He reduced it to 50,000 last year and, before the start of the 2018 fiscal year, lowered it to 45,000.

Now, with the current fiscal year ending and the federal government preparing for the start of the new fiscal year on Oct. 1, Trump is planning another reduction. But, as the Refugee Caucus noted, his administration must consult with Congress before taking formal action.

The letter from the Refugee Caucus was signed by 10 members of Congress  six Democrats and four Republicans. The GOP members included Katko, a Camillus Republican.

The co-chairs of the caucus are U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Florida Republican, and U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, a Democrat from California.

In their message to the president, the caucus emphasized the United States' role in refugee resettlement, especially when there is an ongoing refugee crisis affecting millions of people. Refugee resettlement, they explained, helps alleviate regional instability and boosts the United States' foreign policy interests.

"When we resettle refugees and support our allies in refugee hosting countries, we are helping to keep ourselves safe," they wrote. "Moreover, the United States' historic commitment to refugee resettlement is a clear manifestation of America's longtime pledge to defend human rights."

The caucus added, "We are deeply concerned this retreat in our commitment to this durable solution could signify the United States is turning its back on these ideals, as well as the international community during a time of historic need."

If Trump is successful, the refugee cap would be in place during the 2019 fiscal year. According to reports, it would be the lowest such cap on record.

Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2OWASCO  For Pat Burke, speaking to children about nature is one thing, but he believes students getting the opportunity to see, touch and experience it themselves is another matter entirely.

Burke, an environmental educator with the Baltimore Woods Nature Center, said he believes events such as the 2018 Cayuga County Conservation Field Days at Emerson Park in Owasco can help experiences with nature feel more real. Burke and others spoke to Owasco Elementary School students during a presentation on the differences between carnivores, herbivores and omnivores at the field days. Holding a replica skull, Burke showed students the skull's teeth  both long teeth for tearing through meat and flat molars suitable for grinding. He said that skull belonged to an omnivore, and later said it was meant to be a black bear's skull.

"We're trying to make them better stewards of nature," Burke said.

Various schools from across the county learned about a range of subjects Tuesday such as bats, ducks, nutrition cycles and the difference between conservation and preservation from a variety of presenters. Valerie Horning, conservation district technician with Cayuga County Soil and Water Conservation District  which hosted the event  said that while students may see the event as a simple field trip away from schools, students can learn about a range of topics through the event.

The program, which continues Wednesday, draws about 700 students.

She said she believes the field days have been going on for around 25 years and noted people who are now employees with the conservation district attended the field days as students.

Southern Cayuga Central School District math teacher Julia Dunsmoor said information students receive at the event can be connected to other subjects. She said her students talked about how many gallons of water someone uses while showing, for example. She said many of her students already do activities such as fishing, so those things can be used to lead children into learning other subjects related to nature they might be interested in.

"It really connects to them," Dunsmoor said.

Staff writer Kelly Rocheleau can be reached at (315) 282-2243 or kelly.rocheleau@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @KellyRocheleau.

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Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.UPDATE: Prison City Pub & Brewery co-owner Dawn Schulz said Tuesday afternoon that 4022 Technology Park Blvd. is no longer in the running to be the site of the Auburn brewery's production facility. As a result, she continued, Prison City will pull its application to Auburn's Zoning Board of Appeals for a use variance there.

One possible location of Prison City Pub & Brewery's long-awaited expansion has been identified.

The Auburn brewpub's owners, Dawn and Marc Schulz, have applied to the city's Zoning Board of Appeals for a use variance at 4022 Technology Park Blvd., according to a legal notice posted by the city. The variance would allow for the production of beer and the operation of a tasting room at the site.

The board will hear the Schulzes' application at its next meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 24, at Memorial City Hall.

However, the Prison City owners are still looking at other locations for the brewery's new production facility, Dawn Schulz said in an email. If they decide on one of those prior to the meeting, she continued, they will pull their variance application for the Technology Park site. The decision will be made within the next few weeks, she added.

According to Cayuga County property records, 4022 Technology Park Blvd. is owned by Florida-based interior design firm Lexi Interiors. The property is four acres and the building there is about 37,000 square feet. The property's 2018 assessment value was $996,000.

The Schulzes announced their plans to build a Prison City production facility in the summer of 2016. It will raise the brewpub's annual production from about 1,000 barrels to 10,000, and include canning and bottling lines, a tasting room and other amenities. The facility will also create between 22 and 25 full-time jobs.

The expansion is Prison City's response to the overwhelming demand for brewer Ben Maeso's beer, particularly India pale ales like the nationally acclaimed Mass Riot. Can and bottle releases at the State Street brewpub have drawn lines down the block, and supplies have sold out in minutes.

"We need the capacity," Marc Schulz said during the 2016 announcement. "We can't make any more beer here."

The Schulzes at one point planned to build the facility at 39 Genesee St., the former Nolan's Sporting Goods. The brewery would have been an anchor tenant of the city's Riverside Regional Public Market project. But the project, which would require the closure of a nearby segment of Loop Road, appears to be stalled.

It was when the Schulzes were planning to build the facility at 39 Genesee St. that the expansion received $900,000 in state funding through the Central New York Regional Economic Development Council. Dawn Schulz said the money is not tied to that site, but Prison City has yet to decide whether to accept it and its conditions.

Lake Life Editor David Wilcox can be reached at (315) 282-2245 or david.wilcox@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @drwilcox.

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Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.Washington, DC, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This week, the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) announces the opening of nominations for their national awards highlighting the stars of the restaurant industry. The awards recognize the restaurant industrys impact on diversity, community service and hospitality in local communities across the country.



The awards include the Restaurant Neighbor Award (RNA), the Faces of Diversity Award (FOD) and the Thad and Alice Eure Ambassador of Hospitality Award (AOH). The winners will be recognized at a gala awards dinner in Washington, D.C. during the National Restaurant Associations Public Affairs Conference in April 2019.



Its incredibly important for the Foundation to recognize those making our industry a better place for everyone, said Rob Gifford, executive vice president of the NRAEF. By including those of us from all backgrounds, giving selflessly through community service and showcasing exemplary leadership, these individuals help us move the restaurant and foodservice industry forward.



Now in its 20th year, the Restaurant Neighbor Award, founded in partnership with American Express, honors restaurants and restaurateurs for their philanthropic efforts and dedication to their communities. Three winning restaurants will receive $10,000 to support a charity or community project.



Now in its 11th year, the Faces of Diversity Award partners with PepsiCo Foodservice to honor individuals in the restaurant industry who have achieved the American dream through hard work, dedication, and supporting others to do the same. Three winning individuals will receive a $2,500 scholarship in their name.



For 32 years, the Thad and Alice Eure Ambassador of Hospitality Award, sponsored by Ecolab, has celebrated individuals who have shown extraordinary achievement and leadership in the restaurant and hospitality industry.



Applicants and nominees have until November 5, 2018 to submit applications for the restaurant industry awards. Visit ChooseRestaurant.org/awards to apply or nominate award winners for 2019.

AttachmentAUBURN  A Cayuga County Legislature committee Tuesday voted against approving a land development agreement for a 6.5 megawatt solar power project on property near the Cayuga County Jail.

The Legislature's Ways and Means Committee defeated a proposed solar panel array from developer Abundant Solar by a 3-3 vote. The project was previously approved at the August meeting of the Public Works Committee before being tabled at that month's Ways and Means meeting.

The project from Abundant Solar Power centers around a land development agreement, with a 25-year lease, for a 35-acre piece of county land at the Natural Resource Center at 7445 County House Road.

Besides Abundant, which would actually build and own the array, the project was developed partly by the Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board, of which Cayuga County is a member.

The project is part of the board's Solarize CNY Initiative that works to identify feasible municipal solar projects in the region.

Under the proposed agreement, Cayuga County would be allowed to, but not required to, purchase electricity generated by the array at a favorable rate to power county properties.

Any remaining electricity would be available for purchase by county residents interested in using renewable energy. Rates for consumers would be based off the state's Value of Distributed Energy Resources (VDER).

VDER is calculated by the New York Public Service Commission by combining the wholesale price of energy along with avoided carbon emissions, cost savings to customers and utilities, and other savings from avoiding expensive capital investments. More information on VDER is available at nyserda.ny.gov/All%20Programs/Programs/NY%20Sun/Contractors/Value%20of%20Distributed%20Energy%20Resources.

County Administrator J. Justin Woods noted to the committee that there are ongoing discussions in Albany regarding the way VDER is calculated that could result in more favorable rates for consumers.

The possibility for VDER to result in rates possibly higher than other power providers was a primary motivator behind the votes against the project Tuesday.

Legislator Paul Pinckney, R-Aurelius, who also chairs the Cayuga County Public Utility Agency said he would not be supporting the project based on his experience with electricity rates "changing drastically so often," making it hard for him to believe the promised rates.

Legislators Ryan Foley, D-Auburn and Andrew Dennison, R-Ira, expressed similar concerns after the meeting, citing what they said was a lack of enough information from the developer.

"I think generally we're in support of these projects in the county, but we wanted more research with this one," Foley said, adding that he would not be opposed to the project coming up again at a future meeting if adequate information came with it.

Voting in favor of the project were Committee Vice Chair Legislator Tucker Whitman, R-Sterling, Legislator Aileen McNabb-Coleman, D-Sennett and Legislator Elane Daly, D-Auburn.

McNabb-Coleman agreed that she had some reservations about the process behind VDER, but ultimately wanted to support a project that would help move the county toward energy independence.

Committee Chair Joseph Bennett, D-Auburn, was absent.

Staff writer Ryan Franklin can be reached at (315) 282-2252 or ryan.franklin@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @RyanNYFranklin

Love 5 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 2 Angry 5With Mondays scheduled Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on a attempted rape allegation against Donald Trumps Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh now in doubt, according to a CNN report, a leading supporter of Kavanaughs nomination appeared to plant a hint that the 53-year-old federal judge may soon change his line of defense against the charge.

But according to the CNN report, Mondays hearing at which both Kavanaugh and his accuser were supposed to testify may not happen after all. The Senate Judiciary Committee had scheduled a vote on Kavanaughs confirmation for Thursday, but that vote has now been postponed. With the Senate scheduled to adjourn next Tuesday for the remainder of the week, when the vote may occur remains uncertain.

Christine Blasey Forda research psychologist from Palo Alto, Californiahas accused Kavanaugh of attempting to rape her at a party when they were both teenagers in the early 1980s, coming forward in a Washington Post report on Sunday.

Kavanaugh physically pushed me into a bedroom as I was headed for a bathroom up a short stair well from the living room. They locked the door and played loud music precluding any successful attempt to yell for help, she wrote in a letter sent to California Senataor Dianne Feinstein, and published by CNN.com. Kavanaugh was on top of me while laughing with REDACTED, who periodically jumped onto Kavanaugh. They both laughed as Kavanaugh tried to disrobe me in their highly inebriated state. With Kavanaugh's hand over my mouth I feared he may inadvertently kill me.

Kavanaugh has categorically denied that any such incident as decscribed by Ford took place. But on Wednesday, a top supporter of KavanaughCarrie Severino, who is chief counsel and policy director at the Judicial Crisis Network, which has funded about $1.5 million worth of pro-Kavanaugh advertisingdropped a hint of a possible defense for Kavanaugh, if he is forced to walk back his blunt denial.

Her allegations cover up a whole range of conduct, from boorishness to rough horseplay to actual attempted rape, Severino said in a CNN interview, quoted by Mother Jones magazine. I think you have to look at 35 years of memory that were trying to play with here, and Im saying that the behavior she describes could describe a whole range of things.

Kavanaugh would have been a student at the elite, private Catholic high school, Georgetown Prep. In 2015, Kavanaugh told an audience at Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law, we had a good saying that we've held firm to to this day, which is: What happens at Georgetown Prep, stays at Georgetown Prep. I think that's been a good thing for all of us.

Also on Wednesday, Mark Judgewho has been named as the other man in the room when Kavanaugh was allegedly attempting to rape Blasey, according to her letterissued a statement declaring that he would not testify under oath about the incident, saying that he has no memory of this alleged incident.

Judge became a writer who is best known, according to New York Magazine, as a defender of the patriarchy.

The Washington Post described Judges writing by saying, In two memoirs, Judge depicted his high school as a nest of debauchery where students attended masturbation class, lusted after girls from nearby Catholic schools and drank themselves into stupors at parties. He has since renounced that lifestyle and refashioned himself as a conservative moralistalbeit one who has written about the wonderful beauty of uncontrollable male passion.

In one of his memoirs, Judge depicts himself as an extreme alcoholic as a young man, who frequently drank until blacked out and lost his memory. The memoir also featured a thinly disguised version of Kavanaugh, named in the book as Bart OKavanaugh.

Photo By U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit / Wikimedia Commons Public DomainTHE NETHERLANDSA representative from Cobeco Pharma, a Dutch manufacturer of lubricants, is asking colleagues if they are prepared for the inevitable changes to online lubricant sales in Europe.

Currently, personal lubricants are still being placed on the marketincluding e-commerce sites such as Amazon, eBay and Bol.comas cosmetics and Class I medical devices. But in April 2017, the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament, adopted medical device regulation which also applies to personal/intimate lubricants. There was a transition period of three years before the new law takes effect, meaning until May 2020.

Before May 2020, products were meant to be CE-marked as Class IIa medical devices. After May 2020, personal lubricants with the intent to be used as a personal/sexual lubricant, may only be placed on the European market as a Class IIa medical devices.

This means that as of May 2020 personal lubricants identified as Class I medical devices or as cosmetic products are no longer permitted to be supplied or sold. This applies to any size and packaging of personal lubricant in the market at distributor or at retail level regardless of whether it is physically in stock or supplied through internet sales.

At the moment for example a Declaration of Conformity already could be sufficient, but with the more stringent new regulations more will be expected from the distributors and/or companies that distribute their private label branded lubricant.

Cobeco can assist their clients with information what needs to be done to comply with the new regulations.

What changes precisely?

There are a few things that change with these regulatory changes of Medical Devices.

1. Classification of medical devices

Medical devices are categorized in four major risk classes: Class I medical devices which are devices that have no contact with the human body or have transient (short) contact with the undamaged skin. Class IIa medical devices are products that come in direct contact with a natural body orifice (opening) or damaged skin; Class IIb and Class III are high-risk products such as implants.

Personal lubricants are, however, Class IIa medical devices due to their direct contact with a body orifice (opening) or mucus membrane for a period of less than 24 hours continuous contact.

2. Conformity assessment procedure

Each risk class for a medical device is linked to a specific conformity assessment route by which the medical device is CE-marked.

Class I medical devices are self-certified by the legal manufacturer, are notified to the relevant national competent authority and fall under the direct supervision of that national competent authority who can assess the technical documentation to ensure that the dossier meets compliance with the relevant medical device requirements.

Medical devices in Classes IIa, IIb and III require a notified body to be involved in the conformity assessment process. The notified body assesses the technical documentation which the manufacturer has prepared and submitted for assessment and the quality system which the legal manufacturer is required to have in place.

Further, ingredients used in the formulation of the personal lubricants must meet purity levels such as defined in the monographs of the European Pharmacopeia. The legal manufacturer, additionally, is obligated to have sufficient scientific data, which is documented in the technical documentation. Class IIa medical devices also need to comply with specific labelling requirements. These obligations help ensure that personal lubricants meet the highest level of safety and quality.

Essential to the CE-marking, the notified body must conduct a conformity assessment of the technical documentation against the safety requirements stipulated in the medical device regulations and conduct an on-site audit of the manufacturers quality system. When the manufacturer passes both aspects of the conformity assessment process, the notified body issues the manufacturer with a CE-certificate of conformity. The approval stipulates that the number of the notified body is included next to or under the CE-mark on the labelling. When the number of the notified body is present with the CE-mark, it is an indication that the product and manufacturer meet regulatory requirements for the class of medical devices indicated by the product.

3. Quality system requirements for medical devices to EN ISO 13485:2016

Medical devices are designed and produced under the conditions set out in a good manufacturing requirements stipulated in a medical device quality system standard. The current standard EN ISO 13485:2012 is valid until March 2019, at which time it will be replaced with EN ISO 13485:2016.

As of March 2019, manufacturers of medical devices must comply with the 2016 versions of the standard, which better guarantees the safety of processes and products.

4. Changes in regulatory requirements between Directive and Regulation medical devices

Aside from the new quality system standard, a new medical device regulation is also coming into place. Currently, until May 2020, the medical device Directive 93/42/EEC is still valid. From May 2020, legal manufacturers of medical devices must comply with the Medical device Regulation 2017/745 which was published in April 2017. The Regulation tightens the medical device requirements, including giving the quality system requirements a legal impetus. Further, the new law also defines obligations for distributors and importers of medical devices including compliance with quality system and regulatory medical device requirements.

How can a Class IIa medical device be identified?

An approved Class IIa medical device is identified on its labelling by the CE-mark accompanied by the number of the notified body. Personal lubricants that are intended to be used as personal/intimate sexual lubricants, identified by a CE without a number are Class I medical devices. Personal lubricants without a CE-mark on the labelling could be cosmetic products. Personal lubricants with an intended use as personal/sexual lubricant, are not permitted to be placed on the market as cosmetic or Class I medical devices after May 2020.

Can it be verified whether my product complies with the medical device requirements?

As the medical device regulation and requirements are pan-European in nature, they apply to any and all personal lubricants on the European Union market. The national competent authorities of the member states of the Union, conduct market surveillance and enforce the requirements. Hereby, after May 2020, only personal lubricants which have undergone a Class IIa conformity assessment process are permitted to be placed on the market.

When a manufacturer or a product does not meet the regulatory requirements, the national competent authorities regard this as an infringement. The authorities can require these products to be removed from the market and/or can impose necessary penalties including substantial fines. Serious infringements of the medical device requirements can, for instance, include making false claims about the product, incorrectly CE-marking the products or incorrectly classifying the products. Important therefore are the following:

 Labelling for personal lubricants must at all times comply with the regulatory requirements for labelling as defined by the CE-marking approval granted by the notified body.

 The legal manufacturer must at all times be identified clearly on the labelling.

 Personal lubricants must be appropriately classified as Class IIa devices and subject to conformity assessment by a notified body.

 The legal manufacturer must maintain an up-to-date and valid technical documentation for Class IIa medical devices which has been assessed by a notified body.

 The legal manufacturer must maintain an up-to-date and certified quality system in place.

What can Cobeco do for you?

Cobeco is specialized in manufacturing private label branded products and has a high expertise in manufacturing lubricants.

As of the 1st quarter 2019, Cobeco will supply CE-marked Class IIa personal lubricants to the (European) market.

We started our process for adapting our ISO and technical file long ago, so we can ensure to provide our clients with manufactured lubricants to comply with the new and more stringent regulations.

Cobeco ensures that our clients will be able to transfer their private labelling brands we produce for them in a timely manner from a Class I medical device to Class IIa device.

We would be pleased to support their activities and provide with all necessary information to make their adaptions to the distributors obligations.

Cobeco has a number of solutions available for different scenarios to ensure a timely transfer is implemented that will support our clients activities; and will be pleased to provide them with a bespoke proposal.

For more information, contact Cobeco Pharma at + 31(0)102906525, or [email protected].Artisan cake-maker Pearl & Groove has teamed up with mixers brand Fentimans to launch a pop-up bakery in London.

The bakery is set to open at Pearl & Grooves Notting Hill store on Friday (21 September), with 2017 Great British Bake Off (GBBO) winner Sophie Faldo there to mark the launch. It will be open for one weekend only.

Customers will be able to get their hands on gin and Fentimans tonic-themed cakes, which will be available for 4.25 each or 23 for a box of six. They can also enjoy a G&T drink made from the same gin and mixer to complement their cake.

The flavours will be:

Pink Grapefruit Tonic & Plymouth Gin with candied grapefruit garnish

Rose Lemonade & Hendricks with rose petals and lavender garnish

Valencian Orange & Tanqueray Sevilla with orange peel and rosemary garnish

Botanical Tonic & Monkey 47 with candied lime garnish

Sparkling Elderflower & Whitley Neill Rhubarb & Ginger Gin with candied ginger garnish

Rhubarb Tonic & Bloom Gin with strawberry garnish

The Fentimans Gin Bakery is a really exciting partnership for us. Our consumers love of baking has inspired us to find a way to bring together two of the nations favourite things  gin and baking, and what better time to launch the pop-up than during a month that sees The Great British Bake Off return to our screens? said Sarah Brownrigg, marketing manager at Fentimans.

Were really excited to be working alongside 2017 GBBO winner Sophie Faldo and Pearl & Groove artisan cake makers and cant wait to showcase our range of flavoured tonics in the G&T cakes.

For those who cannot make it to the bakery, Fentimans has developed a series of G&T baking recipes that are available to view on its website. The recipes feature creations such as gin and pink grapefruit tonic cheesecake, gin and sparkling elderflower cupcakes and gin and botanical tonic bundt cake.

Boozy bakes are becoming increasingly popular and subscribers to British Baker can read more about how they are influencing the cupcake market here.BOCA RATON, Fla., Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ADT Inc. (NYSE: ADT), the leading provider of monitored security and interactive home and business automation solutions in the United States and Canada, celebrated a LifeSaver event today in Winnipeg, Manitoba where two residents and their dogs narrowly-escaped a raging house fire.

It was a terrifying night that Richard Wagner and Nate Schnerch will never forget. Awakened by their ADT smoke detector, Richard and Nate ran from their home as it was being consumed by flames.

The sound was like a jet roaring, said Wagner. It was surreal watching the house burn and many of our possessions literally go up in smoke.

Receiving the alarm signal at one of ADTs Customer Care Centers in Canada was Gloria Renato who called the home to confirm the fire and then dispatched local firefighters. Wagner credits her actions and the homes ADT security system for preventing a tragedy.

If we didnt have ADT, we would have been overwhelmed with smoke in our sleep and this would have been a different story, Wagner said.

Wagner and Schnerch met Renato for the first time at todays LifeSaver celebration where she was awarded a LifeSaver, ADTs highest recognition. Presenting the award, as well as a check for $5,000 to the St. Andrews Fire Department, was Stephen Hopkins, President of ADT Canada.

We are pleased the fire department will use the funds to help educate the public about fire safety, said Hopkins. With winter approaching, there will be more risk for home fires.

According to the Manitoba Fire Commissioner there were 789 residential fires last year in the province resulting in 11 deaths. National Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 7-13 in Manitoba.

About ADT

ADT is a leading provider of security and automation solutions for homes and businesses in the United States and Canada, people on-the-go and their networks. Making security more accessible than ever before, and backed by 24/7 customer support, ADT is committed to providing superior customer service with a focus on speed and quality of responsiveness, helping customers feel safer and empowered. ADT is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida and employs approximately 17,500 people in the United States and Canada.

Media Relations

Jason Shockley

tel: +1 561.322.7235

jshockley@adt.comPresident Donald Trump ordered on Monday that the Department of Justice (DOJ) declassify and release the Carter Page FISA application and all text messages related to the Russia investigation from top DOJ and FBI officials who have come under intense scrutiny for alleged bias."At the request of a number of committees of Congress, and for reasons of transparency, the President has directed the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Department of Justice (including the FBI) to provide for the immediate declassification of the following materials: (1) pages 10-12 and 17-34 of the June 2017 application to the FISA court in the matter of Carter W. Page; (2) all FBI reports of interviews with Bruce G. Ohr prepared in connection with the Russia investigation; and (3) all FBI reports of interviews prepared in connection with all Carter Page FISA applications," the White House said in a statement."In addition, President Donald J. Trump has directed the Department of Justice (including the FBI) to publicly release all text messages relating to the Russia investigation, without redaction, of James Comey, Andrew McCabe, Peter Strzok, Lisa Page, and Bruce Ohr," the statement concludes.Trump has tweeted about the investigation multiple times in recent days, writing this morning:SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP updates investors in Danske Bank A/S (OTCMKTS: DNKEY) concerning the firms investigation into possible disclosure violations. If you purchased or otherwise acquired Danske Bank ADRs between September 18, 2013 and September 18, 2018 and suffered losses contact Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP. For more information visit:



https://www.hbsslaw.com/cases/DNKEY

or contact Reed Kathrein, who is leading the firms investigation, by calling 510-725-3000 or emailing

DNKEY@hbsslaw.com .

In September 2017, Danske acknowledged that major deficiencies in controls and governance [] made it possible to use Danske Banks branch in Estonia for criminal activities such as money laundering.

During the last two months, the press has reported on criminal investigations in Denmark and Estonia (and reportedly in the U.S) concerning Danske Banks possible involvement in money laundering through its Estonia branch.

Law enforcement authorities reportedly want to know why Danskes tiny branch processed billions of dollars during 2007 through 2015 from foreign countries, mainly Russia.

Today, the Company reported the resignation of its CEO and disclosed that millions of transactions, valued at about $234 billion, had been funneled through Estonia.

These reports drove the price of Danske ADRs steeply down this year.

Were focused on investors losses, Danskes admitted insufficient controls, senior executives departures, senior managements reported knowledge, and the extent to which the Company may have reported illegally earned profits in several years of financial reports, said Hagens Berman partner Reed Kathrein.

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Danske Bank should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 510-725-3000 or email DNKEY@hbsslaw.com .

About Hagens Berman

Hagens Berman is a national investor-rights law firm headquartered in Seattle, Washington with 80+ attorneys in 10 offices across the country. The Firm represents investors, whistleblowers, workers and consumers in complex litigation. More about the firm and its successes can be found at www.hbsslaw.com . For the latest news visit our newsroom or follow us on Twitter at @classactionlaw .Our highly trained and technically certified staff is working closely with emergency officials and shelter partners to wade through flood waters and help animals stranded or in need. Photo by Meredith Lee/The HSUS

5.3K shares







Yesterday, emergency officials in Horry County, South Carolina, which has been bracing for record flooding following Hurricane Florence, received a call from a couple with 12 cats. Their home was surrounded by rapidly rising waters, and they didnt want to evacuate without making sure their animals were safe. Our Animal Rescue Team, which has been on the ground in the Carolinas since early last week, moved quickly to help, in partnership with Horry County Animal Care Center staff, a rescue team from the San Diego Humane Society, and the National Guard, who answered the call.

When rescuers arrived at the home, they found the couple frantic about their animals and grateful for the help. It was a few hours before the teams could find all of the cats, place them safely into carriers, and into a waiting vehicle to transport them out of the danger zone. Seeing this rescue in action, our teams truck was flagged down by another resident across the street who told us she had animals who also needed urgent rescue. We pivoted to answer her call and moved four cats from her house, including five nursing kittens, to the safety of the shelter.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Florence, our Animal Rescue Team has been supporting local officials who have been inundated by requests for help, and we are working in partnership with them to bring help and hope to families and their beloved animals. Our highly trained and technically certified staff is working closely with emergency officials and shelter partners to wade through waist-deep water to come to the aid of animals stranded and in need.

Its been nearly two weeks since we started our work to help the animals who were in the path of Florences fury. After years of such work, we are well prepared to help both before a storm strikes, and in the aftermath. Before the storm hit, we arrived in the Carolinas and Virginia, working with a network of partner shelters to transport shelter animals out of harms way, ensuring their future out of storm-impacted areas and on to loving homes. We moved equipment and personnel near areas that would be hit the hardest.

As taxing as this work is, it is also, to our team, a heartening affirmation of the commitment of our partner shelters. Shelters in the path of the storm worked furiously to move unowned animals out of harms way. To do this, we called upon many of our shelter and rescue partners for help, and we have built new and valuable relationships for the future. We have, so far, facilitated the transport of close to 600 shelter animals, and our work is still continuing. Today, one of our new partners, Williamson County Animal Shelter from Franklin, Tennessee, will arrive at our hub at Greenville County Animal Care Services in South Carolina, to pick up 35 adoptable dogs and 20 adoptable cats who were moved to safety before the storm.

Greenville County Animal Services has been a vital hub for us, with several of our partners picking up directly from them. This gives them the opportunity to not only help with placement but to support states and communities with critical response services. The HSUS Animal Rescue Team ensures that receiving shelters get financial support for the placement of animals and we cover travel expenses related to their transport. This model really broadens the reach of our team during a crisis.

Earlier this week, Columbia Animal Services received an urgent call for help from the Anson County Animal Shelter in South Carolina. Their roof was caving in and the shelter was knee-deep in water. The shelter pets were transferred immediately to Columbia Animal Services, overcrowding the facility with homeless pets. Columbia Animal Services called us to see if we could facilitate a transfer so we called on our partner in Tennessee, the Humane Educational Society. Now plans are underway to move these dogs to their facility in Tennessee, along with more than 20 dogs from Columbia to help clear some space for the Florence victims. In these trying times, it is a remarkable and heartwarming display of the generosity that we see from our partners who are all stepping up to the plate and doing all they can to ensure as many animals as possible are helped.











As we continue in service to the communities and animals that need us most, we are grateful, as always, to the support of our partners, including GreaterGood.org and Halo Purely for Pets pet food, who provided funding and supplies so desperately needed for the animals. We are also extremely grateful to the Alex and Elisabeth Lewyt Charitable Trust, which has made a generous donation to the HSUS in support of our efforts on the ground to rescue and care for animals in the aftermath of Florence.

Although bolstered by the lifesaving efforts taking place in the Carolinas, we are heartbroken and devastated by newspaper reports of the millions of farm animals who have died in the flooding from Florence. It was only a year ago that we were helping provide logistical support to farmers with stranded livestock during Hurricane Harvey, so that these animals had access to fresh food and water. Although we have come a long way in understanding the impact catastrophic loss of life has on the animals and community  as seen in 2008 during the floods in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where farmers released their pigs en masse as a last-ditch attempt to let them live  it is clear that disaster planning for animals held in large numbers is far from where it needs to be for the lives affected, both human and animal. Having an emergency plan, regardless of the numbers of animals in a home, facility or farm, is the responsibility of those who are caring for them. If the sheer number of animals makes evacuation extremely difficult or impossible, then a hard look needs to be taken at the number of animals being cared for and the opportunity for them to be considered in an emergency plan. The cost of not doing so, as we can see here, has a devastating impact on the community, the environment and the animals, and reaffirms why we need to reduce the reliance on these massive factory farms.

In coming weeks, we expect to continue seeing some of the devastating after-effects of Florence. Some waters are receding in North Carolina, but in South Carolina the worst flooding is just beginning. We have staff on the ground in Horry County to help remove more animals who could be affected by the rising waters, and we will continue to answer calls for help in other areas, as they come in. Your help is crucial, so please consider making a donation to the Emergency Animal Rescue Fund. With your support, we can continue to answer the call during natural disasters, situations of extreme cruelty and neglect, and whenever animals are in need of urgent rescues.

Donate to the Emergency Animal Rescue FundEditors Note: Rebecca LeBlond, Director, Global Citizens Program, Democracy Prep Public Schools , shares the reasons that high school study abroad can be beneficial for all students and how to make it happen.

In the winter and spring of 2018, nearly 400 students from across the seven high schools in the Democracy Prep Public Schools network traveled abroad on week-long, educator-led programs to examine global challenges through real-world experience. Destinations of the 21 distinct groups included Ecuador, France, Italy, South Africa, South Korea, and Spain. The Global Citizens Program at Democracy Prep is designed to ensure that students gain firsthand appreciation of the fact that there is no corner of the world they cannot access or in which they cannot be successful. At the same time, the program seeks to transform the idea of what is possible for educational global travel experiences in public schools. Through strategic budgeting, Democracy Prep schools are able to fund over 85 percent of the total program costs for students.

Since the first Democracy Prep high school students traveled to London in 2010, we have found, again and again, that these opportunities present both quantitative and qualitative benefits. Our hope is that, by sharing some of the lessons learned through the growth of the Global Citizens Program, others may find some inspiration to advance similar opportunities in their own schools or support the continued expansion of opportunities for high school students to participate in educational global travel, particularly for those who are underrepresented in the wider study abroad field.

Benefits of Short-Term Global Travel Programs

1. College Applications and Acceptances

Democracy Prep schools place a significant emphasis on ensuring that all students are prepared for success in college. Our school culture demonstrates this emphasis in myriad ways, including with a focus on preparation to apply to college. In order to participate in a global travel program, students are required to submit an application, which includes questions loosely modeled after those found on The Common Application .

These prompts provide the opportunity for students to tell their story, demonstrate why they are the right fit for the program, what they will bring to the table, and how they will complement and enhance the overall group experience. Additionally, this application process ensures that students are not selected based solely on academic success. While 20 percent of our high school students travel abroad each year, by the time they graduate, more than 60 percent will have had at least one abroad experience. This is significant not only because 75% of Democracy Prep high school students qualify for free or reduced price lunch, but it also demonstrates that the opportunities are not solely limited to those who either can pay to participate or to those with the highest grades but also because of the impact these experience(s) may have on college acceptance rates.

Among 2018 seniors, there was a positive correlation between traveling abroad and the average number of acceptances per college application that students submitted. The average college acceptance rate was 38 percent for those who did not travel abroad versus 48 percent for those who did. Because there is a wide range in the total number of colleges a student applies to, simply counting the number of acceptances would not paint a clear enough picture as to whether travel abroad increases acceptance rates. When accounting for the range in total applications, we found that students who traveled abroad had, on average, a 10-percent higher average acceptance rate than their peers who did not travel abroad.

2. Global Mindedness

In 2018, Democracy Preps Global Citizens Program implemented a brief assessment to measure what, if any, impact these short-term global travel experiences have on students global mindedness or global competence. In order to do so, we drew on questions from the 2018 OECD PISA global competence framework , specifically from the global mindedness construct. For each of the four statements below, students were asked to select one response (strongly disagree, disagree, agree, or strongly agree).





I think of myself as a citizen of the world. I think my behavior can impact people in other countries. I can do something about the problems of the world. Looking after the global environment is important to me.

The gathered results demonstrated that students who traveled abroad not only predominantly agreed with the statements but that there was growth across all questions from before departure to after their return. On a four point scale, the average agreement before traveling was 3.1. Post-travel, the average increased to 3.4. Interestingly, the question that averaged the lowest overall agreement was c': I can do something about the problems of the world, defined by PISA as the global self-efficacy facet of global mindedness. We do not have a clear sense of why this was the case. Thus, in future assessments we may solicit more feedback on this particular question to gain insight into a potential answer and opportunities to address this.

3. Social Capital

While college acceptance percentages and global mindedness currently allow for some level of quantitative analysis, there are also qualitative benefits of cross-cultural experience that are less tangible but by no means less significant. As an article in The Atlantic examining the impact travel can have on creativity points out, Foreign experiences increase both cognitive flexibility and depth and integrativeness of thought, the ability to make deep connections between disparate forms.

At Democracy Prep, we believe deeply in the benefit of global travel for the impact it has on the current and future confidence, success, career readiness, and overall social capital and well-being of our students and alumni. As first-generation college students, students of color, or students of financial need, the fact that 60 percent of Democracy Prep graduates will arrive on their college or university campus having already had at least one experience abroad cannot be underestimated. To be able to describe seeing the statue of David at the Accademia in Florence in an Intro to Art History course, for example, or to leverage their experience of service learning in Ecuador in a seminar or as part of a student club, may very well serve as a shared experience and to dispel preconceived notions about who does and does not have high school travel experience.

How to Make It Happen

How then can opportunities for all high school students, including and especially those who are traditionally underrepresented as study abroad participants, both be increased and made to be more impactful? What can other schools, districts, and educational leaders do in pursuit of further equity of opportunity? Below are some ideas and suggestions for increasing access to global travel as well as the impact for high school students. These are by no means exhaustive but include some of the lessons learned as Democracy Preps Global Citizens Program embarks on its tenth year of offering global travel opportunities to every high school student.

Teachers and some administrators may not be accustomed to discussing availability of school funds or reviewing budgets, but it most certainly cant hurt to ask. Just $3,000-$5,000 can go a long way in making travel opportunities possible for more students. Many high schools offer programs for any student whose family can afford to pay to participate. While some scholarships and financial aid may be available for many students, costs can still be prohibitive.

By offsetting the cost of participation to reduce the overall cost for some participants, schools may have a more balanced representation of participants and a greater impact as a result. Additionally, when pursuing possibilities, remember that traditional program providers offer convenience at a cost. Explore options to coordinate some arrangements directly, such as a service-learning partnership with a local organization, a half day spent visiting a host school, enjoying some meals that are not pre-arranged, and using local transportation (e.g., the metro in Rome). These serve the dual purpose of being both cost effective and allowing students to have a more authentic, local experience.

2. Require deliverables. Just as participation based on the ability to pay ones way does not inherently or effectively contribute to an impactful group experience, limiting the program solely to direct experiences on the ground does not maximize the potential takeaways. Once accepted into a travel program at Democracy Prep, students are required to attend three to five (and often more) pre-departure workshops, which include a review of and reflection on aspects of historical, social, political, and cultural significance. In-country, daily reflections both in shared group format and in the form of journaling help solidify students experiences, knowledge gained, and skills developed. Upon their return, students frequently present to the wider school community or to elementary or middle school peers, reference their experiences in college application essays and interviews, and speak at enrollment and back-to-school nights for new and returning families.

3. Educator involvement. An essential component of the Global Citizens Program is the faculty and staff who serve as program leaders and chaperones with an average educator-to-student ratio of 1:5 on most programs. This allows for valuable small-group experiences and leverages the knowledge that faculty and staff have of the students, as well as their expertise as educators. In advance of departure, chaperones participate in a training that includes content about logistics, health, and safety, as well as scenario-based training exercises and an exploration of cross-cultural differences, orientation, and communication practices. In addition, faculty and staff each take on a specifically designated role (e.g., program lead, administrator, documentarian, facilitator, etc.) to ensure clarity around roles and responsibilities and maximize effectiveness.

When people think about study abroad, many likely envision an undergraduate student embarking on a traditional semester-long sojourn to a foreign institution of higher education. But as the understanding of what it means to be globally competent evolves, so to does the definition of a global experience. Similarly, as research and information continues to point to the value and importance of possessing a global mindset and intercultural skills for success, the significance and value of an experience that contributes to developing those also grows. Thus, we anticipate the expansion of opportunities to embark on a global education experience, particularly for high school students, K-12, and traditionally underrepresented students, and we welcome and encourage more schools and organizations to join us.

Connect with Democracy Prep , Heather , and the Center for Global Education on Twitter.

Photos by Democracy Prep faculty and staff and used with permission.Harley-Davidson Seeks California Supreme Court Review of Tax Decision

Harley-Davidson is headed toward the end of the road in California.

After losing an appeal over a discriminatory tax, the motorcycle company will ask the California Supreme Court to review the case. In Harley Davidson v. Franchise Tax Board, the Fourth District Court of Appeal upheld California's requirement that out-of-state companies report combined tax liability on a single return.

Even though the tax favors in-state corporations, the lower court said there is no better way to apportion taxes for the inter-state business. Harley-Davidson says there has to be a nondiscriminatory way.

No Nondiscriminatory Way

The appeals panel affirmed a San Diego trial judge, who said the state had a legitimate reason for treating in-state and out-of-state businesses differently.

Judge Joel Pressman ruled the state's interest -- preventing tax manipulation -- could not be served by a reasonable nondiscriminatory alternative.

Harley Davidson had argued that separate accounting for multistate businesses or combined reporting for all businesses would be reasonable alternatives.

But the Fourth District rejected the appeal, saying that intrastate and interstate companies are not similarly situated for tax purposes.

Rough Road Ahead

It's been a rough road for Harley-Davidson, which filed the case in 2011. In 2015, the California Supreme Court turned down its appeal over whether its subsidiaries had nexus for state tax purposes.

Last month, President Trump called for a boycott against the company if it moves motorcycle production overseas.

Related Resources:Trump hasn't been pleased with Jeff Sessions since the attorney general recused himself from the Russia investigation last year, and this morning he told Hill.TV, "I don't have an attorney general. It's very sad."

Needless to say, Trump, in his usual tantrum style, was blurting out alternative facts that he then had to take back. Later in the morning, he admitted that indeed, he did have an attorney general. According to NBC News:

Speaking to reporters on the White House South Lawn later Wednesday morning, the president acknowledged Sessions' existence  but reiterated how displeased he is with the nation's top law enforcement officer. "I'm disappointed in the attorney general for numerous reasons. But we have an attorney general. I'm disappointed in the attorney general for many reasons," Trump said "I'm so sad over Jeff Sessions because he came to me. He was the first Senator that endorsed me. And he wanted to be Attorney General, and I didn't see it," he said. Trump also made clear that he thought Sessions performed poorly during his Senate confirmation hearings, saying his answers were "confusing."

Image: by Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0, LinkMEMPHIS, Tenn., Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- To assist our communities affected by Hurricane Florence, the Capital Bank Foundation has partnered with the American Red Cross to provide relief assistance. The Capital Bank Foundation will match donations from the public to the American Red Cross, dollar-for-dollar, up to a total of $25,000. Donations to the American Red Cross - Florence Relief fund will be accepted at all Capital Bank and First Tennessee financial centers.



Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with our customers, friends and neighbors who have been affected by Hurricane Florence, said Rick Manley, Capital Banks Mid-Atlantic market president. We understand that many in our community have been deeply impacted by this natural disaster and Capital Bank is committed to providing support.

The Capital Bank Foundation funds raised will support the American Red Cross as they work closely with the entire disaster response network to coordinate relief efforts in areas impacted by Hurricane Florence.

Donations can also be mailed to: Capital Bank Foundation  Florence relief PO Box 84 Memphis, TN 38103

First Horizon Foundation, which operates in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia as Capital Bank Foundation and in Tennessee and Texas as First Tennessee Foundation, is the private charitable foundation of First Horizon National Corporation (NYSE: FHN).



For more information, visit your local Capital Bank financial center or www.CapitalBank-US.com .

About the Capital Bank Foundation

Founded in 1993, the First Horizon Foundation is the private charitable foundation of First Horizon National Corp. (NYSE:FHN), the parent company of First Tennessee Bank National Association (operating as Capital Bank and First Tennessee). Since its inception, our foundation has donated more than $80 million to meet community needs. The foundation has been honored for leadership in philanthropy and community involvement, and recognized by the American Bankers Association for our outstanding work in the community. First Horizon Foundation doing business as First Tennessee Foundation and Capital Bank Foundation.

FHN-G



CONTACT: First Horizon

Media Relations, Silvia Alvarez, (901) 523-4465

Investor Relations, Aarti Bowman, (901) 523-4017

Before Thomas Borgen was CEO of Danske Bank, he ran the bank's Estonian branch from 2009-2013, presiding over years of neglect of basic, commonsense money-laundering controls, allowing more than 200B to flow through the bank from well-known financial secrecy jurisdictions like the British Virgin Islands, as well as Russia.



The money was moved on behalf of corporations with the reddest of red flags: 3500 of them were registered to the same private mailbox company, 1700 of them filed obviously fake paperwork, 500 of them had previous money-laundering activity on their records. Internal whistleblowers were also ignored by bank management.





Borgen has stepped down.





The largest number of shell companies were based in the UK, whose complicity in money laundering is epidemic.





Danske Bank is donating its profits from the operation to a charity that fights international financial crime. It is facing an estimated 6B in fines.



Danske said about 200bn of payments had flowed through its Estonian branch from non-resident customers  from countries such as Russia, the UK and the British Virgin Islands  but that it could not yet estimate how many of these were suspicious.



An analysis of 6,200 of the riskiest customers  out of 15,000 non-resident clients in total  showed that the "vast majority have been found to be suspicious". Thomas Borgen, who was in charge of international banking including Estonia from 2009 to 2012 and has been chief executive since 2013, faced allegations he ignored warning signs of trouble.



Danske Bank chief Thomas Borgen quits over money laundering scandal [Richard Milne and Caroline Binham/Financial Times]

Danske Bank: 3,500 obvious mailbox companies at shared addresses, 1700 filing fake accounts, 500 with moneylaundering "form". Not clear how many shellcos are UK, but UK companies were the single biggest contributor to the problem sector from 2010 onwards. pic.twitter.com/mo2dWt3vfZ  Richard Smith (@ncsmiff) September 19, 2018



(via Naked Capitalism)- A man has reportedly traveled a long distance on a bicycle

- The man was said to have cycled from Morocco to Nigeria

- He revealed that this is not his first time to cycle on a long distance journey

PAY ATTENTION: Click See First under the Following tab to see Briefly.co.za News on your News Feed!

A story of a man who reportedly cycled all the way from Morocco to Nigeria has gone viral. The man was reportedly spotted with his bicycle in Kebbi state, by a Nigerian man who was fascinated by his story.

A Nigerian man identified as Sani Musa Saminaka shared the cyclist's story after he met with him in Kebbi state.

Briefly.co.za learned that according to Saminaka, the man had decided to cycle from Morocco to Nigeria to sightsee and know about a place he has heard so much about. The man explained he would like to take photos of places in Nigeria.

Man travels on a bicycle from Morocco to Nigeria to sightsee Photo: Facebook Source: Sani Musa Saminaka

READ ALSO:Man turns down huge pay cheque to care for his baby boy till he's 1

Naij.com reports that Saminaka also noted that the man who traveled from Morocco revealed to him that he is a Muslim. He also said the man would be heading to Abuja soon.

The Facebook user noted that he met the cyclist at Shanga local government area in Kebbi state. He revealed that the man was spotted taking pictures with excited villagers who welcomed him.

PAY ATTENTION: Save mobile data with FreeBasics: Briefly is now available on the app

The man has been traveling around on his bicycle Photo: Facebook Source: Sani Musa Saminaka

Read the story below:

Do you have a story to share with us? Inbox us on our Facebook page and we could feature your story.

To stay up to date with the latest news, download our news app on Google Play or iTunes today.

Watch the animated video and head over to Briefly South Africas Youtube channel for more.

Source: Briefly.co.zaTweeps did not think that Brutus and Kea would ever be able to see eye to eye, but they proved everyone wrong on Tuesday nights episode of The Queen.

PAY ATTENTION: Click See First under the Following tab to see Briefly.co.za News on your News Feed!

Brutus and his niece proved to be a force to be reckoned with as they cut Shaka and Katlego down to size during an intense discussion.

The four of them began debating about whether or not Harriet and Gracious should leave the drug business behind and look for opportunities elsewhere, however Brutus and Kea had a lot more to say.

READ ALSO: October cover girls: Bonnie Mbuli, Simphiwe Dana and Amanda du-Pont

Briefly.co.za learned that in a previous episode of the show, Mmabatho pleaded with the two families to stop selling drugs, even though the money from selling drugs funded her education.

TimesLIVE reports that Shaka is also rethinking his involvement in the family business, but Kea clapped back at him when he started to act like he was better than them.

PAY ATTENTION: Save mobile data with FreeBasics: Briefly is now available on the app

Brutus and Kea make an unlikely pair although they worked well as a team. Brutus was the heavy hitter while his niece was there to support him.

Kea was not the only person to be there for him, Brutus loyal tweeps were at the ready to fire back at any body who disrespected their favourite uncle on social media.

READ ALSO: Emmy winners bring their fashion A-game to the 2018 awards ceremony

Do you have a story to share with us? Inbox us on our Facebook page and we could feature your story.

To stay up to date with the latest news, download our news app on Google Play or iTunes today.

Watch the animated video and head over to Briefly South Africas Youtube channel for more.

Source: Briefly.co.zaNews / National

by Staff reporter

Faced with a nationwide cholera outbreak that has claimed 31 lives and left thousands others infected, two leading teachers' unions have called for the closure of all schools until the disease is contained.The cholera outbreak started in Harare before spreading to other parts of the country. In Masvingo, one person died from the waterborne disease, while one suspected case has been recorded.In a letter addressed to Primary and Secondary Education permanent secretary, Silvia Utete-Masango dated September 18, the Amalgamated Rural Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) said schools were susceptible to the spread of the disease as witnessed at another school in Glen View, which has since been closed."Artuz has concluded its research on the state of preparedness of schools to handle the cholera outbreak. Our schools are not safe and have no capacity to mitigate against the deadly cholera outbreak," read the letter."Harare day schools are the worst affected, given the high mobility of Harare population coupled with lack of safe running water."Artuz said the centralised model of both the governance and economic architecture forced people from other parts of the country to go to Harare for one reason or the other."Under such circumstances, no one is safe. Schools in rural outposts will be the worst affected as soon as they don't have running water," said the teachers' union.Artuz president Obert Masaraure said their call was in line with government's pronouncement that banned all public gatherings."Artuz calls for the closure of all schools, in line with government's pronouncement banning all public gatherings. Schools should only open when we have successfully contained the cholera pandemic," he said.Progressive Teachers' Union in Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president Takavafira Zhou said although it was the term for the final examinations, some of the pupils could fail to sit for the examinations because of illness or death."We might want pupils to go to schools, but the situation is not good. The kids may fail to write the examinations while hospitalised. I think we should put importance on lives, not examinations," Zhou said.News / National

by Staff reporter

Britain will support Zimbabwe to get on an interim IMF staff programme to help the country quickly clear its foreign arrears, Britain's ambassador in Harare said on Tuesday.Clearing the $1.8 billion arrears to the World Bank and AfDB is seen as major step for Zimbabwe to start accessing foreign credit, especially for the private sector as well as foreign direct investment.Outgoing British Ambassador Catriona Laing advised on this development after paying a courtesy call on Zimbabwe's Finance and Economic Development Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube.The commitment by Britain to assist Zimbabwe clear its US$1.8 billion arrears to the Bretton Woods institutions carves a new chapter for Zimbabwe's economic resurgence programmes.During a meeting with Professor Ncube today, Ambassador Laing indicated that her country stands ready to support Zimbabwe to get on an interim IMF staff programme soon that will facilitate the clearance of debt arrears.Professor Ncube hinted to various options that the country may exploit to get back on the IMF programme while also stating that a stabilisation programme will be unveiled next month to retain normalcy within the economy.Zimbabwe and Britain relations have thawed over the last 12 months translating to critical facilities such as the US$100 million facility by Standard Chartered Bank and the latest US$250 million facility by a private firm that continues to quench the lending drought experienced for close to two decades.News / National

by Staff reporter

THE officer who revealed the existence of a government passport blacklist could be at risk after Registrar General Tobaiwa Mudede made clear he is keen to uncover the identity of what he described as a "worm" that must be "eradicated".Veteran journalist Violet Gonda was recently stunned to discover that she was on the secret list of Zimbabweans banned from getting passports.On Monday Mudede summoned Gonda and her attorney to his Harare offices and indicated he would issue the passport within days.He, however, demanded the name of the officer who revealed the existence of the Stop List', NewZimbabwe.com heard.Accompanied by six senior aides including the department lawyer, Mudede reportedly described the officer as a "worm" that must be "eradicated"."The worm I'm talking about  is not a different worm," said Mudede."I'm talking about a particular individual who might be mischievous  who will tell people what we don't practice here."News / National

by Staff reporter

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa's regime has come under fire for allegedly refusing to surrender former state leader Robert Mugabe's old culture of muzzling any talk around the Gukurahundi atrocities.This comes after Bulawayo based journalist Zenzele Ndebele was on Monday summoned by police to answer questions on a Gukurahundi documentary he is set to showcase at the end of this month.The massacres, which saw the army preside over the killing of 20 000 civilians in Matebeleland and Midlands provinces early 1980s, were waged by the now-defunct Mugabe regime with Mnangagwa's name featuring prominently among the perpetrators.Government has tried to muzzle any talk about the atrocities with artistic expression on the genocide being blocked or banned.Ndebele, who has been outspoken on the issue, announced on social media that he had been summoned to the Bulawayo CID Law and Order division."Just got a call from CID Law and order Bulawayo asking me to come and see them at 3pm. The person who called said it's in connection with the Gukurahundi documentary launch," he tweeted early Monday morning.After presenting himself to the police in the company of his lawyers, Ndebele later tweeted: "Am back. ZANU will never change. The launch is on September 29. Befuna bengafuni (whether they like it or not)!"He later revealed that the police had requested to watch the documentary before the launch.The documentary, titled "Gukurahundi Genocide 36 years later", is set to premiere on September 29 at a city hotel.The Zanu PF led government has often used the Censorship Board to ban artistic work critical of its rule.Mbuso Fuzwayo, secretary general of pro-Matebeleland pressure group, Ibhetshu Likazulu said this was a sign government did not want people to know the truth.Mthwakazi Republic Party also echoed the same sentiments saying the truth around the atrocities could not continue to be kept secret.News / National

by Sibusiso Ndlamini

President ED Mnangagwa will make his debut address at the UN General Assembly this month. It's unlikely his speech will follow that of Robert Mugabe's "blow your TRUMPet" made last yearthat was his last. ED likely to seek acceptance & thaw in relations with intl community.  Ray Ndlovu (@ray_ndlovu) September 17, 2018

President Emmerson Mnangagwa will tonight leave the country, to attend the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) summit, in New York.The summit comes at the backdrop of peaceful, free and fair elections that led to the birth of the new dispensation under the leadership of President Mnangagwa and his 'Zimbabwe is Open for Business mantra.'The 73rd session of the UNGA summit commenced on 18 September and will end on 5 October 2018.President Mnangagwa's presence at the UNGA summit is imperative as it will give Zimbabwe an opportunity to engage and re-engage with other key international partners on socio-economic and developmental issues.Ray Ndlovu, an author and international journalist said President Mnangagwa's speech at UNGA will possibly entice relations with the global community, unlike his predecessors' (former President, Robert Mugabe) last year's speech at UNGA.Commenting on his twitter handle, @ray_ndlovu tweeted that, "President Mngangagwa will make his debut address at the UN General Assembly this month. It's unlikely his speech will follow that of Robert Mugabe's (former President) 'blow TRUMPet' made last year-that was his last. ED is likely to seek acceptance and thaw in relations with international community."The President is expected to join other world leaders on 24 September for a high level plenary meeting on global peace in honour of the centenary of the birth of Nelson Mandela, known as the Mandela Peace Summit.This crucial forum would be preceded by a high level meeting on 26 September which will be focusing on the fight against tuberculosis, as agreed by Member States in February this year.On 27 September, President Mnangagwa will join other international leaders on a one day comprehensive review of the progress achieved in the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases.This year's UNGA will run under the theme, 'Making the United Nations Relevant to All People: Global Leadership and Shared Responsibilities for Peaceful, Equitable and Sustainable Societies.'News / National

by Staff reporter

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has sworn-in a 7-member Commission of Inquiry into the August 1 Post-Election Violence that occurred in Harare CBD and led to the death of six people.The Commission, made up of foreign and local members, will be chaired by former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe.The other members are: UK based Queen's Counsel Rodney Dixon, former Commonwealth Secretary General and Nigerian national Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Tanzania Defence Forces Chief General Davis Mwamunyange, UZ Dean of Political Science Professor Charity Manyeruke, UZ Constitutional Law lecturer and NCA leader Professor Lovemore Madhuku, and former President of the Law Society of Zimbabwe Mrs Vimbai Nyemba.The appointment of the commission is in fulfillment of President Mnangagwa's undertaking to address the matter in a transparent manner and in the public interest.The President, in appointing the commission last month on August 29, said it's duty is "to identify the actors and their leaders, their motive and strategies employed in the protestsinquire into the intervention by the Zimbabwe Republic Policeinvestigate the circumstances which necessitated the involvement of the military in assisting in the maintenance of law and order [and] consider whether the degree of force used was appropriate to the ensuing threat to public safety, law and order."[The commission will also] ascertain the extent of damage/injury causedinvestigate any other matter which the Commission of Inquiry may deem appropriate and relevant to the inquiry, make suitable recommendations and to report to the President in writing, the result of the inquiry within a period of three months from the date of swearing in," added Cde Mnangagwa.The President explained that the inclusion of foreigners was necessitated by the need for transparency, adding that the foreign members will be residing in Harare until the commission concludes its task.The Commission is expected to report back to the President in 3-months time.TOPLINERESULTSPRESS RELEASE

Tight Florida US Senate and Governor Races - 7 weeks out

Senate Race

Senate Race between Governor Rick Scott (R) and Incumbent Senator Bill Nelson (D) in a statistical tie 42% to 41% with 11% undecided. In August 2018, Scott with 45%, Nelson with 39% and 16% undecided.

Scott has a slight edge in overall job approval with 43% of voters approving Scotts performance as Governor and 38% disapproving. Nelson has a 37% approval for his job as Senator and 37% disapproval.

Gubernatorial Race

Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum (D) has 41% of the vote and Rep. Ron DeSantis (R) is at 39%, 15% were undecided.

Algae problem

Voters were asked whose policies they believe were most responsible for the algae problem along the Florida coasts.

Other policies

Voters were asked to indicate if they support or oppose a list of policies.

Further analysis

Those voters who are supporting the Republican candidacies of Scott and DeSantis oppose raising the minimum wage, banning assault weapons and on restoring felon voter rights.

For example, on the issue of the $15 minimum wage, those who support it break for Nelson 60% to 25% while those opposing break for Scott 72% to 16%. In the Gov. Race, those in support of the raise are breaking for Gillum 54% to 26% while those opposing are breaking for DeSantis 64% to 22%.

Similarly, on the issue of restoring felon voting rights, those in support break for Nelson 58% to 29% while those opposing break for Scott 69% to 18%. Gillum gets 54% of supporters with 29% going to DeSantis while those opposing are breaking for DeSantis 61% to 25% for Gillum.

The assault rifle ban follows the same trend with supporters of the ban breaking for Nelson 59% to 28% for Scott while those opposing are breaking for Scott 64% to 21%. In the Gov. Race, supporters of the ban are breaking for Gillum 55% to 30% for DeSantis, while those opposing are breaking for DeSantis 55% to 25%.

On the issue of requiring a two-thirds vote of the Legislature to approve any new or increased taxes or fees, rather than a simple majority partisanship gives way as there is no statistical difference between supporters and those opposing the issue. Supporters of the 2/3rds vote for increase taxes break for Scott 45% to 43% as do those opposing the issue at 47% to 40%. In the Governors race supporters are breaking for DeSantis 44% to 39% while those opposing are split at 43% for each candidate.

President Trump Approval

President Trump has a 39% approval and 47% disapproval which is his lowest numbers since August 2017 when he had a 37% approval and 47% disapproval. In last months poll (August, 2018), Trump had a 43% approval and 45% disapproval.

Methodology

The FAU BEPI Florida poll was conducted September 13-16, 2018. The sample consisted of registered voters who said they were more likely to vote than not, n=850, the polls margin of error (MOE) of +/- 3.3 percentage points. The data was weighted by ethnicity, region, party affiliation, gender based on a 2016 voter model. It is important to remember that subsets have higher margins of error, as the sample size is reduced. Data was collected using both an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system of landlines and an online panel provided by Survey Sampling International, SSI.English French

Sustainable, environmentally sound decision-making at the heart of revitalization of

Chalk River campus



CHALK RIVER, Ontario, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), Canadas premier nuclear science and technology organization, is pleased to announce that the Harriet Brooks Building, a world class materials science laboratory, was awarded LEED Silver certification on June 15, 2018. This achievement is aligned with the broader effort to create a more sustainable and energy efficient campus in Chalk River.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is one of the most popular green building certification programs used worldwide. LEED certification provides independent, third-party verification that a building was designed and built using strategies aimed at achieving high performance in key areas of human and environmental health, location and transportation, sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. It includes a set of rating systems for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of buildings, homes, and neighbourhoods which guide building owners and operations towards environmentally responsibility, sustainability and energy efficiency.

We are proud of the work we are undertaking to build a more sustainable Chalk River campus, said Mark Lesinski, CNL President and CEO. The Harriet Brooks Building, one of only a handful of LEED certified laboratories in Canada, is just one example of the many projects currently underway at CNL which are helping to reduce our environmental footprint.

The Harriet Brooks Building incorporates the following environmentally-sound features:

Site

Heat island effect reduced by using a white roof and white concrete pavement

Exterior lights designed to prevent uplighting

Captured rain water for use in washrooms

Water Efficiency

Reduced water by over 30 per cent by using low flow fixtures

Used drought tolerant landscaping to reduce the need for watering

Energy and Atmosphere

Reduced energy consumption by over 20 per cent compared to a similar standard-designed building

Zero use of non-toxic, non-flammable refrigerants in HVAC systems

Materials and Resources

Included areas for storage and collection of recyclables

83 per cent of construction waste was diverted away from landfill

Controllable lighting system including occupancy sensors

In addition to the Harriet Brooks Building, through the redevelopment of the Chalk River campus, CNL invested significantly in projects aligned with the organizations commitment to environmental protection. The Chalk River campus has reduced emissions by more than 30 per cent since transitioning the campus heating to natural gas in 2018; plans for three new conventional buildings, an investment of more than $100 million, incorporate energy efficiency or sustainable building materials; and, CNL has constructed a groundwater management system to better protect the Ottawa River by managing rainfall runoff.

It is important to our organization, to our staff and to our many stakeholders that we are delivering our work in a manner which places a high priority on environmental stewardship, says Lesinski. This is part of our Environment Policy and applies to all aspects of CNLs activities. CNL has set sustainability objectives and targets for energy efficiency, clean energy utilization, waste management and conservation of resources to support continual improvement of our performance, and ensure we are respecting the natural environment we are so grateful to enjoy here in Chalk River.

To learn more about CNLs plans for site revitalization of the Chalk River campus visit www.cnl.ca.

About CNL



Canadian Nuclear Laboratories is a world leader in nuclear science and technology offering unique capabilities and solutions across a wide range of industries. Actively involved with industry-driven research and development in nuclear, transportation, clean technology, energy, defence, security and life sciences, we provide solutions to keep these sectors competitive internationally.

With ongoing investments in new facilities and a focused mandate, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories is well positioned for the future. A new performance standard reinforced with a strong safety culture underscores every activity.

For more information on the complete range of Canadian Nuclear Laboratories services, please visit www.cnl.ca or contact communications@cnl.ca .



Contact:

Patrick Quinn

Director, Corporate Communications

CNL, 1-866-886-2325

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/10c0c5f9-3933-46b8-8df3-79e81196cd19There seems to be some hope in the escalating trade war: U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin reached out to Chinas top officials with an offer of talks, and Chinas Vice Premier Liu He will make a trip to Washington DC next week.

But Michael Hirson, Eurasia Group director for China, isnt optimistic about the long-awaited meeting. He believes President Donald Trumps latest round of tariffs has dampened the chance of the U.S. making any truce with China and thinks the tariff decision emerged from disagreements within the cabinet.

This is really where you have another example of the different voices within the Trump administration, Hirson said on Yahoo Finances Midday Movers on Tuesday. He considers Mnuchins offer of talks as a last-ditch effort to strike a compromise before the U.S. went ahead with this round of tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods, but Trump pre-empted him.

The tariffs put Beijing in a tough position, according to Hirson, a former U.S. Treasury representative in Beijing. China toned down domestic medias coverage following Trumps announcement, but still announced retaliatory tariffs on $60 billion worth of U.S. imports.

They certainly cannot negotiate at what they consider to be gunpoint, Hirson said of Chinas dilemma. Chinese policymakers are increasingly convinced that President Trump is determined to push ahead, basically no matter what.

The trade war is actually a tech war

The technology race between the U.S. and China could be the New Normal. (Getty Images)

Trumps strategy is to pressure China not just on trade  but its technology, a heated and competitive sector for the worlds largest economies. Trumps tariffs target the Made in China 2025 initiative, an ambitious industrial upgrading strategy. He has also threatened to put restrictions on Chinese investments in U.S. tech companies. China now is home to more tech unicorns than the U.S., and the government is doubling down on supporting artificial intelligence research.

Hirson believes the global technology race between the U.S. and China is the new normal. The U.S.-China innovation race is heating up, and its moving to the center of what is an increasingly intense geopolitical rivalry, said Hirson. We may get a settlement on tariffs. But these two countries are going to be using a range of measures to really try to gain the advantage, in particular, in tech.

Story continues

While Trump has threatened to put tariffs on all U.S. imports from China, Hirson said the major uncertainties lie in the reactions from U.S. businesses.

The question becomes how much pain is the president willing to inflict on the U.S. consumers and U.S. firms that pay the price of these tariffs? And I think thats still an open question, said Hirson, who predicts Trump will likely go all-in on taxing Chinese imports in 2019.

Krystal Hu covers technology and economy for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter.

Read more:

El-Erian: Trump has a 75% chance of winning the trade war

Why the $375 billion US-China trade deficit can be totally misleading

How Chinas tariffs on soybeans fueled the US GDP bumpThe third most senior Republican in Congress fired a shot across Canada's bow Tuesday, urging Canadian negotiators to either drop some of their hardball tactics or risk being left out of a new NAFTA entirely.

In a statement sent to reporters, House Majority Whip Steve Scalise said he and other U.S. lawmakers are growing increasingly frustrated with Canada's refusal to cede ground on some key sticking points standing in the way of a renegotiated trilateral trade deal, saying Canada alone is to blame for the "continued delay."

"Members are concerned that Canada does not seem to be ready or willing to make the concessions that are necessary for a fair and high-standard agreement. While we would all like to see Canada remain part of this three-country coalition, there is not an unlimited amount of time for it to be part of this new agreement," Scalise said.

Canada has long sought allies in the NAFTA talks among Republican members of Congress, believing support from U.S. lawmakers could be a crucial backstop in the face of the Trump administration's anti-trade impulses.

Asked about the letter ahead of question period Tuesday, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said she was not aware of what Scalise had said but insisted again that Canada is negotiating in good faith.

"From the outset of these modernization negotiations, Canada has been extremely co-operative," Freeland said. "Canada is very good at negotiating trade deals. Canada is very good at finding creative compromises."

Jose Luis Magana/AP Photo

Freeland is headed back to Washington tonight to resume ministerial level negotiations with her U.S. counterpart, Robert Lighthizer.

When pressed on trade deals by his political opponents, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his government will not be pressured into signing just any deal.

"We know that only signing good deals for Canadians is in our best interest. As with CPTPP, when it comes to NAFTA, we will sign a good deal or we will not sign," he said, citing the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) trade agreement Canada reached with 10 other Asian-Pacific countries earlier this year. Legislation to implement that deal is currently before Parliament.

Story continues

U.S. President Donald Trump also tried to tighten the screws on Canadian negotiators Tuesday by claiming that Canada is "not in a good position" now that the U.S. has a deal with Mexico.

"Canada has taken advantage of our country for a long time. We love Canada. We love it. We love the people of Canada, but they're in a position that's not a good position for Canada. They cannot continue to charge us 300 per cent for dairy products and that's what they're doing," he said, citing tariffs Canada places on some dairy imports to protect local farmers.

Trump has routinely threatened to levy punitive tariffs on Canada's auto exports if a deal cannot be reached.

Tight timeline

U.S. negotiators are gunning for a new NAFTA by month's end to get a text of the agreement to Congress for its mandatory 60-day review period. That would allow the deal to be formally signed before Dec 1., when Mexico's new president, a left-leaning politician, takes office.

Once a deal is reached, the text has to be legally "scrubbed"  redrafted by lawyers, translators and negotiators into a final deal that can take legal effect across the NAFTA zone. That process typically takes longer than a few days, meaning the pressure is on to finalize talks to get Congress an agreement by September 30.

Under U.S. law, while Congress can extend fast track negotiating authority to Trump administration officials  as it has with NAFTA  legislators retain the right to review any proposed trade agreement and decide whether it will be implemented. That relationship is governed by a set of strict, legislated timelines that allow Congress enough time to study a deal before delivering a decision.

"Congress takes seriously and intends to fully enforce the deadlines established in the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act (TPA). We will not short-circuit the open, transparent, and accountable process established under TPA to ensure that the full text is available to the public," Scalise said.

The U.S. and Mexico reached a preliminary, bilateral agreement in August, prompting Canada to return to the negotiating table to settle some lingering irritants standing in the way of a final deal. Scalise said the U.S. is ready to push ahead with a bilateral deal with Mexico if Canada can't commit to some compromises.

"Mexico negotiated in good faith and in a timely manner, and if Canada does not cooperate in the negotiations, Congress will have no choice but to consider options about how best to move forward and stand up for American workers," he said.

Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press

However, despite the pressure from Scalise, a top lieutenant of Trump in Congress, there are questions as to whether the White House could proceed with a Mexico-only deal.

Indeed, forcing a two-party deal on Congress could lead to a legislative headache for Republicans, since the fast track negotiating authority that Congress gave Trump and his administration was a for a trilateral deal, with Canada taking part.

Canada is particularly concerned about how Chapter 19 in the original NAFTA  the dispute settlement mechanism used to challenge anti-dumping and countervailing duty cases, which Canada has deployed in the past over the softwood lumber file  has been renegotiated by the U.S. and Mexico.

Chapter 19 has been a do-or-die issue for Canada, as it has often relied on the clause to fight punitive duties. Lighthizer has long opposed this chapter as a violation of U.S. sovereignty.

The U.S. has also been pushing for greater access to the Canadian dairy market, a segment of the economy protected by supply management. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has pledged to protect Canada's existing agricultural policies.B.C.'s solicitor general says the federal government needs to get to work with the U.S. government to ensure that Canadians who use cannabis, or who work or invest in the legal cannabis market here, don't face a lifetime ban from entering the United States.

"This is very much an issue that the federal government needs to make a priority and take very seriously in trying to find a solution, because the impact could be significant. Not just in terms of people that are engaged in legal activity here in Canada, but also for people who are involved in the business of the legalization of cannabis," Mike Farnworth said in an interview CBC News Network's Power & Politics.

The B.C. official's warning follows a report by the U.S. news website Politico, citing a senior U.S. border official, that says Canadians who work or invest in the cannabis industry risk a lifetime ban on travelling to the U.S.

In May, Canadian venture capitalist Sam Znaimer was banned for life from entering the U.S. because of investments he holds in cannabis companies.

Farnworth said he has seen examples come across his desk of people who have been given lifetime bans for wanting to attend a cannabis trade fair or purchase cannabis-related equipment in the U.S.

U.S. has 'zero interest' in dealing with the issue

"I have spoken ... with the U.S. Consul General on this issue. We've raised this issue with Ottawa. They are very much aware of it. And the feedback that we've received from U.S. officials is that the U.S. administration has absolutely zero interest in dealing with this issue," Farnworth said to host Vassy Kapelos.

Farnworth said he knows the the federal government is very much aware of the Trump administration's stance, but urged the government to find a solution soon.

In an interview with Power & Politics Monday, federal Minister of Organized Crime Reduction Bill Blair said he understands the concern but added he thinks the overwhelming majority of Canadians won't experience a significant change in the way the border operates.

Story continues

"I would simply point out for the last five years we have had a very well regulated medical marijuana industry in this country. And the hundreds and literally thousands of people who have worked in this country have not experienced difficulty at the border," said Blair.

Farnworth said he doesn't think Blair's remarks are "adequate."

"The powers of the border agents are pretty strong. They make a ruling and that's it," said Farnworth. "I don't think its adequate to say, 'Oh we've got medical marijuana, I don't think its going to be a problem.' Because it is starting to be a problem and a lot of people are very concerned about it."

Blair said Monday he remains confident that the system will continue to function as it has in the past, but insisted the federal government would continue to work with the U.S. "to make sure they understand the concerns of Canadians."An actor originally from St. John's is joining popular long-running soap opera Coronation Street.

Cassidy Little said he was filming a movie in Bulgaria when his agent called to say he was up for the part.

"When you get calls like that, you don't think you're going to get the role, but that doesn't mean you're not going to give 100 per cent during the audition tape," he told CBC's Here & Now.

CBC

Cassidy did a tape for the audition, sent it away, and was speechless when he found out later he got the role.

"What do you say when you're going to be on something that monumental?" he said.

Little 36, left St. John's to pursue a comedy career in the United Kingdom and wound up joining the British Royal Marines.

BBC One

He lost his right leg, below the knee, during a tour in Afghanistan in 2011. In 2013, he was the face of the Royal British Legion's poppy campaign.

He also went on to a career as an actor, and was the champion of The People's Strictly for Comic Relief, a charity spinoff of Strictly Come Dancing, a British version of Dancing with the Stars that aired one season in 2015, featuring inspirational contestants.

His character

On Coronation Street, Little plays an amputee who meets with Jack Webster and explains how he dealt with losing his leg and becoming a Paralympian.

"This is not secret, secret stuff  if you've been following the storyline, you know that Jack got sepsis. He's a young boy, and he had his leg amputated below the knee," said Little. Jack has problems with the way he looks now, and the way he interacts with other kids.

"I've come in as a military buddy of another character and kind of trains Paralympic athletes, and I've come in as the guy who grabs life by the horns and shakes really hard, and then shakes really hard, and then tries to rub that attitude off a little bit, by proxy, onto Jack."

CBC

Little will appear in six episodes beginning this fall. He said he wasn't aware of the show's popularity among Newfoundlanders until he was on set.

Story continues

"Somebody said, 'Where are you from in the States?' And I kinda went, 'I'm Canadian,'" he said, and then they asked where in Canada he's from.

"I said, 'Oh, you probably haven't heard [of] it, but it's the best-kept secret in Canada. It's a place called St. John's, Newfoundland,' and before I could finish that  because normally I go into this big spiel about the fishing communities, the artistic communities, the nightlife  they cut me right off and said, 'Yeah, we love Newfoundland.'"

With files from Here and Now

Read more from CBC Newfoundland and LabradorLeona Alleslev heaped public and private praise on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his senior ministers in the weeks before she started a secret process to defect to the opposition Conservatives, according to an email and an audio recording obtained by CBC News.

On July 11  when Alleslev was part of the Canadian delegation at the NATO summit in Brussels  the MP for Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill sent a emotional email to Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland.

"Want to tell you that the hug and kiss you gave me on the way out was just truly the best  you made me cry!" Alleslev wrote in the email, supplied to CBC News by a Liberal source.

"You and the PM and Harj (Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan) were truly awesome today. This is not only who we are as Canadians  but also who we are as global citizens  and that was on full display today."

She ended the note by thanking Freeland for "everything you do!"

Alleslev delivered a similar message just nine days later on July 20, when Trudeau headlined a fundraiser in her riding and the then-Liberal MP made a statement.

"The greatest thing about being a member of Parliament in this prime minister's government is that we are each and every one of us valued for the contribution that we bring to the team," Alleslev said, according to a recording of her remarks.

Just weeks later, in early August, Alleslev was sitting down with Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer at a Pearson airport hotel outside Toronto, discussing the terms of her defection from the Liberals.

Alleslev  who cited what she called Trudeau's failures on foreign policy and defence as her motivation for crossing the floor  also praised the prime minister's performance at the NATO summit.

Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press

"I decided about four years ago that I really was worried about what my country was becoming. And it was getting more difficult to represent this country, and so that's why I decided to become a Member of Parliament," Alleslev told a crowd of Liberal donors.

Story continues

"And last week, when I was in Brussels, at the NATO summit, and the prime minister was there, you would have been truly amazed, proud, overcome with the power of the remarks that this prime minister made. Not to Canadians, but to members of Parliament from governments, from social organizations all over the world, and he set the example for what our NATO allies and what other countries can become.

"So I would like to thank this prime minister for creating the country that I am honoured to serve and defend, not only for what he is doing here at home, but for how he is representing us around the world."

In a statement issued this evening, Alleslev called the email a "very personal" message she sent to someone she still thinks of as "a friend."

"I was at an event in Brussels with Ministers Freeland and Sajjan, as well as the prime minister, and it was a good event," she wrote. "However, one good event does not equal delivering the foundational change Canada needs at home and abroad. My decision to leave the government was based on the direction I feel Canada is headed due to a number of actions and policy decisions taken over the last three years."

Still, Alleslev's earlier statements stand in stark contrast to the public condemnation she gave when she blindsided the Liberals by announcing in the House of Commons Monday that she was bolting to the Conservative bench.

"I stand here today deeply concerned for the future of our country," she said on Monday. "On the world stage, Canada has yet to rise to the occasion. The world has changed and Canada must change with it. We do not have the luxury of time. We must recognize that foreign policy, trade, defence, and our economy all depend on each other and cannot be viewed separately."

Transcript of Alleslev's remarks at July 20 fundraiser in her riding:

Well, I have the privilege of thanking everyone.

But first, of course, welcome to my riding of Aurora Oak Ridges Richmond Hill.

I am Leona Alleslev, the member of Parliament for this riding.

First and foremost, thank you to my colleagues, because York Region is better because of the team that we are here.

And the greatest thing about being a member of Parliament in this prime minister's government is that we are each and every one of us valued for the contribution that we bring to the team. We each have our strengths and we're valued for it and we lean on each other. And you have a great team, if I do say so myself, with the members of Parliament here in York Region.

I also want to thank each and every one of you for being here. It is a Friday night in July and you are the diehards, you are the people who are there when we need you, when it's good times and when it's rough.

I want to thank you for not only your financial and moral support, but for something slightly more fundamental  not telling us what we want to hear, but telling us what we need to hear, even if we don't want to hear it.

You are our eyes and ears to make sure that we stay connected to the real pulse of what's going on and how our citizens are feeling in our communities. So thank you for being here, but thank you for the contribution you you make to making this country better.

And last but not least, I swore an oath to serve and defend this country when I was granted my Queen's Commission to become an officer in the Canadian Armed Forces.

And I decided about four years ago that I really was worried about what my country was becoming. And it was getting more difficult to represent this country, and so that's why I decided to become a member of Parliament.

And last week, when I was in Brussels, at the NATO summit, and the prime minister was there, you would have been truly amazed, proud, overcome with the power of the remarks that this prime minister made. Not to Canadians, but to members of Parliament from governments, from social organizations all over the world, and he set the example for what our NATO allies and what other countries can become.

So I would like to thank this prime minister for creating the country that I am honoured to serve and defend, not only for what he is doing here at home, but for how he is representing us around the world.Scientists have successfully tagged a great white shark in Atlantic Canadian waters for the first time.

Heather Bowlby, a researcher with Halifax's Bedford Institute of Oceanography, says the three-metre juvenile male shark was tagged off southwest Nova Scotia last week.

"This animal, based on its size, would be about 20 years old and it is possible  with the amount of bait that was stolen  that there had been two of them around the boat but we were not able to confirm that," Bowlby said.

She said the tag information will assist in understanding great white shark movements off Canada, and help inform protection measures for the endangered species.

Data collected from the tag will not be known for nine months  it will pop off and float to the surface at that time and transmit the information to a satellite.

"When the tag does pop off, we'll be able to analyze its depth and temperature ... to look at both where it was in Canada as well as how it was behaving," Bowlby said.

Bowlby, along with Art Gaetan and Nathan Glenn of Blue Shark Charters, tagged the shark in the water alongside an 11-metre boat, using a slick of ground-up fish and tuna heads to attract the predatory fish.

Gaetan said the team had a five-day window to tag the shark. He said on Day 3, Glenn went to check a bucket on the side of the boat and the shark was there staring at him.

"So it was quite a little fright that he had," Gaetan said.

The reason why the Bedford Institute of Oceanography is tagging great white sharks is because a recovery plan is needed.

"This research directly supports recovery goals that have been identified for the species," said Bowlby.

The news comes as Ocearch, an American group, is in Nova Scotia to begin shark research, hoping to tag some mature females and track them to a birthing site.

Ocearch is best known in Nova Scotia for tagging Hilton, a celebrity great white shark who regularly reveals his location in a Twitter feed that has almost 45,000 followers.

Hilton was off Cape Breton on Saturday.

Read more articles from CBC Nova ScotiaWATERLOO, Ontario, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --



When: Saturday, September 22 at 11: 00 a.m.  12:00 p.m. What: Press Conference and Public Leafleting Where: Speakers Corner of King St. and Frederick St., Kitchener. Who: Natalie Mehra, Executive Director Ontario Health Coalition, Jim Stewart and Riani De Wit,

Waterloo Region Health Coalition.

Information:



Kitchener Waterloo has experienced first-hand the impact of decades of hospital downsizing and rationing of long-term health care. Recent data shows that our hospital has been running at more than 120 percent capacity, meaning all beds have been full, and patients left waiting on stretchers in hallways. Ontario has seen the most severe hospital bed cuts of anywhere in Canada and has dropped to dead last in the country in the number of funded hospital beds that we have left. The consequences for patients are long waits, severe hospital overcrowding, higher rates of violence, patients forced by coercive measures out of hospital before they are stable, the highest hospital readmission rates in Canada.

The Health Coalition is warning that we cannot take any more cuts. Doug Ford promised to end hallway medicine but is planning massive budget cuts. In Kitchener-Waterloo those cuts will mean as many as 60 bed closures in our hospitals and a drastic reduction the hospital workers resulting in as many as 340 staff eliminated. The Coalition is asking local citizens to join in major actions to protect public health care and to insist that our government improve and rebuild public health care services, including our hospitals, long-term and home care.

For more information: Jim Stewart, 519-588-5841 and Riani De Wit.

Contact us at waterlooregionhealthcoalition@gmail.com

TUESDAY, Sept. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- Preliminary research in mice suggests that the Zika virus might be turned from foe into friend -- enlisted to curb deadly glioblastoma brain tumors.

A glioblastoma is among the most lethal of brain cancers, killing more than 15,000 Americans each year. U.S. Senators John McCain and Ted Kennedy both succumbed to this cancer.

In the new therapy, an international group of researchers used a harmless form of the Zika virus to target and destroy glioblastoma cells in mouse brains, while leaving healthy brain cells untouched.

The mosquito-borne Zika virus made headlines over the past few years because of its connection to severe brain defects in babies born to women infected in pregnancy.

But the virus might offer a new avenue for brain cancer care, according to a team led by Pei-Yong Shi, a virologist at University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, and virologist Cheng-Feng Qin of the Chinese Academy of Military Medical Sciences in Beijing.

They explained that Zika's ability to infect brain cells -- and cause devastating brain changes in the fetus -- could be used to target glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) in the brain as well. These stem cells are thought to be the source of tumor recurrence.

"If we could find a way to specifically target those GSCs that are the source of recurrence, then that might provide an option to prevent recurrence or even a cure," Qin said in a news release from the American Society of Microbiology (ASM).

In their research, the team members first confirmed that Zika could attack glioblastoma stem cells, both in lab culture and in a mouse model. In fact, the virus was much more "efficient" at targeting the tumor cells compared to healthy brain neurons, they said.

Shi and Qin's group has already developed a candidate Zika virus vaccine, made from an inactivated, harmless form of the virus. This tweaked virus has a deletion from its genetic blueprint that makes it incapable of efficiently replicating, the researchers explained.

The scientists first confirmed that the vaccine was safe in mice. Next, they mixed the vaccine with a sample of glioblastoma stem cells, and injected that combo in the brains of mice. Other mice received an injection of the stem cells alone, without the tweaked Zika virus.

The result: While glioblastomas arose quickly in the brains of mice that didn't receive the vaccine, they developed much more slowly for mice that got the Zika vaccine as well.

And while the average survival time for mice without the vaccine was an average of 30 days, survival for those that had gotten the Zika vaccine was extended to 50 days.

Of course, this research is in an extremely early stage. But the hope is that glioblastoma patients might one day be given the Zika vaccine simultaneously with their surgery to "let the viruses hunt down the GSCs and eliminate them," Qin said.

Brain cancer specialists cautioned that the research is promising but preliminary.

"Many new therapies for glioblastoma have looked promising 'in vivo' [that is, in animal studies], only to fail later on," said Dr. Michael Schulder, who helps direct neurosurgery at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y.

Still, he thinks the approach is "ingenious."

"The authors of this study cleverly used the very aspect of the Zika virus that has made it worrisome as a public health threat -- the tendency of the virus to replicate and damage brain cells, specifically the cells that are involved in brain development -- as a way to attack glioblastoma," Schulder said.

Dr. John Boockvar, vice chair of neurosurgery at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, agreed.

"Like the authors in this study, we are looking for ways to trigger a strong immune response in patients with glioblastoma, which induces inflammation and eventually glioblastoma cell death," he said. "Using a harmless form of the Zika virus to preferentially infect glioblastoma cells in order to illicit an immune response is a smart strategy to fight this devastating disease."

According to Shi, the next step is to collaborate with doctors to develop trials evaluating the approaches' safety in patients.

The study authors also hope to genetically tweak the Zika virus even more to make it a more effective killer of glioblastoma cells.

"As a virologist, I see that we should take advantage of the 'bad' side of viruses," Shi said in the release. "They should have a role to play in cancer treatment."

The findings were published Sept. 18 in the ASM journal mBIO.

More information

For more on glioblastomas, visit the American Cancer Society.JavaScript is disabled on your browser.

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New York, September 19, 2018The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Honduran authorities to investigate threats against freelance journalist Nina Lakhaniwho is in Honduras to cover the high-profile trial of eight men charged in the 2016 murder of indigenous environmental leader Berta Caceresand to ensure journalists are able to report safely from the country.

Lakhani, a British citizen, is a freelance journalist based in Mexico who has reported for Britains Guardian newspaper for five years. On September 17, a document labeled as a press release circulated on social media platforms, including Twitter and WhatsApp, that accused Lakhani of manipulating the local population in the Bajo Aguan region of northern Honduras, forcing residents to give false statements and inciting them to violence, and declared her persona non grata in the region. The press release, which CPJ has reviewed, also called on authorities to investigate Lakhani and other foreigners visiting the region and engaging in suspicious activities behind the facade of independent journalism for international outlets.

Freelance journalists like Nina Lakhani must be free to investigate and report on issues of public interest in Honduras without fearing for their safety, said CPJ Central and South America Program Coordinator Natalie Southwick. The eyes of the world are on Honduras as the Berta Caceres trial begins. If the Honduran government is serious about protecting democratic values like press freedom, authorities must investigate the threats against Lakhani and ensure she and other journalists are not driven from reporting on entire regions.

Lakhani told CPJ the organization named in the press release, the Association of Independent Farmers of the Aguan Valley, is a front or fake group. CPJ could not find any evidence that a group with this name exists.

The document linking her to violent activities used the same language that has appeared in similar documents attacking other people working on the Caceres case, Lakhani told CPJ. It circulated the day after Lakhani published an article in the Guardian on criminal structures in the region and links between military intelligence officers and the alleged killers.

Lakhani and colleagues at the Guardian told CPJ that Honduran authorities and foreign governments, including the British embassy, have been informed about the threats.

Lahkani previously faced a similar harassment campaign in 2016, after she published an article reporting that Caceres name appeared on a military hit list shortly before she was killed, she told CPJ.

Reporting on organized crime and corruption in Honduras has produced an alarming number of unsolved cases of violence against journalists, according to CPJ research.Share this: Twitter

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Bangkok, September 19, 2018The Committee to Protect Journalists today strongly condemned the sentencing of Vietnamese journalist Do Cong Duong and called for his immediate and unconditional release. A court in the northern province of Bac Ninh sentenced Duong on September 17 to four years in prison for disturbing public order, which is a criminal offense under article 318 of the penal code, Radio Free Asia reported.

If Vietnam wants to be taken seriously as a responsible international actor, it must stop jailing journalists, said Shawn Crispin, CPJs senior Southeast Asia representative. Do Cong Duong should be released and all pending charges against the journalist should be dropped.

Duong was detained on January 24 while filming and taking photographs of state authorities forcibly evicting residents at the Tu Son commune in Bac Ninh, reports said. Official land-grabbing is a politically sensitive issue in the Communist Party-dominated country.

Duong faces a separate charge of abusing democratic freedoms to infringe on the interests of the state, a criminal offense that carries maximum seven year prison sentences under article 331 of the revised 2015 penal code, according to the 88 Project, an advocacy group that tracks Vietnamese political prisoners. The group said that Duong is due to go on trial for that charge in October.

Duongs lawyer, Ha Huy Son, said that the journalist pleaded innocent and that his family planned to appeal, the Radio Free Asia report said.

Duong regularly covers land rights and corruption, including on his Tieng Dan TV program where he live-streamed video discussions over Facebook, according to the 88 Project.

The group said Duong was warned by Bac Ninh police in writing in September 2017 that his articles and live videos on Facebook included content that distorts the truth and contradicts the directions and policies of the Party and the law of the state.

Duongs defense attorney said the reporter was in poor health when they met in April and that authorities, including the local police, had harassed his family over Duongs land rights and anti-corruption reporting and activism, according to the RFA report and 88 Project research.

At least 10 journalists were held behind bars in Vietnam when CPJ conducted its annual census of jailed journalists worldwide in December 2017. All 10 were jailed on anti-state charges related to their work, CPJ research shows.TORONTO, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ahmet Tacyildiz (Tacyildiz), a director of Aldridge Minerals Inc. (TSX-V: AGM) (Aldridge), announces that he has filed an early warning report with respect to the acquisition on September 18, 2018 of 11,660,611 common shares in the capital of Aldridge (Common Shares), representing approximately 13.6% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares.

Prior to the transaction, Tacyildiz owned or controlled, with his affiliates, 50,617,442 Common Shares, representing approximately 36.0% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares. As a result of his purchase of the Common Shares noted above, Tacyildiz now owns or controls, with his affiliates, 62,278,053 Common Shares, representing 43.6% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares.

Tacyildiz acquired ownership of the shares at a price of C$0.065 per share, for total consideration of C$757,939.72, pursuant to a private purchase agreement for investment purposes. Tacyildiz has agreed to contribute all 62,278,053 Common Shares owned or controlled by him or his affiliates to Virtus Mining Ltd. (Virtus) prior to closing of the plan of arrangement (the Arrangement) announced on September 18, 2018 involving Aldridge and Virtus, whereby Virtus would acquire all Common Shares not owned by it for a price of C$0.10 per share. Following the Arrangement, it is anticipated that the Common Shares will be delisted from the TSX Venture Exchange and Aldridges status as a reporting issuer will be terminated. Please see the press release of Aldridge dated September 18, 2018 for further information in respect of the Arrangement.

This news release is issued under the early warning provisions of applicable Canadian securities legislation. A copy of the early warning report filed by Tacyildiz with applicable securities commissions in connection with this acquisition will be available for viewing under Aldridges profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and a copy of the report may also be obtained by contacting Tacyildiz at + 90 212 211 5300.

Aldridges head office is located at 10 King Street East, Suite 300, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5C 1C3

For more information, please contact:

Ahmet Tacyildiz

c/o ANT Holding Anonim Sti.

Kore Sehitleri Caddesi

No: 8 Esentepe Sisli

34394 Istanbul

TurkeyDefence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitaraman given approval to Indian Army for inducting upgraded variant of indigenously developed Akash short-range surface-to-air missile (SRSAM) system. Under this proposal two new two regiments of this missile systems will be procured under Buy (Indian) category from Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL). Indian Army already has inducted two Akash regiments. Induction of upgraded variants will increase total count to four regiments.

Akash Missile

It is short-range mobile surface-to-air missile indigenously developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as part of Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme initiated in 1984. It is made by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).

It has range of 25 km and can engage multiple targets at time in all-weather conditions. It has capability to neutralise aerial targets like fighter jets, cruise missiles and air-to-surface missiles as well as ballistic missiles.

It has large operational envelope, from 30 metre to maximum of 20 km. Each regiment of this missile system consists of six launchers, each having three missiles. It is in operational service with Indian Army and Indian Air Force.

Upgraded Akash Missile System

The upgraded Akash Missile System will include seeker technology, possess 360 degree coverage and will be of compact configuration with reduced signature. The upgraded Akash Weapon System is operationally critical equipment which will provide protection to vital assets.Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina jointly launched the construction of India-Bangladesh Friendship Product Pipeline Project through video conferencing. It is first such pipeline through which refined diesel will be supplied to Bangladesh from India.

India-Bangladesh Friendship Product Pipeline Project

The project involves construction of 130-kilometre long pipeline that will connect Siliguri in West Bengal and Parbatipur in Dinajpur district of Bangladesh. Of the total stretch, six-kilometre will be in Indian side and remaining 124 kilometres will in Bangladesh. Indian leg of the pipeline project will be implemented by Assam-based Numaligarh Refinery Limited and Bangladeshi leg will be implemented by Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation

The pipeline has capacity of 1 million metric tons per annum. It will supply refined diesel will be supplied to Parbatipur depot from Numaligarh of Assam in India. Initially, it will supply Bangladesh 2.5 lakh tonnes of diesel every year and gradually it will be increased to 4 lakh tonnes. The project will replace existing practice of sending diesel by rail covering distance of 510 kilometers. The estimated this pipeline project is Rs. 346 crore and it will be completed in 30 months timeframe.Kerala: Post floods, scientists find several species of fish and dragonflies new to Kerala

by Sharanya Gopinathan

September 19,2018 | Source: The News Minute

As relief work is underway and the residents of Kerala return to their homes to begin rebuilding their lives and the state, scientists, researchers and farmers have begun noticing some intriguing, possibly worrying, changes in Keralas ecosystem.



WhatsApp forwards have indicated that a variety of foreign species are now being found in Kerala, with fisherfolk and others finding rare, exotic fishes that have never been found in the state before. One photo, which went viral, seems to indicate that an arapaima, a human-sized fish native to the Amazon river, was found by locals in Chalakudy river, Thrissur.



Scientists and researchers, who have been studying Vembanad Lake for over a decade now, have also found marked changes in the fauna in the lake after the floods. We have been doing a fish count every year in the third week of May, and have these records as the baseline data available about the diversity of Vembanad Lake, says Priyadarsanan Dharma Rajan of ATREE, Bangalore. This year, soon after the floods, we repeated the survey again, and noticed that the catches of fish had increased several-fold.



Anu Radhakrishnan, also of ATREE, says that local fisherfolk, who returned to Vembanads waters on August 18 after the incessant rain of August 15, 16 and 17, began noticing remarkable sightings of rare exotic fish almost immediately. In the first week after the flood, we saw yields of up to 300 to 400 kg of exotic fish that had never been seen in the lake before, including fishes like the South American red-bellied pacu and the Assam wala. There were yields of up to 700 kg of red-bellied pacu in the first week, which soon dropped to about 100 kg in a few days.



He also mentions other exotic species that have been found in Vembanad Lake after the floods, such as the African catfish, a large and voracious predator that has proven to be a huge menace to indigenous fish populations, and other unusual fishes found elsewhere in Kerala, like the alligator gar, a large sluggish carnivore.



But how did these fish enter Keralas ecosystem in the first place? Priyadarsanan says that while the raising of such exotic fishes is actually banned in Kerala, many aquaculture farms breed them illegally. He also mentioned that many dam reservoirs introduce fishes into the dams, ostensibly to provide local tribal populations a source of income and livelihood, but ended up as a source of additional revenue for the concerned government department.



Anu says, These fishes had to come from somewhere, right? These exotic fishes come from other countries, and the government surely knows if new species are coming into India, because they have to be quarantined first, so this needs to be checked out. There needs to be stricter regulation and implementation of the existing policies.



Introducing these fishes, many of which are sturdy hybrids that can withstand adverse weather conditions and have no natural predators in Kerala, into the ecosystem could have disastrous consequences for indigenous fish populations, and poses a severe threat to these native fish varieties. Priyadarsanan says, Our scientists are also not developing enough breeding methods for locally available fish. Research in fishery universities needs to focus on breeding practices, creating high-yielding varieties of local fish and stock improvement, which is currently not being done.



Across in Wayanad



While Vembanad Lake and the marine ecosystem of Kerala seem to be facing rising populations of exotic fish, over in Wayanad, farmers and researchers have noticed an alarming development about a fortnight after flood waters receded: mass deaths of earthworm populations, numbering in the thousands.



PU Das, soil quality officer in Wayanad, says that the flood waters have flushed out organic matter and humus in the soil, which has caused a reduction in the soils water holding capacity. This has resulted in an increase in soil temperature, causing delicate earthworms, which have a tolerance of between 15-28 degrees Celsius, to perish en masse. This extreme and unusual reduction in the earthworm population could have huge implications for soil fertility, which will impact agricultural production.



Great African Snail population on the rise



Meanwhile, the incessant rains and flooding in Kerala have also upped the chances of the notorious Giant African Snail spreading. Given that there have been good rains, lots of moisture in the soil and air, and the removal of many geographical barriers due to the floods, theres a high likelihood of these snails being easily carried or dispersed from the few districts their populations were restricted to in Kerala before the floods to other districts, says NA Aravind, a Fellow at ATREE who specialises in research on molluscs.



Natives of Eloor and neighbouring regions have noticed alarming invasions of African Giant Snails in their homes post the recent floods. These snails, listed as one of the top 100 most damaging invasive species in the world, like to nibble on lime and cement walls, and weaken these structures with their activities.



Aravind says they pose a variety of threats to humans. They can cause eosinophilic meningitis, which can spread to humans from their slime, either from eating them directly, which is rare in India, or from eating crops that have come in contact with their slime. They are also notorious for causing massive damage to agricultural and horticultural crops, as they feed voraciously on more than 500 different kinds of plants. Given that they are hermaphrodites that lay between 300-500 eggs at a time, the chances of invasion are high. The snails can be killed with salt trails, and should not be handled by direct contact.



New dragonfly species found



A recent study by the Periyar Tiger Conservation Foundation and the India Dragonfly Society conducted on 7 and 8 September also found 80 varieties of dragonfly species in the Periyar Tiger Reserve, including 8 new species, 3 of which are possibly entirely new to science itself. Periyar Tiger Conservation Foundation biologist Patrick David told The Hindu that the recent incessant rains might have affected the hatching of dragonfly eggs.



As life in Kerala slowly returns to normalcy, it's clear that researchers will need to keep an eye on all the different ways in which the floods have affected flora and fauna in the state, and the implications that these changes will continue to have on Kerala's ecosystem.Denver, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For over 40 years, Grossman | Capraro Plastic Surgery has been committed to artistry and integrity. Board-certified plastic surgeons Dr. John Grossman and Dr. Philippe Capraro have provided outstanding cosmetic and reconstructive results to patients throughout Colorado. With the redesign of the practice website, the team announced several major changes that signify the ongoing evolution of the practice.





The first update is to the practice name, now Grossman | Capraro Plastic Surgery to include Dr. Capraro, who has been an associate of the practice for almost 20 years. The second is the addition of plastic surgeon Dr. Teresa Cunningham, who joins Dr. Grossman, Dr. Capraro, and board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Matthew Baker in providing artistic and individualized plastic surgery procedures.

Continuing the traditions of excellence started in 1975, Grossman | Capraro Plastic Surgery keeps up with the most advanced techniques in aesthetic and reconstructive surgery and grows with the addition of our new associate Dr. Teresa C. Cunningham, Dr. Grossman said.

Grossman | Capraro Plastic Surgery also spotlights a new office on the updated website. Based in Greenwood Village, Colorado, the new location provides patients with an extensive selection of surgical procedures and non-surgical services.

The new website features a contemporary aesthetic that reflects the decor of the offices at Grossman | Capraro Plastic Surgery. An integral component of the design is a series of custom photographs and videos of the surgeons at the practice.

Our online presence needs to evolve as we evolve, Dr. Capraro said. With the practices expansion of a new physician [Dr. Cunningham] and new location [Greenwood Village], its important that the website continues to reflect our standard of excellence that patients come to expect from our practice.

Additional image assets on the new website include a massive gallery of before-and-after pictures. Photographs are organized by procedure as well as surgeon, enabling prospective patients to see the actual results physicians at the practice have achieved for surgeries of the face, body, and male- and female-specific procedures of the breasts.

About Grossman | Capraro Plastic Surgery

Based in Denver, Grossman | Capraro Plastic Surgery welcomes patients throughout Colorado, as well as visitors from all over the globe. As one of the nations top-ranked plastic surgery practices, these physicians perform rhinoplasties, facelifts, breast augmentation, liposuction, abdominoplasty, labiaplasty, and many other face, breast, and body procedures for women and men.

AttachmentsSri Lanka: Struggles to contain Muthurajawela oil spill effects

by VIMUKTHI FERNANDO

September 19,2018 | Source: Sunday Observer

As the global community celebrated International Coastal Cleanup Day (ICCD), yesterday (Saturday, September 15), Sri Lanka struggled with the consequences of the oil spill which occurred a week earlier on the western coast. It may only take a matter of few days to clean up an oil spill. However, it would take many years for the nature to wear off its effects and restore the eco-systems. Sometimes the damage is irreversible, say experts.



Oil spills, an occurrence which would have been strange to the country just a decade ago, seem to be happening quite frequently now. While many strange phenomenon around the country has been blamed on climate change or global warming  washing our hands off responsibility, this cannot be so. Oil leakage from pipes is not a natural phenomenon. The most recent event which happened last Saturday, September 8, was a burst of a pipeline, carrying oil from a mooring facility, approximately 10 km offshore to the Muthurajawela Oil Refinery Complex while crude oil was being pumped from an oil tanker.



The brunt of the spill which was estimated to be aroud 25 metric tons,was borne by a two and a half kilo metre stretch of beach to the north of the pipeline, namely Dickovita in Wattala. The area constitutes a fishery harbour and beach side hotels boasting of sun and sand. Residents in the area complained of their livelihoods coming to a standstill due to the oil spill.



While all the socio-ecological and economical activities had ceased along the stretch of the oil spill there wont be any impact on the fish, as fishing in this area is carried out in deep water, said, General Manager (GM) of the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) Dr. Terney Pradeep Kumara. However, the marine and coastal ecosystem, smaller fish, marine algae, coastal plants and so on had been affected by the spill. He extended an apology to the public for the pollution caused by the oil spill. As the agency with the sole responsibility to prevent, control, and manage pollution of the countrys marine environment MEPA wont take marine pollution lightly. We will take legal action against the polluter, MEPA GM told Sunday Observer on Wednesday. While Pamunugama Police investigate the incident on a complaint lodged by the authority, MEPA staff currently engage in compiling evidence.



This is not the first oil leakage incident related to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and its affiliate Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Limited (CPSTL). On 31st December 2015 a similar incident happened within the lagoon in Thaldiyawatte, Dikovita due to an oil spill that had occurred during the cleaning of a pipeline carrying oil to the Muthurajawela Oil Refinery Complex. The case is being heard in the courts. This time, the fine will be higher and we would request to repair or replace the pipeline according to our mandate, said MEPA GM. The Marine Pollution Prevention Act No. 35 of 2008, under which MEPA is established, mandates the authority to prescribe necessary action to prevent, mitigate and control marine environment pollution and to fine polluters up to rupees one million.



The authority along with its partner government and non-government institutions, tried to contain the oil spill. Over 300 persons from MEPA, Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG), Navy, Army, Air Force, Police and the staff of Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Limited (CPSTL) the company to which the ruptured pipeline belongs to, laboured side by side for days in containing the effects of the spill. Dr. Turney Pradeep Kumara cautioned resident communities to be wary of their contact with the coast and the sea for about three more weeks. We have done the maximum and cleaned about 70% of the spill. The rest we have to let the environment absorb and dispose slowly. It needs rain and the harsh sun to wither the effect, he said. It would take several weeks for the beach to reach a usable state.



The preliminary assessments were carried out by the Navy coastal patrol vessels and Y12 aircrafts of the Air Force. Two coast guard ships, SLCGS Samaraksha and SLCGS Samudra Raksha were deployed in the offshore oil spill clean-up operation, with oil dispersals. As these chemical oil dispersals are strong detergents, they could also generate adverse affects, They were only used in high dilution areas over a 10 metre depth, with strong sea currents and waves, explained MEPA GM. In an arduous manual operation, troops and civilians together collected the oil mixed sand filling hundreds of polythene sacks and pumped the floating slicks into bowsers to be sent to the oil storage facility at Muthurajawela. The remaining oil spread was soaked in using oil-skimmers, a special kind of fabric used in cleaning up oil spills.



The SL Navy issuing a press release, noted that the ecological damage caused by the oil spill could be minimised due to the comprehensive knowledge and experience acquired through frequent oil spill exercises carried out by the naval personnel in collaboration with SLCG. They committed to continue observation missions and to be on constant alert to protect aquatic and coastal resources partnering with SLCG and MEPA.



Meanwhile, the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA), in keeping with their mandate by the National Oil Spill Contingency Operational Plan (NOSCOP) began an environmental impact study. The objective is to assess the damage to the marine and coastal environment and the community caused by the oil spill, said Lead Researcher/Investigator Dr. Deeptha Amarathunga. The NARA team had conducted visual observations on the western coast from Bambalapitiya, in Colombo to Pitipana in Negombo. Though not much of the oil slick could be observed close to the southern point of Bambalapitiya, the actual affect could only be assessed after the lab analysis of samples collected, he said. NARA expects to release the preliminary report by end of the month. The preliminary report would also propose sites and ecosystems that need to be monitored and studied in detail. NARA would continue observations in these areas for an initial period of three to four months and would continue further if necessary, explained Amarathunga. They would continue to observe the impact on the fishing community as well as the marine and coastal fauna and flora. Though the Sunday Observer contacted the Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Limited (CPSTL), neither the Chairman, Dammika Ranatunga nor the Managing Director, SanjeevaWijeratne were available for comment.PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. Jury selection in the John Jonchuck murder case will not begin on Monday after all.





Monday afternoon, the judge in the case reluctantly decided to delay the trial's beginning.





Judge Chris Helinger told prosecutors and defense attorneys in the courtroom that people around the courthouse have been giving her a hard time about whether or not the trial would begin.





"You know, people have been coming up to me for two weeks, [saying] 'it's not going to go. I's not really going to go is it?'"





"I said, 'yeah, it's going to go.' No, it's not going to go."





John Jonchuck is accused of throwing his 5-year-old daughter Phoebe to her death back in Jan. 2015 off of the Dick Meissner Bridge that leads to the Sunshine Skyway.





The issue?





What was Jonchuck's mental state at the time of the incident.





Defense attorneys filed a motion on Jonchuck's behalf, asking the judge to exclude the testimony of one of the state's expert witnesses.





That witness is expected to testify that she doesn't believe Jonchuck meets the state's insanity criteria.





That motion forced the judge to ask prosecutors for a response to the defense's motion. Prosecutor Douglas Ellis paced back and forth as he told judge he felt this was simply a delay tactic.





"The defense has put the state in the position of having to scramble and that's, I hate to say it, but that seems to be the goal," said Ellis. "Make sure that the state is not prepared for trial. They filed these motions late, they filed four new motions today."





In an abundance of caution, Judge Helinger delayed the start of the trial on Monday, instead scheduling a status conference for the attorneys to give her an update on their progress.





The state is not seeking the death penalty in this case. If convicted, Jonchuck faces life in prison.

 | 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



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"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,

but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar WildeThe Idaho Department of Correction doesn't have to release information about which drugs it used to execute 2 inmates or where it got them from - at least for now.





In May, an Idaho judge ruled state correction officials had to hand over records and receipts of any drug used in the executions of Paul Ezra Rhoades and Richard Leavitt.





The order also required the department to release records of drugs bought for future executions to a University of Idaho law professor and the ACLU of Idaho who filed the suit.





Monday morning, Judge Lynn Norton ordered a new trial to determine whether the state has to disclose these records.





"We'll go to trial and once again prove that secrecy around lethal injection in particular is harmful to the public interest," says Ritchie Eppink, legal director for ACLU of Idaho.





In court records, Department of Correction Deputy Director Jeff Zmuda said releasing this information would "jeopardize" future executions.





That's because drug companies would face "significant harassment and pressure" to stop selling their products for use in lethal injections, he says.





"The reason why their ability to carry out executions would be jeopardized by being transparent was because they'd be disclosing information that the public's just not comfortable with and that's why we have the public records act in the first place," Eppink says.





A spokesperson for the Idaho Department of Correction says he hasn't seen the ruling and can't comment on it.





Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden recently waded in to a court case in Nevada in which a pharmaceutical company accused the state of illegally purchasing one of its drugs to carry out its first execution since 2006.





Wasden joined with 14 other state attorneys general to support Nevada, saying drug companies shouldn't be able to file such last-minute lawsuits, calling it "guerilla war against the death penalty."





Up until a few years ago, states had used a 3-drug cocktail to execute inmates: 1 drug to sedate, 1 to paralyze and 1 to stop an inmate's heart from beating.





In 2012, Idaho correction officials switched its lethal injection protocol to use only a single, lethal dose of pentobarbital. The Danish company that manufactures the drug eventually stopped exporting it to states carrying out executions.





It's unclear what, if any, lethal injection drugs Idaho may have on hand. The state has executed only 3 people since 1977 - the last of which took place in 2012.





9 inmates - 8 men and 1 woman - currently sit on Idaho's death row.





The 2 parties will meet to schedule a trial at the beginning of October to determine whether the state has to release these records.

 | 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



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"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,

but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde

Boise State Public Radio, September 18, 2018The Iranian regime is known for its suppression of the people of Iran and its blatant disregard of human rights.





International human rights organisations have called on the regime to stop its inhumane treatment of prisoners, its medieval forms of punishment, its repression, its censorship, and so on.





Human rights activists in the country have shared the reality of life under the regime by sharing a video of a man being hanged from a crane in front of the public . The harrowing video has been shared a number of times.





A social media user pointed out that the footage is not of ISIS activity in Mosul or Syria, rather it is in Iran where people are forced to watch a young man be executed in public. This is not a one-off or an extreme situation.





The incident is said to have taken place last week in Marvdasht, a city in the south of the country. The man in the video is said to be a 26-year-old man who has been imprisoned since the age of only 13.





People in the background can be heard screaming - presumably family members of the young man.





Executions like this are unfortunately carried out very frequently. Women, men and young people receive the same treatment and the death penalty is handed out for minor crimes and drug-related activity.





As well as receiving the death penalty for minor crimes, prisoners have often been subject to a grossly unfair trial.





Amnesty International, in its latest report, pointed out that the Iranian regime refuses to bow down to international pressure regarding its execution rate. The Iranian regime even claims that it is "un-Islamic" to campaign the death penalty.





Last October, a new law was adopted in Iran with regards to drug-related sentences resulting in the death penalty. The quantity of drugs allowed for the dealt penalty was raised. It did, however, retain the death penalty for other drug-related crimes. And there have also been executions carried out since the law was passed last year.





Other "crimes" or "offences" that can result in execution in Iran include "spreading corruption on earth", "insulting the Prophet" and "enmity against God". Mohammad Ali Taheri, a spiritual leader and founder of the spiritual group Erfan-e Halgheh, became a prisoner of conscience when he was put in jail for "spreading corruption on earth". Although the Supreme Court overturned the death sentence, he remains in jail.





The execution of young people who were under the age of 18 at the time of their crime is something that happens routinely in the country too. Even if there is a retrial (because of Article 91 of the 2013 Islamic Penal Code), it has often resulted in the same outcome. There are dozens of people on death row that committed a crime as a minor and there are grave concerns that they will be imminently executed.





Iran is one of the countries with the highest rates of execution per capita in the world. Death penalty activists have even been imprisoned.

 | 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



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"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,

but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar WildeBENGALURU: While mental health is still considered a stigma in the country, many adults continue to suffer from various mental health issues and find it difficult to get proper care. But at the same time, there has been an increase in the number of such patients, mainly because of excessive use of social media, doctors point out. 15-year-old Kavya (name changed) from Bengaluru, who spends most of her time on Tumblr, walked into Fortis recently with her self-diagnosis that she is depressed.

She wrote nihilist poetry and had put up many posts on the theme on the website. Doctors from Fortis said, Once she was encouraged to discuss her thoughts, we found out how she was exposed to such content online. As she started posting similar things, she felt increasingly validated and built her identity around it. Experts said that for many people, finding themselves is a top priority. Whatever gives them the maximum reward and acceptance in the form of likes on various social media platforms, they strive to become that self. In Kavyas case, she consistently kept portraying herself as mentally ill as that brought her more attention, they said.

A study by the University of London reveals that mental health problems have seen a six-fold increase among youngsters and children brought up in the age of internet. Shatarupa C., Counselling Psychologist at Fortis Hospital, said, Social media creates mindless engagement and has consistently made our attention span shorter because there is always something else to look at. It takes a world of patience to even finish one article. Based on what you like, comment and follow, you will be shown more content on similar rewarding lines. The interesting thing we have seen within the clinical setting is that how many young people believe that they have either depression or anxiety.

According to studies, almost 8% of people in Karnataka need medical attention for mental health. The number of patients walking into clinics is rising and urban areas are the most affected. Children have been victims of social media and are exposed to bullying, pornography and gaming programs like Blue Whale, Dark Web, etc. These along with various other factors, like peer pressure, lack of social support, marital discord in parents, nuclear families and substance abuse affect the mental health of a youngster, said Dr Shobha Krishna, Consultant Psychiatrist at Apollo Hospitals.

Dr Bhupendra Chaudhry, Consultant Psychiatrist, Manipal Hospitals, too said that the internet has had an adverse effect on ones health, including sleep, food and studies. "Social activities and family interaction also get affected. Parents are advised to monitor online activities of teenagers and keep a healthy relationship with them. Frequent enquiries on their lives and a check on their behavioural change, if any, is also suggested, he said. While everyone is aware of such implications, the rapidly rising numbers are a cause of concern and must be watched out for.Hyderabad: The Centre for Good Governance and Policy Analysis at the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj coordinated an international exposure visit of a delegation from the Northern Provincial Council, Sri Lanka from September 17-21, 2018, in various institute campus.

The visit aims to focus on rural development and decentralised practices in devolved institutions. It also aims at equipping the delegation with the knowledge and experience that would help them make informed decisions and put in place effective policies within their local settings to improve policy formulation and implementation. Twelve elected representatives of the Northern Provincial Council, Sri Lanka, and three representatives of The Asia Foundation participated.English French

QUEBEC CITY, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SOCIETE DEXPLORATION MINIERE VIOR INC. (TSX VENTURE (VIO), FRANKFURT (VL51) (Vior)  is pleased to provide a corporate update on activities and details for the fall 2018 exploration programs on the Foothills, Big Island Lake and Ligneris projects in Quebec, as well as the Tonya project in Nevada. The highlight and focus will be on the comprehensive helicopter-borne geophysical surveys to be carried out on the three Quebec projects.



Foothills

The Foothills rutile project is situated near the town of Saint-Urbain, a historic iron-titanium mining camp located about 100 kilometres east of Quebec City. The project which covers 315 km2 is subject to an Option and Joint Venture agreement where Iluka Exploration (Canada) Ltd. ("Iluka"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Iluka Resources Limited (ASX: ILU) can earn a major interest in the project. Iluka is one of the largest producers of the high-grade titanium dioxide products of rutile and synthetic rutile.

During the summer of 2018 Vior and Iluka ("the Partners") conducted a follow-up reconnaissance program on ground gravity anomalies generated from two surveys totaling 88 line-kilometers situated on both sides of the project. The program was successful at identifying a new massive ilmenite showing.

The partners have contracted CGG Multi-Physics to conduct in October, 2018 a HeliFalcon Airborne Gravity Gradiometer survey totaling 1,204 line-kilometers over four areas within the project. The HeliFalcon Airborne Gravity Gradiometer (AGG) is the only AGG system that can be cost-effectively flown in a helicopter. This provides for close following over almost any terrain. The low altitude and slow airspeed of the helicopter gives the HeliFalcon Gravity Gradient data the highest resolution commercially available and the best detail and sensitivity for mineral exploration. The survey will be a valuable tool to help detect ilmenite-rutile massive mineralization given its much higher specific gravity (density) compared to the anorthositic host rock. The targets generated from this comprehensive survey will lead to a field follow-up and potentially a new drilling program.

Big Island Lake

The Big Island Lake rutile project covers 37.8 km2 project situated approximately 25 kilometers north of the municipality of Havre-Saint-Pierre and 19 kilometers southwest of the Rio Tintos Lake Tio mine, in the North Shore region of Quebec. Big Island Lake is subject to an Option and Joint Venture agreement where Iluka can earn a major interest in the project. Big Island Lake is characterized by the presence of a series of massive rutile-rich ilmenite outcrops that can be observed over a strike length of more than 280 meters, ranging in thickness from 10 to 26 meters. In 2016, Vior had obtained titanium (TiO2) values from selected samples ranging from 44.2% to 48.4%, while channel sampling had yielded TiO2 values of 41.6% over 7.7 meters and 45.2% over 2.2 meters.

During the summer of 2018, the partners completed a 7-hole exploration drilling program totaling 1,080 meters on selected rutile-ilmenite targets. Drill samples are currently being processed in the laboratory and the results should be available in the fall of 2018.

In October, 2018 a comprehensive HeliFalcon Airborne Gravity Gradiometer, as well as a magnetic survey will be carried out over the Big Island Lake project to detect other high density bodies that may represent massive ilmenite-rutile mineralisation that will be followed up in the field.

Ligneris

Vior will be conducting in October, 2018 a comprehensive helicopter-borne deep electromagnetic VTEM-type survey over its wholly-owned Ligneris project situated approximately 80 kilometers north of the LaRonde mining complex and 100 kilometres northeast of the city of Rouyn-Noranda, in the Abitibi region of Quebec. The aim of the survey is to detect gold and semi-massive sulphide mineralization in the deep extensions (never tested) of the existing mineralization on the project. The survey will cover nearly 40 km2 for 892 line-kilometers at a 50-meter line spacing. A ground follow-up is planned soon after the survey.

The project is mostly covered by a series of felsic and intermediate volcanics strongly altered in sericite, ankerite and carbonates. Mineralization referred as the North, Central and South zones is characterized by clusters and veinlets of pyrite and sphalerite within halos of alteration reaching over 100 meters in size.

Historical drilling on Ligneris returned intercepts grading up 6.5 g/t Au over 3.9 meters, 4.8 g/t Au over 2.4 meters and 4.1 g/t Au over 1.6 meters in the Central zone, and 6.1 g/t Au over 4.6 meters, and 18.5 g/t Au over 7.2 meters in the South zone. A core relogging assessment report by Barrick in 1997 concluded that the extension potential of the mineralized zones is likely to be at depth on Ligneris.

Tonya (Nevada)

The Tonya gold project covers 501 hectares located in the Pershing County, 65 kilometers north of the town of Lovelock, Nevada. Vior Gold (USA) LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vior Inc., has signed an agreement with the Gold Range Company LLC for the acquisition of the exclusive mineral rights on the project.

The project is located at the northern end of the Humboldt Mountain Range which forms the core of the Rye Patch mineral belt and encompasses a number of gold deposits, mines and prospects, including the Florida Canyon Mine (2.3 M oz. gold produced), the Coeur Rochester mine (1.65 M oz. of gold and 148 M oz. of silver produced), the Relief Canyon mine and the Spring Valley deposit, recently discovered and developed.

The Tonya project has geological similarities to the nearby gold mines, as it is also covered by the limestones of the Natchez Pass Formation and the argillites of the Grass Valley Formation, which host the mineralization in those deposits. The pathfinder elements in the property's historic soils reveal the presence of clusters of anomalies in gold, antimony and arsenic. Interpretation of previous work indicates that the Tonya Project covers the upper levels of an epithermal gold system similar to other gold deposits in the belt. Some historical results of rotary drilling suggest a potential for higher gold values at depth.

Vior is currently completing a mapping and sampling survey in preparation for a soil sampling program over selected areas that will be undertaken in Fall 2018. The soil sampling program aims at better delineating the gold target areas for an upcoming drilling program.

Corporate

Viors management team is fully aware of the difficult and challenging environment that exists in the junior mining space at the moment. However, Vior with its healthy treasury is well positioned to weather the storm and more importantly is looking to take advantage of some great project acquisition opportunities and values that currently exist in the market.

Our corporate objective is to acquire either individually or in concert with a partner a high impact project in a top mining jurisdiction. We believe that the timing is now to create tremendous shareholder value for the future. Our goal is to complete such an acquisition before early 2019.

About Vior

Vior is a junior mining exploration company based in Quebec whose corporate strategy is to generate, explore, and develop high quality projects in proven and favourable mining jurisdictions in North America. Through the years, Viors management and technical team have demonstrated their ability to discover several gold deposits and many high quality mineral prospects.

The technical content disclosed in this press release was reviewed and approved by Mr. Marc L'Heureux, P.Geo., who is the Company's Qualified Person as per NI 43-101.

For further information, please contact: Mark Fedosiewich Marc LHeureux President and CEO Vice-president, Exploration Tel.: 613-898-5052 Tel.: 450-646-1790 mfedosiewich@vior.ca mlheureux@vior.ca Website: www.vior.ca SEDAR: Societe dexploration miniere Vior inc.

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.Save my User ID and Password

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Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site.Authorities on Phu Quoc Island released a olive ridley sea turtle to the sea. Photo by info.net

Authorities in Phu Quoc Island have returned back to the sea 12 olive ridley turtles they had seized from a local trader.

Border guards on the island off Vietnams southern coast found Pham Van Tuan, 50, in possession of the turtles, which ranged in weight from eight to 52 kilograms.

Tuan had bought the turtles from fishermen early this month and planned to sell them in HCMC, an official from the Phu Quoc Marine Protected Area told the media on Monday.

They would have possibly ended up being sold at VND10 million ($430) each to people for releasing them to earn some good karma.

Olive ridley sea turtles are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List as well as Vietnam's Red Data Book.

Vietnam is home to green, hawksbill, loggerhead, leatherback and olive ridley sea turtles, all of which are listed in the latter and protected.Pedestrians walk along the Orchard Road shopping district in Singapore in a file photo by AFP.

Singapore police detained four Vietnamese nationals Sunday for allegedly stealing more than 800 items worth $19,000 at various shopping malls.

The four, two men and women each aged 26-31, appeared in court Tuesday to face charges of shoplifting.

The Straits Times newspaper reported that no bail was offered to the four, who are now held at Bedok Police Division. They will be back in court September 25, and could be jailed for up to seven years if found guilty.

The alleged shoplifters were caught at a hotel on Chin Swee Road a day after the police received a complaint from the manager of a retail outlet that some items had been stolen from his shop, Channel News Asia said.

The police said they are believed to have used paper bags lined with tin foil to avoid being spotted by anti-theft sensors.

This is not the first time that Vietnamese have been caught stealing in Singapore. Last May four Vietnamese were arrested for stealing high-end clothing from various shopping malls on Orchard Road, one of the busiest shopping areas on the island. They were sentenced to three years in jail each.

In 2016 five Vietnamese were jailed for three years for stealing goods worth $12,600 from the ION Orchard shopping mall.

The number of Vietnamese traveling to Singapore last year was more than 530,000, the ninth highest from any country.Nguyen Huu Tin, former deputy chairman of Ho Chi Minh City, speaks at a meeting in 2014. Photo by Huu Nguyen

Authorities are investigating alleged links between eight current and former leaders and officials with a man jailed for revealing state secrets.

Before his imprisonment following an in-camera trial last July Phan Van Anh Vu had been a real estate tycoon.

In Ho Chi Minh City, police have placed under house arrest the city's former Deputy Chairman Nguyen Huu Tin, 61; former Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Dao Anh Kiet, 61; former Chief of Staff of the People's Committee, Le Van Thanh, 56; and head of the urban division in the People's Committee Office, Nguyen Thanh Chuong, 44.

Their houses and offices had been searched and they are being probed for "violating regulations on the management and use of state-owned property that led to losses or squander," according to the police.

In central Vietnam's Da Nang, Dao Tan Bang, 43, former Chief of Staff of the city Party unit, and Nguyen Viet Vinh, 40, former head of the urban division in the People's Committee Office, have been arrested.

Nguyen Van Can, 64, former Chief of Staff of the Da Nang People's Committee, and his deputy Phan Xuan It, 64, have been placed under house arrest.

All four are under criminal investigation for "violating regulations on land management."

The investigations are reportedly a result of the continuing probe into violations committed by Vu, 43, who used to be one of the biggest property developers in Da Nang. He was the chairman of three large property companies and a shareholder in a number of projects in the city.

Last December authorities issued an international arrest warrant for him for revealing state secrets after he was found to have left the country. Vu was detained in Singapore later that month for violating that country's immigration laws and deported to Vietnam, where he was arrested upon arrival.

He was sentenced to nine years in prison for "deliberately disclosing state secrets."

Vu is now under investigation for "tax evasion," "abuse of power or position in performance of official duties," "abuse of power or position to appropriate property," and "violating regulations on the management and use of state-owned property that led to losses or squander" in separate cases, which include alleged graft at Dong A Bank and violation of land regulations in Da Nang.

As part of their investigation into the land regulations violations, the Da Nang police have already begun investigations of several former leaders and business executives, including former city chairmen Tran Van Minh, 63, and Van Huu Chien, 64.Two men will spend 15 months in jail for disrupting public order during last Junes protest against the special economic zone law.

The sentence was announced Tuesday by a court in Nha Trang in the central province of Khanh Hoa.

47-year-old Ta Thanh Duy and 32-year-old Nguyen Van Y incited the crowd to block the path of a running bus in Nha Trang during a protest against the bill on special economic zones on June 10, causing severe traffic jams, the indictment said.

Nguyen Van Y (L) and Ta Thanh Duy stand trial in Nha Trang on Tuesday. Photo by VnExpress/An Phuoc

The two men learnt about the protest on social media and joined it following calls by strangers, it said.

Their actions disrupted public order and security, and incited panic, and were deserving of due punishment, it added.

Both men admitted to their actions.

The protests in Nha Trang were among a number that erupted in Vietnam on June 10 and 11. Thousands of people took to the streets in Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City and several provinces, with banners and signs calling for the SEZ draft law to be scrapped.

They specifically objected a provision that would allow foreign investors to lease land for 99 years, saying that such a law would allow foreign countries to undermine Vietnams sovereignty.

With Vietnam delaying passage of the Law on Demonstration several times, all acts to incite public protests are deemed illegal.

Following the demonstrations, police detained hundreds of protesters and said they uncovered evidence that the protests were anti-state actions incited by organizations based in other countries using false, distorted information on the draft laws.

A court in the central province of Ninh Thuan sentenced four protesters to prison last month for disrupting public order, while 16 people in the neighboring Binh Thuan Province were sent to jail in July for the same charges.

Also in July, HCMC put a Vietnamese American protester on trial for inciting violence during the protests, but ended up deporting him, saying it was a first-time offense and he was repentant about his actions.

The bill on special economic zones, originally scheduled to be passed in June, was postponed so that the government has more time to consult with the public, organizations, experts and scientists, Nguyen Hanh Phuc, chief of the National Assemblys board of secretaries, said last month.In four hours, four decades of Saigons history step on to the stage under French-Vietnamese director Caroline Guilela Nguyen.

Caroline Guiela Nguyen. Photo by Institut Francais Vietnam

Caroline Guiela Nguyen is a strikingly good looking hapa, a person of mixed ethnic heritage, but her roots were a mystery to her as she grew up in France.

Her new play, Saigon, is a poignant exploration of these roots.

Born in 1981 to a Vietnamese mother and French father, she didnt get to know a lot about her familys past because her parents refused to talk about her roots in the hope that she would integrate better into French society.

In fact, Vietnamese cuisine was the only link they shared and passed on to the next generation.

The love for cuisine is a mark my parents left in me. I cant speak Vietnamese, but I can cook Vietnamese dishes very well, the director told VnExpress.

At the age of 37, Nguyen is now a permanent member of the Odeon National Theater with more than 10 years of experience.

Her latest work created a big stir at the Avignon Theatre Festival last year, and has since been performed in 14 cities around the world.

It will be staged in Vietnam on the September 21- 22 at Ben Thanh Theater, 6 Mac Dinh Chi, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.

The name of the play says it all, said Caroline.

She said she feels especially emotional bringing the play to her mothers homeland.

The Vietnamese identity

A scene from the play Saigon. Photo courtesy of Festival-Avignon

The year 1956 was the deadline for the French troops to withdraw from Vietnam after their defeat in the famous Battle of Dien Bien Phu. Along with the last French soldiers, many Vietnamese left their homeland. They left without knowing that they would have to wait decades before they could return.

In 1995, Vietnam and the U.S. re-established diplomatic relations. At that time, in my family, there was the question of whether or not should we return, Nguyen recalled.

Set in a Vietnamese restaurant with a kitchen on the left, and a karaoke room on the right, the stage set for Saigon takes the audience to 1996 in Paris and 1956 in Saigon. These are two very important milestones in time, she said.

Nguyen, then 15, followed her mother and grandmother back to Saigon. When she first arrived in Vietnam, she felt completely out of place. The feeling was so overwhelming that she didnt dare to step outside for two weeks straight.

Inside, some parts of her felt Vietnamese, but somehow, that feeling was only obvious when she was in France. When she came to Vietnam, she didnt feel Vietnamese because I was much taller than Vietnamese, and I cant speak Vietnamese.

I met my relatives who have the same facial features as my mum, my aunt, but their life and living standards are much different, and that was what made Vietnam, a place supposed to be familiar, feel strange. For a long time, I felt uncomfortable, living with that conflicted feeling, she shared.

An uncomfortable silence

Saigon is about the endless longing of those who live away from their motherland, like Nguyens parents. She said her father, a pied noir, white Frenchman who lived in Algeria before its independence, never talked about his time there.

Many people in France blamed the colonizers in the Black Continent for the collapse of French colonialism and did not welcome them back into the country. Meanwhile, these pied noir could not live in Algeria because of the hostility they received from the locals. People like Carolines father were torn between their homeland and the land they lived in.

However, the director emphasized that Saigon isnt her familys autobiography.

This is not just a story about a group of emigrants, the Vietnamese community in France; it is also about a significant part of Frances history. This story belongs to everyone.

Saigon tells the story of French and Vietnamese people whose lives were influenced by important historical events, stretching through 40 years.

Its the story of separated lovers, Mai and Hao. In 1956, Hao had to leave Vietnam for France, leaving behind the biggest love of his life. Forty years later, Hao returns to Saigon with his daughter, thinking he would be able to catch a glimpse of the familiar figure somewhere.

Its the story of Linh and Edouard. They met during the Indochina War. Then the French solider took Linh back to France with him. The young, innocent girl thought that a happy life was waiting for them there.

Its the story the older Linh and her son, Antoine. Antoine cant understand his mothers language and her cold appearance, as well as her past.

Its a story of Marie-Antoinette, a kind hearted restaurant owner named after the infamous French queen. Marie-Antoinettes son died after joining the army in 1939. Behind the smiling face, she always cries alone in the dark corner of the kitchen. Every year, she wears her best dress on his birthday.

The four-hour long play not only takes audiences from one period to another, but also from one language to another. Even though the play integrates both French and Vietnamese languages, which can be confusing for viewers, it has been very well received in many countries where neither of the two languages are spoken, like Sweden, China and Italy.

Nguyen said international audiences with no connection to Vietnam can still sympathize with the stories in the play. Saigon resonates with the audiences imaginations, she said.

Road of tears

Photo courtesy of Festival-Agvinon

With a polished production and evocative storytelling, Nguyen subtly put on stage the hidden pains of ordinary people. At the beginning, the play was not intended to be a tragedy.

That term came from the comments of audiences and the press, she said.

To me, perhaps its more an emotional play, because through the amazing performance of actors, the feelings are communicated to the audiences.

She said that while looking for materials for Saigon, she felt that everything in Saigon led to a road of tears, like the love songs or sad stories she listened to. Thus, when writing the play, she wanted to recreate these feelings.

This is the way to tell the stories of Vietnam, with a lot of tears, one character in the play says.

After her first visit in 1996, Nguyen has returned to Vietnam many times, particularly during the two years she spent writing the play.

She said that while she was in Saigon, her understanding of the city, her grasp of the atmosphere here, and weighing of every detail she could observe, came from listening to music, meeting people, eating Vietnamese food in the heat and humid weather.

The sounds, lighting and design of stage and costumes were the result of her observation ... of everything not just with a normal eye, but an artistic eye, to recreate the play from imagination.

She remembered the taxi driver who sobbed while listening to a sad love song, or the karaoke bars where people sing quietly with a lot of tears. And we were infected by those feelings.

The play sheds some light on the lesser-known part of French histories and untold stories during the not-often-mentioned immigration period.

Those two years preparing for the play also helped Nguyen gain a deep understanding about Vietnam, the forgotten country.

My grandmother had nine children, and my mother was the eldest, but she always call her Hai, which means the second child (hai is Vietnamese for number 2). I didnt understand why because she was clearly the first one. After a long time of living in Vietnam, I learnt that the reason for the name is that Vietnamese think everyone has a first child who is forgotten.

(Editors note: There are several myths and superstitions that explain the mostly southern Vietnamese tradition of calling the first child hai)

On the stage of Saigon, Vietnamese and French actors as well as amateur Vietnamese actors living in France retell the stories of loss, the inner struggles of people who live away from their homeland, and fragments of memories of the Indochina War.

A Telerama review says: The story is simple. There are no big words, no violence, no tragedy, no intense passion. Its just a sad story, sadness that is so devastating but extremely beautiful. Caroline Guiela Nguyen has captured that spirit.While the legal minimum age for marriage in Malaysia is 16, members of the country's Muslim majority can wed at a younger age if religious authorities give approval. Photo by AFP

The marriage of a 15-year-old Malaysian girl to a man almost three times her age has drawn condemnation from the U.N.

The teenager became the second wife of the 44-year-old in July after an Islamic court gave permission for the pair to wed in the conservative, rural state of Kelantan, local media reported.

It was the latest such case in Malaysia -- there was widespread anger in June after the marriage of an 11-year-old Thai girl to a 41-year-old Malaysian rubber trader, who was also from Kelantan.

While the legal minimum age for marriage in Malaysia is 16, members of the country's Muslim majority can wed at a younger age if religious authorities give approval.

The United Nations on Wednesday put fresh pressure on the Muslim-majority country to halt such unions.

"It's unacceptable that yet another child has got married to an elder man," said Marianne Clark-Hattingh, Malaysia representative of U.N. children's agency UNICEF, adding it was urgent to "bring legislative change to ban the practice".

Deputy Prime Minister Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, whose portfolio includes women's issues, said that welfare officers had been sent to meet the girl, reportedly one of 13 siblings, and her parents in the district of Tumpat.

However she suggested there was little the government could do to stop the union, as Islamic courts have jurisdiction over the issue of marriage between Muslims.

Under Malaysia's dual-track legal system, Islamic courts can handle religious and family matters for Muslims, who make up about 60 percent of the country's 32 million inhabitants.

The girl's father was quoted in The Star newspaper as saying that he had agreed for his daughter to be wed as he did not want her to continue living in poverty, and insisted she was "happily married."

The young bride said she agreed to the marriage, although she had known the man for only a few months.

"I am happy, and I will try to keep my husband happy. That is all that matters to me," she told the paper.

In the June case, the 11-year-old married the Malaysian man in Thailand's Muslim-majority south under religious laws, becoming his third wife. Following an outcry, the girl returned to Thailand last month.TORONTO, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bunker Hill Mining Corp. (the Company or Bunker Hill) (CSE: BNKR) announces that Jennifer Boyle has resigned as a director of the Company in order to pursue other opportunities. The Board of Directors would like to thank Ms. Boyle for her contributions to the Company.



About Bunker Hill Mining Corp.

Bunker Hill Mining Corp. has an option to acquire 100% of the Bunker Hill Mine. The Bunker Hill Mine was the largest producing mine in the Coeur D'Alene zinc, lead and silver mining district in northern Idaho. Historically, the mine produced over 35M tons grading on average 8.76% lead, 3.67% zinc, and 155 g/t (4.52 ounces per ton) silver (Bunker Hill Mines Annual Report 1980). Information about the Company is available on its website, www.bunkerhillmining.com, or in the SEDAR and EDGAR databases.

For additional information contact:

Bruce Reid, Chief Executive Officer Nicholas Konkin, Marketing & Communications (647) 500-4495 (416) 567-9087 br@bunkerhillmining.com nk@bunkerhillmining.com

Cautionary Statements

Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements are within the meaning of that term in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as well as within the meaning of the phrase forward-looking information in the Canadian Securities Administrators National Instrument 51-102  Continuous Disclosure Obligations. The forward looking statements made herein are based on information currently available to the Company and the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations or assumptions with respect to, among other things, the ability of the Company to successfully complete the acquisition of the Bunker Hill Mine Complex on the terms as announced or other satisfactory terms or at all, and fund the initial payments for which the Company does not have funds at this time, the Companys present and future financial condition, the Companys ability to secure financing, and the state of financial markets. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Companys future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as believes, anticipates, expects, estimates, may, could, would, will, or plan, and may include statements regarding, among other things, the terms of the Bunker Hill Mine Complex acquisition and funding of the acquisition. Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results relating to, among other things, results of exploration, project development, and the Companys financial condition and prospects, could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements for many reasons such as: the inability of the Company to successfully acquire the Bunker Hill Mine Complex on the terms as announced or other satisfactory terms or at all, and fund the payments for which the Company does not have funds at this time; the inability of the Company to budget and manage its liquidity in light of the failure to obtain additional financing; the inability of the Company to develop or sustain an active public market for its securities; development of changes in general economic conditions and conditions in the financial markets; changes in demand and prices for precious metals; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; operational difficulties encountered in connection with the activities of the Company; and other matters discussed in this news release. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Companys forward-looking statements. These and other factors made in public disclosures and filings by the Company should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on the Companys forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by the Company or on its behalf, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.



Lawmakers proposed implementing a 5 percent tax on any cryptocurrency-related profits individuals and commercial entities see.

The Ukrainian parliament wants to begin taxing residents' cryptocurrency-related profits.

Lawmakers proposed implementing a 5 percent tax on any cryptocurrency-related profits individuals and commercial entities see. These profits must be reported separately from other forms of income as well, according to the bill, according to CoinDesk.

Further, commercial entities would see their taxation rate jump to 18 percent beginning on January 1, 2024, should the bill pass.

Read alsoUkraine may impose taxes on crypto-currencies

The bill also suggests defining the concept of cryptocurrency within the country's Taxation Code as "a virtual asset in a form of a token, which functions as a mean of exchange or a store of value," as well as defining virtual assets as a "form of a digital record on the distributed ledger that can be used as a mean of exchange, unit of account or a mean of storing value."

The bill also explains what crypto mining is.

The explanatory appendix for the bill notes that Ukraine hosted the early leaders of the mining industry and almost 30 percent of the global mining power, having been a home for the biggest bitcoin mining pool, GHash, at the time.

At one point in 2014, it controlled up to 55 percent of the total bitcoin protocol, raising questions if it could conduct a 51 percent attack, as CoinDesk reported at the time. But later, due to the regulation uncertainty in Ukraine, such companies left the country for friendlier jurisdictions like Canada, Georgia and Finland, the document states, leaving Ukrainians without a prominent money-making tool.

"Given the current state of affairs, Ukrainians are deprived of the opportunity to raise funds and resources to develop their ideas and technologies through traditional instruments. So, last year, Ukrainian companies did not get a single dollar through an IPO (primary public offering) mechanism. At the same time, according to the Ukrainian association UVCA and Deloitte in 2017, 19 Ukrainian start-ups attracted $ 160 million or more than UAH (Ukrainian hryvnia) 4.3 billion through the ICO (the primary token proposal)," The document added.

As Ukrainian authorities estimated, the country's citizens own cryptocurrencies worth about 98.7 billion in the national currency, or about $3.5 billion, so legalization of the transactions with crypto assets will add at least $45 million in taxes annually in 2019-2024, the document says.Ukraine boosts crude oil imports in eight months

Crude oil imports over the period under review totaled 522,600 tonnes.

If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+EnterUkraine expected to boost maize exports to record levels

Some 17.74 million tonnes of Ukrainian maize was exported in the 2017/2018 marketing year.

If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+EnterRada ratifies agreement on financing Danube Transnational Program

The program provides for the implementation of joint cross-border cooperation projects aimed at social and economic development of Ukraine's part of the Danube region.

If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+EnterUkraine imports almost 5.3 bcm of gas from Europe in Jan-July

In late November 2015, the country refused to purchase natural gas from Russia's Gazprom.

If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+EnterPalm Coast, Florida, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- New York Media, publisher of New York Magazine, is returning to Palm Coast Data after several years with another provider.



As their fulfillment partner pursuant to a full-service, multi-year contract, Palm Coast Data will provide a number of crucial services on behalf of New York Media  including ecommerce and digital support, transaction processing, customer service, lettershop services and more.

It is very gratifying to know that a distinguished publisher such as New York Media recognizes the value proposition that Palm Coast Data offers, evidenced not only by our solutions and services, but by the subject matter experts here at PCD, who support our clients business models every day, said Rory Burke, President and Chief Executive Officer of Palm Coast Data.

New York Media energizes people around shared interests, igniting important conversations with a cosmopolitan point of view and providing the map to shrewdly navigate a fast-moving culture.

We are thrilled to partner with Palm Coast Data to connect with our consumers, said Tova Abrahmov, New York Medias Executive Director of Audience Development. Providing groundbreaking journalism and igniting important conversations with a cosmopolitan point of view is at our core and PCD's innovative tools and passionate employees can help us achieve an even stronger relationship with our subscribers.

* * *

Palm Coast Data provides a strategically engineered, multi-channel mix of digital, online and traditional technologies that acquire, retain and grow customer relationships  and increase revenue  for the nations leading magazine publishers, membership organizations, non-profit organizations, government agencies and other direct marketers. Palm Coast Data performs fulfillment and contact center services, including subscriber list and database management, payment and order processing and accounting, subscriber mailing services, customer service and contact center management, data processing and business intelligence solutions, print and digital marketing solutions, and product fulfillment warehousing, processing and distribution. www.palmcoastdata.com

Palm Coast Data is a subsidiary of AMREP Corporation (NYSE: AXR). AMREP, through its subsidiaries, is primarily engaged in two business segments: its fulfillment services business operated by Palm Coast Data and its real estate business is a major holder of land and leading developer of real estate in New Mexico.Recognizing the One-Year Anniversary of the Ceasefire Declaration Between Armenia and Azerbaijan

They should not be positioned near civilian communities neither in Armenia nor in Artsakh

Humanitarian and human rights protection needed following the 2020 outbreak of hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh

Galaxy Group of Companies expands its activities in Belarus: a new TIME and Pandora store launched

I think its a good moment to invest in Armenia. Head of Markets at Symbiotics Vincent Lehner

Ameriabank has Raised USD 17.5M Tier 2 Capital

UNIGHT TO UNITE. UCOM CELEBRATED ITS REBIRTH

Ameriabank and HSBC Armenia to provide their customers access to each others ATMs without additional fees

Ameriabank. 62.5% Growth in Taxes YOY

Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans have provided 300 million AMD to overcome the infertility in Armenia

UCOM has officially launched the sale of IPHONE 13

Six servicemen were wounded by the attack of the Azerbaijani armed forces in Artsakh, two of them in critical condition

S&P Improved the Outlook on Ameriabank to Positive

Ararat Mirzoyan to visit to Minsk

Foreign Minister of India visits the Memorial of Armenian Genocide

1217 new cases

Google Ad

Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia

Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group

At UCOM only: Tv sets at 10% discount + 1 month free UMIX package + 4k tv channel

Ameriabanks Special Offer for New Clients of Hrazdan Branch

"Fall forward": Gurgen Khachatryan, the Co-Founder of the Galaxy Group of Companies, addressed a message to young people in Armenia

UCOM hosted interns of Russian CBOSS corporation for a month

The 20-episode Bloody bet thriller to be broadcast on Ucom's Armenia Premium TV channel

Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group

UCOM offers affordable gadgets at bigger discount

Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan will pay a working visit to New York

Governments preventing publication of Haykakan Zhamanak newspaper during state of emergency

UCOM prolongs the unlimited internet offer for the level up 4700 and level up 5500 subscribers

Ucom employees received recognition for their services to the homelandHead of Driver's Friend NGO : Exempting individual taxi drivers from tax liabilities will not result in a reduction in tariffs for taxi services

The head of "Driver's Friend" NGO Tigran Qeyan expressed an opinion that exempting individual taxi drivers from tax liabilities will not result in a reduction in tariffs for taxi services. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Facebook that private taxi drivers could be fully exempted from tax liabilities. Now the government is discussing the amendment of the Tax Code. According to Pashinyan, this can contribute to the reduction of taxi tariffs. "The decision will be positive as individual taxi drivers will not have tax liabilities, they will not be subject to regular penalties and fines. But before this, most of the individual taxi drivers were not registered and did not even pay these taxes, so I do not think this will affect the tariffs. That is, paying taxes will not result in income growth, as most of these taxes have not been paid," said Tigran Qeyan with an interview "A1 +" and added that maybe there will be some changes if the gas price drops. According to him, individual taxi drivers do not earn so much money, about 10,000 drams a day, maximally-15,000 drams, which should be deducted because of the fuel consumption.Recognizing the One-Year Anniversary of the Ceasefire Declaration Between Armenia and Azerbaijan

They should not be positioned near civilian communities neither in Armenia nor in Artsakh

Humanitarian and human rights protection needed following the 2020 outbreak of hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh

Galaxy Group of Companies expands its activities in Belarus: a new TIME and Pandora store launched

Google Ad

I think its a good moment to invest in Armenia. Head of Markets at Symbiotics Vincent Lehner

Ameriabank has Raised USD 17.5M Tier 2 Capital

UNIGHT TO UNITE. UCOM CELEBRATED ITS REBIRTH

Ameriabank and HSBC Armenia to provide their customers access to each others ATMs without additional fees

Ameriabank. 62.5% Growth in Taxes YOY

Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans have provided 300 million AMD to overcome the infertility in Armenia

UCOM has officially launched the sale of IPHONE 13

Six servicemen were wounded by the attack of the Azerbaijani armed forces in Artsakh, two of them in critical condition

S&P Improved the Outlook on Ameriabank to Positive

Ararat Mirzoyan to visit to Minsk

Foreign Minister of India visits the Memorial of Armenian Genocide

1217 new cases

Google Ad

Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia

Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group

At UCOM only: Tv sets at 10% discount + 1 month free UMIX package + 4k tv channel

Ameriabanks Special Offer for New Clients of Hrazdan Branch

"Fall forward": Gurgen Khachatryan, the Co-Founder of the Galaxy Group of Companies, addressed a message to young people in Armenia

UCOM hosted interns of Russian CBOSS corporation for a month

The 20-episode Bloody bet thriller to be broadcast on Ucom's Armenia Premium TV channel

Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group

UCOM offers affordable gadgets at bigger discount

Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan will pay a working visit to New York

Governments preventing publication of Haykakan Zhamanak newspaper during state of emergency

UCOM prolongs the unlimited internet offer for the level up 4700 and level up 5500 subscribers

Ucom employees received recognition for their services to the homelandVANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Veritas Pharma Inc. (CSE: VRT; OTC: VRTHF; and Frankfurt: 2VP) (Veritas or the Company) is pleased to provide a corporate update on its activities, milestones over the first three quarters of 2018, and strategies for growth in the new year.



Launch of Canneverts Testing Services for Revenue and the Lease of New Research Facility

Veritas subsidiary, Cannevert Therapeutics Ltd. (CTL) is preparing to offer analytical and biological testing services to cannabis and hemp Licensed Producers (LPs) at its current Vancouver location as well as at a new facility in Burnaby, BC, that will be opening in the new year. Dr. Lui Franciosi commented, There has been a growing demand from LPs in Canada and abroad to better understand the pharmacology and therapeutic potential of their strains and related products. Therefore, alongside Canneverts focus on developing its own propriety medical cannabis products for pain and seniors care, it will assist producers to obtain analytical and biological profiles of their own products for revenue with the potential of entering into a co-development agreement. Cannevert would then help them develop propriety products combined with monograph to inform clinicians and patients on their therapeutic use. To address the demand, Veritas has entered into a lease agreement for an 18,000+ square foot facility in Burnaby, BC. The operations are contingent on Cannevert obtaining the appropriate Health Canada licenses (the equivalent to another Dealer License pre-legalization), for which the applications are in progress.

Canneverts Dealer License Amendment, Migration to Health Canadas New Licensing System, and Application for a Canada Revenue Agency Excise License

Cannevert recently requested an update to its dealer license no. 2018/6970 under Health Canadas Section 9.2 of the Narcotic Control Regulations. Aside from being allowed to possess, produce, analyze, sell, send, transport, and deliver cannabis, hemp and related products, Cannevert has submitted an amendment for the ability to also package and label its own products. It anticipates an answer before legalization next month. In parallel, Cannevert started the process of migrating its Dealer License to Health Canadas new licensing system, which entails separate licenses for standard processing, analytical testing, and research. As well, Cannevert recently met with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) concerning their Cannabis Taxation Program, or Excise tax, and it was determined that as producers and packagers of cannabis products, Cannevert must apply for a CRA Excise license. This application is also in progress.

Human Trials of CTL-X in Puerto Rico

In the last few months, Cannevert has been dealing with the need to obtain an appropriate placebo as well as a medically-certified delivery device for use in its first human study of CTL-X, a cannabis strain targeting pain management, at the Fundacion de Investigacion (FDI) facilities in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Both issues have been resolved, and at this time, FDI is in the process of getting the final approvals from the local regulatory authorities. The study will be done using a randomized, double- blind, crossover design to assess one dose of CTL-X against a placebo control strain in 16 subjects who will be exposed to various modalities of acute pain. The Institute for Medical Cannabis Corporation of Puerto Rico has confirmed with Cannevert that it has CTL-X and placebo in stock for the upcoming study at FDI, as per the signed Material Transfer Agreement. The start of these human trials is expected next month, and it should take approximately three weeks to complete.

Cancer Research Project

The Company has been working with Dr. Dmitri Petchkovski of Fibroblast Consulting on a cancer research project since November 2017. Cannevert supplied Dr. Petchkovski with a number of cannabis extracts to assess their effects in several human cancer cell lines. There was some anti-cancer activity discovered, however, after further investigation, the results remained inconclusive. For this reason, the Company decided last month to downgrade this projects priority until more funding could be allocated to further explore these extracts and others in the new year.

Given the additional costs as well as the excess of cannabis licensed producers that are currently present in Canada and abroad, Veritas decided that it would be in the best interest of shareholders to sell SOM. It concluded that the need to cultivate its own unique strains is no longer necessary since supply agreements with existing Canadian LPs could be arranged in the interim as the Company transitions to overseas markets without concerns over any intellectual property infringements.

Key Memorandums of Understanding with Outlook to Global Commercialization and Cooperative Intellectual Property Development

Cannevert requires access to more diverse cannabis strains to better understand the magnitude and duration of potential pharmacological effects that cannabis can produce in select patient populations. Hence, the Company entered into a number of Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) that it thinks are strategic for Cannevert to gain access to unique strains but also sell and promote its own branded products in specific regions of the World. On June 19, 2018, the Company entered into a MOU with Colombian medical cannabis company Foliumed S.A.S. On July 17, 2018, the Company signed an Intellectual Property Sharing Agreement with Sativa Investments PLC, UKs first medicinal cannabis investment fund. On August 15, 2018, the Company signed an MOU with IsCann Group Limited located in Beer Tuvya, Israel with the aim of supporting business development in the Canadian and Israeli medical cannabis sectors. Alongside Canada, the countries of Columbia, UK and Israel are also great to acquire new cannabis genetics and scientific knowledge as well as access to new medical cannabis markets for Cannevert branded medicines.

3 Carbon Extractions Inc.

Earlier this year, the Company signed a non-binding Letter of Intent with Carbon Extractions Inc. (3 Carbon), an industry leader in regulatory compliant cannabis hydrocarbon extraction solutions, with the aim of acquiring up to 100% equity and voting interest. 3 Carbon is currently assisting Cannevert scientists in finding LPs that can supply them with unique cannabis varieties and they will produce regular chemical extractions for Cannevert and LPs to investigate in the laboratory or clinical studies. 3 Carbon will also begin to operate in the same new Burnaby facility that Cannevert is located at early next year. Veritas currently has a 50% stake in 3 Carbon.

Sale of Sechelt Organic Marijuana Inc.

On September 13, 2018, Veritas entered into a Non-Binding Letter of Intent to sell all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Sechelt Organic Marijuana Inc. (SOM) to Leis Industries Limited. Leis will either pay $350,000 CAN in cash or $350,000 CAN in common shares at a deemed price of the lessor of market price and $0.40 per share to acquire 100% of the outstanding shares of Sechelt. Both parties have agreed to have a definitive agreement by no later than October 31, 2018. SOM has a Health Canada Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR) application to be a license producer submitted July 2014 and it has passed the security stage and waiting on the approval to build a cannabis growing facility on a parcel of land in Sechelt, BC.

Unfortunately, due to the long wait with the Health Canada application, SOM no longer has employed staff. The City of Sechelt also changed the zoning early this year such that the lot size requirement for the growing facility now needs to be at least 40,000 square feet, compared to the previously approved size of 26,000 square feet. Consequently, an alternate property location or an enlarged property, and an amended or new ACMPR application are required. Veritas has tried over the last year to expand the lot size through acquisition of neighboring properties as well as had discussions with the City of Sechelt to allow for a variance to the current zoning. In both cases, the Company were unsuccessful in coming up with an arrangement. According to local realtors, this property could take 2 to 3 years to sell in the range of $300,000 to $350,000 CAD. These estimates are similar to a recent BC Property Tax Assessment of $300,000 CAD. Based on the above information, the Company would likely need to purchase a new lot where the land costs may be more than the sell price and it would need to prepare and submit a new ACMPR application with new staff/applicants at an estimated cost of $200,000 CAD.

Performance/Revenue Outlook

Veritas Pharma is planning for a potential revenue stream from two sources over the next year. If human trials of Canneverts lead product, CTL-X, demonstrate pain relief, this product will be placed in Puerto Rican medical cannabis dispensaries for sale. Cannevert is also pursuing an analytical and biological testing services offering for cannabis and hemp licensed producers. The aim is to enable these producers to better understand and protect the therapeutic potential of their products for consumers and existing research programs. This work would be done either as a joint development program or a straight fee-for-service.

About Veritas Pharma Inc.

Veritas Pharma Inc. is an emerging pharmaceutical and IP development company, who, through its 100% owned subsidiary Cannevert Therapeutics Ltd. (CTL), is advancing the science behind medical cannabis. It is the Companys aim, through its investment in CTL, to develop the most effective cannabis strains (cultivars) specific to pain, nausea, epilepsy and PTSD, solving the critical need for clinical data to support medical marijuana claims. CTLs unique value proposition uses a low-cost research and development model to help drive shareholder value, and speed-to-market. Veritas investment in CTL is led by a strong management team, bringing together veteran academic pharmacologists, anesthetists & chemists. The companys commercial mission is to patent protect IP (cultivars & strains) and sell or license to cancer clinics, insurance industry and pharma, targeting multi-billion-dollar markets according to Deloittes Insights and Opportunities.

Veritas Pharma Inc. is a publicly traded company in Canada, on the Canadian Stock Exchange under the ticker VRT; in the United States, on the OTC under the ticker VRTHF; and in Germany, on the Frankfurt exchange under the ticker 2VP.

For more information, please visit our website: veritaspharmainc.com

On behalf of the Board of Directors

" Dr. Lui Franciosi"

Dr. Lui Franciosi

President and Chief Executive Officer

Further information about the Company is available on our website at www.veritaspharmainc.com or under our profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the CSE website at www.thecse.com.

Investor and Public Relations Contact

Veritas Pharma Inc.

Sam Eskandari

Telephone: +1.416.918.6785

Email: ir@veritaspharmainc.com

Website: www.veritaspharmainc.com

The CSE has not reviewed, nor approved or disapproved the content of this press release.Rector of Yerevan State Institute of Theater and Cinematography to resign if it turns out he is guilty (video)

Rector of the Yerevan State Institute of Theater and Cinematography is ready to resign if the investigation finds out he is guilty. "The police conducted checks and published a preliminary statement in which it is stated that the investigation is under way. As long as the investigation has not come to the final conclusion, making any estimates is premature," says Rector Davit Muradyan. The latter mentions that they support the police work, because it is important for them to identify shortcomings. "I understand our students and I do not condemn at all because they are young. They are impatient. An investigation is under way, and we must have a responsible attitude towards such processes." David Muradyan said that one of the vice-rectors submitted a resignation. The fact that lecturers have joined the action, too, the Rector considers it normal.Alternative to Nord Stream 2 could be joint management of Ukrainian GTS  PM at meeting with Norwegian parliament president

Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman has discussed the fight against the implementation of Nord Stream 2 and Ukraine's role in transit of gas to Europe with President of the Storting (Parliament) of Norway Tone Wilhelmsen Tren.

The press service of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine reported on Tuesday that this is a first visit of the President of the Norwegian parliament to Kyiv and the third visit of officials from Norway to Ukraine in the past three weeks.

Tren said that she brought with her a strong delegation  comprising of three political parties of the Norwegian parliament.

"And by this, we emphasize our support for the process of reform and struggle that Ukraine continues against Russian aggression," Tren said.

Groysman thanked Norway for the continued support of Ukrainian sovereignty and security issues. However, the security context extends not only to defense initiatives, but also to the economic sphere and the energy sector, the prime minister said.

"It is very important for us to see a stable democratic world in protecting democracy and rules of international law. And in this context, an overriding issue is Nord Stream 2 project. We are calling on the whole world - do not believe in the guarantees of Russia. You will not remember any guarantee uttered by Russian which is being enforced nowadays. The Budapest Memorandum, the latest decisions of Stockholm arbitration court on gas contracts... All of those are not fulfilled," Groysman said.

He said that Ukraine is concerned that this gas pipeline construction project is under way. He urged all countries to open their eyes and look at the impending threat.

Ukraine proposes joint management of the Ukrainian gas transport system (GTS) as an alternative to the Nord Stream 2.

"And we are talking about an alternative - joint management of the Ukrainian GTS, which is reliable. Thus, we will all be independent," he said.

He said that the analysis of the situation and joint actions can prevent the threat of the Russian monopoly.

In turn, the president of the Norwegian parliament said that they "hear all the remarks" of Ukraine.

"And we support the idea that the role of Ukraine as a transit state should be preserved," she said.

Groysman praised the said position and said that Ukraine is currently undergoing transformations and implementing several very important reforms - from education and medicine to decentralization and combating corruption.

In turn, Tren said that Norway stands ready to provide comprehensive support to Ukraine both in energy and reform issues that are currently being implemented in Ukraine.The launch of a large-scale project The Righteous people of my city is planned in Ukraine, to commemorate the memory of the saviors of Jews during the Holocaust. This has been shared by the President of the Jewish Confederation of Ukraine Boris Lozhkin on his Facebook page.

The greatest example of cruelty in the history of mankind to the whole nation was accompanied at the same time by numerous examples of personal heroism of people who, at risk to their own lives and the lives of their families, helped the Jews who were persecuted everywhere and from every place. According to the National Yad Vashem Museum information, there are more than 2.6 thousand Righteous Among the Nations in Ukraine. The Institute of History of Ukraine of NASU, referring to the Yad Vashem employees, claims that the actual number of them exceeds 25 thousand. The work to establish the facts of saving and awarding the title of the Righteous among Nations is still ongoing. Assistance in this work is part of our project, declared Lozhkin.

According to Boris Lozhkin, the JCU appealed to the mayors and local councils of most large cities of Ukraine with a proposal to name a new street or square (or to rename the existing ones) with the name of one of the Righteous Among the Nations  a native of this city, and to place a corresponding memorable sign there.

We expect that mayors of the Ukrainian cities will actively join the project. Ukraine should know its heroes, about the existence of which it did not even guess, noted the President of the Jewish Confederation of Ukraine.

In addition to renaming the streets, it is also planned to publish a book with stories about saving the Jews, to record a series of interviews with the participants in the events and to shoot a documentary. There will also be direct support of the surviving Righteous in the form of a special pension. The project is designed to contribute to the education of the youth, to teach interethnic and racial tolerance, and to strengthen ties between the world Jewish community and the Ukrainian people.

According to the reports, the Jewish Confederation of Ukraine, which has been headed by Boris Lozhkin since May 2018, announced the launch of four new projects. In particular, the project of a single Jewish information portal has been presented, which will offer insight into the life of the Ukrainian Jews and provide the users with an access to useful services.The United States Senate has approved the Pentagon's draft budget for 2019, which increases assistance to Ukraine at $250 million, the Ukrainian Embassy in the United States has said.

"The U.S. Senate has approved the draft of "Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2019," previously agreed with the House of Representatives, which provides $250 million to help Ukraine," the Ukrainian Embassy in the United States said on Facebook on Tuesday.

This defense budget exceeds the budget of 2018, which is $50 million more for the corresponding support programs of the Ukrainian state.

"Some $250 million are allocated in the bill, including for military exercises, the provision of military equipment, lethal weapons and logistics support, the replacement of previously provided weapons or military goods. The list of types of assistance also includes intelligence support for the Ukrainian armed forces," the Ukrainian Embassy said.

The House of Representatives is to vote for the "Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2019" to come into force. Then it will be submitted to the president's signature.Russia's hybrid military forces have mounted 25 attacks on Ukrainian army positions in Donbas in the past 24 hours, with two Ukrainian soldiers reported as killed in action (KIA) and another one as wounded in action (WIA), the press center of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) Headquarters has reported.

"The enemy fired 120mm and 82mm mortars, various types of grenade launchers, heavy machineguns, and small arms. [...] Two servicemen of the Joint Forces were killed, and one sustained light injuries in the hostilities," the press center wrote on Facebook on Wednesday morning.

According to the press center, Ukrainian army positions were attacked near Stanytsia Luhanska, Krymske, Novotoshkivske, Luhanske, Yuzhne, Pisky, Novotroyitske, Starohnativka, Pavlopil, Hnutove, Vodiane, Lybidynske, and Shyrokyne.

Ukrainian intelligence said that three Donbas militants were killed and five were injured over the day.A British delegation led by Defense Secretary Gavin Alexander Williamson has traveled to the area of the Ukrainian Joint Forces Operation (JFO) in Donbas as part of the working visit to Ukraine in order to learn about the current situation and see Ukrainian defense lines.

"The high-ranking foreign visitors started their trip to Donbas in Kramatorsk [Donetsk region] with a meeting with Joint Forces Commander Lt. Gen. Serhiy Nayev. The commander of the Joint Forces welcomed the guests and thanked the government and people of the UK for supporting Ukraine in its fight against the subtle enemy," the press center of the Joint Forces Operation wrote on Facebook on Wednesday morning.President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko's decree on the decision of the National Security and Defense Council dated September 6, 2018 "On the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership between Ukraine and the Russian Federation" was published in the Uriadovy Kurier newspaper on Wednesday.

According to the corresponding decree signed by the head of the Ukrainian state on September 17, it comes into force from the day of its publication.

As reported, Poroshenko said on August 28 he expected the Foreign Ministry to submit a package of documents to start the procedure for terminating this Treaty. On September 3, he said he intended to send Russia relevant notification on the termination of the treaty by September 30.

The Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership between Ukraine and Russia was signed on May 31, 1997 for a period of ten years (with subsequent automatic prolongation of the document, if the parties do not speak against it). The Verkhovna Rada ratified the document on January 14, 1998 and the State Duma ratified it on December 25, 1998. The treaty took effect on April 1, 1999.

Under Article 40 of the treaty, it is signed for ten years. The treaty is automatically prolonged for the next ten-year periods if none of the parties announced its wish to terminate it at least six months prior to the end of the next ten-year period. The first ten-year period began on the date the treaty took effect (on April 1, 1999) and it expired on April 1, 2009. None of the parties announced a wish to terminate the treaty before October 2008 then and therefore it was automatically prolonged for the next ten-year period.

The Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership between Ukraine and Russia outlines the principle of strategic partnership, recognition of inviolability of the existing borders, respect for territorial integrity and mutual obligation not to use the countries' territory to hurt each other's security.The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is concerned about the lack of effective investigation into conflict-related human rights violations in Donbas, such as arbitrary detention, torture and ill-treatment in government-controlled territory.

"It observed that investigations are inefficient, with no practical steps taken to investigate allegations of torture and ill-treatment  OHCHR is also concerned about a lack of accountability for incommunicado detention, torture and ill-treatment, including in the premises of the Kharkiv SBU," says a report on the human rights situation in Ukraine from May 16 to August 15, 2018, made public in Kyiv on Wednesday.

According to the report, OHCHR has documented more than 160 (85 of which occurred during the reporting period) of violations and abuses of human rights, of which 282 were victims.

"During this reporting period, OHCHR documented more than 160 violations and abuses which affected a total of 282 victims, representing a level of human rights violations and abuses similar to the previous reporting period. Of these, 85 human rights violations and abuses were committed during the reporting period. The Government of Ukraine was responsible for 53 violations (62 per cent of those recorded), armed groups for 10 (12 per cent of those recorded), and the Government of the Russian Federation (as the Occupying Power in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and city of Sevastopol ) for 22 (26 per cent of those recorded)," it says.

Thus, the OHCHR notes that from April to June 2018, the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) receiving pensions fell by 15 per cent, from approximately 562,000 to 477,000.

OHCHR recorded 105 conflict-related civilian casualties: 12 killed and 93 injured.

"Inextricably linked to the hostilities are the persisting conflict-related serious human rights violations and abuses attributable to all parties, including unlawful or arbitrary detention, incommunicado detention, torture, ill-treatment, sexual violence, and/or threats to physical integrity. OHCHR documented 74 such violations and abuses  15 of which were committed during the reporting period. The Government of Ukraine was responsible for ten of these (67 per cent), armed groups for three (20 per cent); and the Russian Federation as the occupying power in Crimea for two (13 per cent)," it said.

The findings presented in this report are based on data collected by OHCHR through 177 in-depth interviews with victims and witnesses of human rights violations and abuses, as well as site visits in both government-controlled and armed group-controlled territory.On Thursday, September 20, at 14.00, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency will host a press conference entitled 'OpenMarket (SE SETAM) has Become a Platform for Selling the Rights of Leasing State Land." Participants include acting head of the State Service for Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre Oleksandr Kolotilin, Director General of SETAM Viktor Vyshniov (8/5-A Reitarska Street). Registration requires press accreditation before 12:00 on September 20 at: goo.gl/XLWDHC or by phone: +38 (094) 823 9710.KYIV. Sept 19 (Interfax-Ukraine)  The Dobrobut medical network plans by 2020 to open a new medical building, investment in which would be around $20 million, Dobrobut Director General Oleh Kalashnikov said at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine.

"We are working on a new large building. Together with Philips, we have already developed a large conceptual project and approved a medical task for it," he said.

Currently, a complete reconstruction of the building with an area of 9,600 square meters, located in Sevastopolska Square in Kyiv, is being held, repair works are under way.

According to the director general of Dobrobut, the medical service will be represented in three segments. "First of all, there will be a Center for Cardiovascular Diseases. We also plan to develop oncology and neurology in the building," he said, adding that the new building will have five angiographic operating rooms.

At the same time, he said that the network intends to invest in angiography in the near future, which will allow Dobrobut to provide a full range of cardiosurgical services of all kinds, including endovascular ones.

"Regarding angiography and endovascular operations, I think that we will be able to do them in November and, accordingly, to cover the whole range of services," he said, adding that the tender for the purchase of an angiograph is currently at the final stage.

Kalashnikov also said that since the opening of the Center for Cardiac Surgery early 2017, it has carried out a little more than 450 surgeries, 263 of which have been performed using a minimally invasive method.

In turn, Head of the center Oleksandr Babliak said that the center is the first among cardiosurgical clinics in the world, which began to implement multi-vessel coronary bypass surgeries using a minimally invasive method.Kennesaw, Georgia, USA, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MATCOR, a BrandSafway company, recently earned a design patent for its Iron Gopher, a linear anode designed to prevent corrosion through cathodic protection in horizontal directional drilling (HDD) applications. With a braided stainless steel jacket for linear anode protection during installation and a built-in pulling loop for connecting to the drilling head, the Iron Gopher provides approximately 200 percent more pulling strength than traditional anodes used in HDD applications.



It is available in standard and dual-end models, which can both be connected to a DC power source for active cathodic protection with a current. The standard model is used for most cathodic methods, such as roads, streams and property crossings, and the dual-end model is typically used under tank operations or anywhere it is not possible to connect both ends of the linear anode.



We developed the Iron Gopher with installation costs and timelines at the forefront, focusing on strength to reduce the risks associated with the linear anode breaking during installation, said Ted Huck, one of the Iron Gopher inventors and vice president of technical sales for MATCOR. It also makes job sitesand utilities and pipelinessafer by using cathodic protection to decrease the chance of failure due to corrosion that could cause gas leaks or other potentially catastrophic events.



The Iron Gopher was invented by Ted Huck; William Schutt, MATCOR founder; and Knut Fenner, former director of business development at MATCOR.



MATCOR is an innovation leader in the corrosion and cathodic protection industry with its ongoing R&D, proprietary products, service and client-focused cloud technology, said Bob Burns, president of BrandSafways Integrity Services Group. The Iron Gopher is just another example of how we are continually raising the standards within the corrosion industry and ultimately providing the best solutions to our clients.



For more information about Iron Gopher, visit matcor.com/products/matcor-iron-gopher.



About MATCOR

MATCOR, Inc. is a BrandSafway company and a leading cathodic protection and corrosion prevention engineering design firm, providing environmentally beneficial systems and services to global clients for more than 40 years. An ISO 9001:2015 certified expert in the field of cathodic protection, MATCOR offers proprietary corrosion protection design, engineering, manufacturing, installation, cathodic protection testing, annual surveys, maintenance and complete corrosion protection project management. MATCOR specializes in protecting the infrastructure of the oil and gas, utility, transportation and construction industries. To learn more about MATCOR, please visit www.matcor.com or call 1-800-215-4362.



About BrandSafway

With a commitment to safety as its foremost value, BrandSafway provides the broadest range of services, products and solutions, with the greatest depth of expertise, to the industrial, commercial and infrastructure markets. A portfolio company of Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, BrandSafway offers access, industrial services and forming and shoring solutions to more than 32,000 customers through a workforce of approximately 35,000 employees, who support our network of 350 strategic locations across 30 countries. With its global footprint, rigorous operating processes and extensive service offerings  a full range of work access, insulation, coatings, specialty industrial services and forming and shoring solutions  BrandSafway supports customers maintenance and refurbishment needs as well as new construction and expansion plans. Todays BrandSafway  large enough to leverage economies of scale to increase safety and productivity, while also remaining nimble and responsive  delivers unmatched service with local labor and management.

###

Attachments(AP) - An Iranian government-aligned group of hackers launched a major campaign targeting Mideast energy firms and others ahead of U.S. sanctions on Iran, a cybersecurity firm said Tuesday, warning further attacks remain possible as America re-imposes more sanctions in November.

While the firm FireEye says the so-called "spear-phishing" email campaign only involves hackers stealing information from infected computers, it involves a similar type of malware previously used to inject a program that destroyed tens of thousands of terminals in Saudi Arabia.

"Whenever we see Iranian threat groups active in this region, particularly in line with geopolitical events, we have to be concerned they might either be engaged in or pre-positioning for a disruptive attack," Alister Shepherd, a director for a FireEye subsidiary, told The Associated Press.

Iran's mission to the United Nations rejected FireEye's report, calling it "categorically false."

"Iran's cyber capabilities are purely defensive, and these claims made by private firms are a form of false advertising designed to attract clients," the mission said in a statement. "They should not be taken at face value."

FireEye, which often works with governments and large corporations, refers to the group of Iranian hackers as APT33, an acronym for "advanced persistent threat." APT33 used phishing email attacks with fake job opportunities to gain access to the companies affected, faking domain names to make the messages look legitimate.

FireEye first discussed the group last year around the same time. This year, the company briefed journalists after offering presentations to potential government clients in Dubai at a luxury hotel and yacht club on the man-made, sea-horse-shaped Daria Island.

While acknowledging their sales pitch, FireEye warned of the danger such Iranian government-aligned hacking groups pose. Iran is believed to be behind the spread of Shamoon in 2012, which hit Saudi Arabian Oil Co. and Qatari natural gas producer RasGas. The virus deleted hard drives and then displayed a picture of a burning American flag on computer screens. Saudi Aramco ultimately shut down its network and destroyed over 30,000 computers.

Iran developed its cyber capabilities in 2011 after the Stuxnet computer virus destroyed thousands of centrifuges involved in Iran's contested nuclear program. Stuxnet is widely believed to be an American and Israeli creation.

From July 2 through July 29, FireEye saw "a by-factors-of-10 increase" in the number of emails the group sent targeting their clients, Shepherd said. The actual number of attacks likely was even larger as FireEye's figures only include their own clients.

The emails, pretending to be from a Mideast oil and gas company, targeted organizations in the Mideast, North America and Japan. The recipients included companies involved in the oil and gas industry, utilities, insurance, manufacturing and education, FireEye said.

Several clues lead FireEye to believe APT33 has the backing of Iran's government. The hackers use Farsi, work an Iranian workweek of Saturday through Wednesday and correspond during Iranian office hours, FireEye said. Its list of targets also includes American firms in petrochemicals and aviation, as well as allied nations, like members of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council, Shepherd said.

"Since we started tracking APT33 in 2013, their sophistication has definitely improved. We wouldn't put them on the same level as some of the more-sophisticated Russian groups, for instance, in terms of capability," Shepherd told the AP. "But they are a very capable group and they manage to meet their objectives, which is to compromise institutions in both the government and private sector and steal data."The chief executive of Denmarks biggest bank is resigning amid allegations that its Estonian affiliate was at the center of a major money-laundering scandal.



"It is clear that Danske Bank has failed to live up to its responsibility in the case of possible money laundering in Estonia," Chief Executive Thomas Borgen said in a September 19 statement, as he announced his resignation.



Separately, an internal report into allegations that billions of euros in laundered money from Russia and other former Soviet states flowed through the banks branch in Tallinn said that "the vast majority" of transactions between 2007 and 2015 were found to be suspicious."



The Copenhagen-based bank said it was unable to provide "an accurate estimate of the amount of suspicious transactions made by nonresident customers in Estonia," but it estimated the total flows in the Estonian unit at about 200 billion euros ($234 billion), nine times Estonias 2017 gross domestic product.



These flows covered about 15,000 accounts, of which Danske Bank said roughly 6,200 have the highest risk indicators.



Almost all of these customers have been reported to the authorities, it said.



Danske Bank is already the target of criminal investigations in Denmark and Estonia.



U.S. law enforcement agencies were also looking into the case, according to reports.



Earlier this year, U.S. authorities accused the Latvian bank ABLV of covering up money laundering, leading to the bank's collapse, after it was denied U.S. dollar funding.

Based on reporting by AP, AFP, Bloomberg, dpa, Reuters, and The Wall Street JournalIran and Syrian opposition groups have welcomed an agreement between Russia and Turkey to avert an assault on Syria's last major rebel stronghold in the northwestern province of Idlib.

Intensive responsible diplomacy between Russia, Turkey, and Iran succeeded in avert[ing] war in Idlib, with a firm commitment to fight extremist terror, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted on September 18.

Diplomacy works, he added.

Syrian opposition groups also hailed the agreement reached by the Russian and Turkish presidents on September 17 to create a demilitarized buffer zone in Idlib to separate government and rebel forces.

Yahya al-Aridi, a spokesman for the opposition Syrian Negotiations Commission (SNC), told the Reuters news agency that the deal safeguarded the lives of Syrians and was an indication that the "path of peace" must now be opened.

Mustafa Sejari of the Free Syria Army (FSA) said the agreement preserves lives of civilians and their direct targeting by the regime. It buries [Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's] dreams of imposing his full control over Syria."

Moscow and Tehran have given Assad crucial support throughout the Syrian war, which began with a government crackdown on protesters in March 2011.

The three allies have been pressing ahead with an expected Syrian government offensive in Idlib Province, saying they want to put an end to what they call the last main terrorist stronghold in Syria.

Turkey, which is backing rebel groups, has called for a cease-fire to prevent what he said would be a "bloodbath" and another major refugee crisis on Turkey's southern border.

The country is already home to more than 3 million Syrians who have fled the war.

After meeting in Russias Black sea resort city of Sochi on September 17, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said they agreed to create a buffer zone in Idlib.

Speaking at a joint news conference, Putin said it will be 15 to 25 kilometers wide and come into force by October 15.

Radical fighters, including the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Nusra Front, would have to leave the zone, he said.

The Russian president also said that under the deal, rebel groups will have to pull out all heavy weaponry, including tanks, multiple-launch rocket systems, and mortar launchers from the area by October 10.

Erdogan said Turkish and Russian troops will carry out coordinated military patrols on the borders of the buffer zone.

"We will prevent a humanitarian tragedy that could happen as a result of military action," he said.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the deal meant there will be no offensive in Idlib.

Idlib Province, home to some 3 million people, is the last major stronghold of rebel and jihadist groups that have been trying to overthrow Assad for the past 7 1/2 years, in a civil war that has killed more than 400,000 people and displaced millions.

With reporting by AFP and ReutersThe secretary-general of the centrist Executives of Construction Party, one of the two centrist parties that are President Hasan Rouhani's main supporters, has harshly criticized him and has called for his resignation.

"Rouhani can resign like a hero or wake up from his heavy slumber and talk to the people transparently," about the country's problems, said Gholamhossein Karbaschi, a former mayor of Tehran and the leader of the Executives of Construction party in an interview with reformist monthly Andisheh Pouya.

Elaborating on his suggestion for Rouhani's resignation, Karbaschi said: "It is a tough decision. But if he cannot work properly, he should step down like a hero and tell the people that he tried his best but he could not do anything. This might help him to evade the hatred of the people, even if he is not a hero."

"But if he believes his resignation is not in the country's interest, he should carry on transparently with more care," Karbaschi added.

He criticized Rouhani as a "sedentary manager," while a President of the state needs to be "standing up and active."

During the past months, as the Rouhani administration's policies failed to sort out the country's ongoing economic crisis, differences escalated among his main political allies and supporters, markedly between the two centrist parties, the Executives of Construction and the Moderation and Development.

The Executives of Construction party is where First Vice-President Es'haq Jahangiri comes from while Vice-President Mohamad Baqer Nobakht and Chief of Staff Mahmoud Vaezi are from Moderation and Development party. Both of these parties are the legacy of former President Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani; Rouhani's mentor and spiritual father.

Several media commentaries during the past year have attributed the failure of Rouhani's economic polices partly to the differences between the three officials.

Others have called for Rouhani's resignation before, but all of those who wanted Rouhani to step down so far were his opponents and political rivals. What makes Karbaschi's call different is that he is Rouhani's supporter and political ally.

This comes while some hard-line MPs such as Amir Khojasteh have said that if Rouhani fails to solve the country's economic problems, members of the Parliament would table a motion to impeach him for his "incapability."

Former ultra-conservative Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has also called on Rouhani to resign. The firebrand conservative has also called on Majles Speaker Ali Larijani and his brother Judiciary Chief Sadeq Amoli Larijani to step down.

Rouhani, however, said in July that he "would not resign."

Criticizing Rouhani for his economic performance, Karbaschi said: "Rouhani's performance did not measure to the standards I and other likeminded politicians expected."

However, he added that "Rouhani was our only choice when the Guardian Council disqualified Rafsanjani" in the 2013 presidential elections.

Many Iranian politicians including leading members of the Executives of Construction party have blamed Rouhani and his Planning and Budget Chief Nobakht for the country's economic problems.

However, critics believe that widespread corruption, mismanagement and inefficiency are the main perils that have paralyzed the Iranian economy.

Nevertheless, Iran has been experiencing extraordinary economic problems after May 2018 when the United States withdrew from the nuclear deal with Iran and re-introduced the sanctions that had been lifted since the deal was forged with Europe and US in 2005.Six years ago, when I entered USA as a refugee, I never imagined that someday I would be standing in front of you, said 29-year old Holakou Rahmanian, speaking to professors of mathematics and computer science at his graduation from the University of Santa Cruz, California in 2018.

As a member of the Bahai religious minority, which is subject to official discrimination in Iran, Rahmanian was not allowed to study at a university in his home country. After immigrating to the U.S., however he completed a degree in computer science in 2012, and recently received his PhD.

The Bahai are a peaceful religious minority, who adopted their own faith in the 19th century but are viewed by the clerical establishment of Iran as deviants and are persecuted.

In an exclusive interview with Radio Farda, Rahmanian, an expert in algorithms and artificial intelligence, said, When I graduated from high school in 2006, I won the Silver Medal at the Mathematical Olympiad in Iran. Had I won the Gold Medal, I would have been eligible to enter a university without passing the national university entrance examination. Therefore, silver medal meant that I had to work hard to pass the national exam.

Rahmanian did successfully pass the national competitive exam for mathematics, arts, and foreign language, achieving high national rankings in all subjects, but he was told by testing administrators that he had failed. When he protested the result, he says he was told that as a Bahai he was ineligible from attending university.

He says he was never given a decision about his rejection and the reason for it officially in writing but was repeatedly told that higher authorities wanted to keep Bahais out of Irans universities.

Rahmanian was left with no other option than to continue his education with with the Bahai Institute of Higher Education (BIHE), a secret entity that offers university courses to Bahais.

BIHE was launched in 1987 by the Bahai community, but has never been officially recognized by the Islamic Republic, and has been forced to operate in secret.

In 2007, during Rahmanians first semester at the BIHE, the administrators set up a makeshift campus in a rented office space in a four-story building in Tehran. After one semester, many of the students were threatened by the Islamic Republics intelligence agents and the BIHE was forced to vacate the building.

Nowadays, BIHE runs mostly online, via email and shifting websites to cover up its activity from the governments cyber monitors. Another dilemma facing BIHE graduates is the fact that since it is not registered as a university by the Islamic Republic, most universities across the world do not recognize the diplomas it grants.

According to Article 1 of Irans Supreme Cultural Revolution Councils Student Qualification Regulations, approved by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in 1991, students who take the national enrollment exam must either be Muslim or followers of other constitutionally sanctioned religions. Article 3 states that if a student is discovered to be a Bahai after enrolling in a university, he or she will be expelled.

Speaking to Radio Farda, Rahmanian expressed his deep satisfaction when he discovered that more than 65 universities outside of Iran, about thirty of them in the United States, actually do accept BIHE students into their graduate programs.

I forgot all hardship that I had gone through, Rahmanian said. Finally attending official classes was so exciting for me.

While studying for his PhD at Santa Cruz, Rahmanian worked as an intern trainee for some major international corporations, including eBay, Google, and Microsoft.

Rahmanian will now visit Japan to serve as a guest researcher at Kyushu University before joining Microsoft full-time.

Rahmanian says his dream is to return to Iran and teach at the BIHE.The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ordered the Ukrainian government not to access any data from the cell phone of RFE/RL investigative reporter Natalya Sedletska.

The September 18 order is in effect until October 18 to give Sedletska time to prepare a full complaint to the court.

The ECHR pledged to consider her appeal "as a matter of priority."

On August 27, the Pechersk District Court of Kyiv approved a request from the Prosecutor-General's Office to allow investigators to review all data from Sedletska's cell phone from July 1, 2016 through November 30, 2017.

The ruling stems from a criminal investigation into the alleged disclosure of state secrets to journalists in 2017 by Artem Sytnyk, director of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty spokeswoman Joanna Levison said earlier this month that the court's ruling is "inconsistent with Ukraine's own commitments to promote and protect a free press."

Sedletska is the host of Schemes, an award-winning anticorruption television program by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service and Ukrainian Public Television.

The Schemes program reported on several investigations involving senior Ukrainian officials, including Prosecutor-General Yuriy Lutsenko, during the period in question.

The United States, the European Union, and international media watchdogs have expressed concern over the Ukrainian court ruling.

The U.S. Embassy in Ukraine posted on Twitter on September 5 that it could have "a chilling effect on press freedom and anti-corruption efforts in Ukraine."Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 19

By Leman Zeynalova - Trend:

Armenian government escalates the situation with its unprofessional actions, Evgeny Mikhailov, Russian political analyst and expert on international issues, told Trend and Azernews on September 18.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyans recent statements in Moscow that Nagorno-Karabakh should become part of Armenia in the future, are populist and groundless, and arent based on modern political reality, the expert said.

Moreover, I think that such statements are absolutely provocative against the backdrop of Moscows titanic efforts to resolve the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict peacefully, he noted.

The expert mentioned that by making such statements, Pashinyan intends to please the forces of the Armenian establishment who call for war with Azerbaijan, and this is his big mistake considering that he wants to continue the strategic alliance with Russia.

Regardless of the political changes in Armenia and the absolutely non-constructive behavior of its current leadership on the settlement of the conflict, its resolution is first of all important for Russia, which is the main guarantor of peace and security in the region, the expert noted.

Speaking of Pashinyans ability to realize the true situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, Mikhailov said that Pashinyan is unlikely to be a better negotiator for Baku.

The current government of Armenia only escalates the situation with its unprofessional actions, then tries to immediately establish a dialogue with Moscow, noting the centuries-old friendship, but I think Armenia is only playing its own game, the expert noted.

It is also necessary to take into account the partnership between Moscow and Baku in many areas, which is an important factor for the peaceful resolution of the conflict in the near future, he said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_ZeynBaku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 19

Trend:

Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have 87 times violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said Sept. 19.

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. 19

Trend:

The ongoing occupation by Armenia of Azerbaijans internationally recognized territories is limiting the development of large-scale regional cooperation, as well as the sustainable development of the region as a whole, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said.

He made the remarks Sept. 19 as part of the 12th Annual Meeting of the New Champions World Economic Forum in China.

The minister noted that this occupation policy is depriving Armenia itself of economic growth and trade opportunities in the region.

Thus, the existing potential of the region cannot be fully reached yet for the transition to even more extensive and comprehensive economic cooperation, the Azerbaijani foreign minister 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. 19

Trend:

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has signed an order, approving funds for the construction of a new school in the city of Bilasuvar.

Under the presidential order, the Ministry of Education is allocated 2 million manats for the construction of the 1,176-seat school in the city.Miami, FL, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Crystals 26th annual World Cruise is now open for booking to all luxury travelers. The Ancient Dynasties & World Wonders voyage embarks from Miami to London on January 5, 2021, sailing an epic 139-day route through the Caribbean, Hawaiian Islands, South Pacific, Australia, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, the Far East, the UAE and the Mediterranean, featuring transit of the Panama Canal, visits to Egypts mysterious Valley of Kings, and the winelands of Western Europe. The full World Cruise also offers guests alternate embarkation and disembarkation cities and dates, allowing greater flexibility while still affording all full World Cruise benefits. Segments of 12-21 days are also now available for booking, with focused itineraries along the gulfs of Oman and Aden; Southeast Asia and Vietnam; springtime in Japan; and the Arabian Gulf across the Bay of Bengal.



We are delighted to present the worlds most discerning travelers with one of Crystal Cruises most extensive World Cruise journeys ever, said Carmen Roig, Crystals senior vice president of marketing and sales. Whether guests choose the complete 139-day odyssey or any combination of segments, theyre in for the journey of a lifetime, as a Crystal World Cruise is truly something special.



Named for the diverse array of destinations, cultures and monumental sites to be explored on the journey, the Ancient Dynasties & World Wonders World Cruise offers travelers equally tremendous value and exceptionally enriching experiences on board and ashore. Guests can choose to sail the complete itinerary from Miami to London (January 5 to May 24, 139 days); from Los Angeles to London (January 21 to May 24, 123 days); Miami to Rome (January 5 to May 12, 127 days); or Los Angeles to Rome (January 21 to May 12, 111 days). Guests booking any of these full World Cruise options enjoy special benefits and amenities, including a welcome celebration dinner aboard Crystal Serenity in Miami or in Los Angeles, As You Wish shipboard spending credits of up to $2,500 per guest; complimentary private car and driver transfers between the ship and airport; a gala dinner World Cruise Extravaganza Event; an exclusive shore-side event; special World Cruise-themed onboard events; and specially curated gifts.



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###

AttachmentBaku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 19

Trend:

Carlsberg Azerbaijan pays much attention to responsible consumption of its products and supports the global initiative of the Global Beer Responsibility Day, launched in 2015 by the world's largest brewers.

This initiative is meant to raise public awareness of the importance of sober driving, the inadmissibility of drinking alcohol by minors and the development of a culture of alcohol consumption in general. Over the past year, in dozens of countries in Eastern and Western Europe, and Asia, campaigns were carried out within this initiative. Only in 2017 more than 20 million people supported this initiative throughout the Carlsberg Group.

Thus in 2016 Carlsberg Azerbaijan in cooperation with the Main Traffic Police Department of Baku city conducted raids on the busiest roads of the city, informing drivers about the importance of sober driving.

In 2017, in cooperation with the UBER technological platform our company provided more than 500 drivers who bought Xrdalan beer in dozens of pubs and restaurants in Baku with the opportunity of free taxi service.

This year we decided to expand the initiative, which consisted of two stages. During a month, a video about sober driving was demonstrated in social networks, as well as in major information resources and bloggers' pages.

On September 13 a meeting was held at our plant in the form of a round table with the participation of the Head of the Public Relations Department of the Main Traffic Police Department of Baku city Vagif Asadov and the chairperson of the Psychological Center Svetlana Mejidova. The event was also attended by representatives of the media.

At the beginning of the meeting, Head of the Corporate Relations Department Nadezhda Ovsiannikova greeted the guests, emphasizing the importance of this initiative and its support by Carlsberg Azerbaijan. Then, the speakers shared their experience in the relevant fields, showing world and Azerbaijan statistics, as well as specific cases of excessive drinking, leading to tragic results. They also put forward initiatives to strengthen information work aimed at promotion of sober driving and responsible consumption in general.Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 19

Trend:

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group, has increased volume of investment in the Europe and Central Asia region by channeling $2.9 billion for long-term financing of the projects that help to diversify the region's economies, to improve access to finance for small businesses, and to reduce climate impact.

In the fiscal year 2018, which ended on June 30, the IFC has invested $2.26 billion of its own funds and has mobilized another $0.68 billion from other investors.

The investments have been aimed at helping the financial sector of the region to develop funding of small- and medium-sized enterprises, to support women's business, to enhance agribusiness and to improve urban infrastructure.

The IFC has also supported in the region the international trade transactions worth $1.8 billion through 28 partner banks participating in the trade finance program.

The largest volume of IFC investments in the past financial year has been channeled to Turkey ($1.1 billion), Romania ($336.4 million), Serbia ($190.5 million), Ukraine ($129.1 million) and Kazakhstan ($111.5 million).

The financing of renewable energy production at wind farms in Serbia in the amount of 108 million, the financing of the agricultural sector of Ukraine in the total amount of $120 million, and the funds in the amount of $75 million invested in the project for support of women entrepreneurs in Turkey are among the most significant deals.

Wiebke Schloemer, IFC Director for Europe and Central Asia region, said that in the coming years, the IFC will focus on "supporting the emerging private sector in some of the poorest and most conflict-affected countries in the region, and will continue to work in middle-income countries to promote innovation, improve competitiveness and energy efficiency, and develop sustainable urban infrastructure."

The IFC Advisory program in the region last year consisted of 79 advisory projects aimed at improving business regulation procedures, cooperation with the private sector in the fight against climate change and helping companies in the region to improve corporate governance, environmental and social responsibility practices.

In the next fiscal year, the IFC will continue to focus on projects with a high positive impact on development, in particular, aimed at minimizing the effects of climate change, expanding access to finance and creating jobs.

Several major transactions in the last fiscal year:Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 19

By Ilkin Shafiyev  Trend:

Rapid development of economic relations between Russia and Azerbaijan is being observed today, the Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu said Sept. 18 on the sidelines of the international food exhibition "WorldFood Moscow".

"Today, I would say that very rapid development of economic relations between Russia and Azerbaijan is being observed. Most recently, presidents Vladimir Putin and Ilham Aliyev met where 17 economic documents were signed in their presence. This is a fairly large number, which creates great opportunities for joint work. I would like to emphasize that the heads of the two states are particularly interested in the development of our economic relations and their personal relations are the key to such development," the ambassador said.

The diplomat said that Azerbaijan is a leader in the supply of agricultural products to Russia.

"I would like to emphasize that over the past year, bilateral trade turnover in agricultural products alone has approached $500 million. Compared to 2016, the growth has amounted to 35 percent, and for seven months of 2018, the growth has exceeded 20 percent. I especially want to note that Azerbaijan is increasing the supply of wines to Russia. Taking this opportunity, I want to invite Moscow residents and guests of the capital to the festival of Azerbaijani products and cuisine entitled as "Autumn gifts of Azerbaijan", which will be held in Moscow on October 18-21," Bulbuloglu said.

According to the data of the State Statistics Committee of Azerbaijan, the trade turnover between the two countries in January-August 2018 has amounted to $1.477 billion. Compared with the same period last year, this figure has increased by more than 15 percent.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @IlkinShafiyevBaku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 19

By Ilkin Shafiyev  Trend:

The commissioning of two unique ferries of Ro-Pax type being under construction now at the Baku shipbuilding facility Baku Shipyard LLC has been scheduled for the end of 2019 - beginning of 2020, Baku Shipyard LLC told Trend.

The construction of ferries began in mid-March 2017.

"At the moment, the intensive construction of two vessels of Ro-Pax type or railway-car-passenger ferries is underway at the Baku shipbuilding yard. The work on each of them is carried out in accordance with the schedule. At the moment, the construction of the hull of the first vessel is at the final stage and has been completed by 75 percent, the hull construction work on the second vessel has been completed by 50 percent. The commissioning of the two vessels has been scheduled for the end of 2019 - the beginning of 2020," the company said.

Each of the new ferries of "open" type built as per the design no. CNF18C, is designed for the carriage of 56 railway tanks with gauge width of 1520 mm, trucks (50 semi-trailer trucks), 46 high-sided wagons, 44 freight wagons, including dangerous cargo, as well as 100 passengers, with sternward cargo-handling scheme for wagons and vehicles and with the side doors for loading and unloading of motor vehicles on regular berths.

The "Baku Shipyard" LLC is a joint venture of SOCAR, Azerbaijan Investment Company (AIC) and Keppel Offshore & Marine Limited company, and it was opened by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in September 2013.

The Keppel company owns 10 percent of the factory's shares and is fully responsible for its management and operation. SOCAR is the largest shareholder of the enterprise with a share of 65 percent, and it is followed by the AIC, which owns a quarter of the shipyard's shares.

The shipyard has been designed for the construction of a wide range of specialized and commercial vessels, including multi-purpose naval vessels such as platform supply vessels, as well as tankers and cargo vessels. The conditions for ship repair have also been created at the enterprise.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @IlkinShafiyevBaku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 19

By Fikret Dolukhanov  Trend:

The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) will allocate $1.3 billion to Uzbekistan within the framework of the partnership strategy for 2018-2021, Uzbek media reported referring to the results of the IDB Group Day conference held in Tashkent.

The corresponding document was signed by Chairman of the State Committee of Uzbekistan for Investments Sukhrob Kholmuradov and President of IDB Bandar AL Hajjar, who is on a visit to Uzbekistan.

According to Hajjar, the bank is ready to support Uzbekistan in implementing projects aimed at developing the economy and innovation activities.

Out of the total volume of loans, $475 million will be spent on energy, transport and urban development projects, $300 million on housing and infrastructure in rural areas, $140 million on social development and $85 million on private business projects in the country.

Uzbekistan became a member of the IDB in 2003. Earlier, the bank allocated over $1.4 billion to the country for implementation of 26 projects in the spheres of health, education, irrigation and melioration, energy, water supply, municipal services, road infrastructure development, small business support.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @FDolukhanovBaku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 19

By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet with heads of 30 US companies, the Turkish media reported Sept. 19.

The meeting will be held Sept. 19 in Turkeys Presidential Palace.

It is expected to discuss investing in different sectors of the Turkish economy at the meeting.

After the worsening of relations between the US and Turkey, Erdogan called on foreign companies to invest in the Turkish economy.

Relations between Washington and Ankara have recently deteriorated because of the case of US pastor Andrew Brunson detained in 2016 by the Turkish authorities.

This is while US President Donald Trump said that he authorized double increase in tariffs for aluminum and steel from Turkey - up to 20 percent and 50 percent, respectively. This decision caused the fall of the Turkish lira to historic low.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizogluBaku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 19

Trend:

Delegation of the Tashkent city administration and the representatives of the Tashkent City Directorate of Internal Affairs are on a visit in Moscow to study work experience in the area of development of road transport infrastructure, "Podrobno.uz" reported referring to the press service of the capital city administration.

This is necessary due to the fact that the "Department of transport and development of road transport infrastructure" is being established under the administration of the capital city in the framework of the decree of the head of state.

"Today, a bilateral meeting has been held at the Department of foreign economic and international relations of Moscow city, where a number of issues on the establishment of direct ties between the administration of the Uzbek capital and the Moscow mayor's office have been discussed. Moscow has declared its readiness to cooperate in all areas, including financing. They also have discussed the issues of cooperation in the area of development of urban passenger transport, supply of buses, road transport infrastructure," the press service said.

In addition, during the visit, the Uzbek delegation has studied the work of the Moscow Traffic Management Center. Today, this organization, founded in 1999, is one of the best and exemplary state agencies among the CIS countries in terms of implementation of activities in the area of improvement of the transport situation in the capital of Russia.

Also, the delegation of the Tashkent city administration plans to meet with representatives of the State-Financed Entity (SFE) "MosTransProyekt", State Public Institution (SPI) "Moscow Parking Area Administrator", SPI "Transportation Organizer" and State Unitary Enterprise (SUE) "Mosgortrans".Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 19

By Samir Ali - Trend:

Azerbaijan has started growing growing tobacco of US variety, a source in the Executive Power of Azerbaijans Shaki district told Trend Sept. 19.

This type of tobacco grown in Shaki is imported from the US state of Virginia, and it is more valuable compared to other varieties of tobacco, according to the source.

This year, 877 hectares of tobacco have been planted in Shaki, 649 hectares of which account for Virginia green tobacco, and other varieties of tobacco have been planted on 228 hectares, the source noted. Tobacco production has already begun in the district. As much as 2,600 tons of Virginia tobacco were produced this season, and also 15,743 tons of other varieties of green tobacco were harvested.

The peculiarity of the Virginia variety is that unlike other types of tobacco, it can be dried in a special way at any temperature, said the source.

Azertutun LLC imports seeds of this variety, concludes contracts with population, provides farmers with seeds, etc., according to the source.

After cultivation, Azertutun LLC buys the tobacco, and this year it is expected to produce 2,700 tons of dried tobacco, the source said.

The source also reminded that last year, 843 hectares of land were allocated for tobacco in Shaki district and 2,631 tons of tobacco were produced.Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 19

Trend:

Uzbek-Afghan Friendship Society was established in Tashkent on Sept. 18, Uzbek media reported.

The rector of the Tashkent State Institute of Oriental Studies Abdurakhim Mannonov is the chairman of the society.

In connection with the establishment of the society, The Committee on Interethnic Relations and Friendly Ties with Foreign Countries under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan held a round table called "A New Milestone in Uzbek-Afghan Relations".

The Special Representative of the President of Uzbekistan for Afghanistan Ismatilla Irgashev and the Afghan Ambassador Sayid Shahobuddin Temury were among the participants.

The Afghan ambassador expressed gratitude to Uzbekistan for "constant support in ensuring peace in Afghanistan, and improving the living standards of the population."

The round table discussed the events that will be held in 2019 in connection with the centenary of friendship between the two countries.Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 19

By Huseyn Veliyev - Trend:

GM Uzbekistan has increased the daily contracting of vehicles by 6.6 times since the resumption of sales of vehicles on Aug. 24, Chairman of Board of Uzavtosanoat Shavkat Umurzakov told Gazeta.uz.

He noted that while an average of 489 contracts per day were concluded in January-July, this figure has reached 3,351 in September.

In total, it is planned to produce 220,000 vehicles this year, which is 157 percent more than the production volume in the previous year. In August, 16,800 vehicles were manufactured, which is 120 percent more than the average production in the previous months. The production plan for September is 23,300 vehicles.

The head of Uzavtosanoat JSC noted that today the automobile plant in Asaka works 22 hours a day at full capacity (earlier it worked 8-11 hours a day).

Umurzakov said that one of the priorities of the company is to reduce the prime cost of vehicles.

"To date, we have achieved a reduction in the amount of expenses for manufacture of one vehicle by 10 percent. We plan to reduce expenses by another 10-15 percent," he said.

Recently, the company has introduced a service titled "We are Driving to You", which allows to conclude a contract for the purchase of a vehicle through mobile contracting offices. They are designed for those who for various reasons are not able to visit the car showrooms.

Also, a new head of the Planning Department has been appointed at GM Uzbekistan. His name is Bakhodir Rakhmonov.

"He has been working in the Uzavtosanoat system since 2011. He started as an ordinary engineer at the Asaka automobile plant," Umurzakov said.

He added that in accordance with the policy of compliance, measures are taken at Uzavtosanoat and GM Uzbekistan in order to prevent illegal actions, including corruption.VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hanwei Energy Services Corp. (TSX: HE) (Hanwei or the Company) held its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (the Meeting) in Vancouver, British Columbia on September 18, 2018. During the course of the Meeting, all proposed resolutions were approved including the election of directors and re-appointment of MNP LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants as auditor of the Company. A total of 38,690,652 shares were voted in person or by proxy at the Meeting, representing 19.92% of the total outstanding common shares.



The shareholders re-elected Fulai Lang, Joanne Yan, Graham Kwan, Malcolm Clay, and William Paine to serve as directors of the Company. Mr. Randall Smallbone did not stand for re-election as a director of the Company. The board would like to sincerely thank Mr. Smallbone for his contribution to the Company and wish him well in his future endeavors. As of the close of the Meeting, the Companys board is constituted of a majority of independent directors, namely Joanne Yan, Malcolm Clay, and William Paine.

The shareholders elected each of the Companys nominees for director as follows:

DIRECTOR VOTES

FOR VOTES

WITHHELD Fulai Lang 99.67 % 0.33 % Joanne Yan 99.71 % 0.29 % Malcolm Clay 99.99 % 0.01 % Graham Kwan 99.99 % 0.01 % William Paine 99.99 % 0.01 %

The following individuals were re-appointed as officers of the Company: (a) Fulai Lang as Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, (b) Xinran (Irene) Mai as Chief Financial Officer, (c) Graham Kwan as Executive Vice President, Strategic Development and Corporate Affairs, and Corporate Secretary, and (d) Hui Ping (Patrick) Hu, Chief Operating Officer.

The Board of Directors also re-appointed Joanne Yan as Lead Director and reconstituted its standing board committees. The Audit Committee is comprised of Malcolm Clay (Chair), William Paine, and Joanne Yan, who are each independent directors. The Compensation/Corporate Governance Committee is comprised of William Paine (Chair), Fulai Lang, Joanne Yan, and Malcolm Clay, a majority of whom are independent directors. The Disclosure Committee is comprised of Graham Kwan (Chair), Fulai Lang, and Xinran (Irene) Mai.

About Hanwei Energy Services Corp.

Hanwei Energy Services Corp.s principal business operations are in two complementary key segments of the oil and gas industry as both an equipment supplier to the industry (as a leading manufacturer of high pressure, fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) pipe products and associated technologies serving major energy customers in the global energy market) and as oil and gas producer with properties in Alberta and joint venture interests in Manitoba.

www.hanweienergy.com

For more information, please contact:

Graham Kwan

Executive Vice President, Strategic Development and Corporate Affairs

604-685-2239

gkwan@hanweienergy.com

Irene Mai

Chief Financial Officer

604-685-2239

imai@hanweienergy.com

Neither the TSX nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept.19

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

OPEC members received about $567 billion in net oil export revenues in 2017, up 29 percent from revenues in 2016, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) said in its Short-Term Energy Outlook.

Increases in both crude oil prices and in net OPEC oil exports drove revenues higher in 2017 and EIA expects that revenues will continue to increase in 2018.

EIA projects that OPEC net oil export revenues will increase to $736 billion in 2018, up 30 percent from 2017. This expected increase follows higher forecast annual crude oil prices in 2018 and more than offsets slightly lower crude oil production from OPEC members in 2018. OPEC revenues will decline to $719 billion in 2019, according to EIA projections, driven mainly by lower crude oil prices, as well as slightly lower OPEC production and exports.

Saudi Arabia receives more oil export revenue than any other member of OPEC. Saudi Arabias share of total OPEC net oil export revenues was nearly 30 percent in 2017, and it has remained relatively consistent since at least 1996, ranging between 28 percent and 34 percent.

Irans share of OPEC revenues increased to 10 percent in 2017 to its highest level since 1999, recovering from declines from 2012 through 2015 that resulted from sanctions targeting Irans oil exports.

Iraqs share of total OPEC revenues also increased, reaching more than 12 percent in 2017, as the countrys crude oil production and exports continued to rise.

In December 2016, at a meeting of oil producers in Vienna, 11 non-OPEC member countries, including Azerbaijan, agreed to cut oil production by a total of 558,000 barrels a day. The agreement was concluded for the first half of 2017 and was extended until the end of the first quarter of 2018 at a meeting on May 25, 2017.

At the last OPEC meeting in Vienna, the agreement was again extended until the end of 2018. Azerbaijan supported the decision.

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Follow the author on Twitter:@Lyaman_ZeynDetails added (first version posted on 12:51)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 19

By Ilkin Shafiyev - Trend:

Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR has reached agreements with a number of foreign companies on identification and initial exploration of promising structures in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea, SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev said Sept. 19.

He made the remarks at an event dedicated to the Oilmans Day in Azerbaijan.

Speaking about the development of gas fields in Azerbaijan, he also noted that in 2020, drilling of a new well will start from the second platform of the Umid gas condensate field.

The well will be commissioned in 2021, the SOCAR president said.

SOCAR announced the discovery of the Umid field in 2010. A risk service contract (a contract with a minimum guarantee of compensation) for exploration and development of an offshore block including the Umid gas field and the promising Babek structure in the Caspian Sea was signed between SOCAR and SOCAR Umid Oil and Gas Ltd. on Jan. 12, 2017.

According to SOCARs data and the first exploration drilling, the field has over 200 billion cubic meters of gas and 40 million tons of condensate.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @IlkinShafiyevBaku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 19

Trend:

Azerbaijan will not apply requirements of the Universal Postal Convention to Armenia, said the political statement presented by the Government of Azerbaijan at the Second Extraordinary Congress of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies said in a statement.

The Congress has been attended by more than 1,000 delegations from 130 countries. The Azerbaijani delegation has also been represented at the event.

The proposed reforms in the structure of the UPU, the changes in the system of membership in the organization, a number of changes in the Universal Postal Union regarding execution of postal operations and other issues have been discussed, the final documents of the UPU have been adopted during the event.

The political statement has been submitted to the Secretariat on behalf of the Government of Azerbaijan for inclusion in the documents of the Congress.

The statement once again brought to the attention of the world community that the armed forces of Armenia occupied 20 percent of the territory of Azerbaijan. It was noted that due to the occupation by the armed forces of Armenia of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan and adjacent districts, Azerbaijan will not apply the requirements of the Universal Postal Convention to Armenia.

"For many years of occupation of 20 percent of the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the significant damage has been caused to the economy, in particular the postal sector of the country. It is impossible to implement Article 6 of the Regulations on the Circulation of Postage Stamps of the Universal Postal Convention in the territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan occupied by the Republic of Armenia. The issue of postage stamps by Armenia on behalf of the illegal regime of the self-proclaimed "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic" contradicts the requirements of the Universal Postal Convention of the UPU," the statement reads.

The congress also hosted a ministerial forum, an exchange of views on trends in the further development of the postal industry was carried out, and it was proposed to summarize the advanced suggestions and to develop a strategy in this direction.

The purpose of the event is to exchange information in order to improve the capabilities of specialists in the relevant field, as well as to manage the activities of the groups engaged in fight against cyber incidents, to discuss issues related to activity schemes.

During the cyber-training sessions, which will be held in the last two days of the event, the experience of experts in the area of fight against the methods of cyber attacks based on six different scenarios will be tested, which will be helpful for increasing their experience and improving their skills for use of the advanced technologies.Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 19

By Huseyn Veliyev - Trend:

Azerbaijani iQRex company will use blockchain technology to combat counterfeit goods, one of the company's founders Jalal Rahimov told Trend Sept. 19.

The iQRex company has the status of a resident of the "High Technology Park" of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies of Azerbaijan.

Rahimov noted that it will be possible to identify the authenticity of goods purchased in the retail network, using the iQRex software.

"The software has already been developed and within the next two weeks, the consumers will be able to download it in the stores of Android Play Market and IPhone App Store applications. In addition, the manufacturers themselves will be offered special software, by using which they will be able to order a unique code protected by a scratch layer. Due to the fact that the control system uses blockchain technology, each printed code is unique. That is, it is impossible to re-print it without the permission of the manufacturer," Rahimov said.

The manufacturer can mark with such stickers its products which will be delivered to the stores, Rahimov said.

The consumer, in turn, can verify the genuineness of the purchased product by scanning the security code through iQRex.

"Having made certain of the authenticity of the purchased goods, a consumer will be able to earn bonuses from the manufacturer. If the product is counterfeit, the consumer can file a complaint, which will be automatically reflected in the manufacturer's system. Among other things, the manufacturer will also be able to receive other statistical information. For example, where most of the products are sold, title of the product, where most of the counterfeit goods were detected, etc. According to the current legislation, the consumer has the full right to return the purchased goods if they are not genuine," Rahimov said.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @h_veliyevBaku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 19

Trend:

Further development of education and professional and skilled human resources are of great importance for Azerbaijan which is focusing on the establishment of solid market relations as the economy gets stronger.

Taking this matter into account, Azercell Telecom LLC is giving next opportunity for students who aspire to become a professional in his/her field and succeed in a future career. Constantly supporting the human resource capacity building initiatives in the country, the company is pleased to announce the next round of Student Bursary Program. Starting from September 18th, Azercell invites all students who are confident in their knowledge and skills to benefit from this program. The students are required to apply online at the official webpage of the company (www.azercell.jobs) by October 18th, 2018. Those successfully passing all selection stages will receive a monthly stipend from the company until the end of their academic year.

In addition to the monthly bursary, the talented students will also have a chance to enrich their knowledge about telecommunications, participate in Azercells corporate events and social activities, join a variety of trainings and undertake an internship at the company. The company has been conducting the bursary program welcomed by the students every academic year since 2008. Over the past years, more than 150 students from various universities in Azerbaijan have been named the honorary scholar of the company.

The leader of the mobile communication industry, the largest taxpayer and the biggest investor of the non-oil sector of Azerbaijan Azercell Telecom LLC was founded in 1996. With 48 percent share of Azerbaijans mobile telecom market Azercells network covers 80 percent of the territory (excluding 20 percent of the occupied territories) and 99.8 percent of population of the country. Currently, 4.5 million subscribers choose Azercell services.

Azercell has pioneered an important number of innovations in Azerbaijan, including GSM technology, advance payment system, mobile internet services, Metro coverage, 24/7 call centre service, 7 day/week Front Office service, M2M services, one-stop-shopping approach Azercell Express offices, mobile customer services, Online Customer Care and Social Media Customer Care services, mobile e-signature service ASAN Imza etc.

Azercell deployed first 4G  LTE services in Azerbaijan in 2012. According to the results of mobile network quality and wireless coverage mapping surveys by international systems, Azercells network demonstrated the best results among the mobile operators of Azerbaijan. Azercell is the only company in Azerbaijan and CIS region which has been awarded Gold Certificate of International Investors in People Standard.Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 19

Trend:

South Korean Embassy in Uzbekistan is going to introduce a new procedure for obtaining a South Korean visa, Uzbek media reported.

The new procedure will solve the problems of Uzbeks and foreign citizens residing in Uzbekistan, connected with long queues for filing documents in order to obtain a South Korean visa.

In connection with strengthening friendly relations between the countries, the number of visa applicants has sharply increased. The increase, on its turn, has caused a delay in visa verification and issuance. Subsequently, applicant's waiting time while filing documents and obtaining results has also greatly increased. In 2016, 26,325 visas were issued, in 2017 - 36,141 visas, in the first eight months of 2018 - over 30,000, South Korean embassy in Uzbekistan reported.

In order to solve the mentioned problems, the embassy has selected nine travel agencies that will provide the procedure of submitting documents for obtaining visas and issuing visas or refusals instead of embassy. Thanks to this, applicants will be able to submit documents and receive ready-made visas at conveniently located authorized tourist companies, thereby saving their own time and money.

The new rules apply to all citizens of Uzbekistan and foreign nationals residing in the country.

From September 21 to October 1, 2018, the embassy will accept documents and issue results jointly with authorized travel companies. Starting from October 2, 2018, only the authorized tourist companies will accept documents and issue visas. In this regard, the embassy asks all Uzbek citizens and foreigners to apply for visas at the authorized travel agencies.

Authorized travel companies are located in two Uzbek cities - Tashkent and Samarkand. Reception of documents for obtaining all types of visas (except visas for official/diplomatic business trips of state officials and international marriages), as well as the issuance of ready visas will be carried out by them.Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 19

Trend:

The National Bank of Kazakhstan has deprived JSC "Bank of Astana" of the license to conduct banking and other operations, the press service of the National Bank stated Sept. 19.

"In accordance with the resolution of the Board of the National Bank dated September 18, 2018, it was decided to deprive JSC "Bank of Astana" of the license to conduct banking and other operations for systematic (three or more times within twelve consecutive calendar months) improper performance of contractual obligations for payment and transfer operations, systematic (three or more times within twelve consecutive calendar months) violation of prudential standards and (or) other mandatory norms and limits, as well as the failure of a major member of the Bank to comply with the requirements of the authorized body for additional capitalization, beginning from September 19, 2018," the regulator said in a statement.

Due to the low share (one percent) of the bank's assets and liabilities in the total assets and liabilities of the banking sector, the deprivation of the bank of its license does not carry risks for other financial institutions, the message reads.

By the order of the Chairman of the National Bank dated September 18, 2018, an interim administration has been appointed, to which the powers of all management bodies of the bank have been transferred. The interim administration of the bank will operate until the appointment of the liquidation commission of the Bank.

"Since September 19, all operations on bank accounts of clients and the bank itself have been stopped, except for the cases connected with the expenses specified in regulatory legal acts of the authorized body, the acceptance of the money arriving in the bank. In accordance with the procedure established by laws, the National Bank will apply to the court for compulsory termination (liquidation) of activity of the bank. From the moment of revocation of the bank's license, the creditors' claims against the bank may be submitted only in liquidation proceedings, with the exception of claims related to current expenses for the maintenance of the bank. The bank is a member of the mandatory insurance system for individual deposits, in connection with which, the depositors will be paid a guaranteed compensation in the prescribed manner," the message says.Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 19

Trend:

Kazakhstan believes that the holding of peaceful parliamentary election in Afghanistan in October this year is under threat, the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the UN Kairat Umarov said at a meeting of the Security Council, RIA Novosti reported.

The Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the UN welcomed the recent initiative of Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani to cease fire during the Holy holiday of Eid al-Adha and expressed regret that his opponents rejected this initiative, the press release of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan published Sept. 19 reads.

"This means that the hope for peaceful parliamentary election in October is under threat. We are concerned by the statements of some Afghan political parties that intend to boycott the upcoming election. The postponement of implementation of the election may worsen the situation in Afghanistan," the press service of the Foreign Ministry quoted Umarov as saying.

During the meeting, the head of the Kazakh delegation expressed solidarity with the government of Afghanistan in that the leading role in stabilizing the situation in the country should belong to the Afghans themselves. At the same time, he drew the attention of the Security Council members to the increase in the number of militants of the IS terrorist group in Afghanistan, especially in the northern part of the country, which poses a threat to the security of the Central Asian states.

In this context, the ambassador noted again the approach proposed by Kazakhstan on the mutual relationship of security and development, when sustainable economic development and creation of jobs will contribute to greater employment of population, prevention of recruitment of young people by terrorist groups and strengthening of security.

The parliamentary election in Afghanistan has been scheduled for October 20, 2018. The members of the lower house of the National Parliament will be elected at this election. The last parliamentary election in this country was held in 2010. The term of powers of the Parliament expired on June 22, 2016, but the election was postponed by President Ashraf Ghani for the reasons of security and instability in the country.Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 19

Trend:

Kazakhstan intends to invest in African states, Kazakh media reported citing FM Kairat Abdrakhmanov's speech at a briefing after his meeting with a delegation of the Foreign Ministry of the Gambia.

"The future is in Africa. It is no coincidence that nowadays all the world's largest investors are investing in various areas of the economy of African countries. And Kazakhstan will not lag behind either and will work to ensure that Africa takes a worthy place not only in our foreign policy, but also in the foreign economic agenda," Abdrakhmanov said.

Development of bilateral relations between Kazakhstan and the Gambia were discussed at the meeting.

"In political terms, our positions coincide on almost all issues on the agenda, not only in the UN Security Council, but also in other organizations. Probably, more attention should be focused on issues of trade and economic cooperation," the minister said.

The Kazakh foreign minister mentioned that in October, the Sixth Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions is planned to be held in Astana and more attention should be paid to close cooperation between countries in development of inter-ethnic and inter-religious dialogue throughout the world.Russias Iskander-M mobile short-range ballistic missile systems were for the first time ever redeployed from Urals to Kyrgyzstan to take part in the upcoming international counter-terrorism exercise, Issyk-Kul Antiterror-2018, the press service of Russias Central Military District said on Wednesday, TASS reports.

"Iskander-M mobile short-range ballistic missile systems were for the first time ever deployed in Kyrgyzstan. During the drills, Urals missile crews will carry out a strike on a simulated base of terrorists at the Edelweiss mountain training range," the press service said.

About a thousand of Russian servicemen will take part in Issyk-Kul Antiterror-2018 exercise of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), scheduled to take place on September 24-24 at the Edelweiss training center in Kyrgyzstan.

Operational-tactical Iskander-M fires super maneuverable quasi ballistic stealth missiles (50 km altitude) with electronic warfare, designed to pierce the adversarys missile defense and destroy targets at a distance of 500 km.DENVER, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Though progress has been made by the Federal Communications Commission to remove barriers for infrastructure investment, the rural-urban digital divide persists.

A new CoBank Knowledge Exchange Division report, Broadband Partnerships, addresses some of the long-standing challenges to building broadband networks such as the high cost to entry, tax and legal implications, and even the lack of investment incentives. The report includes an overview of the current situation, reiterating the need to close the digital divide, and highlights several cases where, through partnerships and differentiated thinking, cooperatives have found success in building broadband in various locations across the country.

The interviews are wide-ranging case studies that underscore the importance of thinking outside the box to serve rural communities, said Doran Dennis, regional vice president of electric distribution for CoBank. The standard model of providing broadband to rural customers is changing daily in order to accomplish the goal of closing the rural-urban divide in America.

While cooperatives finding new ways to serve customers is a positive sign for the future, other research efforts continue to validate the economic impact broadband access has on rural America.

A known hurdle for broadband projects is that customer-generated revenue may not cover the costs of building an entire network, which has kept many cooperatives from entering the market. However, a new study from Purdue University, referenced in the CoBank report, finds while that may still be the case, there is a net benefit. For example, the net economic impact to society as a whole in Indiana is 4:1 benefit to cost. This further underscores the important role of investment incentives for broadband.

The trend of broadband access in rural America is going in the right direction, said Dennis. As it stands, cooperatives are working through obstacles to build broadband networks, and while they are finding creative solutions, everyone who has a stake in rural broadband can do more.

The report, Broadband Partnerships: A Key to High-Speed Success for Rural Electric Co-ops is available at cobank.com .

*CoBank provided partial funding for the Purdue University study referenced in this release.

About CoBank

CoBank is a $131 billion cooperative bank serving vital industries across rural America. The bank provides loans, leases, export financing and other financial services to agribusinesses and rural power, water and communications providers in all 50 states. The bank also provides wholesale loans and other financial services to affiliated Farm Credit associations serving more than 70,000 farmers, ranchers and other rural borrowers in 23 states around the country.

CoBank is a member of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of banks and retail lending associations chartered to support the borrowing needs of U.S. agriculture, rural infrastructure and rural communities. Headquartered outside Denver, Colorado, CoBank serves customers from regional banking centers across the U.S. and also maintains an international representative office in Singapore.Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Sept. 19

By Huseyn Hasanov Trend:

Turkmenistan is closely coordinating its activity with the UN in the fight against terrorism, drug trafficking and other threats, the countrys foreign ministry said in a message.

Turkmenistan stands for the full implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, the message said.

Turkmenistan cooperates with such international agencies as the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia.

Turkmenistan is participating in the implementation of the project being implemented by the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force of the UN Counter-Terrorism Center, in cooperation with the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia in Ashgabat with the support of the EU and Norway.

Earlier, it was reported that UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres welcomed the adoption of the Ashgabat Declaration on Countering Terrorism by the Central Asian countries, as well as their continued efforts to implement the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and its joint action plan for Central Asia.

In April 2018, Ashgabat hosted a high-level meeting titled Towards a Comprehensive Implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in Central Asia, as well as the third phase of a joint project to support a joint action plan for Central Asia was launched.Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Sept. 19

By Huseyn Hasanov Trend:

An exhibition of economic achievements of Turkmenistan, traditionally held on the eve of the countrys Independence Day (Sept. 27), has opened in Ashgabat, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan, the events organizer, said in a message Sept. 19.

The exhibition is dedicated to diversification of the Turkmen national economy, import substitution and export growth, as well as the accelerated modernization of production, the message said.

Representatives of the structural subdivisions of the public sector of economy and local private companies will take part in the exhibition.

The exhibition will feature such sections as energy, industry, oil and gas, construction, transportation, communications, textile industry, chemical industry, agro-industrial complex and medical industry.

Turkmenistan, according to a BP report, ranks fourth in terms of gas reserves and at this stage exports it to China and Iran.

Turkmenistan is in the process of diversifying its local economy. The country's textile, oil products, chemical and construction materials industries are actively developing.

Turkmenistan is carrying out industrialization aimed at increasing the production of import-substituting products and developing exports.

At this stage, the industry of textiles and petroleum products has advanced, and the oil and gas chemical industry and the industry for the production of building materials are actively developing in Turkmenistan.

Turkmenistan is carrying out industrialization aimed at increasing the production of import-substituting products and the development of exports.Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 19

Trend:

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev will pay a visit to the capital of Tajikistan on September 27-28, 2018, the Press Secretary of the head of state Komil Allamzhonov wrote on his page on Facebook.

"On the first day of the visit, it is planned to attend a number of bilateral events. On September 28, the president will take part in a meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of State in Dushanbe. The talks in narrow circle and expanded format will take place, and it has also been planned to sign several documents," Allamzhonov wrote.Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 19

Trend:

Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi and his Chinese counterpart discussed ways to enhance cooperation in different nuclear fields, particularly nuclear safety.

During a meeting on the sidelines of the 62nd IAEA General Conference in Vienna, Salehi and his Chinese counterpart explored ways to increase cooperation in the sectors of nuclear education, nuclear security and safety, and nuclear plants.

Both sides referred to the Iran-China age-old ties and called for enhanced relations between the two sides following US President Donald Trumps pullout from the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers and re-imposition of new sanctions.

The Chinese side described the Tehran-Beijing ties as strategic and said China was ready to enhance nuclear ties with Iran.

They also agreed to build small and medium-sized reactors in Iran.

Representatives from the IAEA member states, including at ministerial level and above, convened at the 62nd IAEA General Conference in Vienna to discuss key elements of the agencys priorities in its work on the peaceful use of nuclear technologies.

At the conference, delegates are considering a range of issues from strengthening the agencys activities related to nuclear science, technology and applications, to improving the efficiency of IAEA safeguards and growing international cooperation in nuclear, radiation, transport and waste safety.

Delegates will also discuss the IAEA Annual Report for 2017, its Financial Statements for 2017, and its Program and Budget Update for 2019.Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 19

Trend:

Robin Grimes, director of the Center for Nuclear Engineering at Imperial College London, said the UK would continue to honor its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers.

Great Britain is still committed to the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), Grimes said in a meeting with Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi on the sidelines of the 62nd IAEA General Conference underway in the Austrian capital of Vienna, IRIB news agency reported.

Grimes also hailed a new report by the UN atomic energy agency confirming again Iran's commitment to its obligations under the 2015 nuclear deal.

Representatives from the IAEAs member states, including at ministerial level and above, have convened at the 62nd IAEA General Conference in Vienna to discuss key elements of the agencys priorities in its work on the peaceful use of nuclear technologies.

At the conference, delegates are considering a range of issues from strengthening the agencys activities related to nuclear science, technology and applications, to improving the efficiency of IAEA safeguards and growing international cooperation in nuclear, radiation, transport and waste safety.

Delegates will also discuss the IAEAs Annual Report for 2017, its Financial Statements for 2017 and its Program and Budget Update for 2019.Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 19

Trend:

A French official said Emmanuel Macron will hold talks with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani in New York.

Negotiations between Paris and Tehran will continue, the official, speaking on conditions of anonymity, said, Fars news agency reported on September 19.

He added that Macron and Rouhani are scheduled to hold a meeting on the sidelines of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 73).

The session opened on September 18 and runs until September 30.

Iran and the remaining parties to the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) are expected to hold talks on the sidelines of the event.

Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces, president-elect of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly, announced in July that the theme of the general debate will be "Making the United Nations Relevant to All People: Global Leadership and Shared Responsibilities for Peaceful, Equitable and Sustainable Societies."Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 19

By Azad Hasanli - Trend:

The night sky has always attracted people. Since ancient times, soothsayers have tried to determine the future by the stars, seafarers and travelers have used them as reference points. Over time, the observation of the stars has acquired a scientific nature, and today it is also a type of tourism which is gaining popularity rapidly.

Whether it is the gazing of stars, northern lights or shooting stars, the astrotourism, as this type of tourism is called, tempts hundreds of thousands of people to travel for this purpose to different parts of the world every year.

In Azerbaijan, the astrotourism has not yet gained a wide scale, but experts believe there are necessary conditions for development of this branch of tourism in the country.

"The astrotourism in Azerbaijan cannot yet compete in terms of popularity with the tourism destinations which are traditional for us, but there is a potential for its development," Chairman of the Azerbaijan Tourism Association Nahid Bagirov told Trend.

Special sites for observing the stars are being arranged within city boundaries in a number of countries, and the light is muted in the territory surrounding such sites. No such territories have been arranged in Azerbaijan yet, but the perfect conditions for astrotourism are available in the regions of the country.

For example, the Nasraddin Tusi Shamakhi Astrophysical Observatory operates 140 kilometers away from Baku. Every year, the flow of tourists to the observatory is growing, Deputy Director of the Observatory Khydyr Mikayilov told Trend.

"The observatory is open to tourists all year round. We are now seeing a growing interest in our observatory. This year, for example, there have been a lot of visitors from Arab countries. In addition, in August, the Demirchi-Lahij road was commissioned, which runs next to us. This also contributes to the growth of the tourist flow," he said.

One of the most common types of astrotourism is the observation of solar and lunar eclipses. Thousands of people come to cities or countries where the eclipse can be seen. Hotel accommodation, expenditures for food, souvenirs, visiting other tourism attractions in the framework of astrotourism  all these generate a significant revenue. For example, the solar eclipse that occurred in August this year, brought in over $60 million to the US state of Wyoming. According to the data of the Wyoming Office of Tourism, 192,000 people visited the state to observe the solar eclipse.

When it comes to astrotourism, Azerbaijan cannot boast of such figures yet. However, steps are already being taken in this direction.

For example, it was possible to observe the lunar eclipse in Azerbaijan this year. The Shamakhi Observatory announced an open day specifically for this purpose, and, as Mikayilov said, during just one day, the Observatory was visited by 2,000-2,500 people: "We allocated a separate telescope for visitors. The interest was very great. People arrived from Baku and other cities for one day just to watch the eclipse. We will surely continue this practice, because it contributes to the interest in our activity."

Azerbaijan is yet new to astrotourism, where the US, France and Italy are dominating. However, against the background of the general development of tourism in the country, the astrotourism can become at least a part of other types of tourism, if not particularly a separate direction of tourism.

Who knows, maybe next time you look for a place to stay, the stars will point to Azerbaijan.

---

Azad Hasanli, head of Russian news service of Trend

Follow the author on Twitter: @AzadHasanliThe Lebanese Foreign Ministry has expressed condolences to the people and government of Russia over the downing of Russias Ilyushin Il-20 aircraftover the Mediterranean Sea, Lebanons National News Agency said, citing a statement issued by the ministry, TASS reports.

According to the agency, the ministry "expresses deepest condolences to the people and government of Russia over the death of 15 Russian military personnel in Syria."

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, on September 17, contact was lost with a Russian Il-20 aircraft flying over the Mediterranean Sea back to the Russian Hmeimim air base in Syria. The ministry said the aircraft had disappeared from radar during an airstrike four Israeli F-16 fighter jets carried out on targets in the Syrian province of Latakia.Switzerland has asked Israel to open its markets so Swiss banks can trade funds there, a senior Finance Ministry official said, Reuters reports.

Israel allows European Union banks market access, but not Switzerland as it is not an EU country and has different regulations from countries inside the bloc.

Israel allows European Union banks market access, but not Switzerland as it is not an EU country and has different regulations from countries inside the bloc.

We need market access and each others markets unfettered and as free as possible, Joerg Gasser, head of the State Secretariat for International Financial Matters, said during a visit to Israel with Finance Minister Ueli Maurer to discuss financial cooperation.

Israeli authorities focus on EU regulations but the EU doesnt fully recognise our rules and regulations for political reasons.

Gasser said he had requested an answer from Israel within a year.

You can always find ways and solutions, Gasser said, noting that Switzerlands regulations are recognised by the European Securities and Markets Authority.

He said he had offered to provide any information needed to speed up the process and enable various funds to trade funds on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.

Israels Finance Ministry declined to comment, but said in a statement both sides had agreed to cooperate across on issues including market access, financial technology regulation, cryptocurrencies and combating money laundering and terrorist financing.

Both countries agreed to exchange notes on regulating blockchain technologies.

Gasser said he was preparing a report on how to regulate blockchain and would submit recommendations by the end of the year, aiming for approval by parliament in 2019 so they could go into effect by early 2020.Britain welcomes the EUs commitment to finding a solution to the border on the island of Ireland after Brexit but any proposal cannot separate Northern Ireland from mainland Britain, a government source said on Wednesday, Reuters reports.

Asked about a report by the Times newspaper that Prime Minister Theresa May was set to reject an improved offer from the European Union, the government source said:

We welcome the commitment to finding a solution, as the proposal put forward by the Commission in March was unacceptable. We have been very clear that what we cannot accept is Northern Ireland being separated off from the UK customs territory.CHICAGO, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated raised over $1 million during its HBCU Impact Day initiative to benefit Historically Black Colleges and Universities. AKA International President Dr. Glenda Glover, announced the organization exceeded the goal and will look to make a final tally of contributions by the end of the week.



"I am extremely proud of this historic moment Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority has accomplished by not only meeting, but exceeding our goal with $1.1 million to assist HBCUs," Dr. Glover added.

"As leaders in service, sorority members have demonstrated that HBCUs have significant value and deserve to be treated as an essential educational resource. I thank our membership, families, friends and community for their generous contributions."

Donations were made online and by mail during the 24-hour campaign. Dr. Glover, who is also president of Tennessee State University, said the sorority's goal is to raise $10 million over the next four years to benefit HBCUs.

About Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated:

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated (AKA) is an international service organization that was founded on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. in 1908. It is the oldest Greek-letter organization established by African-American college-educated women. Alpha Kappa Alpha is comprised of nearly 300,000 members in more than 1000 graduate and undergraduate chapters in the United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Liberia, Bahamas, Bermuda, the Caribbean, Canada, Japan, Germany, South Korea, South Africa, and in the Middle East. Led by International President Glenda Glover PhD., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is often hailed as Americas premier Greek-letter organization for African American women. For more information on Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and its programs, log onto www.aka1908.com .

PRESS CONTACT:

Carisma Ramsey Fields

cramsey@aka1908.comCommunications Minister Ayoob Kara has welcomed Rami Levy Chain Stores Hashikma Marketing 2006 Ltd. unit Rami Levy Communications NIS 1 per month mobile phone package, Globes reports.

He met yesterday with Levy to discuss the package, which was offered last week, to Rami Levy loyalty club members.

After Levy's offer, the Ministry of Communications said that it was examining the proposal out of concern that it would lead to additional chaos in Israel's mobile phone market.

But after meeting Levy, Kara said that he welcomed the new initiative and subsidy for the chain's loyalty club members and praised Levy for his contribution to lowering Israel's cost of living.Leaders of South and North Korea plan to announce steps aimed at rekindling stalled nuclear talks and deepening bilateral ties after they meet for a second day of summit talks on Wednesday in the Norths capital Pyongyang, Reuters reported.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in kicked off their third meeting on Tuesday, during which Kim said his historic summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in June had improved regional stability and raised hopes for further progress.

A joint statement expected from the two leaders at the conclusion of their talks on Wednesday will provide clues to whether negotiations between North Korea and the United States over dismantling Pyongyangs nuclear programs could regain momentum.

The outcome will also be a litmus test for another meeting Kim has recently proposed to Trump.

Kim pledged to work toward the complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula during his first meeting with Moon in the Demilitarised Zone that separates the two Koreas in April, and at his summit with Trump in June.

But discussions over how to implement the vague commitments have since faltered, with Washington demanding concrete action toward denuclearization by North Korea before agreeing to a key goal of Pyongyang - declaring an end to the 1950-53 Korean War.

Pyongyang has given no indication it is willing to give up its nuclear arsenal unilaterally and is seeking relief from tough international sanctions.

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert told a news briefing on Tuesday that Washington hoped the latest North-South summit would bring about meaningful, verifiable steps toward the denuclearization of North Korea and called it a historic opportunity for Kim to follow through on commitments he made at his June summit with Trump.

Nauert said the United States would continue to consult very closely and carefully and regularly with the South Koreans during their meetings in North Korea.

This weeks summit, the third between Kim and Moon this year, is intended to craft concrete steps to implement the Panmunjom Declaration, named after the border village where they first met, Seoul officials said.

The two Koreas are also working to adopt a separate military accord aimed at defusing tensions and preventing armed clashes between the old foes, which are technically still at war because the 1950-1953 Korean War ended with a truce, not a peace treaty.

The neighbors have already agreed to withdraw some guard posts and equipment, in a bid to transform the worlds most heavily fortified border into a no-weapons area.

What were trying to achieve is irreversible, lasting peace. We want to move towards a new era based on the existing agreement, not a new declaration, Moons press secretary Yoon Young-chan told a news briefing on Tuesday.

According to aides to Moon, Trump has asked Moon to be chief negotiator between himself and Kim, after the U.S. president canceled a trip to Pyongyang by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo last month citing lack of progress in nuclear talks.

The United States is pressing countries to strictly observe U.N. sanctions aimed at choking off funding for Pyongyangs nuclear and ballistic missile programs, which are a threat to the United States.

This will be a likely theme when Pompeo hosts a meeting of the U.N. Security Council on North Korea on Sept. 27 on the sidelines of the annual U.N. General Assembly.

Traveling with Moon in North Korea are South Korean business tycoons, who met North Korean Deputy Prime Minister Ri Ryong Nam, who is in charge of economic affairs on Tuesday. Seoul officials said they did not expect any specific joint economic projects to be agreed given international sanctions.

Pyongyang says it has destroyed its main nuclear and missile engine test site, and has halted atomic and ballistic missile tests, but U.S. officials and analysts believe it is continuing to work on its weapons plans clandestinely.

South Korea is pinning high hopes on Kims remarks to Moons special envoys earlier this month that he wanted to achieve denuclearization within Trumps first term in office ending in early 2021, although Kim at the same time stressed that Washington must reciprocate his initial goodwill gestures.

While Moon has expressed his desire to agree on a concrete plan on denuclearization, we believe that the two nations still differ on this concept, said Anwita Basu, an analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit.

In previous, failed talks, North Korea has said it could consider giving up its nuclear program if the United States provided security guarantees by removing troops from South Korea and withdrawing its so-called nuclear umbrella of deterrence from the South and Japan.

U.S. officials involved in the latest negotiations have said North Korea has refused to even start discussions about defining denuclearization.

Overall, the third inter-Korean summit will probably have the most concrete outcome and will set the tone for any future summits between Kim and Trump, said Basu.At least seven people were killed and 15 others injured after a bus plunged into a ravine in the southern El Oro province of Ecuador on Tuesday, according to Ecuador's Transit Commission (CTE), Xinhua reported.

"We are currently attending the accident in Balsas with the resources of the CTE," said its director Luis Valenzuela on Twitter.

According to the report of the Integrated Security Service ECU 911, the bus was traveling on the El Oro-Loja road early Tuesday morning when it fell into a ravine at the San Jose sector of the Balsas canton.

Three police patrol units and two groups of rescuers arrived at the scene to help the injured, said Valenzuela.

Authorities have not yet disclosed the cause of the accident.

Tuesday's tragedy came barely two days after an accident in the Colta canton, in the Andean province of Chimborazo of central Ecuador, which claimed fives lives and left 23 injured.

Traffic accidents are one of the major causes of death in Ecuador, which is mainly resulted from the incompetence of drivers and speeding, according to authorities.North Korea and South Korea signed an agreement in defence sector as well as a joint statement following the results of the summit in Pyongyang, Sputnik reported.

Leaders of North Korea and South Korea have signed a joint agreement following the summit in Pyongyang. Also, the agreement in military sphere was signed by South Korean Defense Minister, Song Young-moo, and North Korean Defense Minister of People's Armed Forces, No Kwang Chol in the presence of the two states' leaders. There was no immediate elaboration on the content of the military document.

The meeting of the nations' leaders took place on Wednesday in the "one-on-one" format in the official residence for the honorable guests. The persons accompanying the leaders were waiting for the end of their conversation in the corridor.

Earlier, a spokesperson for Seoul administration confirmed that DPRK and South Korea would sign a military agreement and a joint statement after the summit.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in is on a three-day visit in Pyongyang, which the first visit by a president of South Korea to Pyongyang in nearly 11 years, as former president Roh Moo-hyun travelled to North Korea back in October 2007.

During South Korean President's visit it was planned that the leader would twice hold talks with Kim Jong-un and discuss further improvement of relations, denuclearization and development of dialogue between North Korea and the United States.Pakistan always stands by Saudi Arabia, Prime Minister Imran Khan told Arabiya TV on Wednesday, during a visit to the kingdom, Reuters reports.

Saudi Arabia helped Pakistan when Pakistan needed help, he also said, according to tweets from the Saudi-based network.

Khan arrived on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia where, comments from his finance minister suggest, he would be seeking financial help to stave off the likelihood of another IMF bailout.Slovenia Prime Minister Marjan Sarec said on Wednesday he believed a deal with Britain over its withdrawal from the European Union was possible as long as London supported it, Reuters reported.

We hope there will be a deal. There is even a chance in October ... but well see. Its not just one negotiator - if Britain also support this... its possible, he told reporters on arriving at a summit with fellow EU leaders.Russia is considering plans of opening a consulate general in northeastern Chinas Harbin, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday, TASS reports.

"Now we are also studying the issue on opening the consulate general in Harbin since this is envisaged by an intergovernmental agreement with China signed on September 3, 2015," Zakharova said, commenting on the plans of opening new diplomatic missions.

In late July, a decision was made on opening the consulate general in Thailands resort of Phuket, the diplomat noted.

"Its opening is set to ensure more efficient protection of rights and legal interests of Russian citizens, who temporarily stay in Thailands southern provinces situated quite far from Bangkok," she said. The opening date depends on solving a number of financial and technical issues.

The opening of new diplomatic missions depends on "the current state and prospects of developing political, economic, humanitarian and other bilateral ties, as well as the intensity of tourist flow to certain regions of the foreign state," she said.Russian President Vladimir Putins opinion of the loss of the Ilyushin-20 plane over the Mediterranean relies on the Defense Ministrys information, while Israels arguments are still to be examined by Russian specialists, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the media, TASS reports.

"Our Defense Ministry and General Staff have information about every minute and every second of all flights in that area, first and foremost, about our planes flight. It is this information that the president relies on," Peskov said.

He recalled that Putin in a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Tuesday accepted Israels proposal a delegation of experts under the Israeli Air Force Commander-in-Chief would bring its own data regarding the Ilyushin-20 incident to Moscow.

"For the time being they [Israels data] have not arrived. Our experts will certainly study them," Peskov said.

Asked if the Syrian side has shared its own data, Peskov said he knew nothing about that and the question should be addressed to the Defense Ministry. Asked if Syrias President Bashar Assad had phoned Putin, Peskov answered in the negative, but remarked that there had been an official statement by Damascus on that score.Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 19

By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:

There is no economic crisis in Turkey, Turkish media reported citing the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sept. 19.

According to Erdogan, there are forces within Turkey, that are interested in economic crisis.

"From now on, all financial transactions in Turkey will be conducted in the national currency. Here isn't the US for us to use US dollars," Erdogan said.

Relations between Washington and Ankara have recently deteriorated because of the case of US pastor Andrew Brunson detained in 2016 by the Turkish authorities.

This is while US President Donald Trump said that he authorized double increase in tariffs for aluminum and steel from Turkey - up to 20 percent and 50 percent, respectively. This decision caused the fall of the Turkish lira to historic low.

The court of the Turkish city of Izmir on August 17 again refused to release the American pastor from the house arrest whom Turkey suspects aiding the coup attempt in 2016.

On August 1, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu and Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul, because Turkey did not allow Branson to return home. The Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned the US decision and called on the US to abandon it.US President Donald Trump expressed his excitement after North Korean government's statements after inter-korean summit in Pyongyang, Sputnik reported.

North Korea and South Korea signed a joint statement as well as an agreement in military sector following the results of the summit in Pyongyang.

Donald trump took to Twitter to praise the statements after the summit: "Kim Jong-un has agreed to allow Nuclear inspections, subject to final negotiations, and to permanently dismantle a test site and launch pad in the presence of international experts. In the meantime there will be no Rocket or Nuclear testing. Hero remains to continue being returned home to the United States. Also, North and South Korea will file a joint bid to host the 2032 Olympics. Very exciting!" the US president tweeted.

The leaders of two Koreas signed earlier a joint statement after their meeting, which said that Pyongyang decided to fully dismantle its rocket testing field in Tonchkhan-ni as well as to dismantle its nuclear reactor in Yonbyon. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said that both nations agreed to make efforts to denuclearize the peninsula.

The nations' defense ministers also sign a military agreement, agreeing to withdraw servicemen from the demilitarised zone and disarm personnel in Panmunjom truce village, as well as to to create a 80-kilometre zone free from military exercises in Yellow Sea and Sea of Japan.

Seoul and Pyongyang also agreed to send joint team to 2020 Olympic games and to submit joint bid to host 2032 games.Seattle, Wash., Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GreaterGood.org is partnering with Elanco Animal Health, a subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) to send two 53-foot long trailers (donated by Daum Trucking) carrying medical supplies to serve up to 300,000 dogs and cats. This massive donation of veterinary supplies for the pet victims of the storm includes pain medication, vaccines, heartworm preventative, flea/tick preventative and chewable antibacterial tablets.



When tragedy strikes, its important that we all work together to help those in need, said Liz Baker, Executive Director of GreaterGood.org. We are extremely grateful for the support from Elanco that will help us provide immediate medical attention to the thousands of pets displaced and injured by Hurricane Florence.



Flooding can increase the risk of certain diseases such as leptospirosis, a bacteria that gets into the water and can lead to kidney or liver failure in dogs. Additionally, the stress experienced by displaced dogs and cats coming together in shelter areas increases the risk of upper respiratory infections and other disease. Vaccines help reduce the opportunity for disease to spread among the animals, especially while they are in temporary close quarters.



We are humbled to be able to provide assistance to pets, their owners, and veterinarians during this time, said Dr. Tony Rumschlag, Director, Elanco U.S. Companion Animal Consulting Veterinarians. "Our goal is to help the animals separated from their families and in shelters remain healthy and avoid infection and disease."



These much-needed veterinary supplies are being distributed through mobile hubs to animal shelters and welfare organizations housing pets impacted by the storm. Additionally, Rescue Bank, a Signature Program of GreaterGood.org, is providing truckloads of food for thousands of pets along with other items such as like bowls, leashes and crates.



For a full list of disaster relief efforts made possible by GreaterGood.org to help pets and people impacted by Hurricane Florence and to learn how to support them, please visit:

https://greatergood.org/hurricane-florence-response/

About GreaterGood.org

GreaterGood.org is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that works to improve the health and well-being of people, pets, and the planet. Over the last 10 years, GreaterGood.org has given over $150 million in cash, and in-kind grants to over 5,000 charitable partners worldwide. To learn more, visit GreaterGood.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.com

About Elanco Animal Health

Founded in 1954, Elanco provides comprehensive products and knowledge services to improve animal health and food-animal production in more than 90 countries around the world. We value innovation, both in scientific research and daily operations, and strive to cultivate a collaborative work environment for more than 5,800 employees worldwide. Together with our customers, we are committed to raising awareness about global food security, and celebrating and supporting the human-animal bond. Our worldwide headquarters and research facilities are located in Greenfield, Indiana. Visit us at Elanco.com.



# # #

AttachmentsTo share with friends and brethren The Gospel of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (the Everlasting Gospel), and to prepare a people to stand when He returns to redeem His remnant. Also, to share relevant information of current events, and to show how they relate to prophecy; By means of articles, editorials, opinions, scripture readings, and poetry.

Disclaimer

Endrtimes does not necessarily endorse or agree with every opinion expressed in every article/video posted on this site. The information provided here is done so for personal edification; It's up to the reader to separate truth from error, and to examine everything (like the Bereans) from a Biblical perspective. Let the Holy Scriptures be you guide! - - - FAIR USE NOTICE: These pages/videos may contain copyrighted () material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Such material is made available to advance understanding of ecological, POLITICAL, HUMAN RIGHTS, economic, DEMOCRACY, scientific, MORAL, ETHICAL, and SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES, etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior general interest in receiving similar information for research and educational purposes.KYODO NEWS - Sep 19, 2018 - 19:52 | Urgent, Feature, All

A man fatally stabbed a police officer at a police box in a northeastern Japan city early Wednesday before being shot dead by another officer, police said.

The man, identified by the police as Yuta Aizawa, a 21-year-old university student in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, visited the Higashi-Sendai police box in the city, around 4 a.m., telling 33-year-old senior officer Hiroaki Seino he had come to hand over lost cash.

A few minutes later, a 47-year-old police sergeant who was in a separate room heard shouting and found Seino and the attacker drenched in blood.

The sergeant warned the man to drop his weapons and shot once, but as the man continued to approach him, he fired two more times, according to the police.

Both Seino and the man were later pronounced dead at a hospital.

Seino had stab wounds in several places on his body including his chest and abdomen.

Aizawa used a kitchen knife with a 20-centimeter blade to stab Seino. He also had scissors, a box cutter and a screw driver in his waist bag when he arrived at the police box. A toy machine gun was also left at the scene.

(Hiroaki Seino)

[Photo courtesy of Miyagi prefectural police]

Two other police officers were inside the police box at the time.

The police said they judged the older officer's use of his gun to be appropriate.

Seino joined the police force in October 2013 and had been stationed at the police box since April last year, according to the police.

The National Police Agency directed the police headquarters in all prefectures across the country to strengthen their security measures such as ensuring the wearing of knife-proof protective clothing all the time and placing enough officers at police boxes.

With a junior high school located across the street from the police box in a largely residential area, people expressed shock at the incident.

A 77-year-old woman who lives nearby said she is always greeted by police officers there. "I felt secure because the police box was close but I never imagined something like this could happen."

It is the latest in a string of attacks at police boxes in Japan this year. In June, a former Self-Defense Forces member stabbed a police officer to death at a police box in the central Japan city of Toyama and fatally shot a security guard at a nearby elementary school with the gun he took from the officer.

In April, a police sergeant was shot and killed by a fellow officer at a police box in the western city of Hikone, Shiga Prefecture.KYODO NEWS - Sep 19, 2018 - 16:17 | Arts, All, Japan

An artist filed a lawsuit Wednesday against a local merchant association in the western Japan prefecture of Nara, alleging it had plagiarized one of his works featuring a telephone box filled with dozens of swimming goldfish.

Nobuki Yamamoto, a 62-year-old artist from Iwaki in northeastern Japan's Fukushima Prefecture, is demanding compensation of 3.3 million yen ($30,000) from the association for displaying a similar phone box in a shopping district in the city of Yamatokoriyama.

Yamatokoriyama is known for its abundance of goldfish farms and as host of a nationwide goldfish scooping competition, a popular event at summer festivals in Japan.

(Yamamoto's work on the right) [Supplied photo]

The plaintiff claims the telephone box in the shopping district "has a similar exterior" to his and is "a duplicate" of his creation.

"I want it recognized that I have copyrights to my creation and want it displayed as an original piece," said Yamamoto at a press conference after filing his complaint.

According to the complaint filed with the Nara District Court, Yamamoto had created his art work around 2000 and had later displayed it in various galleries.

Yamamoto has lodged protests since 2013 when he found that the telephone box was being displayed at an event in the shopping district.

The merchant association denied the allegation but removed the telephone box in April to avoid complications over copyright issues.By Tomoyuki Tachikawa and Dahee Kim, KYODO NEWS - Sep 19, 2018 - 20:17 | World, All

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Wednesday pledged to permanently dismantle his country's major nuclear complex if the United States takes reciprocal actions, in talks with South Korean President Moon Jae In.

At the two-day summit in Pyongyang, held amid a deadlock in denuclearization negotiations between the three countries, Kim also promised to visit Seoul "in the near future," possibly by the end of this year.

If realized, Kim would be the first North Korean leader to travel to the South Korean capital.



[Pyeongyang Press Corps]

Kim reconfirmed the importance of close cooperation in achieving "complete" denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula, which was agreed in June between him and U.S. President Donald Trump in return for security guarantees from Washington.

"We have agreed to make positive efforts to make the Korean Peninsula a land of peace that has no nuclear weapons and nuclear threat," Kim said at a press conference with Moon after they signed a joint declaration.

Moon said, "The South and North have agreed on ways to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula for the first time. It is a very meaningful achievement."

Trump is struggling to convince Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear and missile programs without any preconditions, but the U.S. president tweeted the outcome of the latest summit was "Very exciting!"

In May, North Korea dismantled Punggye-ri, its only known nuclear test site. By committing to taking additional denuclearization measures, Kim appears to be trying to reopen negotiations with Trump.



(Joint press conference)

[Pyeongyang Press Corps]

In addition to showing his readiness to shut down the nuclear complex in Yongbyon in the country's northwest, Kim pledged to permanently close North Korea's key missile test site in Tongchang-ri in the presence of international experts.

The two Koreas agreed to operate a joint military committee to discuss how to avoid conflicts and a number of agreements between him and Moon on bilateral issues, written in the declaration, also included resuming industrial and tourism projects when conditions are met and seeking to co-host the 2032 Summer Olympics.

A jointly-run industrial park at the North Korean border city of Kaesong and tours by South Koreans to the North's Mt. Kumgang resort were suspended when tensions between the two divided countries escalated.

[Pyeongyang Press Corps]

Moon, who has expressed willingness to serve as a broker between the United States and North Korea, is scheduled to hold a meeting with Trump on Monday in New York on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, according to South Korea's presidential office.

Moon is expected to brief Trump on the latest inter-Korean summit.

At their talks the previous day, Kim thanked Moon for his role in coordinating the historic summit in Singapore, indicating his eagerness to continue talks with Washington.

Moon's three-day visit to Pyongyang from Tuesday -- the first by the South Korean president in 11 years -- came amid doubts over whether North Korea really intends to get rid of its nuclear arsenal.

The United States has criticized North Korea for not doing enough to fulfill the agreement made at the June 12 summit in Singapore.

Although Trump has called on Pyongyang to give up all its nuclear weapons immediately, Kim has apparently been attempting to win rewards for each step it takes in the denuclearization process.

Trump expresses excitement over latest inter-Korean summit

North Korea has been aiming to break the deadlock in negotiations with the United States with the backing of South Korea, foreign affairs experts say.

With expectations growing that a second summit between Trump and Kim may take place by the end of this year, observers say Moon might have convinced the North Korean leader to make some concessions.

Kim has also cozied up to Moon to obtain economic aid from Seoul, as North Korea's economy is believed to be suffering from international sanctions designed to curtail its development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.

The United States worries that South Korea may be inclined to provide the support North Korea wants, lessening the impact of the economic sanctions.

Relations between the two Koreas significantly improved after Kim sent athletes to the Pyeongchang Winter Games hosted by the South and for the first time in Olympic history, they formed a unified team.

Before the summit in the capital of North Korea, Moon and Kim met twice, in April and May, at the truce village of Panmunjeom.

At their first summit on April 27, the two Korean leaders issued the Panmunjeom Declaration calling for efforts to declare a formal end to the 1950-1953 Korean War by the end of this year, as well as denuclearization.

In the war, U.S.-led multinational forces fought alongside South Korea against North Korea, which was backed by China and the Soviet Union. Hostilities ceased with an armistice agreement signed on July 27, 1953, by the U.N. Command, North Korea's military and Chinese armed forces.KYODO NEWS - Sep 18, 2018 - 21:47 | All, World

Japan and Britain agreed Tuesday to deepen security cooperation to ensure stability in Asia as challenges remain for North Korea's abandonment of its nuclear weapons and missiles and the implementation of U.N. sanctions against Pyongyang.

During talks in Tokyo, Foreign Minister Taro Kono and British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt also stressed the importance of stronger economic ties as promoters of free trade.

"The U.K. and Japan are global strategic partners sharing fundamental values," Kono told Hunt at the outset of the meeting, expressing hope to take the bilateral relationship to "the next stage."

Japan and Britain will step up coordination over issues related to North Korea, particularly over its ship-to-ship transfers of goods in violation of U.N. sanctions, Kono said at a joint press conference with Hunt.

Japan and Britain have been strengthening defense cooperation, with the Maritime Self-Defense Force conducing joint drills with the Royal Navy in the Indo-Pacific region.

(Jeremy Hunt (L) and Taro Kono)

At the press conference, Hunt said such developments show Britain's "enduring commitment to the stability of East Asia and the Pacific."

The first face-to-face meeting for Kono and Hunt came amid growing concern about a "no-deal Brexit," a scenario in which Britain leaves the European Union without an agreement.

Kono said he asked Hunt to ensure "predictability and transparency" in Brexit negotiations and expressed hope for closer economic ties after Britain leaves the European Union in 2019.

Japan and the European Union signed a free trade agreement in July. Tokyo has hailed Britain's interest in joining the 11-member Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade accord.

"The U.K and Japan are both champions of free trade," Hunt said, adding that they have been making "good progress" in creating a new bilateral economic relationship as agreed by their countries' leaders.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told Hunt that Japan will cooperate with Britain in promoting free and fair trade and the rule of law at sea.KYODO NEWS - Sep 19, 2018 - 19:24 | World, All

North and South Korea agreed Wednesday to take a set of measures to ease military tension between them and further improve their ties, as their leaders met for their third summit talks this year.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un promised South Korean President Moon Jae In to visit Seoul later this year, the two Koreas said in a statement signed by the two on the second day of their summit in Pyongyang, dubbed the "September Pyongyang Joint Declaration."

"I asked Chairman Kim to visit Seoul and he promised to do so," Moon said at a joint news conference with Kim after their talks, adding that Kim will be the first-ever North Korean leader to visit the South Korean capital.

(Pyeongyang Press Corps)

Besides Kim's Seoul visit, the two leaders agreed to connect railways and roads between the two Koreas to develop their economy in a balanced manner and increase exchanges between their peoples, with work set to begin by year's end.

North and South Korea also agreed to resume operations at the Kaesong industrial park, just north of the border, and to restart a tourism project at Mt. Kumgang, a resort area on the North Korea's east coast near the border, once the right conditions are set.

Many South Korean manufacturing firms operated in the industrial park as part of an inter-Korean economic cooperation project until it was shut down in February 2016 amid worsening ties between the two Koreas.

The Mt. Kumgang tourism project was suspended in 2008 after a North Korean soldier shot dead a South Korean tourist after she allegedly strayed into an off-limits military zone while on an early morning stroll along the beach.

Top military officials of the two Koreas separately signed a set of agreements containing concrete measures that are aimed at easing military tension at the heavily fortified border.

(Pyeongyang Press Corps)

Among the agreements is removing guard posts set up by each Korea within 1 kilometer of the Military Demarcation Line dividing the two sides, before eventually withdrawing all within the Demilitarized Zone.

The Koreas also agreed to disarm the Joint Security Area in Panmunjeom, a border village split by the demarcation line and patrolled by South Korean and U.S. troops, on one side, and North Korean soldiers, on the other.

North and South Korea will also halt all drills near the demarcation line, starting on Nov. 1, in a bid to prevent any type of provocation from either side.

After announcing the outcome of their summit, Moon and Kim went to Okryugwan, a Pyongyang restaurant famous for its cold noodles.

In the first Moon-Kim summit back in April, the restaurant's head chef and other staff of the restaurant traveled to Panmunjeom with noodle-making machines to serve the dish as requested by Moon.It said the only permanent solution for removing the "eternal threat owing to the safety concerns" of the dam and for protecting the safety the people living in the downstream of Mullaperiyar dam, is to build a new dam in the downstream reaches of the existing dam.

Stopping the Collapse



Berlin Softens Tone on Turkey



Germany has gone soft on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan since he became the subject of attacks by U.S. President Donald Trump. Leaders in Berlin are concerned that any instability might spread to Europe -- and they want to send a message to the American government. By DER SPIEGEL Staff





German Chancellor Angela Merkel with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in 2016





Officials in Berlin political circles have often complained about Turkey's president.



There was the spring of 2017, when he accused the German government of adopting Nazi methods. Or when he explained to "his" compatriots, Turkish-Germans, in the German election that they shouldn't vote for the center-right Christian Democrats (CDU), because they were "enemies of Turkey." Or when he stayed silent after the Turkish press depicted German Chancellor Angela Merkel with a Hitler moustache.



Now, members of the German government are describing another president's behavior as "outrageous" and "primitive" -- not Recep Tayyip Erdogan but Donald Trump, who picked a quarrel with Turkey and imposed duties and sanctions on the country, sending the Turkish lira into a tailspin.



Government officials argue that everyone knows the Turks don't allow themselves to be intimidated like that. Ultimately, Trump will fail to secure the release of the imprisoned American pastor Andrew Brunson, they argue, and he will instead poison relations between Turkey and the West.



Now, it's Trump of all people who is pushing Germany and Turkey back together.



The looming collapse of the Turkish economy is a genuine dilemma for the German government. It doesn't want the Turkish economy to fall deeper into crisis, no matter what. "If Turkey becomes unstable, we'll have a huge problem in Europe," claim sources close to Merkel. They are worried about potential consequences for the eurozone and the German economy, about the 3 million Turks living in Germany and about the possible unraveling of the deal with Ankara that is preventing more refugees from making their way to Europe.



If it becomes necessary to act, officials in the German government argue, Germany will be at the front of the line.



On the other hand, the German government has little inclination to help a man who only recently compared them to Nazis. Hardly anything would be less popular among the Germans than sending taxpayers' money to the autocrat in Ankara.



When Andrea Nahles, the head of the center-left Social Democrats (SPD), raised the possibility of German aid for Turkey, it was followed by a prompt denial from the government. German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz of the SPD also had little enthusiasm for the idea.



The fact of the matter is that many in Berlin believe Nahle's suggestion was premature, but not fundamentally incorrect. Government spokesperson Steffen Seibert also didn't broadly exclude the possibility of aid for Turkey. For the time being, everyone is pinning their hope in Turkey's "self-healing powers." But if they don't suffice, it seems clear that Berlin won't simply sit back and watch.



For now, German aid to Turkey has been restricted to rhetorical assistance. German politicians are outdoing one another in stressing Turkey's immense importance as a partner for Germany and Europe. Chancellor Angela Merkel also emphasized Germany's interest in a stable and "prosperous Turkey."



In Ankara, the government happily took note of Berlin's fawning words, which noticeably calmed the markets. "Merkel's words were worth gold to us," says one of Erdogan's advisers.



A Softer Tack



At the same time, the German government set in motion an unprecedented round of phone calls and visits. Finance Minister Olaf Scholz demonstratively invited his Turkish counterpart and Erdogan's son-in-law Berat Albayrak to Berlin. Even before President Erdogan embarks on his visit with full military honors to Berlin in four weeks, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) will travel to Ankara. He will meet with his Turkish counterpart Melvut Cavusoglu and Parliamentary President Binali Yildirim and possibly even Erdogan himself. Economics Minister Peter Altmaier (CDU) is planning a visit to Turkey a few weeks later.



The German government wants the softer new approach to Turkey to send a message -- to Donald Trump and the markets. But for Merkel, any German support for Erdogan puts her in an awkward position. Since the refugee deal, the chancellor has been accused of having allowed herself to be blackmailed by Erdogan. When she visited the Turkish president during her election campaign, widespread criticism followed. And when she didn't condemn Erdogan's charge against Jan Bohmermann -- a German comedian who wrote a purposely insulting poem in 2016 targeting the Turkish leader to test German censorship laws -- many people assumed it was a concession to the man keeping the refugees from entering Europe. It doesn't help the chancellor that voters with Merkel's CDU are particularly critical of Erdogan.



This makes Turkey even more satisfied with Merkel's handling of the crisis. Erdogan's adviser says the president feels validated in his assumption that, when in doubt, the Germans won't leave the Turks hanging. He is convinced that, given the millions of Syrian refugees his country has taken in, he can place pressure on Germany. "If Turkey sinks into chaos, it's not the U.S. that will suffer, but first and foremost Europe," says a Turkish government politician.



At the same time, Erdogan doesn't want to portray himself as a supplicant, making it unlikely he will publicly ask the German government for any financial aid. The symbolic support from Germany is, for now at least, more important to the Turkish leader.



Government experts believe financial aid for Ankara is theoretically possible, but not bilaterally and without conditions. The line right now goes that direct financial aid cannot and will not happen. "We have few tough instruments for helping Turkey," says one official who is involved. In the Finance Ministry, officials are also saying that the European safety net, the European Stability Mechanism, cannot be used to help the country because Turkey isn't a member of the eurozone.



In the coming talks with his Turkish counterpart Albayrak, Scholz wants to urge Turkey to seek assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). People in the ministry argue this is the normal channel for dealing with the kinds of turbulence Turkey is currently experiencing.



Psychological Factors



People close to Erdogan are excluding the possibility that the president will ask the IMF for a bailout. Erdogan has repeatedly boasted of having revived the economy after the dire 2001 crisis and of making Turkey independent from the West. If he asks for help from the IMF as his predecessor did, it would be tantamount to an admission of failure. "Erdogan would be more willing to accept a national bankruptcy than to submit himself to the IMF," says a Turkish government politician.



That's why officials in Berlin are looking for other ways to help the Turkish economy. Finance Minister Scholz, for example, could imagine the Europeans adopting joint measures to spur investment in Turkey. Plenty of opportunities exist, especially in the tourism sector.



The summer 2017 decision to limit the state guarantees for exports to Turkey has been lifted, and the Foreign Ministry also recently downgraded warnings for people traveling to Turkey.



The German government has also requested that the Turkish government convene a meeting of the German-Turkish Economic Commission, which was founded in 2013 but has never held a meeting.



Since economics is half psychology, the German government wants to do everything in its power to calm the financial markets. It is worried the stability of the eurozone might once again be jeopardized as a result of the Turkish economic crisis. For German banks, the lira's weakness doesn't pose a huge risk because they only have about 21 billion euros in outstanding loans to Turkish companies. But it is dangerous for Spanish financial institutions, which have lent 69 billion euros. The first euro crisis was caused by, among other things, bankrupt banks with bad loans on their books.



But the German government also wants something back in return for its support. It has communicated to Ankara in various ways that the seven Germans still being held in Turkey for political reasons, partly without charges, must be freed. The lifting of the ban on Turkish-German journalist Mesale Tolu leaving Turkey on Monday is being viewed as an early sign of compromise by the German government, and as an indication that further decisions in this vein can be expected in the near future. If that happens, German government sources say, it is also feasible that Germany would stop blocking negotiations in the EU for a customs union with Turkey.



It remains questionable whether Erdogan will be willing to make concessions under pressure. The president suspects that his power will erode if the economic situation further deteriorates. But he still doesn't have the will to raise interest rates or to reduce state expenditures, as most economists are suggesting. Erdogan wants to be able to boast of growth numbers in the regional elections in early 2019, and is blocking any reform that might curb growth for this reason. He believes he can sit out the crisis.



His people also make it clear that Erdogan will not back down in a fight with Trump. To release pastor Andrew Brunson, who has been in jail since 2016 because of purported links to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and preacher Fetullah Gulen because of outside pressure would be a sign of weakness, which is unfathomable for the Turkish leader. As such, the Turkish government is lining up allies in Europe and Asia with the goal of isolating Trump in the conflict.



In this respect, Germany holds special importance for Turkey, and Erdogan is demonstratively seeking to close ranks with the German government. As a first step, he has instructed all his ministers to dial down their verbal attacks against Germany. "Erdogan is a pragmatist," says a Turkish government politician. "He knows that he can't go up against Europe and the U.S at the same time."



Finance Minister Scholz also believes the newfound proximity to Turkey is necessary for geopolitical reasons. He believes the Europeans need to show President Trump that they will not allow the U.S. to create disruptions in their own backyard without a fight.





By Christiane Hoffmann, Maximilian Popp, Michael Sauga and Christoph SchultThe Diocese of Brooklyn has reached a $27.5 million settlement with four men who were repeatedly abused by a religious teacher at a Roman Catholic church in Clinton Hill, the diocese said Tuesday.

The boys were sexually abused multiple times by 67-year-old Angelo Serrano, the former director of religious education at St. Lucy - St. Patrick Catholic Church. The abuse occurred between 2003 and 2009, when the boys were between the ages of 8 and 12, lawyers said, and involved anal and oral sodomy.

The pastors at the church during that time were Rev. Stephen P. Lynch and the Rev. Frank Shannon. According to court documents, both of them witnessed Serrano acting inappropriately toward young children, but did nothing to intervene.

Each of the four victims will receive $6.87 million, in what's widely believed to be the largest individual settlement ever awarded to minors who were abused by figures within the Roman Catholic Church.

The Diocese of Brooklyn has sought to distance itself from Serrano in the wake of the historic settlement. In a statement sent out Tuesday night, diocese spokesperson Adriana Rodriguez called Serrano a "volunteer" who was "not clergy or an employee of the Diocese or parish," and claimed that the boys were "sexually abused by Angelo Serrano at his private apartment."

According to court documents, however, the abuse occurred inside the church, during an after-school program run by the church, and inside Serrano's apartment, which was in a former church schoolhouse just across the courtyard from the church.

"Serrano had a desk in the church office and he was a CCD teacher, and he was held out by the church as a person in a position of authority," Peter Saghir, one of the attorneys for the four boys, told Gothamist. "This is a church that's served largely underprivileged, immigrant children of families from Latin America. Serrano spoke Spanish and was generally offered as a point person."

"The way he was held up by the church as a trustworthy person is what allowed these families and this person to trust this man," Saghir added.

The abuse began in the years following the sexual-abuse scandal in Boston in 2002, when the church was purportedly implementing mandatory trainings for all clergy members to better protect children. But instead of actual reform, church leaders "willfully ignored glaring signs of danger," the attorney said. In one instance, Father Lynch witnessed Serrano kiss a young boy on the mouth inside the church, but never made any effort to tell Serrano or anyone else that the conduct was inappropriate, according to his deposition.

"The record is clear that Lynch and Shannon had knowledge that for years Serrano often had several boys, including plaintiff, sleep over at his apartment," wrote Justice Loren Baily-Schiffman in 2017, in response to the church's motion to dismiss the case. "In fact, both Lynch and Shannon testified that they visited Serrano on numerous occasions when young boys were present."

The spokesperson for the Diocese in Brooklyn did not respond to a question about whether Lynch or Shannon would be disciplined for the negligence.

Earlier this month, the New York Attorney General's office launched an investigation into the state's eight Catholic dioceses, demanding they turn over "secret or confidential church archives" in order to determine whether or not they helped hide sexual abuse. The investigation is one of several similar inquiries launched across the country following an explosive Pennsylvania grand jury report detailing the abuse of more than 1,000 children by 300 priests.

But as the Catholic Church has faced renewed scrutiny for its handling of abuse allegations, some local advocates are accusing the Archdiocese of New York of refusing to adequately address the ongoing scandal. Felix Cepeda, an advocate for immigration rights and church reform, told Gothamist that he is calling on the archdiocese to make information about clergy sexual abuse allegations public, as the Diocese of San Diego did just last week.

"The Archdiocese should also announce that it will stop lobbying against the [Child Victim's Act] in New York," Cepeda told Gothamist, referring to the church's reported efforts to block a law that would reform the state's highly restrictive statute of limitations on sex abuse crimes. "The church should not be forced to do this by the government. It should support the survivors, not be fighting them on this."

The Archdiocese of New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Victims and anyone with information about abuse can call the hotline at 1-800-771-7755 or file a complaint online at ag.ny.gov/ClergyAbuse.

New Delhi [India], Sep 18 (NT): Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani arrived India on September 19, Wednesday. He will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a number of issues of mutual interest.

Issues pertaining to regional security, trade and India's development work in Afghanistan will also come up for deliberations on round table. The two leaders are likely to review the progress made on the infrastructure work being done by the Indian side in Afghanistan.

During his one-day visit to India, India Foundation which is an independent research centre, will hold a civic reception in his respect.

President of Afghanistan is warmly welcomed by Minister of State Housing and Urban Development Hardeep S Puri upon his arrival in the national capital New Delhi.

Taking to official Teitter handle EAM spokesperson Raveesh Kumar wrote, A strategic partnership since 2011 that has gone from strength to strength! President of Afghanistan, @ashrafghani warmly welcomed by Minister of State Housing and Urban Development @HardeepSPuri upon his arrival in Delhi.

The India visit of Afghani Pres comes just days after both nations agreed to boost cooperation under the New Development Partnership as part of which New Delhi had declared taking up 116 high impact community developmental projects in the war-torn nations.

Worth mention here the decision to enhance cooperation and work in partnership on infrastructure and high impact community development projects had been taken at the third conference of the Joint Working Group on Political and Security Cooperation between India and Afghanistan in Kabul last week.A Brooklyn public high school teacher has been arrested for allegedly coercing minors into sending him sexually exploitative content over the Internet. According to court filings, Jonathan Deutsch, 34, pressured teens and pre-teens to film themselves drinking their own urine, and to share full-frontal nudes.

The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York alleges that Deutsch, an English teacher at Leon Goldstein High School for the Sciences in Manhattan Beach, used fake names to Facebook message hundreds of kids, ultimately engaging at least 45 in sexual conversation. Police took Deutsch into custody on Wednesday, and charged him with five counts of producing child pornography. If convicted, he could face a prison sentence between 15 and 30 years.

"Our children deserve to grow up in a world where they don't have to face overcoming the horrors and scars of sexual abuse," William Sweeney, FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge, said in a statement. "The fact that this suspect was a teacher makes this crime even more egregious." The FBI worked together with the NYPD to apprehend Deutsch.

Court documents say that between January 13th and May 18th, 2017, Deutsch made Facebook accounts under pseudonyms including "Sam Morgan" and "Jay Stern." He then allegedly targeted other users who, based on their profile pictures, he deemed to be minors: Children ranging from 10 to 16 years old. According to the filings, Deutsch typically identified himself as a teacherpurportedly as part of the grooming process, so the children he chatted with would feel more comfortablebut on one occasion, posed as a 14-year-old boy and asked a 10-year-old girl to be "bf gf." Prosecutors say he then solicited explicit pictures from her.

Deutsch allegedly requested and received similar shots from a 13-year-old transgender boy, to whom he described his interests as "drugs and children"; from a 16-year-old girl who, at his specific request, sent videos of herself stripping, masturbating, and peeing into a cup before consuming its contents; and from a 14-year-old girl he said he "loved" and promised to "never leave." He allegedly sent photos of himself to the victims as well. Deutsch's behavior, the filings say, took a "profound emotional and psychological" toll on the victims.

A law enforcement source tells the NY Post that it appears Deutsch did not go after his own students. A spokesperson for the Department of Education told the tabloid that the department "will seek his removal from payroll and termination as soon as legally possible." Leon Goldstein High School for the Sciences did not immediately respond to our request for comment.The Gulf of St. Lawrence has warmed and lost oxygen faster than almost anywhere else in the global oceans. The broad, biologically rich waterway in Eastern Canada drains North America's Great Lakes and is popular with fishing boats, whales and tourists.

A new study led by the University of Washington looks at the causes of this rapid deoxygenation and links it to two of the ocean's most powerful currents: the Gulf Stream and the Labrador Current. The study, published Sept. 17 in Nature Climate Change, explains how large-scale climate change already is causing oxygen levels to drop in the deeper parts of this waterway.

"The area south of Newfoundland is one of the best-sampled regions in the ocean," said first author Mariona Claret, a research associate at the UW's Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and Ocean. "It's also a very interesting area because it's at the crossroads where two big, larger-scale currents interact."

Canada's fisheries agency has tracked rising salinity and temperature in the St. Lawrence region since 1920. Oxygen has only been monitored since 1960, and the declining trend is causing concern.

"Observations in the very inner Gulf of St. Lawrence show a dramatic oxygen decline, which is reaching hypoxic conditions, meaning it can't fully support marine life," Claret said.

Oxygen declines have been seen to affect Atlantic wolffish, Claret said, and threaten Atlantic cod, snow crabs and Greenland halibut that all live in the depths.

"The oxygen decline in this region was already reported, but what was not explored before was the underlying cause," said Claret, who did the work while at Canada's McGill University.

The research confirms a recent study showing that, as carbon dioxide levels rose over the past century due to human emissions, the Gulf Stream has shifted northward and the Labrador Current has weakened. The new paper finds that this causes more of the Gulf Stream's warm, salty and oxygen-poor water to enter the St. Lawrence Seaway.

The new study uses output from NOAA's Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory model, a high-resolution computer model that simulates the world's oceans with a data point every 8 kilometers (5 miles). This simulation took nine months to run using 10,000 computational nodes -- huge, even by the standards of global climate models.

With this precision, eddies and details of the coastline that can influence ocean circulation begin to appear. Model output combined with the historical observations show that as the carbon dioxide levels go up, Gulf Stream water replaces Labrador Sea water in the deeper parts of the St. Lawrence gulf.

The waters carried by the Labrador Current have been churned up by storms in the Labrador Sea, and so air absorbed at the surface is mixed far below the surface. The Gulf Stream, however, is more stratified in stable horizontal layers; the top layer contains oxygen from the air above, but lower layers' oxygen has been consumed by marine life. What's more, the warmer Gulf Stream is equally dense at a greater depth, so deeper, more oxygen-deprived layers from the Gulf Stream follow the same density pathway taken by oxygen-rich near-surface water from the Labrador Current.

"We relate a change in oxygen on the coast to a change in large-scale currents in the open ocean," Claret said.

In the model, the shift in the large-scale ocean circulation causing warming and deoxygenation in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence also corresponds with a decline in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, an ocean circulation pattern known to strongly influence Northern Hemisphere climate.

"Being able to potentially link the coastal changes with the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Current is pretty exciting," Claret added.

Analysis shows that half the drop in oxygen observed deep in the St. Lawrence River is just due to the warmer water, which can't hold as much oxygen. The other half is likely due to other factors, such as biological activity in the two currents and inside the channel. What will happen next is unknown, Claret said. The oxygen levels in the St. Lawrence will depend on much larger questions, she said, like how much carbon dioxide humans will emit into the atmosphere in the coming decades, and how large-scale ocean currents will respond.

###

The research was funded by the European Research Council, the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, the Canada Foundation for Innovation and NOAA. Co-authors are Eric Galbraith at the Autonomous University of Barcelona; Jaime Palter at the University of Rhode Island; Daniele Bianchi at the University of California, Los Angeles; Katja Fennel at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia; Denis Gilbert at Fisheries and Oceans Canada; and John Dunne at NOAA's Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory.

For more information, contact Claret at 206-616-7328 or mclaret@uw.edu.

NOAA grant: NA15NOS4780186; ERC grant: 682602; Spanish Ministry grant: MDM-2015-0552Republican Congressman Chris Collins, who last month was indicted on insider trading charges by federal prosecutors, has re-entered the congressional race, despite initially saying that he would suspend his campaign.

In an email to supporters on Wednesday, the three-term congressman promised to "actively campaign" for re-election and assured Buffalo-area voters that they could count on him to serve if elected. That promise comes five weeks after he was arrested by the FBI, following a year-long investigation into his alleged trading on insider information from an Australian biotech company on whose board he served. He was charged with securities fraud, wire fraud, and making false statements and released on $500,000 bail.

The stakes are too high to allow the radical left to take control of this seat in Congress, Collins wrote in the statement. Their agenda is clear. They want to reverse the recently enacted tax cuts, impose Canadian style healthcare, inflict new job-killing regulations and impeach President Trump."

The western New York representative was the first member of Congress to endorse Donald Trump, and is a frequent defender of the president on cable news.

An Important Update pic.twitter.com/UHL1XNTKhw  Chris Collins (@CollinsNY27) September 19, 2018

The decision comes just as Republicans were planning to reveal a "grand plan" to replace Collins on the ballot, according to the Buffalo News. Erie County Republican Chairman Nicholas Langworthy called the decision a "curveball," adding that there was "a crystal clear way to replace Congressman Collins on the ballot," should he cooperate.

But earlier this week, Collins's attorneys claimed that there was not a straightforward path to remove the congressman from the ballot, due to New York's bewildering election laws. According to state law, a candidate can only be removed from a party's ballot if they die, leave the state, are convicted of a crime, or accept a nomination for another office.

The Times reports that Collins had at first agreed to accept a nomination for a lower officelike a town clerkship or assessors postso that the party could try to find a candidate not so recently arrested by the FBI.

Assuming he does not change his mind again, Collins will face Democratic challenger Nate McMurray, a Grand Island town supervisor. Republicans outnumber Democrats by more than 40,000 registered voters in the district, which Trump carried by more than 24 points.



The Air Force is 71 years old today, and its birthday wish list is a doozy. Saying that growing threats from China and Russia call for a substantial increase in U.S. air power, Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson said Monday that she would like to see 74 more squadrons deployed by 2030.

The current force structure of 312 squadrons is too small to meet even the current mission focused on counterterrorism in the Middle East, Wilson said at the Air Force Associations Air, Space, Cyber Conference outside Washington. Moving forward, the Air Force will be expected to satisfy a more robust set of requirements  including defending the homeland, defeating a peer adversary, providing a nuclear deterrent, dealing with rogue nations and fighting extremists all over the world  that will require a substantially larger force, Wilson said. The massive military exercises recently held in Russia underscore the changing environment.

Adding 74 squadrons (each squadron typically has 12 to 24 aircraft) would require an additional 40,000 personnel, both military and civilian, Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said, leaving the Air Force with a headcount of about 725,000 by 2030, compared to the current projection of roughly 685,000.

Todd Harrison, a defense expert with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said last week that adding 40,000 people to the Air Force payroll would cost about $5.2 billion a year based on current costs, and the increased operational costs would add another $13 billion per year. The cost of the additional aircraft could vary enormously depending on the mix, Harrison added.

While the proposal calls for seven more fighter squadrons, the largest increases would occur in units dedicated to command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; refueling; and combat search and rescue. The bomber fleet would also get a big boost, increasing by more than 50 percent from five to nine squadrons.

The Air Force provided this graphic with a summary of the proposed plan.

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New York State Attorney General Barbara Underwood has referred three major cryptocurrency exchanges to the states Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) for potential violation of New Yorks virtual currency regulations. The exchanges referred are Binance, Gate.io and Kraken. This was revealed in the Virtual Markets Integrity Initiative Report released earlier today by the Office of the New York State Attorney General (OAG).

The report details the concerns initially raised by the OAG about the operations of cryptocurrency exchange platforms, especially regarding security, internal controls, market surveillance protocols, and other relevant consumer and investor protections.

Cat and Mouse Game

Earlier in they year, CCN reported that the OAG sent out a letter with a 34-point questionnaire to 13 crypto exchanges, including some without active operations in New York, asking them to take part in its Virtual Markets Integrity Initiative aimed at fostering greater transparency into their operations. The 13 exchanges addressed were GDAX, Gemini, bitFlyer USA, Bitfinex, Bitstamp USA, Kraken, Bittrex, Poloniex, Binance, Tidex, Gate.io, itBit Trust Company, and Huobi.Pro.

binance cryptocurrency exchange

Following the letter, Kraken CEO Jeff Powell responded with strong words, stating that the OAGs demands showed disrespect and entitlement, and that the letter showed Kraken made the right call to get the hell out of New York three years ago. According to the OAG report, Binance, Huobi, and Gate.io also declined to participate in the initiative, stating that they do not allow trading from New York.

Per the report, the OAG then investigated whether in actual fact these platforms accept no trades from New York State, and based on the results of the investigation, it made the recommendation to forward Kraken, Binance, and Gate.io to the Department of Financial Services for a thorough investigation on possible flouting of the states virtual currency laws.

Story continues

Alarming Response

In the document, the OAG bemoans the lack of regulation and supervision within the crypto exchange ecosystem, singling out Kraken for its alarming response to the initial letter.

An excerpt from the report reads:

The OAG could not review the practices and procedures of non-participating platforms (Binance, Gate.io, Huobi, and Kraken) concerning manipulative or abusive trading. However, the Kraken platforms public response is alarming. In announcing the companys decision not to participate in the Initiative, Kraken declared that market manipulation doesnt matter to most crypto traders, even while admitting that scams are rampant in the industry.

In another significant move, the report also issued a direct warning to customers trading on the four non-participating exchanges, stating that the platforms may have received payment in exchange for listing digital assets, which should inform customers decisions to interact with them in any way.

Images from Shutterstock



The post Cryptocurrency Exchanges Binance, Kraken May Be Operating Unlawfully in New York: AG Report appeared first on CCN.

By Martinne Geller, Pamela Barbaglia and Ben Hirschler

LONDON (Reuters) - Nestle (NESN.S), Unilever (ULVR.L) (UNc.AS) and Coca-Cola (KO.N) are among bidders for GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK.L) Indian Horlicks nutrition business, expected to fetch more than $4 billion, four people familiar with the matter said.

Initial bids were due on Monday and the three consumer goods giants are seen as frontrunners for a business that offers a significant footprint in a fast-growing emerging market.

Even though Indian shoppers have lately been pressured by a currency devaluation and goods and service tax, the country's growing population and rising wealth make it attractive for companies trying to offset weak growth in Western markets.

It was not clear which other companies were bidding, although Reckitt Benckiser (RB.L), a company eager to build up its consumer health operation, did not make an offer, two sources said.

GSK, Nestle, Reckitt and Unilever declined to comment. Officials at Coca-Cola were not immediately available.

Horlicks is a malt-based drink dating back to 1873, when two British-born men, James and William Horlick, founded a company in Chicago to manufacture it. It was taken to India by soldiers who had fought with the British Army in the First World War.

Sold as a bedtime drink in Britain, Horlicks has been developed into a much bigger brand by GSK in India. But the drugmaker started a review of that business and some smaller products, after buying Novartis (NOVN.S) out of their consumer healthcare joint venture for $13 billion in March.

Story continues

GSK Chief Executive Emma Walmsley, who took over last year, is looking to sharpen the focus of what is one of the world's more diversified pharmaceuticals companies.

The main asset on the block is GSK's 72.5 percent stake in its Indian subsidiary GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (GLSM.NS), which is famous for Horlicks but also makes products including the chocolate-flavored malt-based drink Boost.

One source said Nestle was particularly well-suited to buy the business, as the world's biggest packaged food company already owns rival malt drink Milo and has a big presence in India, which bodes well for synergies.

Nestle has told GSK privately of its interest in Horlicks on several occasions over the years, people familiar with the matter told Reuters earlier this year.

For Coke, buying the Horlicks business would mark another multibillion-dollar acquisition, following a deal to buy Costa Coffee for $5.1 billion last month.

GSK is being advised by Morgan Stanley and Greenhill.

The company sold its much smaller UK Horlicks business to Aimia Foods earlier this year for an undisclosed amount.

(Editing by Mark Potter)Potbelly Corporation (PBPB) could be a stock to avoid from a technical perspective, as the firm is seeing unfavorable trends on the moving average crossover front

Investors in Government Properties Income Trust GOV need to pay close attention to the stock based on moves in the options market lately. That is because the Sep 21, 2018 $15.00 Put had some of the highest implied volatility of all equity options today.

What is Implied Volatility?

Implied volatility shows how much movement the market is expecting in the future. Options with high levels of implied volatility suggest that investors in the underlying stocks are expecting a big move in one direction or the other. It could also mean there is an event coming up soon that may cause a big rally or a huge sell-off. However, implied volatility is only one piece of the puzzle when putting together an options trading strategy.

What do the Analysts Think?

Clearly, options traders are pricing in a big move for Government Properties Income shares, but what is the fundamental picture for the company? Currently, Government Properties Income is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) in the REIT and Equity Trust - Other industry that ranks in the Bottom 38% of our Zacks Industry Rank. Over the last 60 days, one analyst has increased the earnings estimate for the current quarter, while one has dropped the estimate. The net effect has taken our Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current quarter from 49 cents per share to 50 cents in that period.

Given the way analysts feel about Government Properties Income right now, this huge implied volatility could mean theres a trade developing. Oftentimes, options traders look for options with high levels of implied volatility to sell premium. This is a strategy many seasoned traders use because it captures decay. At expiration, the hope for these traders is that the underlying stock does not move as much as originally expected.

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Zacks Investment ResearchDozens of people showed up to Boricua Colleges Bronx campus Monday evening to tell representatives from the State Health Department their thoughts on marijuana legalization.

It was the first of five public forums that will be held in each of the boroughs to inform new legislation being drafted by a marijuana legalization work group Governor Andrew Cuomo convened in August. The goal is to introduce a bill for state lawmakers to consider in the upcoming legislative session (although Senator Liz Krueger has already introduced a Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act). The listening sessions kicked off in Albany earlier this month and will continue across the state through mid-October.

Although some who spoke at the forum Monday evening expressed concerns about the public health impact of regulating marijuana like alcohol or cigarettes, most said they strongly supported legalization. But proponents urged the state to take care in designing the new regulations to correct the harms that have been done to communities of color through the lopsided enforcement of marijuana laws thus far, and to ensure that the legal marijuana industry doesnt become dominated by big corporations and venture capital.

Marijuana has been legally available for limited medical purposes in New York since early 2016 but Cuomo didnt signal that he would come around to the idea of legalizing it broadly for adult use until January of this year, noting that several states surrounding New York now either have recreational markets of their own or are likely to have them soon. Cuomo announced the legalization working group after a study he commissioned from the state Health Department on the benefits and drawbacks of legalizing marijuana came out in favor of the move in July.

Recommendations from speakers included reinvesting tax revenue from legal marijuana in job training and education in areas that have been disproportionately affected by marijuana arrests, expunging and sealing peoples criminal records for marijuana offenses and making it easier and less costly to get a license to grow or distribute marijuana than it has been in the states highly restrictive medical program.

Ariel Bizardi, a Bronx resident who works at a housing nonprofit, heard about the forum on Bronx 12. He said he owns property near Syracuse and aspires to participate in the industry as a grower. I grew up in the South Bronx, so I know how the police treated the inner city, Bizardi said. I have friends whose lives were ruined. They couldnt get a job because they smoked a little weed. So when prohibition ends Im looking to create jobs for the same people who were persecuted.

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced in June that the NYPD would stop arresting people for most low-level marijuana offenses after facing mounting criticism over stats showing the overwhelming majority of those arrested in the city were black and Latinx, despite evidence that they use cannabis at roughly the same rate as whites.

However, there are still myriad ways in which the criminal justice system can use marijuana to target those groups that should be addressed when the drug is legalized, said Eli Northrup, an attorney with the Bronx Defenders.

For instance, he said, Law enforcement needs to be prevented from using the odor of marijuana to stop people on the street, a move that he described as the new de facto stop-and-frisk after that practice was officially abandoned.

Any legalization bill must explicitly state that the odor of marijuana does not provide law enforcement with reasonable suspicion to search and arrest somebody, Northrup said.

He added that marijuana use is still often used to justify actions against people in family court, housing court, civil proceedings and immigration proceedings.



The crowd at Monday's listening session (Caroline Lewis / Gothamist)

One Bronx resident said he was concerned that marijuana would be outlawed in public housing projects the way cigarettes have been, and just act as another measure that could perpetuate discriminatory enforcement practices. It shouldnt be against the law for someone to smoke [weed] just like its not against the law for a person to get drunk, as long as its not offending the neighbors, he said.

Some of those who spoke out against marijuana legalization argued that since it would not automatically make the enforcement of marijuana laws equal and fair, that aim shouldnt be used to justify it. Marijuana arrest rates for black and Latinx youth actually rose in Colorado after the drug was legalized for adult use.

Legalization in New York state would really mean commercialization, just as it has in every other state that has legalized, said Ellen Morehouse, a licensed clinical social worker based in Tarrytown, NY, who said she understood the social justice argument but was concerned people would become dependent on marijuana and need drug treatment. Big Marijuana will be Big Tobacco. In most of the states there are coupons, there are advertisements and theres fierce competition.

Northrup, the Bronx Defenders attorney, argues there are limits to the reforms that can be achieved without full legalization, though. For instance, while a district attorney could consent to expunge someones record of a marijuana conviction nowas the Brooklyn DA is doinghe said legalizing marijuana in the right way could make that process much more seamless.

The dates and locations for upcoming listening sessions on marijuana legalization can be found online here.MAS Singapore Blockchain central Bank Monetary Authority of Singapore

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), the countrys central bank, has issued a statement warning people about a website soliciting bitcoin investments that is using comments falsely attributed to Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the MAS chairman and Deputy Prime Minister.

The statements attributed to Tharman on the website are misleading and false, MAS noted, except for his statement that the countrys cryptocurrency trading is low.

The authority urges people to refrain from providing personal or financial information on the website, which encourages people to create a bitcoin account using a bank account or credit card.

Authority Takes Consistent Stance

MAS has noted previously that investing in cryptocurrencies is risky. On Dec. 19, 2017, the authority issued a notice about the risks associated with cryptocurrency. In response to a Parliamentary question on Feb. 5, 2018, Tharman said citizens could lose their shirts investing in cryptocurrencies.

The MAS urges people who are suspicious about an investment to contact law enforcement.

Singapore officials have stepped up their regulatory activity since last year, when the country became seen as a haven for cryptocurrency exchanges and ICOs following Chinas crackdown.

ICOs Draw Concern

In May, the MAS notified eight cryptocurrency trading platforms that it declined to name to become authorized before offering digital token trades for tokens constituting securities or digital tokens. The notice was issued at a time when the number of exchanges and token offerings both have been increasing in the country.

The MAS also halted an ICO at the time, claiming the issuer violated securities law after the central bank found the tokens represented equity ownership in a company and the offering did not have the required MAS registered prospectus.

Last November, the MAS issued a guide to digital token offerings while the central bank was reviewing if more regulations are needed to protect investors from the risk posed by cryptocurrencies.

Featured image from Shutterstock.



The post Singapore Central Bank Flags Website Promoting Bitcoin Scam appeared first on CCN.

YEKATERINBURG, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Russia's VSMPO-Avisma , the world's largest titanium producer, and U.S. planemaker Boeing have launched a new manufacturing unit in Russia's Urals region of Sverdlovsk, a local governor said on social media on Wednesday.

The joint venture (JV) will process titanium forgings for Boeing civilian aircraft, such as the 737 MAX, 787 and 777, and will receive 5.5 billion roubles ($82.3 million) of investment, Evgeny Kuyvashev said.

A Boeing spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. VSMPO-Avisma was not available for comment.

The new unit will operate alongside an existing JV between Boeing and VSMPO-AVISMA which has produced titanium forgings since 2009.

VSMPO-AVISMA supplies Boeing with titanium on long-term contracts. According to the Russian firm, it meets 35 percent of Boeing Commercial Airplanes' demand for the metal.

In April, after the U.S. imposed a new round of sanctions against Moscow, Russian lawmakers called for an end to supplies of titanium to Boeing as a reciprocal measure. However, the proposal was not accepted by the government.

($1 = 66.8250 roubles) (Reporting by Natalia Shurmina, Additional reporting by Eric M. Johnson in Seattle; Writing by Denis Pinchuk; Editing by Mark Potter)The New York Review of Books' controversial "The Fall Of Men" issue has led to the fall of at least one man: editor Ian Buruma, who was widely criticized for publishing and then defending an essay written by disgraced Canadian broadcaster Jian Ghomeshi, has left his position at the magazine.

The decision about Buruma, a longtime contributor to the magazine who became editor just after Labor Day last year following the death of longtime editor Robert Silvers (who founded the NYRB in 1963 with Barbara Epstein), came this morning amidst a flurry of meetings at the magazine. It's unclear whether Buruma decided to resign or was fired.

The piece that seems to have been the lynchpin for Buruma's exit was Ghomeshi's first-person essay titled "Reflections From A Hashtag." Ghomeshi was a popular Canadian radio host who was accused of sexual misconduct, including punching, biting, slapping and choking, by more than 20 women. He was acquitted of multiple sexual assault charges in 2016; he also avoided criminal charges in a separate trial by signing a peace bond and apologizing to his victim.

In the piece, which is already online and appears as the cover story in the magazines Oct. 11th edition, Ghomeshi complained that he had endured "enough humiliation for a lifetime," and was "constantly competing with a villainous version of myself online." NYRB was immediately criticized for publishing the piece, which as the NY Times summarized, allowed Ghomeshi to take on "a self-pitying tone, and soft pedaling of the accusations against him, which included slapping and choking, and had ultimately been brought by more than 20 women, rather than 'several' as Mr. Ghomeshi wrote."

Questions about the genesis and purpose of the piece were posed to Buruma in an interview by Slate writer Isaac Chotiner. He strongly defended the piece even as he revealed a shocking lack of knowledge about the criticisms and Ghomeshi's alleged crimes.

"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," Buruma told Slate. "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?"

Then there was this:

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. ... 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. 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. 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.

If this is all you know then as the editor of the publication it is perhaps your responsibility to make an effort to know more https://t.co/VpdVdno5X6 pic.twitter.com/3kfmngSeKb  Julia Carrie Wong (@juliacarriew) September 14, 2018

It's astounding how profoundly Ian Buruma (& some other men) think "anything short of being convicted of rape in a criminal proceeding" is shrug-worthy. That's the only thing that "counts," everything else is a grey area & doesn't matter much--or at all. I hear this a lot. STILL. https://t.co/Rg7c2jxc6h  Mo Ryan (@moryan) September 14, 2018

Wanna know how male abusers get their comebacks? By having sexist male editors feel bad for them! @ian_buruma characterizes Ghomeshi's behavior - accusations of sexual assault & punching - as "being a jerk", among other gems  Jessica Valenti (@JessicaValenti) September 14, 2018

If, as Ian Buruma insists, the Ghomeshi case amounts to sexual behavior is a many-faceted business, why didnt he run companion essays by the women who were punched, choked, or assaulted? Why is his intellectual curiosity confined to Ghomeshi?  Laila Lalami (@LailaLalami) September 14, 2018

In the wake of this, there were several critical essays about the piece and interview, bemoaning the attempted redemption essays from the likes of Ghomeshi and John Hockenberry, and the gatekeepers like Buruma who were welcoming them.

In an interview with the NY Times last year after taking over as editor, Buruma described the previous regime at NYRB as a monarchy, "and I think perhaps it will be a slightly more democratic operation [now]. Certainly I think Ill be more collaborative. One great strength of The Review at the moment is that it has a number of very, very bright young editors who know more about certain things than I do."

Hey, now he can write his OWN lengthy meditation on being a victim of the purge! https://t.co/lzYbfwZ5Ib  Rebecca Traister (@rtraister) September 19, 2018

So does this work like Highlander and now @IChotiner is the editor of the NYRB  Michael Roston (@michaelroston) September 19, 2018Afghanistans main intelligence agency says its officers have arrested at least 26 suspected members of the extremist group Islamic State (IS), accusing them of plotting attacks on members of the Shi'ite minority.

The militants, including an alleged IS leader, were detained in separate operations in Kabul, the National Directorate of Security (NDS) said on September 18.

A statement said they planned to target Shia during this weeks commemoration of Ashura, the holiest celebration in the Shi'ite religious calendar.

The IS affiliate in Afghanistan has stepped up attacks on minority Shia across Afghanistan.

The group claimed responsibility for a September 9 twin bomb attack at a wrestling club in a predominately Shiite neighborhood of Kabul that killed more than 20 people.

IS militants assert that Shia are apostates who deserve death.

Afghan forces have struggled to combat the Taliban and IS since the United States and NATO formally ended their combat mission in the country in 2014.

In the northern province of Balkh, a local official said on September 18 that nine members of the Afghan police force were killed when another officer shot them at a checkpoint.

Mohammadudin Khanjer, a police official in the district of Char Boldak, said one officer was wounded and three others were missing after the shooting late on September 17.

The attacker was a policeman from another checkpoint in the same district who fled the scene after seizing all weapons from the checkpoint, apparently to join the Taliban, Khanjer said.

The Taliban did not immediately comment on the attack but the militants are active in the area.

Insider attacks, in which members of Afghan security forces or assailants dressed in Afghan uniforms fire on coalition troops, have become less common in recent years but remain a persistent worry.

The U.S. military said one of its servicemen was killed and another was wounded in eastern Afghanistan on September 3 in an attack carried out by a member of the Afghan National Police.

It came nearly two months after a member of a U.S. Army training unit was shot dead by an Afghan soldier in the southern province of Oruzgan.

With reporting by AP and Khaama PressIran's clapperboard crowd has spent the past two decades amassing international audiences and acclaim, as evidenced by prestigious filmmaking awards from Cannes to California.

Directors like Jafar Panahi, Samira Makhmalbaf, and Asghar Farhadi have elevated an already proud cinematic culture and exposed millions of filmgoers around the world to the creativity and filmmaking prowess behind one of Iran's best-known exports.

But despite unprecedented recent success at the Oscars and nominations at some of the world's most discerning film festivals, the industry's arbiters of success are under fire from conservatives for not injecting enough politics into the process.

State media and a hard-line daily with ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) have suggested that the Farabi Cinema Foundation's selection of Vahid Jalilvand's award-winning drama No Date, No Signature to compete in the best foreign-language film category at the 2019 Academy Awards was a mistake, because its bleak portrayal of Iranian life risks playing into the hands of the clerically dominated leadership's biggest critics.

In a commentary titled Iran's Oscar Choice With Trump's Signature, the daily Javan said Jalilvand's "bitter and dark" film "portraying Iranian society as ruins under decay" could compromise national interests at a time of intense U.S. pressure.

A better choice, it suggested, would have been Damascus Time, a drama that puts a more positive spin on Iranian activities in Syria about an Iranian pilot and his son who are captured by Islamic State (IS) militants while trying to deliver humanitarian supplies.

Iran has deployed IRGC commanders and sent thousands of troops and volunteers into neighboring Syria to fight IS and other "terrorists" and to help prop up Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a longtime regional ally derided by the West since his brutal campaign to stomp out street protests in 2011.

More recently, President Donald Trump has unilaterally increased U.S. pressure on Tehran by abandoning a 2015 deal that eased international sanctions in exchange for restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities, reimposing many sanctions, and pledging to punish anyone doing business with Iran.

Iran's already struggling economy has been hit hard and its currency, the rial, has continued to plummet to record lows.

Javan cited a Bloomberg story in May that quoted Trump suggesting that the effectiveness of his policies invited the "question of will they survive" with respect to Iran's political leadership, adding that "under such conditions" Jalilvand's film was an inappropriate entry for an Oscar.

The film No Date, No Signature has been praised by critics as a "visual pleasure" with superb acting, and it won the best actor and best director awards at the 2017 Venice Film Festival. It explores feelings of guilt and culpability through the story of a forensic pathologist who is involved in an accident that he fears might have caused the death of an 8-year-old-child. The answer hints at economic and other divides in Iranian society.

The Farabi Cinema Foundation, which traditionally selects Iran's Oscar entries, said 42-year-old director Jalilvand's film was deemed fit to represent Iran for having been well-received internationally and also due to the efforts of its distributor in the United States helping the movie receive attention and recognition.

Damascus Time was reportedly produced with IRGC funding and has been praised by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and General Qassem Soleimani, who heads the IRGC's elite Quds Force, as highly valuable.

"Can the goal of the U.S. and Trump's bragging against the Islamic establishment and the revolution be anything else than the content of this film?" the daily asked.

Javan argued that by not selecting Damascus Time, the Farabi Cinema Foundation was missing a "golden opportunity" to explain the goals and strategy of Iran's 1979 revolution to an international audience.

'Too Dark'

Iran has seen sporadic protests over the past 10 months, including antigovernment demonstrations that quickly spread to more than 80 cities and towns in December and January.

Farabi Cinema Foundation dismissed calls for "the boycott of the Academy Awards" and described the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as a nongovernmental organization that "belongs to American cineastes."

"Iranian cinema as part of the country's cultural diplomacy can use the participation in the event as an opportunity for strengthening ties between nations, making an impact on the public opinion and pressuring the U.S. government," the foundation said in a statement released on September 14.

State-controlled TV, which plays a major role in the Iranian leadership's censorship efforts, acknowledged the artistic merits of No Date, No Signature but criticized the cinema foundation's choice.

"It's a good and powerful movie with ideal characters, yet it's a film that depicts a dark picture of the Iranian society for outsiders," a film critic told state TV before adding that Iran should instead introduce its many films inspired by the bloody 1980-88 Iran-Iraq War to the world.

Steer Clear Of Politics -- Or Else

Director Asghar Farhadi has won two Oscars for best foreign-language film -- for The Separation in 2011 and The Salesman in 2017. He did not attend the 2017 ceremony to protest a U.S. travel ban that targets Iran and several other mostly Muslim countries.

The Salesman is the story of a young married couple that must cope with trauma resulting from an assault on the wife. The Separation examines a family's difficult choice between moving to another country in search of a better future or staying in Iran and taking care of a parent who suffers from Alzheimer's disease.

Filmmakers living in Iran must work under strict censorship guidelines that, for example, prevent them from criticizing Islamic rules or showing couples touching each other.

Iranian authorities routinely ban award-winning movies from cinemas inside the country.

Many filmmakers steer well clear of politics in favor of social issues. But artists who fall afoul of such guidelines have been persecuted, including in some cases being sentenced to prison terms. They include director Panahi, a Cannes laureate who was banned from making movies or leaving the country over his support for a 2009 protest movement in Iran.

Panahi has made a few movies that have been screened outside the country despite the official ban, including a 2015 film, Taxi, that won the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival. Panahi has also remained outspoken on social media.Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter, and son-in-law have been released from prison after a court suspended their prison sentences in a corruption case.



Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, and Mohammad Safdar were released from Adiala prison in the garrison city of Rawalpindi in the evening on September 19, and were being taken to the airport, officials said.



Television footage showed supporters showering Sharifs vehicle with rose petals after he was freed from the high security prison facility.



Earlier, the Islamabad High Court announced the decision ordering their release on bail pending their appeal hearings.



The court ordered the trio be freed once they each post a bond of 500,000 rupees ($4,000).

Dozens of supporters waiting outside the courtroom chanted "Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif!" after the decision was announced.



"Today's decision is a victory for justice," said former Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif.



Another ex-minister, Ahsan Iqbal, told reporters that the court suspended the decision that was based on revenge."

An accountability court in July sentenced the former leader and his daughter to 10-year and seven-year terms in prison, respectively, over the purchase of luxury apartments in London in the 1990s.

Safdar was given a one-year prison term.

They were also barred from seeking public office for up to 10 years after release.



The three have denied wrongdoing, with Sharif calling the charges political motivated.



He suggested collusion between the countrys powerful military and courts to throw him out of power and destabilize his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party ahead of general elections.



Pakistan Tehrik-e Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan became prime minister after the party won the most parliamentary seats in the July 25 vote.



Sharif, who has served as prime minister for three nonconsecutive terms, was disqualified from office by the Supreme Court last year over corruption allegations.



He was briefly released from prison in Rawalpindi earlier this month for the funeral of his wife, who died from cancer in London.

With reporting by Reuters, AFP, dpa, AP, and DawnReporter

Stephanie Earls is a news reporter and columnist at The Gazette. Before moving to Colorado Springs in 2012, she worked for newspapers in upstate NY, WA, OR and at her hometown weekly in Berkeley Springs, WV, where she got her start in journalism.As 9-year-old Emilio Wehner eyeballs the inch-tall three-dimensional replica of Pikes Peak being created in his computer science classroom, he thinks of the majestic mountain he can see from the playground at GLOBE Charter School.

Ive never been to Pikes Peak, but I know its super tall, the fourth-grader said Tuesday.

Its really cool were making it on a 3D printer. Ive never seen a 3D printer work before.

Two new 3D printers are making technology lessons way funner, Emilio said. Its more advanced than just looking at a projector or working on a typing website.

A $5,000 grant from the Lowes home improvement store at Citadel Crossing is enabling the small elementary school that opened in 1995 to leapfrog into the 21st century.

The machines are helping the school introduce a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) track for all 154 students in kindergarten through sixth grade.

The hope is that standardized math scores, already on an upward trajectory, will continue to rise, and students will begin to consider at a young age what they really want to be when they grow up, Principal Heidi Breakey said.

Were spending $50,000 to $75,000 on technology this year, she said. We want to start students at the elementary level thinking about their life plan and know that technology plays an important role, no matter what they decide.

The grant paid for the two 3D printers; a box of filaments, the colored fibers that build the images; flip cameras so students can record their work and post it on YouTube; headphones; and the software program used to build 3D objects.

GLOBE is the only school to receive such a grant from the Citadel Crossing store this year, Manager Josh Jenssen said.

Schools that are awarded grants get to decide how they want to spend the money, based on their needs, he said.

With more coding and robotics programs and a soon-to-be rewired internet system, GLOBE students will receive not only the basics, but also more advanced computer science concepts, school leaders say.

I love to encourage students to think of why were doing this, said Barbara Reed, a computer science and music teacher.

Fourth-graders are studying Colorado land forms, and the curriculum goes hand-in-hand with making the small 3D image of Pikes Peak, she said. The well-known mountain is the largest example of a land form in Colorado Springs, Reed said.

In designing the Pikes Peak model, students are learning about the mountains history and geographical features, maths spatial awareness and the all-encompassing critical-thinking skills, Reed said.

Sixth-graders are replicating animal cells. Kindergartners, working on how shadows are created, made a tiny Washington Monument they took outside to study in the sunlight. And second-graders are making 3D bugs on the printer and will fashion habitats for them in art class.

Its so cool, Breakey said. The kids are so excited about this.

A 3D printer is like an advanced glue gun that heats unrolling filament to 220 degrees Fahrenheit and melts the material. The object is created through the software program, which slices an image into layers and sends it to the printer. The Pikes Peak model took 18 minutes for the printer to complete.

Fourth-grader Melayna Hooper Randa said she cant wait to make a toy. She already knows what shell create  a tiny, little Captain America.

I love the 3D printer, she said. We get to do a free one of anything we want, and thats what I want. Captain America is a super soldier, and I want to be a soldier when I grow up. Or a detective.

Contact the writer: 719-476-1656WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he feels "terribly" for Judge Brett Kavanaugh, his Supreme Court nominee who could face They dont prepare you to give a concession speech. Outside of politics, what is the equivalent? You cant find it in writing, journalism, or teachingthe fields I worked in before embarking on the wonderful, if exhausting, odyssey of running for office in New York City.

Theres nothing quite like channeling 11 months of your life, 15 hours of every day, and all of your hopes and ambitions into a single endeavor with a binary outcome decided on one rather arbitrary day. In politics, you win or lose. The voters choose you or they dont. And when its done you have to acknowledge the outcomevery publicly.

I walked into our campaign headquarters numb on September 13th. Nearly a year ago, on October 3rd, I had stunned most of the people in my life when I launched a campaign to run for State Senate in Southern Brooklyn. The incumbent, Republican State Senator Marty Golden, was the man I needed to dethrone, but first I had to run in a primary against a Democrat backed by all of the influential elected officials and labor unions in my district.

For a long time, I believed I would win. We recruited hundreds of volunteers, raised over $100,000, and hired a campaign team Im incredibly proud of. We opened a headquarters in Bay Ridge that became a community hub.

And then on September 13th we lost by a little over 2,000 votes to Andrew Gounardes, counsel to Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. It was an effort, in hindsight, I take tremendous pride in, but on the night of our defeat I was dazed. Volunteers and staffers were crying. I stood up and somehow summoned words barely churning in a mind that I felt, in that moment, had gone gray and cold. It was over.

Did I want to become a state senator? Yes. Did I worry about entering an arena where many of the participants are egomaniacs, vultures, and oddballs unfit for just about anything other than elected office or clinging, like barnacles, to the political apparatus? Yes.

Politics can change you. You become a public figure. People project their wishes and dreams upon you, and if you are not careful, you will grow drunk on your own hype. Whether you feel it or not, you are performingdressing better, shaving more, strengthening your handshake, brightening your smile, trying your hardest to be nice to people that, in another life, you wouldnt necessarily associate with.

You must worry about what you say, because all of it, one way or another, is public record. People will remember what you say to them. Once you step outside, you are officially on. If you have 25 pleasant interactions and one that a person felt was negativeperhaps you never smiled enoughthey can take it to social media and define you, freeze an impression in time.



Voters on Primary Day, September 13th 2018. (Scott Heins / Gothamist)

Running for office is a life-consuming endeavor. I mean that in every sense of the phrase. If you want to do it and do it well, prepare to wake up at 5 a.m. each weekday and go to a subway platform to talk to strangers. Prepare to knock doors until 9 p.m. and then go do it again the next day. Once you are campaigning in earnest, there is no time for friends or family. There is no watching the Yankees game; there is no unwinding. You are sprinting at a pace you never knew, feeling the true force and heat of this city.

I walked subway platforms in 100 degree heat until my legs got rashes and I had to see a doctor. That was right around July 4th. In August, I briefly lost my voice, but got it back in time for the first of two debates with my opponent. Blisters burned on my feet. One morning, half the heel of my shoe came off.

You see more beauty than hate. But you have to be prepared for people to rip up your palm cards in front of you, for racists to tell you the minorities get too much in this city, for a man to scream at you for being on his porch, for a woman to blow cigarette smoke in your face and tell you youll never win.

You need skin that is not only thick, but impenetrable. You have stop checking Twitter. You have to reckon with the anti-intellectualism that is rampant in some Democratic circles as well as Republican ones, and accept that your service to the communitynever mind that you grew up in the district and never leftwill be called into question because you did not take a conventional career path to your campaign.

Expect everything. For one woman, I ended up carrying a shambling bed frame out of her houseshe signed my ballot petition, though. For another elderly man, I drove him to the hospital after he fell down and cut his head.

You learn neighborhoods on an intimate level, block by block, door by door. You talk to literally thousands of people. You understand the disparity of incomes, the diversity of life on far more consequential terms than you ever would any other way. You can peer into opulent, waterfront apartments and Gatsbyesque mansions. You can enter filthy walk-ups with shattered buzzers, broken doors, and paint last tended to in the 1980s.

You meet the most generous of people. Those who will offer you a bottle of water in the middle of a heat wave and invite you to sit down with them. They speak to you and you become a font for their hopes, their longingsin you they find belief, and thats a powerful thing.

You learn what it is to fundraise, to comprehend the deleterious enormity of money in politics. Hours on your phone begging for cash, writing emails for cash, eradicating whatever shame you have left and just doing it. Politics killed my sense of shame. Now I will ask, now I will beg, now I can stand on a street corner and pitch myselfthis body, this facefor four hours at a time.

I will never brush past another canvasser on the street. I cant. I was one of them.

I regret nothing about the experience. I would do it again. I am also happy it is done and I can focus again on what it is that brought me here: my words and my ideas.

But whether I like it or not, nothing can ever quite be the same. On the morning after the election, when I felt myself receding from a candidate into a person, a policeman on horseback called out to me as I was trying to cross the street.

Didnt you just run for office or something?

I did.



Ross Barkan is a writer and journalist who ran for State Senate in Brooklyn. He was defeated in a Democratic primary. His debut novel, DEMOLITION NIGHT, which has nothing to do with his campaign, will be out this fall.A man was found shot to death just after 10 p.m. Tuesday outside a southeast Colorado Springs apartment complex, police said, in what eventually could be ruled the third homicide in the city since Saturday.

The body was found after a shooting was reported at the Pine Creek Village Apartments, 720 Chapman Drive near South Academy Boulevard and Airport Road.

Police have not released the name of the victim and no arrests have been announced.

If Tuesdays death is ruled a homicide, it would be the 25th this year in Colorado Springs, four more than at this time last year.

The city has seen a spasm of violence in recent days with two other shootings over the weekend that have been ruled homicides:

 28-year-old Daniel Chamberlain Lehman, an Army captain stationed at Fort Carson, was found dead about 7:15 a.m. Saturday near East Costilla Street and South Wahsatch Avenue east of downtown.

 33-year-old Sheldon King was fatally shot Sunday morning in a house in the 1600 block of Howard Avenue south of the former Wasson High School campus.

Officers went to the house at 11:05 a.m. on a report of shots fired and found two men with gunshot wounds.

King was dead, and the other man was taken to a hospital in critical condition.

No arrests have been announced in either killing.

Anyone with information or was a witness to this investigation is asked to call the Colorado Springs Police Department at (719) 444-7000.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers Tip Line at (719) 634-7867.Because fatherhood isn't for everyone, police are looking for a man who got his toddler daughter to climb into a BarBerCut Lite game machine at a Salem, New Hampshire mall and grab some expensive prizes, including a Nintendo Switch and Nintendo 3DS. Some more info while I at least make sure there's nobody blatantly filming me before I try jamming my arm back up into the break room vending machine:

The Union Leader reports that security at the Mall at Rockingham Park in New Hampshire was alerted to the man's scheme by a hostess at a restaurant opposite the machine, who told the site "Two people came in and I heard them say, 'That's so unsafe.' So I went outside and all I saw was the toddler's head peeping out of the front of the machine."

Man, there's nothing worse than people using their children for criminal activity. I mean, there are worse things, but it's certainly up there. Fingers grossed this piss-poor role model at least had the criminal mastermindfulness to stash the toys real good so his kids have something to play with while he's rotting away in the slammer this Christmas.

Keep going for a video of the heist in action.

Thanks to blue16, who agrees that is not setting a good example.Flight is part of Companies Commitment to Addressing Climate Change

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 13, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- World Energy, the global leader in renewable jet fuel production, is pleased to announce its participation in United Airlines biofuel flight from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Zurich Airport on Friday. A United Boeing 787 will be powered by World Energys low-carbon aviation fuel, and take place during Governor Jerry Browns Global Climate Action Summit. The flight is part of an ongoing commitment to addressing climate change and follows on the heels of Governor Browns Executive Order for California to be net-zero carbon by 2045.

This flight is one of many steps needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions long-term and meet Californias ambitious climate goals, said Bryan Sherbacow, Chief Commercial Officer, World Energy Paramount. World Energy is a pioneer and the global leader of commercial renewable jet fuel, in addition to providing low-carbon solutions to the ground transportation industry. We are excited to continue to provide low-carbon solutions that enable our customers to achieve their sustainability goals, and look forward to continuing this work with companies such as United at airports around the world.

United will operate flight 44 from its hub in San Francisco to Zurich with the carriers most fuel-efficient aircraft via a blend of sustainable aviation fuel supplied by World Energy. United will use 16,000 gallons of biofuel at a 30/70 blend with conventional jet fuel for the flight to Zurich, representing the longest transatlantic flight to date  and the longest flight by a U.S. airline to date  powered by a biofuel volume of this size.

At United, we believe there is no point in setting challenging and ambitious goals without also taking tangible steps towards achieving them, especially when it comes to securing the health of our communities and our planet, said Oscar Munoz, Uniteds chief executive officer. While were proud to be the first U.S. carrier taking such an ambitious step, particularly when it comes to investing in renewable jet fuel, it is a distinction we look forward to sharing as the rest of the industry catches up and makes similar commitments to sustainability.

The World Energy and United Airlines partnership started in 2016, with their inaugural flight from LAX. Both companies plan to continue working to decarbonize the air transportation industry by increasing the number of flights using renewable fuel. World Energy sourced the petroleum jet fuel blend for the flight from Chevron, the largest provider of jet fuel at SFO. Chevron also arranged the supply logistics to move the blended product to United at SFO. Todays flight includes feedstock from Agrisoma.

Contact:

Sarah Pollo, World Energy

916-410-7506

Charlie Hobart, United Airlines

312-513-2303Re: At the start of an experiment, a certain population consisted of 3 [ #permalink

Bunuel wrote:

At the start of an experiment, a certain population consisted of 3 animals. At the end of each month after the start of the experiment, the population size was double its size at the beginning of that month. Which of the following represents the population size at the end of 10 months?



(A) 2^3

(B) 3^2

(C) 2(3^10)

(D) 3(2^10)

(E) 3(10^2)





Kudos for a correct solution .

My Solution:



At the end of every month the population size doubles, so,



After 10 months the population becomes 3072 (3,6,12,24,48,96,192,384,768,1536,3072)



Then find the prime factors of 3072 i.e 3 (2^10) Option D

"Do not watch clock; Do what it does. KEEP GOING." Signature Read More

_________________Re: The police inspector fires 10 shots at the terrorist. If the pr [ #permalink

Bismarck wrote:

The police inspector fires \(10\) shots at the terrorist. If the probability that he hits the terrorist on any attempt is \(\frac{1}{7}\), find the probability that the terrorist is hit.



A) \(\frac{1}{7}* (\frac{6}{7})^9\)



B) \(\frac{6}{7}* (\frac{1}{7})^9\)



C) \(1- (\frac{1}{7})^{10}\)



D) \(1- (\frac{6}{7})^{10}\)



E) \((\frac{1}{7})^{10}\)

Probability of hitting in an attempt = 1/7.So probability of missing in an attempt = 1- (1/7) = 6/7.Probability of hitting in one of the 10 attempts = 1 - (probability of missing in all attempts) = 1- (6/7)^10.Hence D.Cheers!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.Local community groups and those personally affected by Hurricane Maria will march on Trump Tower Thursdaythe one year anniversary of the storm's landfall in Puerto Ricoas part of a nationwide week of action aimed at pushing the federal government to commit to a just and transparent rebuilding process on the island.

The event will begin with a bilingual memorial service at St. Bartholomew's Church on Park Avenue, to be followed by a candlelit vigil and march to Trump Tower. Families and individuals who were displaced to New York City after Hurricane Maria are expected to speak at the event, alongside Congressional candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Public Advocate Tish James, actress Lauren Velez, and others.

"Our national coalition has worked for almost a year demanding that the Trump Administration take responsibility for its failure to prepare for and adequately respond to Hurricane Marias devastation in Puerto Rico," said former City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, who now serves as the campaign director of the Power 4 Puerto Rico coalition, in a statement.

She added, "The Puerto Rican people demand that the White House own its failures and support the Puerto Rican people in rebuilding, instead of offering denials and rebuttals that serve no one but the President. On the Anniversary of Hurricane Maria, our community will come together to mourn. And this coming November, our mourning turns to voting."

The humanitarian crisis destroyed 70,000 homes and left 3.3 million residents without power, some for nearly a year. Clean drinking water was not restored to parts of the island for more than 9 months. According to an extensive report released by George Washington University, an estimated 3,000 people were killed as a result of Hurricane Maria. An earlier study conducted by scientists at Harvard found that the death toll could be even greater, perhaps as high as 5,000 people.

Despite this, and the fact that FEMA admitted to making grave organizational and personnel errors during the storm, President Trump has continued to insist that "we did a fantastic job in Puerto Rico." Last week, the president falsely claimed that 3,000 people did not die as a result of the hurricane, in a tweet that sparked backlash from both Democrats and some Republicans.

A poll conducted this week by Huffington Post/You Gov found that roughly 25 percent of Americans believed President Trump's death toll conspiracy, and that only a tenth of Trump voters believe that nearly 3,000 people died as a result of the storm.

Tomorrow's event is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at St. Bartholomew's Church at 325 Park Avenue. The march to Trump Tower will begin at 7:30 p.m. More info here.

Cafe Loup, the French bistro that has been a West Village mainstay for decades, has been shuttered after being seized by the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance over unpaid taxes.

These are the tax liens currently on file for Cafe Loup with NYS: pic.twitter.com/P66CACrp1T  gettingsome (@gettingsome) September 19, 2018

Initially opening on 13th Street near University Place in 1977, Cafe Loup moved to its permanent home at 105 W. 13th Street, near Sixth Avenue, in the early '80s. As Eater notes, it became a fixture for the citys literary and publishing scene, counting Paul Simon, Susan Sontag, and Paul Auster among its regulars. The NY Times called it "the genteel but unpretentious West Village bistro that continues to bridge generations in terms of its appeal to editors, academics and writers." (They also recommended it in 2012, calling it a great bar for "conversation, and not necessarily your own.")

"Cafe Loup is one of the few bars Ive ever really loved," said Caroline Eisenmann, a literary agent for Frances Goldin Literary Agency. She tweeted out the photos up above, noting "the man standing outside commented 'the world has ended.'"

"It was an important professional space, a living room among friends, a place to take meetings and to celebrate and to recharge," she added. "I have too many memories there to possibly count. I guess Ill share this: I watched the 2016 election returns come in there over a swimming pool-sized martini, blurrily wrote 'God help us' under my tip on the receipt, and continued to frequent Loup even after going through that horrifying event. If this is the end, I am devastated."

Christopher Hitchens also wrote about his love for Loup in 2001, calling it "my true bar," which he described so: "[It] should have an element of cafe-society to it; a place for newspapers and espresso as well as cocktails and basic food, and a place where you could bring your mother, if you had a mother, for a light lunch as well as your mistress or male lover, if you had a mistress or male lover, for a late-ish nightcap."

It's unclear whether this is a permanent closure. Many patrons have been tweeting tributes and memories of the cafe today.

I can't imagine New York City without Cafe Loup.  Sam Sifton (@SamSifton) September 19, 2018

This was the site of my first proper dinner date with a guy. It ended about as well as things have ended for Cafe Loup. I will miss this essential touchstone for half the West Village. The restaurant, I mean. https://t.co/LGPHU1UCzl  Mark Harris (@MarkHarrisNYC) September 19, 2018

This summer, I lost a dear friend to cancer. Id never experienced a friends death before. Im still not sure where to put that kind of grief. We used to meet for dinner every 2 or 3 months, always at Cafe Loup. Everything is temporary. If you love someone or something, say so. https://t.co/wZ0GioZNMA  J. Courtney Sullivan (@jcourtsull) September 19, 2018

Several years ago I was eating lettuce and drinking french 75s at cafe loup, when I saw a rat dash across the dining room. It was the essential editorial assistant experience!  Laura Marsh (@lmlauramarsh) September 19, 2018

Cafe Loup -- the warm lighting, faux-Euro decor, random assortment of literary types present at any given moment -- always felt like a spot from the New York I idealized in my younger years, all the more so because it was actually affordable.  Nick Newman (@Nick_Newman) September 19, 2018

Easter 2016. We visited my ailing grandmother in her hospital bed, and then she sent us with her credit card to Cafe Loup, where we ate rabbit stew, got drunk as lords on the 24 oz martinis, and had a good cry. https://t.co/2DyYKcMocM  Nicholas Mancusi (@NicholasMancusi) September 18, 2018

Did I see a rat? A roach? A rat and then a roach? Yes, yes. But it was the best place to meet friends on a Friday night when you want to get blackout drunk and not see anyone younger than 55.  Reyhan Harmanci (@harmancipants) September 19, 2018

The food at Cafe Loup was awful and overpriced and I always loved every minute of being there and NYC is dead to me  EK (@EllenKilloran) September 19, 2018

Ive said so many outrageous things at Cafe Loup with maybe every poet Ive known in New York. People will say the food was bad but I never had it so. If they want to say New York is over I wont be having that either.  Alex Dimitrov (@alexdimitrov) September 19, 2018

One thing everyone can agree on: it was a great place to catch up with local celebrities (and/or drink them under the table):

In 1995 I sat for four hours, smoking, with Uma Thurman, at the table under the seized sign, for a Harpers Bazaar profile. RIP Cafe Loup. https://t.co/3U0XHXa258  Dwight Garner (@DwightGarner) September 19, 2018

This is so sad. I once sat across a table from John Ashbery at Cafe Loup. https://t.co/cVRf87sLVC  nicole steinberg (@nicolebrett) September 19, 2018

Things I have done at Cafe Loup: spying on Ethan & Uma at dinner in the early 2000s; having a drink w/ an older, more established writer & realizing he was mining me for ideas; splitting a bottle of wine w/ a long-ago ex & confirming I was over him at last.  Dana Stevens (@thehighsign) September 19, 2018

the only way to toast cafe loup would be to make an extra large martini with a second helping in the shaker with lynn yaeger and patricia clarkson  E. Alex Jung (@e_alexjung) September 19, 2018

Omg well after seeing Patricia Clarkson dozens of times, @knottyyarn bought her a drink and she came over to our table and asked us if wed ever been to Loup before... we were so close to becoming drinking buddies, I SWEAR  Reyhan Harmanci (@harmancipants) September 19, 2018

Update: A spokesperson for the Tax Department confirmed that the bistro was seized on Tuesday. "There are four open warrants with a current warranted balance of $188,394.40," said spokesperson James Gazzale.

He added that after seizing a business, the department works to try to resolve the debt as quickly as possible: "Seizing a business is always a last resort," he told Gothamist. "Generally speaking, after seizing a business, we continue being in communication with the owner looking for mutually beneficial ways to resolve that debt. Once we find a way forward, and feel confident enough to return the keys to the business, we do so."

Choose your country to get an overview of the legal status and resources on homeschooling with a list of local contacts that can help you find out about mandatory homeschool requirements.

Select a country or click on the map below.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Authorities say three people have been found dead in a Greene County, Indiana home in an apparent double murder and suicide.

Indiana State Police Sgt. Curt Durnil says the bodies of two women and a man were found Tuesday in the home along State Route 43 about 1 miles south of Hendricksville.

The victims were identified as 73-year-old Peggy J. Burks, her 71-year-old husband, Lawrence T. Burks, and 58-year-old Debra K. Floyd.

Durnil said the investigation is ongoing and a motive has not been established.

Greene Superior Court records show Peggy Burks filed a petition for divorce on Aug. 21, and her husband countered by filing against her the next day. A court hearing in the divorce was initially set for Wednesday, but was postponed to Sept. 27. Peggy Burks sent a letter to the judge objecting to the delay.Businesses that dont factor in environmental risks could face financial consequences. That was one of the topics at Wednesday's 21st annual Pollution Prevention Conference in Indianapolis.

Karen Lutz is the sustainability director for engineering, environmental consulting, and construction firm TRC Solutions. She says today businesses have to think about their impact on the environment and how the climate will impact them.

Lutz talked about the company Arkema, which got in legal trouble because it failed to prepare for flooding which led to chemical fires during Hurricane Harvey.

The chemical safety board said given the increasing frequency and severity of these events, the chemical industry needs to be prepared for the worst case scenario, she says.

READ MORE: New Tools Help Cities Adapt To Climate Issues

Lutz says decades ago businesses were mostly concerned with complying with environmental regulations. Now she says customers and investors want to see that a business is working to reduce its carbon footprint  and not doing so could damage its reputation.

Its something to be responsive to and what happens is, in our age of social media, these things travel so quickly, says Lutz.

Lutz says with so many financial risks associated with the environment, it's important to make sustainability a part of every aspect of a business. She says sustainability professionals also need a seat at the table in higher level discussions.

Among other activities at the conference, the following recipients accepted the Indiana Governor's Awards for Environmental Excellence:

Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Indiana in Princeton: Most notably for reducing 14 million gallons of water a year and its volatile organic compounds

Michigan City Area Schools: For its seven ground-mounted solar arrays resulting in energy savings to the schools

Shirley Heinze Land Trust: For establishing the Little Calumet River Corridor, more than 1,200 acres of protected land including wetlands, floodplains, and riparian river habitat

City of Carmel: For its urban forestry program which included planting and preserving trees, soil sampling, and establishing no mow areas

LaPorte County Health Department: For it's ordinance requiring a septic system inspection prior to the transfer of a property, ensuring residents have safe drinking water and adequate wastewater

Town of Merrillville: For stormwater infrastructure improvements using recycled materials

National Office Furniture in Jasper: For its robotic finishing project

Indiana Environmental reporting is supported by the Environmental Resilience Institute, an Indiana University Grand Challenge project developing Indiana-specific projections and informed responses to problems of environmental change.Rubios letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions asks the Department to rule on whether Kerrys meetings violated federal laws including the Logan Act, which bans unauthorized individuals from negotiating with foreign governments, and the Foreign Agents Registration Act, which requires anyone acting on behalf of a foreign government to disclose their interests.

Rubio wrote: As you know, the Islamic Republic of Iran remains a US-designated state sponsor of terrorism, and the State Department continues to characterize the regime in Tehran as the foremost biggest state sponsor of terrorism in its annual reports on international terror.

The American people deserve to know that US laws are enforced, regardless of any individuals past position.

He also suggested that Kerrys actions were an attempt to lobby and unofficially negotiate with officials in the United States and in foreign governments, citing a Boston Globe article in May that said Kerry was working behind the scenes to save the Iran deal.

Kerry said that he has had several meetings with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, since the end of his tenure as Secretary and implied that he told Iran not to make any major strategic changes until Trump left office.

Rubios letter follows current Secretary of State Mike Pompeos comments on Friday, when he labelled Kerrys meetings beyond inappropriate.

He said: I am reasonably confident that he was not there in support of US policy with respect to the Islamic Republic of Iran. Actively undermining US policy as a former secretary of state is literally unheard of.

Trump also criticised Kerrys meetings in a tweet, which read: 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!

Matt Summers, a spokesman for the former secretary, said on Friday that Kerrys meetings were hardly unusual or unprecedented.

The problem with that is that no matter how usual it is for former diplomats to meet with foreign leaders, Kerrys meetings with the Iranian Regime still legitimises a rogue state at a time when its people are pouring into the streets and calling for regime change.The value of the national currency  the Rial  dropped massively and life became much more expensive for the already poor people of Iran. Some of the sectors that are most impacted in Iran are the automobile, finance and healthcare ones.

The Europeans have established entreaties and requested exemptions and waivers from the United States for European companies doing business with Iran. Whether or not these exemptions and waivers would have been granted, not many companies were hanging around to find out.

The Iranian regime reformed its subsidies. This includes bread, water, electricity and fuel. There had been a small change in the economic activities of the country. In 2007/2008, the indirect subsidies totalled an equivalent of over a quarter of the countrys GDP. The indirect subsidies were then replaced by cash transfers to families in Iran.

The second phase of the subsidy reform began over four years ago. Fuel prices were gradually adjusted and increased targeting of cash was being directed to households with low incomes. This resulted in approximately three million households being removed from the subsidy list.

A consequence of the cash transfer program was that poverty in the country fell from 13.1 per cent to 8.1 per cent between 2009 and 2013. Bread and energy subsidies were cut and the lower-income families started to spend more. Yet, in 2014, poverty rose as social services declined.

Higher oil exports resulted in external and budget balances improving in 2016. The removal of sanctions on oil also helped.

When the new administration was put in place after the recent so called elections, its biggest challenge was to realise the reforms that were outlined. Non-oil sectors need to grow and the efficiency of labour markets were key to this.

However, since the beginning of the summer, the Iranian economy has been collapsing. The clerical regime is directly responsible for this. The officials can speak hypocritically about the economys future with great positivity as much as it pleases, however it does not mean that many believe it.

The standard of living in Iran is decreasing noticeably.

The drastic drop in the value of the Rial is something that is worrying the people of Iran. Many Iranians have lost a lot of money and millions of people across the country have been taking to the streets to protest the situation that has been caused by corruption.

Corruption is found at all levels of the leadership in Iran and the people do not want to witness or experience the effect of it any longer. Or live with the consequences.

They know, and it is very clear to see, that the Iranian regime is completely incapable of reform. It is facing more and more pressure from the international community  especially the United States and several Arab states, and it is unable to make any meaningful improvement.

Regime change is the desire of the Iranian people.The report gives credit to Tehran for engaging with the international community and taking positive steps such as a revision in drug laws that reduced the frequency of the death penalty for non-violent offenses.

But the main substance of the report is a catalogue of familiar human rights abuses that have not been addressed, followed by associated recommendations for changes in the behavior of the Iranian regime.

Notwithstanding the Secretary Generals more optimistic remarks, there is no real indication that the regime will be more responsive to these recommendations that it has been on any of the prior instances in which they were brought up in the context of previous reports from the Secretary General, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Iran, and others.

Indeed, with respect to a number of human rights issues, the regime has struck a defiant tone in dialogue with the international community. And regardless of recent changes in drug laws, the death penalty ranks high among these issues.

On Sunday, the Iran Human Rights website reported upon the latest instance of the Iranian judiciary refusing to abide by the changes in its own laws when it carried out the execution of another person who had been convicted of drug trafficking without any violent offense.

The report points out that at least three other such individuals have been put to death since the change took effect last November. It should also be noted that there could be others besides, since executions frequently go unreported by Iranian authorities and are added to the record of killings only later, after activists and fellow prisoners reveal the information to independent monitors.

Nevertheless, it does appear to be the case that the number of drug-related executions has sharply declined in the past year. Yet this is only one part of the Iranian regimes relationship with the death penalty that has traditionally opened it up to international criticism.

The persistent execution of juvenile offenders is another and it involves disregard for international human rights conventions to which Iran is a signatory. On this point, the regime has shown no inclination toward compromise, and the latest figures suggest that the number of these killings may actually be on the rise.

According to another Iran Human Rights report, at least five Iranian prisoners were executed in 2017 for crimes that had allegedly committed when they were below the age of 18. This year, at least three such individuals were executed in the month of January alone.

And apart from implementing juvenile death sentences that have been imposed in years past, the Iranian judiciary also continues to pass more such sentences, even in the face of wide-ranging international condemnation and activism.

Most recently, an individual identified only as Mehrdad had his sentence revised up by the Criminal Court of Tehran, which imposed the death sentence in place of a sentence of imprisonment and the payment of blood money for the 2014 murder of a fellow teenager whom Mehrdad accused of sexually assaulting him.

This represents a trend in the exact opposite direction as the international community has sought to push the Islamic Republic in the past. At various times, the judiciary has delayed the execution of juvenile offenders and ordered the reexamination of the case under international pressure, but in almost every case the courts then upheld the sentence and affirmed their right to impose the ultimate sentence on anyone who is deemed sufficiently mature. Under Iranian law, such a person may be as young as nine.

The latest executions and death sentences stand out as qualifications to the positive steps highlighted by the United Nations. Meanwhile, the Secretary Generals report goes a long way on its own toward downplaying that praise, insofar as it acknowledges that the Islamic Republic is in the midst of a severe crackdown on dissent, accompanied by human rights violations and a sharp increase in censorship.

There is no shortage of media reports to highlight this trend, which has certainly been ongoing since the mass uprising that took place in late December and early January, and arguably ever since the election of President Hassan Rouhani and the start of nuclear negotiations between Iran and six world powers.

According to the National Council of Resistance of Iran, security forces arrested upwards of 8,000 peaceful protesters in the midst of the mass uprising, as well as shooting approximately 50 dead in the streets and allowing a dozen others to die under torturous interrogation.

Anti-government protests have continued in spite of this repression, but the repression itself has also broadened to include known activists who may not have personally participated in the initial uprising.

On Tuesday, Iran Human Rights Monitor reported that Soha Mortezaie, the Secretary of the Central Guild Council at Tehran University, had been sentenced to six years in prison plus a two year ban on political activities simply for inquiring after the status of student protesters who were arrested in the midst of the nationwide demonstrations.

The same report identified 21 such students who have already been sentenced for protesting. Their sentences range from one year to a staggering 12 years in prison, and numerous other prisoners remain either in jail or free on bail pending their own sentencing for the same activities.

While the uprising was in full swing, judiciary officials publicly warned that those who were identified as leaders of the protest movement could be subject to the death penalty.In recent weeks, the mullahs have attracted global condemnation for their missile attack on an Iraq-based Kurdish dissident group and the executions of three Kurdish political prisoners, but many countries have also seen fit to condemn Irans warmongering policies in the Middle East and acts of terrorism in the West.

On September 10, US Vice President Mike Pence condemned the Iranian Regime for their missile attack on Iraqi Kurdistan.

The next day, US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert described the Regime as a disruptive element in the region and a bad actor globally.

Even Irans malign interference in Syria, on behalf of Bashar Assad, came under fire in the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday when several members warned of a humanitarian catastrophe in Idlib, an area populated by opposition forces and millions of displaced civilians.

France, the Netherlands, Kuwait and Turkey called for Iran, Syria, and Russia to halt all military attacks, while US Ambassador Nikki Haley accused the triad of failing to show interest in a political solution to the war. Haley warned that Irans role in Assads bloody attacks will not go unnoticed.

In London last week, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) and several British politicians came together to shed new light on Irans terrorist activity in Europe, citing the attempted bombing of an opposition rally in Paris in June, and call for the Regimes embassies to be closed and its diplomats to be expelled, following revelations that an Iranian diplomat orchestrated the attack.

While the 150th session of the Arab League also condemned Iran, with a statement by its Foreign Ministers Committee that expressed grave concerns about Irans stoking of religious sectarianism in the Middle East and criticised the Regimes support for Yemens Houthi militias, who have been firing Iranian-made ballistic missiles into Saudi Arabia.

Human rights activist Heshmat Alavi wrote: It goes without saying that the Iranian regimes domestic crises, facing a powder keg society seeking to bring an end to the clerics rule, are of the utmost priority for those on the throne in Tehran.

As a result, regional and global isolation should evolve into the international community as a whole standing shoulder to shoulder with the Iranian peoples struggle for freedom and democracy.- For President Duterte, it is important to build better infrastructures to lessen casualties during the storms

- He reminded everyone to be ready all the time because storms and typhoons will always be there

- There are four to five tropical cyclones reported to affect the country until the end of the year

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After Bagyong Ompong lashed the northern part of Luzon, it has been reported that four to five tropical cyclones will be hitting the Philippines until the end of the year. The unforeseeable casualties by the storms urged President Rodrigo Duterte to call for much stronger infrastructures in the country.

KAMI has learned from GMA News that according to President Duterte, I dont know why God placed us here, but the fact is that typhoons and storms will be a part of our lives forever,

That must be pasok sa utak ng mga anak natin that they have somehow to improve on everything, whether infrastructure, build stronger bridges, more resilient shelters and everything, he added.

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The president also added how typhoons affect the education, shelter, and medical issues in our country.

As previously reported by KAMI, President Duterte tasked Department of Public Works and Highways to build more gymnasiums that will also serve as evacuation centers for the victims of the typhoons. He also added that this project can also be a legacy for his administration.

POPULAR: Read more about President Duterte here!

Sa tingin mo ba maaari mong sagutin ang mga ito nang tama? Ang mga indibidwal na mula sa Pilipinas ay may mga sagot! Kung ang isang Worm ay Namatay, Makakaapekto ba Ito Ay Matupok Ni Worm Masyadong? Ang tanong na ito ay maaaring madaling tunog, ngunit sa katotohanan, ang mga ito ay medyo nakakalito at madaling gumawa ng isang pagkakamali! -on KAMI HumanMeter Youtube channel!

Source: Kami.com.ph- Direk Sheron Dayoc of Marawi film already announced his resignation to the project

- The director said he and the producers have different perspectives on the project

- Sheron remains hopeful that a truthful and beneficial Marawi film will be produced

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The award-winning director of the much-anticipated Marawi film starring actors Piolo Pascual and Robin Padilla has expressed his resignation due to internal issues.

KAMI learned that Sheron Dayoc, a distinguished director from Mindanao, does not want to work on the said film anymore because he and the producers have different views on the project.

He said he has already worked for projects that tell stories of people in Mindanao but he hinted that this movie seems different from what he believes in.

My professional career started and rooted in telling the narratives of the marginalized Muslim Mindanao and this project is no longer reflective of my beliefs as a Mindanao storyteller, he wrote in a Facebook post.

The producers and I have totally different perspectives on how the story of Marawi should be told, he added.

The director also exclaimed that the movie must be treated with caution and due respect because it covers sensitive subjects and events based on what happened in Marawi.

Sheron even said that he and the production team have made a lot of sacrifices for the film just so it could be prioritized and be given due focus and attention.

Like everyone else in the production team, the sacrifices made for this project is no joke - declining several TVC jobs and pushing other film projects to give priority to this film, he quipped.

This isnt a love story, horror or comedy film that I would openly compromise. This is such a sensitive subject matter and the story must be treated with prudence in respect to all the lives lost during the war in Marawi, he added.

Since he already fought for the story to be told the way he knows and he wants, Sheron said he needs to make a stand that is why he is quitting as the director of the project.

The filmmaker expressed that he remains hopeful that the producers of the film will be able to come up with a fact-based and beneficial movie for the Marawi people.

I fought for what I believe is right on how to tell this story. I could be wrong, but I could also be right, but certainly I need to make a position and this is my stand, he pointed out.

I wish Spring Films the best and I hope that they will make a Marawi film that is truthful and beneficial to the Marawi people, especially the victims of war, he concluded.

Aside from being a director, Sheron is also known for being a veteran writer. He already made a lot of movies including Halaw in 2010 and Women of the Weeping River in 2016.

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Imagine that youre walking down streets of the Philippines, thinking of your work, friends, and family. Suddenly a man walking in front of you drops his wallet. He continues walking, without realizing that he has just lost all his money. What would you do in this situation? Social Experiment: How Honest Are People Around You?  on HumanMeter!

Source: Kami.com.ph- Actor Luis Manzano expressed what he wants people to do about his engagement to Jessy Mendiola

- He said he wants the rumors to end because it affects the freshness of the special moment when it happens

- Luis also said he understands people if they are curious about it

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Kapamilya celebrity Luis Manzano humbly made a request to his supporters and bashers about the rumored engagement between him and girlfriend Jessy Mendiola.

KAMI learned that the I Can See Your Voice host earlier denied the allegations that he is already engaged to Jessy but insisted he wants it fresh when that special moment comes.

To be able to do that, Luis asked netizens to stop spreading false news about it and even requested to refrain from making it a big deal for now.

The actor said he understands if people are very excited about their love story but he wants to talk about the engagement like it is a new topic for the both of them when the right time comes.

"Sinabi ko nga, gaya ng dati, I'm very thankful na marami ang excited sa love story namin, he stressed in an interview with PEP.ph.

"Pero at the same time, gusto ko kasi pag pinag-usapan namin, pag pinag-usapan ko, parang bago sa akin. I want it to be fresh, I want it to be organic," he added.

Luis explained the disadvantage for him and Jessy if the topic continues to become trending and talk of the town.

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He said people will get used to it and there will be less excitement when it really happens.

"Gusto ko pag shinare ko, may twinkle sa mga mata ko. Siyempre pag parati mo kasing naririnig, nasasanay ka, the TV host quipped.

"You want to keep it to yourself at pag shinare mo makikita ng mga tao, 'Grabe yung ngiti niya habang kinukuwento niya, he added.

The This Guys In Love With U Mare star believes it is necessary to preserve the topic so that he will be able to share more of it in the future.

If it continues to become mainstream, Luis exclaimed that it will have a negative effect on the emotion once he and Jessy announce real engagement.

"Sabi ko naman na naiintindihan ko naman, siyempre may mga taong curious talaga. Of course, part ng trabaho natin yun, he shared.

"Pero sabi ko, at least pag nag-usap tayo the next time, pag nangyari na, mas masarap yung kuwentuhan kasi mas involved ako, mas marami akong masi-share, he added.

In a previous article by , the actor got heated once again when he tried to protect Jessy from a male netizen who commented on the actress sexy photo.

Born on April 21, 1981, Luis is a Filipino VJ, model, actor, and TV host. He starred in several movies and drama series including Flash Bomba, Petrang Kabayo, and In My Life.

POPULAR: Read more news about Luis Manzano and Jessy Mendiola!

Imagine that youre walking down streets of the Philippines, thinking of your work, friends, and family. Suddenly a man walking in front of you drops his wallet. He continues walking, without realizing that he has just lost all his money. What would you do in this situation? Social Experiment: How Honest Are People Around You?  on HumanMeter!

Source: Kami.com.phSSFN not to protest on Constitution Day: Yadav

Deputy Prime Minister and Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal (SSFN) Chairman Upendra Yadav has said that the party would not organise any protest programmes on the Constitution Day.This is Whats Trending Today

Stars gathered in Los Angeles Monday night for the Emmys, the biggest awards ceremony in American television.

It was the 70th anniversary of the Emmys. And this year, fewer people watched the three-hour-long broadcast than ever before.

The television ratings may have suffered, but there were still reasons to celebrate for many of last nights Emmy winners.

Amazon's The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel became the first internet series to win the Emmy for best comedy. It also won seven other awards for writing, directing and acting and more.

HBO's Game of Thrones won the best drama series award for a third time. The shows eighth and final season begins next year. Game of Thrones took a total of nine awards Monday, more than any other production.

The long-running NBC comedy show, Saturday Night Live, was the only traditional broadcast show to be honored at this years Emmys. And it won a lot of awards, tying with Mrs. Maisel for eight.

Critics noted that the award winners this year were not a very ethnically mixed group. Yet the group of the nominees represented the most diverse group in the history of the Emmys.

Twitter user April Reign, who created the #oscarssowhite movement on Twitter, posted a series of tweets about the Emmys.



In one post, she wrote: Let's talk a bit more about what "diversity" is and isn't, and whether that should be the goal. Last night, @TheEmmys Chairman/CEO Hayma Washington encouraged everyone to give themselves a round of applause for diversity. But... why?

Some social media users also had other criticisms of the awards show. They said hosts Michael Che and Colin Joste lacked in humor.

Critic Dominic Patten wrote, Turns out going with two hosts instead of one did not double the fun at the 70th Primetime #Emmys tonight."



The crowd did seem to enjoy some moments at the awards ceremony, such as Betty Whites appearance on stage. The audience stood and cheered the 96-year-old television comedy star for more than a minute.

Another standing ovation went to Henry Winkler, who won a supporting actor award for HBOs Barry. It was his first Emmy win in his more than 40-year-long career in Hollywood. Winkler gained fame in the 1970s for his part in the hit television show Happy Days.

Winkler told the crowd, "If you stay at the table long enough, the chips come to you, Then, he jokingly told his adult children that they could go to bed now. Daddy won," he laughed.

Director Glenn Weiss brought some romance to the Emmys after being recognized for his work on the 2018 Academy Awards broadcast. Weiss used his Emmy award acceptance speech to propose marriage to his girlfriend Jan Svendsen.

He spoke to her from the stage. "You wonder why I don't want to call you my girlfriend?" he asked. "It's because I want to call you my wife."

The crowd went wild with cheers. Svendsen looked both surprised and very pleased as she joined Weiss on stage.

Then, she said yes.

And thats Whats Trending Today.

Im Caty Weaver.

Caty Weaver reported this story. Ashley Thompson was the editor.

Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

_____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

comedy - n. a play, movie, television program, novel, etc., that is meant to make people laugh

drama - n. a play, movie, television show, or radio show that is about a serious subject and is not meant to make the audience laugh

encourage - v. to make (someone) more likely to do something

applause - v. a show of approval or appreciation at a play, speech, sporting event, etc., in which people strike their hands together over and overThe American space-travel company SpaceX has announced that its first private passenger to the moon will be a Japanese businessman. Yusaku Maezawa is the creator and chief executive of the online clothing store Zozo.

Maezawa wants to take a trip around the moon using the planned Big Falcon Rocket in 2023. He also announced that he plans to invite six to eight artists, architects, designers and other creative people to join him. He said he wants to inspire the dreamer in all of us.

Maezawa said he does not want to have the experience by himself. Instead, he wants his crew, to see the moon up close, and the Earth in full view, and create work to reflect their experience.

Maezawa added that he often wondered what artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat or Andy Warhol might have created if they had traveled to space.

A former musician, Maezawa, is one of Japan's most colorful business leaders. He is regularly covered by Japanese media for his collection of foreign and Japanese art and fast cars. Maezawa also is known for having paid a record $110 million for an untitled 1982 painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat.

Not 100 percent certain

Maezawa's identity was announced at an event on Monday evening at SpaceXs headquarters and rocket factory near Los Angeles.

At the event, Musk gave additional information about the Big Falcon Rocket, or BFR, a reusable 118-meter rocket. He wants the rocket to send passengers to the moon and, later, Mars. Musk said that the BFR is still in development and will make several unmanned test launches before carrying passengers.

Musk also added that the BFR could be taking its first orbital flights in about two to three years. Earlier, he had said he wanted the rocket to be ready for an unmanned trip to Mars by 2022 and a crewed flight in 2024.

However, in the past, Musk has not always been able to meet planned target dates. "Its not 100 percent certain we can bring this to flight," Musk said of the lunar mission.

Musk said the development of the BFR is expected to cost about $5 billion. He did not say how much Maezawa is paying for the lunar trip. But he said that the Japanese businessman will make a significant pre-payment that will help the cost of development.

Space Tourism

Space tourism began in 2001 when businessman Dennis Tito paid for a trip on a Russian rocket to the International Space Station. The trip was organized by the Virginia-based company Space Adventures. The company has sent several more paying customers on spaceflights since then.

SpaceX is competing with two other companies for space tourism money. They are Blue Origin of Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos and Virgin Galactic of entrepreneur Richard Branson.

NASA is planning its own orbital trip to the moon with a crew in 2023. The U.S. space agency aims to build a manned space station near the moon during the 2020s.

The distance from Earth to the moon is about 382,500 kilometers. Astronauts last visited Earths only natural satellite during NASAs Apollo program. Twenty-four men flew to the moon from 1968 through 1972, about half of them were able to reach the lunar surface.

Im Phil Dierking

Reuters reported this story. Phil Dierking adapted it for Learning English, using additional materials. Mario Ritter was the editor.

Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

architect - n. a person who designs buildings

entrepreneur - n. a person who starts a business and is willing to risk loss in order to make money

headquarters - n. a place from which something (such as a business or a military action) is controlled or directed

inspire - v. to make (someone) want to do something 

private sector - n. the part of an economy which is not controlled or owned by the government

significant - n. large enough to be noticed or have an effectThe worlds first hydrogen-powered trains have begun running in Germany. They began carrying passengers Monday in Germanys northern Lower Saxony state. The new trains will run 100-kilometer trips and can travel up to 140 kilometers an hour.

A French railroad company called Alstom built the two trains. Teams in Germany and France cooperated on the project, which was supported by the German government. The new train model, called the Coradia iLint, signals the beginning of efforts in Germany and other nations to move away from pollution-producing diesel trains.

Hydrogen trains vs. diesel trains

The Coradia iLint is designed to run on non-electrified train lines with low levels of noise. It uses a process that combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electrical power. If the system produces more energy than the train needs at that time, it can store the extra energy in batteries. The only emissions are water and steam.

A single tank of hydrogen can run a Coradia iLint train for about 1,000 kilometers. This is very similar to the distance a diesel-powered train can run on with a single tank.

Hydrogen-powered trains cost more than diesel trains to build. But Alstom officials say the operating costs are much lower. The company plans to provide another 14 Coradia iLint trains to Lower Saxony by 2021.

The head of railroad operations in the area, Carmen Schwabl, praised replacing diesel trains with hydrogen. She said the move was an important first step in using clean-burning technologies to reach climate protection goals.

Schwabl added: We also do this because about 120 diesel trainsets in our vehicle pool will reach the end of their lifetime within the next 30 years, meaning we will have to replace them. The experience gained with this project helps us find a sustainable and practical solution.

Officials say the areas many wind turbines will produce part of the energy to create the hydrogen to power the trains.

Alstom says several other European countries have also expressed interest in developing hydrogen train systems. France has already said it wants its first hydrogen train to be operating by 2022.

Im Bryan Lynn.

Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

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Quiz

Quiz - Worlds First Hydrogen Trains Launch in Germany Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

_____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

battery  n. device that produces and can store electricity

emission  n. something released into the air, such as a gas

sustainable  adj. able to be used without being completely used up or destroyed

practical  adj. suitable or useful for a situation

turbine  n. large machine that produces power by using gas, steam, etc. to turn a wheelLawyer Sergio de Almeida Correia is so far the only candidate in the race to dislodge long-time incumbent Jorge Neto Valente and become the president of the Macau Lawyers Association in the election this December.

His candidacy comes just a few months after Valente, who has been at the helm of the association for most of the past 23 years, said that its leadership was due a total renovation, hinting that he would not put forward his name for another mandate.

In a 16-point manifesto announced by Correia last Friday, the advocate said that the way forward for the Macau Lawyers Association was one of transparency and accountability, with no conflicts of interest and one that fulfills its social responsibility.

Correia wrote, the values of advocacy can only be adequately pursued when the profession is exercised independently. When the lawyer is able to free himself from the shackles of economic subservience and political subservience, behaving with decency and transparency before the conflicting interests that require his intervention.

He also said that it was necessary that the Macau Lawyers Association leaves the passive position in which it has been.

The comments might have struck a nerve with Valente who, speaking to Radio Macau on the same day, appeared to retract his earlier statements by saying that he could not rule out his own candidacy and that it was still too early for him to say whether he would endorse Correias bid.

Valente has defended the leadership position of the association for decades, mostly running unopposed. In that time he has earned for himself a reputation for being a trusted public figure with both local and central authorities.

Valente won praise from fellow lawyer Francisco Gaivao, who yesterday told the Times that the long-standing association president has done a terrific job.

Valente has been very active in defending the system and the [use of] dual-languages, Portuguese and Chinese, which is integral to our legal system. He has a lot of prestige and respect within the community, said Gaivao.

However, others feel that the Macau Lawyers Associations defense of the legal system  and in particular the Basic law  has been on the wane.

Having held a senior post at the Macau Lawyers Association from 1995 to 1999, lawyer Joao Miguel Barros believes that the institution is in need of a renewal. He announced to the Times yesterday his support for Correia in the leadership contest.

I am supporting Sergio Correia. I believe we are at a time when a renewal of the association is needed. We cannot have a post like the presidents with just one person forever, he said. We dont want that kind of regime.

Barros also said that the association needed to step up its defense of the Basic Law and highlight instances of when government policy encroaches on it.

The responsibilities of the association are mainly to protect lawyers and the main principles of the Basic Law, but recently, the association has kept quiet on some matters relating to the Basic Law. Its now time to raise its voice, he said.

For Miguel de Senna Fernandes, a lawyer and leader in the Macanese community, Correias candidacy is a sign of vitality in the legal profession.

Its good news [that Correia is running] because there was a time when nobody seemed to care about running against Neto Valente, Senna Fernandes told the Times yesterday. I am not saying that Valente is not a good leader  we all respect Valente; when you analyze the content of Valentes messages, you see that he wants the best for Macaus lawyers and he has strived to [enhance] the public image of law professionals and has done a good job. But its a good sign for the vitality of the profession to have Correia as a candidate.

I believe that, if elected, Sergio Almeida Correia would be a rather good president. His candidacy has been amply discussed in these last few days and I have noticed the support expressed by several colleagues, said Rodrigo Mendia de Castro, a co-founder of FCLaw Lawyers & Private Notaries.

To be very honest, as a lawyer, I no longer feel represented by the current Board and would welcome a change, he added.

We always felt that Jorge Neto Valente sincerely wished to leave the presidency and have others to take his place in the Lawyers Association. He has, actually, consistently encouraged others to run for the position, said Mendia de Castro.

Correia, who holds a PhD in political science, has been regularly in the public eye with commentary on politics and legal affairs. He often offers his comments and critical views to the local press, including Macau Daily Times.

One local lawyer informed the Times that, as a reputed legal professional, Correias bid will be welcomed and taken seriously by the associations community. The lawyer, who requested anonymity, added that in the past there have been potential contenders for the leadership position but, unlike Correia, they didnt have the reputation to challenge Valente.

Correia is a very honest and competent lawyer and has experience working within the association, agreed Barros. He is a serious candidate and is committed to his candidacy.

The Times contacted almost a dozen other lawyers, most of whom said they were aware of Correias bid but not in a position to comment until they had studied the challengers manifesto more closely.

The Times also sought a comment from Neto Valente, but was informed by his office that the incumbent president is on a state visit to Tibet organized by the Liaison Office in Macau, and could not be reached.Angola and Portugal are due this week to sign a convention to end double taxation between the two countries, as part of a two-day visit to Angola that the Portuguese prime minister is due to start on Monday, financial newspaper Jornal de Negocios reported last Friday.

The newspaper reported that although Portugals finance ministry did not confirm that the agreement will be signed during the prime ministers visit, the Angolan Secretary of State for International Cooperation, Domingos Vieira Lopes had already admitted the possibility of signing the agreement during Costas visit to Luanda.

The agreement to avoid double taxation between Angola and Portugal is in progress and practically concluded, the newspaper wrote quoting the Secretary of State for International Cooperation.

The Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Augusto Santos Silva, said the visit will have a very important economic component because the commercial relationship and in terms of reciprocal investments of Portugal and Angola is very intense.

Santos Silva said in Brussels on the sidelines of a NATO summit in July that Portugal and Angola will also sign the new strategic cooperation programme and meet with the Portuguese community in Luanda.

Jornal de Angola reported that the Portuguese prime minister spoke yesterday at the Angola-Portugal Economic Forum: for a strategic partnership.

The Forum is organised by Angolas Private Investment and Export Promotion Agency (AIPEX) and its equivalent Agency for Investment and Foreign Trade of Portugal (AICEP). The Minister of State for Economic and Social Development, Manuel Nunes, is to to make the opening speech at the meeting.

The schedule shows that the General Investment Plan will be presented during the meeting, with contributions from the presidents of Aipex, Licinio Contreiras and AICEP, Luis Filipe de Castro Henriques, as well as a letter of intent signed to support the Development Finance Company (Sofid) of Portugal for a project of Angolan company Metalser. MDT/MacauhubThe Judiciary Police (PJ) reported on Monday that a local man lost MOP30,000 after falling victim to fraud. The suspect involved in the crime met the victim through a mobile social network. The suspect, pretending to be a prostitute working in a private club, told the victim that she needed to go to mainland China to see her family. The suspect told the victim to first pay MOP1,600 to her boss to get her out of the work place, and afterwards asked the victim again to settle a payment of MOP32,000. The boss threatened the victim into agreeing not to say anything to his family. Following this, the victim reported the case to the police.

Clean-up said to be completed by tomorrow

Yesterday, the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM) said that it will take approximately two more days for the government to completely clean up the trash across the city. Approximately 90 percent of the trash in the Inner Harbor area and in other flooded areas have already been cleaned up. There was more trash in these areas compared to other parts of Macau. Until yesterday, a total of 2,545 tons of trash were cleaned up. This waste consists of mainly domestic waste and perishable substances. The IACM also disposed of 2.8 tons of frozen meat.

Calls for mandatory casino suspensions

The New Macau Gaming Staff Rights Association is calling for mandatory suspension of casino operations during powerful typhoons. Yesterday, the association delivered a letter to the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) calling for casinos to be closed when typhoon signal No. 8 or higher is hoisted. Earlier, Cloee Chao, the leader of the gaming workers association, praised the operators decision to suspend casino activities. However, Secretary for Security Wong Sio Chak said on Monday that the government has yet to consider such mandatory typhoon casino closures.The benefits that Cape Verde derives from the fixed-rate regime of the Cape Verdean escudo against the euro means it is not worth joining the single currency of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the governor of the Bank of Cabo Verde said last week in Praia.

Cabo Verde has a credible currency, which fulfills the functions of value reserve and means of exchange, which inspires confidence and has allowed the country to take the leap it did, so it does not make sense to change it, said Joao Serra, on the sidelines of the opening of an International Conference commemorating 20 years since the signing of the Foreign Exchange Cooperation Agreement between Portugal and Cabo Verde.

Cited by Cape Verdean news agency Inforpress, the governor said that given the characteristics of the Cape Verdean economy, almost exclusively focused on Europe, the country will have no advantage in joining the African single currency.

We have almost no economic relations with Africa, either with ECOWAS or with the continent as a whole, so we are technically arguing that Cabo Verdes accession to ECOWASs single currency is not worth it, it will not bring benefits that might eventually supplant those we now have with the fixed regime against the euro, he said.

Serra also explained that the replacement of the Cape Verde escudo by the euro is also an issue that is not on the table. MDT/MacauhubThe Chinese vice-premier Han Zheng will attend the Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) meeting with Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean for the first time tomorrow, leading a delegation which includes senior officials, governors and mayors, The Straits Times reported.

Han, who was appointed to Chinas most powerful seven-member Politburo Standing Committee headed by President Xi Jinping last October, is expected to review the progress of bilateral cooperation between China and Singapore with Teo and chart the direction of future partnerships.

Several deals will also be inked between the two countries. The Straits Times understands they will be in the areas of arts, research, intellectual property and entrepreneurship.

Singapore and China take turns to host the annual meeting, which is the highest-level forum for deepening ties between the two countries and into its 14th year. The two sides will also hold separate meetings to take stock of the three government-to-government projects  Suzhou Industrial Park, Tianjin Eco-city and Chongqing Connectivity Initiative  and discuss further developments, said a statement from the Prime Ministers Office yesterday.

According to the newspaper, Han arrives in Singapore today for a three-day visit.

Singapore has been Chinas top investor since 2013, and both countries share longstanding economic ties.

Han was previously mayor and later party secretary of Shanghai, where he was born. Since March this year, he has been the first vice-premier of the State Council, or Cabinet. He also oversees Hong Kong and Macau affairs. MDT/TSTThe Israeli government announced that it agreed to absorb 1,000 Ethiopian Jews  accepting just a fraction of the African countrys 8,000 remaining Jews who want to move to Israel.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that a special committee had agreed to allow community members who already have children in Israel to immigrate. It was not clear what will happen to the remaining 7,000 people.

Alisa Bodner, a spokeswoman for Struggle for Ethiopian Aliyah, a group petitioning the government to allow Ethiopian Jews to immigrate, called Netanyahus decision an incredible disappointment and another spit in the face for Israels Ethiopian community. Citing his previous vows, the group is calling on the prime minister to provide a path to citizenship for the remaining 7,000 members of the Jewish Ethiopian community.

Many of the 8,000 are practicing Jews and have relatives in Israel. But Israel doesnt consider them Jewish under strict religious law, meaning their immigration requires special approval. The 8,000 are descendants of Ethiopian Jews who were forcibly converted to Christianity around a century ago, and the Israeli government views bringing them to Israel as family reunification rather than aliya, or Jewish immigration.

Israel agreed in 2015 to bring the remaining Ethiopians to Israel, but has not authorized funding for their move. The families allege discrimination.

Avraham Neguise, an Ethiopian-Israeli lawmaker and member of the special committee, said that while he welcomes the governments decision, he was disappointed that this issue has yet to be resolved.

We wont cease in our mission, our struggle until everyone is reunited with their family here in Israel, he said.

Neguise said the committee did not discuss plans for the remaining 7,000 Ethiopian Jews in yesterdays meeting.

Israel is home to approximately 144,000 Jews of Ethiopian descent, the majority of whom immigrated to Israel in the 1980s and 1990s. Last year Israel approved immigration for 1,300 Ethiopians with relatives who had already immigrated.

But their assimilation into Israeli society hasnt been smooth, with many arriving without a formal education and then falling into unemployment and poverty. Ethiopian Jews have also protested in recent years against perceived discrimination in Israeli society. APElectric drones booked through smartphones pick people up from office rooftops, shortening travel time by hours, reducing the need for parking and clearing smog from the air.

This vision of the future is driving the Japanese governments flying car project. Major carrier All Nippon Airways, electronics company NEC Corp. and more than a dozen other companies and academic experts hope to have a road map ready by the years end.

This is such a totally new sector Japan has a good chance for not falling behind, said Fumiaki Ebihara, the government official in charge of the project.

Nobody believes people are going to be zipping around in flying cars any time soon. Many hurdles remain, such as battery life, the need for regulations and, of course, safety concerns. But dozens of similar projects are popping up around the world.

A flying car is defined as an aircraft thats electric, or hybrid electric, with driverless capabilities, that can land and takeoff vertically.

They are often called EVtol, which stands for electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.

All the flying car concepts, which are like drones big enough to hold humans, promise to be better than helicopters, which are expensive to maintain, noisy to fly and require trained pilots, Ebihara and other proponents say.

You may think of Back to the Future, Gundam, or Doraemon, Ebihara said, referring to vehicles of flight in a Hollywood film and in Japanese cartoons featuring robots. Up to now, it was just a dream, but with innovations in motors and batteries, its time for it to become real.

Google, drone company Ehang and car manufacturer Geely in China, and Volkswagen AG of Germany have invested in flying car technology.

Nissan Motor Co. and Honda Motor Co. said they had nothing to say about flying cars, but Toyota Motor Corp. recently invested USD500 million in working with Uber on self-driving technology for the ride-hailing service. Toyota group companies have also invested 42.5 million yen ($375,000) in a Japanese startup, Cartivator, that is working on a flying car.

The hope is to fly up and light the torch at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but its unclear it will meet that goal: at a demonstration last year the device crashed after it rose to slightly higher than eye level. A video of a more recent demonstration suggests its now flying more stably, though its being tested indoors, unmanned and chained so it wont fly away.

There are plenty of skeptics.

Elon Musk, chief executive of electric car maker Tesla Inc., says even toy drones are noisy and blow a lot of air, which means anything that would be 1,000 times heavier isnt practical.

If you want a flying car, just put wheels on a helicopter, he said in a recent interview with podcast host and comedian Joe Rogan on YouTube. Your neighbors are not going to be happy if you land a flying car in your backyard or on your rooftop.

Though the Japanese government has resisted Ubers efforts to offer ride-hailing services in Japan, limiting it to partnerships with taxi companies, it has eagerly embraced the U.S. companys work on EVtol machines.

Uber says it is considering Tokyo as its first launch city for affordable flights via its UberAir service. It says Los Angeles and Dallas, Texas, and locations in Australia, Brazil, France and India are other possible locations.

Unlike regular airplanes, with their aerodynamic design and two wings, Ubers Elevate structures look like small jets with several propellers on top. The company says it plans flight demonstrations as soon as 2020 and a commercial service by 2023.

Ubers vision calls for using heliports on rooftops, but new multi-floored construction similar to parking lots for cars will likely be needed to accommodate so many more EVtol aircraft, if the service takes off.

Unmanned drones are legal in Japan, the U.S. and other countries, but there are restrictions on where they can be flown and requirements for getting approval in advance. In Japan, drone flyers can be licensed if they take classes. There is no requirement like drivers licenses for cars.

Flying passengers over populated areas would take a quantum leap in technology, overhauling aviation regulations and air traffic safety controls, along with major efforts both to ensure safety and convince people its safe.

Uber said at a recent presentation in Tokyo that it envisions a route between the citys two international airports, among others.

This is not a rich persons toy. This is a mass market solution, said Adam Warmoth, product manager at Uber Elevate.

Concepts for flying cars vary greatly. Some resemble vehicles with several propellers on top while others look more like a boat with a seat over the propellers.

Ebihara, the flying-car chief at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, says Japan is on board for Blade Runner style travel  despite its plentiful, efficient and well developed public transportation.

Japans auto and electronics industries have the technology and ability to produce super-light materials that could give the nation an edge in the flying car business, he said.

Just as the automobile vanquished horse-drawn carriages, moving short-distance transport into the air could in theory bring a sea change in how people live, Ebihara said, pointing to the sky outside the ministry building to stress how empty it was compared to the streets below.

Flying also has the allure of a birds eye view, the stuff of drone videos increasingly used in filmmaking, tourism promotion and journalism.

Atsushi Taguchi, a drone grapher, as specialists in drone video are called, expects test flights can be carried out even if flying cars wont become a reality for years since the basic technology for stable flying already exists with recent advances in sensors, robotics and digital cameras.

A growing labor shortage in deliveries in Japan is adding to the pressures to realize such technology, though there are risks, said Taguchi, who teaches at the Tokyo film school Digital Hollywood.

The propellers on commercially sold drones today are dangerous, and some of his students have lost fingers with improper flying. The bigger propellers needed for vertical flight would increase the hazards and might need to be covered.

The devices might need parachutes to soften crash landings, or might have to explode into small bits to ensure pieces hitting the ground would be smaller.

I think one of the biggest hurdles is safety, said Taguchi. And anything that flies will by definition crash. APWith the removal of tariffs on European wines as soon as next year, Kirin Holdings Co.s wine- making unit is betting on Japanese grapes to weather the onslaught.

Mercian Corp., Japans biggest and oldest winemaker, is nearly doubling its vineyards on expectations that its niche grapes  grown in a small area in the shadow of Mount Fuji  will increase sales both at home and overseas. Its seeking to bolster market share ahead of the implementation of a trade agreement removing tariffs on European Union wines that are as high as 182 yen (USD1.63) a liter.

The Japan-EU deal lowers barriers just as U.S. President Donald Trumps shunning of such deals helps stoke a wave of protectionism thats disrupted the trade of commodities and consumer goods. Japan is a growing wine market, with consumption surging this decade and exports climbing threefold last year. Mercian uses Koshu grapes, a white variety first cultivated in Japan in the 12th century and used in wine-making for more than 100 years, and Muscat Bailey A, a red variety developed eight decades ago.

The chances to sell Japanese wine overseas are growing, Mercian President Teruyuki Daino, 58, said in an interview in Tokyo. Competition in the domestic market is set to intensify as imports from Italy and Spain increase, he said. The uniqueness of a wine made from Japanese grapes is an advantage when competing with bottles made from European varieties, according to Daino.

Japans wine exports climbed to 493 million yen in 2017 from 164 million yen a year earlier, according to Agriculture Ministry data. Hong Kong accounted for 61 percent of sales, followed by Indonesia at 13 percent. Mercians top market is Hong Kong, followed by the U.S. and Singapore.

Daino aims to double sales of wine made from Koshu and other locally-grown grapes in the next decade from 468,000 bottles last year and plans to start shipments to Thailand and China. It will expand the vineyard under its management to 76 hectares (188 acres) by 2027 from 40 hectares. Mercian sources grapes from its own vineyards as well as through contracts with farmers in Yamanashi, Nagano, Fukushima and Akita.

In addition to Japanese grapes, Mercian produces varieties better known to western consumers like chardonnay, merlot and cabernet sauvignon. Its also growing albarino and tempranillo to cope with future challenges posed by climate change after temperatures in Koshu city topped 35 degrees Celsius during the summer.

Even if we use European grapes, our wine tastes different from Europeans because of our technique and terroir, Mitsuhiro Anzo, Mercians chief winemaker, said in an interview in Koshu city in the eastern prefecture of Yamanashi.

Japanese wine is generally more expensive than European bottles and exports from countries such as France, Italy and Spain are expected to grow, said Kenichi Ohashi, a Tokyo-based expert who holds the title of Master of Wine. The trade agreement will give European wine makers the chance to regain market share in Japan thats been lost to Chile in recent years, he said.

Still wine imports from Chile to Japan rose fivefold to 55,519 kiloliters in 2017 from 2007, according to data from the Ministry of Finance. In the same period, imports from France fell 13 percent to 45,523 kiloliters.

The EU deal will help cut costs for Japanese makers who produce the drink from imported bulk wine, according to Ohashi. It will also benefit Mercian, which imports bottled wine that it then sells in Japan. Overseas wine accounted for almost half of its total sales last year and the trade agreement is an opportunity for that side of the business, Daino said.

With trade agreement with EU, we want to turn competition in Japans wine market from price to quality, Daino said. Aya Takada and Hiromi Horie, BloombergPenang-born business man, Low Taek Jho, who is accused of looting billions from Malaysian investment fund 1MDB, is proclaiming his innocence on his website.

Wanted in Malaysia and Singapore and described by U.S. prosecutors as orchestrating the theft of $4.5 billion from 1MDB, Low has once again declared his innocence on his website, denouncing what he called unproven allegations.

With hindsight I may have done things differently, like any young person, but any mistakes I made do not amount to the sweepingly broad and destructive allegations being made against me, Low, 36, said in a signed letter on the site. Let me be clear: I am innocent.

Low, whose whereabouts are unknown, is described on the website as a global philanthropist, investor and entrepreneur.

He has been charged in absentia in Malaysia with money laundering, and Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has called on Low to return to the Southeast Asian country to help with the probe.

I have been paraded in effigy through the streets of Kuala Lumpur and have photographs from my younger days plastered in tabloids across the globe, Low wrote.

I only ask that everyone  courts, prosecutors and the general public  keep an open mind until all of the evidence comes to light.

According to his signed letter, his goal is to provide a balanced view of the allegations he is facing, noting that the website will bring to light these facts and provide the true story that has been suppressed for so long.

Low previously resided in Macau, after staying in Hong Kong for two months, as neither Malaysia nor Singapore had requested his arrest from the region.

It has become clear that there is no platform where objective information can be presented regarding this issue  and no jurisdiction that hasnt been poisoned by gossip, innuendo, and unproven allegations, Low added in his letter.

Malaysian officials said last month that its government may know the whereabouts of the wanted businessman, yet did not disclose further details.

Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal cited sources saying Low had been living freely in China despite the Interpol red notice.

Malaysia has applied for an Interpol red notice to seek assistance from the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, India, Myanmar, China and Hong Kong to detain Low.South Korean President Moon Jae-in began his third summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un yesterday with possibly his hardest mission to date  brokering some kind of compromise to keep North Koreas talks with Washington from imploding and pushing ahead with his own plans to expand economic cooperation and bring a stable peace to the Korean Peninsula.

Kim gave the South Korean president an exceedingly warm welcome, meeting him and his wife at Pyongyangs airport  itself a very unusual gesture  then riding into town with Moon in an open limousine through streets lined with crowds of North Koreans, who cheered and waved the flag of their country and a blue-and- white flag that symbolizes Korean unity.

The made-for-television welcome is par for the course for Moons summits with Kim.

Hours after his arrival, Moon began an official summit with Kim at the ruling Workers Party headquarters. The two were joined by two of their top deputies  spy chief Suh Hoon and presidential security director Chung Eui-yong for Moon, and Kim Jong Uns powerful sister, Kim Yo Jong, and senior Workers Party official Kim Yong Chol for the North Korean leader, according to Moons office.

At the start of their meeting, Kim thanked Moon for brokering a June summit with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Its not too much to say that its Moons efforts that arranged a historic North Korea- U.S. summit. Because of that, the regional political situation has been stabilized and more progress is expected, Kim said, according to South Korean media pool reports.

Moon responded by expressing his own thanks to Kim for making a bold decision in a New Years speech to open a new era of detente and send a delegation to the South Korean Winter Olympics in February.

The results of the talks werent immediately available. Seoul officials earlier said they would focus on how to achieve denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, decrease military tensions along their border and improve overall ties. The Norths media said the talks would reaffirm their commitment to Korean peace, unity and prosperity.

During a conversation at the Paekhwawon guest house where Moon was to stay, Kim said North Koreans hope diplomacy will yield positive results. I think it was our peoples wish that we come up with good results as fast as we can, Kim said, according to the media pool reports.

Moon responded that Our hearts are fluttering, but at the same we have heavy hearts, and added, We have built trust and friendship between us, so I think all will be well.

The two are to meet again today.

More than in their previous encounters, when the mere fact of meeting and resuming a dialogue was seen as a major step forward, Moon is under pressure to leave Thursday with some concrete accomplishments.

One of Moons objectives  and one that also interests Kim  was clear from the people he took with him. Traveling on Moons government jet was Samsung scion Lee Jae-yong and other business leaders, underscoring Moons hopes to expand cross-border business projects. Currently, however, all major joint projects between the Koreas are stalled because of U.S.-led sanctions.

But the nuclear issue was sure to cast a shadow over negotiations on joint projects.

Before leaving Seoul, Moon vowed to push for irreversible, permanent peace and for better dialogue between Pyongyang and Washington.

This summit would be very meaningful if it yielded a resumption of North Korea-U.S. talks, Moon said just before his departure. Its very important for South and North Korea to meet frequently, and we are turning to a phase where we can meet anytime we want.

But as Moon arrived, the Norths main newspaper lobbed a rhetorical volley at Washington that could make Moons job all the more delicate, blaming the United States alone for the lack of progress in denuclearization talks.

The U.S. is totally to blame for the deadlocked DPRK-U.S. negotiations, the Rodong Sinmun said in an editorial, using the initials of the Norths formal name, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea.

It said Washington is stubbornly insisting that the North dismantle its nuclear weapons first, an approach which was rejected in the past DPRK-U.S. dialogues, while failing to show its will for confidence-building including the declaration of the end of war which it had already pledged.

While signaling his willingness to talk with Washington, Kims strategy has been to try to elbow the U.S. away from Seoul so that the two Koreas can take the lead in deciding how to bring peace and stability to their peninsula. North Korea maintains that it has developed its nuclear weapons to the point that it can now defend itself against a potential U.S. attack, and can now shift its focus to economic development and improved ties with the South.

Rarely do the North Korean official media even mention the word denuclearization.

Talks between the United States and North Korea have stalled since Kims meeting with Trump in Singapore in June.

North Korea has taken some steps, like dismantling its nuclear and rocket-engine testing sites, but U.S. officials have said it must take more serious disarmament steps before receiving outside concessions. Trump has indicated he may be open to holding another summit to resuscitate the talks, however.

For Kim, the timing of this weeks summit is good.

North Korea just completed an elaborate celebration replete with a military parade and huge rallies across the country to mark its 70th anniversary. China, signaling its support for Kims recent diplomatic moves, sent its third-highest party official to those festivities. Thats important because China is the Norths biggest economic partner and is an important political counterbalance to the United States.

To keep expectations from getting too high, Moons chief of staff, Im Jong-seok, said its difficult to have any optimistic outlook for progress on denuclearization during the summit. But he said he still expects the summit to produce meaningful agreements.

Some progress along those lines is already underway.

South Korea last week opened a liaison office in the Norths city of Kaesong, near the Demilitarized Zone. Another possible area of agreement could be on a formal statement on ending the Korean War, which was halted in 1953 by what was intended to be a temporary armistice. Military officials have discussed possibly disarming a jointly controlled area at the Koreas shared border village, removing front-line guard posts and halting hostile acts along their sea boundary.

Moon is the third South Korean leader to visit North Koreas capital for summits, but the first since 2007. Eric Talmadge, Hyung-Jin Kim, Pyongyang, APA Russian reconnaissance aircraft was shot down by a Syrian missile over the Mediterranean Sea, killing all 15 people on board, the Russian Defense Ministry said yesterday. It blamed Israel for the crash, saying the plane was caught in the crossfire as four Israeli fighters attacked targets in northwestern Syria.

The Russian military said the Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft was hit 35 kilometers offshore late Monday as it was returning to its home base nearby.

The Israeli pilots were using the Russian aircraft as a shield and pushed it into the line of fire of the Syrian defense, Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said.

Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu called his Israeli counterpart, Avigdor Lieberman, later Tuesday to say that Israel is fully to blame for the deaths, the ministry said.

The military said Israel did not warn it of its operation over Latakia province until one minute before the strike, which did not give the Russian plane enough time to escape.

The Israeli military said in a statement Tuesday that its jets were already within Israeli airspace when the incident occurred. Israel offered condolences over the death of the Russian troops but said it holds the Syrian government fully responsible. It also blamed Iran and Hezbollah for what it described as an unfortunate incident.

The Russian Defense Ministry said a recovery operation has already located the planes wreckage at sea and has retrieved some bodies and some fragments of the plane.

For several years, Israel and Russia have maintained a special hotline to prevent their air forces from clashing in the skies over Syria. Israeli military officials have previously praised its effectiveness.

Russia has been a key backer of Syrian President Bashar Assad and it has two military bases in the country, including one close to the Mediterranean coast.

Russias dramatic entry into the Syrian civil war in 2015 in support of the Syrian government, after a year of airstrikes by the U.S. and its coalition partners against the Islamic State group, increased the specter of dangerous confrontations in the skies over Syria.

Turkeys troops are also on the ground in northern Syria and are patrolling the skies over the region as Ankara seeks to ramp up its influence there and curb the expansion of Syrian Kurdish-controlled territory.

Israel has refrained from taking sides in the Syrian civil war. But it has acknowledged carrying out scores of airstrikes against archenemy Iran and its Shiite proxy Hezbollah.

Israel has also acknowledged attacking Iranian targets some 200 times. Israel has warned that it will not allow Iran to establish a permanent military presence in postwar Syria.

Throughout the fighting, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained continuous contact with Russia. Netanyahu frequently travels to Russia for talks with President Vladimir Putin to discuss the Syria issue.

The Israeli military said the Russian plane fell victim to the extensive and inaccurate firing of Syrian surface-to-air missile systems and that the Israeli jets  which were carrying out a raid against a Syrian government facility in another place  had already left Syrian airspace by that point.

The Israeli military said that hotline with Russia was in operation and that it would share with Russia all the data at its disposal. Nataliya Vasilyeva, Moscow, APLocal residents participating in cultural activities totaled 253,900, a participation rate of 56.7 percent, down by 2.3 percentage points, according to the latest data published by the government.

According to the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC), a total of 300,000 individuals participated in the citys cultural activities in the second quarter of 2018, slightly up by 0.3 percentage points year-on-year.

Analyzed by type of cultural activity, going to the cinema remained the most popular activity for residents, with 165,500 participants, a decrease of 4.6 percent year-on-year, while the activitys participation rate fell by 2.2 percentage points to 37.0 percent.

Among these local residents, 30,000 had watched locally produced films and videos, down by 17.2 percent year-on-year.

Local residents going to libraries was up 1.6 percent year-on-year to 131,600, an increase of 0.1 percentage points to 29.4 percent. Students had a higher participation rate than non-students, at 76.8 percent and 25.1 percent respectively, with the difference between the two narrowing from 55.0 percentage points in the same quarter of 2017 to 51.7 percentage points.

Local residents visiting museums or World Heritage sites decreased by 12.8 percent year-on-year to 100,600.

The average visit per participant inched down by 0.2 to 3.1. Among these local residents, 69,700 visited museums and 66,600 visited World Heritage sites, down by 10.2 percent and 24.2 percent respectively year-on-year.

There were 81,100 local residents attending performances, up by 2.1 percent year-on-year. The average attendance per participant decreased by 0.5 to 2.1.

Music and dance performances recorded 60,200 participants, up by 4.7 percent year-on-year. Meanwhile, theatre performances had 40,300 participants, down by 18.7 percent.

DSECs survey aimed to collect the information on participation in cultural activities by individuals aged over 16, six months prior to the date of interview.While Pope Francis battles rare criticism from senior clergy in the Vatican, hes facing a warning that the Roman Catholic Church risks devastating division from Asia.

Cardinal Joseph Zen  the retired but still outspoken former archbishop of Hong Kong  told Bloomberg News last month that he wrote to Francis to denounce efforts by the Vatican to reach a landmark agreement with Beijing on the appointment of bishops in China. Zen cautioned in a July letter that such a deal, which could lift a barrier to restoring diplomatic relations with Beijing, may also create a schism among the local faithful.

Francis is too optimistic, said Zen, 86. The trouble is that he doesnt know the Chinese government. He doesnt have experience of a Communist regime.

Zens comments highlight another potential concern for Francis, while he faces accusations from the Vaticans former envoy to Washington that he ignored 2013 warnings about alleged sex abuse by U.S. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. The pope has declined to comment on the claims and on Wednesday summoned top bishops to a February summit to discuss preventing clergy sex abuse.

The Wall Street Journal reported last week that a deal between China and the Vatican could come later this month. Under the agreement, both sides would have a say in appointing the churchs bishops in China, according to the article, which cited unidentified sources familiar with the situation.

China Crackdown

The pope is risking another fight in the developing world, Zen said. The dispute in China  like so many in the Churchs long history  centers on who gets to appoint bishops, the pope or Chinas government.

While talks have dragged on for years, Francis expressed optimism in a June interview with Reuters that ties were improving. Chinas main demand is for the Vatican to formally recognize seven excommunicated Chinese bishops appointed by the government without the popes approval, according to the Wall Street Journal.

But reaching a settlement with the officially atheist Communist Party has provided elusive, especially as President Xi Jinping presides over the most widespread crackdown on religious freedom since it was written into the countrys constitution in 1982. Chinese authorities have jailed Catholic priests, destroyed churches and cut crosses from the tops of churches.

The efforts go beyond Christianity. Last month, a United Nations panel called on Beijing to respond to what it said were credible reports that as many as 1 million Muslims were being held in reeducation camps in the far western region of Xinjiang. A senior Chinese official warned in April against overseas individuals or entities using religion as a tool of infiltration.

The estimated 12 million Catholics in China are currently divided between the Catholic Patriotic Association, a state-run authority in which the government names bishops, and an underground Church loyal to the pope.

Although Zen is retired, he has retained influence as an advocate for greater democracy in the former British colony of Hong Kong. At his home in the Salesian House of Studies, Zen repeatedly rapped his gold cardinals ring on the table as he gesticulated for emphasis. He argued that the Church didnt understand Xis intent.I said that, Im really worried not about you, Your Holiness, but about the people around you, Zen said. I said, The things your collaborators are doing  and I used a really bad Italian word, macchinando [plotting]  will have tragic and long-lasting effects, not only for the Church in China, but for the whole Church.

The cardinal faulted discussions about giving the pope veto power over a bishops nominated by a party-backed nominating conference.

The conference is fake, it has no power at all, Zen said, adding that such a move risked creating a schismatic Church with the blessing of the Holy Father.

The Vatican declined to comment on Zens remarks, or on the talks with China. The Vatican in January rebuked Zen  without naming him  for fostering confusion and controversy after he suggested Francis wasnt fully informed about Vatican officials strategy on China.

The debate could also have repercussions for democratically run Taiwan, which counts the Vatican as one of its 17 remaining diplomatic allies. Beijing has been wooing countries away from Taipei since the island elected a president from a pro-independence party in 2016.

Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu told Bloomberg News on Aug. 24 that the island was watching Chinas efforts to boost ties with the Church. He argued that now wasnt the time for the Vatican to switch allegiances, since there are more and more Catholics in China that are being persecuted.

Zen also expressed concern about what he said was an erosion of the autonomy and political freedom guaranteed to Hong Kong under Chinas one country, two systems framework. They just threw away one country, two systems a long time ago, and the government is becoming so totalitarian that you cant believe you are in Hong Kong anymore, Zen said.

Zen cited the governments unprecedented bid to ban a pro- independence group known as the Hong Kong National Party, calling it ridiculous  a pretext to stop all criticism.

Asked what he would like to be remembered for, Zen chuckled and replied: Oh, I simply dont like to be remembered. If they remember me, they should pray for me. Thats all. John FollainAfter a string of scandals, the European Commission has unveiled new plans to crack down on money laundering. Its right to take this problem seriously  but its proposals are weak. Instead of setting up a new agency and equipping it to do the job, Europe plans to keep relying on national authorities, some of which arent up to the task.

Banks in Denmark, the Netherlands, Latvia and Malta have all been linked to criminal inflows from countries including Russia and North Korea.

The EU has moved to centralize banking supervision, but money laundering has remained a national responsibility. It was the U.S. Treasury Department that found out that ABLV, a Latvian lender, was involved in institutionalized money laundering, prompting EU authorities to withdraw its banking license. And a report by the European Banking Authority (EBA) concluded that the Maltese regulator had failed to conduct an effective supervision of Pilatus Bank, a lender with links to Iran.

In principle, theres nothing wrong with national regulation of international financial crime.

The U.S. Treasurys Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence deals with money laundering. But some EU governments, concerned about the reputation of their respective banks, have taken an unduly lax approach.

A common EU agency would be less susceptible to local pressure. Also, EU banks can set up branches across the union on preferential terms thanks to its so-called passporting system  so EU banking is intrinsically cross-border, strengthening the case for more centralized supervision.

Brussels wants to give new powers to the EBA, so that the agency can tell national supervisors to investigate cases and consider possible sanctions. This is a step in the right direction. But the EBA isnt equipped for the job. The London-based agency is primarily responsible for designing stress tests and overseeing prudential rules. Some aspects of money laundering fall under its review, but it currently has just two officials assigned to the task. The EU wants to add 10 more. That isnt enough.

Most important, the EU wants domestic regulators to stay in charge. It would have been better to harmonize the rules, create a new agency, and give it lead responsibility for investigating offenders. The EU has missed an opportunity to move to a better system and improve its reputation for sound financial supervision. The Editors, BloombergDavit Manduka, the Republic of Congos newly appointed ambassador to Armenia, today presented his diplomatic credentials to Armenian President Armen Sarkissian.

Sarkissian congratulated Manduka on assuming the post and said he was certain that relations between the two countries would develop as a result.

Manduka, according to an Armenian government press release, said he do his utmost to release the potential of such cooperation.Armenias Ministry of Nature Protection reports that an international team of experts from the ELARD Group have arrived in Armenia to conduct an independent survey of the controversial Amulsar gold mine.

Amulsar opponents have halted construction at the mine site, and the Armenian government finds itself in a precarious legal position regarding the mines future.

ELARD (Earth Link & Advanced Resources Development is a leading regional world-class environmental and HSE consultancy firm operating primarily in the Middle East and North Africa.

The ministry, in a statement released today, invites all interested non-governmental organizations to meet with the team of experts on September 20, from 5-6:30pm

Address: MNP Conference Hall, 5th floor, 3rd Government House, Republic Square, Yerevan.

People wishing to participate in the meeting are kindly asked to be registered until September 20, 15:00 by calling 011-818-559.Interview with Beau Nicholls, CEO at Sahara Natural Resources

What are the recent developments between Sahara Natural Resources and China in the sector?

Sahara has been engaging with China in the last six months. President Xi has pledged 60 billion dollars to be spent in Africa and that will be through Chinese companies engaging with African countries. At Sahara, we have started working with a number of serious Chinese groups. We have signed a number of MOUs with Hunan Mining Association, and some very large "Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Commissioning" (EPCM) groups, with the strategy of becoming a local technical partner to these very big companies. Some of those groups have built the biggest suspension bridges in the world, the longest bridges over water including the 55km bridge from Hong Kong to mainland China. These companies have enormous capabilities, enormous potential, and many of them are Fortune 500 companies.

Do these companies currently have projects in Africa where you could participate?

There are a lot of opportunities in West Africa that we are looking at currently in the infrastructure space. There are large planned railway lines from Ghana up to Burkina Faso. There is refurbishment of rail from Senegal through to Mali. There are large port infrastructure projects. There are many solar energy projects. We have been working in the solar energy sector and we have engaged with Chinese companies in solar energy. China is moving ahead and beyond the rest of the world in many areas. There is a large commitment from the government of China to invest into Africa and we are a capable, local partner for those groups. We can cross the bridge of language and cultural differences. We have Chinese people working for Sahara that are fluent in French, English, and Chinese. We see that one of the biggest gaps between Chinese moving into Africa is culture and language. So, we are here to fill that void.

What is the timeframe for the turnaround for these MOUs? Will some projects be done next year, or will it take several years?

We are actively looking at a number projects right now and a lot of these projects have an immediate need. The Chinese can and do act very quickly. They have the finance, they have the capabilities, they just need to mobilize the equipment that we need.

When we last spoke, we were engaged in one of the first solar wind farms in Ghana. Since then, we have actually done the geotechnical and survey works on this project. But what the Chinese groups can bring is that they can supply the wind farms along the coast, offshore, so that you do not interfere with the local people. You do not take any land away. It is offshore renewable energy. It is an exciting option. There is a lot of wind off the coast of West Africa.

I was in Australia last week for the Africa Down Under Conference, which is a conference between Australia and Africa. There is a lot of investment from Australia into Africa. One of the places I went to was Albany in the southwest of Western Australia. Albany is currently generating 80% of its electricity from offshore wind farms and has been for the last 15 years. This is something that can and will come to expect in West Africa.

Wind energy along with solar power are exciting opportunities for the future of West Africa.

What can Sahara offer to these projects?

We would like to see ourselves engaged in some very large engineering, EPCM project works that are two to five years in length. We would also like to continue to establish our local capabilities of our people.

We have 20 years of experience operating in West Africa. We are a West African company of about 200 employees. I am the only Australian. We have mostly professional West Africans working for us who are bilingual in French and English. We offer language, local logistics, technical support, and we provide professional surveying, geotechnical services, and any number of capabilities that go around that. Basically, we provide the local content that you need. You do not want to have 1,000 Chinese come in and do all the work and then leave, because there are no skills transfers to West Africans. We will transfer the skills from the Chinese to increase the skills of the local people here in West Africa which will provide a sustainable future for West Africa. You need to leave a sustainable impact. You cannot just go and build roads and then leave. You cannot go put up wind turbines and then leave. You need to train people because these projects need to be maintained over the lifespan of that infrastructure. Without local content, without local participation, you can invest as much money as you want but it will not benefit the country in the future.

What areas have you been in traditionally, and what new sectors are you looking to move into?

Traditionally, Sahara has been very strong in the exploration and mining sector in West Africa. We have worked in every major gold project in West Africa. We work in gold, iron ore and bauxite, we are also working in lithium projects, and some base metal operations in West Africa. We are very well established in those commodities and we have a very good client base across West Africa.

We are developing our capabilities into more of an engineering group along with the EPCM side which is also engaging with the very competent and qualified partners, such as many of these Chinese companies mentioned earlier. The EPCM is huge for West Africa because of the population growth and the infrastructural growth that is happening here. There are some major projects. We have traditionally been in the boom and bust cycle of the exploration of mining, which is traditionally five to seven years where you can be doing very well and then when the commodities crash, so does your business. You have to develop a sustainable business over the longer period. And we see long term infrastructure projects as how we can bridge that gap and make our growth and our revenue base much more stable.

We are also looking to engage in other parts of the world. We have strong connections to Australia and to Europe as well. We have offices in South America and we also work with the US on a lot of projects. There is a good amount of funding coming out of the US, with some solar projects that we have worked on in Burkina Faso having been funded by the US groups.

Diversification from a mining and exploration focused has provided us a relief from this boom and bust cycle that we all know and love when it is good times and hate when it is bad times.

You mentioned last time that you use drones to do topographic surveying. Can you explain further?

The applications for drones are unlimited. The space we are in now is traditional drones which is supplying high resolution topography for engineering and mining exploration purposes. But the development of drones is going into carrying specific tools that can help you discover new mineral deposits. So, you can now carry magnetometers and other geophysical tools that help you to find the minerals that are hidden, which has traditionally been carried out by expensive fixed wing aircraft. The drones are also being used in inspections. If you have railway lines or large, dangerous areas in oil and gas, you can actually fly around and check them using the drone. Drones are also being used in security, such as in a situation where you do not want to go into a place, you can send a drone in instead. There are obviously some sensitivities around that.

Can they be applied in different sectors or activities?

Yes. One of the main ways drones are used in Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana is for doing surveys across agricultural plantations. For example, you can determine the health of your cocoa plantations, where you need to apply more fertilizer, because of the infrared or the multispectral response of the trees. If they are yellow instead of green, then you know they are sick. It is quite a simple process and you can cover extremely large areas with high precision location, date, and time stamps on your drones, so you can manage your agriculture and your farming in real time and plan for the future.

What are the challenges that you foresee coming with these new technologies? Is there something that, for instance, only the developed world can do but in Africa it is not going to be possible?

There are not any restrictions on that. One of the first fully automated underground mines is actually being developed now in Mali with Resolute, an Australian company. It is going to be the biggest of its kind in the world. You can overcome any educational or other limitations with technology. The biggest challenge in much of West Africa is infrastructure, but this is where the Chinese are pledging the 60 billion. It is helping immensely. The other challenges that are not so easy to resolve are the security issues and recent terrorist activity that we are seeing coming into Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. We work with MS Risk out of the Isle of Man, who are specialists in security. There have been a number of recent events involving IED, improvised explosive devices or land mines, that have changed the playing field in the north and the Sahel. This is of extreme concern for all countries involved.

Is this a sector where you are also involved because you provide security for some firms?

We do not directly supply security serrvices, but we have a joint venture agreement with specialist groups. MS Risk is one and we support them because of our local content, our local knowledge, our language capabilities, and our network across West Africa. When you originate from exploration, you are the first ones to go anywhere. So, apart from the locals, as professional geologists, we are one of the biggest exploration groups for hire in Africa. We have around 65 geologists working for us at the moment and they are spread across ten plus countries. The big challenge for us is how to keep them safe when you have these new things like land mines being utilized, which is not a simple thing to resolve and needs special attention from the international community. It is not something that countries like Burkina can resolve on their own. Our primary concern in West Africa at this stage is the deteriation in the security situation.

Do you have any other projects or areas you are working in?

We do what we call mines for sale, which is where we have an extensive network of local vendors, local people that have projects in various countries in West Africa, and they need help developing and connecting with capital from outside. There is not a very developed stock exchange system here in West Africa, such as the Australian or Canadian stock exchange, which is where most funding comes from for West African projects. So, we have engaged, and we have a lot of local vendors that come to us and they have a piece of ground, or some very interesting projects, or they have found some interesting rocks, we can help them with the technical aspects and with connecting them to international investors. We have a lot of opportunities that come in, just by the nature of having 65 geologists in ten countries walking the ground. You come across a lot of interesting people. We have a lot of people come into the office and they want to do something with their projects. It is obviously the exciting part of the business cycle in exploration to mining. The discovery of a deposit is a thing that can often change countries. For a country like Burkina Faso, 40% of its GDP is coming from gold mining, which ten years ago was relatively undeveloped. Now, Burkina has 11 operating gold mines of an international standard. So, it is a great opportunity. One of the last frontiers in the world is Africa. In some of the sectors we are present in, we have started working in Sudan in the east. It is not well known, but Sudan is now the second largest gold producer in Africa. It has one international standard mine operating, so the rest is small scale mining, which is quite phenomenal. It produces ~110 tonnes, which is more than Ghana. Ghana comes in at third now, and Ghana has been operating at international standards for the last 20 years in gold mining.

How do you attract these people? How do they find out about you?

We have an office here in Accra, and offices around West Africa, we have a lot of people out on the ground. We have advertising, marketing on our vehicles, our people wear our uniforms and look professional. It is not a big industry. The mining industry internationally is quite small, you know people from everywhere. So, everyone knows us in this space.

Project yourself into the medium term, two years time, what will be your scope of operation? What will be your vision for the company for 2020?

We would like to see ourselves engaged in some very large engineering, EPCM project works that are two to five years in length. We would also like to continue to establish our local capabilities of our people. We have some excellent professionals, 60 plus geologists already, but we also have mining engineers, process engineers, surveying and geotechnical personnel. We want to increase our training and our capability in country so that investors coming into the country do not need to bring external support. That is always a work in progress, but we have come a long way. Two years ago, we were not doing drone surveys. We utilize Australian and Canadian mining professionals to get our locals trained up and we are providing that service with our West African personnel to an international standard. That is something that we are proud of and that is something that we will keep developing.

FAIR USE POLICY

This material (including media content) may not be published, broadcasted, rewritten, or redistributed. However, linking directly to the page (including the source, i.e. Marcopolis.net) is permitted and encouraged.Construction of a 25km-long causeway between Bahrain and the regional power Saudi Arabia will kick-start mid2021, Saudi envoy to Bahrain has told media.

The project, to cost between $3 and $4 billion, will be put out to tender end of next month, Abdullah bin Abdulmalik Al Shaikh reportedly said.

Structural studies will take two years and a half while the project execution is scheduled to start by mid-2021 and will be completed three years after, Al Shaikh added according to media reports.

The causeway will boost ties between the two brotherly countries, particularly in the area of trade.

The project features four vehicle lanes and a 75km railway.Sitting L to R: Dr. Janet Davis, Julio Adorno Nieves, Santa Nieves and Jorge Adorno Giusti; Standing L to R: Drs. Audina Berrocal, Ninel Gregori, and Byron Lam. Credit: Bascom Palmer Eye Institute

A Puerto Rican patient with X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP) is hoping to save his vision after an innovative gene therapy procedure at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. On August 23, Julio Adorno Nieves, 23, became the first U.S. patient to be given new genes for his inherited blinding condition in a worldwide Nightstar Therapeutics clinical trial.

"My vision has been getting worse over time, and I've had a lot of difficulty seeing at night," said Nieves at a checkup one week after his surgery. "I'm still in recovery, but am hoping to see a change soon, thanks to Bascom Palmer's fantastic professional team." Bascom Palmer has an extensive gene therapy program with ophthalmologists, surgeons, genetic counselors and research scientists studying various forms of inherited eye diseases.

Byron Lam, M.D., professor of ophthalmology and holder of the Robert Z. & Nancy J. Greene Chair in Ophthalmology, said XLRP is most commonly caused by a mutation on the RPGR gene on the X-chromosome that causes blindness in about one in 15,000 men. Because women have two X chromosomes, they are usually less affected, although they can pass the mutation to their children.

"Introducing a functional copy of the RPGR gene using an engineered viral vector can correct the underlying cause and induce a long-lasting therapeutic effect," added Lam, who is the principal investigator in the phase 1/II Nightstar clinical trial focusing on the safety and dosage of the treatment.

Janet L. Davis, M.D., professor of ophthalmology and holder of the Leach Chair in ophthalmology, and Ninel Gregori, M.D., associate professor of clinical ophthalmology, delivered the new genes to Nieves' left eye in a 99-minute procedure that was observed by Robert MacLaren, M.D., a professor of ophthalmology at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom who developed the gene replacement therapy. "Julio's surgery went very well, and we were able to cover the entire central area of the retina where he still had some limited vision," Davis said.

Noting that Nieves was the 16th patient worldwide to participate in the Nightstar trial, Gregori said, "We put a lot of planning into this ground-breaking surgery and are proud that Bascom Palmer Eye Institute was the first U.S. site for this clinical trial. Our patient and his family were waiting for this for many years!"

The patient's parents, Santa Nieves and Jorge Adorno Giusti, both pharmacists from Bayamon, Puerto Rico, are hoping the experimental treatment will also help their other two sons, Jorge, 25, and Juan, 21, who also have XLRP.

"About 30 members of my family have this genetic disorder and many of the men are legally blind," said Santa Nieves. "Before we decided to have children, I consulted with several specialists and had genetic testing done. They assured me at that time that I was not a carrier of the disease, so I expected to have healthy children."

But when Santa Nieves' children started walking, she noticed they were bumping into the edges of doors, an early symptom of the loss of peripheral vision due to retinitis pigmentosa (RP). "But they were not diagnosed with RP until 2002 when they were 7, 9 and 11 years old," she said. "They told us they were destined to lose their sight irreparably."

A doctor in Bayamon urged Santa Nieves to contact Bascom Palmer, which has deep ties to Puerto Rico's ophthalmology community. Jose A. Berrocal, M.D., the first fellow to train at Bascom Palmer in 1964, became the island's first retina specialist. His daughter Maria Berrocal, M.D., joined him in private practice, while Audina Berrocal, M.D. joined the Bascom Palmer faculty and is now professor of clinical ophthalmology.

Responding to Santa Nieves' request, Audina Berrocal tested Santa Nieves' sons, determined they had XLRP and referred the family to Lam for genetic testing. In 2003, Lam and Berrocal led a Bascom Palmer medical team that tested more than 100 members of Santa Nieves' family in Puerto Rico. "We used my sister's and dad's office to examine as many of the family members as we could," said Berrocal. "It was an amazing collaborative project."

Through the years, the Bascom Palmer physicians stayed in close touch with the family, and when Lam was asked to participate in the Nightstar gene therapy trial, he thought immediately of the Nieves family. "With gene therapy, some patients will have their central vision improve, while others may not," Lam said. "Hopefully as Julio's central vision improves, his night vision will get better as well."

Meanwhile, Julio Nieves, now a computer scientist, urges other men with XLRP to keep learning about the disease and seek out new treatments. "I hope that my two brothers can also be treated," he said.

To help raise awareness, Santa Nieves established the Retinitis Pigmentosa Foundation of Puerto Rico, a non-profit Puerto Rico organization to educate families, provide support to patients and inform them about the latest advances. With guidance from Bascom Palmer, the foundation plans to create a central database for RP patients on the island.

After Julio's surgery, Santa Nieves expressed her "unconditional thanks" to Lam and the entire Bascom Palmer team. "After 15 years of waiting, my dream has come true," she said. "Miracles happen and great people make them possible!"

Explore further New trial for blindness rewrites the genetic codeSpehar's visit comes ahead of Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci's trip to New York next week where he is planned to meet with the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on the 29th of September. The UN Special Representative first met with the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades.

Later, Spehar met with Akinci. Akinci's spokesman Baris Burch and Akinci's advisor for political affairs and EU matters Erhan Ercin were also present at the meeting.

Speaking after the meeting which lasted for over an hour, the UN Secretary General's Special Representative to Cyprus Elizabeth Spehar said that she was meeting with both leaders ahead of the UN General Assembly. She pointed out that the Secretary General will be meeting separately with both leaders on the side-lines of the UN General Assembly. "These meetings are always a good opportunity in terms of seeing where we stand and to see where the process will head" she said, adding that the Cyprus Issue was going through an important phase.

Pointing out that there have been no negotiations for over a year now, the UN Special Representative said that the UN Security Council has expectations. "They are very clear that they want to see the signals of going back to the negotiating table. They would also like to see the movement of conditions conducive for a successful process in the form of confidence building measures and trust building. There will be a couple of reports coming out which the Security Council would like the Secretary General to provide to them with. They believe that these reports will give them some sense of what they could expect", she added.

Spehar said that the Security Council would of course continue to support the leaders but added that they see it as the responsibility of the parties to take something forward.Hodgkin lymphoma, nodular lymphocyte predominant (high-power view) Credit: Gabriel Caponetti, MD./Wikipedia/CC BY-SA 3.0

A cancer immunotherapy has been provisionally rejected as a treatment for some adults with an aggressive type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma on the NHS in England.

The decision will be reviewed by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) at the end of October.

Tisagenlecleucel (Kymriah) is one of a new line of immune-boosting treatments called CAR T cell therapies, which involve taking a patient's own immune cells and modifying them in the lab. When the engineered cells are given back to the patient, they're primed to recognise and attack cancer cells.

Kymriah has been trialled for patients with an aggressive type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (diffuse large B cell lymphoma) who have already had two or more different types of treatment.

Unpublished clinical trial results showed that 5 in 10 patients responded to the treatment, with the disease completely disappearing in half of these cases 3 months after treatment. But these potent immune-boosting treatments can trigger severe side effects, including severe neurological problems and serious infections. The trial involved 93 people.

The recommendation comes a fortnight after NHS England announced Kymriah would be offered to some children and young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia on the NHS in England. Exact details of that recommendation are yet to be published, but NHS England said the treatment would be paid for by the Cancer Drugs Fund for the small number of children who may benefit.

Emlyn Samuel, Cancer Research UK's head of policy development, called the decision not to also recommend Kymriah for adults with aggressive lymphoma "disappointing."

Long-term data needed

The committee said that although the clinical trial results suggest a good number of patients respond to Kymriah, there's no direct data to compare it with standard chemotherapy treatment. This means that the benefits of Kymriah compared with standard treatment are unknown.

NICE said the lack of long-term data to demonstrate Kymriah's effectiveness, combined with the treatment's high price, meant it couldn't be considered cost-effective on the NHS.

"We face an uncertain time regarding access to CAR T cell therapies for patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma," said Professor Karl Peggs, a Cancer Research UK-funded immunotherapy expert. "The early results are exciting but remain relatively limited, making it difficult to assess the true benefits of these therapies over existing treatments."

Meindert Boysen, director of the Centre for Health Technology Evaluation at NICE, said: "We have seen promising results for CAR-T therapies in early trials and believe there is great potential for tisagenlecleucel-T to help people who have not responded to other forms of therapy.

"Although we could not recommend tisagenlecleucel-T for adults with lymphoma, we welcome further discussions around the cost-effectiveness of the treatment and engagement with stakeholders."

The treatment's manufacturer, Novartis, can now submit additional data, which will be reviewed by NICE before a final decision is reached. And there will be more negotiations between the company and NICE about the price of the treatment.

In August another CAR T cell therapy, called axicabtagene ciloleucel (Yescarta), was also provisionally rejected as a treatment for aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma on the NHS in England. This decision will be reviewed at the end of September.

Samuel said that although CAR T cell therapies have shown great promise in some lymphoma patients, the process of manufacturing the drug is complex and very expensive.

"We urge NICE, NHS England and the manufacturer to work together so that the best possible evidence on the drug's effectiveness is available when this decision is reviewed next month, and to agree a deal to ensure affordable access for patients as soon as possible," he said.

Peggs said that, in meantime, there are a number of ongoing clinical trials that will help to bridge the gap.

Explore further Prostate cancer drug given initial 'no' for NHS in EnglandCredit: CC0 Public Domain

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta has performed Georgia's first-ever procedure to place 3-D-printed tracheal splints in a pediatric patient. A cross-functional team of Children's surgeons used three custom-made splints, which biomedical engineers at the Georgia Institute of Technology helped create using an innovative and experimental 3-D-printing technology, to assist the breathing of a 7-month-old patient battling life-threatening airway obstruction.

"We are so fortunate to work with a leading engineering school like Georgia Tech to find innovative, potentially life-saving treatment options for our patients," said Donna Hyland, president and CEO, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. "This is a great example of how aligning Children's clinical expertise with the missions of our research collaborators can improve patient outcomes. Research that can be translated into more effective care at the bedside is why our collaboration with Georgia Tech is so important for the future of pediatric care in Georgia."

The patient who received the groundbreaking surgery is a 7-month-old boy battling both congenital heart disease and tracheo-bronchomalacia, a condition that causes severe life-threatening airway obstruction. During his six-month inpatient stay in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Children's, he experienced frequent episodes of airway collapse that could not be corrected by typical surgery protocols. The clinical team proposed surgically inserting an experimental 3-D-printed tracheal splint, which is a novel device still in development, to open his airways and expand the trachea and bronchus.

Scott Hollister, Ph.D., who holds the Patsy and Alan Dorris Endowed Chair in Pediatric Technology, a joint initiative supported by Georgia Tech and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, developed the process for creating the tracheal splint using 3-D printing technology at University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital prior to joining Georgia Tech. The Children's procedure was the 15th time a 3-D-printed tracheal splint was placed in a pediatric patient.

"The possibility of using 3-D printing technology to save the life of a child is our motivation in the lab every day," said Hollister, who is also the director of the Center for 3-D Medical Fabrication at Georgia Tech and a professor in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University. "We're determined to develop innovative solutions that meet the needs of Georgia's most complex pediatric patients."

With assistance from Georgia Tech, Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta has performed Georgias first-ever procedure to place 3D-printed tracheal splints in a pediatric patient. The splints were designed by Scott Hollister, who holds the Patsy and Alan Dorris Endowed Chair in Pediatric Technology, a joint initiative supported by Georgia Tech and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Credit: Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

The splints were created using reconstructions of the patient's airways from CT scans. Hollister and his team of biomedical engineers collaborated with the Global Center for Medical Innovation (GCMI) so that GCMI could create multiple versions of the splint, of varying sizes, to ensure the perfect fit was available for the surgical team to select and place around the patient's airways during surgery. GCMI will also support the ongoing development and commercialization of the technology.

In a complex 10-hour surgery, Children's cross-functional team of surgeons successfully placed three 3-D-printed splints around the patient's trachea on the morning of August 17, 2018. The splints will eventually be absorbed into the body, allowing for expansion of the trachea and bronchus.

The Children's tracheal splint team included Steve Goudy, M.D., and April Landry, M.D., (ENT), pediatric otolaryngologists; Subhadra Shashidharan, M.D., pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon; and Kevin Maher, M.D., pediatric cardiologist.

As the tracheal procedure concluded, the child was placed on a heart lung machine for surgical repair of his cardiac defect. Postoperative care took place in the Cardiac ICU and the Pediatric ICU at Children's.

"It's the close relationships we have with our research collaborators that make this kind of groundbreaking procedure possible," said Dr. Goudy. "A large number of additional physicians, support staff and outside collaborators worked together on this innovative procedure."

The 3-D-printed tracheal splint is a new device still under development, as safety and effectiveness have not yet been determined and is therefore not available for clinical use. The Children's team sought emergency clearance from the FDA to move forward with the procedure under expanded access guidelines.New high-resolution maps pinpoint areas across Africa with concentrations of child deaths from diarrhea and show uneven progress over 15 years to mitigate the problem.

"Diarrhea is highly preventable, and tens of thousands of child deaths from diarrhea could be averted each year if interventions targeted mortality hot spots across Africa," said Dr. Bobby Reiner, lead author and Assistant Professor of Health Metrics Sciences at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington. "However, stakeholders need to recognize the uneven distribution of diarrhea within countries means national strategies will be much less effective than focused, local interventions."

The study, covering 2000 to 2015, maps the entire African continent in 5x5 square kilometer units and was published today in The New England Journal of Medicine. National and provincial maps of diarrhea in Africa often mask inequalities at the local community level, according to IHME researchers.

This precision health mapping helps clinicians and policymakers identify communities where children are most vulnerable to dying from the disease and tailor appropriate interventions.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation funded the study, part of a five-year grant that enables IHME researchers and collaborators globally to map a range of health metrics in 5x5 square kilometer units. The research is part of the Local Burden of Disease project at IHME and led by Dr. Simon I. Hay, Director of Geospatial Science at IHME and Professor of Health Metrics Sciences at the University of Washington.

Accounting for more than 330,000 child deaths in 2015, diarrhea was the third leading cause of death and disease in children in Africa. The vast majority of diarrheal diseases are attributable to preventable causes. Established interventions include rotavirus immunization; ensuring access safe drinking water; sanitation and hygiene programs; and minimizing exposure to contaminated food.

The study examines prevalence and incidence of diarrhea and diarrhea-related mortality for children under age 5. Diarrhea is defined as three or more abnormally loose or watery stools within the previous 24 hours in a child younger than 5 years of age. Study findings cover 52 of 54 countries in Africa, excluding the island nations of Mauritius and Seychelles.

Researchers found more than half of all diarrhea-related deaths among children occurred in 55 of 782 total first-level administrative subdivisions (i.e. states, provinces, or regions) across Africa; these jurisdictions are home to 35% of the total population of Africa.

While many countries reduced their diarrhea child mortality burden uniformly at the local level, others saw divergent trends emerge. In Nigeria, for example, mortality rates were improving in some local areas at the same time as they were worsening in others. As a result, in 2015, child mortality rates among Nigerian states differed six-fold, with estimates ranging from 1.6 deaths per 1,000 children in Bayelsa state in the southwest to 9.5 deaths per 1,000 in Yobe state in the northeast.

Despite mortality reductions across nearly all locations in Africa over the 15-year period, several countries saw increases at the local level in certain parts of the Central African Republic, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe.

"We observed diarrhea mortality declines across nearly all locations, but several areas across Africa with persistently high mortality from 2000 through 2015 are at risk of falling even further behind," said Reiner. "Our precision public health maps are critical tools for calling attention to areas where diarrhea-related child mortality is stagnating or worsening, despite proven interventions."

Additional findings include:

Ninety percent of first-level administrative subdivisions (i.e. states, provinces, or regions) saw declines in diarrhea-related child mortality between 2000 and 2015, with several locations achieving substantial reductions: Timbuktu, Mali: 19.25 child deaths per 1,000 in 2000 to 4.08 in 2015 Gao, Mali: 16.23 in 2000 to 3.48 in 2015 Luanda, Angola: 13.78 in 2000 to 1.76 in 2015 Benguela, Angola: 13.63 in 2000 to 2.11 in 2015 Cuanza Sul, Angola: 13.05 in 2000 to 1.99 in 2015 Uige, Angola: 12.75 in 2000 to 1.85 in 2015 Cabinda, Angola: 12.46 in 2000 to 1.62 in 2015 Huambo, Angola: 12.54 in 2000 to 1.78 in 2015 Kuanza Norte, Angola: 12.32 in 2000 to 1.73 in 2015 Maradi, Niger: 13.87 in 2000 to 3.11 in 2015



Some areas in northeastern Nigeria, southeastern Niger, and southern Chad saw their high diarrhea-related child mortality rates change very little over the 15-year span. For example, eight regions in Chad with high mortality rates in 2000 also had rates higher than six deaths per 1,000 children in 2015:1. Hadjer Lamis: 8.73 in 2000 and 6.69 in 20152. Kabia: 9.14 in 2000 and 6.43 in 20153. Logone Occidental: 9.45 in 2000 and 6.32 in 20154. Logone Oriental: 9.38 in 2000 and 6.03 in 20155. Mayo-Boneye: 8.90 in 2000 and 6.33 in 20156. Mont De Lam: 9.31 in 2000 and 6.09 in 20157. Tandjile Est: 9.51 in 2000 and 6.23 in 20158. Tandjile Ouest: 9.76 in 2000 and 6.46 in 2015



Many of the concentrated areas of diarrhea-related child mortality in 2015 were found in Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Niger. For example, three states in NigeriaYobe, Bauchi, and Gombeaccounted for six percent of all diarrhea-related deaths in Africa, while encompassing only one percent of the population at risk.



The first-level administrative subdivisions (i.e. states, provinces, or regions) with the highest diarrhea-related child mortality rates in 2015 were the following: 1. Yobe [Nigeria]: 9.51 deaths per 1,000 children, increased from 8.05 in 20002. Bauchi [Nigeria]: 8.253. Gombe [Nigeria]: 7.86, increased from 7.68 in 20004. Hadjer Lamis [Chad]: 6.695. Tandjile Ouest [Chad] 6.466. Kabia [Chad] 6.437. Borno [Nigeria]: 6.358. Jigawa [Nigeria]: 6.349. Mayo-Boneye [Chad]: 6.3310. Logone Occidental [Chad]: 6.32



Explore further Drop in childhood pneumococcal, Hib deaths from 2000 to 2015Polikarpov I-153 Chaika ICM , 1/32 scale S u m m a r y : Catalogue Number: ICM Kit No. 32010 - Polikarpov I-153 Chaika Scale: 1/32 Contents & Media Three large sprues of light grey plastic; one sprue of clear plastic; instructions and a single decal sheet. Price: 35.99 (29.99 Export) plus shipping available online from Hannants USD$72.99 plus sipping available online from Squadron Click here for currency conversion Review Type: First Look. Advantages: High quality plastic parts; high level of detail; crisp and fine surface textures; comprehensive instructions. Disadvantages: Conclusion: Plenty of buildability and one of those kits that really excites me.

Reviewed by James Hatch

ICM's 1/32 scale I-153 Chaika is available online from Squadron.com Background The Polikarpov I-153 Chaika (Russian ?????, "Seagull") was a late 1930s Soviet biplane fighter. Developed as an advanced version of the I-15 with a retractable undercarriage, the I-153 fought in the Soviet-Japanese combats in Mongolia and was one of the Soviets' major fighter types in the early years of the Second World War. The aircraft was of mixed metal and wood construction, with the fuselage structure being based on chromium-molybdenum steel with duralumin skinning on the forward fuselage, and fabric covering on the fuselage aft of the front of the cockpit. The aircraft's wings were made of fabric covered wood, while the tail surfaces were of fabric covered duralumin. The aircraft was fitted with a tailwheel undercarriage, with the mainwheels retracting rearwards, rotating through 90 degrees to lie flat in the wing roots, being actuated by cables operated by a pilot-driven handwheel. The solid rubber tailwheel did not retract but moved in conjunction with the rudder. The I-153 first saw combat in 1939 during the Soviet-Japanese Battle of Khalkin Gol in Mongolia. The Japanese Army Air Forces' Type 97 Fighter (Nakajima Ki-27) Nate proved a formidable opponent for the I-15bis and I-16 but was more evenly matched with the I-153, which retained agility inherent to biplanes while featuring improved performance. While the overall I-153 performance was satisfactory, some significant problems were revealed. Most troublesome was the absence of a firewall between the fuel tank mounted in front of the cockpit and the pilot. Combined with strong draft coming in through the wheel wells, fuel tank fires invariably resulted in rapid engulfment of the cockpit and severe burns to the pilot. In addition, the M-62 engine suffered from a service life of only 6080 hours due to failures of the two-speed supercharger. The Polikarpov I-153 Chaika never flew with any Spanish Air Force units during or after the Spanish Civil War. Two earlier variants of this aircraft, the I-15 and the I-15bis, did fly with the Republican Air Force during the conflict and, later, captured examples of both types were used by the Fuerzas Aereas till the early 1950s. Three I-153s are still flying. Historical summary courtesy of Wikipedia FirstLook Well, we werent expecting this in 1/32! ICM are rapidly becoming well known for their excellent choice of kit subject, coupled with some rather nice engineering and kit production standards. Some will hark to the old days when kit fit may have been less than stellar, but its time for those to move on a little. ICM, as with many of their peers, now use CAD to assist them in design. Ive partially constructed their 1:48 He 111 and mostly built their Ju 88C-6 kit with nothing to report on in terms of some of the mud I recently saw flung at them on one forum. Anyway, I digress.











































Thumbnail panels: This release is packaged into ICMs now familiar single-piece corrugated box that is extremely robust, and has a glossy product box top lid depicting a low-flying Chaika with all guns ablaze. Lifting the lid reveals a large, clear and resealable sleeve containing three large sprues of light grey styrene. Also in there is a single sprue of clear plastic, packed into another protective sleeve. In the bottom of the box lies the instruction manual and within this, a single decal sheet is tucked. Sprue A Were straight into the action with this sprue, containing the fuselage halves and three-part lower wings, amongst other components. Looking at the fuselage first, the external textures are nicely refined with a very realistic fabric and stringer representation of the rear fuselage, along with details such as the spring-loaded footstep cover plate, plus delicate panel lining at the forward half, including fastener and louvre detail. The latter arent moulded as open slots, but they are so fine that a simple wash will be all thats needed here. To facilitate the upper wing fixture, the upper forward fuselage is an open area that will accept the full-span wing section. Note that the rudder is also moulded separately, therefore can be posed dynamically. Some cockpit sidewall detail is moulded within the fuselage, such as rib and stringer details, and this will of course be supplemented by the tubular cockpit tub. ICM has moulded the lower wing also as a full span unit, and all parts of this are to be found on this sprue. External wing surfaces are also resplendent in the same realistic and subtle fabric and rub textures as seen on the fuselage, with munition mounting hardpoints also present. The fuselage centre section is moulded with the openings for the main gear wells and retract channels. When it comes to the upper wing panels, recesses are moulded within the strut hardpoints, and should provide good, clean and positive strut placement. Those struts on the I-153 are broad, single units, and are delicately moulded on this sprue. Rigging points are also moulded, but I think these are best being drilled out before you reach that stage. Note that the main gear well ceilings are moulded onto the inboard edge of the upper wing panels. Also on this sprue are the cockpit floor, two-blade propeller, two-part wheels with integral hubs, a superbly defined instrument panel with empty gauges for affixing the instrument decals, multipart engine cowl panels, and landing gear doors with nicely detailed interiors. I note that some minor clean-up of seams will be required on some parts, but nothing at all onerous. Sprue B The second sprue holds the last of the major airframe parts, such as the three-part upper wing. As with the lower wing, the main panel is moulded full-span, sans ailerons. As well as the subtle rib and fabric detail, and external wing stiffening strip. A separate full-span elevator is provided, and the construction of this and the stabilisers is quite traditional, with a tab to fit to the fuselage. Ailerons are moulded as one-part items, with a nice, thin trailing edge. As with the previous I-16 kit, the Shvetsov M-62 radial engine is very nicely moulded as front and rear halves. Cooling fin detail is nicely defined, but of course, that seam runs right through it. If its anything like the I-16 kit, youll barely able to see the joint when assembled. Also remember that the engine is buried deep in the cowl, and unless you have a panel or so removed, youll hardly see anything in there. The forward cowl and engine firewall are also moulded here, as is the pilot seat. Sprue C This really is the detail parts sprue, with components here for the tubular cockpit tub (seat brackets, two-part control stick, pistol, consoles and oxygen tank etc) There are a variety of underwing munitions choices, and this is where youll find them. The engineering of the bombs is so that the fins remain thin, and the seams minimal. Also note in the exhaust parts in this photo. You will need to hollow out the ends though. A number of other engine parts are moulded here, but you will need to be super careful in cutting them from the sprue in some cases. Almost surgical precision will be needed. The munitions rails are also nice and sharp and have positive wing attachment points. Some of the finer parts will still require a little paring of the seam lines, with the edge of a fresh scalpel, but the details are sharp. Just a little lead wire added to these cockpit frames, will be all that you really need, unless you want to go the further mile and utilise Eduards new sets for this specific kit. I must admit that they do actually look very good. Undercarriage struts are also nicely depicted and sharp in detail. The angled plunger axle will ensure a nice snug fit to the wheels. Sprue D A very small, clear sprue holds just 6 parts. The main one of course being the windscreen. Other parts here include the wingtip and rudder lights, plus the windows in each of the main gear bays. Clarity of the parts is excellent, and no mould flaws are to be seen. Marking Options and Decals The decals for this model are a very simple but well-presented affair. A single sheet contains the markings for three machines, with these being no more than a variety of red stars, some with borders and circles, and the various numbers. No stencils are provided, but a single instrument decal is. Im not actually too keen on that and would look at using something from an aftermarket sheet. At the very least, you would need to punch the dials out. Printing is very good, being nice and thin, plus with minimal carrier film. Colour is also solid and registration is perfect. The four schemes are: I-153, 70th IAP (Fighter Regiment), Khalhin-Gol, August 1939

I-153, 72nd SAP (Mixed Regiment) of Nord Fleet Air Force, Vaenga, 1941

I-153, 15th IAP (Fighter Regiment), Lithuania, June 1941

I-153, flown by Major P.I. Biskup, 71st IAP (Fighter Regiment) of Baltic Fleet Air Force, Lavansaari, Summer 1942. Instructions ICMs instructions style is unfussy and clear to follow. This A4-size manual has construction broken down into 55 stages with shaded line drawings and good reference to painting. Paint codes are given for Model Master paints, as well as the colour name so you can check your stash of other manufacturers colours. A very small amount of rigging is needed, but this is so simple that it really shouldnt be a concern for those who would normally shy away from a biplane. The last pages of the manual are taken over with the colour schemes, which are all reasonably different, and there should be something there to suit most modellers. Conclusion Whilst our hobby had been waiting for a new-tool I-16, perhaps we didnt know that we were equally waiting for the I-153 too! If you are into Soviet WW2 aviation, and even if you arent, I think this is one of those releases that youd seriously enjoy building and would look equally as good in your completed collection. Even though this is a biplane, this is no flimsy model. Both the upper and lower wings are secured firmly to the fuse, and the two struts are broad not particularly fragile. Rigging is also a cinch, with about 6 lines in total. Detail is also particularly good in terms of surface renderings and internal representation. At around 35, this should be one to consider. Build something a little different! My sincere thanks to ICM Model Kits for the review kit seen here. Review Text and Images Copyright  2018 by James Hatch

Page Created 18 September, 2018

Last updated 19 September, 2018 Back to HyperScale Main Page Back to Reviews PageThe University of Illinois at Chicago offers a program through which students can obtain mock interviews, internships, and more with the CIA.

UIC is one of four colleges in the country to offer such a program, but progressive student groups at UIC are not happy with the college's ties to the nation's spy agency.

More HEREKansas City, KS - A Kansas City, Kan. firefighter was charged Thursday with one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, according to the Wyandotte County District Attorneys office.

Devin Rich, 33, turned himself in Friday morning and was released from jail later Friday afternoon after posting a $100,000 bond.

District Attorney Mark Dupree said authorities began investigating Rich in late 2017 after receiving a tip about his online behavior.

On Feb. 22, Rich allegedly solicited sex from someone he thought was a 15-year-old, according to Dupree.

But it was actually an undercover FBI agent, he said. Some of the communications occurred while Rich was on duty with the fire department.

A search warrant was served in April and on Thursday, Dupree said enough evidence had been found to support charges.

The evidence is clear. The evidence is strong, he said.

Dupree announced the charges at a press conference Friday, and used the opportunity to remind young people to be careful about who they communicate with online.

It is not okay for an adult to request sex or pictures from a child, he said.

The charge is a felony that carries a possible sentence of 55 to 247 months, depending on the defendants prior criminal record.

The Kansas City, Kan., Fire Department issued a statement after the charges were announced, adding that Rich has been suspended without pay since April. It said Rich was an eight-year veteran of the fire department, and was assigned to Fire Station No. 7 at 2717 Strong Ave.

He is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 25.

Richs attorney, John Duma, released a brief statement: Mr. Rich has no comment on the status of his case at this time.NOTICE:

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MUGSHOTS.COM IS A NEWS ORGANIZATION. WE POST AND WRITE THOUSANDS OF NEWS STORIES A YEAR, MOST WANTED STORIES, EDITORIALS (UNDER CATEGORIES - BLOG) AND STORIES OF EXONERATIONS. OUR CONTENT REVOLVES AROUND CRIME, ARRESTS AND THE FIRST AMENDMENT. WE BELIEVE IN THE CONSTITUTION AND OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO PUBLISH UNPOPULAR SPEECH. OPEN RECORD LAWS WERE WRITTEN TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC; BY INFORMING THE PUBLIC OF ARRESTS AND TO HOLD LAW ENFORCEMENT ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE HUMANE TREATMENT OF ARRESTEES. MOST OF, IF NOT ALL MUGSHOT LAWS WERE CRAFTED TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM FEES FOR REMOVAL OF ONLINE MUGSHOTS AND TO FURTHER PROTECT THE PRESS FROM THOSE VERY SAME "MUGSHOT LAWS".WE DO NOT ACCEPT PAYMENT FOR REMOVAL OF ARREST INFORMATION AND/OR BOOKING PHOTOGRAPHS. MORE...Tesla Inc. is under investigation by the Justice Department over public statements made by the company and Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk, according to two people familiar with the matter. The criminal probe is running alongside a previously reported civil inquiry by securities regulators.

Federal prosecutors opened a fraud investigation after Musk tweeted last month that he was contemplating taking Tesla private and had funding secured for the deal, said the people, who were granted anonymity to discuss a confidential criminal probe. The tweet initially sent the companys shares higher.

Tesla confirmed it has been contacted by the Justice Department.

Last month, following Elons announcement that he was considering taking the company private, Tesla received a voluntary request for documents from the DOJ and has been cooperative in responding to it, the company said in a statement released Tuesday following Bloombergs report of the investigation. We have not received a subpoena, a request for testimony, or any other formal process. We respect the DOJs desire to get information about this and believe that the matter should be quickly resolved as they review the information they have received.

The investigation by the U.S. attorneys office in the Northern District of California follows a subpoena issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission seeking information from the electric-car maker about Musks plans to go private, which he has since abandoned.

The criminal inquiry is in its early stages, one of the people familiar with the matter said. Justice Department probes, like the civil inquiries undertaken by the SEC, can take months. They sometimes end with prosecutors deciding against bringing any charges.

Tesla shares reversed gains and dropped as much as 4.4 percent to $282. The stock dropped 2.5 percent to $287.60 as of 11:45 a.m. in New York and are down about 7.7 percent this year.

Abraham Simmons, a spokesman for the U.S. attorneys office in San Francisco, declined to comment.

SEC Probe

SEC enforcement attorneys in the San Francisco office were already investigating Tesla before Musk sent his tweet on taking the company private, Bloomberg reported Aug. 9. The existing probe focuses on whether Tesla had issued misleading pronouncements on manufacturing goals and sales targets, according to the two people familiar with the matter.

Its unclear whether the criminal investigation is that broad. Prosecutors in securities-fraud investigations could seek evidence on matters including whether company leaders intentionally lied to investors about the health of the business.

Musk exposed himself to legal risk by tweeting Aug. 7 that he had the funding for a buyout even though that may not have been the case. Almost a week later, Musk said the basis for his statement was conversations with Saudi Arabias Public Investment Fund, which first expressed interest in helping take the company private in early 2017.

Abandoned Effort

Teslas board then said that it hadnt received a formal proposal from Musk, whos also the companys chairman, nor had it concluded whether going private would be advisable or feasible. Less than three weeks after his initial tweets, Musk abandoned the effort.

Now that Musks tweeting has attracted the Justice Departments attention, investigators there could extend their review to other public statements made by the CEO about the companys health, according to one of the people familiar with the matter. Authorities could also look into the circumstances surrounding the resignation of Teslas Chief Accounting Officer, Dave Morton, after less than a month on the job, the person said.

Morton, a former chief financial officer for computer hard-drive maker Seagate Technology Plc, joined Tesla one day before Musk tweeted that he was considering buying out some investors at $420 a share and taking the company private.

Now read: Tesla ends lifetime Supercharging offerStriking McDonald's workers in the union-backed "Fight For $15" movement are demanding that the company stop seeking advice on sexual harassment policy from a law firm that's currently defending the Weinstein Co.

"Fight For $15," an initiative by the Service Employees International Union to raise pay and unionize the fast food industry, plans to mount a day-long strike Tuesday against McDonald's to raise awareness of alleged sexual harassment at some of its stores. They're also demanding that McDonald's dump the workplace training arm of Seyfarth Shaw, a Chicago-based law firm that defends companies against workplace claims.

"If McDonald's is serious about meeting worker demands, they'd start by firing Seyfarth," Shaunna Thomas, executive director of the women's advocacy group UltraViolet, said in an emailed statement.

The National Organization for Women and the National Women's Law Center have alleged that workers at McDonald's stores "face rampant sexual harassment." McDonald's workers backed by such groups have filed more than a dozen sexual harassment complaints with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission over the past two years. Allegations in the filings include groping, inappropriate comments from supervisors, and retaliation for speaking up.

McDonald's declined to immediately comment. In May, following the most recent EEOC complaints, a company spokeswoman said "there is no place for harassment and discrimination of any kind in our workplace. McDonald's Corp. takes allegations of sexual harassment very seriously and are confident our independent franchisees who own and operate approximately 90 percent of our 14,000 U.S. restaurants will do the same."

Last week, the fast-food chain announced that it was bringing in experts to help "evolve" its sexual harassment policy, including representatives from an anti-sexual violence group and Seyfarth Shaw's training unit. Over the past decade, Seyfarth has represented companies facing sexual harassment claims including Nike Retail Services, Domino's Pizza and United Continental Holdings. Seyfarth is currently defending the Weinstein Co. against a proposed racketeering class action lawsuit alleging the company was complicit in film producer Harvey Weinstein's sexual misconduct.

Law firms may end up focusing more on preventing litigation than preventing harassment

Seyfarth, an 850-lawyer global law firm, didn't provide comment in response to several inquiries. In May, Gerald Maatman, the Seyfarth partner representing Weinstein Co., told Bloomberg Law that he prefers to have men on the jury in a sexual harassment case because some of them might be more skeptical. He also said he prefers older jurors because they can "have a more measured idea of how businesses work."

Fight For 15 said such comments should disqualify Seyfarth from providing McDonald's with advice on preventing sexual harassment. Maatman declined to comment when contacted Monday.

Management-side lawyer Roger King, an attorney for HR Policy Association, a corporate interest group, said law firms such as Seyfarth are well-placed to provide such guidance because they "have the opportunity to see the positives and negatives of corporate cultures and the strengths and weaknesses of policies and procedures."

Most companies primarily look to management-side law firms for guidance on developing their sexual harassment policies, said Jenny Yang, who chaired the EEOC under President Barack Obama and is now a fellow at the Open Societies Foundation and an adviser to a company that consults for companies and non-profits.

However, such law firms may end up focusing more on preventing litigation than preventing harassment, she said. Training in such an environment can have the effect of discouraging workers who were harassed from coming forward. "Part of the reason that we're in the place that we are today in terms of seeing systemic harassment problems in many workplaces," she said, "is because there has been more of a one-sided perspective and a focus on liability avoidance."Retail giant Target is hoping to hire 120,000 seasonal workers this year, 20 percent more than it did last year  but knows it wont be easy.

The nations unemployment rate, now 3.9 percent, remains near record lows, and retailers say it has become increasingly difficult to attract new workers. As a result, Target is offering more incentives than usual to lure temporary employees to its 1,800 stores and 39 distribution centers.

Among those perks: $500 gift cards, starting pay of$12 an hour, and 20 percent discounts on certain items, including fruits, vegetables and workout clothes.

As the marketplace becomes more competitive, the significant investment were making in our team sets Target apart, Stephanie Lundquist, the companys chief human resources officer, said in a statement.

By most measures, retailers are in for a strong holiday season. A low unemployment rate, coupled with recent tax cuts that have increased take-home pay for many Americans, have led to brisk demand for everything from groceries to big-screen TVs. Sales have climbed at a number of the countrys largest chains, including Walmart, Nordstrom and Home Depot, as Americans shop more both in stores and online.

As a result, retailers are likely to need more seasonal workers than in previous years  particularly as they try to accommodate an influx of online shoppers, analysts say.

While e-commerce is very easy for the consumer, its a very labor-intensive process for retailers, especially in fulfillment centers, said Neil Saunders, managing director of reserch firm GlobalData Retail. The challenge for retailers is going to be filling all of these posts.

Target, for example, says it is doubling the number of seasonal employees devoted to fulfilling online orders. Other companies like Amazon.com tend to hire more than 100,000 temporary workers each fall to meet holiday demand. (Jeff Bezos, the founder and chief executive of Amazon, owns The Washington Post.)

But Saunders says it may be harder to attract seasonal workers this year for what are typically low-wage, temporary positions.

If people are feeling better-off  which a lot of people are  that could deter those workers who would traditionally enter the market temporarily to make extra money during the holidays, he said. This is a good thing for workers, but not for retailers.

Macys says it plans to hire 80,000 seasonal workers this year, roughly the same number as it did last year. Kohls, meanwhile, began hiring for the holidays in July, in hopes of locking in qualified workers.

Stores will just have to figure out how to do more with less, said Sucharita Kodali, a retail analyst for the research firm Forrester. They may ask workers to do other duties or to work longer shifts during peak hours to accommodate demand.

At Target, executives said they are setting aside more than $2 million this year to give $500 gift cards to one randomly selected employee at each of its 1,800 stores and 39 distribution centers.

Temporary workers will also receive a 10 percent employee discount on Target purchases, and time-and-a-half holiday pay on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Sales growth at Target reached its highest level in 13 years in the most recent quarter, as traffic to the companys stores and website rose to unprecedented levels. Online sales, meanwhile, rose 41 percent as price-conscious consumers stocked up on toys, electronics and home goods.All Gods creatures great and small are invited to Grace Episcopal Church at 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 30, for a service of the Blessing of the Animals in honor of St. Francis. Bring your furry, feathered, or scaly friends (in containers or on leashes); pictures of pets and kids stuffed animals are also welcome.

The under-one-hour service, with communion, will take place outdoors on the labyrinth and lawn, with an opportunity for individual pet blessings afterward. A portion of the collection plate will be donated to We Care Animal Rescue, the local no-kill, free-roam shelter.

Picnic seating is available for those who would like to bring blankets. Treats for humans as well as furry friends will be available after the service.

The following Sunday, Oct. 7, the church will honor firefighters at the 10 a.m. service and Fred Luskin will be preaching at both the 8 and 10 a.m. services.There is no such thing as a free lunch. John Miltimore:

A year ago, Denver Public Schools put an end to lunch shaming. No longer would students have the stigma of receiving a sticker reminding them to pay if they had not settled an outstanding lunch bill.

Denver promised that all children would receive lunches whether they paid for the lunch or not.

The price tag of the policy was recently revealed. Denver Public Schools reports that lunch debt ballooned from $13,910 in the 2016-17 academic year to some $356,000 last year, a 2,400 percent increase.UpValley Family Centers (UVFC) is in need of community volunteers to serve as tutors for students at the St. Helena Primary and St. Helena Elementary schools.

In partnership with the St. Helena Unified School District, UVFC provides a Tutor Volunteer Program, aimed at supporting St. Helena students in grades K-5.

UVFCs Annette Smith leads the charge as the Tutoring Volunteer Coordinator for this program. This program builds connections between the community and our schools, all the while helping students succeed, she said. Its such a rewarding experience for both the tutor and the student. Your commitment to a childs success is guaranteed to make your day!

Community volunteers are currently being recruited to serve as tutors for students. Participants are asked to volunteer one hour a week during the school year. Tutors are provided a one-on-one orientation with our Tutoring Volunteer Coordinator. Live Scan finger printing clearance and a TB test are required to participate in the program.

For more information on UVFCs Tutoring Volunteer Program, contact Smith at 965-5010 or at asmith@upvalleyfamilycenters.org.Actor and activist Peter Coyote and vintner and humanitarian Dick Grace will discuss how to turn compassion into action as the Napa Valley Museum Yountville continues its In Conversation: Compassionate Action series.

The event will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, at the museum. Coyote will join Grace for a frank and lively exchange of ideas about channeling frustration into renewed energy, turning anger into empathy, and how to avoid feeling overwhelmed by the scope of the challenges facing us by making small steps individually, or as part of a larger movement, to build the foundation for lasting change.

Coyote and Grace are longtime collaborators in compassion who have traveled and participated in philanthropic projects together in China, Mongolia, Tibet and Nepal. Coyote, an ordained Zen Priest, comes at compassion from a more structured approach based on extensive study and rigorous practice. Grace, by contrast, although also a Buddhist, relies more on instinct and emotion. Says Coyote: I think Dicks practice is a total immersion in compassion.

The two share a profound commitment to kindness, to being present, and to carrying their spiritual commitments forward into concrete positive action. Grace said, A lot of Buddhists spend their time sitting on cushions staring at flames, but what you do with your life is much more important. Too many of us keep our spirituality as an abstract thing rather than living it.

Through this Compassionate Action event, these two extraordinary men will share their experiences and insights on lives lived with a commitment to compassion, and answer questions from those seeking to do the same.

The event includes a tasting by Handwritten Wines of Yountville.

Admission is $20 for Museum members and $35 for non-members. Tickets, which include main gallery admission to California Dreamin are available via the Museums website (napavalleymuseum.org) and at the direct ticket link: eventbrite.com. Proceeds from the evening benefit the Museums arts and education programs.

The Napa Valley Museum Yountville is located at 55 Presidents Circle in Yountville, and is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays.St. Helenas Rianda House Senior Activity Center will celebrate The Idea of America at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 3, with its creator John Oliver Wilson.

Four years ago, Wilson launched the seminar program at Rianda House so individuals could debate American values, legacy and our future. From that test program of 36 volunteers, it has expanded into a major seminar program now offered by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

According to a press release, it has grown into 80 seminars, conducted in 10 states with more than 600 participants. To RSVP for the Oct. 3 program, call the Rianda House, 963-8555, ext. 101.Traffic congestion, housing and water arent merely St. Helena issues, so we cant properly address them unless we take a regional perspective.

Thats why weve invited county supervisors and mayors to meet with our board and share their views. At the same time, weve tried to give them a greater understanding of how these issues affect St. Helena.

Our latest guest was District 2 Supervisor Ryan Gregory, who represents Mount Veeder, Dry Creek and part of Napa. Gregorys intriguing background  a civil engineer who ran a homeless shelter while he was in college  seems to have prepared him well for political service, and we appreciated his smart and pragmatic style.

Gregory said its a myth that the county and the cities dont work together. He cited examples such as the Turley Flats affordable housing project on Pope Street, where the city of St. Helena and the county are sharing the cost and splitting the credits toward their individual Regional Housing Needs Allocations (RHNA).

Collaborations like that reflect Napa Countys commitment to city-centered growth, and we can expect to see more money directed toward those efforts if November ballot initiatives are successful in raising transient occupancy taxes (TOT) by 1 percent to fund housing projects.

City residents will be faced with separate ballot measures affecting hotels within their city limits (Measure E in St. Helenas case) and in the countys unincorporated areas (Measure I). As Gregory noted, its important to vote for both. That will ensure that hotels throughout the cities and the county see the same 1 percent increase.

The TOT measures could also help beef up a county initiative that helps homeowners convert one of their bedrooms into a rental unit.

Local jurisdictions coordinated those measures to appear on the Nov. 6 ballot. We hope theyll also coordinate their efforts on road repairs funded by Measure T and congestion relief projects funded by the states SB 1 gas tax.

Starting at the end of this year, Measure T revenue will start coming in to fix potholes and repave damaged and unsafe roads. Gregory said SB 1 could provide crucial funding for bigger projects like a roundabout at Highway 29 and Madison Street in Yountville  that is, as long as voters in November reject the wrong-headed Proposition 6, which would repeal the gas tax increase.

Gregory pointed to a watershed study being conducted by the county and the city of Napa as another example of city/county collaboration. That study is only looking at the Hennessey and Milliken watersheds, but Gregory said many of the findings can inform evaluations of other watersheds including St. Helenas Bell Canyon.

That study dovetails with the countys post-Measure C effort to examine its watershed policies and stream setbacks. The county is updating its strategic plan, but specific issues like watersheds have been pulled out for deeper analysis.

The matter of wineries being proposed without an agricultural component has also been pulled out of the strategic plan process. One such project in the Dry Creek-Mount Veeder area was rejected by the county Planning Commission, and Gregory wants a clear county policy that would discourage such all-crush, no-vines wineries from being proposed in the first place.

We thank Gregory for his time and encourage him to keep working with city governments and residents from outside his district. Were all on the same team.

The Star editorial board consists of editors David Stoneberg and Sean Scully and community volunteers Norma Ferriz, Christopher Hill, Shannon Kuleto, Bonnie Long, Peter McCrea, Gail Showley and Dave Yewell.In the Sept. 6 edition of the St. Helena Star, Jesse Duarte wrote a story on the proposed rent stabilization ordinance. However, he did not include any information on the vacancy control portion of the ordinance. One of the main reasons I support the ordinance is because of this provision.

Vacancy control prohibits a mobile home park owner from increasing the rent for a mobile home space upon the sale of a mobile home to a prospective homeowner or homeowner. Currently when a mobile homeowner sells their home to a buyer, the park owner is allowed to increase the rent by whatever amount the owner chooses.

If an increase is allowed every time a home is sold the rents will soon be so high that members in the middle income bracket will not be able to afford to buy a home in the park and St. Helena will lose most of its housing stock for seniors. Many of us will lose the ability to remain within this wonderful community.

We have people in Vineyard Valley who are retired and live on a fixed income and some people that are still working. There are residents who have lived in St. Helena all their lives and have chosen the park as their retirement home. Our seniors volunteer in great numbers to support many of St. Helenas nonprofits. We are a vibrant community within St. Helena and this housing stock needs to be protected from becoming a community of wealthy weekenders. This is not only important to Vineyard Valley but also for the greater good of the city, which needs to protect and expand its housing stock.

Grace Kistner

St. HelenaHenrik Ibsens A Dolls House ends with the closing of a door as Nora Helmer leaves the claustrophobic house where she has been living with her husband, Torvald, and three children.

The dialogue goes something like this:

Torvald: But this is disgraceful. Is this the way you neglect your most sacred duties?

Nora: What do you consider is my most sacred duty?

Torvald: Do I have to tell you that? Isnt it your duty to your husband and children?

Nora: I have another duty, just as sacred.

Helmer: You cant have. What duty do you mean?

Nora: My duty to myself.

The idea caused quite a stir when the play premiered 1879.

Lucas Hnaths A Dolls House Part 2 was, perhaps, not as shocking for audiences, but certainly garnered interest  and eight Tony nominations  when opened on Broadway in April 2017 after its Southern California premier.

A Dolls House, Part 2 opened last week at Berkeley Repertory Theater where it runs through Oct. 21, giving the West Coasters a chance to view Hneths witty and provocative take on what happens when Nora returns home.

Fifteen years have passed when this play opens with a knock on the same door Nora shut when she ended her life as she had known it. Anne Marie, the family nanny to whom the job of raising the Helmers three children fell, opens it. Nora has written to her that she intends to visit; still Anne Marie is shocked at the returning Nora, and possibly because the wife and mother who scarpered is neither humbled nor repentant. Nora has grown more substantial; she is wearing a fine coat and hat, an elegant gown. She is breezy and confident, a striking contrast to the thin, humble, workworn Anne Marie.

What has Nora been up to? She admits to a few difficult years in which she lived in a boarding house and worked as a seamstress, and two more years in which she lived entirely alone and not speaking to try to hear her own voice. Since then, however, she found her path: She is a successful, radical feminist novelist, (writing under a pen name in another town) whose writings have encouraged other women to abandon stifling marriages.

And this has brought her to a slight problem. One of the woman emboldened by Noras writing was the wife of a judge. Incensed by this disruption of his life, he investigates to find out who the annoying writer is, and discovers she is Norah Helmer, married to Torvald. Yes, although Nora was under the impression Torvald had divorced her, he had not. She, therefore, as a married woman, has no rights to the money shes earning, and, in fact, could go to prison for signing contracts with her own name.

She has returned, just briefly, to get Torvald to divorce her, something he can accomplish with a form or two; for her to instigate the divorce is a whole different and complicated undertaking.

This opens a whole new can of worms for Torvald, who clearly has not prospered as much in Noras absence. Hes grown old; he removed the furnishings that reminded him of Nora in the drawing room in which the play unfolds, and 15 years later, it consists of three blank walls, containing two hard chairs and one sideboard.

Also, it turns out, it was easier for him to let people assume that Nora had fallen ill, gone away and died, rather than admitting the truth. He has accepted sympathy and death benefits. His professional life as a banker, his social life as a widower, will be in jeopardy now if he admits she is not dead after all.

How this is resolved over 90 minutes of conversation is, by turns, amusing, insightful and timely. ( A friend remarked, I hadnt expected it to be that funny.) Nora talks with Anne Marie, with her daughter, now a young woman, in love and engaged to be married, and she talks with Torvald, who is bewildered, exasperated, and indignant, especially when he reads Noras book.

Perhaps the most poignant moments, however, occur when Nora proclaims that the future will be entirely different with no marriage, free love and freedom for all. More than a century after Nora is making these audacious predictions, if you set her proud words against current events, youd have to say, Not quite yet, Nora. Not yet.

For tickets and information, visit bekeleyrep.org,

Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in 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.LAS VEGASHe ordered the 20-ounce rib-eye, and so the waitress at the upscale restaurant dropped off a wood-handled serrated steak knife. Doug Ritter ignored it. Instead he pulled out a folding knife, its 3.4-inch blade illegal to carry concealed here in Clark County. He flicked it open with one hand. When the steak arrived, medium-rare, he started cutting.

The steak dinner came as Ritter was savoring his many successful attempts at repealing the nations knife laws. Decades-old restrictions on switchblades, daggers and stilettos have fallen away in state after state in recent years. Much of this is because of Ritter and his little-known Arizona-based advocacy group Knife Rights, which has used tactics borrowed from the National Rifle Association to rack up legislative victories across the nation. And many of the changes have escaped widespread notice, obscured, in part, by the nations focus on guns.

But knife fans know. The morning after his steak dinner, Ritter walked like a celebrity into a major knife convention here.

Thank you for everything youre doing for us. Really, an official with knife maker Ka-Bar told him.

I live in Louisiana, so thank you, said another convention-goer, hailing from a state that abandoned its switchblade ban this summer.

Ritter, 65, said that knives, like guns, should be considered arms protected by the Second Amendment. He doesnt support any restriction on knivesnot on switchblades or push daggers or even the ballistic knives that shoot like spears from a handle.

Thats become a winning argument. Twenty-one states have repealed or weakened their knife laws since 2010, many of them with bipartisan support, including Colorado, Michigan and Illinois. New York came close to doing the same last year. Ohio could be next. Texas passed its bill last year despite a high-profile stabbing death just days before lawmakers voted. And Knife Rights, with little financial backing, has been working behind the scenes to help make it happen.

A lot of people said it would be impossible to repeal a switchblade law in any state. Insane. Tilting at windmills, Ritter said. Turns out they were wrong.

The success of Knife Rights comes as calls for weapons bans have intensified following mass shootings, such as the one here in Las Vegas last year that left 58 people dead.

Guns are by far the leading cause of homicides in the nation.

But knives are No. 2, according to the FBI, making up 11 percent of killings in 2016 and a growing number of violent crimes.

Yet knives have escaped comparable scrutiny.

The FBI records about 1,600 knife slayings a year, a number dwarfed by the 7,100 annual handgun killings. But that is still four times as high as the number killed by rifles, including the assault-style rifles that are the focus of gun-control activists.

There are mass stabbings, too, but they tend to receive less attention. In 2014, a 16-year-old student wounded 21 people at a Pittsburgh high school with a knife. Last year, a man allegedly used a knife to kill two people and injure a third at a train station in Portland, Oregon. In July, a man stabbed nine people, killing a 3-year-old girl, at her birthday party in Boise, Idaho.

But little is known about knife violence in the United States. No national statistics track the kind of knife used in crimes. There is no group opposing expanded knife rights.

It certainly makes our job easier, Ritter said.

This is contrasted with how knife crime is treated in countries such as Britain and Australia, where guns are more strictly regulated and knife crimes are publicly debated.

In the United States, knife activists acknowledge gun violences influence on attitudes toward knives.

If someone would try to be anti-knife in America, its like, why are you worrying about knives when we have all this gun stuff? said Evan Nappen, an attorney who works with Knife Rights. It helps the knife movement.

Now, Knife Rights is going after its biggest legislative target: overturning the 1958 Federal Switchblade Act, which bans the interstate shipment or importation of knives that open at the push of a button. Its a long shot, but Ritter met earlier this month with lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

Were trying to frame it as a freedom issue, Ritter said in Washington, before disappearing into a congressmans office.

--

Ritter started Knife Rights in 2006 after reading a newspaper article he thought was critical of knife ownership.

Ritter, who lives outside Phoenix, designs knives. He works as a survivalist consultant. And he worries about a push to restrict knives.

It was an epiphany for me that we might be facing in the United States the same kind of antipathy against pocketknives that I saw in Europe, he said.

But he didnt have any experience as an activist.

Then, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents did me a favor, he said.

In 2009, the agency proposed adding spring-assisted knives to the Federal Switchblade Act. That would have hurt sales of pocketknives that open with one hand.A bipartisan group of lawmakers moved to protect the knives.

Ritters fledgling group joined others in lobbying for the change. The knife industry already had a trade group, the American Knife & Tool Institute. Ritter positioned Knife Rights as advocating for knife owners.

We suddenly had some credibility, Ritter said.

Later that year, he hired Todd Rathner as Knife Rights lobbyist after meeting him at a gun rights conference.

Rathner, 52, today describes himself as Americas only knife lobbyist.

Rathner, also a National Rifle Association board member, said lessons learned from the gun rights group have been instrumental.

The NRAs successes certainly make some parts of our argument more logical, and it paves the way, Rathner said.

But Knife Rights has tried to avoid the polarizing politics of the gun debate. And the organization is small, raising only $215,000 in 2015, according to the most recent available Internal Revenue Service filings, plus an additional $215,000 for its nonprofit foundation.

Ritter, who serves as the unpaid chairman of both groups, said the money comes from knife users and manufacturers. He declined to reveal membership numbers. Most of the funding, Ritter said, goes toward paying Rathner and for both men to fly across the country.

--

Many of the nations knife laws were passed in the late 1950s and focused on banning switchblades. Some states restricted blade lengths and design.

Knife activists dismiss these laws as overreactions to fears of knife-wielding thugs from a bygone era. Rebel Without a Cause hit theaters in 1955. West Side Story and its depiction of rival Jets and Sharks appeared on Broadway in 1957.

Theres nothing special about these knives other than Hollywood demonized the heck out of them, Ritter said.

The knife laws started to change in 2010.

Ritter and Rathner helped win a repeal of New Hampshires ban on switchblades, dirks, daggers and stilettos. They helped push Arizona, their home state, to repeal all local knife ordinances. The preemption bill was a classic NRA tactic, usually used to prevent cities from imposing their own stricter guns laws.

Knife-friendly bills in Utah, Georgia and Tennessee followed.

The argument was simple: Everyone has a kitchen knife. The switchblade-twirling gangs are not a modern-day threat. Knife laws, they said, are outdated.

They never accomplished anything, Ritter said, and its time for them to go away.

But the topic remained a partisan one, mostly supported by Republicans.

Then they hit upon an idea to gain a broader base of support.

This was a criminal justice issue, Rathner said.

--

That led them to try to repeal knife laws in an unlikely place: New York.

In New York, Knife Rights teamed up with the Legal Aid Society to challenge the states ban on gravity knives, which have blades that fall from the handle. The ban was interpreted to include knives that open with a flick of the wrist, making it illegal to carry certain pocketknives, although which ones depended on a subjective test.

About 4,000 people are arrested each year in New York City for carrying illegal knives, many of them tradesmen who have no idea their tools are prohibited, according to the Legal Aid Society. Most of those arrested are minorities.

Yet the knives are still widely sold at sporting goods and hardware stores.

Why is it youre going to call the knife illegal when its in the hands of our clients who are black and Latino, said Hana Robrish, a staff attorney with the Legal Aid Society, but legal to be sold on the shelves of our stores?

The unusual coalition between Knife Rights and the Legal Aid Society pushed state lawmakers to legalize knives that open with a flick of the wrist. New York City police and prosecutors objected. In 2016 and again last year, the bill passed the statehouse overwhelmingly, only to be vetoed by the governor.

--

The biggest win for Knife Rights came last year in Texas, highlighting the groups influence.

Already, Knife Rights had helped persuade Texas in 2013 to repeal its switchblade ban.

Now, Ritter and Rathner were back to erase restrictions on all other knivesfrom daggers to swords to bowie knives.

It should have been easy.

Knives are the new guns. And Republicans in Texas always look for new ways to relax gun laws, said Brandon Rottinghaus, a political-science professor at the University of Houston.

Rathner said he got Democrats on board with the criminal justice argument.

Their constituents are the ones being charged for carrying this kind of knife, he said. They recognize that this isnt a good thing.

But five days before a vote, a random stabbing rampage at the University of Texas at Austin, near the statehouse, left one student dead and three wounded. The attacker used a long bowie knife.

That was the exact knife we were trying to legalize the carrying of, Rathner said

He knew his bill was in trouble. He booked the first flight to Austin. But Rathner found a compromise: a bill to legalize all knives except those longer than 5 1/2 inches when carried in restricted places such as schools.

Days later it passed the House 135 to 1.

The governor signed the bill into law.

It took Lori Brown by surprise. Her son, Harrison Brown, 19, was the student stabbed to death in Austin. She was lost in a fog of grief. She only later learned lawmakers had passed the knife bill. She didnt know what to do. She felt alone.

But the mass shooting in February at a high school in Parkland, Florida, motivated her. She began calling legislators and the governor. She even called Rathner. She told him about her son. Rathner explained why he opposed knife laws. She told him why stronger laws were needed.

I will fight, and I will fight, she said recently. I have nothing to lose.

She pledged to be in Austin when legislators return early next year.

Knife Rights will be there, too. Ritter and Rathner hope to cut the last remaining knife laws from the books.Humberto Izquierdo is returning to the Napa County Agricultural Commissioners Office, this time as the departments leader.

The county Board of Supervisors on Tuesday named him agricultural commissioner and sealer of weights and measures for four years, a term required by state law. It authorized County Executive Officer Minh Tran to sign an employment agreement that has Izquierdo starting the job on Oct. 6.

Its my pleasure to come back to Napa County, Izquierdo told supervisors.

Napa County began looking for a new commissioner after the Board of Supervisors declined to renew the four-year contract for former Agricultural Commissioner Greg Clark. Supervisor Ryan Gregory said in August that Clark had done well for the county, but that the Board wanted fresh blood in the office.

In 2002, Izquierdo became an agricultural biologist with the Napa County Agricultural Commissioners Office. He became deputy agricultural commissioner from 2010 to 2014 and assistant agricultural commissioner from 2014 to 2016.

Then he left to become the Alameda County Agricultural Commissioner for the past two years.

I think your work previously within Napa County certainly speaks volumes, Supervisor Belia Ramos said. I look forward to seeing you excel in bringing the community together and looking at lifting the status of agriculture, which is the charge of the agricultural commissioner.

Molly Moran Williams of Napa Valley Grapegrowers congratulated Izquierdo.

Were just so happy to have this leadership position filled by somebody who has such extensive experience in Napa County, she said.

The Agricultural Commissioners Office does such things as leads the fight against invasive species that harm crops. In Napa County, that means keeping the glassy winged sharpshooter out of the area, given its potential to devastate the countys world-famous vineyards.

The office makes certain pesticides are used safely on farms. The Weights and Measures function involves ensuring gas pumps and other measuring devices are accurate.

Izquierdo is a Guatemala native who graduated from the University of California, Davis with a biology degree and from Argosy University with a master of science in management.

Izquierdo said he worked with a nonprofit group on farmworker issues.

Then he became a biologist with the Yolo County Agricultural Commissioners Office in 1997 before beginning his stint with Napa County.

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.Ellie Goetze just got her first job. At 17, shes now balancing her last year of classes at Valley Oak High School with a working life at the Meritage Resort and Spa, where she finds herself five days a week for seven-hour shifts in the South Napa hotels kitchen.

As a prep cook and cafeteria attendant, shes a helping hand for tasks like banquet orders and preparing meals.

But for Goetze, chopping asparagus for 200 people or making tuna salad for the cafeteria is more than an after-school job.

I always wanted my job to be something that I could live up to, she said. I was not looking forward to working in like, a Baskin Robbins  Im just so lucky, I cant believe it.

For eight weeks this summer, Goetze was part of a new bid by the Napa Valley Unified School District and a pair of Napa resorts to get area high schoolers considering jobs in Napas chronically understaffed hospitality industry.

Spearheaded by Amber Cleveland and Stephanie Solberg, the school district this year launched Resorting to Opportunity, a resort-oriented offshoot of Fields of Opportunity, their internship team-up with the Napa Valley Grapegrowers that placed area high school students in winery and vineyard jobs for the summer.

As with the motivation behind Fields of Opportunity, Solberg, a vocational specialist with the school district, pointed to a labor shortage plaguing not only the local wine industry, but area hotels and restaurants. In the face of closures like that of Terra in St. Helena due to a lack of workers, Solberg offered the new program as a win-win for the school district and hospitality employers.

Cleveland, a work-based learning coordinator with the school district said, The resorts are really struggling to get employees, to keep employees and keep them locally. Because its so expensive to live here, a lot of the employees struggle to stay.

For Resorting to Opportunity, Goetze and 11 other Napa high school students were split between Meritage and Silverado Resort and Spa, the programs first hotels to participate. Students cycled through four departments within each resort, moving between food and beverage, spa, housekeeping and guest services. With a mentors help, the interns came away with a taste of entry-level jobs in each area, as well as the entry-level wages for the work they did.

At Meritage, students interviewed with Tami Pacho, director of human resources. Of the program, Pacho explained, It kind of lets them test-drive a position and make sure its something that theyre going to enjoy.

After an orientation, Goetze and her fellow interns cycled through a stint in guest services, seeing the bell team and front office team at work before moving on to shadow workers in each of the hotels departments.

Throughout her eight weeks at Meritage, Goetze was a room attendant, a spa attendant, shadowed a restaurant host and took part in working banquets, among other roles. After spending a week in a department, Goetze was sure each time it was the one she would officially apply for.

Then the next department would come and Id be like, Oh, I love this one so much. It was hard deciding, she said. But once I had experience in the kitchen I just fell in love with it. The energy, the people and obviously the food; I just felt I belonged there.

At the Meritage, all of the eight interns finished the program. Three landed jobs with the resort, one as host, another as a spa attendant and Goetze, as a chef. At Silverado, three of the resorts four interns finished the program, while the fourth left for a higher-paying job in construction.

Overall, the program is being deemed a success in its first year, Solberg and Cleveland said, and plans now are to bring it back again next summer. When the internships kicked off this year, organizers already began receiving calls from other resorts wanting in on the program, they said. With that interest, hopes are the number of resorts taking part next year could jump from two to four or five.

Count Meritage among those that will be returning, Pacho said. Were going to do it probably bigger next year. And take on more students; anybody that wants to learn about hospitality.

But while the partnership with the school district is already yielding a slightly larger local workforce for the hotels, persisting still are the issues at the root of the industrys labor dilemma.

Solberg and Cleveland acknowledged that for those living on hospitality industry wages, finding affordable housing here remains a major pitfall.

The only problem is that its such a slow-moving process and it is going to take a lot of people, a lot of time and a lot of money really to change that, Cleveland said. Its such a big monster to tackle that I think were starting here and doing what we can.

Solberg added that beyond housing issues, hospitality workers often have to cope with a public transportation system in Napa that runs on hours not ideal for evening and overnight shifts.

But being on the education side of things, she said, were trying to just teach our students how to have Plan B when the bus isnt running when youre working. Or what are your housing options within your family? Or how can you save and invest your money so you can afford to live in the Napa Valley?

These are the big, big questions about becoming independent and becoming an adult, which is kind of unique to our valley because of the extraordinary expenses to live here.

For now, Goetze is weighing the options for her future.

After high school, her sights are set on Napa Valley College, though shes unsure what she might study. One path could be medicine. Since I was 7 or 6, I wanted to be a doctor, she said. But I thought that was too high of an expectation, so I kind of narrowed it down.

A future in anesthesiology has appealed to her. But now, so does the Meritages offer to reimburse her for tuition if she pursues classes that would help her move up in her position at the hotel.

After entering this program and going into the hotel, I just want to see where I can go with this, she 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.Thank you for contacting me about the nomination of the Honorable Brett Kavanaugh to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. I appreciate you taking the time to make me aware of your concerns on this important matter.

As your United States Senator, my constitutional responsibility is to fairly evaluate a Supreme Court nominees qualifications for a lifetime appointment. To earn my support, a Supreme Court nominee must demonstrate integrity, wisdom, independence and a commitment to interpreting the United States Constitution and applying the law in a fair and principled manner. When evaluating judicial nominees, I focus on an individual's written words, public statements and professional record.

After carefully reviewing Judge Kavanaugh's opinions from the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, along with his speeches, presentations and prior confirmation hearing materials, I must oppose his nomination. Judge Kavanaugh's rulings and dissents reveal a jurist who is willing to embrace radical constitutional interpretation and to legislate from the bench when it favors powerful corporate interests. Judge Kavanaugh also expressed a troubling deference to presidential power. For example, during a 1998 Georgetown Law School conference, Judge Kavanaugh agreed with the proposition that as a matter of law, a sitting President may not be indicted during a term of office.

Most importantly, I am gravely concerned by Judge Kavanaugh's writings. Based on his own words, I fear that Judge Kavanaugh would be the deciding vote in critical cases that restrict a woman's freedom to make health care decisions with her doctor, tear away protections that guarantee Americans with pre-existing conditions may obtain health insurance and empower a President of the United States to be above the law. That is why I must vote no.

Thank you again for contacting me on this important issue. If you would like more information on my work in the Senate, please visit my website at www.duckworth.senate.gov. You can find upcoming events in the state, sign up for my newsletter, access my voting record and see what I am doing to address todays most important issues. I hope that you will continue to share your views and opinions with me and let me know whenever I may be of assistance to you.A U-Haul van that may have contained $1,000 worth of stolen tools from a Napa supply store was still being sought as of mid-day Wednesday following a police pursuit through American Canyon and Vallejo that contributed to a police vehicle collision.

The suspects, described as two black males, fled the Home Depot on Soscol Avenue in a U-Haul van early Wednesday morning, according to the American Canyon Police Department. The Napa dispatch center warned surrounding law enforcement to be on the lookout for the van.

A Napa County Sheriff's deputy spotted the van near Napa Valley College, but the southbound vehicle would not pull over and drove south at a high rate of speed, authorities said.

About 7:30 a.m., the U-Haul went through the intersection of Highway 29 and American Canyon Road with an American Canyon Police officer close behind, the Sheriff's Office said.

As the patrol vehicle entered the intersection, it collided with a minivan that was westbound on American Canyon Road, the Sheriff's Office said in a news release. Meanwhile, the U-Haul continued southbound on Highway 29.

Both the officer and the driver of the minivan were taken to Queen of the Valley Medical Center with complaints of pain, officials said.

The U-Haul went into Vallejo and exited onto Highway 37 at Wilson Avenue, the California Highway Patrol said. The van was driving recklessly at high rates of speed, so American Canyon officers stopped following it, the CHP said.

The investigation continues, with witnesses asked to contact the American Canyon Police Department at (707) 253-4451.

An earlier report said there was a second collision at Highway 29 and American Canyon Road, but American Canyon Police said they had information as to only one.

Courtney can be reached at 707-256-2221. You can send her an anonymous tip, and follow her reporting on Twitter and Facebook.

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.President Donald Trump seems to be digging in for a full-fledged trade war with China. On Monday, the White House announced that it will impose tariffs on an additional $200 billion worth of Chinese goods, a move that follows the apparent failure of recent talks between U.S. and Chinese officials. The new salvo will overshadow - or perhaps wholly undermine - a recent invitation from Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to Beijing to rekindle negotiations.

Earlier in the day, Trump displayed his appetite for a fight in a series of tweets hailing his protectionist maneuvers, which he claims have significantly boosted the U.S. economy. White House officials later told my colleagues that Trump will further add to the new slate of tariffs on China should Beijing retaliate, as it is expected to do.

Trump tweeted "Tariffs have put the U.S. in a very strong bargaining position, with Billions of Dollars, and Jobs, flowing into our Country - and yet cost increases have thus far been almost unnoticeable. If countries will not make fair deals with us, they will be 'Tariffed!"'

But in the short term, at least, the punitive measures aimed at China - which Trump accused of posing "a grave threat to the long-term health and prosperity of the United States economy" - will hurt Americans more.

"Trump has ordered aides to set the tariffs at 10 percent, likely leading to higher prices for American consumers. These tariffs are paid by U.S. companies that import the products, though they often pass the costs along to U.S. consumers in the form of higher prices," my colleagues reported over the weekend. "The U.S. imports roughly $500 billion in Chinese goods each year, and - combined with existing tariffs - these new penalties would cover half of all goods sent to the U.S. from China each year."

The new tariffs are part of a greater effort by Trump to confront Beijing. After his administration imposed import duties on Chinese goods earlier this summer, China responded with tit-for-tat measures its officials argued were gestures of restraint. Now, rather than cooling tensions, Trump is opting for escalation, seeing a potential trade war as a winning political strategy at home ahead of the November midterms and his own 2020 reelection bid.

This goes against the instincts of many senior Wall Street executives and even some White House advisers, who, though happy with Trump's tax cuts, are less thrilled by his willingness to unleash chaos upon the global economy. On Sunday, a group of leading American financiers met their counterparts in Beijing for a meeting on U.S.-China business ties that seemed to underscore their diminished clout.

"The Trump administration's trade hawks have so far prevailed against Wall Street-friendly voices of trade moderation, such as Mr. Mnuchin, a onetime Goldman Sachs executive," noted the New York Times. "That is partly because the trade war hasn't shown President Trump much downside. His stance has won support from both parties. The United States economy shows few signs of trade-war damage, and markets continue to rise."

But that rosy outlook may not last long. "Favorable economic conditions still put the United States in a strong position," wrote Marie Kasperek of the Atlantic Council. "Yet experts caution that this soon will change, as the impact of additional tariffs would reverse economic tailwind created by the combination of more government spending and the hefty tax cuts."

U.S. farmers are already feeling the pain of retaliatory tariffs enacted by China, the European Union and other countries targeted by the Trump administration trade actions. Future reprisals from Beijing could raise costs even further for U.S. manufacturers.

At the financiers' forum in Beijing on Sunday, Lou Jiwei, a former Chinese finance minister, suggested that China could target the supply chains of prominent U.S. companies, like Apple, that are dependent on Chinese manufacturing. Though alarming to many American executives, such rhetoric would gladden some of the trade hawks within the Trump administration, who would love to further "decouple" the U.S. and Chinese economies.

That's something analysts in both countries would have deemed unthinkable before Trump's ascension. But now, as some Trump allies hope to foster a split, Chinese President Xi Jinping is also actively pushing for his country's independence from U.S.-made technology.

White House officials emphasize that Trump is adopting the hard line his predecessors failed to, and that the administration is still open to substantive dialogue. "We are willing to talk with China any time if they are willing to move toward serious talks to remedy the trade problems," said Larry Kudlow, Trump's national economic adviser, on Monday. "On something of substance, [Trump's negotiating team wants Chinese counterparts to] just say yes. Just say yes to a couple of things and then we can move ahead."

Binyamin Appelbaum tweeted "The Trump administration plans to announce a large tax increase on American consumers this evening. "Tariff" is just a fancy word for 'tax."'

But Trump's bullying approach won't be the ticket with Beijing, whose leadership - and public - don't respond well to threats. "Getting the Chinese to the bargaining table should be all about face-saving - not a chest-thumping exercise," said James Zimmerman, a former chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, to my colleague Danielle Paquette. "Xi has no choice but to stand firm and stand tall."

The expert view in China increasingly casts Trump's trade policies as part of a wider campaign to challenge - or impede - China's geopolitical rise. "It's getting more and more obvious that the Trump administration is determined to contain China," said Shi Yinhong, a foreign affairs expert at Renmin University in Beijing, to the Financial Times. "I think the next round of tariffs is inevitable. The trade war will last for quite a long time."

As Paquette reported, China's middle class, oft animated by nationalist currents, wants to see Beijing take a tough line against Trump.

"China will choose the most favorable and powerful way to counterattack," read an editorial in the Global Times, a particularly strident state mouthpiece. "We are looking forward to a more beautiful counterattack that will make American pain worse."

Ishaan Tharoor writes about foreign affairs for The Washington Post. He previously was a senior editor and correspondent at Time magazine, based first in Hong Kong and later in New York.Bob Woodwards book Fear  which might better have been called, Hunter Thompson-style, Fear and Loathing in the White House  is filled with revealing anecdotes that have gotten overlooked amid the incessant rounds of TV interviews and cable news panels.

One of my favorites comes from the early days of John Kellys White House tenure, as the new chief of staff briefly labored under the illusion that he could tame the erratic president.

In August 2017, Kelly and soon-to-be-disgraced staff secretary Rob Porter concocted a system under which all presidential actions required not only a meeting but also a decision memo signed by Donald J. Trump. As Woodward writes, with a small flicker of whimsy unusual in his police-blotter prose, Trump loved signing. It meant he was doing things, and he had an up-and-down penmanship that looked authoritative in black Magic Marker.

This is not a portrait of any prior president of any party or any ideology. Rather, it suggests the storybook king in a poem for children by A.A. Milne who is much too busy a-signing things to notice Christopher Robin peering up at the windows of Buckingham Palace.

In Woodwards telling, there is a child-like quality to many of the characters in the White House, from Kelly and his constant, Cowardly Lion empty threats about quitting to Mike Pence, who often resembles a skittish forest creature in Bambi. There is something dead-on about Woodwards portrayal of the vice president: As usual, Pence was staying out of the way. He didnt want to be tweeted about or called an idiot.

What is missing in long stretches of Woodwards book is any sense that Congress is a co-equal branch of government.

Sure, Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell get occasional walk-on roles when the topic turns to the tax bill, and there is a brief anecdote about Steve Bannon plotting to replace the Senate majority leader with Lindsey Graham. But for the most part, the Republican Congress displays the moxie of Mike Pence on a particularly timorous day.

All of this brings us to an intriguing confession by Ben Sasse, who periodically offers rhetorical-only critiques of Trumps excesses.

Replying to a question from CNNs Jake Tapper about leaving the Republican Party, the first-term Nebraska senator said, I probably think about it every morning when I wake up and I figure out, Why am I flying away from Nebraska to go to D.C. this week. Are we going to get real stuff done? So Im committed to the party of Lincoln and Reagan as long as theres a chance to reform it.

Sasse, who has an orthodox Republican voting record on everything from taxes to Obamacare to the confirmation of federal judges, holds the potential to be a pivotal figure in the Senate in 2019.

With John McCain dead and Trump critics like Jeff Flake and Bob Corker not running for re-election, Sasse may become, by default, the closest Senate version of a never-Trump Republican. Susan Collins might have vied for that honor, but since Trumps inauguration, she has rarely displayed the flinty independence (her vote to retain Obamacare aside) of her 1950s Maine GOP predecessor, Margaret Chase Smith.

What gives relevance to Sasses morning musings about party loyalty is the suddenly realistic chance of an evenly divided Senate in 2019. Even McConnell admitted that the Republicans are in a knife fight in an alley to retain GOP seats in Nevada, Arizona and Tennessee. And McConnell conceded that Ted Cruz (perhaps the least likable senator) faces a competitive race in Texas.

Sure, with the Democrats confronting the most daunting Senate map in modern memory (Republicans hold only 9 of the 35 seats on the ballot in November), the GOP has opportunities for pickups from Florida to Montana. But it doesnt take much jiggering with the map (say, the Democrats win in Nevada, Arizona and Tennessee, while the GOP prevails in Missouri and North Dakota) to create a 50-50 Senate.

Then would come the true test of Sasses independence.

Would he be just a Sunday talk-show rebel, retreating to the predictable comforts of the Republican caucus when a Senate majority is on the line? Or would Sasse demonstrate the courage of his anti-Trump convictions by declaring himself an independent conservative who would not ratify continued GOP control of the upper chamber?

Most Senate party switches in modern times have been ideological journeys, like conservative Richard Shelby becoming a Republican in 1994 and moderate Jim Jeffords abandoning the GOP to caucus as an independent with the Democrats in 2001 and thereby giving them a majority. (This is different from the current situation with Bernie Sanders and Angus King, who are independents in name only.)

But in theory, Sasse would not have to jettison his conservative viewpoints to give the Democrats an anti-Trump majority in the Senate. He would not be trying to help the Democrats legislate, but rather voting to reaffirm the Senates traditional role as part of an independent branch of government willing to endure tantrums emanating from the White House.

As for committee assignments, it is a safe bet that Chuck Schumer would be generous to Sasse in exchange for his bold gesture of independence.

Of course, all this is speculative.

But sooner or later, self-aware Republicans like Sasse will have to answer the question of what they were doing while a dangerously incompetent and viciously ill-tempered president was sitting in the Oval Office armed with a black Magic Marker for a-signing things.

Walter Shapiro, a Roll Call columnist since 2015, has covered the last 10 presidential campaigns. He is also a fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU and a lecturer in political science at Yale.I would like to respond to Ms. Chris Malans letter, published on Sept. 2, 2018, where she recommends that water be the focus of the countys Strategic Plan (Impose moratorium on new slope vineyards).

Ms. Malans comments are welcome, and water is likely to play a prominent role in the plan, but the letter contains incorrect information. My intent is not to be argumentative, but it is critical for the success of the Strategic Plan that community decisions be based on factual evidence.

The Strategic Plan will define county priorities through 2022, and the actions needed to achieve those goals. While debate often centers around land use, the county has nearly 20 departments and over 1,350 employees, who deal with issues including law enforcement, fire, healthcare, libraries, support services, parks, and roads. The Strategic Plan will encompass all of the countys many responsibilities and public concerns.

I would like to respond to several specific issues raised by Ms. Malan.

Algae blooms are a health concern throughout California. They are caused by increased water temperature, high nutrient concentrations, and low water flows. In 2014, the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) approved a proposal to take the Napa River off the list of impaired water bodies for nutrients resulting in excessive algae growth. The State Water Quality Control Board (SWQCB) will consider the delisting in the summer of 2020.

County staff have worked with the RWQCB to ensure that the new vineyard Waste Discharge Requirements are compatible with our erosion control plan process. As a result of these requirements, other jurisdictions in the Bay Area will be following the model that Napa County established more than 25 years ago to protect watersheds and the quality of our streams.

Forests are not being eliminated within Napa County. Nearly 42 percent of the county (or 213,000 acres) consists of oak woodlands, riparian forest, or conifer forest. In comparison, only 13 percent of the county is used for farmland, and 6 percent is developed with urban uses. Trees cover more than twice as much land in Napa as agriculture and cities combined.

Since 1991, the county has approved an average of eight new wineries annually. There have never been 50 new wineries approved in one year. In fact, there havent been 50 new wineries approved over the past eight years combined. The highest number of new wineries approved in any one year was 17 in 2006.

Most vineyards are not planted on steep slopes. There are currently 53,451 acres of vineyards in Napa County. More than 57 percent of the vineyards are on lands that have slopes of less than 5 percent. More than 85 percent of vineyards are on slopes of less than 15 percent.

The Conservation Regulations already require stream buffers and tree retention. Setbacks of 35 to 150 feet are mandated for vineyards, depending on the surrounding slopes. Setbacks may also be applied to vineyard replanting and previously disturbed areas may be required to be revegetated. A minimum 60 percent of all tree canopy must be retained on any parcel where a vineyard is proposed. When biological studies are also applied, 90 percent of on-site trees are protected.

Extensive monitoring of wells around the Napa Valley shows that ground water levels remain steady. There is no evidence of subsidence, water quality impacts, salt water intrusion, or streams being affected by overdrafting. The county has prepared a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (Basin Analysis Report), as required under state law. The plan is currently under review by the California Department of Water Resources. In addition, the county has joined with the city of Napa to voluntarily study water quality in the watersheds of the municipal reservoirs.

The Napa River is proposed for listing as an impaired water body for chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, mercury, and PCBs. No action by the SWQCB has yet been taken. However, the pesticides referenced have been banned for over 30 years. Mercury is a mineral that naturally occurs throughout the region and has not been mined locally more than 50 years.

The county administers 29 permits that allow the use of hold and haul to process high strength wastewater. Six facilities are located within city limits and another five are within the airport industrial area (serviced by the Napa Sanitation District). Only 18 of over 500 wineries (less than 4 percent) have hold and haul permits. Note that on-site wastewater systems also need to have their tanks regularly pumped.

Public policy should be based on goals that we can all agree upon, relying on fact-based analysis. I appreciate and share Ms. Malans interest in protecting our natural resources and welcome the ongoing dialogue. The best way that we can ensure a comprehensive and balanced approach to protecting our natural resources is for the public, business leaders, and local government to work together in developing a sustainable vision for all of Napa County.

David Morrison, Director

Napa County Planning, Building, and Environmental Services DepartmentWhile there are Trump supporters in Napa County, most of us here are appalled by the current administration. (Apparently members of his own staff and Cabinet are appalled as well.) Were witnessing daily breaches of the rule of law, government ethics and orderly policy making -- not to mention honesty and decency.

Under our Constitution, the Congress is supposed to oversee the executive branch. However the GOP leadership has chosen not to carry out that role. So, what can conscientious citizens do to help restore order and legitimacy to our government?

Napa voters regularly elect Mike Thompson, a responsible and respected representative. Unfortunately, thats not enough  we need to put our congressmans party back in the majority. And not just to benefit Democrats; there are leading conservatives (David Frum, Jennifer Rubin, George Will, Bill Kristol, Steve Schmidt, Max Boot and others) who believe their party has lost its way and needs to be sidelined until it can sober up and regroup around traditional Republican principles rather than Trumpism.

Fortunately, there is something we can do. A group of locals has formed Blue Wave Napa Valley (BWNV), a targeted effort to raise funds to help change the control of the House of Representatives from red to blue.

BWNV is working to assist three promising Democratic challengers against GOP incumbents in winnable California districts that Trump lost in 2016. This is a realistic, pragmatic initiative that allows us to have an impact (and not just bemoan the current state of affairs).

Check out Bluewavenapavalley.com. With talented new people in Congress, we have a chance to be proud of our government again.

Dan and Kathleen Whitehurst

St. HelenaA large number villagers, mostly children, came out to have a glimpse of an elephant calf, which was separated from its herd in Tarajuli Tea Estate in Assams Sonitpur district on Wednesday.

According to information, the elephant calf was separated from its herd when it fell into a deep drain in Tarajuli Tea Estate.

The locals later rescued the elephant calf and informed it to the forest officials.

The elephant calf, after being separated from its mother, has reportedly been in trauma.

The elephant calf, surrounded by a large number of village children, was marched with a gashed trunk

The forest officials reportedly said the calf is being treated by veterinarians at Dolabari under Western Assam Wildlife Division.

It may be mentioned that a twelve-day-old elephant calf was rescued from dense jungle of Phulbari area near Sapongaon Forest Office under Dhansiri Forest Division in Udalguri district on September 7.

Also read: Assam: Elephant calf rescued in Udalguri, handed over to Bhutan

It has been reported that the villagers after spotting the jumbo informed the forest officials.

On being informed, a team forest personnel rescued the elephant calf with aid of troops of 37 Bn Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) from the jungle along the Indo-Bhutan border.

The jungle falls under the territorial division of Bhutan province as per the claims of forest officials of the kingdom.

The calf has been handed over to the forest officials of Bhutan following all departmental procedures, informed a forest official of Sapongaon Forest office.The Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT) has decided to field its candidates who represented the party in the primary round for the general round of elections in Bhutan next month.

A Kuensel report stated quoting DNT president Lotay Tshering that while election laws allow candidates to swap parties after the primary round, the DNT office did not want to decide.

Also read: Election Commission of Bhutan asks DNT and DPT to nominate candidates

The report further quoted Tshering who had exuded confidence that going by the voting pattern of the primary round and the strength of the partys candidates, their present strength looks to be good.

Of the 47 candidates, the party has five women candidates.

The youngest candidate is 25-years-old and the oldest is 63 years.

Also read: Bhutan PM Tshering Tobgays party ousted in election

The last day for withdrawal of candidature for the general elections is September 24.

The two parties that secured the highest and second highest votes will have to nominate the candidates for the 47 constituencies to the respective returning officers. The last date for filling the nominations is September 21.

The scrutiny of nominations would be done by the returning officers of the respective constituency on the day immediately following the last date for filing of nominations that is on September 22.

It will be done in accordance with the Electoral Laws, rules and regulations while keeping the Election Commission informed on the candidatures and scrutiny, the report further added.Tshering Tobgay, former Prime Minister of Bhutan, celebrated his birthday among thousands of people at Thimphu, the national capital of Bhutan, on Wednesday.

Tobgay turned 53 years on Wednesday.

Tshering Tobgay, the president of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was ousted as the Bhutan PM in the first round of the countrys parliamentary election on September 15, 2018, in his Twitter handle on Tuesday night tweeted: Celebrating my birthday quietly, among thousands at Thimphus annual tsechu.

It may be mentioned that in a major upset verdict in the first round of polls in Bhutan, Tobgays PDP was ousted from the race, and will not run in the second and final round next month, The Hindu reported.

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.

Reacting to the defeat of his party in the first round of the parliamentary polls, Tobgay had tweeted on September 15, 2018: I congratulate DNT and DPT and their candidates for their outstanding performance in the primary round of Bhutans third parliamentary election. Congratulations also to President of BKP and their candidates for taking part in this important election.

Tobgay who was the Prime Minister of Bhutan from July 2013 to August 2018, was the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly from March 2008 to April 2013.

He was born on September 19, 1965 at Haa district of Bhutan.

Celebrating my birthday quietly, among thousands at Thimphus annual tsechu. pic.twitter.com/QCe5E0zMua  Tshering Tobgay (@tsheringtobgay) September 19, 2018

Reacting to the shock verdict, outgoing PM Tobgay said the people of Bhutan had spoken.

The Peoples Democratic Party graciously accepts their decision. The will of the people must prevail in a democracy, the newspaper quoted PM Tobgay as saying.

Tobgay, who is a Harvard educated leader, managed to develop good relations between India and Bhutan, including during last years tense Doklam standoff with China.Azerbaijanis open fire at tractor in Khachik village of Armenia's Vayots Dzor Province while it was moving

US Department of State condemns violence that caused death of Armenian civilian near Shushi

Polish authorities believe situation on Poland-Belarus border will escalate

UN says it is ready to help solve issues of migrants on Poland-Belarus border

ARF-D representative: If House of Lords adopts Armenian Genocide bill, it will become a law for the government

EU Special Representative: We remember all who were killed and suffered during more than 30 years of conflict

Lavrov discusses Nagorno-Karabakh issue with Paul Gallagher

UK House of Commons adopts Armenian Genocide bill in first reading

OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Personal Representative: Certain changes made in actions after hostilities in 2020

Israeli Members of Knesset submit bill to recognize Armenian Genocide

Russia Ambassador: There won't be deals behind Armenian people's back when communications with Azerbaijan are unblocked

NEWS.am daily digest: 09.11.21

Baku not refuting attack on peaceful civilians in Artsakh, but putting blame on Yerevan

Gor Abrahamyan: Armenia Prosecutor General hasn't applied to Russia's competent authorities for citizenship

Armenia legislature committee approves draft state budget for 2022

Azerbaijani soldier dies after falling down from multi-story parking lot in Turkey

Persons suspected of murder of businessman Hayk Harutyunyan arrested in Moscow

Armenia Deputy PM receives newly appointed UNDP Resident Representative

Armenia is elected UNESCO General Conference 41st session vice-chair (PHOTOS)

Armenia MOD ex-press secretary is appointed expert to parliament committee

Armenia MOD leaves for Moscow

Russian MFA on anniversary of agreements of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia leaders on ceasefire in Karabakh

Armenia FM to head for Paris

Dollar loses value in Armenia

Turkey attempting to drive wedge between Armenia and Armenian diaspora

Online intimidation of Artsakh people by Azerbaijan special services gains new momentum

9-year-old Armenian boy dies after being run over by car

Kremlin comments on prospect of Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan leaders meeting over Karabakh

Armenia 2nd President and Karabakh ex-President also bid farewell to Serzh Sargsyan's mother

Armenia former President Kocharyan, ex-deputy PM and now lawmaker Gevorgyan court session pushed back 1 week

Peskov: Karabakh conflict statement signed last year by Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan is extremely important

Turkey defense minister: Opening of Zangezur corridor does not pose threat to any side

Azerbaijan threatens Armenia defense minister

President pays tribute to martyrs of recent Artsakh war

Saakashvili's supporters holding protest near Justice Ministry building in Tbilisi

Turkey defense minister stubbornly does not see Azerbaijan provocations

Armenian historian: Armenia needs to establish refugee settlement in Yerevan for those displaced from Artsakh

Armenia opposition MP not elected legislature defense committee deputy chair for 11th time

Armenia PM spokesperson resigns

Armenia parliament speaker: We have paid very high price for our mistakes

Armenia premier appoints new deputy FM

1,121 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Karabakh MFA: Artsakh will never be part of Azerbaijan

Russia peacekeepers patrol Karabakh line of contact

Women in the Police System training program kicks off in Armenia

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

Armenia MFA: Realities created by use of force against Artsakh cannot create basis for Karabakh conflict settlement

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WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Congressmen Randy Hultgren (R-IL) and Jim McGovern (D-MA), Co-Chairs of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, released the following statement in response to the Trump Administrations announced ceiling for refugee admissions into the United States next year. Earlier in the day, Congressman Peter Roskam also criticized the new policy Wednesday.

We join together to express our extreme disappointment at the administrations proposal to impose a limit on admitting no more than 30,000 refugees in the coming fiscal year. With the world in the midst of the worst refugee crisis in recorded history, with 65 million people displaced, 22.5 million of whom are refugees, American global leadership in refugee resettlement and standing as a beacon of hope is more critical than ever before. This proposed ceiling is alarmingly inadequate and far below the average refugee admission goal of 95,000 and even a steep cut from the 45,000 allowed in this year. We are deeply concerned that of the 45,000 allowed into the U.S. this year, only 21,000 have been accepted.

Refugee resettlement has been and should continue to be a cornerstone of American foreign policy. We should not be stepping back from our responsibility as a global leader in refugee resettlement, but rather stepping up to provide a safe and legal alternative for those most in need of safety. Resettlement is crucial to alleviate instability throughout the world, maintain strong relationships with our allies, and advance our foreign policy interests. By providing safe haven for refugees, we help to keep ourselves safe.

The United States cannot abandon its role as a place of sanctuary for the individuals and families seeking to escape violence, turmoil, and persecution. We cannot turn our back on the international community in a time of historic need. We urge the administration to reconsider its position to comport with global realities as we remain committed to work to ensure that the United States continues to welcome all from around the world seeking a place of safety and protection.With the support of Business Armenia, regional high-tech development manager at Enterprise Incubator Foundation and the executive director of Gyumri Information Technologies Center, Amalya Yeghoyan, paid a business visit to California, USA. A conference on the foreign direct investment in the IT sector of Armenia was held for 50 businessmen.

New investment agreements were signed within the scope of the business visit.

Based on one of such documents signed by Yeghoyan and Executive Director of Alena Solutions Asbed Kassis, the company is planning on opening offices in the IT Centers of Vanadzor and Gyumri. Alena Solutions is a company offering technology solutions to various businesses.

The other agreement was signed with the founding co-chief executive officer of Hireclout, Avetis Antaplyan. The company is planning on opening an office in Gyumri conducting the marketing of Hireclout. The main offerings of the company are technology recruitment and consulting.

Business Armenia is ready to utilize its large network of representatives to support the foreign investments in Armenia, stated the CEO of Business Armenia, Armen Avak Avakian. We are happy that these investments are to be directed to the marzes [provinces of Armenia].

Gyumri, Vanadzor, Gavar [towns] are promising for investments in high-tech; those have rich infrastructures, university branches; the first two have techno parks, noted Amalya Yeghoyan. This is remarkable because we are implementing a strategy of decentralizing the investments.

At the meeting with businessmen, Yeghoyan also presented the roadmap for establishing a company in Armenia, creating jobs, attracting and training highly qualified professionals, and succeeding in business.Roskam is facing a tough challenge for re-election in a district that voted for Hillary Clinton over Trump in 2016. Roskam has been facing criticism from Democrat activists for aligning often with the president.

Thousands of refugees cross our borders in hopes of safety from the dangers and devastation of their home countries and an opportunity to create a better a life for them and their families, said Roskam. In the United States, the American dream is inclusive and strengthened by people of diverse backgrounds. Im calling on the Trump Administration to reverse their decision to lower the cap on refugees allowed into the country. This drastic reduction will alter the lives of thousands who have traveled great lengths to seek help and refuge from the United States.

WHEATON, IL  Upon learning the Trump Administration announced plans to reduce the cap on refugees admitted into the country, Congressman Peter Roskam joined with community leaders and residents in Illinois Sixth District to voice opposition.

Made public this week, the Administration moved to lower the cap of refugee admissions from 45,000 to 30,000 refugees in 2019, a significant 33-percent reduction.

I am fully committed to securing our borders and fixing our immigration system. Its important to recognize that those issues are not synonymous with slamming our doors on refugees. Turning away refugees fleeing persecution, violence and trauma is not the solution and does not reflect the values our nation was founded on or the values of the communities I represent, said Roskam.

The Sixth Congressional District is home to many organizations and religious institutions that work with and advocate for refugees. For decades, local nonprofit World Relief has provided key services and built a sense of community for refugees and immigrants living within DuPage and Kane Counties.

The U.S. refugee resettlement program has been a literal lifeline for many of the most vulnerable people in our world, including Christians and others persecuted for their faith, individuals targeted by terrorists because they served alongside U.S. military personnel and families who have been trapped for generations in refugee camps, said World Relief Executive Director Susan Sperry. More than 10,000 refugees have arrived in DuPage County since World Relief began the resettlement in 1979, welcomed by local churches, community groups and volunteers. They have become an integral part of our local community and economy.

The historically low national refugee resettlement cap of just 30,000 announced this week will inherently mean far fewer of these vulnerable people will find safety, religious freedom and a new home in suburban Chicago, and that our communitywhich for decades has eagerly welcomed and helped integrate refugeeswill have far fewer opportunities to do so, Sperry continued. My hope and prayer is that President Trump will reconsider this proposal, and were thankful to Representative Roskam for speaking up on behalf of vulnerable refugees.Armenian member of the Iranian Parliament Karen Khanlari praised the commander of the IRGC Quds special forces unit, Major-General Qassem Soleimani for his efforts to combat terrorist groups and save the lives of the Armenian and Assyrian peoples in Syria.

"I should thank General Qassem Soleimeni and other military forces who are present in Syria at the demand of the country's government to establish security. They could keep away the Syrian Armenians and Assyrians in many conditions from massacre and serious harms," Fars News reported quoting Khanlari.

Armenians, mostly live in the Syrian region of Aleppo, which was occupied by ISIL and the Al-Nusra Front, he said adding that they were under intense pressure, and many of them were killed by terrorists.

According to him, the Iranian military advisors in Syria have saved them from the danger of death posed by the terrorists.YEREVAN.  An elderly man has died from the burns he had sustained in Armenias Kotayk Province.

Police received a report, on Tuesday at 10:20am, informing that Andranik Geghamyan (born in 1936) was taken to capital city Yerevan Research Center of Radiation Medicine and Burns, and with third- and fourth-degree burns to his body.

The police officers who were dispatched found out that, on the same day at around 9:30am, the man had sustained burns from the fire caused by the paper of the cigarette he was smoking at home, the police informed.

At 7:20pm, Geghamyan died without regaining consciousness.

A report is being prepared on the incident.The question is not that Im seeking power, Armenias second President Robert Kocharyan told Kommersant newspaper of Russia. He noted this when asked whether he has concerns with respect to the prospects for his returning to politics after ten years.

The question is not that Im seeking power; I havent sought it for ten years. Ive reached all the possible heights of a career, he noted, in particular. But the question is not the ambition to hold a specific position, but to clearly realize that what is happening now is simply unacceptable for the country. (). I just wouldnt forgive myself if I were to stand aside and be apathetic toward all that is happening now [in Armenia].

To the query as to whether he wishes to be a locomotive that pulls the others, or whether he aims to manage the processes taking place in the country, Kocharyan said any of those options is possible, in principle.

Ive shown to the numb public that there is no need to be afraid of anything, [that] ones own viewpoint must be expressed, he added: Ive already achieved something in this sense. Now the climate in Armenia is not like it was two months ago.

The second President noted that, first and foremostand ultimatelyhard work must be done.

Some part of the [Armenian] society is in euphoria, whereas numbness among the other part, which analyzes, thinks, realizes the consequences of some actions, trends, Robert Kocharyan said. Now, that part of the society acts in full voice, and believe this will be continuous. In this sense, I believe that my position has had an essential role.YEREVAN.  Armenia lives in a no war, no peace situation, but this is a potential war that can break out at any time, Armenias ex-president Robert Kocharyan said in an interview with Kommersant newspaper.

Asked whether the new authorities are pro-Western, Kocharyan answered: The question is not that they are pro-Western. I would not even talk about pro-Western or pro-Russian orientation. We need to talk about reality. Is it possible to talk about our security in different coordinates? Is it realistic? Lets call all of us pro-Armenian politicians. But, being pro-Armenian, we can be deeply mistaken in the choice of priorities. Therefore, I would refrain from the cliche pro-Russian or pro-Western. It's about how we perceive the coordinates in which we are. Do we perceive it correctly? There were absolutely unacceptable move, and now they are trying to fix this. How sincere it is, time will show.

As to PM Pashinyans visit to Moscow where he told that Armenia has wonderful relationship with Russia and Moscow is a strategic partner, the former president noted that in this way Pashinyan is trying to correct the impression that he left from his first moves and from all his previous activities.

He expressed concern over the contradictory nature of Pashinyan's statements, adding that this speaks about inconsistency.

Asked if he can name any signs of attempts of a geopolitical turn of the new authorities, Kocharyan said he does not understand the participation of the Armenian side at the level of the first person at the NATO summit in Brussels.

As to the remark that Putin and Medvedev also participated in NATO summits, Kocharyan said this was different time.

I also participated in the NATO summit, but then there were more joint programs between Russia and NATO than between NATO and Armenia. There was no such confrontation, and there was a vector of interaction between the alliance and Russia. In a situation where even contacts are broken, such a participation is a certain message. I do no know whether this was done because of misunderstanding or deliberately. But, it raises questions.

Talking about whether there are things for which he and Nikol Pashinyan have the same point of view, Kocharyan noted that in many aspects he does not know his position at all.

Speaking about the Karabakh conflict, he recalled that he had been holding talks for a long period of time, including during his presidency in Karabakh.

Any negotiation is better than any war. It is necessary to pursue a responsible policy, in which there will be little shooting on the line of contact and when you basically will not surrender your positions. It is a question of fine diplomatic professional work. This is not a topic that should be made the subject of discussions at the rally. Any carelessness will necessarily backfire by the intensity of shooting on the line of contact with the threat to the life of those who are in the trenches today. You just have to give it up. Especially to people who did not serve in the army and who were not at the forefront and who evaded military service. Today there are almost no people in the government who served in the army.Delegation headed by Armenian Prosecutor General Artur Davtyan left for Tajikistan on a two-day working visit to participate in the 28th session of the Coordinating Council of Prosecutors General of the Commonwealth of Independent States on September 20.

During the annual session, prosecutors will exchange their experience on positive dynamics in different spheres, as well as will discuss the legality of pre-trial proceedings, the practice of implementing international treaties in the fight against crime.

The sides are expected to focus on the process and effectiveness of implementation of joint programs over terrorism and extremism, drug trafficking, human trafficking, illegal migration, cybercrime and anti-corruption, existing challenges and the prospects of joint countermeasures.

The current state of protection of the citizens rights and approaches to deepening cooperation in this field, as well as assessment of the results of joint activities of the previous years are also on the agenda.Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyans postponement of his working visit to the US for several days in order to vote in the snap elections to Yerevan Council of Elders clearly shows that his local political interests and performances are much more important to Nikol Pashinyan than the foreign policy and state approaches of Armenia.

Former ruling Republican Party of Armenia Vice-Chairman Armen Ashotyan, who is also Chairman of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Relations, wrote the aforesaid on Facebook.

Its a pity that the official meeting [of Pashinyan] with [US President Donald] Trump isnt happening yet, Ashotyan added.

Nikol Pashinyan on Tuesday informed that he has postponed his working visit to the US for several days in order to cast his ballot in Sundays snap election for the capital city Yerevan municipal council.

I mean to stress the importance of that one vote, he had added, in particular.YEREVAN.  The American dollars (USD) exchange rate against the Armenian dram (AMD) comprised AMD 483.62/$1 in Armenia on Wednesday; this is down by AMD 0.75 from Tuesday, informed the press service of the Central Bank of Armenia.

The exchange rate for one euro was AMD 565.59 (up by AMD 0.09), that of one British pound totaled AMD 637.31 (up by AMD 1.62), and the rate of one Russian ruble made up AMD 7.22 (up by AMD 0.07) in the country.

In addition, one gram of silver, gold and platinum amounted to AMD 220.95, AMD 18,661.6 and AMD 12,656.68, respectively.On Monday, September 17, 2008, the day after I returned home from attending Phyllis Schlafly's Gateway Eagle Council XLVII, after having just met and spoken with General Flynn and his family, I heard the news that Robert Mueller was ready to sentence Flynn on or around November 28, 2018 . Flynn resigned  after 24 days as Trump's national security adviser  when it was revealed he misled the FBI and Vice President Mike Pence about the nature and content of the communications he had with the Russian ambassador at the time, Sergey Kislyak in December 2016 during Trumps presidential transition.

What is Eagle Council?

Eagle Council was started by conservative icon Phyllis Schlafly in 1968. It has become the place to be to equip yourself to speak out on the issue you care about most. This year's Council tackled top issues of the day, attracted nationally known speakers, provided practical training, held in-depth workshops featuring expert panels and gave like-minded individuals a chance to network nationally.

This year's Phyllis Schlafly's 47th Gateway Eagle Council was held September 14-15-16, 2018 at the Marriott St. Louis Airport, Saint Louis, Missouri. Jim Hoft, the "Gateway Pundit," partnered this year with Eagle Council. Although ANTIFA showed up to protest outside of the Council event, two who paid to get inside the event to shout were quickly removed by security. Over 600 attendees joined Gateway Eagle Council XLVII over its three-day event.

Introduction to Lieutenant General Michael Flynn

The Major General John K. (Jack) Songlaub Dinner was the theme for the first night of Council on September 16. During the dinner Lieutenant General Michael Flynn was presented with the Major General John K. (Jack) Singlaub Award for Service to America. Major General John K. Singlaub, U.S. Army (Ret.), enjoyed a long and distinguished military career, dating back to World War II. After being recruited by the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), he parachuted into Nazi-occupied France as a covert operative to prepare the French Resistance fighters for the D-Day invasion. Following the war, General Singlaub headed CIA operations in Manchuria during the Chinese Communist revolution, served as supreme commander of all U.S. troops in South Korea, and performed intelligence missions in Vietnam.

Flynn served in the US. for 33 years under multiple administration, beginning in 1981. He was director of intelligence for Joint Special Operations command during operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Later, he served as director of intelligence of the United States Central Command and of the Joint Staff. In 2012 President Obama appointed Flynn as director of the Defense Intelligence Agency for two years before he retired to private life.

General Flynn as Trump's National Security Advisor



Under Trump, Flynn briefly served as National Security Advisor of the United States. Flynn resigned, after 24 days as Trump's national security adviser, when it was revealed he misled the FBI and Vice President Mike Pence about the nature and content of the communications he had with the Russian ambassador at the time, Sergey Kislyak in December 2016 during Trumps presidential transition.

The quote by General Flynn in his book, The Field of Fight, is one of many reasons Flynn is a threat to the massive intel community and was targeted for removal from the Trump administration by Mueller and the traitorous partisan ilk within the FBI.

Were in a world war against a messianic mass movement of evil people, most of them inspired by a totalitarian ideology, Radical Islam. But we are not permitted to speak or write those two words, which is potentially fatal to our culture. The Field of Fight by Lt. General Michael T. Flynn

As the Trumps National Security Adviser (NSA), Flynns legal phone conversations with Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak were taped and leaked to media. Those conversations were perfectly legal. As the NSA, it was entirely reasonable that he discussed policy with representatives of other governments  and Flynn was getting calls from all around the world. These calls were made one month prior to Trumps inauguration. The people who recorded these conversations and leaked them to the press should be the ones up for federal charges.

While Flynn did not deny the Kislyak conversation, which was entirely legal, he denied discussing sanctions with the Russians. Mueller charged him with lying or misleading federal investigators under 18 U.S.C. 1001. He did so even though investigators working under former FBI Director James Comey reportedly had concluded that Flynn did not intend to lie and should not be charged criminally for the omission. Flynn's lawyer made a deal to plea to a lie, even though Flynn was guilty of nothing, to relieve Flynn from the continual stress and financial pressure he was experiencing.

Remarks by Lieutenant General Michael Flynn at Major Singlaub Dinner

"I want to make sure I am very precise, because I know there are a lot of people in the back row that will pay attention to what I say, and I want to make sure they get the words that I say right. I really believe in the things I am going to say, and like I said I spoke to General Singlaub this week about serving America, and what it means to both of us. And I want to share some of our thoughts with all of you tonight.

"Service to America requires us today and tomorrow to stand together as champions for freedom, and soldiers of liberty, who are on the right side of history. Anything less cannot be tolerated if our country is to survive. For many of us, across our nation, we understand that this is not the first time that patriots have risen to this fight that we're in today. More than 200 years ago, more than 250 years ago, Patrick Henry, a great patriot, who understood service to America, he warned his fellow countrymen that his choice against Great Britain's suppression of freedoms was crystal clear as mine is tonight. As he described whether to accept slavery to a monarch or freedom, seems like an easy choice.



"Almighty God, he said, I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death. What an amazing thing to say at a time for the birth of our country.



"Another great servant, Abraham Lincoln, fought for his vision to unite the North and the South as a new birth of freedom, so that all people would be treated equally, without regard for color or race. In his very famous Gettysburg Address in 1863, at the dedication of the Soldiers National Cemetery to honor Union soldiers who had died in the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln inspired our nation to fight on so that these dead shall not have died in vain and that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, by you, shall not perish from the Earth.



"Nearly, just slightly over 100 years later, in his 1964 speech at the Republican National convention, another great American servant and subsequently president of the United States, Ronald Reagan, redefined the very essence of why the fight by Americans against tyranny and injustice will never end. Must never end. Reagan said, 'freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.' We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream, it must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.'



"This time, our time, our America, the urgency to act is that at the doorstep of our democracy. The future of this country depends on each one of you in this room tonight, and many, many others that you represent around our great country. This turning point is about the heart and soul of the United States of America. You cannot and must not be silent or take for granted that our great nation will not fall to the many threats that we face around the world, and some right here at home.



"It is time, it is absolutely time, this weekend, tonight, never a better time, but it is time to buckle down, and listen up, and stand ready to fight for our way of life and our traditions. Those who oppose our fundamental principles could take us down in the snap of a finger. In my book, the Field of Fight, I stated, on page 111, 'We should not fear the Judea-Christian principles that our nation was founded upon. We should not be in fear of that. We should cherish that, we should believe in that, we should be incredibly proud of that. I will always believe that. To those in the room this evening, who have served in our military, or served as first responders, you represent our warriors around the world, and across our country. And you all know what your respective battlefields look like. They are not pretty, and they are not perfect. Definitely. We fight or serve America not because --this is super important-- we fight and serve America not because we hate our enemies, it is because we love our country. We absolutely love the freedoms that we cherish. When we talk about why we fight... It is always about the buddy next to him, the person on your right or left. Deep down inside it is about the way we want to live, and the way we must continue to fight to continue to live for. Super important.



"Our fight for individual freedom and liberty, as I described a little while ago, will also not be pretty or perfect. We will be measured harshly, trust me, and our enemies will try to destroy us. But we cannot fail. There are moments in history that are seminal and then there are other moments that are monumental.



"Maj. Gen. Jack Singlaub was present at all of these during most of the last century, I mean like I said, the guy is 97 years old. I would not want to meet him in a bar fight tonight, he is a pretty incredible human being, and thank God our country has people like him."

Concluding thought



Does Lieutenant General Michael Flynn like sound like one who would be disloyal to his country?

What has happened to Lt. General Michael Flynn since he left the Trump administration is an American tragedy. A pardon should be forthcoming from President Trump.Karabakh President Bako Sahakyan together with Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan visited the northern section of the border.

Although the situation on the front line is quite tense, we can still assess it as stable and controllable. Anyway, the Armenian Armed Forces and the Defense Army confidently keep control of the situation. And we discussed with the President of Artsakh and the representatives of the Armed Forces the current situation over Karabakh, our positions and also there were discussions over the political and military situation, Pashinyan said in his Facebook live broadcast.

The final electoral rolls in Sundays snap election for the capital city Yerevan Council of Elders have been posted on the official website of the Police of Armenia.

As per these final electoral rolls, the number of eligible voters is 848,343.

Non-Armenian citizens also can vote in the election if they have at least a one-year registration before voting day.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemned search by police of the headquarters of the Yerevan-based Armenian news website Yerevan.Today. It violated the confidentiality of journalists sources, RSF said.

We regret that the police did not seek a less intrusive and more proportionate way to achieve their legitimate goal, said Johann Bihr, the head of RSFs Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk.

Executive director of Gyumri Information Technologies Center, Amalya Yeghoyan, paid a business visit to California, where new investment agreements were signed within the scope of the business visit.

Based on one of such documents signed by Yeghoyan and Executive Director of Alena Solutions Asbed Kassis, the company is planning on opening offices in the IT Centers of Vanadzor and Gyumri. Alena Solutions is a company offering technology solutions to various businesses.

The other agreement was signed with the founding co-chief executive officer of Hireclout, Avetis Antaplyan. The company is planning on opening an office in Gyumri conducting the marketing of Hireclout. The main offerings of the company are technology recruitment and consulting.

The leaders of the two Koreas agreed to start works on connecting roads and railways within the year during their third summit this year.

The summit was welcomed by U.S. President Donald Trump who described the event as exciting.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry also welcomed the summit and signing of historic accord aimed at normalization of relations, creation of confidence building measures and securing peace in the region.The University of Newcastle is hosting an Exhibition, titled Long Shadows: The Great War, Australia and the Middle East, which offers a more comprehensive understanding of the events surrounding the ANZAC landing at Gallipoli in 1915, by portraying the significant crime against humanity that was occurring in the Ottoman Empire during the same time: the Armenian Genocide.

The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU) visited the Long Shadows exhibit on Wednesday 19th September, 2018.

The Exhibition features a prominent section dedicated to the shared history between those who suffered the Armenian Genocide and the Australians who helped. It provides graphics and mementos  provided by Armenian-Australians including Vicken Babkenian and Nick Pezikian  from Australia's first major international humanitarian relief effort, which was to aid survivors of the Armenian Genocide.

Long Shadows also compares the experiences of the Armenians in 1915 and the Yazidis, who suffered from a genocide in the more recent past.

ANC-AU Executive Director, Haig Kayserian encouraged Sydney Armenians to take the drive to Newcastle and witness the Exhibit.

The content was fantastic, but that was expected knowing the professionals who helped curate Long Shadows, Kayserian said. What was less expected for us was the emotional reality we experienced after driving for two hours on the M1 from Sydney to Newcastle, where barely any Armenians live.Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed Syrian situation during the phone talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Kremlin press service reported.

Russian president briefed May on the Russian-Turkish stabilization agreements in the de-escalation zone of Idlib, reached at the talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on September 17.

The parties confirmed their willingness to further facilitate the settlement of the intra-Ukrainian conflict.

Vladimir Putin expressed concern over the assassination of the prime minister of the so-called Donetsk Peoples Republic, Alexander Zakharchenko.

The sides also touched upon some issues related to overcoming negative trends in the world financial markets.European Council President Donald Tusk said on Wednesday he would call an extra Brexit summit of European Union leaders around mid-November to finalise a deal with Britain, Reuters reported.



Tusk told a news conference before chairing a summit of all 28 EU leaders in the Austrian city of Salzburg later on Wednesday:

The Brexit negotiations are entering their decisive phase. Various scenarios are still possible today but Id like to stress that some of Prime Minister Mays proposals from Chequers indicated positive evolution in the UKs approach.

Tusk said that went for the UKs readiness to work closely with the EU on security and foreign policy after Brexit but stressed that Chequers proposals from premier Theresa May for the future Irish border and economic cooperation between the EU and Britain will need to reworked and further negotiated.An interceptor fighter MiG-31 crashed near the town of Kulebaki the Nizhny Novgorod Region, on Wednesday, a source in emergency services told TASS.

"A MiG-31 interceptor crashed in the Nizhny Novgorod Region several minutes ago. The incident occurred near the town of Kulebaki," the source said.

The regional emergencies ministry office confrirmed to TASS that the plane crashed, causing no destruction. "No destruction on the ground occurred, because the plane fell in a forest area. Our personnel are working at the crash site," the office said.

Accroding to the Defense Ministry, the crew of the MiG-31 ejected themselves before the crash. "Both pilots ejected themselves and were promptly taken to safety by the search and rescue service. Their lives are not in danger," the ministry said.YEREVAN.- Armenian MFA spokesperson Tigran Balayan has commented on the situation on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the press service of the MFA Armenia reported.

The comment runs as follows,

Recently, Azerbaijan has been continuously shelling the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, targeting and damaging the settlements, civilian institutions and civilian populations of border villages.

As a result of the shots released from the Azerbaijani side, an Armenian serviceman, private Haykaz Matevosyan has been killed. We express our deepest condolences to the family, relatives and fellow servicemen of the fallen soldier and assure that we will continue to work decisively to establish peace.

The actions of Baku aimed at escalation of the situation, accompanied by bellicose rhetoric, undermine efforts by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair states and the international community to create an environment conducive to peace.

We strongly condemn Azerbaijans actions and draw the attention of the international community, firstly the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair states, to the urgent necessity to curb Azerbaijan and put it on the constructive path in order to prevent the escalation of the situation.Those in control of the Illinois Republican Party have chosen to make one person - Mike Madigan - the evil villain, not the Leftism and radical movement he's enabled for so many years.

A growing number of Illinois conservatives are saying they can't vote for incumbent GOP Governor Bruce Rauner because he has sided with Democrats on key issues and has bought up the IL GOP and GOP county organizations with his personal wealth. Illinois' weak counter to Democrats is now the "Rauner Party" not the "Republican Party." The "Rauner Party" ignores and ridicules the Republican Party platform upon which thousands have based their political affiliation.

Now we learn that even the IL GOP elitists like former Governor Jim Edgar are backing away from endorsing the Republican incumbent and schmoozing up to Rauner's Democrat challenger, another billionaire - JB Pritzker.

So what political party will be left for Illinoisans that are conservative, pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, pro-legal immigration fiscal hawks? They are not welcome in either the Illinois Democrat or the Illinois Republican Party - despite an admirable, but failed attempt to rise to IL GOP leadership levels.

Certainly there are good conservatives as high as the State Central Committee level, but the Rauner Party dominates and controls all levels of influence in the party - keeping the party from making unified, strong statements to counter the Democrat Party radical Leftist control in Illinois. Those in control of the Illinois Republican Party have chosen to make one person - Mike Madigan - the evil villain, not the Leftism and radical movement he's enabled for so many years. A movement that has destroyed the morale of a whole state.Story Highlights 47% of Hungarians approve of EU leadership; 40% approve of Orban

Hungary's scores lowest in EU on Migrant Acceptance Index

In 2016, 62% of Hungarians saw EU membership as benefit

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Hungarian protesters took to the streets Sunday after the European Parliament's vote to initiate sanctions against Hungary for what it called a "clear risk of a serious breach" of European values. Although Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban easily won a third term in April, the protests were pro-European Union and anti-Orban. Such a tilt is perhaps not that surprising, given that the EU's leadership has consistently earned higher approval ratings in Hungary than Orban has.

While Orban's approval ratings have been gaining ground in recent years, Hungarians historically have given the EU's leadership higher marks. This aligns with the overall value that most Hungarians have placed on membership in the bloc: As recently as 2016, 62% of Hungarians said membership in the EU benefits their country.

Still, in the most recent survey in 2017, the EU has fewer fans among Orban's base. Hungarians who approved of the country's leadership were slightly less likely to approve of the EU's leadership (45%) than were those who disapproved of the country's leadership (52%).

Orban's government has drawn the European Parliament's ire for its recent attacks on independent media, academics, the rule of law and the rights of migrants, refugees and minorities. The parliament's unprecedented vote Wednesday was the first step in a process that could strip Hungary of its EU voting rights -- if the EU's member states unanimously vote to approve it. Poland -- which itself faces potential sanctions for similar reasons -- is expected to block it.

Hungary's situation is not likely to take center stage when EU leaders -- including Orban -- meet informally this week in Austria, but one subject related to Hungary's recent censure will: migration. No other region of the world is more divided on Gallup's Migrant Acceptance Index than the EU, where scores range from a high of 7.92 in Sweden to a low of 1.69 in Hungary. Poland's score is 3.31.

Migrant Acceptance Index Scores Vary Across European Union Sweden 7.92 Cyprus 5.41 Ireland 7.74 Malta 4.95 Luxembourg 7.54 Slovenia 4.42 Netherlands 7.46 Greece 3.34 Spain 7.44 Poland 3.31 Denmark 7.09 Romania 2.93 Germany 7.09 Lithuania 2.72 Portugal 6.65 Bulgaria 2.42 United Kingdom 6.61 Croatia 2.39 Finland 6.58 Estonia 2.37 Italy 6.49 Czech Republic 2.26 France 6.46 Latvia 2.04 Belgium 6.16 Slovakia 1.83 Austria 6.06 Hungary 1.69 Maximum possible score on the index is 9. Gallup World Poll, 2016

While Hungary's score is the lowest in the EU -- and among the lowest in the world after Macedonia and Montenegro -- acceptance of migrants within the country follows the political tide. Migrant Acceptance Index scores are lower among Orban's supporters (1.38) than among those who disapprove of his leadership (1.91).

Takeaway: Orban's staunch defiance against what he sees as "an abuse of power" by the EU for Hungary's decision that it is not going to be "a country of migrants" will likely play well with his base of supporters -- who are slightly less likely to approve of the EU's leadership and less likely to accept migrants.

How the situation plays in the rest of Hungary and in Europe -- where tensions run high between nationalist and federalist camps -- will unfold ahead of the next European Parliament elections in 2019.

For complete methodology and specific survey dates, please review Gallup's Country Data Set details.

Learn more about how the Gallup World Poll works.After uncovering a legendary lost city, internationally recognized explorer is back to tell the story

by Hannah Erickson

CARBONDALE, Ill.  For generations, tales of a city lost in the Honduran jungle were whispered about by explorers, archaeologists, gold prospectors, drug smugglers and geologists. While some claimed discovery, no proof was ever given.

That is, until documentary filmmaker and Southern Illinois University Carbondale alum Steve Elkins embarked on an effort that unearthed the legendary city and put Ciudad Blanca, the White City, back on the map.

Elkins set to speak at SIU

In heart-pounding detail, Elkins recounts his experience as expedition leader and discoverer of the mysterious ancient city in a remote Honduran jungle. With his story was featured in National Geographic and captured in the New York Times best-selling book The Lost City of the Monkey God, Elkins is coming back to his alma mater to share an inside look at the daring adventure.

Returning to SIU as a speaker completes a story that started nearly 50 years ago, Elkins said. I feel I have come full circle since my experience at SIU, (which) actually provided the groundwork that would lead to my success decades later.

Free presentation begins at 7 p.m. Oct. 2, followed by reception and book signing

Elkins will be presenting at 7 p.m., Oct. 2, at the SIU Student Center Ballrooms. The event is free and open to the public. A reception and book signing will follow the presentation in the Student Center International Lounge.

Coming from a background in earth sciences and archaeology, Elkins will also take some time to speak to the students in the geomythology and geographic information system classes at SIU.

I found a rock shelter deep in the Shawnee National Forest while a student. It turned out to be a very ancient archaeological site, Elkins said. My professors, and the university, allowed me to do a special studies quarter and investigate the site for credit. This not only fired my imagination, but inspired my lifelong desire to explore our world in many ways.

Media Advisory

Reporters, photographers and news crews are invited to attend a press conference at 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 2 to speak with Steve Elkins. The press conference will be held at Saluki Stadium, 3rd floor press box, suite 301. There may also be opportunities for photos and interviews before the presentation at 6 p.m. at the Student Center Ballrooms. For more information contact Vanessa Sneed at 618/453-7419 or email vsneed@siu.edu.

Finding the lost city

As a cinematographer, editor and producer, Elkins was always looking to blend his thirst for exploration with film-making. For him, the dream of finding the legendary city soon became an obsession.

When he read about a new mapping technology that used an airborne remote sensing method to effectively map the earths surfaces beneath forest canopies, Elkins formed a company with the goal of exploring the Mosquitia jungle in Honduras, and producing a documentary film about the legend.

Enduring the extreme environment of the rainforest, Elkins team survived poisonous snakes, lethal parasites and hidden mud-holes to uncover the ancient lost city. The teams efforts paid off, and their discovery quickly gained international attention.

Gaining international recognition

In 2017 Elkins was honored for his contributions to Honduras at a ceremony in Tegucigalpa, hosted by Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez and U.S. Ambassador James Nealon. Elkins has appeared on many media platforms such as TEDx, National Public Radio, CBS, Xinhua, BBC and more, and was featured in both a television episode and an article in National Geographic.

The legacy of the lost city continues with a team of multinational biologists, under the auspices of Conservation International, conducting a survey of the unique flora and fauna of the rainforest surrounding the lost city. A public/private foundation, the Kaha Kamasa Foundation, is also being organized to provide for continuing scientific research and conservation of the threatened area.

For more information on the event at SIU, contact Vanessa Sneed at 618/453-7419.International trade, political expert will discuss nations challenges

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill.  An acclaimed author on the U.S. Senate and international trade policy expert who played a critical role in negotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement will discuss challenges facing the nation next week at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Former U.S. Ambassador Ira Shapiro will present Where Have All the Statesmen and Stateswomen Gone? at 7 p.m. Sept. 26 in the Student Center Auditorium. Shapiros presentation is part of the Morton-Kenney Public Affairs Lecture Series presented by the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute and the Department of Political Science.

The lecture is free and the public is invited.

Media Advisory

Reporters, photographers and news crews are welcome to cover the lecture. To arrange for interviews or for more information on the event, contact Cary Day, Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, at 618/453-4009.

More than 40 years legislative, international trade and legal experience

Shapiro is president of Ira Shapiro Global Strategies, LLC, a firm that specializes in international trade, U.S.-Japan relations and American politics, and a senior adviser with the Albright Stonebridge Group.

He was the principal U.S. trade negotiator with Japan during President Bill Clintons administration and chair of the National Association of Japan-America Societies. In 1993, Shapiro became general counsel to U.S. Trade Representative Mickey Kantor, where he played a key role in negotiating and gaining legislative approval of NAFTA and discussions that created the World Trade Organization and other trade rules.

In 1995, Shapiro was approved for ambassadorial rank and was the principal chief negotiator with Japan and Canada, helping complete several major bilateral trade agreements with two of the nations leading trading partners.

Will discuss need for leadership from both political parties

Shapiro is expected to discuss the critical need for high-level leadership from both parties during this important moment in American history, John T. Shaw, Institute director, said.

Shaw notes Shapiros 12-year career in various senior staff positions for U.S. senators, as an international trade negotiator and highly respected author.

His perspectives on the challenges our nation now faces will be stimulating and provocative, Shaw said.

Shapiro to meet with students while on campus

Shapiro will meet with the Paul Simon Public Policy Institutes student ambassadors to discuss his career in politics, trade diplomacy and writing.

Author of two books

Shapiro is the author of the critically acclaimed books on the U.S. Senate, The Last Great Senate: Courage and Statesmanship in a Time of Crisis and his 2018 book, Broken: Can the Senate Save Itself and the Country?

Shapiro has appeared on C-SPAN, including in March 2018 to discuss his latest book. He writes frequently on U.S. politics, particularly the Senate, and his articles have been in publications including The New York Times, Bloomberg Review and cnn.com.

Shapiro graduated from Brandeis University with a degree in politics in 1969, and earned his masters degree in political science from the University of California at Berkeley in 1970. He earned his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1973.

Lecture series honors two former SIU political science professors

Shapiro is the 44th lecturer in the series that began in 1995. The Morton-Kenney lecture series brings speakers to campus in the spring and fall of each year.

The late Jerome Mileur, originally from Murphysboro, was a professor emeritus in political science at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and retired in 2004 after a 37-year teaching career there. He established the series in 1995 in honor of two of his political science professors  Ward Morton and David Kenney  who inspired him as a student.

Mileur, who died in September 2017, earned his bachelors degree in speech communication in 1955, and a doctorate in government in 1971, both from SIU Carbondale.I think the part they're playing is having their pic taken/posted on a poster only

I doubt the models they use make more than 25,000 for that





but i agree, they need more, they've done more marketing for them than most



Edited at 2018-09-19 05:18 am (UTC)

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Based on what Ive learned from Friends you dont get paid that much for appearing in an ad if youre not a celebrity

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this is killing me

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I got nothing for it lol. They made me sign a waver promising I wouldn't sue for my likeness and everything. I had fun though.

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My mom appeared in ads for a local mall and she got to keep the clothes she wore.

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Yeah print ads pay very little in comparison to video ads

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I was in local ads as a baby and I think my parents got like $200

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Hasnt Ellen given people like $100,000 for doing a lot less? Or am I tripping? They deserve more for their college tuition etc.

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Crazy middle class asians

LOL

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"lower middle class asians "

lmao

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Have you seen that STUPID pizza hut commercial? The one with the little girl growling and throwing a fit over a football game and the voice over says "thats how you know you're raising her right"

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I JUST saw that today.

Yeah, totally how a young child should be reacting.

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what the.............. I had to look up the commercial. WOW

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I did. Like it's a good idea for people to get aggressive over stupid sports things.

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Reminds me of those Republicans that wanted to legalize carrying weapons into sports games

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LMAO WHAT! Omg

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I saw it yesterday. Who thought this was a good idea?





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Its so obnoxious

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Lmfao growling

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one campaign?

hire them in marketing tbh



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Lmao this is so amazing. I Iove it

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wow ellen Not giving some mediocre white person $10k for once, I'm shocked.

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remember when she gave the family who fought over the white and gold dress 10K? lmao.

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I googled them. I had a suspicion they were Fil-Ams.

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lol yes. They remind me of my Filipino co-workers and friends who taught me the ways of fried rice, haluhalo, boba, and Jollibee. Theyre basically fam.

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Halo halo. Darn you, now I'm craving lol



I'm curious. What do you like on the Jollibee menu?



Edited at 2018-09-19 06:30 am (UTC)

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lol the fanart part was weird, like they are just awkwardly holding it



I always wanted one of those giant checks

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Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in Hello! Your entry got to top-25 of the most popular entries in LiveJournal!Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in FAQ

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Omg ellen giving money to asians!



That's cool for them, better than nothing!





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Ellen is such trash, can we ban posts about her?

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ban your icon first tbh

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+1

I strongly dislike how shes subliminally bitchy and side-eyes most of her guests like she either hates them or is over her own job

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I don't get how riled up people can possibly get about Ellen, lol, how is she so controversial

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She's apparently not super nice all the time based on blind items and she's got a dry sense of humour that some people don't gel with.

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1. Woman

2. Successful

3. Lesbian



She's also fake, but literally 99% of Hollywood is fake, but 99% of HW isn't the reasons listed above as well.

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because it's ontd and they hate what people like

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Then ONTD would half to ban other ppl as well?

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Amazing stunt kings

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How did employees not notice a new poster on the wall?

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maybe they just assumed someone from the other shift put the poster up?

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it's very r/hailcorporate

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Apparently, they dressed up as "Facilities Managers" from corporate when they put it up.

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Thatll do it. Since I read about this Id had so many questions. Your response answered all of them.

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Lol McD's workers don't give a fuck



Trust me

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OHHHH okay. I went to a Filipino shop in Pearland and it said something about getting a dollar off to watch Ellen at their buffet. Makes more sense now

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that is the sweetest thing, what a nice way to support them!

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That is so cute!

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LinkElon Musk sued by British diver he accused of being a pedophile. Musk defended the accusation last month by saying, "You don't think it's strange he hasn't sued me?" https://t.co/XdN7OL20D4 pic.twitter.com/wPmGO2mHLp  CBS News (@CBSNews) September 17, 2018

This is a couple days old but I didn't see it posted and thought ONTD could use a laugh at Elon's expense!If you'll recall, during the Thai cave rescue operation, Elon Musk had offered to help by building a submarine to reach the children (lol). One of the men responsible for assisting in the Thai cave rescue dismissed Elon's plans as being inefficient and unhelpful. Elon responded in a completely measured and sane way by calling the man a pedophile on twitter. Elon claimed that the rescuer, Vernon Unsworth, moved to Thailand to be with a 12 year old bride. Unsworth is in a relationship with aThai woman and initially moved to Thailand to explore and map caves, which is why he was called on by officials to assist in the rescue operation as he had extensive knowledge of the cave system.Well, Elon is finally being sued for these comments.The suit was filed by Vernon Unsworth in Los Angeles and is seeking damages of $75,000.00 and an order to stop Elon from making any more comments about him.Source: https://twitter.com/CBSNews/status/1041781220156362753they better set a date soon!!!!!!!! or at least release something



la nueva religion is right

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NGL, I saw the video of Bad Bunny playing with actual bunnies earlier this year and I loved him ever since LMAO. His music is fire so I'm basically a stan now







Edited at 2018-09-19 10:22 pm (UTC)

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yes!!!! he's so cute!! he reminds me of that cyber chase character (hacker's 2 assistants lol)

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I love bad bunny baby :(

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Eye booger?! Is that really how people call laganas in English? That's so funny.

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latin-america has so many talented artists so them being latin icons makes me sad tbh, maybe for gringos.

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Lmao sis you are in every reggaeton post complaining about the music. We get it thx

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where in my comment did i complain about reggaeton tho? and it's nice to know people keep tabs on me :D

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im seeing J Balvin for the second time next month and Ozuna in November!!! i just cant wait

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Damn it! I was hoping for Nicky Jam and J Balvin join album!

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ozuna BAEEEEE

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Ew

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I haven't listened to any of their solo stuff, but I usually love the bops they're featured on so I look forward to this.



It's odd seeing BB with hair though.

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Yesss I love them both

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YAAAASSS BAH BUNNY BABY

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I love J Balvin but ugh lmao what are u wearing?

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my booty is ready

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is j balvin about to jump out of a plane or

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LinkIrans oil exports started to fall noticeably in August as key customers in Asia began to curtail oil purchases to either comply with the U.S. efforts to bring Iranian exports to zero, or to win waivers with the U.S. Administration.

Irans crude oil and condensate sales fell in August to below 2 million bpdthe lowest level in more than a year, according to tanker tracking data compiled by Bloomberg.

In September, the trend of reduced Iranian oil exports has continued, and analysts expect further cuts from some of Irans oil customers.

Going forward, there are two major factors for estimating how low Iranian oil exports could sink. One is how much of Irans oil China, India, and Europe will buy in October and then in November, when the sanctions kick in. The other is the concern that tanker tracking data may become less reliable, as Iran may try to use some unconventional methods of keeping its oil sales on track, like switching off tracking devices on tankersa solution that Tehran is said to have used in the previous round of sanctions in 2012-2015.

Between September 1 and 15, however, Irans crude oil and condensate exports surprisingly increased by around 200,000 bpd compared to the August 1-15 period, preliminary trade flow data by S&P Global Platts showed this week.

Irans crude and condensate exports averaged 1.69 million bpd in the first half of September, up from 1.48 million bpd for the August 1-15 period.

Yet, if the trend this month continues, Irans oil exports would still be around 200,000 bpd lower than in August, when exports had averaged 1.92 million bpd, down from 2.32 million bpd in July, according to Platts estimates.

In the first two weeks of September, Irans crude oil exports made up 1.5 million bpd of the 1.69 million bpd total, while the rest was condensate, the ultra-light oil that Iran produces from its natural gas fields, Platts data showed.

According to Bloomberg tanker tracking data, Irans crude exports from September 1 through to September 15 were 1.6 million bpd, with condensate exports at another 190,500 bpd, for a total of around 1.8 million bpd. Related: Are Flying Taxis Just 4 Years Away?

Crude exports at 1.6 million bpd are down by around 35 percent compared to Irans peak 2.5 million bpd exports in April, just before the U.S. announced it was slapping sanctions back on Tehran.

Irans key customersno.1 China and no.2 Indiaare not expected to cut off their imports of Iranian oil, although India may reduce some of its Iranian intake as it tries to maneuver between cheap Iranian crude and U.S. pressure to curtail imports.

India wants to keep importing oil from Iran, because Tehran offers some discounts and incentives for Indian buyers at a time when the Indian government is struggling with higher oil prices and weakening local currency that additionally weighs on its oil import bill.

In the first half of September, Indias imports from Iran dropped to 114,267 bpd from 134,267 bpd for August 1-15, although purchases from Indian state refiners are expected to recover in the latter half of this month, according to Platts, which estimates that Indian imports averaged 428,710 bpd for the month of August.

India is looking to win waivers, and its Iranian imports this month and next are expected to be 45 percent lower than the average between April and August360,000 bpd-370,000 bpd for September/October compared to 658,000 bpd for April-August, according to data from trade sources obtained by Reuters.

Irans top oil customer China is not expected to cut its Iranian purchases, especially with the escalating U.S.-China trade war.

From September 1 to September 15, Chinas oil imports from Iran surged to 813,333 bpd, nearly double the 466,333 bpd imports in August 1-15. For the whole month of August, Chinese imports from Iran averaged 505,033 bpd, Platts data showed.

Irans sales to Europe in the first half of September also jumped, with purchases from Italy, Spain, and Turkey steady. While Turkey may keep Iranian oil flowing, analysts widely expect EU companies in Italy, Spain, and France to cut off oil trade with Iran for fear of being cut off from the U.S. financial system. Related: Can India Afford To Cut Iranian Imports To Zero?

While initial estimates earlier this year suggested that Iran could lose around 500,000 bpd of oil exports, in recent weeks analysts have started to warn that losses could be higher than 1 million bpd.

Amrita Sen, chief oil analyst at Energy Aspects, expects Irans exports to drop by between 1.5 million to 1.7 million bpd from the 2017 averagefrom about 2.7 million bpd-2.8 million bpd earlier this year to about 1 million bpd-1.2 million bpd by the end of this year, additionally tightening the market and potentially pushing oil prices into the $90s.

Things are tightening up, said the International Energy Agency (IEA) last week, expecting Brent Crude to break above $80 if other producers dont make up for Iranian (and Venezuelan) losses.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:Nuclear power could contribute to achieving the Paris Agreement targets on climate change, but it would need help of its own to do that, a new report from the International Atomic Energy agency said.

The 2-degree Celsius scenario of the Paris Agreement will require vast amounts of clean energy amid growing global demand. This means a lot of new capacityand it seems that solar, wind, and biomass will be unable to shoulder the additional burden in its entirety. Nuclear could help: it is a low-emission energy source, and were it not for the radioactive waste, it would have been the perfect energy source.

Still, even with the radioactive waste, If nuclear power deployment doesnt expand in line with this scenario, the other technologies may not fill the gapand we may not meet our climate targets, according to IAEAs Deputy Director General, Mikhail Chudakov.

Nuclear is a sensitive topic at best. It is a major target of those environmentalist groups whose attitude to nuclear energy is the same as it is to fossil fuels: they are best kept in the ground. However, this attitude is rather reductive. If fossil fuelsand uraniumare to be kept in the ground, there need to be alternatives, and there are not enough alternatives as of now. So in the end, the choice might come down to fossil fuels or uranium.

It is not a choice that many would want to make. Fossil fuels are cheap, but high in emissions. Nuclear has its drawbacks too; it is getting increasingly expensive because of the tightening safety standards. This is a serious problem for nuclears future contribution to low-emission energy production, the IAEA notes in its report.

The industry is addressing this problem by building more waste repositories and improving its safety mechanisms, as well as by designing reactors with lower waste production levels and reactors with alternative cost models. Yet the challenge remains as many nuclear plants are being closed because they have reached the end of their productive lives. More than 50 percent of reactors, the IAEA said in another recent report, are already scheduled for retirement in the coming years. Related: Oil Markets Unfazed By $200 Billion Trade War Escalation

This, coupled with the high costs and the competition from cheap natural gas and increasingly cheaper solar and wind, would hinder the expansion of nuclear generating capacity. Skeptics might not buy the argument that nuclear is essential for the global shift towards cleaner energy generation, but proponents of the technology defend it as indispensable especially in the context of rapidly growing electricity demand.

The IAEA cites data from the International Energy Agency, which suggests that nuclear proponents may be right: to date, 70 percent of global power generation comes from fossil fuels. If we are to meet the Paris Agreement climate goals for 2050, 80 percent of the electricity the world produces by that year needs to come from clean sources.

Given the need for storage that must accompany solar and wind, only the most extreme renewables optimists would agree that this shift from 30 percent to 80 percent is possible through solar, wind, and biomass alone. After all, hydropower, which accounts for a substantial chunk of global renewable capacity, has its limits, as well. Nuclear might indeed be indispensable as a means of achieving the Paris Agreement climate goals, despite the waste danger.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:The U.S. is increasingly finding itself at odds against not only Beijing as Trump executes a sledge hammer approach to ongoing trade disputes with China, but also with Moscow, a potentially more lethal and unpredictable opponent both geopolitically and on the energy front.

Much of Washingtons angst with Russia includes the countrys annexation of Crimea in 2014, it's meddling in recent U.S. elections, being on opposing sides in the ongoing Syrian Civil War and having differing views over energy security for Europe.

Russia, for its part, with its long-entrenched hold on European gas markets, seeks to solidify its grasp by keeping its gas monopoly largely unchallenged and also by pushing through with Russian energy giant Gazproms controversial Nord Stream II gas pipeline project.

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.

Washington has long opposed the pipeline, claiming that it undermines EU security, which the U.S. is obliged to defend. Russia and most EU members counter that its purely a commercial development. Trump lambasted the EU in July, accusing them of being captive to Russian gas and called on Germany to stop its support for the $11 bn gas pipeline.

Germany has been the strongest supporter of the pipeline and claims its needed to increase natural gas supply as some EU members move away from nuclear for power generation.

Many within Germany have also maintained, even vehemently, that Washingtons resistance to the Nord Stream 2 project is purely in its own self-interest since its cancellation would increase EU members need for alternative gas supplies, including U.S. LNG imports.

Germany rethinks its strategy

Now, however, German is rethinking its energy security strategy. Uniper, a major German electric utility, said on Monday its ready to import LNG into the country and distribute it should a terminal be built at Wilhelmshaven, close to its storage facilities.

Uniper board member Keith Martin said that the company is in talks with a number of parties including those from the U.S. and that more concrete news should be announced before the end of the year.

Related: Diesel Demand Is Set To Soar

Martin said the company could build a Floating Regasification and Storage Unit (FSRU) at Wilhelmshaven. A FSRU has several distinct advantages over a land-based LNG import terminal, including being less CAPEX intensive and also having a much shorter construction time. It is also more flexible and can be moved to other locations if needed.

Earlier this month, German firm RWE said it had secured capacity to import LNG at a planned terminal in Brunsbuettel, with a final investment decision (FID) slated for some time next year.

Goodwill gesture

On Tuesday, Germany economic minister Peter Altmaier picked up the theme, stating that the country will chose where to build an LNG terminal by the end of 2018 as a gesture to the U.S. which wants to ship more gas to Europe.

This is a gesture to our American friends, Peter Altmaier said of plans to decide on a site for the LNG terminal.

We have three competing cities and we will take a decision before the end of the year, he said after meeting Maros Sefcovic, the European Commission vice president and EU energy chief. However, Altmaier pointed out that his remarks were not related to Germanys support for Nord Stream II. Related: The Biggest Risk In Todays Oil Markets

His comments come just a few months after the EU said it would work to increase imports of U.S. soybeans and LNG to oppose Trumps tariff threats on EU exports to the U.S.

Turning up the heat

Despite Germanys recent willingness to pivot toward the possibility of future U.S. LNG imports, the Trump administration is still turning up the heat over the matter. Steven Winberg, assistant secretary of fossil energy, said during a Senate hearing Thursday that the U.S. needs to increase its natural gas exports to Europe to counter Russia's increasing energy dominance in the region.

"Due to a lack of supply routes and insufficient pipeline buildout, Europe is also becoming more, not less, dependent on Russian natural gas," Winberg said. "That does not have to be the case. Our nation is endowed with vast supplies of natural gas and production is growing rapidly."

The U.S. push to capture a share of Europes geopolitically charged gas market, and even Germanys willingness to appease Washington notwithstanding, at the end of the day Russian gas will remain cheaper than U.S.-sourced LNG imports.

Due to transportation and liquefaction costs, boil-off during long voyages to transport the super-cooled fuel and other charges, U.S.-sourced LNG is unable to compete head to head on a cost basis with Russian gas.

Gazprom already has a monopoly over Russias network of pipelines to Europe and supplies close to 40 percent of Europes gas. Meanwhile, Russia's gas exports to Europe rose 8.1 percent last year to a record level of 193.9 billion cubic metres (bcm), even amid concerns over Russias cyber espionage allegations, and its activities in Syria, the Ukraine and other places.

By Tim Daiss for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:Mexico could be at the precipice of a region-wide energy revolution, and natural gas is the key. The future of Mexicos gas sector will be up for debate at the Latin American and Caribbean Gas Conference & Exhibition (LGC) held in Mexico City next month. Major industry players will meet from October 9-11 to discuss, among other topics, the countrys potential to become a major energy hub for Latin America.

The LGC meeting will be held in partnership with non-profit organization International Gas Union, which works to advocate for the incorporation of natural gay as a key component to sustainable energy systems. Also present will be decision-makers from ENGIE, AES, MAN Diesel, MODEC, Shell, TOTAL, Petrobras and other key players in the energy industry.

Orlando Cabrales Segovia, Regional Manager of the International Gas Union described the event as an opportunity to discuss how to increase demand and take advantage of the gas potential in order to improve the competitiveness of our economies and the air quality of our cities by using natural gas in transportation after five years of plateaued production, incorporation of reserves and gas consumption in South America and Central America.

Five years ago, Mexico received nearly $4 billion USD in investments specifically for the purpose of building and maintaining natural gas pipelines and other gas infrastructure. The countrys National Hydrocarbons Commission (CNH) recently created a public bidding system that offers up 35 exploration and extraction areas.

Mexico is the only Latin American member of the International Energy Agency, and therefore has the status of a first level oil and gas producer, adding to its distinguished position as the most promising nation for natural gas investment in the entire region. Mexicos unique advantage in its region does not come without significant challenges, however. The nation critically lacks gas storage infrastructure and will need to invest approximately $250 million USD to complete a project that would turn unviable wells into storage facilities. Furthermore, Mexico will need to make significant improvement to their gas transport system and to optimize of the electrical distribution network to integrate renewable energy. Related: Norways Offshore Oil Boom Is Back On

That being said, infrastructure is not the only challenge that the energy industry faces in Mexico, nor the gravest. According to a recent issue brief by Jose I. Rodriguez-Sanchez of the Baker Institute for Public Policy, corruption is swiftly becoming the norm in Mexican society, and the energy industry is a major reason for this unfortunate trend. Mexico ranks among the most corrupt countries in the world across multiple indexes that measure such corruption.

This in no small part thanks to state-owned oil company Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex), which has supplied a whopping 30 percent of the governments revenue in the past. Rodriguez-Sanchez wrote that Pemex signed and paid contracts to private companies that were very problematic in exchange for $11.7 billion from 2003 to 2012. These firms overcharged Pemex for their work, and in some cases, the work was of poor quality or never completed. Brazils Petrobras was central to some of these suspicious contracts and subsequent corruption scandals, but they will notably still be attending LGC in the Mexican capital in October. Related: Is Russia Smuggling Fuel To North Korea?

If Mexico is successful in its ambitions to become a major natural gas producer and a natural gas hub in Central and Latin America, it will have wide-reaching implications and their neighbors to the north will certainly not be among those rejoicing in Mexican energy independence. As domestic energy production remains low, Mexico is currently one of the biggest importers of natural gas from the United States. In fact, later this year, four new pipelines are expected finally be ready to begin to distribute U.S. natural gas throughout Mexico, and U.S. producers are depending on continued demand.

Incoming Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who recently won in a landslide election, ran on a platform that was not only extremely anti-corruption, but heavily in favor of energy independence for his country. He has already pledged to dramatically increase spending on production and infrastructure in Mexicos energy sector. Although Mexico is making the motions to end their era of dependence on the United States and dramatically decreased energy production, they have a long road ahead. While LGC could be an important first step, its just the beginning.

By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:Iranian cybercrime group APT33 has stepped up its attacks on a variety of companies in the Persian Gulf, including energy firms, The National reports, citing research from security company FireEye.

The National notes that there is wide belief that the hacker group is linked to the government in Tehran and adds that the attacks became more frequent after President Trump pulled the Untied States out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, more commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal.

As an example of the step-up in attacks from APT33, FireEye describes a spear phishing attack against companies in the Gulf, disguised as an email from an oil and gas company from the region. Phishing attacks as a rule aim to trick recipients into clicking a malicious link and inadvertently sharing sensitive information with the attackers.

The National quoted a FireEye official as saying the hacker group likely targeted energy industry companies because of the impact U.S. sanctions are having on its own energy industry. Although the executive declined to give any specific numbers with regard to the attacks, Alister Shepherd noted that the increase had been tenfold, adding that most of the attacks took place during days coinciding with the Iranian week. Its operatives primarily worked Saturday through Wednesdaywhich fits with the Iranian week. When it happens consistently over time thats a strong indicator.

Shepherd went on to say he expected the number of attacks to continue growing as the effects of the sanctions begin to bite more deeply.

Bloomberg yesterday reported that Iranian oil exports had dropped by 35 percent since May, when Trump withdrew from the nuclear deal, and further declines are on the way. This will hit the Iranian economy hard as, according to the IMF, oil revenues account for as much as 80 percent of Irans tax revenue.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:Mexicos elected government has stayed true to President-elects campaign promise to review all oil contracts sealed by the previous administration and has started the review process for a contract with a consortium led by U.S. Talos Energy, Reuters reports.

Talos Energy holds 45 percent in the venture, which also involves Premier Oil with 10 percent and Mexican independent Sierra Oil & Gas, with 45 percent. The chief executive of the Mexican company welcomed the review.

They should check everything, Ivan Sandrea told Reuters. Along with the entire industry, Im most interested that they clear up all of their thoughts that there was manipulation.

The consortium was among the winners of exploration rights to Mexican oil and gas blocks in the first tender of Enrique Pena Nietos government. It won the rights to two blocks and later announced a discovery that could hold 1.2 to 1.8 billion barrels of crude in Mexicos shallow waters.

President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who takes office in December, has been critical of Pena Nietos energy reform and has vowed to review the contracts that foreign firms have already signed with Mexico.

Last month, Reuters reported that it had seen a draft of Obradors new energy policy guidelines, which featured an indefinite suspension of new oil tenders and a proposal to give state-held oil firm Pemex the power to pick its own partners for joint ventures without holding tenders, boosting ties and cooperation with OPEC, and leaving the International Energy Agency (IEA), which represents the interests of oil-consuming countries.

Yet later, Obrador clarified that the tenders would be suspended only until the contracts signed over the last three years are reviewed. There are more than 100 of them.

Mexicos current oil production stands at about 1.84 million bpd, of which 60 percent is exported. Production has been falling steadily and the tenders organized by the previous government were instrumental in reversing the decline.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:Russias President Vladimir Putin has ordered the transfer of ownership of the federal state-held company controlling Chechnyas oil refining and petrochemical industry to the Chechen authorities.

Chechen strongman and leader Ramzan Kadyrov has been seeking for years to have Chechnya own the company, according to Russian media.

Putins decree from Tuesday orders the transfer of 100 percent of the federal governments ownership in the company Chechenneftekhimprom to Chechnya, with the purpose to develop industrial production in the Chechen republic and use the companys assets more efficiently.

The government of the Russian Federation has two months from September 18 to ensure the handover of the federal governments ownership to Chechnya, says the decree that Putin signed.

Kadyrov first requested from Putin the handover of Chechenneftekhimprom to Chechnya in 2015, Russian news outlet RBC reports. Kadyrov asked Putin at the time to transfer Chechenneftekhimprom to Chechnya in a letter, in which he pointed out that the companys potential unconnected with oil refining is virtually unused.

Rosimushchestvo, Russias Federal Agency for State Property Management, has owned Chechenneftekhimprom so far, while state-held oil giant Rosneft has been operating the companys assets. In his plea to Putin, Kadyrov said in 2015 that the handover of the company to Chechnya would not hurt Rosnefts interests.

Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of the Chechen republic, has been under sanctions from the United States over abuse of human rights.

The U.S. Treasury designated in December 2017 Ramzan Kadyrov for being responsible for extrajudicial killing, torture, or other gross violations of internationally recognized human rights committed against individuals seeking to expose illegal activity carried out by officials of the Government of the Russian Federation, or to obtain, exercise, defend, or promote internationally recognized human rights and freedoms, such as the freedoms of religion, expression, association, and assembly, and the rights to a fair trial and democratic elections, in Russia.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:U.S. producers of ultra-light condensate have the opportunity to gain a market share in a tightening Asian condensate market, which is expected to further tighten with the return of the U.S. sanctions on Irans oil, Sandy Fielden, Director of Oil and Products Research at Morningstar Commodities Research, said in a note this week.

U.S. shale is typically light, and some of the basins in the Eagle Ford in Texas and the Delaware Basin in New Mexico have been producing a lot of the ultra-light condensate since 2011, Fielden noted.

Asia, meanwhile, is expanding its petrochemical capacity, and condensate is used in such plants either as a raw feedstock or to produce naphtha for blendstock for refining and for petrochemicals.

The Eagle Ford condensate produces a type of naphtha that is particularly suited to these petrochemical plants, Fielden said, noting that the major markets for this kind of condensate are Japan, South Korea, and China.

The U.S. sanctions on Iran are expected to not only cut Tehrans crude oil exports, but are also almost certain to affect its condensate exports as well, according to Fielden.

Regardless of how much Iranian condensate remains available for export, the current tight conditions represent an opportunity for U.S. producers to gain valuable market share. To do so would be in the same vein as Saudi Arabia increasing crude output to offset the impact of U.S. sanctions on Iran - gaining market share in the process, Fielden wrote in the note.

However, U.S. producers must act quickly if they want to grab market share, because there is competition coming from projects in Australia, Malaysia, and Vietnam, all of which are geographically closer to the key Asian markets than Texas and the Gulf Coast.

Time is of the essence for U.S. producers to grab this opportunity, however, since several competing suppliers are knocking at the same door, Fielden wrote.

According to Bloomberg tanker tracking data, Irans crude oil and condensate exports have dropped by more than 30 percent since April. In the first two weeks of September, Irans condensate exports plunged to 175,000 bpd, down more than 40 percent from April, as major buyer South Korea hasnt bought any Iranian oil or condensate in more than two months, complying with U.S. efforts to bring Irans oil exports down to zero.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:Africa draws just five percent of the world's tourists despite boasting attractions ranging from the Pyramids and Victoria Falls to wildlife safaris and endless strips of pristine beach. But the continent's huge potential can be unlocked by eco tourism, cultural experiences, domestic travel and political stability, said experts at an African tourism conference hosted by Airbnb in Cape Town last week. "When you look at the success stories, it's those countries who've embraced trends," said the African Tourism Association's (ATA) managing director Naledi Khabo who spoke at the summit. "When you look at some countries which have made sustainability a focal point, like Tanzania, or Rwanda, they're very attractive for certain travellers." Eco-friendly safaris and carbon-neutral lodging draw increasing numbers of tourists from Europe and North America. The number of tourists visiting Tanzania has more than doubled since 2006 to above one million contributing 14 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP), according to Tanzania Invest. Khabo, who speaks for the African tourism sector, said other success stories included South Africa, "which is promoting the diversification of their products beyond the safari". South Africa has witnessed a boom of experience-based tours, taking travellers to disadvantaged township and rural communities as well as wine farms and game lodges. Abigail Mbalo founded the 4RoomEkasi concept to showcase food and lifestyles in South Africa's black communities to visitors "We tapped into the development of tourism in rural and township spaces," she said. "We are now starting to see cultural inclusivity. Those areas have been untapped." - 'A safe place to travel'? - Tourism is a major employer of poor black South Africans and accounts for nearly 700,000 jobs -- a rare success story in a country with an unemployment rate of almost 27 percent. The World Bank, which spoke at the tourism summit, praised the emerging trend for community-based travel projects like Mbalo's for creating opportunities for women and young people. "Every new business, destination, route or visitor creates opportunity for local people," said the World Bank in a statement. While many African destinations have courted foreign visitors' hard currency, Kenya has invested heavily in promoting "staycations". The country moved to promote domestic travel after dips in foreign arrivals following violent unrest and criminal attacks in recent years. "We have managed to develop the domestic market. Twenty-one percent of Airbnb occupancy is domestic market. It's benefiting us," said Kenya's Tourism Minister Najib Balala at the conference. Tourism, now the second largest driver of Kenya's GDP growth, was worth $1.2 billion in 2017. But many countries on the continent have struggled to woo foreign visitors fearful of political instability and violence. "The biggest challenge is perception," said Khabo. "Sometimes there is a real threat and sometimes it's just perceived." - Rwanda's transformation - Rwanda is one country that has successfully transformed its global image. The small east African nation was torn apart by a genocide in 1994 but has since established itself as a high-end destination. "Tourism is the number one foreign exchange earner, which is amazing to see in a country like Rwanda," said Rosette Rugamba who was appointed by President Paul Kagame as head of Rwanda Tourism from 2003 to 2010. "It is a huge contributor to the image-building of our country." Zimbabwe, which is home to some of Africa's best game and Victoria Falls, has enjoyed a boost in visitor numbers since long-serving despot Robert Mugabe resigned in November. While the number of foreign visitors to Victoria Falls jumped nearly 50 percent in the first quarter of this year, the country still operates far below its tourist potential. "The onus is on African governments and tourism boards to be more proactive in addressing perceptions," added Khabo. One African country that has seen its tourism industry squeezed is Egypt, once a magnet for travellers that has since the 2011 revolt seen visitor numbers plummet, despite the huge draw of the Pyramids and the Red Sea. Another is the Democratic Republic of Congo, which for years has been riven with often deadly political and ethnic unrest. "There's an enormous amount the DRC has to offer" including gorillas, pristine national parks, and smouldering volcanoes, said tourism author Anita Mendiratta, who spoke at the conference. "That's limited now because of the safety and security."The marriage of a 15-year-old Malaysian girl to a man almost three times her age drew condemnation from the United Nations Wednesday, putting fresh pressure on the Muslim-majority country to halt such unions. The teenager became the second wife of the 44-year-old in July after an Islamic court gave permission for the pair to wed in the conservative, rural state of Kelantan, local media reported. It was the latest such case in Malaysia -- there was widespread anger in June after the marriage of an 11-year-old Thai girl to a 41-year-old Malaysian rubber trader, who was also from Kelantan. While the legal minimum age for marriage in Malaysia is 16, members of the country's Muslim majority can wed at a younger age if religious authorities give approval. "It's unacceptable that yet another child has got married to an elder man," said Marianne Clark-Hattingh, Malaysia representative of UN children's agency UNICEF, adding it was urgent to "bring legislative change to ban the practice". Deputy Prime Minister Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, whose portfolio includes women's issues, said that welfare officers had been sent to meet the girl, reportedly one of 13 siblings, and her parents in the district of Tumpat. However she suggested there was little the government could do to stop the union, as Islamic courts have jurisdiction over the issue of marriage between Muslims. Under Malaysia's dual-track legal system, Islamic courts can handle religious and family matters for Muslims, who make up about 60 percent of the country's 32 million inhabitants. The girl's father was quoted in The Star newspaper as saying that he had agreed for his daughter to be wed as he did not want her to continue living in poverty, and insisted she was "happily married". The young bride said she agreed to the marriage, although she had known the man for only a few months. "I am happy, and I will try to keep my husband happy. That is all that matters to me," she told the paper. In the June case, the 11-year-old married the Malaysian man in Thailand's Muslim-majority south under religious laws, becoming his third wife. Following an outcry, the girl returned to Thailand last month.PHUKET, THAILAND, September 14, 2018: Barely 24 hours after urging citizens to stop eating dogs and cats, Hanois authorities have announced that the sale of dog meat will be banned from the central districts of the city from 2021.

The director of the citys Department of Animal Health, Nguyen Ngoc Son, told Lao Dong Newspaper on Wednesday (September 12), Following a direction from the citys Peoples Committee that called on residents to ease off eating dog meat, we are building a plan to gradually phase out the slaughtering and trading of dog meat.

By 2021 there will be no dog meat restaurants in the city centre.

The Peoples Committee had asked city residents the previous day to stop eating dog and cat meat, and urged local district authorities to launch campaigns to warn people about the risks of contracting diseases, including potentially deadly rabies and leptospirosis, from eating dog and cat meat.

The committee also said that the slaughter and sale of dogs and cats for their meat had damaged the image of Hanoi.

Mr. Son told Lao Dong Newspaper that Hanoi now has 1,013 restaurants selling dog and cat meat. The exact number of dogs and cats eaten throughout Vietnam is not known precisely, but is estimated to be around five million animals a year.

The Thailand-based Soi Dog Foundation, which has been working with the Hanoi Peoples Committee to steer them towards ending the dog meat trade, was surprised by the announcement, but delighted.

The charitys founder, John Dalley, said, This is wonderful news. We sincerely hope that, step by step, this planned ban will be spread out across the entire city and will be emulated by other cities in Vietnam.

There is no place for cruelty in culture. Hanoi is growing into a 21st century city, and practises that belong in the dark ages should be cleared away.

Soi Dogs representative in Vietnam, Bao Tran, said, This is huge news here. It was the biggest story on all news outlets in Vietnam, and seems to be widely supported by people.

The vital component now is for Hanoi to discuss and create the legal framework for banning the dog and cat meat trade. Soi Dog will be happy to help and guide in any way we can.

The Soi Dog Foundation was instrumental in tackling the organised smuggling of dogs out of Thailand via Laos to Vietnam. Today that trade has dwindled to a trickle.

Mr. Dalley was also a member of the Thai government committee that drafted an anti-cruelty law that came into force in 2014. The law made the eating of dogs and cats in Thailand illegal.Since the late 1980's, this waterfall formed from interactions among reservoir levels and sedimentation that redirected the San Juan River over a 20-foot high sandstone ledge. Until recently, little was known about its effect on two endangered fishes. Between 2015-2017, more than 1,000 razorback sucker and dozens of Colorado pikeminnow were detected downstream of the waterfall. Credit: Bureau of Reclamation

Prolonged drought and increased water use in the southwest United States have led to shrinking reservoirs and the emergence of natural features that are affecting endangered species and river recreation. One feature, a waterfall known as the Piute Farms Waterfall, has formed in an area upstream of Lake Powell where the San Juan River serves as a border between the Navajo Nation to the south and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area to the north. Since the late 1980's, this waterfall formed from interactions among reservoir levels and sedimentation that redirected the San Juan River over a 20-foot high sandstone ledge. Until recently, little was known about its effect on two endangered fishes.

A new study published in the journal River Research and Applications provides insight into the magnitude of the effect this waterfall has on endangered fishes.

"Even though we knew the waterfall existed for decades, nobody knew how it affected the Colorado pikeminnow and razorback sucker, two endangered species that are the focus of a large interdisciplinary recovery program," explained Dr. Mark McKinstry, a research biologist from the Bureau of Reclamation and one of the coauthors of the study.

Since the inception of recovery programs in the Colorado River Basin in the early 1990's, endangered fishes have been tagged with "microchip" radio transmitters like those used to keep track of dogs, cats, and livestock. More recently, tag detection technology has allowed the construction of antennas that are small, portable, and submersible, thus allowing them to be used in places that were not feasible just a few years ago.

Researchers at the waterfall relied on a single, three-foot diameter antenna that looks like a plastic wagon wheel. This antenna, while only deployed seasonally from 2015-2017, detected over 1,000 razorback sucker and dozens of Colorado pikeminnow downstream of the waterfall. Some fish moved to this location from up to 600 miles away in the Colorado River. Additionally, mature razorback sucker physically captured downstream of the waterfall were expressing gametes, suggesting that spawning migrations may be cut off by the waterfall. The number of razorback sucker isolated downstream of the waterfall is proportionally large relative to the population upstream in the San Juan River, but biologists do not fully understand the ability of razorback sucker to spawn and grow in river-reservoir inflows. Connectivity among the Upper Colorado River, Lake Powell, and the San Juan River could be important for recovering endangered fish.

Reclamation Researcher Mark McKinstry holding a razorback sucker below Piute Farms Waterfall while conducting research. Credit: Bureau of Reclamation

Given recent water consumption and climate patterns, reservoir levels may be less than what is required to provide unimpeded fish passage in the long-term. This phenomenon is not isolated to the San Juan River. In fact, another emergent rapid and potential barrier in the Colorado River downstream of the Grand Canyon is so dangerous that the National Park Service constructed a multi-million-dollar road so river rafters could avoid the rapid by taking their rafts out upstream. This rapid may also impact endangered fishes that move between Lake Mead and the Grand Canyon.

"We know connectivity is important to fishes but these emergent river-reservoir processes could be further stressing populations," commented Casey Pennock, coauthor and graduate student at Kansas State University, "and its challenging researchers to better understand the resiliency of populations in systems that may never return to their historical conditions."

More research at the waterfall will help to manage the two fish species by providing information for future fish passage and may shed some light on managing these unique features that could become more common in western rivers.

Explore further Fish once thought extinct in Grand Canyon found in Colorado River

More information: Charles N. Cathcart et al, Waterfall formation at a desert river-reservoir delta isolates endangered fishes, River Research and Applications (2018). Charles N. Cathcart et al, Waterfall formation at a desert river-reservoir delta isolates endangered fishes,(2018). DOI: 10.1002/rra.3341

Provided by Bureau of ReclamationMany different measurements, each containing a few light-emitting points, are combined to form a single image with a high resolution. The formula indicates the uncertainty with which a single molecule can be located. Credit: TU Delft/Bernd Rieger

The field of optical microscopy research has developed rapidly in recent years. Thanks to the invention of a technique called super-resolution fluorescence microscopy, it has recently become possible to view even the smaller parts of a living cell. Now, by making a smart refinement to that technique, researchers at TU Delft have pushed its boundaries even further. Where previously objects measuring up to 10-20 nanometres could be observed, their method makes it possible to focus on structures of as tiny as 3 nanometres across.

Delft cloth trader and scientist Antoni van Leeuwenhoek's home-made microscopes had a resolution of less than a micrometre, which enabled him to observe structures like bacteria and sperm cells. But even in the seventeenth century, Van Leeuwenhoek was already approaching the so-called 'diffraction limit', a theoretical boundary beyond which two adjacent points cannot be distinguished under an optical microscope. This limit is determined in part by the wavelength of the light being used. According to the theory, the maximum size of the object you can image using a conventional microscope is half that wavelength. Anything smaller is impossible to bring into sharp focus.

The diffraction limit was long thought to a hard boundary, determined by the laws of nature. But by applying clever tricks, physicists eventually succeeded in crossing it. Not so long ago, in 2014, the Nobel Prize for Chemistry was awarded to the three researchers who invented the workaround, known as 'super-resolution fluorescence microscopy'. In this technique, certain proteins or molecules are made fluorescent by genetic modification. The weak light signal they emit can then be captured with the help of an optical microscope. "In practice, though," says researcher Bernd Rieger, "the problem with making proteins fluorescent is that you can't label all those of a particular type. Only 30-50 per cent of them, at most. When you then start taking measurements, you see only a number of individual luminous points, not the complete structure you are trying to view."

To solve the problem, the Delft researchers have devised an adaptation to super-resolution microscopy. This is comparable with what is known in photography as 'compositing': stacking multiple images to create a single compound picture. "Averaging the information from different measurements was already being done in electron microscopy," explains researcher Sjoerd Stallinga. "But that's a completely different technology. It took our doctoral candidate Hamidreza Heydarian two years to convert the technique for use in optical microscopy."

One problem was that combining hundreds, if not thousands, of 'snapshots' requires huge amounts of processing power. With a normal computer, it took several days to construct a clear image from all the data. "Fortunately," says Rieger, "thanks to the computer games industry, we have access to graphics cards able to calculate extremely well in parallel." A programmer from the Netherlands eScience Center in Amsterdam joined the project and converted an existing algorithm for normal PCs into one the researchers could run on such a graphics card. As a result, the measurements can now be combined into a single image within a few hours.

This research is narrowing the gap between electron and optical microscopy, which is important because the two techniques deliver different results and so are complementary, but are still a long way apart in terms of their possibilities. "The best electron microscopes are 30 to 50 times more powerful than the best optical ones," says Stallinga. "Bringing the two worlds closer together could lead to new biological insights."

According to the researchers, their technique  which is already achieving resolutions at the three-nanometre level  should eventually make it possible to view structures measuring just one nanometre. Below that threshold, the dimensions of the fluorescent labels become a limiting factor.

The findings have been published in the journal Nature Methods.

Explore further Scientists taught fluorescent microscope to automatically adapt to any sample

More information: Hamidreza Heydarian et al. Template-free 2D particle fusion in localization microscopy, Nature Methods (2018). Journal information: Nature Methods Hamidreza Heydarian et al. Template-free 2D particle fusion in localization microscopy,(2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41592-018-0136-6Credit: University of Melbourne

Two generations of Australians, Generations X and Y, say climate change is their number one cause for concern, according to the latest Life Patterns reportfrom University of Melbourne researchers.

Contrary to stereotypes of young generations of Australians being narcissistic or complacent, researchers say both cohorts are united in concerns about the future of our environment.

Generation X worries what climate change will mean for their own children, while Generation Y is concerned about the impact on future generations, the study by Dr. Jenny Chesters, Dr. Julia Cook, Associate Professor Hernan Cuervoand Professor Johanna Wynshows.

The Life Patterns longitudinal study by researchers at the Youth Research Centre, Melbourne Graduate School of Educationhas followed both generations of Australians since they left secondary school, tracking their experiences in education, the job market, family and personal relationships as well as their attitudes to life, concerns, health and wellbeing.

Cohort 1 left high school in 1991 and Cohort 2 left high school in 2006.

"In 2017, we asked participants to nominate the three most important issues facing Australia," said Julia Cook, Research Fellow at the MGSE Youth Research Centre.

"One major issue unites both generations: concerns about the environment and climate change. Other areas of concern tended to reflect people's life stage," Dr. Cook said.

For Generation X, the next major concerns were cost of living, security and terrorism, education and the economy.

For Generation Y, the other important issues were lack of jobs/job security, drug abuse, housing affordability and health.

"While specific views of what needs to be done about the problem varied, both groups consistently expressed grave concerns about the general lack of action towards climate change mitigation from the current government," Dr. Cook said.

More detailed analysis showed that in the older cohort, women were nearly twice as likely as men to hold this concern for the environment, while in the younger group, men were more likely than women to be concerned about the environment.

One mother living in a country town, told researchers "we're not going to have air to breathe soon", while a father living in a rural area, noted "climate change could ruin their [his children's] lives and our governments are not acting".

Dr. Cook said for both generations, concerns about the environment stem from an apparent mistrust of governments to address climate change.

"This sentiment was echoed in comments on other issues, indicating they believe governments are not adequately addressing everyday issues such as the cost of living, education, job security and housing affordability."

Explore further Wealthy countries less concerned about energy security, study suggests

More information: Examining the most important issues in Australia: similarities and differences across two generations: Examining the most important issues in Australia: similarities and differences across two generations: education.unimelb.edu.au/__dat  -final-Sept-2018.pdfFossilized trees contain information about a drastic climate change 12,000 years before present. Credit: Cecile Miramont/ Aix-Marseille Universite

The remains of a buried pine forest at the foot of Mont Saint Genis in Southern France yield insightful information on a drastic climate change event. The pine tree stand initiated around 12,900 years ago during the relatively warm Allerd period, and continued growing into the cold snap of the Younger Dryas period.

Researchers at the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences in Potsdam, together with international colleagues, have, for the first time, combined classic tree ring width measurements with chemical (stable isotope) analyses of carbon and oxygen in tree rings to reconstruct climate variables. Thus, they were able to calculate local soil water composition (precipitation) and relative humidity at annual time resolution. This resulted in novel insights into the hydrological variability and atmospheric circulation changes during an abrupt climate change event. The team reports about its findings in the journal Scientific Reports.

The sudden cold snap in the northern hemisphere between 12,700 and 11,600 years ago has been found in climate records from Greenland ice cores and Central European lake sediments. It was named after the mountain avens (Latin: Dryas octopetala)an Arctic plant species that predominantly spreads during cold conditions. The discovery of fossil pines in a French river valley near Avignon now close an important knowledge gap, as they shows how the climate in the Mediterranean changed in this period. With accurate radiocarbon dating, the scientists were able to prove that the buried pines had started their growth in the warm days of the Allerd just before the Younger Dryas and had survived the sudden cold snap for several decades. They were thus witnesses of this extreme climate change.

In their analyses, the researchers found signs of increased air mass transport from the North Atlantic. "We were surprised that about 60 years before the actual climate change, a significant alteration in the precipitation source was recognized," says first author Maren Pauly of the GFZ. According to the results, humid air masses arriving from the Atlantic side enhanced, while rainfall originating from the Mediterranean side diminished, evidenced by a steadily increasing variability of the oxygen isotopes of the soil water. Isotopes are atoms with a different number of neutrons in the nucleus. From the ratios of light and heavy isotopes conclusions can be drawn on the origin of air masses and thus of precipitation. "Especially striking is the increase of extreme polar air surges, winter precipitation and winter storms at the beginning of the Younger Dryas," adds Achim Brauer, Head of GFZ's section Climate Dynamics and Landscape Evolution and Director of Department 5 at GFZ. Maren Pauly works as a Ph.D. student in his group.

With this study, the scientists proved that it was not a change in mean temperatures that was problematic, but rather the environmental stress presumably leading to the tree die-off. This stress was caused by the accumulation of extreme weather conditions in single years or even decades. In general, this study shows that periods of massive climate change can be associated with more instability in atmospheric circulation patterns, leading to greater variability on annual or decadal scales. "Here, paleoclimate research shows how it can close knowledge gaps with information from natural climate archives," says Achim Brauer. This is also important because "we lack experience on what exactly happens during a sudden climate change, how quickly the climate can change, and what regional differences occur."

Explore further Climate seesaw at the end of the last glacial phase

More information: Maren Pauly et al, Subfossil trees suggest enhanced Mediterranean hydroclimate variability at the onset of the Younger Dryas, Scientific Reports (2018). Journal information: Scientific Reports Maren Pauly et al, Subfossil trees suggest enhanced Mediterranean hydroclimate variability at the onset of the Younger Dryas,(2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-32251-2Formic acid and CO2 assimilation pathways consisting of the reconstructed THF cycle and reverse glycine cleavage reaction. This schematic diagram shows the formic acid and CO2 assimilation procedure through the pathway. Plasmids used in this study and the genetic engineering performed in this study are illustrated. Credit: KAIST

A research group at KAIST has developed an engineered E. coli strain that converts formic acid and CO 2 to pyruvate and produces cellular energy from formic acid through reconstructed one-carbon pathways. The strategy described in this study provides a new platform for producing value-added chemicals from one-carbon sources.

Formic acid is a carboxylic acid composed of one carbon. Formic acid was produced from CO 2 by the chemical method. Recently, the C1 Gas Refinery R&D Center has successfully developed a biological process that produces formic acid from carbon monoxide for the first time. Formic acid is in a liquid state when at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. In addition, it is chemically stable and less toxic, thus, easy to store and transport. Therefore, it can be used as an alternative carbon source in the microbial fermentation process. In order to produce value-added chemicals using formic acid, a metabolic pathway that converts formic acid into cellular molecules composed of multiple carbons is required. However, a metabolic pathway that can efficiently convert formic acid into cellular molecules has not been developed. This acted as an obstacle for the production of value-added chemicals using formic acid

A research group of Ph.D. student Junho Bang and Distinguished Professor Sang Yup Lee of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) addressed this issue. This study, titled "Assimilation of Formic Acid and CO 2 by Engineered Escherichia coli Equipped with Reconstructed One-Carbon Assimilation Pathways," has been published online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on September 18.

There has been increasing interest in utilizing formic acid as an alternative carbon source for the production of value-added chemicals. This research reports the development of an engineered E. coli strain that can convert formic acid and CO 2 to pyruvate and produce cellular energy from formic acid through the reconstructed one-carbon pathways.

The metabolic pathway that efficiently converts formic acid and CO 2 into pyruvate was constructed by the combined use of the tetrahydrofolate cycle and reverse glycine cleavage reaction. The tetrahydrofolate cycle was reconstructed by utilizing Methylobacterium extorquens formate-THF ligase, methenyl-THF cyclohydrolase, and methylene-THF dehydrogenase. The glycine cleavage reaction was reversed by knocking out the repressor gene (gcvR) and overexpressing the gcvTHP genes that encode enzymes related with the glycine cleavage reaction. Formic acid and CO 2 conversion to pyruvate was increased via metabolic engineering of the E. coli strain equipped with the one-carbon assimilation pathway.

In addition, in order to reduce glucose consumption and increase formic acid consumption, Candida boidnii formate dehydrogenase was additionally introduced to construct a cellular energy producing pathway from formic acid. This reduces glucose consumption and increases formic acid consumption.

The reconstructed one-carbon pathways can supply cellular molecules and cellular energies from the formic acid and CO 2 . Thus, the engineered E. coli strain equipped with the formic acid and CO 2 assimilation pathway and cellular energy producing pathway from formic acid showed cell growth from formic acid and CO 2 without glucose. Cell growth was monitored and 13C isotope analysis was performed to confirm E. coli growth from the formic acid and CO 2 . It was found that the engineered E. coli strain sustained cell growth from the formic acid and CO 2 without glucose.

Professor Lee said, "To construct the C1-refinery system, a platform strain that can convert one-carbon materials to higher carbon materials needs to be developed. In this report, a one-carbon pathway that can efficiently convert formic acid and CO 2 to pyruvate was developed and a cellular energy producing pathway from formic acid was introduced. This resulted in an engineered E. coli strain that can efficiently utilize formic acid as a carbon source while glucose consumption was reduced. The reconstructed one-carbon pathways in this research will be useful for the construction of the C1-refinery system."

Explore further Converting CO2 to store renewable energy

More information: Junho Bang et al, Assimilation of formic acid and CO 2 by engineered Escherichia coli equipped with reconstructed one-carbon assimilation pathways, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2018). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Junho Bang et al, Assimilation of formic acid and COby engineered Escherichia coli equipped with reconstructed one-carbon assimilation pathways,(2018). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1810386115Credit: CC0 Public Domain

An analysis of data directed by Jonathan Hiskey, associate professor of political science, and his co-authors shows that being a victim of crime is a powerful motivation for migrants to come to the United States, despite understanding the risks of the journey and challenges of the U.S. immigration system.

The findings, Hiskey says, suggest that current migration deterrence policies, which mainly target economic migrants, are ineffective against migrants fleeing violence. The research will be published in the forthcoming issue of Latin American Research Review. Political scientists Mary Fran Malone of the University of New Hampshire and Vanderbilt Ph.D. graduates Abby Cordova of the University of Kentucky and Diana Orces of the American Immigration Council also contributed to the research.

In 2014, the United States saw a dramatic spike in migration from Central America, creating a humanitarian crisis along the U.S.-Mexico border. In response, the Obama administration implemented a number of efforts to detain and deport the newcomers, as well as launching "know before you go"-type multimedia campaigns throughout Central America to deter potential migrants by warning them about the dangers of the journey north and the high risk of detention and deportation upon arrival.

However, these efforts did little to stem that migration.

Since several of these nations have exceptionally high crime rates, and there is anecdotal evidence that crime is a heavy driver of migration from these countries, the researchers sought to measure the phenomenon empirically. To do so, they analyzed data from Vanderbilt's Latin American Public Opinion Project's 2014 AmericasBarometer survey, which included questions about respondents' personal experience with crime and whether they intended to migrate to the U.S. in the next three years. (The AmericasBarometer survey, which is conducted entirely in person by fieldworkers, is considered to be the gold standard for public opinion research, making the data highly reliable.)

Crime is a powerful migration motivator

"We found that one of the most powerful predictors of migration is if the person has been victimized by crime in the previous 12 months, and an even more powerful predictor is if that person has been victimized multiple times by crime," Hiskey said.

Credit: Vanderbilt University

Of those from El Salvador expressing an intent to migrate who said they had been the victim of a crime in the previous year, 35 percent had been victimized once, and 44 percent had been victimized multiple times. Of those from Honduras, 39 percent had been victimized once, while 56 percent had been victimized more than once.

In El Salvador and Honduras, Hiskey said, the violence is often a widespread daily occurrence, where families are routinely extorted, and where children are recruited by force into gangs or to participate into violent initiation rituals. "It's a situation of constantly being exposed to violence and crime, in addition to a government that is either unwilling or unable to do anything to improve the situation," Hiskey explained. "Once individuals have lived through this for several years, they reach a point where they just say, simply, 'I don't care what lies in front of me, I have to leave, I have to get my kids out.'"

While Guatemala also has a high crime rate, it didn't appear to be influencing the immigration decision nearly as strongly. This was likely due to the difference in the type and distribution of crime in that country, though it is a question the authors plan to explore more thoroughly in future research.

Migrants know the risks

They then tested the reach of the deterrence campaign with a special survey conducted by LAPOP in Honduras and found that people were overwhelmingly aware of the U.S. warnings. Nearly nine in ten understood that crossing the U.S. border was more difficult, while 8 in 10 understood it to be less safe and that deportations were increased. Two-thirds also believed that migrants were being treated worse in the U.S. than they used to be.

Hiskey said this suggests that migrants who have been repeatedly victimized are likely so desperate to leave that they are willing to take their chances in the U.S., no matter how hard it seems. These are not the kind of migrants who are likely to respond to measures designed to stem economic migrants, Hiskey said. "What we see is a very different demographic profile of the individuals arriving now. The U.S. policy approach to unauthorized migration at the Southwest border, in my mind, has to change fundamentally to match who's arriving."

Though Hiskey said their findings may not be all that surprising, given how violent these three Central American countries are known to be and given the stories that migrants have been telling, it's important to be able to attach real numbers to the problem in order to solve it. "I think what our survey-based research does, through the work of the Latin American Public Opinion Project, is provide empirical, statistical support for the anecdotal and qualitative evidence that's already out there."

Explore further Visa restrictions can lead to increase in illegal migration

More information: Jonathan T. Hiskey et al, Leaving the Devil You Know: Crime Victimization, US Deterrence Policy, and the Emigration Decision in Central America, Latin American Research Review (2018). DOI: 10.25222/larr.147Princeton geologists Jennifer Kasbohm and Blair Schoene used tiny zircon crystals found in volcanic ash to rewrite the timeline for the eruptions of the Columbia River flood basalts, a series of massive lava flows that coincided with an ancient global warming period 16 million years ago. Here, undergraduate Josh Murray ('18) stands at the base of a cliff that shows a layer of grey volcanic ash, found between two basalt flows, which yielded zircons that constrained the age of the Wanapum Basalt. Credit: Jennifer Kasbohm, Princeton University Department of Geosciences

Imagine an enormous volcano erupting in the Pacific Northwest, pouring lava across Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Imagine the lava flooding out until river valleys are filled in. Until bushes and shrubs are buried in liquid rock. Until the tallest trees are completely covered.

About 16 million years ago, this happened.

Lava erupted in pulses, ultimately burying the region to the height of a 30-story building. If the lava had been spread evenly over the lower 48 states instead of staying concentrated in the northwest, it would cover the country to a depth of about 80 feet.

Before now, most geologists believed that it took almost 2 million years to erupt all that lava, collectively known as "the Columbia River flood basalts." But Princeton researchers are publishing findings today that show it happened more than twice as fast as previously believed, with 95 percent erupting within a 750,000-year window.

Flood basalts have fascinated geologists for centuries. As the largest volcanic events on Earth, they have been implicated in mass extinctions, such as the largest extinction event in Earth history, 252 million years ago. There was no mass extinction 16 million years ago, but there was a major climate event about that time, known as the Mid-Miocene Climate Optimum (MMCO), a global warming event with high temperatures and elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.

The same volcanoes that erupt liquid rock also belch out greenhouse gases, so geologists have wondered if there was a connection between the flood basalts and the MMCO global warming event. Just one problem: Before now, no one was quite sure about the timing of the Columbia River flood basalts.

Princeton geologists Jennifer Kasbohm and Blair Schoene used tiny zircon crystals found in volcanic ash to rewrite the timeline for the eruptions of the Columbia River flood basalts, a series of massive lava flows that coincided with an ancient global warming period 16 million years ago. Palouse Falls State Park in Washington presents an excellent exposure of lava flows of the Wanapum Basalt, the second-youngest formation of the Columbia River Basalt Group. Credit: Jennifer Kasbohm, Princeton University Department of Geosciences

"In order to answer the question of whether the Columbia River flood basalts caused the MMCO, we need to know the timing of eruptions and climate shifts as precisely as possible," said Blair Schoene, associate professor of geosciences.

"To put it simply, people didn't know exactly when or over how long the Columbia River Basalt Group erupted, which made it difficult to explore a causal relationship with the MMCO," said Jennifer Kasbohm, a graduate student and lead author of the paper appearing today in the journal Science Advances.

To help explain the scale of the eruptions, Kasbohm drew a parallel to the 2010 Eyjafjallajokull eruption in Iceland. "The Icelandic eruption shut down airports in Europe for a week, affecting 10 million travelers, and there were periodic airline disruptions for the following month," she said. "Now imagine having one of those Icelandic eruptions every 8 months for 750,000 years in a row, and that would give you our predicted eruption rate for the Columbia River basalts."

Three undergraduates accompanied Kasbohm and Schoene in the lab and the field, contributing to their research while completing projects of their own: Josh Murray of the Class of 2018, Sam Bartusek '20 and Kyle Duffey '19. "The project involved seven weeks of fieldwork, with many days over 100 degrees Fahrenheit," said Kasbohm. "We encountered a handful of rattlesnakes, numerous spiders, friendly and helpful locals, and we managed to stay one step ahead of the forest fires in the region."

They were looking for zircons, tiny minerals containing trace amounts of uranium. Over time, the naturally radioactive material decays into lead, so geologists can use the ratio of uranium to lead to calculate exactly how old the zircon is. Unfortunately for geologists, basaltic lava flows like the Columbia River flood basalts don't have the right chemistry to make zircons, so until now, geologists have had to settle for dates with uncertainties of over a million years, produced through other dating methods.

"To test for a causal link between climate and eruptions, a million years is not good enough," said Schoene.

Princeton geologists Jennifer Kasbohm and Blair Schoene used tiny zircon crystals found in volcanic ash to rewrite the timeline for the eruptions of the Columbia River flood basalts, a series of massive lava flows that coincided with an ancient global warming period 16 million years ago. Jennifer Kasbohm, a graduate student in geosciences, stands on a layer of soft red ash on Steens Mountain in Oregon, where she found zircons that constrained the age of the oldest formation of the Columbia River Basalt Group. Credit: Josh Murray, Princeton University

The researchers got around the lack of zircons in the lava rocks by looking at layers of volcanic ash between the basalt layers. The ash came from the nearby Cascade volcanoes (including Mount Saint Helens), which do contain zircon and were erupting about the same time as the massive lavas.

In their lab at Princeton, Kasbohm and Schoene separated 0.1 mm sized zircons from the 16-million-year-old rocks, measured the isotopic ratios of uranium and lead, and pinned down the ages of individual lava flows to within a few tens of thousands of years. "That precision is basically the best you can do with any chronometer for samples of this ageeven though 10,000 years sounds like a lotso our method is the gold standard," she said.

"This is the most significant paper to come out about the Columbia River flood basalts in a decade or two," said Stephen Reidel, a research professor of geology at Washington State University-Tri-Cities, who has studied these lava flows since 1972 and contributed to the analysis of this research. "Jenn and Blair deserve a lot of compliments for thinking to look at the zircons in the ash beds between the flows.... Of course, now we're going to have to go back and re-calculate everything that used the old timeline or eruption rate. That's okaythat's part of the fun."

With their more precise timeline, Kasbohm and Schoene have now shown that the prehistoric climate change did start very close in time to the beginning of the eruptions, but further work is needed to pin down the connection between them.

This 16-million-year-old climate change event is the last time that carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere shot above 400 parts per millionuntil the last decade.

"The MMCO could be a parallel to our current climate, and further work investigating the timing and duration of that event will tell us more about how we can expect Earth to recover from anthropogenic climate change," Kasbohm said. For instance, if the climate stayed warm for a million years after the volcanoes stopped erupting, as now looks possible, that could have significant implications for predicting how long the atmosphere will respond to human-caused global warming.

"Time matters," said Kasbohm, "whether we're trying to learn about Earth's past or its future. It's very empowering to use tiny minerals to tell the story of these voluminous rocks."

The article, "Rapid eruption of the Columbia River flood basalt and correlation with the mid-Miocene climate optimum," is published in the Sept. 19 issue of Science Advances.

Explore further Geologists uncover new clues about largest mass extinction ever

More information: "Rapid eruption of the Columbia River flood basalt and correlation with the mid-Miocene climate optimum" Science Advances (2018). advances.sciencemag.org/content/4/9/eaat8223 Journal information: Science Advances "Rapid eruption of the Columbia River flood basalt and correlation with the mid-Miocene climate optimum"(2018). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aat8223Oil pipes extend from the southern Cypriot village of Zygi towards the oil storage terminal at the port of Vasilikos in the coastal town of Mari

Cyprus and Egypt on Wednesday signed an agreement paving the way for the Mediterranean's first subsea pipeline to carry Cypriot natural gas to the Arab country for re-export to Europe.

"Today's signing is an important milestone, not only for Cyprus but also the entire eastern Mediterranean region," said Energy Minister George Lakkotrypis after he signed alongside visiting Egyptian Oil Minister Tarek el-Molla.

He said the agreement, "the first of its kind in our shared region", was crucial for channelling gas from the island's "Aphrodite" offshore field to Egypt and to attract multi-billion-dollar infrastructure investments.

A joint committee would be set up in 30 days to oversee the project.

Texas-based Noble Energy in 2011 made the first discovery off Cyprus in the Aphrodite block estimated to contain 4.5 trillion cubic feet (130 billion cubic feet) of gas but it has yet to be extracted.

The Aphrodite consortium, which also includes Israel's Delek and Royal Dutch Shell, seeks to renegotiate terms before it taps the gas.

It is currently in talks with the Cypriot government over a bigger share of profits to make the project viable.

The discovery of nearby Egypt's huge Zohr offshore reservoir in 2015 has stoked interest that Cypriot waters could hold the same riches.

Wednesday's agreement is backed by the European Union in its search to diversify energy sources.

"We are essentially talking about a European pipeline, intended to transport Cypriot natural gas to Egypt for re-export to Europe in the form of liquified natural gas (LNG)," said Lakkotrypis.

The pace of construction of the pipeline to deliver gas to Egypt would depend on commercial agreements with investors.

Cyprus aims for natural gas to start flowing to Egypt's LNG facilities in 2022, thus generating its first revenue from natural gas.

The island has also issued exploration licenses to ENI of Italy, the US firm ExxonMobil and France's Total.

Explore further Israel firms invest in Cyprus energy search

 2018 AFPCredit: CC0 Public Domain

New research from the University of Maryland (UMD) finds that contentious climate politics continue to be influenced by the diffusion of scientific information inside "echo chambers"social network structures in which individuals with the same viewpoint share information with each other.

A paper based on the research published online Friday, September 14 in the journal PLOS One, builds upon previous work by the research team that determined how echo chambers work and how to measure them.

"Finding evidence of echo chambers in American climate politics proves that policy actors are essentially cherry picking the information they receive related to climate science," said lead researcher Dana R. Fisher, Professor of Sociology at UMD and Director of the Program for Society and the Environment. "Echo chambers can block progress toward a policy resolution related to climate change because individuals who have the same perspective and get information from the same sources are often under the impression that theirs is the dominant perspective."

In their initial study, researchers surveyed active members of the U.S. climate policy network in the summer of 2010 about their attitudes toward climate science and climate policy, and questioned them about their policy network connections. The research team repeated the process in the summer of 2016 to determine whether echo chambers still existed and how they have changed.

"The research presents data collected during two very different time periods with respect to climate politics," said Lorien Jasny with the Department of Politics at the University of Exeter, a co-investigator on the study and lead author of the paper in PLOS One. "In 2010, Congress was considering legislation aimed at regulating carbon dioxide emissions. Meanwhile, the data collected in 2016 was after implementation of President Obama's Clean Power Plan was halted by the US Supreme Court until the legal challenges to the program had been concluded."

The summer of 2016 ended up being the swan song for the Clean Power Plan (CPP), which focused on reducing emissions from power plants. In August of 2018, the Trump Administration proposed the Affordable Clean Energy Rule to replace the CPP.

To test for the presence and significance of echo chambers among members of the U.S. climate policy network, researchers utilized an exponential random graph modelused to analyze data about social and other networks. In the "echo," two people who have the same outlook or opinion on a relevant issue share information, reinforcing what each already believes. In the "chamber," individuals hear information originating from one initial source through multiple channels.

"Our findings show that echo chambers were not unique to 2010 but their impact on policy networks has shifted," Fisher said. "In 2010, we found that echo chambers amplified divergence on certain issuesmaking it seem as if more people disagreed with scientific consensus related to the drivers of climate change. In 2016, however, we found that echo chambers worked in the opposite manner and amplified the level of agreement on these same topics."

Fisher and the rest of the research team are currently examining how climate policy networks changed after the 2016 election once the Trump administration took office.

"Our results demonstrate that even when echo chambers are amplifying support for a particular climate policy, the President can stop progress, as the Trump administration did in the case of the Clean Power Plan," Fisher said.

More information: Lorien Jasny et al. Shifting echo chambers in US climate policy networks, PLOS ONE (2018). Journal information: PLoS ONE Lorien Jasny et al. Shifting echo chambers in US climate policy networks,(2018). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0203463Sam Bowring (front) and former graduate student Seth Burgess inspecting the End-Permian extinction horizon at Penglaitan. Credit: Shuzhong Shen

The most severe mass extinction in Earth's history occurred with almost no early warning signs, according to a new study by scientists at MIT, China, and elsewhere.

The end-Permian mass extinction, which took place 251.9 million years ago, killed off more than 96 percent of the planet's marine species and 70 percent of its terrestrial lifea global annihilation that marked the end of the Permian Period.

The new study, published today in the GSA Bulletin, reports that in the approximately 30,000 years leading up to the end-Permian extinction, there is no geologic evidence of species starting to die out. The researchers also found no signs of any big swings in ocean temperature or dramatic fluxes of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. When ocean and land species did die out, they did so en masse, over a period that was geologically instantaneous.

"We can say for sure that there were no initial pulses of extinction coming in," says study co-author Jahandar Ramezani, a research scientist in MIT's Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences. "A vibrant marine ecosystem was continuing until the very end of Permian, and then banglife disappears. And the big outcome of this paper is that we don't see early warning signals of the extinction. Everything happened geologically very fast."

Ramezani's co-authors include Samuel Bowring, professor of geology at MIT, along with scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the National Museum of Natural History, and the University of Calgary.

Finding missing pieces

For over two decades, scientists have tried to pin down the timing and duration of the end-Permian mass extinction to gain insights into its possible causes. Most attention has been devoted to well-preserved layers of fossil-rich rocks in eastern China, in a place known to geologists as the Meishan section. Scientists have determined that this section of sedimentary rocks was deposited in an ancient ocean basin, just before and slightly after the end-Permian extinction. As such, the Meishan section is thought to preserve signs of how Earth's life and climate fared leading up to the calamitous event.

Microscope image of zircon crystals separated for U-Pb isotopic dating from the latest Permian ash bed at Penglaitan. Credit: Jahan Ramezani

"However, the Meishan section was deposited in a deep water setting and is highly condensed," says Shuzhong Shen of the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology in China, who led the study. "The rock record may be incomplete." The whole extinction interval at Meishan comprises just 30 centimeters of ancient sedimentary layers, and he says it's likely that there were periods in this particular ocean setting when sediments did not settle, creating "depositional gaps" during which any evidence of life or environmental conditions may not have been recorded.

In 1994, Shen took Bowring, along with paleobiologist Doug Erwin, now curator of paleozoic invertebrates at the National Museum of Natural History and a co-author of the paper, looking for a more complete extinction record in Penglaitan, a much less-studied section of rock in southern China's Guangxi province. The Penglaitan section is what geologists consider "highly expanded." Compared with Meishan's 30 centimeters of sediments, Penglaitan's sedimentary layers make up a much more expanded 27 meters that were deposited over the same period of time, just before the main extinction event occurred.

"It's from a different part of the ancient ocean basin, that was closer to the continent, where you might find coral reefs and a lot more sedimentation and biological activity," Ramezani says. "So we can see a lot more, as in what's happening in the environment and with life, in this same period of time."

The researchers painstakingly collected and analyzed samples from multiple layers of the Penglaitan section, including samples from ash beds that were deposited by volcanic activity that occurred as nearby seafloor was crushed slowly under continental crust. These ash beds contain zirconstiny mineral grains that contain uranium and lead, the ratios of which researchers can measure to determine the age of the zircon, and the ash bed from which it came.

Ramezani and his colleagues used this geochronology technique, developed to a large extent by Bowring, to determine with high precision the age of multiple ash bed layers throughout the Penglaitan section. From their analysis, they were able to determine that the end-Permian extinction occurred suddenly, around 252 million years ago, give or take 31,000 years.

"A sudden punch"

The team also analyzed sedimentary layers for fossils, as well as oxygen and carbon isotopes, which can tell something about the ocean temperature and the state of its carbon cycle at the time the sediments were deposited. From the fossil record, they expected to see waves of species going extinct in the lead-up to the final extinction horizon. Similarly, they anticipated big changes in ocean temperature and chemistry, that would signal the oncoming disaster.

Photomicrograph (microscope slide photo) showing a Permian foraminifer fossil (center) surrounded by volcanic ash within the latest Permian layer immediately below the extinction horizon at Penglaitan. Foraminifers are single-celled marine organisms with characteristic multichambered shells. Credit: Quanfeng Zheng

"We thought we would see a gradual decline in the diversity of life forms or, for example, certain species that are known to be less resilient than others, we would expect them to die out early on, but we don't see that," Ramezani says. "Disappearances are very random and don't conform to any kind of physiologic process or environmental effect. That makes us believe that the changes we are seeing before the event horizon are not really reflecting extinction."

For example, the researchers found signs that the ocean temperature rose from 30 to 35 degrees Celsius from the base to the top of the 27-meter intervala period that encompasses about 30,000 years before the main extinction event. This temperature swing, however, is not very significant compared with a much larger heat-up that took place after most species already had died out.

"Big changes in temperature come right after the extinction, when the ocean gets really hot and uncomfortable," Ramezani says. "So we can rule out that ocean temperature was a driver of the extinction."

So what could have caused the sudden, global wipeout? The leading hypothesis is that the end-Permian extinction was caused by massive volcanic eruptions that spewed more than 4 million cubic kilometers of lava over what is now known as the Siberian Traps, in Siberia, Russia. Such immense and sustained eruptions likely released huge amounts of sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide into the air, heating the atmosphere and acidifying the oceans.

Prior work by Bowring and his former graduate student Seth Burgess determined that the timing of the Siberian Traps eruptions matches the timing of the end-Permian extinction. But according to the team's new data from the Penglaitan section, even though increased global volcanic activity dominated the last 400,000 years of the Permian, it doesn't appear that there were any dramatic die-outs of marine species or any significant changes in ocean temperature and atmospheric carbon in the 30,000 years leading up to the main extinction.

"We can say there was extensive volcanic activity before and after the extinction, which could have caused some environmental stress and ecologic instability. But the global ecologic collapse came with a sudden blow, and we cannot see its smoking gun in the sediments that record extinction," Ramezani says. "The key in this paper is the abruptness of the extinction. Any hypothesis that says the extinction was caused by gradual environmental change during the late Permianall those slow processes, we can rule out. It looks like a sudden punch comes in, and we're still trying to figure out what it meant and what exactly caused it."

"This study adds very much to the growing evidence that Earth's major extinction events occur on very short timescales, geologically speaking," says Jonathan Payne, professor of geological sciences and biology at Stanford University, who was not involved in the research. "It is even possible that the main pulse of Permian extinction occurred in just a few centuries. If it turns out to reflect an environmental tipping point within a longer interval of ongoing environmental change, that should make us particularly concerned about potential parallels to global change happening in the world around us right now."

More information: Shu-Zhong Shen et al. A sudden end-Permian mass extinction in South China, GSA Bulletin (2018). Shu-Zhong Shen et al. A sudden end-Permian mass extinction in South China,(2018). DOI: 10.1130/B31909.1

This story is republished courtesy of MIT News (web.mit.edu/newsoffice/), a popular site that covers news about MIT research, innovation and teaching.With the aid of the powerful X-ray free-electron laser at SLAC in California, HZDR researchers were able to investigate the plasma processes on the small scales of a few nanometers and femtoseconds on which the turbulent laser interaction with the particles to be accelerated takes place. Credit: Juniks/HZDR

When light pulses from an extremely powerful laser system are fired onto material samples, the electric field of the light rips the electrons off the atomic nuclei. For fractions of a second, a plasma is created. The electrons couple with the laser light in the process, thereby reaching nearly the speed of light. When flying out of the material sample, they pull the atomic cores (ions) behind them. In order to investigate this complex acceleration process experimentally, researchers from the German research center Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) have developed a novel type of diagnostics for innovative laser-based particle accelerators. Their results are now published in the journal Physical Review X.

"Our goal is an ultra-compact accelerator for ion therapy, i.e. cancer irradiation with charged particles," says physicist Dr. Thomas Kluge from the HZDR. Besides clinics, the new accelerator technology could also benefit universities and research institutions. However, much research and development work is needed before the technology is ready for use. The DRACO laser at the Helmholtz Center in Dresden currently achieves energies of around 50 megaelectronvolts. However, 200 to 250 megaelectronvolts are required to irradiate a tumor with protons.

Thanks to its ultrashort pulses in the range of a few femtosecondsa time during which a light beam travels a distance of a fraction of a human hairthe DRACO laser achieves a power of almost one petawatt. This corresponds to 100 times the average electrical power generated worldwide.

"We need to understand the individual processes involved in accelerating electrons and ions much better," says Kluge. Together with colleagues from Dresden, Hamburg, Jena, Siegen and the USA, the HZDR researchers have observed these extremely fast processes virtually in real time at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory of Stanford University in the USA.

To achieve this feat, the scientists used two special lasers at the same time: The high-intensity laser at SLAC has a power of around 40 terawattsthat is, about 25 times weaker than DRACO. When striking the material sample (target), it ignites the plasma. The second laser is an X-ray laser, which is used to record the individual processes, from the ionization of the particles in the target and the expansion of the plasma, to the plasma oscillations and instabilities that occur when the electrons are heated to several million degrees Celsius, and the efficient acceleration of the electrons and ions.

"Using the small-angle scattering method, we have realized measurements in the femtosecond range and on scales ranging from a few nanometers to several hundred nanometers," says HZDR doctoral student Melanie Rodel, who played a leading role in the experiment. Several years of work were necessary to access these areas and obtain clean signals on the scattering images of the X-ray laser.

"The new diagnostics for laser-based accelerators has excellently confirmed our expectations regarding its spatial and temporal resolution. We have thus paved the way for the direct observation of plasma-physical processes in real time," says Dr. Josefine Metzkes-Ng, head of one of the participating junior research groups at the HZDR's Institute of Radiation Physics.

High-intensity laser pulse (red) is focused on a silicon grating target under 45deg; parallel to the grating ridges. The X-ray pulses (blue) probe the laser-plasma dynamics under 90 over time. The scattering patterns below show the complex particle-acceleration processes. Credit: Juniks/HZDR

Starting in 2019, the Helmholtz International Beamline for Extreme Fields (HIBEF), which the HZDR is currently setting up as part of an international collaboration at the world's strongest X-ray laser, the European XFEL near Hamburg in Germany, will provide a next-generation experimental setup with a significantly more powerful short-pulse laser.

High electron density thanks to finger structure

For the physicists involved in the experiments, a specific detail from their calculations made for a particular eye-opener. "Our targets were specially developed at the HZDR Ion Beam Center to have a kind of tiny finger structure on their surface. The laser beam scatters on this structure, resulting in a particularly large number of electrons from the corners being accelerated and crossing each other," explains Thomas Kluge.

The fact that this detail predicted by the calculations was observed in the experiment, which lasts only 10 femtoseconds, means that scientists could observe further spontaneous pattern formations (instabilities). These can be caused, for example, by the oscillation of the electrons in the electromagnetic field of the laser.

The researchers are interested in identifying instabilities that disrupt the acceleration of the electrons and ionswith the aim of avoiding them by selecting suitable targets, for example. "However, we also know from our simulations that instabilities can even increase the efficiency of the acceleration process," explains the physicist. "In our simulations, we have identified the Raleigh-Taylor instability, among others." This causes the optical laser to transfer more energy into the plasma it generates. Such 'positive' instabilities could thus be important for optimizing the process of ion acceleration mediated by the electrons.

The laser scientists expect the new HIBEF facility to provide many more insights into plasma acceleration. This 'extreme laboratory' of the HZDR will provide the High Energy Density Science (HED) instrument at the European XFEL with high-power lasers. "The X-ray pulse from the European XFEL, with which we will be measuring the processes in the plasma, is very short. We are also planning to use additional diagnostic tools so that we can optimally study the plasma oscillations, for example, see further instabilities in the experiment, and also generate them in a targeted manner," says Thomas Kluge. In this way, the HZDR researchers aim to move gradually closer to their goal of developing an ultra-compact laser accelerator for the proton therapy of cancer.

The scientists have taken a decisive step toward the use of next-generation laser-based particle accelerators. With the aid of the powerful X-ray free-electron laser at SLAC in California, they were able to investigate the plasma processes for the first time on the small scales of a few nanometers and femtoseconds on which the turbulent laser interaction with the particles to be accelerated takes place. In the future, the processes could thus be optimized and the compact laser-based particle accelerators could be used, for example, for tumor irradiation using protons.

Explore further Laser heating -- new light cast on electrons heated to several billion degrees

More information: Thomas Kluge et al, Observation of Ultrafast Solid-Density Plasma Dynamics Using Femtosecond X-Ray Pulses from a Free-Electron Laser, Physical Review X (2018). Journal information: Physical Review X Thomas Kluge et al, Observation of Ultrafast Solid-Density Plasma Dynamics Using Femtosecond X-Ray Pulses from a Free-Electron Laser,(2018). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevX.8.031068Kyle Crawford uses a shopping cart to carry bags of ice he purchased days after Hurricane Florence in Wilmington, N.C. Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

The death toll from Hurricane Florence climbed to at least 37, including two women who drowned when a sheriff's van taking them to a mental health facility was swept away by floodwaters, and North Carolina's governor pleaded with thousands of evacuees not to return home just yet.

President Donald Trump, meanwhile, arrived in storm-ravaged North Carolina on Wednesday and helped volunteers at a church in the hard-hit coastal town of New Bern.

"How's the house?" Trump was heard asking one person as distributed plastic foam containers of food, including hot dogs, chips and fruit. "You take care of yourself."

Wilmington, population 120,000, was still mostly an island surrounded by floodwaters, and people waited for hours Tuesday for handouts of food, water and tarps. Thousands of others around the state waited in shelters for the all-clear.

"I know it was hard to leave home, and it is even harder to wait and wonder whether you even have a home to go back to," Gov. Roy Cooper said.

After submerging North Carolina with nearly 3 feet (1 meter) of rain, the storm dumped more than 6.5 inches (16.5 centimeters) of rain in the Northeast, where it caused flash flooding.

Cooper warned that the flooding is far from over and will get worse in places.

"I know for many people this feels like a nightmare that just won't end," he said.

Maine Johnson with the city's communications department, takes photos of the Cape Fear River after its projected time of cresting in Fayetteville, N.C., Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Addressing roughly 10,000 people who remain in shelters and "countless more" staying elsewhere, Cooper urged them to stay put for now, particularly those from the hardest-hit coastal counties that include Wilmington, near where Florence blew ashore on Friday.

Roads remain treacherous, he said, and some are still being closed for the first time as rivers swelled by torrential rains inland drain toward the Atlantic.

At least 27 of the deaths happened in North Carolina.

In South Carolina, two women died on Tuesday evening when floodwaters from the Little Pee Dee River engulfed the van taking them to a mental health facility, authorities said.

The risk of environmental damage mounted, as human and animal waste was washed into the swirling floodwaters.

Ralph Nixon drinks a cup of coffee as he takes a break from helping customers at Rose Ice & Coal purchase ice in Wilmington, N.C. Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

More than 5 million gallons (18 million liters) of partially treated sewage spilled into the Cape Fear River after power went out at a treatment plant, officials said, and the earthen dam of a pond holding hog waste was breached, spilling its contents. The flooding killed an estimated 3.4 million chickens and 5,500 hogs on farms.

In Wilmington on Tuesday, workers began handing out supplies using a system resembling a giant fast-food drive-thru: Drivers pulled up to a line of pallets, placed an order and left without having to get out. A woman blew a whistle each time drivers had to pull forward.

Todd Tremain needed tarps to cover up spots where Florence's winds ripped shingles off his roof. Others got a case of bottled water or military MREs, or field rations. An olive-drab military forklift moved around huge pallets loaded with supplies.

Brandon Echavarrieta struggled to stay composed as he described life post-Florence: no power for days, rotted meat in the freezer, no water or food and just one bath in a week.

"It's been pretty bad," said Echavarrieta, 34, his voice breaking.

People begin to form a line as they wait outside Rose Ice & Coal for it to open days after Hurricane Florence in Wilmington, N.C., Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

About 3,500 vehicles came through for supplies on the first day they were available, county officials said in a Facebook post.

Supplies have been brought into the city by big military trucks and helicopters,

At Fayetteville, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) inland, near the Army's sprawling Fort Bragg, flooding from Cape Fear River got so bad that authorities closed a vehicle bridge after the water began touching girders supporting the span's top deck.

Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin said it was unclear if the bridge was threatened.

"We've never had it at those levels before, so we don't really know what the impact will be just yet," he said.

Stan Atamanchuk, right, buys large bags of ice from Roase Ice & Coal days after Hurricane Florence in Wilmington, N.C. Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.Credit: CC0 Public Domain

A new Biotropica study examines mountain gorillas in Rwanda and their foraging for sodium-rich food in both national park areas and lands managed by local communities.

Obtaining sodium likely creates an incentive for the gorillas to leave park areas and make forays into high-altitude habitat. Both locations are not without risks: exiting their natural habitat and feeding on crops may increase human-wildlife conflict and visiting high-altitude areas may increase the risk of hypothermia.

The results may advance the discussion of how to adapt local human land use to effectively curb human-wildlife conflict.

"When gorillas raid eucalyptus stands outside the national park, they come in contact with local inhabitants, which puts both ape and human at risk. To discourage the gorillas from crossing into farmlands near the forest, agricultural practices may need to be reconsidered," said lead author Dr. Cyril Grueter, of The University of Western Australia, in Perth. "Ideally one would want to favor plant species that are nutritionally unattractive to the gorillas."

Explore further One of world's oldest gorillas dies at San Diego Safari Park

More information: Cyril C. Grueter et al, Going to extremes for sodium acquisition: use of community land and high-altitude areas by mountain gorillas Gorilla beringei in Rwanda, Biotropica (2018). Journal information: Biotropica Cyril C. Grueter et al, Going to extremes for sodium acquisition: use of community land and high-altitude areas by mountain gorillas Gorilla beringei in Rwanda,(2018). DOI: 10.1111/btp.12598Inundated house along Solimoes River (Central Amazonia) during the record-breaking flood in 2012. Credit: Jochen Schongart, National Institute for Amazon Research

A recent study of more than 100 years of river level records from the Amazon shows a significant increase in frequency and severity of floods. The scientists' analysis of the potential causes could contribute to more accurate flood prediction for the Amazon Basin.

Water levels of the Amazon River have been recorded daily in Port of Manaus, Brazil since the beginning of the last century. The team used 113 years of water level records and found extreme floods and droughts have become more frequent over the last two to three decades.

Their findings show that in the first part of the 20th century, severe floods with water levels exceeding 29 metresthe benchmark for a state of emergency in Manaus Cityoccurred roughly every 20 years. Now, extreme floods occur on average every four years.

Study lead author, Dr. Jonathan Barichivich, from Universidad Austral de Chile and former Research Fellow from the University of Leeds, said: "Increases of severe droughts in the Amazon have received a lot of attention by researchers. However, what really stands out from this long-term river record is the increase in the frequency and severity of the floods. With a few minor exceptions, there have been extreme floods in the Amazon basin every year from 2009 to 2015."

According to the study, the increased flooding is linked to a strengthening of the Walker circulationan ocean-powered system of air circulation caused by differences in temperature and pressure over the tropical oceans. This system influences weather patterns and rainfall across the tropics and beyond.

Flooded area in the center of Manaus in 2009. Credit: Jochen Schongart, National Institute for Amazon Research

Co-author Professor Manuel Gloor, from the School of Geography at Leeds, said: "This dramatic increase in floods is caused by changes in the surrounding seas, particularly the Pacific and Atlantic oceans and how they interact. Due to a strong warming of the Atlantic Ocean and cooling of the Pacific over the same period, we see changes in the so-called Walker circulation, which affects Amazon precipitation.

"The effect is more or less the opposite of what happens during an El Nino event. Instead of causing drought, it results in more convection and heavy rainfall in the central and northern parts of the Amazon basin."

The ultimate underlying cause for the warming of the Atlantic is not entirely clear. However, in addition to natural variability, global warming is at least partially responsible but in an unexpected and indirect way, according to the study.

As a result of greenhouse warming, wind belts in mid to high latitudes in the Southern hemisphere have shifted further south, opening a window for transport of warm Indian ocean waters around the tip of Africa, via the Agulhas current, towards the tropical Atlantic.

Flooded suburb of the city of Itacoatiara (Central Amazon region) in 2009. Credit: Jochen Schongart, National Institute for Amazon Research

The changes to the Amazon Basin's water cycle have had severe consequences for people and livelihoods in Brazil, Peru, and other Amazonian nations.

Co-author Dr. Jochen Schongart from the National Institute for Amazon Research in Manaus, has experienced Amazon River floods first-hand. He explained that these extreme flooding events last for many weeks and have disastrous consequences. Flooding can contaminate water supply and spread disease, as well as destroy homes and livelihoods. Economic activities in the floodplains such as agriculture a cattle ranching are strongly affected.

The research indicates that these floods are not over yet. The year 2017, which was not included in the study, again saw water levels rise to over 29 meters. As the tropical Atlantic is expected to continue warming faster than the tropical Pacific over the next few decades scientists expect more of these high water levels. The findings of this study could help predict the probability of flooding extremes in the Amazon in advance and help mitigate the impacts for urban and rural Amazonian populations.

Explore further Amazonian rainfall increases in wet season

More information: J. Barichivich at Universidad Austral de Chile in Valdivia, Chile el al., "Recent intensification of Amazon flooding extremes driven by strengthened Walker circulation," Science Advances (2018). advances.sciencemag.org/content/4/9/eaat8785 Journal information: Science Advances J. Barichivich at Universidad Austral de Chile in Valdivia, Chile el al., "Recent intensification of Amazon flooding extremes driven by strengthened Walker circulation,"(2018). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aat8785Symptoms caused by the newly described pathogenic fungus observed in the field. Credit: Dalia Aiello

Starting in the spring of 2010, farmers from Sicilythe major pistachio production area of Italyhave been reporting a previously unknown disease on the trees. Characterised by cankers and declines, it sometimes leads to the collapse of the entire plant.

When the research team led by Salvatore Vitale, Centro di Ricerca Difesa e Certificazione, Italy, studied plants from a total of 15 pistachio orchards in Catania, Agrigento and Caltanissetta provinces, they identified cankers associated with vascular necrosis and tree decline on twigs, branches and stems, alongside abundant gummosis. There were also localised, sunken lesions with several central cracks. These lesions would deepen into the woody tissue, where discolouration and necrotic tissue were also present.

Additionally, the scientists conducted a series of pathogenicity tests on 5-year-old potted pistachio plants (Pistacia vera), which successfully reproduced the field observations. As a result, a previously unknown pathogenic fungus, which colonises the woody plant tissue, has been isolated.

The aetiology of the disease and the description of the new species, named Liberomyces pistaciae, are published in the open access journal MycoKeys. Despite cankers and subsequent decline of pistachio trees having been observed in Sicily for several years, the paper is the first work to successfully determine the causal agent.

Symptoms caused by the newly described pathogenic fungus observed in the field. Credit: Dalia Aiello

"On the basis of the high disease incidence and the frequency of this species observed in several orchards in the last years, we believe that L. pistaciae represents amenace to pistachio production in Sicily," say the researchers.

Out of the 15 surveyed orchards, the scientists detected the presence of the fungus in ten of them. Most of the observations occurred in the winter period and during late spring, but the authors found the pathogen in asymptomatic trees as well, which suggests that the fungus has a dormant growth phase.

When already symptomatic, the plants begin to exudate gum. Often, the bark on their trunks and/or branches would scale, appearing as if cracking and peeling. The initial pale circular areas present in the bark turn dark and sunken with time. Later, the infected patches were seen to expand in all directions, yet faster along the main axis of the stems, branches and twigs. When the scientists examined beneath the bark, they saw discoloured and necrotic tissues. Once the trunk of the tree is encircled by a canker, they report, the whole plant collapses.

Timelapse of the symptoms reproduced in a potted plant. Credit: Dalia Aiello and Salvatore Vitale

Other symptoms include canopy decline as well as wilting and dying inflorescences and shoots growing from infected branches or twigs.

The newly described fungus is characterised with slowly growing colonies. With time, they turn from white to pale to dark brown with a whitish slightly lobed margin.

The researchers warn that essential hazard for the further spread and promotion of the infection is the use and distribution of infected propagation material taken from nurseries and mechanical injuries or pruning wounds.

Explore further Eye-in-the-sky to save olive trees

More information: Salvatore Vitale et al, Liberomyces pistaciae sp. nov., the causal agent of pistachio cankers and decline in Italy, MycoKeys (2018). Salvatore Vitale et al, Liberomyces pistaciae sp. nov., the causal agent of pistachio cankers and decline in Italy,(2018). DOI: 10.3897/mycokeys.40.28636The Hudson River from Bear Mountain Bridge. Credit: Columbia University

The Hudson River is not an ordinary river. Rather, it is an estuary, where salt water from the ocean mixes with freshwater for 153 miles, from New York Harbor to Troy, NY. During the 1950s, the Hudson was an open sewer, with industries discharging toxic chemicals, paints, heavy metals and other waste into the water. Fish were contaminated with PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) dumped from General Electric's factories into the upper Hudson, and more than a century of dredging and filling devastated its ecosystems.

Today the river is clean enough for fishing, boating and even swimming, mainly due to the work of environmentalists and clean water laws enacted in 1960s and 1970s. But there is still work to be done to improve the estuary's water quality. During heavy rains, combined sewage and stormwater systems dump sewage and other contaminants into the river at 150 spots in eight communities. After six years of dredging by General Electric, some PCBs and other contaminants still remain in the river's sediments. And increasing development along the waterfront is destroying habitats. Moreover, the impacts of climate changerising sea levels, storm surge, flooding and droughtare posing new risks to the infrastructure, ecosystems and human communities of the Hudson.

To address these challenges, researchers from Columbia University's Earth Institute joined forces with Partners Restoring the Hudson to create the Hudson River Comprehensive Restoration Plan. Released in August, the plan reviews the current state of the estuary, identifies potential sites for restoration, recommends projects to enhance the river, and looks at issues that need to be addressed to prepare the Hudson to meet the effects of climate change. The report will help guide the efforts of the existing actions agendas of the New York State Hudson River Estuary Program and the federal New York-New Jersey Harbor & Estuary Program.

Mapping Habitats and Human Interference

For the report, Columbia University's Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) assessed the estuary's current conditions. In the first phase, CIESIN collected over 200 sets of data on the habitats and infrastructure of the Hudson.

Linda Pistolesi, a geographic information specialist in the Geospatial Applications Division at CIESIN, coordinated the data assessment and collection, identifying as many existing data sets as would be useful to create a physical habitat model. The model is a map of the distribution of physical habitat types across the entire estuary, from one meter above to 20 meters below sea level, that includes information about sediments and slopes.

"I don't think there was ever a pre-existing habitat model quite like this," said Pistolesi. "This was the first really comprehensive model. And it was intended to serve as the foundation for our next step, which was to produce the ecological assessment."

For this next phase, the team identified data sets representing impacts and threats across the entire estuary area, such as boat launches, dams, hard structures on the shoreline, stormwater discharge points, and more. Based on the location of the threats, the team then used the physical habitat model to determine which habitats had been affected and by how many impacts.

Tackling Storm and Waste Water Impacts

GE dredging PVCs. Credit: Peretz Partensky

Andrew Juhl, an aquatic ecologist and oceanographer at Columbia's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and in the Earth and Environmental Sciences Department, was asked to lead a team in analyzing past and current stormwater and wastewater impacts on the Hudson, and to make recommendations to minimize those impacts.

"The primary source of poor microbial water quality in the Hudson is sewage contamination," said Juhl, who has been testing water quality with Riverkeeper, an organization whose mission is to protect the Hudson. "We've been documenting that for about 10 years and have become the most comprehensive source of information, which is available to the public, about microbial water quality conditions in the Hudson between Albany and NYC." The group tests water quality at 75 designated locations every month, for six months of the year, to determine whether conditions are improving over the long term. Juhl said, "What we're trying to understand is, we have this quasi-natural system, which is the river. Then on a regular basis, we dump an enormous quantity of sewage into it, which contains all sorts of bacteria that don't belong there. Then what happens? Where do they go? What is their fate?"

The Storm and Wastewater team incorporated this water quality information into its review of historical and current conditions. They noted that the estuary's water quality has dramatically improved since the century before the 1970s, when untreated wastewater spewed into the river, but explained that problems persist. For example, levels of fecal bacteria (from sewage) still sometimes spike after it rains, especially around Albany or in tributaries, due to stormwater discharges and combined sewage overflows.

The team laid out six objectives and accompanying actions to reach its goal of achieving and maintaining consistently high water quality throughout the Hudson River estuary by 2040. From there, the challenge will be to replace or harden storm and wastewater infrastructure to deal with rising sea levels.

Estuary Education

Margie Turrin, education coordinator at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, headed a group focused on estuary education for the report. "If you don't understand it, you can't help to protect it," she explained.

The Education group identified existing Hudson River educational opportunities available through schools, nature centers, environmental organizations and others. The team then established objectives for: every K-12 student in the Hudson River watershed to receive educational experiences about the river and its tributaries; high school, college and graduate level students and citizen scientists to have the opportunity to do research on the river; every waterfront community to have public access to the river; the plan's materials to be made available to all residents for educational purposes; and the development of technical and other information for professionals and decision makers.

Credit: Mark Guim

"I think the most important piece is that everybody has an opportunity to develop a relationship with the river," said Turrin. "We would like to see every student that's within the watershed have an opportunity to experience the Hudson River on a personal level through education."

Turrin also completed a comprehensive document including the scientific data underlying the original report. This can be used to identify future needs and targets for the riverfor example, for a community that wants to take action to improve its waterfront. "All of that back story is there and that data is there and has been compiled into a place where it can be drawn upon," she said.

Proposed Plans for the River

Juhl called the report a major milestone, and commended it for setting comprehensive and clear goals for the Hudson River system. "It helps to focus attention  on what the really important things are that need to be done," he said. "We certainly hope this is going to be used by the research and management communities, and legislators in terms of allocating funding. It's now up to the public, and the research and management community to stick to these goals."

Commitment to the goals of the Hudson River Comprehensive Restoration Plan may be tested soon. The Army Corps of Engineers, one of the Partners Restoring the Hudson, was tasked with studying what could be done to deal with storm surge and sea level rise. It has proposed six different plans. One plan calls for "no action." Another relies on shoreline-based floodwalls and levees, including beaches, dunes and waterfront parks, which would protect communities from both storm surge and flooding, while allowing the rivers to flow naturally. But the other four proposals involve some kind of hard construction of in-water barriers across the harbor entrances that would block the natural flow of the water in and out of the estuary.

Pistolesi is concerned that the hard construction plans could "potentially do damage to the estuary ecosystem and maybe even have some unintended consequences, like flooding upstream if the barrier gates are closed to defend against storm surge water trying to flow downstream would also be stopped by the barriers."

The Army Corps says it will narrow the options down to one or two this fall. In the meantime, there is an ongoing public comment period until September 20.

Explore further As sea level rises, Hudson River wetlands may expand

This story is republished courtesy of Earth Institute, Columbia University http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu.Credit: NASA

Astronaut Serena Aunon-Chancellor, a member of the Expedition 56 crew currently aboard the International Space Station, examined her eye with a Funduscope with remote support from doctors on the ground.

The effects of microgravity have many effects on the human body; and after six months spent in space, the effects on eyesight are often permanent. Crewmates Ricky Arnold and Alex Gerst also worked to help doctors understand what is happening to their eyes in the weightless environment of microgravity.

Explore further Space station reports 'leak', crew not in dangerOne of the three craters, the Canova crater, hosting hollows analyzed in this work. Credit: NASA

One of the most surprising discoveries of the NASA's Messenger mission was the presence of unusual, bright, irregular and rimless flat-floored depressions on the surface of Mercury. These depressions, called hollows, are usually found on crater walls, rims, floors and central peaks.

Since the hollows appear fresh, they may be actively forming today through a mechanism that could involve the loss of volatile compounds, but understanding how the hollows formed is still a major challenge for scientists.

In a new study published in Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, a journal of the American Geophysical Union, lead author Alice Lucchetti and her Italian team analyzed the nature of Mercury's hollows inside three different impact craters: Dominici, Canova and Velazquez. The new study focuses understanding the geomorphology and compositional mineralogy of the hollows through the use of multi-color images acquired from the Mercury Dual Imaging System, or MDIS, instrument.

"We performed detailed geological mapping of the craters hosting hollows, making use of high- resolution images, in order to fully characterize the geological framework where these features formed." Lucchetti said.

The researchers separated the craters' areas into different units characterized by their spectral behavior. Comparing the results coming from the geomorphological and spectral analysis, we revealed a strong correlation between the spectral units and those identified in high-resolution geological maps," Lucchetti said.

Comparison between the geological map and the spectral analysis for Canova crater. Hollows are identified by a well-defined spectrum (cluster #9). Credit: Lucchetti et al.

The new research shows the hollows in all three craters show a similar, well-defined, visible spectrum. When this spectrum is compared with laboratory spectra, it is indicative of a mixture of different materials.

"We found that both sulfides and pyroxene presenting transitional elements are responsible for the hollows absorption presented in the spectra," Lucchetti said. "This provides new insights into the hollows' nature and composition, suggesting that hollows terrains are the expression of not only the remnant material coming from a process that involve devolatilization, but also of the bedrock-forming material in which the hollows formed."

This work is important to scientists' overall understanding of the hollows.

"We are already studying other regions of Mercury to understand if it is a common behavior of these features or if different terrains affect their formation in different ways," she said.

The hollows will also be one of the main targets of interest of the upcoming European Space Agency and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency BepiColombo mission, which will be launched in mid-October.

Explore further Evidence for active hollows formation on Mercury

More information: A. Lucchetti et al. Mercury Hollows as Remnants of Original Bedrock Materials and Devolatilization Processes: A Spectral Clustering and Geomorphological Analysis, Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets (2018). A. Lucchetti et al. Mercury Hollows as Remnants of Original Bedrock Materials and Devolatilization Processes: A Spectral Clustering and Geomorphological Analysis,(2018). DOI: 10.1029/2018JE005722

This story is republished courtesy of AGU Blogs (http://blogs.agu.org), a community of Earth and space science blogs, hosted by the American Geophysical Union. Read the original story here.BepiColombo approaching Mercury. Credit: ESA/ATG medialab, NASA/JPL

A month before the planned launch of the joint ESA-JAXA BepiColombo mission to Mercury, two new studies shed light on when the innermost planet formed and the puzzle of its chemical composition. The findings will be presented by Bastien Brugger and Thomas Ronnet at the European Planetary Science Congress (EPSC) 2018 in Berlin.

Mercury is the least-studied of the terrestrial planets and is something of an anomaly compared to Venus, Earth and Mars. It is very small, very dense, has an oversized molten core, and formed under chemical conditions that mean it contains much less oxidized material than its neighbouring planets.

Research by a team at the University of Aix Marseille suggests that two factors may help explain why Mercury is so strange. Firstly, the planet may have formed very early in the Solar System's history from condensed vapour from planetesimals. Secondly, that there may be more iron within Mercury's mantle than might be suggested by measurements of the surface.

"We think that very early in the Solar System, planetesimals in the innermost region of the Solar System could have formed from reprocessed material that was vaporized due to the extreme temperature there and subsequently recondensed," said Ronnet. "In addition, we are able to rule out a scenario where Mercury formed from a pile-up of planetesimals coming from further out in the Solar System since, in this case, Mercury would contain more oxidized material than we actually find."

Interior of Mercury. Credit: Brugger/ University of Aix Marseille/NASA/JPL/JHU-APL

Early studies have suggested that Mercury is very rich in iron, and contains more sulphur than should be available in the material from which the bulk of the Solar System formed. Since then, the MESSENGER mission has greatly improved our view of the bulk composition of Mercury.

Brugger ran computer simulations of Mercury's interior investigating core and mantle compositions and compared the results with gravity data gathered by the MESSENGER mission. The results suggest that Mercury has a dense mantle that may contain substantial amounts of iron.

"MESSENGER revealed very low abundances of silicate iron on the surface of Mercury, and this element would instead be present in metallic or sulphide phases. Our study suggests that iron abundances in the mantle could be higher than values measured on the surface," said Brugger. "With the launch of BepiColombo, we will have a whole new suite of instruments to continue the investigation of Mercury's unique properties, and try to better understand the structure and origin of the planet."

False colour image of Mercury to enhance the chemical, mineralogical, and physical differences between the rocks that make up Mercurys surface. Credit: NASA/JHU-APL/Carnegie Institution of Washington

BepiColombo is Europe's first mission to Mercury. It is a joint endeavour between ESA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA, and consists of two scientific orbiters: ESA's Mercury Planetary Orbiter and JAXA's Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter. They will be carried on a seven year journey to the innermost planet by the Mercury Transfer Module, using a combination of ion propulsion and gravity assist flybys at Earth, Venus and Mercury. The mission will study all aspects of Mercury, building on the achievements of MESSENGER to provide the best understanding of the Solar System's innermost planet to date.

Explore further BepiColombo to target mid-October launch

Provided by EuroplanetAt El Uno ranch in Chihuahua state, Mexico, American bison, also known as buffalo, live in semi-capitivity with the goal of maintaining a genetically pure lineage of the species

Hundreds of years ago, the American bison roamed freely across the widest natural range of any herbivore on the continenta vast habitat extending from northern Mexico across the United States to Alaska, and Canada.

Today, genetically pure buffaloas the species is also knownsubsist within four preserves in the United States, but also on a ranch in Mexico's northern Janos desert where the species was introduced a decade ago.

Weighing up to a tonne and as tall as 1.7 meters (5.6 feet) from the humps on their backs to their hooves, almost 200 bison live in a state of semi-captivity on the El Uno ranch, some 230 kilometers (150 miles) from the northern border city of Juarez.

Characterized by their distinctive humps, horns and dark coffee-colored fur, the herd, which is the only group of wild bison in the country, has grown from 23 individuals brought to the region from the US in 2009 to 140 adults and 44 calves born this year.

The goal, explained El Uno official Pedro Calderon Rodriguez, is to preserve the pure lineage of the species.

Having undergone a drastic decline in the 19th century, the American bison has partially recovered, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) which today lists the species as "near-threatened" because of its dependence on conservation projects to survive in the wild.

A herd of bison, living in the brown destert under the blue sky, are responsible for the upkeep of the pastures they graze in Chihuahua, Mexico, one of the most diverse and important ecosystems on the planet

Canada, the US and Mexico all list bison as both wildlife and livestock, according to the IUCN, and while commercial production has meant a significant rebound in numbers, such population growth does not contribute to the species' conservation in the wild.

According to Calderon Rodriguez, the fence on the US-Mexico border can inhibit the bisons' and other species' ability to roam freely in their historical habitat, one of the reasons they're considered at risk in Mexico.

El Uno is part of a network working to conserve bison which includes the four preserves in the US and is part of the Biosfera de Janos, which encompasses the grasslands and other species such as prairie dogs and certain types of birds that migrate across the continent each year.

In 2009, 23 American bison were introduced to the El Uno ranch in Chihuahua, Mexico as part of a conservation plan for the species

Grazing in the brown desert under the blue sky, the herd has also contributed to the growth of pastures in the area. Among the most diverse and important ecosystems on the planet, the grasslands are also one of the most affected by human action.

"The grasslands need animals like bison to trample over them, they need their manure, their urine, their saliva, their activity. The disturbances created by the bison herds, the grazingit tills and fertilizes the land," said Calderon Rodriguez.

At birth, bison calves weigh some 20 kilograms (44 pounds). Adult females can weigh between 400 and 600 kilos and the males average between 600 and 900 kilos, though there are examples of individuals that surpassed a tonne, or more than 2,200 pounds. According to the Mexican environment ministry, various indigenous groups venerated the species for this large size and impressive presence.

They typically live 15 to 20 years.

A herd of genetically pure American bison, two of which are seen September 14, 2018, are protected at El Uno ranch in Chihuahua state, Mexico

Explore further Saving the bison: Polish bison off to help Spanish herd grow

 2018 AFPProfessor of chemical and biomolecular engineering Simon Rogers, left, postdoctoral researchers Jun Pong Park and Yongbeom Seo and professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering Hyunjoon Kong led an international team that developed hydrogen peroxide-bubbling microparticles that may help eradicate dangerous biofilms. Credit: L. Brain Stauffer

Stiff microbial films often coat medical devices, household items and infrastructure such as the inside of water supply pipes, and can lead to dangerous infections. Researchers have developed a system that harnesses the power of bubbles to propel tiny particles through the surfaces of these tough films and deliver an antiseptic deathblow to the microbes living inside.

Biofilms are slimy colonies of microbes held together by internal scaffolds, clinging to anything they touch. About 80 percent of all medical infections originate from biofilms that invade the inner workings of hospital devices and implants inside patients. Eradication is difficult because traditional disinfectants and antibiotics cannot effectively penetrate a biofilm's tough surface, the researchers said.

In the journal Applied Materials and Interfaces, a team led by researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign describes how they used diatomsthe tiny skeletons of algaeloaded with an oxygen-generating chemical to destroy microbes.

"Most of us get those black or yellow spots in our showers at home," said co-author Hyunjoon Kong, a professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering and a Carle Illinois College of Medicine affiliate. "Those spots are biofilms and most of us know it takes a lot of energy to scrub them away. Imagine trying to do this inside the confined space of the tubing of a medical device or implant. It would be very difficult."

Looking to nature and basic mechanics for a solution, the researchers developed a system that uses naturally abundant diatoms along with hydrogen peroxide and tiny oxygen-generating sheets of the compound manganese oxide.

"We could have fabricated a particle using 3-D printers, but luckily nature already provided us with a cheap and abundant option in diatoms," said co-author and postdoctoral researcher Yongbeom Seo. "The species of diatom we selected are hollow, highly porous and rod-shaped, providing a lot of surface area for the bubbles to form and a channel for the bubbles to escape."

The chemical reaction between the hydrogen peroxide and manganese oxide nanosheets takes place within the empty space inside the diatom. The result is a flourish of microbubbles that flow through the tiny channel, propelling the rigid diatoms forward with enough force to break up the surface and internal structure of the biofilms, the researchers said.

"We dope the particles with nanosheets of manganese oxide, then mix them with hydrogen peroxide and apply that to the surface of the biofilm," Kong said. "Once the diatoms break through to the internal structure of the biofilm, they continue to expel bubbles and facilitate the entry of hydrogen peroxide, which is an effective disinfectant against bacteria and fungus."

The researchers believe that their success is a result of a decision to focus on the mechanical aspects of biofilm destruction, not the chemical aspects of simply killing microbes.

"We have arrived at a mechanistic solution for this problem and the possibilities for this technology are endless," said co-author Simon Rogers, a professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering. "We are discussing our research with clinicians who have many exciting ideas of how to use this system that we did not even think of originally, such as the removal of dental plaque."

Explore further Dental plaque is no match for catalytic nanoparticles

More information: Yongbeom Seo et al, Diatom Microbubbler for Active Biofilm Removal in Confined Spaces, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces (2018). Journal information: ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces Yongbeom Seo et al, Diatom Microbubbler for Active Biofilm Removal in Confined Spaces,(2018). DOI: 10.1021/acsami.8b08643Orion Service Module-1 radiator installation. Credit: ESAA. Conigli

Last week at the Airbus integration hall in Bremen, Germany, technicians installed the last radiator on the European Service Module for NASA's Orion spacecraft marking the module's finished integration.

ESA's European service module will provide power, water, air and electricity to NASA's Orion exploration spacecraft that will eventually fly beyond the Moon with astronauts. The European Service Module is now complete for Orion's first mission that will do a lunar fly-by without astronauts to demonstrate the spacecraft's capabilities.

Much like closing the bonnet on a car, with the radiators in place technicians can no longer access the internals of the European service module, symbolically ending the assembly and integration of the module that will fly further into our Solar System than any other human-rated spacecraft has ever flown before.

Technicians worked 24 hours a day in three shifts to complete the service module's assembly which is now going through the last stages of its extensive testing. Engineers will put the module through its paces with functional tests that include checking the newly installed radiators and testing the propulsion system with its intricate pipelines that deliver fuel and oxidiser to the spacecraft's 33 engines.

View from below: Orion European Service Module-1. Credit: ESAA. Conigli

Once complete the service module will be packed and flown to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA. Orion's solar wings will be shipped separately, also from Bremen. In the USA the module will be stacked together with NASA's Crew Module Adaptor and Crew Module, the first time the complete spacecraft will be on display.

More tests await the Orion spacecraft at NASA's Plum Brook facility where it will be put in the world's largest vacuum chamber to simulate spaceflight as well as being subjected to acoustic tests to simulate the intense vibrations Orion will endure when launched on the world's largest rocket, NASA's Space Launch Systems.

Second module getting ready

Meanwhile technicians in Bremen are not resting as work on the second European Service Module is already well under way. The structure is complete and over 11 km of cables are being meticulously placed in preparation for the computers and equipment that will keep astronauts alive and well for the second Orion mission called Exploration Mission-2.

Orion European Service Module-2 wiring. Credit: ESAA. Conigli

Explore further The road to Orion's launchA permafrost thaw slump on the Peel Plateau in the Northwest Territories exposes permafrost rich in ice and sediment. As the permafrost thaws and collapses, sulfuric acid in water breaks down the exposed minerals, releasing substantial amounts of carbon dioxide. Credit: Scott Zolkos

The amount of carbon dioxide released from thawing permafrost might be greater than previously thought because of a process called mineral weathering, according to a new study by University of Alberta ecologists.

Mineral weathering occurs when minerals previously locked up in permafrost are exposed and broken down into their chemical components by sulfuric or carbonic acid that can exist naturally in water.

Over long, geologic time scales, carbonic acid weathering is an important control on atmospheric CO2 levels and climate, but under the right conditions, weathering by sulfuric acid can release substantial CO2.

Ph.D. candidate Scott Zolkos and his supervisor, U of A biologist Suzanne Tank, found that these conditions are prevalent in the western Canadian Arctic.

"We found that rapidly thawing permafrost on the Peel Plateau in the Northwest Territories is greatly enhancing mineral weathering," explained Zolkos, the lead author on the study. "Because weathering is largely driven by sulfuric acid in this region, intensifying permafrost thaw could be an additional source of CO2 to the atmosphere."

The researchers worked with scientists from the Northwest Territories Geoscience Office to examine long-term records of river chemistry from the Peel River.

They found that weathering driven by sulfuric acid has intensified with regional permafrost thaw in recent decades, and likely increased the amount of CO2 released into the surrounding water and air.

"Any additional warming in the Arctic, which is warming at twice the rate of the rest of the planet, promotes more permafrost thaw and thus poses substantial challenges to Arctic and global ecosystems," said Zolkos.

Yet, the effects from this mineral weathering on climate warming remain largely unexploreda problem Zolkos and Tank said they hope to address.

The researchthe first to document the potential for substantial contributions of CO2from thawing permafrost to the atmosphere through mineral weatheringwas published in a paper titled "Mineral Weathering and the Permafrost Carbon-Climate Feedback," in Geophysical Research Letters.

Explore further Greenhouse emissions from Siberian rivers peak as permafrost thaws

More information: Scott Zolkos et al. Mineral Weathering and the Permafrost Carbon-Climate Feedback, Geophysical Research Letters (2018). Journal information: Geophysical Research Letters Scott Zolkos et al. Mineral Weathering and the Permafrost Carbon-Climate Feedback,(2018). DOI: 10.1029/2018GL078748Fig. 1. Imidacloprid distribution (target m/z 211.07) in (A) imidacloprid-dosed flies and (B) blank control flies. The matrix was 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid and the measurement pitch was set to be 15 m. Color bar on the left shows the absolute imidacloprid intensity. Credit: Osaka University raising questions about how we might replace the many essential uses of these chemicals in agriculture and for control of insect-borne diseases. As many governments seek to restrict uses of pesticides, more information on how pesticides affect different insects is increasingly beneficial. Greater insight into how these chemicals interact with insects could help develop new and safer pesticides and offer better guidance on their application.

Now a team at Osaka University has developed a new method of visualizing the behavior of pesticides inside insect bodies. Their findings were recently published in Analytical Sciences and highlighted on the journal's cover.

Lead author Seitaro Ohtsu explains, "There have been no reports on the distribution of agricultural chemicals in insects to date. This is probably because it's very difficult to prepare tissue sections of Drosophilia specimens for imaging studies."

Researchers from Osaka University examined an insect from the Drosophila family, a type of fruit fly widely used for testing pesticides. They developed a technique to slice the insect body into thin sections for analysis while preserving the delicate structures of the specimen.

Imidacloprida highly effective nicotine-related pesticidewas chosen for the analysis. Applying their sample preparation method to insects treated with this chemical allowed the team to follow its uptake, breakdown and distribution in the insects' bodies.

Fig. 2. Imaging mass spectrometry image of imidacloprid distribution (m/z 211.070). (A) imidacloprid-dosed fly after 90 min showing blue abdomen and (B) blank control fly. Credit: Osaka University

The team applied a method that involves scanning a laser across the thin sections of the insect body to eject material from small areas of the surface. By analyzing the chemical composition of the ejected material with a mass spectrometer at different locations, they were able to build up a picture of the pesticide and its breakdown products over the whole insect body.

Senior researcher Shuichi Shimma says, "This is a timely contribution while the evidence for the negative effects of certain pesticides on ecosystems is accumulating. We hope our technique will help other researchers gain new insights into pesticide metabolism that might help limit the effects of pesticides to their targets without harming beneficial pollinating insects."

Fig. 3. Journal cover illustration. Credit: Osaka University

More information: Seitaro OHTSU et al. Development of a Visualization Method for Imidacloprid in Drosophila melanogaster via Imaging Mass Spectrometry, Analytical Sciences (2018). Seitaro OHTSU et al. Development of a Visualization Method for Imidacloprid in Drosophila melanogaster via Imaging Mass Spectrometry,(2018). DOI: 10.2116/analsci.18SCP04Credit: CC0 Public Domain

As refugee flows have increased around the world, many governments are grappling with acute political pressure along with the logistical challenges of supporting refugees and processing asylum applications. Perhaps most notably in Europe, where populist and other opposition parties have seized on the refugee crisis, leaders are pulled in two different directions as they seek both political self-preservation and practical solutions. Policies that resolve political conflict in the short term, on the one hand, tend not to serve refugees' long-term integration, on the other. All too often, these compromises backfire, undermining the country's ability to successfully integrate refugeesand leading to higher social and economic costs in the long run.

Policies surrounding refugee employment are a good example of this dynamic. Locking them out of the labor market may subdue backlash from constituents who worry about facing competition for jobs, or who want to discourage refugees from entering the country and remaining there indefinitely. But it also leaves them dependent on the government, unable to pay taxes, and poorly positioned to find work when their asylum applications are finally approved after a long, idle wait.

Yet most EU countries take this route, barring refugees from working for a period of time after arrival. What does it cost them? According to new research from the Immigration Policy Lab (IPL) at ETH Zurich and Stanford University, governments that impose these temporary "employment bans" are paying a higher price than they realize.

Measuring the Costs

At a time when the European Union is embroiled in debate about the future of its recently arrived refugee population, one might think there would be keen interest in encouraging refugees to become self-sufficient as soon as possible. In practice, however, the Continent's rough consensus in favor of employment bans persists, in part because their detrimental effects are difficult to measure.

First, much of the available historical data doesn't allow researchers to readily distinguish people who entered a country as asylum seekers from the general inflow of immigrants. Second, it's tricky to isolate the employment ban from the many other factors that influence whether refugees struggle or thrive. If refugees fare better in a country with a shorter employment ban or none at all, the reason could be any number of differences that make its labor market or asylum policies more hospitable than those of other countries. If refugees within a country have greater difficulty finding a job after a temporary employment ban is imposed, perhaps the ban itself is to blame, but that can be hard to prove if, say, there was also a downturn in a particular work sector well suited to refugees.

The IPL researchers cut a path through this confusion with the help of a 2000 court ruling in Germany that shortened the country's employment ban to 12 months. Asylum seekers who arrived in 2000 had to wait 12 months before applying for jobs, while those who arrived in 1999 had to wait between 13 and 24 months.

The timing of the ruling was also a boon to the researchers. When the new policy took effect, the overwhelming majority of new arrivals from parts of Yugoslavia, then at war, were asylum seekers. Using Germany's annual, representative survey, the Mikrozensus, the researchers zeroed in on Yugoslavians who arrived in either 1999 or 2000: two groups that look identical in nearly every way except for an average 7 months of forced unemployment.

Long-Term Consequences

At first, both groups had low employment rates once they were allowed to seek work, but those who had the shorter wait soon pulled ahead of their peers. Five years in, about half of the 2000 group were employed (49%), while only 29 percent of their 1999 counterparts had had the same success. It wasn't until 2010, ten years after the new policy went into effect, that the laggards closed the gap.

This divide can't be explained by broader changes in the economy, the researchers found. Fellow Yugoslavians who arrived in 2000 and 2001 found work at similar rates. So did Turkish immigrants who arrived in 1999 and 2000 and weren't affected by the employment ban, since most of them weren't seeking asylum.

So how can just seven months' difference account for such a wide, persistent gap between the two groups of asylum seekers? And why didn't the earlier arrivals benefit from additional time in the country to acclimate and build social networks that might provide onramps to employment?

Extended, involuntary unemployment can be powerfully demoralizing, a phenomenon other studies have called "scar effects." Facing a much longer wait may have drained the 1999 group of motivation, and when the employment ban finally lifted, that motivation didn't suddenly snap back into place. Despite their lower employment levels, researchers found, this group was less likely to have searched for a job in the days before survey-takers interviewed them.

Refugees might be particularly susceptible to these "scar effects", the IPL study suggests, because they are new to a foreign country and culture, have recently experienced the trauma of violence or persecution, and lack the resources and social support that help see others through the difficulties of unemployment. "Policies such as employment bans are short-sighted," says Moritz Marbach, a postdoctoral researcher at ETH Zurich and co-author of the study. "Instead of having refugees depend on government welfare for years, countries can capitalize on their initial motivation and integrate them quickly."

The findings also illustrate how formative refugees' early experiences can be. Even modest forms of encouragement and support during this window of opportunity may give them a big lift into integration; barriers, even temporary ones, can likewise have disproportionately negative effects.

Consider the high price of Germany's employment ban. If the 40,500 Yugoslavian refugees who arrived in 1999 had been allowed to work just seven months earlier, bringing their employment rates up to the level of the 2000 arrivals, the country would have saved about 40 million per year in higher welfare payments and lower tax contributions. Meanwhile, native workers don't necessarily benefit from policies keeping refugees out of the labor force. Previous studies have found that allowing refugees to work doesn't lower natives' wages or make them more likely to be unemployed.

The irony is that the employment ban is motivated in part by policymakers' desire to reassure the public that refugees won't compete for their jobs. However, when refugees are unable to support themselves and perceived as a drain on the social welfare system, policymakers may face even greater political punishment from the public. Ultimately, policies that improve refugee integration can also benefit the host country. A necessary first step is to consider refugees not as a burden to be mitigated but as a potential asset to be maximized.

The study is published in Science Advances.

Explore further Switzerland launches program to test AI for refugee integration

More information: M. Marbach el al., "The long-term impact of employment bans on the economic integration of refugees," Science Advances (2018). Journal information: Science Advances M. Marbach el al., "The long-term impact of employment bans on the economic integration of refugees,"(2018). advances.sciencemag.org/content/4/9/eaap9519The Antarctic ice sheet. Credit: Stephen Hudson / Wikipedia

New research on marine sediment layers from Antarctica indicates that the East Antarctic Ice Sheet (EAIS) retreated during extended warm periods in the past, when temperatures were like those predicted for this century.

The international research team, led by Dr. David Wilson of Imperial College London, used evidence from a previous time in Earth's history, the late Pleistocene, to inform how the EIAS might react to a warming climate.

Scientists had previously focused much attention on the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, which predominantly sits on land below sea level, and contributes most of Antarctica's ice melt today.

The EAIS, in contrast, mostly lies on land above sea level. It is the largest ice sheet on Earth, at around 60 times the area of the UK. It contains around half of Earth's freshwater but is assumed to be less sensitive to a warming climate.

However, the new data, published today in Nature, suggest that 2C warming in Antarctica, if sustained over a couple of millennia, would lead to melting in an area of the EAIS that lies below sea level. This has implications for rising global sea levels and global warming's threat to human civilisation.

Dr. Wilson, from Imperial's Department of Earth Science and Engineering, said: "Studying ice sheet behaviour in the geological past can inform us about future changes. By building a picture of how the ice sheet has grown and shrunk as temperatures have fluctuated, we can understand the response of the EAIS to future warming."

The researchers studied the Wilkes Subglacial Basin, one of three major areas where the EAIS sits on land that lies below sea level. If all the ice in this basin were to melt, global sea level would rise by up to four metres.

Glaciers, which come from ice sheets, grind up rocks on the continent, and then transport this sediment to the nearby Southern Ocean, leaving behind a record of past erosion by the ice sheet.

To understand how warming affected the ice sheet in the past, the team chemically analysed layers of sediment from the ocean floor that originated from the Wilkes Subglacial Basin. They were collected during an expedition of the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program.

The researchers studied sediment layers that had settled on the seafloor during four previous warm intervals that occurred between ice ages (interglacials) over the past 450,000 years. They found chemical 'fingerprints' in the sediment that revealed the changing patterns of erosion as the ice sheet advanced and retreated.

The findings show that:

The ice sheet had retreated from its current size during some of the interglacials, when temperatures were as little as two degrees warmer than pre-industrial times.

The most extreme changes in the ice sheet occurred during two interglacial periods 125,000 and 400,000 years ago, when global sea levels were between six and 13 metres higher than they are today.

Ice loss from the EAIS likely made a significant contribution to those higher sea levels in the past.

Dr. Wilson said: "What we have learned is that even modest warming of just two degrees, if sustained for a couple of thousand years, is enough to cause the ice sheet in East Antarctica to retreat in some of its low-lying areas.

"With current global temperatures already one degree higher than during pre-industrial times, future ice loss seems inevitable if we fail to reduce carbon emissions."

Explore further Much of East Antarctica remained frozen during past 8 million years

More information: Ice loss from the East Antarctic Ice Sheet during late Pleistocene interglacials, Nature (2018). www.nature.com/articles/s41586-018-0501-8 Journal information: Nature Ice loss from the East Antarctic Ice Sheet during late Pleistocene interglacials,(2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-018-0501-8In this Dec. 8, 2017, file photo, coins are displayed next to a Bitcoin ATM in Hong Kong. British lawmakers are urging regulation for cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin in a report that describes the current situation as the "Wild West." In a report Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018 on digital currencies, Parliament's Treasury Committee called for regulations to protect consumers and prevent money laundering. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)

British lawmakers have backed calls for greater regulation of cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin in order to bring an element of control to a market that more resembles the "Wild West."

In a report on digital currencies published Wednesday, the Treasury Select Committee called for regulations to protect consumers and prevent money laundering.

Lawmakers highlighted a rapidly emerging industry that's been troubled by wild price swings, allegations of fraud and worries it could be used to finance criminal or terrorist activity.

Virtual currencies, also known as tokens, are electronic alternatives to traditional money. The appeal of cryptocurrencies like bitcoin lies in their use of "blockchain technology" that records all transactions in a digital database while keeping identities private, allowing users to sidestep government or banking system oversight. Speculation has also played a part in their popularity: bitcoin's price skyrocketed late last year to more than $19,000 though it has since tumbled and is now trading at around $6,300.

In the report, the committee said the British government has taken an ambiguous position on regulation and argued that the industry's voluntary approach is inadequate. As a result, it said investors have been left open to risks including volatile prices and hacking vulnerabilities.

"Bitcoin and other crypto-assets exist in the Wild West industry of crypto-assets," committee chair Nicky Morgan said. "This unregulated industry leaves investors facing numerous risks."

Morgan said the government needs to do more than "bumble along issuing feeble warnings to investors."

The committee also said British financial authorities need more power to regulate misleading advertisements by crypto-asset exchanges and initial coin offerings, which raise money for the tokens while crypto exchanges allow investors to trade them or convert them into conventional money.

The committee's warning echo those of a senior U.S. Treasury official, who expressed similar sentiments while on a visit to Europe, saying that global rules are urgently needed to stop virtual currencies from being used by money launderers and terrorists.

Marshall Billingslea, an assistant treasury secretary who deals with terror financing, attends a OECD in Paris, Wednesday Sept.19, 2018. Billingslea says there is an urgent need for global rules to stop virtual currencies from being used by money launderers and terrorists. (AP Photo/John Leicester)

In Paris, Marshall Billingslea, an assistant Treasury secretary who deals with terror financing, said the Islamic State group has used virtual currencies and published instructions on Twitter on how to move bitcoin to recipients in Syria.

This, he said, is "an example of a very worrisome trend-line that we see."

Billingslea, who was speaking in his capacity as president of the Financial Action Task Force, an international body that combats money laundering and other financial threats, said countries are applying differing anti-money laundering standards to cryptocurrencies and some are not applying any at all.

"It is essential that we establish a global set of standards that are applied in a uniform manner," Billingslea said.

The FATF, he added, is very concerned about the emerging use cryptocurrencies by terrorist organizations.

Financial regulators worldwide have been scrambling to deal with the rise of cryptocurrencies. In Asia, Japan recognizes bitcoin as a legal form of payment after enacting a strong regulatory regime while South Korea and China have also tightened regulations. Meanwhile, European Union officials said earlier this month that the bloc has been examining cryptocurrencies as it mulls regulations.

The British lawmakers said there's still room for the U.K. to become a global center for crypto-assets, if the government decides to take a regulatory approach that encourages the industry's growth.

Explore further US Treasury official urges regulation of crypto currencies

 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Newly discovered remains of weapons, hobnails from sandals and coins will help experts piece together the untold story of how the Romans won control of Galicia and Northern Portugal from local tribes for the first time.

Archaeologists have found the oldest evidence yet of the presence of legions in Galicia in the Penedo dos Lobos Roman camp (Manzaneda, Ourense, Galicia). This significant discovery will help to redefine the history of the period.

Until now historians had found few clues about the actions of Roman soldiers in these regions. The findings show some, smaller groups, of legionnaires were probably sent on scouting missions in the area to investigate the landscape, rather than to fight, suggesting the region was already under Roman control by the end of 1st century BC, when the bronze coins found were made.

The bronze coins, dating from 25-22 BC, thought to be payment for the legionnaires, were minted by Publius Carisius, who was Augustus' legate during the Cantabrian-Asturian Wars.

Dr. Joao Fonte, from the University of Exeter,director of the archaeological survey, said: "People have suggested Roman troops were in this area, but until now it was only speculation. This findings, which date from the time of the Cantabrian-Asturian Wars, really will allow us to rewrite the history books."

Northwest Iberia was effectively annexed by Rome in 1st century BC, but it has been hard for experts to reconstruct events because of a lack of archaeological evidence, in particular in regions as Galicia and Northern Portugal. This historical context is better known in the Asturian and Cantabrian areas, where the last war episodes took place in Augustan times.

The findings were all discovered in the remains of the Penedo dos Lobos Roman camp, the first of its kind to be investigated in Galicia. The research team are using remote sensing technology to find former Roman military camps in Galicia and Northern Portugal. They have found around 20 in the past two years in these regions and are now doing further work to investigate remains they might still hold. Remote sensing technology has allowed the experts to see clearly the remains of the four gates which define the Roman military enclosure. Almost the entire perimeter of the defensive rampart is still in place. All were built in stone and are exceptionally well preserved.

Dr. Fonte said: "The evidence we have so far suggests this was a small contingent of soldiers, of about 800 to 1,000 men. We also know it wasn't a temporary camp, as the site is fully built in stone, so they could have been in the area for several weeks or even months. They could have been tasked with specific missions, such as mapping the landscape or looking at the potential resources such as mining. This shows the Romans ran different types of military operations in this part of Iberia.

"Marching legions tend to leave much less evidence of occupation as they were only passing through, as in the Roman camps documented in Asturias and Cantabria, where we have been able to track the movements of the soldiers in these regions."

Explore further Archaeologists find remains of Greco-Roman temple in EgyptCredit: CC0 Public Domain

Workshy bosses can promote a contemptuous attitude amongst their staffleading to anger, frustration and abuse in the workplace, new research has shown.

An international team of researchers, led by Drs Alison Legood and Allan Lee from the University of Exeter, has looked at how bad habits displayed by those in charge can affect the mentality and productivity of the workforce.

They found that managers who procrastinate when making decisions and carrying out tasks not only leave employees feeling less committed to the business, but also more likely to display abnormal and unpleasant behaviour.

Most alarmingly, this can escalate beyond taking unnecessary sick days to becoming abusive to colleagues, and stealing office supplies.

The research is published in the Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology.

Dr. Lee, a Senior Lecturer in Organisation Studies and management at the University of Exeter's Business School said: ": "We have found procrastination from managers can be really detrimental to their staff and companies need to take action to ensure there are better relationships between bosses and employees.

"When bosses fail to do their work, knowing this will cause problems for others, it causes their staff to become frustrated and leaves them less committed to their employer."

For the research, the team collected data from 290 employees on the impact of their leaders procrastinating, and measured how much managers procrastinated using a scale, based on questions such as: "my manager delays making decisions until it's too late".

The researchers also collected further information from 250 workers, and their 23 supervisors, in a Chinese textile manufacturing company located in Zhejiang Province.

Staff were asked to rate their relationships with their bosses, and managers were asked to rate whether staff were deviant, and how committed they seemed to the company.

The results show when leaders procrastinate this leads to "deviant behaviour" from their staff.

The researchers, also from SOAS, University of London and Deakin University, Australia, suggest that staff should try to discover why their managers are prone to procrastination, and also take part in any decision making, to help combat the issue.

Companies could also deliver training to try to encourage better relationships between staff and managers, the research suggests.

Dr. Lee said: "We found employees are less likely to be frustrated by their leaders procrastination if they had a good relationship with that leader.

"Encouraging feedback sessions, such as 360-degree feedback, may help leaders to become more aware of their own behaviour, and sharing leadership could reduce the effect of a procrastinating leader."

The research, titled "From self-defeating to other defeating: Examining the effects of leader procrastination on follower work outcomes," is published in the Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology.

Explore further Bosses with mood swings make workers most anxious

More information: Alison Legood et al. From self-defeating to other defeating: Examining the effects of leader procrastination on follower work outcomes, Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology (2018). Alison Legood et al. From self-defeating to other defeating: Examining the effects of leader procrastination on follower work outcomes,(2018). DOI: 10.1111/joop.1220510 hours ago

Storied General Electric to split into 3 public companies

General Electric, the storied American manufacturer that struggled under its own weight after growing to become a sprawling conglomerate, will divide itself into three public companies focused on aviation, healthcare and energy. It is the culmination of an arduous, years-long reshaping of a symbol of American manufacturing might that could signal the end of conglomerates as a whole.

Read ArticleWASHINGTON -- Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) welcomed a European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) decision ordering the Ukrainian government to ensure that the public authorities abstain from accessing cellphone data belonging to RFE/RL Ukrainian Service journalist Natalia Sedletska.

The European Courts decision is an important affirmation of the rights of journalists to confidentiality of sources and other information, and it sets limits on executive power, said RFE/RL President Thomas Kent. He added, We continue to strongly support Natalia Sedletska and all our journalists as they pursue their mission courageously and professionally.

The ECHRs decision is an interim measure that remains in force until October 18 to give Sedletska time to prepare a full complaint, which the court has said it will consider as a matter of priority.

The decision came the same day a Kyiv appellate court issued its own ruling on a lower courts approval on August 27 of a request by Ukraines prosecutor-generals office to allow investigators to review all data from Sedletska's cell phone from July 2016 to November 2017. The appellate court ruled to restrict the original request to geolocation data from around the offices of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine in Kyiv, but upheld the original timeframe.

The anti-corruption bureaus director, Artem Sytnyk, is under criminal investigation for alleged disclosure of state secrets to journalists in 2017.

In a comment to RFE/RL, Sedletska, who is the award-winning author and host of the Ukrainian investigative TV program, Schemes, said the appellate court decision is only a partial rejection of the prosecutorial overreach of the original request. The ruling affirms that the prosecutor-generals office demanded an excessive amount of cellphone data, she said, but its limited scope still allows the ex post facto tracking of journalists.

During the period covered by the request, Schemes reported on several investigations involving senior Ukrainian officials, including Prosecutor-General Yuriy Lutsenko.

With over 11 million viewers, RFE/RLs investigative program Schemes: Corruption in Details is an award-winning weekly program devoted to exposing high-level political corruption and abuse of public office in Ukraine. A joint production of RFE/RLs Ukrainian Service and Ukrainian Public Television (UA:Pershiy), it also airs on the private Ukrainian Channel 24, independent channel Hromadske TV, and on Facebook and YouTube.

RFE/RLs Ukrainian Service, with a monthly average of over 4 million visits to its website, sets a standard in the Ukrainian media market for independence, professionalism, and innovation. Its comprehensive coverage includes the award-winning reporting of its Donbas Realities and Crimea Realities websites.

----A new Canadian study published in the journal Neuropsychologia suggests that our brains may be hardwired to prefer relaxing on the couch over something active. This is because conserving energy is one of our brains top priorities.

Researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) investigated the exercise paradox: For decades, society has encouraged people to be more physically active, yet statistics show that despite our best intentions, we are actually becoming less active.

Conserving energy has been essential for humans survival, as it allowed us to be more efficient in searching for food and shelter, competing for sexual partners, and avoiding predators, said senior author Dr. Matthieu Boisgontier, a postdoctoral researcher in UBCs brain behavior lab at the department of physical therapy.

The failure of public policies to counteract the pandemic of physical inactivity may be due to brain processes that have been developed and reinforced across evolution.

For the study, young adults took a seat in front of a computer and were given control of an on-screen avatar. Small images flashed on the screen, one at a time, that depicted either physical activity or physical inactivity. The participants had to move the avatar as quickly as possible toward the pictures of physical activity and away from the pictures of physical inactivity  and then vice versa.

While this was happening, electrodes recorded what was going on in their brains. Participants were generally faster at moving toward active pictures and away from lazy pictures, but brain-activity readouts called electroencephalograms revealed that doing so required their brains to work harder.

We knew from previous studies that people are faster at avoiding sedentary behaviors and moving toward active behaviors. The exciting novelty of our study is that it shows this faster avoidance of physical inactivity comes at a cost  and that is an increased involvement of brain resources, Boisgontier said. These results suggest that our brain is innately attracted to sedentary behaviors.

The question now becomes whether peoples brains can be re-trained.

Anything that happens automatically is difficult to inhibit, even if you want to, because you dont know that it is happening. But knowing that it is happening is an important first step, Boisgontier said.

Boisgontier is also affiliated with the University of Leuven (Belgium) and the Research Foundation  Flanders (FWO). He led this study with Boris Cheval of the University of Geneva, and their international team of researchers from the University of Oxford (Eda Tipura), the University of Geneva (Nicolas Burra, Jaromil Frossard, Dan Orsholits), and the Universite Cote dAzur (Remi Radel).

Source: University of British ColumbiaNot long ago, Fairhope architect Lea Verneuille was working on a design for a new home in Mobile - but the ideas just weren't flowing, and he was nearing the deadline for the project. Though he has a rule against working at his mountain getaway, he took work with him one weekend, hoping for inspiration.

The cabin didn't disappoint. Sitting on his screened porch overlooking the treetops, with incredible views of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance, he knocked out his work in record time. "I got up there, and what normally takes 30 to 40 hours took 16 because I was so focused," he says.

He believes in the magic of "mountain time," and seeks it out as often as possible.

Verneuille, a principal in Walcott Adams Verneuille Architects, which specializes in designing waterfront homes, says he first got "cabin fever," literally, when he designed a few hunting lodges for clients. "I became so intrigued with life in the woods, in the mountains," he says.

He wanted a place where he could spend a long weekend. He looked at a map and realized the Ellijay/Blue Ridge area in the north Georgia mountains was "the closest place where you can be in a finger of the Appalachians," he says.

For several years, he rented cabins in the area to become familiar with it. Once, he stayed at a home that belonged to one of his clients. Built in the early 1990s, the two-bedroom, two-bath log cabin had once belonged to former Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes. Verneuille fell in love with it, never dreaming that one day it would be his.

Three years later, when his clients decided to sell the cabin, Verneuille, along with a family member and some close friends, bought it. Though the home belongs to all of them, he is the one who stays there the most, he says.

Being an architect, even when he'd stayed there as a guest he couldn't help thinking about the changes he would like to make to the 900-square-foot cabin. He visualized an outdoor room that would make the cabin twice as large.

Almost immediately after buying it in late 2015, he transformed an existing deck into a wraparound screened porch with an outdoor fireplace. He also added a deck for a hot tub and created a fire pit area under the stars that feels like a campfire. He also updated both bathrooms and added stairs to the loft area.

"I had a lot of fun making it my own," he says.

He tries to spend a long weekend there once a month. It takes six hours and 15 minutes to go from his cottage in Fairhope to his cabin in the mountains, he says. "I can leave late on a Thursday and come back Monday and feel like I've been gone for a week."

Inside, the cabin is homey and cozy. Verneuille describes the decor as "an eclectic mix" of furnishings that came with the cabin as well as rugs, paintings and accessories he has added.

One of his favorite places to relax is on screened porch, on the daybed he found at a Fairhope consignment store. He has fond childhood memories of sleeping on the porch with his brothers when they would visit his grandmother in Mississippi. Many nights, he will sleep out on the porch at his retreat.

Owning a vacation home "just brings the dreams out," Verneuille says. "It makes you happy. I never imagined that a short time away from what I do could be so rejuvenating. Even the drive there is a release. We all need that."

Verneuille's ultimate goal is to build a cabin on some property he owns in the North Carolina mountains - a 12-hour drive from Fairhope - and live there four months out of the year. For now, though, "Having a cabin closer and more manageable is perfect for me at this time in my life," he says.

"I'm deep into my love affair with the mountains."

For information on renting cabins in the area, including this one, known as Summit House, visit www.dragonflycabinrentals.com.It has been just over four months since the EOSIO blockchain officially launched, and while it is still young compared to Ethereum or Bitcoin, it has struggled to overcome its controversial roll out. The platform, though named the number one blockchain by the Chinese government, is still fighting RAM costs, bugs, exploits and, of course, centralization fears.

RAM Costs

One of the biggest headaches for dApp developers has been the out of control cost of RAM.

Immediately after EOSIOs mainnet launch, speculators jumped on RAM looking to turn a profit. Just two weeks after the platforms launch, RAM utilization rose to 50 percent of the total supply, causing prices to soar as high as 0.94 EOS per KB. And though block producers jumped on top of the issue quickly, doubling the total supply of the limited resource, problems persisted.

In July, Dan Larimer released a Three Step Plan for lowering onboarding costs. The post noted that the platform would increase RAM supply, lower account memory usage and provide free accounts usable by any dApp that is compatible with Block.ones wallet API. And on September 6th, block producers jumped on board, adding a 1400 bytes to all new accounts and reducing the recommended minimum amount of RAM one should purchase by 25 percent.

Block producer New York EOS explained, EOS account creation cost is an extremely important aspect of the health of the platform. Many users of EOS decentralized applications (dApps) are early adopters, people who are eager and willing to spend the time to understand the EOS blockchain. But in the future, users will not be as eager. The users of the future will want to use the new dApp they found as quickly as possible. In fact, they may not know theyre about to interact with a blockchain at all.

For that to happen, dApp developers will need to pay for the network resources required to onboard users (or pass this cost on to users). Reducing this cost by 25% dramatically reduces the barriers to development when considering account creation at scale.

With the new tweaks, RAM costs have fallen significantly from the previous highs. But costs arent the only problem with the resource.

Bad actors stealing RAM

In late August, a new bug was revealed that allowed bad actors to steal RAM from unsuspecting users.

EOSEssentials described the exploit, A malicious user can install code on their account which will allow them to insert [table] rows in the name of another account sending them tokens. This lets them steal RAM by inserting large amounts of garbage into [table] rows when dApps/users send them tokens.

Though, according to Cesar Rodriguez, one of the developers working on the fix, the RAM cannot be used or sold, it cannot be retrieved, either.

Dan Larimer compared the exploit to vandalism but mentioned that it should not impact the platform in the long-term, [It] should do no long term damage to the parties involved once the EOS governance process can review and remedy the situation. Related: Saudi Wealth Fund Pumps $1B Into Tesla Rival

Larimer was also quick to respond with a temporary solution, suggesting that users should remain diligent in reviewing their contracts they interact with. Additionally, Larimer suggested a temporary workaround, asking users to create proxy accounts with no RAM.

dApp Madness

From overly generous e-gambling payouts to botched airdrops, EOS dApps are having a tough month, as well.

On September 9th, an online gambling dApp, DEOSGames fell victim to an exploit allowing a user to cash out over $23,000 in winnings after hitting the jackpot 24 times in a row. The developers of the dApp were quick to confirm the exploit, stating Yesterday, we got a malicious contract exploit our contract. It is a good stress test and we got significant improvements on contract level, adding, Remember we are still in beta.

While that may be chump change in the world of crypto-heists, another betting platform reported a significantly larger disruption.

Not even a week later, EOSBETCASINO identified a flaw in their contract wherein a user was able to walk off with over $200,000 worth of tokens. The exploit allowed the user to not pay on losing bets but still cash out when they won.

EOSBETCASINO was quick to fix the exploit and release a statement on Reddit, On September 14th around 3:00 AM UTC, we experienced a hack and breach of our bankroll, resulting in a theft of 44,427.4302 EOS before our contracts were taken offline by the development team. The remaining 463,745 EOS in our EOSBETDICE11 and EOSBETCASINO contracts are safe, the vulnerability is patched, and we are back online. We want to be as transparent as possible in explaining this breach and addressing any concerns the community might have.

In addition to the betting app missteps, another dApp highlighted perhaps a more worrying problem with the EOS platform.

Trybe, a blockchain-powered content creation platform, mistakenly gave airdrop recipients up to four times the amount they were supposed to receive. Following the botched giveaway, however, the developers unapologetically and without warning accessed users wallets to remove the excess tokens.

This brought into question EOS core smart contract protocol which allows all contracts to be edited after they are deployed.

Tom Nordwood, Trybes founder, released a statement on Reddit, We are comfortable in our decision to reverse transactions in this instance rather than leaving huge amounts of tokens in a few peoples wallets What we did, by the way, is not just a function of the TRYBE token but of any token built on EOS, and to be honest, I was VERY GLAD that it was...

This is not a new occurrence, either. Since the EOSIO launch, accounts have been frozen and accessed illegitimately on several occasions.

Decentralized Exchange Highlights Another Vulnerability

Newdex, a relatively new exchange trying to ride the DEX or decentralized exchange hype, was flooded with over 1 billion fake EOS tokens, ultimately leading to the theft of over $50,000 in real crypto.

The attack was primarily the fault of the exchange, which, for whatever reason, does not use smart contracts. This critical detail means that the exchange was unable to verify the legitimacy of the EOS tokens used in the attack.

Related: Major Financial Institutions Are Planning Crypto Products

Reddit users even pointed out this vulnerability days before the attack, Unlike a real DEX, they do not have a smart contract that holds funds / handles order matching on-chain. Instead, they match all orders off-chain in a centralized server. I received this response from their support confirming this is the case: https://i.imgur.com/bo2TJ1m.png 

But it does also raise another important issue regarding the EOSIO platform itself.

Any user is able to create a token and name it anything they want. Though the community should reliance on their own due diligence and the due diligence of service providers, this design could potentially lead to more attacks of a similar nature.

Whats Next for EOSIO?

While the platform has had a tough time working out all of the bugs, it is important to remember that it is only a few months old. There are going to be hiccups in any launch of this scale. But it is clear that block producers have their hands full. How EOSIOs governance reacts to these problems will be key moving forward.

From Bancors pivot to the platform to Dan Larimers ambitious UBI propositions, the platform itself is ripe with potential, and it is obvious that its creators are some of the best in the business.

EOSIO has a long way to go before it can be compared to Bitcoin or Ethereum, both of which have had their own growing pains, but in the meantime, there are some handsome rewards for anyone who wants to lend a hand in identifying and helping to fix bugs on the platform.

By Michael Kern via Crypto Insider

More Top Reads From Safehaven.comThank you for reading!

Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading.(Adds comments from finance minister, background)

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Malaysia on Wednesday said it will consider a combination of new debt issuance and asset sales to meet its short-term financing needs after a scrapped consumption tax was expected to leave a revenue shortfall.

The Mahathir Mohamad-led government removed the unpopular goods and services tax just weeks after a stunning victory in a May general election, and replaced it with a new tax structure that would only bring in half as much revenue as the previous one.

High debt levels are also a concern for the government, which has blamed the previous administration of Najib Razak for bringing the country's liabilities to around 1 trillion ringgit ($241.43 billion). The debt includes that of state fund 1MDB, which is the subject of money laundering investigations in several countries.

In a statement on Wednesday, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said any additional debt issuance will be gradual and made known to the market through the auction calendar, in line with current practice.

"This will ensure that investors would be able to absorb the additional issuances without major adjustments in yields that could increase the borrowing cost of the government," he said.

The government would also consider selling some of its shares and land, and lease its idle assets and buildings, Lim said.

Malaysia plans to avoid over reliance on any one type of financing.

"The priority is towards finding the lowest financing cost," Lim said, adding that timing will be guided by the ability of the financial markets to absorb the fund raising in an orderly manner.

($1 = 4.1420 ringgit) (Reporting by Rozanna Latiff and A. Ananthalakshmi; Editing by Kim Coghill and Sam Holmes)AFPTV

From Bangladesh to Britain to Nigeria, many young campaigners on the front lines of the global fight against climate change face a new problem: the impact the crisis is having on their mental health. As thousands of delegates converge at the COP26 summit in Glasgow to discuss ways to tackle the environmental emergency, AFP spoke with three youth activists around the world who spoke candidly of their experience of climate anxiety and how they are turning these fears for the future into action.Online ads in Singapore offering Indonesian maids for sale were Wednesday condemned as "unjust and demeaning", in a rare flare-up of tensions between the neighbours over domestic helpers. Singapore is home to almost 250,000 maids, mostly from poor parts of Indonesia or the Philippines, who head to the wealthy city-state to earn higher salaries than they can back home. While Indonesia regularly protests about abuse and exploitation of helpers in Malaysia and parts of the Middle East, complaints about treatment of maids in tightly-regulated Singapore are less common. However reports that Indonesian helpers were being offered for sale in the city-state on online marketplace Carousell quickly drew condemnation from rights groups. The adverts under the user name "maid.recruitment" reportedly offered the services of several helpers from Indonesia, while some ads indicated maids had been "sold". The posts on the e-commerce site, which operates in several Asian countries and describes itself as "a simple way to sell the clutter in your life", have now been removed. Wahyu Susilo, executive director of Indonesian NGO Migrant Care, said the group "strongly condemned" the adverts and called for those behind them to be brought to justice. "This is very unjust and demeaning to the migrant workers' dignity," he told AFP. Singapore's labour ministry said it was aware of cases where maids were being "marketed inappropriately" on Singapore-headquartered Carousell, and had got the adverts taken down and launched an investigation. "Advertising (foreign domestic workers) like commodities is unacceptable and an offence" under local laws, a statement from the ministry said. Employment agencies found guilty of such practices will have their licences revoked or suspended, it said.Sept 19 (Reuters) - China Literature Ltd:

* UPDATES ON PROGRESS OF LITIGATION BY MIGU

* RECEIVED NOTICES FROM RELEVANT COURTS OF APPROVAL OF CO'S WITHDRAWAL APPLICATIONS IN RELATION TO COUNTERCLAIMS AGAINST MIGU

* COURTS APPROVED MIGU'S WITHDRAWAL APPLICATIONS ON CLAIMS AGAINST BEIJING HONGXIU,SHANGHAI QIWEN,SHANGHAI XUANTING, XIAOXIANG COLLEGE

* COMPANY IS NOT REQUIRED TO PAY ANY DAMAGES TO MIGU FOR ALLEGED BREACH OF CONTRACT GIVEN WITHDRAWAL OF LITIGATION Source text: http://bit.ly/2xvmhwz Further company coverage:Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen batted down speculation Wednesday that he caved to international pressure after an opposition leader was released from jail, claiming the decision was made for his ailing foe's health and safety. Kem Sokha, the co-founder of the now-defunct Cambodia National Rescue Party, was arrested on treason charges in September two months before the Supreme Court dissolved his party. The moves came during a sweeping crackdown led by the 66-year-old strongman and paved the way for an easy election victory in July that was lambasted as a sham. But in the aftermath of the vote Hun Sen has returned to a pattern of easing up on dissent and scores of activists and former opposition members have been freed. Kem Sokha was the most prominent of those let go and his September 10 release on bail fuelled theories that Hun Sen was worried about the country's large clothing industry losing duty-free access to European markets. European parliamentarians have floated the possibility of revisiting the trade scheme. But the bombastic head of the ruling Cambodian People's Party, who has been in power for more than 33 years, told garment workers in a speech that he did not bow to "international pressure". "It was just the change of the location of detention in case he dies in prison and causes trouble to the government," Hun Sen said, not mentioning the duty-free deal. He added that the decision was prompted by "humanitarian and safety concerns for the suspect". Sokha, 65, spent more than a year in a remote prison near the Vietnamese border before his release. Over the course of his detention he was repeatedly denied bail even as his lawyers pointed to Sokha's high blood pressure and diabetes. The conditions of his bail are severe. He is supposed to stay within a block radius of his residence and is forbidden to meet with foreigners or host political rallies. Lawyer Meng Sopheary said the opposition leader was taking medication regularly but still needed a full examination. "He will be happy if he has his full freedom," she told AFP. The US has expanded travel sanctions against senior Cambodian officials in response to the election but so far the country has received little real blowback for the deeply flawed poll. The ruling party says it won more than 80 percent of the vote and all seats in parliament, turning Cambodia into a one-party state. But critics claim the election was marred by the absence of any credible contender and voter intimidation in the run-up to the poll. Before its dissolution Sokha's party had posed the biggest threat to Hun Sen in recent memory, winning more than 43 percent of the vote in the 2013 vote. Hun Sen has remained defiant in the face of criticism, telling a regional summit in Hanoi last week that western governments should stay out of Southeast Asian politics.The EU must convince Italy, Spain and Greece to back a plan to bolster the bloc's external borders, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said Wednesday as European Union leaders met in Salzburg to discuss the politically charged issue. EU Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker "has put forward a proposal to widen the mandate of the Frontex (border agency) and make repatriations (of refugees) more effective," Kurz said in an interview with the Austrian daily Der Standard. "Some member states are still rather sceptical. It's our task to convince them," said Kurz, whose country currently holds the EU's rotating presidency. As the primary entry points into the EU for many of the refugees fleeing across the Mediterranean, Italy, Spain and Greece are sceptical about the plans to beef up the Frontex border agency, Kurz said. "It's about their sovereignty rights, as well as concerns about the improved registration of migrants," the Austrian leader said. Under the EU Commission's proposals, the number of Frontex border guards will be increased to 10,000 by 2020 and they will be able to intervene to better regulate the influx of migrants. Kurz hinted that southern countries were "probably not unhappy" with the current situation in which many of the new arrivals, after setting foot in the EU, can continue more or less unhindered into central Europe. Germany and France in particular advocate improving the system for registering migrants. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has also vowed to oppose the EU plan. The fiercely anti-immigration premier said the plan would "strip Hungary of its right to protect its own borders". "We will not give up our right to defend a border. No one can take an iota of that away from us," he told parliament in Budapest on Monday.Reuters

A rescue team in Nepal has recovered the bodies of three French climbers who went missing in the Mount Everest region of the Himalayan country nearly two weeks ago, police said on Monday. The three were attempting to climb the 6,783 (22,254 feet) Kantega mountain, a smaller peak near Mount Everest in the remote Solukhumbu district. "A mountain rescue team has recovered the three bodies from the area," police official Tarka Raj Pandey told Reuters.DUBLIN (Reuters) - A new EU proposal to operate checks on goods along the Britain-Northern Ireland sea route will still mean an unacceptable border between the two, the deputy leader of the Northern Irish party backing Britain's minority government said on Wednesday.

The European Union's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said on Tuesday the bloc was ready to improve its proposal for an "insurance policy" backstop arrangement on how to manage its Irish border that would avoid creating a physical customs border on the Irish Sea.

British Prime Minister Theresa May rejected the previous EU proposal on how to avoid a "hard border" on the United Kingdom's only land border with the EU, saying it would effectively slice Northern Ireland away from mainland Britain, a position staunchly backed by her pro-British allies in Belfast.

After May lost her party its majority in parliament in a snap election last year, she is dependent on the Democratic Unionist Party's (DUP) 10 lawmakers in the 650-seat British parliament to ensure she can pass legislation.

"So Michel Barnier says he can do different kinds of checks between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK as if that makes it more palatable. The fundamental point is that internal U.K. checks are only needed if it is intended to separate Northern Ireland from Great Britain," DUP Deputy Leader Nigel Dodds said in a statement.

"Despite the talk of 'improvements' the backstop being insisted upon by the EU ... still means a border down the Irish Sea although with different kinds of checks. The fact is that both Theresa May and the Labour Party have said no British prime minister could accept such a concept."

With just over six months to go before Britain leaves the EU, reaching agreement on a backstop arrangement for the border between Northern Ireland and EU-member Ireland remains the thorniest issue in negotiations.

(Reporting by Padraic Halpin; Editing by Janet Lawrence)GENEVA (Reuters) - A Iranian former vice president was sentenced to six and a half years in prison on Wednesday for threatening national security and other charges, the Tasnim news agency reported. Esfandiar Rahim Mashaie was sentenced to five years for threatening national security, one year for spreading propaganda against the Islamic Republic and six months for insulting judiciary officials, according to Tasnim. Rahim Mashaie has long been a lightning rod for criticism from Iran's hardliners, in part because of a 2008 comment that the Islamic Republic is friendly with the people of its sworn foe Israel. When Mahmoud Ahmadinejad appointed Rahim Mashaie as his vice president in 2009, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the highest authority in Iran, objected. Ahmadinejad then appointed Rahim Mashaie, whose daughter is married to Ahmadinejad's son, as chief of staff. A top press aide to Ahmadinejad, Ali Akbar Javanfekr, also received a sentence of four years for threatening national security as part of the same case, Tasnim reported. Tasnim did not provide any further details on the cases involving the aides to Ahmadinejad, who was president from 2005 until 2013, or when the offences they were convicted of occurred. Rahim Mashaie was arrested in March and Javanfekr in August, the Iranian Students' News Agency reported Rahim Mashaei faces further charges, Gholamhossein Esmaili, the head of the justice department in Tehran province said Wednesday, according to Tasnim, without giving further details. (Reporting By Babak Dehghanpisheh; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg)An Iraqi court on Wednesday sentenced a prominent jihadist described as a deputy of Islamic State group leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to death on terrorism charges. "The Karkh criminal court in Baghdad sentenced to death by hanging one of the most prominent leaders of IS, who served as a deputy of Baghdadi," judicial spokesman Abdel Sattar Bayraqdar said. Ismail Alwan Salman al-Ithawi was extradited from Turkey earlier this year having fled Syria as the group's self-proclaimed "caliphate" crumbled. He was tracked and detained through cooperation between Turkish, Iraqi and US intelligence agencies, a senior Iraqi official told AFP in February. A native of the Iraqi city of Ramadi, Ithawi was accused of holding several positions including IS "minister" in charge of religious edicts. Iraq declared "victory" over IS In December after a three-year war against the jihadists who once controlled nearly one third of the country as well as swathes of neighbouring Syria. Baghdadi has been pronounced dead on several occasions, but an Iraqi intelligence official said in May that he remained alive in Syrian territory by the Iraqi border. The IS chief called on Muslims to wage "jihad" in a purported new audio recording released last month.Japan's sensitive trade surplus with the United States shrank sharply for the second consecutive month, according to official data published Wednesday, as Tokyo nervously eyes Washington's trade war with China. The surplus came in at 455.8 billion yen ($4.05 billion) in August, as the rise in US aerospace, natural gas and coal imports outpaced Tokyo's exports of pharmaceutical and construction products. US President Donald Trump has reportedly cited Japan as his next target after China as he seeks to reduce Washington's trade deficit. The US-China trade war has shown no sign of cooling, with Trump moving forward with tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese imports, sparking immediate retaliation from Beijing. Later Wednesday, Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda voiced strong concern over the trade war, saying bilateral trade conflicts would affect not only the countries involved but also the entire global economy. "So far no concrete impact on trade has been seen, but it is necessary to closely watch the impact on the global economy as well as the Japanese economy," Kuroda told reporters. Japan logged an overall global trade deficit of 444.6 billion yen, as the rising value of energy imports continued to outpace export growth. Exports rose 6.6 percent led by machines to build semiconductors, automobiles and ships. But the total value of foreign imports climbed 15.4 percent, largely due to rising cost of energy such as crude oil, LNG and coal. Japan's deficit with its biggest trading partner China shrank 25.1 percent.A woman wrapped in the rainbow flag is seen at the Pink Dot rally, Singapores annual gay pride rally on 1 July, 2017. (Reuters file photo)

CLARIFICATION: In a previous version of this story, Yahoo News Singapore quoted an attendee at the briefing as saying that Minister K Shanmugam had called for the Christian community to brace themselves for unexpected and fast changes. The Ministry of Home Affairs clarified to say the Minister did not say this.

Minister for Home Affairs and Law K Shanmugam addressed queries about Section 377A of the Penal Code, which criminalises sex between men, at a closed-door briefing for hundreds of church leaders on Tuesday (18 September).

The almost two-hour briefing, organised by the National Council of Churches (NCCS) and estimated to be attended by 300 to 400 people, covered recommendations by a committee set up in 2016 to conduct a wide-ranging review of the Penal Code.

Among the topics raised by a Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) representative during the briefing included enhanced protection for vulnerable victims, decriminalisation of attempted suicide and repealing marital immunity for rape, said several attendees approached by Yahoo News Singapore outside the St Andrew Cathedral Prayer Halls, where it was held.



Section 377A was not part of the review.

Yahoo News Singapore understands that the attendees raised questions on the topics discussed as well as on the governments decision not to review Section 377A during the Q&A session with Shanmugam.

Minister for Home Affairs and Law K Shanmugam addressing members of the NCSS at a closed-door briefing held on 18 September, 2018, at the St Andrew Cathedral Prayer Halls. (PHOTO: Yahoo News Singapore)

One of the attendees, Reverend Peter Eng, 59, of Christian community @TheWell said that the minister reiterated that the government will not actively enforce the law.

Shanmugam also cited findings of an independent poll done by the authorities showed that a majority in Singapore still support Section 377A (65 per cent) and oppose same-sex marriage (about 80 per cent), according to Eng. Yahoo News Singapore has reached out to the MHA for more details on that survey.

In comparison, the results of an online survey conducted in July-August by independent market research company Ipsos Public Affairs found that 55 per cent of respondents in Singapore still support Section 377A.

Story continues

In my view, (the repealing of 377A) may in a certain way come to Singapore (because of popular Westernised influences), said Eng. (Shanmugam raised the example) that America is a big country and it has changed so much in four years and that the impact would be even greater for a small country like Singapore, Eng added.

The specific law has been subjected to many challenges as it is ambiguous and not well-crafted, he added.



I think most people dont see the point of criminalising it the way the law does, in a certain sense, it may have gone overboard in criminalising it.

An attendee, who did not want to be identified, called it a good and frank discussion, without elaborating.

Another attendee, who also wanted to remain anonymous, said, Most of us are from the church, and we want to keep Section 377A. We are all religious people. Another conceded that ultimately, the younger Internet generation will rule the day.



Attendees leaving the closed-door briefing at the St Andrew Cathedral Prayer Halls on 18 September, 2018. (PHOTO: Yahoo News Singapore)

Heated discussions over Section 377A

The debate over Section 377A in Singapore, introduced in 1938, was reignited after the Supreme Court of India decided on 6 September that consensual gay sex was not a crime in the country following a two-decade legal battle.

Justice Dipak Misra had called Section 377 of the India Penal Code an odious weapon for harassment that was irrational, indefensible and manifestly arbitrary.



The landmark ruling stirred heated discussions among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) activists in Singapore arguing for a repeal of the law and those who are against such a move. Section 377A was enacted when India and Singapore were still under British colonial rule.

Veteran Singapore diplomat Tommy Koh, who is Ambassador-at-Large, waded into the debate when he encouraged Singapores gay community to bring a class action to challenge the constitutionality of Section 377A in a Facebook post.

A Ready for Repeal petition, set up by various local LGBT groups, has garnered more than 43,000 signatories to date, including that of prominent businessman Ho Kwon Ping.

The introduction to the petition, authored by theatre director Glen Goei and legal trainee Johannes Hadi noted, How much longer must gay Singaporeans live as second class citizens; branded criminals by laws meant to protect all Singaporeans?



On the other hand, a petition calling for 377A to be retained, which has garnered over 104,000 signatures so far, called on supporters to reiterate the desire to keep the Penal Code to convey to our future generations that marriage act should only be an acceptable norm between a man and a woman.

Shanmugam had previously said the government is caught between a majority of Singaporeans opposing the repeal of the law and a growing minority who want it abolished.

The laws will have to keep pace with the changes in society, he added.

Engaging stakeholders on Penal Code Review

A WhatsApp message circulating last week signed off by Rev Dr Ngoei Foong Nghian, General Secretary of the NCCS, called on members of the council to register for a feedback session and a special briefing with pastors and church leaders offered by Shanmugam.

(SCREENCAP: WhatsApp)

The message added that the councils president, Bishop Terry Kee, attended an earlier meeting by the minister where religious leaders were briefed on aspects of the Penal Code review which will leave Section 377A untouched.

The last comprehensive review of the 150-year-old Penal Code was completed in 2007. A total of 169 recommendations have been made for the current review.

In response to queries by Yahoo News Singapore, an MHA spokesperson told Yahoo News Singapore on 13 September that the sessions are part of the governments consultation plans to canvass views on recommendations by the Penal Code Review Committee.

Besides public feedback solicited via REACH and the MHA and MinLaw websites, the two ministries have been actively engaging social sector stakeholders, commercial sector stakeholders, lawyers, law academics and students, and religious groups for their views, said the spokesperson.

We will provide a summary of the key comments received at the close of the stakeholder engagement and public consultation exercise, added the spokesperson.



Yahoo News Singapore has reached out to Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura, the Hindu Advisory Board, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore and Singapore Buddhist Federation regarding the discussions on the Penal Code review.

Separately, Yahoo News Singapore has also contacted the MHA about these discussions.

Related Singapore stories:

Thousands back petition to maintain Singapores gay sex ban

Yahoo Poll: Should Singapore keep Section 377A?Hong Kong business leaders fear there will be no end to the trade war between the worlds two biggest economic powers, with the government rolling out more support measures to help companies.

Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau Tang-wah said on Wednesday that the US-China trade war had escalated to a new level and promised to keep up dialogue with business chambers and increase insurance coverage and credit support for Hong Kong firms.

Still, the citys traders would get a temporary breathing space after US President Donald Trump on Monday announced a 10 per cent tariff would be levied on Chinese imports worth US$200 billion annually, beginning next Monday, with the levy rising to 25 per cent on January 1.

That followed two previous rounds of 25 per cent tariffs on shipments worth US$50 billion a year.

In a tit-for-tat move, Chinas Ministry of Finance said on Tuesday that a 5 to 10 per cent levy would be imposed on US$60 billion worth of American goods.

As a result of all the tariffs, 48.5 per cent of Chinese goods shipped via Hong Kong to the US would be affected, Yau said after attending an urgent meeting with leaders of the citys business chambers.

The scope of goods in the latest round of tariffs is wider, and more sectors are affected, Yau said.

That was despite the product list of goods affected being cut by 286 items to 5,745 after a public comment period in the US.

Seafood, vegetables, nuts, fruits, grains, jam, peanut butter, tobacco, chemicals, car parts, textiles and garments, vehicles, batteries and furniture were on the list while smartwatches and Bluetooth gear, among others, were removed.

Some exporters said Trumps decision to implement a lower tariff until the end of the year was to minimise the impact on US retailers during the big shopping season between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Trump warned on Tuesday of great and fast economic retaliation against China if Beijing targeted American farmers, ranchers or industrial workers.

Story continues

Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce chairman Aron Harilela said Trumps strategies were causing uncertainty.

The Trump administration has an economic agenda, but it also has a political agenda, and the problem with such a combined agenda is we cannot see the end of this trade war, he said.

Hong Kong companies are caught in the crossfire of the two economic giants.

The Hong Kong Export Credit Insurance Corporation introduced extra measures on Tuesday, including offering a deeper 30 per cent discount on premiums for small business policyholders compared with 20 per cent previously.

Small business policyholders would have a bigger credit limit on US importers, as it was raised 20 per cent to HK$5 million (US$641,000).

Hong Kong Productivity Council chairman Willy Lin Sun-mo said some Hong Kong manufacturers in mainland China were racing to deliver products by air ahead of the tariffs on Monday.

Federation of Hong Kong Industries chairman Jimmy Kwok Chun-wah urged local companies to diversify further into markets in Asean countries as the government had called for.

The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations economic bloc has a bilateral free trade agreement with Hong Kong.

The escalating trade war prompted the governments trade promotion body, Hong Kong Trade and Development Council, to downgrade its forecast for the citys exports growth to 3 per cent this year from 6 per cent previously. It said electronics, clothing and jewellery were among sectors with the biggest concerns about a slowdown.

This article Latest rounds of US-China trade war leave Hong Kong business leaders fearing there is no end in sight to dispute first appeared on South China Morning Post

For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018.EasyPay helps remove the hassle of visiting banks, filling up physical forms, or the three to five days processing wait time via Bank Telegraphic Transfers

EasyPay Transfers, a cross-border trade payments company in Malaysia, has raised US$500,000 (~RM2 million) in seed funding from a group of unnamed local investors.

The startup will use the money to open more corridors, primarily in countries that Malaysia businesses trade with, such as Indonesia, Taiwan, India, Vietnam and Hong Kong. A portion of the investment will also go into team expansion, as per an official media statement.

EasyPay was launched in March this year with an intention to facilitate cross-border payments for business to their counterparts in China. In the last several years, the trade between China and Malaysia has boomed, with total imports from the Asian giant accumulating to RM164 billion (US$40 billion) in 2017. This means there is an equal demand for businesses to perform cross-border trade payments to their Chinese counterparts.

EasyPay helps SMEs process payments to China within 24 hours. Instead of submitting paperwork, EasyPay allows all processes to be completed online  from registration to document submission for payment. EasyPay helps remove the hassle of visiting banks, filling up physical forms, or the three to five days processing wait time via Bank Telegraphic Transfers (TT).

EasyPay focuses on businesses that are under-served by banks. These businesses are typically micro traders, sole proprietors, and other such smaller enterprises who would otherwise not enjoy preferential rates and enhanced service levels that banks typically offer only to large businesses.

Also Read: Malaysian fintech startup MyCash in talks to raise US$2M for expansion into Australia, Europe

SMEs are generally overlooked by banks because their transaction volumes are small, or they dont have a proper credit history. Most of them still need to queue at the bank counters, and pay higher exchange rates for international transfers, said Felix Yew, General Manager of EasyPay Transfers.

Story continues

The startup charges a standard transfer fee of RM15 (US$3.6) regardless of transaction size. Additionally, EasyPays exchange rates are easily 50 per cent lower than what banks offer, it said.

The genesis of EasyPay happened when its founders, who have immense experience in the financial services, technology and procurement industries, realised how inconvenient it was to make international business payments at the banks. They realised that making international business payments, especially to China, was an expensive affair coupled with endless visits to the bank to comply to documentary requirements. The post- transaction service levels provided by banks were also not stellar, as it was usually difficult to get clarity on the status of payment transactions especially when a transaction exception occurred.

We thought of how we could make cross-border remittances more accessible and affordable for smaller businesses. So we looked at how we can leverage on technology to bridge this gap, said Jared Ang, Co-founder of EasyPay. By focusing on making cross-border payments more efficient for businesses, we believe we will be able to help thousands of small businesses grow.

The post Malaysias cross-border trade payments startup EasyPay raises US$500K funding appeared first on e27.Malaysia's toppled leader Najib Razak was arrested Wednesday and will be charged over allegations that $628 million linked to state investment fund 1MDB ended up in his personal bank accounts, officials said. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission said in a statement that it had detained Najib as part of its investigations into the fund and "the entry of 2.6 billion ringgit ($628 million) into his personal account". Allegations that huge sums were looted from the investment vehicle by Najib and his cronies were a major factor in the shock defeat of his long-ruling coalition at elections in May to a reformist alliance headed by Mahathir Mohamad. Since losing power, Najib has already been arrested and hit with seven charges related to claims he pocketed some $10 million from a former unit of 1MDB. However his arrest Wednesday related directly to one of the most damaging allegations in the long-running scandal -- that huge sums from the fund flowed into his bank accounts ahead of a hotly contested election in 2013. When the allegations surfaced in 2015, they dramatically ratcheted up the scandal surrounding Najib and his inner circle. The attorney-general later cleared him of any wrongdoing, saying the money was a personal donation from the Saudi royal family. Najib will appear in court Thursday afternoon to be charged over the allegations, the anti-corruption commission said.Maldivians travel on the China-funded Sinamale bridge in Male Maldivians travel on the China-funded Sinamale bridge in Male, Maldives September 18, 2018. REUTERS/Ashwa Faheem

By Alasdair Pal

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - A victory for President Abdulla Yameen in a Sunday election in the Maldives could ramp up pressure on its finances, as the government stays the course on a Chinese-backed infrastructure boom that is in danger of swamping the economy.

The Maldives under Yameen has grown closer to China - to the alarm of traditional ally India - with China funding roads, bridges and an extension to the international airport as part of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) of infrastructure projects in almost 70 countries from Mongolia to Montenegro.

But a Chinese takeover of a port in neighbouring Sri Lanka and problems in several other countries have led to fears the initiative is a debt trap to hook countries into China's sphere. China dismisses that.

Yameen is seeking a second five-year term in the Indian Ocean archipelago known for its sun-kissed tourist beaches and diving.

His main rivals have been jailed on charges ranging from terrorism to attempting to topple the government, leading to doubts abroad about the legitimacy of the vote.

The Maldives, a small economy heavily reliant on tourism, is one of the most at-risk countries of any involved with the BRI to the distress of debt, said the Center for Global Development, a Washington D.C.-based think-tank tracking the initiative.

The center, using publicly available information, estimates Chinas loans to the Maldives at $1.3 billion  more than a quarter of its annual gross domestic product.

GRAPHIC - Maldives: Chinese dominance reut.rs/2MJ4JT4

An exiled former prime minister, Mohamed Nasheed, who wants to renegotiate the deals with China, told Reuters in June the loans could be more than $2.5 billion, without citing his source.

Scott Morris of the Center for Global Development said China's loans gave it a dominant role.

"That raises concerns to have such a dominant role being played by another government, Morris told Reuters.

You have to think about what happens in a case of distress  who calls the shots in that situation. China is not bound by the kinds of standards that other major creditors are.

Story continues

The two ratings agencies covering the country, Fitch and Moodys, both rate the Maldives as sub-investment grade, and the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund see a high likelihood of distress if current spending continues.

Moodys cut its outlook to negative in July, citing the boom in infrastructure spending as a cause for concern.

"They have a massive infrastructure programme and, as part of that, they have been raising debt, Anushka Shah from the rating agency told Reuters.

There has been a big increase in debt since the infrastructure projects started."

Fitch rates its outlook as "stable", but also cautioned over rising debt in its last update on the country in May.

Yameen has brushed off worries.

"The international community believes the Maldives can settle the debts, he told a question and answer session organised by the Maldives National University on Sunday. We are bringing foreign investment that is the biggest the country has seen.

He declined to comment further when contacted by Reuters.

POLITICAL RISK

The Maldives economy has grown by an average of 6 percent a year for the last five years, buoyed by tourism and construction, according to Fitch.

But both ratings agencies urged investors to be cautious in February after the Supreme Court freed political prisoners, against the wishes of Yameen, sparking a political crisis and leading several countries including China and the United States, to warm their citizens against travel there.

"We take into account fairly elevated political risk in our rating, said Shah.

"Political tensions affect policy and could also have some spill-over into the tourism sector.

The political tension had little impact on visitor numbers, the government said, reporting that arrivals rose more than 10 percent year-on-year in the first seven months of 2018 - though visits from China, its biggest market, fell by more than 8 percent.

The infrastructure boom is effectively a "bet" on being able to grow these numbers, said Morris.

"But in the meantime, they have to be able to service that debt as it comes due," he said.

(Reporting by Alasdair Pal, Additional reporting by Mohamed Junayd in MALE and Shihar Aneez in COLOMBO; Editing by Robert Birsel)A screencap of one of the fraudulent websites.(GRAPHIC: gov.sg/factually)

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) on Wednesday (19 September) warned of a second fake website using fabricated comments attributed to MAS Chairman and Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam to solicit bitcoin investments.

A screencap of a page hosted on website positivebathhour.com displayed a picture of Tharman along with the headline: Tharman Shanmugaratnam launches hi-tech digital project for Singaporians (sic). This will make you rich in just seven days.



(SCREENCAP: MAS)

This comes a day after the authority warned of a similar website containing an article that falsely attributed comments to Tharman.

In Tuesdays statement, the MAS said that the article was highly deceptive and misleading.

The statements attributed to DPM Tharman are completely false, apart from his observation that trading volumes in cryptocurrency are low in Singapore, said the authority.

The article, hosted at gulfweedcrab.com according to a screencap provided by the MAS, was titled: Tharman Shanmugaratnam invests $1 billion for all Singapore residents. Use his method to become rich in just 7 days!

It also described Tharman as a venture capitalist who announced that Singapore is stepping into the bitcoin cryptocurrency market.

(SCREENCAP: MAS)

The website also called for readers to sign up for a Bitcoin account and requested for credit card or bank account details.

The authority called for the public to exercise extreme caution when dealing with such websites and to avoid providing any financial or personal information to them.

It added that those who suspect that an investment could be fraudulent or misused for other unlawful activities should report such cases to the police.

The MAS had earlier issued an advisory on 19 December last year to warn the public of the risks of cryptocurrency investments.

DPM Tharman had in fact stated in a reply to a Parliamentary Question on 5 February 2018 that Singaporeans could lose their shirts when they invest money in cryptocurrencies, it added.

Story continues

Other Singapore stories:

Two power generating units tripping caused 18 Sept blackout: EMAs initial probe

Fashionable not to own or drive a car in Singapore: Sitoh Yih Pin

East-West Line delay due to switch mechanism problem: Janil PuthuchearyThe European Union on Wednesday ended a long-running investigation into the tax arrangements between US fast food giant McDonald's and Luxembourg, finding the setup did not amount to illegal state aid. With the decision, the maker of Big Mac and McNuggets escapes the fate of US giants Apple, Starbucks and Amazon, which were ordered by the EU to repay big amounts in back taxes, angering Washington. "Luxembourg did not break EU state aid rules," EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager told a news briefing in Brussels, though she carefully added that the company had managed to escape tax, albeit legally. The case stemmed from a complaint by trade unions and the charity War on Want accusing McDonald's of avoiding around one billion euros ($1.2 billion) in taxes between 2009 and 2013 by shifting profits from one corporate division to another. "Of course, the fact remains that McDonald's did not pay any taxes in Luxembourg on these profits -- and this is not how it should be from a tax fairness point of view," Vestager said. But the commissioner said she welcomed that Luxembourg was in the process of closing tax loopholes related to the EU's investigations. These would "avoid such situations in the future," she said. Specifically, the Commission investigated whether the arrangements meant McDonald's paid no tax in Luxembourg nor any dues to US authorities, under special treaties between Washington and the duchy. The EU found that the deals complied with national law and could not be seen as an unfair advantage handed the fast food conglomerate by Luxembourg at the expense of others. McDonald's said it welcomed the decision and insisted it paid fair taxes in Europe. "We pay the taxes that are owed and, from 2013-2017, McDonald's companies paid more than $3 billion just in corporate income taxes in the European Union with an average tax rate approaching 29 percent," a McDonald's spokesperson said. - 'Missed opportunity' - Launched in 2015, the case against one of the world's most iconic companies followed the LuxLeaks affair, which revealed that top global companies had negotiated lower tax rates, in some cases as low as one percent, in secret pacts with Luxembourg. Luxembourg itself has been hit by negative decisions from Brussels -- including a payback demand against Amazon for 250 million euros. McDonald's fate is in stark contrast to the spectacular decision against iPhone-maker Apple, which was handed a record 14 billion-euro tax bill over its arrangements in Ireland. "The commission has missed an opportunity to tackle McDonald's," said Owen Espley, senior campaigner at War on Want, the complainant in the case. "Our report showed that it is dodging over 1 billion euros across the EU. And it's not just a question of paying fair taxes - McDonald's is not paying fair wages either," he added. In May, European and US labour unions accused McDonald's of choosing Britain as its new international tax hub in face of the crackdown in the EU. This raised alarms that the company was seeking to benefit from Brexit.The Ministry of Manpower has suspended the license of SRC Recruitment LLP for its Carousell ads of Indonesian maids for sale. (SCREENCAP: maid.recruitment/Carousell)

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has suspended the license of the employment agency which posted online ads offering Indonesian maids for sale on Carousell and may prosecute the agency upon investigation.

In a media statement issued on Wednesday (19 September), the ministry stated that SRC Recruitment LLP has been served with a notice of licence suspension and can no longer emplace any new foreign domestic workers.

The ministry added that it is investigating into the agency with the view to take prosecution actions for infringements under the Employment Agencies Act.

Kevin Teoh, Commissioner for Employment Agencies, stressed that the ministry is committed to protect the well-being of maids and strongly condemns the advertising of their services in an undignified manner.

Advertising FDWs on an internet platform meant for trading goods is completely inappropriate and unacceptable. Such an act is an offence under the EAA, said Teoh. The ministry takes a very serious view on this matter, and we will not hesitate to take prosecution actions on errant employment agencies.

The MOM had put out a post on Facebook immediately to warn employment agencies against such practices, after it was alerted to the postings on Carousell last Friday.

The posts on the e-commerce site were advertised under the username maid.recruitment and reportedly offered the services of several helpers from Indonesia, while some ads indicated maids had been sold.

The posts have since been removed.

The MOM expects all EAs to exercise a duty of care towards their clients, including FDWs. The Ministry sternly warns EAs against similar actions that would denigrate the dignity of FDWs working in Singapore, said the ministry.

The MOM has informed the Indonesian embassy that the ministry is investigating the case.

Wahyu Susilo, executive director of Indonesian NGO Migrant Care, told AFP on Wednesday that the group strongly condemned the adverts and called for those behind them to be brought to justice.

Story continues

This is very unjust and demeaning to the migrant workers dignity, said Wahyu, according to the AFP report.

Related story:

Anger at Singapore ads offering Indonesian maids for saleMoscow on Tuesday summoned the ambassadors of Switzerland and the Netherlands over what it called "unsubstantiated accusations" that Russian spies had attempted to hack Swiss targets. Swiss envoy Yves Rossier was told such "confrontational rhetoric" could seriously harm otherwise constructive ties between the two countries, Moscow's foreign ministry said. A separate statement said Dutch ambassador Renee Jones-Bos had been summoned in connection to a media "campaign to whip up spy mania". Swiss officials have said that Russian agents launched separate cyber attacks on the Spiez laboratory in Bern and the Lausanne office of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The lab, which does analytical work for the Hague-based Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), was investigating the poisoning of Russian double agent Sergei Skripal in Britain. WADA for its part has been a thorn in Moscow's side for several years over drug cheating in Russian sport. Dutch officials and media reports said the spies were arrested in the Netherlands and then expelled. Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis is due to meet with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in New York next week over the spat.Nineteen men are dead, with another 14 in critical condition, after falling ill with suspected alcohol poisoning.

Health Ministry officials confirmed that a total of 51 men became unwell after consuming three different alcohol brands, labeled as Mandalay Whiskey, Kingfisher Beer, and Grand Royal Whiskey. All were purchased from different shops in and around the wider metropolitan Kuala Lumpur area on Mondays public holiday.

The Star reports that all victims had a history of consuming compounded hard liquor, a cheap mix of two or more spirits, that may also contain ethanol or distillates of agricultural origin.

Unscrupulous, cost-cutting, profit hungry manufacturers have been known to cut beverages with cheaper, chemically produced alcohols.

Health Ministry director-general Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah has said that the victims showed signs of methanol poisoning, where even a drinking a small amount could lead to death.

Other symptoms include methanol poisoning, including stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, headaches and blurred vision, sometimes leading to shortness of breath, cramps and sudden unconsciousness.

Min Laung, a Burmese national, and one of the men who was poisoned, had his company supervisor rush him to hospital after he fell ill. Speaking to national news agency Bernama, S. Rajalingam said that it was not unusual for his 15-year employee Min Laung to go for a weekend drink with friends. However, on Monday he and three others only drank 500ml of alcohol before falling dangerously ill. Bringing a sample of the alcohol to the hospital for authorities to check, he added that he will be filing a police report over the incident.

Min Laung in hospital, with his employer via Bernama Facebook

Min Laung currently lies in critical condition in hospital.

Forty-eight of the victims are foreign nationals from Myanmar, Nepal, Bangladesh and India, and three of the men are from Malaysia. Officials expect the number of cases to grow, as many are unaware of the dangers. Two shops have since been raided in the Kampung Baru Sungai Buloh area of Kuala Lumpur, and cases of suspected hazardous alcohol have been seized by police.

Story continues

Last year, authorities moved to raise the price of compounded hard liquors sold in coffee shops, and convenient stores, from RM5 (US$1.25) for a 700ml bottle, to RM50 (US$17). Officials hope that it would curb consumption of the cheap liquor that was taking an especially hard toll on Malaysias poor.

via Duty Free blog

Worried you might be buying fake alcohol? Well, a few tips for you. First, buy from a trusted shop  that tiny corner shop purporting to sell single-malt whisky next to dodgy Ray-Bans is probably not worth the risk. Same goes for inexplicably cheap alcohol: No self-respecting Johnnie Walker Blue retails for US$10. Have you had the alcohol before? Make sure it looks and smells consistent with what youve had previously. If it doesnt, discard. Make sure the packaging is in order  correct spelling, unwrinkled labels (a sign of re-bottling), protective seals, bar codes etc.

Stay safe out there, and we hope that each victim is able to recover soon.

The post Nineteen dead, 14 in critical condition, more to come say health authorities over suspected alcohol poisoning appeared first on Coconuts.Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra greets Prime Minister Cesar Villanueva outside Government Palace in Lima Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra greets Prime Minister Cesar Villanueva outside Government Palace in Lima, Peru September 19, 2018. Courtesy of Presidential Palace/Handout via REUTERS

LIMA (Reuters) - Peru's centrist President Martin Vizcarra said on Wednesday he was confident lawmakers would renew their confidence in his Cabinet and avert a situation that could lead to the dissolution of his Cabinet and Congress.

Vizcarra called for a vote of confidence late on Sunday to ensure passage of four proposed bills aimed at fighting entrenched graft and rebuilding trust in public institutions following back-to-back scandals in recent years.

By making the legislation a matter of confidence in his government, Vizcarra hopes to check the power of the majority opposition party Popular Force that helped topple his predecessor six months ago.

A vote of no-confidence would force Vizcarra to replace his entire Cabinet. But, because Congress has already voted out one Cabinet in this government, he would also be authorized by the constitution to call new legislative elections in response.

I have "total confidence in receiving the vote of confidence today," Vizcarra told journalists outside the presidential palace surrounded by his Cabinet. "The four bills must be approved."

Popular Force, led by twice-defeated presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori, has not yet announced its position on the vote of confidence. Popular Force lawmaker Hector Becerril said Vizcarra wanted to turn Congress into "an appendage of the executive branch," adding in a plenary session on Wednesday that he personally was in favour of a no-confidence vote.

But with their jobs on the line, lawmakers unanimously passed one of the four bills on Tuesday and the head of Congress said the remaining three would be approved by Oct. 4, in time to put them to voters in a December referendum as Vizcarra wants.

Vizcarra's proposals, which require modifying the constitution, include a new system for selecting judges, a return to a bi-cameral Congress, stricter campaign financing rules and a ban on the re-election of lawmakers. He pitched them in July after an influence-peddling scandal in the judiciary triggered street protests and deepened distrust in institutions.

Story continues

Prime Minister Cesar Villanueva warned lawmakers not to ignore widespread calls for change. "We see the current situation as a great opportunity to generate more credibility and legitimacy in politics," Villanueva said.

Peru, a regional mining powerhouse, has one of Latin America's most stable economies despite bouts of political instability in the past year.

Former President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski resigned in a graft scandal in March on the eve of a second impeachment vote backed by Popular Force. Vizcarra, who had been Kuczynski's vice president, replaced him with promises to fight corruption "at any cost."

(Reporting by Mitra Taj; editing by David Gregorio and Susan Thomas)The centuries-long hunt for the remains of famed ship the Endeavour -- the vessel used by James Cook on a voyage of discovery to Australia and New Zealand -- could be nearing an end. A team of marine archaeologists from Australia and the United States said Wednesday they believe they may have found the site where the vessel was scuttled in 1778. "Early indications are that the team has narrowed the possible site for the wreck of HMB Endeavour to one site, which is very promising," said Kevin Sumption, head of the Australian National Maritime Museum. That site is in Newport Harbour in the US state of Rhode Island. "A lot more detailed work, analysis and research has to happen before we can definitively say we have found the remains of James Cook's HMB Endeavour," Sumption cautioned. The Endeavour has entered popular lore thanks to Cook's voyages, which brought the British into contact with New Zealand and eastern Australia and foreshadowed the colonisation of the continent. Today a replica of the cramped and surprisingly small vessel sits in Sydney's Darling Harbour, as a reminder of a pivotal point in the history of modern Australia. After being used by Cook the Endeavour was decommissioned and sold to a commercial owner. It was scuttled with 12 other vessels in Newport Harbour during the American War of Independence in 1778, but the remains have never been found. Almost since it was sunk a series of expeditions have sought to find the ship or relics from it.FILE PHOTO: A man attends a protest rally in reaction to the murder of Slovak investigative reporter Jan Kuciak and his fiancee Martina Kusnirova, in Bratislava, Slovakia April 5, 2018. The placard shows portraits of Jan Kuciak and Martina Kusnirova and reads "Not enough". REUTERS/Radovan Stoklasa

BRATISLAVA (Reuters) - Slovak authorities have identified a possible witness in the murder of Slovak journalist Jan Kuciak, whose killing last February led mass protests that forced the government to resign, a state prosecutor said on Monday.

It was the first development in the case in the six months since the murder.

"This person may have been present at or close to the crime scene around the time the crime was committed and may hve information about the crime," the prosecutor overseeing the case told a news conference.

He declined to answer questions on whether that person was a suspect or just a witness.

Kuciak, who had written about political corruption in Slovakia, was found shot dead along with his fiancee Martina Kusnirova at their home outside Bratislava in February. They were both 27.

The murder - which police have called a profesional hit - raised fears over media freedom in ex-communist Eastern Europe, and led to mass protests across the nation that forced the departure of previous police chief Tibor Gaspar as well as Prime Minister Robert Fico and interior minister Robert Kalinak.

The cabinet was reshuffled with Fico's deputy Peter Pellegrini taking over as prime minister but the three-party centre-left coalition stayed in power.

The prosecutor, who declined to give his name, said authorities had also whittled down possible motives to two.

He held up a sketch of the possible witness depicting a white man with a beard and dark hair who appeared to be in his late 20s to early 30s. He provided no other details.

"Despite initial mistakes in investigation, we have narrowed down possible motives from 30 to two," the prosecutor said. "I believe we will be successful in the end."

The update on Monday came after more than 300 Slovak journalists and publishers last month criticised police for the lack of progress in the murder investigation and alleged corruption described by Kuciak.

"As no fundamental changes to the police or to the prosecutorial bodies have taken place, we have doubts about the independence of the investigation," they said in a statement.

Kuciak had covered Slovak businessmen mentioned in the Panama Papers and also probed fraud cases involving businessmen with Slovak political ties. He had also been looking into suspected mafia links of Italians with businesses in Slovakia.

(Reporting By Tatiana Jancarikova, Editing by Michael Kahn and Angus MacSwan)Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin sought to defuse a crisis on Tuesday after Syrian defences mistakenly downed a Russian warplane after Israeli air strikes. The incident late Monday was the deadliest known case of friendly fire between Syria and its key backer Russia since Moscow's game-changing 2015 military intervention. Putin said it was the result of "tragic accidental circumstances". The Ilyushin plane dropped off the radar over the Mediterranean after Turkey and Russia announced a deal that offered millions of people reprieve from a threatened military assault in northern Syria's Idlib province. The deadly chain of events started when Israeli missiles struck the coastal region of Latakia. Israel said it had targeted a Syrian military facility where weapons manufacturing systems were "about to be transferred on behalf of Iran" to Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah. It sees Iran's military presence in Syria as a threat, and Netanyahu told Putin by phone on Tuesday his forces would keep acting against it. "Israel is determined to stop Iranian military entrenchment in Syria, and the attempts by Iran, which calls for the destruction of Israel, to transfer to Hezbollah lethal weaponry (to be used) against Israel," said Netanyahu. Israel expressed "sorrow" for the Russian deaths, but insisted the Russian plane had been felled by "extensive and inaccurate Syrian anti-aircraft (surface-to-air missile) fire". Putin said Russia would beef up security for its forces in Syria, in what he called "steps that everyone will notice". The Kremlin said Putin also warned Netanyahu against carrying out such operations in the future. Putin "reminded" Netanyahu that such operations "violated Syrian sovereignty" and said "agreements around the prevention of dangerous incidents were not observed". "The president of Russia urged the Israeli side not to allow such situations from now on," it added. The plane, downed by Syria's Russian-made S-200 air defence system, had a crew of 15 who were all killed, Moscow said. The Russian military accused Israeli pilots of using "the Russian plane as a cover, exposing it to fire from Syrian air defences". Israel denied the accusations, saying its jets were already back in Israeli airspace when Syrian forces launched the missiles that hit the Russian plane. Russia stressed the incident would have no impact on the Idlib deal, but warned Israel of reprisals and summoned its envoy in Moscow. - 'Tragic miscalculation' - US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also expressed "sorrow" over the Russian deaths, and said the incident showed "the danger of tragic miscalculation in Syria's crowded theatre of operations". The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said some missiles, suspected to be Israeli, did get through the Syrian defences and struck ammunition depots at the site of the technical industries institute. Rami Abdel Rahman, the head of the Britain-based monitoring group, said at least two fighters were killed and 10 wounded in the strike. Israel has conducted frequent raids in recent months against Syria's military infrastructure, including against bases it believes host Iranian combatants. Earlier in September, Israel admitted carrying out 200 strikes in Syria over the past 18 months. The Syrian blunder came hot on the heels of a major deal announced by Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan after talks in the Russian resort of Sochi. The two key actors agreed to create a demilitarised zone, 15-20 kilometres (9-12 miles) wide, along the line of contact between rebels and regime troops in the Idlib region. That would be implemented by October 15 and would entail a withdrawal of all jihadist fighters from the area. The demilitarised zone will be secured with the help of "mobile patrol groups of Turkish contingents and contingents of Russian military police", Putin said. By the end of the year, transport routes must be restored between Latakia and Aleppo, as well as those linking the port to Hama city, he added. - Distrust in Idlib - Iran, the third member of the so-called Astana process aimed at ending Syria's seven-year war, praised the deal as an example of "responsible diplomacy". United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said the accord should avert an all-out military assault on the rebel stronghold and "provide reprieve for millions of civilians". Damascus, which has regained swathes of territory thanks to deadly Russian-backed offensives in recent months, welcomed the Sochi agreement. But the deal was met with distrust by some of the three million Syrians living in the Idlib region. "The decision that came out was just a partial one. It doesn't solve the Syrian people's problem," said Wassim Sweid, one of hundreds of protesters who gathered in the rebel-held town of Binnish. "In my opinion, this agreement will not put a stop to the shelling." The UN had warned a fully-fledged ground assault could spark the worst humanitarian catastrophe yet in a conflict that has killed more than 360,000 people.Senior Vatican officials tell Taiwan 'not to over-interpret' deal with mainland on bishop appointments

Taiwan has received assurances from the Holy See that a potential deal with mainland China over the appointment of bishops would not have political or diplomatic connotations for the self-ruled island, Taiwans foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

The Holy See, the central government of the Catholic Church, is among only 17 states to have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, which Beijing sees as a breakaway province.

An agreement  if it materialises  would end a long-standing dispute between the Vatican and the worlds most populous country, but the prospect has raised fears that it could cost Taiwan its only diplomatic ally in Europe.

Taiwans foreign ministry said on Thursday that information from various sources indicated an agreement was most likely to be signed in September or October.

On Friday, The Wall Street Journal reported that two people familiar with the negotiations had said a deal could be signed as early as this month.

Responding to media questions about the possible deal, Taiwan ministry spokesman Andrew Lee said on Tuesday that diplomats had been in touch with high-level officials in the Vatican and were abreast of the negotiations progress.

Lee said senior officials from the Vatican Secretariat of State had said an agreement on bishop appointments was only about handling Catholic affairs on the mainland with no political or diplomatic connotations.

Todays comments echo an interview the islands ambassador to the Holy See, Matthew Lee, gave to Taiwans Central News Agency.

Matthew Lee said senior Vatican officials had made the point clearly on several occasions, and asked all sides not to over-interpret the situation.

The self-ruled island has lost five allies over the past two years, as Beijing stepped up pressure to squeeze its international space after the 2016 election of Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party.

Story continues

Beijing and the Holy See have not had diplomatic ties since 1951, when the newly established communist government expelled the Popes representative from the mainland.

Since then, Catholics in mainland China  estimated to number around 12 million  have been divided between the government-sanctioned Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association and an underground church that swears allegiance to the Pope.

Previous attempts for rapprochement have been stalled because of disputes over who has the power to appoint bishops in the country. But negotiations sped up when Pope Francis was selected to lead the church in 2013, and reports have increased that the two sides may be closing in on a deal.

In February, Reuters reported that a framework accord on the appointment of bishops was ready and could be signed in a few months, citing a senior Vatican source.

The Catholic News Agency also reported at the time that the agreement could occur as early as the spring.

Amid the discussions China has also continued to tighten its grip on religion in the country.

Earlier this month, a draft regulation proposed a ban on all foreigners from using the internet to promote and preach religion in China, prohibiting live-streaming and online broadcasts, and requiring licences from provincial religious affairs departments for sanctioned church groups.

The draft came one day after authorities in Beijing shut down the Zion Church, known as the biggest Protestant house church in the capital.

New rules put in place in February also increased penalties for unofficial congregations, as well as unregistered religious activities among practitioners of Islam and Buddhism.

This article Senior Vatican officials tell Taiwan 'not to over-interpret' deal with mainland on bishop appointments first appeared on South China Morning Post

For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018.Even among the many tales of malignant silliness we hear about the Trump administration on a regular basis, stories like a porn star comparing the presidents penis to a beloved, mushroom-headed Mario Kart character dont just come around every day. (Every year, maybe.) And when they do come around, late-night writers arent about to let that kind of opportunity slide: On Tuesday, Seth Meyers addressed a leaked detail from Stormy Daniels memoir, in which she noted the likeness between Donald Trumps penis and Toad, with a joke about one of his shows own recurring segments: For once, Im gonna say, lets not take A Closer Look.

Thats a joke about the news, Meyers continued. You might be saying, How dare you make a joke about a penis looking like a video game character. Thats the fucking news right now. In the same monologue, Meyers also addressed the presidents meeting with Polish president Andrzej Duda, Arbys giving out free tattoos, and news that The Conners may kill off Roseanne Barrs character with an overdose: If its on Ambien, lets hope they dont say her last words.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.

Summers heat wave might still be fresh in our minds, but it wont be long before the weather starts to change and well be complaining about polar vortices and Arctic blasts once again. And, of course, the havoc all that snow and sleet can wreak on our footwear. So if youre beginning to refresh your winter-shoe wardrobe, or pulling old pairs out of storage, it isnt too early to think about taking preventative measures thatll keep your feet dry and your shoes in like-new condition.

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The right products and methods for weatherproofing shoes depends on their specific material and how you plan on using them. We asked a cobbler, a stylist, and a footwear-industry pro to break down the best way to protect all your winter shoesfrom delicate suede clogs to rugged snow boots. Scope their picks belowyour January self will thank you.

Best Protector for High-End Leather and Suede Shoes

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If you just dropped a lot of money on a pair of calfskin-leather heels or suede booties, youre definitely going to want to protect them from the elements. Edward Andrade, of Cesars Shoe Repair in Manhattan, generally advises avoiding wearing your nicer shoes in bad weather, but since you never know when youll get caught in the rain, its still important to treat them with a gentle product. If the products are silicone-based or greasy, theyll change the finish of the shoe, he says, and instead recommends this lightweight Meltonian spray that repels water without altering the look or feel of your shoes. You can also spritz it on leather and suede coats and jackets.

BUY: Meltonian Water & Stain Protector

$12, Amazon

Best Protectors for Everyday Leather Shoes

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Less precious shoes can handle a more heavy-duty spray, like this one from Spanish leather-care company Tarrago that incorporates nanotechnologytiny particles that fill tiny openings in the leather to block water from getting in. Leather is porous; its essentially a skin, and like our skin it has pores, so it breathes and takes in water through its pores, says Andrade. Nanotechnology puts on a coating, sealing the pores so water wont seep in. It keeps water from penetrating.

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BUY: Tarrago Hightech Nano Protector Spray

$13, Amazon

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When San Diegobased personal stylist Vanessa Valientes clients ask her how to protect their leather shoes, she recommends Kiwis silicone-based spray. Silicone bonds to leather creating a barrier that keeps moisture out. Andrade agrees that while silicone-based products can be too harsh on fine or light-colored leathers, theyre very useful for dark-colored and black leather shoes that youll be wearing all winter. He says to spray your boots or shoes once a month to maintain the protective layer, paying special attention to the edge of the seam where the sole meets the upper, a common spot for water to leak in.

BUY: Kiwi Boot Protector

$13, Amazon

Best Protectors for Everyday Suede Shoes

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Soft suede footwear requires special treatment. Suede is like having a shoe thats a sponge, so anything that falls on it will be picked up, says Andrade. A material-specific sprayValiente likes this one from Scotchgardmakes suede less absorptive without damaging the shoe.

BUY: Scotchgard Suede & Nubuck

$9, Amazon

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Before treating a suede or nubuck item, you want to get the nap of the material up with a horsehair brush, says Valiente. Doing so ensures there isnt any dirt on the shoe that could get sealed in, and that the spray will be applied evenly. She says Star makes her favorite 100 percent horsehair-bristle brushes, which are gentle enough to not snag or pull on the delicate fabric. Wait a few hours for the protectant spray to absorb, and then brush again to restore texture.

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BUY: Star Professional Horsehair Shoe Shine Brush

$11, Amazon

Best Protectors for Heavy-Duty Snow Shoes

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For shoes youll be wearing on the slushiest of winter daysor even hiking muddy or snowy trailsbreak out the beeswax. Its Andrades pick for everything from hiking to ski trips because, after applying, it dries as a solid wax that makes boots impregnable to wetness. Paul Ronto, avid outdoorsman and content director at shoe review site RunRepeat likes Sno-Seals beeswax formula for weatherproofing any leather boots. Boots without a waterproof lining will never be 100 percent waterproof, but leather treated right can get pretty close, he says.

BUY: Atsko Sno-Seal Original Beeswax Waterproofing Leather Protector

$8, Amazon

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Like beeswax, mink oil is a heavy-duty protectant that should be reserved for shoes you dont mind altering the look of slightly. Andrade says applying mink oil will change the finish of [the shoe] and act like a layer of wax on a brand-new car. If you do that once every two months, itll keep your feet super dry. The paste wont damage leather though, and is one of the best ways to protect your feet from extreme weather.

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BUY: Fiebings Mink Oil Paste

$8, Amazon

Best for Removing Stains

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All of the products above will repel saltboth the small amount naturally found in rain and the heavy layers poured on streets and sidewalkswhich can cause leather to burn and bubble, but theres always the chance some will seep in. If your shoes do end up stained, Andrade says its important to remove the stain instead of simply polishing the shoe, which will imprint it further. He says to apply Fiebings stain remover to shoes and scrub the heck out of them. Let the shoes dry and repeat the process if the stain isnt gone.

BUY: Fiebings Salt Stain Remover

$6, AmazonCaitlin Flanagans recent Atlantic piece, I Believe Her, is a personal essay about her own teenage sexual assault that doubles as an argument to reconsider Brett Kavanaughs nomination to the Supreme Court. Its proved convincing, even to the kind of centrist thinkers who might be otherwise skeptical about #MeToo overreach. The essay is gorgeous and forceful, in that Flanagan way. But the fact that this is the #MeToo testimony that moves people who wouldnt otherwise be moved seems at once revealing and depressing.

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The best, and most clarifying, paragraph in Flanagans piece explains why she told nobody about the incident when it first happened. This attempted rape took place on Long Island in 1978, at a time when Flanagan was a recent transplant from Berkeley, California, and longed to make friends. A socially desirable boy offered her a ride home, then lunged at her. Flanagan writes: His attempt was so seriousand he was so powerfulthat for a few minutes, I was truly fighting him off. But she keeps it secret.

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In my mind, it was an example of how undesirable I was. It was proof that I was not the kind of girl you took to parties, or the kind of girl you wanted to get to know. I was the kind of girl you took to a deserted parking lot and tried to make give you sex. Telling someone would not be revealing what he had done; it would be revealing how deserving I was of that kind of treatment.

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Its narratively satisfyingand also contains a few righteous men to counterbalance the bad one.

The dynamics Flanagan describes in this paragraph were immediately recognizable to many readers, who quoted these lines in their tweets. Sexual assault happens in adolescencejust as it does in adulthoodin the context of a social situation where power isnt equally distributed. This is why the fact that young Brett Kavanaugh was kind to his two girlfriends named Maura, or that he could now marshal 65 women to speak to his reputation, means nothing at all. A boy, like a man, can easily compartmentalize: He can be kind to the girls who have social power (parental wealth, popularity, whiteness, able-bodied-ness) while targeting others for less tender treatment. Its funny that conservatives, so attentive to the dynamics of hierarchy in other situations, do not factor this possible asymmetry into their analysis of mens character; it also makes it much easier for them to defend the accused.

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Flanagans essay resonates because it compellingly shows how much damage this assault did to her own self-image. But this wasnt the end of the story. The essay appeals to people who might not otherwise be #MeToo allies both because its narratively satisfying and because it contains a few righteous men to counterbalance the bad one. The attempted rape is a dark low for teenage Flanagan, but things look up when another boy asks her out. She takes a chance and drives to the beach with him and a bottle of wine. By the time he drove me back home, I felt rescued, she writes. In many ways, by that point in the story, she has indeed been rescuedshe is now in the same social circles as her would-be rapist, happily fitting in at high school, thanks in large part to her new boyfriend, who is one of the good ones.

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Male readers can see themselves in this boyfriend. Or else they hope that they might do what the assailant did, and apologize. The note that the transgressor wrote in Flanagans yearbook is articulate and moving; he apologized to her not only in writing, but also again in person. This is a story of redemption, and although the harm he did was realI had nearly killed myself as a response to what he apologized for in my yearbook, Flanagan writesthe resolution is satisfying. Flanagan eventually gets past her depression and moves on from the small, obscure liberal-arts college shes first relegated to before transferring to a great university. And then Flanagan gets the satisfaction of forgiveness.

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Everybody in this story has won; the attempted rape gets smoothed over, as if it were not a bodily assault but rather an unfortunate breach of etiquette. Would the boy have acted so righteously if Flanagan had continued as an outsider, not been absorbed into his social group and given new status and confidence through her relationship with her boyfriendif she had not become a person in his eyes?

Its easy to see why this narrative would be palatable to people who find #MeToo frightening. Flanagan pinpoints a structural social issue around datingthe idea that whatever happens is the womans faultthat was still dominant in the 70s, even as second-wave feminism began to fight it. Even then, the story argues, most men were good men of conscience (she immediately finds a nice boyfriend). And even those who behaved badly could find forgiveness through taking personal responsibility in the form of an apology.

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One ironic twist: It seems likely that the empathy and understanding that centrist or right-leaning readers of Flanagans essay are willing to extend to her come in part from her own current status in the intellectual sphere. Like the men who have deployed the as a father of daughters defense as evidence of their own empathy for women, those freshly convinced by Flanagan seem to believe her because they deem her one of them. The essay means something to somebody like David Brooks, where thousands of #MeToo tweets and essays apparently failed to make a dent, because of who Flanagan is: the kind of writer who publishes cautionary pieces about female rage being poised to destroy #MeToo and confused defenses of Jordan Peterson. Flanagan is at all the same parties, at least figuratively speaking, and so she gets the benefit of the doubt. #MeToo is an all-hands-on-deck situation, and surely we need all the testimony we can get. Flanagans piece is powerful and elegantly written. But its still telling that this is the one to move the needle.Better Life Lab is a partnership of Slate and New America.

Almost a year after the revelations about the alleged sexual assault and harassment by Harvey Weinstein that kicked off the #MeToo movement, many wonder whether it has actually led to any significant changes in workplace policies and culture. But many low-wage workers were taking novel approaches to ending workplace sexual harassment and violence long before #MeToo. In her book, In a Days Work, Bernice Yeung explains the gravity of these problems in the highest-risk, lowest-wage industries and the exciting organizing being done to stop them.

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In an excerpt from the book modified and updated for Slate, Yeung explains how two groups of workersfarmworkers and janitorshave changed their own industries from the inside out and why other industries should pay attention.

It was a muggy May morning in 2016 when about 50 farmworkers, almost a dozen of them women, emerged from a retired school bus and shuffled into the hiring office of Pacific Tomato Growers in Palmetto, Florida. They had come directly from the fields, still wearing hats and bandanas, their sleeves freshly tinted a lime-green from pulling the fruit from its leafy plants. Their shoes tracked a trail of dirt onto the industrial carpeting as they filed in to take seats in plastic chairs.

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Angel Garcia, the farms upbeat human resources manager, stood near the door and greeted each attendee as if he were a party host welcoming his guests. He shook hands, smiled broadly, and called out some longtime workers by name.

After everyone had sunk into his or her chair, Garcia set the stage.

We started developing a training for farmworkers a long time ago as a way for them to understand harassment and violence in the workplace, Garcia told the group in both Spanish and English.

The group would watch three short videos showing different scenarios involving workplace violence, and after each one, they would discuss what they had seen. Garcia paused patiently between phrases as his words were translated into Creole for the Haitian workers in the crowd.

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There was nothing particularly complicated about the training that Garcia had described. It might sound like the start of any HR-mandated session youve sat through at work, yet the training that followed is a #MeToo-era marvel that other industries are rapidly trying to adopt, a novel approach that not only creates real consequences for harassment but also prevents it from happening at all. And all this in an industry often thought to be one of the most dangerous in the country.

"We want the workers to identify with the type of violence they are likely to see. The behavior is the same anywhere, but it looks different in the fields.  Vida Legal Assistance

In low-wage work in industries such as agriculture, night-shift janitorial work, and domestic work, its been an open secret for generations that sexual harassment, assault, and even rape are problems that women encounter at work.

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The confluence of economic precariousness, language barriers, shame, fear, and immigration status have created workplaces where women who had been sexually abused believed they had no choice but to try to deflect or somehow endure the violence. The isolation that is such a core part of these jobswomen working in remote fields, empty office buildings at night, or behind closed doors of a private homemakes workers more vulnerable to attacks and creates barriers to seeking help.

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While it is not possible to know how often these abuses happen, they are not anomalies. The federal government estimates that on average, about 50 workers across the county in all industries are sexually assaulted each day. In the jobs that hire newcomers to the country in exchange for meager paychecks, such assault is a known and familiar workplace hazard.

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So whats so special about these trainings, like the one that took place at Pacific Tomato Growers? A workplace training on domestic and sexual violence in any workplace is rare. One survey found that fewer than half of employees receive general workplace-violence training, and sexual violence is not typically part of the mix. But every one of the 1,000 workers at Pacific Tomato Growers Farm No. 1 was receiving training on sexual harassment and domestic violence that week, on company time, and in the middle of the harvest.

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Beyond that, this wasnt just typical corporate training to ultimately protect the bosses from liability. Instead, it had been designed by farmworkers for farmworkers, with the goal of making it accessible in language and content for people who might be unaware that there were laws prohibiting sexual harassment and who might not know what their options were if they were victims of sexual assault or domestic abuse themselves.

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This was a conscious decision by the group that had crafted the training, a collaboration among the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (a Florida farmworker-advocacy organization), the Fair Food Standards Council (which monitors workplace conditions on farms), employers such as Pacific Tomato, and Vida Legal Assistance, which is dedicated to assisting immigrant survivors of violence.

These groups had been brought together by Futures Without Violence, an organization that has worked to counter gender-based violence for more than 30 years. In 2014, Futures Without Violence launched its Low Wage, High Risk project to address gender-based violence among vulnerable workers in three sites and five industries scattered across the country. Pacific Tomato Growers Farm No. 1 was one of them. In all three, the goal was to generate new approaches tailored to each industry.

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We want the workers to identify with the type of violence they are likely to see, says Ana Vallejo of Vida Legal Assistance. The behavior is the same anywhere, but it looks different in the fields, and the expression of it is different. Here, workers can see domestic violence and sexual violence examples that they can relate to.

Pacific Tomatos proactive prevention work is due in part to its membership in the Fair Food Program. Since its inception in 2011, the program has been explicit about its goal of reducing sexual harassment and assault in the fields. It has attracted attention and praise from the United Nations and former President Jimmy Carter because it has found a unique way to insist that workers rights are respected. The Fair Food Program isnt a unionfederal labor laws dont protect farmworkers who want to organizebut the model has improved working conditions by simultaneously teaching workers about their rights and leveraging consumer and market demand.

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Heres how it works: The Coalition of Immokalee Workers persuades growers to sign on to the program, which means they must abide by a strict code of conduct that includes better pay and zero tolerance for sexual harassment. In exchange, these growers are given an opportunity to sell to retailers such as Whole Foods or Taco Bell, which have also promised to only buy tomatoes from Fair Food farms. The program, which began in Florida, has expanded to operations in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and New Jersey, as well as pepper and strawberry crops in Florida. Dairy workers in Vermont have also launched the Milk With Dignity Program based on the Fair Food model.

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Built-in accountability for meeting Fair Food standards helps drive its success. Workers, who are regularly provided on-the-clock training related to their rights, can surface complaints through various avenues, such as a confidential complaint line and education sessions. With workers functioning as the eyes and ears of the program, the model has addressed everything from wage problems to sexual assault in the fields.

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Farms are also monitored through annual audits, which are an especially critical and effective part of the program. During these site visitssome of which are announced and some of which are nota team of inspectors meets with upper management to discuss expectations and to make sure the farm is complying with the code of conduct. The team also looks for evidence that the farm has made gains on any lapses observed from previous audits. Most importantly, inspectors interview at least half of the front-line supervisors and workers to make sure that policies are being followed. Workers, then, become a critical part of the enforcement process.

Angel Garcia, the human resources manager from Pacific Tomato, says that the Fair Food Program creates an infrastructure that helps growers get a feel for the concerns and complaints of their workers. There are farmers with good hearts, but they are not in the fields, and they dont know what is happening in their fields, he says. Through the audit system, we take the pulse of the operation. We are not a perfect operation, but we have a third-party entity, and if they find something, we will fix it.

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The audits are not just an empty exercise. If growers or the Fair Food Standards Council confirm an incident of sexual harassment, consequences are swift and serious. For example, if physical sexual harassment by a supervisor occurs, the farm is required to fire that supervisor. If it doesnt, the farm will be suspended from the program and no longer able to sell to the dozen-plus participating buyers, including McDonalds and Walmart.

When you cant make your sales because workers are abused, that is a real issue for the company, and it highly incentivizes compliance, says Laura Safer Espinoza, the executive director of the Fair Food Standards Council.

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In the programs seven years, 35 supervisors have been disciplined for sexual harassment, and 10 have been fired. Since 2013, two incidents of sexual harassment have been identified. The programs most recent annual report notes that during the 201617 growing season, more than 70 percent of participating farms reported no incidents of sexual harassment. Cases of sexual harassment by supervisors with any type of physical contact have been virtually eliminated, the report says.

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It is within this larger context of workplace protections that the sexual harassment and domestic violence training at Pacific Tomato in the spring of 2016 had meaning, says Marley Moynahan of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, who served as a trainer that day. If you dropped this training into a farm outside of the Fair Food Program, the workers would connect with what is happening, but the reality is that they would never exercise their rights, she says. Because of the Fair Food Program, there are real consequences to misbehavior, and workers know they have a safe space to talk about it.

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Other low-wage, high-risk workers are taking the lessons from the Fair Food Program and are working to adapt them to their industries.

A key emphasis in the training was that everyone at the farm had a responsibility to prevent sexual harassment from happening. As Louise Fitzgerald, a pre-eminent scholar on sexual harassment, notes, decades worth of research has shown that when a company clearly communicates that sexual harassment is not tolerated, there is less of it. This resonates with a growing consensus that the onus of combating sexual harassment and assault cannot be placed only on the shoulders of victims. Even in the aftermath of #MeToo, the focus in most workplaces is on helping workers seek legal recourse after theyve been attacked. Redefining on-the-job sexual violence and harassment as a workplace health and safety issue recasts it as preventable, regardless of whether the workplace is an office, home, or field.

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Other low-wage, high-risk workers are taking the lessons from the Fair Food Program and are working to adapt them to their industries. Janitors from California have been meeting with the farmworkers to discuss ways to implement key components of the model, specifically worker-led education and enforcement. Theyre also working to figure out which actors within the janitorial industry have the economic and political leverage to make worker-friendly changes to how their industry operates.

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With help from UCBerkeleys Labor Occupational Health Program, the California janitors have also created a workplace-sexual-violence training video that borrows from the Fair Food Program model: It was made for and by janitors, with janitors themselves playing the roles. The groups hope it will eventually be adopted for use throughout California by the states Department of Labor.

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Additionally, as the Fair Food Program was launching its new training efforts, this group of janitorsmade up of the SEIU United Service Workers West, a union, and the Maintenance Cooperation Trust Fund, an advocacy group for nonunionized janitorshad created its own novel worker-led, peer-to-peer sexual harassment training program. Under this promotora, or peer-education, model that has long been successful in public health contexts, night-shift janitors who have been trained on their workplace rights are disseminating information to their colleagues. Theres now an effort in the California state Legislature to require statewide training using this model.

The workers are the experts, Guadalupe Aguayo, a Northern California workplace investigator with Maintenance Cooperation Trust Fund who worked as a janitor and housecleaner before becoming a worker advocate, says in Spanish. They know best what happens on the job. They know the reality of it. Thats why its important to involve everyone who knows these problems firsthand.

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Floridas farmworkers and Californias janitors may seem like wildly different industries operating in vastly different spaces, but both have adopted similar approaches to addressing sexual harassment. They have identified strategies that respond to the specific economic and practical realities of their industries. Theyve deployed popular education models to make sure that training reaches all workers, and in the process, theyve made clear that bad behavior will be met with consequences. Importantly, theyve involved workers in seeking ways to preventnot merely respond tosexual harassment. Hollywood could consider following suit, instead of waiting for the next expose or scandal to drop.

Copyright 2018 by Bernice Yeung. This excerpt was adapted from In a Days Work: The Fight to End Sexual Violence Against Americas Most Vulnerable Workers, published by the New Press and reprinted here with permission.Donald Trump introduced Brett Kavanaugh to the American public on July 9 at the White House. The same day, 40 evangelical leaders issued a statement praising Trumps nominee for lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court. The signatories were led by Southern Baptist policy head and frequent Trump critic Russell Moore and included the denominations new president, pastors, and the heads of various educational institutions and high-profile nonprofits. Kavanaugh merits appointment as the next associate justice on the United States Supreme Court, the statement read. We support President Trumps nominee and will pray and work for a quick confirmation process.

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To say that Christian conservatives supported the Kavanaugh nomination does not go far enough in capturing their enthusiasm. It wasnt just that Kavanaugh was a solid pickreliably conservative, with a record of skepticism on Roe v. Wadebut that the nomination was a kind of payoff. It is, of course, the reason why so many evangelicals supported Trump in the presidential election, Karen Swallow Prior, an English professor at Liberty University, told NPR in early September. Prior did not vote for Trump, but she signed the letter of support for Kavanaugh. We believe that he will interpret the Constitution more faithfully than activist judges in the past, she told NPR. And so yes, that does give us some confidence that he would uphold the dignity of human lifeof all human life. Georgia pastor Jentezen Franklin, a member of Trumps evangelical advisory board, told the Washington Post in July that the promise of a nominee like Kavanaugh drove millions and millions of evangelicals, more than any other issue, to the polls for Donald Trump.

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In recent days, however, many of Kavanaughs Christian supporters have gone silent. On Sunday, the Washington Post published a deeply reported interview with a woman who says Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her at a party when they were both in high school. Christine Blasey Ford, now a psychology professor in California, said that the attack occurred when she and Kavanaugh were at the same house party in the early 1980s. She was 15, and he was 17. Kavanaugh and a friend were both stumbling drunk, and they got her alone in a bedroom, where Kavanaugh pinned her down, ground against her, tried to pull off her clothes, and covered her mouth when she tried to scream. I thought he might inadvertently kill me, Ford told the Post. He was trying to attack me and remove my clothing. She was able to escape and fled the house.

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I am convinced Dante himself could not have devised a more fitting circle of hell for my faith community than the one in which we find ourselves.  Liberty University professor Karen Swallow Prior

Rumblings of trouble for Kavanaugh began last week, when the Intercept reported that Sen. Dianne Feinstein was in possession of a letter that included details of an unspecified accusation against him. Other detailsthough not Fords nameemerged over the next few days. On Friday, the White House issued a statement on the nominees behalf, saying he categorically and unequivocally denied the allegation. On Monday, reports indicated that Ford and Kavanaugh will both testify in front of the Senate next Monday.

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For all the prominent Christian supporters Kavanaugh amassed on the day of his nomination, few of them have weighed in on the accusation against him, even as his confirmation hearings and Fords account have dominated headlines over the past week. A few have spoken up on Kavanaughs behalf, including the CEO of Catholic Charities, who has known the nominee since childhood and said: Hes never given me any reason to doubt his veracity and character. Ralph Reed, chair of the Faith & Freedom Coalition, wrote a Facebook post slamming Fords uncorroborated 36-year-old high school allegation as a disgraceful, partisan debasement of the U.S. Senate and the confirmation process. Evangelist and Trump supporter Franklin Graham tweeted that none of Kavanaughs FBI vettings had turned up the 36-year-old allegations, and that the show must go on.

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The accusations have shaken up proceedingswhich is just what Judge Kavanaughs enemies on the liberal left hoped for. Judge Kavanaugh has been through 6 incredibly thorough FBI vettings and numerous inquiries, & nothing related to these 36-year-old allegations ever came up. 3/4  Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) September 17, 2018

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Other members of the religious right have offered a different argument, one thats been echoed by many conservatives: Sure, Kavanaugh may have done it, but it was such a long time ago that he cannot reasonably be held accountable for it. Rod Dreher, a conservative writer, mused that Kavanaughs loutish drunken behavior has nothing to tell us about his current character:

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I do not understand why the loutish drunken behavior of a 17 year old high school boy has anything to tell us about the character of a 53 year old judge. By Gods grace (literally), I am not the same person I was at 17. This is a terrible standard to establish in public life.  Rod Dreher (@roddreher) September 17, 2018

But these scattered voices testing out varied defenses of Kavanaugh are the exception. Many more of Kavanaughs conservative Christian supporters have so far been silent, apparently content to wait and see. Starting on Monday evening, I reached out to about a dozen prominent evangelicals who publicly supported Kavanaugh immediately after the announcement in July. Franklin Grahams representative pointed me to his online statement. But only one other person made time to weigh in. I dont expect we will ever know the truth about what did or did not happen, Karen Swallow Prior told me. But as an evangelical Christian, I am convinced Dante himself could not have devised a more fitting circle of hell for my faith community than the one in which we find ourselves: being destroyed from the inside out by the sexual sin we spent decades pointing out everywhere but in our own house. For us, this is the real trial.Every couple has one core fight that replays over and over again, in different disguises, over the course of their relationship. In this series, couples analyze the origin and mechanics of their One Fight. To pitch your own One Fight (well also accept pseudonyms, if necessary), email humaninterest@slate.com.

Richard Brookhiser, a historian and senior editor at National Review, and Jeanne Safer, a psychoanalyst and writer, have been married for 38 years and live in New York City. Jeanne Safer is the host of the podcast I Love You, but I Hate Your Politics and author of a forthcoming book of the same title. Richard Brookhisers book John Marshall: The Man Who Made The Supreme Court will be published in November.

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Richard Brookhiser: We agree on what we like to eat, on what we like to read, on where we like to go, and how we conduct our lives. We met in a singing group, so we have the same taste in music. Where we disagree is politics. And while we disagree on economics and foreign policy, thats not so inflamed. The hot buttons are the social issues, and the hottest of those buttons is abortion.

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Jeanne Safer: I think our really radioactive fight, at least from my point of view, was over the Webster decision. This was early in our marriage, in 1989, so wed been married nine years. I picked up the New York Times, which we both read at the breakfast table, and I saw a big piece on the front page about the Supreme Courts Webster decision, which allowed states to limit the number of abortion clinics within their borders. They could make it one clinic in a place nobody could get to. I saw this and my heart sank. And I lost control in a way that I rarely have and it taught me a lot. I said, Oh my God, this is the end. And Im going to have to join a demonstration.

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I never have joined a demonstration for anythingIm not the demonstrating type. But I felt like I couldnt let this stand. I didnt even think so much about the fact that you were sitting there and I knew you were probably in favor of this. I was just beside myself. So I say this to youyou never rise to the bait. Never ever.

I was shocked that you got angry because youre generally less of a martyr than I am.  Jeanne Safer

Richard: And I rose. I said, If you march, I march.

Jeanne: And there we were. Uh, which was a hell of a place to be.

You normally dont rise to the bait because youre not a provocative person. You have your platform at National Review 

Richard: And the other thing is that I grew upthough my home life was as a conservative, much of my time at college was spent among people who disagreed with me. I went to an Ivy League school, and although I had a coterie of conservative friends, it was mostly a liberal place. I had a lot of liberal friends, including liberal girlfriends.

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Jeanne: Your girlfriend was an ex-Communist!

Richard: It was a liberal environment and I just got used to dealing with that. I think you hadnt had a similar experience, so you hadnt had that training in avoiding needless animosity.

Jeanne: The only Republican whom I was aware of growing up was my father. And he was pretty mainstream, actually pretty liberal on social issues. You really do live in an echo chamber in the world, and I had zero experience dealing with this. The Webster decision had a lot of personal meanings for me and I didnt yet know how to use profound self-control. We were really wretched, both of us. We hardly talked for the whole day, which is the only time in all these years that that happened.

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Richard: There was an acrid smell in the air like an electric fire.

Jeanne: Yes! Thats very well put. (It helps that I love the way you put things.) I think part of it was also that I was shocked because youre generally less of a martyr than I am. At this point I had already lived with National Review as part of my world for years, but never in a personal way like this. And it really felt frightening to me. Did you feel frightened?

Richard: Yes, because here it was at the breakfast table. Again, you knew my colleagues. You knew one of them who was also the publisher of a magazine called the Human Life Review. But he had never brought this up in conversation with you, so you had never gone head-to-head with him or any of my other friends and colleagues on this matter.

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Jeanne: I had never gone head-to-head with anybody on this. Most of my female friends had actually had abortions, legal and illegal. But it felt like a door was being slammed shut. Abortion had been settled law at that point, and suddenly it wasnt. It felt unbearable. And I dont usually feel like that with you about almost anything, even gun control or issues like thatI guess because theyre not about me in the same kind of way. We really had a lousy day. I dont remember which of usmaybe both of us togetherat the end of it said, We cant let this happen. We cant do this again.

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It taught us something. Our personalities and our opinions have changed not one iota in all the years since. But we really have learned not to do what we did ever again, because it hurt too much and accomplished nothing.

It probably helps that we met in 1977 in a singing group that performs Renaissance religious music for free on the streets of New York City. I noticed your sweet baritone and your deep-set blue eyesand was pleased to hear you were a writer, even though you wrote for National Review. So I knew right away what I was dealing with, and so did you.

Richard: When we met, I did not bring up politics first thingI knew my place of employment would do it for me. It was probably good that this was during the Carter administration, which, though it was full of problems, was also rather dull. By the time politics became radioactive in the Clinton years, we had already learned to live with each other.

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Jeanne: We were both much more vocal about our obvious political differences early on in our relationship and discovered that trying to talk about our various hot-button issues was a bad idea. Its actually gotten easier in recent years, since we know the limits. And it definitely helps that you oppose Trump. Its wonderful to be on the same side for onceIm savoring it.

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But we had the opportunity to relive this all over again a couple months ago when Ireland legalized abortion. We were getting rid of it in this country and Ireland legalized it. And guess what I said? Nothing. I said nada. But you mentioned it!

By the time politics became radioactive in the Clinton years, we had already learned to live with each other.  Richard Brookhiser

Richard: I just mentioned it. I didnt say, Oh, what a terrible thing. But there was the headline in the paper.

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Jeanne: So I think I should get a reward!

Richard: Yes you do. Yes you do.

Jeanne: Did I have feelings about this? Absolutely. Profound ones. But something had changed in what I felt was important to do about my feelings. In a long marriage you have to learn a lot of things or else youll kill each other or get a divorce. And I had finally learned, for this and hopefully for other things too, that there was no upside in my talking about it with you. Also, I had other people I could talk to about it.

Richard: As you said, we havent changed our opinions at all. You send a check every year to NARAL and I send a check to the Human Life Review.

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Jeanne: Im closing my ears. I dont want to know!

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Richard: Well we dont announce this. We dont say how much we send!

Jeanne: But do you see how were talking about it now? Thats the important thing. If you can laugh about abortion, you can laugh about anything.

Richard: No, were not laughing about abortion. Were laughing about arguing about abortion.

Jeanne: Yes, youre absolutely right. The number of things we agree about, or find intriguing about each other, or exciting about each other, or constantly new about each other, trumps, to such a great degree, this subject for us.

Richard: Weve also passed the Cancer Test.

Jeanne: That is: When youre lying in bed getting chemotherapy, you dont ask the party registration of the person whos standing by your side, getting you through it. Thats what matters.

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Richard: We each have had cancer. You twice, me only once. You learn a lot about the person you love, caring and being cared for. First, you realize the sheer effort involvedshowing up at the hospital, keeping track of meds and doctors, keeping track of the sick persons ordinary life. Second, you appreciate the devotion that propels the effort.

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Youre funny and lively, smart and wise, feisty and true. I was lucky to meet you and am lucky you love me. Let the pollsters make of that what they will.

Jeanne: As long as youre getting me through whatever it is Im going through, or delighting me in every kind of way, you can think whatever you want! I dont feel a need to discuss something that doesnt go anywhere anymore. I dont feel Im betraying what I believe in. The worlds a big place and people have legitimate reasons for disagreeing with things that I feel are absolutely essential. I think this is part of real adulthood and maturity. Im not going to lose you over how you think about abortion. I would be losing the center of my life.In the wake of her sexual assault allegation against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, Christine Blasey Ford looked set to take center stage and testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee during a slot carved out Monday, but now the next step in the handling of her allegation is in flux and her appearance in doubt. On Tuesday, Fords lawyers sent Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley of Iowa a letter expressing Fords desire to appear before the committeebut only after the FBI was given the opportunity to investigate the matter in order to ensure that the crucial facts and witnesses in this matter are assessed in a non-partisan manner, and that the Committee is fully informed before conducting any hearing or making any decision.

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An investigation of this nature, quite clearly, couldnt happen in less than a week. Fords expressed desire to have some established facts that, at the very least, allow for a common starting point, echoes calls of Senate Democrats and puts in relief the differing political strategies of the two parties. Democrats are looking to slow the process down and perhaps even run out the clock on the nomination until the midterms and Republicans are deploying their hurry up offense to try to get the confirmation in the books, preferably, for the GOP, with Ford being offered, but without actually testifying publicly. If she does not come on Monday, we are going to move on and vote on Wednesday, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told Fox News Tuesday evening.

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[Fords] public accusation led Grassley on Monday to announce that the committee would convene next Monday to give both Kavanaugh and Ford the opportunity to publicly testify, as both had indicated a willingness to do so, CNN notes. But as of Tuesday afternoon, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Republicans had yet to hear from Ford or her lawyer regarding their request for her to testify. Fords lawyer Lisa Page indicated to CNNs Anderson Cooper Tuesday night that Ford was committed to engaging with the process, but on her own timetable. Its premature to talk about a hearing on Monday, Page told Cooper. People understand that. She has been dealing with the threats, the harassment, and the safety of her family. Thats what shes been focused on for the last two days and will continue to be focused on that. So asking her to come forward in four or five days and sit before the Judiciary Committee on national TV is not a fair process. If they care about doing the right thing here and treating this seriously, as they have said, then they will do the right thing and they will properly investigate this. She will work with them in that investigation and also to share her story with the committee. However that happens.Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who claims that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when they were teenagers more than 30 years ago, wants an investigation. In a letter sent Tuesday to Chuck Grassley, the Republican chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Fords lawyers called for an FBI probe of the crucial facts and witnesses in this matter.

Grassley and his allies arent interested. They oppose an FBI investigation and are trying to limit the committees inquiry on the grounds that nothing can be learned. The claims are wholly unverifiable, says Sen. Orrin Hatch, the committees senior Republican. Grassley says hes willing to hear testimony from Ford and Kavanaugh but nobody else. The Wall Street Journal editorial page says theres no point in even holding a hearing, since there is no way to confirm her story.

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These attempts to truncate or dismiss the inquiry are wrong. Theres a lot that can and should be investigated to resolve what happened. Heres a list.

1. Witnesses. There are no other witnesses to call, says the Journal. Thats false. In her July 30 letter to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Ford wrote that at least five people, including her, attended the gathering at which the assault allegedly occurred. One is Mark Judge, a friend and classmate of Kavanaughs who, according to Ford, was in the room with her and Kavanaugh during the assault. In an interview with the Washington Post, Ford also named two other teens who, by her account, attended the party. The Post reported that it tried to contact those two people on Sunday, but they did not respond to messages.

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The committee needs to interview these two people for two reasons. The first reason is to ask them whether Ford, Kavanaugh, and Judge disappeared together, as her story implies. But even if the two alleged witnesses dont remember that, theres a second reason: Hatchs communications director says that in a conversation on Monday, Kavanaugh told Hatch that he was not at any party like the one she describes. Furthermore, the Post reports that Kavanaugh, through a White House spokesman  did not respond to questions about whether he knew her [Ford] during high school. If either of the putative witnesses recalls Kavanaugh being at a small party with Ford, that raises questions about Kavanaughs memory or veracity.

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2. Denials. Another Republican on the committee, Sen. Lindsey Graham, says theres no reason for Judge to testify, since Hes already said what hes gonna say. The Journal agrees, asserting that Judge, like Kavanaugh, says he recalls no such event. But theres a curious gap between Judges statements and Kavanaughs.

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Kavanaughs denials are firm. I categorically and unequivocally deny this allegation, he replied when Fords letter, apparently with her name omitted, was initially described to him. I did not do this back in high school or at any time. On Monday, after the Post reported Fords name and further details of her story, Kavanaugh reiterated: This is a completely false allegation. I have never done anything like what the accuser describesto her or to anyone.

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Judge is less adamant. I have no recollection of that, he told the New Yorker when the allegation was first broadly outlined to him. Later, he told the New York Times, I never saw anything like what was described. But in interviews with the Times and the Weekly Standard, Judge signaled that his denials were based on a general portrait of Kavanaughs character. Kavanaugh wasnt into anything crazy or illegal, and both boys were raised in good Catholic homes, he argued, so an incident like the one Ford described would stick out. And that, he concluded, is why I dont think it would happen.

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Judges entry in his senior yearbook provides grounds to doubt his denials. It includes this quote from playwright Noel Coward: Certain women should be struck regularly, like gongs. So its worth pressing Judge about the extent of his uncertainty. And its worth asking Kavanaugh why hes more confident than Judge.

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3. Kavanaughs alcohol use. The most likely reason for Judges uncertainty is that Judge is a confessed recovering alcoholic. He knows that in their high school days, he sometimes got drunk to the point of not remembering what he had done. Therefore, he understands that even if he cant believe he or Kavanaugh would have done what Ford alleges, its possible that it happened. In a statement issued on Tuesday by his attorney, Judge says: I have no memory of this incident.

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In her letter and in her interview with the Post, Ford says Kavanaugh and Judge were highly inebriated, very drunken, and stumbling drunk. Specifically, she recalls that Kavanaughs impairment thwarted his attempts to pull her clothes off. That part of her account raises two questions that can be investigated. First, did Judge and Kavanaugh have a history of drinking? Second, did their drinking sometimes lead to them do things that they later didnt remember?

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In Judges case, the answer to both questions is yes. He has written two books about his alcoholism and his high school years. He admits that he drank at teen parties, got completely annihilated, and sometimes woke up with no idea how he ended up where he was. He also depicts a character named Bart OKavanaugh who puked in someones car and passed out on his way back from a party.

How closely does that character match Kavanaugh? We dont know. But we know from Kavanaughs yearbook entry that he drank. He claimed to belong to the Keg City Club (100 kegs or bust) and the Beach Week Ralph Club. Photos showed him and Judge at the beach together. During beach week, Judge recalls in one of his books, Most of the time everyone, including the girls, was drunk. If you could breathe and walk at the same time, you could hook up.

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After they graduated, Kavanaugh went to Yale, where, according to the Yale Daily News and the Hartford Courant, he joined a party-hearty fraternity that reviv[ed] a beer-drinking competition that college officials had banned from campus. Kavanaugh also drank at Yale Law School. In a speech four years ago, he recalled organizing a night of Boston bar-hopping, with students doing group chugs from a keg and falling out of the bus. We had a motto, what happens on the bus stays on the bus, said Kavanaugh. He went on to describe a banquet at which a friend broke a table:

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It is fair to say that we had a few drinks. Indeed, as a classmate of mine and I were reminiscing and piecing things together the other day, we think we had more than a few beers before the banquet.  [My friend] lost his balance and fell into the table, drink in hand.  My friend actually tried to get another drink at the bar.  [T]he bartender refused to serve my friend. But thats where one of our many fond memories of Yale Law School came in. Professor Steve Duke, who himself might have had a few cocktails, came to the rescue.  and got my friend some more beers.  Dont ever let it be said that Yale Law School professors are not there when you most need them.

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Kavanaughs story about piecing together in retrospect that he had been drinking before the banquet resembles Fords story about her assault. According to the Post, she recalled that each person had one beer but that Kavanaugh and Judge had started drinking earlier and were heavily intoxicated. Kavanaughs account also highlights the difficulty of recalling how you got drunk and what you did. So the committee needs to look at two questions. One is whether Kavanaughs history with alcohol casts doubt on his assurances that he couldnt have done what Ford alleges. The second question is whether his refusal to entertain such doubts reveals a lack of humility, candor, or openness to evidence.

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4. Fords memory. Unlike Anita Hill and the women who accused Roy Moore of sexual offenses, Ford says she has no contemporaneous record of her account. She told nobody. That leaves open the possibility that she fabricated the story years later. More plausibly, her delay in recording or reporting her account increases the risk that her memory, like all memories, has eroded or changed. Shes unsure exactly when and where the incident happened. If you dont think Kavanaugh could have done what she alleges, its reasonable to ask whether she might be misremembering exactly what happened, or even who did it. But in that case, you should want testimony from the witnesses she has named.

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We also need more detail about Fords first account of the assault. According to the Post, Fords husband says that early in their relationship, she told him she had been a victim of physical abuse. That conversation would have been around 2002, before Kavanaugh was a judge. After that, theres no record of Ford telling anyone until 2012, when Ford talked about it with her therapist. During the 2012 conversation, Ford explicitly voiced concern that Kavanaughthen a federal judgemight one day be nominated to the Supreme Court, according to her husband, as paraphrased by the Post. That timing, coupled with the reference to Kavanaugh joining the court, makes some Republicans wonder whether Kavanaughs ascent caused Ford to exaggerate or even concoct her account. But if she told the basic story a decade earlier, when he wasnt even a judge, that motive wouldnt apply.

Maybe Ford is mistaken about who was in the room and what happened. Maybe her memory is accurate, and Kavanaugh and Judge were too drunk to remember. Or maybe somebody is lying. We dont have enough evidence yet to settle those questions. But we have enough evidence to know one thing: The committee has a lot of leads to work with. It should get on with the job.This time last week, Brett Kavanaughs nomination was shaping up to be a small but significant factor in some of the most important Senate races of the year. But after Christine Blasey Ford went public over the weekend with her allegation that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when the two were in high school, the nomination has taken center stage in the dozen or so races that are most likely to decide control of the Senate.

The Democrats who have spoken out all agree: Ford deserves the chance to be heard and Kavanaugh the chance to defend himself. But while most of the Republicans are on board with the plan to have both testify next week before a Senate panel, the way each candidate has chosen to frame his or her response is telling.

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In Arizona, where Trump won narrowly two years ago, Republican Rep. Martha McSally called the hearing a sensible way forward, striking the same tone as her Democratic opponent, Rep. Kyrsten Sinema.

In North Dakota, where Trump won in a landslide, the differences are far more stark: GOP Rep. Kevin Cramer said it is hard not to be skeptical considering the timing and history of the allegations. In contrast, his opponent, Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, declared: It takes courage for any woman to speak up about sexual assault, and we need to respect Prof. Ford by listening to her and hearing her story.

Meanwhile, a pair of other GOP hopefuls, both trailing badly in their races, used the opportunity to take a shot at Democrats in their states. In Minnesota, for instance, state Sen. Karin Housley said that every accuser deserves to be heard, and then quickly applied the logic to abuse allegations against U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison, who is running for state attorney general. There should be no difference in the standards we apply to allegations of abuse or harassment, regardless of party or politics, said Housley, who is hoping to unseat Democratic Sen. Tina Smith. U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci took a similar tack in Ohio, where he took the opportunity to dredge up Sen. Sherrod Browns messy divorce proceedings from the 1980s. According to the Columbus Dispatch, Browns wife testified at the time that she felt physically threatened by her husband, although she has since dismissed that testimony as angry words made during an unfriendly ordeal.

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Still other Republicans accused red-state Democrats of playing politics, as U.S. Rep. Martha Blackburn did in Tennessee with her opponent, former Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen, who called for the Senate to investigate. Chuck Schumer is telling the Democrats to delay while they attempt an 11th hour smear of Judge Kavanaugh, and Phil Bredesen is already doing what hes told to do, said Blackburn, who wanted the committee to still vote on Thursday.

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Here are the full statements from each candidate running in the 11 Senate races that the Cook Political Report sees as the most competitive. The statements began trickling out after the Washington Post published the details of Fords allegations on Sunday and continued after Senate Republicans delayed a planned Thursday committee vote in order to allow time for Mondays scheduled hearing. Slate has reached out to the three candidates who have not yet commented publicly and will update accordingly.

Florida

Cook Political Report: Toss-up

RealClearPolitics: Scott +1.6 percentage points

FiveThirtyEight classic model: Nelson 4 in 7 chance of winning

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Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson: Im still waiting for a meeting with Judge Kavanaugh Ive requested four times. I have a number of questions for him. Meantime, I agree there should be an investigation of the new allegations against him. I believe the people involved should appear before the Judiciary committee.

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Republican Gov. Rick Scott: No public comment yet.

Indiana

Cook Political Report: Toss-up

RealClearPolitics: Donnelley +3.8 points

FiveThirtyEight: Donnelley 7 in 9

Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelley: The allegations made against Judge Kavanaugh are serious and merit further review. Given the nature of these allegations, and the number of outstanding questions, I believe the Judiciary Committee should hold off on Thursdays scheduled vote.

Republican businessman Mike Braun: I support Senator Grassleys decision to have these 11th hour allegations thoroughly reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee, and weighed against Judge Kavanaughs decades of public service, sterling record on the bench, outstanding personal reputation, and his unequivocal denial of the allegations.

Missouri

Cook Political Report: Toss-up

RealClearPolitics: Hawley +0.6 points

FiveThirtyEight: McCaskill 5 in 8

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Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill: I am deeply troubled by these allegations. They should be examined thoroughly and fairly by the Judiciary Committee without any artificial timeline.

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GOP state Attorney General Josh Hawley: Im concerned that Senator Feinstein and the Democrats waited until the last hour to bring this 30-year old allegation to light. The Democrats have played politics with this entire process and were opposed to Brett Kavanaugh before he was even nominated. They dont care about the truth. I believe allegations of sexual misconduct should never be disregarded. Thats why its important that both Dr. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh be heard immediately and under oath.

North Dakota

Cook Political Report: Toss-up

RealClearPolitics: Cramer +1.6 points

FiveThirtyEight: Heitkamp 4 in 7

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Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp: This is a very serious allegation which should be thoroughly investigated, and its up to the Senate Judiciary Committee to do just that. Prof. Ford should be given an opportunity to testify before the Committee and she is willing to do so. Judge Kavanaugh has also expressed his willingness to discuss the issue with the Committee. It takes courage for any woman to speak up about sexual assault, and we need to respect Prof. Ford by listening to her and hearing her story.

GOP Rep. Kevin Cramer: It is hard not to be skeptical considering the timing and history of the allegations. Of course any allegation of this nature should be taken seriously, but absent significant evidence being brought forth immediately, I feel Judge Kavanaughs confirmation process should proceed.

West Virginia

Cook Political Report: Toss-up

RealClearPolitics: Manchin +9.3 points

FiveThirtyEight: Manchin 8 in 9

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Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin: Professor Christine Blasey Ford deserves to be heard and Judge Kavanaugh deserves a chance to clear his name. Both have said they are willing to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee and I hope they will be given the opportunity to do that as quickly as possible.

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Republican state AG Patrick Morrisey: I have full confidence in the Senate Judiciary Committee and President Trumps team to handle these allegations in an appropriate and timely manner, allowing both sides to be heard. It is disappointing, however, that Senate Democrats held this information for weeks only to drop it on the eve of the Judiciary Committee vote. The allegations should absolutely be taken seriously, but Senate Democrats have done a disservice to the accused, the accuser, and the American people, by politically waiting until the 11th hour to bring forward these allegations.

Nevada

Cook Political Report: Toss-up

RealClearPolitics: Rosen +0.7 points

FiveThirtyEight: Rosen 3 in 5

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Democratic Rep. Jacky Rosen: Dr. Fords account is credible, it should be taken seriously, and I agree with the bipartisan calls for an immediate and thorough investigation before moving forward. If Senator Heller still has no reservations about confirming Judge Kavanaugh, he isnt listening to Nevadans.

Republican Sen. Dean Heller: No public comment yet.

Arizona

Cook Political Report: Toss-up

RealClearPolitics: Sinema +1.5 points

FiveThirtyEight: Sinema 7 in 10

Democratic Rep. Kyrsten Sinema: The allegation is concerning and the Senate should conduct a thorough investigation before voting. Judicial nominations, especially to the highest court in the U.S., should be carefully vetted and judged without partisanship.

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Republican Rep. Martha McSally: This is a very serious allegation. Senator Grassley said hes reaching out to both parties for more information, and Judge Kavanaugh and Dr. Ford have said they are willing to provide testimony on this matter. That is a sensible way forward.

Tennessee

Cook Political Report: Toss-up

RealClearPolitics: Tie

FiveThirtyEight: Blackburn 5 in 8

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Republican Rep. Marsha Blackburn: Dr. Ford should testify under oath, and Senator Grassley should proceed with the vote as scheduled. Chuck Schumer has bought and paid for Phil Bredesens campaign. Chuck Schumer is telling the Democrats to delay while they attempt an 11th hour smear of Judge Kavanaugh, and Phil Bredesen is already doing what hes told to do.

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Former Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen: Dr. Christine Blasey Ford should be heard. If U.S senators are not going to give a careful and thorough consideration of Supreme Court nominees, then I dont know what they think their job is.

Minnesota

Cook Political Report: Lean Dem

RealClearPolitics: Smith +6.7 points

FiveThirtyEight: Smith 9 in 10

Democratic Sen. Tina Smith: These are very serious allegations. Both Brett Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford have agreed to testify in front of the Judiciary Committee and that needs to happen. And we must have a full and thorough investigation before anything else can happen with this nomination.

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Republican state Sen. Karin Housley: Every accuser deserves to be heard. I believe the Judiciary Committee should hear directly from the accuser so that all the facts can be known by the public. Tina Smith and national [D]emocrats should apply the same standard to Keith Ellison, vice-Chair of the DNC, who has been accused by two victims of horrific accounts of abuse. There should be no difference in the standards we apply to allegations of abuse or harassment, regardless of party or politics.

Ohio

Cook Political Report: Lean Dem

RealClearPolitics: Brown +15.4 points

FiveThirtyEight: Brown 29 in 30

Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown: I agree with Senators on both sides of the aisle that the Judiciary Committee should take the time it needs to investigate.

Republican Rep. Jim Renacci: The allegations against Brett Kavanaugh are serious and should be thoroughly examined, and by the same standard, anyone who calls on Kavanaugh to step aside based on these allegations must also call on Sherrod Brown to resign given the substantial evidence and affidavits detailing Browns history of domestic violence.

Texas

Cook Political Report: Lean GOP

RealClearPolitics: Cruz +4.5 points

FiveThirtyEight: Cruz 3 in 4

Republican Sen. Ted Cruz: These allegations are serious and deserve to be treated with respect. Professor Ford should have a full opportunity to tell her story before the Judiciary Committee, and Judge Kavanaugh should have a full opportunity to defend himself. That hearing should be sooner, rather than later, so the committee can make the best assessment possible of the allegations.

Democratic Rep. Beto ORourke: No public comment yet.The most high-stakes Senate hearing of the year has been scheduled, but no one really wants to have it.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday that we want to give the accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, an opportunity to be heard. Thats supposedly why he and Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley decided late Monday afternoon that they would hold a public hearing featuring testimony from both Ford and the man she said assaulted her in high school, Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, in a week.

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Rest assured, though, that McConnell does not want to give the accuser an opportunity to be heard out of any sense of moral responsibility. Hes doing it because he doesnt have the votes otherwise. Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake specifically told leadership that he would vote no in committee on Kavanaughs nomination without a public hearing. Even if McConnell chose to bypass the committee process, he would run into interference from other key senators, like Maine Sen. Susan Collins and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski. Rarely is a surface-level moral posture from Mitch McConnell anything more than a reflection of a poor whip count.

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Most Republicans would have preferred not to have an open hearing, which is why Grassley tried earlier this week to satisfy senators by arranging private phone calls with Kavanaugh and Ford instead. There are a couple of obvious reasons why: In public, Ford could deliver credible testimony that would be covered widely, making the option of advancing Kavanaughs nomination even more politically toxic than its already become. And it wouldnt help the all-male Republican membership of the Judiciary Committee to aggressively attack Fords credibility or character, either. (HuffPost reports that Republicans are considering having their female staff do the questioning, an unorthodox move that would just draw more attention to the problem.)

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You might think, then, that Senate Democrats would be pleased with how Flake, Collins, Murkowski, and others forced Grassley and McConnells hands into providing Ford the opportunity for a public hearing. Instead, at a press conference Tuesday afternoon, Senate Democrats called the proposed hearing a sham.

Scheduling the hearing for Monday, a week from when Dr. Ford made her accusations public, Washington Sen. Patty Murray said, is a shameful attempt to jam this through without giving anyone the time they need to investigate and put together the questions that need to be asked. Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Judiciary Committee member, said that Republican leadership has completely disrespected this survivor.

Rarely is a surface-level moral posture from Mitch McConnell anything more than a reflection of a poor whip count.

This proceeding is more like something out of Russia than the United States of America, Blumenthal, pressing his luck, declared.

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Democrats listed several conditions that Republicans would need to meet. They should first wait until the FBI completes a full investigation into the matter so that senators arent, as Blumenthal told me, just shooting in the dark during their questioning. Democrats are also apoplectic that Grassley has refused to call Mark Judge, the lone witness to the alleged assault Ford described in her letter and to the Washington Post, to testify. Judge has a rather unfortunate trail of writings.

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There are a few reasons why Democrats might be throwing cold water on the sort of hearing that Republicans have offered. The first is political: The longer this confirmation process can be delayed, the less likely Senate Republicans would be to confirm a replacement ahead of the midterms. Yes, Republicans could and likely would try to complete it during the lame-duck session, especially if Democrats take back the Senate. But Democrats have some hopea hope I dont put much faith inthat a couple of retiring or Never Trump Republicans might balk at such an aggressive power grab.

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But this isnt all politics. For instance, theres zero nonpolitical reason that an alleged eyewitness shouldnt be heard. Judges lawyer sent a letter to Grassley on Tuesday afternoon saying that he did not wish to speak any further publicly, as if this committee should care about his wishes. But Grassley seems content to honor them. And its not unreasonable to think that having an outside investigation into the matterpreparation, the Democrats call itahead of the hearing is best for a fair outcome.

The Democrats objections also serve as a pre-buttalthat this hearing was rigged against Ford from the startin the event that Ford doesnt appear. Because, as of Tuesday afternoon, Fords lawyers still hadnt confirmed that she would attend next Mondays spectacle and have offered sparse commentary on whats the holdup.

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It could be that theres a simple scheduling issue for either Ford or her legal team. As various Democrats noted in their press conference, Grassley didnt ask Ford if she was free next Monday before making his announcement. Ford could also have cold feet. In either case, as California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, told reporters Tuesday morning, We dont even know if Dr. Ford is able to make it.

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The possibility that Ford might not appear put a bit of a spring in Republicans step by Tuesday afternoon. Grassleys office sent out numerous statements about how eager it was to hold the hearingif only Fords team would call back. Texas Sen. John Cornyns did the same. So far, Dr. Fords lawyer has refused to respond to invitations to participate, Cornyn said at a GOP press conference. We certainly hope that she takes advantage of this opportunity if she still would like to.

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Of course he doesnt. Republicans would love nothing more than if Ford didnt appear. They could still hold a hearing for Kavanaugh to deliver his denials while Democrats spin their wheels, and then vote on him in committee on Wednesday. Even Flake, who demanded the hearing, told CNN on Tuesday that he would support advancing Kavanaughs nomination if Ford didnt show up. His colleagues agreed.

The committee should move on, Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker said, should Ford have the opportunity to be heard, and not be heard.

It would be viewed very negatively by many, he continued, for someone to be given an opportunity after making serious allegations and then not coming. Its clear that Republicans would treat that as an effective withdrawal of the allegations. This is the most obvious way Republicans would salvage Kavanaughs nomination, which they showed no signs of wanting to abandon on Tuesday.

So each party does want a hearing after all. Republicans want one immediately where Ford doesnt show up and Kavanaugh just denies everything. Democrats want one with Ford, but maybe in several weeks, months, or years down the road, following a complete outside investigation, and with a roster of witnesses, preferably once they control the Senate, or maybe never. Everyones on the same page, as usual.There are plenty of reasons why Republicans want to push Brett Kavanaugh onto the Supreme Court as quickly as possible, but the biggest one may also be the most obvious: They need his vote. The court is currently divided 44 between liberal and conservative justices, creating a momentary opening for progressives. If the Senate drags its feet on appointing a new justice, the court will likely deadlock in several important cases involving labor rights, endangered species, the death penalty, and possibly even the transgender troops ban. This stalemate will cement liberal victories in the lower courts and thwart a conservative rout. The GOP needs a fifth man on the bench, and every day without Justice Kavanaugh is a wasted opportunity.

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Right now, the main obstacle to Kavanaughs confirmation is Christine Blasey Fords allegation that the nominee assaulted her in high school. Her credible accusation has already delayed the process by several days as senators haggle over hearings. There is nothing suspicious about Fords timing. Nevertheless, the resulting delay in appointing a new justice will likely have an effect on a number of cases that are scheduled to come before the Supreme Court this fall.

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On Oct. 1, the court will hear Weyerhaeuser Company v. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, an effort to weaken the Endangered Species Act. Weyerhaeuser Co. wants to harvest timber on a Louisiana site that serves as the habitat for an endangered species: the dusky gopher frog. The federal government wont let it.

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Theres a good reason why. The dusky gopher frog used to live in a large swath of the South, but there are now just 135 of them in the wild, all of whom can be found in a Mississippi pond. Outside of Mississippi, they were last spotted in the wild at a site in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, in 1965. While they no longer live there, the site still contains the extremely rare ephemeral ponds on which the frog depends. The government wants to restore the ponds and introduce the frogs. Weyerhaeuser Co., which owns the land, wants to chop down all the trees, destroying the habitat. So it sued, arguing that the Fish and Wildlife Service has no authority to halt its plans.

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You may not care about the dusky gopher frogthough it is said to be a charming critterbut you should care about this case if you support the Endangered Species Act. Thats because Weyerhaeuser is merely the latest chapter in corporations endless war on the ESA. The timber industry has long sought to hobble the law by limiting the federal governments ability to preserve land thats vital for endangered species. If timber firms can persuade the courts to overrule the governments determination regarding which habitats must be protected, they can open up more land to logging. Thats why Weyerhaeuser Co. is asking SCOTUS to hold that the government cant set aside habitat unless its absolutely necessary for a species immediate survival.

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Had Kavanaugh joined the court in late September, he probably wouldve cast the fifth vote in Weyerhaeuser condemning the dusky gopher frog to a near-certain demise. Now, the justices may instead divide 44, affirming the lower-courts decision in favor of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

A day after the dusky gopher frog gets its day in court, the justices will turn to the death penalty. When the court hears Madison v. Alabama on Oct. 2, it will confront a grave question: May a state execute a death row inmate who, though competent when he committed his offense, is now so mentally disabled that he cannot remember the crime? Vernon Madison, the prisoner in question, is in his late 60s and has such severe dementia that he cannot recite the alphabet. The Supreme Court has already prohibited the execution of individuals who were intellectually disabled at the time of their offenses. Madisons lawyers assert that its logic should extend to Madison, as no penological justification or retributive value can be found in executing a severely impaired and incompetent prisoner.

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SCOTUS packed its October docket with significant cases with the expectation of a full court.

Theres very little doubt that the conservative justices would permit Madisons execution, while the liberal justices will oppose it. If they split 44, thats bad news for Madison: The lower court rejected his argument, and he needs five justices to reverse that decision. But for other death row inmates, a SCOTUS logjam would certainly be better than a loss. Because most prisoners spend decades awaiting execution, America mostly executes seniors, many of whom have a variety of disabilities. Those who develop dementia, Alzheimers, and other mental disorders could continue to argue that their deaths at the hands of the state would violate the Constitution. Without Kavanaughs vote, this area of the law will remain unsettled. With his vote, the courthouse door may well shut on them for good.

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On Oct. 3, one day after arguments in Madison, the court will hear New Prime Inc. v. Oliveira. This case marks yet another effort by corporations to prevent workers from filing lawsuits and instead shunt them into mandatory arbitration, which strongly favors employers. The Supreme Court has bolstered this corporate campaign in a series of preposterous 54 rulings. These decisions turned the Federal Arbitration Act, a 1925 law meant to speed up commercial disputes, into a blunt object that employers can use to kick workers lawsuits out of court.

Luckily, the Federal Arbitration Act has an exception for transportation workers, which, by its plain terms, should apply to both formal employees and independent contractors. The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals held precisely that in 2017, concluding that transportation companies could not use it to force independent contractors into arbitration. When the Supreme Court agreed the hear the case, it was obviously planning to reverse the 1st Circuit and crush this exception. But that cant happen without Kavanaughs vote. And as a result, labor activists could avoid another catastrophe at SCOTUS.

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Perhaps the most consequential case that could reach the justices in the coming weeks and months, however, is the Trump administrations ban on transgender troops. As I reported in March, Trumps ban was spearheaded not by the military, but by anti-gay activists allied with Vice President Mike Pence. Service members suing to block the policy have demanded access to documents pertaining to military deliberations over its implementation. If released, those documents could reveal that the ban is not driven by legitimate concerns.

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After a federal district court ordered the government to prepare these documents for discovery, the Department of Justice asked the Supreme Court to step in. Its request was wildly premature since the court hadnt even directed the DOJ to turn over the information, just to assemble it in advance. The DOJ stood down on Monday when the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals stayed the district courts order. But the 9th Circuit will decide this case on a highly expedited schedule, with a possible ruling in October. (Its expected to rule against the government.) At that point, the Justice Department could file an emergency motion with the Supreme Court to shield the documents, which are key to the plaintiffs case. Without Kavanaughs vote, the Trump administration is toast.

SCOTUS packed its October docket with significant cases with the expectation of a full court. Now it appears that Kavanaughs confirmation could be pushed back by a few weeksand if he withdraws, the months-long nomination process would begin all over again. Republicans have a clear interest in briskly filling this slot. But by nominating a candidate as flawed as Kavanaugh, Donald Trump has unintentionally postponed the Supreme Courts conservative revolution.Lets hear from the bystander: Mark Judge was there, Christine Blasey Ford alleges, when Brett Kavanaugh attempted to assault her. And we know he was on hand during the rest of Kavanaughs drunken high school career. Thats why he must testify, Jeremy Stahl writes.

Yes, its material: Whether or not Brett Kavanaugh did what his accuser alleges, Mark Joseph Stern argues, matters far less than whether he lied about it.

Pouring down: The real danger of climate change is rain, Henry Grabar writes. Whats happening in North Carolina is just one example.

Who, me?: Daphne Merkins profile of Soon-Yi Previn in New York magazine was profoundly dishonest, Christina Cauterucci thinks. In it, Woody Allen affects an infuriating air of studied obliviousness, while the interviewer fails to probe at his obvious manipulations.

For fun: In defense of Toad.

Forever besmirched,

RebeccaThe leaders of North and South Korea have reached an agreement on denuclearization. The people rejoice, peace reigns supreme, President Donald Trump claims redemption, a Mar-a-Lago summit seems inevitable.

But the details of this accord between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in are worth examining. In any power relationship (and thats whats going on here), the key question is, who gets what? In this case, from the vantage of U.S. interests, Kim gets almost everything and we get zip.

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The steps that the deal demands North Korea take toward disarmament are negligible at best. Kim expresses his willingness to dismantle the nuclear facility at Yongbyon. But that reactor was used mainly to reprocess plutonium more than a decade ago. North Koreas main facilities for enriching uraniumthe process by which it makes nuclear weapons todayare elsewhere.

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Kim also says he will permanently shut down the launch pad at Tongchang-ri, where his scientists have tested intercontinental ballistic missiles, and would do so under the watch of international inspectors. But North Koreas past few missiles have been tested from mobile launchers, so this too is a fairly meaningless concession.

More (or less) than this, the declaration states that North Korea will take these steps only if the United States responds with corresponding measures. It is unclear what these measures are, but some reasonable guesses are in order. For one thing, theres been a slight shift in terminology. The declaration calls not merely for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, as in past documents, but a Korean Peninsula without nuclear weapons and nuclear threats (italics added). This suggests that North Korea is now demanding a certain amount of denuclearization on the part of the United States.

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From the vantage of U.S. interests, Kim gets almost everything and we get zip.

Michael Green, former director of Asian affairs on President George W. Bushs National Security Council and now a professor at Georgetown, told me that Choi Sun-hee, the North Korean foreign ministrys chief negotiator, said at a recent conference in Beijing that his country now views denuclearization in the context of Article 6 of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, which North Korea withdrew from in 2003. The NPT bans all signatories from building nuclear weapons, except for those powers already possessing nukes, which, back in 1968, when it was signed, included just the U.S., the Soviet Union, China, France, and Great Britain. Article 6 was a pledge on the part of the nuclear powers to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to the cessation of the nuclear arms race. It was always more theater than substance: Negotiations in good faith didnt quite constitute a pledge to disarm (though, since then, the U.S. and Russia have cut their nuclear arsenals by about 80 percent).

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Its not entirely clear what Choi meant by this reference, but, given the fact that North Korea now declares itself to be a nuclear-armed state, in its constitution and in point of fact, it seems that Kim and his regime want equal footing with the top players in the nuclear game: If theyre disarming, the United States (perhaps along with other powers) has to disarm too. This, to say the least, is not in the cardsand I suspect Kim will tread lightly on this point if he wants Trump to go along with this latest peace offensive.

All this said, there are things genuinely worth celebrating in this historic step that Moon and Kim have taken. The idea that the two leaders would meet in Pyongyang, and that Kim would promise a trip to Seoul by the end of the year (a trip that no North Korean leader has ever taken), would have been unimaginable a few years ago. In Korean terms, its not unlike Nixons sit-down with Mao.

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There are also laudable points of substance in the Moon-Kim declaration: the creation of an Inter-Korean Military Joint Committee, to establish regular communication between the two sides armed forces; the normalization of North Koreas Kaesong Industrial Complex, a free-market enterprise; more reunions between families long separated by the border; cultural exchanges; economic investment, including cross-border roads and rail lines.

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As Scott Snyder, a longtime Korea expert at the Council on Foreign Relations, said in an email Tuesday night, Moon appears to have got enough in play to justify a serious revisiting of these issues and possibly a reengagement between the US and North Korea.

In an ordinary administration, U.S. negotiators would now meet with their counterparts to pin them down on specifics. How about freezing activities not just at Yongbyon, but at other, far more active reactors? Can international inspectors examine not just that one missile test pad, but other test sites? What kinds of corresponding measures does Kim expect Washington to take? Finally, and most crucially, will North Korea finally provide a detailed list of all its nuclear facilities? That should be a prerequisite to further discussions. Theres no way to gauge how far a country is disarming without knowing how many arms it possesses at the outset.

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But this is not an ordinary administration. President Trump believes that he, and he alone, can close these sorts of deals. He believes that Kim is a trustworthy friend and that international relations are built on friendship. Trump regarded the one-page joint statement he signed with Kim at their summit in Singapore as not merely a deal but a contract, when in fact it was neither; it was only a trite recitation of vague commitments with no timetables. He is likely to consider the Moon-Kim statement, which is far more concrete, as tantamount to peace. Wednesday morning, he tweeted, quoting his regular intelligence source Fox News: North Korea recommits to denuclearizationweve come a long way, when in fact theyre neither committed nor recommitted to any such thing.

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Trump had already been itching for a reunion with Kim. Even as he canceled Secretary of State Mike Pompeos scheduled trip to Pyongyang, on the grounds that insufficient progress had been made in talks between the two sides negotiators, Trump tweeted, In the meantime I would like to send my warmest regards and respect to Chairman Kim. I look forward to seeing him soon!

Kim appears to want a few things from his diplomatic ventures: a relaxation of tensions, investment in his impoverished country (including the suspension of sanctions), a withdrawal of U.S. military forces from the peninsula (which is what he ultimately means by an end to Americas hostile policy), and the splintering of the U.S.-South Korean allianceall, preferably, at no cost to his regime.

He seems on the verge of getting it. Trump, basking in Kims rhetoric without examining the subtext, may hand it to him. At their one-on-one meeting in Singapore, Trump made a couple of key concessions to Kimthe suspension of U.S.-South Korean military exercises and a pledge to work toward a peace declarationfor nothing in return. Several administration officials fear that Trump could give away the bank in another tete-a-tete. The Moon-Kim declaration, a historic and promising document in many ways, sets up the terms for that surrender.In hew new memoir, Not Quite Not White: Losing and Finding Race in America, Sharmila Sen recounts emigrating to America in 1982 at the age of 11 from the Indian state of West Bengal.* The book is about growing up in Americain the Boston area, specificallyin the 1980s and her conception of her own race and identity during that time. While trying to blend into the majority-white culture, Sen also feels distinct from itas well as from black Americans and other Asian Americans. The book recounts her upbringing, as well as her reflections on one particular immigrant experience, and how it fits into the larger strands of Indian and American history.

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I recently spoke by phone with Sen, who is also the executive editor at large at Harvard University Press. During the course of our conversation, which has been edited and condensed for clarity, we discussed why its so hard to define the dominant culture, the changing idea of what it means to be Asian American, and why Americans started referring to people from the subcontinent as South Asian.

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Isaac Chotiner: How did you define your ethnic and racial self-conception when you arrived in America?

Sharmila Sen: I was aware that a lot of people around me physically looked different from me, or they had a lighter complexion, but its really not something I understood or talked about in English. For a lot of people like me, we are not just coming to the United States and emigrating into the United States from other countries, but were also actually emigrating from other languages into English.

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There were other words we used for white people or for Europeans in my mother tongue, which is Bengali, but none of those words had the exact same meaning to what the word white means when were speaking in English today. It took me 35 years to actually think about it. I wasnt able to think about it or understand it immediately, not just because I was exceptionally obtuse but because I think theres a kind of an unspoken code in the United Statesat least the part of the United States that I knowof not talking about it. The culture around me was making it something that is silenced or is made invisible.

I certainly didnt think of myself as Asian, no more than I think a kid whos born in New York thinks of themselves as North American.  Sharmila Sen

What specifically was being silenced, and why?

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Its silenced because its the norm. In the same way when we say somebody is  a lady doctor or a lady author. When we mention gender, its often to mark out that which is unusual. No one says so-and-so is a gentleman doctor, right? Because all doctors are supposed to be men, and therefore if youre a woman, youre an aberration. We dont say, this is white music or a white church, but well say this is black music or a black church, right? Or we will have other kinds of ethnicities well attach. White is a color too, so that is why certain people or cultures or foods or music require what I think is an extraordinary armature of adjectives and others dont.

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This is the way in which the normative is made invisible. When we say it, then something weird happens. This is something I also discovered early on: that I could say, Oh look. Right across the street, there is the Asian American man waiting by the bus stop. Youd probably think, OK, thats a normal way for me to point out somebody. But if I said, Oh look, heres the white man, suddenly, especially if someone whos not white points out whiteness, theres a kind of electric charge I feel in the room in America.

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One of the tensions in the book is that while you feel like you cant define this thing, you also want to become part of it.

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I came to the United States before the internet era, before cellphones, before social media. I think its probably not possible for people to emigrate in the same way or to come to the United States or to go to any country in that way anymore. In many ways, weve lost that newness because we can Google the hell out of anything these days. We can learn a lot about a place.

When I came, there were some limitations. I had watched American movies, listened to American music. I had read American fictionwhatever was appropriate obviously for a young child of that age. We didnt really have much more than that. A little bit of Life magazine, Time magazine, Readers Digest. Thats all we got.

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Very early on, I was focused on speaking American. I wanted to get an American accent. This is largely because I didnt want to stand out as a foreign kid. Its not fun being the foreign kid in an American public school. I had even thought, maybe if I had arrived older and I went to an elite college and I was an international student, thered be some kind of cool exotic factor to me sounding different, but there was none of that when I came.

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I was trying to figure out how to speak American and I watched a lot of television. I was trying to pick up the way people speak on TV. The way adults my parents brought home, who would often be maybe their boss or somebodyI was trying to sound like that. I felt like if I could appreciate certain kinds of American tastes, then Im going to really sort of, you know, make it. Im going to blend in. I was mimicking certain kinds of, lets say, white-collar professionals. White cultural practices.

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Obviously, Asias a gigantic continent that encompasses everything from India to Japan. How much did you perceive your journey as that of becoming an Asian American?

I was born in the continent of Asia. I certainly didnt think of myself as Asian, no more than I think a kid whos born in New York thinks of themselves as North American. Its such a large, abstract identity, right? I wouldnt have called myself Asian when I lived in Asia. Nobody comes to a kid in Calcutta and says, Hey, are you Asian? When I came to the U.S. in 1982, and then when I started hearing the word Asian being used in a particular way, I knew enough English to know what Asian means. But I wasnt American enough in the first few months to understand that in the United States, it means something very specific. Back in the early 80s, it really meant East Asian or Chinese American or maybe Japanese American. In fact, very few people in the early 80s would have seen me as Asian, let alone me identifying easily as Asian. Even for somebody coming from India at that point, East Asian equaled, or was in some way a code word for, Chinese American. It wasnt an easy room to get into because, of course, you know India had fought these two wars with China in the 60s, right? My parents generation had kind of inherited certain kinds of anti-Chinese [prejudices].

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How did this change or not change as you got older?

By the time I got to collegeI became an undergrad in 1988thats around when the South Asian clubs were being formed in the U.S. South Asian itself, by the way, its an American term. It has Cold War origins. Its a term of strategy, and Ive always jokingly said that South Asians in the subcontinent were the last to know they were South Asian. We felt American when we said, Oh, this is South Asia. I think the term has gotten more traction now and people use it. I didnt know I was Asian. Then I figured, OK, maybe Im South Asian. Even that was kind of an American invention, which put together the whole subcontinent.

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I think the concept of Asian in America has shifted with the younger generation. I think theres much more of an open discussion about ways in which that term is useful and when its not very useful or even ways in which, you know, there can be other kinds of Asian American issues that are left out. Like, when youre talking about college admissions and all of that. Theres a lot of discussion going on right now about affirmative action and lawsuits by certain groups. There are Southeast Asians who are speaking out and saying, hey, you know when we talk about Chinese and Indian students getting into fancy schools, thats just one part of the Asian diaspora in the United States. What about the kids from Laos and Cambodia and, I can actually say, even from Bangladesh?

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Does it feel to you, broadly speaking, that many white Americans look on Asian immigrants differently from immigrants from other places?

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Obviously there are different Asian immigrants, right? By different I dont just mean theyre from different nations or ethnicities, but they can also be from different immigration generations. Someone who is Japanese American whose ancestors might have come at the beginning of the 20th century is living in a different diaspora than, say, a Pakistani American who came in the 90s when the H-1B visas started being used a lot.

I think what were not talking about here is that in the U.S., race is really kind of mapped on theres this sort of line, and on one side of it is white and the other side is black. Its sort of where you fit, which side youre closer to. This is where things get a little complicated, particularly for certain immigrants. Because we have our own anti-black bias, which is also something Ive written about in the book.

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Often what one is sort of being seen as is, oh, youre not this. Not that you are white, but that youre not black. That not whiteness is not necessarily blackness, which is something that a lot of Asian Americans have to deal with, without giving in to their anti-black bias. We cant just say that just because Im not white, Im black, because thats a very specific experience too. That has its own politics and its own history and its own aesthetic, and I dont think that should be kind of collapsed into this kind of one thing.

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India and American are often now referred to as the two largest democracies in the world. I was wondering if you see any kind of similarities between the two countries in the way they deal with issues of race and skin color and ethnic and religious minorities. Right now, their political tracks are on similar lines in that theyve both elected demagogues who rose to power by demonizing the biggest minority group in the country, blacks and Muslims respectively.

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India is famous for people of my generationnow its a bit of a clichethat unity in diversity was our big thing. It was something we took great pride in. Obviously, its come under a lot of pressure these days. I think both countries have incredibly exposed labor forces and workforces. Theyre very fascinating because they actually help us ask one of the most important questions. They are both democracies and have quite vigorous political cultures, but they also have deep inequality within the citizenry. So the question is: Does democracy bring about greater equality?

But Im asking us to think about more of a qualitative democracy. Not democracy by just kind of looking at electoral politics. Both of these countries take such pride in advertising themselves as the largest democracy in the world or home of the free, these brand-name exercises, if you will, but what is the quality of the democracy that these countries engage in? Its much easier if we were going to look at a tiny country where everybody spoke the same language and worshipped in the same church. These two countries have very diverse populations and have these kind of long, entrenched inequality problems, yet are flourishing democracies too by some standards.In a bipartisan move to confront Americas opioid crisis, the Senate passed a comprehensive package of bills Monday, including provisions that would stop illegal drugs at the border and funding research on non-addictive pain killers.

The Opioid Crisis Response Act, which includes 70 provisions, garnered overwhelming support from five Senate committees and contributions from more than 70 lawmakers. The bill passed after a 99-1 vote, with only Utah Sen. Mike Lee dissenting.

There is a bipartisan sense of urgency because this is our worst public health epidemic, and it affects virtually every community, tweeted Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander, who authored the legislation.

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The legislation will authorize a total of $7.9 billion from federal funds for health agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to an estimate by the Congressional Budget Office.

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The bill is largely a three-part attack on the opioid crisis: preventing the flow of illegal drugs into the country, supporting patient recovery, and finding long term solutions.

The STOP Act aims to prevent illegal drugs like fentanyl, a potent, synthetic opioid, from crossing the U.S. border. Introduced by Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, the act requires the U.S. Postal Service to inspect foreign packages and collect information about their contents. As of now, only private shippers like FedEx and UPS are required to gather such data.

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The legislation also would fund opioid recovery centers, peer support groups, and a pilot program to provide recovering addicts with temporary housing. Moreover, the measures include plans to research non-addictive painkillers.

Despite federal efforts to treat opioids as a national public health emergency, overdose deaths have increased steadily. Overdose deaths reached 72,000 last year, a 10 percent increase from 2016. Most of these deaths resulted from opioids. The sharpest increase occurred among deaths related to fentanyl and synthetic opioids, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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There is still a big hurdle left to overcome. The Senate has to reconcile its bill with what the House passed in June. The biggest difference in the two bills is Medicaid coverage. The House bill says Medicare should cover opioid treatment, repealing an obscure rule known as the Institution for Mental Diseases exclusion rule. Previously, the IMD exclusion rule prohibited Medicaid from paying for addiction treatment centers with more than 16 beds. In contrast, the Senate bill makes slight changes to the IMD exclusion rule. It ensures that Medicaid covers pregnant and postpartum women in IMD centers, but not others who may be housed in those same centers.

The chambers plan to vote on a final bill in the next two weeks, Sen. Alexander said, and get it to the presidents desk in early October.

The House and Senate measures share the same goals, said House Speaker Paul Ryan in a press release. Ultimately, we have to attack the root cause of this crisis, which are the opioids themselvesbut these are important steps to take toward that goal.Last week, Paul Manafort signed a cooperation agreement with special counsel Robert Mueller and pleaded guilty to charges that included conspiracy related to his lobbying on behalf of a pro-Russian Ukrainian political party without registering with the United States government. One fascinating and underexplored thread that has emerged from the agreement is the apparent role his attorneys from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP played in aiding his criminal conspiracy. CNN reported on Friday that Mueller had referred an investigation into work done by Skadden lawyersincluding Greg Craig, who served as White House counsel under President Barack Obamato the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York.

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We dont have all the information, so its hard to say whether Skadden lawyers broke the law when they wrote a nominally independent report on behalf of Manafort and Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych that was allegedly cooked up to justify the prosecution of the politicians chief rival. It seems clear that at the very least they violated their ethical obligations. Many lawyers, who have hung out at the edges of national scandals and given legal advice and cover to those who were ultimately held responsible, have escaped punishment for their acts. It is critical in this case for prosecutors and state bar regulators to break with this tradition and hold the lawyers involved to a higher standard: Manaforts attorneys must face consequences for any unethical or unlawful actions.

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Even if Manaforts attorneys were not directly involved in the lobbying work, they might still have criminal liability.

The description of the charges to which Manafort pleaded guilty on Friday gives clues about the Skadden lawyers role. At the request of Manafort, the law firm prepared a report supporting the Ukrainian governments criminal prosecution of Yanukovychs political adversary, Yulia Tymoshenko. The charges against Manafort show that he planned to use the Skadden report in a sustained lobbying effort on behalf of the Ukrainian government. Specifically, he circulated the law firms report in an effort to defend the prosecution of Tymoshenko as fair and deserved rather than as a politically motivated way for Yanukovych to rid himself of a powerful adversary.

These lawyers could be charged criminally under Title 22, Section 612 of the U.S. Code for failing to register as foreign agents. There is an exception to the registration requirement for lawyers who provide legal representation to foreign countries, but the exception does not apply if the law firm is engaged in lobbying work. It is not clear, though, how much of a role the Skadden lawyers played in the lobbying effort itself. If they were directly involved, they may have violated the law.

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Even if Manaforts attorneys were not directly involved in the lobbying work, they might still have criminal liability. If any Skadden lawyers were aware that their work was being used in this way, as part of an illegal effort to lobby the government on behalf of a foreign principal without registering, they may have knowingly assisted in a criminal act, which is itself a crime.

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The D.C. Bar has a code of conduct stating clearly that it is unethical to commit a crime and similarly problematic to assist a client in doing so. If the lawyers violated the foreign agent registration law or knowingly assisted Manafort in doing so, local regulators could strip them of their law licenses and fine them as a result. Disciplinary authorities at the relevant local bar can do this even if prosecutors decline to pursue the charges.

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The lawyers at Skadden likely violated other ethical requirements as well. The charges against Manafort make it clear that the lawyers knew that Ukraines criminal charges against Tymoshenko were not supported by evidence. Manaforts sworn statement says that he was told privately in writing by the law firm that the evidence of Tymoshenkos criminal intent is virtually non-existent and that it was unclear even among legal experts that Tymoshenko lacked power to engage in the conduct central to the Ukraine criminal case. These lawyers prepared a report concluding otherwise anyway. This could violate professional conduct rules requiring honesty, competence, and independence.

The charges against Manafort also reveal that the law firm was retained to represent not only Manafort but also Ukraine, and to provide support and training to Ukrainian prosecutors assigned to the case. If, as the criminal information filing laying out the charges states, the lawyers knew that this was a questionable prosecution of an innocent person, motivated by political expediency rather than justice, their support is problematic as well. The lawyers may have violated local ethical rules barring conduct that interferes with the administration of justice. Disciplinary authorities rarely use this rule to punish lawyers, but few cases are as egregious as knowingly helping a political actor prosecute an innocent person.

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We also know that the law firm was paid more than $4 million for the report, an exorbitant sum even for the most elite lawyers. Manafort funneled the money to the firm through an offshore account so as to avoid disclosing the payment, and the Ukrainian government falsely reported the cost of the report as $12,000. This conduct could constitute money laundering under federal law. Its hard to build a criminal case on the assumption that lawyers should have been more diligent in identifying the source of funds paid to them, or that they intentionally avoided finding out information about the source of the payment and the way the client used their work. But the federal system does allow prosecutions for certain crimes where the perpetrators remained willfully ignorant of the scope of their conduct, and this may be one of those cases.

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All of that said, lawyers often escape the consequences of their advice. The lawyers who helped Enron engage in accounting fraud were never charged or disciplined for their conduct. Likewise, the government lawyers who wrote the opinion justifying the torture of suspected terrorists in 2002 avoided professional sanction even though experts agree that their legal analysis was clearly wrong. So we shouldnt be surprised if these lawyers avoid punishment too.

While unsurprising, this would be a grave mistake. It is becoming increasingly clear how important the rule of law is to democracy and how central a role lawyers play in upholding it. As we praise lawyers like Mueller and his team who are working to uphold the rule of law, we simultaneously need to hold those lawyers who violate their obligations responsible for their illicit actions.Donald Trump spoke briefly about the sexual assault allegation against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh on Wednesday morning at the White House, adopting the Republican Party line that Kavanaughs accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, is obliged to testify against him in public immediately:

If she shows up and makes a credible showing, that will be very interesting and well have to make a decision. But I can only say this: He is such an outstanding manvery hard for me to imagine that anything happened.

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As an outstanding man, Kavanaugh joins a less-than-illustrious group of crime-doers, scam enthusiasts, and lecherous crank-yankers whom Trump has defended by declaring confidently that he knows them to be fine or good people.

 Trump called his former personal attorney Michael Cohen a fine person with a wonderful family adding that Cohen would never flip and testify against himmonths before Cohen pleaded guilty to a number of fraud charges, including a campaign-finance violation he said Trump had ordered him to commit. Trump also called his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort a brave man with a wonderful family in an August tweet, which gloated that Manafort, despite being convicted of fraud, had not flipped and cooperated with prosecutors. (Manafort has since agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.) And Trump called former national security adviser Michael Flynn a wonderful man after Flynn was fired over a controversial conversation with Russias ambassador to the U.S. (Flynn ultimately pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about the incident.)

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 Trump called Republican Pennsylvania Rep. Tom Marino a fine man in the same tweet that acknowledged Marino had withdrawn his candidacy to become the administrations top drug-control official amid reporting about Marinos sponsorship of a pharmaceutical industryendorsed bill that relaxed restrictions on opioid sales. Trump also described former Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price, who spent more than $1 million of government funds on wildly unnecessary luxury airfare accommodations during his short Cabinet tenure, as a very good man an hour before Price resigned under pressure. And he called former EPA director Scott Pruitt a good man before Pruitt resigned for being the least ethical person to ever live on Earth.

 Trump called Bill OReilly a good person who had not done anything wrong shortly before OReilly was forced out of his job at Fox News amid reports that the network had paid what turned out to be a staggering $45 million to settle six separate lawsuits against OReilly for sexual harassment and verbal abuse. Trump also called OReillys former boss Roger Ailes, who was the subject of similarly extensive allegations of being a relentless sex creep, a very, very good person.

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 Finally, of course, Trump said the participants in a Nazi-themed 2017 rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, included some very fine peopledoing so after one of them ran over and killed an anti-racist counterprotester with a car. Trump relatedly called former White House adviser Steve Bannon a good man who is not a racist, the latter description being egregiously incorrect.

Asserting subjectively that his allies are of fundamentally sound character, it seems, is Trumps reflexive response when theyre accused of doing embezzlement/assault/ethnic cleansing/light treason. Its an approach that appeals to the one of us tribal loyalty that he cultivates in his supportersand it conveniently means he doesnt have to bother learning or discussing the actual details of any given accusation, which is good for him because he doesnt like to learn. Its a win-win, except for taxpayers, nonwhite people, women, and the general concepts of accountability and decency!Last April, Dr. Bandy Lee, a Yale School of Medicine forensic psychiatrist, organized a conference called Duty to Warn about what she and some colleagues considered the necessity of alerting Americans to the threat posed by the mental health of Donald Trump. Out of this conference came a book put together by Lee: The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump: 27 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Assess a President. Lees outspokenness has been controversial, with some in her field arguing that she is undercutting the profession of psychiatry by diagnosing the president from a distance. (Her response to that and much else is below.)

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Lee has been back in the news more recently, and not just because of all the talk about Trumps mental health surrounding the release of Bob Woodwards Fear and the publication of the infamous, anonymous New York Times op-ed. Lee herself recently claimed that two White House officials reached out to her last year, around the publication of her book, with their own fears about Trump.

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I spoke by phone with Lee, who is also a project leader for the World Health Organization and an expert on violence prevention. During the course of our conversation, which has been edited and condensed for clarity, we discussed how she dealt with the White House staffers who reached out to her, why she says she isnt diagnosing the president, and whether Donald Trump is really getting worse.

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Isaac Chotiner: What details are you allowed to share about people in the Trump administration who you say reached out to you?

Bandy Lee: Its not a matter of being allowed. I didnt get much information because I didnt wish to compromise my role as educating the public. So they called me, two separate phone calls, stating essentially the same thing: that they were scared of President Trumps behavior and felt he was mentally unraveling. Once I was assured that they did not feel themselves in imminent danger, I told them I could not take any more information, but rather, needed to refer them to the emergency room.

So just to clarify: The danger that these people felt was because they were in direct contact with the president, not because they thought he was going to do something in terms of policy?

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No, it was in their daily interactions.

And how big of a gap was there between the two phone calls?

Quite a big gap. About five hours.

OK, so its not a coincidence, these people are clearly talking to each other.

I think so. I didnt ask.

When they said who they were, had you heard of them?

No, not at all.

And is your sense that they reached out to you because of your book?

They said so, yes. They said because of this book, they knew me to be respectable and dependable, or something like that. That I would be a reliable person to get advice from.

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Did they specifically comment on anything that people following the president on Twitter or following the news every day would find surprising, or was it more just that type of behavior but in private?

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It was their private interactions.

Right, but was the content of those interactions similar to what we see in public?

I didnt ask about the actualI didnt ask what they were scared of.

So what were the ethical issues about you not wanting to talk more to them?

After several months of trying to figure out how to respond to [Trumps election], when I spoke with colleagues it was pretty unanimous. There was a universal agreement that Mr. Trump was dangerous because of mental instability, and yet no one had spoken up. I held an ethics conference on whether or not mental health professionals should discuss this, and they came to the conclusion that overwhelmingly we should, for ethical reasons. But not many showed up to the conference, and actually not many were speaking up, because they feared for their own personal and familys safety.

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They were also afraid that they would be vindictively litigated against. So at this point, even after the book is out, not many mental health professionals were coming forth to speak about this issue. I felt that educating and alerting the public about the dangers was far more important than an individual treatment role.

When I referred them to the emergency room, I was hoping that the emergency room psychiatrist would respond and either help these staff members, or intervene if necessary. But nothing happened after that, that I know of. And I tried reaching the on-call psychiatrist at the emergency room I referred them to, and wasnt able to get any information.

What was the response from people in your profession to your book, and what is the state of the debate on some of the issues you were trying to raise?

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The book actually incurred an enormous response. It was an instant New York Times best-seller. For a multi-authored specialized knowledge book, this was rather surprising.

For those within our field, within mental health, we had garnered a lot of respect after the book came out. Those who have specialized knowledge will know that we kept the standard quite high, to, you might say, peer-reviewed standards, while still making the language accessible. And we removed all financial conflicts of interest. In other words, none of us are taking any profit from the book. And all of the income is being donated for the service of public mental health.

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What was the main thing you were trying to get across in the book?

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The initial impression for those who dont read the book is that were diagnosing and were violating ethics. But people who have read the book would come back to us and state that they were really astonished by the ethical rigor and just how accurate and rigorous our assessment was.

The message is basically that we wanted the public to know of the dangers we saw. Dangerousness is different from diagnosis, so we tried to explain that. But the main crux is that the situation is worse than it appears, that it will grow worse over time, and that eventually it will become uncontainable.

How do you identify dangers without diagnosis?

Diagnosing is not what mental health professionals do most of the time, its just a very small part of what we do. For diagnosis, you need all the relevant information. And usually also a personal interview, although the science is pointing in the direction of not needing a personal interview all the time. Whereas the rest of the time, we are evaluating, assessing, sometimes predicting, protecting the public or the patient from dangerousness. So there is a lot that we do that does not involve diagnosing.

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So this book warns about danger. Danger is more about the situation, not so much about the person. In other words, the same person in a different situation may not be dangerous. It also does not need all the information: You just need enough information to raise alarms, and you can act on the dangerousness that you see.

What is the specific danger that you see?

For dangerousness, Im a violence expert. Future violence is best predicted by past violence. And here we have someone who has shown verbal aggression, which usually means physical aggression may not be far; who has boasted about sexual assaults, and that says more about violence than sexuality. He has incited violence in public gatherings. He has shown an attraction to violence and powerful weapons. He has taunted a hostile nation with nuclear power repeatedly, and since then he has instituted policies that traumatize innocent children.

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Back in January, the American Psychiatric Association said that it was calling for an end to what it called armchair psychiatry and affirmed what is called the Goldwater rulewhich is from 1973which they defined as refrain[ing] from publicly issuing professional medical opinions about individuals that they have not personally evaluated in a professional setting or context. What is your response?

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The American Psychiatric Association has been taking action in alarming ways since this administration. So going back to 2017, two months post-inauguration of the president, they reinterpreted the Goldwater rule in a way that it was never written to be and never was in the past. They said that the Goldwater rule does not just involve diagnosis, it involves any comment of any kind on a public figure, no matter how dangerous the situation is. And that actually is a very alarming. They called it a reaffirmation of the Goldwater rule, but its essentially a new rule.

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The Goldwater rule originally was agreed upon almost universally. It was very non-controversial. In fact it was so archaic, most people didnt even know about it. It mainly stated that we should not diagnose to the media without having personally examined and gotten authorization to do so on a public figure.

What were seeing is simple repetition now, and worsening, greater frequency of his poor coping mechanisms.  Bandy Lee

They changed the interpretation into what essentially people have been calling a gag rule. Members of the profession were so alarmed that dozens have resigned, theyve been calling for a vote. This should be very alarming. The American Psychological Association had also changed its ethical guidelines under political pressure during the George W. Bush administration, and that led to psychologists administering torture.

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Armchair psychiatry does not apply because were not talking about saying anything we couldnt from afar. We are talking precisely about the public health implications.

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Why would they do this, do you think?

Well, according to one of the high-ranking officials, it was due to the fear of losing government funding. Regardless of the reasons, it is an alarming act.

One thing that you constantly hear in media coverage of the president is that hes getting worse. But at the same time, if you go back and watch some of those early Iowa speeches, its all there. The bragging about sexual assault, as you said, happened years ago. You can go back and find pretty much everything youre talking about, the violence, going back several years. Again, I know youre not going to diagnose, but do you have reason to think that things are getting particularly worse?

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Oh yes. Absolutely. So you say things are all there. Yes. We knew enough to predict that in the office of the presidency, under the pressures of this office, that he would get worse. And hes actually rapidly getting worse. The Washington Post measured that in the first six months of this year, he quadrupled the number of lies that he told last year. In other words, in six months he had told [almost] double the number of lies that he did in the entire first year of his presidency.

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Well, right. But you could say, well, he tells more lies because his political and legal situations are worse, so hes forced to tell more lies to keep his political standing up, or something.

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I think this is one of the reasons why mental health expertise can be helpful: Because we know that its not just an isolated sign. And we can look at the patterns and figure out whether its strategy or whether its symptoms. We by now have a lot of high-quality data, in terms of his reactions to situations in real-time, over considerable periods of time. So through the patterns, and also through the collection of symptoms, if you will, we can easily figure out that a large part of this is not strategy, and we would have been able to tell you so a year and a half before most people realized.

What sorts of things are you talking about, besides lying?

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The increasing frequency in lying, the increasingly belligerent tweets, his inability to vary his responses to situations. For example, he cannot let a criticism go. He has to fabricate reality to situations that are distressing to him. And the thing about pathology, as opposed to normal reaction, is pathology actually becomes more rigid and more predictable. A healthy individual might be able to vary their response, especially if its strategy. They can choose to act differently if something is not working. Whereas pathology tends to become more and more rigid as it worsens. And what were seeing is simple repetition now, and worsening, greater frequency of his poor coping mechanisms.

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OK, but to take a different example, its obvious that the president is a racist who has racist beliefs and engages in racism frequently. I think sometimes when he engages in racism, its just to get his supporters riled up, rather than from any deep-seated particular belief. So I guess its hard to disaggregate under specific circumstances and say hes lying here because hes mentally unstable versus hes lying here because hes in an embarrassing situation.

Right. Thats why you look at patterns. Youre absolutely right. When we just isolate a single instance, then its almost impossible to tell. But with Mr. Trump, we have decades of information and patterns to look at. And we have better information on him than most of our patients, even, by now. Information that is relevant to dangerousness. And actually, diagnosis has nothing to do with dangerousness. Even if we were to have a diagnosis today, it tells us nothing about his ability to function in office, or his dangerousness. These are different evaluations.

And in fact, if we were to do a mental health evaluation on him, I would recommend a capacity evaluation, and a dangerousness risk assessment above a diagnosis. A diagnosis is more about the personal mental health of the president and thats not really a priority when he has such an important public function, and were mainly concerned about public health and safety.Christine Blasey Ford came forward this weekend as the author of a letter accusing Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault. According to the account she gave the Washington Post, she remembers being pushed into a bedroom, Kavanaugh covering her mouth, and loud music being played. She is also transparent about what she does not remember: the exact year, the reason why she was at that house party, who owned the house, or how she got there. This lack of detail, combined with the amount of time elapsed since the alleged assault, has caused some to question her storyhow can she be so sure of what happened if shes not sure what year it was? But given what we know about traumatic memories, the fact that Ford is hazy on some of the details actually increases the likelihood she is telling the truth.

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Traumatic memories are processed and stored differently than those of benign events. Asked to recall a significant life episode, most of us would tell a story: My wife woke up in labor, we drove to the hospital, and a few hours later my daughter was born. Memories of trauma, though, do not share this structure. Instead, they are collections of sensory impressions: the sound of a song, the smell of cologne, the pressure of someones hand on your mouth. This is precisely why trauma can be so difficult to treat: Its not a matter of avoiding a person or a place but a feeling, an emotion. This is why many of my patients who are trauma survivors have constricted their lives to avoid the possibility of being triggered and have withdrawn from life as a result.

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The impact of traumatic incidents never goes away but can be buried very deeply until something triggers it to rise to the surface.

Weve been aware of this difference in memory storage and retention since Pierre Janet first began studying memory and trauma in the late 19th century, but recent gains in neuroscience have helped us get an even better sense of what exactly is going on. We can now look at the brains of people remembering trauma in real time to see which areas of the brain are activated and which are dormant. Flashbacks activate the amygdala, the part of the brain that monitors our surroundings for signs of danger and prepares us to take action, and repress Brocas area, the part of our brain responsible for putting our thoughts and feelings into words. Trauma literally renders the brain speechless and fills the body with unspeakable terror.

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Its no surprise that it took Ford years before she could put her experience into words. The fact that she disclosed her assault in a couples-counseling session is consistent with what I have witnessed in my own practice. The impact of traumatic incidents never goes away but can be buried very deeply until something triggers it to rise to the surface. This happens most often in our most intimate relationships. After Ford disclosed the incident in session, she told her husband the full story and processed the event with her individual therapist the following year.

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Some may find it unusual that Fords couples and individual therapists allowed the Washington Post to access her therapy notes. Such access could only be granted with Fords full approval, of course. When a patient enters my care, I am bound by strict confidentiality regarding their disclosures, but this is not a two-way street; the patient is not bound to keep anything we talk about secret. The information in the therapists notes is Fords to disclose if she wishes to do so. Medical notes dont belong to providers but to their patients. Even though the vast majority of my patients will never review my documentation, I take care to write each word knowing that they could one day read them.

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If Ford were my patient and wanted me to disclose her records, I would want to begin by making sure she was absolutely certain about what she was doing. I would want to make sure that this was not a passing whim or something she hadnt fully thought through yet (another reason why it actually makes more sense, not less, that Ford clearly weighed this decision for months before speaking on the record). If I felt comfortable, I would have her sign a release stating what she wished me to share and with whom, and I would encourage her to share the least amount of necessary information with the fewest possible parties. Within the notes themselves I would strongly encourage her to redact anything that is irrelevant to what she wishes to share with the public.

Part of my interest in providing this advice would be to protect my patient. Its disturbing that there are already voices asking why Ford didnt come forward sooner and questioning the validity of her story. These reactions reveals exactly why Ford wished to remain anonymous. Traumatic memories are stored as piecemeal collections of sensory experiences and are often buried deep within our psyches. Ford deserves nothing but praise for coming forward, and everything we know about traumatic memory suggests shes telling the truth.Wednesday, September 19, 2018 Keller Likes The Polls--His Own, Plus: Guv Debate Is Tonight, GOP Wants Gary To Quit Senate Race And Some Dusty Nuggets From The Campaign Trail



One of the insiders with a reliable track record says Mayor Tim Keller has weathered the first ten months of his mayoralty in good shape with his approval rating in the vicinity of the 62 percent that he was elected with last November.



Another interesting point in the Keller polling, according to our insider, is that more than a majority of city residents finally believe the city under the leadership of Democrat Keller is headed in the right direction. However, those polled believe the state, led by Republican Governor Martinez, is still headed down the wrong path.



The explanation? It's not that ABQ has suddenly been transformed into a crime free zone with high paying jobs. It's that people are now hopeful that the city under new leadership has a shot at improving.



The final years of Republican Mayor Berry were dreadful with soaring crime rates, a sour economy and a woeful public transit project known as ART. It's not that city residents believe happy days are here again; it's that they are pleased to see a new face at the helm. Now it's up to that new face to perform and put smiles on the faces of his constituents.



(We caution that we have not seen the actual poll and are relying one one of our reliable sources--known around here as an "Alligator" if you are new to the blog. If we get burned that Gator faces the fearsome punishment of 20 lashes with a wet noodle, a ban on consuming red or green chile for one year and 7 days in solitary confinement in a



One plan Mayor Keller is winning praise over--after being scorned for not acting quickly--is



DEBATE NIGHT







The debate runs for one hour.



With a seven point lead over Republican Steve Pearce in the ABQ Journal poll--50-43--Michelle Lujan Grisham will work to avoid any major gaffe that could reset the race. Pearce can be expected to try to jar her loose with an aggressive performance. A key question: Will he bring anything new about his opponent to the table? Well, his campaign is revving up the pre-debate rhetoric:



Tomorrow evening Steve Pearce will go head to head with our far left opponent in a live televised debate on FOX NM and KTSM. . .



Meantime, the Pearce campaign had to recut



As for Delta, MLG Dem primary rival Jeff Apodaca is still on the case. The group NM Democrats for Democracy, which he is involved with,



Both campaigns will have debate watch parties tonight. Pearce supporters will the at the Marble Heights Taproom on Montgomery NE and of MLG's ABQ watch party will be at Democratic offices at 1605 Juan Tabo Blvd NE, Suite G.



Reader Richard Flores is one of the 7 percent who are said to be undecided in the newspaper poll. He says he will be watching tonight:



I'm not excited about either candidate. I think MLG's poll numbers reflect more of a Democratic backlash against Trump and his supporters, including the congressional leadership. I think (Dem Lt. Governor candidate) Howie Morales will help the Democratic cause for the upcoming election, but I have lots of questions about MLG's leadership style and her authenticity. Perhaps the debate on Wednesday evening will help to better define her character. I hope so.



ANOTHER TV DEBATE



The candidates for ABQ's U.S. House seat will have their first televised debate this Thursday. Democrat Deb Haaland, Republican Janice Arnold-Jones and Libertarian Lloyd Princeton will go at it beginning at 7 p.m. tomorrow night on KNME-TV in ABQ. The seat is being vacated by Rep. Lujan Grisham who is running for governor. The seat has been in Dem hands since 2009.



GET OUT GARY







Chairman Cangiolosi called on Johnson to withdraw his candidacy from New Mexicos U.S. Senate race: Johnson has a long legacy of service to New Mexico, but our shared beliefs in smaller, more fiscally responsible government would be best served if he withdrew his candidacy. Sundays Albuquerque Journal poll painted a stark picture of the state of this race: in a head to head matchup, Republican nominee Mick Rich would be within just a few points of Democrat Martin Heinrich. We call on Gary Johnson to put New Mexico first and clear a path for Mick Rich to become New Mexicos next Senator.



Poor Mick Rich. The GOP treated him like a rented mule for two years while he wandered in the wilderness seeking support from his party brethren but getting none. Now that the handwriting is on the wall and the R's face a humiliating Senate defeat they are trying to throw Mick a bone--or save themselves from the embarrassment of a major party nominee perhaps not getting even 30 percent of the vote. Even if Gary did get out (which he tells the Journal is laughable) Rich would have little chance of winning. Despite that great last name, at last report Mick had less than $200,000 banked.



TRAIL DUST



Sen. Heinrich has released a round



Four judges on the ABQ Metro Court are getting the thumbs down from the New Mexico Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission which is urging voters to vote



How about a president from our neighboring state of Colorado? Dem Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper



This is the home of New Mexico politics.







Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here.



( c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2 Like the rest of the political community ABQ City Hall insiders are tracking the latest campaign polling like bloodhounds on a scent, but they're also looking at some polling of their own and are pretty pleased with what they are seeing.One of the insiders with a reliable track record says Mayor Tim Keller has weathered the first ten months of his mayoralty in good shape with his approval rating in the vicinity of the 62 percent that he was elected with last November.Another interesting point in the Keller polling, according to our insider, is that more than a majority of city residents finally believe the city under the leadership of Democrat Keller is headed in the right direction. However, those polled believe the state, led by Republican Governor Martinez, is still headed down the wrong path.The explanation? It's not that ABQ has suddenly been transformed into a crime free zone with high paying jobs. It's that people are now hopeful that the city under new leadership has a shot at improving.The final years of Republican Mayor Berry were dreadful with soaring crime rates, a sour economy and a woeful public transit project known as ART. It's not that city residents believe happy days are here again; it's that they are pleased to see a new face at the helm. Now it's up to that new face to perform and put smiles on the faces of his constituents.(We caution that we have not seen the actual poll and are relying one one of our reliable sources--known around here as an "Alligator" if you are new to the blog. If we get burned that Gator faces the fearsome punishment of 20 lashes with a wet noodle, a ban on consuming red or green chile for one year and 7 days in solitary confinement in a morada in Mora County. That will keep them honest).One plan Mayor Keller is winning praise over--after being scorned for not acting quickly--is the establishment of a Downtown Public Safety District. It's quite comprehensive and is raising hopes that the death spiral the center of the city has been enduring is finally ending. New jobs coming to the area are also boosting hopes. Keller has also come with a plan to alleviate homelessness in the city. It's time for the first televised gubernatorial debate of the '18 campaign. The face-off starts tonight at 6 p.m. on KASA FOX 2 in ABQ and a live stream at krqe.com . For those outside the ABQ media market, the debate will also be broadcast on KTSM-TV Channel 9 in El Paso which covers Las Cruces and environs.The debate runs for one hour. The format is pretty loose with a lone moderator keeping an eye on things while the two contenders are free to go into detail--or on the attack--on the issues raised. They will be allowed to question one another.With a seven point lead over Republican Steve Pearce in the ABQ Journal poll--50-43--Michelle Lujan Grisham will work to avoid any major gaffe that could reset the race. Pearce can be expected to try to jar her loose with an aggressive performance. A key question: Will he bring anything new about his opponent to the table? Well, his campaign is revving up the pre-debate rhetoric:Meantime, the Pearce campaign had to recut its hit ad on MLG and Delta Consulting because the spot attributed info in the ad to a news organization that actually came from a blog authored by former State Sen. Rod Adair.As for Delta, MLG Dem primary rival Jeff Apodaca is still on the case. The group NM Democrats for Democracy, which he is involved with, sent out a timetable on Delta and the high risk insurance pool it runs that goes back to the 90's. It's well-produced and uncomplicates a complicated subject. While raising questions about the politics involved in the Delta contract there is no smoking gun revealing any criminal acts or intent.Both campaigns will have debate watch parties tonight. Pearce supporters will the at the Marble Heights Taproom on Montgomery NE and of MLG's ABQ watch party will be at Democratic offices at 1605 Juan Tabo Blvd NE, Suite G.Reader Richard Flores is one of the 7 percent who are said to be undecided in the newspaper poll. He says he will be watching tonight:The candidates for ABQ's U.S. House seat will have their first televised debate this Thursday. Democrat Deb Haaland, Republican Janice Arnold-Jones and Libertarian Lloyd Princeton will go at it beginning at 7 p.m. tomorrow night on KNME-TV in ABQ. The seat is being vacated by Rep. Lujan Grisham who is running for governor. The seat has been in Dem hands since 2009. How about this for bad timing? With less than 50 days to go before the election Ryan Cangiolosi, chairman of the NM Republican Party, is calling on former NM GOP Governor and current Libertarian Party US Senate nominee to get out of the race:Poor Mick Rich. The GOP treated him like a rented mule for two years while he wandered in the wilderness seeking support from his party brethren but getting none. Now that the handwriting is on the wall and the R's face a humiliating Senate defeat they are trying to throw Mick a bone--or save themselves from the embarrassment of a major party nominee perhaps not getting even 30 percent of the vote. Even if Gary did get out (which he tells the Journal is laughable) Rich would have little chance of winning. Despite that great last name, at last report Mick had less than $200,000 banked.Sen. Heinrich has released a round radio ads targeted at seven regions in the state. . .Four judges on the ABQ Metro Court are getting the thumbs down from the New Mexico Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission which is urging voters to vote not to retain them in November. A judge up for retention must get 57 percent of the vote to stay on the bench. Four is one of the highest number of judges ever to be found wanting by the commission. . .How about a president from our neighboring state of Colorado? Dem Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper is preparing to join the growing list of possible Dem nominees to take on Trump in 2020. Not only is he a long shot but if he were to win wouldn't he have the longest last name in presidential history?This is the home of New Mexico politics. E-mail your news and comments. (jmonahan@ix.netcom.com) Links HOME

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12/27/20 1/3/21 - 1/10/21 1/10/21 - 1/17/21 1/17/21 - 1/24/21 1/24/21 - 1/31/21 1/31/21 - 2/7/21 2/7/21 - 2/14/21 2/14/21 - 2/21/21 2/21/21 - 2/28/21 2/28/21 - 3/7/21 3/7/21 - 3/14/21 3/14/21 - 3/21/21 3/21/21 - 3/28/21 3/28/21 - 4/4/21 4/4/21 - 4/11/21 4/11/21 - 4/18/21 4/18/21 - 4/25/21 4/25/21 - 5/2/21 5/2/21 - 5/9/21 5/9/21 - 5/16/21 5/16/21 - 5/23/21 5/23/21 - 5/30/21 5/30/21 - 6/6/21 6/6/21 - 6/13/21 6/13/21 - 6/20/21 6/20/21 - 6/27/21 6/27/21 - 7/4/21 7/4/21 - 7/11/21 7/11/21 - 7/18/21 7/18/21 - 7/25/21 7/25/21 - 8/1/21 8/1/21 - 8/8/21 8/8/21 - 8/15/21 8/15/21 - 8/22/21 8/22/21 - 8/29/21 8/29/21 - 9/5/21 9/5/21 - 9/12/21 9/12/21 - 9/19/21 9/19/21 - 9/26/21 9/26/21 - 10/3/21 10/3/21 - 10/10/21 10/10/21 - 10/17/21 10/17/21 - 10/24/21 10/24/21 - 10/31/21 10/31/21 - 11/7/21 11/7/21 - 11/14/21 website design by website design by limwebdesignFor years now, Cody Wilson has been known as the notorious pioneer of the homemade gun movement for fighting the U.S. government for the right to publish instructions for 3D-printed firearms online. On Wednesday, he made headlines for another reason: He was charged with sexual assault of an underage girl whom he allegedly came into contact with on the website SugarDaddyMeet.com.

According to the arrest warrant, Wilson met the girl at a coffee shop in Austin, Texas, before taking her to a hotel, where he allegedly sexually assaulted her and then paid her $500. Wilson is 31, and while we dont know the exact age of the girl, the warrant says she is under 17. The car Wilson picked up the girl in is registered to his homemade gun business, Defense Distributed, and as local Austin station KVUE reports, court documents claim there is surveillance footage of Wilson meeting her at the coffee shop. Austin police told Wired reporter Issie Lapowsky on Wednesday that Cody Wilson is believed to be in Taiwan and missed his flight back to the U.S.

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-Although Wilsons gun activism is unrelated to his most recent legal trouble, if the charges of child sexual assault do prove true, one of the gun rights movements most passionate and innovative defenders may have a weaker case in claiming any ethical authority in delineating what he and his followers should and should not be legally allowed to do. Beyond the fact that Wilson is in the business of helping people circumvent gun laws with his GhostGunner 3D-printing machine and his sale of gun parts for DIY firearm-making, he often speaks to the press on the ethics of both owning firearms and online censorship. (In March, I interviewed Wilson after the Parkland school shooting on Slates If Then podcast.)

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In 2013, Wilson published online plans for the Liberator, the first 3D-printed handgun in the world, which were reportedly downloaded more than 100,000 times in just two days. Just two days later, the State Department ordered him to take them down, citing export control laws that are intended to keep weapons from falling into the hands of criminals overseas. During the court battle, Wilson was unable to continue to post the plans, but that didnt stop the digital files from circulating online.

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In June, Wilson settled that yearslong legal case with the State Department. After the settlement, he announced he would begin publishing his gun plans again in August. That led attorneys general from eight states to sue the Trump administration to attempt to prevent Wilson from distributing his gun plans again, though of course they were still easily available online if you knew where to look.

According to KVUE, Wilson went by the name Sanjuro on SugarDaddyMeet and in text messages with the victim called himself a big deal. Sanjuro is the name of a 1962 Japanese samurai film by director Akira Kurosawa.Over the past week or so, you may have seen headlines warning that the European Union is about to ban memes and GIFs and harm free speech. Some say that this new copyright reform could seriously damageor even breakthe internet. Users freedoms would be significantly limited, and the risk of legal liability for creators and users alike would increase exponentially because of the reform. According to Julia Reda, a member of the European Parliament, the EU is putting corporate profits over freedom of speech and abandoning long-standing principles that made the internet what it is today.

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At the root of all this are two new provisions that the EU is considering: one that would give publishers more power to say who can use their content (including linking to it), and one that would make platforms more liable for copyright violations. There are good reasons to be worried about what these two articles will mean, if they are adopted. However, it is a mistake to think that they would dramatically change the internet as we know it. Instead, they would progress along the same lines of copyright evolution in Europe over the past several years. In this sense, they are more a natural evolution than a drastic change. EU lawmakers, as well as the judiciary, have indeed been walking this path for a long timea path that has progressively expanded the scope of copyright protection and owners rights.

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Since the early 1990s, the EU has adopted a number of legislative texts (mostly in the form of directiveslegislation that countries themselves can implement as they wish so long as they achieve the relevant objectives) with the primary goal of supporting the free movement of copyrighted content across the EU internal market. (For example, different durations of copyright protection across different countries used to create challenges.) At the same time, the EU has increasingly been concerned with making its copyright system more modern and more competitive as a whole, to attract investments in the continent.

If these provisions are implemented, they could have an impact on the amount of content that is actually available online. But Europe has been heading in this direction over the past several years.

These efforts became more intense in 2015, when the European Commission launched a Digital Single Market strategy to overhaul e-commerce, enforcement, and copyright rules. The underlying idea was that without copyright reform, the EU would never develop its full potential as an integrated digital single market. Breaking down national silos in these areas has therefore become a priority. The following year, the commission issued its proposal for a new directive on copyright in the Digital Single Market. The directive contains a wide range of provisions that include new mandatory copyright exceptions, fairness in authors and performers contracts, and everything in between.

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Of these provisions, two have arguably elicited the most heated discussions. The first is Article 11, called by some the link tax but technically known as the press publishers right, which would give newspaper publishers greater control over the digital use of their content, potentially including linking to such content under some circumstances. For instance, Google News would need to obtain the permission of relevant newspapers to link to their websites and display snippets of news content.

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The second is Article 13, the value gap proposal, dubbed by some the censorship machine. Article 13 would require hosting platforms that give access to user-uploaded content to get a license from relevant rights holders and prevent the availability of infringing material. The result would be that uploading a video of your child dancing to a hit song might be impossible. A platform that allows you to do so would need to have a licenseotherwise, the site would be liable for copyright infringement. Although the latest version of the directive does not mention filters, some fear that implementing algorithmic filters would be the only way for platforms to shield themselves from liability.

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After the commission issued the directive in 2016, the EU member states (gathered in the council) and the European Parliament held their own debates to decide whether to adopt the directive and what it would include. The council adopted its own mandate a few months ago, while the parliamentfollowing an initial thumbs-down vote back in June this yearadopted its own version last week. The next step will be for the council, the parliament, and the commission to reconcile their different versions. As things currently stand, we do not yet know what the final text of the directive will be, but it seems highly likely that it will contain both a press publishers right and the value gap provision. Although stakeholders became very vocal about these provisions as soon as the commission issued its proposal back in 2016, these have now become mainstream, especially out of fear that their adoption would radically change our online daily activities. Marietje Schaake, a member of the European Parliament, thinks that endorsing the reform is a disastrous result for the protection of our fundamental rights and ordinary internet users.

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The concerns are correct: If these provisions are implemented, they could have an impact on the amount of content that is actually available online. But Europe has been heading in this direction over the past several years.

Take linking and Article 11. This would not actually be a huge change: The highest EU court has already ruled on a number of occasions that unauthorized linking to protected content might expose one to liability. Under EU copyright, the core idea is that exclusive rights should be granted a high level of protection. Copying just a few words might be a copyright breach, and merely putting TV sets in hotel rooms or spas requires a license. That is true also with regard to rights holders ability to object to or control certain acts of linking to their content. The law already requires any business that links to copyrighted content, including the website of a newspaper, to make sure the content linked to is and remains legal, in order to not be exposed to liability. However, the new article might require businesses to secure a license before displaying titles of news articles and relevant snippets.

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Critics of Article 13 say that this value gap provision will make it impossible to share content that is legal, including memes and GIFs, because of the flawed nature of the algorithmic filters that platforms would likely have to use to comply with the law. An automated filtering system might return false positives and unduly block content that should be allowed instead. Automated filters might be unable to identify and allow legal uses of protected content, including parodies and quotations, the latter being for instance a case of user creativity like memes and GIFs. In the U.S., the law provides for a fair-use doctrine, but in Europe, even the making of a meme or a GIF is already a bit risky because of different legal approaches. All EU countries have closed lists of available copyright exceptions. In Europe, if you want to make a GIF from, say, Crazy Rich Asians, you first need to identify whether the law would allow that by means of a relevant exception, and then, if you find this exception, you need to check that all legal conditions are also satisfied. So French law requires that a quotation be justified by the critical, polemic, educational, scientific, or informational character of the work into which it is incorporated. Thats not usually the case with memes and GIFs. Italian law is not more generous: It only allows the online free publication of low-resolution or degraded images when this is for educational or scientific uses and only where such use is noncommercial. Can memes and GIFs be regarded as educational or scientific uses of protected works? Perhaps, but this might be difficult to argue successfully in the (admittedly remote but not impossible) event that litigation is brought forward.

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Finally, Article 13 has been criticized for moving from the assumption that hosting platforms may not (or no longer) be regarded as neutral hosts that are shielded from liability for users illegal activities under the EU equivalent of the U.S. Digital Millennium Copyright Acts safe harbors. Safe harbors are a legal insulation that is given to platforms and limits their liability for users illegal activities as long as certain conditions are satisfied. Whether or not platforms in the EU may be considered liable for users illegally making copyrighted content available is not entirely certain. Last year, the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that the operators of The Pirate Bay would be directly liable for providing links to torrent sites from which users could download copyrighted content unlawfully. The court suggested that this might be also true of other platforms that index, categorize, or delete content, or perform filtering activitiesno matter how these are done. Last week, the top court in Germany referred a new case to the CJEU, asking to clarify whether YouTube would be directly liable for making available infringing content uploaded by users under existing EU law.

So what now? If Europeans wish to push back against Article 11 and Article 13, they need to prepare to radically change copyright law, including an overall rethinking of its foundations and approach. Nothing like that, however, seems to lie on the horizon at the moment. The next steps will be in fact a discussion of the text of the directive, which, once adopted, will need to be implemented by individual EU countries within a time frame that is usually two years. So  gather ye memes while you may.On Aug. 10, the Food and Drug Administration approved fertility awareness app Natural Cycles as a form of birth control, signaling that the agency believes there is enough evidence that the app is comparable enough to, say, the standard birth control pill for the prevention of pregnancy that it endorses women using it for that purpose. Natural Cycles is just one of a slate of smartphone applications that women can now use to measure their fertility. Dozens of apps help women to predict the days theyll be fertile in a calendar month. Even though many of the apps dont explicitly say that they should or can be used as birth control, many women use that information to prevent pregnancy. The majority of those who use the fertility tracker Daysy, for example, are trying to avoid becoming pregnant, according to Daysy spokesperson Aaron Knarr.

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Fertility awareness, where women monitor when they are ovulating and have the highest chance of conceiving, can be a highly effective way to prevent pregnancywhen its used correctly. The problem is that these principles are difficult to translate into app form, and at the moment, theres very little data even available that could be used to assess if apps, overall, are effective as a means of preventing pregnancy. But that hasnt stopped the companies behind them from marketing to people who might not be familiar with the principles of fertility awareness. Problematically, these apps often dont provide the education that people need to reach peak effectiveness using fertility awareness methods.

The fact that fertility awareness works, but fertility awareness apps might not, makes it a complicated topic for medical professionals to explain accurately to their patients, many of whom are likely looking for an easy way to prevent pregnancy. [The apps] are taking something that has legitimate scientific backing but applying it in a way that isnt necessarily scientifically sound, and without providing guidance on how to navigate it, says Rebecca Simmons, a researcher and fertility awareness specialist at the University of Utah. There are a lot of misconceptions around fertility awareness methods used for contraception, Simmons says, because theyre so often conflated with the rhythm method, a largely ineffective system where women count the days of their menstrual cycle and predict the timing of ovulation and fertility. Fertility awareness is also often seen as the contraceptive method used by religious communities that do not allow hormonal birth control, which causes some researchers, patients, and health care providers to shy away from talking about it and recommending it.

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For women who cant or dont want to use hormonal birth control, it can be an effective alternative method of preventing pregnancy.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention puts the failure rate for fertility awareness methods at 24 percentbut that calculation lumps the rhythm method together with other, more effective fertility awareness methods. The more effective methods use physiological signs from the bodybasal body temperature (which goes up after ovulation) and cervical discharge (which changes in consistency throughout the cycle)to track fertility throughout the month. Women chart and track their bodies signals, which gives them a read on when they can become pregnant and, if theyre trying to prevent pregnancy, when they should avoid sex or use a condom or other barrier protection.

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A longitudinal study that followed 900 German women tracking both cervical mucus and basal body temperature over 20 years found that, under typical use, the strategy was 98.2 percent effective in preventing pregnancy. Methods that use only basal body temperature or only cervical mucus are less effective, but still provide better contraceptive efficacy than the rhythm method. Hormonal birth control pills are 91 percent effective under typical use, and 99.7 percent effective under perfect use, which means that typical use of fertility awareness might be even more effective than taking the pill.

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Using fertility awareness as a contraceptive, though, requires that women learn how to track and interpret their temperature and cervical mucus, which can take time and investment, Simmons says. Many women take a class or work with a specialist to learn how to chart their fertility. It requires more work and attention than taking a pill every day. But for women who cant or dont want to use hormonal birth control, it can be an effective alternative method of preventing pregnancy.

Its not easy to condense these methods into digital applications that do the calculations for you, says Petra Frank-Herrmann, who studies natural fertility in the department of gynecological endocrinology and fertility disorders at the University of Heidelberg. The effective methods still demand self-observation by women, she says. Theres no easy shortcut.

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Simmons noted that most of the fertility apps available werent developed in consultation with the scientific community. What you get is a lot of products without a lot of scientific backing. Its not necessarily the fault of the tech industry or the fault of science, but theres not been a lot of cross communication and there needs to be more, she says.

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Of the wide range of apps available, some adhere more closely to best practices in fertility awareness than others, says Summer Starling, a public health and clinical researcher. Using an app to track a period and predict ovulation is not really a fertility-based awareness method, she says. Those are more fertility awareness liteits not a formal way of using fertility awareness.

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Some apps are designed to facilitate more hands-on fertility charting and replace pen and paper with simple digital inputs all stored in the same convenient place. With those, women still interpret their fertility themselves. Other applications, though, perform the calculations based on provided data. The app is telling you when your fertile window is, says Chelsea Polis, a reproductive health epidemiologist at the Guttmacher Institute. Its using an algorithm to determine it for you. But, she says, the efficacy of individual algorithms is under-studiedand thats the format used by Natural Cycles, for example.

Reviews of the apps using various methods to track fertility show that there isnt great evidence, overall, for their ability to prevent pregnancy. A 2016 report on the performance of fertility awarenessbased apps found that the majority were not evidence-based, and the authors concluded that users should not rely solely on an app to avoid pregnancy.

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Only a handful of individual apps have published data on their models and efficacy. Those results, however, have been under scrutiny by the scientific community. Studies of Natural Cycles, for example, report that the app is 93 percent effective in preventing pregnancy with typical use. That research, which was funded by the company, was strong enough for FDA approval, but its been criticized for being poorly conducted: Frank-Herrmann wrote in the European Journal of Contraception & Reproductive Health Care that the 2016 Natural Cycles study calculated the perfect use rate inappropriately, and that the precision and accuracy of the algorithm the application uses to identify the day of ovulation (based on basal body temperature) has not been established.

Similarly, Daysy, a fertility tracking device that pairs a thermometer with an app, boasts 99.4 percent efficacy, which was determined by a March study funded by the company that developed the app. According to Polis, though, the data on Daysy is flawed: The study did not include women who had used the app for fewer than 13 months, which knocked out a large number of users inappropriately; survey participation was low; and the data on use and pregnancies was collected retrospectively, rather than by tracking women while they used the app. Polis published a commentary on these problems in the journal Reproductive Health in June, and is calling for the study to be retracted.

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The fact that fertility awareness works, but fertility awareness apps might not, makes it a complicated topic for medical professionals to explain accurately to their patients.

It is a normal process that scientific work is criticized by other working groups or scientists through comments,  wrote Niels van de Roemer, medical director at Daysy manufacturer Valley Electronics, through the companys spokesperson. We are in close contact to the Chief Editor of the Journal Reproductive Health regarding the case. We have submitted a clarification and have gone into the various points of criticism in detail.

The quality of the evidence around fertility awareness apps is a particular concern because most people using them probably dont have prior exposure to the science around fertility awareness methods or realize what they actually need to do in order to use them properly, Simmons says. Like other forms of birth control, its not for everyone; people with irregular cycles or endometriosis shouldnt use fertility awareness, for example. The data on basal body temperature needs to be collected at the same time each day, and poor sleep, stress, and alcohol can make the results less accurate.

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A user might not know that travel can influence basal body temperature, so if you go on vacation and expect things to work the same way, you might be interpreting information incorrectly and putting yourself at a different risk of pregnancy, Simmons says. Most of the available apps dont provide users with the same quality of information around fertility awareness that a class, or learning from an expert directly, would, Simmons says. Some do their due diligence, but its up to the apps to police themselves.

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Recent reports of unwanted pregnancies among women using the Natural Cycles app have received particular attention in light of its approval as a contraceptive by European and U.S. regulatory agencies. Alone, though, these reports dont discredit the app; all types of contraceptives result in some number of unintended pregnancies. Theres a natural backlash, and people say, well, that didnt work for me, Simmons says.

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Even with the flaws in the efficacy studies, Simmons says its a good sign that the data exist for Natural Cycles and Daysy in the first place. At least Daysy did something that we can criticize, and at least we know something, Simmons says. For some apps, theres no information at all. For the couple apps that have a small number of publications, thats a positive step forward.

The problem is that these initial studies ought to be replicated in larger sample sizes and the research ideally ought to be conducted by scientists who have no investment in the apps success. But developing an actionable research base around fertility apps is difficult because the products come and go quickly, Starling says. We cant do a study of 10 apps because a study takes a year and by the time results are in, there will be 100 new ones, she said. We have to find a balance where were involving the people making the apps.

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That the FDA is entering the conversation around fertility awareness apps is a good sign, from a quality standpoint, Simmons says. The initial approval of Natural Cycles as medical device provides a road map for other fertility apps seeking their own signoff from the agency, and it gives the FDA more avenues for oversight of these products. But the app does not need to be prescribed by a doctor, and approval does not mean that clinicians will become more familiar with fertility awareness. This is worrisome when the apps are getting so much media attention. We know that people have a hard time understanding risk, and they might think something is safer than it actually is, she says.

In the meantime, women are still using these products and expecting them to work. According to a survey published in June in the journal mHealth, people who use fertility apps or are interested in using them in the future want the products to be science-based, with strong evidence to back them up; over 60 percent of respondents rated based on proven scientific evidence as highly important. Thats great until you remember that a number of the apps already on the market dont clear that bar.

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But its hard to assess which are which. Plus, theres very little guidance on which app might be best for which needs; the market is very crowded, and often even doctors will find it difficult to keep up. That leaves women reliant on word-of-mouth, ratings, and ease of use, according to Starlings study.

Natural Cycles also uses social media influencers to promote its appwhich, from a public health perspective, is concerning, says Amy Hough, a reproductive and sexual health researcher. Using social media influencers might mean the company is targeting younger women through advertising, but younger womenwho could have more variable cycles and schedulesarent necessarily the group that would be best served by fertility awareness methods, Hough says. Plus, the ads are somewhat misleading: It portrays Natural Cycles as something thats easy and straightforward to start using, but thats not the case, she says. The company also promotes its app using the effectiveness data from the studies researchers say were poorly conducted. This actually caused the United Kingdom Advertising Standards Authority to ban one of its July 2017 Facebook advertisements, saying that it gave the misleading impression that the app was as effective as other, highly reliable forms of birth control.

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Daysy also continues to promote its product on social media using the 99.4 percent efficacy statistic, which Polis says is a problem. You link back to the marketing language and the aggressive way that theyre promoting this device, [and] it just seemed like this perfect storm of people being sold a device that hasnt been appropriately tested, and for which the manufacturers are using incredibly irresponsible language, she said. Even more concerning: Women who have raised concerns about Daysys efficacy statistics in social media groups discussing fertility awareness have reported being blocked by the company or removed from Facebook groups. (Daysy representative Aaron Knarr said in an email that two to three women were removed after complaints of spamming and sharing private comments on other forums. It is not normal protocol to debate a commentary on an independent study via a social media PR campaign, he wrote to me. This claim about lack of transparency on social media has no factual nor scientific relevance to the content of the original study.)

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The upshot of all of this? People turn to fertility awareness because theyre searching for nonhormonal options, or because existing products arent working for them. The apps have the potential to help meet those needs. But given the current concerns around the evidence for their efficacy and the lack of education, users should proceed with caution before abandoning other forms of birth control. At the very least, they should supplement the app with education about the method; Simmons, for example, says she uses fertility awareness apps and would recommend them to people who are interested, but she encourages users to work with another source to get the additional fertility education they might need. Its not enough to just download them and start inputting information and expect that theyll work, she said.Greetings, Future Tensers,

As a millennial, I wholeheartedly embrace the idea of existential dread. But I do find the idea that we might be able to future-proof our speciesby, say, genetically engineering a smarter human populationsomewhat reassuring. Its an idea thats gaining support from some philosophers and researchers within the scientific community. Though, as any science-fiction story centered around the idea of creating a better human race can tell us, there are innumerable potential pitfalls. Phil Torres describes some of these radical, real-life plans intended to save humanity from future disasterand their potential for unintended consequences.

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Elsewhere on Future Tense, weve been covering both public and private surveillance. Jennifer Kang wrote about Facebooks attempts to use A.I. to fight fake news, and the growing criticism regarding whos actually behind the companys fact-checking efforts. April Glaser looked at how the Massachusetts State Police tweeted a screenshot that accidentally revealed their surveillance of left-wing Facebook activist groups. And Mallory Pickett reported on how conservationists are using drones and actual birds strapped with spying devices to catch illegal fishing in international waters.

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Other things we read between watching the new show about space bureaucracy:

The perfect storms: Rachel Withers describes how the Weather Channel and other news organizations are adapting augmented reality and video game software to bring simulations of the severity of natural disasters to our living rooms.

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Missing movies: Aaron Perzanowski covers the revelation that we dont actually own the items we purchase from iTunes, and why that shouldnt surprise us.

Turning the red planet green: While we might be able to terraform Mars, should we? Lucianne Walkowicz explains what we lose if we try to make the planetary neighbor hospitable to humans.

An app for that: Last month, the Food and Drug Administration made waves when it approved the fertility awareness app Natural Cycles as a form of birth control. Nicole Wetsman examines the recent boom of these kinds of apps, and why we shouldnt trust them just yet.

Pocket change: Apples newest iPhones reinforce something we all knew: iPhones arent getting any cheaper. Will Oremus dives into the new offerings, and finds the new tech and software inside probably doesnt warrant the price tag.

R.I.P. @Sweden,

Anthony Nguyen

For Future Tense

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University.On Sept. 5, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections announced a host of new restrictions on the way its inmates can interact with the outside world as part of what Corrections Secretary John Wetzel called an all-hands-on-deck approach to prison safety. Part of that all-hands-on-deck approach: banning direct book donations to inmates.

Previously, approved organizations on the outside could mail books or other publications directly to inmates, subject to inspection and approval by corrections officials. (For example, officials could deny publications they determined to be obscene, racially inflammatory, or potentially dangerous.) Now, no such direct donations are permitted. Instead, the Department of Corrections says its beginning a transition to ebooks coupled with [a] bolstered DOC library system in order to fight the flow of illegal drugs into facilities statewide.

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In addition to banning the direct shipment of books and publications to inmates, the DOC announced it will no longer process inmate mail at correctional facilities; instead, mail will go to a processing center, where it will be opened, scanned, and then emailed back to individual facilities to print and distribute. The DOC will also expand its use of drone-detection technology and body scanners.*

The policy changes come on the heels of a statewide lockdown of correctional facilities that lasted from Aug. 29 to Sept. 10. The lockdown was in response to what a press release called a series of cases of staff exposure to synthetic drugs. Specifically, according to the press release, more than 50 staff members and 33 inmates reported being sickened and were taken to outside hospitals between May 31 and Sept. 1. According to the DOC, lab results showed staff and inmates had been exposed to synthetic cannabinoidsalso known as K2 or spice.

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But reporting from the Philadelphia Inquirer cites toxicology experts who posit that staff illnesses were largely the result of a sort of contagious hysteria caused not by dangerous exposure itself, but rather the fear of it. Even so, the article notes, theres little question that synthetic drugs have become ubiquitous in the states prison system.

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Under the new policies aimed at fighting this ubiquity, the DOC says, inmates can use tablets to access more than 8,500 e-books. Of course, this access depends on two factors: an inmates ability to purchase such a tablet, which costs $147, and an inmates ability to then buy e-books, which cost anywhere from $2.99 to $24.99. The tablets in Pennsylvania are sold by GTL, a corrections tech company which has faced criticism from advocacy groups over its pricing schemes, profit motive, monopoly power, and privacy policies. Wanda Bertram, a communications strategist for the Prison Policy Initiative, said that in many cases, contracts with private technology companies like GTL are an example of prisons shifting the costs of incarceration to incarcerated people and their families.

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If an inmate cant afford a tablet, they can access books through the prison library. On Twitter, the DOC said that inmates still have access to hundreds of FREE books through libraries and can request that titles be added to the collection. But Keir Neuringer, a volunteer with Books Through Bars, one of the book-donation organizations affected by the policy change, told me, Tens of thousands of individuals incarcerated in the state prisons are not going to be satisfied by a couple hundred books in the prison library. [Update, Sept. 20, 2018: The DOC has deleted that tweet. [O]ur libraries have THOUSANDS of books (10-20k in each library) not hundreds. That was a typo on Twitter by one of our staff members, a public information officer says.]

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Books Through Bars, which is based in Philadelphia but sends books to prisons across the mid-Atlantic, gets thousands of letters from incarcerated people each year. Volunteers read through the letters and then try to match requests with books in their repository. In those letters, Neuringer said, there are common themes: that existing library collections are inadequate or inaccessible and that incarcerated people want books to support their mental health, self-transformation, and eventual reintegration. Books are not contraband. Knowledge is not contraband, he told me.

The DOC says its evaluating ways for book donation groups to start donating to libraries rather than individual inmates. But Jodi Lincoln, a member of Book Em, a Pittsburgh-based book donation group, said that would defeat their ability to provide inmates with individualized material, like legal or business workbooks, and resources they want to have on them at all times, like dictionaries.

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Under new policies, family members will also no longer be allowed to order books through outside publishers to ship directly to their loved ones. Instead, inmates will have to use kiosks within the prisons to request books. Once an inmate submits payment for the book, the DOC is in charge of ordering and delivering. In a Change.org petition, the Amistad Law Project raised concerns over this centralized system for book ordering. The Pennsylvania DOCs move to E-books and a central marketplace that they control is censorship and a monopoly and we fully reject it, the petition reads.

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DOC officials told the Philadelphia Inquirer that the new policiese-books, library expansion, and inmate ordering through the DOCwould actually expand access to books. But even if thats true, advocates argue that book donation programs have value that extends beyond the books themselves: They allow incarcerated individuals to connect with people on the outside who care about their well-being. They are a source of hope and humanity for incarcerated individuals, Bertram told me. Thats something that cant be outsourced.

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Update, Nov. 5, 2018: On Nov. 1, in response to public pressure, the DOC updated its policies on book donations to allow book donation organizations to resume sending books to individual inmates. The books will now be screened through the DOCs Secure Processing Center before being delivered to inmates. The processing center will also screen books from approved outside publishers or distributors, which family and friends will once again be able to use to order books for their loved ones.It all makes sense once you realize they want to kill us, by Mike Whitney - The Unz Review : 'It is now apparent that these products in ...Man from Russian sanction list trained presidents and PMs bodyguards

Denis Riauzov is on the sanctions list and the secret services believe he is a Russian agent.

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Some 300 armed men in unmarked uniforms came to the Crimean airport in Sevastopol in February 2014 and took control of the airport. Meanwhile, groups of men wearing leather jackets took positions on access roads to the city. They were the local branch of the Night Wolves motorcycle gang that helped the Russian troops.

The men were not merely bikers. By then, they had received several years military training from Denis Riauzov, former Russian paratrooper and member of the Russian elite units Specnaz. As a result, Riauzovs name was entered on the Russian sanctions list in the US in 2017.

In a recent interview with the Czech version of the Russian newswire Sputnik Riauzov, he said that in 2012 he trained people from the Slovak Office for the Protection of Constitutional Officials.

Read also:

Read also: Biker gang complex in Dolna Krupa raises questions Read more

People like Riauzov pass the clearances by Russian secret services and it is not okay for them to train Slovak armed forces, said Globsec analyst Daniel Milo who sees a potential risk in their access to sensitive security information.

Internationally recognised

Riauzov said for Sputnik that he led a two-day seminar for civilians, police officers and soldiers at the Police Academy. The day before the seminar, he trained the unit for the protection of constitutional officials, where he learned details about the preparation of bodyguards who accompany the president, ministers, and diplomats.

The Interior Ministry admitted the training took place.

19. Sep 2018 at 1:16 | Roman CuprikPeople will gather to support imprisoned Ukrainian filmmaker

The open letter in support of Sentsov has been signed by more than 2,800 people.

People hold posters to support Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov, who is currently on hunger strike in a Russian jail to demand the release of the other Ukrainian hostages taken by the Kremlin, in front of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Kiev on August 21, 2018. (Source: AP/TASR)

A silent public gathering will take place to support imprisoned Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov. Organised by the Slovakia and Czech Republic for Oleg Sentsov platform and the Nie Je Nam to Jedno (We Do Care) initiative, it will take place on September 19 at 18:00 in the Main Square in Bratislava.

The participants want to show that they care about human rights, that as members of the EU they advocate democratic values, which are suppressed in Russia by Vladimir Putin's regime, and that they demand a clearly formulated approach and attitude of Slovakia in this matter, reads the press release sent to the media.

With the gathering, Slovakia joins the world-wide campaign that intensively monitors Sentsovs case. The filmmaker and father of two was sentenced to 20 years in prison for alleged terrorism. He has been on hunger strike for more than four months.

Read also:

Read also: Slovak personalities demand freedom for Oleh Sentsov Read more

We say Oleg Sentsov  and we mean all Ukrainian citizens imprisoned by the Russian Federation, said Ludmila Verbicka, founder of the Ukrainian-Slovak Initiative, as quoted in the press release. The Kremlin regime decided to take their homeland, citizenship, freedom. Sentsov is a symbol of courage and persistence in the fight for freedom, a countrys independence, the lives and freedom of his fellow citizens, being a person.

MEPs support the campaign

The gathering will be accompanied by a banner with a collage of pictures depicting personalities participating in the #FreeOlegSentsov campaign. It was launched on August 23, and nearly 60 personalities from public and cultural life have taken part so far.

They all call on politicians to be active in the case and take the side of democratic countries values. They also call on people not to support Putins politics by being indifferent, the press release reads.

(Source: Slovensko a Cesko za Olega Sencova)

The campaign has already been supported by Slovak MEPs, and the topic is being discussed in the European Parliament, according to the press release.

At the same time, the Slovakia and Czech Republic for Oleg Sentsov platform has sent an open letter to President Andrej Kiska, Foreign Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajcak and Speaker of Parliament Andrej Danko. It has been signed by more than 2,800 people on the internet.

19. Sep 2018 at 1:04 | Compiled by Spectator staffConstruction of Slovak-Polish gas pipeline link launched

After it's complete, Slovakia will have access to the Baltic LNG terminal.

The construction of a gas pipeline link between Slovakia and Poland was ceremonially launched at the gas transport hub in Velke Kapusany (Kosice Region) on Tuesday, September 18. Slovak Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini, who attended the event, praised it as an important contribution to Slovakias energy security.

Well have another reserve resource of gas supplies if, God forbid, gas transit via Ukraine is halted, said Pellegrini, as cited by the TASR newswire. This link to Poland will allow us to cover for Slovakias annual gas consumption.

The Slovak-Polish gas interconnection will be built by Slovakia's Eustream and Poland's Gaz-System. It is scheduled to be put into operation in 2021. It will be 160-kilometres long, of which 103 kilometres will be in Slovakia. The overall cost for Slovakia should be 142 million, while the project has received a grant from the EU amounting to 55 million and a 70 million loan from the European Investment Bank.

Read also:

Read also: North-south gas interconnection moves closer Read more

The Velke Kapusany-Strachocina link will in effect also connect Slovakia to the Baltic LNG terminal Swinoujscie, which has direct access to alternative resources of natural gas from many other parts of the world.

19. Sep 2018 at 0:53 | Compiled by Spectator staffAmerican tank crashed in Lest, three soldiers injured

Two of them taken to hospital by helicopter.

Three American soldiers were injured when an American Abrams tank crashed at a military exercise centre in Lest in central Slovakia on Wednesday early morning. The accident occurred during the Slovak Shield 2018 exercise. Two of the seriously injured were taken to hospital by helicopter, the third lightly injured soldier by ambulance, informed spokesperson of the Defence Ministry, Danka Capakova

We cannot provide more information due to the ongoing investigation and also because the injured soldiers are not members of the Slovak Armed Forces, said Capakova, as quoted by the TASR newswire.

Slovak Shield 2018 is one of the biggest military exercises in central Europe. Almost 1,500 Slovak soldiers and members of the foreign armed forces are participating in this years international Slovak Shield 2018 military exercise.

Read also:

Read also: The biggest military exercise takes place in Lest Read more

19. Sep 2018 at 13:53 | TASR, Compiled by Spectator staffMEP delegation uneasy about Kalinak's alleged involvement in scandals

Six months have passed since the murder of the journalist and his fiancee.

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A delegation of MEPs visiting Slovakia expressed concerns about the fact that former interior minister Robert Kalinak (Smer) has been linked, by some media and the opposition, to the abduction of Vietnamese businessman Trinh Xuan Thanh from Germany through Slovakia, and the pro-Vladimir Putin biker group Night Wolves, which has set up a local chapter in Slovakia.

The group of MEPs came to Slovakia to review the progress made in the investigation of the murders of journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancee in February, to check the situation on the security of journalists as well as corruption and maintaining the principles of the rule of law.

MPs see the strong determination to investigate the murder but there are things to worry about, such as the indication of corruption, the lack of a proactive attitude to investigating corruption cases and the fact that people who had to resign from one position appeared at another.

They also noted the case of the Vietnamese citizen's abduction and the pro-Kremlin motorbike gang the Night Wolves. The name of former interior minister Robert Kalinak is connected with both of them.

Corruption appears in every state, but the involvement of the minister is especially concerning, said Sophie int Veld, head of the delegation, as quoted by the SITA newswire.

Read also:

Read also: EP delegation: Slovak authorities have trust issues Read more

They understand that the prosecutor cannot provide them with all the information, while they see a strong attempt to investigate the murder as soon as possible.

However, they do not understand why Tibor Gaspar, who was forced to leave his position of Police President, only shifteed to the position of the adviser of Interior Minister Denisa Sakova. In their opinion, new Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini (Smer), who replaced Robert Fico in the spring, and his government seem to be determined to make changes in the country, but they appear not to be able to leave the past far behind.

A delegation of MEPs visited Slovakia shortly after the murder of journalists Jan Kuciak and his fiancee Martina Kusnirova. Ingeborg Grassle stated then that the government should address the suspicions of government employees connected to organised crime. In the report the MPs stated that Slovaks do not trust state institutions and that law enforcement is the greatest problem.

19. Sep 2018 at 14:02 | Compiled by Spectator staffInstitutions can be quickly destroyed, but they are hard to build

Head of the To Da Rozum intiative, Renata Hall, talks about the impacts of a dispute between the academy of sciences and the Education Ministry.

Renata Hall (Source: TASR)

Top storiesThe Financial Administrations head resigns from post

Frantisek Imrecze says his decision was spontaneous.

Frantisek Imrecze has resigned from the top post of the Financial Administration. He announced the decision at the end of the parliamentary finance and budget committees session.

The Financial Administration is constantly being engaged in a political fight; Im not a politician, Imrecze said, as quoted by the Sme daily. I hope that after my resignation the Financial Administrations employees will work in a calmer environment. I decided spontaneously, after the session.

He plans to leave the office on October 1, the Dennik N daily reported.

Customs frauds suspicions

Read also:

Read also: OLAF: Slovakia might have to pay 300 million to the EU Read more

Imrecze was invited to the parliamentary committees session to explain the suspicions that Slovak custom officers have skipped the step of checking large amounts of clothes and shoes sent from China to the EU. The alleged fraud took place in 2013 and 2014 and the customs that the EU lost exceed 300 million.

Dennik N broke the story on September 7 when it wrote that the Slovak authorities have either overlooked or directly cooperated on the fraudulent transactions, the second option being much more probable, according to experts on customs.

It referred to the European Anti-fraud Office (OLAF) report based on a series of investigations its officers concluded last year. It turned out that due to organised criminal activity taking place between 2013 and 2016, major amounts of clothes and shoes coming to the EU from China were undervalued during the customs process.

New finance minister?

Meanwhile, Sme reported on September 19 that Imrecze is being considered as new finance minister, replacing Smers Peter Kazimir, whose ambitions to become new governor of the National Bank of Slovakia have been discussed for a long time.

When asked whether he would take the post, Imrecze said he does not know whether the offer will come.

Ive just decided to leave my post, I dont know what will come next and I dont know how I will decide, he explained, as quoted by Sme.

Despite the customs frauds suspicions, Imrecze is still mentioned in Smer as a new finance minister, according to the daily.

19. Sep 2018 at 14:29 | Compiled by Spectator staffSpectacular Slovakia #3: Unexpected hiking (Enjoy Bratislava's greenery)

In Slovakia, you can hike in the capital city. Listen to the latest episode of our travel podcast to find out more.

https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/502069836&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true

In this weeks episode of the Spectacular Slovakia podcast, the latest addition to our range of travel-related products , Hannah Falchuk, who recently returned to Slovakia as an English teacher within the Fulbright Programme, remembers last summer in Bratislava.

Is theSlovak capital really one of the greenest cities in the world? What are the best places to go when you need to escape the urban rush? Listen to the podcast to discover that Bratislava is as good for a city break as it is for some light hiking. Hannah will also give you a secret tip on making a childhood dream come true.

Spectacular Slovakia travel podcast is the latest addition to our range of travel-related products. This programme is part of The Slovak Spectator subscription and our readers are receiving it every Thursday morning as part of their subscription.

More information:

Print+audio: shop.spectator.sme.sk/newspaper

Online+audio: www.sme.sk/predplatne-spectator

19. Sep 2018 at 18:06 | Michaela Terenzani , Hannah Falchuk , Tomas RybarEmpire City Casino President & CEO Timothy J. Rooney, who has owned and operated Yonkers Raceway since 1972, has been selected among the most influential people of the Hudson Valley in City & State Magazines Westchester Power 50.

The Westchester Power 50 list honours the 50 most influential people in business, government relations, culture, and social services. All were saluted Monday, September 17 at an invite-only reception at the Radisson Hotel New Rochelle.

Good business always starts with community, said Rooney. Its a privilege and honour to be recognized among so many leaders in their field who always ensure that Westchester and its residents remain a priority.

In 2006, Yonkers Raceway underwent a $250-million renovation to refurbish and revitalize the property, making way for Empire City Casino. After the completion of an additional $50 million expansion in 2013, the casino now offers more than 5,300 video slot machines and electronic table games and is the largest private employer in the City of Yonkers with nearly 1,200 employees.

A passionate philanthropist, Rooney is known for his quiet philanthropic involvement supporting hundreds of charitable organizations throughout Yonkers, New York and beyond, with contributions of more than $1 million annually made in the form of sponsorships and donations supporting non-profits in the areas of education, hunger, the arts, medical research and more. He regularly makes Empire City Casino available for charitable functions and fundraising activities and provides continuous support of community programs and organizations year after year.

As a lifelong horse breeding and racing enthusiast, Rooney has bred Standardbred and Thoroughbred horses for over 40 years and continues to breed and train them today. He and his wife June have been married for more than 50 years and have five children, Kathleen Mara, Margaret Galterio, Timothy Rooney, Jr., Bridget Koch, and Cara Moore, 24 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

(Empire City Casino)The Silver Ferns ousted South Africa at ASB Arena in Tauranga.

Aliyah Dunn made her international debut as a Silver Fern goal shoot, to help the team win 61-37.

SunLive reporter and netball fan Caitlin Houghton says the Silver Ferns were in the lead right from the start of the match.

She says the half-time score was 30-19 to NZ.

"South Africa are playing a very pushy game.

"We have stepped up our shooting compared to Saturday's game."

Rebounding from their first-up loss to the England Roses on Saturday, the Silver Ferns produced a more efficient and accurate outing second time around to hand new coach Noeline Taurua her first win in the role.



The match also heralded the start of exciting young shooter Aliyah Dunns international career, the 18-year-old making her debut in the fourth quarter to become Silver Fern #172.





It was an all-round improved effort from the Silver Ferns, highlighted, in particular, by a strong shooting return where Maria Folau led the way with 35 goals from 37 attempts. Winning both the opening and closing quarters 17-7 sealed a comprehensive outing.



The Silver Ferns started with Te Paea Selby-Rickit at goal shoot while captain Laura Langman assumed the centres bib and Michaela Sokolich-Beatson slotted in at wing defence in a reshuffled midcourt. The Proteas retained their starting seven from the previous match against Australia.



The Silver Ferns responded in the best possible fashion to their first outing loss with a decisive start to stun the Proteas from the outset. After conceding the first goal of the match, the home side scored the next 11 in succession with an impressive effort across all areas of the court.



The shooters found their scoring form with consistent accuracy on the back of a more fluent attack line while the defensive combination of Katrina Grant and Jane Watson kept dangerous Proteas shooters Maryka Holtzhausen and Lenize Potgieter quiet.



In rampant mode, it was the home team who completed a dominant first quarter to lead 17-7.



The Proteas tightened their defensive effort and gained more ball on attack but couldnt stem the Silver Ferns grip on the match during the second term. Wing attack Gina Crampton had a busy game in the midcourt, firing in some precise feeds to her shooters in tandem with Langman.



The tall figure of Ine-Mari Venter replaced Holtzhausen late in the quarter, enhancing the Proteas scoring opportunities but the Silver Ferns maintained their healthy advantage when leading 30-19 at the main break.



Samantha Sinclair was introduced at centre for the Silver Ferns on the resumption with Langman moving to wing defence, the home side maintaining their hold on proceedings with another strong quarter.



Crampton continued her influence on the game, adding a couple of intercepts for good measure to go with her fine all-round contribution on attack while Grant was equally effective in picking off tips and rebounds at the defensive end.



Potgieter provided great accuracy under the hoop for the Proteas but lacked the same service as her opponents while a heavy penalty count did not help the visitors cause. Building throughout it was the Silver Ferns who extended their margin to a 44-30 lead at the final turn.



The Silver Ferns will complete their Quad Series against Australia in Melbourne on Sunday.Srinagar: Exactly eight years ago, on this very day of September 18, a police officer shot dead two young men, Bilal Ahmad Najar and Noor ul Amin, in Khanabal, Anantnag. Although the then government gave its consent to prosecute the officer, but until now the two families of the slain duo are still waiting for the day to see justice done.

The families of the deceased  Bilal Ahmad Najar of Khanabal and Noor ul Amin Dagga of Nai Basti Anantnag (Islamabad) town have been fighting a legal battle to get justice for the past eight years.

On September 18, 2010, Najar and Dagga were killed in police firing when they were waiting outside a mosque at Khanabal to take part in the funeral prayers of a student Maroof Ahmad Nath, who had drowned in the Jhelum River on September 13 after forces allegedly chased some boys in the area.

The victim families fought a long legal battle for the registration of an FIR against the accused deputy superintendent of police Noor-ul-Hassan Parray. The accused police officer was a probationary DySP in 2010.

The High Court had upheld the order of chief judicial magistrate, Anantnag (Islamabad) to register the FIR against the accused police officer. Later, the J&K government accorded the sanction for the prosecution of the accused DySP Noor-ul-Hassan Parray for killing the duo.

The two families and eyewitnesses maintain that they were killed in unprovoked police firing when the two were waiting outside Ahli Hadees Masjid at Khanabal to join the funeral prayers of Maroof Ahmad Nath.

The order issued by the Home Department vide order number Home/Pros/12/2016, said that during the course of investigation the Investigating Officer has established, prima facie, a case under section 304-11 of RPC against Parray. However, the challan has not been so far produced before the court.

We express our dismay at the system for having a reputation of being expensive and prone to delays. We the victim families have spent over six lakh rupees on the litigations. However, the road to justice is still made to remain far from the reality, said Muhammad Amin Najar, the elder brother of Bilal Ahmad Najar.

While referring to their long legal battle to get the justice, Amin said that with regard to the case, police concocted a story that the duo were killed in firing incident near Delhi Darbar (Bus Yard), and a case FIR No. 355/2010 was registered in Police Station, Anantnag with distorted facts.

Subsequently the families of the deceased persons approached a court for the registration of a separate case, with the plea that the deceased persons were injured in the firing incident near Ahli Hadees Masjid, Khanabal, and not near Delhi Darbar.

In this connection, a separate case FIR No.361/2012 under section 302 RPC was registered at Police Station, Anantnag, after judicial intervention with the further direction to constitute a Special Investigation Team, and as such investigation was initiated, he said.

He added that during the course of the investigation, conducted by Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted in the matter, statement of witnesses was recorded and as many as 27 independent witnesses named DySP Noor-ul-Hassan Parray as accused in the case.

While quoting from the official order of the government wherein sanction was accorded for the prosecution of this accused police officer, he said: During the course of the investigation, on the basis of the statements of witnesses, the seizure memos and other evidence, the Investigating Officer has established, prima facie, a case under section 304-11 of RPC against the accused.

On 26 July 2017, the High Court at Srinagar directed the authorities to produce Challan before the court in this case. But the accused was given enough time to get the order stayed from the High Court at Jammu, said Amin.15-year-old girl raped in Myagdi

A 15-year-old girl from Beni Municipality-5 of Myagdi was raped by two men at Ghar in Annapura Rural Municipality-6 on Monday.Amendments on back burner as country marks Constitution Day

Three years after the promulgation of the new constitution, political parties are still struggling to amend the provisions that remain contentious among the disgruntled parties and ethnic groups.Board scraps 51 Kalimati veggie traders permits

The Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Board has revoked permits of 51 traders operating stalls at the countrys largest vegetable market, a move to eliminate middlemen in the vegetable trade as their involvement has led to high prices for consumers.Chands district secretary held

Santosh Subedi, district secretary of Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal, is in police custody on charge of carrying out anti-government activities and causing social disorder.Mountain Shadows in Wayanad is just the place for a dreamy vacationCharges mount against tainted NAC board member Pahadi

Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) board member Achyut Raj Pahadi, who has been accused of committing fraud and irregularities on different occasions, has sunk even deeper in controversy following charges that he acted as a consultant to BB Airways in its attempt to buy a NAC Boeing 757 and sat in the NAC board meeting which approved the sale.Follow in Chandannaths footsteps

Hopefully more municipalities sensibly compete with each other to attract investment10 years after it first aired on Pay TV, Rob Carlton-created comedy Chandon Pictures will on ABC Comedy.

Both seasons will run up to Christmas on ABC Comedy.

Here is the press release that ran a decade ago!

Move over Michael Moore! Australian documentary filmmaker Tom Chandon (Rob Carlton), is ready to turn the filmmaking world upside down. The eight-part comedy series, Chandon Pictures follows the amusing misadventures of Tom Chandon and his hapless video production company  Chandon Pictures.

Toms portfolio doesnt extend much beyond wedding videos  but hes a dreamer. With the help of his loyal cameraman Nick (Darren Gilshenan), pragmatic producer Lucy (Rebecca Massey) and a good dose of his own self-delusion, Tom manages to twist each clients brief to cater to his own documentary-making dreams. To date, his greatest achievement has been a strange little film called, Bonzo: The Clown that Killed a Child.

Constant reality checks are delivered by his successful, younger brother Carmichael (Josh Lawson), but Toms determined to make a difference. He just wants to do something great while hes aliveand without selling out to Hollywood.

Written and created by Rob Carlton, Chandon Pictures features a guest cast from a great line-up of well known Australian faces including; Justine Clarke, Angus Sampson, Ed Kavalee, Graeme Blundell, Peter Phelps and Jessica Napier.

In the first episode, Tom is engaged to film a wedding video  but this isnt the usual wedding. Sherbert (Kathryn Beck) and David (Ed Kavalee) are in love and have been since childhood. Theres only one problem  theyre cousins. Tom struggles to be compassionate about his project, but it could just be his next big thing. Of course, the family just want a nice, proper video, one they can be proud to show their friends and family.

The cousins arent allowed to be married in a church, so its to be a small affair at Davids parents house. Fortunately they have found a priest, Reverend Bevan (Angus Sampson), who is willing to perform the service. Despite some awkward moments, the wedding goes ahead without a hitchwell almost.

8pm Thursday September 20 on ABC Comedy.

Amended.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBLLo2VCE9Q&feature=youtu.be

BBC First has announced highlights to screen across the coming 9 months including The Little Drummer Girl, Les Miserables, Baptiste, Press and new seasons of favourites including Luther and Call the Midwife.



Stars to appear in key dramas include Idris Elba, Alexander Skarsgard, Michael Shannon, Lily Collins, Dominic West, Tim Roth, Christina Hendricks and Jenna Coleman.

Tim Christlieb, Director of Branded Services, BBC Studios, Australia and New Zealand, said: This line-up is absolutely packed full of everything BBC First stands for  brilliant storytelling, immaculately produced and jam-packed full of the best acting talent. It definitely promises to keep BBC First on its growth trajectory, which has seen the channel increase its audience share each year since 2015*. Nowhere else will you see such an incredible range of premium British drama in one place. And, as viewers change the way they view, we have responded by offering extended catch-up periods on some of our biggest titles.

Liam Keelan, BBC Studios Global Scripted Portfolio Director, said because BBC is funded by a license fee, it must constantly innovate.

So in Drama terms that means trusting the writer, giving the right length to a drama. Were not beholden to 10 or 13 episodes. Whats the right length for the writers vision of the show? he said.

We trust the writer, which is a veru different system to the US, for example, which tends to be more team-written. And theres no denying that has resulted in some great shows.

But the British version tends to be more authorial. Its one writer. You will often find in a 6 ot 8 part run all episodes have been written by one writer. War & Peace is by Andrew Davies, Mike Bartlett write Doctor Foster, Chris Chibnall did Broadchurch, and hes now runnin Doctor Who. Sally Wainwright did Happy Valley. These are all really talented individualsand trusted to have their own voice.

That is what makes British drama so unique.

In the year to date, live audiences on BBC First have seen an increase of 25% YOY for Total People and 49% for 25-54.

Tim Christlieb said drama premieres worked across the week, not just on Sundays.

Weve seen success across different days of the week. Fans of the channel and the genre are open to finding the content theyre interested in across multiple days of the week or via catch-up services. Were part of an overall platform offering which means we need to retain flexibility to ensure the best overall offering to subscribers that choose to watch live, he said.

On the question of fast-tracking he told TV Tonight, We do fast-track, or go very close to UK dates, when it makes sense to do so, particularly around returning series with an established audience such as Call The Midwife and Death in Paradise. Decisions over when a series is scheduled depend on a variety of factors, with the aim of giving the programme the best launch to bring it to the largest audience possible at a time when they are available to view. The overall shape of the schedule, other titles in the current programming mix both on the channel and across the platforms, licensing periods, resources and time to effectively market a series are all factors.

Also coming are Vanity Fair and a new season of Peaky Blinders.

Highlights:

The Little Drummer Girl

Based John le Carres spy thriller, The Little Drummer Girl is the latest adaptation from the team behind the BAFTA, Emmy and Golden Globe winning series The Night Manager. Starring Alexander Skarsgard (Big Little Lies), Florence Pugh (Lady Macbeth) and Academy Award nominee Michael Shannon (The Shape of Water), the series is directed by visionary filmmaker Park Chan-wook (Old Boy, The Handmaiden). Brilliant young actress Charlie strikes up an acquaintance with an intriguing stranger while on holiday in Greece, but it rapidly becomes apparent that his intentions are far from romantic. The man is Becker, an Israeli intelligence officer, who entangles her in a complex and high stakes plot orchestrated by Israeli Spymaster Kurtz. Set in the late 1970s, yet sharply contemporary, The Little Drummer Girl weaves a dynamic and exciting story of espionage and international intrigue, love and betrayal.

Les Miserables

Adapted by Andrew Davies from Victor Hugos 19th Century classic, Les Miserables stars Dominic West as Jean Valjean, David Oyelowo as Javert and Lily Collins as Fantine. The series brings to life a vast and unforgettable cast of characters and tells the story of Valjean, a former convict unable to escape the shadow of his past life, and his relentless pursuit by the chilling police officer Javert. Their cat and mouse relationship plays out against the epic backdrop of France at a time of civil unrest.

Baptiste (The Missing spin-off)

Tcheky Karyo reprises his role as French detective Julien Baptiste from The Missing in a spin-off series. Baptiste and his wife are on a visit to Amsterdam when the Chief of Police  who also happens to be an old girlfriend  seeks out his help due to his renowned and methodical crime-solving skills. He is rapidly embroiled in a case that looks beyond the beautiful streets, canals and house of Amsterdam to the seamy underworld beneath. The series also stars Jessica Raine (Patrick Melrose) and Tom Hollander (The Night Manager).

Press

Written by Mike Bartlett (Doctor Foster) and set in the fast-paced and challenging environment of the British newspaper industry, Press explores the personal lives and constant professional dilemmas facing the journalists who work at two rival newspapers. The series follows their lives as they attempt to balance work and play, ambition and integrity, amid the never-ending pressure of the 24-hour global news cycle and an industry in turmoil. The series stars Charlotte Riley (Peaky Blinders) as the talented and hardworking Deputy News Editor of The Herald, a left-leaning broadsheet; Ben Chaplin (Apple Tree Yard) as the charming and manipulative Editor of The Post; David Suchet (Poirot) as the CEO of the multimedia conglomerate that owns The Post; and Brendan Cowell (Love My Way) as the News Editor of The Herald.

Returning seasons:

Luther

Golden Globe winning Idris Elba returns to the iconic role of DCI John Luther with a fifth series created by Emmy-nominated writer Neil Cross. Luther and new recruit D.S. Catherine Halliday played by Wunmi Mosaku investigate a series of horrific killings in London. But as the case brings him closer than ever to the nature of true evil, a reluctant Luther must also face the ghosts of his own past. Striding back into the line of fire, he must choose who to protect and who to sacrifice. Whatever his next move, it will have devastating consequences for those around him  and will change John Luther forever.

Tin Star

Tim Roth (Pulp Fiction) returns as Jim Worth, the alcoholic former London detective who moved to the town of Little Big Bear in the Canadian Rockies to escape his troubled past. That quiet life was shattered when he took on the oil company that dominates the town and re-awoke his violent alter ego in order to protect his wife and daughter after his son is killed. The second series picks up where the first left off and sees his daughter Anna seeking refuge from her parents with a family in a religious community near the town. Its not long before she discovers that the seemingly idyllic family have a disturbing secret of their own. The series also stars Christina Hendricks (Mad Men), Genevieve OReilly (Glitch) and Abigail Lawrie (The Casual Vacancy).

Victoria

Starring Jenna Coleman (Doctor Who) and Tom Hughes (Paula), series three promises some new faces, more drama and more intrigue. Starting in 1848 it covers a turbulent and uncertain time for both Europe and the monarchy. With revolutions on the continent and the Chartist movement reaching its peak in London, Victoria is under pressure from the government to leave London for her own safety and beneath the facade of their united bond, Victorias relationship with Albert is at breaking point. Laurence Fox joins the cast as wayward Foreign Secretary Lord Palmerston and Kate Fleetwood as Victorias sister, who makes an unexpected return into the Queens life.

Call the Midwife

The Christmas Special will guest star Miriam Margolyes (Harry Potter) as the forthright and indefatigable Sister Mildred who arrives at Nonnatus House together with four Chinese orphans. Having fled China, the child refugees were found abandoned in Hong Kong and are being adopted in the UK as part of the World Refugee Project. With Christmas preparations in full flow and the midwives busy caring for the expectant mothers of Poplar, these unexpected visitors cause joy and chaos in equal measure. Series 8 starts in the spring of 1964 with the eagerly anticipated birth of the Queens fourth child and two new Sisters who have been sent to live and work at Nonnatus House.

Death in Paradise

Ardal OHanlon returns as DI Jack Moone. The Saint Marie police are joined by new recruit, Officer Ruby Patterson (Shyko Amos), who also happens to be Commissioner Pattersons niece, which gives the team a challenge or two.Pose stars Dominique Jackson (pictured) and Indya Moore will visit Sydney next week on a promotional tour.

They will join Mayans M.C. star JD Pardo and Mr Inbetween director Nash Edgerton at a media showcase of FX Originals.

Also attending are Mr Inbetween star and creator Scott Ryan and cast members including Brooke Satchwell and Matt Nable.

Lead actor JD Pardo from Mayans M.C.  the next chapter in Kurt Sutters Sons of Anarchy saga and new hit drama series  as well as actresses Dominique Jackson and Indya Moore from Ryan Murphys groundbreaking dance musical series Pose, will visit Sydney next week to promote the two series which are currently screening and streaming on Foxtel.

Pose star Indya Moore will also attend the Women In Television Breakfast as a special guest panellist on Wednesday, September 26. The Women in Television Breakfast event celebrates and inspires women in the television industry and Indya will speak about her own journey as a groundbreaking transgender actress, and the challenges, successes and lessons she experienced along the way.

Australian director Nash Edgerton will also travel to Sydney to promote upcoming new FX Originals drama series Mr Inbetween,

Pose is a dance musical set in the 1980s exploring the juxtaposition of several segments of life and society in New York: the ball culture world, the rise of the luxury Trump-era universe and the downtown social and literary scene. Making television history, Pose features the largest cast of transgender actors in series regular roles, as well as the largest recurring cast of LGBTQ actors ever for a scripted series. Pose has been the most critically acclaimed series and has been announced for a second season.

Dominique Jackson plays shrewd house mother, Elektra Abundance, reigning queen of the ballroom community. Model, actress, author, advocate and activist, Dominique Jackson is a leader in her community having been awarded several accolades for her work as a humanitarian and activist. A fashion model since 2000, Jackson has appeared in national publications and walked the runway for major designers including this year at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York.

Indya Moore, plays Angel, a Puerto Rican streetwalker, who wants nothing more than to find true love. An actor, model and activist, Indya has appeared in Vogue and GQ and worked for major fashion labels Gucci and Christian Dior. In 2017, she performed alongside Katy Perry and Migos on Saturday Night Live.

Mayans M.C. is the next chapter in Kurt Sutters award-winning Sons of Anarchy saga.

JD Pardo plays Ezekiel EZ Reyes, fresh out of prison and a prospect in the Mayans M.C. charter on the Cali/Mexi border. EZ must carve out his new identity in a town where he was once the golden boy with the American Dream in his grasp.

Born and raised in Panorama City, JD Pardo caught the eye of critics for his portrayal of Gwen Araujo in the 2006 Lifetime movie A Girl Like Me: The Gwen Araujo Story, which chronicles the true story of a transgender teen who was murdered by four male acquaintances. He has appeared alongside the likes of Emma Stone in the FOX series Drive, and was cast in Guillermo Arriagas film, The Burning Plain, starring alongside Charlize Theron and Jennifer Lawrence. His other film credits include roles in Summits final instalment of the Twilight Series, Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2, and opposite Dwayne Johnson in the action thriller Snitch.

Mr Inbetween is an Australian six part drama series created by and starring Scott Ryan and directed by Nash Edgerton. The series is inspired by the critically acclaimed feature film The Magician, written, directed and starring Scott Ryan who introduced audiences to the very funny and very dark world of hitman Ray Shoesmith. In Mr Inbetween, Ryan reprises the role as the charismatic, yet volatile hit-man and also serves as the series writer. Driven by dark humour and off-beat conversation, the series follows Ray as he navigates his chilling business, while also maintaining friendships, parental responsibilities and a fledgling romance.

Pose screens on Tuesdays at 8:30pm, Mayans M.C. airs Wednesdays at 8:30pm and Mr Inbetween begins Mondays at 8.30pm from October 1 on Showcase.Sesame Workshop has denied claims by a former writer that much-loved puppets Bert & Ernie were treated within as a couple.

Sesame Street writer Mark Saltzman has told LGBTQ lifestyle website Queerty, saying the audience should trust their intuition.

I remember one time that a column from the San Francisco Chronicle, a preschooler in the city turned to mom and asked Are Bert & Ernie lovers? And that, coming from a preschooler was fun, Saltzman said in the interview. And that got passed around, and everyone had their chuckle and went back to it.

I dont think Id know how else to write them, but as a loving couple, Saltzman told Queerty. Thats what I had in my life, a Bert and Ernie relationship. How could it not permeate? The things that would tick off Arnie would be the things that would tick off Bert.

But the Sesame Workshop has denied the claims.

As we have always said, Bert and Ernie are best friends, said the nonprofit education organisation in a statement. They were created to teach preschoolers that people can be good friends with those who are very different from themselves. Even though they are identified as male characters and possess many human traits and characteristics  they remain puppets, and do not have a sexual orientation.

Source: Hollywood Reporter, VarietyGovernment widens reach but pays little attention to quality

With the presidential seal, the governments Free and Compulsory Education Act came into effect on Tuesday, making the state responsible for ensuring that no child is deprived of school education.The eyes of the state will turn to the University of Dayton at 7 p.m. today as it hosts the first 2018 gubernatorial debate between Democratic nominee Richard Cordray and Republican nominee and Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine at Daniel J. Curran Place on the University of Dayton River Campus.

The event is drawing more than 50 print, broadcast and online journalists from around the state, providing UD students with distinctive real-life learning experiences and serving up a statewide platform for the University.

"This is a remarkable opportunity to showcase the University of Dayton," said University President Eric F. Spina. "UD is a powerhouse of research, civic engagement and academic excellence and hosting an elite, high-profile event like the first gubernatorial debate is a great way to increase our visibility.

"The learning experiences for our students and the opportunity to provide a venue for civil discourse about issues facing our state are immensely important to us. A UD education emphasizes the importance of civil dialogue and events such as this can help our students be engaged and informed citizens throughout their lives."

As presenting media partner, Cox Media Group Ohio will broadcast the nearly 1-hour debate on air and online on http://www.whiotv.com, http://www.daytondailynews.com and Facebook Live on the Dayton Daily News, WHIO-TV and WHIO Radio Facebook pages.

More than 20 news outlets throughout Ohio have indicated they will either broadcast the debate live or stream it online. Check local listings for the stations in your area broadcasting the debate.

The debate is offering many University of Dayton students behind-the-scenes experiential learning opportunities. Flyer Media students are shadowing WHIO-TV production crews throughout the day. Flyer News, UD's student-run newspaper, is reporting on the event, including the post-debate spin room. Political science and Vote Everywhere students are working as volunteers, also getting a behind-the-scenes look at a high-stakes political event.

During the debate, more than 60 student leaders and members of the UD Vote Everywhere program, a national, nonpartisan organization promoting civic engagement on college campuses, will be at Curran Place for a debate-watch party, hosted by former Ohio Gov. Bob Taft and Nancy Miller, an associate professor of political science.

Another faculty member will have a different role. Christopher Devine, an assistant professor of political science, is part of the debate panel. Devine will join journalists Laura Bischoff of the Dayton Daily News and Jim Otte of WHIO-TV, along with moderator James Brown of WHIO-TV, on the stage asking questions of the candidates.

Devine is frequently interviewed by national and state media for analysis and commentary on campaigns and elections, political parties, public opinion, ideology, political psychology, and the U.S. presidency and vice presidency.

Other students have the opportunity to experience the debate in person, thanks to the generosity of both campaigns, which are providing some of their tickets to UD students.

"We were very excited when this was announced," said Anna Rose Redgate, a UD student ambassador for Vote Everywhere. "As a nonpartisan organization, were looking for ways for college students to be connected with the political process and discuss important issues, and this debate is a great opportunity to get involved."The US relationship with China is traditionally a challenging one and has escalated dramatically in the past week. As people around the world warn of an impending trade war between the two superpowers, we look back at the growing tensions throughout 2018.

How the US and China reached a potential trade war

A tariff is a tax  or an extra cost  that one country must pay in order to export their goods to another country. In the international arena, tariff amounts are discussed, decided and enforced in the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Since Donald Trump assumed office as US president in January 2017, the country has experienced trading tensions with many of the worlds nations. The US has threatened to withdraw from the WTO, and has imposed tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada, the EU and  most severely  China.

The US trading relationship with China has been the most fraught, and has escalated dramatically in the past week.

Tension begins between the US and China: March to April 2018

Tensions began to escalate in March 2018, when the US imposed new tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, which would impact Chinese exports substantially. China retaliated by announcing new tariffs on 128 US product categories. In response, both the US and China threatened to further increase tariffs on each others key exports. By 5 April 2018, Trump announced via Twitter that the US was considering whether $100bn of additional tariffs would be appropriate.

Tariff increases by the US and China: June to July 2018

Two months later, in June 2018, Trump announced increased tariffs on Chinese exports worth $34bn, which would come into effect on 6 July.

He also threatened further potential tariffs on $16bn worth of products. According to the White House, this was because of Chinese theft of American intellectual property (intangible property that is the result of creativity).

The following day, the Chinese commerce ministry announced that it would 'immediately introduce countermeasures of the same scale and strength'.

China announced that, from 6 July, they would introduce 25% tariffs on $34bn worth of US goods, whilst threatening future tariffs on US energy exports.

On 18 June, Trumps response was to threaten a further 10% tariff on $200bn of Chinese goods, which could come into effect in August.

That month, both the US and China placed 25% tariffs of $50bn worth of each others exports.

Tariffs are the greatest! Either a country which has treated the United States unfairly on Trade negotiates a fair deal, or it gets hit with Tariffs. Its as simple as that - and everybodys talking! Remember, we are the piggy bank thats being robbed. All will be Great!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 24, 2018

The first threat of a trade war between the US and China: August 2018

By 1 August, reports circulated that Trumps team was considering raising the proposed tariffs on $200bn in Chinese goods  first announced on 18 June - from 10% to 25%.

China reacted by saying it would 'introduce counter-measures to defend the countrys dignity'. This was the first real threat of a trade war between the two superpowers.

A potential US and China trade war: September 2018

On Monday 16 September, the US confirmed these tariffs on $200bn of Chinese goods. They will start at 10%, increasing to 25% in early 2019 unless the US-China relationship improves. The latest round of tariff increases now affects half of the Chinese exports to the US.

.....China has been taking advantage of the United States on Trade for many years. They also know that I am the one that knows how to stop it. There will be great and fast economic retaliation against China if our farmers, ranchers and/or industrial workers are targeted!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 18, 2018

China has retaliated by imposing new trade tariffs on $60bn of American goods from 24 September.

Amongst others, these tariffs will affect computers, textiles, chemicals, meat, and wine.

International effects of a US and China trade war

Any trade tensions between the worlds biggest trading blocs  the US and China - will inevitably affect the global trading system.

The UK faces a difficult question; should the government intervene in an attempt to prevent a trade war? Whatever role the UK takes, they will have to deal with a challenging trading relationship with the US, both bilaterally and internationally.FILE PHOTO: Ryanair logo is pictured ahead of a news conference by Ryanair union representatives in Brussels FILE PHOTO: Ryanair logo is pictured on the the jacket of a cabin crew member ahead of a news conference by Ryanair union representatives in Brussels, Belgium September 13, 2018. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

By Daphne Psaledakis

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The union representing Ryanair <RYA.I> cabin crew in Belgium has rejected an offer from the Irish airline ahead of a planned one-day strike across five countries on Sept. 28, the union said on Wednesday.

Separately, European pilots threatened new strikes against Ryanair if talks with unions did not progress more quickly.

The company's shares have fallen around 9 percent this year, but gained about 1 percent on Wednesday, a day before shareholders were set to meet at the annual general meeting.

Europe's biggest budget airline offered to follow Belgian employment law from March 2020 for Ryanair contracted employees, seeking to address one of the major complaints over the company's policy towards staff under Irish contracts.

However, the Belgian union, CNE, said that would only help about half of its workers, as Ryanair had also been hiring using recruiter Crewlink, which issues its own contracts.

The union said the offer was an "unacceptable" attempt to divide workers in order to buy time ahead of the planned strike.

"It's a deception on the part of Ryanair," CNE spokesman Yves Lambot told Reuters.

The threatened strike by cabin crew in Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain is aimed at pressuring shareholders set to meet on Thursday to address Ryanair's labour agreements, union officials announced last week.

The 24-hour strike is planned for Sept. 28 and unions will strike once a month until their demands are met.

The Belgian union met Ryanair officials before announcing the strike and received an offer on Tuesday evening, Lambot said.

Ryanair stood by its statement last week that, even if there is a strike, it expects a significant majority of its cabin crew in the five countries to work normally, as they have during previous strikes.

The British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) said on Wednesday that it expected industrial unrest at Ryanair across Europe to continue for the foreseeable future.

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"The industrial unrest in Ryanair across Europe and among pilots and cabin crew is, in my opinion, likely to continue for the foreseeable future," BALPA General Secretary Brian Strutton said in a statement.

The German pilots union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) also issued a similar statement.

BALPA called on Ryanair shareholders to replace CEO Michael OLeary and Chairman David Bonderman at the company's annual shareholder meeting on Thursday.

The statement echoed the European Cockpit Association, which represents pilots in Europe, and also called on Wednesday for shareholders to pave the way for a change in the management and board of the airline, saying industrial unrest was more likely in the future.

Separately, Swedish Ryanair pilots urged shareholders to "immediately replace the current leadership and management at your annual general meeting."

"We have lost all confidence in the current leadership and management and their ability to guide the company in a unionised environment," the statement said.

A senior Ryanair executive said on Tuesday that CEO Michael O'Leary would continue at the company's helm for at least five more years.

In another setback for the airline, a Spanish judge has ruled a former Ryanair pilot should have been considered an employee and not an independent contractor.

(Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis; Editing by Mark Potter and Susan Fenton)FILE PHOTO: Electronic boards are seen at the Madrid stock exchange which plummeted after Britain voted to leave the European Union in the Brexit referendum, in Madrid, Spain, June 24, 2016. REUTERS/Andrea Comas

By Julien Ponthus and Helen Reid

LONDON (Reuters) - European shares shuddered, then recovered, on Tuesday after Beijing retaliated with new tariffs on $60 billion (45.61 billion pounds) worth of U.S. goods, less than 24 hours after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed 10 percent tariffs on an additional $200 billion worth of Chinese imports.

Having shrugged off the U.S. move in morning trading, the pan-European STOXX 600 tumbled to a session low after China's retaliatory blow, down as much as 0.2 percent while the leading index of euro zone stocks <.STOXX50E> fell 0.1 percent.

Both indices recovered rapidly, though, as it became clear the tariff levels announced by China were lower than previously expected - imposing 5 to 10 percent tariffs on U.S. goods it had previously listed for 10 to 20 percent tariff rates.

The STOXX50E ended the day up 0.3 percent with the STOXX 600 up 0.1 percent.

Investors and analysts had been perplexed by early market moves which shrugged off Washington's escalation of the tit-for-tat tariff spat waging between the U.S. and China.

Mark Haefele, chief investment officer at UBS Wealth Management, highlighted how important Chinese retaliation was to the outlook for markets.

"A less-than-proportional round of retaliation would likely be taken positively by the market, reducing the risk of a significant tit-for-tat escalation in the conflict," he wrote in a note.

Explaining the market's sanguine reaction earlier, Neil Wilson, chief market analyst at Markets.com said on Tuesday the fine print of the new tariffs could also be seen as providing some relief.

"Exemptions have turned this into something of a sell the rumour, buy the fact type scenario for investors", he said.

Thomas Costerg, senior U.S. economist at Pictet, said ahead of the U.S. trade announcement that investors might well take the view that the Trump administration had shown some restraint as it could have imposed even higher tariffs.

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"Ten percent could actually come as a relief", he said, adding that such a figure would be "bad but manageable".

On the corporate front, dealmaking prompted steep moves across European bourses.

The top gainer was Norway's Schibsted <SBSTA.OL>, up 9.1 percent after it said it would spin off its international online classifieds.

Denmark's Pandora <PNDORA.CO> jumped as much as 10 percent, ending the day up 6.8 percent after a media report that private equity funds are studying a potential takeover bid.

"While we acknowledge that the decelerating top-line performance ... continues to be worrying, Pandora is still a relatively strong cash-generative business which we believe could be turned around should management be replaced," commented Berenberg analysts.

Swiss chemical group Clariant <CLN.S> was up 8 percent after it announced it would merge its high-performance materials business with that of new anchor shareholder Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) <2010.SE>, to focus on higher-value speciality chemicals.

Zalando <ZALG.DE> Europe's biggest pure online fashion retailer, was the worst performer, down 14 percent after blaming a long, hot summer for cutting its 2018 outlook.

Its main shareholder, Kinnevik <KINVb.ST>, which holds about a 31 percent stake in Zalando, fell 7 percent.

Shares in Dutch digital mapping firm TomTom <TOM2.AS> lost nearly a quarter of their value, ending the day down 24 percent after Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi announced a partnership with rival Google.

European stocks remain unpopular with investors who show a marked preference for U.S. equities. Bank of America Merrill Lynch's September fund manager survey showed investors' allocations to euro zone equities at an 18-month low.

(Julien Ponthus; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg, Richard Balmforth)The chief executive of British American Tobacco (Kuala Lumpur: 4162.KL - news) (BAT) is preparing to step down in the wake of a sector-wide share price decline prompted by investor concern over slowing sales growth.

Sky News has learnt that Nicandro Durante, who has run the world's biggest cigarette manufacturer by number of countries since 2011, is expected to leave the company at some point in the next year.

Sources said on Wednesday evening that Mr Durante, a Brazilian-Italian national, was likely to be replaced by an internal candidate.

Jack Bowles, BAT's chief operating officer, is regarded as the frontrunner to be the company's new boss, although the chief marketing officer, Andrew Gray, is also rumoured to have been a contender for the role.

The precise timing of an announcement about the succession plan is unclear and one source cautioned that it may not be imminent.

A changing of the guard at the Lucky Strike and Dunhill maker will come little more than 18 months after BAT announced the takeover of US tobacco group Reynolds in a $49.4bn deal.

However, BAT shares have slumped by nearly a quarter during the last 12 months amid declining growth in core tobacco products and uncertainty about the future success of its range of so-called next-generation products.

The latter category, which includes BAT's vaping brand, Vype, and Glo, its tobacco pipe, are an increasingly important driver of cigarette manufacturers' profits.

BAT's London-listed rival, the Davidoff- and West-maker Imperial Brands (LSE: IMB.L - news) , has also seen its shares decline by more than a fifth during the last year.

Mr Durante has spent 37 years at BAT and its subsidiaries, joining its Brazilian unit in 1981, before being seconded to the company's UK head office in 1995.

He then spent time in Asia, South America and joined BAT's board in 2008 as its chief operating officer.

Despite its weak share price performance, BAT remains one of the largest companies in the FTSE-100 by market value.

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Under Mr Durante, BAT's efforts to grow its next-generation division have included a number of acquisitions, including Ten Motives, a UK-based e-cigarette company.

He has acknowledged that the industry has "entered a dynamic period of change" but insisted that the growth in alternative products has given the company the opportunity to "transform tobacco".

At the close of trading on Wednesday, BAT, which operates in more than 200 countries, was valued at 82.6bn.

BAT declined to comment.FILE PHOTO: Cricket star-turned-politician Imran Khan, chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), speaks after voting in the general election in Islamabad, Pakistan July 25, 2018. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/File Photo

ISLAMABAD/DUBAI (Reuters) - Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia where, comments from his finance minister suggest, he will seek financial help to stave off the likelihood of another IMF bailout.

Khan, on his first foreign trip since taking office last month, also plans to visit the United Arab Emirates, the Saudi Ministry of Media said.

Pakistan is trying to avert a balance of payments crisis stemming from a large current account deficit, and analysts have said they expect it to sign up for what would be its 13th bailout package from the International Monetary Fund since the late 1980s.

But Finance Minister Asad Umar said last month that an IMF rescue was a fallback option and that the government was exploring other avenues for assistance. That was broadly interpreted as seeking help from China and Saudi Arabia, which have both provided Islamabad with vast loans in the past.

In 2014, six months after Pakistan obtained its last IMF bailout, Saudi Arabia loaned it $1.5 billion (1.14 billion pounds) that the government used to strengthen its rupee currency.

Umar and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi are accompanying Khan on the Gulf trip.

Pakistan's foreign office said Khan would discuss "issues of bilateral interest" with Saudi Arabia's King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Pakistan's current account deficit widened 43 percent to $18 billion in the fiscal year that ended June 30, while the fiscal deficit has ballooned to 6.6 percent of gross domestic product.

Khan's government came to power on the back of assurances to root out corruption and reduce poverty. On Tuesday it announced tax increases for middle and high-income earners and a spike in import duties on luxury products in a bid to raise 183 billion rupees (1.13 billion pounds) in additional revenue.

(Reporting by Saad Sayeed in Islamabad and Maher Chmaytelli in Dubai; editing by John Stonestreet)By Elizabeth Piper and Gabriela Baczynska

SALZBURG, Austria (Reuters) - Prime Minister Theresa May appealed directly to fellow European leaders on Wednesday to drop "unacceptable" Brexit demands that she said could rip Britain apart, and urged the bloc to respond in kind to her "serious and workable" plan.

Over Wiener schnitzel in Salzburg, May tried to win over the leaders of the European Union by effectively asking them what they would do if they were asked to agree a "legal separation" of their countries -- something she says the EU is asking for by insisting Northern Ireland might stay under EU economic rules.

It may be a high-risk strategy. EU officials again said Britain had to move its own position over what has become known as the Irish backstop - how to avoid erecting border posts between the British province and EU member Ireland - as well as on future economic cooperation after Brexit day in March.

A government source suggested Britain would come up with other proposals to try to reach agreement on Northern Ireland "in due course", but May has so far been reluctant to move from her Chequers plan, hashed out at her country home in July.

With just over six months to Brexit day, both sides agree on one point - that time is running out to secure a deal that will mark Britain's biggest policy shift in almost half a century.

"I believe that I have put forward serious and workable proposals. We will of course not agree on every detail, but I hope that you will respond in kind," she told the other leaders at the Felsenreitschule theatre -- known to film fans for a scene in the musical 'The Sound of Music'.

"The onus is now on all of us to get this deal done," she said, according to the senior British government source.

BORDER PLAN "NOT CREDIBLE"

The talks, which have gone on for over a year, are bogged down in how to ensure that what will become Britain's only land border with the EU, between Northern Ireland and Ireland, will not become home again to the checks and tensions of the past.

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May has rejected an EU proposal to keep the province in a customs union with the bloc if they fail to reach a deal to keep the entire EU-UK border open, instead offering a time-limited customs arrangement that would cover the whole of Britain.

Over dinner, she said the problem could be solved by securing the type of "frictionless trade" envisaged in her Chequers plan, and that Britain was still committed to agreeing a fall-back scheme with the EU.

"However, the Commission's proposal for this protocol - that I should assent to a legal separation of the United Kingdom into two customs territories - is not credible," she said.

May has shown little sign of moving away from her Brexit plan, shrugging off criticism not only from Brussels but also at home over her proposals for future trade relations and Northern Ireland.

She may have little option. Facing the annual Conservative Party conference later this month, she is keen to show hardline Brexiters who have called on her to "chuck Chequers" that her plan is the only one that can be negotiated with the EU.

And, possibly for that audience, she told the EU leaders that although time was short, "delaying or extending these negotiations is not an option" and rule out the option of a second referendum on Britain's EU membership.

EU officials are minded not to paint May into a corner, aware of the increasing opposition to her plans in her Conservative Party, and that she needs a victory of sorts to persuade a reluctant parliament to back a deal.

But while they were keen to emphasise the positive movement seen in the Chequers plan, some said no deal could be reached until there was movement from Britain on Northern Ireland.

"NO PROGRESS"

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar told reporters there had been no advance on the issue: "I don't think we're any closer to a withdrawal agreement than we were in March, so I can't report any progress, unfortunately."

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said a deal with Britain was still "far away".

According to an EU official, chief negotiator Michel Barnier has suggested going to the "bare bones" on any checks between the rest of Britain and Northern Ireland, which could be further reduced if there is a trade facilitation agreement similar to that with Japan.

The government source said Britain had yet to receive a formal proposal.

But he did say London would offer proposals for regulatory aspects of the backstop to try to move the talks forward. He did not say when. EU negotiators say the problem is not only about customs but also ensuring the goods coming into the EU are produced according to EU rules, which Britain wants to shed.

May expects little immediate feedback at the dinner.

She will attend a morning session on Thursday to discuss security, where she will raise the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Salisbury. She will also have a face-to-face meeting with Varadkar.

She will then be out of the room when the other 27 leaders discuss her Brexit proposals over lunch, and will find out about their reactions only when Tusk briefs her separately afterwards.

But the senior British source said Britain believed momentum was growing for a deal, noting Tusk's plan to convene a special summit in mid-November to ink a hoped-for treaty.

"I think this signals that very serious discussions are now taking place," the source said. "We are confident of getting a deal."

(Additional reporting by Alastair Macdonald, Francois Murphy Andreas Rinke, Jean-Baptiste Vey, Jan Strupczewski in Brussels, and William James in London; Editing by Kevin Liffey)NIAMEY, Niger (AP)  An Italian priest has been kidnapped in a part of Niger where a number of extremist groups are active, the West African nation said Tuesday.

Government spokesman Zakaria Abdourahmane said authorities had not been aware the priest was in the country's southwest near the Burkina Faso border. He said investigations have begun to find the attackers and free the priest. No further details were immediately available.

The Rev. Pierluigi Maccalli is a member of the Society of African Missions religious order. In Niger he had promoted initiatives to encourage an end to the cultural practice of female genital mutilation, which had sparked some local opposition to him, according to the Fides missionary news agency in Rome.

In Rome, the Italian foreign ministry said it had asked local authorities in Niger's capital, Niamey, to give "absolute priority" to resolving the kidnapping but asked that they avoid "any initiative that could put Father Maccalli at risk."

Burkina Faso's border with Niger and Mali is home to extremists who kidnap and kill officials, sometimes in connection with other Islamic extremist groups in West Africa's vast Sahel region. Attacks have risen in the past year as young men frustrated by poverty become radicalized.

Niger for years has fought extremist groups linked to both al-Qaida and the Islamic State organization. Recently it has experienced a rise in kidnappings with ransom demands.

Earlier this month in the Diffa region, a 70-year-old woman who was the mother of a national deputy was abducted by armed men on motorcycles. The kidnappers demanded a ransom of 20 million FCFA ($35,000) but she was eventually released.

"We did not pay ransom, the kidnappers brought her back," said her son, Boulou Boukar.

Other abductions have been reported in the Maradi Region, which neighbors Nigeria's Zamfara state. A mixed patrol of Nigerien and Nigerian military has been set up for weeks along the border, according to Maradi governor Zakari Oumarou.

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Nigeria's Defense Minister Mansur Mohammed Dan Ali has been in Niger for two days discussing with President Mahamadou Issoufou the insecurity along Niger's southern border with Nigeria, where Boko Haram is present.

"Our two heads of state have the same vision and we will continue to pool our resources in order to fight the resilience of Boko Haram," Ali said after the meeting.

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Winfield contributed to this report from Rome.

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Follow Africa news at https://twitter.com/AP_AfricaGovt continuing discrimination against Madhes: Thakur

Rastriya Janata Party Nepal (RJPN) Coordinator Mahantha Thakur has accused the government of continuing discrimination against the marginalised groups.Kim Jong-Un with South Korean president Moon Jae-in (AP)

Kim Jong Un has agreed to permanently dismantle North Koreas main nuclear complex if the United States takes corresponding measures, South Korean president Moon Jae-in said.

The proposal comes after the two leaders held summit talks in Pyongyang to try to sustain nuclear diplomacy with Washington, which has been pushing hard for stronger disarmament moves from the North.

The Korean leaders also said the North would dismantle a missile engine test site and launch pad located in Nyongbyon in the presence of outside inspectors, and will aim to host the 2032 Summer Olympics together.

Mr Moon also said Mr Kim would try to visit Seoul sometime this year.

The US wants North Korea to outline its nuclear programme in detail, and the countrys official response to the joint statement from the Koreas is yet to be seen.

Kim agreed to dismantle North Koreas nuclear test site (AP)

Members of media and volunteers watch a huge screen showing South Korean President Moon Jae-in, left, shake hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un after a joint press conference in Pyongyang (AP)

While the declaration appears to fall short of what the US wants, President Donald Trump has maintained that he and Mr Kim have a good relationship and both leaders have hinted they may meet again, following their June summit in Singapore.

However, President Trumps late-night tweets did not address the US matching North Koreas moves.

Kim Jong Un has agreed to allow Nuclear inspections, subject to final negotiations, and to permanently dismantle a test site and launch pad in the presence of international experts. In the meantime there will be no Rocket or Nuclear testing, Mr Trump said on Twitter.

Hero remains to continue being returned home to the United States. Also, North and South Korea will file a joint bid to host the 2032 Olympics. Very exciting!

North Korea has been demanding a declaration formally ending the Korean War, which was stopped in 1953 by a ceasefire, but neither leader mentioned it as they read the joint statement.





We have agreed to make the Korean Peninsula a land of peace that is free from nuclear weapons and nuclear threat, Mr Kim said as he stood by Mr Moons side at the guesthouse where Mr Moon is staying.

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The road to our future will not always be smooth and we may face challenges and trials we cant anticipate. But we arent afraid of headwinds because our strength will grow as we overcome each trial based on the strength of our nation.

North Korea was expected to hold a huge mass games spectacle later in the day, with Mr Moon attending an event expected to draw about 150,000 spectators, Seoul said. It was not clear if Mr Kim would attend.

IN PICTURES: DONALD TRUMP MEETS KIM JONG-UN IN HISTORIC SUMMIT

Kim and Moon, the Korean leaders (AP)

North Korea first staged its mass games in 2002, when Mr Kims father, Kim Jong Il, was leader. They continued most every year until 2014, then were revived during North Koreas celebrations of the 70th anniversary of its state founding earlier this month.

Mr Kim gave the South Korean president a warm welcome, meeting him and his wife at Pyongyangs airport  a very unusual gesture  then riding into town with Mr Moon in an open limousine through streets lined with crowds of North Koreans, who cheered and waved the flag of their country and a blue-and-white flag that symbolises Korean unity.

At the start of their meeting on Tuesday, Mr Kim thanked Mr Moon for brokering the June summit with Mr Trump.

Its not too much to say that its Moons efforts that arranged a historic North Korea-US summit. Because of that, the regional political situation has been stabilised and more progress on North Korea-US ties is expected, Mr Kim said, according to South Korean media pool reports and Mr Moons office.BUCHAREST, Romania (AP)  Europe should lessen its dependence on Russian gas and diversify energy sources, U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry said Tuesday at a summit to improve ties between eastern Europe and the U.S. and the European Union.

Perry asserted that Europe's dependence on Russian gas has increased from 30 percent to 40 percent in recent years, calling it "a cause for concern."

"There is great security in energy diversity," he said in comments made in the Romanian capital, Bucharest. "Energy security is tantamount to national security."

Perry said countries of Central and Eastern Europe are facing "challenges due to a single (gas) supplier and Russia's aggressive posturing." He cited a nuclear project in the Czech Republic and offshore oil and gas drilling in the Black Sea as alternative energy sources.

Perry was a key speaker at the Three Seas summit, which aims to boost connectivity in Eastern Europe and reduce the gap between the European's eastern and western members.

Earlier, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said his country wants the U.S. to play a key role in Eastern Europe, to strengthen the continent as a whole.

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, a centrist with pro-Western views, called the economic presence of the U.S. "a catalyzer for economic cooperation in the area."

Iohannis, who hosted the two-day summit, announced that Germany, "which has multiple economic interests" in the region, would become a partner state in the Three Seas initiative. He also announced that Slovenia would host next year's summit.

Perry and leaders including European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic discussed some 40 government-approved projects that aim to boost regional connectivity in transport, energy and the digital fields.

Juncker called for more regional energy projects like a gas pipeline project between Austria, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. He also called for members in the East to respect the rule of law, because "investments make no sense in the absence of respect for the rule of law."

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"Europe needs to breathe with two lungs, one in the East and the other in the West, while the emphasis must be put on cooperation," Juncker said.

EU members have raised concerns about government changes in Poland and Romania that they say undermine judicial independence.

The Thee Seas initiative is a cooperation of European Union members located between the Adriatic, Baltic and Black seas. Austria is the only member that wasn't formerly communist. The first summit was held in 2016. U.S. President Donald Trump attended the second summit in 2017 in Warsaw, Poland.U.S. citizen Angel Phan is escorted by police to a court before her trial in Ho Chi Minh city U.S. citizen Angel Phan (C) is escorted by police to a court before her trial in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam August 21, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer

By Khanh Vu and James Pearson

HANOI (Reuters) - A Vietnamese court found two Vietnamese-Americans guilty of terrorism on Wednesday and sentenced them to 14 years in prison for masterminding a series of bomb plots earlier this year, a court official told Reuters.

James Nguyen and Angel Phan were convicted, along with 10 accomplices who received short jail terms, after a two day trial. All defendants had been charged with "attempting to overthrow the state".

Phan and Nguyen were accused of planning the attempted bombing of Vietnam's largest international airport in Ho Chi Minh City in April 2017 and the actual bombing of a police warehouse in nearby Bien Hoa city, where confiscated vehicles, mostly motorbikes, were stored.

"The remaining 10 defendants in the same trial received prison terms of between five and 11 years," an official at the Ho Chi Minh City People's Court told Reuters by phone.

According to state media, Phan and Nguyen were acting on behalf of the "Provisional Government of Vietnam", a California-based organisation run by Vietnamese-Americans still loyal to the now defunct state of South Vietnam.

The U.S. organisation, which was listed as a "terrorist" group by Hanoi in January this year, dispatched Phan and Nguyen to Vietnam in February 2017 to carry out attacks on Vietnamese national holidays, the Ministry of Public Security said in a statement on its website.

Phan and Nguyen ran a network of underground operatives in Vietnam, some of whom were given titles in a shadow government such as "governor of Saigon", or "commander of national defence guards," the Ministry of Public Security said on Wednesday.

The pair assigned "counter-revolutionary" missions to the group's members in Vietnam, the ministry said, including a plan to broadcast anti-government propaganda from local radio stations, organise protests, and "insult the image" of former president Ho Chi Minh.

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Phan and Nguyen will be deported after serving their jail term, Voice of Vietnam radio reported.

In June, a court in Ho Chi Minh City upheld prison sentences against 15 members of the group it said were guilty of planting bombs in the international terminal of Tan Son Nhat airport in April last year.

In another case last month, police said it had arrested seven people from a separate group over the a bombing of a Ho Chi Minh City police station in June.

The incident, in which two small explosive devices were detonated, injured three people in what police said was a "terrorist case against the people's government".

A police warehouse, where confiscated vehicles, mostly motorbikes, were stored, was also blown up.

The Provisional Government of Vietnam did not respond to a request for comment made via its website.

In a statement, the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi said it had been providing consular services for James Nguyen.

"We will continue to monitor Mr. Nguyen's welfare, advocate for him, and provide consular services until his release," spokesman Pope Thrower said in the statement, which did not mention Angel Phan or address the terrorism charges.

[This version of the story has been corrected throughout to show defendants were convicted for attempting to overthrow the state (not found guilty of terrorism or masterminding bomb attacks). The original story and a previous correction had misrepresented the nature of the charges.]

(Reporting by Khanh Vu and James Pearson; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP)  The death toll from Hurricane Florence climbed to at least 37, including two women who drowned when a sheriff's van taking them to a mental health facility was swept away by floodwaters, and North Carolina's governor pleaded with thousands of evacuees not to return home just yet.

President Donald Trump, meanwhile, arrived in storm-ravaged North Carolina on Wednesday and helped volunteers at a church in the hard-hit coastal town of New Bern.

"How's the house?" Trump was heard asking one person as distributed plastic foam containers of food, including hot dogs, chips and fruit. "You take care of yourself."

Wilmington, population 120,000, was still mostly an island surrounded by floodwaters, and people waited for hours Tuesday for handouts of food, water and tarps. Thousands of others around the state waited in shelters for the all-clear.

"I know it was hard to leave home, and it is even harder to wait and wonder whether you even have a home to go back to," Gov. Roy Cooper said.

After submerging North Carolina with nearly 3 feet (1 meter) of rain, the storm dumped more than 6.5 inches (16.5 centimeters) of rain in the Northeast, where it caused flash flooding.

Cooper warned that the flooding is far from over and will get worse in places.

"I know for many people this feels like a nightmare that just won't end," he said.

Addressing roughly 10,000 people who remain in shelters and "countless more" staying elsewhere, Cooper urged them to stay put for now, particularly those from the hardest-hit coastal counties that include Wilmington, near where Florence blew ashore on Friday.

Roads remain treacherous, he said, and some are still being closed for the first time as rivers swelled by torrential rains inland drain toward the Atlantic.

At least 27 of the deaths happened in North Carolina.

In South Carolina, two women died on Tuesday evening when floodwaters from the Little Pee Dee River engulfed the van taking them to a mental health facility, authorities said.

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The risk of environmental damage mounted, as human and animal waste was washed into the swirling floodwaters.

More than 5 million gallons (18 million liters) of partially treated sewage spilled into the Cape Fear River after power went out at a treatment plant, officials said, and the earthen dam of a pond holding hog waste was breached, spilling its contents. The flooding killed an estimated 3.4 million chickens and 5,500 hogs on farms.

In Wilmington on Tuesday, workers began handing out supplies using a system resembling a giant fast-food drive-thru: Drivers pulled up to a line of pallets, placed an order and left without having to get out. A woman blew a whistle each time drivers had to pull forward.

Todd Tremain needed tarps to cover up spots where Florence's winds ripped shingles off his roof. Others got a case of bottled water or military MREs, or field rations. An olive-drab military forklift moved around huge pallets loaded with supplies.

Brandon Echavarrieta struggled to stay composed as he described life post-Florence: no power for days, rotted meat in the freezer, no water or food and just one bath in a week.

"It's been pretty bad," said Echavarrieta, 34, his voice breaking.

About 3,500 vehicles came through for supplies on the first day they were available, county officials said in a Facebook post.

Supplies have been brought into the city by big military trucks and helicopters,

At Fayetteville, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) inland, near the Army's sprawling Fort Bragg, flooding from Cape Fear River got so bad that authorities closed a vehicle bridge after the water began touching girders supporting the span's top deck.

Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin said it was unclear if the bridge was threatened.

"We've never had it at those levels before, so we don't really know what the impact will be just yet," he said.

___

Waggoner reported from Raleigh, North Carolina. AP photographer Gerry Broome in Lumberton, North Carolina; Gary Robertson in Raleigh; Alex Derosier in Fayetteville, North Carolina; and Jay Reeves in Atlanta contributed to this report.

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Follow Martha Waggoner on Twitter at http://twitter.com/mjwaggonernc

___

For the latest on Hurricane Florence, visit https://www.apnews.com/tag/Hurricanes

___

This story has been corrected to show the death toll in North Carolina is 27, not 29.Iron deficiency treatment specialist Shield Therapeutics narrowed losses as revenues grew in the first half of that saw a series of positive developments.

Revenues grew 248% to 495,000 in the six months ended 30 June, helping the firm narrow its net loss by 16% to 8m along with a 33% reduction in Shield's selling costs to 2.6m.

Net cash tumbled 73% to 3.5m, primarily in relation to key research and development activities and commercialisation costs.

Despite setbacks in February as a result of disappointing preliminary data from its AEGIS-CKD study, Shield argued that it had made "considerable progress" during the first half and intends to build on this momentum in the coming months.

Chief executive Carl Sterritt said: "I am pleased to be able to report that the business has continued to develop positively."

"Although we have had to adapt during the first half of the year, I remain confident that we will be able to build a valuable business and bring benefits to many patients worldwide who suffer today from iron deficiency."

Elsewhere, Shield revealed it had entered into an exclusive licence agreement with Norgine BV for the commercialisation of its iron deficiency treatment Feraccru in Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

In addition to retaining full commercial rights to Feraccru in all unlicensed countries, Shield will receive an 11m upfront licence payment and as much as 54.5m in development and sales milestones, together with royalties ranging from 25% to 40%.

As of 0830 BST, Shield shares had climbed 8.20% to 33p.The property is situated at Mallow Business Park and the price represents a net initial yield of 10.5%.

Blackwater is a multi-tenanted office building comprising some 28,880 sq. ft. of Grade A space. It has a "strong" tenant mix with 85% of rental income coming from Irish Water and the Health Service Executive.

Yew Grove said it plans to invest further capital to enhance the building and will progress discussions to let the existing vacancy with prospective tenants.

Chief executive officer Jonathan Laredo said: "We are very pleased to announce the acquisition of this building and the adjoining site. Not only is it one of the few grade A office buildings in the immediate area but it also offers plentiful opportunity for asset management. This will enhance both the capital value and rental income over the medium-term."Michel Barnier, the European Union's chief Brexit negotiator, said the bloc is ready to improve its offer to the UK on the Irish border issue and that October would be the moment of truth for negotiations.

The Frenchman told reporters in Brussels overnight that he is open to new proposals to help break the Brexit deadlock over Ireland.

Our proposal for the backstop for Ireland and Northern Ireland has been on the table since February, Barnier said. We are ready to improve this proposal.

The statements come as EU leaders ready themselves for a summit in Salzburg on Wednesday where they are set to discuss Brexit and where Prime Minister Theresa May will try to gather support from her peers for her Chequers plan.

May insists there needs to be "friction-free movement of goods", with no customs or regulatory checks, between Northern Ireland and the Republic, to avoid a hard border there.

Both sides are hoping that an agreement will be reached by the start of November at the latest. Barnier said the talks were in the "home straight" but there were still significant areas of disagreement.

After the gathering in Salzburg, the UK will have to return to the negotiating table between the Tory party in Birmingham on 3 October and then in the summit in Brussels two weeks later. Although both sides will not met the original October deadline, they are hopeful that time remains after reaching a deal to get approval from the British and European parliaments.

Barnier's statements had a lifting effect on the pound.

Jasper Lawler, analyst at London Capital Group, said on Wednesday: "News overnight that EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier has fulfilled his desires to de-dramatize the Irish boarder issue lifted the pound to $1.3175, its highest level in 7 weeks. Given the pounds sensitivity to any Brexit headlines, this pro-Brexit deal news has once again lifted pound traders spirits that a Brexit deal may just get pushed through as the deadline looms closer."Thomas Borgen, chief executive of Danske Bank , has resigned after allegations that as much as $234bn has been laundered through the banks Estonian branch.

The Danish bank is currently subject to official investigations in both Denmark and Estonia by the countrys financial supervision authority, while Danish media has also reported that US authorities are looking into the case.

As such, the banks management has been accused of failing to seriously prevent laundering leading Borgen to step down and accept that Danske failed to live up to its responsibility.

"Even though the investigation conducted by the external law firm concludes that I have lived up to my legal obligations, I believe that it is best for all parties that I resign," said Borgen

Borgen, who was promoted to lead the bank in 2013, will remain in his role until a replacement is found, while chairman Ole Anderson may also step down.

The bank has been unable to produce a precise figure for how much money it may have laundered but the $234bn estimate of total flows through its Estonian unit is almost nine times the Baltic nations gross domestic product.

Of the 15,000 accounts covered by the flows, 6,200 have the highest risk indicators for laundering and have now been reported to authorities.

Estonian authorities are specifically investigating the banks handling of Russian and ex-Soviet Union money, with international financier Bill Browder having long accused Danske Bank of being a conduit for Russian money laundering.

A Bloomberg analyst survey estimated that Danske may be subject to $800m in fines for its breaches.EU antitrust regulators ruled that fast food giant McDonald 's tax deal with Luxembourg was not in breach of EU state aid rules on Wednesday.

The European Commission claimed the US chain was exempt of certain taxes due to differences in US and Luxembourg laws.

Three years after its investigation began as part of a crackdown on illegal sweetheart deals between EU states and multinational corporations that inevitably resulted in the likes of Apple, Starbucks and Fiat being forced to pay back billions of euros in taxes, the Commission ruled that McDonald's tax deal was in line with national tax laws and the joint Luxembourg-US double taxation treaty.

European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said: "Our in-depth investigation has shown that the reason for double non-taxation, in this case, is a mismatch between Luxembourg and US tax laws, and not a special treatment by Luxembourg. Therefore, Luxembourg did not break EU state aid rules."

"Of course, the fact remains that McDonald's did not pay any taxes on these profits  and this is not how it should be from a tax fairness point of view," she said.

The investigation was primarily focussed on McDonald's Luxembourg-based subsidiary Europe Franchising, which collects royalty payments from franchisees across the EU, Ukraine and Russia.

Luxembourg, which claimed in a 2009 tax ruling that McDonald's was not required to pay corporate taxes due to its profits being taxed in the States, welcomed the Commission's ruling and the steps it had taken to avoid similar cases arising in the future.

As of 1200 BST, McDonald's shares were flat in pre-market trading at $157.77 per share.The US Justice Department has opened a criminal probe against Tesla regarding the recent tweets of CEO Elon Musk who said he intended to take the company private.

Federal prosecutors opened the investigation after Musk tweeted he had secured funding to take the company private, sending the company's shares higher as 'short-sellers' were forced to buy-back in a hurry. The probe will run alongside a previous civil inquiry by securities regulators.

The DoJ issued a 'voluntary' request of documents and Tesla has cooperated with the body. The company also admitted it had not received a subpoena or a request for testimony.

"Last month, following Elons announcement that he was considering taking the company private, Tesla received a voluntary request for documents from the DOJ and has been cooperative in responding to it," the company said in a statement released Tuesday.

"We have not received a subpoena, a request for testimony, or any other formal process. We respect the DOJ's desire to get information about this and believe that the matter should be quickly resolved as they review the information they have received."

Musk explained that the funding would come from Saudi Arabia, with whom he had negotiated in the past. The company later said that it had not received an official proposal to take Tesla private and has since abandoned the plans.

Tesla shares dropped 3.4% to $284.96 on Tuesday and are down about 8.5% this year. Its value has fallen by almost a third since the tweets, erasing nearly $18bn from the company's market value.

The CEO's behaviour has had a negative impact on Tesla's shares before. Earlier this year, he falsely accused British diver Vernon Unsworth of being a paedophile. The diver helped rescue the children trapped in a Thai cave this summer and had criticised Musk's plan to send a miniature submarine into the cave.

Tesla's shares took another hit earlier this month when Musk smoked marijuana on a live web show and two senior executives announced they were leaving.Heavy equipment firms strike gold in Nepal

The demand for heavy equipment is on the rise, with major companies such as CAT, Sany, Volvo, Terex, Explore Earth Movers and JCB setting up shop in Nepal.European stocks edged higher in early trade on Wednesday, underpinned by a solid performance from the basic resources sector, as investors apprehension around global trade talks eased a bit, although many analysts remained quite cautious.

"China can afford to play a much longer game, particularly when it comes to the US electoral cycle. President Xi will be around long after Donald Trump has departed the White House. China's economy may well be slowing down, but it is still growing at a decent pace, and the Chinese could make it very difficult for US companies operating in China by disrupting their supply chains, by implementing additional customs costs, or checks, with Apple being particularly vulnerable," said Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets UK.

At 1146 BST, the benchmark Stoxx Europe 600 index was up 0.12% or 0.45 points at 379.16, Germany's DAX was 0.34% or 41.80 points higher to 12,199.60 and France's CAC 40 was 0.33% firmer at 5,381.60.

Basic resources racked up healthy gains as copper prices rallied, with the Stoxx 600 sub-index for the sector up 1.68% to 438.80.

Despite the recent escalation in the trade spat between Washington and Beijing, some - but not all - economists were arguing that as long as the frictions remained a bilateral affair between the two economic giants, then the economic damage might remain modest.

On that note, there were reports that Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, was coming under increased pressure from businessmen in his country to reach a deal with the US and Mexico on a revamped NAFTA accord.

On the other hand, and as a result of the trans-Pacific trade spat, Germany's IW economic institute lowered its forecast for German economic growth of 2.0% in both 2018 and 2019 to 1.8% and 1.4%, respectively.

There was also some good news on the geopolitical front, as North Korea said that it would close a key missile test facility and potentially destroy its primary nuclear complex if the US agreed to corresponding measures.

In corporate news, Germany's Schaeffler was on the front foot after leaving its guidance for overall sales this year unchanged.

Recruiter Adecco was in the red after saying it has seen a slowdown in growth in the third quarter, while Danske Bank tumbled nearly 8% as its chief executive officer Thomas Borgen resigned after the bank found indications that its Estonian brand was used for money-laundering purposes.

London-listed B&Q and Castorama-owner Kingfisher slumped after posting a 15% drop in first-half profit on the back of a poor performance from its French business.

Construction sector output in the euro area slowed to a 0.3% month-on-month pace in July, following a rise of 0.7% in June, while the year-over-year rate fell a touch to 2.6% from an upwardly-revised 3% in June, Eurostat said.

In parallel, the European Central Bank reported that the Eurozone's current account surplus fell from 24.0bn for June to 21.0bn in July.

For the last 12 months, the bloc's surplus stood at 394.0bn or 3.5% of gross domestic product, versus 3.3% in June, while portfolio flows to outside the euro area held up at 474.0bn.

Still ahead on the economic calendar, European Central Bank President, Mario Draghi, was set to deliver a speech at the Jacques Delors Institute in Berlin, at noon.Peer-to-peer lender Funding Circle said it hoped to raise around 300m when it floats in London in an offer open to institutional and private investors.

The company will have an initial valuation of 1.4-1.8bn after it set out a price range for the offer at 420p to 530p per share, with a total share capital of 329.7-345.05m.

Funding Circle will issue 71.4m new shares, which could be extended with a secondary over-allotment of up to 10% more, to raise a gross 300m to beef up its balance sheet.

Directors want a stronger balance sheet to support its strategy to pursue "growth over profitability" in the medium term, providing "strategic flexibility" and the ability to take advantage of opportunities either in current markets or new geographies.

Retail investors can take part in the initial public offer via brokers, of which the list includes AJ Bell, Albert E Sharp, Alliance Trust, Barclays, Cornhill Capital, Hargreaves Lansdown, iDealing.com, IG, Interactive Investor, Killik & Co, Redmayne-Bentley, Saga, Selftrade, Sharedeal Active, Shareview, Shore Capital, SVS Securities, The Share Centre, TS Capital, WH Ireland Limited and X-O.co.uk.Profits at Kingfisher fell 30% in the first half of the DIY retailer's financial year as problems in France overshadowed a solid performances in the UK.

Statutory profit before tax of 281m from the six months to 31 July was down 30% on the same period last year, or down 18% to 323m if exceptional items are excluded, which was lower than City analysts were expecting.

Underlying PBT, which excludes the impact of transformation costs and exceptional items, fell 14.8% to 375m.

Underlying earnings per share were down 11.7% to 12.8p, boosted by the 90m buyback during the half, while the interim dividend was held maintained at 3.33p. Sales, down 1.1% on a like-for-like basis to 6.08bn, had already been announced.

The B&Q and Screwfix owner, which is halfway through a five-year turnaround plan led by chief executive Veronique Laury, reported retail profits in the UK EBIT up 1.2% to 218m as B&Q sales declined but Screwfix climbed, France was down 31.1% to 122m and Poland up 3.7% to 88m. Other international losses were higher than expected at 24m, fairly equally split between Russia, Screwfix Germany and Romania.

Laury said the business was well on its way to becoming a "truly customer led, digital, and efficient business" but that "transformation on this scale is tough, and there are challenges that we're working through".

"There is still much to do to improve our performance in France and to remove inefficiencies within the business as we continue to transform at pace. I am confident that we have the right plan and the opportunity for Kingfisher is significant."

French profits tumbled as sales fell 2.1% to 2.3bn and gross margin shrank 60 basis points mainly due to higher logistics costs. There was progress reported with plans to improve pricing, proposition and digital, but much work remains to be done and further action is being taken to support performance in the second half of the year.

"Looking to the full year we remain on track to deliver our strategic milestones for the third year in a row and have put actions in place to support our performance," said Laury. "The outlook for our main markets continues to be mixed."

Laury's head of product and supply chain Arja Taaveniku, who joined the group three years ago, will be leaving the business with average unique and unified products under the ONE Kingfisher plan representing 42% of sales, which is expected to rise to 50% by year end. Henri Solere, who has worked at Kingfisher for 11 years and led two of the seven category unifications so far, will take over for the next phase that "will further emphasise the development of a unique offer".

REACTION & ANALYSIS

Kingfisher shares fell to close to a seven year low below 245p in early trade on Wednesday morning and by midday were down almost 4% to 253.4p.

Analyst George Salmon at Hargreaves Lansdown said: With headwinds blowing against the home improvement sector in both the UK and French markets, its no surprise to see like-for-like sales fall in both countries. However, after factoring in weakness in eastern Europe and extra costs from logistical inefficiencies, Kingfishers profits have fallen down like a set of badly assembled shelves.

"Delivering another set of disappointing numbers when expectations are already depressed isnt a good look, but its not quite a case of DIY SOS just yet. The silver lining for investors is the underlying signs of progress in the long-running business makeover. Still though, as can be the case with renovation projects, it feels like for every job Kingfisher crosses off the to-do list, another appears.

Credit Suisse said the results were "a small miss but better quality", cutting its full year PBT forecast 2% to 750m.

"However clearly there have been execution issues and the head of product and supply chain Arja Taaveniku will be leaving the business. Apart from mix/soft demand the main reason for the 40bp 1H GM decline were logistics and stock inefficiencies, particularly in France."

After unexpected losses in the 'other international' business and comments from Laury that we are committed to stopping the losses within the business ...more details on these initiatives will follow in March 2019, Credit Suisse assumed that some of the peripheral loss-making businesses will be exited.

Analysts at Edison said it was still "too early to judge whether Kingfisher will ultimately be successful in transforming its sprawling business into a unified whole capable of being seriously competitive in its fast-changing market", with progress looking "steady".

In terms of the shares' valuation, with a P/E of 10.1 times consensus earnings for the full year, it was "not an obvious bargain.UK Commercial Property REIT announced the acquisition of M8 Industrial Estate near Glasgow from Grayling Capital on Wednesday, for a headline price of 24.6m, based on a topped-up net initial yield of 5.9%.

The FTSE 250 firm said the acquisition was being funded through existing cash resources.

M8 Industrial Estate comprises 20 units totalling 290,104 square feet, and offered the potential for two further developments on site.

UKCPT said it was at 92% occupancy, let to tenants including Boots UK, Rentokil and PTS with a WAULT of seven years to expiry and six years to break.

There were three smaller void units, and with the average passing rent of 5.25 per square foot it said there was an opportunity to let up vacant space and grow rents.

M8 is located in central Scotland, immediately to the east of Glasgow at the junction of the A8 and A725, providing immediate access to the M8 linking Edinburgh and Glasgow.

The asset was also situated close to access to the M74 linking Scotland to England and the M73, which provided a key route to the North.

UKCPT said the estate was well placed for last mile delivery due to its proximity to Glasgow city centre, and provided access to more than two million people within a one hour drive and over more than million people within a two hour drive time.

This transaction is a continuation of our stated strategy to invest capital into prime assets which offer income growth potential and that are accretive to dividend cover, said lead manager of UKCPT at manager and adviser Aberdeen Standard Investments, Will Fulton.

M8 Industrial Estate is a high quality, multi-let industrial asset, which not only generates stable income, but also offers potential to capture reversion and lease up space.

There is also an opportunity for future value creation and income growth through active asset management.Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is under increasing pressure to agree to a compromise on Nafta with the Trump administration, according to reports.

Trudeau has long held the stance that no deal is preferable to a bad deal but there is time for an agreement to be met as his foreign minister Chrystia Freeland is attending talks with US trade representative Robert Lighthizer in Washington on Wednesday ahead of a negotiation deadline of 1 October.

The stance is starting to worry business leaders as Donald Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on autos if Trudeaus Liberal government does not yield, according to a report from Reuters.

Trump has previously labelled NAFTAs current form as "the worst trade deal" ever signed by the US and threatened to pull out of the agreement entirely in April 2017.

The White House only agreed to renegotiate the deal, which was originally signed by US President George Bush Snr, Canadian PM Brian Mulroney and Mexican President Carlos Salinas in December 1992, after Canada and Mexico insisted upon it.

John Manley, a former Liberal finance minister who heads the business council of Canada, told Reuters: Anyone who thought we were going to get something better than what we had under NAFTA 1.0 was delusional. We knew that this was all about taking some things away

Trade minister for Ontario, the centre of Canadas auto industry, Jim Wilson was also critical, stating that the government bloody well need to get a deal, while Ontario premier Doug Ford will meet negotiators on Wednesday to express his concerns.

Canadian officials do not believe that the US congress would ever exclude the country from NAFTA entirely but relying on congress entirely would be a he gamble for Trudeaus government.

Indeed, US Republican house majority whip Steve Scalise said there was a growing frustration with the Canadian tactics among Washington lawmakers.London's FTSE 250 was up 0.20% at 20,500.09 in afternoon trade on Wednesday.

Miners were the standout gainers, with Kazakhstan-focused pit miner Kaz Minerals and Swiss-based commodity trading and mining company Ferrexpo reaping the rewards as copper prices rose.

Industrial software provider Aveva pushed higher after saying its full-year outlook remains in line with the board's expectations and that it aims to increase its adjusted EBIT margins to 30%.

In an update ahead of its capital markets day later, the company said it has continued to deliver constant currency revenue growth in the year to date and aims to grow medium-term revenue on a constant currency basis at least in line with the industrial software market, which is growing at a mid-single digit rate.

It also benefited from an upgrade to 'buy' from 'add' at Numis, who set a target price of 3,400p per share.

Babcock International rallied after the engineering services company said it is trading in line with its expectations, the order book and pipeline are strong and its outlook for the year is unchanged.

In an update for the period from 1 April, the company said its order book and pipeline have a combined unchanged value of 32bn, with around 87% of revenue now in place for 2018/19 and around 57% for 2019/20.

Peel Hunt reiterated its 'hold' rating and target price of 760p for the company's shares off the back of the results.

Serviced office company IWG, formerly Regus, recovered after dropping on Tuesday in the wake of Credit Suisse's decision to cut its rating on the stock to 'underperform' from 'neutral', chopping the price target to 200p from 245p.

The big faller in afternoon trade was Dublin-based food company Greencore Group, which dropped over 5%.

The drop comes after supermarket giant Tesco, for whom Greencore is one of the largest suppliers, unveiled their new budget supermarket brand Jack's in Cambridgeshire.

Approximately half of the planned budget stores will take over premises from Tesco Metro stores and will have an emphasis on British sourced produce and own brand products, potentially worrying Greencore investors that the relationship between the pair could consequently diminish in size.

Finally, fertiliser developer Sirius Minerals retreated after racking up strong gains over the last few days following news of its newly penned supply deal to sell up to 2.5m tonnes per year of POLY4 - its flagship fertiliser product - to Brazilian fertiliser distribution company Cibra.

Market Movers



FTSE 250 (MCX) 20,500.09 0.20%



FTSE 250 - Risers

Kaz Minerals (KAZ) 511.00p 6.02%

Aveva Group (AVV) 2,946.00p 4.54%

Ferrexpo (FXPO) 171.40p 4.32%

IP Group (IPO) 130.40p 3.66%

Babcock International Group (BAB) 717.20p 3.64%

McCarthy & Stone (MCS) 129.60p 3.51%

IWG (IWG) 220.90p 3.42%

Weir Group (WEIR) 1,710.50p 3.17%

Investec (INVP) 531.60p 3.02%

Dixons Carphone (DC.) 168.05p 3.00%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

Greencore Group (GNC) 180.50p -5.20%

Sanne Group (SNN) 633.00p -4.09%

Rank Group (RNK) 176.60p -3.81%

Dechra Pharmaceuticals (DPH) 2,399.72p -2.77%

Cineworld Group (CINE) 310.80p -2.57%

Sirius Minerals (SXX) 30.06p -2.34%

SIG (SHI) 122.50p -2.31%

Inmarsat (ISAT) 489.80p -2.16%

Big Yellow Group (BYG) 958.50p -1.94%

Indivior (INDV) 266.15p -1.79%Microsoft is in hot water after users revolted following the tech companys attempts to coerce them into using its own browser service (Microsoft Edge) instead of leading competitors like Firefox or Google Chrome. Fans of Chrome, Firefox, and other browsers were not happy with the heavy-handed tactic to push Microsofts browser service on them, and the tech company quickly responded by removing its pop-up warning about relying on non-Microsoft services.

Microsofts web browser Edge has always had a problem with attracting users; in the first three months of 2018, for instance, Microsoft Edge accounted for a mere eight percent of 1.2 billion visits to government websites, according to ZDNet.

Compared to rivals like Firefox and Google Chrome, Edge has simply never been able to bolster the amount of people who rely on it for web browsing on a daily basis. Google Chrome remains the most popular browser by far, with some 44.5 percent of all US web browser use, per ZDNet.

Microsoft accused of heavy-handedness

That negative trend is likely to continue now that users are incensed over Microsofts heavy-handed approach to get more of them to use Edge. In the preview version of Microsoft 10, a web browser pop-up appeared when users tried to download the browsers of popular competitors like Firefox or Chrome. Testers routinely reported that the message was patronizing and unnecessary, and it created a mild furor on the tech scene before being addressed.

Microsoft has since responded to the public outcry, and the warning pop-up will be stripped from the upcoming Windows 10 October update.

The pop-up in question informed users that using Microsoft Edge, a new product, would provide them with a faster, safer browser designed for Windows.

Repeat offenders

This isnt the first time that Microsoft has attempted to draw users away from competing web browsers, either.

Discuss this news on Eunomia

In 2016, the company famously sent notifications to Windows 10 users that using Google Chrome instead of Microsoft Edge was draining their battery at a substantially faster pace. Notifications like the battery alert or pop-up warning that users are currently experiencing can be turned off in the settings of Windows 10.

The pop-up warning is a stumbling block for Microsoft ahead of the companys expected rollout of the Windows 10 October 2018 update, which Tech Radar notes will introduce new software updates.Infant injured in acid attack dies in Achham

A six-month-old child of Chisi inTrumakhand Rural Municipality-4,Achham, who sustained critical injuries after unidentified persons poured a chemical similar to a corrosive acid, breathed his last during the course of treatment.Moon Jae-in is the President of South Korea and from the moment he took over the office, he has been harping on normalizing relations with the North. He wanted to have peace in the region and eliminate fears of nuclear confrontation. His peace overtures earned rewards when Kim Jong-un held out an olive branch by reactivating the hotline.

Subsequently, teams from the North participated in the 2018 Winter Olympics which led to the first inter-Korean summit of 2018 in late April. It was followed by a second one in May that paved the way for a historic summit in Singapore between Donald Trump and the leader of North Korea.

CNBC reports that Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong-un will hold a third summit in Pyongyang next week where the issue of denuclearization of the peninsula will feature. In the Singapore summit, Kim had indicated a willingness to pursue denuclearization but the lack of progress is worrying the Trump camp. Hence, Moon Jae-in will have to try and obtain some assurance from Kim on the subject.

ROK advance team in #DPRK for third Kim-Moon summit https://t.co/i4dZvn3ebm  CGTN (@CGTNOfficial) September 16, 2018

Tough road ahead for Moon Jae-in

The gradual build-up to the Singapore summit between Trump and Kim was a welcome relief for the world but the subsequent actions taken by Kim Jong-un has put a question mark on whether the end result will mean total denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.

Moon Jae-in had claimed that Kim wanted to remove his inventory of nuclear weapons and missiles. It seems he made such remarks in private during interaction with officials of the South. Obviously, Moon Jae-in will have to convince Kim to prove his sincerity.

The United States is worried about the apparent hesitancy on the part of Pyongyang to liquidate its nuclear arsenal.

Discuss this news on Eunomia

Moon Jae-in has his task cut out, He will have to obtain some sort of positive response from Kim Jong-un which could be the foundation for a second Kim-Trump summit.

South Korea sends a 90-plus contingent to the summit

According to Sputnik News, a contingent of more than 90 is headed for the third intra-Korean summit to be held in Pyongyang on September 18-20.

Apart from South Korean officials, there are journalists and technical persons in the team. President Moon Jae-in is expected to take a direct flight to the North Korean capital. The broad agenda of the summit is expected to focus on issues relating to the implementation of the declaration signed at Panmunjom.

Incidentally, as a part of a joint declaration signed by Kim Jong-un and Moon Jae-in, the two Koreas had agreed to adopt practical measures to connect railways on the peninsula. The initial activities will involve creating the necessary infrastructure to connect and modernize railways and roads on the eastern transportation corridor, as well as between Seoul and North Koreas city of Sinuiju. The South Korean president must impress upon his Northern counterpart to abandon his nuclear ambitions and embrace peace.Leona Alleslev was elected to the Canadian Parliament in 2015, representing a Toronto-area, AuroraOak Ridges. Her father, Ian, was a major-general in the Royal Canadian Air Force. She herself, graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada and served in the Air Force. She would reach the rank of captain before retiring in 1996. Eventually, she became employed with the Canadian Department of National Defence, CTV News reports.

It's an impressive resume. Alleslev seemed to be a rising star in the Liberal Party of Canada. She was quickly named a parliamentary secretary, working under Public Services and Procurement Minister Judy Foote.

But now it seems that her star is rising with a different party.

Alleslev has crossed the floor and joined the Conservative Party of Canada

On September 17, Alleslev spoke about her shock move that rocked Canadian politics when she changed her party allegiance. She cited concerns with various issues, as per CTV. They include the economy and tax reform, along with foreign policy and national security.

Her move was all the more surprising considering a July tweet from her Twitter account. It came after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a stop in the riding she represents. In it, she enthusiastically thanked the prime minister and indicated her excitement about running as a Liberal in 2019.

But not all are surprised.

According to the Toronto Star, it should be more shocking that it took so long for her to switch sides. Alleslev has long been considered to hold more conservative views than most of her Liberal Party colleagues. She has promised the constituents who elected her that she is still the same person she voted for. Regarding the response to her move from her constituents, Alleslev has said that it has been 'overwhelmingly positive.'

Almost immediately, Alleslev was given a prominent position among the Conservatives, being appointed as Shadow Minister for Global Security.

Discuss this news on Eunomia

She might not be the only Liberal to make the change. Opposition Leader Andrew Scheer has refused to answer if he knows of any other Liberal MPs thinking it over. He has cited 'trust and confidentiality' as the reasons for his silence.

It's another blow to Trudeau and the Liberals

Justin Trudeau, son of former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, became prime minister in 2015.

Since then, the Liberal government has been rocked by an almost continuous string of scandals. Many of his cabinet members have had to vacate their posts amid controversy. Others have remained, but have been embattled.

Trudeau himself has been at the root of a number of them. In 2017, he was found to have committed four violations of the Conflict of Interest Act.Nirmalas parents join Nepali Congress rally in Mahendranagar demanding justice

Nepali Congress supporters took out a rally in Mahendranagar, Kanchanpur, on Tuesday, demanding justice for 13-year-old Nirmala Pant, who was found raped and murdered on July 27.Police arrest three men on rape charge

Police have arrested three men for allegedly raping a 21-year-old girl at Bhimdhunga in Nagarjun Municipality, Kathmandu, on Monday.It didnt have to be this way.

This thought kept blinking through my mind, like a neon sign on a dark street, as I read These Truths, the newest book by Harvard professor and The New Yorker contributor Jill Lepore. A 900-plus page tome, it is a full history of the United States, a country I was born in and soon after left. I was raised in a much younger country, Israel, which was handed over by a colonizing force to a people desperate for a home, back in the daysnot so long ago, reallywhen colonizers could simply gift the land theyd taken as if it were theirs to give. The history I was taught from the ages of six to eighteen was both condensed and elongated, the history of a fledgling country full of war but also of an ancient people once enslaved and long persecuted.

But I was born in the U.S., which makes me a citizen. I didnt have to pass a test, or learn about this country, or understand any more of it than any non-American understands about the place that gave us McDonalds, the internet, the iPhone. I moved back here easily, when I was 19 years old. My birth certificate sufficed, my ignorance was never questioned or corrected. What are the myths the United States has it built itself on? Lepores questionthe one the book exploresis more honed, adopted from statements by Alexander Hamilton: Can a political society really be governed by reflection and election, by reason and truth, rather than by accident and violence, by prejudice and deceit? Lepores answer is something like: Well, sometimes yes, and sometimes no, and, in the past few decades, it kind of depends on whos being asked.

When I set out to read this book and write this article, I had a general understanding of how the United States of America came to be. I knew about the founding fathers (though couldnt name them all; like Disneys seven dwarves, I always forgot at least one). I knew that this land wasnt empty, or fallow, or wastedit was settled, and loved, and well-cared for by the peoples native to it long before Europeans landed on its shores. I knew about the terrible legacy of slavery, of the millions of human beings forced onto ships, across oceans, onto land, where they were treated horribly, worked to death, and yet survived, generation after generation.

More here.Jerry Saltz at New York Magazine:

Today, David Wojnarowicz is known mostly as a martyr to the culture wars of the 1980s, another artist diagnosed with AIDS who fought along with so many to get the government to act, for a long time in vain, and who then, like so many others, died of the disease, a terrible tear in the fabric of art that was savagely exacted on gay men of that generation. Wojnarowicz came out of the same deeply downtown bohemianism of the early 1980s that fueled Jean-Michel Basquiats equally short, culture-altering arc through the art world: small cadres of like-minded underground characters and self-defined artists, desperate to act on the culture but denied the usual access to artistic power structures for reasons financial, psychological, racial, sexual. Wojnarowicz rose amid a gritty East Village aesthetic of graffiti, Expressionistic gestures, roughly assembled surfaces, funky found objects, one-night shows at clubs, and midnight guerrilla actions on the finer art. But in a way, Wojnarowiczs tremendous, almost Rimbaud-like reputation suits, since he was an even better, more lucid freedom fighter than he was an artist.

more here.Becca Rothfeld in The Atlantic:

The dubious notion that philosophy is a guide to calmer living is as old as the field itself. Saint Augustine described philosophy as a harbor for troubled souls in a fourth-century monograph on the happy life, and the sixth-century Roman senator Boethius titled the treatise he wrote while awaiting execution The Consolation of Philosophy. More recently, in his Philosophical Investigations (1953), Ludwig Wittgenstein suggested that the aim of philosophy is not to seek the truth but rather to provide reliefto show the fly the way out of the fly-bottle. Wittgenstein didnt embrace a single philosophical method. Instead he concluded, There are indeed methods, different therapies to quiet the buzz of our puzzlement.

Nietzsche, by contrast, had no stomach for palliatives. As John Kaag reflects in his new memoir cum philosophical excursion, Hiking With Nietzsche: On Becoming Who You Are, the German thinker aimed to terrify rather than instruct us. Become who you are, the quotation that Nietzsche chose for the epigraph of his graduate dissertation, is a line from the Pythian odes of the Greek poet Pindar. Bereft of context, this pronouncement can sound as flabbily vacant as the text of a self-help manual. After all, how could anyone fail to become who she is? Is there any instruction more trivial? The full Pindar quote, however, outlines a daunting assignment: Learn and become who you are. Nietzsche knew that if philosophy can serve as therapy, its by delivering an electric jolt to the soul.

Kaag, the philosophy-department chair at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, began experimenting with what might be called first-person philosophynot desiccated fodder for arcane journals but robust inquiry into what he calls the stuff of everyday lifein his 2016 book, American Philosophy: A Love Story.

More here.Davide Castelvecchi in The Scientific American:

In the worlds most famous thought experiment, physicist Erwin Schrodinger described how a cat in a box could be in an uncertain predicament. The peculiar rules of quantum theory meant that it could be both dead and alive, until the box was opened and the cats state measured. Now, two physicists have devised a modern version of the paradox by replacing the cat with a physicist doing experimentswith shocking implications. Quantum theory has a long history of thought experiments, and in most cases these are used to point to weaknesses in various interpretations of quantum mechanics. But the latest version, which involves multiple players, is unusual: it shows that if the standard interpretation of quantum mechanics is correct, then different experimenters can reach opposite conclusions about what the physicist in the box has measured. This means that quantum theory contradicts itself.

The conceptual experiment has been debated with gusto in physics circles for more than two yearsand has left most researchers stumped, even in a field accustomed to weird concepts. I think this is a whole new level of weirdness, says Matthew Leifer, a theoretical physicist at Chapman University in Orange, California. The authors, Daniela Frauchiger and Renato Renner of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich, posted their first version of the argument online in April 2016. The final paper appears in Nature Communications on 18 September. (Frauchiger has now left academia.)

Quantum mechanics underlies nearly all of modern physics, explaining everything from the structure of atoms to why magnets stick to each other. But its conceptual foundations continue to leave researchers grasping for answers. Its equations cannot predict the exact outcome of a measurementfor example, of the position of an electrononly the probabilities that it can yield particular values.

More here.Policy & Public Health Leadership Best Project

Yerkes, a third-year family medicine resident at Christiana Care Health System Family Medicine Residency Program in Wilmington, Del., created a project focused on the identification, screening and treatment of mental health disorders in armed forces veterans outside the Veterans Affairs system.

For Veteran Identification, Screening and Treatment in the Community Health Care Setting, Yerkes conducted a needs assessment of physicians and veterans to identify barriers to care.

"I then partnered with the behavioral health specialist in my practice to formulate a screening and treatment toolbox in an attempt to improve the delivery of services by inexperienced community primary care professionals," he said.

The final portion of the project, Yerkes explained, was disseminating his work and advocacy by securing a position on the Delaware Suicide Prevention Coalition's Military Subcommittee, as well as presenting his work at the American College of Medical Quality's annual conference and the Family Medicine Education Consortium.

"The Emerging Leaders Institute far exceeded my expectation," Yerkes said. "I was paired with a mentor who pushed me in ways I would have never done otherwise. Being exposed to a leader like that has given me the confidence to move beyond my comfort zone in my career."En espanol | As the Carolinas contend with catastrophic flooding after Hurricane Florence, many residents are dealing with property damage, as well as beginning the insurance claims process or securing federal disaster relief funds.

Because the Federal Emergency Management Agency's disaster relief program (you can register here to sign up for assistance) is designed to address damage not covered by insurance or other means, most of those in need of help will likely begin with an insurance claim.

Damage to homes

Generally, homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage. Affected homeowners will need to use flood insurance policies (commonly purchased through the National Flood Insurance Program but also available through private insurers) to recoup repair costs.

To get started, contact your agent or insurer. Get a claim number and ask about the next steps. An adjuster will schedule an appointment within 24 to 48 hours.

Once you can safely enter your property, take photos and/or video of damaged items that you can show to the adjuster. Video-record or photograph the interior and exterior of your home, and be sure to document the serial number, make and model of affected appliances. The National Flood Insurance Program also advises policyholders to get samples of damaged carpet, drapes, wallpaper and the like before inspection. Get rid of items that pose a health risk, such as perishable food, after documenting them.

When the adjuster arrives, ask for official identification and contact information. Do not allow an individual who cant provide proper credentials to enter your property. The adjuster will take measurements, notes and photos in order to come up with a room-by-room estimate of damage. He or she will also provide you with a proof-of-loss form. If you agree with the estimate, sign and send the form to your insurance company within 60 days of the loss.

Catastrophic events may delay claims processing, and the timeline for issuing payment can vary by insurer, so be patient but vigilant about keeping in touch with your insurer. (If you discover additional damage or repairs cost more than expected, you can still file for additional payment. Contact your insurer or adjuster for additional details.)

If you and an adjuster cant agree on a settlement amount, you may need to contact the adjusting firm or your insurers claims department. FEMA offers a guide on how to reach an agreement.

Whether or not you have flood insurance, register with FEMA. You may be eligible for federal help with losses that either arent covered (like moving and storage expenses) or that exceed your coverage.

Damaged or missing cars

To address flooding damage to your car, youll need to carry comprehensive coverage on your auto insurance. According to the Insurance Information Institute, a majority of drivers do carry this type of coverage. But if youre unsure, call your agent or insurance company to determine.

In general, serious flood damage to your car will result in the declaration of a total loss. Once water reaches your car's engine and electrical systems, the cost of repair likely exceeds the vehicle's value.

No matter what type of damage your car sustained, contacting your agent or company is the first step in filing a claim, and youll want to do so as soon as possible after the storm.

As with a home-related claim, start by documenting the damage to the interior and exterior of your vehicle. In particular, youll want to note the waterline, or the highest level the water reached in your vehicle (typically it's easily visible in the cars interior  there may be a ring of mud or other debris).

When in doubt, do not try to start a car that you believe has sustained water damage to the engine. A good rule of thumb: If water rose past the bottom of the car doors  say, for example, your floorboards are wet  do not try to start it.

Your insurer may also provide instructions on how to avoid further damage, for instance, by using a tow service to move the car. After submitting your claim, the agent or adjuster will work with you to determine your compensation. Money may be provided for repairs, or, in the case of a total loss, youll be issued a payment for your cars value, minus the deductible.

Have you returned home but cant find your car? Do not put yourself in harms way by trying to find it, especially if floodwaters are still present. Since flooded cars are often towed, reach out to police and local agencies that are working on the cleanup. Theyll be able to tell you where to look for your car.

No insurance

If you are a homeowner without flood insurance or someone without comprehensive coverage for your car, home disaster loans from the Small Business Association (SBA) are available to help repair or replace damaged real estate and personal property  including vehicles. Homeowners without flood insurance may also be eligible for FEMA grants.

To get help, ask about an SBA loan when you register with FEMA, call the SBA Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955, or apply online at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Local resources

In the immediate aftermath, disruptions such as road closures, curfews and power outages can pose additional challenges. State and local agencies may also begin to offer grants and other recovery services. Stay updated about local options for near- and long-term assistance by visiting your states disaster response website.

The North Carolina Department of Public Safety is operating a page with Post-Florence updates, including shelter information and contact information for county emergency management agencies.

The South Carolina Emergency Management Division is also compiling information related to the storm  and options for recovery  online.Police gone wild

Cops are brutalising the people they have sworn to serveALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  Citing President Donald Trumps policies and comments about Latinos, members of the influential Congressional Hispanic Caucus boycotted a Hispanic Heritage Month celebration hosted by Trump at the White House.

In a letter to the president, caucus Chairwoman Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a New Mexico Democrat whose district includes Albuquerque, also cited Trumps denial that nearly 3,000 lives were lost in Puerto Rico due to Hurricane Maria last year.

You have ignored and recently tweeted lies about the devastation and loss of life in Puerto Rico from Hurricane Maria, compared immigration to an infestation and attacked a judge because of his Hispanic heritage, Lujan Grisham wrote in a Thursday letter to Trump.

New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez, the nations only Latina governor, was one of the only elected Hispanic officials to attend the event on Monday.

Martinez, a once rising star within the Republican Party, previously denounced Trumps campaign rhetoric about Mexican immigrants during the 2016 campaign.

But in recent months, she has warmed to Trump and praised his policies.

She is barred by term limits from running for a third term in New Mexico. Lujan Grisham is running to replace her.

Trump hosted what has been an annual, bipartisan ceremony started by President Lyndon Johnson in 1968.

At Mondays event, Trump cited low employment among Latinos and told a crowd of supporters that the booming economy was especially helping Hispanic residents in the U.S.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says the unemployment rate for Hispanics was 4.7 percent in August. The U.S. unemployment rate is near an 18-year low of 3.9 percent.

These are very hard numbers to beat, Trump said. We better win Hispanics next time.

Martinez traveled to Washington to join Labor Secretary Alex Acosta, U.S. Treasurer Jovita Carranza and Puerto Rico Lt. Gov. Luis Rivera Marin for the gathering.

Phone calls and emails to Martinezs office were not immediately returned Tuesday.

___

Associated Press writer Russell Contreras is a member of the APs race and ethnicity team. Follow Contreras on Twitter at http://twitter.com/russcontrerasBernalillo County Sheriffs deputies are looking for the man suspected of shooting and injuring another man at a South Valley park Sunday but have arrested the man they believe was his accomplice.

Juan Francisco Ochoa-Villarel, 26, is charged with conspiracy to commit aggravated battery and conspiracy to commit aggravated assault. He has been booked into the county jail. The suspected shooter, Gerald Cavalier, 30, is charged with aggravated assault and aggravated battery and had not been arrested as of Tuesday evening.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court, deputies were called to Tom Tenorio park on Arenal and Coors SW around 11:15 a.m. for a shooting. When they got there they found Antonio Sanchez with two gun shot wounds. He is expected to survive.

His girlfriend, Stacie Sanchez, told deputies the couple had been fighting with Cavalier on Facebook and met at the park to talk it out. She said when Cavalier arrived Antonio Sanchez was holding a screwdriver  which he had been using to shift his car  and Cavalier became angry.

According to the complaint, Cavalier whistled and another man drove up in a blue Toyota. Stacie Sanchez then told deputies Cavalier reached in the car and grabbed a long gun which he then pointed at the couple, firing five times.

Ochoa-Villarel, the suspected driver of the Toyota, was arrested nearby after attempting to elude deputies. He told deputies someone told him to take them to the park but wouldnt answer any other questions.New Mexico State Police say a Balloon Fiesta love triangle turned deadly earlier this month when a man killed his estranged wifes new boyfriend  before turning the gun on himself  at a Bernalillo trailer park.

NMSP Lt. Elizabeth Armijo said Fernand Fred Lete, 70, killed Michael LaPlante, 55, on Sept. 3 and then himself, following a short standoff with Bernalillo police at a mobile home park.

At one point, a BPD officer fired shots at an armed Lete, but Armijo said autopsies later showed neither Lete nor LaPlante were hit by the officers gunfire.

Police say LaPlante, a launch director with Balloon Fiesta, was dating the estranged wife of Lete, a longtime balloon pilot at the time.

Armijo said it started when Lete shot LaPlante, who had been dating Letes estranged wife Cheryl, around 6:30 p.m. in LaPlantes trailer at KOA Campground on 555 South Hill Road, near U.S. 550 and Interstate 25.

She said Lete then called his wife to tell her what he had done.

The wife heard LaPlante yelling in the background that he had been shot by Lete, Armijo said. She then overheard several more gunshots and the phone line was disconnected. The wife then called 911, prompting the officers response.

She said when Bernalillo police showed up, Lete opened the door armed with a revolver.

Armijo said BPD officer Thomas Carter fired multiple shots at Lete, believing he and the other officers were in danger.

She said Lete retreated into the mobile home and officers backed away before hearing a single gunshot from inside the trailer.

Armijo said officers went into the trailer and found LaPlante and Lete dead.

She said a revolver was found near Letes body and an autopsy showed he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The investigation and autopsy revealed none of the rounds fired by Officer Carter struck either Lete or LaPlante and that LaPlante was shot to death by Lete, Armijo said.

Balloon Fiesta spokesman Tom Garrity said both men, and Letes wife, were longtime fixtures at the Balloon Fiesta and the tragedy took the community by surprise.

It leaves everyone with a tremendous sense of loss in different ways, he said.

Garrity said LaPlante was a launch director who worked at the fiesta for over a decade and Lete was a longtime balloon pilot, along with his wife Cheryl Lete, who was also a former balloon meister and currently serves on the board of directors.

Garrity said LaPlante helped the Balloon Fiesta become successful and his contributions will be missed as the event looms next month.Lawyers threatened legal action on Tuesday, saying Rio Rancho Middle School wasnt allowing kids to launch an anti-abortion club. But the district is saying it will allow the group.

The Thomas More Society, a not-for-profit law firm, fired off a letter to the Rio Rancho Public Schools superintendent and the principal of Rio Rancho Middle School.

The letter  signed by the societys local counsel John Nilan, and President and Chief Counsel Thomas Brejcha  claims former Rio Rancho Middle School student Dylan Fredette tried to start a pro-life club Phoenixes For Life last year, but was denied at that time by principal Lynda Kitts.

In response to the letter, Rio Rancho Public Schools sent a statement to the Journal on Tuesday that said, as long as the proper processes are followed by the students moving forward, the district would certainly allow a club of this nature.

It also said processes in place to address student or parent concerns werent followed in Fredettes case and had the district been aware there was a concern it would have been resolved immediately.

In this case, we wish the process would have been followed as there would have been a simple resolution, the districts comment said.

Spokeswoman Bethany Pendergrass said the district replied to the Thomas More Society, which demanded a reply within a week, on Tuesday relaying the same message.

The Thomas More Society letter said the principals initial decision violated Dylan Fredettes rights under the First Amendment.

Kitts advised Dylan she could not allow a pro-life club because it would be too controversial and would not be fair to people who are on the other side of the issue,  the letter says, alleging Kitts later denied having that conversation.

The letter also cites an email Fredette sent to the principal, but Nilan refused to share those with the Journal.

Nilan said that Kitts acted in a manner outside the scope of the school policy and the First Amendment.

Kitts could not be reached for comment.

The school has a policy and procedures manual, and they are not following it, he said.

RRPS statement also addressed those policies.

Per RRPS Policy 900, student initiated religious, political, and philosophical groups have the right to meet on the same basis and are subject to the same controls as any other student-initiated non-curriculum group, its statement said.

The lawyers letter, which is sprinkled with precedents of similar cases, says Dylans brother Isaiah, a current middle schooler at Rio Rancho Middle School, is now planning on launching the club. The Thomas More Society had threatened to file a federal civil rights action if the school didnt reply to the letter or if the school barred the club this year.

The districts statement also said RRPS has an anti-abortion club at another school and supports students rights to have clubs that represent their views.SANTA FE  What were described as healing sessions at a downtown Santa Fe business put the man running the store in jail on Tuesday.

Police said they had received several reports of a man who runs the Mexican Curios store in a commercial complex on Don Gaspar Avenue touching and groping women.

Three victims reported that as they browsed inside the store the man would offer a healing session, and then commit sexual acts.

Detectives initiated an undercover operation with a female police officer.

A news release says the undercover officer went into the shop and owner Ricardo J. Perzabal-Ibanez, 60, quickly began his healing session,' prompting detectives to arrest him.

https://www.facebook.com/Santafepolice/videos/496178650858131/

Perzabal-Ibanez, 60, is charged with one count of criminal sexual contact and one count of attempting to commit criminal sexual contact.

He will be charged accordingly for the other reports as those investigations are still active, the news release said.

A criminal complaint detailing the charges and precisely what actions led to the arrest was not immediately available.

Court records indicate that Perzabal-Ibanezs only previous offense in New Mexico was a traffic ticket in 2011.John Greg Camp, a Santa Fe attorney, was identified Tuesday as the man killed in a head-on collision between a car and a motorcycle Monday morning north of Espanola.

Camp, 53, was on his motorcycle en route to the courthouse in Tierra Amarilla when the collision occurred shortly before 9 a.m. Monday.

Seriously injured was Jose Duran, a 20-year-old from the Hernandez area. Maj. Randy Sanches of the Rio Arriba Sheriffs Office said that Duran was airlifted to Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center and underwent emergency surgery on Monday. He was listed in critical condition on Tuesday, Sanches said.

Ben Baur, the states chief public defender, said Camp came to New Mexico to practice law about four years ago.

He was a great lawyer and a better human being, Baur said of Camp. He really enjoyed representing the poor people of northern New Mexico. He liked the people and appreciated the human stories and did and excellent job representing those people.

A friend, Mike Tracy, said Camps death was a horrible tragedy in a post on Facebook.

Greg was full of life, a loving, kind and generous friend, taken from us too soon. I am beside myself with grief, he said.

Police believe that the Honda sedan that Duran was driving southbound on U.S. 84 drifted across the center line and struck Camps northbound motorcycle. The incident occurred just north of U.S. 84s intersection with U.S. 285.

As of Tuesday afternoon, no charges had been filed.WASHINGTON  The public conversation this past week was dominated by a book about a man who is obsessed with winning, President Trump. Too little attention was given to a book about someone who illustrates the benefits of losing, former Secretary of State John Kerry.

Kerrys memoir, Every Day Is Extra, was published in early September. Its interesting less for new revelations about diplomacy or politics  there arent many  than for its study of a politicians character and how it was shaped by personal and political difficulty. Whatever you may think about Kerry, he emerges in these pages as a man whos strong enough not to worry that in telling the truth about himself, he might look weak.

I had been knocked on my ass, Kerry writes of his defeat in the 2004 presidential campaign. I felt a galloping sense of frustration, disappointment, anger and sadness, often all at once. After this intense letdown, the careful, ambitious-to-a-fault Kerry began to take more risks. The worst thing that could happen to him had happened. He began to breathe.

The Kerry who lost to George W. Bush in 2004 was an incomplete man. The clearest sign was his inability to fight back successfully when right-wing opponents trashed his combat record in Vietnam, where he was thrice wounded and decorated for valor under fire. Kerry let himself be Swift-boated, as it came to be known, by enemies who lied about his record and, when he protested, kept on lying.

The Swift-boating episode was an early warning of Americas slide toward post-truth politics and civic dysfunction. But for Kerry, it was a moment when he stopped listening to other people and found his inner voice. He began taking on unpopular causes like Palestinian rights, or negotiating with adversaries like Iran. Much of this work was in secret, as a deniable private semi-emissary for President Obama, a man he had every reason to resent for having rocketed from one-term junior senator to the White House.

Kerry started doing things that a calculating politician wouldnt do. He traveled to Gaza in 2009, one of the poorest, saddest places in the Middle East  because he wanted to show that a high-level American cared about the peoples plight. When Kerry and his wife arrived in Gaza City, one of his aides joked to Teresa: In the best-case scenario, we could be talking to members of a foreign terrorist organization on live TV; in the worst case, we are all about to die.

Perhaps the biggest scoop in the book is Kerrys description of how, in 2011, he opened what became Americas back channel to Iran through the Omani government. His two trips to Muscat led to secret visits by State Department officials in 2012, and eventually to the Iran nuclear agreement, which Kerry pursued tirelessly when he became secretary of state in 2013. The point here isnt whether the deal was wise  as I believe  but that Kerry was persistent in doing what he thought was in Americas interest.

Kerrys pursuit of virtue has always annoyed some people. Its part of the patrician side of his character that goes against the American grain of anti-elitism. Kerry has been the good boy, the dutiful son, the decorated vet who switched to the anti-war movement, the ingratiating but slightly aloof politician. Certainly, he was shaped by the institutions that defined the establishment: St. Pauls School, Yale, Skull and Bones, the Navy, the Senate. For some Americans, it was hard not to dislike a man who had been so successful.

But in every story, there are mysteries, and the strength of Kerrys memoir is that it draws back the curtain on a life you thought you knew, but turns out to be a bit different. The book opens with his fathers death, and the family secret of his grandfathers suicide. Some of the most poignant passages are about the failure of his first marriage to Julia, his bout with prostate cancer, his sometimes-uncertain path toward religious faith. For a man who gained a reputation as dry and sometimes brittle, its a surprisingly personal book.

Inevitably, people have been asking Kerry this month whether hes interested in running for president again. He has given the standard non-denials  Im really not thinking about it. Who knows what the next two years will bring, for Kerry or the country?

But if youre living in Crazytown  as Bob Woodwards book described Trumps Washington  Kerrys book is a reminder of the benefits of sanity, self-knowledge and the willingness to tell your own story honestly.

Twitter: @IgnatiusPost. Email: davidignatius@washpost.com. Copyright, Washington Post Writers Group.Is nine months worth a million bucks?

Thats the question Albuquerque Public Schools officials should be considering as they retool their standard operating practices to comply with a new state law requiring school and all other nonpartisan elections be held in November of odd-numbered years. The law was enacted to save taxpayers money, combat voter fatigue and encourage higher turnout in traditionally low-interest elections.

But officials at APS and Santa Fe Public Schools are both warning the change will have serious financial consequences for their districts. APS is going so far as to ask for additional funding so it can hold an election this February instead of waiting for the fall.

Thats right, rather than look for budget efficiencies and savings to get the district to a consolidated November ballot designed to decrease costs while increasing voter participation, it wants you, the taxpayer, to fork over a cool million bucks so it can continue to have a few thousand people decide how hundreds of millions of your tax dollars are spent. In 2017, turnout for the APS election was just 6.6 percent  and that was one of the highest turnouts in recent years. Some at APS may like that status quo.

Now, the district plans to go ahead with a mill levy bond election in February for capital projects  but because the new state law mandates such special elections be done by mail, the postage alone is going to run the district, and thus taxpayers, $420,000. And so APS plans to ask the Legislature to help cover the cost.

The bottom line here is taxpayers will be picking up the million-dollar tab for this special election whether the state comes through with the money or APS ends up stuck with the cost. Thats a million bucks not going into classrooms and a million reasons for the bad taste in voters mouths.

What APS officials should be asking themselves is how they can bridge the nine-month gap to a November election. Were sympathetic to the fact the new law affects APS and other districts capital funding schedules, but at some point each is going to have to transition to the November ballot.

Well, unless they dont.

The Santa Fe Public Schools Board of Education is asking the state to re-evaluate the Local Election Act and rescind the parts of the bill that affect school district elections. Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto, D-Albuquerque, and a co-sponsor of the bill, says school districts lobbying to exempt themselves from the law face an uphill climb. He also notes that while he is sensitive to the new challenges, its a transitional issue and will remedy itself when schools adjust to the new cycle. Hes right.

Change is hard, especially when what you are changing is the funding cycles for multimillion- and billion-dollar enterprises entrusted with educating New Mexicos future leaders. But the alternative, to continue to allow a tiny fraction of those affected by school policy decisions and taxes to call the shots, demanded change.

This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.SANTA FE  After getting into the race late, Libertarian U.S. Senate candidate Gary Johnson has no plans to make an early exit.

A campaign spokesman for the former New Mexico governor and presidential candidate said Tuesday it was a laughable idea that Johnson would drop out of the race, after the state Republican Party chairman called for Johnson to do so earlier in the day.

State GOP Chairman Ryan Cangiolosi said Johnsons departure would give GOP nominee Mick Rich a better chance to defeat Democratic incumbent Martin Heinrich.

Heinrich had a substantial lead over his two challengers as of last week, a Journal Poll found. Forty-seven percent of proven, likely voters surveyed said they would vote for Heinrich, while Rich had 26 percent voter support and Johnson had 16 percent.

But Johnson campaign spokesman Joe Hunter said internal polling has shown a tighter race, while also claiming Heinrichs re-election campaign is more threatened by Johnson than by Rich.

AD TYPO fixed: Steve Pearces campaign has fixed a typo in a campaign ad that incorrectly attributed a story cited in a recent TV political advertisement.

The Pearce ad launched last week targets Democratic gubernatorial nominee Michelle Lujan Grishams past ties to a health care consulting firm that repeatedly landed contracts to help run a state high-risk insurance pool.

It cites several news reports to back up its allegations, including a May story from New Mexico Political Report, an online news site.

But the editor of the news site told the Journal no such story was published on that date, and it turns out the report cited in the ad was actually published in September by the New Mexico Political Journal, a separate online site whose editor is former state Sen. Rod Adair of Roswell, a Republican.

A Pearce campaign adviser told the Journal the ad was fixed and re-sent to television stations.

Both gubernatorial campaigns have lodged complaints against TV ads in the race, with the Pearce campaign previously raising accuracy concerns about an outside ad paid for by a political committee funded by the Democratic Governors Association.

TV DEBATE: New Mexicos two gubernatorial candidates will take part tonight in the first televised debate of the general election cycle.

Pearce and Lujan Grisham will appear in an hourlong debate sponsored by KRQE-TV that will air on Fox New Mexico starting at 6 p.m. The debates format will not include opening statements, but will allow the candidates to ask each other questions.

The two candidates have also agreed to take part in two additional televised debates next month  an Oct. 16 debate sponsored by KOB-TV and an Oct. 24 debate co-hosted by KOAT-TV and the Journal.

Dan Boyd: dboyd@abqjournal.comPresident signs bills on basic rights

President Bidya Devi Bhandari authenticated all the 16 bills related to fundamental rights on Tuesday.Copyright  2018 Albuquerque Journal

Two-thirds of New Mexico voters consider border security a very serious or somewhat serious problem, yet a majority oppose building a wall to beef up security, according to a new Journal Poll.

It is interesting that in a state like New Mexico, which is a border state, a majority of likely New Mexico voters (56 percent) oppose the building of a border wall, said Brian Sanderoff, president of Research & Polling Inc., which conducted the Journal Poll earlier this month.

There are many people who consider border security a problem, but evidently they dont see the border wall as the solution, he said.

In addition to the wall and border security, the statewide poll also asked about the status of DACA recipients and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.

Two-thirds favored allowing DACA recipients to remain in the United States, while a little over a half wanted to keep ICE.

Immigration remains a wedge issue on the campaign trail, and the poll confirmed that on the four key issues it covered when it came to party affiliation.

For example, 83 percent of Democrats opposed a border wall, and only 9 percent supported it, while 72 percent of Republicans wanted the wall and 23 percent opposed it.

What were finding is theres a strong correlation between feelings about Donald Trump and attitudes toward the building of a border wall, Sanderoff said.

President Donald Trump promised during his campaign to build a big, beautiful wall and has made it a signature issue of his administration but has had trouble getting Congress to approve the billions of dollars in funding he wants for the new barrier.

The Journal Poll found the age group most opposed to a wall are young adults, with 69 percent of voters ages 18 to 34 against it.

Although most New Mexicans polled do not want a wall, a majority of voters in the state agree border security is a very serious problem or a somewhat serious problem.

The poll found that the level of concern surrounding security correlates with party affiliation and geography. In eastern New Mexico, a Republican stronghold, 63 percent of likely voters considered border security a very serious problem, compared with 17 percent of voters in north-central New Mexico.

Far more Democrats than Republicans supported allowing undocumented immigrants who were brought into the country as children to remain in the U.S. and eventually apply for citizenship  but overall support remained strong.

Two-thirds of New Mexicos likely voters, 67 percent, support DACA essentially, said Sanderoff, referring to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which shields some young immigrants from deportation.

Nearly half of the Republican voters surveyed  48 percent  supported DACA as well as giving them a path to citizenship, compared with 34 percent who opposed it. More than 80 percent of Democrats supported DACA, while only 9 percent opposed it.

The Journal Poll found little support in the state to abolish ICE, a rallying cry of some Democratic Party leaders in response to what they consider increasingly harsh immigration enforcement.

We find most New Mexicans do not support that, Sanderoff said.

But Democrats were divided on the issue  42 percent supported getting rid of ICE and 35 percent supported keeping the agency.

The bigger debate in the general public seems to be regarding the tactics that are used by ICE rather than whether or not it should exist, Sanderoff said.

The Journal Poll is based on a scientific sample of 423 registered voters who cast ballots in the 2014 and 2016 general elections and said they were very likely to vote in this years election.

The poll was conducted September 7-13 by professional interviewers, with multiple callbacks to households that did not initially answer the phone. Both cellphone numbers (64 percent) and landlines (36 percent) of proven general election voters were used.

The voter sample has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.8 percentage points. The margin of error grows for subsamples.A 23-year-old student was arrested Wednesday morning after police say she threw several pieces of paper with the words there are 4 bombs 200 will die around the parking lot of the Central New Mexico Community College campus in the Northeast Heights.

Kenyata Walton is charged with making a bomb scare  a felony. She had not yet been booked into the county jail as of Wednesday night.

The Joseph M. Montoya CNM campus, near Juan Tabo and Montgomery NE, was evacuated around 10 a.m. and classes were canceled until 5 p.m.

The Albuquerque Police Department bomb squad combed through the scene and determined there was no threat.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court, APD officers were called to the campus after college security reported they had detained someone who was possibly involved in a bomb threat.

The security officers said several people had reported that they had found slips of paper with the ominous message scattered near a building and underneath a truck.

The officers said they had rewound security camera footage of the area and had seen a woman get out of her car and scatter the pieces of paper. When the woman, later identified as Walton, returned to her car, she was detained.

The entire CNM campus was subsequently evacuated due to the possibility of bombs being present on campus with the potential to cause numerous injuries or fatalities, the officer wrote in the complaint.

When officers and federal agents interviewed Walton she said she did not know anything about the papers or a bomb, according to the complaint.

She said she had arrived on campus and parked in a handicap spot (because there werent any other open spaces) and then got out her backpack and went to her first class of the morning. She repeatedly denied knowing about the threats or why she was detained.

Officers did not believe Walton because, according to the complaint, the video showed she was responsible. Once they took her to an APD substation, police said they looked in her backpack and found a black five star spiral notebook pad containing tear away notebook paper. Among the blank pages was found a page where it appears ink bled through onto the blank page.

The ink showed the same message: there are 4 bombs 200 will die and the paper matched the slips found on the ground, according to the complaint.

Walton requested a lawyer before she would answer any more questions but officers decided that the video and notebook were strong enough evidence to charge her with making a bomb scare.

Although APD said she was initially detained by the FBI she is being charged locally, not federally.

Classes and activities on campus resumed Wednesday night, said CNM spokesman Brad Moore.

It is back to business as usual, Moore said. We were given an all-clear. APD went through the campus and swept the campus and determined there was no threat.

Moore said about 8,000 students are enrolled at the Montoya campus, but he didnt know how many had their class schedules disrupted due to the closure.SANTA FE  Steve Pearces campaign has fixed a typo in a campaign ad that incorrectly attributed a story cited in a recent TV political advertisement.

The Pearce ad launched last week targets Democratic gubernatorial nominee Michelle Lujan Grishams past ties to a health care consulting firm that repeatedly landed contracts to help run a state high-risk insurance pool.

It cites several news reports to back up its allegations, including a May story from New Mexico Political Report, an online news site.

But the editor of the news site told the Journal no such story was published on that date, and it turns out the report cited in the ad was actually published in September by the New Mexico Political Journal, a separate online site whose editor is former state Sen. Rod Adair of Roswell, a Republican.

A Pearce campaign adviser told the Journal the ad was fixed and re-sent to television stations.

Both gubernatorial campaigns have lodged complaints against TV ads in the race, with the Pearce campaign previously raising accuracy concerns about an outside ad paid for by a political committee funded by the Democratic Governors Association.

The two gubernatorial candidates will take part tonight in the first televised debate of the general election cycle.

Pearce and Lujan Grisham will appear in an hourlong debate sponsored by KRQE-TV that will air on Fox New Mexico, and KTSM-TV in Las Cruces, starting at 6 p.m. The debates format will not include opening statements, but will allow the candidates to ask each other questions.

The two candidates have also agreed to take part in two additional televised debates next month  an Oct. 16 debate sponsored by KOB-TV and an Oct. 24 debate co-hosted by KOAT-TV and the Journal.Jordan Nunez, 20, charged with child abuse resulting in death and tampering with evidence in the death of 13-year-old Jeremiah Valencia at a Nambe house last year, will stay in jail pending trial, a judge ruled today.

The ruling by state District Court Judge Matthew Wilson came after a morning of dramatic testimony by Jeremiahs younger sister and from Nunezs mother about life with Thomas Ferguson, Nunezs father.

The girl said Ferguson, who committed suicide in the Santa Fe County jail in April, was the violent ruler of the Nambe household where Jeremiah died and made others assault the boy.

She said that on the day in late November when Jeremiah was killed, Nunez repeatedly flipped over the dog cage that Jeremiah was forced to stay in, apparently causing fatal injuries. Fergusons former wife said Ferguson beat her and caused miscarriages.

Ferguson, 42, Nunez and Tracy Ann Pena, 36  Jeremiahs mother and Fergusons girlfriend at the time of Jeremiahs death  all were charged in the torture and death of Jeremiah, after his body was found buried in a rural area near Nambe in January.

Pena is apparently close to reaching a plea deal with prosecutors and was not part of todays hearing.

This is developing story and will be updated.The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced Wednesday it is sending a combined $11,031,786 in opioid-related funding to help New Mexico combat the crisis.

That money is part of more than $1 billion awarded to all states.

Addressing the opioid crisis with all the resources possible and the best science we have is a top priority for President Trump and for everyone at HHS, said Secretary Alex Azar in a new release.

The money awards, administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration support HHSs strategy, launched last year, according to a news release.

A SAMHSA award of $5,307,273 to New Mexico will help to increase access to medication-assisted treatment using the three FDA-approved medications for the treatment of opioid use disorder.

An HRSA award of $5,724,513 to New Mexico is directed at community health centers and or, academic institutions, and rural organizations to expand access to integrated substance use disorder and mental health services.

Admiral Brett Giroir, Assistant Secretary for Health and Senior Advisor for Opioid Policy said that this new money will allow states, tribes, and communities across America  to continue making progress against this crisis.

From January 2017 through August 2018, the amount of opioids prescribed in America has dropped by 21 percent, officials said. In the same time period, the number of prescriptions filled for naloxone has increased 264 percent, while the number of prescriptions for buprenorphine, one form of medication-assisted treatment for opioid overdose, has risen 16 percent.TUCSON, Ariz.  The Diocese of Tucson has fired 10 employees in the last decade because of sexual misconduct allegations, Roman Catholic Tucson Bishop Edward Weisenburger said.

The diocese also rescinded clearances for 12 unpaid workers in the same period because of sexual misconduct, Weisenburger said Tuesday.

But Weisenburger said he could not elaborate on the details of any cases, the Arizona Daily Star reported .

Weisenburgers statement outlining the dioceses procedures to prevent sexual abuse came as a response to a Pennsylvania grand jury report earlier this year revealing child sexual abuse by more than 300 priests in six Pennsylvania dioceses.

Once again, the gut-wrenching Pennsylvania report has reopened painful wounds, Weisenburger said in his statement. I accept its data as accurate and am grateful for those who did the critically important work of processing and compiling it.

He added, however, that he does not see the report as an accurate snapshot of the Church today, noting, Of the 301 (Pennsylvania) perpetrators, only two are from the last 10 years. The drop in allegations in the last decade mirrors the Tucson dioceses experience, he wrote.

The Diocese of Tucson was involved in a $14 million settlement in 2002 with 10 men who described clergy abuse in the 1960s through 1980s.

What happened in the past brought us to this point, and from here, we move forward and will always do it correctly, Weisenburger said Tuesday.

In the last 10 years, the Diocese of Tucson has rejected 754 requests by individuals to serve in a school or parish due to sexual misconduct, violence, drug use or other issues.

Thats about 2 percent of the total requests to serve in any capacity, Weisenburger said.

In his statement, Weisenburger connected misconduct in the church with the so-called sexual revolution.'

It would be way too simplistic to blame a cultural movement for what individuals have done, but I also think it would be irresponsible to not acknowledge its role, he said, pointing to a deterioration of family life and marriage and an attitude that sexual actions have no real intrinsic meaning.

___

Information from: Arizona Daily Star, http://www.tucson.comSPANGLE, Wash.  In the aptly named Harvester Restaurant, wheat farmer Roy Dube makes clear hes no fan of President Donald Trumps trade policy.

We get him elected into office and he pulls us out of trade agreements, Dube said last week as local farmers gathered to hear Democratic House candidate Lisa Brown.

Dube says China is buying less wheat from eastern Washington farmers and Trumps policies have opened the door for Australia and Canada to wrestle away business. His frustration extends to his congressional representative, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, who is the highest-ranking Republican woman in the House and running for an eighth term.

Im concerned that Cathy McMorris Rodgers didnt put up more resistance, Dube said.

The U.S. tariffs on agriculture products, sown by Trump, have grown into an election-year threat to Republicans in rural districts that are heavily reliant on exports for their economy. With the livelihoods of farmers at risk, opposition to the tariffs could make a difference in some races and help determine which party takes control of Congress.

McMorris Rodgers has made it clear she opposes the presidents actions on tariffs, but so far, the Republican-controlled House has not taken up legislation to block them. Democrats characterize GOP lawmakers as unable or unwilling to check Trump, who has declared that tariffs are the greatest.

My opponent, though she would say shes concerned and talking to the administration about these issues, shes still mostly a cheerleader for the president, said Brown, a former state legislator.

Facing what appears to be the tightest re-election race of her career, McMorris Rodgers is emphasizing that she has encouraged the president to move from tariffs to agreement.

I have made it very clear that I dont support the across-the-board tariffs, that we should take a more targeted approach, McMorris Rodgers told The Associated Press.

Clues that the presidents trade policies will play a role in the November midterm elections can be seen in Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdues travel schedule. Over the past few months, hes been to Eastern Washington to join McMorris Rodgers in meeting with farmers. Hes also been to Californias Central Valley to meet with farmers in the districts of Republican Reps. Jeff Denham and David Valadao. He also went to Iowa, where Republican Reps. David Young and Rod Blum are both in close races.

The battle for the Senate could also be affected by the tariff issue, particularly in North Dakota, Indiana and Missouri, where Republicans hope to knock off three Democratic incumbents.

The president has tried to allay farmers concerns with an aid package of up to $12 billion to help them weather the trade war.

J. Read Smith, a rancher near St. John, Washington, said he shares Trumps goal of seeking a level playing field in trade.

But antagonizing our trading partners is not the way to do it, said Smith, who emphasized that he is not a Democrat. Im an American.

Aaron Flansburg, who runs a diversified farm near Pullman, Washington, said hes skeptical the tariffs will change the way most farmers vote, though.

Farmers often vote for Republicans, Flansburg said. Whether that will change, I have my doubts.

McMorris Rodgers said its her sense that voters are willing to give the president time to negotiate better agreements.

Yes, theres a lot of uncertainty. Theres a sense that we need to get these trade agreements into place as soon as possible, but theres also a recognition that for too long America has not taken action, especially against China, she said.

The United States is scheduled to slap tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese imports Monday, adding to the more than $50 billion worth that already face U.S. import taxes.

China retaliated with its own tariffs on U.S. products. The worlds two biggest economies are clashing over allegations that China steals technology from American companies.

The Trump administration also imposed a 25 percent tariff on imported steel and a 10 percent tariff on imported aluminum that included imports from the European Union, Canada and Mexico  and just about everyone else  in the name of national security.

Those tariffs also drew retaliation. For example, the EU targeted bourbon, a key industry in Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnells home state of Kentucky, where Republican Rep. Andy Barr and Democratic challenger Amy McGrath are battling in a close election.

Overall, about 6 in 10 Americans disapprove of how the president is handling trade negotiations with other countries.

Farm groups have testified in congressional hearings that retaliatory tariffs increase the cost of their products for customers abroad, giving foreign competitors an edge.

The current tariffs, continuing back-and-forth retaliatory actions and trade uncertainties are hitting American agriculture from all sides and are causing us to lose our markets. Once you lose a market, it is really tough to get it back, said Kevin Paap, president of the Minnesota Farm Bureau.

Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, who is overseeing Democratic efforts in House races, pointed to Iowa as a state where he believes the administrations tariffs could backfire. He said primary turnout was up, in part because small family farmers and the businesses they buy from are worried. I really believe that in those districts, youll see people come forward and hold everyone accountable not standing up for them, Lujan said.

GOP lawmakers from Iowa, including Young and Blum, signed onto a letter calling on the president to act quickly to save rural economies. Blum also wrote Trump separately urging him to consider the consequences tariffs have on American manufacturers.

When the president visited Blums district a few days later, he thanked him for his political courage on trade.

Youve taken some heat for it in the short term, but in the long run, the farmers, the manufacturers, the employers are all going to be better off, Blum told the president.

His Democratic challenger, Abby Finkenauer, has seized on that thank you.

There is no way he should stand there and thank the administration for throwing the livelihoods of Iowans in flux, Finkenauer said.

Republicans are putting their faith in the economy.

Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma said that he personally views tariffs as damaging in the long term but that its not an issue that constituents bring up.

As long as the economy overall is doing well, its hard to see losing on tariff issues, Cole said.

___

Freking reported from Washington, D.C. Associated Press writer Juana Summers in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.Adidas Originals, the pioneering sportswear brand for the streets, brings a fresh stir to experiential marketing with the recent launch of FALCON - a young women-focused sneaker, in collaboration with Taxi Fabric and noted artist Maria Qamar of Hatecopy fame.

Inspired by the 97 Falcon dorf shoe of the adidas archive, Falcon is a timeless icon that reflects a vibrant mindset and confidently harks back to the revolutionary attitude of the 90s. Taking inspiration from the rebellious and trend-setting female icons of the time - Spice Girls, Thelma and Louise, and Shampoo, Maria Qamar reimagined the 90s with quirky, artistic illustrations and symbols of 90s pop culture, to mark the launch of the shoe. In Mumbai, Taxi Fabric turned taxi seat covers into canvases for Maria to recreate her vision and pay a tribute to an era gone by. The adidas Originals Falcon taxi drove around the streets of Mumbai, adding a little 90s flavour to the city.

To enhance consumer engagement, adidas Originals offered special rides in the Falcon taxi across Mumbai. Popular youth influencers and bold, creative millennial women from diverse walks of life enjoyed a fun-filled ride down memory lane in the special Falcon Taxi that reached their doorstep to personally invite them to the big launch event! For this campaign, adidas focused on youth influencers and tastemakers; trendsetters in the fashion and creative community who confidently express themselves through inspired personal style.

Commenting on the collaboration, Sean Van Wyk, Senior Marketing Director, adidas India, said, Creativity has always been key for adidas Originals. Be it our portfolio of products or brand cadettes, creativity and innovation is what drives our key brand ideology. For adidas, experience is the best way to build direct relationships with consumers. Our association with Taxi Fabric and Maria Qamar is yet another strategic collaboration to amplify the brands support towards the creative space in India, and enhance our experiential marketing strategies to create unique product experiences that bolsters wider campaigns rather than exist as siloed events. We are glad that this collaboration has brought together an established artist like Maria Qamar to reimagine the bold and fearless 90s culture and create design work inspired by the Falcon to accentuate the brand campaign.

adidas Originals has been a forerunner in seeping into cultures by using design and art as a powerful tool for building and strengthening communities across the world. We are extremely thrilled to present 'The Original Influencers' by one of the most established artists today, Maria Qamar of Hatecopy fame, added Madhuvanthi Senthil Kumar, Design Director, Taxi Fabric.

Scaling creativity to newer heights and marking the launch of the Falcon, adidas Originals announced the concept of Creators Collective in India at the Linking Road store.

Creators collective is a platform by adidas Originals that aims to bring together a unique pool of creative spirits from different genres and engages their collective ingenuity to turn the Originals Fashion Destination Door at Linking Road into a cultural melting pot nestled within the chaos of the city. The first edition kick-started with the Falcon launch that engaged over 10 creative minds from fashion, style, art, lifestyle to assemble at the makers-lab and co-create the Falcon by customizing a 3D version of shoe with 90s elements such as stickers, glitters, paint etc.

The power of a strong engagement plan and a tastefully curated Creators guest list and other influencer invitees to celebrate the launch turned the Falcon campaign into the most engaging, creative and impactful activations of the brands Fall-Winter 18 season. Trailblazing women who are popular style icons and true sneaker hounds enjoyed their Falcon moments in the branded taxi. The shoe is being copped like a hype edition and is selling fast across retail stores as well as online.

The sneaker is available at INR 8,599 across select adidas Originals retail stores PAN India.Mr. Hari Nair, erstwhile Sony Music (Director - Digital business) has been hired as Chief Digital Officer by Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL) India. Hari brings deep expertise in building digital products & business, and will be part of the leadership team at PPL. He will be reporting into President & CEO of PPL, Mr Rajat Kakar.

Haris primary responsibility will be to transform the traditional business / processes into new age digital ones. The first such step is an online licensing system to bring in transparency and ease of doing business for PPL license users. Business development for public performance using technology based solutions will be the core part of this responsibilities. Additionally, he would lead the radio business, membership teams and be responsible for PR & Communication strategy, including social media etc.

On this appointment, PPL, President & CEO, Rajat Kakar commented We continue to invest in our transformation agenda. PPL is entering a very exciting phase in its life cycle where transparency and technology are going to be the key drivers for growth and in turn will result in improved distribution of license royalty amongst the large member base. Haris skills in Digital combined with his business building acumen will be very handy for PPL at this stage.

Hari was heading the digital business for Sony Music India for the last 5 years. Sony hired him to run the Jive platform, a music streaming app which was bundled in Sony handsets. Prior to that, he was the Head of Sales & Operations at Mauj Mobile. His first foray in the media industry was with Soundbuzz, which was acquired later by Motorola. Overall, he has 20 years of experience in the New Media space.

On his new role, Mr Hari Nair said We will build digital products that are required to get us in synch with our global counterparts, and increase transparency with end users. This role helps me learn two business verticals of the music industry i.e. public performance & radio. Currently, the revenue contribution from these two verticals is very small. Digital tools that we build should empower teams, increase team productivity & compliance on licensing with an end objective to increase revenues for our members.

Hari will also play a crucial role at IMI (Indian Music Industry) and would be leading the anti-piracy efforts along with government departments like DIPP / CIPAM and Maharashtra Cyber Cell Unit. He would lead the creation of the Indian Music Charts, working with major streaming platforms like Saavn, Gaana, Amazon, Apple etc.

IMI Chairman, Mr. Shridhar Subramaniam said: The government and the IMI are initiating a number of programmes to tackle the menace of digital piracy. Haris understanding of tefchnology and music business uniquely qualifies him to develop and coordinate the anti- piracy efforts from IMIRadio City, Indias leading radio network has always been at the forefront in celebrating festivals with the listeners, both at the local as well as national level. Every year, Radio City celebrates Ganeshotsav across Maharashtra and Karnataka with immense vigour and gusto. Aligning with the philosophy of Rag Rag Mein Daude City, this year to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi, Radio City has launched City Cha Bappa in Maharashtra and RJ Ganesha Karnataka.

Through City Cha Bappa, Radio Citys RJs and team will be visiting over 100 societies in Maharashtra seeking Bappas blessings and engaging the residents with various games and contests. A 10 day-long activity City Cha Bappa will be celebrated across all 11 Radio City stations in Maharashtra. The studios will be shifted on-ground to provide the citizens with a glimpse of events taking place at their favorite pandals in Maharashtra.

Sharing his joy with all the listeners, Mr. Kartik Kalla, Chief Creative Officer, Radio City said, Radio has always been a powerful medium in engaging and creating social harmony amongst the listeners during festive season. Ganeshotsav as a festival brings in immense positivity and zest amongst the citizens, and through our initiatives like City Cha Bappa and RJ Ganesha, we aim to strengthen this connect and be an integral part of their happiness. Radio City has always aimed at binding the citizens in a unified city spirit and we wish to extend this joy to every devotee.

This year, Radio City adds to the celebration with a unique initiative Kismat Waali Chaabi contests which will be held in Mumbai to accentuate the spirit of the festival. Radio City has adopted a 360-degree approach with contests running on-air, on-ground during the society visit and across digital platforms throughout the festive period, with the Grand Finale to be held on 22nd September 2018 at Infinity Mall, Malad. One lucky winner will stand a chance to win the Kismat Waali Chaabi with a reward of INR 1 Lakh, sponsored by Nissan Datsun.

The City Cha Bappa frenzy will also rock Bengaluru where Radio City branded vehicle will be moving around town with RJ Ganesha himself visiting his Bhakts in the city. The famous RJ Ganesha along with the RJs and celebrities will visit devotees homes, bearing surprises and showering his blessings on Bengalureans.

With this initiative, Radio City continues its effort of reaching out to the Kona Kona of every city and engaging citizens of all age groups through its unique offerings.Prosperity and development are the natl resolutions: PM

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has called on all the political parties and the citizens to lend support to the national responsibility of achieving prosperity, describing it as the national resolution.Sennheiser, the German Audio Leader, today rehashed its marketing strategy and launched its first ever television campaign #DareToDisconnect especially for the Indian market. Urging the consumers to disconnect from the mundane and monotonous lives by losing themselves to music, the new campaign is aimed to bolster the wireless headphones category by 30% in the Indian market. Targeted towards the new age hyper social consumers this 360-degree campaign planned and executed by Motivator would reach out to consumer via TV, digital and social media advertisements and influencer engagement. The TVC has been Planned and Conceptualized by Motivator along with Flux Studios and has been directed by Alok Kulkarni and Shai Samtaney. Completely different from all the other campaigns the brand has run in the past, #DareToDisconnect is intended to create a ripple effect movement among the Indian consumers who are stuck in their monotonous lives.

Commenting on the launch of their first ever campaign, Mr. Kapil Gulati, Director Consumer Segment, Sennheiser India, said, With over a 70-year history that has been built on the culture of innovation and a vision to shape the future of the audio industry, we at Sennheiser have always strived to give our consumers the best of audio.Taking that one step further, we are extremely excited to launch our new campaign #DareToDisconnect. We believe in understanding the needs of our consumers in the market, as every market is dynamic and requires a unique approach. The Indian consumer has always been a smart and aware one; if they do not receive value in what they invest their time and resources in, there is no coming back from there. Over the past 12 years, we have invested tremendously in the Indian market and now that it has become an evolved headphones space, we thought it is the best time to take a step further and deep dive into building meaningful connections. With the launch of our new campaign that focuses on our wireless range, we really look forward to reaching out to the millennials and hope they receive value from it.

Mr. Saahil Kumar, Head- Marketing, Sennheiser India, said, With every industry becoming increasingly cluttered, the audience today is seeking more than just products and services. There are thousands of brands, all trying to catch the attention of the consumer with offerings that are very similar to one and another. In that backdrop, its become more important than ever to not just deliver value through your products, but also create a connect with your audience. Hence, with our newest campaign, we have attempted to understand the needs and issues being faced by our consumers today and aim to kickstart a movement-#DareToDisconnect henceforth.

Concept #DareToDisconnect:

The consumer is living in a world thats changing around him so fast, sometimes he can't keep up. An intense rat race is on, where every minute should count towards a step towards the finish line. What if just for a moment, he was able to lose himself, to feel free. And isn't that what we do? Isn't that what music really is about? Totally submitting to the sound and losing yourself momentarily. What can be a better way to de-stress than losing yourself to music? Since time immemorial, music has always been believed to be the best way to unwind, detach yourself from the worldly stress for a while and come back rejuvenated.



In this backdrop, Sennheiser, the worlds leading German audio brand, wanted to urge individuals to disconnect from their mundane life by losing themselves to music every now and then, unwind and connect to their inner self for physical and mental wellness because they strongly believe -

Happy Individuals = Happy Employees = Happy Workplace = Happy Business = Happy World. To make this a reality, Sennheiser is launching its first ever campaign - #DareToDisconnect.



The campaign is primarily focussing on the Wireless range of Sennheiser products, because with the wireless range, one is truly free, just like one wishes to free themselves from the monotonous, hectic schedule. So, its no strings attached, quite literally!

The theme will be led by a 60 second film which showcases the protagonist surprised to see the same mundane office turn into a lively and vibrant one when he puts on his Sennheiser wireless headphones to listen to his favourite track. The music track being used for this project is a popular yet not over exposed popular contemporary song by Ritviz. The cut down version of the film 30sec/20 sec would be used across channels like Television, Digital and Social

Apart from this we are asking individuals and offices to participate in a contest to showcase how do they #DareToDisconnect in their daily life and workplace. The best entries will be awarded. i.e Trip to Iceland, Sennheiser Headphones or Sennheiser sponsored party for the winning office.

Speaking on this occasion Nitin Jain, General Manager, Motivator said, We are part of a very fast paced and rapidly changing lifestyle. Thanks to the smart devices around us, staying connected has become the need of the hour. However, one needs to disconnect for a while from the mundane life reconnect with oneself and what better than Music to do this. We saw this as a perfect insight to launch Sennheisers first-ever campaign - #DareToDisconnect. We have integrated with Flux@TheGlitch & Foxymoron to design & deploy the campaign.

Credits:Many nightshades are safe and delicious, and go well in sandwiches and sauces. A few are deadly, dished up mainly by criminals, but most occupy a gray area between these two extremes. Worldwide, there are around 2,700 shades of nightshade, a family known to Latin geeks as Solanaceae. The family comprises tasty crops like tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, peppers, and tomatillos. It is also composed in part by jimsonweed and other shady characters which have wrought mayhem and death, both accidental and intentional, throughout history.

Nightshades are present on every continent except Antarctica, though Australia and South America have the greatest diversity, and overall numbers, of species. Tobacco is one of the most economically important nightshades, while other family members, for example petunias and Chinese lanterns, spice up our yards. The majority of nightshades are wild species, some of which have been used as sources of medicine for millennia.

It seems that the word sumac is preceded by poison in the minds of many folks, which is sad because all of the sumac we see on roadsides and in fence rows are perfectly harmless. Poison sumac, which grows in standing water, is a glossy-stemmed shrub with drooping white berries. It can cause a poison ivy-like rash, but is an uncommon species. To an even greater extent, nearly everyone assumes the term nightshade always comes after the word deadly.

Obviously, part of the problem is one of branding. The real deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna) is worthy of its name. A single berry can be fatal to a child, and 8-10 berries or just one leaf is enough to kill an adult. Accidental poisonings may occur because the deeply hooded purple berries taste sweet, and may be consumed by kids or adults. Native to northwest Africa, southwest Asia, and parts of Europe, the plant has also been used deliberately as a way to kill political foes and unfaithful spouses.

In at least one case, a whole garrison of soldiers was wiped out by sweet wine spiked with A. belladonna berry extract (helpful hint: do not accept drinks from enemy kings or other people you do not know well).

However, deadly nightshade prefers temperate or subtropical climates, and is not often found in far northern New England, or in Canada. What we commonly call deadly nightshade is the native, red-berry bittersweet nightshade (Solanum dulcamara), the seeds of which are very slightly toxic. But we do have a dangerous nightshade, jimsonweed (Datura stramonium), also known as devils apple or mad-apple. All parts of the plant are toxic, but especially the seeds. Native to Mexico and Central America, this coarse annual weed has very long, white, funnel-shaped flowers and bizarre-looking spiny pods, and can be found infesting pastures and barnyards throughout southern Canada.

All nightshades contain some amounts of atropine, scopolamine, and other compounds which in minute quantities have medical uses, but are extremely dangerous at larger doses. Within very narrow limits, these chemicals have also be used recreationally. Tragically, some poisonings are a result of people consuming A. belladonna, D. stramonium, and other nightshades with especially high concentrations of such chemicals in the mistaken belief they can get high. A plant in one location may be many times as toxic as the same species growing on a different site, and there is no way outside of lab analysis to tell.

In northern South America, especially Colombia, criminals use an extract from several tree-form nightshade species in the genus Brugmansia on their victims to commit rapes and robberies. Seeds from Brugmansia species have high levels of scopolamine, a sedative which causes retrograde amnesiaa person given such an extract would not recall events before or after they were poisonedas well as delirium. (Please refer to that earlier line about not drinking with strangers)

Potatoes which have been exposed to light will turn green, indicating that toxins like solanine have been created as a defense. The danger is small, but to be on the safe side these should be discarded. The chemicals penetrate into the flesh, and removing the green portions is not enough to eliminate the risk to infants or the elderly. Likewise, there is little danger in consuming a small amount of tomato or potato leaf, but where children are concerned, refer all questions to a poison-control center. For some individuals, eating tomatoes and other nightshades can cause or exacerbate joint pain. At this time, the exact mechanism is still not well understood.

They say you shouldnt paint any large, diverse group with the same brush, presumably because the bristles would wear out before you could finish. So unless it hurts, enjoy your vegetable nightshades, but always steer clear of the shady ones.

Illustration of Deadly Nightshade courtesy Kohlers Medicinal Plants 1887.Would you like to receive breaking news notifications from The Post and Courier?

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Please enable notifications in your browser and reload the page.Province 2 minister takes part in anti-constitution rally

Province 2 Social Development Minister Nawal Kishor Sah took part in a rally organised in Janakpur to express reservations over the new constitution as the country marked the Constitution Day on Wednesday.CAIRO  The Sept. 5 front page of Sawt al-Azhar, the official newspaper of Egypt's Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, featured several women, some of them unveiled, discussing sexual harassment. The unprecedented publication was a shock to both religious and social circles but was widely welcomed by human rights and women's rights activists.

This is amazing. I did not expect them to publish my photo. I was asked to give comments on Al-Azhars role vis-a-vis women and recommendations to this effect. All my comments were unedited and published in the article. I am really astonished, Azza Soliman, head of the Centre for Egyptian Women Legal Assistance, told Al-Monitor.

Ahmed al-Sawi, Sawt al-Azhars editor-in-chief, told Al-Monitor that it was not the first time that the newspaper has published the photos of and writing by unveiled women writers.

Sawi told Al-Monitor that the newspapers front page is a statement against harassment.

On Aug. 28, Al-Azhar issued a statement in response to the controversy that was sparked in Egypt when a woman was verbally harassed in a posh Cairo neighborhood on Aug. 16. The young woman, Mona Gebran, posted a video of a young man trying to harass her on Facebook. The video went viral and some commentators said that she was harassed because of her inappropriate clothing.

The statement read, Harassment is a forbidden and deviant behavior, as it encroaches on the privacy, freedom and dignity of women. Justifying harassment with the women's clothing shows a misinterpreted understanding of the issue. Al-Azhar also called for laws criminalizing and punishing harassment.

Al-Azhar has changed its stance on harassment since four years ago, when a PhD student at Al-Azhar University was harassed by her thesis adviser, and ended up being punished when she complained.

The results of a 2016 survey conducted by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics showed that 49% of women living in slums were subjected to harassment, and 36% of young women aged between 15 and 17 have been sexually harassed.

Sawi noted that the newspapers role is to be a bridge between the community and Al-Azhar and be more engaged in dialogues and discussions on public issues, offering its religious opinions on social issues and addressing major social issues such as a child marriage and equality between Egyptian citizens of different religions.

I am a journalist and thus I am viewed as belonging to the democratic civil movement. Yet I was chosen by Al-Azhar a year and a half ago to be the editor-in-chief of its newspaper. I discovered that Al-Azhar is introducing moderate Islam  a fact that the media fails to highlight, Sawi told Al-Monitor.

Ilham Shahin, a professor of philosophy at Al-Azhar University, was surprised by the reactions to the newspaper. It is not strange for Al-Azhar to discuss and to publish a diversity of opinions, she told Al-Monitor.

For her part, Soliman explained that over the past three years Al-Azhar has been responsive to the calls of civil society organizations for dialogues on womens issues such as the practice of verbal divorce, or "talaq," and proof of paternity. However, she noted that the men of Al-Azhar often do not share the women's opinion on how to resolve these issues.

Al-Azhar says it offers a balanced religious discourse, but I do not see it. Al-Azhar continues to uphold talaq and to differentiate between men and women in inheritance, which is biased against women, in my opinion, she said.

She added, Al-Azhar has started to react positively to harassment, which is a very troubling issue to women. I believe the institution should continue to be involved in womens affairs and open a door for dialogue with more womens associations and civil society organizations. Al-Azhar ought to also offer a religious discourse that promotes womens values and does not undermine their dignity.

A few days following its statement on harassment, Al-Azhar's Grand Imam Ahmed al-Tayeb instituted lectures on the topic for men, in a bid to reduce the high rates of divorce, especially among newlyweds.

Egyptian parliamentarian Margaret Azer told Al-Youm Al-Sabaa that granting Egyptian women of different walks of life, be they Muslim or Christian, veiled or unveiled, a chance to express their opinion and publish their photo on its newspapers front page is a major step and a strong response to hard-liners.

Al-Azhar has been repeatedly accused of taking extremist stances, such as failing to classify the supporters of the Islamic State as non-believers. Most recently, Al-Azhar's Council of Senior Scholars headed by Tayeb rejected a proposal by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi to annul talaq, stirring tension between the two leaders. On more than one occasion, Sisi has called on Al-Azhar to reform its religious discourse.

Al-Azhar has renewed itself as an Islamic institution that avoids extremism and partiality, Shahin asserted. Its positions stem from scientific studies and are not based on personal or societal reactions.

Sawi concurred with Shahin and stated that Al-Azhar has always been keen on fulfilling its duties toward women. Last year it established the Faculty of Physical Education for girls, the first in its history. It also opened up to the arts by allowing Al-Azhar University to organize an art festival in May. The university formed a mixed student choir  an unprecedented step. This proves Al-Azhar is serious about reinventing itself and its curricula.

Said Sadek, a professor of political sociology at the American University in Cairo, believes Al-Azhar's religious discourse is being slow to evolve because of most of its leaders' conservative mentality. He pointed out that the patriarchal culture, customs and conservative traditions prevalent in Egyptian society have heavily influenced Al-Azhar's stances. This was particularly reflected in Al-Azhars insistence on upholding talaq, although many Muslim countries have abolished it.

In an article published in March 2017, Tayeb wrote, The deep-rooted ancient traditions and customs in Eastern societies have caused injustice and marginalization for women. This led to the emergence of several problems, such as spinsterhood and deprivation of inheritance.

Sadek concluded, Al-Azhar has been facing political pressure by the current regime over the last four years to push it to take serious steps to renewing its religious discourse. The institution has been resilient, but now, Al-Azhar seems to be starting to cave.Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) are intervening in the violence-plagued southern province of Basra, where demonstrators have been staging mass protests over a lack of public services, the poor economy and alleged corruption among public officials.

Protesters on Sept. 7 stormed the PMU office in Basra and set fire to many government buildings, including the Iranian Consulate. The next day, the PMU leadership issued a statement that read, The deteriorating security situation in Basra calls for the need to protect its people, and the PMU will deal with [the saboteurs] just like it dealt with Islamic State [IS] militants during [previous] battles. It added, Ending the security unrest and protecting the lives of citizens is a national and legitimate duty.

The PMU is an umbrella organization for dozens of mostly Shiite militias, many of which are backed by Iran. Iran and the United States are competing for leverage as Iraq tries to form a new Cabinet, with the United States preferring current Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who is seeking a second term. PMU leaders believe their group is a key force in the war against terrorism, as they largely contributed to the defeat of IS, which invaded Iraq and took over a third of its land in 2014.

PMU deputy head Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis blames Iraq's current government for the Basra situation.

The acts of vandalism against government buildings and PMU offices came as a result of the governments blatant failure, Muhandis said in a Sept. 9 statement.

Meanwhile, Ali al-Sunaid, a leader of Abadi's Al-Nasr Alliance, accused PMU factions that have joined the Fatah Alliance of burning PMU offices in Basra to create chaos during the protests and to serve their own political agenda against Abadi.

Hisham al-Hashimi, a security analyst at Al-Nahrain Center for Strategic Studies in Iraq, told Al-Monitor, Security roles in Basra overlap [on three levels]. First, local security is enforced by the local police, the National Security [Council] and the intelligence service in the province [of Basra]. The second [level] is the Basra [security] operation, represented by a branch of the army and federal police in charge of military and security strategies and tactics aimed at imposing stability and enforcing the law when it comes to major incidents that are outside the local securitys scope.

Hashimi said the third level consists of tribes, factions and special protection [units] in charge of [safeguarding] party buildings, political and religious figures, and private security companies. He was referring to the PMU and other armed groups affiliated with the PMU. He expects the PMU to play a greater security role in the near future.

Naim al-Aboudi, spokesman for Asaib Ahl al-Haq (AAH), a PMU-affiliated faction, told Al-Monitor, PMU factions are ready to play a role in preserving security in the city of Basra and other cities as long as the situation requires it. He believes the new role stems from the popular [support] these factions enjoy, as citizens want to feel protected under the PMU." Aboudi added, If the local police in the cities fail to preserve security, the PMU is ready to take on a security role inside those cities."

Mahmoud al-Robaie, spokesman for AAH's political bureau, agreed, telling Al-Monitor, The security role is at the core of the PMUs mission, as PMU [factions] are one of the Iraqi armed forces categories. Confronting any attempt to destabilize Iraq is stipulated in the law.

Robaie said the PMU is needed to preserve security in Basra and other Iraqi cities because of the prime ministers poor management of the Basra events." He added, Police forces acknowledged that the chaos in Basra was due to the failure of the commander of Basra operations to protect the citizens and preserve the safety of public and private properties.

Ahmad al-Asadi, spokesman for the Fatah Alliance, which is politically allied with the PMU and Iran, told Al-Monitor, The PMU is closely following up on the security situation, and it will intervene should security deteriorate in Basra or any other city  [the role] is stipulated in the constitution.

Hashimi said, "The military and security leaders need a monthly assessment of the neutral measures they are implementing in the framework of the constitution and law to preserve security. However, as the tribes and the PMU are armed, it's important to preserve security without the excessive use of arms to solve any conflict.The United States' economic and diplomatic pressure on Iran is expected to reach its crescendo in early November with the imposition of oil and gas sanctions. The Iraqi Kurds who were punished by Tehran and snubbed by Washington last year following their ill-conceived referendum for independence are under extensive pressure to choose a side in this international affray.

The Kurdish parties are not united and therefore they cannot avoid getting pulled into this rivalry. They will be hit by some sparks from the fire, Ahmad Haji Rashid, a veteran Kurdish lawmaker in the Iraqi parliament, told Al-Monitor. What is happening right now in Iraq is a clear war between Iran and America.

The Kurds who lost much of their influence in Baghdad over misreading international support for their independence referendum last autumn are again struggling in between the pro-Iran and pro-American camps in Baghdad. Haji Rashid, nominated by his party for the position of the second deputy parliamentary speaker, has come under extreme pressure from the head of the pro-Iran Fatah Alliance, Hadi al-Amiri, to withdraw his candidacy in favor of another candidate. Haji Rashid even implied that financial incentives were offered to him to withdraw, but he refused.

Jamal Kocher, a popular and experienced Kurdish politician from the Kurdistan Islamic Union, believes that the Iraqis and the Kurds have little power over their fate in the face of Iranian and American interests. "Who appoints the prime minister of Iraq? Kocher quipped to Al-Monitor on Sept. 13 in Dahuk before proceeding to answer the question. Qasim Soleimani comes and gathers the parties from all sides and appoints a government, just like that. Then the American Qasim Soleimani  I mean Brett McGurk  comes and sits down with the Kurds and Iraqis and says that we need to do this and that. Then [Prime Minister Haider al-] Abadi parrots the same line on TV.

This is significant coming from Kocher because he is seen as a measured and experienced politician who has dealt with Iraqi and Kurdish parties for years.

Other Kurdish politicians concede that the Americans and the Iranians have made life impossible for the Kurds, leaving them in a limbo unable to decide what to do. "These days the Kurdish side is under extensive pressure from Iran and the United States, which has clearly weakened the will of the Kurds to make up their mind, wrote Farhad Abdulaziz Aladdain, an adviser to Iraqi-Kurdish President Fuad Masum. The Kurds have decided [under these pressures] not to join any of the two main blocs  but continuing this position may be detrimental to the Kurds interests in the end.

While the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) have realized they need unity among the Kurdish parties if they want to have influence in Baghdad, the fissures in Kurdish politics run so deep that it is almost impossible to create unity among the Kurds. Moreover, the chances of creating a united front is slipping away as the campaigning for the regional elections set for Sept. 30 is getting underway across the three provinces of the Kurdistan Region. If the previous campaigns are anything to go by, the Kurdish parties will not shy away from employing any underhand methods and propaganda to weaken their opponents, which ultimately undermines Kurdish unity in Baghdad.

Meanwhile, as the pressure from the Trump administration mounts, Iran wants true allies in Iraq in positions of power. In that vein, Iran is working hard in Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region to strengthen its position by helping its allies to overcome their differences. Iran, which sees the PUK as a loyal ally in Iraqi Kurdistan, is pushing to strengthen the PUK under one strong leadership from the Talabani family. Iran whose wishes come in the form of recommendations rather than orders, prefers former Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih to reach an agreement with the PUK following his split last year. Iran appears to have realized that succumbing to the PUK and the KDP pressure in 2014 in support of a meek individual as president of Iraq did not pay off for Tehran. While Iran has arguably become a force for instability, Tehran is interested in stability in Iraq so long as the odds are stacked in its favor.

Whereas the late Jalal Talabani turned the presidency  a ceremonial position  into a powerful office to determine and resolve the sectarian and political differences of Iraqi political factions, the current president has turned the presidency into a truly ceremonial office. For that reason, Iran seems to have accepted Salih, a student of Talabanis school of dialogue and diplomacy, to the presidency despite Salih having cordial relations with the Americans. This could be a silver lining in the whole Iran-US saga in Iraq, perhaps a veiled message from the Iranians that despite the saber rattling of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, they want to have an interlocutor, a channel of communication, with the Americans in Baghdad, similar to the role Talabani played between Iran and the Americans from 2003 until he fell ill in late 2012.

The economies of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region are so intertwined with Iran it would make it very difficult for the Kurds to survive if the United States zeros in on them to stop trading with Tehran once the sanctions are fully in place, unless Washington offers an alternative. It will have a direct economic impact on Iraq and Kurdistan because our economy is linked to Iran, said Haji Rashid.

The two-term parliamentarian Kocher believes that the American strategy in Iraq is confused even as Iran strengthens its hands. The Americans are controlling the sky [of Iraq] while on the ground it is the Iranians who rule.  The Kurds cant decide right now because America has not made up its mind, Kocher said. Does Iraq favor the United States or Iran?

The Kurds are stuck between a rock and a hard place. The Iranians have been loyal allies for the Iraqi Kurds for decades, while America is vital for the survival of the limited authority the PUK and the KDP have in their semi-autonomous region. Perhaps the only wise thing the Kurdish leadership has done recently is to say that they would follow Baghdad regarding Irans sanctions, Kocher noted.The investigation of special prosecutor Robert Mueller into Russian interference in the 2016 US elections crossed the Atlantic and the Mediterranean in mid-September to land in Israel with a bang.

The plea agreement Mueller reached with Paul Manafort tells of the involvement of a senior Israeli official who ostensibly cooperated with Manafort when he worked as a lobbyist for pro-Russian former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. During Ukraine's 2012 parliamentary elections, the Israeli was supposed to publicize an announcement, formulated in coordination with Manafort, tying the opposition's Yulia Tymoshenko, a Fatherland Party candidate, to anti-Semitic elements. The goal was to pressure the US government to moderate its support of Tymoshenko by turning Obama Jews  Jews who supported President Barack Obama  against her. Elementary.

The situation is complicated, however, by the Israeli Foreign Ministry, then headed by Avigdor Liberman, having published the announcement using Manafort's wording. Liberman, now defense minister, has denied any and all involvement and has claimed that he does not know Manafort. He says he has never met or spoken with him. Regardless, Liberman is the immediate suspect in light of his connections to top Kremlin officials and his closeness to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Conspiracy theorists see a thread where Trump Jews are battling Obama Jews through Israelis on both sides of a Ukrainian campaign. On the edges of this campaign, they claim, stands Russian President Vladimir Putin, who four years later would work to benefit presidential candidate Donald Trump against those very same Obama Jews.

Liberman, in an effort to get the monkey off his back, appealed to Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked to request through American officials that Mueller reveal the name of the senior Israeli official. As is known, the Americans have no intention of revealing the name any time soon.

Libermans problems dont end there. At the time concerned, one of his associates, former Knesset member Alex Miller of Yisrael Beitenu, was chairman of the Israel-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Committee. Miller also denies any connection to Manafort or to other American figures, and in a conversation with Al-Monitor, he claimed that it wasnt only the Israeli Foreign Ministry that published denouncements of Tymoshenko, but that Israeli leftists, including Hatnua leader Tzipi Livni and former Meretz leader Zehava Gal-On, did so as well.

A check to verify Miller's allegations shows that Livni and Gal-On published vague statements denouncing the Ukrainian Freedom Party, which was indeed tied to anti-Semitism. The only Israeli to publish the statement as formulated by Manafort, which tied Tymoshenko to the Freedom Party, was Foreign Minister Liberman, through his office. The Freedom Party had been in the same coalition as the Fatherland Party, hence Tymoshenko's alleged anti-Semitism through this connection.

One way or another, the political commotion in Israel around the issue seems to almost match whats happening in the United States. Zionist Camp Chair Avi Gabbay wrote an urgent letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sept. 16, demanding that he allow Shin Bet to immediately open an investigation to identify the senior Israeli official.

Gabbay wrote, The claims in the indictment against Manafort are to the point, harsh, and serious.  As the person who in practice is entrusted with the foreign service and the protection and security of the country against espionage from a foreign country, it is required of you to immediately begin a process of checking and investigation, to clarify if there is a foreign agent in the civil service and if indeed he used the Israeli foreign service for the benefit of advancing foreign interests.

Gabbay used relatively sterile diplomatic language. Talking to Al-Monitor on the condition of anonymity, an opposition source in Israel argued that the episode could embroil senior officials in Israel up to their necks. If it is proven that the Russians acted and interfered in the US election, and it turns out that the Russians also had a foothold among Israeli government elements who provided aid from the flank to disseminate messages and participated in the effort led by Manafort, he said, This is a real earthquake.

Gal-On went even further in her demands. She appealed to the attorney general, requesting that he open a criminal investigation against the senior Israeli official, and as part of it, submit a letters rogatory in the United States. Through this channel, Israeli authorities could pass on relevant questions to the FBI in order to reveal the identity of the senior Israeli official who conspired with Paul Manafort and aided him in his plan to damage American support of the Ukrainian opposition leader. Gal-On added, Interesting who it might be?

Afterward Gal-On submitted a Freedom of Information Law request to the Foreign Ministry in which she asked to see the work done by ministry staff before the release of the statement denouncing Tymoshenko in October 2012. The Foreign Ministry has so far refused to reveal the work of the relevant staff, which is necessary to verify the involvement of Liberman in the statement's publication.

In the meantime, conspiracy theories regarding Israeli involvement in the Mueller investigation abound. The year 2019 will be an election year in Israel, and Netanyahu, in all estimations, is light years ahead of his political rivals in Israel in cyber and digital capabilities that could tip and influence election results. Thus, all potential candidates are expending great efforts to prove some kind of Israeli connection to the intrigue involving Washington, Trump and the Kremlin that's being investigated in the United States.

As suggested, Liberman is the obvious suspect. The defense minister, who came to Israel from the former Soviet Union at 20 years of age, is seen by many on the Israeli left as a foreign element, and the gossip about him and about his close ties to Moscow have accompanied his political career from the start. To Libermans credit one must note that all the investigations of him at the early stages of his political career proved that he was an innocent, new immigrant, a Zionist, who was not tied to any government sources in Moscow. That was until Mueller arrived and reopened this Pandoras Box.

It seems that weve now reached, more or less, the end of the trailer. The movie is yet ahead of us.ALEPPO, Syria  Following intense Russian and Syrian shelling of opposition-controlled areas in the southern countryside of Idlib, the northern villages of Hama and the plain of al-Ghab, thousands of civilians fled their homes, heading toward safer areas north of Idlib and Aleppos northern and western countrysides.

On Sept. 4, Russian and Syrian warplanes stepped up their attacks against opposition-held areas in the countryside of Idlib, targeting the area of Jisr al-Shughour with dozens of raids, killing and wounding a large number of civilians.

On Sept. 10, the UN reported that the attacks had displaced over 30,000 people. David Swanson, the spokesman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, noted that Russian and Syrian shelling forced 30,542 people to move to different areas within the province of Idlib.

At a press conference held on Sept. 13, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres cautioned against the consequences of the Syrian regime's military operations against Idlib, backed by Russia.

As a result of the shelling, schools were closed and many civilians were killed or wounded. The Civil Defense Center in the town of al-Tamanah in the southern Idlib countryside was destroyed after being hit by Syrian warplanes on Sept. 6.

On Sept. 9, Russian warplanes bombed Al-Latamina hospital in the northern countryside of Hama and the local council of nearby Kafr Zeita declared a state of emergency.

The spokesman for the Coordinators for Humanitarian Response in northern Syria, Tareq al-Idlibi, told Al-Monitor, The number of displaced people who fled during the past two weeks from areas hit by Syrian and Russian air strikes exceeded 80,000, almost double the figure reported by the UN. A large number of schools, hospitals and public utilities were bombed to force the population out.

He stressed that his organization met in Ariha in Idlibs countryside Sept. 12 with local councils of targeted areas as well as with nongovernmental organizations to assess the humanitarian situation and develop solutions.

The gathering discussed the possible outcomes in Idlib and ways to respond quickly in case of a Russian-backed regime offensive in the province. The participants talked about the province's resources to take in the waves of displaced, and vital tasks, such as establishing camps, were distributed among the organizations and associations present at the meeting.

Idlibi added, The displaced from the areas of southern Idlib and Hamas northern countryside settled in a number of border camps north of Idlib, near the Turkish border. Some are now staying out in the open near the Turkish observation points in the countryside for fear of being targeted by aerial bombardment. Displaced people need help immediately because large numbers are left without shelter, not even tents. We are trying to coordinate with humanitarian organizations operating in Idlib to meet their needs. The number of displaced people in the area is increasing by the day under the regimes attacks.

Over 70 displaced families from northern Hama and southern Idlib arrived at the Amal camp near the Syrian-Turkish border north of Idlib on Sept. 14.

The head of the United Local Council for the villages of Idlibs southern countryside, Naasan Ankir, told Al-Monitor, We are in dire need of relief. We need ambulances. The displaced families who fled their homes had no time to bring essentials. They need care packages. Other families who have been here for a while need health supplies for their basic hygiene needs.

Ankir added, We also lack baby formula and insulating fabrics to protect the tents from rain. The displaced people need more tents. The assistance provided by humanitarian organizations is not enough. More displaced people are fleeing every day and we could face alarming numbers should the regime and Russia carry out a ground attack against Idlib.

Abdel Rahman al-Hilal, a resident of the town of Habit in Idlibs southern countryside, told Al-Monitor, The regimes helicopters dropped dozens of barrel bombs on the town. We almost died under the heavy shelling. My family and I miraculously escaped after a barrel fell near my home.

Hilal added, The situation is miserable in the camps near the Syrian-Turkish border north of Idlib. There is no room for us. My family and I had to stay with our relatives in a camp near the town of Dana. I am impatiently waiting for a tent of our own and some food so my family can be independent again. Living with another family is very difficult. It will start raining soon and I have no idea when well be able to go back home. I wonder if my house hasnt been destroyed by the shelling already.

Amid international warnings of an imminent disaster, the Coordinators for Humanitarian Response in northern Syria fears more waves of displacement as the Syrian regime and Russia spread their air and ground bombardment over larger areas. The group expressed further concerns over the use of chemical weapons against civilians, calling on the UN to pressure Russia into suspending military operations and denied the repeated Russian allegations of the use of chemical weapons by the opposition in the city of Jisr al-Shughour, west of Idlib.WASHINGTON  Brian Hook, the US special envoy on Iran, cited Irans continuing development, testing and transfer of ballistic missile technology as a key flaw of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal that President Donald Trump withdrew from in May.

Speaking this morning to the conservative Hudson Institute, Hook repeated many of the US administrations previous critiques of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), from its sunset provision to its failure to address Irans support for terrorism and militant proxy groups in the region.

Hook said the Trump administration would still be willing to negotiate with the Iranians on a treaty to address its wider concerns, but he suggested little expectation that the Iranians would take up the offer soon, even as further, tougher US sanctions on Irans oil exports come into effect over the coming months.

The president and secretary have all made clear we are ready to negotiate and to have those discussions, Hook said.

With both Trump and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, as well as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, slated to be in New York for the opening session of the United Nations General Assembly next week, there has been some speculation about whether the Iranians might take Trump up on his offer for talks. But Hook said, as of yet, the Iranians have rejected the offer.

I think the ayatollah and the president and foreign minister have all indicated that they are not interested in talking, Hook said, referring to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Rouhani and Zarif. That is their position. We respect that. Though that does not change our plans. We have a sanctions regime that is underway, the stronger measures are yet to come.

There has not been any aversion to meeting with the Iranians, Hook added, noting that he met briefly with his counterpart, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, on the sidelines of a Joint Commission meeting in Vienna last December, when the United States was still in the deal. I have done it.

We have made it very clear  we cant be more clear  about the sort of things that we would like to see changed, and in return these are the things we are willing to offer, Hook said. And that is where it is.

Hook said any future deal the Trump administration would consider making with Iran must constrain its ballistic missile program as well as its nuclear program.

Iran must end its proliferation of ballistic missiles and halt further launching or development of nuclear-capable missile systems, Hook said. The nuclear issue has to be addressed together with Irans missile proliferation.

But the JCPOA separated these two issues, he said. It removed Irans missile development from the equation  it focused on restraining one facet of proliferation at the expense of another.

But in the question and answer session, moderated by Hudson Institute scholar Rebeccah Heinrichs, Hook referred repeatedly to intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), something that missile experts say Iran neither possesses nor is actively developing.

It was a mistake not to include ICBMs in the Iran nuclear deal, Hook said. Nukes and ICBMs go hand in hand. They dont ever travel apart.

Michael Elleman, senior fellow for missile defense at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said the remark puzzled him.

I have seen no solid or convincing evidence to indicate Iran is actively working to develop an ICBM, Elleman told Al-Monitor. However, there are some worrying observations and rumors that suggest Iran is keeping open the option to develop an ICBM if it deems necessary.

Hook consistently conflated all of Iran's missiles as being equally threatening, Elleman said. This is complete nonsense. Not all of Iran's missiles are nuclear capable, and only two of its missiles are designed to be nuclear capable.'"

While Hook said the Trump administration stands with Iranian protesters demanding changes from the Iranian regime, he and the Hudson moderator looked embarrassed when Code Pink anti-war protester Medea Benjamin got on the stage behind them, shouting that the Trump administration's hard-line policies on Iran would lead to war, and waited for security to remove her.

The world community wants to keep the deal, Benjamin said. You are making a case for war with Iran.  We dont want another war in the Middle East.

The Hudson Institute later edited out the protest from its video of the event, but a video clip was posted by Iranian American journalist Negar Mortazavi.Let us set the record straight: Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan emerged triumphant from his meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. The Sept. 17 meeting in Russias Black Sea city of Sochi was the third time the two leaders met in three weeks.

Erdogan got what he wanted concerning Idlib: no offensive to the province where Turkeys Syrian allies have regrouped alongside Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra, al-Qaedas Syrian affiliate.

In Sochi, Erdogan almost completely reversed the humiliation he experienced during the Tehran summit the first week of September. During that live, televised meeting with Putin, Erdogan demanded a cease-fire to prevent an imminent Russian-Syrian offensive to retake Idlib for Bashar al-Assads regime. But Putin sarcastically rebuffed the Turkish leader, and the summit host, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, seemed to side with his Russian counterpart.

Putin and Erdogan displayed an unusual warmth at the end of their two-hour meeting on Sept. 17. The two men smiled, and Erdogan affectionately squeezed Putin's right hand between his own. Following the meeting, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced there would be no new military operation against Idlib by Syrian government forces and their allies.

Putin told reporters at a joint news conference with Erdogan: We agreed that by Oct. 15 [we will] create along the contact line between the armed opposition and government troops a demilitarized zone of a depth of 15-20 kilometers, with the withdrawal from there of radically-minded rebels, including Jabhat al-Nusra.

By Oct. 10, at the suggestion of the Turkish president, [we agreed] on the withdrawal from that zone of the heavy weapons, tanks, rockets systems and mortars of all opposition groups, Putin said. The demilitarized zone will be monitored by mobile patrol groups of Turkish units and units of Russian military police.

Neither Putin nor Erdogan explained how they planned to differentiate radically-minded rebels from other anti-Assad groups. It was also not immediately clear how much of the city of Idlib fell within the demilitarized zone.

Such uncertainties, however, cannot conceal the fact that Erdogan is now rightly in a position to claim that he achieved an incontrovertible diplomatic success:

He stood firmly against a Russian-led offensive on Idlib. Now, after Sochi, such an offensive is off the table. After the trilateral meeting in Tehran, the quasi-consensus among Turkey experts in the West was that the rapprochement between Moscow and Ankara was coming to an end. Erdogan, according to his critics and a flurry of analyses among Turkish dissident circles and in the Western media, was lonelier than ever. Adding to the spats between Turkey and the United States, the differences with Russia were seen as unbridgeable and contributed to the portrayal of the Turkish leader in an unenviable light. Erdogan, however, turned the table on such analysts. Not only did he preserve his partnership with Russia in Syria and on other fronts, he consolidated it with a commitment for joint Turkish-Russian military patrols in a demilitarized zone to be created in Idlib. The Turkish president emphasized that non-terrorist opposition groups had to be distinguished from HTS, which controls a significant part of the province. Turkey-sponsored opposition groups are positioned mostly to the west of Aleppo and are first in line in a potential confrontation with the Syrian army. If Putin had sidestepped his Turkish partner in Idlib, Erdogan would have lost his credibility and leverage over the Turkish-sponsored Syrian opposition groups. Erdogan averted that danger with his Sochi achievement.

After the Sochi meeting, Erdogan said, The opposition will continue to remain in the areas where they are. In return, we will ensure that the radical groups, which we will determine with Russia, will not operate in the area under discussion.  Russia will surely take necessary precautions to ensure the Idlib de-escalation zone is not attacked.

The Sochi deal indicates that Putin considers it a priority to keep Erdogan on board in the Syrian theater. The aim of such a strategy is to invest in the growing tensions between Turkey and the United States over the Kurdish presence to the east of the Euphrates. For Putin, not alienating Erdogan takes priority over launching an offensive to deliver Idlib to Assad.

Erdogan, during the joint press conference in Sochi, as if confirming Putins implicit game plan, drew attention to the areas east of the Euphrates and said terrorist activity is not confined to Idlib. The biggest threat to Syria's future lies in the nests of terror to the east of the Euphrates, he said, naming the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) and the Democratic Union Party (PYD), both US allies in the fight against the Islamic State, as terrorist groups that must be brought down.

Turkeys controversial president is now preparing another diplomatic win. He will visit Germany Sept. 27-29, and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will receive him with full honors: a military ceremony and a festive banquet at the official residence of the German president, the Bellevue Palace in Berlin.

For Erdogan to have such an opportunity in Berlin, only a year after he accused German leaders of being Nazis, is astounding. And Turkey might be offering Berlin a big prize: the modernization of Turkeys railroads. The enterprise, worth 35 billion euros, is a replay of the 1898 Berlin-Baghdad railway project, which brought German Emperor Wilhelm II to Turkey and sealed the future alliance between the Ottoman Empire and Germany in World War I. Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid II  admired by Erdogan and all the Turkish conservatives  oversaw the deal.

Erdogan, now following in the footsteps of his role model Abdul Hamid II, is expected to discuss the lavish project during his visit to Berlin. It could be an economic boost for both countries. It could also provide a much-needed European cover for Erdogan, who has faced intense criticism for Turkey's poor human rights record and for putting an end to democracy.

German weekly Der Spiegel reported on the railroad modernization project: A consortium led by Siemens is to build new railway lines, electrify old ones and install modern signaling technology in the country. German national railway Deutsche Bahn is also slated to help with the planning of the megaproject, which will include new high-speed lines throughout the country, including tunnels, overhead lines and rolling stock."

It continued: "The offer also came attached with the request that Germany help finance the railway construction project. No decision has yet been made on whether Berlin will back the project.  But in its talks with the Turkish government and Siemens, the German government has expressed its willingness to consider providing financial support. If the project comes to fruition, it would be the most striking evidence yet of the spectacular diplomatic turnaround that German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas tried to push forward during his visit to Turkey last week.

Der Spiegel called the railway "a further indication of the new, deliberate course being pursued by German foreign policy.  [I]t is seen as a way to slow the Chinese, who have been expanding their global influence for years in the form of billions in investments in Africa. Beijing has recently had its eyes on Turkey. The railway project is exactly the kind of thing Beijing would like to be doing itself. Turkey's rail network is, after all, of strategic importance for the trade route between Europe and Asia  a vital steel link within the New Silk Road.

Germans get nervous when reminded that they are appeasing an autocratic regime in Turkey. When their economic interests dominate, they are ready to ignore the gross violations of human rights and democracy in Turkey. However, it was hard to comprehend why a delegation from the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) was deprived of an appointment with Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Minister Maas. The delegation included the HDP chairman, the deputy speaker of the Turkish parliament, and a parliamentarian of Yazidi background who was also a former member of the Bundestag. Despite the delegation's persistent efforts, a meeting was refused. Even a symbolic five-minute audience with high-level German officials could assuage the worries of the HDP leadership, whose legendary former chairman, Selahattin Demirtas, is in jail, a victim of Erdogans rage.

For the current German leadership, not attracting Erdogans rage is the priority. Moreover, it is important to pamper him for the sake of a German geopolitical gambit, which is presented as being on behalf of the Western world, at a time when its leadership has been vacated by Donald Trump. Most important, perhaps, is the 35-billion-euro deal to be reached with Turkey.

For Erdogan, consolidating his partnership with Putin and having Merkel serve as his political and economic savior will be a most welcome development.

For all the international news analyses that lead one to believe Erdogan is in decline, it is time to reconsider.Seeking to prevent a bloodbath in Syria's Idlib province, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin met for five hours Sept. 17 in Sochi, after which Putin disclosed that a demilitarized buffer zone some 15-20 kilometers (9-12 miles) wide will be activated there, effective Oct. 15.

The decision puts on hold, at least for now, what had appeared to be an imminent attack on Idlib by Russian and Syrian regime forces seeking to conquer the remnants of radical opposition in the seven-year civil war. Such an attack, however, could endanger millions of civilians, along with what Turkey considers moderate rebel groups that have cooperated with Ankara. The Idlib buffer zone aims to separate Syrian regime forces from armed opposition, and moderates from radicals. All opposition groups are to withdraw their heavy arms.

After his meeting with Putin, Erdogan said, The opposition will remain where they are, but the [radical] groups that we will determine jointly with Russia won't be allowed to operate. The boundaries of the demilitarized zone will be supervised jointly."

The question now is how this comprehensive plan will be implemented in one month. Less than two weeks ago, at a meeting in Tehran, Putin had objected to Erdogan's call for a cease-fire, saying, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham [HTS] and other radicals aren't at the [negotiating] table. We cannot give guarantees on their behalf.

In return for the one month it gained at Sochi, Ankara is giving those guarantees on behalf of radical groups in Idlib. Perhaps Moscow has realized it couldn't cope with a humanitarian tragedy at Idlib and wants to guarantee the security of its military presence in northern Syria, notably Khmeimim air base, with Ankaras assurances.

Now the most argued critical issue is, how can Ankara assure Moscow that Idlib radicals will agree to a demilitarized zone and removal of their heavy weapons? One likely answer is that Ankara will rely on its military power and its substantial influence on the armed opposition groups to convince them.

Ankara primarily reinforced each of its 12 military outposts with 80 to 1,000 mechanized infantry and commando troops (totaling 1,200-1,300) and equipped the outposts with multiple rocket launchers and other protection measures, and seriously buttressed its military presence around Idlib. Ankara also sealed off the border west and north of Idlib with military reinforcements.

But Turkey's increased military preparations in Idlib province are only for defensive action, as its 12 outposts insulate Idlib from pro-Iran militias south of Aleppo and those controlled by Syrian forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad in the southeast.

There are also restraints on Ankara's military capabilities at Idlib, most notably the absence of air superiority. The Sochi summit didn't refer to air superiority, which shows the limits of Moscows confidence in Ankara. Moscow supports Ankaras efforts for de-militarization, but doesnt favor the idea of a no-fly zone and wants to hold on to Russia's dominance in the air over Idlib. Russias monopoly also means that, should clashes escalate around Idlib and Turkish troops are caught in the middle, Ankara will have to rely on Moscow for air evacuation and close-air support for those troops.

It will be interesting to see how Ankara tries to persuade Idlib radical groups  above all, HTS  to get on board with the Putin-Erdogan agreement. It appears Ankara has offered these options:

If they want to remain in Idlib they will give up their guns and demobilize.

If they dont want to give up their guns, they will have to leave Idlib.

Those who refuse to give up their guns but still want to remain will then be expected to join the National Liberation Front, fully supported by Turkey in the Jarablus/al-Rai/al-Bab triangle.

If there are groups that reject all options, Ankara will then be expected to provide Russia with intelligence and logistics to conduct targeted operations against them.

It's now understood that the Idlib operation, instead of being a high-paced, short-term operation, will drag on for eight to 10 months at a low tempo with occasional targeted attacks while negotiations continue. Ankara now faces two important risks. The first risk is the security of Turkish troops serving around Idlib. The second, and probably more important, risk is the possibility that armed radical groups that resent Ankaras mediation efforts will punish Turkey by launching terror attacks in Turkey. No doubt Ankara will be on high alert for such an eventuality.Turkey has been preoccupied for weeks with trying to prevent a Russian-backed operation by the Syrian regime against Idlib. But the developments in Manbij, the city just west of the Euphrates that is under control of the US-armed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), continue to be of prime concern for Ankara.

The deal brokered by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin over the weekend, forestalling an attack against Idlib for the time being, is expected to refocus Ankaras attention on this issue.

The main fighting force in the SDF is the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), which is considered by Ankara to be a terrorist organization that poses an existential threat to Turkeys security.

This has been the principal issue that not only underlies the rupture between Turkey and the United States in Syria, but which has also pushed Ankara into Moscows orbit there despite Turkish-Russian differences over a number of issues in Syria  including the future of Idlib.

Ankara and Washington concluded a roadmap on June 4 that aimed to defuse tensions between the two, which were compounded by Turkeys threats of military action against the YPG in Manbij.

The deal brokered by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo foresaw the evacuation of all YPG elements from the region and the start of joint Turkish-US patrols inside Manbij city. All of this is to be concluded within 90 days of the announcement of the roadmap.

At least this was the reading of the roadmap by Ankara. The full details of what was actually agreed on were never officially made public. What we know about the roadmap is that it is mostly based on leaks to the press by the Turkish side.

Ankara is complaining now that the United States is dragging its feet over this agreement. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spelled this out while talking to reporters on his presidential plane on Sept. 3 as he was flying back from a visit to Kyrgyzstan.

The job is being delayed. We have to see this fact. We are not at an ideal point. The agreement that we had reached is not being implemented in the right direction, Erdogan said.

Ankara has also been watching with concern as the United States reportedly continues to consolidate its hold over Manbij and a large swath of Syrian territory east of the Euphrates River  which is also controlled by the SDF  and beefs up the YPGs military capabilities.

Erdogan has publicly announced that the Turkish military will move against YPG positions east of the Euphrates after Manbij is purged of this group.

Turkey has yet to secure what it wants in Manbij, though, and the growing feeling in Ankara is that Washington is using the roadmap agreed on in June to buy time as it consolidates its hold over northern Syria.

Meanwhile, the breakdown in Turkish-US ties over multiple issues, including the arrest and imprisonment by Turkey of American pastor Andrew Brunson on terrorism charges, has hampered cooperation between Ankara and Washington in Manbij.

"Coordinated but independent patrols by Turkish and US forces started shortly after the roadmap was announced in June, but these are being conducted along the line of demarcation on the outskirts of Manbij and are far from satisfying Ankara.

The joint patrols in Manbij city that Ankara wants, on the other hand, are nowhere in sight  even though these were to start well within 90 days of the announcement of the roadmap, according to the Turkish side.

Remarks by Pentagon Spokesman Eric Pahon in an interview with Hurriyet Daily News last week merely served to heighten Turkish suspicions in this regard. Asked about Turkish complaints regarding US delays in Manbij, Pahon characterized the issue as a complex one and went on to utter remarks that angered Turkish officials  even though Ankara did not respond to these remarks officially.

The Turks are not going to come into Manbij for the foreseeable future. No, they will not be in the city limits of Manbij, Pahon said.

He added that these patrols would in any event not be taking place in the city center but would be outside the city limits.

Reminded about President Donald Trumps promise to pull US forces out of Syria, Pahon also indicated that this would not be happening anytime soon.

Pahons remarks come amid press reports that Washington is seeking the participation of all Syrian political forces in any constitutional settlement for Syria.

Hurriyet Daily News cited a non-paper Washington presented to the United Nations recently, which maintains that the Syrian government and representatives from northern Syria should be included in any Syrian settlement.

According to the document, a copy of which the paper said it obtained in Washington, authority in Syria should be explicitly devolved and decentralized, including on a regional basis. It does not mention the Kurds by name, though.

A non-paper is diplomatic jargon for a document that floats ideas that are ultimately not binding but are nevertheless indicative with regard to what is desired.

Any degree of autonomy for the Syrian Kurds is a nightmare scenario for Turkey. Ankara opposes another Kurdish region along its borders, in addition to Kurdish Northern Iraq, fearing that this will encourage its own restive Kurds.

Turkeys problem, however, is that Moscow also supports representation for the Syrian Kurds in Syria and has encouraged the YPG and its umbrella organization, the Democratic Union Party (PYD), to open negotiations with Damascus.

Turkey says the YPG and the PYD are extensions of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has been waging a terrorist campaign in Turkey for independence or regional autonomy for the Kurds for over 30 years.

Retired Brig. Gen. Nejat Eslen argues that if the points in Washingtons non-paper are accepted, this would also mean accepting the division of Syria.

Writing for the internet news portal Oda TV, Eslen added, This would mean that the structure set up by the PKK-PYD east of the Euphrates becomes legitimate.

The real aim here is to get hold of the Euphrates-Tigris basins, which are rich in water and energy resources, and the ultimate target is Turkey, Eslen argued, reflecting a widespread concern among Turks.

This assertion was echoed by Ibrahim Karagul, the firebrand editor-in-chief of the pro-government Yeni Safak newspaper, who contended in an editorial that the real threat for Ankara was not in Idlib but in regions east of the Euphrates.

The extremely dangerous plan being implemented by the US and the PKK is to join this region to northern Iraq in a manner that incorporates the countrys oil wealth and to then reach the Mediterranean, Karagul contended.

Meanwhile, Cavusoglu sent a letter to the The New York Times last week in an effort to focus debate back on the YPG.

He argued that the YPG, which has received arms and aid paid for by American taxpayers, has forged an alliance with Mr. [Bashar al-] Assad and is sending troops as part of a deal brokered in July to help him recapture Idlib from the rebels.

Cavusoglu said, Its time for Washington to assess who its real allies in the region are.

This letter comes at a time when there are calls in Washington on Ankara to do the exact same, given that Turkey appears to be drifting away from the West and into Russias orbit.

Meanwhile, Erdogan continues to aim vitriolic barbs at the United States, accusing it of trying to weaken Turkey by every means possible, including the use of economic weapons.

This suggests that there is not much of an alliance left between the two countries to talk about  even though military cooperation between the two countries continues to a degree for practical purposes.

All of this is happening at a time when there are also nagging doubts in Turkey about Russias reliability as a partner in Syria  especially with regard to Idlib, the Russian determination to continue backing Assad and, most significantly, Moscows backing of some Kurdish aspirations.

Ankara is caught between two superpowers that are pursuing their own agendas in Syria, while its efforts to implement its own agenda there only seem to be growing more difficult with time.Rs 2.5m to rebuild shrine

Melung Rural Municipality in Dolakha district has allocated Rs 2.5 million to convert Gaikhura Mahadev Temple into a religious tourist site.Dana Ullrich and Konstantinos "Dino" Sarris were six months into wedding planning whenthey decided to take their nuptials onthe road--or rather, overseas. Across the Atlantic Ocean, in the beautiful mountainside of Greece, to be exact.

The couple met in Birmingham in 2012, and Dana says the connection was pretty instant. Less than a year after they met, Dana accompanied Dino on trip to Greece, where she visited his family's village in Tsitalia and met many of his family members. (Dino is the son of George Sarris of The Fish Market downtown.) Three years later, Dana and Dino visited Greece again. This time, they travelled to Meteora, a rock formation in central Greece that is home to one of the largest and most precipitously built complexes of monasteries in the world. It was there, while hiking down from one of the monasteries, with monks whizzing by in cable cars above, that Dino proposed.

When the couple returned home from their trip, they started planning for a wedding in Birmingham, but immediately ran into some problems.

"We found a venue, but it was difficult because we wanted to invite a lot of people," Dana says. "Dino's family is Greek, so it was going to be a big wedding, but we also wanted a place where we would be able to use [the Sarris] family's catering company."

With Dino working an average of 80 hours a week in the family restaurant business and Dana working and going to school full time to get her master's degree, there was hardly time for the couple to see each other, much less to plan a wedding.

"We're both really busy, and planning a wedding was stressful for us, because it's stressful to anyone, but when you have two people that are overcommitted already..." she says. "It all just started to feel like it didn't really represent who we are as a couple and what we wanted our wedding to look like."

It was at that point that Dino suggested moving the wedding to Greece. This wasn't the first time the idea was tossed around, though.

"Immediately, like the day we got engaged, I said I wanted to have a destination wedding, with Greece being the ultimate location for obvious reasons," Dana says. "Dino was pretty adamant that he wanted to get married in Birmingham. But several months later, it was Dino who actually suggested [it]. I was so relieved! We never looked back."

Greece was a natural fit considering Dino's deep family roots--his father emigrated in the '60s, and Dino and his sister spent summers growing up in Greece. The location also held significance to Dana, as some of the couple's most special moments were there. But though they decided to move the wedding to Greece, it wasn't a "Big Fat Greek Wedding" they were after.

Their goal was to simplify, which meant cutting their guest list down to the bare minimum of immediate family and five friends each--a pseudo wedding party of sorts that stayed in girls' and boys' Airbnbs and swam, drank, and ate together during the five-day trip. The entire ceremony consisted of around 20 people. Dana says although she received some pushback when announcing the highly intimate wedding, their decision to have a big reception-like party in Birmingham when they returned was a good compromise.

MINIMAL PREP

To pull off their big day abroad, Dana and Dino turned to family to help prepare. Fellow Greek Birminghamian Dorothy McDaniel of Dorothy McDaniel's Flower Market coordinated with a florist in Greece to execute flowers and decor for the ceremony, which was held on a mountainside in the tiny village of Tsitalia where Dino's family is from. The native floral arrangements were made in shades of blue, white, and gold to play off the beautiful natural surroundings. Dino's father secured the reception space--Smyros Resort in the neighboring town of Poulithra, where the owner, a close family friend, offered to open the resort's pool and courtyard for a private dinner and dancing.

Other than picking a wedding photographer (through a Skype interview), the majority of Dana and Dino's wedding planning was completed once they arrived in Greece, two days before their Saturday, September 16 wedding. That Friday, Dana and Dino scouted the ceremony location (somewhere they had hiked before) to figure out where everyone would stand and where they would set up chairs. They also went over the food menu for their reception.

One element that was put together stateside was Dana's dress. Like the rest of the wedding planning, things started out a bit hazy, but eventually fell perfectly into place. Dana tried on several dresses to no avail, then stumbled upon one online. It was an elaborate, nontraditional gold stunner with a detachable train from designer Kelly Faetanini. Sensing that this could be the one, Dana contacted Carriage House, one of the only bridal shops in town that carries that designer. They said since the dress was gold, it never really made it off the runway. However, they happened to be shipping the sample dress in that weekend for another bride to try on.

After the other bride tried the dress and passed, Dana came in--on a snowy day in January nonetheless--to try the sample dress on.

"I could barely get it on, but I got it on enough to know," she remembers. "They custom ordered a different size for me, and it was just serendipitous that that dress happened to be in town that day."

COMES AS YOU ARE

For Dana and Dino, who describe themselves as a laidback, nontraditional couple, the pomp and circumstance typically associated with weddings was the least of their concerns. Dana might have been wearing a fancy gold gown, but didn't care when Dino decided against a tux. There was no guest dress code. And there was no fuss over hair and makeup; Dana did her own, and promptly sweated it off after about 10 minutes of climbing around rocks and near the water to take pictures in the hot, Mediterranean sun.

"We really just wanted people to have a really fun time, and not get hung up on what a wedding should be and what certain things you think have to happen," Dana says. "We wanted it to just feel extremely representative of who we are as people and feel like it made sense for us."

That was evidenced in the fact that the "wedding party" stayed up late swimming the night before, causing a leisurely morning of champagne sipping on their porch. Dana says she didn't start getting ready until 45 minutes before she had to be ready for pictures. She also had to ride in a well-worn go-kart to the mountaintop ceremony site--in full hair, makeup, and dress--but none of that fazed her.

When it came time for the ceremony, however, the couple was serious about what they wanted it to mean and who they wanted to be involved. A friend officiated and another friend played the music. Dana and Dino wrote their entire ceremony, including their own vows. They also involved their family by having parents and siblings ask specific questions of the couple relating to how they would care for each other.

"My brother Jack who is 21 and is tough--he couldn't even get through his words in the ceremony which had this ripple effect, then everyone was crying," Dana says.

After the ceremony, guests ventured down the mountain (in tiny European go-karts) and convened at Smyros resort, where they were treated to a family-style meal of traditional Greek food, including lamb, grilled vegetables, whole fish, and Greek desserts. Dana changed into platform hightop sneakers for traditional Greek dancing to the music of live bouzouki (similar to a mandolin) players.

A TRIP TO REMEMBER

Looking back on their whirlwind destination wedding, Dana knows without a doubt that it was the best way to start off her marriage.

"It felt like a once-in-a-lifetime thing to get your core group of people to such a specific place that's so special," she says. "It really felt like we were able to freeze time for a minute and create our own little space that we didn't feel looked like something else we had seen or that we could ever recreate."

The day after their wedding, something else happened that ensured they would never forget their time in Greece. Once everyone had left for the airport, Dino and Dana went swimming in a cove, and Dino ended up losing his wedding ring while swimming.

"He immediately felt this sense of panic," Dana says. "So, he and his sister were calling around trying to see who could get him a makeshift ring. We ended up at this tiny little shop where the woman didn't speak English, but she banged out this piece of metal to be big enough for him to have his ring."

The whole story ended up on Facebook via a sweet and sentimental post Dino made about the significance of losing his ring in the ocean. Dana says reading it was the first time she cried during the entire wedding process.

"And that's the ring that he still has on today," she says. "In the post, he says something like, 'The ring is maybe $20, but there's a story behind it, and we like to think that there's a piece of our wedding in that cove that we can bring our kids back to one day."

As Dana says, "It's the little things like that that make a wedding special."A 19-year-old wounded by gunfire in Grayson Valley late last month has now been charged in that shooting incident, authorities said Wednesday.

Jefferson County sheriff's deputies on Aug. 29 responded to a report of gunfire in the 2600 block of Streetman Circle. The shooting happened shortly before 5:30 p.m.

Once on the scene, deputies found a young man suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to the hospital.

The shooter fled the scene, but he and others were located by patrol deputies a short distance away and were taken into custody for question.

The injured teen - 19-year-old Javion David Gray - told investigators he had been outside his residence when a car occupied by three men pulled up and one of the man began shooting at him. He was struck by bullets as he ran back to his home. He denied having a weapon or knowing why the man had shot him.

Chief Deputy Randy Christian said detectives investigating the case learned that Gray had an ongoing feud with the man. When the car pulled up in front of the house, Gray began shooting at it. The man returned fire striking Gray.

The car left the scene and was located a short distance away by deputies. Evidence at collected at the scene indicated that Gray had indeed fired shots at the car.

When asked about the evidence that he had shot at the car first, Gray said he no longer wished for the case to be investigated and would no longer cooperate with any investigative measures, Christian said.

On Sept. 11, sheriff's detectives presented the case the District Attorney's Office. An arrest warrant was issued for Javion Gray charging him with shooting into an occupied vehicle.

He was arrested at his home Tuesday afternoon. He has since been released from the Jefferson County Jail after posting $11,000 bond.A 37-year-old Birmingham man has been charged after lawmen say he threw a rock, and then fired shots, into his ex-girlfriend's Jefferson County home Sunday morning.

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office identified the suspect as Kevin Bernard Zeigler.

Deputies were dispatched shortly after 7 a.m. Sunday to a home in the 1400 block of Cherry Avenue. Chief Deputy Randy Christian said the victim told authorities she was inside her home when a large rock crashed through the front window.

She opened the front door to see her ex-boyfriend - Zeigler - sitting in a car in the road in front of the residence. Zeigler fired shots at the home and the car drove away.

Deputies learned that Zeigler was possibly at an apartment in the 600 block of Valley Crest Drive and went there to find him. Zeigler opened the apartment door, Christian said, but once he saw the deputies, he retreated back inside and closed the door.

Deputies followed him into the apartment. In an effort to escape, Zeigler jumped from the third floor of the apartment building. He was taken into custody. He was taken to the Jefferson County Jail to await formal charges.

On September 18, detectives obtained an arrest warrant formally charging Zeigler with second-degree domestic violence-stalking. He has been released from jail on $25,000 bond.A 34-year-old man wanted for firing on Birmingham police officers early Sunday was captured in Georgia after two days on the run.

The U.S. Marshals Southeast Regional Fugitive Task, working with Birmingham police and the Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force, nabbed Cornelius Williams Jr. in Atlanta Tuesday night.

It all began about 3:30 a.m. Sunday when an off-duty officer reported shots fired in the area of the 400 block of Ninth Street West. Birmingham police Sgt. Johnny Williams said West Precinct officers responded to the area and encountered a suspect leaving the area at a high rate of speed.

The officers saw the suspect's car stop in the 500 block of Ninth Street West and the suspect exited his vehicle with a rifle. The suspect began to fire at officers and one of the officers managed to return gunfire before the suspect managed to flee the scene.

Williams said there was gunfire damage to two patrol cars but no injuries to officers. Police later learned a victim - Cornelius Williams' father - had sustained injuries in the 400 block of Ninth Street West. He was taken to the hospital and last reported to be in stable condition.

Sometime before 7 a.m., an abandoned vehicle was found on the railroad tracks near the 1900 block of Avenue B in Ensley. It was left under the 20th Street viaduct. Police said there was blood in the abandoned vehicle. It was not the same vehicle that was seen at the earlier shooting, but police said there was evidence linking it to the shooting incident.

The department's Crime Reduction Team and tracking dogs responded to that scene, as did the State Bureau of Investigation. Throughout the day, and late into Sunday night, the search continued and spanned the county. As late as 11 p.m., helicopters were flying over the Midfield area.

Birmingham investigators then learned that Williams was headed to Atlanta. They enlisted the Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force, which reached out to its counterpart in Georgia. The Atlanta marshals began canvassing hotels and other areas in metro Atlanta when they spotted the suspect's vehicle in the College Park area.

After brief surveillance, Williams was taken into custody without incident. He is being held in Georgia awaiting return to Birmingham.

Birmingham police said they have obtained eight warrants against the suspect. He is charged with four counts of attempted murder, two counts of discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle, one count of first-degree burglary and one count of certain persons prohibited from possessing a firearm. Court records show he has at least one prior robbery conviction.A Bessemer man has been identified as the suspect in an August robbery and stabbing in Birmingham.

Birmingham police on Wednesday announced the arrest of 30-year-old Rafael Tayler. He is charged with attempted murder and first-degree robbery.

The robbery happened about 12:50 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018. Police from Birmingham's East Precinct were dispatched to the 7500 block of Toulon Avenue.

Spokesman Sgt. Johnny Williams said once on the scene, officers found the victim had been stabbed several times during the robbery. The victim sustained serious injuries during the incident but is expected to recover.

He said the unidentified victim gave the suspect a ride just before the robbery but did not know him.

On Aug. 30, police released surveillance photos of the suspect. Williams said tips to police after seeing the photo led to his identification.

Taylor is being held in the Jefferson County Jail on bonds totaling $91,000.Three Alabama citizens are suing state Secretary of State John Merrill for blocking them on Twitter.

The three registered voters claim in a complaint filed on their behalf Wednesday by the American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama that Merrill violated their First Amendment rights by blocking them from interacting with his official @JohnHMerrill account on the popular social media site.

Brock Boone, an attorney with the ACLU of Alabama, described the move by Merrill as a "violation of the First Amendment" that amounts to a decision to "discriminate against" his own constituents.

"When a government official intentionally opens up a public conversation, that official can't block individuals from joining the conversation because of the views that are expressed" Brock Boone, an attorney with the ACLU of Alabama, told AL.com via email Tuesday.

Merrill spoke with AL.com Wednesday morning about the lawsuit, which he called "a political hack job" and said he had not previously heard about.

"I hope what you'll do is what I've asked you to do in the past and that's to put my cellphone number in the paper: 334-328-2787. Because anyone in the state that wants to get in touch with me, can call me on my cellphone," he said.

"This is the bottom line: anyone who wants to get in touch with me in this state can do so, but they don't get to choose how they get in touch with me."

The question of whether public officials have a right to block their constituents has emerged as a national issue in recent months. In May, the topic garnered national headlines when a federal judge ruled that President Donald Trump cannot block Twitter users. The ruling came in response to a July 2017 lawsuit filed by Columbia University's Knight First Amendment Institute and seven Americans who Trump had blocked on Twitter.

The Montgomery Advertiser reported in June that Merrill addressed the topic of his blocking Twitter users following the federal court ruling regarding Trump's Twitter feed.

"I'm not unblocking anybody I've already blocked, because there's a reason those people were blocked. Anyone else that I feel needs to be blocked in the future will also be blocked," Merrill said at the time, according to the Advertiser.

The three plaintiffs in the ACLU's new case before the U.S. District Court of Alabama's Middle District claim that Merrill violated their First Amendment rights when he blocked them on Twitter. Kimberly Fasking, a student at Samford University's Cumberland School of Law, says Merrill blocked her after she tweeted a question about crossover voting; Alabama resident Heather Melvin Boothe claims in the complaint she was "blocked for stating 'Good point! Ballot has major typo'"; and Alabama farmer and educator Herbert Hicks says he "was blocked after asking Merrill about a speaking engagement."

According to the complaint, Merrill blocking the Twitter users "imposes an unconstitutional restriction on their participation in a designated public forum. It imposes an unconstitutional restriction on their right to access statements that Defendants are otherwise making available to the public at large. It imposes an unconstitutional restriction on their right to petition the government for redress of grievances."

Merrill rejects that argument and blames the controversy on partisan politics.

"Its not worth the ACLU's time, it's a political hack job and they're trying to build support for the democratic nominee for secretary of state," he said Wednesday.

Fasking said that she was "disappointed" by Merrill's decision to block her.

"It is upsetting to me that the Secretary of State, who primarily uses his Twitter account to disseminate information on issues related to his office, has also weaponized that account by blocking those with whom he disagrees politically," Fasking said in an ACLU statement. "It is not the Secretary of State's job to communicate only with those who agree with him, but with all of the people of the State of Alabama."

Steven Gregory, an attorney for the plaintiffs, seconded those concerns.

"The First Amendment protects everyone's right to participate in political speech without regard to political viewpoint," Gregory said in the ACLU statement. "The Alabama Secretary of State should engage in protecting that right on his Twitter account, not suppressing it by blocking inoffensive content."Alabama Senator Doug Jones during an appearance on CNN's The Situation Room has called on the Judiciary Committee to subpoena Mark Judge to testify in Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation proceedings.

Jones responded "Absolutely" to CNN Chief White House Correspondent's question about if Judge should be subpoenaed.

"You can count on the fact that letter, his response is going to be entered into the record by someone, and that needs to be tested as well," Jones said. "As a committee, if he doesn't want to do and and they're going to go forward with the hearing, they need to subpoena him, let him say that, and let some senators or someone cross-examine him."

Moments ago on @CNNSitRoom Alabama Senator @DougJones called on the Judiciary Committtee to subpoena Mark Judge to testify in Kavanaugh proceedings.  Jim Acosta (@Acosta) September 18, 2018

Earlier this week, Jones said the Senate Judiciary Committee to "hit the pause button" on the vote to confirm Kavanaugh after The Washington Post on Sunday published a story about allegations Kavanaugh sexually and physically assaulted a 15-year-old girl when he was in high school.

Kavanaugh's accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, says Judge was also in the room when the alleged assault happened.

"I have no memory of this alleged incident," Judge states in the letter sent by his lawyer, Barbara Van Gelder, The Washington Post reported.

"Brett Kavanaugh and I were friends in high school but I do not recall the party described in Dr. Ford's letter. More to the point, I never saw Brett act in the manner Dr. Ford describes."

Jones told AL.com Sunday he wants to see the Senate Judiciary committee to halt the vote to give enough time for a "full and fair" investigation of the allegations.

"Even though they were a long time ago, they're still very disturbing," he said. "There is credibility to them, from someone coming forward knowing the backlash that's going to happen."

Jones' office did not issue any further statements or comments on the senator's responses during the interview.U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, D-Ala., said Wednesday he fears the Senate Judiciary Committee's plan to question the woman accusing U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanuagh of sexual assault on Monday will turn into a "spectacle."

Jones had previously called for a pause on Kavanaugh's nomination until the National Archives could fulfill Democrats' request for records during the judge's tenure as staff secretary to President George W. Bush. Alabama's senior senator said the sexual assault allegations by Christine Blasey Ford reinforces the the need for the Senate to be thorough in vetting Kavanaugh for a lifetime appointment to the court.

"I am afraid that it will just be a spectacle and not a fact-finding mission" if the hearing is on for Monday, the senator said on a conference call with Alabama reporters. "It's very important that we get a full and fair investigation. What's happening right now is, in my view, unconscionable."

Alabama's junior senator said he is also in favor of an FBI investigation into the allegations, which were leaked last week.

Ford claims that when she and the Supreme Court nominee were teenagers in the early 1980s, Kavanaugh pushed her onto a bed and held her, groped her and put his hand over his mouth to prevent her from screaming. Kavanaugh denied the allegations and denied being at the party where Ford claims the alleged incident occurred.

When the allegations first surfaced Thursday, 65 former female classmates of Kavanaugh at Georgetown Prep lent their names to a letter vouching for his character. Two dozen alumnaes from Ford's Maryland prep school signed a letter supporting her.

The claims have led Democrats to argue for a pause on Kavanaugh's nomination. Republicans say it is a stall tactic to give Democratic candidates an issue to campaign on.

Jones said the motivation for investigating is to get to the truth and that there is no reason for the Senate not to be thorough.

"This is not an effort to intentionally delay, it's an effort on my part to say we need to get this right," he said. "It's in the 11th hour only because of the artificial deadline that Republicans put out there. ...I just think pushing forward is showing an incredible lack of respect for Dr. Ford."

Noting that Ford has received death threats, Jones said the Judiciary Committee should give Kavanaugh's accuser time to prepare.

"It's not easy to get prepared for a hearing like this, and I've been in this position before where you had to do something at the last minute and it's just not good," he said.

The senator said he is still keeping an open mind on Kavanaugh's nomination.

Updated at 2:43 p.m. to indicate that Jones believes a Monday hearing would be a spectacle, not a closed-door hearing.An inmate who escaped from a work release site in Baldwin County was recaptured in Florida Tuesday.

Gregory Keith McCluskey, 38, was recaptured in Escambia County at 1.38 p.m., according to Escambia County Jail records.

McCluskey, who was serving the latter part of a 15-year sentence for burglary in Limestone County, walked off the site near Foley at approximately 9 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 16.At least one coal ash pond in North Carolina has flooded as a result of torrential rains associated with Hurricane Florence this week, and several others are in areas known to be inundated in North and South Carolina.

While the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality is still investigating how much ash was spilled at the Sutton Steam Plant near Wilmington, these latest incidents have raised concerns about Alabama's coal ash ponds, particularly at Alabama Power's Plant Barry on the Mobile River.

"Hurricane Florence should be a big warning to Alabama Power and Plant Barry," said Frank Holleman, a senior attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center, who leads that group's regional coal ash work.

"We had severe flooding, storm surge and heavy rain from this hurricane, and as a result we had a breach at a new, modern landfill that Duke Energy has built and we had some old coal ash sites, that were inundated by the floodwaters."

Located about 25 miles north of the city of Mobile, in the midst of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta, Plant Barry is located in an ecologically rich but sensitive area that has seen tropical storms in the past.

The unlined lagoon at Plant Barry contains approximately 21 million cubic yards of coal ash, and is nearly 600 acres in size. Alabama Power was fined $1.25 million last year after testing showed that contaminants from the ash such as arsenic, lead, selenium and beryllium were detected in groundwater around five coal ash ponds, including Plant Barry.

For decades those ponds were seen as the best way to dispose of coal ash, which contains a number of substances that could be harmful to humans or wildlife. The ash was sluiced from plant to ponds, where the solid particles would settle to the bottom of the lagoons, with water being discharged into a river.

Alabama Power spokesman Michael Sznajderman said via email that the company has "safely operated ash impoundments adjacent to its coal-fired power plants for decades," and has never had an impoundment failure.

Sznajderman said the dams on the ash impoundments are inspected regularly by plant personnel and annually by Southern Company inspectors.

"If anything out of the ordinary was noticed, repairs would be made right away," Sznajderman said.

Alabama Power is proceeding with plans to cover all its coal ash ponds in place across the state to meet new federal requirements enacted in 2015.

The pond at Plant Barry is in the process of being dewatered as the plant transitions to dry coal ash storage. Once dewatered, the ash will be consolidated into a smaller area and covered with a watertight liner to prevent rainwater from reaching the ash material from above.

The company says it plans to install a redundant dike system around the consolidated impoundment as an increased flood protection measure. Once completed, the capped impoundment will be reduced in size by more than 200 acres and have buffers of "up to 750 yards" from the Mobile River.

Mobile Baykeeper Casi Callaway -- whose group has lobbied hard for Alabama Power to move the coal ash at Barry to a lined storage facility away from the water -- said leaving the ash in place means that the possibility of a breach will always exist.

"The worst case scenario would be a breach of the dam at Plant Barry," Callaway said. "Imagine another BP Oil Disaster, but with 20 times the amount of oil that was spilled into the Gulf instead spilling into the Delta and eventually downstream through the port of Mobile and Mobile Bay.

"The impacts would be catastrophic."

Mobile Baykeeper hired an engineering firm to evaluate the site as part of a report published earlier this year. That report stated the Barry ash pond was located within a 100-year flood zone, in an unstable wetland where a creek historically flowed. All the more reason, Callway said, to remove the ash from the river.

"Alabama Power has the funding, the resources and certainly the technology to do the right thing," Callaway said. "They are currently in North Carolina helping citizens in North Carolina. They can also make sure they do the right thing for citizens in south Alabama, or Alabama as a whole."

Holleman similarly believes that Alabama Power should move the material to a lined landfill-type facility for permanent disposal. He said the cover in place plans were an improvement over the current situation, but not enough of an improvement.

"Anything they do would be an improvement over the terrible dangerous primitive way they've been storing the ash," Holleman said. "The problem is they're moving it from one unlined pit to another, and they're not totally getting it away from the reach of flood waters, or the threats of hurricanes or major weather events.

"They're not really getting to the root of the problem, they're just working around the edges rather than addressing the heart of the matter."SSF-N will not protest on Constitution Day: Yadav

Deputy Prime Minister and Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum-Nepal (SSFN) Chairman Upendra Yadav has said the party will not organise any protest programmes on the Constitution Day.Amid a run for the U.S. Senate, Florida Gov. Rick Scott was booed out of a restaurant recently as protesters wanted to know what he planned to do about the state's red tide issue.

.@FLGovScott exits back door after just 10 minutes in restaurant crowd booing and shouting coward pic.twitter.com/ixiyxE1juV  Zac Anderson (@zacjanderson) September 17, 2018

Scott was making a campaign stop in Venice, Florida when he was met with protesters outside a Cuban restaurant Monday, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported. Scott avoided the protesters by entering the restaurant through the back door only to leave 10 minutes later as members of the crowd shouted "coward." His supporters held up signs as well, and chanted the Republican governor's name.

The protesters were criticizing Scott for cutting funding for environmental agencies, claiming the measures could have minimized the ongoing red tide issue.

Red tide, caused by an outbreak of Karenia brevis, has been plaguing Florida since October. Heavy outbreaks have been reported on the southwest coast of the state and, last week, "patchy" cases of red tide were found off shore of Panama City and Bay County.

Fish kills were reported in multiple locations off of Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, Walton and Bay counties. There have also been reports of respiratory illnesses related to red tide exposure. Red tide can cause severe health problems for those with COPD, asthma or anyone with lung conditions.As JetBlue's newest A321 flies away from Airbus' Mobile facility this week it'll have something different in its tanks -- something that company leaders say could spell new economic opportunity for Alabama.

The jetliner, due to depart on Thursday, will be running on a fuel mix that's 85 percent conventional, 15 percent sustainable. That's a first for the Final Assembly Line in Mobile, though it's something that's been offered since 2016 on Airbus jets assembled in Toulouse, France.

While it's a small development in and of itself, Airbus and JetBlue officials said it could be a step to much bigger things. Daryl Taylor, vice president and general manager of the Mobile plant, said that Airbus has a company-wide commitment to increase use of sustainable fuels and reducing the amount of carbon dioxide that its jets pump into the atmosphere. (Airbus is hardly alone; biofuels are an industry-wide focus.)

As with biodiesel, such aviation fuels are made from renewable resources rather than petroleum. These can include a wide variety of plant matter, from wood chips to farm crops to algae. In addition to avoiding the limited nature of petroleum supplies, such fuels can be engineered to reduce harmful emissions.

Aside from technical issues, there's a supply-and-demand hurdle: The demand has to rise to a point where biofuel production becomes commercially viable, which in turn will help bring down its production costs. Taylor said Airbus "wants to leverage our growing investment in Alabama" to help reach that point.

Aviation biofuel could help Alabama farmers to "create new markets," ideally without hurting food production or producing other negative consequences, he said. Airbus' Mobile facility could become a hub for such advancement, he said, and Alabama could be a pioneering state.

"Our goal is to source sustainable fuels in the southeastern United States," said Frederic Eychenne, head of new energies at Airbus. "It is an opportunity to work closely with local stakeholders to scale up production and the commercialization of sustainable aviation fuels in the region."

Echoing Taylor, Eychenne said "We are actively seeking ideas to leverage Airbus' strategy into opportunities for new development in Alabama."

Sophia Mendelsohn, director of sustainability and environmental social governance for JetBlue, said extensive testing has shown that such fuels are safe. She said that sustainable fuels could not only satisfy customer demands for lower pollution but could potentially result in lower airfares in the long run as the fuel supply increases.

JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes said that the company's goal is to become "a market-maker for renewable jet fuel, creating demand and therefore supporting supply." JetBlue is "working closely with Airbus to set up infrastructure for more options in the southeast region."

The Mobile FAL will deliver four more JetBlue jets this year with a mix of biofuel and regular fuel. According to information provided by Airbus, the fuel was supplied and certified by Air BP and loaded by Signature Flight Support.Austal USA has received Navy contracts for two more Littoral Combat ships, a significant extension to the Mobile shipyard's biggest program.

The 2017-18 defense budget allocated money for three of the ships, but hadn't specified which of two shipyards would build them. Austal's Independence-class LCS is a futuristic aluminum trimaran; Lockheed Martin's Freedom-class variant is a more conventional steel monohull built in Wisconsin.

Austal received two of three LCS contracts awarded in 2017. To repeat that in 2018 gives it a clear lead in overall LCS production. Lockheed Martin's new contract is for the future LCS 29 while Austal, which builds even-numbered ships, received orders for LCS 32 and LCS 34.

"To be awarded these contracts in such a highly competitive environment is a great honor," said Austal USA President Craig Perciavalle. "This is a testament to the hard work and commitment of our talented employees and dedicated supplier network, and further evidence of the important role Austal plays in building the Navy's 355-ship fleet."

Austal recently delivered LCS 18, the future USS Charleston, to the Navy in August. LCS 20, the Cincinnati, was christened in May and LCS 22, the Kansas City, is to be christened on Saturday. Several other ships are in various stages of construction, and a keel-laying ceremony is to be held in December for LCS 26, the future USS Mobile.

Austal employs around 4,000 people in Mobile and its LCS program has been delivering two ships per year. Construction of LCS 32 is scheduled to begin in 2019, "and these awards will keep Austal busy building ships into 2023," Perciavalle said.

According to the U.S. Naval Institute News, Congress allocated $1.8 billion for the three ships. According to Austal, "The specific value of each contract is under the congressional cost cap of $584 million per ship."

Congress is on track to approve and fund three more LCS contracts for the 2018-2019 fiscal year. It likely will be well into 2019 before those contracts are awarded. Congress also appears likely to fund another of the Expeditionary Fast Transport ships that Austal USA builds for the Navy.

Overall, the LCS program is nearing its end and the Navy is developing a new frigate program that will follow it; several competing designs include ships closely based on the Austal and Lockheed Martin LCS designs.Twice, judges have made it clear that they were holding their noses as they ruled a cross displayed a Pensacola park must come down. Now Pensacola has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to clear the air.

In legal terms, the city has filed a writ of certiorari, asking the Supreme Court to take up a recent ruling by the panel of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. The city's hope is that the nation's highest court will overturn an understanding of First Amendment Establishment Clause precedent seen as binding even by judges who have called it "wrong," "a wreck" and "historically unmoored, confusing, [and] inconsistent."

While the judges might have disavowed their own ruling, those on the winning side of the appeal have seen it as a solid interpretation of fundamental principles. Freedom From Religion Foundation Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor said the appeals court had "affirmed that individuals of minority faiths or no faith at all are full citizens of this country and may not be excluded or proselytized by their government."

The battle began in 2016 when four people, supported by the American Humanist Foundation and other organizations, sued the city of Pensacola. They said they were offended by the 34-foot cross, which has stood for decades in Bayview Park. In June 2017 Senior U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson ruled that the cross had to come down.

Vinson took great pains to make clear that he wasn't happy with his own ruling. Among other things, he described the body of law related to the Establishment Clause as "historically unmoored, confusing, inconsistent, and almost universally criticized by both scholars and judges alike."

"It is still the law of the land and I am not free to ignore it," wrote Vinson, who even hinted that the city might get around it by selling or leasing the land around the cross to a third party. "The law is the law."

Pensacola, supported by the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty and other groups, appealed. The case has continued to draw interest in Alabama and other states. In October 2017, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced that he had taken the lead in filing an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief in that appeal. He was joined by the attorneys general of Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Utah.

Marshall argued that the ruling was wrong on several points and that "To continue down the road of the lower court's reasoning would open the door to challenges of religious symbols on thousands of monuments and memorials on public property across the country."

Oral arguments in the appeal were heard in May. In early September a panel of three judges on the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed Vinson's ruling -- and his tone. The unanimous decision occupies a brisk 10 pages, wrapping up with a complaint that "our hands are tied." To that, U.S. Circuit Judge Kevin Newsom and U.S. District Judge Charles Ashley Royal adding 72 more pages explaining how dissatisfied they are with the status quo that compelled them to decide as they did.

"The Court's Establishment Clause jurisprudence is, to use a technical legal term of art, a hot mess," wrote Newsom.

Royal agreed with that and added, "I think of it more like a wilderness with misdirecting sign posts and tortuous paths. The bad signposts and twisted paths are the various Establishment Clause tests .... all used at one time or another, in one case and then not in another."

Royal in particular argued that the next step should be for the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals as a whole to take up consideration of the matter decided by the three-judge panel. "I urge the Court to take this case en banc so that we can take a first step toward an Establishment Clause analysis that is not only more rational, but also more consistent with prevailing Supreme Court precedent," he wrote.

Whether that wish will bear fruit remains to be seen, and the same is true of the petition to the Supreme Court. According to information provided by Becket, which is providing free representation for Pensacola, the city is asking the Supreme Court to combine the Pensacola Cross case with a similar one involving a Maryland WWI memorial, the Bladensburg Peace Cross.

"Religious symbols aren't like graffiti that the government has to erase as soon as someone complains," said Luke Goodrich, vice president and senior counsel at Becket. "The Constitution lets the government recognize the important role of religion in our history and culture."

"Pensacola is a diverse city that welcomes people of all faiths and none," said Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward, a defendant in the original complaint. "The cross is a valuable part of our history; tearing it down would needlessly signal hostility toward religion. The city looks forward to a victory in the Supreme Court."

Parties seeking the removal of the cross have said that because precedent is so definitive, the city's case is pointless. The American Humanist Association reiterated that after the appeals court ruling, describing the appeal as a waste of taxpayer funds and described as a "major victory" for itself and the Freedom From Religion Foundation.

"The decision harmonizes with decades of Establishment Clause precedent finding similar government cross displays unconstitutional," AHA Senior Counsel Monica Miller said of the appeals court ruling.Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the downing of a Russian military plane by Syrian air defences was the result of a tragic chain of circumstances, in an apparent effort to calm tensions after his countrys defence ministry accused Israel of hostile actions.

The downing of the jet late on Monday night highlighted the dangers posed by the conflicting interests of various powers in the crowded skies over war-torn Syria and threatened to damage relations between Russia and Israel.

The incident was also the worst case of friendly fire between Russia and Syria, since Moscows military intervention in the country in support of President Bashar al-Assads forces in September 2015.

The Russian military said the Il-20 electronic intelligence plane was hit 35km off Syrias Mediterranean coast as it returned to its home base nearby. All 15 Russian crew members were killed.

Russian defence officials described manoeuvres by Israeli fighter jets during the incident as hostile and said it had a right to retaliate.

The Israeli pilots were using the Russian aircraft as a shield and pushed it into the line of fire of the Syrian defence, Igor Konashenkov, Russian defence ministry spokesperson, told state media.

A warning from Israel was received less than one minute before the strike, which left no chance for taking the Russian plane to safety, added Konashenkov.

But Putin later struck a more conciliatory tone, telling reporters the shooting down of the plane was the result of a chain of tragic and chance circumstances.

As for retaliatory measures, they will be aimed first and foremost at further ensuring the safety of our military personnel and facilities in Syria. And these will be steps that everyone will notice, Putin said.

It was a different situation when a Turkish jet shot down a Russian fighter jet on the Syrian border three years ago, according to the Russian president. The Turkish fighter jet shot down our plane on purpose, he said.

Al Jazeeras Rory Challands, reporting from Moscow, said Putins use of measured language shows he does not want to escalate this any further.

The difference in tone between the Russian ministry of defence and Putin suggests that the Russian president is satisfied that point has been made and that this chain of tragic circumstances, as he put it shouldnt risk what [appeared to be] a pretty good working relationship between Russia and Israel.

Earlier in the day, the Israeli military rejected claims its fighter jets had indirectly caused the incident and said it holds Syria, Iran and Lebanons Hezbollah responsible for it.

It confirmed it targeted a Syrian military facility the Israeli military said was about to transfer weapons to Hezbollah on behalf of Iran, a major ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

But it insisted the Russian plane had been felled by extensive and inaccurate Syrian anti-aircraft fire, adding anti-air batteries did not bother to ensure that no Russian planes were in the air.

By the time the Russian plane was hit, the Israeli jets were already out of Syria and back in their own airspace, Israels army added.

There was no immediate word from Syrias government.

For his part, Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quickly called Putin to express sorrow over the death of the planes crew, blamed the planes loss squarely on Syria and offered to send Israels air force chief to Moscow to share information about the incident.

According to Netanyahus office, the Israeli leader said his country would keep acting against Iran in Syria.

Putin told Netanyahu that the Israeli raid violated Syrias sovereignty and breached the Russian-Israeli de-confliction agreement. He urged the Israeli side not to allow such situations to happen again, according to the Kremlin.

Serious restrictions

Since intervening in Syrias war, Russia has generally turned a blind eye to Israeli attacks inside the country.

Israel has carried out about 200 air raids in the last two years, according to Israeli officials.

For several years, Israel and Russia have maintained a special hotline to prevent their air forces from clashing in the skies over Syria. Israeli military officials have previously praised its effectiveness.

A dispute between Israel and Russia could restrict Israels ability to mount air raids inside Syria on what it considers the greatest threat to its security from the Syria conflict: the build-up of Iranian forces or Iranian-backed Hezbollah fighters.

Sima Shine, a former senior Mossad official and ex-deputy director-general at Israels strategic affairs ministry, told Israels Army Radio station the downing of the plane was problematic for many reasons.

I think it will impose very serious restriction on Israels freedom of activity, she said.Indias top court bans the controversial law that allowed Muslim men to end marriage by uttering talaq three times.

Indias Supreme Court on Tuesday banned triple talaq, or instant divorce, practised by some in the Muslim community, saying it is unconstitutional.

Triple talaq is the practice under which a Muslim man can divorce his wife by simply uttering talaq three times. It is prevalent among Indias Muslim community majority of whom follow the Hanafi Islamic school of law.

THE STREAM: Indias Muslims and instant divorce

This mode of divorce is not universal among Muslims across the world, as many other Islamic schools of thought prefer the divorce process to be deferred, in many cases over a period of three months.

The government has cited the example of many predominantly Muslim countries, including Pakistan, that have banned triple talaq.

Why is it in the news?

The issue has attracted media attention in the past two years since a Muslim organisation, Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA), launched a campaign to ban triple talaq and nikah halala  a practice where divorced women, in case they want to go back to their first husbands, have to consummate a second marriage.

In the course of our work, we have regularly been approached by our sisters, complaining about mistreatment and misuse of the oral talaq system. In most cases, men go scot-free and believe their action is approved by the Quran, Zakia Soman, one of the cofounders of the BMMA, told Al Jazeera in an earlier interview.

Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken on the issue a number of times, calling for justice for Muslim women.

OPINION: Is India ready to abolish triple talaq?

It has generated debate around the rights of Muslim women as the issue of divorce, marriage, and inheritance come under the purview of the Muslim Personal Laws. India has a provision for personal laws for all religious communities.

But the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), a non-governmental organisation that aims to educate Muslims on the protection and application of Islamic laws, has opposed the move to ban triple talaq and polygamy. The latter is illegal in India.

Critics say divorce and polygamy are not the main issues facing the Muslim community, the majority of whom are close to the bottom of economic and educational indicators in the country.

The AIMPLB has opposed what it calls government interference in the personal laws of the Muslim community, who form nearly 14 percent of Indias 1.3 billion population.





The Shariat Application Act was passed 10 years before India gained independence from the British colonial power in 1947.

But Indian nationals, including Muslims, can opt to marry under the secular Special Marriage Act enacted by the Indian parliament in 1954.

Gender justice

Islam considers marriage as a contract and it has laid down procedures on how to annul it. A woman can seek divorce under what is called as khula, while the husband can end the marriage by pronouncing talaq thrice, after which arbitration is required.

But activists have highlighted the misuse of instant divorce by men as a reason to ban it. Cases of husbands divorcing their wives through text messages and over phones have come to light.

According to the findings of a BMMA study, more than 90 percent of 4,710 women interviewed wanted a ban on unilateral divorce.

None of the Quranic guidelines of discussion, arbitration, witnesses, specified time period or even a genuine attempt to resolve differences are being followed. In such circumstances, the question of alimony or the rights of children doesnt arise, Zakia told Al Jazeera in a 2015 interview.

So far there is little data on the number of divorces via phones and SMS, while the data provided by BMMA has been questioned not only for not disclosing the methodology but also sample sizes.

Out of 4,710 people 525 divorces took place. Out of this only one divorce was by SMS. Therefore, they have played it out of proportion. Media has further portrayed as if every Muslim is divorcing through SMS, Faizan Mustafa, vice chancellor of the National University of Law, told Al Jazeera.

Nearly 41 percent of women themselves wanted divorce. If a woman herself wants divorce and husband gives, it is out of mutual agreement. It is a divorce by consent. In Islam it is known as Talaq-e-Mubarra. Its OK.

It is only when these two situations are not there, triple divorce will look bad. And, therefore, I would also say in that situation the better solution would be that the three pronouncements should be considered as one. So that there is a scope for reconciliation.

Can triple divorce be banned?

A five-judge bench will examine whether the Islamic divorce practice is fundamental to religion and whether it is a fundamental right. Article 25 of Indias constitution grants the right of religion as a fundamental right.

Triple talaq has already been ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in a number of cases, including in February 2015.

I think that would be a very poor understanding of the law because banning is a legislative action, Mustafa said.

He suggested instead polygamy should be made a crime for Muslims as well.

But the bigamy law for Hindus has not really helped Hindus in becoming less bigamous. So one must understand that normative changes in law do not really bring about any major social reforms. You have to create those conditions; the attitudinal changes have to come, said Mustafa.

What is the divorce and polygamy rate among Indian Muslims?

The Quran allows polygamy with strict conditions, but polygamy is the least among Indian Muslims when compared with other religious groups.

According to census data from 2011, the divorce rate among Muslims was 0.56 percent less than the Hindu community, which stood at 0.76 percent.

So far, the government has not conducted any survey on the extent of triple talaq among Muslims  a fact legal experts point out.

They say the government should form a committee of experts for Muslim law reform rather than seeking an immediate court ban, and conduct surveys to get a real sense of the problem.

Politics over triple talaq

Modi has urged leaders not to politicise the issue, but Swami Prasad Maurya from his ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said last month that Muslims use triple talaq to satisfy their lust.

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh  a Hindu far-right group and ideological head of the BJP  has been vocal in calling for these changes. It has been pushing for doing away with the idea of personal laws and replacing them with a Uniform Civil Code  a controversial proposal that Muslims have vociferously opposed.

Flavia Agnes, a prominent womens rights lawyer, said triple talaq has become typical low-lying fruit that everybody can write on.

READ MORE: Muslim women fight to overturn triple talaq

Speaking at a seminar at Aliah University in the eastern city of Kolkata, she said that illiteracy and lack of awareness were the biggest problems when it came to women rights.

Talaq does not extinguish her economic rights, [the ban] is not a magic wand that will solve all her problems. We have created an image that Muslim women have no rights because husbands can pronounce triple talaq, she said.

The Muslim Womens Act of 1986 Act has a provision for fair and reasonable settlement after divorce, she said.

The whole debate is skewed and political, catering to the ruling governments Muslim bashing agenda, and media is a prime player in this.

This article, first written in May, has been updatedWomen say they are forced to work at least 18 hours a day, denied food, assaulted and prevented from returning home.

Hoa Binh, Vietnam  Pham Thi Dao lives in an abandoned house with her seven-year-old daughter Hong Anh, off the beaten track from the central town of Hoa Binh province, southwest of Hanoi.

Dao, 46, was a domestic worker in Saudi Arabia for more than seven months until she returned to Vietnam in April.

I worked from 5am until 1am in the morning, and was allowed to eat once at 1pm, Dao told Al Jazeera of her experience in the port city of Yanbu. It was the same every day  a slice of lamb and a plate of plain rice. After nearly two months, I was like a mad person.

According to statistics from Vietnams labour ministry, there are currently 20,000 Vietnamese workers in the kingdom, with nearly 7,000 working as domestic staff for Saudi families.

In 2014, the two countries signed a five-year labour pact that paved the way for more Vietnamese citizens to work in the Gulf country.

Saudi Arabia is one of the worlds biggest importers of domestic workers.

We didn't ask for much, just no starvation, no beatings, and three meals per day. If we had that, we would not have begged for rescue. Pham Thi Dao, former domestic worker

The number of Vietnamese labourers is relatively small compared with Filipinos, Indonesians and Sri Lankans, but the community reports mistreatment.

Some who escaped have recounted slave-like working and living conditions.

I understand that as [domestic] workers we need to get used to difficult working conditions, said Dao, who is vocal on social media about her experience. We didnt ask for much, just no starvation, no beatings, and three meals per day. If we had that, we would not have begged for rescue.

Trinh Thi Linh, from the northern Ha Nam province, works for a family in Riyadh.

Prior to taking this job, the 30-year-old had never travelled outside Vietnam and knew little about Saudi Arabia.

I was promised a salary of $388 a month, without paying any fees for the recruitment process, Linh told Al Jazeera by phone. I was very excited about the idea. Our family is quite poor, and a months salary [as a domestic worker] is more than what we earn for two crops.

I didn't even have sanitary pads and was forced to wash their feet and give them massages. At one point, she would throw out the leftover food rather than let me have it. Trinh Thi Linh, domestic worker

Linh said she has met other Vietnamese women in Saudi Arabia. The youngest is 28, the oldest 47. They are mostly farmers from Vietnams rural areas, many from the countrys ethnic minorities.

As soon as I arrived at the airport in Riyadh, they (employees from a Saudi company providing domestic workers) pushed me into a room with more than a hundred of others, she said. When my employer picked me up later, he took my passport and employment contract. Most women Ive talked to here experience the same thing.

Like Dao, she said she was given one meal a day and worked 18-hour shifts.

Another domestic worker, who requested anonymity, showed Al Jazeera her contract stipulating a nine-hour break  a standard given the contracts are composed by Vietnams labour ministry.

Dao shows notes from the Arabic lesson she took before her trip. Vietnamese domestic workers are entitled to classes on language, skills and culture but the sessions are poorly executed, say the workers [Yen Duong/Al Jazeera]

When Linh asked to be moved to another family  a workers right according to their contracts  staff at the Vietnamese broker company shouted at her and tried to intimidate her.

She went on a hunger strike for three days until her employer agreed to take her back to the Saudi company.

My employer told me hed paid a lot of money to bring me home  around $6,100  so he wanted me to stay, but I couldnt stand living there, Linh said. After a week, they did return me to the [Saudi] broker.

But her second employer was much worse.

A female family member rummaged through Linhs suitcases without her permission on the first day, locked her in a room and confiscated her passport.

She put all of my suitcases in a locked storage room, she did not let me use my phone and did not let me cook my own food. I didnt even have sanitary pads and was forced to wash their feet and give them massages. At one point, she would throw out the leftover food rather than let me have it.

After three months, I went from 74kg to 53kg. I was frustrated, panicked, frequently suffering from insomnia, and the only thing I could do was to cry.

Saudis labour ministry had not responded to Al Jazeeras request for an interview, sent more than a month ago, by the time of publishing. The Saudi embassy in Hanoi said it was unable to comment.

It becomes very difficult for the workers to prove that they are maltreated, overworked, beaten or even sexually assaulted. The execution of the law after all still favours the Saudi employers. Nguyen Thi Mai Thuy, coordinator for the ASEAN Triangle programme at Vietnam's International Labour Office

Nguyen Thi Mai Thuy, national project coordinator for the ASEAN Triangle programme at Vietnams International Labour Office (ILO), said the domestic work environment limits external communication.

What happens inside [the home] remains inside. It becomes very difficult for the workers to prove that they are maltreated, overworked, beaten or even sexually assaulted.

The execution of the law after all still favours the Saudi employers  the sponsors  rather than the workers themselves.

Domestic workers enter Saudi Arabia under the sponsorship, or kafala, system which prohibits them from changing jobs or leaving the country without their sponsors approval.

The UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar and Lebanon also tie workers visa status to their employers, making them vulnerable and dependent on host families.

In these countries, workers who attempt to escape from an abusive employer have been punished for absconding, with imprisonment, fines and deportations.

Vietnamese domestic workers are usually recruited by a Vietnamese broker company. That company then prepares these women linguistically and professionally before supplying them to Saudi recruitment agencies.

The Vietnamese company is liable for their rights.

This multilayered system means workers are vulnerable to abuse at every turn, said Thuy, the ILO coordinator.

There is no easy way out of the ordeal.

Leaving an employment contract carries a hefty fine, plus the price of a ticket back to Vietnam, if the worker is unable to prove abuse at the hands of their employers.

The cost of quitting is usually between $2,500 and $3,500.

Tuyet told her partner in Vietnam by phone that she is being abused by the family she works for in Riyadh [Yen Duong/Al Jazeera]

Bui Van Sangs partner, Tuyet, works in Riyadh.

He said she is being beaten and starved.

The Vietnamese broker company asked him for $2,155 for her return, but refused to put anything in writing, he claimed.

Her phone has been taken away and Sang is only able to contact her every two to three weeks, when her employer feels like [allowing her].

By the time he had raised the $2,155, the Vietnamese broker company demanded double the payment, he said.

He travelled 1,500km from his southern Vietnamese home province of Tay Ninh to the capital, Hanoi, to beg the broker, but was turned away.

I just want her to come back, Sang said. We never expected it to be this hard  for her to leave the home, her children and relatives here. If you consider the salary  $388 for 18 to 20 hours of work, it is much less than what she was paid here in Vietnam as a domestic helper.

Sang and his 12-year-old daughter at home in Tay Ninh province, southwest Vietnam. I just want her to come back. We never expected it to be this hard  for her to leave the home, her children and relatives here, he says [Yen Duong/Al Jazeera]

There are no independent organisations in either Saudi Arabia or Vietnam which ensure the safety of domestic workers.

In the past few years, reports of abuse have prompted Saudi authorities to suggest amendments to existing labour regulations, but rights groups say they fall short.

Workers and their relatives have to rely entirely on the Vietnamese broker companies for support.

Linh, the domestic helper in Riyadh, said when she contacted the Vietnamese company that brought her there, they told her the employment contract is only valid in Vietnam, not in Saudi Arabia.

They [the Vietnamese companies] are supposed to protect our rights, but all they do is yell at us, Linh said by phone. Now I just want to leave the country. If I go to the police, at least theyd bring me to the detention centre, and Id be deported and allowed to leave.

She recently livestreamed a video detailing the treatment that she and many fellow Vietnamese domestic helpers face while working in Saudi Arabia.

The video has been viewed 113,000 times.

Many women I know here just want the same thing  they just want to leave, she said. But they are afraid, threatened, and dont even dare to speak out.Government launches donation drive analysts say is unlikely to succeed, raising questions of how funds will be used.

Islamabad, Pakistan  Pakistans government has launched an ambitious $12.4bn crowdfunding drive to build two major hydroelectric dams, a move analysts say is unlikely to succeed and could leave citizens with no recourse to recoup donations if the goal isnt met.

The drive, launched by populist Chief Justice Saqib Nisar in July, has so far gathered $29.1m. If donations continue at this rate, it will take 87 years for Pakistan to reach the initial cost estimates.

Large multi-purpose dams tend to overrun cost estimates by an average of 63 percent, according to a study by the World Commission on Dams.

Nevertheless, donations have been pouring in, buoyed by the backing of newly elected Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has supported the campaign and called on citizens at home and overseas to donate heavily.

It will succeed because we finally have a person who has proved himself, said Momina Aslam, an Islamabad resident who said she voted for Khan and has donated to the dam fund.

Pakistans powerful military  which has ruled the country for roughly half of its 71-year history  has also backed the drive, with army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa handing over a cheque worth $8.1m to the chief justice earlier this month.

The dams in question, the 4,500MW Diamer-Bhasha hydroelectric project and the 800MW Mohmand hydroelectric dam, are both located in northern Pakistan.

Construction on the $2.5bn Mohmand project has been under way since 2012, funded so far by the Pakistani and French governments.

Work on Diamer-Bhasha, by far the larger project at a cost of $9.9bn (about four percent of Pakistans GDP), has yet to begin.

Not feasible

Across Pakistan, messages imploring one to donate to the dam bombard citizens at every corner.

Banners fly outside bank branches, which have been ordered by the Supreme Court to set up accounts to accept funds from the public. Donations are also accepted by SMS via mobile phone service providers.

On television, news channels have been instructed to run government-produced advertisements and telethons promoting the drive. In one advertisement, a childs voice makes an emotive plea, as images show a dried-out river bed.

Criticism of the funding drive, meanwhile, is tantamount to sedition, according to Nisar, who said last week he will charge those who publicly oppose the project with high treason.

Pakistans media regulator, too, has warned channels not to criticise the effort.

Questions, however, persist, particularly on whether the drive is a feasible way to fund a major infrastructure project.

This is not really feasible at all, said Khurram Husain, an economic analyst, and one of the first journalists to raise the alarm at the potential folly of the donation drive.

The amounts involved are far too large, and raising them through donations is far too slow a process and likely to take too long to get to even initial targets.

Husain said the government should have undertaken a more thorough review of options available for infrastructure finance, including the issuance of bonds, redirecting existing expenditures or approaching international donor organisations.

In 2011, Ethiopia launched a similar public drive to construct the $5bn Grand Renaissance Dam on the River Nile.

While it reached its target, the majority of funds were generated from a mix of bonds and Chinese infrastructure financing.

It is also unclear what the fate of the money donated will be if the targets to build the dams are not met.

What happens to the funds is something we dont know, said Husain. We dont even know how they intend to spend this money.

A Supreme Court spokesperson did not offer comment when asked how the fund is being administered.

Crowdfunding infrastructure?

In the realm of crowdfunding civic infrastructure, what Pakistan is attempting has never been successfully done before, analysts say.

If they want it to be strictly crowdfunded, and are not incentivising to bring in [international aid organisations] for more than 70 percent of it, it is very, very difficult, said Kate Gasparro, a researcher at Stanfords Global Projects Centre who studies initiatives aimed at crowdfunding civic infrastructure.

Successful crowdfunding of civic infrastructure projects, she says, tends to be aimed at specific aspects of a project, and is usually undertaken in the design phase, not for actual construction.

This is very atypical, she told Al Jazeera. Usually civic crowdfunding is used just for the design aspect of a project. It is used for financial and social support at the early stage so you can understand what the community wants.

Civic infrastructure projects that have been successful at raising the required capital tend to be in a range between $30,000 to $70,000, she said, and are usually much smaller in scope, such as funding bicycle lanes on existing roads, or renovations of community centres.

One of largest such projects was the renovation of the Madeira terraces, in the United Kingdom town of Brighton, where citizens donated more than $600,000 for the partial renovation of a seaside boardwalk.

Pakistans Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand dams, however, require more than 20,000 times that amount.

Moreover, most civic infrastructure crowdfunding initiatives in other countries work through an intermediary, such as Spacehive and ioby. Pakistans approach of soliciting donations directly from citizens leads to inherent risks, Gasparro says.

It creates a risk for what happens to the money if they dont reach the goal, or even how the money will be released at all.

Why donate?

So, given the risks and the unlikelihood that the drive will ever reach its goal, why are citizens giving at all?

It is not just about the money, its about creating a sense of togetherness, that we all need to do something for the country, together, said Suhela Asif, 39, an aid worker from Islamabad.

Asif says she was aware the fund was unlikely to ever reach its goal, but she intended to donate anyway.

Seen from that perspective, analysts say it makes sense why citizens would want to contribute, regardless of the risk.

People are contributing because there is a national fervour for a project that attempts to address a problem [a countrywide water shortage] that people have obviously realised is a serious one, said Umair Javed, a political scientist at the Lahore University of Management Sciences.

Its like any patriotic fervour, so the arguments against it can be dismissed as scepticism or cynicism and  people arent really interrogating their decision to donate.

Dark side of donations

There is, however, a potentially darker side to the donation drive.

Last month, the chief justice ordered a litigant to pay 1 million Pakistani rupees ($8,115) into the dam fund if he wanted his request for an adjournment to be granted.

In another case, a group of chiefs of medical colleges  whose case was being heard by the Chief Justice  made a donation of nearly 17 million Pakistani rupees ($137,500) to the fund. Soon after, that case was disposed of, with the Chief Justice reversing his previous opposition to a fee rise.

Major donors to the fund so far have included banks, an association of foreign exchange dealers and a major real estate developer, many of whom have cases pending before the Supreme Court, or are in negotiations with the government.

One hopes that various litigants are not seeing their contributions to the dam fund as ways of softening their image before the court, said Husain, the economic analyst.

Not every citizen, meanwhile, is on board with the drive.

Why is it that every time a catastrophe happens, the people have to pay for it? says Meher Azmat, 34, an architect from Lahore who voted for Khan, but opposes the donation drive.

I think the public has suffered enough over the years, this government needs to come up with sustainable solutions. This is just stupid.

Asad Hashim is Al Jazeeras digital correspondent in Pakistan. He tweets @AsadHashimStrengthening small enterprises

To expect that the private sector can play a lead role in economic growth when SMEs are so ignored is a mirageMore than four years after seizing the capital, the Houthis have consolidated their grip over large parts of Yemen.

Yemen has been torn apart by conflict since late 2014, when Houthi rebels, allied with troops loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, captured much of the country, including the capital, Sanaa.

A coalition assembled by Saudi Arabia launched an air campaign against the rebels in March 2015 to try to restore the internationally recognised government of President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

With logistical support from the US, the Saudi-UAE alliance has carried out more than 18,000 raids on Houthi-held areas in an attempt to reverse their gains.

More than 60,000 people have been killed in the fighting, millions of civilians have been forced from their homes and the impoverished country has been pushed to the brink of famine.

The Arab coalitions campaign of air raids has devastated Houthi positions, ammunition depots and bases, but largely failed to pave the way for the recapture of Sanaa.Although it is currently in Russias interest to de-escalate tensions in Idlib, an attack is still likely.

After months of heightened tensions in the Syrian province of Idlib, the last stronghold of the Syrian opposition, Russia and Turkey seem to have reached a temporary solution.

Following a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on September 17 in Sochi, the two countries agreed to create a demilitarised zone 15-20km into opposition-control territories along the de-facto front line by October 15.

All radical fighters are to withdraw from the area and all heavy weapons, tanks, rocket launchers, guns and mortars are to be removed. Russian military police and Turkish troops will be patrolling the zone to ensure that all armed groups abide by the agreement. Erdogan and Putin also agreed to open the M4 and M5 highways linking respectively Latakia and Damascus to Aleppo to traffic from regime-held areas by the end of the year.

Of course, this temporary truce is far from ideal and does not include a roadmap for normalisation of the situation in the province, but it is still better than all the other, more violent, options.

The main beneficiary of the deal is, of course, Ankara, but it is also in Moscows interest to de-escalate tensions. Despite its extremely militaristic rhetoric, Russia too wanted to avoid a large-scale offensive and most importantly, a potential military confrontation with Turkey.

That risk got that much higher when Ankara started deploying even more troops and heavy weaponry to the province earlier this month.

A large-scale military operation could have also led to another chemical attack, as the United Nations, the United States and Russia itself warned. This would have exposed Moscow to more criticism and scrutiny from the international community and institutions. Given the ongoing investigation into the Skripal poisoning in the UK, which has named two Russian intelligence agents as main suspects, the Kremlin wants to avoid another international scandal.

At the same time, while its in Russia and the Syrian governments interest to destroy the armed opposition and capture Idlib, doing so would effectively mean the end of the Astana process. As a result, the Kremlin would lose an important platform for legitimising its presence in Syria and for engaging with Turkey. Moscow has sought closer relations with Ankara not only to secure major energy projects but also to use them as leverage against the European Union and the US.

Capturing Idlib would also bring a military solution to the Syrian crisis, which would automatically remove Russia from its position as kingmaker in Syria. In any further political negotiations, Russias military presence in Syria would no longer have much leverage value, as talks would focus on funding and reconstruction  two areas where Moscow feels extremely insecure and unable to offer much.

Although, for now, a demilitarised zone in Idlib seems to be in the interest of both Russia and Turkey, there are no guarantees that it will be implemented. Both will now have to convince their partners on the ground to submit to this arrangement and it is not clear whether the Syrian government or the Syrian opposition (especially the radical elements within it) would agree to it. This means that the likelihood of a large-scale military operation in Idlib remains extremely high

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is still determined to regain control over Idlib and the forces loyal to him were bombing the opposition in Idlib until last week. After this years victories in the Damascus suburb of Eastern Ghouta and in the southern provinces of Deraa and Quneitra, he no doubt wants to keep the momentum going and attack Idlib. The question for Damascus was never whether it should attack the opposition stronghold in the northwest or not, but when it should do so.

On the other side, it is unclear whether the opposition would agree to disengage and disarm, especially the radical part of it  i.e. the former al-Qaeda affiliate Hayet Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

Even if Turkey is able to convince HTS and other radical groups to withdraw from the demilitarised zone, it might have trouble securing the M4 and M5 highways. About 200km of both roads run through opposition-controlled areas, which would not be included in the demilitarised zone. Turkey is likely to face major challenges ensuring that there are no attacks or robberies by armed groups once the highways are opened to traffic from regime-held areas.

If Turkey ends up having to launch a military operation against HTS to contain it, it will face another challenge: obtaining permission from Russia to use Syrias airspace for its fighter jets. During the Afrin operation, Moscow initially allowed the Turkish air force to operate above Afrin and then disallowed it. For the Kremlin, this is a matter of principle: once it loses control over Idlibs airspace, it risks not being able to get it back. With no air cover, Turkeys military operation would face major difficulties and the process of disengagement, in general, would seriously falter.

In the end, even if the demilitarised zone is successfully implemented, it would only be a temporary solution to the problem of Idlibs future status. Moscow made a gesture of goodwill to Ankara but it also has transferred responsibility for what happens next in the province to its Turkish partner. The majority of the work to implement and maintain this agreement will fall on Turkeys shoulders.

How long the deal will hold and whether Russia indeed has put on hold its plans for an Idlib offensive will become clear in the following few weeks.



The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.The Judeo-Islamic tradition has deep historical roots that Zionism and Islamism have tried to erase.

On the Gregorian calendar (so named after Pope Gregory XIII) this September, two of the holiest Jewish and Islamic high holidays coincide. On September 10, Jews around the world began their high holidays by commemorating Rosh Hashana which continues for 10 days until September 19, Yom Kippur. It is on that day that Muslims in general, and Shia in particular, commemorate the sacred day of Tasua and then a day later  Ashoura  the 9th and 10th of the Islamic month of Muharram respectively.

Both the Jewish and Islamic calendars are lunar while the Gregorian calendar on which they are being cast is solar. The lunar calendar is 11 days shorter than the solar and for that reason, though stable on their own respective calendars, Jewish and Islamic holidays appear to roam aimlessly on the Christian calendar.

None of this is the fault of either the Jewish or the Islamic calendar. Given the way in which the Christian calendar has been imperially universalised, the other two may look erratic and confusing, but Jewish and Islamic high holy days are perfectly logical, routine, and regular.

The twain have met

Both Jewish and Muslim observers have noticed this proximity between Yom Kippur and Ashoura. On the occasion of the two holidays coinciding in 2016, Rabbi Allen S Maller noted how both holy days occur on the 10th day of the month, Muharram for Muslims and Tishri for Jews.

By way of explanation, he adds: In ancient times the two branches of Abrahams house followed the same lunar-solar system of intercalating an additional month 7 times in a cycle of 19 years. Thus, the 7th Jewish month of Tishri coincided with Muharram; and the Ashura (10th) of Muharram synchronized with the 10th of Tishri, the Jewish Day of Atonement  a day of fast.

On the occasion of a similar concurrence in 2015, Haroon Moghul , a Muslim American writer and a fellow at the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding, wrote in a piece for CNN: If youre wondering why Muslims would celebrate a Jewish holiday, thats because neither [Prophet] Mohammed nor the Early Muslims saw themselves as part of a new faith.

Both Maller and Moghul cite an authentic prophetic hadith, according to which Prophet Muhammad once encountered Jews in Medina fasting on the 10th of Muharram/Tishrei and joined them in their fast.

Thus the origin of this overlap in tradition is traced back to the time of the Prophet himself.

Thinking in Judeo-Islamic terms

The similarities, correspondences and affinities of such aspects of Islam and Judaism are only strange or bizarre to those who have fallen into the trap of falsely projecting the Zionist colonial adventurism in Palestine backwards onto history and positing an entrenched hostility between Jews and Muslims.

Like Christianity, Islam is deeply influenced by Judaism and has an even stronger proximity to its theological monotheism. This is not a matter of opinion or ideological position. It is a matter of historical fact.

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The infamous statement of former US president Barack Obama that The Middle East is going through a transformation that will play out for a generation, rooted in conflicts that date back millennia, is typical of the ahistorical gibberish that manufactures hostility between Islam and Judaism, and perforce between Jews and Muslims. By making such declarations, Obama projects his own criminal role in prolonging the Palestinian suffering under Zionist occupation to some distant past that never was.

Much of the confusion and conflation of Judaism and Zionism, and particularly the false and pernicious extension of the charge of anti-Semitism against Muslims, have the same roots as this forced approximation of both Jewish and Islamic calendars to the Gregorian calendar  where Jews and Muslims are forced to see each other in Christian terms.

Zionism is the condition of Jewish alienation from Judaism, precisely in the way militant Islamism is the condition of self-alienation for Muslims.

Contrary to the Judeo-Christian concoction (contested and contradicted by a long history of Christian anti-Semitism), the idea of Judeo-Islamic tradition is not based on any political or ideological project but evident in the most robust period of Jewish and Islamic philosophies that is unrivalled in any other tradition.

Consider the fact that saying these Jewish and Islamic holidays are on such and such days in September is entirely meaningless to both Jews and Muslims and the inner rhythm of their own respective calendars. We are forced to do so because we are writing in English (as opposed to Hebrew, Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Urdu, etc.) and using what is called Common Era, or Civic Calendar.

Both of these expressions are actually nervous and futile attempts to disguise the fact that we are all forced to use an imperial Christian calendar, which is ipso facto a distortion of the time and narrative of both Jews and Muslims and which approximates them to a dominant Christian temporal order.

As a European colonial project, Zionism was formed in a decidedly Christian context and its endemic anti-Semitism  most violently evident in the course of the Crusades  of endless pogroms and, ultimately, the Holocaust.

But before and beyond the Zionist abuse of Judaism (similar to the Islamist abuse of Islam in Iran and Saudi Arabia, or colonial abuse of Christianity in the US, the fundamentalist abuse of Hinduism in India, or the nationalist abuse of Buddhism in Myanmar), there is an enduring and historically grounded proximity to the Judeo-Islamic heritage which started even before the Golden Era of Andalusia.

From Saadia Gaon (882-942) to Yehuda Halevi (1075-1141) to Maimonides (1135-1204), the leading luminaries of Jewish philosophy were in enduring conversation with their Muslim counterpart  Avicenna (980-1037), Abu Hamid al-Ghazali (1058-1111) and Averroes (1126-1198).

This Judeo-Islamic philosophical tradition was real and not created out of any political convenience or necessity. Today, militant Zionism, puritanical Islamism and evangelical imperialism are collectively invested in concealing these historical facts and either denying or else catapulting the profound heritage of Judeo-Islamic philosophy back into ancient times.

Political Islamism, militant Zionism, Christian imperialism

Racist, Islamophobic, xenophobic anti-Semites like Steve Bannon (a strong advocate of Israel) now use the term Judeo-Christian tradition as a subterfuge to fabricate a common religious foregrounding for anti-Muslim bigotry. There is an entire bloody history of Jewish suffering defying that hyphenated delusion of Judeo-Christian heritage.

How could a racist, Christian-Zionist anti-Semite lay a claim on any Judeo-Christian heritage  except as a ridiculously transparent Islamophobic trope?

The fact of the Judeo-Islamic tradition, however, is far more potent historical evidence than semi-literate propaganda officers like Bannon and his ilk can even fathom, let alone contest.

Three complementary ideological fanaticisms are chiefly responsible for the sustained bifurcation manufactured today between Islam and Judaism  all of them handmade by European colonialism, all of them invested in denying and dismissing the legacies of the Judeo-Islamic tradition. Militant Islamism, fanatical Zionism and Christian imperialism are the triangulated foregrounding of fear and fanaticism that has wreaked havoc in our world and systematically and consistently distorted the clarity of our historical visions.

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Wahhabism in Saudi Arabia, militant Shiism in Iran, and Zionism in Israel are today the identical ideological byproducts of European colonialism. In opposition to European colonialism, militant Islamism (both the Sunni and Shia versions of it), stripped Islamic intellectual history of its factual pluralistic and cosmopolitan character, reducing it to a singular site of resistance to European colonialism. In the same vein, Zionism, extending the racist logic of European colonialism into the heart of the Arab world, stripped Judaism of its equally worldly moral imagination.

Fanatical Islamism, settler colonial Zionism and imperial evangelicalism are chiefly responsible for this manufactured rift between Judaism and Islam against the historical grain of their proximities. And precisely for that reason, any legitimate criticism of Zionism as a racist colonial project that spills over into a racist attack on Judaism and Jews is falling fast into the Zionist trap and by definition is anti-Semitic.

Of course, what has historically exacerbated the mutual impacts of Islamism and Zionism is the course of Christian imperialism, now best represented in the racist malignancies of the likes of Steve Bannon. His brand of evangelical imperialism now actively presides over and exacerbates both militant Islamism and fanatical Zionism. Steve Bannon, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and Naftali Bennett are all cut from the same cloth.

Retrieving a lost cosmopolitan culture

To state and repeat the obvious: not all Zionists are Jews and not all Jews are Zionists. Christian and now even Muslim and Hindu Zionists are among the wealthiest and most powerful, sustaining the calamitous course of the colonisation of Palestine.

That is the end of the false and deliberate Zionist conflation of their violent state ideology with Judaism  precisely on the model of the abuse of Islam and Muslims by Islamist ideologies now ruling in Iran and Saudi Arabia. In their mutual hostilities against each other, they are in fact steadfastly united with each other in robbing Judaism, Christianity and Islam of their shared legacies, blinding the world to reason and sanity.

The idea of a much closer proximity between Islam and Judaism than now deliberately clouded by the Zionist colonial project does not mean historically there has not been a relation of power between the two world religions.

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From its very inception, Islam has been definitive to multiple and successive world empires  in which (from the Umayyads and the Abbasids to the Safavids and the Ottomans) Zoroastrian, Jewish, and Christian communities have lived. There could not have possibly been any equality between the ruling elite of the powerful Muslim empires and these small minorities in their domains.

That in these dynastic and imperial Muslim contexts there has been a Judeo-Islamic philosophical tradition unrivalled anywhere else in the world is a testimony to the presence of potent intellectual thrusts among Muslim and Jewish philosophers responding to the mighty heritage of Greek philosophical tradition they shared.

The fates of both Judaism and Islam have been pitted against each other in the context of European colonial conquests in Arab lands, giving almost simultaneous birth to militant Zionism and triumphalist Islamism  one as a colonial and the other as an anti-colonial project of violent state-formation.

Militant Islamism and bellicose Zionism are coterminous with the Christian imperialism that frames them both. All these three triumphalist ideologies are morally bankrupt projects.

The task at hand is how to save Islam, Judaism, and Christianity  as three world religions and concurrent frames of our moral imagination  from the claws of so many decades of epistemic abuse.

The concurrence of Yom Kippur and Ashoura this September is a gentle reminder of a much different history than the one mandated in Palestine and beyond by the malignant disease of European colonialism.

There is nothing wrong with Muslims celebrating a Jewish holiday while commemorating their own most sacrosanct days. There is nothing wrong with Jews looking at a Muslim holiday and seeing the distant mirror of their own ancient beliefs. If either of those two sentences sounds odd today, we need to overcome both fanatical Zionism and militant Islamism, upend Steve Bannons Christian imperialism, so we can remember and retrieve a history of the world now hidden under the heavy smokescreen of fanaticism, ignorance and greed.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.Countrys $100m strawberry industry in crisis as government introduces laws to prosecute people contaminating fruits.

ByBrazils Trump leads polls ahead of vote after stabbing

Far-right Bolsonaro leads the polls ahead of the election, but support for opposition candidate Haddad has also risen.Bogota  Carmenza Gomez was planning a surprise Christmas dinner in the winter of 2008 to celebrate having her eight children back together under one roof in their home in an impoverished suburb in Bogota, the capital of Colombia.

That summer, the family had finally been reunited after years apart due to the sons military service. It was months away, but Carmenza wanted to throw an elaborate dinner to share their first Christmas together in years.

But just days after the last of her sons arrived home, 23-year-old Victor Fernando, her third youngest, disappeared.

I didnt tell any of them what I was planning [for Christmas], Carmenza recalled nearly a decade later. It turns out my wishes were never fulfilled, she said between heavy sighs. Thats when they took Victor and killed him.

On the evening Victor disappeared, he told one of his brothers he was leaving town to take a temporary and lucrative job opportunity on the coast. But two days later, the young father of one was found dead, along with two other young men from Soacha. At least eight other bodies were also found in the area.

According to initial official reports, Victor was killed in combat with the Colombian military and dressed in uniform belonging to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebel group. But the family maintained Victor wasnt a rebel fighter.

Carmenza Gomezs son, Victor, was killed by the Colombian military in 2008 [Christina Noriega/Al Jazeera]

The mysterious deaths of Victor and other young men from Soacha led to a government investigation in September 2008 that uncovered what is widely considered one of the worst human rights abuses in Colombias history.

It was revealed that the Colombian military lured, killed and falsely reported civilians as combat kills to boost body counts in the war against the FARC (the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia). The military committed at least 2,248 of these extrajudicial killings, known as false positives between 1988 and 2014, according to a report from Colombias prosecutors office, but rights groups say the number may be much higher. The victims were generally young men between the ages of 18 and 30 and many worked as farmers or informal labourers in the peripheries of the city.

In April 2017, 21 members of the military were sentenced to 37 to 52 years in prison for killing Victor and four other young men as part of the false positive scandal.

Although the conviction seemed to initially bring some justice and closure to the Gomez family, Carmenza, along with other victims mothers, now fear those convicted may receive impunity or less harsh sentences after the military men requested their cases be heard as part of a transitional justice system, which was set up under the 2016 peace deal between the FARC and the government.

Accept charges and confess the truth

The Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) began operations earlier this year to investigate and serve justice in cases of human rights violations committed in relation to Colombias 52-year-old armed conflict.

In July, the JEP announced it would prioritise cases of extrajudicial killings falsely presented as combat kills. According to the prosecutors office, about 90 percent of the 1,944 members of the armed forces who had submitted their cases to the transitional justice system were implicated in cases of extrajudicial killings. About 965 military members were released from prison and granted freedom in return for their commitment to tell the truth in the JEP. Another 134 were also released but were ordered to stay within military or police barracks while their cases are heard.

These benefits were granted because these cases are prima facie [under initial examination] considered to be related to the armed conflict, Catalina Diaz, one of the 38 magistrates that make up the JEP, told Al Jazeera.

As outlined by the peace deal between the FARC and the Colombian government, the JEP offers benefits such as conditional liberty, lighter sentences, and alternative sanctions to armed actors who submit their interest of being tried by the JEP and fulfill a series of requirements, including an obligation to contribute to the truth, the non-repetition of the crimes and presenting reparations to the victims.

I didn't tell any of them what I was planning (for Christmas). It turns out my wishes were never fulfilled. That's when they took Victor and killed him. Carmenza Gomez, member of the Mothers of Soacha

For the victims mothers, including Carmenza, who waited nine years for a conviction in the ordinary justice system, seeing the men convicted for her sons death receive such benefits is difficult to accept.

But what concerns Carmenza the most is that if the JEP presides over the cases of those already convicted, they may receive shorter sentences and still not tell the entire truth. The maximum sentence in the JEP is 20 years.

How are they going to appeal to the Special Peace Jurisdiction if they didnt accept charges [in the ordinary justice system]? Carmenza asked. Now they need to accept charges and confess the truth because if they dont, what is the point? How will there be justice?

We want to know who ordered the killings

Carmenza and others who are part of the Mothers of Soacha (MAFAPO), an organisation formed in 2008 by the families of false positive victims in Bogota, want the JEP to not only hand out justice but uncover the greater truth behind the killings.

The military men who shot our family members say this is what happened, I shot him, but beyond that, they cant tell us anything else. We need to know who ordered these crimes. Thats the greater truth and thats what we want to know now, Jacqueline Castillo, a member of the Mothers of Soacha whose brother was killed in 2008, said.

On Friday, the Mothers of Soacha called on retired general Mario Montoya to tell the entire truth during a presentation to the JEP on false positive killings of youth from Bogota. A day earlier, Montoya appeared in front of the JEP magistrates to officially submit his case to the transitional justice system. At the hearing, the retired general, who is the highest ranking officer to appear before the JEP to date, claimed he had no knowledge of the actions of the crimes of his subordinates.

Montoya is under investigation by the prosecutors office for his alleged role in 44 extrajudicial killings reportedly committed during his time as commander of the 4th Brigade troops. He also served as top commander of the Colombian Army at the height of the extrajudicial killings from 2006 to 2008.

Montoya is under investigation by the prosecutors office for his alleged role in 44 extrajudicial killings [Christina Noriega/Al Jazeera]

For Castillo, Montoyas testimony is imperative to understanding why her brother and thousands of civilians were killed and how high up the command chain knowledge or responsibility for these killings reached.

We consider [Montoya] to be the person who can truly tell the truth, Castillo said. Mario Montoya will have to tell us if the order to commit these crimes came from Juan Manuel Santos, who was minister of defence at the time, or Alvaro Uribe Velez, who was president of Colombia at the time.

The JEP will decide whether it will hear Montoyas case and those of others allegedly involved in the false positive scandal in the coming months.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has indicated ambiguities and loopholes in the implementing legislation of the JEP could allow senior officers responsible for false positive killings to escape meaningful justice, said Juan Pappier, Americas researcher for HRW, in a statement to Al Jazeera.

These include a definition of command responsibility that distorts the definition under international law in a manner that could allow army generals to evade accountability for the hundreds of killings committed by army soldiers under their watch, he said.

We're here. And here, we expect to hear the greater truth. Jacqueline Castillo, member of the Mothers of Soacha

At least 900 members of the armed forces have been convicted for homicides committed by state agents, a representative of the Attorney Generals Office told the Colombian newspaper, El Colombiano, in 2016. Still, victims, lawyers collectives, human rights organisations, and the International Criminal Court (ICC) point out most senior officers have yet to be convicted or charged. Last year, the ICC identified 23 generals and six active and retired colonels, including the current top commander of the Army, whose cases could be taken up by the international court if the ordinary justice system and the JEP are found unwilling or incapable of serving justice.

We will do our best efforts for justice to be served, Magistrate Diaz told the Mothers of Soacha during their presentation. And were not going to remain complacent with knowing who pulled the trigger Instead, we are going to also investigate who gave the orders.

As the Mother of Soachas presentation wound down on Friday at the JEP, Castillo, dressed in a white T-shirt that read 10 years alive and united for the truth, reminded Montoya and the rest of the members of the armed forces that, just as they have done before, the victims families will continue to demand their rights as another chapter in their search for justice and truth begins.

Were here, Castillo said. And here, we expect to hear the greater truth.Christine Blasey Ford has alleged US Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when they were teens.

Christine Blasey Ford wants the FBI to investigate her allegation that she was sexually assaulted by the US Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh before she testifies at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing next week, her lawyers said in a letter to the panel.

The lawyers wrote that Ford, a college professor in California, wants to cooperate with the committee.

But in the days since she publicly accused Kavanaugh of the assault when they were teens at a party 35 years ago, the lawyers said, she has been the target of vicious harassment and even death threats. Her family has relocated, they said.





An FBI investigation should be the first step in addressing the allegations, the lawyers wrote in the Tuesday letter, which was obtained by The Associated Press news agency.

The development came after President Donald Trump showered sympathy on his embattled nominee and as Senate Republicans and Democrats fought determinedly over who should testify at a high-stakes hearing on the allegation just six weeks before major congressional elections.

Trump has already rejected the idea of bringing in the FBI to reopen its background check of Kavanaugh.

Should he order such a review, it would likely delay a confirmation vote until after the election.

Republicans hope to have Kavanaugh confirmed by October 1, the start of the next Supreme Court term.

In a tweet Tuesday night, Trump wrote: The Supreme Court is one of the main reasons I got elected President. I hope Republican Voters, and others, are watching, and studying, the Democrats Playbook.

Meanwhile, Republicans are suggesting that Ford, whose allegations have upended Kavanaughs nomination  the committees vote was already pushed from Thursday to likely next week  will have one chance to testify, and one chance only.

Monday is her opportunity, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday, a line that was echoed by other Republicans throughout the day.

McConnell expressed confidence that Kavanaugh would be confirmed. Im not concerned about tanking the nomination, he said.

The GOP chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Chuck Grassley of Iowa, said an FBI investigation wouldnt have bearing on Fords testimony so there is no reason for further delay.

Grassley said the committee offered Ford the opportunity to share her story in a public or a private hearing, or staff interviews, whichever makes her most comfortable. The invitation for Monday still stands.

Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah, a key Republican on the panel, said, We should proceed as planned.

Republican Mitch McConnell said he was confident Kavanaugh would be confirmed [AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite]

The furious jockeying over Fords testimony underscores its political potency so close to an election that will decide control of both the House and Senate, not to mention the confirmation of a conservative justice likely to serve on the high court for decades.

Democrats complain that Ford was not consulted before the hearing was announced. They also want more witnesses besides Kavanaugh and Ford, hoping to avoid what they said would turn into a he-said-she-said moment.

The lawyers for Ford predicted the hearing, as now scheduled, would include interrogation by senators who appear to have made up their minds that she is mistaken and mixed up.

But Democrats also said Tuesday they were planning to attend the hearing even if Ford did not show up.

Senator Dick Durbin said he had a lot of questions for Kavanaugh. A simple denial is not the end of questioning.

As Democrats press for more time to investigate, Republicans have been careful to say that Ford should have her chance to speak, and they have stressed that they are willing to move Mondays hearing behind closed doors, if she prefers.

Were planning on a hearing Monday. It can be open. It can be closed, whatever Ms Ford wants, said Senator John Kennedy, a member of the Judiciary panel from Louisiana. Were ready to hear anything she has to say. I am, anyway, and I think most of us are.

Republican Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee  among a handful of Republicans who insisted on hearing from Ford before voting  said it would be a shame if Ford didnt show up to testify. But he suggested Republicans will not bend from their offer of a hearing Monday.

That would be quite something if she decided she did not want to testify, Corker said. Id assume the committee would then move on as they should.

One witness the Democrats want to hear from is Kavanaughs high school friend Mark Judge, who Ford said was in the room when she was assaulted. Kavanaugh has denied Fords allegation, and Judge says he doesnt remember any such thing. More to the point, I never saw Brett act in the manner Dr. Ford describes, Judge said in a letter to the panel.

The risks of a public hearing starring the all-male lineup of Republicans on the committee could be high. Republicans said late Tuesday they were considering hiring outside lawyers, presumably including women, to question the witnesses. But that may be moot if Ford declines to appear.

Democrat Dianne Feinstein said this is really what #MeToo is all about [AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite]

Kavanaugh, 53, was at the White House on Tuesday for a second straight day, but again did not meet with Trump. The president said he was totally supporting Kavanaugh and felt terribly for him and his family.

I feel so badly for him that hes going through this, to be honest with you, I feel so badly for him, said Trump, who has himself faced numerous accusations of sexual harassment that hes denied. This is not a man that deserves this.

The number two Senate Republican leader, John Cornyn of Texas, noted that Ford has admitted she doesnt remember some details of the incident. He called the allegations a drive-by attack on the judges character.

There are gaps in her memory, Cornyn said. She doesnt know how she got there, when it was, and so that would logically be something where she would get questions.

Criticism like that fed a Democratic narrative that the GOPs handling of Ford could jeopardize that partys election prospects in the age of #MeToo, the response to sexual abuse that has torched the careers of prominent men.

Now this is really what #MeToo is all about, if you think about it, said Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, the top Judiciary Committee Democrat. Thats sort of the first thing that happens, its the womans fault. And it is not the womans fault.

Meanwhile, Kavanaugh has been calling Republican senators, including Kennedy, who said the nominee was committed to moving forward.

Hes not happy, hes upset, Kennedy said. He said very clearly and unequivocally, This did not happen.

Ford went public with her story Sunday, telling The Washington Post that Kavanaugh had forced himself on her in a bedroom at a party when he was 17 and she was 15, attempting to remove her clothes and clamping his hand over her mouth when she tried to scream. She says she escaped when Judge jumped on the bed.The International Criminal Court has initiated a preliminary investigation into alleged crimes against the Rohingya.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has launched a preliminary investigation into Myanmars crackdown on the Muslim-majority Rohingya that forced hundreds of thousands to flee across the border to Bangladesh.

The examination will look at a range of allegations against Myanmars security forces that could include the killing of Rohingya civilians, sexual violence, forced disappearance, destruction and looting, ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said in a written statement on Tuesday.

A preliminary examination is not an investigation but a process of examining the information available in order to reach a fully informed determination on whether there is a reasonable basis to proceed with an investigation, Bensouda added.

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Myanmar has repeatedly argued that the ICC does not have jurisdiction to investigate the allegations because it is not a party to the Rome Statute, which established the court.

The ICC authorised Bensouda to open the case after its judges ruled that the alleged crime of deportation happened partly in Bangladesh, which is a member of the court.

While Myanmar is not a State Party to the ICC, Bangladesh is. The Court may therefore exercise jurisdiction over conduct to the extent it partly occurred on the territory of Bangladesh, Bensouda wrote.

The announcement followed the release of a UN report that detailed allegations of crimes committed by the Myanmar military against the Rohingya.

It reiterated earlier findings that some senior Myanmar military officials should be prosecuted for war crimes and genocide.

Myanmars ambassador in Geneva called that report one-sided and flawed.

Exodus

More than 700,000 mostly Muslim Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh since August last year.

The UNs refugee agency, UNHCR, estimates that children make up 55 percent of the total Rohingya refugee population in Bangladesh.

A family-counting exercise conducted in December 2017 by the UNHCR found more than 5,500 families being led by children under 18.

The Rohingya were stripped of citizenship in 1982 and have been subject to persecution in the Rakhine state of Myanmar, where most lived.

Labelled Bengali by the government and much of the Myanmar population, to infer that they are interlopers from Bangladesh, Rohingya are denied access to healthcare, education and freedom of movement.Muslim men in India who use instant divorce will face jail term up to three years, according to an executive order.

New Delhi, India  Indias government on Wednesday decided to make the practice of instant triple talaq (divorce) a punishable offence through an executive order after the draft law failed to pass in parliament in August.

Under the proposed law, Muslim men who end their marriage using instant divorce, or talaq-e-biddat, will now face a jail term of up to three years and a fine.

The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill 2017, introduced by the Narendra Modi government in parliament last year, could not be passed due to lack of consensus.

This step is only to target Muslim men. Flavia Agnes, women's rights activist

Opposition parties had criticised some of the stringent provisions of the draft law, including non-bailable arrest.

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The countrys Supreme Court last year banned triple talaq practised by some in the Muslim community, saying it was unconstitutional.

On Wednesday, Indias Minister of Law and Justice Ravi Shankar Prasad told a news conference that the government was forced to issue the order because the practice persisted despite the top court decision last year.

Under the new government order, police will take cognisance of an offence if a victim of this practice or her blood relative file a case, the minister said. A magistrate can grant bail to the accused in this case only after hearing the wife, he added.

A bad decision

Flavia Agnes, a womens rights lawyer based in New Delhi, said the governments move makes no sense.

This is a bad decision. They could not pass it in parliament, now they have brought an executive order. The Supreme Court has already said it is invalid. So if something is invalid already, how can it be a crime? Agnes asked.

The effect on women of instant triple talaq and desertion of wives is the same. So many men, Hindus and Muslims, desert their wives, that should also be criminalised. Why are you not doing anything about that? This step is only to target Muslim men, she added.

Agnes said the debate around instant divorce might risk normalising far-right rhetoric of Indias ruling party by demonising the Muslim community.

We welcome this. The Muslim woman is happy today because she wants legal protection. Zakia Soman, founder of the Mumbai-based women's rights group BMMA

Several Muslim countries have banned triple talaq, including Turkey, Qatar, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia.

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India, which is home to the worlds third-largest Muslim population, allows most religions, including Muslims to regulate matters such as marriage, divorce and inheritance through their own personal laws.

Decades of campaigning by womens groups and victims had led to the Supreme Courts ruling last year abolishing the practice. Although many Muslim scholars and analysts argue that the percentage of instances of instant triple talaq is very low.

Quran does not mention instant divorce

Zia Us Salam, author of Till Talaq Do Us Part, says the practice of instant triple talaq does not have sanction of the Quran.

The Quran clearly outlines the procedure for divorce and all Muslims should follow that process. Nowhere in the Quran do we find any mention of instant divorce, he told Al Jazeera.

Indias ulema or Muslim clergy should have handled this on their own and rectify this social practice. But Indias Supreme Court while striking down triple talaq as unconstitutional has basically reiterated what the Quran says, he added.

The Quran clearly outlines the procedure for divorce and all Muslims should follow that process. Nowhere in the Quran do we find any mention of instant divorce. Zia Us Salam, author of Till Talaq Do Us Part

Activists say the practice violates womens rights and reinforces patriarchal hierarchies.

Zakia Soman, founder of the Mumbai-based womens rights group BMMA or Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (Indian Muslim Womens Movement), said the governments decision was a step forward.

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We welcome this. The Muslim woman is happy today because she wants legal protection. Despite the Supreme Court order, instant triple talaq has been taking place, so we needed this to be criminalised, Soman told Al Jazeera.

Triple talaq is the practice under which a Muslim man can divorce his wife by simply uttering talaq three times.

It is prevalent among Indias Muslim community majority of whom follow the Hanafi Islamic school of law.

This mode of divorce is not universal among Muslims across the world, as many other Islamic schools of thought prefer the divorce process to be deferred, in many cases over a period of three months.

The subject of religious personal laws and suggestions of alterations have been a matter of spirited debate in the country over the past few decades. Wednesdays move could spur Modis BJP party to push again for its long-held desire for a uniform civil code.

We have been advocating that instant triple talaq should not happen. We have said anyone who practices this method should be boycotted. But it takes time for societal changes to happen, Kamal Faruqui, a member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, told Al Jazeera.

My countrys laws are already strong enough to punish anyone who does this, no need for additional laws, he added.Police are investigating a possible hate-crime after a car collided with worshippers leaving a Shia Islamic centre.

At least three people have been injured after a vehicle rammed into pedestrians close to a mosque in northwest London, British police have said.

The Metropolitan Police said in a statement that the suspected hate crime took place shortly after 12:20am local time on Wednesday, when three males and a woman, all aged in their mid-twenties, were asked to leave a private car park in Cricklewood belonging to the Hussaini Association.

After engaging in a confrontation with a group of worshippers at the Shia Islamic centre, comments of an Islamophobic nature were allegedly made, then the car proceeded to make off at speed colliding with three individuals as it left.





The car and its occupants failed to stop and injured three people, the police statement added.

Police said they had launched an investigation but the incident was not being treated as terror-related but as a possible hate crime.

We are treating this incident very seriously and a number of enquiries are under way to trace the car and those involved, Kelly Schonhage, an officer from a local branch of the CID said.

The incident left a man in his 50s hospitalised with a serious leg injury, while two other men in their 20s suffered minor injuries, the police said.

P remeditated Islamophobic attack 

Ali Salman, who claims he was at the scene of the incident, said he was milliseconds from injury when the car swerved into groups of people leaving the centre.

The driver was swerving into people, trying to run over as many people as possible, he said in a Facebook post.

Miqdaad Versi, the assistant secretary-general of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), the largest Muslim umbrella body in the United Kingdom, claimed eyewitnesses reported hearing anti-Islamic slogans being shouted during the incident.

Reports of Islamophobic insults being hurled mean that the incident is being treated as a potential hate crime, he said in a statement sent to Al Jazeera.

Images posted on social media appeared to show paramedics delivering first aid to the wounded, with one of the injured appearing to need help to breathe.

Reports suggest a car swerved into a crowd of Muslims outside the The Hussaini (Balaghiya) Association in Cricklewood, with 5 injured (3 seriously). Eye-witnesses apparently suggest perpetrators were heard shouting anti-Islamic sloguns.https://t.co/VmvysZgpC5 pic.twitter.com/niMOgf8ccM  Miqdaad Versi (@miqdaad) September 19, 2018

The Hussaini Association called the incident a premeditated Islamophobic attack, adding that the worshippers were attending a 10-day series of lectures commemorating the death of Hussain, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, who was killed 1379 years ago according to the Islamic calendar, a date which will coincide with Thursday this year.

We are in deep shock at such an attack taking place on our community, a spokesman for the association said in a statement.

We remain proud to live in a diverse and tolerant society and as such we remain unintimidated.

Londons Mayor Sadiq Khan tweeted: We have a zero-tolerance approach to hate crime in London. Places of worship  for people of all faiths  must remain safe.

We have a zero-tolerance approach to hate crime in London. Places of worship  for people of all faiths  must remain safe.  Mayor of London (gov.uk/coronavirus) (@MayorofLondon) September 19, 2018

Surge in Islamophobia

Tell MAMA, an NGO tracking hate crimes against Muslims in the UK, reported a surge in Islamophobic attacks last year, with 1,201 verified reports submitted.

It said the 2017 figures marked a 26 percent increase on 2016, and were the biggest number since it began recording incidents in 2012.

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Reports of Islamophobia in the UK, including within the ruling Conservative Party, have come under scrutiny in recent months with calls to look into the problem.

Sayeeda Warsi, a senior Tory member, called for an inquiry into allegations of Islamophobia in the party in July, after writing an open letter in the Guardian newspaper.

There should be a forensic, wide-ranging and transparent inquiry into Islamophobia in the party, Warsi, a member of the House of Lords said, adding the process should be published, those who are found wanting should be publicly named and membership withdrawn.Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Shanghai unveiled its second batch of public roads for the ICV (Intelligent-connected vehicle) road tests at the 2018 World Autonomous Vehicle Ecosystem Conference on September 18.

There are a total of 12 public roads that will be used for ICV testing, covering the urban arterial roads, the urban secondary trunk roads and the industrial park's arterial roads. Up until now, Shanghai has extended the length of roads for ICV tests from 5.6km to 37.2km.

Shanghai has been acting as a pioneer in ICV development in China. Hot on the heels of Beijing, Shanghai became the second city in China to issue road testing regulations for self-driving cars on February 28 this year.

Since Shanghai issued China's first batch of ICV road test licenses from March 1, a total of 3 automakers, namely, SAIC Motor, NIO and BMW, have by far been given go-ahead to test their autonomous vehicles on public roads. The three auto companies have accumulated over 100,000 km of road tests with no traffic accident.Two banks lose Rs1.7 billion over troubled water project

Bank of Kathmandu and Himalayan Bank have failed in their effort to prevent Melamchi Drinking Water Project from pocketing the banks combined guarantee of Rs1.73 billion they had given to China Railway 15 Bureau Group, an ex-contractor of the project.Sundays poll will neither be free nor fair with President Abdulla Yameens ally administering the vote, say critics.

Male, Maldives  The usual din of fishmongers cries on the Maldivian capitals waterfront was drowned out by loud boos on Tuesday when a truck carrying flag-waving activists campaigning to re-elect President Abdulla Yameen lumbered past them.

Its a sight that has become common in Males busy market, where a web of pink and yellow campaign banners hangs between every lamppost and from every fishing boats mast. Earlier this week, Yameens spokesman was booed out of the area by opposition supporters angry over corruption and human rights abuses in this popular Indian Ocean honeymoon destination.

Yameen, 59, is standing for a second five-year term in polls on Sunday, promising transformative economic development, including jobs and housing for the Maldives large youth population.

The election is taking place amid a wide-ranging crackdown on dissent.

Over the past five years, Yameen has suspended parliament and jailed or forced into exile nearly all his political rivals, including two Supreme Court judges who defied him by ordering the release of opposition leaders.

The president also declared two states of emergency in three years, citing threats to national security. But the opposition coalition said the measures were aimed at staving off impeachment.

I have very little hope in the prospect for a free and fair election, said 60-year-old Aishath Rasheeda as she stocked up on breadfruit and yam chips at the market.

The shopkeeper said she fears violence on election day, but was determined to cast her ballot. I will vote, I have always voted, she said.

Aishath Rasheeda said she fears election day violence [Sharif Ali/Al Jazeera]

Rasheeda signalled her support for the opposition by drawing the number two in the air, the ballot number assigned to Yameens opponent, and said every vote counted in the Maldives, where the eligible voter base is just over 260,000.

No one is more aware of that than Yameen.

He won the 2013 election by a narrow margin of 6,000 votes.

That, too, after the Supreme Court annulled the result of the first round of voting  in which Yameen came in second  and delayed the rescheduled polling twice. Many hoped his election would bring an end to the unrest the country was plunged into when its first democratically elected president, Mohamed Nasheed, was forced out of office the previous year.

However, turmoil in the Maldives only intensified under Yameen.

Nasheed was sentenced to 13 years in jail on terrorism charges in 2015, setting off fresh protests and leading to the arrest of hundreds. The opposition leader, who lives in exile, has now teamed up with three other political parties, including a faction of the ruling party led by Yameens half-brother, former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, in a bid to overthrow him.

The oppositions joint candidate, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, a member of parliament, has promised to restore democracy, release dissidents, and investigate corruption allegations against Yameen.

Systematically rigged

With so much hanging in the balance, there has been a lot of fear, mistrust and frustration in the lead-up to the vote, said Mariyam Shiuna, executive director of Transparency Maldives, an election-monitoring group in the island nation.

We are just days away from the election, but people are still unsure if the vote will take place, she said.

Thats because Yameen has systematically rigged the election in his favour by jailing opponents, limiting press freedom, and cracking down on civil and political rights, she said.

Abdulla Yameen (centre) is running on a platform of transformative economic development [Ahmed Nishath/Al Jazeera]

The mistrust has only intensified since Yameen appointed a key ally to head the national electoral body in March, she said.

A year before his appointment as president of the elections commission, Ahmed Shareef was canvassing support for Yameen. A video posted on his Twitter account from January last year shows Shareef promising government jobs to opposition challengers contesting a local council election if they forfeit their candidacies.

Pictures from the same period showed a smiling Shareef wearing a Yameen 2018 T-shirt as he handed over the forms for 2,300 new recruits for the ruling party. In a Twitter post in February 2017, he accused the opposition of plotting a coup because it does not have a slight chance of winning an independent election against Yameen because of his transformational economic agenda.

Nowhere else in the world would an election be considered free when a ruling party activist or a campaigner is appointed as chair of the elections commission, Shiuna said.

The oppositions complaints against the commission have been relentless in recent months.

First came allegations of disenfranchisement when the commission limited the number of resorts  the biggest source of employment in the Maldives  that will have ballot boxes for local workers to vote at, from 55 in 2013 to 7. After a massive outcry, that number was increased to 35 last month.

Then came accusations of collusion; the opposition claimed the registration information submitted by voters in order to be eligible to cast their ballots was shared by the commission with Yameens campaign office.

And now, with days to go before the poll, the opposition is accusing the commission of introducing new rules that will prevent observers from seeing individual ballot papers and appointing 107 ruling party members to administer and count the vote.

We are very worried, said Eva Abdulla, an opposition politician in Male. We are uncertain what will happen on election day because the commission is setting up conditions to engineer and falsify results.

Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (left) has promised to free dissidents including exiled opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed (right) [File: Dinuka Liyanawatte/Reuters]

Most peaceful election

Both the election commission and the ruling party have dismissed the oppositions allegations.

Ahmed Akram, Shareefs deputy, called the accusations against the president of the commission, as well as concerns over collusion, an attempt to incite fear by reducing turnout and undermine confidence in the election.

We will not act against the law, he said. We are ready to hold a peaceful and orderly poll.

Ahmed Nihan, a senior ruling-party MP, concurred, saying he was certain Yameen will win a second term with a healthy majority.

The president and his Progressive Party of the Maldives are fully capable of respecting, accepting as well as celebrating the decision of the Maldivian public, he said, adding it was the opposition that was seeking to undermine the vote and create unrest.

He pointed to a Facebook post by Defence Minister Adam Shareef on August 4, in which he reported receiving information about plots to destabilise the country and create unrest in the coming days, and a police press conference last week in which a spokesman warned of plots to commit dangerous acts on election day, without specifying who was behind them.

These acts were part of an attempt to show the international community the poll was neither free nor fair, the police spokesperson said, adding widespread arson attacks  similar to unrest in 2012 following Nasheeds overthrow  may take place in the Maldives three most populous islands.

Despite opposition attempts at inciting fear, We will ensure this poll is the most peaceful election this country has ever seen, Nihan said.

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Abdulla, the opposition politician, sees it differently.

She said the comments by the police and defence minister were aimed at creating a pretext for Yameen to call off the vote if he wants or create unrest on that day and blame the opposition for it.

But she said she still has hope.

We have the votes, said Abdulla. And when large numbers of people vote, when the peoples stand is clear, it will be difficult for Yameen and his associates to jeopardise the vote.

So be alert, go vote early and then get ready to protect your vote.

Isha Afeef reported from Male. Zaheena Rasheed reported and wrote from Doha.Survivors of last years deadly Mexico City tremor say theyre still awaiting clarity on how to access funds to rebuild.

Mexico City  Ivon Romero lives with her husband and five children in a large auditorium in the back of a cultural centre in the Gustavo A Madero district of Mexico City.

If it wasnt for the security guard, who locks and guards the entrance 24 hours a day, the centre would look abandoned. Overgrown grass lines the entrance and broken toilets that look as though they have never been cleaned sit outside.

Inside, Romero, along with her husband, Miguel Angel Gonzalez, try to keep life as normal as possible for their five children aged between three and 12.

But the cots the government gave them when they moved in seven months ago are broken. The large room they spend their time in has a loud echo. And the only furniture inside are a couple of tables the family uses to eat and cook on, a hot plate, seven chairs and a couch.

About seven blocks away sits the remnants of what was once their longtime home.

On September 19, 2017, a 7.1-magnitude earthquake hit the country, killing nearly 230 people in Mexico City alone. At least 40 buildings completely collapsed and more than 5,000 others were damaged, according to local authorities.

One year on, NGOs estimate about 8,000 people live in damaged homes, others remain in shelters, awaiting clarity on how, and if, the government, which set aside a nearly $800m reconstruction budget, will ever help them rebuild.

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Romeros home, part of an old housing compound shared with five other families, still stood after the September 2017 earthquake, but was severely damaged. The citys Civil Protection underpinned the structures with wooden struts, leaving gaping holes in part of the structure.

My children used to wake up at night with nightmares, Romero tells Al Jazeera. They were scared that the house would crumble down and kill us all.

Their nightmares became partially true in February of this year when another tremor hit the country. Although the 7.2-magnitude earthquakes epicentre was far from the capital, it brought down the rest of Romeros home. She recalls barely making it out in time before the roof collapse behind them.

Romeros home collapsed after a February earthquake hit her severely damaged home [Lucina Melesio Friedman/Al Jazeera]

Some families, including Romeros, were put in shelters and receive monthly stipends, which generally amount to less than $200.

After Romeros house collapsed, the municipality offered her family the option to live in homeless shelters, but that would have meant living separately from her husband in a female-only facility. Instead, the city placed the family in a makeshift shelter in the worn-down cultural centre in one of the Mexico Citys most dangerous areas.

We had so little left, and yet someone broke in and stole whatever we had gathered, says Romero, who is eight months pregnant. Even the baby clothing and the crib, she adds, breaking down in tears, unsure if her home will ever be rebuilt as questions remain regarding the funds meant for reconstruction.

Romeros family lives in an empty old community centre in one of Mexico Citys most dangerous neighbourhoods [Lucina Melesio Friedman/Al Jazeera]

Unaccounted for funds

A month after the earthquake, Mexico Citys government put together an expert advisory committee to establish a reconstruction policy, which included determining how much money was needed to rebuild and how to manage it in a transparent way.

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But after $797m was allocated for the reconstruction fund in January, the local congress overrode the committee and ordered the funds be directed to different governmental agencies without any explanation.

It became obvious our role there was pointless, says Ricardo Becerra, who was appointed by Mexico Citys then-Mayor Miguel Angel Mancera to head the advisory committee.

Most of the committee members, including Becerra, resigned, with some believing corruption was at play. Mancera denied allegations that the city intended to use the funds for anything other than reconstruction. After public outcry, the then-mayor revoked authority to manage the reconstruction funds from those local congressmen who ordered the funds be directed to government agencies.

Although the government is required by law to account for every penny they spend on reconstruction, about 95 percent of the funds allocated for reconstruction remain unaccounted for, according to NGOs and analysis of publicly available data.

The government reconstruction accountability website does not clarify how most of the funds were split between the different agencies following the local congresss order.

In July, Nosotrxs, an NGO tracking the governments reconstruction efforts, published a report outlining the lack of transparency on how the funds have been spent. Only 4.7 percent of the funds had been accounted for, according to Nosotrxs.

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Mexicos former Finance Secretary Edgar Amador declined Al Jazeeras multiple requests for comment. The citys former Mayor Mancera and current Mayor Jose Ramon Amieva did not respond to Al Jazeeras interview requests.

Bureaucratic nightmare

Compounding the hardship faced by survivors are the hurdles they must jump in order to access the funds and reconstruction programmes.

In addition to the meagre rent subsidies, the government has promised to help people living in apartment buildings by giving them credits to rebuild. Residents have protested against the system, demanding subsidies instead of the loans. Others complain of the bureaucratic nightmare they face to access the credits or other reconstruction programmes.

Everywhere we go its a different story, they send us to different agencies and no one can tell us what are the next steps, says Romeros husband, Gonzalez, who used to craft aluminium for a living from the workshop he had at home.

The family keeps a thick folder with paperwork they have filed to different agencies, and handwritten letters they have sent the mayor and other government offices asking for help. Theres been no written response to their inquires.

Romero says high-level officials have not responded to her multiple written requests for help [Lucina Melesio Friedman/Al Jazeera]

Like many Mexicans, who live in homes that have been a part of their family for generations, Romeros family does not have the property deeds under its own name and the process to obtain the correct documents is too expensive.

Arcadio Resendiz and his family are in a similar situation and equally confused about how to obtain the reconstruction funds. They also lived in a house within a family complex that has the deeds under a deceased relatives name. The bedroom of their granddaughters room collapsed during the September 2017 earthquake and the rest of their house remains in bad shape.

We really dont know what to do, every agency tells us something different, says Resendiz, holding a thick pile of paperwork.

Some have told us we shouldnt touch anything nor remove the rubble because we wont be able to access the programmes if we do, he tells Al Jazeera, explaining that the rain that falls inside the holes in his roof, causing further damage.

Resendiz says he is not sure whether to leave his home, which has been deemed unsafe to live [Lucina Melesio Friedman/Al Jazeera]

In July, the Civil Protection deemed the entire complex where Resendizs home stands unsafe, saying it needs to be demolished.

But the 50-year-old, who cannot work due to health issues, is unsure what to do because he hasnt been told what will happen next.

We cant have it demolished without knowing if theyll rebuild it; where will we go? he says.

Civil Protection and the mayors office did not respond to Al Jazeeras request for comment.

Nowhere to go

Vania Salgado, an economist turned-activist after surviving the earthquake, says the problem is not only that families are unsure of how to access the reconstruction programmes, but that they are also living in damaged houses that are unsafe.

According to Nosotrxs, which surveyed 272 homes earlier this month, individuals and families lived in more than 30 percent of the damaged buildings that were surveyed. About 25 percent of the homes that have been tagged high risk of collapsing are still inhabited. And nearly half of the buildings that need to be demolished are still standing.

The roof of Resendizs granddaughters bedroom caved in during last Septembers earthquake [Lucina Melesio Friedman/Al Jazeera]

Cesar Cravioto, a Mexico City congressman who will be in charge of reconstruction when the new administration takes office in December, tells Al Jazeera that he is well aware of the problems survivors, like Romero and Resendiz, face.

Not having your deeds in order shouldnt prevent people from receiving the help they need, Cravioto says. Today people have to suffer a terrible ordeal parading between different government agencies to get some help, and that needs to change.

Cravioto says he will prioritise finishing the damaged homes census, which was ordered last year, and setting up what he calls a single-booth programme so that survivors can get help from a single agency. He also says he expects to finish with reconstruction within two years, adding that money shouldnt not be an issue.

It is the current administrations responsibility to hand us over the funds with clear accountability, Cravioto says.

We will audit them, and we hope they leave us enough funds for reconstruction. But either way, money will not be an issue, he adds without elaborating.

We Arcadio

demolished without knowing if theyll rebuild it; where will we go?]

In the meantime, families like Romeros and Resendizs continue to manage with the little they have.

Romero and her husband say they recently asked the security guard outside the building for more blankets, but he refused.

People are mean to us because they think we are living here because we are lazy and arent doing enough, she says. Its not true, were really doing what we can.Meet Eduardo Acevedo, a Mexican man on a mission to help save lives in disaster zones.

More video clips from the storyAt landmark summit, Kim Jong-un offers an array of moves towards ending nuclear programme  if the US reciprocates.

North Korea is prepared to permanently close down one of its main ballistic missile facilities in the presence of foreign experts, an offer it said would need to be met with American reciprocity.

Speaking in front of about 150,000 North Koreans in the May Day Stadium in the capital Pyongyang on Wednesday, the leaders of the two Koreas said their meetings over two days had ushered in a new era of peace.

Earlier they agreed to turn the Korean Peninsula into a land of peace without nuclear weapons and nuclear threats, said South Koreas President Moon Jae-in.

South and North Korea agreed on a specific step toward denuclearisation. It is a very meaningful achievement, Moon said.





The Norths leader Kim Jong-un was willing to close the main nuclear complex if the United States took unspecified reciprocal action, he added.

Kim said he will visit Seoul in the near future, in what would be the first-ever visit to the Souths capital by a North Korean leader.

US President Donald Trump hailed Wednesdays summit between Kim and Moon, saying there had been tremendous progress with North Korea, including on its denuclearisation.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said agreements reached between the two Korean leaders at the meeting were very good news.

Hes calm and Im calm so well see what happens, Trump said referring to Kim.

But Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said he was concerned the Kim-Moon summit would undermine efforts by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and UN Ambassador Nikki Haley to impose maximum pressure on the North.

While North Korea has stopped testing missiles and nuclear devices, they have NOT moved toward denuclearisation, he tweeted.

Landmark address

Al Jazeeras Rod McBride, reporting from Seoul, described the extraordinary scenes from the stadium filled with people celebrating the mass games. He noted the emotion in the voice of Moon, whose parents were refugees from North Korea.

Its hugely symbolic. Its very rare for a South Korean president to attend such events. They have in the past but its a very controversial thing to do. To actually speak to the crowd  that never happens. This really is unprecedented territory, McBride said.

The two leaders also agreed to establish buffer zones along their land and sea borders to prevent the danger of accidental clashes.

We have adopted a military agreement to terminate the historic tragic confrontations and hostility that have lasted over the past decades, Kim said. We agree to make active efforts to make the Korean Peninsula a land of peace.

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The two states also agreed to pursue a bid to co-host the 2032 Summer Olympic Games, and actively work together in other international competitions including the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Se-Woong Koo, founder of Korean news website, Korea Expose, told Al Jazeera the comments made by the leaders were very significant.

Everybody has been asking North Korea to provide details about how its going to shut down its weapons programme and this agreement showed the very details people asked for, he said.

That includes the idea that North Korea will release a list of its nuclear facilities, so it remains to be seen whether this agreement will actually be something that is palatable to Washington.

Nuclear arsenal

As a next step, North Korea will allow experts from concerned countries to watch the closure of its missile engine testing site and launch pad in the northwestern town of Dongchang-ri, according to a joint statement signed by Moon and Kim.

The facilities were a key test centre for North Koreas intercontinental ballistic missiles designed to reach the United States.

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Though North Korea has unilaterally stopped nuclear and missile tests, it did not allow international inspections for a dismantlement of its only known nuclear test site in May, drawing criticism that its action was unverifiable and could be easily reversed.

Pyongyang has consistently refused to give up its nuclear arsenal unilaterally and stressed a formal declaration to end the 1950-53 Korean War should come first.

Satellite photographs and other evidence in recent months have suggested North Korea is continuing to work on its nuclear programme clandestinely.

This weeks summit is intended to put in place concrete steps to implement the Panmunjom Declaration, named after the border village where the two leaders first met in April, Seoul officials said.

Progress has largely stalled after the high symbolism of the two leaders first meeting in April at the Demilitarized Zone that divides the Korean Peninsula, and Kims famous summit with Trump in Singapore in June.

In Singapore, Kim declared his backing for the denuclearisation of the peninsula, but no details were agreed and Washington and Pyongyang have since sparred over what that means and how it will be achieved.

Washington is pressing for the Norths final, fully verified denuclearisation, while Pyongyang wants a formal declaration the Korean War is over.Nawaz Sharif, his daughter, and son-in-law freed by High Court after anti-corruption court convictions in July.

Islamabad, Pakistan  Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and two family members were released from prison on Wednesday after being found guilty of corruption earlier this year.

Sharif, his daughter Maryam, and son-in-law Muhammad Safdar were convicted in July by an anti-corruption court of not being able to prove the source of assets used to buy a set of upmarket London flats.

After his release, Sharif flew to his family home in Lahore and was greeted by jubilant supporters at the airport.

Earlier on Wednesday, Islamabad High Court judge Athar Minallah ruled the National Accountability Bureau, Pakistans anti-corruption watchdog, was unable to prove a financial link between the former prime minister and the apartments in question.

A two-member bench, led by Minallah, suspended the jail sentences while hearing the Sharifs appeal against their convictions.

Their convictions will stand, although their sentences have been suspended.

Sharif had been sentenced to 10 years in jail and a $10.5m fine, his daughter Maryam to a seven-year jail sentence, and a $2.6m fine, and Maryams husband Safdar to a year in prison.

Sharif remains barred from running for public office for life after the Supreme Court in April ruled he had lied on a parliamentary wealth declaration and the disqualification from that crime would last for an indefinite period.





N o corruption proved

Hamza Shehbaz, Nawaz Sharifs nephew, said the family was thankful for the ruling.

Today is a happy day that our leader will be released from jail. We are thankful to Allah. As I said earlier, this verdict from the anti-corruption court, it was clear that there was no corruption proved against Nawaz Sharif. Hopefully, we will show that there is nothing to this case.

Todays fundamental news is that the verdict by the anti-corruption court against Nawaz Sharif was very weak, and  hopefully, we will continue our legal battle against all the other cases.

The National Accountability Bureau is expected to appeal the Islamabad High Courts verdict at the Supreme Court.

Hearings in two other corruption cases against Sharif and his family are continuing at an anti-corruption court.

Wednesdays decision will come as a blow to Sharifs bitter political rival Imran Khan, who swept a July general election following Sharifs conviction and jailing.

Khan, now prime minister, was in Saudi Arabia on a state visit when the decision was announced.Israeli forces kill two protesters in northern Gaza Strip, while another Palestinian was shot in Jerusalem.

Three Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip and occupied East Jerusalem after they were shot by Israeli forces in separate events.

In northern Gaza, thousands of protesters demonstrated on Tuesday afternoon near the Israeli checkpoint crossing Erez, referred to by Palestinians as the Beit Hanoun crossing.

The protest was called for by the National High Committee to Break the Siege and was against the cuts in funding by the United States to the main United Nations refugee agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA.

Protesters also demanded an end to the 12-year blockade imposed on the coastal enclave.

Two men were killed as Israeli forces opened fire on the protesters. Gazas health ministry identified the men as Mohammad Abu Naji, 34, and Ahmad Mohammad Omar, 20.

More than 30 others were wounded, the ministry added.

A wounded protester received treatment after Israeli forces used live fire on an anti-occupation rally near the Gaza Strips northern border [Anadolu Agencu]

Palestinians in Gaza have been protesting along the fence east of the strip against the siege and for their right of return as part of the Great March of Return rallies since March 30.

More than 170 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli sniper fire and 18,000 others wounded.

Last month, the US declared it would halt all funding to UNRWA, creating a $300m deficit. Palestinian refugees benefit from a number of services the UN agency provides, ranging from schools, health centres, vocational training, and food handouts.

In a separate incident, Israeli forces in East Jerusalem shot dead a Palestinian man after they alleged he was about to carry out a stabbing attack against an Israeli in the Musrara neighbourhood near Damascus Gate.

Witnesses, however, told local Palestinian media agency Wafa that the man, 26-year-old Mohammed Yousef Alayan from Qalandiya refugee camp, was not armed and had gotten into an argument with the Israeli man.

Upon the intervention of Israeli forces, the witnesses said, Alayan tried to get away but was shot down with a barrage of bullets.

Police then closed off the area and prevented medics from reaching Alayan, whose body is still held by the Israeli army.Death toll from landslide caused by Typhoon Mangkhut rises to 81, three days after it battered northern Luzon island.

Itogon, Philippines  Mary Jane Baccodong had to steel herself to deliver her sermon at a church service on Sunday morning and hold back the urge to break down.

The anxious preacher just learned about the massive landslide that slammed into Ucab village the day before, and she was almost certain that her father, Andrew Tagapong, was there.

Communication lines went dead as Super Typhoon Mangkhut barrelled through the mountainous Cordillera region of the Philippines on Saturday and news of the catastrophe flooded in the following day.

As soon as the service ended, Baccodong made the seven-hour journey through treacherous mountain roads from her home in Kalinga province to the town in Benguet province, where hundreds of rescuers were already digging through mud, boulders and debris in a desperate attempt to find survivors.

I kept praying that somehow my father would turn up alive, Baccodong told Al Jazeera.

But she knew no other place her father could have been; his life revolved around his grinding mill at the bottom of the ravine.

Tagapong had been a miner for more than 50 years, first as an employee of the giant Benguet Corporation. After he was laid off in 1975, he tried farming for a few years. It was unprofitable, so he went back to mining, setting up his own informal enterprise in 1982.





The underground gold trade provided for Tagapong and his family, but not enough to make him a wealthy man.

At 74, Tagapong still worked his mill every day in order to survive, which was why he and many other mining families remained in Ucab despite local officials warning them to evacuate ahead of the storm.

Deadly deluge

On Saturday morning, the deluge from Mangkhut caused the mountain slope the village stood on to give way, triggering a sludgy torrent that engulfed everything in its path, including the three-storey bunkhouse where some 70 people were taking shelter, mostly itinerant miners and their families.

Baccodong had been waiting three days for news of her father when the forensics team summoned her to the makeshift mortuary at the top of the gorge where retrievers were digging for bodies and body parts.

She did not need to look closely at the corpse to see it was her father.

I recognised him by his favourite sweatshirt, the one that I gave him as a present, Baccodong said. In a way, I am glad. He was wearing my gift and at least they found him in one piece.

Of the three known survivors from the landslide, Ranier Baldazan was the last to leave the hospital.

When Al Jazeera interviewed him by his bed in the surgery ward on Wednesday, the scrapes and wounds all over his face and body had dried, but his left eye was still bloodshot. A bandage covered his left eyebrow.

The muddy deluge had hit him hard on the chest and it took him considerable effort to speak, but the young truck driver was eager to tell his story.

He was actually safe and dry when some villagers rushed to him for help. The mountain had just given way and if they hurried, they could still save some of their neighbours.

They wanted him to bring out the backhoe and scoop people out of the sludge.

Of course, I had to ask my boss if it was all right that I use his equipment. But I was going to help, one way or another, he said.





His boss agreed and Baldazan drove the backhoe against the current.

I was confident because it was a large truck. I thought it was going to be easy, he said.

Flushed down

He was able to manoeuvre around the mess for a good two or three hours before the backhoe started getting stuck. All the while, it was raining hard and there was a ceaseless flood coming down the mountain.

When he stepped out of the truck to save himself, he lost his footing and fell into the flood, head first.

I felt as though I was being flushed down the cliff. But because I was conscious, I knew I had a chance to survive. I tried to swim and wiggle so that it was my legs, not my head, that were underwater.

He surfaced somewhere down the ravine, about 50 metres from the backhoe.

There were 12 of them who tried to save the villagers, he recalled, but only two made it out alive.

Battered and bedridden, Baldazan found himself reliving the ordeal, wondering if it was worth it  or if he could have done better.

I didnt imagine this could happen, but then I would rather have it this way, he said.

I wouldnt be able to live with myself  seeing those people fighting for their lives  if I didnt at least try to do something to help them.A US police force has suspended the use of a self-deleting text messaging service after an Al Jazeera investigation found it could have been used to conceal evidence.

The Tiger Text application, which permanently and irretrievably deletes messages after a set period of time, was used by officers belonging to the Long Beach Police Department in the state of California.

Serving and former officers told Al Jazeera that police-issued phones had the software installed on them and that it was used to share details of police operations as well as sensitive personnel issues.

Two officers said supervisors told them to use the app to have conversations that would not be discoverable.

All the officers Al Jazeera spoke to requested that their identities be kept secret for fear of reprisals from the Long Beach Police Department.

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The revelations have raised concerns that the police force may have used the software to avoid potentially incriminating information being disclosed to courts.

Police in Long Beach had the fifth-highest officer-involved shooting rate in the US per capita in 2015, and the city has paid out tens of millions of dollars to families of those shot.

Al Jazeera spoke to lawyers who said they were unaware that the department was using the software.

The city denies the app was used to conceal evidence.

In a statement on Tuesday, the City of Long Beach said it was ending use of the software, which had been in use since 2014, after a review initiated by Public Records Act requests and media inquiries.

Use of the application began when the Police Department transitioned to iPhones, which did not have a built-in secure communication feature sufficient for the needs of the Department, the citys statement read.





The primary purpose of the Tiger Connect [Tiger Text] application was to allow for a continued means of transitory, immediate, and secure communications regarding operational and personnel matters.

Police Department employees have been trained to and do document any exculpatory/discoverable evidence in a police report or other formal departmental communication. 

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) believes the use of the software may have breached laws that require records be preserved and disclosed to courts if needed.

Thousands of verdicts could potentially be at risk, according to the ACLU.

Additional reporting by Simon Boazman and Jeremy YoungOfficials, economists and bankers warn that political uncertainty is affecting investor confidence.

ByWitnesses say soldiers and militiamen targeted civilians by raping them, burning them alive, and killing male infants.

South Sudans government and its allied militias have been accused of carrying out war crimes of staggering brutality during an offensive earlier this year.

Witnesses described how soldiers and fighters targeted civilians by raping them, burning them alive, running them over with armoured vehicles, and hanging them from trees, Amnesty International said in a report on Wednesday.

One interviewee said a girl as young as eight was gang-raped and another woman witnessed the rape of a 15-year-old boy, it said.

The report was based on interviews with 100 displaced people from Leer and Mayendit counties in Unity State, which have been among the hardest hit regions during South Sudans five-year civil war.

Amnesty also documented the abduction of women and girls, and the deliberate killing of young boys and male infants. The attacks continued for a week after a ceasefire was announced.

The government attacked dozens of civilians in these areas, burning houses systematically, killing people  including women, children, and elderly people, Amnestys Joanne Mariner told Al Jazeera.

We documented horrific cases in which elderly people  70, 80, even 90 years old  were burned alive inside houses because the government was torching villages in a really systematic way.

The killings echo the type of brutality meted out to civilians that have characterised South Sudans war since its start.





South Sudans government often dismisses such reports as rubbish.

Africas refugee crisis

President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar signed a new peace deal in Ethiopia last week after lengthy negotiations.

It allows the creation of a transitional government, with Machar to be reinstated as vice president.

Despite the breakthrough, many international observers remain sceptical as previous agreements have collapsed after warring parties failed to respect them.

Years of conflict in South Sudan has left more than half of its 12 million population in need of food aid for survival.

The worlds newest country descended into civil war in 2013 after Kiir accused Machar, then his deputy, of plotting a coup.

The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people with more than two million fleeing the country, creating Africas largest refugee crisis since the 1994 Rwandan genocide.Vice President Pun leaves for China today

Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun is leading a Nepali delegation to China on Wednesday to participate in the 17th Western China International Fair in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province.Civilians in Syrias last rebel-held bastion have cautiously welcomed a fragile agreement signed by Ankara and Moscow to create a demilitarised zone that put on hold a threatened offensive on Idlib, even as they expressed concerns over whether the deal will last.

Residents of the province and its suburbs, home to nearly three million people  half of whom are internally displaced  have also questioned the willingness of Syrian President Bashar al-Assads government to abide by the agreement, described by observers as a diplomatic breakthrough.





The 15 to 20km-wide zone, expected to be implemented by October 15, would allow the withdrawal of all radical fighters from Idlib, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a press conference with his Turkish counterpart.

This includes Hayet Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which is dominated by a rebel faction previously known as al-Nusra Front before renouncing its ties to al-Qaeda.

Dr Habib Kshouf said people in his village of Kherbet Eljoz were genuinely scared of a full-scale government-led assault prior to the agreement.

The Sochi agreement gave people a glimpse of hope, that they would be spared an aerial and ground assault by government forces and Russia  at least for the time being, the 55-year-old told Al Jazeera from Jisr al-Shughour district, which recently came under bombardment.

At least 1.5 million of Idlibs population fled the Syrian governments advance in other provinces and now reside in makeshift camps that lack basic services such as clean drinking water and access to uninterrupted electricity.

This [agreement] would ensure the return of electricity, water, and other basic services to people here, Kshouf said.

Win-win for all sides

The deal, welcomed by UN envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura on Tuesday, also requires opposition fighters to give up their heavy weaponry.

According to Marwan Kabalan, director of the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, the agreement is a win-win situation for almost everybody.

For Putin, this is the best he can achieve at this point of time, Kabalan told Al Jazeera.

For the Syrian government and Russia, the deal will move opposition fighters towards the north to secure a highway that leads to the Hmeimin airbase  operated by Russia  from any attacks.

It will also allow the reopening of the M5 highway that links the capital Damascus to Aleppo, and eventually to the trade route to Turkey and Europe.

Kabalan said the agreement should be perceived as a victory by opposition fighters.

The agreement did not ask for the oppositions complete disarmament, he noted. And they will be staying in Idlib  they were not asked to relocate like they were in Deraa and Eastern Ghouta.

Yet residents are concerned about whether the agreement will hold.

The government has been accused of indiscriminate attacks targeting civilian infrastructure in Idlib by NGOs and aid organisations  including Islamic Relief Worldwide  despite Idlibs inclusion in the so-called de-escalation zones aimed at shoring up ceasefires.

Since the beginning of September, dozens of people have been killed and wounded in air raids and attacks by the Syrian government and allied Russian fighter jets, according to activists on the ground.

Weve seen the regime use all sorts of excuses in the past when it bombed civilians in Idlib, Yahya Daoud, a 23-year-old originally from southern Damascus, told Al Jazeera.

So the fear of a government assault is always intact, he said from a refugee camp in northern Idlib.

The Syrian government had recently announced plans to launch a major military offensive on the province, long controlled by various armed opposition groups, after managing to claw back swaths of rebel-held territory across the country.

The most recent offensives launched to reclaim Eastern Ghouta and Deraa killed hundreds of civilians, despite their inclusion in the de-escalation deal agreed upon by Turkey, and Assads allies Russia and Iran at a meeting in Kazakhstans capital, Astana, last year.

Both Russia and Turkey are considered guarantors of the most recent agreement to establish a demilitarised zone, though the two countries back different sides in the conflict.

While Russia and Iran back al-Assad, Turkey has been a constant supporter of the moderate opposition throughout the Syrian conflict, now in its eighth year.

As civilians, our trust is in Turkey [to maintain the latest agreement], Daoud said from the Atma refugee camp.

Turkey has been trying to avoid an assault on Idlib by utilising pledges made via the Astana diplomatic track to maintain a lasting ceasefire. Its troops have been based in Idlibs border areas since May, as well as in Syrias Afrin and al-Bab following military operations against Kurdish fighters in Syrias north.

For the past few months, Turkey, which borders Idlib, has been attempting to align rebel groups in the province with its command. Key factions in the province announced last month the formation of a new coalition with some 60,000 fighters.

But now Turkey must work harder at dissolving HTS, Kabalan said.

This issue [of radical groups] will always remain as a ticking bomb within this agreement because Russia and the regime will always be using their presence as a pretext to apply more pressure on Turkey, he said.

How long will the agreement hold?

The Turkish-aligned coalition of moderate fighters excludes Hayet Tahrir al-Sham, which controls about 60 percent of the province, and two other smaller radical groups, Kabalan explained.

It is unclear how these fighters will react to the deals conditions of disarming and moving further north, which has raised new fears among Idlibs residents who say certain factions may be unwilling to relinquish control of the new zone and give up their arms.

Were still confused. Were not sure how this agreement is going to play out, Hikmat al-Alis, 25, told Al Jazeera from the town of Ariha.

With HTS asked to remain outside of the new zone, will this mean the start of a new battle?

Fears of Hayet Tahrir al-Sham launching attacks from border areas have also had civilians consider the consequences of rebel infighting.

According to Kabalan, Turkey is attempting to persuade radical groups to comply with the agreement, threatening any pushback may result in a military operation.

If these groups do not comply, a Turkish-Russian understanding may leave HTS, formerly al-Nusra Front, facing the consequence of a coalition attack.

That would mean the moderate opposition aligned to Turkey would force al-Nusra to comply with the terms of the agreement, Kabalan said, warning another bloodbath could ensue.





The agreement may also falter if there is a shift in power.

The US military presence in Syrias northeast, where it backs Kurdish fighters, may pose a threat to government forces.

The Russians believe the US would attack the regime if a big number of civilian casualties arise, Kabalan said.

Fears of a potential chemical attack are particularly high, which has lead Idlibs residents creating gas masks from paper cups.

We fear the use of chemical weapons the most, which could break the [new] fragile agreement, Rayyan Abdulrahman, 28, told Al Jazeera from Idlib city.

The US has warned the Syrian government against the use of chemical weapons and threatened another military response.

In April, Washington and its allies responded to the Syrian governments alleged use of chemical weapons against rebels in the town of Douma with a barrage of missile strikes.

But Russia has repeatedly rejected these claims and recently said rebels are preparing to stage a chemical attack in Idlib to provoke a response from the West.

At this stage of the war, it is in Russias interest to maintain the Astana process in an attempt to push a political solution in line with its goals.

As long as Russia needs Turkey in Syria, they will try to honour this agreement, Kabalan said.Head of the Central Election Commission said fraud had been identified in a gubernatorial race in eastern Russia.

Russias top election official recommended the result of a gubernatorial election in the countrys far eastern Primorsky region to be annulled, alleging it was rigged.

Ella Pamfilova, head of the Central Election Commission, said on Wednesday a raft of irregularities had been identified, including ballot-stuffing and vote-buying.

A final decision will be made on Thursday by the regional election commission and a new vote could be held within three months if it follows Pamfilovas recommendations.

The runoff election took place on Sunday between Kremlin-backed United Russia candidate Andrei Tarasenko and his Communist challenger Andrei Ishchenko.

On Sunday night, Tarasenko was trailing Ishchenko by more than two percentage points with just under 99 percent of votes counted.

However, on Monday the local election commission said Tarasenko had won by just over one percentage point, with results showing he received almost every one of the final 20,000 votes counted.

Its clear that we have to carry out a full investigation and those guilty must be punished, Pamfilova told Rossiya-1s 60 Minutes show on Wednesday, noting that 24,500 votes from 13 polling stations were missing in Vladivostoks Sovetsky district.

One day before the election, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Tarasenko and, according to a Kremlin transcript, told him everything will be okay.

Following the result, supporters of the Communist Party protested en masse in Vladivostok and Ishchenko said he would go on a hunger strike until the result was annulled.





Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for the Kremlin, said the government supported Pamfilovas call for a rerun, adding the priority of clean and fair elections was more important to Putin than his preference for a candidate.

Waning popularity

The Tarasenko election and three other reversals to select regional governors this month are the worst showing for Kremlin-backed candidates since 2012.

Communists this month also beat United Russia candidates in elections for the regional parliaments of Khakasia, Irkutsk and Ulyanovsk.

Although Putins United Russia party is still in control of the vast majority of the country, the problems show growing discontent over living standards and plans to delay the official retirement age.

Putins approval rating has fallen about 10 percentage points since the proposed reforms were announced in June, according to the Levada Center, an independent Moscow-based polling organisation, although it still stands at 70 percent.

Pension reforms by Putin led to a series of demonstrations against the governments proposal to gradually raise the retirement age from 60 to 65 for men and from 55 to 63 for women  changes that would also affect the age at which Russians can receive state pensions.

Following the public outcry, Putin took personal responsibility for the first time in a televised address on Wednesday, describing it as a financial necessity and asking Russians for their understanding.

Almost three million people have signed an online petition against the proposed changes, which have been described by Moskovski Komsomolets, a Moscow newspaper, as the most dangerous and risky reform of Putins rule.

In March, Putin won a landslide re-election victory extending his rule for another six years. The 65-year-old has been in power  either as president or prime minister  since 2000.Twitter users react with anger and compassion after death of another manual scavenger, raising $70,000 for his family.

Photographs of a boy crying next to the body of his father who died while cleaning a sewer last week in India prompted social media users to raise nearly $70,000 to support the family.

The photos, tweeted by a New Delhi-based journalist on Monday, showed the 11-year-old child sobbing next to his father Anil at a local crematorium.

A manual scavenger  or worker who cleans sewers by hand and often without proper equipment 

Anil died on Friday when the rope around his waist snapped, causing him to fall into the seven-metre deep sewer. Police told the local media the rope was unable to bear his weight.

The boy walked up to his fathers body at a crematorium, moved the sheet from the face, held the cheeks with both hands, just said papa & began sobbing, posted journalist Shiv Sunny, who works for an English-language newspaper in New Delhi, along with the photographs on Twitter.

The man was yet another poor labourer who died in a Delhi sewer on Friday. Family did not have money for cremating him, the journalist added in his post, which was shared more than 15,000 times so far.

The boy walked up to his father's body at a crematorium, moved the sheet from the face, held the cheeks with both hands, just said 'papa' & began sobbing. The man was yet another poor labourer who died in a Delhi sewer on Friday. Family did not have money even for cremating him. pic.twitter.com/4nOWD9Aial  Shiv Sunny (@shivsunny) September 17, 2018

Local media reports said 37-year-old Anil was the only earning member in his family and is survived by his wife and three children. The family lost an infant daughter to pneumonia last week.

Anger and sympathy

The death of yet another manual scavenger, a practice that continues in India despite a 2013 Supreme Court ban, angered many in India. At least six such deaths occurred in New Delhi last week, 11 across the country.

A report released earlier this week by the National Commission for Safai Karamacharis, a government agency, said one manual scavenger has died every five days in India since January 1, 2017.

As soon as Sunny posted the photos on Twitter, social media users began writing back to him, asking how they could help the family. He shared their bank details and, as more people, including a famous film actor, shared his post, money started trickling in.

Plz donate and spread the word. https://t.co/q3ukaLZwBp  manoj bajpayee (@BajpayeeManoj) September 17, 2018

Soon, a crowdfunding campaign was launched on Ketto  a crowdfunding platform  by Rahul Verma, founder of a non-government organisation called Uday Foundation. He said the campaign has so far raised nearly $70,000 (5m rupees).

When I saw the pictures on Twitter, I got in touch with Anils son. That little boy used to stay near that open manhole in the sewer, guarding his dads clothes and shoes. For him, the sewer was his dads office. His words horrified me, Verma told Al Jazeera.

People were getting emotional online, but my main concern was: there is no bread-earner left, what happens to this child, this family? Our attention spans are limited. I thought people might move on after 24-48 hours of outrage. So, I thought we must raise funds immediately so that this boys childhood is not lost, he said.

Activist Bezwada Wilson, who launched the Safai Karmachari Andolan  a campaign against manual scavenging  in 1995, told Al Jazeera there is no political will to end the practice, which primarily engages the lowest rungs of the Dalit caste.

There is a law in place but nobody will punish anyone here. Law enforcement is weak because there is no political will. Budget allocation shows sanitation workers are not a priority at all, said Wilson.

The government numbers are a fraction of the data we have on the sewer deaths. Over 300 people were killed in the sewers in 2017 #StopKillingUs https://t.co/o2PvwpzCYD  Bezwada Wilson (@BezwadaWilson) September 18, 2018

Its getting difficult for this community to survive because they are already marginalised. Any person can call for a worker to clean their sewers. Neither can they refuse to work nor are they safe in those manholes. This is a vicious circle. In the past four years, more than 1000 people across India have died while cleaning sewers, he added.

Verma added: I shudder to think about what happens to other families when such deaths occur away from the media glare.

Zeenat Saberin contributed to this report from New DelhiYemen losing generation of youth to war

The number of children returning to school in Yemen has dropped to a new low as nationwide devastation continues.Zimbabwe opposition walk out of Mnangagwas first speech

They accuse the president not being legitimately elected after a disputed vote and of wasting public money.Rescue underway after shallow tremor struck not far from Chongqing in the early hours of the morning.The 50-year agreement calls for the United Arab Emirates-based company to invest up to $600 million.



Gulftainer has finalized a 50-year concession agreement with the state of Delaware to operate and develop the Port of Wilmington.

The agreement, signed Tuesday by Gulftainer subsidiary GT USA, includes an investment of up to $600 million in the port to upgrade and expand the terminal.

Based in the United Arab Emirates, Gulftainer is the worlds largest privately owned independent port operator and logistics company. Gulftainer said the port deal represents the largest operation ever run by a UAE company in the United States as well as the largest investment ever by a private UAE company in the country.

The company said the 50-year concession follows a year of negotiations and a thorough evaluation of Gulftainers capabilities globally, including in the United States, where it operates the Canaveral Cargo Terminal in Port Canaveral, Fla. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States completed a formal review and granted Gulftainer exclusive rights to manage the port.

The deal allowing Gulftainer to lease the Port of Wilmington from the state was announced in March and approved by the Delaware Legislature.

Under terms of the agreement, Gulftainers subsidiary GT USA will make annual royalty payments to the state totaling an estimated $13 million over the next decade.

Gulftainers planned investment of up to $600 million includes $400 million for a new 1.2 million-TEU container facility at DuPonts former Edgemoor site, which was acquired by the Diamond State Port Corp. in 2016.

The deal did have its critics. One of the most vocal was Frank Gaffney, the founder and president of the Center for Security Policy, who alleged, Gulftainer is co-owned by the emir of Sharjah, UAE and Hamid Jafar, Dr. Jafars brother and business partner. The Iraqi Jafar brothers share a history of participation in Saddams weapons of mass destruction programs.

And Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., wrote to President Trump in early April asking for a hold on the deal until the CFIUS review was completed. In August, Hunter and his wife, Margaret, were indicted for allegedly misusing campaign funds and he was removed as chair of the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.

But Peter Richards, chief executive officer of Gulftainer, said his company never has, never will have anything to do with terrorism, with dirty money and had welcomed the review by federal authorities.

At a signing ceremony Wednesday, Badr Jafar, chairman of Gulftainers executive board, said, This landmark agreement builds on Gulftainers 43-year track record of delivering excellence and dependability in ports and logistics operations around the world, and we are confident that this public-private partnership will propel the Port of Wilmington towards becoming the principal gateway of the Eastern Seaboard.

Since Gulftainers entry into the U.S. through our operations in Port Canaveral in 2015, we have discovered major untapped potential in this sector and we will continue to look for attractive investment opportunities in the region, Jafar added.

In an April 3 interview on the UAE radio station Dubai Eye 103.8, Richards said Gultainer was looking at ports on the West Coast and also in the Gulf of Mexico as well at this time. Were even looking towards Nova Scotia.Now the Dems and the media say any claim of sexual misconduct, no matter how remote and unreliable, is enough to destroy the life of Brett Kavanaugh because they are afraid he will cast a vote to overrule Roe v. Wade.

The Dems and the media said Bill Clinton's sexual misconduct, including the rape of Juanita Broaddrick, was irrelevant to Clinton serving as president. They also said Teddy Kennedy's driving his car into the pond drunk at Chappaquiddick, leaving Mary Jo Kopechne to die, while he swam away and waited twelve hours to report to the police, was irrelevant to him serving as senator and running for the presidency.

Christine Blasey Ford sent a letter dated July 30, 2018 to Dianne Feinstein stating that in the early 1980s, she was at a "gathering" at a home in suburban Maryland with four others. Brett Kavanaugh and Mark Judge, both drunk, forced her into a room and locked the door, and Kavanaugh then got on top of her. Judge also "periodically" jumped on top of both. Kavanaugh put a hand over her mouth and she believed he would "inadvertently" kill her. At one point, Judge jumped on both again, and she took this "opportune" moment to run outside and go home.

Ford reported this incident to her "local government representative" on July 6, 2018.

Ford wrote to Feinstein to provide "relevant information regarding the current nominee" to the Supreme Court.

It is important to read the actual letter to see how unreliable it is:

July 30 2018 CONFIDENTIAL Senator Dianne Feinstein Dear Senator Feinstein; I am writing with information relevant in evaluating the current nominee to the Supreme Court. As a constituent, I expect that you will maintain this as confidential until we have further opportunity to speak. Brett Kavanaugh physically and sexually assaulted me during high school in the early 1980's. He conducted these acts with the assistance of REDACTED. Both were one to two years older than me and students at a local private school. The assault occurred in a suburban Maryland area home at a gathering that included me and four others. Kavanaugh physically pushed me into a bedroom as I was headed for a bathroom up a short stair well [sic] from the living room. They locked the door and played loud music precluding any successful attempt to yell for help. Kavanaugh was on top of me while laughing with REDACTED, who periodically jumped onto Kavanaugh. They both laughed as Kavanaugh tried to disrobe me in their highly inebriated state. With Kavanaugh's hand over my mouth I feared he may inadvertently kill me. From across the room a very drunken REDACTED said mixed words to Kavanaugh ranging from "go for it" to "stop." At one point when REDACTED jumped onto the bed the weight on me was substantial. The pile toppled, and the two scrapped with each other. After a few attempts to get away, I was able to take this opportune moment to get up and run across to a hallway bathroom. I locked the bathroom door behind me. Both loudly stumbled down the stair well at which point other persons at the house were talking with them. I exited the bathroom, ran outside of the house and went home. I have not knowingly seen Kavanaugh since the assault. I did see REDACTED once at the REDACTED where he was extremely uncomfortable seeing me. I have received medical treatment regarding the assault. On July 6 I notified my local government representative to ask them [sic] how to proceed with sharing this information. It is upsetting to discuss sexual assault and its repercussions, yet I felt guilty and compelled as a citizen about the idea of not saying anything. I am available to speak further should you wish to discuss. I am currently REDACTED and will be in REDACTED. In confidence, REDACTED.

Ford did not report this until 2012, when she was in couples' therapy, where she reported it to her therapist. The therapist notes do not include Kavanaugh's name, which Ford blames on the therapist. Her husband, Russell Ford, said he remembered his wife specifically using Kavanaugh's name during the 2012 therapy session and that they were concerned that Kavanaugh would be nominated to the Supreme Court.

First, why, if this happened, didn't this 15-year-old girl immediately tell her parents that she was attacked and then report to the police? The police could then have questioned everyone at the "gathering." She says she thought Kavanaugh would inadvertently kill her, yet she does not report this to her parents and the police? This isn't credible. According to the Post, her explanation is as follows:

My biggest fear was, do I look like someone just attacked me? I'm not ever telling anyone this. This is nothing, it didn't happen, and he didn't rape me.

Her parents would not believe her because she didn't look as though someone had attacked her? What parents will not believe their 15-year-old daughter who runs home to tell them drunken boys tried to rape her?

Second, Kavanaugh has been investigated by the FBI for appointments to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, White House counsel, and other federal jobs. Why didn't Ford call the FBI so the FBI could investigate Kavanaugh?

Third, Mark Judge has denied the accusation.

Fourth, according to her husband, the motivation for telling the therapist in 2012 was that Kavanaugh might be appointed to the Supreme Court. This shows political motivation: she does not want Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court, although she did not care that he was on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Fifth, why write to a "local government representative" on July 6, 2018 and then Feinstein on July 30, 2018 instead of contacting the FBI? The "local" Democrat and Feinstein should have immediately referred this to the FBI for investigation. Feinstein should have immediately shared the letter with the entire Judiciary Committee so members could question Kavanaugh. Instead, Feinstein played a political game to wait for an ambush.

Sixth, note the odd language in the letter. She was at a "gathering," not a party. She contacted her "local Democratic representative" to find out how to proceed. She is a college professor, yet she acts as though she doesn't know to call the FBI. She says she received "medical treatment" "for the assault," but aside from one couples therapy session in 2012, there is no mention of any other treatment.

Seventh, Ford said there were four boys at the "gathering." Her attorney, Debra Katz, now says there was a girl present.

Ford's letter of July 30 and her therapy notes of 2012 show her motivation and provide much material for a vigorous cross-examination if this were a case handled by real attorneys.

Unfortunately, we have weak Republicans who will be afraid to ask Ford tough questions for fear of backlash and bad press from the swamp. The Dems will give speeches attacking Kavanaugh and Trump. Kavanaugh will testify with candor and credibility that he did not attack Ford. There is no pattern or other accusations, as with Bill Clinton and others.

We do not know if Ford will appear on Monday, September 24 to testify under oath and answer questions on cross-exam. The latest is that Ford wants the FBI to investigate before she testifies. The bottom line is that Ford and the Dems and the media want to delay the vote and hope Kavanaugh withdraws.

Ford and the Dems and the media know that her story will not hold up.Google May Help the US by Setting Up Big Brother in China

Is Google a saint or a sinner? Perhaps it once aspired to be a saint. Its old motto, "Don't Be Evil," tells us so. It even remains something of an angel with its powerful delivery of useful information. If it once really was angelic, today, it certainly is a fallen angel. Its new motto, "Do the Right Thing," could easily be interpreted as "Do What's Good for Google": make us money! Increase our power! Fallen angel or not, Google's leadership is unquestionably strongly left-biased. A remarkable video has surfaced in which Google's leadership was in tears while speaking of Donald Trump's election in front of hundreds of its propeller-head worker-bees.

Google pretends its products are politically neutral. For the most part they are, but in times of political controversy, that neutrality breaks down. We now know that Google puts itself, and its leftist politics, first. There is something really sinister going on at Google  something congruent with its leftist orientation. "Dragonfly" is its name. Since the spring of 2017, Google has been secretly working on a version of its search engine that permits its administrators to censor contents. Google has been in negotiation with Chinese authorities to install Dragonfly as China's main search engine. According to The Intercept, Dragonfly will "blacklist websites and search terms about human rights, democracy, religion, and peaceful protest." Presumably, if the Google software can blacklist websites, it can also report to the government attempts to access such websites. Google's effort has generated strong protests among civil libertarians, including many of Google's employees who had not previously been aware of Dragonfly. Dragonfly is one piece of a new comprehensive effort by the Chinese government to control its people. Another piece is the installation of millions of cameras. Both are in support of Social Credit, a computerized system to control behavior. As of 2017, China had installed 176 million CCTV cameras. The current plan is to have 626 million cameras installed by 2020. The software employing these cameras tracks the movements of individuals, even in heavy traffic. More important, face recognition software now allows identification of individuals with reasonable (up to 90%) accuracy. If this sounds like Big Brother, it is Big Brother. Big Brother is watching you! At least in China. Initiated in 2014 and expected to be fully operational in 2020, the Social Credit system assigns a value to each person based on how well he conforms to government-established criteria. People with a high credit score will have more privileges and freedom (i.e., become nomenklatura). People with lower credit will find themselves restricted according to their score. People with a very low credit score will have their communications cut off and will even be forbidden short-range travel and accommodations. It has taken a while for Orwell's vision to be fully realized, but 2020 should do the trick, at least for Eastasia. China's communist leaders are afraid. Instituting Social Credit tells the world that things are out of their control and only a flat-out tyranny can salvage the situation. It says that centrifugal forces have nearly reached the tipping point. It's an old, old story. Until 221 B.C., China wasn't China. Although there had been smaller empires before, only in 221 was all of China unified under Emperor Chi'in. Chi'in was a visionary monster who gave his name to China. He did some good: he developed a common writing script and established uniform weights and measures. He also murdered every scholar he could find and burned their books. To say the least, Chi'in wasn't popular. His dynasty lasted only four years after his death. If Chi'in sounds like a familiar character, that's because he was the model for Emperor Mao Zedong and the communists. Everyone in China knows the story. That's the trouble. The Chinese people have tasted freedom and prosperity. They like it, and they want more. But more freedom inevitably means the overthrow of communism and the probable dissolution of the empire and its leadership. The leadership knows it. Tyranny has a terrible price. It ultimately means failure and dissolution. This is because it is too rigid. It kills the human spirit. Psychologist Jordan Peterson notes that creativity flourishes in the thin boundary between order and chaos. Disciplined chaos is necessary for discovery and advancement. The direction that China has decided to go suppresses creative chaos. It is easy to predict China's future. It is currently near its economic peak. Until now, China has had the benefit of learning from the West and from Japan. But that learning required a free cadre of creatively talented individuals. Without creative freedom, the talents in China will leave or will cease their efforts. China will become less and less innovative and will progressively fall behind the rest of the world. At some point, stagnation will be too much to bear, and political revolution will be successful. It happened precisely that way to the Empire of the Soviet Union, and it will happen to China. So is Google a saint or a sinner? It is both: a sinner because it is helping the Chinese establishment to kill intellectual and physical freedom in China and (from an American perspective) a saint because, partly through Google's efforts, China will cease to be an economic and strategic threat to the United States.Kavanaugh: What's the Democrats' Endgame?

Capitol Hill Democrats and the broader body of leftists around the nation have made it clear there are but two acceptable outcomes to the Brett Kavanaugh nomination to the United States Supreme Court: either Kavanaugh is (one way or another) withdrawn from consideration or the Senate does not produce enough "yes" votes to confirm. That's it. They want him gone. One can't help but wonder what the Democrats' endgame is. Suppose they are successful in their efforts, and Kavanaugh is ultimately removed from consideration to fill Justice Anthony Kennedy's vacated seat. Then what? Democrats, you are never, ever going to get what you want.

As Barack Obama smugly said following his 2008 electoral victory, "Elections have consequences, and at the end of the day, I won." He went on to tell Republicans, "You don't like a particular policy or a particular president? Then argue for your position. Go out there and win an election. Push to change it, but don't break it." Does that shoe fit on one foot but not the other? What liberals ultimately want is for President Trump to nominate the ideological equivalent of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Democrats want Trump to send them for SCOTUS consideration someone who has a lengthy track record of having supported abortion, a demonstrable LGBTQ warrior with multiple rulings in favor of gun control, and a history of being soft on immigration and border security enforcement laws. Well, Dems, that's not going to happen. Trump won. It's his choice. Should Democrats succeed in torpedoing the nomination of Kavanaugh, Trump is going to nominate and send to the Senate Judiciary Committee another Brett Kavanaugh. Should they pull some more eleventh-hour shenanigans and get that nominee booted, he will nominate another, and then another. There is no one on Trump's list who is also on Jerry Brown's. The effort to get rid of Kavanaugh began long before an allegation that he once behaved inappropriately as a teenager came to the surface. Before a single hearing, before a single question had been asked about his record, how he reached decisions, hypotheticals about cases that could come before the SCOTUS, it started. The White House simply released his name, and before the man had a chance to get home and take his suit coat off, the wheels were turning to block him. What Democrats truly want is this: We expect bipartisanship when we're in power. We'll kick, scream, and resist to high Heaven when we aren't. Kennedy's retirement marks the third Supreme Court vacancy in recent years. Sonia Sotomayor was nominated by President Obama in May 2009. There were no crazed conservatives storming the streets holding protests or senators giving speeches about how she was going to take away everyone's rights and could not be confirmed! Sotomayor is a committed leftist (as anyone appointed by Obama would have to be). She consistently injected race into her speeches and judicial qualifications by stating that a "wise Latina would reach better conclusions than a white male." Imagine the firestorm if Brett Kavanaugh had been found to have said "a white male should reach better decisions than a Hispanic woman." Yet 23% of Senate Republicans voted to confirm Sotomayor. Two years later, in May of 2010, Obama nominated Elena Kagan, also a committed leftist (as any president of the Harvard Law School would have to be). Having a long history of LGBTQ activism, Kagan is credited with "the queering the Harvard Law School." Kagan's confirmation hearing presented the Senate with a unique challenge, as she had no prior judicial writings. As opposed to most Supreme Court nominees, who rise up through the ranks of the U.S. judicial system as local, state, then federal judges, Elena Kagan had never served as a judge at any level at any time. She had no written opinions or prior case experience for senators to use in forming an opinion of her judicial disposition or qualifications. Still, 12% of Senate Republicans voted to confirm Kagan. Those days of bipartisanship seem gone, as today's Senate Democrats appear willing to march in lockstep and do any- and everything in their power to subvert the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh. But if they succeed, then what? Dig up dirt (real or imagined) on the next nominee and hope to 86 him, too? And the next one? And the next? Here's a novel idea opined by a former president: rather than crying and breaking the system, go out and win some elections.'I'm sorry, but you don't have a case'

The quote is by Debra Katz, a Washington lawyer specializing in sexual harassment cases. Katz gained notoriety in the '90s by attempting to dismiss the validity of the Paula Jones sexual harassment case against Bill Clinton. According to court transcripts, Jones claimed that in 1991, then-governor Clinton, after inviting Jones to his hotel room, had "put his hand on her leg, started sliding it toward her pelvic area, and bent down to attempt to kiss her on the neck, all without her consent." Jones alleges that Clinton then dropped his pants and exposed himself to her and asked her to kiss his exposed self. In trying to legally diminish the Jones case, Katz made several public statements in 1998 regarding the interpretation of valid sexual harassment incidents. Katz's comments were all in the context of "even if Jones's allegations are true."

In March of 1998: "Paula Jones' suit is very, very, very weak. She's alleged one incident that took place in a hotel room that, by her own testimony, lasted 10 to 12 minutes."

In April 1998: "[This was] clearly a one-time incident that took place in 10 to 12 minutes, she was not forced to have sex, she left on her own volition" and thus not enough to create a valid sexual harassment claim.

Later in 1998: "If a woman came to me with a similar fact pattern, I would probably tell her that I'm sorry, it's unfair, but you don't have a case." Christine Blasey Ford, who has come forward as an accuser of Judge Brett Kavanaugh, is not alleging that Kavanaugh did anything close to what Bill Clinton is alleged to have done with Paula Jones. It seems that Debra Katz, with her interpretation of sexual harassment, would be the perfect lawyer for Judge Kavanaugh to engage and have in the foxhole with him to fade the Blasey Ford allegations. Katz is experienced and adept at spinning her clients' cases in the media and downplaying the validity of sexual harassment allegations. But wait: it turns out that Katz will not be available to help Judge Kavanaugh. She is a big Democratic Party donor. The Washington Post has just reported that she has already been engaged by Christine Blasey Ford to represent her with her allegations against Judge Kavanaugh. The Katz flip on the interpretation of valid sexual harassment incidents could go down as one of the great instances of legal hypocrisy in recent years. Unfortunately for balance in our judicial system, it seems more and more that legal hypocrisy is a disease of lawyers primarily representing those with Democratic Party leanings. Even though attorney Katz is unwilling to be honest with her client, hopefully leading senators on both sides of the aisle will have the political integrity and fortitude to say to Christine Blasey Ford: "I'm sorry, but you don't have a case."On Monday, there was an article by the Associated Press that pushed that Democrat narrative. Take a look:

We get continuous warnings that Republicans are going to get trounced in the midterms this fall, not because of Republican policies, but because people just don't like President Trump. We were told that Republicans would get trounced in 2016 because people just didn't like Trump and he would drag the party down.

In a post-Labor Day briefing at the White House, a top Republican pollster told senior staff that the determining factor in the election wouldn't be the improving economy or the steady increase in job creation. It would be how voters feel about Trump. And the majority of the electorate, including a sizable percentage of Republican-leaning voters, doesn't feel good about the president, according to a presentation from pollster Neil Newhouse that spanned dozens of pages. "For Republican candidates to win in swing states, they need all of the voters who support President Trump, plus a chunk of those who do not," said Whit Ayres, a GOP pollster. "That is threading a very narrow strategic needle." The paradox for Republicans is that most Americans are largely satisfied with the economy, according to numerous surveys. But the party has struggled to keep the economy centered at the center [sic] of the election debate.

What we don't see in these predictions is actual support for Democrat policies. People are not clamoring for higher taxes, more regulations, and a more powerful government. The people generally support enforcing immigration laws and do not support sanctuary cities and states. I do not believe that most people actually believe that college will be free or that socialism is better than capitalism.

We were told that if Trump was elected, the economy would collapse, and yet the economy is growing much faster than anyone said was possible. We were told manufacturing jobs were gone for good, and yet there has been substantial growth. It is clear that the great results are because Trump lowered taxes and reduced regulations, yet we are told Republicans will be slaughtered because people don't like Trump. That seems illogical since people routinely vote their pocketbook.

We know the following:

Trump won around 85% of counties in 2016. Republicans held a 47-seat advantage in the House when the "unpopular" Trump was on the ballot. Consumer and business confidence have soared. Polls show that Trump's popularity among blacks and Hispanics has risen. Job opportunities for all races, both sexes, and all education levels have improved substantially. Median income and take-home pay are rising faster than at any time during Obama's eight years.

Yet we are told that things are looking grim for Republicans.

Why would people be hankering to go back to a Democratic leader like Nancy Pelosi and policies that generated low confidence and low growth? Does anyone think that sounds logical? Yet that is the drivel from the stenographers in the media every day as they try to elect Democrats..

Other good news that is getting little coverage is that it looks as though health care costs will be stable for 2019 even as Democrats, in collusion with the media and swamp creatures, said they would soar if Trump and Republicans got rid of the individual mandate.

On a personal note, I work for a group in Illinois that has around 250 employees, and we cover over 400 people. We have health insurance through a large insurer, and I heard this week that our rates are actually dropping for 2019 by 6.8%, with no changes in deductibles and benefits. Obama and Democrats knowingly lied continuously that Obamacare would reduce rates, yet out-of-pocket expenses, deductibles, and premiums skyrocketed for almost everyone throughout his miserable eight years. Two years into Trump, with him giving people freedom of choice again, we are getting a substantial decrease.

Target also said this week that it is hiring 120,000 seasonal workers this year, 20% more than last year, and also raising pay. Isn't it amazing that the retail sector is doing so well after we heard of its demise and that it is creating jobs and raising pay and lifting benefits without the socialists telling retailers they have to? We don't need guaranteed government jobs and income.

Capitalism is the best anti-poverty program that ever existed. Yet we see lines like this one below, from the AP, implied to be gospel :

"For Republican candidates to win in swing states, they need all of the voters who support President Trump, plus a chunk of those who do not," said Whit Ayres, a GOP pollster. "That is threading a very narrow strategic needle."

With all this good news because of Republican policies, somehow we never get headlines that say "Grim news for Democrats" or "For Democrat candidates to win in swing states, they need all of the voters who supported loser Hillary, plus a chunk of those who did not."

Wonder why, wonder why...

Image credit: Mike Licht via Flickr (with year adapted), CC BY-SA 2.0.In Short: New info has just surfaced, claiming that four Galaxy S10 models are in the works. This info comes from the Galaxy S9 Plus Android Pie update, mentions of beyond0, beyond1, beyond2, and beyond 2 5G smartphones were found in the code of that update. The first three codenames surfaced earlier, but the latter one did not, its completely new. This codename obvious refers to a 5G-ready smartphone, and if all the info that surfaced thus far is accurate, all of those beyond phones are actually Galaxy S10 units.

Background: The Samsung Galaxy S10-related info has been surfacing for quite some time now. The latest rumor that popped up actually claims that the phone will ship with a 19:9 display aspect ratio, while its predecessor and a ton of other Samsung-branded phones thus far sport 18.5:9 display aspect ratios. On top of that, that rumor also suggested that the phone will present a design change for the company, in other words, it should look somewhat different compared to the Galaxy S8 and S9. The companys CEO also teased a significant change for the Galaxy S10, which also suggests were in for a major design change. Three rear-facing cameras were also teased for the phone in one of the recent rumors, while such rumors also suggest that the phone will be available in a Green color variant as well.

Impact: These codenames that were found in the Galaxy S9 Plus Android Pie update do suggest that a 5G-ready Galaxy S10 is on its way, but thats not all that was revealed. For those of you who do not know, numbers after the word beyond actually suggest how large a phone is. So, for example, beyond0 stands for the smallest Galaxy S10 model, while the beyond2 will be the largest, that also means that the 5G-ready variant of the Galaxy S10 will be large. Now, if a codename contains a letter q, that means that were looking at a Qualcomm model, if not, its an Exynos model, like the ones that surfaced. The Galaxy S10 is not expected to arrive until Q1 next year, it will probably launch during the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, but were only guessing, for now.In short: The Google Pixel 3 has apparently been listed on JD.com in China, with a price of 4,999 RMB  that comes to around $729, but dont take that as the actual pricing, as devices that are listed before announcement like this, are usually heavily inflated. The listing doesnt tell us much, and thats because it is in Mandarin and Google Translate is unable to translate much of the page. But it does show a render that had already surfaced in recent weeks of the smaller Google Pixel 3. This shows both the white and black Pixel 3, as well as the Pixel 3 XL and the Pixel 3 side-by-side. Which is something we already saw this week, but in some big and bulky cases. Now we can see them in all their glory.

Background: Smartphones typically get listed by third-party retailers before their announcement, especially those that have leaked as much as the Pixel 3 has. So its no surprise to see this being listed here on JD.com in China, but it is a bit surprising that it is listed in China. Considering the Pixel smartphones are typically only sold in a handful of countries, and China is not one of those. But perhaps Google is looking to sell the Pixel 3 in China this year, as it is looking to re-enter the country. Its quite possible, but typically Nexus and Pixel phones were not available there, due to Google being blocked in the country.

Impact: Its getting closer and closer to Googles official unveiling of the new device, which is expected to happen on October 9 in New York City. The Pixel 3 might be the bigger seller this year, especially if the price is going up even higher, as expected on the larger Pixel 3 XL. Not to mention that huge notch that everyone has been so upset about, in recent leaks. Though there are some conspiracy theories running around out there that it was a hoax, but that is likely untrue at this point.In short: The Internet needs to free itself from the Silicon Valleys grip and eliminate any central gatekeepers that could control large information flows, according to Mick Hagen, CEO of decentralized app platform Mainframe. In an interview with AndroidHeadlines, the executive chimed in on the recent debate about online censorship, particularly the harsh criticism President Trump has been throwing Googles way over the last several weeks, asserting that theres credible evidence of algorithmic or human biases existing among the tech elite. We need to move away from a system that enables tech giants to potentially single-handedly control the debate; because whatever voice or freedom they grant us today could be gone tomorrow, Mr. Hagen concluded.

Background: The White House has been extremely aggressive in its recent efforts to criticize Googles alleged censorship, having also accused Twitter of having a left-leaning bias and consequently silencing conservative voices on the Internet. President Trump suggested the Silicon Valleys inclination to provide disproportional exposure to liberal worldviews through its services used by the majority of the planet constitutes meddling in the U.S. democratic process, threatening federal investigations over the matter. Google strongly denied the notion, maintaining that Search and all of its other solutions have been built without any political agenda. Even if Google was to practice open censorship, its within its rights to do so as a private company unburdened by the First Amendment, legal experts pointed out in the past. The Senate Intelligence Committee wanted to grill Google on the matter earlier this month as part of an election security hearing but the firms top officials refused to attend the thereof, prompting harsh criticism from several high-ranking lawmakers.

Impact: Regardless of the effectiveness and degree of impartiality of Google Search, calls for heavier regulations on the Silicon Valley are now gaining momentum in the U.S. and many industry watchers from both sides of the political spectrum are now expressing skepticism about how objective the companys services truly are. Bad ideas are beaten by better ideas, not by trying to shut them down, Mr. Hagen said, suggesting all political ideas should be given equal representation on the Internet.The Best Little Floorhouse in Texas Your choice for flooring in Central Texas! Your flooring is more than just the surface you walk on  it's an integral part of your home. With over 35 years of flooring experience, The Best Little Floorhouse in Texas has the resources and knowled1. Yes. Losing daily service to Houston could be just the first in a series of service cutbacks.

2. Yes. Being less competitive with Austin and D-FW will hurt the airport in the long run.

3. No. The airport has seen strong passenger numbers. Good marketing can keep it going.

4. No. The airport is still pursuing other service, including a Denver route. Its still a solid asset.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say without knowing future airline and travel industry trends.

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View ResultsDo it yourself if you can We accept  in principle  that private equity can deliver (somewhat) excess returns over most other asset classes. But there are a lot of qualifications attached to that, and most of them are very relevant to whether and how pension funds should invest in private equity.If passed, the bills will merge the Federal Circuit Court of Australia and the Family Court of Australia into a new Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. The change would be the most significant to the countrys courts system since 1975.

Changes of this magnitude must not be rushed through the Parliament without proper scrutiny and debate, said Law Council President Morry Bailes. Further, the governments original intention to hear evidence prior to the close of submissions is clearly not as valuable as hearing evidence after the submission period.

The Law Council commends the Senate for ensuring that public hearings are held following the close of submissions, and that ample time and space is allocated for them, Bailes said. The committee needs to not just hear from those who work in and around the system, but the mums and dads who have unfortunately been caught up in it. Australias family court system is under immense pressure, but there is no practical reason to push this reform through parliament this year. We must get it right, not do it quick.

The motion gives the government the opportunity to consider the Australian Law Reform Commission Review of the Family Law System, which will be delivered to government on 31 March 2019.

We again submit that it is vital the ALRCs detailed findings are considered before the Senate committee reports and the bills inevitably go to a vote, Bailes said.Her wealth of experience representing employers interests in a wide variety of industrial and employment issues adds to our teams skills and expertise in this area, she said.

The team works with public- and private-sector employer clients to develop workplace strategies for maximising opportunities and overcoming challenges, she said. The team sees the new appointment helping continue to grow and strengthen those relationships.

Hancock is a specialist in employment, industrial relations, work health and safety, and anti-discrimination. She has defended employer clients in work health and safety prosecutions, industrial disputes, underpayment of wages claims, unfair dismissal and adverse action applications, and breach of contract disputes, Moray & Agnew said.



Fiona HancockSome carmakers have already begun presenting part of their lineup for the show, but on Wednesday BMW became the first to announce the full display of cars which it will bring to Porte de Versailles.This auto show is of particular importance for the German brand, as it will be showing for the first time in public the new design language on a number of vehicle segments. Also, digitalization (including automated driving, connectivity, electrification, and services) is a key feature of BMWs cars to be presented at the show.The latest results of BMWs ongoing product offensive are taking center stage at the brands Mondial de lAutomobile 2018 show stand in Paris, said BMW.Emotion-packed design, pioneering technology and an even more richly engaging form of driving pleasure define the character of the new models BMW is presenting at the most important date on Europes 2018 car show calendar.The star of the event will undoubtedly be the recently unveiled Z4 , the newest interpretation of the iconic soft-top. But that doesnt mean other equally exciting models wont be on display.The new BMW 8 Series Coupe , presented in June, will also make its first public outing in Paris, accompanied by another of this summers unveilings, the new X5 For M fans, the BMW booth will be showing the M5 Competition , the V8-powered, most powerful and sportiest variant of the sedan ever made.Officially, the carmaker didnt mention having prepared any concept cars for the show, but were hopeful at least the Vision iNext that was just shown to the media will make it on the floor.It happened over the weekend to an unidentified man, who hoped he could swoosh his way past a DUI checkpoint. LAPD West Traffic officers noticed the 25-year-old man was riding on the sidewalk in Santa Monica, and that was the main reason they hailed him, TMZ has learned. Youre supposed to ride these scooters only on the street.When they approached him, they noticed he smelled strongly of booze, which immediately triggered the same procedures any driver is familiar with. The guy, however, refused to take a breathalyzer but still performed  and failed  the field sobriety test.He ended up being booked for driving under the influence, which is a misdemeanor, and his experience can serve as a warning to other Bird riders out there. Just like it says in the Bird user agreement, riders are not supposed to operate it while intoxicated. Because its a motorized vehicle, doing differently means youre liable for a DUI charge. Just ask this guy.The same goes for riding a horse on the public road, though chances of that happening are considerably smaller than that of riding a Bird scooter. In June this year, one horserider taking part in the Colusa County Fair in North California was arrested for DUI after his horse ran off and trampled an 8-year-old boy.The rider had been drinking before mounting for the parade and this negatively impacted his ability to control his horse when it became spooked and tried to shake him off. The boy received injuries to his legs but was expected to make a full recovery.So, remember: ride sober, be it Bird scooters or actual horses.The Trump administration has again cut the number of refugees allowed into the U.S., and the overwhelming majority of the small group of refugees who were admitted this past year are Christians.

Expand chart Data: Department of State, Office of Admissions - Refugee Processing Center; Chart: Andrew Witherspoon/Axios

The big picture: Islam is the predominant religion in nations such as Syria, Afghanistan and Somalia, which account for 39% of the 25 million refugees in the world, according to UN data. Most Christian refugees came from Iraq, Iran and Myanmar (formerly Burma), where many faced brutal persecution.

By the numbers: The number of Muslim refugees admitted into the U.S. dropped from more than 9,000 in the 2017 fiscal year to fewer than 2,000 with less than a month left in FY 2018  an 80% drop.

Myanmar: A majority of Muslim refugees accepted into the U.S. in FY 2018 have come from Myanmar, where thousands of Muslim-majority Rohingya have been killed in an ethnic cleansing and hundreds of thousands have fled.

A majority of Muslim refugees accepted into the U.S. in FY 2018 have come from Myanmar, where thousands of Muslim-majority Rohingya have been killed in an ethnic cleansing and hundreds of thousands have fled. Somalia: The number of refugees admitted from the Muslim-majority, African nation of Somalia has dropped by 96% compared to last fiscal year.

The number of refugees admitted from the Muslim-majority, African nation of Somalia has dropped by 96% compared to last fiscal year. For no known reasons, the White House expressed particular concern over allowing refugees from Somalia into the U.S., former chief of the refugee affairs division at USCIS Barbara Stack told Zoe Chace in the latest episode of This American Life.

Between the lines: The Trump administration has vowed to protect persecuted Christians around the world.

Vice President Mike Pence even pressured the United States Agency for International Development to specifically allocate millions of dollars for groups that help persecuted communities in Iraq.

the United States Agency for International Development to specifically allocate millions of dollars for groups that help persecuted communities in Iraq. But Christian refugees have faced increased rejection due to President Trump's lowering of the refugee cap.

due to President Trump's lowering of the refugee cap. The number of Christian refugees admitted to the U.S. dropped by more than 40% over the last year. One group of Iranian Christians who have been stranded in Austria have sued the administration as religious minorities.

What they're saying: In his announcement of the newest refugee cap cut, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pointed to the skyrocketing number of asylum claims that the administration is also dealing with, which he said has created a backlog that deserves focus.

Dan Stein, president of Federation for American Immigration Reform, which advocates to cut immigration levels, told Axios last month that the number of refugees should be cut as asylum seekers and refugees are "extraordinarily expensive" for American taxpayers.

What to watch: With less than two weeks left in FY 2018, only 20,918 refugees have been admitted to the U.S., despite the cap being set at 45,000. The cap for FY 2019 will be 30,000.

Go deeper: What's happening in Myanmar1 big thing: The refugees who reach Trump's America

If you're a non-Christian refugee seeking entry to the U.S. in 2018... good luck.

Driving the news: The Trump administration has again cut the number of refugees allowed (from 45,000 to 30,000) and the overwhelming majority of the small group admitted this past year are Christians, Axios' Stef Kight reports.

Expand chart Data: Department of State, Office of Admissions - Refugee Processing Center; Chart: Andrew Witherspoon/Axios

The big picture: Islam is the predominant religion in nations such as Syria, Afghanistan and Somalia, which account for 39% of the 25 million refugees in the world, according to UN data. Most Christian refugees came from Iraq, Iran and Myanmar (formerly Burma), where many faced brutal persecution.

Between the lines: The Trump administration has vowed to protect persecuted Christians around the world.

Vice President Mike Pence even pressured the U.S. Agency for International Development to specifically allocate millions of dollars for groups that help persecuted communities in Iraq.

the U.S. Agency for International Development to specifically allocate millions of dollars for groups that help persecuted communities in Iraq. But Christian refugees have faced increased rejection due to President Trump's lowering of the refugee cap.

due to President Trump's lowering of the refugee cap. The number of Christian refugees admitted to the U.S. dropped by more than 40% over the last year. One group of Iranian Christians who have been stranded in Austria have sued the administration as religious minorities.

The bottom line: The U.S. is on track to accept fewer than half its cap for the 2018 fiscal year.The United States has formally asked Armenia to extradite the former head of a Turkish American lobbying group who was arrested in Yerevan on August 29.

The Armenian police detained Kemal (Kevin) Oksuz a week after U.S. law-enforcement authorities issued an international arrest warrant for him. A Yerevan court was quick to allow the police to keep the Turkish-born man in custody for at least one month.

Oksuz used to run the Texas-based Turquoise Council of Americans and Eurasians as well as the Assembly of the Friends of Azerbaijan. The two groups came under scrutiny after organizing in 2013 an all-expenses-paid visit to Azerbaijan by 10 members and 32 staffers of the U.S. Congress.

The Washington Post reported in 2015 that the trip was secretly funded by Azerbaijans state-owned oil company SOCAR in violation of U.S. congressional rules. The paper said that SOCAR spent $750,000 for that purpose.

The Ethics Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives launched an inquiry into the secret funding around that time. Oksuz reportedly refused to testify in the probe.

An Armenian police statement issued on August 30 revealed that Oksuz subsequently moved to Armenia and set up a company there last year. He is now wanted in the U.S. for lying to the Ethics Committee about foreign funding received by his organizations, according to the statement.

A spokeswoman for Armenias Office of the Prosecutor-General, Arevik Khachatrian, told the Armenpress news agency on Wednesday that it has received a formal extradition request from U.S. law-enforcement authorities. She did not say when the Armenian side will respond to it.

Under Armenian law, final decisions on extraditing foreign nationals living in the country have to be made by the Justice Ministry. They can be challenged in court.

Armenpress also reported that the police suspect Oksuzs Armenian-registered company called the Sena Group oftax evasion. If charged, he will risk heavy fines or up to five years imprisonment.

It remains unclear why Oksuz decided to relocate to Armenia, a country that has strained relations with both Turkey and Azerbaijan. Just like other Turkish American activists, he had lobbied the U.S. Congress against recognizing the 1915 Armenian genocide in Ottoman Turkey.

Reporting on Oksuzs arrest, the pro-government Turkish newspaper Sabah referred to him as a high-ranking loyalist of Fethullah Gulen, a U.S.-based Turkish cleric facing coup charges in Turkey. The paper also called his Turquoise Council of Americans a Gulenist umbrella organization.

Thousands of Gulen supporters have been jailed in Turkey since a failed 2016 coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.By Trend

Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have 87 times violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said Sept. 19.

Armenian armed forces were using heavy machine guns.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAzBy Sara Israfilbayova

Baku and Astana aim to develop and expand cooperation in all areas, including tourism.

Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan Rashad Mammadov said that Azerbaijan is the most important trade and economic partner of Kazakhstan in the South Caucasus region.

In 2017, the Kazakh-Azerbaijani intergovernmental commission adopted a road map for trade and economic cooperation for 2018-2020. Its implementation has already led to a significant increase in trade turnover between the two countries, the ambassador noted.

Mammadov went on to say that such results have been achieved thanks to the efforts of the relevant state agencies and the activity of entrepreneurs of both countries, as well as due to the fact that Baku and Astana aim to develop the non-oil sector of the economy.

In particular, Azerbaijan has ordered 50 electric locomotives from the Electric Locomotives Assembly Factory (Electrovoz Kurastyru Zauyty), which was constructed in Astana with participation of the French company Alstom. Total amount of the order is 288 million euros. In turn, the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan plans to open trade houses in a number of cities of Kazakhstan, as Azerbaijani enterprises, especially the companies of the light industry produce high-quality and competitive products, the diplomat stressed.

Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in August, 1992. Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Turkic Council, Joint Administration of Turkic Arts and Culture, Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

Both Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan attach great importance to the development of bilateral trade and economic ties. There is a successfully operating Intergovernmental Commission, and business forums are held regularly.

For Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan the most important points of cooperation appear to be the contacts on energy issues, oil transportation, agriculture, and the use of the Caspian Sea as an important international traffic artery.

Now the two countries are working on promotion of a joint transport project - the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), which involves cargo transportation from China via Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and further via Turkey and Ukraine to Europe.

In the first half of the year the trade turnover between the countries increased by 56 percent, as compared to the same period last year.

The trade turnover amounted to $142.1 million in 2017 and to $142 million for the seven months of 2018.

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Sara Israfilbayova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Sara_999Is

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAzFurther development of education and professional and skilled human resources are of great importance for Azerbaijan which is focusing on the establishment of solid market relations as the economy gets stronger.

Taking this matter into account, Azercell Telecom LLC is giving next opportunity for students who aspire to become a professional in his/her field and succeed in a future career. Constantly supporting the human resource capacity building initiatives in the country, the company is pleased to announce the next round of Student Bursary Program. Starting from September 18th, Azercell invites all students who are confident in their knowledge and skills to benefit from this program. The students are required to apply online at the official webpage of the company (www.azercell.jobs) by October 18th, 2018. Those successfully passing all selection stages will receive a monthly stipend from the company until the end of their academic year.

In addition to the monthly bursary, the talented students will also have a chance to enrich their knowledge about telecommunications, participate in Azercells corporate events and social activities, join a variety of trainings and undertake an internship at the company. The company has been conducting the bursary program welcomed by the students every academic year since 2008. Over the past years, more than 150 students from various universities in Azerbaijan have been named the honorary scholar of the company.

The leader of the mobile communication industry, the largest taxpayer and the biggest investor of the non-oil sector of Azerbaijan Azercell Telecom LLC was founded in 1996. With 48 percent share of Azerbaijans mobile telecom market Azercells network covers 80 percent of the territory (excluding 20 percent of the occupied territories) and 99.8 percent of population of the country. Currently, 4.5 million subscribers choose Azercell services.

Azercell has pioneered an important number of innovations in Azerbaijan, including GSM technology, advance payment system, mobile internet services, Metro coverage, 24/7 call centre service, 7 day/week Front Office service, M2M services, one-stop-shopping approach Azercell Express offices, mobile customer services, Online Customer Care and Social Media Customer Care services, mobile e-signature service ASAN Imza etc.

Azercell deployed first 4G  LTE services in Azerbaijan in 2012. According to the results of mobile network quality and wireless coverage mapping surveys by international systems, Azercells network demonstrated the best results among the mobile operators of Azerbaijan. Azercell is the only company in Azerbaijan and CIS region which has been awarded Gold Certificate of International Investors in People Standard.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAzBy Laman Ismayilova

Azerbaijan Carpet Museum will host the 3rd International Symposium Common Language of the Turkic World  Patterns on the topic Intersections in Felton on October 25-27.

A scientific conference Intersections in Felt comprises three topics  Felt as a Tradition; Felt in Contemporary Art; and Felt as a Fashion Trend. Two thematic exhibitions, workshops, a fair exhibition, and a fashion show will be held as part of the symposium.

Dinara Chochunbaeva (Kyrgyzstan), the participants of academic sessions within the symposium, will make a presentation on the theme Kyrgyz Traditional Felt Carpets: Ala-Kiyiz and Shyrdak. She is the member of the Union of Artists of Kyrgyzstan, UNESCO expert on intangible cultural heritage, expert on the development of crafts, and the author of the book Kyrgyz Traditional Felt Carpet Shyrdak. In Kyrgyzstan, as is known, felt art is one of the main folk handicrafts and therefore never completely lost its importance.

Dinara Chochunbaeva, an artist, public figure, and art manager, has brilliantly shown herself in all these areas. Currently, she is the Director of Central Asian Crafts Support Associations Resource Center in Kyrgyzstan (CACSARC-kg) and coordinator of UNESCO Award of Excellence Program for Central Asia (since 2004). In 2006, she established the Public Foundation Crafts and Traditional Knowledge, the aim of which is to make the inventory of crafts and traditional culture of Central Asian people.

It should be noted that the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum are the symposium organizers.

The symposium aims at the exchange of ideas on the common heritage of the Turkic peoples  felt, as well as research and preservation of this crafts traditions and customs, the revival of interest in it, and its application in various fields.

Media partners of the event are Azernews.az, Trend.az, Day.az

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAzBy Laman Ismayilova

An exhibition titled "Saribash village" will open at Gallery 1969 in Baku on September 27.

Works of talented national artists by Farhad Yalquzag and Nazim Mammadov will be showcased at the exhibition.

The exhibition is inspired by the village of Saribash, an ancient history and unique traditions of Gakh region.

The purpose of the exhibition is to reflect the nature of the village, to impress people about this village through the art.

The three-day exhibition will also feature paintings inspired by other cities and regions of Azerbaijan.

Gakh is country's picturesque region with exceptionally nature.

The region has a long history dating back to ancient times. The area around the village has many historic monuments, including ancient Albanian Christian churches of the 4th-5th centuries. Professional climbers can risk and mount Jinligala's top on the edge of an abyss, which has access only from one side.

The emblem of the village, Sumug fortress, is a four-storey defense tower commanding a great view of the surrounding areas.

The beauty of the location and the spirit of the people is a real attraction.

In the villages of Saribash and Dzhalai, local craftswomen weave carpets with original patterns and sew woolen socks called jorabs. In the village of Gahbash the residents produce home-made wines.

A small, stone-built village of Ilisu, located at the northwest tip of Azerbaijan in the Gakh region, is a great place to visit at any time of year, especially in summer.

Ilisu, located along the banks of the Kurmuk and Hamamchay rivers 12 km from the administrative centre of the region and 1,400 m above the sea level, is one of the most ancient settlements in Azerbaijan.

Walking opportunities abound. The area has numerous historical monuments and is known for thermal waters and wonderful waterfalls.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAzBy Rashid Shirinov

Azerbaijan will not apply the requirements of the Universal Postal Convention to Armenia, reads the political statement submitted by the government of Azerbaijan at the 2nd Extraordinary Congress of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The congress was attended by more than 1,000 delegations from 130 countries, including Azerbaijan. Reforms in the structure of the UPU, changes in the system of membership in the organization, changes in the UPU for postal operations and other issues were discussed and the final acts were adopted at the congress.

The political statement was submitted to the Secretariat on behalf of the government of Azerbaijan for inclusion in the documents of the Congress. The statement once again brought to the attention of the world community that the armed forces of Armenia occupied 20 percent of the territory of Azerbaijan. It was noted that due to the occupation by the Armenian armed forces of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan and adjacent regions, Azerbaijan will not apply the requirements of the Universal Postal Convention to Armenia.

During the long years of occupation of 20 percent of the territory of Azerbaijan, the economy of the country, including the postal sector, suffered significant damage. It is impossible to implement Article 6 of the Regulations on the Circulation of Postage Stamps of the Universal Postal Convention in the territories of Azerbaijan occupied by Armenia, the statement reads.

It also noted that the issue of postage stamps by Armenia on behalf of the illegal regime of the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic contradicts the requirements of the Universal Postal Convention of the UPU.

The congress also hosted a ministerial forum, an exchange of views on trends in the further development of the postal industry, and it was proposed to summarize the suggestions and develop a strategy in this direction.

The purpose of the event was to exchange information to improve the capabilities of specialists in the relevant field, as well as to manage the activities of groups to combat cyber incidents, and to discuss issues related to activity schemes.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAzBy Laman Ismayilova

A public award - "The Golden Order of Academician Rafiga Aliyeva" in honor of the 86th anniversary of the prominent scientist has been established at the meeting of the editorial board of the international magazine "My Azerbaijan".

Honorary members of the editorial board of the international magazine "My Azerbaijan" - founder and editor-in-chief Emil Nasirli, the head of the official representation of the Baku International Center for Multiculturalism in Moldova, Ukraine, Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria, honorary chairman of the editorial council Aurelia Grigoriou, honored art worker of Azerbaijan, associate professor of the Applied Art and Design Department of the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts, chairman of the editorial board of the journal Fakhriya Khalafova, the head of the department of ecological chemistry at the Baku State University, professor Sevinj Hajiyeva, the head of the Caucasus History Department of the Baku State University, doctor of historical sciences, professor, the honored teacher of Azerbaijan Irada Huseynova, the first deputy editor Fikret Nagiyev and others attended the meeting, Trend Life reported.

Addressing the event, Fakhriya Khalafova spoke about the fruitful scientific activity of the famous scientist Academician Rafiga Aliyeva, her contribution to the development of chemical science in the republic.

"The first and only female academic in the field of analytical chemistry in Azerbaijan Rafiga Aliyeva achieved great scientific achievements, one of the unforgettable personalities who created the unity of science and education," said Khalafova.

She stressed that the initiative to establish a prize named after Rafiga Aliyeva is a natural phenomenon, since her personality deserves unlimited respect. The memory of her will be immortalized, her name is inscribed in gold letters in the history of science, education, and enlightenment.

"The Golden Order of Academician Rafiga Aliyeva" has been established to reward citizens for outstanding achievements in scientific research, contribute to the development of culture and art, sport achievements, strengthen peace, friendship and cooperation among nations as well as significant discoveries that contribute to scientific and technological progress , achievements in the field of education, education, social and social activities.

Aurelia Grigori noted that not only citizens of Azerbaijan, but also other countries can be awarded with the order. The golden order is awarded to the candidature in accordance with the decision of the expert editorial board of the international magazine "My Azerbaijan".

Speaking on behalf of the family of academician Rafiga Alieva, her daughter Sevinj Hajiyeva expressed gratitude to the participants of the event and spoke about the scientific activity of the prominent scientist.

"Rafiga khanum is one of those whose lives continue after its termination. She played an important role in the social and social life of the country, the development of science and education," said Hajiyeva.

Rafiga Aliyeva, who dedicated her life chemist the scientist, who had been engaged in pedagogical activity for more than half a century, gave all her knowledge and skills to the preparation of highly qualified personnel. As a scientist who knows how to transfer her deep knowledge and rich experience to future generations, she created a large scientific school, not only in Azerbaijan but also in the leading scientific centers and universities of the CIS, the U.S., Canada, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Israel, Turkey and European countries", she added.

More than 450 scientific works, 25 textbooks and teaching aids, 20 patents are a noteworthy result of the long-term activity of Rafiga Aliyeva. In addition, more than 20 doctors of philosophy and doctors of science were trained under her leadership," she added.

Emil Nasirli, Irada Huseynova, Fikret Nagiyev and others said that the decision to establish the "Golden Order of Academician Rafiga Aliyeva" was timed to coincide with the 86th anniversary of the great scientist-chemist, honored scientist, owner of the Shokhrat Order, whose the 86th birthday anniversary will be celebrated on September 20, 2018.

It was stressed that people who have made a valuable contribution to world science, dedicated their lives to their people, are never forgotten, the memory of them lives forever. One of them is the self-sacrificing scientist and the great teacher Rafiga Aliyev.

"We are sure that for any contemporary figure it will be a great honor to be awarded such a high award with the name of Academician Rafiga Aliyeva," they said.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAzBy Rashid Shirinov

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, who is on a working visit to China, met with the President of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Borge Brande, the Foreign Ministry informed on September 18.

The meeting was held within the annual meeting of New Champions organized by the WEF in Tianjin, China.

The sides noted with satisfaction the traditional ties established between Azerbaijan and the WEF. The participation and speeches of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in the annual meetings of the WEF were particularly emphasized. Azerbaijans participation in the current meeting on the threats facing the modern world in the political, economic and environmental spheres was highly appreciated.

Mammadyarov noted that the growth of indicators every year on providing conditions and competitiveness for business activities and creating new jobs in Azerbaijan in the annual reports of the WEF on development of global economic trends and forecasting their prospects is not accidental.

He stressed that thanks to these positive results, achieved through the reforms carried out in Azerbaijan and the ongoing development programs, stable and sustainable development is ensured.

Mammadyarov added that in order to ensure more effective use of the rich potential of Azerbaijan for the welfare of the people, much attention is paid to regional cooperation projects. The minister also spoke about the importance of the East-West, North-South and South-West transport corridors.

Touching upon the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, he noted that the illegal presence of the Armenian armed forces in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan not only poses a serious threat to regional peace and security, but also hinders comprehensive cooperation in the South Caucasus region and in the wider area.

During the meeting, the sides also expressed confidence that the traditional relations between Azerbaijan and the WEF will continue to develop successfully and exchanged views on the role of Azerbaijan in the global economy and other issues of mutual interest.

The World Economic Forum, based in Geneva, aims to improve the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic, and other leaders of society to shape global, regional, and industry agendas. The Forum is best known for its annual meeting at the end of January in Davos. The meetings bring together some 2,500 top business leaders, international political leaders, economists, celebrities and journalists for up to four days to discuss the most pressing issues facing the world.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAzBy Trend

Turkey and Azerbaijan have repeatedly proved fraternity and friendship to each other, the Turkish presidential administration told Trend Sept. 18.

"Baku and Ankara are linked not only with current economic and political relations, but also with cultural and historical ties," the administration said. For Turkey, Azerbaijan was and is one of the most reliable partners."

According to the source, Ankara and Baku were able to use their potential not only for the benefit of the peoples of Turkey and Azerbaijan, but in general for the benefit of the region. All energy and economic projects which were implemented jointly testify to that.

"Such projects as the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway and the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) are very important projects for Turkey and Azerbaijan," the presidential administration said.

Today, Turkey and Azerbaijan are the main countries of trilateral formats of cooperation, the source said.

"The relations between Ankara and Baku are not limited to economic and energy projects, the source said. Today Azerbaijan and Turkey are among the leading countries in the region, which allows them to develop relations in all spheres. Ankara intends to expand relations with Baku in all directions, including defense industry."

Today, Azerbaijan and Turkey have a solid bilateral cooperation, but the two countries also have experience of working in a multilateral format.

Turkey participates in the majority of large-scale projects being implemented by Azerbaijan in the region. Among them are the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipeline projects.

Turkey and Azerbaijan demonstrated their leadership by signing an agreement on the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) in Istanbul in 2012. TANAP is one of the important components of the Southern Gas Corridor, which will allow supplying Azerbaijani gas to the world markets.

In summer, the first commercial gas from Azerbaijans Shah Deniz field was supplied via the first segment of the Southern Gas Corridor from the Sangachal terminal through the expanded South Caucasus Pipeline. The next stage was the commissioning of TANAP, through which gas is supplied to Turkey and further to Europe.

Another large-scale project of the century is the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, which will ensure more active economic and trade cooperation between Ankara and Baku by supplying goods from Central Asia to Europe.

After the railway was commissioned in November 2017, the time of cargo transportation was almost halved, decreasing by 12-15 days. As is known, at this stage the biggest cargo turnover is carried out between Europe and China. Before the BTK railway, the transportation was carried out through sea routes and on average it took 25-30 days.

According to the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee, trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Turkey reached $2.64 billion in 2017, of which $1.37 billion accounted for exports to Turkey. The trade turnover between the two countries increased by 14.8 percent in 2017.

In January-July 2018, the trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $1.74 billion (a 19.6 percent growth for the year).

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAzBy Trend

Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani will pay a visit to Azerbaijan to participate in an event dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Azerbaijani Parliament, the Pakistani media reported.

He will be in Azerbaijan on a four-day visit together with three members of the Senate, the message says.

During the visit, Sanjrani will also hold a number of meetings with Azerbaijani officials.

The event dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Azerbaijani Parliament will be attended by parliamentary delegations of 150 countries.

In particular, the chairmen of parliaments of 14 countries will arrive in Baku to participate in the event, 13 countries will be represented by deputy chairmen of parliaments, and 11 countries will be represented by inter-parliamentary working groups.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAzBy Trend

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has signed an order on improvement of living conditions of the population in the city of Bilasuvar.

Under the presidential order, 3 million manats will be allocated to Bilasuvar District Executive Authority for the construction of a 48-apartment residential building in the city.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAzBy Trend

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has signed an order regarding measures to renovate Alat-Astara-state border with Iran (81 km)-Bilasuvar road.

Under the presidential order, the Azerbaijan Highway State Agency is allocated 3 million manats for the renovation of the road.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAzBy Naila Huseynli

The role of women in entrepreneurship will be strengthened in Azerbaijan.

Mirza Aliyev, head of the State Service for Management of Agricultural Projects and Credits under the Ministry of Agriculture of Azerbaijan said to reporters on September 19.

He says that five pilot groups of women entrepreneurs were created in five regions of the country in order to develop women's entrepreneurship within the framework of the second AZRIP project implemented with the support of the World Bank (WB).

The purpose of the creation of these groups was the involvement of women in rural areas to business and self-employment. We already have very positive results, but we are not going to stop there and have created special groups of young people who will form special business incubators. Despite a short time of project implementation, about 100 women took part in it, and new enterprises were created on their own resources, added Aliyev.

Head of the State Service mentioned that along with the entrepreneur's own funds, the State Service also decided to allocate special grants to them.

We decided not to rely solely on the personal funds of entrepreneurs, and began issuing grants to them in the amount of their own funds. At present, we have already issued two grants for the sum of 5,000 manats ($2,936) to each of them. At the same time, we have resolved the issue of sustainable access of women entrepreneurs to credit. As you know, the main problem of banks and credit unions today is the provision of collateral and the presence of a surety. The combination of entrepreneurs into groups enabled them to attract credit resources together, and each woman is a surety for the rest. Thus, the risks of banks are diversified. Loans are issued for a period of up to five years, Aliyev concluded.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAzBy Kamila Aliyeva

Khatai station, the terminal station of the second Green line of Baku Metro, will be closed for repair works on September 27.

The station will not operate, and, thus, the movement of trains in the direction of Jafar Jabbarly  Khatai and back will be suspended until August 2019, accordin to the press service of Baku Metro.

It is necessary to replace three escalators commissioned in 1968, the message says.

Instead of three old escalators of the LT-2 type, four new escalators of Viktoriya Tube type will be installed by German company ThyssenKrupp Fahrtreppe. At the same time, along with the replacement of escalators, the lobby of the station will also be overhauled.

However, the Jafar Jabbarly station will work, and passengers can use it when passing to 28 May station.

All repair, restoration and installation work is scheduled to be completed on August 10, 2019.

Meanwhile, in connection with the closure of Khatai metro station for repairs, the bus traffic scheme (30 and 49 buses) will be temporarily changed, the Baku Transport Agency (BTA) reported.

Baku Metro, opened in 1967, was the first subway system to be launched in the East. Serving the residents and guests of the capital for more than 50 years, Baku Metro is the most affordable and safest way to get around the city.

Having 25 stations on three lines  Green, Red and Purple  the Baku Metro is 36.63 km in length. By 2030, it is planned to expand the infrastructure of Baku Metro and create a giant underground transport network consisting of 76 stations, six electric depots, and five lines with a total length of 119.1 kilometers.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAzBy Trend

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has signed an order, approving funds for the construction of a new school in the city of Bilasuvar.

Under the presidential order, the Ministry of Education is allocated 2 million manats for the construction of the 1,176-seat school in the city.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAzBy Sara Israfilbayova

Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR has reached agreements with a number of foreign companies on identification and initial exploration of promising structures in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea.

SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev made the remarks at an event dedicated to the Oilmans Day in Azerbaijan on September 19.

Speaking about the development of gas fields in Azerbaijan, he also noted that in 2020, drilling of a new well will start from the second platform of the Umid gas condensate field, adding that the well will be commissioned in 2021.

SOCAR announced the discovery of the Umid field in 2010. A risk service contract (a contract with a minimum guarantee of compensation) for exploration and development of an offshore block including the Umid gas field and the promising Babek structure in the Caspian Sea was signed between SOCAR and SOCAR Umid Oil and Gas Ltd. on January 12, 2017.

According to SOCARs data and the first exploration drilling, the field has over 200 billion cubic meters of gas and 40 million tons of condensate.

Abdullayev further stressed that initial engineering and design work as part of the SOCAR GPC Project, which envisages construction of a gas processing and petrochemical complex, has been completed.

The complex will become another contribution to the development of Azerbaijans chemical industry. Presently, the talks in this regard continue with foreign investors, Abdullayev stressed.

It was earlier reported that the construction of SOCAR GPC complex, consisting of gas processing and polymer factories, is scheduled to start in late 2018 - early 2019.The complex will be located in the village of Sangachal on the territory of 305 hectares, and 250 hectares will be allocated only for construction. The cost of the project, according to initial estimates, is approximately $4 billion.

SOCAR president also noted that the company intends to expand sales of compressed natural gas (CNG) in the coming years.

This year SOCAR took the first steps to create a CNG market in Azerbaijan. For now, there is little demand for CNG in Azerbaijan, but the global demand for it is growing rapidly. It is expected that global demand will quadruple by 2025. In this regard, SOCAR defined the expansion of CNG sales as a promising direction, SOCAR President mentioned.

Funds to increase SOCARs authorized capital

In turn, SOCAR Vice President for Economic Issues Suleyman Gasimov told reporters that SOCAR received 1/3 of the funds envisaged in the state budget to increase the companys authorized capital, in connection with the work at the Umid-Babek and Karabakh fields.

Gasimov noted that SOCAR will receive 663 million manats ($390 million) from the state budget for 2018 to increase its authorized capital in connection with drilling operations, further saying that one third of the funds, in the amount of 221 million manats ($130 million), has already been allocated.

The Karabakh oil and gas field, discovered in 2000, is located 130 kilometers to the east of Baku. The sea depth in the field varies in the range of 250-450 meters. The initial oil reserves of the field are estimated at 100 million tons.

The recoverable reserves of the Karabakh field are estimated at 16 million tons of oil and 28 billion cubic meters of gas. The sea depth in the area of the field is 180 meters.

SOCAR operates Karabakh fields development. The company expects to receive the first reserves from the field in 2021.

SOCAR announced the discovery of the Umid field in 2010.

A risk service contract (a contract with a minimum guarantee of compensation) for exploration and development of an offshore block including the Umid gas field and the promising Babek structure in the Caspian Sea was signed between SOCAR and SOCAR Umid Oil and Gas Ltd. on Jan. 12, 2017.

According to SOCARs data and the results of drilling of the first exploration well, the field has over 200 billion cubic meters of gas and 40 million tons of condensate.

The reserves of the Babek structure may stand at 400 billion cubic meters of gas and 80 million tons of condensate, according to preliminary data.

SOCAR is a wholly state-owned national oil company headquartered in Baku, Azerbaijan. The company produces oil and natural gas from onshore and offshore fields in the Azerbaijani section of the Caspian Sea.

The company includes three production associations, one oil refining and gas processing enterprise, an oil flotilla, a deep-water base plant, two trusts, one institute, and 23 structures.

SOCAR established joint companies (including Georgia and Turkey), alliances, operating in various sectors of oil and gas spheres. It has representative offices in Georgia, the U.S., Turkey, Romania, Austria, Switzerland, Kazakhstan, Great Britain, Iran, Germany, Ukraine, Belgium and Canada.

---

Sara Israfilbayova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Sara_999Is

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAzBy Trend

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani will depart for New York on Sept. 23 to participate in a session of the United Nations General Assembly, his office announced.

President Rouhani will leave Tehran on September 23 to attend the 73rd session of the UNGA, according to a statement by his office on Sept. 18.

The session opens on Sept. 18 and runs until Sept. 30.

Iran and the remaining parties to the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) are expected to hold talks on the sidelines of the event.

Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces, president-elect of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly, announced in July that the theme of the general debate will be "Making the United Nations Relevant to All People: Global Leadership and Shared Responsibilities for Peaceful, Equitable and Sustainable Societies."

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAzBy Kamila Aliyeva

Uzbekistan will ensure the implementation of the project to build a nuclear power plant in strict accordance with IAEA recommendations and compliance with international norms and rules in this area.

This was stated by President of the Academy of Sciences Behzod Yuldashev at the 62nd session of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

In the course of his speech, he informed the participants about the signing of an intergovernmental agreement between Uzbekistan and Russia on cooperation in the construction of the first nuclear power plant (NPP) on the territory of the republic in Moscow on September 7, 2018, as well as the initiation of relevant work in this direction, the preparation of a program for the development of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and personnel for the industry.

Yuldashev on behalf of Uzbekistan assured that the project will be carried out in strict accordance with the recommendations of the IAEA and compliance with international norms and rules in this area, and also expressed hope for mutually beneficial cooperation and the IAEA support for the republic in this direction.

In accordance with the signed intergovernmental agreement, the construction of the first nuclear power plant of two three plus generation units with a WWER-1200 water-cooled reactor and a total capacity of 2.4 GW under Russian technologies is planned in Uzbekistan. The project will be implemented jointly with the Russian State Corporation, Rosatom, using the most up-to-date technological solutions and strict observance of all safety standards, press-service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

The Uzbek delegation also plans to hold talks with the leadership of the IAEA and representatives of other countries and companies on cooperation in the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

Since the establishment of cooperation with the IAEA, the 25th anniversary of which will be celebrated in 2019, Uzbekistan has done a great deal to improve the radiation and nuclear safety of the country and the region. At the initiative of Uzbekistan, the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia was signed.

Uzbekistan and Russia began cooperation in the field of using atomic energy for peaceful purposes after signing an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in late 2017. It came into force on April 1, 2018. The document assumes joint work in a number of areas, including the construction of nuclear power plants in the republic and the development of uranium deposits.

This NPP project will have a huge national importance for Uzbekistan as it would allow diversifying Rosatoms own energy complex and ensuring energy security of Uzbekistan, according to the director general.

The construction of nuclear power plants will create about 5,000-6,000 jobs, and 1,500-2000 jobs will be created during the operation of the station.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAzBy Kamila Aliyeva

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, has increased investment in the Europe and Central Asia region, spending $ 2.9 billion on long-term financing for projects that help diversify the economies of the region, improve access to finance for small businesses and reduce climate impact.

In fiscal year 2018, which ended on June 30, IFC invested $ 2.26 billion from its own funds and mobilized another $ 0.68 billion from other investors, Central Asian media outlets reported.

The financing was aimed at assisting the financial sector of the region in developing financing for small and medium-sized enterprises, supporting women's business, developing agribusiness and improving the infrastructure of cities.

IFC also supported international trade operations in the region amounting to $ 1.8 billion through 28 partner banks participating in the trade finance program.

The largest amount of IFC investments in the past fiscal year was sent to Turkey ($ 1.1 billion), Romania ($ 336.4 million), Serbia ($ 190.5 million), Ukraine ($ 129.1 million) and Kazakhstan ($ 111.5 million). Among the most significant deals are financing of 108 million euros in renewable energy production at wind farms in Serbia, financing totaling $ 120 million in the agricultural sector of Ukraine, and an investment of $ 75 million to support women entrepreneurs in Turkey.

Vibke Shlomer, IFC's Director for Europe and Central Asia, said that in the coming years, IFC will focus its activities on supporting the nascent private sector in some of the region's poorest and most affected countries, and will continue to work in middle-income countries, to promote innovation, competitiveness and energy efficiency, as well as the development of sustainable urban infrastructure.

IFC's Advisory Program in the region last year consisted of 79 advisory projects aimed at improving business regulation procedures, working with the private sector to combat climate change and assisting the companies of the region in improving corporate governance, environmental and social responsibility practices.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAzBy Kamila Aliyeva

Representatives of Uzbekneftegaz JSC held a meeting with a delegation of the Chinese National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) led by Vice President Hou Qijun, the Uzbek company's press service reported.

At the meeting, CNPC expressed gratitude for the positive results achieved in the process of drilling M-15 well of the Mingbulak field, as well as for the accelerated implementation of works on the development of the Khojasayat section of the Dengizkul gas condensate field and the Khojisayat, Khodjadavlat and Sharky Alat deposits.

During the talks, on behalf of the management and the entire collective of Uzbekneftegaz, CNPC was heartily congratulated on the 10th anniversary of the successful implementation of the Uzbekistan-China gas pipeline project.

Also, issues of supplying natural gas of Uzbek origin in winter and in 2019, as well as deliveries of natural gas of Uzbek origin from the field for the 4th string of the Uzbekistan-China gas pipeline were discussed.

Within the framework of the agreement between National Holding Company Uzbekneftegaz and the Chinese National Oil and Gas Corporation, a joint venture Mingbulakneft, which carries out geological exploration and development of the field, was established. The project is designed until 2035, its total cost is $ 255.3 million.

Uzbekneftegaz is an Uzbek holding company engaged in geological exploration, production, transportation, storage, processing and sale of oil and gas. It is the largest state company in Uzbekistan. The company is the 11th largest producer of natural gas in the world. Currently, the Uzbek authorities intend to involve the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in the corporate transformation of Uzbekneftegaz.

In 2006, China National Oil Development Corporation (CNODC, part of the CNPC structure) signed an agreement with Uzbekneftegaz for geological exploration at five investment blocks within the Ustyurt, Bukhara-Khiva and Fergana oil and gas regions during five years. To implement the project, an operator - CNPC Silk Road Group was created.

In 2011, the Chinese company fully completed the geological exploration program in the amount of 8.9 million linear kilometers of 2D seismic and 1 million kilometers of 3D drilling with 13 exploration wells. The total investment amounted to $260.2 million.

As a result, three fields, promising for industrial gas production, were discovered on the Karakul block. Volumes of reserves of deposits are not yet announced.

In 2013, Uzbekneftegaz and CNODC created on a parity basis a JV New Silk Road Oil & Gas Company Ltd for arrangement of gas condensate fields Dengizkul, Khojadavlat and Sharky Alat (Karakul investment block), opened by a Chinese investor in the course of their own exploration.

Initially, the implementation of the project for development of these fields was planned to begin in 2014, then in 2015 and 2016, but these plans could not be realized.

Currently, in Uzbekistan, CNPC participates in the implementation of the project for construction and operation of Uzbek part of the Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline system.

---

Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAzShanghai (Gasgoo)- Shanghai has already promoted 201,500 new energy vehicles (NEV) by the end of September 10, accounting for 10% of overall NEV promotion volume in China, the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization (SHEITC) recently announced.

Relevant data source said that China has deployed around 2.4 million NEVs by the end of August, among which 8.4% of nationwide NEVs were coming from Shanghai.

The SHEITC said a total of 33,418 NEVs were newly deployed in Shanghai from January to August, among which 72% of cars were delivered to private buyers, hitting a new high in history. Consumers are given more options as most of Chinese automakers start to develop NEVs under the proceeding NEV credit policies. For instance, there were only around 60 NEV models for sale from 2013 to 2016. However, this number has jumped to over 150 in September, 2018.

NEVs are mainly popularized around the so-called first-tier and second-tier cities in China. The top 10 cities by annual NEV promotion volume in 2017 were Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Tianjin, Qingdao, Guangzhou, Changsha, Zhengzhou and Chengdu. The total NEV deployment volume for the top 10 cities by the end of 2017 took up 47.4% of the nationwide volume.

By the end of August, Shanghai has built 63,620 public-use charging piles, 33,100 charging piles for specific uses and 115,632 private charging piles, which totaled a number close to that of the NEV deployed in the city.Bakersfield, CA (93308)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low near 55F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low near 55F. Winds light and variable.Officials in Jefferson and Orange counties have identified at least 100 homes that could be elevated or leveled after taking on Tropical Storm Harvey floodwaters.

As residents continue to recover from the 1,000-year flood, city and county leaders are grappling with how to revitalize land and homes without losing potential sources of tax revenue.

Most homeowners who could be eligible for federal or state-funded buyouts and elevation projects live in Beaumonts North End and Orange Countys northeast region, officials said.

Under the Federal Emergency Management Agencys program, a city or county purchases flood-prone homes at their original value and demolishes or relocates the buildings outside of the flood plain.

These properties must be maintained for open purposes forever, according to the agency. The property can be used only for recreation or as open space.

While buyouts leave more money in affected residents pockets, the voluntary programs could possibly diminish neighborhoods and communities.

Elevating homes at or above base flood levels, where waters could rise during a 100-year flood, can reduce flood risks, according to the federal agency.

After learning of six dozen Orange County residents who had expressed interest in the rebuilding projects, county commissioners voted Tuesday afternoon to seek buyout and elevation work through FEMA. Not all of those will qualify.

The applications are due in November, said Phil Hampsten of Hampsten Consulting.

The disaster recovery firm estimated the projects could cost Orange County more than $3 million, which Hampsten called a conservative estimate for the 25 percent local match. The county could pay as much as $4.7 million, he said.

The local match could be paid for by homeowners or covered by the county or state grants.

FEMA would cover the remaining 75 percent, somewhere between $12.8 million and $19 million, Hampstens report said.

Elevations are a tough road to go down in Orange County, added Jeff Ward of Jeffrey S. Ward & Associates, which is partnering with Hampsten. Most flooded homes were already sitting at recommended levels, he said, and elevating them may not be cost-effective.

On Monday, Jefferson County commissioners announced that they plan to apply for the states buyout or acquisition program.

County Judge Jeff Branick said he preferred the acquisition program, which would allow purchased properties to be reused for future public purpose(s), according to the Texas General Land Office.

The South East Texas Regional Planning Commission, which is administrating federal funds for buyouts and acquisitions, allocated approximately $2.6 million for the roughly 15,000 affected residents living in Jefferson Countys unincorporated areas. Orange Countys unincorporated areas, where about 33,800 residents were affected, is set to receive $4 million.

Chris Boone, Beaumonts director of planning and community development, said the city has identified 99 homes in the 100-year flood plain. He said 43 of them were substantially damaged by Harveys flooding.

Boone noted that some of the homes, mostly on Pine Street, will require elevations in order to repair.

Its all up to the discretion of the homeowner, Boone said of the recovery projects. None of this is mandatory.

The downside of a simple buyout is that communities could lose the population from that area, he said.

With typical acquisitions and elevation work, property can be redeveloped and homeowners can remain where theyve planted roots, Boone said.

It is a long process  especially with this number of properties, he said.

Meanwhile, city and county leaders remain on standby for state funding. Officials such as Orange County Emergency Management Coordinator Joel Ardoin grumbled that 13 months after the storm the Texas General Land Office has not released guidelines for its buyouts and acquisitions.

Once the terms are released, Hampsten said, the clock will start ticking.

Phoebe.Suy@BeaumontEnterprise.com

Twitter.com/PhoebeSuyCity employees in Beaumont will get a 3 percent raise under the budget approved Tuesday by City Council.

The council voted unanimously to approve a $126 million budget, up about $3.5 million over last year. City Manager Kyle Hayes said the increase was made possible largely due to a 13.5 percent hike in sales tax revenue generated by home and other repairs following Tropical Storm Harvey flooding.

In addition to the cost of living raise for city employees, the budget includes rehabilitation and construction projects around the four wards. Hayes said $5.2 million generated by the sales tax bump will be set aside in a rainy day fund.

He said sales tax revenue is expected to jump another 4 percent this year.

Sales tax revenue often rises in the wake of a hurricane, Hayes said, adding that the city is doing well. He stressed that citywide repair efforts to reverse and prevent the damage seen in Harvey are not included in the budget as the city negotiates with the federal government.

Top expenditures in the budget include a $10 million two-year project to repair damaged roads, a topic raised by several people who attended Tuesdays meeting.

They also voiced concerns over how resources are distributed.

Councilman Audwin Samuel agreed that resources were distributed equally, but not equitably among the four wards because older wards need more repairs. He said that hurts districts like the one he represents, Third Ward.

The budget also includes several ongoing and proposed water and sewage projects. Samuel called on the council to act quickly to resolve an issue with sewage bubbling up in residential bathtubs after rainstorms in the Third Ward.

Another resident voiced concerns about unsafe conditions for bicyclists along the Calder and Magnolia bike lanes, citing debris and reckless drivers.

Councilwoman Virginia Jordan of First Ward said a high number of vacant properties in her district hurts residents and property values.

The council also approved an amendment to an ordinance that would allow homeowners recovering from Harvey to keep temporary housing on their property for six more months.

Haley.Bruyn@BeaumontEnterprise.comBack in 2003, with the Beaumont Housing Authoritys reputation in scandal-plagued shambles, friends and colleagues told Robert Reyna he had to be out of his mind to apply for the executive directors post.

He did it anyway.

We were in receivership and a mayor and city councilman went to jail for all sorts of illegal and immoral activities, he said Tuesday. Federal agencies were investigating tax dollars being abused.

Fifteen years and many successes later, Reyna has decided to retire in December. At 65, he is looking back with satisfaction.

I knew we could do better, he said. It wasnt magical at all. We do the right things for the right reason. Its not our money, after all. It was tax dollars being abused so I knew we needed to identify the problems and fix them.

Reyna said it took 14 months to get the local public housing agency back on its feet.

I got calls from HUD in Houston and they asked, What have you done with all of your residents? and I said, What are you talking about?

Reyna was told by the local office of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which had receivership over the Beaumont Housing Authority, that residents here had been calling multiple times a day to complain. But now no one was calling. They wanted to know how he did it.

I asked the residents to let us try to solve the problems they were having at the lowest level first, and then if they were still unhappy we would give them the number for Houston HUD ourselves, Reyna said.

When the Houston office suggested it was time to return the Housing Authority to local control, Reyna said then-Mayor Evelyn Lord feigned concern  Why? Everything is going so well!  which he knew was her way of complimenting his progress.

His accomplishments did not stop there. After Hurricane Rita hit in 2005, Reyna applied for and received one of only four $20 million grants and then leveraged it for $34 million more.

He used the money to buy the old fairgrounds to build Regent 1 Apartments to house people displaced by the storm.

That began the turnaround of the agency, Reyna said. We had been a pariah for so long. No one wanted to do business with us because of our reputation, and I cant blame them. When youre being investigated by federal agencies, people dont really want to give you money.

The reputation of the BHA is head and shoulders above where it was when he started, Reyna said, and hes having mixed emotions about retirement.

Its like my baby is all grown up, he said. And whoever takes over after me, will they appreciate what weve done? Where weve come from?

Reyna spent 40 years working for public housing agencies, but his experience dates back even earlier. The Dallas native lived in public housing until he graduated high school and started college in San Antonio.

Reyna worked as a maintenance worker after marrying his wife, Rosemary, to provide for his family. After making the move to social service work, he moved from San Antonio to San Diego, then to Fort Worth, then Houston and finally Beaumont to take on the onerous task of rebuilding the Housing Authority.

He said it will be hard to leave people hes worked with for years, including a woman he hired straight out of college 20 years ago to work for him in Houston. He then brought her to Beaumont six months after he made his move here.

We have people who really care here, Reyna said. You know, the staff wont get rich working here, but theyre great people who are improving the quality of life of countless people. Thats what its about.

Reyna said working in public housing is what he was meant to do.

Ive been there, Ive been on both sides of the fence and Ive seen how it can lift people out of a tough spot, he said. Are there people who abuse the system? Sure. But I truly think our impact is generational. Look at me. A kid who grew up in housing and has had a career and all four of my kids have jobs and homes. Its a ripple effect and it changes lives.

Haley.Bruyn@BeaumontEnterprise.comColombia's cocaine production has never been higher, surpassing levels seen before U.S. President Bill Clinton launched the Plan Colombia counter-narcotics program.

The amount of land planted with coca shrubs rose 17 percent to 171,000 hectares last year, enough raw material to produce 1,379 tons of cocaine, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime said Wednesday. That's more than triple the output five years ago.

Coca output now surpasses the previous record of 163,000 hectares in 2000, the year Plan Colombia started. The U.S. has given Colombia more than $10 billion in aid over that period, more than to any other country outside the Middle East and Asia.

Plan Colombia didn't change conditions in the country's cocaine producing regions, which suffer from an absence of the state, land titles, roads or legal economic opportunities, said Adam Isacson, a Colombia expert at the Washington Office on Latin America.

"The reasons farmers resorted to growing coca didn't go away as a result of $10 billion in U.S. aid," Isacson said in response to written questions.

The recent rise in cocaine production has undermined the peace process with Marxist rebels as the private armies of drug traffickers moved into former guerrilla zones to take control of cocaine profits, stoking a new wave of violence. It also soured relations between Bogota and Washington, though the government of President Ivan Duque, who took office last month, is putting greater emphasis on policies favored by President Donald Trump's administration such as forcible eradication, and less on voluntary crop substitution programs.

Virtually all of the world's cocaine comes from Colombia, Peru and Bolivia, with Colombia producing more than half the total. The U.S. has provided aid to Colombia for at least six decades, with this being dramatically stepped up under Plan Colombia.

- - -

Bloomberg's Ezra Fieser contributed to this report.The horrific rampage of former Marine Jorge Torrez began in a park in his hometown of Zion, Illinois, when he was just 16 years old. In May 2005, he fatally stabbed Laura Hobbs, 8, and her friend Krystal Tobias, 9, in a case that attracted national attention, particularly after Laura's father was wrongfully charged with the girls' murder.

Jorge Torrez graduated from high school a year later, never a suspect in the killings, and joined the Marines. By 2010 he was stationed at Fort Myer in Arlington, Virginia, while working at the Pentagon. That's when he attacked two women coming home from a Saturday night out, bound them with electrical cords inside their apartment, then took one of the women in his SUV, raped her, choked her and left her for dead. Police soon found Torrez, took his DNA and entered it into a national databank. And then the full scope of his crimes became apparent.

First, in July 2010, the DNA linked him to the killing of Laura and Krystal five years earlier.

Then the DNA linked him to the 2009 strangulation of Amanda Jean Snell, a 20-year-old Navy petty officer also stationed at Fort Myer. While in the Arlington County jail for his initial sex-crimes arrest, Torrez told a fellow inmate that he'd committed all three murders. The inmate was wearing a recorder. Federal prosecutors took the case, and won a rare death sentence from a jury in Alexandria, Virginia, in 2014.

Illinois prosecutors soon extradited him back to Lake County. And on Tuesday, he admitted killing Laura and Krystal on Mother's Day 2005, as part of a plea deal in which he was sentenced to 100 years in prison, on top of his death penalty for killing Snell and five life sentences for the attacks on the women in Arlington.

"Within each of us, there is a divine spark of goodness. But not for you," Lake County Circuit court Judge Daniel Shanes told Torrez, according to the Chicago Daily Herald. "You are a serial killer."

Torrez did not speak during the plea and sentencing other than to answer the judge's questions. As part of the plea deal, Torrez will be transferred from the Red Onion State Prison in southwest Virginia to a federal prison where he will await execution. His federal conviction and death sentence were upheld by the Fourth Circuit federal appeals court last year, and the U.S. Supreme Court is now considering Torrez's case.

"I just want to say we're glad it's over," said Marina Tobias, Krystal's mother, according to the Lake County News-Sun. "It has been a very long time, and this ensures he'll never do anything like that to anyone else."

The attack on the two women in Arlington shocked prosecutors with its brutality. After forcing the women into their apartment in the Ballston area, Torrez drove one of the women to a secluded area, raped her, then tightened a scarf around her neck.

"I screamed, 'What are you doing?'" the victim testified in 2011. "He responded, 'What do you think I'm doing?'" Torrez kept tugging on the scarf, and the woman later awoke to find herself face down in the snow near a highway in Prince William County, Virginia.

Virginia was the first state in the nation to authorize the taking of DNA from prisoners even before they were convicted of a crime. Doing so with Torrez quickly connected him to three homicides.

While Torrez was awaiting trial in Arlington for abduction and rape, he met fellow inmate Osama el-Atari, a flashy former restaurateur in jail for fraud. El-Atari knew of the pending murder cases against Torrez, and, while wearing a wire, asked Torrez if he felt any remorse.

"Does a lion feel remorse when it kills a hyena?" Torrez can be heard telling El-Atari during the taped conversation.

"You don't feel bad?" El-Atari asked during another conversation.

"Nope," Torrez responded.

"At all?" El-Atari asked again.

"Nope," Torrez repeated.

After a federal jury convicted Torrez of killing Snell inside Henderson Hall at Fort Myer, prosecutors introduced evidence of the Zion killings of Krystal and Laura to convince them that Torrez deserved to die. Torrez instructed his attorneys not to contest the penalty phase of the case, and none of the witnesses were cross-examined by the defense. The jury took only four hours to agree on a death sentence.

Torrez's defense team did fight the murder charges in Illinois for several years before finally reaching a plea agreement. Judge Shanes told him, "Your murder of these two girls was reprehensible. What you did is repugnant to every moral of civilized society."The note is just five words and two numbers.

Randy Scott scrawled these five words and two numbers on a piece of paper on Sept. 11, 2001, while at work at Euro Brokers Inc. in the World Trade Center.

But if a picture is worth a thousand words, these five words and two numbers have changed the picture completely for Scott's family. Family members refer to it simply as "the note." The note that floated from the 84th floor of Two World Trade Center to chaotic streets below, and was tenderly preserved as it traveled from hand to hand and through time to reach them.

Denise Scott learned of her husband's message in August 2011, just weeks before the calendar marked a decade since he died in the World Trade Center's collapse.

For those 10 years, his family members believed he likely died instantly when United Airlines Flight 175 flew into the tower at 9:03 a.m., near the floors containing Euro Brokers offices.

The words of Denise and her children overlap as they consider how the note changed their oral history of Randy's final moments. Each delivers a piece of the agonizing account as though trying to spare the others.

"I spent 10 years hoping that Randy wasn't trapped in that building," Denise, 57, said Friday from a front room in her Stamford home with two of her three daughters, Rebecca, 29, and Alexandra, 22, at her side.

"I thought he was killed instantly," Rebecca interjected.

"It was so close to impact," Alexandra concluded.

Randy Scott's daughters fought tears as his message again triggered new mental images.

In a steady tone, their mother explained the power of the note. "You don't want them to suffer. They're trapped in a burning building. It's just an unspeakable horror. And then you get this 10 years later. It just changes everything."

"84th floor

West Office

12 people trapped"

It is not these words alone that change the narrative of Randy Scott's final moments. The other content on the note is a dark spot, about the size of a thumbprint. It is Randy's blood, and the clue that eventually enabled the medical examiner's office to trace the source of the note through DNA tests and deliver it to his family a decade after he apparently tossed it from the 84th floor.

Not long before writing the note, after the first plane hit One World Trade Center, Randy, 48, called Denise at Springdale School. She was in class with her first-grade students, so someone picked up the school line and passed along the message. Thinking the first crash was minor incident, he just wanted her to know he was fine. The full news of the terrorist attacks would not reach Denise until later that morning, when Rebecca called her from Ohio, where she was attending college.

For the next few days, they considered Randy a missing person, checking bars, restaurants and hospitals.

In the years to follow, Denise recorded key information in a black notebook. On Friday, four days before another Sept. 11 anniversary, she consulted the notebook when needed to ensure she was accurate in sharing details. She glibly refers to the space in the front of the home as "the 9/11 room," since it is here that so many friends and family members gathered nearly 11 years ago waiting for news and consoling one another. Though Denise quickly dismissed her own name for the room, it is accented by reminders of one of the most famous days in U.S. history: The New York Times book "Portraits: 9/11/01" on the coffee table, the faint names of the victims weaved into an American flag on the wall over the piano, photos of Randy with family members and at play.

The home, which they moved into two decades ago, is blue with white trim. Red shutters were added to complete the color scheme weeks before Sept. 11, 2001. Now they make an indelible reference point. "We're the red, white and blue house," Rebecca says wryly when offering directions.

After returning Friday from a day with her second-grade class at Springdale, Denise tells the story of the note like a school teacher. She avoids dramatic embellishments ("I try not to personalize it; just the facts") and references her black notebook when needed. Her account is punctuated by flashes of emotion, pauses to ensure accuracy, and laughs when describing her husband.

Denise was out of town visiting a friend in August 2011 when she received a call from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of New York. With the passage of time, and the evolution of DNA technology, the office will sometimes call families with news that something has been identified, most often fragments. This call, though, came from Dr. Barbara Butcher, chief of staff and director of Forensic Investigations at the ME's office.

"I said, `What kind of fragment?' " Denise recalled. "She said, `No, it's not a fragment. It's something written.' And that's when I just fell apart."

Denise did not know the contents of the note, or how it had been linked to Randy. The uncertainty made her grateful that she was able to process the news away from her daughters, for fear of upsetting them.

"I was a mess. Because I didn't know what it was," she said.

She slowed her cadence for emphasis, a heartbeat between each word. "It ... was ... 10 ... years ... later. It was the 10th anniversary, and they started replaying everything. It was hard enough anyway, and to get a phone call 10 years later. It's not even (a call) 10 years later to learn there are more remains, more fragments. They call them fragments. It's 10 years, and now it's something else again. And it's something I had no idea existed."

Her sole confidante was Steve Ernst, Randy's best friend. When they went to New York to see the note, she took a substitute for her traditional notebook.

"She leaves the house with this (black) book, we know something's up," Rebecca said.

Denise also brought a sample of Randy's handwriting, thinking she would need it for identification.

"The minute I saw it I didn't need to see the DNA test," she said. "I saw the handwriting. It's Randy's handwriting."

Butcher retraced the note's path through the years. Someone on the street found it immediately and handed it to a guard at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Just then, the world changed.

"He went to radio, and the building was gone. The building collapsed," Denise said.

The Federal Reserve kept the note safe, eventually turning it over to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. The museum worked with the medical examiner's office, which traced it to Randy in summer 2011. "I'm speechless that they actually were able to identify it," Denise said. "This note was written on September 11. It came out of a window. Somebody had it. People had their hands all over it."

Butcher posed a question for her to consider. The museum wanted to exhibit the letter, with Denise's permission. She agreed, asking only that they embargo it until she told her daughters.

Jan Ramirez, chief curator of the museum, said the note is "exceptionally rare. I don't know of anything else like it."

"There have been other pieces of paper that came out of the towers that day, to which we have been able to attach some powerful stories, but none have been quite as rare and unusual and inspiring and sad and touching as this particular one. It really is in a class by itself," she said Saturday.

Denise's decision on the exhibit came easily; choosing the right time to share the news with her daughters became a tortured process. The 10th anniversary passed; Alexandra had started her fall semester; holidays came and went.

In January, Denise's father died. She decided the time was right to bring her three daughters -- Rebecca, Alexandra, and Jessica -- into the family room and share the news.

"I was bawling, because I recognized his handwriting," Rebecca recalled.

They knew it had changed not just their father's narrative, but that of the 11 other people referenced in the note.

"Everyone hoped that it was right on impact. That he didn't suffer," Alexandra said. "Because not only to know that he was trapped but what he was going through? And we knew the guys in his office too. And they had kids and they had families, and to think that they were terrified."

Rebecca, Alexandra, and Jessica dismissed their mother's anxiety about her decision to delay delivering the news. The Scotts also knew they had to widen the circle, reaching out to other relatives and to the families of Randy's co-workers. The five words and two numbers had written a new narrative for them as well, a narrative Denise found herself repeating in the months to come, "again, and again, and again, and again, and again."

In March, Denise and Rebecca took a hardhat tour of the museum, which is not yet open to the public. They were shown the area where Randy's note will be displayed as part of an exhibit to document the final moments inside the World Trade Center.

"It's so amazing to think that Randy Scott wrote it and it eventually ended up with his wife and three daughters, which is an amazing arc of a day," said Ramirez, the museum's curator. "We are incredibly proud to be able to show it and I think it will be one of the most powerful artifacts in the museum."

The Scotts are aware that if not for the spot of Randy's blood, they and other families could have one day seen the letter in the museum without knowing its origins. Over the past 11 years, some families have chosen not to be notified by the medical examiner's office when fragments are found.

"I can't do that. I can't do that," Denise repeated. "The last notification of remains I got was in 2008. And I can't do that. I can't leave him there. I cannot leave him there."

Better to know the truth, even when it comes in the form of a message that took a decade to be delivered.

"It tells people the story of the day," Denise said.

In just five words and two numbers.George Emmert is looking for two people in Midland who he says kept intact some members of his family  including one with four legs.

It was Sept. 1 and Emmert and his wife, Jill, along with two dogs, were visiting Midland to celebrate his mother-in-law's 102nd birthday. It was a Saturday morning and Emmert was outside the house talking to workers when Lucky, a 128-pound Newfoundland/Labrador mix, bolted through the screen door and disappeared.

George Emmert, his wife and her sister started scouring the area near the Eastman and Saginaw intersection, looking for the pooch.

Meanwhile, on the other side of Eastman Road in Walgreens' parking lot, a woman and her companion, who George Emmert described in their 50s or 60s, were able to coax Lucky into their car. They drove to Burrell Court hoping to find his owner.

The woman soon spotted Jill Emmert across Eastman and called out, inquiring if she knew who owned a big black dog.

Some 40 minutes after Lucky bolted, he was reunited with his family, which also includes another dog, P-Joe, who weighs in at 70 pounds.

"We are both well into our 70s and to have something happen to him would have been a very tragic thing in several ways," George said in a telephone conversation from his home in Huntington, Indiana. "We are very relieved to have him back."

Lucky is about 9 years old, and was adopted from a pound just north of the couple's home, George said. He was named Lucky, a combination of the names of other Emmert dogs, Bucky (150 pounds) and Lucas (80 to 85 pounds).

Once the dogs and the Emmerts were back home in Indiana, Jill realized she still had the woman's leash but not her name.

George said he sent the leash as well as a money donation to the Humane Society of Midland County to honor the couple. They would like to know who the people were who rescued Lucky and offer their thanks.

"I would just give them both a big hug and thank them from the bottom of our hearts," George said.

"He's quite a love for us," he said of Lucky. "We have two of them. Between the four of us, the two of them are at least 50 percent of our family. It's like they saved a child or a grandchild. We love these guys as much as a child and we don't have to put them through college."

George Emmert is asking that the people who rescued Lucky call the Humane Society of Midland County at 989-835-1877.BY TOM BRIAN ANGURINI.

The lead lawyer representing Kyadondo East member of Parliament Robert Kyagulanyi in the treason case against him Asuman Basalrwa says lawyers representing him, family members and well-wishers will receive him tomorrow at Entebbe international airport.

Addressing the media today, he warned government and police not to reduce Bobi Wine to a family life only since he is a global icon.

He stated that Mr Kyagulanyi is a Ugandan member of parliament representing not only his family alone but so many Ugandans both here in Uganda and internationally.

According to him, they will escort Bobi Wine to Kamwokya were he will have lunch with his family and urged police not to disperse any crowd receiving him.

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Police bans processions & rallies to welcome Bobi Wine as he returns from the US tomorrowCody Wilson, the owner of a controversial Austin business that distributes blueprints for untraceable 3-D printed guns, fled to Taiwan after he was tipped off about a police investigation into sexual relations between him and a 16-year-old girl, police said.

He faces a charge of sexual assault of a child in Austin.

"Before he left, he was informed by a friend of the victim that she had spoken to police, and police were investigating him for having sex with a minor," said Austin Police Commander Troy Officer.

Officer said it was unclear when Wilson left for Taiwan, or why exactly he went there, but he didn't board a return flight to the United States.

Austin police are now working with international law enforcement agencies to extradite Wilson back to Travis County for prosecution.

Court records obtained by MySA.com say the victim told the Center for Child Protection on Aug. 27 that she met Wilson through SugarDaddyMeet.com, which requires users to be at least 18 years old to become members.

Wilson, who went by the username "Sanjuro," told the victim he was a "big deal" and identified himself as "Cody Wilson," according court records. The victim later told investigators that "Sanjuro" sent her pictures of his penis and that she responded with nude photos of herself, authorities said.

RELATED: Texan says he's selling 3D-printed gun plans after ruling

They exchanged phone numbers and on Aug. 15, they met at the parking lot of Bennu Coffee in the 500 block of South Congress Avenue, records show.

Wilson arrived in a black Ford Edge SUV with a license plate that matches one registered to Wilson's business, Defense Distributed, according to his arrest affidavit. The two then went to the Archer Hotel in the 3100 block of Palm Way, the affidavit says.

Security cameras recorded Wilson and the victim using the hotel's valet service at about 8:30 p.m. Then then took an elevator to the seventh floor and entered a room, where the victim said they had sex, according to the affidavit. Wilson then paid her $500 in cash, authorities said.

They were recorded leaving the elevator at about 9:20 p.m. According to the affidavit, Wilson dropped off the victim at a Whataburger on West Slaughter Lane.

In the affidavit, Austin Police Officer Shaun Donovan, notes the victim's statement to authorities has been thoroughly corroborated by security camera footage and that Wilson was the sole registered guest of the hotel room the night of the assault.

"This is really a cautionary tale," Officer said. "Whether it's a child or an adult, if you pay for sex it's illegal."

Officer deflected questions from reporters about SugarDaddyMeet.com's age limit, saying only that it is illegal to have sex with a minor in Texas.

Officer added investigators said that if anyone mistook the victim's age it "would be because they think she's younger, not older than 16."

After news of the charges against Wilson broke on Wednesday, many social media users openly wondered whether he had been set up in some sort of sting operation. Officers said there's no evidence that he was set up, but prosecutors will investigate that possibility.

Sexual assault of a child is a second-degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

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Ivanka Trump is an adviser to her father, President Donald Trump, but her dream job is 250 miles loftier than the one she holds in Washington, D.C.

She's always wanted to be an astronaut, she told the International Space Station crew on Thursday. The space station flies in low Earth orbit, about 250 miles above the Earth's surface.

"You inspire us all," she said during a call from the mission control room floor at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. "You're living my dream job."

The president's daughter visited the Houston center  home of the nation's astronaut corps where space flight research and training takes place  on Thursday, but did not make any remarks or answer any questions.

She told members of the space station crew that she was visiting to "see the unbelievable work being done" at the center.

Ivanka Trump's visit is the second time in as many months that an individual close to the White House has visited Johnson as the president pushes for the U.S. to ramp up human exploration again. In August, Vice President Mike Pence toured Johnson before giving a speech to personnel about the importance of space exploration and Houston's role in it.

In what amounted to an hour or so long photo opp, Trump called the space station, toured mock-ups of the station and of the Orion spacecraft which is being built to take astronauts back to the moon for the first time in 50 years. She also spoke with students from Clear Creek Independent School District who, with the help of NASA engineers, are participating in an international robotics competition called FIRST Robotics.

Trump was accompanied Thursday by NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, who tweeted that the space agency was "truly grateful for your support and the Administration's passion for STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering and Math] education."

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick also was with Trump, along with U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and U.S. Rep. Brian Babin, both Republicans from Texas.

"Ivanka focuses on STEM learning and workforce training ... and helping equip our students for their job path," Jessica Ditto, deputy director of White House communication, said during a conference call Wednesday.

As for Trump becoming an astronaut: "Never say never, right?" she said to the space station crew.

Johnson Space Center had a budget of $4.5 billion in fiscal year 2017 and employs about 10,000 civil service and contractor employees. It is also home to the international space station mission operations and the Orion program.

"Johnson Space Center is a national treasure and all the men and women who work here are national assets," Pence said last month during his visit. The vice president is chairman of the National Space Council, a group that coordinates policies between NASA and other agencies involved in space.

Since taking office last year, President Trump has pushed for the United States to return to the moon as a stepping stone toward Mars.

His $19.9 billion proposed budget for the next fiscal year tasks NASA with launching Americans around the moon in 2023. It also would set aside $504.2 million in the coming year to begin working on the foundation of a $2.7 billion Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway  basically a mini-space station orbiting the moon where astronauts could live and work.

Officials have said the gateway should be fully functional by 2026, with human missions to the lunar surface expected soon after. The budget proposal still must be approved by Congress.

Alex Stuckey covers NASA and the environment for the Houston Chronicle. You can reach her at alex.stuckey@chron.com or Twitter.com/alexdstuckey.St. George (Utah) Surgical Center administrator Ty Tippets spoke to the U.S. Senate Health Committee on price transparency, Health Data Management reports.

Here's what you should know:

1. St. George Surgical Center has offered up front pricing for the last five years.

2. Mr. Tippets said since posting prices online the center's patient base expanded.

3. He said, "For example, we recently served a patient from Montana who needed a knee ACL reconstruction. After finding our price online, he called to make sure we did not have a typo. The best price he found in Montana was $30,000, just for the hospital fee. Our listed price, which is fully bundled and includes [physician] fees, facility fees and anesthesia, is $6,335. We routinely see 60 percent to 80 percent in savings  sometimes higher  over other settings for the same procedures."

To read more of the senate hearing, click here.The California Insurance Commission is suing AbbVie saying the drugmaker allegedly offered physicians kickbacks for its popular, gastroenterology drug Humira, which resulted in $1.2 billion in fraudulent claims, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Here's what you should know:

1. Humira treats Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis as well arthritis.

2. The state alleged AbbVie illegally offered physicians cash, meals, trips, drinks and patient referrals to ensure they prescribed Humira.

3. The state also alleged AbbVie sent registered nurses to the homes of patients prescribed Humira to serve as "Humira ambassadors." The nurses allegedly helped with patient care, and were instructed by AbbVie to not communicate patient concerns to physicians.

4. AbbVie told the Chronicle the allegations were meritless.

5. "AbbVie operates in compliance with the many state and federal laws that govern interactions with healthcare providers and patients," the company said in a statement to the Chronicle. "AbbVie provides a number of support services for patients, once they are prescribed Humira, that both educate and assist patients with their therapy, including nursing support, and these resources are beneficial to patients dealing with a chronic condition. They in no way replace or interfere with interactions between patients and their healthcare providers.".

6. The state is seeking up to $6.3 billion in penalties and injunctive relief against AbbVie and is also seeking a court order to prevent more alleged kickbacks.

Note: An AbbVie representative did not respond to Becker's ASC Review before publication.Coca-Cola is in serious talks to create cannabis-infused beverages with Canadian company Aurora Cannabis, multiple sources familiar with the matter told BNN Bloomberg.

The products would be a groundbreaking move into the marijuana sector by one of America's largest consumer brands. Coca-Cola and Aurora Cannabis are "pretty advanced down the path" of a deal, according to the sources, who asked for anonymity given the confidentiality of the matter.

The sources said the cannabis-infused beverages would aim to ease inflammation, pain and cramping. While estimates differ, the consumer CBD market is expect to expand to $2.1 billion by 2020, up from $202 million in 2015, according to the report.



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The Kyadondo East Member of parliament Robert Kyagulanyi has released a statement responding to police directives stopping all procession meant to welcome him from America where he is now.

According to Police, no procession will be allowed and he will only be welcomed by his family members.

In his statement, Kyagulanyi said that its unacceptable that police now wants to want to decide who pickshim as well as where he goes after arrival

He said that no single family member will receive him at the airport, but he will instead be received by friends, colleague leaders and artistes.

He said that from Entebe he will go to see his sickly grandmother briefly at Najjanankumbi from where I will head to Kamwokya for lunch with his family member before heading to Magere.

He said that he is a free Ugandan with the right to move freely in his country.

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Police bans processions & rallies to welcome Bobi Wine as he returns from the US tomorrowLutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, Ind., canceled all remaining elective surgeries around 4:30 p.m. Sept. 18, after its IT team discovered a computer virus, wane.com reports.

The Lutheran Health Network IT staff stopped the virus in the afternoon, but phones and computers were "taken down" as a precaution, according to the report.

In addition to canceling its remaining elective cases for the day, the hospital diverted incoming ambulances elsewhere. All canceled surgeries will be rescheduled, the spokesperson told wane.com.

The attack affected all Lutheran Health Network facilities, but Lutheran Hospital was the only facility put on ambulance diversion.Dignity Health and technology startup company Ooda Health, both based in San Francisco, are joining forces to improve payments between payers and providers.

Seven things to know:

1. Ooda Health's digital platform enables real-time claims payments between payers and providers.

2. Dignity Health, which has digital collaborations with payers such as Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona and Blue Shield of California, plans to pilot Ooda Health's platform in hospitals in Arizona and California.

3. Ooda Health and Dignity Health leaders said the partnership will offer multiple benefits, including resolving claim conflicts and making the billing process more efficient.

4. Lloyd Dean, president and CEO of Dignity Health, said: "We believe Ooda Health's technology will help us better connect with our payer partners in the interest of better serving our patients. This digital collaboration will allow physicians to devote more time to care and help patients focus on their healing  without the stress of anticipating a confusing medical bill."

5. Seth Cohen, co-founder, president and COO of Ooda Health, said: "We are proud to work with Dignity Health to help their patients experience the ease of a simplified and automated claims-processing model."

6. While Dignity Health will pilot Ooda Health's technology in Arizona and California hospitals, it said it aims to eventually integrate and scale the technology across its 39-hospital network.

7. The partnership comes as Ooda Health completed a $40.5 million funding round, led by Oak HC/FT and DFJ Venture Capital. The company said it will use the funding to combat inefficiency and waste in healthcare administration and payment processes.

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5 must-reads on coding, ICD-10Houston-based Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center filed an administrative appeal with CMS on Sept. 14, about a month after the agency terminated Medicare and Medicaid funding for the hospital's heart transplant program, according to the Houston Chronicle.

The hospital suspended its heart transplant program for 14 days starting June 1 after an investigation by ProPublica and the Houston Chronicle revealed the hospital's heart transplant survival rate ranks near the bottom nationally, and three of nine patients who received heart transplants at the hospital in the first six months of 2018 have died. The program resumed June 15 after hospital officials said changes were made to improve care.

CMS notified St. Luke's in late June that the hospital had violated a federal statute by failing to notify the agency of its plan to suspend the heart transplant program. CMS said St. Luke's had not done enough to ensure patient safety. The agency ended funding for the hospital's heart transplant program Aug. 17.

In a statement announcing the appeal, the hospital said it has taken steps to strengthen its heart transplant program over the past few years. "We do not believe CMS' recent decisions reflect our ongoing progress and accomplishments to improve the quality of our care, and we look forward to presenting the facts so that heart transplant reimbursements can be reinstated," the hospital said, according to the Houston Chronicle.

The hospital's appeal will be heard before an HHS administrative law judge.

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MU Health Care's annual revenue hits $1B for first timeAmerican Hospital Association CEO Rick Pollack and California Hospital Association CEO Carmela Coyle responded in a joint article to a recent op-ed that criticized emergency rooms as the main drivers of rising healthcare costs.

Glenn Melnick, PhD, published an op-ed in The New York Times Sept. 5 arguing that regulations requiring insurers to cover out-of-network emergency room visits has given hospitals unfair bargaining power in payer contracting and has allowed them to greatly increase the cost of care. He argued that since insurers have to cover emergency care no matter the provider, providers leverage this to remain in network while also raising prices. Dr. Melnick said this dynamic has hurt patients because it forces insurers to raise premiums.

Mr. Pollack and Ms. Coyle argue that a misunderstanding by Dr. Melnick of what takes place between payers and providers regarding the cost of emergency care has led to his "flawed conclusion."

"Government payers, Medicare and Medicaid, set how much hospitals are paid for emergency care  there is no negotiation," the authors write. "And the rates paid by governments are far below the actual cost of care. Private health insurance companies, however, negotiate whether they will contract with hospitals and the rates to be paid. And those rates typically take those government underpayments into account."

"Insurance companies, especially in California, have power and can, when they choose to, use it to save money by excluding certain hospitals from their networks of covered health care providers. That means when you need emergency care, no matter where you may be, it is not uncommon for that care to be provided out-of-network," they add.

Mr. Pollack and Ms. Coyle write that providers are committed to decreasing surprise medical bills for out-of-network patients, and point to the AHA and CHA's support of proposed legislation such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' Model Act.

This bill would increase consumer protections, "establish standards for the creation and maintenance of provider networks by health carriers and assure the adequacy, accessibility, transparency and quality of health care services offered under a network plan."On Aug. 23, staff at Burlington-based University of Vermont Medical Center silently looked on as Elizabeth "Libby" Hanzl D'Avignon was moved from the intensive care unit to the operating room.

Ms. D'Avignon, a registered organ donor, was having her heart, lungs and kidneys transplanted into others. She saved four lives.

The tribute marked the hospital's first honor walk to celebrate the life of a deceased organ donor. It involved more than 150 hospital staff, including clinicians and facilities workers, as well as family members.

"Libby's honor walk was an incredibly powerful beginning to the healing process and coming to terms with losing my Libby," said Robb D'Avignon, Ms. D'Avignon's husband. "The aura of all those wonderful people lining the hallways seemed to come together into something you could actually, physically feel."

The idea for the honor came about as the hospital sought more ways to support donors and families.

Jennifer DeMaroney, organ donation coordinator at the UVM Medical Center and The Center for Donation and Transplant, said the hospital already flies a "Donate Life" flag under the American flag for a week in front of the hospital after a donation that is then given to the donor family. It also has "moment of silence" cards that staff read in the operating room before an organ recovery surgery. The cards include information about the donor's life, such as their likes and dislikes, provided by family and friends.

"Anything to make it even more personal because for anybody who is involved in donation, it's a passion. We do it for the donors, their families, and the recipients. Having that connected purpose makes us feel so good," said Ms. DeMaroney.

Still, she said the hospital was looking to do more. That's when UVM Medical Center staff saw a Facebook post from Cincinnati-based LifeCenter Organ Donor Network about honor walks. Ms. DeMaroney spoke with the organ operations director at the network about how to implement an honor walk at her hospital.

Eileen Whalen, RN, president and COO of the UVM Medical Center, who also serves as chair of The Center for Donation and Transplant board, subsequently gave authorization to move forward, and the first honor walk took place Aug. 23.

Since then, a Facebook post about the tribute has generated more than 900,000 views and more than 1,100 comments.

"It's gotten an amazing response on social media," Ms. DeMaroney said. "There are people who are saying their loved ones were donors or that they or their loved one are a recipient. It's also become a way for people touched by donation to talk to others who have also been affected by donation and to get support."

The hospital plans to continue doing honor walks, although it is still working to identify the best notification process for staff so they can participate. So far, three honor walks have taken place, including two others in September.

"It is deeply moving to see our employees come together to show their compassion for our patients and families in this way, and it serves as a reminder of what a privilege it is to work with so many talented people who give the best of themselves every day in service to others," Ms. Whalen said. "Libby's family is thrilled with the response to her story, and we join them in hoping the attention being paid to it will result in many people deciding to become organ donors. Going forward, the honor walk will be offered to every donor family, and we will notify all staff each time we hold one of these walks."

Ms. DeMaroney said other hospitals have reached out asking about the effort and for information on how they can do something similar. She highly recommended that organizations continuously do such a tribute, if they don't already.

"It is so powerful for families to see all of the hospital staff supporting them, but also it brings the hospital staff members together and allows them to be part of this process in real time  It really is our way of saying 'thank you' to our donors and their families," she said.

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Fights over corporate control intensify amid CEO misconduct allegationsMore than 1,000 faculty members, medical trainees, students and alumni submitted a petition to Yale University's president Sept. 13 questioning the institution's decision to award a leading cardiologist a leadership position despite his having been found guilty of sexually harassing a junior researcher five years ago, The Washington Post reports.

Here are five things to know:

1. In 2013, a universitywide committee found cardiologist and researcher Michael Simons, MD, guilty of sexually harassing a junior colleague. As a result, Dr. Simons stepped down from his position as chief of cardiology at the New Haven, Conn.-based Yale School of Medicine, and was suspended from holding a leadership position at the institution for five years  a sanction that was later reduced to 18 months.

2. Before the incident, Dr. Simons was awarded the Robert W. Berliner Professorship of Medicine, a prestigious endowed chair position at the medical school. After the committee's 2013 decision, Dr. Simons remained in the position. Family members of Robert Berliner, MD  for whom the endowed chair position was named  made it clear to the university earlier this year they did not feel the position was appropriate for Dr. Simons to hold, according to the report.

3. The Berliner professorship was reportedly given to another cardiologist in the department in August, The Washington Post reports. However, Dr. Simons revealed he had been named to a different endowed chair position in an since-deleted Aug. 1 tweet of a Yale news release, which has also since been taken down by the university. Endowed chair positions typically come with $130,000 in funding commonly used for salary or research, the report states.

4. A Yale spokesperson told The Washington Post the university agrees with many of the arguments raised regarding the new endowed professorship status bestowed on Dr. Simons. However, the spokesperson said, "in making this transfer, the university had no intention to confer a new honor on Dr. Simons."

5. Some critics said they believe Yale's reasoning that the second endowed professorship position bestowed to Dr. Simons represented a transfer and not a new chair is a hollow excuse.

"What is the motivation to accommodate this man to such great lengths that it gets the entire Yale community in an uproar. [The endowed professorship is] an extreme honor, and [Dr. Simons] doesn't deserve something honorable in this context," Lynn Fiellin, MD, a general medicine professor at the Yale School of Medicine, told the publication.

To access the full report, click here.The Senate passed its opioid bill Sept. 17 with bipartisan support. The Opioid Crisis Response Act aims to prevent illicit fentanyl trafficking, make individuals and institutions accountable for drug diversion and improve patient access to treatments, according to STAT.

The bill, mainly authored by Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and Patty Murray, D-Wash., includes numerous proposals, which are viewed as limited but necessary steps toward creating a national system to better prevent and treat addiction.

Here are six things to know about the bill:

1. The bill would give the Drug Enforcement Administration more power to regulate manufacturing quotas for controlled substances. This includes prescription opioids when diversion is suspected. Chronic pain patients previously expressed concern over the reduced quotas, arguing they can push people to seek illicit opioids.

2. Under the legislation, HHS could give physicians permission to remotely prescribe medication-assisted treatments, such buprenorphine and methadone, to boost treatment access for patients in rural areas.

3. The bill also contains the STOP Act, created by Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, which seeks to limit illegal importation of illicit fentanyl through the international mail system. The act would improve digital tracking on 70 percent of international packages shipped to the U.S. by 2018, with the goal of hitting 100 percent of packages by 2020.

4. The Senate opioid bill does not include language about increasing methadone treatment. The House's opioid bill features specific language to close a coverage gap for methadone-based addiction treatment in Medicaid plans, starting 2020.

5. Previous drafts of the bill included hard limits on first-time opioid prescriptions for acute pain, a measure many states have already enacted. However, the limits were not included in the approved version of the bill, as certain groups such as the American Medical Association have opposed federal measures to control prescribing practices.

6. Similar to the House opioid bill, the Senate bill does not improve enforcement parity laws, which mandate employers and insurers comprehensively cover treatment for behavioral health conditions, such as addiction.

More articles on opioids:Shriners Hospitals for Children-Twin Cities in Minnesota will eliminate its inpatient care by the end of the year, a hospital spokesperson confirmed to Fox 9 News.

The switch to an outpatient care facility will also result in the loss of 35 full-time positions, the spokesperson said.

"The long-term plan is to focus on the development of an outpatient clinic where patients will receive pediatric orthopedic care, child life, radiology, rehabilitation (occupational and physical therapy), orthotic and prosthetic services. When surgery is indicated, Shriners Hospital surgeons will utilize a local area children's hospital," a hospital administrator said in a news release obtained by Fox 9 News.

Hospital officials initially began discussing the change in services in February. A Shriners Hospitals spokesperson told Becker's Hospital Review at the time that the reorganization of services "is in recognition of the nationwide trend to more outpatient-oriented services while the need for overnight [inpatient] care declines."

To access the full report, click here.Many drug companies questioned whether they should shutter operations at their drug plants in the Carolinas and Virginia during Hurricane Florence, which would put the region's drug supply at risk, according to STAT.

Here are three things to know:

1. GlaxoSmithKline and Novartis chose to shut down their plants in the area, while Pfizer and Merck scaled back production at several North Carolina facilities.

"Even a shutdown for a few days can affect supply across the country," Sharona Hoffman, PhD, professor of health law and bioethics at Cleveland-based Case Western Reserve University, told STAT. "Its a big concern."

2. A spokesperson for Novo Nordisk, the world's largest insulin maker, told STAT the company kept its North Carolina plant open. Seqirus, a flu vaccine manufacturer, offered some of their employees the opportunity to work remotely. The company kept its essential employees on-site in North Carolina to keep operations active during the hurricane.

"What we do prevents disease and save lives," Jacob Anderson, vice president of operations at Seqirus, told STAT. "We wouldnt have closed the site unless there was a risk so serious that we couldnt mitigate it."

3. By Sept. 17, most of the plants reopened, dodging a nationwide drug shortage. About 30 companies that produce important drugs stayed open during Hurricane Florence, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, said in a Sept. 16 tweet.

More articles on pharmacy:By Ritah Kemigisa.

The speaker of parliament Rebecca Kadaga has attacked the UPDF for restricting civilians from accessing the general court martial and the military barracks.

Launching the 3rd quarter report of the Uganda Law Society on the state of rule of law, Kadaga said many people do not know how the court operates underscoring the need for the army to facilitate civilians to access it as witnesses or spectators.

Kadaga argued that just like the way parliament allows all Ugandans to have access, the court martial should also do the same and also conduct open trials outside their premises.

She has vowed to report all the errant soldiers so that they are punished.

In the report, the general court martial was put on the spot for trying civilians and was asked to stop this practice.A common antidepressant could be causing antibiotic resistance and contributing to the development of superbugs, according to a study published in Environmental International.

The study, led by Dr. Jianhua Guo from the advanced water management center at the University of Queensland in Australia, examined the prescription drug fluoxetine  a common ingredient in antidepressants such as Prozac and Lovan.

Laboratory tests found certain bacteria exposed to fluoxetine for weeks or months mutated and became resistant to several antibiotics, Dr. Guo said.

"Our common understanding is that overuse and misuse of antibiotics is generally considered the major factor contributing to the creation of superbugs," he told ABC News Online. "However, our study could change or advance our understanding, because nonantibiotic pharmaceuticals such as fluoxetine can directly induce antibiotic resistance."

But Dr. Steve Kisely, chair of the psychiatrists group at the Australian Medical Association, said the findings should be kept in context.

"What happens in the lab can be very different to what happens in real life," Dr. Kisely told ABC News Online. "I'd be concerned that people will get alarmed  we need further research before we make any clear-cut recommendations."Patient seeking organ transplants are accepting infected organs, effectively cutting their time on the transplant waitlist from years to just months or weeks, according to USA Today.

Here are four things to know:

1. Hospitals nationwide discarded almost 2,700 kidneys between 2005-14, according to a 2015 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

2, However, some hospitals no longer discard organs donated by patients with hepatitis C. Thanks to antiviral medication, physicians can transplant the infected organs into recipients. Infected organ recipients take medication for eight to 12 weeks after the transplant to remove the virus from their blood.

3, For one Arizona patient, accepting an infected kidney cut his transplant wait from five weeks to two years.

4. Increasing rates of fatal drug overdoses, fueled by the opioid epidemic, are boosting the supply of available organs for donation. As many drug users are at high risk of developing hepatitis C, the process of using infected organs for transplants will help ensure fewer organs go to waste.

"We're seeing a collision of two public health crises come together," Alexandra Glazier, CEO at New England Donor Services, told USA Today. "The fact that there can be some life-saving legacy out of a pretty horrific public health crisis is a reality."

More articles on clinical leadership and infection control:Hospitals and veterinary offices in southeast South Carolina are treating an increased number of patients with snake bites, according to WJBF.

Some parts of the state faced heavy rainfall and flooding during Hurricane Florence, which forces snakes to higher ground. September also marks birthing season for copperhead snakes  one of six poisonous species found in the state.

"With the warmer weather, and even the rain just helps to concentrate [snakes] into areas of higher ground, which can tend to be around dwellings," Dr. Henri Bianucci, a veterinarian in Mount Pleasant, S.C., told WJBF.

Physicians warned people to stay away from any snakes they encounter, adding that most people get bitten by trying to kill a snake.

"Just don't handle the snakes. Don't try to chase a snake down, that's where really we see most of them," John Walters, MD, chairman of the emergency department at Roper St. Francis Mount Pleasant (S.C.) Hospital, told WJBF.

ER physicians and veterinarians also agreed anyone bit by a venomous snake should seek medical treatment.

More articles on clinical leadership and iinfection control:Newport Beach, Calif.-based orthopedic surgeon Grant Robicheaux, MD, and his girlfriend have been accused of drugging and raping multiple women, according to a Los Angeles Times report.

Here are five things to know:

1. Dr. Robicheaux and his girlfriend have been accused of meeting women on two separate occasions and sexually assaulting them after the women became intoxicated or inebriated. Authorities first investigated the couple in October 2016 when a neighbor called the police after hearing a woman scream for help.

2. In January, detectives searched Dr. Robicheaux's home and found illegal drugs, including gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, MDMA and cocaine, as well as at least two unregistered assault rifles. Detectives also report finding videos and photographs of other victims on his and his girlfriend's phones.

3. The investigation was turned over to prosecutors in September, and charges were filed Sept. 11. Dr. Rabicheaux and his girlfriend were arrested earlier this month. They now face felony counts of rape by drugs, oral copulation by anesthesia and assault with intent to commit sexual offenses, according to the report. Both are free on bail, which was set at $100,000 each.

4. The California medical board is investigating Dr. Robicheaux's behavior.

5. In 2013, Orange Coast Magazine named Dr. Robicheaux "Orange County's Most Eligible Bachelor" and in 2014, he appeared on the Bravo television show "Online Dating Rituals of the American Male," which showcased his attempts to find a girlfriend.Female neurosurgeons account for 5 percent of neurosurgeons in the U.S., according to 3WEARTV.

With such a sparse number, it's uncommon for two female neurosurgeons to practice at the same hospital. However, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, Fla., Maria Toledo, MD, and Ann Carr, MD, are forging a pathway for women in neurosurgery.

Dr. Toledo encountered the skepticism from other physicians when she attended medical school at the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico.

Like Dr. Toledo, Dr. Carrlacked female role models whilecompleting her neurosurgery residency at Morgantown-based West Virginia University. Although not all physicians and professors discouraged Dr. Carr, she was told she couldn't have a family while practicing neurosurgery. Dr. Toledo received the same warning.

Now, Dr. Toledo and Dr. Carr are advocating for women to pursue neurosurgery, serving as the role models they did not have.Business leaders here have expressed disappointment in a report on migration, with the hospitality industry warning of around 30,000 unfilled vacancies.

The Migration Advisory Committee has recommended EU nationals should be subject to the same rules as migrants from the rest of the world after free movement ceases to apply in the UK.

The long-awaited study also concluded that the post-Brexit immigration system should make it easier for higher-skilled workers to come to the country, while continuing to limit access for those in lower-skilled roles.

That position in particular has prompted concern in the hospitality and tourism industry, which could face up to 30,000 vacancies in Northern Ireland by 2024, according to the Institute of Hospitality.

Colin Neill of Hospitality Ulster said the MAC report made for stark reading. He said: While we note that the report makes reference to reducing some controls for medium skilled workers, we would argue that this should include chefs and managers in the hospitality industry.

The head of the CBI in Northern Ireland, Angela McGowan, said while the paper provides useful insights, it was not a roadmap for a new system.

She called on the UK Government to pursue a flexible, open and controlled system, adding: It is vitally important that any such system works for the whole UK taking into account Northern Irelands unique challenges.

Aodhan Connolly of the NI Retail Consortium claimed that tightly restricting the migration system would have a negative impact.The chief executive of animal feed products firm Devenish Nutrition has said a no deal Brexit could mean loss of jobs at its manufacturing site in Belfast.

Devenish employs around 200 people out of its global workforce of 450 in the city making feed for pigs, poultry, cattle, sheep, horses and dogs.

Richard Kennedy said that the company is heavily dependent on manufacturing its products using imports from overseas and on export sales. Around 40% of its annual sales are generated overseas.

But Mr Kennedy said a no deal Brexit resulting in tariffs on imports and on exports would put prices up and ultimately have a knock-on effect on consumer prices of animal food products, leaving people less well-off.

The companys exports are covered by existing EU trade agreements but he said that if the UK fails to get a deal, its sales arrangements overseas could halt overnight.

And he said getting market access in the future could therefore mean having to move manufacturing.

We could manufacture in the EU to get access to markets and you could have jobs going from Northern Ireland, but its really too hard to say. We just dont know, he said.

He added he respected the vote for Brexit, but said it was time for politicians to do a deal.

There was a democratic decision for Brexit so lets go on and make sure it has a minimal impact on business and on the economy of Northern Ireland, and on people, he said.

We need a deal to be done to make it possible for business to continue and grow in Northern Ireland. Any procrastination is now endangering business.

He said he agreed with the stance of the NI Food and Drink Assocation and its board member Declan Billington that a deal needed to be done.

Mr Kennedy added: I would be very disappoined if there was a no deal Brexit. I think it would be terrible for Northern Ireland and for people.

I feel a huge responsiblity for peoples jobs in our business so I would urge more than anything that the politicians on both sides both EU and UK get a deal done and put some certainty in place.

When the Brexit vote occurred thats what I asked for on public podiums and we still dont have that. Its impossible to predict what the impact of a no-deal Brexit will be.

Devenish recently announced a long-term funding deal including 40m from the European Investment Bank, which Mr Kennedy said had been delayed by six months due to uncertainty over Brexit.NI Water is set to get the official go-ahead to develop a major new waste treatment facility on the site of the former Shackletown Barracks in Ballykelly.

An application to create eight ponds to treat waste water over 25 hectares at the site has been approved by planning officials at Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.

The bid by NI Water, which is led by chief executive Sara Venning, is expected to be backed at the councils next planning committee meeting next Wednesday.

The integrated constructed wetland (ICW) is designed to treat discharge from the existing waste water treatment works (WWTW) at Shackletown.

Built in the 1970s after the site was handed over the British Army, it was designed to serve a population of just under 8,000.

However the closure of the barracks in 2008 meant the population was halved to around 3,600, leaving the works both biologically and hydraulically oversized and therefore failing to meet standards.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) transferred the site to the Northern Ireland Executive in October 2011.

The Department of Agriculture Environment and Agriculture (DAERA) relocated its headquarters to a new 21m facility at Ballykelly in March 2018.

The approved plan was the result of an agreement between NI Water and DAERA.

Effluent from the existing works will flow through the eight ponds, which NI Water says will be planted with a range of plants species, before being discharged downstream.

Alternatives were considered, including pumping away material to nearby treatment works in River Roe or Limavady.

However, those options, which would have required the construction of new pumping stations and pipelines over a significant distance, were considered both energy and cost intensive.

Planners concluded: The proposal will result in the provision of an environmentally and economically sustainable development which will achieve the overall aim of providing adequate waste water treatment facilities to serve the Ballykelly catchment.Primark has announced it will donate 500k to help drive footfall back into Belfast city centre and to support businesses as a "gesture of goodwill"

Primark has announced it will donate 500k to help drive footfall back into Belfast city centre and to support businesses as a "gesture of goodwill".

Primark, which was housed in the Bank Buildings, was destroyed in a fire on Tuesday, August 28.

Since the blaze a safety cordon has remained in place, blocking access to the 14 businesses within it.

The cordon is expected to remain in place with the businesses closed for potentially as long as four months.

In a statement, Primark confirmed it would be making the donation to Belfast City Council's recovery programme, with the money being distributed to local businesses impacted by the fire.

It indicated it hoped to be trading again as "soon as possible".

A Primark spokesman said: "Following the devastating fire at Bank Buildings, Primark has been focused on the welfare of our colleagues, while also working with the authorities regarding our on-going commitment to businesses and the wider community in Belfast. Today we want to provide an update on our plans.

"It is our intention to be back up and trading again as soon possible. As you can appreciate, we are at the early stages on this and will confirm details as soon as possible. We hope that this will assist the on-going efforts to drive footfall into the city centre."

Belfast City Council, welcoming the announcement, said: "Primark is very keen to support small businesses in the city centre - in particular those that have been severely impacted by the fire.

"The company has asked Belfast City Council to distribute this funding on its behalf.

"Belfast City Council is developing a City Recovery Investment Programme which includes immediate, medium and longer term proposals to support businesses, re-establish and sustain high levels of trading the city centre in the lead up to Christmas and beyond, increase connectivity across the city centre, ultimately ensuring the city's economic resilience.

"The contribution made by Primark will be an important part of that overall programme delivery."

More details of how affected businesses can access funding are expected to be released after a meeting on Friday. Belfast Chamber of Commerce, Hospitality Ulster and Retail NI welcomed the news.

In a joint statement they said: "Whilst this is a step forward, we now need to see NI Government Departments and the HM Treasury step forward and make a sizeable contribution to the City Centre Renewal Fund.

"Many of the Castle Street traders and other businesses in the city centre are experiencing huge reductions in trade and footfall. Over a thousand jobs and dozens of businesses are at risk unless we see immediate action."

Belfast DUP MPs, Nigel Dodds, Emma Little-Pengelly and Gavin Robinson have also welcomed the donation. They said: "Primark have demonstrated a strong commitment to Belfast since the fire and the donation recognises the impact upon many other smaller traders in the city centre."

Sinn Fein MP Paul Maskey said: "I also welcome Primark's assurances to workers by deploying them to other Primark stores or protecting their wages until the end of the year. There is still a long way to go but I am optimistic that if the city continues to work together that we can look forward to a return to normality sooner rather than later."A Belfast space technology company is creating 33 jobs with an average 45,000 salary over the next four years as it seeks more uses for its expertise.

3DEO's imaging applications are used in infrastructure, planning, food security, financial markets insight and disaster risk management.

The company obtains the data it needs from commercial satellites, the European Space Agency and aerial photography.

Founder Andy Macpherson said it has also been using its imaging technology in a project with Belfast Harbour looking at the effects of bigger ships on the shipping channel.

The company will recruit IT professionals over the next four years including space system engineers, satellite data consultants and business development roles.

Half of the 33 new jobs are already in place.

Mr Macpherson said: "We work by ingesting the best possible data to derive meaning and insight for end users in mutliple markets like defence, security, infrastructure and government agencies."

Newry-based financial software company First Derivatives owes a stake in 3DEO, which uses the bigger company's Kx technology for analysing data.

3DEO has received funding of 700,000 from Invest NI to support the job creation.

Invest NI said the salaries of the new roles at the company, which is based at Donegall Square West, would generate 1.5m for the economy.

Mr Macpherson added: "Invest NI's support is enabling us to build a workforce with the technical skills and industry contacts to help make our ambition a reality."

He said the company's 3D visuals can be used to monitor vehicles on the ground for security and defence purposes and for traffic management.

And it can also be used to map out land features and detect planning law breaches.

He said the work with Belfast Harbour was to help it make business decisions.

"We are ingesting that data very quickly so that we can visualise in three dimensions. That can generate a lot more situational awareness to allow you to make good commercial decisions on the likes of dredging," he explained.

Mr Macpherson set up the company in December 2016 after previous roles including applying 3D technology for a private security operator.

Bill Montgomery, Invest NI director of advanced manufacturing and engineering, said: "3DEO NI is a unique business, operating in a highly innovative technology area.

"It is one of the first companies in Northern Ireland to embark on a significant investment as the result of opportunities that will flow out of the space sector. Supporting this project aligns with our strategy to become a globally recognised region for space sector innovation and creativity."Jammie Dodgers and Wagon Wheels maker Burtons has sold its chocolate factory in Merseyside as part of a wider supply deal with Swiss chocolate giant Barry Callebaut.

Jammie Dodgers and Wagon Wheels maker Burtons has sold its chocolate factory in Merseyside as part of a wider supply deal with Swiss chocolate giant Barry Callebaut.

Zurich-headquartered Barry Callebaut  the worlds biggest chocolate supplier  has snapped up the lease for the refinery in Moreton, Wirral, and will take on the 48 staff currently employed by Burtons.

It has also struck a long-term deal to supply more than 12,000 tonnes of chocolate a year to Burtons.

This deal is also a clear sign of our commitment to support the growth of our business in the UK market.Antoine de Saint-Affrique, chief executive of Barry Callebaut

But the move sees Burtons end the last of its manufacturing operations in Moreton, having already closed its biscuit factory in the village in 2011.

Barry Callebaut  which supplies chocolate in around one in every four chocolate products sold  said the deal will help it expand its manufacturing capability in the UK, which it sees as a growth market for the group.

It already owns a site in Banbury, Oxfordshire, which employs around 250 staff.

The deal, for an undisclosed sum, is expected to close by the end of 2018.

Nick Field, chief executive of Burtons Food, said: Barry Callebaut shares our passion and motivation for baking the best quality products for our customers and consumers.

This new partnership, with their larger network and enhanced capabilities, directly supports our intent and commitment to maintain and enhance our industry-leading chocolate biscuit offering.

Barry Callebauts chief executive Antoine de Saint-Affrique said the deal was a clear sign of our commitment to support the growth of our business in the UK market.

Andy Fleming, commecial director at Barry Callebaut, added: We are chocolate lovers in the UK and Barry Callebaut has been present here for several decades with our plant in Banbury and we are committed to our customers in the UK.

St Albans-headquartered Burtons owns three other manufacturing sites across the UK  in Blackpool, Edinburgh, and Llantarnam  and employs around 1,800 people.

After changing hands several times between private equity firms, Burtons was bought in 2013 by the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan in 2013 in a 350 million deal.A refreshed new version of the latest, third generation of Hyundai's Tucson mid-size SUV is now on sale. We check out the new features.

What's new?

Hyundai has just revamped its Tucson SUV, in a mid-life refresh that includes new design features, improved powertrains, advanced technology and better safety equipment levels.

The Tucson's UK return in 2015 was a welcome replacement for the short-lived ix35.

This was a strange move as the original first-generation Hyundai Tucson, on sale from 2004-2009, was a good motor that sold relatively well.

However, it was replaced in most markets outside South Korea and North America, by a second-generation car branded the Hyundai ix35. You'll still see plenty of them on our roads, and they're a decent used car choice.

However, for some reason the Tucson name was resurrected or the third generation car, which went on sale towards the end of 2015.

It was a welcome move, the new Tucson being roomier, bigger and better equipped than the outgoing ix35.

This summer, Hyundai issued an updated version of the third generation model to better reflect new trends and technologies.

Incidentally, the Tucson is named after the city of Tucson, Arizona and so is technically pronounced "Too-son".

But most people we know around these parts pronounce it "Tuc-son". Whatever.

Looks and design

The new Tucson's external design has been refreshed with the addition of the Hyundai signature 'Cascading Grille' along with a new design headlight, fog lamp, front bumper and skid plate.

The side profile features new wheel designs in 16", 17", 18" and 19" sizes.

At the rear, there's a new rear light design, with a redesigned bumper and exhaust tailpipe.

Inside the cabin

The refresh continues inside, with an all new, redesigned soft-touch dashboard, with touchscreen display audio systems with DAB, Apple Car Play and Android Auto, now standard across the range. The new Tucson also introduces the KRELL audio system, first seen on Hyundai's smaller Kona crossover SUV.

It comes with an increased number of safety features, with Autonomous Emergency Braking and Lane Keep Assist standardised across all trim levels, as well as Driver Attention Alert standard on SE Nav trim and upwards.

Under the bonnet

Powertrain efficiency has been improved, says Hyundai, with the introduction of a 48v mild hybrid powertrain - a first for the manufacturer - which combines with an all-new 8 speed automatic 4WD transmission on 2.0 CRDi 185PS models.

An all new "U3" 1.6 CRDi engine is also now available, in 115PS and 136PS outputs combined with a 6-speed manual (115PS/136PS) or 7-speed dual clutch transmission (136PS).

Petrol engines have an increased presence within the line-up, with both 1.6 GDi and 1.6 T-GDi engines available at higher trim levels than on the previous model Tucson.

1.6 CRDi and 2.0 CRDi engines now have Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology applied, with the addition of a 48v mild hybrid system on the 2.0 CRDi engine.

What are the trim levels?

The trim levels are fairly standard Hyundai fare: S, SE Nav, Premium and Premium SE.

The entry-level S model is priced from 21,845 - and for your money you get yourself a Tucson S Connect 1.6 GDi 2WD 6 speed manual.

The model will feature new equipment including a 7" display, rear view camera, USB charger for mobile devices, Bluetooth connectivity with steering wheel controls and a leather steering wheel and gear knob.

Exterior enhancements include new design 16" alloy wheels, front fog lamps and door mirror mounted indicators.

Next up is SE Nav trim, which starts from 23,345. It features the 1.6 GDi 2WD 6-speed manual powerplant but adds additional kit like 17" alloy wheels, privacy glass, roof rails, LED rear lamps, and an 8" touchscreen display audio system with navigation. There are other specs offering different engines, all 2-wheel drive affairs.

What are the higher trims like?

Trade up to the Premium model, where prices start at 25,845 for the Premium 1.6 GDi 2WD 6-speed manual.

Premium trim includes equipment enhancements over the previous model, featuring new design 18" alloy wheels, keyless entry with start/stop button, an electronic parking brake, wireless charging pad for wireless charging equipped devices and a new KRELL premium audio system.

There's also a leather interior, electrically adjustable and heated front seats, Blind Spot Detection system and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

An array of engine and transmission choices are offered including 7 and 8-speed transmission, for-wheel drive and the 48v mild hybrid system, which allows the standard stop/start system to extend its "engine off" operations whilst the stop/start system is active, as well as supplementing the engine during acceleration, whilst still lowering emissions.

The range topping Premium SE model, from 29,745 for the 1.6 T-GDi 177PS 6-speed manual, adds a whole bunch of kit and refinements including an around view monitor, assisting the driver during slow speed manoeuvres, panoramic glass sunroof, smart tailgate, heated steering wheel and ventilated front seats.

Who would buy one?

The Tucson is an all-round vehicle with a ton of use scenarios, including for families, businesses and people with active lifestyles.

All models come with Hyundai's 5 Year Unlimited Mileage Warranty, Roadside Assistance package, 5 Year Annual Health Check, and 12 Year Anti-Corrosion Warranty.We've all had those feelings of inadequacy when hearing a superwoman describe how she gets up at 5am for a 10k run, then rustles up a healthy breakfast for her family, prepares a nutritious dinner and drops the kids to school before heading to work as the CEO of a successful global company.

Obviously, she manages to get home in time to eat with her children and husband, who is incredibly supportive and also does his equal share of the housework and child-rearing.

When the rest of us are struggling to keep up with the demands of a busy work and family life and hardly have time to run a brush through our hair in the morning, hearing about this sort of brilliance - which is supposedly the norm among high-flying business women like Ivanka Trump - is downright depressing to say the least.

But Christine Armstrong does not believe the type of parent that thrives on four hours' sleep, providing they have a kale smoothie and an hour of weight-lifting before work, actually exists, and says many women are painting a totally unreasonable picture of what life as a working mum is really like.

The mother-of-three has just released a book, The Mother Of All Jobs, in which she reveals that many women, in order to keep up the facade of effortless success, do not tell the whole truth about how they are struggling behind the scenes.

"As I failed to make a full-time job with one and then two children work, I decided to get some advice from people who knew what they were doing," says Armstrong, who is the co-founder of Jericho Chambers, a business which brings together experts in change and communication.

"So I started to interview women with big jobs and small children for Management Today, and discovered they couldn't tell the whole truth as their partners, bosses and competitors would be reading (their answers) and the story was more complicated behind the scenes.

"I realised that these relatively successful women had advantages many others don't and that the bigger story was actually about how average families cope with the time demands of modern work."

A combination of her own experience and real-life stories of the difficulties working mothers face, Armstrong's book aims to dispel some of the guilt which most women carry around like a mantle.

The 44-year-old says while she used to feel guilty about not being there for her children, writing the book helped her realise that everyone is going through a version of the same thing.

"I used to be crushed by the pressure of not being home and also floundering at work because I felt I wasn't there enough," she explains.

"But I feel much more in control now because, as I interviewed families, I started to see ways which work better and now I try to live by them. It's not perfect, but it works much better than it did."

Work comes in many different guises, and while some women are out of the house all day every day, some work part-time and are available to collect their children from school. Others, like me, work from home.

I had many frantic days over the years; conducting an important phone interview while sitting against the door to prevent my kids charging in, losing hours of work I hadn't saved when a child accidentally switched off my computer, and watching my toddler make his way through hundreds of Smarties which he discovered while I was interviewing an eminent professor over the phone - there was nothing I could do but watch in despair while he grinned his way through several packets.

These days, the house is quiet, but when my children were young, caring for them while trying to work was a tense juggling act. I worked through it, but I wasn't afraid to let friends and family know there were moments when it all looked dangerously close to collapse.

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Whatsapp Balancing act: Victoria Beckham arrived at London Fashion Week on her own while husband David brought the children

And this, says Armstrong, is key - if women are more open about the difficulties of combining a job with family life, it would reduce the unattainable strive for perfection.

"A lot of women - and men, actually - want to tell the truth, especially privately," she says.

"Of course, a few are showy or insecure, but I'm interested in the ones who want to tell the truth but fear it'd damage them, their career and reputation.

"This is, I believe, partly down to the fact that our stereotypes about mothers and good motherhood have changed very little, even though the expectation that both parents work outside the home has grown."

But while her husband, Chris, does his fair share, Armstrong doesn't think that targeting men is the only way to make women's lives easier.

"A lot of mums I interview are so frustrated by their partners and complain about how little they do, but I am very lucky not to be in that situation," she says.

"But I don't see men doing more as the only answer. Yes, in some cases, men are doing less, but for them to do more, we need social structures that make this possible: sensible exceptions of working hours which align in some way with childcare and the school day, equality of parental leave and pay and social expectations which are more open to different roles for both parents.

"I see fixing this as a matrix which includes support for whichever parent takes leave after the birth, management of hours, flexible working practices, limits on expectations of being 'always on' and support for all families through good quality childcare."

Since an excerpt from her book was published in the Sunday Times magazine, the author has had thousands of messages of support, many from women in senior roles who are struggling.

"Know you are not alone - thousands of women are struggling," she says. "If you talk about your experiences, people will relate to you. Maybe your kids or partner can do more, or maybe you're setting your standards too high, but being sane and happy matter more, for you and your kids, than anything else."

The Mother Of All Jobs by Christine Armstrong is published by Bloomsbury, 12.99It takes a lot of guts to be Mairia Cahill. Most people would run away before they would take on the intimidating power and strength of the provisional republican movement. But she did and, despite all the republican cover-ups and downright intimidation, she has succeeded in proving beyond doubt to the public that she was abused from 1997 to 1998, at the age of 16, by a senior republican.

After a persistent and courageous campaign by Mairia, the republican movement was forced some years later to initiate an investigation into her serious complaint of sexual abuse.

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It is sufficient to say, without going into the harrowing details of that so-called investigation by the IRA, that she was subjected to an intensive interrogation process and, quite appallingly, made to confront her assailant in person.

In 2010, still deeply hurt and traumatised by her experience, she reported her sexual abuse to the PSNI.

Subsequently, whenever these allegations surfaced publicly, Sinn Fein brazenly dismissed them as scurrilous and despicable accusations.

That was despite the fact they knew that her allegations had been investigated by the IRA and found to be credible.

On foot of the IRA investigation, Sinn Fein belatedly suspended the perpetrator of the sexual abuse, so they knew quite well that Mairia's claims were true, yet chose to cover up and deny them.

Unfortunately for Mairia, the police investigation into her case was inadequate.

Last week, Dr Michael Maguire, the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, confirmed in a damning report that the force had failed her in a number of key areas.

Principally, the Police Ombudsman found that the police decision to divide the investigation across a unit dealing with sexual crime and another unit dealing with terrorist issues created a disjointed approach to the investigation.

He also found that the PSNI had an inconsistent approach in its investigation of some people suspected of IRA membership, which led to an individual not being arrested and questioned.

However, he found no evidence that anyone had been protected from prosecution.

It had been widely suspected that the police were reluctant to act in Mairia's case because of sensitive political considerations.

Shockingly, the Ombudsman discovered that in 2000 the RUC's CID received information that linked a named republican with the sexual abuse.

In addition, the RUC Special Branch received information that the same man had abused children and that the IRA were investigating this.

Outrageously, despite possessing very detailed information, the RUC did not investigate this criminal abuse at all.

While the PSNI investigation resulted in prosecution of the man accused of rape and those accused of involvement in the IRA investigation, these interlinked trials collapsed in 2014 when Mairia withdrew her evidence, citing a loss of confidence in how the matter had been dealt with by the police and Public Prosecution Service.

In 2015, Sir Keir Starmer QC - now a leading Labour MP - found that the prosecution had indeed failed and had let down Mairia, thus vindicating her decision not to proceed in those fraught circumstances in 2014.

The Chief Constable has wholeheartedly apologised for the policing failures in her case.

Mairia graciously accepted his apology, met with him and will meet with him once again in the near future.

She was rightly critical of the empty, ritualistic apology from the Sinn Fein leader, Mary Lou McDonald, which she has described as being "woefully inadequate".

She asserted that Mary Lou had failed to admit that there was an IRA investigation into her abuse.

She also stated that she failed to admit that her abuser was a Sinn Fein member, and that the party had suspended him a full three years after senior Sinn Fein people had become aware that Mairia was being abused.

In actual fact, Mary Lou's public statement of apology did not touch on any of these important factual issues, instead deliberately ignoring the IRA's direct involvement in all of these matters.

Doubtless Sinn Fein will continue to be in denial about the IRA's involvement and just hope that this scandal will die down.

But if Mairia stays the course, as she has done over many years, Sinn Fein will not have heard the last of this yet.

Mairia has had to endure a horrendous ordeal, not just of the sexual abuse itself, but also the fact she was so badly failed by the PSNI and the PPS - public bodies upon which she should have been able to rely.

Mairia's life has been an extraordinary political odyssey, starting within the republican movement, then being elected as an Irish Labour Party Senator and now working as an SDLP councillor in Lisburn.

It has been a truly remarkable journey marked by courage and a dogged struggle for justice.Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland 18th April 2016 First Minister Arlene Foster is pictured sheltering from the rain at the launch of the DUP billboard campaign as part of the 2016 Assembly Elections campaign at Titanic Belfast with John Robinson, Director of Communications. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.

Arlene Foster and three former DUP special advisers will appear before the RHI Inquiry next week in what is expected to be a challenging four days for the party.

The DUP leader is set to give evidence on Tuesday. She appeared before the inquiry in April, but it is next week's hearing at which Mrs Foster's overall actions in the cash-for-ash scandal will be most closely scrutinised in light of the evidence of other witnesses.

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It is understood that former DUP spad John Robinson, who is now the party's director of communications, will appear on Wednesday.

Mr Robinson's brother-in-law and current DUP chief executive, Timothy Johnston, will give evidence on Friday. Mr Johnston is a former special adviser to three DUP first ministers. The inquiry has heard claims that he was involved in RHI cost control delays, which he denies.

Controversial former DUP spad Stephen Brimstone is expected to give evidence on Wednesday and Thursday. He was a beneficiary of the RHI scheme. A civil servant told the inquiry in June that Mr Brimstone telephoned him to inquire about the possibility of getting a boiler registered.

It was claimed he gave his name to the official, but didn't identify himself as a DUP spad.

Stuart Wightman, the head of the energy efficiency branch in the Department of Trade, Enterprise and Investment (Deti) said: "The reason I remember the call is that the call was quite unusual in that it started off 'I believe you're the man to talk to about RHI' and I think he referenced Andrew Crawford.

"At that stage, I just thought it was a general applicant, so I would just have treated the telephone call like any other applicant wanting to find out how to apply for either scheme and I talked him through the process and referred him to the website and so forth."

Mr Wightman continued: "So there was nothing unusual, apart from the start of the telephone conversation. But the name Brimstone - afterwards, I sort of recognised 'I know that name' and it was subsequent to that I realised who he was, a special adviser."

As an adviser to former Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland, Mr Brimstone became entangled in the Red Sky housing maintenance scandal. His treatment of then DUP councillor Jenny Palmer led to her whistleblowing on a BBC Spotlight programme.

He was accused of telling Mrs Palmer, the DUP's representative on the Housing Executive board, to change her vote in relation to a contract involving the firm Red Sky, which later went bankrupt. Mr Brimstone said he didn't accept the accuracy of her account.

In January 2017, TUV leader Jim Allister claimed in the Assembly that Mr Brimstone was "heating his own house on the non-domestic (RHI) boiler scheme". Speaking under parliamentary privilege, Mr Allister alleged that Mr Brimstone had a new biomass boiler in his house - but took it out and installed a new non-domestic one to "rip off" the RHI.

In November 2016, when Mr Brimstone left his 92,000-a-year post to pursue a career in the private sector, the Executive Office issued a statement wishing him every success and describing him as a "valued member of staff".A convicted Lithuanian killer has pleaded guilty to the rape of a woman in her Rathfriland home as her five-year-old son slept in the next room.

Deividas Paliutis (35) formerly of Rooney Park, Kilkeel, forced his way into the Latvian womans home with a gang of up to five Russian men who demanded money before they subjected her a brutal sexual assault on May 9, 2009.

He also pleaded guilty to burglary, theft of 320 cash and common assault of a male during the same incident.

The attack took place while Paliutis was on the run in Northern Ireland after walking out of Loughan House, an open prison in Co Cavan, in 2009. He has been serving time for an assault in Monaghan.

The court heard that on the night in question the woman, who had been involved in prostitution, was at her home on Downpatrick Street with her son and a male occupant, the same address she used for clients.

At approximately, 9.52pm a group of about five men forced their way into the house and subjected her to a traumatic 40-minute attack, which has left her with life changing mental health problems.

The woman was raped by a number of the men, who threatened to kill the occupants while demanding in Russian to be given money, with suggestions that the woman had been working in their area. A bank card was also taken from her and 320 was then taken from a nearby ATM.

Paliutis, who was said to not have a central role, orally raped the woman in the kitchen of the house before she was taken to a bedroom and attacked by other men.

The injured woman was later able to help identify Paliutis as one of her attackers.

Following his re-arrest in Northern Ireland, Paliutis was released in error from Maghaberry prison in September 2010.

He was at large for almost a year, with authorities on both sides of the border working with Interpol to trace his whereabouts.

While on the run, Paliutis went on to kill Ukrainian man Dymtro Grysunov (29) in Kilkeel in April, 2011.

The victim died days after being shot in the chest during an altercation outside Paliutiss home.

He was arrested in Dublin in April 2011 following the shooting and sentenced to seven years in jail.

Paliutis was originally charged with murder, but pleaded guilty to manslaughter as well as possession of a sawn-off shotgun and cartridges.

Appearing at Newry Crown Court yesterday, Paliutis  who has become fluent in English during the last seven years in jail  was considered by Judge Ramsey not to pose a significant risk to the public.

Paliutis will be sentenced later this month.An independent unionist has vowed that she won't be "silenced" after being suspended for four months from Belfast City Council.

The Local Government Commissioner, who is investigating 14 complaints about Jolene Bunting's behaviour, took the decision, saying there was prima facie evidence that she had failed to comply with the Local Government code of conduct.

He determined that "a member of the public, knowing all of the relevant facts, would reasonably consider that her conduct had brought her position as a councillor and that of the council into disrepute".

Some of the complaints relate to a video posted on social media earlier this year of Britain First's deputy leader Jayda Fransen making a statement while sitting in the Lord Mayor's chair.

Another is over a frog cartoon Ms Bunting posted on Twitter that was criticised by some councillors as "racist and offensive".

Another complaint, signed by 79 members of the public, criticises Ms Bunting's participation in the Northern Ireland against Terrorism rally on August 6, 2017, alongside Britain First leaders, as well as comments she made to the media about Islam.

She is the first councillor to be suspended while an investigation is pending.

Pledging to challenge the decision, Ms Bunting (left) called it "a dark day for democracy and freedom of speech" and said she was being punished for associating with "people the Establishment don't like".

She continued: "It's an absolute joke. I plan on taking it to the High Court.

"My grandfather went to war, World War Two, he was very lucky he survived. Thousands of people from my constituency died in both World Wars, for what? For them to take my freedom away as a councillor for the Shankill? I don't think so."

Ms Bunting had previously been associated with Britain First, but has insisted she was never a member of the organisation. She has since distanced herself from the group.Student behaviour during this year's Freshers' Week has been branded "disgraceful" by locals, who revealed that one resident was forced to take refuge in his car in an attempt to sleep.

This week marks the start of the new university year, and people in south Belfast say they are already being plagued by anti-social behaviour including drunkenness, noise, littering and verbal abuse.

One resident, who asked not to be named, said a recent Freedom of Information request to Belfast City Council showed they had logged over 800 anti-social behaviour complaints in the area last year.

Yesterday, Alliance south Belfast Councillor Emmet McDonough-Brown said he had sought a meeting with the council's chief executive Suzanne Wylie to raise residents' concerns over student behaviour, and described the experiences of many residents as "disgraceful".

"The issues in the Holyland are well known and have affected the area for many years - but the lack of action from statutory agencies is deeply disappointing," he said.

"With hundreds of students drinking on-street this past weekend already, residents have already rightly complained and expressed their fears. I have therefore sought an urgent meeting with the chief executive of Belfast City Council to discuss the issue and what can be done to resolve the matter.

"Belfast City Council can intervene in relation to on-street drinking and I will be urging the organisation to do just that. With the correct intervention now, we can turn the tide in the Holyland and help locals restore the area to the long-term residential area it once was."

Green Party MLA Clare Bailey asked students and their parents to "consider the realities of life in the Holyland".

"The university and local residents have appealed directly to the young people involved in anti-social behaviour," she said.

"These appeals have often fallen on deaf ears, with a recent noisy party driving one resident out of his home and into his car in an attempt to sleep.

"Parents are quite rightly proud to see their young people heading off to university to start a new chapter in their lives.

"Issues often stem from poor choices from young people, with noisy parties and on-street drinking piling misery on residents.

"However, students and their families may not always be aware of the other dangers that exist across the Holyland.

"The area has a high crime rate and is an extremely over-crowded location, with low quality housing predominating. Indeed, there were a number of serious sexual assaults in the Holyland area during this time last year.

"Thefts and burglaries are also a problem, with high value items such as laptops and mobile phones rich pickings for criminals.

"I'd therefore urge the families and parents of students to sit down and have a conversation about the realities of life in the Holyland."Ards Town Hall lit up in rainbow colours in tribute to those killed in the Orlando nightclub shooting in June 2016

The single vote of a DUP councillor is set to see a Northern Ireland town hall lit up in rainbow colours to mark all future Pride days.

A motion on the issue, which relates to Ards Town Hall, was recommended for approval by six votes to five at a committee meeting of Ards and North Down Borough Council.

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Five of the six DUP councillors sitting on the corporate affairs committee voted against approval.

But DUP councillor Tom Smith, who represents Donaghadee and Bangor East, voted against his party colleagues to see the motion go before next week's main council meeting for full approval.

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Michael Cooper/PA Wire PA Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Staff from UTV join marchers and members of the public at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Pacemaker Press Belfast 04-08-2018: The Belfast Pride parade 2018 starts and finishes at Custom House Square in Belfast. Rainbow flags, face paint, fancy dress and brightly coloured floats will create a riot of colour on the streets of Belfast on Saturday. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Pacemaker Press Belfast 04-08-2018: The Belfast Pride parade 2018 starts and finishes at Custom House Square in Belfast. Rainbow flags, face paint, fancy dress and brightly coloured floats will create a riot of colour on the streets of Belfast on Saturday. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Pacemaker Press Belfast 04-08-2018: The Belfast Pride parade 2018 starts and finishes at Custom House Square in Belfast. Rainbow flags, face paint, fancy dress and brightly coloured floats will create a riot of colour on the streets of Belfast on Saturday. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Pacemaker Press Belfast 04-08-2018: The Belfast Pride parade 2018 starts and finishes at Custom House Square in Belfast. Rainbow flags, face paint, fancy dress and brightly coloured floats will create a riot of colour on the streets of Belfast on Saturday. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Pacemaker Press Belfast 04-08-2018: The Belfast Pride parade 2018 starts and finishes at Custom House Square in Belfast. Rainbow flags, face paint, fancy dress and brightly coloured floats will create a riot of colour on the streets of Belfast on Saturday. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Pacemaker Press Belfast 04-08-2018: The Belfast Pride parade 2018 starts and finishes at Custom House Square in Belfast. Rainbow flags, face paint, fancy dress and brightly coloured floats will create a riot of colour on the streets of Belfast on Saturday. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Pacemaker Press Belfast 04-08-2018: The Belfast Pride parade 2018 starts and finishes at Custom House Square in Belfast. Rainbow flags, face paint, fancy dress and brightly coloured floats will create a riot of colour on the streets of Belfast on Saturday. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - PSNI and Garda police officer join marchers and members of the public at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - PSNI and Garda police officer join marchers and members of the public at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - PSNI and Garda police officer join marchers and members of the public at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - PSNI and Garda police officer join marchers and members of the public at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - PSNI and Garda police officer join marchers and members of the public at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - PSNI and Garda police officer join marchers and members of the public at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - PSNI and Garda police officer join marchers and members of the public at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Staff from UTV join marchers and members of the public at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - PSNI and Garda police officer join marchers and members of the public at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Staff from the Northern Ireland Civil Service join marchers and members of the public at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Staff from Danske Bank join marchers and members of the public at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Sinn Fein representatives join marchers and members of the public at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Staff from Danske Bank join marchers and members of the public at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Staff from Danske Bank join marchers and members of the public at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - David Sterling, Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service joins marchers and members of the public at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Staff from UTV join marchers and members of the public at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Pacemaker Press Belfast 04-08-2018: The Belfast Pride parade 2018 starts and finishes at Custom House Square in Belfast. Rainbow flags, face paint, fancy dress and brightly coloured floats will create a riot of colour on the streets of Belfast on Saturday. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Pacemaker Press Belfast 04-08-2018: The Belfast Pride parade 2018 starts and finishes at Custom House Square in Belfast. Rainbow flags, face paint, fancy dress and brightly coloured floats will create a riot of colour on the streets of Belfast on Saturday. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Pacemaker Press Belfast 04-08-2018: The Belfast Pride parade 2018 starts and finishes at Custom House Square in Belfast. Rainbow flags, face paint, fancy dress and brightly coloured floats will create a riot of colour on the streets of Belfast on Saturday. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Pacemaker Press Belfast 04-08-2018: The Belfast Pride parade 2018 starts and finishes at Custom House Square in Belfast. Rainbow flags, face paint, fancy dress and brightly coloured floats will create a riot of colour on the streets of Belfast on Saturday. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Pacemaker Press Belfast 04-08-2018: The Belfast Pride parade 2018 starts and finishes at Custom House Square in Belfast. Rainbow flags, face paint, fancy dress and brightly coloured floats will create a riot of colour on the streets of Belfast on Saturday. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Pacemaker Press Belfast 04-08-2018: The Belfast Pride parade 2018 starts and finishes at Custom House Square in Belfast. Rainbow flags, face paint, fancy dress and brightly coloured floats will create a riot of colour on the streets of Belfast on Saturday. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Pacemaker Press Belfast 04-08-2018: The Belfast Pride parade 2018 starts and finishes at Custom House Square in Belfast. Rainbow flags, face paint, fancy dress and brightly coloured floats will create a riot of colour on the streets of Belfast on Saturday. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - PSNI and Garda police officer join marchers and members of the public at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - PSNI and Garda police officer join marchers and members of the public at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - PSNI and Garda police officer join marchers and members of the public at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - PSNI and Garda police officer join marchers and members of the public at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - PSNI and Garda police officer join marchers and members of the public at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - PSNI and Garda police officer join marchers and members of the public at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - PSNI and Garda police officer join marchers and members of the public at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Staff from UTV join marchers and members of the public at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - PSNI and Garda police officer join marchers and members of the public at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Staff from the Northern Ireland Civil Service join marchers and members of the public at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Sinn Fein representatives join marchers and members of the public at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Staff from Danske Bank join marchers and members of the public at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Staff from Danske Bank join marchers and members of the public at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - David Sterling, Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service joins marchers and members of the public at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Staff from Danske Bank join marchers and members of the public at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Lord Mayor Deirdre Hargey with marchers and members of the public at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Police officers pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - PSNI and Garda police officers pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Dogs with marchers pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Claire Sugden MLA pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - John O'Doherty pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Religious protestors and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th August 2018 - Marchers and members of the public pictured at the annual Belfast Pride parade in Belfast City Centre. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press E Kimberly McClusky taking part in the Belfast Pride parade set off from Custom House Square in central Belfast. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 4, 2018. See PA story ULSTER Pride. Photo credit should read: Michael Cooper/PA Wire PA Dancers taking part in the Belfast Pride parade set off from Custom House Square in central Belfast. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 4, 2018. See PA story ULSTER Pride. Photo credit should read: Michael Cooper/PA Wire PA People taking part in the Belfast Pride parade set off from Custom House Square in central Belfast. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 4, 2018. See PA story ULSTER Pride. Photo credit should read: Michael Cooper/PA Wire PA A person taking part in the Belfast Pride parade set off from Custom House Square in central Belfast. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 4, 2018. See PA story ULSTER Pride. Photo credit should read: Michael Cooper/PA Wire PA A dancer taking part in the Belfast Pride parade set off from Custom House Square in central Belfast. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 4, 2018. See PA story ULSTER Pride. Photo credit should read: Michael Cooper/PA Wire PA Dancers taking part in the Belfast Pride parade set off from Custom House Square in central Belfast. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 4, 2018. See PA story ULSTER Pride. Photo credit should read: Michael Cooper/PA Wire PA A person taking part in the Belfast Pride parade set off from Custom House Square in central Belfast. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 4, 2018. See PA story ULSTER Pride. Photo credit should read: Michael Cooper/PA Wire PA People taking part in the Belfast Pride parade set off from Custom House Square in central Belfast. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 4, 2018. See PA story ULSTER Pride. Photo credit should read: Michael Cooper/PA Wire PA A Police Service of Northern Ireland officer taking part in the Belfast Pride parade set off from Custom House Square in central Belfast. Michael Cooper/PA Wire PA Miz Tasty and Red Scarlet taking part in the Belfast Pride parade set off from Custom House Square in central Belfast. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 4, 2018. See PA story ULSTER Pride. Photo credit should read: Michael Cooper/PA Wire PA Miz Tasty and Red Scarlet taking part in the Belfast Pride parade set off from Custom House Square in central Belfast. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 4, 2018. See PA story ULSTER Pride. Photo credit should read: Michael Cooper/PA Wire PA Miz Tasty and Red Scarlet taking part in the Belfast Pride parade set off from Custom House Square in central Belfast. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 4, 2018. See PA story ULSTER Pride. Photo credit should read: Michael Cooper/PA Wire PA People taking part in the Belfast Pride parade set off from Custom House Square in central Belfast. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 4, 2018. See PA story ULSTER Pride. Photo credit should read: Michael Cooper/PA Wire PA Players from the Belfast Azlans, a gay rugby team taking part in the Belfast Pride parade set off from Custom House Square in central Belfast. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 4, 2018. See PA story ULSTER Pride. Photo credit should read: Michael Cooper/PA Wire PA People taking part in the Belfast Pride parade set off from Custom House Square in central Belfast. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 4, 2018. See PA story ULSTER Pride. Photo credit should read: Michael Cooper/PA Wire PA / Facebook

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The motion was proposed by Alliance councillors Gavin Walker and Andrew Muir.

Mr Walker said: "We're obviously delighted that the motion was recommended, though that still comes against objections from five of the six DUP members on the corporate affairs committee.

"We're now looking forward to the full council meeting on September 26. We'll wait and see if Cllr Smith can have any influence on his DUP colleagues in making sure this motion is passed as it should be.

"Ards Town Hall has been lit up before and there's no reason why it shouldn't continue."

Mr Smith could not be reached for comment last night.

The DUP also did not respond to requests for comment.

Last month there was controversy when DUP members of Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council used a procedural mechanism known as a call-in to stop the Pride flag being flown on council premises.

The motion at Ards and North Down council called for its corporate affairs committee to back a proposal affirming that lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people be accepted and valued as equal citizens, with Ards Town Hall lit up in rainbow colours to coincide with Pride day.

The motion was supported at the committee by six councillors - three Ulster Unionist, two Alliance and one DUP - with five DUP councillors voting against.

Mr Walker added: "As the father of a gay man, I know how much value parents place on creating an environment where our children can feel valued and accepted at a time when they need support in understanding their own minds and bodies.

"It might seem trivial to place store on the physical act of lighting council buildings in rainbow colours on Pride day, but the message of acceptance that will send out to our LGBT community, their family and their friends will be very powerful.

"There is nothing more isolating than feeling different to everybody around you. And when that is coupled with living in an environment which amplifies that difference, then the pressure can be unbearable.

"As a council we are unable to change the feelings individuals might have, but we can certainly create an environment of acceptance and love that will give our LGBT brothers and sisters time and space to fulfil their lifelong potential."

The motion was presented by Alliance councillor Andrew Muir.

He said: "I presented this motion in the hope that we could make a positive difference to the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people living, working or visiting our borough and I'm delighted to have secured backing of the relevant council committee in affirming that LGBT people should be accepted and valued just like everyone else."

In June, DUP leader Arlene Foster made headlines by attending a PinkNews event at Stormont, where she told the LGBT community that she looks at them "as my neighbours or my fellow citizens".

Mr Muir hopes "common sense" will prevail next week.

"At the Pink News event on June 28 this year DUP leader Arlene Foster stated she wanted to acknowledge the contribution of the LGBT community in Northern Ireland and to recognise the reality of diversity among our citizens.

"She further recognised that some of our brightest and best in this country are part of the LGBT community. This motion is only a reflection of those words."The DUP has poured cold water on the EU's latest proposals to 'de-dramatise' the border in Ireland during Brexit negotiations

Chief negotiator Michel Barnier had said the EU was ready to come forward with an improved proposal in an attempt break the deadlock in the Brexit talks.

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After briefing EU foreign ministers in Brussels, he insisted the EU offer would fully respect the territorial integrity of the UK.

He said the next full summit of EU leaders on October 18, would be the moment of truth when it would become clear whether it was possible for the two sides to reach a deal.

It is then we shall see whether agreement we are hoping for is in our grasp, he told a news conference

But DUP Deputy Leader Nigel Dodds MP has said the plan is a non-starter.

So Michel Barnier says he can do different kinds of checks between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK as if that makes it more palatable,"said Mr Dodds.

"The fundamental point is that internal UK checks are only needed if it is intended to separate Northern Ireland from Great Britain.

"Despite the talk of improvements the backstop being insisted upon by the EU would mean a different regime for Northern Ireland compared to the rest of the U.K," he said.

"It still means a border down the Irish Sea although with different kinds of checks. The fact is that both Theresa May and the Labour Party have said no British Prime Minister could accept such a concept. It is not just unionists who object.

"And anyone with the desire to see our economy prosper will not want to see barriers put in the way of sales to and from our biggest market in the rest of the UK.

"There is however one upside in all of this. Having dismissed technology as magical thinking for the border between the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland it is suddenly okay for the border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. Progress of sorts!

The issue of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic has emerged as the main obstacle to an agreement ahead of the UKs withdrawal in March 2019.

The EU is insisting on a backstop proposal which would see Northern Ireland remain in the customs union in the event of the two sides failing to reach an agreement in order to avoid the return of a hard border.

However Mrs May has rejected the plan as unacceptable arguing that it would effectively create a border in the Irish Sea between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

Mr Barnier said he was working on a plan to de-dramatise the controls that would be necessary in the event of the backstop coming into play.

Expand Close The border between Londonderry and Donegal at Bridgend (Deborah McAleese/PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook

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We are ready to improve this proposal. Work on the EU side is ongoing.

We are clarifying which goods arriving in Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK would need to be checked and where, when and by whom these checks could be performed, he said.

We can also clarify that most checks can take place away from the border at the company premises or in the markets. We need to de-dramatise the checks that are needed.

He reminded the British, however, that the checks were the result of their decision to leave not only the EU but also the single market and the customs union.

What we need in the withdrawal agreement is a legally operational backstop which fulls respects the territorial integrity of the UK.

It is a backstop that will only apply unless a better solution is found, he said.

His comments came as EU leaders prepare to gather in Salzburg on Wednesday for an informal summit  the first time they have met together since Mrs May published her Chequers blueprint for Brexit in July.The Petition of Recall for North Antrim MP Ian Paisley closes at 5pm on Wednesday.

The Belfast Telegraph wil report the result of the petition of recall when it is confirmed during the early hours of Thursday morning.

It was triggered after the DUP representative was found to have breached lobbying rules and failed to declare two lavish holidays to Sri Lanka.

His 30-sitting day suspension, as well as forcing the petition of recall, is the longest ban for any MP on record.

In order for a by-election to be called, 7,543 people - or 10% of the North Antrim constituents - must sign the petition.

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The laws around the petition have meant that the broadcasting or publication as to how many have taken part in the process over the past six weeks is illegal.

And at the stroke of 5pm that will all change.

But while the speculation can begin, the counting does not start until midnight.

That's because the law says postal votes can be lodged up until September 19 - but does not specify a time. So election officials are waiting until midnight in order to ensure they operate well within the law.

When counting begins it will be held at the Electoral Office's Belfast headquarters. However, unlike an election and as there is no candidates, no one will be allowed into the room to see the process other than officials and independent observers.

"As there are no stages, no candidates, it should be relatively straight forward," said Chief Electoral Officer Virginia McVea who estimates the process should end by 2am.

However, once the result is known the Electoral Office will then inform the Commons Speaker's office.

"Once the Speaker's officer acknowledges the result we can then make it public," added Ms McVea.

"We should get that acknowledgment fairly soon."

Ian Paisley has been suspended from the DUP while it carries out its own investigation. His Commons ban has left current Prime Minister Theresa May shorn of one of her 10 DUP MP confidence and supply allies during a period that could witness several crucial Brexit votes.

Should the petition come out in favour it will be for MPs to move a writ calling a by-election. Once that is done the timeline for a vote should be known shortly after.

In the 2017 general election, Mr Paisley retained his North Antrim seat with a landslide 20,000-plus majority, securing nearly 59% of the vote.In the first case of its kind, a man who has already served a jail term was sentenced to life on Wednesday for the murder of his victim who died nine years after a sectarian attack left him in a coma from which he never awoke.

In 2009, Londonderry man Piper John McClements (28) was jailed for the loyalist attack on Catholic civil servant Paul McCauley, who was beaten as he attended a barbeque in the Waterside area of the city on July 16, 2005.

The father-of-one spent the next nine years in a persistent vegetative state and passed away whilst in care on June 6, 2016.

On Wednesday, a bearded McClements, from The Fountain Estate - who was originally jailed under his former name of Daryl Proctor - hung his head as he pleaded guilty to the murder of Mr McCauley.

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Defence QC Martin O'Rourke had asked for the murder charge to be put to McClements again, just as his trial before Londonderry Crown Court, sitting in Belfast, was due to get underway.

Following the guilty plea, Mr Justice Colton told McClements that under law, he must impose a sentence of life imprisonment, but that a tariff hearing would be held in the future to determine how long he will spent in prison before being considered eligible for release.

Mr O'Rourke applied for pre-sentence reports and told the court the defence may be obtaining medical reports on his client.

In the meantime, the trial of a second Derry man, 31-year old Matthew Brian Gillen of Bond Street, was adjourned at the request of the prosecution, until tomorrow.Snow and ice could cause problems

The road has been closed.

Follow the latest updates from our travel feed below

The Dobbin Road in Armagh has been reopend folowing an earlier crash.

Diversions are in place and traffic is being diverted onto the Vicarage Road, delays are expected.

Our live updates from across Northern Ireland are compiled by @TrafficwatchNI, @BBCNITravel and @PSNITraffic.DUP MP Ian Paisley apologising to the House of Commons (PA)

A petition giving voters the opportunity to unseat Democratic Unionist MP Ian Paisley will close later.

The exercise in the constituency of North Antrim represents the first use of a democratic device created following the Westminster expenses scandal.

It was triggered after Mr Paisley was banned from the House of Commons for 30 sitting days for failing to declare two 2013 family holidays paid for by the Sri Lanka government.

In August, a parliamentary watchdog found that a year after the luxury holidays Mr Paisley lobbied then Prime Minister David Cameron not to support a UN probe into alleged Sri Lankan human rights abuses.

If 10% of the electorate sign the recall petition, 7,543 voters, Mr Paisley will automatically lose his seat and a by-election will be called.

He would be able to contest the subsequent poll.

Expand Close Sinn Feins Mairtin O Muilleoir and Raymond McCartney leaving the Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre in Ballymoney where a recall petition opened for a Westminster by-election in North Antrim (Niall Carson/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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Three venues have been open in North Antrim for the last six weeks to enable people to sign the petition.

Voters have also been able to put their name to the petition via post.

Counting will begin in Belfast at midnight, with the result due in the early hours of Thursday.

Mr Paisley, son of late DUP founder Rev Ian Paisley, is currently suspended from his party pending its own internal investigation into his conduct.

His Commons ban has left current Prime Minister Theresa May shorn of one of her 10 DUP MP confidence and supply allies during a period that could witness several crucial Brexit votes.

It has also given the DUP another headache at a time when the party is under intense scrutiny at public inquiry hearings in Northern Ireland examining its handling of the botched green energy scheme that brought down Stormont powersharing.

An investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards found the cost of the hospitality afforded Mr Paisley and his family may have been significantly more than his 50,000 estimate.

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It found the Sri Lankan holidays included business-class air travel, accommodation at first-class hotels, helicopter trips and visits to tourist attractions for the North Antrim MP and his wider family.

The trips also included meeting with Sri Lankan governmental figures.

Mr Paisleys threshold for registering such hospitality in 2013 was around 660.

In March 2014, Mr Paisley wrote to Mr Cameron to lobby against a proposed United Nations resolution setting up an international investigation into alleged human rights abuses in Sri Lanka.

In the wake of the watchdog report, Mr Paisley apologised for what he described as an unintentional failure to declare the holidays.

In the 2017 general election, Mr Paisley retained his North Antrim seat with a landslide 20,000-plus majority, securing nearly 59% of the vote.A Sinn Fein MLA has removed a video posted to social media ahead of the closure of the Ian Paisley Petition of Recall.

In a statement on Wednesday, Phillip McGuigan said he had been contacted by the Chief Electoral Officer to warn him the police could be asked to investigate a video he posted to social media.

it is understood the issue relates to Mr McGuigan commenting on the outcome of the petition in the video.

I was contacted today by the Chief Electoral Officer warning me that the police could be asked to investigate a social media video I posted urging people to exercise their democratic right to sign the recall petition to remove Ian Paisley from office over his role in the Sri Lanka scandal.

I find it incredible I am being warned about police investigations when I do not believe there was anything in the post that predicted the outcome of the petition. If that is the case, are the bookmakers taking bets or the political pundits offering opinions also going to receive similar calls?" Mr McGuigan said.

Chief Electoral officer Virginia McVea said she contacted Mr McGuigan to advise him of the law in regard to the petition process.

She said: "It is not up to this office to prosecute and I advised him of that and of the law in regard to the petition of recall process.

"The petition of recall legislation makes it a criminal offence to forecast the result.

"This is new legislation for everyone and I wanted to let Mr McGuigan know and I understand he has taken the decision to remove the tweet."

It is understood the police are aware of the tweet.

Ms McVea said, for the first ever petition of recall, observers from London had been across to oversee the process.

"It will be interesting to hear what their feedback will be on it," she said.

In his statement the Sinn Fein MLA also criticised the decision of the Electoral Office to only open three centres, when it had the option of opening 10.

North Antrim constituents were given six weeks to either sign the petition at the three centres or by post.Shoppers in Belfast city centre have expressed mixed feelings about buying gift vouchers in light of the uncertainty facing House of Fraser customers.

Margaret McCammick (60) was among those surprised that so many customers of "such a big name store" could find themselves in such circumstances, but has no fear of being caught out herself.

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"I would very rarely buy them as a gift for someone and I rarely receive them, mainly because it takes me too long to spend them," she said.

However, her husband David said the risk of a company failing is always at the back of his mind.

University student Molly Temple (20) has no qualms about continuing to receive gift cards due to her ability to use them quickly.

"There are certain things, such as make-up counters, which make them easy to spend. If I get a voucher it is gone in no time and I know my whole family would be the same. They only burn a hole in your pocket otherwise," she said.

Full-time mum Alyss Turner (21) also has no fear, as she is not a hoarder. "It's gone almost immediately, but I don't tend to buy vouchers for other people as I plan months in advance, I'm never caught out by the pressure," she said.

Ashleigh Dawson (43), who regularly buys gift cards for her nephews and nieces, said the House of Fraser fiasco has caused her to hesitate.

"I send them as birthday and Christmas presents but this has definitely made me think twice," she said.

"I also have a gift card at the moment with 30 on it for another store; if it was a larger amount I would certainly be in a rush to get rid of it."

John McCavana (86) purchased a gift card from a baby store following the birth of his great-granddaughter six weeks ago, but said he was unaware of the risks involved.

"Why would you sell them if this can happen?" he asked. "I don't buy them regularly, it was crisp 50s in my day, which seems to be the best way."

Sarah Burrell (32) was out shopping yesterday but left her gift cards at home. She is a big fan of vouchers and actively encourages friends and relatives to buy them for her when it comes to exchanging presents.

"I normally buy them from big brands, which you assume is safe, but then I suppose people felt like that about House of Fraser," she said.

"I'm not sure I would go back to somebody to ask them to pursue a refund from their credit card issuer, though. It would be a bit awkward."

Sarah's partner George Chatburn (25) said he is now more cautious of gift cards and would find it awkward pursuing a refund through the buyer's credit card company.

"I don't think I would buy a gift card now as a general rule," he said.

"If someone gave me one and the company went bust I would probably just let it go, unless it was a huge amount."How the council wants them to look

How the signs currently look

A plan by a nationalist council to replace new dual-language street signs which were only erected a few months ago has come under fire from unionists.

More than 20 signs throughout the Mid Ulster District Council area will be affected by the move, which was voted through by its environment committee, and could cost ratepayers around 2,200 if rubber-stamped by the full council next week.

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The dual-language nameplates, which feature right-aligned text with the Irish language first in red, went up between January and May this year.

They were approved by the council in February 2017 as part of its dual-language policy.

However, according to a council report, in June this year environment committee members voted in favour of aligning the text to the left instead of the right.

Now, the council committee has changed its mind again, and last week the environment committee was presented with a new preferred option in which the words 'Townland of' in Irish were removed in order to make the signs "easier to read."

It was also proposed to change the upper-case text for the English townland to lower-case, and council officers also reportedly recommended changing the use of colour and italics.

The new format would see the red lettering and italics removed from the sign, and the Irish place name would be written in black on a white background at the top of the sign.

The English equivalent would be written in white text below, on a black background.

According to the council report, if the template is changed, the cost to replace all previously erected signs will be approximately 2,200.

Documents show that each dual-language sign costs approximately 160 when installation is undertaken by its property services staff.

Of this, the nameplate element is listed as costing approximately 70, "assuming the old nameplates can be removed and a new nameplate reinstated in situ without weakening the nameplate using in-house resources".

The proposal, reported by the Tyrone Courier yesterday, is due to go before full council next Thursday.

Dungannon UUP councillor Walter Cuddy described the decision to replace the new signs after just a few months as "an example of stupidity". Mr Cuddy added: "The big problem is the amount of money being spent on this.

"This is the road to nowhere.

"The fact that the signs are being changed again so soon just shows how poorly thought-out they were, and my understanding is that this is wasting ratepayers' money.

"The position of the UUP group on Mid Ulster Council is that we aren't against the Irish language.

"The problem is the amount of money and resources being allocated to all its forms. Look at the money being thrown at this when there are so many things which are more real to people.

"We are a large area and there are pressures on our budget and capital projects for the wider community.

"So many projects are crying out for money, and we are focusing on signs."

Cookstown Ulster Unionist councillor Trevor Wilson added: "It is very disappointing that we are changing the signs already at an exorbitant cost to the ratepayer."

No response had been received from Mid Ulster District Council at the time of going to press.Theresa May answers questions when arriving at the informal EU summit in Salzburg (Kerstin Joensson/AP)

Theresa May insisted her Chequers plan was the only possible route to a Brexit deal after European Union chiefs told her key elements of the proposals had to be reworked.

The Prime Minister was using a gathering of EU leaders in Salzburg to personally set out the Governments blueprint for Brexit but was warned that time is running out to reach a deal.

European Council president Donald Tusk said the Prime Ministers Chequers blueprint was a welcome evolution in the UKs approach but major issues remained to be resolved including avoiding a hard border in Ireland and the future trading relationship between Britain and the EU.

Warning that there was less and less time to reach a deal before the UKs March 29 2019 exit date, Mr Tusk confirmed he would propose an emergency EU Brexit summit in November.

Arriving at the meeting in Salzburg, Mrs May said Chequers was the only credible and negotiable plan on the table that delivers no hard border in Northern Ireland and also delivers on the vote of the British people.

She added: If we are going to achieve a successful conclusion then, just as the UK has evolved its position, the EU will need to evolve its position too.

Her comments came just hours after Mr Tusk said that on key issues the UKs proposals will need to be reworked and further negotiated.

Meanwhile, the domestic difficulties facing Mrs May  which EU leaders are all too aware of  were further illustrated as it emerged her former Brexit secretary David Davis has described Chequers as a non-starter.

In extracts of a speech he plans to deliver in Munich on Thursday, Mr Davis said the PMs plan crossed all of her own negotiating red lines.

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He said: Chequers is devoid of democracy altogether. This is why many of us will shortly be presenting an alternative plan which will outline a more ambitious vision.

Ahead of the summit in Austria, the EUs chief negotiator Michel Barnier said he was ready to come forward with a new offer on the Irish border.

However, Mrs Mays DUP allies poured cold water on the suggestion and the Prime Minister stressed she would not be prepared to accept anything that resulted in Northern Ireland effectively being carved away from the rest of the UK.

In order to de-dramatise the main obstacle to a withdrawal deal, Mr Barnier suggested arrangements could be made to conduct the majority of checks on imports and exports away from the border itself.

The Democratic Unionist Party, which props up Mrs Mays minority administration in Parliament, dismissed Mr Barniers proposals as unpalatable, because they would involve a customs border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

It still means a border down the Irish Sea although with different kinds of checks, said the partys deputy leader Nigel Dodds.

Mrs May said: I welcome the fact that Michel Barnier is recognising the need to find a new solution because the original proposal put forward by the European Commission was unacceptable to us.

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We have always recognised that there are unique circumstances that apply in Northern Ireland  for example in relation to checks for some

agricultural products.

But what we cannot accept is seeing Northern Ireland carved away from the UK customs territory because regardless of where the checks would be, what that would mean would be that it would be a challenge to our constitutional and economic integrity.

The Salzburg meeting came as campaigners in the UK published a roadmap setting out how MPs could force the Prime Minister to accept what they call a Peoples Vote on her deal, with the option of remaining in the EU.

Despite Mrs May insisting the choice was between her deal or no deal, Treasury minister Mel Stride appeared to suggest that a second poll was still a possibility.

Mr Stride told Sky News: When we have a firm deal on the table, I suspect that those to the right of the party  the pro-Brexit wing  will be very concerned that if that deal does not prevail, they will end up in the situation where we could have a second referendum or we could end up not leaving the EU altogether, so there is a danger of that happening if Chequers does not prevail.

But Mrs May slapped down any suggestion that her government could hold a so-called Peoples Vote.

I want to be absolutely clear, this government will never accept a second referendum, she said.

The British people voted to leave the European Union and we will be leaving on March 29, 2019.

She challenged the Labour leadership to rule out the prospect of support for a second referendum  something that is likely to be a hot topic as Jeremy Corbyns party gathers for its conference in Liverpool starting on Sunday.Representatives from campaign group Derry Girls Against Borders speak at their Dublin event in Trinity College (Aoife Moore/PA)

Campaign group Derry Girls Against Borders has taken their message to Dublin on Wednesday to encourage those in the Irish Republic who are against a hard border post-Brexit to join their fight.

The group has also called on those involved in the Brexit negotiations to listen to the fears and anxieties of those living in border communities.

Their campaign message includes taking a stand against any borders on the island of Ireland or down the Irish Sea, and the freedom and flexibility currently afforded to those on the island to continue.

The @DerryGirlsAB campaign group have brought their message to Dublin to ask those who oppose a hard border post-Brexit to join in their fight. pic.twitter.com/vmyfH3sqC1  aoife moore. (@aoifegracemoore) September 19, 2018

Co-founder Sarah Wallace, who is originally from Londonderry and now lives and works and Dublin, says people from both north and south of the border must come together to protest against checkpoints and visas to travel across the Irish border that could soon become a reality.

Thousands of people cross the border every day, most people dont even notice theyre crossing it  and thats how it should stay, she said.

Ms Wallace added that although the border issue had dominated headlines, the conversation to date had not yet focused on the effect a border would have on local communities and how heavily the Northern Ireland peace process depends on the border issue.

Parts of the Good Friday Agreement depend on the border and the peace process cannot be put at risk.

Were non-partisan, were appealing to everyone, even those who voted for Brexit but did not vote for a hard border, to join in this fight against it.

The panel discussion held in Dublins Trinity College heard from a number of people who live in the Republic and Northern Ireland.

Before we lived in it, my house and the land around it was often patrolled by guards to catch smugglers. We don't want to go back to the dark days of violence and smuggling, and limits on a free communityTate Donnelly

One issue that was addressed was the epidemic of border-smuggling during the Troubles and how easy it would be to restart due to the porous nature of Irelands border.

Tate Donnelly, from Co Monaghan, spoke about his experiences growing up in a house directly on the border.

When I go for a jog, or walk my dog, I cant count how many times I cross the border and back again.

Before we lived in it, my house and the land around it was often patrolled by guards to catch smugglers. We dont want to go back to the dark days of violence and smuggling, and limits on a free community.

It is believed more than 30,000 people cross the Irish border daily, which has between 200 and 300 hundred crossings.

It has been estimated 7,000 jobs could be impacted in Co Donegal alone should a hard border be implemented when the UK leaves the EU.

The group  which is collecting signatures for a petition to hand over to political representatives from the governments in London, Dublin and Brussels  travels to London on Thursday to take their message across the Irish Sea.Anti-Brexit billboards on the northern side of the border between Newry in Northern Ireland and Dundalk in the Republic of Ireland (Niall Carson/PA)

The DUP has poured cold water on a European Union offer of compromise on its proposals for the Irish border after Brexit.

Ahead of a summit in Austria at which Theresa May will appeal for flexibility from Brussels, the EUs chief negotiator Michel Barnier said he was ready to come forward with a new offer on the Irish border.

In order to de-dramatise the main obstacle to a withdrawal deal, Mr Barnier suggested arrangements could be made to conduct the majority of checks on imports and exports away from the border itself.

He warned that time was running out, with the moment of truth coming at the next full EU summit in Brussels on October 18, when it would become clear whether an agreement was in our grasp.

But the Democratic Unionist Party, which props up Mrs Mays minority administration in Parliament, dismissed Mr Barniers proposals as unpalatable, because they would involve a customs border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

It still means a border down the Irish Sea although with different kinds of checks, said the partys deputy leader Nigel Dodds.

The fact is that both Theresa May and the Labour Party have said no British prime minister could accept such a concept. It is not just unionists who object.

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Former shadow Northern Ireland secretary Owen Smith, a backer of the Best for Britain campaign for a second EU referendum, said Mr Dodds response had sunk Barniers improved offer on Northern Ireland before he has even floated it.

Wednesdays gathering in Salzburg will be the first time EU leaders have met since Mrs May published her Chequers blueprint for Brexit in July.

It comes as supporters of a second referendum publish a blueprint setting out how MPs could force the Prime Minister to accept what they call a Peoples Vote on her deal, with the option of remaining in the EU.

Despite Mrs May insisting the choice was between her deal or no deal, Treasury minister Mel Stride appeared to suggest that a second poll was still a possibility.

Mr Stride told Sky News: When we have a firm deal on the table, I suspect that those to the right of the party  the pro-Brexit wing  will be very concerned that if that deal does not prevail, they will end up in the situation where we could have a second referendum or we could end up not leaving the EU altogether, so there is a danger of that happening if Chequers does not prevail.

Over dinner at the Felsenreitschule  the theatre where the Von Trapp family performed before fleeing the Nazis in The Sound Of Music movie  Mrs May will set out her plan and explain why Brussels should show more flexibility to give her the support she needs.

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As part of the drive to set out the UKs position to the EUs leaders, she used an article in German newspaper Die Welt to explain her stance.

The Chequers blueprint  a common rulebook for trade in goods and business-friendly facilitated customs arrangement  is the only way to resolve the thorny issue of the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland, she said.

It is profoundly in both sides economic interest, it respects the integrity of the single market and, crucially, no-one else has come up with a proposal that could command cross-community support in Northern Ireland that is the only true foundation for stability there.

Mrs May said: To come to a successful conclusion, just as the UK has evolved its position, the EU will need to do the same.

Neither side can demand the unacceptable of the other, such as an external customs border between different parts of the United Kingdom  which no other country would accept if they were in the same situation  or the UK seeking the rights of EU membership without the obligations.

Neither side can demand the unacceptable of the otherTheresa May

Mrs May is expected to use the Salzburg summit to hold formal face-to-face talks with Belgian premier Charles Michel on Wednesday and Irelands Leo Varadkar and European Council president Donald Tusk on Thursday.

She may talk to other leaders in the margins of the summit in an effort to win backing for a plan which has met fierce resistance from within the ranks of her own Conservative Party.

Good to catch up today with @simoncoveney ahead of #Salzburgsummit18. Progress on backstop absolutely essential in the run up to October #EUCO #Brexit  pic.twitter.com/TrhnjosAaq  Michel Barnier (@MichelBarnier) September 18, 2018

Attention had been increasingly focused on the prospect of a special summit in November to finalise an agreement, but Mr Barnier said it should be clear before then whether a deal was possible.

European Council president Donald Tusk said EU leaders should discuss arrangements for the final phase of the Brexit talks including the possibility of calling another European Council in November.

In a letter to leaders ahead of the Salzburg meeting he called on them to work on limiting the damage caused by Brexit.

Unfortunately, a no-deal scenario is still quite possible. But if we all act responsibly, we can avoid a catastrophe, he said.Theresa May is to issue a fresh call to EU leaders for compromise in the Brexit talks as Brussels chief negotiator said he was ready to come forward with a new offer on the Irish border.

As EU leaders prepared to gather in Salzburg, Michel Barnier said he was working on an improved plan to avoid the return of a hard border while respecting the territorial integrity of the UK in an attempt to break the talks deadlock.

After briefing EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Tuesday, Mr Barnier warned time for an agreement was running out and that the moment of truth would come at the next full EU summit on October 18.

It is then we shall see whether agreement we are hoping for is in our grasp, he told a news conference.

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The informal gathering of EU leaders in Salzburg will be the first time they have met together since Mrs May published her Chequers blueprint for Brexit in July.

The Prime Minister is expected to brief the other 27 leaders on proposals over dinner on Wednesday and they will then have a separate discussion on Thursday after she has left.

In an interview with the Daily Express she said it was the right plan for the UK while representing a good deal for the EU.

Im not going to be pushed away from doing what is necessary to get the right deal for Britain, she said.

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A senior No 10 source said she would tell them the UKs position had evolved and that the EU would need to do the same if they were to get an agreement.

And she will make clear that the existing EU backstop proposal to avoid the return of a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic in the event of a no-deal Brexit remains unacceptable.

The Government argues Brussels plan, which would see Northern Ireland remain in the customs union until a new arrangement could be agreed, would effectively create a border between the North and rest of the UK.

Writing in German newspaper Die Welt, Mrs May said the UK and EU were close to agreement on withdrawal, but added: Neither side can demand something completely unacceptable from the other.

Good to catch up today with @simoncoveney ahead of #Salzburgsummit18. Progress on backstop absolutely essential in the run up to October #EUCO #Brexit  pic.twitter.com/TrhnjosAaq  Michel Barnier (@MichelBarnier) September 18, 2018

Mr Barnier said that his latest proposal to break the deadlock would de-dramatise the controls that would be necessary in the event of the backstop coming into play.

We are ready to improve this proposal. Work on the EU side is ongoing.

We are clarifying which goods arriving in Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK would need to be checked and where, when and by whom these checks could be performed, he said.

We can also clarify that most checks can take place away from the border at the company premises or in the markets.

We need to de-dramatise the checks that are needed.

There was no immediate response to his comments from either Downing Street or the Department for Exiting the EU, and it was unclear whether they would be sufficient to unlock the negotiations.

A No 10 source said Mrs May will tell the other leaders in Salzburg that a disorderly Brexit can still be avoided with good will and determination on both sides.

While she will say the UK will honour its commitment to ensure there is a legally operative protocol on the Irish border, it must preserve the constitutional and economic integrity of the UK, which the existing proposal does not.

Limiting damage caused by #Brexit is a shared interest. Unfortunately, a no deal scenario is still quite possible. But if we all act responsibly, we can avoid a catastrophe. #SalzburgSummit18 https://t.co/Xs2qaZwtYf  Charles Michel (@eucopresident) September 18, 2018

In his comments, Mr Barnier reminded the British that the whole issue of the border had arisen as a result of their decision to leave not only the EU but also the single market and the customs union.

What we need in withdrawal agreement is a legally operational backstop which fulls respects the territorial integrity of the UK. It is a backstop that will only apply unless a better solution is found, he said.

Mr Barnier also made clear that time to reach a deal was running out with his comment that the October summit would be the moment of truth.

Attention had been increasingly focused on the prospect of a special summit in November to finalise an agreement, however Mr Barnier said it should be clear before then whether a deal was actually possible.

European Council president Donald Tusk said EU leaders should discuss arrangements for the final phase of the Brexit talks including the possibility of calling another European Council in November.

In a letter to leaders ahead of the Salzburg meeting he called on them to work on limiting the damage caused by Brexit.

Unfortunately, a no-deal scenario is still quite possible. But if we all act responsibly, we can avoid a catastrophe, he said.

Housing Secretary James Brokenshire said he remains positive and confident based on feedback from EU member states about how the Brexit process can be taken forward.

He told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: We have clearly evolved our position and it is now for the EU to evolve its position.

I think the Chequers deal sets out a deliverable, workable plan.

Pushed on whether the UK position could change, Mr Brokenshire replied: We obviously want the EU to evolve its stance and we wait to see how they respond to this.Theresa May will attempt to sell her Chequers plan directly to fellow European Union leaders as she calls for Brussels to compromise as the clock ticks down to Brexit.

The Prime Minister will use a gathering of EU leaders in Salzburg to say the UKs position has evolved with the publication of her proposals, and now it is time for Brussels to follow suit.

On the eve of the informal meeting of EU heads of government, Brussels chief negotiator Michel Barnier said he was ready to come forward with a new offer on the Irish border.

He said he was working on an improved plan to avoid the return of a hard border while respecting the territorial integrity of the UK, in an attempt to break the deadlock.

But he warned that time for an agreement was running out and the moment of truth would come at the next full EU summit on October 18.

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It is then we shall see whether agreement we are hoping for is in our grasp, he told a news conference.

The gathering in Salzburg will be the first time EU leaders have met since Mrs May published her Chequers blueprint for Brexit in July.

Over dinner at the Felsenreitschule  the theatre where the Von Trapp family performed before fleeing the Nazis in The Sound Of Music movie  Mrs May will set out her plan and explain why Brussels should show more flexibility to give her the support she needs.

In an interview with the Daily Express she said it was the right plan for the UK while representing a good deal for the EU.

Im not going to be pushed away from doing what is necessary to get the right deal for Britain, she said.

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Mrs May is expected to use the Salzburg summit to hold formal face-to-face talks with Belgian premier Charles Michel on Wednesday and Irelands Leo Varadkar and European Council president Donald Tusk on Thursday.

She may talk to other leaders in the margins of the summit in an effort to win backing for a plan which has met fierce resistance from within the ranks of her own Conservative Party.

As part of the drive to set out the UKs position to the EUs leaders, Mrs May used an article in German newspaper Die Welt to explain her stance.

A lot has been said about what the UK is asking for, so I want people to hear directly from me about what I am trying to achieve and the motivation behind it, she said.

The Chequers blueprint  a common rulebook for trade in goods and business-friendly facilitated customs arrangement  is the only way to resolve the thorny issue of the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland, she said.

It is profoundly in both sides economic interest, it respects the integrity of the single market and, crucially, no one else has come up with a proposal that could command cross-community support in Northern Ireland that is the only true foundation for stability there.

Neither side can demand the unacceptable of the otherTheresa May

The Government argues Brussels plan, which would see Northern Ireland remain in the customs union until a new arrangement could be agreed, would effectively create a border between the North and the rest of the UK  something the Prime Minister has said she could not accept.

Mrs May said: To come to a successful conclusion, just as the UK has evolved its position, the EU will need to do the same.

Neither side can demand the unacceptable of the other, such as an external customs border between different parts of the United Kingdom  which no other country would accept if they were in the same situation  or the UK seeking the rights of EU membership without the obligations.

Mr Barnier said his latest proposal to break the deadlock would de-dramatise the controls that would be necessary in the event of the backstop coming into play.

We are clarifying which goods arriving in Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK would need to be checked and where, when and by whom these checks could be performed, he said.

We can also clarify that most checks can take place away from the border at the company premises or in the markets.

Good to catch up today with @simoncoveney ahead of #Salzburgsummit18. Progress on backstop absolutely essential in the run up to October #EUCO #Brexit  pic.twitter.com/TrhnjosAaq  Michel Barnier (@MichelBarnier) September 18, 2018

Mr Barnier made clear that time to reach a deal was running out with his comment that the next summit on October 18 would be a crucial stage in the process.

Attention had been increasingly focused on the prospect of a special summit in November to finalise an agreement, but Mr Barnier said it should be clear before then whether a deal was possible.

European Council president Donald Tusk said EU leaders should discuss arrangements for the final phase of the Brexit talks including the possibility of calling another European Council in November.

In a letter to leaders ahead of the Salzburg meeting he called on them to work on limiting the damage caused by Brexit.

Unfortunately, a no-deal scenario is still quite possible. But if we all act responsibly, we can avoid a catastrophe, he said.The woman was said to be in her fifties (Niall Carson/PA)

A woman has died after the caravan she was in was blown off a cliff onto a beach in the west of Ireland during Storm Ali, Irish police said.

She was believed to be aged in her fifties.

Rescuers attended at Claddaghduff, near Clifden in Co Galway, on Wednesday morning.

The west of Ireland has been battered by high winds caused by the Atlantic storm.

1/2 There will be severe or possibly damaging gusts for a time this morning especially in the west and northwest. Extreme caution is advised in the coastal districts of Clare, Connacht and Donegal this morning with strong gale and storm force winds here.#StormAli pic.twitter.com/2amyRPtl7N  Met Eireann (@MetEireann) September 19, 2018

A statement from Irish police said: At approximately 7.45am a report was received that a caravan had blown off the cliff at the above location.

A search was carried out at the scene on the beach and after a short time the body of a female in her 50s was recovered.

Her body is expected to be removed to University College Galway for a post-mortem examination. The local coroner has been notified.

The RTE broadcaster said the victim was sleeping at the time when strong winds lifted the caravan from the ground.

2/2 Squally showery rain will affect many areas at first, with heavy bursts in the east. The rain will clear quickly eastwards later this morning however, with sunshine and blustery showers following behind. 14 to 17C. Winds will ease somewhat through the afternoon.#StormAli pic.twitter.com/7fa9MaXgs0  Met Eireann (@MetEireann) September 19, 2018

It said the dwelling was blown onto a stretch of coastline and is not submerged in water.

Irish President Michael D Higgins urged everybody to be cautious when travelling or out in the open.

I was deeply saddened to learn that storm Ali has already claimed one victim today in Claddagduff, Co Galway.

As President of Ireland, may I express my deepest condolences to her family.

I would also take this opportunity to pay tribute to all those, in statutory and voluntary organisations around the country, who are helping and stand ready to assist their fellow citizens, and who are working to maintain essential services around the country.

A total of 140,000 homes and businesses, mainly in the south-west of Ireland, have been left without power due to the bad weather, the Electricity Supply Board (ESB) said. Around 32,000 are without power in Northern Ireland.

Forecasters have issued a Status Orange wind warning for more than half the country due to the storm.

 55,000 across Ireland without power as storm Ali passes over the country.@ESBNetworks will start work in the South of country shortly as high winds have passed & will begin to bring supply back to customers.



Work will continue in other areas as it becomes safe to do so.  Eoghan Murphy (@MurphyEoghan) September 19, 2018

ESB Networks, which oversees the power supply, said approximately 55,000 homes, farms and businesses were without power this morning, primarily in the south-west of the country.

The damage is mainly attributable to fallen trees on overhead lines as a result of the high winds.

Storm Ali is currently active across the south-west and west coast of the country with gale force winds and gusts of up to 120 km/h per hour.

#StormAli Advisory Number 6

Max Sustained Winds: 95mph

Strength: C2

MSLP: 977mb

Ali now a Category 2 storm on the European Windstorm Scale with 95mph of the North West Coast of the Ireland, expected to bring heavy squally showers and locally strong gusty winds this morning... pic.twitter.com/KMwFTHZqbk  Joint Cyclone Center (@JointCyclone) September 19, 2018

The counties most impacted include Cork, Kerry and Limerick, as the storm continues to track north.

Crews have been mobilised and are working towards restoring power to all affected families.

In Northern Ireland, the M1 motorway was closed in both directions just west of Belfast due to fallen cables, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said.

Saintfield Road in Co Down was also closed at the junction of the old Ballynahinch Road due to a fallen tree.

A PSNI statement said: Motorists are advised to exercise extreme caution in adverse weather conditions. Police are advising motorists to stay in their vehicles.

The majority of power faults are located in the Omagh, Dungannon and Enniskillen areas of counties Tyrone and Fermanagh.BandQ owner Kingfisher has seen half-year profits tumble after being hit by woes in its French arm and amid consumer belt tightening in the UK.

B&Q owner Kingfisher has seen half-year profits tumble after being hit by woes in its French arm and amid consumer belt-tightening in the UK.

Shares in the retailer fell as much as 8% after it posted a 30% fall in statutory pre-tax profit to 281 million for the six months to July 31, with profits down 14.8% on an underlying basis at 375 million.

Kingfisher said the profits slump came after earnings dropped by nearly a third in its French arm, while its bottom line was also knocked by costs of its ongoing revamp, range overhauls and higher labour costs.

Transformation on this scale is tough, and there are challenges that were working throughVeronique Laury, Kingfisher chief executive

Sales fell 2.5% on a like-for-like basis across its DIY chain B&Q in the UK and Ireland after a mixed performance, impacted by poor weather at the start of the year and boosted by the heatwave in the final quarter.

Comparable sales of weather-related ranges jumped by 4.9%, while sales of other products  including more big-ticket items in its showroom  dropped 5.4%.

Screwfix like-for-like sales rose 4.5% in the first half.

For the overall UK and Ireland business, retail profits edged 1.2% higher to 281 million.

But it was a 31% tumble in constant currency profits to 122 million at its French arm that weighed on wider group profits in the first half.

Sales at Castorama slumped 5.8% and were 1.7% lower at Brico Depot.

Kingfisher chief executive Veronique Laury insisted the group was making good progress having reached the halfway point in its five-year strategy overhaul.

She said: Transformation on this scale is tough, and there are challenges that were working through.

There is still much to do to improve our performance in France and to remove inefficiencies within the business as we continue to transform at pace.

She added the difficult retail trading conditions are making our task more difficult than expected.

In the UK, the group said there was evidence of consumer belt-tightening, while Brexit uncertainty was also holding back the property market, which has a knock-on effect on demand for DIY products.

Neil Wilson, chief market analyst at Markets.com, said investors remained unconvinced by Kingfishers revamp.

He said: Its still the same old story at Kingfisher with little sign that the turnaround is really working.

With talk of activist investors circling, the French operation is one that could certainly be earmarked for hiving off, as previously argued on several occasions in the past.

B&Qs turnaround saw it shut 65 shops and slash around 3,000 jobs in the UK and Ireland over the last two-and-a-half years.

It has also been shaking up its ranges and improving its online offering, while the group recently announced it was investing 100 million as part of plans to lower everyday prices.

Kingfisher has nearly 24,700 staff in the UK and Ireland and more than 63,900 overall, with operations also across markets including Poland, Russia, Romania and Iberia.

It has 296 B&Q stores and 598 Screwfix outlets in the UK and Ireland.Orla Kielys recognisable prints will still be licensed for use on various products.

Orla Kiely, a fashion brand worn by the Duchess of Cambridge, has closed its stores after falling into administration.

The retail and wholesale side of the brand, famed for its colourful patterns, ceased trading on Monday, resulting in the closures of three outlets.

Staff were informed of the closure earlier this week and made redundant with immediate effect.

Operations have now ceased both in the stores and on the brands website.

Two of the stores which have now closed are in London, on Kings Road and Seven Dials, while a third is located in a shopping outlet in Kildare, Ireland.

However, the licensing arm of the business will continue trading, meaning Orla Kiely branded product collections for the likes of John Lewis and Partners and Very.co.uk will not be affected.

In a statement posted on the brands website, founder Orla Kiely and her husband Dermott Rowan wrote: Thank you for embracing our brand and designs throughout the years and for your ongoing support.

Restructuring firm David Ruben and Partners have been appointed as administrators to Kiely Rowan, the parent company of the retail and wholesale business.

Kiely, an Irish designer, set up her own label in the 1990s and has gained widespread recognition for her distinctive prints.

The designs have appeared on a range of branded products including bicycles for Halfords and a range of Citroen cars.

The Duchess of Cambridge has also been spotted wearing clothes by the brand.The Queen has sent a message of support to the President of the Philippines following the devastating Typhoon Mangkhut. (Joe Giddens/PA)

The Queen has sent a message of support to the president of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte following the death and destruction caused by Typhoon Mangkhut.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh sent sincere condolences to all those affected by the disaster which struck the country at the weekend.

Read The Queen's message to the President of the Philippines in full: https://t.co/L2p8lcB8lz  The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 19, 2018

The Queen said: I was deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and the devastation caused by Typhoon Mangkhut.

Prince Philip and I send our sincere condolences to all the victims, to those who have lost loved ones, and to those who have seen their homes and property destroyed.

My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by these tragedies.

Mangkhut, the most powerful storm to hit the Philippines this year, left at least 74 people dead and dozens missing, mostly following an avalanche in the goldmining town of Itogon in Benguet province.

The storm later blew on to Hong Kong and southern China, where it caused more deaths and damage.Emergency services at the scene outside the Palace of Westminster (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Westminster terrorist Khalid Masood obsessed over racist and rude Donald Trump, and called Theresa May sick and a liar as he plotted his murderous attack, an inquest has heard.

Masood, 52, was shot dead by police following a stabbing attack on Pc Palmer, 48  and after ploughing into Kurt Cochran, 54, Leslie Rhodes, 75, Aysha Frade, 44, and Andreea Cristea, 31, on Westminster Bridge in a rented 44, causing fatal injuries.

An inquest into their deaths heard he told his children he was going to die fighting for God in the weeks leading up to the atrocity.

Six days before the attack, Masood collected the rented Hyundai Tucson he would use in his rampage before driving from Birmingham to Wales to visit his mother, Janet Ajao.

Expand Close Westminster attacker Khalid Masood (Met Police/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Westminster attacker Khalid Masood (Met Police/PA)

His final words to her were: They will say Im a terrorist. Im not.

The Old Bailey heard Masood converted to Islam during the first of two prison spells and believed his faith was reinforced by miracles in his life, including an acquittal for attempted murder and his daughter surviving a car crash.

But a former girlfriend, speaking to investigators after last years March 22 attack, said he was vile.

She said: He was controlling, violent, obsessive, intelligent and narcissistic. Im amazed hes religious. I honestly believe this is a front, an excuse to hurt people.

He would love the attention and the fear he has created.

Earlier the court heard how his mother feared he would kill someone while he was still a teenager as he visited pubs and clubs looking for fights in the affluent Kent town of Tunbridge Wells.

Born Adrian Elms, Masood descended into a life of crime  first getting into trouble with police aged 14, and was known to be involved in drug dealing and frequently carried a knife.

He was jailed in July 2000 for a flick-knife attack, and in 2003 spent six months behind bars after plunging a carving knife through the nose of Daniel Smith  who had suggested Masood was an undercover policeman.

Mr Smith was left with horrific injuries after the blade went through the palate of his mouth, through the tongue and into his jaw with such force the last inch of the blade broke off.

Masood claimed self-defence and was acquitted of attempted murder, wounding with intent and having a bladed weapon.

Expand Close The branch of car-hire firm Enterprise in Spring Hill, Birmingham where Khalid Masood got the Hyundai 44 (Joe Giddens/PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp The branch of car-hire firm Enterprise in Spring Hill, Birmingham where Khalid Masood got the Hyundai 44 (Joe Giddens/PA)

In the run up to the attack, CCTV footage captured Masood buying knives and hiring the car in Birmingham before visiting his mother and heading to London to conduct reconnaissance.

The inquest heard Masood made searches for the Prime Minister on his laptop, protected by the password Islam1, and made comments to his children about her and Donald Trump.

He complained about racism and rudeness from the president and described Theresa May as a liar and said she was sick, said Gareth Patterson QC, representing families of Masoods victims.

On the morning of the attack, following a last supper from a Brighton fish and chip restaurant, Masood made further searches for Prime Ministers Questions, which was taking place that afternoon.

Masood was shot three times by a plain-clothes police officer as he headed towards Parliaments Members Entrance.

Mr Patterson suggested that if he had been targeting the Prime Minister, he would not have been the only terrorist to do so, coming before similar foiled plots last year.US President Donald Trump has said he is not concerned about what his former campaign chairman is telling investigators in the probe into the Trump presidential campaigns ties with Russia.

Mr Trump told reporters at the White House that if Paul Manafort tells the truth to special counsel Robert Muellers team then he does not see a problem.

Mr Trump also batted away a question about whether he was considering a pardon for Manafort.

I dont want to talk about it now, the president said.

Expand Close President Donald Trump talks to reporters at the White House (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) AP/PA Images / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp President Donald Trump talks to reporters at the White House (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Mr Trumps comments come just days after Manafort ended his nearly year-long fight against Mr Mueller.

Manafort pleaded guilty to two felony charges related to his unregistered Ukrainian lobbying and millions of dollars he laundered through offshore accounts.

The plea headed off a second trial for Manafort less than a month after he was convicted on eight other counts of filing false tax returns, failing to report foreign bank accounts and bank fraud.

The plea deal provided Mr Mueller with a key co-operator in Manafort, who led the Trump campaign for several crucial months and has extensive knowledge of powerful Russian and Ukrainian businessmen heavily involved in their countrys politics.

Manafort will also be debriefed by investigators about his time on the campaign as Mr Mueller continues to investigate Russian election interference and any possible co-ordination with Trump associates.

I believe that he will tell the truth and if he tells the truth, no problemDonald Trump on Paul Manafort

Those questions will almost certainly include Manaforts account of a June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower with a Russian lawyer that was attended by Donald Trump Jr and Mr Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

The meeting has drawn scrutiny because it was described to Mr Trump Jr in emails as part of a Russian government effort to help the campaign. Mr Trump Jr was told the lawyer had damaging information on Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Mr Trump Jr and the president have downplayed the meeting, saying it was a waste of time and did not amount to anything. But other attendees of the meeting have been before a grand jury used by Mr Mueller, and the special counsel has been scrutinising a public statement the president was involved in drafting when The New York Times publicly revealed the meeting in July 2017.

That statement said the meeting primarily concerned a Russian adoption programme and omitted any mention of Mr Trump Jr being promised information on Mrs Clinton.

On Wednesday, Mr Trump said he is not worried about Manaforts cooperation.

Paul Manafort was with me for a short period of time. He did a good job. I was, you know, very happy with the job he did, Mr Trump said. And I will tell you this: I believe that he will tell the truth and if he tells the truth, no problem.The UN food agency has said time is running out for aid groups working in Yemen to prevent a devastating famine in the war-torn country.

World Food Programme said new entry points were urgently needed to bring in humanitarian food aid and commercial imports and to address what it called a growing hunger crisis across the impoverished Arab nation.

Yemens civil war has wrecked the countrys already fragile ability to feed its population of 29 million people.

This boy should be enjoying the innocence of childhood, but in #Yemen he is learning how to survive in a war zone. Three years of conflict have pushed Yemen to the brink of famine. Nearly 18 million people dont know where their next meal is coming from. pic.twitter.com/aDacEKdaaz  World Food Programme (@WFP) August 12, 2018

UN figures show the number of Yemenis who face starvation without aid has risen to 8.4 million. That number is likely to soon jump by another 3.5 million because of the national currencys falling value.

The war pits Shiite rebels known as Houthis, who hold the north of the country, against a Saudi-led coalition fighting on the side of Yemens internationally recognised government. The coalitions main tactic has been to bomb the Iran-backed rebels into submission with an air campaign in support of the government forces.

In addition, relief workers in Yemen are concerned over an ongoing assault by the Saudi-led coalition forces trying to take the rebel-held Red Sea port city of Hodeida. Nearly 80% of Yemens imports come through this port, including much of the humanitarian aid.

We are working to tackle & prevent Severe Acute #Malnutrition in young children around the world. This means supporting health facilities in their treatment, providing them with nutritious peanut paste & monitoring their recovery #LeaveNoOneBehind #Yemen #EndWarOnChildren #UNGA73 pic.twitter.com/TyKOWVOuBY  Save the Children International (@save_children) September 18, 2018

Save The Children said this week the lifeline from Hodeida could be damaged or temporarily closed by renewed fighting, reducing the supply of available food and fuel and further driving up prices.

The international charity also raised by 1 million the number of Yemeni children at risk of famine, bringing the number to 5.2 million.

Already, more than two-thirds of Yemens population does not know where their next meal is coming from, it added.Indias Hindu nationalist BJP government has launched a campaign in West Bengal to elicit support for its plan to draw up a citizens list to identify millions of migrants who, it claims, do not belong in the state that borders Bangladesh.

The new canvassing comes weeks after a draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC), which was released in eastern Assam state in July, left off the names of 4 million people. The Supreme Court has a hearing scheduled for Wednesday to address concerns about that list.

The West Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched the three-week campaign over the weekend, starting in rural areas along the states 1,000-mile (1,609-km) frontier with Bangladesh. About 20,000 party workers are involved in the campaign scheduled to end Oct. 7.

The initial plan was to organize small group meetings and processions at the village level and later seminars at the district level and distribute handbills to explain why the NRC is important for the state, senior BJP state party official Sayantan Basu told BenarNews on Tuesday.

There are about 10 million illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in the state, and we have been demanding for a long time to push them back, he said.

The BJP leads Indias governing coalition but it is in the minority in West Bengal, whose state legislature is controlled by the All-India Trinamool Congress party.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who heads Trinamool, says she opposes the central governments plan to use the NRC to identify and deport Bangladeshi migrants living in India without proper papers.

The NRC is being updated for the first time since 1951 to include people who have legal documents issued up to March 24, 1971, their descendants, and descendants of people on the original list, the government said.

Banerjee told reporters that sentiment against Bengali-speakers was responsible for the exclusion of millions from the Assam list and vowed she would not allow it to happen in her state.

Some people came from Bangladesh after March 1971. ... This is not fair, she told News18 Assam in an interview posted on YouTube on Sept. 14, in making her case for citizenship.

BJP national President Amit Shah told a news conference that the party was committed to identify every illegal migrant in the country and deport them back to their respective countries as they pose a security threat to the nation.

Shah said the undocumented immigrants from Bangladesh and other countries were also taking away jobs from Indian citizens.

Infiltration from Bangladesh is a big problem for West Bengal. We will explain to the people how the Muslim immigrants are playing havoc with Bengals economy, BJP National Secretary Rahul Sinha told reporters recently.

TMC state minister Partha Chatterjee slammed the statements by BJP officials, and described the Hindu nationalist partys NRC campaign as madness.

Court hearing

The 4 million left off the Assam list had been given until Sept. 28 to appeal to have their names added. Those efforts came to a standstill when the countrys apex court froze the appeals process setting up a hearing before the Supreme Court on Wednesday

The court is to hear the federal governments proposal along with concerns from stakeholders regarding NRC coordinator Prateek Hajelas plan to exclude five of 15 listed documents needed for the appeals process.

Hajela has suggested that the NRC of 1951, the 1971 electoral roll, citizenship certificate, refugee certificate and ration card, all issued by the federal or the state government not be accepted as proof of citizenship because many illegal immigrants would have access to those documents.

Acceptable documentation includes land deeds, permanent resident certificates, passports, bank and post office accounts and birth certificates issued before March 24, 1971, two days before the start of the Bangladeshi war of independence against Pakistan.

Hajelas plan triggered fresh controversy as BJP and opposition officials said they were not consulted.

The federal government and the All Assam Minority Students Union are expected to draft affidavits opposing Hajelas proposal.

Despite the controversy, officials from Jharkhand and Odisha states, both in eastern India, want to identify illegal immigrants in their states.

Bangladeshi officials could not be reached for comment, but when the NRC in Assam was released in July, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said he had no comment as the Indian government had not officially contacted his government.

Paritosh Kanti Paul and Jhumur Deb in Kolkata and Guwahati, India, contributed to this report.Indian soldiers stand guard at the site of shootout in Batengoo, about 50 km (31.25 miles) south of Srinagar in Indian-controlled Kashmir, after gunmen sprayed bullets into a passenger bus bringing Hindu pilgrims back from a cave shrine, July 11, 2017.

Updated at 5:31 p.m. ET on 2018-09-19

The top U.S. ambassador on counterterrorism on Wednesday named India and the Philippines as two of five countries where the greatest concentration of terror attacks occurred last year.

American Ambassador at Large Nathan A. Sales made the announcement in Washington while releasing the State Departments Country Reports on Terrorism 2017.

Although terrorist attacks took place in 100 countries in 2017, they were concentrated geographically. Fifty-nine percent of all attacks took place in five countries. Those are Afghanistan, India, Iraq, Pakistan, and the Philippines, Sales told reporters during a conference call from Washington.

Among its highlights, the report said that Southeast Asia remained a target for terrorist recruitment despite regional cooperation, which had resulted in high numbers of terrorism-related arrests and, in many cases, successful prosecutions.

The report lays out the U.S. governments assessment of recent counterterrorism trends and highlights efforts taken to combat groups including the Islamic State (IS), al-Qaeda, Iran-backed threats and other terrorist groups of global reach.

In Southeast Asia, the threat posed by transnational terrorism was particularly prominent when ISIS-affiliated domestic groups in the southern Philippines occupied parts of Marawi City for five months before finally succumbing to Philippine counterterrorism forces, the report said, using another acronym for IS.

Southeast Asian governments remained concerned about foreign terrorist fighters returning from Iraq or Syria and using their operational skills, connections, and experience to launch domestic attacks, the report added.

Last week, Sales travelled to Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia where he held talks with respective counterterrorism officials about strengthening regional cooperation in that area, such as through sharing security information. Before flying home from Jakarta on Sept. 14, the American envoy and the chief of Indonesias counterterror agency signed a memorandum to boost bilateral information-sharing in preventing terrorism.

Despite many successes the terrorist landscape grew more complex in 2017. ISIS, al-Qaeda, and their affiliates have proven to be resilient, determined, and adaptable, Sales told reporters. They have adjusted to heightened counterterrorism pressure in Iraq, Syria, Somalia, and elsewhere.

Foreign terrorist fighters are heading home from the war zone in Iraq and Syria or traveling to third countries to join ISIS branches there. We also are experiencing an increase in attacks by homegrown terrorists  that is, people who have been inspired by ISIS but have never set foot in Syria or Iraq, he added

India, Philippines

According to the State Department report, India was most impacted by militancy in Kashmir, which has seen about 70,000 deaths since an insurgency outbreak in the late 1980s, and parts of central India where Maoist militants are active.

The report specifically identified a March 2017 attack on a passenger train by self-radicalized terrorists inspired by IS in Madhya Pradesh state; a second attack 10 days later where Maoists ambushed and killed 25 security personnel in Chhattisgarh; a July attack where alleged Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) members killed seven Hindu pilgrims in Kashmir; and an August attack when alleged Jaish-e-Muhammad fighters killed eight security personnel in Kashmir.

Meanwhile in the Philippines, the military and government security forces were locked in the five-month battle against militants to break an IS-linked siege of the southern town of Marawi that began in May 2017, the report noted.

It also cited efforts by security forces in June to rescue 60 civilians who had been taken hostage by the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in North Cotabato; an August attack by suspected Abu Sayyaf Group members on a village in Basilan, where at least nine civilians were killed; and a December attack on a police station in Misamis Oriental by about 100 members of the communist New Peoples Army (NPA).

CVE

Along with highlighting militant attacks in the region, the report listed efforts by South and Southeast Asian countries to counter violent extremism (CVE).

India was cited for CVE programs targeting disaffected sectors of society at the highest risk of terrorist recruitment. In addition, government officials raised concerns about Islamic States ability to recruit members through social media, the report said.

Neighboring Bangladesh was cited for cooperating with the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund, a public-private fund to support grassroots efforts in at-risk communities. Its ministry of religious affairs and the National Committee on Militancy, Resistance and Prevention were cited for their work with imams and religious scholars to increase public awareness against terrorism in the Muslim-majority country.

In Southeast Asia, the Anti-Terrorism council in the Philippines was working by the end of 2017 on finalizing a national action plan against CVE and establishing a whole government strategy, according to the report.

In its country report on Indonesia, the State Department focused on how Indonesian leaders were promoting the tolerant practice of Islam and reinforcing the national ideology of Pancasila. The National Counterterrorism Agency moved to develop a CVE action plan and community-focused police efforts were able to identify early warning signs of radicalization, the report said.

In Malaysia, the Ministry of Youths Institute for Youth Research published guidelines to educate on the dangers of radicalism and involvement in extremism based on government-sponsored research on IS ideology.

While Thailand lacked a national CVE action plan, its draft national counterterrorism strategy included some related elements, the report stated. The Internal Security Operations Command was credited with organizing outreach programs aimed at ethnic Malay-Muslims in the Deep South to counter radicalization, according to the State Department.Shanghai (Gasgoo)- FAW Group's premium car brand Hongqi posted a month-on-month growth of 8.9% in August sales with 3,301 vehicles delivered. From January to August, the brand has delivered 14,112 vehicles in total, completing 47% of its 2018 sales target.

As to the performance of specific models, the Hongqi H5's sales climbed 12.5% over the previous month to 2,555 units, accounting for 77.4% of the brand's total sales. The Hongqi H7's sales reached 746 units last month, slightly less than that of the July.

Currently, there are 5 China-branded premium models delivered on market, namely, the Hongqi H7, the Dongfeng A9, the Trumpchi GA8, the Refine A60 and the Zoyte Z700, among which the Hongqi H7 features the highest price, which ranges from RMB258,800 to RMB325,800.

According to the data released by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), the sales of the Hongqi H7, the Trumpchi GA8 and the Dongfeng A9 reached 758 units, 335 units and 12 units in July respectively. It can be learnt that the Hongqi H7 still boasts a leading advantage in sales over other models despite its highest price.

The Hongqi H5's sales have been gradually growing month by month since the model hit the market at Auto China 2018 in late April. During the previous four months, the model's monthly sales were increased to 2,555 units in August from 2,016 units in May.

However, positioned as a China-branded B-segment car model, the Hongqi H5 doesn't enjoy an easy development environment due to the fierce competition from such models as the Geely Borui, the Trumpchi GA6 and Ruicheng CC.Indonesian lawyer Latifah Anum Siregar (left), accompanied by two colleagues, talks to client Jakub Fabian Skrzypski (right) at police headquarters in Jayapura, the capital of Indonesias Papua province, Sept. 19, 2018.

A Polish national who was arrested last month on suspicion of helping separatist rebels in Indonesias Papua province has denied that he took part in a conspiracy to overthrow the government, his attorney said Wednesday, as police extended his detention for 40 days for further investigation.

Police arrested and detained Jakub Fabian Skrzypski, 39, in Papuas Wamena regency on Aug. 26, accusing him of conspiracy to supply weapons to the rebels.

He rejected all the accusations, Skrzypskis lawyer, Latifah Anum Siregar, told BenarNews. He rejected the conspiracy charges.

Latifah said her client had never campaigned for the Papuan separatists nor did he support Papuan independence.

He has never been involved in any military training and is not an arms dealer or any such thing. He has never owned weapons or ammunition, she added.

Skrzypski could face life or 20 years in prison, if found guilty, Latifah said, describing the accusations as reckless.

Latifah said she last met Skrzypski on Friday, and described her client as depressed.

Papua is one of Indonesias poorest regions despite its rich natural resources. It has been the scene of a low-level armed separatist conflict since the 1960s. Human rights groups have accused security forces of committing rights abuses during counter-insurgency operations.

Police have said that Skrzypski, despite being a foreigner, could be charged with involvement in a conspiracy to overthrow the government.

We are still delving into the case, national police spokesman Brig. Gen. Dedi Prasetyo said, adding that the Pole would eventually be tried in Papua.

Dedi said Skrzypski was not a journalist and had only posted stories about Papua on Facebook and other social media networks.

Hes just an ordinary tourist, but he communicated with the Violent Criminal Group and offered to supply weapons and ammunition, but that has not happened and chances of that happening are slim, Dedi said, using the law enforcement term for the rebel group.

He also told stories about Papua to his compatriots back in Poland in the hope that they would go viral, he said.

Dedi said Skrzypski had received consular assistance from the Polish embassy in Jakarta. The embassy did not respond to an email sent by BenarNews.

Last week, the police spokesman told reporters that police seized hundreds of rounds of ammunition, a mobile phone and documents, which included information about the types of weapons and ammunition needed by the Free Papua Movement (OPM) rebel group.

Foreign journalists have been largely banned from reporting from Papua, with the government citing concerns for their security for the restrictions.

Other arrests

In a separate development, security forces in Papuas Mimika regency arrested eight people during a raid on the headquarters of a local pro-independence organization, the National Committee for West Papua (KNPB) on Saturday, police said.

The raid followed the arrest of a man who allegedly had 153 rounds of ammunition at the Mimika airport near the Freeport gold and copper mine, Dedi said.

KNPB campaigns for a referendum on self-determination in Papua.

Police have also arrested a man named Simon Magal for communicating with Skrzypski through his mobile phone.

The London-based human rights group, Tapol, said Magal was preparing to leave for Australia to start his post-graduate studies there.

Arresting Simon on accusations of treason because he met Jakub and talked to him on Facebook is excessive, Tapol coordinator Adriana Sri Adhiati said.

Adriana said the arrest of Skrzypski and Simon could undermine Indonesias efforts to strengthen its democracy.

New military units planned for Papua

On Wednesday, Usman Hamid, Amnesty Internationals Indonesia director, told a parliamentary hearing that President Joko Jokowi Widodo should make good on his promises to solve cases of human rights violations in Papua. These included the shootings of high-school students during a rally in Paniai regency in 2014, which killed four people.

According to Amnesty, at least 95 people were killed in 69 cases of extrajudicial killings in Papua in recent years, but only 25 cases were investigated.

Our findings show that police and soldiers have used excessive force, used firearms and deployed excessive numbers of personnel, resulting in the death of 95 people," Usman told lawmakers.

Meanwhile earlier this month, Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) chief Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto told a parliamentary hearing that new military units would be established in the eastern parts of the country, including Papua.

The military is proposing 107 trillion rupiah (about U.S. $7.2 billion) for the 2019 budget, including 1.5 trillion rupiah to create new organizations in the eastern regions, namely South Sulawesi, Sorong (West Papua province) and Papua, Tribunnews.com quoted the armed forces chief was quoted as saying.

He said the money would be used to build physical infrastructure, such as office buildings, housing for soldiers and harbors. In May, the military inaugurated four new units in Sorong.

Military officials in Jakarta could not be reached immediately for comment.

In Papua, a member of the provinces representative council, Laurens Kadepa, rejected the militarys plans.

The plan is not making sense. Many Papuans in the villages are still traumatized by the presence of the military, he said.

A Wamena resident, Peter John Jonga, told BenarNews that Papuans should have a say in the plans.

If theres a special unit, Papuans wont accept it because they feel that they will be watched more closely and lose their freedom, he said.

Ahmad Syamsudin in Jakarta contributed to this report.Local NGOs and UNICEF pressed Malaysias government on Tuesday to shield underage children from being married after reports emerged that a Sharia court in Kelantan state had allowed a 44-year-old man to wed a 15-year-old girl.

Malaysian non-governmental organizations in particular criticized Deputy Prime Minister Wan Azizah Wan Ismail for comments she made about the case, in which she suggested that the government had no power to stop the marriage.

In an appalling response, the deputy prime minister gave excuses as to why child marriages are taking place and claimed that Putrajaya is powerless to intervene, Latheefa Koya, executive director of rights advocacy group Lawyers for Liberty said in a statement.

The marriage was the second in recent months in religiously conservative Kelantan that involved an underage girl. The first case involved an 11-year-old girl of Thai origin who was married off to a 41-year-old Kelantan resident, during a mid-June ceremony solemnized by a Muslim cleric in neighboring southern Thailand.

This response from the DPM will be a license for pedophiles around the country to groom, persuade or coerce children into marriage for the purpose of having sexual intercourse with them, she said, as she called on Wan Azizah to ensure a police investigation into whether the Kelantan was one of sexual grooming that may have violated the countrys child-sex laws.

Latheefa was referring to remarks made on Tuesday by Wan Azizah about the latest child marriage in Kelantan. The deputy prime minister said the federal government was undertaking efforts to raise the nationwide minimum marriage age to 18 years old but, she cautioned, it had no jurisdiction to overturn the decision of the states Islamic courts in the marriage of the 15-year-old.

[T]hey were married by the Sharia court, so you have to also abide because it is also state regulations, she said in remarks aired on KiniTV.

We want to save this girl

Wan Azizah, who is also the minister of womens affairs, said she did have a problem with child marriage but, at the same time, she understood the circumstances under which their families lived.

If you understand the way they live, their way of life, you would have a little bit of understanding of why it happens, she said.

The deputy PM added that officers from her ministry were looking into the case and had met with the child bride and her parents.

We want to save this girl. We can go a long way if all of us pool our resources and give all the support, she said.

Wan Azizah was reacting to news of the marriage, which was reported by the New Straits Times newspaper. It said the Sharia court in Kelantan, whose state government is controlled by the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), had permitted the 44-year-old resident to take on the 15-year-old girl as his second wife in July.



Under Malaysias Federal Constitution, which sets the minimum age for girls to be married at 16, Muslim marriages fall under the purview of the respective state Shariah Courts, which can approve underage marriages with valid reasons.



According to the newspaper report, the girls family agreed to marry off the girl  the youngest of their 13 children  to the man, who is a Peoples Volunteer Corps officer, because they wanted her to have a better life.



The brides father, Che Rahim Che Deraman, 60, said he did not want his daughter to live in hardship. He runs a sundry shop in Tumpat, close to the Thai-Malaysia border, and was reported to be living in poverty, earning between 200 and 300 ringgit (U.S. $48 and $72) a month.



UNICEF rep calls for ban

Other NGOs that reacted angrily to the latest child marriage included Sisters of Islam, which urged the new government to act.

The government must not hide behind the excuse that they are powerless to take immediate action against child marriage. Every hour they continue to choose to do so, more girls fall between the cracks they that refuse to repair, the group said in a Twitter post.

Marianne Clark-Hattingh, the U.N. Childrens Fund (UNICEF) representative in Malaysia, also condemned the marriage in Kelantan.

Its unacceptable that yet another child has got married to an elder man. The new Kelantan case is proof of the need to raise awareness on the impact of marriage on the child and bring legislative change to ban the practice, she tweeted.

She also proposed that new legislation on child marriage should be accompanied by other measures, including compulsory access to secondary education, sexual reproductive health education and poverty reduction.



To date, only Selangor, the richest and most developed state in Malaysia that circles the federal capital Kuala Lumpur, has broken the status quo and pledged to raise the marriage age for men and women to 18.Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak walks out of Kuala Lumpur High Court after the court ruled against his request for a media blackout on the charges against him, Aug. 10, 2018.

Updated at 12:15 p.m. ET on 2018-09-19

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was detained by the national anti-corruption agency on Wednesday and expected to spend the night in custody while authorities prepared to charge him on Thursday with alleged abuse of power, officials said.

The former UMNO party president was taken into custody at 4:13 p.m. Wednesday after he went to Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters in Putrajaya, according to officials.

The MACC will meet with the Royal Malaysian Police to record Najibs statement before he is taken to the court tomorrow, to facilitate police investigations under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, officials said in a statement.

He is expected to face several charges for alleged abuse of power related to the 2.6 billion ringgit (U.S. $628 million) found in his personal bank accounts. Authorities allege the money came from the sovereign fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), which he created in 2009 ostensibly to pursue projects beneficial to Malaysians.

MACC officials said the Attorney Generals Chamber approved filing the latest round of charges.

Najib has maintained that he received a gift from Saudi Arabian sources and denied taking money for personal gain.

In Facebook postings last week, Najib presented letters from a Saudi prince promising him gifts of millions of dollars to encourage him to continue promoting Islam to the world. Najib claimed the Saudi gave him 2.6 billion ringgit in March 2013, but he later returned the money because it was not needed for that years general election.

The court appearance will be Najibs third to face charges.

Najib, who pleaded not guilty to charges filed during his first two court appearances, is scheduled to stand trial in February 2019 on seven counts including criminal breach of trust, abuse of power and money laundering.

Those charges are related to allegations that 42 million ringgit ($10.3 million) were illegally funneled electronically into his private bank accounts from SRC International, a former 1MDB subsidiary.

In addition, his lawyer Shafee Abdullah was charged last week with money laundering and tax fraud involving 9.5 million ringgit ($2.3 million) he received from Najib. Shafee called the charges political and baseless.

Supporters speak out

Lokman Noor Adam, president of the NGO Pemantau Malaysia Baru, told BenarNews that his group would gather in front of the MACC headquarters on Wednesday and at the Kuala Lumpur court on Thursday to show solidarity with Najib.

We condemn the action taken by MACC which we believed was part of the agenda to break the spirit of United Malays National Organization members, he said.



Najibs two children, Ashman and Nooryana Najwa, both expressed their feelings about his detention on Instagram.



Nooryana said she sent a photo with her son wishing her father all the best. She said it pained her that she was not in the country to be with him.



Praying for you and the rule of law in our country, daddy, she posted.



Ashman posted a photo of Najib and a brief comment at the bottom stating his fear of what may come.

I cant imagine the kind of tribulation that you are facing in there. Praying that you are given fair treatment, he said.

The probe into 1MDB reopened after the new government of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad came into power in May after defeating Najibs Barisan Nasional coalition in the general election. Previous Attorney General Apandi Ali, who served under Najib, cleared the then-prime minister of wrongdoing in the case.

United States prosecutors filed a series of lawsuits alleging at least $4.5 billion (18.6 billion ringgit) were stolen from 1MDB and diverted through acquisitions of real estate, artwork and luxury properties by Najib and his associates. Switzerland and France also are investigating 1MDB.

The announcement that Najib will face additional charges comes as UMNO, the political party he led, saw two high-ranking members announce their resignations this week, according to media reports.

Former Foreign Minister Anifah Aman announced his resignation on Wednesday, one day after Supreme Council member Mustapa Mohamed left the party, according to the reports. They join three other party officials who have resigned since the May election.Rescuers dug out more bodies from a mining community buried by a massive landslide in the northern Philippines, as the overall death toll from Typhoon Mangkhut reached at least 81 victims, disaster relief officials said Wednesday.



The toll was expected to rise further with officials saying that at least 60 people were still buried in deep mud, which slid off the slopes of a mountain in Itogon town at the height of Mangkhut days earlier.



The Philippine National Police, in an official tally, said 66 people were killed in the Cordilleras, which groups mountain communities including Itogon, and 15 others elsewhere, including in the capital Manila.



Search-and-retrieval operations were continuing in Itogon, a mining town where dozens were believed to be buried by the landslide. Residents and local officials have said that as many as 60 people were still missing.



The bodies of the dead who were found here were hoisted up using ropes, in a search mission that tested the limits of the countrys elite fire-fighting search and rescue teams.



Days before the storm hit on Saturday, authorities had gone house to house in the village of Ucab to urge residents to flee to safer grounds, provincial police chief Senior Supt. Lyndon Mencio, told reporters on Wednesday.



They evacuated but returned to their homes. Some of them stayed at the church and bunkhouses, Mencio said.



He said that rainfall a month prior to the storm had already seeped through the mountain, making it dangerous for potential landslides. The earth was very loose. The typhoon triggered the landslide, he stressed.



The body of Edwin Banawol, the president of the mining cooperative at Bgy. Ucab who was killed in the landslide, is carried to a command center in Ucab, Itogon after it was recovered by a search team, Sept. 18, 2018. Karl Romano/BenarNews





Francis Tolentino, a senior adviser to President Rodrigo Duterte, said it was likely that someone may still be alive under the debris, even as hopes were fading as the days passed.



We still consider this a rescue operation, not a retrieval operation. I believe some people may still be alive. I reported to the president that we still consider this as a rescue operation, not as a retrieval operation, said Tolentino, who was in the typhoon-affected region.



He noted that there were similar landslide incidents in Nepal and China, where rescuers found survivors after two weeks.



There was one survivor in Itogon who recounted that the locals were at a church morning service hours before the landslide buried their community, Tolentino said.



The head of the small-scale miners group called them to the church. He showed them the relief items they could eat. They brought the kids. The body of the head of the group was recovered yesterday, he said.



Philippine rescuers and soldiers take part in a morning prayer before starting retrieval operations in Ucab, Itogon, Sept. 18, 2018. Karl Romano/BenarNews





As officials were pointing fingers at who to blame for the disaster, the government imposed a suspension of small-scale mining operations in the region, affecting at least 10,000 people whose livelihoods rely on the mines.



On Tuesday, President Rodrigo Duterte stressed that it was high time to look seriously into the perils caused by the mining industry in the country. He said that frequent landslides across the region were the result of uncontrolled mining.



We have a problem with the mining industry. It has not contributed anything substantial to the national economy. Well, one is, of course, the inroads of civilization and the fact that mining has been operating in this country uncontrolled, he said, as he threatened to abrogate a law that deregulated the mining sector.



Jeoffrey Maitem in Cotabato City, Philippines contributed to this report.Updated at 1:30 p.m. ET on 2018-09-19

The influential Catholic Church in the Philippines called on the public Wednesday to join a protest this week to mark the anniversary of dictator Ferdinand Marcos imposition of martial law and to denounce the current presidents authoritarian tendencies.



Stressing that legal dissent had a place in Philippine society, Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said that in a healthy democracy there should be a strong opposition to abuse of power.



Pabillo was referring to the government of President Rodrigo Duterte, a self-described Marcos admirer whose anti-drug crackdown has left thousands dead since he took office in June 2016.

Pabillo, however, said the protest rally was not part of any destabilization plot, but was meant to project a united stand against the killings.



The protest is to coincide with the 46th anniversary of the day when Marcos placed the entire country under martial law in 1972. Thousands of activists were tortured or went missing, as Marcos and his family enriched themselves by raiding state coffers.



Duterte faces two criminal complaints with the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity, for deaths related to his administrations war on drugs. But he has maintained that The Hague-based institution no longer has jurisdiction over him since his government withdrew from an international treaty that created the ICC in March.



He has also charged that political opponents, including the church, wanted to see him fail as part of a destabilization plot.



In 1986, a people-power revolution chased Ferdinand Marcos into exile in Hawaii, where he died three years later. But his family was subsequently allowed to fly home.



The Marcoses have since regained political clout, with widow Imelda Marcos, now a member of Congress representing the familys northern district, where daughter Imee Marcos is a governor. Duterte has often publicly thanked Imee Marcos for contributing funds to his electoral campaign two years ago.



Ferdinand Marcos Jr., a former senator, lost in the vice presidential race, but his electoral protest is backed by Duterte, who has said he partially owed his presidency to the Marcos family.



The so-called protest on Friday was nothing more than a naked attempt at grabbing power, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said.



From what I gathered, some groups are really cooking up a massive destabilization plot in time for the martial law anniversary, Roque said.



Nardy Sabino, with the Promotion of Church Peoples Response, an activist group, said Dutertes blood lust on his drug war has greatly impinged on the reputation and economic stability of the country.



The drug war has killed about 4,410 suspected drug dealers and addicts in police operations since he assumed office in 2016, according to latest figures released last week by the national police.



The figure is on top of the estimated 4,800 others that are considered deaths under investigation  including those blamed on unidentified vigilantes who typically leave messages on cardboard placed near the bodies of victims, warning others to avoid drugs or end up dead.



Rights groups, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have placed the death toll at 12,000 or higher, largely because many deaths, especially in slum areas, sometimes go unreported.



We must stand for truth and force the Duterte administration to account for human rights violations and the mismanagement of the economy, said Sabino, referring to the presidents drug war.



Jeannette Cawiding, of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers, said she was greatly worried after finding out that she and seven other colleagues were on a list of alleged terrorists kept by the Department of Justice.



This is dangerous, she said. We could suffer the same fate as victims of war on drugs. We are under surveillance and are being profiled for various reasons.



Activism is not a criminal act. We do this as good citizens, teachers and Christians because were making creating a society where genuine peace and justice prevails, she said.



Neither Roque nor Philippine justice officials replied to requests from BenarNews seeking comment on Cawidings claim.If you have news from the Jamestown area, send it in to Monica Nixon at monicanixon@hotmail.com by Wednesday.A lot of people are going to be surprised on judgment day. Because the things they do to believers they are really doing to Jesus himself personally. Everything from ISIS beheading Christians to North Koreans abusing believers in prison camps to that person at work who makes fun of you because of your faith. Theyre not hurting mere humans, but everything they do theyre doing to Jesus himself, As Saul found out.

But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? And he said, Who are you, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. (Acts 9:15)

What a shock this must have been to Saul. No wonder he said later he was the foremost of sinners, for he had persecuted the church of God (1 Timothy 1:15). Every time he threw a believer into prison, he was abusing the Savior of the world. He was afflicting the Creator of the universe.

But those who persecute Christians are not the only ones who are going to be surprised on judgment day. Jesus said believers are going to be surprised:

Then the King will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. Then the righteous will answer him, saying, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you? And the King will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me. (Matthew 25:3439)

Anything we do for the lowliest believerthe least of these my brotherswe do to Jesus. Anything. And we dont simply do it for Jesus, we do it to Jesus: You did it to me.

My dad would regularly take a mentally handicapped guy to pick up food. Hed bring him to church on Sunday, then take him to Wendys for a burger afterwards. I know that when my dad went to heaven last year, Jesus said, JJ, every time you took Tommy to Wendys you were taking me.

When you help a brother move, spend the day with a crew working on a widows house, pray for that discouraged sister, or slip that brother $20 to get some food, remember who youre doing it to. Even the smallest acts of love we do for believers will be rewarded:

And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward. (Matthew 10:42)

Even a cup of water! Most of the deeds Jesus will reward wont be monumental, but the smallest acts of kindness in his name.

All those diapers you change, all those stories you tell your kids at night, all those rides you give to the volleyball tournamentall will be rewarded. Every dollar you give to the poor, every visit to the nursing home, every trip to the hospital to see that sick brother, every long morning with the 3-year-olds in Childrens Ministry, every meal you take that family with the newborn, every word of consolation, every text to encourage, every prayer for that hurting believeryou do to Jesus himself and he wont forget the smallest act of kindness. After all, he remembers every cup of water we give in his name.

So, do whatever you can today to bless brother or sister or someone in need. It doesnt have to be big. And dont bother trying to remember it because Jesus will remind you of it on judgment day.

Photo credit: GettyImages/Ig0rZh

Mark Altrogge has been senior pastor of Sovereign Grace Church of Indiana, Pennsylvania, since 1982. He has written hundreds of songs for worship, including I Stand in Awe and Im Forever Grateful. Mark and his wife, Kristi, have four sons and one daughter. Find out more on his blog, The Blazing Center.Was this the breakthrough?

It was (once again) a historic meeting. For the third time this year, North Koreas dictator, Kim Jong-un, and South Koreas president, Moon Jae-in, shook hands.

They agreed on initial nuclear disarmament, buffer and no-flight zones, a joint application for the 2032 Olympics, and the next joint meeting in Seoul.

However, was this really a breakthrough?

North Korea expert Bernhard Bartsch (Bertelsmann Foundation): If these common projects will indeed be implemented, in the future this meeting will count as a breakthrough. With respect to the North Korea crisis, however, one should avoid any premature praise.

Auch Interessant



Bartsch thinks: South Koreas president is obviously pursuing a policy of change through cooperation. His hope is: the more concrete joint projects North and South Korea have, the more exchanges will take place, and the more difficult it will be for the North to suddenly end the cooperation again. Moon also understands that his policy can be successful if Kim can shine with these initiatives. He has to make sure that Kim comes off well.

North Korea Korea expert explains Will the handshake make the world a safer place? In this interview, the former head of planning of the Chancellery and Korea expert, Wolfgang Nowak, explains the Korean summit.

The expert also points out that this would not be the first time that North Korea announced big projects that later failed because of presumptuous demands. Bartsch: Hence one always has to be careful. As is well known, nothing came out of the big announcements at the summit with Trump in Singapore. However, the agreements with South Korea are much more concrete and realistic.

Bartsch concludes: It is still a very long way to reunification. But a peace treaty would be a first step.Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, the truth about kids and the COVID-19 vaccine.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesTechnological advancements are occurring on a day-to-day basis with the management of urinary stones undergoing a transformation.

Urology has seen dramatic changes over the last few years with certain conditions becoming very common with age. The advent of laser in Urology has revolutionized the way in which we treat such disorders of the urinary tract. Technological advancements are occurring on a day-to-day basis with the management of urinary stones undergoing a transformation where instruments are getting smaller and smaller and the procedures getting almost completely painless.

A lot of these procedures can now be done as day-care, simply because holmium laser fibres which are smaller than a millimetre in size, allow us to access stones in the any part of the kidney. Earlier stone breaking technology resulted in stones moving away from the surgeon. The 100 Watt holmium laser typically minimizes retropulsion. Holmium laser energy is absorbed by water. Sudden evaporation of water in the lattice structure of stones creates micro-explosions which cause fragmentation.

Miniaturization also resulted in improvements in the surgery of PCNL (percutaneous nephrolithotomy). Here a small puncture is made directly from the skin into the kidney without disturbing any other organs and the stones are fragmented and removed. Earlier operation consisted of making an opening about 1 cm, now this has become much smaller. It is not just a question of a smaller size, it also means that pain is much less and recovery is much faster.

Holmium laser allows the surgeon precise control over the size of the fragments that are removed. Additional engineering marvels in fluid dynamics have allowed us to actually wash out stones without having to hold any fragments. This has resulted in much more efficient stone clearance as well as improved operation time.

Another application in Urology for lasers has been enucleation of the prostate (HOLEP). In the traditional TUR-P surgery, prostate is removed piecemeal in small bits resulting in large amounts of bleeding. Holmium laser allows us to enucleate or completely remove the prostate by going into the correct plane between the capsule and the prostatic tissue. With less blood loss and improved vision, the outcomes of removal of large prostates have been very successful.

Earlier, surgeons had the option between an endoscopic surgery for smaller glands and depending on the surgeons comfort levels, they would offer open surgery for larger glands. However, HoLEP has been shown to be a size independent procedure and these procedures can be done for all prostate sizes. Because of changes in the type of fluid used, other complications like TUR syndrome are no longer seen with HoLEP.

Dr. Prasanna Venkatesh, MBBS, MS - General Surgery, DNB - General Surgery, Fellowship in Pediatric Urology, DNB - Urology/Genito - Urinary Surgery, NU Hospitals, Bengaluru

Dr. Maneesh Sinha, MBBS, MS - General Surgery, DNB - Urology/Genito - Urinary Surgery, MCh - Urology, Urologist, Laparoscopic Surgeon, NU Hospitals, BengaluruThe event will focus on creating innovative solutions in the healthcare segment for patients, payers, providers and other healthcare professionals.

Mylan, a global pharmaceutical company is hosting the 2018 Mylan Hackathon at its Global Centre in Bengaluru on October 13-14, 2018. The event will focus on creating innovative solutions in the healthcare segment for patients, payers, providers and other healthcare professionals.

This is a unique opportunity for students and professionals to connect, collaborate and innovate to come up with solutions that address real-world challenges in the healthcare industry.

Teams consisting of students, engineers, developers, designers, analysts, tinkerers, mavens, game-changers and Mylan employees will compete for the first prize of Rs 100000 and a second prize of Rs 50000.

Top notch giveaways, spot quizzes and free refreshments will add to the excitement.

Date: Saturday October 13th and Sunday October 14th, 2018

Venue: Mylan, Platina-3, Prestige Technology Park, Marathahalli Outer Ring Road, Bangalore  560103

Registrations: Individuals can register themselves and get more information on the challenge at https://www.mylanhackathon.comWednesday, September 19, 2018

Pennsylvania

The pertinent portion of Pennsylvania's postconviction DNA testing statute, 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann.  9543.1(c)(3)(i), states that a defendant seeking postconviction DNA testing must

(3) present a prima facie case demonstrating that the:

(i) identity of or the participation in the crime by the perpetrator was at issue in the proceedings that resulted in the applicant's conviction and sentencing

So, where does that leave pleading defendants?

In Williams v. Erie County Dist. Attorneys Office, Charles Stephon Williams pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child and related crimes. Subsequently, Williams filed a petition to inspect and test evidence in the States possession. The trial court denied the petition, and the Superior Court of Pennsylvania affirmed that holding on appeal. It cited to Pennsylvanias postconviction DNA testing statute, which provides that a defendant seeking testing must present a prima facie case that the identity of or participation in the crime by the perpetrator was at issue in the proceedings that resulted in the applicants conviction and sentencing. The court interpreted this section to mean that defendants who plead guilty cannot seek DNA testing. Specifically, the court held that [w]e fail to see how this mandatory element of an applicants prima facie case can be demonstrated where he pleaded guilty, thus nullifying any subsequent claim that the identity of or the participation in the crime by the perpetrator was at issue.

Pennsylvania legislators, however, are currently considering a bill that would allow pleading defendants to seek postconviction DNA testing. See, e.g., Pa. Senate Passes Greenleaf Conviction Integrity Bills Extending Time Limit for Post-Conviction Relief and Expanding DNA Testing, Pennsylvania Innocence Project (Apr. 28, 1994), https://innocenceprojectpa.org/pa-senate-passes-greenleaf-conviction-integrity-bills-extending-time-limit-for-post-conviction-relief-and-expanding-dna-testing/.

-CM

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/evidenceprof/2018/09/project-dna-pennsylvania.html5 Amazing Health Benefits Of Brazil Nuts Nutrition oi-Nupur

Brazil nuts are edible seeds which grow on the Brazil nut tree. These nuts grow inside a round shell which is similar to coconut in appearance. Each shell contains around 12 to 20 pieces of this nut. It can be eaten raw like other nuts and one can consume it after blanching as well.

This nut is packed with many nutrients and has various health benefits which we will discuss in this article. We should always include the different varieties of nuts in our diet as they provide us with nutrients and fibre. They are a great source of energy and are rich in fats and calorific hence one should consume them in limited quantities.

6 Simple Yet Effective Tips To Control Your Hunger

Nutritional Value Of Brazil Nut

The Brazil nuts contain proteins, monounsaturated fats, along with various minerals and vitamins. 100 g of Brazil nuts contain 656 calories, 66 g of total fat, 14 g of proteins, 12 g of carbohydrates, 8 g of dietary fibre, 0.7 mg of vitamin C and 0.1 mg of vitamin B6, 2.3 g of sugar, 659 mg of potassium, 3 mg of sodium, 2.4 mg of iron and 376 mg of magnesium and no cholesterol. The Brazil nuts are also a rich source of a mineral called selenium, which acts as a powerful antioxidant and fights cancer.

Health Benefits Of Brazil Nuts:

1. Lowers cholesterol

2. Improves mental health

3. Boosts the mood

4. Reduces the risk of cancer

5. Combats heart ailments

1. Lowers Cholesterol Brazil nuts are known to lower the bad cholesterol (LDL) levels. These nuts have low saturated and unsaturated fat levels. It has been observed that having just one serving of around 6-10 Brazilian nuts aids in improving the lipids profile in healthy adults, a research mentioned in the Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism revealed. 2. Improves Mental Health: These nuts contain ellagic acid (EA) which is also found in berries and pomegranates. It is an antioxidant that is known to have anti-inflammatory properties. A study has revealed that it acts as a neuroprotective agent which reduces oxidative stress and protects the nerve cells from degeneration, damage as well as deterioration of its function. 7 Ways In Which Heartbreaks Affect Your Health 3. Boosts Mood Uplifting mood is another amazing benefit of this nut. It contains selenium, an antioxidant which triggers the secretion of active thyroid hormone which combats hypothyroidism and helps in uplifting your mood. When you have low levels of thyroid in your body it is known as hypothyroidism, and the condition leads to mood swings, anxiety and irritability. The selenium present in this nut thus aids in improving your mood. Selenium has various other health benefits too; it aids in boosting the proper functioning of our immunity system and boosts reproduction, etc. The recommended selenium intake should be around 0.35 mg per day. Too much of selenium intake leads to a condition called selenosis, which leads to brittle nails and hair loss. Please consider your doctor before consuming this nut if you are consuming selenium supplements. 4. Reduces The Risk Of Cancer The consumption of Brazil nut is linked to the reduction of cancer risk. Consuming selenium in moderation aids in lowering the risk of stomach and oesophageal cancers as per a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Breast, prostate, lung and colon cancers are some other kinds of cancers that Brazil nut is known to combat according to several studies. 5. Combats Heart Ailments The Brazil nuts are likely to reduce the risk of heart diseases; the selenium present in this nut aids in combating inflammation and oxidative stress which are the factors are associated with plaque build-up in the arteries that further leads to coronary artery disease and heart attacks.Reciba en su email: noticias de ultima hora, analisis tecnicos o el cierre de mercado

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User ID: 462979

09-19-2018 03:09 AM











Post: #1 Massachusetts Police Accidentally Tweet Evidence Theyre Monitoring Left-Wing Act

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MSP deleted the original tweet and replaced it with a cropped version (at the time of writing the Facebook post still had the bookmarks bar clearly visible). Among the bookmarked pages are the Facebook group page for Mass. Action Against Police Brutality (MAAPB), the Coalition to Organize and Mobilize Boston Against Trump (COMBAT), a site called the "Resistance Calendar," which provides information about anti-Trump rallies and events, and a Facebook group that hasnt been identified but is labeled as MA Activist.



In an emailed statement, David Procopio, the director of media communications for MSP, said the police only keep tabs on groups so they can plan for any large gatherings.



We do not collect information aboutnor, frankly, do we care aboutany groups beliefs or opinions, Procopio wrote. We, obviously, need to know if large numbers of people, for whatever reason, are going to be on public roadways or public spaces, so that we may ensure the safety and rights of those who have gathered as well as of the members of the public around them.



https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/artic...-activists Massachusetts State Police revealed more than they intended in a tweet about the gas leak explosions last week. In a screengrab of a map of emergency responses to fires and explosions, several left-wing and Black rights groups pages can be seen bookmarked in the browser.MSP deleted the original tweet and replaced it with a cropped version (at the time of writing the Facebook post still had the bookmarks bar clearly visible). Among the bookmarked pages are the Facebook group page for Mass. Action Against Police Brutality (MAAPB), the Coalition to Organize and Mobilize Boston Against Trump (COMBAT), a site called the "Resistance Calendar," which provides information about anti-Trump rallies and events, and a Facebook group that hasnt been identified but is labeled as MA Activist.In an emailed statement, David Procopio, the director of media communications for MSP, said the police only keep tabs on groups so they can plan for any large gatherings.We do not collect information aboutnor, frankly, do we care aboutany groups beliefs or opinions, Procopio wrote. We, obviously, need to know if large numbers of people, for whatever reason, are going to be on public roadways or public spaces, so that we may ensure the safety and rights of those who have gathered as well as of the members of the public around them. LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 462482

09-19-2018 03:27 AM











Post: #2 RE: Massachusetts Police Accidentally Tweet Evidence Theyre Monitoring Left-Wing Act

LoP Guest Wrote: (09-19-2018 03:09 AM) Massachusetts State Police revealed more than they intended in a tweet about the gas leak explosions last week. In a screengrab of a map of emergency responses to fires and explosions, several left-wing and Black rights groups pages can be seen bookmarked in the browser.



MSP deleted the original tweet and replaced it with a cropped version (at the time of writing the Facebook post still had the bookmarks bar clearly visible). Among the bookmarked pages are the Facebook group page for Mass. Action Against Police Brutality (MAAPB), the Coalition to Organize and Mobilize Boston Against Trump (COMBAT), a site called the "Resistance Calendar," which provides information about anti-Trump rallies and events, and a Facebook group that hasnt been identified but is labeled as MA Activist.



In an emailed statement, David Procopio, the director of media communications for MSP, said the police only keep tabs on groups so they can plan for any large gatherings.



We do not collect information aboutnor, frankly, do we care aboutany groups beliefs or opinions, Procopio wrote. We, obviously, need to know if large numbers of people, for whatever reason, are going to be on public roadways or public spaces, so that we may ensure the safety and rights of those who have gathered as well as of the members of the public around them.



https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/artic...-activists

long ago law enforcement stopped making surveillance of groups the prime technique for gathering information



and began using the technique of starting such groups themselves and luring patsies to join long ago law enforcement stopped making surveillance of groups the prime technique for gathering informationand began using the technique of starting such groups themselves and luring patsies to join NormalIsSubjective



User ID: 461465

09-19-2018 04:49 AM



Posts: 21,659









Post: #3 RE: Massachusetts Police Accidentally Tweet Evidence Theyre Monitoring Left-Wing Act







Facebook.





I wonder if the coppers friended them.



Facebook.I wonder if the coppers friended them. LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 463009

09-19-2018 04:50 AM











Post: #4 RE: Massachusetts Police Accidentally Tweet Evidence Theyre Monitoring Left-Wing Act

Why not? A Mugshot book was always called a Facebook! LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 462828

09-19-2018 04:52 AM











Post: #5 RE: Massachusetts Police Accidentally Tweet Evidence Theyre Monitoring Left-Wing Act

LoP Guest Wrote: (09-19-2018 04:50 AM) Why not? A Mugshot book was always called a Facebook!

Project Lifelog ended the same day Facebok started Project Lifelog ended the same day Facebok started LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 408320

09-19-2018 05:43 AM











Post: #6 RE: Massachusetts Police Accidentally Tweet Evidence Theyre Monitoring Left-Wing Act

LoP Guest Wrote: (09-19-2018 04:52 AM) LoP Guest Wrote: (09-19-2018 04:50 AM) Why not? A Mugshot book was always called a Facebook!

Project Lifelog ended the same day Facebok started

"Facebook is an American online social media and social networking service company based in Menlo Park, California. Its website was launched on February 4, 2004."



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook



" 02.04.04

12:00 pm



Pentagon Kills LifeLog Project



The Pentagon canceled its so-called LifeLog project, an ambitious effort to build a database tracking a person's entire existence."



https://www.wired.com/2004/02/pentagon-k...g-project/



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DARPA_LifeLog "Facebook is an American online social media and social networking service company based in Menlo Park, California. Its website was launched on February 4, 2004."" 02.04.0412:00 pmPentagon Kills LifeLog ProjectThe Pentagon canceled its so-called LifeLog project, an ambitious effort to build a database tracking a person's entire existence." LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 424701

09-19-2018 03:00 PM











Post: #7 RE: Massachusetts Police Accidentally Tweet Evidence Theyre Monitoring Left-Wing Act

They should be monitoring the pressure in the Gas Lines and arresting Columbia Gas Execs. There was 20x the normal pressure running thru the pipes.



That's like driving 200 mph in a 20 mph zone. BTW - The Mass State Police are as corrupt as anyone. They have been robbing the Mass taxpayers for millions over decades in overtime abuse. #kissmyass LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 424701

09-19-2018 03:09 PM











Post: #8 RE: Massachusetts Police Accidentally Tweet Evidence Theyre Monitoring Left-Wing Act

LoP Guest Wrote: (09-19-2018 03:00 PM) They should be monitoring the pressure in the Gas Lines and arresting Columbia Gas Execs. There was 20x the normal pressure running thru the pipes.



That's like driving 200 mph in a 20 mph zone. BTW - The Mass State Police are as corrupt as anyone. They have been robbing the Mass taxpayers for millions over decades in overtime abuse. #kissmyass

Actually it's worse it would be like driving 400 mph in a 20 mph zone. #sabotage. Actually it's worse it would be like driving 400 mph in a 20 mph zone. #sabotage.















Username: Password: or Register Thread Rating: 3 Vote(s) - 3.67 Average

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Tiny shroom to visit hurricane-stricken North Carolina Paint it black

Registered User

User ID: 445779

09-19-2018 05:07 AM



Posts: 1,233









Post: #1 Tiny shroom to visit hurricane-stricken North Carolina

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Florence has killed at least 33 people since coming ashore as a hurricane on Friday, including 26 in North Carolina and six in South Carolina. One person was killed when Florence spawned at least 16 tornadoes on Monday in Virginia, the National Weather Service said.



The White House said President Donald Trump would visit North Carolina on Wednesday. He has been criticized for his handling of Hurricane Maria, which devastate Puerto Rico last year, and more recently for disputing the official death toll of 3,000.



https://www.yahoo.com/news/carolinas-bra...29542.html WILMINGTON/FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (Reuters) - Residents of the Carolinas struggled to return to normalcy on Tuesday after taking a beating from Hurricane Florence, but their efforts were hindered by standing water and additional flooding expected from already swollen rivers.Florence has killed at least 33 people since coming ashore as a hurricane on Friday, including 26 in North Carolina and six in South Carolina. One person was killed when Florence spawned at least 16 tornadoes on Monday in Virginia, the National Weather Service said.The White House said President Donald Trump would visit North Carolina on Wednesday. He has been criticized for his handling of Hurricane Maria, which devastate Puerto Rico last year, and more recently for disputing the official death toll of 3,000. LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 463018

09-19-2018 05:15 AM











Post: #2 RE: Tiny shroom to visit hurricane-stricken North Carolina

tiny shroom??? LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 463002

09-19-2018 05:17 AM











Post: #3 RE: Tiny shroom to visit hurricane-stricken North Carolina

of course, 33.



the media and those involved are all scum.



scummy trump wore his freemason tie today also. LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 463019

09-19-2018 05:18 AM











Post: #4 RE: Tiny shroom to visit hurricane-stricken North Carolina

LoP Guest Wrote: (09-19-2018 05:15 AM) tiny shroom??? https://pastebin.com/iCfJaVsR LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 462484

09-19-2018 12:24 PM











Post: #5 RE: Tiny shroom to visit hurricane-stricken North Carolina

LoP Guest Wrote: (09-19-2018 05:15 AM) tiny shroom???

trump 'the toadstool hammer'



Cue Super Mario music !! trump 'the toadstool hammer'Cue Super Mario music !! D3VILSR3J3CT

...

User ID: 452188

09-19-2018 12:32 PM



Posts: 15,604









Post: #6 RE: Tiny shroom to visit hurricane-stricken North Carolina

D3VILSR3J3CT

...

User ID: 452188

09-19-2018 12:33 PM



Posts: 15,604









Post: #7 RE: Tiny shroom to visit hurricane-stricken North Carolina

Don't get me twisted.

I am by no means apart of your herd mentality shenanigans.



I just thought that was funny as hell. LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 445111

09-19-2018 12:34 PM











Post: #8 RE: Tiny shroom to visit hurricane-stricken North Carolina

Paint it black Wrote: (09-19-2018 05:07 AM) WILMINGTON/FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (Reuters) - Residents of the Carolinas struggled to return to normalcy on Tuesday after taking a beating from Hurricane Florence, but their efforts were hindered by standing water and additional flooding expected from already swollen rivers.



Florence has killed at least 33 people since coming ashore as a hurricane on Friday, including 26 in North Carolina and six in South Carolina. One person was killed when Florence spawned at least 16 tornadoes on Monday in Virginia, the National Weather Service said.



The White House said President Donald Trump would visit North Carolina on Wednesday. He has been criticized for his handling of Hurricane Maria, which devastate Puerto Rico last year, and more recently for disputing the official death toll of 3,000.



https://www.yahoo.com/news/carolinas-bra...29542.html

one thing is clear



we nave have your soc IP address one thing is clearwe nave have your soc IP address LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 462484

09-19-2018 01:01 PM











Post: #9 RE: Tiny shroom to visit hurricane-stricken North Carolina

LoP Guest Wrote: (09-19-2018 12:34 PM) Paint it black Wrote: (09-19-2018 05:07 AM) WILMINGTON/FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (Reuters) - Residents of the Carolinas struggled to return to normalcy on Tuesday after taking a beating from Hurricane Florence, but their efforts were hindered by standing water and additional flooding expected from already swollen rivers.



Florence has killed at least 33 people since coming ashore as a hurricane on Friday, including 26 in North Carolina and six in South Carolina. One person was killed when Florence spawned at least 16 tornadoes on Monday in Virginia, the National Weather Service said.



The White House said President Donald Trump would visit North Carolina on Wednesday. He has been criticized for his handling of Hurricane Maria, which devastate Puerto Rico last year, and more recently for disputing the official death toll of 3,000.



https://www.yahoo.com/news/carolinas-bra...29542.html

one thing is clear



we nave have your soc IP address

And ? And ? LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 462484

09-19-2018 01:06 PM











Post: #10 RE: Tiny shroom to visit hurricane-stricken North Carolina





Here's Stormy showing it's size



https://carwad.net/wallpaper-757109





Here is the redesigned MAGA hat



https://carwad.net/wallpaper-757089





Latest trump rally crowd shot



https://carwad.net/wallpaper-757107





A kind soul can embed please Pics are now being posted all overHere's Stormy showing it's sizeHere is the redesigned MAGA hatLatest trump rally crowd shotA kind soul can embed please LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 430723

09-19-2018 01:18 PM











Post: #11 RE: Tiny shroom to visit hurricane-stricken North Carolina

I think they were just kind of playing around with that storm.

"Hey! Look what we can do!"

Brought it in. Buffered it in place. Slowed it down, Broke it up. Then released it.

It really was a masterful job. LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 463076

09-19-2018 01:20 PM











Post: #12 RE: Tiny shroom to visit hurricane-stricken North Carolina

LoP Guest Wrote: (09-19-2018 01:18 PM) I think they were just kind of playing around with that storm.

"Hey! Look what we can do!"

Brought it in. Buffered it in place. Slowed it down, Broke it up. Then released it.

It really was a masterful job.

We don't do conspiracies here no mo no mo no mo no mo! We don't do conspiracies here no mo no mo no mo no mo! LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 463080

09-19-2018 01:21 PM











Post: #13 RE: Tiny shroom to visit hurricane-stricken North Carolina

Liberals now can't stop obsessing over trump's dick. LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 451755

09-19-2018 01:26 PM











Post: #14 RE: Tiny shroom to visit hurricane-stricken North Carolina

LoP Guest Wrote: (09-19-2018 05:17 AM) of course, 33.



the media and those involved are all scum.



scummy trump wore his freemason tie today also.

'Super Mario Bros.' debuted 33 years ago

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/13/super-ma...tendo.html



9/11 Prediction in Super Mario Bros movie









Music has been cued.

https://soundcloud.com/goblinsfrommars/s...e-download 'Super Mario Bros.' debuted 33 years ago9/11 Prediction in Super Mario Bros movieMusic has been cued.















Username: Password: or Register Thread Rating: 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average

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Did Someone Put Pressure on CBS and The Creators Of Hawaii 5-0. . . LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 408320

09-19-2018 07:11 AM











Post: #1 Did Someone Put Pressure on CBS and The Creators Of Hawaii 5-0. . .

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"The character evolved from beginning as a master spy for China, later into an extremist Chinese agent working with a hawkish Chinese general. The general opposed peace discussions with the United States in the early 1970s. By the end of the series, Wo Fat had become an international super-criminal out for his own interests. In the last episode, Wo Fat is finally arrested and jailed after 12 years as a wanted criminal. However, in the final shot, he smiles and craftily produces a file hidden in his shoe. It remains a perpetual cliffhanger. . ."



"The evolution of Wo Fat's role with regard to the Chinese government is presumably due to President Richard Nixon's rapprochement visit to China in February 1972 and his talks with Mao Zedong that led to a period of detente between the two nations. A regular recurring character in the show's first four seasons, Wo Fat's appearances after the historic event became far more sporadic: just five episodes in eight years."



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaii_Fiv...TV_series)



"Freeman died in 1974 during the sixth season of Hawaii Five-O from complications of heart surgery."



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Freeman



"U.S. President Richard Nixon's 1972 visit to China (officially the People's Republic of China or PRC) was an important strategic and diplomatic overture that marked the culmination of the Nixon administration's resumption of harmonious relations between the United States and China. The seven-day official visit to three Chinese cities was the first time a U.S. president had visited the PRC; Nixon's arrival in Beijing ended 25 years of no communication, nor diplomatic ties, between the two countries and was the key step in normalizing relations between the U.S. and China."



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Ni...t_to_China . . .in order to change the trajectory of the Wo Fat character?"The character evolved from beginning as a master spy for China, later into an extremist Chinese agent working with a hawkish Chinese general. The general opposed peace discussions with the United States in the early 1970s. By the end of the series, Wo Fat had become an international super-criminal out for his own interests. In the last episode, Wo Fat is finally arrested and jailed after 12 years as a wanted criminal. However, in the final shot, he smiles and craftily produces a file hidden in his shoe. It remains a perpetual cliffhanger. . .""The evolution of Wo Fat's role with regard to the Chinese government is presumably due to President Richard Nixon's rapprochement visit to China in February 1972 and his talks with Mao Zedong that led to a period of detente between the two nations. A regular recurring character in the show's first four seasons, Wo Fat's appearances after the historic event became far more sporadic: just five episodes in eight years.""Freeman died in 1974 during the sixth season of Hawaii Five-O from complications of heart surgery.""U.S. President Richard Nixon's 1972 visit to China (officially the People's Republic of China or PRC) was an important strategic and diplomatic overture that marked the culmination of the Nixon administration's resumption of harmonious relations between the United States and China. The seven-day official visit to three Chinese cities was the first time a U.S. president had visited the PRC; Nixon's arrival in Beijing ended 25 years of no communication, nor diplomatic ties, between the two countries and was the key step in normalizing relations between the U.S. and China." LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 408320

09-20-2018 02:08 AM











Post: #2 RE: Did Someone Put Pressure on CBS and The Creators Of Hawaii 5-0. . .

What say you? LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 408320

09-20-2018 02:41 AM











Post: #3 RE: Did Someone Put Pressure on CBS and The Creators Of Hawaii 5-0. . .





The following is a recent story. The question remains whether or not this is a response to an already crooked ratings system that is already applying certain types of pressure to certain television programs in a stealthy manner, or if this is being implement in order to obtain more control and power in applying that pressure. Of course there is the possibility that it is desired admirable reasons to address corruption in the current ratings system, but will inevitably end up being applied by those who are the cause of the corruption in the current system and have the desire to use something like this as a tool for more power and control regarding what people view.



KEY SENATOR WANTS GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT IN MEDIA RATINGS



http://www.lunaticoutpost.com/thread-62815.html If pressure was applied, what form did it take?The following is a recent story. The question remains whether or not this is a response to an already crooked ratings system that is already applying certain types of pressure to certain television programs in a stealthy manner, or if this is being implement in order to obtain more control and power in applying that pressure. Of course there is the possibility that it is desired admirable reasons to address corruption in the current ratings system, but will inevitably end up being applied by those who are the cause of the corruption in the current system and have the desire to use something like this as a tool for more power and control regarding what people view. LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 408320

10-07-2018 12:27 PM











Post: #4 RE: Did Someone Put Pressure on CBS and The Creators Of Hawaii 5-0. . .

Was The Tiananmen Square Massacre A Coordinated. . .



http://www.lunaticoutpost.com/thread-70043.html















Shanghai (Gasgoo)- At the World Internet of Things Exposition 2018, Ford Motor showcased its C-V2X (Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything) technologies for intelligent-connected vehicle (ICV) in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, the automaker announced on September 17. This is the first time that Ford Motor demonstrates its C-V2X technology in China.

C-V2X technology is a wireless communication solution that could make vehicles, road infrastructures, pedestrians as well as other traffic participants connect with each other using an identical information language. The technology is able to help enhance vehicle driving safety, improve the traffic efficiency and boost the development of autonomous vehicle technologies.

In May this year, a new conference held in Wuxi announced that Wuxi will build the world's first city-level LTE-V2X Internet of Vehicles (IoV) application demonstration area in which Ford Motor also involved. The U.S.-based automaker will further evaluate the performance of its C-V2X technology through the technical tests on public roads and eventually use it in vehicles.

Cooperating with such technology companies as Huawei and China Mobile, Ford Motor will employ the C-V2X technology to research and develop various application scenarios, such as V2I (Vehicle-to-Infrastructure), V2V (Vehicle-to-Vehicle) and V2P (Vehicle-to-Pedestrian), based on Chinese road conditions and drivers' driving behaviors.Lunaticoutpost.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program , anaffiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.Amazon, the Amazon logo, MYHABIT, and the MYHABIT logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.Don't be a pest to the forum.No profanity in thread-titles or usernamesNo excessive profanity in postsNo Racism, Antisemitism + HateNo calls for violence against anyone..This website exists for fun and discussion only. The reader is responsible for discerning the validity, factuality or implications of information posted here, be it fictional or based on real events. The content of posts on this site, including but not limited to links to other web sites, are the expressed opinion of the original poster and are in no way representative of or endorsed by the owners or administration of this website. The posts on this website are the opinion of the specific author and are not statements of advice, opinion, or factual information on behalf of the owner or administration of LunaticOutPost.Com. The owners or administration of this website can't be hold responsible for content hosted on sites that posters link to in; including, but not limited to, posts, signatures, private messages and such. This site may contain content not suitable for minors and if you feel you might be offended by such content, you should log off immediately.This site may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Users may make such material available in an effort to advance awareness and understanding of issues relating to civil rights, economics, individual rights, international affairs, liberty, science & technology, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material. The material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.In accordance with industry accepted best practices we ask that users limit their copy / paste of copyrighted material to the relevant portions of the article you wish to discuss (no more than 50% of the source material) provide a link back to the original articleIf you are a legal copyright holder or a designated agent for such and you believe a post on this website falls outside the boundaries of "Fair Use" and legitimately infringes on yours or your clients copyright please contact [email protected] This website is owned by :Marco ZwaneveldDrijfriemstraat 522516 XR The HagueNetherlands.I will not rent, sell, share or otherwise disclose your personal information to any third party.We might contact you from time to time regarding your purchases or the services (like forums and announcement lists) you have subscribed to.Some of the 3rd party advertisers on lunaticoutpost.com may use cookiesto track peformance and/or to serve relevant ads.If you wish to read more and/or opt out of such cookies, please visit: http://www.networkadvertising.org/choices/Latest: Irish designer Orla Kiely has closed its stores after falling into administration.

The retail and wholesale side of the brand, famed for its colourful patterns, ceased trading on Monday, resulting in the closures of three outlets including the Kildare Village store.

Staff were informed of the closure earlier this week and made redundant with immediate effect.

Operations have now ceased both in the stores and on the brand's website.

However, the licensing arm of the business will continue trading, meaning Orla Kiely branded product collections for the likes of John Lewis and Partners and Very.co.uk will not be affected.

In a statement posted on the brand's website, founder Orla Kiely and her husband Dermott Rowan wrote: "Thank you for embracing our brand and designs throughout the years and for your ongoing support."

Restructuring firm David Ruben and Partners have been appointed as administrators to Kiely Rowan, the parent company of the retail and wholesale business.

Kiely set up her own label in the 1990s and has gained widespread recognition for her distinctive prints.

The designs have appeared on a range of branded products including bicycles for Halfords and a range of Citroen cars.

Irish designer Orla Kiely closes retail stores and online business

Irish designer Orla Kiely has closed her retail stores and online business.

One of Ireland's best-known designers, Ms Kiely has announced the closure of her stores in Kildare and London.

The Dublin designer's Home and Design licensing business is not to be impacted and products will continue to be sold through its distribution partners.

Kate Middleton wore this Orla Kiely print dress on more than one occasion

A statement released by Kiely Rowan Plc said that the retail and wholesale fashion business ceased trading as of Monday, September 17.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused," the statement said.

"Thank you for embracing our brand and designs throughout the years and for your ongoing support."

The London-based designer counts Kate Middleton among her fans and is renowned for her iconic prints.

Other celebrities to sport Ms Kielys distinctive fashionwear include Hollywood stars Kirsten Dunst and Kiera Knightley.

Digital DeskThe countrys overall balance of payments position, an important indicator that influences the value of the peso and foreign reserves, rebounded with a surplus of $1.27 billion in August, data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas show. It marked the first time that the monthly BoP yielded a surplus this year, improving from a $455-million deficit in July and a $7-million shortfall recorded in August 2017. Inflows in August stemmed mainly from net foreign currency deposits of the national government and income from the BSPs investments abroad during the month. These were partially offset, however, by the payments made by the national government for its foreign exchange obligations and foreign exchange operations of the BSP during the month in review, the Bangko Sentral said. The strong BoP surplus cut the cumulative BoP deficit in the first eight months to $2.44 billion from a high of $3.7 billion recorded as of July. However, it was still higher than the $1.39-billion BOP deficit registered in the first eight months of 2017. The higher cumulative BoP deficit for the period may be attributed partly to the widening merchandise trade deficit [based on the Philippine Statistics Authoritys preliminary data] for the first seven months of the year that was brought about by the sustained rise in imports of raw materials and intermediate goods as well as capital goods to support domestic economic expansion, the Bangko Sentral said. Data from the PSA showed that the country incurred a merchandise trade deficit of $22.49 billion in January to July, up from a shortfall of $13 billion a year ago.Strong remittances from Filipinos working overseas helped offset this trade deficit. Data from the Bangko Sentral showed that cash remittances hit $16.6 billion in the seven-month period, up 3 percent from $16.1 billion a year earlier. The Bangko Sentral said the BoP position was consistent with the gross international reserves level of $77.93 billion as of end-August. At this level, the GIR represents a more than ample liquidity buffer and is equivalent to 7.1 months worth of imports of goods and payments of services and primary income. It is also equivalent to 6.4 times the countrys short-term external debt based on original maturity and 4.4 times based on residual maturity, it said. The negative BoP position this year pulled down the value of the peso by 8 percent this year. The local currency closed at 53.99 against the US dollar Wednesday. BoP summarizes the countrys economic transactions with the rest of the world,. The Bangko Sentral earlier said it was expecting the balance of payments this year to post a wider deficit of $1.5 billion, compared to a deficiency of $863 million in 2017.Sonam Rai

Tesla has announced that it received a request for documents from the US Department of Justice over chief executive Elon Musks public statements in August about taking the electric carmaker private.

We have not received a subpoena, a request for testimony, or any other formal process, a Tesla spokesman said. We respect the DOJs desire to get information about this and believe that the matter should be quickly resolved as they review the information they have received.

The DoJ declined to comment.

Federal prosecutors have opened a fraud investigation, Bloomberg reported. The report said the department launched an investigation over Mr Musks tweets in early August that he had secured funding for a buyout deal valued at $72bn. He subsequently backed off.

Mr Musk has already been sued by short-sellers such as Citron Research and is facing a probe by the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Mr Musks known hatred toward short sellers should help the government show his wrong intent, said Eric Gordon of the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.

Musk said funding secured, which is not a prediction, but a statement in past tense which seems like a fact, and this could be a strong case from the government side, he added.

Unlike the Justice Department, the SEC has no power to bring criminal charges. It could instead subject Mr Musk to civil sanctions such as fines, relinquishing improper profits and a ban on running public companies.

A probe can go either way but finding Musk guilty may have serious negative repercussions to Teslas stock price, which will badly hurt investors, Morningstar analyst David Whiston said.

For now this just brings more overhang to the stock and a probe will probably take months, he said.

The billionaire CEOs behaviour has raised concerns about his leadership, with several Wall Street analysts urging Tesla to appoint a strong second-in-command.

Mr Musk has been under intense pressure to prove he can deliver consistent production numbers for the Model 3 sedan, which is crucial to Teslas plan to become a mass-market automaker.

He said on Monday the company is facing delivery bottlenecks as it ramps up production to meet its target of 6,000 cars per week.

Teslas stock, which has lost about 25% since its gains on August 7 after Mr Musk tweeted about going private, fell 4.8% to $280.79 yesterday.

ReutersSpelling - sometimes it's only natural to get a few words wrong but your own name? Now, that's embarrassing.

However, this was the case for Cathay Pacific, who failed to add the f to their new paint job, leaving them with quite a large mistake.By Olivia Kelleher

Cork County Council has agreed to carry out the demolition of a property in Charleville, Co Cork in which a 21-year-old man stabbed his nine-year-old twin brothers to death before ending his own life.

Tragic twins Thomas and Patrick O'Driscoll

Patrick and Tommy O'Driscoll sustained more than 40 stab wounds each. The wounds were inflicted by their brother Jonathan O'Driscoll who took his own life shortly afterwards. The bodies of the brothers were found in separate bedrooms at Deerpark, Charleville, shortly after 5pm on September 4th, 2014. The body of Jonathan O'Driscoll was discovered the same day at the banks of the Awbeg River in Buttevant. Two knives were recovered from the centre of the river.

In a statement, Cork County Council stated their commitment to knocking the property.

"Cork County Council remains committed to engaging with the O'Driscoll family with a view to facilitating the demolition of the dwelling."

Helen O'Driscoll, mother of the boys, has campaigned to have the site demolished. In an interview on Cork's 96FM last week she said it was a tradition in the travelling community that you burned the barrel top wagon that the person died in. She said she left the house because it wasn't a fit environment for the family.

"I took it upon myself to find another place and move out because I was thinking of my two other small fellas. They were there on the day the tragedy happened and I didn't think it was an environment for my boys and me. It wasn't about me or my husband anymore. It was about the two boys who were living. I needed to look after their well being and mental health.

For all three of us, I had to go out of it. Nobody in their right mind would ever live in that house. In the travelling community years ago you had a caravan or a wagon and when there was a death the property would be burned. Their souls would go to peace."

Ms O'Driscoll said you never really rebuild your life following such tragedy but you do your level best to put the pieces back together. She added that Jonathan suffered from mental health issues and that she forgives him for his actions.

"I had Jonathan for years before I had the boys and there is something about your first child. To me, all three of them were my babies and all three of them always will be my babies. It was just horrific the way things happened."

Helen O'Driscoll said she hopes her former home can be transformed into a shrine to her sons Thomas, Paddy and Jonathan.

Cork County Council is in the process of rehousing the family in a nearby property with the O'Driscoll's currently living in rented accommodation. The jury at an inquest into the deaths of the boys returned an open verdict. They ruled a suicide in the case of Jonathan.

Jonathan, the eldest of the five O'Driscoll children, had collected his four younger brothers, Paddy, Thomas, Jimmy (5) and Martin (4) from creche at 3.15pm on the day of the tragedy. He brought them to the park and bought them sweets before driving them home. The alarm was raised that afternoon by the younger boys.by Gordon Deegan

A security firm sacked a hospital security guard for switching off his 'Body Cam' as a colleague carried out an alleged unprovoked assault on a heroin addict in a Dublin hospital.

In the case before the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), Adjudication Officer, Penelope McGrath stated that the security man's response to a colleague carrying out a seemingly unprovoked assault was to protect the perpetrator by turning off his Body Camera.

The security man sued for unfair dismissal and due to wholly inadequate procedures and lack of fairness shown to the security guard in the internal disciplinary and investigation process, Ms McGrath has found that he was unfairly dismissed and has awarded him 6,500.

However, in making the award, Ms McGrath said that she was conscious that by turning off his camera in the incident, the security guard failed his employer.

Ms McGrath said that an assault was allegedly being carried out on a member of the public and the best evidence recording was unilaterally terminated.

Ms McGrath said that the security guards own actions in an unfolding situation demonstrated a lack of judgement as to what he, as an employed security officer, should be expected to do.

Ms McGrath stated that only for the fact that there were wall mounted cameras in the vicinity, the full picture might never have been known to the employer.

The Adjudication Officer stated that she accepted that the damage to reputation and the potential insurance fallout had to be primary considerations for the employer.

The security guard had been employed by the company for nine years and had a disciplinary history without incident.

In the incident, Ms McGrath reports that on November 13 last, the security guard was called to an incident where there were drug addicts shooting up in the public toilets of the hospital.

Ms McGrath reports:

I am of the impression that this has happened in the past.

Up to four of the guards converged on the toilets and three unidentified individuals were found in one of the cubicles.

The three were in the process of taking or using drugs and Ms McGrath stated that there was a very real concern that there might be dirty needles in the environs.

Following protocol, the security guard advised that he was switching his body camera on.

Ms McGrath said that she accepted that the security guard wanted to capture the situation in real time and to show that he and his colleagues were dealing with individuals that were carrying sharpies as they were described.

The security guard pointed his chest high camera into the cubicle to show the presence of the needles and other paraphernalia.

Within seconds, however, the incident got heated as the three from the toilets became belligerent about being moved on.

The party of trespassers and the security guards moved to the door leading to the public corridor and a request was put in to call the Gardai.

Ms McGrath said that she accepts that the footage shows that one of the security guards colleagues physically hit one of the three interlopers.

The unfairly dismissed security guard was not at any time involved in a physical altercation but Ms McGrath reports at just this point the Complainant turned off the recording device. The hit does not appear to have been in self-defence and this was not suggested to me. I heard nothing about provocation or otherwise.

The un-named company - which has a workforce of up to 600 and has revenues in the tens of millions of euro - sacked the man over switching off his body cam during a live recording of an extremely serious workplace incident.

In the course of meetings with his employer, the security guard put forward no excuse for turning off the CCTV camera on his shoulder at the point that he did.Latest: The Health Minister says charging for abortions would lead to private clinics popping up around the country.

Yesterday the 8th amendment was officially removed from the constitution - following May's referendum.

Minister Simon Harris says cost can't be a barrier for people, and it's his intention that abortion services will be free of charge.

He said: "I said from the start that I don't want cost to be a barrier because if cost is a barrier you get into a situation where one of two things happen.

"You see private clinics develop, we don't want that to happen in Ireland we want this to be part of an integrated health service, and secondly you can see people having to continue to travel.

"I want this to be provided as part of our health care system, as part of our public health care system and primarily as part of our primary care system."

Earlier: Doctors might not be ready to carry out abortions here by January.

The government wants women to be able to access terminations by the new year, but clinicians say there is still lots of work to be done.

The 8th amendment has been repealed but the laws allowing abortions haven't yet been passed.

That is expected to happen before Christmas, but doctors may not be ready to carry out terminations by then.

Dr Mary Favier from the ICGP says doctors still have lots of questions.

"There are concerns about capacity and resourcing issues such as staffing, facility and training.

"They are concerned about the potential lack of appropriate specialist support and the possibility of medical complications for their patients"

While Dr Peter Boylan from the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says there is only one hospital with an MRI machine at the moment.

They can be crucial in the diagnosis of fatal foetal abnormality.

He said: "When MRI is used further to initial ultrasound additional information is provided in 50% of cases, the diagnosis is changed in 35% of cases and prognosis is changed in 25% of cases"

All the speakers at the Oireachtas Health Committee today acknowledged there would need to be lots done if doctors are to be ready to carry out abortions early in the new year

Doctors concerned about public reaction if they refuse abortion services

Earlier: Doctors have raised concerns about the public's reaction if they refuse to provide abortions.

President Michael D Higgins yesterday signed the legislation removing the Eighth Amendment from the constitution.

This morning the Oireachtas Health Committee will hear from some of those who will be tasked with implementing Ireland's new abortion laws.

GPs are also concerned about staffing, training and the specialist support available to help them provide the new service according to the Irish College of General Practitioners which has been surveying its members to get their concerns.

The government plans to introduce the legislation to allow abortions into the Dail in the first week of October.

Ministers hope the laws allowing termination of pregnancy can be passed in the next few months to allow the first abortions to happen in January.

However, clinicians have warned they may struggle to train people up and provide medical guidelines in time for that to happen.

Dr Cliona Murphy from the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists says there's lots of work left to do to introduce abortion in Ireland.

She said: "We've seen how if you don't plan things properly they can unravel, so I would certainly caution and maybe we should consider some phasing in or some pilot, that's my own personal view.

"There should be some understanding among the public that that's a very short time frame to role out separate health strategy."Latest: A woman has died after the caravan she was in was blown off a cliff onto a beach in the west of Ireland during Storm Ali, Gardai have said.

The woman was believed to have been a Swiss tourist aged in her 50s.

She was alone in the caravan at the time.

Rescuers attended at Claddaghduff, near Clifden in Co Galway, this morning.

The west of Ireland has been battered by high winds caused by the Atlantic storm.

Footage of the scene shows the caravan broken up into several pieces as the tide threatens to wash it out to sea.

A statement from Gardai said: "At approximately 7.45am a report was received that a caravan had blown off the cliff at the above location.

"A search was carried out at the scene on the beach and after a short time the body of a female in her 50s was recovered.

"Her body is expected to be removed to University College Galway for a post-mortem examination. The local coroner has been notified."

Reports said the victim was sleeping at the time when strong winds lifted the caravan from the ground.

The scene in Claddaghduff, near Clifden in Co Galway where a woman died after her caravan was blown off a cliff in Storm Ali. (Niall Carson/PA Wire)

It said the dwelling was blown onto a stretch of coastline and is not submerged in water.

Tributes

Tributes have been paid to the woman who died this morning.

President Michael D Higgins was among those who expressed condolences to the woman who died.

"I was deeply saddened to learn that Storm Ali has already claimed one victim today in Claddaghduff, Co Galway," he said.

"As President of Ireland, may I express my deepest condolences to her family.

"I would also take this opportunity to pay tribute to all those, in statutory and voluntary organisations around the country, who are helping and stand ready to assist their fellow citizens, and who are working to maintain essential services around the country."

The scene in Claddaghduff, near Clifden in Co Galway where a woman died after her caravan was blown off a cliff in Storm Ali. (Niall Carson/PA Wire)

Minister for Employment Regina Doherty also offered her condolences to the family of the dead woman.

Speaking in the Dail on Wednesday, Ms Doherty said: "Can I on behalf of everyone in the House, including the Government, offer my sincere condolences to the family and friends of the lady who passed away this morning due to the adverse weather conditions in Galway."

Emergency services responding after caravan blown off Galway cliff

Earlier: Gardai and emergency services are at the scene of an incident in Claffaghduff near Clifden in Galway after a caravan was blown off a cliff.

It is reported that a woman in her 50s was in the caravan at the time.

A garda spokesman has said however that they are having difficulty accessing the caravan.

Nor could they confirm that a woman was inside when it was blown from the cliff.

A statement from Gardai said: "Gardai in Clifden Co Galway are dealing with an incident which occurred at Claddaghduff, Co Galway this morning.

"A caravan has blown off a cliff. It is believed that a female in her 50s was in the caravan.

"Gardai and emergency services are currently at the scene."

It is understood that the caravan has landed on a stretch of coastline and is not in the water.Latest: A 24-year-old man arrested in connection with the discovery of heroin in Dublin has been released from questioning.

The drugs were found during planned searches at seven premises in Dublin city centre this morning by gardai investigating organised crime gangs.Property developer Cebu Landmasters Inc. said it fully utilized the P2.15-billion proceeds from an initial public offering in 2017. Cebu Landmasters said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it spent 70 percent of the total proceeds to build up its land bank to 976,302 square meters. Cebu Landmasters is committed to the fast turnaround strategy of the company, Cebu Landmasters president and chief executive Jose Soberano said. We have developed 420,573 sqm of our landbank after IPO. We now have 52 projects in various developments and weve already expanded to eight key cities in VisMin, he said. The company said 41 percent of its landbank is in Mindanao, 33 percent in the Visayas and 26 percent in Cebu. Cebu Landmasters purchased a total of 767,917 sqm of land in Cebu, Davao and Cagayan de Oro and added inventory in new locations in Bohol, Bacolod, and Iloilo.This increased the developers landbank to 976,302 sqm, after using 420,573 sqm in various vertical and horizontal projects. Cebu Landmasters was listed with the Philippine Stock Exchange on June 2, 2017 by selling 430 million shares at P5 per share. The company, which aspires to be the leading and most preferred local developer in the Visayas and Mindanao by 2020, currently has 52 projects in various stages of development. It recently launched the P3.6-billion Astra Centre, its second mixed-use property strategically located on a 1.2-hectare lot at A.S. Fortuna Street in Mandaue City, Cebu.The newly-formed Celtic League has been branded a laughing stock by Llanelli chief executive Stuart Gallacher.

The 15-team competition - involving two Scottish districts, four Irish provinces and nine Welsh clubs - is due to start in August.

However, Gallacher is annoyed at the decision to increase the Welsh contingent from eight to nine clubs, a move which he says wrecks the business plans of hard-up clubs.

We have been let down by the Welsh Rugby Union, he said.

We were told in the summer there would be eight Welsh clubs and this was confirmed recently.

Now we have had an about turn. It beggars belief.

We will be the only league in the professional game with an imbalance of numbers. It is an utter nonsense.

If this isnt a reason for changing the structure of the Union, then God only knows what is. We are being governed by a body which is totally interested in the politics of the game and the sooner we get a management board to run the professional game the better.

The professional game in Wales isnt about politics anymore. It may have been for the last 100 years but now it is a matter of running businesses to survive.

The league will operate in two pools, one of eight sides, the other of seven.

I am appalled about the way the game is being run in Wales by a general committee which is archaic and does not understand the professional game, blasted Gallagher.Former Gold Cup third Road To Riches could return to Cheltenham this autumn after changing hands at Doncaster on Wednesday.

The 11-year-old was the star name among close to 40 horses sold by Gigginstown House Stud at the September Horses In Training Sale, as Michael O'Leary's operation conducted its annual dispersal.

Road To Riches won the Galway Plate and struck gold twice at Grade One level four years ago, landing the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal and the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown.

He went on to finish third behind Coneygree in the 2015 Cheltenham Gold Cup and returned to Prestbury Park to place behind the ill-fated Vautour in the Ryanair Chase 12 months later.

The Noel Meade-trained veteran finished a creditable sixth in the Grand National at Aintree in April, but was well beaten at Galway and Down Royal since and was knocked down for 35,000 to David Christie, who is a leading figure on the point to point circuit in Northern Ireland.

Christie said: "I know he's an older horse, but he moves like a four-year-old.

"He's been in Noel's all his life and hopefully a change of scenery will do him the world of good.

"He's been bought by a client to go for those cross-country races in Cheltenham, Auteuil and Punchestown. That's the number one plan."

He added: "He's been hunting in Ireland. Hopefully going down the cross-country route might just light the wick again.

"If that doesn't work out we can maybe aim him at a National in the spring, but we'll see.

"I think there's a cross-country race at Cheltenham in November so we might aim to start him off there."

Thunder And Roses, winner of the 2015 Irish Grand National for Gigginstown and the now-retired pair of Sandra Hughes and Katie Walsh, was bought by bloodstock agent Matthew Houldsworth for 21,000.

Houldsworth said: "He's been bought to go hunter chasing in Ireland."

Lord Scoundrel, who won the 2016 Galway Plate for Gordon Elliott and was seventh in this year's renewal behind stablemate Clarcam, is joining Graeme McPherson after being bought for just 9,000.

"There are no plans for him. We'll just get him home and see how he gets on," said the Gloucestershire-based trainer.

"He's obviously a quality horse with a cracking story behind him and at that price he was just too good to miss."

PAThe Asian Development Bank said Wednesday its board of directors approved a $300-million loan to support the Philippine governments effort to expand financial services across the country. It said the loan was expected to benefit entrepreneurs, small businesses, farmers, workers, and individuals, including women and vulnerable households. It would support the policy-based Inclusive Finance Development Program which aimed to help the Philippines develop a resilient and inclusive financial sector. The project will help the government strengthen the countrys institutional and policy environment for expanding financial services, invest in support networks and infrastructure such as the national retail payment system and the new national identification system and improve the abilities of financial institutions, including rural banks, to offer financial products, particularly through the application of new technologies. The bank said more people were expected to open bank accounts, save more at financial institutions and have access to a wider range of other financial products and services. The program reflects the strong commitment of the government and ADB to expand financial inclusion in the Philippines and address the challenge of high inequality, which has persisted despite rising and sustained economic growth, said ADB senior financial sector specialist Kelly Hattel.The program builds on important actions taken by the government to strengthen the policy framework for financial inclusion and the infrastructure that supports the delivery of these services. We believe this program has all the right ingredients to achieve positive gains in financial inclusion and to improve the lives of Filipinos from Tawi-Tawi to Batanes, Hattel said. Public and private sector entities that provide financial services will benefit from the program, Hattel said. Businesses, including micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, and individuals would also benefit as they would have better access to a wider range of appropriate financial services and stronger protection against economic shocks. The Philippine economy grew 6.7 percent in 2017, the fastest among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. But the country ranks among the highest in income inequality, with a Gini coefficient of 0.44 in 2015, compared with 0.38 in Thailand. Only 34 percent of Filipino adults had a bank account in 2017, compared with 82 percent in Thailand and 49 percent in Indonesia. Only 12 percent of Filipino adults borrowed from a formal financial institution in 2017 and 35 percent of cities and municipalities had no banking offices.Alibaba Group co-founder Jack Ma cautioned China's business and political leaders to prepare for the trade war with the US to last longer and have a bigger impact than most people think.

There is no short-term solution to the trade spat, says Jack Ma. Credit:Bloomberg

China's richest man said the dispute could last 20 years and persist beyond the presidency of Donald Trump, as the world's two strongest economic powers battle for global supremacy. China needs to strengthen its economy to deal with the conflict and shift trade relations from the US to regions like Southeast Asia and Africa, Ma said during a speech at the company's investor day conference in Hangzhou.

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"Short term, business communities in China, US, Europe will all be in trouble," Ma said, pacing a stage in an open white dress shirt and punctuating his remarks with forceful jabs. "This thing will last long. If you want a short-term solution, there is no solution."Set in Sydney in 1959, the story centres on the frock department of a fictitious upmarket store called Goode's, a microcosm of a country on the cusp of change.

Several characters gain some degree of wisdom in Beresford's Ladies in Black, based on the novel The Women in Black by his late friend Madeleine St John: a film fought for years to make, and which he can count as a personal triumph.

Bruce Beresford presents a puzzle to those who look for consistent patterns: what could unify a career that spans the whole history of modern Australian cinema? Part of the answer is suggested by the title of one of his recognised classics, the Henry Handel Richardson adaptation The Getting of Wisdom. Many of his films are concerned with learning experiences and moments of transition, whether individual, social or both.

Beresford was born and raised in Sydney, belonging to the same generation as his heroine Lesley (Angourie Rice), a bookish teenager who signs on at Goode's to help with the Christmas rush.

Many of the period details thus carry the authority of first-hand experience, restored to life with judicious use of digital effects: the brick and weatherboard cottages with their tiled roofs, the trams trundling down to Circular Quay, the ferries crossing the harbour, all looking fresh as paint.

Fresher, possibly, than the city ever appeared in lifebut then the film makes no secret of its nostalgia. Its trick is that it's both real and unreal, proposing that the most ordinary place imaginable can also be seen in hindsight as a lost, magical world.

Toiling through their daily routines and longing for excitement, the characters are unaware they have been positioned all along on what might as well be a musical comedy set (The Women In Black was, in fact, the basis for a recent stage musical, with songs by Tim Finn).

The frock department itself is a kind of magic theatre, a space of transformation for both the customers and the staff. The agent of this transformation is Magda (Julia Ormond), a Slovenian cocktail-gown specialist who came to Australia after the war with her Hungarian husband Stefan (Vincent Perez), spending time in a migrant camp along the way.An Australian study has found it could be more economically effective for the heathcare system to fund patients' participation in commercial diet programs like Weight Watchers than for GPs to provide standard care.

Researchers from the University of Sydney projected the health outcomes, costs and offsets of treating the 7.8 million Australians over the age of 20 who are overweight or obese and eligible for weight-loss intervention between 2015 and 2025.

Should doctors just refer patients to Weight Watchers? Credit:Shutterstock

The team projected outcomes for the group considering three treatment alternatives: if the group received standard care from their GP for one year, if they received a referral to a one-year Weight Watchers program, and if there was no intervention.

The study's results, published in journal Obesity and using weight loss data from a 2011 Lancet paper comparing GP care to the Weight Watchers program, found the Weight Watchers option would result in 60,445 averted cases of obesity in 2025, 2311 more than if patients had been put into standard care.Canberra's workplace watchdog is investigating an incident at a high rise residential construction site in Braddon at 5pm on Wednesday.

The incident occurred at Geocon's Midnight apartment building under construction on Northbourne Avenue and Elouera Street.

WorkSafe ACT said the "serious safety incident" saw prefabricated concrete panels inside a lift shaft collapse and fall seven metres down the shaft.

No workers were injured or in the shaft at the time of the collapse.

Worksafe ACT said it was investigating the cause of the collapse with the investigation to include an independent engineer.If you thought the Liberal Partys Wentworth preselection was messy, you aint seen nothing yet.

Candidate nominations for the March state election close on Friday (if the NSW Liberal executive doesnt push it out another week to get the backroom arrangements in place), and its shaping up to resemble a game of musical chairs conducted by Freddy Krueger.

Liberal MP Felicity Wilson is facing a likely challenge in her prized North Shore seat. Credit:James Alcock

Serial document falsifier Felicity Wilson, despite being protected by Premier Gladys Berejiklian, will almost certainly face a challenge from the Rights Tim James, whom she defeated for the prestigious North Shore electorate last year.

As one senior Liberal quipped to CBD, the last time a leader made their favourite known (when Prime Minister Scott Morrison ordained Katherine ORegan the Wentworth candidate in waiting), things did not turn out too well for either.As soon as the First Fleet arrived in 1788 they began taste-testing the local fauna," writes Peter Riley of Penrith. Captain Arthur Phillip reported in his journal that 'even crows stew well'. Have any C8 readers tried stewed crow and can verify the governor`s assessment?

Billy D from Mount Keira was amused when hearing on local radio: If Himalayan salt is 3 million years old why does it have a use-by date on its packaging?

Gabi Duigu is quite right. It's ger, not yurt (C8). Barry Sexton of Primbee takes up the (iron-flanged) mace: "John de Bres should perhaps be a little careful when making use of another language to make a C8 point, particularly if the language belongs to a society whose forebears conquered a massive part of the known world. On my two most enjoyable and informative visits to Mongolia, I was quickly, albeit politely, informed that Mongolians dont live in yurts, because yurt is the Turkic word used throughout Asia for the same type of structure. Mongolians live in, work in and revere a ger, a Mongolian word."

"Council signs inform me that if a dog is not on a leash there is a fine of $220 On the Spot," writes George Manojlovic of Mangerton. "Probably a good idea to call your pooch Fido instead."

They stick up for one another in Cromer. Alastair Browne writes: "In defence of Andrew Macintosh (C8), when I say was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, people say wheres that? So I respond, 'in Africa'."Detectives trying to solve the 20-year cold-case disappearance of a Queensland man have searched bushland and put up a $250,000 reward.

Greg Armstrong was 30 years old when he was last seen on May 7, 1997, and was living in Maryborough. His landlord reported him missing.

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Recent information received prompted searches of bushland in the Tuan State Forest, south of Maryborough.

Police said the investigations would remain ongoing and continue until all opportunities to advance the investigation had been exhausted.Phoenix agrees to freeze fuel price

posted September 19, 2018 at 07:25 pm by Alena Mae S. Flores September 19, 2018 at 07:25 pm

Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc. said it extended the price freeze to gasoline and diesel products in their retail outlets located in areas declared under state of calamity. Phoenix Petroleum is currently implementing the price freeze on kerosene and household liquefied petroleum gas in typhoon Ompong stricken areas as mandated by the Department of Energy Oil Industry Management Bureau. Phoenix Petroleum shall implement a price freeze for all products in all its stations located in areas which have been declared under a state of calamity. Heeding the call of the DoE, this is our little way of helping the public who have been at the receiving end of the recent typhoon, Phoenix vice president for external affairs Raymond Zorrilla said.The Energy Department said it was optimistic that other industry players would follow Phoenixs lead. Phoenix Petroleum responded to the call of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi on Tuesday to suspend this weeks implementation of oil price adjustments in areas declared under a state of calamity which were hit by typhoon Ompong over the weekend.

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.The quick actions of an emergency doctor in the right place at the right time "undoubtedly" saved the life of a Tasmanian tourist mauled by a shark in Queensland's Whitsundays.

The 46-year-old woman suffered severe leg and torso injuries when she was attacked in Cid Harbour, off Whitsunday Island, while swimming near a yacht late on Wednesday afternoon.

The woman, who had been staying at the Whitsundays on holiday, spent the night fighting for life in Mackay Base Hospital, where she remained on Thursday morning in critical condition.

RACQ CQ rescue crewman Ben McCauley said the shark had taken a "huge chunk" from the woman's inside leg and the quick actions of people onboard nearby vessels, including emergency department doctor John Hadok, saved her life.The sisters of a Perth grandmother allegedly murdered along with her daughter and three granddaughters in Bedford last week say they were blindsided when their niece called them to tell them of her death.

Grieving sisters Maureen Devereux and Wendy Frost arrived in Perth last week following the news of Beverly Quinn's alleged murder, and attended the Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court on Wednesday for Anthony Robert Harvey's second appearance.

Mara and Anthony Harvey.

Mr Harvey appeared via video link, appearing skinny and unkempt in a black shirt. He was remanded in custody to next face court on January 2 next year.

Mr Harvey has been charged with murdering his wife Mara Harvey, her mother Beverly and their three children, Charlotte, Alice and Beatrix.Moves are under way in Western Australia to ban online lottery-betting organisations, with the state government saying it will protect Lotterywest and minimise harm to at-risk gamblers.

Legislation was to be introduced to parliament on Wednesday to empower the Gaming and Wagering Commission to block so-called synthetic lottery products such as Lottoland, which offer betting on domestic and overseas lottery draws.

Premier Mark McGowan said has moved to ban lottery-betting companies like Lottoland. Credit:AAP Image/Tony McDonough

Premier Mark McGowan said the organisations were eroding the customer base of Lotterywest, which provides hundreds of million of dollars in grants to worthy organisations each year.

Organisations like Lottoland, however, take from the community but don't give anything back, Mr McGowan said.Learning to swim is a rite of passage. It's also a way of surviving the Aussie summer's sometimes boozy rituals of surf, sand and river that resulted in the drowning deaths of more than 750 overseas-born Australians. Few had learnt to swim.

So when Priyanka Singh's 3-year-old son started learning to swim at Seven Hills Aquatic Safety Academy, she asked her husband, "Who is going to get in [the water] with him?"

Tanya Schmid gives Chitrakala Sowrirajalu a swimming lesson at the Aquatic Safety Training Academy in Seven Hills. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

If anything went wrong in water deeper than a paddling pool, they'd be helpless. Mrs Singh didn't learn to swim as a child in India, so now she is doing lessons.

In the 10 years to 2015, 27 per cent of the 2787 people who drowned in Australia were born overseas. Many were long-term residents such as the Singhs who had never learned to swim, a study by Stacey Pidgeon, a senior researcher with Royal Life Saving Australia, revealed.Private job-seeking operators are stripping people of unemployment benefits without consulting government departments, leaving them with few avenues of redress despite up to 1 million mistakes being made last year.

The revelations come as Labor threatens to tear up some of the contracts in the $7.3 billion employment services sector - the largest area of government procurement after defence - and considers whether to abolish the work-for-the-dole scheme if it is elected.

A Per Capita report to be released on Thursday accuses providers in the federal governments Jobactive scheme of cutting corners, ticking boxes and only referring job seekers to skill development courses when they were being run by an associated company.

Jobactive user Jo Healy-North Credit:Eddie Jim

The research, based off Monash University-run focus groups around Australia for the past year, found the chronically understaffed multibillion-dollar private job assistance industry had become dominated by compliance rather than focusing on genuine assistance for job seekers.The Hague, Netherlands: International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor has announced she has launched a preliminary investigation into the deportation of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar into Bangladesh.

Fatou Bensouda said in a written statement and video message that she has begun a probe formally known as a preliminary examination to establish if there is enough evidence to merit a full-blown investigation.

Rohingya woman Fatima Begum comforts her twins Asia and Rubina as her sick son Sadeka lays by her side at the Balukhali camp in Bangladesh. Credit:Kate Geraghty

Bensouda said she would look at reports of "a number of alleged coercive acts having resulted in the forced displacement of the Rohingya people, including deprivation of fundamental rights, killing, sexual violence, enforced disappearance, destruction and looting."Washington: President Donald Trump says the US is looking "very seriously" at establishing a permanent military base in Poland.

Polish President Andrzej Duda, eager to secure a commitment, said his country would not only help pay for the facility but name it "Fort Trump".

Poland's President Andrzej Duda Credit:AP

Trump raised the possibility of a new base during a meeting with Duda in the Oval Office on Tuesday, telling reporters the two would discuss the issue, and "we're looking at it very seriously".Islamabad: Pakistani authorities released former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter from jail on Wednesday after a court suspended prison sentences they received in July over the purchase of upscale apartments in London.

Supporters showered Sharif's car with rose petals after he was freed in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, television footage showed. "The prisoners have been set free," Ishaq Cheema, an official at Adyala jail, said.

Earlier in the day, Islamabad High Court suspended the 10-year jail term of the three-time primee minister, who was once the favourite of Pakistan's powerful generals but has since fallen out and clashed with the military.

The ruling comes almost two months after Sharif's party lost a general election to the party of new Prime Minister Imran Khan. Sharif's party and others allege the July 25 polls were rigged to favour Khan, who is seen to be close to the army.Washington: US Attorney-General Jeff Sessions praised President Donald Trump for taking decisive action to fight crime and support law enforcement, only hours after the President levelled one of his strongest attacks yet against the former senator, saying he essentially doesn't exist.

US Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Credit:AP

In prepared remarks for a speech to law enforcement officers in Illinois on Wednesday, Sessions credited Trump's "strong leadership" for policies that are "respecting police again and enforcing our laws."

"Based on my experience meeting with officers like you across the country, I believe that morale has already improved under President Trump," Sessions said, according to his prepared remarks. "I can feel the difference."

It's not a two-way relationship, however, as the latest broadside by Trump against his top law enforcement officer showed.Malacanang on Wednesday told former Interior secretary Manuel Roxas to shut up and let the administration do its job after the former opposition senator asked President Rodrigo Duterte to consider his suggestions to lower rice prices. I havent heard what he [Roxas] said, but I think, with his experience in Leyte before, it will be better if he will just keep quiet, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said Wednesday morning in a radio interview with DZRH. The Palace official brought up Roxas performance, a former Department of Interior and Local Government secretary, in the rehabilitation efforts in the aftermath of super typhoon Yolanda. He does not need to add to the noises now. We all know what he did in Yolanda. He said, no one is in charge. Thats not what the country needs in a time of need,  said Roque. We should let the process of giving assistance to the public proceed in times like this. In another radio interview, Roque also criticized Roxas for his negligence as a government official. I am really wondering because Mar Roxas let the people in Leyte suffer because of politics. What happened to him and what changed his perception of the world? said Roque. My only message is if he would only do the things he did during Yolanda, thank you very much, but we dont need it, he added. On Tuesday, Roxas took to Facebook and offered Duterte some recommendations to counter the problem of high rice prices and the damage brought by Ompong.We may have a different opinion on many things, but I think all the Filipinos want to solve the problem. Timeout first, said Roxas, pleading to the President to please consider his suggestion. Only a massive and immediate additional supply of rice can bring down prices to affordable levels, he said. Instruct that Minimum Access Volume to be increased to 1.5 million metric tons. Remove the usual BS imposed by NFA so as to allow any and all in the private sector to import rice, he added. Roxas also suggested that the government proactively ask several fast-food chains in the country, and supermarkets, to independently source and import their own needs for them not to share with the national stockpile. According to Roxas, his possible solutions will provide a definite physical buffer, put a definite timeframe for when the tight supply will end, and induce hoarders to release their stocks. Roxas also urged the government to include farmer families in the Conditional Cash Transfer program, repeal the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law, and promote industrialized farming to increase capital investment in agriculture.Sign up for our PoliticsNY newsletter for the latest coverage and to stay informed about the 2021 elections in your district and across NYC

It tasted good while it lasted!

A new policy offering ticket-holders unlimited bites at Sundays Taste Williamsburg Greenpoint food festival was so successful that some vendors had their plates wiped clean long before the event wrapped at 5 pm, according to a first-time food hawker.

We ran out around 3:30 pm and I was like Oh, no,  said Nino Coniglio, the owner of Williamsburg Pizza and Brooklyn Pizza Crew. I was scrambling to order dough from one of our restaurants.

Coniglio and more than 40 other vendors came together at East River State Park to feed the masses at the ninth-annual festival, which this year offered all-you-can-eat samples to anyone who shelled out $55 for a ticket, or $85 for early VIP admission, to the four-hour feast.

And even though Coniglio ran out the 170 pizzas and 300 rice balls he prepared long before closing time, the local pieman deemed the day a success and said he plans to participate again next year.

Williamsburg barbecue joint Cash Only BBQs booth also fielded hordes of hungry eaters throughout the event, according to attendee Isaac Quinn, who said the vendor had enough finger-licking fare for him to try even as other stations had already closed by the time he arrived at 1:45 pm.

But although he couldnt sample all of the cuisine, Quinn, who trekked to Taste from his home in the outer borough of Manhattan, still praised the event as a way to get out and see whats cooking in Kings County kitchens.

Williamsburg has changed so much over the past few years and the festival gives you an excuse to explore the city more, he said.

The fast-disappearing free samples also helped organizers achieve their goal of cutting back on festival-related waste, according Taste director Dana Krieger, who said the event drew around 1,500 people and netted more than $100,000 in sales, all of which will go towards finishing work on the Firehouse North Brooklyn Community Center, set to open in a former Wythe Avenue firehouse.Sign up for our PoliticsNY newsletter for the latest coverage and to stay informed about the 2021 elections in your district and across NYC

78th Precinct

Park Slope

Face the Mace

Some creep sprayed a woman with Mace inside a Flatbush Avenue watering hole on Sept. 9.

The victim, 23, told police she was trying to leave the bar between Bergen Street and Sixth Avenue at 6:25 pm, when a jet of the chemical suddenly caught her in the face, causing excruciating pain.

The woman was taken to Methodist Hospital for treatment following the attack, according to police.

The case was closed without any arrests, cops said.

Battery included

A thief rode off with a mans E-bike he parked on Prospect Park West on Sept. 2.

The victim told police he locked his ride to a light post near Third Street at 10:30 am, and returned about an hour-and-a-half later to find his battery-assist bicycle stolen.

No arrests have been made in the case, which remains open, cops said.

CRV you later!

Some crook drove off with a mans 99 Honda CRV he parked on Fourth Avenue on Sept. 3.

The victim told police he left his nearly 20-year-old green hatchback between 10th and 11th streets at 9 pm, and returned two days later to find an empty spot where his ride had been.

Police closed the case without making any arrests, cops said.

Elemental fury

A thief raided a mans 04 Honda Element he parked on Flatbush Avenue on Sept. 6, taking camping supplies.

The victim told police he left a bunch of outdoor gear inside his car parked near the Prospect Park Zoo at 9:30 pm, and returned about 24-hours later to find his backpack, chair, Swiss Army knife, and sling shot, stolen.

Police closed the case without making any arrests.

Violence on aisle 5

Cops busted a 29-year-old man for allegedly beating another guy inside a Seventh Avenue supermarket on Sept. 9.

The victim told police he was arguing with the suspect inside the market between 12th and 13th streets at 5:06 pm, when he started punching and scratching him.

Police cuffed the man later that day, charging him with misdemeanor assault, cops said.

 Colin MixsonTHE Commission on Audit has called the attention of the Duterte administration over its low spending of the Official Development Assistance loans. In a 2017 audit report, state auditors said of last years P74.55-billion loans from ODA, the government was only able to spend P299.75 million. The government received at least 10 foreign aid loans in 2017. The CoA, however, said 99.60 percent of the loans were not withdrawn, adding that because of this, there were delays in the target date completion of 17 projects. Of the net loan commitments, only P299.75 million were availed leaving undrawn amount of P74.55 billion. This amount represents 99.60 percent of the total net loan commitments for the loans contracted during the year, the report read.The CoA said the government foot on the commitment fees, or penalties of P230.17 million because of delayed withdrawal/availment of loans. The completion of 17 projects within the loan period is unlikely considering the reported project status. The benefits then to be derived therefrom will be delayed in addition to payments to commitment fees, it added. The Department of Transportation experienced delay to finish its seven projects, such as the capacity enhancement of mass transit system in Metro Manila as the recipient of a P20.796-billion loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency. The CoA also noted four delayed projects of the Department of Agriculture with 74 percent unspent fund of P16.322 million, citing the delayed projects of the departments of Environment and Natural Resources, Health and Social Welfare and Development; National Irrigation Authority, and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.While Rajiv Bajaj, Managing Director of Bajaj Auto confirmed the launch of an all-new Pulsar line-up by 2020, their flagship bike, the Bajaj Dominar 400 is also expected to come in a new avatar with upgraded USD forks, larger radiators, enhanced top-end performances and much more. According to reports and spy images sourced from Autocar India's forum, the Dominar 400 will get a substantial overhaul in terms of overall specs apart from the cosmetic upgrades in order to make ...

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Digital EditorThe Centre is considering a share buyback proposal for Coal India whereby it plans to raise at least Rs 10 billion as part of its disinvestment target from various public sector enterprises for the current fiscal year.

Sources aware of this development said that although a share buyback proposal was initially mooted, it was put in the backburner after the company, as well as the government, felt it would be better to opt for a stake sale to investors in the open market. However, Coal Indias shares failed to breach Rs 300 mark prompting the coal ministry to fall back on this ...Kumar Mangalam Birla, the billionaire chairman of the acquisitive Indian conglomerate that bears his name, said he was hungry for more deals after creating the nations biggest mobile-phone operator. His Aditya Birla Group continues to look for targets in the US, Europe and India that make business sense and are likely to add value, the 51-year-old said at Bloomberg's India Economic Forum on September 18 in Mumbai.

Dear Reader,

Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance.

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Digital EditorThe Department of Justice on Wednesday said controversial Globe Asiatique president Delfin Lee will remain in jail unless the Supreme Court decision downgrading the charges against him from syndicated estafa to simple estafa, a bailable offense, becomes final and executory. Acting Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon, head of the DoJs National Prosecution Service, said that Lee remains in detention at the Pampanga provincial jail after the DoJ filed a motion for reconsideration on the SC ruling. He [Lee] cannot be granted bail just yet since the Supreme Court decision is not yet final and executory, he said, adding that the controversial property developer could only post bail once the Court denies DoJs appeal with finality. Fadullon said that in its motion for reconsideration, the DoJ had sought that the SC reverse the Court of Appeals decision in 2013 that downgraded the cases against Lee from syndicated estafa to simple estafa, for allegedly defrauding the government of P6.6 billion in housing loan proceeds using ghost borrowers. We believe that it is a syndicated estafa case which is non-bailable case, so he [Lee] should not be allowed to post bail, the Prosecutor General said. In its 47-page motion for reconsideration, the DoJ through Solicitor General Jose Calida, asked the SC to reverse its ruling and reinstate the syndicated estafa cases against Lee and company. The DOJ argued that Lee and four other accused - GA vice president Dexter Lee, accounting head Cristina Salagan, documentation head Christina Sagun and Pag-IBIG Fund foreclosure manager Alex Alvarez - clearly committed fraud. From all the foregoing discussion, with due respect, it is established that all the elements of syndicated estafa are present in this case. Accordingly the DOJ and the People humbly implore the Honorable Court to revisit its own finding that the offense committed was simple estafa, the motion said. The DOJ questioned the finding of the SC that the second and third elements of syndicated estafa  the act was committed by a syndicate and which resulted in misappropriation of money - in the cases against Lee. Delfin, Dexter, Sagun, Salagan and Alvarez organized themselves into a syndicate for purposes of carrying out their fraudulent scheme, to the damage and prejudice of HMDF (Home Development Mutual Fund) and its member-contributors. The fact that Atty. Alvarez was not connected with GA either by employment or ownership cannot operate to separate him from his co-conspirators so as to remove the group from the application of Presidential Decree No. 1689 which requires that the syndicate must be composed of at least five persons, the DOJ said.Last July, the High Court voted 7-5 with two abstentions to affirm the CA ruling and dismiss the petition filed in 2014 by DOJ and HMDF The SC also lifted the temporary restraining order it issued in March 2014 that prevented Lees release from the jail as ordered by the appellate court. Lee was indicted for syndicated estafa charges for allegedly defrauding the government of P6.6 billion in housing loan proceeds for home buyers, whom investigators later found to be fictitious or had incomplete documents. However, he persistently sought relief from the courts and eventually secured a favorable ruling from the special 15th division of the appellate court in November 2013, which lifted the arrest warrant issued against him by the Pampanga regional trial court branch 42. The CA had bought Lees argument that he could no longer be prosecuted for the non-bailable charge of syndicated estafa following the dismissal of charges against two of his co-accused, Alvarez and Sagun. With the dismissal of the complaint against Alvarez and Sagun, which left Lee, Dexter and Salagan as the remaining accused, the CA held that the crime of syndicated estafa may no longer apply against the remaining accused since the law requires at least five accused in a syndicated estafa case. The DOJ and Pag-IBIG questioned the CAs ruling before the SC and secured the TRO. Lee was arrested on March 6, 2014 by elements of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Task Force Tugis at the lobby of the Hyatt Hotel in Manila by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by the Pampanga RTC Branch 42 in connection with the Pag-IBIG housing loan scam where Lee allegedly used ghost borrowers for GAs housing projects.Now, you have a choice to fly to destinations in the and from the national capital by shelling out just Rs 13,499 for an air ticket, with Iceland's carrier offering low fares for its flights.

The airline will start flights from the national capital to their hub in Reykjavik, Iceland (KEF) from December 7, according to a release.

To begin with, will operate three weekly flights connecting passengers to North America and over their hub in Reykjavik and from January, the frequency would be increased to five weekly flights.

"For Rs 13,499 per person, passengers can visit destinations like Chicago, Orlando, Newark, Detroit, San Francisco, Baltimore, Boston, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Washington DC, St Louis in the US," the airline said in the release.

The fare, inclusive of taxes, is also available for flights to Toronto and Montreal. It would be applicable for travel to outbound destinations from New Delhi between December 2018 to March 2019.

"The offer is valid for all bookings made between September 18 to September 28, and valid for travel between December 2018 to March 2019," the low-cost long-haul carrier said. The fares will be available for passengers booking their tickets through the airline's website.

WOW air's Founder and CEO Skuli Mogensen said it would begin operations from New Delhi in December.

"Our disruptive fares have been met with a strong demand and it clearly reflects the need for affordable travel between India and North America," he said.Japanese consumer durables major Wednesday said it aims to grow its appliance exports revenue from India to Rs 1 billion in three years, driven by strong demand from regions like SAARC, the US and Malaysia.

The company already exports appliances like electric cookers, mixer grinders and wet grinders to international markets and clocked export revenue of about Rs 640 million last fiscal.

"India has been a key export hub for us and regions like SAARC, Hong Kong, Malaysia, US and Thailand are among the largest markets for our appliances exports business. We expect the export revenue to grow about 60 per cent in the next three years...it would be at about Rs 1 billion," Appliances India Company MD Hidenori Aso told PTI.

He added that the small appliances business currently accounts for about six per cent of India's consumer business.

At present, overall Panasonic Appliances business exports to 43 countries.

To cater to the growing demand, the company plans to increase the plant capacity in the next five years and invest about Rs 30 crore.

Aso said the company has been manufacturing appliances in India for decades now and that has played a key role in maintaining costs, despite the rupee falling by over 10 per cent against the US dollar.

The company today unveiled a 'Made in India' mini rice cooker that will be exported to Japan -- Panasonic's home market -- as well as to countries like the US, Hong Kong and Singapore.

The company expects to ship close to 45,000 units of these cookers by March next year.

Panasonic has a current production capacity of one million rice cookers and total capacity of 1.43 million kitchen appliances at its Chennai plant.

"Rice cooker as a concept was born in Japan. Now, we are producing these in India and exporting to Japan, this speaks volumes about the quality," Panasonic President and CEO (India and South Asia) Manish Sharma said.Leyte Rep. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez

Leyte Rep. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez on Wednesday lauded her colleagues on the approval on second reading of the proposed Department of Disaster Resilience which aims to spare the lives of many Filipinos and save properties from future disasters. Romualdez, one of DDRs principal authors who represents Tacloban City otherwise known as Ground Zero during the onslaught of Super Typhoon Yolanda on Nov. 8, 2013, said the bills enactment drastically reduce the countrys vulnerability to natural hazards with the impending passage into law of DDR.We can now look forward to the future with hope, knowing that the government is ready, better equipped and committed to exert its best effort to reduce the risks that come with natural disasters, to empower local communities to rise above the different vulnerabilities that surround them and to ensure that in the years to come, such a tragedy will never happen again, Romualdez, chairman of the House committee on accounts, said. The House, through viva voce voting, approved on second reading House Bill 8165, creating the Department of Disaster Resilience, which shall be the primary government agency responsible for leading, organizing and managing the national effort to reduce disaster risk, and prepare for and respond to disasters, recover and rehabilitate. The bill also provides that the DDR shall oversee and coordinate the preparation, implementation, monitoring, evaluation of disaster and climate resilience plans, programs, and activities. The DDR shall also provide leadership in the continuous development of strategic and systematic approaches to disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery, and rehabilitation, and anticipatory adaptation strategies, measures, techniques and options. It shall also augment the capacity of local government units in collaboration with relevant national agencies and other stakeholders to implement disaster risk reduction and management and climate change action plans, programs, projects and activities. She thanked her colleagues for prioritizing the passage of DDR bill, one of the priority measures of President Rodrigo Duterte. From the bottom of my heart, I thank my colleagues for passing the proposed Department of Disaster Resilience on second reading. Salamat sa malasakit, said Romualdez. She said Yolanda is an unspeakable tragedy that we do not want to happen again. Romualdez is the wife of Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa) President Martin Romualdez, the original proponent of the bill during the previous 16th Congress where he served House Independent Bloc leader as congressman of Leyte.HB 8165 declares it is the duty of the State to carry out and harmonize the policies on disaster risk and vulnerability reduction and management, and climate change adaptation, and sustainable development to uphold the welfare of the people particularly the vulnerable sectors of society. The DDR shall be composed of the following: 1) Secretary to be appointed by the President; 2) five Undersecretaries. Each of the four Undersecretaries shall be responsible for resilience, policy and governance, operations, administration and finance, respectively, while the fifth one shall be the Senior Undersecretary; 3) 10 Assistant Secretaries; 4) 11 Service Directors who shall head the following services: administrative and financial management, logistics and resource management, operations, responders management, policy development and planning, capacity-development and training, legal affairs and compliance, disaster risk reduction, climate change, rehabilitation and recovery management, and strategic communications; 5) divisions, units and offices; 6) The National Climate and Disaster Resilience, Research, Education, and Training Institute ; 7) regional and other offices; 8) bureaus; 9) seconded personnel from relevant agencies; and 10) grievance desks in every region. The DDR shall also have the power to receive donations and grants from any person, government institution, corporation, international organization, and other similar entities, and the power to recommend the procurement of developmental assistance for the purpose of disaster risk and vulnerability reduction and management, and climate change adaptation. It shall be mandatory for the department to acknowledge and certify the receipt of all DDR grants and donated funds and ensure their judicious management, including their proper and accurate audit reporting to constituents. The bill also provides for the creation of the National Disaster Resilience Council (NDRC) which shall be the policy advisory to the DDR on disaster risk reduction and management, and climate change adaptation. It shall be headed by the Secretary of Disaster Resilience and composed of the heads of the different government agencies. The Council shall be organized into five clusters namely, Disaster Prevention and Management to be led by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST); Disaster Preparedness to be led by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG); Disaster response to be led by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD); Logistics to be led by the Department of National Defense (DND); and Recovery and Sustainable Development to be led by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). The DDR shall also issue comprehensive guidelines on the initiation, entry, facilitation, transit and regulation of international relief goods and personnel, as well as eligibility guidelines to utilize the legal facilities for assisting international actors. The bill also provides for penalties for prohibited acts of public officials, and private persons or institutions. The amount needed for the initial implementation of the Act shall be taken from the current fiscal years unexpended appropriation of all agencies absorbed, transferred, and attached to the DDR. Thereafter, the amount needed for the operation and maintenance of the DDR shall be included in the General Appropriations Act.The Chhattisgarh High Court has asked the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) Chairman to appear in person by travelling in a small car on Raipur-Bilaspur road that NHAI is constructing to note the plight of people. All the three officials have been strictly asked to travel in a small car from Raipur to Bilaspur (on the under construction road) so that they can understand the hardship faced by the people, the order said.

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Digital EditorChristian James Michel, a British middleman wanted in in connection with the Rs 36-billion VVIP chopper scam, has till October 2 to challenge his extradition decision issued by a court, according to a media report Wednesday.

In a decision dated September 2, the Court of Appeals had ruled that he can be extradited to the authorities concerned in However, the extradition decision has to be approved by the UAE Minister of Justice before its implementation procedures can start, the Khaleej Times reported.

Michel, who is accused of organising bribes in exchange for a contract for VVIP helicopters, has 30 days from the day the decision was issued to appeal it, the report quoted a source as saying.

The Briton is out on bail, while his passport remains seized with the authorities here, the report said.

The ruling follows deliberation by a bench presided over by judge Eissa Mohamed Sherif, with member judges Rashid Mohamed Al Sumairi and Ashraf Mohamed Al Shawadfi. The September 2 decision, however, was pronounced by a different set of judges, it said.

Earlier Wednesday, the (CBI) said it was awaiting confirmation from the (MEA) on reports about extradition of Michel from the UAE.

The MEA had asked its embassy in the UAE to find out all the details relating to the issue.

Government sources in said the country has not received any official communication from authorities in the UAE relating to extradition of Michel.

The (ED), in its charge sheet filed against Michel in June 2016, had alleged that he received EUR 30 million (about Rs 2.25 billion) from

Michel is one of the three middlemen being probed in the case, besides Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa, by the ED and the CBI.

Both the agencies have notified an red corner notice against him after the court issued a non-bailable warrant.

On January 1, 2014, India scrapped the contract with Finmeccanica's British subsidiary for supplying 12 AW-101 VVIP choppers to the IAF over alleged breach of contractual obligations and charges of paying kickbacks to the tune of Rs 4.23 bn by it for securing the deal.

The CBI has alleged that there was an estimated loss of Euro 398.21 million (approximately Rs 26.66 billion) to the exchequer in the deal that was signed on February 8, 2010 for the supply of VVIP choppers worth Euro 556.262 million.The call came at 3 am. I was married against my wishes five years ago when I was 12, said a scared voice. Now my family is forcing me to go to my marital home The voice belonged to Susheela and she said she would run away if she wasnt rescued.

Dr Kriti Bharti of Jodhpur-based NGO, Saarthi Trust, immediately set off for Barmer where the girl lived. It took over a year to annul her marriage, during which time her family disowned her. Since that first night when I saw her hiding behind a tree in Barmer, Susheela has been entirely my ...The Union Cabinet did not consider on Wednesday Rs 45 billion plan to more than double the production assistance paid to sugarcane farmers and transport subsidy to sugar exporting mills, sources said.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) may take up the food ministry's proposal next week, they added.

The ministry has proposed sharp increase in production assistance to farmers to Rs 13.88 per quintal for 2018-19 marketing year (October-September) from Rs 5.5 at present.

The proposal to raise production assistance and transport subsidy of up to Rs 3,000 per tonne to mills for exports of five million tonnes of surplus sugar is part of the government plan to clear more than Rs 135 billion arrears have towards farmers.

On Tuesday, sources had said the government will have to bear about Rs 45 billion on account of these measures to help and cane farmers.

These steps will enable mills to boost sugar export and clear cane arrears, which currently stand at Rs 135.67 billion. Mills in Uttar Pradesh owe the maximum at Rs 98.17 billion to cane farmers.



ALSO READ: CCI imposes fine of Rs 380 million on sugar firms and their associations

India's sugar output is set to increase further to 35 million tonnes in the next marketing year from 32 million tonnes in this year. The annual domestic demand stand at 26 million tonnes. The opening stock of sugar is estimated at 10 million tonnes on October 1.

The government has taken a slew of measures to bail out cash-starved as well as cane farmers in the last one year.

First, it doubled the import duty on sugar to 100 per cent and then scrapped the export duty on it. It also made it compulsory for millers to export two million tonnes of sugar even as the global prices were low.

In June, the government had announced Rs 85 billion package for the cash-starved industry, which is facing a glut-like situation because of record 32 million tonnes of sugar production in the current 2017-18 marketing year ending this month.

The package includes soft loans of Rs 44.4 billion to mills for creating ethanol capacity. It will bear an interest subvention of Rs 13.32 billion for this.

The Centre had also announced an assistance of Rs 5.50 per quintal of cane crushed, amounting to Rs 15.4 billion, to mills. Around Rs 12 billion was allocated for the creation of 3 million tonnes buffer stock of sugar.

The minimum selling price of the sweetener has been fixed at Rs 29 per kg.

Last week, the government approved an over 25 per cent hike in the price of ethanol produced directly from sugarcane juice for blending in petrol in a bid to cut surplus sugar production and reduce oil imports.

The CCEA raised the procurement price of ethanol derived from 100 per cent sugarcane juice to Rs 59.13 per litre from the current rate of Rs 47.13.

The price for ethanol produced from B-heavy molasses (also called as intermediary molasses) was hiked to Rs 52.43 a litre from the current Rs 47.13 but that for ethanol produced from C-heavy molasses was reduced marginally to Rs 43.46 from Rs 43.70.In case the insurance firm delays claim settlement to farmers, they might have to pay penalty. At the same time, if the government delays the release subsidy component to the insurer, the government may have to compensate for the interest accrued due to the delay, government sources said. "Any delay, be it in the government's release of subsidy, or delay in claim settlement, has ...

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Digital EditorIndia's steel ministry has proposed increasing the effective import duty on some steel products to 15 per cent from current rates ranging from 5 per cent to 12.5 per cent, according to two sources and a government document reviewed by Reuters, as the country looks to support the rupee. The proposal, which is part of a broader government plan to cut "non-necessary" imports to stop an outflow of dollars that has sent the rupee to record lows, will be discussed in the trade ministry on Wednesday, according to one of the sources involved in the matter. "The broader ...The consignee of the four magnetic lifters believed to contain P6.8 billion of shabu was detained in the Senate after Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Senator Richard Gordon cited her in contempt for lying. Gordon warned Marina Signapan, owner of SMYD Trading, that she would be restricted in the detention facility of the Senate until she tells the truth about the smuggling of the ton of shabu that slipped through the Bureau of Customs last month. She will be confined here at the Senate premises. If she continues to lie after three days, we will bring them together with Mr. (Jimmy) Guban to the Pasay City Jail, Gordon said. After several attempts at compassion and understanding, Gordon said that Signapan had lied on her status as consignee. And she cannot claim that she was just consignee. She appears to be lying and for me she is lying. The chairman now declares Signapan under contempt of the Senate, he said. Gordon at first told Signapan that he didnt want to cite her in contempt and detained in the Senate since she is a woman and especially because she is a senior citizen. Gordon even repeatedly gave her the chance to retract her statement. But Signapan stood her ground and reiterated her earlier statement that she was just a mere consignee who was paid P180,000 for the job. She even begged Gordon to spare her the contempt charge. Gordon repeated his question, but again Signapan insisted that she was just tapped to be the consignee and a certain Joel Maritana paid her P180,000 for handling the fees, duties, and taxes. But Maritana said that it was Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service officer Jimmy Guban who introduced him to Signapan. The magnetic lifters were found empty at a warehouse in General Mariano Alvarez, Cavite in August. Authorities believe that the seized magnetic lifters were used to transport illegal drugs, which they said had already slipped past them and could already be circulating in the streets. Customs officer Jimmy Guban has remained in the Senate custody after he was cited in contempt in last weeks Blue Ribbon committee hearing. Meanwhile, Gordon directed Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chief Director General Aaron Aquino to arrest certain Chan Yee Wah, alias KC Chan, Albert Chan, or Tony Chan, the alleged mediator of a drug syndicate suspected of bringing tons of shabu into the country. In a related development, the Department of Justice on Wednesday said there is no need yet to seek assistance from the International Criminal Police Organization in determining the whereabouts or to arrest Cebu businessman and suspected drug lord Peter Lim who went into hiding after being indicted for conspiracy in the illegal drug trade.Too early to alert Interpol. No record that Peter Lim has left the country since his indictment, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said in a text message sent to reporters. Based on records from the Bureau of Immigration (BI), Lim left the country in March and returned four days later. Since then, there was no record of his departure from the Philippines. More than a month after the DOJ filed the charges against Lim and his co-accused before the Makati City Regional Trial Court, efforts by authorities to apprehend him remain unsuccessful. This prompted the DOJ to put up a P500,000 reward for any information that can lead to the arrest of the fugitive businessman. Guevarra even warned that anyone coddling Lim will be prosecuted for obstruction of justice. The government is also ready to give a reward of PHP500,000 to anyone who can give information on the exact whereabouts of accused Peter Go Lim, provided that such information will lead to the actual arrest of said fugitive, Guevarra said. During the arraignment last Aug. 28, neither Lim nor his co-accused Ruel Malindangan showed up but the other two accused  self-confessed drug dealer Rolando Kerwin Espinosa and Marcelo Adorco -- pleaded not guilty to the two counts of the non-bailable offense of conspiracy to commit illegal drug trade. Both Espinosa and Adorco are in government custody, while Malindangan is at large and is also the subject of an arrest warrant issued by Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 65 Judge Gina Bibat-Palamos. Last Aug. 14, the court issued a warrant of arrest against Lim and also ordered the Bureau of Immigration to prevent Lim from leaving the country by issuing a Hold Departure Order last August 17. Espinosa, Adorco, and Malindangan are also facing two counts of conspiracy to commit illegal drug trade at the Manila RTC and Makati RTC, along with convicted drug lord Peter Co and alleged drug supplier Lovely Impal.YES Bank Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rana Kapoor will have to step down from his position early next year. The private sector lender said on Wednesday that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had allowed Kapoor to continue only till January 31. The board of directors of the bank is scheduled to meet on September 25 to decide on the course of action, YES Bank said in a filing to the stock exchanges.

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Digital EditorMumbai attack mastermind plans to launch next phase of legal battle to retrieve the assets of Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and its subsidiary Falah-i-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF) after Pakistan's Supreme Court allowed the two outfits to continue their activities in the country, the JuD's spokesman said on Wednesday.

The government took over around 184 buildings schools, hospitals and dispensaries belonging to the JuD and FIF after the promulgation of the presidential ordinance last year and subsequently administrators were appointed there.

The government had also frozen all bank accounts of both organisations and stopped them from collecting funds.

Last week, a two-member bench of the Supreme Court rejected an appeal by the government against an interim order of the Lahore High Court on April 5 which had allowed the two groups to continue their "welfare work".

The high court had restrained the government from interfering with the social work of the two groups and also allowed their legal activities.

"The JuD and FIF have only got the permission for work but its entire infrastructure is still under the government administrative control. The bank accounts are frozen and funds collection dried up. We will move the Lahore High Court to get the control of JuD and FIF properties back and also seek de-freezing their bank accounts, JuD spokesman Ahmad Nadeem told PTI on Wednesday.

He said the Supreme Court's decision has given the JuD hope to get back its properties to resume its "social and charitable" works.

The JuD spokesman said: Getting all our buildings back, accounts restored and starting collection of funds are major legal challenges for us. We will take legal route, which may be longer as getting court's permission for charity work almost took seven months but that is the preferred path for us."



The had taken action against JuD and FIF as they were placed on the United Nations Security Council's (UNSC) sanction list.

Saeed was listed under UN Security Council Resolution 1267 in December 2008. He was released from house arrest in in November.

The JuD is believed to be the front organisation for the LeT which is responsible for carrying out the Mumbai attack that killed 166 people. It has been declared as a foreign terrorist organisation by the US in June 2014.

The US Department of the Treasury has designated Saeed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, and the US, since 2012, has offered a USD 10 million reward for information that brings Saeed to justice.A top Pakistani court suspended Wednesday the jail sentences of former premier Nawaz Sharif, his daughter and son-in-law in a corruption case, according to media reports.

A two-judge bench of the Islamabad High Court heard the petitions filed by former Sharif, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Capt (retd) Muhammad Safdar challenging their conviction related to the purchase of luxury flats in London, Geo News reported.

Justice Athar Minallah read the judgment and suspended the sentences handed to them by accountability court judge Mohammad Bashir on July 6. Sharif, Maryam and Safdar were sentenced to 11 years, eight years and one year, respectively, in prison in the Avenfield properties case.



The two-judge bench ordered the release of the former premier, his daughter and son-in-law.



Sharif, Maryam and Safdar were also directed to submit bail bonds worth Rs 0.5 million each.Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani on Wednesday said that Afghanistan is not on the verge of collapse, as it has "forces, resources, and the public, wealth" not to allow a collapse.

Referring to the atrocities against the Hazara community by terrorist groups in Afghanistan, Ghani asked for the constitution of an international commission of civil society to investigate the violation.

Talking about people of Afghanistan, Ghani said that the government is fighting for the next five generations.

"We need to overcome the past to create a different future," Ghani said.

He further talked about the possibility of Intra-Afghanistan peace, saying, "Most important thing we learnt from the ceasefire is that the people of Afghanistan are ready to forego the past for a better future. We are ready to embrace the future together."

He further asserted that peace with the Taliban is important as it can help the country's effort for counter-terrorism. "Taliban are the part of Afghan society," he added.

At the event, Ghani thanked India and the people of the country for the billion dollars committed to Afghanistan. He further talked about Afghan students who are enrolled in Indian Universities and declared that the top graders will be provided "a position onboard."

Talking about the centuries-old India-Afghan relationship, Ghani said, "This place what we call India and Afghanistan is been a place of networks. But the rich fabric of past has been a fabric of network."

During his one-day visit to India, Ghani and Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the progress of the multi-faceted India-Afghanistan strategic partnership.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Anganwadi workers from across the nation on Wednesday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to thank him for approving the hike in remuneration and other incentives.

Prime Minister Modi, while interacting with these workers, praised them for their key role while talking about the ongoing Poshan Maah (nutrition month) in view of the importance of nutrition in a child's physical and cognitive development.

He said nutrition requires constant focus and development of good habits, which can be provided by Anganwadi workers, and encouraged healthy competition among Anganwadis, as motivation efforts among various Anganwadi workers.

Around 27 lakh Anganwadi Workers/Anganwadi Helpers (AWWs/AWHs) all over the country at AWC/village level will be liable to avail benefits under the scheme, which received Cabinet approval earlier today.

Effective next month, those receiving Rs 3,000 per month so far, would now receive Rs 4,500 per month. Similarly, those receiving Rs 2,200 per month would now get Rs 3,500 per month. The honorarium for Anganwadi helpers has also been increased from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,250 per month.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gave its approval to the Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) Benefit Package, which will come into effect from October this year.

The benefit package will cost the central government Rs.1224.97 crore for two years (2018-2020) and will be implemented through the existing institutional mechanisms of the Mission for Health, according to an official release.

Comprised of two components, the package aims at enrolling eligible ASHAs and ASHA facilitators in social security schemes, namely the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, while increasing recurring incentives from Rs. 1000 per month to Rs.2000 per month for the ASHAs under the Health Mission.

The annual premiums for the social schemes will be paid by the central government, while the ASHA's shall reap the benefits which are entailed by the schemes. Along with this, the increase in monthly incentives is in addition to other task-based incentives approved at the central and state level.

The package intends at enrolling 65 per cent of ASHA's and ASHA facilitators in the abovementioned social security schemes by March 31 next year, and 100 per cent of ASHA's and ASHA facilitators by October 30 next year.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Commission on Human Rights chairperson Chito Gascon on Wednesday took a swipe at Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson and blogger Drew Olivar for mocking the deaf community and the Filipino sign language. The Philippine Federation of the Deaf filed a complaint against the duo, prompting the CHR to initiate an investigation. The controversial video making fun of the sign language used by deaf people is utterly appalling and unacceptable especially that it involves a government official and a blogger affiliated to a government office, CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said in a statement. Such behavior is extremely degrading, derogatory, and further perpetuates discrimination of the vulnerable deaf people, it added. De Guia said sign language is fundamental human right of the deaf community and is part of its higher right to self-determination. Making a mockery of this right is an attack on their dignity and makes them even more vulnerable in our society where only a few understand their mode of communication, the CHR said.Despite an apology from Uson and Olivar, the commission said we welcome the public apology the duo recently issued. However, for an apology to be genuine, it must be coupled with a full sense of accountability, concrete actions to rectify the wrong done, and future actions should manifest efforts to protect and promote the welfare and dignity of the PWDs (persons with disabilities), it explained. On Sept. 4, in a video, Uson asked Olivar to do a sign language and he proceeded to make fun of it. On the other hand, the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde called on the government to take action against Uson and Olivar for mocking the deaf community and Filipino sign language. We call on the government to take action against Mr. Olivar and Asec Uson, and impose appropriate penalties as provided by law, its letter read. DLS-CSB president Brother Dennis Magbanua said Usons actions were unbecoming of a government official, and that she, along with Olivar, must be held accountable.Australia's High Commissioner to India, Harinder Sidhu, on Tuesday expressed hope that the country would be sending a consignment of uranium to India in the near future.

Speaking at the Australia Fest here, Sidhu said, "Foreign Minister Julie Bishop was here (in India last year) and after Prime Minister's visit, she had mentioned some samples were sent to the Indian authorities for testing to make sure that uranium was fit to be sold. I understand that conversations are going on and we are genuinely hopeful that there will be a shipment of uranium in the near future. I can assure that from the Australian government's perspective, there is a high level of support and we're very keen to see such progress."

Australia is one of the world's largest exporters of uranium ore, having 40 per cent of its reserves. Both India and Australia had signed a civil nuclear agreement in 2014 to facilitate the supply of uranium to India.

The exports of uranium in India are banned as the country is not a part of the Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT). However, Australia has been a supporter of India's entry into the Nuclear Suppliers' Group (NSG).

Yesterday, Sidhu unveiled the program for Australia Fest - a six-month celebration of Australian culture, involving over 75 events across 20 cities in India.

At the event, Sidhu launched the festival website and also introduced three Australia Fest Ambassadors, Australian cooking sensation Gary Mehigan, and renowned Australian author John Zubrzycki and well-known music composer and Australian alumnus Raghav Sachar.

Australia Fest will culminate on March 30, 2019.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved construction of a new railway line between Budni and Indore (Mangaliyagaon) with electrification, at an estimated cost of Rs. 3261.82 crore.

Generating direct employment for about 49.32 lakh days, the project aims at reducing the distance between Jabalpur and Indore by 68 kms, according to the official press release. It will also reduce the travel time between Indore and Mumbai.

The project will also provide connectivity to various towns and villages like Nasrullaganj, Khategaon and Kannod which are not currently connected by the railways, while providing basic infrastructural support for industrial development.

The approved line will extend a direct link from Budni to Indore, bypassing the congested Bhopal-Itarsi section from Budni to Berkheda. 10 New crossing stations and 7 new halt stations will also be constructed along the route for public convenience and safety.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Goa Congress legislators have met state governor Mridula Sinha and demanded floor test by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government in the Assembly to prove its majority.

All 16 legislators, led by Leader of Opposition in Goa assembly Chandrakant Kavlekar, met the Governor and asked her for an opportunity to form government and dismissal of the BJP-led coalition government in the state, claiming that it is non-functional at the moment.

Goa is being ruled by the BJP-led alliance, headed by state Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.

Reacting on the matter, the Governor assured the Opposition that she would take four days to reply on the proposal.

After meeting the Governor, Kavlekar told media, "Let the state government prove on the floor that they have majority or else we can show that we have more legislators than them."

On September 17, the Congress, along with 14 legislators in the 40-member state assembly, submitted a letter to Governor Mridula Sinha, urging her to invite them to form the government.

Parrikar, who is suffering from a pancreatic ailment, reached the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for further treatment on Saturday.

Earlier this year, he had flown to the United States for treatment and returned to India in June, after two-and-half months.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A delegation of Congress leaders has handed over a detailed memorandum to Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), Rajiv Mehrishi, over the Rafale deal and urged him to expedite investigation in to the alleged multi-crore scam.

"We have given a detailed memorandum. We hope that CAG will look into the matter immediately and will speed up the investigation process," senior party leader Anand Sharma told the media after the meeting.

Elaborating further Sharma added, "The memorandum very clearly and conclusively establishes the irregularities, the acts of commission and omission by this government (BJP) and especially arbitrary decision by Prime Minister Narendra Modi , which personally complicit in what has happened in the scam of Rafale jet purchase and also denying the country, the benefits of technology and cutting out the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

In his concluding remark, the Congress leader said that he hopes that the truth will prevail and "CAG will urgently look into the matter and present the report in the Indian Parliament well on time as this particular scam has international ramification".

The Congress has been continuously holding series of press conferences on the Rafale issue, raising several questions on the deal with France. However, the Centre has denied all the allegations.

The Rafale jets were chosen during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) tenure in 2012. Initially, India had planned to buy 18 off-the-shelf jets from France, with 108 others to be assembled in the country by the state-run aerospace and defence company HAL.

The Centre led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi scrapped the UPA's plan in 2015 and announced that it would buy 36 "ready-to-fly" Rafale jets instead of seeking a technology transfer from France's Dassault Aviation and making the aircraft in India.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Geneva [Switzerland], Sept 20 (ANI): Sindhi political activists have strongly opposed the construction of Kalabagh Dam on the Indus River, calling it as 'illegal, unethical and immoral attempt' by Pakistan to deny life to the Sindhi people.

A side-event titled "Construction of Dam - denial of life to Sindhi People" was held during the ongoing 39th Session of UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Wednesday.

Lakhu Luhana, Secretary-General of Sindhi Congress, said, "Already, there are a number of dams and canals and that have been built against the international laws, conventions and even agreements. So, they are violating all of that. They built these dams and canals and as a result of that, it's not just hundreds and thousands, the lives of millions of people have been affected".

"Forget about the water for agriculture, you don't get water even for drinking and that's a grave situation. The ecological habitats of millions of years have destroyed and then the sea intrusion. The sea has taken over since 1956; and 3.5 million acres of land, along with 157 recorded settled villages are lost," he added.

The Sindhis believe that Kalabagh Dam is tantamount to a death warrant for Sindh province which cannot be accepted under any compulsion.

"There is unemployment, there is poverty, there is disease, there is malnutrition. Children are dying on a daily basis. We are not saying this, it is being reported in the newspapers. According to the United Nations, women are worse in terms of the nutrition than Nigeria. That's the situation. And, then on top of this, the way they are propagating with the construction of this new dam, they basically want to put the Sindhis in a situation where they are completely and utterly dependent for their survival, even if they have to beg for a drop of water for their upcoming generations. We have to raise this issue on international forums as this is illegal, unethical and immoral," Luhana added.

Dr. Hidayat Bhutto, the United Kingdom and Europe organiser of Sindhi Congress, said, "They are building dams against our wishes and we Sindhis don't want any dam on the upper stream because it has affected our lives, our culture. Our lives will be destroyed. So, we are against this every single dam they are building on the Indus river."

He added, "They (Pakistanis) are destroying our delta, they are destroying our agriculture. It's a genocide for Sindhi people and they are against it. They also know that Sindhi people are against it. For example, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court says we will apply Article 6 to those who are opposing dam that means he is willing to give death sentence to 70 million Sindhi people."

Bhutto further said, "The Sindhi people are against it and the Pashtuns are against it as they are building it only for Punjab. They want to kill everybody in the interest of Punjab. They have already devastated our lives. Our situation is in misery and our culture, agriculture has been destroyed. Our natural resources have been destroyed and we don't want any dam on our Sindh.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Nine people -including five staffers and four students of a Dehradun school, were arrested for the alleged gang-rape of a class 10 student.

An attempt to make the girl undergo abortion was also made by them.

The five staff members and an adult student have been sent to 14 days judicial custody, while three minors have been sent to a juvenile correctional home.

The girl was gang-raped last month inside the school store.

The matter came to light when the victim narrated her ordeal to her elder sister.

The court has also held the school responsible for attempting to suppress the case.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Delhi High Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition seeking records from the oil companies about the rationale behind fuel pricing.

The plea sought details of the formula used by oil marketing companies to determine the prices of petrol, diesel and also sought to know if the hike is wrongfully benefitting them.

The petition was filed on Tuesday challenging the daily surge in fuel price and seeking a direction to the Centre to fix a fair price of the same.

Fuel prices witnessed another hike today with petrol being sold at Rs 82.25 per litre and diesel costing Rs. 73.87 per litre in the capital. While in Mumbai petrol is being sold at Rs 89.63.

The Union Government has been facing flak over the past few weeks for not curning the rising prices.

The Centre, however, has maintained that external factors, including a rise in international crude oil prices, are influencing domestic fuel prices.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Rapper Drake sued a woman who accused him of raping her and making her pregnant.

The 'Hotline bling' rapper filed a lawsuit against the woman, Layla Lace, whom he met during his 'Boy Meets World Tour' in Manchester, England, reported TMZ. He confirmed that during this tour back in February 2017, they "had consensual sex".

In the lawsuit, Drake claimed that Layla protested after he sent her home instead of taking her on his musical tour.

Further, Drake, in his lawsuit, revealed that through continuous text messages, Layla created a "fantasy relationship" with him, adding that it reached a point where he couldn't respond to her anymore.

In April last year, Layla, in an Instagram post, revealed that she was pregnant with Drake's baby. The lawsuit even revealed that on May 2017, she hired a lawyer and demanded a big sum of money for the baby.

Despite several requests, the lawsuit also claimed that Layla refused to take a paternity test to prove what she claimed.

Drake is now suing her for a number of charges including civil extortion and emotional distress.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) apprehended a Dutch at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport for entering the airport on a fake ticket.

The man, identified as Kartal Ozer, was spotted by a CISF personnel in the check-in area of Terminal 3. On being enquired, the man disclosed that he gained access by showing an edited ticket of 'Tajik Air' flight bound to Dushanbe.

Ozer further disclosed that the reason to do the aforementioned was that he wanted see-off his girlfriend who was travelling on the said flight.

A case has been registered against him under sections 417 (Punishment for cheating) and 447 (Punishment for criminal trespass) of the Indian Penal Code. He has been handed over to the Delhi police.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)European academics and experts on Wednesday targeted Pakistan for sponsoring terrorism while highlighting the factual and analytical errors in the report on Jammu and Kashmir by the United Nations' (UN) Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva.

Speaking at an event titled 'Preventing and Combating Growing Terrorism in South Asia', during the 39thSession of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) here, Paul Stott, a Research Fellow at the European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS), discussed a range of issues, primarily focusing on Pakistan's strategic interest and the flaws in the recent report on Jammu and Kashmir by the OHCHR.

He discussed many of the analytical and methodological flaws found in the recently published report, the implications that had not been expressed, as well as the fact that the report only covers the situation in Jammu and Kashmir during the period between June 2016 and April 2018.

Speaking to ANI, Scott said, "There are lots of errors in the report historically, particularly as it really didn't grasp many of the terrorist organizations operating in Indian Kashmir, all proxies for the Pakistani state. Terrorist groups in the very long term tend to prosper and have safe havens or some degree of support from Pakistan and that has long been the case in Kashmir and I think under the new administration of Imran Khan there is little chance of that."

Another key issue raised was the lack of appropriate terminology used for Terrorist organizations in the report. According to Scott, the issue is prominent in the OHCHR report on Kashmir where terrorist groups have been referred to as 'armed' groups.

He highlighted this reference as an immense understatement for the differing groups' actions in the region, stressing that the report ironically referred to groups such as Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Taibah and Jasih-e-Muhammed as 'armed' groups, which are designated as terrorist organizations by the UN.

Stott stressed that the conflict in Kashmir was Pakistan's proxy war and this should have been identified as such, whereas the OHCHR recommendations avoid this subject.

Meanwhile, Dorothee Vandamme, a Research Fellow at the Genesys Network, discussed thoroughly the influence of the Pakistani Army in and the mainstreaming of terrorist organizations in the electoral framework.

According to Vandamme, the military power was engrained since the formation of the country in the 1940s, thus ratifying the establishment as the only institution which supposedly could hold the country together, resulting in the military remaining the strongest entity within the state.

She further argued that in order to grasp more power, the military has felt it necessary to enter mainstream by mainstreaming terrorists, resulting in a 'softer' approach to power, rather than violence and enforced control.

Jason Wiseman, Special Advisor to the Committee on Terrorism in the EU Parliament, and a Research Analyst at the NATO Association of Canada and Former General Secretary of the Atlantic Treaty Association, described in-depth the counter-terrorism strategies that the EU member States need to deploy in order to combat the spread of violent extremism.

He highlighted three main topics throughout his speech: the approach that member States adopt against terrorism, the current threat environment in Europe, and the actions the EU and NATO undertake in order to address this threat.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Department of Transportation on Wednesday said it would be proceeding with the implementation of two out of three Bus Rapid Transit systemsthe Cebu BRT system and the Quezon Avenue BRT system. DoTr Assistant Secretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure Mark de Leon bared this following a recent inspection of both BRT systems routes with representatives from the DoTr, the National Economic and Development Authority, and the World Bank which funds the project. The Bus Rapid Transit project of DoTr for Cebu and Quezon Avenue will push through, De Leon told a press briefing in Malacanang. We conducted an inspection with World Bank team and also joined by NEDA, and evaluated conditions of the corridor of Cebu and also Quezon Avenue and we found it is possible to run the BRT in these corridors, he added. However, De Leon said the EDSA BRT system was still undergoing evaluation after its supposed funder backed out of the project. Were undergoing evaluation of the BRT in EDSA, De Leon said. The other two will push through because they have a different funder, its under World Bank, he added. De Leon said the DoTr had signed the contract for the technical service consultants for the Cebu BRT and had written the Department of Finance about its intention to proceed with the Quezon Avenue BRT. We just signed the contract for the TSC in Cebu so were already pushing for the BRT to push through. For Manila, we have signed a letter to DoF that we will push through with the program, De Leon said.Meanwhile, the agency is now working on the detailed engineering design of both BRT systems. Last July, DoTr Secretary Arthur Tugade bared that only the implementation of the Cebu BRT would push through, considering Metro Cebus road profile and the need for efficient mass transport systems in interconnected cities. The Cebu BRT is a 23-kilometer system, which will run through Bulacao, Ayala, and Talamban. Two Metro Manila BTRsQuezon Avenue and EDSAwere earlier scrapped since the DoTr considered it unfeasible on narrow and congested roads in urban areas. The Quezon Avenue BRT will run 12.3 km from the Quezon Memorial Circle to Manila City Hall via Elliptical Road, Quezon Avenue and Espana Boulevard. Meanwhile, the EDSA BRT will run 48.6 km and will have four main corridorsa main line along Edsa and corridors along Ayala Avenue to World Trade Center, Ortigas to Bonifacio Global City, and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The BRT systems are part of the DoTrs integrated transportation system, one of the solutions to ease traffic. It dedicates lanes for specialized buses and stations. It is estimated to cost P53 billion.Former Congress Minister A. Manju on Wednesday accused Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) chief HD Deve Gowda's kin of encroaching government land.

Manju told ANI that 54.29 acres of government land has been registered in the name of Deve Gowda's mother-in-law and grandson.

"Nearly 54.29 acres of government land is registered in the name of Karnataka Minister HD Revanna former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda's mother-in-law and grandson in Hassan taluk. There is no record how the land was granted," Manju said.

Deve Gowda's grandson Prajwal is the son of Public Works Department Minister HD Revanna.

The former Congress MLA also demanded an inquiry in connection with the matter.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)President has launched the logo and the web portal for the commemoration of the 150th birth anniversary of Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, at in the capital.

The logo branding will be done in trains, Air India aircraft, state roadways buses, government websites, government advertisements besides public sector undertakings.

The salient features of the new web portal are to identify visitors from different geography and serve them personalised information. Besides, information related to Gandhian literature, philosophy, audios, videos, rare photos are available in the portal.

According to an official release, the two-year-long celebrations from October 2, 2018, to October 2, 2020, will be held across the country and all over the globe to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

A meeting of Committee headed by the President was held in May 2018 to draw out a plan of action for the mega celebration.

Culture Minister Dr and Secretary Culture, Arun Goel was also present on the occasion.With the insurgence of the neo-middle class in the South Asian countries (particularly in India), there is a surge in the number of students opting for foreign colleges and universities to pursue higher studies. Every year, thousands of students from India are seeking admissions in foreign universities to give a jump start to their careers.

According to a study in 2016, the Indian middle class has doubled in size from 2004 to 2012, to 600 million people, as the Indian economy, which is the fastest-growing major economy in the world, is rapidly developing.

There is a sea change in the mindset of the parents who are willing to send their wards to reputed colleges and universities abroad for higher Such staggering figures aren't hidden from the educational institutions abroad as well. The surge in India's middle class has tempted several foreign universities to offer courses for the Indian youth and even invite them to their campuses. However, the most common problem which the parents, as well as the students, face is to calculate the cost of living in a particular country.

ThanksforTheHelp.com (TFTH) is a portal which helps the students/parents estimate what is the exact monthly expense for a student in any city in a foreign country, say Australia.

TFTH's cost of living calculator helps a student get a clear idea about what will be his/her monthly expenditure. The website provides the most comprehensive and accurate estimation of the accommodation cost in the suburbs and or in the city areas in all the major Australian cities.

Pankaj Sharma, Co-founder of TFTH, while explaining about how the cost of living calculator works, said: "Our website has a pool of volunteers - who are primarily the students from these varsities. We source the data directly from our verified users to help our visitors estimate the monthly living expenses in a particular city. To check the monthly expense in any city in Australia, the user needs to visit TFTH's 'Cost of Living Calculator'. So far, we have gathered the data from 6480 students who are studying in various cities of Australia."

"I am pursuing Bachelors in (Industry Professional Practice) from Charles Sturt University in Sydney, Australia. Hailing from the state of Punjab, I have always seen people in my neighborhood talking about the quality of in the foreign universities and the perks of pursuing higher there. When I decided to pursue higher studies in Australia, I was clueless about what could be my monthly expenditure here. Finally, I came to know about ThanksForTheHelp.com, and this platform helped clear all my doubts. The estimated figures told is exactly the same," said Nandita, who lives in Sydney.

Amatya, who hails from Gujarat, revealed how TFTH helped her get her biggest worry, that is, the problem of getting a proper accommodation sorted out. "I was very confused about the cost of living in the city of Melbourne, TFTH assisted me to get in touch with the students in the college who eventually helped me find a good accommodation," she said.

Vikram from Delhi, whose son pursues RMIT University from Melbourne, had a word of praise for TFTH for helping him get an idea about the monthly expense in Melbourne and seek a decent accommodation.

"I was very much concerned about my son's safety and security in a foreign land, but thanks to TFTH, we got in touch with the students from that college and my son found a decent accommodation quite easily," he said.

TFTH thus helps a new student get affordable accommodation which suits his/her budget. TFTH volunteers also counsel the students about the internships that should help them improve their resume.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday lauded the rescue agencies for doing a "great job" in carrying out relief operations for the stranded people affected in the Hurricane Florence.

In a video message on Twitter, Trump called Florence a "tough hurricane" and said it is "certainly not good."

"I thank all incredible men and women who have done a great job. This is a tough hurricane, one of the wettest we've ever seen, from the standpoint of water. Really have we had an experience like it. And is certainly not good," the US president said outside the White House.

Praising Federal Emergency Management Administration, the US military, Coast Guard and law enforcement agencies, Trump said, "What you've done in saving so many lives has been really something special. I want to thank all for doing such a great job with a very difficult situation."

Trump further heaped praises on the people of North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia for standing tall in tough times. He said, "The people of North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, you've been incredible. There's been a loss of lives. May God be with them and their families."

Calling Florence as a 'big and nasty one', Trump urged the people in the affected areas to "listen to state and local authorities" and be "patient and alert."

Hurricane Florence continued to wreak havoc in the US as the death toll in the calamity rose to 35, officials told on Tuesday. Trump is slated to visit North Carolina on Wednesday to assess the damage in the affected areas.

The storm, which slammed the US East Coast last week, has left over 500,000 homes in darkness as rescue efforts are ongoing to provide aid to the stranded people. It has left a trail of destruction in the twin Carolina states, flattening hundreds of trees and houses and torrential rains while also leading to the swelling of rivers, and triggering massive flooding.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested Nashidul Hamzafar, an accused in the ISIS Kasargod case after he was deported to Delhi from Kabul.

Hamzafar, a native of Kerala's Kalpetta, was detained by Afghan Security Agencies last year for illegally entering the country to join his associates in the ISIS.

The case relates to the criminal conspiracy hatched by the accused persons from Kasaragod district of Kerala and their associates since Ramadan, 2015, with the intention of joining and furthering the objectives of the ISIS.

Pursuant to the conspiracy, 14 accused persons from Kasaragod district had left India or their workplaces in the Middle-East between mid-May and early-July, 2016, before travelling to Afghanistan, where they joined the ISIS.

Hamzafar had participated in the conspiracy through encrypted social media platforms with the other absconding accused persons in this case like Abdul Rashid Abdulla and Ashfak Majeed who were known to him through his college-mates Shihas, Firoz Khan and Bestin Vincent.

Pursuant to the criminal conspiracy hatched with fugitive ISIS activist Abdulla, besides Majeed and others, Hamzafar had left India on October 3, 2017, and travelled to Muscat before travelling to Iran and further reaching Kabul, Afghanistan, where he was detained.

The arrested accused was produced before the Special Court for NIA Cases, New Delhi, on Wednesday, and will now be taken to Kochi on transit remand for producing him before the Special NIA Court, Ernakulam, that had issued a non-boilable warrant against him.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday declined an invitation to attend a meeting of the Lokpal Selection Committee.

In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kharge said, "Once again forced to respectfully decline invitation until Leader of the single largest opposition party is conferred the status of the full-fledged member to reflect the spirit of Lokpal Act, 2013."

In his letter to Prime Minister Modi in August, Kharge had expressed his displeasure and objected to being invited to the panel meetings, saying that he would not have the right to participate, record an opinion or vote.

Kharge also alleged that the government extended him an invitation as a "Special Invitee" to exclude the voice of the opposition in a parliamentary democracy. He further alleged that the government's action was misleading the citizens of the country.

The Congress leader, who received a similar invitation in March, said that he was disappointed with the government, as his earlier letter went unacknowledged, and the concerns that he raised in his letter were also not addressed.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and South Korean president Moon Jae-in on Tuesday agreed to continue their efforts to ensure long-lasting peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula.

After the first day of the inter-Korean summit here, President Moon said at the banquet dinner, "The complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula and the establishment of peace are key agenda items. There could be some challenges to this new approach. "But Chairman Kim and I have trust and friendship. This (The peace and denuclearization process) has just begun. We will be able to create a future nobody has experienced."

On the other hand, Kim said that his meeting with President Moon would serve as a "historic chance" for the Korean people, who want to see the strengthening of inter-Korean relations and building peace on the peninsula, Yonhap News Agency reported.

"This time, I and President Moon Jae-in will discuss various issues, related to following up with the Panmunjom Declaration, in a frank and open-minded manner," the North Korean leader remarked, while referring to the deal signed during their meeting in April in Panmunjom.

Kim went on to say that his understanding and mutual trust with President Moon would help to further achieve steps for realising a peaceful and prosperous Korea.

After the remarks, the two Korean leaders and their wives watched an art performance at the Pyongyang Grand Theatre.

During the start of the summit, Kim thanked President Moon for achieving a breakthrough in the talks between North Korea and the United States.

"Thanks to this (US-North Korea meeting), regional conditions stabilised and a more advanced outcome is expected. I once again express my gratitude for efforts made by President Moon," the North Korean leader said.

Lauding Kim's bold decision, President Moon elucidated, "This process has been based on Chairman Kim's decision, and I express my respect for Chairman Kim's determination to open a new era."

Kim expressed hope for a progress in the denuclearisation talks with Washington and thanked President Moon for playing a role in the improvement of ties between North Korea, South Korea and the US.

Underscoring the need to show the on Pyongyang's commitment to denuclearise, President Moon said, "The entire is also watching, so (I) hope we will show the fruits of peace and prosperity to all people in the "

The two Korean leaders are set to resume their talks on Wednesday. President Moon is scheduled to return to South Korea on Thursday, but his departure can be delayed for a friendship programme with Kim, which depends upon the outcome of the inter-Korean summit, according to officials.

Earlier, President Moon arrived in Pyongyang, becoming the first South Korean head of state to visit North Korea in over a decade. Kim and his wife Ri Sol-ju received the South Korean president and his wife Kim Jung-sook at the airport.

This is the third meeting between President Moon and Kim. The two Korean leaders had first met at Panmunjom in the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) in April, followed by the second meeting in May.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A South Korean Consultancy Company has been selected to prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the Kathmandu-Terai Madhesh Fast-Track project.

This mega project is of national pride and strategic importance for Nepal.

The Nepal Army (NA) had earlier assigned an Indian company named IL and FS but could not agree with the cost of the report prepared by the Indian company. Hence, the South Korean company, Soosung, has been assigned to prepare the DPR for the 76-kilometre fast-track highway project.

The Project Chief and Major General Yogendra Bahadur Khand revealed that the construction agreement would be made between the South Korean company chosen to prepare DPR for the estimated Rs 111 billion-project and the NA by the end of September.

The preparation cost of DPR as demanded by the Indian company was Rs 510 million higher than what it has been agreed with the South Korean company - at Rs 100.15 million, informed Project Chief Khand.

The South Korean company is committed to prepare DPR within four months of the purchase agreement with the NA.

It has been 13 months since the NA was entrusted with the responsibility to manage the construction of the Fast-Track.

The NA has been carrying out the basic and preliminary works relating to the Fast-Track based on the feasibility study conducted by the Asian Development Bank in 2008.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)North and South Korea on Wednesday signed a joint military agreement and a joint statement during South Korean President Moon Jae-in's visit to Pyongyang to heighten peace and denuclearisation talks.

President Moon and Kim have also proclaimed the end of the state of war, the South Korean presidential spokesperson confirmed, reported Sputnik.

"Leaders of the South and the North have, in fact, announced the end of the war on the Korean Peninsula by their agreements," the spokesperson said.

The joint military agreement was signed by South Korean Defense Minister, Song Young-moo, and North Korean Defense Minister of People's Armed Forces, No Kwang Chol in the presence of South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

As part of the agreement, North Korea and South Korea agreed to cease large-scale artillery exercises and military flights near the demilitarized zone to prevent incidents.

"Both sides decided to cease military exercises directed against each other near the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) from November 1. It was decided to completely stop the artillery drills and field exercises of more than a regiment at a distance of 5 kilometres from the MDL," the document says.

The imposition of a no-fly zone for all military aircraft over the buffer zone was also agreed to by the two sides. The buffer zone will be declared within 40 kilometres from the military demarcation line in its eastern part and within 20 kilometres in its western part.

In addition, the neighbouring nations decided to withdraw troops from the demilitarized zone (DMZ) and disarm military personnel at the shared border village of Panmunjom, along with the demilitarization of the joint security area there.

"Both sides have agreed to fully withdraw guard posts of the South and the North at a distance of more than 1 kilometre as experimental measures for the complete withdrawal of guard posts from the demilitarized zone," a statement read.

Following the summit, President Moon and Kim signed a joint statement. Their meeting took place in the official residence for the honourable guests. As part of the joint statement, North Korea has promised to close its missile test range in Tongchang-ri and completely disassemble nuclear facilities in Yongbyon.

"The North side, in accordance with the spirit of the joint statement between the North [Korea] and the US, expressed its intention to take additional measures, such as the complete dismantling of the nuclear facility in Yongbyon," the statement read.

Pyongyang also decided "to completely dismantle the test range of rocket engines and the launch pad in Tongchang-ri under the supervision of experts from the countries concerned," the statement added.

The two Koreas also agreed to begin before work on interconnecting roads and railways through the buffer zone that separates the countries.

"The South and the North agreed to hold a ceremony of launching works on docking of railways and highways in the west and east this year," the document says.

This project is aimed at connecting the Trans-Korean Railway to the Trans-Siberian Railway for deliveries of cargoes to Europe via North Korea and Russia.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump expressed happiness over the developments in the Korean peninsula on his official Twitter account, saying: "Kim Jong Un has agreed to allow Nuclear inspections, subject to final negotiations, and to permanently dismantle a test site and launch pad in the presence of international experts. In the meantime, there will be no Rocket or Nuclear testing. Hero remains to continue being returned home to the United States. Also, North and South Korea will file a joint bid to host the 2032 Olympics. Very exciting!"

Russia also welcomed the inter-Korean summit as reconciliation between the North and the South will ease tensions and create an atmosphere of mutual trust on the Korean Peninsula, Russian Ambassador to North Korea Alexander Matsegora told Sputnik.

"We view the meeting between the two leaders of North and South Korea as purely positive. Reconciliation between the two parts of the Korean Peninsula is exactly what will help to ease tensions, create an atmosphere of mutual trust, mutual consideration for the interests of each other, and, consequently, this will lead to reduction of military tensions" Matsegora said.

The meeting between the two Korean leaders in the North Korean capital, which saw President Moon become the first South Korean head of state to visit North Korea in over a decade, was their third this year. The two had first met at Panmunjom in the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) in April, followed by the second meeting in May.

A fourth meeting was confirmed by Kim, with the agreement signed by the two stating that "Chairman of the State Council Kim Jong Un agreed to visit Seoul at the invitation of President Moon Jae-in in the near future." No North Korean leader has ever visited the South Korean capital.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un agreed to strengthen cross-border ties between the two countries.

The two sides have agreed to work together and allow the families, separated by the Korean War, hold video-based reunions and exchange video messages, reported Yonhap News Agency.

The Korean War, which raged between 1950 and 1953, divided scores of families, which periodically got a chance to meet their separated relatives.

This move to united the divided families comes amidst calls for a peaceful, nuclear-free Korean peninsula from both the leaders at the ongoing Pyongyang Summit.

The last meeting between the separated families was held in August after the historic inter-Korean summits were held in April and May. The two leaders promised to address the humanitarian challenges arising from the war during these meetings.

A permanent meeting facility would be opened in Kaesong, a North Korean town situated near the border with South Korea.

With both sides looking forward to continued peace and economic development in the peninsula, the leaders will also be visiting the sacred mountain, Mount Paektu on Thursday morning, according to a South Korean presidential spokesperson.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in will then head back to Seoul, wrapping up the three-day summit.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Bureau of Immigration ordered the deportation of three foreigners who have been overstaying in the country, one of them staying illegally for almost 20 years. Detained at the bureaus detention cell in Taguig, the three foreigners were identified as Kevin Hadfield and Kevin Stanley Eifert, both Britons and were arrested last Sept. 3 in Bacoor and Dasmarinas, respectively. The American, 49-year-old Todd Allen Null, was arrested last Sept. 17 in Pasig City, has been overstaying since 2015 Hadfield has been in the country since 2008, while Eifert has been staying in the Philippines since 2013, according to immigration commissioner Jaime Morente. They will be deported for overstaying, as these foreign nationals never bothered to extend their stay when their tourist visa expired, Morente said. BI Acting Intelligence Chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. said the aliens were currently detained at the Bureaus detention facility in Bicutan, Taguig City pending deportation proceedings.We requested the Commissioner to issue a mission order for their arrest after informants tipped us about the presence of these aliens illegally staying in the country, Manahan said. Morente reiterated his warning to foreigners not to overstay in the country as it could lead to their arrest and deportation for violating Philippine immigration laws. Foreigners staying in the Philippines have a responsibility to ensure that their visas are valid and updated, said Morente. He also stressed there would be no letup in the BIs campaign against illegal aliens.Tripura's former minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Ratan Chakraborty has claimed that Myanmar-based drug peddlers have hatched a plot to kill state Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb.

Chakraborty further claimed that the drug kingpins recently had a meeting in Myanmar's capital Naypyidaw to eliminate Deb.

Deb, after coming to power, had earlier launched a massive operation against drugs.

During his tenure, security forces in Tripura have seized more than 41,000 kilograms of marijuana, 80,000 bottles of contraband cough syrup, 1.35 lakh tablets (including Yuba manufactured in Myanmar), two-kilogram heroin, and 620-gram brown sugar and arrested more than 250 drug peddlers.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters here, Chakraborty said, "The Union Home Ministry is very worried as Asia's top kingpin and drug peddlers had organised a meeting at Myanmar capital and decided to eliminate Biplab Kumar Deb."

He further said, "They have declared the death penalty for him. So, the Union Home Minister also sat on an urgent meeting and informed and alerted the state Home Ministry. As he had launched the operation in Tripura against the drug mafias, they may even try to take his life."

He also alleged that the former Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M)-led Left Front government and its leaders have been aiding the drug mafias who have been operating free during that period. Chakraborty added that as soon as the new BJP-IPFT government came to power, the Chief Minister declared to make Tripura a drug-free state.

As a result of all these, the drugs mafias are hatching a conspiracy to eliminate the Chief Minister of the state, said Chakraborty who was accompanied by another MLA Rampada Jamatia and BJP senior leader Pratima Bhowmik.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Vice President Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday acknowledged the "longstanding excellent relations between India and Romania," and laid emphasis on the partnership between the two countries across the political, economic, science and technology, culture and people-to-people domains.

"India and Romania relations predate our independence. Today, we are bound together as much by our shared values of democracy and rule of law as by our commitment to be responsible international partners contributing to peace, security and stability in our regions and the world," a statement issued by Naidu following his interaction with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis read.

"This morning's talks with President Iohannis and his delegation were very meaningful and productive. We acknowledged the longstanding excellent relations between India and Romania, reviewed bilateral and multilateral cooperation, and reaffirmed the mutual desire to comprehensively strengthen our partnership across the political, economic, science & technology, culture and people-to-people domains," the statement added.

The statement added that the two nations focused on enhancing trade and investment relationship covering sectors such as ICT, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, infrastructure, logistics, agri-foods, tourism.

Naidu also underscored the need to "fight the scourge of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and work together to eliminate the financing of terror and safe havens for terrorists and their sponsors."

"We thank Romania for supporting India's efforts at developing consensus on draft Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT)," the statement noted.

"My talks with President of Senate of Romania, Mr. Calin Popescu-Tariceanu were meaningful and constructive. The longstanding excellent relations between India and Romania provided the backdrop for our fruitful engagement. India stands ready to intensify parliamentary visits and other high level exchanges between our countries to strengthen ties in the political, economic, culture areas," the statement added.

Naidu arrived in Romanian capital Bucharest for the last leg of his three-nation tour on Tuesday. The Vice-President is scheduled to attend the India-Romania Business Event, where he will address CEO's from both the countries.

He will depart for India on September 20.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Nepal Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun will embark on a six-day visit to China, starting from Wednesday.

As per a release from Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pun will be leading a delegation to attend the 17th Western China International Fair in Chengdu, in Sichuan Province.

"The Hon'ble Vice President will be accompanied by his spouse Hastmali Pun. Other accompanying members are Jivan Acharya, Advisor to the Vice President, Ram Kumar Acharya, Secretary at Office of the Vice President, Ambassador of Nepal to China and senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," the statement read.

During the visit, the Nepali Vice President is scheduled to address the opening ceremony of the 17th Western China International Fair on September 20. He will also deliver a keynote speech in the Belt and Road Cooperation Development Conference on Business Community of Shared Future on the same day.

Pun is also scheduled to meet senior Chinese leaders in Chengdu and visit Yibin city and Lizhuang Ancient Town of Sichuan Province. He will return to Nepal on September 24.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu on Wednesday hit back at Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal, a day after the latter alleged that Sidhu was "mentally retarded."

Speaking to ANI, Sidhu said "If Sukhbir Badal suffers from verbal diarrhoea, then it's not my fault. Similarly, if he suffers laxity of thoughts, it is not my problems either."

On Tuesday, Badal and a number of other political leaders lashed out at Sidhu for claiming that Pakistan was willing to open the Kartarpur Sahib corridor on the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, which will be celebrated next year.

Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal also criticised Sidhu and said Pakistan found a new agent in him and are using him as a puppet.

The Kartarpur route along the India-Pakistan border is around three kilometres away from Gurdaspur in Punjab, and if opened, will give Indian Sikh pilgrims direct access to the historic Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur in Pakistan, where Guru Nanak breathed his last in 1539.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)According to Counterpoint Research's Market Monitor Q2 2018, the global premium smartphone segment grew faster than the overall smartphone market. This was driven by increasing shipments from Chinese players, which have recently upgraded their flagships and are positioning them at a higher price point, at launch, compared to their previous flagship models. As these players grow outside China, premium portfolio can help them tap the developed markets like Western Europe or USA where they were unable to expand their reach previously.

Market Summary:

 The global, premium smartphone segment grew faster (+7 per cent) than the overall smartphone segment (-1 per cent) in Q2 2018. Growth was driven by increases in shipments of Chinese players like OPPO, Vivo, Huawei, OnePlus and Xiaomi.

 The premium smartphone segment contributed to one fifth of the global smartphone market during Q2 2018.

 Close to 40 OEMs compete in the premium segment globally, out of which the top five players account for almost 88 per cent of the sales.

 Apple led the global premium smartphone segment capturing 43 per cent share of the segment, followed by Samsung (24 per cent), OPPO (10 per cent), Huawei (9 per cent), Xiaomi (3 per cent) and OnePlus (2 per cent).

 Even within the premium segment, the $400-$600 price-band, was the sweet spot as it contributed to 45 per cent of the total premium segment sales by volume.

 95 per cent of premium smartphone OEMs have a presence in the $400-$600 segment. Going forward we expect that competition in the $400-$600 segment will increase as Chinese brands, with their flagship offerings, are planning to expand their presence further.

 Oppo led the $400-$600 segment with 22 per cent share followed closely by Apple (22 per cent), Samsung (16 per cent), Huawei (14 per cent), Xiaomi (6 per cent) and OnePlus (5 per cent)

 OnePlus was one of the fastest growing brand in the $400-$600 segment. OnePlus sales were driven by India, China and UK. In India it surpassed Apple and Samsung to become the #1 premium smartphone OEM during the quarter with a strong 40 per cent market share. It was also amongst the top five premium smartphone OEMs in France (#4), Germany (#4), Italy (#5), Netherlands (#4), Sweden (#3) and UK (#4) due to strong initial sales of the OnePlus 6.

 In the $600-$800 segment, Apple and Samsung alone contributed to 85 per cent of the shipments while Huawei trailed by a big margin.

 In the $800+ segment, Apple clearly dominated with 88 per cent share during the quarter.

 Brands like OPPO, Vivo and Huawei have tweaked their designs by adding new features, at a time when overall innovation within smartphones was already reaching its peak. Examples include the Vivo Nex (Ultra Full View Display, In-display fingerprint), OPPO Find X (Ultra Full View Display) and Huawei P20 Pro (Triple camera).

 Among the key Chinese brands in the premium segment, Huawei and OnePlus were the only brands with wider geographic reach. More than 95 per cent of flagship sales for OPPO, Vivo and Xiaomi happened in China, while Huawei and OnePlus flagship sales grew in parts of Europe.

 Apple and Samsung sales were driven by developed markets like USA, China, Japan, Korea and countries in Western Europe. Samsung's share in the $600-$800 segment declined due to fewer than expected sales of the Galaxy S9 series.

Below are the top five brands in the premium segment by differene regions:

Going forward, the company estimates that the premium smartphone segment is likely to be more competitive. The company further expects that vertically integrated companies will leverage their expertise to gain share in the segment. With 5G around the corner and players like Apple pushing the price points higher, Chinese OEMs have a good chance of entering new price tiers in the premium segment to drive both increased revenue and profit.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of Afghanistan, Dr. Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, on Wednesday reviewed the progress of the multi-faceted India-Afghanistan strategic partnership. President Ghani is in India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

During their talk, both leaders expressed satisfaction at the increase in bilateral trade that has crossed the USD 1 billion mark. According to Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the two leaders appreciated the successful conclusion of the India-Afghanistan trade and investment show in Mumbai from September 12-15, 2018 and expressed determination to strengthen connectivity, including through Chabahar port and Air-Freight Corridor.

It was agreed to deepen the New Development Partnership in the areas of high impact projects in this field of infrastructure, human resources development and other capacity building projects in Afghanistan.

President Ghani briefed Prime Minister Modi on the initiatives taken by his government towards peace and reconciliation and also in confronting the challenges of terrorism and extremism imposed on Afghanistan and its people.

According to MEA, Prime Minister Modi reiterated India's support to an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled peace and reconciliation process that would enable Afghanistan to continue as a united, peaceful, inclusive and democratic nation and emerge as an economically vibrant country.

"The Prime Minister emphasized India's unwavering commitment to support the efforts of the Government of Afghanistan to this end, as also for the security and sovereignty of Afghanistan. He unequivocally condemned terrorist attacks and violence in Afghanistan which have caused immense loss of precious human lives and expressed solidarity with the people and defence forces of Afghanistan in their fight against terrorism," MEA said in a statement.

It added that while expressing satisfaction at the coordination and consultation on activities at various international fora, the two sides agreed to strengthen this cooperation and also work even more closely with their regional and international partners for prosperity, peace, stability and progress.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed concerns about the seven missing Indians with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, as per sources.

Ghani, in turn, assured the Prime Minister that he was personally looking into the matter.

Seven Indian engineers were abducted in the restive northern Baghlan province of Afghanistan in May this year. The Indian engineers of KEC International, an RPG group company, were working on a project for the construction of a power sub-station in the country.

Afghan media, quoting Baghlan governor Abdulhai Nemati, reported that Taliban militants were behind the abduction of Indians and they were moved to the Dand-e-Shahabuddin area of Pul-e-Khumri city.

This is not the first case of abduction of Indians.

Two years back an Indian worker, Judith D'Souza, was abducted in Afghanistan and was later released with the help of the Afghanistan government.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Wednesday called on all the political parties and the citizens to lend support to the national responsibility of achieving prosperity, describing it as the national resolve.

Addressing the function organised at the Nepalese Army pavilion at Tundikhel on the occasion of the Constitution Day on Wednesday, Prime Minister Oli said the phase of political movement and drafting of the main law of the land was over, and now it was time for one and all to be involved in the country's prosperity and development with a cooperative attitude.

"Prosperity and development is not the individual concern of a single Prime Minister or the government or of one party or a person. It is our national resolve. It is that resolve which we have made from time to time with our countrymen who toiled and sweated with us and even laid down their lives in the frontline of every movement. We have now entered the phase of giving the experience of change from the phase of showing the dream of prosperity," the Prime Minister said.

Noting that the aspirations of the Nepali people to live a life of dignity and respect would be fulfilled with the promulgation and implementation of the constitution in a way it proved to be a milestone of modern Nepal, he said the laws related to fundamental rights were already formulated while the legal arrangements required for good governance were in progress.

"The federal system is a new practice for Nepal," the Prime Minister said, claiming its successful implementation. He insisted on dedication on the part of people at the leadership level for its effective implementation.

He further expressed his hope on the constitutional amendment, if necessary, over the course of time.

The prime minister further said that a phase of political movements for rights has been already over and no forceful agitation or inappropriate activities in the name of achieving rights or a political system was necessary for the country. Agitation of such nature should be the history.

He added that the government was clear that the state should not lose its conscience and violate the rule, calling on all State bodies to work on the same rhythm to materialise the dreams of the nation.

The Executive Chief sought balance and conscience in decisions of the executive, legislative and judiciary bodies to be made in relations to the citizen.

Four Nepalese Army's helicopters with banners which read 'Constitution Day 2075 BS' sprinkled flower petals on the occasion. The NA, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and Nepal Scouts performed march-pasts and gave their cultural presentations. Cultural rallies were held by local levels in the Kathmandu Valley.

President Bidya Devi Bhandari, Chief Justice Om Prakash Mishra, Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara, National Assembly chair Ganesh Prasad Timilsina, deputy prime ministers, ministers, and government senior officials were present on the occasion.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Polish president Andrzej Duda on Tuesday floated a name for a proposed American military base in the country as "Fort Trump".

During a joint press conference with his US counterpart Donald Trump, Duda said, "I am for setting up permanent American bases in Poland, which we would call Fort Trump."

In response, Trump remarked that he is "very seriously" considering Poland's proposal. "We're looking at it very seriously. I know Poland likes the idea very much. And it's something that we are considering," The Hill quoted the US president as saying.

Duda defended the establishment of a permanent US military base saying that it is in both American and Polish interests. He also expressed concerns over Russia's "aggressive behaviour" in the region.

Echoing similar sentiments, Trump said, "I think it's a very aggressive situation. I think Russia has acted aggressively. I am with the president. I feel that he is right."

Duda further said that Poland is located strategically in Europe and is an attractive country. The Polish government, meanwhile, has proposed USD 2 billion for a permanent US base as a defensive measure for the resurgent Russian troops.

Last month, an annual defence policy bill was signed which requires Pentagon's nod to assess the feasibility of a permanent military base in Poland.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a phone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, informed her about Russian-Turkish agreements on stabilisation in the Idlib de-escalation zone in Syria, the Kremlin's press service said in a statement on Wednesday.

"Issues of the Syrian settlement were discussed, and the Russian president informed (Merkel) about the Russian-Turkish agreements on stabilization in the Idlib de-escalation zone, reached at the talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Sochi on September 17," it said.

Putin and Erdogan on Monday agreed in Sochi to create by October 15, a demilitarised zone along the contact line of the armed opposition and government troops in the Syrian province of Idlib, and the defence ministers of the two countries signed a memorandum on stabilising the situation in the Idlib de-escalation zone.

According to Kremlin press service statement, Putin and Merkel also discussed about overcoming negative trends on global financial markets. "Some issues related to overcoming negative trends on global financial markets were touched upon," the statement said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)New Peoples Army rebels set off a roadside bomb at a military convoy Tuesday, wounding seven army soldiers shortly after an encounter in Buenavista, Agusan del Norte the military described as a violation of International Humanitarian Law. Maj. Gen. Ronald Villanueva, commander of the Armys 4th Infantry Division, said the NPA violated the provision of the IHL relating to the use of anti-personnel mines during hostilities. NPA terrorists have again violated International Humanitarian Law by using landmines that cause severe damage to a person and may decapitate his body, Villanueva said. Troops from the 23rd Infantry Battalion were heading back to their barracks preceding an encounter with NPA rebels at Sitio Afga, Brgy Lower Olave, Buenavista town when NPA rebels detonated a landmine on their path. Reports said the landmine exploded few minutes after troops and the NPAs from Alias Yolly from Guerrillas Front Committee 4A of Northern Central Mindanao Regional Command figured in a clash, wounding seven soldiers. Villanueva said the seven soldiers suffered minor bruises from shrapnel and were immediately evacuated to a nearest medical facility. But Villanueva said such incident will not shake our will to fight. In fact, it will push our troops to exert more effort. He said the encounter occurred after a tip-off from individuals regarding the presence of NPAs in their area, prompting the 23rd IB to launch combat operations, said Lt. Col. Francisco Molina Jr., Commanding Officer of the 23rd IB.Prior to the incident, troops encountered the same NPA terrorist group of Alias Yolly in Sitio Bulak of the barangay and municipality. The firefight lasted for 30 minutes with more or less 15 members of GF4A. After the encounter, troops found an NPA terrorist dead with his M4 rifle. It was identified by the Rural Missionaries of the PhilippinesNorthern Mindanao Region as Rex Hangadon, 23 years old, and a Lumad farmer. Villanueva said: Yes, unfortunately, the dead body (sic) was a Lumad and was identified by former rebels as Alias Ipit. On the other hand, operating troops were able to recover the following during scouring the encounter site: Four cellphones; seven SIM Cards; two memory cards with NPA pictures and videos; one short mag of M16 with 18 live ammos; subversive CNTs documents; and one small solar panel. Currently, forensics people are inspecting the recovered cellphones and sim cards, Molina added. He said the 4th Infantry Diamond Division was saddened that there were Lumads who were continuously deceived and recruited by the NPA terrorists to believe in their failed ideology.Senior Catholic priest Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal, who allegedly raped a nun, appeared for questioning before a special investigation team (SIT) of the Kerala police here.

A five-member team headed by Vaikom Deputy Superintendent of Police K Subhash is quizzing the Bishop at the Crime Branch (CID) office in Tripunthara over the nun's allegations.

This is the second time that the prelate has appeared before the cops, the first being on August 15 at his house in Jalandhar when the cops questioned him for nine hours.

On Tuesday, he filed for anticipatory bail in Kerala High Court, which was postponed by the court to September 25.

The Bishop also wrote to Pope Francis, expressing his desire to 'temporarily step aside' from the responsibilities of the diocese.

The alleged victim nun had also appealed to the Vatican for justice, following which the highest seat of authority in the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy formed a one-member panel to probe the rape allegations against the priest.

She had accused the 54-year-old priest of raping her several times between 2014 and 2016. The Bishop, however, refuted the allegation terming it "baseless and concocted".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A South Asian Democracy Forum (SADF) report containing observations of three Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), accompanied by two officials of the European Economic and Social Committee, confirmed that the situation in the Maldives is far worse than imagined, read an article called 'Trampling Democracy

Leontini, who is a member of the European Parliament, revealed that the team of officials interacted with human rights activists, media personnel, lawyers and opposition leaders during their visit to the island nation in August.

However, the objective of the unofficial visit was to verify the claims made by the Maldivian Joint Opposition about the situation on the ground. They decided to travel in their private capacity, in order to avoid being identified and deported by immigration authorities in Male, and in the interest of the safety of those that they would be meeting.

In the article, Leontini said that the situation in the South Asian archipelago is deteriorating.

"The Maldivian government and its diplomatic corps in Brussels initiated a campaign maligning this group, accusing them of misleading the EU and making false claims of being members of an official EU delegation," Leontini wrote while talking about MEPs being accused of visa rule violation.

Leontini further wrote that this instance reflected the "nature and scope of the authoritarian regime of President Yameen, in which freedom of speech has been one of the many casualties."

In the article, Leontini asserted that given the present situation in the Maldives, it is highly unlikely that free and fair elections would be conducted there.

"It is thus the need of the hour for the European Union to seriously consider all options available to it, including the imposition of sanctions on Yameen and his coterie of politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen linked to him," he wrote.

The ongoing political crisis in the Maldives is the result of the State of Emergency imposed by the Abdulla Yameen-led government in February, which was followed by armed troops storming the country's Supreme Court and arresting the serving Chief Justice, along with a former President.

Although the Emergency was lifted, the government continued suppressing voices of the opposition, media, and the general public, wrote Leontini in the piece.

The Presidential polls are scheduled to be held on September 23.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)In an extraordinary move, social media users have come together to raise funds for the family of a sewage worker, who lost his life due to asphyxiation in Delhi.

Speaking to ANI, Rani, wife of Anil (37) who breathed his last on September 14 while cleaning a Delhi Jal Board sewer in Dabri, thanked all the fundraisers for helping her out at the time of need. She desired to educate her children and ensure that they lead a good life.

"I would like to thank those people. All I want is to educate my three children and ensure that they lead a good life. I would be extremely grateful if you could help me out in this," Rani said.

People got to know about the ordeal of Anil's family after a Twitterati uploaded a photo of 37-year-old worker's sobbing son standing next to his corpse with a message that the family did not have money for deceased's cremation.

After seeing the heart-wrenching photo, many Twitterverse extended their support and somehow managed to donate money in Anil's wife bank account, which was provided by the person who uploaded the picture. Reportedly, nearly Rs 24 lakhs have been collected so far.

Anil lived with his wife Rani and three children in a rented room in Dabri Extension. As per reports, the Sewage worker passed away six days after his four-month child lost his life due to pneumonia.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The British Government has restated its resolve to ensure speedy prosecution of more Nigerians living in the United Kingdom involved in human trafficking.

The UK Minister of State for Immigration, Caroline Noakes, on Tuesday made the assertion during her visit to some facilities of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in Lagos.

Noakes, a Conservative MP for Romsey and Southampton North, expressed displeasure over the high number of NAPTIP cases pending in different courts in Nigeria. The minister said that she would ensure complete prosecution of all the agency's cases in the UK.

"We had a recent good success where the UK Government, law enforcement agencies collaborated with Nigeria in prosecuting human trafficker.

"It is a huge step forward to share information and share expertise. I am really appreciative of the Nigeria officials coming to the UK to give evidence in court to prosecute traffickers; that is a huge forward, " Noakes said.

She commended the works done on NAPTIP facilities in Lagos, stressing that within few weeks of approving money for renovation, the facilities had gone beyond their expectations.

"I am here to see the change made on NAPTIP's facilities by the UK Government. In just few weeks, the work done is impressive. The facilities are being changed for vulnerable women and people trafficked. It will be a safe place for them to be rehabilitated and reintegrated into the Nigeria society. The facilities will help the victims to be comfortable and go through rehabilitation," the UK minister said.

Noakes was appointed the Minister of State for Immigration on January 8, 2018, while she was also elected Conservative MP for Romsey and Southampton North in 2010.

The NAPTIP South-West Zonal Commander, Kehinde Akomolafe, who received the Minister, on behalf of the Director-General, Dame Julie Okah-Donli, commended the British Government for the assistance. Akomolafe said that the responsibility of NAPTIP was huge which needed more assistance in any way possible.

She said the agency's management was doing its best with the available resources, stressing that more suspected traffickers were being prosecuted with 11 cases currently pending at various courts in Nigeria. Akomolafe said one of their officials was in the UK to testify in a case of human trafficking against one Cassandra Iyamu, assuring the Minister of more collaboration.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)(BJP) chief of the unit, Manoj Tiwari, has been summoned by the for allegedly breaking into a sealed house in an unauthorised colony of

Tiwari has been directed to appear before the top court on September 25.

The court took cognisance of the First Information Report (FIR) that was registered under Sections 188 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Sections 461 and 465 of the Municipal Corporation (DMC) Act.

On Sunday, Tiwari allegedly broke the lock of a sealed house in Gokulpuri area of his parliamentary constituency in North East Delhi.

The Member of Parliament was protesting against Delhi Chief Minister for, what he termed as, not fulfilling his promise of regularising the unauthorised colonies in the capital.

The drive to seal commercial establishments, which do not comply with the provisions of the 2021 Master Plan, began in January, on the orders of a Supreme Court-appointed monitoring committee.

(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.)Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday said that terrorism is one of the foremost threats to international peace and security, adding that India and Romania have resolved to fight it in all forms and manifestations.

"Terrorism is one of the foremost threats to international peace and security. We resolved to fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It is a global challenge that requires a global response," Naidu said after his interaction with Prime Minister of Romania, Viorica Dancila.

Elaborating on his "cordial" interaction with the Romanian Prime Minister, Naidu said "The mutual desire to explore new areas to deepen our long-standing relations was expressed. Today, we oversaw the signing of Memorandum of Understanding on Tourism between the two countries in order to facilitate tourism on both sides and increase people to people connectivity."

The Vice President's talk with Prime Minister Dancila was focused on strengthening trade and investment relationship covering sectors such as ICT, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, infrastructure, logistics, agri-foods, tourism.

"Our economies are complementary. Our cooperation can lead to faster growth of our economies. We intend to deepen and diversify economic and technological cooperation between our two countries. India-Romania annual bilateral trade has risen to USD 810 million in 2017-18, a 40 percent increase over last year (USD 575 million). This is a positive development in our bilateral economic relations," Naidu said.

Naidu said that the Indian government has decided to open an Ayush Information cell in Romania to disseminate more information about Ayurveda, encourage Ayurveda practice, conduct workshops with experts to offer ayurvedic treatments for preventive, curative and palliative purposes.

"Our countries have agreed that we shall jointly work for an early and balanced conclusion of India-EU-BTIA (India-European Union Broad-based Trade & Investment Agreement). Easier facilitation of visa promotes people-to-people contact and business. Our governments should work towards facilitating easy mobility of professionals on both sides. I am glad that Romania has decided to open a Consulate in Chennai," Naidu mentioned.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved an ordinance or an Executive Order on Triple Talaq bill, making it a criminal act, sources confirmed.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led-government approved the ordinance after it could not be tabled in the Rajya Sabha due to lack of consensus last month during the monsoon session of the Parliament even as the Union Cabinet had approved an amendment to the Bill.

The Ordinance is likely to kick off a controversy as the Congress party had opposed the "criminalisation" aspect in the Triple Talaq Bill.

Immediately after the approval of the Ordinance, Congress party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala accused the Prime Minister Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government of politicising the women issue.

"Prime Minister Modi government is not making this an issue for justice for Muslim women, but is making this into a political issue," said Surjewala.

Triple Talaq, or verbal divorce, is often practiced by a section in the Muslim community in India to instantly divorce their wives by uttering the word 'Talaq' three times. Several Muslim and women organisations have, over the years, have decried the practice, calling it un-Islamic and anti-women.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Soon after the Union Cabinet approved an ordinance on the Triple Talaq Bill, making it a criminal act, All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi said the ordinance is "unconstitutional and against Muslim women."

"This ordinance is against the Muslim women. This ordinance will not provide justice to the Muslim women. In Islam, marriage is a civil contract and bringing penal provisions in it is wrong. This ordinance is unconstitutional. It is against the Constitution's right to equality as it is being made only for Muslims. All India Muslim Personal Law Board and women organisations should challenge this ordinance in the Supreme Court," he added.

Imam Sajid Rashidi also criticised the Centre and said that the ordinance can be misused.

"Earlier, the Supreme Court in its decision said that giving Triple Talaq at one time will not be considered as valid. This will be declared as null and void. If it won't be considered valid, then how can it be considered a crime? If they are considering it under the category of crime then it is like an atrocity against Muslims. They are harassing Muslims by taking such decisions," Rashidi told ANI.

"They are trying to put Muslim youths in jail. Various women organisations had earlier said that it should come under the category of domestic violence and not be considered a crime. Centre has not listened to anyone - women's organisation, Islamic organisations or any other Maulana. This government is trying to attack the Muslims directly. This ordinance can be misused," he added.

Expressing similar sentiments, Maulana Rashid Firangi said, "Supreme Court didn't ask the government to make it a criminal offence. All Muslim organisations, including Muslim women, had earlier demanded that the bill should be referred to a select committee for making changes. What the government has done is against the democratic norms."

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi led-government approved the ordinance after the Tripe Talaq Bill could not be tabled in the Rajya Sabha due to lack of consensus last month during the Monsoon Session of the Parliament, even as the Union Cabinet had approved an amendment to the Bill.

Triple Talaq, or verbal divorce, is often practised by a section in the Muslim community in India to instantly divorce their wives by uttering the word 'Talaq' three times. Several Muslim and women organisations have, over the years, have decried the practice, calling it un-Islamic and anti-women.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A Border Security Force (BSF) trooper was killed in an unprovoked firing by Pakistan in the Ramgarh sector along the India-Pakistan International Boundary in Jammu on Tuesday.

The body of the jawan, identified as Head Constable Narender Singh, was found with multiple bullet injuries on his upper body including the neck.

The trooper was a part of the patrolling unit, which went ahead of the fence for clearing elephant grass when Pakistani Rangers started spraying bullets on the party.

The BSF retaliated, but Narendra Singh went missing in the cross-firing. With the reinforcement, Indian troopers first sanitised the area and the search for the missing jawan was launched.

"The area between the fence and International Boundary is undulating, marshy and has thick sarkanda (elephant grass) growth which made the search difficult," a statement by the BSF read.

With much effort, the body of the BSF Head Constable was found with multiple bullet injuries.

"The issue of unprovoked firing and the loss of a BSF trooper has strongly been protested with Pak Rangers," BSF said in a statement.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday arrived in Romania's Bucharest city for the last leg of his three-nation tour. He was received by Vice Prime Minister of Romania Ana Birchall, among other officials.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted, "70 years of diplomatic relations between two countries! Vice President @MVenkaiahNaidu received a warm welcome from Vice Prime Minister of Romania, Ana Birchall upon his arrival in Bucharest.@VPSecretariat @eoiromania."

During the visit, Vice President Naidu is slated to hold meetings with the Romanian President, Prime Minister and President of the Chamber of Deputies, among others. He will also address the business representatives of India and Romania at a business forum and the Indian community.

After completing his bilateral engagements, the Vice President will then depart for India on September 20.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)CAGAYAN DE ORO CITYThe Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said Wednesday it had caught what it described as the biggest narco-politician here to date and three other incumbent officials. PDEA Region 10 and ARMM arrested Hussien Magandia, a Provincial Board member of Lanao del Sur, his wife Norhainah Magandia, son-in-law Amienquialed Dimal, an incumbent councilor of Marawi city and Aktar Magandia, former chairman of Maguing Proper village in Maguing Lanao del Sur. PDEA ARMM regional director Juvenal Azurin said they had conducted an almost year-long surveillance of the family. PDEA, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National police, armed with a search warrant issued by judge Alandrex Betoya, executive judge of RTC branch 16, raided their house on White Flower Street, Sitio Bacayo in Tubod, Iligan City, on Sept. 19, 2018 and found one plastic sachet containing suspected shabu weighing 500 grams worth P3.4 million, a cal. 357 revolver, drug materials and financial and bank documents. Azurin said Norhainah Magandia was also a first cousin of drug queen Lovely Adams Impal who was arrested in January 2017 by PDEA agents.He said they were now extracting information from the suspects and the notebooks they confiscated to determine the extent of their illegal drug operations. They are the biggest narco-politicians that we arrested this year, Azurin said. He said the family did not appear in President Rodrigo Dutertes matrix of politicians involved in illegal drug operations.Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre has done away with 1,420 laws, considered "redundant and obsolete", in the past four years, a reply to a query under the RTI Act has revealed.

As per the information provided by the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the Legislative Department to Lucknow-based activist Nutan Thakur, 1,420 Central laws have been repealed since 2014.

The information says that initially 35 Acts were repealed through the Repealing and Amending Act, 2015. This was followed by 90 Acts being repealed in 2015 itself and 1,050 Acts in 2016.

In 2017, 245 Acts were repealed.

The reply to the RTI reveals that the Acts were repealed on the basis of a report by the Law Commission and a two-member committee constituted by the Prime Minister's Office, along with comments from various ministries and departments.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A total of 131 of the 32,876 Mizo tribals on Wednesday returned to their homes in Mizoram brightening the prospect of the remaining, who have been sheltering in Tripura camps for the past 21 years.

"Around 130 refugees belonging to 21 families returned to Mizoram from northern Tripura. We have provided logistical support and security to the refugees to reach the Tripura-Mizoram border," Kanchanpur Sub-Divisional Magistrate Abeda Nanda Baidya told IANS over phone from the border.

He said that the officials of Mizoram's Mamit district received the home-bound tribals at the Kanmun border.

The repatriation was decided in July in New Delhi after a series of meetings. Top officials of the Tripura and Mizoram governments, Union Home Ministry and the Mizoram Bru Displaced People's Forum (MBDPF) had signed the agreement.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb and his Mizoram counterpart Lal Thanhawla were all present during the signing of the pact.

The July 3 agreement finalised a six-point benefit package for each refugee family. It included financial aid of Rs 4 lakh; a monthly allowance of Rs 5,000; Rs 1.5 lakh for building a house and free rations for two years.

As per the agreement, 32,876 Reang tribals, comprising of 5,407 families, were scheduled to start returning to their homeland in three Mizoram districts from August 16 or 17.

The multi-phase repatriation was scheduled to be completed by September 30.

But the refugees refused to return reiterating their old demands, including providing security in Mizoram by the central para-military forces and allotment of sufficient land for farming besides formation of the Area Development Council for the Reang tribals, locally called "Bru".

MBDPF General Secretary Bruno Msha had told the media that their demands, which were not incorporated in the agreement, also included allotment of five hectares of land to each refugee family after their return.

The MBDPF is the apex organisation of the 32,876 refugees, who have been living in six makeshift camps in Kanchanpur and Panisagar sub-divisions, adjoining Mizoram, for the past 21 years.

The primitive tribe had fled their homes in October 1997, in western Mizoram following ethnic strife. The trouble in the state started after a Mizo forest official was killed.

A Monitoring Committee headed by Special Secretary (Internal Security) of the Ministry of Home Affairs has been constituted with officials from Tripura and Mizoram and representatives of MBDPF to supervise the repatriation process and the settlement of the refugees.

Meanwhile, Mizoram Home Department Additional Secretary Lalbiakzama told the media in Aizawl that 4,199 Reang tribal families would be resettled in 48 villages in Mamit district, 824 and 384 families would be resettled in 10 villages in Kolasib and four villages in Lunglei districts, respectively.

In another development, Communist Party of India-Marxist Lok Sabha Chief Whip Jitendra Chowdhury, a former Tribal Welfare Minister of Tripura, urged the Centre not to repatriate the Reang tribals without the settlement of the land and other issues.

"Without settling the basic and genuine issues of the tribals including land, livelihood and security, the refugees should not be repatriated against their unwillingness. I have raised the issue in Lok Sabha last week. But government is yet to respond on these issues," Chowdhury told IANS on Wednesday.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Seven members of a family were killed and another was wounded following a mortar landing on a house in Afghanistan's southern province of Uruzgan, an official said Tuesday.

"The incident occurred at noontime, when government forces were launching a military operation against Taliban militants in Abrudi area of the provincial capital Tirin Kot city, resulting in the death of seven people including three women and three children and injuring another member of the same family," Aminullah Tukhi, head of the provincial hospital, told Xinhua.

Meanwhile, locals confirmed the mortar was shelled by the government forces during the raid, but it struck the house.

Security forces were not immediately available for comment on the incident.

--IANS

ahm/

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed the Delhi government to take action against illegal pathology laboratories and diagnostic centres here.

A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V. Kameswar Rao said that running such illegal labs and centres was a "serious" matter and called for their inspection.

The bench also asked the government to file an affidavit to indicate how the labs and centres were to be regulated till a law on their functioning was formulated.

The court listed the matter for November 30.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation by activist Bijon Kumar Misra, who pleaded for appropriate government steps to ensure that labs and diagnostic centres maintained quality as the line of treatment of patients depended solely on their reports.

The petitioner's counsel Shashank Deo Sudhi and Shashi Bhushan sought the urgent implementation of the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act of 2010 in the National Capital Territory of Delhi.

The petitioner claimed that only 10 per cent of the labs and centres operating in Delhi were accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories, an autonomous body of the Quality Council of India.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)China on Wednesday urged India to provide a "level playing field" to Chinese telecom companies Huawei and ZTE that have been barred from testing 5G network in the country.

The Indian government has reportedly excluded ZTE and Huawei from the list of telecom companies for developing 5G network in the country.

The move comes at a time when Australia has banned these two telecom majors from providing 5G tech equipment to local mobile carriers due to security concerns.

"The Chinese government always encourages its enterprises to abide by international rules and local laws when pursuing economic cooperation overseas. We also hope that relevant country could offer a level playing field, transparent and fair environment to Chinese enterprises," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said when asked about New Delhi's move.

ZTE and Huawei have been accused by the US, Australia, the UK and other countries of snooping for the Chinese government. These companies, as well as Beijing, deny these charges.

After banning ZTE, US President Donald Trump in July allowed the company to buy US components. However, a group of US senators proposed a legislation to reimpose a ban on the company as it violated the terms of the deal it struck with the Trump administration.

The UK has already blacklisted ZTE.

In reaction to India's reported move, the Chinese media has said this has been done to "please the US".

"India's alleged exclusion of Chinese telecom equipment companies from 5G trials will eventually hurt its own telecoms industry and it's a move that follows the US in terms of politicizing business deals," China's Global Times quoted an expert as saying.

"India usually blocks Chinese investment, especially in sensitive sectors, by using the excuse of safeguarding national security in line with the intention to please the US by adopting a tough stance against China," Tian Guangqiang, assistant research fellow with the National Institute of International Strategy at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the daily.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Articulating his position on a range of raging issues, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday favoured construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya "at the earliest" and uniform civil code and population control, lauded the work of Modi government but also disapproved of "shamshan-kabristan" and saffron terror in election campaigns.

Bhagwat, who took questions from the audience on the last day of his three-day lecture series "Future of Bharat: An RSS perspective", spoke against religious conversions under allurement and minoritism and said there should be no "double standards" over violence in the name of cow.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), he said, does not approve the word "minorities" as it considers all to be equal citizens. This description was not in use before Independence, he added.

Bhagawat spoke for continuation of reservation, pitched for a firm population policy that covers those with big families and favoured a new education policy that combines modernity with traditional values.

He backed a uniform civil code, abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution and Article 35A in Jammu and Kashmir.

He said Ram Mandir should be built "at the earliest" in Ayodhya which would remove a major cause of discord of between Hindus and Muslims.

"I want a grand Ram Mandir to be built soon at his birth place. Whichever way and whatever the means, it should be built at the earliest. There should be no over this. If it happens through consensus, then the dispute between Hindus and Muslims will be over for ever. If it is done harmoniously, the fingers that are raised again and again at the Muslims would not be raised," he said.

He said that there were "double standards" over violence in the name of cow with nobody making any "noise" about cattle smugglers attacking the gaurakshaks.

Bhagwat said Hinduism should not be called Hindutva, noting that the former was the search for eternal truth and the latter the process to achieve it.

Answering a query if progress of the country under the Narendra Modi government since 2014 was in accordance with the thoughts of the RSS, Bhagwat said his answer would be the same if the question pertained to work done since 1947.

"The situation that you have got in legacy... The government has to work accordingly. Moving forward does not happen at once. They (Modi government) have moved ahead in that direction as there is a change in the atmosphere of society. More people are thinking of manufacturing within the country," he said and cited examples including that of Yoga guru Baba Ramdev.

"Entreprenuership has risen, skills have grown...this has given rise to some hope that the country can stand on its own feet. This hope is not due to speeches but due to experience. Those who went abroad are coming back to work in villages. It is difficult to achieve 100 per cent and if it happens it will be golden days but we can say that the country has moved in this direction," he said.

Answering a query about of polarisation, he said the politics should be for the welfare of people and the medium of this is power.

"If this happens then what JP (Jayaprakash Narayan), (Mahatma) Gandhi had expected... Then this question will not arise. Shamshan, Kabristan, saffron terror all these issues will not come up. These crop up when politics is practised for power and not for welfare of people," he said.

The remarks could be seen as a veiled criticism of the words of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Assembly election in Uttar Pradesh last year and the Congress description of saffron terror.

Bhagwat said the RSS only supports policies and whoever implements them automatically gets its support. "We do not favour a political party."

He said conversions with lure of money or through trickery should be opposed.

Bhagwat favoured a population policy with a 50-year perspective that should be uniformly implemented without exception and particularly on those who have more children and less resources.

However, he added that this had to be done not merely by law but by mentally preparing people for it.

On reservation, he said the problem was not reservation but the politics of reservation.

"RSS completely supports the reservation given by the Constitution to remove social stigmas. The decision as to how long reservation should continue, that has to be taken by those for whom reservation has been granted. Whenever they feel it is not necessary, they will decide," he said.

He indicated that the Sangh welcomes inter-caste marriages and noted that the RSS would have the largest percentage of such marriages as an organisation.

Bhagwat said it was wrong to say that standard of education was going down, but it was actually standard of teachers and students.

"The education policy should be a combination of modernism and traditional values. Hope the new education policy will have it," he said.

On the question of language, he said mother tongue should be respected and education should be imparted in it.

He said people did not need to make an enemy of English to assert primacy of local languages and that supremacy of English was only in their minds.

"The dominance of English is not in day-to-day work, it's in our minds. We should start respecting our own mother tongues... The existence of disparate languages is necessary for the development of human species."

He favoured women learning self-defence and said that apart from strengthening laws, men should change their attitude towards women.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A Border Security Force (BSF) Constable was arrested on Wednesday in Noida for passing "secret and sensitive" information to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency, officials said.

The arrest was made by the Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) of Uttar Pradesh Police.

The trooper has been identified as Acchutanand Mishra and officials said he was "honeytrapped" by "a person who used a fake ID of a woman" in social networking site Facebook.

He was befriended by a woman ISI agent.

Briefing the media, Director General of Police O.P. Singh said Mishra was arrested from Sector 18 in Noida, adjoining Delhi.

Hailing from Reva in Madhya Pradesh, Mishra had been passing off secret and sensitive information to the Pakistani intelligence agency, Singh said.

Singh said that during interrogation, Mishra admitted to sharing details pertaining to vital installations and locations of the BSF and Indian Army training camps. Many other details were also leaked.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday said that the Sangh has reservations on the use of word "minority" and noted that it would always maintain that the people of the country are Hindus by tradition, nationalism, and ancestry.

Bhagwat, who answered questions in the last part of his lecture series here, said the Sangh has evolved its views with the times.

He said the word 'minority' gives an impression of difference whereas all people are the same.

"Before the British came to India, we didn't use the term minorities. We all belong to the same society, and lived together. The Sangh has reservations on the very word minorities. Sangh doesn't believe in it. Everybody is our own. If they have gone away, we have to unite them. We speak with these sentiments," he said.

Urging people to see how RSS functions, he said Muslims living in the vicinity of places where a 'shakha' takes place feel secure.

"Wherever there is a proper shakha of Sangh and if there is a Muslim neighbourhood in the vicinity, I can assure you that they feel more secure there. We believe in nationalism, which is the tradition of both Muslims and Christians. It is about the pride of that feeling."

He said devotion towards motherland is Hindutva. "Don't have any doubts. Come, talk to us, attend the programmes of the Sangh. Come and see what happens, what is spoken. Those who come to us, their views about us change. You can ask questions."

"Time changes, accordingly the organisation changes itself and thought and articulation also changes according to the situation and time," he said.

Answering a query on NOTA (none of the above) during voting, he said it is not advisable to choose the option because "if we don't select the best possible option, the worst possible one will benefit."

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the revised cost estimate of Rs 3,466 crore for the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP), with the World Bank funding the major part of it, an official said.

The original cost estimate for the project was Rs 2,100 crore, a statement said.

The project is aimed at improving the safety and operational performance of selected existing dams and mitigate risks to ensure the safety of the downstream population and property.

Of the total amount, the World Bank would fund Rs 2,628 crore and states under the project or the implementing agencies would provide Rs 747 crore, while the balance of Rs 91 crore would be given by the Central Water Commission (CWC), as per the statement.

"The CCEA also gave its ex-post facto approval for two-year time extension from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2020," said the Ministry of Water Resources' statement.

The scheme envisages rehabilitation of 198 existing dam projects located in seven states -- Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Jharkhand (Damodar Valley Corporation) and Uttarakhand (Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited).

The project includes three components, the first being rehabilitation of a dam and its appurtenant structures, followed by institutional strengthening and project management.

"Originally, the total cost of DRIP was Rs 2,100 crore with state component of Rs 1,968 crore and Central component of Rs 132 crore," the statement said, adding: "Initially, it was a six-year project which commenced on April 18, 2012 with a scheduled closing on June 30, 2018."

The project implementation was granted in-principle approval for two years' extension in 2017 by the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation and the World Bank, with a revised closure date of the project by June 30, 2020.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave its approval to undertake works for revival of the Talchar fertiliser project with an investment outlay of Rs 1,033.54 crore.

The decision was taken by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).

"The revival of the fertiliser unit will also ensure increase in indigenous production of urea leading to greater self-reliance in urea," a Chemicals and Fertilisers Ministry statement said.

Accordingly, the CCEA sanctioned an equity investment of Rs 1,033.54 crore "at the rate of 29.67 per cent of the total project cost" for setting up a coal gasification-based fertiliser project in Talcher Fertilizer Ltd (TFL).

The project will be undertaken by the state-run Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers Ltd (RCF).

TFL is a joint venture company of gas utility GAIL, RCF, Coal India and FCIL which are all state-run entities. It was incorporated in November 2015, with shareholding of 29.67 per cent of GAIL, RCF and CIL each and 10.99 per cent of FCIL.

"TFL has been formed to set up a coal gasification based fertilizer project at Talcher, District Angul, Odisha. The share of GAIL, CIL and RCF in the equity of TFL shall be Rs 1,033.54 crore based on the capex of Rs 11,611.48 crore for the coal gasification based fertiliser plant," a CCEA statement said.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Senator Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday said a ruckus in the House over budget insertions was caused by a fight over commissions on pork barrel. Its clear why they are fighting over pork barrel. Theyre not going to engage in a fistfight for the country. Lets face it. There is a fight because of the commission, Lacson told reporters Wednesday. If you talk to contractors, and Ive talked to them, the rate is 10 percent. They say 10 percent goes to the lawmakers. But they are still shelling out money for the agencies. So its still the same. Give or take we waste 20 percent because of corruption and pork barrel, Lacson said. Lacson said the fracas in the House would help him and his staff more easily find where pork is hidden in the 2019 budget. First of all, we are very grateful to the lawmakers who almost engaged in a fistfight because they made our jobs easier. Instead of us bearing the burden of looking for where the supposed pork is lodged, they already exposed it, Lacson said. He said he and his staff would continue to scrutinize the budget to find other insertions. He also assured the public that the administration and opposition senators are united to make sure that the 2019 budget is transparent. Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said senators will cross party lines to ensure that the 2019 budget is transparent and is consistent with the priorities as laid out in the economic plans. What we can assure our people is that we will really scrutinize this. This cannot be concealed, Drilon said. I think the whole Senate is unanimous on this, said Drilon, when asked if the senators are united about looking into next years budget, including the realignment of more than P51 billion by the House of Representatives. We will check if this is really needed or if these are projects that are not a priority, and where the funds came from. Its a question now of whether its a correct prioritization of projects for which public funds will be allocated, Drilon said. The opposition leader also warned against the danger in retaining the realignment, saying this was prone to corruption. The House was convened into a committee of the whole Tuesday in a bid to resolve the questionable P51.7 billion alleged insertions by having the amount realigned to specific departments such as Education, Health, Agriculture and Public Works and Highways. The approved amendments in the budget will be itemized. There will be no post-enactment identification which is prohibited, House Majority Leader and Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. said. Andaya said the proposed General Appropriations Budget for 2019, as contained in House Bill 8169, complies with laws and judicial decisions on public expenditures.Compostela Valley Rep. Maria Carmen Zamora, in her sponsorship speech, said the government has to borrow almost P1 trillion to provide funds for the ambitious projects of the Duterte administration. Zamora, vice chairman of the House committee on appropriations, said P1.189 trillion or a total of P906.2-billion will be borrowed domestically while the government will get the remaining 24 percent or P282.7-billion from foreign creditors. Of the total borrowings, P624.4 billion will be used to finance the deficit, settle P146.3 billion in maturing debt obligations, and the balance includes contributions to the bond sinking fund, and to maintain sufficient cushion of cash in the Treasury, Zamora said in her speech. She said the Bureau of Internal Revenue is expected to collect P2.331 trillion in revenues while the Bureau of Customs will collect P662.2 billion and other agencies of the government will generate P25 billion to support the national expenditures program next year. The balance of 5.9 percent will come from non-tax revenues amounting to P188.3 billion while P2 billion is expected from the sale of government assets, said Zamora. Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles, the House committee on appropriations chairman, gave way to Zamora to put to rest the issue on the alleged insertions in the budget. Nograles, whose committee approved HB 8169 early this month, said the amended committee report on the budget bill would restore P51.7 billion and subsequently provide additional funding for the Department of Education, state universities and colleges, the Department of Health, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Public Works and Highways. He said the new Committee Report adopted by the House majority was an improvement as it would address the budget cuts suffered by SUCs, as well as agencies like the DepEd and DoH. This is a better version of the budget measure that was approved by the committee of the whole. Because we see that from the reductions, the P51.7 billion were realigned to DepEd for school buildings, DoH for the Health Facilities Enhancement Program, and state universities and colleges, Nograles said. Aside from highlighting the realignments in the budget, Nograles also disputed claims that the National Expenditure Program submitted by the Executive Branch, as well as the budget to be tackled on the floor, had congressional insertions, or pork. First of all, we stick by the position that it is impossible for any insertions to be done in the NEP because that purely comes from the Executive Department. If you ask DBM if you ask the economic managers, if you ask Malacanang, theyre also sticking by the position that this is the Executive Branchs budget, Nograles said. Everything that was submitted and inside the NEP is what was submitted by the executive, he added.Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, against whom a non-bailable arrest warrant was issued by a Maharashtra court last week in a 2010 case, will not attend the court on September 21.

Naidu, who is also the President of Telugu Desam Party (TDP), on Wednesday decided to send his lawyer to file a petition in Dharmabad court to recall the Non-Bailable Arrest Warrant (NBW).

The decision was taken after the TDP chief held series of consultations with legal experts, officials and top leaders of his party here.

Judicial Magistrate First Class, Dharmabad Court (Nanded) N.R. Gajbhiye on September had 13 issued the NBWs against Naidu and 14 others including his two cabinet colleagues.

The police were ordered to arrest and produce them before the court at the next hearing on September 21.

Maharashtra police had registered a case against Naidu and others when the TDP organised massive protests over what it termed the "illegal constructions" of the Babli Barrage project by the Maharashtra government allegedly to divert Godavari River waters from Telangana region of the then undivided Andhra Pradesh.

At that time Naidu was the Leader of Opposition in the state and along with 40 legislators, he had entered the barrage vicinity flouting prohibition orders clamped there.

The TDP has alleged that BJP is behind the revival of eight-year-old case. It termed the NBW as an act of vengeance by Narendra Modi government against the TDP for pulling out of NDA.

Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah, while addressing a news conference in Hyderabad on September 15, denied the allegation and pointed out that the case was booked when Congress was in power in Maharashtra.

He also claimed that the court had issued 25 summons against Naidu but he did not respond to any summon.

Reacting to Shah's claim, Chandrababu Naidu informed the Andhra Pradesh Assembly that he had not received summons from the court before the NBW was issued.

"I verified with my office. Not even a single summon was received," the Chief Minister said.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)At its best, speeches at the recently concluded World Hindu Congress echoed the soaring spiritual ideals evoked by Swami Vivekananda in Chicago 125 years ago.

Even Mohan Bhagwat, Sarsangchanalak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), focused essentially on the need for unity and patience among Hindus while fighting obstacles, of which, he said, there would be many. The burden of excavating implied accusations in Bhagwat's speech fell to his critics.

At the plenary session, the moderator requested speakers to address issues of conflict without naming the speakers or their organisations in the interest of harmony. Other speakers sought to unite the followers of all the great religions that took birth in India -- Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism.

Some of the speakers from Bhagwat to Swami Swaroopananda of the Chinmaya Mission, framed the issues before Hinduism in a moral paradigm. Ashwin Adhin, the Vice President of the Republic of Suriname, began his speech in chaste Hindi, later quoting cognitive scientist George Lakoff: "Facts matter immensely. But to be meaningful they have to be framed in terms of their moral importance."

The dissonances, between the spiritual and the mundane, were to emerge later on the fringes of the seminars which were part of the Congress. Many of the delegates appropriated to themselves the mantle of a culture besieged by proselytising faiths. There were speakers who urged Hindus to have more children to combat their 'dwindling population'. Posters warned Hindus of the dangers from 'love jihad' (Muslim men 'enticing' Hindu women).

In one of the sessions on the media, filmmaker Amit Khanna noted that had always played a prominent part in Indian cinema, starting with the earliest mythologicals. "Raja Harishchandra", the first silent film, he said, was made by Dadasaheb Phalke in 1913. He sought to reassure the audience on the future of Hinduism. "Over 80 percent of Indians are Hindus," he said adding: "Hinduism has survived many upheavals for thousands of years. Hinduism has never been endangered."

Other speakers, lacking spiritual and academic pedigrees, drew on an arsenal of simulated anguish and simmering indignation.

The nuances of history pass lightly over the ferociously devout and it took little effort to pander to an aggravated sense of historical aggrievement.

At one of the debates, the mere mention of Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, elicited sniggers and boos. The speaker hinted at 'Nehruvian socialism' which had made the Indian economy a non-starter. He concluded with a coup de grace, to a standing ovation: "Nehru did not like anything Indian."

The poet Rabindranath Tagore, who composed the Indian national anthem, had spoken of his vision of a country where the "clear stream of reason had not lost its way". At some of the discussions, even the most indulgent observer would have been hard put to discern the stream of reason.

The image of a once great civilisation suppressed by a century of British rule and repeated plunder by invaders captured the imagination of many in the audience. Hanging above it all, like a disembodied spirit, was the so-called malfeasance of Nehru, the leader who had won the trust of Hindus only to betray them in the vilest manner.

These tortured souls would have been well advised to adopt a more holistic approach to Hinduism, and history, looking no further than Swami Vivekananda, who once said: "The singleness of attachment (Nishtha) to a loved object, without which no genuine love can grow, is very often also the cause of denunciation of everything else."

Historians have informed us that Nehru preferred his father's intellect over his mother's tradition but he was never contemptuous of While he undoubtedly felt that organised had its flaws, he opined that it supplied a deeply felt inner need of human nature while also giving a set of values to human life.

In private conversations some delegates spoke of how their America-born children had helped persuade them to drop their pathological aversion to gays and lesbians. Despite their acute wariness of perceived cultural subjugation, the irony was obviously lost on them that Article 377 of the Indian Penal Code,(which criminalises gay sex) recently overturned by the Indian Supreme Court, is a hangover from the Victorian British era-embodied in the Buggery Act of 1533.

In the face of the upcoming elections in the US, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi's decision to speak at the conference was a political risk. With a newly energised political Left, even the perception of being linked with "fascist" or sectarian forces could be political suicide in the critical November elections. Despite vociferous appeals to disassociate himself from the Congress, Krishnamoorthi chose to attend.

"I decided I had to be here because I wanted to reaffirm the highest and only form of Hinduism that I have ever known and been taught -- namely one that welcomes all people, embraces all people, and accepts all people, regardless of their faith. I reject all other forms. In short, I reaffirm the teaching of Swami Vivekananda," Krishnamoorthi said.

Given the almost pervasive abhorrence of anything remotely Nehruvian among a section of the delegates, it was a revelation to hear the opinion of Dattatrey Hosable, the joint general secretary and second-in-command in the RSS hierarchy. Speaking on the promise of a newly-resurgent India, Hosable said in an interview to Mayank Chhaya, a local journalist-author-filmmaker: "A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new -- when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance."

The quote is from Nehru's famous Tryst with Destiny speech delivered to the Indian Constituent Assembly on the midnight of August 14, 1947 -- proof, if any is needed, that the force of Nehru's ideas can transcend one's disdain of him.

(Ashok Easwaran is an American journalist of Indian origin. The views expressed are personal. He can be contacted at ashok3185@yahoo.com)

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A Congress delegation on Wednesday met the Comptroller and Auditor General to seek a probe into the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets by the Narendra Modi government.

The delegation consisting of senior party leaders A.K. Antony, Ahmed Patel, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma, Mukul Vasnik, Jairam Ramesh, Randeep Surjewala, Rajeev Shukla and Vivek Tankha reached the CAG office around 11 a.m.

According to the party, the delegation would also submit a memorandum seeking the probe.

The party has already held a series of press conferences on the issue, raising several questions on the deal done by the Modi government with France to purchase the fighter jets.

The government has, however, denied all the allegations.

The move is seen as an effort by the party to raise the pitch over the issue ahead of the Assembly polls later this year and the parliamentary elections in 2019.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister and National People's Party (NPP) leader, Prestone Tynsong on Wednesday voiced confidence that ruling Congress will be ousted from power in Mizoram in the upcoming Assembly elections.

"As of now, Mizoram is the only state ruled by the Congress. I was there for a very short time, but I could see Congress will be out of power in the upcoming elections. It is not necessary to finish the Congress off because they did so by themselves. I think they (Congress) will do the same thing in Mizoram, so they should not blame us or anybody. They have to blame themselves," he told reporters.

Tynsong, who visited poll-bound Mizoram last week, had met several non-Congress political leaders, including former Mizoram Home Minister R. Lalzirliana, to impress upon them the need to work together after the Mizoram Assembly elections.

The 40-member Mizoram Legislative Assembly which was constituted on December 16, 2013 will expire on December 15, this year.

"The talk is on and I cannot divulge so much. Let us see from now. I met few Congress MLAs in Mizoram. I also met the MNF chief, Zoramthanga and we sat down and discussed about the upcoming elections," the NPP leader said.

"Let us see the mandate of the people because we do not know yet which party will get majority or emerge as the single largest party after the Assembly polls. Post-poll alliance is inevitable in case if there is any hung Assembly. It has to be there, otherwise, nobody will be able to form the government," he added.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Delhi-based Choudhary Aviation Facilities Ltd had bought two helicopters of fugitive business tycoon in an e-auction conducted by the (DRT-II) here, a company official said on Wednesday.

"Our company bought the two personal copters of Mallya for Rs 87.5 million at the price of Rs 43.7 million each in the electronic bidding conducted by the DRT in Bengaluru," Choudhary Aviation Director Satyendra Sehrawat told IANS from Delhi on phone.

The Tribunal held the e-auction on behalf of a consortium of 17 banks which filed the case in 2013 against Mallya and his defunct Ltd for defaulting on loans borrowed from 2007-2012.

"Though the 5-seater Airbus Eurocopter B155 choppers are 10-year-old, they are in a serviceable condition, with a good dual engine and are currently parked at Juhi airport in Mumbai," said Sehrawat.

Three firms participated in the auction, held with minimum bid price of Rs 17.5 million for each copter of model 2008, last flown in 2013.

"We want to make use of the choppers for commercial activity, including chartered service," Sehrawat noted.

The 3-year-old firm also provides ground operations and air ambulance service to hospitals in the capital region (NCR).

The Tribunal, however, did not inform the media about the e-auction.The Supreme Court on Wednesday said democratic institutions should be robust enough to accommodate opposition and that a distinction has to be drawn between an opposition, attempt to create a disturbance or overthrow the government.

Observing that the liberty could not be stifled at the altar of conjecture, the bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y.Chandrachgud said: "our institutions should be robust enough to accommodate opposition either to the system or even to the this court. We will look at this case with a hawk's eye."

Telling the Maharashtra government that liberty can't be sacrificed at the altar of conjecture, Justice Chandrachud told Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta: "You must make a distinction between holding of an international conference and (activist doing) something beyond that."

There were attacks on this court, said Justice Chandrachud but "our shoulders are robust enough to get going."

Senior counsel Harish Salve appearing for the complainant in the Bhima Koregoan case said, "A lot will depend who is saying, a liberal or someone part of banned organisation. And what is the context?"

The court said this in the course of hearing of a petition by historian Romila Thapar and activist Maja Daruwala questioning the arrest of five rights activists -- Sudha Bhardwaj, Varavara Rao, Gautam Navlakha, Vernon Gonsalves, Arun Ferreira. They are accused of their links with the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist.

Post lunch hearing saw the bench making significant observations in the course of Mehta's arguments defending Maharashtra police's action of arresting the five rights activists.

"You have to carry two staffers of the Pune Municipal Corporation to Maharashtra Sadan to act as panchas. In how many other matters are these two panchas witnesses?" Justice Chandrachud asked pointing to the presence of two employees of PMC during raids on the residences of five activists.

As during the course of the his arguments, ASG Mehta mentioned names of one institution and a university, Justice Chandrachud said, "It is a very well known social science institution that sends students to rural areas for field work. Then you have named a university. You have to make a distinction between subversion and actions to mobilise support."

As ASG Metha narrated to the court the chain of events starting with Bhima Koregoan incident, ACJI Misra asked him to show material on the arrest of five activists.

"What is the material for the arrests?" the CJI asked Mehta, telling him: "You must show us your best document first."

ASG Mehta said he was establishing the links between the arrests of five activists that took place in June and the one that took place on August 28.

Apparently realising that he was not able to cut ice with the bench, ASG Mehta urged the bench, "May I request that not to form any opinion before listening to us in full."

"Yes we will...but the mind is also human", Justice Chandrachud said, "We form picture after hearing all."

Earlier appearing for the petitioners Romila Thapar and activist Maja Daruwala, senior counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi told the court that all that they were seeking is a court-monitored independent and objective probe which inspires confidence. I am not above law."

Senior counsel Anand Grover appearing for five activists arrested in June this year alleged said that some of the things are concocted and fabricated and all the laws have been thrown to the winds and no procedure has been followed.

Contending that there can't be two FIRs of the same incident at Bhima Koregoan, Grover referred to the statement of Maharashtra Chief Minister that conflicts with police version.

The hearing will continue on Thursday.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A day after Congress workers were lathicharged in Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur district, party President Rahul Gandhi attacked the Narendra Modi government saying that dictatorship has become a "profession" and the attack would be remembered as an act of "political atrocity".

"Under Narendra Modi's regime, dictatorship has turned into profession. The attack on Congress workers' fundamental rights by Raman Singh's government in Bilaspur will be remembered by citizens as an act of political atrocity," Gandhi said in a tweet attaching the video of the lathicharge on the party workers by Chhattisgarh Police.

Congress workers were lathicharged on Tuesday in Bilaspur district during a protest against state Minister Amar Agarwal.

The Congress workers were beaten by the police after they spilled garbage at Agarwal's house. Over a dozen Congress workers were injured in the lathicharge by the police including senior party leader Atal Srivastava.

--IANS

aks/anp/bg

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, whose film "Manmarziyaan" has reportedly upset some Sikhs, says the Abhishek Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu and Vicky Kaushal-starrer is a story of three persons and not Sikhism. He is sorry though the intention was not to hurt the community.

According to a report, members of the Sikh community in Ambala expressed displeasure over a scene in "Manmarziyaan" in which Abhishek and Taapsee, who play a Sikh couple, have been shown smoking.

In response, Kashyap tweeted on Wednesday: "'Manmarziyaan' is a story of three individuals and not their religion. I am sorry if anyone feels genuinely hurt, but I would also request that please don't make this unnecessary political because it's not.

"I have always put out things the way they are without an agenda. Technology does not allow us to cut a scene and it affects the storytelling. So, I definitely cannot do that now. To those whose hurt is genuine, I offer a genuine apology, that wasn't my intention.

"And for those who are doing it for attention, I am glad you have got the attention."

The filmmaker is out of India, and he came across the report about certain Sikhs feeling offended by the smoking scene.

He clarified: "This film is not commenting on a community, it talks about individuals and their choices. Every step of the way, we asked for guidance from Sikh people for the film. When we shot the sequence in Gurudwara, we were told we can't shoot them getting married as it can't be faked. So we made the actors do only 'mattha tekna'."

The "No Smoking" director said when the team was shooting scenes, no crew member was allowed to smoke inside the houses.

"When we shot the smoking scene, it was shot on the street and there were close to 150 people watching the shoot. We asked before doing the scene and were told that he has to take the turban off before he smokes away from his house.

"We were also shown how Robbie (Abhishek) should take the turban off with both hands and how he should hand it over and how the cousin should take it. Most of the 150 people in the crowd were Sikhs and we were told that's how it is."

He said what they created was on the basis of what they saw and after discussions.

"It was never the intention to hurt the community and why would we do that when we got so much love from them. The people of Amritsar opened their hearts and doors to us and everything was done with utmost care. We wanted to show things the way they are. No religion teaches crime or anything anti-humanity, yet those things happen. It doesn't mean they are offending the religion."

--IANS

nn/rb/mr/rb

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednsday told visiting Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa to ensure the safety of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the key artery of Beijing's ambitious Belt and Road connectivity project.

Bajwa's trip to China comes after top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi visited Islamabad following election of a new government in the country in July.

In his meeting with Bajwa, Xi said China appreciates the support and security guarantee provided by Pakistan for the Belt and Road project and the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

"The two armies should further deepen exchanges and cooperation at all levels in various fields, resolutely crack down on terrorist forces, ensure the safety of China-Pakistan economic corridor construction, and provide reliable security for the common interests and common development of the two countries," Xi told Bajwa, according to Chinese Defence Ministry statement.

The over $62-billion CPEC envisages linking China's Kashgar in Xinjiang to Pakistan's Gwadar port.

"The current international and regional situation is complex and changeable. The two countries support each other, help each other, and have achieved fruitful results and conformed to the trend of the times," the statement said.

"The two sides should continue to strengthen coordination and cooperation on international and regional issues and firmly support each other on issues involving core interests," the statement added.

(Gaurav Sharma can be contacted at sharmagaurav71@gmail.com)

--IANS

gsh/prs

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Afghan President Ashraf Ghani expressed concern over the growing presence of Islamic State (IS) terrorists in Afghanistan at his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Wednesday.

According to official sources, Ghani said that a large number of foreign terrorists were involved in a horrific terror attack on Ghazni city in central Afghanistan last month that claimed over 100 lives.

Many of these foreign terrorists were IS members returning from Syria

The Afghan side said that there had been an increase in the number of IS terrorists in Afghanistan in the last few months.

It is learnt that Indian authorities are of the view that 70 per cent of those believed to be IS terrorists in Afghanistan are from Orakzai in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

--IANS

ab/mr

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)RICE PRICE ON THE RISE. While many consumers, including those from the middle income families, are shocked by the incorrigibly wicked rise of the price of grains, imported rice from Thailand arrive at the Paco Public Market (inset) and sold at P27 per kilo, the Trade department signs an agreement with the National Food Authority to allow rice retailers to sell NFA rice in groceries and supermarkets, with a quick comparison to prices of the grains. Norman Cruz, Jansen Romero

SALES PLUNGE. Vegetable stall owners at the public market in Manilas San Andres district experience extreme low sales in their vegetable trade after powerful Typhoon Ompong horsewhips Northern Luzon including La Trinidad, Benguet, the vegetable bowl of Metro Manila and surrounding provinces. Ey Acasio

The Trade department signed Wednesday an agreement with the National Food Authority to allow rice retailers to sell NFA rice in groceries and supermarkets.The agreement, signed by Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez and NFA Deputy Administrator Judy Dansal, will help allocate 30 percent of rice inventory including imports to formal distribution channels such as groceries and supermarkets. Retailers will repack government rice and sell them at a maximum volume of four kilos each per family at P27 per kilo. The repacked rice will be sold in about 150 stores nationwide, initially. The Trade department is tapping more retailers to bring about greater access to affordable rice. The NFA and the National Bureau of Investigation will also start monitoring rice outlets to ensure that no accredited establishments are hoarding rice. has ordered the importation of 2 million sacks of rice to arrive by September, 5 million sacks for delivery in October and another 5 million sacks to be imported by early 2019. Based on government data, rice consumption in 2018 may hit 14.4 million MT against estimated rice production of 12.6 million MT. The balance of 1.8 million MT will be sourced through importation from neighboring rice-producing nations.President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday ordered control of the NFA, the Philippine Coconut Authority and the Fertilizer and Pesticides Authority returned to the Department of Agriculture. Executive Order No. 62, signed by Duterte on Monday, rescinded the order of President Benigno Aquino III, which placed the three agencies, along with the National Irrigation Administration, under the Office of the President. Also, the EO stated that the NFA Council must be reorganized, making the Agriculture secretary and the NFA administrator its chairman and vice chairman, respectively. The EO came three days after the President said in Cagayan that he needed to have a person in charge who could solve the idiotic rice crisis. Also on Wednesday, Benguet Gov. Crescencio C. Pacalso said there was no shortage of vegetable supply in his province, saying that the damage caused by the recent monsoon rains was minimal.He said the P73 million in damage caused by the monsoon rains to the provinces agriculture represented only 5 percent to 10 percent of overall crop production.UK-based charity Global New Car Assessment Programme (GNCAP) will host its first-ever four-day "Global NCAP World Congress" in Delhi.

According to a GNCAP statement issued on Wednesday, the charity which conducts crash safety tests on cars across the world will host the event in partnership with Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE) during September 26-29, 2018.

"GNCAP, an independent charity focused on international consumer-oriented vehicle safety initiatives during it's World Congress will bring together the community of New Car Assessment Programmes (NCAPs) worldwide to share experiences about independent consumer vehicle safety rating," the statement said.

"The Delhi World Congress will facilitate high-level dialogue on a global roadmap for vehicle safety with the automobile manufacturers, senior policymakers, road safety experts and fleet managers."

As per the statement, the major highlight of the World Congress will be launch of "Stop The Crash" campaign on September 26 at Buddh International Circuit in Grater Noida.

"The 'Stop The Crash' programme will also encourage adoption of autonomous braking systems, a technology that is known to greatly reduce the risk to both the car in question and other vehicles or vulnerable road users around it in case of a detected crash or obstacle," the statement read.

--IANS

rv/nir

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Google on Wednesday announced a new tool "Work Insights" that entitles admins with more visibility and monitoring control into the ways that G-Suite is deployed and utilised in their organisations.

"Work Insights" comes with "adoption charts" where admins would be able to analyse trends, track deployment progress over time, monitor apps that are most adopted by teams and identify which ones may need additional training on applications.

"With 'Work Insights,' admins can quickly surface organisational insights about G-Suite deployments at the team level -- aggregated at 10 people or more -- and understand adoption patterns for G-Suite apps," Reena Nadkarni, Group Product Manager, G-Suite, Google wrote in a blog post.

The new tool is built specifically to help businesses measure and understand the impact of internal digital transformation and also for when organisations transition from legacy tools to G-Suite apps.

"You can also use 'Work Insights' to learn how your teams are collaborating across your organisation -- working together in meetings or co-creating documents. This insight can help executives identify opportunities to strengthen collaboration and reduce siloes," Nadkarni added.

The search engine giant also announced the general availability of the "Investigation" tool in its "G-Suite Security Centre" to help organisations simplify their security management.

The "Investigation" tool comes with simple user interface (UI), making it easier for admins to identify threats without having to worry about analysing logs that could be time-consuming and require complex scripting.

The "Work Insights" tool is available in the beta version and the "Investigation tool" is available for G Suite Enterprise customers.

--IANS

rp/na/bg

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Rome, Sep 19 (IANS/AKI) Foreign Minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi is "closely following" the case of a 23-year-old woman who wrote to her school in Monza begging for help to return to Italy from Pakistan, where she was taken last year "against her will", the Foreign Ministry said late on Tuesday.

Moavero "is closely following the case of the Pakistani girl who is being detained in her home country against her will," said a Ministry statement.

"In consideration of the gravity of the actions reported by the girl, the Foreign Ministry is acquiring all useful information from the relevant police authorities to verify the facts and find the most appropriate way of taking possible action to protect her rights."

The unnamed woman told her school that her family took away her documents and forced her to remain in Pakistan with her sister to punish her for wanting to study and refusing an arranged marriage there. The woman's parents then returned to Italy, she stated.

The woman's father removed her from her Italian school in 2015, forcing her to abandon her studies and stay at home, she alleged.

--IANS/AKI

nir

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Cutting across party lines, the Gujarat legislators on Wednesday unanimously passed a bill in the State Assembly proposing to hike their salaries by at least Rs 45,000 a month with retrospective effect from February this year.

Accordingly, the monthly salary of the MLAs will be increased to Rs 1.16 lakh from the existing Rs 70,727, a rise of about 64 per cent, while those of the Ministers, Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Leader of Opposition will go up to Rs 1.32 lakh from Rs 86,000, an increase of about 54 per cent.

The revised salaries come into retrospective effect from February with a disbursal of Rs 6 crore in arrears. The new remuneration structure will put an extra burden of Rs 10 crore annually on the state exchequer.

Minister of State for Home and Parliamentary Affairs Pradeepsinh Jadeja, who introduced the Bill in the House, justified the hike stating that the salaries of lawmakers in most other states was much more than those in Gujarat where the last increase came 13 years ago in 2005.

Opposition Congress MLAs also did not hesitate from supporting the salary revision. "What is wrong in that? When everybody's salaries have been raised, why should there be a problem if our pay is hiked? We too have to look after our children and run our homes," asserted Congress legislator Niranjan Patel. He went a step further to demand that the lawmakers be compensated for the "unbearable fuel prices hike".

Congress Chief Whip in the Assembly Ashwin Kotwal said the Congress supported it because the salaries were last revised 13 years ago.

Firebrand Independent Dalit MLA Jignesh Mewani said: "It is obvious...every legislator, including myself, is glad. But I have a rider, what about salaries of ASHA workers and Anganwadi workers as well as mid-day meal and contractual sanitation workers? I will bring a private member bill about this in the next session of the Assembly."

After tabling the Salaries and Allowances of Members, Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Gujarat Assembly, Ministers and Leader of Opposition Laws (Amendment) Bill 2018, Jadeja informed the House that the salary of MLAs in the 182-member Gujarat Assembly had not been revised since 2005, while the remuneration of their counterparts in other states was comparatively much higher.

For instance, the salaries of legislators in states like Uttarakhand, Telangana, Jharkhand and Maharashtra were Rs 2.91 lakh, Rs 2.50 lakh, Rs 2.25 lakh and Rs 2.13 lakh, respectively.

It is only in Bihar, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Odisha that the salaries of lawmakers are just over Rs 1 lakh, comparable to the remuneration the Gujarat MLAs would now get.

--IANS

desai/nir

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Haryana has given a no-objection certificate for the construction of the Kishau dam on the Tons, a tributary of Yamuna river along the borders of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, official sources said on Wednesday.

With the dam's construction, Haryana will get an additional 709 cusecs for drinking and irrigation.

An official spokesman said that as per a MoU signed between six states in 1994, Haryana's share in the Kishau dam is 709 cusecs out of live storage capacity of 1,324 million cubic metres.

Khattar along with the Chief Ministers of Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi signed the memorandum in August with Union Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari in Delhi to construct the Lakhwar multi-purpose project in upper Yamuna basin.

With the construction of this project, Haryana will get 177 cusecs water, which is about 47 per cent of the total storage capacity.

--IANS

vg/tsb/mr

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Delhi High Court on Wednesday dismissed an application seeking direction to the Centre to disclose the formula on the basis of which daily prices of petroleum and diesel are fixed.

A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V. Kameswar Rao refused to interfere with the government policy on fixing petrol prices.

The court was hearing an application, filed by Delhi-based designer Pooja Mahajan. Her advocate A. Maitri sought direction to call the records from the government, including oil companies to disclose the formula and furnish details on the basis of which the daily fuel prices are fixed.

The petitioner said that people were suffering irreparably because these prices were being enhanced on presumption.

Maitri said that the oil manufacturing companies were selling their old stock of petrol and diesel at enhanced prices while admittedly the said stock was purchased at a cheaper rate.

As per official claims, petrol and diesel prices are fixed on account of increase in international prices. Admittedly, international price of crude oil is fixed on barrel basis, the plea said.

The application was filed on the pending public interest litigation by the petitioner in which she has sought direction to the central government to fix a "fair price" of petrol and diesel as it is a policy matter which involved larger economic issues.

The court has asked the government to consider an earlier representation pending before it on price rise of petrol and diesel.

Mahajan had filed a similar plea in July but the high court had then directed the Centre to treat the PIL as a representation.

The petitioner has sought a directive to the Centre to fix a "fair price" of petrol and diesel in line with the Essential Commodities Act.

--IANS

akk/in

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Hong Kong airline Cathay Pacific has had to send a new plane back to the paint shop after the company's name was spelled incorrectly on it.

Travellers spotted the mistake at Hong Kong International Airport and contacted the airline. It painted its name as "Cathay Paciic" on the side of the jet.

"Oops this special livery won't last long! She's going back to the shop!" the company joked on Twitter on Wednesday and called it a genuine mistake, although some in the industry said it was inexplicable.

"The spacing is too on-point for a mishap," an engineer for Haeco, a sister company of the airline, told the South China Morning Post.

Netizens chose to see the funny side, however. "No one gives a F anymore, not even the painters!" said one Twitter user.

"No f's were given that day," said another user.

--IANS

soni/

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Some people are often called lazy, because of their brains, say researchers who found that our brain is innately attracted to sedentary behaviours.

The findings, led by researchers from the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Canada, suggest that our brains may simply be wired to prefer lying on the couch and that human brains work harder to pick physical activity over relaxation.

"We knew from previous studies that people are faster at avoiding sedentary behaviours and moving towards active behaviours," said Matthieu Boisgontier, a postdoctoral researcher at UBC.

"The exciting novelty of our study is that it shows this faster avoidance of physical inactivity comes at a cost -- and that is an increased involvement of brain resources. These results suggest that our brain is innately attracted to sedentary behaviours," Boisgontier said.

For the study, published in the journal Neuropsychologia, the team recruited young adults, and made them sit in front of a computer, and gave them control of an on-screen avatar.

They then flashed small images, one a time, that depicted either physical activity or physical inactivity. Subjects had to move the avatar as quickly as possible towards the pictures of physical activity and away from the pictures of physical inactivity--and then vice versa.

Meanwhile, electrodes recorded what was happening in their brains.

Participants were generally faster at moving toward active pictures and away from lazy pictures, but brain-activity readouts called electroencephalograms showed that doing the latter required their brains to work harder.

Boisgontier noted that the failure of public policies to counteract the pandemic of physical inactivity may be due to brain processes that have been developed and reinforced across evolution.

However, the question is whether people's brains can be re-trained or not.

"Anything that happens automatically is difficult to inhibit, even if you want to, because you don't know that it is happening. But knowing that it is happening is an important first step," Boisgontier said.--IANS

rt/prs

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Days after the Supreme Court cleared his name in a so-called spy scandal, former ISRO scientist S. Nambi Narayanan alleged on Wednesday that he had to undergo "untold misery" and "suffering" when he was jailed.

And reiterating that the "ISRO spy scandal" was no spy case at all, Narayanan told the media here that those who plotted the story should have been a little clever.

"This was nothing but a fabricated case. They found out that I had sold a yet-to-be-created cryogenic technology to an enemy nation. How is it possible to sell something when it was never there?

"Those who fabricated the case should have been a little clever," he said.

"I fought this legal battle for so long because I wanted to clear my name that I was not a spy. Right from the day one this case surfaced, I was sure that this is no spy case and I am not a spy. That has been achieved," added Narayanan.

On September 14, the Supreme Court awarded Narayanan Rs 50 lakh compensation for the humiliation and suffering he underwent after being arrested by Kerala Police.

The Supreme Court has also ordered the setting up of a committee led by a former apex court judge, D.K. Jain, to inquire into the role of the officials who implicated the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientist.

The officials include then Inspector General of Police Siby Mathews and then Deputy Superintendents of Police K.K. Joshua and S. Vijayan.

"It is for Mathews to answer all the questions as he was the head of the Special Investigation Team. About four years back, he and his wife met me. I never made this public but the media found it out."

He said he was jailed and tortured and underwent untold misery and suffering.

Narayanan said that while a section of the media believed there was no spy case, another section wrote concocted stories out of ignorance.

The CBI cleared him in 1995 and he resumed his work. He later retired from ISRO.

Narayanan said that Anand Mahadevan was directing a film based on what happened to him and it was being produced in English, Hindi and Tamil. Actor Madhavan would play his role. "The shooting is expected to begin very soon."

--IANS

sg/mr/soni

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The International Criminal Court has opened a preliminary examination into Myanmar's alleged crimes against its Rohingya Muslim minority, including killings, sexual violence and forced deportations.

The move was the first step towards a full investigation of Myanmar's military crackdown that killed thousands and forced over 700,000 of the stateless people flee the northern Rakhine state into neighbouring Bangladesh.

The development came nearly two weeks after judges ruled that even though Myanmar did not sign up to the Hague-based ICC, the court still had jurisdiction over crimes against the Rohingyas because Bangladesh is an ICC member, the BBC reported.

In August, Myanmar rejected a UN report calling for military figures to be investigated for genocide. The Myammar Army has previously cleared itself of wrongdoing in the Rohingya crisis.

The military launched a crackdown in Myanmar's Rakhine last year after Rohingya militants carried out attacks on police posts. Hundreds of thousands have since fled to Bangladesh.

There have been widespread allegations of human rights abuses, including arbitrary killing, rape and burning of land over many years.

ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda on Tuesday said she had decided "to carry out a full-fledged preliminary examination of the situation at hand".

Bensouda said the initial probe, which could lead to a formal investigation by the ICC, could focus on a number of alleged "coercive acts" that possibly led to the "forced displacement" of Rohingya Muslims.

She said that these might include "deprivation of fundamental rights, killing, sexual violence, enforced disappearance, destruction and looting".

The Hague-based court would also consider whether persecution or "other inhumane acts" played a part in the plight of the Rohingya.

The ICC announcement came as British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, who was set to arrive in Myanmar on Wednesday for talks with the country's leaders, promised additional support for victims of sexual violence.

Hunt will visit Rakhine and will also meet Myanmar's State Counsellor and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who recently said her government could in hindsight have handled the Rohingya situation differently.

Earlier on Tuesday, UN investigators presented a 444-page report detailing alleged violations committed by the Myanmar military in relation to violence against the Rohingya Muslim population.

"It is hard to fathom the level of brutality," the head of the UN's fact-finding mission on Myanmar, Marzuki Darusman, told the UN Human Rights Council, adding that the military showed a "total disregard for civilian life".

The report was criticised by Myanmar's Ambassador to the UN, Kyaw Moe Tun, who labelled it "one-sided" and "flawed".

--IANS

soni/

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)SeoulNorth Koreas Kim Jong Un will soon make a historic visit to Seoul, he said Wednesday and has agreed to close a missile testing site in front of international inspectors, as a rare inter-Korean summit unfolded in Pyongyang. However, progress on the key issue of dismantling the Norths nuclear arsenal was limited, even though the Souths President Moon Jae-in had hoped to bring fresh momentum to the stalled talks between his hosts and the United States. Kim said he would travel to Seoul in the near future, adding that the agreement he signed with Moon carries the peoples fresh hope and the peoples strong, flaming desire for reunification. The visit would be the first by a Northern leader to Seoul since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War, when hostilities ceased with an armistice rather than a peace treaty, leaving the divided peninsula technically in a state of war. Talks in Pyongyang built on a growing rapprochement, with the two leaders agreeing Wednesday to hold family reunions on a regular basis, work towards joining up road and rail links, and mount a combined bid for the 2032 Olympics. Moon said Kims visit to Seoul could happen this year and would be a turning point in South-North relations. The North had agreed to permanently close a missile engine testing site and launch facility in Tongchang-ri in the presence of experts from relevant nations, he added. At Kims historic summit with US President Donald Trump in Singapore in Junewhich was brokered by Moonhe declared his backing for denuclearization of the peninsula. But no details were agreed and Washington and Pyongyang have since sparred over what that means and how it will be achieved. Trump welcomed Wednesdays declaration, tweeting that Kim had agreed to allow Nuclear inspections, subject to final negotiations and adding: Very exciting! But experts were skeptical. The Northwhose ballistic missile program is banned under UN Security Council resolutionshas carried out several long-range rocket launches from the site, also known as Sohae, but has also used many other locations, including Pyongyang airport. Satellite pictures in August suggested workers were already dismantling an engine test stand at Sohae. Kim is playing this brilliantly: verify that I dismantle a single site that I no longer need anyway while I mass produce the missiles the site helped me develop, said Vipin Narang of MIT.Moon also said the North could close its Yongbyon nuclear facility if Washington takes corresponding measuresa significant caveat. Arms control expert Jeffrey Lewis said the consensus view was that the uranium enrichment facility at Yongbyon was built for (the) express purpose of being sacrificed. After the high symbolism of Moon and Kims first meeting in April in the Demilitarized Zone, and the Singapore summit, progress has largely stalled. Washington is pressing for the Norths final, fully verified denuclearization, while Pyongyang wants a formal declaration that the 1950-53 Korean War is over and has condemned gangster-like demands for it to give up its weapons unilaterally. Ahead of the Pyongyang summit there had been speculation Moon could secure a promise from Kim of a list of the Norths nuclear assets, but no such document was mentioned. On the denuclearization issue, the agreement fell short of expectations, Korea University political science professor Yoo Ho-yeol told AFP. Had the North promised to hand over information on its nuclear arsenal, for example, it would have looked much more encouraging. But the two Koreas have been pressing ahead with their own rapprochement, with Kim looking to secure economic cooperation from the far wealthier South, and Moon looking to reduce the risk of a US-North Korean conflict that would devastate his country. The Rodong Sinmun newspaper, the mouthpiece of the Norths ruling party, has given the summit blanket coverage, with dozens of photos of the two leaders embracing on Moons arrival Tuesday, parading together through the streets of the capital, enjoying a concert, and toasting at a banquet. On Wednesday evening, Moons party will dine at a new fish restaurant in Pyongyang opposite Mansu hill, where giant statues of Kims predecessorshis grandfather Kim Il Sung and father Kim Jong Illook out over the city. It was chosen after Moon expressed interest in dining at a local restaurant with ordinary citizens. However, a retail shop there sells North Korean caviar at $50 for a 50-gram jara luxury far beyond the reach of most North Koreans. Afterwards, Moon will attend a performance of the Mass GamesNorth Koreas spectacular propaganda display featuring tens of thousands of performers against an ever-changing backdrop, made up of 17,490 children turning the colored pages of books in sequence to send images rippling across one side of the May Day stadium. The premiere of the latest version of the show, called The Glorious Country, earlier this month featured video footage of Moon and Kim together at their first summit in Panmunjomprompting the unusual sight of tens of thousands of North Koreans applauding images of the Souths president.Even as media reports cited the Russian Foreign Ministry as saying that Taliban was prepared to attend multilateral peace talks on Afghanistan in Moscow, sources here said on Wednesday that India is against any dialogue with the militant group without the presence of the Afghan government.

The sources said that during External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's visit to Moscow last week for the 23rd India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Technical and Economic Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC), New Delhi made it very clear that it does not recognise the Taliban as a legitimate force.

"Without the presence of the Afghan government, talks with the Taliban is not possible," a source said.

A media report quoted the Afghan Embassy in Moscow as saying that the Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister will travel to Moscow on Thursday to discuss the dates of talks.

India reiterated its commitment and support to Kabul's efforts towards an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled peace and reconciliation process at a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani here on Wednesday.

According to the sources, during her visit to Moscow, Sushma Swaraj also voiced India's concerns over the situation in Syria during a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

"Extensive discussions were held on the situation in Syria and Russia's position on the crisis in the West Asian nation," a source said.

"The situation in Idlib province was also discussed."

Russia and Turkey on September 17 agreed on a de-militarised zone in Syria's Idlib province, a move that ostensibly puts on hold an all-out assault by government forces on Syria's last rebel bastion.

According to the sources here, Lavrov gave an extensive presentation of Russia's approach to the Syrian crisis during his meeting with Sushma Swaraj.

The Indian Minister also expressed New Delhi's apprehension over civilian casualties in case of an all-out assault on Idlib.

Just before her visit to Moscow, Sushma Swaraj's visit to Damascus over the security security situation in Syria was cancelled.

This would have been the first high-level visit from India to Syria since civil war erupted in that West Asian nation in 2011.

The Indo-Pacific region also came up for discussion during Sushma Swaraj's Moscow visit and the Indian side made it clear that it is for carrying along everybody together in this geostrategic region and its strategy is not against any specific country.

India is part of a quad that also includes the US, Japan and Australia revived last year that seeks to work for peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

--IANS

ab/nir

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)India on Wednesday reiterated its commitment and support to the Afghanistan government's efforts towards an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled peace and reconciliation process.

The two countries also agreed to strengthen their cooperation at various international fora and decided to work even more closely with their regional and international partners for prosperity, peace, stability and progress in the region.

They also expressed determination to strengthen connectivity among the two countries, including through Chabahar port and direct air-freight corridor.

During his visit to India, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on initiatives by his government towards peace and reconciliation and also in confronting the challenges of terrorism and extremism imposed on Afghanistan and its people.

Modi condemned terrorist attacks and violence in Afghanistan and expressed solidarity with the people and national defence forces in their fight against terrorism.

He expressed India's "unwavering commitment" to support the efforts of the Afghanistan government to continue as a united, peaceful, inclusive and democratic nation and emerge as an economically vibrant country.

The two leaders reviewed the progress of the multi-faceted India-Afghanistan strategic partnership and expressed satisfaction at the increase in bilateral trade that has crossed the $1 billion mark.

During the meeting, the two countries also agreed to deepen their partnership in the areas of high impact projects in Afghanistan in the fields of infrastructure, human resources development and other capacity building projects.

--IANS

vv/mr

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)India reiterated its commitment and support to Kabul's efforts towards an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled peace and reconciliation process at a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani here on Wednesday.

According to a statement issued by the External Affairs Ministry, the two countries also agreed to strengthen their cooperation at various international fora and decided to work even more closely with their regional and international partners for prosperity, peace, stability and progress in the region.

They also expressed determination to strengthen connectivity among the two countries, including through Chabahar port and direct air-freight corridor.

Ghani briefed Modi on the initiatives by his government towards peace and reconciliation and also in confronting the challenges of terrorism and extremism imposed on Afghanistan and its people.

Modi condemned terrorist attacks and violence in Afghanistan and expressed solidarity with the people and national defence forces in their fight against terrorism.

He expressed India's "unwavering commitment" to support the efforts of the Afghanistan government to continue as a united, peaceful, inclusive and democratic nation and emerge as an economically vibrant country.

The two leaders reviewed the progress of the multi-faceted India-Afghanistan strategic partnership and expressed satisfaction at the increase in bilateral trade that has crossed the $1 billion mark.

During the meeting, the two countries also agreed to deepen their partnership in the areas of high impact projects in Afghanistan in the fields of infrastructure, human resources development and other capacity building projects.

According to official sources here, Ghani appreciated the decision of India and China to jointly work on projects and programmes in Afghanistan.

The two Asian giants are planning to start their partnership in Afghanistan with a training programme for Afghan diplomats in October.

Modi, the sources said, also sought long-term business visas for Indian businessmen to boost bilateral trade.

The India-backed Shahtoot dam that will be crucial for drinking water in Kabul also came up for discussion during Wednesday's meeting.

"We hope we can move closer to its finalisation," a source said.

Among other issues that came up for discussion, it is learnt, are a low cost housing project in Nangarhar province, irrigation projects, polishing of gems, food processing and export of marbles to India.

During the meeting, Modi expressed concern over the six Indian workers who were abducted in Afghanistan in May this year.

Ghani said he was personally monitoring the issue and assured Modi of the workers' safe release.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Companies in India receive a whopping 500,000 security alerts every day and 39 per cent of them, or up to 200,000 alerts, go unattended due to lack of required skill sets, said a Cisco study released on Wednesday.

The number of security alerts that companies in India get is nearly thrice the number of alerts faced by global companies, according to the study, "Cisco 2018 Asia-Pacific Security Capabilities Benchmark Study".

"As India is taking huge strides in transforming into a digital economy, cybersecurity threats could pose a serious risk for its success," Vishak Raman, Director, Security, Cisco India and Saarc, said in a statement.

"Companies and governments alike should consider adopting advanced security technologies that include Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence capabilities and also look at bridging the gap of skilled cybersecurity professionals in the country through relevant training and support," Raman said.

Interestingly, India witnesses the second-highest instances of legitimate threats in the Asia-Pacific region behind Australia, the findings showed.

While Australia sees 65 per cent legitimate cybersecurity threat, India is at par with the regional standard at 44 per cent.

So a whopping 56 per cent of the investigated alerts in India turn out to be false, adding to the burden of existing security defenders who need to ensure that they are working on the right alerts.

Indian breaches, however, caused a lower financial impact as compared to its regional counterparts, with 27 per cent of the Indian respondents reporting the cost of a breach to b less than $100,000. A fifth of them reported a breach cost between $5 million and $10 million.

The cost of a breach is highest in Australia, with 52 per cent reporting that an attack costs between $1 and $5 million, compared to Japan (23 per cent) and India (25 per cent), added the report, based on insights on security practices from more than 2,000 respondents across 11 countries.

The security breaches include costs from lost revenue, loss of customers and out of pocket expenses among other things.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The key to the success of a implementation programme is its ability to provide reliable electricity consumption data, to be used for plugging operational inefficiencies in the system.

This needs smart planning and a smarter execution. However, the poor progress of the smart metering initiative under (UDAY) raises serious concerns regarding planning and execution of the programme.

The launched the scheme in November 2015 to address the ailing operational and financial health of distribution companies (Discoms). It mandated the installation of smart meters -- for consumption above 500 units per month (by December 2017) and above 200 units per month (by December 2019).

The scheme aimed at improved data tracking and monitoring in order to reduce aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses. But despite several initiatives and mandates, the uptake has been substantially low.

Take for instance: Out of 137,456 consumers targeted under the 500 units/month category, only 610 have installed smart meters (0.4 per cent). Similarly, in the 200 units/month category of consumers, only 1,876 of 2,91,650 consumers (0.6 per cent) have installed smart meters.

Discoms attribute reasons such as high cost of implementation, lack of skilled manpower and data integration and inter-operability issues to the slow uptake. However, a closer look at the scheme reveals that challenges lie in the implementation plan itself.

The scheme plans implementation of smart meters on a consumption basis; thus, smart meters are dispersed geographically posing considerable operational, logistical and project management challenges for both Discoms and the implementing agency.

Most importantly, this does not allow actual auditing of consumption as the data is dispersed across multiple feeders and cannot help Discoms in interpreting consumption in that area.

For instance, in Tamil Nadu, only five per cent of the total consumers (scattered over the entire state) consume 500 units/month or above. Similarly, consumers with 200 units/month consumption are also spread across the state. This causes problems for data integration, especially considering that AT&C losses are calculated at the feeder level and consolidated at the section office level.

The absence of consolidated data at the feeder level affects the efficiency and accuracy of billing and collection. Therefore, metering these consumers would not support the desired objective of reduction the losses.

One possible solution to accelerate the pace of installation is by picking up an entire 11 kV feeder, as a pilot study, instead of implementing it on a consumer category basis. The Indian Smart Grid Forum (ISGF) also promotes the idea of deployment of smart meters for all consumers associated with a feeder.

This would benefit the discom, which would now be able to audit consumption real-time, for an entire feeder. The auditing would support the tracking of AT&C loss in real-time. Once the losses are measured correctly, Discoms could identify measures to reduce them.

In Karnataka, CESC has implemented the smart metering pilot project for 14 feeders where all the consumers associated with the particular feeder are installed with smart meters. CESC has experienced benefits such as reduction in peak load consumption, automated meter reading & billing, and reduction in AT&C losses.

Similarly, the Eastern Power Distribution Company of Andhra Pradesh Limited (APEPDCL) in Vishakhapatnam is conducting a pilot study by installing smart meters for an 11 kV feeder with 27 distribution transformers, and 1,608 consumers.

In order to ensure that Discoms reap maximum benefit from the pilot, a field survey to identify the most suitable feeders may be required. This should take into consideration feeders with high AT&C losses, suitable consumer mix and suitable communication technologies to gather data.

It should also take into consideration the volume of energy input to the feeder, as any reduction in AT&C losses for such feeders will have a bigger impact on the Discom's revenue.

In addition to tracking losses, smart meters can also be used to monitor other parameters such as power availability, voltage fluctuations, reliability of restoration, and load redistribution depending on results monitored. A proper technical evaluation of features of smart meters, both pre and post implementation, is important.

An impact assessment of the pilot project, following implementation, will reveal the gaps therein and assess whether the project can achieve the desired objectives. These need to be taken into consideration and addressed before a large-scale roll out of the project.

Consolidating data at the feeder level will not only reduce the cost of implementation but also allow Discoms to understand specific challenges to loss reduction in an area. More importantly, it will help Discoms witness the improvement in that smart metering can bring and thus motivate implementation of the scheme.

(Rishu Garg is a Senior Research Engineer in the Energy Domain (Power) at the Bengaluru-based Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy [CSTEP], a research-based policy think tank. The views expressed are those of CSTEP. She can be contacted at rishugarg@cstep.in)

--IANS

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(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.)Rome, Sep 19 (IANS/AKI) Italian Foreign Minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi is "closely following" the case of Italian Cathlic missionary priest Pierluigi Maccalli who was reported kidnapped in Niger, the Foreign Ministry said.

The kidnapping became known after an Indian priest managed to escape the armed gunmen who seized Maccalli on Monday night.

"Milanesi is in constant contact with the foreign ministry's crisis unit and with state institutions and has been closely following the kidnapping of Father Maccalli, a member of the Congregation of the Society of African Missions of the Diocese of Crema," the Ministry said.

The Italian embassy in Niger's capital Niamey has made a formal request to local authorities "to give top priority to solving the case" and "avoid taking initiatives that could put Father Maccalli's safety at risk", a Ministry statement said.

The area has been in a state of emergency for some months due to the presence of terrorists from neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso.

Based on the testimony of an Indian priest who managed to escape, armed gunmen entered the village at 9.30 p.m., seized Maccalli and took his computer and mobile phone, The Society of African Missions was cited as telling Fides.

Fides said it heard from unnamed sources that the priest was probably taken across the border to Burkina Faso where jihadist groups have set up bases in a vast forested area.

Maccalli organised meetings against local practices like circumcision and female genital mutilation and this "may be one of the reasons for the kidnapping, according to local sources", Fides said.

--IANS/AKI

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The CCTV recordings of late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa's stay in the hospital has been overwritten several times automatically, Apollo Hospitals has told the Justice A. Arumughaswamy Commission.

The Commission is probing the circumstances leading to hospitalization of Jayalalithaa on September 22, 2016 and the treatment provided to her till her death December 5, 2016.

"The CCTV recordings get overwritten automatically after 30 days. This information was shared with the Commission on September 11," Maimoona Badsha, counsel for Apollo Hospitals, told IANS on Wednesday.

The hospital has informed the Commission that it is unable to submit the requested footage as it pertains to the period when Jayalalithaa was in the hospital - between September 22, 2016 to December 5, 2016.

The Commission had earlier asked the Apollo Hospital to submit the CCTV footages of certain areas within the hospital.

Badsha said it has been the procedure at the hospital to store the CCTV footages for 30 days after which new images are recorded.

When asked about Apollo Hospitals Executive Chairman Prathap C Reddy's earlier statement that the CCTV cameras were switched off, Badsha said "that is a different issue."

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Jharkhand Urban Development Minister C.P. Singh on Wednesday launched an indefinite fast at Kotwali Police Station here to protest against the arrest of five persons of the majority community over communal clashes.

"This protest is against the police who always take action against the majority community, while the criminals from the other community go scot-free," Singh told reporters.

Earlier in the day, the police arrested five persons after clashes broke out between Hindu and Muslim communities near Pahadi temple here.

The Hindus had on Tuesday accused the Muslims of the area of desecrating the prayer site. The issue was, however, resolved following police intervention. But on Wednesday, members of the two communities once again clashed and pelted stones at each other.

"Some people including policemen and media persons were injured in the stone-pelting incident. Extra forces have been deployed and Section 144 imposed in the area," City SP Aman Kumar told the media.

In another incident, on Tuesday, six policemen had received injuries in clashes between the members of two communities in the state's Koderma district.

The problem had begun on Tuesday night when Hindu community members were going for the immersion of Lord Vishwakarma's idol in Jaynagar of Koderma district. The firecrackers used by Hindus on the occasion were opposed by the minority community members. Later, they started pelting stones at each other in which six policemen and some other others were injured.

Prohibitory orders have been imposed and heavy security personnel have been deployed in Jaynagar.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)South Korean-American actor Ken Jeong has bagged a role in Australian science fiction film titled "Occupation: Rainfall".

Being helmed by Luke Sparke, the film is the sequel to the 2018 released movie "Occupation", reports variety.com.

Jeong will begin shooting in early October in Australian locations including the Hunter Valley and the Gold Coast.

Praising Jeong, Sparke said: "We are building a whole new world with 'Occupation: Rainfall' and to have Ken join the film alongside our awesome returning cast members is mind blowing.

"I have admired his work and his successes for years and can't wait to see what brings to the project when he arrives here for shooting."

"Occupation: Rainfall" picks up two years into the intergalactic invasion of earth, when survivors in Sydney fight back in a desperate ground war. As causalities mount, the resistance and their unexpected allies uncover a plot that could see the war come to a decisive end.

Apart from Jeong, the film includes actors like Temuera Morrison, Dan Ewing, Stephany Jacobsen, Aaron Jeffery and Zac Garred.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Kerala Police on Wednesday questioned Bishop Franco Mulakkal accused of raping a nun for seven hours and asked him to report back on Thursday morning, said a police official.

The bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese in Jalandhar, accompanied by his counsel and a few priests, arrived in a car around 11 a.m to the Crime Branch office in Tripunithura near here.

Around 6.30 p.m, the bishop was allowed to leave for the day.

Addressing the media soon after the bishop left, Kottayam Superindent of Police Harishankar said the first phase of interrogation is over.

"He has been served a notice to appear before the probe team tomorrow (Thursday) at 11 a.m here. He is cooperating with us. Since the questioning is going on, at the moment, we won't be unable to share what the bishop had to say," said Harishankar.

Ahead of the questioning in the morning, top police officers -- Inspector General of Police Vijay Sakhre, Kottayam SP Harishankar and his deputy K. Subhash -- held a meeting at the IGP office in Kochi.

"We are under no pressure. We have conducted a detailed probe which was spread across five states. There is no directive that the bishop should not be arrested," said Harishankar.

The police ensured that the media could not get close to him or even take his picture.

According to them, Tripunithura on the outskirts of Kochi was chosen as the venue to avoid the protests underway in Kochi for the last 12 days.

The bishop on Tuesday got a relief from the Kerala High Court which agreed to hear his anticipatory bail plea on September 25.

The court also asked the state government to file an affidavit.

A Kerala nun has accused Mulakkal of repeatedly sexually abusing her between 2014 and 2016.

An FIR was registered against the bishop and a 114-page detailed statement was taken from the nun and other inmates of the convent.

Earlier, Mulakkal was questioned by the police team led by Dy.SP Subhash in August at his Jalandhar office.

--IANS

sg/nir

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)As the 73session of the United Nations General Assembly will convene on Sept. 18, 2018, at UN headquarters in New York, I am writing this letter to call for the kind support for Taiwans determination to participate in the UN system by the people of the Philippines. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted at the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly in 2015, set bold goals to shift the world onto a sustainable, resilient path. Here was also pledged the formation of a revitalized Global Partnership for Sustainable Development including all countries, all stakeholders and all people, such that no one would be left behind. Despite such a pledge, Taiwans 23-million people have been left out of this global effort. This violates the principle of universality upon which the UN was founded and deprives Taiwan as well as the international community of opportunities to work together for the common good. To ensure the UN remains relevant to all people, the organization should stand up to the external pressures and open its doors to Taiwan. I hereby urge the Philippines, a dynamic democracy in Asia, to support democratic Taiwan s campaign to participate in the UN system and to recognize Taiwans determination to contribute to regional and global affairs. Taiwan provides development assistance to other countries. Through the International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF), Taiwans official development assistance organization, we have launched various programs in the Pacific, Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. These programs aim to help countries in these regions to achieve clean energy, food security, food safety, sustainable agriculture, better education, health and well-being for all age groups, and disaster reduction and adaptation. TaiwanICDF also works with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to assist countries in Central Asia and Central and Eastern Europe to develop market economies and a green economy. While Taiwans valuable contributions have been widely acclaimed around the globe, the UN continues to ignore what Taiwan can offer. Taiwans tourists, experts and professionals are denied entry into UN premises simply because the UN does not accept the Republic of China (Taiwan)s passport, which is recognized by almost every country in the world. The UN has refused to accredit Taiwans journalists covering its meetings and activities, yet the work of such people is in the interests of the people of Taiwan and the world. We are extremely disappointed that the UN continues to misuse 1971s General Assembly Resolution 2758 (XXVI) to justify Taiwans exclusion and isolation. As we have pointed out before, this resolution neither addresses the issue of representation of Taiwan and its people in the UN system, nor defines the relationship between Taiwan and China. The so-called one-China principle has been challenged by many UN Member States. It is wrong for the UN, an organization created to serve all of humankind, to unilaterally define Taiwans status.Article 1 of the UN Charter proclaims that the purposes of the organization are to achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, and humanitarian character, and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights. At this critical juncture when humankind is facing multiple challenges, global cooperation that includes all countries, all stakeholders, and all people is ever more important. By excluding a willing and able partner like Taiwan, the UN not only violates the fundamental human rights of Taiwans 23-million people but also greatly harms human welfare. A friend in need is a friend indeed. People in Taiwan are ready and well-prepared to make meaningful and substantial contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all human beings on earth, including the people in the Philippines. Thank you very much for your attention to this matter. Respectfully yours,Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday again declined to attend a meeting of the Lokpal Selection Committee, reiterating that "invitation as special invitee without the right of participation, recording of opinion and voting was an eyewash".

The Lok Sabha member said that it was a concerted effort and also a design to keep an important member of the Selection Committee out and thus have an overbearing influence on the selection of the Lokpal.

As per the Lokpal and Lokayukta Act 2013, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha is a member of the Selection Committee. Since Kharge does not have that status, he has not been made a part of the Selection Panel and only a 'special invitee'.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, Kharge said that unless and until the leader of the single largest opposition party (Congress) is conferred the status of a full-fledged member of the Selection Committee, he wouldn't attend the meeting.

"This letter is in reference to the office memorandum dated September 11 of the Department of Personnel and Training, inviting me to attend the Lokpal Selection Committee meeting on September 19," Kharge said in the letter.

"Your attention is also invited to my earlier letters dated February 28, April 10, July 18, and September 4 wherein I have written to you in detail regarding my objections to being invited as a 'special invitee' and reasons for declining the invitation," he added.

Kharge said that it was distressing that the government continued to invite him as a special invitee despite being aware of the fact that there is no such provision under Section 4 of the Lokpal Act, 2013.

"Over the last four years, the government has not made any attempt to amend the relevant provisions to include leader of the single-largest party in the opposition as panel member.

"An invitation as a special invitee without the right of participation, recording of opinion and voting in the procedure is an eyewash to mislead the nation and the people," said Kharge.

"Considering the fact that there is no provision under Section 4 of the Lokpal Act for a special invitee, I am again forced to respectfully decline this invitation unless... conferred the status of a full-fledged member to reflect the spirit of the Lokapl Act."

--IANS

sid/tsb/mr

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A woman Sarpanch's brother-in-law was allegedly shot dead in Bihar's Sitamarhi district for pointing to corrupt practices in Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna (PMAY), police said on Wednesday.

Md. Neyazuddin Khan alias Munna Khan, brother-in-law of the Sarpanch (village head) of Purvi Akhta village, was shot dead by Fida Hussain, husband of village Mukhiya Shahnaz Khatoon.

"Neyazuddin was shot dead after he repeatedly raised the issue of bribery demanded from the beneficiaries of PMAY," Mushtaque Khan, a villager, said.

However, Praveen Prabhakar, Officer in-Charge of the local police station, denied that Khan was shot dead. According to him, said Neyazuddin was attacked and beaten to death by accused Fida and his henchmen.

The officer said: "Neyazuddin's wife Nazis Khatoon and his daughter Imroz Khatoon were also beaten by the accused. Both are undergoing treatment in a hospital."

According to villagers, Niyazuddin had not only opposed and exposed corruption in the PMAY but also held a street meeting on this issue recently that angered Fida.

"Soon after the meeting on September 14, Neyazuddin was abused and threatened by Fida and his men, but some villagers intervened and the matter was settled. He was again manhandled by Fida and his men on Tuesday and they threatened to eliminate him," said another villager.

The police have lodged a case against nine accused including Fida based on the statement of family members of Neyazuddin.

Additional security forces have been deployed in the village in view of tension after the incident.

All the accused are said to be absconding since the incident.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Microsoft is expanding its Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based "Dynamics 365" apps lineup with two new Mixed Reality (MR) business apps.

The new apps -- called -- "Dynamics 365 Remote Assist" and "Dynamics 365 Layout" -- have been added with the intention of merging MR and business applications together.

"With the release of our new AI and mixed reality applications, we are taking another step to empower every organisation on the planet to achieve more through the accelerant of business applications," Alysa Taylor, Corporate Vice President, Business Applications and Industry, Microsoft wrote in a blog post on Tuesday.

The MR business apps will be part of the October release of "Dynamics 365".

In 2016, Microsoft introduced "Dynamics 365" as a product line of enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management (CRM) applications to make business apps modern, unified, intelligent and adaptable solutions, integrated with Office 365 and natively built on Microsoft's Cloud computing service Azure.

By bringing together MR and business applications, the company aims to unify systems and have a holistic view of their business, customers and employees.

"Employees need information in context to apply their knowledge and craft. Not only on a 2-D screen - but information and data in context, at the right place and at the right time and mixed reality is a technology uniquely suited to do exactly that," Taylor added.

The company has also launched AI-infused apps for sales, customer service and market insights as part of the "Dynamics 365" app line-up.

"The new 'Dynamics 365 AI' offering are a new class of AI applications that will deliver out-of-the-box insights by unifying data and infusing it with advanced intelligence to guide decisions and empower organizations to take informed actions," wrote Taylor.

These insights are easily extensible through the Microsoft's business analytics service -- Power BI, Azure and the Common Data Service, that could enable organizations to address complex scenarios specific to their business.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Ahead of Assembly elections in five states, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved an ordinance making triple talaq a criminal offence, with the government stating that there was a "compelling necessity" and "overpowering urgency" to do so.

The ordinance, which will be sent to the President for approval, comes against the backdrop of the government's inability to get a bill on the issue passed in the last monsoon session of Parliament.

The government then brought some changes in the original bill providing for only the women or their blood relations to file complaints against the erring husbands in a bid to get support from the Congress and other parties in the Rajya Sabha but did not succeeded in passing it.

Briefing reporters after a meeting of the union cabinet on why it was resorting to an ordinance, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that instances of instant triple talaq have "continued unabated" in spite of the Supreme Court declaring it unconstitutional and Lok Sabha passing a bill that is now pending in the Rajya Sabha.

He attacked the Congress and said it had not supported the bill in the Rajya Sabha due to "vote bank politics".

Prasad said the issue pertained to respect for women and not to religion or path of worship.

"The issue of triple talaq has nothing to do with faith, mode of worship. It is pure issue of gender justice and gender equality."

He said triple talaq was still being given on flimsy grounds such as chappapti getting burnt and wife waking up late. There were instances of the instant divorce having being given on social media platform WhatsApp, he said.

"Women are being oppressed, they are suffering. Most instances are taking place in Uttar Pradesh," he said.

Giving out figures of triple talaq cases between January 2017 and September 2018 from several states that totalled 430 including 229 before the Supreme Court judgement and 201 later, he said there could be many other unreported cases.

"The bottomline is that cases of triple talaq continue unabated. Whatever we have collected is shocking," he said.

Prasad said several Islamic countries have banned instant triple talaq but it still prevailed in a secular country like India.

He said the offence will become cognizable (with provision of three years imprisonment) if the FIR is filed by the woman or by her blood relations. A compromise can be reached at the initiative of woman and with appropriate conditions imposed by the magistrate concerned.

Prasad also said that bail can be given by the magistrate after hearing the woman who has filed the case. The custody of minor children will go to the mother and she will be entitled to maintenance for herself and her minor children.

He said the purpose was not to break families and a compromise will have the court's seal.

Prasad appealed to UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi to support the efforts for giving justice to women by rising above the considerations of "vote bank "

He made a similar appeal to BSP chief Mayawati and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. "Support it by rising above politics," he said.

Prasad said the Congress supported the bill in the Lok Sabha but not in the Rajya Sabha.

"Let them publicly say when the session commences we will support it. We would appreciate their support in the House, not before TV channels," he said.

He said the government tried to take the Congress along. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar had, on the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, met Congress leaders to seek their support for the passage of the bill in the Rajya Sabha.

Asked if steps will be taken for empowerment of Muslim women, including BJP giving ticket during elections, Prasad said the issue should not be reduced to political empowerment: "We are consciously keeping this bill away from political divide. It is for gender justice."

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has agreed to shut down one of his main missile testing and launch sites, said South Korea's President Moon Jae-in on Wednesday.

Kim agreed to take additional steps for denuclearisation, in an apparent gesture to restart the stalled talks with the US, Yonhap news agency reported.

The agreement came in a historic summit between Kim and Moon held at the state guesthouse Paekhwawon here. The two leaders "agreed on a way to achieve denuclearisation" said Moon, the BBC reported.

The agreement was described by Kim as a "leap forward" towards military peace on the Korean Peninsula. He also hoped to "visit Seoul in the near future". He would be then the first North Korean leader to do so.

"The North has agreed to permanently shut down its Dongchang-ri missile engine testing facility and missile launch pad under the participation of experts from related countries," Moon said in a joint press conference with Kim after the summit, broadcast live in Seoul.

The North also agreed to take additional steps, such as the permanent shutdown of the Yongbyon nuclear facility, depending on the US' corresponding measures, he added.

"The South and the North discussed denuclearisation steps for the first time," Moon added.

--IANS

in/

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Days after the arrest of a Hizbul Mujahideen man from Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, a team of National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrived in Assam on Wednesday to grill the seven accomplices of the Hizbul cadre, who have been arrested subsequently from the state.

After the arrest of Assam's native Qamar uz Zaman by the Anti Terror Squad (ATS) of Uttar Pradesh last week, Assam police have so far nabbed seven persons including the brother of Zaman for having links with him and the Jammu and Kashmir-based terror outfit.

"An NIA team has arrived in Assam and they are grilling the arrested linkmen. This is for the first time that we have arrested Hizbul Mujahideen linkmen from Assam. We are trying to see if the J&K-based Islamist terror outfit had already set up an Assam module," said a senior Assam police officer.

He refused to reveal further details as it might hamper the investigation.

He said that earlier the Assam police had busted a terror module set up in the state by Bangladesh-based Islamist terror network, Jamat ul Mujahideen (JMB). Several JMB cadres had been arrested from Lower Assam (Western Assam) districts resulting in the recovery of arms and ammunition from different areas of Lower Assam.

The JMB operatives have also been using Chirang district of Assam as a training centre.

Following the arrest of Zaman, Assam police arrested his close associate Shahnawaz Alam from Hojoi in Assam. After this Saidul Alam, a resident of Lanka in Hojai district, Umar Faruk and others were also arrested from different places in Hojai and Nagaon district of Assam.

Police said that Saidul was also in touch with Zaman and visited Srinagar in April this year and got in touch with few Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists.

--IANS

ah/prs

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)No meeting between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has been scheduled yet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) session later this month, it is learnt.

Sources here said that foreign ministers of the member countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) will have an informal meeting on the sidelines of the UNGA.

"But no separate meeting between our External Affairs Minister and the Pakistan Foreign Minister has been finalised," a source in the know of things said.

Speculations have been rife about resumption of talks between the two South Asian nuclear neighbours ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi called his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan after the latter took oath of office last month.

It is learnt that the Saarc Summit that Imran Khan wants to be held in Pakistan is also unlikely.

"India's stand on the Saarc Summit is very clear -- there can be no talks till Pakistan cuts down support to terrorism," the source said.

Following the cross-border terror attack at an Indian Army base in Jammu and Kashmir in September 2016, the Saarc Summit that was to be held in Islamabad later that year had to be cancelled as other member states of the bloc joined India in boycotting it.

--IANS

ab/nir

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Indian authorities said on Wednesday they have not received any communication from the UAE regarding the extradition order of British national Christian Michel James, the alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper case, even as they claimed that a court there had ruled that he can be extradited.

"The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has not received any communication regarding Michel's extradition from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)," CBI spokesperson Abhishek Dayal said here.

The MEA is the agency concerned that gets notified about the proceedings regarding any wanted persons in other countries. It then informs the investigating agencies in the country.

The CBI official's remarks came amid the media reports that a United Arab Emirates (UAE) court has ordered the extradition of Michel to India in the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal case.

Official sources also said that the UAE has not communicated to MEA yet on extradition of Michel.

It is learnt that the UAE government had approached the court late last month asking if Michel, a British national, can be extradited to a third country--India. And then apparently the court on September 2 said that he can be extradited The Indian missiion in UAE has been asked to find out information on this.

In January this year, the ED had lodged a request with the UAE authorities for extraditing Michel. Both the ED and the CBI had filed chargesheets in bribery cases in Indian courts and non-bailable warrants had been issued against the accused.

Last year, a red corner notice was issued against Michel by the Interpol on a request by the CBI. RCNs were also issued against two Italians involved in the scam -- Carlo Gerosa and Guido Haschke.

According to Indian investigative agencies, Michel had received at least Rs 235 crore for ensuring that the chopper contract went to AgustaWestland. He was a frequent visitor to India, having undertaken 300 trips to this country between 1997 and 2013.

On January 1, 2014, India cancelled the contract with Finmeccanica's British subsidiary AgustaWestland for supplying 12 AW-101 VVIP choppers to the IAF, over alleged breach of contractual obligations and on charges of paying kickbacks amounting to Rs 423 crore.

The CBI, which registered an FIR in the case on March 12, 2013, had alleged that Tyagi and the other accused received kickbacks from AgustaWestland to help it win the contract. The FIR mentioned charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating and those under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The operational flight ceiling of the choppers was reduced from 6,000 metres, as originally proposed, to 4,500 metres and the cabin height was brought down to 1.8 metres.

The twin modifications were allegedly meant to rig the deal in favour of AgustaWestland, which eventually walked away with the order to supply the 12 choppers for the Communication Squadron of the IAF for ferrying the President, the Prime Minister and other VVIPs.

The CBI probe revealed that several payments were made to the Tyagis by Haschke, Gerosa and Michel.

Tyagi, who was IAF chief from 2004 to 2007, his cousin and Khaitan were arrested in December last year by the agency. They are now out on bail.

--IANS

aks/ab/vsc/vm

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Driven by strong sales in India, China and the UK, Chinese smartphone maker OnePlus entered the top five premium Android Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) globally, in the second quarter of 2018, said a report on Wednesday.

According to Hong Kong based Counterpoint Research's "Market Monitor Q2 2018" report, OnePlus was one of the fastest growing brands in the $400-$600 price segment as the global premium smartphone segment grew faster (+7 per cent) than the overall smartphone segment (-1 per cent) in the second quarter of 2018.

The premium segment, which consists of devices above $400, accounts for one-fifth of the global smartphone market.

"In India, it (OnePlus) surpassed Apple and Samsung to become the number one premium smartphone OEM during the quarter with a strong 40 per cent market share. It was also amongst the top five premium smartphone OEMs in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK on account of strong initial sales of OnePlus 6," the market research firm said in a statement.

Around 40 OEMs compete in the premium smartphone segment worldwide, out of which the top five players account for almost 88 per cent of the sales.

Meanwhile, Cupertino-based Apple led the global premium smartphone segment and captured 43 per cent share of the segment, followed by Samsung (with 24 per cent) and OPPO (10 per cent).

In the $800+ price segment, Apple dominated with 88 per cent share during the second quarter.

"In the $600-$800 segment, Apple and Samsung alone contributed to 85 per cent of shipments, while Huawei trailed by a big margin," Counterpoint added.

Sale of Apple and Samsung devices were driven by developed markets like the US, China, Japan, Korea and countries in western Europe.

"Samsung's share in the $600-$800 price segment declined due to fewer than expected sales of the Galaxy S9 series," the research firm noted.

--IANS

ksc/nir

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Islamabad High Court on Wednesday ordered the release of jailed former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Muhammad Safdar, providing them huge relief and prompting celebrations among supporters.

Sharif, Maryam and Safdar had been sentenced in July to 10 years, seven years and one year respectively for corruption on charges of owning four upmarket flats in London. They were convicted after they failed to prove the source of assets used to purchase the properties.

The ruling was delivered by Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb on petitions filed by the three, Geo News reported.

The court granted bail to the three and ordered them to pay Rs 500,000 as surety bonds. The sentences of the three-time Premier, his daughter and son-in-law will remain suspended till the final adjudication of the appeals filed by them.

"We accept the petitioners' pleas seeking a suspension in their sentences," Justice Minallah said, adding that the National Accountability Bureau, Pakistan's anti-corruption watchdog, was unable to prove a financial link between Sharif and the apartments in question.

The verdict sparked wild celebrations among Sharifs' supporters outside the courtroom. Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) President Shehbaz Sharif took to Twitter to express gratitude on suspension of the sentences.

"Truth has come and falsehood has departed."

Former Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif, a staunch Sharif ally, termed the judgment a "victory for justice" while congratulating the former Prime Minister, who lost his wife to cancer last week.

Calling the court's decision "a triumph of justice", PML-N party leader Ahsan Iqbal said: "The trial was not according to the law. It was revenge. It was pre-poll rigging to keep Sharif out of the election process."

The July 6 verdict against Sharifs came less than three weeks before the general elections in Pakistan, which were won by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Party, led by current Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Sharif was in London when the court sentenced him and he was arrested along with his daughter and son-in-law upon his return to Pakistan.

In July 2017, Pakistan's Supreme Court had ousted Sharif as Prime Minister and barred him from public office for life after an investigation spurred by the publication of the Panama Papers found that he failed to disclose payments from a company belonging to his son in the UAE.

--IANS

soni/mr

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The House of Representatives started the plenary deliberations of the 2019 national budget yesterday after being postponed for two days. For the next fiscal year, the Executive proposes a P3.757-trillion cash-based appropriations. This is the third budget of the Duterte administration and the first cash-based appropriations of the Philippine government as we shifted our budgeting scheme from obligations-based to cash-based. Approving the national budget is not an easy task for us lawmakers. It has to go through scrutiny of several congressmen during the Committee deliberations and it goes through a tougher debate on the floor. The plenary budget deliberations is a chance for us, most especially for me, as the Minority Leader, to interpellate the sponsors of the budget of government agencies to ensure that their respective budgets truly reflect projects and programs for the Filipino people. However, the challenge in approving the national budget is trusting that the government agencies will spend their respective budgets efficiently. As I speak about efficiency, let us take a look at how the government agencies have performed in the previous years with respect to their budget utilization. From 2011 to 2016, our government had an estimated average of over P350-billion unused appropriations annually. This amount was initially appropriated but not spent by the government agencies due to delays and discontinuation of implementation of several projects and programs. Given this track record of government underspending, I am deeply concerned that the P3.757-trillion proposed budget for 2019 would be underutilized, yet again.It came as no surprise to us that government agencies continued to underspend under the new administration. In 2017, most government agencies remained to have low absorptive capacities. The Department of Education and the Department of Public Works and Highways had the highest allocations, yet they also had the highest underspending. DepEd had P57.6-billion unused appropriations, while DPWH had P114.5-billion unused appropriations. Other big agencies with unused appropriations were the Department of Tourism (P30.8 billion), Department of National Defense (P23.5 billion), Department of Social Welfare and Development (P23 billion), and the Department of Health (P16.2 billion). In total, these agencies underspent in the amount of P265.6 billion. We must note that underspending in these agencies reflects poorly on the administration, who is supposed to be effecting urgent funding and implementation of much-needed government projects and programs. I have been consistent about my stand against inexplicable underspending and low absorptive capacity of government agencies. To me, failure to spend the budget efficiently means depriving the people with the basic goods and services from the government. As the Minority Leader, I will take advantage of my role in the plenary budget deliberations to scrutinize the budget with a keen eye on the spending habits of several government agencies. If this is truly a budget for the Filipino people, then it has to be spent efficiently and exclusively for the Filipino people.In a huge relief to former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Muhammad Safdar, the Islamabad High Court on Wednesday suspended their prison sentences in a corruption case and ordered their release.

A two-judge bench comprising Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb gave the judgment on petitions filed by three challenging the July verdict against them in the Avenfield case, Geo News reported.

The reference pertained to the Sharifs' purchase of four upmarket flats in Avenfield House, London. The three were convicted by an anti-corruption court in Pakistan of not being able to prove the source of assets used to purchase the properties.

Sharif, Maryam and Safdar had been sentenced to 11 years, eight years and one year respectively.

"We accept the petitioners' pleas seeking a suspension in their sentences," Justice Minallah said, adding that the National Accountability Bureau, Pakistan's anti-corruption watchdog, was unable to prove a financial link between Sharif and the apartments in question.

Ordering their release, the judges directed the three to submit bail bonds worth Rs 0.5 million each.

The sentences will remain suspended till the final adjudication of the appeals filed by the petitioners, according to the report.

A large number of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders, including its President Shehbaz Sharif, leaders Pervaiz Rashid and Khurram Dastgir, were present in the courtroom and cheered as the judgment was announced.

Following the judgment, Senator Chaudhary Tanvir submitted bail bonds for the three at the deputy registrar's office.

According to jail officials, they can be released on Thursday, provided the order was received prior to the expiration of lock-up time.

--IANS

soni/mr

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)India's plan to build 21 nuclear reactors by 2030 by using different technologies is on track, Atomic Energy Department Secretary Sekhar Basu said on Wednesday.

The Secretary was speaking at the 62nd Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) hosted by Austria, an official release said.

"During the last conference we talked about our plans to build the 21 reactors by 2030... implementation of this programme is well on track with foreign partners bringing in different technologies."

"We have placed two Russian designed pressurised light water reactors and two pressurised heavy reactors being built with Indian technology under the IAEA safeguards. Thus, in all, 26 Indian nuclear facilities are placed under IAEA safeguards," he added.

A pact was signed in March between Indian and France to establish six nuclear power reactors of European pressurized reactor (EPR) technology to enhance India's international cooperation in the field.

The release said that under IAEA aegis, over 150 persons from Africa and Asia have been trained in cancer care and two radionuclide generators developed to fight cancer.

--IANS

sm/tsb/vm

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Workers, industrialists and social activists marched here on Wednesday to protest restrictions on industries in the eco-sensitive Taj Trapezium Zone spread over 10,400 sq.km.

Carrying placards and banners, the protesters raised slogans against the apathetic attitude of the elected representatives towards industries, hotels, hospitals and others listed in the Orange, Red and White categories of the pollution control department.

Industry leaders addressing the protesters at the Shaheed Smarak claimed that thousands of people would lose their jobs with total disruption of economic activities in Agra if the restrictions were not lifted.

K.C. Jain, secretary of Agra Development Foundation, said "not only iron foundries, but also hotels, nursing homes and business establishments have been affected by the a moratorium on expansion."

Organisations that joined the protest included Laghu Udhyog Bharti, National Chamber of Industries and Commerce, UP Diesel Engine Manufacturing Association, Mathura, Firozabad Factories Association, Engineering Component manufacturing association, Factory Owners' Association, Export Promotion Council members, Computers Association of Agra, Tourists Welfare Chamber, Agra Footwear manufacturers and exporters Chamber, Real Estate Developers Organisation, Foundries Association, Agra Hotels and Restaurants Association and a dozen others.

The polluting industries were shut down in 1996 by the Supreme Court.

Later, some industries were allowed to run if they switched to natural gas. But expansion and opening of new units was not permitted both in Agra and Firozabad.

--IANS

bk/pgh/prs

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The shooting of the show "RadhaKrishn" was stalled on Wednesday as its lead actor Sumedh Mudgalkar fell ill.

Sumedh plays Krishn in Star Bharat's upcoming show "RadhaKrishn".

The shoot came to a halt here when Sumedh complained of feeling unwell.

"I have not been keeping well and I hope to resume the shooting soon," Sumedh said in a statement.

The show will bring alive the epic love saga of Lord Krishna and Radha.

The actor had earlier said: "I feel blessed to be able to play the role of Lord Krishna and represent his life journey."

It stars Mallika Singh as Radha.

--IANS

nn/rb/bg

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The government on Wednesday said a probe by a Joint Parliamentary Committee or Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) cannot be set up to go into the 36 Rafale fighter jet deal to satisfy the ego of a "ill-informed" Congress leaders.

"I don't think JPC or CAG inquiry is set up to satisfy the ego of an ill-informed leader who repeats lies with alarming regularity," Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told the media here.

The remarks came soon after a Congress delegation headed by senior leader A.K. Antony met the CAG and submitted a memorandum seeking an "urgent probe" into the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets by the Modi government.

Prasad said what struck him more was the presence in the delegation of Antony, who was the Defence Minister for eight years during which nothing was done for modernisation and empowerment of Indian armed forces.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said that Antony was the Minister when the offset rule was framed and who left the HAL in the lurch as far as joint operations were concerned.

"Antony has a lot to answer," Prasad said, adding that the Indian Air Force badly needed planes as old aircraft were leading to repeated accidents and pilot deaths.

"Should the Congress at least not rise to the occasion for the sake of the country's safety and security?" he asked.

--IANS

aks/vsc/mr

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday imposed restrictions in Srinagar city to prevent a Muharram procession.

"Restrictions have been imposed in Kothibagh, Maisuma, Kralkhud, Shaheedgunj, Batmaloo, Karan Nagar, Ram Munshibagh, Shergarhi and Nehru Park," police said.

These restrictions are preventive in nature and have been imposed to maintain law and order, an officer said.

Srinagar District Magistrate also ordered all schools and colleges in the city to remain closed for the day.

Authorities have not allowed any 8th and 10th Muharram processions in Srinagar since 1989.

Muharram processions are taken out by Shia Muslims throughout the world to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, grandson of the Prophet Mohammad

--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.)A scam of around Rs 2 crore has been unearthed in Madhya Pradesh's Women and Child Development (WCD) Department, police said on Wednesday.

An FIR was registered by the police after WCD Joint Director Swarnim Shukla on Tuesday filed a complaint against 14 officers and workers.

Shukla said the accused persons used fraudulent means in giving salaries to Anganwadi workers. They also fiddled with the department's policies.

Police Superintendent, Shahjahanabad, Nagendra Patoria told IANS that there has been a scam of Rs 2.2 crore in eight centres of the WCD, Bhopal.

--IANS

hindi-mag/bg

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Gujarat Assembly on Wednesday unanimously passed a bill proposing to hike the salaries of legislators, Ministers, Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Leader of Opposition by at least Rs 45,000 a month.

The monthly salary of the MLAs will be increased to Rs 1.16 lakh from the existing Rs 70,727, a rise of about 64 per cent, while those of the Ministers, Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Leader of Opposition will go up to Rs 1.32 lakh from Rs 86,000, an increase of about 54 per cent.

The revised salaries will come into retrospective effect from February 2017, with a disbursal of Rs 6 crore in arrears. The new remuneration structure will put an extra burden of Rs 10 crore annually on the state exchequer.

The Salaries and Allowances of Members, Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Gujarat Assembly, Ministers and Leader of Opposition Laws (Amendment) Bill 2018 was introduced in the House by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Pradeepsinh Jadeja.

After tabling the bill, Jadeja informed the House that the salary of the MLAs in the 182-member Gujarat Assembly had not been revised since 2005 while the remuneration of their counterparts in other states was comparatively much higher.

For instance, the salaries of legislators in states like Uttarakhand, Telangana, Jharkhand and Maharashtra were Rs 2.91 lakh, Rs 2.50 lakh, Rs 2.25 lakh and Rs 2.13 lakh respectively.

It was only in Bihar, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Odisha that the salaries of lawmakers was just over Rs 1 lakh, comparable to the remuneration the Gujarat MLAs will now get.

--IANS

desai/mr

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought the presence of BJP MP Manoj Tiwari before it for breaking the lock of a sealed premises in Delhi's Gokulpur village.

"It's important that elected members should not defy the order of this court," a bench of Justice Madan B. Lokur, Justice Abdul S. Nazeer and Justice Deepak Gupta said while issuing a contempt notice to Tiwari and asked him to appear before it on September 25.

Terming the action of Tiwari "unfortunate", the bench said it shows a "disturbed affair where a member of Parliament is alleged to have broken the seal of some premises" despite sealing operation in terms of orders passed by the apex court.

Senior advocate Ranjit Kumar, assisting the court in the sealing issue, requested the court to take stringent action against Tiwari for breaking the lock of a sealed premises.

The monitoring committee said members of political parties and others were intentionally and deliberately violating the court's order not to interfere in the sealing drive against illegal and unauthorised construction in the city.

It said the court should act tough against such persons to ensure that its orders were not violated.

Tiwari, meanwhile, again visited the village on Tuesday and protested against the sealing drive initiated by municipal authorities, Kumar told the bench.

He contended that the police has registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party chief Manoj Tiwari for illegally breaking the lock.

He has been booked under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and 461 and 465 of the Delhi Municipal Corporation (DMC) Act.

"The monitoring committee requests this court to pass stringent directions, including initiation of contempt proceedings against Manoj Tiwari, MP, for seal-tampering so that sealing operations may continue uninterrupted as per the direction of this court," the report said.

The top court has time and again warned political leaders not to politicise the issue of sealing and had earlier issued contempt notice to BJP MLA O.P. Sharma and Municipal Councillor Gunjan Gupta for preventing the committee for taking action against unauthorised constructions in Delhi but the two were let off after they tendered an unconditional apology.

A video footage of Tiwari breaking a sealed lock of a house in an unauthorised colony went viral on social media.

The sealing drive in Delhi is being carried out by a Supreme Court-appointed Monitoring Committee against business establishments using residential properties for commercial purposes. It is being implemented by three BJP-led Municipal Corporations of Delhi.

The committee was set up by the Supreme Court in 2006. In 2012, the apex court asked the committee to stop the drive. But in December 2017 it ordered resumption of the drive.

--IANS

gt/mag/mr

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The BJP's quest to find a replacement for ailing Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar met with a setback on Wednesday as a meeting of top state BJP officials with party President Amit Shah in Delhi failed to resolve the issue.

Party sources said the meeting, attended by state BJP President Vinay Tendulkar and Union Minister of State for AYUSH Shripad Naik -- both contenders for the Chief Ministerial slot -- and South Goa MP Narendra Savoikar remained inconclusive.

"Our party President is seized of the matter, but no decision has been made on the leadership issue yet," a BJP leader said on the condition of anonymity.

The sources said that a pointed demand made by regional ally Goa Forward to appoint a non-legislator as a Chief Minister was shot down by Parrikar, admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi, who is being consulted.

Parrikar, suffering from advanced pancreatic cancer, has been in and out of hospitals in Goa, Mumbai, New York and now Delhi since February, when his illness was diagnosed.

This has led to criticism from the opposition and civil society, which have demanded that he should resign to make way for a "fully fit" Chief Minister who can efficiently discharge official duties.

There are several options which the BJP leadership has been tinkering with over the last few days, ever since the high command took serious note of the criticism about Parrikar's absence from office.

The options include Shripad Naik, a popular 'bahujan samaj' (non-Brahmin caste) leader whose presence could be a boon for the BJP, which has over the last few years been accused of alienating the lower castes.

While Naik is Parrikar's peer in the Goa BJP, both leaders have shadow-boxed each other on several occasions and are known to head two power centres within the party.

The other options include Vinay Tendulkar, a Rajya Sabah MP who has in the past sacrificed ministerial berth as well as a party ticket on leadership's instructions as also Goa Assembly Speaker Pramod Sawant.

Senior state party leaders as well as ex-MLAs, who met National General Secretary (Organisation) Ram Lal in Goa this week have rejected the proposal to invite a member of the alliance parties to head the coalition government.

Speaking to IANS, Goa Forward President Vijai Sardesai said that he was fine with the delay on part of the BJP to decide on the leadership issue.

"Let them take time. But the decision should be a permanent one that keeps the state's political stability in mind," the Town and Country Planning Minister said.

--IANS

maya/tsb/mr

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Birthday wishes

Call 281-422-8302 or email david.bloom@baytownsun.com to wish someone a happy birthday. We will print your birthday wish on Page 2 of The Sun.

Happy Birthday WishesOn Friday, September 21, the nation will mark the 46th anniversary of the declaration of martial law by strongman Ferdinand Marcos. It was actually Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile who wrote the details and implemented martial law. I believe the implementation was a masterpiece. In one fell swoop, the nation was placed under the control of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. All media outlets were shut down and all means of transportation were canceled. Critics of the government and suspected members and supporters of the Communist Party of the Philippines were detained. Prior to the 21st of September, there had been rumors about the declaration of martial law. But it was said that Marcos felt the number 7 and its multiples would be lucky for him. In justifying martial law, Marcos claimed that the communist movement was already knocking on the gates of Malacanang so he had to do something drastic. According to Enrile, the last straw of Marcos was when he delivered his State of the Nation Address at the old Legislative Building and protesters threw a replica of a coffin. For the record, Marcos was then fighting on three frontsthe communist movement, the secessionist movement in Mindanao, and civil society assisted by militants and media sympathetic to Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. Recall that the Supreme Court upheld martial law citing these threats that Marcos was facing. The tragedy however was that those who were arrested and detained claimed atrocities were done on them. This Friday, many will talk about these alleged atrocities while forgetting that martial law actually made a dent on the communist movement. If the communists had not been stopped, who knows what could have happened to our nation! I do not mean to belittle the atrocities committed on those who suffered during martial law. But I think we should remember the entire picture. It is important for us now to move on as a nation. Sadly, many people, in pursuit of their own agenda, dredged out the past and lay the blame on Marcos descendants. Personally I believe the sins of the father should not be transferred to their children. * * * In the same context, President Duterte is confronted with multiple challenges far worse than what Marcos faced in his time. Aside from the communists, Duterte is fighting terrorism from ISIS-inspired fighters in the South who want to establish their own caliphate here.Most importantly, the nation is facing gut issues like the soaring prices of food items, water, power and transport. And then, as if we were not suffering enough, last weekend Typhoon Ompong caused damage in the billions of pesos to the agriculture sector. These could push people to the brink! Band-aid solutions like the importation of meat and fish are just thattemporary. Just how Mr. Duterte will face all these is the question. How will he act, given that he is also waging a war against illegal drugs and corruption? * * * Despite all the problems hounding our nation, some members of the House of Representatives have inserted their own projects into the P3.7-trillion national budget. All these insertions amounting to P55 billion constitute pork barrel in any language. Its a good thing there is still the Senate, through which these insertions still have to go. Senator Panfilo Lacson, an avowed enemy of pork barrel, and Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, have vowed to oppose these insertions. Its just despicable that amid all the countrys problems, some House members would still make their own interests a priority. Unless the anomaly of pork barrel funds is stopped, legislators will continue to take the people for fools. * * * There is another proposal of the diversified San Miguel conglomerate to build a P3-billion bridge connecting Caticlan in Aklan to Boracay. But it seems like government is dragging its feet. SMC has another proposalthat P750-billion aerotropolis on 2,500 hectares of land in Bulacan. This is also being delayed. SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang said the bridge would enable the transport of waste from Boracay island and hence prevent it from becoming a cesspool again. Continuous electrical power is also assured. The proposed bridge is 1.1 kilometers. Vehicles and pedestrians will pay users fee. The SMC proposal should provide synergy with the Caticlan airport, another SMC project. All these could solve a lot of the governments problems!Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Wednesday urged the people to engage in "preserving" historical sites around them.

His remarks came after visiting a restored and maintained version of a heritage site in west Delhi.

Located in Sector 12 in Dwarka, the Baoli (stepwell) went into restoration in an unrecognisable state two years ago is now ready for sightseeing, a statement from Sisodia's office said.

The Dwarka Baoli is one of the smallest baolis of the national capital unlike its more celebrated counterparts -- Agrasen ki Baoli, Rajon ki Baoli and Gandhak ki Baoli.

It was discovered in 2011 from under a foliage of thick vegetation and large group of trees.

Sisodia also congratulated the Delhi Department of Archaeology for their "remarkable job in restoring the heritage stepwell", and urged the people to visit more of such historical structures around the city.

"I urge the people of Delhi to visit such historical structures to experience the city's amazing history and heritage. Places like this Baoli have a tranquil aura. It's intriguing to be at the spot once inhibited the people of Lodi era," he said.

He also said the restoration work is on at other monuments such as Tomb (Jharokha), Horse Stable, Tomb in Mehrauli Archaeological Park, Qulikhan's Tomb.

"Eighteen monuments have been conserved last year while 19 more are being restored this year," Sisodia said.

--IANS

sd/pgh/vm

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Budget passenger carrier SpiceJet will launch flights between Hyderabad and Bangkok from October 10, 2018.

According to the airline, Hyderabad will also be connected to Guwahati from October 10.

"SpiceJet is the only Indian carrier to provide direct connectivity between Hyderabad and Bangkok. Earlier passengers from the city had to take a connecting flight from Delhi while traveling to Bangkok," the airline said in a statement on Wednesday.

"SpiceJet celebrated the launch by announcing an introductory promotional fare of INR 10,001 (all inclusive) for Hyderabad-Bangkok, INR 8316 (all inclusive) for Bangkok-Hyderabad, INR 4286 (all inclusive) for Hyderabad-Guwahati and INR 4148 (all inclusive) for Guwahati-Hyderabad. The airline will deploy its Boeing aircraft on both the routes."

--IANS

rv/vm

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)People responsible for putting needles into strawberries or posting online fake images of sabotaged fruits may face 10-15 years in jail, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Wednesday following a fruit contamination scare that has alarmed the country.

Australia is set to pass laws to stiffen penalties for those responsible, said Morrison at a press conference as authorities investigate over 100 reports of people finding needles concealed within strawberries and other fruits.

"Today I announced that we are putting in some tough new laws not just to increase the penalties for people who do this already but for those who go on YouTube or think it's a big lark to go on and stick pins in fruits," he said in the video message on Twitter.

"It's not funny. It's not right. It's causing real distress and harm in our community and its got to stop. So we are going to be passing laws in the next 24 hours to send a very clear message. Don't do it."

Morrison said such acts, which affect the life and livelihood of Australians, including strawberry farmers, were crimes on par with terrorism or child pornography.

Dozens of cases of strawberries containing needles have been reported in the last week, mostly in the northeastern state of Queensland and now in most other parts of the country.

In a statement, the New South Wales Police Force said it was continuing to probe such instances and warned people of severe penalties if found guilty of deliberate fruit sabotage.

The investigation was launched on September 12 after cases of sabotaged strawberries were reported from Queensland.

"The community is reminded that deliberately contaminating food is a criminal offence and a threat to public safety. In New South Wales, the maximum penalty for the offence is 10 years imprisonment," the statement added.

On Tuesday, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced a $72,470 reward leading to an arrest for those responsible for the strawberry sabotage.

"The sabotage of our strawberry industry is not just an attack on hard-working growers and workers, but it reaches into almost every home and school lunch box," Palaszczuk said.

--IANS

soni/

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)TVS Motor Company on Wednesday launched a new 110cc commuter motorcycle -- Radeon, in Rajasthan.

Speaking at the launch event, Aniruddha Haldar, Vice President (Marketing) -- Commuter Motorcycles, Scooters and Corporate Brand, TVS Motor Company, said: "We are delighted to launch TVS Radeon here, targeting the discerning progressive customers."

The motorcycle churns out 8.4PS of power @7000rpm with a torque of 8.7Nm@5000rpm. Radeon is equipped with 10-litre fuel tank and claims a fuel economy of 69.3 kmpl.

"The motorcycle boasts of multiple first-in-class features and usage-led design, which offers strength, comfort, and style without compromising practicality. I am confident TVS Radeon will find favour with our consumers, who are looking for a strong, comfortable and durable motorcycle," Haldar said.

TVS Radeon comes with a unique impact resistant design (UIR), highly efficient long-lasting Dura-Life 110cc engine, strong steel tubular chassis, 18-inch wheels with Sync Braking Technology, powerful headlamp with DRL (daytime running light), largest seat in the segment, high ground clearance and long wheel-base in the segment and easy ground reachability, he added.

Complete with a 5-year warranty, Radeon comes in a colour selection of white, beige, purple and black.

TVS Radeon is priced at Rs 49,400 (ex-showroom, Jaipur).

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt arrived in Myanmar on Wednesday on his first official visit to the country for discussions expected to include the Rohingya refugee crisis and the jailing of two Reuters reporters.

Hunt arrived in the southeast Asian country after completing a working visit to Japan. "Arrived in Burma for talks with leaders and to see humanitarian issues firsthand," Hunt wrote on Twitter.

On Thursday, he was scheduled to meet with Myanmar's de facto leader and Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who, along with the Army, has been been blamed for the Rohingya crisis by the international community.

The visit came a day after a United Nations fact finding mission on human rights violations in Myanmar's Kachin, Rakhine and Shan states submitted its complete report in Geneva.

The report found elements of intentional genocide in Rakhine against the Rohingya, a predominantly Muslim ethnicity and cases of crimes against humanity and war crimes in all the three states.

At least 10,000 people died and 800,000 sought refuge in neighbouring Bangladesh after the Myanmar security forces launched an offensive in August 2017 following a series of Rohingya rebel attacks on government outposts.

Last month, Hunt had criticized the situation faced by the Rohingyas, after the UN mission presented a concise version of its conclusions on August 27.

"Deeply disturbing to read UN report on crimes against Rohingya people. There must be never be a hiding place for those who commit these kinds of atrocities. Have decided to visit Burma to seek answers at the earliest opportunity," Hunt said.

The Foreign Secretary will also discuss the recent imprisonment of two reporters working for Reuters news agency.

Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo who were sentenced to seven years in prison earlier this month for violating the Official Secrets Act while investigating a massacre of Rohingyas, in a ruling that has been widely criticized by the international community.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A woman, upset at not being able to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit here, torched a bus carrying passengers to Lucknow on Wednesday, police said.

However, before the fire could spread, the passengers of the Uttar Pradesh State Roadways Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) luxury bus got out safely.

The woman, identified as Vandana Raghuvanshi, was arrested. She has been demanding the carving out of a separate Poorvanchal state from Uttar Pradesh.

The incident occurred at the Cantonment bus station here early in the day.

An eyewitness said she sprinkled petrol on the bus and set it afire. The Volvo bus was gutted. It took firemen more than an hour to douse the flames.

Raghuvanshi was on an indefinite fast to press for her demand since August 15. When her condition worsened she was force-fed on August 29, Varanasi Superintendent of Police Dinesh Kumar Singh told IANS.

Modi was in his parliamentary constituency on Monday and Tuesday as he celebrated his 68th birthday on September 17 and launched many projects the next day.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)An urban industrial landscape mix with natural and agricultural spaces is ideal for striking a balance between the quality of human life and economic prosperity. It also helps reduce impact of a changing climate trigger, a French expert says.

"There is a heavy demand for land due to industrialiation that is eating away the remaining land. But local legislations is needed to check this urban sprawl," Caroline Doucerain, Vice President of the Grand Parc metropolitan area in Versailles, told IANS in an interview conducted through an interpreter.

The Grand Parc, which lies in the Saclay Plateau some 20 km south of Paris, is a perfect example of agricultural land protection where the per hectare wheat yield is between 90 and 100 quintals against the national average of just 74 quintals per hectare. And, its vibrant innovation ecosystem aims to become the Silicon Valley of France.

Doucerain said major climate resilience initiatives had been adopted by her country to reduce greenhouse gases, increase carbon sequestration and ensure food security.

For her, strong land conservation laws are not enough. The success lies in supporting citizen's cooperatives.

"This is why action plans through public dialogue were established in 2010 to implement the objectives of the Natural, Agricultural and Forest Protection Zone to ensure overall sustainable development in the Saclay Plateau," she pointed out.

Doucerain was in this California city to study the work of the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority of the US at 'A Tale of Three Valleys', an affiliate event of the just-concluded Global Climate Action Summit.

The Open Space Authority, which serves a population of about 1.4 million people, comprising San Jose, conserves the natural environment, supports agriculture and connects people to nature by protecting open spaces.

"My hometown, for instance, is home to Air Liquide's research center, completely rebuilt to accommodate 400 researchers," said Doucerain, who is also the Mayor of Loges-en-Josas, a small rural community of 1,600 people.

Historically, the Versailles and Saclay areas were an agricultural region with particularly fertile, loamy soil.

After 1945, research centres looking for a serene close to Paris began appearing in the region. These included the National Center for Scientific Research, the Atomic Energy Commission and a centre for energy research.

"Many French and international companies moved to our region, making Courtaboeuf the leading business park in Europe. Among many others, HP, GSK and Econocom have offices there."

But economic development also poses challenges.

"As economic development and research were gaining ground in our area, several farmers faced a major dilemma: Should they give in to real-estate pressures, sell their land and move to a more remote area as some in previous generations had done?

"Or should they trust their entrepreneurial instincts and deep ties to the area, which told them there surely must be innovative ways to approach production and take advantage of opportunities right there," she said.

There were more than 600,000 potential local consumers and 12 million in the larger region.

To answer the questions about the future of their farms, she said, the farmers asked the Ile-de-France Regional Council to conduct an in-depth study.

Nearly all 122 stakeholders surveyed believed that farming was an element that gives structure to the plans for this geographical area.

The farms are not just empty spaces to be filled. The Terre et Cite association was thus established. It includes four groups of participants: Farmers, municipalities, associations and civil society.

In 2008, several municipalities tackled the issue of procuring locally-grown produce for their cafeterias.

Terre et Cite was selected to facilitate the implementing of concrete projects with local supply networks.

"Today, more than one million meals a year are served that include at least one local ingredient," an elated Doucerain proclaimed.

"Today it is obvious that farms and open spaces offer fertile ground for many future innovations in the region. The preservation of land is essential to the long-term vitality and attractiveness of the Saclay Plateau.

As a result, we have over 10,000 acres of protected agricultural and open-space lands, including almost 6,000 acres of land devoted to farming. Even the so-called Paris region consists of almost 50 per cent farmland," she pointed out.

The Saclay Plateau has markedly developed organic farming.

Organic now represents a surface area six times greater than seen across the larger Paris region. Moreover, 20 per cent of land in the area is devoted to producing products like bread, yogurt, chicken, fruits and vegetables for local consumption.

"Farms, open spaces and particularly wooded areas within the plateau are important touch points of our identity. They characterise our landscapes and are integral to the quality of life that many people in the Paris region seek," Doucerain added.

(Vishal Gulati was 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/vm/hs

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The US and its allies are ready to launch a new effort to publicly expose North Korean violations of sanctions aimed at curbing its nuclear and missile programs, a media report said.

The plan to "name and shame" Pyongyang comes as negotiations over North Korea's nuclear program appear to have reached a standstill, CNN reported.

A defence official told CNN that North Korea was regularly employing "deceptive tactics to evade UN sanctions".

Earlier on Monday the US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley accused Russia of "cheating" and helping North Korea evade the international sanctions, CNN reported.

US allies Japan, Australia and New Zealand were expected to make announcements about their own monitoring and surveillance efforts in disrupting North Korean smuggling.

Canada, France, South Korea and the UK are also involved in coordinating these efforts, CNN reported.

The new efforts would particularly aim at monitoring of ships performing illicit transfers of refined petroleum to North Korean oil tankers in the East China Sea.

The US has deployed aircraft and surface vessels to detect and disrupt these activities, but has made its actions public until now, perhaps to avoid irritating Pyongyang amid negotiations over its nuclear program.

Meanwhile, Trump has raised the possibility of a second summit with leader Kim Jong-un.

Asked Tuesday about the prospect of increased US military activity to enforce the sanctions, Secretary of Defence James Mattis said: "I generally don't talk about upcoming operations, as you know.

"But we have seen from Japan and Canada, from New Zealand and Australia, they're -- there's a lot of nations contributing to this."

"We'll do whatever we have to do to support the diplomats in the negotiation, and carry out the UN, the international sanctions," he added.

"Russia has been cheating. And now they've been caught," Haley said on Monday during her speech at a UN Security Council meeting.

Her remarks came as the US and its allies ramped up military efforts to monitor and document evidence of sanctions violations.

"The US has evidence of consistent and wide-ranging Russian violations," Haley added.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Tech tycoon Jack Ma has told investors to hunker down for a drawn out trade war between the US and China that can last for upto 20 years.

"It's going to last long, it's going to be a mess," Ma, the founder and executive chairman of Alibaba, said on Tuesday at an annual conference for Alibaba investors.

Just hours after the Trump administration slapped a new round of tariffs on Chinese goods worth $200 billion, Ma said the US-China trade war will last not for 20 months or 20 days, but "maybe 20 years".

That would mean no easing of tensions between the world's top two economies for many years after President Donald Trump has left office, even if he serves a second term, the CNN reported.

While the tech billionaire dismissed speculation that geopolitical headwinds played a part in the surprise announcement of his retirement last week, he acknowledged that the ongoing spat with China's largest trade partner is hurting Alibaba's business.

Shares in Alibaba closed 3.5 per cent lower on Monday. The company's stock is down 25 per cent from its all-time high in June.

Ma said a lot of businesses in China and the US will be in trouble in the short term, and eventually, Chinese firms will be forced to turn to other countries, CNN reported.

Ma said the trade war is "against China" but also criticised his country's policies, urging leaders to view the pain inflicted by Trump's tariffs as an opportunity to "upgrade". "China must open the market," he added.

Ma reassured investors that the $410 billion company he helped build is in safe hands. He announced last week that he will step down from Alibaba in a year's time, handing over the reins to CEO Daniel Zhang.

"I'm 100% sure Daniel will do a better job than I do," Ma said. The 54-year-old former teacher repeated his desire to pursue a new career, likely in the field of education.

"I'm not sad at all. I think I'm still young," he said. "In Alibaba I'm old, but in my career I'm still young."

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)US and Polish leaders have expressed their concerns here over Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, claiming it may lead to energy over-reliance on Moscow.

Visiting Polish President Andrzej Duda on Tuesday told reporters at a joint press conference with his US counterpart Donald Trump that his country was worried about "a threat of Russian energy domination".

Russia's Nord Stream 2 will expand the existing Nord Stream main gas pipeline by linking Russia and Germany via the Baltic seabed, bypassing Ukraine, Belarus, Poland and other eastern European and Baltic countries.

Poland, along with Ukraine, opposed Nord Stream 2, worrying that Russia will reduce or even cease delivering gas via their countries, which will affect their economies, Xinhua news agency reported.

Echoing Duda's words, Trump said that the two countries were committed to "energy diversity all across Europe".

"No nation should be dependent upon a single foreign supplier of energy," Trump added.

Germany, due to its energy and commercial requirements, is a staunch supporter of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline in Europe. It thinks Europe needs Russia's gas and Russia wants to make money from Europe.

In order to maintain its strategic relations with Washington, Poland had said earlier that it would like to pay higher prices to import US liquefied natural gas (LNG).

A key LNG exporter itself, the US is believed to be afraid that Nord Stream 2 would further weaken the voice of European countries in the natural gas market.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Moroccos Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita underscored the strength characterizing the multilayered Moroccan-US partnership.

All his interlocutors, he said, highlighted the special and enduring bilateral strategic partnership which stood the test of time.

Bourita who paid a working visit to the United States Sept.17-18, held talks Monday at the White House with Trumps national security advisor, John Bolton, and at the State Department with Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and other senior officials.

Talks with Bolton focused on ways to strengthen the existing bilateral strategic partnership in the political, economic and security fields as well as on a set of regional issues, the situation in North Africa and the Middle East and the Sahara issue.

These talks were held as the Security Council is scheduled to debate next October the Sahara issue with the renewal of the MUNURSO mandate on top of the agenda.

On the occasion of Bouritas visit, the United States reiterated that the autonomy plan for the Sahara is serious, realistic and credible, stressing that it can satisfy the aspirations of the populations of the Sahara to manage their own affairs in peace and dignity.

We maintain that it (the autonomy plan) is serious, realistic and credible and that it is able to satisfy the aspirations of the populations of the Sahara to manage their own affairs in peace and dignity, said Pablo Rodriguez, an official at the State Department.

The Moroccan autonomy plan for the Sahara represents a potential approach to resolving the Sahara issue, the U.S. diplomat stressed.

Nasser Bourita and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo agreed during their talks to hold the next session of the Morocco-U.S. Strategic Dialogue in 2019 in Washington.

The two men also discussed opportunities to expand the two countries strong economic and security cooperation, including joint efforts to end Irans support for terrorism and counter its negative influence in the region.

Bourita told MAP after the meeting that Africa and its development and security challenges will be a key feature in the strategic dialogue between the two countries, adding that the U.S. is aware of the role and contribution of the Kingdom in the promotion of peace and stability in the continent.

On Tuesday, Bourita met with Senators Ted Cruz, Lindsey Graham and Todd Young. Talks focused on financial and military cooperation and on the Sahara issue.

Bourita said afterwards his interlocutors both in the U.S. administration and in the Senate show the same understanding of the stakes and the same awareness of the destabilizing actions led by the Polisario in the region.

Talks with U.S. officials also covered Iran and its connivance with the Polisario separatists as well as Moroccos role in safeguarding regional peace and security, he said.British police are reportedly investigating 11 allegations of sexual assault against disgraced American movie producer Harvey Weinstein, who is already facing similar charges in the US.

The Metropolitan Police said it has received allegations of sexual assault from 11 victims in connection to "Operation Kaguyak", the CNN reported.

Although the police statement did not identify the accused, in accordance with police policy meant to protect suspects who have not been charged, it has been widely reported that Operation Kaguyak is the name of the British investigation into Weinstein.

The Metropolitan Police have not confirmed this.

The latest allegation, which was received in August, relates to the sexual assault of a woman (identified only as "Victim 11") in an unidentified location in the early 1990s, according to the statement.

Many of the 11 allegations received date back to the 1990s, though others are from 2014 and 2015.

In August, CNN reported that Weinstein was facing new allegations of sex trafficking and rape in the US, after a German actress filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles alleging that Weinstein raped her during the Cannes Film Festival in 2006.

She is suing Weinstein for violation of human trafficking laws, assault, battery and false imprisonment. It is the second sex trafficking case filed against the disgraced Hollywood producer.

Weinstein, who also is facing criminal charges in New York, has denied all allegations of "non-consensual sexual activity", the CNN reported.

The former media mogul has pleaded not guilty to six felony sex crimes in the US -- two counts of predatory sexual assault, two counts of rape, one first-degree criminal sex act charge and one criminal sex act.

The charges against Weinstein came nine months after The New Yorker and The New York Times published accounts from several women accusing him of various forms of sexual misconduct.

Since then, more than 40 women, including actresses Ashley Judd, Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie, have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct. Weinstein was fired from the Weinstein Company, which has since filed for bankruptcy and been sold off.

The women's accounts -- and the public's willingness to believe them -- emboldened others around the world to stand up to powerful, abusive men in what has come to be known as the #MeToo movement.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Wife and daughter of a former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court were allegedly assaulted and held captive in thier south Delhi residence by their domestic help and his accomplices who later escaped with jewellery and cash, police said on Wednesday.

Police said the incident occurred on Monday night when their recently hired domestic help, identified as Sandeep, called his friends over to the residence in New Friends Colony.

Reeba Kapoor,78, wife of former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court Dalip Kapoor in her statement to the police said Sandeep along with accomplices assaulted her and her daughter, Sheeba, 45. They then tied them with ropes and escaped with jewellery and cash worth lakhs of rupees, said a police officer.

A case has been registered in New Friends Colony police station. "A search is on to nab the accused," the officer said.

--IANS

sp/prs

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The announcement to amalgamate three public sector banks comes as a surprise and one hopes that such a decision has been taken cautiously. As per the report, the amalgamation is set to take place within the next few months post the parliamentary panels approval.

It needs to be seen how quickly such a decision will be implemented as the government is left with just one or two parliament sessions before the next general elections. The amalgamation has been attributed to curbing mounting NPA mess, weak lending scenario and in a bid to aid banks covered under the prompt ...In a meeting with the 15th Finance Commission, the Maharashtra government Wednesday sought Rs 50,000 crore as a special support for the Mumbai city and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

"Mumbai is the backbone of our economy. We must strengthen Mumbai's infrastructure. We need to acknowledge the importance of Mumbai in the nation's GDP," Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said in a memorandum to the commission.

Demanding Rs 50,000 crore for Mumbai and the MMR (which includes surrounding townships), he also sought special grants of Rs 32,327 crore for various other development projects.

Of these Rs 32,327 crore, Rs 25,000 crore would be needed to improve living standards in the economically backward Marathwada and Vidarbha regions, he said.

The demand for special grants included Rs 1,400 crore for environmental management, Rs 200 crore for ecosystem conservation and protection and wetland conservation, Rs 1,000 crore for conservation and protection of rivers and Rs 200 crore for coastal biodiversity conservation



The chief minister demanded Rs 825 crore for preservation for culture and heritage, Rs 600 crore for conservation, repairs and development of protected monuments and museums, Rs 100 crore for conservation of forts and Rs 125 crore for upgradation of auditoriums and theatres.

He demanded a special grant of Rs 1,177 crore for conservation of forests, wildlife and for increasing the green cover and mangrove development.

The government also sought Rs 1,700 crore for strengthening judicial administration including renovation of court buildings.

"Maharashtra is the growth engine of the nation and so we need more share (in tax revenue) for India to grow fast," Fadnavis said.

The chief minister also demanded an incentive for the state which boasts of the highest tree cover in non-forested areas in the country.

He suggested use of rural data from the Socio-Economic Caste Survey to measure deprivation, and factor it in the devolution formula of the Finance Commission.

Apart from Fadnavis, state finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, revenue minister Chandrakant Patil and other ministers Sambhaji Patil Nilangekar, Ram Shinde and Deepak Kesarkar also attended the meeting with commission members here.

The Finance Commission is set up every five years to decide the sharing of tax resources between the Centre and states. The 15th Finance Commission headed by N K Singh was on a three-day visit to the state from September 17.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A threat of drought looms large over 17 districts in the Marathwada and Vidarbha regions of Maharashtra due to deficient rainfall and excess use of water for sugarcane cultivation, officials said.

Most parts of Marathwada received average rainfall this monsoon and the water stock in the region stands at just 28.81 per cent, according to figures of the water resources department.

The Jayakwadi dam, considered lifeline of Marathwada, has around 45.88 per cent water stock as of Tuesday, compared to 87.63 per cent the same day last year.

"At least 17 districts are under a threat of drought- like situation," an official from the water resources department said.

But, it is too early to predict if the regions will face severe scarcity, he said.

The meeting of the sub-committee on relief and rehabilitation, headed by revenue minister Chandrakant Patil, is yet to be held and a final decision to declare the areas as drought-prone is likely to be taken after October 15, another official said.

"Sugarcane cultivation requires a large amount of water. There was sufficient water stock in the Manjara dam in Beed district last year, but it has almost dried today due to excess use of its water to cultivate sugarcane," Minister of State for Water Resources Vijay Shivtare said.

An official from the revenue department said it is a general practice to conduct a 'panchnama' or an initial survey of the loss of crops after October 15.

"Until the panchnama is conducted, the state cannot declare an area as drought-prone. But, the situation is grim and at least 17 districts are under the threat of drought-like situation," he said.

As per official figures, the Manjara dam in Beed has 1.80 per cent water stock as compared to 88.04 per cent last year, while the Majalgaon dam in the same district has completely dried up. It had 60.48 per cent stock last year.

Out of nine major dams in the Marathwada region, two have dried up and there is an average 28.81 per cent water stock in the other dams.

In the Amravati division of western Vidarbha, there is an average water stock of 57.37 per cent in dams, while in the Nagpur division in east Vidarbha, it is 50.02 per cent.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A Hisar court Wednesday sentenced a 17-year-old to 20 years of imprisonment for raping and killing a six-year-old girl of Uklana town in Haryana's Hisar district last year.

The boy was awarded the sentence in connection with the abduction, rape, and murder of the minor girl on the night of December 8, 2017.

Additional District and Sessions Judge, Hisar, D R Chalia, who pronounced the verdict, also slapped a fine of Rs 80,000 on the convict and in case of default, he would have to undergo further imprisonment of two years.

The teenager was earlier being tried as a juvenile, but the case was later shifted to district and sessions court. The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, was amended to allow 16-18-year-olds to be tried as adults for heinous crimes such as rape and murder.

Till he turns 21, the convict will be lodged at a home for juvenile offenders in Sonipat. After that, he will be shifted to a regular jail.

"The court awarded 20 years of imprisonment each under section 376 (rape), 302 (murder), the SC/ST Act, the POCSO Act, and seven years' imprisonment each under section 363 (kidnapping), section 450 (house trespass in order to commission of an offence)," Pradeep Saini, advocate for the accused said, adding that all the sentences will run concurrently.

The brutalised body of the girl was found in a deserted street near the telephone exchange building in Uklana in the morning of December 9 last year.

Sexual assault by the assailant and later treating her in a brutal manner had resulted in her death, the doctors who conducted the postmortem examination of the victim, had then said.

The girl had been abducted from inside a hut where she was sleeping with her mother. The father of the girl was away in Gurugram that night.

The doctors of Hisar civil hospital, who conducted the postmortem, had disclosed in their report that the assailant inserted a wooden stick into the private part of the girl, thus rupturing her intestines.

The sexual assault and the brutal manner in which her intestines were ruptured had caused her death. Scratch marks were also found on the body of the girl.

The girl's family members, who originally belong to Tohana town in Haryana's Fatehabad district, had been living and working as labourers in Uklana for some years.

A case under relevant sections was registered in Uklana Police Station on December 9, 2017.

A special investigation team (SIT) was constituted headed by the then SP Hisar, Manisha Choudhary, for investigation into this case along with two DSPs as members.

"It was first-of-its kind case in which Haryana Police had got narco analysis test, polygraph and brain mapping test of the accused done from Forensic Sciences Laboratory, Gandhinagar in Gujarat," a spokesman for the state police department said in Chandigarh.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)At least 28 Bru families from a refugee camp in Tripura Wednesday entered Mizoram during the repatriation process which commenced from August 25, officials said.

With this, the number of repatriated families has gone up to 31.

Earlier, three families have returned during the first three days of the beginning of the repatriation process.

The officials said these 28 families would be taken to Dinthar village near Mizoram-Bangladesh border Tlabung town in south Mizoram's Lunglei district.

The repatriation process is scheduled to be completed by September 25.

At a meeting held earlier this month, Ministry of Home Affairs' Joint Secretary (North East) Satyendra Garg appealed to the Bru refugees housed in relief camps in Tripura to return to Mizoram as assistances doled out to them would be withdrawn from October 1.

Thousands of Brus had been lodged in the Tripura relief camps since late 1997 in the wake of a communal tension triggered by the brutal killing of Lalzawmliana, a forest guard, inside the Dampa Tiger Reserve on October 21, 1997 by Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) militants.

The first attempt to repatriate them from November 16, 2009 not only failed but triggered another wave of exodus after Bru militants gunned down a youth at Bungthuam village, three days before the commencement of the repatriation process.

Though some Bru families had already returned to Mizoram during a number of repatriation processes and on their own will, many of them continued to refuse to leave Tripura till date despite many attempts.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Three Bangladeshis were arrested in Hailakandi district on the charge of doing business despite coming to India on tourist visas, police said Wednesday.

To get engaged in business activities after entering the country on tourist visa is violation of the provisions of the Indian Passport Act, Superintendent of Police Mohneesh Mishra said.

Mishra denied media reports that the three had entered the country illegally.

A local court remanded them to three days' police custody.

They were arrested on Monday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)India and Morocco have agreed to give a new momentum to their cooperation ties in the field of tourism industry with a view to increasing tourist arrivals between the two countries.

The agreement was sealed during a visit Moroccan tourism minister Mohamed Sajid paid Monday to New Delhi where he met with his Indian peer K. J. Alphons.

The two ministers attended the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) and La Societe Marocaine DIngenierie Touristique (SMIT).

The signatories pledge to share engineering and tourism products development expertise. ITDC and SMIT agree to share data base of potential Indian and Moroccan investors in the tourism sector.

They will also cooperate in new trends and technology in tourism products, in innovative tourism product development, marketing and feasibility studies related to the needs and expectations of investors and tourists.

The trip to New Delhi was also marked by an agreement between Royal Air Maroc and Air India to increase air connectivity between India and Morocco.

Mr. Sajid also announced the opening of Moroccos first tourism office in New Delhi to boost Moroccan tourism destination.

Tourism in Morocco is the second biggest employer after agriculture, while India is the fastest growing outbound market after China with UNTWO expecting 50 million travelers by 2020.

Indian tourists are among the worlds top spenders which will enable Morocco, a very popular destination, to tap into this source market with huge potentials.At least 30 Bru refugee families, who have been living in camps in Tripura for over two decades, returned to Mizoram on Wednesday as part of a Home Ministry-monitored rehabilitation package, an official said.

The Bru families would be given a one-time financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh, a house, a monthly assistance of Rs 5,000 and free ration for two years as per the agreement signed by the representatives of the Bru refugees, the governments of Mizoram and Tripura and the Centre.

"About 30 Bru (Reang) families from Tripura are going back to Mizoram after 20 years as part of central repatriation package," a senior Home Ministry official told PTI.

A total of 5,407 Bru families, who were displaced from Mizoram due to ethnic tension, have been living in various camps in Tripura since 1997.

The process Wednesday started after a group of the refugees walked out of the agreement signed in July alleging inadequate compensation for their rehabilitation.

The return of 30 Bru families were first since 1997 when around 8,000 Bru refugees have gone back to Mizoram in six batches and have been living peacefully in the state since then.

The total number of Bru community members is 32,876, who belong to 5,407 families currently living in temporary camps in Tripura.

The cost of the entire exercise will be Rs 435 crore till 2020-21 which will be provided by the Home Ministry.

The Mizoram government will ensure security of all repatriated refugees who were identified and verified as per the 1997 electoral rolls of Mizoram.

The Tripura government will ensure that Aadhaar cards are issued to all of them, a bank account is opened and updation of ration cards is undertaken for each of the Bru migrant families.

Eklavya residential schools, making available Jhum cultivation land, issuance of permanent residential and ST certificates, and a special development project for Bru families are the other measures planned for the cohesive resettlement of these families in Mizoram.

The central government, so far, has given Rs 348.90 crore to the Tripura government for the expenses it incurred on maintenance of the Bru familes and Rs 68.90 crore to the Mizoram government for providing assistance to the 8,000 Bru refugees who had already gone back to the state.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das Wednesday said that altogether 57 lakh families of the state, which is 85 per cent of state's population, will get absolutely free digitized health insurance under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana.

The central scheme would be launched in the state by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from here on September 23 and the insurance cover would be Rs five lakh each person, Das said.

The chief minister said that the state has already enrolled 200 hospitals where beneficiary families would get treatment free of cost.

He promised that the 15 per cent population who would be left out of the Ayushman Bharat Yojana in the first phase would be provided health insurance in the second phase of the scheme.

Das said that Jharkhand is at the top among states in terms of decrease of infant mortality rate, which was announced by Union Health Minister J P Nadda on Tuesday and the state needed to work to reduce maternal mortality rate.

Referring to Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, he called upon the people to maintain complete cleanliness in the state. It will reduce the health budget of the Centre as well as the state government.

He was speaking at a meeting of a panchayat body as part of a fortnight-long cleanliness drive at Hesla in Ramgarh district, which has been declared as the first open defecation free district in the state.

He said each and every person in the state should use toilets to maintain cleanliness, which would save money spent in the treatment of ailments related to the absence of it.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Six of the seven persons arrested in connection with the alleged honour killing of a Dalit Christian man in Telangana's Nalgonda district, were sent to judicial custody by a court Wednesday, police said.

In a related development, the wife of the deceased and her father-in-law demanded stern punishment for all those arrested by awarding them death penalty and to ensure a speedy trial.

Seven persons, including two men acquitted in the murder of former Gujarat home minister Haren Pandya, were Tuesday arrested in connection with the killing of 23-year-old P Pranay Kumar, who had married an upper caste woman Amrutha Varshini, at Miryalguda in Nalgonda district.

Pranay's killing on September 14 had sparked an outrage in the state.

Amrutha's father Maruti Rao, whom she had accused of being behind her husband's murder along with her uncle Shravan, was among those arrested in what turned out to be a case of contract killing of Rs one crore, Nalgonda police chief A V Ranganath said Tuesday.

Maruti Rao, who was opposed to the marriage of his daughter, conspired with other accused to eliminate Kumar and also paid an advance of Rs 15 lakh, police said.

Shocking CCTV footage of the incident showed Pranay walking out of a hospital in Miryalguda with his pregnant wife when the assailant, who was later identified as Subhash Kumar Sharma, paced up and attacked him with a machete from behind, killing him instantaneously.

Amrutha, from 'vaishya' community, had claimed Monday her father and uncle were behind the attack as they strongly disapproved of her marrying a Dalit Christian.

Asghar Ali and Abdul Bari, who were acquitted in the murder of Pandya, had hired the "assassin" Subhash Sharma from Bihar to execute the murder, police said.

Local Congress leader Abdul Karim, who is a friend of Rao, and car driver Siva are the other accused in the case.

"Six of the accused were produced before a local court which remanded them in 14 days judicial custody," an investigation official told PTI over phone from Miryalguda.

He said that Sharma, who attacked Pranay, was apprehended from Samastipur in Bihar and is being brought to Nalgonda on a transit warrant.

Since August 9, the hired killers conducted a recee of different places before executing their plan on Friday last, police said, adding Sharma allegedly made attempts to kill Pranay twice, but were both unsuccessful.

Maruthi Rao pressured his daughter to get the foetus aborted but failed, they said.

Amrutha and Pranay's father P Balaswamy told reporters that all those involved in the murder of Pranay should be handed the death penalty and it should be seen that none of them get bail.

"They should be kept in the jail only and should not be released. If they are released they may again target us," the family members said.

"I felt he (Rao) may take away Amrutha but had never thought he will get my son killed.

They were opposed to the inter-caste marriage and that's the reason for the murder," Pranay's father said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Some women activists have condemned the government's decision to make instant triple talaq a penal offence, calling it a "politicised move" without taking into consideration the complications it could pose to Muslim women.

The Union cabinet has cleared an ordinance to make the practice of instant triple talaq a penal offence, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said Wednesday, citing compelling necessity for the move as the practice annulled by the Supreme Court continues unabated.

Kavita Krishnan, activist and Secretary of the All India Progressive Women's Association (AIPWA), questioned, "Why only Muslim men are getting punished for abandoning their wives, why not Hindu men?"



"Triple talaq is not an official divorce, it is a form of abandonment. Does an Hindu man gets imprisoned for abandoning his wife? We do not agree with the government's decision to make it a criminal offence," Krishnan told PTI over phone.

Annie Raja, National Federation of Indian Women's general secretary, said she doubts the "intention and sincerity" of the government in introducing ordinance to make the practice of instant triple talaq a penal offence.

"There needs to be a comprehensive law. There are many issues related to triple talaq that need to be dealt with. But the government has taken this step for political gains in the upcoming elections. There are issues related to maintenance of women and children after her husband goes to jail, no one is talking about them," she said.

"If the government is so concerned about the welfare of women why is it keeping mum on women reservation bill. That would empower them too, why no word on that?" she added.

Shabnam Hashmi, a women rights activist, said criminalising triple talaq intends to polarise people.

"It was banned by the Supreme Court, criminalising it would polarise people ahead of the general elections," Hashmi said.

General secretary of All India Democratic Women's Association, Mariam Dhawale, said the move would create most problems for Muslim women only.

"It would leave them (Muslim women) nowhere. What about property rights of the women and her children after triple talaq, there needs to be clarity on that," Dhawale added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Administration of Delhi cannot be left to the Delhi government alone, the Centre told the Wednesday, emphasising that it has an "extraordinary" position by the virtue of being the the country's capital.

The Centre told a bench comprising Justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan that a five-judge constitution bench of the apex court had categorically held that Delhi cannot be accorded the status of a state.

A five-judge constitution bench had on July 4 laid down the broad parameters for governance of the capital, which has witnessed a power struggle between the Centre and the Delhi government since the (AAP) came to power in 2014.

During the hearing on Wednesday, the counsel appearing for the Centre said one of the basic issues was that whether the Government of Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) has the legislative and executive powers so far as 'services' were concerned.

"The constitution bench has categorically said that union territory and a state can not be equated. Article 239AA (which deals with the powers and status of Delhi) has been carved out as an independent machinery. The court has said that GNCTD has the powers besides three issues (public order, police and land)," the Centre's counsel said.

"Delhi has an extraordinary position as it is the capital of the country," the counsel told the bench.

He said being the capital, Delhi houses several institutions of vital importance like Parliament, the and foreign diplomats also resides here.

"So its (Delhi) administration cannot be left to a state or a union territory," the lawyer said during the arguments which would continue on September 25.

Meanwhile, the Delhi government told the bench that they have executive power to constitute a commission of inquiry.

"We are not arguing that you (court) hold Delhi as a state under the Constitution. We have to see the purpose of the Commission of Inquiry Act. We are not arguing something which is outlandish. The power exists undeniably to constitute a commission of inquiry," the Delhi government's counsel said.

On July 18, the had told the apex court that its functioning was "completely paralysed" and it cannot order transfer or posting of officers despite the constitution bench verdict on the national capital's administration.

The constitution bench, in its judgement, had clarified that issues regarding various notifications issued by Delhi government in exercise of its administrative and legislative powers would be dealt with separately by an appropriate smaller bench.

The five-judge bench, in a landmark verdict, had unanimously held that Delhi cannot be accorded the status of a state but clipped the powers of the Lieutenant Governor (LG), saying he has no "independent decision making power" and has to act on the aid and advice of the elected government.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had been at loggerheads with incumbent LG Anil Baijal and his predecessor Najeeb Jung.

Kejriwal had accused both of them of preventing the functioning of his government at the behest of the Centre.In a first, Afghanistan has deported an alleged ISIS sympathiser from Kerala, Nashidul Hamzafar, who along with 14 other youths had gone to join the terror organisation, officials said.

They said he was taken into custody by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on arrival from Kabul.

"Nashidul was detained by Afghan security agencies last year for illegally entering the country to join his associates in proscribed terrorist organisation ISIS/Daish," the agency's spokesperson said in a statement.

It is the first extradition of alleged ISIS sympathiser from Afghanistan, the officials said.

It is alleged that Hamzafar, a resident of Kasaragod in Kerala, along with his associates, had left the country on October 3, 2017 and travelled to Muscat, Oman before travelling to Iran and further reaching Kabul, Afghanistan, where he was detained.

"Pursuant to the conspiracy, 14 accused persons from Kasaragod district had left India or their work places in the Middle East between mid-May and early-July, 2016 before travelling to Afghanistan, where they joined ISIS/Daish," he said.

The agency has alleged Hamzafar participated in the conspiracy through encrypted social media platforms, with the other absconding accused persons known through college mates.

He was produced before a special court for NIA cases in New Delhi Wednesday.

He will now be taken to Kochi on transit remand for producing him before the special NIA court there that had issued warrant against him, the spokesperson said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A section of students of Presidency University, agitating for immediate accommodation to the under-renovation Hindu Hostel, on Wednesday took out a rally in the city in support of their demands.

Around 200 students, carrying a placard which read 'We Want Hindu Hostel', took out the rally from the College street campus to Rani Rashmoni Avenue in the heart of the city, and pledged to continue their stir till the demands were met.

The students, belonging to Independent Consolidation, Students Federation of India and others not belonging to any political outfit, chanted slogans during the procession, which was also joined by Jadavpur University Professor Ambikesh Mahapatra and Bengali poet Mandakranta Sen.

Mahapatra and Sen pledged support to the agitating students and said the Presidency authorities should not deprive them from staying at the Hindu Hostel.

A three-member delegation of students went to Raj Bhavan to meet Governor K N Tripathi and hand over a deputation for resolving the issue, but he was not present at that time.

"We will decide the next course of action at the General Body meeting but there is no way we will retreat from our demand for immediate accommodation in two blocks of Hindu Hostel, as these have already been completed," Ujaan, one of the agitating students, said.

Around 50 boarders were staying in the Presidency campus for 45 days, demanding accommodation in the hostel. The students had bolted the main gate of the varsity on September 10, not allowing Vice Chancellor Anuradha Lohia and other officials to enter.

The students' action had forced the authorities to shift the convocation venue from the campus to the state-run Nandan auditorium on September 11.

Lohia had earlier expressed inability to give in to the students' demand, citing safety guidelines laid down by the PWD, entrusted with the job of renovating the hostel.

She said in August that it will take at least five months to complete the renovation work of the hostel, after which the PWD can formally declare it fit for use.

Lohia had said the students can, in the meantime, stay at the premises rented by the Presidency authorities at New Town, from where conveyance has been arranged.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Air Marshal Randhir Singh (retd), a highly decorated Indian Air Force veteran, passed away here at the age of 97 after a brief illness.

A contemporary of IAF's late Marshal Arjan Singh, Air Marshal Randhir Singh, PVSM, AVSM, Vir Chakra, died Tuesday night.

He was cremated Wednesday with full military honours at Sector-25 crematorium in Chandigarh, a Defence Ministry release said.

His son, Wing Commander Pradeep Singh (retd), performed the last rites.

Air Marshal Singh is also survived by a daughter.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Bishop Franco Mulakkal, accused of raping a nun, faced a protest by some AIYF activists when he came out of the crime branch office near here in a private car after being questioned by the Kerala police probing the case.

The group of All India Youth Federation activists,waiting outside the gate of the crime branch office at nearby Tripunithara, jumped in front of his car when he was escorted out by police.

Police removed the slogan shouting activists from the spot.

The protesters continued shouting slogans even after the Bishop left the place.

The window glasses of the car in which the Bishop had been travelling were covered to evade camera.

He had managed to evade media glare while reaching the crime branch office at 11 AM.

The Bishop, who has been accused of repeated rape and sexual assault by a nun, was grilled by Kerala police for seven hours Wednesday and the questioning will continue tomorrow, officials had said.

Mulakkal had recently stepped aside as the Bishop of the Jalandhar diocese of the Missionaries of Jesus congregation.

The nun has accused the senior Catholic priest of sexually assaulting her repeatedly between 2014 and 2016.

The clergyman has claimed allegations against him were a "cooked up story to wreak vengeance" for the actions taken by him on various complaints received against the nun.

Claiming innocence, the bishop has said the complaint was "nothing but a fictional story".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Angelina Jolie has been cast as the lead in new revenge thriller "The Kept".

The film is the big screen adaptation of James Scott's 2015 novel of the same name, reported Variety.

The story is set in the winter of 1897, where a trio of killers descends upon an isolated farm in upstate New York.

Midwife Elspeth Howell (Jolie) returns home to the carnage: her husband, and four of her children, murdered. Before she can discover her remaining son Caleb, alive and hiding in the kitchen pantry, another shot rings out over the snow-covered valley. Twelve-year-old Caleb must tend to his mother until she recovers enough for them to take to the frozen wilderness in search of the men responsible.

The 43-year-old Oscar winner will also produce the project alongside Dan Friedkin and Bradley Thomas.

Jolie will also be seen in "Maleficent" sequel and "Come Away", opposite David Oyelowo.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)German Chancellor Angela Merkel has met with Algerias President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who has rarely appeared in public since a crippling stroke in 2013.

Algerian television channels showed images of Merkel and Bouteflika talking together during her one-day visit to the country on Monday.

Initially set for February 2017, the meeting between the two leaders was postponed to this year because Bouteflika was stricken with the flu, according to the presidency.

Algerias official APS news agency reported that the Chancellor and the President discussed migration and the situation in neighboring Libya.

Merkels visit was aimed at boosting investment in the country that is a major source of migrants heading towards Europe.

About 200 German companies are working in various sectors in the North African country.

In a joint news conference, Merkel and the Algerian Prime Minister said they agreed on a process to send about 700 Algerian migrants identified as illegally staying in Germany back to their country.

The PM said most citizens had been returned on Air Algerie flights, adding the process could be quicker if Berlin was able to convince Lufthansa to fly them back on its regular flights.

Merkel also said Germany was willing to continue its close cooperation with Algeria in defense and security, particularly for the fight against terrorism.Activists of the Shiva Sena Dogra Front staged a protest here Wednesday against the gruesome killing of a BSF jawan along the International Border (IB) in Ramgarh sector of Jammu and Kashmir.

Led by Ashok Gupta, the protesters took to streets at the Rani Park area in the heart of the city, set ablaze a Pakistani flag and chanted anti-Pakistan slogans to denounce the brutal killing of the jawan by the Pakistan Rangers.

The body of Head Constable Narender Kumar with bullet injuries and the throat slit was found hours after Pakistani troops targeted a BSF party that had gone ahead of the border fence to cut the tall "sarkanda" (elephant grass) in Ramgarh sector on Tuesday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Wednesday adopted a resolution demanding that the Centre accord special category status for the state and fully implement provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014, immediately.

It also protested the "careless attitude" being displayed by the BJP-led NDA government towards AP and said it was damaging the federal spirit.

"The Centre should respect the sanctity of the parliamentary system and the spirit of the constitution and accord SCS to AP, including tax concessions, as promised by the then Prime Minister (in Rajya Sabha) in 2014," the government resolution moved by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said.

The assembly "seriously objects and protests the careless attitude of the Centre in honouring the promises made to AP (at the time of the unscientific bifurcation in 2014) by the then Prime Minister and also in implementing the provisions of the AP Reorganisation Act.

The House resents the stubborn stance of the Centre over this and questions why the SCS promised is not being honoured," the resolution added.

The BJP leader in the Assembly P Vishnu Kumar Raju said his party MLAs (four) would "remain silent" on the resolution, even as he said the Centre had implemented over 90 per cent of the promises made to the state.

Naidu lashed out at the NDA government, recalling his "29 trips" to New Delhi.

"I met the Prime Minister and Union ministers many times to get the act implemented and the SCS promise fulfilled but to no avail. We protested in many ways and ultimately quit the central government and the NDA," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Unidentified armed men targeted a journalist in Noida on Wednesday night but failed to snatch his chain after he caught hold of their gun and forced them to flee.

The incident took place around 8.30pm when the 35-year-old journalist, who works with a channel, had gone to withdraw money from an ATM near his house in Sector 78.

"I was walking back to my home on the wrong side of the lane. A car was following me on the same side and soon it came and stopped in front of me," the scribe said.

"One man came out and asked me the route to Sector 56. While I was guiding him on the way, he took out a pistol and grabbed my chain. When I resisted, he caught hold of my T-shirt while I caught hold of his gun. Soon I raised an alarm after which the man fled the spot in the car," he told PTI.

"I had the magazine of the gun with two live bullets in it, which have been submitted at the police station," he added.

The journalist alleged delay in police response, even as Noida police chief Ajay Pal Sharma took cognisance of the matter.

An FIR was registered at the Sector 49 police station, under whose jurisdiction Sector 71 falls, and a case against unknown persons has been filed under Indian Penal Code section 393 (Attempt to commit robbery).

"The case was registered immediately and probe undertaken. We have checked the CCTV footage for any clue and relayed the information about the car to other areas also," Station House Officer Anita Chauhan told PTI.

On the alleged gap in police response, she said the delay could have been in connecting with the emergency 100 police service.

"We registered the case immediately as we got the complaint," Chauhan said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Supreme Court on Wednesday opened the filing of claims and objections for inclusion and exclusion of names in the final draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) of Assam, in which around 40 lakh people have been left out.

A bench headed by CJI-designate Ranjan Gogoi made it clear that second opportunity was being given to those left out of the NRC, keeping in mind the "enormous magnitude" of the issue.

It said the claims and objections can be filed for 60 days starting September 25.

"We are of the view that all that which we are required to do at this stage is to open the filing of claims and objections with regard to inclusion in the draft NRC published in July this year," the bench, which also comprised Justice R F Nariman, said.

"Usually a person cannot have the opportunity to prove it in a second chance. But keeping in mind the magnitude of the issue, we are permitting the second chance to prove the claim," it said.

The bench referred to the 15 documents, to be used for verification of the citizenship claims of those who have been left out, and said that for the time being, only 10 could be used for ascertaining the claims for 30 days from September 25.

It said the issue whether the five other documents could also be permitted for ascertaining the citizenship claims, would be decided after Prateek Hajela, the coordinator of Assam NRC, offer his suggestions on these documents.

It directed Hajela to file a report in a sealed cover on the feasibility of using the five excluded documents, in verifying claims and objections with regard to finalisation of the NRC.

It also cautioned him against sharing any information with any authority including "the legislature, the executive and the judiciary without prior leave of the court".

"We have found out that the five documents are capable to be manufactured," the bench said.

Highlighting the possible abuse of certain documents, the bench said a legacy document establishing the family-tree was allowed.

It gave an example saying suppose a person had claimed that he was the grandson of Mr 'X', which was found to be incorrect by authorities. Now, the same person cannot claim that he was the grandson of Mr 'Y' to get included in the list.

Attorney General K K Venugopal and Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre and the Assam government respectively, said the left out persons needed to be given an opportunity as the "consequences are grave".

Venugopal said almost 30 per cent people are illiterate and they did not know how to comply with the criteria for establishing the citizenship.

The court also took note of the confidential report filed by Hajela and rejected the Centre's plea that it be given the documents. "We are of the view that keeping in mind the sensitive nature of the information, the said record should remain in the custody of the court," it said.

The bench posted the matter for hearing on October 23.

For the time being, 10 legacy documents can be used for inclusion and exclusion in the draft NRC, which should have been issued by various authorities and corporations since midnight of March 24, 1971.

These include land documents like registered sale deed, permanent residential certificate issued from outside the State, passport and LIC insurance policy of the relevant period.

Other documents which can be relied upon include any license or certificate issued by a government authority of the relevant period, papers showing service or employment under government or public sector undertaking, bank or post office accounts, birth certificates, educational certificate and records or processes pertaining to courts, provided they are part of a processing in a Judicial or Revenue Court.

The final draft NRC list was published on July 30 in which names of 2.89 crore of the 3.29 crore people were included. The names of 40,70,707 people did not figure in the list. Of these, 37,59,630 names have been rejected and the remaining 2,48,077 are on hold.

The first draft of the NRC for Assam was published on the intervening night of December 31 and January 1 in accordance with the top court's direction. Names of 1.9 crore people out of the 3.29 crore applicants were incorporated then.

Assam, which had faced influx of people from Bangladesh since the early 20th century, is the only state having an NRC which was first prepared in 1951.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)At least 27 people drowned and others were presumed dead after a river boat capsized on a tributary of the Congo River in northern DR Congo, a local official said Wednesday.

"We pulled 27 bodies from the Mongala river after the craft capsized overnight," provincial governor Alpha Belo-Ngwata told AFP.

"Other bodies are still underwater. Rescue teams are trying to recover them," he added, unable to provide a precise toll.

Junior Mozobo, who survived the accident, told AFP that some 60 people, mainly traders and students, had been aboard the canoe-shaped craft dubbed HB Espoir (hope).

Mozobo blamed operators for overloading a boat that was already in poor condition and then setting sail after dark.

Authorities were searching for the boat's owner, who fled following the accident some 1,500 kilometres (900 miles) northeast of the capital Kinshasa.

Known locally as baleinieres (literally, whalers), the boats resemble motorised canoes and can measure from 15 to 30 metres (50 to 100 feet) long and two to six metres wide.

They can carry up to 140 tonnes of goods and dozens of passengers, who are not provided with life jackets even though many typically cannot swim.

In May, 50 people died in a similar accident on another river in the northwest of the sprawling former Belgian colony.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Declaring that "dictatorship has become a vocation" in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's regime, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi Wednesday said people in Chhattisgarh will remember the attack on his party's workers in Bilaspur as an act of "political persecution".

Taking to Twitter a day after police beat up protesting Congress workers in the Chhattisgarh town, leaving several injured, the Congress president trained his guns on the BJP-led Raman Singh government in the state and also tagged a video of the incident.

"In Narendra Modi's regime, dictatorship has become a vocation. The cowardly manner in which the fundamental rights of Congress workers in Bilaspur were attacked by the Raman Singh government will be remembered by the people there as political persecution," he said on Twitter in Hindi.

At least seven Congress workers were injured on Tuesday when police beat them with sticks in Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur city after they allegedly threw garbage inside a minister's house.

The opposition party claimed its workers were carrying out a peaceful protest against Urban Administration Minister Amar Agrawal but were brutally beaten up by police.

Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Neeraj Chandrakar claimed Congress workers threw garbage inside the minister's house and also roughed up a policewoman and some male constables, following which a case was registered against them.

The protesters then went to the district Congress office and staged a sit-in, the police officer said.

When police tried to arrest them, Congress workers again got into a scuffle with police so "mild force" was used to arrest the workers against whom the case had been lodged, Chandrakar said.

At least 52 Congress workers were arrested and seven of them sustained injuries in the process, the ASP said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Police in Austria are on the lookout for a tall man who robbed a bank disguised with a latex mask, glasses, bright red lipstick and an Islamic-style headscarf.

Vienna police said Wednesday the suspect robbed a bank in Linz at the end of July, threatening staff with a pistol and making off on an electric kick scooter.

Police say the suspect had also tried to rob a bank in Vienna two weeks earlier wearing the same hijab-and-mask outfit, but fled without any money.

Vienna police say 2,000 euros ($2,340) are being offered for information that leads to the arrest of the man they describe as being slim, up to 180-190 centimeters (over 6 feet) tall and between 20 to 35 years old.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The CBI said Wednesday that it was awaiting confirmation from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on reports about the extradition of Christian Michel, an alleged middleman in AgustaWestland helicopter scam case, from the UAE.

A Dubai court had reportedly cleared the extradition of Michel to India on September 2, 2018.

CBI sources said the agency was in touch with MEA officials but they did not receive any official communication from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

"We are awaiting official communication in this regard," one of the sources said.

The CBI had filed charge sheet in the matter in September last year, naming former IAF Chief S P Tyagi as one of the accused.

Besides him, the agency has also charge-sheeted retired Air Marshal J S Gujral along with eight others, including five foreign nationals. Michel is one of the three foreign country-based middlemen charge-sheeted in the matter.

The agency has alleged that there was an estimated loss of Euro 398.21 million (approximately Rs 2,666 crore) to the exchequer in the deal that was signed on February 8, 2010 for the supply of VVIP choppers worth Euro 556.262 million.

The CBI had earlier alleged that during Tyagi's tenure as air force chief, the Air Force conceded to reduce the mandatory service ceiling for VVIP helicopters from 6,000 metres to 4,500 metres.

The Air Force was earlier vehemently opposing the service ceiling reduction on the grounds of security constraints and other related reasons.

It has claimed that reduction of the service ceiling, or the maximum height at which a helicopter can perform normally, allowed UK-based AgustaWestland to come into the fray as, otherwise, its helicopters were not even qualified for submission of bids.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Union minister Babul Supriyo was shown black flags on Wednesday by TMC supporters who were protesting against the construction of a railway overbridge at Assansol in West Bengal, alleging loss of their livelihood.

Supriyo was on his way to Kumarpur level crossing in Asansol area to participate in the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the railway overbridge when he was shown black flags.

"Why are you showing black flags? Black flags and development cannot go hand in hand. This bridge is a long-time demand of the people of Asansol," Supriyo told protesters



The Union minister of state for heavy industries and public enterprises has convened a meeting of hawkers organisations and the railways, where he will be present to discuss the issue raised by the hawkers.

The Asansol MP alleged that the Trinamool Congress government in the state had not extended any support except providing a no-objection certificate for the bridge. "But still the TMC activists have misled the hawkers and are organising protests. The TMC doesn't want any sort of development," he told reporters.

Later, the Union minister laid the foundation stone for the rail overbridge.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat Wednesday pitched for an early construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Responding to a question on the last day of the three-day outreach conclave, he said, "Ram Mandir should be built at the earliest."



He also supported a dialogue on the issue but said a final decision rests with the Ram Mandir Samiti, which is spearheading the campaign for the construction of a Ram temple.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief said he would not know whether an ordinance on Ram temple could be promulgated as he is not part of the government.

He said issues such as whether an ordinance can be issued and legal challenges to it will have to be looked into.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Equality Now, a womens rights organization, is calling on the Burkinabe government to toughen its efforts in the fight against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in the wake of a report that 50 girls had suffered complications after undergoing the illegal procedure.

The circumcisions reportedly took place in the first week of September in the Kaya area, about 100 km (62 miles) north of the capital, Ouagadougou.

Even though media reports put the figure of affected girls at 50, the minister of womens affairs Laurence Marshall Ilboudo noted that it could be higher because not all of them had been traced.

About 12 of the girls have been admitted to the Kaya Regional Hospital and 38 to the Chiphra Protestant Hospital in Ouagadougou. Some of the girls had suffered serious complications, local media reported.

According to Jean-Paul Murunga, program officer for ending harmful practices for the NGO Equality Now, a lack of funding of a national committee dedicated to the task is the main reason for resurgence of the practice.

The government needs to respond faster so that these girls are protected, he said.

Ironically, this year Burkina Faso is hosting a worldwide conference in which the African Union is going to declare a war against FGM.

FGM can cause chronic pain, menstrual problems, recurrent urinary tract infections, cysts and infertility. Some girls haemorrhage to death or die from infections.

The practice, prevalent in nearly 30 African countries, has been banned in most African countries, but enforcement of the law is usually weak and prosecutions rare. It is legal in Mali, Sierra Leone and Sudan.The ruling BJP in Madhya Pradesh Wednesday accused the opposition Congress of indulging in violence during Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's ongoing 'Jan Ashirwad Yatra'.

The party said it has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission (EC) in this connection.

"The statement of state Congress chief Kamal Nath shows that his party resorted to stone-pelting and violence during the 'Jan Ashirwad Yatra'. We submitted a complaint to the Election Commission in this regard," BJP state vice president and MLA Rameshwar Sharma told reporters here.

On Monday night, police vehicles were pelted with stones in Ujjain district ahead of Chouhan's 'Jan Ashirwad Yatra'. One such incident had occurred in Sidhi district on September 2, in which stones were hurled at Chouhan's vehicle.

Talking about the incident, Kamal Nath had told reporters on Tuesday, "We condemn the incident. This is people's anger against the BJP rule. The government has not fulfilled its promises. Youths are not getting jobs."



He had also expressed apprehensions that such incidents are likely to occur in the future due to public anger.

Sharma said, "Kamal Nath had said that such incidents are likely to occur in future. Due to the CM's popularity and people's support to him, the Congress is desperate and resorting to violence."



The Congress, however, said the BJP government has failed to contain people's anger.

"Such incidents are failure of the BJP government in the state. They have entire police force and intelligence agency. BJP is accepting its government's failures," state Congress spokesman Pankaj Chaturvedi said.

"Kamal Nath ji had condemned the incidents. But it has become BJP's habit to level false allegations," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A delegation of BJP leaders who had gone to Goa to take stock of the political situation there, briefed party president Amit Shah on Wednesday, sources said, adding it is unlikely that party will immediately change the chief minister of the state.

In view of Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's indisposition, a delegation of BJP leaders, led by organisational secretary Ram Lal, met Shah at his residence here and discussed at length the current situation in the state.

Sources said there is no threat to the BJP-led government in the state and the alliance is intact. It is unlikely the party will change the leadership immediately.

Parrikar, 62, who is suffering from a pancreatic ailment, has been admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi for treatment.

The BJP has 14 legislators in the 40-member Goa Assembly, while the Goa Forward Party (GFP) and the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) have three each. The BJP is also supported by three Independent MLAs.

After meeting the allies in Goa, Ram Lal had said the alliance partners have stated that they will agree to any political decision taken by the BJP.

The Congress has 16 MLAs while the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has one legislator.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Shiv Sena on Wednesday accused the BJP, which had "insulted" the democracy by forming the government in Goa despite lacking majority, of being solely responsible for the current political situation in the state.

The Sena alleged that the BJP's ruling allies -- Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and Goa Forward Party (GFP) -- were trying to destabilise the government, as leaders of these parties were vying for the top post in the state.

"The health condition of Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has deteriorated. We wish him a speedy recovery... Parrikar is a popular leader in Goa and the of his health has created anxiety among the people of the state," the Sena said in an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

"Some of his cabinet colleagues are also unwell. So it is as if the entire Goa cabinet is in the ICU. Goa has become a leaderless state and the administration is not able to function. All this has led to political instability, which is not good for the state," it added.

Today, a question of 'Who after Parrikar in Goa BJP?' is being asked, the Sena said adding, that Parrikar could have retired with dignity, but the BJP does not have a clean leader in Goa at present.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led party said the BJP had no clear mandate in the 2017 state assembly elections. "In the 40-member Assembly, the BJP won only 14 seats. Although the Congress and the NCP together won 17 seats, the delay in government formation on their part gave time to the BJP for horse-trading. The BJP sought support of MGP and GFP and formed the government."



The party said the biggest mistake of the BJP was to send back Parrikar, the then defence minister, to Goa to lead the state. "It should be noted that MGP and GFP had fought the state polls against the BJP. Now these are the same people who are destabilising the Goa government."



"MGP leader Dhavalikar and GFP's Sardesai want to become the CM. The Congress has also staked claim to form the government. But since the Raj Bhavan is in favour of BJP, the Congress may not benefit. But nobody can predict what will happen in Goa," the saffron party said.

When Parrikar was appointed as the defence minister, Laxmikant Parsekar was made the CM in his place. However, Parsekar lost the 2017 Assembly polls. Some other cabinet members also bit the dust. In such a scenario, cobbling up numbers to form a hotchpotch government was an insult of democracy, it said.

"Now there is chaos and political instability in the state. Had Parrikar been kept in Delhi and some other arrangement been made in Goa, then the BJP would not have faced today's political crisis. The BJP is solely responsible for this situation," the Sena added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A 35-year-old man died allegedly after being hit by a train in south Delhi's Kotla Mubarak area, police said Wednesday.

The incident took place on Tuesday night, they said.

The deceased identified Sanju Singh Rawat, used to work in a canteen of a school in Greater Kailash II, police said.

On Wednesday morning, police were informed about a body lying next to the railway tracks near the Sewa Nagar railway station, Vijay Kumar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (south) said.

The victim was immediately rushed to hospital where he was declared brought, the DCP said.

The officer added that the body carried visible injury marks on the head, elbow and waist on the right side.

The body was shifted to AIIMS mortuary for postmortem, he said.

Sanju used to live with his wife at Dilshad extension in Shahdara's Seemapuri, the DCP said.

Further investigation is underway, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Bhuvneshwar Kumar's tidy seam bowling was complemented by Kedar Jadhav's unconventional off-breaks as India skittled out Pakistan for a modest 162 in 43.1 overs in an Asia Group league encounter Wednesday.

While Bhuvneshwar (3/15 in 7 overs) provided initial breakthroughs, Jadhav, making a comeback to the national team, bowled with control to return with exceptional figures of 3 for 23 in 9 overs to break the backbone of the Pakistani lower middle-order.

Jasprit Bumrah (2/23 in 7.1 overs) and chinaman Kuldeep Yadav (1/37 in 8 overs) also accomplished their task to perfection.

Jadhav's performance is even more laudable as he did the job of a frontline spinner after Hardik Pandya (0/24 in 4.5 overs) was stretchered off the field due to an acute lower back injury.

This was after young Babar Azam (47) and veteran Shoaib Malik (43) added 82 runs for the third wicket and looked like taking control of the proceedings.

However, Pakistan suffered a batting collapse losing five wickets for 36 runs before Faheem Ashraf (21) and Mohammed Aamir (16) added an invaluable 37 runs for the eighth wicket to take the total past 150-run mark.

Put into bat, Pakistan were in trouble straight away as Bhuvneshwar dealt a twin blow removing the in-form duo of Imam ul Haq (2) and Fakhar Zaman (0) to reduce them to 2 for 3.

Imam charged to a short of length delivery that climbed on him and the thickish outside edge was taken by Dhoni. Zaman, India's tormentor in the Champions Trophy, mistimed a pull-shot and Yuzvendra Chahal took a well-judged catch.

Babar and Malik then resurrected the innings with a fine partnership. The half-volleys on both sides of the wicket were driven with ferocity.

Malik, who is a good player of spin bowling, gave Kuldeep Yadav the charge to hit him for a six and rotated the strike well.

In fact, Malik was dropped off Pandya's bowling, whose agonies increased when he had to leave the field.

Babar failed to read Kuldeep's googly as it clipped his off-bail. From 85 for 2, it soon became 100 for five as Pakistan lost wickets in a heap.

Sarfraz Ahmed (6) was dismissed by Jadhav as substitute fielder Manish Pandey took a blinder at long-on.

The Pakistani batsmen found it extremely difficult to read Jadhav's round arm action as he bowled straight and wide. Asif Ali was caught behind and then Malik was run-out by a direct throw from Ambati Rayudu.

Shadab Khan (8) was stumped by Dhoni as he bacame Yadav's third victim of the match.

Faheem and Aamir did try their bit as Pakistan crossed the 150-run mark before Bhuvneshwar and Bumrah wrapped up the tail in the 44th over.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)People with schizophrenia have greater amounts of immune cells in their brains, scientists have found, paving the way for new therapies to treat the disorder.

The study, published in Molecular Psychiatry, has the potential to transform global schizophrenia research and open new avenues for developing targeted immune cell therapies?.

No single cause of schizophrenia has been identified, and this has prevented the development of a cure. The current treatments for schizophrenia are designed to suppress symptoms rather than target underlying causes of the disorder.

These drugs only partially relieve symptoms and can produce unwanted side effects.

Most scientists have had a long held belief that immune cells were independent from the brain pathology in psychotic illnesses, said Professor Cynthia Shannon Weickert, from University of New South Wales in Australia.

"We challenged this assumption that immune cells were independent of the brain in psychiatric illness and made an exciting discovery. We identified immune cells as a new player in the brain pathology of schizophrenia," said Weickert.

Current schizophrenia research has focused on the status of three brain cells: the neurons; the glial cells, which support the neurons; and the endothelial cells, which coat the blood vessels.

Employing new molecular techniques allowed researchers to identify the presence of a fourth cell, the macrophage, a type of immune cell in the brain tissue of people with schizophrenia who show high levels of inflammation.

"Immune cells have previously been ignored as they had long been viewed simply as travellers just thought to be passing by, undertaking surveillance work. They have never been a suspect until now," said Weickert.

"To find immune cells along the blood brain barrier in increased amounts in people with schizophrenia is an exciting discovery. It suggests immune cells themselves may be producing these inflammatory signals in the brains of people living with schizophrenia," she said.

The discovery shows that specific immune cells are in the brains of some people with schizophrenia in close enough proximity to the neurons to do damage.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A car crashed into a crowd near a mosque in the UK in a suspected hate crime incident which left three persons injured, prompting Scotland Yard to launch a probe.

The Metropolitan Police were called to the Al-majlis Al-Hussaini Muslim prayer centre in Cricklewood to reports of the collision with a "number of pedestrians" on Oxgate Lane.

Two people in their twenties suffered minor injuries and a man in his fifties remains in hospital as he is treated for a serious leg injury.

"This incident is not being treated as terror related but the hate crime aspect of the collision is being looked at by detectives as an aggravating factor," a Met Police statement said.

A spokesperson for the Hussaini Association, which had been holding a series of lectures at the mosque, said: "We are in deep shock at such an attack taking place on our community.

"We remain proud to live in a diverse and tolerant society and as such we remain unintimidated".

The car failed to stop at the scene and enquiries are underway to trace the driver and occupants, the police said.

Just before the collision, the Islamic centre had been informed of occupants in a car behaving anti-socially, drinking and allegedly using drugs.

The occupants of the car three men and a woman all aged in their mid-twenties were asked to leave the private car park. The car then drove around the centre and the occupants were involved in a confrontation with a large group of people visiting the centre. Some witnesses reported hearing the phrase "dirty Muslims" being hurled from inside the vehicle.

"Words were exchanged and comments of an Islamophobic nature were allegedly made by the group in the car," the Met Police said.

The car then reportedly sustained minor damage by some of those outside the centre. It proceeded to make off at speed, colliding with three individuals as it left.

No arrests have been made in the case so far as police appealed for information from the public.

"We are treating this incident very seriously and a number of enquiries are underway to trace the car and those involved," said Detective Sergeant (DS) Kelly Schonhage from the Met Police's local Brent division.

"Enquiries into the full circumstances of the collision are ongoing. If you were there at the time and have information I would urge you to contact police with information. Extra neighbourhood police patrols have been stepped up in the area and officers will be on hand to speak with those in the local community," she said.

British police describe hate crimes as those perceived as motivated by hostility or prejudice based on a personal characteristic and monitor it under five strands race or ethnicity; religion or beliefs; sexual orientation; disability; or transgender identity.

"The Met have long since recognised the impact of hate crime on communities and the hidden nature of this crime, which remains largely under-reported.

"The MPS (Metropolitan Police Service) stands together with policing partners, colleagues and groups to investigate all hate crime allegations, support victims and their families, and bring perpetrators to justice," a police statement added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A PIL has been filed in the Madras High Court, seeking a CBI probe into the alleged assignment of protected marshland worth crores of Rupees and an attempt to pledge the property by a company.

The Kalamin Agni Sirahugal Trust submitted that the marshland in Pallikaranai, the last one in the city, was assigned by the government to a company, to which the patta was also granted.

The trust secretary M Senthil Kumar said that on enquiry, they came to know that the company was trying to pledge the marshland with another firm for a consideration of Rs 1,350 crore. The mortgage deed was presented for registration on April 16, 2018 and it was pending.

Expressing doubts over the involvement of several government officials in the deal, the petitioner sought a direction from the Court for a CBI enquiry into the alleged grabbing of the valuable marsh land.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)An inter-ministerial team, headed by a special secretary of the Home Ministry, will visit Kerala for five days beginning Thursday to assess the damage caused by the recent devastating floods, officials said.

The move came after the Kerala government sent a detailed memorandum seeking Rs 4,700 crore as compensation for the damage occurred due to rains and floods, considered to be worst in a century.

The inter-ministerial team, headed by Special Secretary B R Sharma, will visit Kerala from September 20 to 24, a Home Ministry official said.

At least 488 people have died in Kerala due to the rains and floods this monsoon, which hit 14 districts of the state.

The Kerala government memorandum comprises details about the loss of human life, properties, infrastructure and crops.

In case of any natural calamity beyond the coping capacity of a state, the state government submits a detailed memorandum indicating sector-wise details of damage and requirement of funds for relief operations of immediate nature.

Accordingly, the Kerala government sent the memorandum, the official said.

According to the existing guidelines, the Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) will visit the state for on-the-spot assessment of damage and additional requirement of funds.

The IMCT report will be considered by the sub-committee of national executive committee (SC-NEC) headed by the Union home secretary in conformity with the norms and then by a high-level committee, chaired by the home minister for approving the quantum of additional assistance from the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF), another official said.

The financial mechanism to meet the rescue and relief expenditure during any notified disaster event is governed by guidelines on the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) and the NDRF, the official said.

The State Disaster Relief Fund has been constituted in each state in which the Centre contributes 75 per cent for general category states and 90 per cent for special category states of hilly regions every year according to the award of the successive Finance Commissions.

According to the guidelines, the Centre provides its allocation to the SDRF of each state in advance in two installments.

In case of any natural calamity, the state meets the expenditure of relief and rescue from the State Disaster Relief Fund already available at its disposal.

On August 21, the central government had released Rs 600 crore to flood-hit Kerala as promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Rs 500 crore) and Home Minister Rajnath Singh (Rs 100 crore) during their visits to the state. This was in addition to Rs 562.45 crore already made available in the State Disaster Relief Fund of Kerala.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)on Wednesday sought "level playing field, transparent and fair environment" for its enterprises in while expressing concern over New Delhi's reported move to exclude Chinese telecom companies and from trials.

According to a report in China's state-run 'Global Times' on Sunday, India's Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had barred Technologies and Corp from the list of companies allowed to work with local companies in technology-based trials due to "security" concerns.

The move follows the US and in banning and for national security reasons, it said.

However, a top DoT official had said they were in the process of setting up a panel which will decide on areas where can be used.

Telecom Secretary told on September 14 that "companies have come up with preliminary use cases. We are going to set up core group which will sit with them and look at what are the use cases that make sense to us".

Sundararajan said DoT had approached Ericsson, Nokia, Samsung, and for development of 5G applications and running trials on the suggestion of Stanford University Professor Emeritus Arogyaswami J Paulraj - a member of the 5G panel that recently suggested spectrum roadmap for the

"We wrote to Ericsson, Nokia, Cisco, and Huawei has met me and they have said that they are interested. We said if you are interested then send us a proposal. We will see what their proposal is and we may go with them also," she said.

In Beijing, reacting to media reports, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a media briefing, "I have seen relevant reports. The Chinese government has always encouraged overseas Chinese enterprises to abide by international rules and local laws while pursuing economic cooperation overseas".

"We hope the relevant country would offer level playing field and a transparent fair environment for Chinese enterprises," he said, replying to a question about India's reported move to exclude Huawei and ZTE from taking part in the 5G trials.

"Economic cooperation between and is for mutual benefits and for win-win results. Overall, such cooperation between both sides is going on smoothly," Geng said.

"We're cooperating actively with local telecom operators and the Indian government, and local authorities and partners hold an open attitude toward cooperating with us in meeting demand for 5G network construction," a Huawei official said in a statement quoted in the report last week.

The Chinese company is also working normally with the local telecom operators on 5G trials, Huawei added.

In August, the US banned government personnel from using Huawei technologies while barred the company from providing equipment to support the country's new telecommunications networks.In Anglophone Cameroon, hundreds of people were reportedly quitting the region as the Anglophone crisis continued to take a toll on lives and properties across the area.

The Northwest region together with the Southwest constitute the countrys minority Anglophone region. The two regions have been suffering a security crisis since last year amid armed exchanges between government forces and secessionists.

The Separatist groups are seeking independence from French-majority Cameroon under the banner of the so-called Ambazonia Republic.

The Central African nation is heading to polls next month. The English-speaking region is considered an opposition bastion.

Political and security watchers have expressed worry over the worsening situation in the region and averred that peaceful polls could not be held in the affected areas.

The countrys electoral organizing body, Elections Cameroon (ELECAM) last month assured that elections will take place in the regions stressing that the issue of security for all stakeholders in the process was the responsibility of the government.

Incumbent President Paul Biya, ruling CPDM candidate for the upcoming presidential election, has been invited to launch campaigns in Bamenda, the partys birthplace and regional capital of the North West.

Earlier this week, authorities in Cameroons English-speaking region say they will not allow people without legitimate reasons to leave the area.

A communique dated September 18 and signed by a regional delegate said the decision had been taken with stakeholders in the transport sector.

The communique urged the population to remain calm in their homes, send children to school and trust that the Security Forces would protect their lives and property.

The U.N. refugee agency said it is making contingency plans in Nigeria to care for a possible influx of tens of thousands of Anglophone Cameroonian refugees.has taken out $500 billion and more a year from the US to rebuild itself, has said as he defended his controversial trade policies, including the latest move to slap duties on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports.

Trump's remarks came a day after Trump announced that the US will slap 10 per cent tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports and the duties will rise to whopping 25 per cent at the end of the year.

"If you look at what's going on, our market is going up like a rocket ship. I don't want their market to go down, but their market is down 32 per cent in three months. Because we can't let them do anymore what they've done," he said.

He said rebuilt itself with the "tremendous amount" of money pouring out of the US.

"Over the last number of years, has taken out of this country $500 billion and more a year. That would go a long way for Poland, wouldn't it? You could rebuild your whole country. And that's what China did," he said addressing a joint news conference with the visiting Polish Andrzej Duda at the

is a member of the

Trump said he keeps a close watch on trade deficits as it was "very important".

Trump has repeatedly pointed to the large US trade deficit as one of the primary reasons his administration has embarked on trade fights with China, the European Union, and

"When a country has USD 375 billion in trade deficits, and then many billions of dollars in other liabilities of all different types, one has to do something about it," said the US

Trump said the US has become a "piggy bank" to the world.

"We have been ripped off by China. We've been ripped off by the We've been ripped off by everybody," he said.

Responding to a question on his announcement of trade tariffs against China, Trump said, "It got to a point where the numbers were too big. This should have been done for the last 20 years. If you look at the World Trade Organisation, that's when China really happened, economically. It was like a rocket ship, because they took advantage of the rules of the WTO.Following is the chronology of the major events leading to the arrest and imminent release of Pakistan's ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif:



April 4, 2016: The International Consortium of Investigative Journalism publishes the Panama Papers, exposing tax evasion by the world's elite through off-shore accounts and shell companies. The documents include the name of the Sharif family.

April 5, 2016: Sharif sets up a judicial committee to investigate the allegations, denies charges.

April 26, 2016: Opposition parties reject the judicial commission set up by the government.

November 1, 2016: The Supreme Court decides to pursue a case related to Nawaz Sharif.

November 7, 2016: PML-N submits Qatari prince's letter to the Supreme Court containing information about the London flats that were at the centre of the Panama Papers scandal.

January 6, 2017: Sharif's daughter Maryam Nawaz submits details of assets after the Supreme Court resumes hearing.

April 20, 2017: The Supreme Court orders formation of a joint investigation team with a split 3-2 verdict to probe the corruption charges against Sharif.

May 5, 2017: SC formally constitutes the joint investigation team.

May 22, 2017: The joint investigation team presents its first bi-weekly report to the Supreme Court.

May 24, 2017: The joint investigation team sends questionnaires to Sharif and his two sons - Hussain and Hassan.

June 13, 2017: The joint investigation team submits report to the Supreme Court on obstructions to its work, blames government institutions for "creating impediments in the collection of evidence".

June 15, 2017: Sharif appears before the joint investigation team for questioning, becoming the first sitting Pakistan prime minister to appear before any investigating agency.

June 17, 2017: Sharif's younger brother and chief minister of Punjab Shahbaz Sharif are questioned by joint investigation team.

July 5, 2017: Sharif's daughter Maryam appears before joint investigation team.

July 7, 2017: Former Qatari premier Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al-Thani sends a letter to the joint investigation team, asking it to record his statement at his palace before submitting its final report to the Supreme Court.

July 10, 2017: The joint investigation team submits final report to the Supreme Court.

July 28, 2017: The five-member Supreme Court bench unanimously rules against Sharif, disqualifying him from office.

August 15, 2017: Sharif files three separate appeals in the Supreme Court to review its verdict in the Panama Papers case that resulted in his disqualification.

September 14, 2017: Sharif and his children summoned by an anti-graft court to appear before it on September 19 in two more corruption cases.

September 15, 2017: The Supreme Court dismisses the review petitions filed by Sharif, his children and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, challenging his disqualification in the Panama Papers scandal.

September 22, 2017: Pakistan's anti-graft body freezes accounts and seizes properties of Sharif and his family.

September 26, 2017: Sharif for the first time appears before an accountability court to face the corruption charges filed against him by the National Accountability Bureau in the Panama Papers scandal.

October 3, 2017: Sharif re-elected as the president of Pakistan's ruling PML-N party after Parliament passed a controversial bill, paving the way for the ousted prime minister's return to politics.

October 9, 2017: Maryam Nawaz, Sharif's daughter, son-in-law get bail in the Panama Papers case.

October 19, 2017: Pakistan anti-graft court indicts Sharif, his daughter, son-in law.

October 26, 2017: Pakistan court issues warrant for Sharif after he fails to appear.

November 2, 2017: Sharif returns home from UK to face trial.

November 15, 2017: Pakistan anti-graft court begins trial of Sharif, his family.

February 21, 2018: Pakistan Supreme Court disqualifies Sharif as PML-N chief.

April 13, 2018: Sharif barred from contesting elections for life after the Pakistan Supreme Court verdict.

July 6, 2018: Sharif sentenced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment in the Avenfield properties case.

July 10, 2018: Pakistan puts Sharif and daughter on exit control list.

July 12, 2018: Pakistan anti-corruption court dismisses Sharif's plea to transfer remaining two corruption cases.

July 12, 2018: Sharif and Maryam leave from London for Pakistan.

July 13, 2018: Sharif and Maryam arrested on their arrival in Lahore and taken to Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.

July 16, 2018: Sharif, his daughter and son-in-law file separate appeals in the Islamabad High Court against the verdict in a corruption case and seek their release from jail.

July 23, 2018: Medical board examines Sharif after reports of health related complications.

August 8, 2018: Pakistani authorities blacklist Sharif's sons, blocks their passports.

August 13, 208: Sharif appears in Pakistan court, for the first time since his arrest, in remaining 2 graft cases against him.

September 11, 2018: Sharif's wife Kulsoom Nawaz dies in London.

September, 12 2018: Sharif, his daughter and son-in-law granted parole, reach Lahore to attend Kulsoom's funeral.

September 19, 2018: The Islamabad High Court suspends the jail sentences of Sharif, his daughter and son-in-law in a corruption case and orders their release from the Adiala Jail.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Civil Aviation Ministry Wednesday held discussions with various stakeholders on issues related to air cargo industry.

The meeting was chaired by Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha, the ministry said in a tweet.

The ministry is working on an air cargo policy to tap the potential of air cargo services in the country. India is one of the fastest growing domestic aviation markets in the world.

"The government is working to create efficient supply chains ie making globally-competitive industry based in India," the ministry said in the tweet.

Earlier this month, Sinha said that various areas, including the nature of demand, supply and cargo capabilities of other countries, would be looked at while preparing the air cargo policy.

SpiceJet has launched dedicated air cargo services.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A Congress delegation Wednesday met the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) over alleged irregularities in the Rafale fighter jet deal, and said the federal auditor was "already examining" the entire issue and assured its leaders of submitting a report to Parliament soon.

The delegation of senior Congress leaders met CAG Rajiv Mehrishi and handed over a memorandum, accusing the government of causing loss to the public exchequer and endangering national security by bypassing state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in favour of some businessman "friends" for offset contract.

The Congress has alleged that the fresh deal for Rafale fighter jets was inked by the Narendra Modi dispensation at a cost much higher than what was negotiated by the previous government led by it.

"The CAG pointed out that it is his constitutional and fundamental duty to audit all such purchases, procedures, award of contract and the CAG said that they are already examining the entire Rafale deal. They are examining the papers, they are examining the payments made, and they are examining the procedure and its violation.

"They assured that they will look at all the documents that we have brought in public domain and that they will very soon be submitting a report to Parliament after examining all the contentions raised by the Congress party," Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala told reporters.

He said the government is bound to provide full information to the CAG. "The government is bound to disclose the price of 36 aircraft to scrutiny by the CAG, in accordance with law and there has to be a similar disclosure to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Chief Vigilance Commission (CVC), and Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence," he said.

In its memorandum, the Congress alleged violation of the mandatory provisions of the Defence Procurement Procedure in the "unilateral" purchase of 36 Rafale jets from Dassault Aviation and that public exchequer lost Rs 41,000 crore due to the purchase.

The party said while the previous UPA government was buying Rafale jets for Rs 526 crore a piece, the rate fixed by the Modi dispensation was Rs 1,670 crore.

"We request the CAG to undertake its constitutional duty by conducting a time bound special and forensic audit by examining the record threadbare, so that the truth is told to the people of India in a comprehensive and transparent manner affixing the responsibility of the Modi government," the Congress memorandum said.

The party earlier demanded a probe by a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) into the alleged irregularities in the deal.

The government has rejected any kind of JPC or CAG probe into the deal, saying an inquiry cannot be set up only to satisfy the ego of an "ill-informed" leader of the opposition party who "repeats lies".

The government has been maintaining that HAL could not finalise the offset deal during the UPA dispensation as the then Manmohan Singh government did not support the public-sector aerospace company to enhance its infrastructure for manufacturing the aircraft in India under the transfer of technology.

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.

Prasad said that former defence minister A K Antony has a lot to answer for keeping HAL, which was to be offset partner of the French maker of Rafale jets, in the lurch despite being in office for eight years.

"I don't think JPC or CAG inquiry is set up to satisfy the ego of an ill-informed leader who repeats lies with alarming regularity," the Law Minister told reporters, in an apparent attack on Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

The Congress has also alleged that the government was "unforgivably guilty" of "compromising" national interest and national security.

"The manner in which the deal to buy medium multi-role combat aircraft was suddenly shelved, the shoddy cover-up, the self-defeating assertions and the deliberate lies have caused grave apprehensions in the minds of the Indian people vis--vis a major scandal in the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter Jets. Insurmountable loss caused to public exchequer stands exposed as government refuses to state the truth...Modi Government remains opaque, intransient, obscure and obstinate to cover up the Rafale scam," the memorandum read.

The Congress delegation included Ahmed Patel, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma, Jairam Ramesh, Randeep Surjewala and Mukul Wasnik.

Sharma said the party has given a detailed memorandum, along with enclosures on "irregularities" and "acts of omission and commission" by the government in the fighter jet deal.

"We expect the CAG will prepare a report soon and present it before Parliament," he said.

Surjewala added, "We pointed out as to how Modi Government and Prime Minister Modi personally are responsible for violating the Defence Procurement Procedure."



The Congress has stepped up the attack on the government over the Rafale deal and is seeking to make it a major poll issue ahead of assembly elections in some key states later this year and the parliamentary election in 2019.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Congress Wednesday took the escalating fight against the government over the Rafale jet deal to the CAG and said the federal auditor told the party it is "already examining" the entire issue for its report to Parliament and assured all the contentions raised will be looked into.

As a delegation of Congress leaders met Comptroller and Auditor General Rajiv Mehrishi alleging irregularities in the Rafale deal and demanded an early report, the government said it does not think a JPC or a CAG inquiry is set up to satisfy the "ego of an ill-informed leader" who repeats lies with alarming regularity. The remark by the government was apparently aimed at Congress chief Rahul Gandhi.

The Congress said the delegation was told that the CAG report will be submitted to the Parliament soon.

The delegation handed over a memorandum in which the government was accused of causing loss to the public exchequer and endangering national security by bypassing state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in favour of some businessman "friends" for offset contract.

The Congress has alleged that the fresh deal for Rafale fighter jets with France was inked by the Modi government at a cost much higher than what was negotiated by the previous UPA government headed by the party.

"The CAG pointed out that it is his constitutional and fundamental duty to audit all such purchases, procedures, award of contract and the CAG said that they are already examining the entire Rafale deal. They are examining the papers, they are examining the payments made, and they are examining the procedure and its violation.

"They assured that they will look at all the documents that we have brought in public domain and that they will very soon be submitting a report to Parliament after examining all the contentions raised by the Congress party," Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala told reporters.

He said the government is bound to provide full information to the CAG.

"The government is bound to disclose the price of 36 aircraft to scrutiny by the CAG, in accordance with law and there has to be a similar disclosure to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Chief Vigilance Commission (CVC), and Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence," he added.

In its memorandum, the Congress alleged violation of the mandatory provisions of the Defence Procurement Procedure in the "unilateral" purchase of 36 Rafale jets from Dassault Aviation and that public exchequer lost Rs 41,000 crore due to the purchase.

The party said while the previous UPA government was buying Rafale jets for Rs 526 crore a piece, the rate fixed by the Modi dispensation was Rs 1,670 crore.

"We request the CAG to undertake its constitutional duty by conducting a time bound special and forensic audit by examining the record threadbare, so that the truth is told to the people of India in a comprehensive and transparent manner affixing the responsibility of the Modi government," the memorandum said.

The party earlier demanded a probe by a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) into the alleged irregularities in the deal.

The government rejected any kind of JPC or CAG probe.

"I don't think JPC or CAG inquiry is set up to satisfy the ego of an ill-informed leader who repeats lies with alarming regularity," Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters.

The government has been maintaining that HAL could not finalise the offset deal during the UPA dispensation as the then Manmohan Singh government did not support the public-sector aerospace company to enhance its infrastructure for manufacturing the aircraft in India under the transfer of technology.

The Congress delegation included Ahmed Patel, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma, Jairam Ramesh, Randeep Surjewala and Mukul Wasnik.

Sharma said the party has given a detailed memorandum, along with enclosures on "irregularities" and "acts of omission and commission" by the government in the fighter jet deal.

"We expect the CAG will prepare a report soon and present it before Parliament," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The chief executive of Denmark's largest lender, Danske Bank, resigned on Wednesday as the institution said it was unable to determine how much money was laundered through its Estonian branch.

The bank said it had probed transactions amounting to 200 billion euros that had transited Danske Bank's Estonian branch through the accounts of 15,000 non-resident clients between 2007 and 2015.

But the bank was unable to provide an accurate estimate of how much of that was laundered money, nor exactly where the money came from. It said 23 percent of the incoming funds were from Russia.

"A large part of the flow (transactions) is suspicious," explained Ole Spiermann, a partner in the external law firm that carried out a probe for Danske Bank.

The 200-billion-euro figure can be compared to Estonia's gross domestic product of 23 billion euros in 2017.

In early August, the Danish state prosecutor's office for serious economic and international crime said the bank was being investigated and prosecutors would decide whether to press charges.

The bank tasked an independent legal firm to conduct an investigation of its own.

It exonerated chief executive Thomas Borgen of any direct responsibility in the case, which has thrown the Danish bank into a whirlwind of legal and media attention in recent weeks.

Borgen nonetheless said it was best for him to go.

"It is clear that Danske Bank has failed to live up to its responsibility in the case of possible money laundering in Estonia," he said in a statement.

The bank said it "knew that the Estonian branch had high risk customers." "Even though the investigation conducted by the external law firm concludes that I have lived up to my legal obligations, I believe that it is best for all parties that I resign," he added.

Of the 15,000 accounts -- which Danske Bank closed in 2015 -- 6,200 are considered suspicious and most of them have been brought to the attention of authorities.

"We can't exclude that a lot of the suspicious transactions are criminal, but that's up to the authorities to decide," he told reporters.

As a way to clean up its tarnished image, Danske Bank said it would "donate the gross income from the customers in the period from 2007 to 2015, which is estimated at 1.5 billion kroner (201 million euros, $235 million), to an independent foundation which will be set up to support initiatives aimed at combating international financial crime, including money laundering, also in Denmark and Estonia."



With that sum set to be booked in the third quarter, the bank had to revise downwards its earnings outlook for the whole of 2018, forecasting a net profit of 16-17 billion kroner instead of the previously anticipated 18 to 20 billion.

The financial pain from the case was already being felt on the trading floor: Shares in Danske Bank plunged more than 7.8 percent in the Copenhagen Stock Exchange before noon local time.

Lars Krull, an economics professor at Aalborg University, told AFP he believed the bank would do whatever it takes to rehabilitate its reputation.

"I think they (Danske Bank) will do everything in their power to be robust in handling this case," he said.

But Mikkel Emil Jensen, an analyst at Sydbank, told Ritzau agency that it may be a long time yet before life at Danske goes back to normal.

"We do not know the extent of the money laundering problem which means the uncertainty can last. The fear of receiving heavy fines is still there," he said.

The money laundering allegations are linked to a fraud case exposed by the Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, who was jailed in Russia after he revealed the involvement of several high-ranking Russian officials in stealing massive tax payments from several companies.

Magnitsky died in 2009 aged 37 after being held in a Russian jail for a year, where he was denied medical care.

Other major European banks that have been ensnared in massive laundering scandals in recent years including France's BNP Paribas and Germany's Deutsche Bank.

In early September, Dutch banking giant ING paid 775 million euros to settle a criminal investigation over money laundering after it failed to ensure its accounts were not misused.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A day after its zonal president resigned from the party, the Peoples Democratic Party said on Wednesday that its decision to boycott the upcoming panchayat and civic polls was in the interest of the people of

"PDP's decision is clear and has been taken in the interest of the people of the state. Anyone defying the party directive (by taking part in the polls) shall be treated (as) his own decision and may not be deemed as (a) party person," party general secretary Faqir Chand Bhagat said in a statement.

Bhagat said the party was firm that till the Centre takes any concrete decision for the protection of Article 35A of the Constitution, the validity of which was challenged in the Supreme Court, no such initiative should be taken to "create confusion" among the masses.

"Any attempt to fiddle with this article would create more chaos in the state and would increase the alienation and dissent among the youth of the state," he said.

Commenting on the decision of Nitish Mahajan -- zonal president for Gandhi Nagar constituency of Jammu -- to quit the party, Bhagat said he and Sunny Sangral had decided to contest the upcoming polls and left the party. "They are not members of our party anymore," he added.

Mahajan had on Tuesday announced his resignation from the party along with all his members. Sangral, who unsuccessfully contested the last Assembly polls on a ticket from Samba constituency, has joined the Congress.

The urban local body elections will be conducted in four phases starting October 8, whereas the panchayat polls will be held in nine-phases from November 17.Authorities Wednesday ordered deletion of four scenes from Anurag Kashyap's "Manmarziyaan"before its screening here.

The order was passed by district magistrate, Jammu, Ramesh Kumar following a representation by a Sikh organisation, which said the film had hurt the religious sentiments of the community, officials said.

The community has objected to certain scenes which show the characters smoking.

The film, featuring Taapsee Pannu, Vicky Kaushal and Abhishek Bachchan, was released on September 14 and is being screened at different theatres in Jammu.

" it is hereby ordered that the four scenes that hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community be deleted or blocked from the film before it is screened in the cinema halls," the officials said quoting an order issued by the district magistrate.

Kumar directed the concerned Sub-divisional Magistrates, Tehsildars, Sub-divisional police officers and Station House Officers to ensure the compliance of the order.

The producers of the film, however, have already removed the portions that attracted controversy.

The makers approached the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) regarding the deletion of the scenes and according to a censor copy, the three deleted scenes include a 29-second smoking sequence of Abhishek, a minute long scene featuring Taapsee Pannu and Abhishek entering a gurudwara and an 11-second scene where Taapsee is shown smoking.

"We have removed the three scenes from the film as people's sentiments were getting hurt. The said changes have come into effect in metros from today and will reflect across India from the coming Thursday-Friday," a source from the production side told PTI.

Director Anurag Kashyap also addressed the controversy, saying there was never an intention to cause any hurt to the community but the matter should not be politicised unnecessarily.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Thane police in Maharashtra have decided to adopt schools to educate students about various safety measures in a bid to prevent sexual abuse and other crimes against children.

Under the 'didi-kaka' scheme, children will be made aware about the difference between a 'good touch' and a 'bad touch', a senior police official said.

The scheme was launched Tuesday by District Superintendent of Police Shivaji Rathod at a function here.

Security personnel, who are referred as police didi' and 'police kaka', will visit schools once a week and interact with students to know about their problems, Rathod said.

"This is necessary because of the increasing crimes against females," he said.

Children will be provided details of their police station area concerned, and the phone numbers on which they can contact the police in case of an emergency, he said.

They also plan to organise debates, essay-writing activities and symposia in schools to educate the children about how to stay safe and and other issues, Rathod said.

"Girls seldom discuss their problems with parents. Therefore, the scheme will help the police in understanding their problems and resolving them," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Wednesday approved a new scheme which would pay cash relief to insured persons during the period of unemployment, the Labour Ministry said.

The scheme, Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojna, is a relief payable in cash directly to Bank Account iof insured person in case of unemployment and while they search for new engagement, Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar said.

The scheme would benefit insured persons (IP) covered under the Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948. It has been formed considering the change in employment pattern and the current scenario of employment in India which has transformed from a long term employment to fixed short term engagement in the form of contract and temporary, the ministry said.

The proposal scheme was approved Wednesday in the ESIC board meeting chaired by the labour minister.

Detailed instructions including eligibility conditions, application format, etc. will be issued separately.

The ESIC has also approved the proposal for reimbursement of Rs 10 per person to the employers to encourage the seeding of Aadhaar (UID) in ESIC database of their workers and their family members. It will curtail the multiple registrations of same Insured Persons and thus enable them to avail the benefits requiring longer contributory conditions.

The ESIC also approved the proposal for relaxing eligibility conditions for availing Super Specialty treatment from earlier insurable employment of 2 years to 6 months with contribution requirement of only 78 days.

Besides, the eligibility for availing Super Specialty treatment for dependents of Insured Person has now been relaxed to insurable employment of one year with 156 days of contributions. This relaxation will immensely help the Insured Persons and their beneficiaries to avail Super Specialty treatment free of cost as per revised eligibility, it added.

The ESIC has approved the proposal for increasing the funeral expenses from existing Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 being paid on the death of Insured Person.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)@alextdaugherty

At a recent Ron DeSantis campaign event at Miamis Versailles restaurant, a congressional candidate was on hand waving a Make America Great Again hat, shouting at conservative Republicans who had come to get a glimpse of the GOP gubernatorial nominee to vote for her.

But the MAGA-clad candidate for congressional District 27 wasnt the Republican nominee, Maria Elvira Salazar. It was no-party candidate Mayra Joli.

Joli, Miamis self-described master of selfies, has been campaigning for nearly a year for retiring Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinens seat. She bypassed the GOP primary for a shot in the general election against Salazar and Democrat Donna Shalala, and doesnt have much money in her campaign account. Independent campaigns for congressional seats are usually long-shot propositions.

But Jolis outspoken pro-Trump message on Spanish-language radio and at other candidates campaign events could undercut the effort by Republicans to keep Ros-Lehtinens seat. The race is already a difficult one for the GOP  Hillary Clinton defeated Donald Trump in the district by more than 19 percentage points in 2016. Republicans are relying on a coalition of conservatives and moderate voters who supported Ros-Lehtinen to stay in their camp come November, and theyre hopeful that Salazar is the right candidate to make the race competitive.

Basically, the Republicans, the Diaz-Balarts and the Ros-Lehtinens, they are more anti-Trump than even some Democrats and many in the Cuban-American community think they have sold their souls to Washington, Joli said. Im running as an NPA [No Party Affliation] because I understand the only way to help the president is to be with him for America First.

Nelson Diaz, the head of the Miami-Dade Republican Party, blasted Jolis candidacy as disingenuous, noting that she donated $500 to Clintons 2016 presidential bid and that Republicans who vote for her are essentially giving their vote to Shalala.

If somebody was looking to derail the GOP nominee in this election you would do exactly what shes doing; Say youre a Trump supporter, wiggle your away to the front of the room, Diaz said. If she cares so much about this president, why would she do something thats going to damage or hurt the president?

Diaz said he thinks Jolis campaign is a scam, though he acknowledged he has no evidence that shes in the race as a ringer candidate to deliberately sabotage the chances of the GOP nominee.

I think Maria Elvira will win by a good margin because the Dems have nominated someone who is such a bad candidate for this seat, but she [Joli] could make a difference, Diaz said. Of course, we are going to combat it. Ive been on the radio this week telling people that this womans a fraud.

Read more here.Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad Wednesday termed the order of a Dubai court to extradite British national Christian Michel, who is an alleged middleman in the Rs 3,600 crore VVIP chopper deal case, as a positive development and said the has created a "sense of unease" in some leaders here.

Official sources Tuesday said that the court pronounced the judgement after India officially made the request to the Gulf nation sometime back, based on the criminal investigations conducted in this case by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Responding to a question on the Dubai court order, Prasad said, "It is a good development."



"But I must point out that I notice a profound sense of unease in some leaders," he said in an oblique reference to the Congress party.

The order is being seen as a major shot in the arm for the agencies -- CBI and ED -- probing the case.

The ED, in its charge sheet filed against Michel in June 2016, had alleged that he received ?EUR 30 million (about Rs 225 crore) from AgustaWestland.

The money was nothing but "kickbacks" paid by the firm to execute the 12 helicopter deal in favour of the firm in "guise of" genuine transactions for performing multiple work contracts in the country, it had said.

Michel is one of the three middlemen being probed in the case, besides Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa, by the ED and the CBI. Both the agencies have notified an Interpol red corner notice against him after the court issued a non-bailable warrant.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Five students of the Delhi University's Delhi School Of Journalism are on an indefinite hunger strike against lack of facilities.

The students started the hunger protest on Tuesday.

The administration issued a notice saying students participating in protest will have to face disciplinary action.

"The students protesting inside the campus of the Delhi School of Journalism were asked to call off the protest on August 29 by the Proctor who promised to visit us on September 14 with solutions," said a DSJ student.

"On September 14, the Proctor did come to visit us. She told us that all our demands will be met in a year or maybe later. She clearly mentioned that nothing can be done to speed up the process," the student said.

From September 17, the students against started their protest but later alleged they were manhandled by police.

"We haven't received any response from the VC so far despite our repeated attempts to meet him," the student said.

"Later, it was decided that until the time VC Yogesh Tyagi comes to us with a solution to all our problems, five of our students will sit in an indefinite hunger strike," the student added.

However, the protesting students said they are not going to end the protest until the administration comes out with a solution to their demands.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A former columnist for state media has been jailed for seven years for "abusive" Facebook posts about Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a court official said Wednesday, the latest case threatening free expression in the country.

Ngar Min Swe was sentenced for sedition on Tuesday, Yangon's Western District Court spokesman Htay Aung told AFP.

"He was convicted... for writing abusive posts on Facebook against State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, making people get the wrong impression of her," Htay Aung said.

Myanmar has already faced widespread condemnation for infringing on freedom of expression following the jailing earlier this month of two Reuters journalists who reported on the Rohingya crisis.

Ngar Min Swe worked as a columnist under the previous military-backed government.

Since Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party rose to power in 2016, he has written posts against her and the party.

He was arrested on July 12, the same day he posted about Suu Kyi receiving a kiss on the cheek from US President Barack Obama during his visit in 2013.

The innocuous gesture came in for criticism from a conservative Myanmar public, especially supporters of the army-aligned Union Solidarity and Development Party -- like Ngar Min Swe, who took to social media to lob sexist jibes at Suu Kyi.

Facebook is wildly popular in Myanmar but users who have hit out at senior leaders of the military or civilian government have faced jail time. Independent analyst David Mathieson said the sentence is yet another example of "the strangulation of free speech" in the country.

"Myanmar is in free-fall to resurgent autocracy and imprisoning journalists for colonial-era sounding 'sedition' is yet another warning sign," Mathieson told AFP.

Under the junta, Myanmar routinely jailed journalists and activists but gradually opened up from 2011 and promised greater freedoms for the media. But supporters of Suu Kyi have been disappointed in recent years by the deterioration of human rights within the country, most notably in the jailing of the Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo who had exposed a massacre of Rohingya Muslims committed by soldiers.

British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt promised to raise the Reuters case in meetings with Suu Kyi this week during a high-profile visit in which he would go to Rakhine state, the epicentre of the Rohingya crisis.

Hunt's visit comes as the UN has called for the Myanmar military to be held accountable for the "genocide" committed against the Muslim minority.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The man at the centre of a sexual assault scandal that prompted the Swedish Academy to postpone this year's Nobel Literature Prize denied two counts of rape at the start of his trial on Wednesday.

Frenchman Jean-Claude Arnault was an influential figure on Stockholm's cultural scene for decades, until the explosive sexual assault accusations against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein sparked a wave of similar allegations around the world.

Married to Katarina Frostenson, a member of the Swedish Academy which has been selecting Nobel literature laureates since 1901, Arnault ran the Forum club in Stockholm.

It was a key meeting place for the cultural elite and a popular spot among aspiring young authors hoping to make contact with publishers and writers.

The case against him erupted a month after the rape and sexual abuse accusations against Weinstein which sparked the worldwide #MeToo campaign.

Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter in November 2017 published testimonies of 18 women claiming to have been raped, sexually assaulted or harassed by Arnault.

Arnault appeared in Stockholm's district court on Wednesday to face two charges of rape against one woman.

"My client denies the charges," his lawyer Bjorn Hurtig told the court. The judge then ruled the proceedings would be held behind closed doors, as is common in rape cases to protect the victim.

According to the charge sheet, a copy of which was obtained by AFP, the 72-year-old allegedly forced the victim -- who was in a state of "intense fear" -- to have oral sex and intercourse in a Stockholm apartment on October 5, 2011.

Arnault is also accused of raping her during the night of December 2-3 in the same apartment while she was asleep. He faces up to six years in prison if found guilty.

The victim's identity has not been disclosed, and she was not present in the courtroom at the opening of the trial on Wednesday though she was to appear later.

The scandal rocked the Swedish Academy due to its long-standing and close ties to Arnault.

An internal Academy investigation revealed that several members, as well as wives and daughters of members, had also experienced "unwanted intimacy" and "inappropriate" behaviour from the accused.

Elise Karlsson, a writer who was one of the 18 who spoke out in Dagens Nyheter, said she was working under precarious conditions in 2008 when she was 27 years old.

"I suddenly felt his hands on my buttocks (and) at no point had I shown any interest. I was shocked and told him 'do not touch me' and slapped him," she told AFP in a November interview.

Karlsson said Arnault later approached her and said she "would never find work" in the sector again.

According to Swedish daily Svenska Dagbladet, Arnault was born in Marseille in 1946 to Russian refugee parents. He arrived in Sweden in the late 1960s to study photography.

In a 2006 interview with Dagens Nyheter on his 60th birthday, he said he participated in France's May 1968 civil demonstrations.

He had close ties to some of the Academy's 18 members.

The Academy, founded in 1786, is traditionally known for integrity and discretion, with its meetings and decisions shrouded in secrecy.

But the scandal has unveiled what critics have called "a culture of silence", "nepotism" and "stale macho values" within the prestigious institution.

Disagreements within the Academy on how to deal with the scandal divided its members.

Eight of them have either resigned or are on leave, including its first female permanent secretary Sara Danius.

The awarding of the 2018 Nobel Literature Prize has been postponed until 2019 as the Academy tries to rebuild itself.

It is expected to select new members in the coming months to read the works of dozens of authors and select two Nobel laureates -- one for 2018 and another for 2019.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Modi government will be "celebrating" the second anniversary of the 'surgical strikes' on September 29, Union minister Piyush Goyal said Wednesday.

Goyal, who is the railway minister, said the 2016 strikes, which saw our commandos going into the Pakistani- occupied territory to neutralise terrorist launch pads, have showed the world that we "mean business".

"On the 29th of this month, we complete the second anniversary of the surgical strikes. And we will celebrate the day," he said speaking at the Priyadarshini awards, in remarks that come months ahead of the general elections.

"The country is in good hands is in the hands of a leader who is protecting every citizen," Goyal said.

The minister also lauded businessman Ronnie Screwvala for coming out with a film on the surgical strike, saying it will inspire the youth of the country.

Ex-chairperson of Thermax Anu Aga who devotes her time for philanthropic initiatives, former defence minister of Finland Elisabeth Rehn, scientist MN Sharma and actor Anushka Sharma were awarded at the event held late Wednesday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Defence PSU GRSE Ltd is expecting steady orders well into the next decade with the Navy and Coast Guard aiming at increasing their capacity considerably, its top official said Wednesday.

Chairman and Managing Director of GRSE Rear Admiral (retd) V K Saxena said that Navy and Coast Guard want to be 200-plus ship forces in the next decade, "keeping in view the threat perceptions in the Indian Ocean and South China Sea."



While the Navy has around 130 ships, the Coast Guard has approximately 110 ships, he said.

"As such, there will be no dearth of orders for GRSE in the foreseeable future," Saxena said.

Stating that GRSE is striving to be in the export front vigorously, he said that the company is in dialogue with countries in South-East Asia, West Asia and Africa.

"They are impressed with our products," he said.

He said that GRSE has manufactured and exported an offshore patrol vessel to Mauritius and is set to bag an order for a 500-odd capacity ferry from Guyana.

GRSE at present has an orderbook of Rs 20136.10 crore, of which around Rs 19,000 crore is for three stealth frigates for the Navy, with a revenue visibility till 2025, Saxena said.

"While the first of the three frigates is to be delivered in mid-2023, the third will be handed over by 2025," he said, adding that the company is six months ahead of schedule.

The public sector shipbuilder, which is going to launch an IPO on September 24, is expecting to raise around Rs 340 crores from the market, he said, adding that the amount raised would go to the Government of India.

Saxena said that GRSE, which has a capacity to build 20 ships concurrently, is working on expanding it to 24 ships by 2021-22 by utilising space available at its Rajabagan facility here.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Haryana government has given its go ahead for the construction of Kishau dam on Tons river, a tributary of the Yamuna.

With the construction of this dam, Haryana would get additional 709 cusecs of water for drinking and irrigation purposes, an official spokesman said here on Wednesday.

According to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by six states in the year 1994, Haryana's share in the Kishau Dam is 709 cusecs water out of the live storage capacity of 1,324 million cubic metre (MCM).

Notably, the Kishau Multi-purpose project, which includes construction of a 236-metre-high concrete dam across Tons river, a tributary of the Yamuna in Dehradun district with a live storage capacity of 1,324 MCM, will create irrigation potential of about 97,000 hectares, make available 517 MCM drinking water and generate 660 MW of power.

Recently, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar along with his counterparts from Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi had inked an MoU with Union Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi for construction of the Lakhwar multi-purpose project in the Upper Yamuna Basin.

Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi are the six Upper Yamuna Basin states.

Upper Yamuna refers to the stretch of the Yamuna from its origin to the Okhla Barrage in Delhi.

With the construction of this project, Haryana would get 177 cusecs water, which constitutes about 47 per cent of the total storage capacity, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Delhi High Court Wednesday dismissed an application seeking direction to the Centre to produce records on the basis of which daily prices of fuel are being fixed by oil companies.

A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V K Rao said it was not going into the issue and will not interfere with the government's decision.

The application was filed in a pending petition challenging the daily rise in fuel rates and seeking a direction to the central government to fix a fair price for petrol and diesel by treating them as essential commodities.

During the day's proceedings, the bench said that while hearing the main petition earlier, it had already stated it was not going into the issue.

"We think we should have dismissed the petition on the last date itself. The application is dismissed," it said.

On September 12, when the main petition by Delhi-based designer Pooja Mahajan had come up for hearing, the bench had said that daily change in fuel prices was an "economic policy decision" of the central government and the courts must remain away from it.

It had made it clear it was not inclined to interfere with the government's decision, saying "there are larger economic issues" involved.

The application had sought direction to the Centre to disclose the formula and to produce the records on the basis of which daily prices of petroleum and diesel are being fixed to ascertain whether wrongful gains are being made by the oil companies and the central government.

The plea, filed through advocate A Maitri, had said the government cannot delegate the powers to oil firms for fixing the daily price of petrol and diesel.

It had alleged that the government as also oil companies are in a dominating position to manipulate the prices in this manner and public has no choice except to pay the enhanced prices everyday.

The petition has claimed that Mahajan's representation to the central government on the issue has not yet been decided.

The court, thereafter, had directed the Centre to decide the representation within four weeks and listed the matter for hearing on November 16.

The petition has alleged that the government had indirectly given "implied consent" to oil marketing companies (OMCs) to hike petrol and diesel prices at their own "whims and fancies".

It has claimed that the implied consent was evident from the lack of revision in fuel prices for around 22 days in the run-up to the Karnataka Assembly polls.

The petition came amid a sharp rise in fuel rates. A combination of a dip in rupee value against the US dollar and rise in crude oil prices has led to a spike in fuel prices since mid-August.

Petrol price has since risen by Rs 5.02 per litre and diesel by Rs 5.15 -- the most in any one-month period since the daily revision in fuel prices was introduced in June last year.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Madras High Court Wednesday sought to know from the Tamil Nadu government whether rules permitted rearing of elephants in temples.

Hearing a public interest litigation seeking to shift a temple elephant, which recently killed its mahout, to an elephant camp, justices M M Sundaresh and Satheeshkumar directed the government pleader to file a reply on October 10.

The elephant Masini, was donated by former chief minister Jayalalithaa to the famous Sri Mariamman temple in Samayapuram near Tiruchirappalli.

It asked the pleader to find out from the state forest department and Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department, which administers a large number of temples, if the rules permitted the temples to keep elephants.

Petitioner Antony Clement Rubin, an animal activist, moved the court seeking to shift the elephant, currently at a Veterinary Hospital and Research Institute, to the Theppakadu elephant camp in Mudumalai in Nilgiris district.

He submitted that the elephant was in the Teppakadu camp since it was three-month-old after being abandoned by its herd. It was sent to the temple about nine years later.

He contended that the elephant had led a quality life and developed strong bond with other elephants in the camp, but after being brought to the temple it found it difficult to get accustomed to chained captivity.

The petitioner further claimed that its health condition worsened after she was shifted to Orathanadu Veterinary Hospital and Research Institute.

The ministry of environment had issued guidelines for care and management of captive elephants and prohibited acts which tantamount to cruelty.

The recent rage incident where Masini killed her own mahout clearly indicated that captive conditions had caused the elephant to be emotionally disturbed, the petitioner claimed, adding there was a threat to the lives of her mahouts and that of visitors.

Given the elephant's young age, her immediate rehabilitation was necessary to save her from permanent physical and psychological damage, he submitted.

The government pleader told the court that the condition of the elephant improved vastly and she was keeping good health in the institute.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Madras High Court has banned until further orders members of the Nilgiri Wildlife and Association and the general public from entering the reserve forest area in Nilgiris district.

Stating that the court was interested in protecting the reserve forest area and its animals, Justice N Kirubakaran on Tuesday said officials shall enter the area for discharging their official functions alone.

"This court is interested in protecting the reserve forest area and also the animals. Therefore, interest of justice requires prohibiting any person, including the members of the association, from entering the reserve forest area, except forest officials, until further orders," Justice Kirubakaran said.

He passed the interim order on a plea filed by advocate L Seetharaman, who sought a direction to authorities to verify the antecedents of newly admitted members of the association in the interest of forest, wildlife and nature.

The petitioner sought removal of those with criminal antecedents and those unconnected with the cause of conservation.

The judge directed the Nilgiris district collector to issue a circular to individual members and public notice to the general public. He said through websites objections, details of members' antecedents should be invited and a report should be filed.

The judge said though the matter relates to the administration of an association, from the arguments put forth by the parties it was seen that in the name of association members people entered the reserve forest area and allegedly poached animals.

The very object of the association was for protection of wildlife, conservation of and natural resources of the Nilgiris, the judge said.

"From the counter affidavit filed by the Nilgiris district collector, prima facie, it is clear that the association is not functioning satisfactorily and the members are busy in fighting for the membership of the association as it gives a social status to them as servants of and wildlife," the judge said.

The prohibited reserve forest area was being used for recreational activities, not only by the members but also by their guests, the judge noted.

The judge said though it was not stated in the counter about the role of some forest officials, the court could infer from the arguments that some officials were also involved.

The petitioner submitted that the association was established by the Britishers in 1877 with the objective of conserving wildlife and natural resources of the Nilgiri hills.

Of late, some criminals and anti-social elements got themselves inducted in the association as its members, he alleged.

The judge posted the matter for further hearing on October 4.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Andrew Pollack, the father of slain Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student Meadow Pollack, is ripping gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum for accepting financial support from Broward Sheriff Scott Israel.

Following a Sun-Sentinel report that Israel is among a group of Broward politicians fundraising for the Democratic nominee Friday in Fort Lauderdale, Pollack on Wednesday issued a statement through the Republican Party of Florida in which he partially blamed Israel's "leadership" for his daughter's death. Israel has been the subject of public and political scorn amid scrutiny of the law enforcement response to the Feb. 14 mass shooting at the Parkland high school, during which communications broke down and a BSO deputy waited outside the building where the attack occurred instead of entering and trying to stop the shooter.

It is absolutely disgraceful that Andrew Gillum would campaign with Sheriff Israel," Pollack said in a statement. "Gillum is siding with Sheriff Israel above the interests of our students and citizens, making our schools and communities less safe. We need to elect [Republican nominee] Ron DeSantis so people like Sheriff Israel can be held accountable and removed from office.

Pollack, a Republican who supports DeSantis and the U.S. Senate bid of Florida Gov. Rick Scott, has been among the more outspoken Parkland parents on the right. We've reached out to the Gillum campaign, and will update this blog if they respond.The Haryana government's Home department Wednesday issued orders regarding retirement of Director General of Police B S Sandhu, but withdrew these hours later after realising the faux pas.

Instead, the state government is considering giving extension to the officer.

"The orders issued vide..regarding retirement of B S Sandhu, DGP, Haryana, from government service from with effect from September 30, 2018 on attaining the age of superannuation is hereby withdrawn," said an order issued by Additional Chief Secretary (Home) S S Prasad on Wednesday evening.

Notably, the DGP was set to attain superannuation on September 30, but the state government had recently sent a communication to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs seeking extension in service for Sandhu.

The retirement order issued earlier in the day was withdrawn by the Home Department after realising the faux pas.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Roads in Haryana will be free of the stray cattle menace as well as potholes by the next Republic Day, claimed a senior official Wednesday.

"Haryana will be made stray cattle-free by January 26 next year," said Chief Minister M L Khattar's Additional Principal Secretary Rakesh Gupta in an official statement.

Gupta also said the roads in the state will be made "pothole-free by January 2019".

Strict action would be taken against those, whose cattle are found roaming on roads and fines would be imposed on them, said Gupta after a video-conference with various senior officials, including deputy commissioners and superintendents of police.

The video-conference was held to review the progress of ongoing developmental works and schemes, the statement added.

Gupta said an action plan would be prepared keeping in view the performance of those districts which are doing well in making their areas free of stray cattle.

He directed the officers to ensure that roads were properly painted to ensure visibility and safe traffic movement.

The facility of e-challan and e-payment for traffic rule violations would be initiated in 12 selected districts and after successful experimentation, the facility would be implemented in the remaining 10 districts, he said.

Deputy commissioners of the traffic police would be the nodal officers for the scheme, the statement said.

Reviewing the Harpath App, launched a year ago by the chief minister for mapping roads of the state, Gupta said 22,000 complaints were received so far through the App.

The maximum complaints, over 10,000, pertain to urban local bodies, he said adding the officers concerned were directed to resolve them as soon as possible.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Shahid Kapoor is looking forward to the release of "Batti Gul Meter Chalu" and for the actor, it is very encouraging to do films which are close to reality.

The 37-year-old actor says that audiences are eager to watch films which seeks to highlight the problem they face everyday.

"It is a great time for cinema because people in our country want to watch films that are about them. They want you to talk about their problems, issues and it is good as you need to be truthful and you don't have to go into spaces that are fake and random.

"It is very encouraging especially for me as I want to stay as close to reality as possible while doing films. I enjoy this space," Shahid told PTI.

"Both 'Haider' and 'Udta Punjab' were darker and edgier. But 'Batti Gul Meter Chalu' has humour in it, families can watch it," he adds.

Shahid enjoyed watching director's "Toilet: Ek Prem Katha" and says, he was educated about the sanitation problem that exists in rural parts of the country.

It was his wife Mira, who one day stumbled upon the story of "Batti Gul Meter Chalu" and suggested him to do the film.

"The story was based in Mumbai at that time and then when he (Singh) came on board they started researching and felt it is a bigger problem in the heartland of India. It impacts people daily and it needs to be addressed. As he comes from a small town, he has lived that life and understands such problems."



The actor said after the privatisation of electricity it has become "very difficult to afford it".

"In our film, we have addressed the issue of people who have small industries, they need electricity and if their bill goes beyond a certain limit, it is impossible for them to survive. They have taken loans, made large investments, it is a very real issue, when you go into industrial sector."



The film was caught into several problems, including financial issues, and Shahid says it had affected them "emotionally".

"Both the director and me stood together at that time and we tried our best to make things work. We were emotionally affected when the film had stopped. Today, we are waiting for the film to release and I am happy," Shahid adds.

The film, also starring Shraddha Kapoor and Yami Gautam, releases this Friday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)India is hopeful of resolving the issue of tariffs on steel and aluminium with the US soon and both sides are engaged in finalising a trade package, official sources said Wednesday.

They said both sides have managed to narrow down their differences on a number of contentious issues relating to tariff and India was keen on arriving at an amicable solution at the earliest.

"The contours of the trade package are still under discussions. We are hopeful of an early resolution of the issues," said a top government source.

India has extended the deadline till November 2 for the imposition of higher customs duties on 29 products, including almond, walnut and pulses, imported from the US.

In June, India decided to impose retaliatory tariffs from August 4. But it was extended by another 45 days till September 18.

In a notification last night, the department of revenue said that now the duties would come effect from November 2.

The duty hike move by India was in retaliation to US President Donald Trump's March 9 decision to impose heavy tariffs on imported steel and aluminium items, a move that has sparked fears of a global trade war.

"We have extended the deadline for imposition of matching duties on steel and aluminium. Discussions are underway and the next round will be held fairly soon. There is narrowing of differences in certain areas. Progress is fairly good on individual issues," the source said.

India's exports to the US in 2017-18 stood at USD 47.9 billion, while imports were USD 26.7 billion. The trade balance is in favour of India.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)As the US sanctions on import of Iranian crude oil loom large, India is engaged with the European Union for an alternative channel for making payments to Tehran for buying petroleum products, sources said Wednesday.

They said the EU has been been telling India that it was in the process of coming out with a payment mechanism as using US dollars for oil transaction will be restricted post November 4 when the US sanctions come into force.

So far, the 28-nation bloc has not put forward a concrete proposal for making payments to Iran for buying of oil.

India is in touch with both Iran and the US on the complex issue.

In May, the Trump administration had pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal and brought back economic sanctions against Tehran.

The US has told India and other countries to cut oil imports from the Gulf nation to "zero" by November 4 or face sanctions. India is yet to take a call on complying with the US sanctions on Iran.

However, India has been apprising the US about its energy requirement to fuel its economy as well as the importance of Iranian oil.

Iran is India's third largest oil supplier after Iraq and Saudi Arabia. The US' sanctions on import of Iranian petroleum products will be effective from November 4.

India has also been hoping that the US will give it some relief from the sanctions.

Earlier, India was looking at the possibility of falling back on the rupee-rial arrangement for importing oil from Iran in the wake of US sanctions.

The rupee-rial arrangement was used to buy oil from Iran before sanctions were lifted against it three years ago.

Under the mechanism, India used to pay in euros to clear 55 per cent of its dues through Ankara-based Halk bank. The remaining 45 per cent payment was remitted in rupees in accounts Iranian oil companies had with the UCO Bank.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)India has lodged a protest with Pakistan over the killing of a BSF personnel along the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir, during the Directorate of Military Operations-level talks, Army sources said.

"In the functional-level talks held yesterday, India lodged a protest against a ceasefire violation along the International Border targeting the BSF personnel," the sources said.

Pakistani troops slit the throat of a Border Security Force jawan, Narender Kumar, after fatally shooting him along the International Border near Jammu on Tuesday.

The brutal and "unprecedented" incident that took place in the Ramgarh sector has prompted the security forces to issue a "high alert" along the IB and the Line of Control (LoC) even as the BSF has lodged a strong complaint with its counterparts -- the Pakistan Rangers.

Official sources said the body of Head Constable Kumar also bore three bullet wounds and it could only be retrieved from a spot ahead of the Indo-Pak fence after over six hours as the Pakistani side "did not respond" to the calls to maintain the sanctity of the frontier and ensure that the BSF search parties were not fired upon.

In May, the Director General of Military Operations of India and Pakistan had agreed to "fully implement" the ceasefire pact of 2003 in "letter and spirit" forthwith to stop cross border firings in Jammu and Kashmir.

This was agreed during a hotline conversation between the two countries against the backdrop of increasing ceasefire violations along the LoC.

However, tensions along the IB and LoC still prevail.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)India's neighbours Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are among the countries that banned the practice of instant triple talaq prevalent among Muslims for divorce.

India and 22 other countries have banned the practice.

In Pakistan and Bangladesh, it requires the man who wishes to divorce his wife to give the 'arbitration council' a written notice of his having done so, and supply a copy of the same to his wife.

In Pakistan, triple talaq was abolished when it issued its Muslim Family Law Ordinance in 1961, according to Geo

In Afghanistan, divorce through three pronouncements made in only one sitting is considered to be invalid.

Sri Lanka's Marriage and Divorce (Muslim) Act, 1951, as amended up to 2006, banned triple talaq, according to a report by Pakistani scholar Muhammad Munir.

India's Supreme Court last year banned instant triple talaq or 'talaq-e-biddat' practised by some in the Muslim community, saying it was "unconstitutional".

The other countries where instant talaq is banned are Turkey, Cyprus, Tunisia, Algeria, Malaysia, Jordon, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Brunei, the UAE, Indonesia, Libya, Sudan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Kuwait.

The Union Cabinet approved Wednesday an ordinance to ban the practice of instant triple talaq, with Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad saying there was a "compelling necessity" to bring the measure as instances of 'talaq-e-biddat' continued unabated despite the Supreme Court striking it down.

Under the proposed ordinance, giving instant triple talaq will be illegal and void and will attract a jail term of three years for the husband.

Describing the practice of triple talaq as "barbaric and inhuman", Prasad Wednesday said nearly 22 countries have regulated triple talaq but gender justice was given a complete go-by in a secular country like India because of blatant vote bank politics.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Indian and Chinese businessmen on Wednesday jointly discussed opportunities for the export of Indian oilseed meals to China, the world's major consumer and important importer of the oil meals, a senior official said.

Led by the NAFED Managing Director Sanjeev Kumar Chadha, a 20-member Indian delegation, including 18 Indian oil meal exporters, participated in a seminar and discussed about the export possibilities of with the Chinese importers organised by the Indian Embassy today, an official statement said here.

The Indian delegations interaction with more than 120 representatives of around 80 Chinese import houses, an Indian Embassy press release said.

The event was organised in partnership with China Chamber of Commerce of Foodstuffs, Native Produce and Animal By Products (CFNA) and China Feed Industry Association (CFIA).

India is a major producer of best quality rapeseed meal, soya meal and all such other meals. China is a major consumer and important importer of oil meals in the world.

Indian Ambassador to China Gautam Bambawale held a detailed discussion with the Indian delegation and explained them about the current level of economic commercial engagement and need to have major push from Indian industry to boost Indian exports with cost competitiveness, quality and timely delivery, the statement said.

Prashant Lokhande, Counsellor (Economic and Commerce) said that Indian oil meals are Non-Genetically Modified and hence is very high in quality and demand.

In last five months of this year, India exported more than 1.1 million tons of oil meals to South Korea, Vietnam and Thailand, registering a growth of 21 per cent year on year, the statement said.

Rong Weidong, Vice Chairman of CFNA who spoke at the meeting called upon Chinese importers to make full utilisation of presence of Indian exporters and try to sign contracts today itself.

The seminar was followed by buyer seller meet in which the businesses from both sides had in-depth interactions covering price, quality and delivery commitment, the press release said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)In the strongest disciplinary measure available within staff rules in the United Nations, an Indian national employed in the UN agency for gender equality and women empowerment has been dismissed after an investigation determined he engaged in sexual misconduct.

UN Women had said last month that the Office of Audit and Investigation of UNDP had completed its investigation into the sexual misconduct allegations involving the UN Women staff member.

While the staff member has not been named throughout the process of investigation, sexual misconduct allegations were leveled against Indian national Ravi Karkara, who had served as Senior Advisor on Strategic Partnerships and Advocacy to the Assistant Secretary General and Deputy Executive Director at UN Women.

In a statement issued here Tuesday, Executive Director of UN Women Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka said the investigative and disciplinary processes into allegations involving a UN Women staff member have "concluded that sexual misconduct occurred".

"As a result, I have dismissed the staff member; this is the strongest disciplinary measure available within the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations (UN). Consequently, the staff member is prohibited from employment within the UN system, she said.

Karkara is not named in the statement. However, he was under investigation for sexual misconduct after at least eight men had accused him of using his prestige and position to sexually harass them, five sources with knowledge of the investigation had told Newsweek.

Mlambo-Ngcuka further confirmed "emphatically" that the former staff member "cannot be protected by diplomatic immunity." She said although UN Women does not have the authority to prosecute, the UN is guided by its obligation to bring credible allegations of criminal conduct to the attention of relevant national authorities.

"UN Women stands ready to cooperate with any national authority that decides to investigate this matter," she said, adding that UN Women has made every effort to offer victim support throughout the investigation.

"We hold ourselves accountable to ensure a victim-centred approach in fulfillment of our mandate to advance and protect gender equality as a fundamental human right, she said.

In line with UN Secretary-General Antnio Guterres's commitment of zero-tolerance to violence against women, Mlambo-Ngcuka said UN Women continues to advocate for a world free of violence and abuse. "Our work with others across the entire UN system is rooted in improving policies and practices in this regard."



The Executive Director had appointed earlier this year Purna Sen as Executive Coordinator on Sexual Harassment to engage with survivors so that they are supported in a range of areas.

Sen had told PTI earlier that zero tolerance to sexual exploitation and abuse must be strictly followed and practiced and that those who show the courage to speak out against abuses should not feel judged.

She had also added that the UN agency wants to change the dynamics and culture in which men and women feel that their position of seniority and authority entitles them sexually to other more junior staff, interns and young people.

A UN spokesperson had previously confirmed to PTI that the individual under investigation was Karkara. Reports of the allegations against Karkara surfaced early last month. UN Women had said back in December 2017 that it received allegations of sexual misconduct involving one of its staff members, again not naming Karkara.

According to Newsweek, Steve Lee, a 25-year-old policy activist, who has addressed the United Nations and was a member of the Major Group for Children and Youth, is among the men accusing Karkara of misconduct.

According to his profile, Karkara has worked with UN Women, UNICEF, Save the Children among others. He serves as Global Advisor on Youth with UN-HABITAT and had represented UN-HABITAT as the co-chair of the UN Interagency Network on Youth Development. He also co-chaired the Policy Strategy Group for World We Want 2015 largest UN & civil society post-2015 data-curation-visualization Big Data platform. It said he has written more than 80 publications and has given keynote and panel addresses.

According to a latest report in The Guardian, other individuals, including 26-year old Muhammad Junaid Mandoori, had alleged that they had been stalked online, sent indecent images and asked for sexual favours in return for opportunities within the UN.

However, a legal adviser for campaign group Code Blue, Sharanya Kanikkannan, said in The Guardian report that questions remained unanswered regarding the Karkara case, including why UN Women had declined to name him.

"Many of the actions taken by UN Women surpass the actions taken in recent months by other UN entities. The same UN organisation which promises to refer this case to the authorities is responsible for sitting on dozens of cases of civilian peacekeepers, from as far back as 2015, among which not a single one has ever been referred to justice, the report quoted Kanikkannan as saying.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)An 80-year-old Indian-origin bus driver, suffering from dementia, was on Tuesday found by a UK court to have caused the deaths of two people with his dangerous driving in the city of Coventry nearly three years ago.

Kailash Chander was deemed unfit to stand trial for the fatal crash due to his mental state and the jury at a "trial of facts" hearing at Birmingham Crown Court was directed to only determine whether Chander "did the acts".

Chander, a former town mayor of Leamington Spa, mistook the accelerator for the brake before the fatal smash, which caused the death of seven-year-old schoolboy Rowan Fitzgerald, who was sitting at the front of the upper deck of the bus and died of a head injury.

A 76-year-old pedestrian, Dora Hancox, died from multiple injuries after being hit by the double-decker bus and a falling lamppost when it crash into a supermarket in October 2015.

Chander had been warned about his "erratic" driving after four crashes in the previous three years, the court was told. It was said he had struggled to punch a ticket seconds before the fatal crash because his hands were shaking.

Judge Paul Farrer, summing up the case at the hearing, said one witness had described the movement of Chander's double-decker bus as appearing to have "no driver with the accelerator jammed on".

The court heard that Chander had experienced suicidal thoughts, was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, and was "very preoccupied" by the crash. The 80-year-old may face a supervision order at a further hearing in November.

Bus company Midland Red South, which has pleaded guilty to health and safety law breaches, faces an unlimited fine and will also be sentenced later.

Lawyers for Chander, who was 77 at the time of the crash, argued he was driving carelessly and should not be found guilty of dangerous driving.

Before the jury handed down their verdict, the judge told the panel: "You will obviously feel sympathy for the very real tragedy that has befallen Mrs Hancox and her family and Rowan and his family.

"But in judging this case and in deciding whether the prosecution have proved the act of dangerous driving, you have to put emotion to one side. You are here to judge the evidence objectively and dispassionately."



A spokesperson for the bus company said: "We are deeply sorry for the heartache of those affected, particularly the families of Rowan Fitzgerald and Dora Hancox."



In a statement, Rowan's family said "no sentence would ever stop the hurt that we feel" for his loss and called for a change in the law preventing people driving buses in old age.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)An Indian-origin family of four in the UK had a lucky escape when their house was targeted in an "unprovoked" arson attack which the police is treating as a hate crime.

Mayur Karlekar, called as Mac Karlekar, and his wife Ritu and two young children were asleep in their home late on Saturday night when they were woken up by their neighbours, who had called in the fire brigade to tackle a huge blaze outside their home in south-east London's Borkwood Park area of Orpington.

"The Metropolitan Police is investigating this as a hate crime. It is being dealt with as a case of arson and criminal damage. No arrests have been made so far," a Metropolitan Police spokesperson said on Wednesday.

CCTV images from the area reportedly show a group of four-five youths, dressed in hoodies, attempting to start a fire on the hedges outside the Karlekars' home.

"We all were sleeping and were luckily woken up by neighbours on time. Though most of the damage was done to the hedges leaving the house now exposed, my son's bedroom was just saved he was sleeping in it at the time of the incident," said Karlekar, a digital consultant who move to the UK from Mumbai in the late 1990s.

"We are glad it was stopped on time but the damage to our neighbourhood, our society, to our home has been done, irrecoverably. We have not caused any trouble to anyone and have only helped others in all our lifetime. I was special police myself doing voluntary unpaid work. This act happening to us was a complete shock," said the 43-year-old, who has been appealing for information to bring the suspects to justice across various social media channels.

Karlekar, originally from Dombivali in Thane district of Maharashtra, said he wanted to ensure no other families in the neighbourhood become victims of a similar hate crime.

"Hope this kind of arson attack does not happen to any family as it happened on ours unprovoked. If you know anyone or seen any video floating around on social media of dares, please help stop it. Be safe, be vigilant," he said in his appeal.

Images posted on social media reveal huge flames and extensive damage to the outside of the property in the residential suburb in the borough of Bromley in London. Karlekar has expressed his unhappiness with the nearly 32-hour delay in the Met Police starting their investigation into the case.

"This is the second incident in this area, the first one being a robbery, but we feel more may have happened or are going unreported. We want those people to come out and raise their voice too," he said.

British police describe hate crimes as those perceived as motivated by hostility or prejudice based on a personal characteristic and monitor it under five strands race or ethnicity; religion or beliefs; sexual orientation; disability; or transgender identity.

According to official figures released earlier this year, incidents of hate crime had registered a spike in the immediate aftermath of the Brexit referendum in 2016. There were 80,393 offences in 2016-17, compared with 62,518 in 2015-16, the largest increase since the UK Home Office began recording these figures in 2011-12.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)An IndiGo aircraft carrying 185 passengers made an emergency landing here Wednesday after suffering a tyre burst, according to an airport official.

The flight 6E-361, operated with an A320 aircraft, was coming from Mumbai. The plane landed safely at 1921 hours and all passengers are safe, Ahmedabad Airport Director Manoj Gangal said in a statement.

However, an IndiGo spokesperson said there was no tyre burst and the aircraft did not make an emergency landing.

"After arrival at Ahmedabad, a tyre de-capping with full tyre pressure intact was observed. The aircraft has been towed to the parking bay. The wheel is being replaced and aircraft will be cleared for further flight," the spokesperson said in a statement.

The spokesperson also said that there were 177 passengers on board.

Generally, de-capping of a tyre refers to peeling off of a tyre's outer layer.

In his statement, the airport director said the IndiGo plane reported "tyre burst while taking off from Mumbai airport today evening".

According to him, the pilot had requested emergency landing at Ahmedabad which was immediately approved by the ATC.

"Emergency procedures were initiated at Ahmedabad Airport. The aircraft was accorded full priority... Total 185 passengers were on board. All of them are safe. The aircraft is now parked at Ahmedabad airport for a detailed inspection," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Singh has underlined the need for a positive response by intellectuals and political parties in resolving basic problems to help the country progress.

"The thinking that everything will be done by the government is not right... the intellectuals of the country and the leaders of political parties need to take a positive initiative to resolve the basic problems," he said.

Singh was talking to newspersons in his native village Daljit Tola in Jaiprakash Nagar here Tuesday night.

"Only in such an eventuality, will India be able to take its position of pride in the emerging society of knowledge at the global level," he said.

"Almost 17 per cent population of the world resides in India which constitutes only two per cent of the land area... in the coming four to five years, it will emerge as the most populous nation... the problems of foodgrains, housing and environment due to population pressure are the basic problems faced by the country," he said.

"You talk to any politician of any party, they will also express their concern on these issues," he said.

Singh said knowledge societies were being set up across the world but India's position in this emerging society of knowledge was a matter of concern.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Ishrat Jahan, a petitioner in the triple talaq case, Wednesday welcomed the union cabinet's decision to bring an ordinance to make the practice a penal offence.

It is a big step towards "empowering Muslim women" in the country, she said.

Muslim men and religious leaders should now mend "their ways or be ready to face the music", she said.

"I welcome the Centre's decision to bring an ordinance to make triple talaq a penal offence. It is a huge step towards empowering Muslim women in the country," Jahan told PTI.

She is one of the five petitioners in the case against instant triple talaq. The practice of instant triple talaq was struck down by the Supreme Court on August 22 last year.

Jahan moved court after she was divorced by her husband over phone from Dubai by uttering 'talaq' thrice consecutively in 2014. She has a 13-year-old daughter and a seven-year-old son.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the Janata Dal (United) on Wednesday announced its participation in the upcoming municipal and panchayat polls, but demanded adequate security for its candidates.

"We are going to fight the urban local body and panchayat polls, and our candidates in north Kashmir's Kupwara and Baramulla districts have already started getting forms from the authorities concerned," JD(U) state president G M Shaheen told reporters here. "We appeal to Governor Satya Pal Malik to ensure adequate security to the candidates including our party activists and ensure free-and-fair polls."



Shaheen accused the National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party of playing by boycotting the elections. "Otherwise, why did the two parties took part in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council polls?" he asked.

"They know the people are fed up with them and took the escape route... If they believe in what they say, then they should boycott the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly polls as well. But I know they will not do that and will be in the forefront during those elections."



Referring to his rallies in the Jammu region, the JD(U) leader said people were very happy that the polls were taking place after a very long time, but were "angry" at the PDP and BJP for their alleged failure on all fronts during their coalition rule.

"We see an opportunity to fill the gap created by the previous PDP-BJP government due to its misrule," he said, asserting that his party had made great gains across the state.

Continuing his tirade against the BJP, he alleged that the saffron party had failed to address the aspirations of the people of Jammu despite being in power in the state and Centre.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Previous governments in Uttar Pradesh did not favour development in Noida and Greater Noida which is why many firms migrated out of the state leaving no job opportunities for locals, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath claimed on Wednesday.

The chief minister said this while meeting over two dozen farmers representing hundreds others from Jewar who have given their consent for the acquisition of their land for a proposed international greenfield airport in the region.

The farmers were accompanied BJP MLA from Jewar Dhirendra Singh for the meeting at Shastri Bhawan in Lucknow.

"Noida and Greater Noida were seen as areas of bad reputation by the previous governments. No industrialist wanted to set up their industry there out of panic. Several businesses migrated to Gurgaon in Haryana.

"A big project like Maruti car, which could have provided work to thousands of locals, slipped away from Noida-Greater Noida," Adityanath was quoted as saying in a statement.

"Understand the true meaning of development and think about how we can improve our living standards, how to realise the dreams of our young children and keeping positive thinking, how to become a partner in the development of this region and become a stakeholder in the growth story," Adityanath told the farmers.

During the meeting which continued for around 40 minutes, the villagers handed over to the chief minister their consent letters for the land acquisition for building the airport.

According to the statement issued by the Jewar MLA, the farmers told the CM, "We have given our land on your call and for the development of the region. Neither have we brought any letter of demands nor are we demanding something from you right now, but it is of course that you will safeguard the interests of farmers and ensure their proper rehabilitation and resettlement."



Adityanath expressed gratitude to the farmers and said his government would sort out their legitimate demands and issues regarding rehabilitation policy.

During a visit to Gautam Buddh Nagar in the first week of August, the chief minister had held a closed-door meeting with farmers from Jewar for the proposed airport to be built on 5,000 hectare land.

Following initial resistance by farmers over inadequate compensation and concerns over the rehabilitation and resettlement policy, Chairman of Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) Prabhat Kumar on August 16 had said the project could be dropped if the farmers donot give their consent.

Over 1,300 hectare of land from five villages -- Rohi, Parohi, Dayanatpur, Ranhera and Kishorpur - is to be acquired for the airport project's the first phase, which in total is estimated to cost between Rs 15,000 crore and Rs 20,000 crore.

Amid intense dialogue between affected farmers and the district administration, the YEIDA and the local MLA, 71 per cent landowners gave their consent for acquisition of land on September 15, clearing way for the first phase of the project.

According to the provisions of Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, consent of at least 70 per cent of landowners is mandatory for the government to proceed with acquisition of land for any such projects.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Newly elected Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) president N Sai Balaji met Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday and discussed several issues pertaining to the varsity.

In a press statement issued by him, Balaji said he apprised the chief minister of the campus violence and the conduct of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).

"ABVP's rising terror and violence in JNU on students and inaction of JNU VC against these ABVP students involved in campus violence and how they are being shielded was briefed to the CM," he said.

According to the statement, the chief minister has asked students to be united.

"He said the present regime is taking inspiration from Hitler and trying to muzzle and annihilate democracy. He felt inspired when I told him how we are resisting this regime, violence...through massive unity, night vigils, protests, peace marches," Balaji said.

In the recent JNUSU poll, a united front of Left student groups won all four central seats defeating the ABVP by huge margins.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Steel maker Jindal Steel & Power Limited (JSPL) Wednesday said it has given over Rs 2 crore to Kerala government to help flood-affected victims.

"An amount of Rs 2 crore was credited into the Chief Minister Distress Relief Fund to help the flood affected people of Kerala to aid relief and rehabilitation programme," JSPL said in a statement.

It was one of the worst floods Kerala has seen in nearly a century. In estimation, the floods have displaced more than 8,00,000 people and more than 400 lives were lost during the flood. The floods have impacted around 70 per cent of Kerala, the company said.

"The human suffering and devastation of such an unprecedented magnitude brought by the devastating floods throughout Kerala calls for a huge relief & rehabilitation efforts. JSPL & JPL joined hands together to re-build Kerala," Sanjay Sagar, MD, Jindal Power Limited, an arm of JSPL, said in the statement.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh on Wednesday ordered enquiry by a magistrate into a lathi-charge by police on Congress workers in Bilaspur city.

At least seven Congress workers were injured in a lathi-charge by police Tuesday following a protest by party workers outside Urban Administration Minister Amar Agrawal's house.

During the protest, Congress workers allegedly threw garbage inside the minister's house. Later, 52 Congress workers were arrested from the party's local office.

The Congress alleged that police used lathi-charge for no reason while arresting workers from the party office.

The party had organised the protest outside the minister's house over his alleged remark describing the Congress as "Kachra" (garbage).

Chief Minister Raman Singh, speaking to reporters in Korba district Wednesday, condemned the incident and announced probe by a magistrate.

"Neither the act of throwing garbage into the minister's house nor what happened at Congress Bhawan (lathi-charge) was appropriate," Singh said.

"Chhattisgarh is a peace-loving state where all political parties are equally respected. I condemn these incidents. A magisterial enquiry will be conducted," he said.

Bilaspur Collector P Dayanand said that Upper District Magistrate Bhagwan Singh Uike will conduct the inquiry and submit his report within three months.

The probe will deal with several points including whether the Congress had taken permission for its protest and what led to the incident, he said.

Superintendent of Police Arif H Sheikh said he will also conduct a departmental enquiry into the incident.

The opposition party, however, demanded probe by a sitting judge of the high court and immediate removal of Bilaspur Additional Superintendent of Police Neeraj Chandrakar.

"The enquiry ordered by Raman Singh is not acceptable to us. A time-bound probe by a sitting judge of the high court should be ordered," state Congress general secretary Shailesh Nitin Trivedi said.

Over 400 Congress workers staged a sit-in in front of Civil Lines police station in Bilaspur Wednesday. Party workers also burnt effigies representing the Raman Singh government at all district headquarters to protest its "oppressive" and "barbaric" act, Trivedi said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Makkal Neethi Maiam founder-president Kamal Haasan Wednesday said his party has decided not to contest the two by-elections for the Tamil Nadu Assembly or the civic polls and was gearing up to test its fortunes in the Parliamentary polls.

The party will not contest by-elections to Tiruvarur and Thiruparakundram constituencies, but observe them to prepare for the Lok Sabha elections, he told reporters here on the sidelines of a two-day workshop for MNM office-bearers.

The actor-turned-politician also said the party office-bearers had expressed their desire to go it alone in the elections.

He said Avinash Iragavarapu, who was part of US President Donald Donald's campaign team in Arizona, was among those who addressed the MNM workers at the workshop.

On BJP national secretary H Raja's alleged outburst against the Judiciary and Police department, Haasan said one, however big, should not criticise these institutions.

Later in an interaction with industrialists and students at a function organised by CII, Young Indians and Sri Krishna Institutions, Haasan exhorted the student community to enter to bring in change in the system and itself.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Karnataka PWD minister and chiefminister H D Kumaraswamy's brother, H D Revanna, Wednesday rejected allegations that he had grabbed over 54 acres of government land and demanded that the matter be probed.

Former Congress minister A Manju has accused members of Revanna's family of grabbing the governmentland spread over various survey numbers in Somanahalli Kavalvillage in Hassan district.

He alleged that fake documents were created for the purpose.

Countering the allegation, Revanna asserted that thegovernment should immediately take possession of the land if there was anything wrong in it.

"Whoever has done it, whether be it Revanna or his familymembers, the government should immediately take possession of the government land," Revanna told reporters.

Revanna said Manju was a minister in the Siddaramaiahgovernment and now he was "makingsome allegations."



"Whoever has grabbed government land, let the government take it in its custody.Who has asked government not to act against it? I am not going to file any defamation (suit) against anybody. If I start doing it, I will be at loss," Revanna said.

The issue gave ammunition to the opposition BJP to target theCongress-JDS coalition government.

Ridiculing the coalition partners clashing with each other, BJP's Karnataka unit chief B S Yeddyurappa said "We all know that former prime minister H D Deve Gowda'schildren are involved in scams.

However, in recent timesformer Congress minister A Manju has alleged that in Hassan district 54 acres and 29 guntas (one acre equals 40 guntas) of government land, whose value is worth Rs 3,000 crore, has been registered in their(Deve Gowda family) names illegally," Yeddyurappa said.

However, the chief ministerwas conspicuous by his silence, Yeddyurappa said at the inaugural of the the party's state level special meeting at thePalace Grounds.

Flaying Kumaraswamy for not reacting to the charges and Revanna for taking the accusations "casually," Yeddyurappa said the BJP had in the past brought out the "scam" in public in the form of a booklet.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Rejecting the BJP's allegation that he had paid money to the Congress's central leadership, Karnataka minister D K Shivakumar Wednesday accused the saffron party of misusing central agencies to harass him and pull down the Congress-JD(S) government in the state.

Pleading innocence, the high-profile minister said he was not involved in hawala transactions and was ready to face "any type of torture" by central agencies. He asserted he would come out clean.

Shivakumar's repudiation came after a BJP spokesman in New Delhi demanded that the top Congress leadership respond to the purported "confessional statements" made to the Income Tax department by his alleged associates claiming the money trail in a hawala network led to the Congress headquarters.

BJP spokesman Sambit Patra also referred to diaries allegedly recovered from Congress leaders in the state claiming "entries of money running up to Rs 600 crore were shown against SG and RG among others".

Patra alleged the acronyms referred to top leaders in the opposition party and demanded that Congress president Rahul Gandhi and his predecessor Sonia Gandhi come out and respond.

"He is simply using RG names, SG names. Where is RG name and SG name? I want to make it very clear that no SG or RG names are there. No way we are connected.

"They are unnecessarily trying to damage the name of our leaders. Let them (Enforcement Directorate) call me," he said.

Hitting out at the BJP spokesperson, Shivakumar sought to know why he was dragging Congress leaders into controversy.

"Unnecessarily you are bringing my party leaders (into the controversy). I have not paid any money to my party leaders, nor to the party. If anything is there, it is me and my party. They have to ask me, I have to reply to them. I need not reply to any of my BJP friends," he said.

At a press conference in New Delhi, Patra showed the purported confessional statements of Anjaneya Hanumanthaiah, an employeeof the Karnataka Bhavan in the national capital, and claimed the documents were the proof of Congress's involvement in a Hawala network.

"We have statements of D K Shivakumar's driver, who told the I-T Department about how money in kilograms were sent to AICC. We now know why Congress party was crying during demonetisation," Patra said.

Shivakumar asserted,"I am ready to face any kind of consequences or any type of torture they (central agencies) want to give me. I am confident that I will come out clean because I am a law abiding citizen."



Hitting back at Patra for referring to the abbreviated names in the diary, Shivakumar said, "What diaries are you talking about? Did you forget the Jain diaries, Advani diaries, or Modi Sahab's diary?"



Shivakumar claimed he was being subjected to harassment by central agencies ever since he hosted Gujarat Congress MLAs during Rajya Sabha elections when the party leaders felt the BJP may poach on them in August last year.

Sonia Gandhi's close aide Ahmed Patel was contesting the election which he narrowly managed to win.

The Karnataka minister also linked his "harassment" to the BJP's alleged attempts to destabilise the coalition government in the state.

"These are your day dreams Mr Yeddyurappa (the state BJP chief and leader of opposition). We have thenumbers," asserted Shivakumar, adding these "blackmailing tactics will not work".

The Enforcement Directorate has registered a money laundering case against Shivakumar and a few others for alleged tax evasion and hawala transactions.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)AAP minister Rajendra Pal Gautam Wednesday met Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad at his residence in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur district and said people of similar ideology need to come at a common platform to fight the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Throwing the BJP out of power in 2019 is the "sole aim", a statement from Gautam's office said.

After being released from jail last week, Azad had said he would ensure the Bharatiya Janata Party is routed in the general elections.

Gautam, who is the social welfare minister in the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government, said that Azad's support will be taken in the Lok Sabha polls for "protecting" the Constitution.

The meeting at Azad's residence in Chhutmalpur village in Saharanpur lasted over an hour, according to the statement,



"People of similar ideology need to come at a common platform to fight the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls... The people of the country will oust Prime Minister Narendra Modi from power," it said.

"Ousting the BJP from power in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections is the sole aim," the statement quoted Gautam as saying.

Azad was arrested from Himachal Pradesh's Dalhousie in June last year in connection with the May 5 caste violence in which one person was killed and 16 others were injured at Shabbirpur village in Saharanpur.

The Allahabad High Court had granted him bail on November 2, 2017. However, police booked him under the stringent National Security Act days before his release.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.): In a major boost to startups, the state government has increased the cap on direct purchase of software products, services and mobile app from ventures cleared by the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) from Rs five lakh to rs 20 lakh.

The startup has to be registered with the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Government of India and should be registered in Kerala, a press release said.

The Government's decision comes in response to a proposal submitted by KSUM in accordance with the government policy of bringing government as an early marketplace.

This will be a major boost to the startup ecosystem in Kerala.

"Government of Kerala is directly purchasing startup products worth Rs five lakh and this Rs five lakh ceiling seems to be a challenge in enhancing the scope of innovative products in government departments.

This G.O will help startups to work closely with the government and come up with innovative solutions, which are useful for the departments.

The recent floods also proved the startups capability of supporting the government in disaster management," said Dr Saji Gopinath, CEO, KSUM.

As per the Government Order (G.O),one purchasing officer cannot purchase more than two applications in a year from the same startup.

The government has enhanced the financial limit from Rs five lakh to Rs 20 lakh, exclusive of the GST, for the direct purchase of mobile app, all software products and services of startup projects from among the list cleared by the KSUM and those registered with the DIPP.

The G.O explains other benefits such as exemption of Earnest Money Deposit (EMD), bid security, cost of tender forms and security deposit to all start-ups, which are registered with Stores Purchase Department as in the case of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

The decision is also aimed at extending to the startups, the benefit of exemption from previous experience and turnover requirements.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.): The Kerala government Wednesday decided to take the crowd funding route to rebuild the state in the aftermath of the deluge which wrecked havoc last month.

For construction of houses, providing means of livelihood and basic infrastructure, it has been decided to accept sponsorship after imposing certain conditions.

The decision to go in for crowd funding was taken at a cabinet meeting here on the suggestion of KPMG, one of the largest professional service companies in the world, appointed as project consultant partner last month to rebuild the state.

The government also decided to set up a body to implement various projects.

The cabinet meeting was the first one to be chaired by Industries minister E P Jayarajan in the absence of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who is away in the U.S for medical treatment.

A decision was taken to organise an intensive drive from September 24 to October 2 as part of continuing efforts to clean up the state after the flood ravage, a release said.

Garbage piled up in houses, institutions and in public places would be collected, segregated and re-cycled as part of waste management.

Along with this, rivers, streams and public places would also be cleaned of garbage, the release added.

The rains and subsequent floods, said to be the worst in the last 100 years, had claimed 493 lives since the onset of the South West Monsoon on May 29, besides leaving a trail of destruction that saw nearly 14 lakh people displaced from their homes.

Many houses in Kuttanad in Alapuzha district are still waterlogged.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) plans to raise Rs 5,000 crore through Masala Bonds to fund large and critical infrastructure projects in the state.

With a view to establishing its credit profile and market standing, KIIFB had also undertaken a detailed rating exercise through two international credit rating agencies - Standard and Poor's and Fitch Ratings, the state agency said in a statement.

The ratings for KIIFB have been equalised with the rating agencies' assessment of the credit profile of the State of Kerala.

"Both S&P and Fitch have assigned KIIFB a long term foreign currency rating of BB with stable outlook. The MTN Programme has also been rated BB with Stable outlook by both rating agencies," it said.

Kerala for its role as the guarantor to debt issuances of KIIFB has become the first state from India to secure a public international credit rating while KIIFB enjoys the unique distinction of being the first state government public sector enterprise from India to establish an MTN Programme for raising offshore bonds, it said.

S&P Global Ratings Wednesday assigned 'BB' long term rating to Kerala, reflecting its weak budgetary and debt metrics.

This is the first time that S&P has assigned a local and regional government (LRG) rating in India, the agency said in a statement.

"We expect KIIFB to be able to raise Masala Bonds worth up to INR 50 Billion from global investors in one or more tranches in the upcoming months. This would provide KIIFB with an additional stream of capital to finance critical infrastructure projects in the State of Kerala," KIIFB Deputy Managing Director Sanjeev Kaushik said.

KIIFB will also try to tap the Middle East market given the strong connection with the State apart from the international finance centres like London, Singapore and Hong Kong, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Eminent citizens including historian Romila Thapar Wednesday told the Supreme Court that the case against five activists arrested in Koregaon-Bhima case was "cooked up" in the name of former Delhi University Professor G N Saibaba who is serving life sentence for Maoist links.

Thapar and other noted personalities, who have filed plea against the arrest of the five activists, said the case was based on 13 letters, which are in the public domain, either written or received by one Comrade Prakash, whom a lower court has said is actually Saibaba and now serving life sentence after his conviction.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud was told how a person currently in jail could write or receive letters.

"The entire case is cooked up and based on 13 letters which are in public domain. Out of 13 letters, 6-7 letters are written or received by one Comrade Prakash. G N Saibaba is actually comrade Prakash which is reflected in the trial court order. He was convicted on March 7, 2017 and is in jail. Then how can a person in jail write or receive letter," senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Thapar and others, said.

He said all intrinsic evidences were being "cooked up" in the name of a person who is in jail and hence the court should order an SIT probe or a probe monitored by it.

Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Maharashtra government, referred to the order of trial court which convicted Saibaba and said the court had recorded that Saibaba had changed his name from Prakash to Chetan after his earlier alias was exposed to the public.

Countering Singhvi's contention, Mehta said that in the letters, the name Prakash refers to the chief communicator of banned organisation CPI (Maoist), and not Saibaba.

The plea by Thapar and economists Prabhat Patnaik and Devaki Jain, sociology professor Satish Deshpande and human rights lawyer Maja Daruwala has sought an independent probe into the arrests and the immediate release of the five activists.

The Maharashtra police had arrested the rights activists on August 28 in connection with an FIR lodged following a conclave -- 'Elgaar Parishad' -- held on December 31 last year that had later triggered violence at Koregaon-Bhima village.

Prominent Telugu poet Rao was arrested on August 28 from Hyderabad, while activists Gonsalves and Ferreira were nabbed from Mumbai, trade union activist Sudha Bharadwaj from Faridabad in Haryana and civil liberties activist Navlakha from Delhi.

In March last year, Saibaba was awarded life sentence by a trial court in Maharashtra for his links with the Maoists.

The court had also found former JNU student Hem Mishra and four others guilty of waging war against the country and supporting the ideology of the CPI (Maoist).

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Eminent citizens on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that a court-monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT) should be constituted to look into the entire spectrum of the Koregaon-Bhima case.

Senior advocate Anand Grover, appearing for the five arrested persons in the case, alleged before a bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud that there was deficiency in investigation and sought the court's interference to protect the individuals from the State's "oppressive prosecution".

Grover, claimed that the investigation is "unfair, biased and deficient" as indicated by "illegalities" in search of the houses of the activists.

"Mere assertions of criminality by the State in the background of the special circumstances of the case cannot become the basis for incarceration of those detained," he said.

He further claimed that the probe into the second FIR, lodged by Tushar Damugade, is not permissible as two FIRs cannot be lodged on the same facts and circumstances.

He said that the raids carried out at the residences of activists were illegal as proper procedure of law was not followed.

Senior advocate and former union law minister Ashwani Kumar, who also appeared for the eminent citizens claimed that criminal investigations prior to and following the arrests as also detention of the accused is "patently mala-fide and a gross violation" of their fundamental rights.

"Allegations of criminal conduct on the part of those arrested on 28th August 2018, criminal investigations prior to and following the arrests as also detention of the accused is patently mala-fide and a gross violation of their fundamental rights," the plea said.

He further said that this assertion is prima facie validated by the manner in which the focus was shifted from the original accused, that is, Milind Ekbode and Shambhaji Bhide named in the first FIR to those arrested on August 28, who were admittedly neither present at the Elgaar Parishad meeting nor are named in the FIR of January 4, 2018.

Kumar claimed that the facts on record including the manner in which criminal investigation is being conducted merits interference by this court to protect the individuals conceived from "oppressive prosecution and to ensure fair investigation under its own supervision".

He also said that action against citizens under stringent penal statutes such as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act must pass the test of "reasonableness, rationality and procedural fairness".

The apex court extended till tomorrow the house arrest of five rights activists --Varavara Rao, Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves, Sudha Bharadwaj and Gautam Navlakha-- at their respective homes.

The court had on September 17 said, it may order SIT probe if it found that evidence has been "cooked up".

The Maharashtra police had arrested the rights activists on August 28 in connection with an FIR lodged following a conclave -- 'Elgaar Parishad' -- held on December 31 last year that had later triggered violence at Koregaon-Bhima village.

Prominent Telugu poet Rao was arrested on August 28 from Hyderabad, while activists Gonsalves and Ferreira were nabbed from Mumbai, trade union activist Sudha Bharadwaj from Faridabad in Haryana and civil liberties activist Navlakha from Delhi.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Supreme Court Wednesday extended the house arrest of five activists in connection with the Koregaon-Bhima case by a day, saying it would look into the case with a hawk's eye as liberty cannot be "sacrificed at the altar of conjectures".

The top court told the Maharashtra government that there should be a clear-cut distinction between opposition and dissent on one hand and attempts to create disturbance, law and order problems or overthrow the government on the other.

"Our institutions must be robust enough to accommodate any dissent or opposition to the system or even to this court. We cannot sacrifice liberty at the altar of conjectures,"a bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud said.

The apex court extended till tomorrow the house arrest of the five rights activists --Varavara Rao, Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves, Sudha Bharadwaj and Gautam Navlakha-- at their respective homes.

During the hearing, it asked the Maharashtra government to place before it the "best documents available" as most of the material referred by it were "more like conjectures."



Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Maharashtra government referred to the various stages of investigations in the case and the materials which led to the arrest of the five activists.

"As a nation, we should be concerned at this. It is too serious a matter. I request the court to form an opinion only after hearing the matter in full," Mehta said.

To this, Justice Chandrachud said "Yes, we will do that, but our mind is human" and added "we will look at this case with a hawk's eye".

"You have to make a clear-cut distinction between dissent and opposition and attempts to create disturbance, law and order problem, overthrow elected government," it said.

Senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for complainant Tushar Damgude, said "the court should hear the matter in full as what can be simple today may be complex tomorrow and what is complex today may be simple tomorrow".

The bench asked the state government regarding the presence of the independent witnesses, who are employees of the Pune Municipal Corporation, during the search operations conducted at the homes of the activists.

"Why did you have to carry two clerks from Pune Municipal Corporation to Maharashtra Sadan to act as 'panch' (independent) witnesses? The allegation of petitioners is that they were stock witnesses who were present during searches," the bench asked Mehta.

The ASG said he will explain everything and the police will file an affidavit to clarify the position.

The bench, while referring to the documents submitted by the state government, pointed out that it has been said that students of a reputed university were at the site. "Your documents name a reputed university and a prominent social science institute."



It said there are institutes and universities which keep sending students and scholars for research work in affected areas, which does not mean they are involved with any unlawful organisation.

Mehta said one of the letters written on April 18, 2017, by an arrested accused Rona Wilson to one Comrade Prakash reveal that there was systematic plan to create chaos and law and order problem.

He said this letter was recovered from the computer of Wilson during the search and investigation has revealed that Prakash was the chief communicator of the central committee of CPI (Maoist).

Mehta alleged that the activists had planned to organise an international seminar for creating an opinion and systematically create chaos in the society.

At this, the bench said "our system should be robust enough to deal such international seminars."



Mehta also alleged that former Delhi University professor G N Saibaba, who was convicted and sentenced to life by a trial court last year, has changed his name from Prakash to Chetan.

Senior advocate A M Singhvi, appearing for petitioner Romila Thapar and others said this case is "cooked up" as the police has based its entire case on 13 letters, of which 6-7 were written to or received by Comrade Prakash.

"If Comrade Prakash is G N Saibaba who is in jail since March 7, 2017. Then how can he receive or write a letter even after his conviction", he said, adding that all intrinsic evidence is being cooked up in the name of a person who is in jail.

He said that a supervisory court-monitored SIT should be formed to look into the entire spectrum of the case.

Singhvi also questioned the presence of the 'panch' witnesses during the searches and arrests of the activists.

Senior advocate Anand Grover, Ashwini Kumar and advocate Prashant Bhushan also alleged that the entire case was cooked up and adequate safeguards should be provided to protect the liberty of five activists.

The hearing remained inconclusive and would continue tomorrow.

The apex court had on September 17 said it may order an SIT probe if it found that the evidence has been "cooked up".

The plea by Thapar and economists Prabhat Patnaik and Devaki Jain, sociology professor Satish Deshpande and human rights lawyer Maja Daruwala has sought an independent probe into the arrests and the immediate release of the five activists.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A top Sri Lankan policeman has been sent on leave following an investigation into an alleged plot to assassinate President Maithripala Sirisena and Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, brother of ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The ministry of law and order said it has asked the National Police Commission to send Deputy Inspector General of Police Nalaka Silva on compulsory leave.

Silva was in charge of the police's Terrorist Investigation Division (TID).

He was publicly accused by one Namal Kumara who claimed Silva had told him that both Sirisena and Gotabhaya should be assassinated before the next presidential election in January, 2020.

Parliament saw an uproar yesterday when the Rajapaksa-led Joint Opposition demanded the arrest of Silva.

Law and Order Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara said investigations were underway and action will be taken as appropriate following the investigation.

Silva had been questioned and was transferred to the police's IT division when the latest order came to send him on leave.

The opposition charged that the police were acting hand in glove with the underworld to assassinate both Sirisena and Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

They said that the complainant in the plot Kumara and Gotabhaya should be provided protection.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A 26-year-old law student has filed a complaint against an assistant inspector general of the Punjab Police for allegedly threatening her and forcing her into establishing sexual relations, police said Wednesday.

The complaint was lodged with the office of the Amritsar Commissioner of Police Tuesday evening. The woman alleged the AIG had been calling on her phone for the last three months and threatening her with dire consequences if she did not establish physical relations, police said.

The woman, who is married, accused the police officer of trying to rape her at a hotel in Amritsar. The resident of Hoshiarpur district also claimed that the senior police officer knew her mother, they said.

Amritsar Police Commissioner S S Srivastava said the complaint had been forwarded to the state police headquarters for further action.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Livspace, an online home interior and renovation platform, Wednesday said it has raised USD 70 million from investors, including TPG Growth and Goldman Sachs, to fund its expansion plan.

"Livspace... has raised USD 70 million in Series C funding. The round was led by TPG Growth and Goldman Sachs, a global investment bank and active investor in India, and included participation from existing investors Jungle Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners and Helion Ventures," a company statement said.

The funds would be utilised to expand its operations to six more metros by 2019 to a total of 13, while achieving deeper penetration in existing markets, it added.

Avendus Capital was the financial advisor to the company for the latest fund raise. Before this round of funding, Livspace had raised USD 33.6 million from Jungle Venture Partners, Bessemer Venture Partners, Helion Ventures, and UC-RNT.

Launched in 2015, Livspace has emerged as the top organised player in India's very fragmented home interiors and renovation market, which is expected to exceed USD 23 billion by 2022. It has presence in seven major metros where it delivers interiors, including kitchens, wardrobes, furniture, decor and provides all contracting services from flooring and false ceilings to painting.

"This August, Livspace launched operations in Hyderabad and is on track to hit over USD 125-135 million in annualised gross revenue by March 2019," the company said.

Over the last 18 months, Livspace said its gross revenue has more than quadrupled.

Livspace co-founder and CEO Anuj Srivastava said the support from investors in this round would help propel the company to its next phase of growth.

"Our vision is to evolve Livspace into one of the biggest and most admired consumer internet companies to emerge out of India," he added.

Ramakant Sharma, co-founder and COO, Livspace, said, "We have ambitious plans to expand across top knowledge cities, and are excited to partner with TPG Growth and Goldman Sachs on this exciting journey."



Akshay Tanna, Principal, TPG Growth said Livspace is disrupting the fragmented interior-design-and-renovation ecosystem in India.

"Livspace is an innovative and fast-growing Indian B2C internet company, said Niladri Mukhopadhyay, a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs.

To fuel its expansion efforts, Livspace plans to grow its offline footprint through Livspace Design Centers, the company's experiential stores, that play a key role in its omnichannel strategy.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)President Emmanuel Macron will separately meet his US and Iranian counterparts, Donald Trump and Hassan Rouhani, during the UN General Assembly in New York next week, the French presidency said Wednesday.

Macron will meet Trump on Monday afternoon before having dinner with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

On Tuesday, the French president will address the assembly and hold talks with Rouhani, an Elysee Palace official said.

The meetings come as Macron and other European leaders try to salvage a landmark 2015 accord to curb Tehran's nuclear programme, which Trump pulled the US out of last May.

Trump has signalled that he might be willing to meet with Rouhani as well, after re-imposing sanctions against Iran last month.

A new round of even harsher sanctions is set to go into effect in November targeting Iran's vital oil sector.

The sanctions have hit Iran's economy hard since foreign companies can no longer operate in the country without running the risk of being targeted by US penalties.

The US accuses Iran of destabilising the Middle East by pursuing missile development and its intervention in conflicts in neighbouring countries including Syria and Yemen.

Iranian officials have repeatedly indicated they have no plans to hold talks with Trump when the general debate opens at the assembly on Tuesday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Third party logistics (3PL) provider Mahindra Logistics Ltd Wednesday said it planned to add half a million square feet of warehouses across the country by the end of FY'18, with focus on expansion in the south.

Mahindra Logistics CEO Pirojshaw Sarkari said Tamil Nadu was a key contributor to the company's business and that it already has three warehouses here.

"We are looking at adding two more warehouses in Chennai" with an overall capacity of two lakh sq.ft, he told reporters here.

Warehouses will also come up in Bengaluru and Hyderabad, he added.

"We are looking at adding half a million sq.ft of warehouses across the country by March 31, 2018," Sarkari said.

Noting Tamil Nadu contributed a "significant" share to the company's business, he said some of its key customers in supply chain business in the region include BMW, Wabco and ITC.

The company was also involved in the People Transport business, working for firms like Tech Mahindra and Paypal among others.

"With a thriving industrial and business hub, the region holds strategic value for the company's growth, especially in the auto sector," the company said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Senior Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia Wednesday asked Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on which side of the fence was he on -- India or Pakistan -- in the wake of brutal killing of a BSF Jawan by Pakistani troops.

"Sidhu should tell the nation which side of the fence he is on -- India or Pakistan and whether he would now ask the Pakistan army chief, whom he hugged, and his friend Pakistan PM Imran Khan why they were killing Indian soldiers on the international border and exporting terror into India," said Majithia in a statement here.

Pakistani troops slit the throat of a BSF jawan after fatally shooting him along the international border (IB) near Jammu.

"Sidhu should tell (the public) whether he in agreement with Pakistan even now, especially at a time when barbarity was committed on an Indian soldier yesterday. Can he face soldier Narender Kumar's family?" he asked.

Majithia said the Pakistan foreign ministry spokesman had disclosed that no official communication had been sent to India for opening the Kartarpur Corridor.

"Now with authorities, including External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and the official spokesman of the Pakistan foreign ministry, making it official that there was no formal communication from Pakistan to India about the Kartarpur corridor, Sidhu has nowhere to run. He must face the fact that he blatantly lied to cover up the despicable act of hugging the Pakistan army chief."



Majithia demanded Sidhu apologise to the people of the country and particularly the Sikh community for allegedly playing with their sentiments on a sensitive issue.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Maldives' opposition party Wednesday raised concerns over conduct of the presidential elections on Sunday in a free and fair manner by the country's poll body, which it alleged has deployed activists of the ruling dispensation for the poll duty.

President Abdulla Yameen, of the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), is seeking a second five-year term in the Indian Ocean archipelago, a popular high-end tourist destination.

Yemeen had imposed a state of emergency in February after the Supreme Court quashed the conviction of nine opposition leaders, including the country's first democratically elected president Mohamed Nasheed.

Nasheed, the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) leader, is currently in exile in Sri Lanka. He has been barred from contesting the Sunday's polls.

The Maldives' Elections Commission has appointed 107 PPM activists and members and tasked them with the official work on the election day, the MDP said here Wednesday.

"In yet another egregious example of bias, the Elections Commission has given the PPM activists official roles in administrating the voting, vote counting, and complaint procedures on election day. These PPM activists, as officials, will have sole discretion on how to adjudicate a complaint at the polling booth," a MDP release said.

The opposition party claimed that the Commission had rejected its written complaint, demanding political activists be relieved of their poll responsibilities.

The MDP also alleged that the Commission was headed by a staunch Yameen loyalist, who was the General Secretary of Yameen's former political party.

The commission had refused to allow political parties to use a copy of the final signed voter register. It is planning to use tablet computers to tally the vote, and ordering officials at the ballot boxes not to announce the vote until it is verified by the central Elections Commission.

These were clear breach of election law and precedence, the opposition claimed.

It further alleged that the use of tablet computers to collate election results from polling stations on election day will create an opportunity for rigging and fraud.

President Yameen is pitted against the joint opposition candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

Ahead of polls, the government has sent to jail his main rivals after speedy trials for charges ranging from terrorism to corruption. It has also and introduced new vote-counting rules that observers say will prevent them from seeing individual ballot papers, leading to doubts about the legitimacy of the vote.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)An Indian man has been arrested by customs officials for allegedly trying to smuggle out foreign currency worth Rs 51.64 lakh at Delhi airport, according to an official statement issued Wednesday.

The accused was intercepted at the airport on Tuesday. He was to travel to Bangkok.

"Due to suspicion, detailed personal search was done and examination of the baggage of the passenger subsequently resulted in the recovery of foreign currency amounting to USD 72,900 which he was attempting to smuggle out of the country illegally," the customs department said in the statement.

The foreign currency, equivalent to Rs 51.64 lakh, has been seized and the passenger was arrested, it said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A court here Wednesday awarded death sentence to a contractual teacher for raping a four-year-old girl in this Madhya Pradesh district nearly three months ago.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Dinesh Kumar Sharma awarded the death penalty to Mahendra Singh Gond (23), under IPC section 376 AB (rape on woman under 12 years of age) and section 5/6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The girl, who was raped on July 1, is still in a critical condition and undergoing treatment at a Delhi-based hospital.

The court also sentenced the convict to seven years of rigorous imprisonment for kidnapping the girl.

"The court awarded the death penalty to Gond after recording the statements of the girl and her parents over video-conferencing as they are in Delhi," District Prosecution Officer Rampal Singh told PTI.

The judge cross-examined 21 prosecution witnesses.

According to Singh, Gond was friendly with the victim's family. On the night of July 1, he went to their place in a village here in an inebriated condition to meet the girl's father. There, he saw the girl sleeping next to her father on a cot outside their house. He returned home after meeting the girl's father.

After some time, Gond came back and spotted the girl alone on the cot as her father had gone to relieve himself, Singh said.

"Taking advantage of the situation, Gond took the girl away from her house and raped her. After the sexual assault, he dumped her into the bushes," he added.

When the girl's father returned and did not find his daughter, he raised an alarm and the family launched a search for her. Later, they found her lying in the thick bushes.

Gond was later arrested by the police and a charge sheet was filed against him.

Madhya Pradesh was the first state to enact a law last December, providing for death penalty for rapists of minor girls below 12.

The Centre brought an amendment in the IPC to punish the rapists of minor girls below 12 with death on April 21.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A 21-year-old man has been arrested in Meghalaya's North Garo Hills district for allegedly sexually assaulting his minor niece, police said.

The incident occurred on September 17 in Daram Takiki village in the district and an FIR was filed at the Resubelpara police station the next day, they said.

According to the complaint by the man's wife, he gave some food to the girl, aged 9, and took her to the kitchen, bolted the door from inside and molested the minor, a police officer said.

The accused later ran from the house but was nabbed by the police and produced in court, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Mizoram had the highest adult HIV prevalence among states in India last year with the infection being detected in 2.04 per cent of the people whose blood samples were tested for it, a Mizoram State AIDS Control Society (MSACS) official said on Wednesday.

He said 18,081 people, which accounts for 1.6 per cent of the around 11 lakh population of Mizoram, were found HIV positive between October 1990 and August this year.

On November 16 last year, the Mizoram assembly was informed that 14,632 HIV positive people were identified in the state.

Mizoram was one of the five states where the number of new infection cases has increased, though such cases are declining nationally, the HIV Estimations 2017 report released by National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) stated.

"According to the India HIV Estimations 2017 Technical Report, Mizoram ranked first in the country at 2.04 per cent HIV positives detected from the number of people whose blood samples were tested," the official said.

Mizoram is followed by Manipur at 1.43 per cent and Nagaland at 1.15 per cent, the report stated.

The MSACS official said unsafe sex was the main cause of spread of infection, followed by sharing of needles and syringes by drug users and sexual intercourse between homosexual partners.

Over 42 per cent of the HIV positive people are in the age group group of 25-34 years and 26 per cent falls in the 35-49 years age bracket, he said.

According to the Estimations report, HIV incidence per 1,000 uninfected population in 2017 was also 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.

Over 190 countries, including India, have pledged to end AIDS by 2030 by adopting the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The mother of a man killed in a road accident was awarded a Rs 8.86-lakh compensation by the Thane Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT), which rejected the pleas of the victim's father and two siblings.

The tribunal, in its order issued earlier this month, accepted the opposite side's argument that the victim's father and siblings were not his dependents.

Amir Sawat, then aged 26, was killed when a tempo hit his motorcycle on the Sion-Panvel road in Thane on April 19, 2016.

The victim, who worked as a helper in a factory here, was earning Rs 12,000 per month at that time, his family had claimed.

His father Akbal Sawat (55), a rickshaw puller, mother Sanni Sawat (49), brother Iltaf Sawat (23) and sister Reshma Sawat (21) -- all residents of Siddharth Nagar district in Uttar Pradesh -- had sought compensation from the tempo's owner and insurer.

The insurance company's counsel, however, had contested the claim on several grounds, arguing that there was no proof of income of the deceased and that his father and siblings were not dependent on him.

MACT Member and District Judge R N Rokade accepted the insurer's argument and said the opposite side was liable to pay Rs 8.86 lakh to the mother of the deceased, along with 8 per cent interest per annum from the date of the filing of the claim.

"The insurance company shall pay the amount to the mother of the deceased and then recover the sum from the tempo owner," the judge said in his order.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)State-owned NBCC (India) Ltd has signed an agreement with Construction Skill Development Council to train 20,000 youth in the next six months to promote skill development.

"Construction sector is the second largest industry in terms of manpower employment and the workforce requirement is around 4 million people per year to sustain the current growth rate. There is a requirement for continuous skill up gradation and certification," NBCC CMD Anoop Kumar Mittal said in a statement.

Through the association, NBCC and Construction Skill Development Council of India will work towards empowering the youth with relevant skills in various construction trades to make them employable as part of the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme.

The Recognition of Prior Learning will benefit workers like masons, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, etc.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The NCLAT Wednesday set aside an order of fair trade regulator CCI imposing a Rs 87 crore fine on Hyundai Motor India for allegedly adopting unfair business ways with respect to discounts for passenger cars.

A three-member bench of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) headed by Chairman Justice S J Mukhopadhaya said the CCI order against Hyundai Motor was "not based on any specific evidence".

"... has been passed merely on the basis of opinion of DG (probe arm of CCI). The DG as well as CCI also failed to decide relevant geographic market as required... The finding is against the law laid down by the Supreme Court...," the NCLAT said.

It has also asked the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to refund the penalty amount, if any, deposited by the country's second largest car maker.

"In view of such infirmity, we have no other option but to set aside the impugned order dated June 14, 2017. It is accordingly set aside. Hyundai Motor will be entitled to refund of the amount, if any, deposited pursuant to the interim order dated July 18, 2017," it said.

CCI had in June last year imposed a fine of Rs 87 crore on Hyundai Motor for allegedly forcing dealers to procure spare parts, accessories and all other requirements, either directly from Hyundai Motor or through vendors approved by it.

In a 44-page order, the regulator said the company's anti-competitive conduct includes putting in place arrangements that resulted in resale price maintenance by way of monitoring of maximum permissible discount level.

This was done through discount control and penalty mechanisms for non-compliance of the discount scheme, it added.

"Such conduct pertains to and emanates out of sale of motor vehicles. Hence, for the purposes of determining the relevant turnover for this infringement, revenue from sale of motor vehicles alone has to be taken into account," CCI had noted.

This was challenged by Hyundai Motor India before NCLAT, which is an appellate authority over CCI.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat Wedneday pitched for a policy to maintain demographic balance in the country, saying it should cover all sections of the society, beginning with those having more children but "limited" means for their upbringing.

Bhagwat presented Sangh's views on a number of contentious issue while answering wide-ranging written questions on the last day of the RSS' three-day conclave, including on matters like inter-caste marriages, education policy, crimes against women, cow vigilantism.

Bhagwat also strongly backed existing quota for different communities, but said there should not be any politics on the issue.

He claimed there is an increasing acceptance of Hindutva, his organisation's founding ideology, in the world but anger existed against it in India due to various wrong practices which have crept in over the years. The Sangh is working to remove them, he added.

To a question about changing demographic balance in parts of India and the 'declining' Hindu population, the RSS chief said the matter of demographic balance is considered significant world over and it should be maintained here also.

"Keeping this in mind, a policy on population should be prepared," he said, adding that it should keep in mind the country's projected population in the next 50 years and its resources to deal with the number.

Once a policy is decided, it should be applied on everyone, not sparing anyone, he said, drawing a bid round of applause from the packed auditorium.

He added that such a policy should be applied first where the problem (of population) exists, "where there are more babies but means to bring them up are limited... If their upbringing is not good, then they will not become good citizens."



Such a policy can be introduced later among those where such a problem is not there, he said, adding only law is a not a solution to the issue.

Many BJP leaders and Hindu outfits have been raising the issue of what they call a dwindling Hindu population against increasing Muslim numbers.

Speaking against religious conversion, Bhagwat said it is almost always done with ulterior motives and also causes demographic imbalance.

He also pitched for protection of cows but disapproved of going against law in the name of cow vigilantism.

The RSS chief said it is a crime to take law in one's own hands and there should be stringent punishment in such cases, but added, "we have to reject the double-speak as there is no talk of violence by cow smugglers". He was asked about increasing cases of mob lynching and cow vigilantism in the country.

The three-day event saw presenve of several leaders of the ruling BJP, as also of Bollywood actors, artists and academicians. However, almost all major opposition parties gave the conclave 'Bhavishya Ka Bharat -- An RSS Perspective' a miss though the RSS had said it had invited them.

On Sangh's view on the issue of inter-caste marriages, Bhagwat said it supports such weddings and if there is a census on inter-caste marriages, the maximum cases will be those from the Sangh.

Expressing anguish over crime against women, he said an environment needs to be created where women feel safe and secure.

Replying to another question, he also said that it was responsibility of the government and administration to protect its people against any discrimination.

He also said that LGBTQ should not be isolated as they were also part of society.

Bhagwat said that the Sangh was not opposed to any language, including English, but it should be given its proper place, suggesting it cannot replace an Indian language.

"You should not be opposed to any language, including English, and it should not be removed...We have no enmity with English. We need proficient English speakers," the RSS chief said.

Among other issues, Bhagwat also talked about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and said the RSS does not accept Article 370 and 35-A of Constitution relating to the state.

While Article 370 deals with autonomy of the state, Article 35-A allows the state assembly to define permanent residents of the state.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat Wedneday pitched for a policy to maintain demographic balance in the country, saying it should cover all sections of the society, beginning with those having more children but "limited" means for their upbringing.

Bhagwat presented Sangh's views on a number of contentious issue while answering wide-ranging written questions on the last day of the RSS' three-day conclave, including on matters like Ram temple, inter-caste marriages, education policy, crimes against women, cow vigilantism.

The RSS chief also demanded that the Ram temple in Ayodhya should be "built at the earliest". Supporting a dialogue on the issue, he said a final decision rests with the Ram Mandir Samiti, which is spearheading the campaign for the construction of a Ram temple.

A Supreme Court verdict is expected to come soon before the current Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra demits office on October 2.

Bhagwat also strongly backed the existing quota system for different communities, but said there should not be any politics on the issue.

He claimed there is an increasing acceptance of Hindutva, his organisation's founding ideology, in the world but anger existed against it in India due to various wrong practices which have crept in over the years. The Sangh is working to remove them, he added.

To a question about changing demographic balance in parts of India and the 'declining' Hindu population, the RSS chief said the matter of demographic balance is considered significant world over and it should be maintained here also.

"Keeping this in mind, a policy on population should be prepared," he said, adding that it should keep in mind the country's projected population in the next 50 years and its resources to deal with the number.

Once a policy is decided, it should be applied on everyone, not sparing anyone, he said, drawing a bid round of applause from the packed auditorium.

He added that such a policy should be applied first where the problem (of population) exists, "where there are more babies but means to bring them up are limited... If their upbringing is not good, then they will not become good citizens."



Such a policy can be introduced later among those where such a problem is not there, he said, adding only law is a not a solution to the issue.

Many BJP leaders and Hindu outfits have often claimed that the Hindu population was dwindling whereas Muslim numbers were on a upswing.

Speaking against religious conversion, Bhagwat said it is almost always done with ulterior motives and also causes demographic imbalance.

He also pitched for protection of cows but disapproved of going against law in the name of cow vigilantism.

The RSS chief said it is a crime to take law in one's own hands and there should be stringent punishment in such cases, but added, "We have to reject the double-speak as there is no talk of violence by cow smugglers". He was asked about increasing cases of mob lynching and cow vigilantism in the country.

The three-day event saw presence of several leaders of the ruling BJP, as also of Bollywood actors, artists and academicians. However, almost all major opposition parties gave the conclave 'Bhavishya Ka Bharat -- An RSS Perspective' a miss though the RSS had said it had invited them.

On Sangh's view on the issue of inter-caste marriages, Bhagwat said it supports such weddings and if there is a census on inter-caste marriages, the maximum cases will be those from the Sangh.

Expressing anguish over crime against women, he said an environment needs to be created where women feel safe and secure.

Replying to another question, he also said that it was responsibility of the government and administration to protect its people against any discrimination.

He also said that LGBTQ should not be isolated as they were also part of society.

Bhagwat said the Sangh is not opposed to any language, including English, but it should be given its proper place, suggesting it cannot replace an Indian language.

"You should not be opposed to any language, including English, and it should not be removed...We have no enmity with English. We need proficient English speakers," the RSS chief said.

He also said there was a need for a new education policy which is a mix of modern education and our traditions, and added that degrees are being given out by institutions but research work was decreasing.

Among other issues, Bhagwat also talked about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and said the RSS does not accept Article 370 and 35-A of Constitution relating to the state.

While Article 370 deals with autonomy of the state, Article 35-A allows the state assembly to define permanent residents of the state.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Nepal today observed its Constitution Day amidst a countrywide protest by a key Madhesi party, which boycotted the celebrations and organised a 15-minute black out claiming that the statute has failed to address the rights of their community as well as that of the Dalits and indigenous groups.

Nepal's Constitution was promulgated on this day in 2015.

Addressing a function to mark the occasion at the Nepal Army Pavilion here, Prime Minister KP Oli expressed hope that the Constitution will help consolidate democracy in Nepal and transform it into a prosperous nation.

The Constitution imbibes the present and the future aims and aspirations of the people and it will help in fulfilling the goal of a prosperous and happy Nepal, he said.

Meanwhile, terming the day as a "black day", the Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal (RJP-N) boycotted the celebrations, organised by the government, across the country to express their reservations to the Constitution. It also organised a 15-minute black out across the country in protest.

In an interaction with media persons here, Ranjit Kumar Singh, the president of RJP-N's youth wing Rastriya Yuva Sangthan, said the party members are ready to make any sacrifice to amend the Constitution to incorporate their demands.

RJP-N secretary Upendra Mahato said the party had extended support to the Oli government with a view to amend the Constitution and it will withdraw its support any time if the government fails to address their demands.

The major demands of the RJP-N include amendment in the citizenship certificate distribution provision, providing more rights to the provincial governments and re-demarcation of the provincial boundary among others. The Madhesi party claims to represent the interests of inhabitants of the southern Terai region who are mostly of Indian origin.

The Madhesi-based parties had launched a six-month long protest in the past to press for the Constitution amendment to address their demands in which nearly 60 people were killed.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal, a key Madhesi party, announced Tuesday that it would observe a 15-minute blackout on the Constitution Day, saying the statute has failed to address the rights of Madhesis, Dalits and indigenous communities.

Senior Madhesi leader and former commerce minister Rajendra Mahato said his Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal (RJP-N) will not take part in the government's programme to celebrate the Constitution Day on September 19.

Nepal's Constitution was promulgated three years ago on September 19.

Talking to reporters in Nepalgunj, Mahato, a member of the presidium of the RJP-N, said that the Constitution has failed to address the rights of Madhesis, Dalits and indigenous communities.

"We are not observing the Constitution day as the statute has not been amended to incorporate our key demands," he said.

Mahato sid that the RJP-N held discussions with the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) time and again over the issue of Constitution amendment, without any fruitful results.

Trustworthy environment has not been created for the Constitution amendment so far, Mahato said, adding that there should be a written commitment on the issue.

Another member of the RJP-N's presidium Anil Jha said the party will observe the Constitution day by organizing protest rallies across the country.

"We will observe September 19 as a protest day," he said.

The RJP-N will observe a 15-minute black out on the Constitution day to register protest, he told PTI.

"We will launch peaceful protest rallies in all the district headquarters across the country," Jha said, adding that they had supported the government as the Constitution amendment was their main agenda.

The Madhes-based parties had launched a six-month long protest in the past to press for the Constitution amendment to address their demands in which nearly 60 people were killed.

The major demands of the RJP-N include amendment in the citizenship certificate distribution provision, providing more rights to the provincial governments and re-demarcation of the provincial boundary among others.

The Madhesi party claims to represent the interests of inhabitants of the southern Terai region who are mostly of Indian origin.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A day after Bollywood actor Salman Khan's upcoming film's title was changed from "Loveratri" to "Loveyatri", a Hindu outfit told the Gujarat High Court Wednesday that the new title was unacceptable to it.

The city-based Sanatan Foundation had last week moved a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking change of the title and some content of the film, or its ban for "hurting sentiments of Hindus".

The outfit told the court Wednesday that the new film title was not acceptable as it still sounds similar to Hindu festival 'Navratri'.

The petitioner's lawyer B B Agrawal submitted in the court that the film's tagline - a journey of love - as shown in its posters and promotions could be converted into "Love Ki Yatra".

Salman Khan, the film's producer, had Tuesday announced on micro-blogging site Twitter that the movie's title had been changed to "Loveyatri", from "Loveratri".

During a hearing on the admission of the PIL Wednesday, the respondent producer's lawyer told the court that the litigation was "immature" as the movie was yet to get a certification from the censor board.

A division bench of Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice V M Pancholi directed the lawyer representing the film's producer to seek instructions regarding the content of the movie, and asked how its promos were released without certification from the censor board.

Justice Reddy also said that if needed the bench will watch the film.

The movie marks the debut of Salman Khan's brother-in- law Aayush Sharma and actor Warina Hussain and is set against the backdrop of Navratri.

Directed by debutant Abhiraj Minawala, the film is slated for release on October 5.

The PIL had urged the court to ask the film's producers to change its title and remove the content that hurts Hindu sentiment as an alternative to a ban.

The petitioner claimed that the film will offend Hindus upon its release.

It claimed that the film's (original) title "Loveratri" as well as some dialogues shown in the trailers were offensive.

The PIL contended that while Navratri is a pious festival, the name of the film conveys that it is all about getting "intimate".

"If this movie is allowed to be viewed in cinemas in Gujarat, it will leave a very bad impact on the youngsters and the public at large," it claimed.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Japanese imaging product major Nikon India is targeting around 5 per cent growth in turnover at Rs 1,200 crore this fiscal on the back of its D-SLR and mirrorless cameras, a top company official said.

Nikon India is working here on a twin strategy -- expanding the mirrorless camera segment, which are expected to grow in coming years, while focusing on its traditional D-SLR (digital single-lens reflex) cameras.

The company is also expanding its retail presence and has plans to add 10 more Nikon experience zones to take the tally to 150, besides engaging more photo enthusiasts through its Nikon photo schools.

"Last year, we have concluded to around Rs 1,150 crore and we are aiming this year (FY 2018-19) close to Rs 1,200 crore, with approximately 5 per cent increase," Nikon India Managing Director Sajjan Kumar told PTI.

He further said, "The growth would come from D-SLR segment which is still growing in India and mirrorless and full frame cameras."



The company as part of its strategy today introduced Nikon FX format (full-frame) mirrorless cameras Nikon Z 7 and Nikon Z 6, strengthening its presence in the segment.

"Year on year share of mirrorless cameras would increase. Today they are contributing 12-15 per cent from mirrorless and it is bound to increase in the coming years and within two years I am expecting it to close 30 per cent for Nikon as well," he said.

Nikon India, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tokyo-based Nikon Corporation, expects India unit to contribute around 5 per cent of its global sales in the next two financial years.

"Today, we are contributing close to 2 per cent of the worldwide pie within the imaging as a category certainly, we would like to contribute around 5 per cent in the next 2-3 years," Kumar added.

Nikon has a retail presence over 3,000 point of sales pan India and has presence across all formats. It will add 10 more Nikon Experience Zone, which are in a shop-in-shop format, by the end of this fiscal. The company has 140 Nikon Experience Zone at present, he added.

Nikon India which presently has around 45 per cent market share in the domestic market in D-SLR and compact cameras, expects to retain its position, he added.

Presently, the estimated size of the Indian D-SLR market is estimated to be around half million units and is growing between 8 to 10 per cent. It is expected to be around 5.4 lakh unit this fiscal.

The company is also organising several Nikon School Workshops to engaging several photo enthusiast, where its organises photography workshops, training etc by associating with ace photographers.

"This year, we are aiming 820 workshops. Year on year, we have shaped our Nikon School Concept... we are reaching out to the customer so that they can directly hear from the brand ," he said adding that these workshops are happening are around 200 location and not confined to top cities only.

Mirrorless camera does not require a reflex mirror, a key component of D-SLR cameras. The mirror in a DSLR reflects the light up to the optical viewfinder. In a mirrorless camera, there is no optical viewfinder. Instead, the imaging sensor is exposed to light at all times.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Amid the escalating trade war with US, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday appealed for global support for free trade, saying "unilateralism" does not offer solutions to trade disputes which should be redressed through consultation.

Speaking at the summer session of the World Economic Forum in the eastern city of Tianjin, Li, the second ranking leader of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC), also ruled out any attempts by Beijing to weaken the Chinese currency to boost its exports.

"It is essential that we uphold the basic principles of multilateralism and free trade," Li said a day after China and the US swapped tit-for-tat tariffs.

While US President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on Chinese products worth about USD 200 billion on Tuesday, on top of USD 50 billion already targeted, China said it would retaliate with tariff hike on USD 60 billion worth of US imports to be effective from next Monday.

After Beijing decided to retaliate Tuesday with duties on American products, Trump accused China of seeking to influence midterm congressional elections by taking aim at his political base.

Without directly referring to the ongoing tariff war, Li said solutions "need to be worked out through consultations."



"No unilateralism will offer a viable solution," he said.

He also said China has no intention of weakening its currency to help exporters and will not engage in any form of competitive devaluation of its exchange rate.

China will stick to market-oriented reform of the exchange rate formation mechanism and won't pursue competitive devaluation of its currency, he said.

"China will create conditions for a stable exchange rate," Li said, rebutting speculation that the Chinese government deliberately engineered the devolution of the currency in recent months.

The Yuan depreciated by about eight per cent against the US dollar since March which led to the speculation that it was aimed offsetting the effects of US tariffs on Chinese imports.

Some people think China deliberately [devalued the yuan]; this is groundless, Li said, in an indirect response to Trump's allegations that Beijing is manipulating its currency, the Hong-Kong based South China Morning Post reported.

"A one-way depreciation will do more harm than good for China," Li said.

"China will not choose the path of bolstering exports by devaluing the yuan the yuan exchange rate will be kept basically stable," he said.

Li also said China will adopt a stricter protection system on intellectual property rights (IPRs), a key demand by Trump to protect the rights of US technology investors in China.

Li said that protecting IPRs means protecting and stimulating innovation. China cannot achieve innovative development without an environment that respects knowledge and protects property rights, he said.

He also said China has become a new fertile land for global entrepreneurs and innovation, with new growth drivers breaking new ground for the country's economic development.

Trump has been pressuring China to reduce the trade deficit with the US, totalling to USD 335.4 billion in 2017.

Earlier, both sides had resumed trade talks but at a lower level. Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce Wang Shouwen held talks in Washington but without much results.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)There is no order by any UAE court to extradite to India Christian Michel, the alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland chopper deal, it is learnt, in a twist to the issue of getting the British national to face probe by Indian investigation agencies.

Official sources last night said a Dubai court has ordered for the extradition of Michel in the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland VVIP choppers deal case.

The CBI Wednesday said it was awaiting confirmation from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on reports about extradition of Michel from the UAE



According to available details here, the UAE government posed a question to a Dubai court whether a British national can be extradited to a third country, and on September 2, the court gave an opinion on the query.

It is learnt that there was no court order on extradition of Michel to India as reported.

The external affairs ministry had asked its embassy in the UAE to find out all the details relating to the issue.

Government sources said India has not received any official communication from authorities in the UAE relating to extradition of Michel.

He is wanted in India in connection with the AgustaWestland VVIP choppers deal scam.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED), in its charge sheet filed against Michel in June 2016, had alleged that he received EUR 30 million (about Rs 225 crore) from AgustaWestland.

Michel is one of the three middlemen being probed in the case, besides Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa, by the ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Both the agencies have notified an Interpol red corner notice against him after the court issued a non-bailable warrant.

On January 1, 2014, India scrapped the contract with Finmeccanica's British subsidiary AgustaWestland for supplying 12 AW-101 VVIP choppers to the IAF over alleged breach of contractual obligations and charges of paying kickbacks to the tune of Rs 423 crore by it for securing the deal.

The CBI has alleged that there was an estimated loss of Euro 398.21 million (approximately Rs 2,666 crore) to the exchequer in the deal that was signed on February 8, 2010 for the supply of VVIP choppers worth Euro 556.262 million.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)There is no order by any UAE court to extradite Christian Michel, the alleged middleman in AgustaWestland deal, to India, it is learnt.

According to available details here, the UAE government posed a question to a Dubai court whether a British national can be extradited to a third country and on September 2, the court gave an opinion on the query.

It is learnt that there was no court order on extradition of Michel to India as reported.

There have been reports that a Dubai court had ordered extradition of Michel to India.

The external affairs ministry had asked its embassy in the UAE to find out all the details relating to the issue.

Government sources said India has not received any official communication from authorities in the UAE relating to extradition of Michel.

He is wanted in India in connection with the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP choppers deal case.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED), in its charge sheet filed against Michel in June 2016, had alleged that he received EUR 30 million (about Rs 225 crore) from AgustaWestland.

Michel is one of the three middlemen being probed in the case, besides Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa, by the ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Both the agencies have notified an Interpol red corner notice against him after the court issued a non-bailable warrant.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Congress-affiliated NSUI protested against newly elected DUSU president Ankiv Baisoya of the ABVP for allegedly submitting "fake" documents to gain admission to the varsity while the AISA claimed he was enrolled at DU's College of Vocational Studies.

The National Students' Union Of India also submitted a complaint to Delhi University's vice-chancellor to take legal action in the matter.

Meanwhile, the Left-backed All India Students' Association claimed that Baisoya was enrolled at DU's College of Vocational Studies.

AISA's DU president Kawalpreet Kaur said, "Baisoya claims to have studied at Tamil Nadu while on the other hand the official website of Delhi University's College of Vocational Studies recognises Ankiv Baisoya as a student. How in that case is he claiming to have studied at TN University even as it has declared that the degree being circulated under his name is fake?"



She said the AISA has submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Dean Of Student Welfare demanding immediate enquiry into the certificate produced by Baisoya during the time of admission.

"The complaint has been forwarded to the HoD of the Buddhist Department in which he is currently enrolled. We demand that the university admission must immediately cancel the nomination of Ankiv Baisoya and initiate a police enquiry if found to have submitted a fake degree," Kaur added.

The NSUI organised a protest at the Arts Faculty against the DU administration to reinforce its demand of proper legal action against the Baisoya's "degree scandal".

The NSUI demanded hat stringent measures must be taken to resolve this issue with their main demand being cancellation of not only the candidature and election of ABVP presidential candidate but also the revocation of his DU admission.

In response to AISA's allegations, the ABVP said, "Baisoya had enrolled in DU for graduation in 2013 but left it midway to go to Thiruvalluvar University. He got his admission cancelled in 2016."



On Tuesday, the NSUIreleased a letter from Thiruvalluvar University sent in response to a communication from the student's body. It stated that the BA certificate submitted by Basoya from the university is fake.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis dismissed Wednesday a fresh round of rumours suggesting his days at the Pentagon might be numbered due to deteriorating relations with President Donald Trump.

The buttoned-up former Marine general is loathe to discuss politics or his dynamic with his mercurial boss, but a new book by veteran political reporter Bob Woodward has thrust the two mens' relationship into the spotlight.

Among other claims, Woodward said Mattis questioned Trump's judgment and likened the president's understanding to that of a 10- or 11-year-old child.

Citing current and former US officials, The New York Times published a story Saturday casting Mattis's future as being in doubt as Trump seeks to surround himself with hardcore loyalists and yes-men.

"It'll die down soon and the people who started the rumour will be allowed to write the next rumour too, just the way this town is," Mattis told Pentagon reporters.

"Keep a sense of humour about it."



Mattis has denied talking to Woodward and said he never likened Trump to a child.

"I wouldn't take it seriously at all," Mattis said. "It's like most of those kinds of things in this town. Somebody cooks up a headline, they then call to a normally chatty class of people, they find a couple of other things to put in, they add the rumor, somebody on the other coast starts writing the same thing -- next thing you know you've got a story." Mattis added he has no intention of quitting.

"Of course I don't think about leaving, I love it here," he said. "I'm thinking about retiring right here, getting a little place down on the Potomac (River)." Woodward's book describes a chaotic Trump with little understanding of how the government works and an apparent inability to absorb information from his national security team, including Mattis.

While he has acknowledged that policymaking was "inherently messy," Mattis has dismissed Woodward's account as fiction and said his "anonymous sources do not lend credibility." The many ways the scholarly Mattis's worldview contrasts with that of his boss is an evergreen subject of stories in Washington, a fact that rankles the Pentagon chief, who says he despises being portrayed as an "adult" compared to Trump.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said every urban local body in the state will develop an attractive road, which will be named as the "Atal Gaurav Path" after former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Along with the beautification of these roads, all necessary and modern facilities should also be provided, he said here on Tuesday, adding that the urban local bodies should also make arrangements for cleaning the drains and keeping them covered.

According to the Directorate of Local Bodies, there are 16 municipal corporations, 198 nagar palika parishads and 438 nagar panchayats in the state.

Reviewing various schemes such as "Namami Gange", "Amrut Yojana" and "Smart City Mission", Adityanath said people from various parts of the world will be visiting the Kumbh-2019, which will be held in Allahabad from January 15 to March 4 next year.

He said cleanliness in the Sangam area should generate a feeling of devotion among the visitors and devotees and added that the preparations should be done keeping this in mind.

Adityanath also said it should be ensured that from December 15, no sewage canal, industrial or soild waste falls into the Ganga or any of its tributaries.

From January 2019, the holy river should be clean and its flow should be uninterrupted from Bijnor to Ballia, he added.

The chief minister directed the Urban Development and Irrigation departments to hold a meeting in advance to ensure that there was adequate water in the Ganga during the Kumbh.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The US on Wednesday said the Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba militant groups continue to pose a regional threat and that Pakistan did not adequately address America's concerns on terrorism in 2017.

Although al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan has been seriously degraded, remnants of its global leadership, as well as its regional affiliate al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), continued to operate from remote locations in the region that historically have been exploited as safe havens, the US State Department said in its annual Country Reports on Terrorism for the year 2017.

"Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Tayyiba continued to pose a regional threat in the subcontinent," it said.

The report notes that from August to December 2017, the Trump administration placed a pause on spending new Foreign Military Financing for Pakistan, holding these funds until Pakistan addressed key US concerns, including the threat posed by the Haqqani Network and other terrorist groups that enjoyed safe haven with Pakistan.

"Pakistan did not adequately address these concerns in 2017," said the report.

Although Pakistan's National Action Plan calls to "ensure that no armed militias are allowed to function in the country," several terrorist groups focused on attacks outside of the country continued to operate from Pakistani soil in 2017, it said.

These groups included the Haqqani Network, besides the LeT and JeM which are directed against India.

Though Pakistan continued military operations to eradicate terrorist safe havens in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, their impact on all terrorist groups was uneven, said the State Department report.

According to the report, the Pakistani military and security forces undertook operations against groups that conducted attacks within Pakistan, such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.

Even as the Pakistani government pledged support to political reconciliation between the Afghan government and the Afghan Taliban it did not restrict the Afghan Taliban and Haqqani Network from operating in Pakistan-based safe havens and threatening US and Afghan forces in Afghanistan.

"Pakistan did not take sufficient action against other externally focused groups such as Lashkar e-Tayyiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) in 2017, which continued to operate, train, organise, and fundraise in Pakistan," the report said.

Pakistan detained Hafiz Saeed, leader of LeT and its front organisation Jamaat ud-Dawa (JuD), in January 2017, but a Pakistani court ordered his release from house arrest in November 2017, it said.

In its report the State Department rued that progress remained slow on the Pakistan government's efforts to implement UN sanctions related to designated entities and enforce anti-money laundering/countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) controls.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), it said, continued to note with concern that Pakistan's outstanding gaps in the implementation of the UN Security Council ISIS and al-Qaeda sanctions regime have not been resolved, and that UN-listed entities including LeT and its affiliates were not effectively prohibited from raising funds in Pakistan, nor were they denied financial services.

"Although Pakistan's laws technically comply with international anti-money laundering/countering the financing of terrorism standards, authorities failed to uniformly implement UN sanctions related to designated entities and individuals such as LeT and its affiliates, which continued to make use of economic resources and raise funds," it said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Trump administration on Wednesday praised India for its significant counter terrorism actions and said Pakistan-based militant groups continued their terror attacks in the country.

In its annual 'Country Report on Terrorism', as mandated by the Congress, the State Department said the Indian leadership expressed resolve to prevent terrorist attacks domestically and to bring to justice the perpetrators of terrorism, in cooperation with the US and other like-minded countries.

The parts of India seriously impacted by terrorism in 2017 included Jammu and Kashmir, the northeast Indian states, and parts of central India in which Maoists remain active, it said.

"India continued to experience attacks, including by Pakistan-based terrorist organisations as well as tribal and Maoist insurgents. Indian authorities blamed Pakistan for cross-border attacks in the state of Jammu and Kashmir," the report said.

India, the report said, continued to apply sustained pressure to detect, disrupt and degrade terror operations within its borders.

Over the course of 2017, India sought to deepen counter-terrorism cooperation and information sharing with the US, including through the first-ever Designations Dialogue held in Delhi in December, it said.

In the same year, India and the US pledged to strengthen cooperation against terrorist threats from groups, including Al-Qaida, ISIS, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and D-Company, it said.

During a June 2017 summit, President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed officials to establish a new mechanism for cooperation on terrorist designations.

The report further said the Indian government closely monitored the domestic threat from transnational terrorist groups like ISIS and Al-Qaida.

The State Department praised India for its significant counter terrorism actions.

Citing an example of a significant counter-terrorism law enforcement action by India, it said the police arrested Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) leader Mohammad Idris from a hideout in Kolkata on March 8.

Idris was allegedly involved in the July 2016 Holey Artisan Bakery attack in Bangladesh capital, Dhaka.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Visiting Pakistan Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa has assured China's top military official Gen Zhang Youxia that the new government, like the Pakistani military, follows a consistent policy of pragmatic cooperation with China.

Gen Zhang is the highest military official as he is the vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission (CMC) which is the high command of the two-million-strong People's Liberation Army (PLA).

The CMC is headed by President Xi Jinping.

"The Pakistani military and its new government are consistent in their policy towards China," Bajwa told Zhang during their meeting here on Tuesday a Chinese defence ministry release quoted him as saying.

His assurance about the new government besides the Pakistan military following a "consistent policy" towards China comes in the backdrop of reports of differences over the USD 50 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Projects of CPEC, regarded as the flagship initiative in Xi's multi-billion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), figured high during Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's talks with new Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad last month.

Pakistan is willing to continue to strengthen pragmatic cooperation with China in the areas of counter-terrorism, equipment technology, and personnel training to ensure the safe and smooth development of CPEC, Bajwa said.

India has protested to China over CPEC as it traverses through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Zhang said China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners and pointed to Xi's perception that China-Pakistan relations should be a model of good-neighbourly friendship, a pillar of regional peace and stability, and a benchmark for international cooperation in BRI.

China has always prioritised China-Pakistan relations in foreign affairs and appreciated the full support of the new Pakistan government in promoting the development of bilateral ties, he said.

Together with the new Pakistan government, China is willing to promote their friendly relations further, make every effort to promote the construction of the CPEC and benefit the two nations, Zhang said.

He also said ties between Chinese and Pakistani militaries serve as an important backbone of the relations between the two countries.

The two militaries should further enhance pragmatic cooperation in all areas, continuously improve the ability to cope with various security risks and challenges, and work together to safeguard the common interests of the two countries, he said.

On Monday, Bajwa had held talks with his Chinese counterpart Gen Han Weiguo.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Pakistani troops have slit the throat of a BSF jawan after fatally shooting him along the international border (IB) near Jammu, officials said on Wednesday.

The brutal and "unprecedented" incident that took place in the Ramgarh sector on Tuesday has prompted the security forces to issue a "high alert" across the IB and Line of Control (LoC) even as the Border Security Force has lodged a strong complaint with its counterparts -- the Pakistan Rangers.

Official sources said the body of Head Constable Narender Kumar also bore three bullet wounds and it could only be retrieved from a spot ahead of the Indo-Pak fence after over six hours as the Pakistani side "did not respond" to the calls to maintain the sanctity of the frontier and ensure that the BSF search parties were not fired upon.

The Pakistan Rangers, the sources said, was asked to take part in a joint patrolling to trace the missing jawan, but they only came up to a certain point and cited waterlogging problems in the area that prevented them from undertaking a coordinated action.

The BSF then waited for the sun to set and launched a "risky operation" to bring the jawan's body back to the post by "late evening".

Officials in the security establishment said the incident of brutality with the jawan, probably a first at the IB, was taken "very seriously" by the government and the Ministry of External Affairs and the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) were also expected to take up the issue with their Pakistani counterparts.

They added that since the BSF patrol party that went ahead of the fence to cut the tall "sarkanda" (elephant) grass was first fired upon at 10.40 am on Tuesday, hectic phone calls and communication exchanges went on from the Indian side to across the border in order to locate the jawan, who was first declared missing.

While the BSF did not comment on the developments, sources said the force had alerted all its formations along the IB and informed the Army to be vigilant at the LoC.

"The body of the jawan bears three bullet injuries and his throat has been slit. This is an unprecedented action that has happened with the Indian forces along the IB and the Pakistani troopers are behind this. The BSF and other forces will undertake a counter-action at a suitable time," an official said.

The jawan was killed on the spot after he was hit by a fatal sniper shot from across the border, he added.

The BSF's Jammu frontier had yesterday issued a statement on the incident but did not mention anything about the hacking.

"A BSF party that was on domination patrolling ahead of the fence was fired upon. The BSF troops immediately took position and retaliated but the enemy bullets hit a jawan. The area on the Pakistani side has a protective bundh close to the IB," the force had said in the statement.

It had added that the area on the Indian side was undulated, marshy and had a thick "sarkanda" growth that made tracing the location of the felled jawan difficult.

The incident came a day after Home Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the maiden "smart fence" project of the BSF in Jammu on Monday that aims to deploy smart technology and gadgets to secure the vulnerable patches on the Indo-Pak border.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)After his last two novels took place in a distant past, Man Booker Prize-nominated author Patrick deWitt wanted to return to a contemporary setting and also write about the mother-son relationship. The result is "French Exit".

The story in his new book is about Frances Price, a tart widow, possessive mother and Upper East Side force of nature who is in dire straits, beset by scandal.

Her adult son Malcolm is no help, mired in a permanent state of arrested development. And then there's their cat, who Frances believes houses the spirit of her late husband, an infamously immoral lawyer whose gruesome tabloid death rendered them social outcasts.

To put their troubles behind them, the trio cut their losses and head for the exit. Their beloved Paris becomes the backdrop for a giddy drive to self-destruction, helped along by a cast of singularly curious characters: a bashful private investigator, an aimless psychic and Mme. Reynard, friendly American expat and aggressive houseguest.

"French Exit" is billed by publisher Bloomsbury as a one-of-a-kind tragedy of manners, a riotous send-up of high society and a moving story of mothers and sons that is brimming with pathos, warmth and wit.

deWitt says he came to the subject matter and characters of "French Exit" in a roundabout fashion.

He wanted to write about the mother-son relationship, after the son has arrived at adulthood and also about Paris.

After the publication of "The Sisters Brothers", he temporarily re-located to Paris to research a novel he had in mind about a corrupt investment advisor who expatriates to France from the US to avoid prison.

The character has a wife and a son, who suffer as a result of his poor decision. But he had to shelve the idea before he could finish its first draft.

"But the research I had collected was put to use in 'French Exit'. I realised only after the novel was completed that I had written the same story that the discontinued book had meant to tell, but from the point of view of its auxiliary personnel," deWitt says.

"The Sisters Brothers" won the Governor General's Award and was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and the Walter Scott Prize. He also is the author of "Ablutions" and "Undermajordomo Minor".

"The Sisters Brothers" is being adapted for film by Jacques Audiard to star Jake Gyllenhaal, Joaquin Phoenix, Riz Ahmed and John C Reilly for release this year.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Beverages and food major PepsiCo India expects rural market to play a key role in its bid to double the size of its salty snacks business by 2022, according to senior company official.

As part of its plans to grow the business, the company is also introducing new 'finger snack format' of its brand Kurkure, inspired by popular Indian snacks.

"We have a vision of doubling the salty snacks business in 4 to 5 years time from where we are today and in the last 12 months we are going in the right path. We believe that we would be continuing that," PepsiCo India VP, Snacks Category, Jagrut Kotecha told PTI.

While he did not share the size of the salty snacks business in India, it has four major brands -- Lays, Kurkure, Doritos and Cheetos.

Lays is a Rs 2,000 crore brand and Kurkure over Rs 1,000 crore, he added.

"If we have to double the business, then both the brands have to double," Kotecha said.

When asked about demand, he said while urban market continues to be big, the rural segment is clocking a faster pace of growth.

"As a market perspective, we are now seeing rural growth is coming back...Rural is now growing, percentage to percentage faster than urban like most of the FMCGs and we believe that it would also continue forward in the foreseeable future," he said.

Factors such as rise in farm produce prices, accessibility of products and infrastructure development are fuelling demand in the rural market.

"The rural consumption is going up. Disposable income and infrastructure is going up and that's a reality. Techonology is also allowing you to reach rural either into smaller price points or sachets...If all is happening then there is a reason to grow," he said.

Kotecha, however, added, "It does not mean that urban is not growing."



Rural markets contribute around 45 per cent of the total salty snacks business of PepsiCo India while the rest is from urban areas.

When asked whether rural demand would surpass that from urban, he said: "It could be but I am not seeing it happening in next 2-3 years because the disposable income in urban area is high."



As part of the plan to double the salty snacks business, the company is introducing a new category with Kurkure Twistkeens with variants Bikaneri, Andhra and Shahi.

Kotecha said these will be available in 18 cities across India through leading modern trade, e-commerce and select traditional trade channels.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)An AAP government circular calling for Aadhaar and voter ID details of students of all the schools in the city as well as their siblings and parents was on Wednesday challenged in the Delhi High Court.

The public interest litigation (PIL) was mentioned before a bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V K Rao which allowed it to be listed for hearing on Thursday.

The petition, moved by the Government School Teachers Association, has challenged the September 11 circular of the Directorate of (DoE) which has asked all the schools in the national capital to collect Aadhaar and voter ID details of the over 87 lakh students and their family members by September 21.

It contended that the documents and signatures were being sought in complete violation of law.

According to the DoE circular, as cited in the petition, the information has been sought to create a data bank of students in Delhi and to analyze the information so collected for various purposes of the department.

The circular also states that the Aadhaar and voter ID details must be corroborated by obtaining self attested photocopies of the documents, the plea, filed through advocate Kamlesh Kumar Mishra, said.

The petition claimed that such an exercise "would be an unnecessary burden on the students, teachers and the entire machinery of the state of Delhi", apart from being a "cumbersome process with adverse effects on the environment" as huge quantities of paper would be used in the data collection.

It also contended that the collection and subsequent digitisation of the documents would pose a "huge" financial burden on the exchequer.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The West Bengal government has been contemplating to introduce the life and works of great personalities to school students in a greater way in future, Minister Partha Chatterjee said Wednesday.

The government has formed an expert committee to select the personalities and suggest how their ideals, dreams and lives can be incorporated in school books, he said.

The recommendations will then be submitted to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the minister said.

"There had been some chapters devoted to great sons and daughters of the land like Swami Vivekananda in school text books. We need to devote more pages to their lives and works. We need to let the young generation know their sacrifices in a far more effective way. This issue had been neglected in the past regime," Chatterjee said.

He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a function to mark the 125th anniversary of Swami Vivekananda's Chicago address.

He said the department was bringing out booklets containing the text of Swamiji's Chicago address for distributing free of cost among students.

An educationist, who is member of the expert committee, said articles on the life, philosophy and works of various personalities would be compiled as supplementary reading materials for students from class five to eight and not text books falling under the curriculum.

"There will be many others in the list about whom the younger generation don't know much," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday held wide-ranging talks with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on ways to further boost bilateral cooperation.

Ghani arrived here in the morning on a day-long visit.

"Strategic partners and a valued neighbour! PM @narendramodi warmly received President of Afghanistan, @ashrafghani at the Hyderabad House ahead of the bilateral talks," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

It is understood that Ghani briefed Modi about the status of the peace process in the war-ravaged country.

India has always been favouring an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process to bring peace and stability in that country.

India has also been actively involved in reconstruction efforts in war-ravaged Afghanistan. Since 2002, India has committed USD 2 billion for the socio-economic development of the country.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he is seriously considering a request from Poland for US troops to be permanently based in the strategically important country on Europe's flank with an "aggressive" Russia.

At a joint press conference with Polish President Andrzej Duda in the White House, Trump said Poland is offering to pay Washington at least USD 2 billion to help meet the costs of the base, which would likely irk an increasingly assertive Moscow.

"The president offered us much more than $2 billion to do this, so we are looking at it," Trump said.

"We are looking at it from the standpoint of, number one, military protection for both countries and also, cost.

"We're looking at it very seriously," the president said earlier. "If they're willing to do that (pay), it's something we will certainly talk about." At the press conference, Duda said that NATO member Poland, which was long dominated by Russia and the Soviet Union, wants "a permanent American base in Poland."



He joked that the base could be called "Fort Trump." Defense Secretary Jim Mattis praised Poland for taking a lead in increasing its military spending, but stressed that no decisions had been made regarding a permanent US troop presence.

"The questions are many," Mattis told Pentagon reporters. "As you know, it's not just about a base. It's about training ranges, it's about maintenance facilities at the base, all these kinds of things, it's a host of details we've got to study alongside the Poles. So no decision's been made, we are studying it and we are working together on that." Duda said Russian military expansion, starting with a takeover of rebel areas of neighboring Georgia and more recently the annexation of Ukraine's Black Sea Crimea region, was part of "constant violation of international law." "There is a whole range of arguments in favor of the fact that the presence of the US armed forces in this area is absolutely justified," Duda said. Trump -- accused by political opponents of having colluded in a shadowy Russian operation to aid his surprise 2016 election win against Democrat Hillary Clinton -- agreed with Duda's assessment. "I think it's a very aggressive situation. I think Russia has acted aggressively," he said. "They respect force. They respect strength as anyone does. And we have the greatest strength in the world, especially now.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Polling to the zila parishads and panchayat samitis began in Punjab on Wednesday morning amid tight security arrangements.

The voting commenced at 8 am and will continue till 4 pm, officials said.

A total of 354 zila parishad members and 2,900 panchayat samiti members were going to be elected in these polls, they added.

There are 22 zila parishads and 150 panchayat samitis in the state.

Thirty three candidates were earlier elected unopposed to various zila parishads and 369 nominees were declared elected unopposed to the panchayat samitis.

There are a total of 1,27,87,395 registered voters, comprising 60,99,053 women and 97 third-gender voters.

The counting of votes will take place on September 22.

A total of 17,268 polling booths have been set up in the state and 35 observers have been appointed to ensure a peaceful election.

Around 50,000 Punjab Police personnel have been deployed across the state in view of the polls.

While the ruling Congress is claiming a "clean sweep" in the local body polls, both the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party coalition and the Aam Aadmi Party are also optimistic about their victory, "provided the State Election Commission ensures a free-and-fair election".

However, the opposition parties had on Tuesday expressed the fear of "large-scale booth capturing" allegedly at the behest of Congress workers. They had claimed that the ruling party wanted to win these polls "by hook or by crook".

With the Congress being touted as the favourite to win the zila parishads and panchayat samitis after a gap of 10 years, the main contest will remain between the ruling party and the SAD-BJP alliance.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Polling to the zila parishads and panchayat samitis took place in Punjab Thursday amid stray reports of clashes between Congress and SAD workers.

The voting began at 8 am and went on till 4 pm. The counting of votes will take place on September 22.

Opposition party Shiromani Akali Dal accused the ruling party of electoral fraud. Former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal at Muktsar claimed a large number of Congress workers, brandishing swords, were involved in booth capturing. He accused the police of being "mute spectator".

"Booth capturing is taking place and as an MLA I will not tolerate this in my area. Police was not performing its duty. What kind of elections were these, where booths were captured and nomination papers of Akalis rejected," he asked. Further, the SAD alleged bogus votes were polled at some locations.

Clashes between Congress and Akali workers were reported from Raja Sansi in Amritsar, Jhoke Harihar in Ferozepur, Lodhi Gujjar in Ajnala and Sohia Kalan in Majitha.

During the clashes members of both factions pelted stones at each other and used sticks as weapons causing minor injuries to a few.

In Bathinda, former minister and Akali leader Sikandar Singh Maluka accused Congress workers of booth capturing at Kangar, Bhai Rupa and Salabatpura.

Akali workers led by Maluka blocked Bhagta Bathinda Road to register their protest against the ruling party.

A total of 17,268 polling booths were set up, 35 observers appointed and around 50,000 police personnel deployed for the polls in Punjab.

The opposition parties had on Tuesday expressed fear of "large-scale booth capturing". They had claimed the ruling party wanted to win the polls "by hook or by crook".

With the Congress touted as the favourite to win the zila parishads and panchayat samitis after a gap of 10 years, the main contest will be between the ruling party and the SAD-BJP alliance.

A total of 354 zila parishad and 2,900 panchayat samiti members are to be elected through these polls. There are 22 zila parishads and 150 panchayat samitis in the state.

Thirty three candidates were earlier elected unopposed to various zila parishads and 369 nominees were elected unopposed to the panchayat samitis.

There are a total of 1,27,87,395 registered voters in Punjab, comprising 60,99,053 women and 97 third-gender voters.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The one-man commission, which inquired into the Godavari Maha Pushkarams stampede that claimed 29 lives at Rajamahendravaram on July 14, 2015, has given a clean chit to the Chandrababu Naidu-led government and blamed the media for the tragedy.

The Justice C Y Somayajulu commission has concluded that it could have occurred due to overcrowding of pilgrims caused by "undue and unwarranted publicity "about the time at which the Pushkarams (river festival) was going to be inaugurated.

"The stampede could have occurred due to overcrowding of pilgrims near the Pushkar Ghat, which cannot be doubted or disputed.

The undue and unwarranted publicity about the time at which pushkarams are going to be inaugurated by the Chief Minister may be a cause for the huge gathering of people near the Pushkar Ghat, hoping thereafter the chief minister finishes his bath," the report of the Commission, headed by the retired judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, said.

The report was tabled in the state Legislative Assembly Wednesday.

"The media, which became and important instrument of publicity and promotion of products and personalities, brought its own share of misery and inconvenience to the public at large....," the report said.

Rebutting claims that the stampede took place because of the restrictions placed on general public due to the presence of the chief minister at the ghat, the retired judge asserted that the stampede took place after the chief minister finished the bath and went to his van for changing.

The commission also blamed the opposition parties for casting aspersions and criticising the chief minister.

"Contemporary situation reveals that the parties who are not in power, or the parties who are not friendly or at loggerheads with the party in rule, or their leaders, seize any and every opportunity or event, calamity or untoward incidents to cast aspersions on the party in power and resort to mudslinging and always try to find fault with the leader of the party in power," it said.

"They become intolerant even to a single lapse," it added.

At the same time, the commission was all praise for the state government saying it planned the event (Godavari Maha Pushkarams) well to promote Brand Godavari "with one year of prior planning and with an estimated expenditure running into Rs 1500 crore."



The idea was not to confine it to the two Godavari districts only but promote it in all 13 districts (of the state), neighbouring states and across north India besides reaching Indian diaspora, it said.

The state government started a high decibel media campaign for this purpose as early as in 2014.

"(It) assumed the role of a religious organisation and people of the state were welcomed for pushkarams in large numbers," the commission said.

The grand opening ceremony, laser shows, huge display of sky lanterns were instrumental in the mega marketing of this spiritual event, it said.

"Mushroom growth of all types of and devotional channels, which have their own captive viewers, also recorded their phenomenal growth in this century.

Print, audio and visual media started making money by advertisements and became money spinners, like many popular devotional channels who have a large viewership and they tried to encash the opportunity to promote their channels," the commission said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad Wednesday attacked the NDA government for not agreeing to a JPC probe into alleged irregulatiries in the Rafale fighter jet deal and said they would now go to the 'people's court'.

"One court is Parliament. We failed there. Not in raising, (in) obtaining an answer. We sought an inquiry. Government refused. We sought a JPC (Joint Parliamentary Committee). That was refused. When all these things are refused...now we are going to the people's court," he said.

Azad stated this to reporters here when asked whether the Congress planned to move the Supreme Court on the issue.

He alleged that media is not able to freely report on the fighter jet deal with NDA at the helm.

Congress has been attacking the NDA government, alleging a "scam" in the Rafale deal.

A delegation of senior Congress leaders Wednesday met the Comptroller and Auditor General of India in Delhi on the deal, handed over a memorandum an requested the auditor to prepare a report on alleged irregularities in it.

The Congress said the federal auditor had told the party it is "already examining" the entire issue for its report to Parliament and assured all contentions raised would be looked into.

In the memorandum, the Congress accused the government of causing loss to the public exchequer and endangering national security by bypassing state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in favour of some businessman "friends" for offset contract.

The party has alleged that the fresh deal for Rafale fighter jets with France was inked by the Modi government at a cost much higher than that negotiated by the previous UPA government headed by the party.

The government has been maintaining that HAL could not finalise the offset deal during the UPA dispensation as the then Manmohan Singh government did not support the public-sector aerospace company to enhance its infrastructure for manufacturing the aircraft in India under the transfer of technology.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje will start her five-day Rajasthan Gaurav Yatra from Jaipur division on Thursday.

As part of the yatra, the CM will cover 555 km and address 15 public meetings at different venues. Apart from 26 assembly constituencies in Jaipur division, the yatra will cover various constituencies in Dausa, Alwar, Jaipur, Sikar and Jhunjhunu districts, said BJP state media in-charge Vimal Katiyar.

He said the chief minister will offer prayers at the Paplaj temple before her public meetings at Bandikui and Rajgarh on Thursday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi and Google Wednesday announced a technology partnership to embed the Android operating system in vehicles sold by the global leading automotive alliance.

Under the partnership, starting 2021, the alliance members in many markets will utilise Android for providing "intelligent infotainment and customer focussed-applications" across multiple models and brands, the alliance said in a statement.

Drivers and passengers will be able to leverage Google and Android's capabilities to access an ecosystem that includes thousands of existing applications and an ever-expanding array of new apps, it added.

The system will also be compatible with devices running other operating systems, such as Apple iOS, the alliance said.

"Our partnership with Google will offer owners of our vehicles rich user experiences that are available only outside the vehicle or, to a limited extent, by connecting an Android device to supported vehicles," Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Senior VP of Business Development Hadi Zablit said.

He further said:"We are building powerful connected and seamless on-board/off-board experiences into our vehicles in addition to the features of Google applications and services that many users are accustomed to, including Google maps, Google assistant and the Google play store."



Google Senior VP Platforms & Ecosystems Hiroshi Lockheimer said Google and Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi share a common vision of delivering an intelligent, safe and seamless in-car experience with apps and services that are familiar, upgradable and connected.

As part of the partnership, the alliance, whose member companies last year sold 10.6 million vehicles in 200 markets, will integrate Google applications and services into infotainment and cloud-based systems to enhance the experience for customers of Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi motors brands.

The infotainment partnership forms part of alliance's moves to equip more vehicles with connectivity and cloud-based services as part of its Alliance 2022 mid-term plan, the statement said.

Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi is targeting increased sales of more than 14 million units a year by the end of 2022. The plan also involves the launch of 12 new zero-emission electric vehicles, new autonomous-driving technologies and the ongoing rollout of the Alliance Intelligent Cloud.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Normal life in the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir was Wednesday affected due to restrictions imposed by authorities in certain areas of the city as a precautionary measure to regulate Muharram processions, police said.

Restrictions were imposed under Section 144 CrPC in police station areas of Shaheedgunj, Batmaloo, Shergari, Kothibagh, Ram Munshi Bagh, Maisuma and Kralkhud, a police spokesman said.

He said certain roads leading towards these areas have been blocked for vehicular movement.

"All concerned including general public are requested to adhere to the same for maintaining peace in the city," the spokesman said.

Authorities have also shut down all educational institutions in the city.

The restrictions imposed by authorities without prior information threw normal life out of gear in Srinagar city.

While shops and other business establishments in the affected areas remained closed, massive traffic jams were witnessed at many places due to road blockades and barriers set up by authorities.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Tamil Nadu Police department informed the the Madras High Court on Wednesday that between 2013 and July this year over Rs 13.2 crore had been collected as fine from two-wheeler riders for not wearing helmets.

A Division Bench comprising Justices S Manikumar and Subramonium Prasad said it will go through the report filed by the Director General of Police and pass orders.

Hearing a PIL filed Chennai resident K K Rajendran over implementation of the Motor Vehicle Act, the bench had in August sought to know from the police why the compulsory helmet rule for two-wheelers riders and seat belt for occupants of car were not enforced effectively



It had directed the police to file a report on steps taken so far to implement it.

In the report, the DGP submitted that the police department has made sincere efforts for implementation of traffic rules, and said according to an order of a High Court division bench steps have been initiated to create awareness among people about the importance of wearing helmets.

It was further submitted that in total Rs 3,66,37,266 has been collected as fine with regard to cases registered for not wearing of seat belt by car drivers.

The police department also said various awareness programmes has been conducted in schools and colleges throughout the state to create awareness among two-wheeler riders about wearing helmets.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Wednesday alleged that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) continues to be a violent and obscurantist organisation opposed to the tenets of the Constitution.

Reacting to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's comment saying "Hindu Rashtra doesn't mean there's no place for Muslims, Hindutva is Indianess and inclusiveness", the party said the "RSS is dedicated to establishing a Manuwadi Hindu Rastra".

"RSS continues to be a violent, obscurantist, regressive organization opposed to the tenets of our constitution & dedicated to establishing a Manuwadi Hindu Rastra. They are besotted to Violence from Gandhi's assassination to current epidemic of Lynchings in the name of GauRaksha!", the CPI(M) tweeted.

Bhagwat, on the second day of the "Bhavishya Ka Bharat-an RSS Perspective" event at the Vigyan Bhavan, had said "Hindutva" was an inclusive concept and did not exclude Muslims, and maintained that his organisation embraced the Constitution, and respected the "socialist, secular" parts of its Preamble.

The Communist party said the media was hailing Bhagwat's statement as "softening", and asserted that "it is no such thing".

"He is merely reiterating RSS's long held position that asserts India to be a Hindu Rastra and not a secular nation as stated by the Constitution and envisioned by our freedom movement," the party said.

The RSS chief's recent lectures on 'Bhavishya Ka Bharat-an RSS Perspective' drew criticisms from many quarters, including the Left parties.

The RSS in the recent past undertook several initiatives to improve its image, including inviting former President Pranab Mukherjee to deliver a lecture at the Nagpur headquarters of the saffron organisation.

The RSS also plans to hold a series of lectures in the capital by December with some top political faces of the country, who were earlier known as staunch RSS critics.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The AAP government on Wednesday told the Delhi High Court that it has notified the rules for regulating the standards for de-addiction centres operating in the national capital.

The submission was made before bench of justices S Muralidhar and Vinod Goel which asked the central government to formulate the norms with regard to obtaining consent from the patient to be admitted in such a centre.

The Delhi government told the court that the rules were notified on Tuesday.

Taking note of the submission, the bench disposed of the pleas before it regarding the functioning of de-addiction centres in the city.

The bench had on August 23 directed that the rules be notified by September 19.

The high court had been looking into the issue after a habeas corpus petition was filed by the father and brother of a man, who was allegedly illegally detained at a de-addiction centre in the city, where he was admitted by his wife and children on the pretext that he was an alcoholic.

It had earlier said de-addiction centres should not be used to detain someone without his or her consent under the guise of rehabilitation.

The court had, in November last year, ordered that such centres running illegally in the national capital be immediately shut down.

It had also noted that "unwanted elders are dumped" at places that operate in the guise of old-age homes.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)US President Donald Trump Wednesday said he agreed with his visiting Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda that Russian actions in the region pose a threat to peace and stability.

"I think it's a very aggressive situation. I think Russia has acted aggressively. They respect force. They respect strength, as anyone does. And we have the greatest strength in the world," he said.

Trump was talking to reporters at a joint conference with Duda at the White House.

When asked if he shares the view that a permanent American base in Poland was justified, he said, "I do. I actually do".

"Poland would be paying billions of dollars for the base," Trump added said.

Duda had requested Trump for US troops to be permanently based in Poland.

Duda said the threat of absolute Russian domination in Europe, in terms of gas deliveries, was obvious.

"What are the results of such a domination. We were able to see that ourselves a couple of years ago in Ukraine. A sudden interruption of supplies. Of course, it had nothing to do with economic factors. It was connected only and exclusively with political blackmail. It was a fact," he said.

Duda said Russia over the years has increased its military presence in the Kaliningrad Oblast.

"As far aggressive Russian behaviour is concerned increased military activities concerned, including increasing of the militarisation, it has been conducting such activities in a systematic way. And for the first time, we were able to see that in a materialised way in Georgia," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Accusing the Shiv Sena leadership of asking him not to voice his views on the Maratha quota issue, party MLA in Maharashtra Harshvardhan Jadhav announced on Wednesday that he is floating a new outfit.

Jadhav, who tendered resignation on the issue of reservations for the Marathas, Dhangars and Muslims in July, said his new party will strive to get quota for these communities.

His resignation as MLA is yet to be accepted by the Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Haribhau Bagade.

The legislator from Kannad in Aurangabad district said he would decide the new party's name in a couple of days.

The party would be launched formally in November this year and it may contest the Lok Sabha elections, Jadhav said.

"Social injustice has increased among various castes. Hence I have decided to form a new party to ensure social equilibrium which is mentioned in the Constitution, which includes right to equality and equal opportunity," Jadhav told PTI over phone from Aurangabad.

"I was told (by the Sena leadership) not to speak on the Maratha quota issue. I did not find it (the gag order) right, as some people had killed themselves on that issue," Jadhav said.

Shiv Sena is part of the BJP-led government in Maharashtra and the NDA government at the Centre.

"When an MLA takes aggressive stand on an issue concerning people, you (the party) should not have reprimanded him," Jadhav said.

The politically and numerically dominant Maratha community had launched a fresh agitation for quota in education and government jobs in July this year. The state government had said it can grant the demand only after all legal formalities are completed.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)At least six lawmakers Wednesday introduced a legislation in the US Senate to enforce commercial deal with the Chinese company ZTE and sought to reimpose sanctions on it in case of its violation of American laws.

Introduced by a bipartisan group of Senators, the bill seeks to enforce full compliance by ZTE, with all probationary conditions in the Commerce Department's deal to lift the denial order's seven-year ban against the export of US parts and components to the firm.

If the Commerce Secretary cannot regularly certify ZTE's full compliance with the deal and with relevant US export controls and sanctions laws, the denial order's crippling punishments will be reinstated against ZTE, said the legislation introduced by Senators Marco Rubio, Chris Van Hollen, Susan Collins, Mark Warner, James Lankford and Elizabeth Warren.

"With China's communist government posing the greatest, long-term threat to the United States, we must continue to confront ZTE's real risks to our economy and national security," Rubio said.

He said while it was a "mistake" to reach a deal with ZTE, the bill will ensure the firm is finally put out of business if it does not hold up its end of the bargain.

Hollen alleged that ZTE has repeatedly misled federal investigators and violated the US laws, and its behaviour represents a fundamental threat to national security. This bipartisan legislation will hold ZTE's feet to the fire and should be considered without delay, he added.

Alleging that ZTE has violated American sanctions on Iran and North Korea and lied about its efforts to rectify the issue, Collins said the company's disregard for US laws undermines national security interests and cannot be tolerated.

The bill would require the Department of Commerce to monitor ZTE and effectively put it out of business if it was found to be non-compliant, ensuring the safety of our economy and national security, She said.

"ZTE has a history of violating US sanctions and misleading the US government. Unfortunately this administration has shown that it cannot be trusted to defend American interests and punish companies like ZTE that pose a threat to our security," said Warner, vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

This bipartisan legislation would ensure that if ZTE once again violates trade restrictions or its agreement with the US, it will be held accountable in a significant, painful way, he said.

ZTE has knowingly violated US sanctions by shipping its goods to North Korea and Iran, alleged Lankford.

Warren said ZTE violated US sanctions laws and must be held accountable.

"Our bipartisan bill will ensure that this Chinese company faces swift and severe penalties if it breaks the law and puts our national security at risk again," she said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Deposed Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter and son-in-law were released from prison Wednesday evening, hours after the Islamabad High Court suspended their sentences in a major corruption case that jeopardised their political career.

In a relief to the still-grieving Sharif family, a two-judge bench of the Islamabad High Court suspended the jail sentences of the embattled former prime minister Sharif, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Capt (retd) Muhammad Safdar in the Avenfield corruption case and ordered their release.

Sharif's younger brother and President of his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Shehbaz Sharif and other party leaders meet the former premier at the high-security Adiala Prison before he was released, Geo reported.

The former premier, his daughter and son-in-law are being taken to Noor Khan Airbase amidst stringent security. They will leave for Lahore via a special plane, the report said.

A large number of party workers have also been accompanying the PML-N supremo to the airbase. Jubilant workers have been chanting slogans and showering the ex-premier's vehicle with rose petals.

Earlier, a two-judge bench of the Islamabad High Court heard the petitions filed by Sharif, Maryam and Safdar challenging their conviction related to the purchase of four luxury flats in London through corrupt practices.

"The instant writ petition is allowed and sentence awarded to the petitioners by the accountability court shall remain suspended till the final adjudication of the appeal filed by the petitioner," reads the judgment.

The accountability court judge Mohammad Bashir had sentenced the trio on July 6.

Sharif, 68, Maryam, 44, and Safdar, 54, were sentenced to 10 years, seven years and one year, respectively, in prison and fined in the Avenfield properties case.

The accused were also disqualified to contest elections or to hold public office for a period of 10 years after release. Both Maryam and Safdar are politicians. The accountability court verdict had ruined their political career.

Following the accountability court's judgment, the Sharifs filed separate petitions requesting the high court to suspend sentences and set aside the verdict.

The ruling by the Islamabad High Court comes just a week after Sharif's wife, Kulsoom Nawaz, died from cancer in London.

The trio were briefly allowed out of the high-security Adiala Jail on parole to attend her funeral. They returned to jail on Monday.

The two-judge bench also ordered the release of the former premier, his daughter and son-in-law from the Adiala jail in Rawalpindi.

Sharif, Maryam and Safdar were also directed to submit bail bonds worth Rs 500,000.

According to jail officials, Nawaz, Maryam and Safdar will be released on Wednesday if the order is received prior to the expiration of lock-up time.

Quoting sources, Geo reported that if the former premier, his daughter and son-in-law are released, they will be taken to Lahore via a special flight.

Pakistani media reported that the verdict would remain a temporary relief for the former prime minister and his family members until the court gives the final decision on their application seeking suspension of their conviction in the Avenfield case.

Apart from the Avenfield case, the Sharifs face jail terms if they are convicted in two more corruption cases related to Al-Azizia and Flagship cases.

The cases against the family stemmed from Panama Papers case in April 2016.

In a blow to Pakistan's anti-corruption watchdog, the Islamabad High Court also dismissed the National Accountability Bureau's request to first announce a judgment on the maintainability of the pleas. The bench also imposed a fine on the NAB lawyers earlier for using delaying tactics.

The NAB was also pulled up by the Supreme Court on Monday when it rejected its petition challenging the IHC's decision to hear Sharifs' petitions against the Avenfield verdict.

Chief Justice Saqib Nisar termed the NAB petition as frivolous and imposed a Rs 20,000 fine on the anti-corruption watchdog.

Sharif resigned as Pakistan prime minister last year after the Supreme Court disqualified him from holding public office and ruled that graft cases be filed against the beleaguered leader and his children over the Panama Papers scandal.

The Avenfield case was among the three corruption cases filed against the three-time former premier and his children by the NAB on the Supreme Court's orders in the Panama Papers case which disqualified Sharif.

Sharif has denied any wrongdoing and says the charges are political motivated.

His supporters believe the real reason he was convicted was because he had fallen out with the country's powerful army.

Leader of the Opposition and Sharif's younger brother, Shahbaz, following the verdict, tweeted a Quranic verse to express gratitude on suspension of the sentences.

"Truth has come, and falsehood has departed. Indeed is falsehood, [by nature], ever bound to depart," he tweeted.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Ousted Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter and son-in-law were released from prison on Wednesday, hours after a top court suspended their sentences in a major corruption case that jeopardised their political career.

In a relief to the still-grieving Sharif family, a two-judge bench of the Islamabad High Court suspended the jail sentences of the embattled former prime minister Sharif, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Capt (retd) Muhammad Safdar in the Avenfield corruption case and ordered their release.

Sharif's younger brother and President of his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Shehbaz Sharif and other party leaders meet the former premier at the high-security Adiala Prison before he was released, Geo reported.

Shehbaz, along with party leaders, met Nawaz in the office of the jail superintendent.

During the meeting, Sharif said, "I have not done anything wrong; my conscience is satisfied."



Sharif told party leaders that Almighty Allah favours what is right and just. "Allah will grant justice to me," he said.

The former three-time premier, his daughter and son-in-law were taken to the Noor Khan Airbase amidst tight security. They will leave for Lahore via a special plane, the report said.

A large number of party workers have also been accompanying the PML-N supremo to the airbase. Jubilant workers have been chanting slogans and showering the ex-premier's vehicle with rose petals.

Earlier, a two-judge bench of the Islamabad High Court heard the petitions filed by Sharif, Maryam and Safdar challenging their conviction related to the purchase of four luxury flats in London through corrupt practices.

"The instant writ petition is allowed and sentence awarded to the petitioners by the accountability court shall remain suspended till the final adjudication of the appeal filed by the petitioner," reads the judgment.

A date will now be fixed for the hearing of the appeals.

The accountability court judge Mohammad Bashir had sentenced the trio on July 6.

Sharif, 68, Maryam, 44, and Safdar, 54, were sentenced to 10 years, seven years and one year, respectively, in prison and fined in the Avenfield properties case.

The accused were also disqualified to contest elections or to hold public office for a period of 10 years after release. Both Maryam and Safdar are politicians. The accountability court verdict had ruined their political career.

Following the accountability court's judgment, the Sharifs filed separate petitions requesting the high court to suspend sentences and set aside the verdict.

The ruling by the Islamabad High Court comes just a week after Sharif's wife, Kulsoom Nawaz, died from cancer in London.

The trio were briefly allowed out of the high-security Adiala Jail on parole to attend her funeral. They returned to jail on Monday.

The two-judge bench also ordered the release of the former premier, his daughter and son-in-law from the Adiala jail in Rawalpindi.

Sharif, Maryam and Safdar were also directed to submit bail bonds worth Rs 500,000.

According to jail officials, Nawaz, Maryam and Safdar will be released on Wednesday if the order is received prior to the expiration of lock-up time.

Quoting sources, Geo reported that if the former premier, his daughter and son-in-law are released, they will be taken to Lahore via a special flight.

Pakistani media reported that the verdict would remain a temporary relief for the former prime minister and his family members until the court gives the final decision on their application seeking suspension of their conviction in the Avenfield case.

Apart from the Avenfield case, the Sharifs face jail terms if they are convicted in two more corruption cases related to Al-Azizia and Flagship cases.

The cases against the family stemmed from Panama Papers case in April 2016.

In a blow to Pakistan's anti-corruption watchdog, the Islamabad High Court also dismissed the National Accountability Bureau's request to first announce a judgment on the maintainability of the pleas. The bench also imposed a fine on the NAB lawyers earlier for using delaying tactics.

The NAB was also pulled up by the Supreme Court on Monday when it rejected its petition challenging the IHC's decision to hear Sharifs' petitions against the Avenfield verdict.

Chief Justice Saqib Nisar termed the NAB petition as frivolous and imposed a Rs 20,000 fine on the anti-corruption watchdog.

Sharif resigned as Pakistan prime minister last year after the Supreme Court disqualified him from holding public office and ruled that graft cases be filed against the beleaguered leader and his children over the Panama Papers scandal.

The Avenfield case was among the three corruption cases filed against the three-time former premier and his children by the NAB on the Supreme Court's orders in the Panama Papers case which disqualified Sharif.

Sharif has denied any wrongdoing and says the charges are political motivated.

His supporters believe the real reason he was convicted was because he had fallen out with the country's powerful army.

Leader of the Opposition and Sharif's younger brother, Shahbaz, following the verdict, tweeted a Quranic verse to express gratitude on suspension of the sentences.

"Truth has come, and falsehood has departed. Indeed is falsehood, [by nature], ever bound to depart," he tweeted.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Deposed Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter and son-in-law were brought to their home turf, Lahore, in a special plane after their release from prison in Islamabad Wednesday evening, hours after the Islamabad High Court suspended their sentences in a major corruption case that jeopardised their political career.

A large number of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party supporters, including women workers, gathered outside the Haj Terminal to welcome them.

Subsequently, the Sharif family was escorted to their Jati Umra residence located in the outskirts of Lahore.

While they were being escorted, the party supporters showered Sharif's car with rose petals and chanted slogans "dekho dekho kon aya, sher aya, sher aya (see who has come, a lion has come)".

Some of the supporters also kissed his car saying, "You are innocent, we love you."



A large number of PML-N workers were also present at Jati Umra to greet the the former prime minister, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Mohammad Safdar.

The road leading to Jati Umra was lit up as workers queued up there to receive their leaders.

"I have come here soon after I heard the release of my leader (Sharif) from the Adiala jail. I am very happy to have him among us," Hasan Ali, a PML-N worker, said.

He said no corruption charge has been proved against his leader and he was put behind the bar to give Imran Khan an "open field" to form the government.

The PML-N workers distributed sweets and also offered thanks giving prayer at Jati Umra.

"We will continue celebrating the release of our leader for coming days," PML-N leader Imran Nazir said.

PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif said the court's decision has vindicated his elder brother. "Today truth prevailed and my brother has been vindicated," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)In a major relief to the Sharif family, a top Pakistani court suspended on Wednesday the jail sentences of former premier Nawaz Sharif, his daughter and son-in-law in a corruption case and ordered their release from a high-security prison.

A two-judge bench of the Islamabad High Court heard the petitions filed by former Sharif, 68, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Capt (retd) Muhammad Safdar challenging their conviction related to the purchase of luxury flats in London.

Justice Athar Minallah read the judgment and suspended the sentences handed to them by the accountability court judge Mohammad Bashir on July 6. Sharif, 68, Maryam, 44, and Safdar, 54, were sentenced to 11 years, eight years and one year, respectively, in prison in the Avenfield properties case.

The two-judge bench ordered the release of the former premier, his daughter and son-in-law from the Adiala jail in Rawalpindi.

Sharif, Maryam and Safdar were also directed to submit bail bonds worth Rs 500,000.

The court also dismissed the National Accountability Bureau's request to first announce a judgment on the maintainability of the pleas. The bench also imposed a fine on the NAB lawyers earlier for using delaying tactics.

The NAB was also pulled up by the Supreme Court on Monday when it rejected its petition challenging the IHC's decision to hear Sharifs' petitions against the Avenfield verdict.

Chief Justice Saqib Nisar termed the NAB petition as frivolous and imposed a Rs 20,000 fine on the anti-corruption watchdog.

A large number of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders, including Shehbaz Sharif, Pervaiz Rashid and Khurram Dastgir, were present in the courtroom for the hearing.

Sharif resigned as Pakistan prime minister last year after the Supreme Court disqualified him from holding public office and ruled that graft cases be filed against the beleaguered leader and his children over the Panama Papers scandal.

The Avenfield case was among the three corruption cases filed against the three-time former premier and his children by the NAB on the Supreme Court's orders in the Panama Papers case which disqualified Sharif.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)"Manmarziyaan" producers have deleted three scenes from the film after members of the Sikh community objected to a scene where Abhishek Bachchan's character is shown smoking.

The producers approached the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) regarding the deletion of the scenes.

According to a censor copy, the three deleted scenes include a 29-second smoking sequence of Abhishek, a minute long scene featuring Taapsee Pannu and Abhishek entering a gurudwara and an 11-second scene where Taapsee is shown smoking.

"We have removed the three scenes from the film as people's sentiments were getting hurt. The said changes have come into effect in metros from today and will reflect across India from the coming Thursday-Friday," a source from the production side told PTI.

Director Anurag Kashyap also addressed the controversy, saying there was never an intention to cause any hurt to the community but the matter should not be politicised unnecessarily.

He said utmost care was taken while shooting the scenes and they took guidance from the community to avoid misrepresentation.

"We asked for guidance from Sikh people for the film. When we shot the sequence in Gurudwara, we were told we can't shoot them getting married as it can't be faked so me made the actors do only 'Mattha tekna,'" Anurag, who is out of the country, said in a long tweet.

"When we shot the smoking scene, it was shot on the street and there were close to 150 people watching the shoot. We asked before doing the scene and were told that he has to take the Turban off before he smokes away from his house. We were also shown how Robbie (Abhishek) should take the turban off with both hands and how he should hand it over and how the cousin should take it.

"It was never the intention to hurt the community and why would we do that when we got so much love from them." he added.

Anurag said he was sorry if he had caused a "genuine" hurt to anyone but asked people to not make the issue "unnecessary political because it's not."



"To those whose hurt is genuine, I offer a genuine apology, that wasn't my intention. And for those who are doing it for attention, I am glad you have got the attention.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Several senior officials with the al-Shabab extremist group have been killed or wounded in an airstrike in southern Somalia, Somali intelligence officials said Thursday, while the al-Qaida-linked group and a resident said children were among the dead.

The intelligence officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to talk to the media said the overnight airstrike hit a training school and nearby hospital in Sakow, a town in Middle Jubba region.

They said those targeted include longtime commander Hassan Yaqub. It was not clear who carried out the strike. The US Africa Command, which has carried out more than 20 airstrikes in Somalia this year, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Neighboring Kenya also has carried out airstrikes against al-Shabab, the deadliest Islamic extremist group in sub-Saharan Africa. And over the weekend neighboring Ethiopia's state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate reported that Ethiopia's air force killed about 70 al-Shabab extremists in a rare airstrike.

Al-Shabab said three children were killed in this latest airstrike, and an elder in the town told The Associated Press that several young al-Shabab recruits were dead and the training school run by the extremists was largely destroyed. The elder spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation. The extremist group in messages posted by its Shahada Agency said the drone attack destroyed Sakow town's general hospital.

Al-Shabab, which is fighting both Somalia's fragile government and an African Union force, has been accused of indoctrinating and training youth as fighters. The group continues to control parts of southern and central Somalia and carries out bombings against high-profile targets in the capital, Mogadishu.

Next month the Horn of Africa nation will mark the first anniversary of a truck bombing in Mogadishu that killed 512 people, the country's deadliest attack. It has been blamed on al-Shabab.

In the next few years Somali forces are expected to take over responsibility for the country's security as the AU force withdraws. Concerns about Somali troops' readiness remain high, and the UN Security Council recently voted to delay the handover's target date to December 2021.

Political frictions also complicate the country's security as regional governments in recent days announced they were suspending cooperation with the federal government.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Sonam Kapoor and husband Anand Ahuja have been invited to attend Giorgio Armani's show at the Milan Fashion Week.

The international fashion designer will be presenting his Spring Summer 2019 Women's wear collection during the fashion extravaganza which will start Wednesday.

Sonam and Anand will attend the launch of Armani's collection on September 23, 2018.

"For me, style is the true expression of who you are!, Mr Armani's timeless style and elegance has been reflected perfectly through the Armani house decade after decade and I am extremely happy to be invited to experience the maestro at work for the second time!



"Both Anand and I look forward to the upcoming Fashion Show in Milan!" she said in a statement.

Her visit comes after three years as the actor had attended Armani Prive show in 2015.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal laid the foundation stone of an engineering college in Biswanath district Wednesday, an official release said here.

The chief minister expressed confidence that the proposed engineering college at Jorabari would emerge as an institution of excellence in the field of technical

He hoped that the institution would inspire the students of the north bank of the Brahmaputra river in their academic pursuits, the release said.

Sonowal also highlighted the initiatives taken up for improving of communication by construction of several bridges over the Brahmaputra.

The state government has taken up various projects to make affordable to students of financially disadvantaged families, he said.

The chief minister also urged the people to be alert against divisive forces who were trying to foment trouble in the society.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Speaker P K Amat adjourned the Odisha Assembly till 3 pm Wednesday as the opposition Congress and BJP members raised slogans in the House.

As soon as the House assembled for Question Hour, the Congress and BJP members trooped into the well and raised their issues. The BJP members were seen wearing black gowns while Congress members attempted to climb on the Speaker's podium.

While Congress members wanted to know why their adjournment notice on law and order problem was not accepted by the Speaker, the BJP members raised an irregularity in the Biju Juva Vahini.

The Speaker adjourned the House till 10.30 am for one hour initially. The Speaker then again adjourned the House till 3 pm after the House reassembled at 11.30 am as the Congress members reiterated their demand for a motion for a debate on the law and order situation.

Earlier, the Congress had requested the Speaker through a notice for a motion on the deteriorating law and order situation in the state.

The BJP members also sought a reply from the government on the alleged large-scale bungling of state exchequer in the name of Biju Yuva Vahini.

"The state government has been avoiding an audit of funds being given to gram panchayats," BJP legislature Party leader K V Singhdeo said.

The ruling BJD members Samir Ranjan Dash and Byamokesh Ray raked up the issue related to the alleged derogatory statement Abhijit Iyer-Mitra on the Sun Temple at Konark and Lord Jagannath.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Over two decades of having to live with the stigma of being labelled as a spy has been finally removed with the Supreme Court awarding him Rs 50 lakh compensation, former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan said.

"I had a necessity to prove my innocence and the 24-year long legal battle to come out of the stigma of being labelled as a spy is over', he said at a meet the press Wednesday.

Narayanan said he suspected that vested interests were behind the 1994 case to deliberately delay Indias cryogenic engine technology by at least 15 years.

He also said the technology he was accused to have stolen and sold in the 1994 case did not even exist at that time.

Narayanan expressed the hope that the Supreme Court appointed three member to take appropriate steps against the erring officials would ascertain why and who had fabricated the case against the former ISRO scientist.

On the compensation awarded by the Apex Court, Narayanan said it need not be clubbed with the Rs one crore civil liability suit he filed against Kerala government and police officials responsible for his arrest.

Referring to the role of the media during the spy scandal in 1994, Narayanan said they were misguided and misled by certain investigating officers.

The Apex Court while ordering a probe into the role of Kerala policelast week awarded Rs 50 lakh compensation to the 76-year-old Narayanan for being subjected to mental cruelty and asked the state government to pay it to him within eight weeks.

The bench, headed by Chief Justice Dipak Mishra, had formed a three-member panel headed by its former judge D K Jain to probe the framing of Narayanan in the case.

Narayanan had approached the apex court against the judgement of the Kerala High Court, which said no action was required to be taken against former DGP Siby Mathews and two retired Superintendents of Police K K Joshua and S Vijayan, who were later held responsible by the CBI for the scientist's illegal arrest.

The 1994 espionage case pertained to allegations of transfer of certain confidential documents on India's space programme to foreign countries by two scientists and four others, including two Maldivian women.

Narayanan had to spend close to two months in jail before the CBI concluded the allegations against him were false.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Former Deputy chief minister and SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and some Akali workers were booked Wednesday for allegedly thrashing a Congress worker at Killianwali village in Punjab's Muktsar district during zila parishad and panchayat samiti polls, officials said.

A case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) including 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint), 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) was registered, Muktsar SSP Manjit Singh Dhesi said.

Badal has been named in the FIR, the SSP said.

The complainant identified as 55-year-old Jatinderpal Singh alleged he was thrashed by a group of Akali workers led by Badal, SSP Dhesi said.

He also alleged his vehicle was damaged and that he was given life threats, the official said. The complaint claimed Akali workers pelted stones at him and his associates.

He alleged Badal was leading a group of over 100 supporters at Killianwali village and Akali workers were beating up other workers and claimed a video of the incident went viral on social media, an official said.

It was alleged that Badal was "provoking workers" to thrash Congress supporters, the official said.

Polling to the zila parishads and panchayat samitis was underway in Punjab. There were reports of clashes between Congress and Akali workers in Ferozepur, Muktsar, Bathinda, and Amritsar, officials said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal and some workers of his party were booked on Wednesday for allegedly thrashing a Congress worker at Killianwali village in Punjab's Muktsar district during zila parishad and panchayat samiti polls, police officials said.

Jatinderpal Singh (55) alleged that he was thrashed by a group of Akali workers led by Badal. His vehicle was damaged and he received life threats, Muktsar SSP Manjit Singh Dhesi said.

The complaint also said that Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) workers pelted stones at him and his associates.

A case under relevant sections of the IPC, including section 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint), 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) was registered, the SSP said, adding Badal has been named in the FIR



However, the former Punjab deputy chief minister said a false case has been registered against him and his party workers.

"Never instigated anyone. All lies and falsehood. Truth is (Parkash Singh) Badal Sahab reacted to a complaint that Congressmen, along with police, were capturing booths.

"The SSP and DSP helped around 200 Congress workers in capturing booths. I was with (Parkash Singh) Badal Sahab. The Congress mob attacked our workers. The SSP and DSP became interested parties and failed to restrain the attackers," Sukhbir Singh Badal claimed, adding a case should be registered against SSP and other police officers.

Jatinderpal Singh has alleged that Sukhbir Singh Badal was leading a group of over 100 supporters at Killianwali village and Akali workers were beating up other party's workers. It was claimed that a video of the incident went viral on social media, an official said.

It was also alleged that Sukhbir Singh Badal was "provoking workers" to thrashCongress supporters.

Polling for the zila parishads and panchayat samitis was held in Punjab on Wednesday.

There were reports of clashes between Congress and Akali workers in Ferozepur, Muktsar, Bathinda, and Amritsar, officials said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Terming 'Swacch Bharat' a "hollow slogan" Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was "blind" to the plight of manual scavengers.

Gandhi made the remark over the death of a sanitation worker in Delhi due to suffocation after falling in a sewer.

Anil, a sanitation worker suffocated to death after allegedly falling in the sewer of a building which he had entered to clean in Dwarka's Dabri area last week. The incident had come a week after five people died due to asphyxiation when they entered a sewage treatment plant in Moti Nagar area here.

"Anil's tragic death in the sewers of Delhi & photographs of his grieving son have made headlines worldwide. Our PM's "Swacch Bharat" is a hollow slogan, when he's blind to the plight of thousands of manual scavengers forced to excavate toilets & sewer lines in inhuman conditions (sic)," Gandhi tweeted.

Congress' Scheduled Caste department Chairperson Nitin Raut expressed his condolences over the death of the sewerage cleaning workers and said the UPA government had passed the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Bill 2012, but the NDA dispensation "failed" to implement it.

In a statement, he said this was not the only incident as in the past too such incidents have been reported across states where workers lost their life due to the "government's lack of support" towards their safety and welfare.

Raut demanded a government job and Rs 50 lakh compensation for the kin of the deceased and Rs 25 lakh ex gratia for people who suffer injuries in such incidents.

Urging the government to take care of education, health expenses of all sewer workers and ensure their mandatory health check up and insurance cover, he also called for a disaster cell for immediate response to any such incidents.

Raut said if these demands were not considered, the AICC's SC cell will raise these issues with the public.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is likely to attend an informal meeting of SAARC Council of Foreign Ministers on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York later this month, official sources said Wednesday.

Asked about the possibility of a meeting between Swaraj and Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in New York, they, however, said her schedule is being worked out.

The SAARC (South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation) foreign ministers' informal meeting has been taking place for last few years on the margins of the UNGA.

In Islamabad, Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Mohammad Faisal said it is "engaged" with India to facilitate a bilateral meeting between Qureshi and Swaraj in New York. Both Swaraj and Qureshi will be in New York next week to attend the UNGA.

The India-Pakistan ties nose-dived in recent years following a spate of terror attacks in India by Pakistan-based terror groups. India has not been holding official talks with Pakistan following the attacks.

Asked about possibility of India participating in SAARC summit if it is organised, the sources said it will not change its position unless Pakistan stops cross-border terrorism.

The last SAARC Summit in 2014 was held in Kathmandu, which was attended by Modi. The 2016 SAARC Summit was to be held in Islamabad.

But after the terrorist attack on an Indian Army camp in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir on September 18 that year, India expressed its inability to participate in the summit due to "prevailing circumstances" and stepped up diplomatic pressure on Pakistan.

The summit was called off after Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan also declined to participate in the Islamabad meet.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Chinese President Xi Jinping has told Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa that those who oppose his pet projects - the BRI and the CPEC - will "never succeed" as these are initiatives aimed at fostering peace and development.

The USD 50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is the flagship project of the multi-billion dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a pet project of President Xi aimed at enhancing China's influence around the world through China-funded infrastructure projects.

India has opposed the CPEC project and protested to China as it is being laid through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

General Bajwa, who is in China, called on Xi after his meetings with the top Chinese military officials.

"While we work for peace, we need to stay strong to thwart designs of all inimical forces challenging our resolve. We greatly value Chinese support...," Bajwa said.

He met Xi on a special invitation and they discussed regional security environment, challenges and way forward, Pakistan military's media wing Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

"Those who oppose the BRI or the CPEC shall never succeed as this is an initiative of peace and development not only for China but for region and beyond," it quoted Xi as saying.

Terming Pakistan as "our time-tested iron friend", he said the country had a pivotal role towards this lasting relationship.

He acknowledged the role of the Pakistan armed forces towards regional peace and stability.

President Xi said that China shall continue to support Pakistan as a strategic partner.

Bajwa said that Pakistan understands the importance of peace and has given lot of sacrifices for achieving it.

He said the BRI, with the CPEC as its flagship project, is destined to succeed despite all odds and the Pakistan Army shall ensure security of the CPEC at all costs, the statement said.

Earlier, Bajwa in his meeting with top military official General Zhang Youxia assured him that the new government, like the Pakistani military, follows a consistent policy of pragmatic cooperation with China.

Gen Zhang is the highest military official as he is the vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission (CMC) which is the high command of the two-million-strong People's Liberation Army (PLA) headed by President Xi.

"The Pakistani military and its new government are consistent in their policy towards China," Bajwa told Zhang during their meeting here on Tuesday, a Chinese Defence Ministry press release quoted him as saying.

His assurance about the new government besides the Pakistan military following a "consistent policy" towards China comes in the backdrop of reports of differences over the USD 50 billion CPEC.

Projects of the CPEC, regarded as the flagship initiative in Xi's multi-billion-dollar BRI, figured high during Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's talks with new Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad last month.

Pakistan is willing to continue to strengthen pragmatic cooperation with China in the areas of counter-terrorism, equipment technology, and personnel training to ensure the safe and smooth development of CPEC, Bajwa said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Telangana Jana Samthi (TJS) president Prof M KodandaramWednesday urged the government to withdraw the case against Left leaning poet Varavara Rao, currently under house arrest here after Maharashtra police detained him for his alleged links with Maoists.

Kodandaram said he felt Rao had been implicated in a case with which he had nothing to do and asked the government to withdraw the case.

"He is a writer. He has his own convictionsfor just holding convictions you can't target a person and take him into custody," he told reporters here.

The TJS leader also claimed Rao was not keeping well and said police did not allow him to meet the writer at his house.

He wanted the government to provide necessary health care to Rao.

"It is a courtesy call...he is not keeping well. His health has been failing for quite some time. He is suffering from blood pressure and other health problems. So, we thought of meeting him," Kodandaram added.

The Supreme Court on August 29 ordered the house arrest of five activists including Rao, a day after they were detained in connection with the Bhima Koregaon violence case.

The court Wednesday extended their house arrest for a day.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)At least 58 people were killed during a weekend of ethnic violence in Ethiopia's capital, an Amnesty International researcher told AFP on Wednesday, citing a figure more than double the government estimate of 23 dead.

Another source involved in the investigation, who saw and counted the corpses, told AFP a total of 65 people had been killed, mostly in the city's western suburbs.

"The 65 cases are from Burayu, Ashewa Meda, Kolfe and Kirkos," said the source on condition of anonymity, referring to three western areas and one in the centre.

The victims were either stabbed or died after being beaten with sticks and rocks. None had been shot and the toll does not include five alleged looters killed by police on Monday.

Fisseha Tekle, a Nairobi-based researcher with Amnesty International, said he had compiled a similar tally of 58 dead.

Residents told Amnesty International they saw "eight dead bodies on Friday, 21 on Saturday, on Sunday they saw about 11 people and on Monday the number of dead bodies they've seen were 18," Fisseha said.

Government spokesmen could not immediately be reached for comment.

The violence began last week in the run-up to Saturday's return of the once-banned Oromo Liberation Front, a rebel group that returned to Ethiopia following political reforms introduced by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A prominent South Korean theatre director was Wednesday sentenced to six years in prison for the sexual abuse of nine women, as the country's nascent #MeToo movement gathers pace.

Lee Yoon-taek was jailed for assaults on actresses dating back to 2010, including abusing eight women and sexually assaulting another.

The court heard that Lee, now 65, fondled the eight women -- claiming he had to put his hands under their blouses as part of voice training -- and forced them to massage his genitals, while he injured and attempted to rape the ninth victim.

"The accused claims these activities were all part of acting lessons, but they should be considered sexual abuses as there was no explicit consent from the victims," the court said in a statement.

The #MeToo campaign against the abuse of women swept the South this year after Seoul prosecutor Seo Ji-hyeon defied convention to speak out on television about the abuse she suffered at the hands of a superior.

Since then a growing number of women have spoken out this year about abuses at the hands of powerful figures in multiple fields, making headlines in a country that remains patriarchal despite economic and technological advances.

Other high-profile men accused of sexual misconduct include Ko Un, a top poet regularly tipped for the Nobel Prize for Literature, and playwright Oh Tae-seok.

In August women's rights groups slammed the decision by a Seoul court to acquit a former presidential contender over charges of forced sexual abuse and sexual intercourse by abuse of authority.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)MIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday described the proposed ordinance to make instant triple talaq a penal offence as "anti-Muslim women", claiming it would lead to more injustice to them.

He demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi bring out a legislation to protect Hindu women deserted by their husbands.

Reacting to the Union cabinet clearing the ordinance against triple talaq, he told reporters here that in Islam, marriage was a civil contract and bringing penal provisions was "wrong and unnecessary".

Under the proposed ordinance, giving instant triple talaq will be illegal and void and will attract a jail term of three years for the husband.

The Hyderabad MP also claimed that such an ordinance will violate fundamental rights and right to equality and expressed the hope that the Muslim Personal Law Board will challenge it in court.

This ordinance is anti-Muslim women. This will lead to more injustice to Muslim women, he claimed.

Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad announced the cabinet decision Wednesday, citing compelling necessity for the move as the practice annulled by the Supreme Court continues unabated.

I cannot speak for the Muslim Personal Law Board but I hope this should be challenged in the courts of law, Owaisi said.

He demanded that the prime minister bring out a legislation to protect Hindu women deserted by their husbands.

"Prime Minister Modi this nation requires a law for those poor married women who are 24 lakhs according to 2011 census. They are married and their husbands in the election affidavit say they are married but their wives are not living with them," he said.

Elaborating on his objection to the ordinance, he contended that a Muslim man found guilty by court would be sentenced to three years, whereas a non-Muslim man charged under a different Act for the same offence would only be sentenced for a year.

Is it not a violation of the Constitution? he asked.

He claimed that the ordinance was aimed at diverting the people's attention from issues such as rising petrol and diesel prices and dwindling value of rupee.

Owaisi said voters of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh Chhattisgarh and Telangana, where elections are to be held, would reject BJP's politics of polarisation.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Batting for peace with the Taliban, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani Wednesday said a truce will help his government focus on pressing issues such as poverty and counter-terrorism in the country, where 40 per cent of the population lives below the poverty line.

Referring to the Eid ceasefire with the Taliban announced by his government this year, the Afghan president said the "bold move" was largely successful and welcomed by an overwhelming majority of people.

He said the Eid ceasefire was 98 per cent implemented.

"Why is peace with Taliban important? Because, if we arrive at peace with Taliban, we can concentrate on (matters like) counter-terrorism," Ghani said at an event organised by India Foundation.

With the presence of foreign terrorists and ISIS in Afghanistan, it is necessary to devise a method to separate the Taliban and others, he said.

"Consequences of this will enable us to embark on the real task. 40 per cent of Afghans are below poverty (line)," he said.

Asserting that peace must be "inclusive" and not "partial", Ghani said dictatorship has no place in the future of Afghanistan.

He said the ceasefire reflected that Afghans are willing to forget the sufferings of the past for a better future.

Ghani said at present, Afghanistan spends USD 6.2 billion on security, while its national revenue was USD 2.4 billion. The government is committed to reducing it.

With US troops withdrawing from Afghanistan, he said his country's people have demonstrated that they can defend themselves.

He said Afghanistan has over 40,000 commandos in its special forces and they can reach any place in the country in a few hours.

Ghani, who was on a one-day visit to New Delhi, said India can play a major role to develop the underdeveloped resources of Afghanistan.

"That is how we can make every Afghan a stakeholder in society, in the economy," he said.

India has been undertaking several developmental projects in the country that has witnessed civil strife and war for decades. It has also committed millions of dollars for aid, Ghani said.

He said nearly 15,000 Afghan students have been studying in Indian institutes.

"A stable Afghanistan will allow uplifting from poverty to prosperity, from dis-connectivity to connectivity in shared understanding. This is what Afghanistan and India were practising. This is where our common vision unites," he said.

Ghani also called for an international commission of civil society and security experts to investigate crimes on Afghans, which he termed as a crime against humanity.

He concluded his speech with 'Jai India, Jai Afghanistan' slogan.

In March, India welcomed the Afghan government's call to armed groups to cease violence and join national peace and reconciliation process that would protect the rights of all Afghans, including the women, children and the minorities.

"There can be no compromise with terrorism and action must be taken against those who continue down the path of violence and those who finance them and provide safe havens and sanctuaries," the Ministry of External Affairs had said in a statement.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)China rebuilt itself with the "tremendous amount" of money pouring out of the United States, President Donald Trump claimed Wednesday, asserting that America has been "ripped off" by "everyone", including Beijing.

He said China has been taking out USD 500 billion a year from the US.

"They (Chinese) rebuilt their country with tremendous amounts of money pouring out of the United States. I've changed that around. If you look at what's going on, our market is going up like a rocket ship. I don't want their market to go down, but their market is down 32 per cent in three months. Because we can't let them do anymore what they've done," he said.

Trump was addressing a joint conference with the visiting Polish President Andrzej Duda at the White House.

"Over the last number of years, China has taken out of this country USD 500 billion and more a year. That would go a long way for Poland, wouldn't it? You could rebuild your whole country. And that's what China did," he said.

Trump said he keeps a close watch on trade deficits as it was "very important".

"When a country has USD 375 billion in trade deficits, and then many billions of dollars in other liabilities of all different types, one has to do something about it," said the US President.

Trump said the US has become a "piggy bank" to the world "ripped off by everyone".

"We have been ripped off by China. We've been ripped off by the European UnionWe've been ripped off by everybody. I want to protect the American worker, the American farmer, the ranchers, the companies. We're not being ripped off in a little while," he said.

Responding to a question on his announcement of trade tariffs against China, Trump said, "It got to a point where the numbers were too big. This should have been done for the last 20 years. If you look at the World Trade Organization, that's when China really happened, economically. It was like a rocket ship, because they took advantage of the rules of the WTO," he asserted.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)US President Donald Trump Wednesday slammed the opposition Democratic party for taking the political advantage of sexual assault allegations against his Supreme Court nominee, stating that Judge Brett Kavanaugh does not "deserve this".

A woman had accused the judge of sexually assaulting her when they were in high school. Judge Kavanaugh has denied the allegations, which surfaced on Sunday, and said he was ready to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

"I feel so badly for him that he's going through this, to be honest with you. I feel so badly for him. This is not a man that deserves this. This should have been brought to the fore. It should have been brought up long ago. And that's what you have hearings for. You don't wait until the hearing is over and then, all of a sudden, bring it up," Trump told reporters at a joint conference with the visiting Polish President Andrzej Duda at the White House.

About a question whether he would support the FBI opening its investigation into the Judge Kavanaugh issue, Trump said he wants the matter to be resolved quickly.

"It wouldn't bother me, other than the FBI said that they really don't do that; that's not what they do. Now, they have done, supposedly, six background checks over the years, as Judge Kavanaugh has gone beautifully up a ladder. He's an incredible individual. Great intellect, great judge. Impeccable history in every way," he said.

The Democrats, Trump said, were "lousy" on policy, and in many ways, "lousy" politicians. "They're very good on obstruction. And it's shame, because this is a great gentleman," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Two Border Security Force (BSF) personnel were among three killed Wednesday when a truck carrying the jawans plunged into a gorge along the Jammu-Srinagar national highway, police said.

The private truck, hired by the BSF, was part of a convoy carrying personnel to Kashmir reportedly for deployment in connection with the upcoming municipal and panchayat polls, a police officer said.

The accident occurred around 2.10 pm when the driver lost control over the vehicle which rolled down into an over 150-feet-deep gorge, he said.

Civilian volunteers along with police and BSF personnel immediately launched a rescue operation, the officer said.

After hectic efforts, the bodies of two BSF personnel, Ajit Singh and Atma Singh of 89th battalion, were retrieved from the mangled truck.

The driver, Balbir Singh of Simbal area of Jammu, was rescued in a critical condition but succumbed while being shifted to a hospital, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Two builders and four police constables were booked by the police in Gautam Budh Nagar Wednesday in connection with the alleged assault on a lawyer on September 16, according to officials.

A purported video has been doing the rounds on social media since Sunday in which a police constable was seen slapping the advocate amid an altercation between them. The incident had occurred inside a room at the Garhi Chaukhandi police outpost.

An FIR was registered at the Phase 3 police station on a compliant by the advocate who alleged that the assault on him in Sector 121 was a "conspiracy" by the policemen concerned and the two builders.

The complainant has claimed a dispute on the property on which the two builders have created an apartment building using unfair means and the case over the ownership on a part of the land is pending in a court.

"On September 16, I was outside the building to distribute 'warning pamphlets' to potential home-buyers that this building is disputed. Soon, the two builders along with some of their workers reached there and asked me not to do such publicity because it would hurt their business.

"About 15-20 minutes later, four constables arrived at the spot and asked him to stop distributing the pamphlets. When I did not, they forcibly took me in their vehicle and brought to the police outpost," the lawyer claimed in the complaint.

"At a room in the police outpost they started thrashing me and tried to choke me and when one of my cousins came there, he started filming the incident. One of the constables dragged him out of the room," he alleged further.

The Phase 3 police station has lodged an FIR against the two builders and the four constables under Indian Penal code sections 147 (rioting), 307 (attempt to murder), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 504 (insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), according to the FIR copy.

The builders could not be contacted for response immediately.

On Monday, hundreds of lawyers assembled on the premises of the district and sessions court in Surajpur as they struck work to protest the assault on their colleague and later marched to the offices of the district magistrate and the district police chief.

Gautam Buddh nagar police chief Ajay Pal Sharma had suspended one constable while six others of the Garhi Chaukhanid outpost were transferred to police lines in the wake of the incident.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Three persons, including two doctors, were killed in a road accident near Dhanbad sadar police station, the police said Wednesday.

Associate Professor of Patliputra Medical College Hospital (PMCH) Dr Shyam Sunder Saha, his daughter Dr Abhilash Gaurav and the driver of the car died while Dr Saha's wife Maya and grandson Nihal were injured in the accident occurred on Tuesday.

The injured were referred to mission hospital Durgapur from PMCH in critical condition.

Dhanbad sadar police inspector Ashok Kumar Singh said that the accident occurred around 10.30 PM when Dr Saha along with his family members were returning from Bankmore.

His Maruti SX4 collided head on with a coal-laden truck coming from the opposite side at Ambedkar Chawk, around 25 metres away from Sadar Police Station.

The police admitted Dr Saha and his daughter at BCCL central hospital where doctors declared them brought dead.

Dr Saha lived in Govindpur block of the district. He belonged to Chiraiya village in Banka district of Bihar. His daughter Dr Abhilash was posted in Bihar's Sitamarhi district.

The inspector said that the driver of the truck fled after the incident and search is on for him.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Two professors of a private college in Nashik district of Maharashtra were arrested for allegedly seeking sexual favours from a Class XII student in exchange of passing her in examination, police said Wednesday.

The incident came to light Tuesday evening, after the 19-year-old student lodged a complaint with Adgaon police station, an official said.

In the complaint, the victim alleged that the two professors demanded sexual favours from her to pass her in Class XII exam, he said.

Based on the complaint, the police booked the duo- Pravin Suryavanshi and Sachin Sonavane- under IPC sections 354 (A) (sexual harassment), 354 (D) (stalking) and 34 (common intention), and arrested them, the official added.

The victim said in her complaint that both the professors had been stalking her since 2015 and used to hold her hand and touch her in an inappropriate manner.

"Tuesday afternoon, when the victim was in the college, one of the professors approached her, held her hand and also touched her inappropriately," the official said.

Fed up with their sexual advances, the victim went home and narrated the incident to her parents, following which they filed a complaint against the professors, he said.

Further investigation is on, police said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has arrested a BSF jawan from Noida on the charge of sharing vital information with Pakistan ISI agents, state police chief O P Singh said here on Wednesday.

Achutanand Misra, hailing from Rewa in Madhya Pradesh, was "honey-trapped" into sharing information about unit operational details, police academy and training centre by a woman who claimed to be a defence reporter, the Director General of Police (DGP) said.

Misra was interrogated by ATS and BSF officials for two days in Noida near Delhi and, prima facie, there is enough evidence to prove that he has committed crime under the Official Secrets Act, Singh said.

Misra, who was recruited in the Border Security Force (BSF) in 2006, had come into contact with the woman in 2016 and after sometime, he started sharing information about unit location, details of ammunition and pictures of the BSF camp, he said.

Later, he started WhatsApp chat with a phone number registered in Pakistan and the details of the chat indicate that he was being influenced on religion conversion and Kashmir, the DGP said.

The Pakistani number was saved in his phone contact as "Pakistani dost" (friend), he said, adding that he will be produced before a court here.

There were inputs that Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) was "honey- trapping" jawans of the Army and para-military forces using Facebook and the Military Intelligence of Chandigarh had tipped off the UP ATS about a fake social media profile sometime ago.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Uttar Pradesh police are looking for two accomplices of a Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist who was arrested last week for planning an attack during Ganesh Chaturthi, an official said Wednesday.

The terrorist, Qamar-uz-Zama (37), a resident of Assam, who was remanded to police custody, has disclosed that he and two others stayed at a rented house in Kanpur's Shivnagar locality, the state Anti-Terrorist Squad's Inspector General Aseem Arun said.

While Qamar, who is also known as Dr Hurairah and Kamruddina, was arrested on September 13, the two others could not be nabbed as they had left two days before the ATS crackdown, he said.

"We are trying to track them down. We have also taken the help of Jammu and Kashmir police and hope to nab them soon," the IG said.

"We tried to understand his life history and found out that in 2008 he had gone to an island country - the Republic of Palau - near the Philippines. Before that he was very moderate but four year ago when he returned he was a changed man," he said.

Qamar later went to Kashmir and sold clothes there, the IG said.

He went underground along with his accomplice Usama bin Jawed in June 2017. In April 2018, he suddenly surfaced posing in a picture on Facebook with an AK-47.

"We are trying to find out his activities during the intervening period till his arrest. We have come to know that he had gone to Assam, his native place, for 12 days and remained there in hiding, the IG said.

He sought funds from Kashmir and bought a smartphone with some of the money. He had talked to his handlers and came to Kanpur and made these plans," Arun added.

Qamar was arrested in Kanpur's Shivnagar locality.

It appeared from his mobile phone that he was carrying out a recce, police had then said. A video clip of a temple in Kanpur was found on it.

The ATS was tracking him for 8-10 when it made the arrest. The National Investigation Agency and the Kanpur police were also involved.

Earlier, the police said Qamar accepted during interrogation that he is an active member of Hizbul Mujahideen and was sent to Kanpur in preparation for a terror attack.

"The terrorist had undergone training in Pakistan in 2017 and had joined the Hizbul there," Director General of Police O P Singh had said after the arrest.

Qamar, who failed his BA third-year exam, has a sound knowledge of computers. He has a diploma in computers and typing, police said.

He is married and has a son who lives in Assam.

In March, the Uttar Pradesh ATS had arrested 10 people it claimed were linked with Lashkar-e-Taiba and involved in terror-funding activities.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Uttar Pradesh government has come out with strict austerity measures for its officials, asking them to curtail expenses on foreign visits, printing material and advertisements, a senior official said Wednesday.

They have also been directed to slash expenses on office stationery, furniture and upholstery.

An order to this effect was issued by UP Chief Secretary Anup Chandra Pandey, the official said.

The order specifically mentioned that official visits should be kept to a minimum unless these are important and essential.

Besides, officials should travel economy class if they have to take flights for work.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)US President Donald Trump Wednesday said America has made a lot of progress with respect to North Korea after he came to power and the two countries no longer seem to be going to a war as looked like before.

"Prior to becoming President, it looked like we were going to war with North Korea, and now we have a lot of progress. We've gotten our prisoners back. We're getting our remains back. They continue to come in. A lot of tremendous things," he told reporters at the White House.

"But, very importantly, no missile testing, no nuclear testing. Now they want to go and put a bid in for the Olympics. No, we have a lot of very good things going," Trump said responding to a question on his relationship with the North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un.

When asked about reports that Kim Jong Un wants reciprocal measures, Trump said he will see what the North Korean leader is looking at. "But in the meantime, we're talking. It's very calm. He's calm; I'm calm. So we'll see what happens," he said.

Trump said he got a very good from North and South Korea as their leaders met once again.

"We had very good from North Korea, South Korea. They met, and we had some great responses. I got a tremendous letter from Kim Jong Un. As you know, it was delivered three days ago. We're making tremendous progress with respect to North Korea," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Thursday said America was prepared to engage immediately in negotiations with North Korea to transform relations and to achieve the denuclearization of Pyongyang by 2021.

His comments came after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un agreed to make a historic visit to South Korea soon and close a missile testing site in the presence of international inspectors in a meeting with President Moon Jae-in in Pyongyang on Wednesday.

Pompeo, in a statement, welcomed Moon and Kim's reaffirmation of the Singapore joint statement of complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula, including the permanent dismantlement of all facilities at Yongbyon in the presence of the US and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)inspectors.

"This will mark the beginning of negotiations to transform the US-DPRK relations through the process of rapid denuclearisation of North Korea, to be completed by January 2021, as committed by Chairman Kim, and to construct a lasting and stable peace regime on the Korean Peninsula," he said.

"We also welcome Chairman Kim's decision to complete the previously announced dismantlement of Tongchang-ri site in the presence of US and international inspectors as a step toward the final fully verified denuclearisation of North Korea, as agreed by Chairman Kim at the Singapore summit with President Trump," Pompeo added.

On the basis of these important commitments, he said, the US was prepared to engage immediately in negotiations to transform its relations with North Korea.

Pompeo said he has invited South Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho to a meeting in New York City next week, where they both are already scheduled to be in attendance at the United Nations General Assembly.

"Likewise, we have invited North Korean representatives to meet our Special Representative for North Korea, Stephen Biegun, in Vienna, Austria, at the earliest opportunity," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo welcomed Pyongyang's "important commitments" made by Pyongyang during Wednesday's inter-Korean summit, adding Washington was ready to begin negotiating immediately to achieve the denuclearisation of North Korea "by January 2021".

In a statement, Pompeo said he spoke with his North Korean counterpart Wednesday morning and invited him to meet in New York next week on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

The statement came after the North's leader Kim Jong Un agreed to make a historic visit to Seoul soon and close a missile testing site in front of international inspectors in a meeting with the South's President Moon Jae-in.

Progress on the key issue of the North's nuclear arsenal was limited, but the two signed a document to strengthen ties between the two halves of the divided peninsula.

Building on a growing rapprochement, they agreed to create a facility to hold family reunions at any time, work towards joining up road and rail links, and mount a combined bid for the 2032 Olympics.

"On the basis of these important commitments, the United States is prepared to engage immediately in negotiations to transform US-DPRK relations," said Pompeo.

In addition to Pompeo's meeting with North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho, "we have invited North Korean representatives to meet our Special Representative for North Korea, Stephen Biegun, in Vienna, Austria at the earliest opportunity," the statement continued.

"This will mark the beginning of negotiations to transform US-DPRK relations through the process of rapid denuclearization of North Korea, to be completed by January 2021, as committed by Chairman Kim, and to construct a lasting and stable peace regime on the Korean Peninsula."



Kim's trip to Seoul would be the first by a Northern leader since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War, when hostilities ceased with an armistice rather than a peace treaty, leaving them technically in a state of war.

In their agreement, the North also said it would "permanently close" a missile engine testing site and launch facility in Tongchang-ri "in the presence of experts from relevant nations.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)An orthopedic surgeon in California who once appeared on a dating reality show and his girlfriend have been charged with drugging and sexually assaulting two women, in a case prosecutors suspect might involve hundreds of other victims.

Authorities told AFP on Tuesday they had received dozens of leads in the probe, just hours after a press conference held to try to encourage other women to come forward.

"I am being told by investigators that their phones have been very active this afternoon," said Michelle Van Der Linden, a spokeswoman for Orange County prosecutors.

"People are calling with additional information and we will be busy tracking down all the additional leads." The surgeon, 38-year-old Grant William Robicheaux, and his 31-year-old girlfriend, Cerissa Laura Riley, were charged on September 11 with rape as well as drug and weapons-related offenses in connection with two alleged assaults.

Robicheaux -- who once appeared on the Bravo television show "Online Dating Rituals of the American Male" -- and Riley are due to be arraigned on October 25.

Investigators found hundreds of videos on Robicheaux's phone after he was arrested, "in various states of undress, consciousness and being assaulted," Van Der Linden said.

Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas told reporters that Robicheaux and Riley had worked in tandem at restaurants and bars to identify their victims and make them feel comfortable.

"We believe the defendants used their good looks and charm to lower the inhibitions of their potential prey," Rackauckas said.

"We've all heard of a wolf in sheep's clothing. Well, a wolf can wear scrubs or doctor's clothing. Or a wolf can be a beautiful woman." He said the drugs the pair used include ecstasy, date rape drugs and cocaine.

The pair would then take the incapacitated women to his home in Newport Beach, where they were allegedly assaulted.

Authorities believe Robicheaux and Riley traveled to various festivals since 2015, including Burning Man in Nevada, as well as landmarks in Arizona. Attorneys for Robicheaux and Riley issued a joint statement on Tuesday, denying the charges.

"They have been aware of these accusations for a number of months, and each of them will formally deny the truth of these allegations at their first opportunity in court," said Robicheaux's lawyer, Philip Cohen, and Riley's lawyer, Scott Borthwick.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The girl gang-raped in a leading school on the outskirts of the city and her father Wednesday recorded their statements before a local court while her medical report confirmed sexual assault, police said.

A check by the state department found the school had violated several safety norms and it could soon lose its license, an official said.

The victim and her father recorded their statements before the court of Additional District Judge (Civil) Manju Singh, Investigating Officer Naresh Rathore said.

The medical report has also arrived confirming the victim was sexually assaulted, Rathore said.

Nine persons, including the students accused of the crime, school officials and employees have been arrested in connection with the case.

While three minors boys have been sent to a correctional home in Haridwar by the Juvenile Justice Board, their adult accomplice and five school employees including its director and principal were sent to the district jail in Dehradun on judicial remand, he said.

The school employees were arrested as they kept the heinous crime committed within the premises under wraps for a month, the police officer said.

The crime took place on August 14 and came to light on September 16 despite the school authorities already knowing about it, Rathore said.

The victim shared her ordeal first with her elder sister who studied at the same school. She informed the school authorities who instead of approaching the police tried to hush it up by threatening to throw the sisters out of school if they disclosed it to anyone, an official said.

However, after sometime the elder sister of the survivor confided it to a relative who approached the police.

Meanwhile, the state department announced it will cancel the licence and no objection certificate issued to the school.

Chief Officer SB Joshi who visited the school said it had violated several norms including installing no CCTVs on campus and not deploying security guards for the safety of students.

CBSE regional officer Ranvir Singh said he had recommended to the head office cancellation of the school's affiliation.

The response to a show cause notice issued to the school to explain its actions was not found satisfactory, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) told the Bombay High Court Wednesday that its ward officers illegally allowed 44 pandals to come up during the ongoing Ganesh festival despite the court's orders.

In an affidavit, BMC counsel Anil Sakhre said the civic body would be issuing show-cause notices to these officers, and necessary action would be taken against them.

The counsel told a bench of justices A S Oka and M S Sonak that teams of ward officers and officers from the state government's revenue department had inspected all 863 pandals in the island city of Mumbai and the suburbs.

Thirty-two of these pandals were found to be illegal and subsequently demolished by the BMC, he said.

However, another round of inspection revealed that ward officers later illegally permitted another 44 pandals, Sakhre added.

"The BMC has taken a serious note of the illegality....officers concerned will be issued show-cause notices," he said.

The BMC had directed all ward officers earlier to follow the court's orders to not allow illegal pandals and ensure that there was no violation of noise pollution norms during the festival, the lawyer said.

The bench was hearing a bunch of pubic interest litigations seeking strict implementation of the noise pollution rules and action against illegal pandals during festivals.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)In the flood of biopics in Bollywood, Nandita Das hopes to stand apart with "Manto", which explores the psyche of the famed short story writer at a time when sectarian violence was at its peak.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui embodies the character of Saadat Hasan Manto in Nandita's second directorial venture, which looks at the author's most turbulent and creative years, beginning from 1946.

Asked why artistes keep revisiting the Partition, Nandita said, "Why we have not forgotten and probably why we should not forget Partition is because we haven't learnt anything from it."



The actor-director said she was more interested in looking at this turbulent history through Manto's eyes.

"Today, it is the same sectarian violence and who suffered then and who's suffering now: common people. Cyril Radcliffe drew a line that travels perhaps through a village and everything gets broken," she told PTI.

Nandita said it is rare that people use fiction to talk about facts but it is the case with Manto's stories, which draws a real sketch of the time.

Manto was someone who was caught in the middle like many and poured this pain out through his writings, like in Toba Tek Singh, where the crisis of millions is told through a Sikh locked in a mental asylum in Lahore.

"Manto's short story 'Toba Tek Singh' is actually taught in some of the biggest universities of the world. I was shocked.. when I was at Yale doing a fellowship and I went to the library wondering if I'll find some of Manto's books -- there were 25 books in English, Hindi, Urdu and so many other languages.

"I then started talking to historians at Yale and Harvard and they said they teach 'Toba Tek Singh' and seldom is fiction taught to be a testimony of reality or facts. It's because the way he chronicled the time and so for me, Partition is the backdrop," she said.

The director said she has not directly shown the mass migration, killings, loot and rapes that happened during the Partition but "you see it through how he feels it".

"Through his stories you get a glimpse of it. As a sensitive writer, you see the whole violence in his eyes, almost," she added.

Manto's two daughters -- Nusrat and Nuzhat -- were recently in Mumbai to watch the film at a special premiere and it was an emotional moment for the director who felt an extra responsibility towards the writer's family.

The Urdu writer, who left Mumbai and moved to Pakistan in January 1948, can't be separated into nationalities, she said.

"Manto is a writer who belongs to both India and Pakistan. Let's never break him into nationalities," Nandita said, adding she is keen to see the film release in the neighbouring country.

Nandita said she was surprised to know that not many films have been made in India on the life of writers.

"We have not really celebrated our writers. I tried weaving Manto's stories in the narrative. The line between his work and his life is a bit blurred. You don't know if the character he is writing about really existed or was his creation."



"Manto", also starring Rasika Dugal, Tahir Raj Bhasin, Divya Dutta, Ranvir Shorey and Rishi Kapoor, releases this Friday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Lauding India's efforts leading to a fall in under-five mortality counts to below one million, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Wednesday that the feat was possible due to a series of initiatives, including administering every child with life-saving vaccines under 'Mission Indradhanush'.

A report by the United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNIGME) said the under-five mortality rate in India recorded a positive trend and for the first time in five years, the under-five mortality count was recorded below one million in 2017 at 9,89,000.

In 2016, the under-five mortality was recorded at 1.08 million in India.

WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia Poonam Khetrapal Singh said as outlined in a report released by the UNIGME, India's share of global child deaths has reduced from 22 per cent in 2012 to 18 per cent in 2017 -- a rate that outpaces the global decline.

"India's remarkable achievement was made possible via a series of initiatives the Health Ministry has taken in recent years, including to vaccinate each and every child with life-saving vaccines under Mission Indradhanush and to expand the reach of diarrhea and pneumonia management across the country, with a focus on vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations," Singh said.

Reacting to the WHO statement, Union Health Minister J P Nadda tweeted, "I congratulate my team in @MoHFW_INDIA & our states for their continuous efforts to reduce #childdeaths. Under the guidance of Hon PM @narendramodi Ji our ministry is focusing on regular regular vaccination & Institutional deliveries (sic)."



Given recent reductions, the global percentage of under-five deaths that occur in India is commensurate with the percentage of global births the country accounts for (18 per cent), and represents a "dramatic breakthrough" for India, the WHO South-East Asia Region and the world, Singh said.

She said that India's gender gap in child survival is now almost four times less than what it was five years ago, reflecting substantial advances in gender equity that the country can continue to build on, precisely as it has built on its successes in a range of other areas.

"As India's progress continues including by concentrating on reducing neonatal deaths, which now account for 62 per cent of under-five deaths there is immense potential to go beyond ensuring children simply survive but can also thrive and enjoy their right to the highest attainable standard of health and wellbeing," Singh said.

As outlined in the global strategy for women, children and adolescents' health, among other priorities that means ensuring access to adequate nutrition and early childhood development services, at the same time as continuing to increase vaccination coverage for all.

Ending preventable newborn and child deaths has been one of the WHO South-East Asia Region's flagship priorities since 2014.

"WHO is committed to supporting India and the Region consolidate the significant gains made in recent years, to accelerate further progress, and to ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages," Singh said.

WHO's South-East Asia Region comprises Bangladesh, Bhutan, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste.

The report also said three infants die every two minutes on an average in India due to lack of access to water, sanitation, proper nutrition or basic health services.

About 8,02,000 infant deaths were reported in India in 2017, the lowest in five years, but the infant death numbers still remained the highest in the world, according to the report.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Afghan President Ashraf Ghani Wednesday assured Prime Minister Narendra Modi that his government would do everything possible to secure the release of seven engineers abducted by Taliban in the restive northern Baghlan province in May, official sources said.

During extensive talks with Modi, Ghani also conveyed to him that the Afghan government is enhancing security for Sikhs in Afghanistan in the wake of killing of 13 people of the community in a suicide bombing in July, the sources said.

They said Ghani's response on both the issues came after Modi raised them, adding the Afghan president expressed regret over killing of the 13 Indians in the terror attack in Jalalabad.

Seven Indian engineers were kidnapped in Baghlan province on May 6, and Modi, in the talks, conveyed his concerns over them to Ghani.

In the talks, the decision by India and China to initiate joint projects in Afghanistan was also deliberated upon.

The sources said a Sino-India integrated training programme for Afghan diplomats will kickstart next month in Delhi. The diplomats will first train in Delhi and then will leave for Beijing.

Ghani was here on a day-long working visit.

Giving an overview of the security scenario in Afghanistan, Ghani also apprised Modi about Taliban attack on southeastern city of Ghazni and increasing presence of ISIS in the country. On the Ghazni attack, he said involvement of Pakistani national has emerged, the sources said.

However, Ghani informed Modi that Afghan armed forces were capable of handling the security challenges with the help of international community. He also complimented India's support for Afghanistan.

They said Ghani gave a realistic assessment of the situation in Afghanistan including the status of the peace process.

Ghani said a three-day event in Mumbai on investment opportunities in Afghanistan earlier this month resulted in commitment of investment to the tune of USD 600 million.

The Ministry of External Affairs, in a statement, said the two leaders reviewed and positively assessed the progress of the multi-faceted India-Afghanistan strategic partnership.

"They expressed satisfaction at the increase in bilateral trade that has crossed the USD 1 billion mark," it said, adding they expressed determination to strengthen connectivity, including through Chabahar port and Air-Freight Corridor.

"It was agreed to deepen the New Development Partnership in the areas of high impact projects in this field of infrastructure, human resources development and other capacity building projects in Afghanistan," the MEA said.

It said Ghani briefed Modi on initiatives by his government towards peace and reconciliation and also in confronting the challenges of terrorism and extremism imposed on Afghanistan and its people.

"The Prime Minister reiterated India's support to an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled peace and reconciliation process that would enable Afghanistan to continue as a united, peaceful, inclusive and democratic nation and emerge as an economically vibrant country," it said.

The MEA said the prime minister also emphasised India's "unwavering commitment" to support the efforts of the government of Afghanistan to this end, as also for the security and sovereignty of Afghanistan.

"He unequivocally condemned terrorist attacks and violence in Afghanistan which have caused immense loss of precious human lives and expressed solidarity with the people and national defence forces of Afghanistan in their fight against terrorism," it said.

The two sides also vowed to work more closely with their regional and international partners for prosperity, peace, stability and progress of the region, it said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Delhi BJP Chief Manoj Tiwari, against whom a contempt notice was issued Wednesday by the Supreme Court for breaking the seal of a premises in Gokalpuri, said he will be "lucky" to appear before the court to "expose corrupt officials" who have raised "havock" in the city in the name of sealing drive.

He said it was time to "expose" those involved in "pick and choose policy" in sealing drive against the poor to "misguide" the Supreme Court.

The apex court has summoned Tiwari to appear before it on September 25, after taking cognizance of a report by its monitoring panel supervising sealing drive against violations of Delhi's Master Plan and other irregularities.

The Delhi BJP chief, accompanied by party workers and locals, had on last Sunday broke the seal on the premises of a house in Gokalpuri.

The premises was sealed by East Delhi Municipal Corporation as a dairy was allegedly being run from it.

While issuing the contempt notice, the Supreme Court had observed that it was unfortunate that an elected representative tried to defy court orders.

However, Tiwari said, "I am a public representative and I work under the oath of Constitution of India. My duty is to respect the law and also to oppose those who act illegally and make life difficult for people."



Alleging that "pick and choose policy" has been adopted by some "corrupt officials", the Delhi BJP chief said that he was ready to face the consequences in dealing with such elements.

"I have not much information about the Supreme Court's contempt notice but I will be lucky to appear before the honourable court and expose the corrupt officials who have raised havock in the city in name of sealing," he said in a press conference.

Tiwari claimed that the house in Gokalpuri was sealed against Lal Dora rules that permit residents of such areas to have two cattle.

"I am against this pick and choose policy. Why no action has been taken in Okhla where rampant violations have been committed. When it comes to such (Okhla) places, they drag cold feet and cite law and order issues," he charged.

"I will not spare anyone who is corrupt whether it is MCD or the officials," the BJP leader said.

The three municipal corporations in Delhi, ruled by the BJP, are carrying out the sealing drive under supervision of the Supreme Court mandated monitoring committee.

Tiwari also trained guns at the Congress and the ruling AAP in Delhi accusing them of playing politics over the sealing issue.

"The problem of sealing is a product of their inability to find solution to the uanuthorised colonies in the city. The Congress ruled for 15 years and now Arvind Kejriwal is there who is busy in playing blame game and make life difficult for the poor people," he alleged.

Both Congress and AAP have termed Tiwari's act of breaking seal a "drama" and an attempt to "divert attention" of the people from the "fact" that the BJP government at the Centre can stop sealing through an ordinance.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Supreme Court Wednesday said it would look into the Koregaon-Bhima case involving the arrest of five activists with a "hawk's eye" as liberty cannot be sacrificed at the altar of conjectures, even as it extended their house arrest for a day.

The top court told the Maharashtra government that there should be a clear-cut distinction between opposition and dissent on one hand and the attempts to create disturbance, law and order problems and overthrow the government on the other.

"Our institutions must be robust enough to accommodate any dissent or opposition to the system or even to this court. We cannot sacrifice liberty at the altar of conjectures,"a bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud said.

The apex court extended till tomorrow the house arrest of five rights activists --Varavara Rao, Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves, Sudha Bharadwaj and Gautam Navlakha-- at their respective homes.

Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Maharashtra, said "as a nation, we should be concerned at this. It is too serious a matter. I request the court to form an opinion only after hearing the matter in full."



To this, Justice Chandrachud said "Yes, we will do that, but our mind is human" and added "We will look at this case with a hawks eye".

The court said it would go through the case diary and other relevant materials before forming any opinion.

The Maharashtra police had arrested the rights activists on August 28 in connection with an FIR lodged following a conclave -- 'Elgaar Parishad' -- held on December 31 last year that had later triggered violence at Koregaon-Bhima village.

Prominent Telugu poet Rao was arrested on August 28 from Hyderabad, while activists Gonsalves and Ferreira were nabbed from Mumbai, trade union activist Sudha Bharadwaj from Faridabad in Haryana and civil liberties activist Navlakha from Delhi.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Kenyas top dancehall star Redsan has finally broken his silence on the controversy that followed his successful album launch last weekend.

On Monday, Tiwa Savage, who was a guest act alongside Jamaicas Demarco at the launch of Redsans album Baddest on Saturday at the Carnivore grounds, took to Twitter to call out the events promoter for failing to settle her hotel accommodation bills and transport to the airport.

She further alluded that the promoters had switched off their phones.

Tiwas pain was evidently felt by many Kenyans on Twitter, who apologized to her and blasted promoters for embarrassing the country.

In the midst of it all, Redsans name was dragged into the debate since it was his event, with some sections claiming he should take some of the blame.

In a statement on Tuesday evening, Redsan asked his accusers to stop dragging his name in the mud.

Please stop trying to drag our good names in mud, GOD has already cleaned us. What more could you do? To our media houses, I wanna say thank you; for not jumping to conclusions, for being patient and mostly for coming out in large numbers to support my album launch, said Redsan.

He added that his relationship with Tiwa is tighter despite the attempts by his haters to soil his name.

Tiwa Savage and I couldnt be tighter, she came personally for my gig and did an amazing show including my bro Demarco so for the haters out there wishing its me in the middle of all this guess what? Your bullets missed once again.

Redsan also took aim at vulture promoters and accused them of killing the industry.

And for the vulture promoters who always come between artists your time is up. We will expose you this has become a norm in Kenya WHERE vultures wait for you to go through the expenses and the sacrifices of bringing good musicians to our country and then they show up last minute to steal the price.. Dont wait for an artist to show up in Kenya then you show up with your dollars. You are the guys killing this industry and messing us up, said Redsan.A 27-year-old woman was arrested for allegedly carrying amphetamine drug worth over Rs 23 lakh at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CASSIA) here, police said Wedsnesday.

She was arrested on Tuesday in a joint operation carried out by the Anti Narcotics Cell of Mumbai police and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), police said.

"The woman, identified as Sheikh Furkana Khatoon, is a resident of suburban Kurla. She was on her way to a Gulf country on Tuesday evening when she was detained on suspicion by the immigration authorities at their counter," an official said.

Subsequently, the NCB and the ANC of Mumbai police were informed about the woman passenger, an event manager by profession, he said.

"While checking her baggage with the help of sniffer dogs, 465 grams of amphetamine drug worth Rs 23.25 lakh was found concealed in her bags," Deputy Commissioner of Police (ANC) Shivdeep Lande said.

Officials of Kandivali unit of the ANC arrested Furkana and interrogated her, he said.

"During the probe, it came to light that she was roped in as a courier by an international drug syndicate. We are investigating whether the woman had travelled to any Gulf country to transport narcotic drugs in the past as well," he said.

According to the official, an offence under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act was registered against her.

She was produced before the court, which remanded her in police custody till September 24, Lande said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Pakistan's former president Asif Ali Zardari has filed a review petition against the Supreme Court's order seeking details of his and assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto's foreign assets, contenting that it is disrespect to a "martyr", according to a media report.

The Pakistan Peoples Party co-chairman on Tuesday argued that such details had nothing to do with the case and that it was out of context and against his fundamental rights, the Dawn reported.

The Supreme Court while hearing a case on the recovery of losses incurred because of the controversial National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) on August 29 had asked Zardari to submit an affidavit highlighting details of foreign assets and bank accounts, including Swiss accounts, belonging to him, his slain wife, children (Bilawal, Bakhtawar and Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari) and other dependants.

The NRO was promulgated in October 2007 by the government of the then president Pervez Musharraf. Under the ordinance, cases against politicians were removed, paving the way for many of their return to country.

The case was filed by Lawyers Foundation for Justice president Feroz Shah Gilani, seeking recovery of public amount allegedly wasted against the backdrop of the NRO in 2007.

He nominated Zardari, Musharraf and former attorney general Malik Abdul Qayyum as respondents in the case.

Zardari, 63, argued that the August 29 order had "erroneously" shifted the burden of proof to him, asking him to prove his innocence.

The actual burden of proof, the review petition argues, remains on the party which has brought the case before the court.

The order prime facie aimed at seeking to gather information which would somehow incriminate Zardari, it added. This is against the spirit of Article 13 of the Constitution which provides protection against double punishment.

Zardari has argued that the order failed to take into account the practical difficulties that would occur in attempting to gather information required to be furnished in the affidavit sought under the order.

"The record is likely to have been shredded and no longer available, especially when it comes to old property documents and details of their sale and purchase price," it said.

He said the order is also in violation of Article 4, 175 (2) and 187 (1) of the constitution which guarantees rights of individuals to be dealt with in accordance with the law, establishment and jurisdiction of the courts and issue and execution of processes of the Supreme Court, respectively.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Polling for zila parishads and panchayat samitis in Punjab took place Wednesday amid stray incidents of clashes between Congress and SAD workers and allegations of poll rigging by opposition parties.

Opposition Akali Dal accused the Congress of resorting to "booth capturing, bogus voting and using muscle power", charges denied by the state's ruling party which claimed the polling was "free and fair".

Voting began at 8 am and went on till 4 pm, officials said. The counting of votes will take place on September 22.

A total of 354 zila parishad members and 2,900 panchayat samiti members will be elected in these polls, officials said. There are 22 zila parishads and 150 panchayat samitis in the state.

Former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, who visited polling booths in his area after casting his vote in Muktsar district, alleged a large number of Congress workers, brandishing swords, were involved in "booth capturing" while charging the police with being "mute spectators".

"Booth capturing is taking place and as an MLA, I will not tolerate this in my area. Police was not performing its duty. SSP does not take my phone call. What kind of elections were these, where booths were captured and nomination papers of Akalis rejected," Parkash Singh Badal asked.

Akali leader Bikram Sigh Majithia alleged 62 polling booths in Ferozepur, Muktsar, Bathinda, Moga, Sangrur, Patiala, Mohali, Faridkot etc were captured by Congress workers.

"Congress men resorted to bogus voting, large scale violence and threatening the presiding officers with their muscle power," alleged Majithia.

Akali leaders claimed Congress workers allegedly hit at Akali workers and others who dared to resist and resorted to firing in Dullewal village in Bathinda district where a girl was injured.

However, Bathinda DSP Gurpreet Singh said there was no incident of firing in Dullewal. The girl was injured when she was hit by a vehicle, said the DSP.

In Bathinda, former minister and Akali leader Sikandar Singh Maluka along with party workers blocked Bhagta Bathinda road alleging that Congress workers were involved in booth capturing at Kangar, Bhai Rupa and Salabatpura.

Bathinda DSP Gurpreet rejected the accusations but said there was an incident at Dyalpur Mirza polling booth in Bathinda where some people were involved in booth capturing and a video of which went viral on social media.

He said a probe was ordered.

Majithia claimed Congress workers led by ministers, legislators indulged in bogus voting and claimed one returning officer was caught on video camera stamping ballot papers in favour of Congress.

In Dera Bassi, the ballot papers received by the presiding officer were already stamped in favour of Congress, Majithia alleged. A former minister, Majithia said the party has decided to approach the Punjab and Haryana High court in connection with alleged poll rigging.

Clashes between Congress and Akali workers were reported from several areas in Ferozepur, Muktsar, Bathinda, and Amritsar.

During clashes, members of both factions pelted stones at each other and used sticks as weapons causing minor injuries to a few.

Rejecting the accusations of the Akali Dal, Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar claimed polling was "peaceful, free and fair".

"They (Akalis) are just trying to find an excuse to explain their defeat which they anticipate like they witnessed in the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll, Shahkot Assembly bypoll and municipal corporation elections. Akalis have been totally routed and this is what is going to happen in zila parishad and panchayat samiti polls," Jakhar claimed.

The Aam Aadmi Party also accused Congress of "murdering democracy" by indulging in booth capturing.

With the Congress touted as the favourite to win the zila parishads and panchayat samitis after a gap of 10 years, the main contest remained between the ruling party and the SAD-BJP alliance.

In Ferozepur, some unidentified persons fired in the air at Basti Ajij Wali area and broke the window panes of a car belonging to an SAD worker, police said.

A 44-year old man died when he was returning to home after casting his vote at a polling booth in Fatehgarh Sahib district, officials said.

A total of 17,268 polling booths were set up, 35 observers appointed and around 50,000 police personnel deployed for the polls in Punjab.

Thirty three candidates were earlier elected unopposed to various zila parishads and 369 nominees were declared elected unopposed to the panchayat samitis.

There are a total of 1,27,87,395 registered voters, comprising 60,99,053 women and 97 third-gender voters who were eligible to cast votes.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)By Daphne PsaledakisBRUSSELS (Reuters) - The union representing Ryanair cabin crew in Belgium has rejected an offer from the Irish airline ahead of a planned one-day strike across five countries on Sept. 28, the union said on Wednesday.Separately, European pilots threatened new strikes against Ryanair if talks with unions did not progress more quickly.The company's shares have fallen around 9 percent this year, but gained about 1 percent on Wednesday, a day before shareholders were set to meet at the annual general meeting. Europe's biggest budget airline offered to follow Belgian employment ...By Gabriela Baczynska and Elizabeth PiperSALZBURG, Austria (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May urged fellow European Union leaders at an informal summit on Wednesday to follow her lead and adapt their Brexit negotiating stance to secure a good deal.However, before a dinner in the Austrian city of Salzburg, some of those leaders said key elements of the "Chequers" plan that May was aiming to sell to them needed reworking, and Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said there had been no progress at all in six months on the delicate issue of the Irish border.With just over six months to ...By James DaveyCHATTERIS, England (Reuters) - Britain's biggest retailer Tesco is going head-to-head with fast-growing German discounters Aldi and Lidl on price with a new grocery store it says will be the cheapest in town. Chief Executive Dave Lewis unveiled Tesco's new Jack's format on Wednesday, saying it would sell 2,600 essential items including 1,800 Jack's-branded products. That compares with the thousands of goods on sale in its traditional supermarkets, and mimics the German chains' focus on simplicity and own-brands to keep costs down - a strategy that has seen them grab 13 percent ...By Kevin YaoTIANJIN, China (Reuters) - China will not stoop to competitive devaluation of its currency, Premier Li Keqiang stressed, hours after China hit back, with a softer punch than the one landed by the United States, in an escalating tariff war between the world's largest economies.Addressing a World Economic Forum event in the port city of Tianjin on Wednesday, Li did not directly mention the trade conflict but he said talk of Beijing deliberately weakening its currency was "groundless." "One-way depreciation of the yuan brings more harm than benefits for China," he said. "China will ...By Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen and Teis JensenCOPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Danske Bank's chief executive Thomas Borgen quit on Wednesday following an investigation into payments totalling some 200 billion euros ($234 billion) through its Estonian branch, many of which the Danish bank said were suspicious."It is clear that Danske Bank has failed to live up to its responsibility in the case of possible money laundering in Estonia. I deeply regret this," Borgen said in a statement which detailed failings in compliance, communication and controls.Regulators and the financial community will scrutinise the ...COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Danske Bank said on Wednesday that Chief Executive Thomas Borgen would resign due to a scandal related to past money laundering through its Estonian branch."It is clear that Danske Bank has failed to live up to its responsibility in the case of possible money laundering in Estonia. I deeply regret this," Borgen said in a statement.The bank also lowered its expectations for annual net profit to 16-17 billion Danish crowns from 18-20 billion. (Reporting by Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen; editing by Jason Neely)(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is ...By Jennifer AblanNEW YORK (Reuters) - Jeffrey Gundlach, chief executive officer of DoubleLine Capital, on Wednesday said bond prices across the U.S. Treasury yield curve could fall if the 30-year yield closes above 3.25 percent twice in a row.The yield on the 10-year Treasury note and 30-year Treasury bond both hit four-month highs early Wednesday. The 10-year yield was currently trading around 3.08 percent and the 30-year around 3.22 percent. Gundlach told Reuters he was still forecasting 6 percent on the 10-year yield by the next presidential election or a year after. "I first made that ...Sauti Sols guitarist, composer, and producer, Polycarp Otieno, better known as Fancy Fingers, is readying himself for a church wedding to his long-time Burundian girlfriend Lady Mandy.

Last month, Polycarp and Mandy solemnised their union in an elegant traditional wedding in Bujumbura, Burundi. It was on the same day Fancy Fingers went to settle the dowry with his in-laws.

That is according to the Burundi culture, Polycarp explained.

The one we had in Burundi was big enough and I had everybody that I wanted to see there, but we have to do a church wedding to get church blessings, he said.

Dates and destination of the wedding are not set yet, although it will be exclusively for family, Polycarp added.

Explaining how different Burundis culture is from Kenyas, Fancy Fingers said: There are two clans in Burundi, which speak the same language but each has its own way of doing things. So you pay the dowry after negotiating and agree with the family before the actual date.

Then on the actual dates, you meet there. There is a lot of celebrations with music and drums, which they play in a perfect way. Then the groom presents the dowry, which the family either accepts or refuses. All this time, the lady is hidden.

Word on the street has it that the church wedding is slated for November.By Eric OnstadLONDON (Reuters) - Major Chinese broker Nanhua Futures is planning to start trading on the London Metal Exchange in the first half of next year as the market experiences a wave of fresh interest from China. Nanhua's move comes as Chinese conglomerate Fosun International holds talks to buy Marex Spectron, one of the biggest brokers on the LME - the world's oldest and biggest trading venue for industrial metals.Chinese banks and brokers have sought to capitalize on their country's growing role as a top metals producer and consumer, but they have yet to become major players on the ...(Reuters) - Goldman Sachs is in advanced talks with several financial companies to spin off 'Simon', its three-year-old app that sells financial products to retail investors, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter.JPMorgan Chase, Barclays, HSBC Holdings, Credit Suisse, Wells Fargo and insurer Prudential Financial have expressed interest for a stake in the business, the report said.The deal, which would value the app at around $100 million, is likely to be finalised in the coming weeks.Goldman Sachs did not immediately respond to a request for ...NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India will consider various proposals to support the sugar industry, including incentives for exports, at next week's cabinet meeting, Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said on Wednesday.The proposals were supposed to be discussed on Wednesday.India is considering to make it mandatory for mills to export 5 million tonnes of sugar by incentivising overseas sales in the 2018/19 season and increasing the price it pays directly to cane growers to 138 rupees a tonne from 55 rupees this season, government sources said on Tuesday. (Reporting by Nigam Prusty; Editing by Subhranshu ...By Tetsushi KajimotoTOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's export growth accelerated in August from the previous month supported by stronger shipments to the United States, a sign the escalating trade friction between the Washington and Beijing has yet to hit Japanese trade. But the rise in exports to the United States could put Tokyo under pressure from President Donald Trump ahead of bilateral trade talks expected later this month, some analysts say.Japanese policymakers also worry over of the impact on the country's exports as the United States and China dive deeper into a trade war. Beijing added $60 ...By Gabriela Baczynska and Elizabeth PiperSALZBURG, Austria (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May urged fellow European Union leaders at an informal summit on Wednesday to follow her lead and adapt their Brexit negotiating stance to secure a good deal.However, before a dinner in the Austrian city of Salzburg, some of those leaders said key elements of the "Chequers" plan that May was aiming to sell to them needed reworking.With just over six months to go until Britain leaves the EU, both sides are keen to secure some kind of deal on future relations before the end of the year, to ...LONDON (Reuters) - Rolls-Royce has signed a deal to conduct a trial conversion of diesel trains to hybrid-electric engines in Britain, in a deal which could be rolled out to hundreds of trains across the country from the 2020s. The British company, which is best known for making aircraft engines, said on Wednesday that its German Power Systems business had signed an agreement with Porterbrook, the UK's largest owner of passenger rolling stock. Rolls-Royce's Power Systems unit, which sells engines used on ships, yachts, trains, trucks, mining and nuclear power stations, is one of the fastest ...By Makiko YamazakiYOKKAICHI, Japan (Reuters) - The chief executive of Toshiba Memory Corp, the world's No. 2 producer of NAND flash memory chips, on Wednesday brushed aside concerns about falling memory chip prices and reaffirmed the company's plan to go public in two to three years."Prices fluctuate in the short term to reflect the demand-supply balance," Toshiba Memory CEO Yasuo Naruke said at a news conference with joint venture partner, Western Digital Corp, to mark the opening of a new production line."But we are addressing long-term demand" driven by increasing amounts of data storage ...China and the United States plunged deeper into a trade war on Tuesday after Beijing added $60 billion of US products to its import tariff list in retaliation for US President Donald Trumps planned levies on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods.

The rupee Tuesday slid further 47 paise to settle at a record low of 72.98 against the US dollar.

Asian stocks rose in the early trade on Wednesday and US Treasury yields hovered near four-month highs, as investors looked past the latest escalation in the US-China trade conflict, seen by some market participants as less severe than expected. MSCIs broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.15 per cent. Australian stocks added 0.35 per cent, South Koreas KOSPI climbed 0.1 per cent and Japans Nikkei rose 1.45 per cent.

The Nifty futures of Singapore Stock Exchange (SGX) were trading 1 point down at 11,314.

The three state-owned banks -- Bank of Baroda, Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank -- saw a mixed reaction at the bourses on Tuesday, a day after the government proposed to amalgamate them into a combined entity. While Dena Bank ended the day firm, Vijaya Bank and Bank of Baroda lost ground.

Calling it a step in the right direction, analysts say this merger could be a game changer for the PSU banking space and throws up the possibility of public sector banks (PSBs) being ultimately consolidated into seven large entities going ahead.

On the fundamental front, however, analysts suggest that the merger seems to be grossly negative for Vijaya Bank and Bank of Baroda in the short term, as the negative networth of Dena Bank will have to be absorbed by the merged entity.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India on Tuesday announced major changes to the fee structure for the Rs 25-trillion mutual fund (MF) industry, a decision that will hit the profits of asset management companies (AMCs) but result in savings for investors.

The regulator has capped the so-called total expense ratio for fund houses with equity assets up to Rs 500 billion at 1.05 per cent, down from as much as 1.75 per cent charged earlier.

To boost fund raising from markets, regulator Sebi has decided to reduce the time to list shares on stock exchange after initial public offerings to three days from six days.

The board of Sebi Tuesday cleared a proposal to introduce Unified Payments Interface (UPI) as an alternative payment option for retail investors buying shares in an IPO.

The regulator also decided to allow foreign companies having exposures in the Indian commodity market to hedge their positions in derivatives.The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) on Tuesday announced major changes to the fee structure for the Rs 25-trillion mutual fund (MF) industry, a decision that will hit the profits of asset management companies (AMCs) but result in savings for investors.

Shares of commodity exchange MCX (Multi Commodity Exchange of India) surged as much as 4 per cent in the intraday trade on Wednesday after the markets regulator Sebi approved a proposal to allow foreign investors to trade in commodity derivatives market.

The regulator on Tuesday said the Sebi's board has approved the regulatory framework for permitting foreign entities having actual exposure to Indian commodity markets, to participate in the domestic commodity derivatives markets. Such entities would be classified as Eligible Foreign Entities (EFEs).

The regulator has capped the so-called total expense ratio (TER) for fund houses with equity assets up to Rs 500 billion at 1.05 per cent, down from as much as 1.75 per cent charged earlier. AMCs with lower assets under management (AUM) will be allowed to charge a higher TER, based on slabs. Sebi also said the industry would have to move to a full trail model for commissions. It also capped fees for exchange-traded funds (ETFs) at a maximum of 1 per cent.The department for state defense order will consider applications for the R&D tender to design Luchina-class modular rescue system for distressed submarines on the seabed. The design is to end a protracted crisis in Russian Navy rescue means, the Military-Industrial Courier writes.

The department for state defense order will consider applications for the R&D tender to design Luchina-class modular rescue system for distressed submarines on the seabed. The design is to end a protracted crisis in Russian Navy rescue means, the Military-Industrial Courier writes.

Artist impression of Project 02981 rescue vessel, proposed by JSC "Leningrad Shipyard" Pella. Picture: Pella shipyard



Navy and industry representatives held a roundtable at Army-2018 forum to discuss rescue means and specialized underwater vehicles. Despite major investments, the possibility of the massive decompression for a big number of rescued from a wrecked submarine has not been ensured. The Northern, Baltic and Black Sea fleets do not have such means at all while the capabilities of the Pacific fleet available on the latest Igor Belousov rescue ship are insufficient to save the crews of nuclear submarines.

The question is where did the money allocated after the tragedy with the Kursk submarine go? It was mostly spent to buy foreign TV-guided underwater craft and build the Igor Belousov. Tetis-Pro Company said only 27 of the supplied 155 underwater craft were made in Russia.

The Igor Belousov rescue vessel and its deep-water diving set GVK-450 were surrounded by numerous scandals. The diving set actually replaced on the small vessel the real decompression chambers for rescued submariners. The remaining ones are sufficient for sixty men. It means the latest rescue boat is incapable of massive decompression of the crew of any nuclear submarine and it is the key error of the project.

The designers knew they were listing rescued humans as planned losses. Some of the submariners will either die or become invalids without timely decompression. The claim that most of the crew will anyway die on a wrecked submarine is both blasphemous and wrong. The experience of previous accidents and the construction of latest-generation submarines confirm it.

Cascade decompression chamber system MSOPSE PL /   . Picture via vpk-news.ru

Something strange is happening with decompression chambers. The situation deteriorates with every new rescue vessel. The Soviet-built Alagez rescue ship had decompression chambers for a hundred men while the Igor Belousov has a sixty-men capacity and the prospective rescue vessel of project 02981 has decompression chambers for 40 men.

It means over two thirds of the crew of a nuclear submarine are listed as planned losses on the prospective rescue boat. Its capacity is insufficient even for a diesel submarine.

There is no doubt the defense industry can quickly build project 02981 vessels, but does the Navy need them? Rescue vessels are definitely necessary but with other capabilities. There was a tough discussion at the roundtable. One party said GVK-300 deep-water diving complex leaves no place for additional decompression chambers. The question is why GVK is necessary at all, if unmanned underwater craft and baric underwater suits can fully replace it? Experts have numerously raised the issue. Who and why is advocating massive supplies of GVK which the Navy does not need? They are lobbying the delivery of carrier ships for costly and needless GVK instead of the necessary rescue vessels.

Are there any solutions? One was voiced in 2017 at the Navy salon to produce modular rescue gear for submariners which is a cascade of decompression chambers to be operated even by unspecialized vessels (a system called   pictured above). The basic set is for 60 men and the capacity can be increased to 120 in case of extreme overload. It is likely the right approach as the modular scheme can increase decompression capabilities according to real conditions and the class of the wrecked submarine.

It is clear a cascade of modular chambers shall be carried by project 02981 rescue vessels to ensure massive decompression for at least 60 men at the Baltic and Black Sea fleets and at least 140 men at the Northern and Pacific fleets. The unmanned underwater craft are very costly, their operations are restricted in stormy seas and rescue productivity is insufficient. As project 02981 rescue vessel displacement is limited and has a dynamic positioning system, it would be appropriate to use a tethered self-propelled guided bell as the main rescue means (a hybrid of a heavy underwater craft and a rescue bell).

There is no doubt the equipment can be created in reasonable time and cost. It will help create a viable rescue system for all the fleets (six vessels) in conditions of limited financing. The rescue vessels have to keep the possibility to carry unmanned underwater craft, the Military-Industrial Courier writes.

 Copyright 2018 TASS. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Tata Motors (TML) is closing in on Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) in the sales volume of passenger vehicle (PV) segment, thanks to the brimming demand for SUV Nexon and hatchback Tiago. The difference between the third and the fourth biggest players narrowed to 1,313 units during April-August period. The difference stood at 26,483 units in the same period last year.

What does it mean for Tatas? For long, Tata Motors has been trying to turn around its domestic PV business and it hired executives from outside, introduced new brands, stylised the products and cut down the production costs for pricing power. Finally, it halted the production of the white elephant in the portfolio, Nano. Now the financials are ticking up, thanks to the launches like Tiago, Nexon, Tigor and Hexa. Older models like the Bolt and Zest are also attracting customers.

Mahindra has sold 100,318 units between April and August because of its best-selling models like Bolero, Scorpio, XUV500. About a couple of weeks back, it launched the much awaited Marazzo at a launch offer price of Rs 9.99 lakh (ex- showroom). It's the first joint product of Mahindra Automotive North America (MANA) and Mahindra Research Valley (MRV). Chairman Anand Mahindra termed the vehicle as a 'game changer' for the company.

The upcoming launches for Mahindra are Y400 (Mahindra XUV700) and S201 (codenames). Managing director Pawan Goenka recently said that all the new launches, namely Marazzo, S201 and Y400 are in the white spaces. "These vehicles will not be replacing any of the existing products but will be additional brands that will operate in new segments for us," he said. The Y400 will be a premium vehicle, while the Marazzo and S201 are vehicles in the mass segment. The three new launches are expected to add sales volume of 8,000- 9,000 a month, added Goenka.

Tata Motors kicks off the festive season with the launch of the new Tata Tiago NRG, which the company describes as an Urban Toughroader and is priced at Rs 5.49 lakh for the petrol version and at Rs 6.31 lakhs for its diesel version. Early next year, the company will launch the much-awaited Tata Harrier SUV. Its architecture is derived from the legendary Land Rover D8.

Can TML overtake Mahindra in its financial performance? Mahindra (which is also world's largest tractor manufacturer) is valued at Rs 1.17 lakh crore in the stock market. The share price moved up 46 per cent in the last one year because of its strong financial results. It made a consolidated income of Rs 93,896 crore in the last financial year, up by 4.66 per cent. The profit went up by 96.46 per cent to Rs 7,958 crore. In the first quarter of this financial year, the standalone revenue rose by 9.6 per cent to Rs 13,520 crore, while profit surged by 59.4 per cent to Rs 1,221 crore.

The market capitalisation of Tata Motors (which also owns Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) brands and truck manufacturing business) stands at Rs 72,600 crore. The share price has fallen around 40 per cent in the last one year because of the falling sales of JLR. The consolidated income of the auto major went up 7.65 per cent to Rs 2.96 lakh crore in the last financial year. The profit rose 20.3 per cent to Rs 9,091 crore. The standalone revenue has increased by 62 per cent to Rs 16,803 crore in the first quarter, while it recorded a profit of Rs 1,188 crore, compared to a loss of Rs 467 crore in the same quarter last year.

TML is creating a strong automobile portfolio for the domestic market, while battling the headwind in the global market. Mahindra is struggling to crack into the markets of the top two in India--- Maruti and Hyundai. In a nutshell, both are fighting their own battles. Mahindra is financially strong now, while the JLR's return can lift the performance of Tata Motors.Home-grown private equity fund Samara Capital and Amazon have signed a deal to acquire Aditya Birla Group's food and grocery retail chain, More. More is the fourth-largest supermarket chain in the country after Future Group's Big Bazaar, Reliance Retail and DMart. Samara Capital and Amazon acquired the retail chain for an enterprise valuation of Rs 4,200 crore. Aditya Birla Retail Ltd (ABRL) owns 575 More stores and operates them.

Samara Capital acquired 51% of Kumar Mangalam Birla's ABRL, while Amazon.com NV Investment Holdings LLC, Amazon's investment arm acquired the rest 49%. The deal will now be subject to clearance from the Competition Commission of India (CCI).

Samara Capital made its investment through its alternative investment fund, Samara AIF that is backed by multiple overseas investors. However, since Samara AIF is sponsored and managed by Indians, it will be considered a domestic firm, irrespective of the percentage of foreign corpus, as mentioned in a report in The Economic Times.

The daily further mentions that the acquisition is through an existing facility management back-end company. An executive said that since the back-end company has no restriction on FDI, there is no problem, implying that ABRL need not take individual permissions from state governments to operate More stores, a requirement under multi-brand retail FDI.

The deal will take care of ABRL's debt that stood at Rs 4,000 crore as of March 2018. Once the process is complete Samara Capital and Amazon plan to rapidly expand the chain which was put on hold due to its burgeoning debt. They plan to set up 100-150 stores every year including neighbourhood supermarkets and hypermarkets. The plan for the current fiscal is to set up 90 stores.

Till August, Samara Capital was in negotiations with Amazon and Goldman Sachs to form a consortium to acquire ABRL. However, Goldman Sachs exited the consortium.

This is Amazon's second direct investment in India's offline retail space. The company had acquired 5% in department store chain Shoppers Stop for Rs 180 crore in September last year.

(Edited by Anwesha Madhukalya)In what can be called as a major shot in the arm for the Indian investigation agencies, a Dubai court has ordered the extradition of Christian Michel James, a British national, to India in the AgustaWestland VVIP choppers scam. Michel has been accused by the ED of receiving about Euro 30 million (about Rs 225 crore) from AgustaWestland to influence the deal in its favour. The Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) are both probing the case, in which a chargesheet was filed against Michel in June 2016.

The court pronounced the judgement on Tuesday based on India's earlier request to the Gulf nation based on the chargesheet. The full content of the court order, which is in Arabic, could be revealed by the Indian authorities as early as today. The Indian agencies have accused Michel of receiving "kickback" from AgustaWestland -- in the guise of 'genuine transactions' for executing several work contracts -- to sway the 12-helicopter deal in its favour.

Michel is one of the three middlemen being investigated by the ED and the CBI. The other two accused by the agencies are Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa. An Interpol red corner notice (RCN) has also been notified against Michel after the court issued a non-bailable warrant against him.

In its chargesheet, the ED had said the three middlemen "managed to" influence the Indian Air Force (IAF) officials to reduce the service ceiling of these 12 helicopters from 6,000 metre to 4,500 metre in 2005, which made AgustaWestland eligible for the deal. Michel also allegedly paid off influential people in India, who helped reject Russian and American choppers. He was allegedly also in touch with officials from the PMO, SPG, CVC and defence ministry.

India had scrapped 12 AW-101 VVIP choppers contract with Finmeccanica's British subsidiary AgustaWestland in January 2014 over the breach of contractual obligations and the charges of paying Rs 423 crore kickbacks. Former Air Force chief SP Tyagi was also arrested over the allegations of reducing the flying ceiling of the helicopter to put AgustaWestland in the race.Cautioning businesses in China to be ready for a long drawn trade war with US, Alibaba Group founder Jack Ma said the dispute could drag for 20 years, extending far beyond the presidency of Donald Trump.

China needs to strengthen its economy to deal with the conflict and shift trade relations from the US to regions like Southeast Asia and Africa, Ma said during a speech at the company's investor day conference in Hangzhou.

"Short term, business communities in China, US, Europe will all be in trouble," Ma said. "This thing will last long. If you want a short-term solution, there is no solution," he added.

China on Tuesday hit back at the US with tariffs on $60 billion worth of American goods, in a tit-for-tat move that came hours after President Donald Trump slapped duties on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports.

Ma also talked about opportunities. "We should not focus on this quarter or next quarter or next year's profit. This is a huge opportunity," he said, adding, "If Alibaba cannot sustain and grow, no company in China can grow. I'm 100 percent confident in that."

Ma, a former English teacher, founded Alibaba in 1999 in an apartment in the eastern city of Hangzhou to connect Chinese suppliers with foreign retailers. Earlier this month, Ma had announced that he will hand over the company Chairman's post to Daniel Zhang, who's currently the CEO of the company. Ma will remain the Executive Chairman for the next one year before Daniel Zhang takes over most of his responsibilities.

Escalating the trade war with the world's second largest economy, Trump had slapped 10 per cent tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports and the duties will rise to whopping 25 per cent at the end of the year.

China's finance ministry said in a statement: "If the United States insists on raising tariffs even more, China will respond accordingly". China had threatened to retaliate with "synchronised counter measures" against Trump's third round of tariffs, saying the US' move will add "new uncertainties" for future talks between the world's top two economies.

Trump also warned China against any retaliation, saying if Beijing retaliated this time, the US would impose further tariffs on another $267 billion worth of products virtually covering almost all Chinese exports to the US totalling about $522.9 billion.

According to official figures, US goods and services trade with China totalled an estimated $710.4 billion in 2017 of which US exports were $187.5 billion and imports were $522.9 billion.The union representing cabin crew in Belgium turned down an offer by Ryanair ahead of a planned strike on Sept. 28, it said on Wednesday.

Europe's largest low-cost airline offered to follow Belgian employment law from March 2020 for Ryanair contracted employees, addressing one of the major complaints over the company's policy to staff under Irish contract.

The Belgian union, CNE, said that would only help about half of workers, as Ryanair has also been hiring under Crewlink contracts, the statement said.

The union said the offer was an "unacceptable" attempt to divide workers in order to buy time ahead of the planned strike.

"It's a deception on the part of Ryanair," CNE spokesman Yves Lambot told Reuters.

Ryanair did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The threatened strike by cabin crews in Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain is aimed at pressuring shareholders set to meet on Sept. 20 to address Ryanair's labour agreements, union officials announced last week.

The 24-hour strike is planned for Sept. 28 and unions will strike once a month until demands are met.

The Belgian union met with Ryanair officials before announcing the strike and asked for an offer by Tuesday. The offer was made on Tuesday evening, Lambot said.

A Ryanair board member said on Tuesday that the CEO, Michael O'Leary, would continue at the company's top for at least five more years.

"That would be a disappointment" and would not show a change in attitude within the company, Lambot said.

The airline is striving for a union agreement in Germany before Christmas, following strikes by cabin crews and pilots this month and threatened further strikes. (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ieDanske Bank's chief executive Thomas Borgen quit on Wednesday in a money laundering scandal which involved 200 billion euros ($234 billion) flowing through its Estonian branch between 2007 and 2015, most of which was suspicious.

"It is clear that Danske Bank has failed to live up to its responsibility in the case of possible money laundering in Estonia. I deeply regret this," Borgen said in a statement which detailed failings in compliance, communication and controls.

Regulators and the financial community will scrutinize the Danske Bank report, which follows calls by Brussels for a new European Union watchdog to crack down on financial crime after a series of scandals involving anti-money laundering controls.

Dutch bank ING this month admitted criminals had been able to launder money through its accounts and agreed to pay 775 million to settle the case.

A third of Danske Bank's stock market value has been wiped out in the last six months, mainly driven by concerns over a possible inquiry by U.S. authorities and the penalties this could entail.

Danske Bank said its investigation into the affair concluded that Borgen, Chairman Ole Andersen and the board of directors "did not breach their legal obligations towards Danske Bank."

While Danske said it was not able to provide an accurate estimate of the suspicious transactions through its Estonian branch, it said the non-resident portfolio included customers from Russia, Azerbeijan, Ukraine and other ex-Soviet states.

The report found that Danske Bank failed to take proper action in 2007 when it was criticized by the Estonian regulator and received information from its Danish counterpart that pointed to "criminal activity in its pure form, including money laundering" estimated at "billions of roubles monthly."

And when a whistleblower raised problems at the Estonian branch in early 2014 the allegations were not properly investigated and were not shared with the board, Danske said.

While it took measures to get its Estonian business under control in 2014, these were insufficient, the report said.

Danske Bank also said it had decided not to migrate its Baltic banking activities onto its IT platform, because it would be too expensive. Accordingly, the Estonian branch did not employ Danske's anti-money laundering procedures.

U.S. authorities earlier this year accused Latvia's ABLV of covering up money laundering and the bank was promptly denied U.S. dollar funding, leading to its collapse.

While Danske does not have a banking license in the United States, banning U.S. correspondent banks from dealing with it would amount to shutting it out of the global financial network.

The bank, whose shares fell as much as 5% following the release of the report, also lowered its expectations for annual net profit to 16-17 billion Danish crowns, from a previous range of 18-20 billion. (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ieThe President of Mongolia, Khaltmaagiin Battulga heads the delegation of his state to the 4th Eastern Economic Forum, which takes place in Vladivostok on 1113 September. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mongolia to the Russian Federation Banzragch Delgermaa made this statement at a meeting in Moscow with Anton Kobyakov, Adviser to the President of the Russian Federation, Executive Secretary of the Organizing Committee of the Eastern Economic Forum. The Ambassador noted that this would be the second visit of the Mongolian leader to Russia for the Eastern Economic Forum.

Banzragch Delgermaa emphasized that about 80 officials and business representatives of Mongolia are to participate in the Eastern Economic Forum, noting that the trade turnover between the two countries grew by 40% within the seven months of 2018.

At the meeting, the parties discussed the programme of events of the Mongolian delegation at EEF 2018. The details of holding a bilateral meeting of the leaders of Russia and Mongolia at the Forum received particular attention. Before that, they have already met in June this year during the SCO summit in Qingdao, PRC. Also, the option of Mongolian delegation to visit a seafood processing factory and shipyard in Primorye was discussed.

Moreover, the parties discussed the participation of Mongolian athletes in the annual International Jigoro Kano Junior Judo Tournament, which is to be held for the second time in Vladivostok under the patronage of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Summing up the meeting, Anton Kobyakov expressed the hope that the participation of the representative Mongolian delegation in the events of the EEF 2018 will contribute to the expansion of substantive RussiaMongolia cooperation. I am confident that the second visit of the President of Mongolia to the Forum will be an important milestone in the development of relations between the two states, Anton Kobyarov emphasized.

Reference Information

The Eastern Economic Forum

The Eastern Economic Forum is held annually with the objective of facilitating the accelerated development of the Russian Far Easts economy and expanding international cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region in accordance with the Executive order of the President of the Russian Federation No. 250 of 19 May 2015.

The 2018 Eastern Economic Forum will be held in Vladivostok from 1113 September. Far Eastern Federal Universitys (FEFU) campus on Russkiy Ostrov will serve as the forums venue.

The Official EEF Site: www.forumvostok.ru/en

The Roscongress Foundation is a socially oriented non-financial development institution and a major organizer of international conventions, exhibitions, and public events.

The Roscongress Foundation was founded in 2007 with the aim of facilitating the development of Russias economic potential and strengthening the countrys image by organizing international conventions, exhibitions, and public events. The Foundation develops substantive content for such events, providing companies and organizations with advice, information, and expert guidance, and offering comprehensive evaluation, analysis, and coverage of the Russian and global economic agendas. It offers administrative services and promotional support for business projects and helps to attract investment, including in the form of public-private partnerships.

Today, its annual programme includes events held from Montevideo to Vladivostok, offering an opportunity to bring together global business leaders, experts, the media, and government officials in one place, creating favourable conditions for dialogue and the promotion of new ideas and projects, and assisting in the creation of social enterprise and charity projects.

www.roscongress.org/enDEALS & FUNDRAISING

1. Meituan Dianping Confirms IPO Price at HK$69 Per Share

What: Meituan Dianping, Chinas largest online services provider, is looking to raise the equivalent of $4.9 billion in its Hong Kong initial public offering (IPO), at a price of HK$69 ($8.79) per share and a valuation of $53.4 billion.

Why its important: The price is near the top of the HK$62 to HK$70 range set in earlier proposals. The IPO will inject capital into the company, which has yet to turn a profit and continues to face fierce competition in Chinas food delivery and bike-sharing businesses. (IPO allotment results)

BIG TECH COMPANIES

2. Tencent Joins Car Maintenance Startups $450 Million Funding Round

What: Chinese car-maintenance startup Tuhu has completed a $450 million fundraising round from investors that include Tencent Holdings Ltd. and Sequoia Capital.

Why its important: Tuhu was founded in 2011 and provides services such as automobile repair and insurance in 405 Chinese cities with more than 10,000 partners.

Big picture: The aftermarket of the worlds largest auto market has been flourishing in recent years, prompting massive investor interest mostly from the internet sector. (Caixin)

3. HelloBike Partners With Ride-hailing Services in Rebrand

What: Alibaba-backed bike-sharing platform HelloBike has rebranded itself as HelloChuxing after signing partnerships with transportation services providers including ride-hailing company Didi Chuxing and Auto Navi Maps as part of an expansion into other transportation services

Why its important: HelloBike has been emerging as a major contender in a shared-bike industry dominated by money-losing providers Ofo and Mobike. HelloBike CEO Yang Lei told Caixin his company was in a relatively good financial situation, unlike rival companies. (Caixin, link in Chinese)

POLICY

4. Film Regulator to Ban Cinema Ticket Subsidies

What: Chinas top film regulator has met with major movie theater chains to signal a ban on ticket subsidizing, sources have told Caixin.

Why its important: Subsidizing moviegoers has been a common tactic to boost box-office figures for years, often leading to ticket prices less than 10 yuan ($1.46).

Big picture: After fierce and barbaric competition, the market is now dominated by Alibabas Taopiaopiao and Tencents Maoyan. The duopoly, however, might be shaken up by the upcoming ban. (Caixin)

5. Shanghai Supports AI Projects with a Maximum of 20 Million Yuan

What: Shanghai has announced a fund that will endow individual artificial intelligence (AI) projects with a maximum of 20 million yuan ($2.9 million) or 30% of their valuations, authorities announced at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference on Tuesday, signaling support for the industry.

Why its important: The plan marks the latest effort by Shanghai to boost the local AI industry, designated a key strategic initiative by Beijing. (Xinhua, link in Chinese)

PRODUCT

6. WeChat Pay and Alipay Join Hong Kong's New Faster Payment Service

What: Tencents mobile payment system WeChat Pay and Alibabas Alipay have been integrated into Hong Kongs Faster Payment System, which lets customers make interbank and e-wallet transfers in real-time and without transaction fees.

Why its important: This will also mark the first time users will be able to transfer funds between the two cashless payment operators. The service will be available from Sept. 30.

Big picture: WeChat Pay has been slow to expand in Hong Kong while Alipay enjoys relative success as it serves as the payment system for e-commerce platform Taobao and Tmall. (SCMP)

Compiled by He ShujingWhen MSNBC or Fox News airs in public spaces, how do people react?

A UF journalism professor suggests that if you agree with the political slant of the network, it might color your views of others in the room  and change your behavior.

Have you been traveling and noticed that all the televisions in an airport terminal were set to CNN? Or grabbed a drink at a bar and realized that Fox News was being broadcast to its customers?

You might grouse that youre being forced to watch something that doesnt jive with your political views. Or maybe you think its no big deal  your views are already fully formed, so you can just tune it out.

However, more than three decades of academic research and eight years of my own work on media suggest that the presence of cable news on television in shared public spaces does influence us  just not in the way you might think.

Its affecting you, not me

Studies from communication science tell us that the effects unfold in two steps.

First, audiences will often overestimate the influence of media on the other people in the room, while underestimating how broadcasts influence their own views and beliefs.

This is called the third-person effect, and its most likely to happen when people dont want the media to influence other people.

For example, say a conservative woman who is a regular viewer of Fox News dines at a restaurant that has MSNBC playing. Shes more likely to think that the broadcast wields power over the other customers, without taking into account the effect that her own regular consumption of Fox News has on her own views.

The second part of the process involves what communications scholars call the influence of presumed influence model.

Initially tested on how anti-smoking ads influence groups of young people  and since applied to a range of topics including politics  its central tenet is that if you presume someone is being influenced by media, youll change your own behaviors.

Such changes might involve trying to mitigate the influence of media on others. For example, one study found that if you think pornography has a bad influence on others, you might be more likely to support media censorship of pornographic content.

Another study looked at political ads. It found that if you believe others are seeing  and being affected by  political ads on behalf of a candidate you dont support, you might be more likely to vote in that election in order to prevent that politician from winning.

Not all behaviors are active, however. When you think your views are in the minority, youre more likely to be passive in your response to media. So if a liberal goes to a barbershop in a conservative city like Colorado Springs and hears Rush Limbaugh on the radio, theyll be less likely to ask the barber to switch the station or start a conversation about politics.

This isnt exactly a good thing. Scholars believe that when you believe you hold attitudes that are out of step with the majority, it can lead to a spiral of silence, in which youre less likely to express personal opinions for fear of rejection.

Choosing the channels

If televisions in public spaces can influence perceived opinions or political behavior, whos selecting the stations in the first place?

The stations being broadcast in restaurants or hotel lobbies might simply be the decision of a business owner or building manager. Most likely, theyre assuming that their political preferences are consistent with those of the public  a tendency known as the false consensus effect  and are choosing channels accordingly.

By comparison, the cable news channels airing in airport terminals are often predetermined: Airports sign contracts with the parent companies of the news channels, which pay them to broadcast their content.

Time Warners CNN airport package is the most widespread: 59 airports across the nation air CNN to an audience of 323 million annual travelers.

Fox News has criticized what it calls CNNs airport monopoly. Thousands of have signed petitions demanding the removal of CNN from airport televisions  a response to the perceived ideological slant of the channel.

These petitions are a clear example of the influence of presumed influence model in action. Because they fear CNN is exerting undue political influence on their fellow travelers, these petitioners  presumably conservative  seek to censor it.

In other words, the prospect of these broadcasts changing their own political views isnt really what theyre upset about. Theyre more concerned that CNN will shape the attitudes of others.

This might also explain why some partisan petitioners dont simply advocate for something apolitical to air on airport TVs.

Please replace [CNN] with either Fox News or Christian News Network, a Change.org petitioner wrote.

Frank Waddell, Assistant Professor of Journalism, University of Florida

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.news, latest-news

One of the greatest maritime mysteries has been solved, and the National Library of Australia cant believe its luck. As marine archaeologists prepare to announce the discovery of what is believed to be the wreck of the Endeavour, off Rhode Island on the north-eastern coast of the US, here in Canberra, library curators are gearing up to open a new exhibition focusing on the very man who once captained the ship. Cook and the Pacific, which opens on the weekend, focuses on Captain James Cooks three Pacific voyages and explores the Pacific region through the eyes of the British voyagers and the First Nations peoples they met. Co-curator Martin Woods said the timing of the discovery of the shipwreck couldnt be better, as the Endeavour featured heavily in the exhibition. The show includes Cooks journals from the three expeditions, the first of which was undertaken on the Endeavour in 1768, as well as a floor plan of the ship, and a cannon that was jettisoned after the Endeavour nearly ran aground on the Great Barrier Reef. Dr Woods said the ship had originally been a Whitby Cat, or coal and timber ship, built for that purpose in 1764 and extensively refitted when it was decided that it would suit long-distance navigation. It was purchased from the Whitby shipbuilding yards for about 2800 pounds, and then refitted for almost the same amount, putting new decks in, more sails, making it more robust for longer voyaging, Dr Woods said. It was nearly lost at Endeavour River, a significant number of crew died at the end of the first voyage at Batavia from malaria and dysentery, and when it came back to Woolwich Dockyards, it was refitted for able transport. It was then doing service to the Falkland Islands and then eventually as a naval transport during the American War of Independence, which is where it found its way to Rhode Island. Captain Cook himself - a key figure in Australias early history, with countless streets, parks and statues in his name across the country - was the son of a farm labourer, who was apprenticed to a shipowner and sailed coal ships in and around England. By the time he joined the Royal Navy in 1755, he was older than most but quickly rose through the ranks. He was made commander of the Bark Endeavour, as the ship was known (there was already a sloop called Endeavour in the same shipyards), with instructions to sail to Tahiti to observe the Transit of Venus, and to determine whether a continent existed in the southern Pacific Ocean. A document containing the secret instructions to search for the Great South Land is included in the exhibition, along with plant specimens collected at Botany Bay, and the swordfish dagger that was reputedly used to kill Cook in 1779. Also on show will be Cooks collection of navigation instruments, including a sundial and a spirit level. Dr Woods said these would a nice counterpoint to the very cutting-edge technology that was now being used to locate centuries-old shipwrecks. It really is an incredible technology, but I always think in terms of looking at the technology of the day, he said. We have some of the instruments on show that belonged to Cook, and it is amazing to understand how these really manual clunky-looking instruments were able to take such precise calculations, and how skillful people were. Alongside these is Cooks plane table, which Dr Woods said was a boring-sounding name for something that's really quite exciting, because it was his innovation to take this technology from land surveying that he learnt during the Seven Years War against the French, and then adapt that for ocean-going navigation and coastal survey. That's one of the reasons why Cook's such an amazing character. Cook and the Pacific opens September 22 at the National Library of Australia, and runs until February 10, 2019. Entry is free.

/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/e71e834a-3c64-4fff-83dd-f2867800cf4c/r0_305_6000_3695_w1200_h678_fmax.jpgnews, act-politics

Canberra's taxi plate owners are facing potential bankruptcy as the ACT government looks to increase the territory regulated taxi plate cap by almost 40 per cent, to 500, a move that could further devastate the local industry. The situation facing owners is increasingly dire, according to the head of the ACT's Taxi Plate Owners Association Phil Button, who is concerned about the state of owners' mental health. Attorney-General Gordon Ramsay and Greens leader Shane Rattenbury on Tuesday also confirmed the government would not offer owners of the perpetual licences bought before 1995 any compensation for losses in the value of the plates since the ACT legalised ride sharing companies in 2015. While it is unclear how much value has been stripped from the value of ACT plates, in NSW they have fallen as much as 75 per cent in recent years, as the globe grapples with how to deal with ride-sharing firms disrupting the traditional taxi market. The ministers on Tuesday also released research the government commissioned looking at the effects of the 2015 over the following two years on plate owners, drivers and consumers using taxis in Canberra, as well as a discussion paper on further reforms. While the research by the Centre for International Economics examined a range of scenarios including compensation, it recommended against compensation, partly because the government had made no public comments it had any intention of providing such compensation prior to the research. The research found up to $3.78 million in net benefits for the community, largely for consumers, but the costs of running taxis had not fallen, and network fees and other charges remained higher in the ACT than other jurisdictions. It also found while uberX fares averaged about 10 per cent cheaper [except during surge pricing periods] than taxis in Canberra, the ACT cost of UberX trips was $2.48 per kilometre, slightly higher than the ride-sharing fares in both Sydney [$2.44] and Melbourne [$1.95], partly due to a 55 cents "booking fee" charged in the ACT. The CIE analysis indicated licence plate owners were still maintaining their incomes from leasing the licences at about $21,000 a year, but also showed rising costs were meaning returns on the licence plates were negative for any plate bought since 2006. It showed an owner of a licence bought in 2014 for $244,000 was losing 42% of its returns as at 2017, and while lease rates are static, they could start falling - a change that would be "hastened" by the government issuing more plates. Mr Button said the territory government was dealing a further blow to existing plate owners with a decision to also raise the ACT's cap on licence plates from the current 358 cap up to 500 plates. He said he believed the CIE research was commissioned with the government's predetermined outcome in mind, to introduce ride-sharing in Canberra without thought to the financial and emotional toll on the existing taxi industry. Mr Button said the latest decision meant plate owners could go bankrupt to avoid paying back loans used to buy the plates, some could lose their homes or be forced onto the aged pension in the absence of the plate income, which many had hoped would provide a nest egg. "How is that looking after the families, the operators and drivers already working in the industry?" he said. "Many people invested in the plates as a future superannuation option, and also bought them as something to be handed on to a family member." Mr Button said many owners were now thinking their life's work trying to build a financial future for their children was now "worthless". "Our people are crying to me on the phone, they've been waiting for good news, but today it hasnt been good news." The government will immediately issue 30 plates to some of those on the 250-odd long waiting list for plates, to meet the current 358 cap, plates which cost just $5000 a year to lease from government, compared to the perpetual licences costing about $20,000 to lease from owners. A further 50 plates will be issued by March next year, while the government seeks submissions on a discussion paper about how to implement the 500 cap, as well as related issues including how much the maximum fares would be for licensed taxis. Despite plans the increase the cap, a government spokeswoman said the government has no plans to reach the new cap, but the extra amount could allow for more "flexibility in coming years, which could include the release of additional wheelchair-accessible taxi licences". The government has also announced plans to provide counselling services for taxi industry participants in need. Mr Button said while all the other Labor-governed states had agreed to buyback existing plates for some sort of price, the ACT government was refusing to put forward any compensation. "We asked for compensation from the government months, ago, all we asked for was some compassion, but this government seems devoid of compassion," he said. "We just want our money back to move on with our lives." If you find the issues raised in this report distressing, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Correction: This article previously reported Mr Button's surname as Booth. That was incorrect and has now been corrected.

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Liberal politicians have denied influencing a National Capital Authority decision not to allow pill testing at an upcoming Canberra music festival, as the Barr government considers allowing the drug-checking service to go ahead at a different site during the event. The federal agency said there was no legal framework for pill-testing to happen at the Spilt Milk Festival at Commonwealth Park in November, and the federal government would not facilitate changes needed for the service to be offered. This is despite a successful pill testing pilot at The Groovin The Moo festival in Canberra in April, which picked up two lethal substances - one that was responsible for the hospitalisation of 13 people in New Zealand a month earlier. ACT Justice Minister Shane Rattenbury said he was "bitterly disappointed" about the NCA's decision. "Im not clear where the NCA is coming from on this one, I think from their point of view as a land manager, their job is to make sure the garbage is picked up, theres safety around the event and those sort of things," Mr Rattenbury said. "It does seem quite clear the federal government has played a role in this, we saw the Canberra Liberals engage them last year to put a view forward on this, I don't see any reason why the NCA would be taking this approach. Its well outside their business unless theyre being given some sort of political direction." However, Canberra Liberals' legal affairs spokesman Jeremy Hanson said he had not made any approaches to his federal counterparts since the letter he sent last year, urging them to intervene in the pill testing trial planned for Spilt Milk 2017. He said it was the ACT government, not the NCA, that was out of step on the issue of pill testing. What the NCA is doing is consistent with every other jurisdiction in Australia. State governments and territory governments, Liberal and Labor across Australia oppose pill testing for a very good reason," Mr Hanson said. Liberal senator for the ACT Zed Seselja said he believed the NCA made the right call but denied there had been federal intervention. "Theyre an independent body so they can make their own judgements around whats appropriate on Commonwealth land that they have responsibility for," Senator Seselja told ABC Radio. Mr Rattenbury said the territory government could instead allow pill testing to happen on ACT-controlled land during the festival, but it would have to be discussed further with the STA-Safe consortium. "It is a model Ive seen operate overseas, the Netherlands run a service at the local health centre on a Wednesday and Thursday night but thats not the culture we have in Australia yet, its still very early from a pill testing point of view and I dont think our festivalgoers are that preemptive," Mr Rattenbury said. "You could imagine setting up somewhere like the bus interchange but its not clear youd get enough of the festivalgoers going there on their way to the festival or the day before the festival." ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr told Canberra radio station 2CC if the federal government wouldn't budge, a change of venue could be in order for future festivals. "I recognise in relation to the Spilt Milk festival that whilst ever it is held on Commonwealth land that is a decision that both the Commonwealth are within their rights to make," Mr Barr said. "As to whether the organisers of Spilt Milk would want to move their venue, it might be too late this year for them but in the future, if they wanted to we would certainly be open to a discussion with them about an alternate location that would allow pill testing." Meanwhile, former AFP commissioner Mick Palmer, Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation president Dr Alex Wodak and Greens Senator Richard Di Natale are among those who've co-signed an open letter to all Australian governments, asking them to consider pill testing at events where there's a risk of drug overdoses. It comes as NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian ruled an expert panel convened after the death of two people at a music festival in Penrith on the weekend would not look at pill testing. "The National Capital Authority and NSW Governments refusal to accept the evidence is just grubby pandering to conservative lobbyists - and if there are any preventable deaths on their watch, they will have to bear responsibility," Senator Di Natale said. Mr Palmer said the weekend deaths were "stark evidence ... of the futility of a zero tolerance, law enforcement approach to such issues". "The lives so tragically lost and the other serious harms experienced at youth and music festivals, even before the needlessly sad events at the Defqon. 1 festival last week have convinced me beyond all doubt that the benefits of pill testing - as evidenced by pill-testing results overseas - far outweigh any possible risks," Mr Palmer said.

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A Canberra Liberals bill to give landlords who rent their properties through community housing providers an exemption on land tax does not guarantee a Greens proposal for a 25 per cent discount on market rent. But Opposition housing spokesman Mark Parton, who tabled the bill in the ACT Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, said reduced rent remained the intention in the bill, even if not explicitly mentioned. It comes as all parties look to potential options to solve what many have dubbed a rental affordability crisis in the capital and the community continues to await Housing Minister Yvette Berry's new housing affordability strategy. Mr Parton's bill would allow landlords of Canberra properties to allow the property to be managed by a community housing provider to rent the property to tenants who are struggling in the private rental market. But it does not include key provisions the Greens MLA Caroline Le Couteur has pushed for, including enshrining a 25 per cent reduction on market rent on such properties and ensuring providers complete due diligence so tenants of such properties are genuinely low-income households. Mr Parton said the Opposition's bill was no silver bullet for the rental affordability crisis, but he believed it would help some Canberrans into more affordable homes, and that after months of debate on the issues, the time to act was now. While he did say such properties would be offered to tenants at an affordable level, the actual legislation does not include a specific clause, nor does it specifically define what that affordable level would be, or what low-income households may be. But Mr Parton said outside the Assembly he believed the bill did not need to officially mention the 25 per cent discount, as landlords would be required to rent the properties through a registered provider. He said that given their core business was renting properties at 25 per cent below market rent, he would expect them to do so for any properties using the exemption. He also reiterated his concerns about the way a proposed motion on the matter was dealt with earlier this year, when the Greens beat the Opposition to the punch in introducing a motion in Assembly, which was largely similar to the Opposition's. Ms Le Couteur said while she believed the Opposition's intentions were the same as the Greens on the issue, she was still concerned some providers may not definitely provide properties at the discounted rate, as historically providers have rented some properties at market rates to help subsidise reduced rents in others. She also raised concerns the bill may not be able to be effectively debated or passed in the Assembly, due to Standing Orders preventing private members' bills from introducing measures that affect government financial appropriations. But Mr Parton said as the bill did not propose a specific additional spending measure, he believed it should not cross into the realms of an appropriations bill, and given the Land Tax Act already provided similar exemptions, the bill proposed only minor changes to the Act. While it remains unclear whether the bill would engage such rules, it has not yet been tested on the bill through what would likely involve a point of order being raised on the floor before a Speaker's ruling on the matter. The Greens motion passed by the Assembly earlier this year, after government amendments, also urged the government to report back on the proposal by October this year, among other issues. Ms Le Couteur said while she backed the principle of the Opposition bill, she wanted to wait to hear back from government before deciding to support the bill or not. She also said that if the bill was not able to be passed as a private members' bill, she hoped the government would then act to legislative to ensure appropriations were made for the proposal, given wide political and community support.

/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/b4d05b68-c14f-43cf-be7f-66b230e8e950/r0_229_4500_2771_w1200_h678_fmax.jpgThe registration of the premier management entrance examination, Common Admission Test (CAT), is all set to end on September 26, 2018. This national-level entrance examination, which is conducted annually for an admission to management courses in Indian Institutes of Management (IIM's) and other business schools, will be held on November 25, 2018.

IIM Calcutta, which is an organising institute for CAT 2018, will be releasing the admit cards on October 24 from 1:00 pm. Candidates who have registered for the CAT 2018 can visit the official website to download their admit cards.

What Are The Best CAT Preparation Books To Ace The Exam?

Steps To Download The CAT Admit Card 2018

Step 1: Candidates have to visit the official website of CAT 2018 - https://iimcat.ac.in

Step 2: Log in through the registered credentials

Step 3: CAT admit card 2018 will be displayed

Step 4: Download the CAT admit card

Step 5: Take a printout of the CAT admit card

The CAT admit card 2018 will consist of key information such as a name of the candidate, date of birth, CAT 2018 registration number, slot of CAT 2018, test system number, candidate's signature, candidate's photograph and exam day instructions.

Why Online Preparation For CAT Is Best?

CAT exam consists of three sections namely, Quantitative Aptitude (QA), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) and Verbal and Reading Comprehension (VRC). Candidates can choose any section to start and switch between them. To know more about the CAT exam pattern, click here.

CAT will be conducted in test centres spread across around 147 test cities. Candidates will be given option to select any four test cities in order of their preference. CAT 2018 results will be announced in the second week of January.

How Did 99+ Percentilers Prepare For CAT?Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL) has released an employment notification calling out aspirants to apply for various posts. Those interested can check out the eligibility, salary scale, how to apply and the complete details of the government job here. Selected candidates can earn up to INR 180000. The last date to apply for this government job is Oct 8, 2018.

Selection Process

The selection process consists of three stages:

Written test

Interview

Physical test (Standing, bending etc)

Also Read: Railway Recruitment 2018: CMRL Is Hiring Engineers And CA

CPCL Recruitment 2018 Vacancy Details

CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Engineer, IT&S Officer, Human Resources Officer and Safety Officer Organisation Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited Educational Qualification First class degree in relevant engineering for engineers; graduate degree in technology for Safety Officer and graduate degree in any discipline for others Experience Freshers can apply Skills Required Technical skills Job Location Chennai Salary Scale INR 60000 to INR 180000 Industry Petroleum Application Start Date September 18, 2018 Application End Date October 8, 2018

Maximum Age Limit: 26 years

Also Read: TNPSC Recruitment 2018 For Mass Interviewer

How To Apply For CPCL Recruitment 2018

In order to apply for CPCL Recruitment 2018, follow these steps:

Step 1 Log on to the CPCL official website. Step 2 Hover over the tab that reads, People & Careers. Step 3 Select Recruitment Drive. Step 4 The list of notifications will be displayed on the screen. Step 5 Under Recruitment of Officers, click on the link for detailed notification. Step 6 The detailed notification will open on a new page. Read the details carefully.

Step 7: Wait for the application link that will be active from Sep 24, 2018 and apply online.

Follow the link - https://www.cpcl.co.in/People&Careers/RecruitmentDrive/2018/Officers' Recruitment 2018.pdf to read the detailed official notification.Step 1

Log on to the GHMC official website.

Step 2

Under Announcements, click on the option that reads, View All.

Step 3

The list of announcements will be displayed on the screen.

Step 4

Click Apply on the post you want to apply for.

Step 5

The detailed advertisement will open. Read the details carefully.

Step 6

Scroll down to find the application form link and click on it.

Step 7

The application form will open on a new screen. Enter your details in the fields provided.

Step 8

Upload your resume.

Step 9

Read the disclaimers and click on the checkboxes to agree to them.

Step 10

Click SUBMIT and complete the application process.Assurant, a niche market specialty insurer, has invested in a technology startup focused on connected car services.

The New York-based company declined to disclose the level of investment in Mojio, a technology platform and software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider with offices in Vancouver, B.C.; Campbell, Calif.; and Sofia, Bulgaria. Assurance made the investment through its Assurant Growth Investing venture capital initiative

Plans call for both companies to work on products that use their combined pools of vehicle data to enhance the ownership experience of car owners. Assurant provides coverage in areas including vehicle protection, mobile devices and extended service contracts. Mojio is a cloud platform and SaaS provider for automakers and mobile network operators looking to build connected car services, with a data analytics and machine learning component.

Bob Lonergan, Assurants chief strategy officer, said in prepared remarks that the partnership should allow each company to capitalize on its complementary capabilities.

Source: AssurantPhoto: The Canadian Press In this May 28, 2013 file photo, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie greets President Barack Obama upon his arrival at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J. Obama traveled to New Jersey joining Christie to inspect and tour the Jersey Shore's recovery efforts from Hurricane Sandy.

The politics of natural disasters can be tricky for a president.

Long before President Donald Trump tossed paper towels to storm-stricken Puerto Ricans and denied Hurricane Maria's official death toll, his predecessors struggled to steer the nation through life-and-death emergencies.

To project empathy without looking weak. To show both command and co-operation. To put the focus on victims  but provide leadership, too.

As Trump heads to North Carolina on Wednesday to survey damage from Hurricane Florence, a look back at how presidents have grappled with the challenges and opportunities of disaster politics:

___

TRUMP

Trump is not known for shows of empathy and relishes fights he thinks will resonate with his core supporters.

That includes a bitter and lasting brawl with Puerto Rico in the year since the U.S. territory was devastated by Hurricane Maria. He also has grappled with getting it right in ruby-red Texas and Louisiana after Hurricane Harvey, which dumped nearly 50 inches of rain near Houston.

Trump's first post-Harvey trip to Texas generated blowback for his failure to meet with victims of the storm. Four days later, he returned  and urged people at a Houston shelter to "have a good time." He also cheered on volunteers and emergency workers and handed out hot dogs and potato chips to residents. Some critics said the president's trip took on the tone of a victory lap for successful disaster management.

___

OBAMA

On Oct. 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandy made landfall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and became the costliest storm in U.S. history behind Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Republican Gov. Chris Christie invited Democratic President Barack Obama to view the storm damage, and when the president arrived, the two shared a friendly, widely photographed greeting. At one point, as the two shook hands, Obama put his left hand on Christie's right shoulder. The resulting image was derided by some conservatives as a "hug"  and a potential re-election boost for Obama when he was being challenged by Republican Mitt Romney.

The storm is blamed for 182 deaths and cost about $70 billion in New Jersey and New York.

It was one of several natural disasters that gave Obama the opportunity to play the traditional role of comforter in chief.

___

BUSH

President George W. Bush, praised for his leadership after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, stumbled during what proved to be the government's inadequate response to deadly Hurricane Katrina four years later.

Heading back to Washington after nearly a month on his ranch, Bush had Air Force One fly over part of the devastation, giving him a view of it from high above. The moment was preserved in photographs and generated criticism that he didn't come in person.

"Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job," he told FEMA Director Michael Brown, three days after Katrina flooded New Orleans. The storm left 1,800 people dead and caused $151 billion in damage. Much public blame went to the Bush administration for a too-slow response.

___

CLINTON

Bill Clinton, who famously claimed during the 1992 campaign "I feel your pain," was a natural at connecting with disaster victims. As president, he visited Des Moines, Iowa, the next year to examine flood damage in the region. He shook hands with people who had lost their homes as well as National Guard troops.

During a visit to a water distribution centre, a woman can be heard in footage preserved by C-SPAN telling him, "My house was flooded."

"I'm so sorry," Clinton replied.

A weeping woman in pink with a blue small cooler in her hand told Clinton: "My parents lost their home and I have not been home for like a week. I can't take it anymore."

He draped an arm around her and said, "Hang in there."Even without the end of the 2021 season, Corinthians are already working on 2022. At the group draw event in...Cemex would have investment grade until 2020

ICR Newsroom By 19 September 2018

The strategy to reduce the leverage level would allow Cemex to recover its investment grade in the first part of 2020, according to Citibanamex projections.



"We expect the company to end 2018 and 2019 with a net debt/EBITDA ratio of 3.8 and 3.1 times, respectively. For the first half of 2020 the indicator would reach 3.0 times, excluding the sale of assets, explains an analysis of the financial institution.

However, the sale of assets would accelerate the process to obtain the investment grade, which was withdrawn by the credit rating agencies Standard & Poor's (S&P) and Fitch Ratings in 2009, reports CE Noticias Financieras.

The cement producer plans to reduce some US$3.5bn of its debt by 2020 to accelerate the path to the upgrade. At the end of the 2Q18, total debt, including perpetual notes, was US$10.89m.

"We remain committed to returning to investment grade, but now we hope to get there sooner. We have made significant progress on this front, "the company's CEO, Fernando Gonzalez, explained to analysts at the time.

Since the end of 2013, Cemex has reduced its debt, going from US17.5bn to US$10.9bn dollars at the end of the 2Q18, a reduction of approximately 38 per cent.

Published underEthiopia-Eritrea border re-opening fuels cement trade

ICR Newsroom By 19 September 2018

Following the normalisation of Ethiopia-Eritrea relations and the reopening of the border between the two countries, cement trade is flourishing after two decades of stand-off.



As of Wednesday 12 October, 4000-5000 quintals (400-500t) a day have been transported from Adigrat, some 900km north of Addis Abeba, to the border towns of Senafe, Adi Keyih and Dekemhare in Eritrea, according to business owners in Adigrat.

Business activities in these areas has revived, Angesom told Fortune. A minimum of 20 trucks carrying cement is leaving from Adigrat to Eritrea daily.

A quintal of cement, manufactured by Messebo Cement Factory, is sold for ETB200 (US$7.21). The Eritreans are buying the commodities in birr exchanged from Eritrean nakfa and US dollars, reports Addis Fortune.







Published underEven though most royal family members typically stick to royal protocol, some have broken from tradition over the years. Princess Diana was known for her rebellious ways, and Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle have both followed in her path where theyve seen fit.

As it turns out, Prince Harry is following in his mothers footsteps, too. Heres how hes breaking royal tradition  specifically, with his wedding ring.

His ring is made with platinum instead of classic Welsh gold

Usually, royal family members have wedding rings made with classic Welsh gold. And as Hello! Magazine pointed out, the gold has a significant meaning: [Prince] Charles ring is made from classic gold, like all other wedding rings in the royal family, which is traditionally gifted by the Queen from her personal collection of Welsh gold from the Clogau St. David Gold Mine in Dolgellau, Wales.

Harrys ring, instead, takes a more modern approach. He opted for a platinum ring, which on a surface level, might not seem like a huge deal. But we see the break from tradition as a symbol for how members of the younger royal generation are taking steps (no matter how small) to modernize the rules of royalty.

Most royal men dont wear their wedding rings

Just the fact alone that Harry wears his wedding ring is an unconventional choice. His older brother, Prince William, and his grandfather, Prince Philip, dont wear their wedding rings at all. His father, Charles, does wear his wedding band  but he wears it on his pinky (along with a signet ring hes been rocking for decades).

Markles engagement ring honors Princess Diana

Although the engagement ring Harry had custom-made for Markle follows more royal tradition, it holds a unique meaning that essentially makes it priceless. While the band is made from yellow gold and was made by the queens official jeweler, Cleave and Company, the diamonds make the ring particularly special.

The center diamond is from Botswana  which Harry and Markle share as one of their favorite places in the world. But the two, smaller diamonds on either side of the center stone hold the most significance: They came from Princess Dianas jewelry collection.

Diana broke royal tradition with her ring before Harry did

Long before Harry broke royal tradition with his wedding ring, Diana stirred up controversy with her choice of engagement ring. It wasnt just that her ring was a unique choice  it was that it came from a catalog, and she picked it herself. She chose the oval blue Ceylon sapphire ring out of the Garrard catalog, as the 18-karat white gold ring with 14 solitaire diamonds surrounding a stunning sapphire caught her eye.

Most royal engagement rings are custom made, as Markles was, to ensure they are one-of-a-kind. Essentially, anyone could have the same ring as Diana, which was just one of the many reasons fans felt they could relate to her.

Kate Middleton now wears Dianas engagement ring

As most royal family fans know, Kate Middleton now honors Diana by wearing her engagement ring. Prior to Dianas 1997 death, the late princess made sure to pass down her jewelry collection to her sons. She wrote, I would like you to allocate all my jewellery to the share to be held by my sons, so that their wives may, in due course, have it or use it. I leave the exact division of the jewellery to your discretion.

Harry was initially the son to take the ring. However, once William had plans to propose to Middleton, the ring was passed on to him. In return, William gave Harry their mothers Cartier watch.

William explained just how much it means for his wife to be wearing the special ring: Its my mothers engagement ring, and its very special to me, as Kate is very special to me now as well. It was only right the two were put together.When it comes to Queen Elizabeths style choices, everything down to her three strand pearl necklace is calculated. She wears bright, cheerful colors to stand out, comfortable shoes so she can walk without blistering, weighted skirts to avoid potential mishaps on a windy day, a hat if its a formal occasion, and she rarely leaves Buckingham Palace without her favorite necklace. But, why does Queen Elizabeth always wear pearls? We share the sweet story behind Her Majestys favorite necklace, ahead.

Why does Queen Elizabeth always wear pearls?

According to reports, the queens favorite three strand pearl necklace is part of her official engagement uniform. Her neck is rarely seen without them, and we dont blame her. After all, theyre beautiful, and the meaning behind them is sentimental. That said, she doesnt have just one. She has three strand pearl necklace. She has three that she uses interchangeably.

The queens grandfather, King George V gave Her Majesty her first three strand pearl necklace when she was young. And she loved it so much that she had another one made. With two identical pearl necklaces in her collection, the queen was later gifted a third. Given to her in 1953 by the Emir of Qatar, the similar three strand pearl necklace mimics her favorite necklaces and features a stunning diamond clasp.

Today, the queen incorporates all three necklaces into her regular attire and so-called official uniform. And while theres no word on why she interchanges them, our guess is it has to do with preserving her most precious Crown Jewels.

Pearl necklaces arent the only stand out items in her wardrobe and uniform. Read on for other items the queen cant reign without.

Black handbag

Pearl necklaces arent the only thing the Queen of England has multiples of. In addition to her pearl collection, she also has a black handbag collection. And, for the most part, they are all from Launer. The iconic handbag is more than just a place to hold her must-have items  read: mints, lipstick, a small mirror, a pen, and reading glasses  its a way for her to send hidden messages to her staff.

Should the queen shift her iconic black handbag from one hand to another, it signals her ladies in waiting and other members of staff that shes done with the conversation. If she places it on the table at an event, it means she wants to leave in five minutes. Another way she sends a hidden message to her royal posse? By placing the Launer bag on the ground. As soon as her purse touches the ground, her ladies in waiting know she wants to be rescued.

Gloves

While its not as common for younger generations  aka Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle  to wear gloves on official engagements, the queen prefers it. The queen allegedly wears gloves to protect her hands from dirt and damage, but also believes an outfit would look incomplete without them. And, like her handbags, theres only one label she trusts. Since the queens honeymoon in 1947, shes worn Cornelia James gloves

Nail polish

Queen Elizabeth is a creature of habit. From her necklaces to her handbags to her gloves to the polish on her fingers, she likes things the same. Case in point: Shes been wearing Essie Ballet Slippers nail polish since 1989.

Check out The Cheat Sheet on Facebook!Pueblo to be home to 35-unit supportive housing complex

A 35-unit permanent supportive housing complex called The Right Place is open in Belmont, providing housing and resources for those in need.I hate to admit it, but vindictiveness comes easily to me. Recently, I was online for less than two minutes before I found myself relishing an opponent getting publicly mocked. He had said something particularly and typically foolish, so he surely deserved it. Right when I was going to pile on, Jesus words from the Sermon on the Plain came to mind: Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful (Luke 6:36).

Its often passed over, but its an arresting thought. In form, it appears as a gloss of one of the most important commands in the Old Testament: Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy (Lev. 19:2). The Lord, the Holy One, had saved Israel and set them apart from the nations to be his holy people (Ex. 19:46). They had been sanctified to reflect Gods holiness to the nations in their holy worship, conduct, and character.

Jesus teaches his disciples that living as children of the Most High (Luke 6:35) means loving our enemies, doing good to those who hate us, lending without expectation of return, and blessing those who curse us; this will set us apart. Put another way, mercy is what holiness looks like in the lives of Gods children.

Many of us dont associate Gods holiness with his mercy. Holiness as purity, judgment, and wrath? Sure. Gods holiness is the distinctive glory, power, and majesty of his incorruptible life. But witness Gods self-testimony to Israel in Hosea (11:9):

I will not carry out my fierce anger,

nor will I devastate Ephraim again.

For I am God, and not a man

the Holy One among you.

I will not come against their cities.

The Lord reveals himself as the Holy One precisely in his compassion ...

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Have something to add about this? See something we missed? Share your feedback here.In 2020, we were the church on our heels. A global pandemic shut down much of our world. But the church has been on the move since it was birthed; it will continue to be on the move until God makes all things new.For years, Ed and Marian Stinnette have served as the hands and feet of Jesus in disaster zones, helping victims recover from devastating storms such as Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Now, the longtime Samaritans Purse volunteers and their home congregation, Port City Community Church, which has four locations in eastern North Carolina, are mobilizing close to home.

I truly believe that its going to be the faith-based people that are going to be here for the long haul, Ed Stinnette, 71, said from the historic river city of New Bern, North Carolina, where officials estimate Hurricane Florence damaged or destroyed 4,300 homes and 300 businesses. Theyre going to be the ones that are going to reach out and help the people recover from this.

Convoy of Hope, a Springfield, Missouri-based nondenominational Christian organization, is partnering with Port City Community Church to distribute supplies from the churchs campus in Wilmington, North Carolina. As a result of Florences epic deluge, that hard-hit city became an island shut off from much of the world.

The Port City church also is teaming with Samaritans Purse, an evangelical humanitarian aid organization headquartered in Boone, North Carolina, to help Florence victims all over the deluged state. At least 37 people in three states have died, including 27 in North Carolina, as a result of the powerful Category 4 hurricane.

Right now, we are focused on the cleanup stage, Todd Taylor, program manager of US disaster relief for Samaritan's Purse, said from the charitys New Bern command center. That includes cutting trees, tarping roofs with blue plastic to prevent further roof damage and leaking, removing contents out of flooded homes as well as removing Sheetrock and flooring, and trying to get those homes that have been affected by flooding rebuild-ready.

Even as President Donald Trump dispatches what the White House describes as a massive federal response to Florence, the so-called faith-based FEMA is already out in forcefrom Mennonite chainsaw crews to Southern Baptist feeding teams to Seventh-day Adventist warehousing experts adept at collecting, organizing, and logging relief supplies.

The coordinated response is no accident.

Its by designpart of an umbrella group of 65 faith-based agencies and secular charities called the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (National VOAD).

What a disaster does is actually creates an environment where people of various faith walks come together to help their community and their neighbor, said Gregory Forrester, president and CEO of National VOAD. From a faith side, Ive never seen churches work so well together than after a disaster.

National VOAD works to avoid duplication of services by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and faith-based groupsa collaboration that has caused few church-state concerns because no money changes hands, said Robert Tuttle, a George Washington University professor of law and religion.

I'd say it's among the least controversial areas of government-religion interaction," said Tuttle, who has studied how the government integrates faith-based groups during disaster response.

VOAD formed nearly five decades ago after Hurricane Camille, a Category 5 storm that hit the Gulf Coast in 1969. Up until then, numerous government agencies and religious and secular nonprofits all acted independently of one another, resulting in haphazard help to victims, as Christianity Todaypreviously has reported.

The VOAD movement is built on advancing the four Cs: cooperation, communication, coordination, and collaboration, said Jim Kirk, who manages the national response team for Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, based in Louisville, Kentucky. Obviously, when we practice the four Cs well, were able to get the most help to the most people in the most effective way possible.

Kirk likens the VOAD approach to the of the church as one body with many parts.

In the disaster realm, as crucial as it is to have chainsaws to clear debris, if everybody showed up with chainsaws, where would be the feeding? he said. Where would be sheltering? Where would be the rebuilding? Where would be the long-term recovery?

His Presbyterian Disaster Assistances post-hurricane specialty is providing emotional and spiritual support to caregivers.

Meanwhile, the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) has built a niche in case managementguiding victims through the maze of steps and paperwork required by government aid programs and private insurance.

They empower survivors to lead their own way out of recovery, spokesman Dan Curran said of UMCORs staff and volunteers. They advocate for them with the different programs. They connect them with services they made need.  They basically teach survivors how to navigate the system so they can get back on their feet and start to lead the new normal.

Denominations typically have local churches in disaster areas, which gives them an immediate head start on FEMA, Forrester said.

What I like to say, the VOAD president added, is that we have hard assets in every community in the nation.  The churches are already doing what churches do best, which is to take care of people. They already facilities with kitchens and ways to shelter people.

In the past, even though churches were on the front lines of disaster relief, they did not qualify for federal aid themselves, said Daniel Blomberg, an attorney with Becket, a leading legal group that defends religious liberty. But after Hurricane Harvey last year, three congregations sued in Harvest Family Church v. FEMA, challenging the federal policy as religious discrimination.

Earlier this year, FEMA revised its policies to make churches eligible for federal assistance following a disaster. The agency cited last years major US Supreme Court ruling in Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia v. Comer, in which the high court decided that a church could not be deemed ineligible for a public benefit (in that case, grant funding to resurface a playground) solely due to its religious nature. CTs Church Law and Taxexplains how the new rules work.

At a practical level, youre still dealing with the government. Youre still facing red tape, Blomberg, back home in Charleston, South Carolina, after evacuating to Florida before Florences arrival, said of damaged churches applying for aid. But before, you never got to the red tape. The door was completely slammed in the face of the church.  So its a good thing that the churches can now get a fair shake.Below are practical steps churches and families can take to prepare for and respond to emergencies, and lessons from churches in New York and New Orleans who suffered through natural and manmade disasters.

What churches have learned

Right after 9/11, Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City was flooded with requests for helpand with generous gifts from all over to help meet those needs. Because their church had an organized diaconate with trained leaders, Redeemer was able to distribute assistance much more efficiently than groups arriving after the event. "We saw many other relief efforts spend a great deal of money on hiring new staff and renting office spacevery high cost items," says Tim Keller. This may be a good lesson to support existing churches and ministries when we can, rather than "build our own."

One lesson Redeemer learned from 9/11 was to watch for burnout among their staff. "We did not recognize the danger as much as we should have," Keller said.

After super storm Sandy, Redeemer again relied on its robust diaconate, but they encountered other problems because the disaster. "We had difficulty connecting quickly with the thousands of people in the Redeemer community to make sure everyone was okay," said Bruce Terrell, executive pastor. Large power outages compounded communication problems. "We also believe we can do a better job of partnering with the city to work in concert with the needs they identify," says Terrell.

Another church affected by Sandy, in a low-income area of New York City, was Infinity NY Church. They learned before the storm to put all church cell numbers on phones they could use whether normal power was running or not. This helped get news and requests for help to church members much more quickly. They also prepared ahead of time so they could bring much needed generators and pumps to flooded homes right after the storm and before government help arrived. Infinity NY Church's pastor, Dimas Salaberrios, helped organize church responses to 9/11, the Haiti earthquake, and Sandy, and knows first-hand just how vital the church's role is during disasters.

Ray Cannata, who started pastoring at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New Orleans just after Hurricane Katrina, dealt with its aftermath for several years. "We healed ourselves by becoming healers," he said. "Our focus remains mission not self-protection. Moving toward the pain." He said this has helped his church stay focused on service despite long-lasting challenges from the storm.

Because natural disasters are common in their area, Cannata says his church is always preparing: every year they buy one or two more generators to use later. During their last storm, they had five member homes with generators, which they opened to people in need.

More recently, Pastor John Crowder of First Baptist Church in West, Texas, told Leadership Journal about the struggles he and his church have had since that disaster. Doubt, frustration, and the day-to-day inconveniences brought (ironically) by relief workers challenge the church's witness. He and his congregation need to steward resources sent to help, while remembering that God is bigger than their disaster.

The difference spiritual preparation makes

Hurricane Katrina was one of the largest disasters in our nation's recent history. It killed more than 3,000 and left thousands more without food, water, and other services in New Orleans and other areas. After that disaster, Keith Collins, pastor of Lakeview Christian Center, realized how important their spiritual preparation was during and after that disaster:

"How helpful it was for the church to be 'theologically prepared' for suffering. Scripture presents to us a God who is sovereign over every detail of his creation, including the catastrophes, and that God is working all things for his glory and our good. One of the most encouraging things that I observed as a pastor was that in the midst of our people losing homes, businesses, and having to relocate, they weren't walking around asking, 'Why, God?'"

That kind of heart-preparation is vital. It will be even more important if God allows a much more serious disaster on American soil. A nuclear or biological attack could affect a city or region for many years, with much greater loss of life than Katrina.

Collins's final thoughts about what he learned through Katrina are worth remembering: "What informs our present thoughts about how we would face such a disaster again is what we experienced about how God is in the midst of disasters. He opens doors of favor, he provides in ways you didn't script, he brings wisdom that you don't have."

"What becomes clear," Collins says, "is that God already has a plan in place for the day of those events. So, if I could encourage any form of preparation before such a disaster, it would be to learn to live your life and to lead your church in the regular habit of 'God dependence.' "Don't grow dependent on your familiar and traditional ways of doing church to the neglect of receiving from the Holy Spirit," Collins says. "In the day of a catastrophe the old familiar script just won't work and there aren't any good books that will have all the answers, but if your ear is tuned to God, he will lead you through the rubble!"

Biblical examples of faith in the face of tragedy include Habakkuk (3:17-18), who saw a national disaster coming and could still rejoice in God. Job did the same thing in the face of personal tragedy that cost him everything (Job 1:21).

Teaching these truths is vitally important, and the time to take them to heart is before a disaster strikes. This is a point John Piper makes in his book Spectacular Sins, which encourages church leaders to prepare people spiritually for "global sorrows" that are coming.

Careful spiritual preparation has no downside: it prepares us for personal tragedies as well as national ones, whether they come or not.

Preparing for emergencies where you have to leave

Many of the preparations that families and churches should make for natural and manmade disasters are the same. Broadly speaking, it is wise to prepare for disasters where you have to leave (evacuate), and those where you have to stay in place.

Here are suggestions for preparing for emergencies requiring you to leave your areabut please carefully consult the FEMA website when making any plans (www.ready.gov/build-a-kit):

Make a family communication plan.

Identify a friend or relative out-of-state that each family member can call and let them know you are safe. Local phone circuits may be jammed, while calling out of the area may be possible. Make sure every family member knows the phone number of that contact and has a cell phone, coins, or a prepaid phone card to call in an emergency.

If you have a cell phone, program contact person(s) as "ICE" (In Case of Emergency) in your phone, which emergency responders will look for incase you are in an accident or need treatment. Be sure to tell family and friends that you've listed them as an emergency contact.

Teach family members how to use text messaging (also known as SMS or Short Message Service). Text messages can often get through when phone lines are jammed. Twitter may be available if Internet service is running.

Subscribe for local emergency text or email announcements.

Have a family emergency evacuation plan.

In an emergency, it may be difficult for family members to talk with each other, except possibly by texting or Twitter (unless cell and internet systems are down). Before an emergency, sit down and plan where you will try to go and whom you will try to contact. This should include an out-of-the-area location if you know that your area around your home has to be evacuated. FEMA has a form that can be used to keep emergency contact information up-to-date: https://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/FamEmePlan_2012.pdf.

It is wise to carry three or more days of food, water, and other supplies (see "emergency kits" below) in your car in case you have to evacuate directly from work or school.

At home, prepare a "bug out" bag that includes several days of supplies, as well as copies of important documents, so you can leave on short notice. Industrial accidents, train derailments, and fires can all force people to leave home with only a few minutes notice.

Know how to shut off your utilities before you leave your home: https://www.ready.gov/safety-skills.

Emergency kits

You should have at least three or more days of food, water, medicine, and other items in an emergency kit (or "go bag"), both in your home and car. Some items to include from FEMA's website:

Water, one or two gallons per person per day for three or more days, for drinking and sanitation (store some to share if you can)

Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food

Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both

Flashlight and extra batteries

First aid kit

Whistle to signal for help

Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place (sealing your home or office from outside air)

Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation

Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities

Manual can opener for food

Local maps

Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger

Copies of important documents (insurance, bank information)

Other items to consider bringing (clothing, blankets, extra eye glasses or shoes, books, games for children, etc.) are listed here: https://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit.

Preparing for emergencies where you stay at home

Although many emergency preparedness websites encourage households to have a minimum of three days of food, water, and other supplies, major storms like Sandy, Hurricane Katrina, and concerns about computer hacking of our power grid, all make it wise to have a several weeks of supplies on handand supplies to shareif at all possible. This includes food, water, and fuel since water and gas pumps may not work.

Below is a list of items to get you started. Consult the FEMA and Red Cross websites thoroughly when making these and any other emergency plans:

Store 2,000 to 3,000 calories of food per person, per day, of nonperishable food, avoiding salty foods, and including some food variety for a longer emergency

Store water (1 to 2 gallons per person, per day) off of concrete (which can leach chemicals), changing the water every six months

Consider buying a large water filter from a camping or emergency supply store, which can purify outdoor or bathtub water for drinking

Look for safe and affordable alternative energy sources for lighting and other needs (such as heat in cold weather)

Consider storing easy to wash clothes, to minimize water usage

Have items for reading, games for children, clothes, and other items listed on the FEMA website

Prayerfully consider what security options you and your family want to take to protect yourselves and your home

How churches can prepare

To begin, churches should encourage their member families to prepare, both for their own well being, and so they will be better able to help others, whether in organized church efforts or in their neighborhoods. As they prepare, churches can encourage members to store food, water, and other items to share with others, which could make an enormous difference if an emergency lasts for weeks or months.

Churches should prepare their plans in conjunction with local disaster management authorities, and encourage willing members to get Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and other emergency training, so they will have the necessary credentials to help others in a crisis area. People, including pastors, without such training may be turned away from critical areas during an emergency.

One organization that has helped network area churches to prepare for and respond to disasters is the Austin Disaster Relief Network (ADRN), which trains volunteers from member churches in and around Austin, Texas. They saw over 100 area pastors turned away from helping Katrina victims because they had no emergency response training and were un-credentialed. ADRN does not want to see willing Christian volunteers turned away for that reason again.

Local churches may also want to coordinate with the local chapter of VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters), which includes over 100 voluntary organizations such as the relief ministries of several denominations and organizations such as the Red Cross and Samaritan's Purse.

The Southern Baptists are among the best-prepared denominations for emergencies. Using mobile kitchens, they can prepare over 3 million meals per daymore than the Red Cross. They have programs to train church volunteers, to get them credentialed so that government agencies and the Red Cross can use their volunteers readily in disaster areas. The Southern Baptists also insure their volunteersa wise idea for churches or denominations that can afford it. Other denominations, including the Brethren churches and the Presbyterian Church in America, also have disaster response ministries.

Local churches should also consider entering into agreements with their local Red Cross chapter, to offer part or all of the church's facilities to the Red Cross during a disaster, so they will know how many people a church can shelter. In our city, churches with such agreements can always refuse access at the last minute, but at least the Red Cross knows how many people a church can shelter if they are willing, under the terms outlined by the local church. Any damage caused by the Red Cross's use of the church's facilities is covered by the Red Cross's own insurance.

But in addition to facilities, church members can offer their homes. "Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality" (Rom. 12:13). If a nuclear or biological attack occurs in a large city, many thousands of people could need a new home for an extended period of time. As with our money, our homes belong to the Lord. Many of us need to open them to others more often.

For additional resources on responding to disasters, download training from our sister publication, ChurchLawAndTax.com:

Steve Hall is the Executive Director of Josephs Way (www.josephsway.org), a ministry that helps families and churches prepare for natural and man-made disasters, and the current and coming economic and social challenges related or our nations fiscal crisis. He is a graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and the University of Virginia School of Law, and is a contributor to World Magazine, Leadership Journal, and Crosswalk.com. He has served as both a deacon and ruling elder in evangelical churches.Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

If you are a guy and have been involved in some sort of accountability group (like an X3group), no doubt the subject of "lust" has come up. In my group on Wednesday mornings we talk about this often.

Usually the conversation focuses on 3 things:

1. What is lust?

2. How do I not lust?

3. What do I do when I lust?

All 3 of these questions could make for their own post, but for the sake of brevity I rather just focus on the second: How do I not lust? Or, more specifically, How do I look and NOT lust?

But before I do I would like to clarify what lust is and isn't:

Lust IS NOT looking.

Lust is letting your mind wander to sexual thoughts AFTER looking.

You see, lust is not this thing that just happens.

It's not spontaneous.

It's not random.

Lust grows.

It's in many ways organic.

And it has its own lifecycle.

So when you or I look at an attractive person, we aren't lusting... but it's at that moment when the lifecycle can start to unfold.

So, with that being said, here are 3 things you can do to make sure your looks don't turn into lust (and no, I'm not going the whole "bounce your eyes" route either):

1) Count your "looks." Around here at XXXchurch, we have a saying:

Look once, you're human; look twice, you're a man; look three times, you just disrespected your wife.

Now before you get all legalistic, realize that we don't really boil lust down to the exact number of times you "look." But the point here is simple; if you keep glancing and looking, chances are you aren't doing it because you admire that individual for their personality. Most likely you're continuing the looks because you get some sort of pleasure from what you see.

Simply put, this is a discipline and it takes practice. But if you are conscious of how many times you eye up someone, you'll also be more aware of the when the lust monster starts knocking at your door.

2) Follow up your look with an action. Okay, so to be clear, not ANY action will do. There are, of course, some actions that would be really inappropriate or maybe even land you in jail.

What I'm talking about is more of a spiritual thing. When you see that "hot" lady jogging by in her form-fitting shorts and top, don't just look and let your thoughts get taken over by something unhealthy. Be more intentional. This is what the Bible means when it says to take your thoughts captive.

Maybe pray for her (and not because she's some sort of "Jezebel" wearing tight clothesshe probably isn't). Or think about how that woman is someone's daughter or wife and deserves respect, not objectification. Or just recognize that a moment of decision has arrived and you are deciding NOT to lust but rather to think about something else.

Remember, lust has to grow. You can kill that growth with some solid intentionality.

3) Give glory to God. What? Wait a minute? Give glory to God for the "hot" jogger I just saw?

Yes. Exactly.

The Bible tells us to glorify God in all things and give him glory for all things.

This means...

You glorify God for what happened in church on Sunday.

You glorify God for the promotion you just got.

You glorify God for the beautiful sunset you just witnessed.

And yes, you can glorify God for creating the beautiful jogger who just ran by.

Don't be a legalistic tool and think it's impossible to see an attractive person and appreciate their beauty without being some sort of perv. You can.

Remember ... looking is not lusting. Lust doesn't just happen; it's cultivated.

Next time you see someone who hits a "10" on your hotness scale, take a minute and say, "Thank you God for creating that person." Then, move along and continue with your day.

I hear so many Christians bemoan about lust and how visual distractions are all around them.

It's true; you will always see beautiful people. Sometimes wearing clothes that leave less to the imagination. But remember:

Lusting isn't inevitable. Lust is a choice.

You can stop lust by killing it at the root.

So next time you see someone who's looking good, remember these three steps:

1. Count the looks.

2. Be intentional with your thoughts

3. Say "Thank you Jesus!"

If you do these 3 things and go about your day, you will halt lust in its tracks. Because the "battle of lust" begins where it dies ... in your mind.

Originally posted at XXXchurch.com.

Carl Thomas struggled with pornography and sex addiction for over 17 years until he finally found lasting freedom in 2010. He now leads the operations of XXXchurch.com and is the Director of their Small Groups Online and X3pure recovery programs.Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

In recent months, there have been increasingly disturbing reports about the persecution of Christians in China. Last week, I received some firsthand information from very reliable friends who have lived in China for years. The news is not good at all.

After much research, these friends informed me that there were over 240,000 recorded examples of persecution in China in 2017, up from roughly 48,000 in 2016. This represents a very concerning spike in hostile activity.

According to my friends, "The government wants the world to see that China has reformed since the days of Mao. But there are other aspects of communism that that they do not want us to see. It isn't just about how the economy works."

Specifically, "By 2020, the Communist Party will attempt to monitor its citizens through a massive surveillance system called China Skynet.

"China's Skynet combines mobile phone GPS tracking, text message collection, 170 million security cameras, to make sure everyone is harmonious to make sure no one does anything illegal.

"China also controls the media. There is the state-run media but private networks are censored. So, while China, today, barely resembles the Communist State of the 1950s and 1960s in terms of economic structure, it still retains almost all if the other aspects of Communism.: state control, censorship and mass surveillance."

According to the detailed report sent to me, the government has implemented a three-phase, 14-year plan:

"During the first 2-year phase, 2012-2014, it further eased persecution of the underground church, enticing more of them to surface and be identified." (This would correspond with the time I was in China at the invitation of Franklin Graham. See here for my reflections.)

"During the second 2-year phase, 2014-2016, it invited and then pressured the identified underground churches to register and become Three-Self government churches.

"In the current third, 10-year phase, the gloves have come off as both the remaining underground churches and even Three Self churches are being persecuted using Mao-era brute-force, as well as mass surveillance, artificial intelligence, and big data."

What, exactly, has been taking place? According to the report:

Over 2,000 crosses already have been burned or ripped down from church buildings.

Many churches have been demolished.

Thousands of pastors already have been arrested, beaten, tortured and/or sentenced to years in prison.

By 2020, 600 million CCTV cameras - nearly one for every 2 Chinese citizens - will blanket China. They are being forcibly installed inside church buildings to record 24/7 the entrances, stairwells, offering boxes, and Bible counters to monitor who attends church, buys Bibles, and where those Bibles are taken.

The Chinese government's new "social credit system" has begun to assign social credit scores to its citizens for not loitering, not jaywalking and other compliant behaviors, which eventually will include not attending "illegal" underground churches.

Chinese Christians will only be able to purchase the Communism-friendly version of the Bible that the Communist Party is presently translating.

In February of 2018, the Chinese Communist Party also drastically increased its penalties and restrictions targeted against Christians. The government will also tighten up control over religious activities in schools, religious postings online, and trips overseas for religious training.

Recently, the State Council endorsed the penalties, adding that anybody providing a venue for an "illegal religious event" will face a fine of between 20,000 yuan ($2,900.00 USD) and 200,000 yuan ($29,000.00 USD).

Also, in September of 2017, the Chinese government announced that: "Anyone who organizes an unapproved religious event will be fined 100,000 to 300,000 Yuan ($14,500 USD to $43,500 USD)." And, "Anyone who rents or provides the venue for such an event will be fined 20,000 to 200,000 Yuan ($2,900 to $29,000 USD)."

In addition to this, there are nationwide efforts to exalt the rule of President Xi (this has been reported in the west as well; see here), even in Mao-like terms. Xi has said that religion must be guided by the party to adapt to socialist society, and with that, the government-run churches have announced plans for the "Sinicization of Christianity." Specifically, this refers to "bending Christianity to submit to the will of the Chinese Communist Party."

In light of this ongoing crackdown on religious freedom in China, house church leaders are going back to underground practices and decentralizing their meetings. But the arm of the Chinese government is very strong, as a result of which my friends received this heart-rending letter from some of their Chinese colleagues (I have changed or removed names for obvious reasons):

"Things are getting tighter here now, everywhere is facing persecution now. Brothers and sisters are facing difficulties and suffering for their faith. My sister and her husband along with three others were put in jail for their gathering together with about 30 people and their stuff has been taken way with a few big trucks. They were beaten and shocked by the electronic sticks with head bleeding and arms in painful position. David their son saw what happened and cried and fainted there when it happened.

"We visited them four days after they were in jail. They were sick; my sister almost had a heart attack and her husband had gout which almost killed him. They were suffering physically and mentally."

They were released after 10 days and told by local authorities they had to leave their city and district. All this for holding Christian meetings in China.

I'm aware that China can give the appearance of allowing religious freedom, and I've been told that the situation varies from province to province.

But what is clear is that millions of our brothers and sisters in that vast and important country are really suffering. Let us pray for them and for their government. And let's ask our government to address this humanitarian crisis today.

This is the very least we can do.Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

Hope, faith, dignity and forgiveness.

Not topics teenagers are likely to discuss openly or care to elaborate upon . . . especially in front of their peers. But as an educator in my eighth year of teaching, I've been surprised by my teen students' willingness to share their vulnerabilities. And, oddly enough, it all started with a book and a 70-plus year old story.

It wasn't just any book. It was Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. The incredible tale of Olympian, Louis "Louie" Zamperini and his time during World War II, including 47 harrowing days in a life raft after surviving a plane crash, years as a Japanese POW and the struggles in his post-war life to deal with his brutal treatment. Despite the war being over, the war never truly left him, until a momentous night in 1949 when he attended Billy Graham's tent revival service in Los Angeles. His life so completely changed that he returned to Japan and personally forgave the captors who had brutalized him.

It was my mother who suggested this book, and from the moment I picked the it up, I was hooked. This was the type of story you want to tell people about so they can experience it for themselves. And we kept coming back to the notion of how teens needed to hear this story and discussed how to make this relevant today.

Teens are in such a precarious spot in the modern era. It has always been a challenge to endure the teen years, but the challenges that inundate students today are different and more widespread than the challenges I faced as a teenager. Feeling lost and hopeless seems to be their constant state of existence.

Add a dash of hormones; mix in the mad, unforgiving world of social media where comparison abounds; couple that with the realities of bullying and you have a recipe for disaster. No one can deny that teenage struggles, family dynamics and culture have changed in the United States. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but we need to be honest that this change has occurred. Ultimately, our classrooms must change as well to reflect the needs of young people today.

Within my school district, the economic disparities are evident and vast, but the social and family issues aren't quite as different as our students may think. Drug issues, divorced families, poverty, wealth, grandparents raising their grandchildren due to jailed parents, families torn apart for a myriad of other reasons are just a few issues that plague students, not just in my district, but frankly, all over our nation.

Yet, we often don't discuss these openly, and we're missing an opportunity. It is an opportunity for dialogue, for learning, to further our education about an experience we've not experienced ourselves, an opportunity for self-improvement and reflection.

This concept was always evident to me, but how do you bring it to life in a classroom? How could I make 14 and 15 year olds realize this and care? Become engaged? Learn hope? Compassion? Forgiveness?

I made the decision to read Unbroken aloud to my students300 pages to six separate classes.

That's a hard sell these days. Especially to teens who unabashedly declare they're not fans of reading or books, but would rather spend their free time streaming shows, scrolling through social media or playing video games.

I was absolutely blown away by their reaction. On the first day, there were audible groans of disappointment when the bell rang because we had to stop reading. They were hooked, just as I had been.

And what an impact it has had during the four-plus years I've been doing this. Some of my students had seen the first UNBROKEN film in 2014, but realized the book went further and covered his traumatic post-war life. This period of Louis' life, including the forgiveness of his tormentors in the POW camp, was often the most impactful to them. Recently, several of us pre-screened UNBROKEN, PATH TO REDEMPTION that will release nationwide this Friday and loved it. A man who overcome so many obstacles, deprivation and torture crumbles when the war ends, tormented by nightmares and PTSD. How does one overcome this cruelest chapter in his life? One wordForgiveness. Thus began a life dedicated to the service of others, a legacy that the Louis Zamperini Foundation strives to continue.

Over the course of reading Louie Zamperini's amazing story, the more I asked students what their own personal beliefs are on hope, faith and dignity, how their own journeys echo that of Louie's, the more they have to say. Through Louie's story, the students find their own voices. They begin to cultivate a revolutionary environment: one in which teenagers listen to one another, build each other up and explore their own personal belief systems.

One activity that always cultivates more compassion and empathy during this curriculum unit is our Life Raft lesson. I tape out the standard size of a WWII military raft (2-feet by 6-feet) on our classroom floor, enough outlines for all students to sit three to a raft, just as Louie did.

They are obviously not in the middle of the ocean, but the confines of the spaceparalleling Louie's confined existence for 47 days in the middle of the Pacificactually creates a demarcation for hope. Countless times I hear, "If they can sit in a raft for 47 days, I can sit on the floor for three days," or "Sitting here makes me so grateful for what I have in my life." They talk more of their passions, of their hopes for the future, this arbitrary tape actually breaks through the limits placed upon them from either themselves or societal and environmental factors.

At the conclusion of the unit, students write a letter to Louie Zamperini. These letters often reveal the innermost challenges and thoughts of the students, and illustrate the power of forgiveness.

I was once asked, "What does reading this story mean to you and your students?" I surprised myself by crying, because it's more than reading, more than a curriculum unit in the classroom. It's a journey we endure together, and when we come out on the other side, we're no longer teacher and students, but comrades.

Comrades who allow our vulnerabilities to show, who raise each other up, who allow our encouragement and support to be unbroken. Comrades who encourage others to find their voice and use it with purpose.

I never tire of reading the now well-worn pages (since launching the unit, I've read a total of 7,200 pages aloud) because I know the power of those words. They renew my own faith in the next generation, because the passion of these young people to emphasize the importance of dignity, hope, compassion and faith (whatever path they may take) makes them world-changers.home Faith Church should speak about God as male and female, says bishop

The Church of England's first female diocesan bishop has spoken in favour of a shift away from only referring to God as male.

The Bishop of Gloucester, the Right Reverend Rachel Treweek, told The Telegraph that it was important for those in the Church to be 'mindful of our language'.

'I don't want young girls or young boys to hear us constantly refer to God as he,' she said.

Earlier this month, YouGov released the findings from a new survey that found the overwhelming majority of British Christians continue to see God as male.

The survey of over 3,000 British Christians found that only one per cent believe God is female and that women were more likely than men to believe God is male a 41 per cent of women compared to 30 per cent of men.

The research also found that younger people were more likely to regard God as male (46 per cent), compared to over 65s (30 per cent).

Bishop Treweek suggested that only referring to God as male could send the wrong message to people.

'For me particularly in a bigger context, in all things, whether it's that you go to a website and you see pictures of all white people, or whether you go to a website and see the use of "he" when we could use "god", all of those things are giving subconscious messages to people, so I am very hot about saying can we always look at what we are communicating,' she said.

The Rev Dr Ian Paul, a member of the Archbishops' Council, suggested it was hard for people outside the Church growing up in a culture where 'sex identity is ever present' to understand the concept of a God who is neither male nor female.

'I think it makes it increasingly hard for young people to think of personal being without thinking of sex identityaand so if God is the ultimate 'person' then God must be sexed - i.e. male or female,' he told the newspaper.

'This view contradicts orthodox Christian teachingabut many young people don't have enough contact with the church for actual Christian teaching to counter the thinking they pick up from culture.'

Source: Christian Todayhome World Little hope of finding survivors after landslide buries chapel in Philippines

Hopes are fading of finding survivors from a massive landslide that buried a chapel in the Philippines on Saturday.

At least 57 people were unaccounted for in the small hillside mining community in Itogon, Benguet, on Tuesday. Many of them were sheltering inside a small chapel at the time of the landslide, triggered by Typhoon Mangkhut.

Rescue efforts have been hampered by widespread damage to roads, preventing heavy machinery from being brought to the site.

Hundreds of rescuers have had to hike two hours from the nearest highway to reach the village and dig through the mountain of mud and debris by hand.

The massive storm forced around 150,000 in the Philippines to shelter in evacuation centres, before it brushed past Hong Kong and made landfall in China, where another four people have been confirmed dead.

Police officer Heherson Zambale told The Associated Press he had tried to persuade villagers in the mining community to evacuate the day before the tragedy struck but they decided to stay put.

The villagers reportedly told the police officer that they believed the site of the chapel and nearby bunkhouses to be stable, and that they would evacuate if the storm became severe.

Some villagers decided to go to the evacuation centre after the officer's warning.

'But many were left behind,' said Zambale.

According to CBC Canada, a special police unit scanned the affected area with a special radar that can detect heart beats, but nothing was picked up.

Regional police commander Rolando Nana said: 'I really feel sad, I cannot describe the emotion. It's not only the people who don't listen. They have children, wives, elderly parents who will all suffer.'

Source: Christian Todayhome World UK Government rejects calls for buffer zones around abortion clinics

The UK Government's decision to reject calls for buffer zones around abortion clinics has been welcomed by pro-lifers.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid made the surprise announcement after a consultation into the measures that received over 2,500 responses.

Although there were some reports of harassment outside abortion clinics, Mr Javid said they were 'not the norm' and that most activities were 'passive', such as offering prayers and handing out leaflets.

According to the review, in 2017 anti-abortion demonstrations took place outside 36 of the 363 hospitals and clinics that perform abortions in England and Wales.

In April this year, Ealing council in London controversially introduced a 'buffer zone' outside a Marie Stopes clinic that stopped anti-abortion activities within 100m of the building.

Mr Javid said in a written statement: '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.'

Bishop John Sherrington, an auxiliary bishop in the Catholic Diocese of Westminster, welcomed the decision as one that was important for freedom of expression.

'We agree with the Home Secretary that everyone has a right to peaceful witness,' he said.

'We are pleased that in a free society the government has sought a proportionate response to the problem as it was presented and trust that a balance will be found that protects both the rights of people to gather peaceably and the rights of others to be free from intimidation.'

He added, however, that it was 'unacceptable' for women visiting abortion clinics to be harassed or intimidated.

'It is an unacceptable situation if any people harass or intimidate women visiting clinics, even if such situations are rare. It is clearly not the case that all action is of this nature, and the distinctions between persons and groups should be examined further,' he said.

'There is legislation by which those who coerce, threaten or intimidate others can be charged or prosecuted.'

Pro-life group Be Here For Me also welcomed the announcement, saying that 'women will continue to be offered much needed help and support'.

'This carefully considered decision represents the common sense we have been calling for all along,' it said.

Source: Christian TodayHopes fade for dozens buried in chapel during landslide

Hopes are fading of finding survivors from a massive landslide that buried a chapel in the Philippines on Saturday.

At least 57 people were unaccounted for in the small hillside mining community in Itogon, Benguet, on Tuesday. Many of them were sheltering inside a small chapel at the time of the landslide, triggered by Typhoon Mangkhut.

Rescue efforts have been hampered by widespread damage to roads, preventing heavy machinery from being brought to the site.

Hundreds of rescuers have had to hike two hours from the nearest highway to reach the village and dig through the mountain of mud and debris by hand.

The massive storm forced around 150,000 in the Philippines to shelter in evacuation centres, before it brushed past Hong Kong and made landfall in China, where another four people have been confirmed dead.

Police officer Heherson Zambale told The Associated Press he had tried to persuade villagers in the mining community to evacuate the day before the tragedy struck but they decided to stay put.

The villagers reportedly told the police officer that they believed the site of the chapel and nearby bunkhouses to be stable, and that they would evacuate if the storm became severe.

Some villagers decided to go to the evacuation centre after the officer's warning.

'But many were left behind,' said Zambale.

According to CBC Canada, a special police unit scanned the affected area with a special radar that can detect heart beats, but nothing was picked up.

Regional police commander Rolando Nana said: 'I really feel sad, I cannot describe the emotion. It's not only the people who don't listen. They have children, wives, elderly parents who will all suffer.'Islamist militants execute two Christian bus passengers in Kenya

Islamist terrorists in Kenya boarded a bus last week and executed two Christian passengers, reports International Christian Concern.

The attack happened as the bus was travelling in Garissa County in the north-east of the country, a region that is a hotbed of activity by the Somali terrorist group al-Shabaab.

According to ICC, several suspected al-Shabaab militants boarded the bus and forced the passengers off before asking them to show their identification cards.

After checking the ID cards, they singled out three passengers they believed were non-Muslims and asked them to recite the Islamic Shahada, or statement of faith.

When two of them were unable to recite it, they were tied up and executed.

The Daily Nation reports that the two victims were the bus mechanic and a casual labourer who worked in Masalani town, Garissa County.

Military officers responded to distress calls but the attackers had fled by the time they arrived on the scene.

According to the Daily Nation, Garissa Governor Ali Korane said terrorists are trying to divide Kenyans after years of living together peacefully.

'They want to wage war on grounds of faith and ethnicity. We will not allow this. Kenyans from other parts of the country will be part and parcel of our communities. No one will divide us,' he said.

The Kenyan government has struggled to stamp out terrorism by al-Shabaab. In 2012, terrorists attacked two churches in Garissa, killing over a dozen people.

In 2015, gunmen stormed the Garissa University College, killing 148 people. Police stations and police officers have also been targets of al-Shabaab terrorists.

International Christian Concern said: 'This groups intense hatred and violence has caused massive pain for many families and friends of Christians like these two. The Kenyan and Somali Governments must continue to work to end the horrible atrocities that this evil organization commits and protect the lives of Christians in Kenya.'Italian missionary priest kidnapped in Niger

An Italian priest was kidnapped on Monday in south Niger, near the border with Burkina Faso, the second abduction of a European in the West African country this year.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the kidnapping, which was confirmed on Tuesday by the Nigerien and Italian governments.

West African states have been struggling to gain the upper hand over jihadist groups, including some affiliated with al Qaeda and Islamic State, which are active along Niger's porous borders with both Mali and Burkina Faso.

The kidnapping took place in the village of Bomanga, in the southern Makalondi district, about 125 km (80 miles) from the capital Niamey.

In a statement on Tuesday, Niamey's Archbishop Laurent Lompo said Father Pier Luigi Maccalli was attacked and abducted by 'unidentified individuals' on Monday evening.

Maccalli had been working in Bomaga for 11 years as a member of the Society of African Missions (SMA), a Roman Catholic missionary organisation.

Italy's embassy in Niamey has called on the local authorities to resolve the matter as quickly as possible, the Italian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Western powers, primarily France but also the United States, have deployed thousands of troops in the semi-arid Sahel region to combat what they see as a growing Islamist militant threat that targets both civilians and the military.

In April, a German humanitarian worker was abducted by men riding motorcycles near Niger's western border with Mali. Last October the Islamic State's affiliate in West Africa claimed responsibility for an attack in Niger's borderlands that killed four members of the US special forces and at least four Nigerien soldiers.

'What is worrying us in particular is a bigger capacity of these terrorist groups to act, especially near the three borders,' said a French diplomatic source, referring to Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso. France has some 4,500 troops in the area.Love Christ, love fashion: the Christian brand that's rewriting the rules

Young Christians ought to grow up wanting to be doctors or nurses, or  even better  ministers or missionaries. It's a well-known fact. What's the point, spiritually speaking, of  say  fashion?

That's a view Ruth Yimika Awogbade often came across when she was growing up with, and she rebelled against it. A churchgoer who didn't really question her faith, she'd grown up going to a girls' school where excellence was expected and she didn't see any reason why she shouldn't excel at what she loved.

For the last 10 years she's been editor of Magnify, a website and magazine aimed at women who are 'driven, passionate, probably work in the corporate or creative sector or the public sector, and who think about life deeply'. These women are successful, and like good clothes and the good life.

And they're also open to the big questions about life, meaning and eternity. The site  and the yearly magazine, a sumptuously-produced collection of features, interviews and and opinion pieces alongside beautiful clothes worn by beautiful people  is a gateway for thinking about faith.

This desire to communicate faith to a neglected demographic is what's driven Awogbade for the last 10 years. Her own Christianity was nearly derailed when she went away to Durham University  though the experience left her with a faith that was far more personal and real.

'I had three bereavements in shockingly quick succession,' she tells Christian Today. 'It was so quick it made me question my faith. I felt Christianity hadn't made a difference to what happened.

'I went to university only two weeks after I lost my uncle and I pushed God out of my life. I had no way to process what had happened.'

And, she reflects: 'The Christian responses were very hollow  they didn't show much emotional intelligence. We want to comfort people, but that can mean denying reality.'

When I came home, though, it was 'as if a light went on in my head. I had the kind of faith that was based on everything going well. But I'd seen my parents' individual relationship with God, and realised that was available to me.'

There was, she admits, a tension between her life growing up in church and her life outside. 'I went to an all-girls school that was very academic and driven. But when I went to church, women were expected to be meek and mild,' she says. 'There'd be guys at church who would want a wife who could support them. I was raised as someone who realised that women were equal.'

And she took her revitalised faith back to university with her  and it's out of this experience that Magnify was born.

'My vision from the beginning was that it would give women the opportunity to experience Christianity in every area of their life. It was very much shaped by my time at Durham.

'I wanted people to understand how a personal relationship with Jesus could make a difference to them.'

The culture she found there, she says, was based on 'arguing people into faith'. 'I wanted to tell stories of real people  you might disagree with what they believed, but you couldn't deny the experience.'

Aged only 19, she ran events for women aimed at connecting faith with real life, before moving into digital content of a kind she describes as 'pre-Alpha or Christianity Explored'. The idea was always to send people to their local church: 'From the beginning we really understood our place within the body of Christ and the fact that we can't do everything.'

Magnify is now a magazine, a blog and a monthly events programme. Its vision, claims its website, is 'to give women the chance to explore the Christian faith in an unpressured, engaging and creative way'. 'Our ultimate goal is to become much more than a print magazine, but rather a collective of like-minded and progressive individuals who are committed to improving the world through timeless human values,' it says.

As well as those beautiful pictures, the current issue of the magazine has articles on Christian feminism, how the church shapes culture, the power of forgiveness and dating. It also features interviews with movers and shapers within the creative, business and social media worlds  male and female. It's designed to engage the mind, as well as the eyeballs. Awogbade says the magazine is the 'icing on the cake' of the Magnify project. She works with more than 160 contributors  stylists, photographers, designers, writers  per issue, and loves it: 'For me I love being able to work with creatives and see them using their God-given gifts, even if they might not know their gifts have been given to them by God.'

And the expensively professional look pays off, with healthy sales helping to bankroll the enterprise. 'Women believe in us and want to sow into us. There's a gynaecologist who got tired of the trashy magazines in her surgery and bought 20 copies. There's a guy with a lot of work colleagues who are female. Talking about faith in the UK can be very intrustive and quite intimate. He said it was quite hard to talk to female colleagues about faith without seeming weird, but he took about 20 copies for his office.

'Things like that are very humbling because they show us that the vision God has called us to, he will provide the resources for, to help us reach more and more people.'

And the people in her sights are those driven, passionate, thinking women from their early 20s to their mid to late 30s.

'I have friends who are interested in meditation, in Buddhism, who are looking for something that will fill the void. Obviously as Christians we know what that is. But it's going to be the women who are thinking about life, not just at a surface level. They have dreams and aspirations, and they want to impact the world around them.'

And she's adamant that there's no contradiction between these different areas of their lives  and part of her mission is to bring worlds that have often been seen as separate back together again.

'For me, I always had an issue growing up with the idea that Christians see things like fashion as worldly or negative.

'I remember growing up we were encouraged as Christians to be charity workers or nurses or doctors, but no one would want to encourage people to be in fashion.'

But why not? 'We all have to wear clothes, we're all involved in the fashion industry up to a point,' she says. Why shouldn't God be as involved in that area of life  and glorified in it  as he is in every other?

'What we do is show people from a broad range of life and people who have come from all different backgrounds. For me, fashion is a way for me to express myself. I don't think that makes me any more worldly than someone who doesn't care what they wear.'

There's something very attractive about a whole-hearted celebration of beauty that sets it in the context of an equally whole-hearted devotion to God. Magnify isn't a sell-out to consumerism; rather, it engages with it. Awogbade says she worries that Christians can see the gospel as a sort of guarantee that God will somehow make all our dreams come true.

'It's really about minds transformed and realising that true joy comes in bringing glory to God,' she says.

And nothing about that is shallow or trivial, surely; it's about accepting the goodness and value of creation  and creativity.

For more about Magnify or to order copies click here.People like cathedral services because they can be left alone  bishop

Cathedrals should be places where people can 'slip in' and 'slip out' without being bothered by anyone, the Bishop of Chelmsford has suggested.

The Right Reverend Stephen Cottrell told the National Cathedrals Conference in Manchester this week that people were attracted to cathedrals because they were 'less likely to be pounced on', the Telegraph reports.

While the Church of England has been struggling with a decline in attendance across its 16,000 churches, its cathedrals have been enjoying something of a renaissance.

In stark contrast to regular church services, attendance at cathedral services rose by 17 per cent between 2006 and 2016, with over 11.3m people attending at least one cathedral service in 2016 alone.

Bishop Cottrell suggested lots of people are attracted to cathedrals because of the anonymity they offer.

While cathedrals are popular destinations for tourists as well as those seeking spiritual respite, the bishop said it was important that cathedrals preserve their heritage as a quiet space.

'I think there are thousands and thousands of people who want to come quietly, who even want to come secretly, and it's getting harder and harder to do that in the modern-day bouncy and accessible Church of England,' he said.

'So cathedrals have a special vocation and opportunity to be somewhere that you can slip into unseen and slip out of unseen.'

He also spoke positively about cathedrals offering services that do not make too many demands on those attending.

'It is important to realise that people don't just express their belonging in patterns of attendance, but in what they need spiritually when they attend, and some people need space around them,' he said.

'Somewhere where you're less likely to be pounced on, to be asked to join in, where the worship doesn't need you to say anything.'Piers Morgan, Ann Widdecombe criticise 'nonsense' debate over whether God is male or female

Good Morning Britain hosted a lively debate on the gender of God on Wednesday morning, days after a bishop suggested the Church of England should embrace more female language.

Host Piers Morgan expressed his frustration that the gender of God was even a subject for debate and said that society was being 'coerced' into thinking that a male God was 'offensive'.

'Why are we even having to have this conversation?' he said. 'Who is so angry about this that we have to re-write thousands of years of working on the presumption that God is male?'

Broadcaster Rae Duke responded to Morgan's question by claiming that it was 'important that we correct that injustice' of God traditionally being described in male terms.

'What we do know is that he is consistently throughout Christianity teaching a he'



Devout Catholic Ann Widdecombe says God is male. pic.twitter.com/eXaqRcpKco  Good Morning Britain (@GMB) September 19, 2018

She referred to parts of the Bible where God's nature is likened to that of a mother and suggested that references to God the Father had been misinterpreted to mean that God was male instead of genderless.

'God is a genderless concept,' she said. 'God is above and beyond any gender...it's impossible for human language to ever encapsulate what God is.'

Former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe, who is a Catholic, said she did not think it was offensive to speak of God in male terms.

'I don't think it's remotely offensive. In fact I've never heard such nonsense,' she said.

'Throughout the entire New Testament, Christ is a "he" and He refers to God the Father and a father, even in this day and age, is a "he". But what really worries me is the sheer superficiality of this, because the whole objection to calling God "he" is apparently that it puts people off Christianity.

'If you're not going to be won over by the message of redemption and forgiveness, if you're not going to be won over by that, you're not going to be won over by someone saying God's a "she".'

When Morgan asked Rae if God was 'gender fluid', she said 'that would be ridiculous' but that she believed 'we cannot use our fragile human language to try and say what God is'.

'So you don't know what God is but He can't be a man?' asked Morgan, to which Rae replied: 'God can be neither female nor male.'

Widdecombe added that while it was impossible to know exactly what God is in this life, 'what we do know is that He is consistently throughout all the teaching of Christianity, throughout 2,000 years, has been a "he".'

The debate follows the recent suggestion by the Bishop of Gloucester, the Right Reverend Rachel Treweek, that the Church of England embrace more female language in speaking about God.

'I don't want young girls or young boys to hear us constantly refer to God as he,' she told The Telegraph.

'For me particularly in a bigger context, in all things, whether it's that you go to a website and you see pictures of all white people, or whether you go to a website and see the use of "he" when we could use "god", all of those things are giving subconscious messages to people, so I am very hot about saying can we always look at what we are communicating.'

Earlier this month, a YouGov survey found that only one per cent of British Christians think of God as female.

Four in 10 women (41 per cent) said God was male, far more than the number of Christian men regarding God as male (30 per cent).

By contrast, 39 per cent of women said God had no gender at all, compared to 42 per cent of men.Donald Trump's Christian faith: What we know about Trump's Christianity

U.S. president Donald Trump testifies that he is a Christian, and while his personal walk with the Lord remains mostly private, here are some of the things that we do know about Donald Trump and his personal faith.

1. He is Presbyterian

Trump says that he first attended the First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica, Queens, and the congregation has confirmed that. Trump has said he is surprised that not many people know that he is protestant, but he says he is an active Christian, participating in various activities within the denomination.

Trump claims that he currently attends Marble Collegiate Church on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, although a representative of Marble Collegiate Church has told CNN that Trump is not a regular member.

2. He doesn't ask for forgiveness

A cornerstone of Christianity is the importance of repentance, turning away from sin and asking God for forgiveness. Trump, however, has said that he personally does not ask for God's forgiveness.

When asked about whether he has asked God for forgiveness, Trump said, "I am not sure I have. I just go on and try to do a better job from there. I don't think so."

Speaking to CNN, Trump said: "I think if I do something wrong, I think, I just try and make it right. I don't bring God into that picture. I don't."

3. He goes to church

Trump has said that he goes to church on a regular basis, although he has indicated that he mainly goes on "major" occasions, and on Sundays "when I can". Without going into too much more detail he describes himself as a "Sunday church person."

He said: "[I go to church] as much as I can. Always on Christmas. Always on Easter. Always when there's a major occasion. And during the Sundays. I'm a Sunday church person. I'll go when I can."China plans to impose a 10 percent tariff on U.S. liquefied natural gas as part of an escalating trade battle between the two countries, hindering export opportunities for a emerging industry that is growing rapidly along the Gulf Coast.

The move, made in retaliation against the Trump administration's latest tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese imports, affects $60 billion in U.S. exports to China. The 10 percent tariff on LNG is less than the 25 percent proposed early last month, but it's still expected to undercut the competitiveness of U.S. exporters vying for a share of one of the world's largest LNG markets.

"The consequences are likely to be felt on new supply developments," said Giles Farrer, research director for Wood Mackenzie. "It restricts the target market for developers of new U.S. LNG projects trying to sign new long-term contracts."

RELATED: Billions at risk for Gulf Coast as China threatens LNG tariffs

A number of U.S. developers, including Houston companies Cheniere Energy and Tellurian Inc., are investing billions of dollars to build massive export terminals along the Gulf Coast, which has ready access to cheap and plentiful natural gas from West Texas and elsewhere.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is pushing to expedite its reviews of new U.S. projects, most of which are planned for the Gulf Coast. The agency earlier this month issued regulatory schedules for its environmental review of 12 LNG export facilities, including six in Texas.

The proposed projects put the U.S. on track to supply nearly a quarter of global LNG by 2030, according to Wood Mackenzie.

China, which is working to shift its power generation from coal to cleaner-burning natural gas, has emerged as a major source of demand. In the year prior to June, the country was the second largest buyer of U.S. LNG.

Farrer expect the tariffs to change that dynamic. Already, he said, Chinese buyers have gradually reduced purchases of U.S. LNG amid the trade dispute.

However, he expects growing demand outside of China to support the next wave of U.S. LNG projects. Other countries in Asia and Europe also need more natural gas as they reduce their use of coal.

"There is still plenty of appetite for second wave U.S. LNG projects from other buyers," Farrer said.

Cheniere was the first U.S. company to export LNG, operating from its Sabine Pass terminal in Louisiana. The company, which now ships to nearly 30 foreign markets, is expanding that terminal and building a second one in Corpus Christi.

The company earlier this year struck a deal to sell LNG to China National Petroleum Corp. as part of two sales contracts that extend through 2043.

Virginia's Dominion Energy also began exporting LNG from a terminal in Maryland earlier this year.

Other U.S. companies are expected to begin exports next year, including two based in Houston. Freeport LNG is working to open its Gulf Coast terminal at Quintana Island, and Kinder Morgan is completing an export terminal in Georgia.One male victim is dead after gun shots rang out in the Outer Sunset District in San Francisco Tuesday night, police said.

San Francisco police officers responded a report of a shooting on 46th Avenue and Moraga Street around 8:53 p.m and found one unresponsive male victim suffering from an unknown amount of gunshot wounds, said San Francisco police public information officer Joseph Tomlinson.Mala Sichuan Bistro, the well-regarded regional Chinese restaurant with outposts in Asiatown and Montrose, is looking to expand its reach with new restaurants spread across the Greater Houston map  from the suburbs to the heart of downtown. It's an ambitious plan that not only jibes with the continuing redevelopment of downtown Houston, but also with the emergence of satellite Chinatowns away from Bellaire Boulevard's crowded restaurant and retail hub.

Owner Cori Xiong says she and her husband, Heng Chen, plan to open a location in Katy's new 16-acre Asian Town shopping and dining development by the end of this year. They'll also launch a Sugar Land location in the food court attached to a big new Jusgo supermarket on Highway 6.

Mala's hat is in the ring, too, for a slot in The Jones on Main, downtown's new upmarket food hall, which is slated for the glamorous Art Deco lobby of the 1929 Gulf Oil Building. (It's now the JP Morgan Chase Building.) Mala has made it through to the final rounds of the selection process organized by the Midway development group. Letters of intent have gone out to prospective food operators, and those selected will be announced later this summer.

First to open will be the Mala at Katy's Asian Town development, which is on the northeast corner of I-10 at Grand Parkway, near the University of Houston's new west side campus. The owners of Asiatown's bustling Dun Huang Plaza complex are spearheading the Asian Town project, which will be anchored by Houston's third edition of H Mart, the Korean mega-grocery.

The Katy H Mart's sprawling 50,000 square feet will be surrounded by twice that amount of space devoted to restaurants and retail. Mala Sichuan Bistro will have its own storefront and seat around 100 diners. Xiong hopes the Mala there will open by the end of the year, although she concedes that, "more realistically speaking, it may be the beginning of next year."

Mala's outpost at the Sugar Land complex will open on roughly the same timetable, in the site that formerly housed the GattiTown "eatertainment" venue, on Highway 6 South and Settlers Way Boulevard.

There a big new Jusgo Asian supermarket, currently in build-out, will feature an attached food court like the one that enhances a similar Jusgo complex in Plano, where Chinese, Filipino, Indonesian, Korean, Vietnamese cuisine and more are on offer.

Mala Sichuan Bistro will be inside the Jusgo market building with other food court operators, but they will have their own outside entrance and signage. The location will seat around 70 inside, with a small patio to bring the total to 80 or 90.

Not so coincidentally, Plano is where Xiong grew up, and where her father's Sichuan restaurant is located. She still relies on him for sourcing authentic ingredients out of China, where he travels frequently.

To serve these far-flung sites, Xiong and Chen will designate a central kitchen at one of their restaurants, where the foundations of the menu will be prepped for delivery to other locations. "It's to make sure quality is more uniform and stable," says Xiong.

They've already lured Mala's founding kitchen guru, Chef Rong Wu, back from China; and they've brought on one of Wu's original teachers, Zhenou Lei, as research and development chef for all the restaurants.

Lei and Wu are working with 2016 James Beard Best Chef Southwest nominee Jianyun Ye, Mala Sichuan Bistro's current chef, on a new core menu for all the restaurants, which will be supplemented by monthly specials menus customized for each location.

The downtown food hall menu, should that come to pass, will be different in that it will entail lunch, dinner, breakfast and brunch, plus happy hour service, in line with the developers' requirements.

Does having so much on their plate make Xiong nervous? "Yes," she says, laughing. "It's all very tight. I think about that every day."Forty members from a Stratford-based Army National Guard unit will depart Wednesday for a mission in Afghanistan.

Maj. Gen. Francis Evon, the Adjutant General and commanding officer of the Connecticut National Guard, said 40 members of the Connecticut Army National Guard's 192nd Engineer Battalion Headquarters and Headquarters Company will leave from Bradley International Airport on Wednesday morning.

The company will provide support for Operation Freedom Sentinel in Afghanistan.

Based at the Stratford Armory and commanded by Lt. Col. Charles Jaworski, the unit will serve as a battalion headquarters supervising subordinate units specializing in route clearance. Day-to-day tasks will include the command and control of the route clearance efforts in its assigned area of operations.

Elements of the 192nd Engineer Battalion have not deployed since 2012, when the 248th Engineer Company mobilized to Bahrain to conduct security forces and base defense missions.

On Monday, there was a send-off ceremony at the William A. ONeill State Armory in Hartford.

Make no mistake, these men and women are experienced, tested leaders who are experts in their field and many of them have deployed previously, Evon said in a release. Time and time again, your Connecticut Engineers have provided relief efforts right here at home in the wake of weather events affecting roads and power, and they have exceeded my expectations each and every time.

Most recently, elements of the 192nd Engineers supported route-clearing efforts in the wake of powerful winds from a tornado and microburst that damaged communities in the state on May 15.A Katy man was arrested Wednesday after Fort Bend County Narcotics Task Force officials found over 200 pounds of marijuana in the bed of his truck during a traffic stop on U.S. 59 in Rosenberg.

During the traffic stop, a task force officer and K-9 partner discovered 19 bundles of marijuana weighing approximately 202.5 pounds in an altered external fuel tank in the bed of the truck, according to a press release from the Fort Bend County's Sheriff's Office. The seizure amounted to a street value of $100,000.One person was injured after a Drug Enforcement Agency plane with three onboard for a training mission crashed Wednesday afternoon in west Houston near Sugar Land, according to Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls.

The single-engine Cessna plane was supposed to land at Sugar Land Regional Airport around 3 p.m., but instead crashed into a power line before reportedly hitting two cars, according to Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Lynn Lunsford.

The pilot also reported engine problems before the crash, Lunsford said. The National Transportation Safety Board is the lead investigator on the crash, but FAA will also assist with the investigation.

The plane clipped power lines and struck several cars when it plunged onto Voss Road, west of Highway 6. The Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office tweeted the plane was leaking fuel, but didn't catch fire.

'Imagine you're just driving down Voss Road in Fort Bend County and all the sudden an aircraft strikes your vehicle," said Nehls. "That would be enough to put me in cardiac arrest. We are very fortunate that this was not much more catastrophic than what it was.

A DEA spokesman said the plane had a mechanical problem and the pilot tried to land on the road. The injured passenger  who was not identified  was taken to a hospital and later released.

The plane caused significant damage to one of the vehicles, officials said.

Oniel Kurup posted on Facebook about the incident, writing a plane crashed into his Tesla and shared pictures of the accident.

"Want to let all my friends and family know that Aarav and I are completely fine.. GOD and this CAR truly saved us today," Kurup wrote on Wednesday. "Not a scratch on us. No one believed me when I called them to let them know a plane crashed into me. Tesla, people thought It was a prank call."

AT THE SAME TIME: Plane crashes into pond at Fort Bend County airport

Nehls commended the pilot for bringing the plane onto the street, rather than in the neighborhood.

Alfredo Aviles, who lives nearby, said he saw the plane coming down moments before it crashed.

"I was in my backyard taking my dogs out. Next thing you know, I heard the plane coming down, but it sounded weird. It didn't sound like a normal plane coming down. I looked up and I saw the last two seconds of it coming down," Aviles said. "Next thing you know, I hear a loud boom and tires screeching. I was freaking out."

FATAL CRASH: La Porte plane crash victims identified as father and son

The neighborhood nearby lost power as a result of the downed lines and CenterPoint Energy crews are on scene working to restore electricity.

Dhuha Bazzaz, a resident of the area said neighbors described the sound as lightning. "It's a horrible thing. It landed during school time, the are kids around," Bazzaz said. "People are out of their home at that time. It's rush-hour."

Another plane crashed into a ditch at the Houston Southwest Airport in Arcola, according to Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office. The pilot was the only person on the small plane and did not sustain injuries.Houston District E City Councilman Dave Martin wants to see a proposed road near Ellington Airport included this year in the citys transportation plan, saying the project would improve access to the future Houston Spaceport and that its inclusion in the plan would thwart potential development of a facility for oil storage tanks.

Martin is advocating that proposed Ellington Road, which would extend from Texas 3 to Interstate 45, be included in citys Major Thoroughfare and Freeway Plan, said Jordan McGinty, south sector manager with Martins office. The proposed road would be north of FM 2351.

The proposed road would improve access and mobility to the airport, according to a statement from Martins office. The Houston Spaceport is a long-awaited infrastructure addition to Ellington that would allow space launches from the site.

This (road project) was already on our view to increase mobility as the spaceport develops, McGinty said.

In the statement, Martins office expressed concern about public safety if a facility of oil storage tanks, known as a tank farm, were built near the intersection of Clear Lake City Boulevard and Texas 3, also called Old Galveston Road.

Bob Mitchell, president of Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership, said he learned in mid-summer that Magellan Midstream Partners, a company that transports, stores and distributes petroleum products. had purchased pipeline easements in the area.

Tom Byer, a spokesman for Magellan, said in a written statement the company is considering various potential sites in the Houston area for crude oil storage including at its terminal facility in east Houston, but added that, We are not considering a site near Ellington Air Field at this time.

But that hasnt convinced Bob Mitchell, whose group is a membership-funded organization that promotes industry development in the area.

Amendment Informational Open House Tues, Oct. 16. Special Events Building, Space Center Houston, 1601 East NASA Pkwy. Planning Commission Public Hearing Thur., Oct. 25, at 2:30 p.m. in the City Hall Annex Chambers, Public Level, 900 Bagby St. See More Collapse

While they say they are not considering a site at Ellington at this time, theres been a lot of money put into the ground already, Mitchell said of Magellan.

Mitchell said the company now may be reacting to opposition from BAHEP and Martins office.

Magellan did not return an inquiry for additional information.

Officials in Martins office said they will continue to monitor the proposed development and update the community as information is available.

It is important to note, the land has not been purchased by Magellan Midstream Partners, the statement from his office said.

Council Member Martin will continue to voice opposition to any development that includes construction of additional storage tanks near an airport or residential area, the statement said.

Mitchell and Martin say that inclusion of the proposed Ellington Road in the citys thoroughfare plan could prevent development where the road is built.

But even if Ellington Road does make it into the citys future thoroughfare strategy, Mitchell is still leery.

The route for the proposed road bisects the area, but that doesnt mean they cant pick up and move it 500 yards north, he said of potential development of a tank farm.

Martin will host an informational open house on the proposed amendment to include Ellington Road in the citys transportation plan at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16 at Space Center Houston, Special Events Building, 1601 East NASA Road 1.

Also attending the event will be Sharon Moses Burnside from the citys Planning and Development Department. Burnside will make a short presentation and be available to answer questions and take comments before and after the meeting.

Houston Planning Commission will conduct an Oct. 25 public hearing on the proposed amendment. That meeting will be at 2:30 p.m. in the City Hall Annex Chambers, Public Level, 900 Bagby St., according to the Planning Commissions website.

The commission will vote on the proposed amendment at its regularly scheduled meeting on Nov. 8. If approved, the proposal will be forwarded to City Council for consideration by years end.

Ellington Airport, located within 15 minutes of downtown Houston, is a joint-use facility handling both general aviation operations and flights involving the United States military, the Department of Homeland Security and NASA, reads the airports website.

The citys thoroughfare plan identifies right-of-way needs and proposes roadway alignments within the city limits of Houston and its extraterritorial jurisdiction by listening to developers and neighborhoods about issues like congestion, mobility and future development plans, according to the citys website.

The planning department can be contacted or mobility.planning@houstontx.gov .

jaimy.jones@chron.comThe University of Houston Law Center is hosting a People's Law School on Oct. 6 where volunteer legal professionals will guide people through learning their legal rights.

Lawyers, judges and law professors will be on hand covering everything from consumer law, credit and debt collection, wills and estates, family law, tax law, even consumer issues following natural disasters.Bush Intercontinental and Hobby airports both ranked among the Top 10 airports in their size groups, according to a report released Wednesday.

According to the J.D. Power 2018 North America Airport Satisfaction Study, Bush Intercontinental tied with Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport for No. 6 in the "mega" category.

Hobby Airport tied with Salt Lake City International Airport for the No. 10 spot among the large airports.

RELATED: Airport officials fly new plans for international terminal at Bush

Overall, J.D. Power reported airport satisfaction scores at an all-time high, driven primarily by increased satisfaction with security checks and with food, beverage and retail.

Las Vegas McCarran International Airport and Orlando International Airport tied for the No. 1 spot among mega airports. John Wayne Airport, Orange County ranked highest among large airports, and Buffalo Niagara International Airport was No. 1 among medium airports.

"North America airports have been doing a tremendous job managing passenger volume, adding amenities, and keeping travelers moving despite some noteworthy challenges, but they will be put to the true test over the next few years," Michael Taylor, travel practice lead at J.D. Power, said in the news release.

RELATED: Potty upgrades help IAH reach 4-star status

The test comes as several multi-billion-dollar projects, including those in Boston, Los Angeles and Chicago, are reaching phases that will likely disrupt passenger traffic. How well these airports manage throughout construction, he said, " will provide valuable insight into what's in store on a nationwide basis."

The study, in its 13th year, surveyed 40,183 North American travelers between September 2017 and September 2018.An idea to allow alcohol sales at two Friendswood parks prompted criticism from some residents, with Mayor Mike Foreman recommending that the city approach the proposal cautiously.

Friendswood City Council on Sept. 10 heard a presentation from a parks department official on the idea of allowing nonprofit groups to sell alcohol at events they stage at Stevenson and Centennial parks.

The proposal was presented at a council work session and was not subject to a vote.

Mayor Pro-Tem John Scott was greeted with applause from the crowd at the well-attended meeting when he expressed strong criticism of the alcohol-sales proposal.

Potential for unruly crowds?

The perception of Friendswood and what we have in Friendswood is our orientation to family, Scott said. Once you open that can, its just going to start coming. How far till we bring in unruly crowds? What I see is a booming bedroom community that loves their town. Were a bedroom community. Whats wrong with being a bedroom community? I dont understand the desire to become something that were not.

He said hes against any efforts to make Friendswood more like other area cities, which is the sentiment he believes is driving the push to get alcohol sales approved.

Councilwoman Trish Hanks said she would like Centennial Park to be excluded from any measure that allows alcohol sales because Friendswood Junior High School abuts the park.

Centennial should be different with a school right there, Hanks said, a former FISD superintendent. I still feel strongly about that. It think the safeguards needs to be tighter. I m just not comfortable with Centennial Park being included.

Foreman suggested that if the city moves forward with the proposal, it do so cautiously. .

I think we dont want to be League City, Pearland, he said. We want to be the best Friendswood we can be and that may require us to make some changes. I think what Im hearing is slow down on this conversation on alcohol in the park.

Appeal to communitys heritage

In his presentation, Michael Boyett, assistant director of the citys Parks and Recreation Department, listed potential requirements for groups hosting events, such as that the city receive comprehensive details on events before they occurred, that all bartenders serving at an event be approved by the Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission and that event organizers provide proof of liability insurance.

Other proposed requirements would include that organizers pay a cleanup fee and provide a security plan for police to review and that arrangements be made with companies like Uber to drive home event participants who get drunk.

Parks staff pointed out that alcohol consumption is already allowed at parks if patrons bring drinks with them.

City Councilman Carl Gustafson referred to the communitys beginnings as a settlement of Quakers who abstained from drinking.

It is a Quaker community, he said. If you get into doing this, I agree with (Scott), youre just pushing away from what community was founded to be and what drew us all here to begin with.State, county and local officials attended the Peace Officer & Firefighter luncheon on Tuesday at the Humble Civic Center to honor and recognize all law enforcement officials in the area.

Law enforcement present at the luncheon included the Harris County Sheriffs Office, Montgomery County Constables Office, Splendora ISD Police Department, Humble Fire Department, Atascocita Volunteer Fire Department, Constable Mark Hermans Office, Humble Police Department and the Humble ISD Police Department.

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said all of the entities work together to help residents in the Lake Houston area.

While these agencies rightfully take much pride in the level of service that we individually provide our constituents, we all embrace a team first mentality when it comes to public safety, Gonzalez said. When emergencies happen jurisdictional lines take a back seat to inter-agency cooperation that puts our residents needs first.

Gonzalez said this cooperation was put to the test when Hurricane Harvey hit the Houston area last year. All law enforcement agencies worked together to ensure the safety of Greater Houston area residents.

During the storm and in the days that followed, all the agencies represented in this room pulled together in the same direction to save lives, Gonzalez said.

During the first few days after Harvey, Gonzalez said the 9-1-1 call center at the sheriffs office took about 3,000 calls per hour.

Thats more calls for sure than any single agency could handle on its own, and every time we reached out to our partner agencies I could tell you that they readily answered the call, Gonzalez said. In Harris County we are blessed to have a network of first responders that operate on a hybrid local level.

More Information Peace officers who were awarded the "Peace Officer of the Year" award: Ruth Chavez- Atascocita Volunteer Fire Department Corporal David Mathieu- Constable Mark Herman's Office Deputy Javier Salinas- Harris County Sheriff's Office Officer Johnny Wolfe- Lone Star College Kingwood Police Department Chief David James Langenberg- Humble Fire Department Chief Delbert Dawes- Humble Police Department Officer William Joseph- Humble ISD Police Department Deputy Michael Aldrich- Montgomery Constable's Office Officer Michael St. Romain- Splendora ISD Police Department See More Collapse

Gonzalez thanked the local business leaders for the luncheon to recognize what law enforcement officials are doing for the community.

Events such as this, when you recognize the outstanding men and women who have chosen to pursue a career in public service really means so much, Gonzalez said. We are truly grateful and humbled by your support and we thank you for that.

kaila.contreras@chron.comWillow Fork Drainage District is saluting Harveys Heroes later this week and the community is invited to join the celebration.

Rescheduled due to inclement weather, the event will be 6:30-9 p.m. Sept. 21 at Central Green Park, 23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd. in LaCenterra.

The heroes run the gamut from individuals to restaurants and churches based on input from the community.

The district asked people to nominate those who helped them, explained Wendy Duncan, assistant vice president, Willow Fork Drainage District board of directors. We got a lot of great responses. Sometimes multiple people nominated the same person.

Whether someone mucked out one home or 50 homes, volunteered one hour or 100 hours, led or joined a crewour combined efforts created a community response that showed compassion, strength, resourcefulness and resilience. Everyone that joined the effort was a Harveys Hero, said Duncan.

Its very hard to hold an event and not recognize everyone, said Duncan. Thats why were honoring heroes that were nominated as examples of what many people in our community did.

District board members will recognize 70 heroes with refreshments and gifts, she said. The evening also will feature Keith Garvin, KPRC reporter and anchor, as master of ceremonies, and performers Sam Smith and Steff Neff.

Between stories about heroes, the program will feature performances by the entertainers. IDC, a Katy band, will close the program. All nominees will be called to the stage and be presented in front of the crowd but will not be identified individually.

It would be hard to choose one to four people, explained Duncan. How do you rank a hero? You just cant do that. Everybodys contribution is equally important and so valuable in a situation like that.

She offers several examples. Sue LaPrade and her friend Joy Siebenman enlisted people who could volunteer at homes identified for mucking out and then connected them with homeowners who needed help.

Another story is about restaurants that really helped our community and cooked food and donated food. That was an amazing thing, said Duncan.

Many area churches also stepped forward. Duncan said The Fellowship at Cinco Ranch housed donations of food, cleaning supplies and clothes for those in need. Kingsland Baptist Church sent out Texas Baptist Men who helped homeowners including the application of mold spray which is costly commercially but which they supplied as a free service. People could use their FEMA money for other things, added Duncan.

Duncan said the salute to Harveys Heroes was her idea made possible by Yvonne Arceneaux, Central Green parks general manager, and Dray Holeman, parks assistant manager.

The WFDD board of directors have not forgotten those still in recovery. Duncan said Katy Responds and Time to Help Vets will set up booths at the event to enlist volunteers and identify unmet qualified needs for the continued restoration of the community. In addition, two advocacy groups will have booths set up, Barker Flood Prevention and Houston Stronger. These groups represent the effort to obtain immediate and substantial flood control solutions for the local area and the Greater Houston Area, she said.

Its a celebration of our amazing community, added Duncan. Not just these 70 people but our community and the amazing response that everyone gave.

karen.zurawski@chron.comFour weeks to Oct. 15, the start of Medicare open/annual enrollment.

Dear Toni:

I have been told that Medicare does not cover drugs when you are in an emergency room. My husband, Joe, went in the hospital from the ER for two days and because it was considered under observation, we are now fighting the hospital because they say his drugs were not covered during his stay.

He does not have a Part D plan because he did not take any prescriptions when he turned 65 What should we do?

Thanks, Cynthia from Tomball area

Cynthia:

Since your husband did not enrolled in a Medicare Prescription Drug Part D plan and his hospital stay falls in under observation he might have to pay for the drugs administered because his stay is under Part B which does not cover prescriptions given orally.

Part B (Medical Insurance) covers IV (intravenous infusion) drugs and since your husband was considered outpatient care he was not an inpatient care, which would have qualified for a Medicare Part A- inpatient hospital stay with drugs covered.

Medicare Part B generally covers care that you receive in a hospital outpatient setting like an emergency room, observation unit, and outpatient surgery center or pain.

This is why enrolling in a Part D Medicare drug plan is so important because when you are admitted in a hospital on an outpatient basis you may need your self-administered drugs. Self-administered drugs are what you would normally take on your own or over-the-counter type drugs. Part B does not pay for these types of drugs, but a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug plan can.

If you do not have a Part D drug plan while in a Part B under observation, hospital outpatient setting or emergency room, then you may pay for the drug cost out of your pocket as you and your husband are experiencing.

During a Toni Says Medicare consultation, everyone is advised on the importance of enrolling in a Medicare Part D plan when first enrolling in Medicare.

The new American Baby Boomer Society website has course #6 which explains Medicare Part D and the famous donut hole. Visit www.abbs4u.com website to join.

To keep Joe from paying for prescriptions out of pocket whether in or out of the hospital, I would advise you to see if he qualifies for Part D Extra Help from Social Security or Medicaid. If he qualifies then he can enroll in a Part D plan now or he will have to wait until Medicares open enrollment which takes place in October 2018 and enroll in a Medicare Part D plan because he has missed his initial enrollment period.

Below is what to do when one receives a hospital bill for prescriptions not covered by Part B in a hospital ER or outpatient setting:

Most hospital pharmacies do not participate in Medicare Part D; you may need to pay up front and submit the claim to your Medicare Part D drug plan for a refund.

Follow instructions on how to submit an out-of-network claim.

You may need to forward certain information like emergency room bills that show what self-administered drugs you were given.

Keep copies of receipts and paperwork you send to your Part D plan.

Houston Area Medicare/LTC Workshops:

Champion Forest: Thursday, Oct. 4. Confused about Medicare/LTC Workshop at: Champion Forest Baptist Church-Multipurpose building at 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 15555 Stuebner Airline, Houston, TX 77069.Montgomery County Sheriff's Office

A 17-year-old girl has been missing since Aug. 1, when she was last seen by her family at her home in the Montgomery area.

Mariam Flores was last known to be in San Antonio possibly staying with some unknown friends, according to a press release from the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office. It is not clear whether Flores is a runaway or not, according to the release.A man was fatally shot Wednesday by police in League City after he was found hiding in a closet and came at officers with a sharp-edged instrument, according to the League City Police Department.

Police officers were serving the man a warrant at 323 Waco St. before the shooting at 10:23 a.m.

The man, identified by neighbors and through public records as Royce Sedotal, 49, was wanted by the League City Police after escaping from custody Tuesday night after being arrested for a family violence charge. Officers went to his address with a warrant and was allowed entrance by his girlfriend.

While searching for the suspect, they came in contact with him in a closet. He came at the officers with a sharp-edge object and a League City police officer shot him, according to Officer Kelly Williamson, spokesman for the League City Police Department. The man died at the scene, and no one else was injured.

LEAGUE CITY POLICE: Officer cleared by grand jury in fatal shooting

The Galveston County Sheriffs Office was notified of the shooting at approximately 11:00 a.m. according to Sheriff Henry Trochesset.

Detectives from the Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Division and the Identification Bureau deputies responded to conduct an investigation of the shooting. Detectives interviewed witnesses spoke with neighbors, and collected evidence at the scene. The Galveston County District Attorney's office is also involved in the investigation.

The officer will be placed on paid administrative leave, Williamson said.

Sedotel's house, a two-story bungalow on a corner lot of a sleepy section of League City with an above-ground pool in the front yard and a pickup truck parked in the driveway, was roped off by police on Wednesday afternoon.

After police left the area, a woman, Kenteena Wilson, exited Sedotal's house in tears. Wilson said she had been with Sedotal for four years but declined to comment any further.

LEAGUE CITY KILLING: Murder suspect charged in 2017 shooting death

Neighbors who knew Sedotal described him as jovial and polite, always hanging out in his front yard or working on his house.

"We see him do garden stuff, working on his house with his wife in the pool, relaxing," said Gia Hernandez, a neighbor whose house was directly behind Sedotal's.

Other neighbors said that Sedotal and Wilson had an occasionally tumultuous relationship, occasionally arguing within earshot of the neighborhood.

"They're usually really friendly hippie people, always outside planning and being silly, every now and then they would get in an argument and it would be big but it was never like this," said Miranda Sanders, who lived in an apartment complex across the street from Sedotal.

Sanders said her boyfriend saw Sedotal and Wilson while walking his dog, yelling and pushing each other in the early morning hours Wednesday.

"(My boyfriend) said they were really getting into it, they were really loud, I'm sure the cops were going to be called," Sanders said.

BORDER PATROL SERIAL KILLER: Agent confessed to killing four women in two weeks

Sedotal was previously arrested in 2013 for causing bodily harm to a family member, after throwing a humidifier at a former girlfriend. He pleaded no contest to the charge, reducing it to a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge, and paid a $100 fine.

Sedotal was also arrested in 2014 for evading arrest. He pleaded no contest and served nine days in jail.

The investigation, as is the case with all officer-involved shootings, will be referred to the Galveston County Grand Jury. It is the third officer-involved shooting in League City in 2018.

Samantha Ketterer contributed reporting.

Nick Powell covers Galveston County for the Chronicle. Follow him on Twitter and send him tips at nick.powell@chron.comMontgomery County law enforcement agencies raided a rehabilitation center in East Montgomery County Wednesday morning in search of evidence related to a former priest at Conroe's Sacred Heart Catholic Church who is accused of sexually abusing two children almost 20 years ago.

It was not known what specific evidence was collected from the Shalom Center off Morgan Drive. According to a 1995 U.S. Conference of Bishops survey on treatment centers, the location deals with priests involved in sex-related crimes.

At least 25 officials from the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, Conroe Police Department, Montgomery County District Attorney's Office and the Texas Rangers were on the scene.

Manuel La Rosa-Lopez, a former priest at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, turned himself into the Montgomery County Jail on Sept. 11 after the Conroe Police Department issued a warrant for his arrest. He is charged with four counts of indecency with a child. The alleged incidents span several years in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

He recently served as the pastor at St. John Fisher Catholic Church in Richmond and the episcopal vicar for Hispanics.

Montgomery County District Attorney's Office Special Crime Bureau Chief Tyler Dunman said it is believed Lopez received treatment at the facility at some point. He added it was not clear what type of treatment the priest received.

"(Our) coming here is a result of a search of the location in Fort Bend and sacred Heart Catholic Church. We believe there are documents here that would be important to our investigation into this priest. We are getting a lot of good calls and referrals to our office as well as Conroe Police Department with information and we are asking the public to continue to come forward."

Dunman said some of those calls are coming from outside Texas. He added they are continuing to follow up on those and declined to provide any details.

The two victims, a man and woman, recently reported the alleged abuse after numerous media reports detailing various sex scandals in the Catholic Church continued to surface. There is no statute of limitations on such sex crimes.

CHURCH RAID: Officials raid Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Conroe

The Archdiocese of Houston-Galveston said in a statement that La Rosa-Lopez has denied the allegations of sexual abuse.

The two accusers allege that Cardinal Daniel DiNardo did not do enough to protect children from La Rosa-Lopez after a female accuser's complaint was brought to him in 2001, and more recently after a male accuser met with Dinardo last month to recount his alleged sexual abuse from the years 1998 to 2000.

According to the arrest warrant, a male victim came forward late last month to report he was abused by La Rosa-Lopez as a child younger than 17.

The victim told law enforcement officers that La Rosa-Lopez began touching him and making intimate gestures that continued to increase in frequency and severity over a period between 1998 and 2000 culminating Oct. 5, 1999. On the day, the victim reported La Rosa-Lopez called him to his living quarters and began showing the victim photos of partially naked men. When the victim tried to leave, La Rosa-Lopez allegedly physically stopped him and then sexually assaulted him.

A second victim reported to law enforcement that incidents occurred while she was attending school at the church. During 2000, the victim described La Rosa-Lopez behavior as grooming behavior which consisted of kissing and touching. On April 11, 2000, La Rosa allegedly fondled the victim touching her breast with his hands.

ON THE RUN: Dallas priest accused on molesting teens believed to have fled the country

According to the warrant, the female victim believed she was in a romantic relationship with LaRosa-Lopez and recorded incidents in a diary. The victims father found the diary and determined the incidents were about LaRosa-Lopez and reported the issues to the church. The result, the warrant states, is LaRosa-Lopez was transferred away from the church and the girls family moved from Conroe.

The Archdiocese reported both incidents to Child Protective Services, church officials said.

"We take these matters very seriously, which is why we reported the information we received from both individuals to CPS  and removed Father La Rosa-Lopez from ministry," the Archdiocese statement said. "We are pledged to cooperate with the civil authorities in their investigation. The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston recognizes it clearly has both a legal and a moral obligation to address any incidence of abuse  sexual or otherwise  to God's children. Such behavior simply will not be tolerated.

"To anyone affected by any form of abuse by anyone who represents the Church, the Archdiocese deeply regrets such a fundamental violation of trust, and commits itself to eliminating such unacceptable actions."

cdominguez@hcnonline.comA dozen residents of the villages of Sterling Ridge and Creekside Park in The Woodlands met with representatives of CenterPoint Energy on Tuesday to discuss the occasional blackouts that have been plaguing the two neighborhoods for years, they said.

CenterPoint North Region Director Chris Oliver gave a presentation at the meeting, which was hosted at The Woodlands Town Hall, addressing blackout concerns in the two villages.

We want to take a proactive posture on these outages and events, Oliver said. (And) always be there and take care of any issues or concerns that may arise.

The most recent blackout on Aug. 18 caused 17,000 CenterPoint customers in Sterling Ridge to lose power for four minutes to six hours when heat overloaded defective equipment at the Pinehurst substation and blew out two transformers. More than 7,000 of those customers, Oliver said, had their power back on within five minutes.

Its a series of events, Oliver said. Things will cascade. We got a lot of customers up in a very short period of time.

The issue arises when the trees The Woodlands is known so well for become entangled with the power lines around them and interrupt service, Oliver said. When the villages of Sterling Ridge and Creekside Park were built, the underground power lines installed in the older part of The Woodlands didnt carry over, leaving the villages to rely solely on overground lines, Oliver said.

The Woodlands is one of two areas in CenterPoints 5,000 square mile coverage area that receives visual inspections of the more than 140 miles of power lines every 60 days, said service consultant Erik Swiney.

Not all of the residents were satisfied with CenterPoints presentation.

Most of the time I come home and my clocks are all flashing, said one resident of Sterling Ridge, who said shes experienced blackouts since moving to The Woodlands in 2005.

Every four years, CenterPoint does a circuit-wide trim of potentially hazardous trees in The Woodlands  the next trimming project is scheduled for 2019.Devotees of the Hindu Temple of The Woodlands have been busy celebrating the birth of the elephant-headed deity Lord Ganesha.

For 10 days each year in late August or early September, officials at the growing temple host a festival called Ganesh Chaturthi during which Hindus visit the temple to pay their respects to Ganesha, the god of prosperity and wisdom.

Girish Ranade, a temple volunteer, said that the festival originated in the Indian city of Pune more than 100 years ago.

Certain aspects of the deitys image are important as well: its big ears signify the importance of listening, its trunk represents taking only the good and not the bad and its small eyes encourage focus.

At the start of the festival, the elaborately crafted idol of Ganesha is raised on a platform and worshipped in a procession as it is brought into the temple with singing, dancing and music.

Throughout the festival, Ganesha is offered coconut and sweet dumplings, which are considered to be the deitys favorite food. Prayers are also said each day.

This year, the festival culminates in a celebration Friday, Sept. 21 with a procession of taking the clay deity out of the temple and submerging it in water.

We will send him out on the last day, and tell him that hes coming back next year, Ranade said.

Since the clay is biodegradable, it will dissolve in the tank of water.

Beth Beckwith Kulkarri, a founding member of the Hindu Temple of The Woodlands, said that this is because they want to protect nature.

Kulkarri said that this temple is one of the only ones in the greater Houston area that celebrates this festival for all 10 days. This is the eighth year this temple is celebrating Ganesha.

Its a joyous occasion. Its a fun time of togetherness with family and friends with music, decorating and special foods, Kulkarri said.

This year, the temple added an education portion for the children to take part. One of the activities was a 3D model contest for kids to translate historical stories into artistic representations.

jane.stueckemann@chron.comBefore pulling the trigger, the professor was thoughtful.

Mark J. Bird had been at the College of Southern Nevada for more than two decades in the department of human behavior. He had a feel for the rhythms of the school day, the timetables of when students filled the hallways or were tucked into classrooms. But as the 69-year-old arrived at the campus west of the Las Vegas Strip on Aug. 28, the sociology professor was not there to deliver a traditional lesson.

He arrived around 8 a.m., a police report obtained by The Washington Post would later state. The desert sun was already pounding the parking lot asphalt, hoisting the local temperature into the 90s. The school's K Building, a blocky, modern structure surrounded by a cracked horizon of mountains in the distance, was stirring for early morning lectures. Hefting a black briefcase, Bird made his way to the building's second floor.

His choice was purposeful, Bird would later tell police investigators. It was a Tuesday, the second day of the semester. There likely would not be many students around.

Still, Bird waited for the hallway to clear before entering a unisex bathroom. He locked the door. He taped a $100 bill and a note - "For the janitor" - to the mirror. He placed three sealed letters on the counter. He then pulled the gun from his case, a recently purchased .22 Cobra Derringer. It was a tiny, two-shot pistol, like something an Old West riverboat gambler would secret in a vest pocket.

From the bathroom, a loud bang jolted the hallway, witnesses would tell police. A burning sensation crawling up his left arm, ears screaming, Bird popped out of the door, blood gushing from his left forearm, he said later. Bystanders flocked to his side. The smell of gunpowder drifted on the air. Someone tried to stop the bleeding with paper towels from a nearby maintenance cart. The panic button was punched. Medics and police arrived.

The pain did not muzzle Bird. In fact, the words spilling from the professor had a pointed political edge. As one witness told investigators, Bird "started saying he's protesting [President] Trump and that he shot himself because of that."

Bird's anti-Trump rhetoric would continue in his interviews with investigators. Although the professor survived his injury, he is now currently facing criminal charges stemming from the shooting, including felony counts of carrying a concealed weapon without a permit and discharging a gun in a prohibited area. Court records indicate he has yet to enter a plea.

Bird, who remains in custody, has not publicly filled in the motivations behind the episode. His attorney also did not return a call for comment. But in his interviews with police, as well as his writings left behind at the scene, the professor cited concerns over the environment and gun control as factors throwing him over the edge. The act places Bird among an extreme set of individuals who turn to public self-harm as an outlet for anxiety and anger over current events.

Suicide or self-harm linked to a larger political agenda goes back thousands of years.

Michael Biggs, a University of Oxford sociologist, defines "self-immolation" as "an individual intentionally killing himself or herself (or at least gambling with death) on behalf of a collective cause." He notes "an act of protest, it is intended to be public in at least one of two senses: performed in a public place in view of other people, or accompanied by a written letter addressed to political figures or to the general public."

The act was literally burned into the wider American consciousness in the 1960s as Buddhist monks set themselves on fire to protest the South Vietnamese government. Journalist David Halberstam memorably recounted an episode in June 1963 when monk Thich Quang Duc set himself ablaze in Saigon, a sight that left the veteran correspondent "too shocked to cry, too confused to take notes or ask questions, too bewildered to even think."

Biggs's own researched documented "533 individual acts of self-immolation - including attempts which did not prove fatal - from 1963 to 2002."

The Trump era - a time period as fraught with high-wattage divisiveness as the 1960s - has also seen public spectacles of self-immolation. Last April, New York City gay rights attorney David Buckel set himself on fire in Brooklyn's Prospect Park. A note found on the body stated he had taken his own life to protest environmental destruction, The Post reported.

Similarly, personal and political despair contributed to the July death of Mahmood Salem. Accordingly, to NBC News, the Yemeni-American citizen was distraught when he learned his wife and two children would not be allowed back into the country due to the president's controversial travel ban. He committed suicide.

"I'll say it's the first and main reason. Maybe there is other stuff, but I could give it 90 percent," his brother told NBC. "He cannot bring them here and at the same time, he cannot take them back to Yemen because it's war."

In his interview with investigators from a hospital bed, Bird made it clear he was not attempting to kill himself or to harm others. He waited until the hallway was clear so no one was in the line of fire, he explained. He purposely shot his left forearm so he would survive the blast, he added.

Investigators still pressed Bird for a motivation.

"Bird stated that there were many reasons for what he did today, but the main reason why he shot himself was due to the fact that he is upset with the way President Trump was running our country," an officer wrote in the police report obtained by The Post. "He stated that he did not agree with the policies that Trump had put into place and he felt someone needed to take a stand to prove a point."

More clues to his thinking were contained in the sealed letters recovered from the bathroom sink. One, addressed to the college's president, Federico Zaragoza, begins with Bird "sincerely" apologizing "for my behavior today."

"I was motivated by multiple reasons," he wrote. The note then pointed to an Oct. 20, 2017, CBS News story. "[T]he Earth had roughly 100 million malnutrition and pollution deaths in the past decade - and the Earth is on a course for at least another 100 million such deaths in the next decade," the professor wrote. "One hundred million deaths are more than all the military and civilian deaths of WW2."

A "less significant" factor in his decision was the Oct. 1 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas, Bird wrote. "Since this incident, there has been no national legislation banning bump stocks, banning civilian ownership of AR-15 type assault weapons, and the passage of universal gun background checks legislation. Apparently, it is about as easy to buy an AR-15 as a 2-shot derringer."

The police report stated that during his interview with police, Bird became so emotional, his voice clogged with tears and his breath coming up shallow, that investigators had to steer the topic away from politics or the shooting until the suspect regained his composure. He also reiterated to police "he did not shoot himself in protest, but rather to promote better gun control," investigators wrote.

"Bird stated that he believed that by shooting himself he was able to effectively deliver the message he intended to deliver."BAGHDAD - A top aide to the leader of the Islamic State was sentenced to death by hanging by an Iraqi court on Wednesday, becoming the highest-ranking member of the extremist group to be tried and punished in a court of law.

Ismail al-Ithawi was part of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's inner circle and was responsible for religious edicts, finances and designing the educational curriculum for the Islamic State's once-vast area of control across Iraq and Syria. He is also thought to be the group's only operative in custody to have seen Baghdadi alive last year.

Ithawi, who used the alias Abu Zaid al-Iraqi, was captured in a joint operation by Iraqi, American and Turkish intelligence agencies in February and had been providing information to Iraqi authorities, including coordinates for airstrikes on targets in Syria, Iraqi officials said.

His capture, along with that of four other important figures he helped authorities track down, was touted by President Donald Trump in a tweet in May, and experts believed he could help authorities locate Baghdadi. Last month, Baghdadi released an audiotape, apparently intending to prove he is still alive.

Ithawi is the most prominent member of the Islamic State (also known as ISIS) to have faced trial in Iraq. He is one of more than 300 Iraqis and foreigners, including women, to have been given death sentences.

It was not clear why Ithawi was given a death sentence despite his cooperation with authorities.

An Iraqi judge with knowledge of Ithawi's trial, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss legal deliberations, said Ithawi's cooperation had indeed helped authorities track down other Islamic State figures. But under Iraq's antiterrorism law, cooperation does not guarantee immunity from prosecution or from a maximum sentence, the judge said.

"If we arrest Baghdadi, no matter how much he cooperates, he will get the death sentence," the judge said in an interview. "This is the least we can do for the victims of the Islamic State."

The judge added that Ithawi had been represented by a public defender but declined to say how long the proceedings took.

Human rights groups have criticized Iraq's antiterrorism law as giving prosecutors too wide a berth. Scores of people who were coerced into helping the Islamic State, working as cooks, cleaners or doctors for the group, have faced trial and have been sentenced to life in prison or death.

Terrorism trials in Iraq typically last mere minutes, with judges handing down harsh sentences based on coerced confessions. Defense attorneys have complained that they are often not given any opportunity to mount a defense.

Over the course of several days late last year, The Washington Post observed numerous trials of foreigners accused of joining the Islamic State that lasted less than 20 minutes before those defendants were sentenced to death.At 10:28 Tuesday morning, a Twitter account with a white nationalist talking point for its handle posted Christine Blasey Ford's personal address.

The account called for "peaceful protests" at Ford's home in Northern California over her accusation that Judge Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her at a party in the early 1980s when they were teenagers. The allegation was a "hoax" orchestrated by the "deranged left," the account tweeted.

This was at least the third time a Twitter user had "doxed" Ford - posted her personal information online - since she revealed her identity to The Washington Post and accused President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee of sexual assault.

Within hours of coming forward, Ford faced attacks on her privacy and credibility, confirming the fears she had expressed about what would happen if she went public and echoing the backlash faced by other accusers in the #MeToo era.

Kavanaugh, a federal judge and married father of two, has strongly denied the allegations, saying in a statement he has "never done anything like what the accuser describes." He has agreed to testify under oath before a congressional committee Monday.

Ford has not committed to testify. In a letter late Tuesday to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley, R, Ford's attorneys said that she wants the FBI to investigate the incident first, and that "her worst fears have materialized" as a result of her coming forward.

"She has been the target of vicious harassment and even death threats," they wrote. "As a result of these kind of threats, her family was forced to relocate out of their home. Her email has been hacked, and she has been impersonated online."

In Washington, criticism of Ford has centered primarily on her credibility and concerns that Kavanaugh could be permanently tainted by a false allegation.

Kavanaugh's supporters have raised questions about her motives, pointing to her status as a registered Democrat and her decision to hire an attorney while her story was still a secret. Others have highlighted details that are missing from Ford's account of the alleged assault, including the date of the party and the exact location where it took place.

"The problem is, Dr. Ford can't remember when it was, where it was, or how it came to be," Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, told reporters at the Capitol on Tuesday. "There are some gaps there that need to be filled."

Influential conservatives outside Congress have also aggressively questioned Ford's account.

The opinion pages of the Wall Street Journal included three pieces skeptical of her story on Tuesday. One called it a "calculated political ambush."

"This is a case of an alleged teenage encounter . . . brought forward to ruin Mr. Kavanaugh's reputation for partisan purposes," the editorial stated.

Carrie Severino, a top official with the conservative Judicial Crisis Network, which is planning to launch a $1.5 million television ad campaign in support of Kavanaugh, questioned Ford's description of the alleged incident as an attempted rape.

The accusations "cover a whole range of conduct, from boorishness to rough horseplay to actual attempted rape," Severino told CNN. ". . . I'm saying that the behavior she describes could describe a whole range of things."

Elsewhere, particularly online, the questioning has veered into more vicious territory - and claimed other casualties.

A little-known online media outlet, Grabien News, published a story that mistook Ford, a professor at Palo Alto University, for Christine A. Ford, a former professor at California State University at Fullerton. The piece quoted what it said were poor online reviews of Christine A. Ford's teaching by students between 2010 and 2014.

Before it was retracted on Monday, the story went viral, fueled by tweets from the Drudge Report and conservative media host Laura Ingraham, whose former executive producer runs Grabien News.

Reached by phone, Christine A. Ford acknowledged that the last few days had been difficult for her and said that she had hired a lawyer. She declined to say whether she had faced any threats. "I'm not a public figure, and I don't have that expectation of being run through the press," she said.

Her attorney, Marc Cohen, said she was considering her legal options. "My client is embarrassed and humiliated as a result of reckless reporting simply because she has a similar name as someone prominent in the news," he said.

Another story that took off on Twitter related to Kavanaugh's mother, a state judge in Maryland, who was once involved in a foreclosure case against Christine Blasey Ford's parents.

The connection "could explain motive or fuel conspiracy," conservative columnist Eric Erickson tweeted Monday.

Lawyers for Ford said in a statement that she had "no knowledge" of the case until this week and that Kavanaugh's mother made a ruling that was favorable to Ford's parents.

Meanwhile, Ford has erased any social media presence from the Internet. A spokeswoman for Palo Alto University confirmed she is still employed there, though her name and contact information no longer appear on the school's website.

Ford has received a flood of supportive messages since The Post reported her identity Sunday, according to a person close to her, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive matter. But she has also faced a stream of harassing messages and threats.

"No one believes you," one message said. "Karma is a [expletive] and it will be visiting you very very soon."

Ford and her family have moved out of their home as a security precaution, and she and her husband are staying apart from their two children. "She's spending her time trying to figure out the logistics of her life as it is now and how to keep herself and her family safe," the person said.

Twitter spokesman Ian Plunkett declined to say whether the site suspended any accounts or deleted any tweets for revealing personal information about Ford. "If we receive reports of violations, we will take action where appropriate," he said.

As of Tuesday evening, the Twitter account posting Ford's address was still active, and another account had posted what it said was an aerial photo of Ford's house.

Anita Hill, who accused Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment during his confirmation process in 1991, has said the experience and attention profoundly affected her life. "I've had my life turned upside down," Hill told John Oliver on his HBO show in July.

In the interview with The Post, Ford said she hesitated to speak publicly because she anticipated that her life would be upended and that Kavanaugh could be confirmed regardless. "Why suffer through the annihilation if it's not going to matter?" she said.

---

The Washington Post's Emma Brown, Robert Costa and Alice Crites contributed to this report.HARTFORD  The founder of the Litchfield Jazz Camp and the annual Litchfield Jazz Festival will be honored by the Connecticut Womens Hall of Fame with two separate events this fall, according to a press release.

Vita West Muir, the executive and artistic director of Litchfield Performing Arts, will be honored at a statewide awards presentation in Hartford Nov. 5 and also at a second one in Litchfield on Dec. 15, where she is the main honoree, according to the release from the performing arts organization.

Muir began her working life with a degree in biology from Fordham University as a writer documenting the biomedical results of Apollo for NASA, according to the release. She later freelanced for national magazines.

She made the transition to arts presenter serendipitously when she moved her family into a large historic home in Litchfield and welcomed the community in for classical concerts in 1981, the release continues. That effort became a not-for-profit in 1983.

Muir founded the Litchfield Jazz Festival in 1996, and in 1997 she launched the Litchfield Jazz Camp, which hosts 300 students for a month each summer at The Gunnery in Washington, according to the release. The camp also provides need-based scholarships for music students.

Muir still develops the programs at Litchfield Performing Arts and serves on the boards of several Connecticut nonprofits. The programs serve students across the state.

Muirs Project Poetry Live! event served thousands of middle schoolers across Connecticut for 25 years and received a major U.S. Department of Education award, according to the release. Muir herself has also received numerous awards for her work, including the Governors Award for Culture and Tourism and awards from Chamber Music America, the National Endowment for the Arts, the first CultureMax Lifetime Achievement Award and the Jazz Journalists Association Hero award, according to the release.

The Litchfield event, called Jingle & Mingle, is set for Dec. 15 at 6:30 p.m. at Litchfield Community Center. It will feature music by jazz bassist and vocalist Nicki Parrott, formerly of the Les Paul Trio. It will also include cameos by top Litchfield Jazz Campers. Festivities start with a cocktail hour and end with dinner and dancing. Muirs award will be presented by Sarah Smith Lubarsky, executive director of the Connecticut Womens Hall of Fame.

Tickets for the event are $85 and support the Litchfield Jazz Camp. Reservations are advised. Call 860-361-6285 or order online at Jingle2018.eventbrite.com.NEW HAVEN  A 25-year-old city man was sentenced to 18 years in prison for his role in a violent New Haven street gang officials busted in 2015, the U.S. attorneys office said in a release.

Luis Padilla, also known as Chewie, was also sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall to five years of supervised release.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in January 2014, ATF and the New Haven Police Department began Operation Red Side through a series of controlled narcotics purchases and firearms seizures. The investigation revealed that members and associates of the Red Side Guerilla Brims, a sect of the Bloods street gang based in New Haven, were engaged in narcotics trafficking and related acts of violence, including murder, attempted murder, assaults and armed robberies, the U.S. attorneys office said.

In addition to distributing crack cocaine and other narcotics in and around New Haven, the investigation indicated that members and associates of the RSGB, under the direction of Jeffrey Benton and others, transported the drugs to Bangor, Maine, and sold them in Bangor and its surrounding communities, officials said. The RSGB also traded narcotics for firearms, brought the firearms back to New Haven and distributed them to gang members, according to the release.

Padilla was an RSGB enforcer who committed shootings and robberies on behalf of the gang, federal officials said. He also traveled to Maine several times at Bentons direction to watch over the gangs drug trafficking operation.

Padilla has been detained since Aug. 18, 2014. On that date, a search of his home revealed a loaded .45 caliber handgun and a box of .45 caliber auto ammunition, according to the release. Padilla then began assisting the government in the prosecution of this matter.

On Sept. 29, 2015, Padilla pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in a pattern of racketeering activity, one count of murder in aid of racketeering and one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon.

In pleading guilty, Padillaadmitted his involvement in the gang-related murders of Derrick Suggs on March 18, 2011; Kevin Lee on April 20, 2011, and Donnell Allick on June 24, 2011, court documents show. He also admitted that he shot and wounded people in New Haven on Feb. 23 and March 29, 2011, and that he participated in a home invasion robbery on Putnam Street in New Haven on May 30, 2012. He further admitted his role in the trafficking of narcotics in Connecticut and Maine, and that, as a convicted felon, he illegally possessed a firearm and ammunition on Aug. 18, 2014, according to court documents.

On March 16, 2017, Padilla pleaded guilty to the additional offenses of attempted Hobbs Act robbery, and carrying and using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. In pleading guilty, Padilla admitted that on March 14, 2009, when he was 16 years old and prior to his membership in RSGB, he shot and killed Thomas Daniels Jr., during a failed robbery attempt in New Haven, according to the release.

As a result of this investigation, 21 members and associates of the RSGB were convicted of federal charges in Connecticut and Maine. The investigation has resolved seven murder cases, four attempted murders and four armed robberies that occurred in 2011 and 2012 and the 2009 murder of Thomas Daniels Jr. Padilla is the last defendant to be sentenced.

Benton pleaded guilty to various offenses stemming from this investigation and admitted that he participated in four gang-related murders and one attempted murder. On Oct. 4, 2017, he was sentenced to 40 years of imprisonment.

U.S. Attorney Durham noted that federal prisoners are required to serve at least 85 percent of their prison term and are not eligible for parole.

This investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the New Haven Police Department, the Connecticut Department of Correction, the Connecticut State Police, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Hamden Police Department. The New Haven States Attorneys Office also provided critical assistance in the investigation, federal officials said.

An instrumental component of the investigation was the work of the Connecticut State Crime Laboratory in utilizing the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network to analyze ballistics evidence, according to the release.

This matter was prosecuted in the District of Connecticut by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter Markle and Jocelyn Kaoutzanis. A related case in the District of Maine was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel Casey.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone, according to the release.The lawsuits and public pressure made it clear: The Army had a problem.

In August, it reversed its decision to expel dozens of immigrant recruits who were seeking expedited citizenship by serving in the U.S. military.

But days before, on Aug. 13, a military intelligence unit asked Army Reserve attorneys to scrutinize its completed security screening packets for admissions of potential crimes by immigrant recruits, according to an email obtained by The Washington Post.

The email is written in a who, what, when, where, why format. The "why" says: "[Immigrant recruits] are currently suing the federal government claiming they were wrongfully discharged from the Army."

Critics say the request appears to be retribution for the lawsuits that helped overturn dozens of dismissals, and was intended to legitimize a process beset with legal and bureaucratic problems that have been blamed internally for draining vast resources.

"Instead of a good-faith attempt to give due process, it's done in bad faith," Margaret Stock, a retired Army officer and immigration attorney, told The Post on Tuesday.

The Pentagon acknowledged the email but said the request was not designed to discharge immigrant recruits or charge them with crimes.

Air Force Maj. Carla Gleason, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said in a statement that "the request for personnel to assist in the review was to ensure we were following federal guidelines and to ensure the packages were complete and accurate given the ongoing MAVNI litigation."

Gleason provided her statement on Monday.

On Tuesday, she said the reviews were "determined to be unnecessary" two days after initial coordination and the packets were diverted back to Army intelligence officials "for reporting to other agencies."

The Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest program, or MAVNI, promises expedited citizenship for badly needed language and medical skills. More than 10,400 immigrants entered the force through the program since 2009, when it was implemented by Stock. It was shuttered last year.

The August email followed a tumultuous summer where the Army responded to lawsuits by halting the discharge of recruits while the Pentagon figured out an orderly and fair screening process. Gleason said last month that the Pentagon wants to treat recruits with "dignity and respect."

An unknown number of recruits and reservists have been kicked out after their enlistment because of problems in their counterintelligence screening process - which typically occurs after recruits clear background checks through FBI and police databases, Stock said.

The Pentagon has defended the stricter screening measures introduced in 2016, saying 20 MAVNIs have been investigated for national security concerns in the past five years. It will not say if any of those investigations led to charges or action.

But what has emerged in recent months is a mosaic of seemingly innocuous reasons for dismissals or for reasons outside a recruit's control. Many reasons for discharges are connected to their foreign backgrounds - which the Pentagon desired to harness in the first place.

The Army has turned immigrants away for holding foreign investments, sending money to parents or communicating with relatives who work in foreign governments, said Stock, who has reviewed declassified reports. Others were discharged because another agency failed to provide documents for screeners in time for an interview, she added.

The Pentagon has dismissed recruits for holding foreign investments or having relatives who worked in foreign governments, Stock said. Others were discharged because another agency failed to provide documents for screeners in time for an interview, she added.

Bow, following questions and a lawsuit over the process, it appears screeners are looking for more serious issues.

The 902nd Military Intelligence Group at Fort Meade, Maryland, which has conducted the counterintelligence screenings, asked Army Reserve attorneys to help "review [immigrant recruit] packets to determine whether the applicants admitted to or provided information about a crime that requires reporting to law enforcement," the email says.

The counterintelligence screening is an hours-long interview where recruits are asked about their foreign activities before their arrival in the United States, their relatives and employment history, and loyalty to America.

At least three dozen attorneys were asked to help review screenings, according to an Army legal official who received the email. A majority of those attorneys do not practice immigration law in private practice or in the government, the official told The Post.

"It looks like additional screening will potentially be useful to the Army in defending its actions in civil litigation," the official said, who declined to provide a name to speak candidly.

Gleason did not answer questions about whether the request for help evaluating screening packets raised questions about the review process, nor a question asking if screeners were directed to focus on immigration-related issues to later forward to other agencies.

The results are not shared with recruits and are only available if they make public records requests. One recruit, a Chinese PhD student, was turned away because a screener with no medical experience said he had Asperger's syndrome - on the basis that he once observed a family member with autism, The Post previously reported.

Stock said she has reviewed about 30 declassified screening packets. Recruits have shared them with her when asking for help.

"They don't have the bureaucratic will to fix this. They just want to get this problem over with," Stock said of the Pentagon. "The way you get rid of the problem is you get rid of the people."President Donald Trump had a suggestion for how Spain could deal with Europe's migration crisis during a recent meeting with Foreign minister Josep Borrell, according to reports in the Spanish media.

The idea was simple: "Build a wall across the Sahara."

El Pais and Europa Press reported this week that Borrell recalled Trump's suggestion during a luncheon in Madrid on Tuesday. The Spanish Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but the Spanish Foreign Ministry told Britain's Guardian newspaper that the accounts of Borrell's comments were accurate.

According to those accounts, Borrell told his audience that Trump had compared the situation in northern Africa and the Mediterranean to that along the U.S. border with Mexico. During his campaign, Trump had promised to build a wall along the southern border with Mexico and force the Mexican government to pay for it.

Borrell said that he did not support a wall along the border between the United States and Mexico and that Spanish diplomats had told Trump that the situation was considerably different in scale anyway. Trump disagreed, according to Borrell's recollection, adding that "the Sahara border can't be bigger than our border with Mexico."

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Though estimates vary, U.S. Customs and Border Protection says that the border between the United States and Mexico is roughly 1,900 miles long. Most estimates for the Sahara put it at about 3,000 miles long from east to west.

A wall across the Sahara would probably also involve building through several sovereign nations. The desert spreads over parts of 11 countries: Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Eritrea, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Sudan and Tunisia.

It was unclear from the Spanish media whether Trump was speaking in jest when he made the purported comments. Borrell had accompanied Spain's King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia to the White House in June.

Spain has seen rising numbers of migrants and refugees arrive on its shores in recent months, the result of a crackdown on a central Mediterranean route between Libya and Italy. According to the International Organization for Migration, more that 33,000 people have arrived in Spain via the western Mediterranean in 2018 - three times as many as in the same period last year.

The left-wing government of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, in power since June, has attempted to welcome the new arrivals - accepting migrant rescue boats such as the MV Aquarius after Italy rejected them.

Borrell, who was president of the European Parliament between 2004 and 2007, has been critical of anti-immigration sentiment in Europe. "Everybody in Europe is being affected by this virus, fears of immigration," he told The Washington Post during the June visit to the United States. "This is not the case of Spain."

His comments at the luncheon this week appear to affirm, however, that migration and identity are the most important issues facing the continent.

"European societies are not structured to absorb more than a certain percentage of migrants, especially if they are Muslims," he said, according to El Pais.A Houston police officer was involved in a crash on the city's northwest side Tuesday night.

The crash happened around 7:30 p.m. in the 8700 block of West Tidwell Road.

The officer was westbound on Tidwell near Fairbanks North Houston Road when an SUV pulled out in front of him, causing him to slam in the back-left side of the SUV.

No one was injured in the crash, according to Houston Police Department Lt. Larry Crowson.

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A Houston woman was arrested Tuesday morning in the 2016 slaying of Esmeralda Pargas, whose skeletal remains were found stashed on vacant Liberty County property, according to authorities.

Sabrina Olarosa-Garcia, 41, was apprehended around 7 a.m. in Houston and charged with murder, Liberty County Sheriffs Office spokesman Capt. Ken DeFoor said in a statement.A Santa Fe Independent School District board of trustees meeting turned rancorous, with family members of the victims of a May school shooting berating the board for the district's poor academic performance and inadequate safety measures in the wake of a recent threat against Santa Fe High School students.

The school board meeting this week was the latest in a series of contentious interactions between the school district and a group of family members of victims of the Santa Fe High School shooting on May 18, in which 10 people were killed and 13 wounded.

The group has been frustrated by what they perceive as a lack of engagement with the Santa Fe ISD board of trustees on increasing safety measures throughout the district.

The group claimed that the school district had continually denied them the opportunity to read the names of the victims and survivors of the shooting in a public forum, though school district officials said the group has continually addressed the board at previous meetings.

The group, many of whom wore t-shirts emblazoned with the letter "F", was motivated to pay tribute to the shooting victims after the school district alerted parents on Sept. 6 to a text message threat sent by two Santa Fe High School students that led the Galveston County district attorney's office to investigate.

FIREARMS GIFT: Santa Fe ISD trustees accept donation of weapons

The threat comes less than a month after students returned to the campus to start the school year.

The students will face disciplinary action, but the threat incident angered many Santa Fe parents, including the families of victims and survivors of the May shooting.

"(The school district's) hands are tied to a certain extent and I completely get that, but when it comes to punishment (for the students that sent the threat), that's in their hands," said Rosie Y. Stone, whose son, Christopher, was killed in the May shooting.

The public forum part of the meeting began with Flo Rice, a substitute teacher at Santa Fe High School wounded during the shooting, who calmly approached the lectern using a walker. Surrounded by her husband, Scot, and other parents of victims, Rice read a speech that left many in the audience in tears.

"They knocked bombs off of tables and kicked guns out of the shooter's hand; they lay across other students to protect them from bullets; they pry open locked doors to gain an escape route and they ran like hell for help," Rice said.

Addressing the board directly, Rice concluded: "These are the people who have my admiration and respect and deserve yours. These are not the victims of May 18, these are our heroes."

After a standing ovation for Flo Rice, a family member read the name of each of the 10 victims, ringing a bell that was brought to the lectern after each name.

STATE GRANT: Gov. Greg Abbott announces another $1.8 million in grants for Santa Fe

Tension arose when Flo Rice's husband, Scot, began reading the names of the survivors of the shooting, drawing a rebuke from Rusty Norman, the board president, for exceeding the allotted speaking time. At one point, two Santa Fe ISD police officers approached Rice at the lectern, only to stand down when Norman allowed him to read the names of the survivors.

"You interrupted us, and there's dead bodies between me and you, and you can't step over them," Scot Rice said.

Other family members of Santa Fe victims admonished the school board for the district's poor academic performance on the Texas Education Agency's Accountability Rating System. Santa Fe ISD was not technically rated for the 2017-18 school year after applying for an exemption due to Hurricane Harvey, but if they had been rated they would have received an "F."

"What this tells me is Santa Fe is not providing an environment conducive to education; it's providing just the opposite," said Steve Perkins, whose wife, Ann, a substitute teacher, was killed in the Santa Fe High School shooting.

After the meeting, Norman said the poor ratings for Santa Fe ISD are partially a result of a new grading system the TEA imposed, which, combined with the damage the district suffered during Harvey, has them underperforming.

At HoustonChronicle.com: School shooting spurs Santa Fe parents to activism

"The grading system was changed this year and not a lot of explanation before that happened and now we're trying to work our way through that," Norman said. "It should disturb folks that even districts that were rated and received really high ratings are telling their people we can't explain how we got this because we don't understand the playing ground yet."

As to the text message threat at Santa Fe High School that had many concerned, Norman said that the swift response from the school district's threat assessment team and immediate investigation by law enforcement was evidence that "the system that we have in place will work when we're made aware of things."

Santa Fe ISD has implemented numerous safety measures since the May 18 shooting, including a threat assessment team, reduced access points to the high school, entrances staffed with officers and metal detectors, panic buttons installed in classrooms, five more full-time police officers for Santa Fe ISD, and a requirement that students and staff must wear identification badges at all times on campus.

Norman added that the shooting victims' families were only barred from reading names of the shooting survivors and victims at the public forum to avoid a "dog and pony show." He said that he hoped the district would be able to have a dialogue with the families outside of the public forum of a board meeting.

"We're out there trying to do what we think is right to make these kids feel safe and actually make them safe and we'll continue to do the best we can do," he said.

Correction: A previous version of this article inaccurately stated that family members of victims and survivors of the May 18 Santa Fe High School shooting had been barred from speaking at previous school board meetings. The family members had only been barred from reading the names of victims and survivors of the shooting during the public forum.

Nick Powell covers Galveston County for the Chronicle. Follow him on Twitter and send him tips at nick.powell@chron.comThe arrest of a Border Patrol agent who confessed to fatally shooting four women in the past two weeks is the latest scandal threatening the agency's reputation.

In the wake of the alleged killer's arrest the second Laredo agent to be arrested over charges of murder this year lawmakers are already looking for changes to make to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Rep. Henry Cuellar, who represents the Rio Grande area and the suburbs of San Antonio, said on Sunday that he met with Customs and Border Protection to discuss "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."

In addition, Cuellar suggested "hiring more Professional Responsibility officers" so that CBP can better police its own agents.

RELATED: Things to know about the alleged Border Patrol serial killer

The arrest of Juan David Ortiz has also worried CBP leadership, who fear the 35-year-old's confessed 10-day murder spree will harm the agency's reputation.

"I would hate for this to tarnish the great work that those men and women do," Border Patrol chief Carla Provost told reporters on Tuesday, according to the Associated Press.

But Ortiz' arrest is just one of the many image management problems facing the agency.

In June, a Quinnipiac University poll revealed that separation of migrant families by CBP was largely unpopular, with two-thirds of Americans opposing the now-defunct "zero tolerance" policy.

Moreover, the accusations of maltreatment at detention facilities across the nation have also weighed heavily on the agency.

To see some of the stories that brought CPB underfire this year, check the gallery above.

Fernando Ramirez covers Texas news and politics. Read him on our breaking news site and on our subscriber site. | Fernando.ramirez@chron.com | @fernramirez93



Houston City Council agreed Wednesday to subsidize the construction of a grocery store around the corner from a Fiesta Mart in Fifth Ward.

The store will sit on a parcel the city sold two years ago on the condition that the buyer build a grocery store within three years, with or without subsidies. The developer already has built a CVS on the site, which sits across the street from a Walgreen's.

BRIGHT FUTURE?: Homebuilder sees Fifth Ward as 'the next Heights'

District B Councilman Jerry Davis, who represents Fifth Ward, said he would back the same deal every day of the week, 10 out of 10 times.

Not only have Davis constituents long frowned at the quality of Fiestas offerings, he said, but city support for a grocer at the site was envisioned when the council declared the 2.3-acre parcel at Lockwood and Lyons surplus land, appraised it and sold it for $1 million in 2016.

Davis said he told Frank Liu, the prolific local developer and owner of Sage Interests, which bought the tract, that the city wanted a grocery on part of the site and was prepared to offer subsidies to the grocer before Liu put in an offer.

Yeah, we forced him (to build a grocery), but we werent trying to set him up to fail, Davis said, stressing that the subsidies will go to the grocer, not Liu. We give out subsidies all the time in the city and finally now we get to do this for a neighborhood that really will receive the true essence of a Community Development Block Grant -- thats what this is for.

Only at HoustonChronicle.com: Fifth Ward welcomes builder as 'community partner'

The federal block grant dollars will be extended in the form of a $200,000 loan and a $635,000 grant to help Teloloapan Meat Market buy fixtures for the store, which will be built at 5602 Lyons.

The grocery, which would be Telos eighth in the Houston area, would cover about 15,000 square feet and house a meat department, fresh produce, processed foods, a bakery and a tortilla factory. The city estimates the effort will create about 70 jobs.

Mayor Sylvester Turner, who had delayed consideration of the item earlier this month, applauded the council's unanimous vote in favor of the proposal.

Relatively speaking, its not a large sum thats being placed on this, he said. It was just to ensure that this grocery store was put in the area. It serves a tremendous need, and I think this is an added component to make the finances work out.

Legacy Community Health had operated a clinic on the site, but got $1 million in city help to build a new clinic down the street; the new facility opened last year.In a stretch of a few hours on Tuesday, Texas Democrats got sobering reminders that the national blue wave faces barriers here that few other states can match.

First came a deflating new poll of likely voters that showed despite all of the energy surrounding the U.S. Senate campaign of Beto ORourke, the Democrat still could be as much as 9 percentage points behind incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz.

Then Republicans stunned them by winning in a once-safely Democratic state Senate district in South Texas, dropping Democrats to their lowest level of senate representation in the history of the state. With Republican Pete Flores victory, the Texas Senate now has 21 Republicans and 10 Democrats, putting them in an even tougher position to oppose any legislation backed by the Republicans.

All this talk of a blue wave, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said on Tuesday night. Well, the tide is out.

The Senate victory and the polling data signal that Democrats have not yet managed to win over Latino voters in big enough numbers to make a difference in November.

In the Quinnipiac University Poll released Tuesday, ORourke was winning 54 percent of Hispanic voters. While that looks good at first glance, that is almost the same percentage of the Hispanic vote that 2014 Democratic candidate for governor Wendy Davis won in her race according, to exit polls. Davis lost by nearly 20 percentage points to Gov. Greg Abbott.

And Flores victory came in Senate District 19, where more than 60 percent of the voting-age population is Hispanic  more evidence that Democrats should not assume Hispanic voters are in their corner, Patrick said.

If you think Hispanic Texans across this state are going to vote for abortion, open borders, take your guns away, raise your taxes, well the message was sent tonight. And that is no, Patrick said.

The news gets tougher for Democrats in the Texas Senate. When they open the 2019 Legislative Session in January, their numbers could drop further, even if only temporarily.

In January, Houston Democrat Sylvia Garcia will likely resign from her seat in the Texas Senate to move over to the U.S. Congress. Garcia is heavily favored to win a Houston-based district in November. That vacancy could drop the Democrats numbers to nine in the Texas Senate, depending on how they fare in key midterm elections. A special election to replace Garcia is not likely to be completed before the start of the Legislature's session in January.

Democrats had visions of growing their numbers to 13 by next session  a critical number for them. With 13 Democrats, they would have enough votes to stop bills they oppose from getting to the Senate floor for a vote. But with just nine, Democrats would be largely powerless to stop the Republican majority from bringing any issue to the Senate floor.

There are still reasons for Democratic optimism. One or two polls dont undo the core of what is driving Democratic energy nationwide, as a record numbers of voters fueled by suburban, college educated women  has Democrats on the verge of taking back the U.S. House.

Already another poll by Reuters, Ipsos and the University of Virginias Center for Politics shows ORourke leading Cruz among 992 likely Texas voters. That poll, released on Wednesday morning, showed ORourke with a 2 percentage point lead over Cruz.

That has Larry Sabato at the Center for Politics declaring ORourke has a shot at being the first Democrat to represent Texas in the Senate since Lloyd Bentsen won his last term in office in 1988.

Theres a possibility it could happen, Sabato said. Im not saying probable. But its possible.There are very few things Im sure of in the latest, and worst, chapter in the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation saga.

Its like a Choose Your Own Adventure book in which every chapter ends with a thud at the bottom of an old well or the clanking shut of a dungeon door.

What if Christine Blasey Ford is telling the truth that, 36 years ago, a drunken 17-year-old Brett Kavanaugh pushed her down on a bed and covered her mouth in an attempt to sexually assault her?

For starters, shell never get justice. This will never see a court of law. Theres no way to prove it happened, not least because she cannot provide a time or place where the event allegedly occurred. The most Ford might get is vengeance by thwarting Kavanaughs dream of getting on the Supreme Court and destroying his reputation.

But what if her claim is only subjectively true? What if she believed that Kavanaugh intended her terrible harm, but he had no such intent, simply thinking he was being funny, flirtatious, manly or some other dumb idea drunk 17-year-old jocks sometimes have?

And what if the truth is somewhere in the middle? Do the actions, as described, tell us an enormous amount about the husband, father and judge? The man has been through six FBI background checks. No one has ever unearthed similar incidents, never mind a pattern of them. If anything, the well-documented patterns of his life and career suggest that the Kavanaugh of Fords memory is not the Kavanaugh he became  or perhaps ever was.

For the last decade or so, theres been a growing argument for going much easier on young men who run afoul of the law because our brains arent fully developed until our mid-20s. Would it be fair to let this one event, if remotely true, eclipse everything else?

On the other hand, if Kavanaugh is lying when he denies all this, that would be bad, too.

Moreover, no one is talking about prosecuting Kavanaugh. He has no entitlement to a seat on the highest court in the land. If he did what Ford claims he did, not being a Supreme Court justice is a pretty light sentence.

What if Ford isnt telling the truth? If its a deliberate lie, the answer is easy: This is one of the worst acts of character assassination and sewer politics in modern American history, and anyone involved should be held to account by the law and voters alike. All one need do is look under the rock of social media to see countless people insisting that Kavanaugh is a proven rapist or attempted rapist. If hes innocent, that is horrific.

But what if its not a deliberate lie? What if this is some terrible Rashomon-like confusion? Perhaps the events happened but Kavanaugh wasnt the person involved. Or perhaps something did happen, but not the way she remembers. Ford never said anything specific about these events until 2012, when she was in couples therapy (and Kavanaughs name was in the news), and the details she offered then differ from what she is saying now.

I have no idea how to reach a confident conclusion about any of this. There are just way too many missing jigsaw puzzle pieces to make out the picture.

The only thing I am sure of now is that Sen. Dianne Feinstein has behaved outrageously. Because no matter what you choose to believe, she waited too long to reveal the accusation.

Feinstein knew about these allegations in July. She made no attempt to ask Kavanaugh about them, even in closed session. If she believed the allegations were true or credible, she should have acted on them. If she didnt  as has been reported  going public as a desperate ploy to derail or delay his confirmation is an act of grotesque cynicism, particularly when she had no idea whether Kavanaughs accuser would come forward.

Feinsteins gambit may pay off. Republicans are understandably wary of cross-examining an alleged victim of sexual assault, particularly ahead of the midterms, given that the GOP is bleeding support among moderate female voters.

But the conservative base also remembers the slander of Judge Robert Bork and has no appetite to surrender to such tactics ever again. If the White House or Senate Republicans do surrender, the populist rage from the right will be terrifying.

So congratulations, Sen. Feinstein, youve done the unimaginable: Youve made our politics even uglier.

Readers can contact Goldberg at goldbergcolumn@gmail.com, or via Twitter @JonahNRO.Minimum scores for Human Capital Priorities Stream draws are now being determined by OINP director

More Express Entry-linked draws with CRS under 400 possible, Ontario government says

More Express Entry-linked draws with CRS under 400 possible, Ontario government says Minimum scores for Human Capital Priorities Stream draws are now being determined by OINP director

More Express Entry-linked draws with CRS under 400 possible, Ontario government says Minimum scores for Human Capital Priorities Stream draws are now being determined by OINP director

More Express Entry-linked draws with CRS under 400 possible, Ontario government says Minimum scores for Human Capital Priorities Stream draws are now being determined by OINP director Stephen Smith Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

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Recent changes to the way minimum scores for Ontarios Human Capital Priorities Stream are determined could result in further invitations to eligible Express Entry candidates with Comprehensive Ranking System scores below 400, the provincial government says.

A spokesperson for the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) told CIC News it is possible that the minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score in future draws will continue to drop below the streams previous minimum threshold of 400 points.

The Human Capital Priorities Steam allows the OINP to search the federal Express Entry system for candidates who meet its eligibility criteria, or other targeted factors.

Last week, the OINP revised the streams application guide to stipulate that the minimum CRS score will now be determined by the programs director.

Leading up to the change, the province held three invitation rounds through the Human Capital Priorities Stream that saw the CRS minimum reduced below 400, and drop as low as 350 in a draw held August 9.

That draw targeted Express Entry candidates with a job offer in Ontario, as did an earlier draw on March 28 for which the CRS minimum was dropped to 351. A second Human Capital Priorities draw on March 28 also saw the CRS minimum reduced to 351 for Express Entry candidates with French language abilities of CLB 7 or higher.

Neither a job offer nor French language proficiency are mandatory under the Human Capital Priorities Streams established criteria.

Ontario has used the Human Capital Priorities Stream to target Express Entry candidates with specified work experience, as it did in a June 2017 draw targeting Information and Communication Technology workers. That draw also saw Ontario drop the CRS minimum below 400.

To find out if you are eligible to enter the Express Entry pool, fill out a free assessment form.

OINPs spokesperson, Kwok Wong, said the likelihood of the minimum score continuing to drop below 400 will depend on a number of factors, including the number of eligible candidates in the Express Entry pool and Ontarios labour market needs and priorities.

Wong said the Ontario Immigration Act grants the OINPs director the discretion to set the minimum CRS score based on the following factors:

Ontarios annual OINP nomination allocation, as determined by the federal government;

The federal governments minimum CRS score, which establishes federal government Express Entry selection parameters;

Ontarios current labour market needs; and

Other Ontario economic immigration related priorities.

In order to be visible to the OINP when it is searching the Express Entry pool, Kwok said candidates must indicate their interest in immigrating to either Ontario or All provinces and territories when creating their Express Entry profile.

Doing so will allow OINP staff to identify candidates in the federal Express Entry system who have an interest in immigrating to Ontario.

To find out if you are eligible to enter the Express Entry pool, fill out a free assessment form.

 2018 CICNews All rights ReservedNewfoundland and Labrador publishes list of employers designated under Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program Provincial government is encouraging foreign nationals to contact listed employers

Newfoundland and Labrador publishes list of employers designated under Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program Provincial government is encouraging foreign nationals to contact listed employers

Newfoundland and Labrador publishes list of employers designated under Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program Provincial government is encouraging foreign nationals to contact listed employers Stephen Smith Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

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The list of Newfoundland and Labrador employers taking part in the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program has been made public, and the provincial government is encouraging foreign nationals to get in touch with them.

The list contains 172 employers that have been designated by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador under the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP), which fast-tracks eligible foreign workers and international graduates with a job offer from a designated employer for Canadian permanent residence.

The designated employers listed by Newfoundland and Labrador span the provinces business landscape, from coffee shops and restaurants to aerospace companies, and are located in communities around Canadas easternmost province.

A note at the bottom of the list reads Foreign nationals, including international graduates, interested in utilizing the Atlantic Immigration Pilot are encouraged to contact the listed employers.

Newfoundland and Labrador is currently the only province taking part in the AIPP to make its list of designated employers public.

A government report says thousands of job openings are anticipated in Newfoundland and Labrador between now and 2025 as a result of population decline in the province.

See the complete list of designated employers in Newfoundland and Labrador

Introduced last year, the three-year AIPP helps employers in Canadas four Atlantic Provinces  Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island  to hire eligible foreign workers and international graduates of post-secondary institutions in those provinces for jobs they havent been able to fill locally.

In order to take part in the AIPP, an employer must first be designated by its respective provincial government. This process requires specified commitments from employers that include working with a settlement services provider to help principal applicants and their families adjust to life in Canada.

Admissions through the AIPP had been set at 1,000 in 2018, 2,000 for 2019 and 4,000 for 2020. However, its growing popularity led the federal government to raise the 2018 target to 2,500 in July.

The pilot is run as a partnership between Canadas federal government and the governments of Canadas four Atlantic Provinces.

To find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs, fill out a free assessment form.

 2018 CICNews All Rights ReservedCreating an Expression of Interest profile in Arrima is the first step to immigrating to Quebec under QSWP

Quebec Skilled Worker Programs Arrima portal is now open Creating an Expression of Interest profile in Arrima is the first step to immigrating to Quebec under QSWP

Quebec Skilled Worker Programs Arrima portal is now open Creating an Expression of Interest profile in Arrima is the first step to immigrating to Quebec under QSWP

Quebec Skilled Worker Programs Arrima portal is now open Creating an Expression of Interest profile in Arrima is the first step to immigrating to Quebec under QSWP Stephen Smith Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

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Pour lire cet article en francais, cliquez ici.

The new online portal for the Quebec Skilled Worker Program, known as Arrima, is now in service.

Effective today, candidates who are interested in obtaining Canadian permanent residence through the Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP) can express their interest to the Government of Quebec by creating a profile using Arrima.

The Government of Quebec switched to an Expression of Interest (EOI) system for the QSWP in August. The EOI system requires all interested candidates to create a profile and provide the requested information on their education, area of training, proficiency in French and other languages and work experience, among other details.

Quebecs Immigration Ministry, MIDI, says it will issue invitations to those who meet certain criteria, focusing mainly on labour market needs in the different regions of Quebec.

Anyone issued an invitation will then be able to apply to the Government of Quebec for a Quebec Selection Certificate (Certificat de selection du Quebec, or CSQ).

Once a Quebec Selection Certificate is awarded, individuals can submit a complete Canadian permanent residence application to Canadas federal government.

To find out if you are eligible for the Quebec Skilled Worker Program, fill out a free assessment form.

Eligibility

Unlike the QSWPs previous first-come, first-served model, there is no cap on the number of candidates who can enter the QSWP bank.

In order to submit a profile, the only requirement is to be at least 18 years of age.

However, in order to be eligible for selection, candidates will have to meet passing scores for employability and selection factors in accordance with the QSWP points grid.

MIDI has provided only limited information on how individuals will be ranked in the QSWP bank of candidates. It has indicated there will be a ranking system, but it is not known if it will be similar to the federal Express Entry systems Comprehensive Ranking System, or CRS.

How Arrima works

Users enter a virtual waiting room, where they wait until notified of their turn to access the portal.

Once access is granted, users will have 90 minutes in the portal. MIDI recommends saving frequently in order to avoid losing the information submitted up to that point in the event ones 90-minute session expires.

Registrants have 30 days to complete their profile, which will remain valid for one year.

Candidates in the EOI pool can update their profile with new information or to revise the information provided at any time during the 12-month validity period.

Those invited by Quebec to apply for a Quebec Selection Certificate have 90 days to submit a complete application.

To find out if you are eligible for the Quebec Skilled Worker Program, fill out a free assessment form.

 2018 CICNews All rights Reserved[September 19, 2018] Genpact Launches Cora CommandCenter to Transform Digital Workforce Performance and Automation Governance SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Genpact (NYSE: G), a global professional services firm focused on delivering digital transformation, today announced the launch of Cora CommandCenter, a cloud-based product that improves performance of an enterprise's digital workforce by reimagining how companies govern and monitor automation operations. Cora CommandCenter centralizes robotic process automation (RPA), intelligent automation, and workflow orchestration into a single view across locations, systems, and functions, providing visibility that companies have never had before. Management can see performance and productivity across operations, all in one place, with advanced analytics that drive predictive insights aligned to business outcomes. By proactively tracking bot operations  24 hours a day, seven days a week  Genpact helps protect companies' technology assets and drive greater return on investment. Cora CommandCenter can increase effectiveness of automation initiatives, while also dramatically reducing the time business and technology teams need to manage their digital workforce. "One of the single largest shifts in the industry is the move from an entirely human workforce to a combination of people and machines," said Sanjay Srivastava, chief digital officer, Genpact. "Many executives don't realize that a digital workforce requires just as much  if not more  management as a human workforce. As companies expand the use of bots, the questions are around governing and monitoring performance, especially when integrating hybrid automation solutions. Cora CommandCenter answers these questions. It aggregates governance across leading RPA solution providers, improving operations of critical processes with the necessary controls." Mitigates risk, improves security and compliance Genpact Cora CommandCenter uses best-in-class security and data encryption technologies, which helps companies mitigate risk and improve compliance in automation and artificial intelligence (AI) implementations. User-friendly dashboards with auditing and analytics tools deliver predictive insights across business units, processes, and RPA solutions. Machine learning-enabled exception and incident management provides real-time push alerts. By easily monitoring bot performance, task queueing, system livelihood, and process completions, across a wide range of RPA solutions and use cases, Cora CommandCenter facilitates scalability to speed digital transformation. Moreover, the product helps free up staff to focus on growth initiatives such as identifying new revenue streams and improving customer service. Digital transformation for competitive growth Cora CommandCenter is part of Genpact's ongoing strategy to drive digital-led innovation and digitally-enabled intelligent operations that help clients drive more meaningful business impact. Genpact has automated approximately 100 million transactions, identifying new ways of working that drive strategic business results. Genpact helps companies around the world unlock areas for competitive growth, achieving more than $325 million in annual savings and an average 40 to 50 percent increase in productivity for clients with RPA and intelligent automation initiatives. For example, a global food and beverage company's teams can now take on more strategic roles to improve customer service since Genpact helped automate 80 percent of invoices and 65 percent of help desk queries. Cora CommandCenter monitors key performance indicators to insure the digital workforce delivers quality results that align with strategic growth initiatives. The collections and cash automation delivers 90 percent of transactions with 99 percent accuracy, and RPA has lowered processing costs per invoice by 60 percent. Cora CommandCenter is powered by Genpact Cora, a modular, AI-based platform that accelerates digital transformation at scale. The platform has capabilities in natural language understanding, conversational AI, computer vision, deep learning, big data, data science, data engineering, machine learning, RPA, ambient computing, dynamic workflow, and software-as-a-service. Genpact Cora allows companies to easily integrate advanced technologies, all delivered through a mature application program interface and open, flexible architecture. Visit Genpact's website to learn more about how Cora CommandCenter and Genpact Cora help enterprises speed digital transformation to grow their business. See Genpact's products in action at booth 200 at the AI Summit in San Francisco, where Genpact is a premier sponsor and Srivastava has a keynote speech on September 19. About Genpact Genpact (NYSE: G) is a global professional services firm that makes business transformation real. We drive digital-led innovation and digitally-enabled intelligent operations for our clients, guided by our experience running thousands of processes for hundreds of Global Fortune 500 companies. We think with design, dream in digital, and solve problems with data and analytics. We obsess over operations and focus on the details  all 80,000+ of us. From New York to New Delhi and more than 20 countries in between, Genpact has the end-to-end expertise to connect every dot, reimagine every process, and reinvent companies' ways of working. We know that rethinking each step from start to finish will create better business outcomes. Whatever it is, we'll be there with you  putting data and digital to work to create bold, lasting results  because transformation happens here. Get to know us at Genpact.com and on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook.



For more information: Danielle D'Angelo

(Genpact Media Relations - Global)

danielle.dangelo@genpact.com

+1 914-336-7951

Siya Belliappa

(Genpact Media Relations - India)

siya.belliappa@genpact.com

+91 - 98231333

Laura Brooks

(for Genpact U.K.)

Laura.Brooks@peppercomm.com

+44 207 680 7113 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/genpact-launches-cora-commandcenter-to-transform-digital-workforce-performance-and-automation-governance-300715085.html SOURCE Genpact

[ Back to the Next Generation Communications Community's Homepage ]Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman. According to the accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, during a party Kavanaugh and a friend, both heavily intoxicated, pulled her into a bedroom, closed the door, and pushed her onto a bed. Kavanaugh got on top of her, and, placing a hand over her mouth to muffle her screams, groped her and tried to remove her clothing. Terrified, she was able to escape and hide in a bathroom before fleeing the house.

This happened 36 years ago, Ford says. Kavanaugh was 17 years old at the time and Ford, 15. Kavanaugh firmly denies the story.

These last facts should make all those determined to use the charge as the poison pill to kill the judges nomination nervous. Theyre on the verge of setting a dangerous precedent that will inevitably come back to bite them.

For one thing, they are setting the stage for condemning to reputation-death not just a Roe v. Wade-threatening Supreme Court nominee but any person, man or woman, Bible-thumper or Democratic socialist, by accusation alone. Fords story is almost impossible to investigate, much less to corroborate. It happened either in 1982 or 1983; it was either in June or August; it was a house, but she doesnt know whose; she cant recall how she got home.

Despite the hazy details, many find Fords story is credible, and for good reason: theres nothing extraordinary about the events she describes, unfortunately, and over the years she told two therapists about them, though its not clear that she ever named Kavanaugh. Still, those who caution that human memory is unreliable, especially after more than three decades, are indisputably right. Is she certain that it was Brett Kavanaugh who was on top of her during those dreadful minutes? She had reason to fear that he was going to rape her, but do we know that thats what he was intending, and does that make a difference? Kavanaugh himself might not know the answer. Multiply 35 years by large quantities of alcoholFord described Kavanaugh and his buddy as stumbling drunkand youve got a terrible formula for truth-seeking.

Even with corroborating evidence, the case raises difficult questions about what constitutes disqualifying behavior. Attempted rape? No senator, even in the motley crew that now inhabits our upper chamber, would be willing to give a thumbs-up to a Supreme Court nominee with a felony on his or her record. Such a candidate would never be nominated to begin with.

But how about if this was a single instance of drunken groping by a minor? Keep in mind that all modern societies use different standards for judging and punishing minors than they do for adults. These days, people point to brain science to prove that adolescents have poor impulse control and social-emotional awareness, but you dont need neural imaging to know that adolescents can be dumb risk-takers. Thats why we seal juvenile records. Thats why we have juvenile facilities and diversion programs. Thats why the goal in juvenile proceedings is not so much punishment as deterrence and rehabilitation. Kids grow up; they change; often, they straighten out.

Just about all the liberal commentary on the KavanaughFord affair thus far has trivialized this distinction between juvenile and adult by referring to it as a boys will be boys excuse. Boys Will Be Supreme Court Justices was the title New York Times editors gave to Michelle Goldbergs Tuesday column. Much of defensive reaction Im seeing around Kavanaugh (& not just from the right) suggests that lots of people think a regular part of male development is the stage where boys drunkenly pin down young women & try to assault them, New York columnist Rebecca Traister tweeted. Another tweet by popular progressive writer Jeet Heer continues in that vein: Im fascinated by the teenage rapists deserve a pass strand of conservatism that is emerging.

They are missing the point. No oneor at least no one outside the lunatic fringes of social mediais arguing that rapey behavior by teenaged boys is okay because, hormones. What they are suggesting is that the cruel and aggressive actions of an adolescent dont deserve the same level of scrutiny and punishment as those of an adult. The perpetrators of such actions are more likely to be boys because hormones, but both sexes deserve a lighter touch when theyre underage.

That Kavanaughs fiercest opponents are now using a (tenuously recalled) adolescent crime as proof of his unfitness is an irony worth considering. The Left has always been at the forefront of the fight for leniency for minors. Progressives founded the juvenile court in 1899. Liberals fought law and order conservative attempts to try juveniles as adults initiated during the crime wave of the 1970s through 1990s. They pointed out, accurately, that those policies affected black kids far more than white. They were rightfully indignant that prepubescent children could be labelled sex offenders. Children are regularly put on sex offender registries, sometimes for their entire lives, for conduct less serious than what Kavanaugh is accused of, writes Goldberg. Well, yes. Thats exactly the tough-on-juvenile-crime approach that has five times as many black as white juveniles in prison and that Goldberg herself would justify against Kavanaugh.

Now, you could still argue, reasonably enough, that the bar should be set higher for a Supreme Court justice than for many other official positions; that 17 is old enough to justify severe lifelong consequences; that Kavanaugh, assuming that he is guilty, would have deserved a pass if only he would admit and apologize for his transgression. But these arguments need to be made as a matter of considered, consistent principle, and far away from the political war zone.

Men and women are not angels. Someday a brilliant, highly experienced, well-regarded woman may well be sitting in Kavanaughs seat and be accused at the zero hour and after interminable vetting of, say, stalking a former boyfriend or snorting cocaine when she was going through a bad stretch in high school. Then what?

Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesBrent crude futures LCOc1 were down 9 cents at $78.92 per barrel 0334 GMT, after rising 1.3 percent in the previous session.

OPEC is meeting soon to discuss output limits, which will give Saudi Arabia a chance to blame the United States for rising prices.

US West Texas Intermediate crude Clcl was down 15 cents, or 0.22 percent at $68.76 per barrel.

However, the longer-term outlook remains weighed down by an escalation in the China-U.S. trade war that has clouded the outlook for crude demand from the world's top oil consumers.

Output from Iran has hit its lowest level since July 2016 as top buyers India and China distance themselves from Tehran due to looming U.S. sanctions on November 5, according to the International Energy Agency.

U.S. President Donald Trump is likely to announce new tariffs on about $200 billion on Chinese imports as early yesterday, a senior administration official told Reuters on Saturday. The country's oil exports fell to 7.12 million barrels per day (bpd) last month from 7.24 million bpd, according to figures from the Joint Organizations Data Imitative.

Prices rose on Tuesday amid media reports that Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter, was comfortable with prices climbing above $80 a barrel.

The tariffs Mr Trump has imposed are thought to limit economic activity in China and the United States as less fuel is consumed to move goods for trade.

Technical analysis from Reuters market analyst Wang Tao showed that US oil prices have repeatedly failed to overcome a resistance level of $69.85 per barrel, signalling a dissipation of positive outlook.

US crude inventories rose by 1.2 million barrels to 397.1 million in the week to September 14, according to data released on Tuesday by the American Petroleum Institute (API).

"Oil markets are in a tug-of-war as Iran sanctions will continue to provide near-term support, while discussions around global demand in the wake of this morning's tariffs and speculation of further OPEC supply increases should temper upside ambitions", said Stephen Innes, head of trading at brokerage Oanda.

OPEC Secretary General Mohammad Barkindo said on Tuesday that OPEC and non-OPEC countries aim to agree a framework for long-term cooperation by December, when the oil producers plan to meet in Vienna.

Oil prices were steady on Wednesday as concerns that producers will not be able to respond to a shortfall in supply once US sanctions on Iran are enacted outweighed a gain in stockpiles in the United States, the world's biggest oil user.

On Monday, Russia's Energy Minister Alexander Novak said that OPEC and non-OPEC members will discuss all possible supply scenarios when they meet this month in Algeria.New York City Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza had just started in his new job when, in April of this year, he tweeted out a link to a Rawstory.com video headlined, watch: wealthy white manhattan parents angrily rant against plan to bring more black kids to their schools. The video showed a sensitive debate about plans to engineer a new racial balance in three Upper West Side middle schools; casting the complicated discussion as a rant against black kids on the part of wealthy white Manhattan parents was typical of tabloid-style clickbait.

One would think that the new head of the countrys largest school system would not want to blast out incendiary messages designed to foment racial hostility. But Carranza has made such utterances part of his brand. When a white woman told Carranza on a radio call-in show that she was stunned by his statement, and hear loud and clearme as a white parent in P.S. 199I am not part of your constituency, the chancellor advised her to attend implicit-bias training classes. He was telling her to check her privilege, as the saying goes, before speaking to him again.

Carranza has continued to spread his radical, race-based message of transformation. Were not about improving the system, he told Al Sharptons National Action Network last weekend. Were about changing the system. That system, he claims, fails to teach black and Latino students, while offering a different level of service to other, presumably white, children. Carranza wants to eliminate the test-based system of admission to the citys specialized high schools, which has resulted in disproportionate representation of South Asian and East Asian kids in Brooklyn Tech, Stuyvesant, and six other premier schools. I dont buy into the narrative that any one ethnic group owns admissions to these schools, Carranza said, as though studying for and excelling on standardized tests was somehow indicative of entitlement.

This week, Carranza retweeted a post by Matt Gonzales called White Lips to White Ears, which appeared on Medium, an unedited, un-curated blogging platform, where anyone can post anything. Gonzales, who has two followers on the site, identifies himself there as an Educator, Advocate, Policy Nerd. His piece details a 2015 camping trip he took, during which a white woman disagreed with his views on white supremacyspecifically, that she was a beneficiary of it and advocate for it. Everyone else on the trip agreed with Gonzaleseveryone but Becky. Her names not really Becky, but lets call her Becky. Becky disagreed. Becky felt attacked. (Becky is a common slur for white women. As The Root explains, Not all white women are Beckys, but all Beckys are white women.)

Gonzales details his patient efforts to get Becky woke to her unearned white privilege, though he is frustrated by her white fragility, which prevents her from hearing his analysis as anything but an attack on her character. Fortunately, some other whites succeed in convincing her that she is a racist. At first, I was furious, says Gonzales. I felt disarmed, inadequate, and hopeless in the face of white Amerikkkan racism. But then he realized that it was not my job to educate white Amerikkka on white supremacy, but rather, the responsibility of white allies to educate other white Amerikkkans on the role white supremacy plays.

Gonzaless article is silly, poorly argued, and unpublishable except on a bulletin board. Yet the chancellor of New York Citys schools not only read it, but decided to tweet it from his official city Twitter account. Previous New York school chancellors, flawed though they may have been, have usually avoided communicating in such a deliberately divisive manner. At the rate Carranzas going, hell be out in the streets soonnot out a job, necessarily, but manning the barricades.

Photo: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography OfficeWhat does it feel like to withstand an avalanche of negative press coverage and win anyway?

More than a handful of politicians have not been able to survive scrutiny from New York Citys voracious press corps over their personal lives or political beliefs. The twin comeback candidacies of Anthony Weiner and Eliot Spitzer withered under an entanglement of extramarital sexting and prostitute profligacy a mere five years ago.

But politics is different in the Trump era and foibles are forgivable.

Just ask Julia Salazar, the 27-year-old novice candidate and self-described democratic socialist who steamrolled a 16-year incumbent in one of the primary nights most remarkable victories.

She navigated countless critical stories that questioned how she described her familys financial background (she admits she inadvertently misrepresented her familys history in claiming she was working-class when she had a trust fund), where she was born (Miami, not Colombia), whether she completed college, her religious upbringing (she embraces her progressive Jewish identity although she grew up a politically conservative evangelical Christian), why she was arrested and compelled to file a defamation lawsuit in a bizarre saga involving Mets legend Keith Hernandez and his wife (Salazar said she never had an affair with Hernandez and the case was settled in her favor), and her claim that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus spokesman David Keyes assaulted her (which he denies).

What had been a quiet state Senate primary six months ago drew national coverage thanks to Salazars dramatic origin story, her evolving politics, and the medias thirst to find the next Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (this was literally a New York Times headline).

Salazars muddled biography and arrest record surprised her campaign staff, but they said they werent worried.

Tomorrow well see what wins, the media or the field, Nick Rizzo, a Brooklyn Democratic state committee member and campaign volunteer, recalled saying before Election Day.

Campaign workers spent five months visiting voters  Rizzo estimates that they knocked on 100,000 doors in the district or roughly 20,000 homes  while Salazars opponent, state Sen. Martin Dilan, spent heavily on campaign mailers.

I heard misgivings from a lot of people who all went on to vote for her, Rizzo told City & State after Salazar won. But people just wanted a change. Marty is old, male, and extremely status quo. He had bad votes that favored real estate and we hit him on them.

Then there was the news cycle itself. A wave of profiles introduced Salazar to many Democrats after Ocasio-Cortezs surprising victory, but the deluge of stories combing over her family life, religion and abuse she suffered in her past helped spur a backlash against the glowing coverage.

The big stories in the final week are all stories blaming her for being a victim, Rizzo said. She didnt do anything wrong and these horrible things happened to her.

Salazar, who got her start in politics organizing with Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, was an active leader within the Democratic Socialists of America, whose millennial members embraced her candidacy  and stuck by her when the race got rocky.

She also got a crucial boost of volunteers from North Brooklyn community groups including Make the Road Action, New York Communities for Change and Churches United for Fair Housing, whose members remember the scars left when the late former Assemblyman Vito Lopez, a Dilan ally, ruled Bushwick as the partys Democratic boss. A representative for Churches United for Fair Housing said that it did not endorse Salazar or support her as an organization.

People care about the issues that affect their lives and Salazars policies are what people want, said Salazar campaign volunteer and longtime North Brooklyn politico Elana Levin, who worked on multiple state Senate campaigns against Dilan. In retail politics, that outweighs sexist opposition dumps by a real estate industry-funded machine candidate.

In the end, Brooklyn Democrats shrugged off any concerns they had. Her victory margin wasnt even close.

Salazar hauled in 20,603 votes out of 35,000 cast en route to a 58 to 41 percent drubbing. Turnout more than doubled statewide from 574,000 four years ago to 1.5 million. In Salazars district, which includes Williamsburg, Bushwick, Greenpoint and Cypress Hills, turnout nearly quadrupled from 2014, when fewer than 10,000 people voted.

At Salazars election night party in Williamsburg, it was so crowded you couldnt move.

Hundreds of raucous supporters clad in scarlet t-shirts emblazoned with Salazars name had flooded the Well, the site of a former German brewery, in anticipation of a victory.

They only had to wait only 45 minutes after the polls closed for The Associated Press to call the race. A raucous celebration ensued and revelers chanted DSA! after Salazar spoke.

Voters see past attempts to personally attack candidates and instead are smart and know that they want to elect legislators that will fight for them, Salazar told NY1.

And maybe the press coverage doesnt count so much in the age of Trump when the battle lines are quickly drawn for both parties.

People are very conscious of who is on their side and who is not their side, and it is extremely hard to flip people from one side to another, Rizzo said. There isnt a lot of persuasion thats happening in politics right now and that factor helped her.

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said Make the Road New York provided volunteers; it was actually Make the Road Action, the group's political arm.The former chief executive of the USPCA has pleaded guilty to defrauding the charity over a period of eight years.

Stephen Philpott pleaded guilty to one charge of fraud by abuse of position at Newry Crown Court on Monday.

Helen Wilson, USPCAs chair, said in a statement that on becoming aware of apparent irregularities, the USPCA board of trustees initiated an internal investigation and being satisfied that there was a case to answer, passed the information to the PSNI.

She continued: We would like to thank investigating officer Robert McAllen for his diligence in leading the police investigation and securing a successful prosecution.

These matters were uncovered as a result of actions taken by the trustees to strengthen governance oversight within the charity. It is with some sorrow more than anger, that our concerns have proved to be justified.

I can assure our members and the public generally, that the charity has remained fully focused on its core charitable objectives of preventing cruelty and relieving suffering in animals.

We look forward to a positive future under new leadership, making a vital contribution to advancing animal welfare in Northern Ireland.

The Irish News reported that Philpott had faced a total of three charges of fraud but following an adjournment before the start of his trial his defence barrister asked for his client to be re-arraigned on the third count of the indictment.

It said the fraud charge was that, between January 2007 and November 2014, the former animal rights activist had obtained rental payments for a property on Clogharevan Road in Bessbrook, but "failed to account for the said payments and failed to bring notice of the said payments to the attention of the USPCA, with the intention, by means of the abuse of that position to make a gain for yourself or another or to cause loss to the USPCA or to expose the USPCA to a risk of a loss".

Philpott has been released on bail and will be sentenced in December.Last October, at a Palo Alto workshop held in advance of the 2017 World Conference of Science Journalists, Deborah Blum faced a roomful of science editors and asked a relatively simple question: How many of them worked regularly with fact-checkers? There were 25 editors from across the industry in attendance; only six or so hands went up.

Blum, the director of MITs Knight Science Journalism Program and publisher of its magazine Undark, was surprised to see such a small showing. She was curious if this was representative of the industry, and she knew of no existing data.

So Blum hired Brooke Borel, a senior editor at Undark and author of The Chicago Guide to Fact-Checking, to compile some. The result is a report released last week called The State of Fact-Checking in Science Journalism, a systematic look at practices across the English-speaking science journalism world. Based on interviews with and surveys of editors, reporters, professors, and the fact-checkers themselves, the report reveals a healthy but inconsistent fact-checking practice, where procedures, rules, and pay vary across publications, platforms, and types of stories. And while a 300-word aggregated post may not require the same fact-checking process as a multipart investigative feature, firming up science journalisms approach to accuracy can only advance it.

ICYMI: The Weekly Standard and the flaws in Facebooks fact-checking program

If you have a robust process in place tailored to your publication, it can improve your output and improve your accuracy, Borel says. I think we all should be striving for fewer corrections and better reporting.

Not everyone who responded to the survey felt that fact-checking was the most pressing need for science publications today, Borel says. But across the board, they generally agreed that fact-checking results in better-quality work, and many lamented the lack of resources available for it. One anonymous editor described cringing at stories published by their own publication that clearly hadnt been fact-checked; Aeon editor Pamela Weintraub described losing any element of the editorial process, including fact-checking, as taking away from the overall excellence.

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Science fact-checking can be resource intensive, demanding of the fact-checker a particular set of skills and knowledge. Fact-checkers need to be able to read and understand scientific literature that is intended for an audience of experts, and to evaluate an individual study in the context of the larger literature, often without academic expertise in the subject matter they are fact-checking. The report found that across publications, only 13 percent of fact-checkers had any kind of science degree, let alone an advanced degree in the specific subject of their stories.

Fact-checkers who work on science and medical stories ideally should have some familiarity with scientific publishing and how peer review works, says Laura Helmuth, president of the National Association of Science Writers and The Washington Posts health, science, and environment editor. It helps to understand clinical trials and some basic statistics. But the right attitude and approach are more important than an existing knowledge base: Any fact-checker can learn a fields jargon and distinguish evidence from speculation.

They also need to have a solid grounding in statistical concepts in order to properly evaluate claims. In medical journalism, for example, fact-checkers need to understand absolute versus relative risk. A treatment may accurately claim to decrease disease risk by 50 percenta relative riskwhile only reducing incidence from two patients out of 100 to onethe absolute risk.

It doesnt take a PhD to do high-quality health care journalism reporting or science journalism reporting in general, says Gary Schwitzer, founder and publisher of Health News Review, a website that evaluates stories in the medical press. But it does require some knowledge or experience or training in certain key things that otherwise will mislead and misinform.

Due to a lack of funding, Health News Reviewwhich functions like a public fact-check on the healthcare mediais shuttering at the end of this year. On its way out, the publication is documenting instances when misreporting on medical studies harmed patients, like a couple who sank their life savings into opening a clinic as a last-ditch effort to treat the husbands Type 1 Diabetes.

In an industry where misrepresenting results can lead to real harm for patientsand where clinical studies and press releases are rife with industry influencefact-checkers who can catch these subtleties provide a true service to the public.

Its the nuance, says Schwitzer. You can technically be accurate and [still] you can be totally unhelpful and misleading.

Schwitzer recommends all healthcare journalists and fact-checkers have good relationships with experts who can help them interpret claimshave a friendly biostatistician that you buy a beer for every once in a while, he says.

The report revealed a variety of ways in which publications could better support and utilize fact-checkers. While some receive excellent pay, many do not, and rates vary wildly across publications. The report found an average hourly rate of $27.76, with wages ranging from $15 to $50. (Some publications pay monthly or project-based flat fees.)

Every time Ive worked with a fact-checker, theyve made a story better, Helmuth says. They catch details, ask questions a reporter or editor didnt think of, and they notice when a chain of logic has some missing links.

The industry also doesnt have set standards or training in place, and many outlets65 percent of those without dedicated fact-checkers, according to the reportdont provide written guidelines to fact-checkers, leading to inconsistencies in the way publications handle portions of the fact-checking process, such as whether to show copy to sources before publication.

The debate over this practice has at times become contentious, both within the science journalism community and between journalists and scientists. In March, for example, an Undark reporter covering a Twitter poll about the practice found that none of the scientists discussing the issue openly online were willing to speak to her for a story, citing a mistrust of journalists, she wrote. Popular Science deputy editor Corinne Iozzio told KSJ that the inconsistency in policy had cost us quality.

Its kind of all over the place, which I wish it wasnt, Borel says. I think its confusing for journalists and fact checkers and I think its confusing for sources.

The mistrust arising from this inconsistency points to the larger role of fact-checking, beyond ensuring accuracy and helping to avoid lawsuits. Journalists trade on reliability, to their readers, to their sources, and to the public that they serve. An independent fact-checking process provides another layer of assurance to all parties that a story best represents the truthjust like the peer-review process is designed to do in science.

Im hoping people will read this and think about their own processes, Borel says of the report. I hope also this will have some newsrooms rethinking . . . where theyre allocating their resources for this sort of thing.

ICYMI: Vanity Fair criticized for September cover shoot

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Laura Dattaro is a science journalist, writer, and producer based in New York.Will I go to prison for violating the terms of service? This is the question journalists must ask themselves, now, when writing data stories based on public information collected from a website, such as Facebook or Twitter.

Violating a terms of service that prohibits scraping can carry with it possible criminal liability under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Actthe act under which activist Aaron Swartz, who killed himself during the course of his prosecution, was charged as a felon. That law includes a provision that prohibits exceeding authorized access on a website, such as breaking its terms of service, that triggers caustic penalties including possible prison time.

No journalists have been prosecuted under this statute, but their sources have, and some journalists have been asked to stop using specific reporting tools by Facebook. Moreover, the company is well within its legal rights to bring claims against journalists in the future under the statute. To address these issues, last month, the Knight Institute wrote a letter to Facebook, asking the company to change its terms to create a news-gathering exception to its ban on scraping. So far, the company has not complied with this request.

The letter, citing my newly published report by the Tow Center for Digital Journalism, lists a variety of journalists who have continued to pursue stories on Silicon Valley despite possible penalty under the CFAA. For instance, the Knight letter cites a Gizmodo report that explored Facebooks algorithms identifying people you know and a New York Times article that exposed fake accounts. The letter also names a PBS Newshour reporter whose story about political advertisements was completely stymied for fear of penalty.

Facebook was asked to respond to the Knight letter by last Friday. To date there has been minimal public response by the company. A statement by Campbell Brown, the head of the companys global news partnerships, reads: We do have strict limits in place on how third parties can use peoples information, and we recognize that these sometimes get in the way of this work. The company has not, however, amended or removed those limits. (Editors note: The Knight Institute informed the author, after posting, that Facebook reached out to them in response to the letter. The Institute and Facebook are in continuing discussions about the safe harbor proposal.)



Nor have Facebooks executives given journalists much comfort when they appeared, alongside Twitters CEO, before the Senate Intelligence Committee, which is considering how and whether to regulate the companies, as lawmakers are increasingly concerned about the lack of transparency around issues of public interest from technology industry.

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READ: The science of fact-checking

Still, Silicon Valley seems to recognize a problem is amidst. As Jack Dorsey wrote in his testimony, transparency is key: We know the way earn more trust around how we make decisions on our platform is to be as transparent as possible.

At the same time, promoting transparency, news stories that compile data points for large-scale analysis are more popular than ever, as scraping has become a common tool. As Paul Bradshaw, who runs the MA in Data Journalism at Birmingham City University, puts it, scraping is one of the most powerful techniques for data-savvy journalists who want to get to the story first, or find exclusives that no one else has spotted.

Scraping is, simply, the act of programming a computer to collect information from an online source. The information gathered might be publicly viewable or not. It may be spreadsheets or documents which would otherwise take countless hours to sieve through. In other cases, it might be a companys source code or software.

The popularity of this technique coincides with the increasing demand for journalists to investigate companies that have amassed control over critical swaths of data that contain the most intimate details of our lives, and yet, remain largely unregulated in the United States.

For instance, the team at ProPublica was able to report on Facebook using the publications Political Ad Collector extension for Googles Chrome browser, which is able to calculate the statistical likelihood that an ad contains political content. The application yielded interesting results, such revealing Uber targeted specific demographics with their ads.

Facebook even thanked Julia Angwin, then a senior reporter at ProPublica, for her reporting: Thanks @JuliaAngwin. Youve done a lot to uncover issues in our ads systems, which weve worked hard to fix.

ICYMI: How YouTube radicalizes its viewers

Angwins reporting did not scrape Facebooks programming interfaceit might have triggered the CFAA, if it hadbut other valuable reporting has scraped data to great effect: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution developed about fifty scrapers for a national investigation called Doctors & Sex Abuse. The resulting investigation, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for national reporting in 2017, found hundreds of physicians accused of sexual misconduct were still practicing with a license. The scrapers were tailored to agencies across the country and were used to collect more than 100,000 disciplinary documents.

Similarly, a recent academic study on Facebook and Twitter shows that examining data from Silicon Valley companies can yield profound conclusions. There Researchers from Stanford, New York University, and Microsoft examined data on Facebook and Twitter to determine that suspected hoax and propaganda sites have been getting increasing engagement on Twitter since the 2016 election.

Because reporters must often either use these companies proprietary programming interfaces in order to gather the necessary information, or act covertly, legal advice has become essential in news gathering for these types of stories. Newsrooms with larger resources have attorneys who can advise journalists around the CFAA. Indeed, several newsrooms have begun providing legal trainings on the terms of service and the CFAA. But newsrooms without counsel as well as freelancers, who operate without legal advisors, are left largely at riskleaving legislators at bat.

And many news investigations have been stymied by the specter of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Acts penalties: As a newsroom attorney at The Center for Investigative Reporting, which has one of the few data teams in the country, I can report that this issue comes up regularly. While we have found ways of obtaining needed data through legal paths, the law creates real hurdlesand those hurdles must be removed.

This piece has been updated to include comment from Knight about continuing conversations with Facebook.

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D. Victoria Baranetsky is a Knight News Innovation Fellow at the Tow Center and serves as General Counsel at Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting; Alexandra Gutierrez is a First Amendment Fellow at The Center for Investigative Reporting.Hurricane Florence may be just the first of several major storms to make landfall in the U.S. during hurricane season in 2018, but its impact will be significant.

As of noon on Saturday, more than 30 inches of rain had fallen on Swansboro, N.C., breaking the statewide rainfall record set by Hurricane Floyd in 1999 of 24.06 inches.

Florence is also being compared to two other catastrophic hurricanes that hit the Carolinas  Hurricane Hazel in 1954 ($15B in losses) and Hurricane Hugo in 1989 ($20B in losses). And, perhaps more concerning are the similarities being drawn between Florence and Superstorm Sandy and Hurricane Harvey. A weakened jet stream and warmer ocean temperatures mean Florence is moving slowly, similar to what happened for both Superstorm Sandy ($70.2B in damages) and Hurricane Harvey ($125B in damages). A study released in the science journal Nature in June found that tropical cyclone translation speeds had slowed by 10 percent worldwide between 1949 and 2016, resulting in storms lingering longer than before and much higher rainfall totals.

Analysis of the significant surge in the volume of total loss valuations from Superstorm Sandy and Hurricane Harvey shows volume was 20-30 times higher than the comprehensive total loss volume for the same period in years prior. Applying this type of increase to total loss volumes for North Carolina and South Carolina alone suggests the industry may see tens of thousands of total loss vehicles from Florence alone.

Comparison of the average total loss value for Sandy and Harvey also suggest that the total loss claim costs themselves could be as much as 50 percent higher than the non-comprehensive total loss average claim cost. The combination of a significant lift in volume as well as average loss amount suggests the impact to overall national total loss costs might be as dramatic as that seen from Harvey and Sandy.

Outside of vehicle losses, overall losses for the insurance industry for other lines of coverage may end up being less than in other major storms. Losses from inland flooding (one of the biggest concerns based on current conditions) do not fall under a standard homeowners insurance policy, but rather is covered via flood insurance. The U.S. flood insurance program, administered through FEMA, covers about 5 million policyholders in the U.S., but remains $20 billion in debt. $120 billion disaster relief was approved by Congress for last years hurricanes and wildfires, as well as $16 billion in debt accrued by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The House passed a new bill, the 21st Century Flood Reform Act (H.R. 2874), to make changes to national flood program last year, but Senate has not acted on the bill.

Currently there are about 444,000 NFIP policies in force in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, but most are located in the Special Flood Hazard Areas on the NFIP Flood Insurance Rate Maps; there are very few insured properties outside the mapped flood plains. And, according to a recent ranking of individual states building code from the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, South Carolinas rules are among the most up to date among hurricane-prone states, but North Carolinas code lagged behind the rest of the country by one or two cycles and didnt meet even the 2009 standards for anchoring windows and doors.

Clearly the scope, scale and conditions predicted for Florence will mean significant losses across the Southeast, particularly in the Carolinas. And perhaps most worryingly, there are three other tropical storms building in the Atlantic  making 2018 the first year since 2008 where the Atlantic is seeing four names storms at the same time. The Atlantic hurricane season may yet turn out to be an above-average year.The parents of a teenager who was killed in a 2012 avalanche at a Vail Resort property are appealing a judge and jurys decision in their sons death case.

Conlin died in an avalanche on upper Prima Cornice on the front side of Vail Mountain.

His parents sued, saying the company didnt close the run despite the avalanche danger. They say Vail violated the Colorado Ski Safety Act when it closed the top gate to Prima Cornice but not the lower gate.

The Colorado Avalanche Information Center says that on Jan. 22, 2012, the boy and other skiers entered the lower Prima Cornice trail through an open gate. An entrance to the top of the trail was blocked. Vail Resorts says Taft climbed from the lower trail area to the upper area before the avalanche was triggered. Resort attorneys say Conlin took an inappropriate risk when he sidestepped up into an area between the two gates and he knew or reasonably should have known that the slope uphill from the gate was closed.

The Vail Daily reported Sunday that Dr. Louise Ingalls and Dr. Steve Conlin, the parents of Taft Conlin, say judges in Broomfield and Eagle counties erred in several rulings.

Court documents filed with the Colorado Court of Appeals say the parents plan to appeal those rulings and the jurys verdict, which was based on those judges ruling.

Their appeal is based on five issues they found: moving the trial from Broomfield to Eagle County, pretrial orders by District Court Judge Fred Gannett, rulings during trial before the jury, erroneous jury instruction and an erroneous verdict form that resulted in a defense verdict.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.AKRON, Ohio - The Mayor's Youth Leadership Council, formerly Akron Peacemakers, was awarded a $10,000 grant from the U.S. Conference of Mayors to fund a financial literacy program for teens.

The program will serve high school students in the Mayor's Youth Leadership Council. The program will be run by 10 adult facilitators, training up to 24 students in financial literacy so they can serve as mentors for their peers through various financial literacy workshops.

Both the teen facilitators and workshop attendees will be eligible to win a $500 scholarship for participation.

The youth program complements work the city has underway to financially empower Akron residents, said Mayor Dan Horrigan in a news release.

Partnering with United Way of Summit County and Huntington Bank, the city recently opened Akron's first Financial Empowerment Center. The center is designed to help Akron residents strengthen their financial status through free, one-one-one counseling.

The Mayor's Youth Leadership Council offers young Akronites a voice in city government and empowers them to become agents for change.

"With the opening of our first Financial Empowerment Center in the Kenmore neighborhood this year, we have begun to target working adults that need assistance with budgeting, managing debt and increasing savings," Horrigan said in the release. "This DollarWise grant allows us to now also target our youth, to better equip our young residents with the financial competency to transition to the responsibilities of adulthood."

The Mayor's Youth Leadership Council offers young Akronites a voice in city government, and empowers them to become agents for change. Teens who wish to join the council can apply online. The deadline is Oct. 19. For more information, visit the city's website.

The financial literacy programs are sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Bank of America, Akron Public Schools, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, H &R Block, Huntington Bank, Akron Summit County Public Library and the United Way of Summit County.

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.AKRON, Ohio - Teen violence in the vicinity of an Akron convenience store has prompted one City Council member to publicly call for the store to be closed, and another council member to oppose such a move.

Ward 5 Councilwoman Tara Mosley Samples took to Facebook this week to publish a lengthy criticism blaming the the violence on the owners of Mr. Pantry on Copley Road, and calling for the store's immediate closure.

That posting drew a response from Councilman Russel Neal Jr., whose Ward 4 includes the convenience store. Neal told cleveland.com he wants to keep the store open and is working with city officials and local leaders to address the violence.

Neal added that Samples did not talk to him before calling for the store's closure. "Unfortunately my colleague has not asked me about anything," he said.

It is customary for City Council members who wish to address issues outside their districts to reach out to an at-large council member or the ward representative, said Councilman Donnie Kammer, Ward 7.

"It's no rule of law, it's just respect," Kammer said. "I would be really upset if somebody else was butting into my ward's business."

Samples also appeared this week on News 5 Cleveland, which reported that in the past year that Akron Police Department has been called 297 times to the carry-out because of fights, drug deals and shootings. Of those calls, 244 came from Mr. Pantry employees.

Samer Awawda, whose family has owned Mr. Pantry for 14 years, told cleveland.com that the problem involves teenagers who don't listen to him or their parents. And they loiter at Mr. Pantry rather than attend school.

His brother, Abdul Awawda said the kids gather at the store for the food.

"It's Mr. Pantry," he said. "They love chicken and jojos."

An Awawda cousin, Bothynah Awawda, told News Channel 5 the owners are not to blame.

"We're not here selling them guns and drugs and giving them bullets to shoot each other," she said. "We're trying to run a business; we're trying to live."

In her Facebook post, Samples blames the owners and calls for the store to be closed permanently.

"I will continue to stand on that," she says. "I am imploring everyone who lives in that community for you all to take charge and take back your community. It is ridiculous what's going on over there. I don't know how many more young people have to be shot, have to be killed at 950 Copley Road, before we say that we have an issue."

Samples contends she has a good relationship with Neal, and has spoken to him since she went public, but was unable to reach him before going live.

She went to Facebook feeling "raw" she said, because her son-in-law and granddaughter had been near Mr. Pantry when a shooting took place there on Sept. 13, and her granddaughter had been forced to lie on the floor of the car they were traveling in.

"Cars are getting shot and no one is saying or doing anything," she told cleveland.com, adding there's a reason none of the other stores in the area have had as much violence for so many years.

She said records kept by Akron police chronicling incidents at Mr. Pantry are so extensive they can't be printed but had to be given to her on a thumb drive.

For starters, the store owners need to remove the many ads blocking visibility into the store and hire armed security, she said.

"If you want us off your back, do things to make it a safe environment," Samples said.

Sam Awawda said the store always had security cameras, but has added a security system that is tied into the Akron Police Department.

Samples also started an online petition to have the store closed, which she said has more than 600 signatures, while a separate petition has about 200. She plans to present the petitions to City Council and other city officials once she collects 750 signatures.

Neal said he has been working for more than a month with the city Law Department, Akron police and community members to devise a plan for reducing the violence and avoid closing the store.

"The store is just one piece of a larger problem," Neal said. He said his initiative involves bringing men in the ward together to "do our part.

"We're responsible for what we allow to take place in our communities," he said.

Neal said his group isn't ready to disclose details of the initiative.

Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Charles Brown said the city is examining the situation at Mr. Pantry to devise a way to change the behavior of the teens who hang out there and to keep the store open.

Akron police Lt. Rick Edwards said police have stepped up their patrols at Mr. Pantry, going inside the store a couple times each day.

Akron resident Tom Rizzo, whose family has lived near Mr. Pantry for decades, contacted City Council to question the call to close the store.

Rizzo wrote in an email:

"Closing Mr. Pantry is a simplistic, misguided "solution" to a problem that is far, far bigger than one convenience store. What is it, exactly, that the owner of Mr. Pantry has failed to do that community has asked of him or expects him to do? How is he responsible for armed juvenile delinquents entering his store? He should not have to hire police officers, who should be patrolling this location on their own."

Rizzo told cleveland.com in an email that although he appreciates Samples' concern, "it fell flat with me.

"She at the very least should have discussed this matter with Mr. Neal first, or raised the idea of destroying someone's livelihood internally at City Council first before going on facebook with a very one-sided presentation of the facts," he wrote.

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.BEACHWOOD, Ohio -- Domestic violence, Park East Drive: At 10 p.m. Sept. 15, a woman, 45, was arrested for striking her boyfriend while the two were at the Embassy Suites Hotel, 3775 Park East Drive.

OVI, Chagrin Boulevard: At 3:15 a.m. Sept. 12, police stopped a car driven by a Shaker Heights man for not continuously driving within marked lanes.

It was subsequently discovered that the man, 31, was intoxicated. He was charged with OVI and with the traffic violation.

Theft from auto, Amhearst Circle: At 9:30 a.m. Sept. 12, it was reported that someone had broken into a woman's car and stolen sunglasses valued at $400.

Theft, Cedar Road: At 4:15 p.m. Sept. 13, a girl, 17, was arrested for stealing clothing worth $169 from Dillard's at Beachwood Place mall, 26300 Cedar Road. The Bedford Heights suspect was charged with theft.

Receiving stolen property, Cedar Road: At 7:20 p.m. Sept. 14, police arrested a Cleveland man, 41, for possessing clothes stolen from Beachwood Place.

At the time he was arrested, the man was a passenger in a car leaving the mall.

OVI, Chagrin Boulevard: At 12:30 a.m. Sept. 15, police stopped a car that was weaving between lanes.

It was subsequently learned that the driver, a Warrensville Heights woman, 50, was intoxicated. The woman was charged with OVI, not driving within marked lanes and having a prohibited blood-alcohol content.

OVI, Richmond Road: At 2:45 a.m. Sept. 15, police stopped a car that was not maintaining its lanes of travel.

The driver, a Cleveland Heights man, 31, was found to be intoxicated.

The man was charged with OVI, a marked lanes violation, wrongful entrustment, driving without a license, drug possession, and prohibited blood-alcohol content.

OVI, Cedar Road: At 3:40 p.m. Sept. 15, police stopped a car that was not keeping a safe distance between it and the car ahead.

The driver, a Beachwood woman, 59, was found to be intoxicated. She was charged with OVI and for the traffic offense.

Theft, Richmond Road: At 10:05 p.m. Sept. 15, the owner of Ho Wah Restaurant, 2101 Richmond Road, reported that someone had stolen $500 cash from the business between Sept. 14 and Sept. 15. A suspect was not immediately identified.

Theft, Cedar Road: At 5:15 p.m. Sept. 16, police arrested a Cleveland man, 24, for stealing a shirt and a pair of pants from Dillard's at Beachwood Place. The value of the merchandise is $67.

If you would like to discuss the police blotter, please visit our crime and courts comments page.US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was down 28 cents, or 0.4 percent, to $68.62 per barrel.

On Tuesday, China said it had no choice but to retaliate against new US trade measures after US President Donald Trump imposed 10 per cent tariffs on about $200 billion worth of Chinese imports.

" Oil markets are in a tug of war as Iran sanctions will continue to provide near-term support, while discussions around global demand in the wake of this morning's tariffs and speculation of further OPEC supply increases should temper upside ambitions", Oanda head of trading Stephen Innes said.

U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry told Reuters on Friday that he did not expect any price spikes and that Saudi Arabia, the United States and Russian Federation could between them raise global output in the next 18 months.

"It may also suggest they don't have the ability to make up for the losses that are already stemming from impending USA sanctions on Iran".

Brent crude futures were up $1.03 a barrel to $79.09 a barrel at 0923 GMT, after hitting $79.32.

Refineries in the United States consumed about 17.7 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil last week while China's refiners used about 11.8 million bpd in August, according to government data from the countries, the most among the world's countries.

Iran's oil exports have been falling in recent months as more buyers, including its second-largest buyer India, cut imports ahead of US sanctions that take effect in November.

Yesterday, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said all possible scenarios for oil output could be discussed at a meeting of OPEC and non-OPEC states in Algeria this month.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other producers including Russian Federation meet on September 23 in Algeria to discuss how to allocate supply increases within their quota framework to offset the loss of Iranian supply.

Stockpiles of distillate fuels, which include diesel and heating oil, rose by 1.5 million barrels, the API data showed, compared with expectations for a 651,000-barrel gain.

Crude oil prices peaked at a near-term high of with WTI tapping into 70.40 on Tuesday, but was unable to make a challenge of last week's high of 71.25 after U.S. oil inventories showed yet another surprise build-up in their barrel counts yesterday.

The focus on oil supply has been reflected in the options market this week, where investors have scooped up large amounts of buy or call options, suggesting they see prices rising.

USA stock indexes broadly fell on Monday, weighing on oil futures, on expectations that the Trump administration would go ahead with the new tariffs and that Beijing would retaliate.CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- City Council on Monday introduced legislation that would require $15,000 foreclosure bonds on vacant houses and commercial properties.

It's a concept that council has discussed off and on for years in the aftermath of the housing and mortgage crisis that hit the country a decade ago.

"And, as other cities have adopted foreclosure bond requirements, the case for them has become more compelling," Councilwoman Mary Dunbar noted prior to first reading of the legislation on Monday (Sept. 17).

Modeled from programs in cities like Canton, Youngstown and Sandusky, the proposed Cleveland Heights companion ordinances -- for commercial and residential properties -- contain the same overview of legislative intent:

-- That the city wishes to proactively address potential blight resulting from foreclosures on vacant properties

-- That posting a cash bond will "encourage responsible behavior on the part of foreclosing property owners and will provide further incentive for them to consider every option available to keep a property occupied"

-- In the event that keeping a property occupied is not achievable, the bond requirement will encourage the owners to do everything in their power to ensure the property remains well-maintained and code compliant

-- If a foreclosing property owner does not fulfill the responsibility of ensuring property maintenance and code compliance, then posting a cash bond will mitigate the public costs of maintaining distressed properties.

There will also be a $1,500 administrative fee to be deducted annually for the housing department, as well as registration renewal at $100 a year.

City Housing Director Allan Butler continues to research what is still a "very preliminary budget impact analysis" on his department, with additional hiring needed.

But in spite of some early apprehension on the potential cost to the city, Butler learned that since 2013, Canton has collected $3.5 million in foreclosure bonds, as well as more than $300,000 in administrative fees.

That should be more than enough to cover any additional costs to the city, Dunbar noted earlier.

And while there were some concerns about potential effects on lending activity, Cleveland Heights officials learned that there appear to be more loans made in Youngstown now than before the foreclosure bond was instituted there in 2013.

Canton passed its ordinance a year earlier, but it was never enforced until an amendment the following year.

Councilman Mike Ungar commended Butler and city staff for doing a "thoroughbred professional job" of researching the proposal -- including a staff report in May that advised against enacting foreclosure bonds.

"This provides a classic example of how legislation should be developed," Ungar noted during Monday's Committee-of-the-Whole meeting.

As for implementing the program, Assistant Law Director Elizabeth Rothenberg told council that the city is basically "piggybacking the foreclosure bond procedure on the the vacancy register" already compiled.

Although the effects from the housing crisis linger, an earlier memo from city officials cited the fact that mortgage foreclosures in Cleveland Heights are declining from a high of 564 in 2008 to 150 projected for this year.

In other business at Monday's regular council meeting, City Manager Tanisha Briley received authorization to go out to bid on an intersection improvement project at the other "top of the hill," at Edgehill and Overlook roads.

It has long been a source of consternation for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists alike, with some grant funding available.

Council also authorized the Ohio Department of Transportation to proceed with a traffic signal and pedestrian crossing upgrade at the intersection of Noble and Quilliams roads, funded through the state and federal Safe Routes to Schools program.

Vice Mayor Melissa Yasinow noted that the city continues to mourn the loss of one of its veteran firefighters, Mark Reel, who died from occupational cancer on Sept. 7. Services were held Sept. 15 for the 1980 Euclid High School graduate.

Prior to his burial with military honors in Lake View Cemetery, Reel's family received a proclamation from City Council in honor of his 32 years of service on thousands of calls in and around the city.

Yasinow pointed out the higher risk of cancer among firefighters, adding that they truly do risk their lives on even more calls than people might think.

Councilman Kahlil Seren, who introduced the draft foreclosure bond legislation back in March, announced that he, State Rep. Janine Boyd and Councilwoman Cheryl Stephens will be hosting a dinner and voter engagement conversation Thursday (Sept. 20) from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Cleveland Heights Community Center.

Representatives from the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections and the local chapter of the League of Women Voters will also attend.(This version has been corrected from the original story which misidentified the proposed infraction as a "minor misdemeanor." Violators -- only businesses, not tobacco buyers -- would be subject to civil penalties and possible permit revocation, as opposed to any possibility of jail time for proprietors.)

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- City Council plans to introduce legislation next month to raise the minimum age for buying tobacco, nicotine "e-cigs," "vapes" and assorted smoking paraphernalia from 18 to 21.

The proposed "Tobacco 21" ordinance would bring the city in line with higher age requirements in other cities, including Cleveland, Columbus, Euclid and most recently in Akron.

Cleveland Heights would be working with a civil penalty template that would subject violators -- and only businesses, not tobacco buyers -- to fines as opposed to any jail time, as well as possible revocation of sales permits after multiple infractions.

The Cuyahoga County Board of Health would handle enforcement, with warnings issued in the first six months, then $250 on first and second offenses, $500 on the third, and $1,000 and sales permit revocation beyond that.

Cleveland Heights Assistant Law Director Elizabeth Rothenberg noted that the proposed definition for "tobacco products" is very broad, including rolling papers and e-cigs.

And if passed, the ordinance would affect not only stores, but businesses like the City & East Hookah Bar, where 18-year-olds have been allowed to smoke in the establishment even though they're still too young to drink.

City officials recently lodged an objection to the hookah bar's liquor permit renewal, with one of the problems cited involving people under 21 being admitted to smoke, Police Chief Annette Mecklenburg said earlier.

"Smoke shops" could also be affected, since equipment sold there is ostensibly intended for "tobacco" use as recreational marijuana remains illegal in Ohio.

Councilwoman Melissa Yasinow raised concerns that otherwise "law-abiding, tax-paying businesses" would be unknowingly subject to penalties even though they're not selling tobacco.

"I don't think we can separate the two," City Manager Tanisha Briley said. "If we're 'for' Tobacco 21, we're going to be 'against' any business that sells those products (to underage people).

Briley added that those businesses would be aware of the potential consequences, since a permit would still be needed.

While he tends to favor legalization of marijuana for adults, Councilman Kahlil Seren does not believe that smoke shops can be exempt from the "Tobacco 21" laws.

"But it's the health consequences of tobacco that are epidemic in this country," Seren said, citing cancer, emphysema and other smoking-related illnesses that require expensive medical treatment.

Cleveland Heights council discussed Tobacco 21 legislation back in the spring, when studies were cited showing that if young people are not smoking or "vaping" by the age of 21, they are not likely to pick up the habit for the rest of their lives.

There was also mention of the negative impact of smoking on teen pregnancies.

Mayor Carol Roe noted that the Cleveland Heights-University Heights school board passed a resolution to raise the age for tobacco sales earlier this month.

The school board's resolution also stated that "the growing use of e-cigarettes and tobacco vaping products among our youth has caused us great concern."

It cited tobacco use as the foremost preventable cause of premature death in the country, and statistics that 95 percent of adult smokers started before they were 21.

The resolution added that developing brains of adolescents are especially susceptible to the addictive properties of nicotine.

Missing from the new Committee-of-the-Whole discussion on Monday (Sept. 17) was Councilman Mike Ungar, who offered to sponsor the legislation in April, but will now be abstaining from the vote.

That was on the advice of City Law Director Jim Juliano after Ungar noted at the outset his daughter serves as the executive director of the Tobacco 21 lobbying group.

Although he found it frustrating that he can't introduce the legislation, Ungar said he would be willing to step aside on the basis of any potential or perceived conflict of interest.

He also noted that the support of the majority of council appears to be there for enactment.

Yasinow recommended holding discussions with representatives from the city's business districts if the law is passed locally.



At least two council readings are expected to allow comment from the public and possibly the county health department, which appears to be supportive, Rothenberg said.

Upon learning that enforcement of current "under-18" tobacco laws are left primarily to county, state and federal agencies, Councilman Jason Stein asked what was done locally about proprietors "selling individual cigarettes to 15-year-olds."

Mecklenburg said local police would refer the pertinent information to those other agencies.

But as for local "sting" operations, Mecklenburg said "our department is not sending kids into stores as undercover agents."CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Two women have accused the owner of a pair of Northeast Ohio car dealerships of sexually harassing them for years and retaliating against them when they rejected his advances, according to a lawsuit.

Evan Fineberg, owner of Adventure Subaru in Painesville and Adventure Chrysler Dodge Jeep in Willoughby, sent lewd text messages to a 20-year-old receptionist where he described his genitals and asked her to watch him masturbate, and openly commented about a saleswoman's breasts in front of other employees, according to the complaint filed Monday in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.

One of the women quit after the dealership cut her hours, and the other was fired, the complaint says.

The lawsuit accuses Fineberg and the dealership's parent company, FM Dealership, of creating a hostile work environment, retaliation and sexual harassment. It also claims that FM management failed to act in response to complaints about Fineberg's behavior.

The complaint was filed early Monday. Fineberg walked into the Willoughby police department at 10 a.m. and filed a police report accusing one of the women of stealing money from him more than a year ago, according to records.

The women and their attorney, Peter Mapley, then filed an amended complaint later Monday that called Fineberg's report an attempt to retaliate against her and intimidate more women from coming forward.

"Our clients will not be bullied into silence," Mapley said.

Fineberg's attorney, Larry Zukerman, said excerpts from text messages contained in the complaint were "cherry-picked," and said that he and Fineberg look forward to all of the evidence coming out.

"There are two sides to every story," Zukerman said. "This was an attempt to extort my client. We refused to pay a ransom. These ladies are using the legal system as a means to seek a pay day."

The receptionist, who lives in Lakewood, was hired at Adventure Subaru in 2015 when she was 20 years old, and hoped to springboard her career in the automotive industry, the complaint says. Fineberg promised to show her the ropes of the industry as he began his campaign of sexual harassment, the suit says.

Fineberg would sit behind her while she was at the desk and watch her, and call her extension and asked her to flash him, the complaint says.

He sent the woman "creepy, grossly inappropriate" text messages over the course of two years in which he said he wanted to have sex with her in his office and described the length of his tongue and the color of his pubic hair, according to the complaint.

The woman rebuffed all of Fineberg's advances and, in early 2017, her hours at the dealership were cutback, the suit says. In March 2017, the suit claims Fineberg called the woman into his office and demanded she get on her knees and perform oral sex on him. She refused, the suit says.

The woman, who at that point was 21 years old and "repulsed, scared and confused," quit shortly after that, the suit says.

On Saturday, two days before the complaint was filed, the woman received a letter from the dealership that said she needed to return the car that she leased because of a change in her insurance policy. That change was approved by the dealership two weeks earlier, the suit says. If she didn't hand over the car, the letter said, the dealership would file a lawsuit, according to the complaint.

A Willoughby police report that Fineberg filed on Monday against the woman only says he walked into the police station lobby and "wanted to speak to someone about theft of money."

Mapley told cleveland.com that Willoughby police said Fineberg accused the woman of using his bank account to pay a $250 credit card bill. He called the allegation false and said he and the woman would go to the station to give a voluntary statement Tuesday afternoon.

Fineberg's harassment of the second woman, who was in her mid-20s began shortly after she was hired as a saleswoman at Adventure Chrysler Jeep Dodge in May 2017, the complaint says.

She reported to management that Fineberg approached her on the sales floor and stared at her crotch as he spoke to her, the complaint said. A human resources investigation substantiated multiple complaints against Fineberg, the complaint says.

There was no disciplinary action taken and, when the woman complained that November about Fineberg making comments about her breasts, management told her to avoid being alone with Fineberg, the complaint says.

The woman was fired earlier this year after she took three days of vacation, the complaint said. Adventure management claimed the days had not been approved, but the lawsuit said they had.

To comment on this story, please visit Wednesday's crime and courts comments page.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Federal officials have levied charges against three men in a string of crimes that included carjackings in Ohio City, Tremont and Shaker Square and the theft of guns from a Streetsboro shop.

Cleveland men Zyshonne Austin and Ja'Quez Lyons, both 18 years old, were indicted in U.S. District Court in Cleveland in the three carjackings. James Luke, also 18 years old, is charged in the theft from Top Shot Firearms in Streetsboro.

Austin and Lyons are charged with one count each of conspiracy, theft from a federal firearms licensee, carjacking and using a firearm during a crime of violence.

Austin is also charged separately with possession of a stolen firearm, and Lyons faces additional counts of carjacking and using a firearm during a crime of violence.

DNA, cellphone records and social media posts tied the men to the crimes, which occurred over a three-day span in April, according to a Wednesday news release.

Austin and Lyons spotted a man getting out of his Volkswagen Passat on April 14 on Larchmere Avenue. One of the men walked up to the man, pulled a gun and demanded his car, while the other man acted as a lookout, according to court documents.

All three men went the following night to Top Shot Firearms, smashed through the glass front door, broke into display cases and stole 10 firearms, according to court records. Blood was found at the scene, according to court documents.

Cleveland police officers called on April 17 to East 123rd Street for a report of gunshots found the stolen Volkswagen Passat. They searched the car and found price tags from the guns stolen from Top Shot, some of which had blood on them, court records say.

The officers also found a rag with suspected blood on it, a hammer and a receipt from the McDonald's at 3050 Carnegie Ave. from April 15, among other items.

Austin was arrested April 21 after a man and his friend were carjacked at gunpoint on Freeman Avenue in Ohio City, records show. Officers tracked the stolen 2017 Toyota IA to a West Side park and tried to stop it, but it took off. The officers gave chase and eventually arrested Austin, according to a police report.

Officers recovered a gun during the arrest that was from Top Shot, investigators said.

Two weeks later in May, Lyons was arrested and accused of carjacking a 19-year-old woman of her 2016 Lincoln MKC on Thurman Avenue in Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood. Police searched Lyons' phone and found that Austin was among his 13 contacts. The two exchanged several text messages discussing the Top Shot break-in, records say.

Investigators also tested the blood on the price tags from the stolen guns and the hammer found in the Passat. The results matched Austin's DNA, the release said.

Austin's phone records also showed searches around the time of the Top Shot break-in, including searches for "Top Shot Firearms" and "gun store breakin [sic] Streetsboro," according to court documents.

He also sent images of himself and others with the stolen firearms and in front of the stolen Passat, according to court documents.

Federal prosecutors say the investigation was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program revived by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions in 2017 in which federal and local law enforcement agencies collaborate to reduce violent crime.

To comment on this story, please visit Wednesday's crime and courts comments page.BROOK PARK, Ohio -- Fire investigators are working to determine the cause of a fire that significantly damaged the Brookpark Skateland early Wednesday.

The fire broke out around 12:30 a.m. at the iconic roller rink on Brookpark Road near West 130th Street, Brook Park fire Chief Thomas Maund said.

"We don't know the cause," Maund said. "It's under investigation."

Brook Park firefighter Bill Bennett said on the scene that the fire does not appear to be suspicious in nature.

No one was inside the building when the fire broke out.

Firefighters quickly controlled the flames and declared it completely out by 4 a.m., Maund said. No firefighters were hurt at the scene.

The fire caused significant damage, Maund said.

"The smoke was throughout the building, to the floor," Bennett said on the scene.

"All the actual fire damage is in the back of the building in one area, and that area looks like a warzone," Bennett said. "The rest of it is just heavy smoke damage."

Firefighters from the Parma, Parma Heights, Middleburg Heights and the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport assisted at the scene.

The fire is devastating to many in the community like Mark Kuhn, of Parma, whose parents met at Brookpark Skateland.

"This is home," Kuhn said. "This is like somebody dying."

Kuhn stood next to his father, Dave, and friends Don and Andrea Allison, who met each other at Brookpark Skateland and recently got married.

The roller rink has been open for nearly 60 years and has been the meeting place for many married couples, Dave Kuhn said.

Don Allison, Andrea Allison, Mark Kuhn and Dave Kuhn outside of Brookpark Skateland.

The group gathered for a few hours Wednesday morning to lament the destruction caused by the fire, especially for the competitive skaters who practiced or taught at the rink.

"This was the skating rink in Ohio," said Don Allison.

After taking in the sights and smells left in the fire's wake, the friends left to go to Big Boy, as per their usual routine.

"This would be our normal skating day," Mark Kuhn said. "When something bad happens in your life, you go to Brookpark Skateland."

Bennett with the Brook Park fire department estimates that the roller rink could be repaired and reopened in January or February 2019 at the earliest.

To comment on this story, visit Wednesday's crime and courts comment section.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The image on the left in the cartoon above, is Donald Trump Jr.'s actual Instagram post from Sunday, mocking Brett Kavanaugh accuser Dr. Christine Blasey Ford.

Below the Instagram image, the president's eldest son wrote the following:

"donaldjtrumpjr Oh boy...the Dems and their usual nonsense games really have him on the ropes now. Feinstein had the letter in July and saved it for the eve of his vote...honorable as always. I believe this a copy for full transparency. #politics #maga.

This time it's not "like father, like son." President Trump has remained restrained in commenting about the Kavanaugh allegations. Tuesday, the president reiterated that he was open to the delay for Dr. Ford to be heard and the process to play out, while at the same time, supporting Kavanaugh and expressing empathy for him and his family.

With his vile Instagram post, Don Jr. was playing to the base of the base as he is said to be contemplating running for office himself one day.

Don Jr.'s future political aspirations may be slowed if the Russian investigation shows he checked the yes box on a Vladimir Putin note asking if he would be his lap dog, his 'useful idiot', colluder, money launder...

Robert Mueller indicting Don Jr. for lying to federal investigators and conspiracy, would be sure to generate more mocking Don Jr. Instagram memes.

Blasey Ford backs out of Monday hearing.

Lawyers for Christine Blasey Ford sent a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee informing them she will not be attending Monday's scheduled hearing, despite assurances from the committee that she and her claim would be treated with the respect not shown in Don Jr.'s post.

Ford and her lawyers are calling for a full FBI investigation into her allegations before she answers questions from the committee.

The request by Ford echos what had been the talking points of Democrats who have been requesting another delay for the FBI to conduct an investigation.

Ford's and the Democrats request will only feed the claim by critics that Ford and the Democrats are colluding to delay the process until the midterms and ultimately block Kavanaugh's nomination.

Republicans have delayed the vote on Kavanaugh twice and had invited Dr. Ford to speak to the committee in private or public, Monday. They even offered to have the committee's female staffers question her, if she preferred.

FBI has already done 6 background checks on Kavanaugh

If the FBI did anything, they would only do a background check type investigation, six of which, they've already done on Kavanaugh over his years of public service.

The FBI has already said they would not open a full investigation because they do not believe a federal crime was committed. It would be the jurisdiction of the city, state in which the alleged assault occurred.

If Kavanaugh was an ordinary Joe, no local prosecutor would open an investigation and bring a case against Kavanaugh, based on the letter, after 36 years.

Legit reasons for statue of limitations

There is a reason there is a statue of limitations for many crimes, far shorter than the 30 years it took for Dr. Ford to tell her therapist of her claim, and the 36 years it took her to bring it to the public's attention.

Sen Feinstein and the Democrats are arguing the Republicans are unduly rushing the process. Yet Feinstein and Rep. Anna Eshoo sat on Dr. Ford's claim for two and half months. Dr. Ford sent her Congresswoman, Eshoo, and Feinstein a letter in July detailing her allegation. Feinstein sent it to the FBI.

Democrats delayed making allegation public

Republicans can fairly argue that Democrats sat on the allegation,that they met Democrats demands to delay the vote, and that they gave Dr. Ford an opportunity to air her allegation in a private hearing, and she rejected it.

It's hard to believe that a professor holding a doctorate, would be naive enough to believe that she could accuse a U.S. Supreme Court nominee of a 36-year-old drunken sexual assault, and remain anonymous.

Under the U.S. Justice system, the accused has the right to know and confront his accuser. The accused has the presumption of innocence.

Dr. Ford has made a grave, 36-year-old allegation that may permanently taint the reputation of Judge Kavanaugh. She now has an obligation to appear and answer for her claim at the hearing Democrats demanded and Republicans granted, as does he.

It's already known what the allegation is. It's known that the alleged witness claims he wasn't in the room and would say he has no recall under oath. And it appears that Kavanaugh's defense strategy would be that Dr. Ford's has mistaken memory, that she waited until 2012 to tell a therapist in a therapy session trying to save her marriage...

Democrats, Dr Ford, hurt their credibility

It would be hard to blame Republicans for moving ahead with a committee and floor vote if Dr. Ford is a no-show at Monday's hearing.

Democrats moving the goal posts and Dr. Ford now saying she will not appear at Monday's hearing, only hurts the credibility of both.CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cleveland Hopkins International Airport continues to improve, ever-so-slightly, rising to third from the bottom in customer service among airports in its size group, according to the J.D. Power 2018 North America Airport Satisfaction Study.

Two years ago, Cleveland's airport ranked dead last in customer satisfaction among medium-sized airports, with between 4 million and 9.9 million passengers, according to J.D. Power. Last year, the airport ranked second from the bottom.

For 13 years, J.D. Power has surveyed travelers about what they like - and dislike - in North American airports. Their survey covers six categories: terminal facilities; airport accessibility; security check; baggage claim; check-in/baggage check; and food, beverage and retail.

Airports can earn a total score of 1,000 points. Cleveland's score was 769, up from 745 a year ago, and 704 in 2016.

Two medium-sized airports scored worse: San Jose International Airport in California and Kahului Airport in Hawaii.

Said Robert Kennedy, the director of Cleveland's airport: "The demonstrated improvement this year in the J.D. Power rating of the airport is meaningful to us. Cleveland Hopkins International Airport will continue our focus on enhancing the passenger experience and we look forward to continuing to make positive changes for our guests."

The highest-ranking airports included Las Vegas McCarran International Airport; Orlando International; John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California; and Buffalo Niagara International Airport in New York.

Overall, it was a good year for airport customer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power, despite record passenger volumes and massive construction projects. The average airport satisfaction score was the highest ever, at 761, up 12 points over last year.

"North America airports have been doing a tremendous job managing passenger volume, adding amenities, and keeping travelers moving despite some noteworthy challenges, but they will be put to the true test over the next few years," said Michael Taylor, travel practice lead at J.D. Power. "Several multi-billion-dollar airport construction projects -- such as those in Boston, Los Angeles and Chicago -- are reaching phases in which passenger disruption and increased traffic will be incredibly hard to avoid. How well these rapidly expanding airports manage throughout these infrastructure projects will provide valuable insight into what's in store on a nationwide basis."

The top 5 and bottom 5 airports in each size category:

Mega airports (32 million-plus passengers)

Best: Las Vegas, Orlando, Detroit, Denver, Dallas-Fort Worth

Worst: Newark, Los Angeles, Chicago O'Hare, Boston Logan, Miami

Large airports (10 million to 31.5 million passengers)

Best: John Wayne, Dallas Love, Portland (Oregon), Nashville, Tampa

Worst: New York LaGuardia, Kansas City, Philadelphia, Honolulu, New Orleans

Medium airports (4 million to 9.9 million passengers)

Best: Buffalo Niagara, Indianapolis, Southwest Florida (Fort Myers), Sacramento, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky

Worst: Kahului, San Jose, Cleveland, General Mitchell (Milwaukee), Bradley (Hartford)

The average score in the mega airport category was 758. It was 760 for large airports and 789 for medium airports.

Cleveland Hopkins last year welcomed 9.14 million passengers, an 8.5 percent increase from the year before, and a number higher than 2013, the final year of United Airlines' hub operation in Cleveland. This year, Hopkins' traffic is up 6.9 percent through July, according to the airport.

Last year, Airport Councils International, a nonprofit trade group, recognized Cleveland Hopkins as the most improved airport in North America, as determined by the Airport Service Quality Survey, a quarterly in-person survey of travelers at the airport.

J.D. Power's survey, meanwhile, was conducted online. Over the past year, the survey queried 40,000 travelers who traveled through at least one domestic airport in the previous three months.

For the complete results: jdpower.com/business/resource/north-america-airport-satisfaction-studyCLEVELAND, Ohio - A Cleveland man is accused of shooting another man in the leg during a fight over nude photos shared on the internet.

Dwight E. Tupper, 29, is charged with felonious assault in the Sunday shooting outside a home on West 47th Street near Denison Avenue, according to court records.

He is not in custody but investigators obtained a warrant for his arrest on Monday, court records say.

Video from a neighbor's security camera revealed that Tupper and a 42-year-old man shot at each other during an argument in the street, police reports say.

The 42-year-old man has not been charged in the incident, according to court records.

A 40-year-old woman told investigators that her phone had been stolen recently. She received an alert Sunday that someone used the phone to download her nude photos and post them on the internet, police reports say.

The woman used a ping to track the phone to a home on West 47th Street, where one of Tupper's friends lives. She went there Sunday afternoon with Tupper, her daughter and her daughter's boyfriend.

The neighbor's security video showed the group pull up in an SUV. Tupper could be seen holding a gun as he got out of the SUV and walked in the home, the video showed.

Tupper was arguing with the friend when they came back outside minutes later. The woman joined in the argument as it spilled into the street. The 42-year-old man hurt in the shooting, who is a neighbor and saw the fight as he walked nearby, also joined in the altercation.

The security video showed Tupper start to walk away before he turned and opened fire on the group, police reports say. The 42-year-old man also pulled out a gun and shot back at Tupper, police reports say.

The 42-year-old man limped away after being shot in the leg, police reports say. His wife and a neighbor helped him into a car so his wife could drive him to MetroHealth for treatment.

Officers found the 42-year-old man's gun in the basement in his home. Another man is suspected of hiding the gun there after the shooting, but that man has not been charged in connection with the incident, according to court records.

To comment on this story, visit Wednesday's crime and courts comments page.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Two Cleveland police sergeants sued the city, arguing that they should be promoted but remain in their current ranks because the city took too long in issuing official promotions.

Sgts. Shawn Smith and Zina Martinez said in a lawsuit filed Aug. 28 that they are in line to be promoted to lieutenant. But the city delayed their official swearing-in ceremony because it fell on the date of the funeral for a fellow Cleveland police officer, and the ceremony has not been rescheduled, the lawsuit says.

Smith and Martinez were informed they would be promoted before the city held its most recent promotional exam April 28. They will no longer be eligible to be considered for promotions once that exam's results and certified and a new list of candidates is generated, the lawsuit says.

Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge John Russo granted the sergeants' request for a temporary restraining order, barring the city from certifying the new list of candidates after speaking with the officers' attorney, Nathaniel Szep, and a city attorney, William Menzalora.

A hearing is scheduled for Oct. 4 in front of Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Steven Gall.

Smith and Martinez took previous exams, and supervisors informed them of their promotions to lieutenant prior to the April 28 exam, the suit says.

Both sergeants were told they did not need to take the April 28 exam because they would be promoted before a new list of potential candidates was certified, the lawsuit says.

But the planned swearing-in ceremony was delayed because it landed on the date of the funeral for fellow officer Vu Nguyen, who died days after collapsing during a training exercise in 90-degree heat.

In the meantime, a new list of potential candidates for lieutenant was generated based on the civil service test scores. Smith and Martinez will not longer be eligible to be considered for promotion once the city's Civil Service Commission certifies the results of the April 28 exam, the suit says.

Smith is a 19-year police veteran and Martinez a 22-year veteran officer.

Cleveland city spokesman Dan Williams said the city does not comment on pending litigation. Fraternal Order of Police President Capt. Brian Betley said the officers fired the lawsuit on their own and that the FOP is not directly involved in the suit.

He said the FOP is watching the lawsuit closely because it could hold up promotions to positions he said need to be filled. Betley said there there are two open captain positions, four lieutenant positions and 33 sergeant positions that need to be filled.

"We hope this matter gets resolved," Betley said. "We want to ensure that the all the vacant positions will be filled."

To comment on this story, please visit Wednesday's crime and courts comments page.The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has suspended the sentences of the former prime minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Capt Safdar.

Last week, Sharif along with his daughter Maryam and son-in-law captain Safdar was released on parole following the death of former first lady of Pakistan, Begum Kulsoom Nawaz.

"The prosecution has failed to show the properties belong to Nawaz Sharif". The bench also imposed a fine on the NAB lawyers earlier for using delaying tactics.

The National Accountability Bureau's (NAB) special prosecutor Mohammad Akram Qureshi argued that the High Court could not have entertained petitions seeking suspension of sentence after the fixation of appeals against the conviction of the Sharif family in the case, Dawn reported.

A two-judge bench comprising Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb delivered its ruling on petitions filed by the Sharif family against the Avenfield reference.

28 July, 2017: Supreme Court declares Sharif disqualified from office for not declaring income from a company in United Arab Emirates, which was not in original Panama Papers revelations.

Sharif was disqualified from office by the country's Supreme Court past year over corruption allegations. The Accountability Court sentenced the imprisonment of 10, 7, and 1 year to Nawaz, Maryam, and Captain Safdar (retd) respectively. Justice Aurangzeb questioned how Maryam was sentenced for the ownership of the Avenfield apartments alongside her father-as both can not be sentenced under the same indictment charges.

15 September 2018: NAB moves Supreme Court to stop Islamabad High Court from suspending jail sentence against the Sharifs.BROOK PARK, Ohio--NASA's new administrator says that his agency needs a strong

today and tomorrow.

"There's a bright future for NASA Glenn," Jim Bridenstine said today during his first tour of the center, based in Brook Park. "NASA Glenn is advancing some of the president's most critical policies."

Bridenstine was wrapping up a two-day visit to Glenn. He spent Tuesday touring Glenn's Plum Brook testing grounds near Sandusky, meeting local leaders at the Great Lakes Science Center, touring Glenn's visitor center there, and attending Glenn's yearly Evening With the Stars reception at the Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Today, he is touring Glenn's main campus of 350 acres in Brook Park.

Inside Glenn's Electric Propulsion Laboratory, Bridenstine said the lab is developing crucial technology in propulsion, power and more for President Trump's vision of a long-term presence on the moon and preparations there for flight to Mars.

Glenn has about 3,400 staffers and contractors. Trump has proposed a budget of $712 million for the center in fiscal year 2019. Glenn's estimated economic impact in Ohio is more than $1.4 billion.

Bridenstine is a former Navy lieutenant commander who flew combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistant. Then he became a Republican congressman from Oklahoma. He was nominated by Trump as NASA's administrator and confirmed by the Senate in April.

Bridenstine fielded questions today about some common criticisms of his agency. He said NASA continues to research the earth's climate objectively. "It's up to policy makers to debate what to do about what we learn."

He praised Trump's plans for a space force but says NASA will play no part in it, partly to maintain partnerships with other nations. He plans to attend a joint launch next month in Russia to the space station.MOUNT ORAB, Ohio -- A man who earlier this year had pleaded guilty to the asphyxiation death of his 11-year-old grandson has been cleared by a judge, according to reports.

Donald "Jake" Martin, 58, of Mount Orab, told authorities he was trying to calm his grandson, Martin Davis, during a tantrum when he laid on top of the child in late 2017. The child was autistic and reportedly had several behavioral disorders, according to WLWT Channel 5.

Martin weighs about 400 pounds, reports say.

According to cincinnati.com, Brown County Judge Scott Gusweiler said in his ruling there was no evidence that Martin knew that he would cause serious harm to his grandchild by laying on him.

The boy's father, Sam Davis, tells WLWT the judge's ruling is "a nightmare."

"How do you kill a child and walk free?" Davis tells WLWT. "How can you pin a child down - my understanding is for five to 10 minutes - and not know what you're doing?"

Martin had pleaded guilty reckless homicide in April, but withdrew the plea in June. His lawyer, Bruce Wallace, tells cincinnati.com that Martin made the initial guilty plea to avoid putting his family through a trial.

Mount Orab is in southwest Ohio, about 40 miles east of Cincinnati.

To comment on this story, please visit our crime and courts comments page.Rotunda Rumblings



Debate Night in Ohio: It's fight night in the governor's race this evening as Republican Mike DeWine and Democrat Richard Cordray meet on the debate stage for the first time this election. The two have been locked in a close race since the May primary, with most polls showing the race almost dead even. The contest starts at 7 p.m. on the University of Dayton campus.



We've got you covered: Can't make it to Dayton to watch the debate live? Don't worry. Check cleveland.com for the live stream later tonight, including live analysis from chief political reporter Seth Richardson.



The other debate: Ohio Issue 1, the constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would lessen criminal penalties on some drug crimes and emphasize treatment, is the subject of a debate hosted by the Youngstown Vindicator at 10 a.m. today on vindy.com.



True blue? Axios has identified eight races across the country that "will help determine if the 'blue wave' will be strong enough to live up to the hype." The Ohio governor's race made the list. Axios' Alexi McCammond quotes Kyle Kondik of Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball: "If Democrats are winning Ohio's governorship they probably are winning at least 4-5 of the 6 Midwest governorships at play (maybe all 6)."



Dealing in hypotheticals: DeWine said in a radio interview that a person caught with 1,000 pounds of fentanyl would only be charged with a misdemeanor and no jail time if Issue 1 passes in November, the Columbus Dispatch's Randy Ludlow reports. The proposed amendment would not change drug trafficking laws, Ludlow writes.



Cordray cops an endorsement: The Ohio Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, the second-largest police union in the state, endorsed Cordray for governor, according to the Democrat's campaign. The union endorsed DeWine for attorney general in 2014.



Doing time: New Ohio Medicaid rules would ban some people from ever becoming providers or make them wait years before they can. The mental health community say the rules are problematic for former addicts who now work in drug recovery centers, writes cleveland.com's Laura Hancock.



OMG WTF: That's the new acronym of a PAC looking to elect Democratic governors, attorneys general and secretaries of state in six states: Ohio, Michigan, Georgia, Wisconsin, Texas and Florida. (Get it? O, M, G, etc.) Per Variety, Ben Sheehan of Funny or Die is the founder of the project. The PAC's website says they're throwing "non-boring events" and implores people to "stop f***ing around" and register to vote.



Emergency meeting about Aftab probe: The Hamilton County Board of Elections has called an emergency meeting Wednesday related to a "campaign finance investigation" into 1st Congressional District Democratic nominee Aftab Pureval, according to Sharon Coolidge and Scott Wartman of the Cincinnati Enquirer. The meeting notice didn't provide further details, though questions have raised about whether $30,000 donated to Pureval's clerk of courts campaign was illegally spent on his congressional race. Unusually, the memo lines of the donation checks - most of which came from Pureval's mom -- were redacted.



Harbaugh pays the man: Ohio Democratic congressional candidate Ken Harbaugh said he wrote a $3,800 check this week to settle Republican questions over a property-tax exemption he'd received on a house in Connecticut, cleveland.com's Andrew Tobias reports. Harbaugh qualified for the exemption, available to Connecticut military veterans, when he bought the house in 2005, but his campaign said the Harbaughs forgot to update their taxes when they moved to Ohio in 2009. Harbaugh is challenging Republican U.S. Rep. Bob Gibbs.



Fee fight: The family of Michael Moritz, the namesake of the Moritz College of Law at Ohio State University, is firing back at the university for taking fees up to 1.3 percent out of endowments to the school. These endowments fund scholarships and faculty chairs, but the fee takes away a significant portion of the donations. Cleveland.com's Emily Bamforth explains that the Mortiz family views these fees as unfair.



Harris speaks at women's summit: The fourth annual Women's Leadership Summit in Cincinnati will feature Democratic U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris of California. Harris will give the keynote speech on Oct. 6 at Xavier University, reports cleveland.com's Mary Kilpatrick.



Testing, testing: A new proposal seeks to change high school graduation requirements in Ohio. The Plain Dealer's Patrick O'Donnell explains the alternatives to taking tests, so students may still receive a high school diploma through an unconventional path.



Superintendent salary bump: The State Board of Education voted Tuesday to raise state Superintendent Paolo DeMaria's salary by 2.75 percent to $189,571, according to the Dispatch's Catherine Candisky. Board members also gave DeMaria a $20,000 bonus.



By the dozen: The state announced Tuesday that NMG Ohio LLC in Huron in Erie County was the 12th recipient of a provisional medical marijuana processor license. The Ohio Department of Commerce is authorized to award up to 40 provisional licenses.





Full Disclosure



Here are five things we learned from the April 9 financial disclosure of state Rep. John Barnes, a Cleveland Democrat:



1. In addition to his $60,584 legislative salary, in 2017 Barnes made $1,000 to $9,999 from Clear Channel for rental income and received less than $1,000 from the Diplomacy Group Inc.



2. Barnes serves as president of Embassy Realty Investments, Globaltwo Capital Investments LLC and the Diplomacy Group, Inc.



3. He has two investments: a mutual fund in Ohio Deferred Compensation and a retirement fund in the Ohio Public Employees Retirement Fund.



4. At some point in 2017, Barnes owed $1,000 or more to these creditors: Bank of America; Chase; Citi; American Express; FsL,NeV,& dTS; and Discover.



5. Barnes was reimbursed $4,461.60 by the Ohio House last year for travel between the Statehouse and his home. He also received travel expenses from the National Conference of State Legislatures for $1,168.48 and the Ohio Chamber of Commerce for $138.01.



On The Move



Ukraine Orthodox Patriarch Filaret gave U.S. Sen. Rob Portman the Order of St. Volodymyr medal in recognition of the Republican's work in support of the country in the face of Russian aggression, Portman's office said in a statement.



Birthdays



Rep. Rick Perales



Rep. Mark Romanchuk



Straight From The Source



"It is not fair to the institution, it is not fair to Judge Kavanaugh and it is not fair to Dr. Ford the way this has been handled."



- Republican U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, speaking with reporters Tuesday about sexual abuse allegations made by California college professor Christine Blasey Ford against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh that have sidetracked his Senate confirmation.

Capitol Letter is a daily briefing providing succinct, timely information for those who care deeply about the decisions made by state government. If you do not already subscribe, you can sign up here to get Capitol Letter in your email box each weekday for free.COLUMBUS, Ohio - The plants are still small -- about two or three inches tall -- but a state-approved medical marijuana cultivation company announced it is on its way to providing one of the first crops of legal cannabis in Ohio.

The Ohio Department of Commerce awarded a certificate of operation to Grow Ohio Pharmaceuticals, in Muskingum County's Newton Township, on Sept. 10. The company said it has plants in 20 small flowering rooms.

Since Ohio weather isn't as mild as places such as California or Mexico, the farm is all indoors. It is not using greenhouses, either, and must rely on lights to initiate photosynthesis. It uses a unique form of energy - generated from food, oils and even sewer sludge - from a nearby Quasar Energy biogas plant.

The company expects to have flower available for patients in February, said Caroline Henry, the company's vice president of communications.

A series of hitches and delays has resulted in Ohio's medical marijuana program not meeting the Sept. 8 deadline to be fully operational.

Cultivation

The flowers, or bud, in marijuana comes from the female plants, so the first part of Grow Ohio's operation involves planting seeds and weeding out the ones with male characteristics, said Josh Febus, who oversees sales.

The company is growing different marijuana strains.

"Each strain has different ratios and different chemical makeup," Febus said. "They have different advantages to them."

Once the company gets the final OK from the state to begin processing - it has a provisional processing license in addition to its provisional a large-scale cultivation license - it can make oils, edibles and other products with the THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.

The products will contain different strains that are mixed together to create formulations that the company believes could be helpful to patients who have any of the 21 conditions that could qualify them for legally possessing the drug.

The company hired a scientist to run its lab who has a background in biomedical engineering. He is studying nascent research out of Israel, which has had a medical marijuana program for years and some research on the effectiveness of different formulations.

Energy

The facility was purposely located in Muskingum County to have close access to power from Quasar Energy's biogas facility, Henry said.

"Energy consumption is the largest cost for a cultivation facility," she said.

Grow Ohio is using high-pressure sodium lights.

Quasar Energy has oils, greases, food and sewer sludge in a series of tanks. Microorganisms break down the organic waste in an anaerobic process that creates biogas. Quasar Energy generates electricity from the biogas, Henry said.UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio -- OVI, Warrensville Center Road: At 5:15 p.m. Sept. 16, police were dispatched on a call that a motorist was slumped over the wheel of a car, which was stopped on Warrensville Center Road.

It was learned that a motor vehicle crash had occurred and that the at-fault driver, a South Euclid woman, 66, was drunk.

The woman was charged with OVI, prohibited blood-alcohol content, failure to maintain an assured clear distance and marijuana possession.

Domestic dispute, Bushnell Road: At 12:25 p.m. Sept. 10, police were called to a home where a man, 84, was involved in a dispute with his son, 45. As a result of the dispute, the father was taken to Hillcrest Hospital for evaluation.

The city prosecutor is reviewing the incident.

Obstructing official business, Cedar Road: At 1:25 p.m. Sept. 11, police were dispatched to Target, 14070 Cedar Road, about a male suspect who had attempted to make a fraudulent return of $54 worth of merchandise.

The man, after his ruse was discovered, ran from store loss prevention officers. Soon after, a University Heights police officer found the suspect hiding under a tree. The man ran and was apprehended after a short foot chase.

The man, 30, was charged with theft and obstructing official business. The man was also found to be wanted on two University Heights Police Department warrants.

Theft, Warrensville Center Road: At 5:35 p.m. Sept. 11, loss prevention at Macy's, 2201 Warrensville Center Road, reported that they had a male shoplifter detained for stealing boots valued at $90.

The Cleveland man, 47, was charged with theft and criminal trespass.

Theft from auto, Cedar Road: At 9:30 a.m. Sept. 12, a woman reported that an unloaded handgun, gun magazines and a wallet containing cash had been stolen from her car. The woman last saw the items on Sept. 9.

Assault, Cedar Road: At 9:30 p.m. Sept. 12, a female shoplifter assaulted a security officer at Target and ran from the store. Police found the suspect, 36, of Lakewood, nearby.

She was charged with theft and assault and taken to the Solon jail.

Property damage, South Belvoir Boulevard: At 6:25 p.m. Sept. 13, police were called to Bellefaire JCB, Building E, 2575 S. Belvoir Blvd. There, it was determined that a 15-year-old client had intentionally damaged a sprinkler and escaped from the facility.

The girl was found nearby and returned to Bellefaire.

Sexual imposition, South Belvoir Boulevard: At 9:25 a.m. Sept. 14, police were called to a Bellefaire JCB cottage on a report of a sex offense involving a boy, 16, and a girl, 12.

It was learned that the incident was reported to staff by a person who did not actually witness the event. Police are investigating.

Grand theft, Brockway Road: At 4:45 a.m. Sept. 16, a resident reported that someone had smashed a window on their car and stolen property from inside the vehicle.

Recovered auto, Farland Road: At 5:35 a.m. Sept. 16, a resident reported seeing four male suspects get out of a car and walk around the area. Police found that the car had been stolen from Euclid.

As police searched the area, officers spotted an SUV, which then fled the area. Police did not apprehend those in the SUV.

Grand theft, Tullamore Road: At 9:35 a.m. Sept. 16, a resident reported that her car had been stolen during the previous evening hours.

Theft from auto, Tullamore Road: At 9:55 a.m. Sept. 16, a Cleveland woman reported that while her car was parked on Tullamore Road, someone entered the vehicle and stole a stun gun and $20.

Theft, Cedar Road: At 1:50 p.m. Sept. 16, police were called to Target, where loss prevention had detained two men for shoplifting.

Police arrested a Cleveland man, 33, who was also found to be wanted on warrants, and a Cleveland Heights man, 19.

If you would like to discuss the police blotter, please visit our crime and courts comments page.President Donald Trump's U.S. steel resurgence might be thwarted as more workers go on strike.

About 15,000 workers at plants owned by ArcelorMittal voted on Tuesday to go on strike as contract disputes drag on, USW International said.

"The flexibility of our contracts and world-class efficiency and productivity of this particular group of steelworkers enabled ArcelorMittal to survive floods of unfairly traded and illegally dumped foreign imports that brought about the harshest market conditions our industry has faced in decades," said Leo Gerard, president at USW International, in a statement.

"Now that the company is generating enormous  even historic  amounts of cash, it is an insult that bargaining progress has been hindered by management's unrealistic concessionary demands and unfair labor practices," Gerard said.

This follows another strike by 16,000 U.S. Steel workers that was approved earlier this month. Collectively, U.S. Steel and ArcelorMittal account for about 25 percent of the country's overall steel production. A strike this big could hinder what Trump calls a "thriving" industry in the U.S.

Trump tweeted on Monday that the U.S. steel industry is "is the talk of the World," adding it has been "given new life."

Tweet

Trump's tweet comes months after the U.S. slapped tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports, including those from key allies such as Canada, Mexico and the European Union.

The administration has said repeatedly that protecting the country's steel industry is a matter of national security. Trump said in a proclamation in May that "steel mill articles are being imported into the United States in such quantities and under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security of the United States."

Steel and aluminum producers initially cheered the administration's measures, but now workers want to reap some of the benefits.Adecco has seen a slowdown in growth so far in the third quarter, the world's largest staffing company said on Wednesday ahead of an investor day in London.

Revenues increased by 2 percent organically and adjusted for trading days in July and August, with volume trends in early September indicating a slight deceleration over these prior two months, the Swiss group said.

"Recent trading has been more challenging than expected, driven by Continental Europe," Chief Executive Alain Dehaze said in a statement.

"We are already taking the appropriate measures to adjust our costs to reflect this lower growth environment. Our commitment to the group's transformation and digitisation remains unchanged," he added.

Its shares were indicated 1.4 percent lower in pre-market activity.

The slowdown compared with 4 percent revenue growth in the second quarter, related to a slowdown in continental Europe, and 6 percent during the first three months of the year. Despite the slowdown, the group's operating margin improved during the second quarter when compared with the start of the year.

Earlier this year Adecco said rising global trade tensions and slowing economic growth were not yet reducing companies' desire to hire temporary staff.

The company has also recently been investing in digital technology to enable it to offer roles in a more flexible labour market. This year it also bought General Assembly, a company which provides training in coding, data science and digital marketing.NATIONAL HARBOR, Md.  President Donald Trump's proposed Space Force is likely years away, and the military has begun breaking down the numbers for what setting up a sixth branch might cost.

But in the meantime, the military isn't going to wait for a Space Force to develop in order to defend space.

In a Wednesday interview with CNBC's Morgan Brennan, Secretary Heather Wilson, the Air Force's top civilian, called her office's proposal for the new branch "a bold idea to dominate in space." Yet the U.S. is already the top dog in the great beyond.

"The Air Force has a lot of authorities now to continue to accelerate defendable space so that we dominate and win," Wilson said. "We're the best in the world at space. Our adversaries know it, and they're developing the capabilities to deny us the use of space in crisis or war and we are determined that that not be allowed to happen."

Various outlets obtained a memo from Wilson  sent to Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan's office on Friday  which pegged the costs of setting up a Space Force headquarters and operations at about $13 billion for the first five years.

"You've got to have a secretary and all the budget people, you have to have people recruit, and all of the things that an independent department does," Wilson said on "Squawk Alley."

Shanahan, who is currently organizing the Pentagon's efforts on implementing a Space Force, requested relevant offices within the Defense Department to propose concepts for the newest branch. Wilson's memo emerged in the wake of Shanahan's request and was in some elements out of step with the Pentagon's plan to stand up the space-focused branch by 2020.

The Pentagon has yet to release a cost estimate for Trump's proposed Space Force.

Read more: What will Trump's Space Force cost? The Pentagon hasn't figured that out yet

"The process that we are going through is to put together a plan that we can carry forward for legislative proposal and what I would tell you is, there is no group think in the Pentagon," Shanahan said Wednesday at the Air Force Association's annual Air, Space and Cyber conference. "We are really wrestling with the how."

Defense Secretary James Mattis said in August that the Pentagon's cost estimate process is "underway now," speaking at his first press conference since Trump tasked the Pentagon to create the new sister service branch. Mattis said the U.S. cannot afford "complacency in any domain" and recognized cyberspace and outer space as war-fighting domains on par with land, air and sea.

"We have worked with Congress and the White House to define the evolving space problem that we confront. Now we are implementing the National Defense Authorization Act and its provision for a unified space command in line with the president's vision for a needed Space Force," Mattis said.

He added that the Pentagon looks to Congress for the necessary legislation in creating the sixth branch.

Read more: Trump's space force won't work, a former Air Force secretary says

This new sister service branch would stand alongside the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, with a force of about 13,000 people. Wilson expects a debate over the details of establishing Space Force to take "over the next six to eight months."

Pushback continues to build against the idea of a Space Force, with the Air Force Association, or AFA, being the latest to disparage the proposal.

"To split up the well-integrated set of air and space capabilities that have been organized to seamlessly contribute to America's military capabilities would result in more harm than good," the AFA said in a statement on Monday.

Wilson, meanwhile, told reporters on Tuesday that the $13 billion estimate "is a conservative number."

"The proposal that the Air Force circulated to other elements of the Defense Department on Friday was actually tasked to us by the group that is trying to develop concepts to implement the President's vision," Wilson said.

But Wilson also said the Air Force, which executes "about 90 percent" of U.S. military operations related to space, does not "have to wait" to be the strongest force in outer space.Accused rapist Grant William Robicheaux of Newport Beach, Calif., is pictured in an undated handout from the Orange County District Attorney.

In his 2014 appearance on Bravo's now-canceled show, "Online Dating Rituals of the American Male", Robicheaux charmed his way through three dates.

At this point, none of the victims are believed to be his patients, but the D.A.'s office carefully laid out the places Robicheaux has traveled over the past several years in hopes of jogging the memories of others who may have been victims too.

"I want to know what's wrong with you", the woman told Robicheaux over dinner, "because you seem, like, too ideal".

Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas announced charges Tuesday against 38-year-old orthopedic surgeon Grant W. Robicheaux of Newport Beach and 31-year-old Cerissa Laura Riley of Brea.

A doctor who appeared on Bravo reality show Online Dating Rituals of the American Male has been accused of teaming up with a woman believed to be his girlfriend, to drug, sexually assault and rape women.

The pair allegedly gave the victim multiple drugs and then sexually assaulted her while she was incapable of resisting. Rackauckas said investigators recovered more than 1,000 videos of the alleged assaults and some of the women seen in the videos have not been identified. Numerous videos also included Riley, he said. Attorneys for the both defendants have denied the allegations.

Newport Beach police didn't submit the cases to the OCDA until September 6, however.

Robicheaux had two assault rifles unlawfully and while he had licences for two other guns as well as several large capacity magazines, his charges are enhanced for possessing a firearm during a health and safety code violation, says the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

"We've all heard of a wolf dressed up in sheep's clothing".

Mr Rackauckas said potential victims of the pair should not be ashamed to come forward.

In one of the two known cases, the pair allegedly met with a woman at a bar in April 2016 and invited her to a boat party in Newport Beach. The other victim said she became intoxicated and passed out at a bar on October 2, 2016, and was taken to Robicheaux's apartment, where she was assaulted, the district attorney said.

The woman contacted police the next day. They are accused of drinking alcohol with a second woman at a Newport Beach bar until the alleged victim was no longer conscious. The district attorney's office said the victim awakened and screamed for help until a neighbour called police, who began an investigation. "Based on this evidence, we believe there may be many unidentified victims out there".

The investigation into the couple didn't have a breakthrough until January 2018, when police had enough evidence to execute a search warrant on Robicheaux's apartment.

The drugs they are accused of using include Ecstasy, date rape drugs and cocaine, Rackauckas said.

The defendants, who were released on US$100,000 bail, could not be immediately reached for comment. Attorneys for Robicheaux and Riley say their clients "have been aware of these accusations for a number of months" and they unequivocally deny "all allegations of non-consensual sex".

"Dr Robicheaux and Ms Riley believe that such allegations do a disservice to, and dangerously undermine, the true victims of sexual assault, and they are eager to have the proper spotlight shed on this case in a public trial", they added.

Some videos show women who "appear to be highly intoxicated beyond the ability to consent or resist, and they're barely responsive to the defendant's sexual advances". She feels more intoxicated by the drinks than would ordinarily be expected.Anita Hill, who in 1991 accused then-Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment, criticized the Senate Judiciary Committee for rushing its response to a sexual assault allegation against President Donald Trump's latest pick for the high court, Brett Kavanaugh.

College professor Christine Blasey Ford, 51, accused Kavanaugh, 53, of sexual assault while highly intoxicated at a gathering decades earlier when they were both in high school. Kavanaugh strongly denies the allegation, and said he is willing to testify before senators.

Lawyer Debra Katz, who had initially signaled Ford's willingness to do the same, said Tuesday night that Ford wants an FBI investigation to be completed ahead of an appearance before the Senate committee.

"Absolutely it's the right move" for Ford to request a federal probe, Hill said Wednesday on ABC News' "Good Morning America."

"All of this is really something that I don't think can be avoided if you really want to get to the truth, if that's the purpose of this hearing," Hill added.

Hill had alleged Thomas sexually harassed her in the early 1980s, years before he was nominated for the Supreme Court by President George H.W. Bush. She said Thomas discussed pornography and other lascivious subjects around her and repeatedly asked her out, despite her refusals.

Thomas denied the allegations, and famously called the proceedings themselves "a high-tech lynching for uppity blacks who in any way deign to think for themselves, to do for themselves, to have different ideas."

Hill's accusation came to light only after Thomas' initial confirmation hearing  one of the many parallels between her experience and the ongoing controversy between Kavanaugh and Ford.

The timing of the revelation  weeks after Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., received a letter from Ford detailing the allegation and requesting anonymity  quickly became a sticking point among Republicans, who suggested the allegation was lodged late in the proceedings for purely political purposes.

"If Democrats reject the committee handling this swiftly and in a bipartisan way through regular order, then it's clear that their only intention is to smear Judge Kavanaugh and derail his nomination," Texas Sen. John Cornyn said.

Trump weighed in on Monday, saying "This is something that should've been brought up long before this."

Hill said the doubts about Ford's story, including that she may simply be "mixed up" and has mistaken her attacker for Kavanaugh, are "not for a layperson to determine."

"That's why you have investigators who are experienced in these situations," Hill said.

Hill said her advice would be "to push the pause button" until a hearing can be put together that is "not biased by politics or men"  an apparent reference to the all-male Republican majority on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

"Moving forward on this at this pace, with this kind of black hole of a process being foreseen by many of us, we are really under the impression that the Senate doesn't take this seriously," Hill said.Tim Cook, Chief Executive Officer of Apple, speaks as President Donald Trump listens during an American Technology Council roundtable in the State Dinning Room of the White House, Monday, June 19, 2017, in Washington.

Apple has been more successful than others in Silicon Valley in avoiding policy blowbacks from President Donald Trump and lawmakers, according to Roger McNamee, an early investor in Google and Facebook.

The longtime venture capitalist spoke after word that some of Apple's best-known products, including its watch and wireless headphones, would not be affected by the Trump administration's latest round of tariffs on Chinese imports.

According to the Washington Post, Apple CEO Tim Cook had personally lobbied Trump against adopting tariffs that would threaten to increase prices on those items.

But Apple's ability to navigate Washington politics does not stop there, McNamee said told CNBC on Wednesday.

"Apple is really differentiating itself on privacy right now and protecting its customers from an increasingly hostile digital environment," said the managing director at Elevation Partners.

McNamee cited privacy improvements that Apple has made to its payment software, maps, and facial recognition.

However, apparent disregard for consumers' privacy is something that has gotten Apple's peers in trouble on Capitol Hill, McNamee said.

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg spoke with lawmakers earlier this month on social media's role in protecting elections from misinformation and disinformation.

No one from Google attended. The Alphabet unit was sharply criticized for not sending a C-suite executive.

Apple "hasn't trumpeted that story [privacy] as aggressively as I would if I were in their shoes," McNamee said.

But while Apple has avoided push back from Washington, the tech giant still may be at risk, he added.

Amid trade tensions between the U.S. and China, Apple could be vulnerable to nontariff related actions by China, said McNamee without elaborating.There is a new mania infecting the stock market: pot stocks.

Cannabis-related names are soaring as companies and investors are clamoring to get exposure to the burgeoning marijuana-legalization trend. But many veteran traders and investors are cautious on buying pot stocks after the sector's surge, saying the frenzy is reminiscent of previous bubbles.

In June, Canada announced it will legalize recreational marijuana use effective Oct. 17, sparking a series of industry moves. Soon after Canadian marijuana producer Tilray filed for an initial public offering, which occurred in July.

In August, Molson Coors said it will partner with The Hydropothecary Corp. to develop cannabis-infused beverages for the Canadian market. Later that month beer maker Constellation Brands invested an additional $4 billion in Canadian-cannabis producer Canopy Growth.

As a result of the news, pot stocks are soaring. Canopy Growth's stock has more than doubled this year.

Tilray shares are doing even better and have become the poster child of the pot stock frenzy.

The marijuana producer's shares are up more than 800 percent since its first day of trading after its July IPO and rose nearly 600 percent in the past month. The stock rallied as much as 94 percent Wednesday, a day after its CEO, Brendan Kennedy, told CNBC's Jim Cramer that pharmaceutical companies should partner with cannabis producers as a "hedge" against the space. Tilray shares later pared its gains and closed up 38 percent for the trading session after multiple volatility halts.Republican Rep. Chris Collins will restart his congressional campaign as he fights federal insider trading charges, the lawmaker said Wednesday.

State Republicans tried to replace the representative on the ballot after he was indicted last month. But on Monday, Collins' attorney said the Republican would stay on the ballot "because of the protracted and uncertain nature of any legal effort" to replace him.

Collins himself took it further. In a statement Wednesday, the lawmaker said he would start to "actively campaign" after suspending his campaign in August. He also committed to serving another term if he gets re-elected.

"I will fight on two fronts. I will work to ensure the 27th Congressional District remains in Republican hands, while I fight to clear my good name in the courts," said Collins, who was President Donald Trump's earliest supporter in Congress.

Collins tweet

The representative will face Democratic candidate Nate McMurray in November. Collins' 27th District seat was seen as safe for Republicans, but prognosticators consider it more competitive with an indicted Collins on the ballot.

Prosecutors allege Collins, while serving on the board of Australian company Innate Immunotherapeutics, tipped his son about a failed drug trail before it was announced. His son then sold off his shares, prosecutors say.

The GOP representative has pleaded not guilty to the charges.The Chinese head of one of the world's most iconic brands has doled out some advice to President Donald Trump on defusing his trade spat with President Xi Jinping: Make like Chinese businessmen and exchange WeChat accounts.

Coca-Cola's president for Greater China and Korea, Curtis Ferguson, said Wednesday that Trump should adapt his leadership style more to the Chinese model and use the messaging app to initiate talks on ending the dispute.

"As all business is done in China, I'd probably suggest they exchange WeChat accounts and get on with this thing," Curtis Ferguson told CNBC's Akiko Fujita and Martin Soong at the World Economic Forum in Tianjin, China.

Trump said Monday that he would be open to direct discussions with the Chinese Premier, whom he "respects," while simultaneously announcing new tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports. Beijing retaliated in short order, slapping duties on $60 billion worth of American goods.

Those hikes spell bad news for all businesses, Ferguson said. Though he said the soft drink maker has not yet felt a direct effect from the levies, apart from in rising commodity prices.

He also said he hopes the company will be spared from anticipated boycotts of U.S. products by Chinese consumers, as it is increasingly seen as a "local brand."Thomas Borgen, resigned CEO of Danske Bank before the press conference about the money laundering scandal in the bank in Tivoli Congress Center in Copenhagen, Denmark September 19, 2018.

Danske Bank's chief executive Thomas Borgen quit on Wednesday in a money laundering scandal which involved 200 billion euros ($234 billion) flowing through its Estonian branch between 2007 and 2015, most of which was suspicious.

"It is clear that Danske Bank has failed to live up to its responsibility in the case of possible money laundering in Estonia. I deeply regret this," Borgen said in a statement which detailed failings in compliance, communication and controls.

Regulators and the financial community will scrutinise the Danske Bank report, which follows calls by Brussels for a new European Union watchdog to crack down on financial crime after a series of scandals involving anti-money laundering controls.

Dutch bank ING this month admitted criminals had been able to launder money through its accounts and agreed to pay 775 million euros ($900 million) to settle the case.

A third of Danske Bank's stock market value has been wiped out in the last six months, mainly driven by concerns over a possible inquiry by U.S. authorities and the penalties this could entail.

Danske Bank said its investigation into the affair concluded that Borgen, Chairman Ole Andersen and the board of directors "did not breach their legal obligations towards Danske Bank."

While Danske said it was not able to provide an accurate estimate of the suspicious transactions through its Estonian branch, it said the non-resident portfolio included customers from Russia, Azerbeijan, Ukraine and other ex-Soviet states.

The report found that Danske Bank failed to take proper action in 2007 when it was criticised by the Estonian regulator and received information from its Danish counterpart that pointed to "criminal activity in its pure form, including money laundering" estimated at "billions of roubles monthly".

And when a whistleblower raised problems at the Estonian branch in early 2014 the allegations were not properly investigated and were not shared with the board, Danske said.

While it took measures to get its Estonian business under control in 2014, these were insufficient, the report said.

Danske Bank also said it had decided not to migrate its Baltic banking activities onto its IT platform, because it would be too expensive. Accordingly, the Estonian branch did not employ Danske's anti-money laundering procedures.

U.S. authorities earlier this year accused Latvia's ABLV of covering up money laundering and the bank was promptly denied U.S. dollar funding, leading to its collapse.

While Danske does not have a banking licence in the United States, banning U.S. correspondent banks from dealing with it would amount to shutting it out of the global financial network.

The bank, whose shares fell as much as 5 percent following the release of the report, also lowered its expectations for annual net profit to 16-17 billion Danish crowns, from a previous range of 18-20 billion.Thomas Borgen, chief executive officer of Danske Bank A/S, pauses during a news conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018. Borgen will step down amid allegations his bank was at the center of a major European money laundering scandal with as much as $234 billion flowing through a tiny unit in Estonia.

The popularity of Scandi noir rests on the contrast between the banal surface of Nordic societies and the nefarious activities underneath. An internal report into potential money laundering through Denmark's largest bank by assets  accompanied by the immediate resignation of appropriately named chief executive Thomas Borgen  has provided the latest must-watch installment. Danske Bank's problem is that further unpleasant plot twists lie ahead.

Danske's long-awaited report is, as predicted, damning. The 200 billion euros of payments that flowed through its Estonia subsidiary between 2007 and 2015 are even bigger than feared. "A large part" of the 6,200 customers that have so far been examined are classified as suspicious  meaning they displayed obvious red flags such as sharing addresses with other entities regarded as suspect, or suddenly yielded unexplained large payments.

Context News



Danske Bank said on Sept. 19 that Chief Executive Thomas Borgen has resigned due to a scandal related to past potential money laundering through its Estonian branch. He will continue in his job until a replacement is found, the bank said. "It is clear that Danske Bank has failed to live up to its responsibility in the case of possible money laundering in Estonia. I deeply regret this," Borgen said in a statement released by the bank. The bank also lowered its expectations for annual net profit to 16 billion-17 billion Danish crowns from 18 billion-20 billion Danish crowns. An internal probe identified 200 billion euros in payments made through its Estonia subsidiary from 2007-2015, a "large part" of which were suspicious and an unknown number of which constituted money laundering, the bank said. Danske shares fell by 4.43 percent to 167.10 Danish crowns by 0800 GMT on Sept. 19.

Danske will struggle to convince anyone it was completely oblivious. Warning lights on its Estonian branch, which it had acquired by taking over Finland's Sampo Bank, were flashed by the local regulator and even the Russian central bank as far back as 2007. Plans to migrate the Baltic banking activities onto Danske's main IT systems were binned as too expensive  even though the dodgy "non-resident portfolio" often generated over two-thirds of the Estonian division's annual pre-tax profit and in 2011 Estonia generated 10 percent of overall group pre-tax profit. Over a fifth of incoming funds were from Russia.

Danske's main problem now is that with a good portion of the suspicious payments made in dollars, it is virtually guaranteed aggressive pushback from the United States. Worse, it can't be sure how bad the problem really is. In the most extreme scenario, assuming all the transactions were laundered funds and scaling fines imposed on Deutsche Bank and BNP Paribas proportionately, the fine could hit 53 billion Danish crowns ($8.3 billion), analysts at Jyske Bank reckon. But that assumed the number of dodgy transactions amounted to around $150 billion rather than $230 billion.

Danske has one thing bang on. Unlike BNP Paribas, whose chair Baudouin Prot only left after it had swallowed a $9 billion U.S. fine for sanctions-busting, heads have rolled pre-emptively. Even so, as head of international banking activities before stepping up to CEO in 2013, Borgen would have had to go anyway. Danske should ready itself for a nasty denouement.

More from Breakingviews:

Elliott flexes its two biggest muscles at Sempra

Investors can ignore glimmers of China trade hope

UK $2 bln fintech star risks public-market curse

Commentary by Christopher Thompson, a Breaking Columnist at Breakingviews. Follow him on Twitter @CGAThompson.

For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion on Twitter.China's President Xi Jinping shakes hands with U.S. President Donald Trump (L) during a business leaders event at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Nov. 9, 2017.

American farmers have already been hurt by retaliatory tariffs from the U.S.-China trade war, and the ratcheting of tensions once again is unfortunate and comes at a bad time, according to Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig.

"As we head into the 2018 harvest season for corn and soybean out here in Iowa, this escalation of the trade conflict really couldn't come at a worse time," Naig said in an interview Tuesday on CNBC's "Closing Bell."

On Monday, the Trump administration escalated the trade tussle with China by announcing tariffs of 10 percent on some $200 billion of Chinese goods. Those duties will jump to 25 percent on Jan. 1.

Beijing responded by imposing levies of between 5 percent and 10 percent on $60 billion worth of U.S. products effective Sept. 24. The new tariffs from China are on about 5,200 products and include cocoa powder and frozen vegetables as well as chemical products and certain aircraft, according to China's Finance Ministry.

China previously slapped tariffs on U.S. soybeans, corn, wheat, sorghum and fresh fruit as well as nuts and certain dairy products. Beijing also has placed hefty import taxes on American pork products which now exceed 70 percent.

"It is impacting our markets and that's impacting our farmers," said Naig, a Republican. "Our farmers understand that there are issues that need to be resolved, particularly with China. But there is no doubt that the retaliatory tariffs are impacting our marketplace and that's impacting our producers negatively."

There's also concern China could slap additional tariffs on agricultural and food products previously targeted with import taxes.

Naig was asked if the impact of the trade war could hurt Republicans in the approaching midterm elections or erode support for President Donald Trump. "There's a lot that goes into that," he responded.

"Issues that ultimately impact the economics of Iowa and impact farmers' pocketbooks will impact the politics. But it's not as simple as just this one issue," he said.

Naig added, "Farmers are encouraged by the tax reform. They are encouraged by progress on regulatory relief, and so there's more to it than just the trade picture. But it's an important issue that absolutely will impact their pocketbooks."

Nearly $20 billion in U.S. agricultural exports went to China last year, with more than half of that amount coming from soybeans. The U.S. sold approximately 33 million tons of soybeans in 2017 to China, or just over a third of the beans imported by the Asian country.

The Iowa state official estimated that, with one-third of Iowa's soybeans going to China, that market would be significantly hurt.

Iowa is also a major producer of pork, with about a third of the nation's pigs raised in the state. Exports of pork from Iowa last year totaled more than $1.1 billion.

Despite the damage from China's tit-for-tat tariffs, Naig said there was still optimism on the trade front with progress reached with Mexico. Canada and Mexico have been in talks with the U.S. about overhauling the 24-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement.

"Folks appreciate the fact that we seem to be making some progress here with NAFTA," said Naig, who noted that Canada and Mexico are Iowa's top-two trading partners, so that development would be good news.

The Trump administration is moving forward with an agreement with Mexico and is open to having Canada join a deal. "If they don't, we'll simply go ahead with Mexico," Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said Tuesday in an interview on CNBC's "Squawk Box."

Naig added he hoped that momentum on NAFTA can be carried over to China and ultimately result in expanding trade opportunities to other markets, particularly countries in the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact. With Trump pulling the U.S. out of the TPP to fulfill one of his campaign promises, the remaining 11 countries have now signed a new agreement.

"Re-engaging with some countries and expanding markets that were involved in the TPP agreement  Japan, Vietnam, South Korea  those would all be positive things too," Naig said.TIANJIN, China  The World Economic Forum is looking to China for ideas on how governments can appropriately regulate the technologies of the future.

The organization, which runs the annual conference of world leaders in Davos, Switzerland, announced Wednesday it is launching a hub in Beijing for government officials, businesses and academics to come up with suggestions for future policies on developments such as artificial intelligence.

The group in the communist country will mark the third location of the Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which opened in San Francisco in March 2017. A location in Tokyo launched in July, and another is due to open in Mumbai, India, in October. Areas of focus include blockchain, internet of things technology, and artificial intelligence.

"We can't use 20th century models for 21st century technology," Murat Sonmez, head of the organization's Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, said in an interview with CNBC.

"We have a lot to learn from China as well," he said. "China represents a huge opportunity for the rest of the world to see what's coming."

While China is one of the most controlling states in the world, the national government has let some sectors such as internet companies thrive relatively unrestricted. In addition, under a "Made in China 2025" plan, Chinese authorities are investing heavily in technologies such as artificial intelligence in a bid to become a world leader in advanced tech.

A list of those who will participate in the Beijing hub was not immediately available because the group is still in early stages of development. Two Chinese companies are already involved with the center's San Francisco hub: telecom giant Huawei and drone maker DJI.

Sonmez said he hopes the hubs can complete several pilot programs within 18 months to help form guidelines for future policies, such as data privacy, liability for algorithm-generated actions and cross-border data flows.

"There's a potential if you do not have flexible regulation, all these investments will not lead to [a] desired outcome," he said.When an all-male panel of senators grilled Anita Hill in October 1991 about her accusations of sexual misconduct against then-Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas, the Senate so disproportionately favored men, it lacked even a women's restroom.

The spectacle sent women to the polls in record numbers the following year, dubbed "The Year of the Woman," with 6 million more turning out than in 1988. Voters tripled the number of women in the Senate and sent a record 24 non-incumbent women to the House of Representatives.

Nearly three decades later, the women in the Senate have a place to go to the bathroom, but not everything has changed. With lawmakers gearing up to question President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and possibly his accuser Christine Blasey Ford about a decades-old allegation of attempted rape on Monday, it'll still be all men on the Republican side of the Judiciary Committee. Kavanaugh has categorically denied the accusation.

But unlike in 1991, voters won't have to wait a year to go to the polls this time around. With the November midterms just weeks away and a nationwide #MeToo movement fueling record numbers of women candidates in both the House and the Senate, experts are saying another Year of the Woman may be in full swing.

And it could be dangerous for Republicans.

"It is the Year of the Woman, and they nominated none," said Celinda Lake, a Democratic pollster and the president of Lake Research Partners. "The single biggest mistake that the Republican Party made was not nominating more women."

More women than ever are running for Congress this cycle, and the dramatic increase comes mainly from one party. More than 200 of the 262 women running for House and Senate seats this cycle are Democrats, according to data compiled by the Center for American Women and Politics.White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders confirmed the move, saying the Commander-in-Chief instructed the DOJ and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to release the material "at the request of a number of committees of Congress and for reasons of transparency".

The President on Monday directed the DOJ and the ODNI to initiate the "immediate declassification" of selective portions of a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act application on former Trump foreign policy campaign aide Carter Page, as well as "all Federal Bureau of Investigation reports of interviews" prepared in connection with the FISA applications, which are normally closely guarded by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The FBI earlier released 412 heavily redacted pages of surveillance applications and court orders related to Page.

Trump commented on the investigation on Twitter on Monday, citing a Fox News report about Page's testimony that there was no evidence of collusion before the Mueller appointment.

Democrats say that Trump and his allies are politicising a law enforcement investigation in order to protect the White House.

But leading Democrats on the Senate and House Intelligence Committees panned Trump's decision to declassify "selective" pieces of information that, without broader context, could undermine public faith in the ongoing special counsel investigation into the 2016 Trump campaign's possible ties to Russian Federation and whether the president has obstructed that investigation. "Big stuff!" Trump tweeted this morning.

He also commanded the department to release the investigation-related text messages of former Justice Department and FBI officials who he has frequently criticized: former FBI director James Comey, former deputy director Andrew McCabe, former FBI lawyer Lisa Page, former FBI counterintelligence agent Peter Strzok and former Justice Department official Bruce Ohr.

Questions also continue to swirl around the FBI's alleged abuse of the FISA court to obtain multiple warrants on Page. Ohr had conversations with the author of a controversial dossier that claims the Trump campaign had ties to Russian Federation.

It's not yet clear when and how the declassified documents and texts will be released. Gaetz, who sits on the House Judiciary Committee, added that he looks "forward to the forthcoming release of these documents, and reviewing them closely".

"As long as he tells the truth, it's 100 percent", Trump said, before departing the White House to visit storm-ravaged North and SC.

"Americans deserve the truth about these egregious actions by government officials", Representative Scalise said.

"They're having a more hard time working with the public because the public has lost trust in the FBI", Ringel said.

Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland and Rep. Jerrold Nadler of NY, the ranking Democrats on the House Oversight and Judiciary committees, said in a statement that Trump's actions were a "direct and frantic response" to Manafort's recent guilty plea and cooperation agreement with Mueller.GOP Rep. Kevin Brady called out Canada on Wednesday, saying Ottawa will have to "step up it up" because Washington will not move its deadline for a new trade deal.

The House Ways and Means Committee chairman said he's optimistic Canada and the U.S. can reach a new agreement before the U.S.-imposed deadline of Oct. 1.

Last month, President Donald Trump announced a new U.S.-Mexico free trade pact.

Trump would be "totally happy" if Canada were to get on board and make the deal trilateral, like the one it's replacing, the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross told CNBC on Tuesday.

The president wants the text of any agreement that includes Canada by that deadline, so outgoing Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto can sign it before he leaves office.

"They're in the end zone," the Texas Republican said Wednesday on "Squawk Box," just hours before the two nations were set to resume negotiations.

Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland is set to hold fresh talks on NAFTA with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer in Washington.

However, Canadian officials have said they won't be rushed, given the size of the obstacles.

Brady said it's not unusual for the president to pick a fight with Canada, saying the trade partner even "dragged its feet" during the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations under the Obama administration.

Trump withdrew the U.S. from the TPP.Tech darlings such as Chinese mobile phone maker Xiaomi might have seen weak investor interest in Hong Kong lately, but they don't appear be motivated by high stock valuations anyway, said Charles Li, the CEO of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX).

Many of these rising companies are cash rich and maintaining top positions in their respective industries is more important to them, Li told CNBC at the World Economic Forum on Wednesday.

"They do seem to have strong confidence in their underlying ... businesses," Li said. "A lot of these major competitive new economy spaces, you really need to be number one, number two, at worst number three, to survive. And so maintaining that leadership position is very important."

Still, he sees such companies heading for public listing despite the market "not pricing them at the top."

"So whether capital markets give you a great valuation or not, seems to be not necessarily the primary driver of a lot of those listings," he added.

Hong Kong has seen a pickup in interest for listings following a market rally early this year and after the exchange introduced new rules designed to attract tech companies by allowing dual-class share structures.

But the benchmark Hang Seng index has fallen about 18 percent since its January peak amid U.S.-China trade tensions, and several recent listings  such as Xiaomi's  have dropped below their IPO prices.

Xiaomi had a disappointing initial public offering in Hong Kong in July. Experts had said it could be a reflection of lackluster investor interest for "new economy" type of Chinese companies, as well as disappointing valuations in the East Asian finance hub.

Sentiment surrounding Chinese companies with global ambitions has also been hurt by the escalating U.S.-China trade tensions, they say.

Among the Chinese tech companies seeking to file (or that have already filed) IPOs in Hong Kong this year are: Meituan Dianping, an online platform with services from food delivery to ticketing; Bitmain, bitcoin mining equipment maker; and Maoyan Weying, Chinese movie ticketing platform.

But Li stressed that the up and coming companies are not that affected by "marginal" market movements. Rather, those who are not listing have other business considerations, such as regulatory concerns or other strategic factors.

"Those who do choose to come, deeper conversations with them give me strong confidence that the market seems to be secondary  in driving their decisions on timing," he reiterated. "People don't seem to be bothered by the fact that they are not raising as much money as they can."

"These companies are really major rising stories. This incremental capital  the marginal up and down, does not really impact that much."

 CNBC's Kelly Olsen and Reuters contributed to this article.The recent selloff in emerging markets has been overblown, and there are opportunities now for investors, according to the chief executive of J.P. Morgan Chase's China business. Mark Leung, who spoke to CNBC at the World Economic Forum on Wednesday, said that investors should consider China, in particular. "We think the sell-off has been overdone, and if you look at the positioning and also the fundamentals side, we think there are reasons to start going into emerging markets for the medium and long term. China is a big piece." In the past few weeks, economic troubles have hit Turkey and Argentina, leading to a selloff in emerging currencies including in Asia. Some emerging-market stock indexes have also seen steep declines. Asia's biggest economy has been accelerating the opening of its financial sector, Leung said, with key developments such as setting up a Shanghai-London stock exchange trading link, and a new settlement system for the bond investment scheme connecting the mainland to Hong Kong.

A more open financial sector?

Beijing has claimed it wants to open its financial sector to more foreign investment by the end of 2018 and will allow foreign firms to compete on an equal footing with domestic firms in the sector. China has a long history of protecting its home-grown industries and tightly limiting foreign ownership of domestic firms. Leung said that in the first half of this year, China has seen $43 billion of inflows from foreign investors, thanks partly to the inclusion of China A shares  stocks of mainland companies that trade on the Shanghai and Shenzhen exchanges  in global and regional indexes by index giant MSCI. Among risks for investors, Leung said it would be a concern if China were to respond to the U.S. trade war in either of two ways: weakening the yuan or selling off its U.S. Treasury holdings. "The concern here is actually uncertainty, so I think for investors globally, especially in (China), when you look at the stock market with so much retail participation, it's most important ... for the country to instill stability and confidence," he said. "So I do not believe a drastic, volatile environment is good for China," he said. "So we hope to see more supportive measures from the government from a fiscal standpoint." Leung said Chinese liberalization of the financial sector is a "critical element" of J.P. Morgan's growth strategy. The bank's plans in China include submitting an application to set up a fully integrated securities business, he said, adding that J.P. Morgan hopes to "increase it to a fully-owned status upon regulatory approval." The company is also increasing its joint venture stake in its asset management arm to a majority and doubling its research coverage in the country, he added.Iran's once optimistic tourism industry has been left in disarray following the reintroduction of U.S. sanctions against Tehran in early August.

The move by President Donald Trump has led to tourists shying away from Iran, while locals are not spending their money either, both of which have had a negative effect on the country's economy.

Local businessman Jalal Rashedi, who owns six hostels, is doubtful that Iran will be able to attract overseas visitors and investors anytime soon.

"(We are) simply preparing for the dark storm clouds looming in the horizon," he told CNBC. "And they are coming, if you ask me. They come with the winter clouds."

Things were very different when the U.S., the U.K., France, China, Russia and Germany signed a nuclear accord with Iran in 2015. The agreement, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), saw international sanctions on Iran lifted in exchange for the country curbing its nuclear program.

The move brought Iran back into the international fold and resulted in a boom in tourism  $3.2 billion in 2014, $3.3 billion in 2015, $3.5 billion in 2016, before dropping to $2.8 billion in 2017, according to the World Tourism and Travel Council (WTTC)  with the widespread construction of new hotels and the refurbishment of existing ones. Tehran worked to boost this burgeoning tourism sector with a large injection of capital and setup a ministry of tourism.

This reintegration into the global community saw companies like French hotel giant Accor move into Iran. Accor opened an Ibis and a Novotel hotel in Tehran in 2015, becoming the first international hotel chain in the country since the Iranian Revolution in the late 1970s. Now that the JCPOA has seemingly fallen apart, Accor declined to comment on whether its hotels would stay open despite Washington's sanctions, or if its outlook on the country had changed.

Despite government efforts to limit the fallout from Trump's decision, economic uncertainty is widespread.

In August, British Airways and Air France followed KLM in announcing an end to direct flights to Tehran, citing a lack of interest in the route. Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines and Alitalia are the only European airlines still flying to Iran.

Alireza Miryousefi, spokesman for Iran's United Nations mission, told CNBC. he believed that "that other airlines, such as Iran Air, can fill the void."Attorney General Jeff Sessions blamed a number of activist groups on Wednesday for a rise in violent crime in Chicago, saying that "if you want more shootings, more death, then listen to the ACLU, Antifa, Black Lives Matter, and groups who do not know the reality of policing."

"If you want public safety, then listen to the police professionals who have been intensely studying this for decades," the former Alabama senator said.

The dramatic comments came as President Donald Trump ratcheted up his criticism of Sessions. "I don't have an attorney general," Trump told The Hill in an interview published earlier Wednesday. But Sessions, an early supporter of the president, largely shares Trump's hard-line views on crime and is considered one of the most effective members of the president's Cabinet.

Sessions spoke Wednesday during a gathering of state and local law enforcement officials in Illinois. His statement about the activist groups echoed a dubious claim that Sessions has made in the past about a consent decree entered into by the ACLU and the Chicago Police Department, which went into effect in 2016, that required increased review of the department's stop-and-frisk policy.

Citing a 2018 study by two researchers at the University of Utah, Sessions said Wednesday that the ACLU consent decree "allowed this bloodshed to take place."

While the homicide rate in Chicago did spike in 2016, Sessions' claim that it was caused by the consent decree has been largely debunked by fact checkers.

Sessions cited the same study in May, when he told police officers that "if you want crime to go up, let the ACLU run the police department." The Washington Post Fact Checker at the time rated the claim mostly false, noting that after agreements similar to the ACLU consent decree were reached in other cities  the Post cites Newark, New Jersey; Philadelphia, and Seattle  homicide rates actually fell in subsequent years.

"Attorney General Sessions essentially argues that police officers are too scared to do their jobs if they have oversight," Karen Sheley, ACLU of Illinois Police Practices Director, said in a statement.

The Department of Justice, which Sessions leads, found in 2017 that the reasons for the increase in violent crime in Chicago were "broadly debated and inarguably complex," and said that the Chicago Police Department had faced diminished effectiveness because of "systems that have allowed CPD officers who violate the law to escape accountability."

That 2017 report, which was spurred by the release of a video showing the fatal shooting of a black teenager, Laquan McDonald, by a white police officer, did not attribute the rise in the homicide rate to the consent decree.

The Department of Justice did not immediately respond to a request to elaborate on Sessions' remarks.Judge Brett Kavanaugh pauses while delivering his opening statement during his Supreme Court confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill, September 4, 2018 in Washington, DC.

Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who has accused President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault, said an FBI investigation should be "the first step" before she testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

However, Sen. Chuck Grassley, the Iowa Republican who chairs the panel, said Tuesday night there is no reason to delay the process any further. Grassley canceled Thursday's planned committee vote on Kavanaugh and scheduled a hearing on the allegations for Monday.

The latest developments escalated an already intense drama in the nation's capital, as Republicans, who had been on track to quickly confirm Kavanaugh with their thin 51-49 Senate majority and likely establish a conservative majority on the top court for decades to come. Ford's accusations against the federal appellate judge, however, have thrown the process into turmoil.

Republican senators still want to move the process along, but they have been hesitant to show any antipathy toward Kavanaugh's accuser. Trump has also been remarkably cautious in his comments about the situation. The president, who is known for scorched-earth tactics when he or someone in his circle stands accused of something, has continued to praise and back Kavanaugh, but he has also expressed a desire to hear out Ford, as well.

Yet Wednesday morning, Trump cast doubt on Ford's accusations, telling reporters that it is "very hard for me to imagine that anything happened."

Ford, a 51-year-old research psychologist who lives in California, came forward on Sunday and publicly accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault during an alleged drunken encounter when they were both teenagers more than three decades ago.

Kavanaugh has denied those allegations and said he was willing to testify before the Senate to "refute" accusations of sexual misconduct against him.

"An FBI investigation of the incident should be the first step in addressing her allegations," Ford's lawyers wrote in a letter to Grassley on Tuesday.

Ford "wants to cooperate," the attorneys said. However, the hearing is scheduled for Monday, "six short days from today and would include interrogation by Senators who appear to have made up their minds that she is 'mistaken' and 'mixed up.'"

Her "worst fears have materialized," Ford's lawyers said. "She has been the target of vicious harassment and even death threats."

"While Dr. Ford's life was being turned upside down, you and your staff scheduled a public hearing for her to testify at the same table as Judge Kavanaugh in front of two dozen U.S. Senators on national television to relive this traumatic and harrowing incident," Ford's lawyers said.

Grassley, in turn, expressed sympathy for Ford, but still persisted in seeking her testimony.

"Nobody should be subject to threats and intimidation, and Dr. Ford is no exception," Grassley said in a statement. "These are serious allegations and Dr. Ford deserves to be heard."

Republicans have focused their ire on Democrats as the accusations only came to light after Kavanaugh's confirmation hearings before the Judiciary Committee.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein received a letter from Ford in late July which alleged that Kavanaugh had drunkenly held Ford down on a bed and attempted to remove her clothes when they were in high school in the 1980s. Ford claimed that Kavanaugh's friend, Mark Judge, who was also in the room at that time, jumped on them.

Judge has also denied Ford's allegations.

"A full investigation by law enforcement officials will ensure that the crucial facts and witnesses in this matter are assessed in a non-partisan manner," Ford's lawyers wrote.

 CNBC's Kevin Breuninger contributed to this report.[The stream is slated to start at about 3:40 p.m. ET. Please refresh the page if you do not see a player above at that time.]

Jeff Bezos will deliver the keynote speech Wednesday of the 2018 Air, Space & Cyber conference, hosted by the Air Force Association (AFA) in Maryland.

The CEO of Amazon will talk about the space industry, as well as Blue Origin, the space venture he founded. While Bezos may be better known for building the e-commerce empire, his entrepreneurial work at Blue Origin is increasingly getting noticed. Bezos pours about $1 billion of his Amazon stock into Blue Origin each year and he's only expected to up that amount. Bezos has said publicly that Blue Origin is "the most important work" he's doing.

Blue Origin is headed quickly toward commercial operations as the company nears the end of testing for several of its major projects. Its BE-4 engine, the thunderous staple of Blue Origin's propulsion business, has demonstrated that it "works, and works well," CEO Bob Smith told CNBC in April.



The company also hopes to soon launch humans into space on its New Shepard rocket, which has flown nine times. New Shepard is being built to offer tourists a ride to space, bringing passengers in a capsule up past 350,000 feet, where they would spend about 10 minutes floating in zero gravity before returning back to Earth.

Bezos will be joined Wednesday by retired Gen. Larry Spencer, the president and CEO of the AFA.Shares of Canadian marijuana producer Tilray gave up a 90 percent one-day surge and turned negative briefly in a wild day of trading on Wednesday.

The stock, which was halted five times by the Nasdaq for volatility, still ended the day up 38 percent, its best day ever as a public company.

Its market cap jumped to nearly $28 billion before the paring the majority of its gains, at one point making it a bigger stock than 59 percent of the stocks in the S&P 500, a sign of just how big the hype has grown for pot-related plays on Wall Street.

It is now at least as large as 45 percent of the stocks that comprise the index. Tilray trading volume hit 30 million shares, tripling the stock's 30-day full-day average of 9.6 million shares. There are only 21 million shares of Tilray available for trading.

Nasdaq confirmed to CNBC the stock was paused according to predetermined rules on volatility. The wild trading continued after the market close with the shares down more than 11 percent after hours.

The gains were driven by bullish comments by CEO Brendan Kennedy, but traders said a so-called short squeeze played a hand in the big gains and wild trading.

Kennedy told CNBC's on Tuesday that the world's largest pharmaceutical companies must start thinking about partnering with cannabis producers as a "hedge" against the space.

"Cannabis is a substitute for prescription painkillers, prescription opioids, and so if you're an investor in a pharmaceutical company or you're a pharmaceutical company, you have to hedge the offset from cannabis substitution," the Tilray executive said Tuesday.

The chief executive argued that the same can be said for food and beverage companies. Aurora Cannabis has rallied 26 percent this week in Canadian trading after Canadian news service BNN Bloomberg reported Coca-Cola is in talks with Aurora to develop weed-infused beverages.British Prime Minister Theresa May. Sean Gallup | Getty Images

Prime Minister Theresa May received less than glowing praise for her Brexit plan on Wednesday, with top EU official Donald Tusk saying Britain must rework its proposals for Northern Ireland and trade. Hours before the British prime minister was due to try to sell her plan to the other European Union leaders, summit chairman Tusk repeated criticism of her proposals for future customs arrangements and for the border between the British province of Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland. May has shown little sign of backing away from her "Chequers" plan, and repeated her aims in a carefully placed article in a German newspaper on the eve of the two-day EU summit in Salzburg, Austria. But Tusk was clear - her customs proposals and those aimed at preventing a hard border on the island of Ireland would have to be reworked. Earlier, EU negotiator Michel Barnier signaled he was ready to address Britain's border concerns. "The Brexit negotiations are entering their decisive phase. Various scenarios are still possible today but I'd like to stress that some of Prime Minister May's proposals from Chequers indicated positive evolution in the UK's approach," Tusk told a news conference. "On other issues, such as the Irish question, or the framework for economic cooperation, the UK's proposals will need to be reworked and further negotiated."

Theresa May, U.K. prime minister, left, waves as she stands with Donald Tusk, president of the European Union (EU), outside number 10 Downing Street in London, on Thursday, April 6, 2017 Simon Dawson | Bloomberg | Getty Images

A British government source said London welcomed the EU's commitment to finding a solution to the border issue, but could not accept any proposal that would effectively move the customs frontier into the Irish Sea, separating Northern Ireland from the rest of the United Kingdom. With just over six months to go till Britain leaves the EU, time is pressing and both sides are keen to secure some kind of deal before the end of the year and ease concerns over a disorderly Brexit, which could push the economy into a downturn. Writing in Germany's Die Welt, May said the two sides were "near to achieving the orderly withdrawal that is an essential basis for building a close future partnership". "To come to a successful conclusion, just as the UK has evolved its position, the EU will need to do the same. "With goodwill and determination on both sides we can avoid a disorderly exit and find new ways of working together." At a summit dinner at the Felsenreitschule theatre -- known to film fans for a scene in the musical 'The Sound of Music' -- May will make another pitch for support for her Chequers plan, named after her country residence where a deal was hashed out with her ministers earlier this year. Then she will be out of the room on Thursday afternoon when the other 27 leaders discuss her Brexit proposals. Tusk said he would call an additional summit in mid-November to seal any deal with Britain. While both sides have been making positive noises, how to keep an open border between Northern Ireland and the Irish republic remains one of the biggest obstacles.Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, is reportedly facing a criminal probe by the Justice Department into Musk's Aug. 7 tweet about taking Tesla private. The investigation is just the latest piece of bad news for Tesla and Musk, who has faced growing criticism over his recent behavior.

But, at least Musk has Neil deGrasse Tyson on his side. The famed astrophysicist recently had some strong words for Musk's critics.

"Can they leave him alone?" Tyson asked in a recent interview with TMZ, posted on YouTube Sept. 12. Tyson was referring to the criticism that has been heaped upon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, after he was filmed drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana during a podcast interview with comedian Joe Rogan in early September.

"Let the man get high if he wants to get high," Tyson said to TMZ about Musk.

With regard to the regulatory investigation of Musk's tweet, however, the scientist Tyson noted that, as the CEO of a public company, Musk must be held accountable to federal financial laws. "He's got to obey the SEC, clearly  there's an accountability to the public trust," Tyson told TMZ.

Marijuana is legal in California, where Musk was filming the podcast, but critics said the incident was the latest example of erratic behavior from the billionaire. Tesla board members have reportedly expressed concerns in the past about Musk's use of recreational and prescription drugs, according to The New York Times. Now, as CNBC previously reported, Musk may have violated Tesla's business conduct policy by imbibing alcohol and marijuana while representing the company during the podcast.

Meanwhile, Musk has also made negative headlines recently by insulting a British cave diver who helped rescue boys trapped in a Thailand cave, and the CEO is also facing an SEC investigation into his August tweet suggesting he might take Tesla private.Though slow-moving Florence has moved into the USA northeast, allowing glimpses of sunlight in the waterlogged state, at least 16 rivers remained at a major flood stage with three others set to crest in the coming days, the state said.

At Fayetteville, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) inland, near the Army's sprawling Fort Bragg, the Cape Fear River had risen about 50 feet (15 meters) toward a crest predicted to be more than 25 feet (7 meters) above flood level.

"We, the people of North Carolina, will get through this", Cooper said. Authorities in Virginia said one person was dead after an apparent tornado.

It's too early to tell how many people will end up homeless because of Florence.

Experts say people likely got complacent about Florence because of a scale that only categorizes hurricanes by wind strength.

"This remains a significant disaster", North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said at a news conference.

As Florence was bearing down on the Carolinas last week, Trump reignited the controversy over his handling of Maria by disputing the official death toll of 2,975 in the USA territory, which was compiled by public health experts at George Washington University.

Residents in the nearby town of Conway worry that's going to send water from the rising Waccamaw River to flood their homes instead. That has hampered efforts to restore power, clear roads and allow residents to homes.

In South Carolina, just south of the North Carolina border, I-95 travels through especially low-lying swamp land, and over the Great Pee Dee and Little Pee Dee rivers.

The city of Wilmington, North Carolina remains largely cut off from the rest of the state.

Brandon Echavarrieta struggled to stay composed as he described life post-Florence: no power for days, rotted meat in the freezer, no water or food and just one bath in a week. Thousands are still in shelters there and the cleanup could take weeks, a full recovery much longer. Fire and rescue crews were waiting to go into many areas to assist with structural damage resulting from Florence, which has dumped up to 36 inches (91 cm) of rain in parts of North Carolina since Thursday.

Thousands of rescues have taken place in the Carolinas, and more than 650 people were taken to safety in and around Wilmington, North Carolina, said Barbi Baker, a spokeswoman for New Hanover County. Two Kinston men died during Florence: a 68-year-old electrocuted while trying to connect two extension cords in Florence's torrential rains to power a generator, and a 77-year-old blown to the ground when he went outside to check on his hunting dogs during the storm.

More than 324,000 customers, mostly in the Carolinas, were without power on Tuesday, according to power companies, down from a peak of almost 1 million outages. Further flooding could push up that figure.Guggenheim Securities said Netflix shares will go higher due to its rising international streaming business.

The firm raised its price target to $420 from $360 for Netflix shares, saying the company's locally produced content offerings will spur demand in India. Guggenheim Securities also reiterated its buy rating for the company.

"We believe that Netflix subscriber penetration will significantly exceed what is implied in the company's current valuation," Michael Morris said in a note to clients Wednesday. "We expect the 3Q launch of original local-market content in India, upgrades to user experience and consumer products development to support share appreciation."

Netflix shares declined 0.2 percent Wednesday.

Morris estimates there are about 78 million people in India's middle class today who can afford the company's service. He predicts Netflix will have 5.5 million subscribers in the country by 2020.

"We believe that India represents an under-appreciated long-term opportunity," he said. "We see improving broadband infrastructure and a growing population of upper-middle class smartphone users as an attractive addressable market."

In its second-quarter financial results reported in July, the company said it added 5.15 million memberships, missing the Wall Street consensus of 6.34 million. As a result, Netflix shares are down 6 percent since the end of June through Tuesday.Danish energy business Orsted has signed an agreement to sell 50 percent of the Hornsea 1 offshore wind farm to Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP).



The total sales price for the facility, which is located in the North Sea off the English coast, comes to around 4.46 billion ($5.88 billion), which is set to be paid between 2018 and 2020, Orsted said in a statement Tuesday.



Hornsea 1 is currently being built and is set to be the world's largest offshore wind farm when it's commissioned in 2020.



Made up of 174 Siemens Gamesa turbines, the project will have a total capacity of 1,218 megawatts (MW). This is enough to power over 1 million homes in the U.K., according to Orsted.



"This is our third partnership with GIP, and we are delighted to have one of the world's largest infrastructure funds as a partner, in what will be the world's largest offshore wind farm," Ole Kjems Sorensen, Orsted's executive vice president for M&A, partnerships and asset management, said in a statement.



Europe's total offshore wind capacity increased by 25 percent in 2017, according to WindEurope. Just over 3.1 gigawatts (GW) of new offshore wind was installed in Europe last year, with total capacity hitting almost 15.8 GW, according to the trade body.Procter & Gamble is discontinuing the use of badger hair in its high-end Art of Shaving products after PETA sounded alarms over the animals' brutal treatment at farms in mainland China.

P&G said its shaving subsidiary will immediately stop buying the hair and will sell off its existing inventory, which ranges in price from $30 for an entry-level brush to $250 for its Silvertip Engraved brush. It's also looking to develop alternatives to animal hair, P&G said in a statement. Most of the world's badger hair used in shaving, makeup and paint brushes originates from mainland China where the animal doesn't have the same protections as in North America and most of Europe.

"When PETA reached out to P&G about this report on the badger hair industry, we were very disturbed to learn of these terrible practices," the company said in a statement. "While we have no evidence that any of our suppliers are engaging in these types of methods, we believe we can play a role in helping to stop such practices."

P&G spokesman Scott Heid didn't say how the change may affect sales at its luxury men's grooming line.

People for Ethical Treatment of Animals filmed inside several badger-hair farms and brush-making factories in Shijiazhuang, China, between November 2017 and August 2018. The footage shows a worker beating a badger with a chair leg before slaughtering it for its fur. The badgers' small cages and lack of stimulation have led to injuries and stress, PETA said.

The animal rights groups said the Texas-based Art of Shaving agreed to switch to synthetic brushes as their current brushes become unusable and to collaborate with PETA to develop a synthetic brush.

"These commitments are in keeping with P&G's ongoing efforts to pursue non-animal alternatives," P&G said.

PETA is pressuring other companies to follow suit.North Korean leader Kim Jong-un guides a target-striking contest of the special operation forces of the Korean People's Army to occupy islands in Pyongyang on Aug. 25, 2017.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday that denuclearization negotiations with North Korea will be completed by January 2021.

The deadline reflects a commitment from North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, according to Pompeo.

The chief U.S. diplomat's statement came a day after South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korea's Kim met in Pyongyang to discuss the next steps in their peace process. It also marks the latest significant development in President Donald Trump's outreach to Kim following a much-hyped summit in Singapore earlier this year.

The Pentagon said it is continuing to back the State Department's efforts on North Korea.

"The Department of Defense remains in full support of our diplomats as they work to achieve the final, fully verified denuclearization of the DPRK as agreed to by Chairman Kim," U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Christopher Logan said in an emailed statement to CNBC.

The White House did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment.

While Trump has taken center stage along with Kim in the ongoing peace process, experts point to the effect South Korea's president has had on the negotiations.

"I think we can call the recent efforts by South Korea the Moon miracle," Harry Kazianis, director of defense studies at the Center for the National Interest, told CNBC.

"South Korea's president deserves tremendous credit for doing what looked like the impossible, as talks between the U.S. and North Korea were headed for a dead end. I think it is clear there is the possibility of a compromise and even another Trump-Kim summit, right before the midterms," he added.

Read Pompeo's full statement below:

On the Outcome of Summit Meeting between President Moon and Chairman Kim

The United States congratulates President Moon Jae-in and Chairman Kim Jong Un on the successful outcome of their summit meeting in Pyongyang. We welcome President Moon and Chairman Kim's reaffirmation of the Singapore joint statement of complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, including the permanent dismantlement of all facilities at Yongbyon in the presence of U.S. and IAEA inspectors. We also welcome Chairman Kim's decision to complete the previously announced dismantlement of the Tongchang-ri site in the presence of U.S. and international inspectors as a step toward the final fully verified denuclearization of North Korea, as agreed by Chairman Kim at the Singapore summit with President Trump. On the basis of these important commitments, the United States is prepared to engage immediately in negotiations to transform U.S.-DPRK relations. This morning, I invited my counterpart Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho to meet in New York City next week where we are both already scheduled to be in attendance at the United Nations General Assembly meeting. Likewise, we have invited North Korean representatives to meet our Special Representative for North Korea, Stephen Biegun, in Vienna, Austria at the earliest opportunity. This will mark the beginning of negotiations to transform U.S.-DPRK relations through the process of rapid denuclearization of North Korea, to be completed by January 2021, as committed by Chairman Kim, and to construct a lasting and stable peace regime on the Korean Peninsula.

The latest revelation comes a little more than three months after the reclusive leader from the North sat down for the first time with Trump to discuss denuclearization.

A month after the meeting, the top U.S. military commander on the Korean peninsula said that the material needed for North Korea to make nuclear bombs is still intact.Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro talks to the media after a meeting for signing an agreement on guarantees for the vote at the National Electoral Council (CNE) headquarters in Caracas, Venezuela March 2, 2018. Marco Bello | Reuters

As Nicolas Maduro's Venezuela keeps descending into lawlessness and chaos, President Donald Trump has publicly entertained the possibility of military intervention. So far, he hasn't acted. But now Trump faces mounting legal and political pressures approaching midterm elections that could make his problems worse. And Rahm Emanuel, the former top aide to President Barack Obama who is now Chicago's mayor, is publicly warning that the mercurial commander-in-chief may blow past the hesitation of national security advisors in search of a rally-around-the-flag political boost. He wants Congress to flash caution lights. "We have a phrase in this country: the October surprise," Emanuel, Obama's first White House chief of staff, told me in an interview. "I think in this situation he is looking to do anything and will do anything. "If you're going to take military action, lay out the case," added Emanuel, who previously advised President Bill Clinton and served in the House Democratic leadership. "The Senate should be asking serious questions now  not after the fact." A White House spokesman, Hogan Gidley, declined to comment.

Emanuel spoke following a New York Times report signaling U.S. interest in military action in response to the political and economic meltdown that has led more than 2 million Venezuelans to flee their country. The report said Trump administration representatives had participated in meetings with Venezuelan rebels about overthrowing Maduro, that nation's authoritarian leader. The administration ultimately declined to cooperate with the rebels. But it still hasn't ruled out U.S. intervention. As a senior advisor in the Clinton White House, Emanuel has been on the receiving end of the same kind of suspicion he now directs at Trump. In 1998, Republicans wondered aloud whether Clinton ordered air strikes against Afghanistan, Sudan and Iraq to divert attention from his affair with Monica Lewinsky and subsequent impeachment. Emanuel insisted the circumstances are not comparable because Clinton's orders were vetted and endorsed by his national security team. In August 2017, Trump told reporters he had a "military option" for dealing with Venezuela. The Associated Press subsequently reported that then-National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster and other aides argued against it on both practical and diplomatic grounds, noting the star-crossed history of U.S. intervention in Latin America. But Trump has made harsh attacks on Latino immigrants and warnings of more of them flooding across America's Southern border a core political message. One of his Senate Republican allies, Marco Rubio of Florida, has publicly embraced the idea of a coup. Asked about potential U.S. involvement in Venezuela last month, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders replied, "We're going to keep all options on the table."

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel speaks at a press conference where he addressed issues related to the city's murder rate and the city's Sanctuary City policy on January 25, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. Scott Olson | Getty ImagesSenate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-IA) answers reporters' questions during a news conference about Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill August 2, 2018 in Washington, DC. Republicans on the committee claim that Senate Democrats are attempting to slow or stall Kavanaugh's confirmation with demands to see emails and other records relating to Kavanaugh's time as staff secretary to former President George W. Bush.

In a letter to Ford's lawyers, first reported by NBC News on Wednesday, Grassley said that if Ford "intends to testify on Monday," she must submit her documents in accordance "with Committee rules."

The deadline, in which Ford, 51, must submit her written testimony and biography by Friday at 10 a.m., tightens the screws on Ford to testify in a public Senate hearing under oath about her allegation that Kavanaugh, 53, sexually assaulted her when they were both teenagers.

Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley , R-Iowa, on Wednesday told Christine Blasey Ford that she must send him documents by the end of the week in order to testify Monday against President Donald Trump 's Supreme Court pick Brett Kavanaugh .

Ford, through her lawyers, called for an FBI investigation into her allegation prior to a public hearing. Other Democrats on the committee have made the same request, which would likely slow Kavanaugh's nomination proceedings to a crawl  a situation Republicans are eager to avoid, as the November midterm elections loom large.

In another statement released Wednesday evening, lawyer Lisa Banks said that "there are multiple witnesses whose names have appeared publicly and should be included in any proceeding."

Banks added: "The rush to a hearing is unnecessary, and contrary to the Committee discovering the truth."

Kavanaugh has strongly denied Ford's allegation, saying he would be willing to testify once again before the Judiciary Committee.

Grassley had originally said he would try to set up phone calls to question both Ford and Kavanaugh, but said California Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein's office refused to cooperate. He has since relented on that request and scheduled a hearing for 10 a.m. on Monday.

Ford wrote a letter detailing her allegation that was received by Feinstein in late July, but it was not publicly reported until mid-September. That letter alleges a very drunk Kavanaugh, with participation from his friend Mark Judge, held Ford down on a bed, covered her mouth to stifle her screams and attempted to take her clothes off.

Judge has said he has no recollection of the incident Ford described.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said Wednesday that "both of them need to testify under oath next Monday."

"I think it's not fair to Judge Kavanaugh for her not to come forward and testify," she added.

Collins, who is widely viewed as a crucial swing vote on Kavanaugh's nomination, was among the first GOP senators to call for a public hearing.

Grassley's letter Wednesday also appeared to place the onus for an FBI probe on the president's shoulders.

"We have no power to commandeer an Executive Branch agency into conducting our due diligence," the letter said.If you're skipping vacation time, lack a sense of purpose at work or can't find work-life balance, the solution might be as easy as asking this one-word question: "Help?" LinkedIn recently surveyed 1,000 working adults on their workplace challenges. Managing workloads and finding workplace balance topped the list of daily struggles, with more than a third reporting those hurdles. But surprisingly, nearly the same share of people reported being afraid to ask for help. In fact, 60 percent of those surveyed regretted not asking for help when they needed it. Not asking for help is common in the workplace, says Stanford Graduate School of Business lecturer Leah Weiss. People can struggle to cope with any number of stresses, from issues at home to overwhelming work demands. "We're simply not communicating these problems," Weiss tells CNBC Make It.





Some workers, according to the survey, feared wasting people's time. More than 40 percent of Gen Z workers held this hesitation, compared to just 28 percent of the survey takers as a whole. Other workers felt they needed to prove their worth by solving a problem alone. In this case, Gen Z workers were nearly twice as likely to have this fear. "Many people are afraid that if they let on that they can't keep up with a set of demands," says Weiss, "it's going to undermine their credibility."



Reasons workers are scared to ask for help Reason Percent They don't want to waste anyone's time 28% They feel they must prove their worth by solving a problem on their own 32% They're afraid that asking for help will make others think they're not qualified for their job 24%



Weiss warns that by holding everything in, people will "drive themselves into the ground." "If you don't ask for help and you're in an untenable situation, you're going to ultimately find yourself underperforming or finding yourself in a health issue," she says and points to the many side-effects of being too stressed, such as high blood pressure, anxiety and even chronic infections. Those who ask for help should realize that most people are happy to lend a hand. In fact, some studies say we greatly underestimate how willing people are to respond to a direct request. And those worried about how they'll be perceived can stop fretting. Research finds that people who ask for help don't just look smarter, they make their advice giver feel smart as well.

Check out the companies making headlines before the bell:

Tesla  The electric car maker said the Justice Department last month requested documents regarding CEO Elon Musk's tweets in early August about taking the company private. The New York Times also reported the Securities and Exchange Commission has sent subpoenas to Goldman Sachs and Silver Lake, which helped Tesla evaluate going private.

Tilray  Shares of the Canadian cannabis producer shot up more than 40 percent in the premarket after CEO Brendan Kennedy hinted to CNBC's that partnerships between pot companies and alcohol companies and pharmaceuticals could be coming. "If you're an investor in a pharmaceutical company or you're a pharmaceutical company, you have to hedge the offset from cannabis substitution," he said. "I think all the alcohol companies need to enter this industry. It's a great hedge for them."

Netflix  Analysts at Guggenheim hiked their price target on Netflix shares to $420 from $360, implying a 14.2 percent upside from Tuesday's close. "We believe that Netflix subscriber penetration will significantly exceed what is implied in the company's current valuation," the analysts said.

E-Trade  Jefferies upgraded the online broker's stock to "buy" from "hold," citing an attractive valuation as well as the company's scale and revenue diversity at a time when competition in the space heats up. E-Trade's potential as a buyout candidate also makes it attractive, Jefferies said.

Juniper Networks  Nomura Instinet upgraded Juniper shares to "buy" from "neutral," and hiked its price target to $34 a share from $28. The analysts also raised their 2019 sales estimate to 5 percent and noted: "We expect Juniper to recover from its webscale routing annus horribilis, gain share in webscale switching, and continue its enterprise growth."

Abbvie  An insurance regulator in California is suing Abbvie for allegedly giving kickbacks to health-care providers for prescribing Humira, an arthritis drug.

AutoNation  CEO Mike Jackson will step down from his role in 2019 to become the company's executive chairman. AutoNation is also undertaking a search to find its next chief executive.The current trade impasse between the world's two largest economies won't be resolved anytime soon, according to a former assistant U.S. trade representative for China affairs.

Systemic differences on policies were the biggest obstacle to a trade deal, said Timothy Stratford, who is currently a managing partner at law firm Covington & Burling. The issues at stake are so complex so "we can expect that there's going to be a deadlock for some time," he told CNBC at the World Economic Forum in Tianjin on Wednesday.

A long-term China resident, Stratford resigned from his government post in 2010. During his more than 20 years of working experience in China, he was also minister-counselor for economic affairs at the U.S. embassy in Beijing.

Both Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump have made clear that they are not afraid of a trade war that many fear could derail the global economy. On Tuesday, Xi's government announced retaliatory duties on $60 billion worth of American goods, a day after the U.S. slapped a 10 percent of tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese imports.

Chinese state media have warned that the country will "emerge stronger" from the situation.

Beijing officials "are convinced that the way they plan economic development in key sectors is the most successful way for them to become industry leaders, so they don't want to back away from that," Stratford explained.

"What the U.S. is asking the Chinese side to do is something the Chinese side clearly doesn't want to do, they don't think it's in their best interest," he continued. As a result, neither side may be ready to reach a compromise, he warned.While this is the city's choice of preventing the spread of the virus, there are several ways you can avoid getting it.

In Romania, health authorities said that this week from West Nile fever in the country, four people died and thus the overall mortality from the virus has reached 21.

SCHD Health Administrator/Environmental Specialist Matthew Herrick warns residents to take safeguards against mosquito bites until the first hard frost of the year.

The most recent West Nile Virus (WNV) victim, according to blackburnnews.com, was from Canada. People with these symptoms should see a healthcare provider immediately. In North America, cases of West Nile virus occur during mosquito season, which starts in the summer and continues through fall.

The most recent case is a man in his 50s, who became ill September 11, and is now hospitalized, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. "People over 50 years old and those with compromised immune systems are at a higher risk of becoming seriously ill if infected with the virus".

For more information, contact the SCHD at (812) 268-0224.President Donald Trump on Wednesday cast doubt on the allegation of sexual assault against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, and said that the judge "has been treated very, very tough."

"I can only say this, he is such an outstanding man, very hard for me to imagine that anything happened," Trump said.

The president, addressing reporters outside the White House, also repeated criticism lodged by Republican lawmakers that the accusations against Kavanaugh were timed to disrupt his confirmation, and praised the work that senators on the Judiciary Committee were doing to investigate.

Christine Blasey Ford, a professor at Palo Alto University in California, has accused Kavanaugh of attempting to rape her at a gathering decades ago while the two were both attending high school in Maryland. Kavanaugh has categorically denied that the incident ever happened.

"I have never done anything like what the accuser describesto her or to anyone," Kavanaugh said in a statement Monday. "Because this never happened, I had no idea who was making this accusation until she identified herself yesterday. I am willing to talk to the Senate Judiciary Committee in any way the committee deems appropriate to refute this false allegation, from 36 years ago, and defend my integrity."

Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, cancelled a Thursday vote on Kavanaugh's nomination in the wake of the allegation and has called on Ford and Kavanaugh to testify before the committee on Monday.

Ford has called on the FBI to investigate the allegation before she speaks to lawmakers. In a letter addressed to Grassley, Ford's attorney wrote that her client had been "the target of vicious harassment and even death threats."

"While Dr. Ford's life was being turned upside down, you and your staff scheduled a public hearing for her to testify at the same table as Judge Kavanaugh in front of two dozen U.S. Senators on national television to relive this traumatic and harrowing incident," the letter said.

Grassley denied Ford's request, saying that nothing the FBI does "would have any bearing on what Dr. Ford tells the committee, so there is no reason for any further delay."

Experts have said that the FBI would be unlikely to initiate such an investigation without direction from the White House. Trump re-iterated Wednesday that his administration is unlikely to make such a request, saying that the FBI "really doesn't do that."

The president has previously expressed sympathy for his nominee, though he has somewhat uncharacteristically refrained from attacking his accuser. On Tuesday, the president said he felt "badly" for Kavanaugh.

"I feel so badly for him that he's going through this, to be honest with you," he said.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.President Donald Trump has launched his most aggressive attack yet on Jeff Sessions, accusing his attorney general of doing poorly in several facets of his job.

"I don't have an attorney general," Trump told The Hill in an interview. "It's very sad."

The president has been angry with Sessions for more than a year, after the former Alabama senator recused himself from the investigation into Russia's attacks on the 2016 election and potential links between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin.

Because Sessions recused himself, oversight of the Russia probe fell to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. After Trump fired FBI Director James Comey in May 2017, Rosenstein appointed Robert Mueller as special counsel in the investigation, which the president has repeatedly attacked as an illegal "witch hunt."

But Trump's dissatisfaction with the attorney general has grown beyond the Russia probe, in tandem with increasing speculation that he could soon fire Sessions.

In his interview with The Hill, the president said he wasn't happy with Sessions over "numerous things," including how the Justice Department has handled the border. Sessions, like Trump, is an immigration hard-liner, and has been cited as one of the most effective Cabinet members at implementing the president's policies and initiatives.

While the conservative, nationalist Trump base has applauded the administration's actions on immigration, the Trump White House has received bipartisan criticism for its tactics, particularly the "zero tolerance" policy that separated immigrant children from their parents at the border. Sessions announced the policy in April, and Trump signed an order to halt it in June after widespread public outcry.

A spokeswoman for the Justice Department declined to comment to CNBC on Trump's comments to The Hill.

Sessions was the first senator to endorse Trump during the 2016 election, and acted as a campaign surrogate. Trump, in his interview with The Hill, suggested his loyalty to Sessions impaired his judgement when he nominated the veteran politician and former federal prosecutor to lead the Justice Department.

"I'm so sad over Jeff Sessions because he came to me. He was the first Senator that endorsed me. And he wanted to be Attorney General, and I didn't see it," Trump told the media outlet.

The president did not say whether he would fire Sessions, but he did say he was "very disappointed" in the attorney general and that "we'll see what happens."

On Wednesday morning, when asked by reporters whether he is thinking about firing Sessions, the president said he is "looking at lots of different things."

Read the full story at The Hill.Tensions escalated further after Beijing on Tuesday announced retaliatory duties on $60 billion worth of American goods following President Donald Trump 's latest punitive action. On Monday night, the U.S. leader unveiled a 10 percent tariff on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports that will go into effect next week and eventually rise to 25 percent by year-end.

"These days, we talk about the products we are going to launch in 2022, 2023. We talk to our suppliers who have to invest heavily and they need stability to make those investment decisions."

"The steel and aluminium prices skyrocketed in the United States, making our tax more expensive there," Martin Daum said, adding that the big concern is planning future projects.

The escalating trade spat between the United States and China has impacted the autos sector with car-makers finding it increasingly tough to plan longer-term projects, a Daimler board member told CNBC on Wednesday.

Last month, in a response to tariffs levied by the Trump administration, China announced 25 percent tariffs on $16 billion in U.S.-made goods. That included the roughly $10 billion in automobiles that Chinese motorists were expected to purchase this year.

"If everyone starts to build a wall and closes economies  we have seen examples of that all over the world  then, ultimately, the one who closes the border suffers," Daum told CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe."

Daum warned that it won't be the manufacturer that will get hurt, but consumers, who will feel the pressure of price increases.

"In the end, it is not the company that suffers, but the consumers that suffer because transportation might become more expensive and that ultimately impacts consumer prices in shelves and stores."

The European auto sector is a casualty of the trade war as manufacturing and the procurement of raw materials can involve cross-border movement. In addition, the tariffs on steel and aluminium and the uncertainty surrounding the future, and car-makers have found themselves struggling to meet targets.

In June, Trump threatened a 20 percent tariff on all car imports from the European Union. The president said on his Twitter feed that if the EU does not remove duties on U.S. cars, then the U.S. will have no choice but to act. The threat sent shares across the European auto sector into negative territory.

Tweet

Currently, the U.S. imposes a 25 percent tariff on light trucks and pickups and 2.5 percent on smaller cars, while the EU imposes a 10 percent tariff on all passenger vehicles.

In August, EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom told the European Parliament's trade committee that the EU is "willing to bring down even our car tariffs to zero, all tariffs to zero, if the U.S. does the same." The offer was rejected by President Trump last month, in an interview with Bloomberg, for not being "good enough." Trump also said that the European Union is "almost as bad as China, just smaller." REFINITIV 15   Three years after its debut, Windows 10 is poised to overtake Windows 7 as the most popular version of the Windows operating system. Microsoft introduced virtualization-based security features  namely Device Guard and Credential Guard  in Windows 10, and in subsequent updates, has added other virtualization-based protections to the operating system.

Microsoft tackled the two biggest challenge for enterprises with Windows 10, password management and protecting the operating system from attackers. Windows Defender was renamed Windows Security in 2017 and now includes anti-malware and threat detection, firewall and network security, application and browser controls, device and account security, and device health. Windows Security shares status information between Microsoft 365 services and interoperates with Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection, Microsoft's cloud-based forensic analysis tool.

Device Guard and Credential Guard remain the two standout security features of Windows 10 - they protect the core kernel from malware and prevent attackers from remotely taking control of the machine. Microsoft has also grouped other virtualization-based protections such as Windows Defender Application Guard under the Windows Security umbrella. Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection round out the analytics available to Windows 10 Enterprise customers."Clearly, Microsoft thought a lot about the kind of attacks taking place against enterprise customers and is moving security forward by leaps and bounds," said Ian Trump, a security lead at LogicNow.

Device Guard relies on Windows 10's virtualization-based security to allow only trusted applications to run on devices. Credential Guard protects corporate identities by isolating them in a hardware-based virtual environment. Microsoft isolates critical Windows services in the virtual machine to block attackers from tampering with the kernel and other sensitive processes. With Application Guard, Microsoft Edge opens untrusted websites in an isolated Hyper-V enabled container, keeping the host operating system protected from potentially malicious sites. These features rely on the same hypervisor technology already used by Hyper-V.

Using hardware-based virtualization to extend whitelisting and protecting credentials was a "brilliant move" by Microsoft, said Chester Wisniewski, senior security strategist for Sophos Canada, an antivirus company.

Apps on lockdown

Device Guard relies on both hardware and software to lock down the machine so that it can run only trusted applications. Applications must have a valid cryptographic signature from specific software vendors -- or from Microsoft if the application comes from the Windows Store. Device Guard assumes that all software is suspicious, and relies on the enterprise to decide which is trusted.

Although there have been reports of malware code writers stealing certificates to sign malware, a significant majority of malware is unsigned code. The reliance of Device Guard on signed policies will block most malware attacks.

"It is a great way to protect against zero-day attacks that make it by anti-malware defenses," Trump said.

While this approach is similar to what Apple does with its App Store, there's a twist: Microsoft recognizes that enterprises need a wide array of applications. Businesses can sign their own software without having to make changes to the code, and for applications they know and trust (custom software they bought, for example), they can sign those applications, too. In this way, organizations can create a list of trusted applications independent of whether the developer obtained a valid signature from Microsoft.

This puts organizations in control of which sources Device Guard considers trustworthy. Device Guard comes with tools that can make it easy to sign Universal or even Win32 apps that may not have been originally signed by the software vendor. Clearly, Microsoft is looking for middle ground between a total lockdown and keeping everything open, enabling organizations to have their cake and eat it, too, Wisniewski said.

Under the hood, Device Guard is more than another whitelisting mechanism. It handles whitelisting in a way that is actually effective because the information is protected by the virtual machine. That is, malware or an attacker with administrator privileges cannot tamper with the policy checks.

Device Guard isolates Windows services that verify whether drivers and kernel-level code are legitimate in a virtual container. Even if malware infects the machine, it cannot access that container to bypass the checks and execute a malicious payload. Device Guard goes beyond the older AppLocker feature, which could be accessed by attackers with administrative privileges. Only an updated policy signed by a trusted signer can change the app control policy that has been set on the device.

Windows Defender ATP, a cloud-based console for forensic analysis of threats and attacks, lets enterprises upload telemetry from workstations to the cloud service and monitor for lateral movement, ransomware, and other common attacks. Administrators can use the threat intelligence API to combine telemetry information, antivirus detection, and Device Guard events to build custom alerts.

"It's exciting for Windows to put this right in the box," said Trump. "It may become a corporate standard."

Isolating secrets

Credential Guard may not be as exciting as Device Guard, but it addresses an important facet of enterprise security: It stores domain credentials within a virtual container, away from the kernel and user mode operating system. This way, even if the machine is compromised, the credentials are not available to the attacker.

Advanced persistent attacks rely on the ability to steal domain and user credentials to move around the network and access other computers. Typically, when users log into a computer, their hashed credentials are stored in the operating system's memory. Previous versions of Windows stored credentials in the Local Security Authority, and the operating system accessed the information using remote procedure calls. Malware or attackers lurking on the network were able to steal these hashed credentials and use them in pass-the-hash attacks.

By isolating those credentials in a virtual container, Credential Guard prevents attackers from stealing the hash, restricting their ability to move around the network. Credential Guard protects NTLM password hashes, Kerberos Ticket Granting Tickets, and credentials stored by applications as domain credentials from attackers.

Run in containers

Windows Defender Application Guard gives enterprise administrators the ability to control how Microsoft's Edge browser identifies and blocks dangerous websites. Edge opens untrusted sites in an isolated Hyper-V enabled container, keeping the host operating system protected from potentially malicious sites. The isolated container has no user data, so the attacker in that virtual environment can't obtain the user's credentials. Once enabled, Application Guard will let enterprises block outside websites, limit printing, restrict the use of the clipboard and isolate the browser to only use local network resources.

Originally available for Windows 10 Enterprise, Application Guard now also supports Internet Explorer for Windows 10 Pro versions, provided the hardware requirements are met.

"Microsoft's Implementation may not be as easy as some vendors, and Microsoft may not have a fancy dashboard, but to include security features like these [Credential Guard, Device Guard, Microsoft Hello two-factor authentication, and BitLocker] you have an operating system worthy of the title 'Enterprise' and a very hard target to hack," Trump said.

Windows 10  Not yet for everyone

Exciting features aren't enough to spur adoption. Many businesses have held off on upgrading to Windows 10. The reluctance stems from the substantial investment required upfront, from better hardware and new Group Policy settings. However, the latest shift to Windows 10 reflects the reality that Windows 7 will enter end-of-life in January 2020 and even with support windows being extended, organizations have to plan their hardware refresh to support Windows 10.

The combination of Device Guard and Credential Guard could go a long way toward locking down an environment and stopping APT attacks, but the hardware requirements are hefty. To enable Device Guard and Credential Guard, the machines need Secure Boot, support for 64-bit virtualization, Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) firmware, and the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 chip. The UEFI lock, which prevents attackers from disabling UEFI by modifying the registry, is also recommended. Enabling Credential Guard on virtual machines have additional requirements, including 64-bit CPU, CPU virtualization extensions plus Extended Page Tables, and Windows Hypervisor. Application Guard requires being on a 64-bit machine, with Extended Page Tables (also called Second Level Address Translation, SLAT), as well as Intel VT-x extensions or AMD-V.

Only enterprise hardware, not consumer PCs, includes such features. For example, business laptops such as Lenovo ThinkPad and Dell Latitude models typically have these specs, but consumer models such as the Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro do not. The hypervisor-level protections are available only if the machine has a processor with virtualization extensions, such as Intel VT-x and AMD-V.

Other Windows 10 security features have different hardware requirements. Windows Hello, which supports face and fingerprint recognition, would typically need additional hardware. Windows Hello now supports FIDO 2.0 authentication for Windows 10 devices that are managed by Azure Active Directory, and there is now the option to use Windows Hello Face, Fingerprint, or PIN options from the main log-in screen.

Employees regularly working in the field or traveling extensively throughout the year are more likely to opt for a lighter laptop -- and most Ultrabooks do not have TPM inside. "The executives are the ones I worry about," Wisniewski said, as they're the ones most at risk of attack and more likely to be using consumer models.

The hardware isn't the only barrier to getting started; most organizations will also need to make changes to infrastructure and processes. Many IT teams don't currently use UEFI or Secure Boot because they impact existing workflows and there are some single sign-on platforms that don't play well with UEFI. IT may be concerned about getting locked out of computers with Secure Boot; it's easier to wipe a machine and load a stock corporate image when setting it up. Likewise, some machines may run critical applications with specific requirements that cannot be upgraded.

Fortunately, Device Guard and Credential Guard don't require an all-or-nothing decision. IT can build a new domain with Device Guard and Credential Guard protections turned on and move users who meet the hardware requirements. The machines that can't be upgraded can be left in the existing domain. This lets IT maintain a "clean" network with signed policy and protected credentials and focus their attention on the older, "dirty" domains. "Don't hold the entire network back for just one thing," Wisniewski said.

Microsoft also recognizes that many organizations have a hybrid environment with different Windows versions. Very few can claim to have moved their entire infrastructure to Windows 10. Windows Defender ATP was originally available only with a Windows E5 or Microsoft Office 365 E5 subscription, but now there is down-level support for Windows 7 SP1 and Windows 8.1. Heterogenous organizations can get access to the advanced forensics.

Few enterprises believe the current state of enterprise Windows security is acceptable. Device Guard and Credential Guard actually offer a way forward, albeit one that demands a substantial investment. With Windows 10, "Microsoft is telling enterprises, 'If you want good technology you need to do security [our way],'" Wisniewski said.With two months to go until the mid-term elections, I have conducted a 6,000-sample poll of American voters to provide a snapshot of the national mood as the campaigns get fully into gear.

To start with the biggest-picture question of all, is the country heading in the right direction, or is it off on the wrong track?

Nobody will be surprised to hear that those who voted positively for Donald Trump overwhelmingly think things are going well, that those who did so reluctantly in order to stop Hillary Clinton are less sure, and that those who voted against him think things are going very badly indeed. Independent voters match the population as a whole  just over half say the country is on the wrong track, with 36 per cent saying things are heading the right way.

What might be more significant is the change since we last ask the question nearly a year ago. Since last October there has been a marked shift towards the optimistic view, including a 14-point increase among both positive and reluctant Trump voters saying the country is on the right track.

When we ask specifically about the economy, the optimism rises further. A majority of the population, whose numbers again mirror those for independent voters, expect the economy to do well over the next year both for the country as a whole and for themselves and their families.

Whether this is down to Trump is a different question. We find in our focus groups that his voters see a direct connection between his presidency, new jobs and a rising stock market, while others are naturally more reluctant to give him the credit.

We also see a further split along political lines. While Trump supporters are slightly more optimistic for the country as a whole than they are for their own household, his opponents are more likely to think that the country is going to the dogs but they personally will be fine.

We also found a big increase across the board in the numbers saying they believe progress is being made in delivering Trumps agenda. For Trump voters, there has been a big shift in sentiment towards believing a great deal of progress has been made, rather than merely some progress, which was the most popular answer a year ago.

A majority of voters overall now believe progress is being made, as do nearly six in ten independent voters, and more than three quarters of those who voted for Republicans in the 2016 Congressional elections, but not for Trump.

Overall, those who think little or no progress is being made in delivering the Trump agenda say the President himself is most to blame  and the same is true for his own more reluctant voters.

Stronger Trump supporters, however, are most likely to name Democrats in Congress as the biggest barrier to progress. But next on their list are Congressional Republicans  a view that wont exactly propel them to back the GOP in November with a spring in their step.

Most of the coverage of Trump, and certainly a good deal of the criticism, seems to focus on the way he behaves rather than what he does. But for the people who voted for him, the emphasis is precisely the other way round. Seven in ten of those who voted for him positively both like what he is doing as President and approve of his character and personal conduct. A further one in four like what he is doing even though they dont always like his behaviour.

The separation between personality and performance is most striking for those who voted for him mainly to stop Clinton.

While less than a third of these reluctant Trump voters say they approve of his character and personal conduct, nearly nine out of ten say they like what he is doing as President. The salient fact about these people is not that they have reservations about Trump, it is that they decided to discount these reservations and vote for him anyway.

Yet the Presidents critics always seem to fall into what I call the surely now fallacy. After every new tweet or supposed outrage they seem to think that surely now his voters will see what a terrible mistake they have made.

I suspect Trumps opponents will make little progress in eroding his support as long as they continue to talk about conduct while his electoral coalition is more interested in delivery.

So what do they think he is delivering? Not surprisingly, positive Trump supporters give him very high marks for nearly everything. His more hesitant voters give more variable scores, but are happiest of all with the economy and jobs, and with the Presidents nominations to the Supreme Court.

For independents and voters as a whole, the highest scores  albeit only middling on average  are for his performance on the economy.

Another way to look at this is to ask what people think will be remembered as the most significant things about the Trump presidency in 20 years time. For the country as a whole, the most popular answer was the way Donald Trump has gone about doing the job of President, and its hard to disagree with that.

For Democrats, it is the Mueller investigation for which he will chiefly be remembered.

But for his own voters, and especially his more reluctant ones, it is his Supreme Court nominations that stand out. This reflects what we heard in our focus groups during the campaign, when Republicans torn over whether they could vote for Trump often told us this was the decisive factor. Whatever you think of Trump as a person, they said, you cant mess around when it comes to the Supreme Court.

As an aside, it is interesting to look at how people see history shaping up according to where they get their news from.

For those who get most of their news from MSNBC or CNN, the most significant aspects have been the Mueller investigation, the separation of illegal immigrants from their children, and either the way Trump has gone about his job, or his relationship with Vladimir Putin.

But according to Fox News viewers, history will remember the Supreme Court nominations, the performance of the economy and the stock market, and Trumps election victory itself against many peoples expectations.

While Democrats see the Mueller investigation as the most important development of the Trump presidency and a potential route to removing him from office, his own voters continue to see it as a witch hunt  a phrase we have heard again and again in our focus groups around the country.

However, this latest poll does detect a slight shift in opinion among Trump supporters  away from thinking Russia did not try to influence the outcome of the election, and towards the idea that Russia did try to influence the election, but that there was no collusion with the Trump campaign.

Meanwhile, around eight in ten Democrats think collusion took place and that Donald Trump himself was fully aware.

We see a similar pattern when it comes to Stormygate. The news that Michael Cohen had pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations broke days before our poll went into the field, so it was fresh in the minds of our respondents.

A small majority of Independent voters and the general public  and of course nine out of ten Democrats  believe illegal payments were made from the Trump campaign and that the President himself knew about them.

But the great majority of his voters, including the more reluctant ones, think either that no illegal payments were made or that any such payments were made without the knowledge of Donald Trump  despite the testimony of his former lawyer.

In our research, we have always found most Trump voters to be stubbornly unimpressed by accusations of scandal. As someone told us in one of our focus groups in Mississippi earlier this year when we asked about the Stormy Daniels saga: I want someone to work on our economy and protect our shores. I dont care about the rest of this stuff, because thats all between him and God. You wouldnt want to be married to him, someone added, but We didnt elect him to be a saint, we elected him to be a leader.

All of which leads to the position that whether or not you think Trump may have committed crimes that would warrant his impeachment depends almost entirely on whether or not you voted for him.

In political terms, this is an extension of the point I made earlier about character and conduct. The more his opponents highlight the various investigations against him, the less progress they will make in trying to win round the voters they need if they are to beat him.

Part of this might be because many Democrats dont think beating him will be a matter of convincing voters at all. Half of them think he will not run again in 2020, or will stand down as President before then.

Meanwhile, most Trump voters  including a clear majority of those who backed him only reluctantly in 2016  are already looking forward to four more years.

As for whether he deserves to be re-elected, most of those who put him in the White House are already prepared to say Yes. That includes two thirds of those who voted for him reluctantly as a way of stopping Hillary Clinton, and a similar number of those who switched to him from Barack Obama  a group which we have always found in our research to be more muted in their praise for Trump.

You will also see that the 33 per cent overall saying he deserves to be re-elected is somewhat below the approval ratings weve seen in recent published polls. The difference is that it is one thing to say you approve of the job the President is currently doing, and another thing to say you already think he deserves to win the next election.

Obviously there are two ways to look at this. One is to observe that he has lost a large chunk of the voters who elected him. Another, which I lean towards, is that a strong majority of those who voted for Trump, despite not liking him very much, already think he has earned another term.

Not only that, they already put him among the greats. We asked our respondents to rank each President since Nixon. For Americans as a whole, the top three answers were Barack Obama, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton. Those who voted for Hillary Clinton chose Obama, Bill Clinton and, believe it or not, Jimmy Carter.

But for Trumps own people, he is already in the Hall of Fame. In fact those who voted for him positively two years ago now rank him above the man whose library we sit in today.

What all this has to do with the midterm elections is that, as we know, support for Trump and support for the Republican Party are not necessarily the same thing.

Even his more reluctant voters are more likely  and his strong supporters are much more likely  to say their views and priorities are represented by Trump than by the Republican Party as a whole, let alone by Republicans in Congress.

Voters as a whole feel that local and Congressional Democrats do a slightly better job of representing them than local and Congressional Republicans.

How far will these things be a factor in the midterms? When we asked what would be important in their voting decision in November, voters as a whole put their support or opposition to Trump well behind local and national issues, and their opinion of their local candidates.

However, his strongest supporters and opponents both but Trump himself among the most important factors in determining their vote.

As ever, it all depends who actually turns out to vote. When we asked them, the Presidents strongest supporters and opponents were equally enthused  in both cases, nearly eight in ten said they were absolutely certain to vote in November.

Independent voters, and those who had switched to Trump from Obama, were notably less sure  or more honest  about the chances of their turning out.

Overall, exactly two thirds of both Republican and Democrat identifiers told us they were certain to vote in the Congressional elections. If they all do, we are heading for a record.

We hear a lot about the idea that younger voters are particularly motivated to turn out this year. As you know, modelling likely turnout is one of the biggest headaches for pollsters, mostly because when asked if they will bother to vote, people tend to give themselves the benefit of the doubt. This means that predicted surges in turnout are often taken with a pinch of salt, so that when such surges do occur they can take us by surprise.

In our current survey, fewer than three in ten of American 18 to 24 year-olds said they were absolutely certain to vote, with likelihood to vote rising steadily through the age groups. Even by these numbers, as I say, participation would be extremely high for a midterm election, where we usually see turnout of around 40 per cent.

Whatever happens in the midterms, the prospects for the next presidential election is a different question. There is a wise adage in American politics that you cant beat something with nothing, so we asked how people thought the Democrats were doing in various aspects of their job.

When it comes to opposing Trumps policies, the answer is not too badly. However, people thought the party was doing rather less well as representing the values of people like me, and even less well at putting forward alternative ideas.

This was particularly true of independent voters, and those who had voted only reluctantly for Trump  a group that perhaps ought to be high on the Democrats target list.

A further question explained why this doesnt currently seem to be the case. We asked Democrat identifiers who they thought it was most important to reach out to if they were to win this November and in 2020.

Just under a quarter thought they needed to understand and reach out to people who have voted Republican in recent elections.

The clear majority thought their partys priority should be to motivate and enthuse existing Democrat voters and those who had stayed at home in recent elections.

We looked further into this by asking how the party needed to act in the next few months and years.

By far the biggest single group  nearly half of all Democrats  think the partys policies and ideas are basically right, they just need to communicate them better. A further eight per cent thought they were already on course to win elections in the next few years and didnt need to change much at all.

A majority of Democrats, therefore, think they need to nothing more than present themselves better in order to take back the country. Fewer than one third say they need to rethink their policies and ideas to win over people who have not voted for them in recent elections.

Combined with the earlier figure that only around one in ten Democrats expects Trump to be re-elected, I think this is one of the most telling points about the future of American politics in the years to come. If the Democrats direction is set by their most committed activists, we know from previous research that those activists are far removed in terms of values and outlook from the kind of voters who deserted the party in the Midwest two years ago. It would be brave of the Democrats to decide it didnt need any of those voters back.

Here again there are echoes of the UK. After the Labour landslide of 1997 it took the Conservatives eight years to take the hint and start making the changes they needed. When they managed to unseat Gordon Brown in 2010, Labour supporters believed  just like todays Democrats  that they had lost because voters didnt understand the issues, the media hadnt done its job properly, and that their own policies had been right but not sufficiently well communicated. They went on to choose as their leader Ed Miliband, the candidate who made them feel best about being in the Labour Party, after which they lost again, and promptly went even further into their comfort zone on the left  perhaps the main reason why the Tories still have the edge in the polls despite the political turmoil.

It remains to be seen whether the Democrats will do the full Jeremy Corbyn or whether they have the discipline to try to win back the voters they once took for granted. But that decision, as much as anything else, will determine what happens in two years time.

One reason I think the Democrats seem reluctant to reach out to Trump voters is that they havent quite forgiven them for electing him. Nearly half of Democrats told us that Trump-supporting Republicans didnt just disagree how to achieve positive aims, they were bad people who want the wrong things for America.

And even if that applies mainly to his most committed supporters, I think they feel that Trump voters as a whole made not just a bad decision but a wicked one. I also think  and there are no numbers to support this, but it comes across in our focus groups  that Trump voters can sense this. They wont switch to a party that they think doesnt like them.

Depressingly enough, the same thing applies among Republicans  only half think Trump-opposing Democrats are good people who want good things for America. In other words, anyone looking forward to a new era of calm and consensus in American politics had better not hold their breath.We pointed out in July that the Government-backed EU referendum bill took six months to pass through Parliament. No wonder  with the question, the franchise, spending rules, voting areas, regional counts and purdah to consider.

Even if this Government backed a second referendum  which it doesnt  time for a second referendum is running out, we added. And there is now less sand left in the glass, two months on.

The Peoples Vote campaign implicitly acknowleges this today, as it advances scenarios for such a poll. Lord Britain will Come to Heel Kerr, who presents its report, concedes that a new referendum faces a high bar. In doing so, he hints that it would be impossible, given the time constraint, for 16-year olds and EU nationals to be given the opportunity to vote.

Indeed, it is very hard to see from the reports options how a poll would be possible at all. For example, it suggests using a Commons motion when MPs vote on a Brexit deal that the Government has negotiated. But a motion is not a Bill setting out the necessary legal requirements.

There would be time were the Government to seek to postpone the date of Brexit, and then to move such a Bill itself. But it would surely fall were it to attempt this, and a general election would then be almost inevitable. Nor would the Government be likely to survive moves by the legislature to seize the executives steering wheel.

And we havent even begun to explore yet what the question in such a poll would be.

None the less, Labour has the opportunity to execute a risky manoeuvre at its conference next week. It could pledge to seek a referendum in the event of No Deal  on No Deal or Staying In. It would propose both to honour the due date of Brexit and to push for such a referendum if No Deal happens, knowing full well that the timetable makes this combination almost impossible.

You dont need me to tell you that such a commitment would be nonsense. That would be the whole point of it  to hint to the mass of pro-Remain Labour activists in London, now the partys real heartland, that Jeremy Corbyn was moving their waywithout him actually committing to anything deliverable.

So why might Labour not commit to a referendum on any agreement the Government strikes? Because it thinks theres a good chance of the Commons voting such a deal down, thats why. Which could pave the way for a general election and a Corbyn government. So why not commit Labour to voting against No Deal, too? Because that would be deliverable, and scare off pro-Brexit voters in Labour seats.

Essentially, the leaderships calculation would be that the prospect of No Deal will strike such terror into the mass of voters that they would not react in a hostile way to a Labour referendum pledge, even in those pro-Brexit Labour constituencies.

And were there to be a general election in the wake of any of these events, Labour could bung a renegotiation pledge in its manifesto, and hint at a referendum on any agreement that such talks produced without actually pledging one. Job done.Justine Greening is MP for Putney, and a former Secretary of State for Education.

This week, the polls open, and Conservative members across London will have the chance to vote for their preferred London Mayoral candidate. Whoever wins will have just over nineteen months to get across to Londoners that there is a much better way to run City Hall and improve London for Londoners than the Sadiq Khan experiment weve had for the past two and a half years.

We have three superb candidates who will all absolutely have my full support, whichever wins. Nevertheless I reached the conclusion that Joy Morrissey is the fresh face that London and City Hall needs. Like so many of us, Joy is someone who has come here and made London her home. The schools, the hospitals, the transport  theyre as much a part of her life as for any of the rest of us. She has a stake in this citys future success as much as anyone.

More than that, through the Centre for Social Justice, the think tank brilliantly set up by Iain Duncan Smith, Joy has put her time into actively working on the difficult issues we also face. For instance, homelessness, the fact that too many people in our city are so close to opportunity but end up being locked out of it. Its easy to talk in politics. Weve seen that talk and no action with our current Mayor. Joy is someone whos actually rolled her sleeves up and got stuck in directly tackling the issues our city needs fixed. I respect that. Also, weve had our first ethnic minority mayor, but I think its time for London to have its first female mayor now.

Neither of the two main parties has ever had a female Mayoral candidate, and in London, in the year we are celebrating the centenary of women first getting the vote, I would be proud if it could be the Conservative party that gives that lead and gives that choice.

Last week the Evening Standard published polling showing the sharp drop in Khans popularity. As ever with politicians, you may or may not like them, but its what theyre delivering on the ground for us and our families that ultimately matters most. Khan has a track record not of delivery, but of broken promises: his failure to build the homes London needs in spite of 4.82 billion of Government funding to London to do just that; and soaring crime rates. As someone who uses the underground, commuters just dont know what his plan is for improving the reliability of our daily commute. The question most of my constituents ask is: What is he actually doing day to day? Over two years in, we still dont know what a Khan Mayoralty is all about. We know his press budget has ballooned, but not much else seems to have been achieved.

Although hes still favourite to win in 2020, the reality is he has a record that simply doesnt deserve him to be re-elected. London can do a lot better.

Khans problem is that he had lots of promises but no plan. In his campaign, he promised the Earth to get elected, and it worked. But straight after, he ditched those promises one by one. As a result, he came into a four year term as our Mayor with no strategy to put into practice, so its not a surprise hes totally failed to deliver for our city. Hes got only himself to blame for that. Its why his popularity is dropping towards negative rating territory. On behalf of Londoners, we need to hold him to account, but also let London know our Conservative candidate can do much better.

The bottom line is that its about delivery, and Londoners know that Conservatives deliver. London Momentum thought they could wipe out the Conservatives in the local elections earlier this year. They were wrong. People didnt like their ideologically driven proposals that end up vetoing regeneration. Or their high council tax. Or their lack of delivery on local day to day services we all rely on.

I think that as Conservatives, we have a golden opportunity to show our capital city a modern diverse Party that knows how to deliver for our communities.

That needs a strong campaigner and someone whos prepared to be tirelessly out on the doorstep with activists, leading from the front. One of Joys great strengths  and one that I have witnessed on numerous of occasions  is her ability to build a team. Joy was selected as the Conservative Parliamentary candidate in the 2017 General Election for Ealing Central & Acton six weeks before the General Election. From a standing start she established a campaign team of over 100 activists, with people coming from far and wide to support her.

This year, Joy coordinated candidate support across Barnet, Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster  three boroughs, where Labour and Momentum were confident of ousting fantastic Conservative councils. Our success in holding all three councils was due to the hard work of a great many fantastic Conservative councillors and activists, but Joy played a key part in making that happen.

Building a team and working effectively with others are both skills that are crucial to fighting a winning Mayoral campaign. They are also crucial to being an effective Mayor. One of Khans biggest failings has been an unwillingness or inability to do this. An effective Mayor needs to be able to bring people with diverse views together, persuading politicians of all parties to work with him or her. Joy has consistently done this as a local Councillor, working at the Centre for Social Justice and, in her pre-public service career, as a film producer.

Joy knows that the Conservative Mayoral candidate will have a major job in helping to galvanise the Conservative Party in London. She has written in detail about how she would do this, and make sure that her candidacy involves all members, boosts membership, and lays the groundwork for our Party to gain constituencies and boroughs all across London at elections in the coming years.

I believe that our national Party needs a strong London Conservative Party to thrive. Joy Morrissey has the backing of more MPs and more London MPs than either of the other candidates. Her support comes from all over London and from all wings of the Conservative Party, which means she can work for all of us. The more people see of Joy, the more they recognise what a fantastic candidate and potential she has to be a hugely effective London Mayor delivering on the ground for Londoners. Thats why shes got my backing, and I hope London Conservative members can use their vote to do the same.Daniel Hannan is an MEP for South-East England, and a journalist, author and broadcaster. His most recent book is What Next: How to Get the Best from Brexit.

Global Britain took an important step forward yesterday. A draft UK-US trade agreement was launched at simultaneous events in London and Washington. The agreement was drawn up over several months by ten market-oriented organisations: the Institute of Economic Affairs, Centre for Policy Studies, Adam Smith Institute, Initiative for Free Trade and Politeia here, and Heritage, Cato, Manhattan, the Competitive Enterprise Institute and the American Enterprise Institute in the United States  the first time, as far as anyone can remember, that all those mighty foundations have worked together on the same project. I am typing these words in DC, having just spoken at the launch in the Senate.

The treaty unveiled yesterday  and it is a full treaty, not just a proposal for what a treaty should contain  would be the most comprehensive ever signed. Most trade deals combine elements of mutual recognition (what goes in your country goes in ours) with chunks of standardisation (this product may not be exported unless it conforms to certain regulations). These days, trade deals often also have chapters on issues that are nothing directly to do with trade, such as environmental rules, labour laws and human rights.

Our treaty, by contrast, is purely about mutual recognition  and goes further in this regard than any previous accord. It establishes the principle that, for commercial purposes, whatever is legal in one jurisdiction should automatically be legal in the other. It extends this reciprocity to goods, services and professional qualifications. It amounts, in effect, to an agreement to trust one anothers regulators.

That last point is critical. People are generally prepared to trust countries that they regard as advanced and safe. Most Brits will accept mutual recognition with, say, Canada more readily than with, say, Cambodia. (In theory, a case could be made for letting in all Cambodian exports and relying on our robust common law system to punish cases of injury or tort, just as with domestic produce; in practice, voters wouldnt wear it.)

Most British people place the United States in the Canada rather than the Cambodia category. Thats why the fatuous campaign against hormone-treated American beef hasnt taken off. Too many of us have been to the US and eaten burgers while there; and we suspect that the opportunists who are suddenly pretending, Clegg-like, that US food standards are a threat, have also tucked into the odd steak while stateside.

If youre dealing with a nation that broadly shares your outlook, your values and your wage levels, you dont need to lay down extra standards  standards which, in practice, are almost always drawn up by existing producers to raise barriers against potential competitors. Nor do you need to tack on extraneous declarations about human rights or labour laws. Its not that these things are unimportant; on the contrary, its that theyre important enough to be addressed in their own right rather than tacked on to a treaty about something else.

Will the two governments adopt our plan? No, not in its entirety. You never get 100 per cent of what you want in politics. But if they adopted 70 per cent of it, a great deal of wealth would be unlocked. There is enthusiasm in Washington for a comprehensive deal with the UK, both from Trumpsters (keen to prove that theyre not protectionists) and from anti-Trumpsters (keen to compensate for the attitude now being adopted vis-a-vis China and Mexico). On the British side, the main issue is the extent to which we end up tied to EU standards for the minority of our trade that involves physical goods.

Because everything in Britain is now seen through the prism of 2016 referendum, that issue is, for many people, definitive. Any proposal for a free trade agreement is presented by the media as a Eurosceptic objective, and people range themselves for or against it accordingly. Many commentators who would otherwise be the loudest cheerleaders for global free trade now resent the idea because they associate it with Brexit and dislike the people arguing for it. Conversely, some UKIP types who were wont to mutter about the danger of selling our energy companies to the French are more comfortable with global commerce than they used to be.

The case for a free trade agreement with the worlds largest economy  a country which is also our chief investor and the chief recipient of our own overseas investment  should not depend on whether you voted Leave or Remain. The great advantage of a UK-US trade deal is the one suggested by those investment statistics, namely a high degree of convergence resting on the English language, the common law, a shared business culture and a similar attitude to property rights.

Are there other countries of which the same is true? Yes. Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Canada are all common law, Anglophone, market-based societies, with compatible professional credentials. Hong Kong qualifies in terms of market interoperability, despite its problems with its neighbour. A case might also be made for Israel, which we tend not to think of as a former British territory, but which shares the same common law courts and the same commercial norms as the others and which is, for business purposes, effectively English-speaking.

In time, we might expand the nexus further. But that line-up alone would account for a third of the worlds GDP. Isnt the idea of a properly open free trade system among these countries worth pursuing? A system that, because it is not based on extending regulations, would avoid the corporatism that has crept into many recent trade accords? A system that would work for consumers rather than for multi-nationals?

To those who are still saying Yeah, but how is that better than what weve got now in the EU? Id say three things. First, its a pointless question. The decision to leave the EU was made in 2016, so the issue now is whether free trade with other countries is desirable in itself. It takes a strange sort of petulance to resist something that would maximise our prosperity because youre still sore about the referendum outcome.

Second, mutual recognition is preferable to standardisation. A loose association of states drawn together by free exchange and free competition is a very different beast from a customs union that sees common economic standards as way to deepen political integration.

Third, most Britons feel a greater cultural affinity with Anglosphere nations than with the EU. There is, for example, strong support for reciprocal free movement of labour within the English-speaking democracies. Now you might call that support irrational. On what logical basis do we argue for free movement with Australia rather than Austria? The answer, surely, is that feelings of identity are not logical. On the contrary, they are precisely that  feelings. The fact that they cannot be easily rationalised doesnt make them any less real.

Look at what now lies within our grasp. Instead of an ill-tempered union based on coercion, we can join a loose association based on commerce. An association that brings together our truest allies, and that rests on shared values. Our partners are willing, indeed impatient. What are we waiting for?Experts say consumers diets can impact greenhouse gas emissions

As many consumers struggle to deal with the stress of climate change, a new study conducted by researchers from the University of South Australia explored how our diets may impact the environment. The teams work showed that limiting consumption of unhealthy options like sweets, red meats, and processed foods may have positive environmental benefits.

It is time we better acknowledge the environmental impacts of the type and amount of food we eat, considering the planet...100%

Website fietsnet.be uses latest and advanced technologies like: Asp.Net. It supports HTTPS and GZIP compression. The main html page has a size of 13327 bytes (13.01 kb uncompressed) and 4255 bytes (4.16 kb compressed).

This CoolSocial report was updated on 2021-10-28, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want.We are analyzing the site. Please wait a few seconds..At the 2018 in-cosmetics LATAM, Givaudan Active Beauty introduced Fragrance on the Move, a collection of four products that merge functional cosmetics with fine fragrances.

Skin Care Meets Fine Fragrances

In response to consumer demand for more functional benefits on cosmetic products, Givaudan Active Beauty has developed four products that address skin concerns targeting specific regions of the body while providing the user with a unique olfactory experience. The collection of products includes:

Attraction: A neck and decollete lotion. This lotion features Givaudans Megassane skin tone highlighter and its Neurophroline stress controller. In addition to protecting the neck and decollete region, the product features musky, spicy and woody notes.

This lotion features Givaudans Megassane skin tone highlighter and its Neurophroline stress controller. In addition to protecting the neck and decollete region, the product features musky, spicy and woody notes. Perfection: A dry body oil SPF 20 . Featuring Givaudans Nyamplung oil, Questice Liquid and Uniprotect PT-3, this product provides skin protection against UV and repairs skin from external stressors. The product also features fruity top notes and marine notes.

. Featuring Givaudans Nyamplung oil, Questice Liquid and Uniprotect PT-3, this product provides skin protection against UV and repairs skin from external stressors. The product also features fruity top notes and marine notes. Affirmation: A hair elixir. Providing softness, hydration and volume to hair, this product includes Givaudans 7-in-1 hair beauty enhance ResistHyal, its Kendi oil and its Glossyliance hair shine ingredient. The product also leaves the hair smelling of floral, fruity and woody notes.

Providing softness, hydration and volume to hair, this product includes Givaudans 7-in-1 hair beauty enhance ResistHyal, its Kendi oil and its Glossyliance hair shine ingredient. The product also leaves the hair smelling of floral, fruity and woody notes. Sensation: A light legs mist. Featuring Givaudans advanced cooling technology, Evercool, this product provides the wearer with a blend of aromatic, green and fruity fragrance notes.

Were delighted to reveal this range of new perfumed gestures with skincare benefits. These sophisticated textures are the accomplishment of a passionate collaboration between Givaudans fragrances and cosmetic formulation teams with the purpose to offer a memorable sensory experience, said Caroline Reverte, formulation project manager.

Consumers Want More

To test the market response to these products, Givaudan conducted a test of over 1,600 consumers in seven countries. The company reported that consumers were particularly interested in the fragrance of the product and its overall concept. The study also reported:NEW YORK (AP)  Thanksgiving is Jonatan Mitchell's favorite holiday, usually spent with his wife co-hosting up to 20 loved ones. Hed been looking forward to the gathering this year after calling it off in 2020 due to the pandemic, but one of the most pressing issues of the times got in the Individual consultation is key to pointing a customer to the correct cruise vacation, according to Carolin Beer at Nix-wie-wegs, a German travel agency.

Not every cruise line is suitable for every type of customer, she added, in the 2019 European Regional Report by Cruise Industry News.

German guests are flocking to quickly-growing German brands TUI and AIDA Cruises. And that is because German guests prefer like-minded passengers and German-speaking crew, according to Anna Schwingenschlogl, head of franchise and sales coordination at Reiseland, a large German agency.

AIDA launched as a modest one-ship program in the mid 1990s. The Carnival Corporation brand now stands at 12 ships this year, with the innovative LNG-powered AIDAnova making it 13 in December.

Newbuilds follow for AIDA in 2021 and 2023, as does the Costa neoRiviera which transfers to the brand next year.

TUI has been on an aggressive growth trek as part of a joint venture with Royal Caribbean Cruises.

The premium brand launched single-ship service in 2009, and took delivery of a sixth ship this past May.

More new ships come in 2019 and 2023, 2024 and 2026, while TUI will also keep its existing Mein Schiff 2, citing demand instead of transferring the vessel to sister brand Marella Cruises.

According to Beer, most of the time clients will book a specific cruise line for their vacation and it is hard to convince them of anything else.

Both Beer and Schwingenschlogl said that TUI and AIDA are driving market interest by building new ships, which continue to get bigger with innovative features. Theres also MSC Cruises, which is building up in the German market.

But that could bring its own set of challenges, as some agents voiced supply concerns and added that some passengers prefer smaller vessels.

German passengers are increasingly interested in the exact amount they will spend on the total vacation, and are opting to choose more premium beverage and all-inclusive packages, said Carsten Fath, CEO of Nees-Reisen.

For activities like shore excursions and spa packages, the cruise lines normally do not normally offer a commission, Schwingenschlogl said.

---

Learn more about the European cruise market in the 2019 European Regional Report by Cruise Industry News.

The 2019 European Regional Report outlines all European cruise brands and goes in-depth into growth strategies through 2027. Plus information on the major source markets and all key ports, as well as data sets and more. 120+ Page PDF.The 2018 cruise season has come to a close at Aberdeen Harbour with more than 3,000 passengers visiting the city  representing a 61% increase since 2017, according to a statement.

A total of 27 cruise trips arrived in Aberdeen between May 15 and September 12 2018, bringing 3,387 passengers to the established city berth.

In 2017, 25 trips carried 2,095 passengers to the Granite City, equating to an increase in footfall of almost two thirds.

Visitors in 2018, more than a third of which were from the United States, arrived on ships including the six-star Silver Cloud II and Silver Wind, and The Corinthian.

Matt North, Commercial Director, Aberdeen Harbour Board, said: We are always delighted to welcome our cruise passengers and are thrilled to see even more enjoying the tourist sites on offer around the North-East of Scotland.

With the 350million Aberdeen Harbour Expansion Construction Project continuing, the future for a growing cruise market in the region looks positive and we are pleased to already have 21 bookings for 2019, with this likely to increase before the start of the next cruising season.

With the South Harbour due to officially open in the summer of 2020, we look forward to adding to our capacity, with larger vessels able to be accommodated thanks to depths of up to 14 metres and our state-of-the-art facilities.Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media

In observance of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, Smilow Cancer Hospital at Bridgeport and Yale Cancer Center will offer free prostate screenings 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25, in the MedEase ambulatory medicine unit at Bridgeport Hospital, 267 Grant St.

Screenings will be conducted by Bridgeport Hospital, Northeast Medical Group and Yale Medicine urologists and consist of a prostate-specific antigen blood test and digital rectal exam. Each screening will take about 15 minutes. To register, call 888-357-2396. Walk-ins are welcome. Free parking is available.DERBY  The gentle strains of Yihan Chans Chinese pipa filled the air.

Moments later, Stephanie Sum, Julie Lai, Barbara Chan and Katherine Cheah, in colorful, flowing dresses, performed a celebratory Umbrella Dance.

Pageantry marked the transformation of what was once Marshall Lane Manor  a 120-bed convalescent facility that closed in 2015  into the Apex International Education Partners Connecticut International Academy, the states first dormitory for international students not associated with a school.

The facility was rebuilt to the tune of $2 million. It houses 15 teenage students from China attending Fairfield Prep, Notre Dame of Fairfield, Lauralton Hall, Easton Country Day, St. Josephs and Sacred Heart Academy. Another five students are scheduled to arrive in January.

What was missing during Wednesdays unveiling were residents fearful that foreign students would pillage their neighborhood. There had been angry calls last fall for the Planning and Zoning commission to be replaced, and threats of lawsuits.

Oh my God, its beautiful, Mayor Richard Dziekan said as he walked through the building. Like many Valley residents, Dziekan had family members who convalesced here during its days as Marshall Lane Manor, run by the Simonetti family. They did a phenomenal job. I talked to the owner and were both exploring ways the kids can perform community service in the Valley.

Thats a requirement for the students, said David Guerrera, who with Feng Cheng are the founders of APEX International Education Partners. The pair met while students at Fairfield University and formed APEX in 2010.

Every other month they are required to perform community service  doing beach clean-ups; working at food banks.

Getting acclimated

APEX, based in Watertown, has 350 Chinese students attending private high schools in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York and Maryland. Most live with host families. Besides the 15 in the Derby dorm, another 13 live in a smaller dorm at Chase Collegiate School in Waterbury. The cost is $29,500 a year, plus tuition.

They all come from pretty well-off backgrounds, said Chen, the co-owner. Most are interested in pursuing an education in business; some like science. One of our former students is studying music at Berklee College of Music.

Chen said weekends are usually filled with trips.

We are arranging trips to Fairfield, Yale, Sacred Heart and UConn, he said.

Ninety-nine percent want to attend a four-year college in the U.S., added Guerrera.

Students are given breakfast and transported to and from their schools. Dinner is prepared by a Chinese chef, while the Valley Diner caters weekend meals. English as a Second Language is taught from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. by Jesse Sachs, a Fairfield University senior who lives in Orange. Lights are out at 10:30 p.m.

Anytime a student leaves, they must state where they are going and when they will return. They are not allowed cars, visitors or pets.

We use WeChat (a social media app), which allows us to contact them at anytime, Guerrera said.

A change of purpose

For Anthony Simonetti, who grew up working in his familys Marshall Lane Manor, there were no tears Wednesday. Those fell in 2015 when he announced its closing due to rising expenses, falling occupancy and no buyer in sight.

I was jubilant, said Simonetti of his dorm walk through. For 50 years, my family catered to the elderly. Now the Guerrera family re-purposed this to cater to the youth.

Simonettis family sold the building to APEX in January for $450,000.

It was a race to get this done, said Guerrera. Feng reminded me daily the students were coming in August.

Guerrera and Megan LaPorta were also in the midst of arranging their Oct. 6 wedding

APEX hired the PAC Group in Torrington as general contractors, while David Guerreras parents helped him oversee the work.

Separate wings with housing, showers, a study hall and recreation room were built. There is a common dining room, staff rooms and a patio.

We have two more wings we can work on at our own pace, Guerrera said. The 35,000-square-foot facility can house up to 110 students attending schools within a half-hour drive.

Well probably have 30-40 next August, he said.Morocco officially opened an office to attract more Indian tourists as the North African Kingdom seeks to diversify its tourism emitting markets.

This office of the Moroccan tourism promotion agency will help us in planning various strategic promotional and awareness programs to tap the robust tourism sector in India, Moroccos Tourism Minister said in New Delhi.

Mohamed Sajid further stressed that Morocco is keen to enhance its cooperation with India in the tourism sector, in harmony with its new orientation towards emerging as a preferred destination outside the traditional Asian tourist market.

Air transport is unquestionably the bridge to attracting more visitors to Morocco. To that end, an agreement was signed between Moroccos flag carrier Royal Air Maroc and Air India.

India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) and La Societe Marocaine DIngenierie Touristique (SMIT) also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under which they pledge to share engineering and tourism products development expertise. ITDC and SMIT agree to share database of potential Indian and Moroccan investors in the tourism sector.

They will also cooperate in new trends and technology in tourism products, in innovative tourism product development, marketing and feasibility studies related to the needs and expectations of investors and tourists.

Tourism in Morocco is the second biggest employer after agriculture, while India is the fastest growing outbound market after China with UNTWO expecting 50 million travelers by 2020.

With 7 pc GDP global growth rate, rising personal income levels and changing lifestyles and a huge middle class with the availability of low-cost airfares and diverse travel packages, India is rapidly becoming one of the fastest growing outbound travel markets in the world.

The Moroccan-Indian cooperation in the sector will enable Morocco to tap into this source market having huge potentials.

Moroccos 10-year plan, Vision 2020, aims to double the size of tourist sector and boost revenues to $15bn annually by the end of the decade.

After 2017 with a record number of 11.35 million tourists visiting the country, Morocco targets receiving 12 million tourists in 2018 and 15 million in 2020.BRIDGEPORT  A construction company faces penalties of more than $140,000 after being cited for exposing employees to hazards at a work site in Bridgeport.

The U.S. Department of Labors Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited L.L.E. Construction LLC, a company based in Bridgeport, for exposing employees to fall and other hazards at a Bridgeport site.

With the citation comes $146,554 in proposed penalties.

OSHA inspectors observed employees installing shingles and a skylight without fall protection, the Department of Labor said Wednesday.

The site in question can be found at 2212 Main St., the citation report indicated. The report can be found at http://bit.ly/bptcitation.

L.L.E. Construction and its owner disagrees with the violations as cited. Having said that, we will work together with representatives from OSHA to resolve these issues favorably, said. Frank J. Riccio II, a Bridgeport-based attorney representing the company for this matter.

The companys citation was for failing to provide its employees with fall protection, failing to train employees to recognize fall hazards, failure to properly anchor fall protection equipment, failure to provide eye protection and failure to have regular inspections of the work site, materials and equipment.

The Department of Labor said the citation also alleges that the company let employees work with damaged ladders, exposing them to falls from the ladders.

This isnt the first time the company has been cited for some of these issues.

OSHA cited the company for fall and eye protection hazards in 2010, 2012 and 2013, the Department of Labor said.

L.L.E Construction has 15 business days to comply, request a conference with OSHAs area director or contest the findings before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission after receiving the citations and proposed penalties.

Employers are responsible for providing workers with safe and healthful workplaces under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. OSHA role is to enforce standards and provide training, education and assistance as needed. More about OSHA can be found at https://www.osha.gov.

Editors note: There is a company with a similar name in South Carolina (LLE Construction Group), but the correct company that has been fined is Bridgeport-based L.L.E. Construction.New Haven Register file photo

HAMDEN  A 19-year-old Quinnipiac University student suffered minor injuries Tuesday evening as she was hit by a car on Whitney Avenue, police said in a release.

The student, from Wethersfield, was walking on the southbound shoulder of Whitney Avenue with a group of friends just before midnight when she was hit by a red car traveling south on Whitney Avenue at a high rate of speed, police said.WASHINGTON - After months of pushing for a permanent U.S. military presence in Poland as a bulwark against Russia, the Polish president offered President Donald Trump a new incentive tailored to his real estate sensibilities: naming rights.

"I would very much like for us to set up a permanent base in Poland, which we would call Fort Trump," Polish President Andrzej Duda said Tuesday in a joint press conference at the White House. "I firmly believe that this is possible. I am convinced that such a decision lies in the Polish interest and in the interest of the United States."

Standing nearby, Trump smirked and raised his right eyebrow before pursing his lips as he appeared to consider the possibility of an American military base in Poland emblazoned with his name.

Though the Polish president's naming proposal appeared to be in jest, Trump said Poland was willing to make a "very major" contribution if the United States were to establish a permanent military presence in the nation.

"If they're willing to do that, it's something we will certainly talk about," Trump said.

In May 2018, the Polish government offered to spend up to $2 billion to establish a permanent U.S. military presence in Poland.

A senior Polish government official said Warsaw would potentially be willing to spend even more over time or offer additional incentives to Washington.

U.S. forces are already deployed to Poland on a rotational basis, part of an effort by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to step up defenses on its eastern flank after Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea.

The United States does not currently operate any permanent military bases in Poland. In March, the United States and Poland said technical problems would delay completion of the Polish section of a U.S. missile defense shield by two years to 2020.

While Poland has welcomed the American troop rotation as a deterrent against Russia, its government would like the Pentagon to establish a permanent divisional headquarters on Polish territory, as well as one other permanent brigade, according to the Polish official, who said his government hoped to get an answer from Washington by 2020.

Congress ordered the Pentagon to study the matter in this year's defense policy bill, which Trump signed into law in August. The legislation instructs the defense secretary to submit a report to Congress no later than March 1, 2019, on the feasibility and advisability of permanently stationing U.S. forces in Poland.

Germany has long been the primary base for American forces in Europe, with approximately 35,000 U.S. service members stationed in the country.

Trump has been especially critical of Germany's defense budget and trade surplus with the United States, leading to tensions with Chancellor Angela Merkel. At one point earlier this year, in a meeting with his advisers, Trump inquired about American troops stationed in Germany and asked about possibly removing them.

The Pentagon, however, has said the United States remains fully committed to Germany.

Standing beside Trump at the White House press conference, Duda was unapologetic in his praise for Trump's leadership and business acumen, as the Polish president pitched a military expansion that could reignite an old fight with Moscow over the proximity of U.S. forces to Russia.

"I'm hugely delighted with the presence of U.S. armed forces in the Polish territory," Duda said, inviting Trump to send more American troops to the nation.

Duda noted Polish purchases of American arms and said he wants to buy more. Trump smiled.

"I told Mr. President about all the aspects connected with the permanent presence of the U.S. armed forces in Poland," Duda said. He said he had assured Trump that a permanent U.S. base in Poland would not result in a newly heightened military standoff with Russia in central and Eastern Europe, because he said that was already happening.

"It is the reality that we live in today," Duda said.

Trump, who looked annoyed at times by Duda's long answers, jumped in at one point to note that Poland has promised to pay "billions of dollars for a base."

When a Polish reporter asked Trump about his own view of Russian behavior in Europe, Trump did not hesitate to agree with Duda.

"I think it's a very aggressive situation," Trump said. "I think Russia has acted aggressively. They respect force. They respect strength, as anyone does, and we have the greatest strength in the world, especially now."

Russia isn't the only one opposed to the idea.

The former U.S. Army commander in Europe, retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, a well-known Russia hawk, has argued that stationing the American military in Poland permanently would be seen as unnecessarily provocative by fellow members of NATO and divide the alliance.

Such arguments haven't deterred Poland.

Duda's conservative Law and Justice Party won a surprise election victory in 2015 on a platform of skepticism about the European Union. Since taking office, the Polish government has unnerved Brussels with policies seen as restrictive of the courts and the news media, and is now in direct conflict with the EU over its courts.

Poland was suspended Monday from the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary and faced a hearing Tuesday over alleged breaches of EU requirements for judicial independence.

European Council President Donald Tusk, a former Polish prime minister from the political party that opposes Law and Justice, has been a vocal critic of Trump since taking up his European-wide post.

"With friends like that, who needs enemies?" Tusk said in a rebuke to Trump from the European Union earlier this year.

Despite finding common ground with the current Polish government, Trump reiterated his view of the European Union at the appearance with Duda on Tuesday.

"We are the piggy bank to the world. We have been ripped off by China, we have been ripped off by, excuse me, Mr. President, the European Union, of which you're a part of," Trump said. "We've been ripped off by everybody."Bird watchers got a surprise this week when they spotted a rare Roseate Spoonbill in Connecticut.

The pink bird (that gets its hue from eating small crustaceans like shrimp) is usually found in the marshes of South America, along the coast of Central America and in the southern United Statesnot in the northeast.

But this summer one was spotted living in Maine for a couple weeks, and one birder claims it's the same one seen this week near the mouth of the Housatonic River in Stratford on Sept. 14 and then in the marsh at Connecticut Audubon's Milford Point Coastal Center on Sept. 19. The bird was first identified by Paul Raccuia, who spotted it in Stratford and notified the Connecticut Audubon Society.

"[They] will occasionally travel up the Atlantic Coast as far as southern New Jersey, but seeing a Spoonbill in Connecticut and Maine (where it was also recently recorded as a state record) was unheard of before this summer," according to a release from the Connecticut Audubon Society.

More News Osprey rescue in Conn. has unhappy ending

Former Connecticut resident Louis Bevier told the Connecticut Audubon Society that the bird has a small hole in its bill that matches one on the bird spotted in Maine.

"Here's the part that blew my mind," Connecticut Audubon Society Director of Communications, Tom Andersen said. "It's a big world  what are the odds?"

"This year for some unknown reason there seems to be more of them moving north than usualalthough I don't know how many. It might be related to some poor feeding conditions in their normal range," Andersen said.

Andersen said the Roseate Spoonbill could hang out in Connecticut for a few more weeks if it can find enough food in the shallow tidewater. The bird is characterized by a spoon-shaped bill which they use to capture food in shallow water.

This is the third time a new species of bird has been spotted around here this summer. A Little Egret was seen on a jetty in Stonington for a couple of weeks in August into September, and a Black-billed Whistling Duck was spotted on the Connecticut River in Essex, also in August. Both first state records.3 1 of 3 Contributed Photo / Westport Police Department / Contributed Photo Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Contributed Photo / Westport Police Department / Contributed Photo Show More Show Less 3 of 3





WESTPORT  Town police are hoping the public can help identify a suspect accused of stealing a wallet from someone at a local bank.

Police said the woman pictured allegedly took the victims wallet around 2:20 p.m. on Sept. 11 while at the Bank of America at 126 Post Road East.Morocco and the US agreed to convene the next session of their strategic dialogue in 2019 in Washington DC.

The decision was made at talks held in Washington by Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and Secretary of State Michael Pompeo.

The next strategic dialogue will cover means of fostering economic and political ties as well as stepping up security cooperation.

The two parties also agreed to cooperate to counter Irans funding for terrorist and separatist groups after Rabat severed ties with Tehran over its support to the Algerian-backed Polisario militias.

Bourita who was on a visit to the US on September 17-18 met with other senior U.S. officials in Washington, including President Trumps National Security Advisor, John Bolton as well as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale and Senior Policy Advisor to the Secretary of State and Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook.

Nasser Bouritas talks with John Bolton focused on strengthening the strategic partnership linking the two countries in the political, economic and security fields.

The two officials also discussed regional issues, the situation in North Africa and the Middle East and the latest developments of the Sahara issue.

On the Sahara issue, the US position remains steady considering Moroccos autonomy plan to end the artificial conflict as a serious and credible proposal.

We maintain that it (the autonomy plan) is serious, realistic and credible and that it is able to satisfy the aspirations of the populations of the Sahara to manage their own affairs in peace and dignity, said Pablo Rodriguez, an official at the State Department.

Bouritas visit to Washington comes as the UN Security Council prepares for debating the Sahara issue next Month, with the renewal of the MUNURSO mandate on top of the agenda.Ken Dixon concludes in his Sunday column (The case for Dan Malloy, Sept. 16, 2018), that the governors anemic approval rating of 25 percent is attributed to not having the warm personality that Jodi Rell had.

Rather than blame this low rating on a superficial assumption, a fiscal review of our state under the Malloy tenure better substantiates the 25 percent rating.

This past spring, The Wall Street Journal published data from The Bureau of Economic Analysis on the percentage change of personal income growth in New England and the U.S. for 2017. The U.S. was 3.1 percent, New England states 2.7 percent and Connecticut, a meager 1.5 percent.

In 2011, when Malloy took office, our state recorded a 4.9 percent income growth, which was the highest in New England. The nearly eight years of consistent yearly tax increases on both individuals and corporations have contributed to the demise.

It would behoove our next governor to focus on economic policies that include creating a business- friendly environment and lower taxes allowing for personal income growth as well as providing businesses with more capital to expand and invest in the state.

Perhaps the mantra, Its the economy, stupid, should be what our candidates focus on and what should resonate with Connecticut voters this November.

Charlie Rich

BridgeportBRIDGEPORT  The Bridgeport Police Departments Youth Bureau, which for more than four decades has investigated crimes against children ranging from rape to murder, was recently disbanded by Police Chief Armando Perez.

The Youth Bureau needed to undergo a change, Perez said recently. So the Youth Bureau was absorbed into the Detective Bureau, which is overseen by Capt. (Brian) Fitzgerald.

The former head of the Youth Bureau, Sgt. Joseph Hernandez, recently retired amid criticism of how the unit has been handling investigations.

Sources in both the police department and the court system said the last straw was the two years it took to investigate the sexual assault of an 8-year-old girl.

Police acknowledge that although they began the sexual assault investigation in April 2015, Youth Bureau detectives didnt send the rape kit to the state lab for DNA processing until April 2017 when the suspect, 31-year-old Derrick Siberon, was being investigated for the death of his 10-month-old son.

The state police lab identified Siberons DNA in the rape kit taken from the girl.

Recently police also acknowledged in court documents that a 2015 sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl was not fully investigated for two years because the original investigator was transferred out of the Youth Bureau and not replaced.

Maura Crossin, executive director of the Victim Rights Center of Connecticut, has been critical in the past of the way the Youth Bureau has handled sexual assault cases.

While elimination of the Youth Bureau appears to be a drastic move I think it is a step in the right direction for the Police Department, Crossin said. Sometimes you need to shake things up to get it done right.

Perez acknowledged there were problems with the way the Youth Bureau handled investigations, but attributed those problems to earlier administrations. He pointed out the units failure to find out what happened to 10-year-old Bianca Lebron, who disappeared in front of her school on Nov. 7, 2001, and was never found.

Perez said all former Youth Bureau cases will now be investigated under the umbrella of the Detective Bureau, led by its commander, Capt. Brian Fitzgerald.

The YB investigated crimes against youth, not crimes done by youth offenders, Fitzgerald said, adding that now the Detective Bureau will take over those cases. Were ready for it.

Staff writer Tara ONeill contributed to this report.NAFCU and its members appreciate the clarifications of the current expected credit loss (CECL) standard, including those pertaining to the effective date for credit unions, but maintains that the industry should never have been included within the scope of the CECL standard in the first place.

NAFCU shared comments on the CECL clarifications with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) in a letter yesterday. Last month, the FASB issued a request for feedback on its proposed update to the current CECL effective date for non-public business entities, making clear that the implementation of the standard is only required for fiscal years after Dec. 15, 2021. The FASBs proposal would also clarify that operating lease receivables are not covered within the scope of CECL  a clarification welcomed by NAFCU.

In the letter, NAFCU Senior Regulatory Affairs Counsel Ann Kossachev noted support for a delay in the standards effective date as it applies to non-public business entities, including credit unions, since the dates were first announced. Credit unions are still struggling to gather a sufficient amount of data and many are unsure how they will be able to afford the software necessary to implement CECL, she wrote.President Abdelazize Bouteflika who also doubles as the countrys Defense Minister has fired commanders of air and grounds forces amid an ongoing overhaul of the army and security top apparatus.

Major-General Hassan Tafer, commander of Algerias ground forces was sacked on Monday and replaced by Major-General Said Shankarikha.

Air Force Commander Major-General Abdul Qader al-Wannas was also dismissed and replaced by Major-General Baumiza Mohamed.

A third high-ranking army official, Mohamed Zanakhri, who was Secretary-General of the Defense Ministry, has been replaced by General Hamid Ghraise.

The reshuffle at top of army and security forces has been ongoing since June. President Bouteflika had then sacked Abdelghani Hamel, the powerful director general of Algerias police force. In July he axed the head of Algerias Defense Ministry-affiliated gendarmerie.

In a separate development, former Prime Minister Abdelmadjid Tebboune has been banned from leaving the country after Algiers Court of Justice had earlier ordered authorities to seize Tebbounes passport.

The former Premier was sacked in 2017 after three months in office. He was reportedly fired for opposing Bouteflikas vision.

Unidentified sources said he was fired on a demand from Algerian businessmen close to the President.

Several other dismissed generals and senior officials are barred from leaving the country and at the orders of the public prosecutor at the military court in Blida, searches were carried out at the homes of five generals of the Algerian army.

According to Algerian media, these searches are conducted at the request of the presidency on the suspect enrichment of certain army officers.

The drama have reportedly started, according to El Watan, after the former boss of the police, Abdelghani Hamel, has laid very serious charges against Vice Minister of Defense and chief of staff of the Algerian Peoples National Army (ANP), General Ahmed Gaid Salah and against the chief of the National Gendarmerie.

Consequence of these accusations: Ahmed Gaid Salah himself initiated a clean-up operation, pushing several senior army officers to the exit, in what is viewed by some analysts as a coup detat.

These numerous changes at the head of the army isolate more and more Ahmed Gaid Salah, who was tipped to replace the current president, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, notes El Watan.

According to the media, this raft of sackings and investigations put the head of the army at the forefront of the political scene, and probably herald the end of his reign.A growing number of fintech companies are targeting their apps at the Hispanic market  and for good reason. Hispanic consumers are twice as likely to research financial products and services using mobile apps, according to CUNA Mutual Groups 2018 TruStage What Matters Now consumer research.

While many apps are focused on helping Hispanics meet immediate financial needs, such as paying off debt and saving for short-term goals, some  like Finhabits  encourage long-term financial planning. The Finhabits digital platform is designed to make it easier for Hispanics to build the habit of investing for their retirement in low-cost portfolios of stocks and bonds.

Finhabits has simplified retirement savings so more people in our community can reach their financial goals, said Carlos Garcia, founder and CEO of Finhabits. We created an easy-to-use service that is available in English and Spanish and allows anyone (with a Social Security Number or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) to start saving with as little as $10 a week. Our mission is to make financial services more inclusive.

An encouraging trend and a troubling correlation

The timing couldnt be better. More than 3 percent of Hispanics plan to make their first financial investment ever in the next 12 months, compared to 1.5 percent of non-Hispanics. This means Hispanics may represent almost a third of all new investors in the market in the next 12 months.

Its an encouraging trend considering recent data on retirement savings within predominantly Hispanic communities. According to a study published by Finhabits, in the five top Hispanic metro areas in the U.S., more than 90 percent of small business workers do not have access to employer-sponsored retirement savings accounts. In those same five metro areas, only 4 percent of small businesses offer retirement plans to their employees, compared to 11 percent in the five least Hispanic metro areas.

Our analysis found a moderate and troubling correlation between retirement savings and the Hispanic population of a city, Garcia said. This will have a long-term impact on the quality of life and the economy. We need more aggressive retirement education aimed at the Hispanic community and need to leverage technology to enable them to invest in their future easily even when they do not have access to 401(k)s.

Thats where Finhabits  and credit unions  come in.

The Finhabits platform is built around the concept that you dont need to be a millionaire to invest smartly. The technology provides Hispanic consumers easy access to high-quality, low-cost investing and retirement savings options. And the Finhabits team of experts watches out for every customer by monitoring accounts daily, rebalancing portfolios and reinvesting dividends as needed.

The difference a credit union can make

Often fintech companies like Finhabits desire  or even require  the support and partnership of established financial institutions. Digital marketplaces connect unknown third parties, which is still uncomfortable for some. But attaching the name of a trusted credit union to it? Well, that changes things.

Weve partnered with credit unions on the East Coast to give their members access to a simple retirement savings app, said Garcia. These partnerships have also allowed their members who are small business owners to facilitate a retirement savings benefit to their employees.

Partnering with Hispanic-focused fintech companies  especially those that understand the credit unions people helping people philosophy  will not only benefit your Hispanic members. It may even turn fintech startups and other industry disruptors from a competitive threat into your next competitive advantage.Police in Virginia are searching for a credit union head teller who allegedly stole money from a safe and replaced it with play money.

Earlier this month, a supervisor for the $188 million URW Community Federal Credit Union in Danville, reported the embezzlement to police.

Detectives for the Danville Police Department launched an investigation and secured an arrest warrant for Jorge Omar Navarro Jr., 27, of Danville. He has been charged with one felony count of embezzlement of $500 or more from the credit union.

He took money out of the safe in excess of $500 and replaced it with play money that can be purchased on Amazon, Cheryl Doss, president/CEO of URW Community FCU said. The play money would be apparent to anyone that it is not real.STORY LINK EUR/USD Exchange Rate News: Euro Steady on News of Eurozone Construction Slowdown

Euro to US Dollar (EUR/USD) Exchange Rate Tight after Construction Output Slowdown

US Dollar to Euro (USD/EUR) Exchange Rate Steady as Experts Analyse US-China Trade War

The market is thinking this wasn't the worst-case scenario.

The Chinese side has repeatedly emphasized that the only correct way to solve the trade dispute between China and the United States is through talk and consultation on the basis of equity, integrity and mutual respect.



But what the US side has done doesn't show sincerity or goodwill.

The principal objective of the tariffs is probably not to bring Beijing to the bargaining table.



Rather, it is to force US multinational companies to pull back their investments in China, so that the interdependence of the two rival economies is reduced.



Against this aim, no possible offer by China can cause the tariffs to be lifted.

EUR/USD Exchange Rate Forecast: Will Falling Eurozone Confidence Score Trigger Euro to US Dollar Decline?

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On Tuesday, the Euro opened trading against the US Dollar at a level of $1.1669 and after a day of fluctuation, closed slightly higher around $1.1679.The Euro did rise to a high of $1.1716 during the day, but failed to maintain such a favourable exchange rate for the rest of daily trading.The Euro (EUR) has failed to get off the starting blocks against the US Dollar (USD) today, trading near its opening rate at $1.1664.This lacklustre performance comes after the news that Eurozone construction activity slowed during July 2018, compared to the previous year.Eurozone construction activity shifted lower from 3% in 2017 to 2.6% this year, although this decline was still better than the anticipated 1.7% printing.The US Dollar (USD) has held steady against the Euro (EUR) today, with continued evaluation of the US-China trading relationship leaving the pairing close.Tuesday saw US trade officials approve tariffs worth $200bn on Chinese goods  China quickly responded by imposing charges worth $60bn on US imports into China.While this seems an alarming escalation of the trading conflict on paper, Chinas retaliatory measure hasnt been quite as bad as some economists had expected.The tariff changes proposed by both nations will come into effect on 24th September, but Daniel Deming of KKM Financial has stated that:Mr Demings statement is supported by the fact that the Chinese government is dropping charges on some tariffed items from 20% to 10% or 5%, although this has still been an escalation of the ongoing conflict.The US and China had been preparing to hold late-September talks aimed at diffusing current tensions, but it is now unclear if these discussions will go ahead.Further reducing the chances of imminent talks, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Geng Shuang put the blame on the US side by saying:Summing up the latest development with a pessimistic outlook, Gavekal Senior Analyst Arthur Kroeber said:The Euro (EUR) is in danger of making losses against the US Dollar (USD) in the near-term, when Eurozone consumer confidence data is released on Thursday afternoon.Septembers consumer confidence estimate is tipped to show a worsening of already-negative confidence levels with a shift from -1.9 points to -2.Although only a minimal change, such a result could still lower confidence among Euro traders and trigger a loss for the single currency.Looking further ahead, the Euro could also be negatively affected by Fridays Eurozone PMI readings for September.These preliminary figures are forecast to show a slower pace of manufacturing sector activity during the month, alongside an overall slowdown in levels of Eurozone economic activity.Both results could cause EUR/USD exchange rate losses  a decline is made more likely by predictions for the afternoons US PMI readings.These estimates, also covering September, are expected to show a faster pace of economic activity across the board.As such, the US Dollar could make a last-minute advance against the Euro on Friday and close weekly trading on a high note.

International Money Transfer? Ask our resident FX expert a money transfer question or try John's new, free, no-obligation personal service! ,where he helps every step of the way, ensuring you get the best exchange rates on your currency requirements.

TAGS: Euro ForecastsSomerset Lake to be refilled at last

The work on Somerset Lake is basically completed and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission plans to stock fish in the spring.Japanese automotive supplier JTEKT has launched the construction works of a plant to produce electric power steering systems.

The plant, the Japanese groups first in the MENA region, is located in Tangier.

With an initial investment of $22 million, the factory aims to reach an initial production capacity of 300,000 units a year when it starts production in 2020.

It will provide a direct supply for the growing automobile in-dustry in Morocco as well as export to other markets.

JTEKTs president, Tetsuo Agata, who co-chaired the groundbreaking ceremony Monday with Moroccos Minister of Industry Moulay Hafid Elalamy, said the companys new plant will allow the group to support the accelerated developments in the automotive sector over the next 15 years. He noted that the automotive industry is moving towards the construction of electric cars and autonomous vehicles.

Moulay Hafid Elalamy on his part said the Japanese company invested around 20 million for the construction of its new plant and will employ 100 people in the advanced technology sector. The number will rise up to 200 people in the long term.

The plant of 11,300 square meters is located over an area of 6.5 hectares in the Tangier Automotive City free zone. It will supply Morocco-based automotive manufacturers, such as PSA and Renault.Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. Photo: Melina Mara/The Washington Post/Getty Images

Most weeks, New York Magazine writer-at-large Frank Rich speaks with contributor Alex Carp about the biggest stories in politics and culture. Today, Christine Blasey Ford and the many questions surrounding Brett Kavanaughs potential confirmation.

After saying that an FBI investigation should be the first step of addressing her allegations against Brett Kavanaugh, and with a Senate hearing scheduled for Monday, Christine Blasey Ford is now in a standoff with Republican leadership. Is her request fair?

Fords request is more than fair. She is saying you dont have to take only my word for it. She is saying lets bring in a dispassionate and highly professional law enforcement agency to investigate whether a man nominated for a lifetime appointment to the highest court in the land attempted to rape me in high school. She is saying lets have due process and the rule of law take precedence over the political circus of a Senate Judiciary Committee in which all the interrogators of the majority party are men out to destroy anyone, and especially any woman, who gets in the way of their goal of muscling Kavanaugh into the Supreme Court much as Kavanaugh may have tried to muscle Ford into sex.

It is hard to blame Ford if she elects not to appear in Washington on Monday. Since revealing her identity, she has received death threats, has been maliciously impersonated online, and had her email hacked. Matt Drudge and Laura Ingraham, in their zeal to destroy her, used their platforms to pillory the professional standing of a woman they said was Ford but who turned out to be another woman with a similar name. Ford is being trashed by the likes of the Judiciary Committee member Orrin Hatch (who suggested she was mistaken and mixed up) and condescended to by his cohort Lindsey Graham, a zealous pseudo-defender of women when he served as a prosecutor in the Bill Clinton impeachment. Ill listen to the lady, he said, not dignifying the lady with a name, but were going to bring this to a close.

It would take someone of rare courage to turn up before this lynch mob. Already she and her family have had to go into hiding out of fear for their safety. But easy as it is for me or anyone else to say, I hope Ford goes to Washington.

By every account, she is an exemplary figure in her professional and personal life. Yet for all the national focus on her at this moment, there is no clear public image of her, and no sense of how she speaks or sounds. Lacking that information, Republican senators who stand poised to demean her are left to their own crude imaginations and no doubt assume theyll be squaring off against some harridan in line with their misogynist fantasies. Once confronted with the real Ford, they are likely to be nonplussed and outwitted. They will bully her on the national stage of television at their peril. And should these senators try to duck that confrontation by delegating the questioning to a female surrogate  a strategy thats been floated this week  they will look like little boys cowering behind a womans skirt.

Should Ford appear, it wont hurt, either, that shell be up against an 85-year-old committee chairman, Chuck Grassley, who is doddering. Id hate to have somebody ask me what I did 35 years ago, he said this week, apparently under the misapprehension that he was delivering a witty expression of solidarity with Kavanaughs memory lapse. As at least one observer pointed out on Twitter, Grassley was in the Senate 35 years ago, voting against a holiday in memory of Dr. Martin Luther King. No wonder he, like Kavanaugh, chooses to forget.

Kavanaughs confirmation, which once looked unstoppable, may now be starting to unravel. Will he be confirmed?

Anything can happen in this volatile national drama, from Susan Collins stepping forward to speed his quick confirmation next week to unforeseen events that could upend Mondays proposed hearing altogether. But Id say Kavanaughs public standing, already subpar for a Supreme Court nominee according to recent polls, is unraveling by the hour. Hes on his way to becoming more political trouble than hes worth for a White House and a party in growing fear of an Election Day massacre in Americas suburbs. Having been caught lying in his previous confirmation hearings for federal judgeships in 2004 and 2006, Kavanaugh is now having trouble getting his story straight as he tries to ward off Ford. As Josh Marshall of Talking Points Memo asked, How can Kavanaugh deny being at the party where theres very few specifics about which party it even was? The witness Ford cited in recounting her horrific night, Kavanaughs pal Mark Judge, is also a big question mark. In carefully worded public statements, Judge is claiming he saw and heard no evil. But he has not said so under oath. The fact that Grassley and his fellow GOP committee members wont compel this Kavanaugh-friendly witness to testify is itself evidence that they are worried about what he might say when legally bound to tell the truth. What will they do if other witnesses turn up?

Among the other weird unexplained developments in this story is the letter that appeared immediately after Fords accusations became public in which 65 women who claimed to have known Kavanaugh in high school testified to his high moral fiber. Kavanaugh went to Georgetown Prep, an all-boys school. Did he really have 65 female contemporaries who knew him that well? Almost everything we learn about Kavanaugh raises more questions than it answers  from his large credit card debt to his salivating memo, as a Kenneth Starr deputy, proposing that Bill Clinton be grilled about Monica Lewinskys presumed orgasms.

It was no surprise to learn from the Washington Post that among those in the White House conducting a murder board to prepare Kavanaugh for his potential showdown with Ford before the Judiciary Committee is Bill Shine, the former Fox News executive who did nothing to curtail Roger Ailes and Bill OReillys reign of sexual terror. If Kavanaugh were really a legal mind of Supreme Court caliber, wouldnt he now be steering clear of someone so famously associated with condoning a criminal culture of rape?

In 1991, Anita Hills testimony about Clarence Thomas introduced the concept of sexual harassment to the American consciousness, and Thomass subsequent confirmation to the Court, as well as memories of the all-male Judiciary Committees treatment of Hill, have set expectations for a generation. Nearly three decades later, in the era of #MeToo, does the Kavanaugh case suggest that we have we not come as far as one might hope?

For all our progress since then, I fear thats the case. Its hardly progress when our president has been accused of serial sexual assaults. Its not progress when the majority party all these years later still cant field a single woman on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Its not progress when The Wall Street Journal, which back then devoted its editorial pages to the character assassination of Anita Hill, is trying to do the same to Christine Blasey Ford. Such is the generational continuity of this animus that one of the moralizing Journal editorialists defending Kavanaughs alleged transgressions this week (No clothes were removed, and no sexual penetration occurred) is the son of Hugh Morrow, the Nelson Rockefeller flack notorious for having told the press his boss died working at his desk when in fact he died during a tryst with an underling more than three decades his junior.

In the interest of bipartisanship it should be mentioned that it was also this week that Michael Bloomberg, even while floating the possibility that he might run for president as a Democrat, expressed skepticism that Charlie Rose was guilty of the sexual harassment (and worse) that nearly three dozen women detailed to the Washington Post. If it sometimes seems that we heard Anita Hills testimony of 27 years ago only yesterday, thats because its urgency is undiminished today.About time, too. This week Penny Mordaunt, the Equalities Minister, finally ordered an inquiry into one of the great mysteries of our age: why so many young people are seeking to change their gender.

Ten years ago gender dysmorphia in children was a vanishingly rare condition. Even in 2009, for example, the number referred for gender treatment was 97.

Last year it was 2,519. By far the steepest rise has been among girls: up from 40 to 1,806, the equivalent of a staggering 4,415 per cent increase.

And, of course, those numbers do not include those self-identifying without medical supervision, of which there are many more.

I am not saying that many of these cases are not genuine  those that are deserve wholehearted support.

But can such numbers really be down to better awareness of the condition, and the lifting of stigma surrounding it? Or might there be other factors at play?

In 2009 the number of children referred for gender dysmorphia was 97 compared to 2,519 in 2017

Factors such as the internets influence; and the fact that transgender rights have become such a fashionable cause, promoted by pop stars, models, Hollywood stars and, yes, politicians.

To the naive and inexperienced mind, hungry for attention, redefining your gender may start to seem appealing.

These are children, after all, not adults whose decision to fundamentally alter their identity is the result of a long and anguished process.

Yet they are being allowed to make irreversible choices that will affect them for the rest of their lives.

There are girls in America who have had their breasts removed aged just 14 as part of transitioning. How long before Britain follows suit?

As any mother knows, the teenage state of mind is one of inherent confusion and turmoil, of outward aggression and defiance that nevertheless masks a vulnerable underbelly.

The struggle to fit in, the search for identity, the need to rebel against an older generation, the self-doubt; the desire to stand out, to be different, to be noticed  these are all part and parcel of what it means to be a young person today and since time immemorial.

From punk to student politics, the desire to kick back at the establishment is hardwired into the troubled teenage psyche.

Dye your hair, get a piercing, have a tattoo, rip up your wardrobe these are all ways in which the rebel heart finds expression.

My worry is that being transgender has now been added to that list  and that some of these young people are not so much in need of hormone therapy as just therapy.

Almost two-thirds of children and teenagers who say they want to change sex have previously been diagnosed with serious mental health disorders.

Sixty-three per cent have had one or more diagnoses of a psychiatric disorder or neurodevelopmental disability.

And almost half have self-harmed or suffered a traumatic event in their lives, such as being the victim of bullying or sexual abuse.

I dont belittle their torment for one moment.

But, teenagers being teenagers, its not inconceivable that some, in seeking a solution to their problems, may look at a world that lionises and idolises transgender icons such as Caitlyn Jenner and conclude that they, too, want to be part of that community.

What better way to escape your trauma than a whole new identity?

And as we are all so scared of being branded bigots, no one challenges them.

Instead, aided and abetted by well-meaning but misguided professionals  themselves sometimes swayed by notions of political correctness and intimidated by the vocal transgender lobby  theyll make irreversible decisions about their bodies that, in the long run, will not resolve any of their problems. They may even add to them.

As a society its our duty to protect vulnerable youngsters from making the wrong decisions.

That includes stopping them from slicing their bodies up or pumping themselves full of hormones unless they are 100 per cent certain its right for them, now and for ever.

It's a miracle Lily's so sane

I read with growing horror the account in Mondays Mail of Lily Allens childhood, as she prepares to publish her autobiography.

Tales of her father, actor Keith Allens, casual cruelty and neglect, both parents constant drinking and drug-taking, being exposed to all the vices of an adult world before she was even at school (when she was a toddler her father took her to festivals in her pushchair, as a lure for his sideline business, selling amyl nitrate)  and more.

Lily has certainly said and done some stupid things in her life; but if even a fraction of what she says is true, then frankly its a miracle shes as sane as she is.

Details of Lily Allen's childhood, including her parents drinking and drug-taking, are included in her upcoming autobiography

Lure of cannabis cola

The rebranding of cannabis from an illegal substance beloved of hippies and layabouts into a miraculous cure-all for the modern age continues apace.

The latest is that Coca-Cola is in talks with a cannabis producer, Aurora Cannabis, to produce a functional wellness beverage designed to harness the health benefits of cannabidiol, aka CBD. This is said to have a raft of health benefits including easing inflammation and pain.

Yeah, yeah. Thats not why the kids are going to buy it, though, is it?

Coca Cola revealed this week it was exploring options to produced a cannabis-infused beverage

How moving  and humbling  to hear MP Tobias Ellwood give testimony at the inquest into the death of PC Keith Palmer, the policeman whose life he battled to save after the Westminster terror attack.

Ellwood ran towards danger fully aware of the risks  his own brother was killed by a secondary attack in the Bali bombing of 2002. Yet as he told the court: I stepped in that day and many other people did.

If more of us do step forward as we saw in the Manchester attack, London Bridge and Westminster, the message gets through that no terrorist will succeed in changing our way of life and values. Amen to that.

Theres no question that Nigella Lawson and Mary Berry, who have new projects to promote, are wonderful cookery writers.

But they both look as though not a carb has passed their lips in years.

I long for the days when celebrity chefs aim to please the palate, not Instagram. Thats why I loved Prue Leiths series in the Mail this week: food thats for eating, not virtue-signalling.

Posh's very peculiar style

Im far too stupid to understand the complexities of high fashion. But it does seem odd that in promoting her new collection, Victoria Beckham elected to dress as though she had simply raided the rails of her local charity shop in a jacket at least three sizes too large, and trousers that were a) too long, b) too tight and c) had a weird split at the front that only served to draw attention to her bunions.

Naturally the fashion crowd is already hailing this bizarre ensemble as a triumph.

But back in the real world, it may go some way to explaining why her label is losing money at the rate of 4,000 a day.

Victoria Beckham promoting her new fashion show during London Fashion week on the weekend

In its infinite wisdom, the Royal College of Midwives is keen to bring back the dreaded pregnancy weigh-in.

Yes, theres an obesity crisis  but fat-shaming pregnant women isnt helpful, its cruel.

And anyway, the one time in her life when a woman doesnt have to worry about the size of her belly is surely when shes got another life on board. Cant she just be allowed to enjoy it?

By far the happiest news of the past few days has been the announcement that Big Brother  and all its inane spin-offs  will be no more. The current series will be the last.

Quite what all the wannabes, has-beens and in-betweens will do without it is anyones guess. Return to the primordial swamps whence they came, I imagine.

But one things for sure: Britain will be a far better place without it.

Vince Cable, the leader of the Liberal Democrats (remember them) had planned to describe the Brexit vote as an erotic spasm in his leaders speech yesterday. In the event he fluffed the line, and it came out as exotic spresm. Sadly for Sir Vince, I fear hes more the latter than the former.WHAT a bungler! Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable had teed up excitement in his conference speech by telling us, 24 hours earlier, that he would refer to Brexit as an 'erotic spasm'. Crumbs.

To use such racy language in front of so respectable an audience was quite a prospect. Top-shelf stuff.

Come the moment, Sir Vince proved unequal to the task. Out it popped, and flopped. Brexit, he declared, was 'an exotic sprezm'.

Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable (pictured making his main conference speech yesterday) said he would refer to Brexit as an 'erotic spasm'

In the Brighton conference hall, mouths dropped open in gummy puzzlement. One or two punters fiddled with hearing aids.

Others looked askance at the loudspeakers, wondering if some fluff had got into the electrical gubbins.

Sprezm? Has Sir Vince just sneezed? Sprezm? A border town between Croatia and Montenegro, perhaps? Sprezm?

A new brand of detergent for dentures: Spearmint Sprezm, to give your gnashers that tingly feeling.

If there was a smacking sound after Sir Vince had uttered this immortal goof, that will have been his spin doctor whacking his brow against the nearest concrete pillar. Repeatedly. And hard.

Liberal Britain: Liberal Democrat supporters gather for their conference in Brighton. Attendees looked askance at the loudspeakers, wondering if some fluff had got into the electrical gubbins

'Erotic spasm' was going to have been so daring, so fresh, so internet-agey. Just you see how it was going to bring in multitudes of university freshers, delighted by the Lib Dem leader speaking their language.

Instead the old donkey head- wobbler  the silly old fool, the clot!  had uttered a phrase like a man asking for a jug of water after taking too incautious a bite of vindaloo'd goat.

Imagine a circus trapeze artist miss his big connection and go sailing out of the tent, screaming 'nooooo!'

Sir Vince had intended his soundbite to make people laugh at Brexit. Instead the laughter was at his expense.

The speech was generally low-key, discursive rather than dramatic, delivered with a sense of calm, or perhaps glumness.

Yet in places it was markedly more acidic than one might expect from a politician who claims to disapprove of ad hominem attacks. He slipped in barbs about Boris Johnson's marriage and about his weight, furthermore calling him 'rabid'.

He again referred to the gentlemanly Jacob Rees-Mogg as 'nasty'. He called on Labour to dump Jeremy Corbyn as leader, and said many of those around Mr Corbyn were 'until recently on the Stalinist wing of the microscopic British Communist Party'.

He accused the referendum campaign's Leavers of racial prejudice. There was more negativity in this speech than there was positivism.

Yet Lib Dem activists are a pretty tolerant lot. An hour or so earlier, sinking a crafty pint at the Hop Poles pub just round the corner from the conference hall, I met some charming trans rights campaigners.

They said they did not intend to listen to Sir Vince's speech. 'Why should we listen to a politician telling us what to think?'

In his low-energy oration, Sir Vince accused Labour and the Tories of becoming 'intolerant cults' and praised the work of Lib Dem councils which just 'got on' with their duties with 'no ideological dogma'.

Sir Vince, right, pictured with his wife Rachel at the Liberal Democrat conference yesterday. If his hunched shoulders and his permanently morose cast of face are much guide, leading the Lib Dems is not much fun

Yet his speech yesterday was full of dogma about the EU (very much pro), grammar schools (very much against), housing firms (anti) and tax (oh yes, he likes that).

It was the speech of a Social Democrat, not a Liberal, a top-down, do-as-I-say type, not a live-and- let-liver.

He also said that many Britons have 'crap jobs'. Perhaps he would include himself in their number.

If his hunched shoulders and his permanently morose cast of face are much guide, leading the Lib Dems is not much fun

They creaked to their feet at the end. They clapped, as any audience of political delegates will clap their nominal leader. But there was no instant adoration. They were ungalvanised.

For all the talk about a second referendum, and how Sir Vince would lead us back to Brussels, they did not seem in his thrall.

But at least the exotic sprezm had given us all a laugh.Sometimes it is hard to loathe young people with social media fixations, but that is no reason not to try.

Channel 4 has made things easier for us by rounding up the eight most annoying youngsters in the country and inviting them to take part in their new reality show, The Circle (10pm tonight)  surely short for Circle of Hell, which is what it feels like after five minutes.

I say youngsters. The Circlers are aged between 19 and 40, with an average age of 26 and a mental age that spirals much further, in some cases right down to single figures.

'Alex, 26, is pretending to be a woman (namely his own beautiful girlfriend Kate) to win over male contestants in the popularity contest'

Oh my God. He loves tea! Just like me! screams 19-year-old contestant Aiden from Wakefield when she discovers that fellow contestant Mitchell, a 22-year-old bar supervisor from Norfolk, who describes himself as the King of Tinder, has a similar taste in hot beverages to hers. I mean, what are the chances?

The rules are simple in this new reality show, which is like a version of Big Brother for particularly dim millennials, or an inner-city variety of Love Island sans tans.

The contestants apparently occupy a block of flats in West London, but they all live in separate apartments, never meet and cant see or hear one another.

Their only means of communication is online, via a bespoke social media platform (it looks similar to Facebook) that Channel 4 has created for the show, which runs nearly every night over the next three weeks.

On this social media platform they can send one another messages and pictures.

The object of the exercise is to win 50,000 prize money, and to do this Circlers must remain popular within the group (at the end of the first show they all rated each other out of five) and not get blocked by being the least popular  which means instant dismissal and being replaced by another contestant.

In space no one can hear you scream and online, you are what you choose to share. As they select the photographs and edit their own profiles, just like on a dating site, the contestants within the Circle can be anyone they want to be.

Social media is the way you want the world to see you, is how estate agent Dan puts it.

Already several contestants have proved themselves to be casually dissolute cheats, capable of lying and hiding behind flattering online identities in a bid to win the cash.

Gay Freddie, 20, from Essex, is pretending to be straight, and also  the utter cad!  that he is mourning a beloved pet.

I cant stand animals, me, but I know I will gain votes by saying I have got a dead dog, he says.

'Hes decided to play it straight because he is sick of being everyones gay best friend.

'Jennifer  a 40-year-old advertising executive from Newcastle  is pretending to be a 34-year-old paediatric oncologist'

Even though you dont get much camper than me, he says, strutting though the apartment in his footsies and screaming every time a message appears on his screen.

Genelle is a full-time mother to her baby girl, who she is keeping a secret. Sooner or later she is also going to tell the group that she is pan-sexual, because she doesnt see gender.

Alex, 26, is pretending to be a woman (namely his own beautiful girlfriend Kate) to win over male contestants in the popularity contest, while model Sian, 19, from Hertford (I am not as stupid as I look) is pretending to be a plain Jane version of herself.

In a breathtakingly cynical bid to make everyone like her more, Jennifer  a 40-year-old advertising executive from Newcastle  is pretending to be a 34-year-old paediatric oncologist. Why? Because nobody dislikes a kiddy cancer doctor, right?

She tells the cameras that she knows that this ruse is immoral but Im guessing she doesnt know what that means, otherwise she wouldnt be doing it in front of a television audience of millions.

As it turns out, Jennifer isnt very popular when they all vote in The Circle, not because she is bogus, but because she commits the far bigger sin of being old and not up to speed with the meaningless bantz zipping along the Circle chat wires.

God! Remember the good old days when young people had to develop personalities and conversational skills to impress each other? Here they are like short-attention span robots, keen on the spite and the trite.

'Gay Freddie, 20, from Essex, is pretending to be straight, and also  the utter cad!  that he is mourning a beloved pet'

The messages the Circlers sent to each other are voice activated, which means they all speak in fluent emoji and punctuate their own quasi-literate sentences.

Like, how irritating is that exclamation mark question mark hashtag loser. How are you finding your apartment smiley face question mark. Big eyes, laughing smile, dog face.

To be fair, C4 has spent money on the show and the editing is sharp.

Watching these schemers interact with each other online may have its dramatic limitations, but it is bringing awareness to issues of trust with social media and helping people understand that it is a shallow world, riddled with fakery and deceit.

Here, the cruel act of catfishing  luring someone into a relationship by adopting a fictional online persona  has already been laid bare in all its sordid glory.

In The Circle we have had a guy who is gay pretending to be straight, flirting with a guy who is straight who is pretending to be a girl.

The first episode ended with Alex (the one pretending to be his girlfriend Kate) and the duped Mitchell having a virtual dinner date and speaking to each other through screens. Alex began to feel a bit ill with all the deceit. He wasnt the only one.A couple who converted a crumbling 250-year-old folly they bought for 100,000 were left utterly skint after ploughing all their savings into the restoration project.

Jaime and Mimi Fernandez had fallen in love with the Grade I- listed miniature castle that was originally built to house a gentleman's fossil collection in the Veil of Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.

They snapped up the property and after a year waiting for planning permission they began the build in January 2017 - giving themselves a six month deadline to complete.

Their journey was filmed for the latest Channel 4 Grand Designs series, with presenter Kevin McCloud keeping a close eye on the project and sharing serious doubts throughout that it would get finished in time - and within their 200,000 budget.

Kevin, who called their tight deadlines 'wildly optimistic', was proven right when he returned for a final visit 15 months later in June 2018 to see the pair's finished two-bedroom, three-storey masterpiece.

Father-of-two Jamie, who had given up work as an architect to staking all his energies into managing the project, confessed they had no money left in the bank after spending 400,000 on the project.

'Its a bit embarrassing really, I went to McDonalds the other day and I couldnt pay,' he said.

Jaime and Mimi Fernandez pictured above with Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud. They snapped up the property in the Veil of Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire and after a year waiting for planning permission they began the build in January 2017 - giving themselves a six month deadline to complete

Every inch of the building in the Veil of Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire was mapped out using 3-D technology so that every piece of furniture and decor slotted in to the small but unique design perfectly Wednesday night's Grand Designs will show

The kitchen is squeezed into the ground floor of the house, but with more than enough space for a table, worktops and appliances hidden in a utility snug under one of the archways

On the second floor the two bedrooms sit back-to-back with a mix of exposed brickwork and white painted walls and matching white furniture to keep everything bright

Each bedroom has an en-suite as Jaime explained that a main separate bathroom would require a corridor, so as a space-saving decision opted for the private spaces

The parents - who were expecting their second child in the middle of the project - quickly encountered problems, including discovering they were building on an ancient Saxon burial ground.

Spanish architect Jaime, known as Jimmy to his British friends, also had to replace his original builders, temporarily move to Spain after being evicted from their rental property just before Christmas, and borrow 50,000 from his parents along the way.

Former teacher Mimi, who had met Jaime in Spain several years ago, was hopeful that the build would take just six months, meaning they could move in by June 2017 just before the birth.

But with no income, rent to pay and a baby on the way Jaime knew he was going to be working against the clock.

And his plan was knocked off course just days into the build - which Kevin had rightly predicted.

They had to stick to the strict planning permission rules, forking out 500 a day for an archaeologist to sift through every bucket of dirt removed from the site by diggers so they could lay the groundwork for utilities.

A process which should have taken just a few hours actually took up two weeks - and 30,000 of the budget - after several bones were discovered in an old grave.

The planning rules also stipulated that they had to stick to the small footprint of the original structure.

Jaime was already prepared and used innovative 3-D mapping technology to make sure that every part of the build slotted together like a jigsaw.

The three-storey mini castle is completed with a stunning roof terrace which allows Jaime and Mimi to take in the panoramic views of the surround Veil

The couple had fallen in love with the Grade II listed folly that was originally built to house a gentleman's fossil collection in the Veil of Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire

He was able to develop 3-D models of missing masonry from the 250-year-old structure and feed his digital design into a stone-cutting robot.

In just a few days he had precise replicas carved costing 5,000  saving project time and money.

Jaime took time out after Mimi gave birth to their second son in July and he didnt return to the site until October 2017, three months before they were due to leave their rented bungalow.

Despite being well on the way to finishing, Jaime was forced to ask for a loan of 50,000 from his parents to help complete the intricate interior spiral staircase, as well as make a start on the internal walls and electrics.

He promised to his despairing wife they would be in by Christmas, but plans went awry and they ended up having to live temporarily in Spain with his parents over the festive period.

As an architect Jaime developed 3-D models of missing masonry using innovative mapping technology from the 250-year-old structure and was able to feed his digital design into a stone-cutting robot

In just a few days he had precise replicas carved costing 5,000  saving project time and money. With the new stones sitting neatly next to the old

They converted the crumbling 250-year-old structure into a stunning two-bedroom home after they bought it for 100,000 and spent 300,000 in total to restore it

Presenter Kevin McCloud dropped in on the couple after Christmas and upon finding out the new moving in day of mid-January, said: 'He wants to get it finished in two weeks which to me, it seems wildly optimistic.

Mimi admitted to Kevin that she wasn't happy with the constantly changing moving date, coming close to tears: 'Its really really hard.

'It's been exhausting in so many ways, hopefully were coming to the end of it now.

It isn't until March 2018, that the Fernandez family are finally able to settle into the restored mini castle, surrounded by oak trees and greenery and Kevin returns in June to take in the finished project.

The circular stone structure gives the living spaces a 360-degree view of the sweeping landscapes and Jaime's mapping technology means that every piece of furniture is snugly slotted in to give a cosy feel.

Mimi was five months pregnant when the build began and was hoping that she would be able to move in not long after she gave birth however things didn't go quite to plan

Mimi said she used to pass by the structure whenever she would visit her parents and it was Jaime's childhood dream to restore an old building

In the space of 15 months the folly was restored to wondrous glory, which was positively received by local neighbours and the planning permission council

The kitchen rests on the ground floor, the surprisingly spacious sitting room on the first floor and two bedrooms complete with en-suites are located on the third storey.

A roof terrace finishes of the unique masterpiece which, they admit, tested their marriage.

It was a really tough time and I wasnt in love with it at all,' Mimi said at the end.

A project like this really tests a relationship to the boundary and we made it Well done,' Jaime gushed as he hugged his wife.

They spent a total of 300,000 plus the 100,000 initial purchase cost, all worth it according to the couple as the revived landmark has had a hugely positive reaction from locals.

Mimi said that despite hating the journey, she is pleased that it came to an end: 'Its our heart and soul. Weve poured everything into this. Its pretty impressive.'

Grand Designs starts tonight on Channel 4 at 9pmPrincess Eugenie has kept fiercely tight-lipped about the details surrounding her wedding dress.

But while the public has been kept in the dark, London Fashion Week may offer a clue as to what guests can expect when she ties the knot with Jack Brooksbank on October 12 with the bride's favourite designers showcasing some elaborate bridal looks.

The five-day style spectacular, which came to an end on Tuesday, saw some of Eugenie's best-loved brands debuting regal white dresses, coats and even jumpsuits for their SS19 collections.

Designers including Richard Quinn, Roland Mouret and Preen By Thornton Bregazzi all showcased bridal-esque looks during LFW, although it's unlikely some of them will go down well with the Queen.

Erdem was the label Eugenie wore for her engagement announcement in January, but will she opt for the London-based label for her big day on October 12? Pictured: A model in Erdem's SS19 runway show in London this week, wearing a Victorian-inspired white coat

London Fashion Week may offer a clue as to what guests can expect when Eugenie ties the knot with Jack Brooksbank on October 12 with the bride's favourite designers showcasing some elaborate bridal looks. Pictured together last year

Widely considered the fashion frontrunner for Eugenie's big day at Windsor, Erdem Moralioglu - who designed the Princess's engagement frock - dressed his models in angular, Victorian-inspired designs on the catwalk on Monday.

While Simone Rocha, a designer worn by Eugenie in her recent Vogue shoot, sent one model down the runway in an oversized cream coat with eighties-style puffy sleeves.

Preen By Thornton Bregazzi - a label the bride-to-be famously wore at Ascot Ladies Day last year - showcased a white flared sleeveless jumpsuit featuring an oversized ruffle bodice.

A textured white coat with a belted waist and oversized sleeves at the Simone Rocha show this week. Eugenie wore pieces by the Irish designer during her recent shoot for British Vogue

Preen by Thornton Bregazzi showcased a flowing white jumpsuit teamed with clumpy boots and a ruffle bodice - so will Eugenie wear something similar on her big day?

Roland Mouret showcased a daring, barely-there jumpsuit featuring a plunging neckline. The Princess wore a Mouret design at the Serpentine Ball in London this summer

A heavily embellished bridal-esque frock from Richard Quinn at LFW. Eugenie wore a cape by the British designer during her British Vogue shoot with Princess Eugenie this year

Roland Mouret and Richard Quinn, two designers worn by Eugenie in recent months, also showcased bridal-esque designs during their LFW shows.

However Mouret's daring white jumpsuit with its plunging neckline, is unlikely to go down well among the eminent royal guests at St. George's Chapel, Windsor.

Eugenie has offered few clues as to what sort of dress she'll go for, saying during her engagement interview: 'No meringue shoulders'.

She told British Vogue: 'I'm not telling anyone who is making it, but I can say it is a British based designer,' and added: 'As soon as we announced the wedding, I knew the designer, and the look, straight away.'Many of us are still clinging to the last vestiges of summer but savvy shoppers already have their eye on party season looks, and already one dress is frontrunner to steal the show.

The 375 navy and blue sequinned Coco midi dress from trendy brand-of-the moment Rixo, inspired by Studio 54 has sent shoppers wild on social media, with fans clamouring to get their hands on the 'stunning' frock.

And while the whirl of festive parties is still a few months away, some sizes are already sold out on Rixo's website, while department stores have reported that stock is selling fast.

With a slash neckline, blouson sleeves and a flattering nipped in waist, the sequins add a huge dose of glamour without being too skimpy.

This 375 navy and blue sequinned Coco midi dress from trendy brand-of-the moment Rixo, incpired by Studio 54 has sent shoppers wild on social media

Social media consultant Natalie Salmon looked stunning in the dress set to dominate party season at an event at Kettner's Townhouse in London earlier this month

Fans have been gushing over the dress on Instagram with some delcaring their intention to start saving for party season

British brand Rixo has quickly become a celebrity favourite since its launch in 2015, counting the likes of Holly Willoughby, Millie Mackintosh, and Fearne Cotton as fans.

It was founded by London College of Fashion graduates Henrietta Rix and Orlagh McClosky who decided to launch a vintage-inspired label after graduating and completing placements at ASOS.

And to prove how quickly it's become a major player, Rixo is made its debut at LFW this week, presenting its Spring/ Summer 2019 Love Over Gold collection, with models showcasing the designs alongside a London fruit & veg stall.

Fresh produce, picked up this morning from Covent Garden Market was donated to local London charity City Harvest after the show.

The Brown Thomas department store in Limerick has reported that the Coco dress is selling fast and some sizes are already sold out on the brand's website

Rixo made its London Fashion Week debut today with models posing in vintage-inspired creations alongside a colourful fruit and veg stall

The brand has become known for silk hand-painted print dresses and vintage-inspired pieces that are accessible to shoppers who want quality without paying thousands of pounds for a dress.

'There was such a gap in the market for what we wanted to do,' said Rix. Henrietta Rix told Harper's Bazaar.

'If you went to the contemporary halls three years ago, there was nothing that we'd want to wear  it was all black and white, minimalist and very Scandi.

There were no beautiful silk printed dresses that were really feminine, vintage-inspired or particularly flattering - and if there were, they would be 2,000. We thought there must be a way that we can do it.

Holly Willoughby wearing a bright red Rixo mini dress to present This Morning in January 2018 (left). Fearne Cotton wearing a sequinned rainbow top by Rixo for Celebrity Juice in April 2018Catastrophe star Rob Delaney has shared a heartbreaking extract of a book he started writing about his son's brain tumour battle, but was unable to finish when his two-year-old son died in January this year.

Henry's cancer returned in the autumn of 2017, and his devastated father stopped writing because the family 'just wanted to be with Henry around the clock and make sure his final months were happy. And they were.'

Revealing why he decided to share extracts of the book now, the 41-year-old revealed he 'didn't want to sit on it, in case it could make anyone else feel less insane.'

In an essay for Medium he explained how his initial aim had been to let other parents of seriously ill children that 'someone understood and cared'.

'But I can't write that book anymore because our family's story has a different ending than I'd hoped for,' he explained.

He described crying as he listened to recordings of his son babbling before a tracheotomy rendered him unable to speak for a whole year, and his 'golden' smile lighting up his face, which was paralysed on one side.

Catastrophe star Rob Delaney, 41, has shared a heartbreaking extract of a book he started writing about his son Henry's brain tumour battle, but couldn't finish when his two-year-old son died in January this year. Pictured: Father and son together during Henry's illness

Rob Delaney's young son Henry was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2016 and had surgery to remove it, but the cancer returned in the Autumn of 2017

'I'm always, always happy to enter the hospital every morning and see him. It's exciting to walk into his room and see him and see him see me,' he explained.

'The surgery to remove his tumor left him with Bell's palsy on the left side of his face, so it's slack and droops. His left eye is turned inward too, due to nerve damage.

'But the right side of his face is incredibly expressive, and that side brightens right up when I walk into the room. There's no doubt about what kind of mood he's in, ever.

'It's particularly precious when he's angry because seeing the contrast between a toddler's naked rage in one half of his face and an utterly placid chubby chipmunk cheek and wandering eye in the other is shocking in a way that makes me and my wife and whatever combination of nurses and/or doctors are in the room laugh every time.

An extract from Rob Delaney's unpublished book about his son My biggest fear had always been that I wind up somehow being conscious for eternity. Like that I die, wind up in heaven or hell or wherever and I remain 'me' and just never shut off and have to endure being conscious and aware and nothing is wonderful enough or horrible enough to engage me for that long, i.e. eternity. That might be a factor in the heavy drinking I quit fifteen years ago; the idea that I could really effectively hit my own consciousness' kill switch as needed. Might also be why I've always enjoyed naps more than food or money. That fear went away when my wife and I had kids. Or boys, specifically. My sperm only makes boys for some reason. The fear went away because I realized I could now do eternity and be okay. I could just call to mind the image of one of my sons, or the smell of their heads, or the feel of one of their little feet in my hand and I'd be happy. Give me a Polaroid of one of them to hold on to and I could do two eternities. Advertisement

'And when he smiles, forget about it. A regular baby's smile is wonderful enough. When a sick baby with partial facial paralysis smiles, it's golden. Especially if it's my baby.'

The actor tragically lost his two-year-old son to cancer in January this year and confirmed his death in a Facebook post in February, telling fans he would 'endeavour to not go mad with grief'.

He also paid tribute to his 'smart, funny and mischievous' child in an emotional Facebook post.

'Henry was a joy,' wrote Delaney. 'He was smart, funny, and mischievous and we had so many wonderful adventures together, particularly after he'd moved home following fifteen months living in hospitals.'

In his message, Delaney, 41, explained that Henry was diagnosed after suffering persistent vomiting and weight loss, shortly after he turned one.

The toddler underwent surgery to remove a tumour in addition to further treatment, spending a gruelling 15 months in hospital. But his family were told his cancer had returned in the autumn of 2017.

'Sweet boy': The actor and comedian shared a snap of his little boy, Henry, who died in January following a battle with a brain tumour, with his Twitter followers

'I am desperately sad, but I will endeavor to not go mad with grief': Catastrophe's Rob Delaney revealed his youngest son died aged two from a brain tumor (pictured together in May 2015)

'He was smart and mischievous': The Catastrophe star, who now lives in London, revealed the devastating news in a Facebook post on Friday (pictured in April 2016)

While brain surgery had left his son with 'significant physical disabilities', the toddler found his own ways to overcome his challenges.

'He quickly learned sign language and developed his own method of getting from A to B shuffling on his beautiful little bum,' Delaney wrote at the time.

'His drive to live and to love and to connect was profound.'

Delaney also paid tribute to the NHS staff who cared for his son, saying Henry's doctors and nurses would be 'my heroes until the day I die'.

He also praised the support the family had received from the charities Rainbow Trust, and Noah's Ark Children's Hospice.

Fame: Delaney stars as Rob in the comedy Catastrophe, alongside Sharon Horgan (pictured), the two write and starred in the show together, basing it on their own lives

Doting dad: Delaney shared a picture of him cradling his son to Instagram in June 2015 with the caption '#ChristianDadsWhoVape'

Devastating news: The actor announced the death of his youngest child in a heartfelt and moving tribute, in which he asked for donations to the charities which helped his family

Touching: He shared this snap to Instagram captioned: 'I put big boy underpants on my baby' (pictured in May 2015)

Massachusetts-born comedian Delaney first came to prominence on Twitter, sharing his jokes on the platform.

After developing a huge following, he was signed up to shoot a pilot for Comedy Central.

The show was not picked up, however Delaney went on to co-write and co-star in Catastrophe with Sharon Horgan, taking inspiration for the show from their own lives.

The hit Channel 4 show has now run for three series.For Amelia Hocking, it was a seemingly explainable headache which would derail her life and transform her world to one dominated by doctor's appointments, medication and focused on the simple goal of normality.

Soon after, a scan diagnosed the 15-year-old from rural northern South Australia, with a 12mm pineal cyst at the centre of her brain.

Two years on, the once healthy and active teenager has become almost housebound and dreaming of the normality she once took for granted.

Although benign, the cyst's effects have impacted every aspect Amelia's entire life - and that of her family.

For Amelia Hocking (pictured), it was a seemingly explainable headache which would derail her life and transform it to one dominated by doctor's appointments, pain and medication

Soon after, a scan diagnosed the 15-year-old from rural northern South Australia, with 10mm by 11mm pineal cyst at the centre of her brain. and two years on, she has become almost housebound

'The stress that you have as a parent when your child is sick is incomprehensible - and the fact I can't help her is even worse,' Amelia's mother, Anndrea Hocking, told Daily Mail Australia.

'Recently she was crying for literally nearly three days because she was in so much pain and I asked "Amelia do you want me to take you to the hospital?" and she said ''mum there's nothing they can do for me.''

'We just desperately need people's help with this.'

But headaches are just one of the string of debilitating symptoms produced by the cyst, robbing Amelia of the normal teenage joys she so desperately craves.

A scan initially detected the 10mm by 11mm pineal cyst at the centre of her brain in 2016

'She's pretty much housebound except when she's at a doctor's appointment or on the days when she is able to go to school - but last year she missed about 112 days,' said Mrs Hocking.

'She has 27 symptoms all together  from nausea to memory problems, impaired vision and fatigue. She can remember some things but if she does an exam or test at school she'll fail.'

Now, in order to save their daughter, Amelia's parents have been forced to fork out $100,000 for their only hope is revolutionary brain surgery which will rid the youngster of her crippling illness.

In a bid to raise the money, Mrs Hocking has started a GoFundMe campaign to foot the bill.

It is the family's lack of private health insurance means the cost of the complex operation will have to be covered by donations.

The complex surgery is performed by just three surgeons in the world - including renowned Professor Charlie Teo (pictured with Amelia) at Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney

It is performed by just three surgeons in the world - including renowned Professor Charlie Teo at Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney.

Despite its hefty price tag, the surgery has the potential to completely transform the teenager's life to one her peers take for granted.

'We don't even have a choice anymore, it's not a case of if Amelia gets the surgery, it's when,' Mrs Hocking said of her daughter's illness

'What we're trying to do at the moment is to focus on hope for Amelia and try and give her the quality of life and give her a chance at living a normal life,' Mrs Hocking said.

'If she doesn't take this out she could end up with permanent brain damage, she could have a stroke and even end up dying from this.

'The fact there's only money standing in the way of her having this surgery makes me really angry, it's like I go through stages of grief.

So far more than a quarter of the $100,000 goals has been raised, with the figure inching closer each day.

'We don't even have a choice anymore, it's not a case of if Amelia gets the surgery, it's when. She has to have the surgery.

'When she's better Amelia wants to be a surgeon so she can research and focus on what she's got because it's so rare.

'All she wants to be able to give other people with what she has hope.'Historian and author Jill Lepore. Photo: Kayana Szymczak/The New York Times/Redux

Leave it to Jill Lepore to set out to write a book about all of American history.

These Truths, the Harvard professor and New Yorker staff writers latest vigorous offering, interrogates the American idea by splashing down in 1492 and ripping through to the election of Donald Trump over the course of 900-plus pages that wind up forming what the author calls an old-fashioned civics book. Theres a reason just about everyone whos read it describes the volume as sweeping. (It is! It has to be.)

Organized around the challenges posed to generations of Americans by the Declaration of Independence, the book tracks the status of citizens political equality, their natural rights, and suffrage (the titular truths), over the course of four wide-ranging sections: The Idea, The People, The State, and The Machine.

As much a long-form examination of centuries worth of American ideas as a straightforward political history, the book feels especially timely, occasionally reading like an urgent reminder of Americans collective past and responsibilities. It places a special focus on marginalized and targeted communities throughout the countrys history. It is not, however, a book about Trump. Rather, it layers massive developments with little-known, underappreciated, and sometimes searing historical anecdotes to guide readers toward today.

The present, though, is unavoidable. I spoke with Lepore earlier this month about the book and her thoughts on publishing it in this moment. She explained that she wrote much of it during the lead-up to the 2016 presidential election.

But first, some background: The book opens with a quotation from Abraham Lincoln, and closes with Reinhold Niebuhr.

We must disenthrall ourselves, and then we shall save our country.  Lincoln, 1862

If we should perish, the ruthlessness of the foe would be only the secondary cause of the disaster. The primary cause would be that the strength of a great nation was directed by eyes too blind to see all the hazards of the struggle; and the blindness would be induced not by some accident of nature or history but by hatred and vainglory.  Niebuhr, 1952

I want to ask about the quotes youve chosen as epigraphs. Obviously the 90 years between them is encompassed by your narrative, but can you tell me about why you chose these two quotes, which sort of read as warnings?

I think of the Lincoln quote [as] less of a warning than as a call, not to arms, but to action. I guess the Niebuhr quote is more of a warning. I could easily overthink why I chose those. I struggled in framing the book, especially as it got closer to publication. I mean, I started the project, obviously, a while ago, with the question of what kind of distance to encourage from the present  that I wanted a reader to immerse herself in this past and try to pull away from the present. I think the Lincoln quote I used to that end. A disenthrallment of the present is how I, in many ways, understood that. The Niebuhr piece at the end, we could turn to 2016. I guess theres a certain kind of portentousness to it. I guess thats true.

I think they can be both warnings and calls to action. But when you look at the book itself overall, did you intend it as a call to action? Or as a warning? What was the goal?

Obviously legal discourse is, by its nature, adversarial. But even a lot of historical discourse is adversarial, and is blame-seeking, so that every piece you read in the paper, or thing you hear on the radio, or watch on TV, is sort of a blame-seeking missile. That is very much what I did not want to do. I wanted to write a history that would be responsibility-seeking. With the aim that we would all understand our share of responsibility to the idea that, I guess, I hope we share.

You state your central question pretty clearly in the introduction. This is the clearest distillation: Can a political society really be governed by reflection and election, by reason and truth, rather than by accident and violence, by prejudice and deceit? Over the course of pulling this all together, did you find your answer changing?

Yeah. You get up in the morning and you listen to the news and your answer to that question changes. I was trying to find my bearings. I dont mean to use these nautical metaphors tirelessly, but we are being tossed about in this terrible sea. I just really wanted to have some kind of a keel. Get out my sextant and figure out where is a harbor. That sense of, What direction are we even sailing? I cant see the sky anymore, its too cloudy. Thats what I wanted, in doing this. That Hamiltonian question that I posed in the introduction. I have my students debate that question, I assign them sides. I dont let them pick which side theyre going to argue. I assign them sides and I tell them they have to argue the answer now. Its always a heated thing. It does sound kind of corny, but I do think struggling with the question is what were meant to do.

I dont think that sounds corny, that seems like the right kind of thing to be doing right about now. It wont surprise you to hear that while reading this book, I kept thinking to myself, Okay, how is this Trump moment going to come into play? How is it going to be portrayed? You dont really paint him as the once-in-history figure that a lot of people now think of him as, but rather as a product of the convergence of various trends that you illustrate. That makes it seem as if his presidency is not surprising to you. Is that how you think about this now?

Theres a reason historians try not to write about the recent past. We just dont have enough vantage on it. We dont know which way the vectors are going. When I started writing the book, I was going to end with Obamas inauguration in 2009. Just Inauguration Day: its a good scene, its a great ending, its comfortably in the past, its not that long ago. Its only nine years ago from today, as of now, the books publication. I didnt feel I had much of a perspective on anything else. It was going to be hard for me to get him elected, in terms of the narrative.

When I started writing, I didnt even imagine constructing a novel, in terms of this Chekhovian thing with the gun on the mantelpiece. Youve got to get this thing set up somehow that Barack Obama is going to get elected and inaugurated in 2009. Then, I was about at the Civil War. I wrote chronologically. When I was about at the Civil War, Trump was elected. I thought, Well, I have to abandon my plan to end with Obamas inauguration, and I have to go all the way down to Trumps election day, because its a real ground-floor political movement. It changes a lot of things. It seems to take the country in a very different direction. It seems like a complete betrayal of the people that voted for Trump to just sort of end at Obama. Its like that never happened. It wasnt even a question. Its the same history that got Obama elected and got Trump elected.

What happened in the past isnt different because Hillary Clinton didnt win, Bernie Sanders didnt win, or Marco Rubio wasnt the nominee, or Jeb Bush isnt our current president. The past is still the past that it was. The same country, more or less, save some new souls arriving and some old souls dying  it didnt really affect the electorate  elected Barack Obama and Donald Trump. It seemed, at first, like that was really going to affect the whole arc of the story somehow, but it didnt. Both of those outcomes were foretold. You can trace the origins of those very different elections to all sorts of different moments in the past. To answer your question, like I said, I had the same [feeling] you had when you were reading it. I [was] stuck in that same gear.

You were at the Civil War when Trump was elected?

Yeah.

What was that like? Not to draw too clumsy a parallel, but that must have been an, uh, interesting time.

Yeah, its a funny thing about being a historian. I started writing for The New Yorker in 2005, and then, remember, [came] the financial collapse of 2008. So, for most of the time that Ive been writing for that magazine, the question that journalists always ask historians is, Has it ever been this bad? Beginning with the global financial collapse, is this as bad as the Depression? Or is this not so bad, including polarization and economic inequality? And its not like thats the wrong question, but every time I was asked that, implicitly or otherwise, my answer is, What are you thinking of? Only if you exclude in some of your notion of history all people of color is any part of American history better than now. You know what I mean? It implies a very narrow understanding of what the American past consists of to say that the global financial collapse was the worst thing that ever happened. The Atlantic slave trade was worse. Am I making myself clear?

Yeah, absolutely.

I guess with the Trump thing, people who were really opposed to Trump would say, Other things may have been bad, but now this is really the worst thing that has ever happened. It was just more that it was tricky to be this person who was trying to quietly, studiously, do my work and continue to say, Okay, now I have to talk about Reconstruction. Pretty soon Ive got to explain populism. Now I have to explain the plutocrats of the golden age and just keep my head down and do that, and not just be tossed off the edge of my project by the storminess around me.

When it came to the central truths that youre talking about  political equality, natural rights, suffrage of the people  as you were writing about these areas, did you find that the current moment caused you to reconsider how you were going to treat them, or were you writing in a detached enough way that todays, as you say, storminess

No. I started in 2015, so it would have been pretty soon after I was really into the project that Trump declared his candidacy and [popularized] the build the wall slogan and cry. I have a vague recollection  I could be imagining this as a coincidence  that at the time I was doing the Mexican-American War, where John C. Calhoun said, Look, the reason we shouldnt be annexing Mexico is these people, theyre really not white and we cant have them be citizens, because theyd have to be second-class citizens, but were a republic, we cant have two classes of citizens. This comes up in the Lincoln-Douglas debates, when Stephen Douglas says, By our ancestors, for white men, and their posterity forever. Some of that Mexican War to Civil War, white mans republic stuff  the blood and soil of that  I guess it was just harder to read that when that storm was raging, because you want that to be a chapter well in the past that is closed and you can tuck it away and look at it under a glass, and not this thing that someone has just smashed the glass and reached back into the past and pulled the words of John C. Calhoun and [is] saying them on a national stage.

I knew they were going to read differently, do you know what I mean? Its not different. John C. Calhoun said that thing. He wrote that essay. He thought that thought. That hasnt changed, I was going to include it, I was going to quote it. Its important, it tells us a lot. But how would it read to be so different? I struggled with thinking about the force of those words on a page. Thats not, so much, to say I would include something or not include it, but, just maybe, how to use them, where to use them. Its elusive, but the ideal is writers really want to have a lot of control over their readers. I want you to go from this line to this line to this line, and not turn off the bedside light right now. I want you to bring this with you on the subway ride. You want to have a fair amount of control over your reader. That includes not going off the deep end. It all just seems a little more complicated. I suppose it also spurred me on, in a sense that I was like, All right, Im going to finish this thing now.

But did you feel an urgency then, as the campaign wore on, to write this and have it out as quickly as possible?

Yeah, I did feel that the waters were getting shallower and shallower. Our understanding of the past is shallower and shallower and shallower with each passing day, with each passing minute. Its just as deep as the distance between the top of your iPhone screen and the bottom of your iPhone case. Its less than a centimeter. Its just shrinking. I tell myself Im just trying to drag people out of the shallows and into the depth where were all drowning. I dont know, Im sorry, I get so lost in these nautical metaphors. Its just a metaphor. It sounds like Im a sailor.

One thing that struck me was the amount of time and interest you clearly placed on the history of political consulting, as well as polling and the evolution of polling. This is obviously a political history, but why was it important to you to make that behind-the-scenes piece fairly important as part of the narrative in the last century or so?

A couple reasons. One, practically, these are things Ive written about a lot before, and I have done a lot of archival research on, and I knew a lot about. Two, the book makes the argument, that is not a disputable argument, that for democracy to work, the people have to be well informed, and political consultants are laboring to give people bad information, often. Three  I dont know what number Im on now, but the book has a very strong interest in the history of technology, and technology as communication, having that political arrangement.

Im really interested in thinking about what historians call the great acceleration. The acceleration of communication and transportation, production. These kinds of technologies of communication really matter to me. Then, this question of How do we know whats true? is one that the polling industry and the political consulting industry are pretty deeply implicated in, and I think are, strangely, not so often subject to scrutiny. I think the easy villains are big money, dark money, unnamed donors, campaign spending, Citizens United, on the one hand. Or our Silicon Valley overlords or the Internet Research Agency and young people in the former Soviet Republic who are organizing political protests in Florida. Theyre a familiar cast of characters now that we blame for the destabilizing of American politics. I find it kind of remarkable that political consultants have kind of got off the hook.

So in part you have viewed this as a technological history, as well. Early in the book you make clear that this is intended as a political history. Did you wrestle, particularly in the last few chapters, with the idea of also converging an economic history, and a cultural history? It does read like that, at points.

Yeah, its funny. I was trained, first, as a legal historian, and then as a social and cultural historian. Its edged away from a lot of that work, into becoming a British political historian over the course of graduate school. My dissertation was kind of political and legal history. I do a lot of history of law stuff. History of technology is more of a vocation. Im actually fascinated by the history of technology. But theres also a lot of constitutional history in this book. I guess thats deliberate.

The way history is taught in a lot of schools has really just emphasized social and cultural history, and doesnt emphasize constitutional history or legal history, and really doesnt emphasize the history of technology. Everybodys so busy not even caring about history, because we must do STEM, STEM, STEM, STEM, STEM. The idea that STEM itself is a historical artifact, and we will get to the other side of the STEM mania and realize it was a big problem, is somehow missing. The things that the book emphasizes  political, constitutional, legal, and technological history, and theres a lot of religious history in there too  are things that interest me. But theyre things I think are the most important things, if I had to choose. Also, theyre the things that we, in some ways, have given the least attention to, and certainly, I think, the left, liberal academy has given less attention to.

Something that clearly distinguishes this book from other American history narratives is how its organized: chronologically, but thematically, as well. Why do you think the best way to understand this history is these four phases into which you organize the book: The Idea, The People, The State, The Machine?

The book is unlike a lot of more popular accounts of the history of the country in that it has  theres a whole quarter of the book that is really before the Constitution, or up through the Constitution. How I understood the structure was, I wanted to go spelunking and find the origins of these three ideas on which the nation was founded. They have long histories. I started, somewhat arbitrarily, in 1492, but I really wanted to spend a good quarter of the book figuring out where did these ideas come from. Thats the Idea part. Then People is really the democratizing of that idea, those ideas, the history of republican democracy and the disunion that is part of that.

The State, which runs from the end of the Civil War to the end of the Second World War, was about the rise of federal power and nationalizing of the government. Theres all kinds of new theories and arguments about the powers of states and the limits of states, and the wars between nation-states obviously characterize the 21st century in a different way. And the 20th century. I guess the controversial thing is the Machine part. That part of the book is usually called  the 46 to present, I would say, in a textbook-y way  its usually called America in the World or The Global America. Some kind of George Kennany kind of foreign policy, Council of Foreign Relations something. Usually in textbooks, the last generation ends in 1989  more like 1991  they end at the end of the Cold War. If you tell that story, that goes from 46 to 1991, then you do have America in the World. Then you have a kind of Fukuyama kind of the end of history tidy something. But thats not the story, really. That doesnt cover the internet, 9/11, the war on terrorism, disruptive innovation, and this era of populism. That doesnt look the same way. That America in the World label? Quaint isnt exactly the right word to describe it, but the label no longer applies. I decided to think about it, in part, in faintly hard technological terms.

In some ways it reads as if the last few chapters of our history  to you, at least  are in many ways the story of the internet.

I think maybe theres a bold emphasis on that because that is least told. Theres some kind of contribution to be had. I think excavating the origin of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 seems like an important contribution. I dont think people know that, what that really was. Maybe, God willing, the books in print and Ill be revising it one day, maybe it wouldnt look like thats the most important thing, then. Maybe the refugee crisis, what it set off in other parts of the world would look like the most important thing. Maybe economic change in those years will have such deep and lasting consequences that the internet was seen as a mere distraction. We dont know. Thats the hard part about trying to write a history that goes almost to the present.

Theres a lot of material these days.

A lot of ?

Material, these days.

Yeah. Theres a lot going on.

This interview has been edited and condensed.A maid of honour has taken to Facebook to share the horrendous months she spent planning the wedding of a woman she calls 'a true bridezilla'.

Marissa* said the ordeal began with the soon-to-be bride, Charlotte*, demanding her boyfriend propose to her by July 31 2018.

'She announces during this girls' night that she is expecting a ring by July or she will take an oath of silence against future hubby,' Marissa said.

'Seeing that she is clearly acting psychotic, my friend and I try to talk her off a cliff by trying to convince her to compromise and show a little patience.'

A maid of honour has taken to Facebook to share the horrendous months she had to spend with a woman she calls 'a true bridezilla' (stock image)

Marissa, who had spoken to the boyfriend in question, said they told her that something was in the works but she should 'try to be understanding'.

'I later find out that she cried the whole ride home, started a fight with future hubby about being an a**hole for not proposing, and cried herself to sleep that night,' Marissa said.

'She also claimed that we bullied her into thinking he was not going to propose- ever. It never happened like that. Sure as sh*t, a week before the deadline, the proposal happens.'

Unfortunately this is only where the drama began as Marissa was soon asked to be maid of honour.

Although Marissa was reluctant to accept the offer because they were drifting apart and she said she knew she was going to be dealing with a 'control freak', she did accept, and said she would do anything she could to make it the best day possible.

Marissa* said the ordeal began with the soon-to-be bride, Charlotte*, demanding her boyfriend to propose to her by July 31 2018

'A month or two later, I notify her that I am planning on competing in a fitness show PRIOR to her wedding,' she wrote.

'This means the whole competition would be over before her wedding. She cries, tells me I am being selfish, and then proceeds to say I won't be any fun at the bachelorette.

She cries, tells me I am being selfish, and then proceeds to say I won't be any fun at the bachelorette

'Shame on me for not stopping my entire life to accommodate her wedding YEAR.'

When it came to the engagement party, Charlotte planned a lavish Gatsby-themed event, but threw a tantrum when she had to scale down due to their budget.

Marissa found herself tending the bar, completely by choice, as they didn't hire any staff to help with the function and were expecting the Father of the Groom to work it the entire night.

When it comes to the engagement party Charlotte planned a lavish Gatsby themed event, but threw a tantrum when she had to scale down due to their budget

She was then later told she was being anti-social for helping out.

When it came to dress shopping for the bridesmaids Marissa was forced to pay $115 for their lunch before Charlotte picked out dresses that all cost over $200.

To make things even worse, the maid of honour found out only days before the shopping venture that her boyfriend of two years had been cheating on her for a year and a half.

'I was shattered but did not want to let her down so I decided to suck it up and promised myself that I would not talk about it,' Marissa said.

'That promise went out the window as soon as she asked me how my vacation went. I instantly burst into tears.'

When it came to dress shopping for the bridesmaids Marissa was forced to pay $115 for their lunch before Charlotte picked out dresses that all cost over $200

Charlotte then pretended to know about the affair, which Marissa said was an attempt to have the spotlight back on her.

'The wedding shower cost me about $800 as she asked for all bridesmaids to pitch in $250 for the shower,' she said.

When I refused to pay $140 for 12 pastries her mother sent me a threatening text

'I paid for invites, party games, some food, and miscellaneous items that she requested.

'When I refused to pay $140 for 12 pastries her mother sent me a threatening text.'

Finally, two days before Charlotte's wedding shower, Marissa went to her cousin's fiance's bachelorette party.

She said when she did go to help set up for the shower the day after, she was greeted by a seething mother of the bride asking her why she didn't go shopping with the bridezilla the night before.

Marissa then spent four hours at her house prepping and supplied coffee and breakfast at 8am the next day for a 10 hour long bridal shower.

When she did finally get a hold of her the bride rattled on a list of ways Marissa had disappointed her

Following this, the maid of honour was ignored for a week and a half as Charlotte ignored all calls, texts and Facebook messages.

When she did finally get a hold of her the bride rattled out a list of ways that Marissa had disappointed her.

'She said it was ridiculous that I bullied her into thinking she would never be proposed to, I didn't comment on her engagement post saying she would be the "most beautiful bride ever" and I didn't like enough of her pre-wedding posts,' Marissa said.

'I didn't spend enough time or effort on her wedding (refer back to all money spent) and I had time to go on vacation and attend "some girl's" bachelorette (my cousin's fiance) but not food shopping with her.

'I was selfish for wanting to compete in a fitness show during her "wedding time", and I was rude and disrespectful to her mother (who threatened me for not wanting to spend $140 on 12 pastries).'

Charlotte ended the call saying if Marissa really cared about her she would have showed up at her house when she was being ignored and told her we should no longer be friends.

'A week later I get a letter in the mail reiterating we are no longer friends and that I am not welcome at the wedding,' she said.

'Coincidentally, my friend and roommate that was also in the wedding gets the same style letter.'

* All names have been changedHolidays are great but packing can be a challenging task, especially when you're struggling to fit in all your essentials.

And opening up a luggage to a jumbled pile of mess isn't something anyone wants to deal with on their much-needed break.

But Australian travellers have revealed a $9 Kmart item they swear by that has helped them pack a perfectly organised suitcase every time.

Packing cubes have become the holy grail of suitcase perfection for travellers everywhere - and people are raving about the space-saving product.

The light-weight zip-up bags come in a set of three - and they allow travellers to compartmentalise their essentials within a suitcase.

And it's not hard to see why the cubes have become the must-have travelling staple.

An Australian traveller shared a picture of her perfect suitcase after using the packing cubes she purchased for $9 from Kmart

Holidays are great but packing can be a challenging task, especially when you're struggling to fit in all your essentials (stock image)

The Kmart product comes in a pack of three

'I took this travel opportunity to use the $9 packing cubes and I have to say, I am gobsmacked. So impressed with how much I can fit in my suitcase using them,' a woman, who runs Kmart Styling Facebook page, said.

'I love the idea of these cubes  I know where all my things are, theyre easy to access and put back and the best news of all . I still have plenty of room left in my suitcase so I can shop and buy some more stuff to bring back home.'

And many travellers revealed the surprising space the packing cubes have created in their suitcases.

'Great for organising and can fit so much when clothes are rolled or folded correctly,' one said.

Another mother said: 'Love love them! Use them for everything and have three sets. I use the smallest pouch to organise my little ones nappy bag essentials.'

Opening up a luggage to a jumbled pile of mess isn't something anyone wants to deal with on their much-needed break (stock image)

Packing cubes have become the holy grail of suitcase perfection for travellers everywhere

Packing cubes allow travellers to compartmentalise their essentials within a suitcase

One woman raved: My girl and I took these cubes to her USA dance competition. Think we had 12 in total with her costume but when we where sharing rooms with others mothers and girls, our bags were so much neater as they were in their cubes. My girl didn't look like her suitcase had exploded everywhere, we love them.'

And another added: 'Packing cubes best thing since sliced bread.'

Escape readers have also shared their obsessions with Kmart packing cubes.

'We found the packing cubes meant NO MORE searching for anything and having to re-pack and re-sort continually. Very much like a suitcase filing cabinet,' one said.

Another revealed: 'My suitcase has never been so neat, compact and organised. Group together items; seasonal, dirty, underwear. Packs can be placed straight into the hotel wardrobe for easy access and then pop back into the bag quickly and easily.'

And another traveller explained: 'I cannot recommend packing cubes enough. When you get to your destination you just lift out the cube, unzip and pop in a drawer. Things arent so creased as they dont slide around in the case.'Although it seems like only yesterday Brazilian swimwear was at the height of popularity, a new trend is swiftly taking its place.

People are calling the trend the 'floss bikini' due to its similarity to dental string.

It is expected that the trend will soon appear on Australian beaches during the warmer months as it's currently being flaunted all over Instagram.

People are calling the trend the 'floss bikini' due to its similarity to dental string, after all, less is more

It is expected that the trend will soon appear on Australian beaches during the warmer months as it's currently being flaunted all over Instagram

Overseas the bikini has been spotted on the likes of Kim Kardashian, Emily Ratajkowski and Perry Edwards.

On Australian shores influencers and celebrities such as Gabrielle Epstein, Karina Irby and DJ Tigerlily have also all shared snaps in the swimwear.

Floss bikinis feature tiny pieces of material, which are kept together by thin ties that look like they could come undone at any second.

Others have no ties at all but simply a thin strip material securing the front and back.

On Australian shores people such as Gabrielle Epstein (pictured) have shared snaps in the swimwear

It features tiny pieces of material, with some being kept together by thin ties that look like they could come undone at any second

The potential issue with this trend is the fact that it could be easy to accidentally expose themselves

This allows people to flaunt their bodies as the swimwear leaves little to the imagination.

With the warmer months rolling around it is expected that the trend will be in full swing on Australian beaches in the weeks to come.

However, it is not for the faint of heart.

With the warmer months rolling around it is expected that the trend will be in full swing

For those wanting to shop the trend, people can buy similar bikinis from sites such as Indaia Swim, Glassons and Sommer Swim.

The 'floss bikini' trend follows other recent swimwear trends, including the V-kini loved by Kendall Jenner and Rita Ora.An 11-year-old autistic boy who was banned from having his picture taken at school - is now modelling for River Island, H&M and Land Rover.

Alfie Aldridge was born with high functioning autism which means he finds it difficult to work in groups of his own age and will often become aggressive.

His dad, Gary Aldridge, 50, claims his primary school said Alfie could not take part in plays or have his picture taken.

He said the school assumed they wouldn't be able to control him properly.

Alfie Aldridge, who was born with high functioning autism, has forged a successful modelling career after being told he wasn't allowed to take part in school pictures. Pictured: Alfie modelling for River Island

But Gary says after deciding to change primary schools to specialist Larwood School, in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, at the age of six, Alfie has thrived in his education and his modelling.

Gary, who has split from Alfie's mum, adds: 'I was told that Alfie can't have his school photo taken.

'I admit he was a handful - but we just didn't know he was being held back.

'It really stressed me out, they just didn't have the resources and was just left, really. He lost the best of two years of his life.

His father Gary (pictured with Alfie) says after deciding to change primary schools to specialist Larwood School, in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, at the age of six, Alfie has thrived in his education and his modelling

Alfie was first scouted after appearing in a play in Letchworth when one of Gary's friends an actor, spotted his potential and recommended Alfie to a modelling agency

'But now, he just seems different - he has grown into the boy he is.'

Whilst Alfie was attending Larwood School, they noticed a big change in him and joined him to Britton Performing school in Letchworth - he has since performed in Gordon Craig Theatre staring in the Rhythm of Life.

It was during this time, Alfie was recommended to a modelling agency after an actor and friend of the family, John Christian, spotted his potential.

Businessman Gary said: 'When my friend John was speaking to me he spotted the potential in Alfie and said there is something special about him.

'But I brushed off that comment because I thought he couldn't have his picture taken, but my friend said 'anything is possible'.

Alfie (pictured posing for his portfolio) has now starred in campaigns for H&M, River Island and Landrover

Gary says that being on set relaxes his son and that it has helped him to 'come out of himself'

'And he arranged for a professional photographer to take pictures of him.'

Gary says John Christian set up a photo shoot for Alfie and soon after he was picked up by Zebedee Management, an agency for models with disabilities.

But Gary, who also has two daughters Marie, 27, Sophie, 22, and a step-daughter Leanne, 30, adds: 'He goes from being a boy to just doing it - he is a performer.

'Being on set really relaxes him - it was like he was born to do it, it has helped him to come out of himself.

'That is why when we found his real passion and I realised he was so much more relaxed it was such a relief, it felt like a weight off my shoulders.

Alfie said he loves modelling and wants to be a 'top model' when he is older

'I just want people to know that disabilities can't stop your dreams.

'The modelling and acting has made him grow so much, because even when he doesn't get jobs with his modelling he is learning to deal with it and doesn't get angry like he would have done.

'He is different boy, he has gone from a boy that was angry all the time and is now so confident.

'It is just fabulous - his confidence has just skyrocketed. From a boy that was angry all the time he is now so confident.

'We have had a really tough journey - with the lack of help that was out there and I struggled to get any information.

'I've been to hell and back, but it's been worth it for him. Before leaving mainstream school it looked like we had no hope, but the things he's achieved now are fantastic.

Although, the youngster has previously had problems growing up, Alfie is happy he has found what he is destined for.

Alfie said: 'I am very excited about my modelling and it makes me very excited when I am doing the modelling.

'I love it, I want to be a top model when I am older. I don't really get nervous but when I first started I was quite nervous.

'I talk to my friends about it at school and they say it is really cool.

'When I go in for a shoot they do my hair and makeup and it makes me feel like a celebrity.

'It is really, really fun I like going to London because my dad will take me to Five Guys as well.'A woman who almost threw out an old handbag that had been lying in a damp garage for seven years has revealed her shock after discovering the bin-bound accessory is an Art Deco gem worth 3,800.

Linda Pritchard, a dinner lady from Denbigh, Wales, found the chainmail gold bag gathering dust in her sister Margaret's garage and was close to dumping it at her local skip.

However, 61-year-old Linda, who has poor eyesight, took the bag along to her local optician to check whether the bag carried a hallmark.

Valuer Jane Williams, from antiques house Hansons, pictured with the bag that Linda Pritchard, from Denbigh, Wales, found in the garage of her sister Margaret's house. The pair had initially decided to throw the bag out...but asked a local optician to check for a hallmark

The Art Deco bag had in fact once belonged to socialite Dora Jones, who took it aboard cruise liner holidays in the 40s and 50s, and found its way into the Pritchard sisters' hands after her husband, Gwyn Jones, was cared for by Margaret and gifted it to her

And she was stunned when she discovered it was in fact made of 15 carat gold and had once belonged to a wealthy socialite, Dora Jones, in the 1950s.

Inside the bag contained photographs and documents showing it was an Art Deco Emanuel Joseph design made in 1913.

Linda's sister Margaret, 59, a shop worker also from Denbigh, explained how the siblings came to own the bag: 'I used to care for a gentleman called Gwyn Jones and he left the bag to me, which belonged to his late wife Dora, when he died.

'It ended up languishing in a garage for seven years, lost amid personal letters and photos.

'I kept Mr Jones' things in Linda's garage because I didn't know what to do with them.

After spotting the hallmark, the optician advised the sisters to get it professionally valued, where it was identified as a Emanuel Joseph design made in 1913. The bag has its original leather lining

The photos included in the bag offered a glimpse of life as a socialite in the forties and fifties with black-and-white images of holidays on cruise liners HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Queen Mary

'They were someone's personal items. They were there for a number of years until Linda wanted to clear out the garage.

'One day we went to sort it out and, as things were a bit damp, I started to throw things in the bin.

'We came across the bag and I just thought we would never use this, so said to Linda 'get rid. But she kept it. I never gave it a second thought.

'But later that night, I thought 'why would Mr Jones keep this, the only thing left from his wife?'

Dinner lady Linda, 61, also from Denbigh, said: 'Margaret thought the bag was junk but I wasn't so sure.

'I haven't got very good eyesight so I took it to my optician's and said, 'Can you do me a favour, can you see if there's a hallmark?'

'I thought he could look at it with his magnifying equipment. He told me it was 15 carat American gold.

'I was flabbergasted, it almost ended up in the bin. It could have gone to the tip.'

Vintage: The handbag came with a variety of photos captured on board cruise liners in their heyday, with bathing suit competitions

Dora with her first husband David Archibald, from Southport, enjoying life aboard the Queen Mary. She went on to marry Gwyn Jones who eventually gifted the bag to Margaret Pritchard

Notes were also found in the handbag detailing voyages taken around Europe, including this photo of 'Captain Cove's table'

The bag has its original leather lining and is thought to have royal cruise ship pedigree.

It was found tucked away amid atmospheric images of life aboard RMS Elizabeth and RMS Queen Mary in the 1940s and 50s.

Tne bag is expected to fetch around 3,800 when it goes under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers in Derbyshire next month.

Valuer Jane Williams said: 'We know from all the paperwork and images found with the bag that it belonged to Dora Jones, a wealthy socialite once married to David Archibald, of Birkdale, Southport.

And the bag also contained a clipping from 1963 detailing the sudden death of Dora's husband David Archibald after his car collided with a sign-post in Formby

'David, general secretary of the North Atlantic British Liner Committee, received an OBE in 1948 for services to the shipping industry.

'The bag comes with amazing provenance including numerous photos of the couple aboard RMS Queen Mary and RMS Queen Elizabeth, which is why we believe it may have been used on glamorous journeys between Southampton and New York where the cruise ships operated.

'The provenance includes letters of congratulation on Mr Archibald's OBE and, sadly, letters of condolence.

'He died suddenly, aged 61, in 1963 after his car was in collision with a keep-left sign. A newspaper cutting reveals he had a heart attack at the wheel.

'All the letters and pictures of happy times aboard RMS Queen Mary, which operated from 1936 to 1967, and RMS Queen Elizabeth, which entered service as an ocean liner in 1946, were treasured by Dora, who later married Mr Jones.'The parents of an 11-year-old boy with a love of performing as a drag artist say his confidence has been boosted by dressing up - and they ignore negative comments.

Jason Thomas Kerr, from Missouri, has been strutting his stuff on stages all over the US and Canada as his 'confident' and 'sassy' alter-ego SuzanBee Anthony for more than two years.

Despite being told by some that he shouldn't be performing as a drag artist, Jason, who came out as gay at just ten, has no plans to stop, and his family are behind him all the way.

The youngster first started dressing as a girl at the age of three, donning dresses and applying full make-up and wigs, with the help of his sisters.

Jason Thomas Kerr, 11, first became interested in performing as a drag artist after he went to Pride with his parents Victoria, 40, and Greg, 34. For the last two years, Jason has performed on stage as SuzanBee Anthony, with the full support of his mother and father

Jason, dressed as SuzanBee for a performance, has enjoyed wearing girls clothes since he was a toddler - and his mother says getting on stage has boosted his confidence

Mother Victoria says: 'It's like flipping a switch to SuzanBee, he has more confidence and is very sassy' (Pictured: Jason dressed as his alter ego)

The youngster now has some 25 outfits and has separated out his clothes into two wardrobes, one for every day life and one for his performances

After he declared an interest in the world of drag when he attended a Pride festival for the first time, his parents Victoria and Greg, 40, and 34 respectively, offered to support him to help him fulfil his dream of getting on stage.

They describe drag as a 'family affair' with even his sisters Olivia and Trinity, 19 and 17, lending a hand to select outfits and apply make-up to transform their brother into a colourful queen.

Now the aspiring drag diva has a wardrobe of 25 outfits including tutus, pink print, jewellery, feather boas, sequins and more.

Despite most people praising the parents for empowering their son from such a young age, they have claimed some religious officials have condemned the actions.

Victoria, a preschool teacher, said: 'He loves doing drag and it gives him so much confidence. There is definitely a difference between Jason and SuzanBee.

'Jason tends to be a little shy but then it's like flipping a switch to SuzanBee, he has more confidence and is very sassy.

'Seeing the change in him and how happy he is, makes my heart burst with happiness.

We live in the middle of a bible-belt state, so some people are close-minded to drag culture. If it takes talking about this to open more minds, that's fine with me... Victoria Kerr, Jason's mother

'It's so exciting seeing him perform, he can get up there and do what he does. It makes us feel happy as a family watching him strut his stuff.

'I just want my kids to be happy and do what makes them feel complete, I feel that drag does that for Jason.

'I couldn't care less about what people think of me, I know some people are closed minded to gay and drag culture, but generally, people are supportive.

'Two years ago, a lady came up to me and said, 'your daughter is so pretty,' when I told her he was my son she said, 'oh my god, that's even better.'

Pride: Jason's family say they support him and will happily share his love of drag if it means more people will be more tolerant of the LGBTQ community

Jason has already expressed his sexuality, telling his mother he had a crush on a boy at school

Role model: The family say other older drag queens have congratulated them on supporting Jason and letting him do what makes him happy

'Jason is not the son I expected to have, I expected him to like trucks and getting dirty working on cars, but my son basically strutted out the womb. To me he is perfect the way he is.'

Since starting drag SuzanBee has performed for projects to raise funds for the Aids Foundation and at multiple Pride events from Oklahoma City to Montreal and others.

The mum-of-three added: 'Seeing him out there and like, 'This is me, this is who I am' is fantastic and makes me so proud.

'Young gay people and drag queens come up to us and say they wish they could have 'came out' in their younger life like Jason.'

Victoria says her son always exhibited 'effeminate' qualities from an early age and to support him they ensured bullying was never tolerated at school.

The encouragement showed by his family led Jason to officially 'come out' last year.

Victoria said: 'I'm so glad he could talk to us, it was like a regular conversation.

'He came in and told us he had a crush on someone at school, he told us his name and that he made him happy.

Jason, seen on stage as SuzanBee, counts Ru Paul, Lady Gaga, Meghan Trainor and his 'drag granny' Ruby Diamond as his mentors in life

Organised: His regular wardrobe includes more practical clothes, with his 25 drag outfits in a different, separate closet

'Jason never doubted our support or felt he had to hide it, he was just like 'this is me' and 'this is what I like.'

'We knew he was feminine acting when he was really small, we were always protective and never let anyone bully him.

'For me there was never any choice but to be supportive of my son.'

Jason draws inspiration from superstars ranging from Ru Paul, Lady Gaga, Meghan Trainor and his 'drag granny' Ruby Diamond who encouraged him to start performing.

His family hope to continue spreading the word about young drag performers and to open more minds.

Victoria said: 'I love sharing what he does, we live in the middle of a bible belt state, so some people are closed minded to gay and drag culture.

'If it takes talking every day talking about this to open more minds that's fine with me and that's what I'll do.

'We've had bible verses quoted to us on Facebook, I normally block them and don't even dignify them with a response. I don't want them to have power.

'Every year at pride there is a religious official who tries to get confrontational, he thinks 'they are all going to hell. But I happen to believe in a god who loves everyone and we are all very different.'It's just three months since Zara and Mike Tindall welcomed their new daughter Lena into the world - but any potential sleepless nights haven't zapped their energy.

Mother-of-two Zara, 37, donned marine blue lycra as she hopped on to a bicycle to launch a charity ride raising awareness and funds for ocean conservation.

The royal couple weren't just posing for the cameras either. Mike, 39, and Zara joined 100 riders on the first leg to of the Blue Marine Foundation's annual London-to-Monaco cycle ride, pedalling from Herne Hill Velodrome in south London to Dover.

While most new mums might baulk at the idea of 85 miles in the saddle, Zara looked fresh-faced and ready to pedal, having built up her fitness with recent appearances at equestrian events across the UK.

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Let's go! Zara and Mike Tindall pictured this morning at Herne Hill Velodrome; the couple, who welcomed daughter Lena on June 18th, joined 100 cyclists on the first 85-mile leg of a London to Monaco charity ride

Proving she's getting back to peak fitness after giving birth to her three-month-old daughter, Zara looked happy and relaxed as she joined 100 cyclists heading all the way to Monaco

From horse to cycle: Zara has already competed on numerous occasions at equestrian events since giving birth; the Queen's granddaughter said the first time she rode a horse after labour was difficult

They joined more than 100 cyclists who are taking part in the seven-day challenge that aims to raise funds to help Blues aim of protecting vast tracts of the worlds oceans.

The couple are keen sailors and have developed a great respect for the seas.

The Queens granddaughter said: Our oceans are constantly under threat and its for that reason that we are joining 100 brave cyclists in raising awareness around vital marine conservation projects like Blues so that they can receive the funding and support they need.

Tindall, a former England rugby star, said: Both myself and Zara believe its really important to help protect the oceans for our children and future generations to enjoy.

Today, well be getting on our bikes to help Blue raise awareness for their fantastic conservation projects. The first leg is certainly going to be a challenge but were hoping our competitive streak will help us through.

The couple, donning marine blue lycra, said they were committed to supporting marine conservation charities: Tindall said: 'Both myself and Zara believe its really important to help protect the oceans for our children and future generations'

The mother-of-two enjoyed a joke before setting out on the 85-mile leg to Dover, which her husband said would be a 'challenge' for the couple

Keen sailors Zara and Mike, pictured at the start, have long been supporters of the Blue Marine Foundation

Mike and Zara Tindall lead the riders off from Herne Hill Velodrome (Tim Ireland/PA)

Blue was established in 2010 and is dedicated to creating marine reserves and establishing sustainable models of fishing.

The charity has helped protect four million square kilometres of ocean, and this year funds will go towards supporting key projects like the Mediterranean rollout of locally managed protected areas.

Its mission is the active and effective protection of 10% of the worlds oceans by 2020 and 30 per cent by 2030.A trophy hunter has spoken out in defence of her controversial hobby - just days after celebrities rallied together to call for the end of big game hunting.

Olivia Opre, 41, appeared on ITV's This Morning via live video link from her home in Wyoming, where she discussed the reaction to her friend and fellow hunter Britney Longoria who recently posed with a large male leopard that she had shot.

The mother-of-four, who was stood in front of an enormous stuffed lion and lioness in her home that she had killed, said that the reason she takes part is to get close to nature.

She said: I think what it is, it's bringing me to a place where I get to be a part of these wild places. And amongst the people of these areas, its the adventure, its the pursuit.

Its something that pushes you to a limit you are not comfortable with and it takes you out of your comfort zone and for me hunting is just being in the wild.'

Trophy hunter Olivia Opre appeared live from Wyoming on ITV's This Morning where she defended her controversial hobby and said that she gets a thrill out of being closer to nature. Pictured, Olivia

The US mother-of-four has travelled the world in search of prey and said she has killed around 100 different species - but didn't reveal the exact amount of animals she had slaughtered in her pursuit

Olivia explained to horrified presenters Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby that she had travelled the world in search of prey - including endangered species that she was happy to kill.

'Theres an extensive list, I have hunted on six continents, all over Africa, Ive been on about 40 safaris in eight different countries so about 100 species altogether Id say.'

The former Miss America contestant has been hunting since she was 16, and has killed a hippo, a Cape Buffalo and darted a black rhino and a male lion in Benin in West Africa.

Olivia believes the main problem is the way in which hunters took pictures of their kills and distributed them was the upsetting part and wanted to take efforts to change it.

She went on to claim that hunting helps the wildlife conservation efforts which irked Holly and Phillip.

Celebrities slammed a female hunter named Britany Longoria who went viral for smiling and posing with the giant leopard she killed. The picture was originally shared on the Safari Club International (SCI) website and went viral soon afterwards

Beauty and the beast: Opre, pictured posing with a representation of a zebra, was once a winner of Miss Nebraska and entered into the Miss America beauty pageant

ITV presenters Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield were horrified at Olivia's defence that killing animals helped preserve them

The mother-of four has visited six continents and being on over 40 safaris in different countries in pursuit of a kill, and says that she wants to reconsider the photos she and other hunters share

'Ultimately hunters are the ones giving so much back to preserving these wild species,' Olivia said.

'How is that possible by killing an animal how is that giving back to the species? How? that doesn't make sense,' a desparing Holly asked.

'There's a lot of places where no photographers are going to go to Liberia and take a photograph but hunters have a desire to go to new places and as a result of these hunters coming in they are creating jobs.'

She also said that there was continued anti-poaching efforts, and reiterated that poaching was illegal and hunting was not and helped conservation.

Wildlife conservationist and Big Cat Society member Giles Clark, who was in the ITV studio, fumed that what Olivia was doing was 'abhorrent, unethical, immoral and unnecessary'.

This Morning airs weekdays on ITV at 10.30amThe family of a two-year-old boy with just weeks to live have revealed how they've brought Christmas forward so they can enjoy one final yuletide together.

Brody Allen, from Cincinnati, Ohio, was diagnosed with a embryonal brain cancer (ETMR) - an extremely rare brain tumour - in May, and despite several rounds of chemotherapy, his family have been told by doctors he has just weeks left.

The little boy's mother Shilo decided to ask friends and neigbours who live close by to donate festive gifts and help decorate the family home - and she says she's been overwhelmed by the goodwill received.

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Brody Allen, two, from Cincinnati, Ohio, was given two months to live five weeks ago. His family, including mother Shilo, pictured holding Brody, fear he won't live to see this Christmas and so have brought the festive celebration forwards

The little boy, who has spent several months undergoing chemotherapy after his diagnosis in May, has spent time enjoying festive decorations and receiving gifts at his family home

The family home in Cincinnati, Ohio, has been bedecked with Christmas lights and festive inflatables to ensure the family can enjoy a final festive season togethe

Ahead of a traditonal Christmas dinner on September 25th, the family have bedecked their home inside and outside of the home with lights, inflatable festive figures and bellowing seasonal music.

Struggling to find enough Christmas decorations in September to complete their vision, the Allen family set up a Facebook page, 'Team Brody', asking neighbours and members of their local town to donate more lights.

Incredibly, not only were the Allen's gifted with an abundance of fairy lights and tinsel, but their neighbours began decorating their own homes, too.

Soon, the entire street looked like Christmas had descended.

Delighted by the kindness of strangers, the Allen's insist Brody knows no difference when it comes to the date, and, in his mind, it's 'just Christmas'.

Big sister McKenzie, 21, said: 'Christmas has always been a very special time for our family.

'When we knew Brody wasn't going to make it to Christmas this year, we decided to make it come early and bring it to him.

Brody's family have been delighted by the amount of cards and gifts that have been sent to the house after people heard they were bringing Christmas forward

Brody surrounded by neighbours on his festive drive-way; a scan in August confirmed that chemotherapy to treat tumours on his brain had been ineffective

Instead of December 25th, the family will now sit down to eat a traditional festive dinner on September 25th

'Knowing how much he enjoyed Christmas last year, we had to do it for him - we wanted to pack in as many happy memories with him before he leaves.

'We realised we didn't have [many decorations], so we asked if anyone had any extras they'd be willing to donate - and it just exploded from there.

And Brody loves the lights that are adoring his street. Mckenzie added:

'He just woke up one day, saw all of the lights and has been in awe ever since.

'He loves sitting in his wagon and looking at the lights at night; he loves opening all the presents and mail he's receiving.

He's been so strong through all of this and he's really what inspires us to be strong. I can't begin to explain how much everyone's support has meant to our family... Brody Allen's mother, Shilo

'Everything everyone has done for us means the world.

'They greatest gift they've given us is strength - strength when we needed it the most.'

Brody was diagnosed in May after her awoke at home feeling extremely dizzy and soon became unable to walk.

Rushing him to the hospital and believing the issue to be an ear infection, Shilo was soon given the devastating news by doctors, who they confirmed Brody was suffering from an extremely rare type of brain cancer. ETMR affects around only 300 people.

After Brody endured several months of chemotherapy, a follow-up scan on August 4th confirmed the family's worst fears - the treatment had been unsuccessful and there was nothing more doctors could do.

Brody's mother says her son loves the Christmas lights and sits watching them twinkling

Determined to make the last few weeks of his life as special as possible, McKenzie and the rest of her family will be sitting down for Brody's final Christmas dinner on September 25th.

McKenzie, a dispatch operator, said: 'When we realised the treatment had failed, it was hard for all of us - including the doctors.

'Brody had taken to the chemo so well, so it was such a shock to find out it hadn't worked.

'However, we had to push that aside and make the most of our time with Brody.

'He's been so strong through all of this and he's really what inspires us to be strong.

'I can't begin to explain how much everyone's support has meant to our family.

'This is the worst time in our lives, and instead of focusing on the even worse moments ahead, we're able to focus on the happy ones now - and that's all thanks to complete strangers.

She added: 'So many have touched our hearts in ways we can't repay. All I can say is a huge thank you to everyone.

'You've given my baby brother the best Christmas ever and given us as a family a support system that is worldwide.'A mother has revealed how her toddler son was prevented from eating the mini cookies in his lunch box because nursery staff deemed the snack too unhealthy.

Laura Lee told how she had sent her two-year-old son to nursery with a packed lunch of sandwiches, cheese, crackers and chopped fruit and veg and had added three mini cookies as an extra treat.

However she claimed the cookies were returned home uneaten as they are considered 'unhealthy'.

British mother Laura Lee shared this photo of her toddler son's lunch box. She revealed how the mini cookies were returned home uneaten as they were deemed too 'unhealthy'

The mother shared a photo of her son's well-balanced lunch box on Facebook in response to a story by Plymouth Live in which teachers shared stories of the worst school lunches they had seen.

One recalled a mother who sent her child to school with a can of Red Bull, saying: 'Hed had a late night on his Xbox and seemed like he needed a pick-me-up.'

Another grandmother sent a pupil to primary school with leftover Macdonalds because she didn't want the fast food to 'go to waste'.

The mother shared the post on Facebook, pictured, revealing her surprise when the cookies were returned. It was shared in response to a newspaper story about bad school lunches

After the newspaper asked readers for examples of their own 'bad' school lunches, Mrs Lee submitted her own story.

She posted: 'I sent my 2.5 yr old son to school with this and the cookies got sent home because theyre unhealthy - there was 3 MINI Cookies.'

It was accompanied by a photo of the lunch box, which was packed with sliced cucumber, peppers, celery and grapes, as well as a dollop of peanut butter, sandwiches on brown bread, a small helping of cheese and crackers.

Parents were shocked by the nursery's response and praised the mother's 'well balanced' meal

In one of the compartment were three mini cookies, which were smaller than the cheese crackers.

Parents and teachers alike were left shocked by the nursery's policy.

One posted: 'Looks like you took time and effort to his lunch fun and appealing. Absolute rubbish that he wasnt allowed to get those small cookies. Everything in moderation surely.'

Another added: 'I work in a nursery and believe me, I have seen some terrible packed lunches in the past! This looks perfect to me!'Brett Kavanaughs high-school friend, reformed bad boy, and now defender of the patriarchy: Mark Judge. Photo: Mark Judge via Facebook

The most obvious threat to Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh from the testimony of Christine Blasey Ford is that he may have committed a very serious crime when he allegedly assaulted her with an apparent rape in mind. That and the fact that he may be lying about it are both disqualifiers for the job he wants, and quite possibly for the job he has.

But more subtly, Fords story of prepsters gone violently wild in 1983 suggests that for all of Kavanaughs maturity, urbanity, education, and carefully cultivated respectability, he remains a man whose respect for women is lacking. That in turn could perhaps lead him to deny them, to choose an example, control over their reproductive systems.

Fords account of the fateful night introduces a new element into what might have been a nearly insoluble he-said she-said deadlock: the presence of a third party, Mark Judge. It is not a particularly good sign for Kavanaugh that Judge (after denying any recollection of the party where Ford said she was assaulted) is at this point refusing to testify before the Judiciary Committee. But even if he was offering a more robust defense of his old friend, theres another problem. Yes, Judge has matured since his days at Georgetown Prep: from an admitted alcoholic to a sort-of-conservative Catholic man-boy who still has some sexual and gender issues he is working out. Unfortunately for himself and for Kavanaugh, hes working them out in public as a writer. And he is thus not the most convincing witness to Kavanaughs moral purity then or now. He actually comes across more as the wingman from hell who, all these many years later, is still struggling to keep it in his pants.

Even as Republican senators flounder around in an effort to avoid dragging Judge into the worlds biggest spotlight as an eyewitness to the alleged assault or as a character witness for his high-school buddy, Judges relentlessly self-revelatory jottings about both drunken and sober encounters with women are spreading quickly to a fascinated and appalled new readership. Heres a tight but comprehensive description of the Judge oeuvre from the Washington Post:

His acquired-at-midlife seriousness about religion may have curbed his predatory instincts, but it did not, it seems, keep him from taking a good look at former prey when given the opportunity, as he indicated in a creepy 2012 article entitled I Am a Catholic Bikini Paparazzo:

If I had been 24 and my former atheist self, I would have thought I had achieved pure bliss. I would have never gone home.

But Im not 24 anymore, and Im Catholic. And I had just been asked to spend three hours taking pictures of beautiful women in bikinis  and get paid for it.

It was a long and not very interesting story about how he happened upon a pool party full of very, very attractive women. Dancing. In sexy bathing suits. And drinking cocktails. He happened to have a camera, and asked to take some photos; he did so while struggling with lust and mumbling prayers to St. Teresa. Yuck yuck yuck.

Judge had, by then, written an entire book aimed (as best as I can tell from blurbs and one short review) at reconciling Catholic teaching on sexuality (including bans on contraception and abortion) with a good, lusty appreciation of sex and the female form. So perhaps he thought it godly to make it clear now and then that he still had an eye for the ladies.

Not long after this smirking bit of humor, though, Judge showed another side of his marriage of manly-man attitudes and religious conservatism. In a Daily Caller piece (Barack Obama: the First Female President) deploring the fact that, in his opinion, Michelle Obama wore the pants in the First Family, Judge offered this nostalgic sentiment:

Oh for the days when president George W. Bush gave his wife Laura a loving but firm pat on the backside in public. The man knew who was boss.

Now that Kavanaugh is on the brink of stiffening the conservative Catholic rigor of the Supreme Court, its inconvenient that the only person available to support his it-didnt-happen version of the story Ford is telling is a man like Mark Judge. If that drunken party boy got sober and grew up into this very conventional defender of the patriarchy, maybe hes not the best, er, judge of what happened in 1983 or of his old friends fitness for the highest court in the land, either. No wonder Republican senators are reluctant to put Judge before a camera and a microphone with the future of constitutional law at stake.The creator of BBC's hit drama Bodyguard has teased a huge spoiler about what really happened to Keeley Hawes' character Julia Montague.

Jed Mercurio, who is the brains behind the cleverly written script, appeared via live link on ITV's This Morning from the Belfast set of his other popular series Line Of Duty ahead of Sunday's eagerly anticipated finale.

Deftly avoiding Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby's probing questions about what viewers could expect in the conclusion, Jed dropped a big hint about the social media conspiracy theories.

Asked about speculation that Julia's name refers to Shakespearean character Juliet and whether the home secretary will really be alive after the fateful explosion and her death was all a ruse, he alluded to an 'occasional grain of truth'.

Fan theories have been rife that the Home Secretary isn't actually dead, especially as viewers weren't shown her demise on screen.

It was unclear what Julia Monatgue's fate was, but then, in the middle of the fourth episode, her family were told at the hospital that she had died of her injuries - however fan speculation has been rife that she isn't dead

'Well I think you need to watch the finale on Sunday night, but were all sitting back and enjoying the speculation...

It's great people have theories and actually I do look at some of the bigger theories and it's interesting there is occasionally there is a grain of truth.

But it's not like were standing by saying "hotter or colder" when people put forward their theories,' he told the presenting duo.

Jed refused to confirm Julia was definitely dead but also avoided Phillip's further questions about a previous comment saying Keeley's character wasn't coming back.

That's the thing if youre a drama writer you always have to tell the truth there is no element of fiction in it Phillip,' he smirked.

Jed also referred to Keeley's Line Of Duty character DI Lindsay Denton, who was sent to an early grave when he killed her off in the fifth episode of series three.

'I think that's part of the history the fact that it happened before makes people swing to the idea that she must obviously be dead.

But then there are other things in the drama that make the observant people swing to the idea that it possibly is a ruse. So we're just sitting back and enjoying the response and speculation.'

The creator of the series, which drew in 10.4m viewers for last week's episode, confirmed that the action for the finale will mirror that of the beginning.

Bodyguard creator Jed Mercurio deftly avoided revealing any major spoilers about Sunday's hotly anticipated finale but did drop a hint about a 'grain of truth' in fan theories

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

Bodyguard David Budd, played by Richard Madden, has been on a frenetic quest to discover the truth about the death of his lover and Home Secretary Julia Monatgue

He was unable to reveal whether there would be a second series but said that there would definitely be a firm conclusion and people's questions would be answered.

The episode returns to some of the tense action style sequences of the first two.

'There is lots of action in the final episode there is lots of answers to the questions people minds They will get the answers they are looking for.'

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.

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.

It was unclear what her fate was, but then, in the middle of the fourth episode, her family were told at the hospital that she had died of her injuries.

This Morning airs weekdays on ITV at 10.30amA sex worker who slept with a man with a bionic penis left Phillip Schofield wide-eyed with shock when she recalled their X-rated encounter on This Morning.

Charlotte Rose took the virginity of Mohammed Abad, of Edinburgh, who was fitted with a bionic penis after losing his own in a childhood accident.

The pair, who had sex in 2016, appeared on This Morning today to discuss the two-hour long encounter, which Miss Rose described as 'great' and 'fantastic'.

Her saucy description of seeing Mr Abad's penis for the first time shocked presenter Phillip, 56, while co-hose Holly Willoughby, 37, struggled to keep a straight face.

Steamy: Sex worker Charlotte Rose took the virginity of Mohammed Abad, of Edinburgh, who was fitted with a bionic penis after losing his own in a childhood accident. The pair, who had sex in 2016, appeared on This Morning today to discuss the two-hour long encounter

X-rated: Miss Rose's description of seeing Mr Abad's penis for the first time shocked presenter Phillip, 56, while co-hose Holly Willoughby, 37, struggled to keep a straight face, pictured

Viewers praised Miss Rose and Mr Abad for their 'honest' discussion of their sexual encounter, while others questioned whether the explicit segment was suitable for morning TV.

Mr Abad, now in his 40s, lost his penis aged six when he was pushed into the street during a snowball fight and hit by a car that dragged him 600 yards.

His penis was ripped off and one testicle was destroyed and doctors feared he would die within hours.

While they managed to save his life, there was nothing that could be done to salvage his detached penis. The schoolboy was fitted with a 3cm-long tube to allow him to urinate but did not have a penis that would allow him to have sex.

Dream come true: Mr Abad, now in his 40s, lost his penis in an accident aged six. In 2012 he had the life-changing surgery to have a bionic penis fitted and enlisted Miss Rose's help four years later. Pictured, Mr Abad and Miss Rose shortly after having sex in 2016

Scientific breakthrough: Mr Abad was fitted with two tubes, pictured, which connect to a reservoir of resin placed in the abdomen, allowing him to maintain an erection

How does the bionic penis work? Mohammed Abad was fitted with an artificial penis in 2012. The penis shaft is made up of two cylinders which are wrapped in a 'tube' of skin made from flesh taken from the forearm. The tubes are connected to a reservoir filled with resin which is placed in the abdomen. The resin from this is what allows Mr Abad to maintain an erection. How it works: This Morning shared this helpful diagram of the workings of the penis This is in turn attached to a pump which was placed in the scrotum and is operated using two 'on' and 'off' buttons. The first button fills the penis with resin - inflating it - and a second emptying the penis, deflating it. The penis itself was attached in an 11-hour operation by doctors from University College London. In total it took three years to mould and attach. Along with giving Mr Abad a sex life it has also allowed him to pass urine standing up for the first time. Advertisement

This changed in 2012 when he was given the bionic penis, which was constructed using skin from his forearm rolled up like a 'sausage roll'.

It is connected via two rubber tubes to a reservoir of resin and is inflated and deflated using a pump in the scrotum that is operated with two buttons.

Tendons in the arm skin means he has sensation in the artificial member although he does not orgasm in the same way.

In 2016 Mr Abad contacted Miss Rose, who specialises in disabled clients and agreed to wave her usual fee to help.

Settling down: Mr Abad is unable to have children but said he still hopes to marry while his 78-year-old father is still alive. Pictured, Mr Abad and Miss Rose on This Morning today

Praised: Viewers praised Miss Rose and Mr Abad for their 'honest' discussion of their sexual encounter, while others noted the presenters' struggle to keep a straight face

The pair met for a dinner date and then got to know each other better over a few days and stayed in a central London hotel.

Mr Abad said on This Morning how he was nervous and on the first attempt, his penis malfunctioned with one side of the pump failing to properly inflate.

But Miss Rose recalled being impressed with what she saw.

'When I first saw it I went "oh", and he went "oh?" and I went "oh",' she said on air. 'It's incredible.'

When asked what their encounter was like, she added cheekily: 'Well Phillip, it was great. It was amazing.'

Mr Abad is unable to have children but said he still hopes to marry while his 78-year-old father is still alive.A single mother to miracle 'twins' born three years apart has revealed she has just weeks left to live and loved ones have rallied round to raise funds to ensure her children are supported when she's gone.

Samantha McConnell, 46, from Lincoln was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic and liver cancer in August 2018 just weeks after noticing symptoms and has been told her prognosis is around six to eight weeks.

Samantha decided to have fertility treatment when a ten-year relationship ended when she was 38.

Her children Grace, five, and 22-month-old Rory were conceived using her eggs and donor sperm, and they are technically twins as they were conceived using embryos from the same batch.

The retired RAF officer told The Lincolnite: 'All I want to do is put all my energy into holding and cuddling my miracle babies

'Telling Grace Im dying of cancer and it will be soon, but I dont know when, has to be the most awful thing I have done in my life. Rory knows something sad is happening but hes too young to fully understand.

'Ive reassured the children that although they wont see me, Ill always be there.

Samantha McConnell, 46, from Lincoln, pictured with her children Grace, five, and 22-month-old Rory, has been given weeks to live after being diagnosed with pancreatic and liver cancer in August

Mother-of-two Samantha in hospital in Lincoln. She's been told by doctors her cancer is too advanced to treat, and she can only be offered palliative care

Loved ones are raising money to help support Samantha's two children, who will be cared for by her cousin and her husband

'Whenever Grace sees a butterfly or what she thinks is an angel or a fairy, that will be me.

'I know the children will be loved and I want them to know they will never be alone.'

Samantha's cousin and her husband are set to become Grace and Rory's legal guardians after her death, and wellwishers have already raised 14,770 through JustGiving to help support the couple as they take care of the children.

Samantha was previously fit and healthy, but noticed symptoms in August such as darker urine and itchy skin.

Samantha's two children were conceived using her egg and donor sperm from Denmark. They are technically twins even though they were born three years apart as they come from the same batch of embryos

Blood tests revealed her liver wasn't working properly and she was referred to hospital for an ultrasound to check for gallstones.

A few days beforehand she woke up with a sharp pain under her ribcage and was admitted to hospital.

Samantha with her two children in December 2017. She's currently putting all her energy into enjoying the time they have left together

Doctors still thought she had call stones but the ultrasound revealed a dark mass around her liver and lungs, and a CT scan confirmed she had pancreatic cancer which had spread to her liver and lymph nodes.

They still thought it was gall stones but the scan showed a dark mass around my liver and lungs. I was sent for a CT scan which confirmed my worst fears. I had pancreatic cancer and it had spread to my liver and lymph nodes.

Samantha recalls feeling 'numb' as doctors told her they couldn't offer treatment as the cancer was too advanced.

In a Facebook post, she explained: 'Waiting for a multi disciplinary meeting to be held between medical specialists in Lincoln and Nottingham to work out what medical palliative care would provide most comfort.

'Not in any pain, going to take any drugs available. The time span is quite quick.

'Life expectancy from diagnosis of pancreatic cancer to death is 6-8 weeks and I don't know what stage I am in as symptoms only appeared or I noticed on 2 Aug! Shock to the system for everyone.'

Mother-of-two Sam decided to have two children by herself after a ten-year relationship ended when she was 38

Now Samantha's focus is firmly on making the most of the time she has left with Grace and Rory.

Grace and Rory share a strong bond and she says it's a comfort to know they will always have each other.

She is planning to stay at home with her children for as long as she can, before moving to a hospice where they can visit.

'Until then, we will have lots of fun together, watching films, singing and laughing. I want their lasting memories of me to be nothing but happy ones,' she said.

For more information visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/graceandroryFashion designer Roland Mouret - who counts Meghan Markle among his friends - has revealed that he 'never imagined' he would dress royalty.

The French designer, 57, insisted, however, that he treats all his clients in the same way, describing how he delivers the 'same service' to all the women who wear his clothes.

Mouret, who was invited to the royal wedding in May, also described his 'personal' friendship with the Duchess of Sussex, 37.

Fashion designer Roland Mouret has revealed he 'never imagined' he would ever dress royalty. Pictured is Meghan wearing a 1,450 dress by the designer the day before her wedding in May

Mouret, 47, has been friends with the Duchess (pictured together in a snap posted on Meghan's Instagram account) for years

The pair, who have known each other for years, first met in a hotel lift in Istanbul, when the designer told Meghan he'd love to dress her.

Speaking to the Telegraph, Mouret said: 'I never imagined I would be dressing royalty, no. Twenty years ago, designing in my kitchen, I would have said never.'

Discussing his friendship with Meghan, he added: 'Oooh, it's personal. It's my relationship with my friend. But I treat her the same I have the same relationship with every woman who is a client.

'The moment someone wears my clothes, for the price I sell them at, they should expect the opportunity of a private moment with me. From the customer in the shop, to celebrities, to royalty, I deliver the same service.'

Meghan, 37, wore another dress by Mouret when she met President Michael D Higgins during her tour of Dublin in July

Mouret set tongues wagging that he would be designing Meghan's wedding dress in February, when asked if he had been given the big job.

He told WWD at the time: 'Mmmmm, I dont want to say. No comment. Itsthere is no comment on that. Shes a friend. And thatsI cant say.'

Mouret later added fuel to the rumours by saying 'I've already said too much' when discussing Meghan in another interview.

The Duchess of Cambridge is also a fan of the French designer, wearing a navy shift dress by Mouret back in 2011

Givenchy's Clare Waight Keller was ultimately chosen to design Meghan's wedding gown for her ceremony, while Stella McCartney created the Duchess's evening dress.

However, the Duchess wore a 1,450 navy dress by Mouret the day before her wedding, as she arrived at the Cliveden Hotel with mother Doria.

Meghan also opted for a grey dress by the French designer as she met President Michael D Higgins during her tour of Dublin in July.

It had also been rumoured that the royal would be attending Mouret's Spring/ Summer 2019 fashion show in London on Sunday, due to her close connection with the designer.

The Duchess of Cambridge is also a long-time fan of the label, wearing creations by the designer on a number of occasions in the past.Adjusting to life as a royal is no easy feat and apparently Meghan is having some trouble when it comes to members of Harry's inner circle due to her 'trendy lefty' views.

According to Lady Colin Campbell, who was a confidante of Princess Diana and still has close royal connections, Meghan's 'politics are an issue'.

Before her relationship with Harry became public, Meghan, 37, called out Donald Trump for being 'divisive' and misogynistic, vocally supported Hillary Clinton and revealed she opposed Brexit.

'She is ultra-liberal and that trendy-lefty stuff does not go down well with some of Harrys friends,' she told The Daily Beast. 'He has introduced her to them all at parties and weddings and private dinners, but she is very anti- a lot of the things that their world functions upon, such as shooting.

'Everybody discovers after marrying into the royal family how solitary and arduous an existence it can be. Meghan has already begun to discover this.'

She added that the former Suits star may be better equipped than most to deal with the solitary side of royal life because of her past as an actress, saying that Princess Diana struggled.

Diana's confidante has claimed that that the Duchess of Sussex is struggling to fit in with some of Harry's friends because of her liberal views. Pictured: The couple attending the 100 Days To Peace concert in London earlier this month

Harry has naturally introduced his new wife to friends at dinner parties and weddings, but according to Lady Colin she's not been the most natural fit. Pictured: Meghan and Harry attending the wedding of Celia McCorquodale and George Woodhouse in June 2018

Since the 37-year-old Duchess of Sussex said 'I do' to Prince Harry earlier this year, reports suggest that relationships she had in her pre-Harry days have fallen by the wayside as she struggles to know whom she can let in.

'Meghan has lost touch with some of her close friends from before the wedding, which has been tough,' a source told People earlier this month. 'Shes finding it hard to know who to trust.'

With so many leaks to tabloids  and her own family frequently talking to the press about her  it makes sense that she would limit her relationships to people who won't blab to news outlets as 'anonymous sources' with inside scoop.

These trustworthy friends include her makeup artist, Daniel Martin, and her stylist BFF Jessica Mulroney  whom she secretly flew out to in Toronto in August to visit.

Princess Diana's friend and confidante Lady Colin Campbell said that Meghan may be better equipped than most to deal with the isolation of royal life because of her past as an actress

'There's a small group of us that check in with her and see how she's doing, but she's still the same person,' Martin told People.

Being guarded is hardly new for members of the royal family. Earlier this year, royal observer Patricia Treble told Vanity Fair, 'You look at all the senior royals, and theyre incredibly careful about whom theyre friends with. They end up having lots of "acquaintances," or people who "know them."'

Reports suggest that Meghan has struggled to know who to trust since she married Prince Harry at Windsor back in May

Bitter: Her half-sister Samantha has also repeatedly attacked Meghan, and did so earlier this week on Prince Harry's birthday

Talking to reporters:But she's grown wary as people once close to her talk to the press  most notably her dad, Thomas

Another royal-watcher, Emily Nash, told the magazine that post-wedding, Meghan 'getting used to a more discreet social life . . . she is still going to be seeing and speaking to her most trusted friends just as before.'

Then there's her family. While her mother Doria Ragland is rumored to be making the move to the UK to be closer to her daughter, she's very publicly estranged from much of the rest of her flesh and blood.

Her dad, Thomas Markle, has continued to criticize her and her new husband to the press, while her half-sister makes rude remarks on social media.

New life: She's also kept her mom close. Doria Ragland - pictured with Meghan at Cliveden House the night before the royal wedding - is rumored to be moving to the UK to be closer to her

Staying in touch: Meghan's still close with her BFF Jessica Mulroney, who lives in Toronto, and she recently visited her

'It was very wearing on her. Its her private life,' a source told People of the family scandal. 'The beginning of marriages are not that easy, but to have that impetus of your own family being disloyal is horrible and embarrassing.'

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.A Boston man's viral Twitter thread serves as a heartbreaking reminder of how terrible the height of the AIDS epidemic truly was for the gay community.

Tucker Shaw was struck when he overheard a young gay man discussing the AIDS crisis with his boyfriend, asserting that, as terrible as it was, it paved the way for things to better for the gay community 'in the long run'.

The 49-year-old, who lives in Boston, said he doesn't necessarily disagree with that, but he was taken aback that the man felt such a disconnect from AIDS and the havoc it wreaked  considering the height of the crisis wasn't actually so long ago, and remains very much in the hearts and minds of those who lived through it.

Viral: Tucker Shaw from Boston tweeted about a conversation he heard on his commute

Hot take: A young gay man was 'talking about AIDS, in a scholarly way,' saying it 'galvanized the gay community' and 'spurred change'

Two to three decades: What struck him was the use of the phrase 'the long run,' considering the worst of the epidemic was not so long ago

Huh... Tucker said it's not that he necessarily disagreed, but he seemed taken aback by how distant the young man seemed to feel from the epidemic

Looking back: He went on to recall in heartbreaking detail what it was like to know so many people who died from the disease in a short period of time

'I overheard a young man on the train on the way home today, talking to another young man. Holding hands. In college, I guessed. About that age anyway. Much younger than I am,' Tucker kicked off his thread, which has reached 50,000 likes and counting.

In the thick of it: Tucker, 49, came of age in the late 80s and was in his 20s in the 90s

'He was talking about AIDS, in a scholarly way. About how it had galvanized the gay community. How it had spurred change. Paved the way to make things better, in the long run,' he wrote. 'The long rung.'

'Maybe hes right. I dont know. Its not the first time Ive heard the theory. He spoke with clarity and with confidence. Youthful, full of conviction. But.

'Remember how terrible it was, not that long ago, during the worst times. How many beautiful friends died. One after the other. Brutally. Restlessly. Brittle and damp. In cold rooms with hot lights. Remember? '

He then launched into deeply personal remembrances, looking back at his own losses when AIDS was a death sentence.

'Some nights, youd sneak in to that hospital downtown after visiting hours, just to see who was around. It wasnt hard.

Recollections: His remembrances became deeply personal as he looked back

Deadly: He talked about visiting friends who were sick at the hospital

Spread: He mentioned knowing multiple people there at a time

Grief: He'd be haunted by friends he lost to the disease

Tragic: It touched his lives in a lot of ways as thousands died

'Youd bring a boom box. Fresh gossip. Trashy magazines and cheap paperbacks. Hash brownies. Anything. Nothing.

'Youd get kicked out, but youd sneak back in. Kicked out again. Back in again. Sometimes youd recognize a friend. Sometimes you wouldnt.

'Other nights, youd go out to dance and drink. A different distraction. Youd see a face in the dark, in the back of the bar. Is it you? Old friend! No. Not him. Just a ghost.

'At work, youd find an umbrella, one youd borrowed a few rainstorms ago from a coworker. I should return it, youd think. No. No need. Hes gone. Its yours now.

'One day youd get lucky and meet someone lovely. You'd feel happy, optimistic. Youd make plans.

'Together, youd keep a list of names in a notebook you bought for thirty cents in Chinatown so you could remember who was still here and who wasnt, because it was so easy to forget.

'But there were so many names to write down. Too many names. Names you didn't want to write down.

'When he finally had to go too, you got rid of the notebook. No more names.

Epidemic: From the 80s to 2002, the total AIDS-related deaths in the US totaled 501,669

Harsh: In 1989, deaths in the US skyrocketed to 14,544 over the course of the year  and it kept climbing, to 18,447 in 1990, 20,454 in 1991, 23,411 in 1992, and 41,920 in 1993

Relationships: Tucker's story turned especially tragic when he recalled falling in love

Unstoppable: They'd write down names of people to remember who was still living and who died

Overwhelming: There ended up being too many people to keep track of

'Your friends would come over with takeout and wine and youd see how hard they tried not to ask when he was coming home because they knew he wasnt coming home. No one came home. Youd turn 24.

'When hed been gone long enough and it was time to get rid of his stuff, theyd say so. Its time. And youd do it, youd give away the shirts, sweaters, jackets. Everything.

Remember how terrible it was, not that long ago, during the worst times. How many beautiful friends died. One after the other. Brutally. Restlessly

'Except those shoes. You remember the ones. He loved those shoes, youd say. We loved those shoes. Ill keep those shoes under the bed.

'Youd move to a new neighborhood. Youd unpack the first night, take a shower, make the bed because itd be bedtime. Youd think of the shoes. For the first time, youd put them on. Look at those shoes. What great shoes.

'Air. Youd need air. Youd walk outside in the shoes, just to the stoop. Youd sit. A breeze. A neighbor steps past. Great shoes, shed say. But the shoes are too big for you.

'Youd sit for a while, maybe an hour, maybe more. Then youd unlace the shoes, set them by the trash on the curb. Youd go back upstairs in your socks. The phone is ringing. More news.

'The long run. Wasnt that long ago,' he concluded.

Tucker, who came of age in the late 80s, clearly experienced firsthand the horror of the AIDS crisis, and seemed to find it troubling that young gay men today could discuss it so dispassionately, as something that happened a long time ago.

Awful: Eventually, his boyfriend passed from the disease, too

So young: All of this happened before he even turned 24

Relate: Tucker's thread has gone viral and earned quite a few replies

Inspiring: Others chimed in with their own stories of loss and heartbreak

AIDS first came to the US in the 1960s, but it wasn't recognized until the early 80s, when it started to spread among large clusters of young gay men in Los Angeles, New York City, and San Francisco.

Other cases popped up in women, as well as children who received blood transfusions  but it was transmitted most frequently within the gay community.

Because of that, and widespread homophobia, AIDS was dismissed by many as a 'gay disease,' and it took years for substantial funding to be directed toward research of the disease and finding a cure.

Throughout the '80s, the number of AIDS-related deaths grew annually. According to FACT, 2,304 people died in the US in 1983. The number rose to 4,251 in 1984 and 5,636 in 1985 (including Rock Hudson).

In 1989, it skyrocketed to 14,544 AIDS-related deaths over the course of the year  and it kept climbing, to 18,447 in 1990, 20,454 in 1991, 23,411 in 1992, and 41,920 in 1993.

By 2002, the total deaths since the epidemic began reached 501,669.

There have been vast improvement in medical treatment for AIDS and AIDS-related illnesses, drastically shrinking the number of annual deaths  which explains why the young man Tucker encountered didn't seem to see the disease as a threat.

But it's not gone, and there's still no definitive 'cure'. And according to the CDC, in 2015, 6,465 people died from HIV in the US.

Crushing: He looked back on the shoes he saved to remember a loved on

Affected: The story illustrates that the epidemic is still very much in living memory

Changes: There have been vast improvement in medical treatment for AIDS and AIDS-related illnesses, drastically shrinking the number of annual deaths

Remember: But it's not gone, and in 2015, 6,465 people died from HIV in the US

Many people who encountered Tucker's thread commented to share their own memories of the epidemic at its worst, standing as a reminder that the crisis isn't so far back in history.

'I miss my brother. He died 25 years ago along with all of his sweet friends. The long run,' wrote one woman, prompting others to write about brothers they lost.

'Thank you for this beautiful piece. It really resonates with me. I am one of the lucky survivors; 30 years HIV positive. I am remembering today a young man who took his own life after a diagnosis of Kaposi's sarcoma,' wrote one man.

Kaposi's sarcoma is a type of cancer that causes skin legions, which can be a symptom of AIDS and was one of the first signs of the disease in the '80s.

'I remember when young men first began dying. Families would say he had cancer but there was always something not quite spoken. I had a work friend whose son died very early on from AIDS and she kept it to herself for so long because she feared her beloved son being judged,' recalled one woman.

'I stopped counting at thirty. Many friends had longer lists but thirty was where I drew the line. More died after I stopped but I couldnt count that high. My heart wouldnt accept it,' added another commenter.

'It seems like yesterday when my cousin was dying in a San Francisco hospital. They told us not to touch him. I sat on his bedside & held his hand.

'He did not want his mother to know he was there. He was alone when he died. It haunts me to this day. He deserved better. I loved him,' remembered yet another.

AIDS and HIV: How many people have been diagnosed, and what is the prognosis? WHAT IS HIV? HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is an incurable sexually-transmitted disease that attacks the immune system. If untreated, it completely destroys the immune system. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE IT? HIV has killed about 35 million people since the 1980s. An estimated 36.7 million adults and children worldwide have HIV, including at least 88,800 in the UK and around one million in the US. WHAT IS IT? HIV is a virus that damages the cells in the immune system and weakens the ability to fight infections and disease. WHAT IS AIDS? Without treatment, HIV can turn into AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome), which is a syndrome (or, a set of symptoms) not a virus. In layman's terms, AIDS has been referred to as 'late-stage HIV'. A person has AIDS when their immune system is too weak to fight off infections. AIDS cannot be transmitted from one person to another; HIV can. WHAT IS THE PROGNOSIS? Those diagnosed with HIV need to be on medication for life to prevent it turning into AIDS, which is often fatal. A decade ago, people who were HIV positive were given a shorter life expectancy because the medication, suppressing the immune system, made patients highly vulnerable to fatal infections. Today, HIV drugs are much more sophisticated. They allow for people who are HIV positive to live as long as anyone else in good health. They can also suppress the viral load to such an extent that it is undetectable and untransmittable, meaning it's possible to have intimate relationships without passing it on. AdvertisementEvery week, we send a couple on a blind date. This week, Angus Donaldson, 24, had dinner at Hawksmoor Borough in London with Alice Tonks, 22.

Angus, from East Sussex, left the Royal Marines last December and now owns a fitness club. Alice is an events manager and lives in London.

Alice Tonks, 22, is an events manager and lives in London. She went for dinner with Angus Donaldson

Alice, 22, says:

My mum wrote to the Daily Mail and put me forward for a blind date because she felt I had become a bit disheartened with the whole dating scene.

Since graduating last year and moving to London, it has felt much more difficult to meet people. I want a loving relationship but, while its easy enough to find dates, most of the men I meet just seem to want hook-ups and casual sex. No one wants a meaningful relationship.

I dabbled with online and app dating for a while, but deleted it all in the spring because it got so boring. Id end up messaging a man for a while, go on one or two dates and then it would fizzle out.

In one sense, there is too much choice because there are so many potential matches, but on the other hand, you have less choice because its hard to find someone who actually wants to progress a date into a relationship or even find out if there is a genuine connection there.

Ive found most guys havent really engaged with me or asked questions about me  they much prefer talking about themselves!

So, after recovering from my surprise that Mum had taken matters into her own hands, I was more excited than nervous about going on the blind date  and the minute I met Angus, I knew it was going to be good.

He saw me get out of the taxi and approached me with a beautiful, warm smile, so I didnt have to walk in alone, which was really sweet. I thought he was really good-looking. I like a masculine man and he is so striking and tall.

There was no awkwardness and the conversation flowed. We chatted about our lives, families and career dreams and the evening went by quickly. The chemistry was really strong and I think we both flirted naturally without it being over the top.

I loved the fact he was quite old-school  he opened doors for me, let me order first and, when he suggested going for a walk along the South Bank afterwards, he held out his arm to link with mine.

He seemed genuinely interested in me, with both of us asking questions about each other.

I loved the fact he was quite old-school  he opened doors for me, let me order first

I liked that he doesnt seem like someone who dates all the time on a superficial level. He comes across as having strong morals and principles. Being an ex-Marine, he had a serious side, but I saw his funny side, too, and I imagine he will let that out more and more as I get to know him.

The restaurant was the perfect setting, with great food, and I loved that he suggested a walk afterwards. It was so natural, I felt I could say anything to him.

Angus asked if I would see him again  immediately, I said yes and we swapped numbers.

Early on, he put it out there that hes going travelling for a couple of months, but I would still be interested to see if this has the potential for something more.

I have had one long-term relationship, which lasted for two years, but Ive been single for nearly two years now, so I know how hard it is to meet someone I really click with.

I value kindness and humour and Id like to be with someone family-oriented, respectful and mature  Angus definitely came across as that kind of person.

When it was time to say goodbye, we walked to the station and parted with a kiss on the cheek. He texted me to say he got home safely and weve been messaging ever since. I cant stop smiling. When I got home, I rang my mum  she was really pleased!

Liked? His smile and character. And hes really good-looking!

Regrets? None.

Coffee or cab? Coffee.

Verdict: 10/10

Angus, 24, says:

Angus Donaldson, 24, left the Royal Marines last December and now owns a fitness club

When I first saw Alice, I was so relieved. I had never been on a blind date before, so I was out of my comfort zone and didnt know what to expect. But she is gorgeous, with a stunning figure and a beautiful smile.

There was definitely an attraction there  though, to me, someone having a good sense of humour and a sense of spontaneity is just as important.

What I liked most about the date was that there were no periods of silence the entire evening.

In fact, it took ages to eat because every time the waitress came to take our order, we hadnt even looked at the menu.

We chatted about our work, our families and our values in life and I think we are very much on the same page.

There was definitely chemistry and, although time will tell if this initial attraction will blossom, I think if you can talk to someone for three hours straight and still find them attractive, its a really good sign. It was so lovely just to sit there and get to know each other, rather than start everything based on a photo online.

Ive been single for seven months after an 18-month relationship. Ive tried apps and online dating, but havent invested much time in it, as I dont like the superficial level on which it works.

After three hours, we had to leave the restaurant, so we went for a stroll along the river bank and chatted about our lives a bit more. But, all too soon, I had to leave to get the last train home.

We parted with a kiss on the cheek and weve been texting ever since. I wouldnt try to push things on a first date, as I prefer to take things slowly.

Im actually going travelling to Australia and New Zealand at the end of the month for two months  I told Alice early on and she seemed interested, but I would really like to see her a few more times before I go.

I dont think I have a particular type (although my celebrity crush is actress Margot Robbie). Im more interested in finding someone I click with, who is easy to be around.

Apart from being incredibly beautiful, Alice has a very gentle and loving nature and she is absolutely the kind of woman I can relate to.

Liked? Alice is beautiful and lovely.

Regrets? None at all.

Coffee or cab? Coffee.

Verdict: 10/10Piers Morgan has hit out at plus-size model Tess Holliday again labelling her latest selfie 'very sad', after criticising her appearance on the cover of UK Cosmopolitan.

The model, 33, from Mississippi who weighs 300lbs (21.4 stone) shared a snap of herself in nude underwear on her Instagram feed on Tuesday, prompting the GMB presenter to hit back, saying the snap was 'very sad'.

'She badly needs better friends, who are going to be more honest with her & explain she is dangerously overweight & should do something about it,' he tweeted.

Reaction to the post was divided with many agreeing with Piers, saying she is setting an unhealthy examples.

However, others argued that her size is none of anyone's business, while many pointed out that her posts are not meant to celebrate obesity, but are meant to celebrate being body confident and happy at any size.

Selfie: Tess Holliday, 33, shared a snap of herself in a nude bra and panties on her Instagram feed on Tuesday, prompting Piers Morgan to call the snap 'sad' and say she needs 'better friends' to tell her that she's overweight

Earlier this month, he became involved in a fiery debate on Good Morning Britain with Cosmo's editor Farrah Stoor, who defended putting Tess on the cover of the magazine.

'We should not be aspiring to be an unhealthy weight, be it far too skinny or far too fat, and the same goes for both women and men,' he said.

'For Cosmo to put this on their cover as something to aspire to is dangerous, wrong, and frankly misguided.'

A week earlier, he'd tweeted his disapproval saying: 'As Britain battles an ever-worsening obesity crisis, this is the new cover of Cosmo.

Commenters hit back at Piers saying that Tess' size is none of his business while others pointed out that even if being overweight is unhealthy, that's no reason for people to feel shamed and uncomfortable in their own skin

'Apparently we're supposed to view it as a 'huge step forward for body positivity.' What a load of old baloney. This cover is just as dangerous & misguided as celebrating size zero models.'

But Tess was quick to hit back with her own tweet, replying: 'To everyone saying Im a burden to the British health care system, Im american so you dont have to worry about my fat ass.

'Worry about what horrible people you are by whining about how me being on the cover of a glossy magazine impacts your small minded life.'

And her latest lingerie selfie which has garnered more than 68,000 likes in 11 hours, was a hit with Tess' fans, who told her in the comments section just how much the snap means to them.

Plenty of commenters agreed with Piers and said that neither excessively thin or overweight body shapes should be celebrated as the norm

'Thank you for representing me. For your efforts to show the world that ALL bodies are beautiful, regardless of size or shape,' one person wrote. 'I think you are absolutely amazing and simply gorgeous.'

Another Instagram user told Tess she looked 'stunning as usual', while someone else called the model 'very, very beautiful'.

One person wrote in a personal comment: 'I was fat-shamed this week by a guy that wanted to hook up when I politely declined. I was bullied about my weight growing up and to hear those words again to my face brought so much of that back.

Milestone: Tess appears on the cover of Cosmopolitan UK's October issue

'Because of your positive influence I was able to brush off the hate and smiled. So thankful for you and all you do. You're beautiful.'

Just a few hours before posting her lingerie selfie, Tess shared another snap of herself, looking stunning in a bold printed dress and posing on a rooftop in Los Angeles.

'I still get excited when I realize that I get to live in LA,' she wrote next to the photo, which was taken by her husband Nick Holliday.

'Not only do I live here, but I'm able to have my dream job & thrive in a city that people once told me would chew me up and spit me out. I'm a stubborn Cancer tho, so they shoulda known better.'

Snap: Just a few hours before posting her lingerie selfie, Tess shared another photo of herself, looking stunning in a bold printed dress and posing on a rooftop in Los Angeles

Just last week, Tess shared a black and white naked selfie on her Instagram feed, as part of a publication promoting a hotel-booking service and a hotel chain.

She can be seen in the sultry snap posing fully nude on her hotel bed, covering her chest with her left hand while taking a photo of her reflection in a mirror using her cellphone.

Several of Tess' many tattoos appear in the photo, including the portraits of the actress Mae West, the drag queen Divine, and the Muppet character Miss Piggy on her right arm.

The model's long hair is pulled back into a high ponytail and she's wearing her signature make-up look featuring long, voluminous lashes, an impeccable complexion, defined brows, and a bit of contouring on her cheeks.

Post: Just last week, Tess shared a black and white naked selfie on her Instagram feed, as part of a publication promoting a hotel-booking service and a hotel chain

In her caption, Tess used the hashtag #sponsored, making it clear that she shared the selfie as part of a paid promotion.

'Last-minute trip to NY for fashion week = last-minute hotel booked with @hoteltonight,' she wrote in reference to a travel app that enables people to find hotel accommodations.

'Thanks for a great stay @dreamhotels,' she added, this time plugging the Dream Hotels group.

The chain has two locations in New York City, where Tess was staying for Fashion Week.

Model: Earlier this month, the model posed backstage during the Tadashi Shoji show at New York Fashion Week, looking chic in a pleated green dress with a lace bodice

She was seen earlier this month attending Christian Siriano's runway show, looking glamorous in a floor-length white dress with black polka dot.

Tess looked striking with her hair pulled back into a voluminous 'do with a distinct retro flair, which matched her fifties-style winged eyeliner and pink lipstick.

Earlier on, the model posed backstage during the Tadashi Shoji show, looking chic in a pleated green dress with a lace bodice.

That same week, Tess, who graces the cover of Cosmopolitan UK's October issue, shared a preview of a special program she filmed with People TV, giving an intimate look at her life with her husband Nick Holliday and her two children, Rylee and Bowie.

In the video, Tess, who was born Ryann Hoven in Laurel, Mississippi, opened up about her beginnings as a model, when she first started pursuing her dreams.

'When I told my family and friends that I wanted to model, my mom supported me but the rest of my family thought that I was absolutely mad.

'My friends all took bets to see how long before I moved back. Look at me now!'Advertisement

Ivanka Trump channeled her inner Jackie Kennedy by wearing a chic pillbox hat and large sunglasses as she celebrated Yom Kippur with her family on Wednesday.

The 36-year-old first daughter was seen leaving her Washington, D.C. home on Wednesday morning and heading to a local synagogue, alongside daughter Arabella, seven, and son Theodore, two, as well as a number of Secret Service agents.

Ivanka and her children, both of whom were riding on scooters, were on their way to meet her 37-year-old husband Jared Kushner, who was seen making his way to the synagogue with their four-year-old son Joseph about an hour before the rest of the family.

Holy day: Ivanka Trump, 36, looked incredibly chic while walking to a local synagogue with her children on Wednesday in celebration of Yom Kippur

Family affair: The mother-of-three was with her daughter Arabella, seven, and her son Theodore, two

Protected: The mother-of-three was seen leaving through the bottom gate of her home with her children and one of her Secret Service agents

The mother-of-three paid mind to her religion's strict dress codes and donned a demure navy dress that covered her arms and knees.

Ivanka paired the elegant frock with a matching pillbox hat, a style that Jackie Kennedy Onassis made famous during her time as first lady.

Her long blonde hair was parted to the side and wore loose around her shoulders for the public outing.

The White House senior adviser topped off the look with a pair of cat-eye black frame sunglasses and practical black flats, while also accessorizing with a simple pair of pearl earrings.

Scooting around: Ivanka kept a close eye on little Theodore, who rode a toddler-friendly scooter with two front wheels

Separate ways: Ivanka's husband Jared Kushner, 37, was seen making his way to the synagogue with their four-year-old son Joseph about an hour before the rest of the family

Mini-me: The father and son wore matching navy suits and black sneakers

Keeping with tradition: Little Joseph wore a yarmulke on his head, but it is unclear if Jared had one on as well

While Ivanka was on foot, Arabella and Theodore road their scooters on the sidewalk while their Secret Service detail watched closely from behind.

Arabella embraced the warm D.C. weather in a short-sleeve cream dress featuring a tiered ruffle skirt and a pair of matching Mary Janes.

Theodore, meanwhile, had on a light blue button-down shirt, khaki pants, and slip-on sneakers to ride his toddler-friendly scooter, which featured two front wheels.

Both children wore patterned helmets during the short jaunt to the synagogue, and while Arabella stayed close to her mom, Theodore trailed behind.

While his siblings road scooters, Joseph walked hand-in-hand with his father, looking far more dressed up than his little brother.

Joseph looked just like his father in a navy suit and black sneakers, though he wore his button-down sans tie.

All smiles: Ivanka flashed a grin while walking alongside her daughter, who was happily riding her scooter

Loving gesture: At one point, Ivanka rested her hand on Arabella's back during the stroll

Outfit of the day: The mother-of-three paid mind to her religion's strict dress codes and donned a demure navy dress that covered her arms and knees

Keeping with the Jewish tradition, Joseph had a yarmulke on his head in honor of Yom Kippur, which started at sunset on Tuesday and ends on Wednesday at sundown.

Added touch: Ivanka channeled her inner Jackie Kennedy in a pillbox hat, a style made popular by the former first lady

Jared, however, did not appear to be wearing one; unlike many Orthodox Jews, Jared does not keep his head covered with a hat or yarmulke while going about his day-to-day life.

Known as a day of atonement, Yom Kippur is the holiest holiday in the Jewish calendar and followers typically spend the majority of the 25-hour holy day at the synagogue.

Jared and Ivanka are also likely fasting, as those observing Yom Kippur cannot eat or drink during the hours that the holiday is being observed. The fast is then usually broken with a traditional meal after sundown at the end of the 25 hours.

During the holy day, people must also abstain from sexual relations, bathing, wearing perfume, and wearing leather shoes.

While Jared and his sons wore fabric sneakers on Wednesday, Ivanka and her daughter both had on fabric flats.

It is unclear why Jared and Joseph left ahead of their family, but they appeared to be enjoying some one-on-one time together.

Jared held onto Joseph's hand as they walked down the front stairs of their home, and he continued to hold on to it while they walked on the sidewalk together.

Fun times: Ivanka followed behind Arabella, who happily scooted ahead of her mother and brother

Following the rules: While celebrating Yom Kippur, Jewish people must refrain from wearing leather shoes. Both Arabella and Ivanka had on fabric flats

Wait for me! Little Theodore rode past his mom while trying to keep up with his big sister

Pit stop: The family stopped behind a gate before continuing their walk to the synagogue

The White House senior adviser flashed a smile to the photographers waiting outside their door while they were on their way to the synagogue.

Ivanka, meanwhile, was also laughing and smiling as she walked alongside her children, and at one point, she rested her hand on Arabella's back.

The first daughter and her children were also joined by several Secret Service agents, who kept a watchful eye on the group as they made their way to the synagogue.

A few hours after they were pictured on their way to temple, Ivanka was then seen returning to the family's D.C. home by herself, wearing the same chic ensemble as she strolled back along the same path at around 2.30pm.

Although Jared and the children were not seen making their way back to the house, the dad-of-three and his eldest son Joseph later stepped out again in order to return to synagogue shortly before 6 pm, presumably to attend another service to mark the final hours of the holy day.

The father-son duo looked incredibly close as they strolled along the sunny street, with Jared once again holding on tightly to his son's hand; at one point the dedicated dad also bent down to help adjust Joseph's collar, straightening out his jacket so he looked his very best before entering the temple.

All by her lonesome: After the service, Ivanka was seen walking back to her home by herself

Devoted: Jared was raised in an Orthodox Jewish family, and Ivanka converted to Judaism before marrying her husband in 2009

Dad duties: Later on in the evening, Jared and Joseph returned to the local synagogue, with the doting father pausing at one point to adjust his son's jacket and shirt

Happy as can be: Both Jared and Joseph smiled happily as they walked hand-in-hand to the temple shortly before 6pm

Ready to go! Joseph looked slightly more energetic than he had earlier in the day and looked delighted to be joining his father for a second outing

Jared was raised in an Orthodox Jewish family, and Ivanka converted to Judaism before marrying her husband in 2009.

The two are raising their children to be Orthodox Jews as well.

In recent months, Ivanka has been more cautious about posting images of her family social media, and has also been shying away from the cameras herself.

She did, however, take to Instagram last weekend to share a small snippet of her private life, posting images of herself, husband Jared, and their youngest son Theodore picking apples as they celebrated the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah.

'Happy New Year to Jewish people all over the world. Shana tova u'metuka! #RoshHashanah,' she wrote.

The first daughter did not post on social media during Yom Kippur however; traditionally, those observing the holy day are not permitted to use electronic devices, and are instead supposed to use the time for reflection.Queen Letizia of Spain wowed in navy asymmetric gown as she joined husband King Felipe for a night at the opera in Madrid.

Letizia, 45, looked stunning as she arrived at the Teatro Real in the midnight floor-length gown, which she paired with co-ordinating heels.

Wearing her brunette locks in an elegant up-do, she finished off the glamorous look with a pair of pear drop earrings.

She and Felipe, 50, were at the theatre to watch a new production of Faust, marking the start of the new 2018/19 season.

Queen Letizia of Spain looked stunning in a navy asymmetric gown as she joined husband King Felipe for a night at the opera in Madrid

Letizia, 45, looked to be in very high spirits as she arrived at the Teatro Real in Madrid, waving at well-wishers who had gathered outside the theatre

Letizia looked in high spirits as she waved to well-wishers on arriving at the theatre for the opening night.

The mother-of-two showed off her golden complexion, after spending the summer break in Majorca with her family.

Both Letizia and husband Felipe have been quick to resume their royal duties following the holiday.

The couple visited Salamanca on Tuesday, where they toured the Spanish laser centre.

Letizia opted for a midnight floor-length gown, which she teamed with navy heels and a co-ordinating clutch bag

Both Letizia and Felipe posed for photographs as they arrived at the Teatro Real, where they watched a new production of Faust

Both Letizia and Felipe looked to have enjoyed their summer break, quickly resuming their royal duties. Felipe was seen waving at crowds on arriving at the theatre

The previous week, Letizia welcomed guests at the Zarzuela Palace, as well as visiting a school in Oviedo, Northern Spain.

Earlier this month, proud parents Letizia and Felipe were seen dropping off their own children for their first day of school at the start of the month.

The royals joined other mothers and fathers taking their children back to Santa Maria de los Rosales, in Madrid, after the summer break.

The Palace revealed over the summer that the couple's daughters Princess Leonor, 12, and Sofia, 11, had travelled to America during the holiday to join an educational camp in a bid to give them 'new knowledge and experiences'.

Letizia showed off her golden complexion following the summer break as she arrived at the Teatro Real with husband Felipe

Letizia and Felipe stopped to pose for photographs outside the Teatro Real, as they celebrated the start of the new theatre season

Letizia, pictured arriving at the Teatro Real with Felipe, wore her brunette locks in an elegant up-do for the event

The Spanish Queen looked in very high spirits as she waved to crowds on arriving at the theatre by car with husband FelipeCindy Hyde-Smith and Mike Espy could well meet in a late-November special election runoff. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images; Rogelio V Solis/AP/Shutterstock

In the various scenarios of what will happen to the Supreme Court if Brett Kavanaughs originally expected late-September confirmation runs off the rails, its obvious that a Democratic Senate takeover in November (which would take effect on January 3) would create a real crisis for conservative SCOTUS hopes. In that case, Republicans would likely try to complete a confirmation battle during a post-election lame-duck session while they could still control the schedule and count on 51 partisan votes. If at that point they are forced to move on to an alternative to Kavanaugh, who would have to be fully vetted and move through the usual Judiciary Committee hearings, the timing could get really dicey.

But there is another scenario thats even more fraught with uncertainty and peril. The odds are good that a special election in Mississippi for the seat currently held by appointed senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (and formerly held for forty years by Republican Thad Cochran, who resigned in ill health in March) will go to a runoff on November 27. At the moment, the election is a three-way battle between the incumbent, fiery conservative insurgent Chris McDaniel, and former congressman and U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy, a Democrat. If no one wins a majority of the vote on November 6, its runoff time, almost certainly between one Democrat and one Republican. And if control of the Senate hasnt yet been determined at that point, every campaign operative in the country and every unspent dollar will flood into the Magnolia State for three weeks.

This particular race has settled down a bit in recent weeks. Initially, it looked like McDaniel, who lost to Cochran by an eyelash in 2014 (with a lot of help from crossover voting by Democrats), might ride his anti-establishment true conservative message past former Democrat Hyde-Smith and into a runoff with Espy. But Donald Trumps complete and total Endorsement of the incumbent (who has a 100 percent pro-Trump voting record) in late August has taken a lot of the wind out of McDaniels sails. One internal Hyde-Smith poll in early August showed McDaniel trailing her by ten points. Other polls have shown her with an even larger lead.

If theres a Hyde-Smith-Espy runoff, the incumbent will be favored, for sure; if McDaniel pulls the upset and makes the runoff, its anybodys race. But either way, Espy is about as strong a candidate as Democrats could field in this red state. Back in 1986, he became the first African-American to represent Mississippi in Congress since Reconstruction, and burnished a centrist reputation before Bill Clinton appointed him Secretary of Agriculture. He was forced from that position by perhaps the least-well-regarded independent counsel investigation of the era, which eventually led to his speedy acquittal on charges of taking gifts from corporations with USDA business. Its doubtful that this 20-year-old scandal will significantly harm Espys Senate hopes, but his party affiliation is definitely a problem in a state where no Democrat has won a Senate or gubernatorial race in this millennium.

Still, the last Senate special election, 2017s contest in next-door Alabama, presented an even tougher landscape for Democrats. Roy Moores upset primary win over an appointed senator backed by Donald Trump has to be the inspiration for Chris McDaniel, a neo-Confederate who is nearly as notorious in Mississippi as Moore was in Alabama. And in the likely case of a runoff, Mississippis large African-American population would provide an even stronger base for Espy than Doug Jones could count on in winning his race.

Its possible that Hyde-Smith could win without a runoff; that control of the Senate will be decided elsewhere; and that Anthony Kennedys SCOTUS seat will be filled before the deal goes down in Mississippi. But its also possible that for the second straight year, a special election in the Deep South will command everyones attention.First diners were up in arms over the restaurant trend of not serving dishes on plates.

And now people are taking to social media to take issue with cafes and pubs serving up 'deconstructed' food for customers to combine themselves.

From beans on toast to soup, it seems no type of food can escape this aggravating craze.

Not even the simple orange juice has avoided the 'deconstructed' treatment, with one punter being served up two oranges complete with a citrus presser.

People have been sharing the most outrageous examples on Twitter and Facebook, and the account We Want Plates has rounded up a few of the best.

These pictures will have you craving a traditional meal... and a normal plate.

Andy shared this picture of the deconstructed beans on toast he was served up in Manchester in March 2015. His measly portion of beans was presented in a glass jar with a stick of butter on top - complete with a tiny grater, presumably to increase spreadability. Luckily, it seems his coffee came fully constructed

For just 29 (26), tourists in the French alps can have the pleasure of reconstructing their own spaghetti bolognese. Ed Smith was handed this meal at La Folie Douce, Val d'isere, in March 2016

Andrea Hadfield ordered an orange juice in August but what she was given wasn't quite ready yet. Luckily bar staff had helpfully halved two oranges for her to create her own incredibly fresh OJ

Jess McGuire was left angry, and rightfully so, after she paid $18 (14) for this avocado on toast with feta that she had to construct herself. The writer asked: 'What next, being handed an avocado seed and told to farm the land and grow my own crop over several years before returning to the cafe to finally enjoy my breakfast?'

Paul Cuff was served up this deconstructed pulled pork burger back in August 2015 in Poplar, east London. He wrote: 'Pulled pork in a bun? Weve got pork and bun. Mind putting together yourself? Sorry it resembles sick'

A cafe on the Belfast waterfront served up this deconstructed salted butter to Els Draeger in June 2016 - and it wasn't even on a plate

WeWantPlates shared this distinctly unappealing snap of deconstructed Vegemite on toast handed to Huon Oliver in April. They wrote: 'What you order: gourmet Vegemite on toast. What you get: a chopping board, cold toast, a leaf stuck on some butter and a reminder to take your dog to the vet'

Kelvin Cherry was served this deconstructed lemon meringue on a roof slate back in January 2016Don't mess with a man's go-to fast food order  especially if he's on Twitter.

McDonald's announced last week that it has changed the recipe for its beloved apple pie, updating the recipe for the first time in over two and a half decades.

And, unsurprisingly, many fans of the baked treat are furious, taking to social media to complain about the unwelcome update.

Surprise! McDonald's announced last week that it was debuting a new version of its beloved apple pies

What's new: They're now made with slice apples, instead of diced, and more cinnamon  and the crust now features a lattice design and just sugar on top, instead of sugar and cinnamon

The new apple pie is already being rolled out in stores. 'Freshly baked and served warm,' according to McDonald's, the update has more cinnamon in the filling to give it more flavor.

It's also made with 'sliced 100 per cent American grown apples,' versus the diced apples it used before, and contains a mix of Golden Delicious, Jonagold, Rome, Gala, Ida Red, and Fuji varieties.

The crust is different, too: Now, it's made with a 'tender, flaky, lattice top crust with a sprinkled sugar topping'  as opposed to the sugar and cinnamon topping it had before.

It's also served in a new peach box, an update on the old green boxes.

'Our new freshly baked Apple pie recipe is in line with other positive changes we have made,' Tiffany Briggs, a McDonald's spokesperson, said in a press release.

'We removed, for example, artificial preservatives from our Chicken McNuggets and switched to real butter in our breakfast sandwiches because those changes matter to our guests.

Updated: The older version had a bit more crust and the filling was a different texture

Not impressed! Some social media users are furious over the change

Mad: People are upset with McDonald's for messing with something that's been unchanged for so long

Charge! 'We should be rioting in the streets,' joked this woman

If it ain't broke... Some don't understand why the chain would mess with a good thing

'Likewise, our new apple pie is made with fewer ingredients such as sugar, sliced 100-percent American grown apples and a bit of cinnamon to the filling for flavor to give each one that homemade taste our customers love.'

But change anything that people have liked for years and there is sure to be a backlash on social media.

Dozens of Twitter users have complained, calling the update a bad move.

'McDonald's changed their apple pie crust & we should be rioting in the streets,' wrote one woman.

'Not even the apple pies taste the same anymore at McDonald's. my cravings were disrespected today,' wrote another.

One angry customer tweeted, '@McDonalds I didn't think you could really ruin an apple pie... but you managed to do just that. They are horrible now.'

Healthier: The last time McDonald's changed their apple pie was in 1992, when they switched from frying to baking

Packaging update: The new pie also comes in a different box

Boo... The different crust seems to be a sticking point for some critics

Ew... The apple pie is still a staple of the menu though  unlike the corn pies that are sold in Korea

'@McDonalds If you're going to change the recipe for the apple pie, fine. BUT YOU MESSED WITH THE CRUST. No, no no. Where's the crust? There's more holes than crust in this so-called "crust". I want my old pie back,' added another disappointed man.

As Eater points out, the last time McDonald's changed its apple pies was back in 1992. Before then, the pies were fries, but that year they began baking them instead.

However, before that, the handheld pie had been through several changes in its history.

It debuted on the menu in 1968, thanks to a Knoxville, Tennessee, franchisee named Litton Cochran. It was the first dessert on the menu, and was introduced the same year as the Big Mac.

The latest update has been in the works since 2016, when McDonald's had a culinary team begin to update the recipe to include slice apples and a more decorative crust.As Australia's farmers grapple with the strawberry sabotage, shoppers are being urged to throw their support behind the country's growers and purchase a punnet.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison asked punters to make a strawberry pavlova this weekend, in a bid to help the struggling farmers.

It follows an onslaught of national fear prompted by 13 people going public after finding needles in their supermarket-purchased strawberries over the last week.

The scare has led to a slew of supermarket recalls, and some stores in New Zealand have temporarily banned the sale of Australian strawberries.

Farmers have been forced to pulp fruit and layoff pickers because of slower sales and lower wholesale prices.

'Just go back to buying strawberries like you used to, and take the precautions that you should,' Morrison told Australians in a televised address.

'Make a pav this weekend and put strawberries on it,' he suggested.

As Australia's farmers grapple with the strawberry sabotage, shoppers are being urged to throw their support behind the country's growers and purchase a punnet (pictured: strawberry friands)

STRAWBERRY FRIANDS FEMAIL compiled a list of five strawberry-based recipes, including these strawberry friands (pictured) INGREDIENTS: 125g strawberries, hulled and halved 6 egg whites 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste 1 1/2 cups (225g) icing sugar mixture, plus extra to dust 1 1/4 cups (155g) almond meal 1/2 cup (75g) plain flour 150g unsalted butter, melted, cooled Icing sugar, to dust METHOD: Preheat the oven to 180C. Lightly grease a 12-hole friand pan. Place strawberries on a large plate and use a potato masher to crush. Place the egg whites and vanilla bean paste in a large bowl and whisk until just frothy. Using a coarse sieve, sift over the icing sugar, almond meal and flour. Add the melted butter and crushed strawberries and mix with a wooden spoon until combined. Divide the mixture among prepared friand holes and bake in the oven for 25 minutes or until friands are golden and a skewer inserted into the centres comes out clean. Stand in the pans for 3-4 minutes, then turn onto a wire rack to cool. Dust with vanilla sugar before serving. Courtesy of Marie Phitidis Advertisement

The Fit Foodie's chocolate chip strawberry pancakes are a guaranteed strawberry-based hit (pictured)

CHOCOLATE CHIP STRAWBERRY PANCAKES Chocolate chip pancakes (pictured) are a tasty way to try strawberries INGREDIENTS: 4 tablespoons rolled oats  teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon Natvia (stevia) or sweetener of choice 1 tablespoon plain Greek yogurt 1 free-range egg  teaspoon pure vanilla essence  cup unsweetened almond milk 2 tablespoons cacao nibs 4 large strawberries, hulled & quartered 1 teaspoon coconut oil (for cooking) CHOCOLATE SAUCE 1 tablespoon coconut oil, melted 1 teaspoon coconut nectar / honey or  teaspoon Natvia 1 tablespoon raw cacao powder METHOD: In a blender, combine oats, baking powder, sweetner of choice, yogurt, egg, vanilla and milk until smooth. Heat coconut oil in a shallow frying pan, and pour in 1/6 of the batter. Immediately sprinkle over cacao nibs, and flip when edges of the pancake begin to bubble. Cook on other side for 1 minute, and remove to a warm plate. Repeat with remaining batter, and stack pancakes. Stir together chocolate sauce ingredients in a small bowl until smooth. Top with strawberries and pour over sauce and enjoy. Courtesy of The Fit Foodie Advertisement

The scare has prompted a slew of supermarket recalls, and some stores in New Zealand have temporarily banned the sale of Australian strawberries (pictured: a strawberry smoothie)

ANTIOXIDANT SMOOTHIE The Fit Foodie's strawberry-based smoothie (pictured) is not only delicious, but packs a nutrition punch INGREDIENTS: 2 cups unsweetened coconut water 1 cup plain greek yoghurt 1 tbsp acai powder 6 strawberries To garnish (optional): Unsweetened coconut flakes Dried lavender Goji berries Red fruit tea mix METHOD: Add ingredients to a blender and process until smooth. Serve between two chilled glasses and garnish as desired. Courtesy of The Fit Foodie Advertisement

NO BAKE STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE Jody Allen's No Bake Strawberry cheesecake (pictured) is a treat for all the family INGREDIENTS 500 grams Strawberries (washed And Halved) 395 grams Condensed Milk (1 Tin) 500 grams Cream Cheese 1/4 cup Lemon Juice 2 tsp Gelatine Powder 1/2 cup Icing Sugar METHOD Biscuit Base: Add the Nice Biscuits to a food processor and pulse until they resemble breadcrumbs. Pour into a bowl. Add the melted butter and mix well. Pour the breadcrumb mixture into a 22cm Springform Pan lined with baking paper. Press the base down into the pan with the bottom of a glass so it becomes firm. Refrigerate until needed. Strawberry Cheesecake: Dissolve the gelatin in a few tablespoons of hot water. Set aside. Clean out the food processor and add the cream cheese, condensed milk, lemon juice, icing sugar and strawberries. Process until the mixture becomes smooth. Pour in the gelatin mixture and again process until smooth. Pour over the biscuit base and refrigerate until set (about two hours or overnight). Courtesy of Jody Allen AdvertisementBeaming in gold tutus and headbands, these four little girls look like any other care-free four- and five-year-olds.

If it didn't say 'SURVIVOR' on their t-shirts, you would be hard-pushed to guess that McKinley, Chloe, Ava and Lauren all endured and defeated something few of their peers have faced: cancer.

Chloe was diagnosed with lung cancer, which is incredibly rare in children. The rest with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most common childhood cancer; one that is harrowing to treat, since it infects the immune system.

The four girls met by chance at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in Florida in September 2016, when doctors gave them all pink tutus to lift their mood during their treatment to mark Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

As the girls sat together giggling, someone took a photo.

A year later, in September 2017 they returned to celebrate their remission and remake that photo. And now, they are back, and visibly ecstatic at being healthy, something most take for granted.

Two-year reunion: (L-R) McKinley, Lauren, Chloe and Ava beam together in a photo taken last week, two years after they met on the cancer wards at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in Florida

One-year reunion: The girls (L-R) Ava, Lauren, McKinley and Chloe in their first reunion shot, September 2017, at their hospital

During their battle: (L-R) McKinley, Lauren, Chloe and Ava pictured in the middle of their grueling chemotherapy and radiation therapy in September 2016

According to doctors at All Children's, the girls have flourished as they have regained strength.

Ava, whose full name is Avalynn, is a huge Disney fan, and very artistic. Chloe loves T-ball and fishing. McKinley is a self-professed 'girly' girl - she loves princesses, jewelry, dancing. Lauren loves talking about animals, and hugging everyone.

Speaking to DailyMail.com, Alyssa Luciano, whose daughter Ava was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, said everything right now is 'surreal'.

'Once your child has cancer, its hard to imagine a "normal" life again. Its even more special when its with her sweet friends that she grew close with while they were all so very sick.

'Most people dream of different days for their children like the first day of school or weddings. These are the days weve dreamed of.'

Having all the other mothers, too, was crucial for the families to grapple with the painful circumstances, Chloe's mother Jacquie Grimes said.

'

ALL is a type of cancer in which the bone marrow makes too many immature white blood cells called lymphocytes.

They crowd out normal white blood cells, causing the body to have a harder time fighting infections.

According to St Jude Children's Research Hospital, ALL is the most common type of childhood cancer. Approximately 98 percent of children go into remission within weeks of starting treatment and about 90 percent of those children can be cured.

However, the treatment is grueling.

Ava, Alyssa explained, was diagnosed in January 2016 at the age of two after she began limping and had unexplained fevers.

By May that year she was in remission. But the risks of recurrence after such a short bout of treatment are high. So her doctors kept her on chemotherapy for more than two years - a total of 848 days - to be sure that it was gone.

The nausea and nights on end at hospital were heart-wrenching.

According to doctors at All Children's, the girls have flourished as they have regained strength

Chloe was diagnosed with lung cancer, which is incredibly rare in children. The rest with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most common childhood cancer; one that is harrowing to treat, since it infects the immune system

McKinley's mom Karen Moore said that just having other moms to relate to was incredible

Childhood lung cancer - pleuropulmonary blastoma - is incredibly rare, with just a 40 percent chance of survival.

There seems to be no rhyme or reason to who develops PPB. In many cases, there is no history of disease, or external factors that could increase their risk.

Increasingly, though, scientists are seeing a correlation between PPB and a specific inherited genetic mutation called DICER1. DICER1 is seen in 80 percent of PPB sufferers. It is also linked to ovarian tumors and very rare brain tumors.

Symptoms seem like any other illness at first. The child may experience stressful breathing, a cough, or a fever.

In Chloe's case, it was much the same. For the last four months of 2015, it seemed like she permanently had a fever, her mother Jacquie Grimes told DailyMail.com.

Every time they took her to the doctor, and every time she was put on antibiotics, with a vague diagnosis that it was probably a UTI (urinary tract infection).

But the fevers persisted and worsened, as did Chloe's grunting and wheezing.

Eventually, on Christmas Eve, as relatives arrived to celebrate, Jacquie noticed Chloe slumped to one side, weak.

'Something in my gut told me to take her to the ER,' Jacquie said.

Once they arrived, a doctor ordered an ultrasound of her abdomen, which transpired to be the wrong place - but an accident led them to her lungs.

'As they were trying to hold her down and look at her abdomen, she was screaming, crying and kicking,' Jacquie explained. 'And the tech accidentally went too high with the wand, seeing a mass that immediately concerned her.

'She left the room and soon others came in with her to take a look. Quickly after, they brought in an x-ray machine of her chest. The tumor was so large it had collapsed her little lung. The grunting noise she was making for months was her bodies attempt to push air into that lung.'

It was so baffling that the medical team rallied scores of doctors from their homes to listen to Chloes chest, hear her symptoms, and examine the rest of her body.

As it dragged on, it became clear this was not going to be a quick in-and-out with antibiotics as per usual, and Chloe was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit.

'She was on countless monitors. She was miserable. Then a doctor came in and broke the news, that they believed she had cancer.'

This picture, taken in 2017, shows the girls still weak from their treatment, but ecstatic and beaming as they start their journey into good health

Dr Colin Moore, who treated all four of the girls, said Chloe's is one that baffles even the global medical community.

'PPB is very rare in children; so rare that there's an international registry to better define it,' Dr Moore explains.

Chloe's recovery has been astonishing, he said, as has that of all the other girls.

'It's tough enough trying to be a toddler,' he said.

'There's so much learning and environmental stimuli going on. When you throw in a cancer diagnosis and the treatments that are needed, they really can't understand what's going on.

'It's not like talking to an adult and saying "Mrs Jones, I need to put a needle in your arm to draw some blood". So we really rely on their parents to learn how to communicate with them. And it means, children with cancer often mature much faster because they're thrown into a world where they have to learn so much about the real world.

'These girls were able to have a unique bond in that their peer group wasn't in the play ground, it was in the hospital and the clinic.

'It's been an absolute joy to see them grow and to see them outside of the hospital setting, being the kids they should have been all along.

'This should never have happened to them.'A businessman 'allergic' to the sun has been forced to spend his whole life indoors because of a one-in-a-million condition.

Joshua Barnfather, from Hull, was born with xeroderma pigmentosum (XP), which means his body is unable to repair DNA damage caused by UV light.

The 30-year-old businessman has had to stay indoors as much as possible and cover up from head-to-toe if he ever did venture out during the day.

Despite his diligence, Mr Barnfather has battled skin cancer several times and was diagnosed with cancer of the inner blood vessel linings, known as angiosarcoma, last February. The cancer has since spread from his face to his lymph nodes, bones and lungs.

Mr Barnfather is now desperately trying to raise 100,000 for treatment that is not available on the NHS to help prolong his life.

Joshua Barnfather is 'allergic to the sun' and has spent three decades indoors. He is now battling cancer and is appealing to the public to help him raise 100,000 for a drug not on the NHS. Mr Barnfather is pictured after a recent hospital stint, with the tumour evident on his face

He was discharged from hospital last Tuesday after 'preparation for the pembrolizumab treatment we are all saving up for'. Pembrolizumab was initially only on the NHS for advanced lung cancer. Although made more widely available in June, it is still just used in lung cancers

Speaking of his condition, Mr Barnfather said: 'I was diagnosed with xeroderma pigmentosum at 18 months old. It is [a] very rare genetic condition, affecting around 100 people in the UK.

'For my whole life, I've tried to avoid UV light. XP has meant that my skin had to be fully covered and that I've had to wear a protective visor during daylight hours.

'Despite the best efforts of mine and my family, over the course of my life I have developed several skin cancers that had been successfully treated without life-threatening impact, until now.'

Mr Barnfather, who runs a business specialising in artificial intelligence and robotics, added: 'Because of my unique characteristics as a xeroderma pigmentosum patient, specialists believe that the immunotherapy treatment pembrolizumab could extend my life.

'However, this is not readily available on the NHS for angiosarcoma patients and costs around 100,000 per year. Your generous contributions will help to fund these drugs, their administration and associated care.'

According to his recently updated fundraising page, Mr Barnfather was discharged from a hospital stint last Tuesday and has raised just over 32,000 so far.

Mr Barnfather (pictured being treated in hospital with his dog) has been told by doctors pembrolizumab could extend his life. Angiosarcoma, which has a five-year survival rate of less than 40 per cent, has previously been shown to respond to the medication

Due to his skin being unable to repair UV damage from the sun, Mr Barnfather has battled skin cancer several times during his 30-year life. This is despite him spending most of his time indoors and covering up. He now has cancer of the inner blood vessels linings that has spread

WHAT IS XERODERMA PIGMENTOSUM? Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is an inherited condition that causes extreme sensitivity to UV rays from the sun. It has been described as a 'one-in-a-million' condition. XP is brought on by a genetic mutation. Sufferers require complete protection from the sun, including clothing, sun cream and dark sunglasses. Eighty-to-90 per cent of sufferers also experience: Joint pain

Cognitive problems

Teeth abnormalities Due to sufferers being at high risk of sunburn, skin cancer is extremely common among patients. There is no cure for XP. Management of the condition includes protection from UV light, frequent skin examinations and prompt removal of any cancerous tissue. Source: National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences Advertisement

Posting a picture of himself with a visible lump on the side of his face, he said: 'I'm out of hospital now so I can begin my recovery in preparation for the pembrolizumab treatment we are all saving up for.

'It's been rough but we are all making good steps in the right direction every day. Thanks all.'

Pembrolizumab is an IV drug that stimulates a person's immune system to fight cancer cells.

It does this by blocking a particular protein, known as PD-1, on certain immune cells. This triggers them to find and kill cancer cells.

Angiosarcoma, which has a five-year survival rate of less than 40 per cent, has previously been shown to respond to pembrolizumab.

One study found 54 per cent of patients treated with the drug were alive a year later, which 'exceeded expectations'.

Although pembrolizumab's effectiveness in XP patients with angiosarcoma is unclear, 83 per cent of XP patients who took the drug for squamous cell skin cancer were alive a year later.

Experts have previously said 'angiosarcomas are rarely associated with XP'.

Pembrolizumab was previously only available to adults with advanced lung cancer whose condition had progressed despite previous treatment.

Last June, NICE called on the NHS to make the drug more widely available, however, it is still only used in lung-cancer patients.

Pembrolizumab initially cost around 84,000 per patient, however, the NHS struck a deal with its manufacturer MSD last June to arrange a 'confidential agreement for reimbursement'.The HPV vaccine given to teenage girls and boys to protect them from cancer is safe, research has confirmed.

Controversy surrounds the jab and health officials have repeatedly been forced to deny it can have any detrimental effects, such as paralysis.

But the new study, led by US Government officials, dampens widespread fears as it found the life-saving jab causes no unexpected side effects.

Researchers found just 0.001 per cent of people given an HPV jab used worldwide will experience a 'serious' reaction.

HPV is behind 99 per cent of cervical cancer cases but can also cause cancers of the throat, neck, tongue, tonsils, vulva, vagina, penis and anus.

The vaccine which protects against cervical cancer-causing HPV strains 16 and 18 is safe for use, the CDC has confirmed, in a study looking at the records of over 700,000 people who had the jab

It is the most common STI in both the US and the UK with an estimated 14 million Americans infected every year, and a third of British adults.

The findings come just months after health ministers in the UK announced the vaccine would be given to boys as well as girls.

Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) led the study.

They checked records of 723,502 people who had the bivalent HPV vaccine - used widely across the world - in the US between 2009 and 2017.

The jab protects against HPV strains 16 and 18, which are known to cause 75 per cent of all cervical cancers.

Only 241 adverse reactions were recorded over the eight-year period, according to the researchers led by Tiffany Suragh.

IS THE HPV JAB SAFE? HOW THE CONTROVERSY HAS LED TO A DROP IN VACCINATION RATES WHO IS GIVEN THE JAB? All girls aged between 12 and 18 are are offered a free vaccination against HPV by the NHS to help protect them against cervical cancer under a programme launched by UK health officials in 2008. However, boys aren't given the jab. In the US, the CDC recommends for all children to receive the vaccine, which was approved by the FDA in 2010, between the ages of nine and 12. Catch-up jabs are then available for men up to the age of 21 and women up to 26. It's estimated that about 400 lives could be saved every year in the UK as a result of vaccinating girls - while around 30,000 cases of cancer could be avoided in the US each year with the jab, according to figures. WAVE OF ALLEGATIONS However, a wave of allegations over the controversial HPV jab has caused vaccine rates to plummet to as low as 1 per cent in some countries. Anti-vaccine campaigners have the slump, which has badly affected Japan, which had a vaccine rate of 70 per cent just four years ago. They have posted hundreds of unsourced videos online featuring girls in wheelchairs that they claim have been disabled by the jab. The downturn in vaccination rates came after an allegedly fake study on mice linked the vaccine to neurological issues. A wave of allegations over the controversial HPV jab has caused vaccine rates to plummet to as low as 1 per cent in some countries 'PROMOTING PSEUDOSCIENCE' However, the world's leading health officials have repeatedly slammed anti-vaxxers for 'promoting pseudoscience'. Government authorities agree there is no evidence to support a link between HPV vaccination and chronic illnesses. The World Health Organisation, CDC, Public Health England and the European Medicines Regulator have 'extensively reviewed the vaccine's safety'. They concluded there is 'no credible evidence of a link between the HPV vaccine and a range of chronic illnesses'. They warn the vaccine has been proven to be safe in more than 10 years of studies, and it is essential for preventing dozens of HPV-linked cancers. And last year, the revered John Maddox prize for 'sense about science' was awarded to a Japanese researcher who debunked the jab claims. HOW MANY SIDE EFFECTS HAVE THERE BEEN? English health officials received 3,972 'yellow cards' - warnings of side effects - between 2010 and 2013 for the controversial HPV jab Gardasil. In Europe, 11,867 reactions to Gardasil have been recorded up to February 2017, according to The European Medicines Agency. Many report symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome, and cases of girls being left paralysed are rare. Fatalities have occurred, reports also showed. Advertisement

These reactions mostly consisted of redness or sore skin where the injection was given, a headache or dizziness.

The researchers classified 95.8 per cent of the reactions as not serious.

And some of the reactions were thought to be caused by errors made by healthcare workers when giving the jab.

Only 10 people out of nearly three quarters of a million had what was considered a 'serious' reaction  0.001 per cent.

Ms Suragh, from the CDC, said: 'Bivalent HPV vaccine is used in more than 134 countries around the world.

'This review provides additional evidence that bivalent HPV vaccine is safe, and that most adverse reactions are mild and resolve quickly on their own.'

In the study, the authors added: 'We did not identify any new or unexpected safety concerns in our review.'

Details in the study were gathered from a national vaccine safety programme in the US called the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS).

The findings were published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.

In the UK, the HPV vaccine has been given to girls free on the NHS when they are aged between 12 and 18 since 2008.

Health Minister Steve Brine announced back in July that hundreds of thousands of teenage boys will also be allowed the jab.

Charities hailed the 'huge triumph', the result of a decade of fierce campaigning against the controversial stance to deny boys the jab.

The move brought the UK in line with 15 other countries, including Australia and the US, who gave the green light to boys getting the HPV jab nearly a decade ago.

Gardasil, a four-way vaccine, is currently used by the NHS for teenage girls and also protects against HPV strains six and 11 of the virus.

The majority of unvaccinated people will get HPV at some point in their life and most will not be harmed by it because the immune system can fight it.

But among some people, the virus can lie undetected for years before appearing and causing damage which can lead to several forms of cancer.

WHAT IS HPV? THE INFECTION LINKED TO 99% OF CERVICAL CANCER CASES Up to eight out of 10 people will be infected with HPV in their lives Human papilloma virus (HPV) is the name for a group of viruses that affect your skin and the moist membranes lining your body. Spread through vaginal, anal and oral sex and skin-to-skin contact between genitals, it is extremely common. Up to eight out of 10 people will be infected with the virus at some point in their lives. There are more than 100 types of HPV. Around 30 of which can affect the genital area. Genital HPV infections are common and highly contagious. Many people never show symptoms, as they can arise years after infection, and the majority of cases go away without treatment. It can lead to genital warts, and is also known to cause cervical cancer by creating an abnormal tissue growth. Annually, an average of 38,000 cases of HPV-related cancers are diagnosed in the US, 3,100 cases of cervical cancer in the UK and around 2,000 other cancers in men. What others cancers does it cause? Throat

Neck

Tongue

Tonsils

Vulva

Vagina

Penis

Anus Advertisement

A wave of allegations over the controversial HPV jab has caused vaccine rates to plummet to as low as 1 per cent in some countries.

Anti-vaccine campaigners have contributed to the slump, which has badly affected Japan, which had a vaccine rate of 70 per cent just four years ago.

They have posted hundreds of unsourced videos online featuring girls in wheelchairs who they claim have been disabled by the jab.

The downturn in vaccination rates came after an allegedly fake study on mice linked the vaccine to neurological issues.

However, the world's leading health officials have repeatedly slammed anti-vaxxers for 'promoting pseudoscience'.

Government authorities agree there is no evidence to support a link between HPV vaccination and chronic illnesses.

The World Health Organisation, CDC, Public Health England and the European Medicines Regulator have 'extensively reviewed the vaccine's safety'.

They concluded there is 'no credible evidence of a link between the HPV vaccine and a range of chronic illnesses'.The NHS is 'subconsciously racist', the head of the British Medical Association has controversially claimed.

Dr Chaand Nagpaul, who has been in the role since July last year, alleged ethnic minority doctors are not routinely promoted.

He admits the NHS has 'moved a long way' since the Eighties, when he claims he was rejected from GP training nine times because of his name.

Dr Chaand Nagpaul, who has been in the role since July last year, alleged ethnic minority doctors are not routinely promoted

The NHS employs 100,000 doctors, of which figures show around a third are from black or minority ethnic (BME) backgrounds.

But official figures show only seven per cent of people in senior management posts in the health service are of BME backgrounds.

Dr Nagpaul, who has been a qualified GP for 29 years, told The Daily Telegraph: 'There is probably a subconscious bias that needs to be addressed.'

When asked if he thought this amounted to racism, he said 'yes' and pointed to figures showing white doctors face less disciplinary action.

Dr Nagpaul added: 'At every stage in my career I have prepared and worked much harder than I would have needed to in order to secure positions

'I've just accepted that. Sadly there is little doubt there is still a lack of equality in terms of staff in the NHS. That's of detriment to the population.'

Dr Nagpaul - the first non-white head of the BMA - has lived in the UK since he was seven, when his Indian parents moved from Kenya.

In an attempt to become a doctor, he trained at St Bartholomew's Hospital Medical College in London.

However, Dr Nagpaul, who took over Dr Mark Porter as head of the BMA, claims he suffered discrimination despite having 'as strong a CV you can get'.

He told The Telegraph that doctors progress based on ability, 'not their accent', in other parts of the world.

NHS England argued the proportion of 'very senior' managers of BME backgrounds had jumped by 18 per cent over the past two years.

A spokesman told the Telegraph: 'Ensuring our workforce is more representative of the people we care for is good for both staff and patients.'

Dr Nagpaul spoke out against figures published in the BMJ earlier this month that showed senior white doctors are paid more than their ethnic peers.

Thousands of ethnic GPs 'continue to face unacceptable barriers, penalties and discrimination in the NHS', he argued at the time.

The basic pay of white consultants can be 5,000 more a year compared with those from BME backgrounds, the study showed.

Dr Nagpaul said on the back of the figures that the pay differences between white and BME doctors in 21st century Britain 'cannot be right'.

And he demanded the Government and the NHS to take the issue seriously and tackle 'all forms of discrimination within the health service'.

Figures released in February by the House of Commons Library showed 74 per cent of doctors, around 81,000, in the NHS were British.

The data showed a further 6,400 are Indian, 2,300 Pakistani, 2,100 Irish, 1,600 Greek and 1,500 Malaysian.A woman whose baby died in the womb was subjected to four hours of ultrasound scans and a 33-hour labour so medical students could study her tragedy.

Kanokrat Suebsakwong, 37, was told five months into her pregnancy that her baby was severely disabled and was unlikely to survive birth.

The foetus suffered from a rare genetic defect called Trisomy 18, known as Edwards' syndrome, which causes serious mental and physical disability.

Predictions by doctors in Thailand were correct and Mrs Suebsakwong's baby, who she was expecting with her husband Eugene Wee, also 37, died shortly after.

Medical students then carried out ultrasound scans on her and discussed the dead baby's condition in front of her, pointing out its missing arms and internal organs.

She then endured a 33-hour labour - quadruple the usual length - to deliver the baby, so its body could be born whole and used for medical research.

Eugene Wee and his wife Kanokrat Suebsakwong agreed to donate their unborn baby's body to science to help research into the severely disabling condition Trisomy 18

Mrs Suebsakwong agreed for her child to be used for science and said 'it should not have died in vain', while her husband called her a 'hero'.

She and her husband Mr Wee, from Singapore, had been delighted to find out they were expecting a baby.

But, five months into the pregnancy, came the upsetting news the baby had Trisomy 18 and was severely disabled and unlikely to survive the full term.

The genetic error affects around one in 3,000 babies  many die before or shortly after birth.

The condition causes serious problems with brain development and severe physical disability, as well as problems with most internal organs.

WHAT IS TRISOMY 18? Trisomy 18, also called Edwards' syndrome, is a genetic disorder where a person is born with extra chromosome 18 material, which interferes with normal development. Unlike Down's syndrome, which also is caused by an extra chromosome, the issues caused by Trisomy 18 cause more medically life-threatening problems. Described as a relatively common condition, it occurs in about one out of 3,000 live births, killing half of those within their first week. Only around half of foetuses with the condition will survive a full pregnancy. Those who have survived into their teenage years suffer from serious medical and developmental problems including clenched hands, mental deficiency, a small head or jaw and heart defects. Rare individuals who make it to adulthood will never be able to live independently. Source: Trisomy18.org Advertisement

Students at Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital in Chiang Mai, Thailand, asked if they could study what had happened to Mrs Suebsakwong's baby.

She allowed herself to be scanned by medical students, who queued up to examine the baby's rare deformities.

They reportedly discussed what they were seeing out loud in front of the devastated parents, before Mrs Suebsakwong then gave birth to her dead child so researchers could study the body.

Her husband, Mr Wee, praised his wife in a Facebook post for her suffering in the name of science.

He wrote: 'For four hours, my wife chose to stay on the ultrasound so every medical student could glean as much knowledge as they could from the foetus.

'It was painful for her. Hearing them discuss her own child's brain, the enlarged heart, the missing arms, the face, the lack of organs, etc.'

He added: 'For 30 over hours, I sat there journeying with her, seeing her cringe through labour pain, asking for more painkillers to help her through the hours that never seemed to end.

'At many points through labour, she was in extreme pain. I told her that she could just give up on the idea of donating the full foetus and opt for a medical intervention to remove the fetus surgically. This way we will lose the fetus but it will save her a whole lot of pain. She refused. Again and again.'

Mr Wee concluded his message by saying that his wife was a 'true heroine' and that together they hoped it was just the start of the attempts 'to embark on this journey to make a difference'.

Mrs Suebsakwong added: 'If my child needs to die, then it should not have to be in vain.'Giving millions of patients already taking statins a new type of drug could slash their heart disease risk even further, research suggests.

Scientists claim pills that are currently under development, called lipoprotein lipase (LPL) enhancers, could prevent thousands of heart attacks.

And their study also showed the drugs - which work by lowering levels of fats in the blood - could also slash the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Cambridge University researchers tested the effects of LPL enhancers using genetic data of around 400,000 people.

Scientists claim pills that are currently under development, called lipoprotein lipase (LPL) enhancers, could prevent thousands of heart attacks

Such experiments are used to mimic the effects of a clinical trial, tests of the safety and effectiveness of drugs before they are mass marketed.

Thousands of people with a variation in their DNA that boosts the effectiveness of LPL to levels expected in patients taking the drugs were analysed.

Others with a genetic twist that protects them against high levels of LDL cholesterol - mimicking the effect of statins - were also monitored.

Heart disease risk between patients with both DNA variations, just one, or neither were measured for the trial.

The researchers, led by Dr Luca Lotta, found patients with both had a lower risk of heart disease than those with just one or none.

And they discovered those who were born with LPL gene variants had a lower risk of type 2 diabetes when taking statins.

Statins have been shown to cause the condition. An estimated 100 per 10,000 patients on the cheap pills will develop type 2 diabetes.

Up to six million adults in Britain currently take the cheap pills to lower their LDL cholesterol levels and thereby reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

However, some patients treated with statins will still encounter heart attacks, which is thought to be down to raised levels of triglycerides in their blood.

Normally, the body can break down triglycerides - fats in the blood - with LPL.

WHAT IS THE ROW OVER STATINS ABOUT? Up to six million adults in Britain currently take statins to lower their cholesterol levels and thereby reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. But many doctors and patients are worried about their long-term harms and they have been linked to diabetes, muscular pain and memory loss. Scores are are uneasy with what they describe as the 'overmedicalisation' of the middle-aged, which sees statins doled out 'just in case' patients have heart problems in later life. Supporters on the other hand, including the health watchdog Nice, say the pills should be prescribed more widely to prevent thousands of early deaths. An array of evidence has already shown statins to be very effective at preventing heart attacks and strokes in patients who have already had one. Advertisement

But the jury is still out on whether this could slash the risk of heart disease  the world's leading killer  because little data exists on their efficacy.

The findings of LPL enhancers, currently at various stages of laboratory development, were published in JAMA Cardiology.

Dr Lotta, of the Medical Research Council's Epidemiology Unit at Cambridge, said: 'Our study suggests these new triglyceride-lowering agents could give additional benefits to patients with heart disease when added to statins.

'This combination could prevent more heart attacks as well as reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.'

He added: 'Studies that simulate clinical trials are invaluable because large-scale trials are expensive, take years to conduct and considerable resources

'Scientists need strong evidence of a drug's likelihood of success before it gets to the trial stage.'

High levels of LDL-C, known as bad cholesterol, has been considered a major cause of heart disease - the world's leading killer - for at least 50 years.

But a row has erupted in recent years over the safety and effectiveness of statins, with a group of 17 skeptics urging doctors to 'abandon' them earlier this week.

Supporters, including the health watchdog Nice, say the pills should be prescribed more widely to prevent thousands of early deaths.

But many medics are uneasy with the 'overmedicalisation' of the middle-aged, which sees statins doled out 'just in case' patients have heart problems in later life.

Yet they do agree that for high risk patients, such as heart attack victims, statins are proven lifesavers, slashing the chance of a second attack.Even doctors are calling loneliness an epidemic of the modern age.

Nearly half of Americans say that they feel lonely most or even all of the time, and it isn't just a detriment to their social lives and happiness; loneliness is bad for their health.

Plenty of studies have found strong links between loneliness and risks for just about every disease - from cardiovascular disease to stroke and even death on the whole.

But only recently have scientists been able to identify what is actually happening in the body as a direct result of loneliness.

Harvard University psychiatrist Dr Charles Bullock explained in a blog post for the university the biology of loneliness - and why it's so crucial that we treat our symptoms with the best medicine: people.

Nearly half of all Americans report that they are lonely some or all of the time. A Harvard doctor explains that isolation disrupts our brains and hormone systems, damaging health

The health dangers of loneliness are not new. A review of studies conducted back in 1988 identified higher rates of mortality, illness, injury, smoking, obesity and high blood pressure in lonely people, marking social isolation a risk factor for all of the above.

Despite all of our online connections - the average person has 338 Facebook 'friends' - we are only getting lonelier.

Former surgeon general Dr Vivek Murthy wrote in the Harvard Business Review that 'we live in the most technologically connected age in the history of civilization, yet rates of loneliness have doubled since the 1980s.'

'Its far more widespread than people believe, and like many illnesses that are related to our mental and psychological state, it gets swept under the rug and exists in the shadows,' he told the Washington Post.

It's not just that loneliness itself is an emotional, societal ill. It actually has detrimental effects on the body.

ISOLATION MAKES PARTS OF THE BRAIN GO DARK BUT SWITCHES ON THE ONES THAT MAKE US FEEL PAIN

With the advances of medical technology, scientists can better see and measure what is happening in the brains of lonely people.

Social activity stimulates a variety of parts of the brain. Like our muscles, the regions of our brains need to be active in order to stay fit.

Several key areas 'atrophy,' so to speak, when we are lonely and isolated, according to Dr Bullock's blog post.

We start to lose gray brain matter in the regions that allow us to read the facial expressions, tones and movements of other people and that allow us to imagine what's happening in another person's mind.

Even if you spend most of your time alone, picking up on social cues like these isn't just important to making friends, it's a survival mechanism.

Meanwhile, regions of the pain that tell us something is painful thrive on our loneliness.

Scientists see greater activity in these parts of the brain when people are lonely. They have also observed an uptick in activity and chaos the amygdala, which regulates emotions and emotional responses.

This part of the brain, the amygdala gets revved up and reacts to 'negative stimuli' - situations that are upsetting - more but has a harder time recovering from these experiences.

Similarly, the dorsal posterior insula, which regulates how painful something feels actually becomes more active when we are lonely, so injuries - which, incidentally, happen more often to people who are socially isolated - actually hurt more.

LONELINESS LETS YOUR HORMONES RUN WILD

Cortisol, the stress hormone tells us when to fight or flee and is key to many biological processes.

But our bodies are not designed to be under constant stress, and cortisol is known to disrupt nearly every biological process when our levels of it are too high.

The antidote to high cortisol quotients is another hormone called oxytocin.

And oxytocin production ramps up to reward our social interactions specifically.

Oxytocin has been referred to as the social and even the love hormone.

It is responsible for the pleasant 'warm' feelings we get from spending time around friends and loved ones.

Maintaining a balance between the stress and social hormones is key to feeling balanced and level.

Another endocrine system chemical, 'brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) helps our brains to remain plastic, or flexible, so that we can continue to hold on to past memories and create new ones.

Socially isolated people, however, have a shortage of this substance, too.

MAKE A FRIEND, IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH

But Dr Bullock says that these effects can be reduced if not reversed even just by being in the presence of other people.

'People are anxiety relievers. And people are antidepressants, as well as blood pressure reducers (mostly). People, in general, are good for you,' writes Dr Bullock.

He suggests that even the distant presence of others during solitary activities - like going to a library or public place to read - can inspire the brain to give us more oxytocin, putting a damper on our soaring stress hormone levels.

Better yet, and more clearly proven, making a friend might be the best think you can do for your health.

An American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) survey found that just one close supportive relationship can decrease loneliness.

Among those who didn't feel as though they had any close friends, 76 percent reported that they were lonely.

That number was cut down to just 36 percent of those who had just one friend.

'Humans are social creatures. Among ourselves we form all kinds of complex alliances, affiliations, attachments, loves, and hates. If those connections break down, an individual risks health impacts throughout the body,' Dr Bullock wrote.Senator Grassley leads Kavanaugh to the witness table at the start of the second day of his confirmation hearing on September 5, 2018. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

During an interview with Hugh Hewitt on Tuesday, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley lamented that Christine Blasey Ford had yet to respond to his invitation to testify at a public hearing on Monday about her claim that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh attempted to rape her when they were teenagers.

Do they want to have the hearing or not? Were delaying the vote strictly to get all the facts out on the table, Grassley said. What would be the purpose of the hearing if Dr. Ford doesnt want to respond?

Ford responded on Tuesday evening via a letter from her attorney, saying that she became the target of vicious harassment and even death threats following her decision to go public on Sunday, forcing her to move out of her home. Meanwhile, Grassleys office set up a hearing for her to testify at the same table as Judge Kavanaugh in front of two dozen U.S. senators on national television to relive this traumatic and harrowing incident.

The hearing was scheduled for six short days from today and would include interrogation by senators who appear to have made up their minds that she is mistaken and mixed up, the letter continued. While no sexual assault survivor should be subjected to such an ordeal, Dr. Ford wants to cooperate with the Committee and with law enforcement officials.

Fords attorney said an FBI investigation should be the first step in addressing her claims. A full investigation by law enforcement officials will ensure that the crucial facts and witnesses in this matter are assessed in a non-partisan matter, and that the Committee is fully informed before conducting any hearing or making any decision.

Within hours, Grassley released a statement saying there would be no FBI investigation. Immediately after learning of Dr. Fords identity from news reports Sunday, committee staff started working to gather facts related to her claims, Grassley said. A paragraph later, the senator said the only additional information the committee is interested in gathering is Fords testimony.

Dr. Fords testimony would reflect her personal knowledge and memory of events. Nothing the FBI or any other investigator does would have any bearing on what Dr. Ford tells the committee, so there is no reason for further delay.

Heres the full Grassley statement, sending this message to Ford: Take the offer to testify Monday, or leave it. pic.twitter.com/JAUSAs8EgJ  Manu Raju (@mkraju) September 19, 2018

Grassleys statement also denied that there were plans to have Ford and Kavanaugh sit on a panel together, and claimed that she was offered multiple dates as well as a choice of providing information in a public or private setting. As several journalists noted on Twitter, its unclear how the conditions were set for the hearing if Grassley was still waiting to hear back from Ford.

"Grassley's staff offered Dr. Ford multiple dates" what were the other dates, and if she hadn't responded yet, how did they settle on Monday? https://t.co/nMIauGspFg  Josh Barro (@jbarro) September 19, 2018

The FBI has indicated to the committee and in public statements that it considers the matter closed, Grassley added.

The FBI declined to comment on Fords letter. Earlier on Tuesday, President Trump told reporters, I dont think the FBI really should be involved because they dont want to be involved, in investigating the allegations. The Justice Department previously said that the FBI had updated Kavanaughs background-check file to include the allegation, but suggested that the bureau did not plan to take further action. However, two sources told Bloomberg that the FBI isnt acting because the White House hasnt requested an investigation, not because, as Trump suggested, they simply dont want to.

 FBI background investigations are conducted under specific procedures and through requests from government agencies  which in Kavanaughs case would come from the White House, said the two people who asked not to be identified discussing the sensitive matter.



As Politico notes, the FBI did conduct an FBI investigation prior to Anita Hills testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee about her allegations of sexual harassment against nowSupreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

Nevertheless, Senator Orrin Hatch  who said he thinks Ford is mistaken, and even if she isnt, that Kavanaugh is a good man who should be judged for who he is today  tweeted on Sunday night its up to the Judiciary Committee alone to investigate Fords allegation.

The FBI does not do investigations like this. The responsibility falls to us.



Chairman @ChuckGrassley has moved our committee vote to accommodate Dr. Fords lawyers offer on TV yesterday to have her client testify before the Judiciary Committee.



We should proceed as planned.  Senator Hatch Office (@senorrinhatch) September 19, 2018

The Judiciary Committee does not appear interested in hearing from anyone aside from Ford and Kavanaugh. Mark Judge, who was allegedly in the room egging his friend on during the assault, said Tuesday that he never saw Kavanaugh behave in the way Ford described and would prefer not to testify. I have no more information to offer the committee and I do not wish to speak publicly regarding the incidents, he said in a letter to the Judiciary Committee.

Even before Judge issued his statement, Senator Lindsey Graham said he doesnt need to be called as a witness. No reason to, Graham said. Hes already said what hes going to say. I want to hear from her, if she wants to speak, and I want to hear from him, meaning Kavanaugh.

But as the Washington Posts Aaron Blake notes, testimony under oath is much different than a denial in a letter to senators:

Judge can deny Fords allegations all day long publicly and never be held legally accountable for his words. The only setting in which his denials must be accurate, at risk of jail time, is if hes testifying  in a courtroom or to Congress. Getting him on the record and under oath would seem to be good as a matter of course and when it comes to bolstering Kavanaughs defense.

A second potential witness followed Judges lead. In a letter to the Judiciary Committee, Patrick J. Smyth claimed he had been identified by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford as the person she remembers as PJ who supposedly was present at the party she described in her statements to the Washington Post. (Smith had actually yet to be publicly identified. The Post report only says, Ford named two other teenagers who she said were at the party. Those individuals did not respond to messages on Sunday morning.)

Smyth asked the committee to accept his letter in lieu of testimony. I am issuing this statement today to make it clear to all involved that I have no knowledge of the party in question; nor do I have any knowledge of the allegations of improper conduct she has leveled against Brett Kavanaugh, he said.

The New York Times reported that even without hearing testimony from Ford, Senate Republicans are ready to stick with Hatchs strategy, suggesting they believe Ford was assaulted, but shes wrong about Kavanaugh being the perpetrator:

Trumps advisers and Judge Kavanaughs allies appeared to be settling on a strategy of defending him by suggesting that this must be a case of mistaken identity. Under the emerging strategy, Judge Kavanaughs defenders would accept that Dr. Blasey was in fact assaulted but would insist that it must have been by someone other than Judge Kavanaugh because he denied it.

The approach reflects the shifting reality of the #MeToo movement when it has become politically perilous to directly attack the credibility of women who come forward to tell their stories. By suggesting that perhaps there was confusion after more than 30 years, White House allies said that they could offer wavering Republicans whose votes are critical for his confirmation another explanation for the he-said-she-said conflict without tearing down Dr. Blasey.

A person close to Ford told the Times that she knew Kavanaugh in passing before the party, which makes it harder to believe that she simply misremembered the identity of the man who attempted to rape her.

While holding a full investigation, or at least calling other witnesses before the Senate, could shed light on Fords allegation, Republicans are digging in. Senator Bob Corker, who initially bucked his party to say the committee should hear from Ford before voting to advance his nomination, tweeted on Tuesday night that if she doesnt take up the Republicans gracious offer of a rushed he-said-she-said hearing, theyll just move on.Two people have died of plague in Madagascar and another six infected

Two people have died of the plague in Madagascar, potentially marking the start of another killer epidemic.

Officials in the nation are getting set to battle another outbreak as eight suspected cases have been recorded since the start of August.

It comes less than a year after the country declared the end to its worst outbreak of plague in 50 years, which killed more than 200 people.

The deadly plague spreads every year in the African country, where it is thought to be spread by fleas carried by rats running from forest fires.

Both recent deaths happened in separate cities, one to the north and the other to the south of the country's capital, Antananarivo.

Health workers pictured in Madagascar last year, when more than 2,200 people were infected with the plague and over 200 died in what was called the worst outbreak in 50 years

Authorities in Madagascar, off the south-east coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean, made the announcement yesterday.

Health ministry official, Manitra Rakotoarivony said: 'According to counts undertaken between August 1 and September 13, we recorded eight suspected plague cases, six of whom recovered and two died in their villages.'

It is unclear whether the new cases are pneumonic or bubonic plague, both of which can be fatal and were seen in Madagascar last year.

Pneumonic plague is the only form of the disease which can spread between people by coughing, and is also the most deadly type.

Madagsascar has suffered outbreaks of the bubonic plague  which caused the Black Plague which killed millions of people in the 14th century  every year since 1980.

Its regular outbreaks tend to start in September and run through the hot and rainy season until April, with around 600 cases being reported each year on the island.

Last year's outbreak infiltrated towns, rather than being concentrated in the countryside as usual, and was described as the country's worst in 50 years.

Experts worried at the time that if the disease spread to mainland Africa it could spread further and become difficult to control.

By November last year more than 2,200 people had been infected, and the World Health Organization warns this year's strain of the virus could be even stronger.

The panic caused 10 nearby countries to be placed on high alert to the risk of the disease spreading from the island of 25 million people.

Both bubonic and pneumonic types of plague can cause fever, headache, weakness and chills.

Bubonic plague is usually caught from the bite of an infected flea and bacteria multiply in the lymph nodes and spread through the immune system.

Pneumonic plague, which is more deadly, is spread from person to person by droplets from coughing and can cause shortness of breath, chest pain and a cough, which can progress to deadly pneumonia.An eight-month-old boy who underwent a heart-lung transplant is home almost exactly a year after his parents were told to expect a stillborn baby.

Tiffany and Chuck Palmer were still four months away from welcoming their son, Jack, when a scan revealed he had a congenital heart defect that made it difficult for blood to flow through his body properly and was damaging his lungs.

Jack survived pregnancy and birth but, shortly after, doctors said he had two options: put Jack on a potential months-long waiting list for a heart-lung transplant, or withdraw care.

The couple, from Kansas City, Missouri, chose the first option and, just five months later, a pair of organs became available.

Jack underwent the procedure in May, and was finally discharged from the hospital on August 1, but the family - including his older siblings 11-year-old Allison and two-year-old Max - had to stay in an apartment in St Louis to stay close to the hospital

But now, he is back in Kansas City, and thriving.

On Monday, they shared a photo of Jack home in Kansas City on his eight-month 'monthday', describing his astounding progress: he has outgrown most of his 12-month clothes, has moved into 18-month clothes, and weighs 19lbs 9oz - milestones they never thought possible.

Happy eight months! Jack Palmer (left, during treatment, and right, when he turned eight months on Monday) became the youngest person in 10 years to undergo a heart-lung transplant

His parents, Chuck and Tiffany, learned about the condition when Tiffany was 20 weeks pregnant and were told that one option might be in utero surgery. Pictured: Tiffany and Chuck with their children, 11-year-old Allison, two-year-old Max, and Jack

If he lives one year past his surgery, he will make history as the first infant under one-year-old to undergo a heart-lung transplant to live that long.

Tiffany and Chuck learned they were expecting for a third time in May 2017.

But the couple's happiness soon turned to fear when they went for a 20-week ultrasound.

They were told that their unborn child was suffering from hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a birth defect in which the left side of the heart does not from correctly while the baby is in the womb.

Because the left side of the heart is unable to pump oxygen-rich blood throughout the body, the right side is responsible for pumping blood to both lungs and the rest of the body.

According to the CDC, about 960 babies are born in the US every year with this defect.

Problems quickly arise soon after birth including difficulty breathing, a weak pulse, and a bluish skin color.

Because this is a lifelong condition, medications may help lower blood pressure and strengthen the heart muscles.

Surgery is another option to help restore heart function by increasing blood flow throughout the body.

However, if the defect is severe or surgeries leave the heart weak, then a heart transplant is necessary.

At first, doctors told Tiffany and Chuck that in-utero surgery might help their baby's heart develop, reported TODAY.

Jack was born in January with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a birth defect in which the left side of the heart does not from correctly while the baby is in the womb. Now (pictured), he is thriving - and is growing so fast he is wearing 18-month-old clothes

A fetal echocardiogram revealed there was too much damage for surgery to be performed and the parents were told Jack might not survive delivery. Pictured: Tiffany and Chuck with Jack

Jack (pictured) was delivered via C-section at St Louis Children's Hospital on January 16 before immediately being taken away for emergency treatment

But a fetal echocardiogram revealed there was too much damage for surgery to be performed and they were told he might not survive delivery.

'We were just devastated, crushed, hopeless,' Tiffany told TODAY.

'Instead of planning to bring home a new baby like we were hoping, we were feeling [as if] we had to plan a funeral.'

Despite the defect, Jack continued to grow and was delivered via C-section at St Louis Children's Hospital on January 16 before immediately being taken away for emergency treatment.

By the time Jack was three weeks old, he had undergone two open-heart surgeries.

But there were even more problems. Jack's lungs had not fully developed and he had a condition known as an intact atrial septum.

This is when a natural hole between the heart's upper chambers where blood pumps through is closed.

According to a 2004 Harvard Medical School study, only about six percent of babies born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome have an intact atrial septum.

By the time Jack (left and right) was three weeks old, he had undergone two open-heart surgeries. But there were even more problems. Jack's lungs had not fully developed and he had a condition known as an intact atrial septum

Doctors told Chuck and Tiffany (pictured, with Jack) that they had two options: put Jack on a waiting list for a heart-lung transplant or to withdraw care

'We were told he wouldn't even survive the delivery. So here we were and Jack was, yes, in NICU, but with us,' Tiffany said.

'We had gotten to hold himall of those emotions played a factor in our decision to move forward with transplant.'

On May 23, the parents learned that a pair of organs had become available and Jack became the 20th infant less than one year old to undergo a heart-lung transplant and the youngest in 10 years.

According to the International Society for Heart & Lung Transplantation, none of the 19 other babies have survived more than a few weeks after the surgery.

If Jack lives a year past his transplant, he will make history.

Chuck and Tiffany said the change in Jack's health following the procedure was almost immediate.

'The first thing I noticed was how pink he was,' Tiffany told TODAY.

'His movements were better, he was growing and he was smiling all the time.'

The couple chose the transplant and, on May 23, a pair of organs became available and Jack underwent the 10-hour surgery

Jack is the 20th infant less than one year old to undergo a heart-lung transplant and, if he survives a year past the surgery, he will be the first to do so. Pictured: Tiffany and Chuck with their children Allison, Max and Jack

Chuck and Tiffany say Jack (pictured) is now thriving and, on August 1, he was discharged and was able to experience life for the first time outside hospital walls

On August 1, Jack was discharged and was able to experience life for the first time outside hospital walls.

However, they had to stay close to the hospital so the couple and their two other children, 11-year-old Allison and two-year-old Max, have been living in an apartment in St Louis near the hospital.

There are a number of things that the Palmers will have to watch out for.

Jack will have to visit a doctor's office twice a week and wear a mask so he is not exposed to odors that could irritate his lungs and send him into respiratory failure.

'Parts of this journey have felt like a nightmare we couldn't wake up from,' Tiffany told the Storm Lake Pilot Tribune.

'This part of the journey feels like a dream and I keep pinching myself making sure it's not. Jack has been through so much in his short life and we can't wait to tell Jack how his journey started.'

The family has created a Facebook page titled Jack Liam's Journey where they provide updates about his condition.Health bosses have given the green light to a radical treatment which shrinks the prostate with high-powered jets of water.

New guidance by health watchdog Nice approves use of Aquablation therapy as an alternative to traditional surgery.

The approach is the latest in a series of non-invasive options for the treatment of enlarged prostate, which affects half of all men over the age of 50.

Trials have shown that Aquablation comes with fewer side effects than conventional surgery, which often spells an early end to a man's sex life.

An enlarged prostate commonly causes repetitive night-time visits to the bathroom. Many men find that having rushed out of bed, they cannot urinate after all.

This problem is caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia - or BPH - in which an overgrown prostate presses into the bladder and blocks the urethra, the vessel through which it empties.

New guidance by health watchdog Nice approves use of Aquablation therapy as an alternative to traditional surgery

In extreme cases, men find they cannot urinate at all, leading to a dangerous build-up of toxins that can cause severe kidney problems.

Every year more than 18,000 men undergo a painful operation to relieve the problem in the UK, which involves removing part of the prostate.

The conventional operation - called transurethral resection of the prostate or TURP - is effective but comes with side effects which can include loss of sexual function, bleeding and incontinence.

The new treatment reduces the risk of these side effects by using a robotic system which fires water at the prostate from within the urethra, killing a few millimetres of tissue which is then removed.

Because it is automated, it is easier to teach surgeons to conduct the procedure and the risk of errors is minimised.

Patients typically require a single night in hospital to recover - compared to two or more for TURP.

Louise de Winter, chief executive of The Urology Foundation, said: 'This is excellent news and we are glad that NICE has reached this recommendation.

'Aquablation is a new, heat free, waterjet therapy to treat BPH that is much less invasive and has fewer side effects.

'With that in mind, it's gratifying to see that, after thorough international trials, Aquablation is now being recommended for men in the UK and will give men a better chance at retaining full and active sex lives after BPH.'

Treatment for enlarged prostate has radically improved in the last two years, with a number of new options available that reduce side effects.

The Daily Mail revealed last month the NHS had approved a five-minute treatment in which steam is inserted into the prostate.

And earlier this year hospitals started using another treatment - called prostate artery embolisation - in which blood supply to the prostate is blocked with tiny plastic beads into an artery.

The latest jet water treatment, which costs 9,000 privately, has been used on relatively few patients in trials, so NICE advised that it be used cautiously at first while further data is gathered.

But initial results of trials in Cambridge, Surrey and Bridgend show it comes with fewer side effects than TURP, cutting the chance of erectile dysfunction and incontinence.

Professor Kevin Harris, programme director and clinical advisor for the Interventional Procedures Programme at NICE, said: 'This treatment has shown promise.

'It uses robotics and computer imagining for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and may offer some advantages over standard treatments including the better preservation of sexual function.

'However, at present there is not enough evidence, particularly of long term efficacy to recommend it for routine use in the NHS and so we have encouraged further collection of data and we will update the guidance once this is published.'

An enlarged prostate is not linked to prostate cancer  yet the symptoms can be similar, so most men with the problem are tested to make sure their prostate is not cancerous.Syphilis is on a steep rise throughout the US, but a few cities are seeing particularly unprecedented rates.

The STD is wreaking particular havoc in California and a series of hot spots across the nation.

In San Joaquin, the rate of syphilis cases in 2017 was 50.9 per 100,000 - a 44 percent increase over the previous year.

Parts of Palm Springs in southern California saw as many as 185 cases of syphilis per 100,000 people.

It isn't just California, though: rates of the infection are 300 percent higher than they were a decade ago and Milwaukee has a 'cluster' of 125 people with syphilis.

Syphilis is a nationwide issue, and experts worry that HIV treatment triumphs have actually created a false sense of sexual safety, leading to higher rates of unprotected sex - especially among men who have sex with men, who have the highest incidence of syphilis, too.

In February 2018, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation unveiled a billboard warning of the dangers of syphilis in Los Angeles, where syphilis is up 16 percent and the congenital form of the disease that affects and can kill babies surged by more than 60 percent in 2016

Sexually transmitted syphilis is unpleasant and can become dangerous if it's left untreated, but with proper, early medical attention, the infection is easily curable.

But if it passes to a developing baby through an infected woman's placenta, the disease can cause serious birth defects and even lead to stillbirth.

High rates of syphilis in any population are a public health concerns, but 'when we start seeing it in babies, that should set off alarm bells,' says Dr Cameron Kaiser, health officer at the Riverside County Health Department.

'We have built up such a reservoir of cases [of sexually transmitted syphilis] that it's started to leak over into our pregnant population.

'The numbers are still double digit, but when we see these cases rise, that the terminal state.'

Syphilis is typically most common among men who have sex with men - and that has been the case in Riverside, San Joaquin and other locations with high rates of the disease.

'The rise is a nationwide trend,' says Dr Kaiser, 'but I think for many places it does track vulnerable populations like men who have sex with men, but we're seeing it in babies too, so it has to be in the heterosexual populations too.'

Sadly, the advent of effective preventative drugs and treatment for HIV may have created a window of opportunity for the spread of syphilis between men who have sex with men.

WHAT IS SYPHILIS? Syphilis is a bacterial infection that is usually caught by having sex with an infected person. It spreads through close contact with an infected sore, which usually happens during vaginal, oral or anal sex. Infected pregnant women can pass the STI to their unborn babies, which can lead to miscarriages or stillbirths. Syphilis can also be spread by sharing needles with an infected person. Symptoms are not always obvious and may eventually disappear. These could include: Small, painless sores or ulcers on the penis, vagina, anus or around the mouth

Blotchy red rashes on the palms or soles of the feet

Small skin growths on women's vulvas or the anus

White patches in the mouth

Fatigue, headaches, joint pain, fever and swollen lymph nodes If untreated, syphilis can spread to the brain or elsewhere in the body and cause disabilities or death. Treatment is usually an antibiotic injection into the buttocks or a course of tablets. People can reduce their risk by using condoms during sex, a dental dam (plastic square) in oral sex and avoiding sharing sex toys. Source: NHS Choices Advertisement

'What we've heard at community meetings is that a lot of people had this imperative about safer sex during the 1980s. Everyone was very concerned abut HIV ... but that imperative isn't there because it's so much more treatable,' says Dr Kaiser.

'People think: "Why should we use a condom? We can get treated."'

But preventive medications like PrEP and treatments for HIV do nothing to prevent the transmission of syphilis, or any other sexually transmitted diseases.

The only thing that may protect someone from getting infected if their partner has syphilis is a condom - which is highly, but not perfectly, effective.

'We're starting to lost the battle with syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea,' says Dr Kaiser.

In 2017, rates of syphilis gonorrhea and chlamydia in the US hit a record high for the fourth year in a row, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In 2015, the national average rate of syphilis cases was eight per 100,000 - four times the record low.

In Palm Springs, which has been dubbed by some a 'gay mecca,' there were more than 100 cases per 100,000 people in 2017 - 10 times the latest national average.

But Dr Kaiser notes that the syphilis problem isn't just a hyper-local one. In fact, that's part of the problem.

'We get a lot of snow bird traffic, especially in Palm Springs, over the winter,' he says.

'This is going to require a regional solution because it's a regional issue.'

Syphilis is becoming a national concern as well, but it is intersecting regional populations that are infecting one another.

In the wake of the discovery of a 'syphilis cluster' of 125 people in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, diagnosed around the same earlier this year, a Forbes article warned that it wasn't just alarming for Milwaukee, but for surrounding areas.

Part of the reason for this concern is that STDs still go far under-reported and under-diagnosed. The less record of a case of syphilis there is, the more likely that that person won't tell partners and will pass along the infection.

Alongside the Riverside County Syphilis Community Collaborative, which had its first meeting in May, Dr Kaiser is trying to improve partner monitoring, among other initiatives.

'We're working with medical providers and hospitals trying to figure out the barriers to people getting tested and treated,' he says.

'We want to expand the ability of medical providers to do partner treatment. If you have one case, you have to have a second.'Richard McCarthy is being hounded for 3,000 after a fraudster opened a current account in his name

A 41-year-old man is being chased for more than 3,000 after a fraudster opened a current account in his name at a bank he's never used.

Richard McCarthy says that he is now struggling to prove to the bank concerned  HSBC  that he had no part in what he describes as a clear case of identity theft.

His story raises serious questions about how easy it is for fraudsters to open bank accounts in other people's names  and how hard it is for victims to prove they are innocent.

Richard, who is Irish, moved out of his flat in Bermondsey, South London, two-and-a-half years ago in order to return to Ireland and tend to urgent family matters.

He shut down his limited company and put his career as a software developer on hold. He had always intended to return to London to work in the future.

However, his plans were thrown into chaos in July when he received a call from a man named Alfie Potter, who said he was from the Credit Security debt collection agency.

Mr Potter told Richard he was liable for 3,066.69 owed to HSBC.

Richard knew nothing about the debt and explained that he has only ever banked with Barclays.

But Mr Potter said a current account had been opened in his name, using his last address in London.

When HSBC finally stepped in to close the account in February and stop the customer going any more overdrawn, it was thousands of pounds in arrears.

When the bank could not reach the customer to request that the debt be repaid, they passed the account on to a debt collector.

Richard's mind immediately jumped to identity theft  where criminals steal your information in order to take out mobile phone contracts, bank loans and credit cards and to open bank accounts in your name.

Last year, there were 174,523 ID theft cases  the highest annual figure ever recorded by Cifas, the fraud prevention agency, and a 125 per cent increase compared with a decade ago.

Some 51,544 fraudulent bank account applications were made, making up almost 30 pc of all ID fraud.

Mr Potter told Richard that if he was a victim of fraud, he would need to report this to the police and get a crime reference number.

He was told to send the details to Credit Security, along with a copy of his ID and his addresses for the past six years.

The debt collectors would then forward this to HSBC's fraud department.

Richard followed these instructions and then tried to contact HSBC directly. But, as he is not a customer, he could not get beyond the bank's automated service.

Richard was able to contact HSBC using its online webchat, but could only get confirmation that the account in his name was a real one and had been closed in arrears.

Last year, there were 174,523 ID theft cases  the highest annual figure ever recorded by Cifas, the fraud prevention agency, and a 125% increase compared with a decade ago

It meant that he was still completely in the dark over whether he was liable for the debt and if there was a black mark on his credit file.

Unable to get any more details from HSBC, he was forced to put his trust in the debt collector to do the right thing.

Richard says: 'One minute, I was living my ordinary life  and then I was being told I apparently owed thousands of pounds. And what about my credit score? How was I going to get a phone contract if I ever moved back to London?

'It's kept me awake at night. These fraudsters are master manipulators. They've already managed to find enough of my personal information to trick the bank. How can I convince it otherwise?'

Banks are supposed to adhere to strict regulations when opening accounts for new customers. Most ask for identification, such as a passport or driving licence, and proof of address, such as a bank statement or utility bill.

Firms can carry out further checks on higher-risk customers. For example, they can cross-check documents with credit reference agencies Equifax and Experian to validate a given address.

But experts say banks rarely do this  and every major bank has refused to tell Money Mail what its verification procedure is.

Back in June, we revealed a list of 82 accounts opened by criminals at High Street banks using fake IDs and counterfeit utility bills that had been investigated by the Metropolitan Police.

Around half of these accounts were at HSBC.

Former Metropolitan Police detective Suzanne Raftery, who is now head of investigations at Requite Solutions, a scam recovery firm, says that it is easier than you might expect for fraudsters to steal someone's identity and open an account in their name.

She says: 'Banks just have to give the documents the once-over and check the names on the documents match.

'There are tools available to verify this information and banks could definitely do more to spot the fakes.

'There are bound to be countless accounts opened with forged documents, but the banks will never tell you. They just hide behind data protection.'

Richard believes that someone was able to open an account in his name using a letter sent to his old London address after he moved out.

However, HSBC refused to explain how this could have been allowed to happen or why it closed the account in February.

It was only after Money Mail stepped in that HSBC agreed to write off the debt and said Richard will not be contacted again.

The bank has told Cifas that Richard has been the victim of impersonation, to prevent his details being misused again. However, Richard still does not know the effect this fraud will have on his credit file.

Money Mail has also reported the matter to industry regulator the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The FCA says that it has passed it on to the relevant department, but cannot comment on individual cases.

A spokesman says: 'Protecting customers against fraud is a top priority for us and the whole financial services sector. We continually review our checks and processes, amending them as appropriate to protect our customers and ourselves from fraud.'

UK Finance, the industry body, says that banks invest heavily in sophisticated technology to prevent fraudulent accounts being opened.

However, it can be difficult to detect fraudsters who use bogus information to set up an account. It says that the industry is working with law enforcement and government agencies to improve information sharing.

a.murray@dailymail.co.ukHouseholds could miss out on savings of up to 600 a year if they opt for a new type of energy tariff that claims to fix their costs no matter how much power they use.

British Gas, Eon and Green Star Energy have all launched deals promising customers 'peace of mind' by charging a set monthly amount regardless of their usage.

But exclusive figures compiled for Money Mail show that, in most cases, these tariffs work out far more expensive than a regular deal.

On top of this, some of these so-called unlimited deals actually cap your usage, while others require you have a smart meter installed.

British Gas, Eon and Green Star Energy have all launched unlimited deals

Unlimited deals are likely to appeal to householders who use a lot of gas and electricity, such as large families and people who live in big properties.

And as we head into winter, elderly customers concerned about heating bills may also be tempted  particularly given the recent spate of price hikes.

Just this week, Economy Energy and OVO announced plans to hike bills by up to 311 and 135 a year respectively.

But even for customers who use a lot of power, unlimited deals may not be the best-value option. Green Star Energy's unlimited tariff costs up to 1,779 a year if you are a high energy user  which is classed by energy watchdog Ofgem as someone using 17,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of gas and 4,600 kWh of electricity each year.

This is a staggering 593-a-year costlier than the cheapest deal on offer from Powershop (Top Shopper August 2018 Issue 1) at 1,186 a year.

It is also 212 a year more than Green Star's own cheapest tariff, the Amazon Echo +Perks Green 12M Fixed 1808 Paperless, at 1,567, says comparison site Energy- helpline, which based the calculations on a London postcode.

The cheaper deal comes with a free Amazon Echo worth 90 and you can earn reward points to spend at shops and restaurants.

For a customer with medium energy usage  someone who typically uses 12,000 kWh of gas and 3,100 kWh of electricity  the tariff works out at 1,320 a year.

This is 368 more expensive than the cheapest deal from Solarplicity (SMART Fixed 2), at 952 a year, and 175 pricier than Green Star's lowest tariff.

Unlimited energy deals aren't always cheaper

British Gas says its new unlimited tariff means you can 'turn the heat up without worrying about unexpected bills'. But if you are a medium energy user you will pay 1,200 a year  248 a year more expensive than Solarplicity.

It's also 180 more expensive than the company's own lowest tariff, the Energy Plus Boiler Cover Oct 2019.

Despite being supposedly an 'unlimited tariff', the supplier will not allow customers to qualify if they say their energy use is more than 16,500 kWh for gas and 4,500 for electricity  below Ofgem's definition of 'high usage'.

If you use the maximum amount of energy allowed under British Gas's unlimited tariff, you'll pay 1,440 a year, which is still 30 more than the company's cheapest deal. And it is 254 more than the best deal on the market for a high energy user from Powershop.

And you'll need a smart meter

To qualify for British Gas's unlimited tariff, you must agree to have a smart meter fitted, as with the Solarplicity deal.

These gadgets tell you how much energy you are using in pounds and pence and send your readings directly to your supplier by wireless signal.

But many customers don't want a new digital meter and have concerns about how suppliers will use the data.

Eon's Secure Bill tariff also requires you to have a smart meter fitted and calculates the fixed monthly amount you pay based on how much energy you used the previous year. This means that, if you use a lot of energy one year, your bills will shoot up the next.

A customer with medium usage would pay 1,224 a year, which is 272 more than the cheapest deal on the market. It's also 46 more than Eon's lowest tariff  the Smart Saver v5, which would cost 1,178.

Unlimited tariffs may sound attractive at face value, but unless you're planning to drastically increase the gas and electricity you use, they're far from the cheapest plans on the market

A customer with high usage would pay 1,692 a year  506 more than the cheapest rival deal and 44 a year more than Eon's lowest tariff.

Rik Smith, energy expert at uSwitch.com, says: 'So-called 'unlimited' tariffs may sound attractive at face value, but unless you're planning to drastically increase the gas and electricity you use, they're far from the cheapest plans on the market.

'Some may not even allow you to qualify if you say your usage is above a certain amount, meaning they aren't really 'unlimited' tariffs after all.'

Victoria Arrington, of Energy Helpline, says: 'The tariffs may appeal to those who feel they will use a lot of energy. However, the reality is that even those with high usage may spend hundreds of pounds more than those who simply switched to one of the bargain tariffs on the market.'

Ofgem confirmed this month that a new cap on energy bills will be set at 1,136 a year from December 31 for those with typical usage  saving 11 million households an average of 75. But experts warn that, as suppliers look to offset the cost of the new cap, their cheapest tariffs will creep up.

Eon says its Secure Bill tariff offers customers a personalised price based on their previous year's consumption. When they save energy, their bills fall the following year so the point of the tariff is not to encourage unlimited usage. It does not have an upper usage cap.

British Gas and Green Star did not respond before we went to press. Green Star's tariffs in the calculations above are based on a London postcode as regional averages were not available.

moneymail@dailymail.co.ukA no-deal Brexit is 'not an option' for the UK motor industry and must be ruled out now to avoid damaging one of the EU's most valuable economic assets.

That's the stark warning from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders on Wednesday morning, which said resulting tariffs on cars alone would add 5billion to the collective EU and UK auto trade bill.

It would also make models imported into the UK 1,500 more expensive to buy on average.

A delegation from the industry body is due to meet representatives from EU countries in Brussels on Wednesday to emphasise the importance of securing a deal for the sector that doesn't 'undermine its ability to operate'.

'Not an option': The SMMT warned a no-deal Brexit agreement could push the sector 'closer to the cliff edge'

The UK's motor industry said the sector could be hit with tariffs of 10 per cent under World Trade Organisation rules.

If these increases were passed directly on to consumers, import tariffs would push up the cost of UK-built cars sold in the EU by an average of 2,700 - a hammer-blow for demand, the SMMT said.

Manufacturers are already concerned that port and motorway hold-ups could slow the movement of parts and cars, crippling output and adding costs, if Britain fails to reach agreement with the European Union over its departure from the bloc on March 29.

BMW announced yesterday that it would be closing the Oxford Mini factory for 'several weeks' immediately after Brexit to preempt any component-supply disruptions if a no-deal agreement is reached between Britain and the EU.

'We cannot afford a 'no deal' Brexit. That is the worst of the imaginable options for this industry Mike Hawes, SMMT

Jaguar also confirmed this week that falling demand on the back of Brexit fears and diesel surcharges had forced it to reduce production hours at its Castle Bromwich factory to a three-day week until Christmas.

But the SMMT warned that it wouldn't just be the industry and jobs that would suffer significantly if tariffs were imposed on the country as part of the exit deal.

UK buyers of a car or van from the EU would be faced with 1,500 and 1,700 increases if these additional charges had to be absorbed by vehicle makers and their dealer networks.

If tariffs of 10% were imposed they could push up the cost of UK-built cars sold in the EU by an average of 2,700, the SMMT calculated

'Tariffs alone should be enough to focus minds on sealing a withdrawal agreement between the EU and UK but the potential impact of 'no-deal' means the stakes for the automotive sector are far higher,' SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said in a statement.

'Without a deal, there can be no transition period and the complex issues surrounding tariffs and trade, customs, regulation and access to talent will remain unresolved.

A delegation from the SMMT - including chief executive Mike Hawes (pictured) - are in Brussels

'Our industry is deeply integrated across both sides of the Channel so we look to negotiators to recognise the needs of the whole European automotive industry and act swiftly to avoid disruption and damage to one of our most valuable shared economic assets.'

In a briefing held in Brussels on Tuesday he added: 'We cannot afford a 'no deal' Brexit. That is the worst of the imaginable options for this industry.'

Hawes also cautioned that the auto sector would not work if there were delays at the border, adding that this would require carmakers to have unfeasibly large warehouses to store components.

Politicians hope to strike a Brexit deal by the end of the year to allow a 21-month transition period until the end of 2020, with little changing until new terms are implemented.

Hawes also said that a free-trade deal alone would not result in frictionless trade, with one possibility being non-tariff barriers. Such requirements might mean exported British cars need to have certain levels of local content.The taxman is bullying families who made innocent mistakes claiming child benefit

There would be hell to pay if a private company treated its customers the way our beloved taxman is treating hard-working families.

To hit parents with bills for thousands of pounds out of the blue and then demand that they pay them in one go is extraordinary behaviour.

Yes, the families we feature today made a mistake in claiming child benefit where it was not owed.

But is it any wonder that they slipped up? The system is a disaster zone.

Child benefit is fiendishly complex and unfair  it can hand a couple with a combined income of 98,000 the full amount, yet give nothing to a family where only one parent works and earns 60,000.

HMRC says it made a big hoo-ha about the new rules when they were first announced in 2012, but what is it doing now to remind higher earners that they must repay this benefit?

Many people will have only just slipped into the higher tax rate bracket following a pay rise and may not know of the rule change.

As for new parents, handing out leaflets in maternity wards and pointing people towards a confusing website is a recipe for mistakes.

And what of those who have already fallen foul of the tangled rules? Families have been allowed to wrongly claim child benefit for years. If the taxman had picked up on the error sooner, it wouldnt have had to issue shock bills.

Instead of bullying people, HMRC should ditch its punitive late-payment fees and, at the very least, offer realistic repayment plans. After all, few parents have spare thousands of pounds lying around.

This month, a report by spending watchdog the National Audit Office found that when it comes to debt management standards, government bodies were frequently worse than any other type of creditor.

This followed a Treasury Committee hearing in July where the debt collection practices of public authorities were described by MPs as worst in class.

And only today, Citizens Advice revealed that complaints about bailiffs have soared by a quarter over the past four years.

Perhaps, rather than giving the wealthy an easy ride, as they admitted last week, tax officials should show some leniency to those who need it most.

Bungling banks

Banks cannot have it both ways. They cant refuse to help someone because they are not a customer . . . and then chase them for a debt.

And, regardless, they cannot hide behind data protection rules when someone is the victim of identity fraud.

Particularly not when their security checks clearly arent good enough to stop a crook opening an account in someone elses name.

Yet, as we show here that is exactly what HSBC did when Richard found himself on the hook for 3,000 after someone ran up a debt in his name.

If any bank is informed it is in receipt of stolen goods and refuses to give the victim any details, you could argue that it is aiding and abetting a criminal.

And, by protecting the fraudster, the bank would be proving itself no better than the likes of Facebook, which has refused to hand over details of terrorists and drug smugglers to security services.

With criminals becoming more conniving by the minute, it is vital that when alerted to a scam, banks spring into action and do everything in their power to reassure the victim and, where appropriate, compensate them  customer or not.

Human touch

If you call a government department, bank or utility provider, its because you want to speak to a real-life person.

What you dont want is to have to spend five minutes listening to an automated voice telling you how much information is available on its website.

Anyone who is happy using the internet will typically look online first for the answer to their question.

So if someone is calling, its either because they dont use the internet  in which case rambling on about a website is not going to help  or they cant find the answer online and, therefore, dont need to be told to look on the website they have already visited.

For goodness sake, just put us through to a human!

v.bischoff@dailymail.co.ukHolidaymakers are being forced to wait up to a year for compensation after their flights are delayed.

In many cases, airlines continue to drag their heels even after admitting they were to blame. It means passengers are spending months chasing cheques travel firms promised were in the post.

One couple told Money Mail they had to wait for around 12 months to get the 800 they were owed for a 29-hour delay (the equivalent of 711).

Around 3,500 travelers to and from UK airports are delayed for over three hours every day

Another passenger waited four months for 500 (445) they had been told would arrive within ten days.

Around 3,500 holidaymakers travelling to and from UK airports are delayed for more than three hours every day, according to figures from consumer group Which?.

Under EU law, you are entitled to up to 600 (534) in compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late.

The amount you get depends on the length of the delay and how far you are travelling.

The reason for the delay must have been within the airline's control, such as a routine technical fault or strike action by the airline's own employees.

Airlines do not have to pay if the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances, such as bad weather or political unrest.

Over the years, airlines have routinely used this excuse to refuse legitimate claims and it has taken a series of court cases to force them to pay up. But experts say that airlines are still dragging their heels over payouts.

Yvonne, 66, and Graham Robinson, 68, were delayed for 46 hours on their way back from a two-week holiday in Mexico last January.

The couple, from Wigan, Greater Manchester, were told their flight home had been delayed for technical reasons and were put up in a hotel.

Andrew and Julie Shepherd had to wait a year to get compensation after a 29-hour delay

After returning home, the Robinsons emailed their airline, TUI, to request compensation.

The firm replied to say they would receive a cheque for 1,055 (the equivalent of 600 each at the relevant exchange rate) within 28 days.

But it never arrived, and the couple were told the cheque had likely been sent to an old address  even though they have lived at the same address for ten years.

Yvonne, a retired accounts clerk, says: 'Each time I emailed I was sent a generic response and there was no phone number to contact them direct.'

The couple went to their local TUI branch and contacted the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) for help.

But it was not until July  five months after TUI claimed the cheque was in the post  that the couple finally received their money.

Andrew, 61, and Julie Shepherd, 56, had to wait a year to get their compensation after a 29-hour delay.

The couple were travelling from Gatwick airport to Crete, Greece, for a two-week holiday in August last year.

But after arriving at Gatwick at 11am for their Tuesday flight, they were told there would be a delay due to a mechanical fault and were taken to a nearby hotel.

In the end, the couple, from Basingstoke, Hampshire, did not arrive in Crete until 4am on the Thursday, which meant they lost two nights of their holiday.

When they returned home, the airline, Small Planet Airlines (SPA), tried to claim the delay was a result of a 'safety shortcoming' which could 'not have been avoided'.

Four months later, the firm backtracked and said the couple would receive a bank transfer for 400 each (a total of 711 today) within 13 weeks.

'In that time they could have walked to my house and handed me the cash,' says Andrew, who works in the insurance sector.

But by May this year, the money still had not arrived.

Exasperated, the Shepherds referred their complaint to the Alternative Dispute Resolution for aviation.

On June 4, the Ombudsman service found in their favour. But it was still another two months before the money finally landed in their account on August 15.

Airlines don't have to pay compensation if delays were caused by extraordinary circumstances

Meanwhile, Ray, 64, and Karin Prince, 63, had to fight for eight months to get compensation from Ryanair.

The couple, from Essex, had been delayed by three hours on their way back to Stansted airport from Pisa, Italy, in September 2017, due to 'operational purposes'.

On his return, Ray initially asked a claims management company to take up his case, but decided to complain direct in November and wrote to Ryanair's Dublin headquarters.

In January, Ryanair emailed to say the couple would be sent a cheque for 500 (445) within ten days.

But Ray was concerned as the address written below his name was incorrect. When he emailed back to explain it had the wrong address, Ryanair didn't reply.

How to claim compensation Write to your airline and include the flight number, passenger names and details of the delay. Include copies of your boarding passes and any information you were given by staff at the airport. If your claim is rejected, you can escalate it to one of two ombudsman services. This may be Aviation-ADR (020 3540 8063) or the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (020 7536 6099), depending on the airline. For more information visit the CAA website or call 0330 022 1500.

Ray later found the address belonged to Newmarket Holidays, the firm through which he had booked his holiday.

In February, Ryanair told Ray, a retired business owner, it had been notified that he had not cashed the cheque and would now make the payment via bank transfer.

Two months later, he still hadn't received the money and saw a video posted on the airline's Facebook page boasting of a ten-day compensation claim turnaround.

At this point, Ray snapped. He says: 'I wrote a sarcastic comment below the video and someone from their social media team messaged me soon after.'

His compensation finally arrived in May.

Martyn James, consumer expert at complaints website Resolver, says: 'There is really no excuse for the lengths that some airlines will go to to delay payments they are obliged to pay by law.

'In the meantime, this money is sitting in the airlines' bank accounts earning interest.

'There is also the risk that customers will get less if the exchange rate changes while they are waiting.'

Rory Boland, Which? travel editor, says: 'It is crucial that automatic compensation is now introduced industry-wide so that anyone unlucky enough to be affected by delays will no longer have to bend over backwards to get what they are owed.'

With regard to the Robinsons, a spokesman for TUI says: 'Unfortunately a system error had occurred during the time of processing their payment.'

In Ray and Karin Prince's case, a spokesman for Ryanair says: 'A cheque was issued to this customer in January 2018, but as their booking was made through a travel agent, the cheque was sent to the address used at the time of booking. A bank transfer was processed which also failed.'

Meanwhile, a spokesman for SPA apologises to the Shepherds and says the process of managing payments is a huge piece of work.

f.parker@dailymail.co.ukA former employee of Steve Wynn's Las Vegas resort has launched an explosive suit against the company claiming she was fired for reporting the billionaire for allegedly raping and impregnating another staffer, DailyMail.com has learned.

Angelica Christina Limcaco is suing Wynn Resorts for being sacked, claiming she was terminated for 'blowing the whistle on an organization complicit with rampant abuse and sexual assault'.

Limcaco claims she was two weeks into her position as the salon manager at the resort in June of 2005 when she was informed that an employee needed to arrange a meeting with her.

The manicurist, only named as Angela, then claimed to Limcaco she had been raped by Wynn and was pregnant with his child, according to court documents filed in Nevada on September 4.

Angelica Christina Limcaco is suing Wynn Resorts for being fired, claiming she was terminated for 'blowing the whistle on an organization complicit with rampant abuse and sexual assault'

A manicurist, only named as Angela, claimed to Limcaco she had been raped by Steve Wynn (pictured last year) and was pregnant with his child, according to court documents filed on September 4

Limcaco claims she was two weeks into beginning her position as the salon manager at the Las Vegas resort (pictured) in June of 2005 when she was informed of the alleged rape

Limcaco says she reported the incident to human resources but was reprimanded by her superior who allegedly said: 'Let me make this clear to you - this is the way it works here - all reports go to me first - especially anything concerning Steve Wynn'.

The superior, the former head of hotel operations at the hotel Doreen Whennen, then allegedly told Limcaco to bring any further reports directly to her and not to human resources.

Limcaco claims Whennen ordered her to never speak of the alleged rape again.

The manicurist never returned to work and 'simply vanished', with Limcaco never hearing from her again, according to court documents.

In January it was revealed Wynn paid a $7.5 million settlement to a manicurist who claims she was forced into sex by him at his hotel in Las Vegas in 2005, according to Wynn's ex-wife Elaine in court papers.

Wynn allegedly ordered the woman to disrobe and lie on a table so they could have sex.

It is not clear if the manicurist Limcaco is referring to in her suit is the same manicurist who is said to have received the hefty settlement from Wynn.

After reporting the initial incident, Limcaco says she became concerned for her personal safety, claiming her co-workers warned her that Wynn was 'more powerful than the police and that there may be people buried in the desert because of him'.

Limcaco says she reported the incident to human resources but was reprimanded by her superior who allegedly said: 'Let me make this clear to you - this is the way it works here - all reports go to me first - especially anything concerning Steve Wynn'

After reporting the initial incident, Limcaco says she became concerned for her personal safety, claiming her co-workers warned her that Wynn was 'more powerful than the police and that there may be people buried in the desert because of him'

In January it was revealed Wynn paid a $7.5 million settlement to a manicurist who claims she was forced into sex by him at his hotel in Las Vegas in 2005. It is not clear if the manicurist Limcaco is referring to is the same manicurist who is said to have received the settlement from Wynn (pictured in 2006)

She claims one staffer told her an article would be released about Wynn and a woman who disappeared on a boat. She says she was told Wynn bought the publication and killed the story.

Out of fear, according to court documents, Limcaco followed Whennen's instructions and reported at least six more incidents of alleged sexual harassment to her and not to human resources.

Limcaco says when Whennen failed to take action in regards to these claims, she took matters into her own hands and went directly to Andrew Pascal, who is the nephew of Wynn's ex-wife Elaine Wynn and President and COO of Wynn Las Vegas.

In the meeting, which occurred around June 2006, Limcaco reported Wynn's alleged sexual harassment of employees and reported Whennen's alleged failure to follow up on the claims.

Shortly after the meeting, Limcaco says she was essentially 'sent to Siberia' when she was tasked with rating a remote part of the hotel for more than a week.

She then went on a scheduled vacation and on her first day back, she was fired, according to court documents.

Limcaco says when Whennen failed to take action in regards to these claims, she took matters into her own hands and went directly to Andrew Pascal, who is the nephew of Wynn's ex-wife Elaine Wynn and President and COO of Wynn Las Vegas

Limcaco said she was informed by Whennen that she was being fired because other employees complained about her but refused to offer any details on their alleged complaints.

Limcaco was 'forced to move back to Los Angeles' and suffered 'embarrassment, humiliation, anguish, depression, and helplessness' after being fired.

In January, the Wall Street Journal spoke with 150 people who currently work for Wynn or have in the past, and a number of the women who no longer work at one of the billionaire businessman's properties described the lengths they would allegedly go to in order to avoid being alone with their boss.

Some scheduled fake appointments to make sure they would not be chosen to give Wynn spa treatments, while others went so far as to hide in bathrooms when he came into the salon.

One worker said that she was coerced into performing a sex act on Wynn, 76, with her hand at the end of his massages, adding that Wynn asked at one point if she could use her mouth rather than rubbing his penis to climax when they were done with the session.

Halina Kuta (pictured) filed a police report against Wynn in February claiming that he raped her in Chicago in the 1970s, impregnating her. She claimed she went on to give birth to the girl in the bathroom of a gas station

A woman named Halina Kuta filed a police report against Wynn in February claiming that he raped her in Chicago in the 1970s, impregnating her. She claimed she went on to give birth to the girl in the bathroom of a gas station.

But her credibility came into question after she filed court documents that were peppered with extraordinary lies.

In March a Broadway dancer accused the billionaire casino-owner of sexual harassment.

The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, danced on Broadway before she was hired to dance for the show Showstoppers at the Wynn Las Vegas from late 2014 through late 2016.

She claims that Wynn would stop into their rehearsals.

When he was in town, 'the female dancers were instructed immediately to strip down to bras and panties, put on heels, and apply extra makeup so as to be sexually appealing to Mr. Wynn', according to her law firm.

Wynn denied the claim, saying he is legally blind and thus could never have leered at the dancers he allegedly made strip to their panties and perform when he was in town.The truth doesnt count. Photo: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post/Getty Images

The Trump White House produces no shortage of eye-catching, headline-grabbing acts of malfeasance. Brazenly blatant acts of corruption, titillating tell-alls from the presidents porn-star paramours, and proto-authoritarian Twitter tantrums are constantly competing for limited headline space.

And yet, this administration is arguably most dangerous when its at its most boring. In the dull, gray innards of the federal bureaucracies, Donald Trumps minions are making profoundly consequential (and, in many cases, deeply corrupt) decisions that will never make the A block of a single cable news show.

And no set of decisions has broader potential implications for our democracy than those the Commerce Department has made regarding the 2020 census.

The U.S. governments decennial attempt to count every human being within its borders might seem like one of Uncle Sams most anodyne activities. But when those overseeing the count belong to a political movement that explicitly regards demographic change as its enemy  and disenfranchising Democratic constituencies as fair game  the Census can begin to resemble an ominous enterprise. Census data shapes the contours of political districts, and determines each states clout in the Electoral College. It dictates what proportion of federal funding for schools, roads, and libraries each state is entitled to. Thus, if a Republican administration found a facially neutral way of systematically undercounting residents in Democratic-leaning areas, it could inflate red Americas (already disproportionate) influence over our political system.

And the Trump administration appeared to be doing just that last March, when it decided to add a question about citizenship status to the 2020 census. By that point, the White House had already (unsuccessfully) attempted to put a leading proponent of GOP gerrymandering (who had no experience managing a large bureaucracy) in charge of overseeing the Census, while refusing to hire noncitizen Census-takers for the purpose of reaching immigrant communities. Meanwhile, Census Bureau researchers had already warned that test surveys were prompting unprecedented levels of concern from immigrants, who feared that providing the government with information about themselves would result in their deportation. Census data cannot be legally used for immigration enforcement. But, for understandable reasons, undocumented immigrants werent eager to bet their capacity to live in the United States on the Trump administrations commitment to the letter of the law.

Thus, the Commerce Departments decision to ask Census respondents about their citizenship status, for the first time since 1950, looked like a deliberate attempt to exacerbate this problem. And if the citizenship question did, in fact, depress undocumented immigrants participation in the Census  and thereby, lead the federal government to systematically undercount them  there would be obvious benefits to the GOP: Most undocumented immigrants live in Democratic-leaning metropolitan areas, so the fewer of them the government counts, the greater the share of federal money and political influence that rural, Republican-leaning areas will receive.

And the GOP had another, equally controversial incentive for surveying the American public about their citizenship. The judiciary has long insisted that U.S. House districts must be drawn on the basis of total population  not total voters  so that children, prisoners, undocumented immigrants, and others who lack access to the ballot are provided with indirect representation. But some conservative groups have mulled drawing state and local districts on the basis of eligible voters (ostensibly, so as to minimize the influence that godless city slickers wield over state capitols). In 2016, the Supreme Court indicated that it might approve of such a practice. But without Census data on citizens and noncitizens, red states would have no means of giving voters-only districting a try.

Still, the Trump administration insisted that its decision to alter the Census was rooted in only the purest of motives  specifically, a heartfelt desire to protect the voting rights of African-Americans. In congressional testimony, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross explained that his bureau only began considering the citizenship question after the Department of Justice indicated that it needed such information to fully enforce the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Of course, the idea that Jeff Sessions was desperate for new tools he could use in lawsuits against southern states with racially discriminatory political practices never passed the smell test. Anyone with a rudimentary understanding of American politics knew that Ross was trolling the libs. Still, it wasnt clear whether the administrations bad faith could be proven. And this was an important distinction  because if advocates for immigrant communities could establish, through documentary evidence, that the Trump administration had a discriminatory intent when it added the citizenship question to the Census, they just might be able to get a court to strike it down.

And on Monday, New York attorney general Barbara Underwood revealed what appears to be a smoking gun. As part of her lawsuit challenging the Census question, Underwood publicly filed a newly unredacted internal Commerce Department memo, which reveals that the Justice Department (DOJ) did not initiate the request for the citizenship question  but rather, resisted Commerces initial attempts to extract such a request from it.

Now, the DOJ did issue a formal request for a question about citizenship status in December of 2017  but only after the Commerce Department had spent months lobbying for such a request. As NPR reports:

[M]emos and emails released previously as part of the lawsuits over the question already have contradicted Ross testimony. They make clear that Ross was eager to add the question shortly after he was confirmed as commerce secretary in February 2017  Earl Comstock  a key Commerce Department official on census-related issues  first approached Justice Department officials in May 2017. Comstock eventually discussed the issue with James McHenry, a Justice Department official working on immigration issues who now oversees the immigration courts as the head of the Executive Office for Immigration Review.

Justice staff did not want to raise the question given the difficulties Justice was encountering in the press at the time (the whole Comey matter), Comstock wrote to Ross in a newly unredacted portion of the memo, which is dated Sept. 8, 2017.

With the DOJ looking to avoid controversy amid the fallout from Trumps firing of James Comey, the Commerce Department began searching for other agencies that might force it to ask U.S. residents about their citizenship. The memo reveals that Comstock sought a request from the Department of Homeland Security, only to have DHS refer him back to the DOJ. Comstock then directed an attorney at the Commerce Department to look into the legal issues and how Commerce could add the question to the Census itself, according to a previously redacted portion of the memo.

All of which is to say: On Monday, the state of New York ostensibly revealed that the Commerce Secretary lied to Congress about his rationale for adding a citizenship question to the 2020 Census  a development that lends credence to the claim that the Trump administration is deliberately trying to engineer an inaccurate count of the U.S. population in hopes of consolidating their partys grip on power through anti-democratic means.

And this wasnt enough to qualify as headline news.The Trump administration plans to send a message to every U.S. cellphone to test a previously unused presidential alert system. But some adversaries of the president would rather shut off their phones than hear his dry-run warning about a national emergency.

A test message from Donald Trump was originally scheduled for 2:18 p.m. EDT on Thursday. Now it's being pushed back to the same time on Oct. 3 because the Federal Emergency Management Agency is focused on responding to Tropical Depression Florence.

Opponents of the president are pledging to turn off their phones at the appointed time rather than receive the alert, which subscribers to Verizon, Sprint, AT&T and other witreless carriers are unable to block.

The hashtag #GoDark920, and later #GoDark103, carried alerts of a different kind.

President Donald Trump has the ability to send an emergency message to every cellphone in America, and FEMA will test the system on October 3  making his opponents fear he'll use the power to vent about the Mueller probe or his Supreme Court nominee

FEMA can dispatch a 'Presidential Alert,' and it's unlikely Trump himself would send it

'[M]any of us are worried the President will text about the Mueller probe, Russia, or the primaries,' one Twitter user complained.

Another predicted: 'Watch him abuse the system like he abuses everything else.'

A third tweeted at Verizon that 'if there is no way to block this asinine "alert," I will #GoDark103. All day. This platform is counterproductive as it will be silenced and deleted unread.'

A 2015 federal law limits the use of the Wireless Emergency Alert system to warning the public about natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or other man-made disasters and threats to public safety.

FEMA, which will send the October 3 alert, said last week that the messages would bear the headline 'Presidential Alert,' and that phones will make a loud tone and have a special vibration.

Twitter liberals complained this week that the president could abuse his power and spam hundreds of millions of wireless devices with political messages

One social media user fretted that Trump would text 'd*** shots to the whole country'

The test has been scheduled to ensure that the alert system would work in the event of a national emergency. The message will read: 'THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.'

Former President Barack Obama signed a law in 2016 requiring FEMA to create a system allowing the president to send cellphone alerts regarding public safety emergencies.

The country's wireless emergency alert system was started in 2012 and has issued over 36,000 alerts for situations such as missing children, extreme weather and natural disasters, but never a presidential directive.

Cellphone users can opt out of natural disaster or missing children alerts.

In its statement last week on the test messages, FEMA said the president has sole responsibility for determining when such alerts are used, but presidential alerts can be used only for national emergencies.Broward County Assistant State Attorney Stacey Honowitz (pictured) is facing misdemeanor theft charges

A veteran Florida prosecutor has been suspended after allegedly shoplifting $43 worth of cosmetics from a grocery store.

Broward County Assistant State Attorney Stacey Honowitz is facing misdemeanor theft charges after the incident on Saturday.

A police report says the 56-year-old concealed three items worth $42.93 while shopping at a Publix supermarket in Aventura.

Honowitz also purchased more than $124 of other items, the report says.

A state attorney's spokeswoman said on Monday that Honowitz is suspended, using paid vacation time, while the case is investigated.

She earns $108,000 a year, the Orlando Sun Sentinel reports.

Aventura police released surveillance footage on Tuesday saying it shows Honowitz putting cosmetics in her purse and walking out without paying.

It shows Honowitz  who was with her teenage daughter  browsing in the cosmetics aisle and putting items in her purse. She is later seen paying for groceries.

A police report says Honowitz (pictured) concealed three items worth $42.93 while shopping at a Publix supermarket in Aventura

Video courtesy Local 10

Honowitz did not leave the store immediately, according to the Sun Sentinel.

Minutes after buying the groceries, she was in line to buy a lottery ticket.

She is seen reaching into her purse to pay the second cashier, but it is not clear if she sees the cosmetics in her bag.

The footage then shows Honowitz and her daughter leaving the store  and being confronted by a security guard and a store employee.

Honowitz's attorney, Jayne Weintraub, says the incident was an honest mistake, and there was no intent to commit a crime.

He said his client simply forgot to pay for the mascara and lipstick she meant to buy, according to Fox News.

'After reviewing the video it confirms what we have said,' Weintraub said.

'She put the lipstick and mascara in her purse and intended to pay and forgot. Had she put it in the cart, it would have fallen through cracks of the cart.

'She had every intention of paying and simply forgot.'

Honowitz has been a prosecutor for three decades and is a supervisor in her office's sex crimes and child abuse unit.

She has also written books for children about abuse and frequently appears as a commentator on television.Martavious Banks (pictured) was shot by police following a traffic stop in Memphis on Monday night

Three police officers did not have their body or in-car cameras activated during the shooting of a man after a traffic stop, a possible violation of department policy, a Tennessee police chief said on Tuesday.

Martavious Banks, 25, was in critical condition at a hospital after he was shot on Monday in a confrontation with officers, said Lieutenant Karen Rudolph, a spokeswoman for the Memphis Police Department.

The shooting drew angry protests from activists and relatives of Banks immediately after the shooting, including accusations of a police cover-up.

Rudolph said Banks, who is black, was stopped in his car by officers, and he told them he did not have an identification or insurance. Banks then reached down, and an officer advised that he saw a gun inside the vehicle, Rudolph said.

Rudolph said Banks then drove away.

Police then stopped the man again a short distance from the first stop. Banks allegedly ran away and was shot.

It has since been revealed two police officers had turned their cameras off before the shooting, and a third may never have had theirs on (pictured is the scene of the shooting)

A handgun was recovered at the scene, Rudolph said. Memphis Police Director Michael Rallings said it was not clear if Banks fired the gun that was seen in his car. Banks had outstanding warrants for assault, driving with a suspended license and violation of probation, Rudolph said.

The male officer who shot Banks was black and 26 years old, Rudolph said. He did not have his body camera turned on, but it was not clear if he ever had it activated or if he turned it off, Rallings said.

The officer who shot Banks has been relieved of duty pending the outcome of the investigation. His name has not yet been released.

Two other officers involved in the chase - one white male, one black male - deactivated their body-worn or in-car cameras, Rallings said. They also have been relieved of duty.

Banks remains in a critical condition, and an investigation has been launched as to whether the officers followed procedure

'I am not confident that policy was followed,' Rallings said at a news conference.

Protesters gathered after the shooting and yelled at officers on the scene. Demonstrators disputed the official account, asserting the man was shot in the back.

After the shooting, Memphis police said it was conducting its own investigation, rather than having the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation look into it. TBI, the state's police agency, investigates officer-involved shootings that involve a death in Tennessee.

That drew an angry response from protesters, who suggested a police cover-up.

On Tuesday, Shelby County district attorney Amy Weirich asked the TBI to handle the investigation, after new information was revealed. TBI spokeswoman Susan Niland confirmed the investigation.

Memphis has had its share of shootings of black men during confrontations with police.

The most high-profile was the fatal shooting of Darrius Stewart, an unarmed 19-year-old, during a fight with Connor Schilling, a white officer who was trying to arrest Stewart in July 2015.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation will now look into the shooting to see if there was any wrongdoing. Meanwhile the community has begun to protest over the shooting (pictured)

Stewart was a passenger in a car that was stopped, and a check of his background revealed outstanding warrants.

After a TBI investigation, Weirich recommended Schilling be charged with voluntary manslaughter. But a grand jury refused to indict him.

Tensions between police and black activists have been high in recent years. Protesters blocked the Interstate 40 bridge connecting Tennessee to Arkansas in July 2016.

The police department has also been sued by prominent activists associated with the Black Lives Matter movement and other groups who claim police conducted illegal surveillance against them.

Rallings said any officers found to have violated policy would be held accountable.

'I will get answers,' he said.President Donald Trump has hailed a decision by North Korea to allow international inspectors to observe a 'permanent dismantlement' of its key missile facilities, freeze missile and nuclear testing, and to take other steps toward normalization of relations with South Korea.

The president tweeted late Tuesday: 'Kim Jong Un has agreed to allow Nuclear inspections, subject to final negotiations, and to permanently dismantle a test site and launch pad in the presence of international experts.

'In the meantime there will be no Rocket or Nuclear testing.'

Trump also tweeted on Tuesday that North Korea has agreed to conduct searches for the remains of soldiers who went missing during the Korean War.

'Also, North and South Korea will file a joint bid to host the 2032 Olympics,' the president tweeted.

'Very exciting!'

Scroll down for video

President Donald Trump has hailed a decision by North Korea to allow international inspectors to observe a 'permanent dismantlement' of its key missile facilities, freeze missile and nuclear testing, and to take other steps toward normalization of relations with South Korea

South Koreas President Moon Jae-in (seen left with North Korean ruler Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang) said on Wednesday (local Korea time) that the North would agree to dismantle missile sites and take other significant steps if the United States takes reciprocal measures

Moon and Kim pose for photographs after signing a joint statement in Pyongyang on Wednesday

A joint statement says the two Koreas agreed to establish buffer zones along their land and sea borders to reduce military tensions and prevent accidental clashes

South Koreas President Moon Jae-in said on Wednesday (local Korea time) that the North would agree to dismantle missile sites and take other steps such as closing its main Yongbyon nuclear complex if the United States takes reciprocal measures.

North and South Korea agreed that the Korean Peninsula should turn into a 'land of peace without nuclear weapons and nuclear threats,' Moon said following the conclusion of his summit talks with the North Korean leader.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Moon, Kim said he will visit the Souths capital Seoul 'in the near future.'

Speaking at a joint press conference with Moon, Kim said he will visit the Souths capital Seoul 'in the near future'

The statement signed by the countries defense chiefs also says the Koreas agreed to withdraw 11 guard posts from the Demilitarized Zone by December with the aim of removing them eventually

A joint statement says the two Koreas agreed to establish buffer zones along their land and sea borders to reduce military tensions and prevent accidental clashes.

The statement signed by the countries defense chiefs also says the Koreas agreed to withdraw 11 guard posts from the Demilitarized Zone by December with the aim of removing them eventually.

The statement says the Koreas also agreed to no-fly zone above the military demarcation line that bisects the two Koreas that will apply to planes, helicopters and drones.

In this file photo, a North Korean soldier stands guard in front of a rocket at the Sohae Satellite Launch Station in Tongchang-ri. North Korea will close its Tongchang-ri missile testing site, the South's President said on Wednesday after a summit with Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang

Seoul has been stressing the importance of reducing the conventional military threat between the Korea to prevent accidental clashes that can escalate into a nuclear conflict.

The statement was issued following the Pyongyang summit between Kim and Moon.

Moon also said the Koreas have agreed to establish a joint military committee to evaluate how to reduce tensions.

Moon said Wednesday the plans for the committee are part of a commitment to remove 'any threat that could cause war' on the Korean Peninsula.

Moons government has been stressing the importance of reducing the conventional military threat between the Korea to prevent accidental clashes that can escalate into a nuclear conflict.

The Koreas first agreed to form a joint military committee in 1991, but the plans werent carried out due to turbulent relations between the rivals.

Kim gave the South Korean president an exceedingly warm welcome on Tuesday. The two leaders are seen during a parade in Pyongyang after Moon's arrival in the North Korean capital

After the pair hugged at the airport they travelled by an open-top car through crowds of cheering North Koreans waving 'reunification' banners and bouquets of flowers

WELCOME: Women wearing traditional dress line the streets of Pyongyang, North Korea to welcome Moon and Kim

Washington wants North Korea to outline the entirety of its nuclear program, and its response to Wednesday's joint statement from the Koreas remains to be seen.

While the declaration appears to fall short of what Washington wants, Trump has maintained that he and Kim have a solid relationship and both leaders have expressed interest in meeting again after their June summit in Singapore.

North Korea has been demanding a declaration formally ending the Korean War, which was stopped in 1953 by a ceasefire, but neither leader mentioned it as they read the joint statement.

'We have agreed to make the Korean Peninsula a land of peace that is free from nuclear weapons and nuclear threat,' Kim said as he stood by Moon's side at the guesthouse where Moon is staying.

'The road to our future will not always be smooth and we may face challenges and trials we can't anticipate. But we aren't afraid of headwinds because our strength will grow as we overcome each trial based on the strength of our nation.'

Kim and Moon earlier smiled and chatting as they walked down a hallway and into a meeting room to finalize the joint statement, which also said that the leaders would push for a Korean Peninsula without nuclear weapons and to 'eliminate all the danger of war.'

North Korea was expected to hold a huge mass games spectacle later in the day, with Moon attending an event expected to draw about 150,000 spectators, Seoul said.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in, third from left, and his wife Kim Jung-sook, second from left, are welcomed by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his wife Ri Sol Ju upon their arrival at Sunan International Airport in Pyongyang

South Korean President Moon Jae-in, left, toasts with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his wife Ri Sol Ju during a welcome banquet in Pyongyang

Moon Jae-in (left) and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (right) clap as they watch an art performance by Samjiyon Orchestra at Pyongyang Grand Theatre

A big screen shows a picture of both Korean leaders holding their hands aloft during an art performance by Samjiyon Orchestra

Moon Jae-in (left), his wife Kim Jung-sook (second right), Kim Jong-un (second left) and his wife Ri Sol Ju (right) waved to the crowds at the Pyongyang Grand Theatre

It wasn't clear if Kim would attend.

North Korea first staged its mass games in 2002, when Kim's father, Kim Jong Il, was leader.

They continued most every year until 2014, then were revived during North Korea's celebrations of the 70th anniversary of its state founding earlier this month.

Kim gave the South Korean president an exceedingly warm welcome on Tuesday, the first day of the summit, meeting him and his wife at Pyongyang's airport - itself a very unusual gesture - then riding into town with Moon in an open limousine through streets lined with crowds of North Koreans, who cheered and waved the flag of their country and a blue-and-white flag that symbolizes Korean unity.

The made-for-television welcome has become routine for their summits, after two meetings earlier this year.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, wave during a welcoming ceremony at Sunan International Airport

Moon's plane had taken off from the military's Seoul Air Base for the 80-minute flight to the North Korean capital

Moon signs a guest book as North Korean leader before his summit with Kim at the Workers' Party of Korea headquarters

Moon is seeking to reboot stalled denuclearization talks between North Korea and the United States

Both leaders have credited US President Trump with the thaw in relations between the North and South

The summit talks began at the ruling Workers' Party headquarters where Kim and Moon were joined by two of their top deputies - spy chief Suh Hoon and presidential security director Chung Eui-yong for Moon, and for Kim, his sister, Kim Yo Jong, and senior Workers' Party official Kim Yong Chol, according to Moon's office.

At the start of their meeting Tuesday, Kim thanked Moon for brokering the June summit with Trump.

'It's not too much to say that it's Moon's efforts that arranged a historic North Korea-U.S. summit. Because of that, the regional political situation has been stabilized and more progress on North Korea-U.S. ties is expected,' Kim said, according to South Korean media pool reports and Moon's office.

Moon responded by expressing his own thanks to Kim for making a 'bold decision' in a New Year's speech to open a new era of detente and send a delegation to the South Korean Winter Olympics in February.A horrified mother recently discovered a carpet python while tidying her daughter's bedroom.

The woman spotted the snake under the bed while making the young girl's bed on Thursday at their Darling Heights home and called Toowoomba Snake Catchers 24/7 for help.

After asking her daughter to watch the snake as experts rushed to the property, the python proceeded to get comfy by slithering into the bed.

Scroll down for video

A Toowoomba local was given the surprise of her life last Thursday after she found a carpet python in her daughter's bedroom

'Mum was making her daughters bed when she saw the snake move in the corner of her eye under the bed which was on the second floor,' Toowoomba snake catcher Ally Wilkinson told Daily Mail Australia.

'Its made its way from the floor up to the bed and onto her pillow by the time we arrived.'

Ms Wilkinson said that it was not 'uncommon' to find carpet pythons inside Toowoomba homes at this time of year.

'Its heating up quite a bit now so the snakes will be moving about and will be looking for water, food and places to cool down,' she said.

Although it is not clear how the python reached the second floor of the property, Ms Wilkinson did point out that pythons are 'excellent climbers' and are able to enter houses by climbing up drain pipes or through ventilation fans in bathrooms.

'Couldn't identify a definite possibility, but pythons are great climbers. They can come up through your drainage system,' Ms Wilkinson said.

The mother saw the carpet python out of the corner of her eye as she was tidying her daughter's room. The snake proceeded to get comfy in her daughter's bed

The video posted by Toowoomba Snake Catchers copped mixed reactions on social media

One user commented; 'Nawww beautiful creature. My hubby would freak, I'd want to pat it.'

The video copped mixed reactions on social media, with one user commenting 'Naw a cuddly buddy'.

Another user commented; 'Nawww beautiful creature. My hubby would freak, I'd want to pat it.'

Others were more horrified at the snake; 'Stuff that, this is why I sleep with my window closed,' one user said.The 2018 midterm elections will soon take place in the United States as voters head to the polls in what some observers see as a referendum on the first two years of Donald Trumps presidency.

At stake are all House of Representatives seats and roughly a third of Senate seats as well as the majority of governorships in the country. The Democrats are seeking to deliver a rebuke to Donald Trump and the Republican Party, who control both the House of Representatives and the Senate, two years after the stunning defeat of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election.

Heres all you need to know about the upcoming 2018 midterm election, including predictions and key races to watch.

The fate of the U.S. Congress hangs in the balance as the 2018 midterm elections loom large

What are midterm elections?

Midterm elections in the United States are elections held on a quadrennial basis every four years during the midpoint of a U.S. Presidents four-year office term.

In the United States, all 50 states receive two Senate seats irrespective of their population for a total of 100 seats while the 435 House of Representatives seats are delegated based on population, with a larger state such as California receiving far more representation in the chamber than states with much smaller populations like Wyoming, Vermont and Delaware.

All 435 seats of the U.S. House of Representatives are contested in midterm elections, while 33 to 34 Senate seats out of 100 total are also up for grabs, meaning that midterm elections can have a major impact on which party controls Congress.

Midterm elections also have a key impact on state and local level politics, as 36 out of the 50 governorships in the U.S. hold elections during the midterms while many mayoral elections are also held throughout the U.S.

Historically, turnout for midterm elections in the United States has been lower than presidential elections, with roughly 40 percent of eligible voters going to the polls as opposed to 50 to 60 per cent for presidential elections.

In addition, the Presidents party typically loses seats during most midterm elections, with notable examples being the Republican Revolution of 1994 in which the Republican Party took control of Congress and the 2006 midterm elections, which saw the Democrats seize control of both houses of Congress in what was seen as a major rebuke to former President George W. Bush.

In the United States, more rural areas tend to favor the Republican Party while more urban, diverse areas typically favor the Democratic Party.

When are the 2018 midterm elections?

The 2018 midterm elections will be held on Tuesday, November 6.

The election will soon have a major impact on political issues like taxes, immigration and more

Senate

The Republicans currently hold a narrow 51 seat majority in the Senate and are facing strong headwinds, though have one clear advantage: the Democrats will be on the defensive. The Democratic Party is currently defending 26 seats while the Republican Party is only defending nine, possibly giving them an edge going into the election.

The Senate will see a number of key elections to watch closely as the 2018 midterms draw near.

One key race is in Arizona for the seat held by the late Senator John McCain, which is currently being targeted by the Democrats for a potential pickup. Republican candidate Martha McSally is thought to face a tough challenge from Democratic candidate Kyrsten Sinema.

The states shifting demographics, notably its large and growing Latino population, and divisions between traditional Republicans like McCain and pro-Trump populists have threatened to weaken the Republicans long-held grip on the state.

Other key Senate races to keep an eye on include a surprisingly competitive race between sitting Texas Senator Ted Cruz and Democratic challenger Beto ORourke, who only narrowly trails Cruz according to most polls in the traditionally-Republican state.

In Nevada, Democrat Jacky Rosen and Republican Dean Heller are locked in a tight race, as are Republican Josh Hawley and Democrat Claire McCaskill in Missouri and Democrat Phil Bredesen and Republican Marsha Blackburn in Tennessee, another traditionally-Republican state.

In Florida, one of the most famous bellwether states in the U.S., the race between Democrat Bill Nelson and Rick Scott is also extremely competitive.

House of Representatives

Though the Republicans currently control the House of Representatives, the Democrats are seen as having a strong chance to retake the congressional chamber, needing 24 seats to gain majority control of it.

Republicans currently hold 240 seats compared to 195 for the Democrats.

However, over the past 50 years, the Democrats have only gained more than 24 seats twice: in 1974, in the wake of the infamous Watergate scandal, and in 2006, when opposition to former President George W. Bush over the Iraq War reached a fever pitch.

Fortunately for the Democrats, a record 39 sitting Republicans in the House of Representatives have opted to not seek reelection, giving them a chance to pick up seats in many states, including longtime swing states like Pennsylvania and Florida.

A key race to watch closely is in Pennsylvanias 17th district, where Democrat Conor Lamb stunned observers to win a special election in March 2018 for a seat that had been held by Republicans from 2003 to 2017 and was considered to be in Trump-friendly territory.

Lamb will now be facing off against Republican Keith Rothfus after court-ordered redistricting in a new district thats thought to be considerably friendlier to the Democrats.

Democrat Beto O'Rourke is putting up a very strong challenge against Texas Senator Ted Cruz

Governors

Key races are also slated to get underway at the gubernatorial level as Democrats and Republicans face off in key swing states like Florida, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Colorado.

Republicans currently hold 33 governorships, although the Democrats are looking to build on their anticipated momentum and make gains at the state level as well as in Congress.

A key race to watch is in Florida, as Democrat Andrew Gillum, fresh off an upset victory in the primaries, is looking to become the first African-American to become governors of the state. The outspoken progressive and Tallahassee mayor will face off against Republican Representative Ron DeSantis, a vocal proponent of Donald Trumps policies.

Other notable races to watch closely include competitive elections in Georgia, where Democrat Stacy Abrams is looking to become the first African-American woman to win a gubernatorial race in the U.S. as she faces off against Republican Brian Kemp and in the swing state of Iowa, where Republican Kim Reynolds is locked in a tight battle with Democrat Fred Hubbell.

2018 midterm election predictions

Though the 2018 midterm election is still several weeks away, both historical and current trends have helped pollsters and election prognosticators draw up what they believe is a likely scenario for the outcome of the election.

Given the fact that the sitting Presidents party generally loses seats in midterm elections and President Donald Trump is hobbled by fairly low approval ratings, many election forecasters believe that the upcoming election will produce strong results for the Democrats and favor them taking at least one house of Congress, both of which are currently controlled by the Republicans.

According to FiveThirtyEight, the Senate has a more than 67 percent chance to remain in Republican hands as of September 17. This is largely due to the fact that the Democrats have to defend a much wider range of seats during the election, including ones in states won by Trump in the 2016 election.

Having to defend so many seats could blunt the blue wave that many election forecasters have predicted for the Democrats and possibly leave the Senate in Republican control, though many races are thought to be especially competitive and could easily swing one way or another.

The Democrats are thought to have much better odds in the House of Representatives, where FiveThirtyEight is forecasting the Democrats chances of retaking the chamber of more than 82 percent as of September 17.

Although the Republicans currently have a solid majority of 240 seats, the Democrats have a clear historical advantage and are also buoyed by strong and persistent opposition to Trump, meaning that their odds of retaking the chamber are considerably higher than in the Senate.Advertisement

With a Cessna floatplane in a hangar in the yard, a kitchen to die for and more than a dozen windows giving sweeping views of beautiful Lake Lucille just yards from their home, Sarah Palin might never want to leave Alaska.

But even the state's most famous resident admits the cold weather in The Last Frontier can get a little too much.

So the former vice-presidential candidate has surprising plans now that Piper, the fourth of her five children, is starting on her senior year in high school  she really wants to live elsewhere, at least for part of the year.

'We're finally in that spot where we can seize the opportunity to get outside and do more,' Palin said as she and Todd, her husband of 30 years, sat in their well-appointed kitchen to discuss their plans with DailyMailTV host Jesse Palmer.

Sarah Palin and husband Todd say they are 'finally in a spot where we can seize the opportunity to get outside and do more,' in an interview with DailyMailTV

Speaking over a bowl of her famous moose chili, Sarah spoke to DailyMailTV host Jesse Palmer about her life after politics and her plans for the future outside of Alaska

'Before, the kids' education and everything came first,' Palin explained.

'We were anchored here for the kids. Now our youngest daughter is going to be out of school  she's going to go to nursing school  she'll be taken care of.

'And we're ready to do a lot more.

'We're not going to be holed up in Wasilla, Alaska the rest of our life,' she added.

'We both feel that in our bones. This is always our home, but we're ready to bust out and do a lot more even than what we're doing now especially with the kids getting older, and things are getting easier in terms of travel and logistics.

'I want to do something that will influence our culture. To really remind people how important a work ethic is and to try to erase a lot of this idea that people have that government owes them anything. Or that anybody owes them anything.

'I want to be in some positions here to get that message out there, how important it is to be independent, get out there and work for yourself.'

Todd and Sarah Palin, both 54, have been fixtures in Wasilla since they met in high school. But now, they feel maybe it's time for a change.

'He's more driven then I am to bust out and get some things done,' admitted Sarah.

So how will you know if the Palins are your new neighbors?

Inside the Palins' house: The family's recently remodeled home has more than a dozen windows giving sweeping views of beautiful Lake Lucille

Sarah says being able to live in 'relative seclusion' is a 'blessing' but reveals the family has suffered from stalkers and invasions of privacy

The mother-of-five also admitted she now watches more scripted shows, instead of cable news, and perhaps unsurprisingly, her favorite is HBO political comedy series, Veep

Sarah joked that people will know if the Palins are in town if they see 'sea planes flying around Arizona or New Mexico.' Pictured above is her Cessna floatplane in a hangar in the yard

'If you see sea planes flying around Arizona or New Mexico you'll know who it is,' joked Todd.

They say their youngest child, 10-year-old Trig, who was diagnosed with Down Syndrome, will be OK wherever they are.

Their three oldest children, Track, 29, Bristol, 27, Willow, 24, are now adults while Piper, 17, has just started her senior year in high school and then plans to go to nursing school.

Wherever they end up, Sarah will stay involved. She has always been fascinated by politics. She tells that when their fourth child Piper was small she was explaining to her the meaning of the phrase 'pet peeve.' The little girl said: 'Well I know my pet peeve is Fox News!' because it was always on in the background.

Now Sarah tries to turn cable news off and watches more scripted shows. Perhaps unsurprisingly, her favorite is Veep.

'It's flipping hilarious,' she said. 'Probably I shouldn't admit it because maybe my mom would say, "Sarah, they've got so many bad words in it!" But we lived that!

'A couple of my friends who been with me through all the campaigns, through everything on this roller coaster we been on, will text each other after an episode of Veep and say we could've made it even funnier because ours would've been even more real.

'But still the episodes truly are a reflection of what it's like to be in office and be on the campaign trail, meeting interesting people along the way in politics.'

However, she can't totally tune out of the political scene. She believes, for instance, that Special Counsel Robert Mueller will catch out President Donald Trump.

Delicious: DailyMailTV host Jesse Palmer has a bowl of Sarah's famous moose chili

Most of the Palin children are all grown up, but Sarah says her youngest son Trig (pictured) who has Down Syndrome will be OK traveling wherever they go

With planes, snowmobiles and other outdoor equipment to explore the Last Frontier, it's no wonder the Palins are happy to call Wasilla their home

The investigation  which Palin called 'a fishing expedition'  has been going on so long that it is bound to find something amiss, she said.

'When we go fishing, have we ever stopped before we caught something? Nowe keep fishing,' Palin told Palmer.

'Unfortunately, that is what's going on in our country.

And she has some advice for her fellow Republicans. 'They're in power. They've got the House, the Senate, they have the Administration and yet they're acting like victims and they're always on defense. That's not what the supporters of the platform expect.

'We expect to be on offense in order to clean things up  drain that swamp  get government back on our side and get it off our backs and quit playing victim all the time!

'You're not going to win a ballgame only playing defense.'

Palin had been an early supporter of Trump endorsing him in January 2016 before Primary Season had even begun.

She says she still speaks regularly to the man in the Oval Office  even though she was not invited to that year's convention or Trump's inauguration.

'You'll have to ask the powers that be that run that kind of machine why those who worked really hard to get him elected weren't invited,' she told Palmer.

But still she supports his policies. 'I'm very thankful for the Trump movement,' Sarah said. 'The people's movement ushered in positive change in this country.

'People understood we didn't need the fundamental transformation of America that was being promised to us, we needed a restoration of everything that's good about America.

Meet the Palins: Thrust into the spotlight when her children were still teens, Palin says she's ready to do more now that she's out of public office and her kids have grown up

All grown up: Daughters Bristol, 27, Willow, 24, (left) and son Track (right) 29, are now adults while Piper (left) 17, has just started her senior year at high school and then plans to go to nursing school

'There was one candidate in the field that fit the bill to win that election. The only one who could beat Hilary Clinton  the only one who had the guts needed to say what needed to be said.'

'I recognized that early on,' she said. 'I've known Trump for a long time and jumped aboard as a supporter as he's the only one who could win.'

When asked if she agrees with they way Trump says things she said: 'Not always. Not at all.'

'I'm just really thankful that President Trump still has the guts to get out there and fulfill campaign promises.'

Sarah and Todd, both 54, spoke to Palmer in their haven, a red clapboard home on the lake. Once the front door, with the American and Alaskan flag on either side  is closed, they can live in 'relative seclusion,' Sarah said.

But they have suffered from stalkers, she said. 'That has been a rough one for a mama grizzly, not being able to protect my kids in some respects.

'We've had stalkers who moved up to Alaska for that sole purpose to harass and intimidate.' One came from Florida and then when daughter Bristol relocated to Austin, Texas, he followed.

Another ended up threatening President Donald Trump, she added. 'The FBI is now offering a $20,000 reward for information.

'I'm like 20,000 bucks? send it this way! I'll tell you all about that guy. We've been telling law enforcement and the FBI this guy is dangerous.'

Tourists rent boats and come right up to the house to take pictures, she added, while others come right up to the door.

'It's fun driving down the driveway and busting somebody,' said Todd.

Pictured above is the Palin clapboard house which she says is their 'anchor, no matter where we are bee-bopping around the world for work'

In her garage, Sarah had the floor painted a deep blue to look like a pool or the ocean, and it is there  her 'girl cave'  where she likes to gets things done

'I love busting people!' added Sarah. 'They're sneaking around and I'll say, "Hey! Come in!"

'Nobody wants to put up a "No Trespassing" sign, but we had to. And that didn't work, so we got the gate and then finally we closed the gate. Now people just park on the other side of the gate and walk down!'

Their home is something of a shrine to their native state. Inlaid in the floor in the entranceway is a magnificent map of steel, copper and aluminum that shows the relative sizes of Alaska and the lower 48. 'We're 2 times the size of Texas,' Todd pointed out.

In the kitchen, a pot of Sarah's famous moose chili is on the boil. But it is her garage that Sarah speaks of most fondly.

She had the floor painted a deep blue to look like a pool or the ocean, and it is there  her 'girl cave'  where she likes to gets things done.

The fireplace is a tribute to Sarah's father Chuck Heath, a high school science teacher. It is embedded with fossils that he would dig up on family expeditions.

The couple recently remodeled the entire house. They were forced to live in Sarah's office to avoid the workers for a full 18 months. And there were other challenges: 'Too often I would be ordering and they would say we don't ship to foreign countries,' said Sarah. '

'I'd say it's Alaska and they'd say: "Like I said,we don't ship to foreign countries."

And wherever they end up, Wasilla, the sixth largest city in Alaska but still with fewer than 10,000 residents, will always be home. 'This is our anchor, no matter where we are bee-bopping around the world for work,' said Sarah.

'Yeah, I love this house, I love waking up to this! 'SeaWorld and two former executives on Tuesday agreed to pay more than $5 million to settle federal fraud claims they misled investors about the negative impact the 2013 documentary 'Blackfish' had on business.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission filed the complaint in federal court in New York as well as the proposed settlements, which are subject to court approval.

The SEC's complaint alleged SeaWorld and former CEO James Atchison made misleading and false statements or omissions in SEC filings, earnings releases and calls about the documentary's impact on the company's reputation and business from December 2013 to August 2014.

A documentary about Tilikum, an orca that killed a trainer at SeaWorld in 2010, caused attendance rates at the theme park to fall

During the first three months of 2014, Atchison sold stock as part of a trading plan he had entered into before that period, allowing him to avoid losses of almost $740,000, according to the complaint.

In August 2014, SeaWorld for the first time made a filing with the SEC that revealed the company was facing declining attendance following the movie's release.

The company's stock price plummeted by a third and SeaWorld's stock was downgraded by analysts, causing an $830 million loss in shareholder value, according to the SEC complaint.

'The defendants should have known that the 'Blackfish' effect, if and when such occurred, would be material to investors,' the complaint said.

'Blackfish' chronicled the life of Tilikum, an orca that killed a SeaWorld trainer during a performance in Orlando in 2010.

Therese Brancheau (left) was killed in 2010 by an orca named Tilikum, inspiring the creation of Blackfish, which was released in 2013

The SEC alleges Seaworld made misleading statements and reports after the release of the documentary to cover up the effect Blackfish had on attendance rates. Once the information was released in 2014, stock prices plummeted by a third

In a statement, SeaWorld said the company neither admits nor denies the allegations under the settlement.

'The company is pleased to have resolved this matter and to continue to focus on delivering superior guest experiences, world-class animal care and rescuing animals in need,' said the statement from corporate communications director Travis Claytor.

Online court records didn't show attorneys for Atchison or Fred Jacobs, SeaWorld's former vice president of communications.

Under the settlement proposal, SeaWorld would pay a $4 million penalty, Atchison would pay more than $1 million for a penalty and pay-back and Jacobs would pay $100,000 in pay-back.Five-year-old Olivia Gregory was becoming increasingly tired when she came home from school in early 2017.

She would arrive at her home in Wickford, Essex, relax on the sofa and was 'out like a light' at bed time.

When she went on holiday to Great Yarmouth with her mother Clare, 44, and father Tony in the summer, instead of running around like a normal she would say 'Daddy, you'll have to carry me'.

Then she started waking up with headaches and nausea, as well as constantly falling over.

Olivia Gregory (pictured) would wake up with headaches and nausea in her Essex home

One year later Mrs Gregory would cradle her daughter's lifeless body, just weeks before the child's sixth birthday, as her husband drove them to donate Olivia's brain and spine for medical research.

Their daughter had died after a drawn-out and painful battle with a Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Giloma (DIPG) - a rare and aggressive form of brain tumour that affects just 40 children a year with a 9-12 month prognosis and has a zero per cent survival rate.

'My heart was shattered Olivia was dead but I loved being able to cuddle her again,' Mrs Gregory told The Mirror.

'I hadn't been able to do that for two months as she'd been so ill she didn't want anyone touching her.'

Olivia (centre) with her father Tony Gregory and her 11-year-old sister Eva

Olivia struggled with a Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Giloma (DIPG) - a rare and aggressive form of brain tumour that affects just 40 children a year with a 9-12 month prognosis

Mr and Mrs Gregory took Olivia to Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in London to donate her brain to the INSTINCT programme - which is co-funded by The Brain Tumour Charity.

Hours before on the day of her death, June 5, 2018, Olivia had grasped her parents' hands while struggling to breathe as her mother rang her palliative care doctor for advice about pain relief for her daughter.

As the 'awful noise' of her breathing stopped, Olivia looked calm as her parents realised she was at peace.

Claire (centre), Eva (left) and their parents went to EuroDisney to relish their time together

Olivia, pictured here wearing a Moana t-shirt, was a big fan of Disney films

The five-year-old had to undergo an operation to have a shunt implants on her brain

Before she was diagnosed on June 23 last year, Olivia's mother took her to see a GP and was told two times that it was just a virus and adenoid problems, but the mother knew something was wrong.

On June 1 Olivia had woken up vomiting in the middle of the night, and when her mother rushed her to A&E she was told again Olivia had a virus and was sent home with Calpol and Diorlyte.

Following up on her intuition, Mrs Gregory's research led her to The Brain Tumour Charity's HeadSmart campaign on the internet, and as she ticked off her daughter's symptoms one by one she felt sick.

An MRI scan revealed a mass on Olivia's brain, and Mrs Gregory knew her daughter would die

Mrs Gregory took her daughter to A&E and said she wouldn't leave until they scanned her brain.

After an MRI scan the concerned parents were told their daughter had a mass on her brain.

The next day Olivia had a shunt implanted due to fluid on her brain and doctors discovered the inoperable DIPG during a biopsy.

When Mrs Gregory was told that Olivia had only 9-12 months to live she heard a gasp before realising it came from her.

She created a GoFundMe page on September 1 last year which raised 30,656 to spread awareness of DIPG and to raise money for experimental treatment for Olivia.

Olivia's brain was donated to INSTINCT, co-funded by The Brain Tumour Charity

The page reads: 'Olivia is a happy, fun-loving normal 5-year-old little girl who was diagnosed at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) on 23rd June 2017 with an inoperable (due to it's location in her brain stem) aggressive cancerous brain tumour called a DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma).

'DIPG has a 0% survival rate - the average survival is 9 months from diagnosis. Only 10% of children survive 2 years following their diagnosis and less than 1% survives for 5 years.

'This page has been set up to raise awareness of DIPG and to show support for Olivia and her family.'

On the day of her death, June 5, 2018, Olivia had grasped her parents' hands while struggling to breathe as her mother rang her palliative care doctor for advice about pain relief

The fundraising page states that there is 'no cure' for DIPG anywhere in the world, but 'experimental' treatments are available, but not on the NHS or through private medical insurance.

'Currently Olivia struggles to walk unassisted so uses a wheelchair and walking frame,' the page continues.

'She has weakness down her right side and has facial palsy which affects her eyes and speech.

'We are hoping that her symptoms remain stable so that she can have lots of fun with her family and return to school but we need your help!'

Olivia had struggled for a year with a rare brain cancer which has a zero per cent survival rate

The family managed to squeeze in trips to EuroDisney, Dubai, Marrakech, Lapland and went on a simulated Tube drive before Olivia's tragic death.

Now Mrs Gregory wants to spread awareness about brain donations to save other families from heartache.

The Brain Tumour Charity's Nurses and Allied Professional Conference will today feature Mrs Gregory and another parent discussing their daughters' brain donations - in the hopes of encouraging health professionals to let parents know that brain donation in an option.Thomas Lawton Evans, 37, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to kidnapping and raping a child

A man who pleaded guilty on Tuesday in federal court to kidnapping a four-year-old girl from her home and sexually assaulting her also told investigators he killed his girlfriend days earlier, prosecutors said.

Thomas Lawton Evans, 37, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to kidnapping, transportation of a minor to engage in sexual activity and aggravated sexual abuse in federal court in Charleston, South Carolina.

He faces 30 years to life in prison at sentencing, media outlets reported. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

A twist came in court when prosecutors said Evans acknowledged killing his 39-year-old girlfriend, Sharon Nannette Hayden, days before the kidnapping.

Evans told FBI agents he stabbed Hayden in a fight in her Spartanburg County home, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said Evans acknowledged killing his 39-year-old girlfriend, Sharon Nannette Hayden (above), days before the kidnapping

Evans said he chased his girlfriend as she ran into the woods where she collapsed and he thinks she died, according to prosecutors.

Her body has never been recovered and Evans hasn't been charged in her death.

Spartanburg County deputies referred all questions to the FBI. Supervisory Special Agent Donald Wood said his agency does not discuss its investigations.

Hayden's car was found at the Johns Island home near Charleston where the child's kidnapping took place, authorities said.

Prosecutors said Evans chose his next victims at random, following a mother and her four-year-old daughter back to their home near Charleston on February 13 and beating the mother so severely she had to be hospitalized for facial fractures.

Evans still faces several state charges, including attempted murder, for the attack on the mother and daughter

The attack was not discovered until police checked on the mother after her other children weren't picked up from school, prosecutors said.

Evans, meanwhile, drove west with the girl. Railroad workers called police after finding them sleeping in a car in Riverside, Alabama, and Evans handed an officer the girl then sped off, according to authorities.

He was arrested later after a police chase in Mississippi, authorities said.

Evans still faces several state charges, including attempted murder, for the attack on the mother and daughter.

He was arrested in 2000 and charged with second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor. Police said he assaulted a 15-year-old girl when he was 19. At the time he wasn't required to register as a sex offender because he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.

In 2002, Evans was accused of robbery when he and another man grabbed a woman in downtown Charleston and attempted to snatch her purse. He was convicted of strong armed robbery and served two years probation.Trump suggested building a wall across the Sahara. Photo: Stefano Montesi/Corbis via Getty Images

Donald Trump is not having much luck getting his big, beautiful border wall off the ground, with his own party refusing to fund the vanity project that would be wildly ineffective and way too expensive. But that hasnt stopped him from suggesting other countries take a shot at building their own.

Spanish foreign minister Josep Borrell revealed this week that Trump proposed Spain build a wall across the Sahara to stem the flow of migrants into Europe. When diplomats brushed aside the idea and pointed out that the desert is 3,000 miles long, Trump pushed back. The Sahara border cant be bigger than our border with Mexico, he reportedly said. It is, in fact, bigger.

Trump is thought to have made his suggestion to Borrell in June, when the foreign minister visited the U.S. along with Spains king and queen. Borrell reportedly made his opposition to the idea clear at the time, but did acknowledge that Spain must do something about the migrants coming to the country.

Already this year, more than 38,000 migrants have arrived in Spain, most by sea. The Guardian reports that this three-fold increase over last year makes Spain the most popular destination for migrants, surpassing Italy and Greece.

And while Borrell brushed off Trumps wall suggestion, Spain does see fit to keep out some would-be immigrants with border fences. The Spanish cities of Melilla and Ceuta are each separated from Morocco by parallel 20-foot fences topped with razor wire. But not even those keep everyone out.A gang that broke off from the powerful Sinaloa Cartel, which Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman once commanded, is now determined to reign terror on a rival group in the Mexican city of Ciudad Juarez.

Members of the Artistas Asesinos (Artists Assassins) issued threats in a number of videos that were released over different social media platforms at the end of August.

In them they delivered a warning message to another faction of the cartel, Los Mexicles.

Video images show a dozen masked gunmen firing off their high caliber assault weapons before the group's presumed spokesman aired a number of grievances against the rival gang.

Members of the Artistas Asesinos (Artists Assassins) issued a threat, that hasn't been verified, to Los Mexicles. Both were allies of the Sinaloa Cartel under El Chapo's rule

The Artistas Asesinos ,a ruthless street gang, is believed to have splintered away from the Sinaloa Cartel and presented all of its cache of weapons after threatening Los Mexicles

In the explicit discourse filmed in front of three trucks inside a warehouse, the armed man sends a message to Los Mexicles, claiming complete territorial ownership of the area that for decades has been one of Mexico's most violent.

'Here we are you filthy animals, the Artistas are representing Ciudad Juarez... This is for Los Mexicles,' the armed thug said.

'We're here and we're not leaving. You think you are doing to scare us with your damn cars ... You know who made you? We own this land we work on.'

'Lets see girls. Lets see if you guys get motivated. Lets see, you think you are going to do anything with a damn gun and a damn water rifle, you punks. Wash your mouths,' the masked member of the Artistas Asesinos said.

'Who taught you? Who have you learned from? ... You guys are good but to get drugged up. I have a few things here for those who want to turn their backs on us ...'

A dozen members of the Artistas Asesinos appear before a camera in which they issued a warning to Los Mexicles during a explicit-filled rant shared on social media

Video images recorded by members of the Artistas Asesinos gives an insight into the street gang's wide variety of illegal weapons

The Artistas Asesinos and Los Mexicles once worked under the orders of El Chapo (center). The Artistas Asesinos are planning to wage war and eliminate Los Mexicles in Ciudad Juarez

According to Sin Embargo, both groups are heavily present in Ciudad Juarez's western side but authorities haven't confirmed specific threats.

If the internal strife is true, it could be the second time since May that two groups have splintered off from a murderous criminal syndicate.

The Juarez Cartel saw two of its most powerful gangs, the Barrio Azteca (Aztec Town) y La Linea (The Line), break away before an all-out war broke out.

The prosecutor's office in Ciudad Jarez has tallied over 600 executions since both gangs declared war on each other.

Later in the video, the Artistas Asesinos displayed images of their mighty weaponry arsenal that's at their disposal, claiming they would completely do away with Los Mexicles until all of them were dead.Australians on life support had their crucial machines unexpectedly switched off 30 times in two years when power companies forgot to tell them about planned interruptions.

No one has died yet but the scale of the problem has the Australian Energy Regulator cracking down with more than half a million dollars in fines.

'Customers relying on life support equipment are particularly vulnerable and any unexpected loss of supply can have dangerous, and even fatal consequences,' AER chair Paula Conboy said on Wednesday.

'Companies must understand that any breach will be swiftly investigated and appropriate action taken.'

Energex were fined $60,000 by the Australian Energy Regulator following three breaches and also underwent an independent audit

Power companies are meant to give people with life support machines at least four days written notice of planned power interruptions.

That didn't happen in 30 cases since July 2016, with seven already in just the past two-and-a-half months.

SWITCHING OFF LIFE SUPPORT *Energex: four breaches in 2016/17, four breaches in 2017/18, three breaches so far in 2018/19 * Ausgrid: eight breaches in 2016/17, one in 2017/18 * TasNetworks: three breaches in 2017/18, four breaches so far in 2018/19 * ActewAGL/Evoenergy: two breaches in 2017/18 * Endeavour: one breach in 2016/17 * Ergon: one breach in 2016/17. SOURCE: Australian Energy Regulator Advertisement

'It is imperative that these customers receive advanced notice of any planned interruption to their energy supply, so they can make alternative plans,' Ms Conboy said.

In the most recent incidents, TasNetworks paid $80,000 in fines for four breaches this financial year, and Energex paid $60,000 for three breaches.

In addition to the fines, Energex has to do an independent audit to ensure it has systems in place to make sure people on life support know what's happening with their power.

TasNetworks has also promised to install systems to eliminate potential sources of errors and will retrain staff annually.

New rules come into place in February next year to strengthen the protections for customers who need life support equipment.

They allocate responsibilities clearly between retailers and distributors and improve the accuracy of life support registers.

'We will be writing to industry about our expectations,' Ms Conboy said.

Under the current rules, customers with a registered life support device must be told about planned or unplanned interruptions to the supply.

They must also get help preparing a plan in case of an unplanned interruption, and an emergency number to call if something goes wrong.

Seven instances have occurred since July this year.

'It is imperative customers receive advanced notice of any planned interruption to their energy supply, so they can make alternative plans,' Ms Conboy said.

In recent breaches, TasNetworks forked out $80,000 in fines following four breach notices this financial year.

Rival company Energex handed over $60,000 for three breaches.

In addition to the fines, Energex also underwent an independent audit to ensure they now have systems in place to ensure people on life support are informed about any planned power changes.

New rules will be introduced in February next year to strengthen protections for patients requiring life support equipment.A married Catholic school primary teacher accused of rubbing up against a 13-year-old girl in his class has pleaded not guilty to two charges of indecent assault.

James Williams Hayes, 28, was joined by his wife as he appeared in Liverpool Magistrates Court charged with indecently assaulting a child under the age of 16.

The girl finished Year 6 at St Justin's Catholic Primary School, in Sydney's south-west, in 2017 and alleged the incident occurred while he was her teacher.

Hayes is accused of 'brushing past' and 'grabbing the girl' on two separate occasions while inside the classroom, news.com.au reported.

Teacher James Williams Hayes, 28,(pictured) has pleaded not guilty to charges of indecently assaulting a 13-year-old female student in his class

She alleges he rubbed up against her in an inappropriate way in the St Justin's Catholic Primary School classroom, south west of Sydney

Hayes left St Justin's at the end of 2017 and started teaching at St Gregory's College in Campbelltown, New South Wales, at the beginning of this year.

He wrote a newsletter for his new school where he said it was 'going to be an amazing year'.

Police arrested Mr Hayes on Monday and he was suspended from teaching.

The court granted Mr Hayes strict conditional bail until his next court date on October 30.

Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong Director of Schools Peter Turner released a statement urging parents to talk with their children about any potential concerns they might not have brought up.

'I wish to assure you that CEDoW has an embedded child protection culture based on comprehensive policies and processes, together with training and education, to ensure best-practice responses to issues of this nature,' he said.Heather Ann Schwab, 43, was sentenced to six years in prison on Monday

A woman dubbed 'the serial squatter' has been sentenced to six years in prison for crimes related to a lengthy scam against a string of landlords.

Heather Ann Schwab, 43, pleaded guilty to felony identity theft last month and was sentenced on Monday by a judge in Brighton, Colorado, on the northeast outskirts of Denver.

Schwab's husband, William, also pleaded guilty on Monday to one count of conspiracy to commit identity theft. He is scheduled to be sentenced in November.

Judge Byron Howell called the couple's conduct 'appalling' in handing down the lengthy prison term, CBS4 reported.

Schwab and her husband were reportedly evicted some 20 times in Texas before moving to Colorado.

Heather Schwab (left) and her husband William (right) were reportedly evicted some 20 times in Texas before moving to Colorado

CBS Denver

Schwab and her husband were reportedly evicted some 20 times in Texas before moving to Colorado.

Landlords said they used phony names to get around background checks, and then refused to pay rent until they were forcibly evicted. The couple are known to have used the names 'Jenkins', 'Rayes and 'Ruybal'.

One landlord, Kristine Reddick, told CBS DFW that the couple trashed her late father's home in North Texas.

Reddick ran a background check and credit check, and everything came back clean. But the rent checks bounced immediately, and the excuses began, she said.

'Can't talk, Eric's grandmother died, CPS is coming over I got fired at my job for personal phone calls,' said Reddick, recalling the Schwabs' excuses.

'You can only go so far with a story  and I was born at night but not last night.'

She finally forced them out through eviction five months after they moved in.

'There was stuff everywhere, they had smoked in the house, my pool was now a Mountain Dew green,' Reddick said. The couple still owes her $7,325 as part of a court judgment.

After moving to Colorado, the couple repeated the pattern in Broomfield and Thornton.

Heather Schwab was first arrested in May for felony theft after failing to pay more than $4,000 in back rent at a home on East 139th Place in Thornton.

She was initially charged with theft, forgery and identity theft in that case and another in Colorado.

Schwab took a plea deal and pleaded guilty to the identity theft charge, and her attorney requested that she be sentenced to probation.

Judge Howell rejected that request and sentenced her to the maximum prison sentence possible under the terms of the deal.A toddler has been sent home from hospital despite suffering from a head wound so deep her skull was visible.

Alice-Ann Lee, 3, was rushed to Palmerston Regional Hospital in the Northern Territory earlier this week by her grandmother but was advised to just take Panadol, her family claim.

'It's not just a cut, it's a massive gash. You can see her skull and it's scary,' her mother Jenna Graefling told 9News.

Scroll down for video

Alice-Ann Lee (pictured) was refused surgical procedures after suffering a severe laceration to her head so deep her skull was visible

The toddler was jumping from bed to bed at her grandmother's home when she accidentally hit her forehead on a windowsill.

But at the hospital doctors told her grandmother they could not do anything more than clean and bandage the laceration.

They said they could not do more extensive treatment without parental permission, recommended Panadol and told the grandmother to bring her back the next day, the family claim.

Alice's parents were informed about the incident in the morning and after returning to the hospital Alice was transferred to Royal Darwin Hospital, where surgery was performed.

The toddler (pictured) was jumping from bed to bed at her grandmother's home until she accidentally hit her forehead on a windowsill

The surgery would not have been possible at Palmerston Regional Hospital because the operating theatres weren't ready for use yet.

Top End Health Service said sutures for the laceration would have required fasting and parental consent, and Alice was better off waiting at home.

The hospital, which opened three weeks ago, is the Northern Territory's first new public hospital in 40 years with an emergency department operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Palmerston Regional Hospital was contacted for comment.An inspector general has now referred the case of FEMA chief Brock Long's allegedly improper use of government vehicles to federal prosecutors.

Long's use of government cars for commutes that were hundreds of miles long came to light just as Hurricane Florence was aiming for his home state.

A Homeland Security inspector general has been probing Long's trips from Washington, D.C. to his home in Hickory, North Carolina.

The Wall Street Journal reported Long would make the 400-mile trip in a 'caravan' of vehicles. Taxpayer-paid drivers would be put up in hotels in Long's home state.

The IG has now referred the case to federal prosecutors who will decide whether to pursue charges against Long, who this week is overseeing efforts to coordinate the national disaster response to massive flooding in North Carolina and surrounding areas.

An inspector general has referred an investigation of of FEMA head Brock Long to federal prosecutors for possible charges. Long used government vehicle caravans for trips to his home in North Carolina

In one such trip one vehicle was involved in an accident. Agency lawyers informed Long last year that the trips weren't legal, according to the Journal, but they continued anyway.

At that point, the IG put Long under surveillance and even set up a tail for one of his trips.

Long said he is cooperating with the investigation. The Trump administration  buffeted by a series of travel scandals by cabinet members during its first year  is already considering possible successors.

He told CBS his travel was in compliance with a presidential directive on continuity of government in case of a disaster.

Amid the scrutiny and personal professional peril, Long botched the name of the hurricane threatening the East Coast last week while denying allegations of his own misuse of government cars  saying he was '100 per cent' focused on the storm.

'Regardless of an article, right now I'm 100% focused on Floyd, and that's exactly where our attention needs to be with the life-safety mission,' said Long Thursday at an emergency briefing to update Americans on Hurricane Florence.

'Florence, excuse me,' he added later.

Long may have been referencing a 1999 hurricane that slammed the East Coast and inundated parts of North Carolina.

He denied distraction at the top of a briefing where officials schooled Americans on what bare necessities they should bring to shelters, where and how to evacuate, and what disabled citizens should do to prepare.

He said as FEMA administrator he followed policies 'according to regulation and bottom line is we'll continue to fully cooperate with any investigation that goes on and own up to any mistakes and push forward and keep going, keeping moving on.'

'I'm 100% focused on Floyd,' FEMA head Brock Long said, botching the name of Hurricane Florence, as he fielded questions on his own alleged misuse of government vehicles

'Regardless of an article, right now I'm 100 per cent focused on Floyd and that's exactly where our attention needs to be with the life safety mission. We'll invite in our federal partners  Florence, excuse me,' said, possibly after being corrected.

Asked if he was confident he followed the law, Long shifted the subject back to the storm and repeated the error. 'We're going to get to Floyd we're going to get to Florence, excuse me, and we're going to concentrate on the life safety issues,'he said.

Long spoke just as the outer bands of the storm were reaching the coast of North Carolina, a state where he has a home

President Donald Trump listens as FEMA Administrator Brock Long speaks during a meeting with Long and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen in the Oval Office September 11, 2018 in Washington, DC

A report said FEMA Administrator Brock Long clashed with Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen over the auto use

Days after Long fended off questions about his travel, Florence hit the coast and slammed his home state. Here a home is surrounded by flooded waters from Hurricane Florence off of U.S. 401 near Linden, N.C., on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018

The embarrassing gaffe came as Long fended off a new Politico report that he was under investigation for the use of government cars.

The report said he clashed with Homeland Security chief Kirstjen Nielsen over the issue. An Inspector General is probing his use of a government Chevy Suburban and other vehicles during repeat six-hour drives to Hickory, N.C.

His use of a staff driver began last year, and aides would stay at hotels at government expense, an official told the publication.

DEVASTATION: Marine One carrying US President Bill Clinton along with North Carolina Governor James Hunt 20 September, 1999, survey the flood damage over Tarboro, North Carolina, which was damaged by high winds and rain from Hurricane Floyd. Clinton also visited an emergency shelters

FIRST YOU TAKE ROUTE 66 WEST TOWARDS 81 SOUTH: Long, seen here discussing Hurricane Florence, is under fire for using government vehicles on the six-hour drive from Washington to Hickory, North Carolina

News of Long's use of government vehicles for long-range commutes follows reports that $10 million was transferred from FEMA funds to pay for immigration detention centers. The transfer, revealed in documents released by Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon, showed funds came out of the operations and support budget before the start of hurricane season.A 13 year old boy, weighing 16 stone, has collapsed and died due to his 'severe' obesity.

The teenager is believed to be the youngest victim of the frightening rise in youngsters who are overweight.

Doctors said the boy died from a blood clot that had travelled from his leg to his lung.

Experts described the death as shocking and a sobering indication of the seriousness of the obesity epidemic affecting the nation's children.

The 13-year-old British boy died weighing 16 stone after developing a blood clot in his leg

OBESITY: ADULTS WITH A BMI OVER 30 ARE SEEN AS OBESE Obesity is defined as an adult having a BMI of 30 or over. A healthy person's BMI - calculated by dividing weight in kg by height in metres, and the answer by the height again - is between 18.5 and 24.9. Among children, obesity is defined as being in the 95th percentile. Percentiles compare youngsters to others their same age. For example, if a three-month-old is in the 40th percentile for weight, that means that 40 per cent of three-month-olds weigh the same or less than that baby. Around 58 per cent of women and 68 per cent of men in the UK are overweight or obese. The condition costs the NHS around 6.1billion, out of its approximate 124.7 billion budget, every year. This is due to obesity increasing a person's risk of a number of life-threatening conditions. Such conditions include type 2 diabetes, which can cause kidney disease, blindness and even limb amputations. Research suggests that at least one in six hospital beds in the UK are taken up by a diabetes patient. Obesity also raises the risk of heart disease, which kills 315,000 people every year in the UK - making it the number one cause of death. Carrying dangerous amounts of weight has also been linked to 12 different cancers. This includes breast, which affects one in eight women at some point in their lives. Among children, research suggests that 70 per cent of obese youngsters have high blood pressure or raised cholesterol, which puts them at risk of heart disease. Obese children are also significantly more likely to become obese adults. And if children are overweight, their obesity in adulthood is often more severe. As many as one in five children start school in the UK being overweight or obese, which rises to one in three by the time they turn 10. Advertisement

Around 58 per cent of women and 68 per cent of men in the UK are overweight or obese. Among children, more than one in five start school carrying a dangerous amount of weight, which rises to one in three by the time they turn 10.

Obesity is not considered a cause of death, however, previous research suggests one in seven fatalities could be prevented if a person was a healthy weight.

This is due to the condition raising a person's risk of heart disease, which is responsible for 315,000 deaths every year in the UK, making it the number one killer. Obesity can also cause type 2 diabetes - a key driver of heart disease.

In addition, obesity raises the risk of cancer, particularly bowel and breast, which kills around 11,400 and 160,000 people in the UK every year, respectively.

The NHS spends nearly five per cent of its yearly budget - around 6.1 billion - on obesity-related illness, with one in six hospital beds being occupied by someone with diabetes.

Speaking of the boy's death, one expert said: 'I have never heard of a child so young having their death put down to obesity. It just shows how bad things are getting.

'Children are fairly resilient and one wouldn't expect an obese child to die so young. Yes, maybe in their 20s or 30s, if they carried on remaining obese, but not so young.'

A post mortem by a pathologist said he could find no other reason for the clot developing apart from the youngster's 'severe' obesity.

Despite obesity not being a natural cause of death the local coroner ruled the death was natural and decided there would be no inquest.

The boy - who is not being named to protect the family's privacy - had been to see his GP the day before he died complaining of swollen feet.

The post mortem report noted the boy had been gaining weight from a young age. By the time he died earlier this year he had a body mass index of 42 and was twice his recommended weight.

He was in the top one percentile for his age group, which means just one per cent of other 13 year olds in the UK are his weight. Percentiles measure weight in children, similar to BMIs in adults.

NHS school nurses weighed the dead boy at 10 and sent a letter home to his parents about his weight but it was apparently never followed up.

Doctors attributed his death to 'severe' obesity and said he also had evidence of liver damage

The boy's post mortem report also showed he had an enlarged liver with evidence of fatty liver disease, an early sign of liver failure due to obesity.

A leading obesity expert, Tam Fry, of the National Obesity Forum, said last night that schools and other professionals should do more to flag up overweight kids.

Dr Jude Oben who works at London's Royal Free Hospital said children and adults were at high risk of bloods clots due to their obesity.

He said: 'I've not heard of it in a child. It is a shocking and tragic case. The obesity constricts the blood flow in the legs, a clot forms due to sluggish flow, it breaks off and lodges in the pulmonary artery in the lung.'

Experts said pulmonary embolisms are exceedingly rare in children. But like adults, they are at risk of following surgery or air travel, or if they have a genetic blood disorder.

Tam Fry described the teen's death as a shocking waste of life.

He said: 'We have still not got to grips with obesity in children.. Children are being weighed when they start school, and then again at 11. Why was this boy not helped?'

Children and adults are said to be at high risk of developing life-threatening blood clots if they are obese

'We have complained for some time that picking up and treating obesity through schools is hit and miss.'

Professor Alastair Sutcliffe, a consultant paediatrician at University College of London Hospitals, said: 'What a tragic case. I have never come across a child dying of obesity.

'This could be a new trend. We have been saying for some time that the current generation might not live as a long as their parents but the thought of child dying before they are out of their teenage years due to obesity is truly shocking.'

In 2011 the Government's then Liver Czar, Professor Martin Lombard, warned that 500,000 children were at risk of developing life-threatening fatty liver disease because they are overweight, putting them at risk of hear attacks and stroke.

The condition can worsen to the extent that the liver become scarred causing liver failure or cancer.Officers in Leicestershire thought new training scheme was a staff wind-up joke

New course will teach officers about banter-related case law and tribunal claims

Faced with unrelenting gang violence, police officers in Leicestershire had hoped for crime investigation training.

Instead they will be taught how to have better banter.

The course, which officers first thought was a joke, will teach them about the fine line between being funny and offensive.

The training is being rolled out by the equality unit in Leicestershire Police. The course will teach officers about 'banter-related case law'. The force said it could not say how much the course would cost (File photo)

It is said to put political correctness in its place, recognise the benefits of fun at work and focus on the risk and responsibilities for all concerned.

One officer told the Times last night: Its not a wind-up though it sounds like one.

'It shows the disconnect between the front line and HQ.

'We could badly do with some crime investigation training at all levels but instead we get this.

Details of the banter training were uploaded to Leicestershire polices intranet.

The course will teach officers about banter-related case law and employment tribunal claims.

It hopes to reduce the number of excluded, unhappy and unproductive staff.

The force said it could not say how much the course would cost.

Lynne Woodward, from the forces equality unit, said the course was not aimed at controlling conversations between officers.

We recognise the workplace should be a social environment, she said.

Last week an investigation was launched into a Metropolitan Police officer who told colleagues that their behaviour needed to be whiter than white.Noel Edmonds called the Archbishop of Canterbury a 'reincarnation of evil' and a 'hypocrite' over his failure to meet alleged victims of bank fraud.

Mr Edmonds, 69, criticised Justin Welby for the Church of England investing in Lloyds Banking Group - who the Deal or no Deal presenter is suing for 64million.

Last year bankers from the Reading branch of HBOS - owned by Lloyds - were jailed for their part in a 245million loans scam which destroyed businesses - with the profits being spent on prostitutes and holidays.

Mr Edmonds claims to have suffered losses and plans to sue.

Noel Edmonds (left) called the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby (right) a 'hypocrite'

The TV star blasted the Archbishop during the SME Alliance annual meeting in Westminster, London.

Mr Edmonds said: 'Does he have a divine right to be an a***hole? He won't meet me or any Lloyds victims and the church is one of the biggest investors in Lloyds.'

He added that Mr Welby had criticised zero hours contracts as 'evil' even though some church staff were on them.

Mr Welby had come under fire last week when it was revealed that the Church of England has invested heavily in Amazon - only days after the Archbishop had accused the online giant of 'leeching off the taxpayer'.

But the Churchs stake in the company is one of the 20 most valuable investments held by its multi-billion-pound fund, it was revealed.

Mr Welby told union leaders that vast companies like Amazon could get away with paying almost nothing in tax.

Mr Welby was criticised last week as it was revealed that the Church of England invested heavily in Amazon - whom the Archbishop had accused of 'leeching off the taxpayer'

As well as attacking Amazon, the Archbishop described the gig economy and zero hours contracts as the reincarnation of an ancient evil.

Noel Edmonds returned the criticism on Mr Welby.

He said: 'Justin Welby, [you] used the expression but I think you are the reincarnation of an ancient evil,' Sky News reported.Republican Sen. Ted Cruz has claimed that barbecue will become illegal in Texas if his Democrat rival is elected.

Cruz was holding a rally over the weekend as part of the run up to the election, when it was targeted by protesters from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

The former presidential candidate pointed to the demonstration as proof that Democrats would target Texans's infamous love for barbecue if elected.

'When I got here someone told me that even PETA was protesting and giving out barbecued tofu, so I got to say, they summed up the entire election: If Texas elects a Democrat, they're going to ban barbecue across the state of Texas,' said Cruz.

Republican Sen. Ted Cruz has claimed that barbecue will become illegal in Texas if his Democrat rival is elected

Cruz later tweeted that if his rival, Democratic Rep. Beto O'Rourke, won then 'BBQ will be illegal!'

A spokeswoman for Cruz's campaign later told ABC News that Cruz's tweet was 'of course' a joke.

A spokesman for PETA explained the protest was about Cruz's recent comments that liberals want Texas 'to be just like California, right down to the tofu and silicon and dyed hair.'

'Ted Cruz is cruzin' for a bruisin' because you don't mess with Texas tofu-eaters. Texans will cross all party lines to stand in the buffet line for homegrown and tasty tofu,' a spokesperson for PETA told ABC News.

The race for the senate seat has been hotting up in recent months and the Republican incumbent and O'Rourke have agreed to debate each other three times before the U.S. Senate election in November.

PETA explained the protest was about Cruz's recent comments that liberals want Texas 'to be just like California, right down to the tofu and silicon and dyed hair'

Members arrived at the Cruz rally with BBQ tofu samples and signs promoting tofu

O'Rourke is a three-term congressman from El Paso who's giving up his seat to challenge Cruz. The Republican was first elected to the Senate in 2012.

Texas hasn't elected a Democrat to statewide office since 1994, but O'Rourke's campaign has attracted considerable attention nationally.

But O'Rourke is something of a rising star, and there has already been talk about him having what it takes to be a Democratic vice-presidential pick in 2020 or even the US President.

He's gaining so much attention that Trump tweeted that he plans to stage 'a major rally' for Cruz in October, a surprising move considering the Republican was expected to breeze through the process up until recently.

It follows his March appearance on HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher where the host compared one a crowd's reaction to being along the lines of 'like when the Beatles came to America'.

In response to whether the national fame could hurt his appeal to Texans, his spokesman Chris Evans says it's not something they can do much about now.

O'Rourke is something of a rising star, and there has already been talk about him having what it takes to be a Democratic vice-presidential pick in 2020 or even the US President.

US Representative Beto O'Rourke (D-TX) speaks during a campaign rally in Plano, Texas, on September 15

'You can't control it,' he said about his client who spent 34 days of the congressional summer recess campaigning within the state.

He added: '[It's] hard to say we're not focused on Texas.'

He has managed to flip some residents , according to Associated Press.

Bob Radnich, a retiree who lives near the Texas-Mexico border and donned an Uncle Sam costume to hold up a 'Stand with Wendy Davis' sign on a street corner in 2014, is now backing O'Rourke.

'He's a real star,' Radnich said. 'But we have to get the people to vote.'

Democrats angered by Trump notched their highest mid-term primary turnout since 2002 in March, but O'Rourke got less than 650,000 votes.

About 1 million Democratic Senate ballots were cast between him and two-little known primary opponents, while Cruz netted more than 1.3 million votes.

Even if O'Rourke wins over those Democratic primary voters who didn't support him, he's looking at a 300,000-plus vote deficit.

McConnell, seen here with fellow GOP Leaders President Donald Trump and Speaker Paul Ryan, is concerned about his party's chances in the November election

And, the more stories written about O'Rourke, the more energized Republicans may be to turn out to vote - and that's what Cruz is counting on.

'In Texas, there are a lot more conservatives than liberals,' Cruz said following a recent campaign stop. 'So, my task politically between now and Election Day is very simple, turn out conservatives.'

Cruz has tried to paint O'Rourke as the preferred candidate of non-Texans. But 68 percent of O'Rourke's contributions during the Senate race have come from in-state donors compared to just 39 percent for Cruz, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

That feeds into O'Rourke's promises to concentrate on representing Texas full-time and championing having visited all of its 254 counties during his campaign - in contrast to Cruz, who hit all 99 Iowa counties on his way to winning that state's 2016 caucus.

Too much national hype, however, could make such promises sound hollow.

A poll released Tuesday by Quinnipiac University showed Cruz with a nine-point advantage over O'Rourke with 49 days to go until the election.Kris Kobachs gubernatorial campaign in deep-red Kansas is not running very smoothly. Photo: Steve Pope/Getty Images

The revolt of Kansas moderate Republicans against their partys extremist gubernatorial candidate, Secretary of State Kris Kobach, continues to spread. It now encompasses two former Republican U.S. senators from the state. The first endorsed Kobachs Democratic opponent, Laura Kelly, last week as part of a group of GOP defectors, as the Kansas City Star reports:

Democratic candidate for governor Laura Kelly targeted her pitch to moderate Republicans Thursday, saying she has the support of more than two dozen Republicans who have held prominent elected office.

Among them are Sheila Frahm, a former U.S. senator and lieutenant governor in Kansas, and former Kansas Senate President Dick Bond. Frahm held the Senate seat vacated by Bob Dole for only a matter of months before losing it to Sam Brownback in 1996.

Thats not too surprising, since Frahm was an early victim of the right-wing takeover of the Kansas GOP led by Sam Brownback, whose disastrous fiscal policies as governor Kobach wants to bring back. But a bigger name has now joined the Kelly bandwagon, as the Hill reports:

Former Sen. Nancy Kassebaum (R-Kan.) is endorsing Democratic nominee Laura Kelly over Republican Kris Kobach in this Novembers gubernatorial election.

Im a Republican, but that doesnt mean you walk lock step always with the party, Kassebaum, who represented Kansas in the U.S. Senate from 1978 to 1997, told The Kansas City Star on Tuesday.

Kassebaum, the first woman ever to win a full term in the Senate without a husband who had previously served in Congress, was elected three times before retiring in 1996. She is also a living link to an older tradition of moderate Republicanism in her state, as the daughter of governor and 1936 presidential nominee Alf Landon.

As with other Republicans who earlier refused to back Kobach, Frahm and Kassebaum didnt take the easy ways out of ignoring the race or endorsing independent candidate Greg Orman. By jumping all the way into the donkey party camp, they undermined Orman, whose ability to split the anti-Kobach vote is the best asset the immigrant-bashing and vote-suppressing Republican nominee has. Polls show a close race between Kobach and Kelly. But the steadily increasing ranks of Republicans supporting Kelly could make it easier for GOP voters to defect in this very red state.Strawberry farmers must install metal detectors in their production lines to prevent needle contamination as the scare continues to spread.

New rules force growers to prove their fruit has been cleared through a metal detector or x-ray machine or be banned from exporting.

The devices cost at least $30,000, a huge cost for small family farms, but the Agriculture Department will no longer issue a permit unless they install them.

New rules force growers to prove their fruit has been cleared through a metal detector or x-ray machine, like this one at Pinata Farms in Queensland, or be banned from exporting

'For strawberry export permits to be approved, exporters will be required to provide assurance to the department that their consignment is free from metal contaminants,' the department said.

'These measures apply to fresh strawberry exports to all markets, and will remain in place until the risk of metal contaminants has been appropriately managed.'

Needles or other sharp metal has been found in seven brands so far in dozens of cases around the country, creating a panic that has wiped out sales.

Pinata Farm in Wamuran, north of Brisbane, already has an x-ray machine in use and demonstrated it last week to reassure customers.

Pinata owner Gavin Scurr said earlier in the crisis that demand quickly fell by more than half and brought the industry 'to its knees'

When test strips of metal were placed in a punnet the system automatically shunted it off the conveyor for closer inspection

However, metal detectors and x-ray machines may do nothing to stop the contamination crisis as police believe it wasn't done at farms (Pinata Farms conveyor pictured)

Operations manager Joe Schwarer showed how punnets of strawberries passed through the x-ray on a conveyor belt.

When test strips of metal were placed in a punnet the system automatically shunted it off the conveyor for closer inspection.

'Every punnet goes through there... a siren goes off and it goes into a bin that can only be opened by our quality control staff,' he said.

However, metal detectors and x-ray machines may do nothing to stop the contamination crisis as police believe it wasn't done at farms.

The culprit was most likely inserting the needles at packing centres where punnets are sent from farms before being distributed to retail outlets.

Pinata owner Gavin Scurr said earlier in the crisis that demand quickly fell by more than half and brought the industry 'to its knees'.

Pinata Farm's Reannan Schultz with a tray of strawberries picked at the height of the scare. No contamination has been found in the farm's stock

Needles or other sharp metal has been found in seven brands so far in dozens of cases around the country, creating a panic that has wiped out sales

He wasn't sure how long it would take growers to get back on their feet, as other disease-related fruit scares left markets devastated for more than a year.

One of the affected farms, Donnybrook Berries north of Brisbane, pledged to install metal detectors after the scare saw their stock banned from supermarkets.

The small family farm was forced to dump millions of strawberries, worth many thousands of dollars, in a ditch on the weekend.

Stephanie Chheang, whose mother and stepfather run Donnybrook Berries, shared a heartbreaking video of harvested fruit being dumped from a loader

They along with Berry Obsession, Berry Licious, Delightful Strawberries, Love Berries, Oasis, and Mal's Black Label remained banned from supermarkets.

New Zealand removed all Australian strawberries from sale indefinitely and some buyers in Britain and Russia also cut the whole country off.

Coles and Aldi last week pulled all strawberries from their shelves, except Western Australia, as a precaution.

They on Monday then began returning fruit from unaffected brands to its shelves after consultation with growers and food safety authorities.A New Zealand grandfather and multi-millionaire has been jailed for just four-and-a-half years after live-streaming horrific child sexual abuse.

By day, Martin Lawes was a successful businessman from Auckland who boasted a huge property portfolio, had a loving wife and was even a Justice of the Peace.

But behind closed doors the 75-year-old was living a sick and twisted double life, directing the sexual abuse of children online, some as young as three years old.

Multi-millionaire and grandfather Martin Lawes has been jailed for child sex abuse crimes

At Lawes' sentencing in the High Court in Auckland on Tuesday, Justice Edwin Wylie said the paedophile was 'well aware' the ages of the children he was directing and watching would be sexually abused, Stuff reported.

Lawes depraved behaviour began in 2000, when he claimed he needed an 'outlet.'

His form of escapism at the time was talking on chat forums to Asian women abroad.

The vulnerable women Lawes targeted were of the age of consent, but soon the businessman began to pay to watch and direct children being sexually abused.

Lawes pleaded guilty to three charges of entering into a dealing for the sexual exploitation of minors, as well as charges of importing and possessing objectionable material.

In handing down his sentence, Justice Wylie described Lawes' offending as 'pre-meditated, repetitive and persistent'.

Martin Lawes has expressed no remorse for his sickening child sexual abuse charges

Lawes admitted his horrific offending to police in 2015 after initial denials.

'He also stated that he was 'helping' the people involved by giving them money as they were often living in poverty,' court documents read.

In 2016, New Zealand police discovered Lawes had made 36 payments to five adults involved in a sex-abuse ring.

A court heard before 2008 he had used a Yahoo email alias to instruct a number of women in the Philippines to perform a range of sexual acts on a webcam.

The exploited girls featuring in his sick 'shows' ranged in age from seven to 17.

Investigators seized three of Lawes' computers and found 296 media files containing the sexual exploitation and abuse of young children.

Lawes' sentence was reduced from 10 years to eight years and six months.

He then received further discounts for good character along with his age and medical conditions.

His co-operation with police and guilty plea then saw a final sentence of four years and six months.

His 'lenient' sentence hasn't been welcomed by everyone, with prominent New Zealand TV personality Duncan Garner labelling the outcome 'an embarrassment.'

'This entitled sense of creepiness, where he targeted these young kids in the Philippines and he had all these images of them,' he said, Newshub reported.

'Four years to me is not enough, he'll be out in two and a half years and it's people like this that hide in our community amongst us and they look the same as us.

'Four years, not enough. Completely not enough. What an embarrassment.'Four of Angelo Serrano's (pictured) child sex abuse victims were granted $27.5million Tuesday by the Diocese of Brooklyn

Four men who were victim to horrific child sex abuse by their Catholic religion teacher were awarded a hefty $27.5million settlement by the Diocese of Brooklyn on Tuesday.

The diocese agreed to the pay each of the unnamed victims - who were lured into sleepovers and repeatedly raped by their religion teacher, Angelo Serrano, 67, when they were ages 8 through 12 between 2003 and 2009 - a sum of $6,875,000 each.

Serrano had been working as a religion teacher at St. Lucys-St. Patricks Church in Brooklyn at the time he abused his young male students.

The disturbing abuse took place inside the church - which has since been shut down - as well as a nearby school building and Serrano's apartment at the time, attorneys for the victims said.

Serrano was finally arrested for the child sex crimes in September 2009 after a mother to one of the victims reported him to police.

In 2011, Serrano pleaded guilty to first-degree sexual conduct.

He is currently serving a 15-year prison sentence at the Fishkill Correctional Facility, a multi-security level prison located in Beacon.

The diocese (offices seen above) agreed to the pay each unidentified victims $6,875,000

Serrano had been working as a religion teacher for St. Lucys-St. Patricks Church (seen above) in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn at the time he abused his young male students. The church has since been shut down

Reverend Frank Shannon and the Reverend Stephen Lynch were co-defendants in the sex abuse case, and had knowledge about the sick incidents.

Kings County Supreme Court Justice Loren Baily-Schiffman wrote in a court statement: 'The record is clear that Lynch and Shannon, had knowledge for years that Serrano often had several boys, including plaintiff, sleep over at his apartment.'

One of the priests testified that he witnessed Serrano kiss and inappropriately touch a young boy, according to The New York Times.

Church secretary Beatrice Ponnelle also testified that she saw male students sit on Serrano's lap while working on homework at times.

The diocese said in a statement that its administration and 'another defendant have [agreed to settle] these lawsuits brought by the four claimants.' The statement went on to say that another defendant would contribute 'a significant portion' of the money.

An attorney for one of the victims, Ben Rubinowitz, told The New York Times 'the egregious nature of the conduct is the reason that the church paid what they did'

President of BishopAccountability.org, Terry McKiernan, told The Times the settlement figure is astounding and speaks volumes about the cruelty of the case.

'This is an extremely large settlement,' McKiernan said.

'The size of the settlement has to be an indication of the severity of the abuse and also of the pressure that the Catholic Church is under.'

Bishop Accountability reportedly keeps track of sex abuse cases within the Roman Catholic Church.

An attorney for one of the victims, Ben Rubinowitz, also said: 'The egregious nature of the conduct is the reason that the church paid what they did.

'These were boys who were abused in second grade through sixth grade, for years for some of them.'

The good news comes two weeks after the state of New York and New Jersey launched a probe into the handling of clergy sex abuse claims.

It also comes after a grand jury report found more than 1,000 children were victims to sex abuse by Pennsylvania priests.

The incidents were said to have begun as early as the 1940's.A heartbroken pet owner has told how her tiny puppy was kicked to death in a 'disgusting, unacceptable' attack by a teenage thug as he was being walked in a park.

Samantha Winfield claims her Pomeranian called Scout suffered catastrophic injuries when she was booted by a teenager who was part of a gang of youths.

Although her partner, who also had the couple's other Pomeranian with him, scooped poor Scout up and fled poor she later died.

Scout, pictured with her owner Samantha Winfield, suffered catastrophic injuries when she was booted by a mob of youths while on a stroll

Police are investigating the sickening incident which occurred in Romford, East London, about 3pm on Sunday

Police are investigating the sickening incident which occurred in Raphael Park, Romford, East London, about 3pm on Sunday.

Samantha, 29, appealed for help to catch the culprit in a Facebook post.

She wrote: 'One youth kicked one of my puppies. She is now DEAD. They killed an innocent, beautiful and fun loving little girl for kicks.

'I now have one puppy who has lost his best friend. My dog did not deserve to die, this was a disgusting, unacceptable incident.

'if you were in Raphael Park at around this time and can help in any way please contact me, this is so important.'

During the attack one of the yobs kicked Scout who is so small she fitted in a handbag and ran away

After Scout, who is pictured with the couple's other dog, Bear, was attacked, Samantha's boyfriend picked her up and immediately ran to find a vet

Samantha, 29, appealed for help to catch the culprits in a Facebook post

During the attack the yob kicked Scout and ran away.

Samantha's boyfriend picked her up and immediately ran to find a vet.

Samantha described the youth as a white male aged 17 to 19 years old who was very short for his age.

She said he was wearing a pair of Nike Air Max trainers and a black or blue puffer jacket plus sleeveless black jeans.

Scotland Yard confirmed a vet reported a dead puppy had been brought in.

Speaking to The Sun, a spokesman said: 'The male who had brought the puppy in stated it had been injured in Raphael Park, Romford, around an hour previously. The RSPCA has been informed.' The RSPCA declined to comment while police are investigating.

Samantha bought Scout after her previous Pomeranian pet was run over and killed three months ago.Hoteliers have backed outspoken businessman Dick Smith's campaign against foreign-owned booking sites.

A furious Mr Smith said billions of dollars are being 'extorted' out of hundreds of small businesses nationwide and has called on Australians to help put a stop to it.

The entrepreneur's effort to save family-run accommodation providers has seen support from the hotel industry, with some saying they feel blackmailed.

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Rachael Kinder, assistant manager at 3 Sisters Motel in the Blue Mountains, said she was standing '100 percent' behind Mr Smith in his crusade

Rachael Kinder, assistant manager at 3 Sisters Motel in the Blue Mountains, said she was standing '100 percent' behind Mr Smith in his crusade.

'I feel incredibly like we're being blackmailed. We have no choice,' she told A Current Affair.

Equiva Group operations manager Brett Drinkwater said the sites were getting more expensive but they had no other choice but to use them.

Mr Smith wants Australians to book directly with the place they are staying to avoid the chunk of cash going to 'bloody big American companies'.

He said those companies were 'not offering us anything'.

Mr Smith said going to a family business website was good for the country.

Rachael Kinder, assistant manager at 3 Sisters Motel in the Blue Mountains, said she was standing '100 percent' behind Mr Smith in his crusade

'Even if it is a few dollars more you're doing something for Australia ... you're not sending money to some leech billionaire in the states.'

'Millions and millions of dollars that should stay in our country towns is being shipped off and it's like extortion,' he said in a video posted to his Facebook page.

'It's the same as extortion because it's not done in a voluntary way.'

'You can book directly, get the best price and the money stays in Australia,' he said.

'My suggestion, by the way, is you lift up the phone and ring the motel directly.'This undated file photo provided by the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office shows Rodney Halbower, a career criminal who has been found guilty of raping and murdering two teenage girls more than 42 years ago

A Northern California jury on Tuesday found guilty a career criminal thought to be the 'Gypsy Hill Killer' of raping and murdering two teenage girls more than 42 years ago.

The San Mateo County jury deliberated for a little more than an hour before finding Rodney Halbower guilty in the deaths of Paula Baxter, 17, and Veronica Anne Cascio, 18.

Authorities believe the 69-year-old is responsible for other rapes and murders of young women in Northern California and Reno, Nevada, over a five-month span in 1976.

In 2004, advances in DNA technology connected Halbower to the murders. He was in an Oregon prison at the time.

Halbower is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 10 in Redwood City, about 25 miles south of San Francisco.

The judge is required to sentence Halbower under the sentencing laws of 1976, the year the crimes occurred.

District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said the stiffest sentence available then was life with the possibility of parole.

Wagstaffe said the judge can impose consecutive sentences, meaning if Halbower was given parole for one murder, he would start serving the life sentence for the second.

The San Mateo County jury deliberated for a little more than an hour before finding Halbower guilty in the deaths of Paula Baxter, 17, (L) and Veronica Anne Cascio, 18, (R)

Other suspected victims are pictured. Authorities believe the 69-year-old is responsible for rapes and murders of other young women in Northern California and Reno, Nevada, over a five-month span in 1976

Courtesy of KRON4

'Our expectation is that this monster of a killer will never, ever, be allowed to be free on our streets again,' Wagstaffe said.

The six murders remained a mystery for four decades until a cold-case detective re-opened the investigation.

He scraped DNA samples from cigarette butts found at the scene and in 2014 they were discovered to match Halbower's genetic makeup.

DNA taken from the victims also matched Halbower's DNA, prosecutors told jurors.

It took four years to start Halbower's after he was charged with two of the murders. He routinely fired his attorneys and demanded to represent himself.

A judge also ordered a trial to determine if he was sane enough to stand trial. A jury in 2017 found him sane.

The start of the murder trial almost ended as soon as it started on Sept. 7 with Halbower disrupting the proceedings.

'I am not guilty!' he yelled at the jury. 'I have never raped or murdered in my life!'

The judge declined public defender John Halley's calls for a mistrial and Halbower ceased his outbursts.

'He doesn't get to set up his own mistrial,' Judge Mark Forcum said.

He stopped the outbursts after that and Wagstaffe said Halbower calmly congratulated prosecutor Sean Gallagher after the verdicts were read.

Prosecutors said they charged him with the two murders with the strongest evidence and expected he would be locked up for life if convicted.

Gallagher told the jury about the two teen girls who were abducted, raped and killed in a once-tranquil suburb, and that DNA from semen found in both women and preserved for decades matched Halbower's DNA.

One of the victims was stabbed to death and the other was beaten in the head with concrete and stabbed in her heart.

Authorities in the 1970s said the killings were linked and dubbed the attacker the Gypsy Hill Killer for the location where one of the first victims was found.

Halbower, pictured left in an old mugshot and right in a more recent mugshot, is is scheduled to be sentenced October 10

Halbower is also suspected of raping and killing a nursing student in Reno during the same period as the five California killings.

It's possible that Halbower would never have been linked to the attacks had he not escaped from a Nevada prison in December 1986.

He made his way to Oregon, where he was arrested on suspicion of rape and attempted murder within days of his escape.

An Oregon jury convicted Halbower and sentenced him to 15 years in prison in that state. First, he was returned to Nevada to finish that state's prison term.

When Nevada paroled him in 2013, he was sent back to Oregon, where prison officials took a DNA sample and submitted it to the national database investigators use to revive stalled investigations.

Authorities say the results linked him to the Gypsy Hill case.

Court records show Halbower has spent the past 53 years in prison or on the lam.Theresa May insisted her Chequers plan for Brexit was the 'right proposal' for Europe tonight as she arrived for crucial summit with EU leaders.

The Prime Minister insisted her plan was the only 'credible' one on the negotiating table - a message she will deliver to EU leaders for the first time in a 10-minute speech over dinner.

As she arrived for the showdown Mrs May said 'just as the UK has evolved its position, the EU will need to evolve its position too'.

Mrs May hopes to finally break the deadlock in the negotiations by appealing directly to the leaders of European countries and not working with officials in Brussels.

She also insisted there would be no second referendum in Britain in a warning both to Remain rebels in the UK and EU politicians who still hope Brexit can be stopped.

Mrs May arrived in Salzburg to a new warning from EU Council President Donald Tusk that she must 'rework' her idea to make them palatable to Brussels.

He said that while 'some' of Mrs May's plan represented an 'evolution' it fails to address EU worries on the Irish border and future trade.

Earlier, the PM's hopes of discussing her Chequers plan at length with counterparts for the first time were dashed, meaning her short speech will be received in silence.

Meanwhile, Michel Barnier has reiterated his demand for Northern Ireland to stay within the EU's customs jurisdiction after Brexit - something the UK has repeatedly ruled out.

The DUP, which is propping the Tories up in power, dismissed the Eurocrat's promise to 'improve' his Irish border solution by using technology to reduce the need for checks.

Theresa May (pictured arriving in Salzburg tonight) insisted her Chequers plan for Brexit was the 'right proposal' for Europe tonight as she arrived for crucial summit with EU leaders

Participants of the EU Informal Summit of Heads of State or Government in Salzburg Austria attend a dinner at the Felsenreitschule

The Prime Minister stuck to her line that Europe must evolve its position as Britain has done to reach a compromise deal as she addressed reporters tonight (pictured)

Mrs May arrived in Salzburg to a new warning from EU Council President Donald Tusk (pictured tonight arriving at the dinner) that she must 'rework' her idea to make them palatable to Brussels

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will be among EU leaders when Mrs May addresses the group tonight (she is pictured arriving at the summit)

As she arrived at the summit, Mrs May said: 'I believe this (Chequers) is the right proposal because it maintains frictionless trade.

'It's the only credible and negotiable plan on the table that delivers no hard border in Northern Ireland and also delivers on the vote of the British people.

'If we're going to achieve a successful conclusion then, just as the UK has evolved its position, the EU will need to evolve its position too.

'I'm confident that with good will and determination we can agree a deal that right for both parties.'

She added: 'I welcome the fact that Michel Barnier is recognising the need to find a new solution. The original proposal put forward by the European Commission was unacceptable to us.

'We've always recognised that there are unique circumstances that apply in Northern Ireland, for example in relation to checks for some agricultural products.

'But what we cannot accept is seeing Northern Ireland carved away effectively from the United Kingdom's customs territory.'

Despite the stand-off, Mrs May has tried to strike an optimistic tone - insisting her Chequers plan for future relations is the only realistic option on the table.

Mr Tusk was careful to avoid bluntly torpedoing the blueprint at a press conference in Salzburg this afternoon.

Just minutes before a crucial dinner where she will set out her plans, Mrs May said 'just as the UK has evolved its position, the EU will need to evolve its position too'.

Mrs May arrived at the dinner flanked by her EU ambassador Sir Tim Barrow (pictured)

'The Brexit negotiations are entering their decisive phase. Various scenarios are still possible today but I'd like to stress that some of Prime Minister May's proposals from Chequers indicated positive evolution in the UK's approach, as well as a will to minimise the negative effects of Brexit,' he said.

'By this I mean, among other things, the readiness to cooperate closely in the area of security and foreign policy.

'On other issues, such as the Irish question or the framework for economic cooperation, the UK's proposals will need to be reworked and further negotiated.'

'Today there is perhaps more hope but there is surely less and less time,' Mr Tusk said.

'Every day that is left we must use for talks. I'd like to finalise them still this autumn.'

Mr Tusk said he would be asking leaders to agree a special summit in ,mid-November intended to seal any agreement.

Arriving at the summit in Salzburg, Austrian chancellor Sebastian Kurz said Theresa May and the UK would need to compromise and he wanted her speech to leaders to include a 'step forward'.

He told reporters: 'I think Michel Barnier, and we as the EU27, we want to do everything possible to avoid a hard Brexit.

'We stand ready to compromise but we also expect that from the UK and so I hope that in her speech today we will hear a step forward.'

Arriving at the summit in Salzburg, Austrian chancellor Sebastian Kurz (pictured tonight speaking to reporters) said Theresa May and the UK would need to compromise

EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker (left) and EU Council President Donald Tusk (right) were among the arrivals for the crucial dinner in Austria

Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel arrives at the Felsenreitschule prior to an informal dinner as part of the EU Informal Summit of Heads of State or Government in Salzburg

Also in attendance for tonight's dinner was Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen (left) and Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite

In an interview before she left for the summit, Mrs May said: 'What I hear from other EU leaders is a recognition of that timetable and a recognition of the importance of showing we can sit down and come to an agreement.

'I'm not going to be pushed away from doing what is necessary to get the right deal for Britain.

'The plan that is on the table to take us forward, the plan that delivers on the Brexit vote but also protects jobs and maintains the unity of the UK is the Chequers plan. I haven't seen another plan that delivers on all of those.

'I think people want to come together. For most people, they want Brexit done and they want to feel the country at last has come together.

'Neither side can demand the unacceptable of the other, such as an external customs border between different parts of the UK.'

Earlier, speaking as a crucial summit kicked off in Salzburg, EU council president Donald Tusk said there was 'more hope but less time' to strike a Brexit deal

Theresa May (pictured delivering a speech in London this morning) is heading to Salzburg, where she will address the heads of state of the other EU nations

Michel Barnier (pictured in Salzburg today) has said he wants to 'improve' the EU's proposals on the Irish border

Irish PM Leo Varadkar (pictured in Salzburg today) has insisted the EU is united over Brexit

Mr Barnier renewed his efforts to 'de-dramatise' the Irish border issue last night by saying he was working on a new draft of his blueprint.

Eurocrats have been sounding a more optimistic tone about the way checks can be enforces over recent weeks, including admitting that technology and 'trusted trader' schemes can largely do away with the need for physical infrastructure.

The EU official suggested officials could inspect goods entering the UK via Ireland on ferries and in business premises away from the border.

He said: 'We are ready to improve this proposal. Work on the EU side is ongoing. We are clarifying which goods arriving in Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK would need to be checked and where, when and by whom these checks could be performed'.

Mr Barnier said talks were in the 'home straight', although two key issues remained unresolved ahead of October's deadlines - one being the problem surrounding the Irish border.

He insisted an Irish 'backstop' must be legally operationally and respect the UK's constitutional integrity.

Earlier, Mr Barnier was in Brussels with Jean-Claude Juncker for other meetings about Brexit

The Prime Minister, pictured leaving No10 today, is only expected to get ten minutes to deliver her Brexit pitch

He said: 'We are ready to improve this proposal. Most checks can take place away from the border, at company premises, or the market,' Barnier said of customs and regulatory checks on goods that might move from British mainland to Northern Ireland.

Speaking at a news conference in Brussels, Barnier said: 'It is then we shall see whether agreement we are hoping for is in our grasp.Mr

'October is the key point in time - it is the moment of truth. We will see whether an agreement is in reach at that moment based on a subjective evaluation which I will be submitting in reporting to the European leaders on the state of negotiations.'

Flatly rejecting Mr Barnier's latest overtures, DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds said: 'So Michel Barnier says he can do different kinds of checks between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK as if that makes it more palatable.

'The fundamental point is that internal UK checks are only needed if it is intended to separate Northern Ireland from Great Britain.

'Despite the talk of 'improvements' the backstop being insisted upon by the EU ... still means a border down the Irish Sea although with different kinds of checks.

'The fact is that both Theresa May and the Labour Party have said no British prime minister could accept such a concept.'

Mrs May delivered a speech to the National Housing Federation today (pictured) before heading for the summit

Mr Barnier (right) and EU competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager (centre) greeted each other warmly in Brussels today

Over dinner at the Felsenreitschule - the theatre where the Von Trapp family performed before fleeing the Nazis in The Sound Of Music movie - Mrs May will set out her plan and explain why Brussels should show more flexibility to give her the support she needs.

Brexiteers could spark second referendum by voting down Chequers, minister warns Treasury minister Mel Stride today Brexiteers could trigger a second referendum by voting down a Chequers-style deal with the EU, a minister warned today. Treasury minister Mel Stride raised the prospect as he urged all MPs to get behind the PM's plan. The comments are an indication of the brinkmanship likely to happen if a package comes before parliament. Mr Stride said Eurosceptic Tories should 'be very concerned that if that deal does not prevail, they will end up in the situation where we could have a second referendum or we could end up not leaving the EU altogethe'. He told Sky News: 'I think those on the other end of the spectrum will equally be very concerned that if Chequers does not prevail, we could end up in a no-deal situation.' Advertisement

As part of the drive to set out the UK's position to the EU's leaders, she used an article in German newspaper Die Welt to explain her stance.

The Chequers blueprint - a 'common rulebook' for trade in goods and 'business-friendly facilitated customs arrangement' - is the only way to resolve the thorny issue of the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland, she said.

'It is profoundly in both sides' economic interest, it respects the integrity of the single market and, crucially, no-one else has come up with a proposal that could command cross-community support in Northern Ireland that is the only true foundation for stability there.'

Mrs May said: 'To come to a successful conclusion, just as the UK has evolved its position, the EU will need to do the same.

'Neither side can demand the unacceptable of the other, such as an external customs border between different parts of the United Kingdom - which no other country would accept if they were in the same situation - or the UK seeking the rights of EU membership without the obligations.'

Mrs May is expected to use the Salzburg summit to hold formal face-to-face talks with Belgian premier Charles Michel later and Ireland's Leo Varadkar and Mr Tusk tomorrow.

She may talk to other leaders in the margins of the summit.

Attention had been increasingly focused on the prospect of a special summit in November to finalise an agreement, but Mr Barnier said it should be clear before then whether a deal was possible.

Mrs May hailed the potential opportunities of Brexit and dismissed calls for a second referendum in her interview.

'As a nation, we're at a really important point in our history. Brexit is that important point because our future is in our own hands,' she said.

'We'll have the opportunity to take the freedoms that people voted for and use them to deliver that better future for everybody.'

Brexiteers could spark second referendum by voting down Chequers, minister warns Treasury minister Mel Stride today Brexiteers could trigger a second referendum by voting down a Chequers-style deal with the EU, a minister warned today. Treasury minister Mel Stride raised the prospect as he urged all MPs to get behind the PM's plan. The comments are an indication of the brinkmanship likely to happen if a package comes before parliament. Mr Stride said Eurosceptic Tories should 'be very concerned that if that deal does not prevail, they will end up in the situation where we could have a second referendum or we could end up not leaving the EU altogethe'. He told Sky News: 'I think those on the other end of the spectrum will equally be very concerned that if Chequers does not prevail, we could end up in a no-deal situation.' Advertisement

Brexit gives us the opportunity to build a better future and to help people to realise the British dream.

'We gave people the opportunity to make a choice. They made that choice.

'If we as politicians want people to trust us, then we have to deliver for them on that.

'I'm putting on the table what we think is the right plan for the UK and deliver a good deal for the EU.

'When the referendum took place, we gave people the opportunity to make a choice. They made that choice. If we as politicians want people to trust us, then we have to deliver for them on that. If we were to go back on that vote, it would destroy trust in politicians.

'A lot of people out there, however they voted in the referendum, say a decision's been taken, let's get on with and do it.

'I'm confident we can get a good deal. We've put the Chequers plan on the table and that does deliver for people.

'I believe that what we're proposing is the Brexit that delivers the freedoms that people voted for  making our own laws, controlling our own borders, controlling our money.'

Former Brexit Secretary David Davis will deliver another blow to Mrs May's Chequers plan tomorrow.

In a speech tomorrow, Mr Davis will say the PM's proposals cross all of her own negotiating red lines.

'Chequers is devoid of democracy altogether. This is why many of us will shortly be presenting an alternative plan which will outline a more ambitious vision,' he will say.

What are the options for the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic after Brexit? Theresa May and Jean-Claude Juncker agreed the outline of a divorce deal in December Theresa May and the EU effectively fudged the Irish border issue in the Brexit divorce deal before Christmas. But the commitments to leave the EU customs union, keep a soft border, and avoid divisions within the UK were always going to need reconciling at some stage. Currently 110million journeys take place across the border every year. All sides in the negotiations insist they want to avoid a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic, but their ideas for how the issues should be solved are very different. If they fail to strike a deal it could mean a hard border on the island - which could potentially put the Good Friday Agreement at risk. The UK blueprint: The PM has made clear her favoured outcome for Brexit is a deep free trade deal with the EU. The UK side initially set out two options for how the border could look. A 'Maximum Facilitation' scheme would have seen a highly streamlined customs arrangement, using a combination of technology and goodwill to minimise the checks on trade. There would be no entry or exit declarations for goods at the border, while 'advanced' IT and trusted trader schemes would remove the need for vehicles to be stopped. The second option was described as a customs partnership, which would see the UK collect tariffs on behalf of the EU - along with its own tariffs for goods heading into the wider British market. At the Chequers Cabinet summit earlier this month, Mrs May pushed through a compromise plan with elements of both. It would see the UK follow a 'common rule book' with the EU on goods and collect some tariffs on behalf of Brussels to avoid border friction. UK courts would also take account of decisions by EU judges. Brexiteers have been incensed by the proposal, which they say makes too many concessions and will prevent Britain doing trade deals elsewhere. Boris Johnson and David Davis quit in protest, threatening to send Mrs May tumbling out of Downing Street. It was also initially dismissed as 'cherry picking' by Eurocrats. The EU blueprint: The divorce deal set out a 'fallback' option under which the UK would maintain 'full alignment' with enough rules of the customs union and single market to prevent a hard border and protect the Good Friday Agreement. The inclusion of this clause, at the demand of Ireland, almost wrecked the deal until Mrs May added a commitment that there would also be full alignment between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. But when the EU translated this option into a legal text they hardened it further to make clear Northern Ireland would be fully within the EU customs union and most single market rules. Mrs May says no Prime Minister could ever agree to such terms, as they would undermine the constitutional integrity of the UK. Under the new plan from Brussels, goods could be tracked using barcodes on shipping containers under 'trusted-trader' schemes - effectively removing the need for new border infrastructure. The new EU draft could unlock the negotiations as it accepts a key element of the UK's about the use of technology, and makes clear that most checks would not take place at any particular border. Brussels is drafting the plan to prevent Scottish nationalists from demanding the same arrangements - a major concern of the UK. However, the solution is still specific to Northern Ireland, rather than covering the whole UK as the government wants. A hard border: Neither side wants a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic. But they appear to be locked in a cyclical dispute, with each adamant the other's solutions are impossible to accept. If there is no deal and the UK and EU reverts to basic World Trade Organisation (WTO) relationship, theoretically there would need to be physical border posts with customs checks on vehicles and goods. That could prove catastrophic for the Good Friday Agreement, with fears terrorists would resurface and the cycle of violence escalate. Many Brexiteers have suggested Britain could simply refuse to erect a hard border - and dare the EU to put up their own fences. AdvertisementKarl Stefanovic and Georgie Gardner have joined thousands of Australians in supporting the nation's farmers left devastated by the needle contamination crisis.

The Today Show was in Queensland on Wednesday where they met with strawberry growers and emboldened their 'Cut 'em up, don't cut 'em out' campaign.

Stefanovic also tucked in to strawberries as the cameras rolled in Wamuran, while studio-based Gardner told how she had recently stocked up on six punnets.

The campaign, which has lit up social media, aims to support producers who have been crippled by the discovery of needles in strawberries in every Australian state.

Scroll down for video

Today Show co-host Karl Stefanovic (left) joined with strawberry growers in Queensland on Wednesday to support the 'Cut 'em up, don't cut 'em out' campaign

Stefanovic (pictured left and right) ate a strawberry on live television as he showed his support for Australia's strawberry growers

Georgie Gardner (right, pictured with Sylvia Jeffreys on Wednesday) said she had purchased six punnets of strawberries on Tuesday

The campaign calls on Australian to support the nation's farmers left devastated by the needle crisis

It encourages shoppers to 'please continue to support Aussie farmers especially through these berry-tough times'.

Strawberry farmer Gavin Scurr told Stefanovic the message he wanted to get across to Australians was to 'keep eating strawberries, they're a fantastic product'.

'Nothing's been proven at any level yet so it's probably unlikely this happened on a farm and yet the farmers are the ones bearing the brunt of this. We're facing financial ruin,' Mr Scurr said.

'We really encourage consumers to get behind us, buy a strawberry (and) just cut it up if you're concerned.'

Gardner said she had purchased the strawberries to place in the freezer after cutting them up and said Australians can 'all help and contribute and support our farmers'.

'It's just heartbreaking to see what they're experiencing,' she said.

Social media has lit up with calls for Australians to support the 'cut 'em up, don't cut 'em out' campaign

Stefanovic said it was 'a $200million industry which has been brought to its knees'.

He said he had been hearing from farmers 'about how significant it is for them, how close they are, for many, to going under, and just surviving is the priority at the moment for so many'.

The South Australian Produce Market took to Facebook to share an image of the campaign graphic.

'Cut up the strawberries you buy. It's as easy as chopping the top off, cutting across the strawberry and enjoy,' the caption accompanying the post said.

The graphic was also shared on social media by the Western Australian Farmers Federation.

'Don't forget to keep buying and nibbling on strawberries. We have some of the best strawberries in the country so support our local farmers and trust the quality,' WA Farmers posted on Twitter.

Senator Bridget McKenzie said: 'As the Minister responsible for Food Safety, I want to reassure the public that our systems are working to coordinate a response to this appalling criminal act. Remember: Keep buying Australian produce and #cutthemup'.

Six strawberry farms in Queensland and one in Western Australia have been targeted by what authorities believe could have been disgruntled packaging employees

This map show the cases of strawberry tampering which have emerged across the country in a 'food terrorism' saga

Everything you need to know about strawberry contamination scare How many cases are there? At least 13 people have gone public about finding needles in their strawberries since a man was rushed to hospital on September 9. Victims include young children and a dog. However, NSW Police said on Tuesday it was investigating 20 cases in that state alone so the total figure is likely much higher. Additionally, copycats put a needle in a banana and an apple, according to customers claiming to have found them. Which brands are involved? Seven brands, six from Queensland and one from Western Australia, have been targeted so far. They include Berry Obsession, Berry Licious, Donnybrook Berries, Delightful Strawberries, Love Berries, Oasis, and Mal's Black Label. Who is responsible? Police are searching for the original culprit and likely at least one copycat who placed the needles or razor blades but have not mentioned any leads. Tampering is believed to have occurred during the packing stage, which is done at a central facility with many different brands, or soon after. Can you still buy strawberries? Supermarkets recalled all berries from the affected brands and Coles and Aldi temporarily pulled all strawberries from shelves until Monday. The affected brands remain excluded from supermarket shelves. New Zealand retailers have cut off Australian strawberries indefinitely. Should you buy strawberries and how can you eat them safely? Health and food safety authorities advise customers to cut each berry in half to reveal if there is any sharp metal hidden inside How has this affected growers? The growers targeted by the contamination are unable to sell their stock and at least one of them has dumped millions of berries in a ditch. Other companies have also mass scrapped stock as consumers are too worried to buy strawberries at all and sales collapsed. Strawberries are a $160 million industry in Queensland alone and the state government announced a $1 million fund to assist growers. Can't they just use metal detectors? Some have resorted to this, but they cost at least $30,000 to install and may not prevent anything as police believe it happened at the packing stage. Why are growers poisoning and throwing away perfectly good strawberries? Even though their stock has not been targeted, demand for strawberries has crashed as customers are worried they will be the next victim. With no one to sell the fruit to, it will go off and rot in storage, so there is no point in keeping or even harvesting it. What are the alternative theories? Police believe a disgruntled employee or similar is most likely to be responsible and copycats may have mental issues. However, there are many other theories about the reasons behind the contamination scare doing the rounds on social media. Some believe some of the needles were placed in the fruit at the supermarket by the victims who were just trying to get attention. Others believe a foreign nation or company competing with Australian farmers to be behind it as an act of corporate espionage. The Australian Government was also accused of being behind it as part of an elaborate plot to kill off Australian farming. It would then sell the land to overseas companies and make the population dependent on the government for imported food. Terrorism is another popular explanation, with the Queensland Strawberry Growers Association even calling it 'commercial terrorism'. This theory got a boost when a psychologist on Tuesday said the culprit was likely attempting to instill fear in customers. Backpackers, who make up much of the picking workforce, are also under suspicion online by those who believe it to be revenge for them not getting long-term visas. Advertisement

Horrifying cases of needles and razors found inside fruit by stunned shoppers have surfaced in every state, with at least 13 people sharing their experience online.

Six strawberry farms in Queensland and one in Western Australia have been targeted by what authorities believe could have been disgruntled packaging employees.

Six brands of strawberry - Donnybrook Berries, Love Berry, Delightful Strawberries, Oasis, Berry Obsession and Berry Licious - have been recalled amid the contamination scare which has devestated the industry.

The Australian federal government has launched an investigation to restore confidence after needles were reportedly found in strawberries in all six Australian states, although no injuries have yet been reported.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk issued a $100,000 reward for information leading to the capture of the saboteur. Anyone caught placing needles inside fruit will face up to 10 years in jail, police announced on Tuesday.At least 24 guests have been left struggling to breathe after a chemical reaction at an exclusive hotel in Sydney.

Paramedics and fire crews were called to the Pullman Sydney Hyde Park Hotel at 9.06am on Wednesday.

'There was a minor spill of a chemical spill it appears to be chlorine combined with hydrochloric acid creating a strong smell and reaction,' a Fire and Rescue spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia.

'We are evacuating levels 20 and 21...firefighters are ventilating the area.'

A terrifying chemical reaction has caused severe breathing problems to 24 people at a city hotel (pictured)

Paramedics and fire crews were called to the Pullman Sydney Hyde Park Hotel at 9:06am on Wednesday

The chemical reaction was caused when a hotel staff member tending to the pool mistakenly mixed hydrochloric acid and chlorine

Six asthmatics received urgent treatment as 10 ambulance crews continue to assist patients who complained about respiratory and eye problems.

The chemical reaction was caused when a hotel staff member tending to the pool mistakenly mixed hydrochloric acid and chlorine, ABC News reported.

A police spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia that police are at the scene assisting with vehicle and passenger diversion and inquiries.

'Police are currently on the scene as 24 people being treated and six taken to hospital,' she said.

'There is no criminal element to the incident.'

Six asthmatics received urgent treatment as 10 ambulance crews continue to assist patients who complained about respiratory and eye problems

The luxury hotel boasts a five star rating and is minutes away from theatres, museums, shopping, and even bar-hopping.

'Pullman Sydney Hyde Park is surrounded by many of Sydney's best restaurants, bars, shops and attractions, making it the ideal option for travellers visiting Sydney for pleasure,' their website reads.

'This impressive Sydney hotel is within easy reach of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Sydney Tower, Darling Harbour, Pitt Street Mall, the QVB and Westfield Sydney.'A University of Michigan professor is being accused of anti-Semitism for refusing to write a recommendation letter for a student applying to study abroad in Israel.

John Cheney-Lippold, who teaches in the American Culture Department at the Ann Arbor-based college, said he could not write the letter for Abigail Ingber because he is participating in an academic boycott of Israel.

Ingber is a junior enrolled at UMs College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, according to the campus newspaper The Michigan Daily.

Ingber is aware that her identity has now been revealed by numerous national news organizations in the United States.

The issue gained widespread public attention on Sunday when a Zionist student-run campus organization, Club Z, posted a screenshot of the email exchange between the professor and Ingber on Facebook.

The email from Cheney-Lippold read: Abigail, I am very sorry, but I only scanned your first email a couple weeks ago and missed out on a key detail.

As you may know, many university departments have pledged an academic boycott against Israel in support of Palestinians living in Palestine.

John Cheney-Lippold, who teaches in the American Culture Department at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, said he could not write a letter of recommendation for a student because he is participating in an academic boycott of Israel

The issue gained widespread public attention on Sunday when a Zionist student-run campus organization, Club Z, posted a screenshot of the email exchange between the professor and the student, Abigail Ingber, on Facebook

This boycott includes writing letters of recommendation for students planning to study there.

I should have let you know earlier, and for that I apologize.

But for reasons of these politics, I must rescind my offer to write your letter.

Let me know if you need me to write other letters for you, as Id be happy.

Cheney-Lippold later acknowledged an error in his email, clarifying that the boycott was his own personal stance and not reflective of his department.

He told The Michigan Daily: I support the boycott because I support solidarity.

I follow the idea that people who are being discriminated against or people who need help  I feel compelled to help them.

I was following a call by representatives of Palestinian civil society to boycott Israel in a very similar tactical frame as South Africa.

The idea is that I support communities who organize themselves and ask for international support to achieve equal rights, freedom and to prevent violations of international law.

When asked if he was an anti-Semite, the professor was adamant.

The perennial claim of anti-Semitism I fully deny, Cheney-Lippold said.

I have no bad will against the student, and I would have very gladly written a letter for any other graduate program or study abroad.

The idea is that I am just one person, and by refusing to write that letter or at least rescinding it, I tried to keep to my conscious and to the fact that I believe that the boycott is a good tactic to enhance human rights and to get everyone in Israel-Palestine to have what international criminal court and the U.N. in general has requested, which is equal rights for everybody.

The Israel-Palestine conflict is one of the most politically charged issues on campuses. The image above shows Palestinians running for cover from tear gas fired by Israeli security forces in the Gaza Strip on May 14

The university released a statement saying it has consistently opposed any boycott of Israeli institutions of higher education, according to Fox News.

The university said that injecting personal politics into a decision regarding support for our students is counter to our values and expectations as an institution.

Ingber refused to comment because she said she wanted to first take up the matter with administrators.

Lawmakers in a number of states as well as on the federal level have introduced legislation aimed at banning boycotts of Israel over its policies in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Anyone who boycotts Israel would be subject to fines or other penalties.

But the proposed legislation has been criticized by First Amendment advocates, chief among them the American Civil Liberties Union, as attempts to curb free speech.

Advocates of boycotts say it is a legitimate means of pressuring Israel because of human rights abuses against Palestinians.

Supporters of Israel claim the country is being singled out because it is a Jewish state.Mr Barnier, speaking on the eve of an informal meeting of European Union leaders in Mozart's birthplace of Salzburg, said a full European Union summit to be held in two weeks' time would be "the moment of truth".

Mr Barnier is proposing using technology to check goods crossing the Irish Sea, but Mrs May has always made clear that any proposal that creates a border between the United Kingdom mainland and Northern Ireland would be "unacceptable to any Prime Minister".

The Prime Minister has faced growing pressure over her Brexit plan - which has come to be dubbed as the "Chequers Plan" (after the location at which it was forged) that would result in Britain maintaining a common rulebook for goods, including agricultural products, with the European Union after Brexit.

Mr Varadkar added: "It is fair to say that some of the things I have been reading in the British papers, particularly the British-owned papers, are very far off the mark when it comes to the reality of what is going on at the minute with these negotiations".

And aware that Mrs May has ruled out a new border between Northern Ireland and the British mainland, he said he was looking at a broad range of ways in which the European Union could be sure that Britain did not use Northern Ireland's special status to sidestep European Union controls on British goods.

Other Indian-origin pro-Brexit MPs, including Rishi Sunak the son-in-law of Infosys chief Narayana Murthy, and Goan-origin Suella Fernandes had joined Patel in signing an open letter in the lead up to the Brexit referendum making similar arguments on immigration, which marked one of the most contentious issues in the Brexit debate.

She welcomed Malta's prime minister Joseph Muscat to Downing Street for talks ahead of the summit.

Third, Tusk said, the leaders should "reconfirm the need for a legally operational backstop on Ireland, so as to be sure that there will be no hard border in the future".

The International Monetary Fund on Monday said Britain's economy would suffer "substantial costs" should it leave the European Union without a deal.

NK leader demonstrates humility with frank talk about economy

This sudden second inter-Korean Summit of 2018 showed that South Korea had actually succeeded at winning North Korea's trust. The South Korean president has also said he will focus on easing military tensions and promoting talks on denuclearisation.

"Of course Boris Johnson doesn't agree with some of the policy decisions that she's taken, but Theresa May has to speak not just for the 52 % who voted for Brexit, she has to speak for 100%of the country".

The EU's backstop proposal has been rejected by the UK because it effectively creates a customs border in the Irish sea, while the UK's plan was rejected by the UK because it was temporary and applied to the whole of the UK, rather than only Northern Ireland.

A key Northern Ireland business group has warned that the findings of the Migration Advisory Committee, which urge the United Kingdom to drastically limit the post-Brexit immigration of low-skilled workers, could force employers to relocate to the Republic of Ireland.

The EU is standing by its demand for a legal backstop in any deal precluding a "hard border" Ireland that would undermine the Good Friday peace accord. PM Theresa May explains what the government has agreed, and what this means for us leaving the EU.

"It's really important that this is not a re-run of the referendum but the British public having a say for the first time on the outcome", Mr Khan told the BBC.

His comments echoed those of the Brexit Secretary, who set out the UK's position in an interview with journalists from newspapers across the EU.

EU Council President Donald Tusk wrote that "unfortunately, a no deal scenario is still quite possible".

Gove said the responsibility was now with Brussels "because we've shown flexibility".Police are searching for a young girl who disappeared on a London street in the middle of the night.

A young girl, believed to be about eight years old, was seen walking along Asylum Road in Peckham, London on Monday night.

Police want to speak to two Asian men in connection with the incident, who were seen walking down the road shortly after.

Officers are searching for a young girl who disappeared late on Monday night (File photo)

She was seen wearing school uniform and had a rucksack on her back.

Officers attended the scene in response to a concern for the welfare of a child, but the girl is still missing and cannot be identified.

She is described as a young, dark-skinned girl who had her hair in a pony tail.

Witnesses also reported seeing two men walking down the same road shortly after the girl had, and officers are keen to identify them to eliminate them from their enquiries.

The Metropolitan Police are searching for two Asian men in connection with the incident

Detective Inspector Dean Purvis said: 'I would like to stress that there is no evidence that a crime has occurred and there have been no reports of any missing children.

'We need to identify the girl and make sure that she is OK.

'It is not clear if the two males seen in the area are known to the young girl.

'However, I need to trace them as they may hold vital information to help us.

'I would urge anyone with any information to contact us and be assured we will treat information with strictest confidence.'

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Southwark CID via 101 or Crimestoppers and mention CAD 8754/17SEP18The body of an Irish holidaymaker has been found floating near the shoreline of a Spanish beach.

A local enjoying a morning stroll alerted police after spotting the lifeless 56-year-old woman in the water off Isla Plana, a village near the south-eastern port city of Cartagena in the Costa Blanca South.

The dead woman, who has not been named, was identified by her husband after the alarm was raised around 8.40am on Sunday.

She was found floating in one of the coves of the village, just 50 meters from the popular beach and bar and shopping area of the Plaza del Mar.

Ancient Roman theatre at the south-eastern port city of Cartagena near where the woman was found dead in the sea

Civil Guard officers are probing the circumstances surrounding the death as part of an investigation coordinated by a local court - but are said to have ruled out foul play.

Local reports said bottles of cider and medicine that could be anti-anxiety drugs had been found in a handbag near the body.

The beach where she was found is called Muelle del Maestro Romero beach in the Murcia district.

She was reportedly staying with friends in the area at the time of her death.

A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs in Ireland told Independent.ie: 'The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade cannot comment on individual cases.

'But can confirm that assistance is being provided to the family of an individual who passed away in Spain.'

Autopsy results have not been made public, as is customary in Spain.Walter William Wolford Sr (pictured) has been charged with assault after witnesses allege he walked his wife around a fair on a leash and yanked at it harshly when she drifted away from him, hurting her neck

A man has been charged with assault after walking around the York county fair with his wife on a leash.

Police allege Walter William Wolford Sr, 66, of Hagerstown, Pennsylvania, caused his wife Catherine's head to snap back and left red marks around her neck after tugging at the red nylon leash when she walked too far away.

But Wolford told police the woman had late-stage dementia and had wandered off before when officers confronted him on Saturday, the York Daily Record reported.

He also claimed the eight-foot leash was initially secured around her waist but had moved up over the course of the day.

'Walter told me he originally placed the leash around her waist, but somehow it had moved up around her neck and when she walked away from him and all of the slack became taut, he "gently tugged on the leash so she would stop",' charging documents say.

But a witness claimed to police Wolford had 'yanked' the leash, causing Catherine to be pulled back and to sustain red marks on her neck.

Wolford's wife has early onset dementia, and was given just two years to live in 2013.

Police also noted Catherine was 'very disoriented, did not know where she was, her own name, and spoke in gibberish' in their report.

Officers spoke to Wolford's son, Walter Wolford Jr, who they report did not say much, but claimed his father was not abusive to his mother.

On Facebook posts reporting his father's charges, Wolford's son referred to it as a 'gross misunderstanding', and said people should feel bad for his father.

Wolford was released from jail on a $5,000 bond, and will appear in court on October 18.The 72-year-old priest had allegedly 'repeatedly touched' two women in Rome

Father Peter Slocombe, 72, put two Italian police officers in hospital

A 72-year-old Catholic priest put two Italian policemen in hospital after he was arrested for groping women on a train in Rome on Monday.

Father Peter Slocombe, from Gloucestershire, was convicted yesterday of groping women on a Rome underground train and lashing out at officers trying to arrest him.

As part of his closed-court sentence, Slocombe was placed under house arrest at a Vatican training college in Rome for two years and eight months.

He will also pay each of the officers 5,000.

Slocombe was said to have 'repeatedly touched' two women in their 40s on the train before running off.

After being reported to police by the women and chased by a group of officers, Slocombe then broke one officer's nose and gave both men cuts and bruises.

They called for back-up before bundling the British priest, who was not wearing his robes, into a squad car at Rome's main station.

A police spokesman said: 'This guy was crazy. He was punching and kicking out at the officers.

'He kept saying he was man of the cloth and was innocent but we have witnesses who say he was touching two women on the train and the victims identified him.'The grieving sisters of a grandmother allegedly murdered along with her daughter and three young granddaughters demand to know why they died.

Mara Harvey, 41, her daughter Charlotte, three, twin two-year-old girls Alice and Beatrix, and Beverley Quinn, 73, died on September 3 and 4.

The five family members were allegedly stabbed and bludgeoned to death by Ms Harvey's husband Anthony at their house in the Perth suburb of Bedford.

Ms Quinn's sisters Maureen Devereux and Wendy Frost broke down outside Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday after Harvey's brief appearance.

Mara Harvey, 41, her daughter Charlotte, three, (pictured together), twin two-year-old girls Alice and Beatrix, and Beverley Quinn, 73, died on September 3 and 4

'I can't even put my head into a killer's mind to try and work out why. Why would you kill babies? I don't understand that, why would you kill babies?' Ms Frost said.

'I just want to know why - we all want to know why.'

The tearful pair, who flew to Perth from Queensland and New Zealand, echoed the thoughts of the family's friends, other relatives, and the whole of Australia.

'All I could say was why? We sit all day, morning to night talking about it,' Ms Devereux said. 'I am very angry and want to know why.'

Harvey, 24, sat with his head bowed during the brief session, only speaking to confirm he could hear the magistrate. He was remanded in custody until January 2.

He faced court as Ms Harvey's younger sister Taryn Tottman wrote loving notes to each of her five dead family members, as she prepared for their funeral.

In moving obituaries, she promised to tell her young daughters Phoenix, Sienna, and Ava all about their aunt, cousins, and grandmother.

'You had three beautiful children who you adored and would have done anything for. You were a great mum,' she wrote of her sister.

The whole family was allegedly stabbed and bludgeoned to death by Ms Harvey's husband Anthony Harvey (right, with Ms Harvey)

Cradling his newborn daughter in his arms, Anthony Harvey looked every bit the proud father as he gazed at the baby girl he would be accused of killing three years later

'You also had a special bond with our mum, which now will never be broken. I will always miss you and I will let your nieces and nephew know all about you. I love you, big sister.'

Ms Tottman wrote emotionally about the last hug she got from her quiet but 'cheeky' niece Beatrix.

'You were always a bit cautious but when you were comfortable the hugs would flow and I will always cherish the last hug,' she wrote.

'It was the longest heart melting hug I have ever had. Our family play dates will be greatly missed. We love you Beatrix and your cousins will always know you.'

Her twin sister Alice was remembered for being daring and adventurous in everything she did.

'The more dangerous it seemed to us the more chance there was of you giving it a go,' Ms Tottman wrote.

'As a twin to Beatrix you always had a friend, but would happily play with your cousins on our play dates.

'I will always miss our play dates with your cheeky smile and no fear attitude. We love you Alice and your cousins will always know you.'

Ms Tottman wrote emotionally about the last hug she got from her quiet but 'cheeky' niece Beatrix (pictured with Ms Quinn and her sisters)

Ms Tottman wrote that Charlotte's life was 'way too short' but brought a smile to many people with her happy personality.

'You were a bubbly, energetic, little girl that would make friends wherever you went,' she wrote.

'Watching you and Phoenix together on our play dates was always so entertaining. You were great together.'

The grieving daughter described the agony of losing Ms Quinn, who was allegedly killed beside the body of Ms Harvey in the kitchen after she arrived on the morning of September 4.

'There are no words to describe the pain we are feeling after your life was suddenly taken from you,' she wrote.

Harvey appeared to be a doting father, often seen by neighbours happily playing with his children in the backyard (pictured) of their three-bedroom home

Neighbours of the house on Coode Street in Bedford didn't foresee any trouble or know of any difficulties in their marriage and were shocked by the deaths

'You were a strong, caring, fair mum to Mara and I and a rock that kept our family together.

'We will always miss you but I promise your grandchildren will know all about you. What a beautiful person you were. With all our hearts we love you, Mum.'

Ms Quinn's sisters also paid tribute to the loving grandmother, who would have turned 74 next week.

'My sister Beverley would not hurt anybody,' Ms Frost, from Russell Island in Moreton Bay, Queensland, said alongside her sister from Wellington.

'She was a loving, wonderful mother, she was a wonderful sister. She would do anything for anybody. She was so kind.

'Mara was following in her footsteps and those poor wee babies did not deserve to die.'

The only problem appeared to be that the couple's Jim's Mowing franchise was 'slow' and not making enough money

The Harveys met in 2013 while working at the Sino Steel mine site on Cape Preston, in northwest Western Australia

Asked how she felt seeing Harvey, Ms Frost said: 'It's not legal what I'm thinking. I am very, very angry. We don't talk about him if we can help it.'

Ms Frost said the sisters came to Perth to support other grieving family, but felt they had to come to court as part of their 'road to closure'.

'We just have to wait the outcome of the police doing their investigation - we want to make certain that they do it absolutely thoroughly so that whatever retribution this guy has to suffer, it is the maximum,' she said.

The Harveys met in 2013 while working at the Sino Steel mine site on Cape Preston, in northwest Western Australia.

They got married in November 2015, months after Charlotte was born on February 4, 2015. The twins followed on July 27, 2016.

Harvey appeared to be a doting father, often seen by neighbours happily playing with his children in the backyard of their three-bedroom home.

Ms Tottman, just like all their neighbours and friends, didn't foresee any trouble or know of any difficulties in their marriage and was shocked by the deaths.

Ms Tottman described the agony of losing Ms Quinn, who was allegedly killed beside the body of Ms Harvey in the kitchen after she arrived on the morning of September 4

Outside the Harveys' house, floral tributes, teddy bears and heartfelt cards continue to pile up

The only problem appeared to be that their Jim's Mowing franchise was 'slow' and not making enough money, friends told Daily Mail Australia.

Ms Harvey was then forced to get a nightfill job at Coles and put a unit in Maylands up for sale in January - which failed to sell.

But up until the deaths, Harvey carried on the business as usual, even apparently completing two jobs just hours after Ms Quinn was killed.

Jim Penman, founder of the mowing group, said Harvey sent two quotes to clients at 6.21pm and 6.37pm on that Monday night.

This was less than five hours before he allegedly killed his wife when she got home about 11pm from a nightfill shift at Coles.

'Those quotes are striking to us. Highly courteous and well-mannered but they were sent just before and then suddenly five hours later they're dead,' he said.

From 'doting father' to accused killer of his whole family 2013: Mara Quinn and Anthony Harvey meet while working at the Sino Steel mine in Cape Preston, WA, and start a relationship August 2014: The pair get engaged before marrying on November 4, 2015 February 4, 2015: Their first child Charlotte Harvey is born. The pair move into the house on Coode Street in Bedford Ms Harvey owned since 2008 and buy a Jim's Mowing franchise July 27, 2016: Twins Beatrix and Alice are born January 2018: Ms Harvey puts a unit in Maylands on the market to make up for the lack of income from their struggling business September 2, 2018: The family celebrates Father's Day in their backyard September 3: Harvey sends two quotes to customers at 6.21pm and 6.37pm while at home with his three children 11pm: Ms Harvey arrives home from her nightfill shift at Coles and his allegedly killed by her husband, along with the children September 4: Harvey allegedly kills Ms Harvey's mother Beverley Quinn, 72, after she arrives at the home that morning. He had two jobs to do that day and the clients never complained they weren't done September 6: The last day neighbours remember Harvey's white Isuzu ute being parked outside the house September 9: Harvey hands himself in to the local police station in Pannawonica, a small mining town in northwest WA 15 hours drive away where he has family September 9: Police arrived at the house after interviewing Harvey and find the five bodies September 10: Harvey is charged with five counts of murder and appears in Perth Magistrates Court via videolink from Karratha Advertisement

'Anthony was telling us repeatedly that everything was fine, he was going well, had plenty of work and enjoyed what he was doing.'

Mr Penman did say several franchisees who knew Harvey commented that he had 'extreme mood swings' that could 'go up and then very down'.

Outside the Harveys' house, floral tributes, teddy bears and heartfelt cards continue to pile up.

Hundreds of people donated more than $30,000 in less than a week to help Ms Tottman pay the immense funeral costs for her five family members.

Perth musicians, many of whom know Mr Tottman, a drummer in a cover band, also organised a fundraiser concert for October 5.Senator Dianne Feinstein, the ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, has said she 'can't say' whether Christine Ford's allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh are true, and blames Republicans for Ford's reluctance to testify in Congress.

Feinstein first revealed Ford's allegation that Kavanaugh has sexually assaulted her in the 1980s late in the confirmation hearings process, six weeks after receiving a letter from Ford.

Ford has not responded to invitations to testify before the Judiciary Committee on Monday, with her lawyer now saying that she wants the FBI to investigate the allegation before she appears.

Feinstein appeared to fumble in a comment to Fox News as she left her Senate office on Tuesday saying: 'This is a woman who has been profoundly impacted by this. Now, I can't say everything's truthful. I don't know.'

Feinstein talks to reporters about the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh on Tuesday. She appeared to fumble when she said 'I can't say everything's truthful'

Feinstein also believes Republicans on the committee have done a poor job reaching out to Ford, though.

'I have no say, I'm the lead Democrat. ... I think it's really too bad that no one called her, or called her lawyer,' Feinstein said. 'My understanding is she got emails.'

Feinstein continued: 'This is a woman who has been profoundly impacted by this. Now, I can't say everything's truthful. I don't know. But I do know that you've got to contact her lawyers.'

'I hope that people will let her be, and I hope that her lawyers will let her come back and straighten this out,' Feinstein said as she left her Senate office late Tuesday.

She also told Fox News that, if Ford doesn't testify, 'I can't tell you what impact' there would be on Kavanaugh's confirmation.

Kavanaugh is seen testifying in confirmation hearings earlier this month. He has agreed to return and respond to Ford's allegations, but she will likely not appear as called on Monday

On Twitter, Feinstein backtracked on her comment that she 'can't say everything's truthful'.

'During every step of this process, I've found every single piece of information from Dr. Christine Blasey Ford eminently credible, sincere and believable,' Feinstein wrote. 'She knew this would have a huge effect on her life and she was incredibly brave to come forward.'

Ford's reluctance to testify until the FBI investigates means her appearance in the Senate is unlikely.

None of her allegations appear to constitute federal crimes, and the FBI has already reviewed her claim and found no basis to open a federal investigation.

Brett Kavanaugh accuser Christine Blasey Ford (above) wants to wait for an FBI investigation before she agrees to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee

While the FBI conducts background checks on presidential appointees, experts say the extent of their involvement has been to include Ford's letter in Kavanaugh's background file and forward it to the White House.

Without Ford's testimony, Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee may well move forward with a vote.

'If she does not come on Monday, we are going to move on and vote on Wednesday,' Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina and a member of the committee, told Fox News on Tuesday evening.A former Muslim has taken to the multicultural streets of Lakemba in Sydney's west to ask local believers whether it is okay for people to criticise their religion.

Iranian-born author Armin Navabi visited Lakemba - considered Australia's unofficial Muslim capital - to act out the controversial social experiment.

Mr Navabi, an ex-Muslim now living in Canada, was told by one man that non-believers faced 'Islam or death' - while another Muslim said police should 'attack' those who mock their faith.

Others interviewed said they encouraged discussions about their Muslim faith, but stressed the importance of approaching the topic with the 'utmost respect'.

The author said he was prompted to visit Lakemba after far-right Canadian activist Lauren Southern clashed with police while trying to visit a mosque in the suburb.

Southern was told not to visit the mosque with her film crew for fears it would incite violence and be a 'breach of peace'.

In his viral video, Mr Navabi said some people felt they could not criticise Muslims because 'they are too sensitive and will react negatively'.

Many of the locals interviewed in the video took the stance that they were open to discussion and dialogue around their faith.

'We live in a democratic country. We criticise other people when they do the wrong thing. Why are we immune from that?' one person said.

The majority stressed it was important for any criticism or questions to be posed with the utmost respect.

Mr Navabi, an ex-Muslim now living in Canada, was told by one man he faced 'Islam or death' - while others said police should 'attack' those who mock their faith

'Everything is criticisable, with respect,' another man said.

'Especially because religion is a sensitive topic for everyone.'

After further questioning of one man, Mr Navabi was told he believes the Muslim community eventually wants Sharia Law to be established worldwide.

'100 per cent that is my goal  and every Muslim's goal. To establish Sharia law on earth,' the man claimed.

Mr Navabi questioned whether this meant 'somebody like me' who had turned his back on Islam would be 'killed' if Sharia law was in place.

'That's Sharia law, that's what I believe in,' the man stated.

'There's two choices, Islam or death.'

Many of the locals questioned in the video took the stance that they were open to discussion and dialogue around their faith: 'We live in a democratic country. We criticise other people when they do the wrong thing. Why are we immune from that?'

Another man said that anyone who criticised Islam should be attacked by police.

'If people criticise then it's bad yeah, and the police need to attack them,' the man said.

Mr Navabi also spoke with a local sheikh who said he was open to questions about Islam as he hoped it would help answer any misconceptions people have.

But when Mr Navabi asked if it was okay to 'mock' Islam, the sheikh's response took a turn.

'When somebody comes and mocks any religion and they say that my intention inside was a good thing, there's not one scenario in the entire globe where you mock somebody for the sake of goodness,' he said.

Another respondent said that anyone who criticised Islam should be attacked by police

He said that anyone who finds it normal to mock and laugh at other people have 'lost human morality' and 'lost all senses of being a human'.

When Mr Navabi then stated his own opinion that mocking somebody formed part of freedom of expression, the sheikh called it 'most disgusting'.

Mr Navabi commended him for meeting with him and being willing to have a conversation.

'There are still many people here willing to listen to you and have a conversation with you,' he said.

'These conversations are not pointless.'A Sydney cafe has been slammed for its outrageous price for a cup of coffee.

Sasa Sestic, owner of ONA Coffee in Marrickville in Sydney's inner-west, sells a range of boutique brews for up to $16 a cup.

'A lot of people think coffee is just a morning fix. In my opinion, coffee is a lot more than that - it's an experience,' Mr Sestic told news.com.au.

ONA Coffee, was opened by Sasa Sestic, in Marrickville (pictured), with a cup of coffee going for an eye-watering $16

Mr Sestic revealed that he is always asked by customers whether he is crazy for putting a large price tag for a cup of coffee and if he is ripping customers off (pictured coffee is not the $16 coffee)

Poll Would you ever try a $16 cup of coffee? Yes No Unsure Would you ever try a $16 cup of coffee? Yes 49 votes

No 330 votes

Unsure 15 votes Now share your opinion





Mr Sestic said that customers question the monumental price but he can usually win them over.

'It gives us an opportunity to say why and then they taste it, they say wow,' he said.

There are a variety of coffees sold at the cafe ranging from $9 to $16, which all have their own story regarding their pricing.

'They are niche coffees that take hours to get to. People try it for the curiosity,' he said.

The drink is described as 'chocolatey, passionfruit, coffee goodness in one small accurately warmed cup.'

Mr Sestic immigrated to Australia in 1997 from war-torn Bosnia, and has since earned himself a name in the coffee industry.

His passion came about when he started making coffee in a bakery in Canberra which then led him to begin roasting coffee beans in a garage, and perfecting it as a drink.

He owns global distribution company ONA Coffee Wholesale and won the World Barista Champion 2015.

The drink is described as 'chocolatey, passionfruit, coffee goodness in one small accurately warmed cup' (pictured coffee not $16)



Prime Minister Scott Morrison is set to introduce a law which would see copycat fruit saboteurs jailed for 10 years.

At least 13 people have gone public about finding needles in their strawberries since a man was rushed to hospital on September 9.

Copycats have been placing needles inside bananas and apples, according to customers claiming to have found them.

Mr Morrison said those responsible were 'idiots' and called for stronger legislation.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is set to introduce a law which would see copycat fruit saboteurs jailed for 10 years

Mr Morrison said those responsible were 'idiots' and called for stronger legislation

Anyone found guilty of contaminating food would face a maximum of 15 years in jail, up from 10 years.

Additionally, anyone who piggy-backed on such a crisis by engaging in a reckless hoax would also face 10 years behind bars.

'Some idiot, for his own reasons, or her own reasons, has engaged in an act of sabotage,' Mr Morrison told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday.

'Now any idiot who thinks they can go out into a shopping centre and start sticking pins in fruit and thinks this is some sort of lark or something... that sort of behaviour is reckless and under the provision we will be seeking to introduce swiftly, that type of behaviour would carry a penalty of up to 10 years in prison.'

Mr Morrison said he has spoken to the Attorney-General to consider changing the law.

Mr Morrison said he has spoken to the Attorney-General to consider changing the law

This map show the cases of strawberry tampering which have emerged across the country in a 'food terrorism' saga

'It is important to send a very clear message to ensure that we have the right penalties and have the right offences that are in place to ensure that we protect against these sorts of things,' Mr Morrison said.

'It's not a joke, it's not funny. You are putting the livelihoods of hard-working Australians at risk, and you are scaring children... and you're a coward and a grub.

'And if you do that sort of thing in this country we will come after you and we will throw the book at you.

'This is a shocking and cowardly thing for this individual and others who have jumped onto the bandwagon here to have engaged in.'

Mr Morrison wants the laws to pass parliament by the time it rises on Thursday evening.

At least 13 people have gone public about finding needles in their strawberries since a man was rushed to hospital on September 9

The contamination has spread nationwide, with West Australian police confirming on Tuesday that they were investigating claims a primary school student had bitten into a strawberry with a needle inside.

From 9am on Wednesday all fresh strawberries being exported from Australia must be metal-contaminant free.

The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources announced the interim control measure on Tuesday evening in response to the growing situation.

'In order for strawberry export permits to be approved, exporters will be required to provide assurance to the department that their consignment is free from metal contaminants,' the department said in a statement.

The contamination has spread nationwide, with West Australian police confirming on Tuesday that they were investigating claims a primary school student had bitten into a strawberry with a needle inside

'These measures apply to fresh strawberry exports to all markets, and will remain in place until the risk of metal contaminants has been appropriately managed.'

Tuesday's report was the fifth incident of needle-contaminated strawberries in WA.

The latest incident has led to the WA government following the Queensland government in offering a $100,000 reward for information on the culprit or culprits.

'The motive appears unclear ... at the end of the day it's an act of treachery to the people of Australia,' Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty told reporters, confirming NSW police were investigating at least 20 cases of needles being found in fruit including claims of needles being found in an apple and a banana.

Det Supt Doherty said perpetrators, including copycats and consumers falsely claiming a discovery, could face up to 10 years in jail for food contamination.

In Queensland, struggling growers have been boosted by the announcement of a $1 million fund to assist them through the crisis

No-one has been charged in relation to the tampering.

In Queensland, struggling growers have been boosted by the announcement of a $1 million fund to assist them through the crisis.

Horticulture body Growcom has implored consumers to keep buying strawberries.

'Hang in there with us and our saying will be 'cut it up, don't cut us out',' Growcom chief executive David Thomson said.

The scare is expected to result in a review of fruit handling, storage and packaging following the police investigations, Mr Thomson said.

NSW Police confirmed needles have been found in an apple and a banana purchased from separate Sydney stores.

Needles have also been found in more than 20 punnets of strawberries across NSW from Tweed Heads to Albury.New Yorkers faced a miserable commute on Tuesday when Hurricane Florence finally hit the city.

Commuters waded through ankle-deep overflowing sewer water at some Manhattan subway stations. While others, such as Penn Station, began raining inside the station as waterfalls of flood water began cascading down from the street above.

But nothing represented the unbroken spirit of New Yorkers like one plucky little rat which was filmed sheltering behind a column from the fast flowing water.

One plucky little rat was filmed sheltering behind a column from the fast flowing water at 23rd Street station

The clever rodent looked wet and scared but appeared to be safe - at least temporarily

Proving that rats are natural survivors, the clever rodent looked wet and scared but appeared to be safe - at least temporarily.

Video of 'Flood Rat' is already going viral after it was shared on Reddit this morning, with some touting the rodent as the next 'Pizza Rat' - the now famous clip of a rat dragging a New York slice, twice its size, down a set of steps.

'His commute is just as f**ked as ours,' wrote Reddit user West Brighton.

Others had empathy for the gutsy pest, filmed at the 23rd Street station at around 1pm, with readers calling for viewers to 'save him' or writing: 'I kinda feel sorry for the little bastard.'

Meanwhile, human commuters faced their own battle as they traversed the flooded subway system after Tuesday afternoon's mini-monsoon

The MTA ran E and C trains as express during the height of the rainfall, but the trains were back to their local routes by 2pm

'What a fitting way to celebrate Cuomo's re-election,' another person said, referring to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo beating rival Cynthia Nixon in the Democratic gubernatorial primary.

One of Nixon's major platforms had been to improve the city's creaking subway system.

'Flood Rat for governor!' another added.

The fate of Flood Rat is unclear.

Meanwhile, human commuters faced their own battle as they traversed the flooded subway system after Tuesday afternoon's mini-monsoon.

The MTA ran E and C trains as express during the height of the rainfall, but the trains were back to their local routes by 2pm.

First Avenue station, on the L line, was flooded with ankle-deep water but the train was unaffected.

A flash flood warning was in place across New York City and much of upstate New York, New Jersey and Connecticut in Tuesday.

At Penn Station, it began raining inside the station as waterfalls of flood water began cascading down from the street above

Passengers could not avoid getting soaked as they attempted to leave the train

Further south on the East Coast, many states are still reeling from the hurricane.

Florence is being blamed for at least 34 deaths in three states, according to AP.

Remnants of the once-powerful Category 4 hurricane are now a rainy, windy mass of low pressure.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump will have a firsthand look at the impact of former Hurricane Florence.

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders says Trump plans to travel on Wednesday to North Carolina, which bore the brunt of the powerful storm.

Days after the hurricane rolled through, the region is dealing with massive flooding. In Wilmington, North Carolina, residents lined up by the hundreds Tuesday for free food, water and tarps while officials managed to open two routes into the waterlocked city.

North Carolina officials say even though the sun is shining in parts of the state, major flooding is continuing in the aftermath of Florence and is expected to worsen in some areas.



The president of Poland told President Donald Trump that he'd like the United Statess to create a permanent American base in Poland that would be named Fort Trump.

Standing beside Trump at the White House news conference, Duda was unapologetic in his praise for Trump's leadership and business acumen as the Polish president pitched a military expansion that could reignite an old fight with Moscow over the proximity of USA forces to Russian Federation.

"I would like to invite the U.S. president to post more American troops to Poland".

"I firmly believe that this is possible", Duda said, saying it would be both in U.S. and Polish interests.

Trump said he and Duda agreed to bolster the United States and Poland's defense cooperation in military relations, intelligence, missile defense and training, and praised the country for meeting North Atlantic Treaty Organization goals on defense spending.

Trump said during a joint news conference with Duda that he was considering the idea and noted that Poland had offered more than $2 billion to the U.S. to pay for such an effort.

Warsaw had stated earlier it was ready to pay up to $2 billion to have a U.S. military base on its soil.

He then touted Poland's military buildup and said he wanted to buy more arms from the US.

Games of Thrones 'Couldve Gone 11, 12, 13 Seasons  George RR Martin

Accepting his award, he thanked producers David Benioff and Dan Weiss, saying: "Thank you, Dave and Dan for changing my life". Also stepping out for the awards show were Nikolaj's Game of Thrones co-stars Gwendoline Christie and Nathalie Emmanuel .

"The presence of the USA armed forces in this area is absolutely justified", Duda said.

A decision from the United States could come early next year. "I am convinced there is no more effective method of preventing a war than a decisive stance illustrating that we are ready at any moment to repel possible attack".

Poland has been pressing for the 3,000 US troops now deployed in Poland on a rotating basis to be upgraded to a larger, permanent presence as it faces Russia's increased military activity in the region.

"If they're willing to do that, it's something we will certainly talk about", Trump said.

Trump renewed his criticism of a planned new natural gas pipeline linking Germany with Russian Federation.

"I think it's a very aggressive situation", Trump said. "This will be my first time traveling to Africa and I am excited to educate myself on the issues facing children throughout the continent, while also learning about its rich culture and history", she said in an August statement, according to CNN. Last October, the U.S. sent a new mechanized brigade there.

"We are the piggy bank to the world". "I was smiling when I was talking to Mr President".Captain James Cook's famous HMS Endeavour ship is believed to have been finally found, 250 years after his historic Australian voyage of discovery.

Marine archaeologists who have spent more than two decades painstakingly searching for the vessel say they have now identified what could be the wreck's exact final resting spot.

Details of what will solve one of the greatest maritime mysteries of all time will be officially announced on Friday in the United States.

The event will take place on Goat Island, a small island in Narragansett Bay, off Newport, Rhode Island, near to where the scuttled remains are believed to be.

Archaeologists learned 20 years ago that the ship was scuttled in Newport Harbour. But the Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project (RIMAP), said experts have 'narrowed the search for the Endeavour from a fleet of thirteen vessels to five, and now possibly to one or two archaeological sites'.

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Marine archaeologists believe they have pinpointed the exact place where the scuttled remains of Captain James Cook's HMS Endeavour ship (a replica of the ship is pictured) are located

Captain James Cook (pictured) commanded the HMS Endeavour to Australia during his voyage of discovery in the late 1700s

The Friday announcement will involve archaeologists from RIMAP and the Australian National Maritime Museum (ANNM).

'The event will review how the 25-year-long archaeological study of the Newport transports has narrowed the search for the Endeavour from a fleet of thirteen vessels to five and now possibly to one or two archaeological sites,' a statement posted on the RIMAP website said.

'RIMAP and the ANMM researchers will discuss the 2018 fieldwork results, and release to the public a 3-D photogrammetric image of a promising site located in the Limited Study Area, just off the Goat Island shore near Gurneys Resort.'

The identification of the vessel's final resting place has raised hopes the HMS Endeavour will be able to be excavated next year.

Director of RIMAP, Kathy Abbass, said the discovery would be significant for a number of countries, including Australia, the US, Britain and New Zealand.

'It is exciting, we are closing in,' she told Fairfax Media.

The latest development comes after the Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project made an important discovery, saying the ship was scuttled in Newport Harbor in 1778 by British forces in the lead up to the Battle of Rhode Island.

The HMS Endeavour was then discovered to be among 13 other ships in a massive archaeological investigation that combined high-tech mapping of the seabed with analysis of historical shipping documents found in London.

The event will take place on Goat Island, a small island in Narragansett Bay, off Newport, Rhode Island, near to where the scuttled remains are believed to be located

Pictured, a replica of the HMS Endeavour. The HMS Endeavour is one of the most famous ships in naval history and was used for Captain Cook's discovery of the East Coast of Australia in 1770

This chart from 1893 shows tracked the HMS Endeavour's journey

But the website statement added more detailed work would have to be undertaken.

'Now that RIMAP and the ANMM have identified a possible site in Newport Harbor that might be the Lord Sandwich ex Endeavour, the detailed work must begin to prove it,' it said.

The HMS Endeavour is one of the most famous ships in naval history and was used for Captain Cook's discovery of the East Coast of Australia in 1770.

The last sighting of the HMS Endeavour was around 1778 when it is believed the ship was sold, renamed the Lord Sandwich, and then used to transport British troops during the American Revolution.

The HMS Endeavour was first launched in 1764 as the Earl of Pembroke, and then renamed His Majesty's Bark the Endeavour after it was purchased four years later by the British Royal Navy.

A cutaway painting of Captain Cook's HMS Endeavour ship during its famous voyage of discovery

The HMS Endeavour was first launched in 1764 as the Earl of Pembroke. Pictured, the Earl of Pembroke leaving Whitby Harbour in 1768

It was sent out to explore the Pacific Ocean in August 1768 both to observe the 1769 transit of Venus across the sun and in the search for the continent which was then called Terra Australis Incognita, or unknown Southern land.

The previous transit of Venus in 1639 had provided a vast amount of the information astronomers and scientists had about the size of the solar system and universe.

The ship departed from Plymouth with 94 people on board, including Captain James Cook.

It traveled down the coast of Africa before cutting across the Atlantic and arriving in Rio de Janeiro in November of that year.

The boat then set out to round Cape Horn, which it managed to do on its third attempt in January after wind, stormy weather and difficult conditions foiled Cook's first two attempts.

Captain James Cook is pictured arriving at Queen Charlotte's Sound in New Zealand, in this A print from an oil painting attributed to J Clevely

In April the ship reached Tahiti, where it stayed for the next four months and where astronomer Charles Green was able to study the transit of Venus in June.

After months exploring the Pacific for islands, the Endeavour reached the coast of New Zealand in October, becoming the first European vessel to land on the island in over 100 years.

Dutch explorer Abel Tasman had previously reached the islands of New Zealand and Tasmania during his 1642 journey while with the Dutch East India Company.

Cook spent six months exploring and mapping the coast of New Zealand and claimed the land for Great Britain before sailing west.

In April of 1770 individuals on the ship first spotted Australia, and on April 29 the HMS Endeavour became the first European vessel to make landfall on the east coast of the island.

Cook spent four months charting the coast and at one point ran into trouble when the ship struck part of the Great Barrier Reef.

The ship was 24 miles off the coast at the time with not enough life boats, but managed to clear the water from the hull of the ship and make its way safely back to shore.

Captain Cook was killed in 1779 during a fight with Hawaiians on the island. The Endeavor soon become a naval transport ship

HISTORY OF COOK'S ENDEAVOUR The HMS Endeavour was a British research vessel sailed by Captain James Cook. Captain Cook set off from England in the Endeavour in 1768 in search of Australia  then known as the 'unknown Southern Land'. The Endeavour was a small ship - less than 100ft long - and housed a crew of around 100 sailors. Before coming to Australia, Captain Cook reached New Zealand in 1769. He circumnavigated New Zealand's North and South Islands and drew the first complete chart of the country's coast. The Endeavour was the first ship to reach the East Coast of Australia, landing in Botany Bay in 1770. The vessel returned to England in 1771 and was largely forgotten before it was sold in 1775 and renamed The Lord Sandwich. Source: Australian National Maritime Museum Advertisement

The ship continued to explore the east cost of Australia, and in November was taken out of the water to have major repairs done before setting sail back to Great Britain.

It set sail the day after Christmas, and in March rounded the Cape of Good Hope before docking in Cape Town.

On July 12 it made its way into port in Dover, almost three years after it first left from Plymouth.

Cook was later promoted to Commander and explored the Pacific twice more on the HMS Resolution.

He was killed in 1779 during a fight with Hawaiians on the island.

The Endeavor soon become a naval transport ship, and was sold to a shipping magnate just before the start of the Revolutionary War.

That individual then tried to sell the ship back to the British when the demand for ships increased during the war but they would not accept the vessel given its age and what it had been through over the years.

The seller then made the decision to rename the boat Lord Sandwich and try to sell it again, which worked after the boat underwent serious repairs.Prosecutors in the Chris Watts case is asking the judge not to reveal the autopsy report before his murder trial begins.

Watts was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of his 34-year-old wife, Shanann Watts, and their two daughters - Celeste, three, and Bella, four - at their home in Frederick, Colorado.

They were reported missing on August 13 and their bodies were found on the property of Watts', former employer Anadarko Petroleum not long after he was taken into custody.

He is also charged with tampering with evidence for allegedly burying his wife in a shallow grave 35 miles from home and dumping his two daughters into a tank filled with crude oil.

Authorities have yet to say publicly how they died, though defense attorneys for Watts insist that they were strangled, according to The Denver Post.

Prosecutors in the Chris Watts case is asking the judge not to reveal the autopsy report before his murder trial begins. Watts is seen in a Greeley, Colorado courtroom on August 21 sitting alongside his attorneys

Watts was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of his 34-year-old wife, Shanann Watts, and their two daughters - Celeste, three, and Bella, four - at their home in Frederick, Colorado

Prosecutors for the Weld County District Attorney's Office have asked the judge to hold off on releasing the autopsy report because they believe it could damage the investigation.

'The disclosure of this information to the public prior to trial could result in tainting witnesses that have not yet been interviewed and impacting future jurors,' prosecutors wrote to the judge in a filed motion.

While autopsy reports are public records, Colorado law does permit a judge to prevent their release if it is determined that it would 'do substantial injury to the public interest.'

Watts' lawyers, meanwhile, say that their client is at a legal disadvantage because of the 'significant damage already done to Mr. Watts rights to a fair trial and a fair and impartial jury.'

The attorneys representing Watts, who are from the public defender's office, are opposing prosecutors' request to force him to provide DNA evidence, including swabs of his cheeks and finger and palm prints.

Watts' lawyers have also accused prosecutors at the district attorney's office of leaking damaging information about their client to the press.

Meanwhile, it was reported on Monday that Watts is severely depressed after being kept in isolation after more than a month in jail.

A source at the Weld County Jail in Colorado confirmed that the 33-year-old murder defendant is now on suicide watch.

They were reported missing on August 13 and their bodies were found on the property of Watts', former employer Anadarko Petroleum not long after he was taken into custody

'He's not doing well at all,' a source told People.

'The gravity of the situation has hit him like a ton of bricks. Depression is setting in, and he's despondent.'

Currently guards are checking in on Watts every 10-15 minutes to ensure his well-being.

They are required to make visual contact with him to ensure that he is still alive.

Watts is physically searched several times per day and must undergo a complete cell inspection to ensure he is not hiding any contraband or objects with which he could harm himself.

Watts' freedom is also restricted in the jail and has no access to weights, reading material or television, nor does he have any commissary privileges.

Instead, he is forced to spend his days in bed.

'He sleeps all day and isn't really talking to anyone, including his family,' the source told People.

Occasionally, Watts will speak with the guards who are assigned to his cell block.

For one hour per day, he is allowed to leave his cell and taken to a small room where he is allowed to shower and make phone calls to his family or to lawyers.

The room is not occupied by any other prisoners during the time he is there.

If convicted, Watts faces the death penalty.

Authorities accuse Watts of killing them after she returned from a business trip in the early morning hours of August 13.

A friend of Shanann who dropped her off at home from the airport alerted police after she did not respond to phone calls, according to the Coloradoan.

Watts told police that he and his wife argued 'emotionally' about separating on that morning.

Watts is checked on every hour to make sure he is still alive and not taken his own life

He claims that his wife then strangled both of their children to death.

Watts claims he then strangled Shanann in a fit of rage.

He told authorities that after he told his wife he wanted to separate, he watched as she strangled Celeste while Bella was 'blue', her lifeless body in a bed nearby.

But investigators say Watts is lying. He was arrested on August 15 - one day before the bodies of his wife and their two children were found.

Watts is being held without bond in the Weld County Jail. He has yet to enter a plea.

'The theory that she [Shan'ann] did it doesn't hold any water,' a source close to the investigation told People.

'There is absolutely no evidence that she killed her children.'The Mexican man charged with abducting and killing Iowa college student Mollie Tibbetts is set to be arraigned in court on Wednesday.

Cristhian Bahena Rivera, 24, is due to appear for the arraignment at Poweshiek County District Court at 9:30am.

He is expected to enter a plea, according to The Gazette.

Police say Rivera followed and confronted Tibbetts while she was out for a run on July 18 and later stabbed her to death.

He has been jailed on $5 million bond while awaiting trial on a first-degree murder charge, which carries a sentence of life in prison.

The federal government has also filed an immigration detainer, which means he would be subject to deportation proceedings if acquitted.

The Mexican man charged with abducting and killing Iowa college student Mollie Tibbetts is set to be arraigned in court on Wednesday. Cristhian Bahena Rivera is seen above with his attorney during a court appearance on August 22 in Montezuma, Iowa

Police say Rivera followed and confronted Tibbetts while she was out for a run on July 18 and later stabbed her to death

The case attracted national attention after it was learned that Rivera was living in the United States illegally.

Earlier this month, it was learned that Rivera was known for years on the dairy farm where he worked by another name: John Budd.

The alias emerged as Riveras employer, a cattle operation owned by a prominent Republican family, faced questions over whether its managers were aware of any warning signs that he was in the country illegally.

The name under which Rivera was hired and paid for the last four years was confirmed by three people with knowledge of his employment history.

They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information during an ongoing criminal investigation. One of the people said Riveras work identity as John Budd appears in official government records.

The employer, Yarrabee Farms, declined to confirm or deny Riveras work identity.

Lori Chesser, an immigration employment lawyer advising the farm, said that companies cannot discriminate against workers based on how they look or how their names sound.

Tibbetts father, Rob Tibbetts, has urged the public not to bring his daughters death into the divisive racial debate over immigration

Rivera led police to Tibbetts' body, which was found in a cornfield on August 21

Farm officials have said Rivera presented an out-of-state photo identification and a Social Security number when he was hired in 2014, and they believed he was the person depicted in those documents until his arrest last month.

The farm followed legal requirements to examine the documents and determined 'that they appeared genuine on their face and related to the person presenting them,' Chesser said.

'Questioning a name or other characteristic would violate the anti-discrimination provisions of the law.'

During his four years at the farm near the small town of Brooklyn, Iowa, Rivera 'was called and responded to the name he used in the hiring process,' Chesser said.

He lived in a trailer owned by the farm as a benefit of his employment, as do about half of its 10 workers.

Yarrabee Farms, a cattle operation in Brooklyn, Iowa, employed Rivera for four years. Earlier this month, it was learned that Rivera was known for years on the dairy farm where he worked by another name: John Budd

The farm did not use the governments voluntary E-Verify system, which allows companies to confirm the identity and eligibility of employees to work in the U.S.

Farm manager Dane Lang has apologized for a mistake in falsely claiming to have used E-Verify in an initial statement on Riveras Aug. 21 arrest, hours after he allegedly led police to Tibbetts body in a nearby cornfield.

Its unclear whether E-Verify would have detected any red flags with Riveras claimed identity, but the farm has said it used a different government service to confirm that the name and Social Security number matched.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement declined to comment on whether the agency is investigating Yarrabee Farms, which has said that it received dozens of angry phone calls after Rivera was arrested.

Tibbetts father, Rob Tibbetts, has urged the public not to bring his daughters death into the divisive racial debate over immigration.

'The person who is accused of taking Mollies life is no more a reflection of the Hispanic community as white supremacists are of all white people,' he wrote in an opinion piece for the Des Moines Register.Two female mental health patients drowned in rising floodwaters while chained up in the back of a sheriff's van.

The van was carrying the detainees to a different facility in Darlington, South Carolina when it was overtaken by flood waters on Tuesday.

Two deputies were rescued but the detainees died.

The tragedy happened near the Little Pee Dee River, one of the bodies of water that state officials are watching following the heavy rains of storm Florence.

Marion County Coroner Jerry Richardson confirmed the victims were female. Their names have not been released.

Two female mental health patients drowned in rising floodwaters while chained up in the back of a sheriff's van. Pictured: Floodwaters from storm Florence

Two female mental health patients drowned in rising floodwaters while chained up in the back of a sheriff's van. Pictured: Floodwaters from storm Florence

'They were trying to negotiate through fast-running water, and it just didn't work out,' he said.

Holden said that deputies tried to get the victims out but couldn't. Rescue teams plucked the deputies from the top of the van.

Horry County Deputy Tom Fox told WPDE-TV that the victims were mental health patients being transported from one facility to another.

Holden wouldn't give further details on the victims' status, citing an ongoing state police investigation.

In a release, Horry County Sheriff Phillip Thompson said his office would cooperate with the probe.

'Tonight's incident is a tragedy,' he said. 'Just like you, we have questions we want answered.'

It comes after some prisons bosses in South Carolina refused to evacuate inmates over safety concerns.

Officials said that the van was near the Little Pee Dee River, one of the bodies of water that state officials are watching following the heavy rains of Florence. Pictured: Floodwaters in North Carolina

On Monday, the South Carolina Department of Corrections posted pictures of prisoners preparing sandbags to defend their facilities from flooding

Prisoners in South Carolina were pictured filling sandbags after officials refused to evacuate them to safety from storm Florence.

The South Carolina Department of Corrections tweeted pictures on Monday of prisoners preparing to defend their facilities from flooding.

Bryan Stirling, director of the department, chose not to move inmates despite prison evacuations in Virginia and North Carolina.

He said that evacuating thousands of convicts with buses on congested routes would have created a public safety concern.

A spokesman for the department added: 'In the past, it's been safer to leave them there.'

Among the prisons that are not being evacuated are Ridgeland, MacDougall, and Lieber Correctional Institutions.Two men have been fined $1000 for stealing charity tins from a McDonald's outlet in New South Wales.

They were also ordered to repay the money they stole.

Sean McAlister, 24, and Dakota Clayton, 23, stole the tins from a McDonald's outlet in Wollongong on August 11, the Illawara Mercury reports.

CC TV image of Dakota Clayton and Sean McAlister at the McDonald's outlet they robbed

Just after 4am they walked into the restaurant and approached the front counter, on which sat three Ronald McDonald Foundation collection boxes.

When staff were not looking, Clayton yanked and subsequently broke the chain connecting one of the boxes to the counter.

He then tucked the box under his jacket, left the building, and hid it.

He returned a short time later and stole a second charity box while McAlister ordered food.

McAlister unsuccessfully tried to steal the third box.

Two days later restaurant staff noticed the boxes were missing and contacted police.

The McDonald's outlet in New South Wales from which the charity boxes were stolen (stock photo)

New South Wales police CCTV images of the two thieves in McDonald's on Facebook and McAlister and Clayton later handed themselves in.

At Wollongong court last Tuesday, Magistrate Stoddart fined the thieves $1000 and ordered them to pay back the stolen money.

McAlister and Clayton said the boxes contained $40, from which they had spent $32 and had repaid the remaining $8.

Magistrate Stoddart ordered them to repay $16 each.

He called their crime 'disgraceful', and 'weak' and told them they 'should be ashamed of themselves'.Elizabeth Smart's kidnapper must have no contact with the victim after she's released from jail early on Wednesday - or she'll find herself back behind bars.

Wanda Barzee will walk free from jail on Wednesday after serving 15 years behind bars for snatching Smart as a teenager and keeping her in the woods to be raped daily until she was saved by strangers.

Barzee, 72, will be placed on supervised release for five years by the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services System after her release with strict conditions. One of those terms of release includes no contact, of any form, with Smart, TMZ reports.

Elizabeth Smart's (pictured) kidnapper must have no contact with the victim after she's released from jail early on Wednesday - or she'll find herself back behind bars

Wanda Barzee will walk free from jail on Wednesday after serving 15 years behind bars for snatching Smart as a teenager (pictured on April 8, 2016, in Utah State Prison)

Federal probation officials will keep a close eye on the convicted kidnapper to ensure she does not try and contact her victim by phone or the internet, and her housing will not be located anywhere near Smart.

If Barzee does violate her conditions, she will be brought before a judge who can sentence her to more prison time.

Once the five year period ends, Smart, now 30, can ask a judge for a protective order to prevent Barzee from contacting her.

Barzee was jailed after pleading guilty to kidnap then-14-year-old Smart in 2002. The court heard she then stood by as her one-time husband Brian David Mitchell repeatedly raped the teen.

Mitchell is serving a life sentence in Arizona.

Brian David Mitchell, Barzee's husband who raped Smart daily while holding her in captivity, is pictured in his 2004 mugshot

Yet, despite the Utah parole board deeming Barzee unfit for release, she will be released Wednesday because state law dictates inmates must be released at the end of their sentence.

Smart said the decision was 'incomprehensible'.

She said in a statement last week she was 'surprised and disappointed' to learn that Barzee will be freed after failing to undergo mental health evaluations and failing to attend her own parole hearing in June.

Smart says she's exploring her 'options' and plans to speak publicly in the coming days.

The board said previously that Barzee would be released in January 2024 after it denied her an early parole following a hearing that she chose not to attend. The board said at the June hearing that Barzee refused to take a psychological exam.

At the June hearing, her attorney questioned the calculation of her release date, which led the Utah board to look into it. Lawyer Scott Williams said Tuesday he's appreciative the board reviewed it and agreed with his assessment.

Williams said he's not concerned about Barzee being a danger to the community, but declined to say why he believes that.

In June, Smart urged the parole board not to grant the woman's release by saying she still carried a book which contains revelations her husband said he received from God telling him to keep Smart.

Elizabeth was just 14 when she was taken. She is pictured at the time of her disappearance

The pair snatched Elizabeth from her bedroom in Salt Lake City, Utah (her home is pictured in 2002)

She said the manuscript also contains other 'disturbing and dangerous ideas,' though it is not clear how she knows she had it.

'In this manuscript were the 'revelations' Mitchell 'received' from God to kidnap myself and six other young girls to be his wife.

'It also 'revealed' his other highly disturbing and dangerous ideas.'

'This is proof to me that she hasn't changed, and if the prior 15+ years hasn't changed her I don't see how the future years will,' Smart said in an Instagram post in June, adding: 'I do not think I'm a vindictive or vengeful person.

'If change were truly possible in her case then perhaps parole/release could be justified.

Her father Ed said: 'I would hate for her to have the opportunity to do that again to someone else.'

Smart, now married with two children, has written a book about the harrowing ordeal and helped make a Lifetime movie and documentary about the crime and her life. She is now a child safety activist who regularly gives speeches.

Barzee is pictured, left, when she was arrested in 2003 and right, in a 2010 photo

Mitchell, shown above in 2010, will spend the rest of his life imprisoned

She is expecting her third baby in November.

Smart was from her bedroom in Salt Lake City, Utah by Mitchell who knew her because he had been hired by her family to do handiwork at their home.

For nine months, the religion-obsessed couple kept Smart tied up in the woods where Mitchell subjected her to daily rapes and death threats.

She was eventually rescued when a stranger saw the three of them in the street and recognized the pair from an episode of America's Most Wanted.

In 2010, seven years after Smart was rescued, Barzee pleaded guilty to kidnapping.

She was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment but was given credit for already spending seven of them in custody.

Mitchell was given back to back life sentences.A Texas prison guard has been charged with assaulting an inmate who later died from his head injuries.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice announced on Tuesday that D'Andre Glasper, who resigned from the job, has been charged with aggravated assault by a public servant.

Authorities say Glasper injured inmate Gary Ryan during an August 30 confrontation in the showers of the Estelle Unit in Huntsville.

Guard charged: Texas prison guard D'Andre Glasper, 22 (left), has been charged with aggravated assault by a public servant in the death of inmate Gary Ryan, 58 (right)

Glasper allegedly assaulted Ryan in the showers at the Estelle Unit in Huntsville on August 30, after the inmate had spit on him

Ryan hit his head on the shower floor and died in a hospital two weeks later.

The department's Office of the Inspector General said the inmate had spit on Glasper on the morning of August 30 and that the guard was told by his superior to stay away from the prisoner.

But Glasper did not obey the order and returned to Ryan's cellblock later that day to escort the inmate to the showers.

There, the guard said Ryan became aggressive and was allegedly making derogatory remarks, reported Houston Chronicle.

According to officials, Glasper was trying to put Ryan 'prone on the floor' when the inmate sustained a head injury.

Ryan was found bleeding and unconscious, and was airlifted to Memorial Hermann Hospital in critical condition.

Ryan, left, was scheduled to be released from prison on November 23 after serving a five-year sentence for a charge of harassment of a public servant. Glasper, right, who had been a prison guard for two years, resigned his position on September 7

He underwent surgery to relieve pressure on his brain, but died on the morning of September 12.

Ryan was scheduled to be released from prison on November 23 after serving a five-year sentence for a charge of harassment of a public servant.

His criminal record included a 12-year sentence for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, followed by a two-year sentence for the same charge.

Glasper, who had been a prison guard for two years, resigned his position on September 7 and was arrested three days later.

The 22-year-old is currently free on a $50,000 bond. If convicted of the felony charges against him, he could face up to a life in prison.One of the highest paid construction jobs in Australia has been revealed, with wages of up to $150,000 a year.

Workers on the West Gate Tunnel Project and Melbourne Metro tunnel are set to receive more than a $150,000 year as part of a new union deal.

Among the best paid construction jobs in Australian history, the roles offer higher salaries than those earned by teachers, paramedics and police constables.

Subcontractors on the West Gate Tunnel Project and Melbourne Metro tunnel (pictured above) are looking to earn about $50 an hour

'When you're a member of a good strong union that represents your members you get your money's worth,' union boss John Setka told The Herald Sun.

'The site allowance just makes up for all the disabilities on site  You have got dust flying around, wet concrete and all the hazards.'

Workers can pocket an extra $8.90 per hour for the $6.7 billion West Gate Tunnel project and $9.20 per hour on the $11billion Metro Tunnel project.

Those site allowances add up to an extra $20,000 to $25,000 a year.

Subcontractors are looking to earn about $50 an hour.

Workers can pocket an extra $8.90 per hour for the $6.7 billion West Gate Tunnel project and $9.20 per hour on the $11 billion Metro Tunnel project (stock image)

But with labour costs for construction workers surging in Victoria not everyone is happy with the deal.

Master Builders chief executive Radley de Silva told the publication the costs were disproportionate and a burden on taxpayers.

'Not only does this cost taxpayers, but it costs them in less services and amenities that could otherwise be built using that money.

A report commissioned by Master Builders showed that labour costs in Victoria had leaped ahead, rising faster than the rest of Australia over the past 10 years.

Workers on an Enterprise Bargaining Agreement in Victoria were given a wage increase six percent higher than other areas.Katie Wenszell (pictured) risked her life to save her mother during a weekend in Atlanta

When a stranger pushed her mother onto the tracks as a train approached the station, 28-year-old Katie Wenszell didn't think twice.

The eighth-grade teacher dived down onto the tracks at Atlanta's midtown station herself, quickly moving her mother into a position that would help her avoid being killed by the oncoming train.

As she moved her unconscious mother into a straight line and laid down next to her, Katie said she wasn't thinking about the fact she could lose her own life.

'I looked down to see how close the train was, saw the light and just thought "I need to save her" and I jumped,' she told Inside Edition.

'All I can remember is jumping down to save my mother.'

While Susan escaped with minor injuries, Katie was not able to clear the train in time and nearly died.

The Wenszell family were at the train station when a man pushed Katie's mother Susan onto the tracks, rendering her unconscious with an oncoming train just moments away. Katie jumped down to save her, leaving her severely injured (pictured)

While the 28-year-old teacher was able to save her mother, she was not as lucky. She suffered a brain injury, had her shoulder torn apart and lost toes. Her necklace got caught, with the resulting cut only just missing her carotid artery and her windpipe (pictured)

She flat-lined in the ambulance, had her toes amputated, three plated placed into her head and pins now hold her shoulder together.

The young teacher's necklace was caught in the train, resulting in a deep cut to her neck, which miraculously avoided her windpipe and carotid artery.

Her mother suffered only a concussion, a fractured elbow and a hairline fracture from being pushed onto the tracks. She was treated in hospital and later released.

Despite her selfless actions, which nearly took her life, Katie says she's no hero - just a devoted daughter.

'Im not a hero,' she said.

'I did what any other daughter would have done for a mother they absolutely love.'

Katie says in the moment, she was only thinking of saving her mother's life, and denies she is a hero

Katie's father, Jerry Wenszell, earlier said Katie was definitely a hero. He told Inside Edition he couldn't believe neither of the women died, or were electrocuted by the rail.

'Had Katie not jumped onto the tracks, Sue would not be here. My wife would have been coming home in a box, quite literally,' Jerry told Channel 2 Action News.

Police arrested Christopher Patrick Brooklin (pictured), 28, over the attack

Jerry and Susan had been in Atlanta with their five daughters for a weekend trip away from their home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, when Susan was pushed.

They were heading back to their hotel when the incident at the train station occurred.

'There was no eye contact, verbal contact, nothing,' Jerry said of his wife's attacker. 'The man just pushed her.'

Police arrested Christopher Patrick Brooklin, 28, over the attack.

He is charged with aggravated assault and battery in a public transit station.

Katie's family have set up a GoFundMe page to help raise funds for medical treatment, surgery, and therapy. The family said they were looking for $5,000 but donations have already surpassed $100,000.

Katie was taken to hospital after the attack on her mother (pictured) with serious injuries

The 28-year-old is still at home recovering with her grateful and amazed parentsA young boy was left trapped in a tree for 30 minutes after an agitated red-bellied black snake became stuck in wiring at the base.

The six-year-old was playing in the backyard of his family's Queensland property when he spotted the highly-venomous and deadly snake hissing at him.

After calling out to his mother from the safety of the tree, the pair waited patiently as a snake catcher raced to the house in a bid to relocate the reptile.

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A young Queensland boy was trapped in a tree for 30 minutes when he discovered an agitated Red-bellied black snake stuck at the base

Luke Huntley from Snake Catcher Noosa told Daily Mail Australia he dropped everything he was doing and rushed to the scene after receiving the call.

'I've never received a call for something like this, someone being trapped in a tree by the snake, I'm not sure any snake catchers in the area have,' he said.

He said the mother was extremely calm on the phone considering the situation.

'I sprung into energy mode, I forgot my wallet and my head torch which is a tool I use,' he said.

'But I wanted to get there as quick as I could because there was a child in danger.'

Mr Huntley posted a video of the catch to his Facebook page, using scissors to untangle the snake from a pile of mesh it had become caught up in.

'Are you alright buddy,' the wrangler can be heard saying as he pulls the child to safety before focusing his attention on the snake.

'You were very brave.'

The snake had become caught in some mesh wiring and was clearly agitated by it.

Mr Huntley (pictured) said when he arrived he could see the mother and her son begin to calm down

Mr Huntley said when he arrived he could see the mother and her son begin to calm down.

'Before I got there he was very scared, his mum calmed him down and after I arrived they really seemed to relax,' he said.

Mr Huntley said his business typically perked up as spring approached with more snakes venturing out into the open during mating season.

'Coming into spring snakes are much more active, they go from being slow and lazy to what we call 'hyper-drive' mode,' he said.

'They are totally driven by nature, the boys are out looking for the girls and the girls are usually waiting around for the boys.'

Mr Huntley said the mother did the right thing in a potentially deadly situation.

'The message I would send out is to absolutely remain calm,' he said.

'As long as people stay calm and call a professional then everyone wins.'

After bagging the snake Mr Huntley took it to some bush land and released it safely.The Russian Foreign Ministry summoned Israeli Ambassador Gary Koren over the incident, and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told his Israeli counterpart, Avigdor Lieberman, that Israel was responsible.

Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu has invested a lot in the relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin in order to maintain freedom of operation against Iran in Syria.

Israel's military, which was contacted before Russian Federation alleged the country was to blame, has declined to comment.

Iran, the third member of the so-called Astana process aimed at ending the seven-year civil war in Syria, praised the deal as an example of "responsible diplomacy".

Despite the presence of the hotline, created to prevent accidental exchanges of fire between forces allied with opposing sides in the Syrian conflict, diplomats and military experts have warned that the risk of inadvertent strikes is high. He added that the Israeli Air Force chief was ready to go to Moscow personally to further collaborate in relation to the incident.

The conversation came on Tuesday evening just before Israel began observing Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year.

Both the Russians and Israelis agree it was Syrian anti-aircraft fire, although Syria has not commented.

Secondly, Russia charges - more seriously - that the Israelis used the large radar signature of the Ilyushin turbo-prop to mask their own aircraft.

"An Israeli jet did not shoot down our plane", Putin said.

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Instead, the Russians choose to instigate a political crisis with Israel.

"The Israeli side didn't issue a notification or, to be more precise, they warned us a minute before conducting the strike", he said.

The demilitarised zone will be secured with the help of "mobile patrol groups of Turkish contingents and contingents of Russian military police", Putin said.

Mr Putin said "radical militants" such as the Al Qaeda-linked Hayat Tahrir al-Sham would have to withdraw from the zone.

The incident, which happened late Monday, was the worst case of friendly fire between the two allies since Russia's game-changing military intervention in September 2015. "As a result, the Il-20. was shot down by the (Syrian) S-200 missile system", Mr. Konashenkov said.

A witness in Latakia said he spotted four missiles downed by Syrian air defences. This absolutely does not correspond to the spirit of Russian-Israeli partnership.

Israel Defence Forces expressed sorrow at the deaths of the Russian air crew, but placed the blame squarely on the Syrian anti-aircraft missile batteries that struck the Russian plane.

The military said the plane disappeared as four Israeli fighter jets were attacking targets in the area.

Alleged Israeli strikes in Syria previously have given Russian defense-populated sites a wide berth, but strikes on the Damascus International Airport on Sunday and the air battle on Monday have played out near to Russian forces. The Russian Il-20 was shot down in the air battle, along with its crew.Florida's governor has been chased out of a campaign event at a restaurant by protesters angry over the proliferation of 'red tide' algae blooms.

Republican Rick Scott, who is running for US Senate against incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson, rushed out of the event at Mojo's Real Cuban restaurant in Venice, Florida on Monday.

Scott entered through the rear of the restaurant and stayed for only 10 minutes before fleeing the angry mob, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported.

Protesters shouted 'coward' as Scott's supporters tried to drown them out by chanting Scott's name.

.@FLGovScott avoided protesters and came in the back. Crowd inside restaurant chanting Rick Scott to drown out protesters outside. Music inside restaurant also super loud. pic.twitter.com/hIKOiedEFp  Zac Anderson (@zacjanderson) September 17, 2018

Florida Governor Rick Scott (left) remained at a campaign event on Monday for just 10 minutes, after protesters (right) angry about the red tide overwhelmed the event

Florida has been hit this year with a massive algae bloom off the western shore, a regular occurrence that some believe has been exacerbated by climate change.

The bloom extends in the Gulf of Mexico along 130 miles of coastline, from northern Pinellas to Lee counties, and extends offshore 10 miles or more, according to the latest report from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

The harmful phenomenon has killed of thousands of fish, with one Florida county collecting more than 17 tons of dead fish since red tide algae crept up from South Florida into Tampa Bay.

On Monday, protesters outside the restaurant chanted 'Hey hey, ho ho, red tide Rick has got to go' and held signs that dubbed him 'red tide Rick.'

.@FLGovScott exits back door after just 10 minutes in restaurant crowd booing and shouting coward pic.twitter.com/ixiyxE1juV  Zac Anderson (@zacjanderson) September 17, 2018

Protesters are seen outside Mojos Real Cuban Restaurant on Monday in Venice, Florida

Residents are angry over the massive algae bloom, and blame Scott's policies for exacerbating the environmental problem

'The more I learn about red tide the more I can point to Rick Scott making it worse,' Venice resident Rich Peabody, 71, told the Herald-Tribune. 'It's not his fault, but he's making it worse.'

Peabody stood by the back door to Mojo's and shouted 'coward' at Scott as he left the restaurant.

'He's a coward; he wouldn't face these people,' said the semi-retired Peabody, who moved to the area nine years ago. 'Look at our beaches.'

Although Florida has experienced red tides for centuries, Scott's critics say that his policies have exacerbated the situation, pointing out that the algae blooms feed off of run-off from septic tanks and fertilizer.

In 2012, Scott signed legislation that repealed mandatory septic tank inspections in.

As governor, he has also cut $700 million from the state's water management districts and reduced staffing at Florida's Department of Environmental Protection.

Dead fish killed by the red tide are shown near a boat ramp in Bradenton Beach last month

Scott has responded to the red tide by declaring a state of emergency last month covering seven counties impacted by the bloom.

He has also has directed $9 million in grant funding to help communities cope with the bloom.

'Gov. Scott is working hard to find solutions while Bill Nelson is nowhere to be found,' said Scott spokesman Chris Hartline.

'Nelson promised 30 years ago in a campaign ad that he was going to fight to protect Florida's environment. We're still waiting to see anything besides empty promises.'

'While red tide is a naturally occurring algae that has been documented along Florida's Gulf Coast since the 1840s, Gov. Scott is fighting to use all available resources to help impacted communities, including declaring a state of emergency and providing millions of dollars in grant funding to Southwest Florida counties for cleanup and recovery efforts,' Hartline said.A Chinese man living on the Gold Coast has been banned from owning a pet for three years after he was videoed beating a fluffy white puppy.

Magistrate John Costanzo sentenced Chinese-born Jian Zhang, 28, to 12 months probation and ordered him to pay legal costs up to $8500.

Zhang was also barred from owning an animal for three years.

Chinese-born Jian Zhang, 28, has been banned from owning a pet for three years after he was videoed beating a fluffy white puppy

On March 19, Zhang repeatedly hit the samoyed puppy with a stick in his bathroom.

Outraged neighbours filmed the act.

Audio from the neighbours' footage was played in Zhang's trial in Southport, on the Gold Coast.

The dog, named Ka Ka, can be heard in the video yelping in fear and pain.

Veterinary documents tendered to the court read that Ka Ka was found to have urine stains on his neck, chest, and front legs, and that these were consistent with the dog being rubbed in urine or held down in urine while beaten.

Magistrate John Costanzo sentenced Zhang to 12 months probation and ordered him to pay legal and vet costs up to $8500.

A samoyed puppy, which is the breed of the dog beaten by Jian Zhang (stock photo)

Zhang was also barred from owning an animal for three years.

'The incident on the video recording was distressing to the dog and obviously concerning to the neighbours and it is both concerning and distressing to this court,' Costanzo said.

'You're a mature-aged man who should know better than to treat animals in the way that you did.'

The RSPCA confiscated Ka Ka and Zhang's other dog, also a samoyed, and placed them into care.The New South Wales corruption watchdog has recommended former Australian of the Year state finalist Eman Sharobeem be prosecuted for misconduct in public office for rorting almost $800,000 from charities.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption on Wednesday made 24 serious corrupt conduct findings against Ms Sharobeem following a lengthy inquiry held last year.

The commission heard that the purchases were made between 2007 and 2016 and billed to the now-defunct Immigrant Women's Health Service while Ms Sharobeem was CEO of the organisation.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption found that Eman Sharobeem (pictured) used the money to buy a range of luxury items including an $80,000 diamond ring, a $1,287 television and a $1,200 dresser

Ms Sharobeem also submitted $140,000 in invoices that falsely claimed she and her sons worked as facilitators, commission found (receipts pictured)

'The commission finds that between 2007 and early 2016 Ms Sharobeem improperly exercised her official functions while service manager or chief executive of the Immigrant Women's Health Service and the person in day-to-day charge of the Non-English Speaking Housing Women's Scheme,' the commission said in a statement.

ICAC found Ms Sharobeem transferred more than $440,000 of IWHS funds to her own bank account and used IWHS funds for various other personal purchases and expenses including $30,000 in payments to Sydney Water and the State Debt Recovery Office and $18,000 towards the purchase of a Mercedes for her husband.

She also spent $13,500 on jewellery and used company funds to pay for botox, the commission found.

Ms Sharobeem further arranged for the IWHS to pay $60,000 for work on her Fairfield property; submitted $140,000 in invoices that falsely claimed she and her sons worked as facilitators; and transferred $3000 from the NESH bank account to her own to reimburse herself for payments she made for her son's liposuction.

She was also found to have spent $18000 on her husband's Mercedes and $13500 on jewellery

'I want to die, I've been framed, I want to die,' Ms Sharobeem said at the beginning of the inquiry when claiming her colleagues had set her up.

At another time she said: 'I wouldn't take the organisation's money and pay for a Mercedes. I'm not stupid.'

On the final day of the hearings, she insisted: 'My work is known, my work is shown. You cannot take this away from me until the grave.'

The ICAC on Wednesday said 'consideration should be given to obtaining the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions with respect to the prosecution of Ms Sharobeem for various offences' including misconduct in public office, fraud, obtaining benefit by deception, publishing a false statement, using a false document and giving false or misleading evidence.

The commission also made 12 corruption prevention recommendations to the two NSW government agencies that substantially funded the IWHS and the NESH.

What Eman Sharobeem told the ICAC during the 2017 inquiry 'I want to die. I've been framed. I want to die.' - Ms Sharobeem on the second day of the inquiry when claiming her colleagues had set her up. 'I wouldn't take the organisation's money and pay for a Mercedes. I'm not stupid.' - when asked why she took money from the organisation to pay for a Mercedes. 'My work is known, my work is shown. You cannot take this away from me until the grave.' - on the final day of the inquiry. 'This commission is against all forms of human rights, isn't it? This is just to abuse people.' - after being questioned about her children's employment. So who should pay it? It's part of my package ... I am covered around the clock by the organisation. Mistakes happen driving.' - when asked why she paid for traffic infringements on a charity credit card. 'Can I please ask you to stop them from torturing me any further?' - speaking to the ICAC acting commissioner during questioning. 'I don't think I have the ability to do this. I am finished. They managed to kill my soul, kill my body, I can't.' - to the acting commissioner again. 'It shouldn't be discussed here, it's a personal matter.' - when asked why her son's liposuction bill was reimbursed to her from her organisation's funds. Source: AAP AdvertisementSarah Moulds (pictured), 37, is said to be 'terrified' of returning to her family home in an upmarket Leicestershire village after the shocking video of the incident over the weekend sparked outrage. In the sickening video filmed on Saturday afternoon, Mrs Moulds first kicks the pony in the chest area before hitting it repeatedly around the face as she leads it back to a horse box while on a hunt. David Kirkham, Ms Moulds' uncle, exclusively told MailOnline his niece 'absolutely loves her horses'. He said: 'She is a very upright person, a fantastic person who absolutely loves her horses. I've seen the video but we don't know what the horse had been doing and if it was out of control. But we know it ran out onto the road and she told it off. There was no malice intended.' It comes as it was revealed Mrs Moulds has gone into hiding after receiving death threats and 'fearing for her life'. The teacher at Somerby Primary School and director of the Knossington and Somerby Pre-School was suspended while she is under investigation over the incident. Mr Kirkham added: 'Sarah is the most stable, upright person I know and she is a good horsewoman. She is very well thought of and respected.' Inset, a RSPCA business card with a handwritten note has been pinned to the front door of her empty house, where she lives with husband Daniel. It states: 'Please get in contact ASAP. Quote incident number 00748573.'A convicted child killer has broken her silence eight years after being jailed for the murder of her newborn daughter.

Sydney woman Keli Lane, 43, was convicted and jailed for 18 years in 2010 after a court found her guilty of murdering her daughter Tegan two days after giving birth.

Tegan's body was never found.

Now, speaking to the ABC from inside the Silverwater Women's Correctional Centre where she is serving an 18-year sentence, Lane has vowed to clear her name.

The 43-year-old has begged for 'someone to come forward with her daughter'.

Child killer Keli Lane has broken her silence and claimed she has been wrongly convicted of murdering her newborn daughter. She is pictured left one month before the murder

'She'd be an adult now. So she obviously has had a whole life perhaps not knowing she is my child,' Lane told ABC News.

'I don't want to interrupt her life, I don't necessarily even need to meet her, but obviously for my own family, for myself, I want to show that I did not harm her. And I certainly did not kill her.'

Lane said that she handed Tegan over 'safely' to the biological father just days after the 1996 birth at Auburn hospital in Sydney's west.

She initially claimed the baby was in the hands of a man named Andrew Morris, who she claimed to have had an affair with.

She later told police the mystery father's name was Andrew Norris.

'Although it may seem unusual to everyone else, 21 years ago they're the steps I took and I safely gave her to her father, I want to clear my name. I want to show the public that's what happened,' she said.

The 43-year-old has begged for 'someone to come forward with her daughter' to clear her name

Police searched for a man by either name but were never able to find him and the father of the child still remains a mystery.

Lane had a history of unwanted pregnancies which ended in either abortion or adoption and police said she had a pattern of deception.

The young mother was found to have left the hospital with Tegan on September 14, 1996, two days after giving birth.

She arrived at a friend's birthday party at 4pm that same day without Tegan, who was never seen again.

She was charged with murder in November 2008, and found guilty on December 13 the following year before being sentenced to 18 years prison.

Her first appeal, in 2013, was rejected by the Court of Criminal Appeal, and she will be eligible for parole after serving 13 years and five months.The fruit needle contamination crisis continues to spread with another apple and more bananas spiked.

A Melbourne resident reported they purchased the Granny Smith apple at a Coles supermarket only to later discover the needle when they went to bite into the fruit.

The apple had been bought from a store in Boronia, in the city's east, with Coles advising the matter was now being investigated by police, 3AW reported.

The infected banana was uncovered by a school student at a primary school in Newcastle, north of Sydney, on Wednesday morning.

A Melbourne resident has reported they found a needle inside a Granny Smith apple (pictured) which was purchased from a supermarket in the city's east

The discovery comes after a needle was found inside a Pink Lady apple (pictured) which was purchased from a supermarket in North Sydney on Tuesday

The shock find was made when the student unpacked the banana from their lunch box, with teachers alerted and the police called in.

'The school is sending a message to all parents to tell them what has happened,' a Diocese of Maitland Newcastle spokesman told the Newcastle Herald.

'The student is okay and police have been called.'

The latest developments come as Prime Minister Scott Morrison is set to introduce a law which would see copycat fruit saboteurs jailed for 10 years.

Mr Morrison said those responsible were 'idiots' and called for stronger legislation.

Anyone found guilty of contaminating food would face a maximum of 15 years in jail, up from 10 years.

Horrifying cases of needles and razors found inside fruit by stunned shoppers have surfaced in every state

Six brands of strawberry have been recalled amid the contamination scare which has devestated the industry

Additionally, anyone who piggy-backed on such a crisis by engaging in a reckless hoax would also face 10 years behind bars.

'Some idiot, for his own reasons, or her own reasons, has engaged in an act of sabotage,' Mr Morrison told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday.

Horrifying cases of needles and razors found inside fruit by stunned shoppers have surfaced in every state, with at least 13 people sharing their experience online.

Queensland police have also confirmed they were investigating an incident where a metal object was found inside a banana.

Six strawberry farms in Queensland and one in Western Australia have been targeted by what authorities believe could have been disgruntled packaging employees.

Six brands of strawberry - Donnybrook Berries, Love Berry, Delightful Strawberries, Oasis, Berry Obsession and Berry Licious - have been recalled amid the contamination scare which has devestated the industry.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is set to introduce a law which would see copycat fruit saboteurs jailed for 10 years

And on Tuesday, a needle was reportedly found inside a Pink Lady apple.

New South Wales Police are investigating claims that an apple was found with a sewing needle inside of it in North Sydney on Tuesday.

A woman was peeling freshly bought apples for her daughters to enjoy when she made the horrifying discovery, firstly believing it to be the stem of the fruit.

Seven News reported it was a Pink Lady Apple from inside a pre-packed container at the Woolworths in the The Ponds, in Sydney's north-west.

The woman, named only as Carmello, said she was stunned.

'I just thought wow this can't possibly be happening,' she said.

A South Australian woman also reported she had found a nail embedded inside a Pink Lady apple which she had purchased from Woolworths.It looks like the sort of thing you might see in a sci-fi film.

But this bizarre creature found on a beach is actually a rare jellyfish.

Along with their two kids, Adam and Eve Dickinson stumbled across a lion's mane jellyfish at Pakiri Beach, in north Auckland, New Zealand on Monday morning.

'[Jellyfish] were everywhere, it was amazing,' Mrs Dickinson told Daily Mail Australia.

'One (jellyfish) was massive and really impressive, none of the others were like this one, it looked like a volcano.

The Dickinson family were stunned after finding a lion's mane jellyfish on an Auckland beach

The distinctive lion's mane jellyfish which washed on up on Auckland beach earlier this week

'We stopped and when we started looking at it, we then noticed it was starting to move slowly.

'My kids then poked it with a stick to see it would move again.'

The lion's mane jellyfish, the largest species found in New Zealand waters, is often confined to colder climates.

They use their stinging tentacles to capture and eat prey.

In recent years across the Tasman, they have been spotted in Devonport, Orewa, Whangarei Heads and Nelson.

Diana Macpherson, a marine biology technician at the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, confirmed the eye-catching jellyfish are not poisonous - but stings can result in small welts.

'They have a toxin in their tentacles which can hurt you if you get too close to them,' she told Fairfax.

'People should always treat them with caution.'The killer who shot dead a planning officer in a row over a bungalow referred to himself as 'rocket man' and told a friend he wanted fish and chips when he came out of prison, newly-revealed letters show.

Albert Dryden, who was jailed for life after killing Derwentside Council official Harry Collinson in June 1991, died this week at the age of 77, less than a year after he was freed from prison.

In letters to his friend John Snowdon - who called Dryden a 'good lad' - the eccentric killer revealed he was making plans for his release.

TV cameras captured the moment Dryden murdered Mr Collinson, a father of two, as council officers came to demolish a bungalow he had built illegally in Butsfield, County Durham.

Killer Albert Dryden, pictured as he shot dead planning officer Harry Collinson in a row over planning permission for a bungalow in 1991, died in a nursing home this week at the age of 77

In the bizarre letters from prison, which have been revealed for the first time, he wrote to friend John Snowdon in 2016 to tell him he would soon be out.

In a letter sent from HMP Haverigg, Cumbria, in June 2016, Dryden said : 'Rocket man hear. I will be home in August, look out for the 28 feet limo, heading for Tow Law Chippy. Cod and Chips.'

Two months later he wrote to Mr Snowdon again expressing his disappointment that he had not heard anything about parole.

He said: 'Still no date for my ninth parole review. It's running ten and half months late now.'

Dryden signed each letter 'Man of Steel', with the subtitle 'Consett Steel, 1840 to 1980', a reference to the industrial heritage of the County Durham town where he was born.

Mr Snowdon, 81, said: 'Albert was a good lad. When I heard he had killed somebody it such a shock, it was terrible.

In one of the letters from Albert Dryden to his friend John Snowdon he said he wanted 'cod and chips' when he got out of prison as he applied for parole from his life sentence for murder

In a second letter from the Cumbria prison two months later - once again signed Man of Steel - Dryden tells Mr Snowdon that he still did not have a date for his parole review

'I still don't really know what happened. It's just really tragic that he spent the rest of his life in jail.

'I have known Albert all his life. I was friends with him and I used to weightlift with him. He was always a man who kept himself to himself.

'I saw him about a month ago. He was in a cot-like bed. He couldn't talk. The man was dying, he had no life. He could nod his head and shake his head. He was frustrated, and very remorseful.

'Despite what people have said he was remorseful. It is just tragic all round. He never got a chance to say he was sorry, but you could see the remorse in his eyes.'

Mr Snowdon had known Dryden since they worked in steel together in the 1960s and helped him dig a trench to build his illegal bungalow.

Mr Collinson, who was chief planning officer of the now-defunct Derwentside Council, was shot dead in front of press and television reporters moments after asking camera crews to get a picture of the gun.

Albert Dryden, pictured left leaving Consett Magistrates Court in County Durham the day after shooting the planning officer dead, wrote letters to his friend John Snowdon, pictured right

The local authority had moved in to demolish the bungalow Dryden had built without planning consent on his land in Butsfield.

He had claimed the new home was for his poorly mother and argued he did not need consent as only the roof was visible.

When the council arrived Dryden, who had amassed a collection of guns in his bungalow, shot Mr Collinson, 46, and wounded police officer Stephen Campbell in the buttock and BBC Look North reporter Tony Belmont in the arm.

The shocking footage was later shown on the BBC's Look North programme.

At Dryden's trial in Newcastle in 1992 he claimed he was mentally unwell and not responsible for his actions, but the jury found him guilty of murder.

He was released on compassionate grounds last year after suffering a stroke and died in a County Durham nursing home on Saturday at the age of 77.

Mr Collinson's older brother, Roy, told the Northern Echo Dryden was a 'bloody murderer', adding: 'Good riddance.'A nanny in China has been caught on camera apparently hitting, shoving and throwing a seven-month-old baby into bed while looking after the child.

She was also seen deliberately wrapping a towel around the baby's head before pushing the baby backwards while holding onto the towel.

In addition, the baby's mother, from China's Datong city, has accused the worker of choking and gagging her daughter because the girl couldn't stop crying.

Surveillance footage has caught the nanny hitting the baby while looking after her in China

She is also seen throwing the baby into a bed before moving on to play on her mobile phone

The distressed parent, Ms Liu, told of the horror yesterday to Kan Kan News, a news outlet affiliated to Shanghai Media Group.

It is said the nanny had only been hired for six days when Ms Liu saw her abusing the child on their home surveillance footage.

Ms Liu claimed that the nanny, who was paid 3,500 yuan (387) a month, had constantly beat the girl in a violent way.

The mother said apart from hitting her daughter, the nanny had spent a lot of time playing on her phone during work, leaving her daughter on her own.

Footage of Ms Liu's home, which is circulating online in China, also showed the nanny carelessly folding a blanket next to a bed, letting the blanket completely cover the baby's body - including her face - during the process.

At one point, the nanny deliberately wraps a towel around the seven-month-old's head

The baby is then pushed backwards while the nanny holds the towel around her head

Ms Liu called the police after watching the footage, but she said the police told her the situation was not serious enough for them to detain the nanny.

She claimed the nanny had offered to pay her 10,000 yuan (1,015) as compensation, and the agency had offered to cover the nanny's salary for a month as 'consolation money', but she wasn't happy with the settlement.

'(The money) cannot make up for the ordeal we have gone through psychologically,' Ms Liu added.

The report said that the baby girl didn't sustained injuries, but was 'mentally affected'. Ms Liu said her daughter now has trouble sleeping because of the alleged abuse.A video of two students having to destroy their smartphones in front of their classmates has sparked discussion in China.

In the now trending video, a man believed to be a teacher is heard telling one student to 'pick it up and smash it again' after the teenager slammed his phone on the ground once.

Local education bureau claimed that the two pupils had smashed the handsets out of their own will to show they were good students after being caught playing on them the day before.

A video showing two students destroying their smartphones has appeared online in China

Local education bureau claimed the two teenagers had been caught using their phones during a self-studying session one day before, and they had volunteered to smash the handsets

The incident took place at The No. 2 Middle School of Dao County in Yongzhou, southern China's Hunan Province, on September 5.

The two teenagers, He and Liao, were said to have been caught using the phones during a self-studying session on the night of September 4.

After their phones were confiscated by a teacher named Xiong, they found the teacher and offered to smash their phone in the classroom to show their resolution to study harder, the Dao County Education Bureau said in a statement.

The school's headmaster said the two students had broken the school's rule, and it had also punished the teacher for dealing with the matter 'inappropriately', according to authorities

In the statement released by Dao County on its official social media account today, the authority said He and Liao destroyed their phones the next day.

And before they did so, they read out the harm of students using phones in front of their classmates.

The school's headmaster said the two students had broken the school's rule, which prohibits students from using mobile phones on campus, but the way teacher Xiong had dealt with the matter was also 'inappropriate'.

The headmaster said the school had criticised Xiong seriously and deducted his bonus salary, according to Dao County Education Bureau.The commerce ministry said the new tariffs "bring new uncertainty to the consultations between the two sides".

The US president said there would be further tariffs on $267bn (203bn) in Chinese imports if Beijing takes "retaliatory action against our farmers or other industries".

Bloomberg news, siting five unidentified sources, said a product code that covers the Apple Watch, AirPods, and HomePod smart speaker, is not listed among some $200 billion in Chinese products subject to a new 10 percent tariff expected to be announced later this week.

But in a last-minute reprieve, he spared smart watches from Apple and other consumer products like bicycle helmets and baby vehicle seats from the tariffs.

In a post on its wesbsite, China's Commerce Ministry accused the USA of causing an "economic emergency" in China, and forcing China to retaliate.

The US-China trade war could have some impact on the prices Kiwi pay for goods due to the interconnected nature of global supply chains, an expert warns. I think that kind of tactic is not going to work with China. 'We hope that the United States side will recognise the negative consequences of such acts and take convincing measures to correct them in a timely manner'. Trump's decision threatens to upend the possibility of a diplomatic breakthrough with Chinese negotiators.

Australian Trade Minister Simon Birmingham warned the trade war between the U.S. and China would hurt consumers and would have "possible negative effects" on other nation's economies.

So far, the United States has imposed tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese products to pressure China to make sweeping changes to its trade, technology transfer and high-tech industrial subsidy policies.

Lighting Technologies International, a 200-person company based in Baldwin Park, California, said the proposed tariffs covered several critical components needed for its manufacture of digital cinema xenon lamps, including rare earth materials.

Trump's top economic advisor, Larry Kudlow, said in NY on Monday: "We stand ready to negotiate with China any time if they are willing to move towards serious talks to remedy trade problems".

Trump's latest measures inject uncertainty into the status of the trade talks, Chinese officials said, suggesting the commercial battle between the world's two largest economies could drag on indefinitely.

There could be some short-term opportunities for New Zealand from the tariffs but the risks were greater, he said.

President Trump to spare Apple from tariffs on Chinese goods

But a year ago , we lost $375 billion in deficits, and we had, in my opinion, way over $500 billion in cash. The two countries are fighting over Beijing's ambitions to supplant American technological supremacy.

The tariffs focused on industrial products, not on things Americans buy at the mall or via Amazon.

"If he puts tariffs on all Chinese exports to the United States - which he says he will - even in that scenario, the negative impact on China's economy is about 0.7 per cent", Fang said.

Most of the about 100 categories of items highlighted by Pendleton in a filing with the US Trade Representative were included in the final tariff list.

The prospect of a more aggressive trade war with China pushed stocks lower, after investors had previously been largely untroubled by the Trump administration's trade policies.

Beijing has said it would also unleash "qualitative" measures against the United States, which some American firms have interpreted as heightened regulations and stalled visas.

"The real issue with these talks from the Chinese side is not the 10 per cent USA tariffs", Mr Scissors said.

"We seem to be good friends". Monday's announcement means almost half of all goods imported from China will be subject to tariffs.

Parker said he was planning a trip to Washington and Ottawa next month to put New Zealand's point of view to small groups of ministers from "like-minded countries".

The chamber appealed to both governments for "results-oriented negotiations".

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang warned the day before the tariffs were announced: "If the USA imposes any additional tariffs on China, we will have to take necessary countermeasures and resolutely safeguard our legitimate and legal rights and interests".

"Dialogue is the only way that there is to resolve these issues", he said.Vladimir Putin has said the EU's generous social benefits are to blame for the migrant crisis - and that most immigrants arriving in Russia integrate because they speak Russian.

The Russian President, speaking after talks with hard right Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Moscow, pointed to the 'large social benefits and other bonuses' available in the bloc.

He said: 'If one encourages migration with large social benefits and other bonuses, why should this flow ever stop?'

Immigrants arriving in Russia were from post-Soviet states meaning many of them already speak the language and integrated into society easily, he added.

Vladimir Putin (pictured yesterday with Hungarian premier Viktor Orban) has said the EU's generous social benefits are to blame for the migrant crisis - and that most immigrants arriving in Russia integrate because they speak Russian

On the other hand, Europe faces a 'very complex' process of integrating migrants from entirely different cultures, he said, according to RT.

More than a million refugees entered Germany in 2015 as a result of Chancellor Angela Merkel's open doors policy on migration.

Thousands have died trying to cross the Mediterranean to escape conflict in their homelands while Italy sparked a diplomatic crisis

The number of people fleeing war or poverty in Africa, the Middle East and Asia who cross to the EU has dropped to about 80,000 this year, but the issue is divisive and has bolstered far-right and other anti-establishment groups.

Italy sparked a diplomatic crisis earlier this year by closing its ports to most asylum-seeker.

Kremlin strongman Putin said it was now down to EU members to find a way of tackling the immigration issue.

He said 'it's up to our colleagues in Europe to decide for themselves what is better for Europe and Europeans.'

The comments came a day after Orban vowed to oppose an EU plan aimed at bolstering the bloc's external borders, accusing Brussels of wanting to take away Hungary's control of its own frontiers.

The Russian President, speaking after talks with hard right Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Moscow, pointed to the 'large social benefits and other bonuses' available in the bloc

According to the fiercely anti-immigration premier, the plan to reinforce border defences on the bloc's margins would 'strip Hungary of its right to protect its own borders'.

'We will not give up our right to defend a border, no-one can take an iota of that away from us,' he said during a speech in parliament in Budapest.

Hungary 'understand(s) border defence better than anyone in Brussels or an international organisation,' he said.

The European Commission unveiled a proposal in July to hike staff numbers at the EU's border-guard and coastguard agency Frontex.

The Warsaw-based agency currently only has 600 staff, with EU members assigning extra support through hundreds of police for operations in Italy and Greece, which along with Spain have continued to bear the brunt of the arrivals.

An extra 10,000 agents would be deployed at EU borders from 2020 under the plan, and would be able to patrol and intervene when needed.

Last week Orban described the EU plan as a 'pro-immigration' effort led by German Chancellor Angela Merkel to remove border control from peripheral countries and give 'the keys to the gate' to Brussels.

'They will send mercenaries here from Brussels, from where they will be told how the Hungarian border should be protected,' Orban said on state radio Friday.

'We should be under no illusions: if they control Hungarian border defences, they will let in the migrants,' he said.

Orban said he would oppose the plan at a informal meeting of EU heads of state in Salzburg, Austria, later this week where the topics of migration and border security are expected to dominate.

In a statement Monday the European Commission's representative office in Budapest denied Orban's accusations.

'The EU does not want to take over border defence from member states, but rather help them to protect the external borders,' it said.

The 55-year-old premier suffered a rare setback last week when the European Parliament voted to launch a sanctions procedure against Hungary over rule-of-law concerns.

Orban said the vote in Strasbourg was a bid to weaken Hungary which has become a 'symbol of resistance against migration'.

Hungary will file a case at the European Court of Justice, said Orban's chief-of-staff Monday, as the vote did not include abstentions in the calculation of the two-thirds majority necessary for its adoption, and hence broke EU rules according to Budapest.Karanbir Cheema, known as Karan, suffered a serious allergic reaction at his school in London

A popular boy with a severe allergy to dairy died after he was 'chased with cheese and had it thrown down his T-shirt' at his school, an inquest heard.

Karanbir Cheema, known as Karan, suffered a serious allergic reaction in Greenford, West London, just before midday on June 28 last year.

The 13-year-old was severely allergic to wheat, gluten, all dairy products, eggs and all nuts, and was also asthmatic and suffered from atopic eczema.

The coroner was told the fatal incident had been 'pupil on pupil' and that the other student had since been removed from the school.

He went into anaphylactic shock at William Perkin Church of England High School in Greenford at about 11.30am.

He was unconscious throughout the time paramedics battled to save his life, St Pancras Coroners' Court heard.

Today the inquest heard from paramedic Kierin Oppatt in advance of a full inquest which he cannot attend.

Mr Oppatt told the hearing that the 999 operator was told it was 'just an allergic reaction' but when he arrived Karan was 'gasping for air' and had broken out in hives.

Karan, pictured with his mother Rina, was unconscious as paramedics battled to save his life

The young boy was unconscious and stopped breathing shortly after the Mr Oppatt and his colleague arrived.

Senior coroner Mary Hassell asked the witness, one of the first paramedics on the scene, to go through the tragic events.

Mr Oppatt said: 'The call came in at 11.40am. We arrived on the scene at 11.47am. The call came in as just an allergic reaction.

'On arrival at the scene I immediately knew it was life threatening and that the patient had a high risk of going into cardiac and respiratory arrest.

'We were told by school staff that perhaps someone had chased the patient with cheese and had proceeded to throw it down his T-shirt.

'That he had an allergic reaction, that he was itchy, his skin was very hot, and that he was having difficulty breathing.'

'Staff had administered two spoons of Piriton, an epipen and given him his inhaler.'

Mr Oppatt added: 'When we arrived we saw Karan lying on his back on the floor with teachers around him. He appeared to be in a state of pre-arrest.

'He had very slow respiration - he was gasping for air. His skin was red and there appeared to be hives.'

Realising the severity of the situation, Mr Oppatt knew he had to call for help but had to go outside because his radio could not get reception.

Karan's mother, Rina Cheema, with family outside St Pancras Coroner's Court in London today

Karan, pictured with his father Amarjeet Cheema, died in hospital ten days after the incident

Mr Oppatt said: 'I went to the vehicle and called the communications centre and informed them that our patient was in cardiac and respiratory arrest.

'And that I required the assistance of an advanced paramedic and additional crews at the job.'

He then returned to help his colleague and said: 'I was in the process of drawing up inter-muscular adrenaline when I was informed by my colleague that Karan had stopped breathing.'

The pair began to perform CPR on Karan, gave him adrenaline and Mr Oppatt used a defibrillator while they waited for back up to arrive.

He said: 'From there I turned around and took his shirt off and placed the defibrillator pads on his chest.'

After this he began compressions. When additional crews arrived, Karan was taken on a stretcher to the ambulance and was unconscious throughout.

He died with his parents by his hospital bed in Great Ormond Street Hospital ten days later on July 9.

Karan was severely allergic to wheat, gluten, all dairy products, eggs and all nuts and eggs

Another boy, also 13 at the time, was later arrested on suspicion of attempted murder but has not been charged.

Detective Sergeant Christian Rodgers while going through a list of potential witnesses with the coroner ahead of the full inquest said: 'The person involved is no longer at the school.'

Outside court he said: 'It was pupil on pupil.'

Karan's mother Rina Cheema, a qualified accountant, his two brothers and sister were at court today.

Earlier it was reported the 13-year-old Manchester City fan even had his own fridge and microwave at the home he shared with his mother and grandfather.

Speaking outside St Pancras Coroners Court where part of Karan's inquest was held, Rina Cheema, 52, said: 'I am devastated as a mother after losing my son and my family have lost their brother.

'He was a very, very bright young boy. He was so bright he could have been anything he wanted. I brought him up by myself. I trained him to read all about his condition. We want answers.'

Karan attended William Perkin Church of England High School in Greenford, West London

A family member, who did not wish to be named, said: 'I've never met anyone like him in my life. He would have done anything for anyone. He could have been anything.

'He loved taking things apart and putting them back together, he loved music. He would have done something out of this world, he was an extraordinary child.

'He was extremely bright - he knew very well how to manage his condition. He wanted to be a barrister but then changed his mind when he saw the size of the books.'

Ms Cheema plans to highlight awareness around anaphylactic shock following the tragic death of her son.President Trump has been mocked after saying that Hurricane Florence was 'one of the wettest we have seen from the standpoint of water'.

Trump made the remark in a video he posted to Twitter on Tuesday praising the authorities' response to the storm, which he also called 'a nasty one, a big one'.

Earlier in the day he took the opportunity to pat himself on the back, claiming 'right now, everybody is saying what a great job we are doing with Hurricane Florence  and they are 100% correct.'

President Trump has been mocked online after referring to Hurricane Florence as 'one of the wettest we have seen from the standpoint of water' while praising the emergency services

But he said: 'At some point in the near future the Democrats will start ranting that FEMA, our Military, and our First Responders, who are all unbelievable, are a disaster and not doing a good job.

'This will be a total lie, but that's what they do, and everybody knows it!'

In his video message, which was issued around eight hours later, he added: 'I just want to thank all of the incredible men and women who have done such a great job in helping with Florence.

'This is a tough hurricane, one of the wettest we have seen from the standpoint of water. Rarely have we had an experince like it and it certainly is not good.

'But the people of North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, all of the affected areas - you've been incredible.

'There has been a loss of life and may God be with them and their families. That is a tough one, it is tough to understand, but this has been a really difficult time for a lot of people.

'FEMA, the job you've done, the military, coastguard what you've done in saving so many lives has been really something special, law enforcement, always.

'I just want to thank everybody for doing such a great job with a very difficult situation, Florence has been a nasty one, a big one, like that area has certainly never seen before.

'The waters are still rising, listen to your state and local authorities, be patient, be alert, and God bless you.'

The President spoke out as North Carolina governor Roy Cooper urged evacuees not to return to their homes just yet because floodwaters could still rise (pictured, kayakers on the flooded Trent River in Nortrh Carolina)

Rescue workers evacuate a family after Little River overflowed its banks and flooded part of an apartment complex in Spring Lake, North Carolina

Kenny Babb looks out over the water on his flooded property as the Little River continues to rise in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence in Linden, North Carolina

Cars sit abandoned on a flooded street in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence in Lillington, North Carolina

Floodwater from Cross Creek covers North Cool Spring Street on the edge of downtown Fayetteville, North Carolina

Trump spoke out as North Carolina governor Roy Cooper pleaded with evacuees not to return home yet as floodwaters could still rise.

Cooper also asked for patience from those housed in temporary shelters, often having to wait hours to collect necessities such as food and water.

'I know it was hard to leave home, and it is even harder to wait and wonder whether you even have a home to go back to,' he said.

Roads remain treacherous, he said, and some are still being closed for the first time as rivers swelled by torrential rains inland drain toward the Atlantic.

He spoke as the death toll rose to 37 across at least three states with 27 fatalities in North Carolina.

In South Carolina, two women died after a van was overtaken by rising flood waters near the Little Pee Dee River.

The women, detainees being transported to a mental health facility, drowned around 6 p.m. Tuesday when a van tried to cross a roadway and was overtaken by water.

Two other people were sent to a hospital for observation.

The White House said President Donald Trump will visit North Carolina on Wednesday to see the damage.

In Wilmington, workers began handing out supplies using a system resembling a giant fast-food drive-thru.

Drivers pulled up to a line of pallets, placed an order and left without having to get out. A woman blew a whistle each time drivers had to pull forward.

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper watches as FEMA Administrator Brock Long talks to the media at an emergency shelter for hurricane victims

Cooper and his wife Kristin greet people seeking refuge from Hurricane Florence at a shelter at UNC-Chapel Hill

A National Guard Chinook helicopter lands in Wilmington, North Carolina, while bringing supplies to the victims of Hurricane Florence

U.S. Army personnel unload food and water to assist the victims of Hurricane Florence

Todd Tremain needed tarps to cover up spots where Florence's winds ripped shingles off his roof.

Others got a case of bottled water or military MREs, or field rations. An olive-drab military forklift moved around huge pallets loaded with supplies.

Brandon Echavarrieta struggled to stay composed as he described life post-Florence: no power for days, rotted meat in the freezer, no water or food and just one bath in a week.

'It's been pretty bad,' said Echavarrieta, 34, his voice breaking.

Nearby, about 200 people lined up to buy 40-pound (18-kilogram) bags of ice as quickly as a Rose Ice and Coal Co. could produce it.

Supplies have been brought into the city by big military trucks and helicopters, which also were used to pluck hundreds of desperate people from homes and other structures.

Mayor Bill Saffo said two routes were now open into Wilmington, which had been completely cut off by floodwaters, but those roads could close again as water swells the Cape Fear River on the city's west side.

At Fayetteville, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) inland, near the Army's sprawling Fort Bragg, the Cape Fear River had risen about 50 feet (15 meters) toward a crest predicted to be more than 25 feet (7 meters) above flood level.

On Tuesday, logs and other debris became trapped under a rail bridge as rushing brown water pushed against the span.

The flooding got so bad that authorities closed a vehicle bridge in Fayetteville after the river began touching girders supporting the bridge's top deck.

Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin said it was unclear if the bridge was threatened.

'We've never had it at those levels before so we don't really know what the impact will be just yet,' he said.

The President also congratulated himself on Twitter while preempting Democrat criticism, saying that it will be 'a total lie'

The river swallowed trees, lamp posts and a parking lot near its banks.

City officials warned still-rising water threatened some neighborhoods and businesses that seemed safe, but said the worst was nearly over and life was beginning to return to normal downtown.

Businesses were re-opening and owners removed sandbags and plywood from storefronts.

Human and animal waste is mixing with the swirling floodwaters, which have killed about 1.7 million chickens on poultry farms.

More than 5 million gallons (18 million liters) of partially treated sewage spilled into the Cape Fear River after power went out at a treatment plant, officials said, and the earthen dam of a pond holding hog waste was breached, spilling its contents.

The governor said 16 rivers statewide were at major flood stage and more than 1,100 roads were closed. Emergency workers reported rescuing and evacuating more than 2,200 people and around 575 animals, he said.

In a bright spot, the Lumber River appeared to be falling in hard-hit Lumberton, about 70 miles (110 kilometers) inland.

Power outages in the Southeast also were down, from a high of more than 910,000 to about 245,000, nearly all in North Carolina.London bus driver Marcia Carty, 54, (pictured) has worn her red, gold and green headscarf for more than a decade while driving passengers around the capital

A Rastafarian bus driver was threatened with the sack for wearing a religious headscarf at work.

London bus driver Marcia Carty, 54, has worn her red, gold and green headscarf for more than a decade while driving passengers around the capital.

But her employer - bus operator Metroline Travel - has now banned her from wearing the item, which she says she must wear to observe her faith.

Ms Carty offered to compromise by wearing a blue headscarf - in line with company colours - and a small badge representing the Rastafarian colours so important to her.

But Metroline rejected her proposal, and said she would lose her job if she did not comply with their orders.

A petition challenging Metroline's decision has attracted more than 18,000 signatures so far, with signatories demanding London Mayor Sadiq Khan intervene in the spat.

John Murphy, an official with the union Unite, said Metroline's stance was 'incredibly disappointing'.

Ms Carty (pictured with her brother) offered to compromise by wearing a blue headscarf - in line with company colours - but the company turned her down

'This is a clear case of religious discrimination and it is imperative that the company realises its errors and allows our member to practice her religion by wearing the colours of her religion,' he said.

'Our member has been reasonable and is willing to adapt her dress but Metroline has refused to even consider accommodating her needs.

'Unite will simply not allow such a clear case of discrimination to go unchallenged. We will consider all industrial, political and legal options to ensure that this discrimination is ended.

What is Rastafarianism? Rastafarians are followers of Haile Selassie I, the former King of Ethiopia. The religion developed in Jamaica, although the 2001 census found there were 5,000 Rastafarians in the UK. It is based on the idea that those taken from Africa in the slave trade will be returned to the continent. Rastafarians wear red, green and gold. Red signifies the blood of those killed. Green represents Jamaica's vegetation and gold symbolises the wealth of Ethiopia. Advertisement

'London is a multicultural city and most people will be shocked and appalled that a bus company is condoning religious discrimination, especially as it in no way interferes with our member from performing her job.'

A Metroline spokesperson said: 'Metroline respects religious diversity and this is evident in our company policies and practices.

'As an operator, we always try to be as flexible and understanding as possible. However, we need to balance this with operational needs.

'As a service provider, our employees wear a uniform which follows our uniform policy, which is agreed and revised in consultation with our trade unions.

'However, we remain open to discussions and we are trying to find a way forward with Ms Carty's input that will enable her to express her commitment to Rastafarianism and respect our uniform policy.'

The case came to light in the same week as a school accepted it had discriminated against a Rastafarian pupil by ordering him to shave off his dreadlocks.Piers Morgan blasted a Conservative minister for being a 'jumped-up little prima donna' after he cancelled an interview on Good Morning Britain.

Secretary Of State for Housing James Brokenshire refused to appear on the show today, claiming Piers was not capable of giving 'a fair and balanced interview'.

The MP was scheduled to appear on the breakfast programme this morning, but pulled out due to comments made by Piers about Theresa May and Brexit.

Co-host Susanna Reid read out a statement explaining the decision, which read: 'I'm afraid we won't be doing GMB tomorrow because of James' treatment last time.'

Secretary Of State for Housing James Brokenshire (pictured) refused to appear on the show today, claiming Piers was not capable of giving 'a fair and balanced interview'

It quoted tweets from Piers where he described the Brexit negotiations as a 'farce' and criticised Prime Minister May's leadership skills.

A furious Piers said: 'As if the entire planet doesn't think Brexit is a farce or that your boss is not a leader.

'So Mr Brokenshire, we're all for this honestly. We're all for you deciding unilaterally you're going to ban Good Morning Britain from your schedule today.

'The truth is you're an unbelievably boring person. I didn't even know we were going to be interviewing you.

Piers Morgan (left) blasted the Conservative minister for being a 'jumped-up little prima donna' after he cancelled an interview on Good Morning Britain today

'If I'd have known, I'd have cancelled you and you're now banned from ever appearing on Good Morning Britain as long as I'm sitting in this chair.'

He then added: 'So anyway Mr Brokenshire, you jumped-up little prima donna, who do you think you are? Seriously?

'My message to anybody else in the government is honestly if you think we're North Korea and you can only come on if you get a guaranteed to praise the great leader Theresa and say Brexit is fantastic.

'If you only want to come on under those circumstances, you're all banned.'Jeremy Corbyn (pictured at his London home earlier this month) has faced a backlash over his failure to tackle the vile wave of abuse that has swept Labour since he took charge

MPs are set to shun Labour conference amid anger over the anti-Semitism crisis and efforts to deselect them.

Moderates are vowing to stay away from the gathering in Liverpool, which kicks off this weekend, saying the atmosphere in the party is sickening.

Other politicians told MailOnline they were not prepared to be treated as second class members after the leadership barred them from accessing the conference floor.

The fury at Jeremy Corbyn and his hard-Left allies underlines the depth of the divisions threatening to tear the party to bits.

Mr Corbyn has faced a huge backlash over his failure to tackle the vile wave of abuse that has swept Labour since he took charge.

He has also been accused by senior figures including Dame Margaret Hodge of personally being anti-Semitic - something he denies.

But Mr Corbyns loyal activists have retaliated by accusing moderate MPs of using the furore to try and unseat the leader.

MPs including Joan Ryan, Chris Leslie and Gavin Shuker have all faced no-confidence votes in their local parties.

Meanwhile, Frank Field and John Woodcock have resigned the Labour whip in protest at their treatment.

The controversy has raised speculation about a breakaway centrist party, possibly joining disaffected Tory Remainers and the Lib Dems.

Despondent backbenchers say they expect dozens of their colleagues will simply ignore the conference in Liverpool, which begins on Saturday.

Mr Corbyn and his allies have been tightening their grasp on the party machine and rules, while Momentum activists are expected to flood the gathering.

Some Remainer MPs are attending a People's Vote rally on Sunday, but then leaving immediately. Others have been offered personal security.

Liverpool Wavertree MP Luciana Berger, a vocal critic of Mr Corbyn over the anti-Semitism row, will be going to conference despite saying she did not feel 'welcome' in her own party.

Deputy leader Tom Watson (pictured at Labour HQ earlier this month) has turned down the opportunity to speak from the podium after being offered 'graveyard' slots following a spectacular falling out with Mr Corbyn

Liverpool Wavertree MP Luciana Berger (left) will be going to conference despite saying she did not feel 'welcome' in her own party. Activists from the Momentum group headed by Jon Lansman (right) are expected to flood the Labour gathering

Deputy leader Tom Watson has turned down the opportunity to speak from the podium after being offered 'graveyard' slots following a spectacular falling out with Mr Corbyn.

One MP said: 'When you're paying a lot for entry and hotels and you are not welcome, you think, why bother?'

Another leading moderate told MailOnline that Liverpool's history as the stronghold of the hard-left in the 1980s was not adding to the conference's appeal.

'I think going to the home of Militant is not top of everyone's list of things to do,' they said.

'I think many people have been sickened by the anti-Semitism revelations. If you think about the questions of mandatory reselection that will be discussed, I am not sure that many people have the stomach for it.

The MP said there were fears that the 'hostile environment' against moderate MPs could even turn violent in the pressure of a conference.

MPs including Joan Ryan (pictured) have faced no-confidence votes in their local parties

A letter left outside Ms Ryan's office on the secure parliamentary estate taunted her over the no-confidence vote in Enfield North, which she narrowly lost

'We have got people leaving stuff outside MPs. We have got security vetted people bullying and undermining MPs in their parliamentary offices and then posting it online.'

Another veteran MP said the decision to make MPs 'second class' by barring them from the conference floor last year, relegating them to the balcony due to 'space' issues, had 'put off a lot of people'.

'Being marginalised like that and unable to engage... it is just not right,' they said. 'There has always been an area for MPs, and we have been given the chance to speak.'

The conference 'might end up being flat' because so many people stay away.

'If they aren't going to be part of the conference, people think working in their constituencies is more constructive,' they added.A man stabbed to death after he reportedly clashed with a mobile phone robber is believed to be the 106th Londoner killed this year.

The 25-year-old victim was found badly wounded after police were called to Tufnell Park in the north of the capital around 9.30pm yesterday evening.

Officers and paramedics tried to keep the man alive but he could not be saved. A forensics tent stood on the place where he died this morning.

A witness said the victim was pleading with the attacker to return his mobile phone when the man pulled out a large knife.

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Police at the scene in Tufnell Park this morning after a man died from stab wounds last night

Forensics officers were at the scene this morning after police and paramedics tried but were unable to save the man

Felipe Carvalho told the Islington Gazette: 'It was a big crocodile type knife about 60cm long. The other guy was shouting: "Give me my phone back".'

The Metropolitan Police said the victim was pronounced dead at the scene at 10.07pm.

The man's next-of-kin are yet to be told of his death and he has not been been formally identified. A post-mortem will take place in due course, the force said.

No one has been arrested over the incident so far but murder detectives have been brought in and Scotland Yard has ordered extra patrols in the area.

On Tuesday a 16-year-old boy was taken to hospital for treatment after he was stabbed outside Dagenham Heathway Station during the evening rush hour.

Carole Harrison was named as the 100th Londoner killed at the end of the last month.

The 73-year-old was found dead inside her house in Teddington following a fire on August 22. A post-mortem found she had suffered injuries consistent with an assault.

The man is understood to be the 106th Londoner killed this year amid concerns over violence

Police have launched another murder inquiry after a 25-year-old man was stabbed in Islington

Since then, 22-year-old Shevaun Sorrell has been stabbed to death in Deptford and Celia Levitt, 68, was found murdered in Bromley.

Ismail Tanrikulu, 22, was shot dead in Tottenham Cemetery at the start of September and Memunatu Warne, 46, died in an arson attack in Woolwich on September 6.

Abdi Ali, 18, who reported missing on New Year's Eve, was found stabbed in the loft of a house in Enfield on August 27.

Police have said the murder rate is roughly the same as it was last year, but it is on course to top the 116 homicides recorded in 2017.

The latest murder scene is just 300 metres from where renowned engineer Dr Jeroen Ensink was killed by Femi Nandap in December 2015.

A total of 106 people from London have been murdered or killed since the start of 2018

A breakdown of the first 100 killings released last week shows 55 happened in public places and 22 are believed to be gang-related. Forty of those killed were aged under 25.

Of the grim total, 64 of the deaths were caused by stabbings, 10 were shootings and 18 were violent assaults. A breakdown of the victims shows 43 were described as Afro Carribean, while 36 were white.

Despite reaching 100 murders so early in the year, police in London say comparisons with the murder rate in New York, where the number of murders is now nearly 200, are unfair.When Tay-Tay the dog lost his hind legs in a traffic accident it was not clear whether he would ever be able to walk again.

However, the brave canine beat the odds and is now so strong that he recently refused a wheelchair - donated by the King of Thailand.

Instead, Tay-Tay is happy to walk on his two front legs around the animal shelter in Chonburi, Thailand, where he lives.

Survivor: Tay-Tay the dog lost his hind legs and part of his lower body in a traffic accident four years ago

Video footage shows the dog making his way around the shelter using his two remaining legs.

Tay-Tay has been living in the shelter for the last four years and the owner says she has not put him up for adoption as he 'seems happy' there.

Tay-Tay recently earned himself a royal supporter, after an animal charity called Watchdog Thailand posted a photo of him on social media.

King Maha Vajiralongkorn, also styled Rama X of Thailand, saw the photo and became Tay-Tay's patron.

Strong wobble: Tay-Tay now walks around the shelter where he lives on his two front legs

Happy life: The owner of the shelter in Chonburi has never put Tay-Tay up for adoption as he 'seems happy there'

Maha-n's best friend: After an animal charity posted his photo on social media, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, also styled Rama X of Thailand, became Tay-Tay's patron

The King donated dog food to the shelter and even sent Tay-Tay a special canine wheelchair in the name of his royal pet dog Khun Fu.

He also sent a veterinary 'wheelchair expert' to the shelter to examine the dog's need for a walking aid.

However, with Tay-Tay's reluctance to use the royal gift, the expert ruled that his legs are strong enough to support him.

Animal lover: Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn has donated dog food and even sent Tay-Tay a 'wheelchair-expert'

'It's amazing to see that the dog is still capable of eating, walking and even running when he wants to,' said Julian Kung, 32, from Zurich, Switzerland, who shot the video of Tay-Tay walking.

'He didn't lose his curious nature neither. Every now and then he tries to run out of the shelter.

'Since he's not able to turn quickly and escape the busy Chonburi traffic the owner Peerapha has to catch Tay-Tay and return him to the shelter.'

Tay-Tay remains in the care of dog shelter owner Peerapha Suwanich who also has around 40 dogs and 200 stray cats in her care.It is one of the BBC's most popular dramas in years  but the broadcaster is set to miss out on its cash windfall.

Netflix has splashed out on the international rights for high intensity drama Bodyguard, which has brought in as many as eight million viewers per episode on BBC1.

But ITV Studios will rake in the money from the deal because it is the majority owner of the firm behind the smash hit, World Productions.

Netflix has paid an undisclosed sum to secure the international broadcast rights to Bodyguard, pictured, starring Richard Madden and Keeley Hawes

The show, which follows protection officer David Budd, played by Madden, pictured, has proved a huge hit, netting eight million viewers for its last episode

It comes amid fears the BBC could lose out on a second series of the show  penned by Jed Mercurio and starring Richard Madden and Keeley Hawes  to Netflix after director general Lord Hall said the broadcaster needed to find more money to compete with the streaming giant and its rivals, such as Amazon Prime.

Netflix did not reveal how much it paid for the international rights, but it is believed to be a seven-figure sum.

The US-based business has a 6billion budget for creating and buying shows each year, which dwarfs the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky, who spend around 1.9billion combined annually.

Maria Kyriacou, President International of ITV Studios said:'Bodyguard has gripped the nation with its twists and turns. It's a perfect example of a show produced locally which has huge global appeal.

'Through our partnership with Netflix, we can't wait for audiences around the world to enjoy the show as much as audiences here in the UK.'

Netflix will begin broadcasting Bodyguard internationally from October 24.

MailOnline has approached the BBC for comment.

ITV Studios are to get the cash from the deal because it is majority owner of World Productions, which produces the show

The deal has sparked some concerns Netflix could obtain a second series of the show rather than the BBC. Pictured is Keeley Hawes as Home Secretary Julia Montague

Speaking at a Royal Television Society conference yesterday Lord Hall said the BBC's spending is 'unsustainable' and admitted 'we need to find more money'.

The director-general also said there is a 'threat' to the BBC and that the 'cracks are beginning to show'.

He has called on the public to support the BBC more and wants a debate on how it should be funded.

Lord Hal urged people to support the public service broadcaster in an age of fake news and decreasing British content, as Amazon and Netflix continue to expand their share of the UK audience.

He said: 'While it looks likely other companies are taking over nationally, the BBC has had its funding cut.

'We need to find more money. The public doesn't like cuts to the BBC. It's their BBC and they want more from it, not less.

'We do not believe what we currently do is sustainable with the pressures we face. The cracks are beginning to show.

'We have lost BBC 3 as a network presence, we have lost our Formula 1 coverage. There have been cuts to the licence fee. Our competitors do not face the challenges we face.'A woman in her 50s has died after her caravan with her inside was blown off a cliff-edge in west Ireland.

Police and emergency services were on the scene in Claddaghduff, County Galway at 7.45am this morning but were unable to save the woman, who was reportedly a tourist from Switzerland.

A Garda spokeswoman said a woman's body was recovered following a search at Acton's beach and the coroner has been notified.

The woman in her 50s was killed when she was sleeping inside a caravan and it was blown away. The incident happened on Wednesday morning in Claddaghduff, Co Galway

The wreckage of the caravan which was blown from the camping park onto the beach by high winds as Storm Ali claimed its first victim on Wednesday morning

The scene of this mornings fatality at Claddaghduff, outside Clifden. More on @rtenews pic.twitter.com/BuvSBFCUDT  Pat McGrath (@patmcgrath) September 19, 2018

According to local reports the woman was sleeping inside the caravan when it blew from the camping park onto Acton's beach.

Irish president Michael Higgins expressed his sympathy after the woman's death. He said in a statement:

'Today's strong winds can result in dangerous situations and I would urge everyone to heed the warnings by the authorities and take caution when travelling or when out in the open.

Irish President Michael Higgins gave his condolences and said he was 'deeply saddened' by the woman's death

The destroyed caravan lying in the sea at Acton's beach campsite in Claddaghduff, Ireland

'I was deeply saddened to learn that storm Ali has already claimed one victim today in Claddagduff, Co Galway. As President of Ireland, may I express my deepest condolences to her family.

'I would also take this opportunity to pay tribute to all those, in statutory and voluntary organisations around the country, who are helping and stand ready to assist their fellow citizens, and who are working to maintain essential services around the country.'

High winds caused by Storm Ali have left around 20,000 homes and businesses in the south-west of Ireland, without power.

The Swiss tourist in her 50s is the first victim of Storm Ali, which has brought winds of up to 90mph to parts of the UK and Ireland

The power of the storm is clear from the extent of the damage; debris is floating in the sea and the body of the caravan has smashed into several pieces

Meanwhile 55,000 people in Northern Ireland have also lost power.

This morning forecasters issued a Status Orange warning and cautioned that Storm Ali will bring 'severe and possibly damaging gusts of up to 130km/h' to some areas of Ireland.

'Extreme caution' is necessary in Clare, Connacht and Donegal.

Forecaster Liz Walsh told RTE Radio One's Morning Ireland: 'It's been quite a stormy start to the day so far.

The police and emergency services arrived at 7.45am on Wednesday morning, but were unable to save the woman

The woman is believed to have been a tourist from Switzerland. Her body was recovered following a search at Acton's beach and the local coroner has been notified

Grada police issued a warning on Twitter telling motorists to drive carefully after a tree fell on the Kilbeggan to Clara road, injuring one person

'We issued another warning after a late revision of wind speeds, there could be winds in the coastal district of Dingle right up to Malin Head in excess of 130km/h.

'The winds will be less severe further inland but they should not be underestimated.'

Drivers are also being warned of fallen trees in Mayo, Longford, Galway, Kerry and Cork.

The Met Office warned that Storm Ali brings 'danger to life' with winds reaching 75mph.

The Met Office has warned of a 'danger to life' as Storm Ali makes itself felt across the UK

The Met Office amber warning applies to most of the north-east of England, Northern Ireland and southern Scotland, and will remain in place until 6pm on Wednesday.

A separate yellow weather warning has been issued for the rest of Scotland, Yorkshire and northern parts of Wales, where gusts of up to 60mph are expected.

The UK faces potential damage to buildings, travel disruptions including road closures and large waves in coastal areas.

Meteorologist Mark Wilson said even places outside the official weather warnings will see windy and rainy weather.

He said: 'Storm Ali is already bringing some pretty heavy rain across Northern Ireland and south-west Scotland and is just starting to creep into north-west England.

The storm is forecast to continue until early next week, when drier weather is expected

'In terms of wind strength, the speeds are coming up, with a gusts of just over 60mph in the west of Ireland.

'Around eight, nine and ten o'clock winds will really start ramping up and go further still.'

Ali is the first named storm on the list for 2018/19 announced by the Met Office and Met Eireann, which is compiled from public submissions.

The practice of naming storms has been shown to help raise awareness and help people prepare before severe weather hits.

Storm names alternate along a male/female pattern established by the US National Hurricane Center in the 1970s. The next storm will be named Bronagh.

The full list of storm names for 2018/2019 is: Ali, Bronagh, Callum, Deirdre, Erik, Freya, Gareth, Hannah, Idris, Jane, Kevin, Lily, Max, Niamh, Oliver, Peggy, Ross, Saoirse, Tristan, Violet and Wyn.

The storm is forecast to last until early next week, when drier weather is expected.The U.S. imposition of additional tariffs on 200 billion U.S. dollars' worth of Chinese goods came under intense fire Monday, as business leaders and trade experts opposed the escalatory move.

President Trump on Monday imposed a long-threatened 10% tariff on $200 billion of Chinese imports, effective next week, with the rate set to increase to 25% at the end of the year.

In a statement announcing the new round of tariffs, President Donald Trump said if China retaliates the United States "will immediately pursue phase three, which is tariffs on approximately $267 billion of additional imports".

Trump made the accusations in a pair of Twitter posts as the two sides launched new trade tariffs + in an escalating trade dispute.

Now the latest in the ongoing trade war between the world's two economic superpowers.

Trump has said the tariffs aim to force a change in Chinese trade policies that he says pose "a grave threat to the long-term health and prosperity of the United States economy".

The lack of a strategy makes it hard to secure meaningful gains and resolve a trade war that is damaging both economies.

The iPhone was not among the "wide range" of products that Apple told regulators would be hit by the $200 billion round of tariffs in a September 5 comment letter to trade officials. However, because China exports more to the USA than it imports there are limits on the amount of tariffs Beijing can impose on American goods.

The US imported over $500 billion in goods from China past year but exported just $130 billion. "These new retaliatory tariffs run afoul of the carefully tailored provisions of the Trade Act of 1974, which require any action to be within the scope of the Section 301 investigation", Shapiro said in a statement.

Paire to open for France against Spain in Davis Cup

As Pouille was starting his match Croatia had already notched up their commanding 2-0 lead over the United Status in the other semi-final in Zadar.

While Trump says the tariffs will mean "a lot of money coming in to the coffers of the United States" they are really a tax on U.S. companies and consumers.

Trump campaigned for the presidency on a pledge to tax imports and rewrite or tear up trade agreements that he said put USA companies and workers at a disadvantage. The U.S. says the plans are based on stolen technology, violate China's market-opening commitments and might erode American industrial leadership.

Mr Trump's tweet came as a senior administration official said the USA is ready to go with US$200 billion (S$275 billion) in additional tariffs on Chinese goods, with a possible announcement coming soon.

In May, in fact, it looked briefly as if Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He had brokered a truce built around a Chinese offer to buy enough American farm products and liquefied natural gas to put a dent in the trade deficit.

Appearing to counter Trump's previous claim that tariffs imposed by his administration would bring home U.S. businesses and manufacturing, AmCham chairman William Zarit said only 6 per cent of the group's member companies have said the trade war will cause them to consider shifting their operations back to the US.

The third round contains 5,745 full or partial lines of the original 6,033 lines of goods facing tariffs first announced July 10.

On Tuesday, China announced new tariffs on US goods worth $60 billion.

China has vowed to retaliate against new U.S. tariffs, with state-run media arguing for an aggressive "counter-attack". Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook had dinner with US President Donald Trump last month, though neither gave details of discussions.

The adjustments did little to appease technology and retail groups, who argued that U.S. consumers would feel the pain.A four-year-old girl was gang-raped by pupils in school toilets in a horrifying sex attack that has shocked Thailand.

The child was targeted by three boys at a school in Bang Lamung on Thailands eastern Gulf coast.

There are reports that one of the young attackers may have been armed with a knife.

A four-year-old girl was gang-raped by pupils in school toilets in a horrifying sex attack that has shocked Thailand. Thai police (file picture) have interviewed three boys over the attack

The child's 41-year-old mother said she was alerted to the attack by teachers who called her on September 4.

Her daughter said she had visited toilets at the back of the school. Two boys had held her while a third raped her, she told her mother, according to Thai Visa News.

Medics later confirmed that the terrified child had been raped.

The three attackers have been interviewed by police with social services present and are now in a juvenile detention centre.

Thai politician Paveena Hongsakul has since called for CCTV to be installed in school toilets and for staff to be present in the facilities.

They also called for a review of the positioning of toilet blocks within school grounds.A County Sheriff's Office Volunteer became an unexpected hero when he spotted a semi-trailer pulling onto a highway with a dog attached to the trailer bumper.

The volunteer was leaving an Arizona parking lot after a quick break to assist a deputy, when he saw the truck pulling out of a gas station parking lot with the dog in tow.

Thinking quickly, he activated his lights and sirens and pulled the driver over to save the dog's life.

A County Sheriff's Office Volunteer became an unexpected hero when he spotted a semi-trailer pulling onto a highway with a dog attached to the trailer bumper

Video from the dashcam, taken earlier in the month in Ash Fork, Arizona, shows the Yavapai Sheriff's Office volunteer pulling out of the gas station and then pausing to let a semi-truck pull out into the road

Video from the dashcam, taken earlier in the month in Ash Fork, Arizona, shows the Yavapai Sheriff's Office volunteer pulling out of the gas station and then pausing to let a semi-truck pull out into the road.

But as the truck swings around, a small dog can be seen tied to the corner of the back of the trailer, running furiously to keep up with the quickening truck.

As the truck was pulling onto the highway, time was running out to save the dog.

In the video, the volunteer leans on his horn before setting off the lights and a siren.

He then pulls up to the driver's side of the truck and pulls him over.

'A very grateful owner retrieved his pet and expressed deep appreciation for the VIP's efforts,' the Sheriff's Department said on Facebook

Gas station surveillance later shows the driver walking back and unleashing the dog

Gas station surveillance shows the driver walking back and unleashing the dog.

'A very grateful owner retrieved his pet and expressed deep appreciation for the VIP's efforts,' the Sheriff's Department said on Facebook.

'The driver was simply distracted and headed towards the interstate forgetting to unleash his dog.

No charges are being sought. Thanks to the work these dedicated volunteers do day in and day out and for the actions of this VIP to save this dog.'

On Facebook, people praised the volunteer for his quick thinking.

Yavapai Sheriff's Office volunteers help deputies with tasks including prisoner transport, traffic control, crime scene security, vacation property checks and more, according to the department.This is the dramatic moment a student comes inches away from being crushed by a boulder believed to weigh around 441 pounds.

He and two others had been on a school trip to a climbing area in Norway called Sila - a small village surrounded by a fjord and mountains.

They had been shown a designated area in which to climb by their teacher - but the student and his friends wanted to explore an area a little further afield.

The student begins his climb up the rock face in the Norwegian village of Sila - a small area surrounded by a fjord and mountains

He makes a number of steps up the rock face, climbing a few metres before reaching the summit. When he does so however, things take a turn for the worse

He said: 'We wanted find boulders that nobody had tried yet. We found some rock and decided to do some bouldering by ourselves.'

In video footage captured of the incident, the student can be seen approaching the rock face.

He makes a number of steps along it before climbing towards the top.

As he reaches the summit, however, a boulder comes loose causing him to fall to the ground.

Shockingly the loose boulder comes hurtling towards him, but fortunately he is able to move out of the way just in time.

Recalling the dramatic incident, the student said: 'As the video shows we found this approximately three and a half metre tall wall that we thought had potential.

'When it was my turn to climb, everything was going fine until I was doing the last bits of pulling to get over the edge.

As he pulls on a boulder at the top of the rock face it comes loose and the student tumbles down to the ground

The boulder comes crashing down after the student but luckily he is able to escape without injury

'The pulling resulted in a rock weighing at least 441 pounds falling out of the wall.

'I immediately released my grip to the loose rock and fell straight down, with certainty that the rock was coming after me.

'When I landed on the bouldering mat I jumped away from the wall a split second before the rock crashed on to the bouldering mat.

'This impact made a hole straight through it.'

The student has spoken of how thankful he is that he didn't sustain any injuries. He can now look back on the incident as a close-call.

He said: 'Luckily nobody got injured and I am very happy to be alive with all limbs still attached to my body.'A woman was fined and told to prove she was pregnant when she tried to sit in first class on a packed train.

The passenger, described as 'heavily with child', had moved into the first-class carriage when she failed to find a seat on the journey from London Liverpool Street to Shenfield, Essex.

But she was pounced on by Greater Anglia staff who hit her with a penalty fare notice and asked her for a letter to prove she was expecting a baby.

The train company has since apologised and rescinded her fine after the mayor of Basildon witnessed the row and condemned the railway staff on Twitter.

The train company has since apologised and rescinded her fine after the mayor of Basildon witnessed the row and condemned the railway staff on Twitter

The inspector on the Greater Anglia train is said to have 'showed no empathy' as they asked the woman for a letter to prove she was pregnant.

She was charged a penalty fare, which is usually 20 or twice the single fare to the next station.

David Dadds, the mayor of Basildon in Essex, watched the row on board the train last week and criticised Greater Anglia's treatment of the passenger.

He said: 'The inspector asked if the woman had a doctor's note to prove she was pregnant, when she was so heavily with child.

'He then told her other people in the first class carriage would not be happy with her sitting there.

'I said we had no problem and people agreed with me. I asked if he could use his discretion, but he refused.

'He said the woman should ask someone to give up their seat for her.

'I would give up my seat, and think other gentlemen would too. I just thought it was so disrespectful to the woman and showed no empathy to her.

'The way he dealt with it was not appropriate at all. I don't understand why the train company wanted to see a letter to prove her pregnancy.'

The woman moved into the first-class carriage when she failed to find a seat on the journey from London Liverpool Street (pictured) to Shenfield

'I think he was trying to embarrass her and he behaved in such a way I felt I had to speak up.'

In the wake of the bust-up the rail operator has apologised and says it will remind staff to treat passengers better.

A spokesman said: 'We are very sorry to hear this and would like to apologise to the passenger involved.

'We will be fully investigating this incident and reminding our train teams to use compassion when dealing with situations like this in future.

'We have a policy in place that offers pregnant season ticket holders a letter of authority to travel in First Class for the final eight weeks of their pregnancy, but on all other occasions, we would expect staff to use their discretion to ensure that customers are comfortable on their journeys, especially if they are pregnant.

'The passenger involved remained in her First Class seat for the entirety of her journey and the penalty fare notice has been cancelled.'Fashion experts have described the collapse of Orla Kiely as an 'eye-opener' for other middle-market brands that do not 're-invent' themselves - even if 'the royal family' loves their designs.

Orla Kiely customers have also revealed their shock and disappointment after the brand - worn by the likes of Kate Middleton and Alexa Chung - ceased trading on Monday.

Karine Laudort, a fashion and lifestyle commentator, told MailOnline: 'Some people in the royal family have loved her patterns but just because a celebrity endorses doesn't make you money.

'Established brands have a perception that just because they get endorsements, they're doing well. It is a big eye-opener for other people in that industry.

'If you're not in the top luxury market or at the very cheap end it's a difficult and very challenging pocket of the market to be in.'

Irish designer Orla Kiely (pictured) has announced she has closed both her online and retail businesses in Kildare and London with immediate effect

Irish designer Orla Kiely, 56, announced she had closed her online and retail businesses including two stores in central London.

The brand with its distinctive floral-based fashion became a middle-class favourite since Ms Kiely - known as the 'Queen of Prints' - set it up in 1995 with her husband Dermott.

The Duchess of Cambridge has worn a series of Orla Kiely dresses and her sister Pippa and mother Carole, as well as celebrities including Alexa Chung and Sarah Jessica Parker, have also been spotted wearing the designer brand.

The Orla Kiely stores in London - in King's Road, Chelsea, and in Monmouth Street, Covent Garden - are closing along with the retail outlet in Kildare, Ireland. The brand also had a store in New York City.

Experts also warned the 'middle-market' range had struggled against online competition and the rise of discount retailers such as Primark, as Orla Kiely became the latest High Street brand to suffer this year.

Ms Laudort also said that the brand had diversified too much with homeware and accessories.

'The kind of footfall you get in Covent Garden and Chelsea are not the same kind of people who shop at Debenhams. You constantly have to be able to be on your toes and be able to please a variety of people all the time.

'When it comes to fashion, people get bored. When you do accessories, home designs and clothing, you've got three different cycles and three different types of customers.

'If you don't know how to reinvent yourself, even if Kate Middleton loves what you do, sales figures speak for themselves.'

Kate Middleton and her sister Pippa pictured wearing Orla Kiely outfits. Kate is visiting a the National Portrait Gallery this year and Pippa is at the Wimbledon tennis in 2012

Celebrity stylist Lucas Armitage said: 'I'm not shocked.

It was a moment in time that didnt regenerate itself enough. You've always got to do new and engaging things to attract new customers.

'The industry is difficult when you're not a super high-end retailer - it's always the middle-market that suffers.

'The fate of Orla Kiely is a lesson to all fashion brands out there.

'There are so many online projects that appeal to customers and they used to be Orla Kiely customers.'

Describing the brand, he said: 'I think of the print, the textures, I think of it fondly, it's a nice friendly brand, it's not intimidating, it's really welcoming.'

Workers said they were escorted out of the building on Monday just moments after they were told they were being made redundant.

A small selection of accessories and homeware will continue to be sold through department stores like Debenhams and John Lewis.

A statement on Orla Kiely's website said the company had ceased trading and its stores closed

Shoppers reacted with dismay on Twitter, with one saying: 'So sad that Orla Kiely has ceased trading, always dreamt of having a wardrobe filled with her clothes'.

Another said: 'Orla Kiely and those amazing prints have been part of my life for so long & given me great joy along the way'.

'Sad to hear that Orla Kiely has ceased trading. Really liked her stuff,' another Twitter user wrote.

And another said: 'Number 2 on my 40 things to do before youre 40 is to own an Orla Kiely handbag.

'Was going to go to the Covent Garden shop in October when Im in London. Im so sad.'

Author Melissa Hill said: 'Got a present of one of her baby-changing bags back in the day, so fond associations. V sad to see iconic Irish designer go under.'

Shoppers took to Twitter to express their dismay after the designer brand closed its stores

People walk past an Orla Kiely store in Covent Garden, London, after news of its collapse

Restructuring firm David Ruben and Partners have been appointed as administrators to Kiely Rowan, the parent company of the retail and wholesale business.

A source said at the company said: 'It wasn't sent out in an official email or anything but was spread through word of mouth.

'Around lunchtime we were all called together where the CEO told us we were all out of a job.

'We're paid on the 27th of each month and we were told the company can't pay us for the past three weeks and we'd have to try and file for redundancy.

'Some people just burst straight into tears.

'Chief designers just grabbed their bags and walked straight out without saying anything. We were then escorted out of the building.

'None of us saw this coming. They closed off the website the other week and said there was an issue with the payment gateway. But they must have known what was going on.

'Now I'm struggling to find the money to pay the rent. People were just crying in the pub. It's devastating.'

Last year the company's turnover increased from 7.2million to 8.3million, according to Companies House documents.

However its income for the financial year fell from 109,000 to 74,000.

In a statement provided to the Irish Times the company said: 'Having carefully considered the options, the directors of Kiely Rowan Plc have concluded that the business should enter voluntary liquidation following various challenges that have faced the company over the past few years, both in the UK and abroad.'

A message on its website reads: 'Kiely Rowan Plc, the retail and wholesale fashion business of Orla Kiely, has ceased trading as of Monday 17 September 2018.

'This means our retail stores in London and Kildare and our online business have been closed.

'We apologise for any inconvenience caused. Orla Kiely's Home and Design licensing business will not be impacted, and its selection of accessories and homewares will continue to be sold through its distribution partners.

'Thank you for embracing our brand and designs throughout the years and for your ongoing support. Orla, Dermott and the Team.'

Earlier this year the designer's work had been celebrated in an exhibition called 'A Life in Pattern' at the Fashion and Textile Museum in Bermondsey.

Just last Friday she spoke at London's Victoria & Albert Museum for what was advertised as a 'discussion of the brands influential legacy, story, and impact on British design'.

Orla Kiely and husband Dermott Rowan, with whom she founded the brand, pictured in 2014

The Orla Kiely stores in London (left: Covent Garden; right: King's Road, Chelsea)

Left: Carole Middleton wears a blue printed Orla Kiely dress as she visits the newborn Prince George in 2013. Right: Sarah Jessica Parker in one of the brand's dresses in January this year

Alexa Chung in an Orla Kiely dress at the Fashion and Textile Museum, London, in May this year

From kitchen table to high streets worldwide: How Irish designer Orla Kiely built brand with husband into household name

Orla Kiely's colourful prints have appeared on clothes, bicycles, equipment, bedding and even on the side of a bus since the brand was founded in 1995.

Earlier this year she said she started the company while she was caring for her newborn son, Robert.

She described how she would sit with him at the kitchen table while she designed pieces for her fashion brand.

In the 23 years since the company grew to be sold in 33 countries, with 56 employees and a turnover of more than 8million.

Orla Kiely, pictured in 2014, said she started the company while she was caring for her newborn son, Robert

The designer has collaborated with Heal's, the Tate and Harrods and her fashion brand has become a favourite among royals.

Kate Middleton has been seen wearing the label's dresses on several occasions, for example in February this year when she wore a floral outfit to London's National Portrait Gallery.

Her sister Pippa has also used the brand, wearing a Kiely cardigan when she watched tennis at Wimbledon with her brother, while Carole Middleton wore a blue printer Orla Kiely dress when she went to visit the newborn Prince George in 2013.

Ms Kiely and her husband Dermott Rowan, 60, who started the business from a first-floor flat in London, remained its directors.

The company, which Irish designer Orla Kiely founded with her husband Dermott, was known for its colourful floral pieces (pictures posed by models)

A selection of Orla Kiely-designed items including handbags and cushions seen in London

Radios and garden chairs were among the items to feature an Orla Kiely floral design

Mr Rowan helped to run the financial side of the business while Ms Kiely focused on designing, she said.

She would look over the designs herself with her handwritten word 'approved' written on numerous drawings at a recent exhibition.

Describing her personal style she said that 'colour and pattern are at the heart of everything'.

After taking a degree in print for fashion, she took an MA in knitwear at the Royal College of Art and later worked as a consultant with Marks & Spencer

In 2010, she featured on an Irish postage stamp, and in 2011 she was awarded an OBE.

The Duchess of Cambridge wearing Orla Kiely dresses - left in 2012 on a visit to the Dulwich Picture Gallery in London and right at a Charities Forum event in 2017

An Orla Kiely pair of blue and gold high heels, produced in collaboration with Clarks

Orla Kiely views some of her fashion items during New York Fashion Week in September 2016Hogg allegedly laughed while shaving the blonde hair from her scalp

She claims she was stripped, tied to a pole, gagged, beaten and humiliated

The 22-year-old woman allegedly kidnapped, held hostage and violently assaulted by her bikie ex-parter for two days has spoken out about her terrifying ordeal.

Cheyane Lubec claimed she was abducted by Gypsy Joker associate Chad Hogg Sunday and taken to the gang's clubhouse in Horsley Park, 40km west of Sydney, where she was stripped naked, tied to a pole, gagged, beaten and had her hair shaven off, Nine News reported.

Police arrested Hogg on Tuesday following a tense stand-off at the clubhouse after Ms Lubec courageously fled for her life in a desperate dash for freedom earlier that day.

Ms Lubec (pictured before ordeal) claimed she was abducted by Chad Hogg and taken to the Gypsy Joker clubhouse where she was stripped naked, tied to a pole, gagged, beaten and had her hair shaven off

She claimed Hogg laughed while shaving the blonde hair from her scalp after two alleged days of humiliation at the hands of her former boyfriend.

'He shaved off my hair and he took pictures and he was laughing while he was doing it,' a Ms Lubec, who was not able to yell for help due to her mouth being duct taped closed, said.

'I would have preferred him to take a finger than to shave off my hair.'

She claims she was duct taped at both the wrists and ankles and forced into a position where she was hugging a wooden pole inside the clubhouse.

Ms Lubec said she sustained bruising and fractures to her face, and claimed she now had blurred vision in one of her eyes and was unable to breath properly out of her nose.

'(I have) damage in my blood vessels in my throat from him strangling me with an electrical cord.'

She claimed her terror came to a dramatic end when Hogg drove her for her first meal in two days at a fast food restaurant in South Penrith.

She said she was able to redeem her phone from inside a plastic bag in the glove box, as well as her handbag, and hide in a bush across the road after Hogg left the car to place an order and called the police.

'I am very grateful to be alive'.

The 29-year-old man with alleged ties to the Gypsy Jokers allegedly forced Ms Lubec into his Ford Mustang in Cambridge Park on Sunday.

He was taken to Fairfield Police Station where he was charged with several domestic violence offences

Ms Lubec (pictured prior to attack) claimed her terror came to a dramatic end when Hogg drove her for her first meal in two days, and what she believed would be her last, Penrith

Ms Lubec claimed Hogg (pictured) laughed while shaving the hair from her scalp in what was the final disgusting act of two days of humiliation at the hands of her former boyfriend

Police from Nepean Police Area Command commenced an investigation after speaking with the Ms Lubec, who was then taken to hospital in a stable condition.

At 2.10pm on Tuesday, officers attended the Horsley Drive clubhouse, where Hogg was arrested after a tense two-hour stand-off.

He allegedly tried to flee but was intercepted by officers from Fairfield Police Area Command with the assistance of Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, the Public Order and Riot Squad and further specialist police.

He was taken to Fairfield Police Station where he was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, taking or detaining a person with intent to obtain advantage cause actual bodily harm, breaching an AVO, and stalking.

He was refused bail and will appear at Fairfield Local Court on Wednesday.

Police arrested Hogg (pictured) Tuesday following a tense stand-off at the clubhouse after Ms Lubec courageously fled for her life in a desperate dash for freedom earlier that dayDonald Trump suggested building a wall across the Sahara to tackle Europe's migrant crisis, Spain's foreign minister has claimed.

Josep Borrell said the US President had insisted the type of barrier he has vowed to build along America's border with Mexico would work for Europe as well.

Spain has become a key entry point for migrants who follow a 'Western Mediterranean Route' to Europe from Northern Africa. Many of the refugees are from sub-Saharan nations.

The former President of the European Parliament did not reveal when Trump had put forward his radical idea. But diplomatic sources suggested it had been in June when he flew to the States in a trip coinciding with the visit to the White House of the Spanish King and Queen.

Donald Trump suggested building a wall across the Sahara to tackle Europe's migrant crisis, Spain's foreign minister Josep Borrell (pictured) has claimed

Josep Borrell said the US President (pictured) had insisted the type of barrier he has vowed to build along America's border with Mexico would work for Europe as well

US President Donald Trump suggested building a wall across the Sahara to stop migration, according to Josep Borrell. Most of the migration from Africa to Spain comes via the Western Mediterranean Route, the sea crossing from Morocco to mainland Spain and land crossings into the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla

Mr Borrell revealed Trump's Saharan wall 'solution' during a lunch in Madrid organised by cultural association Club Siglo XXI, which was formed in 1969 and is known for holding prestigious debates, conferences and forums.

Spanish daily El Pais said he had made it clear he disagreed with Donald Trump's diagnosis but insisted a policy had to be put in place to deal with the fact Africa would double its population in the next 20 years.

Mr Borrell also took the opportunity at the event in Madrid to attack Italy's right-wing Interior Minister Matteo Salvini who made his mark in the job by turning away a boatload of more than 600 African refugees in June and leaving Spain to pick up the pieces.

Baker's son Mr Borrell was appointed Foreign Minister in June when Pedro Sanchez became PM after winning a no-confidence motion he proposed against the country's former right-wing leader Mariano Rajoy.

Trump, meanwhile, said earlier this month he was considering using military resources to finish construction of his long-promised border wall instead of relying on Congress to fund it.

He has insisted Mexico will pay for it since he started touting the idea of a border block during his presidential campaign. Mexican officials have consistently said they will not pay,

Spain has become a key entry point for migrants who follow a 'Western Mediterranean' route to Europe from Northern Africa. Many of he refugees are from sub-Saharan nations. Pictured: Migrants head towards Libya from Niger in June

Spain has overtaken Italy and Greece as a popular entry point for migrants.

EU border agency Frontex registered 12,500 arrivals in August - with 6,500 of them reaching Spain's Mediterranean coastline and making the country the main EU port of arrival for migrants for the second month running.

Most of those reaching Spain were from Morocco, Guinea and Mali.

Nearly 30,000 migrants used the Western Mediterranean route in the first eight months of the year according to Frontex, double the figure for last year.

New research has found 2 million migrants have arrived in Europe by crossing the Mediterranean Sea since 2009.

According to the Pew Research Center, the paths refugees have taken have changed over the years.

The route most travelled this year was from Morocco to Spain - in stark contrast to previous years when this western route was the least travelled migration path.

Pew Research Center drew on data from Europes border and coast guard agency Frontex and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

From 2009 to the end of 2917, 89,000 migrants had arrived along Spains south coast using the western route.

But between January and August along, there have been 28,000 arrivals.

This was greater than both the Africa to Italy 'central route' and Turkey to Greece 'eastern route' both of which saw 20,000 arrivals.

Pew Research Center said this was partly due to Spain accepting migrant rescue ships in its docks when other countries had denied them entry.

It added that 2018 had proved to be a particularly deadly year for Mediterranean crossings between Africa and Italy.

For every 18 migrants who reached Italy by boat during the first seven months of this year, one drowned attempting that crossing, UN figures showed.

Since 2009, a million refugees have crossed the Mediterranean from Syria and Iraq while a further 620,000 have come from sub-Saharan Africa and nearly 390,000 from Asian countries including Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh, Pew Research Center reported.Internal emails have revealed the backlash from police over a new ban on tattoos requiring officers to wear long sleeve shirts while on the job.

The email chain, which was released by the Australian Federal Police and contains almost 100 replies, shows that significant number of officers believe the new rule is unfair and not practical.

Staff were advised of the new rule in July and the policy was brought into effect on September 1.

Internal emails have revealed the backlash from police over a new ban on tattoos requiring officers to wear long sleeve shirts while on the job

Officers will be required to wear long sleeve shirts to cover tattoos unless they apply for an exemption based on medical, cultural, or religious grounds.

There is no policy against staff getting tattoos and officers were previously allowed to show their tattoos as long as they were not offensive.

The email chain, made public under Freedom of Information laws, was started by a lengthy email titled 'AFP response to revised guidelines on tattoos.'

'My culture and background is Aussie Bogan. Tatts are a part of it. My culture is as important as anyone else's,' wrote one employee.

An email chain, containing almost 100 replies over a period of two days, shows that officers think the new rule is unfair and not practical

Another questioned the reasoning for the policy, but was told the ban was in place to 'deliver consistency across the Home Affairs portfolio.'

Another officer likened the policy to something that would be seen in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

'The religious cult of CrossFit requires you to have tattoos. It's actually the 2nd rule of CrossFit  The first rule is to tell everyone that you do it,' another added.

Others replying to the email thread raised genuine concerns about issues such as hindering access to weapons and overheating, particularly when wearing ballistic vests and in warmer climates in Queensland.

The ban would require officers to wear long sleeve shirts while on duty to cover any tattoos

One officer wrote that tattoos can be useful tools when doing their job

While others noted some portfolios do not have long sleeve uniforms and that tattoos can be a useful tool when talking to certain groups such as bikies.

'Members have discretion in how they choose to cover visible tattoos, as long as it does not interfere with their ability to perform their role,' an AFP spokeswoman told Newscorp.

'Common sense will prevail in the application of this policy and exemptions considered on a case-by-case basis.'A Filipino woman has revealed how she was scalped in a horrifying freak accident when her long hair got caught in a Ferris wheel.

Guyguy Salvador, 21, had been visiting a fairground in Surigao del Sur, the Philippines, in July this year, but after a long day at work, she ended up falling asleep inside the gondola.

Her long hair blew out of the carriage and became more and more entangled in the machinery, and Miss Salvador eventually awoke in agony to feel her scalp being ripped from her head.

Horrifying: Guyguy Salvador, 21, fell asleep in a Ferris wheel in Surigao del Sur, Philippines, and was jolted awake when her hair got stuck in the machinery

Shocking: As the wheel kept turning, more and more of Miss Salvador's scalp was torn from her head, until it was all gone

Without her or her friends noticing, her long hair had become completely entangled with the bearing shaft that attaches to the gondola to the rim of the big wheel.

Upon hearing her and her friends' screams for help, the operator eventually managed to stop the ride.

Miss Salvador then faced an agonising descent as the Ferris wheel rotated their gondola back to the ground, with more hair and skin coming off on the way down.

Upon realising what had happened, Miss Salvador fainted, and video footage shows her being carried from the gondola, covered in blood.

She said: 'I've never had such pain. I was in agony. When I saw the blood and what had happened I fainted. It didn't seem real.'

Accident: Pictured is the carriage on the Ferris wheel where Miss Salvador was sat when her hair got caught and her scalp ripped off

The 21-year-old had her scalp ripped off from her forehead to the nape of her neck

Care: The beautician and hairdresser remained in hospital for six weeks as doctors used a skin graft to cover her exposed head

Miss Salvador was rushed to the Southern Philippines Medical Center where she ended up staying for six weeks while doctors performed a series of skin grafts.

Miss Salvador, who was released on September 17, said: 'I've thought about what happened so many times. I wish I could go back in time and change things. But it has happened.

'The wound is still very sore but I am thankful that I am still alive. Many people have worse accidents. I pray that my head will recover and I can be the same as before.'India has banned Muslim men from instantly divorcing their wives by saying 'talaq' three times.

The country's cabinet has approved an executive order to make the practice a punishable offence.

India's Supreme Court outlawed 'triple talaq' last year ruling that it violated the constitutional rights of Muslim women.

But Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government wants to make it a non-bailable offence carrying a jail term of up to three years, following a wave of protests.

India has banned Muslim men from instantly divorcing their wives by saying 'talaq' three times (file picture)

Federal Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told a news conference the cabinet approved the decree because the practice persisted despite the court decision.

In August last year, the Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional a law that allowed Muslim men to divorce their wives simply by uttering the word 'talaq', or 'divorce' in Arabic, three times.

The government has been trying to pass legislation to 'explicitly ban' the procedure.

In an Independence Day speech last month Modi said he would 'not stop till they get justice,' referring to the women.

Most of the 170 million Muslims in India are Sunnis governed by the Muslim Personal Law for family matters and disputes.

Prasad said that nearly 22 countries, including neighboring Pakistan and Bangladesh, have banned the practice and appealed to the opposition to approve the Muslim Women Protection of Rights on Marriage Bill.

India's Muslim Law Board had told the court that while they considered the practice wrong, they opposed any court intervention and asked that the matter be left to the community. But several progressive Muslim activists decried the law board's position.

After the Supreme Court verdict, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government introduced a bill criminalizing the practice and it was approved in December by the lower house of Parliament, where his party commands a majority.

But it couldn't get the approval of the upper house, where the opposition controls the majority of seats.

The main opposition Congress party is opposing a three-year prison sentence for the offenders and wants a parliamentary committee to discuss the issue to reach a consensus. It favors a lesser sentence.

In India, triple talaq has continued with the protection of laws that allow Muslim, Christian and Hindu communities to follow religious laws in matters like marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption.

While most Hindu personal laws have been overhauled and codified over the years, Muslim laws have been left to religious authorities and left largely untouched.Police were called to the area on Sunday evening following the incident involving a man and a woman at the Italian cuisine chain, Wiltshire Police wrote on Twitter.

"Then 20 minutes after that, public health officials arrived and they said they didn't know what it was but it wasn't novichok".

Police, ambulance personnel and firefighters were at the scene, some wearing hazmat suits.

The illnesses were treated as a major incident until it became clear Novichok was not involved.

Mr Skripal and his daughter were found slumped unconscious on a bench in Salisbury in March.

He said tests are helping to "build up the picture" of what led the pair to fall ill.

Wiltshire Police said that, due to recent events in the city and concerns the pair had been exposed to an unknown substance, a "highly precautionary approach" had been taken by emergency services.

"The major incident status has now been stood down". It is crucial that this is done methodically.

A restaurant in Salisbury in the United Kingdom is on lockdown after a man and woman "fell ill".

Mrs Worne said there was panic after the man, believed to be Russian, fell ill in the upstairs toilet of the Italian restaurant.

Israel to blame for downed plane: Russian Federation

He added that the Israeli Air Force chief was ready to go to Moscow personally to further collaborate in relation to the incident. The conversation came on Tuesday evening just before Israel began observing Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year.

The Skripals spent weeks in hospital but ultimately survived and are now living in a secret location.

Ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia collapsed in the city of Salisbury on March 4 after being exposed to the nerve agent Novichok.

An inquest into the death of Sturgess was to open on Thursday at Wiltshire and Coroner's Court in Salisbury.

"You are just absolutely gobsmacked", she said.

"We got wet, took the nearest train and came back [to London]".

The restaurant was promptly evacuated and Amanda called police from the street outside to check what was happening.

"They took it really seriously, none of us were hurt", she said, "I feel fine today".

"It's either a very big coincidence or people are doing things to unnerve us".

Police officers guard the cordoned off area around the home of former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal in Salisbury, Britain, April 3, 2018.

A British citizen, Dawn Sturgess, died in June and her boyfriend, Charlie Rowley, was made ill when they stumbled across remnants of the poison in a town near Salisbury.This is the stunning moment strong winds from Storm Helene caused a waterfall in Cumbria to reverse and flow upwards - creating a rainbow in the water.

The dramatic scene was captured on Mallerstang Edge in the Yorkshire Dales yesterday as the storm reached its peak.

Gust of up to 80mph battered Scotland and the north of England as the tropical storm arrived from the Atlantic.

This waterfall on Mallerstang Edge in the Yorkshire Dales was sent in the wrong direction as fierce winds from Storm Helene forced the water the reverse

Homes were left without power in Cornwall as the county bore the brunt of the weather - but Cumbria still received its fair share of strong winds.

That's evidenced by this recent video footage which shows the waterfall almost entirely inverted as a result.

As the water is sent cascading upwards - instead of its usual downwards direction - a stunning rainbow is created in the water.

The remarkable pattern is created in the top right hand corner of the video as the sun shines on the water.

Scenes such as this could be seen again today as Storm Ali arrives in the British Isles.

Forecasters in Ireland have issued an orange wind warning, while in Britain there is an amber warning for the North of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland which will remain in place until 6pm for affected areas.

A rainbow can be seen in the water as the sun shines on the inverted waterfall, which was captured on video yesterday while the storm was at its peak

The storms continue a rollercoaster year of weather in Britain, which has already brought the joint hottest summer on record, the hottest April day since 1949 and widespread snow disruption from February's Beast from the East.

Met Office meteorologist Mark Wilson said: 'Storm Ali is already bringing some pretty heavy rain across Northern Ireland and south-west Scotland and is just starting to creep into north-west England.

'In terms of wind strength, the speeds are coming up, with gusts of just over 60mph in the west of Ireland. Around eight, nine and ten o'clock winds will really start ramping up and go further still.'A murderer who stabbed a man to death in a pub row over a game of pool has been pictured grinning in his prison cell just days after he was handed a life sentence.

Kai Nazir knifed Chris West 12 times in the back and chest at a pub in Cambourne, near Cambridge after losing a game of pool to Mr West's friend Daniel Berryman.

The 20-year-old was handed a minimum 26-year jail term last week after he was convicted of murder but already appears to have got hold of a smuggled mobile phone in prison.

Killer Kai Nazir posted this picture from prison just days after he was jailed for life for murder

Chris West, pictured with his wife Becky, was stabbed to death after a row over a game of pool

He appears laughing in a video posted on Instagram as he jokes with other inmates in a cell, while another photo is shared with the caption 'F*** the feds', slang for the police.

The biography on Nazir's private social account reads '20 under lock and key', while one of his videos is called 'jail house living'.

The posts were put up last Friday, just four days after he was jailed, according to local news website Cambridgeshire Live.

The Instagram account was taken down after the website informed the Ministry of Justice.

An HMP Peterborough spokesperson said: 'Mobile phones are a challenge across the whole prison estate. Our staff at HMP Peterborough work very hard to prevent these items getting into the prison.

'We have taken appropriate action in the prison and reported this incident to the police.'

The killer joked on his Instagram biography that is 20 and 'under lock and key'

Nazir, left, pictured after his arrest. Police released a photo of the murder weapon

Nazir's murderous attack happened in front of Mr West's traumatised wife, Rebecca, who told a court she still suffers flashbacks after her husband's life was 'meaninglessly cut short'.

Mr and Mrs West were with friends at the party in the Monkfield Arms pubs in Cambourne, near Cambridge, when Mr Berryman challenged Nazir to a game of pool.

When the teenager lost, he stabbed Mr Berryman, who is in his 20s, before being restrained by his victim's friends.

Mobile phones are not allowed in prisons, but authorities have fought running battles with inmates trying to smuggle them in.Advertisement

Steve McQueen has released a photograph of him at school in 1977 as he embarks on an ambitious contemporary art project to create a portrait of all of London's Year 3 pupils.

The director and Turner Prize-winning artist plans to oversee photographs of tens of thousands of schoolchildren from across the capital over the next nine months.

Every primary school with Year 3 pupils will be invited to have their classes photographed for the project, with the resulting artwork to be displayed at Tate Britain and around London next autumn.

Steve McQueen (middle row, fifth left) is pictured in his Year 3 class at Little Ealing Primary School in West London in 1977

The project will aim to capture the moment of excitement, anxiety and hope in the milestone year for the seven and eight-year-olds, through the traditional medium of the class photograph.

Some 115,000 seven-year-olds have started the school year in a new class in London.

Rows of children from London's 2,410 primary schools will sit and stand alongside their teachers and teaching assistants to show the diversity of the city where McQueen was born as well as the potential of the generation that are growing up in the capital.

The project, entitled Steve McQueen: Year 3, will be a partnership between Tate, creative learning specialists A New Direction and Artangel, which produces and presents art in unexpected places.

The installation of the photographs will take over the Duveen Galleries at Tate Britain from November 2019 to May 2020, which will be free to visit.

A Year 3 class in the present day at Little Ealing Primary School in West London, where McQueen attended as a child

Artangel will also create an outdoor exhibition of class photographs across each of London's 33 boroughs and Tate Modern will stage a major survey exhibition of McQueen's work to coincide with the project, open from February to May 2020.

It will be one of the most ambitious projects to date for McQueen, who has directed films Hunger, Shame, 12 Years A Slave and the upcoming project Widows, and who won the Turner Prize in 1999.

Every London primary school is invited to register at tateyear3project.org.uk to choose a date and time for a Tate photographer, briefed by McQueen, to visit their school and take the class photo.

Specially created learning resources will also allow pupils to further explore the work's key themes of belonging, identity and citizenship within the curriculum, while a live-streamed lesson will be staged in spring 2019 for primary school classes across the country to watch and engage with the project.

Speaking yesterday at Tate Britain, McQueen said his ambitious contemporary art project was the result of an 'urgency to reflect on who we are and where we come from and what is the future'.

A Year 3 class at Mayflower Primary School in Tower Hamlets, East London, in a photo issued by Tate Britain yesterday

He added: 'At some point in one's life you tend to look backwards and you ask 'Where is so and so?' and 'What's happened to them?'

'It was one of those things where I just wanted to reflect also on how I got to where I got to.'

McQueen continued: 'I just wanted to reflect back on a certain point in my life where things changed and things churned.

'People have passed and died, people are doing well, not doing well. Those kind of trajectories those kind of paths, I wanted to go back to the beginning of a certain kind of consciousness.'

He added: 'We all live in London and we all think we know London but we don't, and to have a reflection on that I think is quite urgent.'

McQueen, pictured posing for a portrait at Tate Britain in London yesterday, said his ambitious contemporary art project was the result of an 'urgency to reflect on who we are and where we come from and what is the future'

Tate director Maria Balshaw has said it 'may well be the most ambitious art work we have ever shown at Tate Britain'.

McQueen said: 'I think that often people think they are insignificant [but] you're important and I want to take a photograph of you.

'I want to take a photograph of your with your class colleagues and it's important and interesting and you're interesting, it's putting them in the context of the world.'

He added: 'The idea of having a photograph exhibited here for a child, it will be amazing.

McQueen, pictured yesterday, said the project was not intended to be explicitly political or a reflection on Brexit

'I remember when I was five years old and I had a painting of mine exhibited in my local library and the fact that other people see what you do, or that you can visit yourself and say I'm at the Tate Britain, it's going to be an amazing impression on them.'

McQueen added that the project was not intended to be explicitly political or a reflection on Brexit, saying: 'This concept was pre-Brexit, as all these things happen in life in our times, things pile themselves on this project through no thought of my own, but fine, brilliant, we will take it on.

'As far as it being political, these people exist, they exist in London, whoever they are, whatever background they come from so, that is how it is.

'In any context that you put an artwork in, whatever time or place, there is always some idea of what the climate is so you can't avoid that, it is what it is.'A respected university lecturer died after taking a prescription drug overdose and then telling his neighbour 'I've done something silly', an inquest heard.

Stephen Harding, 64, died in hospital in May fives days after suffering a cardiac arrest at his home in Cardiff.

The inquest hearing at Pontypridd Coroners' Court on Tuesday heard Mr Harding, a former professor at Nihon University in Japan, had struggled with mental health problems and had taken a number of similar overdoses in the months leading up to his death.

A coroner heard he was in chronic pain, primarily in his hands, due to a history of alcohol abuse.

Stephen Harding, pictured, died after taking an overdose of prescription pills, an inquest heard, but told a neighbour he had 'done something silly'

It meant he had to retire in 2015 and move back to the UK after spending 30 years in Japan.

Mr Harding took overdoses in April, the inquest heard, and was treated in hospital but discharged himself on May 11.

Two days later, on May 13, he threatened to take another overdose and was 'showing signs of being suicidal'.

In a statement read out to the court registered mental health nurse Tina Taki said Harding was voicing suicidal plans to take an overdose due to the pain in his hands, legs, shoulders and neck, during a mental health assessment on May 13.

She said: 'He appeared calm and relaxed during the assessment.'

Williams Adams, practice development nurse at the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, said Mr Harding did not present as someone who was suicidal, following another assessment on May 14, after he told staff he 'wanted help'.

He said: 'There wasn't the intent there to take another overdose. We didn't feel like he met the criteria for admission and at the time he was quite calm and quite willing to engage.

'He said at the time he didn't feel that bad but the more anxious he became the more pain he was in.'

Paramedics were called to his flat at around 5.15pm on May 21 after receiving reports that a man was lying on the floor confused and unable to move.

A neighbour told the emergency services that Mr Harding had told him he had 'done something silly' before he had collapsed.

They found Mr Harding lying on his side but he quickly went into a respiratory cardiac arrest.

The inquest heard paramedics administered CPR to get Mr Harding's heart going again and once he was more stable he was transferred to University Hospital Wales, Cardiff, and sent to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

It was believed that Mr Harding had taken an overdose of antidepressants, which he had previously taken overdoses of on two separate occasions.

While in hospital it was discovered that Mr Harding had suffered a hypoxic brain injury and his organs started to fail.

His treatment transitioned to end-of-life care and he died at 2.18am on May 26.

A post-mortem examination was carried out and his cause of death was given as multiple organ failure due to an out of hospital cardiac arrest due to self-poisoning with antidepressants.

In a statement read out to the inquest Dr Hywel Roberts of the University Hospital of Wales said it was 'overwhelmingly likely' that Mr Harding's death was due to a suicide attempt by self-poisoning.

In reaching a narrative conclusion assistant coroner David Regan said: 'There had been a history of self-ingestion of medication, at least on two occasions, and an ECG identified the use of [antidepressants]. It's more likely than not Mr Harding took an overdose.

'He had sought assistance in the aftermath of taking the overdose but it's not clear how long he waited. Access to him could be obtained easily by the emergency services.

'Mr Harding sought assistance and had previously regularly sought assistance so I do not found find he had, throughout, the intent to end his life.'

For confidential support in the UK, call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see samaritans.org for details.Deborah Rose (pictured) stabbed her husband of 20 years after his affair emerged

A woman has been jailed for six years after she stabbed her unfaithful husband seven times after he boasted about seeing a new woman.

Deborah Rose, from Deal, Kent, launched the attack on John Rose after his affair was revealed during a night of drinking and screamed: 'I'm gonna kill you'.

Rose, 47, and her husband had been together for 20 years despite him fathering a child with another woman when the couple lived in Spain, Canterbury Crown Court heard.

But she 'lost it' on February 28 this year when he admitted he was seeing another woman.

Rose threw a vase, a jug of milk and even a vacuum cleaner at him before grabbing a kitchen knife.

The mother-of-three then cut up his clothes before turning on him shouting 'I'm gonna kill you' and stabbing him seven times in the back, leg and arm.

Deborah Rose launched the attack on John Rose (above, together) after his affair was revealed

Her blows to his body were so powerful she shattered a bone and slashed his liver.

Mr Rose staggered out of the flat in a nearby pub and staff called for an ambulance, before being airlifted to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The court heard how Mr Rose suffered a collapsed lung and a stab wound to his liver, but managed to survive the attack.

Rose was jailed for six years last week after she admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Judge James O'Mahony told her that her husband thought he was 'going to die'.

He said: 'He thought he was going to die. You didn't call an ambulance. The incident lasted just over an hour.

'Such was the force with which you stabbed him that when the knife came into contact with bone, it smashed the bone as well.'

Rose had been drinking prosecco with her husband before a row where she threw items at him before grabbing a knife to stab him repeatedly

Detective Constable Mark Butler said: 'The argument between Rose and her victim spiralled out of control.

'Rose reached for a knife in the heat of the moment and has proved she had every intention of using it, which could have had fatal results.

'She didn't call an ambulance and he was forced to fend for himself and seek help from members of the public.

'I hope this prison sentence gives Rose time to reflect on her actions and understand the consequences of what she did.'

The day before the stabbing, Mr Rose had collected his wife from hospital in Margate after she had been admitted for overdosing on painkillers.

Rose, who has been diagnosed with bipolar, asked to stay the night at his flat in Deal, two miles from her home in Great Mongeham where the pair drank Prosecco and had sex.

The following morning she lost control after Mr Rose, who had previously fathered another womans child while the couple were living in Spain, came clean about his new relationship.

The court heard Rose had been taking medication for bipolar disorder at the time of the attack, which would have resulted in her extreme mood swings.

The mental disorder causes periods of depression and of abnormally elevated moods which can swing from one extreme to another.

But Roses prison sentence was reduced from seven to six years, taking into account her character and work as a counsellor with homeless charity Porchlight.A policeman caught up in a shootout with a gunman was saved from being hit in the groin after a bullet struck an iPhone in his pocket.

Off-duty Sergeant Major Powaret Banjong, 31, had been visiting a packed restaurant in Pattaya, Thailand, on Saturday night when he intervened in an argument on a nearby table.

A 49-year-old gangster, who was allegedly drunk and shouting at a woman, produced a gun and opened fire on the officer - who was celebrating a birthday with friends - hitting him in the thigh and forearm.

But a third bullet which was heading for Powaret's groin was prevented from making contact after it smashed into the iPhone he had in his right pocket.

The smartphone's screen was shattered and there was a bullet-hole in the top right corner - but the bullet did not penetrate the other side.

A policeman caught up in a shootout with a gunman was saved from being hit in the groin after a bullet struck an iPhone (pictured) in his pocket

Off-duty Sergeant Major Powaret Banjong, 31, had been visiting a packed restaurant in Pattaya, Thailand, on Saturday night when he intervened in an argument on a nearby table

Powaret collapsed on the ground and his colleague, Lance Corporal Naretrak Krueawara, 30, grabbed the 9mm automatic handgun and continued the shootout as more than 200 diners ran for cover.

The gangster was shot in the stomach and right temple, arm, stomach and leg.

Police and medics arrived and the known criminal was taken to hospital where he is in a critical condition.

Powaret is also recovering in hospital while the alleged gangster has been charged with attempted murder.

The officer said: 'I'm very lucky to be alive. My iPhone saved me from getting hit a third time. Two bullets is OK but three would have been harder to survive. I think my phone saved my life.

A 49-year-old gangster, who was allegedly drunk and shouting at a woman, produced a gun and opened fire on the officer - who was celebrating a birthday with friends - hitting him in the thigh and forearm. Police are pictured at the scene

Following the gun fight, Powaret's white iPhone 5s was recovered. It had a hole in the screen from where the bullet had entered but the shot had not penetrated the other side. There was also a hole in the jeans (pictured) where the bullet had entered and burn marks from the heat

Police praised Powaret's 'bravery' and said that the officer and his colleague would not be charged over the incident, which they claimed was self-defence after being shot at

'Thank you to my colleague for protecting me. I want to get better and return to work to catch more criminals.'

Following the gun fight, Powaret's white iPhone 5s was recovered. It had a hole in the screen from where the bullet had entered but the shot had not penetrated the other side.

There was also a hole in the jeans where the bullet had entered and burn marks from the heat.

Police praised Powaret's 'bravery' and said that the officer and his colleague would not be charged over the incident. They claimed to have fired in self-defence.

However, Pattaya police boss Apichai Krobtech said that his team would review CCTV from the All New Mouthburi restaurant to establish what happened.

He said: 'The incident must be carefully investigated. The injured police officer will be fully taken care of medically. His actions were brave and his instinct was to prevent crime. If he did not return fire, he would have been killed himself.'Pascal Molliere, 52, (pictured outside court) has been found not guilty of two counts of sexual assault

A top theatre photographer collapsed in the dock after he was cleared by a jury of groping two aspiring actresses.

Pascal Molliere, 52, was accused of sexually assaulting the women in his studio in Fulham, south west London after he was recommended to them by top casting directors.

During separate photoshoots, Molliere was said to have kissed the women and groped the bare breast of one of them after asking them to remove their clothing.

Molliere, who has taken portraits of screen legends Dame Judi Dench and Sir Ian McKellen, vehemently denied the claims.

He said it would have been difficult with cameras hanging around his neck, telling the court: 'If you've got two kilos of camera around your neck, by the end of the day you'd know about it, even a two hour shoot - absolutely not.'

The photographer was cleared of two charges of sexual assault after a retrial at Southwark Crown Court on Friday.

Molliere collapsed into his chair in the dock sobbing and remained unresponsive even after Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith said he was free to go.

The judge said: Hes possibly not up to it right now, well leave him to it.

Molliere eventually left visibly shaken by the experience.

Molliere collapsed into his chair in the dock sobbing and remained unresponsive even after Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith said he was free to go after being found not guilty

Speaking after his acquittal he said: 'Whilst I deplore any kind of violence or assault, against anyone, male or female, sometimes people tell lies, which can destroy someones life forever even before a story has been tested.

'Whatever the burden of proof every allegation must always be thoroughly examined, tested and scrutinised from a starting point of innocent, before deciding if the shoe fits, and someones life is destroyed.

'If a system cannot be relied upon to prove or disprove an allegation with equal measure, then we all need to be extremely careful how we interact with one another, which will make for a very disconnected, fearful and sad society.

'It will take time for me to try and rebuild my life, if I even can. My career, my name, even some of my relationships have been irreparably damaged as a result of lies.'

'Its time to bring back some common sense.'

Questioned in court about one of the alleged assaults he told his barrister: 'I really do detest liars, you know as well as I do that nothing happened in that shoot.'

In cross examination prosecutor Margia Mostafa asked: 'These photos are really for your titillation aren't they?'

Molliere said: 'Nonsense.'

Ms Mostafa said: 'I'm going to suggest to you that after you asked her to remover her bra, that you touched her breast.'

Molliere replied: 'That's wrong, that's absolutely wrong - it's a lie.'

Molliere, of Surbiton, Surrey, denied and was cleared by the jury of two counts of sexual assault.Richard Steele ( pictured right) and Davinia Hodgson (pictured left) leaving Westminster Magistrates Court. Steele, from Chelsea, admitted assault by beating, which carries the maximum of six months imprisonment

A former hedge fund manager shoved his fiancee into a wall after drinking heavily at a friends posh wedding reception, a court heard.

Richard Steele, 37, argued with model Davinia Hodgson in Lowndes Street, Belgravia after the party on July 12.

Sophie Akister, prosecuting, said: The defendant and his fiancee attended a wedding together, there was a disagreement over what to do next.

Ms Akister said Steele pushed her three times causing her to fall against a wall outside Chelsea House.

She ran way and Steele waited at the scene for police officers to arrive.

Referring to Ms Hodgsons police statement the prosecutor added: She notes that they had an argument about him being drunk.

She said she was shocked and then ran away.

Ms Hodgson sat in the public gallery with her mother as the case was outlined at Westminster Magistrates Court.

Clare Cooper, defending, said Steele gave his version of what happened to police:

He said that they were both at the wedding but they had too much to drink and the scuffle ensued.

During the course of the scuffle his fingers got bent back.

The (cctv) footage reconciled entirely with the factual actions that took place in the street.

Richard Steele, 37, argued with model Davinia Hodgson (pictured) in Lowndes Street, Belgravia after the party on July 12

Steele pushed Davinia Hodgson three times causing her to fall into a wall outside Chelsea House

Mr Steele is not a man with an alcohol dependency.

He is a man who went to a wedding over a number of hours and drank.

Ms Hodgson wanted to go to another event but Mr Steele was absolutely adamant that they had had their fill.

This is a genuine incident where two people got out of hand with one another.

Ms Hodgson contacted police to express the same.

This is not a case where the court should be troubled by an ongoing history of abuse.

I have a character reference here from both Ms Hodgson and her mother who he has been living with in her family home for two years.

Ms Hodgson was at court in full support of her fiance. Steele, from Chelsea, admitted assault by beating, which carries the maximum of six months imprisonment

She said Ms Hodgson was at court in full support of her fiancee.

Steele, from Chelsea, admitted assault by beating, which carries the maximum of six months imprisonment.

He will return to court on October 9 after pre-sentence reports are prepared.

Magistrate Victoria Fraser said: We have discussed this very carefully. I feel it is in everyones interest to fully understand this case.

Matters of domestic violence must and will be taken very seriously.

We are adjourning this matter until 9 October, you need to be here at 9:30am to meet with probation.

You are on unconditional bail until that time.Millions of Shiite Muslims across the globe are commemorating one of the holiest days in the Islamic calendar: Ashura, which mourns the death of the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.

In some parts of the world these celebrations come in the shape of self-flagellation using knives and swords or walking on hot coals - and even young children are forced to take part.

These images from India and Pakistan show boys of primary school age running across burning embers, and young men covered in blood from whipping themselves with knives on chains.

Young devotees: A boy tries his best to avoid having to touch the burning coal with his feet in Lahore, Pakistan, while another, pictured right, bravely runs across them

Bloody devoted: A Kashmiri Shiite Muslim man flagellates himself during a religious procession held on the seventh day of Ashura in Srinagar, India

Historical moment: Ashura commemorates the slaying of the Prophet Muhammed's grandson in southern Iraq in the seventh century

A young boy in Lahore, Pakistan is seen being held over the hot coals by his father, trying his hardest to lift his feet so he does not have to suffer burns.

Photographs from Srinagar, in India's Kashmir province sees young men swinging blades attached to chains, whipping themselves across their exposed backs.

Others use long swords to cut open their own flesh during the bloody self-flagellation ceremonies.

The annual Ashura commemorations mark the killing of Imam Hussein by the forces of the Caliph Yazid in 680 AD - a formative event in Shiite Islam.

Imam Hussein's death was part of a dispute over who should succeed the Prophet Mohammed.

Hot dash: A young child runs across burning coal during a commemoration ceremony in Lahore, Pakistan

Line 'em up: A Pakistani boy runs across the hot coals while another waits to follow him

A man clutches his bloodied hands to his chest after performing self-flagellation in Srinagar, Kashmir, India

Shocking: A man cuts himself in the back using a long sword on a street in Kashmir, India

This dispute eventually developed into a bitter schism between the Sunni, who make up around 90 per cent of Muslims, and Shiite branches of Islam.

Many Shiite worshippers travel from neighbouring Iran and other countries each year to visit Imam Hussein's shrine in Karbala, which lies about 50 miles southwest of Baghdad, Iraq.

Millions of others across the Shiite world, from Lebanon to south Asia, hold processions in their home towns, performing a variety of mourning rituals.

These involve Shiites beating their chests, slapping their faces and hitting their backs with chains until they bleed to commemorate the violent deaths of Hussein and his family.

The faithful also drive in convoys through the streets carrying colourful flags and playing songs dedicated to Hussein.

Painful: A young man's back is covered in blood as he whips himself with blades on chains

A crowd of Kashmiri Shiite Mislum watch as two others injure themselves to commemorate the death of Imam Hussein

Aftercare: A medical volunteer cleans the blood on the back of a Kashmiri Shiite MuslimAdvertisement

Fancy talking to a realistic robot on your next trip? Head to the city of Hefei in China.

A luxury hotel in the capital of Anhui Province has been using a stunning humanoid to welcome guests.

Apparently, the talking robot is so 'human-like' and 'pretty' many guests have failed to realise it is a machine at first, according to Chinese media.

Madame Wei has worked in the lobby of an upscale hotel in China's Hefei city for a year and is popular among guests

The robot's facial features were designed by a supplier after the hotel said it wanted the robot to look 'gentle' and 'elegant'

Guests look at Madame Wei in Chinese Calligraphy Building. It is said that many guests have failed to realise it is a robot

The 340-room hotel, Chinese Calligraphy Building, has prepared a wardrobe filled with ancient Chinese robes for the mechanical beauty. They have named it Madame Wei - after a female calligrapher from the Jin Dynasty (265-420 AD).

Mr Yin, a deputy manager of the hotel, told MailOnline that Madame Wei started to 'work' in the lobby from September last year, and has been highly popular among their guests.

He said Madame Wei can perform simple tasks, such as greeting people and giving directions, but most work in the lobby are still being done by human staff.

The mechanical beauty has a wardrobe filled with ancient Chinese robes and hotel staff will dress it according to season

A deputy manager of the hotel said Madame Wei can perform basic duties, such as greeting people and giving directions

Madame Wei was built by Hefei-based technology firm Ke Da Guo Chuang, who bought the parts and assembled the robot

Madame Wei was built by Hefei-based technology company Ke Da Guo Chuang.

The company's general manager, Mr Gao, told MailOnline that his company was contacted by Chinese Calligraphy Building to make a robotic receptionist last year. His company then purchased the components and assembled the robot.

Mr Gao said Madame Wei's facial features were custom-made by one of his suppliers after the hotel said they wanted it to look 'gentle', 'elegant' and 'classical'.

Mr Gao declined to reveal the technical details of Madame Wei, insisting his company used 'existing technology' to build the robot. However, Madame Wei's appears to be highly similar another life-like talking robot Jia Jia, which is developed by The University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei.

Highly realistic talking robot Jia Jia (pictured) is developed by The University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei

Experts used the facial features of five female students from the university as the inspiration of Jia Jia's looks

It took the team three years to complete Jia Jia, which can speak, show micro-expressions, move its lips and body, yet seems to hold its head in a submissive manner. Jia Jia was unveiled in April, 2016.

Jia Jia has natural eye movement, speech that is in sync with its lip movement and refers to its male creators as 'lords'. According to Xinhua, experts used the facial features of five female students from The University of Science and Technology of China as the inspiration of Jia Jia's looks.

Its inventor, Chen Xiaoping, predicted that within a decade or so, artificially intelligent robots like Jia Jia would begin performing a range of menial tasks in Chinese restaurants, nursing homes, hospitals and households.In a relief to the still-grieving Sharif family, a two-judge bench of the Islamabad High Court suspended the jail sentences of the embattled former prime minister Sharif, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Captain (retired) Muhammad Safdar in the Avenfield corruption case and ordered their release.

The High Court was hearing the petitions filed by Sharifs and Safdar against the July 6 verdict by the accountability court. The shocking verdict left everyone talking online and most were very unhappy.

The court accepted the petitions and ruled that they should be immediately freed while it continues to hear the appeals.

Justice Miangul Hassan and Justice Athar Minallah gave the decision on the plea submitted by Nawaz Sharif and family in the Avenfield case.

The release came hours after a court suspended the sentences of Sharif and his daughter Maryam, who were jailed shortly before July s general election.

While supporters of Sharif broke out in exuberant celebrations, reaction online was quite different.

"Justice has been served and I congratulate Nawaz Sharif's supporters", former Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif said.

Chair umpire Ramos hands Cilic warning for slamming racket

The Americans remained calm and they won the next three points to steal another set and move two sets to love up. Austria secured their place in the February qualifiers with a 3-1 victory over Australia .

Sharif and his daughter and son-in-law were released on a bail for the burial at Lahore.

Sharif had been sentenced to 10 years in jail and a $10.5m fine, his daughter Maryam to a seven-year jail sentence and a $2.6m fine, and Maryam's husband Safdar to a year in prison.

The decision had been taken in a meeting presided over by anti-graft watchdog chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal. The accountability court verdict had ruined their political career.

The development is the latest twist in a series of scandals involving the former prime minister, beginning with his ouster from office a year ago to several corruption cases and trials that he faces.

Nawaz returned to Pakistan in 2007 and took power once more in 2013, only to be ousted by the Supreme Court in July a year ago.

Sharif has repeatedly called the cases against him politically motivated, suggesting collusion between the military and courts to destabilize his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party and throw him out of power. The charges stemmed from the so-called leaked papers from a Panama law firm.The disgraced peer's membership card (pictured) is being sold at auction

An AA membership card Lord Lucan left at the scene of the crime that sparked his mysterious disappearance has been unearthed.

The card contains a photo and signature of the aristocrat who vanished after murdering his childrens nanny at the family home in Londons Belgravia in 1974.

The last confirmed sighting of Lucan was as he drove away from his home in a friends Ford Corsair car.

His vehicle was later found abandoned in Newhaven, East Sussex, with its interior stained with blood and lead piping in the boot.

Lucan was never seen again. He is believed to have committed suicide, although there have been many supposed sightings of him over the years.

The emergence of his membership card for the breakdown recovery firm suggests he was not bothered about being rescued at the roadside in the event of his car conking out at the time he fled.

The 3ins by 4ins card has now coming up for sale at auction. Being sold alongside it is an oak bound silver chest that belonged to the disgraced peer. It bears a brass plate with the inscription The Rt. Hon. Earl of Lucan No. 5 together with his name plate from the House of Lords.

And there is also an ornate picture frame carrying the initial and coronet of Lord Lucan.

Also up for sale is this silver chest - which comes with an inscription featuring the disgraced peer's name

Lord Lucan's coat hook tag is also featured in the auction after the peer vanished when he killed his family nanny

The items were sold as part of the dispersal sale of his estate 40 years ago. They are being sold by auctioneers Henry Aldridge and Son of Devizes, Wiltshire.

Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge said: 'The AA card bears Lucans name and address with a typical passport-style photo of him and his signature.

'It is not dated but judging by the photo of him it was taken not long before he disappeared.

'In those days when cars werent as reliable as they are today, motorists always took their AA or RAC cards with them. Obviously he did not take his on this last occasion.

Lord Lucan's belongings - including this chest - are up for sale after the car in which he fled was found abandoned in East Sussex

'With eclectic memorabilia like this, it is all about having a tangible link to an historic event or person that you can touch and hold.'

Lucan, whose full name was John Bingham, the 7th Earl of Lucan, disappeared following the discovery of the body of nanny Sandra Rivett in the basement of the family home.

He is believed to have battered Rivett to death after mistaking her for his ex-wife, Lady Veronica Lucan who he also attacked.

She survived and told police her estranged husband was the killer, triggering a massive manhunt.

A warrant for Lucans arrest was issued a few days later, and in his absence the inquest into Rivetts death named him as her murderer, the last occasion in Britain a coroners court did so. The sale takes place on Saturday.Britain's housing market is finally cooling down as figures out today reveal that London's property prices and rents are both falling.

Prices in the capital have slumped by 0.7 per cent in the year ending in July - the lowest rate since September 2009.

While rents in the city have slumped by 0.3 per cent in the past year, according to analysis by the Office for National Statistics.

Nationally, the property bubble is deflating, with prices increasing by 3.1 per cent in the year of July 2018 - its lowest rate since August 2013.

The news will be welcomed by young renters who have seen the property prices balloon in recent years making the home ownership unaffordable for many.

Prices in the capital have slumped by 0.7 per cent in the year ending in July - the lowest rate since September 2009. While rents in the city have slumped by 0.3 per cent in the past year, according to analysis by the Office for National Statistics

Mike Hardie, from the ONS, said: 'UK house prices continued to grow but at their lowest annual rate for five years, driven again by a fall in London.'

But after years of soaring prices the cost of homes in London are still sky high - costing on average 477,000 in July.

How have house prices fared in London boroughs in the year ending in July 2018? Here is how house prices have fared in London boroughs in the year ending in July 2018: City of London: -6.7 per cent Hammersmith & Fulham: -1.7 per cent Wandsworth: -1.6 per cent Southwark: -1.5 percent Ealing: -1.2 per cent Newham: -0.7 per cent Tower Hamlets: -0.4 per cent Richmond upon Thames: -0.4 per cent Lambeth: -0.2 per cent Barnet: +0.1 per cent Brent: +0.4 per cent Hillingdon: +0.8 per cent Hounslow: +0.8 per cent Harrow: +0.8 per cent City of Westminster: +0.9 per cent Enfield: +1.1 per cent Kensington & Chelsea: +1.1 per cent Islington: +1.2 per cent Croydon: +1.3 per cent Bromley +1.4 per cent Kingston upon Thames: +1.4 per cent Haringey: +1.5 per cent Sutton: +1.7 per cent Lewisham: +1.9 per cent Merton: +2 per cent Hackney: +2.6 per cent Waltham Forest: +2.7 per cent Bexley: 2.8 per cent Barking & Dagenham: +3 per cent Greenwich: +3.4 per cent Camden: +3.8 per cent Havering: +4 per cent Redbridge: +4.1 per cent Advertisement

The capital's tumbling house prices have been driven by a slump in prices in central and west London, while outer London borough are continuing to see prices rise.

The City of London has seen the sharpest fall in prices - which fell by 6.7 per cent over the year.

Hammersmith was next with a fall of 1.7 per cent followed by Wandsworth at minus 1.6 per cent and Southwark at minus 1.5 per cent.

The figures come as Theresa May today announced a 2billion cash injection for the affordable housing sector as she said it was her personal mission to improve housing in the UK.

In a speech to the National Housing federation in London, the PM insisted people should be 'proud' to live on council estates as she vowed to end the 'stigma' of social housing.

She condemned sneering attitudes towards housing association and council house tenants, who she says have nothing to be ashamed of.

She said council house tenants were our 'friends and neighbours' and 'not second-rate citizens', as she announced 2billion for new housing association properties.

Residents should be able to say they were an 'estate person' without feeling looked down on, she said.

Mrs May added: 'They should be proud to call it their home.'

Since Margaret Thatcher's right-to-buy policy allowed millions of council house tenants to buy their homes, Tory leaders have emphasised the party's mission of increasing home ownership.

But Mrs May's speech today marked a significant departure from these ideals.

Instead she lashed those who stigmatise social tenants.

She said: 'For many people, a certain stigma still clings to social housing. Some residents feel marginalised and overlooked, and are ashamed to share the fact that their home belongs to a housing association or local authority.

'On the outside, many people in society  including too many politicians  continue to look down on social housing and, by extension, the people who call it their home.

'We should never see social housing as something that need simply be 'good enough', nor think that the people who live in it should be grateful for their safety net and expect no better.

'Whether it is owned and managed by local authorities, tenant management organisations or housing associations, I want to see social housing that is so good people are proud to call it their home  our friends and neighbours who live in social housing are not second-rate citizens.'

Theresa May, pictured speaking at the Housing Federation today, said people should be proud to live on housing estates as she announced a 2billion cash boost for housing association properties

But Dan Tomlinson, Policy Analyst at the Resolution Foundation think-tank, warned that the fall in house prices in the capital does not mean the cost of living squeeze is over.

He said: 'The UK's housing market shows some signs of cooling, with growth in the house price index slowing to its lowest level since 2013.

'But we should be cautious about thinking this signals an imminent easing of cost of living pressures.

'This slowdown is driven almost entirely by trends in London and the South East. House price rises are still outpacing wage growth across many other parts of the country.

How have house prices fared across the UK in the year ending July 2018? This is how property prices in the UK have fared in the year ending in July 2018: North West England: + 5.6 per cent South West England: +4.4 per cent West Midlands regions: + 4.4 per cent East of England: +2.4 per cent South East England: +1.8 per cent London: -0.7 per cent Wales: +4.2 per cent Scotland: +3.2 per cent Northern Ireland : +4.4 per cent Advertisement

'There are also good and bad house price falls because what really matters is how much of a families' incomes is devoted to housing costs.

'In so far as the recent slowdown reflects worries about lower income growth for British families, it is hard to see it as good news for living standards.

'The reality is that home ownership will remain far too distant a dream for many young people, who are likely to remain renting for some time.'

He added: 'So it's good to see the Prime Minister signalling a shift in attitudes towards renting by reforming tenancies in the private rental sector and announcing a 2bn boost to increase the supply of affordable social housing in the 2020s.

'However, far more will be needed if we are going to turn around the locking out of young families from our social housing stock.'

Across England, house prices have increased by 3 per cent annually, reaching 249,000 on average.

Within England, the North West showed the highest annual growth, with prices increasing by 5.6 per cent in the year to July 2018.

This was followed by the South West and West Midlands regions (both at 4.4 per cent).

The Prime Minister condemned sneering attitudes towards housing association and council house tenants, who she says have nothing to be ashamed of

The lowest annual growth was in London, followed by the South East, where prices increased by 1.8 per cent in the year to July 2018, followed by the East of England, where prices increased by 2.4 per cent.

The report said: 'This is the first time since May 2009 that London, the South East and the East of England have been the lowest-ranked regions for annual growth.'

Wales saw house prices increase by 4.2 per cent over the previous 12 months to stand at 157,000.

In Scotland, average house prices increased by 3.2 per cent over the year to July to reach 152,000.

The average price in Northern Ireland was 133,000, up 4.4 per cent over the year.A new report by Amnesty International has detailed the crimes committed with 'staggering brutality' by government soldiers and allied militia in South Sudan.

Children were killed by being swung against tree trunks and civilians were raped, burned alive, run over with armored vehicles and hanged from trees, even as the government pursued a new peace deal to end a civil war, it says.

The report, released Wednesday, is based on interviews with 100 displaced people from Leer and Mayendit counties in Unity State.

A refugee woman with a baby, who fled government attacks on her village in Leer county, South Sudan

A displaced man mourning the death of his son, who was killed by government forces. Those guilty were given 'free rein' to carry out more horrific murders after escaping prosecution for war crimes committed in 2016

It describes attacks that took place between April and July this year, during a targeted offensive aimed at 'clearing opposition-held areas.'

Leer and Mayendit have been among the hardest hit regions during South Sudan's five-year civil war, in which tens of thousands have died and over 2 million have fled the country, triggering Africa's worst refugee crisis since the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

According to the report, those unable to flee the government offensive were often killed, with elderly and disabled people burned alive in their homes.

Women unloading cargo from a humanitarian flight in Nyal, South Sudan

Children in South Sudan were killed by being swung against tree trunks and civilians were raped, burned alive, run over with armored vehicles and hanged from trees

Civilians told Amnesty how soldiers and militias drove amphibious vehicles into swaps in search of people who had fled, while firing gunshots at random into the reeds hoping to hit them.

An elderly woman, Nyalony, described how she witnessed her husband and two other men killed by soldiers: 'When the attack started, early in the morning while we were sleeping, my husband and I ran to the swamp together.

The South Sudanese government has been blamed for its failure to bring to justice those responsible for previous waves of violence targeting civilians in the region

'Later in the morning, after the fighting was over, the soldiers came into the swamp looking for people, and sprayed the area where we were hiding with bullets.

'My husband was hit; he cried out in pain. He was still alive, though, and the soldiers caught him, and then they shot him again and killed him. He was unarmed and wasn't a fighter; just a farmer.'

Nyabieli Gai, a 50-year-old grandmother from Mayendit fled the region in May when government troops ambushed her village early one morning.

A young boy from a displaced family that escaped the recent violence in southern Unity state. Children, especially boys, were systematically murdered by government soldiers and militia, who feared they would become soldiers

In late April, South Sudanese government forces and their allied militias launched an offensive on Leer and Mayendit counties, in southern Unity state, which continued throughout May and June

Gai hid in the bushes while they raped her daughter-in-law.

'They raped women, killed old people and took young boys,' she told The Associated Press last month during a visit to the opposition-held town of Nyal where hundreds of people have sought refuge from the offensive.

Amnesty have laid the blame at the feet of the South Sudanese authorities.

Joan Nyanyuki, Amnesty International's Regional Director for East Africa, said: 'A key factor in this brutal offensive was the failure to bring to justice those responsible for previous waves of violence targeting civilians in the region.

'Leer and Mayendit counties have been hard hit in the past, and yet the South Sudanese government continues to give suspected perpetrators free rein to commit fresh atrocities. The result has been catastrophic for civilians.'

Boys running on the main road in the late afternoon in Nyal, South Sudan. The town is now home to many hundreds of displaced people in what is Africa's largest refugee crisis since the Rwandan genocide in 1994

Nyaweke, a 20-year-old woman, told Amnesty she witnessed soldiers shooting her father and then murdering several children in the village of Thonyoor in Leer county:

'There were also five boys whom they hit against the tree, swinging them. They were two [or] three years old.

'They don't want especially boys to live because they know they will grow up to become soldiers.'

In a Rukway village in Leer, an elderly couple and their two young grandsons were burned to death in a house. When their daughter ran out, carrying a baby, a soldier shot her and crushed the baby to death with his foot.

According to UN figures, at least 50,000 people have been killed during the fighting, many of them civilians. Around a quarter of South Sudan's population have been forced to leave their homes.

This new report comes shortly after South Sudan's latest attempt to broker a peace deal, which was signed last week but has been met with skepticism by the United States and others.

Soldiers used underwater vehicles to search swamps for civilians who had fled, and fired bullets indiscriminately into the reeds

The US, Britain and Norway, the troika that helped to achieve South Sudan's independence from neighbouring Sudan in 2011, have for the first time decided not to sign the peace deal, saying they remained 'concerned about the parties' level of commitment.'

South Sudan's government, which dismisses such reports as 'rubbish', has claimed the new peace deal will bring an end to the war.

Any doubt will only fuel the government's resolve 'to consolidate peace,' President Salva Kiir has said.

Local man showing the water lily seeds that many displaced families have eaten to survive, after being forced to flee their villages

Days after the signing however, fighting broke out between government and opposition forces in Lainya and Kajo Keji counties in Central Equatoria and a Nepalese peacekeeper was shot and wounded in what the U.N. condemned as a 'direct attack' on its mission in the town of Yei.

An investigation into the latest fighting is underway by the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism, the body charged with monitoring the cease-fire.

At least one conflict expert said the current system for fostering peace in South Sudan is broken.

Small girl in the doorway of a school on an island inhabited by numerous displaced families

A Canoe driver who brought dozens of civilians to safety after government forces stormed their villages

Alan Boswell, a South Sudan analyst for the Geneva-based Small Arms Survey group that monitors armed violence, said: 'Even as South Sudan's leaders talk peace, they continue to wage war.

'The regional mediators broker cease-fire after cease-fire but show no willingness to enforce them.

'The parties to the conflict have concluded there is little cost to breaking the agreements and they are right,' Boswell added.A North Dakota man tightened the rope around a pregnant woman's neck as his girlfriend sliced her stomach open and then tore the baby from her womb, a court heard.

William Hoehn is charged with conspiracy to commit murder in the death of 22-year-old Savanna Greywind, who was eight months pregnant when she was brutally murdered in August 2017.

Hoehn's live-in girlfriend at the time, Brooke Crews, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit kidnapping and murder and lying to law officers in December 2017.

She was sentenced to life in prison without parole in February.

During Hoehn's trial, prosecutors said Wednesday that he tightened a rope around Greywind's neck after Crews sliced the baby from the Greywind's womb. The prosecutor also suggested that the girlfriend couldn't have restrained the mom-to-be alone.

Hoehn initially told police he arrived home August 19 to find Crews cleaning up blood in their bathroom.

He said Crews presented him with an infant girl and said: 'This is our baby. This is our family.'

William Hoehn (right, with lawyer Daniel Borgen) is on trial for conspiracy to commit murder in the 2017 death of Savanna Greywind, who was eight months pregnant when she was killed in a plot to steal her baby. Hoehn participated in jury selection Tuesday (pictured)

Hoehn, meanwhile, pleaded not guilty and said that he didn't know Crews had planned to kill Greywind.

Savanna Greywind was killed after having her baby cut out of her womb in August 2017

Hoehn said he took garbage bags containing bloody shoes and his bloody towels and disposed of them away from the apartment complex.

Defense attorney Daniel Borgen said in his 10-minute opening statement Wednesday that Greywind was already dead when Hoehn entered the bathroom. Hoehn then helped cover up the crime, Borgen said, noting that his client has confessed to that.

'He helped her. He shouldn't have,' Borgen said. 'He should have immediately called police.'

But prosecutor Ryan Younggren said Crews couldn't have subdued Greywind without Hoehn's help. When Hoehn entered the bathroom, Crews told him that she wasn't sure if Greywind was dead.

'He goes and gets a rope, puts it around her neck, pulls it tight and says, 'If she's not dead, she is now,' Younggren said in a 50-minute presentation Wednesday.

Kayakers found Greywind's body in late August, wrapped in plastic and dumped in a river. It is still unclear how she ended up there.

Hoehn's live-in girlfriend, Brooke Crews, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit kidnapping and murder and lying to law officers in December 2017. Hoehn pleaded not guilty to his charge

Hoehn (in December 2017) claimed that he did not know Crews planned to kill Greywind

Crews was sentenced to life in prison without parole in February (pictured at her sentencing)

Crews admitted she and Greywind argued and that she pushed Greywind down, knocked her out and cut her open. Kayakers found Greywind's body, wrapped in plastic and in a river

A sonogram showing Greywind's unborn baby, which was cut out of her womb at eight months

Greywind's daughter, Haisley Jo (in February 2018), was later recovered and reunited with her father, Greywind's boyfriend, Ashton Matheny, who has full custody of the child now

A medical examiner determined Greywind had bled to death.

Crews and Greywind had been friends, and Greywind had texted her mother shortly before she disappeared to say she was going to Crews' apartment.

After Greywind was reported missing, police searched Hoehn and Crews' apartment three times in six days but found no trace of blood.

Crews originally told police that Greywind had given her the child. Crews later admitted they had argued, saying she pushed Greywind down and knocked her out before cutting her open.

Greywind was pregnant with boyfriend Ashton Matheny's daughter when she was killed. The baby, who had been cut out of Greywind, was later found and reunited with Matheny, who now has full custody of the baby girl, now named Haisley Jo.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Matheny raise Haisley Jo.

Greywind's death prompted North Dakota Sen. Heidi Heitkamp to introduce Savanna's Act, which aims to improve tribal access to federal crime information databases and create standardized protocols for responding to cases of missing and murdered Native American women. A similar bill has been introduced in the U.S. House.

A judge said Hoehn's trial could last up to two weeks.Schapelle Corby has taken to social media to reveal she's going under the knife to get rid of a growing lump in her throat that she's had for 18 years.

The Queensland-based convicted drug smuggler posted a Instagram video on Wednesday to share her latest health scare with her 180,000 followers.

Filmed in a car, the video was posted with the hashtag #ifitsnotonethingitsanother.

Scroll down for video

Schapelle Corby's growing lump went unchecked during her stint in a Bali prison

'Before my Bali life, so when I was about 23 or so, I found a lump in my throat,' a nervous Corby, 41, revealed.

'I used to get biopsies on it every six months but obviously while in prison for 10 years and the three years on probation in Bali, I didn't get it attended to and it was always a little worry in the back of my mind about my throat. I could feel it getting bigger.'

The lump has grown from 1.3 centimetres when she first discovered it to seven centimetres in diameter.

Schapelle, pictured with her mum, was hospitalised several times in the months following her return to Australia last year

'It's time to go, it's just going to keep growing, it's time to get cut out,' Ms Corby told her followers.

The post has since been viewed more than 23,000 times and has been inundated with messages of support from well-wishers from as far as the US.

'Take care of yourself, yes horrible you couldn't get your health attended to. You're in such a better place now paradise compared to Bali. All the best with your op,' one woman commented.

Another added: 'If there is one thing you have proven, it is you have exceptional strength. You will get through this.'

'It's time to go, it's just going to keep growing, it's time to get cut out,' Ms Corby told her 180,000 Instagram followers

Ms Corby was convicted in 2005 for smuggling 4.2kg of marijuana inside her boogie board bag.

She returned to Australia 15 months ago after nine years in an Indonesian jail and three years on parole in Bali.

Ms Corby's latest health scare comes after she was hospitalised several times for knee surgery last year.

Schapelle required several knee surgeries in 2017

The convicted drug smuggler spent nine years in an Indonesian jail and three years on parole in Bali

She recently spoke openly about her interest in mental health while raising money for Suicide Prevention Australia when she participated in a charity run last month.

'Mental health is something that is very close to my heart,' she told the Gold Coast Bulletin.Mounting allegations have surfaced against teachers accused of grooming female students for sex in Sydney high schools throughout the 1980s.

Several alleged victims have reportedly requested leading law firm Maurice Blackburn to represent them in an explosive case against NSW Department of Education.

The firm, based in Sydney, has been formally instructed to act on behalf of several former students at Northern Beaches schools including Cromer High, Forest High and Beacon Hill High (closed in 2002), Nine News reported.

Mounting allegations have surfaced against teachers accused of grooming female students for sex in Sydney high schools throughout the 1980s (Forest High School pictured)

The case was reportedly at the point where the firm had 'commenced correspondence' with the Department of Education.

'We are continuing to work through inquiries with respect to these matters,' a spokesperson told the publication.

'No formal claims have [yet] been filed with the court on any matters.'

Depending on the outcome of the case, the Department may be forced to make several compensation payouts.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Maurice Blackburn in relation to the matter.

Podcast A Teacher's Pet, produced by The Australian, made explosive allegations a number of teachers were having sex with female Year 11 and 12 students, one of which was named as former Newtown Jets rugby league star, Chris Dawson.

Several alleged victims have reportedly requested leading law firm Maurice Blackburn to represent them in an explosive case against NSW Department of Education

Podcast A Teacher's Pet, produced by The Australian, made explosive allegations a number of teachers were having sex with female Year 11 and 12 students, one of which was named as former Newtown Jets rugby league star, Chris Dawson (pictured with wife, Lynette)

Dawson became a physical education teacher at Cromer High School in 1979 when he allegedly began having sex with a 16-year-old student, Joanne, who later started babysitting his children.

Lynette, Dawson's wife and mother of their children Shanelle and Sherryn, disappeared from their Sydney home in 1982.

On Monday, police conducted extensive searches on Dawson's former home but discovered no new leads.

Dawson has never been charged in relation to his wife's disappearance and maintains his innocence.

Dawson claimed sheran away from home to join a religious cult in remote NSW.Kellis Hood (left) paid tribute to her sister Casey (right) after she died in a car crash on Friday morning

A twin has paid a heartbreaking tribute to her sister who was killed in a car crash and her mother who was found dead days later, writing: 'I'm all alone now'.

Natalie Hood was found dead over the weekend after Casey, 18, died in a collision near Canterbury in the early hours of Friday morning.

In a tribute left near the crash scene, Kellis Hood wrote: 'RIP my baby girl, my sister. I'm going to miss you so much and mum you too.

'Rest easy up there, I love you both millions. I'm all alone now but I need to do you both very proud. I need to try my very hardest but don't you both worry because I will get through it.

'I'm ever so broken, I'm the baby of us three but not anymore, I'm one brave girl. We've been sat here hours every day by your side. Sleep tight, my sexy lady. Love you, from Kellis.'

In another note, she wrote: 'I am going to make you very proud. I'm so sorry I wasn't out in Canterbury that night.

'You were my best friend. You always brought a smile to my face. I really did have the best sister I could ever ask for.'

Kellis left a handwritten letter saying she is 'all alone now'

In another note to her sister, Kellis said she was going to 'make you very proud'

Natalie Hood (pictured), Casey Hood's mother, was found dead over the weekend just days after her daughter died in a car crash

Her mother had posted a message on Facebook saying 'I just want my little girl back' shortly after Casey's death on Saturday.

Lucy Leadbeater, 27, was also inside the Toyota Yaris involved in the crash near the A2, and died on Monday after her life support was switched off.

Casey was killed in a car crash in the early hours of Friday in Womenswold, Kent.

Police said Casey died at the scene with the other crash victim Lucy Leadbeater was also died on Sunday.

As tributes flooded in over the weekend for her daughter, Natalie Hood revealed she was 'struggling' in a Facebook post on Saturday.

Mrs Hood's body was then found on Sunday.

Casey Hood, 18, lost her life at the scene of the crash near Canterbury in the early hours of Friday

Kellis posted this photo of her together with Casey onto Facebook in August 2016

It is not yet known who driving the car at the time of the crash at about 3.50am on Friday.

Tributes have poured in for Mrs Hood via the Facebook page of her daughter Kellis - who is Casey's twin sister.

One mourner wrote: 'Rip Natalie go look after your baby girl Casey in heaven look down on us and look after.

'This world is so unfair and cruel take care of each other up there mother & daughter forever, two beautiful angels.'

Another read: 'R.I.P Natalie Hood love you!!! We've got to try remember the good times we all had with her, remember how loving she was how funny and down to earth she was and what a wonderful mum she was!

'Thinking of the family, Kellis Hood and Jasmine and the others I hope you can all find the strength you need to get through this devastating time!

'Fly high Natalie I hope your dancing in the sky with Casey.'

A photo shared to a GoFundMe page in the wake of her daughter's accident showed Mrs Hood with daughter Casey when she was a child

An emotional Facebook post written by Natalie Hood on Saturday said she 'just wanted her back'

Mrs Hood had previously written a tribute to her daughter on Friday saying she was 'struggling'

One tribute to both Casey and Natalie said: 'RIP to one of the kindest people I know. Such heartbreaking news.

'You were the life of the party and loved by so many people. You will never be forgotten. May you and your Mum both Rest in Peace.'

Mrs Hood had previously written a tribute to her daughter on Saturday which said: 'Thanks for everybody's kind thoughts prayers and memories Casey was truly one of a kind and I'm sitting here proper struggling that I will never see here or feel her presence again.'

Friends also paid tribute to Ms Leadbeater on social media.

Amanda Aubrey-Killen lead the tributes on Facebook yesterday: 'At 3.36pm today Lucy Leadbeater's parents made the decision to have the life support machine turned off.

'It is with deepest sympathy that there was nothing more the doctors could do.

'Lucy's parents and her son needed time to process this. As you may know Lucy was involved in a car accident early hours of yesterday morning.

'Her family and Logan's family are all supporting each other. She will be sadly missed. We will never forget you Lucy.'

Lucy Leadbeater, 27, became the second person to die following the horror car crash in Kent on Friday last week

On the crash, a spokesman for Kent Police said: 'At 3.48am on Friday, officers were on patrol when their attention was drawn to a Toyota Yaris parked on the A2 slip road towards Adisham Road.

'The vehicle left the scene and the officers subsequently attended Nethersole Road where they found the car had been involved in a collision.

'South East Coast Ambulance Service and Kent Fire and Rescue Service also attended the scene along with the air ambulance.

'An 18-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene while a second woman was taken to a London hospital in a critical condition.

'Two men were also taken to a local hospital in a stable condition.'

Another touching tribute was left for Lucy Leadbeater, who also died in the crashEmbattled Home Affairs Minister Petter Dutton misled Parliament about his relationship with an au pair who was granted a visa, an inquiry has found.

The Labor-dominated Senate committee found on Wednesday Mr Dutton had personal connections to the employer of an au pair he granted a visa to, despite claiming otherwise.

The inquiry looked into Dutton's decision to intervene in the visa cases of two European nannies Michela Marchisio and Alexandra Deuwel.

Embattled Home Affairs Minister Petter Dutton (pictured) misled Parliament about his relationship with an au pair who was granted a visa, an inquiry has found

Ms Marchisio, an Italian nanny who was approved when Mr Dutton held the immigration portfolio, was employed by a former Queensland police colleague Russell Keag.

'There is no basis for the minister to be able to say that he had no personal connection when the very genesis for this request came through his office because of his personal connections,' Labor senator and committee chair Louise Pratt told parliament on Wednesday.

'It is the view of the committee that the minister misled the parliament in this matter,' Senator Pratt said.

When asked about personal connections in the lower house, Mr Dutton denied the claims.

Emails obtained by the inquiry found Mr Dutton demanded an au pair detained at Brisbane airport to be considered for a visa, despite planning to work while on a tourist visa.

The 'urgent' consideration, sent at 6.30pm on June 17 2015, requested the au pair be granted a visa within an hour.

Michela Marchisio, an Italian nanny who was approved when Mr Dutton held the immigration portfolio, was employed by a former Queensland police colleague Russell Keag

'This is urgent. The minister requires this submission tonight (preferably in the next hour as he has an appointment at 7.30pm),' the email from Mr Dutton's departmental liaison officer said.

The woman was released from detention that night.

Emails between Ms Marchisio and someone in Australia reveal the Italian nanny was looking for a job for a 'bit of cash to fund fun'.

She became employed by Mr Keag who reached out to Dutton's office in an email that said it had been a 'long time between calls' but he needed help.

According to Mr Dutton, he had not spoken to his former colleague in 20 years until he was approached about the visa assistance.

The emails also reveal the department disagreed with Mr Dutton's push to grant visas (pictured) - but he went ahead with it anyway

The emails also reveal the department disagreed with Mr Dutton's push to grant a visa to a woman detained in Adelaide in November 2015 - but he went ahead with it anyway.

The inquiry has since called for statements on ministerial interventions in immigration cases to be made public to ensure they've met the appropriate guidelines.

The committee recommended censuring Mr Dutton for failing to observe fairness in his decisions, thus disobeying ministerial standards.

Liberal senator and committee member Jim Molan said the evidence had disclosed no instances of the minister acting improperly.

'There is no basis for the minister to be able to say that he had no personal connection when the very genesis for this request came through his office because of his personal connections,' Labor senator and committee chair Louise Pratt told parliament on Wednesday

'Not only were they unable to locate a smoking gun, they learned that there was absolutely no gun at all,' he said.

Earlier, Mr Dutton said the Labor-Greens dominated inquiry was politically motivated and predicted it would find him to be a 'bad person.'

'It will be a political report with political recommendations,' he said.This is the deeply distressing moment a tearful poverty-stricken 25-year-old mother hands over her newborn baby forever - for 34 - to a middle aged woman teacher who longed to raise one more child.

A CCTV video shows the distraught mother named as Inna Petrova clutching her nine-day-old daughter at Omsk airport in Russia.

She walks around seemingly counting every last precious second she is with her tiny girl.

Inna Petrova is seen clutching her nine-day-old daughter at Omsk airport in Russia just moments before she hands it over for 34

Inna Petrova meets with Natalia Zhdanova, 43, who has flown 1,970 miles from St Petersburg to collect the baby

Petrova appears to give her daughter a final kiss before handing her over to Zhdanova. Petrova - who later said she was 'hysterical' at giving away her child - is also seen wiping tears from her eyes in footage captured at the scene

Petrova (right) brings her arms to her head after handing over the baby. Both women (Zhdanova pictured centre) have both been detained as suspects under Russia's child trafficking laws

The unemployed painter at one point turns her back on Natalia Zhdanova, 43, who has flown 1,970 miles from St Petersburg to collect the baby.

But then Petrova kisses her for the last time and hands over the child cocooned in a bright pink wrap.

Zhdanova then used a faked birth certificate - which listed the baby as hers - to show airport security before flying back to her home city with the child.

Petrova - who later said she was 'hysterical' at giving away her child - is seen wiping tears from her eyes on the video, released by the Investigative Committee, which probes serious crimes in Russia.

She now admits she was wrong and says she wishes she could wind back the clock.

Ahead of the child's brith, Zhdanova had sent Inna a payment of 3,000 roubles - just 34.

Now both women have been formally detained as a criminal probe is launched under Russia's child trafficking laws.

They could each face up to ten years in jail.

Petrova (pictured) responded to an online advertisement by Zhdanova asking for a child to adopt. At the time she was pregnant after a short relationship with a man she met at a local cafe

Petrova (pictured) told police she lived with her mother and sister in a cramped apartment and the other two women were furious when she became pregnant

Investigators say that Zhdanova was 'desperate' to raise another child after her adult son left home.

She is already bringing up another adopted daughter but feared an 'empty nest'.

She posted an online advertisement saying: 'Hi everyone! My husband and I would very much like to get a baby aged 0 to 3 months. All the documents for adoption are ready. Please send a private message for details. Girls, darlings, please help.'

Petrova - at the time pregnant after a short relationship with a man she met at a local cafe - replied: 'Hello, I would like my daughter to be adopted. Please do so, I am not able to raise her, no chance'.

She told police she lived with her mother and sister in a cramped apartment and the other two women were furious when she became pregnant.

They were adamant she should not keep the baby.

Investigators say that Zhdanova (pictured) was 'desperate' to raise another child after her adult son left home. She is seen here with Petrova's child

Omsk prosecutor Vasily Gumenyuk said: 'During our interrogation, the biological mother of the baby explained that she lived in a rented apartment with her mother and sister.

'Both were strongly against the baby and put strong psychological pressure on the future mother.

'The young woman failed to get a job, and she was not married to the father of her baby.

'He knew about her pregnancy but did not plan to support her.

'She decided to give away the baby to the teacher from St Petersburg.'

The baby deal would have remained secret but for Petrova and her mother telling their landlady - who immediately informed police.

Officers knocked on Zhdanova's door in St Petersburg one week after the airport exchange.

Petrova said: 'All the way through my pregnancy, my mother and sister were attacking me.

'They wanted me to have an abortion.

'My mother threatened me, saying 'If you give birth, just don't come back home, I won't let you in!'

She said: 'They told me a baby is not a toy.'

'I posted in my social network that I needed help and Natalia Zhdanova replied.'

The advert posted by Natalia Zhdanova asking for a baby aged zero to three months. Petrova's reply can also be seen in the image

Both Petrova and Zhdanova met in Omsk Airport in Russia to hand over the child. But now both have been detained as suspects under Russia's child trafficking laws. They are held under house arrest pending completion of the criminal investigation

She admitted she could have given the child up at her maternity hospital but chose not to and instead to hand the baby to Natalia who she had not previously met.

She was paid 3,000 roubles - sent in advance allegedly to cover the cost of nappies - but claimed Zhdanova also promised to help her and her family find jobs in St Petersburg.

Asked about the moment she handed over the child, she said: 'Of course it was hard.

'I was in hysterics in the airport when it happened.

'But Natalia's return flight has already been announced, I had to give her my daughter so (she and her friend) could catch their plane.

'My daughter was nine days old. I would have given her away earlier but we stayed in the hospital for a week, and then we lived at home for several days, but it was just impossible to be there because of constant scandals.'

She said: 'When the story became known, a friend of my mother said that she would have helped us

'The father of the baby was not interested before but now he says  'give me the baby, I will take care of her'.

'But he is not serious. He is 23, there are no babies in his life plans.

'There was no way out for me.'

She said: 'Most likely, I will never see my baby again

'If only could I go back over everything, I would not have given her away.'

The child is now likely to be put in an orphanage.

Zhdanova told police that she had planned to try and legally adopt another baby.

But she said the rules on her living conditions and salary would have meant she was not qualified.

The women were both detained as suspects under Russia's child trafficking laws.

They are held under house arrest pending completion of the criminal investigation.A coward-punch victim has been left with permanent brain damage after he was attacked while walking his dog.

The 59-year-old was struck from behind on July 1 as he walked his dog along Barkly Street, Ararat, in Victoria.

The man was found on the ground by a woman who rung an ambulance just before 11pm but was gone by the time authorities arrived at the scene.

Scroll down for video

The man was flown to the Royal Melbourne Hospital where he stayed in intensive care for 28 days.

He suffered multiple injuries, including a fractured skull, bleeding on the brain and was in and out of a coma.

Multiple operations were also needed to assist his breathing.

A family member spoke to 7 News, saying the 59-year-old remained 'very fearful' because his attackers were 'still out there'.

'He'll be somewhat damaged forever, for the rest of his life due to the assault.' the woman said.

The 59-year-old man suffered multiple injuries, including a fractured skull, bleeding on the brain and was in and out of a coma after being coward punched while walking his dog

The man is now out of intensive care, but faces the challenge of learning to walk again.

Police are now appealing to the public to assist them with finding the attackers.

Senior Constable Caroline Blackley from Victoria Police told ABC News that it was 'unfathomable' that the man was left for dead.

Constable Blackley said they were interested in talking to the woman who called the ambulance but did not wait for it's arrival.

She also said that police were looking at a few different leads, including a man and a woman who were captured on CCTV.

Another man was also seen walking away from the scene.

Anyone with any information on the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.Anil Ambani on Tuesday said there has been a 'creative destruction' of the telecom sector that has resulted in creation of oligopoly which is going towards a duopoly and may be even a monopoly in the future.

Banks are saddled with over Rs 7.7 lakh crore in debt and the financial troubles of operators have resulted in over 20 lakh job losses, he said.

Ambani also announced that the cash-strapped Reliance Communications (RCom) will be completely exiting the telecom business to concentrate on real estate in future.

The first priority for RCom, which is credited for democratising telecom services through cheaper offers in early 2000s, is to resolve its over Rs 40,000 crore debt, he told shareholders at the company's 14th annual general meeting.

"We have decided that we will not proceed in this sector. And many other companies have taken a similar call. This is very much a writing on the wall, the future... As we have moved out of the mobile sector, we will monetise at an appropriate stage our enterprise business. Reliance Realty will be the engine of growth for the future of this company," Ambani said.

He said the residual company will serve 35,000 businesses through the enterprise, data centres, undersea cables and international voice calling verticals and will get half of its revenues from abroad.

RCom is "committed" to exit these verticals as well to pay-off banks and will take a call on the same at an appropriate time, Ambani said.

Pointing out to the 133-acre Dhirubhai Ambani Knowledge City (DAKC) on the outskirts of the financial capital, he said there is huge realty play opportunity that RCom's erstwhile corporate headquarters possesses, and pegged the potential value creation at the site at Rs 25,000 crore.

RCom owes over Rs 40,000 crore to a group of 38 lenders, including Chinese banks, and was resolving the debt through a strategic debt restructuring (SDR) process.

Ambani said he is confident of getting a resolution in the next few months, and added that other monetisation measures, including sale of telecom infrastructure and fibre to Reliance Jio, are at an advanced stage of closure.

He said the company is awaiting final approvals for spectrum sharing and trading from the Department of Telecom.

Anil Ambani also thanked his elder brother Mukesh Ambani, who is credited with conceptualising the undivided group's telecom foray and also bought the assets as part of the beleaguered RCom's monetisation efforts.

"It would be most appropriate for me to thank and acknowledge the support (and) guidance extended to RCom and me personally by my brother Mukesh bhai Ambani," the younger sibling told shareholders.

Reliance Jio's aggressive play is widely blamed for disrupting the telecom sector, which has seen an erosion of profits, asset sales, bankruptcies and consolidation following the entry of the deep-pocketed new entrant.

Reliance Realty is a wholly-owned subsidiary of RCom, which will develop the DAKC in Navi Mumbai, he said, adding that it is an already registered IT and fintech park.

The company already has three million sq ft of built up space, which will be leased out to multi-nationals, Ambani said, adding that he expects revenue accruals through it this year itself.Advertisement

President Trump hugged survivors of Hurricane Florence on Thursday and passed out hot meals at a church as he toured areas affected by the storm and heard from people forced out of their homes or living without power.

Trump shook hands with volunteers and passed out Styrofoam containers at a make-shift, drive-thru pick up, located in the parking lot of a local church, where the meal of the day was hot dogs, chips and fruit, according to the Associated Press.

'Have a good time,' he told one car of hurricane survivors as they drove away with their daily rations. 'Good luck with everything,' he told the driver of the next vehicle,' patting the man's hand.

At Temple Baptist Church in New Bern, survivors asked the president for hugs and told him that they were praying for him as he leaned into their car.

Afterward the president walked around a neighborhood in New Bern and spoke with more survivors, reveling to one man whose yard had been trashed by an intact yacht: 'At least you got a nice boat out of the deal.'

Here to hug: One young volunteer named 'Tucker' at Temple Baptist Church, New Bern, N.C., got a full embrace from the president who traveled to areas in the state affected by Hurricane Florence

Meal time: The president and North Carolina governor Roy Cooper (second form left) handed out meals alongside volunteers at New Bern's Temple Baptist Church in North Carolina

Hot dogs and green peas: President Trump handed out ready meals in New Bern, North Carolina, as he turned consoler-in-chief on a one-day trip to areas affected by Hurricane Florence

Here to help: The president took part in food distribution at Temple Baptist Church in New Bern, North Carolina, giving out meals with the state's governor Roy Cooper

Meet and greet: Trump thanked volunteers at Temple Baptist Church in New Bern, North Carolina, who had prepared meals for people affected by the aftermath of Hurricane Florence

Major effort: Volunteers at Temple Baptist Church were thanked by the president for taking part in efforts to keep people affected by power outages and evacuation orders fed

Thanks for your help: A man who had come to Temple Baptist Church shook hands with the president who was handing out meals

Trump spent the day touring storm-ravaged areas in North Carolina and South Carolina.

'Whatever we have to do at the federal level, we will be there - and you know that - 100 percent,' the president said.

He promised that the government would take care of 'everybody' affected as he participated in a briefing at Cherry Point alongside officials from his administration, including FEMA administrator Brock Long and North Carolina Gov. Rory Cooper.

'Weve done a real job, and weve got to continue to do that real job because another phase is coming in right now, and were going to meet that phase just like we've met phase one,' Trump said.

In Conway, South Carolina, the president directing senators from the two states to put their heads together and come back to him with a proposal for federal funding. A snippet of their on-camera conversation revealed the number was north of $2 billion.

North Carolina was hit the hardest by the storm, but the president warned residents of South Carolina as he spoke at Horry County Emergency Operations Center that the floods would be coming their way soon. 'You haven't really been hit yet by comparison to what's coming,' he said. 'Because youre going to have a lot of water.'

He described the period that South Carolina is in as 'the calm before the storm' and noted that residents of the area about to have a 'rough few days' followed by a period of recovery that could last a long time.

But he told them, 'Washington is with you. Trump is with you. We are all with you 100 percent.'

'At least you got a nice boat out of the deal,' the president told a resident whose yard had been trashed by a yacht

The death toll from Hurricane Florence ticked up to 37 by Wednesday when two women being transported to a mental health institution drowned in a sheriff's van.

According to President Trump, nearly 20,000 federal and military personnel are working the coasts, First responders have also helped or rescued 3,000 people, Trump stated.

'In moments of despair, we witness the true character of the American people,' he said. 'Citizens all across our country rally together to rescue the stranded, to protect the innocent, and to restore hope to families who have experienced tremendous and unbearable loss.'

By his count, more than 1.6 million meals had been delivered to storm survivors in North Carolina. He said 400,000 meals are ready to be passed out in South Carolina when the flooding crosses state lines.

Power outrages are still a problem but 1.2 million homes in North and South Carolina have already had their electricity restored, Trump stated.

'And the power is starting to go on as soon as the water goes down. Theyre meeting the demand incredibly well. So, I want to thank the power companies and all of the federal workers, but we have to also thank some of the power companies because theyve been very responsive.'

Picture time: One woman picking up food for herself and her family snapped the president after he gave out the meals

Scene of devastation: Trump inspects the damage in New Bern, North Carolina, where floodwaters have caused destruction

Entourage: Trump was accompanied on the tour by Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen

Clean-up: Trump, accompanied by FEMA chief Brock Long (right) saw efforts to deal with the aftermath of the hurricane in New Bern

Visiting president: Trump stands in front of an area devastated by Hurricane Florence in New Bern, North Carolina

Devastated: This was the scene outside one home which was passed by Donald Trump on his tour of the devastated area

The president departed the White House this morning with senior aides and arrived in North Carolina in Air Force One an hour later, where he was greeted on the tarmac by local officials before proceeding to the on-site briefing with senators and federal emergency managers.

At the Marine Corps Air Station in Cherry Point, Trump stressed that the flooding had been pretty extensive, and recovery efforts remain dangerous even though it's now sunny.

'Some of the flooding is actually epic. Hard to believe,' he said. 'And weve seen all the pictures where houses are literally covered beyond the roof. You dont even know there's a house there.'

Trump praised first repsonders and the state's senators and promised to take care of 'everybody' affected by the storm. 'And were ready and theyre ready to do whatever we have to do to make this perfect. And that means, unfortunately, the money will be a lot, but its going to come as fast as you need it,' he pledged.

Trump acknowledged, 'Hurricane Florence was one of the most powerful storms ever to hit the Carolinas. One of the most powerful and devastating storms ever to hit our country.'

'To the families who have lost loved ones, America grieves with you, and our hearts break for you. God bless you. We will never forget your loss. We will never leave your side. Were with you all way,' he said. 'And to all those impacted by this terrible storm, our entire American family is with you and ready to help. And you will recover.'

An aerial picture shows a flooded Interstate 95 (I-95) after Hurricane Florence in Lumberton, North Carolina

At the Marine Corps Air Station in Cherry Point on Wednesday, President Trump stressed that the flooding had been pretty extensive, even though it's quite sunny now in North Carolina. 'Some of the flooding is actually epic. Hard to believe,' he said

Trump was met at the military base by his FEMA Administrator Brock Long, who is leading the recovery effort

Trump praised first repsonders and promised to take care of 'everybody' affected by the storm. 'Unfortunately the money will be a lot, but it's going to come as fast as you need it,' he pledged, while speaking in front of a Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point

President Trump (seen here at Joint Base Andrews) will tour storm-ravaged areas in North Carolina today in the wake of Hurricane Florence

Cooper, the state's governor, told the president that thousands of homes are powerless and the rebuilding effort will take time, despite North Carolina's historically strong economy.

'Our state took a gut punch, Mr. President. And our people are still reeling. Weve lost 27 lives, officially, so far. And some more are under investigation. And we mourn their loss,' the Democratic politician said.

Cooper told Trump the state has 10,000 people living in shelters. 'We have a lot of power that has been restored, but there are thousands of people who are still waiting to get their power back,' he explained.

'We have never seen one like this. This one has been epic, it has been disastrous, and it has been widespread. It is a storm like no other,' he said of Florence. 'But, Mr. President, we've got a long road ahead in the days and the months, and even years ahead, to make sure we build back to where we need to be here in North Carolina.'

He told the president that he will need his help to cut through the 'red tape' of the government to get the resources that residents of his state need.

'I'm asking you, sir, for your help, every step of the way,' he said. 'I know that we can come back stronger than ever. But we're going to need your help.'

Trump told Cooper and the state's federal representatives that 'there will be nothing left undone' and 'you'll have everything you need' although 'it's going to be probably a rough two weeks.'

'We'll have it all taken care of,' the president pledged.

At the briefing, off-camera, a reporter traveling in his rotating press pool said the president asked, how the Lake Norman area is doing.

'I love that area. I cant tell you why, but I love that area,' he told the official who assured him it's fine.

Trump notably owns property in the Lake Norman area, near Charlotte in North Carolina --Trump National Golf Club.

Trump told him that 'there will be nothing left undone' although it will probably be a 'rough two weeks.' 'We'll have it all taken care of,' he said

His next stop was the distribution center and church where he helped pass out that day's rations, which amounted to 1,200 meals the day before, a volunteer informed roving journalists.



'How is the house?' Trump asked one car full of of people. 'Seen better days?' he said.

He hugged 11-year-old volunteer KC Peters and told him, 'You can help us.'

Touring a damaged area in New Bern, where water from the Neuse River was spilling over, Trump told a resident, 'Were giving you a lot of help.'

He hugged another woman he met and inspected a second woman's disfigured property.

'Do you want to see my house? Its over there,' she said, pointing to what was left of her home and a pile of ruined furniture. 'Were going to move,' she informed him.

Another resident, an older gentleman, told the president, 'I named my dog after you.'

'That's nice,' Trump told him.

Eyeing a yacht that had washed into a yard, Trump asked a resident, 'Is this your boat?'

The person told him it was not his vehicle.

Trump smiled and told him, 'At least you got a nice boat out of the deal.'

'I think its incredible what were seeing,' the president told reporters. 'This boat just came here.'

He explained, 'They dont know whose boat that is.'

'Whats the law?' he wondered allowed. 'Maybe it becomes theirs.'

Trump traveled to Conway, South Carolina, afterward by helicopter. Supporters of the president lined up along a local avenue to deliver encouraging messages like, 'Give em hell, President Trump!'

'Is everybody OK?' Trump asked them. 'Best people in the world,' he said, shaking the hands of well-wishers behind a metal barricade.

The president gave one girl a baseball hat. Another group of children excitedly called out, 'Donald Trump!'

The president was not accompanied on the trip by the first lady, who traveled with him last year to storm-affected areas. Her spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, told DailyMail.com that Mrs. Trump had a 'scheduling conflict' that prevented her from joining her husband.

On Wednesday morning, the president exited the White House alone, then turned to tell reporters, 'Were going to North Carolina. Well then be heading to South Carolina. Were doing very well there, but the rivers are cresting. They're just starting to crest. We're really just going to say hello to all of the folks from FEMA, the military, the people that are working so hard. And I think it will be an incredible day. We'll be coming back at about six or seven tonight.'

The president took off from South Carolina early, however, and arrived at the White House minutes before 6 pm.

The President spoke out as North Carolina governor Roy Cooper urged evacuees not to return to their homes just yet because floodwaters could still rise (pictured, kayakers on the flooded Trent River in Nortrh Carolina)

Rescue workers evacuate a family after Little River overflowed its banks and flooded part of an apartment complex in Spring Lake, North Carolina

Kenny Babb looks out over the water on his flooded property as the Little River continues to rise in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence in Linden, North Carolina

Cars sit abandoned on a flooded street in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence in Lillington, North Carolina

Floodwater from Cross Creek covers North Cool Spring Street on the edge of downtown Fayetteville, North Carolina

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters traveling with Trump on Air Force One en route to South Carolina that the president would be going to the area 'hit the hardest' to meet with survivors of the storm at Trump's request.

'He wanted to see the areas hit the hardest, most impacted by the flooding. He also wanted a full overview from state and local officials in both states. He wanted to make sure he met with the people in those areas,' he said.

Trump has been highlighting his administration's recovery efforts as a 'great job' after the storm that is 'one of the wettest we have seen from the standpoint of water.'

'Tremendous effort and bravery is being shown in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and the area that was so horribly hit by Hurricane Florence,' he said at a news conference on Tuesday. 'I just got some clips of some of the things that the Coast Guard is doing and getting people to safety in horrible, horrible conditions.'

In a video he posted to Twitter later on Tuesday the president praised his authorities' response to the storm, which he also called 'a nasty one, a big one'.

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper watches as FEMA Administrator Brock Long talks to the media at an emergency shelter for hurricane victims

Cooper and his wife Kristin greet people seeking refuge from Hurricane Florence at a shelter at UNC-Chapel Hill

A National Guard Chinook helicopter lands in Wilmington, North Carolina, while bringing supplies to the victims of Hurricane Florence

U.S. Army personnel unload food and water to assist the victims of Hurricane Florence

The President also congratulated himself on Twitter while preempting Democrat criticism, saying that it will be 'a total lie'

Earlier in the day he took the opportunity to pat himself on the back, claiming 'right now, everybody is saying what a great job we are doing with Hurricane Florence  and they are 100% correct.'

But he said: 'At some point in the near future the Democrats will start ranting that FEMA, our Military, and our First Responders, who are all unbelievable, are a disaster and not doing a good job.

'This will be a total lie, but that's what they do, and everybody knows it!'

In his video message, which was issued eight hours later, Trump added: 'I just want to thank all of the incredible men and women who have done such a great job in helping with Florence.

'This is a tough hurricane, one of the wettest we have seen from the standpoint of water. Rarely have we had an experience like it and it certainly is not good.'

'But the people of North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, all of the affected areas - you've been incredible, he said, 'There has been a loss of life and may God be with them and their families. That is a tough one, it is tough to understand, but this has been a really difficult time for a lot of people.'

Trump said the job that the job that FEMA and the military have 'done in saving so many lives has been really something special.'

'I just want to thank everybody for doing such a great job with a very difficult situation, Florence has been a nasty one, a big one, like that area has certainly never seen before,' he said. 'The waters are still rising, listen to your state and local authorities, be patient, be alert, and God bless you.'Another former classmate of Supreme Court appointee Brett Kavanaugh denies he attended a high school party where a California professor says the nominee sexually assaulted her three decades ago, CNN reported on Wednesday.

Patrick J. Smyth sent a letter to Republican Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley and top Democrat Dianne Feinstein in which he denies seeing any 'improper conduct' by Kavanaugh, a classmate at Georgetown Preparatory School, according to CNN, which obtained a copy of the letter.

The committee, which oversees Supreme Court nominations, has called a hearing for Monday in which both Kavanaugh and his accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, could testify.

Ford's lawyers said on Tuesday, however, that she wants her allegations to be investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation before she appears at a U.S. Senate hearing.

A Kavanaugh friend, Mark Judge, who Ford has also said was present during the assault, previously told Grassley through a lawyer he did not want to speak publicly. Judge, who has written about his teenage alcoholism, said he had no memory of party and had never seen Kavanaugh behave in the manner she described.

Schoolfriends: Patrick J. Smyth (right) alleges that he was named by Christine Blasey Ford as being present at the party where she says Brett Kavanaugh (left) sexually assaulted her

Accusation: Christine Blasey Ford alleges that Brett Kavanaugh attacked her but Patrick J. Smyth, now a 53-year-old PwC executive in Washington D.C. claims she has identified him as being 'PJ' who was present at the party. She has not made such a claim publicly

In the meantime, Smyth told the committee he volunteered the statement to safeguard his own privacy and anonymity.

'I understand that I have been identified by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford as the person she remembers as "PJ" who supposedly was present at the party she described in her statements to the Washington Post,' Smyth said in his letter, CNN reported.

'I am issuing this statement today to make it clear to all involved that I have no knowledge of the party in question; nor do I have any knowledge of the allegations of improper conduct she has leveled against Brett Kavanaugh.

'Personally speaking, I have known Brett Kavanaugh since high school and I know him to be a person of great integrity, a great friend, and I have never witnessed any improper conduct by Brett Kavanaugh towards women.

'To safeguard my own privacy and anonymity, I respectfully request that the Committee accept this statement in response to any inquiry the Committee may have.'

It was not clear where and when Ford had identified Smyth as being present at the 1982 party in suburban Maryland, where she said Kavanaugh pinned her down and tried to take her clothes off while another friend watched.

Rival versions of events: Christine Blasey Ford, seen during her time at the elite Holton Arms School, claims that Brett Kavanaugh tried to remove her swimsuit and that Mark Judge was involved when both were 17. Judge, who was written extensively about his teenage alcoholism, denies such an event took place

She did not do so in the Washington Post article which revealed her identity and she has yet to testify to the Senate.

It is also unclear how he could maintain 'anonymity' by naming himself.

Smyth, 53, is a managing director with PwC and a veteran insurance industry executive. He lives in Potomac, Maryland, with his wife Sandra.

The accusations have roiled a confirmation process that once seemed smooth for Kavanaugh, who could consolidate the conservative grip on the top U.S. court.

Democrats, already opposed to the conservative federal appeals court judge, have sought an FBI investigation, a request Republicans rebuffed.

Trump said on Tuesday both sides should tell their stories but fiercely defended his nominee.

The confirmation fight comes just weeks before Nov. 6 congressional elections, in which Democrats seek to win control of Congress from Trump's fellow Republicans.A woman has been arrested for the murder of a 27-year-old 'friend of a friend' who was found dead by the side of the road after accepting a ride from her alleged killer in 2014.

Marylee Walker, 30, was taken into custody in Cocoa Beach, Florida, on Tuesday for the death of Jessica Erausquin.

The arrest is the result of an investigation by private detectives who were hired by the victim's family after local law enforcement ruled the woman's death a hit-and-run.

Marylee Walker, 30, was taken into custody in Cocoa Beach, Florida, on Tuesday for the death of Jessica Erausquin (right) who was found dead by the side of the road in 2014 in what police thought at the time was a hit-and-run

The private investigators discovered that a boarding pass had been found next to Jessica's body which had Walker's name on it, Florida Today reports.

According to police, Walker gave Erausquin a ride home on Oct. 16, of 2014.

She had been working at Lido's Cabaret as a dancer when she was seen leaving the nightclub with another woman in an SUV.

It is now believed that that woman may have been Walker. How exactly Jessica died remains unclear.

A post-mortem examination showed she suffered multiple blows to the head but it is not known what kind of weapon or object inflicted them.

Her family hired their own team of investigators because they suspected foul play.

Police have been tightlipped about the new development.

The victim's family says Walker (left) offered her a ride home. What happened afterwards remains a mystery. Walker has been charged with vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of a crash

Jessica was last seen alive leaving the Lido Cabaret, where she worked as an erotic dancer, at around 11pm

On Monday, Jessica's uncle David told ClickOrlando that he believes the pair knew each other though were not friends themselves.

'She was a friend of a friend, and tragically, what we understand, she needed a ride that night, and that's how (Jessica ended) up with this person,' he said.

He said the police department had not been forthcoming with any information.

'Unfortunately, they're not giving us too much detail.

'They say because this is an ongoing case, they don't want to compromise it.

'You know, it was nerve-racking, because we've been waiting so long for this.

'(But) we're not done yet. We still need to get a conviction,' he added.A teenage girl and her two brothers, who were abducted by their father over a year ago, have now been found by police.

Their concerned mother went to the police last year after her children, 13-year-old Jessica, Levi, 12, and Blake, 11, were 'parentally abducted', as declared by court. The family had been living in the Logan and Redland Bay region, Queensland, before the abduction.

Last week, the Australian Federal Police began a formal investigation into the missing children after the courts issued a formal 'recovery order' on August 21.

The couple's daughter, Jessica Moore, was recovered in Henty, New South Wales, by police on Tuesday and reunited with her mother.

Jessica Moore (pictured) was recovered by authorities on Tuesday in Henty and has since been reunited with her mother

Authorities have now confirmed that brothers Levi (pictured) and Blake have also been recovered in Cowra

Levi and his brother Blake (pictured) were located by police following a tip off from a member of public

Authorities have now confirmed that brothers Levi and Blake were found in Cowra on Wednesday after a tip off from a member of the public.

The siblings' mother last saw her children in Queensland in September 2017.

The children's' father Tobias Moore, 40, was arrested by police on warrants for unrelated matters and will be extradited to Queensland.

Tobias Moore, 40, abducted the three children last September

'It is anticipated that the man will appear before Bathurst Local Court tomorrow morning where the Queensland Police Service will seek the man's extradition to Queensland,' police said in a release.

'The AFP reminds the public that anyone who is found to be providing support to an abducting parent may themselves be committing a serious offence.'

'The AFP would like to thank the public and media for their continued interest and support in the matter,' the release said.Donald Trump said Tuesday that his main regret from the James Comey saga is failing to fire him months earlier than he did.

The president cut loose his FBI director in May 2017, a decision that led to the appointment of Special Counsel Robert Mueller following a series of media leaks by a disaffected Comey.

'If I did one mistake with Comey, I should have fired him before I got here. I should have fired him the day I won the primaries,' Trump told The Hill.

'I should have fired him right after the convention, say, "I dont want that guy." Or at least fired him the first day on the job. ... I would have been better off firing him or putting out a statement that I dont want him there when I get there,' he said.

President Donald Trump (pictured Tuesday during a press conference) said in a separate interview that he should have fired former FBI Director James Comey months before he did

Comey got the axe in May 2017, but the president now says he wishes he had let him go immediately upon taking office

During the 2016 campaign, Comey was responsible for exonerating Democrat Hillary Clinton in a federal probe of her interactions with her own secret email server, where classified documents were later found.

After he took office, according to Comey, Trump asked him for a pledge of loyalty. Comey later said he parried that request.

The president has long been critical of what he sees as a cabal of forces arrayed against him inside the FBI and the Department of Justice.

During one interview in June he told the Fox News Channel that Comey 'was the ringleader' of a 'den of thieves' that conspired to keep him out of the White House.

'What he did was criminal,' he said then.

Trump's obsession with former FBI agent Peter Strzok's and FBI lawyer Lisa Page's role in the special counsel's Russia investigation also had something to do with his sense of the Comey timeline.

Strzok and Page, engaged in a secret love affair two years ago, texted between themselves about finding a way to 'stop' Trump from beating Clinton.

And after he fired Comey, Trump said Tuesday, the pair tried to persuade Deputy FBI Diretor Andrew McCabe to give them a longer leash to investigate unproven claims that the Trump campaign colluded with Russian agents.

'Comey was a bad guy. He gets fired. They only have Andy left because they know theyre doing wrong,' he said.

The president this week ordered the Justice Department to declassify a massive tranche of 'all text messages relating to the Russia investigation, without redaction' from Comey, McCabe, Strzok, Page and former U.S. Associate Deputy Attorney General Bruce OhrHillary Clinton has predicted that Donald Trump will 'wholesale fire' members of his administration after the mid-term elections as she urged people to vote Democrat to ensure the President's power will not run unchecked.

The former Secretary of State told MSNBC's Rachel Maddow that there are still Republicans willing to contradict Trump, but that situation may not last for long.

'The President is close to being uncontrollable,' she said.

'At some point the American public has to say: Hold on, I may disagree with the Democrats, I may disagree with the direction of this administration, but one thing I believe in is checks and balances.'

Hillary Clinton has urged neutrals to vote Democrat in November to ensure President Trump's power is not allowed to run unchecked after the mid-terms

While there are Republicans willing to oppose the President, Clinton predicted that Trump will 'wholesale fire' those who have 'crossed him' after ballots close

JUST IN: Hillary Clinton tells @Maddow that she predicts that President Trump "is going to wholesale fire people" after the midterms, and "he will be even more uncontrollable" if the Democrats don't flip one or more houses of Congress. pic.twitter.com/FvOsEXDZpv  MSNBC (@MSNBC) September 19, 2018

Clinton was alluding to a New York Times editorial where an anonymous official spoke about a 'resistance' within the White House working to 'frustrate [Trump's] worst inclinations.'

'To be clear, ours is not the popular 'resistance' of the left. We want the administration to succeed and think that many of its policies have already made America safer and more prosperous,' the op ed said.

'But we believe our first duty is to this country, and the president continues to act in a manner that is detrimental to the health of our republic.'

After the article was published, Trump put out an all-caps tweet that simply read 'TREASON?' while also encouraging Attorney General Jeff Sessions to investigate.

That led many to believe that Trump was planning a purge of figures who he sees as disloyal to him.

The President has often accused figures close to him of betrayal during and attacked them, such as former personal lawyer Michael Cohen and even Sessions himself.

Speaking about the dangers of a purge, Clinton told Maddow: 'If we don't have one or both houses of Congress in place then he will become even more unaccountable.

'He will fire people in the White House, in his administration, who he thinks are crossing him, questioning him, undermining things.'

Clinton appeared to be referencing an anonymous New York Times op-ed in which an anonymous official said they were working to 'frustrate' Trump's worst instincts

Clinton also branded Trump a 'tool' of Putin and said that, wittingly or unwittingly, he is helping the Russian dictator to frustrate foreign democracies

Clinton: Why did Russia want to get me out of the way? What are they trying to accomplish now? pic.twitter.com/8jryufCVAa  Maddow Blog (@MaddowBlog) September 19, 2018

The Trump administration already has an 'unprecedented' staff turnover, Max Stier, a specialist in federal government management issues, told the New York Times.

According to the Times, 35 senior members of Trump's team have either quit, been forced from their job or been fired since he took over the White House.

Some - such as National Security Adviser Mike Flynn and Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci - hold records for shortest term of service in those positions.

Clinton also spoke to Maddow about Russian interference in the 2016 election, saying that Putin clearly viewed her as an obstacle to his ambitions and wanted to get her out of the way.

She described Trump as a 'tool' of Putin's, but would not say whether he was acting 'witting or unwittingly'.

She added: 'It's clear that [Trump's] playing chequers and Putin's playing 3D chess.

'Putin has a very clear vision of what he wants to accomplish and high on his bucket-list is undermining democracies

'He uses money, he uses blackmail, he uses all kinds of inducements to political leaders and business leaders to... make them part of the future that he's trying to create.'

In November, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 Senate seats - around a third of the total - are up for election.

The Democrats need to retake 23 seats in the House and two in the Senate in order to retake overall control of one, or both.

The election is being seen as a referendum on Trump's presidency so far, with Dems hoping that a 'blue wave' of their voters who did not turn out in 2016, Republicans put off by Trump's scandals, and frustrated independents will swing it for them.

Meanwhile, Trump is hoping that his tax reforms, re-balancing of the trade books and his America first agenda will shore up his position.

At risk could be the future of Trump himself, with analysts predicting that the Democrats may try to impeach him if they win control of both houses.

Clinton refused to rule that possibility out, but said the party must take a much wider-reaching view of its responsibilities if it wants to win.This is the chilling moment a 70-year-old woman nonchalantly approaches a man in the street and shoots him three times in the head and body.

The pensioner can then be seen walking away as though nothing had happened.

Named as 70-year-old Stojanka Stojanovic, she confessed to killing the man in northern Serbian capital Belgrade.

Scroll down for video

The 70-year-old woman shot an investor with whom she was embroiled in lengthy court dispute in broad daylight

The incident was caught on CCTV cameras in the northern Serbian capital Belgrade

The victim has been identified as 59-year-old property investor Zoran Trifunovic, who was fighting a court case against Stojanovic.

The footage from a street surveillance camera shows the victim walking towards his killer as he talks on a mobile phone.

The OAP then calmly produces a gun and shoots him in the jaw at close range.

The victim has been identified as 59-year-old property investor Zoran Trifunovic, who was fighting the killer in court over the property where she lived with her son

Trifunovic slumps to the floor where he is shot again, this time in the stomach.

Stojanovic then walks slowly around his body before deciding to fire a parting shot at his head.

As Trifunovic lies dying on the floor, the casual killer slowly walks away looking as though she does not have a care in the world.

Criminologist Zlatko Nikolic told local media that had they not known about the suspect, they would have presumed it was a professional hit carried out by an assassin disguised as a woman.

Criminologist Zlatko Nikolic said that if they did not know anything about the suspect, they would have presumed that it was a professional hit by an assassin disguised as a woman

The pensioner shot Trifunovic three times in the head and body with her son's gun and then walked off as though nothing had happened

Stojanovic and Trifunovic were embroiled in a bitter court battle over the property where the pensioner had lived with her son.

She issued a stark and unrepentant confession, telling local media: 'Yes I killed him. I could not take it anymore, the court case was going on forever.'

The 70-year-old reportedly used her son's gun, which he had a licence for. She is currently being held in remand.On March 18 Masood drove to Cobham services and checks in at the Welcome Break Hotel

Footage of Westminster Bridge attacker Kahlid Masood calmly driving his rental car around Westminster days before the attack has been shown in court.

Khalid Masood's final days of preparation before the Westminster Bridge attack were detailed at the inquests into his victims' deaths by Detective Chief Inspector Dan Brown.

CCTV footage shows Masood casually driving the Hyundai car on two recce trips across Westminster Bridge just a few days before he killed five innocent people in an expertly-planned attack.

The Old Bailey today heard how Masood had prepared for his act of terror in the days leading up to the attack on March 22 last year. Masood told his children he was 'going to die fighting for God' in the weeks leading up to the atrocity.

The inquest into his victims' deaths also heard that during video calls to his younger children, who were living in east London while he stayed in Birmingham, he told them about dreams he had been having.

Masood visited a fish and chip shop in Brighton for a 'last supper' before the attack

Anti-terror detective DCI Dan Brown told the Old Bailey: 'He told them that he was going to die fighting for God.'

Masood started preparations for the attack on March 2 2017, when the 52-year-old went online to buy the Hyundai Tuscon SUV that he used to kill five and injure dozens more. In the space of five days he then buys two knives, which he then used to stab police officer, Keith Palmer.

He also picks up the rental car, before driving to a hotel in Brighton, before driving to London the next day.

On March 18 he then set out on his drive to central London, where at 12.44pm he cross Westminster Bridge and drives along Victoria Street before making a U-turn and driving back over the bridge, imn what investigators believe to be a reconnaissance trip.

He then drove to Cobham services and checks in at another hotel, the Welcome Break Hotel, also known as the Days Inn.

Masood was also pictured in the days leading up to the attack picking up his rental car a Hyundai in Birmingham

Masood drove to Cobham services and checks in at the Welcome Break Hotel

During the next three days he watches a series of Isis videos as well as carrying out internet searches involving the UK government and car bombs.

Then on the morning of March 22, at 10.30am, he once again drives across Westminster Bridge for reconnaissance. Later on that morning at 11.18am he is caught on CCTV on the A3 on Clapham Road driving south.

At 1.52pm he is seen driving back north again before parking at St Thomas hospital, where he remains until 2.31pm.

The inquest heard that at 2.26pm and 2.29pm he sends a "jihad document" to several people in his phone contacts, some of whom he did not know very well.

It featured quotes apparently trying to justify the attack and a picture of him while on pilgrimage in Mecca.

CCTV footage of Masood at Tesco on 9 March 2017, where he went on to purchase the weapons he would use in the attack

Receipts from a trip to Tesco in Birmingham show Masood buying essentials such as bodywash, whilst he also purchased two carving knives

Masood was also pictured shopping for food in a Tesco branch in Brighton, just days before the attack

At 2.38pm, the SUV is seen parked in a bus lane before the attack.

In the days before he ploughed into pedestrians, he also searched for Birmingham Calor Gas Centre.

Mr Brown accepted it was 'at least possible' that he had planned to use gas as a weapon.

The inquest heard Masood drove from Birmingham to Wales to visit his mother, Janet Ajao, and stepfather on March 16 after picking up the vehicle he used to carry out the attack.

Mr Brown said investigators 'believe this to be what we now realise was a goodbye visit'.

The detective added: 'As he was leaving the house on March 17 he turned over his shoulder and said, 'they will say I'm a terrorist. I'm not.''

Khalid Masood, 52, was shot dead by police after he drove a rental car along the pavement of Westminster Bridge before fatally stabbing PC Keith Palmer.

The inquests into his victims' deaths today heard of his long history of criminality and his belief that he had been saved by Islamic miracles.

CCTV footage shows Masood crossing Westminster Bridge before driving along Victoria Street

An inquest is now hearing details of the attack in order to rule on the cause of the deaths

The coroner was told Masood first began reading the Koran while in custody after he was jailed for two years for slashing a man's face with a knife at a pub in Northiam, Sussex in 2000.

After his release from prison, he attacked another man with a knife for suggesting he was working for the police.

He ran the knife through his victim's nose, penetrating the roof of his mouth and through his tongue, the Old Bailey heard. Two inches of the blade broke off into the victim's jaw.

Masood claimed self-defence for the second attack and was acquitted of all charges except possession of the weapon at a trial. He was sentenced to six months but released after trial for time served on remand.

The jihadist would later remark that this was one of two miracles Allah had blessed him with.

There was a record of 'no religion' when he started his first spell in prison, but while at HMP Lewes on remand for attempted murder he was recorded as Muslim, the court heard.

The two offences for which he was jailed came after an escalating pattern of criminality, starting with violence the 1980s and 1990s.

Masood was shot outside Parliament after an 82-second rampage in which he killed four pedestrians by driving onto the pavement on Westminster Bridge and stabbing a policeman

The Old Bailey heard Masood's mother Janet Ajao told police he would go out to pubs and clubs looking for a fight as an older teenager.

'She also described him as an angry person,' said counter-terror officer Detective Chief Inspector Dan Brown. 'She was worried he would kill someone through fighting.'

In the early 1990s he began lodging at an address in Tunbridge Wells before he had an affair with his landlady, Jane Harvey.

Masood's criminal past 1964 - Born in Kent. 1978 - First came to attention of police, aged 14, for shoplifting and given a caution. 1983 - Arrested for criminal damage. 1988 - Arrested possession of offensive weapon and threatening behaviour. 1989 - Arrested after a dispute on a bus. He struck someone in the face but the case did not go to trial. 1990 - Arrested after row in a restaurant. He kicked officers during his arrest. 2000 - Spat at a man and then slashed another man's face with a knife. Jailed for two years. 2003 - Stabs man in the face after he man accused him of working for the police. Advertisement

They had two children together, one in 1992 and another in 1998.

She told police he was a 'violent, powerful and persuasive' man who continually beat her throughout their relationship.

In 2004, after his attempted murder acquittal, he moved to Crawley in Sussex where he took a course in teaching English as a foreign language.

During this time he met a woman, from a Muslim background, who he married within months.

She however, moved away and separated from Masood after finding him violent and overly pious.

He would criticise the 'trash' TV she was watching, as well as her hanging out with non-Muslim friends.

In March 2005 he journeyed to Saudi Arabia for a short time before returning in November and remaining there until the following year.

Masood went there to teach English and would later travel to Mecca on Hajj, the Islamic pilgrimage.

It was at this time his former partner, Ms Harvey, called to tell him that his daughter had been struck by a car crossing the road and was in a coma.

Masood told her that he would pray for her and that he knew she would be alright because he was on Hajj.

After her recovery, he would later cite this as the second miracle Allah had blessed him with.

Spanish teacher and mother-of-two Aysha Frade, 43, from London, American tourist Kurt Cochran, 54, window cleaner Leslie Rhodes, 75, and Romanian tourist Andreea Cristea, 31, all died of their injuries in the terror attack.

The inquest continues.



A young student died after overdosing on caffeine tablets - taking the equivalent of 147 cups of coffee.

Marty Dragonova, 20, who was studying English and French at Cardiff University was found being violently sick by a concerned flatmate after taking the tablets.

Marty, who was born female but had told family and friends he knew from a young age they were male.

Marty Dragonova, 20, who was studying English and French at Cardiff University was found being violently sick by a concerned flatmate after taking the tablets. Marty, who was born female but had told family and friends he knew from a young age they were male

An inquest hearing at Pontypridd Coroner's Court heard that Marty's caffeine level was 442mg per litre of blood - after one cup of coffee, the caffeine level is around 3mg per litre of blood.

Evidence heard at the inquest detailed how Marty's flatmate said she heard crying and loud bangs coming from Marty's room at around 11pm on May 29.

She, and another flatmate, went to check on Marty, and saw the bedroom door was propped open with a door wedge.

In her witness statement, the first flatmate said: 'I could see inside the bathroom and could see her being sick.

'There was blood in her sick and coming from her nose. I thought she was drunk. She worked at the bar so I thought she might have had a few drinks after work.

'I contacted security and told [the second flatmate] to call 999. I wanted to put her in the recovery position and I managed to help her onto the bathroom floor.

'I checked for a pulse, but it was minimal.'

Dr Katherine Frewer, a consultant pathologist said: '443mg per litre of is considered to be fatal.'

An inquest hearing at Pontypridd Coroner's Court heard that Marty's caffeine level was 442mg per litre of blood - after one cup of coffee, the caffeine level is around 3mg per litre of blood. Marty was pronounced dead at Cardiff Hospital (pictured) despite paramedics best efforts

She said the most likely cause of death was caffeine toxicity.

The English and French literature student had been in the process of a gender transition having known from young age that he was male and had been born in the wrong body.

His flatmate heard crying and banging coming coming from the room in May. Notes were found in the university halls of residence in which Marty discussed gender dysphoria.

Assistant Coroner Graeme Hughes said it was clear that Marty intended to take their own life.

He said: 'She had consumed an extremely high amount of caffeine with the intention to take her own life.

'She was discovered by her flatmate and she was taken to hospital but died shortly after. My conclusion is that how Marty came about her death is one of suicide.'A priest and parishioners from a Catholic church in Chicago burned a rainbow flag in an 'exorcism' ceremony.

Rev. Paul Kalchik  a priest at the Resurrection Parish Church  announced he would burn a rainbow pride flag that was once prominently displayed there.

In a church bulletin, he said it would occur in front of the church on September 29, to coincide with the Feast of Saint Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, NBC News reports.

A priest and parishioners from a Catholic church in Chicago burned a rainbow flag in an 'exorcism' ceremony (pictured right)

Kalchik, who joined the church 11 years ago, said the flag was 'unfortunately hanging in our sanctuary during the ceremony first Mass as Resurrection parish.'

In the announcement, he described the 'US church homosexual scandal' as a 'sequel to the story of Sodom and Gomorrah.'

But when the Archdiocese of Chicago became aware of Kalchik's plans, it told him he couldn't go ahead with it.

Nevertheless, Kalchik and some parishioners went ahead and burned the flag on Friday.

'So in a quiet way we took matters into our own hands and said a prayer of exorcism over this thing,' he told NBC News.

Priests stand beneath the rainbow flag at the inaugural Mass at Resurrection Parish in 1991

Rev. Paul Kalchik had announced the flag would be burned outside Resurrection Parish Church in Chicago (above, file photo) in a church bulletin

He said the flag was cut into seven pieces and burned in the same fire pit that was used for the Easter vigil mass.

'We did so in a private way, a quiet way, so as not to bring the ire of the gay community down upon this parish,' Kalchik added.

'It's our full right to destroy it, and we did so privately because the archdiocese was breathing on our back.'

Kalchik described the flag as 'a sacrilege' because it featured a cross and rainbow intertwined.

A spokesman for the Archdiocese of Chicago told NBC that they were unaware that the flag burning had occurred.In a major decision, the Union Cabinet has taken an ordinance (executive order) route to make the practice of instant triple talaq a penal offence. The ordinance now needs President Ram Nath Kovind's nod before it becomes a law. While the law provides much-needed protection to the victims who are abused using 'triple talak' (verbal divorce), it could be a game changer for the ruling BJP as far its upcoming poll prospects are concerned.

The 'Muslim Women Protection of Rights on Marriage Bill' was cleared by the Lok Sabha and is pending in the Rajya Sabha where the government lacks numbers. During his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister had said the Opposition parties had created hurdles in its clearance in the Rajya Sabha after his government brought it during the Monsoon Session. "There are some people who do not want it [the bill] to be passed," he had said, adding that the rights of "Muslim sisters and daughters" would be protected.

If the President gives his consent to the ordinance, it will become a law. Thereafter, it will have to be approved by both the houses in the next six months. The saffron party's decision to bring the ordinance on triple talaq seems to be a well thought-out strategy to garner minority votes considering the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2019. Any party opposing the bill in Parliament could face serious consequences in the Lok Sabha polls.

The Supreme Court in 2017 had banned the practice but it was still prevalent. Later, the government brought a bill to make it a penal offence.

Meanwhile, the Congress party has criticised the BJP for not including 'alimony' clause in the executive order, thereby not doing enough for the Muslim women. "An unnerved BJP, finding itself cornered on the issue of repeated and gruesome rape incidents, as also issues of women security, is seeking to divert and reset the political agenda by hurriedly bringing an ordinance on 'Instant Triple Talaq'," Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said.

Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the executive order on triple talaq will make the offense cognisable only if a victim or her blood relatives file an FIR with the police. He said ordinance says that the mother or victim wife must get the custody of a minor child and the accused is liable to pay them a maintenance, which will be decided by the magistrate concerned. The ordinance allows only wife or the victim to make compromise, if she wants, said the minister. He also said the Congress party had not allowed passing of the triple talaq bill in Parliament.

Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma said: "We were ready to discuss the issue with the government. But they failed to reach out to opposition leaders. This is their style of functioning."The RSPCA are looking for the cruel person who dumped a puppy outside a charity shop in a handbag with its paws tied together so tightly with a hairband it cut off circulation to his paws.

The adorable fluffy faced pup called Radley was found inside the bag with a tin of dog food and a note saying 'Found this puppy.'

A passer-by found the eight-week old abandoned border terrier cross at the entrance to the charity shop and handed it in to the RSPCA who have examined and looked after Radley.

The band was wrapped so tightly it had cut off the circulation to his young paws leaving him in pain.

A passer-by found the abandoned border terrier cross called Radley at the entrance to a charity shop and handed him to the RSPCA

Radley, an eight-week-old puppy was found in a red handbag (pictured) tied to the door of a charity shop, placed inside with the dog food and a note saying 'Found this puppy'

The cruel person who used the elasticated hairband to tie his front paws together was being sought by the animal charity

Today the cruel person who used the elasticated hairband to tie his front paws together was being sought by the animal charity.

RSPCA Inspector Phil Norman said he was investigating how the little pup came to be dumped in the handbag and why he was hobbled in such a way.

He said: 'We received a call from a woman who had found a little puppy in a red handbag fastened to the door handle of a charity shop in The Broadway, Greenford, Middlesex.

Radley (pictured) was taken to the RSPCA's Putney Animal Hospital, in south-west London and Inspector Norman was gathering CCTV in order to trace whoever was responsible for abandoning the pup

'The pup's front paws were tied together with an elasticated hairband. There was also an unopened tin of dog food in the bag and a note stuck to the outside saying 'Found this puppy'.

'Poor little Radley must have been very stressed and frightened being stuffed into that handbag and abandoned in the middle of the night.

'The hairband would also have caused him some pain and restricted his movement, adding to his distress.

'There's absolutely no excuse for leaving a young, vulnerable puppy like this in such awful circumstances and Radley is lucky he wasn't more seriously injured.'

Radley was taken to the RSPCA's Putney Animal Hospital, in south-west London.

London veterinary director Caroline Allen said Radley is now doing really well but it not yet available for rehoming

Inspector Norman was gathering CCTV in order to trace whoever was responsible for abandoning the pup and appealed for anyone who saw anything to contact them.

London veterinary director Caroline Allen said: 'As this little pup was found in a handbag we decided to name him Radley - and he's now winning over the hearts of all of the staff here!

'He's doing really well and is such a cutie. He's not available for rehoming yet and we're still running tests and checks on him so he'll be with us a little longer yet.'

British accessories brand Radley London have made a donation to help with the care of the adorable puppy.

A spokesman said: 'Our entire team at Radley London are deeply saddened by the news of Radley the puppy being left alone tied up in a handbag.

'Our love affair with dogs is represented by our Scottie dog logo and our ongoing support for dogs in need.

'To that end, were making a donation to help in the care and re-homing of Radley the puppy, and other dogs like him. This donation will go towards medical care, food, bedding and toys. No animal should ever be subject to such cruelty.'President Trump said Wednesday that a credible allegation from Christine Blasey Ford at a hearing that will determine the fate of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh would be 'interesting' and it would force him to take another look at the situation.

Ford has not said whether she will take senators up on their offer to have her appear before the Judiciary Committee on Monday.

'If she shows up that would be wonderful,' Trump told reporters awaiting his departure in Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House. 'If she doesnt show up, that would be unfortunate.'

The president signaled that he has an open mind about Ford's potential testimony, even though he's irritated that Democrats waited weeks to mention her allegation of sexual assault against Kavanaugh.

'Look, if she shows up and makes a credible showing, that'll be very interesting, and we'll have to make a decision. But I can only say this: he is such an outstanding man. Very hard for me to imagine that anything happened.'

President Trump said Wednesday that a credible allegation from Christine Ford at a hearing that will determine the fate of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh would be 'interesting' and it would force him to take another look at the situation

Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh leaves his home on Wednesday in Chevy Chase, Maryland. He's due to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee again on Monday

Ford has not said whether she will take senators up on their offer to have her appear before the Judiciary Committee on Monday

Trump again said that he feels terribly for Kavanaugh and his family and pounced on Democrats for suppressing the negative information for weeks until it was nearly time to vote on the appointment.

'What I dont like is that Senator Feinstein had this letter for a period of like three months, from July,' he said. 'Why didnt the Democrats - they knew about the letter, because she was showing it to Democrats - why did they wait until everything was finished and then bring it up? That doesnt look good.'

He contended that Judge Kavanaugh 'has been treated very, very tough,' as has his family. 'It's very unfair, I think,' he said.

'I think it's a very unfair thing what's going. So we'll see. But I do think this: They've given it a lot of time,' he said during the impromptu question and answer session. 'They will continue to give it a lot of time. And, really, it's up to the Senate, and I really rely on them. I think they're going to do a good job.'

Ford said through an attorney on Tuesday evening that she wants the FBI to probe her allegation. A letter, addressed to the Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Chuck Grassley, did not say whether Ford would turn up next Monday.

'A full investigation by law enforcement officials will ensure that the crucial facts and witnesses in this matter are assessed in a non-partisan manner, and that the Committee is fully informed before conducting any hearing or making any decisions,' the letter said.

Grassley said in a response letter that he 'sincerely' hopes that Ford will testify in front of senators publicly or privately next Monday.

'In the meantime, my staff would still welcome the opportunity to speak with Dr. Ford at a time and place convenient to her,' he said.

In response to her request that a federal investigation be conducted, Grassley said 'the FBI does not make a credibility assessment of any information it receives with respect to a nominee' and it does not open investigations solely on the basis of congressional recommendations.

'The Constitution assigns the Senate, and only the Senate, with the task of advising the President on his nominee and consenting to the nomination if the circumstances merit,' he said.

Trump refused to take a position on the requested probe on Wednesday morning as he left the White House. He said that it's up to the FBI to decide whether it needs to open an investigation.

'It would seem that the FBI really doesnt do that. They've investigated about six times before, and it seems that they dont do that,' he stated.

Trump pounced on Democrats for suppressing the negative information for weeks until it was nearly time to vote on the appointment. 'What I dont like is that Senator Feinstein had this letter for a period of like three months, from July,' he said on Wednesday

WILL SHE OR WON'T SHE? Ford said through an attorney on Tuesday evening that she wants the FBI to probe her allegation. A letter, addressed to the Senate Judiciary Committee chairman, did not say whether Ford would turn up at the U.S. Capitol next Monday

The president indicated that he wants the Senate, which has the final say over confirmations, to decide whether or not Kavanaugh is worthy of the bench.

An FBI investigation could take months. Trump is hoping to have the Kavanuagh appointment wrapped up in the next two weeks.

'This is a very tough thing for him and his family. And we want to get it over with. At the same time, we want to give tremendous amounts of time,' he said of the process.

Trump has been careful to be deferential to Ford while standing strongly behind Kavanaugh, having learned the hard lesson in his administration earlier this year with his former staff secretary Rob Porter - accused of beating two former wives - that he'll be harangued if he's dismissive of the his nominees accuser.

'I'd really want to see her. I really would want to see what she has to say. But I want to give it all the time they need,' the president said. 'They've already given it time. They've delayed a major hearing.'

At a news conference on Tuesday, Trump said that the sex attack allegation against Kavanaugh is 'shame' and referred to the judge whose nomination is hanging on by a thread as a 'great gentleman.'

'I feel so badly for him that hes going through this be honest with you. I feel so badly for him. This is not a man that deserves this,' Trump told journalists.

The president pinned the blame for the 11th-hour chaos on Democrats, who he accused of resisting and obstructing his every move. He said he'd support an FBI prove into Kavanaugh's accuser's charge, except the law enforcement agency has said 'thats not what they do.'

Earlier in the day, the president said that he had not talked to Kavanaugh, who was at the White House for the second day in a row, since Palo Alto University Professor Christine Ford accused the federal judge of drunkenly attempting to assault her when they were in their teens.

'Specifically I havent wanted to, I think its something that he will do very well,' Trump told reporters Tuesday in the Oval Office. 'I havent wanted to speak with Judge Kavanaugh, because I know somebody will ask what you asked me, which is have you spoken to him. Specifically I thought it would be a good thing not to, he can handle himself better than anybody.'

The president said that Kavanaugh is an 'outstanding person' who he thought was being unfairly maligned by Democrats. They knew about the charge in July and suppressed it until after Kavanaugh had testified.

The president rejected calls from Democrats for the FBI to investigate the matter then on the grounds that the bureau doesn't want to.

'I dont think the FBI should be involved, because they dont want to be involved, if they wanted to be, I would certainly do that,' he said. 'As you say, this is not really their thing. The Senators will do a good job.'

President Trump said Tuesday that he feels 'terribly' for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and the judge's wife and daughters, because they've been caught in the middle of a Democratic effort to obstruct his presidency

Trump said at a news conference that a sex attack allegation against Kavanaugh is 'shame' as he referred to the judge whose nomination is hanging on by a thread as a 'great gentleman' who does not deserve to have his reputation tarnished

The FBI said in a Monday evening statement that its job is to determine whether appointees are a national security risk. As the charge against Kavanaugh 'does not involve any potential federal crime,' the FBI declined to investigate.

It forwarded a letter it received on Sept. 12 outlining the allegations against Kavanaugh to the White House counsel.

Trump said an East Room press conference on Tuesday afternoon that an FBI probe wouldn't 'bother' him and he believes that Kavanaugh should go through whatever process that senators lay out, 'because there shouldnt even be a little doubt.'

'I dont want to play into their hands,' he said. 'Hopefully the woman will come forward, state her case. He will state his case before representatives of the United States Senate, and then they will vote. They will look at his career. They will look at what she had to say from 36 years ago, and we will see what happens.'

Kavanaugh and his accuser are scheduled to go head-to-head in testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday.

The hearing sets up a potential show down on Capitol Hill, the likes of which have not been seen since Clarence Thomas and Anita Hill testified in 1991 after she accused him of sexual harassment. Thomas was ultimately confirmed after a bitter and bruising battle.

But the Kavanaugh-Ford hearing comes more than 25 years later, amid the #metoo movement, and when women have been energized after the election of Donald Trump as president.

Republicans were under heavy political pressure - including some from members of their own party - to hold a public hearing and they finally caved on the issue Monday evening.

Key votes for the GOP - including Sens. Susan Collins, Jeff Flake and Lisa Murkowski - were calling for a delay after Ford publicly identified herself in an explosive Washington Post interview on Sunday.

Republicans can only afford to lose one of of their own should every Democrat vote no on Kavanaugh.

Kavanaugh denies that he was at the high school party in question where Ford said he attempted to rape her as a friend watched when they were both students in suburban Washington D.C. during the 1980s.

The federal judge spoke with Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, for about 10 minutes Monday afternoon in a conversation in which Kavanaugh made the denial, a Hatch aide told NBC News.

Hatch says Kavanaugh is 'honest' and 'straightforward,' and he thinks woman who has brought accusation is 'mixed up.'

President Trump has not commented directly Ford's credibility, although he says he's 'totally supportive' of the Supreme Court nominee and cannot 'imagine that anything happened.

Kavanaugh is in the fight for his judicial life as he tries to salvage his Supreme Court nomination. He met with the White House legal team on Monday morning, put out a new statement offering to speak to the judiciary panel again, and was calling key senators ahead of a scheduled Thursday vote on his nomination.

That vote is postponed now in the wake of the Monday hearing. His nomination was seen as losing momentum after several Republican senators said they wanted to hear what Ford had to say.

A hearing on Monday, September 24, at 10 am would still give the judiciary committee and the full Senate time to vote on Kavanaughs nomination before the Supreme Court starts its new term on Oct. 1.

Hatch past defenses Sen. Orrin Hatch, the senior senator from Utah, also originally defended his former chief of staff Rob Porter against allegations of domestic abuse from his former wives. Hatch told DailyMail.com, which broke the story on Porter, that his former aide turned White House staff secretary was 'kind and considerate towards all.' He later apologized for defending him and wrote letters of apology to Porter's former wives. He was also a stark defender of Justice Clarence Thomas during his 1991 confirmation hearing when he was accused by Anita Hill of sexual harassment. In 2010, when it was revealed Thomas' wife called Hill and asked her to apologize to her husband, Hatch agreed that Hill should do so. 'People have got to understand that Justice Thomas and his wife are good honest people who deserve an apology!' he tweeted at the time. Advertisement

Republican senators have long had the goal of getting Kavanaugh, who is expected to move the high court to the right in his replacement of Justice Anthony Kennedy - who was often a swing vote on social issues - in place in time for the new term.

Meanwhile, the White House issued its third statement of the day on the matter on Monday evening, saying Kavanaugh is ready to testify at a moment's notice.

'Judge Kavanaugh looks forward to a hearing where he can clear his name of this false allegation. He stands ready to testify tomorrow if the Senate is ready to hear him,' said White House spokesman and Kavanaugh sherpa Raj Shah.

A key Republican senator warned Kavanaugh if he lied, he's out.

'Obviously, if Judge Kavanaugh has lied about what happened, that would be disqualifying,' Sen. Susan Collins said Monday afternoon on Capitol Hill.

Republicans have a 51-seat majority in the Senate. If all Democrats vote no on Kavanaugh they can only lose one senator.

GOP Sen. Jeff Flake had also expressed doubt about his vote, saying he wants to hear from Ford.

'If they push forward without any attempt with hearing what she's had to say, I'm not comfortable voting yes,' Flake told Politico on Sunday.

By Tuesday night, however, Ford's hedging on an appearance had Flake swinging back the other way.

'When Dr. Ford came forward, I said that her voice should be heard and asked the Judiciary Committee to delay its vote on Judge Kavanaugh. It did so. I now implore Dr. Ford to accept the invitation for Monday, in a public or private setting. The committee should hear her voice,' he said.

Democrats have already grilled Kavanaugh once and will likely do so again, particularly honing in on his argument he was not at the party in question.

Hatch told CNN that Kavanaugh told him Ford may be mistaking him for someone else - and that he wasn't even at the party in question.

And a Hatch spokesperson told ABC News of Kavanaugh: 'He told Senator Hatch he was not at a party like the one she describes, and that Dr. Ford, who acknowledged to the Washington Post that she 'did not remember some key details of the incident,' may be mistaking him for someone else.'

Kavanaugh spoke to Judiciary committee staff at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, shortly before next week's hearing was announced.

Democratic staff skipped the call in protest. Feinstein, the ranking Democrat on the panel, had objected to a phone call given on public hearing had been scheduled at that time.

Christine Blasey Ford in her Freshman Year at Holton Arms School

'Obviously if Judge Kavanaugh has lied about what happened, that would be disqualifying,' Sen. Susan Collins said

Ford, now a 51-year-old college professor at Palo Alto University, accused Kavanaugh of attacking her and attempting to rape her when she was 15 years old and at a teenage party.

She claims Kavanaugh, who was 17 at the time, held her down on a bed in a locked room while he covered her mouth and tried to force himself on her.

Mark Judge, a classmate of Kavanaugh's who Ford says was in the room when the attack happened, strongly denied witnessing at attempted assault.

'It's just absolutely nuts. I never saw Brett act that way,' Judge told The Weekly Standard on Friday.

He added that he had never seen boys 'rough-housing' with his female peers from other schools in ways that might have been interpreted negatively: 'I don't remember any of that stuff going on with girls.'

Judge also did not deny being at the party in question to the New York Times, saying he never saw the incident in question.

'I never saw anything like what was described,' Judge said.

The high school buddy of Kavanaugh's said he will not participate in the Senate hearing, because he does not believe his comments are of relavance.

Mark Judge has been identified as Brett Kavanaugh's friend at the incident in question

Christine Blasey (now Ford) in her high school yearbook

Brett Kavanaugh in his high school yearbook

President Trump has said he has full confidence in the U.S. Senate and their procedures to sort the matter out.

'And what they're doing and I think that's probably what they're going to do. They'll go through a process and hear everybody out. I think it's important. I believe they think it's important,' Trump on Monday said.

The president initially said he'd be fine if there was a delay in moving Kavanaugh's confirmation forward, although he has since grown more impatient.

'If it takes a little delay it'll take a little delay. It shouldn't certainly be very much,' he said.

'I'm sure it will work out very well,' he added. 'You're talking about an individual who is as high a quality individual as you will ever see.'

Trump noted: 'I think he's very much on track. If they delay a little bit just to make sure everybody's happy  they want to be happy. I can tell you the Republican senators want to be a hundred percent happy themselves. They're doing it very very professionally.'

He also echoed Republican senators in saying Democrats should have brought this up sooner in the process.

'I wish the Democrats could have done this a lot sooner, because they had this information for many months. And they shouldn't have waited til literally the last days. They should have done it a lot sooner. But with all of that being said we want to go through the process.

He said: 'One thing I will say is that as I understand it, Judge Kavanaugh spent quite a bit of time with Senator Feinstein and it wasn't even brought up at that meeting and she had this information. So you would have thought certainly that she would have brought it up at the meeting  not wait til everything's finished and then have to start a process all over again,' he said.

Asked if Kavanaugh offered to withdraw his nomination, Trump scoffed: 'What a ridiculous question.'

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, who will schedule Kavanaugh's vote on the Senate floor, talked about the Senate process rather than the allegations on Monday afternoon.

He slammed Democrats for bringing it 'forward at the last minute in irregular manner' in remarks on the Senate floor.

Kavanaugh had said Monday morning he is willing to talk to the Senate Judiciary Committee in the wake of Ford's public accusations against him, noting that before she identified herself, 'I had no idea who was making this accusation.'

He again denied the charge against him as he desperately works to save his nomination.

'This is a completely false allegation. I have never done anything like what the accuser describesto her or to anyone,' Kavanaugh said in a statement provided by the White House.

He was spotted arriving at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue on Monday morning, shortly after 10 am ET, stepping out of black SUV and going in a side entrance, as well as Tuesday.

He was not meeting with Trump, White House spokesman Raj Shah told DailyMail.com.

He was meeting with the White House legal team to prepare for potential interviews or questions from the Senate Judiciary Committee, CNN reported.

Kavanaugh said he 'had no idea' who made the allegation until Ford identified herself Sunday in a bombshell Washington Post interview.

'Because this never happened, I had no idea who was making this accusation until she identified herself yesterday,' he noted.

He added: 'I am willing to talk to the Senate Judiciary Committee in any way the Committee deems appropriate to refute this false allegation, from 36 years ago, and defend my integrity.'

President Donald Trump defended Kavanaugh at the White House on Monday: He's 'never even had a little blemish on his record'

Sen. Orrin Hatch is defending Kavanaugh, seen here meeting with him in July in his Senate office shortly after he was nominated to the Supreme Court

Republican leaders in the Senate hope to have Kavanaugh confirmed by Oct. 1, which is the starting date for the Supreme Court's fall turn.

The party is facing additional pressure from a ticking clock: if Kavanaugh's confirmation vote is delayed until after the election, Democrats could be in control of the Senate.

Additionally Kavanaugh is said to have hired Beth Wilkinson, of the law firm Wilkinson Walsh and Eskovitz, to be his attorney,CNN reported.

However, the White House is in a bit of a catch-22 situation: if they go negative on Ford they could alienate two of the key Republican votes in the Senate - female senators Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins.

Additionally, they could fire up women, many of whom were angered and motivated in the wake of Trump's election, which could backfire on the party in the midterms.

After Clarence Thomas was confirmed in 1991 - a process which saw him fight off sexual harassment allegations from Anita Hill - a then-record number of Democratic women were elected to the Senate in 1992, in what was dubbed 'The Year of the Woman.'

Ford had said she was willing to testify before the Senate on her allegation that Kavanaugh tried to rape her in high school, her attorney revealed on Monday morning.

'She's willing to do whatever it takes to get her story forth, yes,' her attorney Debra Katz told NBC's 'Today Show' on Monday morning.

Katz, who made the rounds of the morning news shows to talk about the bombshell allegations against Trump's Supreme Court nominee, told 'CBS This Morning' Ford is 'willing to do what she needs to do.'

'My client will do whatever is necessary to make sure that the Senate Judiciary Committee has the full story and the full set of allegations to allow them to make a fully informed decision,' she said. 'She's willing to do what she needs to do.'

Katz did express concern Ford would be grilled by Republicans if she appears.

'They intend to grill her,' she said on CBS. 'This is not an exercise that is designed to get at the truth. This is an exercise that's designed to terrify somebody that's already been traumatized.'

'Anyone who comes forward as Dr. Ford has deserves to be heard, so I will continue working on a way to hear her out in an appropriate, precedented and respectful manner,' he said in a statement Monday afternoon.

In a interview in The Washington Post on Sunday, Ford detailed an alleged attack on her committed by Kavanaugh when the two were high school students in suburban Maryland.

Ford believes the attack was 'attempted rape,' Katz said on 'The Today Show.'

'She believes if it were not for the severe intoxication of Brett Kavanaugh, she would have been raped,' Katz added.

Katz offered more details to CNN.

'The reason she thought he might inadvertently kill her is because he had her hand over his mouth and she was having a hard time breathing, and he was so inebriated, and because of that, his inability to take her clothes off, otherwise he would have raped her,' she told 'New Day.'

Ford described to The Washington Post in detail how, when she was at a teenage party in the 1980s, Kavanaugh and a friend followed her upstairs when she went to the bathroom and pushed her into a bedroom.

She detailed how Kavanaugh alleged held her down, tried to rip off her swimsuit, and groped her.

She said she escaped when his friend, Mark Judge, jumped on top of them.

'I thought he might inadvertently kill me,' she told the newspaper.

But Katz said her client was not taking a position on whether or not Kavanaugh should withdraw his nomination to the high court.

'She's not taking a position on this. She thinks these allegations bear on his character and his fitness. And the denials, of course, also bear on his character and fitness,' the lawyer said on 'The Today Show.'

She added: 'This is not a politically-motivated action. She was reluctant to come forward. And she was outed after she had made the decision not to come forward.'

Katz said Ford has been threatened.

'She did receive a lot of very vicious, sexually violent e-mails from total changers. Of course, that's extremely unsettling,' she said.

Katz told CNN of Ford: 'She is already getting a lot of hostile threats and recrimination, and that's, of course, quite disturbing and unfortunate.'

And White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said Ford should not be insulted and that her allegations should be heard.

'This woman should not be insulted and she should not be ignored,' Conway said on 'Fox & Friends' Monday morning.

'Allowing this woman to be heard in sworn testimony, allowing Judge Kavanaugh to be heard in sworn testimony about these specific allegations would be added to the very considerable mountain of evidence and considerations that folks will have when they weigh whether or not to vote for judge Kavanaugh to be on the Supreme Court,' she noted.

'So, let me make very clear. I have spoken with the president. I have spoken with Sen. Graham and others. This woman will be heard,' Conway said.

But, she reminded, Kavanaugh has been through multiple background checks.

'Judge Kavanaugh is a man of character and integrity who has been through six FBI vettings, which can I tell you first hand are significant and thorough. He also has been lauded by women from every different aspect of his life. And this is significant. This is very significant for a man of character and integrity to be spoken about so highly by women who maybe didn't vote for President Trump,' Conway added.This is the shocking moment a young reporter is pelted with eggs and punched in the face by nationalist protesters while carrying out a live broadcast in Ukraine.

Darina Bilera, 20, had been reporting on the decision to extradite a soldier who fought alongside government forces against Russian-backed rebels in east Ukraine.

Moscow accuses 31-year-old Russian national Timur Tumgoev of being an Islamist terrorist and affiliated with ISIS.

As Ms Bilera stood in front of the Prosecutor General's Office in the capital Kiev, some in the crowd protesting the extradition accused her of being 'pro-Russian'.

Attacked: Ukrainian journalist Darina Bilera, 20, came under attack from nationalist protesters who accused her of being pro-Russian

The incident took place during Monday's protest in the capital, which saw hundreds of Ukrainians gather to demand the extradition of Tumgoev is stopped.

Video footage shows Ms Bilera being pelted with eggs and verbally abused by a man in a blue hoodie as she tries to report from the scene for NewsOne TV.

Riot cops in the background do nothing to help and she quickly moves away from the man, and - despite being covered in eggs - continues her report.

'You see what is going on. We are being attacked, they threw ice and eggs at us,' she is heard saying to the camera.

She barely gets a chance to start over before an elderly woman comes up from behind and pushes her microphone away from her face.

Two sides: Ms Bilera had been reporting on Ukraine's decision to extradite Russian soldier Timur Tumgoev, accused by Moscow of fighting for ISIS, but whom supporters say has been fighting for the government in east Ukraine

Reporting: Video footage shows Ms Bilera outside the Prosecutor General's Office in the capital Kiev on Monday

Egged: As Ms Bilera reports live from the protests, someone in the crowd throws eggs at her before a man verbally abuses her

After moving away, a woman comes up from behind and pushes her microphone away

Punched: After two physical attacks, a woman walks up to the 20-year-old reporter and hits her in the face

Ms Bilera still continues her report when suddenly another woman attacks her, and punches her in the face.

Despite this attack, police officers still remain passive, and Ms Bilera is forced to compose herself and keep reporting.

According to local media, police officer at the scene had suggested to Ms Bilera that she should simply have stayed away from the Prosecutor General's Office.

She was reporting on the protests over the extradition of Tumgoyev at the request of the Russian Federal Security Service.

Tumgoyev, an ethnic Ingush from the Russian Caucasus region, has fought on the side of the Ukrainian government against Russia-backed rebels in the east of the country since November 2017, his fellow soldiers say.

Clashes: Nationalist activists clash with riot police in front of the Prosecutor General's Office in Kiev on Monday

A woman holds a placard reading 'Prosecutor General go to Russia' as the Ukrainian riot police guard the Prosecutor General's Office in Kiev on Monday

Russia gas claimed believes he is a militant of the IS jihadist group. Kiev and its Western allies accuse Russia of funnelling troops and arms across the border, but Moscow denies the claims.

He had twice asked for refugee status in Ukraine but his requests were turned down. Ukrainian authorities have no official confirmation of his activities.

The TV channel Ms Bilera works for, NewsOne TV, is reportedly owned by businessman and politician Vadim Rabinovich, who has been called the 'Trump of Ukraine'.

His For Life party has three seats in the Ukrainian parliament and has previously advocated solving the Russia-Ukraine conflict with peaceful talks.

Rabinovich himself has reportedly received backing from several powerful Russian businessmen with links to Vladimir Putin, as well as pro-Kremlin politician Viktor Medvedchuk, whose daughter has the Russian President as her godfather.Shocking footage has captured the moment a woman was left clinging to the hood of a car after she was struck by a 21-year-old female driver in a road rage incident.

The driver of the car, Jakyrah Pires, was charged following the ordeal on Tuesday in Everett, Massachusetts.

Police said the Pires was driving behind two people on scooters when she became frustrated because she believed they should have been in the bike lane.

Witnesses filmed a female victim clinging to the hood of a car after a female driver, Jakyrah Pires, struck the scooter she was riding in Everett, Massachusetts on Tuesday

She ended up striking one of the scooters from behind.

The victims, a male and female, later told police that Pires then accelerated and struck both of the scooters.

Both the male and female landed on the roof of the car. The male victim was carried for approximately 30 yards and the female victim for approximately 100 yards before they eventually fell off.

Video shot by a witness showed the screaming female victim clinging to the hood of the car as Pires continued to drive down the street.

Pires struck a male and female who were riding scooters, causing them to fly up onto the roof of her car. Both victims are pictured above after being struck

Video shot by a witness showed the screaming female victim clinging to the hood of the car as Pires continued to drive down the street. The male victim is pictured on the ground behind after falling

Witnesses said Pires fled the scene but another driver followed her as they called police.

Pires was arrested soon after in nearby Medford.

'The Everett Police would like to thank the Good Samaritan's who came to the aid of the victims and the witness who continued to follow the suspect vehicle and allowed the police to apprehend this suspect' Chief Steven Mazzie said.

Both victims were treated in hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

Pires charged with multiple counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, leaving the scene of personal injury and operating to endanger.

She is scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday at Malden District Court.A Kentucky police department says it's reviewing a traffic stop involving a black college president after accusations that it was racially motivated.

The Louisville Metro Police Department said it will investigate to determine whether policies and procedures were followed when the white officer stopped the Rev Kevin Cosby on September 15.

Cosby is president of Simmons College and senior pastor of St. Stephen Church. He was driving an Audi in the West End when he was pulled over by police.

Rev Kevin Cosby is a senior pastor of St. Stephen Church who was driving an Audi in the West End of Louisville when he was pulled over by police

The Louisville Metro Police Department said it will investigate to determine whether policies and procedures were followed when the white officer stopped Cosby on September 15. Pictured: Still images from a video of the incident

Tonight I received some very disturbing news from my parents! They were stopped by a Louisville Metro Police officer for absolutely nothing...but for being black in West Louisville. The officer states in the video that they were pulled over for illegally turning off a street in which the officer clearly states he was unaware of. Additionally, the officer stated that they were pulled over because the license plate frame that he had around his license plate is illegal. I was unaware that this was the case in Louisville, as I have my sorority plate around my license plate also.  I never post or use Facebook (or any of my social media sites) as a sounding board, but tonight...I MUST! My father and mother, the President and First Lady of Simmons College of Kentucky and the Pastor of Kentuckys largest Black church was stopped tonight by a racist cop who targeted them because they were BLACK, driving a Audi, in West Louisville! Racial profiling MUST STOP!! Posted by Christine Cosby-Gaither on Saturday, September 15, 2018

In a video of the stop, the officer says Cosby made an improper turn and the rim around his license plate is illegal.

'You made an improper turn back there when you turned on to 22nd, I'm not exactly sure what street it was off of, but you made an improper turn there,' the officer stated in the video that was shared by Cosby's daughter, Christine Cosby-Gaither.

'Also, the plastic rim around the license plate - it's illegal. That's the reason for the traffic stop.'

He questions Cosby and his wife, but doesn't issue a citation.

The officer questions Cosby and his wife (right), but doesn't issue a citation. Cosby's daughter, Christine Cosby-Gaither, gathered with ministers and community leaders Tuesday in calling for a review of not only the incident but of all departmental policies

Cosby is also the president of HBCU Simmons College

Under Kentucky State Statute 186.170, frames are allowed on license plates under the condition that they won't cover any of the vehicle's registration information.

Cosby's daughter, Christine Cosby-Gaither, gathered with ministers and community leaders Tuesday in calling for a review of not only the incident but of all departmental policies.

In the video post, she also stated that she has sorority plate around her license and that she was unfamiliar with any law preventing coverings.

'Racial profiling MUST STOP,' she added in the video caption of the clip that has been viewed more than 58,000 times.

Councilman Bill Hollander, who represents the 9th District and is a Democrat, called for the police department to investigate the arrest

Councilman Bill Hollander, who represents the 9th District and is a Democrat, called for the police department to investigate the arrest.

'This appears to be one more example of racial profiling that too many people in our community face. @LMPD must thoroughly investigate & provide answers,' he said on Twitter.

Louisville Police Chief Steve Conrad said in a statement that the review would include how officers are trained in handling traffic stops.

According to a study from the University of Louisville, black drivers in Louisville were found to almost be twice as likely to have their car searched during a routine traffic stop than white drivers, the Journal Courier reports.Homicide detectives have launched an investigation into the 'suspicious' death of a college student after his family claimed he was being hazed by a California fraternity.

Tyler Hillard, 20, died Sunday after going out with his Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc pledge class.

Alpha Phi Alpha is the first historically black fraternity that boasts members like Martin Luther King, Justice Thurgood Marshall, Dick Gregory and Jesse Owens.

Tyler Hillard, 20, died Sunday after going out with his Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. pledge class

Hillard was taken to a hospital at 9pm on Saturday after he collapsed at Mount Rubidou, pictured

Hillard - who was starting his third year as a business student at University of California, Riverside - was taken to a hospital at 9pm on Saturday after he collapsed at Mount Rubidoux.

And when the pledge master explained what happened, Hillard's family found themselves not believing all the details.

'He said that they were about to go for a hike at Mount Rubidoux - they had not started hiking yet - and that Tyler was feeling short of breath,' mother Myeasha Kimble-Hilliard explained to KTLA. 'Shortly after that he collapsed, and (the pledge master) called 911.'

According to the man's family, Hillard's heart stopped seven times before he was pronounced dead on Sunday.

'He said that they were about to go for a hike at Mount Rubidoux - they had not started hiking yet - and that Tyler was feeling short of breath,' mother Myeasha Kimble-Hilliard, pictured, said of the pledge master's account of what happened.

But the family speculate that Hillard was taking part in a hazing ritual while on the mountain. His cousin, Robyn Fountain, said there were texts that alluded to 'gold paddle day.'

'So, I don't know,' Fountain said. 'I assume that means that they were going to be beaten in the wilderness.'

She said that text messages also indicated that there were other meetups that Hillard was responsible for attending, in the week leading up to his death.

Riverside Police also found the circumstances perplexing.

Hillard's cousin, Robyn Fountain, stated that there were texts that alluded to 'gold paddle day.' She also stated that her cousin met with the group in the week leading to his death

'It's a little bit suspicious, a 20-year-old young man, college student passing away like this,' Officer Ryan Railsback said.

The school released a statement saying it planned to work with the authorities.

They stated: 'The UC Riverside community grieves the loss of our student Tyler Hilliard. We've shared our condolences and offer of support with Tyler's family and have made counseling services available to students, faculty, or staff who knew him. UCR Student Affairs and UCPD are collaborating with the Riverside Police Department to determine the circumstances regarding Tyler's passing.'

Alpha Phi Alpha claims on its national website that it actively works against hazing

The national organization for Alpha Phi Alpha released a statement of support for Hillard's family and stated that they would be working with authorities.

'Working with the university, the fraternity has launched an investigation into the situation and has placed the chapter on an immediate cease and desist status, suspending all activities,' the statement stated.

'Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. does not condone and strictly prohibits any illegal acts, including hazing in any form, whether physical or mental, as a term or condition of membership in the organization.

'Any member found violating the fraternity's anti-hazing policy will be immediately suspended with a recommendation for expulsion.'

Alpha Phi Alpha claims on its national website that it actively works against hazing.

'Their organization is hazing and they need to be aware of it,' Kimble-Hilliard said. 'And they need to put a stop to it.'

Many minority Greek organization have anti-hazing policies in effect and work - both with their national organizations and Greek councils - to combat individual instances that may occur at local chapters.

Greek paddles are also given as gifts to not only new member neophytes, but also to prophytes, chapter alumni and even across Greek organizations from fraternities and sororities.A Russian fighter jet reportedly crashed and exploded on impact  but both pilots were ejected safely.

The MiG-31 fighter jet crashed in the central region of Nizhny Novgord shortly after take-off on Wednesday, state broadcaster RT reports.

But both people in the aircraft - an instructor and a trainee  were ejected safely and not injured, the Russian military said.

A Russian MiG-31 fighter jet (pictured, file photo) reportedly crashed in Russia on Wednesday

It was not immediately known what caused the crash, but the Russian Defense Ministry said it was likely to be due to a technical malfunction.

Investigators have arrived to inspect the wreckage of the plane.

The jet reportedly caught fire before it crashed into an uninhabited wooded area, around 17km from an airbase.

It exploded upon impact and burned, a military source told RIA Novosti.

Both people in the aircraft - an instructor and a trainee  were ejected safely and not injured, the Russian military said. File photo shows two of the Russian Air Force's MiG-31 fighter jets

MiG-31 jets which patrol the Caspian Sea have been armed with Kinzhal missiles since April.

But this jet was not carrying any weapons as the pilots were on a training flight, according to RT.

The crash comes days after a Russian reconnaissance aircraft was shot down by Syrian forces responding to an Israeli airstrike, killing all 15 people aboard.

The Russian military said the plane was hit 22 miles (35km) offshore late Monday night as it was returning to the Russian air base in Syria.Daisy Boyd with her fiance Dan Macmillan at their engagement party in London in 2016

A socialite spoke of her desire to commit suicide in a therapy session days before she killed herself in a private psychiatric hospital ward, an inquest heard today.

Daisy Boyd, 28, was found leaning against her bathroom door at 7.30am on October 5 last year at the Nightingale Hospital in Marylebone, central London.

She had suffocated herself and hospital staff and paramedics were unable to revive her.

A bag containing cocaine along with rolled up notes and unauthorised tranquillisers were found in her room.

Coroner Dr Shirley Radcliffe told the court a post-mortem 'found 1.85mg of cocaine in her blood' which was a 'potentially toxic amount'.

Miss Boyd had expressed a desire to commit suicide in a therapy session on September 26 but was not put on 24-hour observation, Westminster Coroner's Court heard.

The report stated she was 'highly suicidal' but her observations were upped to an hour.

Her mother Lucy Boyd questioned why these threats were ignored or not dealt with.

She said: 'The (therapist) report appeared to give the impression the risk as being significantly higher than risk perceived on the ward and by her consultant.'

Miss Boyd with her father, leading architect Tim Boyd, at the engagement party in 2016

Mrs Boyd rang Miss Boyd's psychiatrist, Dr Frankie Connell, on October 4 to express concern about cocaine on the hospital ward.

She said other patients 'assumed her death was due to a drug overdose.'

'She had a large bag of coke a few days before and was showing it off to other patients saying 'look what I've got, look what I've got.'

Miss Boyd checked into the hospital as an 'informal patient' last year - and a visitor, who signed in as 'AR', dropped a bag of cocaine in reception.

Miss Boyd had faced struggles with depression in addition to a cocaine addiction

Miss Boyd struck up a romantic relationship with a patient - but he and others were too frightened to give evidence about the unidentified visitor, the court was told previously.

Daisy Boyd and Dan Macmillan: Architect's daughter and heir to a publishing fortune Daisy Boyd and Dan Macmillan, in 2016 Daisy Boyd, 28, was engaged to Dan Macmillan, 43, for three years before he broke it off in July 2017. The grand-daughter of the late River Cafe co-owner Rose Gray and daughter of leading architect Tim Boyd was due to be married to Mr Macmillan, heir to a 300 million publishing fortune. Mr Macmillan, once dubbed the Vulgar Viscount, was the great-grandson of Tory PM Harold Macmillan. They had a stylish engagement party at the River Cafe  where her stepfather Charles Pullan, married to her mother Lucy, is manager. Heir to the Macmillan familys 300 million fortune, Mr Macmillan was also formerly engaged to Ukrainian model Sasha Volkova, but split from her in late 2011. Formally, he is Viscount Macmillan of Ovenden, a courtesy title as he is heir to the Earldom of Stockton. His father, Tory peer Alexander, the 2nd Earl, sold the Macmillan publishing house to a German firm in the 1990s. Miss Boyd was a former pupil of 36,000-a-year Woldingham, a Roman Catholic boarding school in Surrey. In the past Old Etonian Mr Macmillan has been romantically linked to models Kate Moss and Jade Jagger, who ended their friendship after finding he was dating them simultaneously. Advertisement

A statement, written by the family, read out to the court by Dr Radcliffe, detailed Miss Boyd's struggles with depression and cocaine addiction.

It said that Miss Boyd attempted suicide in September 2013 by overdosing on paracetamol tablets after the 'breakdown of a relationship from a man who was physically and emotionally abusive.'

She was referred to the Nightingale Hospital for the first time on September 26. 2013.

Miss Boyd denied having suicidal thoughts and was eventually discharged in November that year, the court heard.

She began a 'serious relationship' with her fiance - publishing heir Dan Macmillan - in August 2014 and he was financially supporting her.

'Her boyfriend was a drug user and moved in circles where excessive drug use was the norm,' it claimed. 'She was in love and the relationship appeared to be a good one.'

The pair were engaged in the summer of 2016 but the relationship became increasingly 'fractious.'

The statement went on to claim that he was a 'long-term cocaine user and he became extremely violent towards her and threatened her with a knife of one occasion'.

It added: 'On October 7, 2016, following a violent row, Daisy came home to find the locks had been changed.'

She was left 'extremely distressed' and asked to be checked into the Nightingale Hospital.

Miss Boyd was again discharged and began a relationship with a 61-year-old married Egyptian man who also used cocaine, the court heard.

On September 16, her lover called her mother and said she had attempted suicide after taking a quantity of Xanax.

Miss Boyd planned to suffocate herself on that occasion but passed out before she could, the court heard.

Miss Boyd was found leaning against her bathroom door at the Nightingale Hospital in Marylebone, central London

She was placed on suicide watch but that was downgraded to 30 and 15 minute observations as she appeared to improve.

But Miss Boyd didn't stop using cocaine. On September 22, Miss Boyd handed in a bag of cocaine to staff that was in her bag, the court heard.

A razor blade and ropes were also found in her room on September 25.

On October 4 she told her father he didn't 'need to visit tomorrow as she was busy,' and she was found dead the next morning. The inquest continues.

For confidential support in the UK, call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch. See samaritans.org for details.

LIFELINE: 13 11 14 www.lifeline.org.au. Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467

If you or anyone you know needs to talk, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7 at 1-800-273-TALK (8255)A 12-year-old schoolgirl has admitted to placing a needle inside a strawberry as police crackdown on copycats.

The young girl showed her friends what she had done at the lower Blue Mountains school, in New South Wales, the Daily Telegraph reported.

A student notified teachers and police were called to investigate the incident.

In an interview with officers at her home, the girl claimed she didn't know how the needle ended up in the strawberry.

A 12-year-old schoolgirl from the lower Blue Mountains has admitted to placing a needle inside a strawberry

A fellow student notified teachers and police were called to investigate the incident. She claimed she didn't know how the needle ended up in the fruit before admitting to the prank (stock image)

She confessed to her parents that she had orchestrated the prank after officers left her home.

They were called back to the home where the girl made 'full admissions'.

The incident comes after a young boy was arrested for admitting to putting needles in strawberries as a 'prank'.

In a NSW police conference on Wednesday afternoon, Acting Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith said the young boy would be dealt with under the 'youth cautioning system'.

'Since the 12th, there have been over 20 incidents of contamination in New South Wales and those are being investigated,' said Mr Smith.

He also announced a $100,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of anyone who's contaminated fruit in NSW.

Commander Smith also announced a $100,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of anyone who's contaminated fruit in NSW

Police believe that copycats and pranksters are fueling the crisis that has spread beyond strawberries.

A child found a needle inside a banana at a Newcastle primary school north of Sydney on Wednesday.

The student from St Paul's Gateshead made the horrifying discovery before biting into the fruit that was in their lunchbox.

The child alerted teachers and police were called.

Lake Macquarie detectives are investigating the incident and have seized the banana for further tests.

The crisis has taken a toll on farmers as they lose thousands of dollars a day picking millions of strawberries they have to immediately dump as demand has halved in the past week

'As you would have heard, this morning a student at St Paul's discovered a needle in a piece of fruit,' the school posted on its Facebook page on Wednesday night.

'The student fortunately discovered the fruit was contaminated before biting into it. The local police were informed, have visited the school, and are investigating. If you send fruit to school over the next few days, please cut it up first and send it in a plastic container.'

The crisis has taken a toll on farmers as they lose thousands of dollars a day picking millions of strawberries they have to immediately dump as demand has halved in the past week.

NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro has encouraged families to support farmers and stay vigilant, the Daily Telegraph reported.

'This is a deliberate attempt to either one, destroy the industry or to hurt mankind,' he said.

'What we're saying is we've got to be vigilant and check our produce but let's not hurt the farmers who have worked all season to get their produce ready.'

Consumers have been reminded to support struggling farmers amid the strawberry crisis

Police believe that copycats and pranksters are fueling the crisis that has spread beyond strawberries (pictured: map of reported incidents)The niece of the woman who kidnapped Elizabeth Smart says she worries Wanda Barzee's release could put more children in danger, DailyMailTV can reveal.

Tina Mace told DailyMailTV she worries her aunt Wanda Barzee's release could put more children in danger

In an exclusive interview on the eve of Barzee's Wednesday release, Tina Mace said her aunt reportedly still carries around her accomplice and husband Brian Mitchell's 'book of sermons' and is in desperate need of mental help.

'I don't know how true it is - but I had heard that she still carries around his book of sermons or his writings, and if that's the case, are more children in danger? That's scary. She really needs help,' she told DailyMailTV.

Barzee, 72, was released from jail on Wednesday after serving 15 years behind bars for snatching Smart as a teenager from her Salt Lake City home in 2002. Smart was kept in the woods to be raped daily until she was finally saved by strangers nearly a year later.

Now 30 years old, Smart has publicly spoken against her kidnapper's release calling the decision 'incomprehensible'.

A Utah parole board deemed Barzee unfit for release, however she will be freed Wednesday because state law dictates inmates must be released at the end of their sentence.

Scroll down for video

Wanda Barzee (left) 72, has been released from prison on Wednesday after serving 15 years behind bars for the abduction of Elizabeth Smart (right) in 2002

Mace had revealed her family will not take Barzee in but said it is unclear where she'll live when she is freed.

'Well I think they [family] are just wondering where she's gonna go, if she's gonna get the help she needs.

'I know that the probation that she's under will require her to get mental help and be on mental drugs to help her. I don't know how long... I think her probation is for five years.'

Mace added however, that the last time she saw her aunt during her court hearings, she seemed 'normal.'

'I did hear that when she was in the state hospital that they were able to medicate her well enough to be able to testify against Brian.

'When I saw her I was with my grandma for support and she seemed fine to me. She seemed normal.

'My youngest cousin had told me that she went to see her a couple of times at the prison and the prison cannot forcefully medicate somebody for mental illness. It has to be done through a mental facility.

'She told me that she couldn't see her because she was out of control. Now whether that meant she wouldn't leave the cell, she didn't show up to her hearing..'

Barzee will be placed on supervised release for five years by the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services System with strict conditions. One of those terms of release includes no contact, of any form, with Smart.

This is the Utah State Prison in Draper where Barzee spent her last few hours behind bars before she was freed on Wednesday

Barzee and her husband Brian Mitchell kidnapped Smart when she was only 14 and kept her in the woods to be raped daily until she was finally saved by strangers nearly a year later

Mace revealed that she spoke to Smart during Barzee's trial and had apologized to her for her aunt's actions.

'I walked to Elizabeth after Wanda testified and I just told her that I was very, very sorry...the things they did to her.

Barzee's most recent mugshot in 2017. A Utah parole board deemed her unfit for release, but the law requires inmates to be freed after serving their sentence

'And that I hoped that she could stay strong and go on with life and have a happy life and she hugged me. That meant a lot.

'I told her it was an embarrassment to my family to be related to that.'

Before Smart's abduction, Mace revealed she had a close relationship with Barzee, once a talented pianist who even played in her wedding march.

'She was an extremely talented pianist. She had a baby grand and a grand piano at her home with her first marriage and she played the wedding march at my wedding in 1990.

'Honestly I think that's the last time I've seen her until 2002 or around about that time. It may have been even later like 2010 when she testified against Brian.'

Mace said her aunt's behavior for the most part 'seemed normal' to her, but recalled a time during her youth when her 'intuition' told her something was wrong.

'I can remember as a kid, only one time, that I went over to her house and she called her son Brian in the bedroom and I didn't know if he was in trouble or what, but I just felt that something was wrong. But other than that she seemed normal to me,' she said.

Barzee has six children and four of them spoke about growing up with their mother on remembered her as a 'monster' during a 2010 interview with Oprah. Pictured above are three of Barzee's kids

Barzee has six children and many came forward to speak against their mother after Smart was kidnapped and remembered her as a 'monster.'

Mace says she has lost touch with her cousins but saw some of them when they attended her father's funeral last August.

'They seemed fine. They seemed like they're doing good. I had seen my cousin Mark probably in 2002 and he seems fine.'

Her relatives never spoke on whether or not they can forgive their mother but Mace says her cousin Mark had concerns that Barzee's mental illness meant 'he might go crazy in the future.'

'I've been trying to get a hold of them. The youngest one didn't seem angry but the oldest girl wouldn't answer my calls and the two boys I can't get a hold of, so I don't know how they are feeling.

'I know for years my grandma would write her letters but now my grandma is getting so old that she's not really with it mentally. She has a really hard time hearing so she is hard to talk to.'

Federal probation officials will keep a close eye on the convicted kidnapper to ensure she does not try and contact her victim by phone or the internet, and her housing will not be located anywhere near Smart.

Smart has claimed that her kidnapper Brian Mitchell (pictured in 2005) had a book with 'revelations' he received from God to kidnap her. She believes Barzee still carries this book

If Barzee does violate her conditions, she will be brought before a judge who can sentence her to more prison time.

Once the five year period ends, Smart, now 30, can ask a judge for a protective order to prevent Barzee from contacting her.

Mitchell is serving a life sentence in Arizona.

Smart said in a statement last week she was 'surprised and disappointed' to learn that Barzee will be freed after failing to undergo mental health evaluations and failing to attend her own parole hearing in June.

She said she's exploring her 'options' and plans to speak publicly in the coming days.

The board said previously that Barzee would be released in January 2024 after it denied her an early parole following a hearing that she chose not to attend. The board said at the June hearing that Barzee refused to take a psychological exam.

At the June hearing, her attorney questioned the calculation of her release date, which led the Utah board to look into it. Lawyer Scott Williams said Tuesday he's appreciative the board reviewed it and agreed with his assessment.

Williams said he's not concerned about Barzee being a danger to the community, but declined to say why he believes that.

Smart was taken from her bedroom in Salt Lake City, Utah by Mitchell who knew her because he had been hired by her family to do handiwork at their home. She is pictured left around time of her disappearance

She was eventually rescued when a stranger saw the three of them in the street and recognized the pair from an episode of America's Most Wanted

In June, Smart urged the parole board not to grant the woman's release by saying she still carried a book which contains revelations her husband said he received from God telling him to keep Smart.

She said the manuscript also contains other 'disturbing and dangerous ideas,' though it is not clear how she knows she had it.

'In this manuscript were the "revelations" Mitchell "received" from God to kidnap myself and six other young girls to be his wife.

'It also "revealed" his other highly disturbing and dangerous ideas.'

'This is proof to me that she hasn't changed, and if the prior 15+ years hasn't changed her I don't see how the future years will,' Smart said in an Instagram post in June, adding: 'I do not think I'm a vindictive or vengeful person.

'If change were truly possible in her case then perhaps parole/release could be justified.

Her father Ed said: 'I would hate for her to have the opportunity to do that again to someone else.'

Smart, now 30, is pregnant with her third child. She has turned her trauma into a tool and speaks at motivational events. She has also had her story turned into a Lifetime TV movie and she has written a book

Smart, now married with two children, has written a book about the harrowing ordeal and helped make a Lifetime movie and documentary about the crime and her life. She is now a child safety activist who regularly gives speeches.

She is expecting her third baby in November.

Smart was kidnapped from her bedroom in Salt Lake City, Utah by Mitchell who knew her because he had been hired by her family to do handiwork at their home.

For nine months, the religion-obsessed couple kept Smart tied up in the woods where Mitchell subjected her to daily rapes and death threats.

She was eventually rescued when a stranger saw the three of them in the street and recognized the pair from an episode of America's Most Wanted.

In 2010, seven years after Smart was rescued, Barzee pleaded guilty to kidnapping.

She was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment but was given credit for already spending seven of them in custody.

Mitchell was given back to back life sentences.The Bank of Baroda stock pared minor losses in early trade today after losing over 17% on Tuesday. On the other hand, the Dena Bank stock succumbed to profit booking a day after it hit the upper circuit of 19.75% on news that the government would merge the lender with two other banks- Vijaya Bank and Bank of Baroda.

The announcement which was made on Monday evening pushed the Dena Bank stock higher which has the highest NPA ratio among the three and came under RBI's preventive corrective action earlier this year on account of a deteriorating loan book.

While the Bank of Baroda stock was trading 2.07% higher at 115.80 on the BSE, the Dena Bank stock fell 1.31% to trade at 18.85 level against the previous close of 19.10 level.

On Tuesday, the Bank of Baroda stock closed 17.04% or 23 points lower on the NSE. On the BSE, the stock closed 16.03% or 21 points lower at 113 level.

Brokerages downgraded the Bank of Baroda stock citing integration challenges, value destruction for minority shareholders, and acquisition of a weak bank. Post implementation of the merger, Bank of Baroda's growth is likely to slow and overall need for capital will increase for the merged entity, they said.

Meanwhile, the Vijaya Bank stock was trading marginally higher by 0.71% to 56.80 on the BSE. The Bank of Baroda stock touched an intra day high of 116.90 rising 3.04%.

The large cap stock is down 27% since the beginning of this year and has fallen 18.81% during the last one year. Similarly, Dena Bank fell 40% during the last one year and 26% since the beginning of this year.

Meanwhile, the Vijaya Bank stock has lost merely 8.62% during the last one year and is down 16.53% since the beginning of this year.

Dena Bank is seen as the biggest beneficiary of the government's merger move. Various brokerages said in the near term, Dena Bank clearly remains the biggest beneficiary from this announcement. At the end of March 2018 fiscal, gross NPAs of Dena Bank stood at 22.04%. Gross NPAs of BoB stood at 12.36%. Gross NPAs of Vijaya Bank stood at 6.34% in the same period.

Meanwhile, the BSE Bankex was trading 108 points higher at 29,889 level. Bank Nifty too gained 73 points 26,516 level.

The merger move is likely to reduce the capital the government needs to infuse into these lenders and will create the country's third-largest lender.

The government will continue to provide capital support to the merged bank with assets of Rs 14.82 lakh crore ($204 billion), said financial services secretary Rajeev Kumar. The new bank is expected to have a net non-performing asset ratio of 5.71 percent of its total assets, nearly 9,500 bank branches and 85,675 employees.

The government owns majority stakes in 21 lenders, which account for more than two-thirds of banking assets in the Asia's third-biggest economy. After the implementation of merger, the number of state-run banks will fall to 19.Police in Illinois are investigating a shootout that occurred at a 24-hour BP gas station.

Surveillance video shows the horrifying moment gunfire erupted at the East St. Louis location around 1am on Wednesday.

A red car was parked in the 18th Street and Missouri Avenue lot when a black vehicle pulled into the spot next to it.

A red car was parked in the 18th Street and Missouri Avenue lot when a black vehicle pulled into the spot next to it

The black car opens fire and the red returns the shooting

Detective Ronald McClellan stated that the video show the suspect from the black car initially firing shots at the red car, Fox 2 reports.

But suspects in the red car quickly shoot back, hiding behind the cars so that they weren

Inside the gas station, people could be seen ducking for cover between aisles. It is unknown how many gunshots were fired.

People could be seen jumping into their vehicles in efforts to quickly flee the scene. A man holding items can be seen hiding in a corner outside as the shooting occurs.

While no one was injured during the shootout, there was estimated to be thousands of dollars in damages.

Inside the gas station, people could be seen ducking for cover between aisles. It is unknown how many gunshots were fired

McClellan described the suspects as being locals of the community that are known to police.

The suspects are said to have extensive criminal histories. It is unknown what the source of the conflict was.

'One of them had a semi-automatic handgun, the other, it appeared to be an assault rifle-style pistol,' added McClellan.

Police are hoping to speak with the suspects and plan to submit the case to the State's Attorney's Office.A shark has attacked a swimmer near a yacht moored in the Whitsunday Islands.

The 46-year-old Tasmanian woman was swimming near her yacht near Sawmill Bay in Queensland when she was attacked by the shark, according to The Mercury.

A group of passers-by found the woman with life-threatening bites to her upper right leg on Wednesday night.

She was helped onto a rescue vessel before being airlifted by helicopter to Mackay Base Hospital.

A 46-year-old woman has been airlifted to hospital with a 'life-threatening' injury to her thigh after being attacked by a shark in the Whitsunday Islands

Mackay Base Hospital confirmed the woman was in a critical condition and has lost a significant amount of blood from the attack, according to the publication.

A RACQ Rescue Helicopter spokeswoman said that if it wasn't for the people who found her and packed her wounds, the woman would be dead.

'By all accounts it was very serious and without the rescue helicopter she probably would have died, but those people did save her life by stopping the haemorrhaging,' she said.

The type of shark that attacked the woman is unknown.

The Whitsunday Islands is popular swimming destinations in Queensland, (pictured here Sawmill Bay) particularly with tourists

The Whitsunday Islands are popular swimming destinations in Queensland, particularly with tourists who flock in droves during the warmer months.

While parts of the area has shark nets in place, they don't necessarily provide an impenetrable barrier between swimmers and sharks.

They do, however, reduce the overall number of sharks in the area, making it a safer place to swim.

There hasn't been a fatal shark attack in Queensland since 2014 when 18-year-old Daniel Smith was attacked by a tiger shark near Rudder Reef near Port Douglas.

He suffered a bite to the upper thigh and died within minutes of being pulled from the water.

In January 2006, 21-year-old Sarah Whiley was mauled by a trio of bull sharks, who attacked her in waist-deep water at Amity Point, north Stadbroke Island.

Ms Whiley lost both her arms in the attack and later died from massive blood loss.

In 2017, a father-of-two from Cairns lost his right leg and almost died when he was mauled by a shark while spearfishing off Hinchinbrook Island.A father-of-five who was recently released from prison is likely to be deported to Papua New Guinea, despite his Aboriginal heritage.

Daniel Love, 39, has been detained at the Brisbane Immigration Transit Accommodation Centre since August 10, after his permanent residency visa was cancelled under the character test section of the Migration Act.

Born in Papua New Guinea, the Queensland man has lived in Australia since he was five, but has never obtained citizenship.

Daniel Love (pictured with his PNG-born mother) recently had his visa cancelled and faces the risk of being deported, despite calling Australia home for the last 34 years

He has a lengthy criminal history and recently served a 12 month sentence for assault occasioning bodily harm.

His lawyers have filed documents with the High Court arguing Love's detention and potential deportation is illegal and unconstitutional.

They argue that while Love's mother is from PNG, his Aboriginal father is an Australian citizen, as is his Brisbane-born grandfather.

'By any pub test, any common sense test, any humanitarian test - he's an Australian and this would be an appropriate matter for the minister to intervene on quickly,' Maurice Blackburn lawyer Rod Hodgson said.

'There are two factors which lead us to the view that our client cannot be regarded as a matter of law as an alien. Firstly his father is, and was, an Australian citizen at all relevant times and secondly, he's an indigenous Australian with a long family history in Australia.'

Love's sister, Violet, told the ABC that he is very proud of his Australian and Aboriginal heritage and has no connections to PNG.

Daniel Love (pictured as a youngster) was born in Papua New Guinea but has lived in Australia since he was five

'[He] probably has more of a sense of his identity being Indigenous, being a Murri man, than he has of his PNG heritage,' Ms Love said.

'If Daniel gets deported to PNG, his life is at risk. I don't think I'll see my brother again.'

Love's lawyers and family have pleaded with Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton to use his ministerial discretion to release him.

'Can the Minister please pay some acknowledgement to Daniel's lineage and have some compassion for my family and Daniel?' Ms Love told the ABC.

Daniel Love is currently being detained at the Brisbane Immigration Transit Accommodation Centre (pictured)

A department spokesman has told media outlets that it cannot comment on the case as the matter is before the courts.

Constitutional lawyer and University of NSW expert Sangeetha Pillai told The Australian the question of whether an indigenous person could be an 'alien' had never been examined in the High Court.

'There have been other people who lived in Australia for a very long time without citizenship but with eligibility for citizenship,' Dr Pillai said.

'It's been relatively well established that a person in that category does qualify as an alien.'

The number of visa cancellations on character grounds have risen by 1400 per cent between 201314 and 201617 after amendments were made to the Migration Act 1958 in late 2014.

'If you are currently serving a full-time custodial sentence and have ever been sentenced to 12 months or more imprisonment, regardless of time actually served, or have been convicted of, had a charge proven for or have been found guilty of a sexually based crime involving a child, your visa must be cancelled,' the department website states.A seafood restaurant owner is planning to get lobsters high on marijuana to make boiling them alive more humane.

Charlotte Gill, owner of Charlottes Legendary Lobster Pound in Southwest Harbor, Maine, trialled her plan on a lobster called Roscoe.

She put the creature into a box with a few inches of water and blew THC-infused smoke through the water.

Charlotte Gill, owner of Charlottes Legendary Lobster Pound (pictured) in Southwest Harbor, Maine, trialled her plan on a lobster called Roscoe.

Ms Gill said Roscoe was noticeably calmer in the following three weeks and did not try to attack other lobsters in the tank.

She then released Roscoe into the sea as a 'thank you' for being part of her trial.

The restaurateur, who is a licensed medical marijuana caregiver, will now offer customers the option of eating a lobster that has been sedated with the drug.

'I feel bad that when lobsters come here there is no exit strategy,' Gill told the Mount Desert Island.

'It's a unique place and you get to do such unique things but at the expense of this little creature. I've really been trying to figure out how to make it better.

Ms Gill (pictured) plans to use the new method at customers' requests, and then build a larger tank to sedate multiple lobsters at once

'The animal is already going to be killed,' said Ms Gill. 'It is far more humane to make it a kinder passage.'

Ms Gill plans to use the new method at customers' requests, and then build a larger tank to sedate multiple lobsters at once.

It's not known whether cannabis smoke actually calms lobsters or has any effect on their meat.Republicans are playing hardball with Brett Kavanaugh's accuser, telling her that she has to decide by 10 a.m. on Friday if she'll testify next week while Christine Ford's attorney argues there are 'multiple witnesses' that should be heard from.

'It would be a disservice,' Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley wrote in a letter to Democrats on Monday 'to delay this hearing any further.'

He told Ford's team she 'must submit her written testimony and biography by Friday at 10 a.m,' which is a prelude to any person testifying before the Senate.

Grassley noted that Kavanaugh has cooperated with a background investigation and Senate investigators, plus testified on the allegation under 'penalty of felony' with Senate staff on Monday.

Sen. Chuck Grassley gave Christine Ford until 10 am Friday to decide whether she'll testify

Grassley said Brett Kavanaugh testified on the allegation under 'penalty of felony' with Senate staff on Monday

'He sat for a transcribed interview on Monday. He understood that he was under penalty of felony, if he was not truthful. He fully, candidly and unequivocally answered all questions. We have no reason to doubt the truthfulness of Judge Kavanaugh's testimony,' Grassley noted.

Ford, through her attorney, had requested the FBI investigate her allegation that the Supreme Court nominee sexually assaulted her at a party when they were high school students in the 1980s in suburban Maryland.

Her lawyers are asking for more time.

'The Committee's stated plan to move forward with a hearing that has only two witnesses is not a fair or good faith investigation,' said Lisa Banks, the lawyer for Ford, in a statement.

'The rush to a hearing is unnecessary, and contrary to the Committee discovering the truth,' she added.

Only Ford and Kavanaugh have been invited to testify on Monday. Democrats have argued more witnesses are needed to safeguard Ford from experiencing an Anita Hill like situation, where her personal life was questioned in Clarence Thomas' 1991 bruising and bitter confirmation battle.

But Mark Judge, a high school pal of Kavanaugh's who Ford claims was in the room at the time of the alleged incident, has declined to testify.

It's unclear who else Ford's team wants to talk.

Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination was inching its way back on track Wednesday as key Republican senators pushed Ford to testify.

One by one GOP senators began to play hardball, making clear their desire to hear from Ford while indicating the confirmation process would proceed forward without her should she not appear.

They argue they are making a good faith effort to hear her out with one senator slamming her for playing politics ahead of November's crucial midterm election.

Bob Corker and other Republican senators are making clear their desire to hear from Christine Ford while indicating the confirmation process would proceed forward without her should she not appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee

Corker argues 'Republicans extended a hand in good faith'

Republican Sen. Jeff Flake, who was the first lawmaker to put Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation in doubt, is now pleading with Ford to speak to lawmakers

Flake said Ford can testify in public or private as she feels comfortable

Republican Sen. Bob Corker, who called for a delay on the Kavanaugh confirmation vote after Ford went public on Sunday, is now saying she should testify in Monday's scheduled hearing or the vote should proceed.

'After learning of the allegation, Chairman @ChuckGrassley took immediate action to ensure both Dr. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh have the opportunity to be heard, in public or private. Republicans extended a hand in good faith. If we don't hear from both sides on Monday, let's vote,' he tweeted late Tuesday night.

Some of the harshest rhetoric came from Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, who slammed Ford for playing politics with her demand.

'Requiring an FBI investigation of a 36 year old allegation (without specific references to time or location) before Professor Ford will appear before the Judiciary Committee is not about finding the truth, but delaying the process until after the midterms elections,' he said in a statement Wednesday morning. 'It is imperative the Judiciary Committee move forward on the Kavanaugh nomination.'

There are fears among Republicans that Democrats are trying to delay a vote on Kavanaugh's until after the midterm election, when there is a possibility Democrats will take control of the Senate and control the confirmation process.

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday morning, before he left to inspect the damage from Hurricane Florence in the Carolinas, he would like to hear from Ford.

'I really want to see her. I really would want to see what she has to say,' he said. 'If she shows up that would be wonderful, if she doesn't show up that would be unfortunate.'

Republican Sen. Jeff Flake was the first lawmaker to put Kavanaugh's confirmation in doubt when he said Sunday he was 'not comfortable voting yes' on President Donald Trump's nominee until the Senate Judiciary Committee heard from Ford.

He is now pleading with Ford to speak to lawmakers - either in public or private.

'When Dr. Ford came forward, I said that her voice should be heard and asked the Judiciary Committee to delay its vote on Judge Kavanaugh. It did so. I now implore Dr. Ford to accept the invitation for Monday, in a public or private setting. The committee should hear her voice,' he tweeted Tuesday night.

Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley delayed Thursday's scheduled vote in the committee to move ahead on Kavanaugh so senators could hear from Ford.

Republican Sen. John Kennedy, who sits on the judiciary panel, said the decision on whether or not to appear was Ford's.

'I sure hope Dr. Ford comes Monday. If she doesn't, that's her call,' he told CNN Wednesday morning.

He's also reflecting another argument Republicans are pushing - that they acted fairly and in good faith but will move on.

'My priority is fairness and the truth. I want to be fair to Dr. Ford and I want to be fair to Judge Brett Kavanaugh. You have to put this in context. The confirmation hearing is over. Judge Brett Kavanaugh testified for 32 hours. We had a private confidential meeting, just the senators and Judge Brett Kavanaugh afterwards to talk about anything nobody wanted to bring up in the hearing.'

Republicans are balancing their desire to place a conservative justice - who can tilt the Supreme Court's bench to the right - on the high court before its new term begins on Oct. 1 with fears of alienating women voters ahead of the November election.

The GOP is also mindful that with its 51-seat majority in the Senate, they can only lose one vote - if all Democrats vote no on Kavanaugh - in order to get him confirmed.

And the two Republicans to watch are both women - moderate GOP Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, neither of whom has committed to voting for Kavanaugh.

President Donald Trump said it would be 'unfortunate' if Christine Ford doesn't testify

Brett Kavanaugh, who denies the sexual assault allegation against him, leaves his home in Chevy Chase, Md., on Wednesday as his Supreme Court nomination inches back on track

Democrats on Tuesday charged Republicans with not doing enough to ensure Ford avoids an Anita Hill-type situation, where Clarence Thomas' accuser was assailed by Senate Judiciary Committee members in his 1991 confirmation hearing, and the GOP is countering they are giving her the option of public or private testimony.

'She is under no obligation to participate in the Republican efforts to sweep this whole thing under the rug, to continue this nomination on the fast track and to participate in a smear campaign and basically a railroad job,' said Democratic Sen. Mazie Hirono, a member of the judiciary committee, to reporters Tuesday on Capitol Hill. 'This is what they did to Anita Hill!'

She added: 'I just want to say to the men in this country, just shut up and step up. Do the right thing, for a change.'

Democratic Sen. Patty Murray also is arguing the hearing date was set without consulting with Ford about her schedule.

'The chairman of the committee announced a hearing without consulting her to be treated fairly she should have at least been asked if she was available that day and he should have said we're going to have an investigation in order for her to know she is going to be treated fairly,' Murray said.

But Grassley, the Republican chairman of the judiciary panel, said there was never a plan for Ford and Kavanaugh to sit together in the hearing and that committee staff offered Ford a choice of dates.

'Contrary to suggestions by Dr. Ford's attorneys, the committee had no plans to place Dr. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh on a panel together, and never indicated plans to do so. Grassley's staff offered Dr. Ford multiple dates as well as a choice of providing information in a public or private setting,' he said in a statement.

He also questioned why an FBI investigation was necessary for her testimony.

'Dr. Ford's testimony would reflect her personal knowledge and memory of events. Nothing the FBI or any other investigator does would have any bearing on what Dr. Ford tells the committee, so there is no reason for any further delay,' he said.

He noted: 'We offered her a public or a private hearing as well as staff-led interviews, whichever makes her most comfortable. The invitation for Monday still stands.'

Murray, however, argued Tuesday that an FBI investigation and more witnesses would help collaborate Ford's story and avoid a circus-like hearing atmosphere in addition to giving comfort to Ford in reliving the incident in public.

'We're calling for an investigation, an assessment of the facts, for other witnesses to be heard from and then have this hearing,' Murray said.

Democrats charged Republicans with not doing enough to ensure Ford avoids an Anita Hill-type situation. Democratic Sen. Mazie Hirono said: 'I just want to say to the men in this country, just shut up and step up. Do the right thing, for a change.'

Sen. Chuck Grassley, the Republican chairman of the judiciary panel, said staff offered Ford accommodations to fit her schedule and to let her speak in private or public

Ford on Tuesday evening, in a letter sent through her attorneys, said she wants a 'full investigation' by the FBI before she would participate in a hearing on her allegations against Kavanaugh, which he has denied.

Her lawyers wrote that 'a full investigation by law enforcement officials will ensure that the crucial facts and witnesses in this matter are assessed in a non-partisan manner, and that the Committee is fully informed before conducting any hearing or making any decisions,' according to a letter obtained by CNN.

Ford says she wants the FBI to probe the allegations before she testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The letter continued to argue that Ford has gotten a 'stunning amount of support from her community,' although she has been 'the target of vicious harassment and even death threats.'

Christine Ford asked for an FBI investigation before she testifies

Christine Blasey (now Ford) and Brett Kavanaugh in their respective high school year books

It said she has been forced to leave her home due to the scrutiny. 'Her email has been hacked, and she has been impersonated online,' the letter said.

Ford described to The Washington Post in detail how, when she was at a teenage party in the 1980s, Kavanaugh and his high school classmate followed her upstairs when she went to the bathroom and pushed her into a bedroom.

She detailed how Kavanaugh held her down, tried to rip off her swimsuit, and put his hand over her mouth when she tried to scream.

She said she escaped when his friend, Mark Judge, jumped on top of them.

'I thought he might inadvertently kill me,' Ford told the newspaper.

She said the incident affected her for years.

'I think it derailed me substantially for four or five years,' she said. She struggled academically and socially, she said, and was unable to have healthy relationships with men. 'I was very ill-equipped to forge those kinds of relationships.'

Judge said on Tuesday he would not testify.

'I have no memory of this alleged incident,' he wrote in a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee sent via his attorney.

'I do not recall the party described in Dr. Ford's letter,' added Judge, who wrote a book about his high school days describing heavy partying, drinking, and teenage sex.

He also defended longtime pal Kavanaugh, saying: 'I never saw Brett act in the manner Dr. Ford described.'Five contractors who were involved in building the bridge which collapsed at Florida International University earlier this year - killing six people - have been fined.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued more than $86,000 of penalties against the firms for failing to provide a safe working environment for staff.

The fines mark the first time anyone has been punished over the collapse, which happened in March, though criminal charges are still possible.

Five contractors involved in building a pedestrian bridge which collapsed and killed six people at Florida International University in March have been fined $86,000

The fines are the first penalties issued over the collapse but are unlikely to be the last, with multiple civil suits ongoing and criminal charges still possible

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined the contractors for failing to provide staff with a safe working environment

Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board are still looking into the collapse in a process which could take months.

Depending on the results of their probe, contractors could be taken to court for manslaughter - though such prosecutions require a high burden of proof, the Miami Herald reports.

Several civil lawsuits, which require a much lower burden of proof and are more likely to be successful, are currently underway.

In total OSHA levied $86,658 of fines against designer FIGG Bridge Engineers, builder Munilla Construction Management and Bolton Perez & Associates, which provided engineering and inspection services.

Previous reports found that large cracks emerged in a key supporting strut at the north end of the bridge just five days before it came down

These were not the first cracks to appear in the bridge - as smaller gaps had been noticed by workers in the same strut back in February

Also fined were Structural Technologies, which specializes in post-tensioning work on bridges, and concrete contractor, the Structural Group of South Florida.

Among their offences were failing to provide workers with a proper safety line and not removing them from the area despite the bridge developing cracks of 'significant width, depth and length at critical locations,'

Navaro Brown, a construction worker, was among those killed when the bridge fell.

Another five workers were seriously injured including Kevin Hanson who went into a lengthy coma with a head injury.

The companies have 15 working days to accept the fines, contest them, or schedule a meeting with OSHA.

Navaro Brown (left), a construction worker, was killed while standing on the bridge when it came down, while 18-year-old Alexa Duran was crushed to death underneath

Friends Oswald Gonzalez (left), 57, and Alberto Arias (right) were also killed in the collapse

Alberto Arias (right) and Rolando Fraga (left) were both killed while they driving under the FIU pedestrian bridge on March 15

Previously released photos shows significant breaks in the concrete emerged after the bridge was moved into place above the roadway on March 10.

Those cracks followed on from earlier ruptures in the concrete which were found in later February, before the bridge was moved.

All of the damage centered around a truss on the northern side of the bridge which is where the collapse began.

Structural engineers told the Herald that the truss appeared to be 'under-designed' and not able to withstand the pressures it was expected to hold.

The collapse killed Alexa Duran, 18, Navaro Brown, 37, Brandon Brownfield, Rolando Fraga Hernandez, 60, Osvaldo Gonzalez, 57, and Alberto Arias, 54.

The $14.2million structure was built to connect FIU to parts of the school's student housing over US Route 41 and was due to open in 2019.The boss of an iconic confectionery business who died after being hit by a tree in a horror accident left a 1.8 million fortune.

Klaus Perch-Nielsen, director of Macaroon and Snowball giant Lees of Scotland, passed away at his home in the Highlands.

The 80-year-old was tending trees when part of another trunk struck him on the head during strong winds.

Klaus Perch-Nielsen, director of Macaroon and Snowball giant Lees of Scotland, passed away at his home in the Highlands in March

The grandfather, a board member of the Coatbridge-based confectionery firm, died after the incident in Lentran near Inverness in March.

He is survived by his wife, Lynda, a son, two daughters and his grandchildren.

His will has now revealed he had an estate worth 1,806,670.

The bulk of his wealth was made up of an investments portfolio that included 762,000 of Lees shares, 28,000 in drinks company Fever Tree, and more than 380,000 of shares in Young & Co brewery.

Mr Perch-Nielsen also had a collection of shotguns worth 36,000 and a Range Rover valued at 5,000.

Klaus Perch-Nielsen, director of Macaroon and Snowball giant Lees of Scotland (pictured left) inspecting Wagonga Estuary oyster farms in Wagonga, New South Wales, in Australia

Mrs Perch-Nielsen, who has inherited the estate, had earlier paid tribute to her husband.

She said: 'He was a wonderful father and a wonderful husband, he was an extraordinary man.

'He was a friend to everyone whose life he touched, he was immediately their friend no matter who they were.

'He was as happy talking to the man who came to clear the drains as he would be with Lord Lovat. That was very Danish of him. We had a wonderful life.'

Lees chief executive Clive Miquel also paid tribute to his colleague.

He said: 'It has come as such a shock. I was only speaking to him about a couple of business matters that morning.

'He was so fit and healthy, and still had much to offer the company.. He was a regular attender at board meetings and had a huge enthusiasm for Lees.

'Just last year he took great delight in showing his grandchildren round the factory.

Klaus Perch-Nielsen's took great joy in taking his grandchildren round the sweet factory and his favourite thing to eat was the Macaroon bar which Lees is well known for

'And for his journey back up the road to Inverness in his trusty Range Rover, he would regularly buy our confectionery to eat on the way.

'His favourite was the Macaroon bar. He will be greatly missed and our thoughts are with Lynda and the entire family.'

In a varied career, Mr Perch-Nielsen was the part founder of Moray Firth Maltings, an investor in olive grows in Victoria, a farm in New South Wales and a Tasmanian vineyard.

He was born in 1937 in Denmark where after national service in the Danish Royal Guard Regiment moved to the UK in the early 1960s.

Police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.Film and television star Tom Selleck, 73, has stepped down after 13 years as a member of the board of directors of the National Rifle Association, citing his work schedule

Movie and television star Tom Selleck has quit the board of directors for the National Rifle Association (NRA) during his fifth term 'due to his work schedule.'

His abrupt departure was announced by his publicist Annette Wolf in a statement to The Trace, published on Wednesday.

While emphasizing the minimal role Selleck, 73, has played within the organization, Wolf noted he remains a member.

'He has nothing to do with policy,' Wolf said. 'Hes never been active on the board or anything the NRA engages in. Hes almost always been a silent board member.'

The Three Men and a Baby star first joined the NRA as a junior member when he was just eight years old, and has served on the board since 2005.

Scroll down for video

Selleck's involvement with the NRA was famously called in to question by Rosie O'Donnell in 1999, shortly after the Columbine shooting took place

Selleck was re-elected to his fifth, three-year term on the 76-person board in 2017, amassing 110,812 votes, which was more than any other candidate on the ballot.

The avid gun collector has supported the organization in others way, as well, including donating guns from his many movie and TV sets to the NRAs National Firearms Museum.

His involvement with the gun rights advocacy group was famously called in to question by Rosie O'Donnell in 1999, shortly after the Columbine shooting took place on April 20 of that year.

Selleck had come on her show to promote his latest film at the time, 'The Love Letter,' but had also recently appeared in an advertisement for the NRA.

Sources close to the NRA confirmed to The Trace that Selleck was rarely present at board meetings; Selleck is sen here in 1990's 'Quigley Down Under'

Selleck had come on her show to promote his latest film at the time, 'The Love Letter,' but had also recently appeared in an advertisement for the NRA (shown), which came out shortly before the Columbine shooting occurred on April 20, 1999

In the print ad campaign, Selleck was featured on a full page along with the slogan, 'I'm The NRA' and his quote, saying, 'Shooting teaches young people good things. Because all good rules for shooting are good rules for life.'

About one month after the ad came out, the Columbine shooting happened, killing 15 including the two gunmen who opened fire on their high school in Colorado, and injuring 24 more.

At the time, Magnum, PI leading man took issue with being called a spokesperson for the NRA, and disagreed with O'Donnell's views about the need for more stringent gun control, though he did so with tact and decorum.

In the print ad campaign, Selleck was featured on a full page along with the slogan, 'I'm The NRA' and his quote, saying, 'Shooting teaches young people good things. Because all good rules for shooting are good rules for life'

The avid gun collector has supported the organization in others way, as well, including donating guns from his many movie and TV sets to the NRAs National Firearms Museum; Selleck is shown at left in 1980 on the set of 'Magnum, PI' with a gun in hand

More than a decade after the somewhat heated debate, Selleck reflected on watching O'Donnell discuss controversial topics with her co-hosts on The View, and whether his personal feelings had been impacted by the exchange.

'I still like Rosie,' Selleck told the Today Show in 2010. 'I think she needs to take a deep breath and stop thinking everybody who disagrees with her is evil.'

The NRA has not commented publicly on Selleck's departure from the position, but sources close to the group confirmed to The Trace that Selleck was rarely present at board meetings while holding the role, from 2005 to now.

Recently, however, the Blue Bloods star headlined the NRA's 2017 Women's Leadership Forum, along with White House advisor Kellyanne Conway.

When asked whether Selleck supported the NRAs politics, policies, messaging, and mission as they stand today, Wolf declined to comment.

Wolf did not mention what projects Selleck is currently working on, that may have made his schedule less amenable to his limited role on the NRA's board.A police sergeant, firefighter, nurse and registered sex offender were among the 24 men caught by authorities conducting a child-sex sting in New Jersey.

The New Jersey Office of the Attorney General revealed Tuesday that all 24 men were arrested after being identified in a sting that saw New Jersey investigators posing as a boy and a girl  both 15  on popular apps, online games and chats.



The arrests were said to have been made at a four-bedroom house in Toms River, New Jersey, which was filled with undercover officers.

Police sergeant Richard Conte, 47 (left), and firefighter Richard Hoffman, 23, were among the 24 men arrested during a child-sex sting conducted by New Jersey authorities

Also among the men arrested in the sting were registered sex offender Thomas Blumensteel, 47 (left), and a nurse, Christopher Vargas, 29

Authorities said the 24 men had traveled to the home during the sting's 'meet week'  occurring between September 5 to 9  with the alleged intention of having sex with the underage teen they thought they were interacting with online.

The sting itself was named 'Operation Open House.'

'When they showed up at our undercover house seeking to meet their intended victims for sex, they were arrested,' New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said during a press conference Tuesday, 6 ABC reported.

'The defendants are now charged with serious crimes and are either behind bars or subject to very stringent pre-trial monitoring,' Grewal said.

Police said that during the sting, which took place over the course of several weeks, the undercover officers had clearly identified themselves as being underage boys or girls while talking with the 24 men who were charged.

Despite allegedly being under the impression that they were talking with underage teens, the men were said to have made arrangements to meet the teens for sex anyway.

Grewal highlighted one particular suspect and arrest  Richard Conte, 47, a Howell Township, New Jersey, police sergeant.

Authorities said that the 24 men were all arrested after they showed up at a New Jersey home, allegedly planning to have sex with the underage teens the thought they had met online. Instead, the men were met at the house by undercover cops

Authorities released the names and pictures of the 24 men that were caught in the child-sex sting. The men have been all been charged with luring, while some face additional charges

New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal (at podium) revealed the arrests and some details about the sting, 'Operation Open House' during a press conference on Tuesday

According to Grewal, Conte pretended to be a 19-year-old male while chatting up the undercover investigator he believed to be a 15-year-old girl.

'He allegedly said that he had had sex with underage girls, and wanted to meet the girl to "get naked,"' Grewal said, noting that Conte 'had condoms in his pocket when he was arrested.'

Authorities said Conte turned in his weapon to the Howell Township Police Department in the wake of his arrest. He has been suspended and is under house arrest.

Also among the 24 men who were arrested were a security guard, a firefighter, a physical therapist, a nurse, a landscaper, a train conductor, a cashier, a dry cleaner, a mechanic and a registered sex offender.

All but the registered sex offender  Thomas Blumensteel, 47, of Manchester, New Jersey  were said to have been released from jail following their hearing last week, although authorities said that the men are being monitored closely.

Blumensteel, who remains in jail, had been previously sentenced to three years in prison in 1997 for aggravated criminal sexual contact. He was accused then of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old boy that he was supervising as a church counselor.

'It is disturbing that some of the alleged child predators from this operation held positions of public service and authority,' New Jersey State Police Col. Patrick Callahan said, according to FOX29.

'But behind closed doors they went through great lengths to avoid detection online, frequenting social media sites with the sole purpose of targeting unsuspecting children.'

Authorities said that the men had been using adult dating apps and popular kids games to find their targets, and handed out a list of apps that they urged parents to monitor their children's activity on.

Among the apps on the list were Tindr, Minecraft, kik, Fornite, Whisper, tumblr and Hot or Not and Chat Roulette.

'Talk to your children about social media and chat apps like these. Let them know that the people they encounter may not be who they initially seem to be,' Grewal said, according to PIX 11.

The 24 men who were caught up in the child-sex sting were all charged with second-degree luring. If convicted, they will each face penalties of a minimum five to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $150,000.

Several of the men also face additional charges, including second-degree attempted sexual assault on a minor and third-degree attempted debauching the morals of a child.

In addition, five of the men face third-degree charges of attempted sharing obscene materials with a child after allegedly sending pictures of their genitals to the undercover detectives posing as the underage teens online.

The second-degree charges carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000. The third-degree charges carry a sentence of three to five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000.Advertisement

It looks like a monolithic space-city straight out of science fiction, but in reality it was one of the jewels in the Soviet crown.

Terminal 1 at Zvartnots airport in Armenia once welcomed Kremlin VIPs and visitors from across the USSR. Now it sits abandoned, under lock and key, and facing demolition.

After it was built in the 1970s, more than 2,500 passengers crowded through the country's most modern airport terminal every hour.

For them, it was the height of luxury with a restaurant high up on the central control tower and views across to the Armenian capital Yerevan.

The old terminal one building at Zvartnots airport was once the crossroads of Europe and Asia. Now going inside is like being transported back to the 1970s

Concrete blocks and other debris litter the floor of the arrivals hall, where the old baggage carousel can still be found

The cracked ceiling is leaking, and the runway viewing windows are broken or missing. Advertising posters from the Soviet-era have not been taken down

It looks like a monolithic space-city straight out of science fiction. In reality it was one of the jewels in the Soviet crown, but now even the lettering on the side of the tower is peeling

The architecture is of distinct Soviet-era design and was meant to impress the Kremlin VIPs and visitors from all over the USSR who touched down on its runway

No longer maintained, the abandoned offices are scattered with papers. Once important, they are now simply rubbish

Now stepping inside Zvartnots, once the crossroads of Europe and Asia, is like being transported back four decades.

The grand entrance hall and the soaring concrete and marble walls are now crumbling. The cracked ceiling is leaking, and the runway viewing windows are broken or missing.

But British architects are leading international calls for it to be saved from the wrecking ball. These exclusive photographs show the iconic revolutionary building and capture the last pictures of its ghostly interior.

Armenia was incorporated into the Soviet Union along with Georgia and Azerbaijan in 1922. Soviet Armenia's economy transformed in this period from a predominantly agricultural one into an industrial success.

After it was built in the 1970s, more than 2,500 passengers crowded through the country's most modern airport terminal every hour

Today the escalators are silent and broken and the heating system doesn't work. Stubs of old tickets to Moscow and beyond lie strewn on the dusty floor.

In the post-war period the country's economic development further expanded to include military engineering, radio-electronics and an car industry and the Soviet Union centred a considerable part of their military electronic production and scientific research projects in production there.

However in 1988, a democratic movement was set up in Armenia which demanded the return of disputed Karabakh territory which had been given to Azerbaijan by Stalin.

The Karabakh movement's success eventually led to Armenia's break from the Soviet Union; in August 1990, a year before the collapse of the USSR, Armenia declared its independence.

Stubs of old tickets to Moscow and beyond lie strewn on the dusty floor

The baggage carousels lie frozen and gathering a thick layer of dust from the moment the airport saw its last flight in 2008

Leading British architect Tim Flynn says the airport is an outstanding piece of architecture. His London-based international practice has had an office in Yerevan for 14 years.

And he hopes that the new, more democratic government in Armenia which came to power after May's Velvet Revolution will decide Zvartnots is a historical building worth preserving.

And yet he warns the longer it's left to crumble away, the chances of saving it diminish.

'I realise the new prime minister has a lot on his plate, but I hope his conscience will lead to a change of plan. Whatever you think of the old Soviet Union, the buildings from this period were extraordinary and adventurous, a piece of history.'

Inside Zvartnots, the baggage carousels lie frozen at the moment the airport saw its last flight in 2008. By then the Soviet empire had collapsed and Armenia was an independent country.

Today the escalators are silent and the heating system broken down. Stubs of old tickets to Moscow and beyond lie strewn on the dusty floor.

The grand entrance hall and the soaring concrete and marble walls are now crumbling. The lifts are quiet and the whole place is eerie

Alongside derelict check-in desks and security machines, old signs for trolley hire, shopping, and the city-centre hang forlornly in the grim half-light

Alongside derelict check-in desks and security machines, old signs for trolley hire, shopping, and the city-centre hang forlornly in the grim half-light.

Abandoned offices are scattered with papers, once important, now simply rubbish.

Maintenance manager Karen Torosyan shows us round by flashlight, up and down dark concrete stairways. He said: 'This airport was the best of its kind. When I worked here it was always busy. It's sad to see it like this, but time moves on. A road flyover and some metal bridges connecting arrivals and departures, have already been pulled down. They were in a dangerous condition.'

The owners want to demolish more of the old airport to make way for a multi-million pound expansion of the new international terminal. But they are being fought by the daughter of the original airport architect.

Rubbish is strewn across the floor, the remains of now-outdated electrical devices and the windows are covered in dirt

Anahit Tarkhanyan believes the airport still has huge potential and that many don't realise what they're giving up. She says land-locked Armenia could benefit from a new renovated airport which could become the centre of a network of regional airports

Anahit Tarkhanyan's, whose father Artur, was part of the team that made the original terminal, is running for mayor of Yerevan, with a mission to fight the demolition

Clem Cecil, of SAVE Europe's Heritage and director of London's Pushkin House, the Russian cultural centre, said the terminal has been under-appreciated and should be saved

Anahit Tarkhanyan's father, Artur, was part of a prize-winning team that made the original Zvartnots terminal a symbol of Armenia, featured on postcards and tourist brochures.

Now Anahit is running for mayor of Yerevan, with a mission to fight the demolition. 'The airport has been stolen from the people. It's part of our heritage and history, but many don't realise what they're giving up. We're a land-locked country with poor roads. The old airport could be renovated to be the centre of a network of regional airports. We've got the backing of international architects, including British.

'The airport was truly revolutionary  it was just 15 metres from your car to the plane. There was a special underground luggage delivery system, and a plane refuelling pipe that ran round the airport, emerging at the underbelly of each aircraft. Unheard of in 1976.

The original arrivals balcony looked down on waiting families below and were designed to create very emotional homecomings for Armenians

The owners want to demolish more of the old airport to make way for a multi-million pound expansion of the new international terminal

The Zvartnots building is a classic of its kind and part of the unique history and culture of Armenia. It was built in an era when Soviet architects were experimenting with international influences

'Also, in Soviet times everything was regulated  even the thickness of the paint on the wall. But my father got round all that by always leaving room in his designs for later expansion.

'Most of all, he designed for the people. Armenians are scattered all over the world, so for homecomings he made sure the arrivals balcony looked down on waiting families below. It was all very emotional.'

Clem Cecil, of SAVE Europe's Heritage and director of London's Pushkin House, the Russian cultural centre, said: 'The Zvartnots building is a classic of its kind  it should be saved. It was built in a period when Stalin's grip had been broken and Soviet architects were experimenting with international influences.

She added: 'Zvartnots is very cutting edge and reflects the excitement of the times. The problem is it's been under-appreciated and vulnerable. The fact there's a growing effort to save it is good news.Last month, Dilip Puri, former head of Starwood Hotels & Resorts in India, started Indian School of Hospitality (ISH) to disrupt the hospitality education space. The Gurgaon-based ISH has plans to expand and gradually open more campuses in India and abroad. Puri talks about how ISH is different from other hospitality schools and his areas of expertise, in an interaction with Business Today.

BT: How do you think ISH is different from the existing hospitality schools in the country?

Puri: For a successful education, it's imperative to anticipate change - not just adapt to it. The hospitality industry environment is changing at an incredible pace and if the talent is to be future-ready, curriculums need to have the newest trends and patterns incorporated into them.

The mission of ISH is to bring in a new-age educational philosophy and reimagine higher education for the upcoming generation of talent. The Indian School of Hospitality bases its unique approach to higher education on a balance of understanding the current needs of the global hospitality industry with those of today's millennial student. With a faculty comprising of hospitality industry experts and culinary veterans, the curriculum is tailor-made to prepare students to anticipate change and disruption within the global landscape - and become the disruptors of tomorrow.

The campus combines technology with high-end design, providing students of ISH an environment that helps to bring more joy into academic discovery while providing them with spaces to put their hands-on skills to the test, in a mirror-like working environment. The campus has an in-house fine dining restaurant, coffee shop, reception area and more to prepare students for future.

In addition to this, what makes ISH a differentiator is a strong academic connect with the industry, with a unique industry mentorship programme for the students, alongside regular lectures from internationally-renowned experts and industry veterans. The aim is to inspire entrepreneurship and to give today's incredible talent the toolkit to change the industry by promoting critical thinking, life skills, and the courage to take an idea and bring it to life with an in-house start up incubator called Ignite.

Furthermore, ISH has an agreement with CoHo, a technology start-up that provides student accommodation within the country. ISH is offering its students a western-model of student living, with fully furnished, modern apartment living, a flat mate system, a private kitchen and other living and recreational amenities. This changes the student's study-leisure balance and lifestyle, and reimagines the way student accommodation is both perceived and executed.

BT: What kind of programmes you are offering? What's the tuition fees and course duration?

Puri: In addition to its disruptive approach to education, the ISH has the academic certification of Ecole hoteliere de Lausanne. This certification represents and recognises the ISH's dedication to provide educational excellence to its students; its commitment to Swiss hospitality education standards and its strong connect to the industry. We have started our very first batch for its Bachelors in Hotel Management and Bachelors in Travel & Tourism programmes, with Intensive Culinary Arts Certificate. Presently, we are also offering a Four Year Bachelors in Hotel Management (with a Certification in Hospitality Management), a Four Year Bachelors in Travel & Tourism (with a Certification in Culinary Arts) and a 9+3 month Intensive Culinary Arts Certificate.

In the near future, we will be offering postgraduate and executive education programmes as well as shorter duration culinary arts programmes with a unique focus on entrepreneurship and business acumen for today's world. At ISH, we are offering international standards of hospitality education for a price keeping the domestic market in mind.

BT: Do you plan to expand in the years to come?

Puri: We envisage the possibility of developing further campuses in southern and western parts of India and extending it to the markets of Sri Lanka and Nepal. Besides expanding the current campus and developing newer campuses, we will soon foray into the digital and distance education business given that we have created significant bandwidth in terms of our academic capabilities and our technology, which allows us to capture and create a significant amount of content for learning and education purposes.

BT: What was the motivation behind starting this school?

Puri: Despite the rapid growth of the hospitality sector in India, especially in the last few decades, there has been little efforts to upscale the hospitality education institutes in the sector. I was awe struck by the realisation that most of the established hotels in India have their own training schools following the age-old pedagogy. And the public institutions are very limited in various cities, are often cited for lack of keeping up with the changes in the sector and have limited innovation.

Spotting the gap, I decided to start an education venture into crafting a world-class hospitality education enterprise. It has given me an opportunity to pursue my passion for education. We are more focussed towards the learner-centric approach through which we impart life skills merged with academics.

BT: Share some information on the demand-supply situation when it comes to talent in the hospitality sector?

Puri: The hospitality and tourism industry in India is experiencing exponential growth bringing with it an influx of job openings and possibilities of tremendous economic growth. While there's an impetus of growth already coming up over the horizon, both the hospitality and tourism industries are still experiencing numerous issues with the current supply and status of manpower within the country. The current supply is much smaller than what the industry requires presently with predicted numbers making up only a fraction of future industry requirements. Furthermore, the skill sets of hospitality and tourism graduates fail to match up to industry expectations, creating additional complications and failing to bridge the gap between supply and demand.

BT: Share some details on the student placement programme?

Puri: We want our students to have access to best internships and placement opportunities, to have industry leaders as mentors and to have the industry support with academic exchanges between the institute and industry. This is why we have all major brands represented by their leaders, who sit on the ISH advisory council.

The internship experience can completely transform the future trajectory of a student placement programmes. As the industry participates more and more in placement programmes, it will improve the quality and experience of interns. We need to work together to give students better insight into the inner-workings of the industry and give them an internship experience that builds on their knowledge and provides fruitful results.Elizabeth Smart posted a pointed message on her Instagram account on Wednesday morning, after her kidnapper Wanda Barzee walked out of prison gates a free woman.

'May we all remain vigilant in watching over our families, friends, and community from anyone who would seek to hurt or take advantage,' she wrote, without invoking Barzee's name. 'I truly believe life is meant to be happy and beautiful, and no matter what happens that will remain my goal for me and for my family.'

Utah Department of Corrections spokeswoman Kaitlin Felsted confirmed that Barzee, 72, was released from the Draper Prison early Wednesday morning because Utah authorities had miscalculated the amount of time the inmate should serve.

She was previously scheduled to be released in 2024.

She will have 72 hours to report to US Probation and Pretrial Services. She will spend the next five years on supervised release, during which time she must have no contact with Smart, or she'll find herself back behind bars.

Barzee had served 15 years in prison for abducting Smart as a teenager and keeping her in the woods to be raped daily until the girl was rescued by strangers.

She was slipped out of the prison and somehow bypassed several reporters and TV camera crews.

Elizabeth Smart posted a pointed message on her Instagram account on Wednesday morning, after her kidnapper Wanda Barzee walked out of prison gates a free woman

Free: Wanda Barzee, 72, walked free from prison on Wednesday after serving 15 years behind bars for snatching Smart as a teenager (pictured on April 8, 2016, in Utah State Prison)

Correctional officers gather outside a gate at the Utah State Correctional Facility Wednesday in Draper in preparation for Barzee's release

Elizabeth Smart's (pictured) kidnapper must have no contact with the victim for five years

Speaking on CBS This Morning on Tuesday, Smart said Barzee fell short on her court-ordered apology, which was part of her plea deal.

'But it was just a very brief, "I'm sorry for what I've done, the end," kind of thing,' Smart said. 'I don't think you can just kidnap a 14-year-old girl and, you know, not only sit by her while she's being raped but encourage the rapist to continue. Then just at the end of it say, "I'm sorry," and really mean it.'

While Smart said she did not get a sense from Barzee that her captor was remorseful, she herself has forgiven her.

'I don't feel that I could have moved forward in my life had I still been holding on to hate and anger inside me, because that would still be taking up a percentage of my soul,' she explained. 'And that means that, you know, I wouldn't be able to love my own children 100 per cent, love my husband 100 per cent, because a part of me would still be taken up with anger.'

Barzee's niece, Tina Mace, said last week that no one in her family would take her aunt in.

Smart appeared on CBS This Morning on Tuesday to talk about her reaction to Barzee's impending release

Ed Smart, the father of Elizebeth Smart, talks to the media outside the Utah State Prison woman facility where earlier in the day Wanda Barzee was released

Eric Anderson, deputy chief US Probation Officer for Utah, said there is a transition plan in place for Barzee and she will not be homeless.

She will most likely live alone in a private residence. The conditions of her probation require her to enter a mental health treatment program, check in with her probation officer every month, register as a sex offender and submit to DNA collection, but she does not have to wear a GPS monitor.

Barzee's has already been added to the Utah sex offender registry, which shows her conviction on federal and state charges in the 2002 kidnapping of Smart.

Federal probation officials will keep a close eye on the convicted kidnapper to ensure she does not try and contact her victim by phone or the internet, and her housing will not be located anywhere near Smart.

In her CBS This Morning interview, Smart said she is convinced the federal probation officer assigned to Brazee's case will prove equal to the task.

'I do believe that he will do the job to the best of his ability. So I have faith in him. I just lack faith in her,' she said.

Elizabeth's father, Ed Smart, told KSL on the eve of Barzee's release that she has not taken any responsibility for her actions and that her release is disappointing.

'I'm just hoping that she won't pose a threat, but I have to put my faith in the federal system. And they have been very good, and I'm hoping that's the way it will work,' he said.

If Barzee does violate her conditions, she will be brought before a judge who can sentence her to more prison time.

Once the five year period ends, Smart, now 30, can ask a judge for a protective order to prevent Barzee from contacting her.

Barzee was jailed after pleading guilty to kidnapping then-14-year-old Smart in 2002. The court heard she then stood by as her one-time husband Brian David Mitchell repeatedly raped the teen.

Mitchell is serving a life sentence in Arizona.

Brian David Mitchell, Barzee's husband who raped Smart daily while holding her in captivity, is pictured in his 2004 mugshot

Yet, despite the Utah parole board deeming Barzee unfit for release, she was freed Wednesday because state law dictates inmates must be released at the end of their sentence.

Smart said the decision was 'incomprehensible'.

She said in a statement last week she was 'surprised and disappointed' to learn that Barzee will be freed after failing to undergo mental health evaluations and failing to attend her own parole hearing in June.

The board said previously that Barzee would be released in January 2024 after it denied her an early parole following a hearing that she chose not to attend. The board said at the June hearing that Barzee refused to take a psychological exam.

At the June hearing, her attorney questioned the calculation of her release date, which led the Utah board to look into it. Lawyer Scott Williams said Tuesday he's appreciative the board reviewed it and agreed with his assessment.

Williams said he's not concerned about Barzee being a danger to the community, but declined to say why he believes that.

In June, Smart urged the parole board not to grant the woman's release by saying she still carried a manuscript titled 'The Book of Immanuel David Isaiah,' which contains revelations her husband said he received from God telling him to keep Smart.

Elizabeth was just 14 when she was taken. She is pictured at the time of her disappearance

The pair snatched Elizabeth from her bedroom in Salt Lake City, Utah (her home is pictured in 2002)

She said the manuscript also contains other 'disturbing and dangerous ideas,' though it is not clear how she knows she had it.

'In this manuscript were the 'revelations' Mitchell 'received' from God to kidnap myself and six other young girls to be his wife.

'It also 'revealed' his other highly disturbing and dangerous ideas.'

'This is proof to me that she hasn't changed, and if the prior 15+ years hasn't changed her I don't see how the future years will,' Smart said in an Instagram post in June, adding: 'I do not think I'm a vindictive or vengeful person.

'If change were truly possible in her case then perhaps parole/release could be justified.

Her father Ed said: 'I would hate for her to have the opportunity to do that again to someone else.'

Smart, now married with two children, has written a book about the harrowing ordeal and helped make a Lifetime movie and documentary about the crime and her life. She is now a child safety activist who regularly gives speeches.

Barzee is pictured, left, when she was arrested in 2003 and right, in a 2010 photo

Mitchell, shown above in 2010, will spend the rest of his life imprisoned

She is expecting her third baby in November.

Smart was abducted from her bedroom in Salt Lake City, Utah by Mitchell who knew her because he had been hired by her family to do handiwork at their home.

For nine months, the religion-obsessed couple kept Smart tied up in the woods where Mitchell subjected her to daily rapes and death threats.

She was eventually rescued when a stranger saw the three of them in the street and recognized the pair from an episode of America's Most Wanted.

In 2010, seven years after Smart was rescued, Barzee pleaded guilty to kidnapping.

She was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment but was given credit for already spending seven of them in custody.

Mitchell was given back to back life sentences.Residents in China's capital city will soon be able to hail a bus like they hail a Uber.

A new service will let the residents of Beijing decide the route of a bus last minute as long as there are enough like-minded passengers, according to Chinese media.

The service is expected to provide the city's 22 million people with cheap, instant and 'quasi door-to-door' rides at their fingertips.

Not more waiting: Residents in Beijing will soon be able to design their bus routes (file photo)

The service, offered by Beijing Public Transport Group, will be launched in residential areas, central business districts and major transport hubs, reported Beijing Youth Daily.

Beijing Public Transport Group currently offers a shuttle bus service which requires passengers to book the vehicle days in advance.

But the new 'bus-pooling' service would allow passengers to customise the bus route at the very last minute through an app.

It can take hours to travel from one place to another in Beijing, 10 times as big as London

Greater Beijing is one of the most populous and spread-out cities in the world. It covers an area 10 times as big as Greater London and is served by 22 metro lines.

The sheer size of the city means journeys across town can be complicated with public transport and take hours.

Beijing Public Transport Group has launched a series of customised services to satisfy residents' needs, including temporary shuttle buses and direct express buses.

The customised services have benefited more than 17 million people since 2013, the group said.Egyptian authorities have reiterated their claims that the deaths of a British couple on a Thomas Cook holiday in the country were caused by E.Coli bacteria.

John and Susan Cooper suddenly on August 21, after becoming ill while staying at the Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel in the Red Sea resort of Hurghada.

The Egyptian Public Prosecutor has today released parts of a coroner's report which blames E.Coli bacteria, despite subsequent UK post mortems having been found 'inconclusive'.

John and Susan Cooper died in their hotel room while on holiday in Egypt. Authorities in the country put their deaths down to E.coli but post mortems in the UK have been inconclusive

The Egyptian forensic report concluded that Mr Cooper's death was caused by 'acute intestinal dysentery as a result of the E-Coli bacteria'.

They noted that Mr Cooper's heart disease worsened his condition and that 'shortage of blood circulation accompanied by the effect of the infectious bacteria ultimately led to death'.

Mr Cooper was also found to have a blood alcohol level of 0.4/1000 at the time of his death, and said his blood had traces of cannabis.

As for Mrs Cooper, the forensic report concluded that her cause of death was 'an infection of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) that was likely caused by infection with the E-Coli bacteria.'

They said this was 'due to staying in the same room with her deceased husband, being close to him during all outings and sharing the same food together.'

This comes after an inquest in the UK heard that the couple had moved their granddaughter out of their hotel room after noticing a 'musty smell' hours before they fell ill.

The couple died at the Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel in the Red Sea resort of Hurghada

In the middle of the night, 12-year-old granddaughter Molly complained the smell was making her feel unwell.

Mr Cooper walked her to the room where the couple's daughter and Molly's mother, Kelly Ormerod, was staying before returning to his own room.

The report released today by the Egyptian authorities referenced the smell, saying it had been found to be the smell of a pesticide.

The report 'dismissed any connection between the pesticide used in the adjacent room and the deaths of the couple as there were no traces detected in the bodies of the deceased couple'.

A brief hearing at Preston Coroner's Court on Tuesday, heard post mortems into John and Susan Cooper's deaths had been 'inconclusive'.

It was adjourned after senior coroner James Adeley requested all relevant reports and documents from Thomas Cook and Egyptian authorities.

But he warned it 'could take months, even years' to get answers over what killed the couple.

Tuesday's inquest hearing was attended by the couple's daughter Kelly Ormerod, 40, who broke down in tears as she said she had to 'go home and prepare for their funerals'.

Outside court Ms Ormerod said: 'All I would like to say is thank you very much for all the support I have received.

'At the moment now I have got to go home and prepare for a funeral tomorrow.

'If you would kindly leave me be, leave my family be, and let us grieve and get the grieving process on the way, and I am prepared to speak at a later date.'

The couple's daughter Kelly Ormerod arriving at Preston Coroner's Court ahead of the inquest into the deaths of her parents on Tuesday

A brief chronology of events was given in court with Dr Adeley explaining that as the deaths occurred outside the UK he could only make 'requests' for information from the authorities in Egypt.

Forensic examinations carried out by authorities in Egypt reported the cause of deaths as being linked to E.coli bacteria, although this was dismissed by Ms Ormerod last week.

Dr Adeley said through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office he would be requesting all relevant reports and documentation from a long list of public bodies in Egypt and from Thomas Cook.

But he warned that requests to foreign countries 'can take months, even years'.

Dr Adeley said neither of the couple were known to have any serious medical conditions before they left the UK for the holiday on August 13.

They were staying in one room with their 12-year-old granddaughter, Molly, while Ms Ormerod stayed in another room with her two other children.

On the evening of August 20 the couple dined at the hotel buffet and it was thought they both ate liver before Mrs Cooper and Molly returned first to their room, 5107.

The coroner continued: 'They noticed an acetone type smell replaced by what is described by the granddaughter as a funny, musty smell.

'A different smell from earlier in the week. It was established the next door room had been fumigated.'

Around 1.15am Molly said the smell was making her feel unwell, Mrs Cooper called her daughter and Mr Cooper walked the girl to her mother's room before returning to his own room.

Dr Adeley continued: 'On the morning of Tuesday 21st August, Ms Ormerod become concerned because neither had appeared by 11am.'

Det Inspector Leah Rice, of Lancashire Police, told the hearing: 'The normal routine was Susan Cooper would usually be up six, six thirty, down to the pool to reserve sun beds for the day, then breakfast.

'However that morning she was not down for the sun beds.'

The court heard Ms Ormerod became 'very concerned' and called for help when her father answered the door to their room and two doctors arrived.

The couple's daughter Kelly says she wants to find out the truth about her parents' deaths

Dr Adeley said: 'Shortly after this Mr Cooper collapsed in the room and could not be revived and verified to have died at noon. Mrs Cooper was variably lucid.'

The couple had been vomiting and feeling lethargic and Mrs Cooper had a heart attack in an ambulance on the way to hospital where her death was confirmed.

Dr Adeley said he had only a single document from the authorities in Egypt stating E.coli as a cause of death for the couple and explaining the strange smell in the room as a leak of pesticides from the adjacent, fumigated room.

He said he had no reports detailing toxicology, micro-biology, police or public health investigations.

The coroner said he would be requesting from the authorities in Egypt: forensic reports, laboratory tests, toxicology reports, microbiology reports, details on the air conditioning system, test results on food and water, details from the Egyptian atomic energy authority, histology samples, and the details of the police investigation.

He would also request the hotel group running the hotel and Thomas Cook to supply 'all the documentation'.

Post-mortem examinations on Mr and Mrs Cooper in the UK have not been able to determine the cause of death and more tests are being carried out, but the results could take some time to come back.A San Diego woman known as the Drug Llama has been accused of selling more than 50,000 fentanyl pills over the dark web.

Melissa Scanlan, 31, is also suspected of selling fentanyl that has been linked to the overdose deaths of a 41-year-old woman and a 10-month-old baby boy.

Scanlan, who was indicted by a federal grand jury in Illinois, is accused of trafficking fentanyl from October 22 up to August 2, 2018.

She has been charged on five counts of distribution of fentanyl, as well as one count each of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, selling counterfeit drugs, international money laundering, and misbranding drugs.

Scanlan, who is five months pregnant, will face at least 10 years in prison if convicted.

Melissa Scanlan has been accused of selling more than 50,000 fentanyl pills over the dark web, where authorities said she was known by the name 'Drug Llama'

Scanlan has been accused of selling fentanyl to a San Diego man who allegedly left the drug within the reach of his 10-month-old son.

The baby was found unresponsive in bed by his parents, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Scanlan is also suspected of selling fentanyl to a 41-year-old San Diego woman who overdosed. Both the woman and the 10-month-old child died last September.

Authorities said Scanlan smuggled the fentanyl from Mexico and then sold it on the dark web, in a marketplace that was called the Dream Market.

She allegedly sold fentanyl pills called 'pressed blues' that were disguised as oxycodone and stamped with 'M30' on each tablet.

Scanlan also sold genuine oxycodone, amphetamine, morphine, Percocet, temazepam, flexeril, and an 'opiate power pack', according to Assistant US Attorney Sherri Hobson.

Scanlan is also suspected of selling fentanyl that has been linked to the overdose deaths of a 41-year-old woman and a 10-month-old baby boy

An undercover operation to nab Scanlan was undertaken by the US Drug Enforcement Administration in both San Diego and St Louis.

The Food and Drug Administration, US Postal Inspection Service, and Department of Homeland Security were also involved in the investigation.

Scanlan, 31, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Illinois on August 22. She is accused of trafficking fentanyl from October 22 up to August 2, 2018

DEA agents purchased nine items from Scanlan on the Dream Market between April and July, Hobson said.

Scanlan allegedly bragged to one agent that she could sell them 100 to 500 fentanyl pills at once.

Although the Drug Llama refused to meet in person, she offered to send the drugs in the mail instead.

Authorities were able to link Scanlan to the drug shipments after the return address on the packages were traced back to one of her old businesses.

Agents also discovered that 'Samantha Cooper', the sender of the packages, combined the names of Scanlan's two dogs.

A related PayPal account also showed thousands of transactions that were linked to the drug sales.

Scanlan admitted to obtaining fentanyl from a Mexican cartel after authorities searched her San Diego home in August.

She was arrested on state drug charges that same month and released from custody a few weeks later.

Scanlan, who is five months pregnant, will face at least 10 years in prison if convicted. Authorities said she admitted to obtaining fentanyl from a Mexican cartel

Hobson said Scanlan then went back to Mexico to arrange two new deliveries of fentanyl containing 500 pills each to her house.

She also allegedly told her customers to contact her through a different dark web market.

While Scanlan was charged with distributing more than 400 grams of fentanyl in the indictment, Hobson said during a detention hearing that she has actually sold more than 50,000 pills.

WHAT IS FENTANYL? Fentanyl was originally developed in Belgium in the 1950s to aid cancer patients with their pain management. Given its extreme potency it has become popular amongst recreational drug users. Drug overdoses killed more than 72,000 people in the US in 2017  30,000 were attributed to fentanyl. Fentanyl is often added to heroin because it creates the same high as the drug, with the effects biologically identical. But it can be up to 50 times more potent than heroin, according to officials in the US. In America, fentanyl is classified as a schedule II drug - indicating it has a strong potential to be abused and can create psychological and physical dependence. Advertisement

Hobson argued to a San Diego judge that Scanlan is a flight risk and a danger to the community, noting that she continued to engage in criminal conduct while pregnant.

Scanlan was arrested on September 6 in San Diego and will be transported to Illinois to face charges.

Scanlan calls herself an 'Entrepreneur, Wine Enthusiast, and Future Cat Lady' on her Facebook.

On LinkedIn she claims to be the CEO and owner of three different companies that are 'growing fast and developing beautifully in their own unique ways'.

The companies include a consulting business and a beauty boutique that sells 'high-quality hair extensions, professional cosmetics, waist trainers, wedding couture', according to Scanlan's profile.

Scanlan lists her third business as Luxury Carbon Fiber, which offers 'handcrafted men's carbon fiber accessories'.

She advertised products online that included money clips, leather business card holders, and laptop cases.

Undercover agents found that fentanyl pills they received from the Drug Llama arrived in the same kind of leather pouches.

Scanlan also previously worked at IriSys, a San Diego company that specialized in pharmaceutical product development and manufacturing.

FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb released a statement after Scanlan was charged regarding the the agency's ongoing fight against the opioid crisis.

'Illegal opioid distribution and the resulting overdoses and deaths are an enormous national crisis,' he said.

'Our agency will continue to disrupt and dismantle illegal prescription drug distribution networks that misuse the internet at the expense of public health and safety.'The Justice Department and FBI will find it difficult to comply with Donald Trump's order to declassify mountains of documents related to the Russia investigation, and are just beginning a lengthy process that could test the president's patience even though he hasn't yet read the materials himself.

Trump on Tuesday demanded the public release of 'all text messages relating to the Russia investigation' from James Comey, Andrew McCabe, Bruce Ohr, Peter Strzok, and his former lover Lisa Page.

He ordered that those materials must be declassified 'without redactions,' meaning the DOJ won't be permitted to black out portions deemed too sensitive to reveal.

But another tranche of documents will generate a protracted back-and-forth between the agency and Trump's director of national intelligence over how much is too much to show, Bloomberg reported Wednesday.

President Donald Trump has ordered the declassification and release of a trove of text messages and documents related to the Justice Department's Russia probe, but hasn't read any of the materials himself

Trump's order included text messages from fired FBI Director James Comey, setting up a public showdown with the former official who has already torched him in a best-selling book

Trump also ordered the release of documents related to a FISA court warrant application whose approval allowed the government to spy on former Trump campaignb foreign policy adviser Carter Page

Much of the internal debate will center on pages from a Justice Department warrant application to a secret foreign-intelligence court that allowed U.S. agents to spy on former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page, and on related interview reports prepared by the FBI.

The president also told the DOJ to declassify reports tied to its interview with official Bruce Ohr, whose wife worked at the opposition-research firm behind an infamous and unverified dossier of dirt on then-candidate Trump. Ohr is known to have been in contact with the dossier's author, former British spy Christopher Steele.

Trump on Tuesday told The Hill, a Washington, D.C. newspaper, that he hasn't read the documents he ordered declassified. But he aims to let the public look at them and decide their significance.

'All I want to do is be transparent,' he said.

Document declassification orders, whether triggered by the White House or some other level of government, involve a complex inter-agency review process.

That can include input from any or all of America's 17 intelligence agencies.

A Justice Department spokesperson said Monday evening that the document review process had already begun.

Texts from former senior FBI agent Peter Strzok (left) and FBI lawyer Lisa Page (right) will be declassified, giving the public more information about the amorous pair who dished in 2016 about how they could 'stop' Trump from winning the White House

'When the President issues such an order, it triggers a declassification review process that is conducted by various agencies within the intelligence community, in conjunction with the White House Counsel, to seek to ensure the safety of America's national security interests,' the person said.

'The Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are already working with the Director of National Intelligence to comply with the President's order.'

Republicans helming two key congressional committees have been pushing for the declassification of the surveillance documents and text messages for months, arguing that they would reveal bias within the criminal justice system that Trump believes tainted the Russia probe long before he took office.

Democrats on those same panels have argued that declassification would be a crass political move in advance of contentious midterm congressional elections.

California Rep. Adam Schiff, the top-ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, accused Trump on Monday of a 'clear abuse' of his presidential power.A top Mexican forensic official has revealed there is a truck filled with 144 bodies inside parked at a city morgue, just a day after he was fired when a trailer with 157 corpses was found abandoned in a field.

Luis Octavio Cotero was let go as head of the Jalisco Institute of Forensic Science on Tuesday after the rotting remains were discovered dumped in the refrigerated containers in Guadalajara.

Forensic investigators had been forced over recent years to store the bodies inside the specialized trucks because state's morgues are overflowing with the corpses of murder victims amid a huge surge in violent crime.

The first truck with the corpses inside was located behind a residential building in Guadalajara by city residents complaining of its smell.

Luis Octavio Cotero was relieved of his duties as head of the Jalisco Institute of Forensic Science on Tuesday after it was revealed over 300 rotting corpses were stored inside trucks

A truck filled with the rotting bodies of 157 murder victims ended up dumped in a field in Mexico as the country struggles to cope with a record number of murders

The second truck that was found abandoned on Tuesday, was stationed idle inside the morgue's warehouse.

Cotero denied renting the first truck to store the corpses and cast the all the blame on the Jalisco state prosecutor's office for obtaining the semi-trailer in 2016.

'The institute never rented the trailer. It never required it,' he told Canal 44.

'While it is true that the bodies where under the safeguard of the institute's morgue, they're not under our responsibility once they are moved,' Cotero added in an interview with El Universal after his firing.

'The prosecutor's office rented the trailer more than two years ago to store the bodies. It's a situation that got out of control and which the secretary general was aware about. But he's pretending to fool the people and the governor.'

According to El Sol de Puebla, at least $2.200 million pesos (US$117,194.33) had been spent over the last two years to house 157 corpses inside a trailer that could only store 80 bodies..

The overflowed second trailer only had a capacity for 72 bodies.

While the bodies were being kept refrigerated, the process only slows decomposition and does not stop it altogether.

Many of the bodies were already badly rotted having been found in mass graves across the state.

The bodies were piled into the refrigerated truck after morgues in the state of Jalisco filled up, before ending up in a field behind a housing complex

Mexico saw almost 16,000 people murdered in the first six months of 2018, the highest number since records began in 1997 and an increase of 17 per cent on 2017.

According to the National Public Security System, Jalisco has seen a 42 percent spike in homicides during the first trimester of 2018.

Javier Perlasca, an inspector for the state human rights commission, said that 'this was a mistake ... and it is bothering the neighbors' as well as causing pain for victims' families.

'It is time to end these comings and goings that only outrage and hurt people,' Perlasca said, adding that the bodies should be given a decent burial.

The truck was removed from the field as images emerged of another person shot dead in nearby Guadalajara.

Mexico saw almost 16,000 people murdered in the first six months of this year - the highest since records began in 1997 (pictured, a murdered man in Jalisco state on September 17)

A murder victim lays in the street in the city of Guadalajara, a short distance from where the truck ended up being dumped

Police could be seen gathered around the body of a young man found laying in the street, dead from apparent gunshot wounds.

No further details were immediately available about the killing.

Meanwhile families of missing people to confronted officers at the site of a mass grave discovered in the state of Veracruz this month.

Officers discovered the remains of 174 people in 33 pits at at El Arbolillo's narco-cemetery two weeks ago in one of the largest mass graves ever found in the country.

Veracruz was the scene of vicious gang battles around two years ago, which is when officers believe the bodies were buried.

Morgues in several states have run out of room. Last year, employees at prosecutors' offices near a morgue in the southern state of Guerrero said they had stopped work because of the smell.

Relatives of missing people confront police after the discovery of 174 bodies buried in a mass grave in the state of Veracruz, in southern Mexico

Veracruz, where the mass grave was discovered, was the scene of vicious gang wars two years ago when it is believed the bodies were buried

Chief prosecutor for the Gulf state of Veracruz said some clandestine graves were not being investigated 'because we don't have space to put the bodies that we might find.'

In Jalisco, Perlasca said, 'the physical space to keep the bodies of the dead has been outstripped ... given that every day they are finding bodies in different places, in clandestine graves, shot dead in the street, etcetera.'

On Friday, five people were shot dead and nine more were injured by three gunmen dressed as a mariachi band opened fire in Garibaldi Plaza, Mexico City.

Another person subsequently died, bringing the death toll to six.

The iconic square was packed with tourists being serenaded by bands ahead of the country's Independence Day celebrations at the weekend.

The Mexico City prosecutors' office said at least one foreigner was among those wounded in Friday night's attack.

Four people died initially and a fifth died of her wounds at a hospital Saturday afternoon, authorities said.

Five people were shot dead in Mexico City at the weekend in the tourist hotspot of Garibaldi Plaza by three men dressed as mariachi players

An armed policeman stands guard in Mexico City as officers carry out raids in relation to the fatal shooting three days earlier

The news outlet La Silla Rota circulated surveillance video of the alleged assailants wearing traditional embroidered jackets and pants as they fled on motorcycles.

The shooting cast a bloody pall over Independence Day festivities.

Many Mexicans will wear mariachi costumes, a symbol of national pride, on Saturday night to commemorate the launch of the revolt against Spanish rule on Sept. 16, 1810.

It is also the busiest time of year for Garibaldi Plaza, a beloved but seedy square that draws heavily on Mexican folklore.

Lisa Sanchez, director of Mexicans United Against Delinquency, described the shooting as a 'piercing portrait' of Mexico.The Mexican illegal immigrant charged with stabbing Iowa college student Mollie Tibbetts to death in July has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder charges.

Cristhian Bahena Rivera, 24, appeared at Poweshiek County District Court on Wednesday morning where he entered the plea.

Rivera also waived his right to a speedy trial, according to CBS News.

A judge set the trial date for April 16.

Rivera is accused of following and confronting Tibbetts while she was out for a run on July 18 and later stabbing her to death.

Mexican illegal immigrant Christian Bahena Rivera has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder after he allegedly stabbed Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts to death. He is pictured leaving the courtroom on Wednesday after entering his plea

A trial date for Rivera (pictured in court on Wednesday) has been set for April 16. He is accused of of following and confronting Tibbetts while she was out for a run on July 18 and later stabbing her to death

Her body was found in mid-August, more than a month after the University of Iowa student disappeared from the small town of Brooklyn, Iowa.

Rivera has been jailed on $5million bond while awaiting trial on a first-degree murder charge, which carries a sentence of life in prison.

The federal government has also filed an immigration detainer, which means he would be subject to deportation proceedings if acquitted.

The case attracted national attention after it was learned that Rivera was living in the United States illegally.

Earlier this month, it was learned that Rivera was known for years on the dairy farm where he worked by another name: John Budd.

The alias emerged as Riveras employer, a cattle operation owned by a prominent Republican family, faced questions over whether its managers were aware of any warning signs that he was in the country illegally.

The name under which Rivera was hired and paid for the last four years was confirmed by three people with knowledge of his employment history.

They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information during an ongoing criminal investigation. One of the people said Riveras work identity as John Budd appears in official government records.

The employer, Yarrabee Farms, declined to confirm or deny Riveras work identity.

Lori Chesser, an immigration employment lawyer advising the farm, said that companies cannot discriminate against workers based on how they look or how their names sound.

Tibbetts father, Rob Tibbetts, has urged the public not to bring his daughters death into the divisive racial debate over immigration

Rivera led police to Tibbetts' body, which was found in a cornfield on August 21, more than a month after she disappeared

Farm officials have said Rivera presented an out-of-state photo identification and a Social Security number when he was hired in 2014, and they believed he was the person depicted in those documents until his arrest last month.

The farm followed legal requirements to examine the documents and determined 'that they appeared genuine on their face and related to the person presenting them,' Chesser said.

'Questioning a name or other characteristic would violate the anti-discrimination provisions of the law.'

During his four years at the farm near the small town of Brooklyn, Iowa, Rivera 'was called and responded to the name he used in the hiring process,' Chesser said.

He lived in a trailer owned by the farm as a benefit of his employment, as do about half of its 10 workers.

Yarrabee Farms, a cattle operation in Brooklyn, Iowa, employed Rivera for four years. Earlier this month, it was learned that Rivera was known for years on the dairy farm where he worked by another name: John Budd

The farm did not use the governments voluntary E-Verify system, which allows companies to confirm the identity and eligibility of employees to work in the U.S.

Farm manager Dane Lang has apologized for a mistake in falsely claiming to have used E-Verify in an initial statement on Riveras Aug. 21 arrest, hours after he allegedly led police to Tibbetts body in a nearby cornfield.

Its unclear whether E-Verify would have detected any red flags with Riveras claimed identity, but the farm has said it used a different government service to confirm that the name and Social Security number matched.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement declined to comment on whether the agency is investigating Yarrabee Farms, which has said that it received dozens of angry phone calls after Rivera was arrested.

Tibbetts father, Rob Tibbetts, has urged the public not to bring his daughters death into the divisive racial debate over immigration.

'The person who is accused of taking Mollies life is no more a reflection of the Hispanic community as white supremacists are of all white people,' he wrote in an opinion piece for the Des Moines Register.A 12-year-old boy shot and killed his father in Tennessee on Saturday in what is believed to be an attempt to save his mother's life while the pair had an argument.

The boy, who has not been named, shot his father Tommy Durham, 56, in the chest at their home in Deer Lodge.

Police believe there was an argument going on between Durham and his wife, the boy's mother, at the time and the child intervened.

It is not clear if Durham, who worked at a tobacco shop, was to blame for the violence.

The shooting happened at this home in Deer Lodge, Tennessee, on Saturday. Police say the 12-year-old boy was trying to protect his mother. He has not been named

Police had been called to the home five times in the past but for domestic disturbances.

On Saturday night, the boy used a rifle to shoot at his father. Someone else called 911 to report that he had been hit.

Authorities did not immediately press charges against the boy and it remains unclear if he is in custody.

Neither the District Attorney not the local sheriff's department gave additional information about the shooting or about the past calls to the home when contacted by DailyMail.com on Wednesday.

Police Captain Mike Wren said in a news release that they were a 'factor' in the killing.

'We haven't really had a chance to look into the details of any of the previous calls, we're just aware that they were there, and they're obviously a factor,' he said.

'It appears that this is going to be a situation of the juvenile coming to the defense of his mother who was a victim in this and the other incidents of domestic violence.

'A lot of times in a domestic violence situation, the children grow up in that environment, and they get to a point where they just cant take it anymore,' he said.

District Attorney General Russell Johnson said they would like to process the case in juvenile court.

'Our greatest concern at this point is that childs well being going forward in dealing with what has transpired, so we are leaving all of our options open in that respect.A couple is suing a medical practice after their six-year-old son died after attending a $1800 'self-healing' course to cure diabetes.

Aidan Fenton, from Sydney's west, could not be revived after falling unconscious in the Ritz Hotel in Hurstville, Sydney's south, in April 2015.

The year one student, who died from insulin deprivation, had participated in a treatment organised by Chinese national Hongchi Xiao the week prior, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Aidan's parents, Jeff Fenton and Lily Pan, have launched legal action against Mr Xiao, the medical centre, its director former Australian GP of the Year Chin Ven Tan.

A couple is suing a medical practice after their six-year-old son died after attending a $1800 'self-healing' course to cure diabetes.

Aidan Fenton, from Sydney's west, could not be revived after falling unconscious in the Ritz Hotel in Hurstville, Sydney's south, in April 2015.

The self-healing therapy, called Paida lajin, involves slapping skin to the point of bruising as well as stretching and fasting to remove long-held toxins from the body.

Advertised by the Tasly Healthpac medical centre, the five-day workshop charged participants $1800.

Aidan's parents, Jeff Fenton and Lily Pan, and grandmother Guo Ying Yin have launched legal action against Mr Xiao, the medical centre, its director former Australian GP of the Year Chin Ven Tan.

Aidan was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes a year before his death and his mother had enrolled him into Mr Xiao's Paida lajin course to cure him of his diabetes, a claim to the NSW Supreme court revealed.

She was allegedly told to cease his insulin doses as the self-healing treatment would rid the six-year-old of diabetes, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Mr Fenton allegedly questioned Mr Xiao three days later as Aidan's health had deteriorated but he was told it was part of the treatment process.

The year one student, who died from insulin deprivation, had participated in a treatment organised by Chinese national Hongchi Xiao (pictured) the week prior

The Fenton family claims Mr Xiao advised against hospital treatment for Aidan's weakened state and instead offered to care for him at the closely located Ritz Hotel.

The family argues the medical practice, Dr Ven Tan and Mr Xiao failed their duties of care.

'The cessation of administration of insulin to Aidan Fenton from 22 April 2015 was a necessary condition of his death,' the legal claim said.

Dr Ven Tan and his medical practice denied responsibility and argued the couple acted negligently.

Aidan's parents, Jeff Fenton and Lily Panhave launched legal action against Mr Xiao, the medical centre, its director former Australian GP of the Year Chin Ven Tan.

The defences state the couple were 'co-organisers of the workshop and/or [Mr Xiao's] own staff, volunteer and/or followers who participated in the organisation of the workshop.'

Ms Pan allegedly signed a registration form that warned people with health problems should not participate in the course.

The matter was adjourned to next year following a brief hearing on Wednesday.A shocked former patient of the California surgeon arrested for allegedly drugging and raping women says he was often referred to as Dr McDreamy.

Grant William Robicheaux, 38, and his girlfriend Cerissa Laura Riley, 32, were charged on September 11 with rape, as well as drug and weapons-related offenses in connection with alleged attacks on two women.

Robicheaux, who is an orthopedic surgeon from Newport Beach in Orange County, briefly appeared on Bravo reality show Online Dating Rituals of the American Male.

One of his patients, Cathy, told NBC's Today that she was shocked to learn of his arrest.

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Grant William Robicheaux, 38, and his girlfriend Cerissa Laura Riley, 32, were charged on September 11 with rape in connection with alleged attacks on two women

One of his patients, Cathy, told NBC's Today on Wednesday that she was shocked to learn of his arrest and revealed he was known as 'Dr McDreamy'

'He was known as Dr McDreamy - and he is,' she said.

'Very shocked, I didn't want to believe it because my experience was so stellar.'

Authorities on Tuesday called for any other possible victims to come forward after police found hundreds of videos of intoxicated women believed to have been assaulted by the duo.

Investigators believe the duo trawled bars and restaurants in Newport Beach for victims and also hunted their prey at festivals over the past few years including Burning Man, the Dirtybird Campout festival and the Splash House festival in Palm Springs.

Drea Renee, one of the former reality TV contestants that Robicheaux went on a date with during the show, told Today that the only red flag for her was how he reacted when she told him she wasn't a big drinker.

'The only thing that I think was a red flag for me was that I'm not a big drinker. That seemed to be something that he was like 'Oh, okay you don't drink well see you',' she said.

'The date kind of turned once he found out I wasn't a big drinker.'

Robicheaux, who is an orthopedic surgeon from Newport Beach in Orange County, briefly appeared on Bravo reality show Online Dating Rituals of the American Male

Drea Renee, one of the former reality TV contestants that Robicheaux went on a date with during the show, told Today that the only red flag for her was how he reacted when she told him she wasn't a big drinker

In calling for potential other victims to come forward, Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas said that women 'might have felt a false sense of security' around Robicheaux and his girlfriend because they are 'clean-cut and good looking'.

'We have all heard of a wolf dressed up in sheep's clothing,' Rackauckas said.

'Well, a wolf can wear scrubs or doctors' clothing. Or the wolf can be a beautiful woman.'

Defense attorneys for the duo released a statement on Tuesday denying allegations they preyed on two intoxicated women.

Attorneys Philip Cohen and Scott Borthwick said in a statement that Robicheaux and Riley have been aware of the accusations for months and will formally deny the allegations at their first opportunity in court.

It added the allegations do not involve the surgeon's medical practice in Newport Beach.

The duo are avid festival-goers and attended Burning Man and Splash House Festival. it is believed they hunted for victims at the festivals

Robicheaux, 38, appeared on Bravo reality show Online Dating Rituals of the American Male

They have each been charged with more than a half-dozen felonies, including rape by use of drugs, assault with intent to commit a sexual offense, and possession of a controlled substance for sale.

During investigations police found videos on the couple's phones that suggest they could have taken advantage of up to 1,000 women.

'There are several videos where there women in the videos appear to be highly intoxicated beyond the ability to consent or resist and they're barely responsive to the defendants' sexual advances,' Rackauckas said during the press conference in Santa Ana.

We have all heard of a wolf dressed up in sheep's clothing,' Rackauckas said. Well, a wolf can wear scrubs or doctors' clothing. Or the wolf can be a beautiful woman DA Tony Rackauckas

Rackauckas said that in January police searched Robicheaux's apartment and found ecstasy, date-rape drugs and cocaine.

In the first case, a 32-year-old woman told how she met the couple at a restaurant in Newport Beach in April 2016. She said the duo invited her to party on a boat.

Prosecutors claim that once she was intoxicated they 'escorted' her to Robicheaux's apartment, gave her 'multiple drugs' and then raped her.

The alleged victim called police the day after the incident to report the rape and tests proved she had multiple controlled substances in her system.

The second victim alleges she was attacked on October 2, 2016, after meeting the couple in a Newport Beach bar. She says she drank with them until she was 'unconscious' and then woke up to them 'sexually assaulting her'.

She screamed for help and neighbors called police.

Robicheaux had two assault rifles unlawfully and his charges are enhanced for possessing a firearm during a health and safety code violation

A press release states Riley was also knowingly vicariously in possession of a firearm

Law enforcement is asking anyone with information to come forward and are concern they may have preyed on people at events and possibly the surgeon's patients

Robicheaux is also accused of possessing two illegal, unregistered assault rifles, four other firearms and several large-capacity magazines.

A press release states Riley was also knowingly and vicariously in possession of a firearm.

The avid festival-goers were finally arrested and charged last Wednesday after local police submitted a request to the DA on September 6, according to The Orange Country Register.

Investigators are trying to find out whether any of Robicheaux's patients were victims and are concerned people they met at Burning Man and the other festivals who may have fallen victim to the duo.

Robicheaux is known for appearing on one episode of the Bravo dating show, titled 'Three's a Crowd'. It only lasted for one season in 2014.

Robicheaux was an undergraduate at Louisiana State University and then graduated from its medical school in 2007, Rackauckas said.

Riley and Robicheaux are thought to have taken advantage of 1,000 women

He then did postgraduate work at New York University Hospital for Joint Diseases in New York City and did an orthopedic surgery residency at University of California Irvine Medical Center in Orange, California.

He was licensed to practice medicine in California on May 30, 2009.

Riley previously worked as a substitute teacher in the Fullerton School District. Her last assignment there was in October 2015 and there had been no complaints regarding her conduct. it is unclear if she is currently still teaching.

The couple have been released from custody and are scheduled to appear in court on October 24.

Robicheaux faces up to 40 years in state prison if convicted of all charges.

Riley faces up to 30 years and eight months.

A message left at Robicheaux's office wasn't immediately returned Tuesday, and a home number listed for him did not have a voicemail.

Riley's number was unlisted, and she was otherwise unable to be reached.

Anyone with information or who suspects they may have been a victim can contact Supervising Investigator Eric Wiseman at 714-347-8794.Rana Kapoor will complete his tenure as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Yes Bank early next year. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has reportedly asked the private lender to look for a replacement as it extended Kapoor's tenure to January 31, 2019. The Yes Bank board will convene next week to take further decisions in this regard.

"Reserve Bank of India has vide letter dated September 17, 2018 received today, intimated that Shri Rana Kapoor may continue as the MD&CEO till 31 January 2019, and the Board of Directors of the Bank are scheduled to meet on September 25,2018 to decide on the future course of action," Yes Bank said in a regulatory statement.

In June this year, Yes Bank shareholders had approved Kapoor's re-appointment as the MD and CEO of the bank, subject to RBI's approval. The bank had sought the central bank's permission to re-appoint Kapoor for a period of three years, starting September 2018. While RBI had said yes to the bank's proposal to retain its chief executive a month later in August, it had not specified the exact period of his tenure.

Earlier this year, the RBI had turned down the re-appointment of Axis Bank CEO Shikha Sharma for three years, despite the fact that it was endorsed by the bank's board. Now, Amitabh Chaudhry has been named to succeed Sharma as the next CEO of Axis Bank.

Kapoor was among the founding team of Yes Bank, along with Ashok Kapur who died in 2008. As a promoter, Kapoor and his family own a 10.66 per cent stake in the bank. He has been the bank's CEO since 2004.

The banking sector has seen increased regulatory scrutiny over the last two years as the RBI has tried to push for appropriate recognition of bad loans. The asset quality review initiated in December 2015 has led to an increase in bad loans over Rs 6 lakh crore across banks, including Yes Bank.

Banks were asked to disclose divergences' in bad loan reporting. As a result, the RBI judged gross NPAs at Rs 8,373.8 crore for Yes Bank for 2016-17 against declared gross NPAs at Rs 2,018 crore. Thus, there was a divergence of Rs 6,355 crore or three times the reported amount.

Edited by Vivek PunjBarrister Michael Shrimpton faces a professional misconduct hearing after he made claims over a nuclear attack during the London Olympics

A former immigration judge who sparked a security scare when he claimed German spies were plotting to destroy London with a nuclear warhead during the 2012 Olympics faces being struck off.

Barrister Michael Shrimpton, author of 'Spyhunter: The Secret History of German Intelligence', is said to have been obsessed with conspiracy theories revolving around German spies.

As security fears mounted before the London 2012 Olympic Games, he told a close colleague of former Defence Secretary Philip Hammond that a nuclear device was planted in a hospital in east London.

The next day he telephoned the offices of David Lidington MP and repeated the bomb claims.

Shrimpton, now 61, was convicted of two counts of communicating false information and jailed for a year at Southwark Crown Court in February 2015.

He was earlier found guilty at East Berkshire Magistrates' court of making child pornography and placed on the sex offenders list for five years.

Shrimpton now faces two charges of misconduct, namely engaging in conduct likely to diminish public trust in the profession.

The lawyer attended the Bar Tribunal hearing carrying a giant admiralty map showing the route he claims the sumarine took to bring the nuclear bomb to the London Olympics.

His claims led to security fears ahead of the opening ceremony of the Olympics in 2012

But the professional standards hearing was adjourned today after he told of claims he had new evidence. This led to a dispute over whether he should be allowed to challenge his convictions at the disciplinary hearing.

The tribunal heard a digital forensic consultant has prepared an eight page report about the hard drive, that Shrimpton claims amounts to new evidence.

During his trial, Shrimpton told jurors he worked on the investigation into Madeleine McCann's disappearance and the case of former Chilean dictator General Augusto Pinochet.

Shrimpton told the court he possesses the name and number of Prince Phillip's private secretary and said he had twice met the royal socially.

Shrimpton called a close colleague of then Defence Secretary Philip Hammond to say German spies had looted four nuclear warheads from a sunken Russia sub

He also told bewildered jurors there had been an assassination attempt against him by Chinese agents who wanted to 'whack' him.

In the events leading to his conviction, Shrimpton announced that a nuclear weapon stolen from the sunken Russian submarine, the Kursk, had been smuggled into the UK and was being stored in an east London hospital.

The lawyer boasted of 'credible European sources', name dropped members of parliament and said intelligence had been blocked through official channels.

Mr Burton was forced to pass the information to the Olympic security team and the police, despite his suspicions that it was a hoax.

Shrimpton also claims secret service agents planted child porn on his computer memory stick in a plot to discredit him.

He denies two charges of professional misconduct, namely engaging in conduct likely to diminish public trust and confidence in the profession. The hearing continues.Vladimir Putin proved himself a deadly killer today as video emerged of the Russian President testing a sniper rifle.

The Kremlin strongman hit the head, liver and abdomen of a static target at 1,968 feet as he took to the ranges on Wednesday at the at the Patriot park in Moscow region.

Three of his five shots were accurate enough to kill with the Kalashnikov-designed Chukavin sniper's rifle known as the SVCh-308.

The other two missed the target.

Footage shows Putin taking aim with the Kalashnikov-designed Chukavin sniper's rifle known as the SVCh-308

The Russian President was testing the rifle in Moscow's famous Patriot Park on Wednesday morning

Footage shows Putin shooting in his suit and tie while sitting at a desk at a Patriot Park firing range in Moscow region.

He showcased his sniper skills as he blasted Britain over the latest claims that he poisoned his enemies in Salisbury.

His spokesman dismissed as absurd claims that Putin had ordered the assassination of a part-time model with rat poison in a Salisbury restaurant.

Anna Shapiro, the alleged victim of the attack, said: 'I was targeted by Putin's henchmen.

Three out of five of his shots were accurate enough to kill the target but two of them missed it completely

Putin made the appearence at the shooting range as he comes under increased pressure over Russia's hand in the Salisbury spy poisoning

'They want me dead as I oppose Putin and have turned my back on my country.'

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: 'I don't think there is any sense in commenting on such reports.'

He told journalists: 'The absurdity of the most part of information coming from Salisbury is evident.'

The sniper rifle is made by Kalashnikov Concern which was created with the merger in 2013 in a merger of two Soviet-era plants  Izhmash and Izhevsk Mechanical Plant.

Putin was shown a range of new sniper rifles as he was shown around the facility on WednesdayThis is the dramatic moment a car ploughs into clubbers on a packed dancefloor in an alleged attempt to cause 'carnage and death'.

Mohammed Abdul is at the wheel of the Suzuki Vitara which can be seen careering down an alleyway towards a marquee at the rear of Blake's nightclub in Gravesend, Kent.

Just a few minutes earlier the 21-year-old had been thrown out by doormen for being drunk, Maidstone Crown Court heard.

The court was told he allegedly threatened staff that he would return to kill them and 'shut the place down'.

The nightspot had a 600-strong crowd on Saturday, March 17 this year awaiting a guest appearance by grime rap artist Giggs.

CCTV footage released by a high court judge today and shown to a jury initially shows Abdul, who admits being at the wheel, being escorted out at about 11.40pm.

Mohammed Abdul, circled, was thrown out of Blake's nightclub, Kent, for allegedly being too drunk. Around 600 partygoers visited the club on Saturday, March 17 awaiting a guest appearance by grime rap artist Giggs

Abdul, left, argued with bouncers and ended up on the ground. He then allegedly threatened staff that he would return to kill them and 'shut the place down'

Abdul is captured walking off just before midnight, sent home before grime rap artist Giggs was due on stage

After arguing with bouncers and ending up on the ground, he is captured walking off before returning in his Vitara just before midnight.

The footage shows him pulling up in front of the club in Queen Street. As staff approach, he manouevres into the tight space.

One doorman, who told Maidstone Crown Court he feared the occupant had a gun, managed to open the driver's door before the vehicle is alleged to have accelerated at speed down the alleyway running adjacent to the main nightclub building.

Desperate staff can be seen trying to stop the Vitara as it careers through closed metal gates and into a smoking area.

One doorman hits the windscreen before sliding off to the side, spinning against a wall and then landing on his feet before he chases the car.

Clubbers can be seen diving to safety, with one young woman who had fallen to the ground and in the car's direct path was shown being dragged to safety in the nick of time.

The footage then switches to the marquee, which as well as the chequered dancefloor has a DJ booth, bar, toilets and sofas.

Pulling up in front of the club on Queen Street, he manouevres into the tight space as staff approach

Abdul is alleged to have accelerated at speed down the alleyway running adjacent to the main nightclub building. One doorman hits the windscreen before sliding off to the side, spinning against a wall and then landing on his feet before he chases the car

Clubbers can be seen diving to safety out of the path of the car, running into the club's side door in the nick of time

One young woman who has fallen to the ground and in the car's direct path is shown being dragged to safety

The car carries on down the alleyway towards the main dancefloor building, where Giggs was due to perform

Headlights can be seen at the entrance before the car ploughs onto the dancefloor, hitting unsuspecting revellers in a way described by one witness as 'like dominoes', the court heard.

Abdul then reverses back to the entrance before finally coming to a halt.

His car was then said to have been 'swarmed' by angry and upset clubbers, the court heard.

Katie Wells, then 18, described to the court how she suffered two fractures to her pelvis when the Suzuki Vitara 'launched' towards her.

She ended up underneath the vehicle and was left with tyre marks on her thighs.

Bouncers at Blake's in Gravesend, Kent, feared it was a terrorist attack and the driver may have been armed with either a gun or explosives, the court heard.

Miss Wells was at the nightspot with a friend on Saturday, March 17 this year to see a guest appearance by the grime rap artist Giggs.

Headlights can be seen at the entrance before the car ploughs onto the dancefloor, hitting partygoers in a way described by one witness as 'like dominoes'. Abdul then reverses back to the entrance before finally coming to a halt

In a statement to police read out in court today, Miss Wells said: 'My shoe went under the car, I closed my eyes and the next thing I knew I was under the car on the floor. People were smashing the windows and shouting and screaming'

In a statement to police read out in court today, Miss Wells said she was just inside the entrance to a marquee area of the club when she heard a loud bang.

'It was loud enough to make me turn around. I saw a car's headlights. It had come through the gates which are normally closed.

'It headed straight into the marquee area and hit the sofas which went flying. I moved backwards and the car stopped. At this point it had not hit me.

'It then launched towards me and this all happened very quickly. It hit me with force to the middle of my left side.

'My shoe went under the car, I closed my eyes and the next thing I knew I was under the car on the floor.

'I sat up and tried to get away. Somebody pulled me backwards and up from the floor by putting their hands underneath my arms.

'This was to get me out of the path of the car. At this point the car stopped. People were smashing the windows and shouting and screaming.

'I thought I had broken my left elbow. I also had pain in my pelvis and couldn't walk. I was in shock. I had tyre marks on my legs and they went up into my groin area.'

Miss Wells spent two days in King's College Hospital, London, before being discharged. As well as her fractured pelvis, she suffered a sprained elbow, bruising and friction burns, the court heard.

It is alleged that the Vitara driver, Mohammed Abdul, made a 'deliberate and indiscriminate' attempt to kill people at the nightclub in Queen Street after being thrown out for being drunk.

He initially drove down a narrow alley at the side of the building and through metal gates before reaching the marquee at the rear.

A jury at Maidstone Crown Court in Kent heard door staff made desperate attempts to stop the vehicle or to drag people out of its path.

It paused at the marquee entrance for nine seconds before careering into the centre of the dancefloor and then reverseing for several metres, pinning one reveller against the marquee metal frame.

Once it had stopped, the car and 21-year-old Abdul came under attack from those he had allegedly tried to mow down, the court was told.

He was restrained by door staff until police arrived.

Abdul, from Deptford, south east London, denies two offences of attempting to murder persons in the vicinity of the nightclub, as well as an alternative charge of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

High Court Judge Mr Justice Fancourt was told these three offences are in relation to Abdul's driving in the alleyway and then the marquee itself.

He also denies two charges of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm to Mr Joseph and Miss Wells.

However, the jury heard Abdul accepts he was the driver and has admitted two charges of causing serious injury to Mr Joseph and Miss Wells by dangerous driving.

At the start of the trial on Monday, prosecutor Simon Taylor said Abdul used his car as a weapon by deliberately driving at a large group of people enjoying a night out.

'The manner in which the defendant drove was not short in either duration or distance. It was a determined and indiscriminate effort to cause carnage and death to anyone who was in his way,' he added.

'Mercifully, and no thanks to the defendant, death was not caused by his driving but serious injury was.'

Mr Taylor said it was the Crown's case Abdul had a 'specific intent to kill'.

The defence case is expected to start later today.

Barrister Danny Moore, defending, told the jury it would have to decide whether Abdul's actions were intentional or 'utterly reckless'.

The trial continues.A fire officer who urged bosses to change their 'stay put' policy during emergencies fought back the tears as he told relatives of Grenfell victims: 'I hope you get the justice you deserve'.

Norman Harrison, a watch manager from Wembley with 25 years' experience, was at the scene of the fire in June last year and recalled his memory of the night during at a hearing at Holborn Bars.

The London Fire Brigade was alerted to the fire at 12.54am and in line with the fire policy for high-rise buildings, told residents to remain in flats.

Norman Harrison was giving evidence to the Grenfell Inquiry at Holborn Bars today

Mr Harrison arrived at the scene at around 1.15am but quickly realised something was wrong.

The speed and ferocity of the fire meant many of the occupants became trapped on upper floors and were left beyond the reach of rescue teams.

The stay-put advice was finally ditched at 2.47am, a delay that has been heavily criticised.

He told a hearing the strategy was redundant by around 1.50am, adding: 'I was truly shocked at such a severe fire over so many floors.

'Immediately I knew that stay-put policy should no longer apply in this building, because the stay-put policy is predicated upon the assumption that someone can stay in their flat, safe, from the one compartment that is alight somewhere in the building and they're not going to be affected by the fire, either flames, heat or smoke.

'I could see that just didn't apply here any more.'

He also told the hearing that any evacuation of Grenfell would have been 'extremely difficult'.

He found out soon after expressing his concerns about the stay-put policy that there was only a single staircase as an escape route in Grenfell Tower.

The officer told the inquiry: 'I knew it was going to be an extremely difficult task to achieve and there was going to be no easy way to achieve it.'

Asked by counsel to the inquiry Andrew Kinnier QC why this was, he replied: 'Because the staircase is full of smoke.

Flames and acrid smoke rise from Grenfell Tower on the night of the fire in June last year

'The residents, as they try to evacuate from their flats, would be exposed to an irrespirable atmosphere as they tried to come down the stairs.'

Mr Harrison said he knew from previous experience that each flat would be designed to withstand flames for 60 minutes - but he estimated it would take six hours to reach the top floor.

'I knew that our telephone operators at Merton HQ would be telling people to stay put in their flat and that the fire brigade would come and rescue them.

'In reality I didn't think that there would be an opportunity to rescue people on the upper floors and I strongly felt that the advice needed to be changed from the stay-put policy to almost a simultaneous decision to evacuate.'

He then rushed over to the incident command vehicle from where the operation was being directed, according to the statement.

'It was mentioned that there was only one escape route - there would have been lots of firefighting hose within the very narrow stairwell.

'I then asked if it was possible to use our emergency air supply equipment. We call it a second set bag to be given to members of the public to assist them in breathing whilst being evacuated.

'I never got answered.'

His statement concluded: 'It was an impossible task from the off. I think it was a lose-lose situation no matter what decisions were made. People were going to die that morning. It was just a matter of how many.'Family and friends attended Burt Reynolds' private funeral service in Florida on Wednesday.

Mourners filed into the Family Church in West Palm Beach to pay tribute to the Smokey and the Bandit star, WPBF reports.

The movie legend's niece Nancy Lee Brown Hess was also spotted at the service, as well as a mourner wearing a B.L Stryker jacket - an American detective drama in which Reynolds starred in the lead role.

Mourners hugged each other tightly in the aisles of the church as the service got underway.

Family and friends attended Burt Reynolds' private funeral service in Florida on Wednesday

Mourners filed into the Family Church in West Palm Beach through a side door for the funeral of the Smokey and the Bandit star

The eulogy was delivered by Todd Vittum - Reynolds' assistant and executive director of the Burt Reynolds Institute.

Reynolds died aged 82 on September 6 after suffering a heart attack.

Sally Fields, Reynolds' ex-girlfriend, did not attend the funeral. Her spokesman says she is busy promoting her upcoming book.

Her new memoir, In Pieces, revealed several shocking details about their five-year relationship.

She wrote that Reynolds was controlling, jealous and belittling during their stormy relationship and even hinted that he was physically abusive to her.

The actress writes that when she tried to assert herself, her Smokey and the Bandit co-star 'tightened his grip, sometimes literally', though she does not elaborate further.

Field said that from the first time they met, Reynolds began to 'housebreak' her, telling her 'what was allowed and what was not'. He only liked to talk about himself and used to 'constantly snap as if I'd piddled on the floor', according to her new book.

Mourners hugged each other tightly in the aisles of the church as the service got underway

Reynolds (left in March and right in Deliverance, 1972) died aged 82 on September 6 after suffering a heart attack. His funeral was held at the Family Church in West Palm Beach, Florida on Wednesday

Reynolds belittled Field's acting career and was so jealous that whenever they saw a man Field knew he would pinch her face, demanding to know who he was.

The disturbing effect on Field was that she 'eliminated most of me, becoming a familiar, shadowy version of myself, locked behind my eyes, unable to speak', she writes.

Field has previously said that she is glad Reynolds was not alive to read her memoir.

She says in her memoir that her relationship with Reynolds was a replay of that with her stepfather, who sexually abused her from the when she was around six years old to 14.

Field describes how being with Reynolds was 'exorcising something that needed to be exorcised' but she was 'trying to make it work this time'.

The eulogy was delivered by Todd Vittum - Reynolds' assistant and executive director of the Burt Reyolds Institute

The private service was held at the Family Church in West Palm Beach, Florida

Sally Fields, Reynolds' ex-girlfriend, did not attend the funeral. Her spokesman says she is busy promoting her upcoming book. They are pictured above together in 1977

The actress writes that from the beginning Reynolds was presumptuous and arrogant, introducing himself as 'Burt Reynolds, movie star' when he called her.

It was 1976 and he had asked her to star in Smokey and the Bandit; she had already found fame with films like Gidget and Stay Hungry, while Reynolds was the biggest star in the world at the time, thanks to films like Deliverance.

Field writes she did not understand why Reynolds wanted her in the film because she was not his typical leading lady and she thought that the 'script stinks'.

But his motives became clear when, to her surprise, he announced they were going on a date for their first meeting.

Field writes: 'By the time we met, the weight of his stardom had become a way for Burt to control everyone around him, and from the moment I walked through the door, it was a way to control me. We were a perfect match of flaws'.

Their affair was 'instantaneous and intense', Field writes.The owner of a Texas company that makes untraceable 3D-printed guns has been accused of paying $500 to have sex with an underage girl.

Cody R. Wilson, 30, was charged with sexual assaulting a juvenile he allegedly met through the website SugarDaddyMeet.com, according to an affidavit filed Wednesday in state district court in Austin, Texas.

Wilson owns the company Defense Distributed, which made headlines in July after the US Department of Justice ruled that it was legal to distribute blueprints of untraceable computer-designed 3D gun models, allowing Wilson's company to re-launch its Defcad.com, a site that hosts 3D firearm blueprints.

Cody R. Wilson, 30, who owns 3D gun company Defense Distributed, has been charged with sexual assault of an underage girl that he allegedly met through the website SugarDaddyMeet.com

An unnamed girl told authorities that she met a man later identified as Wilson through this dating site, that they had sex in a Texas hotel and that he paid her $500 afterwards

He announced in August that he is selling 3D-printed gun blueprints through his website after the federal court blocked him from posting them online for free.

Authorities said in the affidavit that Austin police responded to a call from a counselor on August 22, stating that her client  a 'juvenile female under the age of 17'  had claimed that she had had sex with a 30-year-old man, CBS Austin reported.

The alleged victim, who has not been named, said that she had been paid $500 to have sex with the man in a hotel and that she had met the man, who used the name 'Sanjuro,' through the website SugarDaddyMeet.com.

According to the affidavit, the teen said that she and 'Sanjuro' texted each other inappropriate pictures, that he identified himself as 'Cody Wilson' and claimed to have been 'a big deal.'

The girl told authorities that Wilson used the screen name 'Sanjuro' and that he later said his name was Cody Wilson and that he was 'a big deal'

Authorities said determined Wilson's identity by matching his ID picture to images on the dating site and reviewing surveillance footage and digital valet receipts at this hotel, where the girl said Wilson paid to have sex with her

Eventually the girl and 'Sanjuro' arranged to meet at Bennu coffee shop in Austin on August 15, before departing in a black Ford Edge sport vehicle to travel to the Archer Hotel.

Once there, according to the affidavit, the pair left the car with the hotels valet service and walked together to a room, where they had sex.

Afterwards, the girl said that 'Sanjuro' gave her five $100 bills.

Police said in the affidavit they corroborated the girl's story by comparing Wilson's ID picture to images of 'Sanjuro' on SugarDaddyMeet.com. They also reviewed surveillance videos and digital valet receipts.

The license plate on the car that 'Sanjuro' drove matched one that was registered to Defense Distributed as well, according to KVUE.

The specific age of the alleged victim has not been released.

Wilson hasn't responded to a phone message. Jail records indicate he's not in custody.Advertisement

Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in were pictured holding hands triumphantly as they watched a gymnastics event in Pyongyang after Kim agreed to a historic future visit to the South.

The North Korean dictator agreed to several concessions on denuclearization and even discussed a joint North and South Korea Olympic bid in 2032 as President Moon travelled to the hermit kingdom for the summit.

Pictures from the gymnastics event, held in Pyongyang's enormous Rungrado 1st of May Stadium, showed a frenzied crowd of 150,000 North Koreans cheering as Kim and Moon appeared on a balcony.

The propaganda performance etitled the 'Glorious Country' was held on the second day of Moon's trip to commemorate North Korea's 70th founding anniversary.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (right) and South Korean President Moon Jae-in (left) hold their arms aloft as they greet the cheering crowd at Wednesday's gymnastics event

An enormous crowd of 150,000 people crammed into the Rungredo 1st of May Stadium in Pyongyang to witness the historic ceremony

Kim and Moon smiled and waved to the frenzied crowd as they emerged on the balcony of the stadium to watch the mesmerising show

Moon said on Wednesday that the North had agreed to dismantle missile sites and take other steps such as closing its main Yongbyon nuclear complex if the United States takes reciprocal measures.

North and South Korea reportedly agreed that the Korean Peninsula should turn into a 'land of peace without nuclear weapons and nuclear threats,' Moon said following the conclusion of his summit talks with the North Korean leader.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Moon, Kim said he will visit the South's capital Seoul 'in the near future.'

US President Donald Trump tweeted his approval as news of the proposals broke and called them 'very exciting!'

The president tweeted late Tuesday: 'Kim Jong Un has agreed to allow Nuclear inspections, subject to final negotiations, and to permanently dismantle a test site and launch pad in the presence of international experts.

The propaganda performance etitled the 'Glorious Country' was staged as part of North Korea's 70th anniversary celebrations which have seen military parades and shows staged across the nation

As part of the show, highly skilled gymnasts and dancers were on show in an array of brightly coloured outfits as they performed carefully choreographed routines

Thousands of dancers lined up to perform in rank and file with enormous flip-card banners proclaiming messages behind them in the crowd

The theme of the huge display seemed to be one of friendship and cooperation as great banners showing handshakes were clearly visible in the stadium

A vast flag of unification showing the borders of North and South Korea combined into one was also held up at one point in proceedings

'In the meantime there will be no Rocket or Nuclear testing.'

Trump also tweeted on Tuesday that North Korea has agreed to conduct searches for the remains of soldiers who went missing during the Korean War.

'Also, North and South Korea will file a joint bid to host the 2032 Olympics,' the president tweeted.

'Very exciting!'

The event on Wednesday, known as an upgraded version of the Arirang mass games, was last held in 2013 and involves tens of thousands of performers staging a spectacular display of acrobatics, gymnastics, dances and flip-card mosaic animations.

The event is mostly aimed at extolling the North's leaders and the socialist system so it is regarded as a major propaganda tool. It has caused controversy over violations of human rights as a large number of children are usually mobilized for intensive training.

Gymnasts performed intricate routines including skipping through colourful ropes in perfect time and riding unicycles around the stadium floor

Bright laser beams were also shot around the packed-out stadium as the night drew in and smybolic animations were played on a big screen

Soldiers wearing the uniform of the North Korean military also performed dance routines for their leader and waved around ceremonial swords

Hundreds of musicians were employed during the ceremony including scores of female string instrumentalists who lined up for their starring role

Exotic troupes of dancers worked in massive teams to throw smaller members of their teams around in a mesmerising display

Towards the end of the ceremony a gigantic map of the Korean peninsula was formed by a cohort of highly-skilled acrobats

Moon and Kim pose for photographs after signing a joint statement in Pyongyang on Wednesday

A joint statement says the two Koreas agreed to establish buffer zones along their land and sea borders to reduce military tensions and prevent accidental clashes

The statement signed by the countries defense chiefs also says the Koreas agreed to withdraw 11 guard posts from the Demilitarized Zone by December with the aim of removing them eventually

Kim gave the South Korean president an exceedingly warm welcome on Tuesday. The two leaders are seen during a parade in Pyongyang after Moon's arrival in the North Korean capital

After the pair hugged at the airport they travelled by an open-top car through crowds of cheering North Koreans waving 'reunification' banners and bouquets of flowers

South Korean President Moon Jae-in, third from left, and his wife Kim Jung-sook, second from left, are welcomed by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his wife Ri Sol Ju upon their arrival at Sunan International Airport in Pyongyang

South Korean President Moon Jae-in, left, toasts with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his wife Ri Sol Ju during a welcome banquet in Pyongyang

Moon Jae-in (left) and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (right) clap as they watch an art performance by Samjiyon Orchestra at Pyongyang Grand TheatreWilliam 'Bill' Taylor (pictured) went missing three months ago just three days before his 70th birthday

Four people have been bailed after they were arrested on suspicion of murdering a farmer who was last seen more than three months ago.

William 'Bill' Taylor vanished from his 1.2million home in Gosmore, Hertfordshire, at around 9pm on June 3 - just days before his 70th birthday.

It later emerged the grandfather's Land Rover Defender was deliberately torched in the days before he went missing but police refused to say whether they were treating his disappearance as suspicious.

A murder investigation has now been launched and four people - a 52-year-old woman and three men, aged 18, 22 and 53 were arrested on suspicion of murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Hertfordshire Police confirmed however that the pensioner's body has not been found.

The four people arrested, all from Hitchin, Herts, have also been arrested on suspicion of arson and conspiracy to commit arson in connection with a vehicle fire at William's home.

Detective Chief Inspector Carl Foster from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, who is leading the investigation, said: 'Extensive enquiries and searches have been carried out since William was reported missing, including a thorough search of the farmland surrounding his home.

Officers meticulously scoured his farmland, using wooden sticks to survey the ground beneath them

After the police investigation four suspects were identified who have now been arrested in connection with his disappearence

'Today, further searches are taking place at three at three other addresses in North Herts.

'William's body has not been found and our inquiries are continuing.

'Understandably this is an extremely difficult time for his family and they have asked for their privacy to be respected.'

Mr Taylor's family members previously said they are in 'turmoil' and are 'extremely worried' over his disappearance.

His son Richard Taylor said: 'If anyone out there knows anything about my dad's whereabouts please contact the police.

Despite officers searching his entire farmland and beyond they have still not been able to recover his body

A 52-year-old woman and three men, aged 18, 22 and 53 have all been arrested as part of the murder investigation

'This is an unbearable situation and I am worried sick about him. My family is in turmoil and we are desperate to get him home.'

Officers also searched farmland, hedgerows and copses 'inch by inch' around the farm where he lived.

They also revealed he had not used his bank accounts and there had been no sightings of the farmer, who has several grown-up children and grandchildren.

William was described by police as white, around 5ft 11in tall, of medium build with short grey hair.

He was last seen wearing a baby blue-coloured shirt, jeans and black wellies, and may be wearing a navy blue boiler suit.

Police are pictured walking in the land surrounding the farm, from which Mr Taylor has been missing for more than three monthsCristina King Miranda, who attended Holton Arms High School with Christine Blasey Ford, is claiming - in a now-deleted tweet - that the alleged sexual assault committed by Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh 'was spoken about for days afterwards in school.'

Miranda was tweeting a response to actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus regarding the letter signed by alumnae of the Holton Arms school in support of Ford when she made the claim.

'I graduated from Holton Arms and knew both Brett Kavanaugh and Mark Judge. Christine Blasey Ford was a year or so behind me, I remember her. I signed this letter. The incident was spoken about for days afterwards in school. Kavanaugh should stop lying, own up to it and apologize,' she wrote on Tuesday morning.

Cristina King Miranda writes - in a now-deleted tweet - that she attended Holton Arms High School with Christine Blasey Ford and the alleged attack on her by Brett Kavanaugh 'was spoken about for days afterwords in school'

King Miranda's original, deleted tweet

King Miranda wrote she was besieged with media request

She noted she did not have first-hand knowledge of the alleged incident

Cristina King in high school, at the left

King Miranda later deleted the tweet, writing it had 'served its purpose'

A Christine King, class of 1983, signed the letter of support to Ford.

She offered more details about the alleged assault in a now-deleted Facebook post: 'Many of us heard a buzz about it indirectly with few specific details. However Christine's vivid recollection should be more than enough for us to truly, deeply know that is true.'

She also described a culture of drinking among D.C. elite prep schools.

The drinking ensconced in the puritanism and hypocrisy of that elite, privileged, mostly white Catholic, Washington society, was completely out of control,' she wrote.

'We were teenagers and did really stupid, abusive, dangerous things,' she added.

But King Miranda later deleted her Facebook post and her tweet, saying it had 'served its purpose,' she was getting too much media attention for it and she was unsure she wanted to talk.

'Hi all, deleted this because it served its purpose and I am now dealing with a slew of requests for interviews from The Wash Post, CNN, CBS News. Organizing how I want to proceed. Was not ready for that, not sure I am interested in pursuing. Thanks for reading,' she wrote Wednesday morning.

Later Wednesday morning she wrote a message to the media saying she would not 'be doing anymore interviews' and she did not know have 'first hand knowledge' of the incident.

'To all media, I will not be doing anymore interviews. No more circus. To clarify my post: I do not have first hand knowledge of the incident that Dr. Christine Blasey Ford mentions, and I stand by my support for Christine. That's it. I don't have more to say on the subject,' she wrote.

On late Wednesday afternoon, King Miranda deleted her Twitter and Facebook accounts.

The tweets caught fire across social media as Republicans press ahead for Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination.

Her original tweet, however, raises a slew of questions about who knew what and when regarding the alleged sexual assault, which Kavanaugh, President Donald Trump's nominee to the Supreme Court, has vigorously denied.

In a bombshell interview with The Washington Post on Sunday, Ford described how she was at a teenage party with Kavanaugh in 1982, when she was at Holton Arms and he went to Georgetown Prep.

When she went upstairs to use the bathroom, Kavanaugh and his classmate Mark Judge followed her and pushed her into a bedroom, she claims. There, she alleges, Kavanaugh pushed her onto the bed, tried to take her clothes off and put his hand over her mouth when she screamed.

However, The Post reported: 'She told no one at the time what had happened to her. She was terrified, she said, that she would be in trouble if her parents realized she had been at a party where teenagers were drinking, and she worried they might figure it out even if she did not tell them.'

Ford, who's now a professor of psychology at Palo Alto University, said she escaped when Judge jumped on top of them and she managed to get free. She said she listened until she heard the boys 'going down the stairs, hitting the walls.' And after five or 10 minutes, she left the bathroom, made her way through the living room and left the house.

Christine Blasey (now Ford) and Brett Kavanaugh in their respective high school year books

Writer Mark Judge says he does not recall the high school party in question

She told the newspaper a 'handful' of people were at the party and gave the paper the names of two she remembered. The Post reported those individuals did not respond to messages.

Kavanaugh has denied the incident and said he is prepared to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee about it. There is a hearing scheduled for Monday although Ford has asked the FBI to investigate Kavanaugh before she testifies.

'This is a completely false allegation. I have never done anything like what the accuser describesto her or to anyone,' he said in a statement provided by the White House.

Judge said on Tuesday he would not testify about the allegation and defended Kavanaugh.

Miranda King wrote on Twitter she would not be doing any media interviews

Christine Ford has accused Brett Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her in high school, which he has denied

Brett Kavanaugh is working to save his Supreme Court nomination

'I have no memory of this alleged incident,' he wrote in a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee sent via his attorney.

'I do not recall the party described in Dr. Ford's letter,' added Judge, who wrote a book about his high school days describing heavy partying, drinking, and teenage sex.

He also defended longtime pal Kavanaugh, saying: 'I never saw Brett act in the manner Dr. Ford described.'

Judge his autobiographical books Wasted and God and Man at Georgetown Prep, details the hard-partying exploits of his classmates and friends.

'[Georgetown] Prep was a school positively swimming in alcohol, and my class partied with gusto  often right under the noses of our teachers,' wrote Judge in his 2005 book God and Man at Georgetown Prep.

'Senior year, my class of eighty decided that by the end of the year we would drink a hundred kegs of beer,' wrote Judge. 'I'm sorry to say that we succeeded.'

King Miranda is a Mexico City-based performing arts curator, according to a July 2017 interview she gave, describing how she went to Mexico 20 years on a Fulbright Scholarship and stayed.

A biography of King Miranda on the Australia Latin America Foundation website, where she is an associate, notes she is a native of Washington D.C.

Her Facebook page says she went to Holton Arms.

On Tuesday, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, was asked if she had heard from any other women about Kavanaugh.

She said no.Xiaomi added to the line of Mi 8 devices with the launch of Mi 8 Pro and Mi 8 Lite in China on Wednesday. With a transparent back variant and in-display fingerprint sensor, the Mi 8 Pro could be the global variant of Mi 8 Explorer, which is a high-end trim of the Mi 8. On the other hand, the Mi 8 Lite has been placed below Mi 8 SE as a lower mid-range offering.

The Mi 8 Pro has been priced at CNY 3199 (Rs 33,800) for the 6GB variant, whereas the 8GB variant has been priced at CNY 3,599 (Rs 38,000). The 4GB/64GB variant of the Mi 8 Lite comes with a price tag of CNY 1,399 (Rs 14,800), whereas the 6GB/64GB variant will cost CNY 1,699 (Rs 18,000). The high end 6GB/128GB variant has been priced at CNY 1,999 (Rs 21,000). The devices are available for pre-order starting today, whereas shipping for Mi 8 Pro will begin from September 21, and that for Mi 8 Lite from September 25.

The Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro comes equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 coupled with 8GB or 6GB of RAM, and not just 8GB as in the case of Mi 8 Explorer Edition. The internal storage is 128GB, but without any microSD card slot for expansion. The Mi 8 Pro has a Super AMOLED 6.21-inch screen with a notch at top, a screen-to-body ratio of 83.8 per cent, and resolution of 1080x2248 pixels.

At the back, the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro has a dual camera setup with two 12MP sensors. One of the sensors sits under a lens with f/1.8 aperture and comes with 4-axis optical image stabilisation and phase detection auto focus. The second sensor has f/2.4 aperture and double optical zoom. The front camera is a 20MP snapper with f/2.0 aperture.

The feature to look out for is the pressure sensitive underscreen fingerprint sensor which has been seen on the Mi 8 Explorer Edition. In Mi 8 Pro, the 3D face recognition has been replaced with IR facial recognition, though. Buyers can opt for a transparent back option, along with two other colour options.

On the other hand, the Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite has been powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 AIE chipset along with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage, or 6GB of RAM with 64GB or 128GB of internal storage. The rear camera setup features 12MP and 5MP sensors, whereas the front has a 24MP selfie camera.

The physical fingerprint sensor has been retained in the Mi 8 Lite and can be found at the back of the device. The colour options are twilight gold, deep space grey and dream blue with gradient pattern.

Edited by Vivek PunjPolice in Washington DC are on the hunt for a man who stabbed a female jogger to death without any apparent provocation on Tuesday night.

Wendy Karina Martinez, 35, was out for an evening run near Logan Circle just before 8pm when she was attacked by a knife-wielding stranger at the intersection of 11th and O streets, Metropolitan Police Chief Peter Newsham said.

Martinez suffered multiple serious stabs wounds but managed to stumble to a nearby Chinese restaurant, with blood gushing from a laceration to her neck.

Scroll down for video

Bloody attack: Jogger Wendy Martinez, 35 (left), was stabbed to death in Washington DC Tuesday evening. Police are looking for this man seen in a surveillance video screenshot

Young professional: Martinez worked as a chief of staff at a DC-based technology and management company

Patrons at the eatery rushed to her aid and attempted to help her before paramedics arrived on the scene.

Martinez was taken to an area hospital, where she later died.

The Georgetown graduate had just gotten engaged just last week, according to her heartbroken family, with a storybook proposal and a emerald ring.

A photo from the happy occasion shows fiance Daniel Hincapie in a blue suit, down on one knee, with a ring box open as she stood beaming.

She was already excited to be planning her wedding to the DC bank executive.

The young executive got engaged just last week to her fiance Daniel Hincapie. Family say she was already excited to be planning their wedding

She beamed as she showed off her new emerald and diamond sparkler just days before her brutal murder

Martinez lived not far from the crime scene and was an avid jogger known to run for miles.

Her Facebook account features photos from past races.

Newsham said it is believed the attacker, described as a black man, did not know Martinez and that it was most likely a random act of violence and a 'singular incident.'

The chief said the suspect was last seen wearing a long-sleeve mustard-colored shirt, dark-colored sweatpants, white socks and light-colored sandals.

Police have released surveillance video showing the person of interest casually walking in the area around the time of the deadly attack, swinging an arm.

Fox 5 DC reported that the knife used in the stabbing has been recovered at the scene.

The jogger was attacked as she waited to cross the street at the intersection of 11th and O streets

Martinez, seen here in photos with her now-fiance Daniel, was an avid jogger who was known for running for miles around DC

Martinez, whose family described her as the 'light of our lives', had a Master's degree in Latin-American studies form Georgetown

The Metropolitan Police Department is offering a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone with information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the suspect.

Her family released a statement after the shocking murder, describing the 'light of our lives' daughter who was killed. They said in party:

'Wendy Karina Martinez was the light of our lives. Not only was she an avid runner, but she was a devout Christian, a wonderful friend, and a driven professional. Everything you hope that a daughter and a friend could be. She was also excited to be planning her upcoming wedding to her fiance, Daniel Hincapie. They were engaged just last week.'

According to her LinkedIn profile, Martinez had a Master's degree in Latin American studies and conflict resolution from Georgetown University. For the last two years, she had worked as chief of staff at the technology and management company FiscalNote.

Martinez's employer addressed news of her violent death in a tweet sent out on Wednesday.

'The entire FiscalNote family is shocked and deeply saddened to learn that Wendy Martinez, our Chief of Staff, was killed last night,' the message read. 'Wendy was an invaluable member of our team and a vibrant member of the community. Our thoughts and prayers are with Wendy's family and friends.'Agents with the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) patrolling the Mexico-Texas border made their biggest apprehension when they came across 170 undocumented immigrants.

The latest wave of migrants, including families and unaccompanied children, looking to sneak into the United States, were allegedly abandoned by criminal organizations that specialize in smuggling.

The stranded immigrants approached the U.S. Border Patrol agents near the McAllen, Texas border entry shortly after midnight Tuesday and turned themselves in, according to the immigration agency's official press release.

According to previous CBP press releases, it was the biggest apprehension of undocumented immigrants in a single day.

Agents with the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency arrested 170 undocumented immigrants that were stranded and sought help Tuesday near the McAllen, Texas border entry

Images from the CBP show some of the 170 undocumented families and unaccompanied minors that were apprehended after they sought help near the McAllen, Texas border entry

Border Patrol agents were surprised Tuesday after midnight when they were approached by 170 undocumented immigrants seeking assistance near the Mexico-Texas border

The outnumbered agents were forced to call for backup from neighboring stations in Hidalgo and Mission, Texas, to manage the flow.

The unexpected arrival of the immigrants seeking asylum instantly created a pocket big enough along the Rio Grande Valley corridor for other human trafficking operators to take advantage of.

'As agents prepared the group for transport, the criminal organizations took advantage of the limited resources and simultaneously attempted to smuggle multiple other groups whom actively attempted to evade apprehension,' the U.S. Border and Protection agency stated.

The DailyMail.com reached out to the United States Customs and Border Protection agency for comment.

According to The Brownsville Herald, as of August, the CBP date reveled that 7,100 family units and 2,200 unaccompanied minors had been detained, an increase from the 5,200 and 1,900 that were respectively apprehended in July.

Most of the migrants apprehended Tuesday were from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.

Tuesday's startling events came one days after CBP officers from the Rio Grande Valley Sector and deputies from the Hidalgo County Constables Office (HCCO), Precinct 4, were successful in securing the apprehension of 22 undocumented immigrants inside a stash house in Edinburg, Texas.

The foreign nationals that were discovered emigrated from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua.

A joint operation between border agents from the Rio Grande Valley Sector and Hidalgo County Constables Office (HCCO), Precinct 4, discovered a stash house with 22 immigrantsA bodybuilder accused of trying to murder his 50-year-old roommate by stabbing him in the neck and head dozens of times after he 'made a move on him' appeared in court on Wednesday to deny the charges.

Geoffrey Tracy, 25, attacked 50-year-old Gregory Kanczes in August in the apartment they were sharing in Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen.

Tracy told police that he stabbed the older man in self-defense because he had been coming on to him for days beforehand when he appeared.

He had moved to New York from California with the intention of working at a gay club as a stripper. The owner of the club spotted him on Instagram and flew him to the East Coast, promising cash.

Geoffrey Tracy, 25, stabbed his 50-year-old roommate 16 times in the head and neck on August 14. He claims it was self-defense and that he was coming on to him

He ended up in Kanczes' apartment which he had been letting out to drifters to raise extra money.

Victim: Gregory Kanczes, 50, was left in a critical condition after the attack

On August 14, Tracy claimed Kanczes made yet another sexual advance on him after days of 'stroking his legs' and 'molesting him' while he slept.

At around 4.50am, Tracy used a kitchen knife to mercilessly stab the older man, then fled the building, dumping the weapon en route.

Kanzces was later taken to the hospital in a critical condition. It remains unclear if he has yet been discharged.

He was arrested afterwards and told police that he was trying to defend himself and had recorded the entire encounter on his iPhone.

'I'm so glad I filmed it. In case I had to stab him, I filmed it,' he said, according to The New York Daily News.

'I had a knife to him, he went for the gun. I filmed myself on my iPhone saying I didnt want to kill him,' he said.

Tracy is pictured in court in Manhattan on Wednesday. He told police he was acting in self-defense and that his victim had a gun. He later changed his story to say there was no gun but he still felt threatened

The professional bodybuilder was lured to New York by the owner of a gay club who saw him on Instagram and offered him as a job as a dancer in his club

At first, Tracy said his victim had a gun and threatened him with it. He then changed his story to say he did not see any weapon.

Tracy turned down a plea deal on Wednesday which would put him behind bars for 20 years. He now faces life without parole if he is convicted

He told police he took a 'vape of THC' - one of the active chemicals found in cannabis - on the night of the attack.

His lawyer Thomas Kenniff said he was 'defenseless' against the older man.

'As is now typical in circumstances where people are being threatened or victimized, my client had the prescience to use his phone to record an erratic individual who had been scribbling incoherent ramblings on the walls of his own apartment, subjecting my client to unwanted touching, and was not threatening him with a gun if he attempted to extricate himself from his hellish surroundings,' he said.

One of the victim's friends was in court for the hearing.

He said of the Kanczes: 'He always came across to me as having a very calm demeanor as a peaceful person  not someone who could be involved in something like this and not somebody whose behavior would case a rational person to stab him 16 times.'

Tracy pleaded not guilty to attempted murder on Wednesday, turning down a plea deal which would have seen him go behind bars for 20 years.

He now faces life without parole if he is convicted.The Trump administration has lost track of nearly 1,500 more immigrant children who crossed illegally into the U.S. by themselves earlier this year, according to congressional findings.

The development follows an admission in April by federal officials that they did not know the whereabouts of 1,475 immigrant children, according to The New York Times.

As in that instance, the Department of Health and Human Services had moved the children out of federal shelters and placed them with sponsors, but since then officials remain uncertain where the latest 1,488 kids are located.

Immigrant children are led by staff in single file between tents at a detention facility next to the Mexican border in Tornillo, Texas in June 2018

The missing children account for about 13 percent of the 11,254 children that DHS has placed with sponsors so far in 2018.

DHS has a method of calling sponsors who have taken the children 30 days after placement, and those calls have been fruitless in the cases of the lost migrant children.

However, department officials have said they are no longer responsible for the minors once they have been placed outside of DHS custody.

'These children are not 'lost,"' DHS spokeswoman Caitlin Oakley told The Times. 'Their sponsors  who are usually parents or family members and in all cases have been vetted for criminality and ability to provide for them  simply did not respond or could not be reached when this voluntary call was made.'

The new developments came as Republican and Democrat lawmakers proposed new legislation on Tuesday that would create clear parameters defining DHS's responsibility to the immigrant children, before and after being placed with a sponsor.

The draft bill would require DHS to conduct background checks on sponsors before placing children with them, and mandate that the agency would have to ensure sponsors appropriately care for the children and appear at hearings in immigration court.

The legislation would also mandate that DHS notifies the states where migrant children are placed in advance, and further increase the number of immigration judges to offset a massive backlog of nearly 750,000 cases.

Migrant children are seen walking outside of the Homestead Temporary Shelter for Unaccompanied Children in June 2018 in Homestead, Florida

'This bill will ensure that we keep track of unaccompanied minors in our country, which will both help protect them from trafficking and abuse as well as help ensure they appear for their immigration court proceedings,' said Sen. Rob Portman, a Republican from Ohio and the bill's co-sponsor. 'These efforts are critical for safeguarding these children and upholding our immigration system. This isn't a partisan issue.'

Fellow co-sponsor Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut echoed Portman's sentiments.

'Children who risk their lives to make a dangerous journey in pursuit of asylum shouldn't then have to worry about falling victim to human trafficking or being handed over to abusive or neglectful adults in the United States,' Blumenthal said.

DHS has placed more than 135,000 unaccompanied migrant children with sponsors in the U.S. since October 2014.Research by Generator, a design led hostel brand, has revealed since 2015 there has been a 17% increase in the number of solo travellers staying in its hostels.

The survey found its Berlin Mitte based hostel had a stellar 35% rise in solo guests.

When it comes to destinations, research found Venice tops the charts of the European cities which are most loved and visited by solo travellers, closely followed by Stockholm (62%) and Paris (61%).

This year Generator opened its first US based property in Miami (pictured)

While there has been a surge from 50% to 58% in solo travellers visiting the UK in the last three years.

Why people are travelling plays an important part in how people travel and who they travel with.

Overtaking the age-old trend of backpacking, city breaks now lead the way as the go to destination for trips abroad.

The social aspect of meeting people in a new city (38%) and the depth of culture and history throughout European cities (30%) are determining factors for lone travellers looking to broaden their minds and friendship circles.

Research by Generator, the design led hostel brand has revealed since 2015 there has been a 17% increase in the number of solo travellers staying in its hostels. Pictured Generator's hostel in Miami

Holiday romances continue to spark throughout Europe, according to Generator, with the Italians (30%) leading the charge in being the most romantic nation  closely followed by the French (25%) and Spanish (18%).

The new study carried out by the accommodation brand, cites confidence (30%) as the main factor in driving this current trend for solo travelling.

It highlights that people are now more determined to travel alone.

Escapism (18%) - being able to switch off from the stress of work and every day life, was also identified as a reason for the increase in solo travellers, alongside single guests not wanting to wait for friends to confirm plans (16%).

Generator has been hailed as the fastest growing hostel brand. Pictured its Miami hostel

Alastair Thomann, CEO at Generator said: 'At Generator, we're constantly adapting our offering across our locations in line with industry trends, which is why we're putting an increased focus on experiences in our hostels throughout Europe, making sure that solo travellers feel welcome and can make the most of their time in each city. Our aim is to inspire and unite likeminded travellers in social environments, providing them with the perfect location and setting to create lifelong memories  whether alone or with new friends.'

Voted by Fast Company as one of the top 50 Most Innovative Global Companies, Generator provides unique, experience and design-led accommodation options located in the most central locations across Europe including Dublin, London, Copenhagen, Hamburg, Berlin and Barcelona.

It has been hailed as the fastest growing hostel brand with 14 locations totalling over 8,500 beds, with rapid growth in the US market planned for the near future.

2018 has seen the openings of the first US based property in Miami as well as another welcomed addition to the European portfolio having opened in Madrid.

Generator's properties include a range of room types from shared to private bedrooms, chill-out areas, bars, cafes and a variety of spaces available for private hire.A 52-year-old man who had a history of seizures was shot and killed by his neighbor after he wandered into an unlocked apartment.

Gregory Miller was shot dead by 71-year-old John Edmund Barbour at the Whisperwood Apartment complex in Gainesville, Florida, at 6.52am on Sunday.

Barbour told police he had shot an intruder. Authorities found there were no signs of forced entry.

Miller, a retired construction worker, lived in an apartment located across the lawn from Barbour's home.

His sister believes he suffered a seizure, which often caused him to wander unconsciously.

Gregory Miller (pictured) was shot dead by 71-year-old John Edmund Barbour at the Whisperwood Apartment complex in Gainesville, Florida at 6.52am on Sunday

Barbour (pictured) told police he had shot an intruder. Family believe Miller wandered into Barbour's unlocked apartment after he had a seizure and became confused

'He would have seizures at night where he would get up after deep coma-like sleep and walk around and go through the motions of a daily routine,' Angela Christian told The Gainesville Sun.

'He would not be awake. His eyes would be closed or partially opened on and off. I witnessed this many times.'

Authorities said Barbour retrieved his gun from the nightstand and loaded it after Miller entered his apartment.

Barbour told police he warned Miller to leave multiple times and opened fire as he came toward him.

Miller, whose body was found in the living room, suffered multiple gunshot wounds.

Authorities said Barbour retrieved his gun from the nightstand and loaded it after Miller entered his apartment and warned him to leave multiple times

Authorities said Barbour has been 'very cooperative' with police and is not expected to face charges.

'Stand your ground is not a free for all,' police spokesman Ben Tobias told WCJB.

'I don't want folks to get in the frame of mind that just because somebody steps a toe into their apartment that they can shoot them as many times as they want.'

'This man was elderly, had medical issues and felt in fear that this man he told to leave did not leave and he was left with no other recourse in his mind than shooting the intruder.'

A neighbor said Barbour is a nice man who relies on caregivers for help and uses a walker to move around.

Christian said Miller began suffering seizures more than 30 years ago, after he broke the base of his skull in an accident that left him hospitalized for days.

Miller stayed with his sister for a while and they had only recently decided it was time for him live independently. He moved to Whisperwood Apartments (pictured) in July

She said Miller's seizures would oftentimes cause him to 'act abnormally' and that he also suffered from memory issues and cognitive difficulty.

Miller stayed with his sister for awhile and they had only recently decided it was time for him to live independently after he said he wanted to 'live like a normal person'.

'He was excited to be like everyone else,' Christian said, revealing she had recently bought him a Chromebook so he could learn how to use a computer.

Christian said her brother, who only moved across from Barbour in July, was an honest and kind man that would 'give you the shirt off his back'.

'His neighbors knew him as someone who would help them take out the trash,' she said. 'He'd never want to hurt anyone.'

Christian believes her brother would still be alive today if Barbour's front door had been locked.

Miller, a retired construction worker, lived in an apartment located across the lawn from Barbour's home (pictured are condos at the complex)

'It's not the man's fault because he didn't know and he was probably scared,' she said.

'I just don't know why the first thought is to shoot. I wish he would have called the police. [Miller] would've probably still been standing there when they got there.'

Christian said she has since seen upsetting comments celebrating the shooting on social media.

'He didn't mean to do it,' she said of her brother. 'People don't understand. He was such a good person. He was just sick.'

Karen Miller said her husband was 'strong in his heart and honest with an amazing smile that you can never forget'.

'He was loved,' she said. 'We are devastated by all of this.'Nearly 14 percent of people living in America are foreign-born  the highest proportion in more than a century, according to U.S. Census data.

The foreign-born population totaled 44.5 million, or 13.7 percent in 2017.

And now more than ever, those foreign arrivals are coming from Asia and bringing a college education with them, according to an analysis of Census data by the Brookings Institution.

Brookings researchers found that 41 percent of new arrivals since 2010 came from Asia and about 45 percent had graduated from college  a 30 percent increase compared to arrivals from 2000-2009.

South Korean immigrant and CNN reporter MJ Lee recites the Pledge of Allegiance during a naturalization ceremony in the Great Hall of Ellis Island on September 16, 2016 in New York City

'This is quite different from what we had thought,' William H. Frey, the senior demographer at the Brookings Institution, told The New York Times. 'We think of immigrants as being low-skilled workers from Latin America, but for recent arrivals that's much less the case. People from Asia have overtaken people from Latin America.'

In fact, 2.6 million people came to the U.S. from Asia since 2010, compared to 1.2 million from Latin America, according to the Brookings analysis. The number of immigrants arriving from Mexico has declined since 2010.

During the same period, Chinese and Indian immigration has been on the rise.

The report also indicates that new immigrants are landing in more far-flung places than the historically popular destinations of New York and California, which only saw small increases in their foreign born population.

By comparison, some states, had their immigrant populations' increase significantly, including Tennessee (20 percent), Ohio (13 percent) and Kentucky (20 percent).

The new data lends context to the ongoing public policy debate around immigration, which is often focused on controlling the number of people entering the U.S. from Latin America across the southern border.

New American citizens celebrate at a naturalization ceremony on November 20, 2014 in Newark, New Jersey

The last time the foreign-born levels were this high was in 1910, a time when the U.S. hit its then-peak with 8.8 million immigrants arriving from 1901-1910, or nearly 15 percent of the population.

Europeans at that time were coming in droves to escape poverty and violence  and for the promise of a better life in America.

Many came from Italy, German and Poland, until racial tensions and the establishment of strict racial quotas in the 1920s dramatically cut down on the proportion of America's population that was foreign-born, until it reached less than 5 percent in 1970.

But by then the tide had already been changing, after the passage of more lenient immigration laws in 1965 that put a stop to ethnic quotas.A review into mother and baby deaths and injuries at a troubled maternity unit is examining more than 100 cases, it emerged last night, as more families have come forward to tell 'how hard' the situation has hit them.

The probe at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust was launched over concerns that dozens of women and babies died needlessly.

When it started last year, it was examining only 23 incidents. But it now involves at least 104 families whose cases span 20 years, according to figures obtained by the Health Service Journal and the BBC.

Rhiannon Davies of Ludlow Shropshire pictured with her daughter Kate just moments after her birth on Sunday 1st March 2009. On Friday 16th November at the conclusion of Kate's Inquest that lasted 8 days, the jury delivered a unanimous verdict that, 'The Royal Shrewsbury NHS Hospital Trust were, and are, responsible for the death of Kate and that Kate's death could have been avoided'

One mother, Kayleigh Griffiths, whose daughter Pippa died at Shrewsbury and Telford maternity unit, called for the board to quit.

She said: 'The news is too much for us to comprehend, we have been hit very hard by it. Releasing the same statement about being safe is an insult to those who have suffered.

'Safe care and treatment is something that should be available to everybody. The board should step down.'

The trust points out that it has already investigated 35 of these incidents and in 25, found no signs of any failure in care.

Yet a number of families insist their babies died needlessly because midwives missed treatable infections or complications.

Other women claim they were forced to have natural labours without the use of caesareans or forceps.

Richard Stanton, whose daughter Kate died just six hours after her birth in 2009, said: The trust has buried its head in the sand and what we are seeing now is a tragedy unfolding that is beyond all belief.

I think the trust has continually failed to learn and in that situation mothers and babies are going to continue to come to harm.

He also warned of a culture of denial among managers. If this trust wants to redeem any semblance of trust in its maternity services then the widest possible independent review is what is required, he added.

Baby Pippa Griffiths (pictured) died after errors by Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust

Approximately 5,000 women a year give birth in the Shrewsbury and Telford trusts maternity services, which include a main maternity department and five smaller midwife-led units.

A damning report by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, published in July, found the units to be severely understaffed with an average of five midwives off sick each day.

Baby Jack Burn (pictured) who died at the Princess Royal hospital in Telford

It also warned of a reluctance amongst managers to investigate errors or learn from their mistakes.

The ongoing review is being carried out by Donna Ockenden, a senior independent midwife, and overseen by NHS Improvement, the hospital regulator.

It was initially meant to report back this autumn but is now likely to be delayed as there are so many more cases.

Maternity staff wouldn't listen to us Devan Cadwallader was admitted to Princess Royal Hospital, Telford, carrying a healthy baby. But in the delivery suite four days later, doctors told her that daughter Quinn had no heartbeat. Mrs Cadwallader, 25, said that before going into labour she told hospital staff that the babys movement had slowed down, but she was assured everything was normal. Devan Cadwallader pictured with her husband Gavin The findings of an internal review were inconclusive, and a post-mortem examination failed to find a cause of death. Mrs Cadwallader and her husband Gavin, from Shrewsbury, believe their babys stillbirth last December was preventable. If our concerns had been listened to, she could have survived, she said. The hospital trust said it had asked the couple if they would allow their case to be referred to the independent review of its maternity services. Advertisement

The cases occurred between 2000 and 2017.

Earlier this month the Care Quality Commission, another regulator, took enforcement action against the trust after CQC inspectors raised concerns about the A&E units.

Inspectors were particularly worried that staff were failing to diagnose and treat the deadly condition sepsis.

Dr Kathy McLean, executive medical director and chief operating officer at NHS Improvement, said: We are committed to ensuring Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust is able to learn as much as it can from the historical cases of concern where women or their babies suffered, or were at risk of, harm or have died.

This is so that the trust can improve its maternity and neonatal services and give patients the necessary reassurance that they will receive safe and high quality care at all times.

At this stage, we are unable to confirm how many historical cases will be considered under our independent review. We are examining in detail anything that may be relevant, ensuring that possible duplication is taken into account.

Deirdre Fowler, director of nursing, midwifery and quality at the Shrewsbury and Telford trust, said: We remain committed to providing the best care for all of our patients and to all women and families who use our maternity services.

We are continuing to work closely with NHS Improvement and fully engaging and co-operating with their independent review.

We welcome the approach of NHS Improvement in considering cases of families who have come forward, including those who were initially referred back to us by them and those who have come forward since.

We are committed to learning any lessons that arise from this review to ensure the best care for all of our patients.A giant 50-foot artificial sun is being installed at the intu Trafford Centre shopping mall in Manchester to celebrate the second hottest summer in the UK

The glowing, bright orange sphere took 12 weeks to build, has a 15-metre circumference and shines as brightly as 12,000 lightbulbs.

intu also decided to brighten-up the shopping centre after conducting a happiness survey on 1,000 people, which revealed that four in five Brits (82 per cent) feel happier when it's sunny.

A giant 50-foot artificial sun is being installed at the intu Trafford Centre

It has a 15-metre circumference and shines as brightly as 12,000 lightbulbs

The globe was installed following a happiness survey which found four in five Brits are happier when its sunny. Pictured three women taking a selfie in front of the artificial sun

The artificial sun has been modelled on a photograph captured by NASA and will be shining inside before going on a tour of 11 intu centres across the country.

Each centre will have its own 'sunny spots' for shoppers to sit back on deck chairs and bathe in the sun.

According to the research, a third of British adults (32 per cent) say 2018 has been their happiest summer in memory despite the economic uncertainty, with two in five (40 per cent) crediting the sunshine for their increased happiness levels.

The research also revealed that over two-thirds of people living in the UK (69 per cent) feel happier in the summer than they do in the winter, with sunshine (27 per cent), longer days (24 per cent), summer holidays (16 per cent) and more outdoor activity (15 per cent) the top reasons given.

As well as this 80 per cent say the much needed summer rays also make them feel healthier.

Roger Binks, customer experience director for intu, comments: 'The weather forecast for the next month at intu shopping centres is guaranteed to be 'sunny' so shoppers are encouraged to take a pair of sunglasses with them when they visit! We know that people feel happier when it's sunny and after a glorious summer we wanted to extend the sunshine and create something sunny for our 35 million shoppers. At intu we have something for everyone, so whether you're on a shopping spree or just want to sit back and enjoy the sun, we have you covered.'

The 50-foot, artificial 'sun' will be visiting 11 intu shopping entres around the country including intu Trafford Centre, intu Lakeside and intu Metrocentre from 12 September to 8 October.

For more information on when it will shining in your local centre follow #intuSun on Twitter. intu owns some of the UK's largest and most popular retail destinations in the country including centres in Manchester, Newcastle and Glasgow.

intu's research was carried out by Fly Research in September 2018Orla Kiely was a victim of her own success. The Irish designer was known as the 'Queen of prints' thanks to her distinctive blocky 1970s-style patterns which are now instantly recognisable.

The flower-like graphic she created in the 1990s became the company logo and featured on almost every product she made, most iconically on the line of laminated handbags which propelled her to fame.

Her prints and patterns also made their way on to womenswear, with the Orla Kiely clothing line worn by everyone from Alexa Chung to Kirsten Dunst  though it was the royals who were her most fervent champions.

Although Orla Kiely's prints are a royal favourite (pictured left Carole Middleton and right Kate Middleton) they had become 'licensed too widely' meaning the graphic prints were on everything from 300 dresses to 2 hand towels

In fact, her prints became so recognisable that she is currently being celebrated at a dedicated exhibition  Orla Kiely: A Life In Pattern  at London's Fashion and Textile Museum.

But those signature flowers have also been her undoing.

You know the feeling of turning up to a party and someone else is wearing the same dress as you?

For a while you didn't need to be at a party to find an Orla Kiely print  you'd match your friend's kettle, or the car in their driveway.

Because Orla licensed her print too widely, it started to appear on everything from 30 blinds to 7.49 coasters and 2 hand towels.

Those graphic prints were everywhere on everything, and women simply didn't want the same prints on their biscuit tins and their blouses. It even appeared on the back of buses and a Citroen DS3.

Alexa Chung (right) and Sarah Jessica Parker (left) were also fans of the distinctive blocky patterns. Kiely started her fashion brand in 1995 with her husband and almost every product made had the flower-like graphic company logo on it

And since the prints never changed, you'd also never want or need to replace that biscuit tin, or those blinds or towels.

The pity is that her clothes were beautiful, mainly thoughtfully cut dresses and shirts in pretty feminine prints. But they were too expensive for what they were  300 for a black smock dress was typical  when you know you could buy a cushion bearing the same print for a fraction of that.

Her partnerships with brands such as Halfords and Clarks (understandable, of course, for a struggling company looking for revenue) only diluted the brand further.

The value of anything in fashion comes from its uniqueness.

No matter how beautiful something is, if everyone has it, it becomes a uniform and we don't want it  and Orla Kiely has learned this lesson the hard way.

The other problem was that the brand just didn't move with the times. Having made her name with that signature print, Orla seemed unable or unwilling to try something new  which meant it never opened up to a new generation of shoppers.

The prints could be found everywhere on everything, and women simply didn't want the same prints on their biscuit tins and their blouses

Orla licensed her print too widely, with the blocky 1970s designs featuring on 30 blinds to 7.49 coasters and 2 hand towels

That meant that it came  rightly or wrongly  to represent a generation that are now the wrong side of cool. Many now associate it with their mums, aunts and grandparents; lovingly, but not in a way that drives sales.

Even the Duchess of Cambridge and the 'Kate effect'  she's been spotted in the label's clothes more than once in the past 12 months  couldn't save the brand.

In the world of fast fashion shoppers want something new, something different, something that changes dramatically each season and that's not Orla Kiely's thing.

She is undoubtedly one of the greatest print designers in the world. What a shame she just couldn't move with the times.

Orla Kiely retail empire collapses: 8m fashion brand - worn by Kate Middleton and Alexa Chung - ceases trading leaving workers 'in tears' as they are led out of shops

By Josh White

Designer brand Orla Kiely  often worn by the Duchess of Cambridge and sister Pippa  shocked the fashion world yesterday when it announced it had ceased trading.

Workers said they were escorted out of the building earlier this week just moments after being told by boss Orla Kiely, 55, that they were losing their jobs.

Its stores  on the King's Road and in Seven Dials, London, and in Kildare, Ireland  have closed.

Irish designer Orla Kiely (pictured) set up her business in 1995 with her husband and at its height the company turned over 8million

A small selection of accessories and homeware will continue to be sold through department stores Debenhams and John Lewis.

Set up in 1995 with her husband Dermott, the Dublin-born designer's brand is best known for its vintage 1970s-inspired prints. At its height it turned over more than 8million.

Besides Kate and Pippa and their mother Carole, famous faces such as model Alexa Chung and actresses Keira Knightley and Sarah Jessica Parker have worn the brand's clothes.

Ironically, the designer is currently the subject of an exhibition  Orla Kiely: A Life In Pattern  at the capital's Fashion and Textile Museum which ends on Sunday.

But the demise of her business is only the latest in a string of major blows to Britain's retail sector.

Clothing, bags and kitchen items could be found with Orla Kiely's signature floral inspired prints. The stores in London and Kildare in Ireland have now closed

Department store group House of Fraser went into administration in August, and Toys R Us and electronics retailer Maplin also collapsed earlier in the year.

A source said: 'It wasn't sent out in an official email or anything but was spread through word of mouth.

'Around lunchtime we were all called together where [Kiely] told us we were all out of a job.

'We're paid on the 27th of each month and we were told the company can't pay us for the past three weeks and we'd have to try and file for redundancy. Some people just burst straight into tears.

'Chief designers just grabbed their bags and walked straight out without saying anything. We were then escorted out of the building.

'None of us saw this coming. They closed off the website the other week and said there was an issue with the payment gateway.

'But they must have known what was going on  we feel like we've been done over. Now I'm struggling to find the money to pay the rent. People were just crying in the pub. It's devastating.'

A message on the company's website read: 'Kiely Rowan Plc, the retail and wholesale fashion business of Orla Kiely, has ceased trading as of Monday 17 September 2018. This means our retail stores in London and Kildare and our online business have been closed.

'We apologise for any inconvenience caused. Orla Kiely's Home and Design licensing business will not be impacted, and its selection of accessories and homewares will continue to be sold through its distribution partners.

'Thank you for embracing our brand and designs throughout the years and for your ongoing support. Orla, Dermott and the team.'

Yesterday, a call to its head office in south London went unanswered.

Irish media quoted the directors of the holding company blaming 'various challenges that have faced the company over the past few years, both in the UK and abroad'.

According to documents filed with Companies House, turnover in the year to March last year increased from 7.2million to 8.3million. It noted that retail 'remained steady' and that directors planned to expand in the US.

However, the files also indicate the firm may have been struggling, as it was operating with a heavy debt burden running into the millions. Bank loans and overdrafts were approaching 3million and it owed trade creditors nearly 2.5million.Roger Stone, a former adviser to Donald Trump's campaign, is claiming he will never turn on the president - unlike others.

'I will never roll on Donald Trump,' Stone announced Monday night during a speech before Trump Club 45, one of South Florida's largest political groups, according to the Florida Sun-Sentinel.

He fretted that he could be indicted by Special Counsel Robert Mueller and said if he is it would be 'an extraneous crime' that has nothing to do with Russia.

Roger Stone with Citizens For Restoring USA founder Robert Kiger at the Palm Beach Kennel Club in Wast Palm Beach, Florida.

Roger Stone speaks during the Mother of All Rallies at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. in early Septmeber

He also argued everyone commits inadvertent felonies and repeated the old joke that prosecutors can get grand juries to do anything - even indict a ham sandwich.

His vow of loyalty indicates even if he is indicted, he will not cut a deal with prosecutors as Trump's former personal attorney, Michael Cohen, did when he pleaded guilty to eight count, including one campaign finance violation.

'Michael Cohen I am not,' Stone noted, according to the Palm Beach Post.

Cohen made a similar vow before he cut a deal, famously saying he would take a bullet for Trump if needed.

Trump slammed his former attorney for 'flipping' but has expressed sympathy for his former campaign manager Paul Manafort, who was convicted on eight counts - on the same day Cohen cut his deal - and then cut a deal himself in exchange for avoiding a second federal trial.

The president said Wednesday of Manafort: 'I believe that he will tell the truth. And if he tells the truth, no problem.'

At least 12 current or former Stone associates have been interviewed by the FBI or Mueller's team. At least eight have appeared before a federal grand jury, Stone says.

He claimed the FBI 'tried to question my cleaning lady and FBI agents have been sifting through my garbage. Here's what I can tell you: They will find no evidence of Russian collusion,' he said.

He added: 'I don't drink Russian vodka. I don't take Russian dressing on my salads.'

Stone left the Trump campaign on in August 2015 but a report he met with a Russian national during his time with Trump had drawn the prosecutors' interest.

In June of this year, The Washington Post quoted Stone as saying he met with a Russian man during the presidential campaign who wanted $2 million in exchange for damaging information on Hillary Clinton.

Stone met with the man in May 2016 in Florida, which was set up by Trump campaign aide Michael Caputo.

Stone said he rejected the man's offer.

'You don't understand Donald Trump,' Stone said he told the man. 'He doesn't pay for anything.'

Stone told Caputo the meeting was 'a waste of time.'

Mueller is investigating the meeting, Caputo told the Post, and noted prosecutors asked him about it last month.

Both Stone and Caputo allege the man, who called himself Henry Greenberg, was an FBI informant.

'If you believe that [Greenberg] took time off from his long career as an FBI informant to reach out to us in his spare time, I have a bridge in Brooklyn that I want to sell you,' Caputo told the newspaper.

President Trump criticized his former lawyer Michael Cohen for flipping

Michael Cohen once said he'd take a bullet for Trump

Former campaign manager Paul Manafort also cut a deal with prosecutors but Trump has not slammed him for it

Stone said: 'I didn't realize it was an FBI sting operation at the time, but it sure looks like one now.'

Records do not indicate that Greenberg - a Russian national - was an FBI informant, The Post reported. The documents do show he worked as informant in the past but stopped doing so after 2013.

Greenberg denied to The Post that he was working on behalf of the FBI during the meeting.

Stone is a longtime creature of Washington, having advised Republican politicians going back to Richard Nixon. At one point Stone had a lobbying business with Manafort.

Stone has been called a 'political dirty trickster' for some of his tough tactics.

During his remarks in Palm Beach on Monday, he was insistent, as Trump has been, that there was no collusion with Russia in the 2016 presidential campaign.

'There is one narrative that holds that the Trump campaign colluded with the Russians to affect the outcome of the election. Let me say a word about that: It's bulls***,' Stone said.

And he echoed Trump that the collusion charge was an attempt by the Justice Department and FBI - then under President Barack Obama - to spy on the Trump campaign, which he called 'far worse than Watergate.'Residents in a Florida neighborhood claim that their neighbor does yard work in the nude and are frustrated that their local law enforcement seem to have their hands tied when tackling the matter.

Photos show a middle-aged man bent over as he appears to do yard work at his Stuart, Florida, residence.

'I came out Sunday night to put the trash out, and I look over and he is bent over, winding up his hose, and I'm like that is my view of the neighborhood,' Melissa Ny, a neighbor, explained to WPBF.

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Photos show a middle-aged man bent over as he appears to do yard work at his Stuart, Florida, residence

'I came out Sunday night to put the trash out, and I look over and he is bent over, winding up his hose, and I'm like that is my view of the neighborhood,' Melissa Ny, a neighbor, said

She added: 'He works on his car, and he does it naked and everyone has called the police, he is just out there doing his yard work, whatever he needs to do outside, naked.'

For some in the neighborhood, their concern stems from wanting to prevent children from seeing the nudist.

'Have some respect for the neighborhood kids. Kids catch the bus here. It's wrong,' asserted Charlie Estes, a local in the area.

'Have some respect for the neighborhood kids. Kids catch the bus here. It's wrong,' asserted Charlie Estes, a local in the area

Calls to the Martin County Sheriff's office have left many disgruntled as they've been informed by the authorities that unless the man touches himself inappropriately, there is nothing that they can do

Calls to the Martin County Sheriff's office have left many disgruntled as they've been informed by the authorities that unless the man touches himself inappropriately, there is nothing that they can do.

'I have seen these people stand on their front step, buck naked, both of them, and talk to a police officer, sheriff department,' Estes added. 'The sheriff's department told me to turn my head.'

But not everyone in the town is perplexed by the presence of the nudist family.

The unidentified man wasn't interested in being interviewed but say that his family tends to be private and keep to themselves

'I have seen these people stand on their front step, buck naked, both of them, and talk to a police officer, sheriff department,' Estes added. 'The sheriff's department told me to turn my head'

'I am not one of those people who have concerns because it is their way of life, and it is on their property and I know it is legal,' said neighbor, Molly Merritt.

The unidentified man wasn't interested in being interviewed but did tell WPBF that his family tends to be private and keep to themselves.

'If they are private, why are your privates on display. That is not private at all, that is very public,' asserted Ny.



A Wisconsin woman was caught on camera slipping out of her handcuff and escaping a police station.

But freedom was fleeting for Amber Gonzales, 30, who was arrested by police only an hour later after returning to the same hotel where she had been arrested.

It all began on September 14, when Gonzales allegedly stole a cell phone from a hotel cleaning cart at the Baymont Inn in Waukesha around 12pm.

She was quickly arrested and transported to the Waukesha Police Station, where she was taken into a holding cell.

Amber Gonzales, 30, was caught on camera escaping her holding cell at the Waukesha Police Station in Wisconsin after slipping out of a handcuff

Gonzales was taken into the cell after she allegedly stole a cell phone from a housekeeping cart at the Baymont Inn

Authorities then told Gonzales she needed to post bail for an outstanding warrant from an earlier drug paraphernalia citation she received in August.

Gonzales was informed that if she did not come up with the money, she would be taken to Waukesha County Jail.

Officers then left Gonzales handcuffed to a wall in the holding cell.

Surveillance footage from the cell shows Gonzales straining to get the cuff off her right hand, repeatedly pulling at it with her free left hand.

Authorities then told Gonzales she would need to post bail for an outstanding warrant from an earlier drug paraphernalia citation she received in August or be taken to jail

Surveillance footage from the cell shows Gonzales straining to get the cuff off her right hand

Gonzales, who is 5ft 1in and weighs 97lb, continues to check her phone, which is on a table in the holding cell, as she yanks at the cuff.

She then finally manages to slip it off and immediately runs to the holding room door, which was locked.

Gonzales then started pulling on different doors and finally found a set of keys hanging on a handle.

She used them to open the door and, still holding the keys, fled from the police station at 4.40pm.

She finally manages to slip the handcuff off and immediately runs to the holding room door

Gonzales then started pulling on different doors and finally found a set of keys hanging on a handle and fled the police station

Authorities said Gonzales then ran through various backyards to avoid police and arrived at the Tobacco Outlet Plus Groceries convenience store.

It was there she met up with a man who then took her back to the Baymont Inn, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Thanks to tips from employees at both the store and hotel, authorities arrived at the Baymont Inn at 5.55pm.

They confronted the man, who first claimed he had met Gonzales two weeks earlier and was casually 'communicating' with her.

Authorities said that after she escaped, Gonzales met up with a man at a convenience store who then drove her back to the hotel and paid her $80 for oral sex

The man then admitted he had actually paid her $80 to perform oral sex on him.

Authorities forced the hotel room open and arrested Gonzales once again, this time taking her straight to the Waukesha County Jail.

Gonzales is now facing a felony charge of escape from police custody, as well as prostitution, theft, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

If convicted, Gonzales could face up to six years in prison and a $10,000 fine for the felony escape charge.

Authorities then forced the hotel room open (pictured) and arrested Gonzales once again, this time taking her straight to the Waukesha County Jail

Gonzales was released from custody on a $500 signature bond and a $750 cash bond on September 18.

Authorities are now working to find out how she was able to escape from her handcuff so quickly.

'Accountability is one of our four priorities we have at the police department along with safety, communication, and teamwork,' said Capt Dan Baumann.

'We are conducting an internal review of the incident to identify what errors were made and mitigate those moving forward.'The Russian model who claimed she was the victim of a new Salisbury poison plot has worked as a 4,000-a-night escort, and her husband who was also taken ill has helped stage sex involving prostitutes.

Alex King was taken ill along with his 30-year-old lingerie model wife Anna Shapiro while eating at a restaurant in the city where former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter were poisoned with the deadly nerve agent Novichok.

Shapiro claimed in a newspaper interview that she was the target of an assassination plot as she was critical of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Anna Shapiro moved to London in 2008 and tied the knot with her partner Alex King last month

Anna Shapiro, 30, and her husband Alex King, 42, fell ill while dining in the city's Prezzo last Sunday

She suggested rat poison could have been used to try and kill her at the Italian restaurant Prezzo on Sunday night.

King (pictured), who was discharged from hospital on Tuesday afternoon having been declared medically fit, is to meet with detectives along with his wife

Police have dismissed her claims of a poison plot and now want to speak to Shapiro and her 42-year-old husband to see if they are behind an elaborate hoax.

King, who was discharged from hospital on Tuesday afternoon having been declared medically fit, is to meet with detectives along with his wife.

A police source said a hoax carried out by the pair is one line of inquiry which led to the city being placed on lockdown and emergency crews wearing hazmat suits searching the restaurant amid fears of another nerve agent attack.

'We will be talking to the couple involved and one line of inquiry is that this was all a hoax,' said a police source.

'Now Mr King has left hospital we will interview him. We have already taken a statement from the female involved and will talk to her again.'

A claim by Shapiro that she was under 24-hour police guard in fear of her life was also dismissed as 'nonsense' by the source.

Mail Online can reveal King is an ex-business partner of convicted conman Eddie Davenport, known as 'Fast Eddie', and together they staged orgies involving Russian prostitutes at his London home.

In 2006 King was able to evade tight security and gate-crash a Royal event and shake hands with Prince Charles for a 100,000 bet.

Eton educated King sneaked into a line up of celebrities at a premiere for the film 'The History Boys' in London. He was unwittingly introduced to Charles and his wife Camilla.

He said at the time: 'A friend of mine bet me that I couldn't get to meet Prince Charles and I thought it would be a cool thing to do.

Ms Shapiro said she denounces Putin's policies, which has angered her family

'I could see the line of people waiting to be introduced to him, so I just walked up as if I knew what I was doing and stood on the end of it. No-one thought to challenge me for a second.'

'It was only when the Prince left that the police jumped on me.'

'But after giving me an official caution they let me go and I went in to watch the film.

'Obviously I did it for a dare but I have to admit that it raises a whole number of questions about royal security. I am astonished that no-one rumbled me earlier.'

King had previously been exposed by a newspaper as an 'ambassador of perversion' and supplied 500 a day prostitutes for orgies taking place at Davenport's London home.

He ran a model agency called 007 and met Shapiro, who models under the name Anna Webb, when she moved to London in 2008.

The couple are said to have only married last month and Shapiro's address is listed in public records as 32 Portland Place  the home owned by Davenport and venue for his seedy sex parties.

Davenport had previously lived across the street at 33 Portland Place which was used for scenes in the Oscar winning film 'The King's Speech'.

He was forced to sell the 24-room mansion in 2015 for 14million after his release from an eight year prison sentence for fraud in 2011.

Anna Shapiro, 30, and her husband Alex King, 42, fell ill while dining in the city's Prezzo last Sunday

Davenport, who made his name organising the Gatecrasher Balls for public school teens, served three years after falling ill following a kidney transplant.

Shapiro claimed she was the victim of a Putin-led attack and that her father was a general in the Russian army.

She said in an interview yesterday, she said: 'I'm sure the Russians think I'm a British spy. People make assumptions about me but I publicly renounce Putin and the country of my family.'

Anna claims she worked for Mossad after moving to Israel from Russia in her teens before fleeing and claiming asylum in the UK to study law.

She told friends: 'I spied on my own friends and even used my looks to seduce men. I was too young to know that what I was doing was wrong

'After I travelled to England I studied law and started a new life - now I work as a model and an escort.'

King and Shapiro were unavailable for comment.

The model had claimed that she found her husband foaming at the mouth shortly after arriving at Prezzo restaurant in Salisbury city centre.

As the Italian themed restaurant was less than 300 yards from where the Skripals had eaten when they fell ill last March and King's symptoms were similar to that caused by the deadly nerve agent Novichok a full-scale emergency was launched and part of the city put into lockdown.

Witnesses had described the scenes at the restaurant as like 'armegeddon' as police and emergency services, some wearing protective Hazmat suits, rushed to the scene on Sunday evening as a major incident was declared.

Shapiro, 30, was discharged from hospital after an overnight stay and said she believed President Putin wanted her dead.

She said because she had turned her back on her country by taking Israeli citizenship Putin wanted her dead. The model also said she had fled London after receiving death threats.

Kremlin officials in Moscow dismissed the claims as absurd.

President Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: 'I don't think there is any sense in commenting on such reports.'

'The absurdity of the most part of information coming from Salisbury is evident.'

Shapiro had claimed the owner of a rented 55 a night farmhouse in the village of Landford where she was staying had recommended she and her 42 year old husband visit Prezzo for a meal.

Owners of bed and breakfast lodgings in the village, about 11 miles from Salisbury, said they were not aware of any farmhouse in the area that can be rented for 55.

They also said with numerous country pubs in the vicinity no local hotelier would have recommended a chain restaurant in Salisbury.

'It is just laughable that anyone living in Landford would suggest an Italian chain restaurant as the best place to eat,' said one B&B owner.

'It just does not make sense. Why would anyone recommend an 11 mile drive when there are far closer places with much better food and atmosphere.'

Another B&B owner said Shapiro's claim of renting a 55 a night farmhouse was unrealistic.

'There is nowhere around here or the New Forest where it is so cheap, said the B&B owner who asked not to be named.

The part-time model believes she was the target of a Kremlin hit

Prezzo restaurant  which is less than quarter of a mile from where the Skripals dined at the Zizzi restaurant before falling ill  remained closed on Wednesday with two police officers at the entrance.

A forensic team could be seen inside the restaurant but Wiltshire Police have said the incident was 'not suspicious' and the couple were not exposed to any kind of nerve agent.

The spokesman added: 'Enquiries into what caused the pair to become unwell are still ongoing.'

In the interview it was claimed that the model and her husband could have been affected by rat poison.

Prezzo said the restaurant would be reopening today - said the chemical strychnine  used in rat poison  was not used at the restaurant.

'We are pleased to advise that the Wiltshire police have confirmed we can re-open. Our team have been readying the restaurant this evening and we will be open for business as usual from midday,' a statement said.

'Once again, we would like to thank Salisbury's emergency services, our neighbours, our customers and our team for their support and understanding.

Most of all, we look forward to welcoming back our customers from the Salisbury community which we value so greatly.'

They added: 'We wish to confirm that the chemical 'strychnine' is not used in Prezzo in Salisbury. This has been verified through independent technical support.

'We have been informed that Wiltshire police are not linking the event on Sunday evening to the recent nerve agent poisonings in Salisbury and Amesbury and have made no suggestion that the illness was a result of anything present in our restaurant.

'Based on the information we have received, this is an isolated incident. We can also confirm that none of our team suffered any related illness, and all are well and keen to return to duty when the restaurant re-opens. They dealt with the circumstances of Sunday evening in an admirable manner and our thanks go to each of them. At Prezzo our sole aim is to care for our customers and the events of Sunday evening have shocked us all.

'Our Salisbury branch remains closed, as a precautionary measure only, while the police complete tests into the cause of the illness. We await information from the police and as soon as we have that, we will issue a further statement.'

Emergency services outside the Prezzo restaurant in Salisbury on Sunday, where police have closed streets as a 'precautionary measure'

King was discharged from Salisbury District Hospital after being declared medically fit.

Lorna Wilkinson, Director of Nursing at Salisbury District Hospital said:

'On Sunday night, we admitted two people to Salisbury District Hospital following an incident in the city centre. These two people have now been discharged.

'Given recent events, we tested both individuals for the presence of nerve agents such as Novichok. Tests on both patients came back negative.

'Both patients are now medically fit and there is no need for them to be in hospital.

'While this incident did not involve nerve agents, it was still clearly very stressful for our staff who, once again, demonstrated the very best of the NHS. I want to thank them for rising to the occasion yet again.'

'For reasons of patient confidentiality we will not be commenting any further.'Mrs May has said that tax rises will be needed to pay for a 20billion-a-year spending boost for the NHS but that it will be raised in a 'fair and balanced' way

Tax rises will be needed to pay for the 20billion-a-year spending boost for the NHS, Theresa May said yesterday.

But she vowed the extra revenue would be raised in a 'fair and balanced' way.

Her comments come despite a pledge before the general election that she intended to reduce the taxes on working families.

To mark the 70th anniversary of the NHS earlier this year, Mrs May said it would get an extra 20billion-a-year by 2023.

'We've said we're putting a significant sum of money into the NHS  we believe that's right,' she told a national newspaper.

'There will be a need to raise some money from people. But we want to be able to make sure we do that in a fair and balanced way that will be what lies behind any decision we make.

'The key thing is people want to know that any money that goes in is going to be spent effectively, and that the money isn't going to be wasted.'

In an interview with the Daily Express, Mrs May said NHS chiefs had been given the job of making sure the extra money is not wasted.

'We've asked the NHS to put its ten-year plan together,' she said. 'What I hear from people on the doorsteps is they want more money in the NHS  but they want to make sure it's spent in the right way.

'This is about patients  patients need to be at the forefront of our thinking when we're looking at how this money should be spent. It's about improving the care and treatment people receive.'

Chancellor Philip Hammond will set out how the extra spending will be paid for in the Budget later this year.

He has already faced a backlash from Tory MPs after he suggested that fuel duty freeze could be axed after eight years.

Chancellor Philip Hammond (left) will set out how the extra spending will be paid for in the Budget later this year. While Mrs May has said 'patients need to be at the forefront of our thinking' when planning how to spend the extra money

Before last year's general election, Mrs May ditched a manifesto pledge previously made by David Cameron not to increase income tax, VAT or national insurance.

The Prime Minister said the so-called 'tax lock' would be scrapped because she did not want to make promises without being 'absolutely sure' she could deliver on them. But she did rule out increasing VAT beyond its current level of 20 per cent.

The tax lock forced Mr Hammond into an embarrassing U-turn following his March 2017 Budget, when he tried to hike National Insurance contributions for self-employed workers.

As she announced the end of the tax lock, Mrs May insisted the Tories were still a 'low-tax party' and said she intended to reduce taxes on working families.

'We have absolutely no plans to increase the level of tax but I'm also clear I don't want to make specific proposals on taxes unless I'm absolutely sure I can deliver on those,' she said.

'But it would be my intention with a Conservative government and a Conservative prime minister to reduce the taxes on working families.'

A report by the TaxPayers' Alliance earlier this year found the tax burden has reached its highest level for almost half a century.

The taxman is set to take 724.9billion this year  34.3 per cent of GDP. That is the highest proportion since Harold Wilson's 1969-70 Labour government.A former Sesame Street writer appears to be backtracking on comments he made earlier this week suggesting that Bert and Ernie are a gay couple after saying the puppets were inspired by his own relationship with his partner.

Mark Saltzman, who wrote for the children's program in the '80s and '90s, told the New York Times in an interview on Tuesday that his comments were misinterpreted.

'As a writer, you just bring what you know into your work,' Saltzman, who is gay, said. 'Somehow, in the uproar, that turned into Bert and Ernie being gay. There is a difference.'

During an interview with Queerty, Saltzman said he always felt that Bert and Ernie were a gay couple. He said he first thought of them as lovers after reading a column in The San Francisco Chronicle about a child who asked his mother about the puppet's sexuality.

'That, coming from a preschooler was fun. And that got passed around, and everyone had their chuckle and went back to it,' he said.

'They are two guys who love each other': Former Sesame Street writer Mark Saltzman says his comments about Bert and Ernie's sexual orientation was misinterpreted

Saltzman, a writer on Sesame Street from 1984 through 1999, previously suggested that he wrote the characters of Bert and Ernie as gay men

Sesame Workshop immediately denied the puppets are a gay couple, saying in a statement they are simply best friends

'And I always felt that without a huge agenda, when I was writing Bert & Ernie, they were. I didnt have any other way to contextualize them.'

Saltzman also told the outlet that people would refer to him and his partner Arnold Glassman, who died in 2003, as Bert and Ernie and he wrote the characters as 'a loving couple'.

While speaking with the Times, however, Saltzman said that he and Glassman shared similarities with Bert and Ernie in that they were opposites who found a way to love each other.

Following the writer's comments to Queerty, the internet went crazy with praise and anger over the idea of Bert and Ernie being in a same-sex relationship.

Saltzman now insists it was just one big misunderstanding.

'They are two guys who love each other. That's who they are,' he told the Times.

Saltzman went on to say that thinks Sesame Street should add a gay couple, but thinks they should be human characters and not puppets.

Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind Sesame Street, released a statement earlier this week denying the characters are gay.

Saltzman (above) said that he based the two on his own relationship with his life partner Arnold Glassman, who passed away in 2003

Bert and Ernie were initially the creation of Jim Henson and Frank Oz, with the puppets said to have been analogs for the relationship between those two men (Oz and Henson above in 1970)

A number of people lashed out at creator Frank Oz (above) after he tweeted 'of course' Bert and Ernie are not gay

Oz later clarified his remarks saying that it wasn't directed at Saltzman but at the question in general

Oz said he doesn't care if someone is gay or viewed as gay but said Bert and Ernie are not homosexual characters

'Sesame Street has always stood for inclusion and acceptance. It's a place were people of all cultural and backgrounds are welcome,' it read. 'Bert and Ernie were created to be best friends, and to teach young children that people can get along with those who are very different from themselves.'

Bert and Ernie were initially the creation of Jim Henson and Frank Oz, with the puppets said to have been analogs for the friendship between those two men, who were both heterosexual.

Oz wrote on Tuesday: 'It seems Mr. Mark Saltzman was asked if Bert & Ernie are gay. It's fine that he feels they are. They're not, of course. But why that question? Does it really matter? Why the need to define people as only gay? There's much more to a human being than just straightness or gayness.'

This prompted a number of people to lash out at Oz about the importance of having gay and lesbian characters on television.

'Having the flexibility to see them (as gay) was good for me, and the more voices I see CONFIRMING that they DEFINITELY ARE NOT is what makes me said,' one Twitter user posted.

Saltzman also stated that Snuffalupagus (above with Big Bird) was written like a closeted gay man

Another commented: 'As a gay kid who grew up with immense happiness from your creations, this tweet makes so very sad. "They're not gay, of course." Why? Because you don't want them to be? Straight beings don't have to be defined by their straightness because in our culture all beings are presumed straight until proven otherwise. This is why we go wild when we get a hint of gay representation.'

Oz later clarified his remark in a series of tweets on Tuesday.

In one post, he said his comments were not directed at Saltzman and pointed out that former Sesame Street writer never said Bert and Ernie were a gay couple.

'My comment was directed towards the questions. (Saltzman) sounds like a caring person. He never said B&E were gay. But when others took that leap from his interview I felt I had to question the need for the question,' Oz said.

Bert and Ernie made an appearance on one of the most memorable New Yorker covers in history in the wake of SCOTUS' marriage equality ruling (above in July 2013

He added: 'Although it doesn't matter to me if someone is gay or viewed as gay, I learned it does matter to a great many people who feel they are not represented enough.'

The nature of Bert and Ernie's relationship has been the source of much speculation for years.

The two characters sleep in separate beds but share a bedroom in their basement apartment at 123 Sesame Street, where they have lived since 1969 when the show first premiered on television.

Many have long viewed that the two men as a couple, and in July 2013 The New Yorker opted to use an illustration of the pair watching television together on the couch as the cover of their issue in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act and California's Proposition 8.

Two years prior to that however a petition calling for Bert and Ernie to be married was struck down by Sesame Street Workshop, who released the same statement firmly stating that the two were not gay - or straight - but rather just asexual puppets.Police have released body cam footage of a foot pursuit that ended when the fugitive fatally shot himself.

Michael Zahn, 35, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on September 5 after he ran from a police officer in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Police encountered Zahn - a wanted fugitive - after they were called to the Homewood Suites hotel to deal with some 'unruly guests'.

Michael Zahn, 35, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on September 5 after he ran from a police officer in Salt Lake City, Utah when they tried to arrest him

Zahn was one of four people inside the hotel room at the time.

When police checked their identification, they realized Zahn had a warrant out for his arrest for a parole weapons violation.

Body cam footage shows the officer trying to take Zahn into custody outside the hotel when he fled.

The officer chased Zahn for roughly a minute through backstreets before Zahn climbed a fence into a gated courtyard.

Zahn used a handgun to shoot out a glass door of an abandoned office building.

Zahn had a warrant out for his arrest for a parole weapons violation when officers encountered him outside a Salt Lake City hotel. Body cam footage shows the officer trying to take Zahn into custody (right) outside the hotel when he fled

The officer chased Zahn for roughly a minute through backstreets before Zahn climbed a fence into a gated courtyard

The body cam footage captured the officer 'stop right there' before firing two shots in Zahn's direction.

Investigators later determined that none of the officer's bullets struck the fugitive.

Officers were able to enter the entered the building roughly 20 minutes later and found the fugitive dead.

Authorities are still investigating the incident to determine if the officer was justified in firing his gun.European airports have warned Brussels they face major disruption and heightened safety risks if a Brexit deal is not agreed.

More than 6 million passengers a year who change flights in Europe after setting off from the UK face extra security and screening if the country is excluded from an EU scheme.

At present, travellers do not have to undergo extra checks before embarking on the second leg of the journey because the UK is part of the one-stop security regime.

Airports Council International (Europe) has warned the European Commission that under a no deal scenario, passengers would have to be re-screened at the airport where they change flights.

If politicians fail to agree a Brexit deal on security, British passengers could face extra checks

In a letter obtained by Sky News, the group representing European airports warns they face having to purchase additional security equipment, build new security checkpoints, recruit extra security and service staff at significant costs for airlines and airports and ultimately passengers.

ACI highlights how 2.5 million passengers transfer flights at Schipol airport in Amsterdam each year after taking off from the UK.

The group warns that if there is no deal the airport would have to undergo significant and expensive terminal infrastructure modifications costing 100 million euros (88 million). It would also have to more than double its fleet of transfer buses from 21 to 46.A MS-13 gang forced a 17-year-old girl in Houston to lie to a 24-year-old man about a birthday present meetup before hacking him to death with a machete during a dispute over a rap battle, police say.

Karla Morales admitted to Houston law enforcement authorities how she was able to promise a gift of marijuana to aspiring rapper Jose Alfonso Villanueza four days after he celebrated his birthday.

However, it was just a trick that the ruthless street gang employed to lure Villanueza to his death on July 29, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Karla Morales (center) appeared at a probable cause court hearing on Saturday, where she was accused for aiding alleged MS-13 gang members in the murder of Jose Alfonso Villanueza. She could face the death penalty for allegedly luring the man to his death

Morales, who was arrested Friday appeared in court on Saturday during a probable cause hearing, doesn't have a criminal history but could still face the death penalty.

Morales is behind bars on a $100,000 bond and is due back in court November 7.

Court documents indicated the teen met Villanueza at a local bar months before the gruesome murder.

The 24-year-old victim was rhyming about his alliance with the rival '18th Street' gang during a rap battle which infuriated members of the MS-13 who were employed by the same landscaping company as Villanueza.

A few days later, Morales' boyfriend, also a MS-13 member heard Villanueza insulting her.

The teen, who didn't have a close relationship with Villanueza, was able to coerce the victim out his home at around 10:30PM, joining her and two men she identified as members of the notorious Central American criminal organization.

Court documents showed that Villanueza's roommate was skeptical about the exchange 'because they were not close friends.'

Apparently, the unemployed high school senior had second thoughts about the meeting but it was too late.

Investigators assigned to the case noted on a court document that Morales 'told one of the males she didn't want to go through with it anymore but they said it was too late.'

The group of four then drove to a nearby grass field approximately 400 feet from a Lewis Elementary School parking lot where more men were waiting for him.

Morales, according to the court documents, saw the gang members continuously shoot Villanueza before they capped off the horrific murder by striking the victim with a machete.

Villanueza's body was found on August 7, a week before students returned to the elementary school for classes.

The body of Jose Alfonso Villanueza, who enjoyed rapping, was found August 7, 400 feet away from Lewis Elementary School after he was murdered on July 29 by alleged MS-13 members

Alleged MS-13 members left Jose Alfonso Villanueza for dead on July 29 on this grass field near a Houston elementary school July 29, settling a dispute over a rap battle

The victim still had some of his clothes but his body was rotting.

Villanueza's cousin, Rosa Flores, had been worried about his whereabouts after text messages and phone calls went unreturned, especially with everything surrounding the rap battle.

She reported him missing a day before he was found.

'They got upset and starting rapping back telling him they were going to kill him. In a week, he was dead, Flores told the Houston Chronicle.

'I was telling him, Are you sure? Are you OK? Are you sure you dont want to come to my house and stay the night? But he said he was OK,' she added.

'He wasnt no bad guy. His thing was rap. He liked to rap.'Passengers are routinely being failed by a chaotic rail industry, a damning official report concludes today.

Bosses, ministers and regulators are all blamed for the thousands of cancellations and delays that followed the release of a new timetable in May.

The rail watchdog's report said the debacle highlighted systemic weaknesses, poor leadership and a lack of accountability.

'It was unclear who was responsible for what,' it said. 'Nobody took charge. The present industry arrangements do not support clarity of decision making.'

A rail watchdog report that looked into the change of train timetables in May has slammed bosses, ministers and regulators saying 'it was unclear who was responsible for what' (stock picture)

The interim report into the timetable fiasco will heap pressure on Chris Grayling, who today launches yet another review into the railways, admitting they are 'no longer fit for today's challenges'.

The Transport Secretary has been criticised repeatedly for refusing to accept any blame for the chaos. Instead he has pointed the finger at train operators and Network Rail, which oversees infrastructure.

In July he confessed to MPs that he was 'not a specialist in rail matters'. The report was commissioned by Mr Grayling from Stephen Glaister, chairman of the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).

Billed as the biggest ever, the timetable shake-up involved changing almost half of services to improve reliability.

But passengers endured weeks of disruption and thousands of delays and cancellations. The report reveals the hardest hit were commuters across northern England. More than 300 services on the northern network were cancelled every weekday.

In the South, 470 scheduled trains were cancelled every day by Thameslink and Great Northern services. Both are run by Govia. Operators were forced to introduce emergency timetables and services are slowly returning to normal. In the Lake District, all trains were cancelled after the line was temporarily shut down.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling (pictured) has been criticised for refusing to accept any blame for the chaos and in July said he was 'not a specialist in rail matters'

According to the report, passengers endured 'inconvenience, financial and emotional cost over a period of several weeks'.

Professor Glaister said: 'The May 2018 timetable was meant to offer more services and reliability, but in reality it led to major disruption for passengers.

'Central to the issues were that good intentions and over-optimism within the rail industry about its ability to recover missed deadlines left no time to uncover and fix problems.

'When problems arose, timetable planners were stretched and train operators were ill-equipped to help passengers.'

The report said the Department for Transport and the ORR should bear some responsibility for failing to properly question assurances from the industry.

Peter Vicary-Smith, chief executive of the consumer group Which?, said: 'The last 12 months have exposed the serious lack of leadership in the industry. But passengers are sick of finger pointing and simply want to be able to rely on their train service.'

Andy McDonald, Labour's transport spokesman, said: 'Rail passengers don't need another review from the Tories to tell them that rail is broken.

'Another review is meaningless in a year of rocketing fares, failing franchises and timetabling chaos. Another review lets Chris Grayling off the hook. The railways need a Labour government which will deliver public ownership.'

Anthony Smith, of the independent watchdog Transport Focus, said passengers would cringe when they read the report.

The Department for Transport said that passenger journeys have almost doubled from 735million in 1994/5 to 1.73billion in 2016/17 (stock picture)

Passengers endured weeks of disruption and thousands of delays and cancellations. The report reveals the hardest hit were commuters across northern England

The Department for Transport insisted privatisation had 'reversed the decline the railways saw under British Rail'.

It added that passenger journeys have almost doubled from 735million in 1994/5 to 1.73billion in 2016/17. But it admitted that the industry had not kept pace with the growth as the disruption in May showed.

Mr Grayling has commissioned a rail review from Keith Williams, a former boss of British Airways and deputy chairman of John Lewis. He has been asked to carry out a 'root and branch' investigation into the industry, from fares to the relationship between operators and Network Rail.

Mr Grayling said the aim was to deliver 'the railway we need for the 21st century'.

'Privatisation has delivered huge benefits for passengers on Britain's railways  doubling passenger journeys and bringing in billions of private investment,' he added.

'But it is clear that the structure we inherited is no longer fit to meet today's challenges and cope with increasing customer demand.'

Andrew Haines, Network Rail's chief executive, said: 'I'd like to add my sincerest apologies to passengers for letting them down with May's timetable troubles.'

Patrick Verwer, chief executive of Govia, also apologised, saying that he welcomed the preliminary investigation into the 'industry-wide issues'.Afghanistan is sovereign country and we respect it as that: Pakistan Navy Chief 19 September, 2018



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Hand Wash and Toiletries in Pakistan And the Role of DUPAS in Reshaping the Industry

Woke Bingo Pakistan Navy Chief Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi on Monday said that Indias sea-based nuclear weapon initiative had compelled Pakistan to take steps for maintaining strategic balance in the region.



Talking to media persons at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington, Admiral Abbasi, who is visiting US to attend an international sea-powers symposium, rejected the myth that Pakistan was seeking strategic depth in Afghanistan.



The navy chief said though the decision by US to suspend security assistance to Pakistan was not a favourable one, it was not a "life or death situation".

Sea-based nuclear deterrence



Abbasi defended Pakistans decision to match Indias sea-based nuclear programme while responding to several questions from the representatives of the US media.



Sea-based nuclear weapons provide an assured second strike capability which disturbs the equation, so unless we equate that, the imbalance might induce India to start a conventional war, he said. We have legitimate concerns and our programme is aimed at discouraging India from doing so.



In April this year, Pakistan conducted the second flight test of its Babur-III nuclear-capable submarine-launched cruise missile (SLCM). The missile was tested from a submerged platform off Pakistans coast in the Arabian Sea and flew to strike a target at an undisclosed location.



Pakistans Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced that the missile incorporates advanced aerodynamics and avionics that can strike targets both at land and sea with high accuracy, at a range of 700 kilometres".



While Abbasi admitted that Pakistan had tested the Babur-III missiles to meet the Indian challenge, he dismissed a journalist's implication that Pakistan had developed this missile with Chinas assistance.



Its an all indigenous programme. I will leave at that, he said.



Abbasi explained that Pakistan has an elaborate programme for ensuring the security of the assets it has developed to counter the Indian threat, which provides all the tools, procedures and settings under a central command that runs through Strategic Plans Division".



The admiral said that in 2016 Pakistan signed an agreement with China for procuring eight submarines, which will be delivered by 2025. These are all conventional submarines and are not nuclear capable.



Abbasi also rejected the myth that Pakistan was seeking strategic depth in Afghanistan.



Afghanistan is a separate, sovereign country and we respect it as that. Whatever strategic depth we have is our own, he said.



The naval chief said political changes in Pakistan will not affect its Afghan policy and the country will continue to support peace and stability in Afghanistan. Pakistan, he said, did not want large ungovernable territories in Afghanistan because it had repercussions.



Terrorists take refuge in Afghanistan and use its territory for launching attacks into Pakistan. The most recent terrorist attacks in Pakistan were conceived, planned and executed from Afghanistan. Thats why we are trying to fence our border, he said. We are all for a political solution to the Afghan problem.



Responding to a question about US-Taliban talks in Qatar, he said: We welcome these talks. We hope that some sort of solution comes out of that.



This is a good beginning that the US is engaged with the Taliban.



He said the best hope for peace in Afghanistan were the quadrilateral talks that Pakistan had arranged in Murree in 2016. However, those talks, he said, had been sabotaged by leaking the news of Mullah Omars death.



Admiral Abbasi rejected the suggestion that Pakistan was financing the Afghan Taliban.



The Talibans biggest source [of money] is the drug trade and we are trying to stop that. About 30-40 per cent of this trade is carried through the maritime route, he said.



The naval chief urged that the US should share intelligence gathering with Pakistan to combat drug trafficking through sea routes.



The navy chief disagreed with the suggestion that Pakistan was being isolated like North Korea.



Equating North Korea with Pakistan is not right. North Korea does not have a legitimate threat from a neighbour, which is responsible for dismembering it, he said.



Abbasi explained that North Korea was cut-off from the rest of the world as opposed to Pakistan, which works alongside international forces because Islamabad realises that a country cannot live in isolation.



The Pakistan navy chief said his country wanted a good relationship with the US, based on mutual respect, not security or economic assistance.



Security assistance is not our primary consideration. We want good relations with or without security assistance. We have enough resources in Pakistan. We can work without US assistance, he said.



Admiral Abbasi noted that the US recently cancelled the programme which enabled Pakistani military officers to attend theUS defence institutions.



We are still sending our officers to the US, funding the programme from our own resources, he maintained.



Abbasi said that Pakistan had noticed that the US and India had recently signed maritime agreements, but added that such deals were not a zero-sum game".



The US, he said, will also participate in multinational maritime exercises in Pakistan in February next year, where some 50 navies from around the world  including China  will take part. A similar exercise had been held in 2017 in which 37 countries participated.

He said all three services chiefs were out of the country, visiting the US, China and Russia and the visits conveyed the message that we want to stay engaged with the international community, with both East and West".

Abbasi said that Pakistan was looking for new and updated jet aircraft for surveillance purposes as the P3C surveillance planes that were given by the US more than 10 years ago were now outdated.



We are ready to acquire them from any source, including the US, he said.



Admiral Abbasi dismissed the concern that China was setting up a base at the Gwadar port, and insisting that theres absolutely no truth to that".



There are no plans to hand over any base to foreign navies anywhere in Pakistan, he said, emphasising that Gwadar was purely a commercial harbour and only Pakistan Navy would have a base there.



He said so far no foreign warship had entered Gwadar, but whenever that happens it would be open to all other navies including French, Royal and that of the US.Facebook is hosting adverts encouraging migrants to make the journey across the Mediterranean to Europe, Theresa May told EU leaders last night.

The adverts show different prices and routes  while one even offers a discount for children.

They make no mention of the perils of the journey which claims hundreds of lives each year.

Instead they suggest that the crossing will be made on well fitted-out ships, or even luxury yachts.

Scroll down for video

The Prime Minister said in a speech in Salzburg on Wednesday that the social media website was flooded with ads relating to dangerous crossings

According to the Prime Minister ads show different prices and routes with some offering child discounts

The Prime Minister briefed leaders in Salzburg on British operations which have identified more than 500 adverts posted by people smugglers on the social media platform in the last year.

British sources said human traffickers were using Facebook to advertise 'travel agent-style' services.

In reality, thousands have died in recent years while trying to make the crossing on overcrowded, badly maintained boats, which often lack the most basic safety equipment.

Some boats even set sail without enough fuel  with those on board relying on being rescued.

A British source said: 'These adverts are presented as reassuring and create an illusion this is safe, normal travel  rather than the reality of being packed on to a rigid inflatable or a small boat without safety jackets.'

Some of the 259 migrants rescued at sea are seen on board a rescue vessel as they arrive to the port in Algeciras last week

British authorities identified a total of 539 online people smuggling adverts last year. Officials worked with Europol's Internet Referral Unit and the social media firms to get the adverts blocked.

But Mrs May last night told EU leaders that European governments needed to take a co-ordinated stand to persuade social media firms to take the issue seriously, and to prevent adverts blocked in one country simply popping up in another.

She warned that Europe was only as strong as its 'weakest link'.

Facebook said last month that it had doubled the size of its 'safety and security' team and was investing in technology to help it crack down.

'People smuggling is illegal and any ads, posts, pages or groups that co-ordinate this activity are not allowed on Facebook,' a spokesman said.

British sources said that although Facebook and other firms usually responded to requests to take down adverts for people smuggling, they were not yet being pro-active.

Migrants queue for a free meal distributed by L'Autre Cantine association in the downtown of Nantes on Monday

Although word of mouth remains the main method for advertising the illegal operations, online advertising is playing an increasing role.

'If we can find them easily then obviously social media companies including Facebook can find them just as easily,' one source said. 'There's a lot more that social media companies could do.'

The number of migrants crossing has fallen sharply this year, but tens of thousands are still attempting it.

In the first seven months of this year almost 75,000 people made it to Europe, with another 1,524 reported dead or missing, according to the International Organisation for Migration.

The Prime Minister told EU leaders that Europe faced a 'generational challenge' in dealing with mass migration, and that the UK would remain fully committed to helping tackle the issue after Brexit.Each victim of an unprecedented massacre in Ohio was shot in the head, with many suffering multiple bullet wounds, newly released autopsy reports reveal.

The victims, seven adults and a 16-year-old boy, all members of the Rhoden family, were found dead at four homes along Union Hill Road in Pike County on the morning of April 22 2016 - they were all killed hours before.

More than two years later, police have not identified who was behind the killings, but autopsy reports suggest the murders were calculated and brutal, the Chillicothe Gazette reported.

Christopher Rhoden, 40, his ex wife Dana Rhoden, 37 and their children Christopher Jr, 16, Hanna May, 19, and Clarence 'Frankie' Rhoden, 20, were all shot, as was Frankie's fiancee Hannah Giley, 20, Christopher Sr's brother Kenneth, 44, and their cousin Gary Rhoden, 38.

Dana Rhoden, 37, (left) was killed along with seven other relatives - including her ex-husband Christopher Rhoden Sr, 40 (right). All of the victims sustained gunshots to the head, with all but one suffering multiple wounds

Kenneth Rhoden, 44, (left) was murdered execution-style -with a single shot to the eye. His cousin found his body with dollar bills strewn from his knees to his feet. Gary Rhoden, 38, (right) was also killed after he was shot twice in the head and a third time in the face

Christopher Roden Jr. (left), 16, was the youngest victim of the killings, and was with his mother when he died. Hanna May Rhoden, 19, (right) was also killed, but her five-day-old child was spared

All of the victims were reported to have been asleep when they were shot, except Christopher Sr, who is now understood to have been awake.

The father-of-three sustained nine gunshot wounds, in his forearm, torso and cheek. One bullet was shown to have shot through his bedroom door.

Sharing a trailer with Christopher Sr was his brother Gary, who was shot twice in the head and a third time in the face. His autopsy report says a 'muzzle stain' was left on his head, suggesting at one point a shot was fired while the gun was pressed against him.

Dana Rhoden was carefully shot four times around her head, and a fifth time from under her chin.

She was sharing a trailer with Christopher Jr and Hanna, both who were shot in the head multiple times.

Hanna was in bed with her five-day-old child, who was spared from the cruel and calculated murders.

The killer also shot Frankie Rhoden and Hannah Gilley in the head, sparing the life of their six-month-old child who slept between the two.

Husband-to-be Clarence 'Frankie' Rhoden and his fiancee Hannah Hazel Gilley, both 20, were among those killed

Dana Rhoden (back row, left) was murdered but the killer spared grandchildren (left to right) Brentley Rhoden, Ruger Lee and Sophia Wagner. The Wagners insist they are innocent and claim they are being turned into 'scapegoats' by police

Hannah was shot five times in total, with one shot hitting her left eye.

Kenneth Rhoden was shot only once, with the bullet entering his right eye. His cousin earlier claimed he found his body with dollar bills strewn from his knees to his feet.

To this day, there are no suspects in the Rhoden case, nobody has been arrested over the murders.

The Wagner family, who lived nearby and whose son fathered Hanna May Rhoden's child, moved to Alaska after being questioned over the killings multiple times.

They took the toddler with them.

Anyone with information related to the case is asked to call Southern Ohio Crime Stoppers at 740-773-TIPS.Michael Murphy, 65, has been moved from Long Bay jail in Sydney into palliative care as he is suffering from advanced cancer

One of the men who raped and murdered Anita Cobby in a horrific crime that shocked Australia is dying in hospital.

Michael Murphy, 65, has been moved from Long Bay jail in Sydney into palliative care as he is suffering from advanced cancer.

He was convicted along with four other men - including two of his brothers - for the vicious rape and killing of beauty queen and nurse Anita Cobby in 1986.

The 26-year-old was walking home late at night in Blacktown, in Sydney's west, when she was abducted by five men, before she was savagely tortured, raped, and beaten.

Her body was found dumped in a paddock, and her throat was so severely damaged she was almost decapitated.

It is understood Murphy does not have long to live, and Ms Cobby's family have been notified of his transfer from prison to Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick.

He was convicted along with four other men for the vicious killing of beauty queen and nurse Anita Cobby in 1986

Ms Cobby's body was found two days after she went missing.

Five men - Leslie Murphy, 22, Gary Murphy, 28, Michael Murphy, 33, Michael Murdoch, 19, and John Travers, 18 - were convicted of her murder and sentenced to life in prison.

She was dragged into a car, where she was beaten, repeatedly raped and tortured, had her fingers broken and bones dislocated.

Her body was discovered naked and face down, with her eyes still open, in a field days later.

The confession of 18-year-old ringleader John Travers was secretly recorded and was crucial evidence used in court.

'We were all drunk and she f***ing seen all of us. So I just cut her,' Travers said.

Her body was discovered by a farmer, sparking a manhunt for her killers.

All five were arrested within three weeks.

Her body was found dumped in a paddock, and her throat was so severely damaged she was almost decapitatedChevy Chase sat down for a rare interview with The Washington Post, where the actor trashed a number of his fellow actors and comedians while brushing off talk about his difficult childhood.

Chase kicked things off by going after the show that launched him to stardom, Saturday Night Live, which is still being produced by his old friend Lorne Michaels.

'First of all, between you and me and a lamppost, jeez, I dont want to put down Lorne or the cast, but Ill just say, maybe off the record, Im amazed that Lorne has gone so low. I had to watch a little of it, and I just couldnt f***ing believe it,' he said of watching a recent episode.

'That means a whole generation of s***heads laughs at the worst f***ing humor in the world.'

Going for it: Chevy Chase sat down for an interview with The Washington Post in which he disparaged a number of actors and Saturday Night Live (Chase above with wife Jayni in April)

Going hard: 'That means a whole generation of s***heads laughs at the worst f***ing humor in the world,' he said of SNL (Tina Fey and Donald Glover above at the 2018 season finale)

Hit hard: 'Just not funny. Makes $25 million a picture,' said Chase of Will Ferrell (above on Monday at the Emmys)

Chase then proceeded to criticize a number of performers, most of whom had said less than flattering things about him in the past.

Will Ferrell, who previously called out Chase for screaming at the writers and telling one of the women on the staff 'maybe you could give me a hand job later' during his 1997 stint as guest host was dismissed by the comedian.

'Just not funny. Makes $25 million a picture,' said Chase.

Tina Fey fared slightly better, eliciting some positive remarks to start from Chase.

'I liked Tina,' he said.

'I didnt see what all the folderol was about. She was good.'

Kristen Wiig got higher marks, with Chase complimenting her looks and talent, something he did not feel the need to acknowledge with any of the men he endorsed including Steve Martin, Dana Carvey and Eddie Murphy.

He said of the actress, who is currently filming a pivotal role in the Wonder Woman sequel: 'She had clear-cut chops, and she was pretty, too. But what happened to her? Where did she go?'

Chase also claims he was a big fan of Donald Glover, his co-star on community who got his start as a writer on 30 Rock and is now the star and creator of Atlanta.

And it was as a fan that Chase claims he joked in an interview with The New Yorker when he said: 'People think youre funnier because youre black.'

That comment did not sit well with most people, and Glover responded by stating: 'I cant help him if hes thrashing in the water. But I know theres a human in there somewhere.'

Early days: 'Chevy is an abused kid,' explained his wife Jayni, although the actor did not want to discuss the abuse he endured as a child in the interview (Chevy on left with older brother Ned)

Chase then reveals he ran into Glover earlier this year at the Saturday Night Live finale, and when describing the moment he came face-to-face with Glover said: 'I never saw a guy turn white so fast.'

The one topic Chase did not want to discuss was the childhood abuse he endured at the hands of his mother, including middle-of-the-night beatings and one being locked in the basement for days.

'Chevy is an abused kid,' explained his wife Jayni.

'One of the things that most of us have is, we know that our moms loved us, and some of us are lucky enough to be able to say that our fathers also loved us . . . theres layers of lucky and grateful, and things that give you a good start in life, and a foundation and self-confidence, and give you a capacity to live without fear.'

She then added: 'And Chevy doesnt have those things.'A Republican senator lashed out Wednesday against Donald Trump Jr. for a weekend Instagram post mocking the woman at the center of this year's Supreme Court nomination fight.

On Saturday the president's son posted a crayon-drawn note poking fun at a woman who had accused Judge Brett Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her when they were teens.

Trump Jr.'s artwork read: 'Hi Cindy will you be my girlfreind [sic],' with check-boxes next to 'yes' and 'no' options.

It ended: 'Love Bret.'

Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake tweeted on Wednesday: 'This is sickening. No one should make light of this situation.'

Donald Trump Jr. posted a graphic Saturday on Instagram that belittled a then-anonymous sexual assault accused of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, and four days later a Republican senator clobbered him for it on Twitter

President Trump's son (left) disseminated an image of a make-believe note from a young boy to a young girl, asking her to be his girlfriend, and attributing it to Kavanaugh; at the time Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat, was keeping accuser Christine Ford's name a secret  leading some conservatives to hint that she and her accusations might not be real

Flake is a persistent critic of President Trump and a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is vetting Kavanaugh's nomination for a lifetime post on America's highest court.

He has expressed reluctance about supporting the nomination without hearing from his accuser on Capitol Hill.

A source close to the president's son said Wednesday that he did not create the image, and that he wasn't mocking Christine Blasey Ford, the accuser who has turned Washington inside out in the past week.

Ford was maintaining her anonymity at the time the posting went up on Saturday, and Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein was still keeping a letter containing her allegations under wraps.

Ford revealed her identity on Sunday in a Washington Post interview.

Trump Jr. described his artwork on Instagram with the caption: 'Judge Kavanaugh's sexual assault letter found by Dems...'

The president's son joked on Instagram that 'the Dems and their usual nonsense games really have him on the ropes now,' speaking of Judge Kavanaugh  and his opponents pounced

Ford (left) claims a 17-year-old Kavanaugh (right, pictured Wednesday) pinned her down on a bed at a party when she was 15, covered her mouth, groped her and tried to remove her clothing; Kavanaugh denies it ever happened

The source pointed out that 'Cindy' in the scrawled note indicates that Trump Jr. was trying to lampoon Feinstein for refusing to identify Ford publicly and holding her letter through Kavanaugh's confirmation hearings for 11th-hour dramatic effect.

Feinstein, Trump Jr. wrote on Instagram, 'had the letter in July and saved it for the eve of his vote... honorable as always. I believe this is a copy for full transparency.'

Ford, now 51, claims a 17-year-old Kavanaugh pinned her down on a bed at a party when she was 15, covered her mouth, groped her and tried to remove her clothing.

She also says Kavanaugh's friend at the time, Mark Judge, cranked up music in the locked room so her cries of protest couldn't be heard.

Both men have denied being in any such situation.

A schoolmate of Ford came forward Wednesday on Twitter to corroborate her story, saying that the sexual misconduct 'was spoken about for days afterwards in school.'

Ford told The Washington Post that she had told no one about the incident until she attended therapy sessions with her husband in 2010, thirty years later.

And Ford's lawyer told NPR this week that the party occurred in the summertime.

Ford has not yet signaled whether she will accept Judiciary Committee Republicans' invitation to testify about her claims in a hearing next Monday.

President Trump said Wednesday that her performance in that hearing could determine whether he stands by his embattled nominee.

'Look, if she shows up and makes a credible showing that'll be very interesting,' Trump told reporters at the White House, 'and we'll have to make a decision.'

'But I can only say this: he is such an outstanding man. Very hard for me to imagine that anything happened.'The ex-boyfriend of a mining executive found dead in a river has confessed to her killing, a Brazilian police officer has told a court.

Mario Marcelo Santoro was arrested in Rio de Janeiro in early July and accused of murdering his former girlfriend Cecilia Haddad, 38, in Sydney.

It has been alleged the 40-year-old killed Ms Haddad as he 'could not accept the end of their relationship'.

Santoro faced court in the Brazilian city on Wednesday, where it was heard he confessed to strangling Ms Haddad to death in an informal police interview, according to The Daily Telegraph.

Mario Marcelo Santoro (left) confessed to killing his former girlfriend Cecilia Haddad (right) in an informal police interview with Rio de Janeiro police, a court has heard

Santoro faced court in Rio de Janeiro this week following his arrest (pictured) in the Brazilian city in early July

The interview had taken place in Rio de Janeiro shortly after Santoro's arrest.

Ms Haddad's fully-clothed body was discovered floating in the Lane Cove River on April 29, with Santoro flying back to his native Brazil on the same weekend her lifeless body was found.

The head of the Rio homicide squad, Dr Fabio Cardoso, gave testimony Santoro confessed to strangling Ms Haddad in an informal conversation after the pair had an argument in their apartment.

Santoro said he had felt 'unwanted', according to the court testimony.

The court heard Santoro went and purchased juice from a shopping centre after leaving the apartment and returned two hours later to try and hide Ms Haddad's body.

Santoro then drove her car with her body inside to the river close by, the court heard.

Santoro (right) confessed to strangling Ms Haddad (left) after the pair had an argument in their apartment, according to a testimony from the head of the Rio homicide squad, Dr Fabio Cardoso, which a court heard

It has been alleged Santoro killed Ms Haddad (pictured) as he 'could not accept the end of their relationship'

The court heard he threw away the car keys out the window on the Gladesville Bridge while taking an Uber to Sydney Airport to fly back to Brazil.

Dr Cardoso said police divers had found the keys after being alerted by the Uber driver.

Throughout the testimony, Santoro remained motionless and did not react. The detective said the defendant had told his colleague the confession was not formal testimony.

It has been alleged by Rio de Janeiro police that Santoro flew back to Brazil because he was of the belief that country's constitution would not allow citizens to be extradited, meaning he could not be caught by authorities in New South Wales.

But Brazilian authorities, with the help of their NSW counterparts, are reportedly planning to try him for the crime.

Santoro was arrested a day after police searched his home in Rio de Janeiro as well as the homes of his parents and relatives, after a warrant for his arrest was issued.

Wednesday's court hearing was a pre-trial hearing at which four of the seven prosecution witnesses gave evidence.

Judge Daniel Werneck Cotta will decide if Santoro will face a full trial on qualified homicide charges.

Santoro is being held in the Bangu 8 prison as he awaits trial.Russian President Vladimir Putin played to President Donald Trump's insecurities and ego, whispering to him about a deep state trying to hurt their relationship, it was revealed in a new book.

'It's not us. We get it,' Putin would tell Trump, White House aides told Washington Post reporter Greg Miller for his upcoming book 'The Apprentice: Trump, Russia and the Subversion of American Democracy.'

'It's the subordinates fighting against our friendship,' he'd say, stroking Trump's fears that a 'deep state' within the government was working against his presidency.

Russian President Vladimir Putin played to President Donald Trump's insecurities and ego, a new book reports

'It's not us. We get it,' Putin would tell President Trump, stroking his fears of a 'deep state'

President Trump talks with President Putin at the opening of the G20 summit on July 7, 2017 in Hamburg, Germany

Trump has expressed administration for Putin and famously sided with him in a July press conference in Helsinki.

The president also has railed against a 'deep state' on multiple occasions and in several Twitter rants.

And Putin would play off that in their conversations, using his training as an intelligence operative to manipulate Trump, according to 'The Apprentice,' which is being published on Oct 2 and examines Russia's interference in the 2016 election.

The book based on hundreds of interviews with Trump's inner circle, current and former government officials, individuals with ties to the White House, members of the intelligence communities, and foreign officials, according to an excerpt that ran in The Washington Post.

Miller makes assertions similar to those made by Bob Woodward in 'Fear' and Michael Wolff in 'Fire and Fury' - that Trump's White House was chaotic, dysfunctional, and consumed with factions warring against one another.

But it also reports on how U.S. intelligence officials warned of what Russia was doing in the lead-up to Trump's election.

The book describes how in August 2016, CIA Director John Brennan called White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough and said: 'I need to get in to see the president.'

He wanted to show then President Barack Obama that intelligence findings had emerged in late July from deep inside the Kremlin, demonstrating that Putin himself was directing an 'active measures' operation aimed at electing Trump.

The book describes a 'Russia House' - an internal office in the CIA focused on all things related to Moscow - that found evidence of Moscow meddling.

Trump, himself, was briefed on intelligence findings by Brennan and other intelligence officials who met with the then-president-elect at Trump Tower in the days leading up to inauguration.

Brennan quit as CIA director with Trump's inauguration, following the common practice of political appointees resigning so new president's can hire their own people.

He then became one of Trump's harshest critics.

The president removed Brennan's security clearance in August after the former CIA chief accused him of 'treason' in the wake of his disastrous press conference with Putin in Helsinki, when Trump agreed with his Russian counterpart's assertion Moscow didn't interfere in the 2016 contest, after intelligence agencies concluded it did.

Brennan tweeted: 'Donald Trump's press conference performance in Helsinki rises to & exceeds the threshold of 'high crimes & misdemeanors.' It was nothing short of treasonous. Not only were Trump's comments imbecilic, he is wholly in the pocket of Putin. Republican Patriots: Where are you???'

Trump and Putin at their July meeting in Helsinki

Trump has often railed against a 'deep state' working against him

Putin warned Trump of 'subordinates' who are 'fighting against our friendship'

At the now-infamous press conference, Trump was asked if he believed his Russian counterpart or his intelligence chiefs about the interference allegations.

'I don't see any reason why it would be' Russia, the president said.

'I have great confidence in my intelligence people,' he added, 'but I will tell you that President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today. And what he did is an incredible offer. He offered to have the people working on the case come and work with their investigators with respect to the 12 people. I think that's an incredible offer.'

The president later clarified his remarks to say he did believe intelligence assessments that Russia meddled in the 2016 contest.A furious farmer has slammed the supermarkets for not doing enough as both Coles and Woolworths announce a milk levy to help drought-hit workers.

Joe Bradley, a Queensland dairy farmer, said the 10 cent milk levy was just a small step to helping farmers affected by the drought.

'I give credit to Woolies because someone has finally put their hand up and said we're going to help someway  it's a start, it's not enough,' Mr Bradley said after Woolworths announced a 10 cent increase on one brand of its milk.

Joe Bradley, a Queensland dairy farmer, said the 10 cent milk levy was just a small step to helping farmers affected by the drought

Coles and Woolworths have added a 10 cent milk levy to some of their milk (stock image)

A Coles spokesman told Daily Mail Australia it has added a 10 cent a litre levy as they increased the price of their 3L Own Brand Milk to help support the farmers.

'Coles and our customers have already committed almost $12 million to drought relief, including $5 million from the Coles Nurture Fund to assist drought affected farmers,' the spokesperson said.

'To further support Australian farmers Coles will, from today until the end of the year, increase the price of our 3L Own Brand milk from $3.00 to $3.30.

'100 per cent of this increase will be donated to farmers affected by drought.

'All we can do is ask the public to boycott Coles until they come on board,' Mr Bradley said (stock image)

'Coles has always supported our Aussie farmers. We have an Australia First Sourcing Policy and all of our fresh milk is 100% Australian.

'Coles for a number of years has sold a range of milk brands with a percentage of sales going to support dairy farmers in Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.'

Before the announcement, Mr Bradley asked Australians to boycott Coles for failing to help farmers.

'Congratulations Woolies but shame on Coles  I've asked them to come talk to me and talk to farmers, they haven't,' he said.

'All we can do is ask the public to boycott Coles until they come on board.'A transgender teenager has pleaded guilty to killing her parents and dog on Halloween because they wouldn't accept her transition.

Andrea Balcer, who is still referred to as Andrew Balcer in court documents, sobbed in court as the prosecutor described how she had stabbed Alice and Antonio Balcer, both 47, to death on October 31, 2016.

The 19-year-old also fatally stabbed the family's chihuahua but spared her brother's life.

Andrea Balcer, who is still referred to as Andrew Balcer in court documents, sobbed in court as the prosecutor described how she had stabbed Alice and Antonio Balcer, both 47, to death

The teen did not give any explanation for the horrific murders in court.

But Balcer's attorney, Walter McKee of Augusta, said outside court that his client had been sexually abuser by her mother as a teenager.

He added that Balcer's parents had struggled to accept her transition into a transgender woman.

'She has indicated some issues with respect to transitioning from the gender assigned at birth [as a trigger for the crimes],' he said.

But Assistant Attorney General Robert 'Bud' Ellis has dismissed Balcer's abuse claims.

'Our position is basically that we do not accept that as reality,' Ellis said outside court.

The 19-year-old also fatally stabbed the family's chihuahua but spared her brother's life

The teen did not give any explanation for the horrific murders in court (pictured being led away after pleading guilty)

Dr. Debra Baeder, Maine's chief forensic psychiatrist, testified last year that Balcer was afraid her parents would not accept her as she transitioned.

Baeder held several sessions with the teen after the murders.

In one session, she said Balcer told her: 'Maybe I should be someone else. Maybe, I should be a woman.'

'I couldn't be as flamboyant as I wanted. I couldn't dress the way I wanted,'' she testified Balcer told her.

In court last year, a recording of Balcer's 12 minute call to 911 revealed her confessing to stabbing his mother in the back while she was hugging her, before stabbing his father when he woke up from the screams.

A military-style knife was found stuck in the floor near her father's body.

'I took my Ka-Bar (knife) and drove it straight into my mother's back,' Balcer told the dispatcher after murdering her parents October 31, 2016.

Balcer and her mother Alice are shown. School officials said they saw no indication of violent behavior from Andrea, who was a student at Winthrop High School at the time

Mr Balcer became an ordained reverend after he retired from the US Coast Guard

'My father came up because he heard her screams and I stabbed the f**k out of him.'

She said she stabbed the dog because it would not stop barking.

Alice Balcer was stabbed nine times and Antonio Balcer was stabbed a dozen times, according to the autopsy report.

Balcer, who was just 17 at the time of the stabbings, also said on the recording that she did not know why she did it, and that there had not recently been arguments with her parents.

'There's no helping them,' she said on the tape.

Prosecutors filed a petition to have Balcer tried as an adult which would have meant an automatic life sentence under Maine law.

Andrea Balcer, now 19, and Alice on a 2014 trip to Italy. Balcer is charged with double murder for stabbing her parents Alice and Antonio Balcer

The teen was charged with double murder for stabbing Antonio and Alice Balcer (pictured together) to death in their Winthrop home last Halloween

This week, Balcer pleaded guilty to two counts of intentional or knowing murder and one count of aggravated cruelty to animals as part of a plea agreement with the Maine attorney general's office that calls for the prosecution to recommend 55 years in prison.

McKee is free to argue for less time in prison.

Balcer, who has been held without bail since the 2016 murder, will be sentenced in November.

The superintendent of Winthrop High School, where Balcer attended school at the time, previously told Central Maine school he saw no 'tell tale' signs of violent behavior from her.

'From what best I know, he was a very good kid, a very good student, an academically superior student,' Gary Rosenthal told the newspaper.

'There were (none) that I know of that would indicate there were any problems, and the family seemed to be well liked, and the mother was very personable.

'It's one of those dilemmas you shake your head at.'How many cases are there?

At least 13 people have gone public about finding needles in their strawberries since a man was rushed to hospital on September 9. Victims include young children and a dog.

However, NSW Police said on Tuesday it was investigating 20 cases in that state alone so the total figure is likely much higher.

Additionally, copycats put a needle in a banana and an apple, according to customers claiming to have found them.

Which brands are involved?

Seven brands, six from Queensland and one from Western Australia, have been targeted so far.

They include Berry Obsession, Berry Licious, Donnybrook Berries, Delightful Strawberries, Love Berries, Oasis, and Mal's Black Label.

Who is responsible?

Police are searching for the original culprit and likely at least one copycat who placed the needles or razor blades but have not mentioned any leads.

Tampering is believed to have occurred during the packing stage, which is done at a central facility with many different brands, or soon after.

Can you still buy strawberries?

Supermarkets recalled all berries from the affected brands and Coles and Aldi temporarily pulled all strawberries from shelves until Monday.

The affected brands remain excluded from supermarket shelves.

New Zealand retailers have cut off Australian strawberries indefinitely.

Should you buy strawberries and how can you eat them safely?

Health and food safety authorities advise customers to cut each berry in half to reveal if there is any sharp metal hidden inside

How has this affected growers?

The growers targeted by the contamination are unable to sell their stock and at least one of them has dumped millions of berries in a ditch.

Other companies have also mass scrapped stock as consumers are too worried to buy strawberries at all and sales collapsed.

Strawberries are a $160 million industry in Queensland alone and the state government announced a $1 million fund to assist growers.

Can't they just use metal detectors?

Some have resorted to this, but they cost at least $30,000 to install and may not prevent anything as police believe it happened at the packing stage.

Why are growers poisoning and throwing away perfectly good strawberries?

Even though their stock has not been targeted, demand for strawberries has crashed as customers are worried they will be the next victim.

With no one to sell the fruit to, it will go off and rot in storage, so there is no point in keeping or even harvesting it.

What are the alternative theories?

Police believe a disgruntled employee or similar is most likely to be responsible and copycats may have mental issues.

However, there are many other theories about the reasons behind the contamination scare doing the rounds on social media.

Some believe some of the needles were placed in the fruit at the supermarket by the victims who were just trying to get attention.

Others believe a foreign nation or company competing with Australian farmers to be behind it as an act of corporate espionage.

The Australian Government was also accused of being behind it as part of an elaborate plot to kill off Australian farming.

It would then sell the land to overseas companies and make the population dependent on the government for imported food.

Terrorism is another popular explanation, with the Queensland Strawberry Growers Association even calling it 'commercial terrorism'.

This theory got a boost when a psychologist on Tuesday said the culprit was likely attempting to instill fear in customers.

Backpackers, who make up much of the picking workforce, are also under suspicion online by those who believe it to be revenge for them not getting long-term visas.Asif Ali Zardari filed review petition in SC

ISLAMABAD: Former president and Pakistan Peoples Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday filed a review petition in the Supreme Court, challenging its Aug 29 order in the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) case in which the court had sought details of his and those of assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhuttos foreign assets.



Terming the seeking of details of Ms Bhuttos assets disrespect to a martyr, Mr Zardari argued in the petition that such details had nothing to do with the case and that it was out of context and against his fundamental rights.



A three-judge SC bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar which is seized with a petition filed by the Lawyers Foundation for Justice president Feroz Shah Gilani asked Mr Zardari in the Aug 29 order to submit an affidavit highlighting details of foreign assets and bank accounts, including Swiss accounts, belonging to him, his slain wife, children (Bilawal, Bakhtawar and Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari) and other dependants.



Mr Gilanis petition seeks recovery of public amount allegedly wasted against the backdrop of the NRO in 2007. He nominated Mr Zardari, former president retired Gen Pervez Musharraf and former attorney general Malik Abdul Qayyum as respondents in the case.



Moved by senior counsel Farooq H. Naek, the review petition argued that the Aug 29 order had erroneously shifted the burden of proof to Mr Zardari, asking him to prove his innocence. This is something that Mr Zardari has done time and again and even he has been acquitted multiple times on merit.



The actual burden of proof, the review petition argues, remains on the party which has brought the case before the court. The Aug 29 order prime facie aimed at seeking to gather information which would somehow incriminate Mr Zardari, it added. This is against the spirit of Article 13 of the Constitution which provides protection against double punishment.



Moreover, the review petition says, setting Oct 5, 2007 as date from which financial information of Mr Zardari and his family should be included in the affidavit is arbitrary, ad hoc and does not find basis in the law.



The Aug 29 order has also failed to take into account the practical difficulties that would occur in attempting to gather information required to be furnished in the affidavit sought under the order.



The record is likely to have been shredded and no longer available, especially when it comes to old property documents and details of their sale and purchase price, it says.



The order is also in violation of Article 4, 175 (2) and 187 (1) of the constitution which guarantees rights of individuals to be dealt with in accordance with the law, establishment and jurisdiction of the courts and issue and execution of processes of the Supreme Court, respectively.



Thus, the petition of Mr Gilani does not fall within the purview of Article 184(3) of the constitution, the review petition says, adding the Aug 29 order is asking for the details for a period spanning over a decade. Even under income tax law the limitation prescribed for assessments by Section 121 of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001 is five years and anything before the same is exempt from assessment.



Moreover, under Section 60 of the Election Act 2017, a candidate is only to furnish a statement of his assets and liabilities for the preceding year whereas under the Aug 29 order the affidavit to be supplied covers the period from Oct 5, 2007 till date, which is unheard of.School pupils have been banned from walking home in part of Scotland over safety fears due to Storm Ali.

Dumfries and Galloway VOST (Virtual Operations Support Team) said some children had already been injured by flying debris.

Pupils will have to wait to be collected in a vehicle or until after the severe weather subsides before leaving schools, it said.Wasps are being wiped out at the same rate as bees and their disappearance would be just as disastrous, according to new research.

However, the demise of wasps is largely going unnoticed because the insects are so unpopular and associated with leaving a painful sting.

A lack of understanding about their vital role in the ecosystem and economy is a fundamental reason why they are hated while bees are much loved, scientists say.

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Wasps (stock image) are being wiped out as quickly as bees and their disappearance will be just as disastrous, according to new research

Study author Dr Seirian Sumner, an environmental scientist at University College London, explained: 'It's clear we have a very different emotional connection to wasps than to bees.

'We have lived in harmony with bees for a very long time, domesticating some species.

'But human-wasp interactions are often unpleasant as they ruin picnics and nest in our homes.'

He said that despite this, we need to actively overhaul their negative image in order to protect our planet.

'They are facing a similar decline to bees and that is something the world can't afford', he said.

An insect 'armageddon' is under way due to pollution, habitat changes, overuse of pesticides and global warming.

The study, published in the journal Ecological Entomology, says both bees and wasps are two of humanity's most important organisms.

They both pollinate our flowers and crops, however, wasps also destroy pests and insects that carry human diseases.

Dr Sumner and colleagues surveyed 748 people from 46 countries on their perceptions of insects including bees and wasps.

Their survey confirmed the latter are indeed disliked across the board.

The researchers blame low levels of interest in nature and a lack of knowledge about the benefits wasps bring to our planet.

The international team also found wasps are an unpopular choice of insect for researchers to study which likely compounds their negative image.

Little effort is being made to comprehend and communicate their positive role in the ecosystem, the study found.

The study, published in the journal Ecological Entomology, says both bees (pictured, stock image) and wasps are two of humanity's most important organisms

Researchers quantified the number of scientific research papers written about bees and wasps over the last 37 years.

Of 908 papers sampled, only 2.4 per cent (22 papers) since 1980 were on wasps, compared to 97.6 per cent (886 papers) on bees.

Dr Sumner said our dislike of wasps is largely shaped by a small number of social species, the yellowjackets and hornets.

These represent fewer than one per cent of stinging wasps but are most likely to come into contact with humans.

There are 67 social species but the vast majority of wasps (more than 75,000 varieties) are solitary.

All insects are under threat from climate change and habitat loss, so the team say maintaining abundance and diversity should be a priority.

Co author, Dr Alessandro Cini, of UCL and the University of Florence in Italy, said: 'Global concern about the decline of pollinators has resulted in a phenomenal level of public interest in, and support of, bees.

'It would be fantastic if this could be mirrored for wasps but it would need a complete cultural shift in attitudes towards wasps.

'The first step on the way to this would be for scientists to appreciate wasps more and provide the required research on their economic and societal value, which will then help the public understand the importance of wasps.'

The research was funded by the Natural Environment Research Council and the European Commission through the Marie Curie fellowship.A giant net that could help to end the scourge of space junk has been successfully tested for the first time.

An experimental 'space junk sweeper' was used to retrieve a simulated space junk package in orbit above the Earth.

Known as RemoveDEBRIS, it was carried as cargo inside a flight-proven Falcon 9 rocket launched by SpaceX back in April.

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A giant harpoon that could help to end the scourge of space junk has been successfully tested for the first time. The experimental 'space junk sweeper' (artist's impression) was used to retrieve a simulated space junk package in orbit above the Earth

The spacecraft, built by the Surrey Space Centre at the University of Surrey, began the first of three experimental phase swhen it used its net to capture a deployed target, simulating a piece of space debris.

To develop the net technology, the team behind it spent six years testing in parabolic flights, special drop towers and thermal vacuum chambers.

In the coming months, RemoveDEBRIS will test more technologies, including a vision-based navigation system that uses cameras and LIDAR technology to analyse and observe potential pieces of debris.

It will also use the first harpoon capture technology used in orbit and a drag-sail that will finally bring RemoveDEBRIS into the Earths atmosphere, where it will be destroyed, bringing its mission to a close.

Professor Guglielmo Aglietti, Director of the Surrey Space Centre, said: 'We are absolutely delighted with the outcome of the net technology.

'While it might sound like a simple idea, the complexity of using a net in space to capture a piece of debris took many years of planning, engineering and coordination.

'These are very exciting times for us all.'

Nasa estimates that there are more than 500,000 pieces of space debris floating around in space. They range in size from as small as a marble to bigger than a spent rocket stage

Right now, there are over half a million pieces of potentially dangerous space junk floating above the earth.

The space junk ranges in size of a marble or larger and can include things like a spent rocket stage or a forgotten glove from an astronaut.

And it's become a serious problem that threatens to destroy crucial spacecraft.

More than 20,000 pieces of space debris are bigger than a softball, according to Nasa.

Space junk can travel up to 175,000mph (282,000kph), which is fast enough to damage a satellite or rocket, the agency said.

'Even tiny paint flecks can damage a spacecraft when travelling at these velocities,' Nasa says.

However, scientists are limited in the kinds of techniques that they can use to remove space junk.

Materials like magnets or suction cups traditionally don't work in space due to freezing temperatures and a lack of air pressure, among other things.

Instead, they've turned to new methods as a means of decluttering space.

In all, the RemoveDEBRIS system weighs less than 220lbs (100kg), according to the University of Surrey.



The mission has been in the works since 2013 as part of a consortium of 10 partners across Europe, including aerospace giant Airbus and the University of Surrey's Surrey Space Center.

RemoveDEBRIS will demonstrate active debris removal by capturing two cubesats, or mini satellites, using techniques like a harpoon, net, visual navigation system and a de-orbit sail

The RemoveDEBRIS mission was started in 2013 by a consortium of 10 partners across Europe, including aerospace giant Airbus and the University of Surrey's Surrey Space Center

It was launched as part of SpaceX's Mission CRS-14, which delivered 'critical materials' for research to the International Space Station (ISS).

Aside from RemoveDEBRIS, the rocket also carried materials for studies looking at severe thunderstorms on Earth, bioluminescent cells and growing food in space.

The materials were packed tightly into a flight-proven Dragon capsule atop the rocket, which was successfully delivered to the ISS on Wednesday, April 4.

RemoveDEBRIS was then unpacked by astronauts and launched into low-earth orbit, which is between 400 and 1,000 miles (644 and 1,600km) above the Earth's surface.

The satellite then deployed two cubesats, or small satellites, that were retrieved to simulate the process of capturing space junk.

WHAT IS SPACE JUNK? MORE THAN 170 MILLION PIECES OF DEAD SATELLITES, SPENT ROCKETS AND FLAKES OF PAINT POSE 'THREAT' TO SPACE INDUSTRY There are an estimated 170 million pieces of so-called 'space junk' - left behind after missions that can be as big as spent rocket stages or as small as paint flakes - in orbit alongside some US$700 billion (555bn) of space infrastructure. But only 27,000 are tracked, and with the fragments able to travel at speeds above 16,777 mph (27,000kmh), even tiny pieces could seriously damage or destroy satellites. However, traditional gripping methods don't work in space, as suction cups do not function in a vacuum and temperatures are too cold for substances like tape and glue. Grippers based around magnets are useless because most of the debris in orbit around Earth is not magnetic. Around 500,000 pieces of human-made debris (artist's impression) currently orbit our planet, made up of disused satellites, bits of spacecraft and spent rockets Most proposed solutions, including debris harpoons, either require or cause forceful interaction with the debris, which could push those objects in unintended, unpredictable directions. Scientists point to two events that have badly worsened the problem of space junk. The first was in February 2009, when an Iridium telecoms satellite and Kosmos-2251, a Russian military satellite, accidentally collided. The second was in January 2007, when China tested an anti-satellite weapon on an old Fengyun weather satellite. Experts also pointed to two sites that have become worryingly cluttered. One is low Earth orbit which is used by satnav satellites, the ISS, China's manned missions and the Hubble telescope, among others. The other is in geostationary orbit, and is used by communications, weather and surveillance satellites that must maintain a fixed position relative to Earth. Advertisement

Pictured, the RemoveDEBRIS satellite jettisons a massive net to ensare a cubesat that's drifting away through space. It's a safer way to capture space junk than magnets or other methods

The RemoveDEBRIS satellite will also demonstrate a vision-based navigation system (pictured) that relies on advanced technologies like LIDAR, or a light detection and ranging system, in addition to cameras, to retrieve space junk

Eventually, the satellite will burn up upon reentry into the Earth's atmosphere.

If the experiment is successful, the scientists are hoping that it can serve as a model for low-cost methods of retrieving space junk.

They also hope to launch additional missions in the future.

'Since the beginning of space era, orbital debris has progressively been building up and there are now almost 7,000 tons of it around the Earth,' said Professor Sir Martin Sweeting, executive chairman of Surrey Satellite Technology, in a statement at the time.

'It is now time for the international space community to begin to mitigate, limit and control space junk,' he added.It sounds eerily similar to the plot of an episode of Charlie Brooker's popular dystopian science fiction series Black Mirror.

But China's controversial social credit system  which ranks all of its 1.4 billion citizens on their behaviour in real-time  is real, and it's on track to launch by 2020.

Completing community service and buying Chinese products is thought to improve your social standing, which is given as a score out of 800.

Those rated 'top citizens' get VIP treatment at airports, discounted loans, waived deposits on hotel and car rentals and fast-tracking to elite universities.

Fraud, tax evasion and smoking in non-smoking areas can drop your ranking, as well as buying items in supermarkets that the government doesn't approve of - such as alcohol or video games.

Those with a low social score are barred from the best jobs, cut off from high-speed internet and even blocked from sending their children to top schools.

China is planning to use a network of up to 600 million AI-powered surveillance cameras dotted around its major cities to enforce the system.

The programme has already completed successful trials in provinces across China, and is bolstered by facial recognition, body scanning and geo-tracking technology.

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Pictured is Lacie, played by Dallas Howard, in the Black Mirror episode Nosedive. Characters in the episode have a social score that updates in real-time as they perform actions deemed good or bad. China's government has developed a similar system for its citizens

This real-time tracking is combined with citizens' individuals' government records - including their medical, educational and financial histories.

China's Communist Party calls the system 'social credit' and says it will be fully operational by 2020, according to a new report from ABC.

Within years, an official Party outline claims, it will 'allow the trustworthy to roam freely under heaven while making it hard for the discredited to take a single step'.

The programme echoes the 2016 Black Mirror episode Nosedive, in which citizens assemble a social score based on how others rate them in day-to-day interactions.

This is all made possible by China's ever-expanding surveillance network, which currently boasts 200 million AI-powered cameras.

China hopes to triple this number before the scorecard system's launch.

Xu Li, CEO of Sensetime, one of China's most successful artificial intelligence companies, said: 'It can recognise more than 4,000 vehicles.

'We can tell whether it is an adult, a child, male or female.'

China launched a pilot version of the scheme in 2010 in a province just north of Shanghai.

This pilot system provides incentives for those with a high social credit score such as priority access to public housing, travel visas and job promotions.

Liu Hu, a journalist in China, told CBS News that when he tried to book a flight, he was told he was banned from flying because he was on a list of untrustworthy people.

Mr Liu was issued with a court order to apologise for a series of tweets he wrote and was then told his apology was insincere.

As a result his score dropped and he found himself on the list of undesirables.

HOW CAN CHINESE CITIZENS INCREASE THEIR 'SOCIAL CREDIT SCORE'? China launched a pilot version of the scheme in 2010 in a province just north of Shanghai. Details as to how it works and the algorithm it uses are thin on the ground but certain behaviours have been found to be beneficial to boosting the score. Completing community service and buying Chinese products is thought to improve it whereas fraud, tax evasion and smoking in non-smoking areas can drop it. Companies that pay their takes on time and any bills also receive favour from the system, improving their social credit standing. In the pilot system, incentives are provided for those with a high social credit score. Benefits include priority access to public housing, travel visas and job promotions Advertisement

'I can't buy property. My child can't go to a private school,' he said.

'You feel you're being controlled by the list all the time.'

According to Ken Dewoskin, an expert in China's economic and political culture, revealed in an interview the damage and implications this system could have.

He says how the new scoring system truly works is kept secret and could be easily abused by the government.

Mr Dewoskin said: 'The government and the people running the plan would like it to go as deeply as possible to determine how to allocate benefits and also how to impact and shape their behaviour.'

China's controversial social credit system - in which all of its 1.4 billion citizens are 'ranked' on their behaviour in real-time - is on track to launch by 2020 (stock image)

The system raises ethical concerns, with scholars debating the morale issues created by such a universal and publicly accessible database.

Experts published research last year in the journal Marketing Intelligence and Planning which looked at how the gamification of life would affect people.

They claim the system could be manipulated by the government to create universal conformity to the ideologies presented by the ruling communist party.

Audrey Murrell, Director of the David Berg Center for Ethics and Leadership at the University of Pittsburgh, wrote in an article for Forbes: 'It is one thing to reward positive behaviour.

'But one could argue that the introduction of penalties for "untrustworthiness" produces consequences for lack of adherence to government-mandated social behaviours.'Sony has unveiled a shrunken version of its classic Playstation One video games console that comes pre-loaded with 20 classic titles.

The 90 ($100) PlayStation One Classic is almost half the size of Sony's original 1994 console, making it small enough to hold in one hand.

It is available for pre-order now ahead of its release on December 3  exactly 24 years after the original release date for the console.

Sony is following in the footsteps of fellow Japanese games-maker Nintendo, which has released miniature versions of two of its classic consoles in recent years.

The nostalgic re-issues of the classic consoles have been hugely popular amongst Nintendo fans, with the most recent SNES Classic Mini has sold 5.28 million units worldwide since its launch in September 2017.

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The 90 ($100) PlayStation One Classic is almost half the size of Sony's original 1994 console, making it small enough to hold in one hand

Like Nintendo's NES Classic and SNES Classic, the PlayStation Classic comes preloaded with a slew of nostalgic hits from the system's original back catalogue.

Sony has announced five so far  Final Fantasy VII, Tekken 3, R4: Ridge Racer Type 4, Jumping Flash! and Wild Arms.

'All of the pre-loaded games will be playable in their original format,' the company said.

Sony says it will announce the remaining 15 games before launch later this year.

The PlayStation One Classic come with two controllers and an HDMI slot, which is used to connect the updated 1994 console to modern HD TVs.

The controllers are full-size replicas of the PS1's original gamepads, not the later DualShock ones, and so don't include analog sticks or vibration.

The console comes packed with a list of hits from the system's original library. Sony has announced five so far: Final Fantasy VII, Tekken 3, R4: Ridge Racer Type 4, Jumping Flash! and Wild Arms

WHAT GAMES COME WITH THE PS ONE CLASSIC? Sony has announced five games so far. - Final Fantasy VII - Tekken 3 - R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 - Jumping Flash! - Wild Arms Advertisement

Saved files are stored on a virtual memory card, meaning your original PS1 saves will not be salvageable.

The console is 45 per cent smaller than the original system, and features replicas of the buttons seen on the original system.

However, since the console uses an internal software database of games  players will not need to manually swap-out disks.

Instead, the open button on the PS One Classic switches virtual discs, while the 'reset' is used to quit games in progress.

The console is now available for pre-order in Japan, Europe, the US, and UK ahead of its release December 3.

The shrunken down console is available for pre-order now ahead of its release on December 3 - exactly 24 years on from the console's original release

The PlayStation One Classic come with two controllers and an HDMI slot, meaning you can connect it to your modern TV

It is shipping for $99.99 in the US, while the UK version costs just under 89.99.

The announcement continues a trend of big-name gaming firms releasing miniature versions of classic products.

Nintendo has had huge success in the last two years by releasing scaled down versions of the NES and SNES consoles  both of which quickly sold out.

Sega has since joined the market and is planning to launch a mini version of its 90s console the Mega Drive next year.Advertisement

Nissan has transformed a pick-up truck into a world class mobile space observatory.

The Navara Dark Sky Concept allows astronomers to gaze at the universe from hard-to-reach locations away from the nighttime glow of urban areas.

It tows a bespoke trailer which houses a world-leading telescope giving detailed views beyond the rings of Saturn, to distant galaxies, nebulae and supernovas.

Nissan has transformed a pick-up truck into a world class mobile space observatory. The Navara Dark Sky Concept lets astronomers view the universe from hard-to-reach locations away from the nighttime glow of urban areas

NAVARA DARK SKY CONCEPT STATS The Nissan has four-wheel drive, 20-inch (50 cm) wheels with off-road tyres and high-intensity headlights. Under the bonnet is a 2.3-litre twin-turbocharged diesel. The Navara and trailer both feature portable EV battery packs. When docked in place, the battery packs are constantly in charging mode and ready for use. Additional high-tech features include Wi-Fi, a laptop station, and UHF (Ultra High Frequency) radio transmission to relay data instantaneously worldwide. Advertisement

The one-off Nissan, developed in the UK in collaboration with the European Space Agency, was unveiled at today's Hannover Motor Show in Germany.

The trailer module has a special refrigerated atmosphere, which allows the telescope to remain stable and calibrated at the optimum temperature in transit to any location.

Once at the desired destination, the trailer module's mechanised roof opens to focus the telescope on the night sky.

ESA is mapping the stars with unprecedented precision using its Gaia satellite, which has already observed more than one billion stars.

Fred Jansen, ESA's senior mission manager for Gaia, said: 'The Nissan Navara Dark Sky Concept allows observations to take place in very remote places, avoiding light pollution, while also transporting telescopes safely and easily.

'Telescopes like the one in the trailer are needed in studies of planets and stars in our galaxy, allowing Earth-based follow-up campaigns enabled by the Gaia data.'

It tows a bespoke trailer which houses a world-leading telescope giving detailed views beyond the rings of Saturn, to distant galaxies, nebulae and supernovas

The one-off Nissan, developed in the UK in collaboration with the European Space Agency, was unveiled at the Hannover Motor Show in Germany

The trailer module has a special refrigerated atmosphere, which allows the telescope to remain stable and calibrated at the optimum temperature in transit to any location

Nissan plans to work with ESA to donate the telescope as part of their educational outreach initiatives following the Hannover Motor Show

WHAT IS THE EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY'S GAIA PROBE AND WHAT IS DESIGNED TO DO? Gaia is an ambitious mission to chart a three-dimensional map of our galaxy, the Milky Way, and in the process reveal its composition, formation and evolution. Gaia has been circling the sun nearly a million miles beyond Earth's orbit since its launch by the European Space Agency (ESA) in December 2013. On its journey, the probe has been discreetly snapping pictures of the Milky Way, identifying stars from smaller galaxies long ago swallowed up by our own. Tens of thousands of previously undetected objects are expected to be discovered by Gaia, including asteroids that may one day threaten Earth, planets circling nearby stars, and exploding supernovas. Artist's impression of Gaia mapping the stars of the Milky Way. Gaia maps the position of the Milky Way's stars in a couple of ways. It pinpoints the location of the stars but the probe can also plot their movement, by scanning each star about 70 times Astrophysicists also hope to learn more about the distribution of dark matter, the invisible substance thought to hold the observable universe together. They also plan to test Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity by watching how light is deflected by the sun and its planets. The satellite's billion-pixel camera, the largest ever in space, is so powerful it would be able to gauge the diameter of a human hair at a distance of 621 miles (1,000 km). This means nearby stars have been located with unprecedented accuracy. Gaia maps the position of the Milky Way's stars in a couple of ways. Gaias all-sky view of our Milky Way Galaxy and neighbouring galaxies, based on measurements of nearly 1.7 billion stars. The map shows the total brightness and colour of stars observed by the ESA satellite in each portion of the sky between July 2014 and May 2016. Brighter regions indicate denser concentrations of especially bright stars, while darker regions correspond to patches of the sky where fewer bright stars are observed. The colour representation is obtained by combining the total amount of light with the amount of blue and red light recorded by Gaia in each patch of the sky. It pinpoints the location of the stars but the probe can also plot their movement, by scanning each star about 70 times. This is what allows scientists to calculate the distance between Earth and each star, which is a crucial measure. In September 2016, ESA released the first batch of data collected by Gaia, which included information on the brightness and position of over a billion stars. In April 2018, this was expanded to high-precision measurements of almost 1.7 billion stars. Advertisement

To negotiate tricky terrain, the Nissan has four-wheel drive, 20-inch (50 cm) wheels with off-road tyres and high-intensity headlights. The overall ride height has been raised for improved ground clearance.

Under the bonnet is a 2.3-litre twin-turbocharged diesel with enough pulling power to handle the trailer's additional weight.

The Navara and trailer both feature portable EV battery packs, which make use of Nissan's existing electric-vehicle battery technology.

When docked in place, the battery packs are constantly in charging mode and ready for use.

Additional high-tech features include Wi-Fi, a laptop station and UHF (Ultra High Frequency) radio transmission to relay data instantaneously to anywhere in the world.

Once at the desired destination, the trailer module's mechanised roof opens to focus the telescope on the night sky. ESA is mapping the stars with unprecedented precision using its Gaia satellite, which has already observed more than one billion stars

Fred Jansen, ESA's senior mission manager for Gaia, said: 'The Nissan Navara Dark Sky Concept allows observations to take place in very remote places, avoiding light pollution, while also transporting telescopes safely and easily'

'Telescopes like the one in the trailer are needed in studies of planets and stars in our galaxy, allowing Earth-based follow-up campaigns enabled by the Gaia data,' he added

Parking is made simple thanks to the cameras which give the driver a bird's-eye-view around the vehicle.

There are eight radar units, on each corner of the vehicle and trailer, which update the driver on the vehicle's surroundings through the touch screen on the dashboard.

At the heart of the trailer is the ultrahigh-power PlaneWave telescope which uses a 16 inch (40 cm) primary mirror to focus on the night's sky.

Since red light affects human night vision least, both the vehicle and trailer exclusively use red lighting to avoid visual disruption during observations.

The Navara also has ProPILOT, which enhances the driver's control by combining Nissan's Intelligent Cruise Control and Steering Assist technologies.

To negotiate tricky terrain, the Nissan has four-wheel drive, 20-inch (50 cm) wheels with off-road tyres and high-intensity headlights. The overall ride height has been raised for improved ground clearance

Under the bonnet is a 2.3-litre twin-turbocharged diesel with plenty of pulling power to handle the trailer's additional weight. Additional high-tech features include Wi-Fi, a laptop station and UHF radio transmission to relay data instantaneously to anywhere in the world

The Navara and trailer both feature portable EV battery packs, which make use of Nissan's tried and tested electric-vehicle battery technology. When docked in place, the battery packs are constantly in charging mode and ready for use

This maintains the distance with the vehicle in front while keeping the car and rig centered during single-lane driving  even on curves.

Ashwani Gupta, senior vice president of Nissan's light commercial vehicle business, said: 'The Nissan Navara Dark Sky Concept is a brilliant example of Nissan serving as an authentic partner, empowering our customers to go anywhere.

'Through Nissan Intelligent Mobility and ProPILOT, we are creating the best solutions for the next frontiers of business, no matter how complex the commercial need.'

Nissan plans to work with ESA to donate the telescope as part of their educational outreach initiatives following the Hannover Motor Show.

Parking is made simple thanks to the cameras which give the driver a bird's-eye-view around the vehicle. There are eight radar units, on each corner of the vehicle and trailer, which update the driver on the vehicle's surroundings through the touch screen on the dashboard

At the heart of the trailer is the ultrahigh-power PlaneWave telescope which uses a 40-centimetre primary mirror to focus on the night's sky

At the heart of the trailer is the ultrahigh-power PlaneWave telescope which uses a 16 inch (40 cm) primary mirror to focus on the night's skyAdvertisement

Flying over eastern Greenland, the NASA scientists stared down from a Gulfstream jet as it followed the precise course they had flown in previous years - using radar to map the loss of ice.

'In the tube,' flight engineer David Elliott said as the team locked into their route over the ice sheet covering 80 percent of the worlds largest island. Out the window, massive chunks of broken ice looked like salt flakes on the water.

The March mission was part of NASAs Oceans Melting Greenland (OMG) project, a five-year, $30 million effort aimed at improving sea level rise projections by understanding how warming oceans are melting ice sheets from below - the most ambitious research on the subject to date.

Rising seas threaten low-lying cities, islands and industries worldwide. But projections for how high and how soon the rise will come vary wildly in part because scientists lack clarity on how fast warming oceans are melting polar ice sheets.

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The March mission was part of NASAs Oceans Melting Greenland (OMG) project, a five-year, $30 million effort aimed at improving sea level rise projections by understanding how warming oceans are melting ice sheets from below - the most ambitious research on the subject to date. Above, an iceberg floats in a fjord near the town of Tasiilaq, Greenland

The uncertainty confounds the preparations of governments and businesses and fuels the arguments of climate-change skeptics.

A draft report by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), for example, predicts that seas are likely to rise between 33 centimeters and 1.33 meters by 2100 - a wider range than the 28-to-98 centimeters estimate in the last IPCC assessment from 2013.

The IPCC projections, which were reviewed by Reuters, have not been previously reported.

Until now, most glacier research has focused on how warming air melts ice sheets, but warming oceans play a crucial role, said OMGs principal investigator, Josh Willis.

'Its not just an ice cube and a hair dryer,' he said, offering an oft-used metaphor for how warmer air melts glaciers.

'Were really just beginning to grapple with how these ice sheets are going to behave in a warming world.'

The OMG project aims to clarify how Greenland itself contributes to rising seas, but also to apply that knowledge to the study of the much larger region of Antarctica, which has far more ice and could ultimately play a much bigger role in sea-level rise.

Rising seas threaten low-lying cities, islands and industries worldwide. But projections for how high and how soon the rise will come vary wildly in part because scientists lack clarity on how fast warming oceans are melting polar ice sheets

Until now, most glacier research has focused on how warming air melts ice sheets, but warming oceans play a crucial role, said OMGs principal investigator, Josh Willis

The OMG project aims to clarify how Greenland itself contributes to rising seas, but also to apply that knowledge to the study of the much larger region of Antarctica, which has far more ice and could ultimately play a much bigger role in sea-level rise

And while most of Greenland's ice is on land above sea level, large parts of the Western Antarctic ice sheet are below sea level, making them more vulnerable to warming oceans.

Melting ice in Greenland currently adds 0.8 millimeters of water to global ocean levels annually, more than any other region, according to NASA. Thats enough water to fill 115 million Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Scientists authoring the IPCC study, expected to be the most authoritative sea-level assessment to date, declined to discuss the preliminary findings on the record. Hans-Otto Poertner, a leader of the IPCC report, said the document will be 'subject to review and further revision' before its planned release in September 2019.

The forecast range for sea-level rise, however, is unlikely to get more precise, one scientist working on the draft said on condition of anonymity.

'The range for sea level rise is getting wider,' the scientist said.

HOLES IN THE DATA

Better projections would be invaluable to governments worldwide. Britains Environment Agency, for instance, foresees upgrades to a barrier on the Thames River to protect London against 90 centimeters of sea level rise by 2100, but could modify the plans to account for a catastrophic 2.7 meters.

Scientists authoring the IPCC study, expected to be the most authoritative sea-level assessment to date, declined to discuss the preliminary findings on the record. Hans-Otto Poertner, a leader of the IPCC report, said the document will be 'subject to review and further revision' before its planned release in September 2019

A draft report by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), for example, predicts that seas are likely to rise between 33 centimeters and 1.33 meters by 2100 - a wider range than the 28-to-98 centimeters estimate in the last IPCC assessment from 2013

Uncertainty confounds the preparations of governments and businesses and fuels the arguments of climate-change skeptics. Above, Safety officer Brian Rougeux works to assemble a radar dome while working in a research camp above the Helheim glacier near Tasiilaq, Greenland

One 2017 study published by U.S. scientists in a journal of the American Geophysical Union estimated a rise of 50 centimeters by 2100 would submerge land that is now home to about 90 million people, mainly in China, Vietnam and Bangladesh.

A rate of 1.5 meters would swamp the homes of more than 150 million people worldwide, the study estimated.

A 2016 study published in a journal of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences predicted that an event comparable to Superstorm Sandy, which flooded large swaths of the New York region in 2012, would be up to 17 times more likely by 2100 if seas rise by 1 meter.

Higher seas are already creating more dangerous storm surges, the IPCC says, exacerbating flooding or coastal erosion from the U.S. Gulf Coast to the Maldives to China.

Some low-lying island nations, such as Fiji and Vanuatu, have moved some coastal communities to higher ground.

The IPCC draft says that the rate of sea level rise in 2100 will depend heavily on the effectiveness of governments in reducing fossil fuel pollution, which the U.N. panel says has been the dominant cause of global warming since the mid-20th century.

Some of Greenlands glaciers are disappearing more rapidly than others, and understanding why is a key goal of NASAs mission. New NASA data on water temperature, depth and salinity has helped explain why the rate of ice loss at northwestern Greenlands Tracy glacier is almost four times the rate of the nearby Heilprin glacier

Melting ice in Greenland currently adds 0.8 millimeters of water to global ocean levels annually, more than any other region, according to NASA. Thats enough water to fill 115 million Olympic-sized swimming pools

But holes in scientists' understanding of ice sheet dynamics also make it difficult to predict how glacier melt will contribute to rising seas, said David Holland, a New York University oceanographer who has studied Greenlands glaciers for 12 years.

'The modeling of it is like Swiss cheese,' Holland said. 'Its getting into the more challenging projections and unknown physics.'

DEEPER, WARMER WATERS

Some of Greenlands glaciers are disappearing more rapidly than others, and understanding why is a key goal of NASAs mission.

New NASA data on water temperature, depth and salinity has helped explain why the rate of ice loss at northwestern Greenlands Tracy glacier is almost four times the rate of the nearby Heilprin glacier.

Thats because the fresh water flowing from Tracy, which sits on deeper bedrock, is mixing with a layer of warm, salty water off Greenlands coast, accelerating the melting process, the researchers found.

The importance of glacier change for global sea-level rise this century was not widely grasped in the scientific community until recently. In 1995, the IPCCs second assessment said 'little change in the extent of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets is expected over the next 50-100 years'

Better projections would be invaluable to governments worldwide. Britains Environment Agency, for instance, foresees upgrades to a barrier on the Thames River to protect London against 90 centimeters of sea level rise by 2100, but could modify the plans to account for a catastrophic 2.7 meters

Many more Greenland glaciers are in similar trouble. Researchers discovered last year that 67 glaciers were connected to the warmer, deeper layer at least 200 meters below sea level - at least twice as many as previously known.

In June, an iceberg four miles wide broke away from Greenlands Helheim Glacier and cracked into pieces in a process called calving, an event that can be caused by warming oceans.

Scientists worry that calving will happen on a disastrous scale in Antarctica, where the much larger Thwaites glacier, for instance, is believed to be a linchpin holding back the West Antarctic ice sheet.

'If the Thwaites was to behave in the way of Helheim, we have no idea' how fast it could erode, said Robert DeConto, who is a professor of geosciences at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and a member of the IPCC team producing the sea-level rise report expected next year.

The IPCC draft suggests that Antarctica alone could contribute up to half a meter of sea level rise this century and cites increasing evidence that the process may be irreversible.

The IPCC draft says that the rate of sea level rise in 2100 will depend heavily on the effectiveness of governments in reducing fossil fuel pollution, which the U.N. panel says has been the dominant cause of global warming since the mid-20th century

SOUNDING THE ALARM

The importance of glacier change for global sea-level rise this century was not widely grasped in the scientific community until recently.

In 1995, the IPCCs second assessment said 'little change in the extent of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets is expected over the next 50-100 years.'

By 2007, it said new data showed 'losses from the ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica have very likely contributed to sea level rise over 1993 to 2003' but did not factor in future ice-sheet melt because of a lack of published research.

'In the beginning people thought, `lets just assume that those things are stable,' said climate scientist Gavin Schmidt, who directs the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies.

Student Febin Magar watches as left over wood burns in a research camp on the side of the Helheim glacier

Earth Science Flight Programs Director at NASA, Eric Ianson, looks out at the Greenland ice sheet while inside of a NASA Gulfstream III flying above Greenland to measure loss to the country's ice sheet

Safety officer Brian Rougeux looks out the window of a helicopter after installing scientific instruments that will be left on top of the Helheim glacier

Oceanographer David Holland works with student Febin Magar to inspect a seismograph in their science camp on the side of the Helheim glacier

Even today, he said, 'there are very few climate models that have a credible simulation of any kind of dynamic ice sheet behavior at all.'

The scientific uncertainty is a political problem, said Tad Pfeffer, a professor at the University of Colorado and former IPCC author.

Skeptics including U.S. President Donald Trump attack the science of climate change as an unproven and politically motivated attack on fossil fuel industries, and Trump last year said he would pull the United States out of the 2015 Paris climate agreement that includes almost 200 nations.

'The public, especially if they are getting nudged by anti-science views, take uncertainty as saying, `These scientists don't know what theyre doing',' Pfeffer said.Advertisement

Deliveries of the future could land on your doorstep in robo-pods if a concept design unveiled by French automaker Renault comes to fruition.

Its EZ-PRO electric vehicle is a fully customisable, automated lightweight van designed to overcome the last mile delivery problem faced by online retailers and others.

The all-electric carriage could also serve as a versatile vehicle for customers as well.

Fleets of the driverless pods can serve as everything from a coffee truck, to a delivery van and can either follow each other by 'platooning' in a chain or can move independently of one another.

The leader pod will house a human concierge in-charge of supervising the delivery of goods and the fleet following behind the pod.

Inside this self-driving pod is an office-like cab where the concierge can catch up on any outstanding paperwork.

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Deliveries of the future could arrive at your door in autonomous pods if a concept design created by Renault comes to fruition. Its EZ-PRO electric vehicle is a fully customisable lightweight van designed to overcome the last mile delivery problem faced by online retailers and others

Renault unveiled its concept for the future of light commercial vehicles (LCVs) at the Hannover Motor Show.

The lead pods are separated into two areas, one half designed for the comfort of the concierge travelling in the vehicle, while the other is optimised for storing goods and packages.

Additional pods chained into the convoy are purely designed for carrying cargo.

When the pods are set to an autonomous mode, the concierge is able to focus on other tasks, such as supervising itinerary planning, filling out paperwork for the successful deliveries inside the moving office.

According to Renault, the concierge is also able to ensure efficient and premium customer service, such as in-person delivery of groceries or fragile objects.

'Renault EZ-PRO shows our vision of last-mile delivery integrated with the ecosystem of smart cities of tomorrow and the needs of professionals,' said Ashwani Gupta, alliance senior vice president, LCV.

'This concept is a solution that would unlock countless opportunities for our various partners, such as we're showing today with DPD Group, Lomi Coffee, Piper-Heidsieck and Patrick Roger.'

Fleets of the driverless pods can serve as everything from a coffee truck to a delivery van and can either follow each other by 'platooning' in a chain or can move independently of one another

The leader pod hosts a human concierge who supervises the delivery of goods and services and the fleet following behind, and can use an office-like section of the cab to catch up on paperwork

Renault unveiled its concept for the future of light commercial vehicles at the Hannover Motor Show. Additional pods that can chain onto the convoy are purely designed for carrying cargo

In automatic mode, the concierge can focus on other tasks, such as supervising itinerary planning and monitoring driverless robo-pods. They can also ensure efficient and premium customer service, such as in-person delivery of groceries or fragile objects

The lead pods are separated into two separate areas, one which has been designed for the comfort of the onboard concierge, while the other is designed from the ground-up to maximise the storage of goods and packages

WHAT MAKES THE 'LAST MILE' OF DELIVERY SO INEFFICIENT? The biggest hurdle for delivery services is what is known as the 'last mile'. It is defined as the movement of goods from a transportation hub to the final destination of the package - the recipient's door. This final stretch of delivery is often the most inefficient and expensive part of the delivery chain. Vans delivering the last mile use up a comparatively large amount of fuel, and employee time, for individual deliveries that don't earn companies much cash. Routes and recipients are unpredictable, meaning many last-mile deliveries fail or run late compared to other parts of the chain. For comparison, delivering goods to a central hub - such as an Amazon warehouse - is usually achieved via a single route, and transports hundreds of packages in one fell swoop. To cut to the costs of the last mile, delivery companies are attempting to introduce new technologies to the step, much of it involving AI. Autonomous delivery drones, self-driving delivery vehicles and even flying warehouses have all been proposed over the past decade. Advertisement

The Leader Pod provides a safe and ergonomically designed area for the concierge to work in.

This includes the vehicle's easy front access, as well as a comfortable joystick controller and easy to manoeuvre four wheel drive steering if they need to take over driving.

Other high tech features include a control screen that monitors traffic, an inbuilt iPad and USB sockets.

Lighting of the office space adjusts dependent on whether the concierge is driving or working, and a glass partition lets the human operator keep an eye on their cargo.

'Renault EZ-PRO shows our vision of last-mile delivery integrated with the ecosystem of smart cities of tomorrow and the needs of professionals,' said Ashwani Gupta of Renault

'This concept is a solution that would unlock countless opportunities for our various partners, such as we're showing today with DPD Group, Lomi Coffee, Piper-Heidsieck and Patrick Roger,' she added

The biggest hurdle for delivery services is what is known as the 'last mile'. It is defined as the movement of goods from a transportation hub to the final destination of the package  the recipient's door

This final stretch of delivery is often the most inefficient and expensive part of the delivery chain. Vans delivering the last mile use a comparatively large amount of fuel, and employee time, for individual deliveries that don't earn companies much cash

To cut to the costs of the last mile, delivery companies are attempting to introduce new technologies to the step, much of it involving artificial intelligence

E-COMMERCE FIRMS ARE USING DRONES FOR DELIVERIES Delivery firms are pioneering a host of new technologies to tackle the last mile of deliveries. It is hoped the vehicles can cut the inefficiencies, and hence costs, of the final stage of delivery, in which packages are taken from a central hub to your door. Amazon envisions making last mile deliveries with an army of autonomous drones that drop packages on your doorstep. Amazon has billed the service 'Prime Air' and claims the drones will increase the overall safety and efficiency of its transport system. Amazon envisions making last mile deliveries with an army of autonomous drones (pictured) that drop packages on your doorstep. It has billed the service 'Prime Air' Just one pilot could oversee several of the drones at once, meaning the firm could someday pay fewer people to make the same number of deliveries. Another company, Starship Technologies, envisions its autonomous delivery service using land-based robots. Each six-wheeled 'ground drone' is almost completely self-driving, and is constantly connected to the internet, using GPS to find its destination. Walking on the pavement at about 4mph (3km/h), robots can complete local deliveries within five to 30 minutes from a local hub or retail outlet. Self-driving cars are another last mile option being considered by some delivery companies. Another company, Starship Technologies, envisions its autonomous delivery service using land-based robots (pictured) Supermarket operator Kroger is testing a fleet of self-driving grocery cars that can carry as many as ten bags of shopping to your door. Customers can order groceries via Kroger's website or mobile app and select same-day or next-day delivery. Customers who take advantage of Kroger's driverless grocery delivery system will still have to walk to the curb outside their house to retrieve the groceries. Advertisement

The Robo Pods can leave a warehouse linked together electronically for large scale deliveries.

They are also able to act independently of one another, splitting up to deliver to separate addresses in nearby streets, for example.

The pods that follow the leader pod are symmetrical in shape and can drive in either direction, with white lights indicating the front-facing side, while red highlights the rear.

The biggest hurdle for delivery services is what has become known as the 'last mile'.

This is defined as the movement of goods from a transportation hub to the final destination of the package  the recipient's door.

This final stretch of delivery is often the most inefficient and expensive part of the delivery chain.

The Leader Pod provides a safe and ergonomically designed area for the concierge to work in. This includes the vehicle's easy front access, as well as a comfortable joystick controller and easy to manoeuvre four wheel drive steering if they need to take over driving

Lighting of the office space adjusts dependent on whether the concierge is driving or working, and a glass partition lets the human operator keep an eye on their cargo. Other high tech features include a control screen that monitors traffic, an inbuilt iPad and USB sockets

The Robo Pods can leave a warehouse linked together electronically for large scale deliveries. They are also able to act independently of one another, splitting up to deliver to separate addresses in nearby streets, for example

The pods that follow the leader pod are symmetrical in shape and can drive in either direction, with white lights indicating the front of and red the rear

To cut to the costs of the last mile, delivery companies are attempting to introduce new technologies to the step, much of it involving AI.

Autonomous delivery drones, self-driving delivery vehicles and even flying warehouses have all been proposed over the past decade.

The EZ-PRO pods automatically plan their routes, accounting for traffic conditions, traffic lights, parking spaces and other factors.

The pods can also be customised according to the needs of the firm that has purchased them.

Renault has teamed up with a coffee supplier, champagne company, chocolate manufacturer and delivery firm to show off various configurations to suit these needs.

The EZ-PRO pods automatically plan their routes, accounting for traffic conditions, traffic lights, parking spaces and other factors

The pods can also be customised according to the needs of the firm that has purchased them. Renault has teamed up with a coffee supplier, champagne company, chocolate manufacturer and delivery firm to show off various configurations to suit these needs

Delivery firms are pioneering a host of new technologies to tackle the last mile of deliveries. It is hoped the vehicles can cut the inefficiencies, and hence costs, of the final stage of delivery, in which packages are taken from a central hub to your door

Amazon envisions making last mile deliveries with an army of autonomous drones that drop packages on your doorstep. It has billed the service 'Prime Air' and claims the drones will increase the overall safety and efficiency of its transport system.

Another company, Starship Technologies, envisions its autonomous delivery service using land-based robots. Each six-wheeled 'ground drone' is almost completely self-driving, and is constantly connected to the internet, using GPS to find its destinationDNA tests on illegal ivory have unmasked the three largest smuggling hotspots in Africa.

The breakthrough has allowed researchers to identify what appear to be the three elephant poaching cartels operating out of Kenya, Uganda and Togo.

The international trade in elephant ivory has been illegal since 1989 yet African elephant numbers continue to decline.

In 2016 the International Union for Conservation of Nature cited ivory poaching as a primary reason for the staggering loss of around 111,000 elephants between 2005 and 2015  leaving their dwindling total numbers at an estimated 415,000.

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DNA tests on illegal ivory have unmasked the three largest smuggling hotspots in Africa. The breakthrough has allowed researchers to identify what appear to be the three elephant poaching cartels operating out of Kenya, Uganda and Togo (stock image)

HOW DID THEY DO IT? Scientists genetically matched elephant tusks from large ivory seizures and compared this information to the ivory's shipping port of export. Researchers linked the ivory shipments together after launching a DNA testing programme, according to the paper published in the journal Science Advances. The method allowed scientists to identify tusk pairs that had been separated and shipped in different consignments to different destinations around the world. Often they had been shipped out of the same port, nearly always within 10 months of each other. Out of 38 large ivory shipments analysed, the team was able to link 11 of the shipments together. They did this by identifying tusk pairs that had been separated after poaching, yet shipped out of the same port between 2011 and 2014. The team identified what appear to be the three largest ivory smuggling cartels in Africa, operating out of Mombasa, Kenya; Entebbe, Uganda; and Lome in Togo. Advertisement

Scientists genetically matched elephant tusks from large ivory seizures and compared this information to the ivory's shipping port of export.

By doing so, they exposed the three major exporters illegally smuggling the greatest amount of ivory out of Africa.

Researchers linked the ivory shipments together after launching a DNA testing programme, according to the paper published in the journal Science Advances.

The method allowed scientists to identify tusk pairs that had been separated and shipped in different consignments to different destinations around the world.

Often they had been shipped out of the same port, nearly always within 10 months of each other.

Lead author Professor Samuel Wasser, director of the University of Washington Centre for Conservation Biology, said: 'Our prior work on DNA testing of illegal ivory shipments showed that the major elephant 'poaching hotspots' in Africa were relatively few in number.

'Now, we've shown that the number and location of the major networks smuggling these large shipments of ivory out of Africa are also relatively few.'

The team identified what appear to be the three largest ivory smuggling cartels in Africa, operating out of Mombasa, Kenya; Entebbe, Uganda; and Lome in Togo.

Out of 38 large ivory shipments analysed, the team was able to link 11 of the shipments together.

They did this by identifying tusk pairs that had been separated after poaching, yet shipped out of the same port between 2011 and 2014.

Large shipments currently dominate the illegal ivory trade, according to the researchers.

About 70 per cent of ivory seizures between 1996 and 2011 were in large consignments of at least half a metric tonne, according to a 2013 study.

Professor Wasser said linking multiple large ivory shipments to the same smuggling networks will help build evidence against the cartels that are responsible for the bulk of illegal ivory trade and shipment.

The team identified what appear to be the three largest ivory smuggling cartels in Africa, operating out of Mombasa, Kenya; Entebbe, Uganda; and Lome in Togo

The international trade in elephant ivory has been illegal since 1989, yet African elephant numbers continue to decline (stock image)

He said the efforts could add multiple counts of trafficking charges against the leaders of smuggling operations, who most often are tried for single, high-profile and occasionally controversial events.

Professor Wasser said: 'We reveal connections between what would otherwise be isolated ivory seizures - linking seizures not just to specific criminal networks operating in these ports, but to poaching and transport networks that funnel the tusks hundreds of miles to these cartels.

'It is an investigative tool to help officials track these networks and collect evidence for criminal cases.'

Researchers had previously developed DNA testing of large ivory shipments to identify what populations of African elephants were most targeted by poachers.

They created a 'genetic reference map' of elephant populations using DNA samples extracted primarily from elephant dung.

The team then sampled ivory from elephant tusks seized by law enforcement officials and extracted DNA from them.

The researchers matched key regions in the ivory DNA samples to the genetic reference map.

This meant they could identify the region that the elephant had come from, often to within about 300 kilometres (186 miles).

About 70 per cent of ivory seizures between 1996 and 2011 were in large consignments of at least half a metric tonne, according to a 2013 study (stock image)

ELEPHANTS ARE HIGHLY INTELLIGENT AND VERY SOCIAL WITH 'SOME HUMAN-LIKE PERSONALITY TRAITS' New research has proven that elephants' emotional characteristics are similar to those of humans. It turns out the animals have distinct personalities. They can be aggressive, attentive and outgoing. For the study scientists asked elephant riders, or mahouts, to answer questions about the behaviors of the animals they worked with each day. A new study has found that elephants, like humans, have distinct personalities. They can be aggressive, attentive and outgoing. Pictured is an elephant with its mahout, or rider, who the animal works with each day in Myanmar's timber industry Dr Martin Steltmann, who worked on the new report, explained how his team defined the traits that categorize elephants. He said: 'Attentiveness is related to how an elephant acts in and perceives its environment. 'Sociability describes how an elephant seeks closeness to other elephants and humans and how popular they are as social partners. 'Aggressiveness shows how aggressively an elephant acts towards other elephants and how much it interferes in their social interaction.' Dr Steltmann's team is hopeful the new research can aid in elephant conservation efforts. Advertisement

While conducting the work, Professor Wasser and his team developed a system to subsample hundreds of tusks as efficiently as possible.

He said: 'We have neither the time nor the money to collect samples and extract DNA from every tusk in a shipment.

'We needed to find a way to sample only a fraction of the tusks in a shipment, but that method also needed to let us get a glimpse at the diversity of poached elephants within that shipment.'

In each large ivory seizure, they would identify pairs by sorting tusks by the diameter of the base, colour, and gum line, which indicates where the lip rested on the tusk.

That allowed the researchers to extract DNA from only one tusk in the pair.

Professor Wasser added: 'There is so much information in an ivory seizure - so much more than what a traditional investigation can uncover.

'Not only can we identify the geographic origins of the poached elephants and the number of populations represented in a seizure, but we can use the same genetic tools to link different seizures to the same underlying criminal network.'The Amazon floods five times more frequently than it did a century ago, new research has cautioned.

Scientists believe the world's largest river now bursts its banks every four years because of the strong warming in the Atlantic ocean and cooling of the Pacific.

This in turn drastically impacts weather patterns and rainfall in the Amazon.

Their findings show that in the first part of the 20th century, severe floods with water levels exceeding 95 feet (29 metres) occurred just every 20 years.

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Pictured is an inundated house in central Amazonia during the record-breaking flood in 2012. The Amazon floods five times more often than it did a century ago, warns new research

Water levels have been recorded each day in Port of Manaus, Brazil, since the beginning of the last century.

Drawing on the 113 years of water level records, researchers found extreme floods and droughts have become more frequent over the last two to three decades.

Study lead author, Dr Jonathan Barichivich, from Universidad Austral de Chile and former Research Fellow from the University of Leeds, said: 'Increases of severe droughts in the Amazon have received a lot of attention by researchers.

'However, what really stands out from this long-term river record is the increase in the frequency and severity of the floods.

'With a few minor exceptions, there have been extreme floods in the Amazon basin every year from 2009 to 2015.'

According to the study, increased flooding is linked to a strengthening of the Walker circulation.

This is an ocean-powered system of air circulation caused by differences in temperature and pressure over tropical oceans.

The circulation is caused by differences in heat distribution between the ocean and land.

Co-author Professor Manuel Gloor, from the School of Geography at Leeds, said: 'This dramatic increase in floods is caused by changes in the surrounding seas, particularly the Pacific and Atlantic oceans and how they interact.

'Due to a strong warming of the Atlantic Ocean and cooling of the Pacific over the same period, we see changes in the so-called Walker circulation, which affects Amazon precipitation.

Pictured is a flooded area in the centre of Manaus in 2009. According to the study, the increased flooding is linked to a strengthening of the Walker circulation

Pictured are cattle on a floating meadow in the Central Amazonian floodplains during the severe inundation in 2009. The ultimate underlying cause for the warming of the Atlantic is not entirely clear

'The effect is more or less the opposite of what happens during an El Nino event.

'Instead of causing drought, it results in more convection and heavy rainfall in the central and northern parts of the Amazon basin.'

The ultimate underlying cause for the warming of the Atlantic is not entirely clear.

However, in addition to natural variability, global warming is at least partially responsible but in an unexpected and indirect way, according to the study.

As a result of greenhouse warming, wind belts in mid to high latitudes in the Southern hemisphere have shifted further south.

This has opened a window for transport of warm Indian ocean waters around the tip of Africa, via the Agulhas current, towards the tropical Atlantic.

The changes to the Amazon Basin's water cycle have had severe consequences for people and livelihoods in Brazil, Peru, and other Amazonian nations.

Co-author Dr Jochen Schongart from the National Institute for Amazon Research in Manaus, has experienced Amazon River floods first-hand.

Pictured is a flooded suburb in the city of Itacoatiara in 2009. Flooding can contaminate water supply and spread disease, as well as destroy homes and livelihoods

He explained that these extreme flooding events last for many weeks and have disastrous consequences.

Flooding can contaminate water supply and spread disease, as well as destroy homes and livelihoods.

Economic activities in the floodplains such as agriculture a cattle ranching are strongly affected.

The research indicates that these floods are not over yet. The year 2017, which was not included in the study, again saw water levels rise to over 95 feet.

As the tropical Atlantic is expected to continue warming faster than the tropical Pacific over the next few decades scientists expect more of these high water levels.

The findings of this study could help predict the probability of flooding extremes in the Amazon in advance and help mitigate the impacts for urban and rural Amazonian populations.China greatly values its time-tested relations with Pakistan: ISPR

Chinese Central Military Commission (CMC) Vice Chairman General Zhang Youxia Tuesday said that military cooperation between Pakistan and China was an important pillar of bilateral ties.



The Chinese top general made these remarks during a meeting with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa.



China greatly values its time-tested relations with Pakistan and its army and looks forward to further expanding the cooperation, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) quoted the Chinese general as saying.



He said that development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was aimed at bringing more benefits and prosperity to the people of both the countries.



The generals also discussed areas of further bilateral military cooperation in the field of counterterrorism, arms and equipment technology and training. The Pakistan army chief thanked the vice chairman for the Chinese support and cooperation.



On Monday, General Bajwa visited the headquarters of Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) and met his counterpart General Han Weiguo. Both the commanders discussed regional security environment, security of CPEC and bilateral security cooperation, ISPR DG Major General Asif Ghafoor said on his official Twitter handle.



The Chinese general expressed his keen desire to benefit from Pakistan Armys combat experience and expand the bilateral cooperation.



Earlier this month, China said joint exercises of Chinese and Pakistan armed forces, training and competitions would help improve ability to deal with multiple security threats and jointly maintain regional peace and stability.Amazon is said to be considering opening 3,000 of its cashierless stores by 2021.

The tech giant already has four locations of its Go stores up and running, but it may have up to 10 locations open by the end of the year, with as many as 50 by 2019, Bloomberg reported, citing sources close to the situation.

It would mark the latest example of Amazon's rapidly growing e-commerce, cloud computing and, now, advertising empires - as the firm's online advertising business gets closer to overshadowing the likes of Google and Facebook.

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Amazon already has four locations of its Go stores up and running, but it may have up to 10 locations open by the end of the year, with as many as 50 by 2019, reports suggest

Amazon opened its first cashierless store in Seattle two years ago and has launched two additional locations in Seattle and another in Chicago.

The firm's main challenge to opening more stores is the high cost of the technology used to power the cashierless design, as well as other hardware.

Its first location in downtown Seattle cost over $1 million in hardware, according to Bloomberg.

Amazon could reduce the cost of hardware and increase profit margins by focusing on selling prepared foods, instead of offering an expanded selection of grocery items.

CEO Jeff Bezos has weighed whether the stores should offer prepared foods and limited grocery items, akin to a 7-Eleven, or if they should offer prepared sandwiches, soups and other items like a Pret a Manger.

By rolling out 3,000 Amazon Go stores, Amazon would quickly become one of the biggest chains in the US, Bloomberg said.

Amazon opened its first cashierless store in Seattle two years ago (pictured) and has launched two additional locations in Seattle and another in Chicago. Now it's eyeing 3,000 new stores

The firm is mostly eyeing urban areas with wealthy young residents who can afford to pay for items that are a little higher priced, but ensure better quality than fast food.

It would put the stores in competition with businesses like Subway, Panera and Pret a Manager, as well as other places that offer quick bites and takeout items.

Opening more locations in the same city would also allow Amazon to cut down on costs since they could take advantage of a centralized food production facility.

So far, Amazon has declined to comment on reports of it opening additional Go Stores.

'We don't comment on rumors or speculation,' an Amazon spokesperson told CNBC.

Jeff Bezos has weighed whether the stores should offer prepared foods and grocery items, akin to a 7-Eleven, or if they should have sandwiches, soups and other items like a Pret a Manger

HOW DO AMAZON'S GO STORES WORK? In December 2016, Amazon unveiled a convenience store in downtown Seattle that replaced cashiers with technology found in self-driving cars. It opened to the public in January 2018. To start shopping, customers must scan an Amazon Go smartphone app and pass through a gated turnstile. Ready-to-eat lunch items greet shoppers when they enter. Deeper into the store, shoppers can find a small selection of grocery items, including meats and meal kits. An Amazon employee checks IDs in the store's wine and beer section. Amazon's first Go Store opened in Seattle earlier this year and are looking to expand and open stores in Chicago and San Francisco Sleek black cameras monitoring from above and weight sensors in the shelves help Amazon determine exactly what people take. If someone passes back through the gates with an item, his or her associated account is charged. If a shopper puts an item back on the shelf, Amazon removes it from his or her virtual cart. Much of the store will feel familiar to shoppers, aside from the check-out process. Amazon, famous for dynamic pricing online, has printed price tags just as traditional brick-and-mortar stores do. Advertisement

The move comes as another corner of Amazon's vast empire is set to expand.

Research firm eMarketer predicts that Amazon will control more than 4 percent of the US digital advertising market by the end of this year.

This amounts to about $4.61 billion in revenue, which is a huge jump from the firm's previously predicted sales of $2.89 billion.

That's a far cry from Google and Facebook, which have long maintained a digital ad duopoly, though Amazon is still expected to come in third.

Google is set to claim 37 percent of the market, while Facebook will corner 20.5 percent of the US digital ad market.

The surge in Amazon's advertising business is due, in part, to more people searching from the e-commerce site directly, instead of going through Google's search engine.

What's more, Amazon has grown its advertising business 242 percent since 2017, eMarketer said.Samsung may have a lot of phones up its sleeve for 2019.

Code from an Android 9 Pie update file appears to have leaked the lineup for Samsung's next Galaxy devices, the Galaxy S10.

If the code proves true, it could mean that Samsung is preparing to release four versions of the Galaxy S10, according to XDA-Developers.

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Samsung may have a lot of phones up its sleeve for 2019. Code from an Android 9 Pie update file appears to have leaked the lineup for Samsung's next Galaxy devices, the Galaxy S10

The files described four possible devices named 'beyond0,' 'beyond1,' 'beyond 2' and 'beyond25g.'

Several reports have suggested that Samsung's codename for the Galaxy S10 is 'Beyond.'

The code describes what could be a low-end budget version of the S10, then a base model with a 5.8-inch AMOLED display and a bigger version that's expected to have a 6.44-inch screen.

Finally, the 'beyond25g' version may be Samsung's first phone to handle 5G network connectivity.

Previous reports have indicated Samsung plans to release a 5G-enabled smartphone next year.

However, Samsung has said that the S10 won't be its first 5G phone, which means the firm could be planning a separate handset with 5G connectivity.

Android files described four possible devices named 'beyond0,' 'beyond1,' 'beyond 2' and 'beyond25g.' Reports have suggested the firm's codename for the Galaxy S10 is 'Beyond'

The code also describes versions of its phones that feature Qualcomm's Snapdragon chips vs. Samsung's Exynos chips, XDA noted.

It follows an earlier report suggesting that Samsung may feature a triple-rear camera in its next flagship smartphone.

A leaked image claims to show Samsung's upcoming smartphone with a triple rear camera, according to Dutch site GalaxyClub.nl, which first shared the images.

The phone will only feature a single lens front-facing camera, however.

Many believe this device, called the A7, could be released at Samsung's upcoming '4X Fun' event in New York City next month.Advertisement

As adventures go, few are as overblown as the one embarked upon recently by one Steven Payne, who most definitely has a yen for the eccentric.

For the former physics teacher from Chichester managed to traverse the Alps  on a space hopper.

Thats right, the rubber ball with handles.

Steven Payne, from Chichester, bought a space hopper on eBay and hopped 76 miles from Italy to Grenoble in Switzerland. He's pictured here near his destination

Mr Payne dressed in the style of a true English eccentric for his journey  completely inappropriately. He said: 'I wore a tweed suit, pocket watch, 1880's pith helmet and carried an umbrella and pipe. This was because a chap has standards and I would not wish the English to get a reputation for looking scruffy abroad'. He's pictured here near the town of Mizoen in France - and a waterfall called Cascade de la Pisse

It was never designed to tackle major mountain ranges, but thats precisely what appealed to the 55-year-old.

He wanted to find out if it could be done.

And to raise awareness for a cause close to his heart  homelessness.

He told MailOnline Travel that the idea for the adventure came from a conversation he had with a homeless man he had bought dinner for.

He said: I asked him over a steak and kidney pub lunch how hard it was in Chichester to live homeless, and he likened it to crossing the Alps on a space hopper. That is, something impossible that you never think you will have to face, until it happens.

The seed was sown.

Mr Payne just had to find out if he could indeed cross the Alps on an inflatable toy.

Being no stranger to quirky adventures - he had already walked from Southampton to Canterbury in medieval pilgrim's clothes and ridden the river Wye in a coracle in a recreation of the journey of St Brendan the Navigator - he was confident of success.

He bought a 1970s space hopper on eBay and practised on nearby hills - and spent the next eight months researching and planning his odyssey.

Mr Payne reached heights of 7,000ft along the way. His starting point was Bardonecchia and the journey took 17 days

ODD ODYSSEYS: STEVEN PAYNE'S PREVIOUS ADVENTURES #1 In 2016 was a walk in 14th century medieval pilgrims clothes, in winter, from Southampton to Canterbury for the annual celebration of the life of St. Thomas Becket on 29th January. During this walk (the first time it had been done in authentic period clothing since Henry VIII shut down the monasteries), I slept rough under trees and bushes along the way, just as many of the pilgrims would have. #2 In 2017 was a recreation of the journey of St. Brendan the Navigator across Wales, in a coracle, from Plynlimon mountain, down the entire course of the river Wye, and then to the ruins of Llancarfan Abbey in South Wales. I was the first person to recreate this journey and the first to sail the River Wye in a coracle. Advertisement

Then on August 1 this year he arrived in the resort of Bardonecchia in the Italian Alps with the aim of bouncing his way to Grenoble in Switzerland, 76 miles (122 kilometres) away.

And dressed in the style of a true English eccentric  completely inappropriately.

He said: I wore a tweed suit, pocket watch, 1880's pith helmet and carried an umbrella and pipe. This was because a chap has standards and I would not wish the English to get a reputation for looking scruffy abroad.

The trip, he explained, had its ups and downs, but it was ultimately a success.

He continued: I reached heights of almost 7,000 feet, twice the height of Mount Snowdon, one quarter the height of Everest and reached Grenoble in France after 17 days.

I took four space hoppers, named Hanniball, Nelly, Bouncy McBounceface and Napoleon Blownapart.

Hannibal and Napoleon famously crossed the Alps in 212BC and 1800AD respectively, but going the other way.

Napoleon Blownapart popped on day five, Nelly blew off a mountainside on day 14.

I suffered heatstroke, altitude sickness and a twisted knee along the way. And I often had to wash myself and my clothing in mountain streams which were extremely cold, as they were basically run-off from high glaciers.

Surprisingly, no one seemed that surprised that an Englishmen was undertaking such a quirky endeavour.

Mr Payne said: The many European people I met on my recent Alps trip seemed very supportive of my journey, if a little incredulous about the manner of it. None seemed at all surprised that an Englishman should be attempting this.

Upon completing the journey he wrote on Facebook: 'The thing I am really looking forward to, the thing that makes Chichester really stand out, is that it is flat!'

For his next adventure Mr Payne intends to use his favourite mode of transport  the penny farthing.

He said: My main hobby and form of transportation, and the reason I am generally known in town, is for travelling everywhere on my penny farthing.

My next adventure is in the planning stage. I hope to ride from London to Paris on my penny farthing in a full suit of medieval armour. I have already completed several short journeys around West Sussex and Chichester as a proof of concept.

Theres certainly no sign, then, that his adventuring ambitions are about to be deflated.Advertisement

The city of Ptuj has been revealed as the world's hardest city for British holidaymakers to pronounce.

In a survey that looked at the toughest-to-pronounce tourist destinations on the planet, the picturesque Slovenian city, pronounced P-too-ee, was mispronounced by 92 per cent of those polled.

The landmark that stumped the most people, meanwhile, was the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull (Ay-uh-fyat-luh-yoe-kuutl-uh)  which 98 per cent failed to pronounce correctly.

You say Put-ooj, I say P-too-ee: The city of Ptuj has been revealed as the world's hardest city for British holidaymakers to pronounce

This map shows the full top 15 hardest-to-say cities, which has entries from Mexico to South Africa via Wales

After Ptuj, the rest of the top 15 most difficult-to-say cities list is made up of Guimaraes in Portugal (second, 88 per cent), Rijeka in Croatia (third, 84 per cent), Skopje in Macedonia (fourth, 80 per cent), Oaxaca in Mexico (fifth, 76 per cent), Sitges in Spain (sixth, 72 per cent), Bloemfontein in South Africa (seventh, 65 per cent), Ljubljana in Slovenia (eighth, 61 per cent), Gstaad in Switzerland (ninth, 55 per cent), Taormina in Italy (tenth, 48 per cent), Llanelli in Wales (11th, 46 per cent), Wroclaw in Poland (12th, 44 per cent), Lesotho in South Africa (13th, 41 per cent), Tijuana in Mexico (14th, 37 per cent) and Taipei in Taiwan (15th, 33 per cent).

And after the Icelandic volcano, the top 10 most difficult-to-say famous landmarks list comprises Chao Phraya River (second, 74 per cent), Park Guell (third, 68 per cent), Khaosan Road (fourth, 57 per cent), Burj Khalifa (fifth, 55 per cent), Sagrada Familia (sixth, 53 per cent), Machu Picchu (seventh, 48 per cent), Arc de Triomphe (eighth, 45 per cent), Louvre (ninth, 37 per cent) and the Eiffel Tower (10th 35 per cent).

The study, by the Bolsover Cruise Club, polled 2,000 people, and they were also asked about food and phrases that they struggled to pronounce.

The landmarks that those surveyed found hardest to pronounce, with the No1 perhaps coming as no surprise

A selection of difficult-to-say places, what the mispronunciation often is - and how to say it revealed

The second hardest-to-pronounce city in the world is Guimaraes, pictured, in Portugal

WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE: HOW TO SAY THE HARDEST CITIES TO SAY 1. Ptuj - P-too-ee 2. Guimaraes - Gi-mareiz 3. Rijeka - Re-yeh-kah 4. Skopje - Skohp-ee-ay 5. Oaxaca - Waa-haa-kuh 6. Sitges - Seet-chehs 7. Bloemfontein - Bloom-fun-tayne 8. Ljubljana  Loob-lee-yah-nah 9. Gstaad - Shtahd 10. Taormina - Ta-or-mina 11. Llanelli - La-neth-lee 12. Wroclaw - Vrot-slav 13. Lesotho - Luh- soo-too 14. Tijuana - Ti-waa-nuh 15. Taipei - Ty-pay Advertisement

It turns out that the Greek language is the hardest for Brits to master, closely followed by Slovene, Swedish, Dutch and Croatian.

Problematic pronunciation continued amongst international foods, with the French classic bourguignon (bur-gen-yon) found to be the hardest, followed by prosciutto (pro-shoot-toe) and quinoa (keen-wah).

Forty two per cent, meanwhile, admitted to struggling at tourist information centres abroad due to mispronunciations.

Michael Wilson, Managing Director at Bolsover Cruise Club, commented on the findings: 'Mastering the national language when heading abroad is always a great way to impress the locals, however, it seems many of us don't always get it right!

'With languages in South-Eastern and Central Europe catching people out the most, this study reveals the irony that so many people can't pronounce some of the most popular cities and landmarks to visit, no matter how close to home.

'It was interesting to discover Greek topped the list as the most difficult language for tourists to speak, however that shouldn't deter would-be travellers.

'Trying to speak the local dialect will always contribute to cultural immersion, and with foreign language education declining in England, it's important that holiday-goers do continue to make the effort when they head abroad.'As one pilot who saw this video commented  this is what you don't get to see from your window seat.

Footage has emerged on the internet of a dramatic head-on close pass by an aircraft in between two other planes flying on top of each other - and which are separated by just 2,000ft.

The video has been filmed from the cockpit of the lowest plane, which is reportedly at about 38,000ft, and begins with a view of another aircraft right above it, moving along the same bearing.

As one pilot who saw this video commented  this is what you don't get to see from your window seat. Footage has emerged on the internet of a dramatic head-on close pass by an aircraft in between two other planes flying on top of each other - and which are separated by just 2,000ft

But then a third plane appears and shoots right in between them - head-on - at what looks to be a separation of just 1,000ft from the planes above and below.

U.S light aircraft pilot Pat Hoban commented that it's an event you just wouldn't see if you were a passenger on any of the planes  as they're all aligned vertically.

However, despite the encounter between the aircraft being visually spectacular, nothing dangerous had occurred.

A spokesperson for the British Airline Pilots' Association, Balpa, told MailOnline Travel after viewing the footage: 'It appears in this video that there is at least 1,000ft vertical separation, in which case this situation is perfectly safe.

'While this footage might look quite spectacular, with this legal separation adhered to and the well-trained pilots and accurate GPS on board, this situation is no cause for alarm.'

A spokesperson for the British Airline Pilots' Association, Balpa, told MailOnline Travel: 'It appears in this video that there is at least 1,000ft vertical separation, in which case this situation is perfectly safe'

The footage, shot by an unnamed pilot, has gone viral and was posted to Reddit, among other sites, where it caused a real stir.

So far it has garnered over 450 comments there.

'SleepyPizza7' said: 'I made a "swooshing" sound in my head when I saw this even though my sound is off.'

While 'Polerize' wrote: 'That is something I've never seen. Nope not at all. Incredible enough to be following one, then another coming head on!'Advertisement

A Los Angeles home in which James Dean once resided is on the market.

The legendary Rebel Without A Cause actor served as a live-in handyman at the property while it was owned by Hollywood producer Hal B. Wallis, who worked at Warner Bros, according to People.

'Now the house where Dean was first discovered by a casting director at an industry event is on the market,' according Architecture Digest.

Steeped in history: A Los Angeles home in which James Dean once resided is on the market

The 4000 square feet Hollywood Hills home boasts 'views of the canyon,' according to real estate firm The Agency.

'This authentic 1927 Spanish home has been stunningly restored and reimagined, infusing period charm and character with contemporary appeal,' states the listing.

The house features three bedrooms, four bathrooms and a heated, in-ground swimming pool.

The legendary Rebel Without A Cause actor served as a live-in handyman at the property while it was owned by the Warner family, according to Architectural Digest. The actor seen here in 1955

For sale: Now the house where Dean was first discovered by a casting director at an industry event is on the market,' say the magazine

Spacious: The 4000 square feet Hollywood Hills home boasts 'views of the canyon,' according to real estate firm The Agency

According to Architectural Digest, the house sits on an 11,600 square feet block of land.

'On the ground floor, there is an elegant living room with a fireplace, exposed beams, and picture windows that overlook the lush grounds,' says the industry guide.

The master bedroom features two walk-in closets and a 'deep-soaking marble tub and separate steam bath'.

The 'chef's kitchen' includes 'Carrara marble countertops and Viking appliances.'

Classic: 'This authentic 1927 Spanish home has been stunningly restored and reimagined, infusing period charm and character with contemporary appeal,' states the listing

Mod cons: The house features three bedrooms, four bathrooms and a heated, in-ground swimming pool

Room to move: According to Architectural Digest, the house sits on an 11,600 square feet block of land

Fancy: 'On the ground floor, there is an elegant living room with a fireplace, exposed beams, and picture windows that overlook the lush grounds,' says the industry guide

Following his discovery at the home, former handyman Dean went on to star in three iconic films: East Of Eden, Rebel Without A Cause and Giant.

The East Of Eden actor tragically died at the age of 24 in a car accident, while on his way to an auto racing event in Salinas, California.

He is buried at Park Cemetery in Fairmount, Indiana.She deleted her Instagram account almost a month ago exactly, around the time of her split from boyfriend Ben Affleck.

But Lindsay Shookus has returned to the social media platform with a photo celebrating her latest Emmy win.

Not only did Lindsay, 38, commemorate a victorious night at the awards show, but she also still has several old photos of Ben on her account.

'Bets dates in the world': Lindsay Shookus returned to Instagram on Monday with a photo celebrating her latest Emmy win

On Monday, however, the Saturday Night Live producer marked another Emmy win as she posted a snap of herself holding her new trophy for Outstanding Sketch Series.

In the photo, Lindsay smiled from ear to ear as she posed alongside her 'dates' for the evening, her two proud girlfriends.

'Best dates in the world,' she captioned the cheerful snap.

Last year Lindsay attended the Emmys with her then-boyfriend, Ben, who still appears on her Instagram accounts.

Hasn't deleted: She still has a photo of Ben on a film set at Mammoth Lakes, along with a cute couples photo from the March For Our Lives event earlier this year

She still has a photo of Ben on a film set at Mammoth Lakes, along with a cute couples photo from the March For Our Lives event earlier this year.

Lindsay and Ben split in August after more than a year together, and not long before he returned to rehab following an intervention staged by his estranged wife, Jennifer Garner.

Ben has since reportedly moved on romantically with model Shauna Sexton.

Happier times: Lindsay and Ben split in August after more than a year together

The relationship has been hard on Lindsay, according to an ET Online report.

'Lindsay was supporting Ben in the beginning but now he seems to be relying more on Shauna than Lindsay and she is devastated,' a source told the site.

'She believed he would get sober and they would work it out, but that isnt how things seem to be panning out,' the source added.She's never afraid to play around with her sense of style.

And Laura Whitmore looked stylish in black and gold as she attended the RIXO London presentation at London Fashion Week on Tuesday.

Going for a punk chic look, the presenter, 33, donned a biker jacket over a black and gold star-spangled jumpsuit.

Stunning: Laura Whitmore looked stylish in a star-spangled jumpsuit and biker jacket as she attended RIXO event during London Fashion Week on Tuesday

Laura stepped out in a pair of white Nike trainers, and opted not to wear any accessories as she wore her black handbag over one shoulder.

The Irish host's blonde locks were styled into loose waves, and she wore a natural palette of make-up, including red lipstick, to highlight her pretty features.

She was sure to stand out in her glittering attire, as she wore a dash of mascara to make sure that her blue eyes popped.

Stylish: The Irish host's blonde locks were styled into loose waves, and she wore a natural palette of make-up, including red lipstick, to highlight her pretty features

Laura's boyfriend Iain Stirling, who is the hunky voiceover guy for Love Island, was noticeable missing from her side at the event.

Laura previously revealed the couple met in 2017, before he travelled to Majorca for his voice-over commitments with the ITVBe show.

I think the first time I met him was at the Childrens BAFTAs,' she told MailOnline in February. 'I was presenting an award and he won an award, so I met him there.

'I dont know if we were in other relationships but I was just friendly with him. That was before the last series of Love Island.'

Not there: Laura's boyfriend Iain Stirling, who is the hunky voiceover guy for Love Island, was noticeable missing from her side at the event (pictured at the GQ Men of the Year Awards)

Meanwhile, Iain previously touched upon his romance with Laura, admitting to punching above his weight by developing a romance with the TV presenter.

I dont mind it, because it just means Ive done better havent I? he said. Ive got someone whos like me, but much, much better. And Lauras got someone whos like her, but much worse.

I think Ive done quite well out of it, but Im dead happy because shes lovely and stuff.Killed on Camera - Ch5

Rating:

The devastation caused when your child is murdered is impossible to imagine. In the case of Steve and Lynette Williams, their agony was compounded by the knowledge that their daughters death was completely avoidable.

Five years on from Georgia Williamss brutal murder, the grief suffered by her parents was still raw and plain to see in Killed On Camera (Ch5).

Sporty, bright and popular, Georgia, 17, befriended Jamie Reynolds, a young man at the petrol station where she worked. When he told her that he hated his job and dreamed of being a photographer she pitied him and agreed to pose as a model to help him boost his portfolio.

Steve and Lynette hold a photo of their daughter, Georgia, who was Murdered by Jamie Reynolds to fulfill his sick fantasies

Reynolds was infatuated with Georgia and had been planning her murder for weeks. For years hed harboured violent, sexual fantasies about women and was obsessed with making his own snuff movies (where someone is murdered on camera).

When Georgia failed to return home, her parents sent her text messages and got cheery replies saying not to worry, she was fine and with a friend.

But Reynolds had already killed her, and filmed her slow death. It was him sending the texts.

Georgia had no way of knowing what a twisted individual he was. But the police did  Reynolds had a history of stalking and assaulting women. His own parents had even gone to the police, alarmed at his addiction to depraved snuff films and a psychiatrist had declared him a danger to all women.

Reynolds had a known list of 32 local girls whom he fantasised about killing, including Georgia. And yet the police did not notify the girls or their families.

Georgias killer was handed a whole life sentence and today her parents have thrown themselves into setting up a trust in her name. It makes me get out of bed in the morning, said mum Lynette.

Five years on from Georgia Williamss brutal murder, the grief suffered by her parents was still raw and plain to see in Killed On Camera

This was a truly heartbreaking documentary that movingly portrayed a familys anguish at the death of a teenager which could so easily have been prevented.

Princess Margaret: The Rebel Royal - BBC 2

Rating:

The final part of Princess Margaret: The Rebel Royal (BBC2) picked up with Margaret and husband Lord Snowdon on their tour of America in 1965.

Princess Margaret pictured at the races at Kingston during the Royal Tour of the Caribbean

The couple rubbed shoulders with celebrities and threw endless parties which, for the first time, led to debate over whether the royals cost too much. Not that it stopped Margarets partying.

With her marriage on the rocks, she spent an increasing amount of time on the private Caribbean island of Mustique. It was there that she partied with the likes of Mick and Bianca Jagger and was first photographed with toyboy lover Roddy Llewellyn in 1976.

By then Margaret had been seeing Llewellyn for three years and had even spent time at the hippy commune he lived at in Wiltshire. Not that roughing it put her any more in touch with day-to-day living. Long-time friend Lady Glenconner recalled how, in later years, Margaret would stay at her unassuming house in Norfolk.

Princess Margaret returning to Clarence house. Shortly before announcing her decision not to marry Townsend

One morning, Margaret insisted that her hostess stayed in bed while she made breakfast. A short time later Lady Glenconner was loudly summoned to the kitchen to discover a bewildered Princess unable to fathom how to switch on the kettle.

Discussion over whether Margaret was a trailblazer who was ahead of her time felt lost and unnecessary. But it still remained an enjoyable series full of gossip and intrigue about a glamorous and pampered princess from another era.They made history as the first ever Love Island couple to wed on Saturday, when they exchanged nuptials during a lavish ceremony in Essex.

And Olivia Buckland, 24, and Alex Bowen, 27, gave fans a glance at their sparkling wedding rings on Tuesday, when they took to Instagram to share a romantic shot.

In the post, uploaded to Olivia's account, the blonde beauty's hand is seen resting atop her new husband's, alongside the caption: 'Just married.'

Bling: Olivia Buckland and Alex Bowen displayed their weddings rings in a snap shared on the bride's Instagram account on Tuesday, following their Saturday nuptials in Essex

The bride showed off her impressive sparkler  a flawless cushion cut diamond set on a jewel-encrusted double band ring  which complemented her hunky husband's simple gold band.

In a separate post, Olivia also assured her fans that the wedding pictures would soon be unveiled, writing: 'Guys, we don't get our official wedding photos back until next week some time.

'So please be patient with me, we'll always share what we can with you all, we promise - just in good time... I appreciate all the lovely messages from you all... Like I said before; we're just enjoying a little break from posting [to] our social media feeds.'

I thee wed: Olivia Buckland and Alex Bowen tied the knot in a lavish ceremony at Essex's grand Gosfield Hall, surrounded by close friends and family. Pictured in December 2016

Hours earlier, she also shared a glammed up selfie as she did a 'few hours work' the newlyweds went into 'honeymoon mode'.

Olivia and Alex 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.

Decadent Gosfield Hall, which boasts 23 luxurious bedroom suites for up to 67 guests, can seat up to 116 guests under 'crystal chandeliers and double-height mirrors' in their main dining hall, the Marquis of Buckingham's Ballroom.

The work never ends: Also on Tuesday, Olivia she shared a glammed up selfie as she did a 'few hours work' the newlyweds went into 'honeymoon mode'

Snaps: In a separate post, she assured fans that the wedding pictures would soon be unveiled

Following a night of celebration, the lovebirds are thought to have spent their first night as husband 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.'

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.

Activities: Alex shared a snapshot revealing what the couple were getting up to for the day

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.

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 was feeling the pressure of organising her special day, admitting that she was on the path to becoming a bridezilla after saying yes to a 2,069 Sophia Tolli dress on the TLC reality show in May.

Love: The reality stars are the first Love Island couple to say 'I do' after meeting on the hugely popular ITV2 series back 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

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.

The businesswoman has since declared that she realises who her 'real friends are' after her pal revealed she would no longer be attending her wedding.

Ceremony: Olivia, 24, and model Alex, 27, exchanged nuptials at the palatial Gosfield Hall, which boasts 10 acres of elegant grounds

Writing in her column for last 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.

Story: Following their stint on Love Island, the couple quickly moved in together in her native Essex in August 2016, before Alex popped the question during trip to New York that December

'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.'

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.

In the past: Despite coming in second place, the couple won over the hearts of the nation

Bridezilla: Olivia revealed that she was feeling the pressure of organising her special day, admitting that she was on the path to becoming a bridezilla

Before tying the knot, Olivia would only admit that it woulf be in the UK so the pair's friends and family didn't miss out, and that they planned a 'fab honeymoon abroad'.

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.'

She then joked 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.'

Theme: 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Commanders with 265 militants surrendered in Quetta

Around 265 militants along with their commanders on Tuesday surrendered to the security forces in Quetta, Balochistan.



Chief Minister Balochistan Jam Kamal, Commander Southern Command Lt. General Asim Saleem Bajwa were the chief guests of the ceremony held in the courtyard of the Balochistan Assembly. Inspector-General Balochistan, IG Frontier Corps and others military and civil officers were also present.



The insurgents announced entering into the national mainstream and abandoning their loyalties to armed militant groups in the province. They also pledged loyalty to the nation and vowed to work for the betterment and progress of the country.



CM Balochistan Jam Kamal welcomed those who surrendered and said this has restored faith in the system and this leaves a huge responsibility on the government.



By entering the national mainstream, you have restored faith in yourself, your families, friends and the system. This leaves a huge responsibility on us, he said.



He said the provincial government will make complete efforts to end their reservations and the matter will be pursued seriously. He presented the national flag and other gifts to the surrendered militants.



Earlier this year, as many as 200 Baloch militants along with their commanders surrendered before the authorities at FC headquarters in Turbat as part of reconciliation efforts in the province,



In August 2017, twelve militants from the proscribed Baloch Republican Party (BRA) surrendered themselves to security forces in Noshki area of the province.



Last year in April, around 450 Baloch insurgents had laid down their arms in what the seen as a big breakthrough in the war against militancy and efforts to restore peace in the province.Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice threw a makeup party for daughter Audriana's ninth birthday this week.

But after she posted a snap of Audriana to Instagram showing her with a fully made-up face and a crop black top that bared her belly button and had a keyhole cutout on the chest, some of her social media followers were less than impressed.

One posted in response: 'I teach 9 year olds! Thats 3rd and 4th grade!!! If i ever saw one of my students in a crop top abs full hooker makeup it would really alarming! Wtf?'

Too grown up? Real Housewives Of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice has been criticized for posting this photo of daughter Audriana, nine, in full makeup and wearing a crop top

Not impressed: One of the reality star's Instagram followers responded with outrage, accusing Giudice of dressing her daughter up as a 'hooker' And she wasn't the only one

Several others also criticized the reality star and mother of four whose husband Joe is currently behind bars serving time on federal fraud charges.

A follower posted: '????? She looks 25 with all that makeup and those clothes.'

Another wrote: 'well not just the top what about the make up because she has more make up on then I wear and Im in my 40s!'

However, some did come to 46-year-old Guidice's defense observing that playing dress up is something all girls like to do.

'Why is her outfit a big deal? She looks cute. It's her birthday and she can wear freaking makeup!' one said.

Another added: 'its a make up party - look at the cake....like its kinda the theme! Please. We have spa parties and make up parties for our girls too - we just dont have the budget for make up artists like she does! LoL dont be a hater.'

Proud mama: Giudice, seen earlier this month in London, wrote in the caption: 'Happy Birthday to my beautiful @audrianagiudice8 hope you enjoyed your party today. Love you, Mommy '

Not appropriate: Some of Giudice's followers thought it was inappropriate for the youngster to be so heavily made up and wear a belly button-baring outfit

Too much: One follower thought Audriana looked much older than her years

Calm down: Other of Giduice's fans responded that everyone should relax because the girl was just having fun at her birthday party

Big day: The 46-year-old also shared this snap of her youngest daughter posing in front of her special pink-themed buffet

In the photo, Audriana poses with her three-tier makeup-themed pink birthday cake and an enormous number '9' pink balloon.

Giudice wrote in the caption: 'Happy Birthday to my beautiful @audrianagiudice8 hope you enjoyed your party today. Love you, Mommy .'

In addition to Audriana, Guidice is mom to Gia, 17, Gabrielle, 14, and Milania, 13.

She has been married to husband Joe since 1999.

He is currently serving a 41-month sentence for mail, wire and bankruptcy fraud in a federal prison in Pennsylvania.

Giudice herself alreday served almost a ytear in prison for the same crimes and was deleased just before Christmas in 2015.

The judge had allowed the couple to serve their sentences at separate times so that one parent would be able to remain with their children.She's a mother of three.

And Jennifer Garner was in full parenting mode while picking up daughter Seraphina, nine, and son Sam, six, from school in Brentwood, California on Tuesday.

The Texas-born actress, 46, was dressed down for the outing, staying simple in a tee shirt and blue jeans.

Easy-going: Jennifer Garner looked casual cute while picking up daughter Seraphina from school in Brentwood on Tuesday

She also slipped on pink thong sandals that matched her pedicured toes.

Keeping her beauty just as simple as her outfit, Garner parted her hair in the center while tucking it back behind her ears.

The Peppermint actress didn't need the addition of makeup, giving off a natural glow.

She met up with daughter Seraphina, who was dressed in her school uniform.

Jean queen: The Texas-born actress kept things simple in a tee shirt and blue jeans

No fuss: Keeping her beauty just as simple as her outfit, Garner parted her hair in the center while tucking it back behind her ears

Son Sam hung out behind the family while oldest Violet was not with the group.

After retrieving her children, Jenn blocked out the sun with a pair of shades before driving away and dropping the youngsters off at their extracurricular activities.

It seems nothing gets in the way of Ms. Garner's parenting duties.

Pared-down: Jennifer rocked a casual tracksuit look when she dropped Seraphina to school earlier in the morning

Definitely a morning person! The star seemed in high spirits as she jovially chatted with a pal while Seraphina and a friend trailed behind

Dedicated! Jenn demonstrated how nothing could get in the way of her parenting responsibilities as she did school pick up with her hair in curlers on Monday

Yesterday she picked up her little scholars while her hair was in curlers, taking her queue from Southern belle Reese Witherspoon's new book.

It's been some time since Jenn has been pictured with estranged husband Ben Affleck.

The Batman actor is currently in rehab to deal with his alcoholism after Jennifer staged an intervention in August.There are many benefits to being a reality TV star, including free publicity, free clothes and even free plastic surgery.

One of the most common perks is free food, with various celebrities flocking to restaurants across Sydney and Melbourne to score complimentary meals in exchange for glowing Instagram posts.

Melbourne venues Fourth Chapter and Legacy Camberwell have quickly become the go-to brunch destinations for D-listers in search of a free meal.

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Free food! Former Bachelor star-turned-influencer Keira Maguire (left) dined at Legacy Camberwell with Miss Universe Australia 2017 Olivia Molly Rogers (right) earlier this month

Instead of paying for meals like regular customers, many reality TV stars post an Instagram photo from the restaurant and the bill magically disappears.

One famous insider told Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday just how easy it is to get free food from Legacy Camberwell.

'It's great, I get free food at Legacy whenever I want. There's no limit and I can take anyone with me,' the source bragged.

Plug? Love Island Australia winner Tayla Damir made sure to tag Fourth Chapter in a recent photo shared to Instagram

'Sometimes I feel guilty, so I'll do two posts on Instagram and [an] Instagram Story for more publicity. But at the end of the day, they don't really mind.'

Stars from programs such as Love Island Australia, The Bachelor and Married At First Sight are often pictured dining at the celebrity hangout in Melbourne's east.

Despite the glamorous nature of the photos, there can be a rather unglamorous side to promoting restaurants on social media.

Frustrated: On Tuesday, former Bachelorette Georgia Love issued a public plea on Studio 10, claiming that a Melbourne restaurant - not Legacy or Fourth Chapter - still owes her money for 'paid advertising'

On Tuesday, former Bachelorette Georgia Love issued a public plea on Studio 10, claiming that a Melbourne restaurant - not Legacy or Fourth Chapter - still owes her money for 'paid advertising'.

'I was asked by a cafe in Melbourne to do some paid advertising for them,' Georgia said. 'I did so and sent them the invoice and never heard back.'

Last month, Married At First Sight's Dean Wells was caught begging for free food in an embarrassing leaked email.

Awkward! In August, Married At First Sight's Dean Wells (right) was caught begging for free food in an embarrassing leaked email. Pictured left is Tracey Jewel

He's a fan too! Bachelorette star Cameron Cranley travelled all the way from Perth to have his own Legacy Camberwell experience

Sweet tooth: Bachelor In Paradise star Laurina Fleure ordered mouth-watering hotcakes from Legacy - and took her dog along with her

They like it too! Married At First Sight stars Telv Williams (left) and Nick Furphy (right) often dine at the eatery free of charge

The email, which was sent by a representative on behalf of Dean to an unnamed restaurant, was published on Instagram by The Australian's restaurant critic John Lethlean.

In a separate incident, one aspiring social media influencer was overheard begging a Sydney restaurant manager for a free meal last month, but their request was denied.

'I was pretty embarrassed for [them]. But [they're] not really famous and don't have that many followers so I'm not surprised,' an eyewitness claimed.

Impressed: Married At First Sight's Patrick Miller gushed over the smoothies on offer

Healthy: Love Island Australia's Justin Lacko tucked into some salad at the popular restaurant

We'll have the lobster! Love Island Australia's Eden Dally (left) enjoyed seafood with former Bachelorette contestant Davey Lloyd (right) at Nick's Restaurant & Bar Group

Blessed: Bachelor In Paradise's Michael Turnbull scored a basket of fruit in exchange for an Instagram advertisement

However, one restaurant owner told Daily Mail Australia that different factors are taken into consideration when determining which customers eat for free.

'[The celebrity] will usually direct message us asking to collaborate,' the source said on the condition of anonymity.

'To be honest, it doesn't matter how many followers they have - it's all about whether their brand is a good fit.'

She's luvin' it: Big Brother's Tully Smyth plugged McDonald's and Uber Eats in the same post

Bagel fan: Tully also promoted a restaurant in Melbourne's Hawthorn

Free publicity: Keira tucked into a 24k gold burger in Melbourne's Camberwell and tagged the restaurant, suggesting it was a freebie

The source continued: 'I don't feel taken advantage of at all when they keep coming back because their Instagram posts pay off for us.

'We're the place to be right now. It's hard to measure [but] I'm sure one $20 meal will come back five times... the exposure you get from Instagram is a powerful tool.'

As if getting free food wasn't enough, the restaurateur claimed he was once asked to play matchmaker for single celebrities.

'A lot of the guys have asked to meet bubbly models from other shows at my restaurant but that doesn't happen,' he chuckled.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the celebrities featured in this story for comment.She was known as Kate Fischer during her modelling heyday in the 1990s.

And it seems Tziporah Malkah is reclaiming her glory days, as she was seen flaunting her slimmed-down figure during a photo shoot in Sydney on Sunday.

The 44-year-old socialite channelled Pamela Anderson in a Baywatch-inspired red swimsuit while striking a series of playful poses.

Kate Fischer is back! James Packer's ex Tziporah Malkah, 44, oozed sex appeal while flaunting her slimmed-down figure in a Baywatch style swimsuit in Sydney on Sunday

She's still got it! As Tziporah posed against a stunning ocean backdrop, onlookers could be forgiven for thinking they'd travelled back in time to 1998

As Tziporah posed against a stunning ocean backdrop, onlookers could be forgiven for thinking they'd travelled back in time to 1998.

Tziporah appeared happier and more confident than ever as she sizzled for the camera, after years of struggling with her size.

The former aged care worker looked remarkably youthful while posing suggestively and even pulling the occasional funny face.

Pucker up, boys! The former aged care worker looked remarkably youthful while posing suggestively and even pulling the occasional funny face

Back in business! Tziporah appeared happier and more confident than ever as she sizzled for the camera, after years of struggling with her size

Wow! Tziporah couldn't wipe the smile off her face during her fun and flirty photo shoot

Red hot! Tziporah wore a red swimsuit similar to the famous design worn by Pamela Anderson in the 1990s TV show Baywatch

They met in real life! Tziporah, then known as Kate Fischer, is pictured with the original Baywatch babe Pamela Anderson at an awards ceremony in Sydney in December 1994

The steamy photo shoot comes after Tziporah revealed her impressive 19kg weight loss.

In a previous interview with New Idea magazine, the Sirens star claimed she made the decision to slim down for health reasons.

Explaining how a doctor had told her she was 'morbidly obese', she said: 'My blood pressure is way too high and I'm likely to die prematurely unless I lose weight. So my life depends on this.'

Looking good, feeling great! The steamy photo shoot comes after Tziporah revealed her impressive 19kg weight loss

Making a change: In a previous interview with New Idea magazine, the Sirens star said she made the decision to slim down for health reasons

All eyes on her! Tziporah offered passers-by a generous glimpse of her ample cleavage

Transformation: It seems the weight loss hasn't simply improved Tziporah's health, as she appears to have discovered a whole new lease on life

And it seems the weight loss hasn't simply improved Tziporah's health, as she appears to have discovered a whole new lease on life.

A source told Daily Mail Australia this week: 'She's feeling great and having fun in the spotlight. After years living away, she is happy to be back in Sydney.

'She didn't choose to be a public figure again, but has made the decision to embrace her newfound fame and have some fun.'

Homecoming: A source told Daily Mail Australia this week: 'She's feeling great and having fun in the spotlight. After years living away, she is happy to be back in Sydney'

Having a laugh: 'She didn't choose to be a public figure again, but has made the decision to embrace her newfound fame and have some fun,' the source added

Life story: Tziporah, formerly known as Kate Fischer, was one of the most in-demand models in Australia in the '90s and was even engaged to businessman James PackerShe stole the show at the Emmys this week, with fans and celebrities alike describing her two-minute monologue as the highlight of the ceremony.

So it's hardly surprising Australian comedian Hannah Gadsby spent her trip to Los Angeles mingling with her famous fans - including the likes of Sandra Oh, Sophia Bush and Meredith Salenger.

The 40-year-old funnywoman, who gained international recognition earlier this year with her Netflix special Nanette, shared a photo to Instagram of herself with Grey's Anatomy star Sandra, 47, in the parking lot of LA's Microsoft Theatre on Monday.

Time to party! Hannah Gadsby (left) rubbed shoulders with Sandra Oh (right), Sophia Bush and Meredith Salenger at the Emmys... after fans went wild for her show-stealing performance. Pictured after Monday's ceremony

In the caption, Hannah cheekily referenced the Twitter campaign for her to host next year's Emmys, while also alluding to her deliberately awkward stage persona.

'In a parking lot with Sandra Oh pitching our services as hosts for the leaving early awards,' she wrote.

The rising star was also photographed rubbing shoulders with One Tree Hill star Sophia Bush at the pre-Emmys Gala on Sunday night.

Famous fans! The rising star was also photographed rubbing shoulders with One Tree Hill star Sophia Bush (second from left) at the pre-Emmys Gala on Sunday night

The 36-year-old actress took to Instagram to reflect on her encounter with the comedian, who is currently hot property in the US.

'On Sunday night I had the supreme joy of looking to my left and seeing Hannah Gadsby right there! In the same room! I had to tell her what Nanette meant to me,' Sophia wrote.

'This woman's Netflix special is a revelation. And a revolution. Hannah, thank you for being so gracious to each of us who had gratitude to share.'

Centre of attention: At the same event, Hannah was seen socialising with other celebrities, including actress Meredith Salenger (left) and her comedian husband, Patton Oswalt (right)

Sophia also claimed that actor Kevin Bacon had 'fan-boyed' over Hannah earlier in the evening.

'I'm glad we're no longer even one degree of Kevin Bacon apart. And I'm sorry for standing behind Kevin Bacon like a total creep so that I could fangirl you the moment he was done fanboying you. Youre a gem,' she added.

At the same event, Hannah was seen socialising with other celebrities, including actress Meredith Salenger and her comedian husband, Patton Oswalt.

Friends in high places! Meanwhile on Saturday, Hannah posed for photos with Jodie Foster (left) at Netflix's annual Emmy Awards soiree

Meanwhile on Saturday, Hannah posed for photos with Jodie Foster at Netflix's annual Emmy Awards soiree.

Jodie, 55, looked elegant in a round-neck black frock, featuring a contrasting plaid and floral print.

The American actress also styled her shoulder-length hair straight and loosely, and sported a minimal makeup palette.

Hannah received widespread praise for her Netflix stand-up special Nanette when it premiered earlier this year.

The comedy routine delved into issues of sexism and homophobia, and the performer's personal experience of prejudice.

Hannah hails from Tasmania, an island to the south of the Australian mainland.On Monday, she took home the Emmy for her role as Queen Elizabeth.

And one day following her win, Claire Foy was ready to return home to London.

On Tuesday, the 34-year-old was seen arriving to LAX for her international flight out of California.

Going home: Claire Foy, 34, was ready to return to London on Tuesday

The 34-year-old was styled in a relaxed, yet put-together ensemble.

Claire tucked a black blouse into a set of cropped jeans, and completed her outfit with a set of leopard print shoes.

The British beauty completed her look with a red Gucci purse, a Louis Vuitton bag, jewelry and shades.

Bye Los Angeles! The actress arrived to LAX for her international flight out of California

Her look: Claire tucked a black blouse into a set of cropped jeans, and completed her ensemble with a set of leopard print shoes

As she made her way into LAX, Claire noticeably had a bright smile on her face.

The actress had much to grin about, having taken home the award for Lead Actress in a Drama Series at the Emmys on Monday.

The First Man star nabbed the win for her role as Queen Elizabeth in the Netflix drama, The Crown.

Topping off her outfit: The British beauty completed her look with a red Gucci purse, a Louis Vuitton bag, jewelry and shades

Claire will not return to her role as Queen Elizabeth, as her character has been recast to fit the royal's older age.

Next, the actress will play Janet Armstrong, the wife of astronaut Neil Armstrong in the controversial semi-biopic, First Man.

The film drew fire after it was revealed that Neil, played by Ryan Gosling, would not place an American flag on the moon, making the would-be iconic scene historically inaccurate.

She'll also take the lead in the spy-thriller, The Girl In the Spider's Web.

Coming soon: Next, the actress will play Janet Armstrong, the wife of astronaut Neil Armstrong in the controversial semi-biopic, First ManRove McManus and his wife Tasma Walton splashed out $6.4million on a luxurious clifftop bungalow in Bronte, Sydney in 2016.

And after renovation permits were approved last year, the 44-year-old TV presenter has been busy transforming the beachside home - much to the anger of locals.

With extensive demolition and earthworks underway, neighbours have described the build as 'excessive', 'disruptive' and 'inappropriate'.

No wonder the neighbours are unhappy! Rove McManus continues renovations on his $6.4million Sydney beachside property as locals complain about the 'disruptive' build

Famous couple: Rove McManus and his wife Tasma Walton splashed out $6.4million on the luxurious clifftop bungalow in Bronte, Sydney in 2016. Pictured on July 1 on the Gold Coast

The proposed renovations could potentially add $4million to the value of the home.

It is understood the couple made multiple attempts to have a planning application approved to build on the sloping block, which was granted last year.

After Waverley Council approved the plans in late 2017, work began earlier this year.

Eyesore: With extensive demolition and earthworks underway, neighbours have described the build as 'excessive', 'disruptive' and 'inappropriate'

Picturesque spot! The home boasts picturesque views of Bronte Beach

Work in progress: Photos of the property show dirt piles, concrete slabs and building equipment strewn across the construction zone, which has been barricaded by security fences

The land is currently barricaded by security fences and is quite an eyesore.

Photos of the property show dirt piles, concrete slabs and building equipment strewn across the construction zone.

Rove is believed to be upgrading the home with a second storey as well as a two-car basement garage with lift access.

'Footpath closed ahead': The build is also inconveniencing the public, as a footpath on the high side of street is blocked as a result of construction

'Use other footpath': Pedestrians are being diverted to another path across the road to access the local shops and cafes

The build is also inconveniencing the public, as a footpath on the high side of street is blocked as a result of construction.

Pedestrians are being diverted to another path across the road to access the local shops and cafes.

The footpath is expected to be accessible again when the full renovations are completed.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Rove McManus for comment.

Extension: Rove is believed to be upgrading the home with a second storey as well as a two-car basement garage with lift access

Wow! The couple purchased the five-bedroom property, which overlooks Bronte Beach and boasts a home library and temperature-controlled wine cellar, after selling their Avalon abode

Stylish: Rove and Tasma, who married in 2009 and share a two-year-old daughter Ruby, previously lived in America and still own a house in Los Angeles. Pictured: Their Bronte home

The couple purchased the five-bedroom property, which overlooks Bronte Beach and boasts a home library and temperature-controlled wine cellar, after selling their Avalon abode.

Rove and Tasma, who married in 2009 and share a two-year-old daughter Ruby, previously lived in America and still own a house in Los Angeles.

The media personality is best known as the host of long-running talk show Rove Live. He also runs the production company Roving Enterprises.She's a two-time Academy Award-winning actress, who can grab almost any project she wants.

But even Jodie Foster, 55, looked excited on Tuesday as she met with super producer Brian Grazer.

The two Hollywood heavyweights had lunch together at Italian upscale venue E Baldi in Beverly Hills.

Star power: Even Jodie Foster, 55, couldn't wipe the smile from her face on Tuesday as she met with super producer Brian Grazer

Jodie donned a black shirt with messy white stripes as she kept things casual for the lunch.

She donned comfortable and stylish wide-legged green pants that were cropped just below the ankle.

The Taxi Driver driver star let her trademark red tresses fall freely across her shoulders.

She shaded her eyes with dark sunglasses and donned black sneakers with white bottoms.

Casual: Jodie donned a black shirt with messy white stripes as she kept things casual for the lunch

Timeless: The Taxi Driver driver star let her trademark red tresses fall freely across her shoulders

Working hard: She shaded her eyes with dark sunglasses and donned black sneakers with white bottoms

Brian wore a button down shirt the same color as Jodie's pants and pair it with washed blue jeans.

His grey hair was spike straight up in a ring and he donned Bono-esque grey-lensed sunglasses.

He completed his look with light pink sneakers.

All star: Brian wore a button down shirt the same color as Jodie's pants and pair it with washed blue jeans

Greetings: His grey hair was spike straight up in a ring and he donned Bono-esque grey-lensed sunglasses

Earlier this year, Jodie appeared in Hotel Artemis, her first movie appearance in five years.

She has been spending much of her time recently, directing episodes of House of Cards and Black Mirror, and the movie Money Monster.

Brian produced Beautiful Mind, 8 Mile, Friday Night Lights, Inside Man, and many more of Hollywood's biggest hits over the last two decades.

Smooches: He completed his look with light pink sneakersUnREAL has a huge fan base, with the satirical series centering on how reality dating shows are made.

And now it seems that The Bachelor Australia might be getting outfit ideas from the fictional show.

The Bachelor contestant Brooke Blurton recently wore a stunning long blue gown similar to the one that character Serena wore on UnREAL, which was dubbed the 'stripper-mermaid' dress.

Is The Bachelor Australia stealing outfit ideas from Unreal? Brooke Blurton (R) wears a near-identical dress as the 'stripper-mermaid' gown worn by a character on the show (L)

Brooke stuns in the outfit, which features a daring thigh-split and a plunging neckline.

It also has lace detailing, and she teamed the look with nude heels and has her long dark locks out and over her shoulders.

The dress that Serena (played by Caitlin FitzGerald) wore on UnREAL is very similar, but appears to be made of sequins.

A beauty in blue! Brooke stuns in the outfit, which features a daring thigh-split and a plunging neckline

Her long blonde locks are also styled out and over her shoulders in loose curls.

On the show in season three, Serena feared that she looked like a 'stripper mermaid' in the outfit.

In response, producer Rachel (Shiri Appleby) hilariously told Serena: 'This is how the girls on these shows dress. Sequins pop. Cleavage projects a certain willingness to participate in the process.'

She added that it would help Serena 'catch a husband.'

Drama! On the show in season three, Serena feared that she looked like a 'stripper mermaid' in the outfit

UnREAL - which airs on Stan in Australia and Lifetime in the US - centres on the ins and outs of the dating show called Everlasting, which is similar to The Bachelor franchise.

At the end of last month, Australian Bachelor contestant Alisha Aitken-Radburn claimed that her co-stars 'studied' the show in the hopes of walking away with their reputations intact.

Speaking to NW magazine, she admitted: 'I feel like a lot of the girls watched UnREAL and noted down the "wifey" concept.'

Claims: At the end of last month, Australian Bachelor contestant Alisha Aitken-Radburn (pictured) claimed that her co-stars 'studied' the show in the hopes of walking away with their reputations intact

In UnREAL, Everlasting showrunner Quinn King (played by Constance Zimmer) defines a 'wifey' as a woman whose qualities make her most likely to win the show.

A 'wifey' typically avoids conflict with the other women, is sexy without being 'too sexual', is 'wholesome' in character and comes from a stable family background.

Alisha continued: '[The women] have gone in and studied previous seasons and thought, "well, if I don't talk about anything on camera, then I'll be right as rain. Then I can humiliate these other girls and get them pigeonholed as the villains, which will suit me well."'Travis Barker has filed a lawsuit over his inability to work stemming from two incidents this past summer: an auto accident and what he says was a botched medical procedure, TMZ reports.

The Blink-182 drummer, 42, in July was involved in an auto accident in Calabasas, California when the black Mercedes he was driving collided with a school bus that did not have any children in it at the time.

Police said that Barker wasn't at fault in the incident, according to the outlet.

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Court-bound: Travis Barker, 42, has filed a lawsuits over his inability to work stemming from two incidents this past summer: an auto accident and what he says was a botched medical procedure, TMZ reports. He was snapped in LA in May

The Fontana, California native has sued the bus company and bus driver, saying that the accident was spurred on by an illegal left turn the driver attempted, TMZ reported.

The father of two - to Landon Asher, 14, and Alabama Luella, 12, - has included his son Landon in the suit.

He's also named the Santa Monica, California-based Medical Imaging Center in a suit.

It stems from an MRI he had the month before the crash, over a complication he dealt with following a procedure there, that was a checkup for a tour with the band.

Out and about: Barker was snapped in LA in July attending Beautycon

Devoted dad: The musician posed with his daughter Alabama, 12, in this shot in July

Barker said that during the sedation process, workers at the center could not find a vein to inject him with.

This led to more than 40 attempts to inject him - with a dirty needle, he says in the suit - resulting in vein damage and a staph infection.

The beleaguered musician settled a lawsuit in late 2009 stemming from a September 19, 2008 plane crash in South Carolina he was involved in.

Four people died in the crash, but Barker and his friend DJ AM (who died of a drug overdose the following year) survived the tragic crash.Pakistan is the only country whose corruption perception index is on decline: NAB

National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal has said that Pakistans ranking in Corruption Perception Index is improving due to the bureaus anti-graft efforts.



Pakistans Corruption Perception Index has decreased from 175 to 116. Pakistan is the only country whose corruption perception index is on a declining trend, he said while chairing a meeting here on Tuesday.



The NAB chairman described bribery and corruption as poison, saying We must put it down with an iron hand.



Father of nation Quaid-e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had also termed bribery and corruption one of the biggest curses, he added.



He said that the anti-corruption watchdog was committed to recovering looted money from the corrupt and bringing them to the book. The NAB, he said, had chalked out comprehensive operational methodology for proceeding of cases.



He added that NABs investigation officers were strictly following zero-tolerance policy against the corrupt. He said that the concept of a combined investigation team (CIT) had been introduced where two investigation officers and a legal consultant were working as a team for a fair, transparent and unbiased, inquiry/ investigation.



NAB had been unanimously elected as SAARC Anti-Corruption Forum chairman, which was a great achievement. Due to indiscriminate actions of NAB against corrupt, he said that the bureau had apprehended several corrupt people and presented them before the respective accountability courtsMillie Bobby Brown says she and Drake often text one another that they miss each other.

The Stranger Things star, 14, told Access at the Emmys Monday that she and the rapper, 31, communicate by text about a number of topics.

'We just texted each other the other day and he was like, "I miss you so much," and I was like "I miss you more,"' she said, adding, 'He's great.'

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Hollywood friendship: Millie Bobby Brown, 14, told Access at the Emmys Monday that she and Drake, 31, often text one another that they miss each other

Brown said that the In My Feelings artist gives her advice with how to deal with boys: 'About boys, he helps me.'

The Spain-born actress called the Toronto native a 'great friend and a great role model,' adding, 'I love him; I met him in Australia and he's honestly so fantastic.'

The Netflix star said that she hopes to catch him in concert later this fall when his tour arrives in Atlanta.

She opened up to W magazine earlier this summer about her relationship with the rapper, as a picture they took together while both working in Australia went viral last November.

She told the magazine in July that since their first meeting, they now 'talk all the time.

'He invited me to his concert,' she said. 'And now we talk all the time. I ask his advice.'

While the Stranger Things actress is comfortable with Drake, there's other male stars that still leave her starstruck.

Pals: The 14-year-old star's photograph with the Hotline Bling hitmaker, which was taken when they were both working in Australia, went viral last November and she revealed that since their first meeting, they now 'talk all the time'

Discussing whether she's changed since she first found fame, she said, 'I don't think I've changed. I'm not thinking, Oh, I know everything now. I still get nervous. I still get anxious.

'Although, even back then at the BAFTA tea, when I met Justin Timberlake, I swear I could have fainted.'

And Millie could 'barely speak' when she came face-to-face with her childhood idol, Zac Efron.

Asked her favorite toy as a child, she said: 'A microphone that had High School Musical on it. I could sing with Zac Efron!

'I watched High School Musical every single day. When I met Zac Efron, I could barely speak.'

Young star: When Millie first auditioned for Stranger Things in 2015, she had no idea how big the show would be or how much it would change her life

When Millie first auditioned for Stranger Things in 2015, she had no idea how big the show would be or how much it would change her life.

She said: 'I didn't know anything about it. Every part of the show was top secret. I Skyped with the directors [brothers Matt and Ross Duffer], and we spoke about '80s movies--E.T., Stand by Me, and Poltergeist.

'I flew to L.A. for a screen test, and the next day I got the job! I was 11.

'We did the show, and I went back home to England. I thought, "OK, it's a little show. What's next?" And then we came to America for the premiere.

'Three days later, my whole life changed. People went crazy! My followers went up to one million in one day.

'Magazines wanted me. One of my goals was to be on the cover of W, and you see? Dreams do come true.'Paul O'Grady has revealed he squared up to a homophobic thug who launched a tirade of abuse towards his husband while travelling on a London-bound British Airways flight on Sunday.

The TV presenter, 63, was left furious when he witnessed the passenger brand his partner Andre Portasio a 'f***ing q***r' and taunted him with a sexual jibe.

Paul, who was flying back after a romantic holiday in Bangkok with ballet dancer Andre, 37, added things could 'have easily turned nasty' if the man hadn't been removed from business class by the cabin crew after his homophobic outburst.

Furious: Paul O'Grady has revealed he squared up to a homophobic thug who launched a tirade of abuse towards his husband while travelling on a London-bound BA flight on Sunday

He told The Sun: 'I stood up and said, "you're lucky we're not in the street, mate, because you'd be eating your dinner through a straw".

'He didn't know I was sitting next to Andre, then the bonehead was saying something about me thinking I could do whatever I wanted because I was famous.

'He claimed Andre had been looking at him which was ridiculous, I mean, he was this typical English yob with a beard and a beer belly.'

Shocking: The TV presenter, 63, was left furious when he witnessed the passenger brand his partner Andre Portasio a 'f***ing q***r' and taunted him with a sexual jibe (pictured together in January)

Paul went on to say it could have 'turned nasty' but after swift action from the cabin crew, the man was ejected from business class and was pulled aside by police upon the flight's arrival at Heathrow.

The comedian revealed he had declined to press charges on the man following the incident.

Paul and Andre have been happily married for more than a year, after tying the knot in an intimate ceremony which reportedly included acting great Ian McKellen, comedian Julian Clary and actor-turned-politician Michael Cashman.

Confrontation: Paul said: 'I stood up and said, "you're lucky we're not in the street, mate, because you'd be eating your dinner through a straw"

Paul, who found huge fame as his drag alter ego Lily Savage, revealed his relationship with ballet dancer and teacher Andre in his 2012 biography, where he said: 'Our relationship just crept up on us.

'It took us by surprise when we were least expecting it.'

The couple, who started dating in 2001, share two children but live apart. O'Grady has said that is the key to their successful relationship as it means, 'when youve had enough, you can say; "Ill see you, Im off"'.

On Paul and Andre's wedding certificate it cites the star's previous marriage was 'dissolved', in reference to his 1977 convenience marriage to Portuguese model Teresa Fernandez which ended in 2005.

Paul married Theresa after her family pressured her to marry, as he revealed to Woman magazine in 2011: 'Theresa, I call her the lesbian Portuguese barmaid, was lovely. She looked like David Cassidy.

Last year, in an interview with Radio Times when asked about love and its importance, he said: 'It hasnt been the driving force.

'For a lot of people thats all theyre looking for, love and a happy ending. Its certainly not been for me. Bit of a lone wolf, to tell you the truth. Always have been.'

British Airways told MailOnline: 'We will not tolerate abuse under any circumstances on our flight and will always ask the police to attend any situations when our crew deem it necessary.'Dynasty actress Nathalie Kelley tied the knot with partner Jordan Burrows in an intimate ceremony in Australia earlier this year.

Now, the Peruvian-born actress who was raised in Australia, opened up about her special day and shared her story of how she proposed to her beau.

In an interview with the October edition of Harper's Bazaar Australia, the 33-year-old said: 'He was everything I'd ever wanted in a partner.'

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'He was everything I wanted in a partner': Dynasty actress Nathalie Kelly (left) shares the romantic story of how she proposed to her now-husband Jordy Burrows (right)

The Australian actress revealed after visiting Tulum, Mexico and Atlanta, USA Nathalie felt she had found 'the one' and decided to pop the question.

'I was filming in Atlanta, and I ended up proposing to him one night in our hotel. It wasn't planned and there was no ring,' she divulged.

Gushing over her man, Nathalie said: 'He's extremely fun and funny, he's relaxed and easygoing, he's not possessive or jealous, he's insanely kind and generous - just an amazing human being.'

How romantic! Nathalie opened up about her special day and shared her story of how she decided to propose to her now husband

Nathalie said they planned their wedding in two months and explained they both wanted something relaxed and nothing over-the-top.

'We knew we wanted to it to be in Australian, by the harbour, so we married at The Island [floating beach club].'

She had her mother do all the flower arrangements for the big day, and her family from Peru sent 200 maracas as a wedding gift.

Love is in the air: 'He's extremely fun and funny, he's relaxed and easygoing, he's not possessive or jealous, he's insanely kind and generous - just an amazing human being,' she told the magazine

Back in May, the UnREAL actress and Jordy were seen saying their vows in an intimate Potts Point ceremony in Sydney.

The newlyweds, who only announced their engagement a month prior, said 'I do' in the presence of friends and family.

Nathalie looked every inch the beautiful bride as she kissed her husband during an intimate outdoor wedding by the water's edge.

Party time: 'I was filming in Atlanta, and I ended up proposing to him one night in our hotel. It wasn't planned and there was no ring,' she said

Their guests included Today co-host Karl Stefanovic's sister-in-law-to-be, Jade Yarbrough, as well as Nathalie's Dynasty co-star Rafael de la Fuente.

The pair were seen partying well into the night onboard their private pontoon, which was styled with cacti and fairy lights.

They also had Samba dancer performances.

Guests were given maracas as the dance floor came alive with 'Love Is In The Air' by John Paul Young.An arrest warrant has reportedly been issued for Demi Lovato's drug dealer.

According to TMZ, Brandon Johnson is a wanted man by the L.A. County D.A.'s Office for his June arrest for cocaine possession and DUI after failing to turn up to his arraignment on Monday.

This comes after the publication revealed last month that Johnson will not be investigated for supplying Lovato, 26, with the pills that allegedly caused her near-fatal overdose.

Wanted: An arrest warrant has reportedly been issued for Demi Lovato's drug dealer Brandon Johnson for his June arrest for cocaine possession and DUI after failing to turn up to his arraignment

No stranger to the law, Brandon was reportedly arrested in June for possession of cocaine, as well as driving under the influence of alcohol.

And after failing to turn up to his arraignment at the start of the week, the judge has now asked for him to face the consequences, thus issuing a warrant for his arrest.

As well as his June arrest, Brandon was also arrested back in March, after he was discovered with narcotic substances, $10,000 worth of cash and even a loaded handgun on his person.

While he is set to face the music for his prior alleged criminal activities, Brandon will not be charged with Demi's shock overdose, despite openly admitting he supplied her with the 'after market pills' on the evening of her OD.

Not charged: It was recently revealed that Johnson will not be investigated for supplying Demi, 26, with the pills that allegedly caused her near-fatal overdose

Personal troubles: TMZ reported that Brandon will not be investigated in Demi's case due to an overdose being categorised as a medical emergency, and a self-induced one

TMZ reported that Brandon will not be investigated due to an overdose being categorised as a medical emergency, and a self-induced one.

It was revealed in late July that Demi suffered her near-fatal overdose after smoking Oxycodone possibly laced with fentanyl.

The Skyscraper hitmaker had contacted Brandon via text message in the early hours of July 24 to join her at her Hollywood Hills house, after she attended a party at popular Sunset Strip bar Saddle Ranch.

It was reported that the pair smoked painkiller Oxycodone 'on tin foil' at her home and, unbeknown to the star, the batch was likely laced with particularly potent fentanyl as the dealer had a 'bad habit of buying [tainted] drugs from Mexico'.

The dealer, who Demi is said to have been using the services of since April, allegedly fled the star's house after noticing that she was breathing heavily in bed  leaving her staff to discover her at 11:30 AM.

No stranger to the law: Brandon was reportedly arrested in June for possession of cocaine, as well as driving under the influence of alcohol

Facing the music: After failing to turn up to his arraignment at the start of the week, the judge has now asked for him to face the consequences, thus issuing a warrant for his arrest

Demi was said to have been revived with Narcan before being rush to hospital, where she remained for two weeks as she recovered.

Meanwhile, Brandon claimed Demi knew what she was ingesting and the risks she was taking on the night she overdosed.

Brandon alleged that the embattled star text him at 4am to ask he come over, which he took as a request to bring narcotics leading to his claims that they then smoked - also known as 'freebasing - drugs together.

He is said to have got pills from Mexico, which were reportedly laced with fentanyl which is described as 'is an opioid used as a pain medication and together with other medications for anesthesia'. He claims to have left at 7-8am.

As well as his June arrest: Brandon was also arrested back in March, after he was discovered with narcotic substances, $10,000 worth of cash and even a loaded handgun on his person

OD: It was revealed in late July that Demi suffered her near-fatal overdose after smoking Oxycodone possibly laced with fentanyl

Turn of events: The dealer, who Demi is said to have been using the services of since April, allegedly fled the star's house after noticing that she was breathing heavily in bed  leaving her staff to discover her at 11:30 AM

Among the astoundingly bold allegations, he insinuated the two of them did drugs together many times before and even had a 'sexual relationship'.

Following up with a raid of his Hollywood home, the police later found an even larger stash of drugs and weapons - although it is not known if he was ever charged.

Hot on the heels of her hospitalisation and subsequent release, Demi cancelled her tour and entered a rehabilitation centre in Chicago in a bid to seek further treatment.

The former Disney channel star 'will be in rehab for several months and is doing an extensive program to ensure she gets the help she needs', according to E News.

Demi 'hasn't been in communication with anyone and is really focusing on herself,' added the source.

Getting better: Demi was said to have been revived with Narcan before being rush to hospital, where she remained for two weeks as she recovered

His version of events: Brandon claimed Demi knew what she was ingesting and the risks she was taking on the night she overdosed

'Even her ex-boyfriend Wilmer Valderrama will have limited contact, with the source explaining: 'Wilmer has been in touch with the family and has been checking in on Demi's status.

'The family is trying to make sure they eliminate all distractions and want her to be focusing on her health right now.'

The pop star was forced to scrap her remaining shows in Mexico and South America as she will be 'in treatment for a lengthy period of time' according to TMZ.

Demi was scheduled for performances on September 20 and 22 in Mexico. She also called off a six-city tour in Chile, Argentina and Brazil, slated for November.

Live Nation and Lotus Productions 'wish Demi Lovato the best now and in the future and we hope to see her soon in South America'.

Focusing on herself: Demi cancelled her tour and entered a rehabilitation centre in Chicago in a bid to seek further treatmentFormer Made In Chelsea starlet Jess Woodley stepped out in London on Tuesday evening to attend the Revlon x Adwoa Aboah party - and made another very daring outfit choice.

The reality star fashionista, 23, went braless under a sheer black top which was tied at the front and showed off her bare cleavage beneath.

The top featured puffy black sleeves, and she teamed it with a short skirt and boots.

Striking: Former Made In Chelsea starlet Jess Woodley stepped out in London on Tuesday evening to attend the Revlon x Adwoa Aboah party - and made another very daring outfit choice

Daring: The reality star fashionista, 23, donned a sheer black top which was tied at the front and showed off her bare cleavage beneath

Leaving the event at the end of the night she threw a mud green bomber jacket, exiting the party with a pal.

Jess wore her cropped blonde locks loosely around her features, which she decorated with a dark slash of eyeliner and a bright red lipstick.

Jeewely included a monogram silver necklace and her trademark central nose ring.

She was at the event as part of London Fashion Week - which was being held at Jack Solomons Club in Soho.

Dare to bare: The top featured puffy black sleeves, and she teamed it with a short skirt and boots

Cute: Jess wore her cropped blonde locks loosely around her features

All wrapped up: Leaving the event at the end of the night she threw a mud green bomber jacket, exiting the party with a pal

All made up: She decorated her look with a dark slash of eyeliner and a bright red lipstick

Jess has been making her way around the various events of LFW, posing in a quirky ensemble at M.A.C cosmetics' party a week ago.

Jess dared to bare once more as she turned up in a perilously skimpy crop top.

Jess paired the daring garment with high-waisted flame-print jeans and Nineties-inspired black platform boots.

Sticking to a grungy theme, she wore her blonde bob in a sleek middle-parting and framed her features with a slick of taupe, matte lipstick.

Chelsea chic: Jewelry included a monogram silver necklace and her trademark central nose ring

Coy: She was at the event as part of London Fashion Week - which was being held at Jack Solomons Club in Soho

The Made In Chelsea star seemed to be in great spirits as she mingled with other guests at the bash, which was held to celebrate M.A.C's Studio Fix Foundation campaign #WhatsYourThing.

The fashionista, who now works as creative director for London-based label Rose Collective, was propelled to fame on the ninth series of Made In Chelsea when she was introduced to the King's Road crowd as Alex Mytton's girlfriend.

Last February she decided to leave the show in order to focus on an alternative career in fashion.

'I'm not filming for it,' she told Star magazine when asked if she was looking forward to the new season earlier in 2017.

Fashionista: Jess, who now works as creative director for London-based label Rose Collective, was propelled to fame on the ninth series of Made In Chelsea

Pastures new: Last February she decided to leave the show in order to focus on an alternative career in fashion

Ex star: 'I'm not filming for it,' she told Star magazine when asked if she was looking forward to the new season earlier in 2017

'It's been fantastic and has given me the platform I've always wanted, but now I'm focusing on my fashion brand.

'The door's always open, but I'm working really closely with Rimmel and taking this time to focus on myself.'

Former co-star Stephanie Pratt later insisted Jess opted to leave the hit show because the filming process made her unhappy.

'I think Made In Chelsea didn't make Jess happy,' she told Daily Star Online.

'She was definitely the type of person that had rage and regret, so it was harder when [the show] would come out months later. She just wasn't happy on the show.'She's the ever-jovial host of This Morning.

And Holly Willoughby was typically giggly on Tuesday night as she left an upmarket dinner at Quaglinos in London's St James having enjoyed champagne aplenty.

The 37-year-old had been with a pal at the eatery enjoying a girls night out, emerging at 10PM all-smiles and looking somewhat tipsy.

What larks: Holly Willoughby was typically giggly on Tuesday night as she left an upmarket dinner at Quaglinos in London 's St James having enjoyed champagne aplenty

Night on the tiles: The 37-year-old had been with a pal at the eatery enjoying a girls night out, emerging at 10PM all-smiles and looking somewhat tipsy

Holly stepped out in a white blouse tucked into black jeans and covered in a black coat.

She added matching heels to the look and wore her blonde locks loosely around her smiley features.

Holly wore a dusting of bronzer and added a slick of rose to her pout and a sweep of eyeliner to her lashes.

She was seen tittering with her friend, climbing into the back of a cab and bursting into laughter.

Ladies night: The girls enjoyed champagne for their evening out

Cute look: Holly stepped out in a white blouse tucked into black jeans and covered in a black coat

Mix and match: She added matching heels to the look and wore her blonde locks loosely around her smiley features

Stepping out: Holly wore a dusting of bronzer and added a slick of rose to her pout and a sweep of eyeliner to her lashes

It was recently announced that Holly will be filling in for Ant McPartlin on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! alongside Declan Donnelly while the embattled star takes some time out of the limelight following his drink driving conviction.

There were claims that Christine Lampard, who is currently heavily pregnant, was a 'natural first choice because she and Phil work so well together both on and off screen' but the star's spokesman has denied she will take over.

Meanwhile, Holly recently insisted she doesn't know if she'll be paid the same as Declan, 42, for her stint on the ITV jungle competition next month.

What a laugh: She was seen tittering with her friend before climbing into the back of a cab

Something funny? Holly was then seen bursting into laughter in the back of the cab

Will be missed: Holly will be leaving behind her co-host and pal Phillip on This Morning as she heads Down Under

When grilled by Keith Lemon about her rumoured pay packet on This Morning on Wednesday, she squirmed and declared laughing: 'I don't know!'

The presenter revealed she would be taking her children Harry, nine, Belle, seven, and Chester, three, out of school to join her in Australia when filming for the new series starts in November.

The show traditionally runs for three weeks - meaning that her kids could be missing up to a month of school.

Unaware: Holly recently insisted she doesn't know if she'll be paid the same as Declan, 42, for her stint on the ITV jungle competition next monthThe Bachelor fans have slammed producers for their blatant product placement on Wednesday's episode.

Cassandra Wood was seen waiting on the side of the street for Nick Cummins to pick her up for their single date, but what she did next had Twitter fans fuming.

Before Nick arrived, the 24-year-old was seen reaching for her Blistex lip balm which she lathered all over her lips with cameras lingering to capture all the action.

'Obvious much?': Fans slam Bachelor for cringeworthy product placement after cameras linger on Cassandra Wood (pictured) applying lip balm from show's sponsors before date with Nick 'The Honey Badger' Cummins

Taking to Twitter, one viewer raged: 'F**k that Blistex promotion omg obvious much?'

'Cass popping out her blister before nick arrives is not product placement at all...' another sarcastically wrote.

'Ah the product placement .. the most realistic one yet .. blistex before a date,' penned another unimpressed fan.

Obvious: Before Nick arrived, the 24-year-old was seen reaching for her Blistex lip balm which she lathered all over her lips before her big one-on-one date at Wet'n'Wild water park in Sydney

'F**k that Blistex promotion' Viewers were not happy about the product placement in the Channel Ten show

It's not the first time the show has come under from Twitter users for their awkward product placement.

In an episode last month, Vanessa Sunshine, who has since been eliminated, was seen at one point reaching for her bag to grab two one-litre bottles of TRESemme shampoo and conditioner while on a group camping trip with Nick.

Following the promotion, there were several advertisements for the haircare range that played during the commercial breaks.

'I love carrying two litres of shampoo while camping': Fans previously slammed The Bachelor producers for blatant TRESemme product placement (pictured)

'How's that huge shampoo... thanks TRESemme I love carrying two litres of shampoo camping,' tweeted one viewer.

Another wrote: 'Why is Vanessa Sunshine bringing her shampoo on a camping trip Oh right cringed product placement.'

'I'm always sure to pack two one-litre bottles of TRESemme shampoo when I go camping too,' another posted.

Hilarious: Fans mercilessly mocked The Bachelor for its blatant product placement

Another previous episode saw contestant Sophie Tieman smothering her lips in Blistex before embarking on a date with Nick.

Not only did the show zoom in on the Blistex tube, an advertisement for the lip balm brand played during the next commercial break.

'This whole show is just one big friggin (sic) informercial,' tweeted one viewer.

Another wrote: 'The Blistex product integration in The Bachelor is umm... subtle?'

'Actually, you know what would've been great?' tweeted another. 'If he reached behind the couch and pulled out a giant tub of Blistex instead of a rose.'

Madeleine West appeared on The Project on Wednesday to promote Network Ten's new drama Playing For Keeps, and it was inevitable her personal life would be a topic of discussion.

The 38-year-old former Neighbours star - who recently split with her boyfriend-of-13-years, celebrity chef Shannon Bennett - was asked by Carrie Bickmore how she was coping after 'rough couple of months'.

'Yeah I'm good,' replied Madeleine. 'I think the key to going through any kind of adversity in life, especially if you're in the public eye, is just always [to] practice gratitude, kindness, respect, and love for the people who are in your inner circle.'

'Yeah I am going through a bad time': Madeleine West - who recently split with her boyfriend-of-13-years, celebrity chef Shannon Bennett - was asked by The Project's Carrie Bickmore on Wednesday how she was coping after 'rough couple of months'

'Because, at the end of the day, I think that everyone has everyone else's best interests at heart and curiosity comes from compassion,' she added.

'And respecting that and saying, "Yeah I am going through a bad time and if you don't mind extending a bit of privacy then I'll still do my very best because I want to be an actor I want to tell your stories".'

It's over! Madeleine and Shannon, who began dating in 2005, are parents to Phoenix, 12, Hendrix, 10, Xascha, eight, Xanthe, six, and four-year-old twins Xalia and Margaux. She confirmed their split earlier this month

Madeleine confirmed to Stellar earlier this month that she and Shannon, 42, had ended their relationship and were 'striving to reconnect as friends and parents'.

She explained that having a large family 'put exponential pressures on a relationship'.

'Having a public profile, having two high-pressure careers, having a multitude of children  and I will say they are a lot harder to train than dragons  it puts exponential pressures on a relationship, and cracks can form, and things that we don't necessarily plan in the beginning can happen,' she told the magazine.

Madeleine and Shannon began dating in 2005. They are parents to Phoenix, 12, Hendrix, 10, Xascha, eight, Xanthe, six, and four-year-old twins Xalia and Margaux.

They never married.

Woman's Day first reported the couple's split in July, quoting a source as saying: 'Nobody knows what went wrong but whatever happened, it's sad. They have such a beautiful family.'

A new chapter: Madeleine confirmed to Stellar earlier this month that she and Shannon, 42, had ended their relationship and were 'striving to reconnect as friends and parents'

Shannon is the head chef of Melbourne's famed restaurant Vue de monde, and has published eight cookbooks.

Meanwhile, Madeleine is best known for playing Dee Bliss on Neighbours from 2000 until 2003.

She is currently playing football WAG Kath Rickards in AFL-themed drama Playing For Keeps, alongside fellow Neighbours alum Olympia Valance, 25.Chris Evans was seen beaming as he departed work on Wednesday to join his pregnant wife Natasha Shishmanianin hospital as she prepares to be induced.

The day before, the 52-year-old radio veteran told listeners that while he's hugely excited to be welcoming twins with wife Natasha, he's also 'a little bit sad' at the prospect of his current family dynamic changing.

The star, who also has a grown-up daughter Jade, 30, was beaming at cameras after work just a day after he revealed that he expects to be a father again 'pretty quickly' after Natasha's labour is induced.

Daddy cool! Chris Evans was seen beaming as he departed work on Wednesday to join his pregnant wife Natasha Shishmanianin hospital as she prepares to be induced

Chris looked low-key and happy as he prepared for the big day, ahead of the arrival of his fourth child. Prior to leaving the building, he called Natasha on the radio.

He said: 'Hello Tash - so you've called in to see how I am? I'm fine thanks. I'm not terribly nervous.' She joked: 'Did you get any sleep? I do worry about you'.

He then asked how she was doing ahead of the birth, to which she responded: 'I feel like I'm in control today, I'm pumped, I'm ready, let's do this.

'Yesterday I was a bit of an emotional wreck, it was very overwhelming yesterday. There's a lot of love and support and I'm very grateful but it was like, 'oh my god, this is actually happening'.

The big reveal: The day before, the 52-year-old radio veteran told listeners that while he's hugely excited to be welcoming twins with wife Natasha, he's also 'a little bit sad' at the prospect of his current family dynamic changing

Happy days: 'And I've loved our four and it makes me a bit sad - I can't wait to meet Ping and Pong - but you know Eli, Noah, Tash and myself, we've had a journey' (pictured with Natasha and Noah in 2016)

Cheeky Chris discussed his wife's hormones, saying: 'In the same half-hour yesterday, my wife thought I was the most funny I've ever been since she met me, then the least funny I've ever been. In the same half an hour!'

The day before, he said: 'Tonight is our last night as a four... And I've loved our four and it makes me a bit sad - I can't wait to meet Ping and Pong - but you know Eli, Noah, Tash and myself, we've had a journey.'

He continued: 'We've done a lot together and tonight's our last night as a four-piece, We go to a six-piece tomorrow, which is very exciting but you know what I mean.'

Bumping along nicely: Chris and Natasha are delightedly awaiting the arrival (pictured earlier this month at the 20th Goodwood Revival in Goodwood Revival, Sussex)

Evans also revealed that the couple are anticipating a swift labour. He said: 'Of course after inducement, birth can take hours and hours and hours but I think it's going to be quicker for twins.

'We've been told it can be very quick indeed. Tomorrow, Tash is induced at 10 o' clock. Should we go out tonight as a little four? Curry? No!' The couple announced earlier this year that they were expecting twins after successful IVF treatment.

Evans announced his wife's pregnancy on his Radio 2 Breakfast Show in April, after revealing that she was undergoing IVF in a bid to have a 'fourth ankle-biter'.

During a talk with a pregnancy nutritionist Henrietta Norton, the broadcaster mentioned the news as he asked her for advice and she told him to get a bigger car.

Clutching on: He was going low-key as he prepared for the evening ahead

Daddy to be: The couple already have two sons and the DJ has a daughter Jade, 30, with his former fiancee Alison Ward. Chris revealed the couple underwent IVF as they wanted to add to their family unit for 'one last hurrah'

Chris said: 'Mrs Evans is... she is now, yeah. Twins. Double trouble. Twin turbo. We've known for a while, obviously. She's definitely the mother, there's no doubt about that.

'When you begin to be involved in the world of twins, suddenly twins are everywhere, twins are not as rare as you think.'

The couple already have two sons and the DJ has a daughter Jade, 30, with his former fiancee Alison Ward. Chris revealed the couple underwent IVF as they wanted to add to their family unit for 'one last hurrah'.

At the time of trying to conceive, he told listeners: 'Mrs Evans has gone into hospital this morning at 7am - she is the field and there's a harvest taking place this morning. It's a nice thing, we're having one last hurrah, one last attempt at a fourth ankle biter.

Happy days: Chris' excitement was clear to see as he was grinning happily ahead of the birth

'It's an IVF thing. She'll be being harvested around now, with the radio on. She doesn't mind me talking about it.'

Chris and Natasha tied the knot in a romantic ceremony in Faro, Portugal, in August 2007 and they have been happily together ever since.

The broadcaster was previously married to pop princess turned acclaimed actress Billie Piper, 35, from May 2001 to September 2004. Billie famously popped the question to Chris on his 35th birthday when she was the tender age of 18.

The former flames went onto tie the knot in a ceremony in Las Vegas at the time. Prior to his union with the Because We Want To hitmaker, Chris was married to TV and radio personality Carol McGiffin, 58, from 1991 to 1994.Beloved BBC gangster drama Peaky Blinders has reportedly started filming once again.

According to a Cillian Murpy Instagram fan account, the Steven Knight created series began shooting the highly-anticipated fifth series on Monday.

The social media account, which has 255,000 followers, took to the photo-sharing platform and a posted a snap of show star Cillian Murphy dressed as his formidable character, Thomas Shelby.

Kicking off: Beloved BBC gangster drama Peaky Blinders has reportedly started filming once again

Captioning the shot, they said: 'PEAKY NEWS! S5 filming starts tomorrow, Sept 17. The series is expected to air in Spring 2019 on BBC1.'

Although fans went wild for the news, BBC nor production company Endemol Shine, have yet to confirm whether the drama has begun filming.

In May, Peaky Blinders creator Steven confirmed that the gangster drama will come to a close after the seventh season.

Back in action: According to a Cillian Murpy Instagram fan account, the Steven Knight created series began shooting the highly-anticipated fifth series on Monday

Speculation: The social media account, which has 255,000 followers, took to the photo-sharing platform and a posted a snap of show star Cillian Murphy dressed as his formidable character, Thomas Shelby

But fans of the BBC Two drama shouldn't be too disheartened, as there could also be a Peaky Blinders film in the works.

Speaking to Digital Spy, Steven revealed how he envisioned the story ending and his thoughts on a potential follow-up movie.

The show's boss told the publication: 'My ambition is to make it a story of a family between two wars, so always I've wanted to end it with the first air raid siren in Birmingham in 1939.

'It'll take three more series [to reach that point].' Steven confirmed.

Candid: In May, Peaky Blinders creator Steven confirmed that the gangster drama will come to a close after the seventh season. But fans of the BBC Two drama shouldn't be too disheartened, as there could also be a Peaky Blinders film in the works

But the series finale may not be the last viewers will see of Tommy Shelby and his crime family, as Steven is open to the idea of bringing the crime exploits to the big screen before the show ends.

Steven continued: 'We're getting approached to do all kinds of things  the ballet, the musical... and the movie would be great. I wouldn't want to do it at the very end, but maybe in between two of the series.'

Meanwhile, new details about the upcoming series of gangster drama have been released, with director Anthony Bryne inking a deal to helm the fifth series, which was widely rumoured to be its last at the time.

Potential: Speaking to Digital Spy, Steven revealed how he envisioned the story ending and his thoughts on a potential follow-up movie. The show's boss told the publication: 'My ambition is to make it a story of a family between two wars, so always I've wanted to end it with the first air raid siren in Birmingham in 1939'

The In Darkness filmmaker will take over the role from season 4's David Caffrey as the story of the Shelby clan comes to a conclusion, Deadline reported.

The fifth season will air on BBC Two in 2019 and is set to be released on Netflix.

Peaky Blinders - which also starred Tom Hardy and Adrian Brody - has been directed by a different director each series - including Otto Bathurst, Tom Harper, Colm McCarthy.

There was an 18 month gap between series three and four airing  so fans could be waiting as late as Spring 2019 for the next series to air.

Star-studded: Helen McCrory has starred in the series as Aunt Polly since 2013

Act: Peaky Blinders - which also starred Tom Hardy (L) and Adrian Brody (R) - has been directed by a different director each series - including Otto Bathurst, Tom Harper, Colm McCarthy

After Tommy was elected as the Labour MP for Birmingham at the end of series four, the Shelby clan will be more powerful than ever  and it seems even Arthur will have political connections.

Actor Paul Anderson - who portrays the eldest Shelby sibling Arthur - recently told the Metro of his alter-ego: 'Well all have more cover, well have more opportunity, and more protection. And by protection I mean by society and the police and so on.

'Well be able to get away with things under the guise of, "were politicians, were respectable" But well be able to manipulate things more. Arthur will be even more Arthur. So it will be a lot of fun.'Lil Uzi Vert switched it up in his latest release New Patek, the rapper continuing to transform what streaming hits are and the nearly six-minute long track sparked rumours that it could be a precursor to his upcoming project, Eternal Atake.

Following the 2017 release XO Tour Llif3, which reached number seven on the Billboard charts, New Patek is full of verses full of non-sequiturs and discusses watches, women and white diamonds, as reported in Rolling Stone.

The artwork for New Patek has also resulted in controversy as it features the rapper reaching through a keyhole, which is a symbol that has been associated with the suicide cult Heavens Gate and is prominently on their logo.

Lil Uzi Vert performs at The Endless Summer Tour at the Midflorida Credit Union Amphitheatre

Who is Lil Uzi Vert?

Born Symere Woods on July 31, 1994 in Francisville, North Philadelphia, Lil Uzi Vert grew up listening to an eclectic range of music, including the likes of Kanye West, Marilyn Manson, 21 Savage, Rae Sremmurd, Young Thug and Lil Yachty, to name a few, according to All Music.

According to Heightline, he adopted the name Lil Uzi Vert when a friend compared his rapping to a machine gun, an uzi being an Israeli open-bolt, blowback-operated submachine gun.

After featuring on a few DJ Diamond Kuts tracks, his music career took off in 2014 when Lil Uzi Vert dropped his dedication track to the Detroit vocalist Dej Loaf, before producer and DJ Don Cannon hosted his mixtape, The Real Uzi, the same year.

Following this, DJ Drama helped broker a deal with Generation Now for the rapper with Atlantic Records and soon after this, the Luv Is Rage mixtape was released in 2015. Don Cannon returned for the 2016 mixtape Lil Uzi vs. the World that featured the likes of Metro Boomin and Maaly Raw.

Two tracks from the release, You Was Right and Money Longer, reached the Billboard Hot 100 and the mixtape itself broke into the Billboard 200 Top 50. After The Perfect Luv Tape was issued, his collaboration with Migos, Bad & Boujee, went viral.

Bad & Boujee reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 at the start of 2017, with Uzi releasing XO Tour Llif3 soon after, which also climbed into the top ten of the Hot 100 - the first hit from his debut LP Luv Is Rage 2, which featured guests like Oh Wonder, Pharrell Williams and the Weeknd.

Prior to this, the police arrested a teenager from California who threatened to shoot up his school if the rapper did not release his Luv is Rage 2 album.

Lil Uzi Vert has repeatedly said that he only started rapping as a source of income and had no passion for the genre, while some reports revealed that he actually hates rapping. Alongside this, he got a tattoo on his forehead so that he would not get a full time job and therefore, could focus on his rapping.

He has also been arrested for traffic violations while riding a dirt bike and was accused of trying to flee from the police after losing his balance in 2016. The following year, he took to Twitter to confirm that he was bisexual, but has been in a relationship with the stylist Brittany Byrd.

Despite splitting temporarily and Uzi releasing Stole Your Luv that confirmed the end of the relationship, rumours emerged that the reason for the break up was because Brittany had cheated on him, but these claims have been denied.

However, months later, Lil Uzi Vert tweeted a photo of them together with the caption more than friends, that confirmed they were dating again.

New Patek

Lil Uzi Verts latest release New Patek dropped on September 17, a follow-up to XO TOUR Llife3 which came out in 2017 and went on to reach number seven on the Billboard charts.

The nearly six-minute long song includes lyrics such as: I am a octopus, I cannot breathe without water/So I put diamonds on my tentacles. Uzi also raps about throwing up gang signs, Naruto and how he has pierced his nose like the manga villain, Pain.

New Patek is expected to be a part of his upcoming album Eternal Atake and is his latest release after he featured on Lil Babys Life Goes On, Playboi Cartis Shoota and Young Thugs Up.

Eternal Atake

As reported by Page Six, Lil Uzi Vert has referenced the suicide cult Heavens Gate yet again in the artwork for his new single New Patek, a month after surviving members of the group slammed him for the cover of his new album.

The artwork for New Patek features the rapper reaching through a keyhole, which is a symbol that has been associated with the suicide cult and also features prominently on their logo. The Telah Foundation, made up of the living members of Heavens Gate, said their lawyers have been touch with Uzi.

Our attorneys are working with him on direct and clear infringement of trademarks, copyrights and use of logo. We are also dealing with expressions of Fair Use which is cited when this kind of image is displayed.

The artist has to be careful to not make full use of the spirit and meaning of the Group while altering images of it to make it look like he isnt infringing. We will see what can be sorted out. It is in the hands of attorneys.

Last month, an image reported to be the cover for Eternal Atake started circulating online and it had a strong resemblance to the Heavens Gate logo. Following this, the Telah Foundation threatened the rapper with legal action.

The Instagram post was later deleted and Uzi shared an alternate version of the cover, this one featuring a drawing of himself wearing a t-shirt with a black keyhole symbol on it.

Heaven's Gate

Formed in San Diego in the 1970s, Heavens Gate garnered publicity after 20 women and 19 men participated in a mass suicide after the Comet Hale Bop passed. Among the dead was the founder, Marshall Applewhite, whose face Uzi was using as his Instagram avatar in August.It was tipped as a never-before-seen series, with eight tenants moving into an apartment block where they only communicate via. social media.

And Channel 4's The Circle has proven an immediate hit with viewers, as they took to Twitter in droves to praise the show as a 'real-life Black Mirror.'

Among their glowing reviews for the show's new concept, others were quick to slam the first eight contestants for lack of honesty put across in their profiles, as they desperately try to win the highest rating in pursuit of a 50,000 prize.

Lauded: Channel 4's The Circle has proven an immediate hit with viewers, as they took to Twitter in droves to praise the show as a 'real-life Black Mirror'

Tuesday's show saw the first eight tenants move into a luxurious apartment block, setting up their profiles on the specially-made social media site The Circle.

Since they will never meet face to face, the contestants could be as honest as they wish, hiding or promoting whatever traits they think will make them the most popular.

From the off-set the first tenant Alex decided he was going to 'catfish' all the contestants, setting up his profile in the veil of his real-life girlfriend Kate.

Well-received: Viewers have rushed to praise the Channel 4 show, which sees eight strangers live in separate apartments, where they only communicate via. social media

Surprising: The show saw self-confessed 'King Of Tinder' Mitchell (left) enjoy a virtual 'date' with Kate, who in reality is Youtuber Alex posing as his girlfriend (right)

As of yet his plan seemed to be working, as 'Kate' immediately struck up a bond with Mitchell leading the pair to enjoy a screen-to-screen date over profiteroles in the Hangout.

And Essex boy Freddie decided he was going to hide his homosexuality in his profile, and didn't hold back in his flirtatious chats with 'Kate'.

But it was the night's end that proved who had really made an impact, as the contestants were asked to rate each on a range of one to five stars.

Kate came out on top in the first vote with an average score of 3.28, followed close behind by former estate agent Dan with 3.14

Ending up at the bottom was self-proclaimed 'King Of Tinder' Mitchell, who didn't take the news particularly well.

Hilarious: Others found it bizarre to see Alex on a date with Mitchell, as he remained oblivious to his true identity.

Regardless the series went down a storm with fans, as many compared it to the Black Mirror episode Nosedive, which sees a woman played by Bryce Dallas Howard try to boost her social status by earning a high enough interaction rating.

One tweeted: '#TheCircle *IS* everything Black Mirror warned us about - and I love it. Save me.'

Another posted: '#TheCircle already feels like Season 1 Big Brother meets Black Mirror.'

A third added: 'All we need is Bryce Dallas Howard and this is Black Mirror.'

Amazing: The series went down a storm with fans, comparing it to a Black Mirror episode Nosedive, which sees a woman try to boost her social status by earning a high virtual rating

So good: Viewers rushed to Twitter to praise the show, with others also adding that it hearkens back to the early series' of Big Brother

Meanwhile other fans were quick to question the logistics behind how Alex/Kate's relationship with Mitchell was developing, as he remained in the dark about the 'girl's' true identity.

Others wondered how Mitchell would react if he discovered Freddie was actually gay, especially as he proceeded to flirt with fame tenants Aiden and Sian.

One tweeted: 'It's so funny how Freddie and Kate are both cat fishing each other,' while another added: 'Wait so a gay guy pretending to be straight is flirting with a straight guy pretending to be a girl.'

A third also posted: 'Cant get over the fact theres a straight guy pretending to be a girl and a gay guy pretending to be straight, flirting. This is wild.'

Odd: Meanwhile other fans were quick to question the logistics behind how Alex/Kate's relationship with Mitchell was developing

But as viewers didn't hold back in slamming contestants for making up tales to better their ratings, they were unanimous in slamming 40-year-old Jennifer, who claimed on her profile to be working as a cancer doctor.

Many viewed the job choice as offensive to those in the trade, especially as during a break Channel 4 premiere an extended advert for the upcoming Stand Up To Cancer telecast.

One posted: 'When there's a serious Stand Up 2 Cancer ad during the break for #TheCircle, a show in which a woman is pretending to be a cancer doctor to win money.'

Another added: 'It's interesting BUT pretending to be a cancer doctor is a bit too far.'

Brutal: They were also unanimous in slamming 40-year-old Jennifer, who claimed on her profile to be working as a cancer doctor

Bad: Many viewed the job choice as offensive to those in the trade, especially as during a break Channel 4 premiere an extended advert for the upcoming Stand Up To Cancer telecast

Fans will now have to wait and see whose profile will get 'blocked' in the first decider of the series, and whether any of the apartment tenants can maintain their virtual facade.

As of yet fellow star Genelle has chosen to hide the fact that she is a mum to a baby daughter, who is living with her in the apartment.

And as sparks fly between Mitchell and 'Kate' will he discover he's being 'catfished?'

The Circle continues on Wednesday 19th September at 10pm on Channel 4.Last month, she revealed that a random hook-up during a business class flight had resulted in a blossoming new romance.

And speaking to The Daily Telegraph on Thursday, Sophie Monk, 38, admitted she's jetting off to 'a secret destination' to meet up with her new flame.

'I'm going to LA in a week-and-a-half, and then off the back of that, I'll meet him somewhere,' she told the publication.

'I'm not telling anyone where': Former Bachelorette star Sophie Monk (pictured) revealed to Thursday's Daily Telegraph she's 'jetting off to a private location' to meet up with her mystery new boyfriend... after striking up a romance on a business class flight

'We haven't decided where yet, but I'm definitely not telling anyone where,' the former Bardot songstress added.

The secret trip with her mystery man comes after she admitted this week that her mile-high meet-up is actually the only time she has seen her new boyfriend in person.

The blonde bombshell said the couple talk on the phone everyday because he is based in Los Angeles.

Secret meeting: 'I'm going to LA in a week-and-a-half, and then off the back of that, I'll meet him somewhere,' Sophie told the publication

'We talk everyday on the phone for like five hours. It's really good but I've only seen him once,' she said.

'You don't want someone who's always waiting around for you and you feel bad,' she said, referring to her own busy schedule.

Sophie also confirmed that her US-based boyfriend is Australian, but is not famous.

High-flying romance! Sophie admitted this week that her mile-high meet-up is actually the only time she has seen her new boyfriend in person

At the end of last month, Sophie spoke for the first time about her new romance during an interview with Kyle and Jackie O.

The former Bardot star explained they met while flying business class and were seated next to each other.

'I've been travelling heaps. I was so exhausted. And I sit next to this random [guy] in business class,' she began.

Long-distance: Speaking to News.com.au this week, Sophie said her mystery man is always travelling but somehow their relationship 'just works'

Sophie claimed she knew 'it was on' when the man ordered champagne.

'We had a few champagnes and he was so charming and funny and he had no idea what I did,' she said.

Not wanting to miss an opportunity, Sophie asked if she could kiss him and was pleasantly surprised when he agreed.Her character Kat Slater is far from shy and retiring when it comes to her style.

And EastEnders star Jessie Wallace proved she isn't afraid to make a statement when it comes to her own fashions as she ran some errands in a pair of glitzy trousers in London on Tuesday.

The actress, 46, was pictured grabbing some goods from Marks and Spencer in a jazzy pair of sequin-encrusted joggers - the same day she celebrated her 18th year on the BBC soap.

Glam: Jessie Wallace proved she isn't afraid to make a statement when it comes to her own fashions as she ran some errands in a pair of glitzy trousers in London on Tuesday

Jessie teamed her flamboyant bottoms with a black sweater that was adorned with an elaborate bird motif and a more of fluffy sliders.

She tied her raven tresses up into an easy top knot and shielded her well-known face beneath a pair of glamorous over-sized shades as she lugged her purchases back to her car.

Her outing came just a day after she was pictured on set of the long-running soap alongside co-star Shane Ritchie, who plays her on-screen husband.

Marks and sparkle: The actress, 46, was pictured grabbing some goods from Marks and Spencer in a jazzy pair of sequin-encrusted joggers as she took a break from filming

The soap star wore her trademark leopard print in the form of some baggy trousers and a matching rucksack as she performed for the cameras.

Jessie returned to Albert Square earlier this year alongside fellow Slater family members and on-off partner Alfie Moon.

Shane made a brief appearance on the long-standing soap in May, but it seems he will be returning to Albert Square in the near future as he was spotted filming scenes with Jessie last week.

Funky style: Jessie teamed her flamboyant bottoms with a black sweater that was adorned with an elaborate bird motif and a more of fluffy sliders

During his brief return, Alfie was revealed to be the secret lover of Hayley Slater and the father of her unborn child, which wont go down well with Jessies character Kat.

Despite not being on EastEnders for quite some time before this year, Jessie and Shane respired their roles for a Kat and Alfie spin-off called Redwater.

Set in Ireland, the show aired last year on the BBC.

The show will remain as canon in the EastEnders universe, with Kat's apparent death at the end of it addressed when Kat turned up at her own funeral.They've been shooting scenes in various locations around the globe for forthcoming action sequel Spider-Man: Far From Home.

But the latest scenes - being filmed in Prague - seemed to be taking their toll on stars of the movie Tom Holland and Zendaya, who were seen looking tired during a late night shoot on location.

Recording a sequence by the river, the pair were waiting around between takes, with Zendaya yawning widely and Tom rubbing his eyes sleepily.

Sleepy: Tom Holland and Zendaya stifle yawns as they shoot late night scenes for upcoming movie Spider-Man: Far From Home in Prague

The pair - who play titular Peter Parker [Spider-Man] and Michelle 'MJ' Jones - were dressed in casual garb, surrounded by crew members who were setting up lighting, camera and sound equipment.

They were seen at one point staring up at something and making the peace sign with their hands, perking up somewhat.

Elsewhere, a special effects team were seen setting off a stunt in which something appeared to blow up on the river.

Spider-Man: Far from Home, the sequel to the film Spider-Man: Homecoming, is slated to hit cinemas in 2019, and has so far shot scenes in London, Hertfordshire and Liberec in the Czech Republic.

Wake up call? They were seen at one point staring up at something and making the peace sign with their hands, perking up somewhat

On location: The pair were dressed in casual garb, surrounded by crew members who were setting up lighting, camera and sound equipment

Dramatic: Elsewhere, a special effects team were seen setting off a stunt in which something appeared to blow up on the river

The movie is reportedly slated to be released on July 5, 2019 in the U.S.

The sequel will hit theaters about two years after the release of Spider-Man: Homecoming - which was released in July 2017.

According to producer Kevin Feige, the premise of the film reportedly revolves around Peter Parker and his friends going to Europe on summer vacation, though few other details about the film have been revealed to the public so far.

Speaking to Den of Geek, Feige also divulged: We've chosen a villain and I think the story line is fairly impacted by the locations we go to. We love the notion of taking Spider-Man to places around the world that we haven't seen him in before. And we have a villain who I think will play into that nicely.

As of yet, no trailer for the upcoming film has been released as its still filming. An official trailer for it will likely be revealed in the coming months.

Tired: The pair play titular Peter Parker [Spider-Man] and Michelle 'MJ' Jones

Coming soon: Spider-Man: Far from Home, the sequel to the film Spider-Man: Homecoming, is slated to hit theaters in 2019

Spider-Man: Far from Home, the sequel to Spider-Man: Homecoming, will be released in 2019

Marissa Tomei is reprising her role as Aunt May. Jacob Batalon is expected to return as Ned Leeds and Michael Keaton will reportedly play Vulture.

Samuel L. Jackson and Cobie Smulders will appear as Nick Fury and Maria Hill, two former high-ranking S.H.I.E.L.D. agents.

Jake Gyllenhaal will be appearing as the villainous Mysterio while J.B. Smoove is also slated to appear, though details of his specific role arent yet known publicly.

Numan Acar is also expected to appear as a character named Dimitri.

The film is being directed by Jon Watts and was written by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers. Its being produced by Kevin Feige and Amy Pascal.

Marvel Studios and Columbia Pictures are the production companies behind the upcoming movie, which will be distributed by Sony Pictures.They are the style sisters who have taken the fashion world by storm.

So naturally Bella and Gigi Hadid have been at the helm of the international fashion weeks, landing them in Milan to attend the Alberta Ferretti Spring/Summer 2019 show on Wednesday afternoon.

Opting for contrasting looks, Bella, 21, was flashing the flesh in a tiny white crop top with loose-fitting trousers while Gigi, 23, wrapped up in a tight top with ripped jeans and a pair of slip-on heels to boost her model height.

Strutting their stuff: Bella and Gigi Hadid have been at the helm of the international fashion weeks, landing them at Milan Fashion Week to attend the Alberta Ferretti Spring/Summer 2019 show on Wednesday afternoon

Bella looked sensational as she stepped out showing off her abs in The Wylde tiny crop top which skimmed her braless assets in style.

With the couple announcing a brief split in March, the pair were later spotted smooching in public just a few weeks later - confirming they were back on.

Gigi was more sports-inspired than her sister as she sported a grey top yet ensured she still showed off her frame thanks to the skin-tight shape.

They rocked coordinating hairstyles with their slicked down dos and their tiny Nineties-inspired sunglasses, which they have been sporting of late.

Who's that girl? Opting for contrasting looks, Bella, 21, was flashing the flesh in The Wylde tiny white crop top with loose-fitting trousers while Gigi, 23, wrapped up in a tight top with ripped jeans and a pair of slip-on heels to boost her model height

Strutting their stuff: Bella looked sensational as she stepped out showing off her abs in the tiny crop top which skimmed her braless assets in style

Here come the girls: The duo were strutting the stuff with all their best pouts

Days before their landing, Bella was seen enjoying a romantic ice-cream date with her on-off boyfriend and music heavyweight The Weeknd.

The Weeknd and Bella have been inseparable since rekindling their romance at May's Cannes Film Festival, some 18 months after their relationship had ended.

Speaking about the break-up, Bella told Teen Vogue: 'As an outsider, you might think I handled it so well, but it's always in your heart, and you always feel it very heavily.'

Happy days: Days before their landing, Bella was seen enjoying a romantic ice-cream date with her on-off boyfriend and music heavyweight The Weeknd

Here come the girls! The Weeknd and Bella have been inseparable since rekindling their romance at May's Cannes Film Festival, some 18 months after their relationship had ended

Hometime: After their split, The Weeknd dated Selena Gomez from January 2017 to October of the same year. Bella, meanwhile, reunited with her ex, Justin Bieber, who is now engaged to his on-off lover, Hailey Baldwin

Happy days: After their split, The Weeknd dated Selena Gomez from January 2017 to October of the same year. Bella, meanwhile, reunited with her ex, Justin Bieber, who is now engaged to his on-off lover, Hailey Baldwin

Pointy: She was strutting her stuff on the street as she held hands with her beloved sister

She added: 'It'll be hard for a while. Love hurts, but you have to pull through.'

After their split, The Weeknd dated Selena Gomez from January 2017 to October of the same year. Bella, meanwhile, reunited with her ex, Justin Bieber, who is now engaged to his on-off lover, Hailey Baldwin.

Meanwhile, Bella was linked to Drake earlier this year, although she has denied dating him.

Oops! Kendall Jenner was assisted by burly bodyguards while heading to the Alberta Ferretti during Milan Fashion Week on Wednesday wearing a casual shirt and trouser combo

Style queen: The Keeping Up With The Kardashian star looked super trendy in a simple white top, which she teamed with a pair of flared ankle-grazing trousersPatrick Schwarzenegger was spotted riding bikes with his girlfriend Abby Champion on Tuesday afternoon.

The couple, who have been dating for more than two years, were on their way to Schwarzenegger's 25th birthday lunch at The Butcher's Daughtera vegan restaurant in Venice Beach, California.

Patrick's mother, Maria Shriver, and sister, Katherine Schwarzenegger, also attended the celebratory meal.

Summer in the city: Patrick Schwarzenegger was spotted riding bikes with his girlfriend Abby Champion on Tuesday afternoon

Birthday boy: The couple, who have been dating for more than two years, were on their way to Schwarzenegger's 25th birthday lunch at The Butcher's Daughter in Venice

The Midnight Sun star kicked off his birthday with a Jacuzzi soak.

'It's my birthday and I'm spending it in my favorite wayJacuzzi and a peanut butter, banana smoothie,' he said on Instagram.

His friends and family, including dad Arnold Schwarzenegger, took to social media to wish Patrick a 'happy birthday.'

'Bday morning': The Midnight Sun star kicked off his birthday with a Jacuzzi soak. 'It's my birthday and I'm spending it in my favorite wayJacuzzi and peanut butter, banana smoothies,' he said on Instagram

Family affair: Katherine Schwarzenegger joined Patrick and Abby for lunch

Matriarch: Patrick's mom, Maria Shriver, was also in attendance

'Happpppy birthday to my main amigo. Love you,' Champion wrote.

Shriver said: 'Happy birthday to this amazing young man! So fun, so loving, so caring, so full of love and life. Thank you, God, for him. Love you to the moon and back!'

And Arnold wrote: 'Happy birthday. I love you and Im so proud of you. I love watching you grow into a great leading man, a fantastic business mind, and an even better human being.'

Food baby: Schwarzenegger appeared to rub Champion's belly

Dotting mom: 'Happy birthday to this amazing young man! So fun, so loving, so caring, so full of love and life. Thank you, God, for him. Love you to the moon and back,' Shriver wrote on social media

Patrick's most recent acting accomplishment was his leading role in Midnight Sun featuring Bella Thorne.

The movie charts the story of 17-year-old Katie Price, played by Thorne, who lives a sheltered life due to a life-threatening sensitivity to sunlight.

But her longtime crush Charlie, played by Schwarzenegger, begins to meet her for nighttime adventures and the couple become faced with whether Katie can live a normal life.

Celeb status: Patrick's most recent acting accomplishment was his leading role in Midnight Sun featuring Bella ThorneShe supported her husband John Legend, 39, at the Emmys on Monday.

But by Wednesday, it was back to work mode for Chrissy Teigen, 32, as she kicked off the promotional tour for her new cookbook Cravings: Hungry for More.

The mother-of-two was spotted making her way to ABC Studios in New York ahead of an early appearance on Good Morning America. And she made sure to give quite the fashion statement in her ensemble.

Just days after the Emmys: By Wednesday, it was back to work mode for Chrissy Teigen, as she kicked off the promotional tour for her new cookbook Cravings: Hungry for More

Making her entrance: The mother-of-two was spotted making her way to ABC Studios in New York ahead of an early appearance on Good Morning America

The model wore an oversized white shirt underneath her blazer while donning a pair of black knee-high boots as she strutted through the streets with plenty of security in tow.

And while it was anything but sunny in the early hours of the morning, Teigen saw no reason not to sport her stylish square-shaped sunglasses with her attire.

Chrissy made sure to come prepared in making several outfit changes once getting to the studio as she donned yet another look during her GMA interview.

When in New York: During her talk with Michael Strahan and Lara Spencer, the Lip Sync Battle star gushes about her love for cooking, admitting that she has well over 100 recipes in her new book.

This time around, the Hotel Transylvania 3 star went for a more vibrant look, sporting a beautiful peach dress and nude heels with gold chains attached to them.

During her talk with Michael Strahan and Lara Spencer, Chrissy opened up about her love for cooking, admitting that she has well over 100 recipes in her new book.

One of the things that seemed to have mattered the most when putting her latest project together was that she didnt want to create a cookbook that was strictly focused on eating healthy.

Cookbook tips: One of the recipes John Legends wife cant keep gushing about would be the everything bagel cream cheese breakfast bake

Teigen notes that its important to indulge every now and then.

I was debating, in this book, Do I want to go lighter? Do I want to use coconut oil?, and I was like, No, she reveals in her interview.

One recipe that the Lip Sync Battle host cant keep gushing about would be the everything bagel cream cheese breakfast bake.

Quick change: Chrissy went for a more vibrant look, sporting a beautiful peach dress and nude heels with gold chains attached to them

But be careful, Chrissy notes in her book, because this breakfast carries a hefty amount of calories, which she says isn't all that bad for one particular reason.

I have felt for a long time that everything bagel spice is the bomb. But I've never been that into eating an entire bagel  it's just too much dough at one time, she writes.

Cutting them up into pieces and baking them with sausage and eggs though . . . That, folks, is everything.She revealed she was leaving behind the balmy climes of Jamaica for the bright lights of Paris, France on Monday.

And jet lag proved to be no match for Olivia Culpo as the beauty was spotted wandering around the French capital in a seriously stylish get-up on Wednesday afternoon.

The 26-year-old model was hard to miss in a vibrant, multi-coloured raincoat as she played tourist for the day and checked out landmarks including the Notre-Dame.

Dressed to impress: Olivia Culpo was spotted wandering around the streets of Paris, France in a seriously stylish get-up on Wednesday afternoon

Olivia teamed her quirky outerwear with a ribbed turtleneck jumper and forest green trousers that were tailored to perfection.

She completed her on-trend ensemble in black slip-on loafers and toted her daytime essentials in a super chic clutch bag.

Her trademark brunette tresses were tied into a sleek, elegant up-do, with a heavy side-parting framing the beauty's gorgeous face.

On the move: The 26-year-old model was hard to miss in a vibrant, multi-coloured raincoat as she played tourist for the day and checked out landmarks including the Notre-Dame

On Tuesday, shortly after arriving in the city, the former Miss Universe winner admitted she was suffering with jet lag - but quickly turned to champagne as a means to combat the problem.

Sharing a snap of herself dining out in style, she enthused: 'Made it to Paris! Jet lag AF but nothing a little champagne cant fix, right? Maybe???'

Olivia is no doubt in Paris to settle in ahead of its coveted Fashion Week, which kicks off on Tuesday, September 25.

The brighter the better! Olivia teamed her quirky outerwear with a ribbed turtleneck jumper and forest green trousers that were tailored to perfection

Her trip to the city meant she was forced to say goodbye to paradise as she spent some time in Jamaica, where she has been busy filming her latest movie, The Swing of Things.

The flick tells the story of a groom-to-be who accidentally books his destination wedding and honeymoon at a swingers resort in Jamaica.

Also in the film are Matt McCoy, Adelaide Kane, Chord Overstreet and Luke Wilson.

Veteran actress Linda Purl of Happy Days and Matlock fame also has a role.She touched down in Italy on Tuesday ahead of Milan Fashion Week.

And Kaia Gerber seemed in a rush to get across town as she marched through the streets to her next show on Wednesday afternoon.

The 17-year-old model wore a black high-necked sleeveless crop top with a red detailing at the front.

Ready for the week ahead: Kaia Gerber, 17, stepped out from her Milan hotel ahead of Fashion Week on Wednesday, wearing a black crop top and high-waisted jeans

She kept the look comfortable in her jeans and Converse high-top trainers.

Kaia was sure to keep a low profile with a pair of stylish sunglasses and natural make up. She wore her chestnut locks in loose waves around her bare shoulders.

The day before, the daughter of Cindy Crawford was spotted touching down into Milan ahead of Fashion Week.

The global sensation stunned in a cropped white top with a pair of loose fitting dark wash jeans as landed in the country ahead of the fashion event.

Statement: The 17-year-old model wore a black high-necked sleeveless crop top with a red detailing at the front

Street-style: She kept the look comfy in jeans and converse boots. She was sure to keep a low profile with a pair of stylish sunglasses and natural make up

And it's already been a very big day for Kaia, having also debuted her latest Vogue Paris cover.

The teen stunned in a colorful top with her face painted with half natural day makeup and the other half a bold night look.

'new @vogueparis cover by @mikaeljansson. thank you for having me again @emmanuellealt so much love and gratitude,' she sweetly captioned.

The cover was Kaia's second cover for the fashion magazine, earning her first Vogue wings back in February.

Since making her runway debut back in September 2017 for Calvin Klein when she was just 16, she has since walked for various brands including iconic fashion house, Chanel.

Whirlwind career: Since making her runway debut back in September 2017 for Calvin Klein when she was just 16, she has since walked for various brands including iconic fashion house, Chanel

Balancing school and work: Her impressive achievements all come while she is just 17 years of age, and still working on her education

Her impressive achievements all come while she is just 17 years of age, and still working on her education.

Discussing how she juggles life as a student and international model, Kaia told Harper's Bazaar in January: 'I usually use the afternoon to catch up on homework.

'I'm completing my diploma at Malibu High through an online program, and it's difficult to get much done during the week, as the Wi-Fi on planes is really annoying.

'My favourite class this year is AP Calculus because I just like math. It's definitely super hard to teach yourself derivatives, though!'From Greg Swank, 12-4-2 You are about to read a list of 45 goals that found their way down the halls of our great Capitol back in 1963. As...Jaclyn Smith has been designing clothes for decades and seems to not be slowing down.

On Tuesday the 72-year-old actress modeled some of the new looks for fall while at home. And in doing so, the Charlie's Angels vet showed off a very slender figure.

The brunette captioned the image, 'How fabulous are this blouse & these booties together? They are both from my collection, which is available exclusively @Sears + @Kmart. PS - the blouse is on SALE for only $20??'

Skinny: Jaclyn Smith has been designing clothes for decades and seems to not be slowing down. On Tuesday the 72-year-old actress modeled some of the new looks for fall while at home. And in doing so, the Charlie's Angels vet showed off a very slender figure

Earlier the star had on a different ensemble as she posed with her dog.

'Taking a break from shooting with @kmart/@sears to get some of Elizabeth's sweet kisses,' said the TV star.

This comes after the actress discussed her life during the FOX News Channel's Objectified.

'I saw a grief counselor and asked, "Is this much crying abnormal?"' the brunette beauty said as she then broke down in tears.

Biz casual look: Earlier the star had on a different ensemble as she posed with her dog

Fur parent: . 'Taking a break from shooting with @kmart/@sears to get some of Elizabeth's sweet kisses,' said the TV star

Smith also showed off the black sculpture of a nude torso that Fawcett gave her before she died of cancer.

It is not clear if the nude is of Farrah or not.

'Doesn't it look like Farrah?' is all Jaclyn would say.

Smith rocketed to fame in the 1970s when she played Kelly Garrett on the hit TV series Charlie's Angels about three stunningly gorgeous women who work as spies for a man they have never seen, only heard on a speakerphone.

Smith - who started off as a model - also did several TV movies.

And she started designing clothing and accessories for K-Mart, which she still does.

Big show: Smith rocketed to fame in the 1970s when she played Kelly Garrett on the hit TV series Charlie's Angels; seen with Kate Jackson and Farrah Fawcett

The interview took place in her Beverly Hills mansion and reveals her antiques and penchant for solid wood furniture, velvet sofas and crystal.

She also teared up in June when she was interviewed at home about growing up in Texas. It is not known what that interview was for.

She shared images from an interview she did in Beverly Hills with members from the Lone Star state.

Sad loss: Fawcett died in 2009 after a long battle with cancer; seen in 1975

'I did an interview with fellow Texans about my childhood and growing up in Texas,' said the brunette who has also starred in several TV movies like 1983's Rage Of Angels.

'It was such fun reminiscing about all of those wonderful memories that will be a part of my life forever.'

Smith looked slender in a beige sweater with white slacks and beige booties.

At one point Smith is seen wiping tears from her eyes.

With the love of her life: The star with Brad Allen at the Women's Guild Annual Spring Luncheon in LA in 2016

Smith, born Jacquelyn Ellen Smith, is from Houston, Texas.

She graduated from Mirabeau B. Lamar High School in 1964 and attended Trinity University in San Antonio.

After college, the siren moved to New York City with hopes of dancing with the ballet. But then she started doing commercials for beauty products like Breck Shampoo in 1971. In 1976 she was cast in Charlie's Angels and she was on the show for the full run until 1981.She is a successful actress, model, and businesswoman.

But Eva Mendes seems happiest when she spends time with the ones she loves.

The 44-year-old actress was seen smiling from ear-to-ear as she enjoyed a day at the park with longtime partner Ryan Gosling and their two children in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

Bonding time: Eva Mendes was seen smiling from ear-to-ear as she enjoyed a day at the park with longtime partner Ryan Gosling and their two children in Los Angeles on Tuesday

The hunky 37-year-old actor looked every bit the family man as he carried two year-old daughter Amada while holding hands with four-year-old daughter Esmeralda.

Eva looked pretty in an entirely patterned look including a gingham top tied up at the end.

She also sported a mostly yellow mini skirt with a pair of polka dot patterned sandals.

Just us: The hunky 37-year-old actor looked every bit the family man as he carried two year-old daughter Amada while holding hands with four-year-old daughter Esmeralda

Happy times: Eva certainly seemed to be having a blast on the bonding day with her kids

Stunning: Eva looked pretty in an entirely patterned look including a gingham top tied up at the end

Keeping it cool: The Hitch star accessorized with a red patterned headband along with brown designer shades

Showing her style: She also sported a mostly yellow mini skirt with a pair of polka dot patterned sandals

The Hitch star accessorized with a red patterned headband along with brown designer shades.

Her brunette tresses were put up in a messy bun behind the stylish headwear as she let her natural looks show by going make-up free.

Ryan kept it simple in a black shirt and trousers combination.

Simply stunning: Her brunette tresses were put up in a messy bun behind the stylish headwear as she let her natural looks show by going make-up free

Bonding: Eva carried the youngest daughter while her eldest walked behind them

Fun in the sun: The two youngsters couldn't wait to climb up the stairs and make their way down the slide

The two have been together since 2011 as they met when working together on drama The Place Beyond The Pines.

This comes just days after Eva opened up her family, Ryan and a return to acting to E! News as she headed into her New York & Company fashion show at the Palace Theater in Los Angeles.

Watchful eye: Eva was very attentive to as her kids played

Watch your step: She made sure that the children played safe

Family fun: It seemed to be a wonderful afternoon of bonding

The 44-year-old actress told the outlet that she just doesn't 'want to leave' her kids.

The Other Guys star told E! when they asked her about returning to the screen,'I'm just so obsessed with my kids that I don't want to leave them.'

'They're just still so little,' she added.

Happy mom: Eva Mendes opened up about her family, Ryan Gosling, 37, and a return to acting to E! News as she headed into her New York & Company fashion show at the Palace Theater in Los Angeles

Opening up: The Other Guys star told E! when they asked her about returning to the screen,'I'm just so obsessed with my kids that I don't want to leave them'

Not ready: The 44-year-old actress told the outlet that she just doesn't 'want to leave' her kids

The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans star then talked about trying to find equilibrium.

'I don't feel like I have it balanced at all. I kind of have been figuring it out as I'm going along and it's just important to have a support system,' explained Eva.

'I have my family, I have Ryan's family and that's just like, invaluable to have family around supporting you.'

Designer: Eva's comments happened at her New York & Company fashion show at the Palace Theater in Los Angeles, above

She also opened up about what the kids wear at home: 'They live in jammies, you know. They're still in diaperswell, one of them's still in diapers, so they're just being babies as they should be.'

Eva was without her beau Ryan, who has been at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Ryan's was there for a screening of First Man, a biopic about NASA astronaut Neil Armstrong and his quest to become the first man to walk on the moon, a feat he accomplished in 1969.John Oliver and wife Kate Norley have welcomed their second child.

The English comedian revealed the happy news at Monday's 2018 Emmy Awards Governors Ball after picking up his third award for best variety talk show for Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.

John, 41, who was accompanied by his wife at the bash, told People that their second son arrived three months ago.

Happy news: John Oliver and his wife Kate Norley have welcomed their second child. The comedian revealed their second son arrived three months ago

'I have no idea! We have a 3-month-old, so as far away from the 3-month-old as possible,' the TV host joked when asked where he will keep his third Emmy.

Last Week Tonight also won the outstanding writing for a variety series and outstanding interactive program awards.

John joked that his baby son doesn't do anything of note right now, mainly 'sleeping, s****ing and crying, in perfect rotation,'.

The couple, who married in 2011, also have a two-year-old son who John revealed is getting ready to go to preschool.

Winning: The comedian revealed the news at Monday's 2018 Emmy Awards Governors Ball after picking up his third award for best variety talk show for Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

The couple, who married in 2011, also have a two-year-old son who John revealed is getting ready to go to preschool. They are pictured at a Rangers game in February 2016

'Its going to be incredible,' the funny man said, while adding that there will probably be lots of tears, coming from him.

'As a British person, I don't really have a middle ground - it's either no emotion at all or I'm collapsing in tears.

'So it will probably be the second one,' he quipped.

John met Kate, an Iraq war veteran who served as a United States Army medic, at a Republican convention in 2008 when he was working on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

John met Kate, 40, an Iraq war veteran who served as a United States Army medic, at a Republican convention in 2008 when he was working on the Daily Show with Jon StewartReese Witherspoon has said that there was a movie she made 16 years ago that was very much like her real life.

When talking to the Town Hall on Monday about her new book Whiskey In a Teacup, the star, 42, shared that Sweet Home Alabama was a mirror for her at the time, according to Page Six.

'When I read the script I was like, "Do these people know my life story?"' Witherspoon said when explaining what drew her to the project.

Leading lady: Reese Witherspoon starred in Sweet Home Alabamaa romantic comedy released in 2002. And on Monday, the 42-year-old actress said the film felt like a carbon copy of her 'life story' as a girl from Nashville; seen in August

The Big Little Lies star, who left Nashville at 18 to pursue acting, said her life and connection to home closely resembled that of her character Melanie.

Sweet Home Alabama follows Melanie Smooter, an established NYC socialite, who returns to her small town to divorce her high school sweetheart after seven years separated.

Reese starred alongside both Josh Lucas and Patrick Dempsey in the film.

Throwback: Sweet Home Alabama follows Melanie Smooter, an established NYC socialite, who returns to her small town to divorce her high school sweetheart after seven years separated

'No matter how much you love where you're from, when you get a little bit older you get nostalgic for it,' she told the crowd on Monday. 'When I was 18, I was like, "I am out of here! I am never coming back!"'

Reese said she loved how Sweet Home Alabama 'encapsulated' the idea that 'home is where the heart is.'

'When I was going through [Sweet Home Alabama] I was like, "This is exactly how so many young people feel,''' she said. 'You want to leave home and then you realize that there's so many important things about the closeness of family or people who knew you before.'

Early 2000s: Reese said she loved how Sweet Home Alabama 'encapsulated' the idea that 'home is where the heart is'

Witherspoon eventually returned to Nashville when it came time to raise kids.

The Legally Blonde star bought a working ranch in her hometown just a few years back.

'I went real Little House On The Prairie there for a moment because I was so nostalgic for home,' she said.

Reese even went as far as naming her youngest son Tennessee, now age five, in tribute to her southern roots.

Mom of three: Witherspoon eventually returned to Nashville when it came time to have kids. She even went as far as naming her youngest son Tennessee, now age five, in tribute to her southern roots. The Big Little Lies star is also mom to Ava, 18, and Deacon, age 14

Witherspoon's new book, Whiskey In A Teacup, hit stores on Tuesday - and is also being sold on her Draper James website, along with a selection of limited-edition merchandise.

'Whiskey In A Teacup is filled with stories from my Nashville upbringing, style tips, recipes, and entertaining ideas,' she wrote on Instagram ahead of the release.

This is the southern belle's first published work.Advertisement

She stormed the Burberry runway in London for her first show of Fashion Month earlier this week.

And Kendall Jenner showed no signs of slowing down as she strutted her stuff for the Alberta Ferretti Spring/Summer '19 show during Milan Fashion Week on Wednesday.

The 22-year-old supermodel flaunted every inch of her sizzling physique in a sheer crocheted unitard as she joined stylish sisters Gigi and Bella Hadid, who dazzled in ethereal ensembles for the luxury Italian fashion house.

Here come the girls! Kendall Jenner went braless under a sheer crochet unitard as she joined glamorous Bella and Gigi Hadid at the ethereal Alberta Ferretti MFW show on Wednesday

Kendall certainly turned heads in the intricate knitted jumpsuit, which clung to every inch of her toned frame and featured a funky tribal-inspired print.

Letting the statement one-piece do all the talking, she accessorised with a pair of gladiator-style caged sandals boasting a leather braided design.

Gigi, meanwhile, took centre-stage in her ethereal gown, which featured delicate lace-work and flashed a peek of her skimpy underwear beneath.

She framed her striking features with a simple sweep of mascara and dewy blusher and wore her honey-hued tresses in glossy tousled waves.

Killer footwear: Letting the statement one-piece do all the talking, she accessorised with a pair of gladiator-style caged sandals boasting a leather braided design

Looking good: The 22-year-old flaunted every inch of her incredible physique in the intricate knitted jumpsuit

Dare to bare: Gigi certainly turned heads in her ethereal gown, which featured delicate lace-work and flashed a peek of her skimpy underwear beneath

Natural beauty: Gigi framed her striking features with a simple sweep of mascara and dewy blusher

Blonde bombshell: Gigi took centre-stage in her romantic floor-sweeping number featuring a pleated skirt

Hot on their heels was Bella, who opted for a summery-chic vibe in a laser-cut jumpsuit featuring a scalloped hemline.

The girlfriend of musician The Weeknd framed her piercing green eyes with a slick of metallic iridescent shimmer and a sweep of mascara.

Meanwhile, Kaia Gerber opted for a stylish military-inspired look, donning slouchy khaki co-ords teamed with a frilly white lace blouse, while her second look consisted of a black blouse and high-waisted pants.

The 17-year-old looked the spitting image of her supermodel mother, Cindy Crawford, as she took to the runway.

Backstage: Gigi beamed as she got ready to walk the Milan runway earlier that evening

Ruling the roost: Gigi certainly looked utterly at home as she strutted her stuff on the runway

Monochrome maven: Bella opted for a summery chic vibe in a laser-cut jumpsuit featuring a scalloped hemline

Stealing the limelight: Bella dazzled in her one-piece, which drew attention to her trim waist thanks to a lacy embroidered tie-belt

Taking centre-stage: Bella framed her piercing green eyes with a slick of metallic iridescent shimmer and a sweep of mascara

Taking the focus: The younger sister of Gigi's styling was kept simple and understated to allow her jumpsuit to take centre-stage

The curtain went up on Milan's fashion week on Wednesday with a soft-toned and feminine collection designed by Italy's Alberta Ferretti with urban safari-inspired looks.

For the next six days the Italian capital of fashion will host more than 140 catwalks and presentations for the spring-summer 2019 collections, attracting buyers, designers, influencers and fashion addicts.

Milan is the third leg of the month-long catwalk seasons that started in New York, moved to London and wraps up in Paris.

Pretty in pastels: Kendall stunned in a second outfit, donning a silky nude lace camisole tucked into utilitarian inspired khaki shorts, while Gigi rocked some Nineties-inspired pink jeans and a white T-shirt

Ready for her close-up: The brunette beauty wore her glossy raven tresses styled in tousled waves and framed her features with minimal make-up

Enviably physique: The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star cinched in her tiny waist with an androgynous black leather belt

Bold and bright: The eldest of the Hadid siblings completed her outfit with a pair of pastel-toned woven leather gladiator sandals

Nineties-chic: Gigi, 23, complemented her stylish boyfriend jeans with a yellow leather belt

Bold dressing: Gigi cemented her supermodel credentials as she strutted confidently down the runway

Beating the blues: The brunette bombshell finished off her look with a boxy cropped pale blue jacket and flashed a peek of her toned abs in a crochet crop top

Smells like teen spirit: Bella went for a grungy vibe with high-waisted khaki trousers with zips and pocket detail

Ferretti temporarily moved away from her signature flowing and delicate long designs, adventuring toward looks for an innocent and fresh-looking woman, caught between adventure and travel.

Milans fashion week runs until Monday September 24, with catwalk shows from fashion houses including Giorgio Armani, Prada, Fendi, Versace, Cavalli and Dolce & Gabbana.

Earlier in the day Gigi and Bella dazzled in casual outfits as they landed in Milan to attend the Alberta Ferretti Spring/Summer 2019 show on Wednesday afternoon.

Opting for contrasting looks, Bella, 21, was flashing the flesh in a tiny white crop top with loose-fitting trousers while Gigi, 23, wrapped up in a tight top with ripped jeans and a pair of slip-on heels to boost her model height.

Glowing: Bella accessorised her look with a tan leather and wicker backpack that effortlessly complemented her muted look

Just the beginning! Milans fashion week runs until Monday September 24, with catwalk shows from fashion houses including Giorgio Armani, Prada, Fendi, Versace, Cavalli and Dolce & Gabbana

There's no stopping her! Gigi jetted straight to Milan after stomping down the runways of New York Fashion Week

Working her angles: The girlfriend of One Direction hunk Zayn Malik worked a series of sultry poses backstage

Model behaviour: Bella, Gigi, Kendall and Kaia Gerber worked their best angles in ensembles from renowned Italian designer Alberta Ferretti

Strike a pose: Gigi teamed up with her best pal Kendall to take some photos before heading out on the runway

Darlings of the camera: Kendall and Gigi showed off their luminous complexions as they posed backstage ahead of the show

Bella looked sensational as she stepped out showing off her abs in the tiny crop top which skimmed her braless assets in style.

With the couple announcing a brief split in March, the pair were later spotted smooching in public just a few weeks later - confirming they were back on.

Gigi was more sports-inspired than her sister as she sported a grey top yet ensured she still showed off her frame thanks to the skin-tight shape.

They rocked coordinating hairstyles with their slicked down dos and their tiny Nineties-inspired sunglasses, which they have been sporting of late.

Utilitarian chic: Kaia Gerber opted for a stylish military-inspired look, donning slouchy khaki co-ords teamed with a frilly white lace blouse, while her second look consisted of a black blouse and high-waisted pants

Striking: The 17-year-old looked the spitting image of her supermodel mother, Cindy Crawford, as she took to the runway

Sunkissed glow: The teenage beauty wore her ombre-hued tresses in a sleek middle-parting and framed her features with a tawny sweep of bronzer

Just larking around: Kaia showed off her playful side as she posed with a fellow model backstage

Having a whale of a time! The teenager seemed to be in great spirits as she shared the spotlight with her pal

Flirty and feminine: The Spring/Summer '19 collection was full of intricate lacework, braided sandals and pastel and khaki hues

Gothic glamour: Former The City star Olivia Palermo dazzled in a tasseled and lace maxidress on the front row

And they're off: Gigi, Kaia, Bella and Kendall donned the favoured model uniform of high-cut trousers and Nineties style sunnies as they left the show later that day

Days before their landing, Bella was seen enjoying a romantic ice-cream date with her on-off boyfriend and music heavyweight The Weeknd.

The Weeknd and Bella have been inseparable since rekindling their romance at May's Cannes Film Festival, some 18 months after their relationship had ended.

Speaking about the break-up, Bella told Teen Vogue: 'As an outsider, you might think I handled it so well, but it's always in your heart, and you always feel it very heavily.'

Strutting their stuff: Bella and Gigi Hadid dazzled in casual chic looks as they landed in Milan earlier that day

Strutting their stuff: Bella looked sensational as she stepped out showing off her abs in the tiny crop top which skimmed her braless assets in style

Here come the girls: The duo were strutting the stuff with all their best pouts

She added: 'It'll be hard for a while. Love hurts, but you have to pull through.'

After their split, The Weeknd dated Selena Gomez from January 2017 to October of the same year. Bella, meanwhile, reunited with her ex, Justin Bieber, who is now engaged to his on-off lover, Hailey Baldwin.

Meanwhile, Bella was linked to Drake earlier this year, although she has denied dating him.

Happy days: Days before their landing, Bella was seen enjoying a romantic ice-cream date with her on-off boyfriend and music heavyweight The Weeknd

Here come the girls! The Weeknd and Bella have been inseparable since rekindling their romance at May's Cannes Film Festival, some 18 months after their relationship had ended

Hometime: After their split, The Weeknd dated Selena Gomez from January 2017 to October of the same year

Happy days: Selena then reunited with her ex, Justin Bieber, who is now engaged to his on-off lover, Hailey Baldwin

Oops! Kendall Jenner was assisted by burly bodyguards while heading to the Alberta Ferretti during Milan Fashion Week on Wednesday wearing a casual shirt and trouser comboColumbus Short may be heading to jail soon as a warrant has been issued for his arrest. The news came on the day of his 36th birthday.

TMZ reports that the arrest warrant was issued after the former Scandal star failed to appear in court for divorce proceedings with his estranged wife, Tanee McCall, 37.

This was the second time Short failed to appear before the judge in as many months, which lead to the warrant being issued.

Trouble: Columbus Short has a warrant issued for his arrest warrant. TMZ reports that the arrest warrant was issued after the former Scandal star failed to appear in court for divorce proceedings with his estranged wife, Tanee McCall; seen in 2016

The latest hearing Short failed to appear for was a 'judgment debtor exam' that would have delved into the actor's finances.

McCall was his second wife, who he married in 2005, after his first marriage to Brandi Short ended in 2003. McCall filed for divorce first in 2013, and again in 2014.

The actor/dancer, who once performed on the Broadway show Stomp and starred in movies like Stomp the Yard and Accepted, has a lengthy history of legal troubles.

Short plead guilty to misdemeanor domestic violence in 2014, as part of a no-jail plea deal, and he also pleaded no contest to a felony assault charge after allegedly throwing a punch at an in-law.

Domestic abuse issues: Most recently, Short was sentence to serve a year in jail on domestic assault charges after beating his current wife, Aida, whom he married in 2017; seen here in May

In handcuffs: The former Scandal star was seen handcuffed here in 2015, after he was turned into authorities by bounty hunters

Happier Times: Short and his ex-wife McCall seen here in 2011, attending the Captain America: The First Avenger premiere in Hollywood

He was also charged with felony battery after bar brawl, which, along with his domestic violence case, lead to the actor leaving Scandal in April 2014, after three years on the hit ABC series.

Most recently, Short was sentence to serve a year in jail on domestic assault charges after beating his current wife, Aida, who he married in 2017.

Despite his legal troubles, Short took to social media today to celebrate his 36th birthday, which he shares with Jimmy Fallon, Sanaa Lathan and Alison Sweeney.

'I'm thankful for the storm, thankful for the journey, Im thankful for making it one more year. #StillHere #PutThatInYourPipeAndSmokeIt #VirgoSeason #BdayMood,' Short said in an Instagram post.

He also sent out a dancing GIF to his birthday buddies Fallon and Lathan onTwitter, with the hashtag #LetsDance.

Birthday message: Despite his legal troubles, Short took to social media today to celebrate his 36th birthday, which he shares with Jimmy Fallon, Sanaa Lathan and Alison Sweeney

Birthday dance: He also sent out a dancing GIF to his birthday buddies Jimmy Fallon and Sanaa Lathan on Twitter , with the hashtag #LetsDanceBusy Philipps knows she's 'extra'.

The 39-year-old actress opens up about her big personality, her love of social media and her upcoming talk show in this months' Glamour TV issue.

And while nowadays she's happy with who she is, Busy recalls a time when she was told she needed to change herself to be considered beautiful.

'A former male friend once said to me, "You know, people would consider you beautiful if you didn't talk so much."' she revealed.

Star quality: Busy Philipps has opened up to Glamour about being 'extra' as she discusses her new talk show

'And an ex-boyfriend told me, "You laugh too loudly in restaurants, and you always need people to look at you." I sort of understood what they were saying. I'm a lot. But ever since I was a kid, I've thought, Some people will like it, and some people will hate it. Either way, awesome.'

The mother-of-two confesses that when she started working in Hollywood she was again made to feel like she wasn't enough.

'Especially at 19, when I was told by producers, studios, and directors that I wasn't OK the way I was. Like the time I landed a TV role and the makeup artist was instructed to cover up the moles on my face, neck, and body. I was like, Wait a minute, my moles are my skin. How is my skin not good enough for you?'

'And an ex-boyfriend told me, "You laugh too loudly in restaurants, and you always need people to look at you.' Busy recalled to Glamour but says she accepts herself for who she is

'I was told by producers, studios, and directors that I wasn't OK the way I was' Busy revealed when she started working in Hollywood a makeup artist was told to cover up her moles

Busy says that part of the reason she loves social media is that she gets to be herself and the fans love it, especially her very candid and animated Instagram stories.

'Being told these things hurt, but I said to myself, Youre really talented and youre really funny. So when social media hit, I loved it, because I felt like I finally had the ability to present my personality to people.'

The actress' new talk show Busy Tonight is slated to premiere October 28 at 10pm on E! and will air four nights a week, Sunday through Wednesday.

It will feature Busy giving her opinions on the latest pop culture stories and trending topics with candid celebrity guest interviews and original comedic segments.

Candid: Busy says that part of the reason she loves social media is that she gets to be herself and the fans love it. She is seen in her Instagram stories while watching the Emmys on Monday

'People want more authenticity; I can bring that. And I still love Instagram. I use it to develop ideas for the show, ask questions, and see what people are responding to. Getting here has been a journey.' Busy tells Glamour.

'Busy's singular point of view which is beloved by so many on her Instagram stories will be on full display in 'Busy Tonight',' said Amy Introcaso-Davis EVP, Development and Production at E! in a press release last month.

'Her hilarious commentary sits on the intersection of pop culture and everyday lifeShe's a gifted actress, a mother, a wife, and best friend, and her willingness to give our audience an insider's view to her life as a celebrity tastemaker and working mom is exactly what the young female E! audience craves.'She celebrated her one-year anniversary with boyfriend Wells Adams on Sunday.

But on Wednesday, Sarah Hyland made a solo outing as she stopped by a salon in Studio City, California.

The Modern Family star rocked an 80s-inspired ensemble consisting of a white Seinfeld shirt and retro glasses while keeping things casual in her black leggings.

Early morning: Sarah Hyland made a solo outing as she stopped by a salon in Studio City, CA

Her outfit was accompanied by a brown suede bag as she strolled through the streets of Studio City in the early hours of the morning.

During the actress hiatus from filming scenes for Modern Family, Hyland had made it no secret that shes been working up quite a sweat in the gym.

Just last week, the 27-year-old jokingly admitted to working out naked because it motivated her to exercise harder in the hopes of ending up with pop star Dua Lipas abs.

Fit and fab: Her outfit was accompanied by a brown suede bag as she strolled through the streets of Studio City in the early hours of the morning

So I have a break from filming right now before some other things, and does anybody else like working out naked in front of mirrors so you hate yourself and work harder? Hyland questioned her 5.8 million followers.

Seriously. I suggest you all do it. Because youre in front of the mirror and youre like, Must have Dua Lipa abs!

Sarahs outing in Studio City on Wednesday comes just days after gushing about her and Wells having reached their one-year anniversary milestone.

It's our anniversary! Sarahs outing in Studio City on Wednesday comes just days after gushing about having reached the one-year milestone in her relationship with Wells

1 year ago today, You asked to hold my purse when I was dancing, Hyland recalled, as she remembered the first night she met Adams.

In that moment you took my heart. You then gave me my last first kiss. And in that moment you took my breath away. I love you to Pluto and back.

The Hollywood beauty, who only moved Wells into her L.A. home back in August, told Us Magazine that their relationship strengthened drastically.

Its 10th run: The New Yorker is currently gearing up for the return of her ABC hit show Modern Family

I think its brought us closer. Hes more anal and cleaner than I am, so its great for me, she said in jest.

The New Yorker is currently gearing up for the return of her ABC hit show Modern Family.

Its 10th series is expected to premiere on September 26.Shauna Sexton had a message for onlookers on Wednesday as she ran errands in Los Angeles.

The 22-year-old Playboy model and rumored girlfriend of Ben Affleck wore a white T-shirt tied at the waist emblazoned with 'Bull S***' on the back.

She teamed the bold top with some super tight ripped jeans and was spotted filling up her car with gas before flashing a knowing smile while heading into an office building in Woodland Hills.

Loud and proud: Shauna Sexton wore a T-shirt with 'Bull Shit' emblazoned on the back as she ran errands in Los Angeles on Wednesday

Read my shirt: Shauna flashed a knowing smile as she headed into an office building in Woodland Hills

Shauna appeared to be makeup-free as she hid her eyes behind some silver rimmed sunglasses and pulled her hair up into a no-fuss bun.

The outing came as it seems Ben is nearing the end of his rehab stint for alcohol addiction which has seen him take daily trips home from the treatment center in Malibu.

And family and friends of the actor believe Shauna has been getting in the way of his treatment, ET reports.

According to sources it's 'been challenging for everyone who is trying to help him through this process.' as Shauna is apparently not giving him the space he needs to heal.

Model behavior: She teamed the bold top with some super tight ripped jeans and was spotted filling up her car with gas

Cali girl: Shauna flashed some leg with massive rips in her cuffed jeans

'He has been told to hold off on a relationship... but isnt heeding that advice. His closest friends hoped he was just dating her and would break it off after going to rehab, but he seems to get closer to her every day,' a source revealed.

'The more time Ben seems to spend with Shauna, the more he seems to want to go home.

'Shauna has been a strong support for him by attending his family sessions and listening to the advice, but she doesn't seem willing to give him the space he needs to stay in rehab,' the insider added.

The source claimed the new relationship has been hard on his most recent ex Lindsay Shookus.

Out and about: The model was spotted out as Ben appears to be nearing the end of his month-long stint in rehab

It's complicated: The outing came after friends and family of Ben have claimed Shauna has interfered with the actor's recovery and is not giving him the space he needs

'Lindsay was supporting Ben in the beginning but now he seems to be relying more on Shauna than Lindsay and she is devastated,' they said.

Ben's ex-wife Jennifer Garner meanwhile was hoping her former husband of ten years would concentrate on his sobriety, rather than his love life.

'Jen wants nothing more than for Ben to dedicate himself to his sobriety,' the source added. 'She knows she can only do so much and that the process is up to him.'

'Ben has only committed himself to the 28 days and Jen wants him to commit to much longer. Everyone wants this to be the very last time he has to be rushed to rehab.'He was alleged to have been removed from the Celebrity Big Brother house for 'doing something inappropriate.'

And Rodrigo Alves, 35, continued to distance himself from his early snd unexpected departure from the Elstree compound as he enjoyed a day out in Milan on Tuesday.

Spending time in the Italian city to study the language, the 'Human Ken Doll' showed off his typically eclectic style sense in a floral suit jacket and matching shorts.

Stepping out: Rodrigo Alves showed off his eclectic style in a floral suit in Milan on Wednesday... as he continued to distance himself from his CBB scandal

Offsetting his ensemble with a crisp white shirt, he completed his look by stepping out in light green loafers and wearing a pair of stylish shades.

Rodrigo's peroxide blonde locks were slicked back behind his ears, and he wore make-up to accentuate his surgically enhanced features.

Rodrigo's outing comes after CBB contestant Dan Osborne was forced to deny that he got the reality TV star removed from the house.

Completing the look: Offsetting his ensemble with a crisp white shirt, he completed his look with a pair of light green loafers and a pair of stylish shades

Dan recently spoke to The Sun regarding the reasons behind Rodrigo's removal from the house, which to that point had been shrouded in mystery.

He was previously forced to deny he orchestrated Rodrigo's removal, after a false statement pertaining to be from him, appeared online.

Dan said of the reasons behind Rodrigo's premature exit: 'There was an incident in the house, it was just something inappropriate, I didn't appreciate it. I don't really want to talk about it.'

And while Dan was left feeling 'uncomfortable' over the alleged incident, he admitted that it's unlikely he'd ever confront Rodrigo about it if they ever saw one another again.

'I never bumped into Rodrigo before going into the house so I probably wont bump into him again,' said Dan. 'If I did I wouldnt have a chat about it, I would say hello.'

Pose: During his Italian escapade, Rodrigo showed off his toned figure in his outfit

Carefree? Rodrigo's outing came after CBB contestant Dan Osborne was forced to deny that he got the reality TV star removed from the house

Rodrigo has not commented on the reasons why he left the house or Dan's recent claims.

Of his time on the show, Rodrigo told MailOnline: 'Since I left Celebrity Big Brother I have never watched it or followed the news about it, but Im happy for Ryan Thomas, who is a great guy. I got on very well with him while I was on that show.'

Rodrigo has not commented on the reasons why he left the house or Dan's recent claims, and the star has denied anything untoward happened in the house and insists he left of his own accord.

Fun outing: The Brazilian plastic surgery fan enjoyed a day out in Europe's fashion capital

Dan's revelation comes after Rodrigo apologised for his use of the N-word on CBB , explaining that being of black heritage himself, and having English as his second language, meant he didn't realise how offensive the term is.

Rodrigo received a formal and final warning for declaring 'I prefer n***** boys' during a chat about his type of men in the CBB house.

Of this, he admitted: 'I made a huge mistake when I was in the Celebrity Big Brother house, but I am most definitely not a racist.'

The TV personality - who is of mixed race heritage - explained: 'In Brazil, I was brought up in a multicultural, multiracial society. I am very proud of my Latino and black heritage.'

Back to school: Rodrigo has also been spending time in the Italian city to study the language

He added: 'English is not my first language. Through my Brazilian upbringing, my black family members and street/hip hop music in Brazil I was not naturally conditioned against the word.

'I was naive not to realise how offensive what I said is in English speaking countries, and what that word represents in terms of the horrific and sustained human rights abuses against black people over many generations.

'For this, I offer my sincerest and heartfelt apologies for any offence I may have caused. Racism is a state of mind often manifesting itself in abusive language.

Moving on: Of his time on Big Brother, Rodrigo told MailOnline: 'Since I left Celebrity Big Brother I have never watched it or followed the news about it, but Im happy for Ryan Thomas'

'In my case, my use of a particular word has been used to portray me as having a mindset that I don't have and never have had.'

Rodrigo is currently working on a movie about his life with Warner Bros, in which he can play himself.

A source told MailOnline about the project: 'It will take a comedic look at his way of living, with the focus more being more on his opulent life, rather than his "exotic looks".'The Founder and Leader of the Liberal Party of Ghana, Kofi Akpaloo says Ghanaians should blame former President John Dramani Mahama for all the hardship the country is facing now.



According to him, Nobody should blame the current government for Ghanas problems. The problems have been there; Nana Addo inherited the problems and trying all his possible best to solve the situation we are in now.



The outburst by the Liberal Party follows recent developments in Ghana's economic and socio-economic challenges - the continuous plunge in the cedi, the fall in investor confidence among others.



Speaking in an interview on NEAT FMs morning show Ghana Montie, Mr Akpaloo argued that, Mahamas decision to consider the macro-economic program with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is what is hunting the country.



He described as poor and disastrous some policies implemented by the then NDC government led by John Mahama.



All that we are going through now is because of John Mahama, a bad leader who doesnt deserve another chance to rule this country again, he said.



Commenting on the fuel price hike, Mr Akpaloo said Dont blame this government for the fuel price hike. We dont cook petrol here in Ghana. This is a global issue, its beyond Ghana. But because of cheap political talks the NPP and NDC always use to win elections, Ghanaians will always blame them."

Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/ Twitter: @Washman5/ Instagram: Ambrose_wash









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured VideoThey have showed their romance survives on home turf after waving goodbye to the long hot summer days in the villa on Love Island.

And Josh Denzel was even more besotted with Kaz Crossley on arrival of The Intent 2: The Come Up red carpet at Leicester Square cinema, in London on Wednesday.

Things got hot and heavy between the Love Island power couple as they intimately locked lips while they joined a whole host of reality stars.

Could it last? Proving their love has developed into more than a summer fling, the smitten couple didn't stray far from each other's sides during the evening's festivities

Proving their love has developed into more than a summer fling, the smitten couple didn't stray far from each other's sides during the evening's festivities.

Kaz swapped her Love Island bikinis for another saucy number, a lacy semi-sheer teddy which teased a glimpse at her bare skin.

The make-up mogul sexily wrapped a furry violet feather boa around her waist, cheekily covering up her phenomenal physique to leave a little to the imagination.

Good together: There was a whole lot of love on show at The Intent red carpet as Josh Denzel and his ladylove Kaz Crossley shared a tender smooch when they joined the stars

Staying together: Josh and Kaz, who found love in the villa over the summer, proved they have gone from strength to strength as they engaged in some serious red carpet PDA

Having recently been appointed a brand ambassador for boohooMAN alongside his co-star Wes Nelson, of course Josh maintained his style efforts in his plaid set.

Josh and Kaz were joined by their co-stars Georgia Steel and Darylle Sargeant as well as former Love Island stars Gabby Allen and Georgia Harrison at the movie event.

The Intent 2: The Come Up tells the story of a man's allegiance to his crime boss which then destroys his dreams.

Saucy! Kaz swapped her Love Island bikinis for another sexy number, a lacy semi-sheer teddy which teased a glimpse at her bare skin

Sheer delight! The make-up mogul sexily wrapped a furry violet feather boa around her waist, cheekily covering up her phenomenal physique to leave a little to the imagination

Fans have warmed to the Josh and Kaz love story after the LADBible presenter controversially left Georgia Steel alone to pursue a romance with his now-girlfriend.

Josh described himself as 'public enemy number one' in an interview with BBC Breakfast once departing from the villa.

Yet the duo won over the Love Island fans with their genuine feelings for one another which flourished in the Mallorcan villa when Kaz returned with Josh from Casa Amor.

Long time coming: Fans have warmed to the Josh and Kaz love story after the LADBible presenter controversially left Georgia Steel alone to pursue a romance with his now-girlfriend

True love: They have showed their romance survives on home turf after waving goodbye to the long hot summer days in the villa on Love Island

They have been treading the red carpet together across London at all of the hottest parties after securing third place in the live final.

Kaz supported her beau Josh at The Shard for the boohooMAN dinner to commemorate his appointment as the brand ambassador.

Clearly smitten with each other, Josh admitted: 'Havent stopped smiling since Ive met her (Kaz).' (sic)

Smitten: The hunk was even more besotted with Kaz Crossley on arrival of The Intent 2: The Come Up red carpet

Look of love: The lovebirds couldn't hide their delight when they made their way home after the busy night among the starsAshton Kutcher accidentally hit a 19-year-old with his car on Tuesday afternoon.

According to TMZ, Leo Marenghi, was scootering along the sidewalk past Sunset Bronson Studios when the 40-year-old actor pulled out onto the road in his black Tesla.

The impact propelled the teenage nanny through the air and he crashed onto the concrete in the middle of the street.

Accident: On Tuesday afternoon, Ashton Kutcher accidentally hit a 19-year-old with his car, reported TMZ

Following the collision, Kutcher got out of his car and checked on the young nanny.

Other than a few bloody scrapes and bruises, Marenghi was fine and felt spunky enough to ask the Dude Where's My Car star for a photo.

The star obliged and they shared a moment, where he put his arm up.

Marenghi was on his way to pick kids up from school at the time of the accident, which explains the two additional scooters he had with him.

Smarts: The young man, Leo Marenghi, was scootering along the sidewalk passed Sunset Bronson Studios when the 40-year-old actor pulled out in his black Tesla

Kutcher is an investor in Bird scooters, a rival company to the type of two-wheeled transportation device the young nanny was riding.

Earlier this month, the No Strings Attached actor giving a talk at Tech Crunch Disrupt, a technology conference in San Francisco, when he grumped about the public backlash the devices have been receiving.

'This is like the simplest one of them all in so much as nobody wakes up in the morning, opens their front door and says, "God look at how many cars there are, they're parked everywhere."

'They are f***ing parked everywhere! There are cars parked everywhere! It's ridiculous! They're clogging the roads, they're making it impossible to get anywhere you want to go,' Kutcher said.

'But boy do we open up the door and go "man there are scooters all over the place." Hold on, wait a second, this is aversion to change. And suddenly we go: Alright, we have to regulate the hell out of this because people are complaining. But nobody is complaining about the fact that there are cars everywhere.'

Look at it this way: Kutcher is an investor in Bird scooters, a rival company to the type the young nanny was riding

Also during the conference, Kutcher revealed the advice his wife Mila Kunis, 35, gave him about how to handle #MeToo.

He revealed that the best advice he received so far was from his wife of three years who told him men should 'shut up and listen.'

'You know, the best advice that I got relative to this entire thing came from my wife, and she said, 'Men have had hundreds of years to solve this problem and to talk about this and figure it out and it's probably the best thing, at this point, for me to just shut up and listen for a little bit,'' he divulged at the conference.

Not a happy man: Earlier this month, the No Strings Attached actor giving a talk at Tech Crunch Disrupt, a technology conference in San Francisco, when he grumped about the public backlash the devices have been receiving

He went on to admit that he feels his thoughts on the movement are hollow if he fails to 'do' anything about it.

The actor explained that he is ready for action: 'So hire more women, get busy making sure that there's equal pay for women within organizations, make sure that the companies that we invest in are thinking about this problem on day one, and continue to tell stories about the extraordinary women in history and in the world and going forward. I think  that's my baseline of what needs to be done.'

Kunis, who famously voiced Meg on Family Guy, has yet to chime in her opinion on husband Ashton's comments.

She met the former husband of Demi Moore in the late nineties while still a teenager on the set of the sitcom That 70s Show. The pair reconnected in 2012 and married a few years later.

A good cause: Mila Kunis, 35, met the former husband of Demi Moore in the late nineties while still a teenager on the set of the sitcom That 70s Show. The pair reconnected in 2012 and married a few years later.



Snoop Dogg didn't hold back when the subject turned to politics during a Sirius XM interview this week.

The 46-year-old rapper, who has long been an outspoken critic of the US President, made his feelings known, saying a big 'f*** you' to Donald Trump along with a 'f*** you' to his supporter Kanye West.

DJ Suss One brought up the topic after a warning that a lot of his listeners don't like it when he 'talks bad' about the president.

This appeared to anger Snoop as he replied: 'Well you need to know that a lot of your fans is racist. Ain't no f***** way around it.

Angry: Snoop Dogg didn't hold back when asked about politics during an interview with DJ Suss One on Sirius XM

'I tell 'em straight up muthaf****. If you like that n**** [Trump] you muthaf*****' racist. F*** you and f*** him. Now what?' the rapper said.

'N**** he drew the lines. He drew the muthaf***** lines. Before him there were no lines,' Snoop continued.

Snoop said that racism is a bigger issue now since Trump took office in January 2017.

'Everybody was everybody, we respected every thing, we didn't trip, but n**** when you drew the line and start pointing muthaf***** out and singling them out n*** f*** yall then n****. You and them.'

'Ain't no f***** way around it': Snoop called Suss' listeners racist after the DJ said a lot of his fans didn't like it when he bashed Trump

'f*** him too,' Snoop said of Kanye West, 'Kanye too. Don't forget about him too. F*** you too. Throw him in the bag, 'cause he right there with the muthaf*****.'

Snoop then brought up Kanye, saying 'f*** him too,' adding, 'Kanye too. Don't forget about him too. F*** you too. Throw him in the bag, 'cause he right there with the muthaf*****.'

The clip cuts off just as Suss begins to question the Long Beach, California native about the time he took part in the Comedy Central Roast of Donald Trump in 2011.

Kanye has expressed his support for Trump in the last couple of years and even went to meet with the president at his Manhattan Trump Tower soon after he'd been elected.

He has also been known to wear a red cap with the President's controversial 'Make America Great Again' slogan emblazoned on it.

'N**** he drew the lines. He drew the muthaf*****' lines. Before him there were no lines,' Snoop angrily ranted about Trump who has been an outspoken critic of

Outspoken: It's not the first time Snoop has had his say about Trump and Trump supporter Kanye

'Just as a musician, African-American, a guy living out in Hollywood, everyone around me tried to pick my candidate for me. And then told me every time that I said I liked Trump that I couldnt say that out loud or my career would be over,' Kanye told Jimmy Kimmel in August.

'It took me a year and a half to have the confidence to stand up and put on the hat, no matter what the consequences.'

This isn't the first time Snoop has criticized Kanye, the Drop It Like It's Hot hitmaker has been outspoken about his concern for Kanye's mental health after he declared that 'slavery was a choice' in a TMZ interview earlier this year.

In April he took a swipe at Kanye's wife Kim Kardashian as he wrote in an Instagram post 'The evolution of Jay-Z and Kanye show how influential your wife can be to your life,'

'Kanye too. Don't forget about him too. F*** you too. Throw him in the bag, 'cause he right there with the muthaf*****.' Snoop directed his anger at Trump supporter Kanye too

Listen in this weekend: Snoop's full interview with DJ Suss One drops on Saturday 3pm ET on Sirius

Snoop was once on good terms with Kanye - the two worked together on the track Eyez Closed back in 2011.

In March 2017 Trump called out Snoop for his music video Lavender which featured the Gin And Juice hitmaker pointing a gun at the president's head.

'Can you imagine what the outcry would be if @SnoopDogg, failing career and all, had aimed and fired the gun at President Obama? Jail time!' Trump wrote on Twitter.

Snoop's full interview with DJ Suss One drops on Saturday 3pm ET on Sirius.She gave birth to her second child in June.

But Candice Swanepoel looked to have regained her supermodel physique and seemed unaffected by the long hours of motherhood as she took her baby Ariel for a stroll.

The 29-year-old Victoria's Secret Angel stunned in a blue floral patterned dress as she walked through dappled sunlight in New York City.

Gorgeous: Candice Swanepoel looked to have regained her supermodel physique and seemed unaffected by the long hours of motherhood as she took her baby Ariel for a stroll

The sapphire frock fell to just above the middle of her thighs, highlighting her long and lean legs.

She added a couple inches to her 5ft 10in frame via heeled, brown leather booties, and threw a black bag over one shoulder.

It was a perfect late summer day in the Big Apple where temperatures climbed into the low-80s, and Candice kept her vision in mind as she donned clear-framed glasses - the AS IF! sunnies by Quay Australia.

Stunning: The 29-year-old Victoria's Secret Angel stunned in a blue floral patterned dress as she walked through dappled sunlight in New York City, adding Quay Australia sunnies

Beautiful: The sapphire frock fell to just above the middle of her thighs, highlighting her long and lean legs

She pushed along her three-month-old in a navy stroller and made sure he was warm with an adorable white blanket covered in airplanes.

Later in the day, Candice headed to the beach with both her children and two friends, including fellow model Barbara Di Creddo.

It was a baby filled day as the Brazilian model also recently gave birth to a child.

Sandy fun: Later in the day, Candice headed to the beach with both her children and two friends, including fellow model Barbara Di Creddo

The leggy South African beauty also has almost two-year-old Anaca, who she also shares with her Brazilian model beau of 12 years, Hermann Nicoli, 36.

The genetically blessed couple, who got engaged in 2015, met in 2005 while she was on assignment in Paris when she was 17 and he was 23.

Candice and her family divide their time between New York and Brazil, where they have a home in the state of Espirito Santo.The latest poison plot in Salisbury may not be quite all it seems.

A Russian model and her British husband became violently ill at the weekend after dining in the citys Prezzo restaurant and claimed they were the victims of a Russian terror attack, just like ex-spy Sergei Skripal.

However, the couple  Anna Shapiro and Alex King  have a very colourful background. For I can reveal King, 42, is an old business partner of notorious fraudster Eddie Davenport, the playboy conman known as Fast Eddie.

Davenport was given an eight-year jail sentence in 2011 for a 4.5 million fraud.

Alex King and Lord Edward Davenport are old business partners. Davenport - also known as 'Fast Eddie' was given an eight-year jail sentence in 2011 for a 4.5 million fraud

Russian model Anna Shapiro claimed that Vladimir Putin tried to kill her and husband Alex King with rat poison at a Salisbury Prezzo restaurant

Model Shapiro is business partners with her husband and claims to be the daughter of a former Russian general

Among his 51 victims was Princess Dianas wedding dress designer Elizabeth Emanuel.

Davenport, who made his name running the Gatecrasher Balls for public school teens, was released from Wandsworth after three years.

Before Fast Eddie was sent to prison, King lived with him at his 24-bedroom, 14 million home in London, 33 Portland Place, used as a location for the film The Kings Speech.

It was also the setting for fashion shoots and riotous parties.

Russian model Anna Shapiro with husband Alex King. She reportedly moved to London in 2008 and met Alex soon after

33, Portland Place, London, the former 14 million home of Eddie Davenport, which he was said to have used as a venue for sex parties and lived with King before he was jailed

A police officer stands guard outside the Prezzo restaurant in Salisbury where a major incident was declared after the pair were taken ill

King, who ran a modelling agency, was exposed by a newspaper as an ambassador of perversion for hosting orgies at the house and hiring out Russian girls for sex at 500 a day.

Shapiro, 30, his business partner who claims to be the daughter of a former Russian general, reportedly moved to London in 2008 and met Alex soon after.

They are said to have married only last month.

King apparently won a 100,000 bet for gatecrashing the royal film premiere of Alan Bennetts The History Boys, where he introduced himself to Prince Charles.

Born Alex Ainley, son of Irish businessman Shaun Ainley, he changed his name to King when he found out his biological father was a German baron, Freddie von Nidda.

He races around after this Davenport fellow trying to emulate him, said von Nidda in 2006. He wants an easy life and easy money.The public do not know how much of the 17,000 tonnes of asbestos-contaminated waste, removed from a Sydney building site and allegedly dumped illegally, is still missing.

Detectives, in mid-August, arrested a 48-year-old waste disposal company director as he tried to flee the country.

He had allegedly removed 600 truckloads of asbestos-contaminated building waste from the Green Square redevelopment from mid-2016 and dumped it illegally.

In late August the Environment Protection Authority, along with police, examined a property on the state's Central Coast.

Soil samples collected at the site were conducted to confirm or rule out the presence of asbestos.

But the EPA will not say how much of the 600 truckloads of contaminated material has been recovered from that site or any other sites.

A spokeswoman told AAP on Wednesday that "the investigation is ongoing" and said the agency was unable to comment further.

NSW residents had been advised to report suspicious dumping or to contact authorities if they suspect they have found some of the contaminated waste.

The Central Coast property owners had allegedly been told the waste dumped at their home was clean fill but the remediation of the location is expected to be costly.

The man charged for the alleged dumping remains before the courts.Excavation work is to take place at a South Australian property in a bid to recover the remains of Colleen Adams, who has been missing for 45 years, after her husband was charged with her murder.

Police arrested 70-year-old Geoffrey Adams at his Wallaroo home on Wednesday afternoon, before travelling with him to the property at Maitland, on the Yorke Peninsula, where the couple had lived with their children.

Officers and forensic experts will now focus on recovering Mrs Adams' remains from that site, which has been the subject of a fresh police search.

The property was cordoned off as a crime scene and covered with a tent overnight, before detailed excavation work is due to begin on Thursday.

Mr Adams is also due to appear in the Kadina Magistrates Court on Thursday.

He had previously told police he awoke about 7am on November 22, 1973, to find Mrs Adams fully dressed with two packed suitcases.

According to Mr Adams, she said she was leaving and never wanted to see him or the children again, before getting into a car with a middle-aged woman he did not know.

Mrs Adams was reported missing by her mother about a month later, but the case was not declared a major crime until 1979.Thaksin: stinging attack on junta

Billionaire ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra on Tuesday hit out at Thailand's ruling junta, saying coups targeting his family have made the country worse off over the past 12 years.

His comments are among the most pointed criticism for some time and come days after the junta eased bans on political activities before a promised election next year.

The Shinawatra clan -- a wealthy and powerful family -- has won every election since 2001 through populist platforms and welfare schemes that have angered Bangkok's military-aligned elite.

Thailand's modern history has been marked by attempted and successful coups. But the era since the putsch that toppled Thaksin in 2006 has been dubbed the "Lost Decade", with street protests and instability a feature of political life.

Another coup in 2014 toppled a civilian government headed by Thaksin's younger sister Yingluck, who fled the country.

Military leaders have argued that taking control has been necessary to restore stability.

But in a Facebook post at times emotional and accusatory, the exiled former leader looked back over the turbulent period and asked Thais whether they were really better off in education, health care and the economy. He accused a small fraction of benefiting from the power shifts.

"There are some people who got rich from these two coups but there are several areas which have gotten worse and our beloved Thailand has been been viewed unfavourably by people around the world," the 69-year-old said on the eve of the anniversary of his ousting.

"Hasn't our country suffered enough?"

More than 2.6 million people follow Thaksin's official Facebook page and that post quickly went viral, racking up thousands of likes, shares and supportive comments.

"No jobs, no money," said Facebook user Thawat Thanmunkongkul.

"The country needs people with good management to push Thailand to prosperity. Our country is now suffering."

Both Thaksin and Yingluck live in self-exile to avoid court cases they say are politically motivated.

But they have been amping up their social media presence in recent months as the country edges closer to an election expected as early as February.

On Friday the junta eased a longstanding ban on political activities, allowing parties to meet and recruit members. But on-the-ground campaigning remains off limits.

Pheu Thai, the party associated with the Shinawatras, called for all the conditions to be lifted "immediately" in a statement Tuesday.

But analysts say that even if the election goes ahead a return to full-fledged democracy is remote, as the constitution written by the junta calls for an upper house whose members are appointed.

The current prime minister and coup leader Prayut Chan-O-Cha has also been raising speculation of a political run with a spate of public appearances and photo ops.Cosatu plays a key role in South African politics and provided logistical support to the anti-apartheid struggle

South Africa's largest trade union federation on Tuesday elected a woman president, a first for the 33-year-old labour movement that helped lead the fight against apartheid.

Zingiswa Losi, 42, was nominated unopposed at an annual meeting of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) in Johannesburg's northern Midrand suburb.

The former soldier served in the South African army for three years before going to work at the Ford car plant in the southern city of Port Elizabeth.

Her workers' rights activism began while she was in the military, according to Cosatu which has 1.6 million members.

Cosatu plays a key role in South African politics and provided logistical support to the anti-apartheid struggle.

Since the advent of democracy in 1994, it has been an important source of grassroots support for the ruling African National Congress party (ANC), although it has been riven by factionalism.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa congratulated Losi, saying her election "affirms women - and black women in particular - as political activists and social reformers, leaders in their own right and agents of their own liberation".

"I am confident that in this eminent role, Ms Losi will serve the interests of workers with the passion and dedication she has displayed throughout her career as an activist and political leader," Ramaphosa said.

"This election is an important step forward".Syrian rebel fighters in Idlib province on September 3, 2018

A Russia-Turkey deal for a "demilitarised zone" in Syria's flashpoint region of Idlib buys more time for talks, analysts said Tuesday while warning it does not eliminate the risk of a deadly assault.

Residents of the Idlib region and aid groups breathed a sigh of relief when the two main brokers in northern Syria announced an agreement from the Russian resort of Sochi.

Here are some answers to key questions raised by the deal:

- What is the deal exactly?

A horseshoe-shaped demilitarised zone "along the contact line between the armed opposition and government troops", which roughly follows the boundaries of Idlib province, must be set up by October 15.

It will be controlled and patrolled by Turkish forces and Russian military police.

The deal also provides for the "withdrawal of heavy military equipment, tanks, multiple rocket launchers, cannon and mortars" held by rebels and jihadists there, a Kremlin statement said.

The deal says hardliners should pull out, including those from the dominant Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, an alliance led by Al-Qaeda's former Syrian affiliate.

Turkey sponsors some of the Syrian armed groups in Idlib directly but its leverage over the most radical forces there remains to be fully tested.

The agreement stipulates that key highways between the port city of Latakia and the cities of Homs and Aleppo respectively must also be reopened by the end of the year.

The pro-government daily Al-Watan also reported that by the end of 2018 the deal would see "the return of Syrian state institutions".

Analysts however argued too few details of the deal were public to assess its viability.

"I don't think this is the whole deal, I think this is only the beginning, stage one," said Haid Haid, an associate fellow at Chatham House.

The Syrian government had for weeks been massing forces on the edges of Idlib province, the last major rebel and jihadist bastion in the country.

The foreign ministry in Damascus said Tuesday it welcomed the Sochi deal but Haid was not convinced.

"The regime is definitely not happy with it. The question is how will the regime try to spoil this agreement?"

- Is a bloodbath being averted?

Aid organisations had for weeks warned that a large scale assault against the Idlib region, which is home to around three million people, would be disastrous.

Large numbers of rebels and civilians displaced from other former opposition strongholds retaken by the regime have nowhere else to flee to.

The United Nations said a ground assault could cause the greatest humanitarian catastrophe of the 21st century and spark the worst bloodshed of a conflict that has already killed 360,000 people since 2011.

"The agreement is a temporary solution," said Nawar Oliver, a Syria specialist at the Turkey-based Omran Centre. "Russia was keen to preserve good relations with Turkey."

Turkey has scrambled to avert a fully-fledged onslaught and a fresh influx of Syrian refugees across its border.

Lina al-Khatib, who heads the Chatham House think tank's Middle East programme, cautioned: "The deal does not guarantee that an offensive is no longer on the table further down the line."

The agreement "should be seen as only the beginning of a process, it's not the end game for Idlib," she said.

The known points in the deal made no reference to the issue of humanitarian access.

In its reaction to the Sochi deal, the Syrian government made sure to reaffirm its commitment to "the fight against terrorism until the liberation of all Syria territory."

- Can Turkey live up to it?

Analysts say Turkey has always sought to consolidate its presence in Syrian regions along its border, in a bid to stabilise them and allow for the repatriation of the three million-plus refugees on its soil.

"The implementation of the deal is difficult and fraught with obstacles, especially for Turkey, which will be held responsible for how HTS is handled," said Sam Heller, an analyst with the International Crisis Group.

"HTS is likely to resist a deal that would paralyse it from a geographical point of view and dismantle its defence system," he said.

Oliver also predicted Turkey could find it difficult to implement its own proposal.

"How do you control HTS and how do you fight against other jihadists linked to Al-Qaeda?" he asked, in reference to the extremist Hurras al-Deen group.

Turkey has in recent days dispatched reinforcements to its 12 observation points scattered across Idlib.

According to pro-government Turkish daily Sabah, "a contingent of around 5,0000 soldiers is ready to intervene."

Heller described the deal as "a crucial test for Turkey".

"In spite of those challenges and considering the major damage that a collapse of the truce could cause to Turkish interests, Turkey has no choice," he said.The 2011 winner of TV3s Ghanas Most Beautiful beauty pageant, Sally Akua Amoakowaa Mensah popularly called Akua Ghanas Most Beautiful has replied critics who have constantly been talking about her marriage to millionaire Dr. Kweku Oteng.



The TV presenter has confirmed that indeed she is not the only legal wife of the business mogul.



Akua who was not willing to affirm whether she is the third or fifth wife of Kweku Oteng said the only fact the public should know is that she is not the only wife of her husband but not her position on the list.



According to her, even though her hubby is married to other women, she is still happy staying with him. Detailing what made him marry the Angel Group of Companies boss, Sally told zionfelix that love is the major factor.



She added that Dr. Oteng is one humble human being that any individual would want to hang out with so he so no need in letting him go when he proposed marriage.



On rumours that her pregnancy facilitated their marriage, the General Manager of Angel said it is a lie.



The mother of two revealed that she gave birth before marrying the man so there is no iota of truth in the hearsay that her spouse was pushed to marry her due to the pregnancy.



Sally Akua Amoakowaa and Dr. Kweku Oteng are blessed with two boys.

VIDEO-

Source: zionfelix.net









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Featured VideoSyngenta, bought by ChemChina for $43 billion last year in China's largest ever foreign takeover, has rejected allegations implicating its pesticide Polo in the deaths of 20 Indian farms last year

The Swiss NGO Public Eye called Tuesday for an export ban on the pesticide Polo, produced by agriculture giant Syngenta, implicating it in the death of 20 Indian farmers last year.

Syngenta, bought by ChemChina for $43 billion in 2017 in China's largest ever foreign takeover, has rejected the allegations by Public Eye.

"There is absolutely no evidence to suggest that Syngenta's product Polo was at all responsible for the incidents that have occurred," the company said in a statement.

Last September, officials in the western Indian state of Maharashtra reported that 20 farmers had died and hundreds of others were in hospital after inhaling poisonous pesticides while spraying crops.

After visiting the affected Yavatmal region and interviewing farmers and their relatives, Public Eye said there was strong evidence that Polo -- specifically its active agent diafenthiuron -- was responsible for the poisoning.

Public Eye noted that while the evidence was not conclusive, the spraying of Polo was a common link among those who died or fell sick.

The NGO also said farmers in Yavatmal likely inhaled excessive amounts of the insecticide last year as cotton plants grew higher than normal, forcing them to spray closer to their mouths.

Officials in Maharashtra reportedly opened a criminal investigation targeting Syngenta over the deaths, but the status of the probe is not known.

The European Union banned diafenthiuron in 2002.

The Swiss government pulled it from the market in 2009 "for reasons of health or environmental protection", according to official documents.

Syngenta branded Public Eye's allegations "salacious and incorrect".

In response to the spate of deaths and illnesses, the company said it "conducted stewardship programs in the district and adjoining regions, conducted doctor training programs and established mobile health clinics to support treatment of farmers who may have been affected."

Syngenta noted that Polo "has been successfully and safely used by Indian Farmers across the country for the last 14 years," and that diafenthiuron is registered in 25 countries worldwide.

- Export ban? -

While diafenthiuron cannot be used in Switzerland, it is produced in Monthey, in the Valais canton.

Under current Swiss law, Syngenta has to inform the federal government about its diafenthiuron exports, including quantities and destination countries.

Bern is then responsible for informing the recipient countries, so they are aware of the risks.

Public Eye says this does not go far enough and that companies based in Switzerland should be barred from exporting products deemed unsafe for Swiss people.

"The Swiss authorities must put an end to this policy of double standards," the NGO said.

It urged backing for a motion introduced by federal lawmaker Lisa Mazzone calling for the prohibition of "the export of pesticides whose use has been banned in Switzerland due to their effects on human health or the environment."The US imported around $500 billion worth of products from China last year, compared to $130 billion in US goods imported by the Asian country

China Tuesday announced tariffs on US goods worth $60 billion in retaliation for President Donald Trump's decision to slap duties on $200 billion in Chinese products next week.

Tariffs of between five and 10 percent will take effect on some 5,200 US products on Monday, on the same day as the new US duties, the finance ministry said.

The two side already traded tariff salvos on $50 billion in goods from each country in the summer.

"If the United States insists on raising tariffs even more, China will respond accordingly," the finance ministry said in a statement.

China also announced that it was lodging a new complaint at the World Trade Organization in its tariffs battle with the United States.

Beijing had previously warned that it would target $60 billion in US goods if Trump made good on his threat to impose the new tariffs.

The lower Chinese figure highlights Beijing's inability to match the US dollar-for-dollar in a tariffs war.

The US imported around $500 billion worth of products from China last year, compared to $130 billion in US goods imported by the Asian country.

Trump threatened to hit another $267 billion in Chinese goods if Beijing took retaliatory action.

The Chinese finance ministry did not provide a detailed list of products to be hit by the new tariffs on Monday.

A preliminary list in August said products ranging from pig hides to cocoa butter and condoms would be targeted with tariffs of five to 25 percent. It was unclear if the tariffs announced on Tuesday were lower to match the US plan.

The US said the Chinese imports will face 10 percent tariffs through the end of the year, and then the rate will jump to 25 percent.Apple, whose CEO Tim Cook is seen here at the September 12 iPhone launch event, won't face an immediate impact from new tariffs on Chinese-made goods

The latest round of tariffs that US President Donald Trump has imposed on China appeared to largely spare Apple and other consumer electronics makers but they face increasing threats from the deepening trade war between the two economic giants.

US officials on Monday slapped the tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese imports, but skipped consumer electronics like smartwatches and Bluetooth devices, in a reprieve for firms like Apple and fitness tracker maker Fitbit.

But with retaliation from China expected, and Trump threatening to impose new tariffs on all Chinese-made goods, the relief may not last, according to analysts.

"Consumer electronics makers got a short term reprieve, but what we're witnessing is a chess match and we don't know who will blink first," said Patrick Moorhead of the research firm Moor Insights & Strategy.

"Both countries would be hurt significantly."

Moorhead said Apple would be uniquely affected because it manufactures most of its products in China and also sells a lot there.

"Most of Apple's revenue and profits are driven by the iPhone which is almost exclusively manufactured in China," the analyst said.

Once the new round of tariffs takes effect on September 24, punitive duties will be in place on $250 billion in goods the US buys from China.

The trade war has fueled concerns in the United States, especially in the technology and consumer electronics sectors, just ahead of the holiday shopping season that is important for both manufacturers and retailers.

The tariffs "will create lasting harm to communities across the country," said Dean Garfield, president and chief executive of the Information Technology Industry Council, a trade goup that includes Apple, Amazon and other large tech firms.

"China must change, but this is not the way to achieve the needed market access in China. More tariffs not only punish American consumers, manufacturers, and businesses of all sizes, they will also diminish the opportunity to negotiate with the Chinese and address longstanding trade issues."

The Consumer Technology Association, which represents some 2,000 large and small firms in the tech sector, called the tariffs "bad policy" even if some key products were excluded.

"We are especially concerned about retaliatory tariffs on printed circuit assemblies, routers and networking equipment," said CTA president Gary Shapiro.

"They will stifle our global leadership in 5G (wireless networks), create an internet tax on businesses and cause uncertainty for companies."

- Apple's plea -

US President Donald Trump says tariffs are a response to China "taking advantage of the United States"

The administration excluded smartwatches and other connected devices after Apple warned of a negative impact in a letter to the US Trade Representative.

"Tariffs increase the cost of our US operations, divert our resources, and disadvantage Apple compared to foreign competitors," Apple said in comments submitted September 5.

"More broadly, tariffs will lead to higher US consumer prices, lower overall US economic growth, and other unintended economic consequences. As a result, tariffs will ultimately reduce the economic benefit we generate for the United States."

Gene Munster of the research firm Loup Ventures said in a note to clients last week he did not expect Apple to take a major hit from the tariffs.

A tariff on smartwatches and connected earbuds, Munster said, would lower Apple's yearly profits by just one percent. And he predicted the trade frictions would eventually wind down.

"We believe, beyond two years, these tariffs will go away," he said.

Moorhead said he believed some tech firms, however, are "secretly applauding" the tough stand by Trump because it may over time impact the imbalance in trade between the two countries.Sources say opposition to Nur had built up since the February kidnapping of more than 100 schoolgirls from the remote town of Dapchi

The execution of a kidnapped aid worker and the apparent death of a senior factional leader have sparked fears of an upsurge in Boko Haram violence in northeast Nigeria.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Monday announced that one of its employees, midwife Saifura Khorsa, had been killed after more than six months in captivity.

That followed reports last week that hardliners in the Boko Haram splinter group, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), had killed their de facto leader, Mamman Nur.

Recent weeks have seen a marked increase in ISWAP attacks on the military, which security analysts tracking the conflict said was a sign of renewed strength and organisation.

But sources with a deep knowledge of ISWAP activities and talks with the government said it also followed the death of Nur, who was allegedly killed because of his more moderate approach.

ISWAP has previously vowed to hit only military and government "hard" targets, unlike the faction headed by Abubakar Shekau, which has repeatedly attacked civilians.

"The death of Mamman Nur has lifted the lid off the radical elements in the group, who prefer indiscriminate violence as carried out by Shekau," said one source.

"The case of Saifura Khorsa is just the beginning of more nightmares to come," he told AFP on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the issue.

The source said Nur, the alleged mastermind of an August 2011 Boko Haram attack on the UN headquarters in Abuja that killed 25, was seen as a more "stabilising" element.

"Now that hardliners have killed him and taken over control, they are running berserk, as was demonstrated in the execution of Saifura Khorsa," he added.

- 'Unforgiveable' betrayal -

Nigeria's government has made no official comment about Nur, while analysts suggest that at the very least, events indicate possible rifts within ISWAP over operations and ideology.

The sources said opposition to Nur had built up since the February kidnapping of more than 100 schoolgirls from the remote town of Dapchi, in Yobe state.

All but one of the students -- the only Christian among them -- were brought back just over a month later. A second source involved in talks for their release said no ransom was paid.

Mamman Nur was the alleged mastermind of a 2011 attack on the UN building in Abuja in which 25 people were killed

"The only condition they (the government) gave was for troops to hold temporary ceasefire and safe passage to allow them to bring back the hostages," he added.

A third source said Nur's lieutenants were unhappy at the lack of a potentially lucrative payment and a lull in attacks during back-channel talks with the authorities.

"Behind his back they plotted to depose him," he added.

Nur was said to have been detained with other fighters loyal to him soon after the release of the schoolgirls.

A UN claim in August that a "large ransom payment" then convinced hardliners he had cheated them, the sources added.

"Betrayal is an unforgiveable crime punishable with death in Boko Haram and Nur was put to death on the belief that he took the ransom and hid it," said one.

"We are now likely to see more escalation of violence from these radical elements," he added.

- 'Unprecedented escalation' -

With Nur apparently out of the way, the position of the official ISWAP leader Abu Mus'ab al-Barnawi is likely to be under threat.

Al-Barnawi, the son of Boko Haram's founder Mohammed Yusuf, was widely seen as just a figurehead, with Nur directing day-to-day operations.

The more radical commanders have reportedly chosen a new leader they call "Amirul Jaish", which translates roughly from Arabic to "commander in chief", the sources added.

Internal dissent about the Dapchi abduction and Nur's alleged demise provide context for the killing of Khorsa, who was seized with two colleagues during an attack in March.

One source said fighters had made an "outrageous (ransom) demand that was just insane" for their release but it was ignored.

Experts say a spike in violence is likely even as the authorities maintain the group is weakened to the point of defeat

"The execution of Saifura Khorsa was meant to send a message that their demand should be met. It is a clear warning," he added.

ISWAP is dominant around the shores of Lake Chad in Borno while the Shekau-led faction is concentrated in rural areas of the state.

Talk of a possible rapprochement between the two sides have circulated on and off for months in the conflict, which has left more than 27,000 dead in northeast Nigeria since 2009.

One source said regardless of any truce "an unprecedented escalation of violence" was likely, even as the authorities maintain the group is weakened to the point of defeat.Syrians dance, chant slogans and strike drums while others and wave flags of Turkey and the opposition, as they protest against the Syrian government during a demonstration in Binnish in the rebel-held northern Idlib province on September 17, 2018

A Russian-Turkish deal over Idlib has been met with distrust from war-weary Syrians in the rebel bastion. While relieved a regime offensive appears off the table, they have little faith Moscow or Damascus will uphold it.

Moments after Russia and Turkey announced they would create a "de-militarised zone" ringing Idlib, hundreds of people descended into the streets of the northwestern province.

Arriving on foot or by motorcycle, they brandished the three-star flag of the uprising, which broke out in 2011 with demands for President Bashar al-Assad's ouster.

Although the new agreement seems to have averted for now the "bloodbath" that many feared could happen in Idlib, protesters say it does not go far enough.

"It's a partial solution," said Staif al-Ahmad, 27.

The father of two said that at the very least, he was glad the bombardment by Russian warplanes and regime artillery may stop for a period under the deal.

"It's true it will protect civilians from bombing and air strikes," said Ahmad.

For several weeks, Assad's troops have been amassing around the peripheries of Idlib, sending ominous air strikes and artillery slamming into rebel positions as both Syrian and Russian officials beat the drums of war.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said around 50 people had been killed in Idlib and surrounding areas by Syrian and Russian bombing raids, barrel bombs, and artillery fire since mid-August.

- 'Nothing but numbers' -

"It soothes us to know there won't be a battle in Idlib," said Mahmoud Rafaat, 34.

"It's reassuring for civilians that the bombing on residential areas and schools will stop," the father of three told AFP.

Syria's conflict has killed more than 360,000 people and forced millions more to flee their homes to other areas or across the border to neighbouring countries.

Idlib province and surrounding rebel zones are home to some three million people, around half of them displaced from other battered zones.

"For eight years, we civilians have paid the price of all the battles in Syria. There are always massacres and new victims. We're nothing but numbers that are tallied up," Rafaat said.

The United Nations had called on the conflict's powerbrokers to reach an agreement over Idlib that would spare civilian lives.

After a flurry of diplomatic activity, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan unveiled the Idlib deal Monday from the Russian coastal town of Sochi.

Under the deal, whose details remain sketchy, Turkey would create a demilitarised zone of 15-20 kilometres by October 15.

Syrians chant slogans and wave flags of the opposition as they protest against the government during a demonstration in Binnish in the rebel-held northern Idlib province on September 17, 2018

All jihadists and heavy weapons would have to withdraw from the buffer, which would be secured by Turkish forces and Russian military police.

Idlib's residents are uneasy about the agreement.

In rebel-held Binnish, hundreds of protesters gathered in a square lined by buildings ripped apart by years of regime and Russian bombardment.

Most waved the three-star flag of the Syrian uprising, although Turkish flags were also visible.

"The people want the downfall of the regime!" screamed the demonstrators, followed by: "Freedom! Freedom!"

- 'Doesn't solve the problem' -

Abu Yazan al-Homsi, a media activist taking part in the protest, told AFP he wanted to "thank Turkey".

"It prevented a military offensive against Idlib," he said.

But the spectre of an eventual attack still worried him, particularly if rebels are to lose their weapons.

"If they take our arms today, who will guarantee that the regime and Russia won't attack us," Abu Yazan asked.

"Erdogan, is it you who will protect us?"

Defiance was in the air. Protesters pounded on drums and danced the upbeat Middle Eastern dabkeh while holding up signs that read, "We won't forget. We won't reconcile."

Wassim Sweid, another protester, said Idlib's residents deserved more.

"The decision that came out was just a partial one. It doesn't solve the Syrian people's problem," Sweid said.

"Creating a 15-kilometres zone is not a demand of the Syrian people, which has been demanding the regime's downfall since day one," he added.

"In my opinion, this agreement will not put a stop to the shelling."

Dozens of kilometres to the north, in a remote village near the Turkish border, Mohammad Saleh said he was suspicious about the deal.

"I think Russia's got malicious intentions," he said.

"First they'll take the heavy weapons, then they'll betray Turkey. We're used to Russia's betrayals."US law professor Anita Hill takes the oath before the Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington DC on October 11, 1991 before testifying against Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas

In 1991, a visibly uncomfortable law professor named Anita Hill swore to tell the truth before an all-male panel as she levelled detailed allegations of workplace sexual harassment against Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas.

Nearly three decades later, the stage is set for another eerily similar high stakes, high profile showdown: this time, Christine Blasey Ford, a research professor from California, is preparing to testify against conservative judge Brett Kavanaugh, Donald Trump's pick for the nation's highest bench, after accusing him of sexually assaulting her when they were teenagers.

The public hearing, scheduled for Monday, has sent a feeling of deja vu through the US capital, and in the context of the #MeToo movement, has raised the obvious question: will this time be different?

Hill herself expressed skepticism, observing in a New York Times opinion piece Tuesday that lawmakers appeared to have "learned little from the Thomas, much less from the more recent #MeToo movement."

But she added: "With the current heightened awareness of sexual violence comes heightened accountability for our representatives."

On October 11, 1991, Hill faced a grilling over her accusations that Thomas, her boss in the 1980s, repeatedly made sexually explicit remarks to her at work over an extended period of time.

Thomas, who was president George H.W. Bush's pick and like Hill is black, flatly denied the allegations and denounced the proceedings as "a high-tech lynching for uppity blacks."

The hearings reached some 20 million American homes as Hill's testimony was met by palpable skepticism from the 14 white men on the Senate Judiciary Panel, who spent much of the three-day event probing her credibility.

"Are you a scorned woman?" she was asked. "Did you have a militant attitude towards civil rights?"

"How reliable is your testimony?"

Thomas ultimately prevailed by a narrow vote of 52-48, and sits on the Supreme Court to this day.

But though Hill lost her fight, she became an inspiration to many Americans.

The following year was dubbed "The Year of the Woman," as 1992 saw a record number of women voted into office.

And in the years to come the number of workplace sexual harassment complaints doubled.

Now, 28 years after Hill, another academic is following suit.

- A new era? -

Judge Brett Kavanaugh testifies during his US Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing to be an associate justice on the US Supreme Court

Ford, a 51-year-old psychology researcher has accused Kavanaugh, 53, of sexually assaulting her at a party in the 1980s.

She says that Kavanaugh and one of his friends -- both "stumbling drunk" -- pinned her down, groped her and tried to pull off her clothes. When she tried to scream, she said, Kavanaugh covered her mouth.

Ford said she managed to get free and fled the house.

Like Hill, Ford initially sought to preserve her anonymity and her accusations leaked to the press, as the nomination process was well underway.

And again like Hill, she took a lie detector test at the request of her lawyer to prove her credibility.

And perhaps the strongest, though perhaps most predictable, similarity: like Thomas, Kavanaugh strongly denies the allegations.

Next Monday, Ford and Kavanaugh will face the same committee Hill and Thomas did -- but the United States of 2018 is not that of 1991.

The number of women elected -- although still markedly lower than that of men -- has increased, and the judiciary panel now includes four women senators.

And the #MeToo movement has sparked a national conversation over entrenched sexual violence and gender inequality, triggering the ouster of dozens of men from power positions since Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein's fall in October 2017.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, a Republican, canceled Thursday's vote considering Kavanaugh's nomination, saying "anyone who comes forward as Dr Ford has done deserves to be heard."

And senior White House aide Kellyanne Conway said Ford should neither be "insulted" nor "ignored."

But whether she will be taken seriously remains an open question.

Many Republicans and conservative voices have already labeled the proceedings a last-ditch bid to derail Kavanaugh's court appointment.

Writing in the Times, Hill said the fact that the committee "still lacks a protocol for vetting sexual harassment and assault claims that surface during a confirmation hearing suggests that the committee has learned little from the Thomas hearing, much less the more recent #MeToo movement."

"The public expects better from our government than we got in 1991," Hill said, emphasizing that her own hearing "gave employers permission to mishandle workplace harassment complaints throughout the following decades."A decades-long standoff has split China's roughly 12 million Catholics between those who follow government-approved prelates and those in "underground" pro-Rome churches

The Vatican could send a delegation to China by the end of the month, Beijing's state-run media said Tuesday, with the visit potentially paving the way for a historic agreement on the appointment of bishops.

Beijing and the Vatican severed ties in 1951, two years after the Communist party seized power in China.

The decades-long standoff has split China's roughly 12 million Catholics between those who follow government-approved prelates and those in "underground" pro-Rome churches.

Negotiations have been underway for several years between the two sides on the thorny question of the appointment of bishops, some of whom have been appointed by the Chinese authorities without being recognised by Rome.

But the Global Times tabloid reported there are no longer "disputes over issues of principle" between Beijing and the Holy See. The Vatican delegation will visit in late September, it added, citing an unidentified source.

"If the meeting goes well, an agreement could be signed", the newspaper said. The deal under discussion could see Pope Francis recognising the bishops appointed by Beijing without his approval.

However, the current talks will not address establishing diplomatic relations between the two sides, the Global Times said.

Previous attempts to restore ties have floundered over Beijing's insistence that the Vatican must give up recognition of Taiwan and promise not to interfere in religious issues in China.

The Vatican is one of only 17 countries around the world that recognises Taipei instead of Beijing, but Pope Francis has sought to improve ties with China since he took office in 2013.The mob took away Adacha's son. 'I don't know if he's dead or alive,' she says

Askale Adacha, a 63-year-old living what she calls a "hand-to-mouth" life weaving clothes in the Ashewa Meda suburb of Ethiopias capital, lost what little she had.

It began last Thursday when her neighbourhood filled with men carrying machetes and sticks, who descended on her house and accosted her daughter on the front porch.

One of the men pulled out a knife, announcing he would cut off the 15-year-old's breasts.

"Don't do this to my daughter. Do this to me," Askale pleaded.

The man relented, but then the mob moved into the bedroom, poking the bed with sticks until her terrified son emerged from hiding.

"I was begging them, please don't do this, he's just a kid," but the mob took him away anyway.

"I dont know whether he's alive or dead," Askale said in an interview at a youth centre in the capital Addis Ababa that is her new, temporary home.

Over the past days, suburbs of the Ethiopian capital like Ashewa Meda and Burayu were scenes of deadly violence that left 23 people dead and worsened ethnic relations in Africa's second most-populous country.

On Monday, protesters angered by the killings blocked roads in Addis Ababa in demonstrations that left a further five people dead.

Later that day, mobile internet service was shut down.

"This type of incident won't continue," Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said on Tuesday while visiting a school housing people displaced by the clashes, the state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate said.

But while Abiy has grown popular for championing aggressive reforms since taking office in April, he is also an Oromo, the countrys largest ethnicity who Askale and other victims of the violence blame for the attacks.

"Ill never trust them again. I'll only trust the government," Shibo Shino said of his Oromo neighbours in Burayu.

"I have children, I have properties there that Ive owned since 2005. Now, I have nothing."

- House-to-house -

Witnesses say the attacks began on Thursday and continued through the weekend, with mobs of Oromos hunting people from ethnic minorities.

Nearly 300 people are sheltered in the youth centre

That same day, clashes broke out in the capital between young men from the city and people from the countryside who supported the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), a once-banned group that returned to Ethiopia on Saturday following Abiy's political reforms.

The violence was not confined to Burayu, Ashewa Meda and other communities on the border between Addis Ababa and Oromia, the Oromo region that engulfs the ethnically-diverse capital of about four million people.

Desta Hailu, an unemployed resident of the town of Addis Alem 49 kilometres (30 miles) west of the capital said she had just returned to her house to collect her HIV medication when a mob dressed in the red-and-green colours of the OLF set upon her.

Desta Hailu says people were shouting 'Beat her, kill her'

"I heard people saying 'beat her, kill her,'" remembers Desta, a Dorze. She fled to the home of an Oromo neighbour who stood between the mob and her until they left.

As the violence began in Burayu, Shibo said Oromia police intervened, but were powerless to stop the crowd from killing three people as they watched.

They later pummeled a quadriplegic war veteran with sticks and stones, sending him to the hospital.

"They targeted the Dorze and Gurage peoples," both minority ethnicities from southern Ethiopia, said Shibo, a Dorze.

- No answers -

After hauling away her son, Askale said the mob helped themselves to the contents of her home as she ran away.

She found refuge in a mud-walled house along with about 18 others. Those who carried infants muffled their cries with their hands to avoid detection.

On Saturday, the violence intensified again, and Askale listened to the screams of people who relatives were being killed or beaten in the streets.

Not long after, she fled from the house, passing bodies left in the streets until soldiers helped her reach the youth centre where she shelters along with nearly 300 others.

"We used to live with those people. We trusted each other," she said between sobs. "I dont know why they did this."

To the Ethiopian government, she has one request: to know where the bodies of those killed have been buried.Teodorin Nguema Obiang, seen in 2012, is Equatorial Guinea's vice president and son of the president

The tiny West African state of Equatorial Guinea on Tuesday demanded Brazil hand back more than $16 million in cash and luxury watches that border officials confiscated from a delegation accompanying the president's son.

Foreign Minister Simeon Oyono Esono Angue denounced the seizure as "paltry and unfriendly behaviour" and demanded the items be returned, state television TVGE said.

Teodorin Nguema Obiang, vice president of Equatorial Guinea and son of its longtime ruler, President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, arrived Friday on a private plane at Viracapos airport near Sao Paulo as part of an 11-person delegation.

Federal police found $1.5 million (1.28 million euros) in cash in one bag and watches worth an estimated $15 million in another, O Estado de Sao Paulo reported.

Brazilian law prohibits people from entering the country with more than 10,000 reais, or about $2,400, in cash.

"The vice president was on a private trip to Brazil," the Brazilian ambassador to Equatorial Guinea, Evalde Freire, who was called in to the foreign ministry in Malago, told TVGE on Monday.

"All international travellers are subjected to national airport procedures, where customs and police do their job," Freire said.

O Estado de Sao Paulo quoted a diplomatic source from Equatorial Guinea as saying the money was to pay for medical treatment Obiang was to undergo in Sao Paulo.

The watches were for his "personal use" and engraved with his initials, the report said.

Obiang junior, 49, was sentenced in France to a three-year suspended term in October 2017 for money-laundering.

He has visited Brazil several times, attending the 2015 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro when a samba school won top honours for a Equatorial Guinea-themed parade but was heavily criticised because its was allegedly funded by the Obiang regime.

Obiang senior, 76, seized power by ousting his own uncle, the first post-independence president Francisco Macias Nguema, who was then shot by firing squad.

He won a fifth seven-year term in 2016 with nearly 94 percent of the ballot. General elections last November saw his party win 92 percent of the vote. Both elections have been criticised as fraudulent.

Critics accuse him of brutal repression of opponents as well as election fraud and corruption.

Equatorial Guinea has become one of sub-Saharan Africa's biggest oil producers, but a large proportion of its 1.2 million population lives in poverty.Netanyahu "expressed sorrow" over the deaths of the 15 Russian crew members onboard and said Israel would assist Moscow in the investigation

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Tuesday that Israel would keep acting against its arch foe Iran in Syria, after a Russian aircraft was accidentally downed there by Syria during an Israeli missile strike.

Netanyahu's office said he told Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone that "Israel is determined to stop Iranian military entrenchment in Syria, and the attempts by Iran, which calls for the destruction of Israel, to transfer to Hezbollah lethal weaponry (to be used) against Israel."

Netanyahu also "expressed sorrow" over the deaths of the 15 Russian crew members onboard and said Israel would assist Moscow in the investigation.

He said Syria was responsible for the downing of the plane.

The late Monday incident saw the Russian aircraft with 15 crew members aboard shot down by Syrian air defence in response to an Israeli raid.

The incident threatened to damage relations between Russia and Israel, which had three years ago established a hotline to avoid accidental clashes in war-torn Syria.

But earlier on Tuesday, Putin had said it was the result of "tragic accidental circumstances".

Netanyahu's office said he offered "to give Russia all the necessary details to investigate the incident, and suggested sending the (Israeli) air force commander to Moscow".

Israel said earlier it had targeted a Syrian military facility where weapons manufacturing systems were "about to be transferred on behalf of Iran" to Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah.

In a statement, the Israeli military also disputed Russia's initial assertion that it used the aircraft that was later downed as cover while it carried out the strike.

It stressed its jets were already back in Israeli airspace when Syrian forces launched the missiles that hit the Russian plane.

It also expressed "sorrow" for the deaths of the Russian crew members and said it held Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime, Iran and Hezbollah responsible.

"Extensive and inaccurate Syrian anti-aircraft (surface-to-air missile) fire caused the Russian plane to be hit and downed," the military statement said.A picture taken on September 18, 2018, shows a street in the Ghobeiry neighbourhood of Beirut named after late Hezbollah commander Mustafa Badreddine, the alleged mastermind over the 2005 assassination of prime minister Rafiq Hariri

Politics is playing out in a street of the Lebanese capital, with the naming of a road after a Hezbollah commander accused of masterminding the assassination of prime minister Rafiq Hariri.

The backlash comes just days after the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, a UN-backed court investigating the 2005 car bomb that killed Hariri and 22 others, began hearing closing arguments.

The municipality of Ghobeiry, south of Beirut, recently renamed a street leading up to the Rafiq Hariri National Hospital after one of his accused assassins.

Photographs spread across social media this week depicting "the Martyr Mustafa Baddredine Street," in honour of a leading member of the Hezbollah militant movement who was killed fighting in Syria in 2016.

Badreddine is believed to be the alleged mastermind of the blast that killed Hariri, and was indicted by the tribunal but never tried.

Reacting to the street name, his son and current prime minister Saad Hariri said Tuesday: "This is civil strife, par excellence, at a time when we're talking about eliminating discord."

Ghobeiry lies in the southern Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh, where support for Hezbollah is strong.

The Ghobeiry municipality says it submitted a request to the interior ministry one year ago to rename the street as is required by law, but that the lack of a response from the ministry within a month indicated tacit approval.

It insists its decision was "legal, normal, and legitimate".

The interior ministry announced on Monday it rejected the municipality honouring "one of the main people accused" of killing Hariri.

It said it would demand the street signs be removed. They were still up on Tuesday, according to an AFP photographer.

Backers of Hezbollah were posting on Twitter in support of the Ghobeiry municipality, with the Arabic hashtag "Badreddine, even your name terrorises them".

Opponents said the move was a "provocation," 13 years after Hariri's assassination.

"This is just throwing salt on the wound," one user said.

Saad Hariri was reappointed prime minister in May for a third term, but has failed so far to pull together a cabinet of ministers.

Despite prosecutors pointing the finger at Hezbollah for his father's killing, Hariri has repeatedly insisted that Lebanon's interest lies in consensus, not conflict.

Hezbollah has denied involvement in Rafiq's assassination and has slammed the Special Tribunal for Lebanon as illegitimate.Hundreds of Palestinians approached the border crossing shortly before sunset Tuesday, when the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur was set to begin

Israeli security forces shot dead two Palestinians in clashes along the Gaza border on Tuesday evening, the health ministry in the Palestinian enclave said.

The two men, who were not immediately identified, were killed during fresh protests near the Erez checkpoint between Gaza and Israel, the scene of regular confrontation between stone throwing youths and Israeli soldiers in recent months.

Hundreds of Palestinians approached the border crossing shortly before sunset Tuesday, when the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur was set to begin.

The protests are part of months of demonstrations against Israel's decade-long blockade of the enclave.

Since they began on March 30, at least 183 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in Gaza.

One Israeli soldier was shot dead by a Palestinian sniper.

The Erez checkpoint was closed for a week this month after a similar protest damaged the crossing.

Separately, two Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike late Monday night after planting a suspicious device on the border, the Israeli army said.

Israel says its strict measures against Gaza are necessary to isolate the strip's Islamist rulers Hamas, with whom it has fought three wars since 2008.US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks during a press conference at the State Department in Washington

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressed sorrow Tuesday for the downing by Syria of a Russian warplane with 15 people on board, saying it underscored an urgent need to resolve the Syria conflict.

According to Russian and Israeli forces, the Syrian regime accidentally shot down the Russian Ilyushin-20 surveillance plane off the Syria coast late Monday.

It was the worst case of friendly fire between Moscow and Damascus since Russia's game-changing military intervention in September 2015.

"The United States expresses sorrow for the death of the aircrew members of the Russian plane that was downed by Syrian regime anti-aircraft fire," Pompeo said in a statement.

It "reminds us of the need to find permanent, peaceful, and political resolutions to the many overlapping conflicts in the region and the danger of tragic miscalculation in Syria's crowded theater of operations."

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the shoot-down, using the Russian-made S-200 air defense system, was the result of "tragic accidental circumstances."

Israel has expressed "sorrow" for the Russian deaths, but insisted the Russian plane had been felled by "extensive and inaccurate Syrian anti-aircraft (surface-to-air missile) fire."

The deadly chain of events started when Israeli missiles struck the coastal region of Latakia on Monday.

Israel confirmed that it had targeted a Syrian military facility where weapons manufacturing systems were "about to be transferred on behalf of Iran" to Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah.

The Russian military accused Israeli pilots of using "the Russian plane as a cover, exposing it to fire from Syrian air defenses," a charge Israel denied.

Pompeo added that the shoot-down underlined the "urgent need to resolve the Syrian conflict" in accordance with UN resolutions and "to end Iran's provocative transit of dangerous weapon systems through Syria, which are a threat to the region."Lungu has called for a speedy probe into the misuse of funds

Britain has suspended aid payments to Zambia over concerns of alleged fraud and corruption by the government of President Edgar Lungu who has faced graft allegations from within his own party.

Britain's High Commissioner to Lusaka Fergus Cochrane-Dyet confirmed the suspension of funding in a tweet posted late on Monday.

"Correct that UK frozen all bilateral funding to Zambian government in light of potential concerns until audit results known," Cochrane-Dyet wrote in a tweet. "UK Aid takes zero-tolerance approach to fraud and corruption."

Britain's development ministry says on its website it earmarked 48 million pounds ($63.1 million, 54 million euros) in aid for Zambia in the 2017-18 fiscal year.

The amount that has been suspended is unknown.

Former foreign affairs minister Harry Kalaba, who resigned his position in January this year alleging "swelling" official corruption, said Britain's decision proved there was a problem.

"I feel vindicated. The very first time I resigned and when I spoke people felt that I was speaking politics," said Kalaba who is still a lawmaker in Lungu's ruling party.

"But now the foreign community is saying what I said when I resigned.

"What is sad is that the innocent souls will suffer."

Last week, the London-based Africa Confidential publication said misuse of donor funds had pushed Finland and Sweden to freeze aid, while Britain was demanding the return of $4 million that was allegedly embezzled.

In response to Britain's move, Lungu called for an investigation into misuse of funds launched four months ago to submit its findings.

"I want a speedy and decisive investigation into the matter to establish the status of the disbursement of the (funds)," Lungu said in a statement.

"Whatever cases of abuse requiring criminal investigations may arise, such cases must be reported to relevant agencies -- and where administrative action is required I want to see prompt action taken".

Lungu's office added that preliminary findings suggested 3 million pounds was still owed to the intended beneficiaries across the aid-dependent country.Tanzania's Zanzibar has become a magnet for tourists in the past decade

Africa draws just five percent of the world's tourists despite boasting attractions ranging from the Pyramids and Victoria Falls to wildlife safaris and endless strips of pristine beach.

But the continent's huge potential can be unlocked by eco tourism, cultural experiences, domestic travel and political stability, said experts at an African tourism conference hosted by Airbnb in Cape Town last week.

"When you look at the success stories, it's those countries who've embraced trends," said the African Tourism Association's (ATA) managing director Naledi Khabo who spoke at the summit.

"When you look at some countries which have made sustainability a focal point, like Tanzania, or Rwanda, they're very attractive for certain travellers."

Eco-friendly safaris and carbon-neutral lodging draw increasing numbers of tourists from Europe and North America.

Tourism is now the second largest driver of growth in Kenya, home to some of the world's most visited safaris

The number of tourists visiting Tanzania has more than doubled since 2006 to above one million contributing 14 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP), according to Tanzania Invest.

Khabo, who speaks for the African tourism sector, said other success stories included South Africa, "which is promoting the diversification of their products beyond the safari".

South Africa has witnessed a boom of experience-based tours, taking travellers to disadvantaged township and rural communities as well as wine farms and game lodges.

Abigail Mbalo founded the 4RoomEkasi concept to showcase food and lifestyles in South Africa's black communities to visitors

"We tapped into the development of tourism in rural and township spaces," she said. "We are now starting to see cultural inclusivity. Those areas have been untapped."

- 'A safe place to travel'? -

Tourism is a major employer of poor black South Africans and accounts for nearly 700,000 jobs -- a rare success story in a country with an unemployment rate of almost 27 percent.

The World Bank, which spoke at the tourism summit, praised the emerging trend for community-based travel projects like Mbalo's for creating opportunities for women and young people.

Cultural tourism is becoming more of a trend across Africa

"Every new business, destination, route or visitor creates opportunity for local people," said the World Bank in a statement.

While many African destinations have courted foreign visitors' hard currency, Kenya has invested heavily in promoting "staycations".

The country moved to promote domestic travel after dips in foreign arrivals following violent unrest and criminal attacks in recent years.

"We have managed to develop the domestic market. Twenty-one percent of Airbnb occupancy is domestic market. It's benefiting us," said Kenya's Tourism Minister Najib Balala at the conference.

Tourism, now the second largest driver of Kenya's GDP growth, was worth $1.2 billion in 2017.

But many countries on the continent have struggled to woo foreign visitors fearful of political instability and violence.

"The biggest challenge is perception," said Khabo. "Sometimes there is a real threat and sometimes it's just perceived."

- Rwanda's transformation -

Rwanda is one country that has successfully transformed its global image. The small east African nation was torn apart by a genocide in 1994 but has since established itself as a high-end destination.

Adventure tourists keen to see gorillas up close are flocking to Rwanda

"Tourism is the number one foreign exchange earner, which is amazing to see in a country like Rwanda," said Rosette Rugamba who was appointed by President Paul Kagame as head of Rwanda Tourism from 2003 to 2010.

"It is a huge contributor to the image-building of our country."

Zimbabwe, which is home to some of Africa's best game and Victoria Falls, has enjoyed a boost in visitor numbers since long-serving despot Robert Mugabe resigned in November.

While the number of foreign visitors to Victoria Falls jumped nearly 50 percent in the first quarter of this year, the country still operates far below its tourist potential.

Visitor numbers to Egypt plunged after the 2011 revolt

"The onus is on African governments and tourism boards to be more proactive in addressing perceptions," added Khabo.

One African country that has seen its tourism industry squeezed is Egypt, once a magnet for travellers that has since the 2011 revolt seen visitor numbers plummet, despite the huge draw of the Pyramids and the Red Sea.

Another is the Democratic Republic of Congo, which for years has been riven with often deadly political and ethnic unrest.

"There's an enormous amount the DRC has to offer" including gorillas, pristine national parks, and smouldering volcanoes, said tourism author Anita Mendiratta, who spoke at the conference.

"That's limited now because of the safety and security."President Salva Kiir (R) and his former deputy turned rebel leader Riek Machar (L) signed a peace deal last week

A rights group on Wednesday accused the government of South Sudan and its allied militias of carrying out "war crimes" of "staggering brutality" during an offensive earlier this year.

Amnesty International's report, based on research following a government offensive on Leer and Mayendit counties in the northern Unity State between April and June, catalogued the testimonies of around 100 civilians who escaped the attacks.

"The offensive was characterised by staggering brutality, with civilians deliberately shot dead, burnt alive, hanged in trees and run over with armoured vehicles," Amnesty said.

The group also documented "systematic sexual violence", rape and gang-rape as well as abductions of women and girls, and the deliberate killing of young boys and male infants.

The killings echo the type of brutality meted out to civilians that has characterised South Sudan's war since the start.

Amnesty said the latest offensive began in April and continued until early July, "a week after the latest ceasefire was brokered on 27 June".

South Sudan's five-year-old civil war killed tens of thousands of people, pushed millions to the brink of starvation and scattered refugees across East Africa

That ceasefire paved the way for the signing last week of another peace agreement between President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar aimed at ending the vicious five-year-old civil war that has killed tens of thousands of people, pushed millions to the brink of starvation and scattered refugees across East Africa.

- 'End impunity' -

The battle for power between Kiir, a member of the Dinka tribe, and Machar, a Nuer, meant the conflict quickly took on an ethnic character with civilians targeted by both sides for massacre and widespread rape.

UN rights experts have warned of "ethnic cleansing" and the threat of genocide.

Amnesty blamed a failure to prosecute perpetrators for the continuing violence.

"The only way to break this vicious cycle of violence is to end the impunity enjoyed by South Sudanese fighters on all sides," said Joanne Mariner, Amnesty's senior crisis advisor.

In a rare example of justice, 10 soldiers were found guilty earlier this month of an attack on a hotel in the capital Juba in which five foreign aid workers were gang-raped and a South Sudanese journalist killed.

But commanders and their political masters are not held to account.

A so-called "hybrid court" to try war crimes and crimes against humanity, proposed by the African Union as part of a failed 2015 peace agreement, has not been set up.

South Sudan, the world's youngest nation, broke away from Sudan in 2011 after a long and bloody independence struggle, but just two years later the new war began triggering one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.Save the Children says disruption to supplies coming through Yemen's embattled Hodeida port has put an extra one million children at risk of starvation, bringing the total to 5.2 million

More than five million children are threatened by famine in war-torn Yemen as prices soar, a charity said Wednesday, warning an entire generation may face death and "starvation on an unprecedented scale".

The three-year conflict between Yemen's Saudi-backed government and Huthi rebels linked to Iran has pushed the already impoverished country to the brink of famine, leaving many unable to afford food and water.

"Millions of children don't know when or if their next meal will come," said Helle Thorning-Schmidt, head of Save the Children International.

"This war risks killing an entire generation of Yemen's children who face multiple threats, from bombs to hunger to preventable diseases like cholera."

The already dire humanitarian situation is being exacerbated by the battle for the lifeline port of Hodeida, which is threatening what little aid is trickling into the country.

"Any disruption to food and fuel supplies coming through Hodeida port could cause starvation on an unprecedented scale," said Save the Children.

Located on Yemen's Red Sea coast, the port city of Hodeida is controlled by the rebels and blockaded by Saudi Arabia and its allies.

At a hospital in Abs, north of Hodeida, skeletal children cried as they were tended to and weighed by doctors and nurses, an AFP photographer reported.

Aid agencies have sounded the alarm over escalating violence between the Huthis and Saudi-led government alliance, which is now edging towards Hodeida after a UN attempt to bring warring parties to the negotiating table this month failed.

"The humanitarian situation is very fragile," David Miliband, head of the New York-based International Rescue Committee, told AFP as he wrapped up a visit to Yemen on Wednesday.

"My takeaway in three days in Yemen is that the humanitarian imperative doesn't just demand better flow of goods and better access for humanitarian workers," said the former British foreign secretary.

"It also demands a ceasefire to allow the peace process to proceed."

- 'Too weak to cry' -

The World Food Programme last year said food had become a "weapon of war" in Yemen, where fighting, cholera and looming famine have created what the UN calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

Having already identified four million children at risk of starvation, Save the Children said an extra one million could now face famine as the Hodeida battle escalates.

A total of 5.2 million children across Yemen are now at risk of starvation, the Britain-based charity said.

A Yemeni child suffering from malnutrition is weighed at a hospital in the northern district of Abs in the northwestern Hajjah province on September 19, 2018

"In one hospital I visited in north Yemen, the babies were too weak to cry, their bodies exhausted by hunger," said Thorning-Schmidt.

Food prices in some parts of the country have doubled in just a few days, and the non-governmental organisation said families faced impossible choices on whether to pay to take a sick baby to hospital at the expense of feeding the rest of the family.

The United Nations this week said food prices were up a whopping 68 percent since 2015, when a regional military coalition led by Saudi Arabia joined the government's war against the Huthi rebels.

The cost of a food basket, which contains pantry staples and canned goods, has increased by 35 percent and cooking gas and fuel prices by more than 25 percent in the past year, according to the UN humanitarian agency OCHA.

The UN has said any major fighting in Hodeida could halt food distributions to eight million Yemenis dependent on them for survival.

The country's economy and population of 22 million people depend almost entirely on imports.

- 'Time running out' -

Deadly clashes resumed on Monday night around Hodeida after UN-sponsored talks collapsed in Geneva this month.

UN officials are now pushing to find a solution to the Hodeida fighting.

World Food Programme director David Beasley on Wednesday warned "time is running out" for aid groups to keep Yemen from "slipping into a devastating famine".

"We cannot afford any disruption to the lifeline we are providing for the innocent victims of this conflict," Beasley said.

The UN Yemen envoy Martin Griffiths was in Riyadh on Wednesday after a three-day visit to Yemen aimed at restarting negotiations between the government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi and the Huthis.

The United Nations' humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, Lise Grande, was also in Hodeida on Wednesday, according to a high-ranking Yemeni military source.

Nearly 10,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed since the Saudi-led coalition intervened in the Yemen conflict in 2015.IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has been pronounced dead on several occasions

An Iraqi court on Wednesday sentenced a prominent jihadist described as a deputy of Islamic State group leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to death on terrorism charges.

"The Karkh criminal court in Baghdad sentenced to death by hanging one of the most prominent leaders of IS, who served as a deputy of Baghdadi," judicial spokesman Abdel Sattar Bayraqdar said.

Ismail Alwan Salman al-Ithawi was extradited from Turkey earlier this year having fled Syria as the group's self-proclaimed "caliphate" crumbled.

He was tracked and detained through cooperation between Turkish, Iraqi and US intelligence agencies, a senior Iraqi official told AFP in February.

A native of the Iraqi city of Ramadi, Ithawi was accused of holding several positions including IS "minister" in charge of religious edicts.

Iraq declared "victory" over IS In December after a three-year war against the jihadists who once controlled nearly one third of the country as well as swathes of neighbouring Syria.

Baghdadi has been pronounced dead on several occasions, but an Iraqi intelligence official said in May that he remained alive in Syrian territory by the Iraqi border.

The IS chief called on Muslims to wage "jihad" in a purported new audio recording released last month.The drone was flying over Rome's Via della Conciliazione which leads to Saint Peter's Basilica

A South African man has been ordered to leave Italy after flying his drone near the Vatican, Italian police said on Wednesday.

Police arrested the 25-year-old as he flew his drone over the main Via della Conciliazione that leads towards Saint Peter's Square where the pope was leading Sunday prayers.

"He was given an order to leave the country and his drone and camera confiscated," Rome police said in a statement.

The South African embassy declined to comment his arrest and expulsion.

Under Rome's strict security measures, it is illegal to overfly the city, including with a drone.

Two French tourists flying a drone near the Colosseum last year were fined around 3,000 euros ($3,500) and had their equipment confiscated and destroyed, police said.Macron (L) and other European leaders are trying to salvage a landmark 2015 accord to curb Tehran's nuclear programme, which Trump pulled the US out of last May

President Emmanuel Macron will separately meet his US and Iranian counterparts, Donald Trump and Hassan Rouhani, during the UN General Assembly in New York next week, the French presidency said Wednesday.

The meetings come as Macron and other European leaders try to salvage a landmark 2015 accord to curb Tehran's nuclear programme, which Trump pulled the US out of last May.

The 40-year-old French leader will meet Trump on Monday afternoon before having dinner with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

On Tuesday, the French president will address the assembly and hold talks with Rouhani, an Elysee Palace official said.

Trump has signalled that he might be willing to meet with Rouhani as well, after re-imposing sanctions against Iran last month.

A new round of even harsher sanctions is set to go into effect in November targeting Iran's vital oil sector.

The Elysee official said the US strategy on Iran would be high on the agenda.

"We see that it's a strategy of maximum pressure," the official said. "But what is the timeframe, what is the true objective, with what incentives?"

The US sanctions have hit Iran's economy hard since foreign companies can no longer operate in the country without running the risk of being hit by US penalties.

However US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said last week that Washington was still considering offering waivers for certain countries or businesses once the new sanctions are imposed.

The US accuses Iran of destabilising the Middle East by pursuing missile development and its intervention in conflicts in neighbouring countries including Syria and Yemen.

Iranian officials have repeatedly indicated they have no plans to hold talks with Trump when the general debate opens at the assembly on Tuesday, nor re-negotiate the 2015 deal which saw Tehran commit to renouncing its nuclear weapon ambitions.

Macron claims friendship and a good working relationship with Trump, though he has not been able to convince the US leader to stick with the hard-fought nuclear deal, also signed by Britain, France, Germany, Russia, China and the EU.

The French leader has also failed to avert Trump's launching of a trade war with the EU, imposing tariffs on a range of products to retaliate for what he calls "unfair" dealings.

It is also "very likely" that Macron will meet Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and possibly Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu in New York, an Elysee official said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Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas is organizing a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to discuss prospects for Middle East peace

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas has invited Middle East envoys, foreign ministers and Security Council diplomats to a meeting in New York next week to discuss prospects for peace, the Palestinian ambassador said Wednesday.

The meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly debate was called amid a crisis in ties with President Donald Trump's administration over its recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and cuts to Palestinian aid.

Abbas will meet with the group of 30 ministers and diplomats including the heads of UN committees that deal with Palestinian issues on September 26, a day before he is scheduled to deliver his address at the General Assembly.

Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour did not provide details, but he told reporters that there had been a "radical shift" under the Trump administration to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

The Palestinian leadership cut off contact with the White House after Trump decided to move the US embassy to Jerusalem, whose eastern area the Palestinians claim as their own capital.

Palestinian leaders see Trump's administration as blatantly biased in favor of Israel.

Abbas addressed the Security Council in February to call for an international conference to re-launch the peace process under a new mediator to replace the United States.

Trump has tasked his son-in-law Jared Kushner and lawyer Jason Greenblatt with the drafting of a peace plan, but there has been some skepticism about whether the proposals will materialize.

It remains unclear whether there will be contacts between the Palestinians and the US administration on the sidelines of the weeklong General Assembly debate.

Shortly after Abbas delivers his address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will have his turn at the podium to deliver what is likely to be a strong rebuttal.Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says the downing of a Russian plane is "the result of Israeli arrogance and depravity"

President Bashar al-Assad on Wednesday blamed Israel for the downing of a Russian plane, which was accidentally hit by Syrian anti-aircraft fire during an Israeli missile strike.

"This unfortunate incident was the result of Israeli arrogance and depravity," the Syrian leader said, offering his condolences in a letter to his Russian counterpart for the death of 15 Russian crew members killed in the incident over Syria on Monday.

"We are determined that such tragic events will sway neither you nor us from continuing the fight against terrorism," he continued in the letter published by the official Sana agency.

The Russian plane was downed by Syria's Russian-made S-200 air defence system and all aboard were killed.

The Russian military has accused Israeli pilots of using the Russian plane as a cover, "exposing it to fire from Syrian air defences".

Israel said it had targeted a Syrian military facility where weapons manufacturing systems were "about to be transferred on behalf of Iran" to Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah.

It was the worst 'friendly fire' incident between Moscow and the Syrian regime since Russian forces intervened in the country in late 2015 to support Assad whose grip on power had been weakened by rebels and jihadist fighters.

Russian reconnaissance plane shot down by Syria

Russian President Vladmir Putin described the incident as the result of "tragic accidental circumstances," warning Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against carrying out such operations in the future and pledging to beef up security for Russian forces in Syria.

Netanyahu on Tuesday expressed his "sorrow" to Putin in a phone call, offering to assist Moscow in the investigation.

However he insisted the Russian plane had been felled by "extensive and inaccurate Syrian anti-aircraft (fire)".

In recent months Israel has increased its attacks in Syria against the regime or its ally Iran.NEW YORK (AP) - An upcoming audiobook about Mark Twain offers food for thought, and some thoughts for food.

Nick Offerman will narrate "Twain's Feast," a look at Twain's life through the food he loved.

The producer and distributor Audible Inc. announced Tuesday that the book comes out Nov. 2.

FILE - In this May 22, 2018 file photo, Nick Offerman arrives at the 43rd annual Gracie Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif. Offerman will narrate "Twain's Feast," a look at Twain's life through the food he loved. The producer and distributor Audible Inc. announced Tuesday that the book comes out Nov. 2. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)

Audible is calling "Twain's Feast" a "surprising culinary and ecological history" of the country.

Offerman, who teamed with writer Andrew Beahrs, has worked on Twain projects before.

He has narrated audio editions of "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court."VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Francis decreed on Tuesday that ordinary Catholics should be consulted about issues facing the Catholic Church and that bishops gathering for periodic meetings can make binding decisions on church teaching.

Francis issued new rules reforming the Synod of Bishops, the consultative body established 50 years ago to give popes an organized way of bringing bishops together to debate problems facing the church.

In the past, synods have been talkfests by churchmen who made nonbinding proposals to the pope to consider in a future document. The new rules say the bishops' final document becomes part of his official church teaching, or magisterium - but only if the pope approves it.

Pope Francis shows a crucifix during the Angelus noon prayer he delivers from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018. Tens of thousands of faithful have been treated to gifts from the pontiff, tiny crucifixes, distributed by nuns, refugees and some of Rome's homeless and poor after the pope's traditional Sunday appearance to pilgrims and tourists in the square. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

The pope can help guarantee the outcome another way, by appointing members of the synod secretariat, drafting committee as well as the synod itself, whose members are only required to come to a "moral unanimity" in voting for their final document, but no numerical threshold.

Francis has sought to encourage greater debate at synods, and his 2014 and 2015 editions on family issues became controversial over the issue of whether divorced and civilly remarried Catholics can receive Communion.

Many conservatives accused Francis of going beyond even what the synod participants had agreed to in his subsequent document opening the door to letting these Catholics receive the sacraments.

In the reform, Francis also codified a process of consulting the faithful before a synod, as he did informally for the family meeting and the upcoming synod on youth.

Not only were questionnaires sent out asking ordinary faithful to chime in on a host of issues, including sexuality and homosexuality, the Vatican organized a pre-synod conference for young people in Rome so the Vatican could have in-person input before the Oct. 3-28 meeting.

Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, who heads the synod office, said the changes were consistent with Francis' efforts to make the church more "synodal" and in decentralized unity with bishops around the world. At the same time, the changes reflect the fundamental role of the "people of God" in the church, he said.

However, Vatican officials confirmed that while women can attend synods as nominated experts and take the floor to speak, they can't vote. And the "people of God" can't watch the proceedings, which are held behind closed doors.BERLIN (AP) - German news agency dpa reports that a court in the eastern city of Chemnitz has ordered the release of an Iraqi man detained over the fatal stabbing of a 35-year-old German last month that sparked violent protests.

Dpa quoted the 22-year-old Iraqi man's lawyer as saying the Chemnitz court had lifted the detention order against his client Tuesday.

The Iraqi, identified only as Yousif A., was arrested together with a 23-year-old Syrian on charges of manslaughter.

Thousands of people took to the streets in the wake of the killing, which authorities say occurred after a verbal altercation between two groups escalated in the early hours of Aug. 26.

The protests brought together neo-Nazis, members of the far-right Alternative for Germany party and other Germans angered about crimes committed by migrants.Travel can be busy, noisy and crowded - a potentially daunting environment for anyone. But if you're an introvert, it can drain your internal battery.

Studies and experts suggest this personality type processes social stimuli differently from extroverts, who don't mind frequent interaction.

Introverts gain energy by reflecting and expend energy when interacting, clinical psychologist and professor Laurie Helgoe writes in her book "Introvert Power: Why Your Inner Life Is Your Hidden Strength."

FILE- In this Sept. 26, 2013, file photo people make their way through Grand Central Terminal in New York. Travel can be busy, noisy and crowded - a potentially daunting environment for anyone. But if you're an introvert, it can drain your internal battery. Studies and experts suggest this personality type processes social stimuli differently from extroverts, who don't mind frequent interaction. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)

Quiet time alone can help these travelers recharge, as long as they make room for it in their itineraries. Here's how self-described introverts get time to themselves when they travel.

PACK SELF-CARE TOOLS

Helgoe packs reading materials, earplugs and an eye mask to ward off unwanted small talk. These items politely excuse you from conversations with well-meaning travelers on a plane or at your destination.

A camera can also get you out of interaction, according to Helgoe. Wander off to snap that perfect photo, and you get a minute to yourself.

SKIP AIRPORT CROWDS

Airport lounges, if not crowded, can spare you from noise and interactions. Some airport lounges offer cost-efficient day passes starting around $20. For an annual fee, a travel credit card that includes lounge access can also be your ticket in.

Of course, lounges themselves can sometimes suffer from crowding. But for Helgoe, they enhance her experience. "It's a little quieter and the chairs are more comfortable," she says.

INFORM FELLOW TRAVELERS

If you're traveling with others, communicating your needs before and during your trip is key to a pleasant experience for all.

"It's up to you to help them understand that it's not anything wrong with them that makes you want to go away and be by yourself," says Nathan Hartle, introvert and blogger at Two Drifters.

His wife, extrovert Amy Hartle, knows his needs after a few years of traveling together. He tells her when he needs a moment to himself, and she understands.

"You'll be your better self when you've done what you need for self-care," she says.

GET YOUR OWN ROOM

When you're traveling with other people, a private room at an Airbnb or hotel can offer more opportunities to be alone. It's more expensive than sharing, but there are ways to save. For example, some hotel-branded credit cards offer an automatic free night or ways to earn them.

Helgoe saves by signing up for free loyalty programs. "Every hotel seems to have one, so I sign up for all of them," she says.

Or you can simply schedule time to step away. For introverts like Dan Kleinow, who vlogs at the YouTube channel Envision Adventure, working at a hostel can get crowded.

"I need to always make sure I get time by myself every day," he says. "Here in Puerto Rico, I'll go to the beach or something and just hang out, maybe go to a coffee shop and do some work on my laptop."

AVOID PEAK TRAVEL SEASONS

The offseason varies depending on location, but booking travel during this time can mean discounts and access to less populated places.

"I did a trip to Europe last year, and I intentionally went during May," Kleinow says. Aside from smaller crowds, he says, "it also saves money. Prices are lower. Flights, hostels, everything is cheaper that time of year."

EXPLORE ON YOUR OWN

Group tours are great for learning about a new destination, but they can leave introverts running on empty. The Hartles prefer visiting local destinations and exploring popular attractions on their own terms.

"We like to see the Eiffel Tower, but we didn't feel compelled to go up in it," Amy Hartle says.

If you do have the energy or inclination for mingling, do so with locals, who can help you discover authentic and potentially more affordable experiences than you find near busy tourist areas.

ENGAGE WHEN YOU CAN

Experiences might be waiting inside and outside of your comfort zone. For introverts, it's all about finding the right balance. For Helgoe, quiet time on an Amazon expedition birthed the idea for her book. For Nathan Hartle, straying from his comfort zone led him to work at a hostel in Morocco in 2011.

"That immersion experience, if it's not something that's going to freak you out too bad, can be helpful," he says.

He didn't know it at the time, but flexing his social muscles would later help him approach Amy when he met her for the first time in Scotland a few weeks later.

This article was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. Melissa Lambarena is a writer at NerdWallet. Email: mlambarena@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @lissalambarena.

RELATED LINKS:

NerdWallet: When an airport lounge day pass is worth the splurge

https://nerd.me/airport-lounge-day-pass

Introvert Power: Why your inner life is your hidden strength

https://www.drlauriehelgoe.com/SAO PAULO (AP) - The presidential candidate who has taken the place of barred former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva says he won't pardon the ex-leader if he wins election.

Fernando Haddad's adversaries accuse him of planning to absolve da Silva if he wins the October election. Haddad replaced da Silva as the Workers' Party candidate last week after the former president was barred from running because of a corruption conviction. Da Silva had been leading polls despite serving a prison sentence.

Haddad said during an interview with the G1 news portal and CBN radio Tuesday that da Silva is committed to proving his innocence. When pressed on whether he would issue a pardon if da Silva can't overturn his conviction, Haddad said: "No to the pardon."PASSAIC, N.J. (AP) - In a story Sept. 18 about New Jersey's hiring of a former municipal official who had been convicted of taking bribes, The Associated Press reported erroneously the city where he served. Marcellus Jackson was a city councilman in Passaic, not Paramus.

A corrected version of the story is below:

Ex-official who admitted taking bribes now working for state

A former New Jersey municipal official who admitted taking bribes from undercover FBI agents more than a decade ago is now working for the state

PASSAIC, N.J. (AP) - A former New Jersey municipal official who admitted taking bribes from undercover FBI agents more than a decade ago is now working for the state.

Marcellus Jackson was hired this summer at a salary of $70,000 to work as a special assistant in the Department of Education. Politico first reported his status, which was later confirmed by a spokesman for Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy's administration.

Jackson, a Democrat who served on the Passaic City Council, was among 11 officials arrested in a 2007 corruption sweep. He pleaded guilty to obstructing interstate commerce by extortion and received a 25-month prison sentence. He was released in July 2011.

The spokesman says Jackson is remorseful, has taken responsibility and has paid his debt to society.FLINT, Mich. (AP) - A 29-year-old man has been sentenced to five years of probation for handcuffing people while pretending to be a police officer in Flint, Michigan.

The Flint Journal reports that Jeffrey Jones was sentenced Monday in Genesee County Circuit Court.

Jones pleaded guilty to impersonating a police officer. He and four others had been responding since 2015 to 911 calls. They had fake badges, handcuffs and weapons, and drove vehicles equipped with emergency lights.

They were members of a group calling itself the Genesee County Fire and EMS Media-Genesee County Task Force Blight Agency. Authorities have said the group fooled police, firefighters and the public. Some people were held at gunpoint.

An investigation started after a complaint about rude Genesee County park rangers who turned out to be impostors.SEATTLE (AP) - Washington state's King County Council has approved $135 million in public funding for improvements at Safeco Field where the Seattle Mariners play.

The funding package narrowly passed in a 5-4 vote on Monday.

The Mariners initially asked for $180 million in funding to fix wear and tear at the 19-year-old stadium as part of a long-term, 25-year extension with the Public Facilities District that oversees the ballpark.

Funding package opponents argued that the billion-dollar company could pay for its own needs.

The funding package was lowered to $135 million after dozens of housing advocates argued that the funds would be better used on much-needed affordable housing.

The Mariners thanked the public for their support in a statement issued after the vote.CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - A Democratic congresswoman from New Hampshire is calling for the release of an Indonesian woman detained since May after she was picked up at an immigration checkpoint.

Rep. Carol Shea-Porter on Tuesday called the continued detention of Etty Tham "unconscionable." She also said the detention ignores a federal judge's request to have her released from a county jail and differs from the way that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement handles these types of cases.

Earlier this month, a federal judge temporarily halted Tham's deportation. Tham entered the U.S. in 2000 or 2001 and overstayed a tourist visa. A petition for asylum was denied.

She's part of the Indonesians community in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, most of whom are Christians who fled religious persecution after the fall of former dictator Suharto in 1998.BURLINGTON, N.J. (AP) - The New Jersey man under investigation over more than $400,000 raised online for a homeless good Samaritan said Tuesday answers are coming in the confusing case.

Mark D'Amico appeared in a southern New Jersey court on unrelated traffic charges and mostly declined to address the headline-grabbing GoFundMe case , but when a reporter asked if everything would become clear, D'Amico responded, "Crystal clear."

His attorney, Ernest Badway, declined to comment further.

Mark D'Amico sits in Burlington City Municipal Court where he appeared regarding citations for driving with a suspended license, in Burlington City, N.J., Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018. D'Amico, under investigation over more than $400,000 raised online for a good Samaritan, says everything in the case will become "crystal clear." D'Amico appeared in court Tuesday on unrelated traffic charges. (Jessica Griffin/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP, Pool)

It's the latest development in a one-time feel-good story that has turned into a clash over money - and now involves a criminal probe into D'Amico and his girlfriend Katelyn McClure.

The Burlington County prosecutor is investigating D'Amico and McClure over a GoFundMe page they set up for Johnny Bobbitt, the homeless man who helped McClure get gas with his last $20 when she became stranded on Interstate 95 in Philadelphia last year.

To thank him, she set up the fundraising page, which brought in more than $400,000 and landed them on national TV. The relationship soured though and Bobbitt brought a suit against the couple, and prosecutors began investigating.

It's not exactly clear what happened with the money, though Bobbitt's attorney has said it's all gone.

Badway, the couple's attorney, said in court this month that Bobbitt got about $200,000, but his lawyer said it was only $75,000. Badway has said he thinks it's likely that the couple would be indicted.

The couple earlier denied wrongdoing. Their rural New Jersey home about 30 miles (48 kilometers) northeast of Philadelphia was raided by investigators executing a search warrant. Among other items, authorities hauled away a new BMW on a flatbed truck.

Bobbitt's attorney said earlier that Bobbitt was about to enter a residential treatment program to address drug addiction.

The civil case is on hold until December. The couple has not been criminally charged.

Mark D'Amico walks toward the exit in Burlington City Municipal Court where he appeared regarding citations for driving with a suspended license, in Burlington City, N.J., Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018. D'Amico, under investigation over more than $400,000 raised online for a good Samaritan, says everything in the case will become "crystal clear." D'Amico appeared in court Tuesday on unrelated traffic charges. (Jessica Griffin/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP, Pool)TEMPLE HILLS, Md. (AP) - Authorities in Maryland are identifying a slain man and the officer who shot him during a struggle over a gun.

Prince George's County police released a statement Tuesday saying Cpl. Joseph Keifline is on routine administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation into the Monday shooting of 23-year-old Jose Alvarez of Woodbridge, Virginia.

Police say an officer tried to talk to Alvarez while responding to a report of a man stealing from a car in Temple Hills, but Alvarez ran. He was found hiding nearby and struggled with officers. Police say he pulled out a gun and one officer got a hand on the gun. Police say Alvarez fired twice and Keifline fired once, striking Alvarez, who died. The officer who grabbed the gun was injured on his hand.One of Europe's main solutions to migration - Greece's overcrowded, unsanitary Moria migrant camp - has suicidal children and conditions that a psychiatrist compared to "an old-fashioned mental asylum."

In another heavily criticized solution to immigration, imprisoned men and women have been shuttled away from one gunbattle only to end up incarcerated on the front line of another, vulnerable to both trafficking and new abuse.

The jammed Moria camp on the Greek island of Lesbos and the dangerous migrant detention centers in Libya serve as a sober reminder to European leaders that their statistical success in curbing migration into the continent has spawned what the U.N. and others condemn as massive humanitarian failures. Deeply divided over how and where to control Europe's borders, leaders are meeting Wednesday in a summit in Austria.

FILE - In this Wednesday, May, 2, 2018, file photo, children play inside the Moria refugee camp on the northeastern Aegean island of Lesbos, Greece. The jammed Moria camp on the Greek island of Lesbos and the dangerous migrant detention centers in Libya serve as a sober reminder to European leaders that their statistical success in curbing migration into the continent has spawned what the U.N. and others condemn as massive humanitarian failures. Deeply divided over how and where to control Europe's borders, leaders are meeting Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018 in a summit in Austria. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris, File)

Migrant sea arrivals to Europe have plummeted this year, but each journey now carries increasing risks of death or indefinite detention in squalid conditions. More than 1,700 people have already died on Mediterranean crossings this year.

Abbas Elnaser, an Iraqi who arrived in Moria about three weeks ago, said his 8-year-old daughter's health had always been frail and she was deteriorating quickly in the camp that was built for 3,100 but now houses over 9,000 people.

"She has problems breathing most of the time, she has problems in her lungs," he said. "The tent is surrounded by garbage."

In the central Mediterranean, Europe has effectively outsourced sea rescues of migrants to the Libyan coast guard, whose boats have returned 13,000 migrants to Libyan detention centers this year. In some of those centers around the Libyan capital of Tripoli, migrants ended up on the front lines of gun battles as militias fought for control of the city.

At one point in the fighting, detainees abandoned by their jailers for days broke out of at least one center but ended up caught in gun battle. A half-dozen people were shot, according to Ibrahim Younis, head of the Libya mission for the aid group Doctors without Borders.

As a Tripoli cease-fire brokered by the U.N. threatens to fracture, food for the detainees there is dwindling. Libyan officials complain that both they and the migrants have been largely abandoned by Europe. In the Janzour detention center, around 900 people were crammed into a space intended for half that many.

"We have difficulties in providing subsistence, difficulties in providing food, and difficulties in sheltering them," said 1st Lt. Jamal Hussain. The government, which runs the facility, refused to allow an Associated Press journalist to speak to detainees.

The official number of asylum-seekers and refugees in detention in Libya is around 5,000, but thousands more are believed to be captive in warehouses and other buildings, where there have been widespread reports of slavery, sexual abuse and other atrocities.

This month the U.N. broke its silence over Europe's policy of allowing the Libyan coast guard to intercept migrants, saying it was untenable and putting thousands of people at risk of being jailed indefinitely in inhumane conditions. Detailing allegations of torture, sexual abuse, violence and "nightmarish" conditions, the U.N. refugee agency said Libya doesn't remotely meet the criteria "as a place of safety."

In all, around 56,000 refugees and asylum-seekers are registered with the U.N. in Libya and neighboring Niger, which have accepted millions of euros in exchange for European promises to evaluate a portion for resettlement.

But, critics say, resettlement simply isn't happening. A total of 657 people had left for resettlement in Europe as of last week, out of 3,886 slots promised over a year ago in 11 European countries and Canada.

Meanwhile, the Libyan and Greek detention centers continue to fill, with migrants and refugees waiting a year or more for a decision in their cases. That, however, suits many anti-immigrant populists in Europe just fine.

"Until the message is made abundantly clear that illegal economic migrants will not be processed, that boats will be turned back, thousands and thousands more sad and desperate lives will be lost in vain, all for your feelings of virtue," said Nathan Gill, a British member of the European parliament, accusing fellow legislators last week of being soft on immigration. "You're not really helping people."

If migrants have made it to the Greek island of Lesbos, they're already one step ahead of those trapped in Libya. But conditions are hardly better. Raw sewage flows out the main entrance in Moria, garbage piles up outside the containers where igrants sleep.

Luca Fontana, who works for Doctors without Borders in Lesbos, said a quarter of the minors there had either attempted suicide, had suicidal thoughts or were harming themselves.

"Only last week had to suture the wrists of a couple of unaccompanied minors, they tried to cut their veins inside Moria camp," he said.

Psychiatrist Alessandro Barbero of Doctors without Borders said Moria was as grim as "an old-fashioned mental asylum, not seen in parts of Europe since the mid-twentieth century."

Any hope of an easy solution to Europe's immigration dilemma has faded.

Paolo Campana, who has studied the smuggling networks that lead through Libya, believes a solution is only possible if legal migration into Europe opens up at the same time as peace, stability and prosperity emerge in violence-plagued nations like Iraq, Syria, Ethiopia and Eritrea.

"We need to be humanitarian and to be pragmatic," he said.

As of last week, 73,696 migrants and refugees have entered Europe by sea this year along with over 11,000 land arrivals, compared with 128,993 sea arrivals in 2017 and 298,663 in 2016.

European leaders in June proposed creating centers to process migrants in North Africa but those governments quickly rejected the idea. The EU now is pitching plans of an upgraded border force.

Last week, Austria and Italy's right-wing interior ministers called for shipboard screenings of migrants on the Mediterranean, raising new questions about whose ships and where - given that Italy has blocked humanitarian groups from docking with migrants rescued at sea, favoring Libyan boats instead.

Riccardo Magi, an Italian lawmaker from the tiny left-wing +Europa party, said Libya's deteriorating crisis risks sending migrants and refugees on ever smaller boats into greater danger.

"What is sure is that the departures will continue and that deaths will continue to occur and that there will be fewer and fewer eyes" on the sea to rescue those in need, Magi said.

Two survivors of a deadly wreck who were picked up by the coast guard were later imprisoned and tortured, said Giorgia Linardi, a spokeswoman for the SeaWatch rescue boat. The two escaped in July and again set sail, this time being rescued by the NGO ship Aquarius.

Linardi said at least one of the two has brought a case to the European Court of Human Rights for alleged violation of the EU convention banning torture.

Trying to tackle the enormous problem at Moria, Greece on Tuesday agreed to transfer 2,000 asylum-seekers from the camp on Lesbos to the mainland this month. The move can't come soon enough for the migrants there. Ali Sajjad Faizy, a 19-year-old from Afghanistan, said conditions at Moria have steadily worsened and residents must stand in line "for four or five" hours just to get food.

"It's completely full," he said.

___

Lori Hinnant reported from Paris. Elena Becatoros in Athens and Raphael Kominis in Moria, Greece, and Paolo Santalucia in Rome also contributed.ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) - Ethiopia's stunning political reforms are now threatened by long-standing ethnic tensions that have roared back to life since a young prime minister took power just five months ago and promised greater freedoms.

While exiled groups once banned as terror organizations are welcomed home to join political dialogue, deadly violence erupts on the fringes of celebrations. On Saturday, tens of thousands of people gathered peacefully in Addis Ababa's Meskel Square to cheer one group's return. Two days later, police fired tear gas there to disperse people protesting killings blamed by some on youth from the same ethnicity.

Suddenly, the government of 42-year-old Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed appears to be reaching for security tactics whose unpopularity helped to bring down the previous government, while some Ethiopians who cheered Abiy's reforms now accuse him of being soft on the unrest that poses his biggest challenge so far.

Thousands of protestors from the capital and those displaced by ethnic-based violence over the weekend in Burayu, demonstrate to demand justice from the government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Monday, Sept. 17, 2018. Several thousand Ethiopians have gone out onto the streets of the capital to protest ethnic-based attacks in the outskirts of the city in which more than 20 people died over the weekend. Banner in Amharic reads "The government should stop the attacks against our people." (AP Photo/Mulugeta Ayene)

The internet winked off this week across the capital, a once-common act to control dissenting voices. The National Security Council has vowed "all necessary measures" against those spreading anarchy, the state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate reported. Some have even called for the return of the state of emergency that Abiy lifted in one of his first acts in office.

The prime minister himself, who shocked the country with a dizzying series of reforms that included freeing imprisoned opposition figures and vowing free and fair elections in 2020, has made warning sounds against the unrest.

"There's nothing more shameful than a group of people committing these types of crimes against their fellow citizens," Abiy said Tuesday while visiting a camp for those displaced by the latest violence.

Stability is crucial in a country whose fast-growing economy, 100 million-strong population and security ties make it the powerhouse of the turbulent but strategic Horn of Africa region.

Ethnic-based conflicts mainly over scarce resources are common in Ethiopia, which is home to more than 80 ethnic groups, but now the communal violence is spiraling at a scale that alarms many.

"If this trend continues, I fear a time will come soon when Ethiopians yearn for the old dictatorial times," Mussie Tefera, a university student, told The Associated Press.

Ethiopia since 1991 has been led by a ruling coalition and allied parties that hold every seat in Parliament and for years were accused by human rights groups of suppressing critical voices. That grip on power slipped after anti-government protests that began in late 2015 in the Oromia and Amhara regions, home of the country's two largest ethnic groups.

Abiy's arrival in power was a surprise. He is the first prime minister from Ethiopia's largest ethnic group, the Oromo. As the son of a Muslim father and Orthodox Christian mother who converted to Islam he has spoken out for tolerance. On an exuberant tour of the United States that drew large crowds, he spoke to Ethiopian communities and invited emotional exiles long wary of the government to return.

His appeals to peace and openness, however, have not healed long-standing ethnic fractures between groups such as the Oromo and the Somalis. Some disputes have worsened. The number of the country's internally displaced people has reached 2.8 million, up from 1.6 million at the beginning of the year, according to the United Nations.

For some, the surge in unrest comes with the recent shifts in power.

"Local cadres and officials are instigating this violence for a petty political gain," Ethiopia's disaster prevention chief, Mitiku Kassa, told The Associated Press after fighting between the Oromo and others in the Gedeo and West Guji zones.

Over the weekend, the U.S. Embassy was among those issuing safety warnings amid the violence on the outskirts of the capital as many Ethiopians expressed outrage over the alleged targeting of people based on ethnic identity. More than 20 people were killed.

"We demand justice," some protesters chanted as they passed by the prime minister's office on Monday en route to Meskel Square. By the end of the day, mobile internet service across Addis Ababa was blocked as citizens and Amnesty International pointed out hate speech against non-Oromo groups on social media. Internet service returned on Wednesday.

While some accuse "paid agents" of trying to paint a bad image of Oromo youth emboldened by Abiy's rise to power, others suggest some unrest is being orchestrated by groups in the ruling coalition that lost power when he took office.

Any internal frictions could be exposed when the ruling coalition holds its congress early next month, when it is expected to take steps to implement Abiy's whirlwind political and economic reforms.

"In a system where party and state have long been indistinguishable, the (coalition's) fragmentation would be a dangerous thing," Michael Woldemariam, assistant professor of international relations at Boston University, wrote this month in Foreign Affairs.

Ethiopians have long expressed grievances over the country's federal structure that is largely based on ethnic lines and has been held together by the ruling coalition and its security forces.

"If the federal structure is implemented properly, it is fine," said Berhanu Nega, whose Patriotic Ginbot 7 opposition group had been listed by Ethiopia as a terror group alongside the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab before being welcomed home from exile by the new government. "But what we have now here is a structure based mainly on ethnic identities and hence creating all these problems."

Abiy's administration is failing to guarantee law and order, said Awol Kassim Allo, a lecturer in law at Keele University School of Law in Britain.

"At this defining moment for this country and its people, the state needs a commander-in-chief that stirs the ship out of the storm," he said. "If we fail to defend this moment of ours and support this understandably challenging transition, we will all lose a great deal."

___

Follow Africa news at https://twitter.com/AP_Africa

Ethiopian army soldiers attempt to control protestors from the capital and those displaced by ethnic-based violence over the weekend in Burayu, as they demonstrate to demand justice from the government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Monday, Sept. 17, 2018. Several thousand Ethiopians have gone out onto the streets of the capital to protest ethnic-based attacks in the outskirts of the city in which more than 20 people died over the weekend. (AP Photo/Mulugeta Ayene)

Thousands of protestors from the capital and those displaced by ethnic-based violence over the weekend in Burayu, demonstrate to demand justice from the government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Monday, Sept. 17, 2018. Several thousand Ethiopians have gone out onto the streets of the capital to protest ethnic-based attacks in the outskirts of the city in which more than 20 people died over the weekend. Three banners in Amharic from left to right read "Justice for the people of Amhara, Tigray and Southerners", "Stop ethnic-based attacks" and "One mouth, but two tongues". (AP Photo/Mulugeta Ayene)

In this photograph released by the state-run Saudi Press Agency, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, right, signs a peace accord with Eritrea as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman looks on in the distance in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia on Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018. The leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea were in Saudi Arabia on Sunday to sign a peace accord between the two East African nations. (Saudi Press Agency via AP)

A man holds an Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) flag as hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians gathered to welcome returning leaders of the once-banned group in the capital Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018. The OLF and two other organizations were removed from a list of terror groups earlier this year after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took office, amid sweeping reforms to bring opposition groups back to politics. (AP Photo/Mulugeta Ayene)

Members of the army and riot police attempt to control protestors from the capital and those displaced by ethnic-based violence over the weekend in Burayu, as they demonstrate to demand justice from the government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Monday, Sept. 17, 2018. Several thousand Ethiopians have gone out onto the streets of the capital to protest ethnic-based attacks in the outskirts of the city in which more than 20 people died over the weekend. (AP Photo/Mulugeta Ayene)JUBA, South Sudan (AP) - With "staggering brutality," South Sudan government soldiers and allied militia targeted civilians by raping them, burning them alive, running them over with armored vehicles and hanging them in trees even as the government pursued a new peace deal to end a civil war, a new Amnesty International report says.

The report released Wednesday, based on interviews with 100 displaced people from Leer and Mayendit counties in Unity State, describes attacks between April and July in what the United Nations has described as an offensive aimed at "clearing opposition-held areas."

The report comes shortly after South Sudan's latest attempt at peace, which was signed last week but has been met with skepticism by the United States and others.

FILE - In this Saturday, June 3, 2017 file photo, South Sudanese refugee women who suffered sexual or other gender-based violence play a board game at a women's center focusing on such violence, run by the aid group International Rescue Committee, in Bidi Bidi, Uganda. A new report by Amnesty International released Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018 says South Sudan government soldiers and allied militia targeted civilians by raping them, burning them alive, running them over with armored vehicles and hanging them in trees. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis, File)

For the first time the U.S., Britain and Norway, the troika that helped to achieve South Sudan's independence from Sudan in 2011, decided not to sign the peace deal, saying it remained "concerned about the parties' level of commitment."

Leer and Mayendit have been among the hardest hit regions during South Sudan's five-year civil war, which has killed tens of thousands and made over 2 million people flee the country, creating Africa's largest refugee crisis since the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

Those unable to flee the government offensive in Leer and Mayendit were often killed, with elderly and disabled people burnt alive in their homes, the new report says.

"They raped women, killed old people and took young boys," Nyabieli Gai told The Associated Press during a visit last month to the opposition-held town of Nyal where hundreds of people sought refuge from the offensive. The 50-year-old grandmother fled Mayendit in May when government troops attacked early one morning, raping her daughter-in-law while Gai hid in the bushes, she said.

South Sudan's government, which often dismisses such reports as "rubbish," has said the new peace deal means an end to the war. Any doubt will only fuel the government's resolve "to consolidate peace," President Salva Kiir has said.

Days after the signing, however, fighting broke out between government and opposition forces in Lainya and Kajo Keji counties in Central Equatoria and a Nepalese peacekeeper was shot and wounded in what the U.N. condemned as a "direct attack" on its mission in the town of Yei.

An investigation into the latest fighting is underway by the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism, the body charged with monitoring the cease-fire.

At least one conflict expert said the current system for fostering peace in South Sudan is broken.

"Even as South Sudan's leaders talk peace, they continue to wage war. The regional mediators broker cease-fire after cease-fire but show no willingness to enforce them. The parties to the conflict have concluded there is little cost to breaking the agreements and they are right," Alan Boswell, a South Sudan analyst for the Geneva-based Small Arms Survey group that monitors armed violence, told the AP.

___

Follow Africa news at https://twitter.com/AP_Africa

FILE - In this Saturday, June 3, 2017 file photo, a South Sudanese refugee and 32-year-old mother, who was raped for several days by a group of soldiers before she was allowed to leave, stands by a window at a women's center focusing on gender-based violence, run by the aid group International Rescue Committee, in Bidi Bidi, Uganda. A new report by Amnesty International released Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018 says South Sudan government soldiers and allied militia targeted civilians by raping them, burning them alive, running them over with armored vehicles and hanging them in trees. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis, File)LONDON (AP) - British lawmakers have backed calls for greater regulation of cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin in order to bring an element of control to a market that more resembles the "Wild West."

In a report on digital currencies published Wednesday, the Treasury Select Committee called for regulations to protect consumers and prevent money laundering.

Lawmakers highlighted a rapidly emerging industry that's been troubled by wild price swings, allegations of fraud and worries it could be used to finance criminal or terrorist activity.

FILE- In this Dec. 8, 2017, file photo, coins are displayed next to a Bitcoin ATM in Hong Kong. British lawmakers are urging regulation for cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin in a report that describes the current situation as the "Wild West." In a report Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018 on digital currencies, Parliament's Treasury Committee called for regulations to protect consumers and prevent money laundering. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)

Virtual currencies, also known as tokens, are electronic alternatives to traditional money. The appeal of cryptocurrencies like bitcoin lies in their use of "blockchain technology" that records all transactions in a digital database while keeping identities private, allowing users to sidestep government or banking system oversight. Speculation has also played a part in their popularity: bitcoin's price skyrocketed late last year to more than $19,000 though it has since tumbled and is now trading at around $6,300.

In the report, the committee said the British government has taken an ambiguous position on regulation and argued that the industry's voluntary approach is inadequate. As a result, it said investors have been left open to risks including volatile prices and hacking vulnerabilities.

"Bitcoin and other crypto-assets exist in the Wild West industry of crypto-assets," committee chair Nicky Morgan said. "This unregulated industry leaves investors facing numerous risks."

Morgan said the government needs to do more than "bumble along issuing feeble warnings to investors."

The committee also said British financial authorities need more power to regulate misleading advertisements by crypto-asset exchanges and initial coin offerings, which raise money for the tokens while crypto exchanges allow investors to trade them or convert them into conventional money.

The committee's warning echo those of a senior U.S. Treasury official, who expressed similar sentiments while on a visit to Europe, saying that global rules are urgently needed to stop virtual currencies from being used by money launderers and terrorists.

In Paris, Marshall Billingslea, an assistant Treasury secretary who deals with terror financing, said the Islamic State group has used virtual currencies and published instructions on Twitter on how to move bitcoin to recipients in Syria.

This, he said, is "an example of a very worrisome trend-line that we see."

Billingslea, who was speaking in his capacity as president of the Financial Action Task Force, an international body that combats money laundering and other financial threats, said countries are applying differing anti-money laundering standards to cryptocurrencies and some are not applying any at all.

"It is essential that we establish a global set of standards that are applied in a uniform manner," Billingslea said.

The FATF, he added, is very concerned about the emerging use cryptocurrencies by terrorist organizations.

Financial regulators worldwide have been scrambling to deal with the rise of cryptocurrencies. In Asia, Japan recognizes bitcoin as a legal form of payment after enacting a strong regulatory regime while South Korea and China have also tightened regulations. Meanwhile, European Union officials said earlier this month that the bloc has been examining cryptocurrencies as it mulls regulations.

The British lawmakers said there's still room for the U.K. to become a global center for crypto-assets, if the government decides to take a regulatory approach that encourages the industry's growth.

___

AP Writer John Leicester in Paris contributed to this report.

Follow Kelvin Chan at www.twitter.com/chanmanTIRANA, Albania (AP) - Germany's foreign minister on Wednesday called on Albania to work hard on its reforms so as to convince all European Union members to launch membership negotiations next year.

Heiko Maas, visiting Albania's capital, said that the EU members have made it clear that the target of June 2019 does not mean talks will automatically start then.

In June this year the bloc's member states agreed to open membership talks with Albania and Macedonia next year if the two nations continue with reform progress.

Albanian Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati, right, welcomes, his German counterpart Heiko Maas during their meeting in Tirana, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018. (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina).

Maas said that the bloc needs to see concrete results in the consolidation of the rule of law and independence of the justice system.

"The criteria are clear: there should be steps taken for other results on reforms to convince the skeptics in that process," Maas said at a news conference.

"I am optimistic we will move ahead," he said, stressing that Germany and other EU members consider European prospects for the Western Balkan countries "not only real but also necessary."

His Albanian counterpart, Ditmir Bushati, said the country already has started the process with Brussels and added that he considers Germany's assistance as "precious, irreplaceable."

Maas considered Albania's vetting of judges and prosecutors "a giant ... achievement that sets criteria beyond your country."

"We are aware that the process of reforms is painful and will run into obstacles. But it will be worth it for everyone at the end of the day and the prospects of membership are nearer than ever. I do hope we shall reach it together," Maas said.

___

Follow Semini on twitter: https://twitter.com/lseminiPYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) - AP bureau chiefs Eric Talmadge in Pyongyang and Foster Klug in Seoul report on the two countries' views of this week's summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

___

THE VIEW FROM PYONGYANG

Residents of Pyongyang, North Korea gather in a plaza outside the city's main train station to watch the news of South Korean President Moon Jae-in's visit on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2018. Though images of Moon's arrival had been aired around the world the day before, the first footage was delayed by a day in the North. (AP Photo/Eric Talmadge)

North Koreans have been barraged with a lot of astounding images this year. First came photos of senior officials flying off to rival South Korea to meet with their counterparts at the Winter Olympics. Then it was leader Kim Jong Un himself hugging South Korean President Moon Jae-in on the southern side of the Demilitarized Zone. And soon after that, Kim was in Singapore with the president of archenemy the United States, Donald Trump.

Even a staunchly patriotic North Korean could be forgiven for not knowing what to make of it all.

But North Korea's packaging of the first images of Moon's visit to its capital this week, as broadcast on state television a full day after the rest of the world saw them, offers some guidance - and some important insight.

The official North Korean narrative is all about ethnic pride, unity and how Kim is paving the way for a Korean-led solution to the decades-old problem of how to bring peace to the peninsula.

"Korean-led" is the key point here.

In the 30-minute edit of Moon's first two days as Kim's special guest, there was no mention of the United States, or denuclearization, or Trump. A commentary run by the ruling party newspaper on Tuesday, the day Moon arrived, took care of that - blaming Washington's "stubborn" and "gangster-like" demands for the North to unilaterally give up its nuclear weapons as the sole cause of the breakdown in U.S.-North Korean talks.

In North Korea, the day-to-day status of negotiations with Washington isn't what people care about. Or, at least, it's certainly not what they are supposed to be fretting about. Whatever happens down the road between Kim and Trump, or Kim and whoever follows Trump, since North Korean leaders tend to outlast American presidents, this is to be regarded as a moment of triumph.

Coming so soon after last week's lavish celebration of North Korea's 70th birthday, Moon's visit is being cast as something of a tribute, a show of respect. When the first images of Moon came on the TV screens, people across Pyongyang, the capital, stopped what they were doing to watch and savor the moment.

The underlying message being delivered by the state propaganda machine is clear - it was the wisdom of Kim that has opened up the way to a brighter future and it is only the stubborn interference of imperialists and reactionaries that can stand in the way. For most North Koreans, that's probably a comforting and hopeful thought. It is, course, also nothing if not familiar.

It has pretty much always been North Korea's official message to its people.

Of course, the North can't simply ignore the big, pressing issues that loom before it.

In contrast to the optimistic message being fed to the masses, there has been a feeling of tension in Pyongyang these days. Security has been tight, well before Moon's arrival, and officials are enforcing more restrictions on the ability of foreign journalists to talk to people on the street and for foreign diplomats to move around outside the capital.

The North Korean leadership is well aware that the stakes are high, and that a breakdown in talks with Washington could have dire consequences. Though it wasn't packaged that way for the domestic audience, Kim's meeting with Moon could just as easily be seen as a big message for Trump, one that was perfectly in keeping with what North Korea has been proposing since the Trump summit ended.

We can make a deal, the two Korean leaders seemed to suggest. But forget about what your hard-line advisers are saying.

We want you to follow our lead.

___

THE VIEW FROM SEOUL

The Korean leaders' surprisingly substantive summit announcement is a huge step toward a durable peace on the Korean Peninsula - and a Nobel Peace Prize for Kim Jong Un and Moon Jae-in. No, no, it's the death rattle of the once formidable U.S.-led pressure campaign against the North as it crumbles under the false optimism of inter-Korean engagement. Or maybe it's just the latest empty promise from a North Korean regime famous for backstepping?

How you see the third summit this year between Moon and Kim - and there could be another in the works, with Kim promising to come to Seoul soon - may depend on where you're sitting, both geographically and politically.

The view from Seoul will largely be relief, mixed with a sort of built-in wariness that many here wield as a default reaction to anything having to do with their northern neighbors. South Korea is a deeply divided place politically, with a chasm between conservatives who hate the North and liberals who want to reach out. But for Moon, whose aides have been hinting at his eagerness to secure protection from the North's conventional weapons, this looks like a domestic win, provided the two sides can follow through.

After all, much of what Moon and Kim agreed to on Wednesday - beginning to disarm their border, the world's most heavily armed, removing land mines, setting up buffer zones to prevent accidental skirmishes and dismantling, under outside inspectors' supervision, a North Korean missile launch pad - could tangibly improve South Koreans' safety.

"The South and North today have agreed to remove every threat in all areas of the Korean Peninsula that can cause war," Moon declared as he stood by Kim's side in a guesthouse in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang. "By creating the Korean Peninsula as a permanent space for peace, we will be able to return the normality of our lives."

While there are fears of nuclear war among some in the South, a much more common worry is that some sort of clash along the border, where millions of troops and pieces of artillery face each other, could spiral out of control and restart the Korean War, which still officially continues because it was ended in 1953 by a cease-fire, not a peace treaty.

The two Koreas have had multiple bloody naval clashes along their disputed sea border. In 2010, a torpedo attack blamed on the North killed 46 South Korean sailors, followed several months later by a North Korean artillery attack that killed four South Koreans, including two civilians, and prompted a South Korean return strike.

South Koreans are famous for their ability to keep calm and carry on in the face of North Korean belligerence, but it would be a mistake to think there isn't concern - and a clear recognition of the potential danger - when animosity rises.

About 25 million people live in the greater Seoul area, which is in easy artillery range of the nearby border. And while South Koreans mostly ignore North Korea's vows to turn Seoul into a "sea of fire," they also know that it could technically be done, more or less; the first time Pyongyang made that now-common threat, in 1994, it caused panic in Seoul.

Many here will wisely reserve judgment on whether the South Korean president's lofty claim to have removed "every threat" of war is correct - recent Korean history is littered with grand-sounding rhetoric that dissolved in the winds of the rivals' enmity - but if Moon and Kim can pull off what they've agreed to this week, there could be an outbreak of that rarest of feelings when it comes to inter-Korean ties: optimism.

___

Klug reported from Seoul. He is AP's bureau chief in South Korea and has been covering the Koreas since 2005. Follow him at www.twitter.com/apklug

Talmadge has been the AP's Pyongyang bureau chief since 2013. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram: @EricTalmadge.

Members of media watch a huge screen showing South Korean President Moon Jae-in, left, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un hold documents after signing in Pyongyang, North Korea, at a press center for the inter-Korean summit in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

South Korean protesters hold their cards during a rally against the summit between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un near the U.S. embassy in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018. Moon and Kim announced a sweeping set of agreements after their second day of talks in Pyongyang on Wednesday that included a promise by Kim to permanently dismantle the North's main nuclear complex if the United States takes corresponding measures, the acceptance of international inspectors to monitor the closing of a key missile test site and launch pad and a vow to work together to host the Summer Olympics in 2032. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)PARIS (AP) - An appeals court has upheld a lower court decision throwing out a case brought by the country of Azerbaijan which accused two French journalists of defamation for calling the country a "dictatorship."

Wednesday's ruling by the Versailles Appeals Court ends the case against Elise Lucet and the then-news director of France-2 TV, accused over a 2015 investigative report for the station. The report called Azerbaijan a "dictatorship ... one of the most ferocious."

The appeals court ruled that no state, including Azerbaijan, can bring defamation charges.

Free speech activists had called the actions of the former Soviet republic an effort to export censorship. At the trial a year ago, media watchdog Reporters Without Borders testified for the defense, as did an Azerbaijani journalist and exiled human rights activists.The tearful daughter of a British couple who died at a hotel in Egypt has asked for time to grieve for her loss as the inquests into her parents deaths was opened and adjourned.

Kelly Ormerod, 40, said she was preparing for the funerals on Wednesday of John and Susan Cooper, in their home town of Burnley.

They died suddenly on August 21, after becoming ill while staying at the Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel in the Red Sea resort of Hurghada.

Ms Ormerod attended the brief hearing at Preston Coroners Court where James Adeley, senior coroner for Blackburn with Darwen, passed on his condolences as the inquests were opened and adjourned until a date to be fixed.

The Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel in Hurghada (AP)

Outside court Ms Ormerod said: All I would like to say is thank you very much for all the support I have received.

At the moment now I have got to go home and prepare for a funeral tomorrow.

If you would kindly leave me be, leave my family be, and let us grieve and get the grieving process on the way, and I am prepared to speak at a later date.

A brief chronology of events was given in court with Dr Adeley explaining that as the deaths occurred outside the UK he could only make requests for information from the authorities in Egypt.

Forensic examinations carried out by authorities in Egypt reported the cause of deaths as being linked to E.coli bacteria, although this was dismissed by Ms Ormerod last week.

Dr Adeley said through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office he would be requesting all relevant reports and documentation from a long list of public bodies in Egypt and from Thomas Cook.

But he warned that requests to foreign countries can take months, even years.

Kelly Ormerod speaking to the media at Preston Coroners Court (Peter Byrne/PA)

Dr Adeley said neither of the couple were known to have any serious medical conditions before they left the UK for the holiday on August 13.

They were staying in one room with their 12-year-old granddaughter, Molly, while Ms Ormerod stayed in another room with her two other children.

On the evening of August 20 the couple dined at the hotel buffet and it was thought they both ate liver before Mrs Cooper and Molly returned first to their room, 5107.

The coroner continued: They noticed an acetone type smell replaced by what is described by the granddaughter as a funny, musty smell. A different smell from earlier in the week. It was established the next door room had been fumigated.

Around 1.15am Molly said the smell was making her feel unwell, Mrs Cooper called her daughter and Mr Cooper walked the girl to her mothers room before returning to his own room.

(PA Graphics)

Dr Adeley continued: On the morning of Tuesday 21st August, Ms Ormerod become concerned because neither had appeared by 11am.

Det Inspector Leah Rice, of Lancashire Police, told the hearing: The normal routine was Susan Cooper would usually be up six, six thirty, down to the pool to reserve sun beds for the day, then breakfast.

However that morning she was not down for the sun beds.

The court heard Ms Ormerod became very concerned and called for help when her father answered the door to their room and two doctors arrived.

Dr Adeley said: Shortly after this Mr Cooper collapsed in the room and could not be revived and verified to have died at noon. Mrs Cooper was variably lucid.

The couple had been vomiting and feeling lethargic and Mrs Cooper had a heart attack in an ambulance on the way to hospital where her death was confirmed.

Dr Adeley said he had only a single document from the authorities in Egypt stating E.coli as a cause of death for the couple and explaining the strange smell in the room as a leak of pesticides from the adjacent, fumigated room.

He said he had no reports detailing toxicology, micro-biology, police or public health investigations.

The coroner said he would be requesting from the authorities in Egypt: forensic reports, laboratory tests, toxicology reports, microbiology reports, details on the air conditioning system, test results on food and water, details from the Egyptian atomic energy authority, histology samples, and the details of the police investigation.

He would also request the hotel group running the hotel and Thomas Cook to supply all the documentation.

Post-mortem examinations on Mr and Mrs Cooper in the UK have not been able to determine the cause of death and more tests are being carried out, but the results could take some time to come back.

Their funerals will be held in Burnley on Wednesday morning.A no-deal Brexit will make it harder for police to protect UK citizens as forces fall back on slower, more bureaucratic systems, one of the countrys most senior officers has warned.

If the country crashes out of the EU in March, police operations including the major investigation into the Novichok poisoning could be affected.

European Arrest Warrants (EAWs) have been issued for the two Russians suspected of the Salisbury Novichok poisoning, meaning that if they enter Europe they should be arrested.

The police could lose access to the European Arrest Warrant in the event of a no-deal Brexit (Joe Giddens/PA)

But UK law enforcement would lose access to the power if no deal is secured, and police would be forced to fall back on 1957 extradition legislation that does not cover all countries.

Sara Thornton, chairwoman of the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC), spoke as plans were unveiled for a new unit that will oversee how forces use alternative systems in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

She said: The fallbacks were going to have to use will be slower, will be more bureaucratic and it will make it harder for us to protect UK citizens and make it harder to protect EU citizens.

We are determined to do everything we can to mitigate that, but it will be hard.

Police chiefs to establish a safety net if access to EU security tools  such as the European Arrest Warrant or Europol systems  is lost https://t.co/id2TkTp4Jo pic.twitter.com/23CjIPQlCt  National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) (@PoliceChiefs) September 18, 2018

There are 40 tools that UK law enforcement may lose access to, including the European Arrest Warrant and the Schengen Information System, an intelligence database that was accessed 539 million times by British authorities last year alone.

Under current systems it would take an average of six days to check if a foreign national has criminal convictions in their home country; in the event of no deal that would extend to an estimated 66 days.

Ms Thornton went on: A very current example would be the two GRU officers who were responsible for the Novichok attack. If they are to step out of Russia into Europe there are European Arrest Warrants waiting for them.

If we lose the European Arrest Warrant on March 29 because there was no deal, no agreement, then we have to rely on the 1957 convention and its longer, more complicated extradition process and they dont always apply in all countries.

Currently the arrest warrants are used 1,500 or 1,600 times per year by the UK. For every one Briton arrested on an EAW, eight are detained by British police on behalf of other member states.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Richard Martin, the NPCCs lead for Brexit, said key instruments that could be lost include sharing real-time alerts for wanted criminals and the ability to map terrorist and crime networks across Europe.

The new unit has received 2 million in Home Office funding and will be made up of 50 police officers and staff.

Police chiefs across the country have also signed off on plans over potential public disorder and possible travel and border disruption.

Chief Constable Charlie Hall said: At this stage, we have no intelligence to suggest there will be an increase in crime or disorder as a result of Brexit deal or no deal.

Like other public bodies, we are preparing for possible outcomes and in each case we are working with the relevant government departments to ensure we are ready to respond.The Duke of Cambridge has teamed up with TV star and childrens author David Walliams to present prizes to primary school children who have made progress in building their confidence.

William arrived at the University of Birmingham to carry out the first of three engagements in the West Midlands on Tuesday to a rapturous round of applause from all attendees.

But he was greeted by Walliams, the host of the ceremony, with a few jokes at his expense, which prompted laughter from the children.

In his opening speech, the Britains Got Talent judge said of William: Hes not the ginger one, hes the other one.

But he is the most important one  even though George Clooney didnt show up to his wedding.

The award champions the things young people need to lead a happy and successful life  confidence, self-belief and the ability to work with others.



Read The Dukes speech at the @SkillForceUK graduation ceremony here: https://t.co/j0ZXY1CMDM #RoyalVisitBirmingham pic.twitter.com/wqDRnSBsbw  The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) September 18, 2018

William made a speech at the National SkillForce Prince William Award Graduation Ceremony which celebrated the achievements of children from across the UK.

The ceremony played host to 146 students from 62 schools.

Mentors and instructors were also honoured for their achievements.

Speaking at the ceremony, William said: This award has flourished over its first year, positively impacting the lives of over 7,500 children.

The Britains Got Talent judge made a few jokes at the senior royals expense (Aaron Chown/PA)

My hope is that other people will see what I saw when I gave my name to this award.

Children and young people today need our help more than ever. They face a level of pressure that previous generations simply did not experience.

I have spoken before about the burden of social media and the sense of being on-call 24/7, which can affect everyones mental wellbeing.

The Duke of Cambridge presents The Prince William Award to Nikki Laker (Aaron Chown/PA)

The duke then asked the children to give him a wave if they were a graduate, adding: I can see a few small hands. Huge, huge congratulations. You have worked so hard to gain this award and will now carry this achievement with you.

The ceremony marked the successful first year of the Prince William Award  a scheme which aims to help young people build their character, confidence and resilience.

Children from as far away as Aberdeen, Durham, Wales and St Albans sat around tables inside the Aston Webb Great Hall, along with parents and award mentors.

The prince then handed prizes to those who won awards at the ceremony, posing for photos and passing on his congratulations to the winners.

One young girl who was named Graduate of the Year at the ceremony said it was exciting to meet the heir to the throne.

On stage at @unibirmingham, The Duke presented a series of special awards to children from schools around the UK.

His Royal Highness became the charitys Patron in 2009. #RoyalVisitBirmingham pic.twitter.com/U1bUM4bpHh  The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) September 18, 2018

Nine-year-old Molly Chandler, who was nominated for the prize because of the progress she had made in building her confidence, shared what the duke had said to her on the stage.

She said: He asked me what my favourite part (of the award scheme) was. I said all of it.

Molly came from Swindon for the ceremony, and said she had to get up at 4am in order to arrive on time.EU nationals should be subject to the same rules as migrants from the rest of the world after free movement ceases to apply in the UK, according to a Government-commissioned report.

The long-awaited study also concluded that the post-Brexit immigration system should make it easier for higher-skilled workers to come to the country.

But it said access to Britains jobs market should be restricted for lower-skilled migrants.

A report on EU migration to the UK has been published (Niall Carson/PA)

Ministers asked experts for in-depth analysis on migration from the European Economic Area (EEA) in July last year.

The findings, published on Tuesday, will inform the Governments decisions on proposed new immigration rules for after the post-exit implementation period finishes at the end of 2020.

The Migration Advisory Committees (MAC) final report said that, if immigration is not part of the negotiations with the EU and the UK is deciding its future system in isolation, there should be no preference given to EU citizens.

It said: A migrants impact depends on factors such as their skills, employment, age and use of public services, and not fundamentally on their nationality.

The committee emphasised that it was not expressing a view on whether immigration should be part of the negotiations.

MAC chairman Professor Alan Manning said a system in which all migration is managed with no preferential access to EU citizens would mean an end to free movement.

But he noted that this would not make the UK unusual, citing Canadas approach as an example.

Prof Manning added: The problem with free movement is that it leaves migration to the UK solely up to migrants and UK residents have no control over the level and mix of migration.

The review suggested the future immigration policy should favour high-skilled workers, as there is clear evidence they bring benefits to the UKs public finances, innovation and productivity.

It recommended ministers scrap an annual cap of 20,700 on the number of visas available under the Tier 2 skilled work scheme, and open up the route to medium-skilled jobs.

But in a finding it acknowledged would attract opposition from some sectors, the MAC concluded that there is no need for a specific migration route for low-skilled work, with the possible exception of a seasonal agricultural scheme.

It said this would not mean there is no supply of low-skilled migrant workers, stating that most of the existing stock would remain and there would likely be a continued flow through family migration or the existing youth mobility scheme.

Prof Manning said: Our recommendations to the Government on a future work immigration system post-implementation period are designed to benefit the resident UK population.

The 132-page report assessed the impact of EEA migration on a number of areas including the labour market, productivity, public services and communities.

It found that migrants have no or little impact on the overall employment outcomes of the UK-born workforce, while migration is not a major determinate of the wages of UK-born workers.

It also said:

 Analysis suggests migration has increased house prices but the impact cannot be seen in isolation from other government policies;

 Research shows EEA migrants pay more in taxes than they receive in benefits;

 There is no evidence to suggest migrants are linked to any increases in crime, nor any evidence that migration has reduced the quality of healthcare or the educational attainment of UK-born children.

Prof Manning said: The small overall impacts mean that EEA migration as a whole has had neither the large negative effects claimed by some nor the clear benefits claimed by others.

Professor Jonathan Portes, senior fellow at The UK In A Changing Europe, said: Since 2010, many aspects of UK immigration policy have been based not on analysis and evidence but on unpleasant and damaging nativism.

This report provides an opportunity for our politicians to reverse that, if they have the courage to take it.

Migration Watch UK chairman Lord Green of Deddington argued the report seems blind to the impact of high levels of EU immigration on many communities in this country.

He added: These proposals would permit continued high levels of immigration, including those with medium skills from all over the world.

Matthew Fell, policy director at business organisation the CBI, backed the proposal to scrap the Tier 2 cap but warned plans for low-skilled workers are inadequate and risk damaging labour shortages.

The Home Office said it will carefully consider the recommendations before setting out further details on the UKs future immigration system.

A spokesman said: After we leave the EU, we will take back control of our borders and put in place an immigration system that works in the interests of the whole of the UK.

The Government is clear that EU citizens play an important and positive role in our economy and society and we want that to continue after we leave.Controversial legislation to merge the British Transport Police and Police Scotland might never be enacted, the Justice Secretary has said.

Humza Yousaf said while the Scottish Government still see some benefits in fully integrating the two forces, when the Act to achieve this would come into force was being kept under review.

The Scottish Parliament passed the Railway Policing (Scotland) Bill, despite criticism from opposition parties, the unions and others.

The merger was originally due to take place in April 2019, but the timetable was delayed.

Police Scotland are currently unable to give a definitive date for when the merger could take place, Mr Yousaf told MSPs on Holyroods Justice Committee.

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf (Scottish Parliament/PA)

And he stressed he was now focused on finding interim arrangments to make politicians in Scotland accountable for the policing of railways north of the border  a goal originally set out by the Smith Commission on devolution.

The Justice Secretary went on to suggest if all parties were satisfied with the interim arrangements then ministers would have to look again at whether the legislation would be commenced or not.

He stated: For me the prudent way of approaching this would be to examine and explore what options there are for interim arrangements to give best effect to the Smith Commission in terms of railway policing, give it a period of time, and that could be open to discussion, and therefore keep that under review.

Mr Yousaf told the committee: It could be we get to a position where the interim arrangements satisfy us universally, the political parties around this table the stakeholders involved.

And we believe that after a period of a couple or a few years of those arrangements being in place that we are universally satisfied that the accountability has been demonstrated, that we have the best model in place not just to maintain the safety but enhance the safety of the travelling public.

And if we got to that point frankly we would have to look again at whether the legislation would be commenced or not. That would be one position.

The commencement of the act is something I keep under review. I am not closed minded on that point. but I still continue to say from a Scottish Government point of view we still see some benefits in full integration.

Double bill of policing issues on Tuesday morning - Round-table evidence session on Police & Fire Reform Act 2012 and evidence from @HumzaYousaf on proposed integration of the BTP in Scotland into @policescotland pic.twitter.com/KulzUFAAFu  Criminal Justice Committee (@SP_Justice) September 16, 2018

He said he was disappointed the merger had to be put on hold, saying: I see the benefits of full integration, seamless policing, that single command structure, I see those benefits.

But he indicated it could be several years before the merger takes place.

Pressed on the timing for this, Mr Yousaf said many people regarded the 10-year Policing 2026 strategy as being the natural dovetail of full integration.

He added: I wouldnt disagree with that assessment.

But he stressed merging the two forces was not where my focus is at the moment.

The Justice Secretary stated: My focus isnt on the full integration  Ive been given advice from Police Scotland which says full integration, they can not give a definitive date for, so therefore my attention, governments attention, all our attention should be on finding those interim solutions which deal with the accountability question and also ensures we continue to maintain safety for the travelling public.Retailer Primark is to donate 500,000 to efforts to support Belfast traders hit by the devastating fire at its landmark city store.

The blaze which gutted Primarks historic Bank Buildings property last month has caused major disruption in the city centre.

A large cordon erected round the charred shell of the store is expected to remain in place for months amid uncertainty over whether it, or parts of it, can be saved.

Fire-damaged Bank Buildings (PA)

Council statement in relation to Primark's announcement that it is donating 500,000 towards our wider city recovery programme - https://t.co/aySPBg7yOt  Belfast City Council #OneWeeThing (@belfastcc) September 18, 2018

No-one has yet been able to enter the building due to the ongoing risk of collapse.

All structural assessments are being carried out aerially from cranes, with sensitive movement monitors and laser technology assisting engineers.

Several businesses within the safety cordon have been forced to shut, while others have seen footfall badly affected by the cordon that blocks off several central thoroughfares.

With fears the cordon could still be in place during the pre-Christmas shopping period, many traders are facing a bleak short-term future.

Some businesses have called for the building to be pulled down immediately to mitigate the economic impact.

However, it is understood any demolition project would be significantly complicated by the safety concerns around the huge structure.

As the Bank Buildings is a listed building, pulling it down would also be unlawful without definitive evidence it cannot be saved.

Architectural campaigners could also potentially challenge any move to demolish it in the courts.

Primark, which continues to pay staff who worked in the destroyed store, has committed to maintaining a presence in Belfast city centre, even if the Bank Buildings is not saved.

Announcing the donation to Belfast City Councils efforts to help traders, a Primark spokeswoman said: It is our intention to be back up and trading again as soon possible. As you can appreciate, we are at the early stages on this and will confirm details as soon as possible.

We hope that this will assist the on-going efforts to drive footfall into the city centre.

As well as re-establishing a high street presence in the city, Primark is committed to supporting the business community affected by the fire.

Primark will be donating 500,000 to Belfast City Councils recovery programme as a gesture of goodwill.

The council will manage the distribution of the recovery fund to those local businesses impacted by the fire.

A Belfast City Council spokeswoman said: This is a very welcome announcement from Primark and will contribute to the wider City Recovery Investment Fund, which the council is currently establishing, and which will be considered by members of the Councils Strategic Policy and Resources Committee on Friday.

Primark is very keen to support small businesses in the city centre  in particular those that have been severely impacted by the fire. The company has asked Belfast City Council to distribute this funding on its behalf.

Belfast City Council is developing a City Recovery Investment Programme which includes immediate, medium and longer-term proposals to support businesses, re-establish and sustain high levels of trading the city centre in the lead up to Christmas and beyond, increase connectivity across the city centre, ultimately ensuring the citys economic resilience.

The contribution made by Primark will be an important part of that overall programme delivery.

Council and its city partners will continue their engagement with traders and landlords. Following the outcome of Fridays meeting, more details will become available around how businesses can access the funding and when.Threats of food shortages are now the only way Theresa May can make her Brexit deal palatable, Lib Dems have heard.

The damaging effects of a no-deal are being cynically played up to try and win public support for a bad deal, Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie has told his party conference.

Speaking without notes, the Fife MSP warned the prime minister was trying to engineer a stitch-up and her government could not be trusted.

He said: The Chequers plan is so damaging to our country they have to threaten a no-deal Brexit to make the British people like it.

Threatening food shortages to make chlorinated chicken more appealing.

We cant trust a government that offers us a false choice between economic damage and economic damage.

Riffing on media reports that Remain campaigners were traitors to their country, Mr Rennie sought to turn the attack back.

He said it was Leave voters who had been betrayed by their Brexiteer leaders, reneging on their promise of taking back control, and who should be demanding their democratic right to a second referendum.

If we do not turn back this will be the biggest surrender of power this country has probably ever seen, he said. What a betrayal that would be.

This Brexit process started with democracy  it should not end in a stitch-up.

Trust in democracy. Give the people the final say.

Mr Rennie warned a bad Brexit was on its way, with the Chequers plan leaving the UK as a rule taker not a rule maker after 40 years of co-operation.

After 40 years of setting the rules, the common rule book will be written by European countries, not Britain, he said.

And when they make a rule thats not in our economic interests we will just have to suck it up. Democracy ripped out of Britain.

The Scottish leader offered hope to his party that Remain could turn the tide with even the totemic Scottish fishing industry, which has been near-unanimous in its demand to leave the EU.

Mr Rennie said even the fishing industry could turn against a bad Brexit deal (PA/Joe Giddens)

Mr Rennie said he had spent a day on a prawn trawler, the Sanela, with Brexit-backing fishermen who just want rules and laws that make sense and kick back when they are not listened to.

Listing issues with fishing grounds being destroyed by cables from wind energy giants or delays due to a lack of dredging, Mr Rennie said the fishermen were pragmatists and could easily turn against a bad Brexit.

Fresh seafood has no value if its stuck in a lorry park in Kent, he said.

Picture the chaos of lorries arguing to get a place on choked up motorways heading for the Channel because a distant, foolish UK government has let it get this far.

If we want to turn the tide against the easy, populist slogans from the extremes on the left and right, we need to listen.Shadow chancellor John McDonnell has said he is hoping that the next leader of the Labour Party will be a woman.

The Labour frontbencher told Mumsnet he was anxious about another EU referendum and would much prefer a general election, adding that his party would keep all options on the table.

Undertaking an hour-long webchat, Mr McDonnell, who has been tipped by some as a possible Labour leader, answered questions on topics ranging from Brexit, Russia and anti-Semitism to allegations of nepotism and de-selections.

The shadow chancellor said he would rather have a general election than a fresh EU referendum (Yui Mok/PA)

Eyes down for our webchat with @johnmcdonnellMP - in place with tea and biscuits, as is mandatory https://t.co/jqWL0Vvri9 pic.twitter.com/fSLtiQWyOf  Mumsnet (@MumsnetTowers) September 18, 2018

Mr McDonnell said the issue around anti-Semitism should have been handled much more effectively and sooner, adding that he hoped the party can move forward on this issue much more constructively.

He also said Labour needed to build bridges with the Jewish community.

A Labour General Election win, he said, was achievable, and added that the party respects the EU referendum result.

On Labours six Brexit deal tests, he wrote: If they are not met by whatever Theresa May brings back from Brussels, then we will not vote for the deal.

My view, then, is that we should have a general election because, in a general election, people can not only debate the range of issues in full, they can also select the team that will then negotiate our future position.

If we cant get a general election, we are keeping the option of another vote  a peoples vote  on the table.

. @johnmcdonnellMP on the anti-semitism row and what Labour plans to do next - from our webchat https://t.co/jqWL0Vvri9 pic.twitter.com/tGvjBqkY1j  Mumsnet (@MumsnetTowers) September 18, 2018

He added: We have to somehow bring the country back together again and I think the best way of doing that is to seek to reach a traditional British compromise on the basis of a constructive deal with our EU partners  one that maintains a close and collaborative relationship with the other EU countries that we can build upon.

I believe that our European partners would be up for that sort of co-operative deal.

Mr McDonnell also defended his employment of Jeremy Corbyns son Seb, adding: He was appointed on merit and I regret the level of abuse hes received just because of his surname I do not believe that peoples families should be brought into political debate in this way.

He said he was really worried about the state of social media, adding: People seem to think they can say anything on social media often in ways they would never say to your face. I just find we all need to stand back a bit and think hard about how we communicate and the reaction of people to our words. That includes me.

Mr McDonnell said he planned to publish a detailed budget setting out the partys spending plans which he would then consult the wider community on.

The MP for Hayes and Harlington expressed his support for the idea of having job-sharing for MPs, adding the party was continuing with all-women shortlists for selections, adding: I think there is support for maintaining the trigger system with a bit of reform, I think that is the right balance. So its not about de-selections, its about making sure we have (an) effective democratic process for choosing our candidates and for local party members to express a view.

Asked if the UK could repair relations with Russia in the wake of the Salisbury attack, he said: Of course but I believe we can be more effective by the use of orders to tackle the Russian money that is flowing through the City of London, often in money laundering exercises.

Answering the customary Mumsnet question on his favourite biscuit, Mr McDonnell replied: My Mum worked behind the biscuit counter in BHS and we lived off broken biscuits, in particular rich tea.Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that a chain of tragic circumstances is to be blamed for a military aircraft shot down by a Syrian missile.

He also vowed to boost security for Russian troops stationed in the region.

President Vladimir #Putin expressed condolences to families, relatives, friends and colleagues of the Russian crew and servicemen killed onboard the downled Ilyushin Il-20 plane #RF95979 pic.twitter.com/8qpa7dRFj4  Russia in RSA  (@EmbassyofRussia) September 18, 2018

The Russian reconnaissance aircraft was shot down by Syrian missile defence over the Mediterranean Sea late on Monday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP)

The missiles were reportedly targeting Israeli jets nearby. All 15 people onboard are reported dead.

Mr Putin said that the Kremlin will look into circumstances surrounding the crash.

He made his remarks several hours after the Russian Defence Ministry put the blame squarely on Israel for provoking the incident.

Mr Putin did not voice his grievances against Israel, but said he supported the Defence Ministrys statement.

He said Russia will now focus on boosting security for its troops stationed there, saying that these will be the steps that everyone will notice.Lord Tony Hall has said the BBCs spending is unsustainable and admitted we need to find more money.

The director-general also said there is a threat to the BBC and that the cracks are beginning to show.

He has called on the public to support the BBC more and wants a debate on how it should be funded.

BBC director-general Tony Hall says the BBCs current level of spending is unsustainable (PA)

Tony Hall: We need to find more money for the BBC. We've never had a proper debate about funding the BBC. It's always been "it's too big, cut it" #RTSLondon  RTS Events (@RTS_Now) September 18, 2018

Speaking during the Royal Television Society conference, the BBC boss said that the broadcaster would not be able to compete and keep up with the rate of change due to licence fee cuts.

He urged people to support the public service broadcaster in an age of fake news and decreasing British content, as Amazon and Netflix continue to expand their share of the UK audience.

Lord Hall said: While it looks likely other companies are taking over nationally, the BBC has had its funding cut.

We need to find more money. The public doesnt like cuts to the BBC. Its their BBC and they want more from it, not less.

We do not believe what we currently do is sustainable with the pressures we face. The cracks are beginning to show.

We have lost BBC 3 as a network presence, we have lost our Formula 1 coverage. There have been cuts to the licence fee. Our competitors do not face the challenges we face.

The BBC boss made the plea for support while highlighting the importance of the BBC in battling fake news and disinformation, adding that our democracies are being undermined.

He stressed the need for a trusted public service broadcaster, but said that the BBC required increased funding just to maintain its current programming.

Lord Hall said that despite reducing company running costs to just 6% after numerous efficiency savings, the BBC would still need to spend more just to stand still.

He did not frame the plans as a cost-saving measure, but Lord Hall added that more BBC staff and resources would be moved out of London in the future.Four people have been charged after police seized more than 57,000 worth of Class A drugs.

Detectives from Edinburghs Proactive CID Unit found the drugs while carrying out intelligence led searches of a property in Restalrig Crescent, Edinburgh on September 17.

They seized 50,000 worth of heroin and 7,800 worth of crack cocaine from the residential address along with a three-figure sum of cash.

Detectives from Edinburghs Proactive CID Unit found the drugs while carrying out intelligence led searches (David Cheskin/PA)

Police said a 28-year-old man and three woman aged 19, 41, 51 have been charged in connection with the offences and were due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

Detective Inspector Kevin Harkins said: Thanks to vital intelligence received from the public, a significant quantity of Class A drugs have been seized before they could cause harm within the local communities.China has announced a tariff hike on $60 billion (46 billion) of US products in response to President Donald Trumps latest duty increase in a dispute over Beijings technology policy.

The announcement followed a warning by an American business group that a downward spiral in their conflict appeared certain following President Trumps penalties on $200 billion (152 billion) of Chinese goods.

The Finance Ministry said it was going ahead with plans announced in August for the increases of 10% and 5% on 5,207 types of US goods.

(Andy Wong/AP)

A list released last month included coffee, honey and industrial chemicals.

The increase is aimed at curbing trade friction and the unilateralism and protectionism of the United States, the ministry said on its website.

It appealed for pragmatic dialogue to jointly safeguard the principle of free trade and the multilateral trading system.

The Trump administration announced the tariffs on some 5,000 Chinese-made goods will start at 10%, beginning on Monday. They are to rise to 25% on January 1.

A Commerce Ministry statement earlier said President Trumps increase brings new uncertainty to the consultations but there was no word on whether Beijing would back out of talks proposed last week by Washington.

The United States complains Chinese industry development plans including Made in China 2025, which calls for creating global champions in robotics and other fields, are based on stolen technology, violate Beijings market-opening commitments and might erode American industrial leadership.

American companies and trading partners including the European Union and Japan have longstanding complaints about Chinese market barriers and industrial policy.

But they object to President Trumps tactics and warn the dispute could hit global economic growth and undermine international trade regulation.

The American Chamber of Commerce in China warned Washington is underestimating Beijings determination to fight back.

The downward spiral that we have previously warned about now seems certain to materialise, the chamber chairman, William Zarit, said in a statement.

President Trump imposed 25% duties on $50 billion (38 billion) of Chinese products in July. Beijing retaliated with similar penalties on the same amount of American goods.

The US duties targeted Chinese goods Washington says have benefited from improper industrial policies.

Beijings penalties hit soybeans and other farm goods from states that voted for President Trump in 2016.

President Trump threatened Monday to add a further $267 billion (203 billion) in Chinese imports to the target list if China retaliates for the latest US duties.

That would raise the total affected by US penalties to $517 billion (393 billion)  covering nearly everything China sells the United States.Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable has reached out to Leave voters, saying that he understands their anxieties and that wanting to manage immigration is not racist.

In his keynote address to the Lib Dem conference, the former business secretary said people had genuine fears that globalisation was turning secure jobs into crap ones.

Demanding a fresh EU referendum, the Lib Dem leader rounded on hardline Brexiteers by saying they got an erotic spasm from the thought of breaking with Brussels, whatever the cost to the economy.

And Sir Vince hit out at Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn for hiring hard-left boot boys to do his dirty work intimidating colleagues.

The ex-business secretary said: I dont accept the idea that it is some form of racism to want immigration to be managed like other parts of the economy.

To dismiss all Brexit voters as racists is simply wrong and utterly counter-productive.

Liberal Democrats Leader Sir Vince Cable, accompanied by his wife Rachel arrives at the conference centre (Gareth Fuller/PA)

Sir Vince said parts of the country felt left behind and the Lib Dems had to combat the false perception that overall immigration had damaged wages.

Deindustrialisation, globalisation  all these shuns that were supposed to represent progress have often meant a move from skilled and respected jobs to crap jobs  from certainty to insecurity.

Insisting that Brexit was not inevitable, Sir Vince attacked Tory hardliners, saying: To the true believers  the fundamentalists  the costs of Brexit have always been irrelevant.

Years of economic pain justified by the erotic spasm of leaving the European Union. Economic pain felt  of course, not by them  by those least able to afford it.

"@jeremycorbyn is currently letting down the many people in Labours heartland who now see Brexit for what it is"@vincecable at #LDConf pic.twitter.com/hctBvGmIxm  Liberal Democrats (@LibDems) September 18, 2018

The Lib Dem leader said the EU may be moving to reform free movement of labour and Britain should remain in the bloc to help shape that.

Sir Vince called for Labour to topple Mr Corbyn if he did not back a new referendum.

If Jeremy Corbyn will not say I will support a peoples vote and I will fight Brexit, Labour members should wave him goodbye.

Sir Vince also insisted Prime Minister Theresa May does not believe in Brexit.

He said: She is dutifully delivering a policy she doesnt really believe in  failing in negotiations, losing public support  and all to appease a dwindling group of angry people in her party who will denounce her as a traitor, whatever she comes up with.

And in a swipe at Mr Corbyn, Sir Vince said: He has kept his hands clean and his image polished by hiring hard-left boot boys and girls to do his dirty work.

"The PM knows Brexit is a bad idea." @vincecable giving his speech at #LDConf join live now https://t.co/9KUFiiI9CD pic.twitter.com/Y8Wo9AmcIx  Liberal Democrats (@LibDems) September 18, 2018

They do the bullying and intimidation of colleagues and he claims not to know.

He indulges anti-Semitic bigots and pleads ignorance.

Sir Vince also launched a personal attack on Boris Johnson, comparing him to US president Donald Trump, saying: Their cynical disregard for the truth, their treatment of women, and their inflammatory divisive language make Boris and Donald the terrible twins of the rabid right.

The Lib Dem leader called for an increase in wealth taxes as he branded Amazon, Facebook and Google world-class tax dodgers.

Saying that the tectonic plates of British politics are shifting beneath us as Labour and the Tories become more hardline, he urged disillusioned MPs to jump ship.

Much now depends on the courage of mainstream MPs in the Labour and Conservative parties. They are losing control and if they cant stop the rot, they should leave.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats Sir Vince Cable speaks at the partys Autumn Conference at the Brighton Centre (PA)

Drawing on his own experiences of racism, Sir Vince said: I embarked on a mixed marriage in this country when racism was rife. My wife and children were being denounced as people whose very presence here would lead to rivers foaming with blood.

And I was thrown out of the parental home.

Sir Vince, who has announced he wants to hand over the reins of his party to the next generation, insisted the Lib Dems need a major shake-up.

Our party is still very pale and very male.Scotlands economic situation does not justify having a very different migration policy to the rest of the UK, according to a UK-government commissioned report.

The Migration Advisory Committees (MAC) study of European Economic Area migration to the UK highlights all devolved administrations want differential immigration but this would be a political decision, not economic.

Scottish Ministers want power over migration, arguing migrants are essential to prevent population decline.

The Migration Advisory Committee report found a Scotland-specific immigration system is not economically justified (Jane Barlow/PA)

The MAC report states: Although lower migration might lead to population decline, this problem is not something that starts at the Scottish border, some Northern English regions have similar prospects.

Migration is much less effective at dealing with a rising old age dependency ratio than increases in the pension age.

Overall, we were not of the view that Scotlands economic situation is sufficiently different from that of the rest of the UK to justify a very different migration policy.

Migration Minister @BenMacpherson: "The #MACreport confirms that EEA nationals contribute far more to public services than they take out. However the Committee does little to consider Scotlands needs and instead suggests a completely unsustainable position." pic.twitter.com/8R7pPzlOIV  ScotGovEurope (@ScotGovEurope) September 18, 2018

The report says there is currently small difference is the shortage occupation list which it plans to address in its next report.

Report recommendations include having no preference for EU citizens (assuming UK immigration policy is not included in any Brexit deal), scrapping the cap on Tier 2 skilled work visas and having no specific migration route for low-skilled work, with the possible exception of a seasonal agricultural workers scheme.

Scottish Migration Minister Ben Macpherson said: With all of our population increase to come from migration over the next 25 years, migration is absolutely critical to Scotlands future prosperity.

However the MAC report does little to consider Scotlands needs and instead suggests that increasing the pension age would be a preferential approach to managing demographic change  a completely unsustainable position and one which we and many across Scotland would reject.

This report will also be deeply disappointing to businesses and employers across Scotland who asked for a simple, low cost approach to migration which took into account the requirements of their sectors.

He said the reports proposals completely ignore sectors such as tourism, agriculture and forestry and fails to address their major concerns about current and future access to workforce.

He said there is overwhelming and growing support for a differentiated solution for Scotland and the government would continue to press for immigration devolution.

Scotland faces the twin challenges of an ageing population and key worker shortages. But these problems are not unique to us.



I want this debate to be fought UK wide. Looking at the issue in isolation isn't the way to solve it. https://t.co/kcb0HBwlQ2  Willie Rennie (@willie_rennie) September 18, 2018

Adam Tomkins, Scottish Conservative constitution spokesman, said: This independent report clearly states that a separate Scottish immigration system is not necessary for Scotland.

In addition, the report identifies that Scotlands demographic needs are similar to the rest of the UK and might not be best solved by immigration alone.

The SNPs call for immigration to be devolved is therefore entirely unnecessary and could actually be detrimental.

He called on the SNP to abandon calls for a separate immigration policy, saying it could require a border at Berwick.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said the immigration debate should be fought UK-wide and warned against cutting ourselves off and looking at this issue in isolation.Educatin Secretary John Swinney needs to call an immediate halt to assessments of P1 pupils if Holyrood votes against the controversial tests, opposition politicians have insisted.

While Mr Swinney was demonstrating the tests to both politicians and the media in bid to ensure and accurate and informed debate, rival parties told the Education Secretary he must listen and learn to the result of Wednesdays vote.

With all four opposition parties in the Parliament united against national standardised assessments for P1 pupils, MSPs are expected to vote to bring a halt to them.

Such a vote, however, would not be binding on the Scottish Government  with Mr Swinney continuing to stress the merits of standardised assessments and the benefits they can bring.

The SNP has insisted the Tories  who will lead the debate against P1 testing on Wednesday  were exploiting these issues for political gain.

Education Secretary John Swinney. (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Meanwhile Mr Swinney argued the tests are a valuable tool for teachers to identify the next steps in a childs learning, adding the additional information they provide is particularly useful in the early years if we are to continue to close the attainment gap.

The Education Secretary continued: They are designed to be delivered as part of everyday learning and teaching, they are not high stakes and there is no pass or fail.

But with some teachers claiming the tests have left youngsters aged four and five in tears, the Tories have submitted a motion highlighting these levels of concern and calling on ministers to halt the tests in P1.

Parents and teachers are all raising concerns about the way these are being introduced. And the truth is it would be irresponsible not to listen to them.

Tory education spokeswoman Liz Smith said standardised tests could have a key role in improving standards in Scotlands schools  but not in P1.

She said: We will continue to support the introduction of tests in P4, P7 and S3 and will back the Scottish Government in its efforts to do so.

But the SNP needs to rethink its plans for those tests to be introduced in p1 and call an immediate halt.

Parents and teachers are all raising concerns about the way these are being introduced. And the truth is it would be irresponsible not to listen to them.

The Conservative added: This debate is a chance for the Scottish Parliament to have its say on this matter and it is time the SNPs bluster on this important issue stops.

Labour meanwhile said the tests were completely discredited as it branded the Mr Swinneys demonstration of them as a desperate stunt.

Education spokesman Iain Gray hit out, saying: The idea that civil servants performing the tests to MSPs is in any way equivalent to the pressure felt by a four-year-old sitting them is utter nonsense.

The Scottish Parliament has the opportunity to vote to scrap these tests for primary 1 children. If the SNP government were to ignore such a vote it would simply underline how out of touch ministers are on education.

The SNP is threatening to ignore the will of the Scottish Parliament and keep P1 standardised tests.



Scottish Labour will continue to stand up for teachers, parents and pupils against the SNPs shambolic tests for 4-year-olds, @LabourRichard writes https://t.co/SourLFYNCZ  Scottish Labour (@ScottishLabour) September 18, 2018

Liberal Democrat education spokesman Tavish Scott was also clear that when Parliament votes with teachers and parents to halt national tests for five-year-olds, the government must accept that view.

But SNP MSP Gordon MacDonald, a member of the Parliaments Education Committee, said the Tories used to back testing for P1 youngsters, and had included the policy in their 2016 Holyrood election manifesto.

He added: Ruth Davidsons Tories are guilty of grandstanding, preying on the anxieties of parents and blatant political opportunism. And theyre prepared to do so at the expense of kids education  its an utter disgrace.

The Tories are seeking to create monster out of a serious challenge we should all unite behind  driving up standards in our schools. To do that, we need data from P1 to ensure were making progress.

And the Tories used to share that ambition. They even put it in their last Holyrood manifesto.

Mr MacDonald continued: Tory-run councils already used assessments in primary one, before they were standardised across the country. Why only now are they railing against them?

Ruth Davidson is seeking to rewrite history, just to land a blow on the SNP. Its completely shameless.

Nobody should be standing in the way of driving up standards in schools just for the sake of some headline-grabbing political kick-about.

The Tories should think long and hard over what they seek to achieve in bringing forward this debate. It smacks of a party  and a leader  who will never be fit to govern in Scotland.Londonderry man Peter Casey is one step closer to entering the race to become the next president of Ireland after securing the support of Limerick Council.

The 60-year-old businessman defeated four other hopefuls after winning 21 votes from councillors during a special meeting.

Journalist Gemma ODoherty received three votes.

The other runners, Marie Goretti Moylan, Sarah Louise Mulligan and John OHare, did not receive any votes.

Peter Casey nominated by @LimerickCouncil for the #Presidential Election  Limerick Council (@LimerickCouncil) September 18, 2018

Mr Casey will ask Tipperary Council for its backing at a meeting on Tuesday afternoon. If he is successful, he will have earned the required nomination of four councils to run for president.

Mr Casey is the third Dragons Den entrepreneur to seek a nomination after Sean Gallagher and Gavin Duffy.

Mr Casey runs global recruitment firm Claddagh Resources. It operates from five locations across the world, including its European base in Buncrana, Co Donegal.

He divides his time between Atlanta in the US and Ireland.

Speaking previously about his campaign to be president, Mr Casey said he was not running to lose and was prepared to spend up to 750,000 euro.

Five candidates have been confirmed as running in next months presidential election in Ireland.

The candidates for next months presidential election: Michael D Higgins, Liadh Ni Riada, Sean Gallagher, Joan Freeman and Gavin Duffy (PA)

According to polls, the incumbent Michael D Higgins is heading for a landslide victory.

The Red C opinion poll published in the Sunday Business Post put the current president at 67% support.

Businessman and presidential runner-up in 2011, Sean Gallagher, came second at 15%, ahead of fellow Dragons Den star Gavin Duffy at 6%.

In third place, 7% chose Liadh Ni Riada who was unveiled as Sinn Feins candidate on Sunday.

Mr Higgins, 77, can nominate himself as an independent candidate for another seven years in office.

However, he has secured the backing of Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Labour, who have agreed not to field candidates from their own parties.

Mr Gallagher, the 56-year-old businessman and former Dragons Den star from Ballyhaise, Co Cavan, finished second in the 2011 presidential election and is tipped for another runner-up position.

He won the backing of Roscommon, Mayo, Leitrim and Wexford councils, and was the first independent candidate to secure a nomination.

Mr Duffy, 58, will run as an independent candidate after securing his nomination by winning the backing of Waterford, Meath, Carlow and Wicklow councils.

Joan Freeman, the independent member of the Irish Seanad, psychologist and mental health activist from Dublin, earned the backing of Galway City Council as well as Galway County, Fingal and Cork County councils.

Nominations must be submitted by September 26 and the election will be held on October 26.Residents in Wilmington lined up by the hundreds for free food and water as officials struggled to open new routes to one of North Carolinas largest cities following Storm Florence.

The death toll from the storm rose to at least 32 in three states, with 25 fatalities in North Carolina, as remnants of the once-powerful Category 4 hurricane  now reduced to a rainy, windy mass of low pressure  dumped rain on the heavily populated north-east region.

In Wilmington, population 120,000, workers began handing out supplies using a system that resembled a fast-food restaurant drive-through: Drivers pulled up to pallets lining a street, placed an order and left without having to get out.

A vehicle with the Wilmington Fire Department drives through a flooded street (Matt Born/AP)

You can clearly see the water levels rising in Cape Fear River as we compare photos from Sunday to Today. #capefear #Florence #ReadyNC #ReadyFay pic.twitter.com/jiPUCVpLBP  Fayetteville Police (@FayettevillePD) September 18, 2018

Todd Tremain needed tarpaulins to cover up spots where Florences winds ripped shingles off his roof.

The roof is leaking, messing up the inside of the house, he said.

Others got a case of bottled water or military MREs  or field rations. An olive-green military forklift moved around huge pallets loaded with supplies.

Four days after Florence blew ashore and began unloading more than two feet of rain that paralysed much of North Carolina, Wilmington was still virtually cut off from the rest of the state, with just one road tentatively open as a supply route.

Officials said they will open roads as flooding recedes and downed trees and power lines are cleared away. It is not clear when that might happen.

Items have been brought into the city by big military trucks and helicopters, which also have been used to pluck hundreds of desperate people from on top of homes and other structures.

Thank you, a shirtless Willie Schubert mouthed to members of a Coast Guard helicopter crew who picked up him and his dog Lucky from a house encircled by water in Pollocksville on Monday. It was not clear how long he had been stranded.

We know a lot of folks are trying to get back to the area. PLEASE be safe and obey all closed road signs. Some have water issues remaining others have dried out but have road issues. This is Bear Creek Rd. just past Cannon Lane in Onslow County. #Florence #ncwx pic.twitter.com/xAMr8YBJFW  NWS Newport/Morehead (@NWSMoreheadCity) September 17, 2018

The dead include a one-year-old boy who was swept away after his mother drove into floodwaters and lost her grip on him. Authorities in Virginia said one person was dead after an apparent tornado.

The rain finally stopped and the sun peeked through on Monday, but North Carolina Gov Roy Cooper warned that dangerously high water would persist for days.

He urged residents who were evacuated from the hardest-hit areas to stay away because of closed roads and floodwaters that submerged entire communities.

Theres too much going on, he said.

Interstate 40 at Pender County pic.twitter.com/d8XYXCZRsE  MG(R) Jim Trogdon PE (@SAS_Trogdon) September 17, 2018

Utility crews from multiple states worked to restore power, and outages were down from a high of more than 900,000 to about 320,000 homes and businesses, nearly all in North Carolina.

Crews conducted about 700 rescues in New Hanover County, where Wilmington is located.

Mayor Bill Saffo said he was working with the governors office to get more fuel into Wilmington.

At this time, things are moving as well as can be in the city, he said.Irelands Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he does not expect any change in the EUs Brexit position following high-level meetings later this week.

European leaders will gather for an informal summit in Salzburg in Austria.

The EUs chief negotiator Michel Barnier will brief heads of government and Prime Minister Theresa May is likely to put forward her own views.

The informal nature of the event means there will be no draft text or formal conclusions.

Good meeting in Ljubljana w/ PM designate @sarecmarjan for update on final stage of #Brexit negotiations.



United on EU core principles. Determined to work hard for agreement on orderly withdrawal, incl. Ireland/NI, and political declaration on ambitious future relationship pic.twitter.com/ghK8FOAc9U  Michel Barnier (@MichelBarnier) September 10, 2018

The Taoiseach told Irelands Dail parliament: I do not anticipate there will be any change to the EUs position or any change to our negotiating guidelines.

European leaders have been urged by the UK to compromise on their Brexit stance on the eve of the major summit.

The Prime Minister will use Wednesdays gathering in Salzburg to make a direct pitch to fellow leaders to back her divisive Chequers proposals.

Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab said it was time for the compromises

made by the UK to be matched on the EU side.

In a sign that Brexit talks could go to the wire, the European Union is preparing for a final deal to be struck at an emergency summit in November, rather than the scheduled October meeting previously targeted by both sides in the negotiations.

Mr Varadkar added: It is fair to say that some of the things I have been reading in the British papers, particularly the British-owned papers, are very far off the mark when it comes to the reality of what is going on at the minute with these negotiations.

He said the draft withdrawal agreement between the UK and EU in December provided for various protections sought by the Irish government including transitional arrangements and the movement of people between the UK and Ireland.

The Irish premier said the backstop on the Irish border represented an insurance policy which he never hoped to use.

Mr Varadkar was challenged by the leader of Irelands Labour Party, Brendan Howlin, about the Common Travel Area, which guarantees free movement of Irish and UK citizens between the two jurisdictions and said the draft Brexit Withdrawal Agreement provided for what the Irish Government needed.

Mr Howlin said the backstop did not represent the entirety of Irelands interests.

He claimed: Brexit could disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of people living in the UK.

Anti-Brexit billboards on the northern side of the border between Newry in Northern Ireland and Dundalk in the Republic of Ireland (Niall Carson/PA)

The political leader said the issue should be addressed as a matter of urgency and expressed fears Ireland could be blind-sided over Brexit.

The Taoiseach said he would not provide a running commentary on negotiations.

He also said Mr Barniers suggestion that the Irish border issue be de-dramatised was about trying to move away from language like creating a border in the Irish Sea.

A frontier in the Irish Sea has been strongly opposed by unionists who want to avoid any barrier between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

Mr Varadkar denied any constitutional move by the Irish Government to question Northern Irelands status as a part of the UK during the Brexit negotiations.

He reiterated he was equally keen to prevent a hard border between Northern Ireland and Scotland as between Northern Ireland and the Republic.A woman who pretended to have a daughter who was seriously injured in the Manchester Arena attack to make an insurance claim has been jailed for two years.

Susan Pain, 51, of Kirkby in Merseyside, was sentenced for two counts of fraud at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday after she pleaded guilty at magistrates court to claiming 139,000 through 31 fraudulent insurance claims.

Pain, with shoulder-length blonde hair and wearing a black polka dot dress, stared at the floor as she was sentenced.

She was discovered after her final claim, in which she said a daughter called Sophie had sustained multiple serious injuries when suicide bomber Salman Abedi detonated a device at the arena on May 22 last year.

Christopher Hopkins, prosecuting, said: The defendant in fact had no daughter and the claim was of course false.

Susan Pain stared at the floor as she was sentenced (City of London Police/PA)

Judge Alan Conrad QC said: I am sure all right-minded members of the public would be shocked, in particular, that you would use a tragedy which shook the nation as the basis for a fraudulent claim.

The court heard Pain had worked for insurance broker Money Medical Management, which sold policies underwritten by AXA, since she was 16 and oversaw a section of the business which provided insurance for medical professionals to cover unexpected loss of earnings.

In the period between January 2010 and August 2017 she made claims under the names of friends and family members.

In one she claimed her friends seven-year-old son had leukaemia, while another said her nieces elderly mother was housebound after a fall.

In July last year she claimed for 2,500 she said she had suffered in loss of earnings after her daughter had been in intensive care following the arena attack and had to undergo major operations.

Judge Conrad said: In some cases you used false documents in support of claims and such was the trust in which you were held they were never challenged.

Michael Bagley, defending, said: How she got to this point is still fundamentally difficult to understand.

He said Pain was still in debt, despite the fraudulent claims.

He added: She is relieved it is over. The greatest punishment for her, of course, is social ruin. She is going to have to confront a life now where all her achievements are set at nought.

Detective Constable Ant Andrews, of City of London Polices Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department, which investigated the claims, said: Pain exploited the tragic terror attack at the Manchester Arena, as well as other examples of human suffering, to make a financial gain.

She betrayed the trust she had with her friends and family, using their details to make the false claims, then lying to them so she could receive the money shed stolen.

She is now paying a significant price for her fraudulent activity, not just with the sentence handed down by the court, but also with the loss of her job and reputation.

Carolyn Scott, head of household and lifestyle at AXA Insurance, said: Ms Pain took advantage of a position of trust to deceive her employer and defraud AXA. She used details of extremely upsetting events and circumstances to make fraudulent claims for her own personal gain.Former BHS owner Dominic Chappell has told the appeal hearing against his pensions convictions that he went above and beyond in attempts to provide the information required to The Pensions Regulator (TPR).

The 51-year-old ex-racing driver was ordered to pay more than 87,000, including a 50,000 fine, after being found guilty in January of failing to provide information to TPR about the firms pensions schemes when it collapsed with the loss of thousands of jobs.

Alex Stein, prosecuting, has told the appeal hearing at Hove Crown Court that the crux of the case was that Chappell failed to respond to three statutory notices demanding information.

Chappell was issued with two notices, known as section 72s under the Pensions Act 2004, in March and April 2016, before being handed a warning notice in November that year.

He said: They took every mobile device, every iPad, every computer, every file, every photo, they left me with nothing, not even a single receipt at my office, my home and my accountants.

Everything was taken away so I couldnt take it any further.

The self-described entrepreneur, who lives near Blandford Forum in Dorset, said that one of the section 72 notices related to a phone call he had received from a journalist.

Chappell told the court that he had asked his solicitor to respond to TPR about this.

He said: I was under the understanding it had been dealt with. From the day of this notice I have not heard anything further and I assumed it had been dealt with.

I didnt answer it, I instructed my lawyer to do so.

Chappell said he had fallen ill with a bug following a trip to Turkey, which had put him out of action for 10 days, creating a further obstacle to him responding to TPR.

The director of company Retail Acquisitions bought British Home Stores for 1 from billionaire Sir Philip Green in March 2015.

BHS went into administration in April 2016, leaving a 571 million pension deficit.

Sir Philip later agreed to pay 363 million towards this.

TPR investigated after the sale, over concerns about two pension schemes representing 19,000 members of staff.

When asked by Mr Stein if he had any supporting evidence for his version of events, Chappell responded that he had not.

The hearing was adjourned until Wednesday when Chappell will continue giving his evidence.The Ministry of Defence should be stripped of its immunity from prosecution after being blamed for the deaths of three reservists on a special forces selection march, families have said.

Lance Corporal Craig Roberts, 24, and Lance Corporal Edward Maher, 31, were pronounced dead on the Welsh mountain range after suffering heatstroke on July 13 2013.

Corporal James Dunsby, 31, died at Birminghams Queen Elizabeth Hospital from multiple organ failure more than two weeks later.

Lance Corporal Craig Roberts, Lance Corporal Edward Maher and Corporal James Dunsby (Family handouts/MoD/PA)

The soldiers were part of a group of 37 reservists and 41 regular troops taking part in the 16-mile test march in the Brecon Beacons, which had a time limit of eight hours and 48 minutes.

They carried backpacks weighing up to 27kg as well as dummy rifles on the arduous exercise, which took place on one of the hottest days of the year.

Two servicemen, known only as 1A and 1B, were acquitted of negligently performing a duty by failing to take reasonable care for the health and safety of the candidates.

Judge Advocate General Jeff Blackett found that 1A, a serving captain, and 1B, a former warrant officer, had no case to answer and said the deaths were caused by failures by Joint Forces Command, part of the Ministry of Defence.

The deaths occurred because of the systemic failures within Joint Forces Command, he told families of the reservists.

Of course, the system is made up of people but there have been successive people in A-Block and within the chain of command who have failed to address their minds to the real risks involved in exercising in extreme temperatures, and who have failed to ensure that those delivering the training or invigilating the test were properly trained in all aspects.

The two defendants did the best they could in the circumstances of fewer resources than requested, a lack of even the most basic training in relation to heat illness and risk assessment and within the culture that existed at the time.

The soldiers were on the Brecon Beacons (PA)

An anonymity order protects the identify of a number of people and organisations that featured in the court martial.

Judge Blackett refused an application by the media to identify A-Block, referred to only as an organisation within Joint Forces Command.

Following the deaths, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) issued a Crown censure against Joint Forces Command.

This document says there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of the organisation being convicted of a criminal offence in relation to the deaths, if it did not have immunity from prosecution.

The Crown censure, released following a freedom of information request by the Press Association, said: The investigation revealed systemic failings in the health and safety management of test week.

These multiple failings are not attributed to any individuals but lie within the organisational management chain. The extent of these failings was serious, falling far below the health and safety standards the law requires.

It concluded that the failings exposed candidates on the march to preventable risk, adding: It was reasonably practicable to have prevented the deaths.

Bryher Dunsby, widow of Corporal James Dunsby, making a statement outside court (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Sarah Baldwin-Jones, of the HSE, said it was a fundamental error that there was still no MoD guidance on how high temperatures affect the body over a prolonged period of time, such as on endurance marches.

Temperatures had reached 26.3C from midday on the day of the march and had risen to 28.3C by 4pm.

Judge Blackett said a decision by A-Block to march candidates the following day was indicative of the culture and lack of care within the chain of command.

Speaking outside the court martial, Bryher Dunsby  widow of Cpl Dunsby  called directly on General Mark Carleton-Smith, head of the Army, to prioritise new guidelines relating to heat illness and endurance exercises.

The MoD are still protected from prosecution for corporate manslaughter by Crown immunity, there is an obvious need for this in live combat, but I believe not in training in Wales, Mrs Dunsby said.

Without ultimate accountability or punishment from the law, there is no incentive to do the right thing.

Clare Stevens, who has represented members of two of the reservists families, described 1A and 1B as scapegoats for those at the top.

The MoD is immune from prosecution under health and safety legislation, so it received a Crown censure  just a recording to confirm had they not been exempt from prosecution, they would have been prosecuted, she said.

That is simply not good enough. Until they are held properly accountable, there is no impetus to change.

The Army said that since 2013, heat illness prevention guidelines have been updated three times and are embedded in training culture.

Research into the effects of heat illness is being conducting to ensure training meets the very highest medical standards.

L/Cpl Roberts was originally from Penrhyn Bay in North Wales, L/Cpl Maher was from Winchester in Hampshire, and Cpl Dunsby was from Trowbridge in Wiltshire.Petitioners against wild kelp dredging are delighted after a Holyrood committee voted to ban the practice.

More than 14,000 people signed the petition, started by Ullapool oyster farmer Ailsa McLellan after the first application in Scotland for industrial scale dredging for the seaweed.

The proposal, by Ayr-based firm Marine Biopolymers, involved a reported 30,000 tonnes of the seaweed gathered each year off the west coast by specially adapted boats.

Holyrood committee has voted to ban the mechanical harvesting of wild kelp (Andy Jackson/Subsea TV/PA)

Campaigners and fishermen warned this dredging could be damage kelp beds as well as fish and shellfish stocks.

Now the Scottish Parliaments Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee has backed an amendment from Green MSP Mark Ruskell which bans the removal of entire kelp plants from Scottish waters.

Three committee members voted in favour of the amendment and there were six abstentions.

This means harvesting would be allowed only where the plant can recover and rules out dredging.

Ms McLellan said: We were delighted to see that this amendment passed today, which is an enormous landmark for a campaign that began so recently.

It was only over the summer that we realised our communities, our environment and our businesses were under threat. Those MSPs who backed the campaign today have our most sincere thanks for all their hard work.

She also thanked those who signed the petition.

Well done @markruskell @claudiabeamish & @Alex_RowleyMSP for sticking up for kelp & our coasts today. Fishing, tourism, snorkeling, diving, wildlife watching, marine life, Ullapool Sea Savers & future sea users say thank you.#NoKelpDredge Here's to stage 3... #Snorkel #Scotland pic.twitter.com/PlqjLBaKwT  Noel H (@klondyker) September 18, 2018

Charles Millar, Scottish Inshore Fisheries Trust executive director and founder of Help the Kelp, said the vote will require all harvesting of kelp in Scottish waters to follow the rule hand-harvesters obey  that the plant must be allow to regrow.

This wording would not ban mechanical harvesting of farmed kelp, nor would it obstruct any of the businesses currently using seaweed for everything from the drinks industry to makeup to food for racing camels.

We know the Scottish Government may seek to remove these provisions when the Bill goes into its final stage, but I would urge Ministers to listen to the overwhelming voice of business and public opposition, and to accept that Scotlands growing seaweed industry is itself best served by following this simple rule when licences are to be issued.

Mr Ruskell said: This amendment is an important step forward in protecting our unique and fragile seaweed off the west coast of Scotland.

We want to give communities the assurances they need while fully supporting existing, sustainable seaweed harvesting arrangements.Noel Edmonds has launched an astonishing attack on the Archbishop of Canterbury, branding him a reincarnation of evil for failing to meet with HBOS fraud victims and investing in Lloyds Banking Group.

The Deal or No Deal TV star  who is seeking 64 million in damages from HBOS owner Lloyds  called Justin Welby a hypocrite, claiming he tried numerous times to book an appointment with the head of the Church of England.

Is there a bigger hypocrite than Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the CEO of Lords Bank?, he said during a panel at the SME Alliance annual meeting in London.

Noel Edmonds is campaigning after his business collapsed (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Ever since all this started, Ive been trying to get an appointment with him, representatives of mine have been trying to get an appointment with Lambeth Palace, so I could explain some of the issues affecting not just Lloyds victims, but all victims of banking crime and my efforts have been rejected.

Corrupt bankers from the HBOS Reading branch were jailed last year for a 245 million loans scam which destroyed several businesses, before they squandered the profits on high-end prostitutes and luxury holidays.

Mr Edmonds is planning to pursue Lloyds for millions in damages for losses allegedly suffered when his former business Unique Group was destroyed as a result, although he has yet to lodge legal papers.

He noted that the archbishop last week mounted an ecclesiastical attack on zero hours contracts, describing them as an ancient evil before it emerged that a number of church staff were employed on those terms.

The church leader also attacked Amazon, despite its investment arm  the Church Commissioners  holding shares in the retail giant.

Does he have a divine right to be an arsehole? Mr Edmonds said during the panel, which was held at Church House in Westminster where the Church Commissioners officers are based.

And I reckon that Im justified in calling him that and much worse because he wont meet me or any Lloyds victims and the church is one of the biggest investors in Lloyds Banking Group, he said, prompting applause at the meeting.

Justin Welby, (you) used the expression but I think you are the reincarnation of an ancient evil, he said.

Lloyds Banking Group is listed as one of the Church Commissioners 20 most valuable share holdings, according to its 2017 annual report.

Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) boss Andrew Bailey used a speech earlier this month to update on progress on two HBOS cases, including its investigation into former senior managers of the failed bank.

It followed a 2015 review which found its top brass were ultimately responsible for its demise.

He said a substantial amount of information has been gathered and that new, potentially relevant documents are now being obtained.

Its second HBOS probe relates to extent and nature of the knowledge of misconduct within the Reading branch, as well as it communications with the FCAs predecessor the Financial Services Authority after the issues were discovered.

We are nearing the end of our investigative review and considering what action is appropriate, he said.

Lambeth Palace has been contacted for comment.Apples 13 billion euro Irish tax bill has been paid, the countrys finance minister said.

In 2016 the European Commission found that the multinational had received unfair tax incentives from the Republic and ordered Apple to pay back revenue it said was owed to the state.

Minister Paschal Donohoe said the 14.3 billion euro, once EU interest was included, would be held in a special escrow fund pending the outcome of an appeal before the European courts.

He added: The full recovery of the alleged state aid is a significant milestone and is in line with the commitment given earlier in the year that the alleged state aid would be recovered by end quarter three 2018.

Notwithstanding the fact that the Government does not accept the commissions analysis in the Apple state aid decision and have lodged an appeal with the European courts, the collection of the alleged state aid from Apple demonstrates that it was always the Governments intention to comply with its legal obligations.

Minister @Paschald, on behalf of the Government, confirms that the full recovery of the alleged State Aid from Apple has been completed. Read more here: https://t.co/rDhFsbPER0  Department of Finance (@IRLDeptFinance) September 18, 2018

The commission found that Ireland gave the technology giant illegal state aid by allowing it to pay an effective 1% corporation tax.

Apple and the Irish Government are appealing against the commissions ruling on the grounds that the tax treatment did not break Irish or EU law.

The money will be held in an escrow account meaning the proceeds cannot be released until there has been a final determination in the European courts over the validity of the commissions decision.

Irelands open economy is based on using low corporate taxation among other incentives to attract multinationals. In Apples case it was significantly below the standard 12.5% imposed on income.

The Irish Government opposes any effort to force it to change its taxation practices, which have seen the worlds top financial and technology firms set up base in Dublin.

Minister for finance Paschal Donohoe (Brian Lawless/PA)

Mr Donohoe added: While the Government fundamentally disagrees with the commissions analysis in the Apple state aid decision and is seeking an annulment of that decision in the European courts, as committed members of the European Union we have always confirmed that we would recover the alleged state aid.

We have demonstrated this with the recovery of the alleged state aid which will be held in the escrow fund pending the outcome of the appeal process before the European courts.

He said it was one of the largest funds of its kind to be established.

It has taken time to establish the infrastructure and legal framework around the escrow fund but this was essential to protect the interests of all parties to the agreement.The Duke of Cambridge has unveiled a statue of a war hero in front of Holocaust survivors and members of the mans family in what they described as a huge honour.

William arrived in Stourbridge for his final West Midlands engagement on Tuesday after visiting the University of Birmingham and Acorns Childrens Hospital.

He unveiled a statue in memory of Major Frank Foley, widely regarded as one of the UKs greatest heroes of the Holocaust, in front of a small audience at Mary Stevens Park.

The prince met members of Mr Foleys family, Holocaust survivors and members of the public as he arrived at the park, shaking hands with people who had lined the park paths to catch a glimpse of him.

Major Foley retired in Stourbridge where he lived quietly for almost a decade  this new statue honours his legacy. #RoyalVisitStourbridge pic.twitter.com/s9hf5M5R60  The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) September 18, 2018

Before the uneviling ceremony, Michael Mamelok, one of the survivors who managed to flee Berlin thanks to the efforts of MI6 officer Maj Foley, told the prince his story as William sat among his family.

Speaking to the Press Association about what the day meant to him, Mr Mamelok said: Im here to honour this great man who saved my life. My daughter wouldnt be here today  there have been 17 children directly descended from me which wouldnt be here.

Asked about the princes involvement in the ceremony, he said: Its an honour for him to come here and unveil Foleys statue, and Im delighted to be here to view that.

The ceremony in Maj Foleys town of retirement, Stourbridge, is the result of a campaign by the Holocaust Educational Trust and Dudley North MP Ian Austin in recognition of his work from the British embassy in Berlin, saving thousands of Jewish people from persecution in Nazi Germany.

William then sat with members of Maj Foleys family and discussed his officers life.

William meets the crowds in Mary Stevens Park, Stourbridge (Aaron Chown/PA)

Stephen Higgs, a great-nephew of Maj Foley, said: Were obviously hugely proud and honoured that His Royal Highness has come to unveil the statue.

This is a memorable day that I shall forever remember. I think the other important thing is his presence here today means that this event gets a very wide audience.

We are honoured that the Duke of Cambridge is attending todays ceremony, which could not have come at a better time, given the ongoing discussions around anti-Semitism in British political discourse today.

Before leaving the West Midlands, William walked down the line of crowds, shook hands and waved to those who turned out to see him.

Cries of William, welcome to Stourbridge! and We love you William! rang out as he left Mary Stevens Park.A commander who oversaw the firefighting response within Grenfell Tower has apologised to the bereaved families, telling a public inquiry: We didnt let you down, the building let us all down.

Richard Welch, a group manager from Lambeth with 22 years service, was tasked with marshalling dozens of firefighters up the burning block in June last year.

He said in a written statement to the Grenfell Tower inquiry that the experience was Armageddon and he had thought to himself: How can this happen in 2017?

By around 4am on the night of the fire, flames had devoured the building and rescue teams were struggling to make it past the 11th floor, the probe heard on Tuesday.

However, there were still dozens of residents trapped on the highest levels.

Mr Welch told a hearing at Holborn Bars that he was forced to restrict how far firefighters were sent, for their own safety.

He had briefly served as the incident commander before realising a more senior officer was present and took on the role of fire sector commander, overseeing the whole building.

I had (breathing apparatus) crews returning from trying to get past, that were in a physical condition which I felt they were very close to losing their own lives, he said.

At some point  it was probably the hardest decision I ever had to make in my life  I had to draw a line where they were still safe.

At the close of his evidence, Mr Welch made an emotional apology to the bereaved families.

I would just like to say to the families that we are very sorry for the amount of people we lost that night, he said.

We couldnt have done any more, we did everything we could.

Every one of us that went into that building was willing to lose our own lives to save your loved ones.

We didnt let you down, the building let us all down and Im sorry for your loss.

Grenfell Tower had recently been refurbished and a highly flammable cladding system was installed on its external face.

It was judged that the 11th floor to the 15th floor were too dangerous to send crews beyond.

Richard Welch apologises to the bereaved families (Grenfell Tower Inquiry/PA)

Mr Welch added: It didnt mean we were going to stop at the 15th floor, at that point we had to do something with the heat barrier at those floors.

Otherwise firefighters would push and push and push to get through and, in my opinion, they would not have come back.

He made the decision based on the grim knowledge that calls to 999 from residents trapped in the tower were, one by one, falling silent.

Many of the disasters victims were clustered on the highest floors of the block.

Firefighters instead set about trying to extinguish the heat barrier, hoping it would allow a separate team with breathing equipment to try to push past.

The inquiry also heard that Mr Welch had failed to check that vital information about rescue missions was passed back to 999 operators.

He reported closely monitoring information about stranded residents that came in from the control room, but did not ensure the hub was kept abreast of progress on the scene.

On Tuesday, he said his faith that the officers beneath him were carrying out this task meant he did not investigate further.

Witnesses from the London Fire Brigades east London control room, where hundreds of 999 calls were pouring in, have previously said they were kept in the dark for hours.

At several points during his evidence, Mr Welch had to pause to regain composure as he spoke of his experiences that night.

His voice broke when he recalled reaching a time where he knew we couldnt keep sending teams to the top of the tower.The Duke of Cambridge will visit troops from the Irish Guards during a trip to Africa to promote a major conference in London which is targeting the illegal wildlife trade.

William will tour Namibia, Tanzania and Kenya during a seven-day visit beginning on September 24, in his role as president of umbrella organisation United for Wildlife and conservation body Tusk Trust.

Kensington Palace said the visit is a private working trip but it will include a number of official events at the request of the Government.

The Duke of Cambridge (Anthony Devlin/PA)

The Duke of Cambridge will visit Namibia, Tanzania and Kenya from Monday 24th to Sunday 30th September.



The private working trip is being made as @United4Wildlife President and @Tusk_org Patron ahead of the 2018 Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference in London #EndWildlifeCrime pic.twitter.com/vN8IrvKbli  The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) September 18, 2018

In Kenya the duke will visit the 1st Battalion the Irish Guards Battlegroup, which includes an infantry company from the Kenyan army, training under the British Army Training Unit Kenya.

William, who is Colonel of the Irish Guards, will learn how British and Kenyan troops are working together to improve performance on operations.

He will also visit Dar es Salaams port in Tanzania where he will learn more about the work the country is doing to combat the illegal wildlife trade.

The Duke of Cambridge with artist Patrick Hughes and one of the #rhinos from the #TuskRhinoTrail. @KensingtonRoyal



Help us protect endangered species by donating to Tusk by clicking on the link https://t.co/FRHC9srQh9 #EndWildlifeCrime



 @ChrisJack_Getty pic.twitter.com/PWuzBwgerA  Tusk (@tusk_org) September 10, 2018

London will host the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference on October 11-12, which aims to strengthen international partnerships and focus on three key themes  tackling the smuggling of animals, insects and plants as an organised crime, building coalitions, and closing markets.

During his time in Tanzania William will hold discussions with President John Magufuli about efforts to stop wildlife trafficking.

In Namibia the duke will meet vice president Nangolo Mbumba and attend an event to celebrate UK-Namibia relations at the residence of Britains High Commissioner, Kate Airey, where William will chat to key figures working in conservation as well as young people, business leaders and mental health activists.So, the Economic Advisory Council (EAC) of Pakistan, which is chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan himself, will now try to think outside the box in order to save the country from a horrific economic downfall, symptoms of which have been observed since June, 2017.

But will these out-of-the-box ideas push the country towards economic prosperity?

Such a pursuit would find itself based on the broad assumption that said ideas are cogent. Of course, the suggestions senior advisor Ashfaq Hasan Khan had during the September 6 EAC meeting, were of the opposite nature. According to him, banning the import of cheese, cars, mobile phones and fruits would help the country save 4-5 billion dollars  and avoid a possible bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Cheesy ideation: Imran Khan and Ashfaq Hasan Khan are thinking "outside the box". (Photo: DailyO)

One has to wonder why no one suggested reducing the import of crude oil.

While the world is investing more on renewable energy infrastructure, Pakistan still produces approximately 35 per cent of its electricity from imported oil. According to the Pakistan Finance Ministrys Economic Survey, for the financial year 2017-18, there was a 28.81 per cent increase in the import of petroleum. Yet, because the advisors want to think 'outside the box', they suggested banning the import of particularly those products for which Pakistan has no comparative advantage in production.

I asked a friend  the owner of a mobile phone shop  about the potential impact of such a senseless policy.

He told me that if the ban were to be imposed, tens of thousands of people across the country would lose their jobs. The majority of the labour force which is employed in mobile phone markets all over the country is often under- or uneducated and unskilled. In the event of such policies being realised, finding viable employment would become a major challenge for them.

On an average, a person working in a mobile phone shop makes PKR 10,000 to 25,000 a month. The unemployment rate in Pakistan is already at 5.9 per cent, and the less educated and unskilled labour  there is plenty of that in the country  will be worse-off after an import ban.

But economists dont think like that.

Slowburn: A ban on import of mobile phones? That can't be good news. (Photo: Reuters)

Will the government compensate those who will be affected by such ridiculous policies?

Finance Minister Asad Umar, before the 2018 general elections, vowed to generate around 10 million jobs in Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)s five-year term. Well, Mr Minister. This is really not how governments around the globe generate employment.

As far as imported cheese is concerned, most of the local and international food chains in the country prefer it over local cheese, especially mozzarella, which is used as one of the major ingredients in the making of pizzas and other fast food. But economists seem to have not put much thought into the potential effects of a cheese import ban on fast food restaurant chains, which, incidentally, are not just a source of employment for thousands of Pakistanis, but also generate billions of rupees as tax.

Import of motor vehicles, especially cars, has increased by 19.7 per cent in 2017-18. The significant growth in the import of auto parts corresponds with strong sales of locally-assembled vehicles. Will an import ban on cars and auto parts also affect the poor and uneducated workers who slog in automobile assembly workshops to earn a livelihood?

Yes, it will!

Once again, a fine example of thinking outside the box.

A scooter named desire: Economists don't care about the unskilled workforce in the auto sector. (Photo: Reuters)

At least a few advisors could have discussed how the country could work towards attracting foreign direct investment. But I guess inside the box ideas do not hold much importance anymore. According to a report published in The News International on August 18, 2018, Foreign Direct Investment into Pakistan (FDI) in July, fell 45.2 per cent year-on-year to $128.1 million, according to figures published by the central bank.

The report added that the decline in FDI flows  that stood at $233.8 million in July, 2017  was mainly driven by a marginal increase in Chinese investments, and lower investments from various other foreign companies.

The pace of the direct investments from multinational firms in the various sectors of Pakistans economy remained quite bleak. The countrys power sector lost momentum, as it saw FDI decline to $8.6 million in July against $46.5 million recorded in the corresponding month of last year.

No one in the meeting, of course, bothered mentioning how China is forcing Pakistan to buy Chinese equipment, for use in Chinese projects that are part of the multi-billion dollar ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). And it is draining Pakistans reserves. On top of that, Beijing happily extends loans to Pakistan, to cover such expenses, of course. No wonder Pakistan is buried in debt.

But thinking outside the box, they are.

China is fleecing Pakistan with CPEC. But economists don't care about that either. (Photo: Reuters)

Rather than suggesting that the government improve security conditions in Pakistan, incentivise investors and discuss how prolonged electric power outages, delays at the ports and airports, shortage of technical workers and labour walkouts (protest layoffs) can be tackled  all of this adds to the cost of doing business, which forces investors to not to invest in Pakistan  advisers want the Imran Khan government to ban the import of those items that are high in demand, and with which thousands of jobs are associated.

'Outside-the-box' thinking simply does not stop.

Pakistan needs economists who think like economists.

Banning the import of these items will inflate prices in the markets and obviously, consumers will suffer. On the verge of a serious economic collapse, banning the import of products that are high in demand and for the production of which the country has no specialisation whatsoever  thus, no comparative advantage  and with which hundreds of thousands of jobs are linked, will only add to Pakistans woes.

An IMF bailout is the only good option that Pakistan has right now.

The loan should be utilised to solve the energy crisis, bettering and creating infrastructure, creating jobs and increasing exports with transparency and efficiency.

But who cares about all of that; after all, what is needed is outside-the-box thinking, eh?

Also Read: From Jinnah's 'Land of the Pure' to Imran's 'Naya Land of the Pure', little has changed in Pakistani politicsPakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan, now PM of Pakistan, introduced the term Naya Pakistan as key election slogan  a Pakistan which is corruption-free, where rule of law is equal for all, where the state is sensitive to expectations of all people and not just the rich and elite of Pakistan.

In his animated speeches, Imran Khan promised employment for educated youth, skill development, improving agriculture and industrial investments and a focus on tourism  which he rightly identified as Pakistans most under-tapped potential.

Khan promised a "Naya Pakistan". But can he deliver? (Photo: Reuters)

While the people of Pakistan have heard promises like these and more in the past, the difference this time is coming from a politician with a clean image, carefully curated with gracious help from the fauj-controlled media and judiciary. And this apparent illustration has caught the imagination of the country, primarily its young voters, who have become weary of the status quo, and are desperate to see change in society.

Unlike choices of inspiration, which are motivated by joy, purpose, sacrifice and excitement, choices of desperation are borne out of stress and anxiety, leading to poor judgement. Young voters of Pakistan  caught in a vicious cycle of poverty, extremism and an ideology of negation, desperately longing for status quo change, and guided by the all pervasive fauj  chose the only option they were convinced to see: Imran Khan.

But can PM Imran deliver on expectations?

One way to predict the future is to look in history, observe precedence and see if snippets of it start appearing all over again.

Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, like the younger Khan, was fascinated by the West. Great Britain inspired Jinnah, not just in his political life but as well in his personal taste. Jinnah donned Western-style clothing and pursued fashion with fervour. It is claimed that Jinnah owned more than 200 tailored suits, wearing them with heavily starched shirts, detachable collars and silk ties. Historian Stanley Wolpert alleged in a book, quoting  MC Chagla, a close friend of Jinnah  that Jinnah was fond of eating pork, an act forbidden in Islam.

Noteworthy to mention that the Pakistan government banned Wolpert's book Jinnah of Pakistan.

Jinnah and Khan, two Pakistani leaders who have followed eerily similar trajectories. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Khan, likewise, admired the Western lifestyle and lived a playboy life in London. Khan would spend his evenings in Annabel's and Tramp nightclubs in London's West End and dated a series of debutantes  including the late Sita White (daughter of Lord White), Susannah Constantine, Lady Liza Campbell and the artist Emma Sergeant.

Jinnah admired British political institutions and preferred constitutional means over mass struggle and agitation; influenced by Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Jinnah aspired during the early part of his political life to become a Muslim Gokhale but in the context of Indian nationalism.

However, Jinnah was never a practising Muslim, and despised religious or sectarian fanaticism. When Gandhi put his weight towards the Khilafat movement, Jinnah unequivocally criticised Gandhi for what he saw was an endorsement of religious zealotry. Similarly, Khan had no particular leaning towards a sect, a religious school of thought or seminary. When asked of his lifestyle once, Khan famously quipped, I am a humble sinner.

Early in his political career, Jinnah was instrumental in passing the Child Marriages Restraint Act, but soon ended up marrying a sixteen-year-old Parsi girl, with an age gap of 24 years between them. Decades later, the same Jinnah, who found orthodoxy intolerable, would go on to disown his daughter for marrying a non-Muslim.

From the infamous lothario of London to funding the Darul Uloom Haqqania (a bona fide factory of jihad) to marrying a full pardah peerni to visiting mazars to riling the masses under the pretext of blasphemy against his political opponents  who would have predicted this makeover of Imran Khan?

Once upon a time, Jinnah opposed separate electorates for Muslims and Hindus, openly championing the Nehru Report on joint electorates. But later, he went on to espouse the communal and divisive Two-Nation Theory, which led to agitation, rioting and bloodshed.

From an infamous loverboy of London to marrying a full pardah peerni, Khan has flipped 180 degrees in the last few decades. (Photo: DailyO)

Indistinguishably, Khan, who once refused to become Prime Minister under General Musharraf, would go on to become pawn in a showdown between ex-PM Nawaz Sharif and the Pakistani establishment. Launching himself from one container to another, after months of agitation and street power, the Khan of yesteryears would see his more sublime self-image of 'fakir' crumble in the quest for power.

Soon-to-be Governor-General of Pakistan, Jinnah outlined his vision of Pakistan in an address to the Constituent Assembly, delivered on 11 August 1947. He spoke of inclusive and impartial government, religious freedom, rule of law and equality for all: "In the course of time Hindus would cease to be Hindus and Muslims would cease to be Muslims, not in the religious sense, because that is the personal faith of each individual, but in the political sense as citizens of the State."

Only to let it slip few months later, Jinnah wrote a letter to the Egyptian Imam and founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Sheikh Hassan al-Banna: I am writing to you, the great Muslim leader, to inform you that I am determined, by Gods will, to save Pakistan from the tyranny of imperialism and the various hostile currents, he wrote. I have therefore decided to follow the advice you kindly gave me in your recent letter, that my government should assume a purely Islamic character and work in close cooperation with the other strong international Islamic organisations which are headed by your Ikhwan-al-Muslimun society [the Muslim Brotherhood].

Jinnah even asked al-Banna to send prominent Egyptian journalist Saleh El-Ashmawy to Pakistan, so he could consult on how to build our Islamic government and build [the] idea of the Islamic league.

Almost identically, Imran Khan, in a rally last year, apparently roared to his followers If I were to appoint an economic advisor, would I appoint a world-renowned economist Atif Mian or my brother-in-law (chiding Nawaz Sharifs appointment of Ishaq Dar as Finance Minister)?, come September 2018, Prime Minister Imran Khan appointed Atif Mian to the Economic Advisory Council, only to rescind the decision under pressure from the religious right  because Mian was born Ahmadiyya.

Further, the tall claim of corruption-free Naya Pakistan has holes in it when looked through the prism of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab Commission (KPEC), which was abolished after costing the exchequer Rs 1.05 billion during the four years of its ineffectual existence. And, of course, there is the camaraderie with the court-ruled dishonest Jahangir Khan Tareen. Much like Jinnahs affirmation of representative democracy in his speeches, while arbitrarily dismissing the provisional government of NWFP as Governor General of Pakistan.

All Im saying is, Jinnah sold a utopian idea of land of pure, and we are witness to how that played out in last 70yrs. Now if Imran is successful in selling Naya land of pure - who is to blame? The seller or the buyer?  Jungjoo Gernail  (@GernailSaheb) July 24, 2018

But lets get back to the initial question  can PM Imran Khan deliver?

If Jinnahs promise to the masses led to the Land of the Pure with its 70-years baggage of disappointments and consistently poor choices, how would the naya Land of the Pure be any different?

Not particularly. One, because the people selling these utopian dreams  then and now  are almost identical: of weak character, opportunistic, lacking integrity and ideologically barren. But more fundamentally, it would be so because the buyers are as desperate and intellectually indolent now, as they were 70 years back.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

Also Read: Why removal of Atif Mian from the Economic Advisory Council is neither a service to Islam nor to PakistanRecently, an American professor friend told me that American policymakers usually planned 20-25 years ahead, whereas the Chinese prepare for the next 40-50 years. In comparison, the Indian situation is extremely grim.

Many times, ill-considered ad-hocism plagues our plans, this being truer in the field of higher education. The latest example is the recent announcement of the HRD ministry regarding new regulations of the University Grants Commission for the appointment of assistant professors in universities/colleges/higher education institutions (HEIs). However, it has some positive points as well.

Higher education has a vital role in fulfilling Indias aspirations of becoming a superpower. For first-class higher education and HEIs, faculty members are a sine qua non, both on the qualitative and the quantitative scale. Hence these announcements. A welcome highlight in this announcement is to make special provision for the recruitment as assistant professors of PhD degree holders from the top 500 globally ranked HEIs.

Higher education has a vital role in fulfilling Indias aspirations of becoming a superpower. (Photo: PTI)

Teaching jobs

Currently, such students are ineligible to take up teaching jobs in Indian HEIs. The far-reaching import of this provision can be understood in the context that the number of Indian HEIs in the top 500 universities of the world is barely 8 to10  the IISC Bengaluru, 6-7 IITs, and the University of Delhi, etc.

This special campaign for the appointment of PhD degree holders from these top HEIs, undoubtedly, will be a boon with regard to the quality of our higher education. While teaching in different American universities, I found that many Indians studying and working abroad wished to return to India. But couldnt because of complications of appointment in Indian HEIs.

However, there are some points that need serious reconsideration. As per the new regulation, a PhD has been made mandatory for the appointment of assistant professors in universities, whilst for the colleges either PhD, or postgraduate, degree along with Net (National Eligibility Test) or SET/SLET (State Level Eligibility Test) is needed. In both cases, more thinking is required.

PhD has been overemphasised in the universities appointment, brushing aside the fact that, excepting some renowned HEIs, the quality of PhD is generally not up to the mark. Indeed, there have been media reports that one can even buy a PhD degree in some lower grade HEIs. Thus, making a PhD the sole criteria is fraught with danger.

In universities appointment, a PhD plus NET must be made mandatory. NET is an all-India examination, passing which is a validation of knowledge in that subject. One can ask, why the exemption from NET for foreign PhD holders? The answer lies in the fact that securing a PhD from these top global HEIs is in itself an enormous achievement, the high standards of which are attested to by the all-round citations.

Besides this, another issue related to PhD is its admission process. For PhD admission, different universities conduct their own entrance tests (Those who have passed NET are exempted from taking this exam). This is followed by an interview where both the candidates clearing the test and the NET passed appear. And, then comes the final admission list.

A major problem with this process is that the candidates appearing for the entrance exam are compelled to travel around various universities, located far apart, to take the tests  a huge wastage of time, money and energy. Apart from this, the level of the entrance test is also downright pathetic in many universities. It is high time that there should be a single entrance test for admission to PhD across the country, just like AIEEE for engineering, or NEET for medical courses. A leeway should be there, however, allowing different universities to conduct their own interviews to admit candidates in accordance with their specialised areas/needs.

The door of teaching should be opened only for the deserving. (Photo: Facebook)

Entrance test

A combined entrance test will have another latent advantage. Currently, the pattern of PhD entrance tests varies in different universities. Its fully objective, somewhere, as in the University of Delhi, and in some, completely subjective/theoretical as had been in JNU till last year.

A balanced approach would be a mixed bag of both, to examine comprehensively the ability of candidates. The research aptitude paper, here, can be objective, but the subject-related paper must be theoretical assessing the conceptual clarity, analytical and synthesis ability and explanatory capacity of candidates.

Bright faculties

NET, the other basis for appointing assistant professor, has its own problems. Its current format is flawed. It must be noted that before 2012, there was a descriptive question paper also in the NET exam. But in 2012, this theoretical component was done away with, without any cogent reasons, proving to be fatal. Today one can find many NET passed, clearing this multiple choice NET exam by rote learning, but who cant even write a page properly. The fate of higher education can only be imagined with these "would be" faculties.

Besides this, the SET/SLET should be scrapped totally. States have invented this process to use as a backdoor entry for less meritorious students, ruinous not only for higher education but also for that state. Getting bright faculties from outside would not only be beneficial for states, but it will also promote a sense of national integration and nationalism.

The door of teaching should be opened only for the deserving. It must be remembered that the US, the powerhouse of higher education, and a superpower, invites best teachers from across the world. This is no ordinary profession  at stake is the future of society, state and nation.

(Courtesy of Mail Today)

Also Read: Kerala nun rape case: A moment of reckoning for the Church in IndiaThe recently concluded elections of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) ensured yet again that this institution of eminence would remain Leftist for at least one more year in its orientation as far as its student politics is concerned.

The Left Unity candidates won all major union posts in a highly charged election that saw allegations and counter allegations of violence and other misconduct. However, the fact that all Leftist organisations  AISA, AISF and SFI  had to form an alliance to counter the growing rise of the anti-Left Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) is a worrying sign for the Left ideologues, both within and outside the friendly confines of this beautiful campus.

No matter how insignificant this election may be at any level, the Left would not like to lose one of its truly last forts in India.

Jawaharlal Nehru University  the Left's last bastion. (Photo: PTI)

If the recent national electoral scenes are any indication, the space for the Left is shrinking from all meaningful forums. The Left in India is pretty much reduced to its singular disruptive nuisance value. As far as many of these Left student leaders are concerned, they end up joining one non-BJP and non-Left party or the other to pursue their political career outside of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).

JNU is arguably one of the most prestigious liberal arts universities of India. Nestled in the picturesque 1,000 acres expanse of the Aravali Hills in south Delhi, it is one small island of tranquillity away from the chaotic hustle and bustle that defines the typical urban life in India.

This is where I spent four of my formative years in the early 1990s, first as an MA student, then as an MPhil scholar before moving to the US. I owe a lot to my JNU education where I learnt from some of the finest in the field, including Padma Shri Dr Anvita Abbi and Dr Kapil Kapoor among others, and made lifelong friends.

While JNU has its admirers, it has its fair share of detractors as well. I recently attended the World Hindu Congress 2018 in Chicago where I was the chair of one of the sessions in the Media Forum. When the organisers introduced me as the alumnus of JNU, one could hear a murmur in the hall.

By now, I am used to this kind of welcome in gatherings, both large and small  but I never fail to acknowledge the education and training I received and the self-confidence I gained. I wouldnt be where I am without my JNU education.

When I arrived on the campus of JNU on a balmy August afternoon as a graduate student in Linguistics, I felt special, part of an exclusive club. This exclusivist aura, the elitism, is what defines JNU to some extent and sets it apart from other universities of India. How true it is, is for anyone to judge. But it undoubtedly has a character  the freedom of expression, the dining hall speeches, the dhaba debates, and so on and so forth. It is quite an experience, to tell you the truth.

The exclusivism, the elitism. That's what defined JNU even back in the early 90's. (Photo: Indiatoday.in)

However, when one digs a little deeper, they will realise that a great deal of debate, exchange of ideas, etc., is allowed as long as it follows a specific paradigm.

Who can forget the viral video of Professor Makarand Paranjape not being allowed to go to his office by protesting Leftist students? Another viral video shows the same professor being heckled by JNUSU leaders during his speech for expressing dissenting voice and challenging their narrative. Such incidents go against the very essence of a truly liberal and democratic educational institution. However, there is a need to see such blatant assaults on the idea of free speech in the context of growing intolerance on the part of the Left ecosystem worldwide towards any dissent.

It was, after all, the same elitism and intolerance that, right away, branded many of us JNU newcomers as lumpen as the new rangroots (rookies) did not fit the classical JNU mould.

The same intolerant exclusivism did not allow a Baba Ramdev and a Vivek Agnihotri on JNU campus.

Amidst protest by Left-wing students and faculty, the Yoga gurus appearance as a keynote speaker at the 22nd International Congress of Vedanta was cancelled by the University administration. On the other hand, the filmmaker had to arrange an outdoor screening of his movie Buddha in a Traffic Jam. The earlier arrangement of its screening in the auditorium of The School of Arts & Aesthetics was cancelled by the Dean of the School.

JNU has always been a Marxist-Leftist stronghold.

It was created in 1969, three years after the Indian Parliament passed an act for its establishment. The founding goal of the University was national integration, social justice, secularism, the democratic way of life, international understanding and a scientific approach to the problems of the society.

However, soon after its inception, those lofty goals were shown the door for more concrete political goals. It all started with Indira Gandhi splitting the Congress of Gandhiji and Jawaharlal Nehru after she was expelled from the party. Already the Prime Minister of India, Indira was 45 seats short of majority in the Lok Sabha. She turned to the Communist Party of India (CPI) for support.

The communists were too eager to support  but not without a price. Under this support plan, an openly Leftist historian and academic Saiyid Nurul Hasan was made the Education Minister of India in 1971. Nurul Hasans policies ensured a Leftist stranglehold over the JNU faculty that it is yet to overcome. Relying heavily on its alumnus for faculty recruitment, the Leftists ensure a healthy inflow of like-minded teachers.

The famous JNU protest: JNU has always been a Marxist-Leftist stronghold, in the grip of angry demands. (Photo: PTI)

JNU holds an open national entrance examination for enrolment. This selection process is apparently rigged to a great extent to filter out unwarranted students from ever setting foot on the campus. Arvind Kumar, in his detailed article Selection Engineering: Political Filters in JNU Admission Process provides an insight into this selection process. The author cites examples of the kinds of questions asked, albeit subtly, during the selection process. Answers to those questions force one to reveal his/her political and ideological positions on various issues. On the other hand, to shelter their like-minded disciples, JNU doctoral supervisors are reportedly known to keep up to 30-times more MPhil and PhD students than normal, flouting all norms of academic rigour and integrity.

Another tool used for keeping Left domination alive was the way the administration apparently systematically disallowed certain branches of education in the University. It was after much hard work of many well-meaning people that the School of Sanskrit and Indic Studies was established. Being a premiere liberal arts institution, one would expect it to have programs in developing Sanskrit scholarship. The University, on the other hand, had several non-Indic language departments right from the word go, and a centre for Sanskrit would have to wait for about 30 years to be functional.

But one of the most depressing aspects of JNU life has been its Rudali nature. One of the major JNU narratives revolves around over-emphasis on the evils of Indian society, particularly that of Hindu society. Indian intellectuals in general and JNU academics in particular have a fetish for depressingly over-emphasising the ills of society. These Rudalis dont see much positive in the society around them. Indeed, they seem ever (if not over-) ready to denigrate Hindu culture, gods and goddesses.

As a privileged alumnus of this prestigious university, I would love to see our beloved institution held up to its highest academic standards  without succumbing to ideological extremism.

Also read: ABVP created ruckus during JNU Students Union election because it saw defeat comingThe 15th Finance Commission headed by N. K. Singh held talks with political parties, trade and industry organisations and local bodies in Maharashtra on Tuesday, while the government and political parties sought a special grant of Rs 50,000 crore for Mumbai's development, an official said here.



On a three-day visit to the state, the commission comprises Ashok Lahiri, Shaktikanta Das, Anoop Singh and Ramesh Chand.



Leaders and delegations of several political parties expressed concern that the state has been deprived of tax devolution on the pretext that the state has the highest GSDP and successive commissions ignored the challenges of regional inequality within Maharashtra.



They demanded that since Maharashtra has maintained the population replacement rate of 1.8, it should be incentivized for the same.



Raising issues concerning Mumbai, which has been the growth magnet for the country, they discussed the resultant immigration which puts enormous stress on resources and infrastructure.



For this, the parties demanded from the Commission a special grant of Rs.50,000 crore for the city's development as people from all states in the country live here.



They pointed out that while population is a critical indicator for devolution, due weightage should be given to "in-migration", sought adequate revenue deficit grants and to pay attention to the farm crises and drought afflicting the state.



Various industry and agriculture groups informed the Commission about the shortage of equity and credit faced by them and requested that Goods & Services Tax (GST) on services used by the centre and state may be borne by the respective governments to spare the MSMEs of the burden of frequent taxation.



The industry groups pointed out that the competitiveness of Indian exporters would improve due to the Rupee depreciation within a range of Rs 72-73 per USD.



They added that the domino effects of insolvency and NCLT is faced by MSMEs and sought relaxation in the rules of the Insolvency Act.



Local civic bodies in the urban and rural areas raised issued of need to devolve funds to the Zilla and Taluka Panchayats, besides village Panchayats, to maintain community assets, capacity building, raising internal resources and cluster-based approach for effective delivery of services like sold waste management.



Representatives from the coastal Konkan demanded special grants for dealing with cleanliness and beautification of sea shores, arresting saline water ingression and hill regions like Panchgani sought funds to provide services to the tourist population and performance-based incentives.Vice President Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday arrived in Romania on the last leg of his three-nation visit to boost India's ties with the southeastern European country.

Naidu landed here from Malta where he held comprehensive discussions with President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca on ways to bolster bilateral relations. The two countries signed three MoUs for collaboration between the foreign services institutes and cooperation in maritime and tourism.

Upon his arrival in Bucharest, the vice president received a warm welcome from Vice Prime Minister of Romania Ana Birchall, External Affairs Ministry (MEA) Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in a tweet.

In the last leg, Naidu will be in Romania from September 18 to September 20.

The visit coincides with 70th year of Indo-Romanian ties and the centenary year of Romania.

During the visit, Naidu will meet Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, the president of Romanian Senate and the prime minister. He will also address a session of Chamber of Deputies in the Romanian Parliament.

Naidu will also have a business meet and interact with the Indian diaspora, the MEA has said in a statement.External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is likely to attend an informal meeting of SAARC Council of Foreign Ministers on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York later this month, official sources said Wednesday.

Asked about the possibility of a meeting between Swaraj and Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in New York, they, however, said her schedule is being worked out.

The SAARC (South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation) foreign ministers' informal meeting has been taking place for last few years on the margins of the UNGA.

In Islamabad, Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Mohammad Faisal said it is "engaged" with India to facilitate a bilateral meeting between Qureshi and Swaraj in New York. Both Swaraj and Qureshi will be in New York next week to attend the UNGA.

The India-Pakistan ties nose-dived in recent years following a spate of terror attacks in India by Pakistan-based terror groups. India has not been holding official talks with Pakistan following the attacks.

Asked about possibility of India participating in SAARC summit if it is organised, the sources said it will not change its position unless Pakistan stops cross-border terrorism.

The last SAARC Summit in 2014 was held in Kathmandu, which was attended by Modi. The 2016 SAARC Summit was to be held in Islamabad.

But after the terrorist attack on an Indian Army camp in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir on September 18 that year, India expressed its inability to participate in the summit due to "prevailing circumstances" and stepped up diplomatic pressure on Pakistan.

The summit was called off after Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan also declined to participate in the Islamabad meet.The BJP on Tuesday accused Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu of demeaning India, speaking as an agent of Pakistan and demoralising the soldiers of the country by attempting to justify hugging Pakistani Army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa and claiming that Pakistan is willing to allow Sikh pilgrims access to a gurudwara on its territory.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, Sidhu has a lot of admirers...Somebody of that stature going there and then hugging the chief of the army, an army about which, in India, we have very clear feelings. It certainly has an impact on soldiers and people in the (defence) ministry. The public response is also similar. It is demoralising. I wish Sidhu had avoided it.

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra also demanded a response from Congress president Rahul Gandhi over the issue, saying Sidhu has been speaking on the matter with his permission as Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has already condemned him over his conduct in Pakistan during the swearing-in ceremony of Imran Khan recently.

He also accused Sidhu of meeting External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj deceptively as she had given appointment to former Union Minister M S Gill with whom, Patra alleged Sidhu tagged along.

Patra said Swaraj reprimanded Sidhu in their meeting on Monday for his conduct in Pakistan.Eight years after it was first conceived, the work on the mega exhibition and convention centre  India International Convention & Expo Centre (IICC)  will finally commence from Thursday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone of the state-of-the-art convention centre in Dwarka on the lines of the ones in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Singapore for hosting exhibitions, trade fairs and summits of international standards.

The project is planned over an area of 221.37 acres (over 90 hectares or 10.7 lakh square km) in Sector 25, Dwarka, at an estimated cost of Rs.25,703 crores. It is connected through Dwarka Expressway and Urban Extension Road II and is about 11 kms from the Delhi International Airport. The project was first mooted in 2010 but was stuck due to delay in transfer of land from DDA.

IICC at Dwarka will be an integrated complex with facilities like exhibition halls, convention centre, open exhibition spaces, mixed use commercial spaces like star hotels (5, 4 and 3 star), retail services and high-end offices. The convention centre can accommodate 11,000 persons, 5 exhibition halls, 1-kilometre long foyer, multi-purpose arena with retractable roof.

It will be developed in two phases. Phase-I and II will be completed by December 2019 and December 2024, respectively. Officials associated with the project said the first phase, comprising convention centre with a seating capacity of 10,000 guests, two exhibition halls spread over 80,000 square metre area and a foyer, would be ready by October 2019 and will be constructed as non-public-private partnership (PPP) component. The second phase, comprising the remaining exhibition area will be ready by 2025 and facilities such as hotels, retail space and offices will be completed on a public-private partnership (PPP) mode, it said.

The driving factor behind the project is also to promote schemes like Make in India, tourism, trade and commerce, exports, business tourism etc. According to estimations, the government expects IICC Dwarka will generate an annual demand for at least 100 large international and domestic events. It expects to receive around 10 million annual visitors by 2019-20 and 23 million after the second phase in 2025.

According to officials, the country boasts of a few big convention centres such as the one in Pragati Maidan and the Bombay Convention and Exhibition Centre, but a world-class centre is lacking. The IICC Dwarka will be looking to fill in this space.

The construction will be in line with green building principles and Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) Platinum rating standards.

IICC complex will have a dedicated underground Metro station which will be an extension of the airport high speed metro corridor and is being constructed by Delhi Metro.

The Airport Express line of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation is being considered for extension from Dwarka Sector 21 to the ECC complex. It is proposed that the complex will have a dedicated station along with three entry/exit points within the complex and the lines construction could be completed by as soon as December 2019.Whats worse than a crime itself? Its the guardian failing the victim and the disbelief that you cannot count on the people you trust. So it is abominably nauseating that administrators of a residential school in Dehra Dun forcibly tried to terminate the pregnancy of a class X girl who had been raped in the premises by Class XII boys.

Teachers or any school authority have a legal duty to report any kind of sexual assault on children to the police and take immediate correctives to heal the survivor.

Particularly of something as heinous as rape. This matter came to light only recently when it was found that the girl was one-month pregnant. It was revealed that the school administrator and his wife, in order to hush up the crime, tried to abort the foetus by giving the victim medicated drinks. Rapes in the safe environment of a school by known faces is anyway a monstrous reality that one finds difficult to come to terms with. But a cover-up attempt by the school is downright criminal as it amounts to not only obstruction of justice but wilful destruction of innocence. The school authorities are equally guilty of a violation of child rights. Unpardonable.

The other ugly truth of this story is that the victim and the offender are almost the same age and peer rapes are the new urban nightmare. Figures show that there has been an increase in sexual harassment, peer sexual violence perpetration and dating sexual violence in the recent years. Depending only on classroom lessons will not be effective in reducing sexual violence. Whats important is a school-wide awareness drive about sexuality, its healthy and unhealthy contours, and creating alternative and constructive spaces for inter-mingling of genders. As their mentors, teachers and parents have the added responsibility of guiding the sensitive teens through their dialogues.The brutal killing of a BSF jawan and mutilation of his body by the Pakistan Rangers has sparked off fresh tensions along the International Border ahead of the second anniversary of surgical strikes.

BSF jawans recovered the badly mutilated body of the missing jawan along the fencing in Ramgarh sector of Samba on Tuesday evening.

According to official sources, the eyes of BSF head constable, identified as Narendra Kumar, were gouged out, neck was partially slit and the whole body had marks of burn injuries, including on chest and arms. Three bullet injury marks were found on the body of the martyred jawan.

It is for the first time the Border Action Team (BAT) of the Pakistan Rangers targeted BSF jawans along the International Border in the recent years.

Vulnerable patches along the International Border have been spruced up to prevent fresh attacks by the BAT.

According to BSF statement, An area domination patrol of the BSF was targeted by the Pakistan Rangers in Ramgarh sector around 10.40 am on Tuesday morning. The BSF jawans were engaged in the task of clearing wild grass to ensure clear vision. It is suspected the BAT team of the Pakistan Rangers ambushed the BSF patrolling party after which one of the jawans went missing. The body of the BSF jawan, injured in the unprovoked firing, was found after massive search operations in the forward area late on Tuesday evening.

The search operation was delayed due to tough posturing by the Pakistan Rangers after they refused to participate in the joint patrol to locate the missing BSF jawan.

It is suspected that the BAT members had dragged injured BSF jawan inside Pakistan territory.

Meanwhile, the BSF raised the issue of killing of its jawan with the Pakistan Rangers at the sector level to register their strong protest against the provocative killing.

The issue also came up during the Directorate General of Military Operations (DGMO) talks between India and Pakistan on Tuesday evening. India lodged strong protest over the killing of the BSF soldier during the Colonel level talks between the two sides on the hotline, sources said in New Delhi.

Meanwhile, the BSF jawans have been kept in a state of high alert to respond to any extreme provocation from the Pakistan side. Several villagers in the forward areas have been alerted to stay safe in the event of exchange of firing along the International Border.

After the recovery of the body, the BSF authorities in Jammu frontier had escorted team of doctors from Samba to the forward Kandral border outpost to conduct post-mortem late on Tuesday night.

After completing the necessary formalities, the body of the jawan was dispatched to his native place Sonepat in Haryana.It was a series of fortunate episodes that brought together academic visionaries in the sylvan town of Dehra Dun in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Each of these pioneers set out on a challenging new path which culminated in the establishment of institutions which stand as epitomes of good education.

Whether it is the public schools like Doon and Welham, an international school like Woodstock, Christian schools like St.Georges College and Sherwood College or a school on public school lines like the Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC), all these residential schools have contributed equally in making these hills and dales of Uttarakhand into school country. With rich traditions and hallowed pasts, all of these schools have produced alumni who have done them proud.

It was at the Welham Boys Preparatory School in the Doon valley that Rajiv Gandhi spent his early school years. From Welham, he went to The Doon School in 1955. Amitabh Bachchan, the star of the millennium, grew up at Sherwood College, Nainital. Sam Manekshaw was a Sherwoodian too.

Prominent among the academic visionaries who lived and worked in the Doon valley was Miss Hersilia Susie Oliphant, an English lady whose death anniversary falls on September 20.The school which she founded was Welham Boys School. Welham was founded in 1937 as a preparatory school for boarding schools in England and India with a capital of 1000.

The story of Miss H S Oliphant is an extremely inspiring saga of a dedicated lady who worked tirelessly for the cause of education in India for several decades. Born on August 17, 1883, she spent her childhood at Playworth Hall, Retford, Nottinghamshire. There is no record to establish that she ever went to school or college. In 1920, Miss Oliphant arrived in India to work as a companion to the Maharani of Cooch Behar. Soon, she left Cooch Behar and went to work in Kanpur and then Delhi. From Delhi, she came to Dehra Dun and worked at The Doon School and Colonel Brown School.

She was resolved to set up a Preparatory School in the Doon valley. In 1936, the owner of 5, Circular Road, Hukum Chand informed her that the house could be made available for the school. The place was done up and the first boy to join the Welham Boys Prep School in January 1937 was Maqbool Hussain Khan. Miss Oliphants dream of a residential kindergarten and prep school for Indian children was finally realised. She was then 54 years old. There were only six boys to begin with.

Named by Miss H S Oliphant after her girlhood home, the Welham village in Nottinghamshire, this boys school has indeed come a very long way from its sheltered existence as a little prep school in the quiet Dalanwala area of the Doon valley. It has gone from Strength to Strength, as says its motto. Founded in January 1937, it kept sending its boys to other schools like The Doon School and Mayo College after Class 5, for many years-till 1980. The first Class Ten batch appeared for boards in 1985.

The school is spread over 30 acres and has a spectacular view of the Himalayan hills. There are around 500 students.

The School Magazine titled The Oliphant is brought out by the student-editors. Indias first Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah, who studied at the Welham Boys School and The Doon School in the 1950s, said at one of founders day celebrations at the Welham Boys School, where he was the chief guest, that after leaving the familiar atmosphere of the Welham Boys School, when he went onto The Doon School, he felt lonely and unhappy for the first few weeks. I stayed at Welham for two years and it was like home to me. It was a small school then.

When I went to The Doon School I was quite unhappy as it was a very big school with lots of students. The atmosphere of fellow feeling I was used to at Welham was missing in the Doon School. My most enjoyable time was spent at Welham. The founder, Miss Oliphant, was a motherly figure, though stern at times.

In 1956, Ms Oliphant donated all her assets to the Welham Boys School which presently is administered by a distinguished Board of Trustees. Miss Oliphant fell ill in 1962 and went back to England where she died on September 20, 1962.

The academic world of the Doon valley will always remain obliged to this ladys strong will and dedication. Her contribution to the sphere of school education in the Doon valley is indeed valuable and will always be cherished by the people of the valley.With the aim to timely redress people's grievances, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has asked officials to strengthen the Janhit Guarantee Adhiniyam (citizens charter) so that the complaints are resolved within the prescribed time frame.

In a communication to additional chief secretaries, principal secretaries and secretaries, the CM said on Wednesday that a time-bound dashboard be created in each department to monitor the redressal of complaints.

"These dashboards should have details about total complaints received, how many of them have been resolved, and in what time. They should also mark defaulters after the lapse of stipulated time. These departmental dashboards should be integrated with the dashboard at the Chief Minister's secretariat so that the progress can be monitored at the CM's office too," Yogi said in his order.

He also asked the officers to give publicity to the Jan Sewa Kendras, e-district, Nivesh portals so that people may lodge their complaints and inquire about them online.

"Once these facilities are made available online and people are made aware of them, the middlemen culture will vanish and the problems of the people will be resolved in a transparent manner," the CM said.

He also said that the department should also upload the name of the appellate authority so that, if needed, people may contact him/her.A meeting of recently formulated executive body of Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (CGPCC) is now going to be held at Bilaspur on Thursday.

The meeting proposed to be held at state capital has been shifted to Bilaspur after the police cane charging incident.

AICCs Chhattisgarh In-charge P.L. Punia would be specially arriving in Bilaspur to attend the meeting. After the incident CGPCC Chief Bhupesh Baghel was called by party high command to New Delhi and he is returning with Punia in the city to attend the meeting on Thursday.

Notably, this would be the maiden meeting of Executive body after a jumbo working committee was formed as per the orders by AICC a couple of days ago.

It is expected that the newly inducted office bearers of the CGPCC would be assigned the job ahead of the Assembly polls.

Similarly, the District Congress Presidents have also been called in the meeting and they too would be given the assignment to ensure the victory of candidates in their respective Assembly constituencies.Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) of Dena Bank Parsuram Panda will be on a days visit to Raipur on September 20, a bank press release informed on Wednesday.

He would be participating in local events and hold meeting of branch managers and other officers.

Panda had joined as CVO at Head Office Mumbai on July 23, 2018. He had started his banking career from Bank of India in 1988 as a Probationary Officer.

He is in banking service for last 30 years and had served in the Bank of India as Branch Manager, Lead Bank Manager, Circle Manager, Regional Manager and General Manager in Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Punjab, Gujarat and Chhattisgarh. He had also served in Bank of India Branch at Belgium.The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) would probe into the allegations of former Kendrapada MP Baijayant Pandas flying of a helicopter in no flying zone over the Chilika lake.

Informing this, Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPCA) Director Suresh Chandra Hota on Tuesday said the black box data from the chopper would be examined to establish its flight details and whether it had flown low over the lake sanctuary.

Hota said, When any aircraft flies as low as 500-ft above the ground, it is difficult to avail any data as we lose contact with the chopper after 10-15 miles from the Bhubaneswar airport.The Nilgiri police on Wednesday busted an inter-State idol and antique lifters racket and arrested seven persons, including three of New Delhi and one of Haryana.

The arrestees were identified as Kuanarjit Singh (52), Naresh Kumar (29), Raj Kumar (39) of New Delhi, Raj Kumar (37) of Haryana, Dipak Behera (40) of Dhenkanal district, Manmath Malik (55) of Baleswar district and Omkarnath Bramhachari alias Hanuman Baba of Kendrapara district.

Sources said that they were caught by the villagers in the foothill of the Devanagiri hill of Nilgiri on Sunday night and were thrashed by the locals assuming them as child lifters while they were moving suspiciously in the area at around 11 pm.

The police rescued them from the clutches of the mob and after interrogation it was revealed that they were caught while doing recce in the Nilgiri area to loot an antique idol, Sundura Gouri.

After stealing the idol, Sundura Gouri, from the temple, Omkanath Brahmachari was to perform a special puja before exporting to other State.

A person from Cuttack district who resides in Delhi had masterminded the antique loot and organised the racket accordingly. He along with two other accused are at large, said the Nilgiri police station IIC Nalita Modi.

Three other accused of the racket, however, who were residing in a hotel managed to flee, added Modi. The arrestees were sent to jail on rejection of their bail petitions.Bharatiya Janata Party state president Mahendra Nath Pandey said that to stop the ruling party from coming to power, the Congress was going to commit hara-kiri by joining hands with Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party because both these parties were casteist and corrupt.

"Everyone knows what had happened during the BSP and the SP regimes. Their leaderships had looted government exchequer to fill personal coffers, neglecting the plight of the people. If Congress wants to contest election with these corrupt parties, it will be suicidal for it," Pandey said while addressing a samajik pratinidhi baithak (social representative meeting) here on Wednesday.

He said that BSP leader Mayawati should not forget the Guest House incident in which SP goons had tried to kill her. He pointed out that at that time only the BJP had come to her rescue but now she was ready to join hands with the SP.

"This proposed alliance is opportunistic and has no vision. The target of these leaders is only to defeat the BJP," Pandey said.

"The Congress has lost its ground in Uttar Pradesh. It will suffer more once it joins hands with the BSP and the SP because this alliance will suffer a stunning defeat in the election," the BJP state chief said.

As this samajik pratinidhi baithak was attended by swarnkars (goldsmiths), Pandey said that these people had always been supporters of BJP since Jan Sangh days and the party had improved because of their support.

Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya also spoke on this occasion. He said that India had progressed in all fields during Narendra Modi's regime. He said all sections, including farmers, youths, women and entrepreneurs, had progressed in the last four and half years.

Maurya appealed to the Swarnkar Samaj to support the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha election.Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal has given no objection certificate (NOC) for the construction of Kishau Dam on river Tons, a tributary of river Yamuna along the border of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.

With the construction of this Dam, Haryana would get additional 709 cusecs of water for drinking and irrigation purposes, said an official spokesman.

As per Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between six states in the year 1994, Haryanas share in the Kishau Dam is 709 cusec water out of the live storage capacity of 1324 MCM.

Notably, Manohar Lal along with Chief Ministers of Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi had inked MoU with Union Water Resources Minister, Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi for construction of Lakhwar multi-purpose project in the Upper Yamuna Basin. With the construction of this project, Haryana would get 177 cusecs as its share of water which constitutes about 47 per cent of the total storage capacity.A team of Medical Council of India (MCI) visited the Government Doon Medical College (GDMC) Hospital on Wednesday and inspected the available facilities. The MCI team comprising Dr Mital Patel from Jamnagar, Dr G V Thakur from Latur and chief coordinator of MCI Dr S K Garg arrived in the medical college for the inspection.

The team appeared unhappy at high percentage (32%) of shortage of faculty members and observed an overload of 12 percent in the Gynaecological department of the hospital. The team also found glaring faults in the construction of OPD and Operation Theatre ( OT).

In the college, the MCI team pointed out that the space of the library was too small.

The principal GDMC, Dr Pradip Bharati Gupta, said that the issues pointed out by the MCI team would be resolved as per the norms by January next. The college would be granted permission to give admission to fourth batch of the MBBS course on the basis of report submitted by the team.

Dr R S Raina, Dr K C Pant, medical superintendent ( MS) Dr K K Tamta and Dr Sushil Ojha accompanied the team during the inspection.The Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) of Ghaziabad has ordered re-investigation in a case of an alleged suicide by an electrician. Principal of LR Degree College in Sahibabad has been named in it.

The case pertains to abetment to suicide against college principal Dr Sanjay Dutt Kaushik and head clerk Bhudeo Sharma. Ranjit Jha the college electrician allegedly committed suicide on April 2016. On the basis of 'suicide note' which was found in the pocket of deceased a criminal case under section 306 of IPC was registered against the principal and head clerk.

Lawyer Raveesh Sharma told that the CJM ordered the reinvestigation in the case in which final report was already submitted by the Investigating Officer (IO). He said that CJM Ravendra Gupta took action when Geeta Jha , deceased widow objected to the submission of final report and stating that the Investigating Officer (IO) Vijay Kumar Yadav under the influence of college principal conspired and fetch the affidavits from the relatives of deceased who were the employees in the college.

The lawyer alleged that the principal and the head clerk have abused their positions and have influenced the relatives and the IO.

The court of CJM dismissed the final report submitted by the IO and ordered fresh investigation into the case. The court ordered the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ghaziabad to submit the report before the court before or on October 8.

The widow of the deceased, Geeta Jha has requested the Ghaziabad Police chief that the case should be investigated by Crime Branch instead of local Sahibabad police. She asserted that the Sahibabad police would work under the influence of college authority as even in the past the IO allegedly filed closure under influence.

The Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Vaibhav Krishna is believed to have agreed to her request and has issued relevant orders, the lawyer added.Sleuths of Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad claimed to have arrested a Border Security Force (BSF) constable on the charge sharing defence secrets with the agents of Pakistan ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence). He was honey-trapped on the social media by a woman who claimed to be a defence reporter.

The BSF constable, identified as Achutanand Mishra, was arrested from Noida recently and the ATS produced him before the media here on Wednesday. He was later produced in a local court which remanded him to police custody for five days starting from Wednesday night.

Giving details of the breakthrough here on Wednesday, Director General of Police OP Singh said the BSF constable was lured by a woman from Egypt and he sent her several vital information of defence and BSF in violation of Officials Secret Act. The woman was reportedly working for Pakistani espionage agency ISI.

The DGP said that information about the constable was passed on to UP Police by the Military Intelligence agency in Chandigarh after which they trapped the constable in Noida two days back.

The accused, a native of Rewa in Madhya Pradesh, joined the BSF in 2006 and has two children. He came into contact with the woman in 2016 through social media site. The woman told him that she was a defence reporter of a newspaper.

As they became friends, the woman started chatting with him on phone and influenced the constable to share defence secrets with her. He reportedly shared information about unit location, details of ammunition and pictures of the BSF camp, the DGP said.

Later, Mishra started WhatsApp chat with a phone number registered in Pakistan and the details of the conversation indicate that he was being influenced on conversion and Kashmir, the DGP said.

The Pakistani number was saved in his mobile phone as Pakistani dost (friend), the DGP said, but declined to divulge the number to the media on which Misra had been chatting.

Misra has accepted his crime and several cyber evidences have been found through his phone and Facebook account, the DGP said.

A case under sections 3/4/5/9 of the Official Secrets Act, section 121(A) of the Indian Penal Code and 66D of the IT Act was registered against the BSF constable.

The DGP said that information regarding who all were with him in this network, the motivation which led him into sharing information, whether he got money in return as well and his accounts would be checked.

It will also be ascertained what information he has passed on and what damage has been caused because of it.Students from SAPPHIRE - XLRI recently participated at the 6th National Awanish Dev Memorial Lecture held in Kolkata.

The XLRI students were among the six student panelists selected from various B-Schools to speak in the panel discussion on the theme Redefining ER Strategy in Digital Era during the session. During the course of this discussion, students were asked questions by the dignitaries and others in the audience, which were individually answered and further deliberated upon throughout the discussion. The discussion and reinforced the importance that employee relations has today.

The lecture session, organised by Maruti Suzuki and XISS Ranchi to commemorate the Maruti Suzuki Manesar plant incident of 2012, was participated by IR Industry leaders, CXOs, consultants, employee relations professionals, senior executives of companies and top B-Schools of the region.

The student representatives from SAPPHIRE  XLRI said that the opportunity to listen to such personalities was an immense learning experience for them.The Union cabinet has cleared an ordinance to make the practice of instant triple talaq a penal offence, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said Wednesday, citing compelling necessity for the move as the practice annulled by the Supreme Court continues unabated.

Addressing a press conference, he accused the Congress party of not cooperating in the passage of the 'Muslim Women Protection of Rights on Marriage Bill, pending in the Rajya Sabha, because of vote bank politics.

Citing details of the ordinance, he said a woman or her blood relative will have to file a case before a police station to make the offence cognizable.

The offence is compoundable. A compromise can also be reached before a magistrate after the affected woman consents to it, he said.

"It is my serious charge that despite having a woman leading the Congress, the did not lend support to the bill," he told reporters.

Describing the practice as "barbaric and inhuman", he said nearly 22 countries have regulated triple talaq. However, gender justice was given a complete go-by in a secular country like India because of blatant vote bank politics.

"I will again appeal to Sonia ji that this ordinance has been brought in the interest of the country to bring gender justice. I appeal to you to rise above vote bank politics and help pass it in the interest of justice for women," he told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.

The Union minister also appealed to Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee to help in the passage of the bill pending in Rajya Sabha, where the government lacks numbers. The Lok Sabha has already passed the bill.

The Supreme Court last year banned the practice. But since the practice was still prevalent, a bill was brought to make it a penal offence.Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui believes that India and Pakistan have a lot in common and need to reach out to each other

Speaking at a promotional event in Delhi, Nawazuddin says, My character is of a personality who has been daring and courageous to bring the reality to the fore. While shooting and playing the character, I felt that even though there are certain methods and craft to portray and bring alive a character, playing a character like Manto is very difficult. I have tried really hard and you can see through the film that how honestly his character has been showcased.

Nawazuddin believes that the story of Manto is very much relevant today. The stories he wrote in 1940, and the way he looked at the world... Nothing much has changed since then as far as society is concerned. His stories are very much relevant today. In fact, we were shocked to see that we havent changed much, and to see that there hasnt been much growth as an individual and a society.

Manto, co-produced by HP Studios, Filmstoc and Viacom18 Motion Pictures, which gives a glimpse into the writers life during the tumultuous Partition of the sub continent.

Talking about Partition Nawaz said, We cant imagine the agony that millions of people endured during partition. Imagine a person having to leave behind his home of the past 40-50 years and settling down in a new country. We cant even think the magnitude of the tragedy.

Since the two countries have so much in common, Nawazuddin doesnt agree putting even a temporary ban on Pakistani talent working in the Hindi film industry. Artistes and art has no boundaries, he asserted.

Manto, who died in 1955 at the age of 43 in Pakistan, the country to which he decided to migrate from his beloved Mumbai, penned an impressive body of work which touched on genres like women, Partition. He churned out about 22 collections of stories comprising a novel, essays, personal sketches and movie scripts. His work also gained attention for weaving stories around the ordeal of Partition, freedom of expression as well as sexuality. His straightforward writing got him in trouble as he was charged with obscenity six times for his short stories, thrice before 1947 and thrice after.

The film is very personal. It will haunt people. You will feel a connect with the story. And the reason behind that is that every one wants to tell the truth, but there are many factors and pressures of the society stopping them from saying the truth.

The actor is proud of this project. However, in the troubled times that we live in, he is a little unsure of the audience reaction to it.

Since Mantos writings frequently talked about women, the author discussed the issues of pay parity, women empowerment and #MeToo movement, Nawazuddin hopes for a similar effect in India.

The actor says it is time to give women the respect they deserve. We need to introspect about the way we have treated women for centuries. It is time to change. It is time to look at them from a different perspective. We need to understand their thoughts, desires and feelings, and respect them, said the actor.

The actor, who has made his mark in films like Gangs of Wasseypur, The Lunchbox, Liars Dice, Badlapur and Manjhi: The Mountain Man, will soon be seen bringing the life of writer Saadat Hasan Manto alive on the big screen with Manto, directed by Nandita Das.

The film releases on Friday.US slashes number of refugees for next yr

Washington: The US will slash the number of refugees it will accept for a second straight year, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said, insisting amid criticism from human rights groups that the country is still committed to providing sanctuary to people fleeing the world's danger zones.

Plane downed in Syria accidental': Putin

Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that tragic accidental circumstances led to the downing by Syria of a Russian warplane with 15 people on board.

US, Russia clash at UN over N Korea sanctions

United Nations: The US accused Russia of "cheating" on UN sanctions against North Korea with plans for a railway project, oil transfers and ongoing business dealings with Pyongyang.Tower International, Inc. manufactures and sells engineered automotive structural metal components and assemblies primarily for original equipment manufacturers. It operates in two segments, North America and Brazil. The company provides body structures and assemblies, including structural metal components, which comprise body pillars, roof rails, and side sills; and Class A surfaces and assemblies that consist of body sides, hoods, doors, fenders, and pickup truck boxes. It also offers lower vehicle frames and structures, such as pickup truck and sport utility vehicle (SUV) full frames, automotive engine and rear suspension cradles, floor pan components, and cross members. In addition, the company offers complex body-in-white assemblies comprising various components and sub-assemblies. Its products have applications in small and large cars, crossovers, pickups, and SUVs. The company was formerly known as Tower Automotive, LLC and changed its name to Tower International, Inc. in October 2010. Tower International, Inc. was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Livonia, Michigan.

Read MoreVersum Materials, Inc. develops, manufactures, transports, and handles specialty materials for the semiconductor and display industries in the United States, Taiwan, South Korea, China, Europe, and rest of Asia. The company operates through two segments, Materials, and Delivery Systems and Services (DS&S). The Materials segment provides specialty chemicals and materials used in semiconductors, as well as specialty gases used in the semiconductor manufacturing process, including high purity process materials for deposition, metallization, chamber cleaning, and etching; chemicals mechanical planarization slurries; organosilanes; organometallics and liquid dopants for thin film deposition; and formulated chemical products for post-etch cleaning primarily for the manufacture of silicon and compound semiconductors, and thin film transistor liquid crystal displays. The DS&S segment develops, designs, manufactures, and sells bulk gas, specialty gas, and specialty chemical cabinets and systems, which are used to manage the delivery of key materials into the semiconductor manufacturing process; and flow and temperature control systems and analytical systems to capture data. It is also involved in the project management for installation and startup of the gas and chemical delivery systems, and inventory management; and provision of spare parts, equipment upgrades, equipment maintenance, and training services. In addition, this segment offers on-site services to assist customers in managing the inventory of gases and chemicals comprising ordering, product changes and monitoring, quality assurance, operation of delivery systems, and managing the bulk gas and specialty gas operations. Versum Materials, Inc. was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in Tempe, Arizona.

Read More11 hours ago

Storied General Electric to split into 3 public companies

General Electric, the storied American manufacturer that struggled under its own weight after growing to become a sprawling conglomerate, will divide itself into three public companies focused on aviation, healthcare and energy. It is the culmination of an arduous, years-long reshaping of a symbol of American manufacturing might that could signal the end of conglomerates as a whole.

Read ArticleCIBT Education Group Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as an education and student housing investment company in Canada and China. The company engages in education, media communications, and real estate development businesses. It offers accredited programs, which include general English, college pathway, business English, medical English, English language test preparation, vacation English, online English, TESOL teacher training, automotive technical training, business management, customer service, English teacher preparation, and accounting, as well as junior and high school preparation programs for overseas study, and other career/vocational training; and interpreting and translation for Koreans and online English teacher training. The company also provides private career and technical training diplomas and certificates in health care, tourism, hospitality, business, administrative, technical trades, and international studies; and English as a Second Language, and accounting programs in China. In addition, it recruits international students and on-ground concierge services for various kindergarten, primary and secondary schools, universities, and colleges in North America; and offers web design and advertising services to the real estate industry. Further, the company invests in, develops, and manages education related real estate projects, such as student hotels, serviced apartments, and education super centers in Canada, as well as develops and manages real estate projects for technology workers and working professionals. The company was formerly known as Capital Alliance Group Inc. and changed its name to CIBT Education Group Inc. in November 2007. CIBT Education Group Inc. was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Read MoreThere is not enough analysis data for Northstar Realty Europe.

4.5 Community Rank

Outperform Votes Northstar Realty Europe has received 195 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.)

Underperform Votes Northstar Realty Europe has received 89 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.)

Community Sentiment Northstar Realty Europe has received 68.66% outperform votes from our community.

MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about Northstar Realty Europe and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe NRE will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe NRE will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days.

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NextWeatherford International plc, an oilfield service company, provides equipment and services for the drilling, evaluation, completion, production, and intervention of oil and natural gas wells worldwide. The company operates in two segments, Western Hemisphere and Eastern Hemisphere. It offers artificial lift systems, including reciprocating rod, progressing cavity pumping, gas, hydraulic, plunger, and hybrid lift systems, as well as related automation and control systems; pressure pumping and reservoir stimulation services, such as acidizing, fracturing and fluid systems, cementing, and coiled-tubing intervention; and drill stem test tools, and surface well testing and multiphase flow measurement services. The company also provides safety, downhole reservoir monitoring, flow control, and multistage fracturing systems, as well as sand-control technologies, and production and isolation packers; liner hangers to suspend a casing string in high-temperature and high-pressure wells; cementing products, including plugs, float and stage equipment, and torque-and-drag reduction technology for zonal isolation; and pre-job planning and installation services. In addition, it offers directional drilling services, and logging and measurement services while drilling; services related to rotary-steerable systems, high-temperature and high-pressure sensors, drilling reamers, and circulation subs; managed pressure drilling, conventional mud-logging, drilling instrumentation, gas analysis, wellsite consultancy, and open hole and cased-hole logging services; reservoir solutions and software products; and intervention and remediation services. Further, the company provides equipment and drilling tools; tubular handling, management, and connection services; equipment rental services; and onshore contract drilling and related services through a fleet of land drilling and workover rigs. Weatherford International plc was incorporated in 1972 and is headquartered in Baar, Switzerland.

Read MoreThe following companies are subsidiares of Boston Scientific: 34 Biomedical Merger Corp., 9357-1867 Quebec Inc., Acurate Industria e Comercio Ltda., Advanced Bionics, Advanced Stent Technologies, American Medical Systems, American Medical Systems Europe B.V., Apama Medical, Apama Medical Inc., Asthmatx, Atritech, Augmenix, Augmenix Inc., Augmenix K.K., BSC International Medical Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., BSC Medical Device Technology (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., BTG, BTG Australasia Pty Ltd, BTG Europe B.V., BTG IM Holdings Ltd., BTG International (Holdings) Limited, BTG International Asia Limited, BTG International Canada Inc., BTG International Germany GmbH, BTG International Healthcare Inc., BTG International Healthcare LLC, BTG International Healthcare Limited, BTG International Inc., BTG International Limited, BTG Limited, BTG Management Services Limited, BTG Medikal Limited Sirketi, Bard Electrophysiology, Barosense, Biocompatibles Inc., Biocompatibles International Limited, Biocompatibles UK Limited, Boston Scientific (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Boston Scientific (South Africa) Proprietary Limited, Boston Scientific (Thailand) Ltd., Boston Scientific (UK) Limited, Boston Scientific AG, Boston Scientific Argentina S.A., Boston Scientific Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Boston Scientific Benelux NV, Boston Scientific Canada Limited, Boston Scientific Ceska republika s.r.o., Boston Scientific Chile SpA, Boston Scientific Colombia Limitada, Boston Scientific Comercial de Costa Rica BSCR S.R.L., Boston Scientific Far East B.V., Boston Scientific Gesellschaft m.b.H., Boston Scientific Group plc, Boston Scientific Hellas S.A., Boston Scientific Hong Kong Limited, Boston Scientific Iberica S.A., Boston Scientific India Private Limited, Boston Scientific International B.V., Boston Scientific International Finance Limited, Boston Scientific International S.A., Boston Scientific Israel Ltd., Boston Scientific Japan K.K., Boston Scientific Korea Co. Ltd., Boston Scientific Lebanon SAL, Boston Scientific Limited, Boston Scientific Ltd., Boston Scientific Medical Device, Boston Scientific Medical Device Limited, Boston Scientific Medizintechnik GmbH, Boston Scientific Middle East FZ-LLC, Boston Scientific Middle East SAL, Boston Scientific Nederland B.V., Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation, Boston Scientific New Zealand Limited, Boston Scientific Nordic AB, Boston Scientific Peru S.A.C., Boston Scientific Philippines Inc., Boston Scientific Polska Sp. z o.o., Boston Scientific Portugal - Dispositivos Medicos Lda, Boston Scientific Pty Ltd, Boston Scientific Romania S.R.L., Boston Scientific S.A.S., Boston Scientific S.p.A., Boston Scientific Scimed, Boston Scientific Scimed Inc., Boston Scientific Services Private Limited, Boston Scientific TIP Gerecleri Limited Sirketi, Boston Scientific Technology & Engineering Services Private Limited, Boston Scientific Uruguay S.A., Boston Scientific Vietnam Company Limited, Boston Scientific de Costa Rica S.R.L., Boston Scientific de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Boston Scientific del Caribe Inc., Boston Scientific do Brasil Ltda., Bravo Bidco Limited, BridgePoint Medical, Cameron Health, Cardiac Pacemakers Inc., Cardiac Pathways Corp, Catheter Innovations, Claret Medical, Claret Medical Inc., Cosman Medical, Cosman Medical LLC, CryoCor, Cryterion Medical, Cryterion Medical Inc., Cryterion Medical Ireland Limited, EKOS LLC, EMcision, EMcision International Inc., EP Technologies, EP Technologies Inc., Electron Acquisition Corporation, EndoChoice, EndoChoice Holdings Inc., EndoChoice Inc., EndoChoice Innovation Center Ltd., EndoChoice Israel Ltd., Endotex, Enteric Medical Technologies, Galil Medical Inc., Galil Medical Ltd., Galil Medical UK Limited, Guidant, Guidant Delaware Holding Corporation, Guidant Europe NV, Guidant Puerto Rico B.V., Hong Kong Medtech Trading Limited, Intelect Medical, Millipede, Millipede Inc., NXT Merger Corp., Notebook Merger Sub Ltd., Novate Medical Limited, NxThera, NxThera Inc., PT Boston Scientific Indonesia, PneumRx GmbH, PneumRx LLC, PneumRx Liimited, Protherics Medicines Development B.V., Protherics Medicines Development Limited, Protherics UK Limited, Provensis Limited, RMI Acquisition Corp., Remon Medical Technologies, Rhythmia Medical, Robert S. Smith M.D. Inc., Roxwood Medical Inc., SNS Merger Corp, Sadra Medical, Sadra Medical Inc., Securus Medical Group, Securus Medical Group Inc., Special K Merger Corp., StarMedTec, Stream Enterprises LLC, Symetis, Symetis SA, Target Therapeutics, Target Therapeutics Inc., The LumenR Tissue Retractor System, Veniti, Veniti Inc., VertiFlex, Vertiflex Inc., Vessix Vascular, Xlumena, Zuma Investment Pty Ltd, iogyn, nVision Medical, and nVision Medical Corporation.The following companies are subsidiares of Mohawk Industries: A&S Energie NV, A&U Energie NV, Aladdin Manufacturing Corporation, Aladdin Manufacturing Of New York LLC, Aladdin Manufacturing of Alabama LLC, Alsace Logistique S.A., Avelgem Green Power CVBA, Avon Pacific Holdings Ltd, B&M NV, BGE Mexico S. de R. L. de C.V., Berghoef GmbH, Berghoef-Hout B.V., Bienes Raices y Materiales del Centro S. de R.L. de C.V., C.F. Marazzi S.A., Canterbury Spinners Ltd, Carpet Foundation Ltd, Cevotrans BV, Ceramus Bahia S/A  Produtos Ceramicos, DT Mex Holdings LLC, DTM/CM Holdings LLC, Dal Italia LLC, Dal-Elit LLC, Dal-Tile Chile Comercial Limitada, Dal-Tile Colombia S.A.S., Dal-Tile Distribution Inc., Dal-Tile Group Inc., Dal-Tile I LLC, Dal-Tile Industrias S. de R.L. de C.V., Dal-Tile International Inc., Dal-Tile Mexico Comercial S. de R.L. de C.V., Dal-Tile Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Dal-Tile Operaciones Mexico S. De R.L. De C.V., Dal-Tile Peru SRL, Dal-Tile Puerto Rico Inc., Dal-Tile Services Inc., Dal-Tile Shared Services Inc., Dal-Tile Tennessee LLC, Dal-Tile of Canada ULC, Daltile, Daltile, Dekaply NV, Durkan, Dynea NV, Eliane Argentina Sociedad Anonima, Eliane S/A - Revestimentos Ceramicos, Emilceramica India Pvt Ltd., Emilceramica S.r.l, Emilgermany GmbH, Emilgroup Asia Ltd, Explorer S.r.l., F.I.L.S. Investments Unlimited Company, Feltex Carpets Ltd, Feltex Carpets Pty Ltd, Feltex New Zealand Ltd, Fibremakers Australia Pty Ltd, Flooring Foundation Ltd, Flooring Industries Limited S.a r.l., Flooring XL B.V., Floorscape Limited, Godfrey Hirst & Co Pty Ltd, Godfrey Hirst (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Godfrey Hirst Australia Pty Ltd, Godfrey Hirst Group, Godfrey Hirst NZ Ltd, Hytherm (Ireland) Limited, IVC BVBA, IVC Far-East Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., IVC France S.a r.l., IVC GROUP LIMITED, IVC Green Power NV, IVC Group, IVC Group GmbH, IVC Luxembourg S.a r.l., IVC Rus OOO, IVC US Inc., International Flooring Systems S.a r.l., International Vinyl Company - Vostok OOO, KAI Group, KAI Keramica Ltd, KAI Mining EOOD, KERAMA CENTER OOO, Kerama Baltics OOO, Kerama Export OOO, Kerama Marazzi OOO, Kerampromservis (LLC), Khan Asparuh - Transport EOOD, Khan Asparuh AD, Khan Omurtag AD, Koninklijke Peitsman B.V., Kraj Kerama OOO, MG China Trading Ltd., MI Finance SRL, MUD (Holding) Brazil Ltda., Management Co EAD, Marazzi Acquisition S.r.l., Marazzi Deutschland G.m.b.H., Marazzi France Trading S.A.S., Marazzi Group, Marazzi Group F.Z.E., Marazzi Group S.r.l., Marazzi Group Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Marazzi Iberia S.L.U., Marazzi Japan Co. Ltd., Marazzi Middle East FZ LLC, Marazzi Schweiz S.A.G.L., Marazzi UK Ltd., Mohawk Assurance Services Inc., Mohawk Australia Pty Ltd, Mohawk Canada Corporation, Mohawk Capital Finance S.A., Mohawk Capital Luxembourg SA, Mohawk Carpet Distribution Inc., Mohawk Carpet Foundation Inc., Mohawk Carpet LLC, Mohawk Carpet Transportation Of Georgia LLC, Mohawk Commercial Inc., Mohawk ESV Inc., Mohawk Europe BVBA, Mohawk Factoring II Inc., Mohawk Factoring LLC, Mohawk Finance S.a r.l., Mohawk Foreign Acquisitions S.a r.l., Mohawk Foreign Funding S.a.r.l, Mohawk Foreign Holdings S.a r.l., Mohawk Foreign Investments Inc., Mohawk Global Investments S.a r.l., Mohawk Holdings International B.V., Mohawk Industries Inc., Mohawk International (Europe) S.a r.l., Mohawk International (Hong Kong) Limited, Mohawk International Capital N.V., Mohawk International Financing S.a.r.l, Mohawk International Holdings (DE) LLC, Mohawk International Holdings S.a r.l., Mohawk International Luxembourg S.a r.l., Mohawk International Netherlands B.V., Mohawk International Services BVBA, Mohawk KAI Luxembourg Holding S.a r.l., Mohawk KAI Luxembourg S.a r.l., Mohawk Luxembourg Capital S.A., Mohawk Luxembourg Financing S.a r.l., Mohawk Luxembourg Holdings S.a r.l., Mohawk Luxembourg Investments S.a r.l., Mohawk Luxembourg Pacific S.a r.l., Mohawk Marazzi International BV, Mohawk Marazzi Russia BV, Mohawk New Zealand Limited, Mohawk Operaciones Mexicali S. de R.L. de C.V., Mohawk Operations Luxembourg S.a r.l., Mohawk Pacific Investments S.a r.l., Mohawk Resources LLC, Mohawk Servicing LLC, Mohawk Singapore Private Limited, Mohawk Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Mohawk Unilin Luxembourg S.a r.l., Mohawk United Finance B.V., Mohawk United International B.V., Mohawk Vinyl Financing S.a r.l., Molber Beheer B.V., Monarch Ceramic Tile Inc., P.F. Onroerend Goed B.V., PF Beheer B.V., Pergo, Pergo (Europe) AB, Pergo Holding BV, Pergo India Pvt Ltd, Polcolorit S.A., Premium Floors Australia Pty Limited, RR Apex LLC, Rata International Pty Ltd, Recubrimientos Interceramica S. de R.L. de C.V., Riverside Textiles Pty Ltd, S.C. KAI Ceramics SRL, Sibir Kerama OOO, SimpleSolutions USA LLC, Soft Step (Australia) Pty Ltd, Spano Group, Spano Invest BVBA, Spano NV, Stroyagromekhzapchast ChaO, Stroytrans OAO Orelstroy, Summit Wool Spinners Ltd, The Flooring Federation Ltd, Tiles Co OOD, Unilin (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Unilin ApS, Unilin Arauco Pisos Ltda., Unilin BVBA, Unilin Beheer BV, Unilin Distribution Ltd., Unilin Distribution Ukraine LLC, Unilin Finland OY, Unilin Flooring India Private Limited, Unilin Flooring SAS, Unilin GmbH, Unilin Holding BVBA, Unilin Insulation BV, Unilin Insulation SAS, Unilin Insulation Sury SAS, Unilin Italia S.R.L., Unilin North America LLC, Unilin Norway AS, Unilin OOO, Unilin Panels SAS, Unilin Poland Sp.Z.o.o., Unilin SAS, Unilin Spain SL, Unilin Swiss GmbH, Unilin s.r.o., World International Inc., Xtratherm, Xtratherm Limited, Xtratherm S.A., and Xtratherm UK Limited.Agilent Technologies, Inc. engages in the provision of application focused solutions for life sciences, diagnostics, and applied chemical markets. It operates through the following segments: Life Sciences and Applied Markets; Diagnostics and Genomics; and Agilent CrossLab. The Life Sciences and Applied Markets segment offers application-focused solutions that include instruments and software that enable to identify, quantify, and analyze the physical and biological properties of substances and products, as well as the clinical and life sciences research areas to interrogate samples at the molecular and cellular level. The Diagnostics and Genomics segment consists of activity providing active pharmaceutical ingredients for oligo-based therapeutics, as well as solutions that include reagents, instruments, software and consumables. The Agilent CrossLab segment includes startup, operational, training and compliance support, software as a service, and asset management and consultative services. The company was founded in May 1999 and is headquartered in Santa Clara, CA.

Read MoreThe following companies are subsidiares of Yum China: AIR BP-PBF DEL PERU SAC, BELFAST STORAGE LTD, CANADIAN ULTRAMAR COMPANY, COLONNADE TEXAS INSURANCE COMPANY LLC, COLONNADE VERMONT INSURANCE COMPANY, DIAMOND ALTERNATIVE ENERGY LLC, DIAMOND ALTERNATIVE ENERGY OF CANADA INC., DIAMOND GREEN DIESEL HOLDINGS LLC, DIAMOND GREEN DIESEL LLC, DIAMOND K RANCH LLC, DIAMOND OMEGA COMPANY L.L.C., DIAMOND SHAMROCK REFINING COMPANY L.P., DIAMOND UNIT INVESTMENTS L.L.C., DSRM NATIONAL BANK, ENTERPRISE CLAIMS MANAGEMENT INC., GCP LOGISTICS COMPANY LLC, GOLDEN EAGLE ASSURANCE LIMITED, HAMMOND MAINLINE PIPELINE LLC, HUNTWAY REFINING COMPANY, MAINLINE PIPELINES LIMITED, MAPLE ETHANOL LTD., MICHIGAN REDEVELOPMENT GP LLC, MICHIGAN REDEVELOPMENT L.P., MRP PROPERTIES COMPANY LLC, NECHES RIVER HOLDING CORP., NORCO METHANOL LLC, OCEANIC TANKERS AGENCY LIMITED, PARKWAY PIPELINE LLC, PENTA TANKS TERMINALS S.A., PI DOCK FACILITIES LLC, PICKARD PLACE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, PORT ARTHUR COKER COMPANY L.P., PREMCOR USA INC., PROPERTY RESTORATION L.P., PURE BIOFUELS DEL PERU S.A.C., PURE BIOFUELS HOLDINGS L.P., Parkway Pipeline, Premcor, Pure Biofuels Del Peru, SABINE RIVER HOLDING CORP., SABINE RIVER LLC, SAINT BERNARD PROPERTIES COMPANY LLC, SUNBELT REFINING COMPANY L.P., THE PREMCOR PIPELINE CO., THE PREMCOR REFINING GROUP INC., THE SHAMROCK PIPE LINE CORPORATION, TRANSPORT MARITIME ST. LAURENT INC., ULTRAMAR ACCEPTANCE INC., ULTRAMAR ENERGY INC., ULTRAMAR INC., Ultramar Diamond Shamrock, V-TEX LOGISTICS LLC, VALERO (BARBADOS) SRL, VALERO (PERU) HOLDINGS GP LLC, VALERO (PERU) HOLDINGS LIMITED, VALERO ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO ARUBA ACQUISITION COMPANY I LTD., VALERO ARUBA FINANCE INTERNATIONAL LTD., VALERO ARUBA HOLDING COMPANY N.V., VALERO ARUBA HOLDINGS INTERNATIONAL LTD., VALERO ARUBA MAINTENANCE/OPERATIONS COMPANY N.V., VALERO BROWNSVILLE TERMINAL LLC, VALERO CANADA FINANCE INC., VALERO CANADA L.P., VALERO CAPITAL CORPORATION, VALERO CARIBBEAN SERVICES COMPANY, VALERO COKER CORPORATION ARUBA N.V., VALERO CUSTOMS & TRADE SERVICES INC., VALERO EAST BAY LLC, VALERO ENERGY (IRELAND) LIMITED, VALERO ENERGY ARUBA II COMPANY, VALERO ENERGY INC., VALERO ENERGY LTD, VALERO ENERGY PARTNERS GP LLC, VALERO ENERGY PARTNERS LP, VALERO ENERGY UK LTD, VALERO ENTERPRISES INC., VALERO EQUITY SERVICES LTD, VALERO FINANCE L.P. I, VALERO FINANCE L.P. II, VALERO FINANCE L.P. III, VALERO FOREST CONTRIBUTION LLC, VALERO GRAIN MARKETING LLC, VALERO H2 PIPELINE COMPANY LLC, VALERO HOLDCO UK LTD, VALERO HOLDINGS INC., VALERO INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS INC., VALERO LIVE OAK LLC, VALERO LOGISTICS UK LTD, VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY (PANAMA) LLC, VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY COMPANY, VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPY INTERNATIONAL LTD., VALERO MARKETING IRELAND LIMITED, VALERO MKS LOGISTICS L.L.C., VALERO NEDERLAND COOPERATIEF U.A., VALERO NEDERLAND COOPERATIEF U.A., VALERO NEW AMSTERDAM B.V., VALERO OMEGA COMPANY L.L.C., VALERO OPERATIONAL SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO OPERATIONAL SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO OPERATIONS SUPPORT LTD, VALERO PARTNERS CCTS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS CORPUS EAST LLC, VALERO PARTNERS CORPUS WEST LLC, VALERO PARTNERS EP LLC, VALERO PARTNERS HOUSTON LLC, VALERO PARTNERS LOUISIANA LLC, VALERO PARTNERS LUCAS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS MCKEE LLC, VALERO PARTNERS MEMPHIS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS MERAUX LLC, VALERO PARTNERS NORTH TEXAS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS OPERATING CO. LLC, VALERO PARTNERS PAPS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS PORT ARTHUR LLC, VALERO PARTNERS SOUTH TEXAS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS TEXAS CITY LLC, VALERO PARTNERS THREE RIVERS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS WEST MEMPHIS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS WEST TEXAS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS WYNNEWOOD LLC, VALERO PAYMENT SERVICES COMPANY, VALERO PEMBROKESHIRE LLC, VALERO PEMBROKESHIRE OIL TERMINAL LTD, VALERO PLAINS COMPANY LLC, VALERO POWER MARKETING LLC, VALERO RAIL OPERATIONS DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO RAIL OPERATIONS DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO RAIL PARTNERS LLC, VALERO REFINING AND MARKETING COMPANY, VALERO REFINING COMPANY-ARUBA N.V., VALERO REFINING COMPANY-CALIFORNIA, VALERO REFINING COMPANY-OKLAHOMA, VALERO REFINING COMPANY-TENNESSEE L.L.C., VALERO REFINING-MERAUX LLC, VALERO REFINING-NEW ORLEANS L.L.C., VALERO REFINING-TEXAS L.P., VALERO RENEWABLE FUELS COMPANY LLC, VALERO SECURITY SYSTEMS INC., VALERO SERVICES INC., VALERO SKELLYTOWN PIPELINE LLC, VALERO TEJAS COMPANY LLC, VALERO TERMINAL HOLDCO LTD, VALERO TERMINALING AND DISTRIBUTION COMPANY, VALERO TERMINALING AND DISTRIBUTION DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO TEXAS POWER MARKETING INC., VALERO ULTRAMAR HOLDINGS INC., VALERO UNIT INVESTMENTS L.L.C., VALERO WEST WALES LLC, VRG PROPERTIES COMPANY, VTD PROPERTIES COMPANY, WARSHALL COMPANY LLC, and ZELIG COMMERCIAL INC..BNP Paribas SA provides a range of banking and financial services in France and internationally. It operates through two divisions, Retail Banking and Services, and Corporate and Institutional Banking. The company offers long-term corporate vehicle leasing, and rental and other financing solutions; and digital banking and investment services, cash management, and factoring services to corporate clients, as well as wealth management services. It also provides credit solutions for individuals under the Cetelem, Cofinoga, Findomestic, AlphaCredit, and Opel Vauxhall brands; savings and protection solutions, including insuring individuals, and their personal projects and assets; and asset management, private banking, and real estate services. In addition, the company offers global market services, including investment, hedging, financing, research, and market intellingence across asset classes; security services comprising clearing, custody, and asset and fund services, as well as corporate trust, and market and financing services; and corporate trade and treasury, debt financing, specialized financing, strategic advisory, mergers and acquisition, and equity capital market services for institutional and corporate clients. The company was formerly known as Banque Nationale de Paris and changed its name to BNP Paribas SA in May 2000. BNP Paribas SA was founded in 1848 and is headquartered in Paris, France.

Read MoreThe following companies are subsidiares of Bristol-Myers Squibb: 1096271 B.C. ULC, 345 Park LLC, A.G. Medical Services P.A., AHI Investment LLC, AbVitro LLC, Abraxis BioScience Australia Pty Ltd., Abraxis BioScience Inc., Abraxis BioScience International Holding Company Inc., Abraxis BioScience LLC, Abraxis BioScience Puerto Rico LLC, Acetylon Pharmaceuticals Inc., Adnexus, Adnexus a Bristol-Myers Squibb R&D Company, Allard Labs Acquisition G.P., Amira Pharmaceuticals, Amira Pharmaceuticals Inc., Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Apothecon LLC, B-MS Generx Unlimited Company, BMS Benelux Holdings B.V., BMS Bermuda Nominees L.L.C., BMS Data Acquisition Company LLC, BMS Forex Company, BMS Holdings Sarl, BMS Holdings Spain S.L., BMS International Insurance Designated Activity Company, BMS Investco SAS, BMS Korea Holdings L.L.C., BMS Latin American Nominees L.L.C., BMS Luxembourg Partners L.L.C., BMS Omega Bermuda Holdings Finance Ltd., BMS Pharmaceutical Korea Limited, BMS Pharmaceuticals Germany Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals International Holdings Netherlands B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Korea Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Mexico Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Netherlands Holdings B.V., BMS Real Estate LLC, BMS Spain Investments LLC, BMS Strategic Portfolio Investments Holdings Inc., Blisa Acquisition G.P., Bristol (Iran) S.A., Bristol Iran Private Company Limited, Bristol Laboratories Inc., Bristol Laboratories International S.A., Bristol Laboratories Medical Information Systems Inc., Bristol-Myers (Andes) L.L.C., Bristol-Myers (Private) Limited, Bristol-Myers Middle East S.A.L., Bristol-Myers Overseas Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb (China) Investment Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (China) Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (Israel) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (NZ) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Proprietary) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (Singapore) Pte. Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Taiwan) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (West Indies) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb A.E., Bristol-Myers Squibb Aktiebolag, Bristol-Myers Squibb Argentina S. R. L., Bristol-Myers Squibb Australia Pty. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Axia Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb B.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb Belgium S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Business Services Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada Co., Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada International Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Delta Company Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Denmark Filial of Bristol-Myers Squibb AB, Bristol-Myers Squibb EMEA Sarl, Bristol-Myers Squibb Egypt LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Epsilon Holdings Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Farmaceutica Ltda., Bristol-Myers Squibb Farmaceutica Portuguesa S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb GesmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb GmbH & Co. KGaA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holding Germany GmbH & Co. KG, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings 2002 Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Germany Verwaltungs GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Ireland Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Pharma Ltd. Liability Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Ilaclari Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb India Pvt. Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb International Company Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb International Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb Investco L.L.C., Bristol-Myers Squibb K.K., Bristol-Myers Squibb Kft., Bristol-Myers Squibb Luxembourg International S.C.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Bristol-Myers Squibb MEA GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Manufacturing Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Marketing Services S.R.L., Bristol-Myers Squibb Middle East & Africa FZ-LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Norway Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Nutricionales de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb Peru S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma (HK) Ltd, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma (Thailand) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Holding Company LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Ventures Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Polska Sp. z o.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Products SA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Puerto Rico Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Puerto Rico/Sanofi Pharmaceutical Partnership Puerto Rico, Bristol-Myers Squibb Romania S.R.L., Bristol-Myers Squibb S.A.U., Bristol-Myers Squibb S.r.l., Bristol-Myers Squibb SA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Holding Partnership, Bristol-Myers Squibb Sarl, Bristol-Myers Squibb Service Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Services Sp. z o.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Spol. s r.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Theta Finance Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Trustees Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Verwaltungs GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb de Colombia S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb de Costa Rica Sociedad Anonima, Bristol-Myers Squibb de Guatemala S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb/Astrazeneca EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Pfizer EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Partnership, Bristol-Myers de Venezuela S.C.A., CHT I LLC, CHT II LLC, CHT III LLC, CHT IV LLC, CR Finance Company LLC, Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals, Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals Inc., Celem LLC, Celem Ltd., Celgene, Celgene A.B., Celgene AS, Celgene Ab (Finland), Celgene Alpine Investment Co. II LLC, Celgene Alpine Investment Co. III LLC, Celgene Alpine Investment Co. LLC, Celgene ApS, Celgene B.V., Celgene BVBA, Celgene Brasil Produtos Farmaceuticos Ltda., Celgene CAR LLC, Celgene CAR Ltd., Celgene Chemicals Sarl, Celgene China Holdings LLC, Celgene Co., Celgene Corporation, Celgene Distribution B.V., Celgene EngMab GmbH, Celgene Europe B.V., Celgene Europe Limited, Celgene European Investment Company LLC, Celgene Financing Company LLC, Celgene Global Holdings Sarl, Celgene GmbH [Austria], Celgene GmbH [Germany], Celgene GmbH [Switzerland], Celgene Holdings East Corporation, Celgene Holdings II Sarl, Celgene Holdings III Sarl, Celgene Ilac Pazarlama ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Celgene Inc., Celgene International Holdings Corporation, Celgene International II Sarl, Celgene International III Sarl, Celgene International Inc., Celgene International Sarl, Celgene K.K., Celgene Kft., Celgene Limited [Hong Kong], Celgene Limited [Ireland], Celgene Limited [New Zealand], Celgene Limited [Taiwan], Celgene Limited [UK], Celgene Logistics Sarl, Celgene Ltd, Celgene Luxembourg Sarl, Celgene Management Sarl, Celgene NJ Investment Co, Celgene Netherlands B.V., Celgene Netherlands Investment B.V., Celgene Pharmaceutical (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Celgene Pte. Ltd., Celgene Pty Ltd, Celgene Puerto Rico Distribution LLC, Celgene Quanticel Research Inc, Celgene R&D Sarl, Celgene RIVOT LLC, Celgene RIVOT Ltd., Celgene RIVOT SRL, Celgene Receptos Limited, Celgene Receptos Sarl, Celgene Research Incubator At Summit West LLC, Celgene Research S.L.U., Celgene Research and Development Company LLC, Celgene Research and Development I ULC, Celgene Research and Development II LLC, Celgene Research and Investment Company II LLC, Celgene S. de R.L. de C.V., Celgene S.L.U., Celgene S.R.L., Celgene SAS, Celgene Sarl AU, Celgene Sdn Bhd, Celgene Services Sarl, Celgene Sociedade Unipessoal Lda, Celgene Sp. Z.o.o., Celgene Sro [Czech Republic], Celgene Summit Investment Co, Celgene Switzerland Holding Sarl, Celgene Switzerland II LLC, Celgene Switzerland Investment Sarl, Celgene Switzerland LLC, Celgene Switzerland Sarl, Celgene Tri A Holdings Ltd., Celgene Tri Sarl, Celgene UK Distribution Limited, Celgene UK Holdings Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing II Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing III Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing Limited, Celgene d.o.o., Celgene sro [Slovakia], Celmed LLC, Celmed Ltd., ConvaTec Divestiture, Cormorant Pharmaceuticals, Cormorant Pharmaceuticals AB, Crosp Ltd., Delinia Inc., Deuteria Pharmaceuticals Inc., DuPont Pharmaceuticals, E. R. Squibb & Sons Inter-American Corporation, E. R. Squibb & Sons L.L.C., E. R. Squibb & Sons Limited, EWI Corporation, EngMab Sarl, F-star Alpha, FermaVir Pharmaceuticals L.L.C., FermaVir Research L.L.C., Flexus Biosciences, Flexus Biosciences Inc., Forbius, Galecto Biotech, GenPharm International L.L.C., Gloucester Pharmaceuticals LLC, Grove Insurance Company Ltd., Heyden Farmaceutica Portuguesa Limitada, IFM Therapeutics, Impact Biomedicines Inc., Inhibitex, Inhibitex L.L.C., Innate Tumor Immunity Inc., JuMP Holdings LLC, Juno Therapeutics GmbH, Juno Therapeutics Inc., Kosan Biosciences, Kosan Biosciences Incorporated, Linson Investments Limited, Mead Johnson (Manufacturing) Jamaica Limited, Mead Johnson Jamaica Ltd., Medarex, Morris Avenue Investment II LLC, Morris Avenue Investment LLC, MyoKardia, O.o.o. Bristol-Myers Squibb, Oy Bristol-Myers Squibb (Finland) AB, Padlock Therapeutics, Padlock Therapeutics Inc., Pharmion LLC, Princeton Pharmaceutical Products Inc., Receptos LLC, Receptos Services LLC, RedoxTherapies Inc., Route 22 Real Estate Holding Corporation, SPV A Holdings ULC, Seamair Insurance DAC, Signal Pharmaceuticals LLC, Sino-American Shanghai Squibb Pharmaceuticals Limited, Societe Francaise de Complements Alimentaires(S.O.F.C.A.), Squibb Middle East S.A., Summit West Celgene LLC, Swords Laboratories, VentiRx Pharmaceuticals Inc., Westwood-Intrafin SA, Westwood-Squibb Pharmaceuticals Inc., X-Body Inc., ZymoGenetics, ZymoGenetics Inc., ZymoGenetics LLC, ZymoGenetics Paymaster LLC, iPierian, and iPierian Inc..iShares Global Materials ETF's stock was trading at $52.26 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, MXI shares have increased by 73.1% and is now trading at $90.44.

View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19.Comerica, Inc. engages in the provision of financial services. It operates through the following segments: Commercial Bank, Retail Bank, Wealth Management, Finance and Other. The Commercial Bank segment involves in the middle market businesses, multinational corporations, and governmental entities by offering various products and services such as commercial 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. The Retail Bank segment includes small business banking and personal financial services, which consist of consumer lending, consumer deposit gathering, and mortgage loan origination. The Wealth Management segment offers fiduciary services, private banking, retirement services, investment management and advisory services, investment banking and brokerage services. The Finance segment comprises corporation's securities portfolio and asset and liability management activities. The Other category consists of income and expense impact of equity and cash, tax benefits, charges of an unusual or infrequent nature that are not reflective of the n

Read MoreThe following companies are subsidiares of Crown: Adularia Inversiones 2010 S.L., Angleboard Sweden AB, Bates Cargo-Pak ApS, Butimove, CMB Machinery and Technology (Shanghai) Co Ltd, CROWN AP (Thailand) Company Limited, CROWN Aerosols & Promotional Nederland, CROWN Aerosols Italia Srl, CROWN Aerosols Nederland BV, CROWN Aerosols UK Limited, CROWN Americas LLC, CROWN Arabia Can Company Ltd, CROWN Asia Pacific Holdings Pte. Ltd., CROWN Asia Pacific Investments (T) Limited, CROWN Bevcan Espana S.L., CROWN Bevcan France SAS, CROWN Bevcan Slovakia s.r.o., CROWN Bevcan Turkiye Ambalaj Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, CROWN Bevcan and Closures (Thailand) Company Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans (Cambodia) Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans (Dong Nai) Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Beijing Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Changchun Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Danang Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Hangzhou Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Hanoi Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Heshan Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Hong Kong Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Huizhou Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Malaysia Sdn Bhd, CROWN Beverage Cans Nanning Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Putian Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Saigon Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Shanghai Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Sihanoukville Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Singapore Pte. Ltd., CROWN Beverage Cans Ziyang Limited, CROWN Beverage Packaging LLC, CROWN Beverage Packaging Puerto Rico Inc., CROWN Cans Ghana Limited, CROWN China Holdings (Hong Kong) Limited, CROWN Commercial Belgium BVBA, CROWN Commercial France SAS, CROWN Commercial Germany GmbH & Co. KG, CROWN Commercial Hungary Kft, CROWN Commercial Netherlands B.V., CROWN Commercial Vermogensverwaltung GmbH, CROWN Cork & Seal USA Inc., CROWN Embalagens Metalicas da Amazonia S.A., CROWN Emballage France SAS, CROWN Emirates Company Limited, CROWN Envases Mexico S.A. de C.V., CROWN Famosa S.A. de C.V., CROWN Food Packaging (Thailand) Public Company Limited, CROWN Foodcan (Hat Yai) Company Limited, CROWN Foodcan (Nakhon Pathom) Company Limited, CROWN Foodcan Germany GmbH, CROWN Foodcan GmbH, CROWN Imballaggi Italia Srl, CROWN Imgallaggi Italia Srl, CROWN Italy Finance srl, CROWN Khmer Beverage Cans Limited, CROWN Maghreb Can, CROWN Magyarorszag Csomagoloipari KFT, CROWN Metal Packaging Canada Inc., CROWN Metal Packaging Canada LP, CROWN Middle East Can Co. Ltd., CROWN Packaging (Barbados) Limited, CROWN Packaging Holdings LLC, CROWN Packaging Investment (H.K.) Limited, CROWN Packaging Ireland Ltd, CROWN Packaging Jamaica Limited, CROWN Packaging Polska Sp.z.o.o., CROWN Packaging Technology Inc., CROWN Packaging Trinidad Limited, CROWN Packaging UK Limited, CROWN Promotional Packaging UK Ltd, CROWN SIEM, CROWN Senegal, CROWN Societe Malgache d'Emballages Metalliques, CROWN Speciality Packaging BV, CROWN Speciality Packaging Investment Pte. Ltd., CROWN Specialty Packaging UK Ltd, CROWN TCP Beverage Cans Company Limited, CROWN Verpakking Belgie NV, CROWN Verpakking Nederland B.V., Caretex Asia Ltd., CarnaudMetalbox Engineering Ltd, CarnaudMetalbox Food South Africa (Pty) Limited, CarnaudMetalbox Group UK Limited, CarnaudMetalbox Overeseas Limited, CarnaudMetalbox Overseas Limited, Cierres Hermeticos S.A. DE C.V., Constar International, Crown Americas Capital Corp., Crown Americas Capital Corp. II, Crown Americas Capital Corp. III, Crown Americas Capital Corp. IV, Crown Americas Capital Corp. V, Crown Americas Capital Corp. VI, Crown Brasil Holdings Ltda., Crown Canadian Holdings ULC, Crown Closures Spain S.L., Crown Colombiana S.A., Crown Comercial de Envases S.L., Crown Commercial Italy Srl, Crown Commercial Polska Sp. z.o.o., Crown Consultants Inc., Crown Cork & Seal Company (DE) LLC, Crown Cork & Seal Company Inc., Crown Cork & Seal Deutschland Holdings GmbH, Crown Cork & Seal Receivables (DE) Corporation, Crown Cork & Seal de Portugal Embalagens S.A., Crown Cork Kuban, Crown Cork and Seal Receivables II LLC, Crown Developpement SAS, Crown European Holdings, Crown Food Espana S.A.U., Crown Foodcan Turkey Ambalaj Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Crown Hellas Can Packaging SA, Crown Heshan Trading Company Limited, Crown Holdings Italia Srl, Crown Holdings Spain S.L., Crown International Holdings B.V., Crown International Holdings Inc., Crown Luxembourg Holdings, Crown Mexican Holdings S. de R.L. de C.V., Crown Overseas Investments B.V., Crown Packaging Commercial UK Limited, Crown Packaging Distribution UK Limited, Crown Packaging European Division GmbH, Crown Packaging European Division Services SAS, Crown Packaging European Holdings GmbH, Crown Packaging Lux I S.a.r.l., Crown Packaging Lux II S.a.r.l., Crown Packaging Lux III S.a.r.l., Crown Packaging Manufacturing UK Limited, Crown Packaging Maroc, Crown Receivables III, Crown Services Iberia, Crown UK Holdings Limited, Crownway Insurance Company, Dacro B.V., EMPAQUE, Fabricas Monterrey S.A. de C.V., Form Koruyucu Ambalaj Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Foshan Continental Can Co. Limited, Foshan Crown Easy-Opening End Co. Limited, Glass & Silice S.A. DE C.V., Globoplastt s.r.o., Gunther S.A.S., Haloila Bulgaria EOOD, Interstrap B.V., Josef Kihlberg AB, Kiwiplan GmbH, Kiwiplan Inc, Lachenmeier ApS, Liljendals Bruk AB, Litec France S.A.S., Mezger Heftsysteme GmbH, Mima Films S.a.r.l., Mima Films Sprl, Mima Packaging Systems S.A.S., Mivisa, Nordic S.A.S., Norsk Signode AS, Oy M. Haloila AB, PT CROWN Beverage Cans Indonesia, Package Design and Manufacturing, Prolatamex S.A. DE C.V., Quandel Verpackungs- und Foerdertechnik GmbH, SMB Schwede Maschinenbau GmbH, SMP Schwede Maschinenbau Weischlitz GmbH, SPG Denmark, SPG France Holdings SAS, SPG Germany Service Management GmbH, SPG Industrial Packaging S.a.r.l, SPG Netherlands B.V., SPG Packaging Ireland Limited, SPG Packaging Systems GmbH, SPG Packaging UK Ltd, Scybele S.A.S., Shippers Europe S.p.r.l., Signode BVBA, Signode Brasileira Ltda, Signode Hong Kong Limited, Signode Industrial Group, Signode Industrial Group AB, Signode Industrial Group Colombia S.A.S., Signode Industrial Group GmbH, Signode Industrial Group Holdings Lux S.a.r.l., Signode Industrial Group Holdings US Inc, Signode Industrial Group Lux S.A., Signode Industrial Group Mexico, Signode Industrial Group Sweden AB, Signode International Holdings LLC, Signode International IP Holdings LLC, Signode International Investment LLC, Signode Kabushiki Kaisha, Signode Korea Inc, Signode NZ Limited, Signode Netherlands B.V., Signode Packaging (Qingdao) Co., Signode Packaging (Shanghai) Co., Signode Packaging Espana S.L., Signode Packaging Group (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Signode Packaging Group Australia Pty Ltd, Signode Packaging Group Canada ULC, Signode Packaging Group NZ, Signode Packaging Systems Limited, Signode Pickling Holding LLC, Signode Polska sp. Z.o.o., Signode Singapore Pte. Ltd., Signode Sweden Holdings AB, Signode System GmbH, Signode System Packaging GmbH & Co. KG, Signode Systems (Thailand) Ltd., Signode US IP Holdings LLC, Silice De Veracruz S.A. DE C. V., Silice Del Istmo S.A. DE C.V., Silices De Veracruz, Societe Civile Immobiliere Rousseau-Ivry, Societe Civile Immobiliere des Baquets, Societe de Participations CarnaudMetalbox, Stopak India Pvt. Ltd, Strapex Austria GmbH, Strapex Embalagem L.d.a., Strapex Holdings Limited, Strapex S.A.S., Strapex Srl, Superior Investments Holdings Pte. Ltd., Superior Multi-Packaging Limited, TopFrame LLC, V.A.C. B.V., Vichisa S.A. de C.V., and Warehouse Automation Iberia S.L..First BanCorp (Puerto Rico) is a holding company, which engages in the provision of personal, commercial, and corporate banking services through its subsidiaries. It operates through the following segments: Commercial and Corporate Banking, Consumer (Retail) Banking, Mortgage Banking, Treasury and Investments, United States Operations, and Virgin Islands Operations. The Commercial and Corporate Banking segment consists of the company's lending and other services for large customers represented by specialized and middle-market clients and the public sector. The Consumer (Retail) Banking segment includes consumer lending and deposit-taking activities conducted mainly through FirstBank's branch network in Puerto Rico. The Mortgage Banking segment focuses on the origination, sale, and servicing of a variety of residential mortgage loan products and related hedging activities. The Treasury and Investments segment deals with treasury and investment management functions. The United States Operations segment represents all banking activities conducted by FirstBank on the United States mainland. The Virgin Islands Operations segment includes all banking activities conducted by FirstBank in

Read MoreGenworth Financial, Inc. is a financial services company, which engages in the provision of insurance, wealth management, investment and financial solutions. It operates through the following segments: U.S. Mortgage Insurance, Australia Mortgage Insurance, U.S. Life Insurance, and Runoff. The U.S. Mortgage Insurance segment offers mortgage insurance products predominantly insuring prime-based, individually underwritten residential mortgage loans. The Australia Mortgage Insurance segment offers flow mortgage insurance and selectively provides bulk mortgage insurance that aids in the sale of mortgages to the capital markets and helps lenders manage capital and risk. The U.S. Life Insurance segment offers long-term care insurance products as well as service traditional life insurance and fixed annuity products in the United States. The Runoff segment includes the results of non-strategic products which are no longer actively sold but continue to service its existing blocks of business. Its non-strategic products primarily include variable annuity, variable life insurance, institutional, corporate-owned life insurance and other accident and health insurance products. The company was fo

Read MoreThe following companies are subsidiares of BlackRock: Acero Cooperatief U.A., Acero Holdings I B.V., Amethyst Merger Sub LLC, AnalytX Hosting LLC, AnalytX LLC, AnalytX Software LLC, Aperio, Aperio, Aquila Heywood, Asia-Pacific Private Credit Opportunities Fund I (GenPar) Ltd., BAA Holdings LLC, BFM Holdco LLC, BLK (Gallatin) Holdings LLC, BLK SMI LLC, BR Acquisition Mexico S.A. de C.V., BR Jersey International Holdings L.P., Beijing eFront Software Company Limited, BlackRock (Barbados) Finco 1 SRL, BlackRock (Channel Islands) Limited, BlackRock (Luxembourg) S.A., BlackRock (Netherlands) B.V., BlackRock (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., BlackRock (Singapore) Holdco II Pte. Ltd., BlackRock (Singapore) Holdco Pte. Limited, BlackRock (Singapore) Limited, BlackRock AP Investment Holdco LLC, BlackRock Advisors (UK) Limited, BlackRock Advisors LLC, BlackRock Advisors Singapore Pte. Limited, BlackRock Alternative Advisors GP Holdings LLC, BlackRock Alternatives Management LLC, BlackRock Argentina Asesorias Ltda., BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited, BlackRock Asset Management Deutschland AG, BlackRock Asset Management International Inc., BlackRock Asset Management Investor Services Limited, BlackRock Asset Management Ireland Limited, BlackRock Asset Management North Asia Limited, BlackRock Asset Management Schweiz AG, BlackRock Asset Management UK Limited, BlackRock Australia Holdco Pty. Ltd., BlackRock Brasil Gestora de Investimentos Ltda., BlackRock Cal 1 Investor LLC, BlackRock Canada Holdings LP, BlackRock Canada Holdings ULC, BlackRock Capital Holdings Inc., BlackRock Capital Investment Advisors LLC, BlackRock Capital Management Inc., BlackRock Cayco Limited, BlackRock Cayman 1 LP, BlackRock Cayman Capital Holdings Limited, BlackRock Cayman Finco 2 Limited, BlackRock Cayman Finco 3 Limited, BlackRock Cayman Finco Limited, BlackRock Cayman West Bay Finco Limited, BlackRock Cayman West Bay IV Limited, BlackRock Cayman Z Limited, BlackRock Channel Islands Holdco Limited, BlackRock Chile Asesorias Limitada, BlackRock Colombia Holdco LLC, BlackRock Colombia Infraestructura S.A.S., BlackRock Colombia SAS, BlackRock Company Secretarial Services (UK) Limited, BlackRock Corporation US Inc., BlackRock Delaware Holdings Inc., BlackRock Enterprise Management Services (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., BlackRock Europe Development Management Limited, BlackRock Execution Services, BlackRock Finance Europe Limited, BlackRock Financial Management Inc., BlackRock Finco LLC, BlackRock Finco UK Ltd., BlackRock First Partner Limited, BlackRock France SAS, BlackRock Fund Advisors, BlackRock Fund Management Company S.A., BlackRock Fund Managers Limited, BlackRock Funding International Ltd., BlackRock Funds Services Group LLC, BlackRock Germany GmBH, BlackRock Group Limited, BlackRock HK Holdco Limited, BlackRock Holdco 2 Inc., BlackRock Holdco 3 LLC, BlackRock Holdco 4 LLC, BlackRock Holdco 5 LLC, BlackRock Holdco 6 LLC, BlackRock Hungary Kft, BlackRock Index Services LLC, BlackRock Infrastructure Management I LLC, BlackRock Institutional Services Inc., BlackRock Institutional Trust Company National Association, BlackRock International Holdings Inc., BlackRock International Limited, BlackRock Investment Management (Australia) Limited, BlackRock Investment Management (Dublin) Limited, BlackRock Investment Management (Korea) Limited, BlackRock Investment Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., BlackRock Investment Management (Taiwan) Limited, BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited, BlackRock Investment Management Ireland Holdings Limited, BlackRock Investment Management LLC, BlackRock Investments LLC, BlackRock Japan Co. Ltd., BlackRock Japan Holdings GK, BlackRock Jersey Finco 2 Limited, BlackRock Latin America Holdco LLC, BlackRock Latin American Holdings B.V., BlackRock Life Limited, BlackRock Lux Finco S.a r.l., BlackRock Luxembourg Holdco S.a r.l., BlackRock Mexican Holdco B.V., BlackRock Mexico Infraestructura I S. de R.L. de C.V., BlackRock Mexico Infraestructura II S. de R.L. de C.V., BlackRock Mexico Infraestructura III S. de R.L. de C.V., BlackRock Mexico Manager II S. de R.L. de C.V., BlackRock Mexico Manager III S. de R.L. de C.V., BlackRock Mexico Manager S de R.L. de C.V., BlackRock Mexico Operadora S.A. de C.V. Sociedad Operadora de Fondos de Inversion, BlackRock Mortgage Ventures LLC, BlackRock Niagara LLC, BlackRock Operations (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., BlackRock Overseas Investment Fund Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., BlackRock PC Holdings LLC, BlackRock Pensions Limited, BlackRock Peru Asesorias S.A., BlackRock Property Consulting (Beijing) Co. Ltd., BlackRock Property France S.a.r.l., BlackRock Property Lux S.a.r.l., BlackRock Property Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., BlackRock Realty Advisors Inc., BlackRock Saudi Arabia, BlackRock Scale Holdings LLC, BlackRock Services India Private Limited, BlackRock Singapore III Pte. Ltd., BlackRock Slovakia s.r.o., BlackRock Strategic Investors GP LLC, BlackRock Strategic Investors LP, BlackRock Trident Holding Company Limited, BlackRock UK (Alpha) Limited, BlackRock UK (Beta) Limited, BlackRock UK (Delta) LP, BlackRock UK (Gamma) Limited, BlackRock UK (Sigma) Limited, BlackRock UK 2 LLP, BlackRock UK 3 LLP, BlackRock UK 4 LLP, BlackRock UK A LLP, BlackRock UK Holdco 2 Limited, BlackRock UK Holdco Limited, Blackhawk Investment Holding LLC, CIE Automotive, Cachematrix Holdings, Cachematrix Holdings LLC, Cachematrix Integrations Private Limited, Cachematrix Software Solutions LLC, Cachematrix UK Limited, FutureAdvisor Inc., Glass Mountain Pipeline, Global Energy & Power Infrastructure Advisors LLC, Global Energy & Power Infrastructure II Advisors LLC, Grosvenor Alternate Partner Limited, Grosvenor Ventures Limited, HLX Financial Holdings LLC, MGPA (Bermuda) Limited, MGPA (Exec) Limited, MGPA Limited, Mercury Carry Company Ltd., Mercury Private Equity MUST 3 (Jersey) Limited, Object Capital Technology Inc., Phoenix Acquisition B.V., Phoenix Acquisitions Holdings LLC, Portfolio Administration & Management Ltd., Prestadora de Servicios Integrales BlackRock Mexico S.A. de C.V., SVOF/MM LLC, St. Albans House Nominees (Jersey) Ltd., State Street Research & Management, Tennenbaum Capital Partners LLC, Tennenbaum Capital Partners LLC, Tlali Acero S.A. de C.V. SOFOM ENR, Trident Merger LLC, eFront, eFront, eFront (Jersey) Limited, eFront DMLT Holdings LLC, eFront DMLT Holdings S.R.L, eFront DR S.R.L, eFront Do Brasil Solucoes Informaticas Para Sistemas Financeiros Ltda., eFront FZ-LLC, eFront Financial Solutions Inc., eFront GmbH, eFront Holding II SAS, eFront Holdings SAS, eFront Hong Kong Limited, eFront II SAS, eFront Kabushiki Kaisha, eFront Ltd, eFront SAS, eFront Singapore Pte. Ltd, eFront Software Luxembourg S.a r.l., eFront Solutions Financeieres Inc., eFront d.o.o. Beograd, iShares (DE) I Investmentaktiengesellschaft mit Teilgesellschaftsvermogen, and iShares Delaware Trust Sponsor LLC.Domtar Corporation designs, manufactures, markets, and distributes communication papers, specialty and packaging papers, and absorbent hygiene products in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and internationally. It operates through two segments, Pulp and Paper, and Personal Care. The company provides business papers, including copy and electronic imaging papers used in inkjet and laser printers, photocopiers, and plain-paper fax machines, as well as computer papers, preprinted forms, and digital papers for office and home use. It also offers commercial printing and publishing papers, such as offset papers and opaques used in sheet and roll fed offset presses; publishing papers, which include tradebook and lightweight uncoated papers for publishing textbooks, dictionaries, catalogs, magazines, hard cover novels, and financial documents; and converting papers for envelopes, tablets, business forms, and data processing/computer forms. In addition, the company provides papers for thermal printing, flexible packaging, food packaging, medical packaging, medical gowns and drapes, sandpaper backing, carbonless printing, labels and other coating, and laminating applications; and papers for industrial and specialty applications, such as carrier papers, treated papers, security papers, and specialized printing and converting applications. Further, it offers absorbent hygiene products, including absorbent briefs, protective underwear, underpads, pads, washcloths, and body patches under the Attends, Indasec, IndasSlip, and Reassure brands; and baby diapers, training and youth pants, and bed mats under the Comfees, Chelino, Nene, and Bambino brand names. The company serves merchants, retail outlets, stationers, printers, publishers, converters, and end-users. Domtar Corporation was founded in 1848 and is based in Fort Mill, South Carolina.

Read MoreImperial Brands PLC, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, imports, markets, and sells tobacco and tobacco-related products. It offers a range of cigarettes, fine cut and smokeless tobacco, papers, and cigars; and next generation product (NGP) portfolio, such as e-vapour products, as well as oral nicotine and heated tobacco products. The company sells its products under various brands, including Davidoff, Gauloises, JPS, West, L&B, Bastos, Fine, Winston, News, Parker & Simpson, blu, Kool, Horizon, Jade, Cohiba, Montecristo, Romeo Y Julieta, Backwoods, Skruf, Golden Virginia, Rizla, and Knox in approximately 160 countries worldwide. It also provides logistics services that include the distribution of tobacco and NGP products for tobacco and NGP product manufacturers; and various non-tobacco and NGP products and services. In addition, the company is involved in the management of a golf course; marketing of papers; restaurant business; distribution of pharmaceuticals, POS software, and published materials and other products; printing and publishing activities; and provision of long haul transportation, industrial parcel and express delivery, advertising, and support management services. Further, it owns the trademarks; and retails its products. The company was formerly known as Imperial Tobacco Group PLC and changed its name to Imperial Brands PLC in February 2016. Imperial Brands PLC was founded in 1901 and is headquartered in Bristol, the United Kingdom.

Read MoreGoldman Sachs Access Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF's stock was trading at $51.42 on March 11th, 2020 when Coronavirus reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, GIGB stock has increased by 6.9% and is now trading at $54.97.

View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19.iShares MSCI Singapore ETF's stock was trading at $19.75 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 (Coronavirus) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, EWS shares have increased by 22.3% and is now trading at $24.16.

View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19.Lincoln National Corp. is a holding company, which operates multiple insurance and retirement businesses through its subsidiary companies. It provides advice and solutions that help empower people to take charge of their financial lives with confidence and optimism. The company operates through the following segments: Annuities, Retirement Plan Services, Life Insurance, Group Protection, and Other Operations. The Annuities segment provides tax-deferred investment growth and lifetime income opportunities for its clients by offering fixed and variable annuities. The Retirement Plan Services segment includes employers with retirement plan products and services, primarily in the defined contribution retirement plan marketplaces. The Life Insurance segment focuses on the creation and protection of wealth for its clients by providing life insurance products, including term insurance, both single and survivorship versions of universal life insurance, variable universal life insurance, and indexed universal life insurance products. The Group Protection segment offers group non-medical insurance products, which includes term life, disability, dental, vision and accident and critical illness

Read MoreBank of Montreal provides diversified financial services primarily in North America. The company's personal banking products and services include checking and savings accounts, credit cards, mortgages, and financial and investment advice services; and commercial banking products and services comprise business deposit accounts, commercial credit cards, business loans and commercial mortgages, cash management solutions, foreign exchange, specialized banking programs, treasury and payment solutions, and risk management products for small business and commercial banking customers. It also offers investment and wealth advisory services; digital investing services; financial services and solutions; and investment management, and trust and custody services to institutional, retail, and high net worth investors. In addition, the company provides life insurance, accident and sickness insurance, and annuity products; creditor and travel insurance to bank customers; and reinsurance solutions. Further, it offers client's debt and equity capital-raising services, as well as loan origination and syndication, balance sheet management, and treasury management; strategic advice on mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, and recapitalizations, as well as valuation and fairness opinions; and trade finance, risk mitigation, and other operating services. Additionally, the company provides research and access to markets for institutional, corporate, and retail clients; trading solutions that include debt, foreign exchange, interest rate, credit, equity, securitization and commodities; new product development and origination services, as well as risk management advice and services to hedge against fluctuations; and funding and liquidity management services to its clients. It operates through approximately 1,400 bank branches and 4,800 automated banking machines in Canada and the United States. The company was founded in 1817 and is headquartered in Montreal, Canada.

Read MoreThe following companies are subsidiares of Marsh & McLennan Companies: 8WORKS INC., 8WORKS LTD, A. Constantinidi & CIA. S.C., A.C.N. 000 951 146 Pty Limited, A.C.N. 001 572 961 Pty Limited, A.C.N. 076 935 683 Pty Limited, A.C.N. 102 322 574 Pty Limited, ACE Insurance Agents Limited, ACE Insurance Consultants Limited, ACE Insurance and Reinsurance Brokers Limited, AD Corretora de Seguros, AFCO Premium Acceptance Inc., AFCO Premium Credit LLC, Access Equity Enhanced Fund GP LLC, Admiral Holdings Limited, Agnew Higgins Pickering & Co. (Bermuda) Ltd, Aldgate Investments Limited, Aldgate Trustees Ltd, Alexander Forbes Group Holdings Limited, Alpha Consultants Limited, Alta SA, Altius Real Assets (GP) LLC, Amal Insurance Brokers Limited (in liquidation), Anda Insurance Agencies Pte Ltd, AssetVal Pty Ltd, Assur Conseils Marsh S.A., Assurance Capital Corporation, Assurance Services Corporation, Australian Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd, Australian World Underwriters Pty Ltd., BBPS Limited, Barney & Barney Orange County LLC, Beaumonts (Leeds) Limited (in liquidation), Beaumonts Insurance Brokers Limited (in liquidation), Beaumonts Insurance Services Limited, Beneficios Integrales Oportunos SA, Benefitfocus Inc., Blue Marble Micro Limited, Blue Marble Microinsurance Inc., Bluefin, Bluefin Insurance Group Limited, Bluefin Insurance Services Limited, Boulder Claims LLC, Bowring (Bermuda) Investments Ltd., Bowring Marine Limited, Bowring Marsh (Bermuda) Ltd., Bowring Marsh (Hong Kong) Limited, Bowring Marsh Asia Pte. Ltd., Bowring Marsh Corretora de Resseguros Ltda., Bowring Marsh Limited, Broderick Piller Pty Ltd, Broker 2 Broker Limited, BuildPay LLC, Burke Ford Trustees (Leicester) Limited, C.T. Bowring Limited, CMC-Belgibo NV, CPRM Limited, CPSG Partners LLC, Carpenter Marsh Fac Chile Corredores de Reaseguros Limitada, Carpenter Marsh Fac Colombia Corredores de Reaseguros S.A., Carpenter Marsh Fac Peru Corredores de Reaseguros S.A.C., Carpenter Marsh Fac Re LLC, Carpenter Turner Cyprus Ltd, Carpenter Turner S.A., Cascade International Holdings C.V., Cascade Regional Holdings Limited, Central Insurance Services Limited, Charter Risk Management Services LLC, Chartwell Healthcare Limited, Chronos Insurance Brokers Pty Limited, Claims and Recovery Management (Australia) Pty Limited, Clark Thomson Insurance Brokers Limited, Client Provide Limited, Colombian Insurance Broking Wholesale Limited, Consultores 2020 C.A., Cronin & Co Insurance Services Limited, DVA - Deutsche Verkehrs-Assekuranz-Vermittlungs GmbH, Dawson Insurance, DeLima Marsh S.A. - Los Corredores de Seguros S.A., Dovetail Insurance Corp., Dovetail Insurance Corp., Dovetail Managing General Agency Corporation, Dovetail Technology Service India Private Limited, Draw Connect Limited, Draw Create Limited, Draw Group London Limited, Eagle & Crown Limited, Echelon Australia Pty Limited, Echelon Claims Consultants Sdn Bhd, Echelon New Zealand Limited, EnBW Versicherungs Vermittlung GmbH, Encompass Insurance Agency Pty Ltd., English Pension Trustees Limited, Epsilon (US) Insurance Company, Epsilon Insurance Company Ltd., Eustis Insurance & Benefits, Evolution Management Ltd, Exchange Insurance Services Limited (in liquidation), Exmoor Management Company Limited, Faulkner & Flynn LLC, Freedom Trust Services Limited, GC Genesis LLC, GCube Insurance Services Inc, GCube Underwriting Limited, Gama Consultores Associados Ltda., Gem Insurance Company Limited, Global Premium Finance Company, GrECo International Holding AG, Gracechurch Trustees Limited, Gresham Pension Trustees Limited, Group Promoters Pty Limited, Guy Carpenter & Cia (Mexico) S.A. de C.V., Guy Carpenter & Cia. S.A., Guy Carpenter & Co. Labuan Ltd., Guy Carpenter & Company AB, Guy Carpenter & Company Corredores de Reaseguros Limitada, Guy Carpenter & Company Corretora de Resseguros Ltda., Guy Carpenter & Company GmbH, Guy Carpenter & Company LLC, Guy Carpenter & Company Limited, Guy Carpenter & Company Limited, Guy Carpenter & Company Ltd./Guy Carpenter & Compagnie Ltee, Guy Carpenter & Company Participacoes Ltda., Guy Carpenter & Company Peru Corredores de Reaseguros S.A., Guy Carpenter & Company Private Limited, Guy Carpenter & Company Proprietary Limited, Guy Carpenter & Company Pty. Ltd., Guy Carpenter & Company S.A., Guy Carpenter & Company S.A. (Uruguay), Guy Carpenter & Company S.A.S., Guy Carpenter & Company S.r.l., Guy Carpenter (Middle East) Limited, Guy Carpenter Bermuda Ltd., Guy Carpenter Broking Inc., Guy Carpenter Colombia Corredores de Reaseguros Ltda., Guy Carpenter Insurance Brokers (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Guy Carpenter Japan Inc., Guy Carpenter Mexico Intermediario de Reaseguro S.A. de C.V., Guy Carpenter Reasurans Brokerligi Anonim Sirketi, HAPIP GP 2009 LLC, HAPIP GP LLC, HSBC Insurance Brokers International (Abu Dhabi) LLC (in liquidation), Hamilton Bond Limited, Hansen International Limited, Hayward Aviation Limited, INSIA Europe SE, INSIA SK s.r.o., INSIA a.s., INSURANCE BROKERS OF NIGERIA LIMITED, IRC Asia Insurance Brokers Limited, InSolutions Limited, Industrial Risks Protection Consultants, Ingeseg S. A., Ingeseg S.A., Insbrokers Ltda., InsurTech Alliance LLC, Insure Direct (Brokers) LLC, Insure Direct (Brokers) LLC [BAHRAIN BRANCH], Insure Direct - Jardine Lloyd Thompson Limited, International Catastrophe Insurance Managers LLC, International Loss Control Services Limited, International Risk Consultants (Asia) Limited, Invercol Limited, Irish Pensions Trust Limited, Isosceles Insurance (Barbados) Limited, Isosceles Insurance Company Limited, Isosceles Insurance Ltd, Isosceles PCC Limited, J&H Marsh & McLennan Limited, J.W. Terrill Benefit Administrators Inc., JI Holdings Limited, JIB Group Holdings Limited, JIB Group Limited, JIB Holdings (Pacific) Limited, JIB Overseas Holdings Limited, JIB UK Holdings Limited, JL Marine Insurance-Brokers GmbH & Co. KG, JLM Verwaltungs GmbH, JLT (Insurance Brokers) Limited, JLT Actuaries and Consultants Limited, JLT Advisory Limited, JLT Affinity Colombia Solutions SAS, JLT Agencies Limited, JLT Asesorias Ltda, JLT Asia Holdings BV, JLT Asia Shared Services Sdn Bhd, JLT Belgibo, JLT Benefit Consultants Limited, JLT Benefit Solutions Limited, JLT Benefit Solutions SA (Pty) Ltd, JLT Bermuda Ltd, JLT Brasil Holdings Participacoes Ltd, JLT Chile Holdings SpA, JLT Colombia Retail Limited, JLT Colombia Wholesale Limited, JLT Consultants & Actuaries Limited, JLT EB Holdings Limited, JLT EB Services Limited, JLT Employee Benefits Holding Company (PTY) LTD, JLT Employee Benefits SA (Pty) Ltd, JLT Financial Planning Limited, JLT France Holdings, JLT Group Services Pty Limited, JLT Holdings (Barbados) Ltd, JLT Holdings (NZ) Limited, JLT Independent Insurance Brokers Private Limited, JLT Insurance Agencies Limited, JLT Insurance Brokers Co. Limited, JLT Insurance Brokers Co. Limited ( Shanghai Branch), JLT Insurance Brokers Co. Limited (Beijing Branch), JLT Insurance Brokers Co. Limited (Guangzhou Branch), JLT Insurance Brokers Ireland Limited, JLT Insurance Brokers SA, JLT Insurance Group Holdings Ltd, JLT Insurance Management Malta Limited, JLT Intellectual Property Limited, JLT Intellectual Property [UK Branch], JLT Interactive Pte. Ltd., JLT Investment Management Limited, JLT LATAM (Southern Cone) Wholesale Limited, JLT Latin American Holdings Limited, JLT Life Assurance Brokers Limited, JLT Management Services Limited, JLT Marine (Pty) Ltd, JLT Mexico Holdings Limited, JLT Mexico Intermediario de Reaseguro S.A. de C.V., JLT Netherlands BV, JLT Norway AS, JLT PLA, JLT Pension Trustees Limited, JLT Pensions Administration Holdings Limited, JLT Pensions Administration Limited, JLT Peru Reinsurance Solutions Limited, JLT Peru Retail Limited, JLT Peru Wholesale Limited, JLT QFM Services Limited, JLT RE Brasil Administracao e Corretagem de Resseguros Ltda, JLT Re (French Branch), JLT Re (Northern Europe) AB, JLT Re Argentina Corredores de Reaseguros S.A.U., JLT Re Labuan Limited, JLT Re Limited, JLT Re Pty Ltd, JLT Reinsurance Brokers GmbH, JLT Reinsurance Brokers Limited, JLT Reinsurance Brokers Limited [French Branch], JLT Risk Management Limited, JLT Risk Solutions AB, JLT Risk Solutions AB Branch - Germany, JLT SA IB Holdings Company (Pty) Limited, JLT SCK Affinity Administracao e Corretora de Seguros Ltda., JLT SCK Corretora e Administradora de Seguros, JLT Secretaries Limited, JLT Sigorta ve Reasurans Brokerlii A.., JLT Singapore Holdings Pte. Ltd., JLT Specialty France, JLT Specialty Insurance Broker A/S, JLT Specialty Limited, JLT Specialty Limited [DUBAI BRANCH], JLT Specialty Pte. Ltd., JLT Towner Insurance Management (Anguilla) Limited, JLT Trust Services (Barbados) Ltd, JLT Trustees (Southern) Limited, JLT Trustees Limited, JLT UK Investment Holdings Limited, JLT Vantage Risk and Benefit Consulting Private Limited, JLT Wealth Management Limited, JLT do Brasil Corretagem de Seguros Ltda, JLTPCS Holdings Pte. Ltd., JMIB Holdings BV, JSL Securities Inc., Japan Affinity Marketing Inc., Jardine IBR Limited, Jardine Lloyd Thompson (Proprietary) Limited, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Asia Pte Ltd, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Australia Pty Limited, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Canada Inc, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group Ltd, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc, Jardine Lloyd Thompson India Private Limited, Jardine Lloyd Thompson India Private Limited (UK Branch Office), Jardine Lloyd Thompson Insurance Consultants Limited, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Insurance and Reinsurance Brokers Inc., Jardine Lloyd Thompson Ireland Holdings Limited, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Ireland Unlimited Company, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Korea Limited, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Limited, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Limited [Macao Branch], Jardine Lloyd Thompson PCS (Dubai) Limited, Jardine Lloyd Thompson PCS Limited, Jardine Lloyd Thompson PCS Pte Ltd, Jardine Lloyd Thompson PCS SA, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Private Limited, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Pty Limited, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Sdn Bhd, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Valencia y Iragorri Corredores de Seguros SA, Jardine Pension Trustees Ireland Limited, Jardine Risk Consulting Co. Limited, Jardine ShunTak Insurance Brokers Limited, Jardine ShunTak Insurance Brokers Limited [Macao Branch], Jardines PF- Consultoria Em Gestao De Risco Limitada, Jelf, Jelf Commercial Finance Limited, Jelf Financial Planning Limited, Jelf Insurance Brokers Limited, Jelf Limited, Jelf Risk Management Limited, Jelf Wellbeing Limited, John Lampier & Son Ltd, Johnson & Higgins (Bermuda) Limited, Johnson & Higgins Limited, KESSLER & CO AG, Kepler Associates Limited, Kessler & Co Inc., Kessler Consulting Inc., Kessler Prevoyance Inc., Key Underwriting Pty Limited, Kroll, Lambert Brothers Holdings Limited, Lambert Brothers Insurance Brokers (Employee Benefits) Limited, Lambert Brothers Insurance Brokers (Hong Kong) Ltd, Laterlife.com Limited (in liquidation), Lavaretus Underwriting AB, Lavaretus Underwriting AB (BRANCH - Denmark), Libra Insurance Services Limited (in liquidation), Lloyd & Partners Limited, Local Government Insurance Brokers Pty Limited, Lomond Macdonald Limited, Lynch Insurance Brokers Limited, M&M Vehicle L.P., M.P. Bolshaw and Company Limited, MAG JLT SpA, MERCER ALTERNATIVES LIMITED, MM Risk Services Pty Ltd (for dissolution), MMA Mid-Atlantic Employee LLC, MMA Securities LLC, MMB Consultores S.A., MMC (Singapore) Holdings Pte. Ltd., MMC 28 State Street Holdings Inc., MMC Borrower LLC, MMC Brazilian Holdings B.V., MMC Capital Inc., MMC Cascade Regional Holdings LLC, MMC FINANCE (EUROPE) LIMITED, MMC FINANCE HOLDINGS LTD, MMC Finance (Australia) Limited, MMC Finance (Singapore) Limited, MMC France Holdings (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l., MMC GP III Inc., MMC Group Services sp. z o.o., MMC Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd, MMC Holdings (New Zealand) ULC, MMC Holdings (UK) Limited, MMC International Finance (Barbados) SRL, MMC International Holdings LLC, MMC International Limited, MMC International Treasury Centre Limited, MMC Middle East Holdings Limited, MMC Poland Holdings B.V., MMC Realty Inc., MMC Regional Asia Holdings B.V., MMC Regional Caribbean Holdings Ltd., MMC Regional Europe Holdings B.V., MMC Regional LATAM Holdings B.V., MMC Securities (Europe) Limited, MMC Securities LLC, MMC Treasury Holdings (UK) Limited, MMC UK Group Limited, MMC UK Pension Fund Trustee Limited, MMOW Limited, MMRC LLC, MOW Holding LLC, MPIP III GP LLC, MPIP IV GP LLC, MPIP V GP LLC, MPIP VI GP LLC, Mangrove Insurance Europe PCC Limited, Mangrove Insurance Solutions PCC, Mangrove Insurance Solutions PCC Limited, Manoel Management Services Ltd, Marchant McKechnie Insurance Brokers Limited, Marine Aviation & General (London) Limited, Marsh & McLennan (PNG) Limited, Marsh & McLennan Agencies AS, Marsh & McLennan Agencies Limited, Marsh & McLennan Agency A/S, Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC, Marsh & McLennan Agency Limited, Marsh & McLennan Agency Pty Ltd., Marsh & McLennan Argentina SA Corredores de Reaseguros, Marsh & McLennan Colombia S.A., Marsh & McLennan Companies Acquisition Funding Limited, Marsh & McLennan Companies Acquisition Limited, Marsh & McLennan Companies Asia Pacific Treasury Center Limited, Marsh & McLennan Companies BVBA/SPRL, Marsh & McLennan Companies Finance Center (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l., Marsh & McLennan Companies France S.A.S., Marsh & McLennan Companies Holdings (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l., Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc., Marsh & McLennan Companies Regional Holdings S.a.r.l., Marsh & McLennan Companies Services B.V., Marsh & McLennan Companies UK Limited, Marsh & McLennan Europe S.a.r.l., Marsh & McLennan GP I Inc., Marsh & McLennan Global Broking (Bermuda) Ltd., Marsh & McLennan Holding GmbH, Marsh & McLennan Holdings (Canada) ULC, Marsh & McLennan Holdings Inc., Marsh & McLennan Incorporated (for dissolution), Marsh & McLennan Innovation Centre Holdings II, Marsh & McLennan Innovation Centre Holdings S.a.r.l., Marsh & McLennan Innovation Centre Limited, Marsh & McLennan Insurance Services Limited, Marsh & McLennan Ireland Limited, Marsh & McLennan Management Services (Bermuda) Limited, Marsh & McLennan Risk Capital Holdings Ltd., Marsh & McLennan Servicios S.A. De C.V., Marsh & McLennan Shared Services Canada Limited, Marsh & McLennan Shared Services Corporation, Marsh (Bahrain) Company SPC, Marsh (Beijing) Risk Management Consulting Co. Ltd., Marsh (China) Insurance Brokers Co. Ltd., Marsh (Hong Kong) Limited, Marsh (Insurance Brokers) LLP, Marsh (Insurance Services) Limited, Marsh (Malawi) Limited, Marsh (Middle East) Limited, Marsh (Namibia) (Proprietary) Limited, Marsh (Pty) Ltd, Marsh (Risk Consulting) LLP, Marsh (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Marsh A/S, Marsh AB, Marsh AG, Marsh AS, Marsh Advantage Insurance Holdings Pty Ltd, Marsh Advantage Insurance Pty Ltd., Marsh Africa (Pty) Ltd, Marsh Argentina S.R.L., Marsh Associates (Pty) Ltd, Marsh Austria G.m.b.H., Marsh Aviation Insurance Broking Pty Ltd (for dissolution), Marsh B.V., Marsh Botswana (Proprietary) Limited, Marsh Brockman y Schuh Agente de Seguros y de Fianzas S.A. de C.V., Marsh Broker Japan Inc., Marsh Broker de Asigurare-Reasigurare S.R.L., Marsh Brokers (Hong Kong) Limited, Marsh Brokers Limited, Marsh Canada Limited/Marsh Canada Limitee, Marsh Company Management Services Cayman Ltd., Marsh Compensation Technologies Administration (Pty) Ltd, Marsh Corporate Services (Barbados) Limited, Marsh Corporate Services Isle of Man Ltd, Marsh Corporate Services Limited, Marsh Corporate Services Malta Limited, Marsh Corretora de Seguros Ltda., Marsh EOOD, Marsh Egypt LLC, Marsh Emirates Consultancy LLC, Marsh Emirates Insurance Brokerage LLC, Marsh Employee Benefits Limited, Marsh Employee Benefits Zimbabwe (Private) Ltd, Marsh Eurofinance B.V., Marsh Europe S.A., Marsh FJC International Insurance Brokers Limited, Marsh For Insurance Services S.A.E., Marsh Franco Acra S.A., Marsh GSC Servicos e Administracao de Seguros Ltda., Marsh GmbH, Marsh Holding AB, Marsh Holdings (Pty) Ltd, Marsh India Insurance Brokers Private Limited, Marsh Insurance & Investments LLC, Marsh Insurance Brokers, Marsh Insurance Brokers (Macao) Limited, Marsh Insurance Brokers (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Marsh Insurance Brokers (Private) Limited, Marsh Insurance Brokers AO, Marsh Insurance Brokers Limited, Marsh Insurance Consulting Saudi Arabia (in liquidation), Marsh Insurance and Reinsurance Brokers LLC, Marsh Intermediaries Inc., Marsh International Broking Holdings Limited, Marsh International Holdings II Inc., Marsh International Holdings Inc., Marsh Investment B.V., Marsh Ireland Brokers Limited, Marsh Ireland Brokers Limited (UK Branch), Marsh Ireland Holdings Limited, Marsh Israel (1999) Ltd., Marsh Israel (Holdings) Ltd., Marsh Israel Consultants Ltd., Marsh Israel Insurance Agency Ltd., Marsh Israel International Brokers Ltd. (in liquidation), Marsh JCS Inc., Marsh Japan Inc., Marsh Kft., Marsh Kindlustusmaakler AS, Marsh Korea Inc., Marsh LLC, Marsh LLC Insurance Brokers, Marsh LLC [Ukraine], Marsh Lda., Marsh Limited, Marsh Limited [Fiji], Marsh Limited [New Zealand], Marsh Limited [PNG], Marsh Ltd. [Wisconsin], Marsh Management Services (Bahamas) Ltd., Marsh Management Services (Barbados) Limited, Marsh Management Services (Bermuda) Ltd., Marsh Management Services (Dublin) Limited, Marsh Management Services (Labuan) Limited, Marsh Management Services (MENA) Limited, Marsh Management Services (USVI) Ltd., Marsh Management Services Cayman Ltd., Marsh Management Services Guernsey Limited, Marsh Management Services Inc., Marsh Management Services Isle of Man Limited, Marsh Management Services Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Marsh Management Services Malta Limited, Marsh Management Services Singapore Pte. Ltd., Marsh Management Services Sweden AB, Marsh Marine & Energy AB, Marsh Marine Nederland B.V., Marsh Medical Consulting GmbH, Marsh Mercer Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd, Marsh Nest Inc., Marsh Oman LLC, Marsh Oy, Marsh PB Co. Ltd., Marsh Philippines Inc., Marsh Privat A.I.E., Marsh Private Client Life Insurance Services, Marsh Pty. Ltd., Marsh Qatar LLC, Marsh RE S.A.C. Corredores de Reaseguros, Marsh Rehder Consultoria S.A. (MRC), Marsh Rehder S.A. Corredores de Seguros, Marsh Resolutions Pty Limited, Marsh Risk Consulting B.V., Marsh Risk Consulting Limitada, Marsh Risk Consulting Ltda., Marsh Risk Consulting S.L., Marsh Risk Consulting Services S.r.L., Marsh Risk and Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd, Marsh S.A. Corredores De Seguros, Marsh S.A. Mediadores de Seguros, Marsh S.A.S., Marsh S.p.A., Marsh SA [Argentina], Marsh SA [Belgium], Marsh SA [Luxembourg], Marsh SA [Uruguay], Marsh SIA, Marsh Saldana Inc., Marsh Saudi Arabia Insurance & Reinsurance Brokers, Marsh Secretarial Services Limited, Marsh Semusa S.A., Marsh Services Limited, Marsh Services Spolka z.o.o., Marsh Sigorta ve Reasurans Brokerligi Anonim Sirketi, Marsh Spolka z.o.o., Marsh Szolgaltato Kft., Marsh Takaful Brokers (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Marsh Treasury Services (Dublin) Limited (in liquidation), Marsh Treasury Services Limited, Marsh Tunisia S.a.r.l., Marsh UK Limited, Marsh USA (India) Inc., Marsh USA Borrower LLC, Marsh USA Inc., Marsh Uganda Limited, Marsh Venezuela C.A. Sociedad de Corretaje de Seguros, Marsh Vietnam Insurance Broking Company Ltd, Marsh Zambia Limited, Marsh Zimbabwe Holdings (Private) Limited, Marsh d.o.o. Beograd, Marsh d.o.o. za posredovanje u osiguranju, Marsh for Insurance Services - Jordan, Marsh i-Connect (Pty) Ltd, Marsh s.r.o., Matthiessen Assurans AB, Mercer (Argentina) S.A., Mercer (Australia) Pty Ltd, Mercer (Austria) GmbH, Mercer (Belgium) SA-NV, Mercer (Canada) Limited/Mercer (Canada) Limitee, Mercer (China) Limited, Mercer (Colombia) Ltda., Mercer (Danmark) A/S, Mercer (Finland) OY, Mercer (France) SAS, Mercer (Hong Kong) Limited, Mercer (Ireland) Limited, Mercer (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Mercer (N.Z.) Limited, Mercer (Nederland) B.V., Mercer (Norge) AS, Mercer (Polska) Sp.z o.o., Mercer (Portugal) Lda, Mercer (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Mercer (Sweden) AB, Mercer (Taiwan) Ltd., Mercer (Thailand) Ltd., Mercer (US) Inc., Mercer Administration Services (Australia) Pty Limited, Mercer Africa Limited, Mercer Agente de Seguros S.A. de C.V., Mercer Asesores de Seguros S.A., Mercer Asesores es Inversion Independientes S.A. de C.V., Mercer Broking Ltd., Mercer Career Unipessoal Lda, Mercer Consultation (Quebec) Ltee., Mercer Consulting (Australia) Pty Ltd, Mercer Consulting (Chile) Limitada, Mercer Consulting (France) SAS, Mercer Consulting (India) Private Limited, Mercer Consulting B.V., Mercer Consulting Group Inc., Mercer Consulting Holdings Sdn. Bhd., Mercer Consulting Limited, Mercer Consulting Middle East Limited, Mercer Consulting S.L.U., Mercer Consulting Venezuela C.A., Mercer Corredores de Seguros Limitada, Mercer Corretora de Seguros Ltda, Mercer Danismanlik Anonim Sirketi, Mercer Deutschland GmbH, Mercer Employee Benefits - Medicacao de Seguros Unipessoal Lda., Mercer Employee Benefits Limited, Mercer Financial Advice (Australia) Pty Ltd, Mercer Financial Services Limited, Mercer Financial Services Limited liability company, Mercer Financial Services Middle East Limited, Mercer Global Investments Europe Limited, Mercer Global Investments Management Limited, Mercer HR Consulting Borrower LLC, Mercer HR Services LLC, Mercer Health & Benefits (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Mercer Health & Benefits Administration LLC, Mercer Health & Benefits LLC, Mercer Holdings Inc., Mercer Holdings Inc. [Philippines], Mercer Human Resource Consulting Ltda, Mercer Human Resource Consulting S.A. de C.V., Mercer ICC Limited, Mercer Investment Consulting Limited, Mercer Investment Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Mercer Investment Solutions (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Mercer Investments (Australia) Limited, Mercer Investments (Hong Kong) Limited, Mercer Investments (Japan) Ltd, Mercer Investments (New Zealand) Limited, Mercer Investments LLC, Mercer Ireland Holdings Limited, Mercer Italia Srl Socio Unico, Mercer Japan Ltd., Mercer Korea Co. Ltd., Mercer LLC, Mercer Limited, Mercer MC Consulting Borrower LLC, Mercer Master Trustees Limited, Mercer Mauritius Ltd., Mercer Oliver Wyman Holding B.V., Mercer Outsourcing (Australia) Pty Ltd, Mercer Outsourcing S.L.U., Mercer Pensionsfonds AG, Mercer Pensionsraadgivning A/S, Mercer Philippines Inc., Mercer Private Investment Partners IV General Partner S.a.r.l., Mercer Private Markets AG, Mercer Private Markets Advisers (US) AG, Mercer Services Poland Sp. z.o.o., Mercer Sigorta Brokerligi Anonim Sirketi, Mercer South Africa (Pty) Limited, Mercer Superannuation (Australia) Limited, Mercer Switzerland Inc., Mercer System Services LLC, Mercer Technology Acquisitions Limited, Mercer Treuhand GmbH, Mercer Trust Company LLC, Mercer Trustees Limited, Mercer WorkforcePro LLC, Mercury Insurance Services Pty Ltd, Moola Systems Limited, Mountlodge Limited, Muir Beddal (Zimbabwe) Limited, NERA Australia Pty. Ltd., NERA Economic Consulting GmbH, NERA Economic Consulting Limited, NERA S.R.L., NERA SAS, NERA UK Limited, NERA do Brasil Ltda. (for dissolution), National Economic Research Associates Inc., NetComp Insurance Corp., Neuburger Noble Lowndes GmbH, Normandy Reinsurance Company Limited, Northern Alliance Brokers Limited (in liquidation), OWL Marine Insurance-Brokers GmbH & Co.KG, OWL Marine Verwaltungs GmbH, Oliver Wyman (Bermuda) Limited, Oliver Wyman (Hong Kong) Limited, Oliver Wyman AB, Oliver Wyman AG, Oliver Wyman Actuarial Consulting Inc., Oliver Wyman B.V., Oliver Wyman Consulting (Shanghai) Ltd, Oliver Wyman Consultoria em Estrategia de Negocios Ltda., Oliver Wyman Energy Consulting Limited, Oliver Wyman FZ-LLC, Oliver Wyman Group KK, Oliver Wyman Inc., Oliver Wyman LLC, Oliver Wyman Limited, Oliver Wyman Limited Liability Company, Oliver Wyman Limited/Oliver Wyman limitee, Oliver Wyman Ltd., Oliver Wyman Pte. Ltd., Oliver Wyman Pty. Ltd., Oliver Wyman S. de R.L. de C.V., Oliver Wyman S.A.S., Oliver Wyman S.L., Oliver Wyman S.r.l., Oliver Wyman SNC, Oliver Wyman SPRL/BVBA, Oliver Wyman Sdn. Bhd., Oliver Wyman Services Limited, Oliver Wyman Servicios S. de R.L. de C.V., Oliver Wyman sp. z o.o., Omega Indemnity (Bermuda) Limited, Organizacion Brockman y Schuh S.A. de C.V., Osbornes Insurances Oxford Limited (in liquidation), PFT Limited, PI Indemnity Company Designated Activity Company, PT JLT Reinsurance Brokers, PT Jardine Lloyd Thompson, PT Marsh Indonesia, PT Marsh Reinsurance Brokers Indonesia, PT Mercer Indonesia, PT Nexus Asia Pacific, PT Oliver Wyman Indonesia, PT Quantum Computing Services, PT Quantum Investments, PT Quantum Support Services, Pallas Marsh Servicos Ltda., Pavilion Alternatives Group (Singapore) PTE. Ltd, Pavilion Financial Corporation Holdings UK Limited, Pavilion U.S. Investments Holdco LLC, Pension Trustees Limited, Pensionsservice Benefit Network Sverige AB, Perils AG, Personal Pension Trustees Limited, Pet Animal Welfare Scheme Limited, Portsoken Trustees (No. 2) Limited, Portsoken Trustees Limited, Potomac Insurance Managers Inc., Premier Pension Trustees Limited, Premium Services Australia Pty Limited, Professional Claims Handling Limited (in liquidation), Profund Solutions Limited, Promerit AG, Promerit Hungary Kft, Promerit Schweiz AG, Pymetrics Inc., R G Ford Brokers Limited, R R B Beratungsgesellschaft fuer Altersversorgung mbh, R. Mees & Zoonen Holdings B.V., Renewable Energy Loss Adjusters LLC, Renewable Energy Loss Adjusters Limited, Resource Benefit Associates, Rightpath Reinsurance SPC Ltd., Risk Management Australia Pty Limited, Rivers Group Limited, Rockefeller Risk Advisors Inc., Rutherfoord International Inc., SAFCAR-Marsh, SBJ Holdings Limited, SCIB (Bermuda) Limited, SCM Global Real Estate Select GP LLC, SCM Infrastructure General Partner S.a r.l., SCM International Private Equity Select III GP LLC, SCM LT General Partner S.a.r.l., SCM PE General Partner S.a.r.l., SCM PE II GP Ltd., SCM PE II Scotland GP Ltd, SCM Strategic Capital Management (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l., SICAR Marsh S.a.r.l., SME Insurance Services Limited, Sail Insurance Company Limited, Scalene Re Ltd, Seabury & Smith Borrower LLC, Seabury & Smith LLC, Secure Limited, Sedgwick (Holdings) Pty. Limited, Sedgwick Consulting Group Limited, Sedgwick Dineen Group Limited, Sedgwick Financial Services Limited, Sedgwick Forbes Middle East Limited, Sedgwick Group, Sedgwick Group (Australia) Pty. Limited, Sedgwick Group (Bermuda) Limited, Sedgwick Group (Zimbabwe) Limited, Sedgwick Group Limited, Sedgwick Internationaal B.V., Sedgwick Limited, Sedgwick Management Services (Barbados) Limited, Sedgwick Management Services (Singapore) Pte Limited, Sedgwick Noble Lowndes (UK) Limited, Sedgwick Noble Lowndes Group Limited, Sedgwick Noble Lowndes Limited, Sedgwick Overseas Investments Limited, Sedgwick Private Limited, Sedgwick Re Asia Pacific (Consultants) Pte Ltd (for dissolution), Sedgwick Trustees Limited, Sedgwick UK Risk Services Limited, Sedgwick Ulster Pension Trustees Limited, Settlement Trustees Limited, Shanghai Mercer Insurance Brokers Company Ltd., Shorewest Insurance Associates LLC, Sirota Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Sirota Consulting UK Limited, Smith Long Term Disability Management Group Inc., Societe d'Assurances et de Participation Guian SA, Software Underwriting Systems Limited (in liquidation), Southern Marine & Aviation Inc., Southern Marine & Aviation Underwriters Inc., Sudzucker Versicherungs-Vermittlungs GmbH, Sumitomo Life Insurance Agency America Inc., Sylvite Financial Services, TBX Solutions Limited, Talent Tech Labs LLC, The Benefit Express Holdings Limited, The Benefit Express Limited, The Carpenter Management Corporation, The Insurance Partnership Holdings Limited, The Insurance Partnership Services Limited, The Positive Ageing Company Limited, The Purple Partnership Limited, The Recovre Group Pty Ltd, Thomsons Online Benefits (HK) Ltd., Thomsons Online Benefits Inc., Thomsons Online Benefits Limited, Thomsons Online Benefits Pte Ltd., Thomsons Online Benefits S.R.L, Torrent Government Contracting Services LLC, Torrent Insurance Services LLC, Torrent Technologies, Torrent Technologies Inc., Tower Hill Limited, Tower Place Developments (West) Limited, Tower Place Developments Limited, U.T.E. AMG, U.T.E. Marsh - Caja Castilla La Mancha Junta de Comunidades, U.T.E. Marsh - Salvado Reus (in liquidation), U.T.E. Marsh - Salvado Reus 2012, U.T.E. Marsh - Salvado Vila-Seca 2010, UAD BB Marsh Lietuva, Vezina & Associes Inc., Vezina Assurances Inc., Victor Insurance Europe B.V., Victor Insurance Holdings Inc., Victor Insurance Italia S.r.l., Victor Insurance Managers Inc., Victor Insurance Managers Inc./Gestionnaires d'assurance Victor inc., Victor O. Schinnerer & Co. (Bermuda) Ltd., Victor O. Schinnerer & Company Limited, Victoria Hall Company Limited, Wellnz Limited, William M. Mercer (Canada) Limited/William M. Mercer (Canada) Limitee, William M. Mercer AB, William M. Mercer Comercio Consultoria e Servicos Ltda., Wortham Insurance & Risk Management, everBe SAS, and realright GmbH.iShares MSCI Italy ETF's stock reverse split before market open on Monday, November 7th 2016. The 1-2 reverse split was announced on Friday, October 14th 2016. The number of shares owned by shareholders was adjusted after the market closes on Friday, November 4th 2016. An investor that had 100 shares of iShares MSCI Italy ETF stock prior to the reverse split would have 50 shares after the split.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Augusta Gold Corp., a junior exploration company, engages in the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties in the United States. It primarily explores for gold, silver, and other metals. The company holds interests in the Bullfrog gold project located in the north-west of Las Vegas, Nevada. It also owns, controls, or has acquired mineral rights on Federal patented and unpatented mining claims in the state of Nevada for the purpose of exploration and potential development of metals on a total of approximately 7,800 acres of land. The company was formerly known as Bullfrog Gold Corp. and changed its name to Augusta Gold Corp. in January 2021. Augusta Gold Corp. was incorporated in 2007 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Read More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.

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A Pakistani court on Wednesday ordered the release of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter, suspending their prison sentences pending an appeal hearing, his lawyer said.





Today, the Islamabad High Court has suspended the verdict against Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and his son-in-law Captain Safdar and ordered to release them on bail until a final decision, Khawaja Haris, Sharifs lawyer, told AFP.





Dozens of jubilant supporters chanted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif! outside the court after the decision was announced.





Sharif was arrested on his return to the country in July this year.





An anti-corruption court that month sentenced them to 10 and seven years respectively over properties they allegedly owned in Britain, following revelations in the Panama Papers





Today the court has suspended the decision that was based on revenge, former minister Ahsan Iqbal told reporters.



Randgold Resources Limited is engaged in gold mining, exploration and related activities. The Company's activities are focused on West and Central Africa. The Company operates through the gold mining segment. The Company operates various mines, such as Morila, Loulo, Gounkoto, Tongon and Kibali. The Company is exploring in African countries, such as Mali, Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Company also holds an interest in the Massawa project. The Company holds Morila Limited, which holds interests in the Morila mine in Mali. As of December 31, 2016, Morila mine has produced 122,370 ounces (oz) of gold. The Company holds a controlling interest in the Loulo mine, located in Mali, through Societe des Mines de Loulo SA (Loulo). The Loulo mine is mining from over two underground mines. As of December 31, 2016, Loulo mine has produced 350,604 oz of gold. It has a controlling interest in the Gounkoto mine through Societe des Mines de Gounkoto SA.

Read MoreRayonier Advanced Materials, Inc. engages in the production and sale of cellulose products, which is a natural polymer commonly used in the production of cell phone and computer screens, filters, and pharmaceuticals. It operates through the following segments: High Purity Cellulose, Forest Products, Paperboard, Pulp and Newsprint, and Corporate. The High Purity Cellulose segment manufacture and market high purity cellulose, which is sold as either cellulose specialties or commodity products in U.S., Canda, and France. The Forest Products segment manufacture and market construction-grade lumber in North America through seven sawmills located in Canada. The Paperboard segment comprises paperboard products. The Pulp and Newsprint segment involves in the production of pulp and newsprint in Canada. The Corporate segment consists senior management, accounting, information systems, human resources, treasury, tax, and legal administrative functions that provide support services to the operating business units. The company was founded in 1926 and is headquartered in Jacksonville, FL.

Read MoreRed Hat, Inc. provides open source software solutions to develop and offer operating system, virtualization, management, middleware, cloud, mobile, and storage technologies to various enterprises worldwide. It offers infrastructure-related solutions, such as Red Hat Enterprise Linux, an operating system platform that runs on hardware for use in hybrid cloud environments; Red Hat Satellite, a system management offering that helps to deploy, scale, and manage in hybrid cloud environments; and Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization, a software solution that allows customers to utilize and manage a common hardware infrastructure to run multiple operating systems and applications. The company offers application development-related and other technology solutions, such as Red Hat JBoss Middleware, a solution for developing, deploying, and managing applications; integrating applications, data, and devices; and automating business processes in hybrid cloud environments; The company's application development-related and other technology solutions also includes Red Hat cloud offerings, a software solution that enables customers to build and manage various cloud computing environments; Red Hat Mobile, a software development platform that enables customers to develop, integrate, deploy, and manage mobile applications for enterprises; and Red Hat Storage, a software solution that enables customers to manage large, unstructured, or semi-structured data in hybrid cloud environments. It also provides consulting, support, and training services; and realtime operating system, distributed computing, directory services, and user authentication. Red Hat, Inc. has collaboration with Juniper Networks Expand to provide a unified solution for enterprises designed to manage and run applications and services. The company was formerly known as Red Hat Software, Inc. and changed its name to Red Hat, Inc. in June 1999. Red Hat, Inc. was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Read MoreRowan Companies PLC (NYSE:RDC) issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October, 31st. The oil and gas company reported ($1.13) earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of ($1.15) by $0.02. The oil and gas company earned $192.90 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $179.39 million. Rowan Companies had a negative net margin of 42.12% and a negative trailing twelve-month return on equity of 9.19%. The business's revenue for the quarter was down 33.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted ($0.16) EPS.

View Rowan Companies' earnings history.Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. engages in global investment banking, securities, and investment management, which provides financial services. It operates through the following business segments: Investment Banking, Global Markets, Asset Management, and Consumer & Wealth Management. The Investment Banking segment serves public and private sector clients around the world and provides financial advisory services, help companies raise capital to strengthen and grow their businesses and provide financing to corporate clients. The Global Markets segment serves its clients who buy and sell financial products, funding and manage risk. The Asset Management segment provides investment services to help clients preserve and grow their financial assets. The Consumer & Wealth Management segment helps clients to achieve their individual financial goals by providing a wealth advisory and banking services. The company was founded by Marcus Goldman in 1869 and is headquartered in New York, NY.

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Guwahati, Sep 19 : Lack of proper infrastructure, students of four revenue villages in central Assams Nagaon district have been forced to cross a river every day to reach schools.





With absence of proper connectivity or bridge, the students of Palashabari, Tetelisara area in the central Assams district have been forced to cross the Kapili river to reach their schools.





The students of these areas have taken risks by crossing the river to reach their schools.





It is a regular scene in the area that, students and locals crossed the river by using small boats to reach on the other side since past several decades.





It becomes extremely difficult for the students of the area to cross the river during monsoon season.





Sometimes, some students were fell from the boat when they crossing the river.





According to the reports, around 3000 families are living in the Palashabari, Tetelisara area under Barhampur assembly constituency and they are facing lot of problems for lack proper connectivity.





A student of Palashabari Lalit Chandra Nath Middle English School said that, they are facing lot of problems to reach their school.





In past three years, we crossed the river by using boat to reach our school. We are scared when crossing the river and sometimes we fell into the river. It is difficult for us to cross the river during the rainy season, the student said.





The locals too demanded the government many occasions to build a bridge on the river so that, the students can go their schools on a regular basis without taking any risks, but they are yet to get proper connectivity.





Tulsi Nath, a boatman of Palashabari area said that, it is very unfortunate that, the students of the school (Palashabari Lalit Chandra Nath Middle English School) have been forced to cross the river in past 28 years.





The students have missed to attend their classes during the monsoon and flood season. Around 4000 families are living in this area. There are three schools, two health centres in the area and the people are facing lot of problems, Tulsi Nath said.





I served here (in the school) in past 28 years. A bridge is urgently needed. There are four revenue villages in the Palashabari area and all students of the area studying in this school. We are using small boats to cross the river, Tagar Nath, Headmaster of Palashabari Lalit Chandra Nath Middle English School said.



SPDR Nuveen Barclays Short Term Municipal Bond ETF's stock was trading at $49.33 on March 11th, 2020 when Coronavirus reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, SHM stock has increased by 0.0% and is now trading at $49.33.

View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19.Tallgrass Energy Partners, LP acquires, owns, develops, and operates midstream energy assets in North America. It operates through Natural Gas Transportation; Crude Oil Transportation; and Gathering, Processing & Terminalling segments. The Natural Gas Transportation segment engages in the ownership and operation of interstate natural gas pipelines and integrated natural gas storage facilities with approximately 4,641 miles of transportation pipelines in Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. This segment provides its services to on-system customers, including third-party local distribution companies, industrial users, and other shippers. The Crude Oil Transportation segment engages in the ownership and operation of the Pony Express System, a crude oil pipeline serving the Bakken Shale, Denver-Julesburg, and Powder River Basins, as well as other nearby oil producing basins. The Gathering, Processing & Terminalling segment owns and operates natural gas gathering and processing facilities that produce natural gas liquids (NGLs) and residue gas for sale in local wholesale markets or delivers into pipelines for transportation to additional end markets; and crude oil gathering, storage, and terminalling facilities, as well as engages in the transportation of NGLs, and marketing of crude oil and NGLs. This segment also provides water business services primarily to the oil and gas exploration and production industry. The company was founded in 2013 and is based in Leawood, Kansas. Tallgrass Energy Partners, LP operates as a subsidiary of Tallgrass Energy GP, LP.

Read MoreThe following companies are subsidiares of Carnival Co. &: 1972 Productions Inc., 6348 Equipment LLC, A.C.N. 098 290 834 Pty. Ltd., A.J. Juneau Dock LLC, AIDA Kundencenter GmbH, Adventure Island Ltd., Air-Sea Holiday GmbH, Alaska Hotel Properties LLC, Barcelona Cruise Terminal SLU, Bay Island Cruise Port S.A., Belize Cruise Terminal Limited, CC U.S. Ventures Inc., CCL Gifts LLC, CSSC Carnival Italy Cruise Investment S.r.L, Carnival (UK) Limited, Carnival Bahamas FC Limited, Carnival Bahamas Holdings Limited, Carnival Corporation & plc Asia Pte. Ltd., Carnival Corporation Hong Kong Limited, Carnival Corporation Korea Ltd., Carnival Corporation Ports Group Japan KK, Carnival Finance LLC, Carnival Grand Bahama Investment Limited, Carnival Investments Limited, Carnival Japan Inc., Carnival License Holdings Limited, Carnival Maritime GmbH, Carnival North America LLC, Carnival Port Holdings Limited, Carnival Ports Inc., Carnival Support Services India Private Limited, Carnival Technical Services (UK) Limited, Carnival Technical Services Finland Limited, Carnival Technical Services GmbH, Carnival Technical Services Inc., Carnival Vanuatu Limited, Costa Crociere PTE Ltd., Costa Crociere S.p.A., Costa Cruceros S.A., Costa Cruise Lines Inc., Costa Cruise Lines UK Limited, Costa Cruises Shipping Services (Shanghai) Company Limited, Costa Cruises Travel Agency (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Costa Cruzeiros Agencia Maritima e Turismo Ltda., Costa Group Digital & Strategic Services GmbH, Costa International B.V., Costa Kreuzfahrten GmbH, Cozumel Cruise Terminal S.A. de C.V., Creative Travel Lab Ltd., Cruise Ships Catering & Services International N.V., Cruise Terminal Services S.A. de C.V., Cruiseport Curacao C.V., D.R. Cruise Port Ltd., Ecospray Technologies S.r.L., F.P.M. SAS, F.P.P. SAS, Fleet Maritime Services (Bermuda) Limited, Fleet Maritime Services Holdings (Bermuda) Limited, Fleet Maritime Services International Limited, GXI LLC, Gibs Inc., Global Experience Innovators Inc., Global Fine Arts Inc., Global Shipping Service (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Grand Cruise Shipping Unipessoal LdA, Grand Turk Cruise Center Ltd., HAL Antillen N.V., HAL Beheer B.V., HAL Cruises Limited, HAL Maritime Ltd., HAL Nederland N.V., HAL Properties Limited, HAL Services B.V., HSE Hamburg School of Entertainment GmbH, Holding Division Iberocruceros SLU, Holland America Line Inc., Holland America Line N.V., Holland America Line Paymaster of Washington LLC, Holland America Line U.S.A. Inc., Ibero Cruzeiros Ltda., Iberocruceros SLU, Information Assistance Corporation, International Cruise Services S.A. de C.V., International Leisure Travel Inc., International Maritime Recruitment Agency S.A. de C.V., Milestone N.V., Navitrans S.R.L., Ocean Bahamas Innovation Ltd., Ocean Medallion Fulfillment Ltd., Operadora Catalina S.r.L., P&O Princess American Holdings, P&O Princess Cruises International Limited, P&O Princess Cruises Pension Trustee Limited, P&O Properties (California) Inc., P&O Travel Limited, Prestige Cruises Management S.A.M., Prestige Cruises N.V., Princess Bermuda Holdings Ltd., Princess Cays Ltd., Princess Cruise Corporation Inc., Princess Cruise Lines Ltd., Princess Cruises and Tours Inc., Princess U.S. Holdings Inc., RCT Maintenance & Related Services S.A., RCT Pilots & Related Services S.A., RCT Security & Related Services S.A., Roatan Cruise Terminal S.A. de C.V., Royal Hyway Tours Inc., Santa Cruz Terminal S.L., SeaVacations Limited, SeaVacations UK Limited, Seabourn Cruise Line Limited, Shanghai Coast Cruise Consulting Co. Lda, Ship Care (Bahamas) Limited, Sitmar Cruises Inc., Spanish Cruise Services N.V., Sunshine Shipping Corporation Ltd., T&T International Inc., Tour Alaska LLC, Transnational Services Corporation, Trident Insurance Company Ltd., Westmark Hotels Inc., Westmark Hotels of Canada Ltd., Westours Motor Coaches LLC, Wind Surf Limited, and World Leading Cruise Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd..Unum Group is engaged in providing financial protection benefits. It operates through the following segments: Unum US, Unum International, Colonial Life, Closed Block and Corporate. The Unum US segment comprises of group long-term and short-term disability insurance, group life and accidental death and dismemberment products, and supplemental and voluntary lines of business. The Unum International segment engages in the operations of UK business, which includes insurance for group long-term disability, group life, and supplemental lines of business that include dental, individual disability, and critical illness products; Poland business primarily includes insurance for individual and group life with accident and health riders. The Colonial Life segment includes insurance for accident, sickness, disability products, life products, and cancer and critical illness products. The Closed Block segment consists of individual disability, group and individual long-term care, and other insurance products no longer actively marketed. The Corporate segment refers to investment income on corporate assets and other corporate income and expenses not allocated to a line of business; and interest

Read MoreThe following companies are subsidiares of Colgate-Palmolive: 887357 Ontario Inc., COLGALIVE S.A., CP GABA GmbH, CP International Holding C.V., CP West East Investment Limited, Cleaning Dimensions Inc., Colgate (BVI) Limited, Colgate (Guangzhou) Company Limited, Colgate (U.K.) Limited, Colgate Business Services of the Americas S.C., Colgate Flavors and Fragrances Inc., Colgate Global Business Services Private Limited, Colgate Holdings, Colgate Inc., Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals Inc., Colgate Palmolive Ghana Limited, Colgate Palmolive Holding S.Com.P.A., Colgate Palmolive Nouvelle Caledonie Sarl, Colgate Palmolive Tanzania Limited, Colgate Sanxiao Company Limited, Colgate Venture Company Inc., Colgate-Palmolive (America) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive (Asia) Pte Ltd, Colgate-Palmolive (Blantyre) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (Brunei) Sdn Bhn, Colgate-Palmolive (Central America) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive (Central America) Inc. y Compania Limitada, Colgate-Palmolive (Centro America) S.A., Colgate-Palmolive (China) Co. Ltd, Colgate-Palmolive (Costa Rica) S.A., Colgate-Palmolive (Dominica) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive (Dominican Republic) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive (East Africa) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (Eastern) Pte. Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive (Egypt) S.A.E., Colgate-Palmolive (Far East) Sdn Bhd, Colgate-Palmolive (Fiji) Pte Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (Gabon) S.A., Colgate-Palmolive (Guyana) Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive (H.K.) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (Hellas) S.A. I.C., Colgate-Palmolive (Hong Kong) Holding Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (Kazakhstan) L.L.P., Colgate-Palmolive (Latvia) Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Colgate-Palmolive (Middle East Exports) Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive (Myanmar) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (New York) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive (Poland) Sp. z o.o., Colgate-Palmolive (Proprietary) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (Research & Development) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive (Romania) SRL, Colgate-Palmolive (Thailand) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (UK) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (Uganda) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (Vietnam) Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive (Zambia) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive (Zimbabwe) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive A.B., Colgate-Palmolive A/S, Colgate-Palmolive Adria Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive Argentina S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Asia Pacific Limited, Colgate-Palmolive Asia Pacific Treasury Services Limited, Colgate-Palmolive Belgium S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Bolivia Ltda., Colgate-Palmolive Canada Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Caricom Service Co. Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Central European Management Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Chile S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Cia., Colgate-Palmolive Comercial Ltda., Colgate-Palmolive Commercial (Hellas) SP LLC, Colgate-Palmolive Commerciale S.A.S., Colgate-Palmolive Commericale S.r.l., Colgate-Palmolive Compania Anonima, Colgate-Palmolive Company Distr. LLC, Colgate-Palmolive Company GmbH, Colgate-Palmolive Cote dIvoire S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Cyprus Limited, Colgate-Palmolive Development Corp., Colgate-Palmolive East West Africa Region (Pty) Ltd, Colgate-Palmolive Enterprises Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Espana S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Europe (Holdings) Sarl, Colgate-Palmolive Europe Sarl, Colgate-Palmolive Finance (UK) plc, Colgate-Palmolive Global Trading Company, Colgate-Palmolive Holding Argentina S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Holding Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Hungary Kft Limited Liability Company, Colgate-Palmolive IHQ Services (Thailand) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Inc. S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Industrial Ltda., Colgate-Palmolive Industriel S.A.S., Colgate-Palmolive International Holding LLC, Colgate-Palmolive International LLC, Colgate-Palmolive Investment Co. Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Investments (BVI) Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive Investments (PNG) Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive Investments (UK) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive Investments Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Israel Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive Italia S.r.l., Colgate-Palmolive JSC, Colgate-Palmolive Lanka (Private) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive Latin America Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Limited, Colgate-Palmolive Manufacturing (Poland) Sp. z o.o., Colgate-Palmolive Marketing Sdn Bhd, Colgate-Palmolive Maroc S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Mocambique Limitada, Colgate-Palmolive NJ Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Nederland B.V., Colgate-Palmolive Norge A/S, Colgate-Palmolive Participacoes e Investimentos Imobiliarios Lda., Colgate-Palmolive Peru S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Philippines Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Pty Ltd, Colgate-Palmolive Retirement Trustee Limited, Colgate-Palmolive S.A. de C.V., Colgate-Palmolive S.p.A., Colgate-Palmolive Senegal S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Services (Hellas) LLC, Colgate-Palmolive Services (Poland) Sp. z o.o., Colgate-Palmolive Services CEW GmbH, Colgate-Palmolive Services S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Slovensko s.r.o., Colgate-Palmolive Support Services, Colgate-Palmolive Temizlik Urunleri Sanayi ve Ticart S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Transnational Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Ukraine LLC, Colgate-Palmolive Unipessoal Lda, Colgate-Palmolive de Paraguay Sociedad Anonima, Colgate-Palmolive de Puerto Rico Inc., Colgate-Palmolive del Ecuador S.A.I.C., Colgate-Palmolive del Peru (Delaware) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Eeska republika spol. s r.o., Colpal CBS S de R. L. de C. V., Consumer Viewpoint Center Inc., Cotelle S.A., Dimac Development Corp., Dominica Coconut Products Limited, EKIB Inc., ELM Company Limited, Elta MD Holdings Inc., Elta MD Inc., EltaMD, Filorga Americas Inc., Filorga Asia Limited, Filorga Benelux SA, Filorga Cosmetiques Polska, Filorga Middle East DMCC, Filorga Portugal Unipessoal Lda., Filorga RU Limited Liability Company, GABA Europe Holding GmbH, GABA International, GABA International Holding LLC, GABA Schweiz AG, GABA Therwil GmbH, Gamma Development Co. Ltd., Global Trading and Supply LLC, Hamol Ltd., Hello Products, Hello Products LLC, Hills Funding Company, Hills Pet Nutrition (NZ) Limited, Hills Pet Nutrition (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Hills Pet Nutrition Asia Limited, Hills Pet Nutrition B.V., Hills Pet Nutrition Canada Inc., Hills Pet Nutrition Denmark ApS, Hills Pet Nutrition Espana S.L., Hills Pet Nutrition GmbH, Hills Pet Nutrition Holding B.V., Hills Pet Nutrition Inc., Hills Pet Nutrition Indiana Inc., Hills Pet Nutrition Italia S.r.l., Hills Pet Nutrition Korea Ltd., Hills Pet Nutrition Ltd., Hills Pet Nutrition Manufacturing B.V., Hills Pet Nutrition Manufacturing s.r.o, Hills Pet Nutrition Norway AS, Hills Pet Nutrition OOO, Hills Pet Nutrition Pty. Limited, Hills Pet Nutrition S.p.A., Hills Pet Nutrition SNC, Hills Pet Nutrition Sales Inc., Hills Pet Nutrition South Africa Proprietary Limited, Hills Pet Nutrition Sweden AB, Hills Pet Nutrition Switzerland GmbH, Hills Pet Nutrition Taiwan Ltd, Hills Pet Nutrition Trading (GZ) Co. Ltd, Hills Pet Nutrition de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Hills Pet Nutrition de Puerto Rico Inc., Hills Pet Nutrition s.r.o., Hills Pet Products (Benelux) S.A., Hills Pet Products Inc., Hills Veterinary Companies of America Inc., Hills-Colgate (Japan) Ltd., Hopro Liquidating Corp., Hygiene Systemes et Services SA, IES Enterprises Inc., Inmobiliaria Colpal S. de R.L. de C.V., Inmobiliaria Hills S.A. de C.V., Innovacion Creativa S.A. de C.V., Kolynos Corporation, Laboratoires Filorga Cosmetiques Espana S.L.U., Laboratoires Filorga Cosmetiques Italia S.R.L., Laboratoires Filorga Cosmetiques S.A., Laser Brand Toothpaste, Lournay Sales Inc., Mennen Company, Mennen Interamerica Ltd., Mennen Limited, Mennen South Africa Ltd., Mennen de Chile Ltd., Mennen de Nicargua S.A., Mission Hills Property Corporation, Mission Hills S.A. de C.V., Norwood International Incorporated, Olive Music Publishing Corporation, PCA SKIN, Paramount Research Inc., Penny LLC, Pet Chemicals Inc., Physicians Care Alliance LLC, Productos Halogenados Copalven C.A., Purity Holding Company, Purity Music Publishing Corporation, Refresh Company Limited, Samuel Taylor Holdings B.V., Sanex, Sanxiao Company Limited, Services Development Co. Ltd., Societe Generale de Negoce et de Services (GENESE) S.A., The GDN - The Global Distributive Network SAS, The Lournay Company Inc., The MPDP - The Medical and Pharmaceutic Distributive Platform SAS, The Murphy-Phoenix Company, Tom's of Maine, Toms of Maine Holdings Inc., Toms of Maine Inc., Veterinary Companies of America Inc., Vipont Pharmaceutical Inc., and XEB Inc..Zalando SE operates as an online fashion and lifestyle retailer. It offers a range of products, including shoes, apparel, accessories, and beauty products for women, men, and children, as well as free delivery and returns services. The company also sells its products through its Zalando Lounge; and brick-and-mortar stores in Berlin, Frankfurt, Cologne, Leipzig, Hamburg, Hanover, MAnster, Stuttgart, Mannheim, and Ulm. It serves in Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The company has a strategic partnership with Sephora SAS to create the online prestige beauty destination. Zalando SE was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in Berlin, Germany.

Read MoreArt work by Katerina Gribkoff http://www.rawartists.org/katerinagribkoff

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 the section 377 of Indian Penal Code (a colonial era provision from 1860) was discriminatory to the extent that it penalised consensual sex between adults [1]. 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 2013 in Suresh Kumar Koushal case [2], 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 recognized the right to choose a partner and the partner can also be a same sex partner.

This court verdict recognises homosexuality, the right freely conduct oneas sexual life and 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.

ABVA organizes the first ever gay rights protest in India at Police Head Quarters, New Delhi; 11 August, 1992 Photo credits: Shobha Aggarwal /ABVA

This victory in the courts has been possible through long sustained work over the past two and half decades by a rare tribe of socially committed cosmopolitan lawyers [3] 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 [4]. 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 aidentitariana 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. Hindu Mahasabha says the court verdict was a threat to society and national interest calling for Parliament to intervene [5]. 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 aSarva Dharma Sambhava (all religions possible) masalaa secular alliance against our sinful, personal freedoms as citizens. These reactionaries have consistently stood together on this question for a long while [6]

These chaps are no aliens, they echo and amplify widespread prejudicial societal behaviour towards people with a different sexual orientation and all manner of moral policing for social adeviationa. We run the risk all the time of being mowed down by our own people and from the left right and center (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 (holding hands) [7], 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.

Taboos and social and moral tightness

Independent India has long had a deafening taboo on sex and sexuality a on 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, there have been exceptions in their midst the progressive writers Saadat Hasan Manto and Ismat Chughtai who had been both charged with obscenity in pre-independence days for their sensitive writings on the taboos of speaking of sexuality also had much trouble with their comrades of the left who classified such writing as bawdy.

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 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 Indiaas famous math wizard Shakuntla Devi in her book aThe World of Homosexualsa 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 1990s - 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.

1n 1994 Vimla Farooqi the vice president of progressive National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) wrote to the then Prime Minister Narasimha Rao to stop a gay menas conference in Bombay. Even in 2000 NFIW found it difficult to include the issue of lesbian rights on the agenda of the International Womenas rights day. The left had been a very timid, puritanical and conventional [8] on the question of sexual orientation and private life for 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 caught up with 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 apersonal is politicala to their constituency of the working classes where too misogyny, homophobia and conservative tradition, prejudice of all shape rules. It is a pleasure to see that NFIW has now stood up and supported the court ruling decriminalising section 377 and the All India Democratic Womenas Association associated with CPI(M) has welcomed the 6 Sept ruling [9]. The CPI(M) has also welcomed scrapping of section 377 [10]

In the 21st century Its time the people of left embraced personal rights / personal or private sphere in the wider agenda for social emancipation. 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, here rape passes for sex, there is no privacy for most, there is no choice, society leaves you no space to choose, caste, religion, community shape arranged marriages - people lack the ability to choose or to challenge imposed marriages, strangers get married and are clueless about sex or sexuality, those who do try to have partnerships on their own hide in parks when dating, they book hotel rooms under false names, they have no sexual education, they access porn secretively. The progressive organisations donat talk 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 an open and healthy sexual culture and work for a sexual enlightenment. A sexually repressed society will inevitably be a violent place [11]. The state should not have a place in our beds but the lumpen mobs armed with amoral social sanction of a halal / kosher / holya that roam freely to check asina should be shown their place too.

Break free, Break the convention, Break the silence, Break the taboo.

(The author is the founder and editor South Asia Citizenas Web - sacw.net)Gov. Whitmer visits Brown City company BROWN CITY  With little or no fanfare, Governor Gretchen Whitmer made what might have been her first official visit to Sanilac County since being...

More voices is a good thing Beginning in 2023, seven county commissioners will take charge of budget and policy-making decisions in Sanilac County government. The expanded commission districts, from the current...

Judge announces new county clerk Circuit Judge Timothy Wrathell has announced his selection for the next Sanilac County Clerk. Leslie Hilgendorf, the administrative assistant in Sanilac County Circuit Court will...



e-STEM or e-STEAM - STEM or STEAM curriculum with an environmental focus.





FACMAC - Facilities and Capacity Management Advisory Committee. A district committee comprises of an all-volunteer citizen group created in 2012 to help bring research and ideas to capacity management issues in the district.



FERPA - Family Education Rights and Privacy Act. A federal law that protects students' privacy



FRL - Free and reduced lunch.



FTE - Full Time Equivalent



FY - Fiscal Year



Highly Capable Services - NEW name (as of 2014) as umbrella name for these programs: Highly Capable Cohort (formerly APP), Spectrum and ALO (Advanced Learning Opportunities).



HSPE - High School Proficiency Exam, state assessment that replaced the WASL for 10th graders, required for graduation



HQT - Highly Qualified Teacher, a standard set by federal law



IA - Instructional Assistant



IB - International Baccalaureate program. An international program of advanced classes that can either be taken as stand alone or as part of an overall IB program.



IDEA - Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The federal law that governs special education



IEP - Individual Educational Plan, a federal requirement for students with disabilities (special education)



JSCEE - John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence (see headquarters)



MAP - Measures of Academic Progress. A computer-based adaptive assessment made by NWEA and originally purchased by the district for use as a district-wide formative assessment but now used for a wide variety of purposes.



MSP - Measurement of Student Progress, the state proficiency assessment that replaced the WASL for students in grades 1-8





NCLB - No Child Left Behind, a provision of the federal education law, ESEA, introduced during the George W. Bush administration



OSPI - Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction



PCP - Planning, Conference and Preparation



PD - Professional Development

PG & E - Professional Growth and Evaluation, the teacher (and principal) evaluation procedure



RIF - Reduction in Force



RttT - Race to the Top, see Arne Duncan



RIT - Rasch Unit - scoring used in MAP testing

RTI - Response to Intervention, the old name for MTSS



SBE - State Board of Education (or BOE)



SEA - Seattle Education Association (Seattle Teachers' union)



SEAC - Special Education Advisory Committee



SIT - School Intervention Team

STEAM - Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math



STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.



TIF - Teacher Incentive Fund



WASL - Washington Assessment of Student Learning (former state test)



WSF - Weighted Student Formula, the old method of determining school funding



WSS - Weighted Staffing Standards, the current method of determining school funding



MTSS - Multi-Tiered Systems of Support- No Child Left Behind, a provision of the federal education law, ESEA, introduced during the George W. Bush administration- Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction- Planning, Conference and Preparation- Professional Development - Facilities and Capacity Management Advisory Committee. A district committee comprises of an all-volunteer citizen group created in 2012 to help bring research and ideas to capacity management issues in the district.- Family Education Rights and Privacy Act. A federal law that protects students' privacy- Free and reduced lunch.- Full Time Equivalent- Fiscal YearHighly Capable Services - NEW name (as of 2014) as umbrella name for these programs: Highly Capable Cohort (formerly APP), Spectrum and ALO (Advanced Learning Opportunities).- High School Proficiency Exam, state assessment that replaced the WASL for 10th graders, required for graduation- Highly Qualified Teacher, a standard set by federal law- Instructional Assistant- International Baccalaureate program. An international program of advanced classes that can either be taken as stand alone or as part of an overall IB program.- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The federal law that governs special education- Individual Educational Plan, a federal requirement for students with disabilities (special education)- John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence (see headquarters)- Measures of Academic Progress. A computer-based adaptive assessment made by NWEA and originally purchased by the district for use as a district-wide formative assessment but now used for a wide variety of purposes.- Measurement of Student Progress, the state proficiency assessment that replaced the WASL for students in grades 1-8

Note: not a complete list. Here's a link to the district's list. - SPS' three-tier program for advanced learners. Made up of APP, Spectrum and ALOs. (Note: the name of the district program is "Advanced Learning Services and Programs" but these three programs fall under "Highly Capable Services" of AL Services and Programs.- Advanced Learning Opportunity, the third tier of SPS' Advanced Learning program- Advanced Placement. A national program of college-level classes given in high schools.- Accelerated Progress Program. One of the levels of the Advanced Learning Program. NOTE: the name of this program is now "HIGHLY CAPABLE COHORT." This change occurred in 2014.- Associated Student Body. High school leadership groups.Adequate Yearly Progress. Part of NCLB.- Building Excellence. SPS' capital renovation/rebuilding program that is funded via the BEX levy. Every 3 years there is the Operations levy and either the BEX or BTA levies as those two levies rotate in six year cycles).- Building Leadership Team. Staff members at a school who meet regularly to discuss building issues.Buildings, Technology, Academics. The major maintenance/other capital fund for SPS. Originally BTA was to cover major maintenance like HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning), roofs, waterlines, etc.) but now covers wide swaths of items like athletic fields, technology and funding academic needs.- Community Advisory Committee for Investing in Educational Excellence. Created by former Superintendent Manhas in 2008, to issue a report about reform recommendations for SPS.- Continuous School Improvement Plan, the plan for improvement for each school as required by state law.- Career and Technical Education (formerly Voc Ed)- Essential Academic Learning Requirement- Everyday Math, the board-adopted instructional materials for elementary math- English Language Learners- End of Course Assessments, given in math and science, required for high school graduationWhen was the last time you looked at your bank account balance? According to a survey, over 60% of Americans check their balance at least once a week. This habit, if practiced the right way, can put you on the path to achieving your financial... Office of Inspector General assails how federal Bureau of Prisons manages female prisoners | Main | Opportunities for law students and recent law grads interested in prisoners rights 

September 19, 2018

"A Way Out: Abolishing Death By Incarceration in Pennsylvania"

The title of this post is the title of this lengthy new report released this week by the Abolitionist Law Center. Here are excerpts from its executive summary:

Over the last 25 years, the number of people serving life-without-parole, or death-by-incarceration (DBI), sentences in the United States has exploded from 12,453 people in 1992 to over 53,000 people today  10% of whom are incarcerated in Pennsylvania. With over 5,300 people sentenced to DBI and one of the highest per capita DBI sentencing rates in the country, Pennsylvania stakes a strong claim as the U.S. and world leader in this distinctively harsh form of punishment and permanent exclusion of its citizens. Philadelphia, with nearly 2,700 people serving DBI sentences, is the worlds leading jurisdiction in sentencing people to die in prison more than any county or parish in the United States and far more than any individual country in the world. In 1974, fewer than 500 people were serving DBI sentences in Pennsylvania. As of September 2017, 5,346 people are serving death-by-incarceration sentences in Pennsylvania. Despite a 21% decline in violent crime between 2003 and 2015, Pennsylvanias population of people sentenced to DBI has risen by 40% between 2003 and 2016.6 Pennsylvania ranks near the top of every measure of DBI sentences across the country.... Like most measures of the criminal legal system, death-by-incarceration sentences disproportionately impact communities of color. Black Pennsylvanians are serving death-by-incarceration sentences at a rate more than 18-times higher than that of White Pennsylvanians. Latinx Pennsylvanians are serving DBI sentences at a rate 5-times higher than White Pennsylvanians. Racial disparities in DBI sentences are even more pronounced than among the overall Pennsylvania prison population, in which 47% of those incarcerated are Black, compared to 11% of the states population. Of those serving DBI sentences, however, 65% are Black while 25% are White.

Among other interesting aspects of this big report is this introductory note about terminology:

Throughout this report we use the term Death By Incarceration (DBI) when referring to life-withoutparole (LWOP) sentences. We do this for several reasons. First, it is the preferential term selected by incarcerated people that we work with who are serving these sentences, and we are a movement-lawyering organization that is accountable to the movements we work with. Second, it focuses on the ultimate fact of the sentence, which is that the only way it ends, barring extraordinary relief from a court or the Board of Pardons, is with death. Third, DBI invokes the social death experienced by the incarcerated, as they are subject to degraded legal status, diminished rights, excluded from social and political life, tracked with an inmate number like a piece of inventory, and warehoused for decades in this subjugated status. Finally, although DBI in this report is used to refer to LWOP sentences, the DBI label indicates that our concern is not merely with LWOP sentences, but inclusive of other term-of-years sentences that condemn a person to die in prison.

September 19, 2018 at 10:19 AM | Permalink

Comments

George Orwell is rolling over in his grave. I would say that I am shocked, but we have had thirty years of seeing that what matters in political debate are not the merits of the position but what label ends up being used. If you can get the public using your labels, the label itself implies that there is a problem and that your solution is right.

This very post, however, reflects the reality on the ground in trial courts. With the death penalty on the decline, the abolition movement has found its next target -- LWOP. All the claims that we don't need the death penalty because we can go with LWOP are now tossed out the window in the service of the new position that LWOP is evil too.

Posted by: tmm | Sep 19, 2018 5:19:07 PM

Post a commentBengaluru: The ghost of Panaya, the $200 million acquisition of former CEO, Vishal Sikka, has come back to haunt Infosys with its shadow still hanging over the IT bellwether after Infosys Ltd lost an arbitration over the severance package of Rajiv Bansal, the former Chief Finance Officer of Infosys' who must be smiling from ear to ear.

He was awarded the outstanding amount of Rs 12.17 crore, with interest, the firm said Tuesday.

The pay was so far withheld by the IT firm after co-founder N.R. Narayana Murthy and others raised objections and termed the severance pay "excessive" amid speculation it was "hush money to ensure the company's operating procedures were not made public.

Bansal was promised a huge severance package of Rs 17.38 crore the equivalent of 24 months pay of which Rs 5.2 crore was paid at the time of his exit in October 2015 after a three year stint with the company.

He later challenged the company and the matter went to an arbitration tribunal headed by a single judge, R. V Raveendran.

Over the past 18 months, the tribunal has held 15 sittings in Bengaluru before it came out in favour of Bansal on Tuesday by awarding him almost a full payment.

The tribunal has asked tech major Infosys to pay an outstanding exit allowance of `12.17 crore with interest.

The tribunal ruling certainly came as a shock to Infosys, but the company is putting up a brave front. Infosys share price dropped 1% on BSE. Bansal believed that Panaya was an expensive, ill-though-out deal that would not bring any value to Infosys. The board chaired by R Seshasayee gave a blind approval to acquire Panaya for a hyped price. Bansal was forced to quit and was offered a heavy severance pay. Following which company founder Narayana Murthy and others went into a long drawn public battle with Sikka and Infosys board. Eventually, Sikka resigned in August last year and the board was also dismantled. Nandan Nilekani former MD and CEO of Infosys and also one of the founders of the company was brought back to the company as its non executive chairman to save the sinking ship.

The award acknowledges that Infosys had bona fide disputes and that its counter claim for refund of previously paid severance amount of `5.2 crore and damages, has been rejected, Infosys said in a filing to the stock exchanges on Tuesday.

Infosys will take legal advice for necessary actions to be undertaken in respect of the award, it said in the filing to the bourses.

Industry observers say it was not fair for Infosys to withhold the money after offering it to their outgoing senior executive in writing. Bansal now stands vindicated and the tribunal could not find any merit in Infosys' argument.

Speaking on condition of anonymity a former top executive of Infosys said, It looks like the tribunal court has handled the matter only as an employment dispute and did not go into the details of the case. The earlier board did not follow the process and it promised obscene payout without any logic. The current board, on the other hand, completely failed to incorporate its point of view and did not clarify it to the court which now led to the company losing the battle. The company is now left with no option but to pay up the money

to Bansal and end the matter once and for all. He further said, However, the company should recover the money from the board that is responsible for this fiasco and punish it for its failure in fulfilling its fiduciary duty to the company

By fighting this case, Infosys probably was trying not to establish precedence by paying such a huge severance package.

But the fact is it signed up an agreement and committed to a payment. So it's an open and shut case. It is not good for the corporate image of Infosys to chase a former employee with any vendetta. Tech is a volatile market. Exits and entries of senior executives come with a cost and it is common in the US and Europe, said industry observer and HR expert BS Murthy.

Now will Infosys explore an appeal? Legal experts say it is unlikely that Infosys may go for an appeal as the company would have only very limited grounds for such a move. Also proving that something went wrong fundamentally with the arbitration procedure itself is going to be a tough thing.

Sajai Singh, senior partner, an expert in tech law, at J Sagar Associates is of the opinion that, in most cases the award of the arbitrator is final and that leaves Infosys with little scope (limited grounds) of pursuing the case further.In the three months to end-June, India became a net steel importer for the first time in two years, with foreign supplies reaching 2.1 million tonnes

New Delhi: Indias steel ministry has proposed increasing the effective import duty on some steel products to 15 per cent from current rates ranging from 5 per cent to 12.5 per cent, according to two sources and a government document reviewed by Reuters, as the country looks to support the rupee.

The proposal, which is part of a broader government plan to cut non-necessary imports to stop an outflow of dollars that has sent the rupee to record lows, will be discussed in the trade ministry on Wednesday, according to one of the sources involved in the matter.

The broader message is to address the trade balance but we will try to promote Make in India by encouraging domestic (steel) production, said the source, who declined to be named ahead of a possible decision.

The source said there was no certainty that the proposed duty would be imposed.

The steel and trade ministries did not immediately respond to requests seeking comment.

In the three months to end-June, India became a net steel importer for the first time in two years, with foreign supplies reaching 2.1 million tonnes, up 15 per cent from a year earlier, according to official data.

In calendar 2017, India imported more than 7 million tonnes of steel from countries including South Korea, Japan and China.Manto is all set to release in theatres soon. It appears to be Nawazuddin Siddiquis finest performance but Mardaani star Tahir Raj Bhasin also promises to deliver some great, power-packed role as a superstar Sham. He could connect to his character the most, and was more than welcomed on the sets.

As he gets candid in an exclusive chat with Deccan Chronicle, here are the excerpts from it:

When you were offered Manto, what was your first reaction?

I was really excited to play a Bollywood superstar, that too in a vintage film. It was so great to be doing the part, and when I read about Sham, he was a charmer and brought out the best in Manto. For me it was this amazing combination of having a glamorous spot and acting with Nawaz at the same time so I jumped at it.

Seeing that a movie on Manto was directed by a female director Nandita Das, were you proud of her?

To be directed by someone whos been an actor herself  that has brought an amazing dynamic. Shes very particular and well researched, who took 2-4 years to put Manto together. You could tell from the very start that one of her biggest accomplishments was the team which she managed to put together. Weve got feedback from London, Cannes and all over the world that our movie is aesthetic, which makes me proud to be part of the film.

She herself has been part of path-breaking movies like Fire and Earth. So its expected that such a female director will do justice to the movie?

First of all I never saw her as a female director. For me she was just a director. We make a mistake in labelling people based on their gender. Never on set did you feel like her way of functioning is different from what a male director wouldve been.

Coming to expectations, when you read the script, you know it then that it will be challenging because we had to make period film look right. Till a film releases, theres never a measure of certainty, although expectations are always there.

Did you also work for free?

I would like to get there, to be able to work for free, like my character Sham who started from nothing and then eventually rose to stardom.

Did you read Mantos books?

Definitely. Not only Mantos work, but as an actor, you also need to understand who these people were and where did Sham and Manto connect. From what I figured, they most connected when both were in debt. They were both rebels who didnt like anything that curtailed freedom of expression for an artist.

How much do you connect to your character as a person?

There are a lot of aspects. Sham was this light-hearted charmer who loves the good life. He came to Mumbai (Bombay then) with dreams in his eyes. What was great was the chemistry I shared with Nawaz off screen too. He was so humble.

Did you expect that?

I met him socially before. I definitely knew hes a humble person but he also makes a great co-actor. Its like a sport  youre only as good as your partner is, and when youre opposite Nawaz, you have to bring your best game to the table. I hope the audience sees that there was a great camaraderie that she shared.

Mantos books have spoken about women in a certain way. What is your opinion about the gender?

More than any time, in history we need to have equality at the moment in terms of everything  social norms, pay scale, respect and legal rights. The great thing about Manto is that he was writing about women when it was a taboo to do so. He wrote about sex workers, rape and a lot of subjects that people didnt want to read about. For an intelligent audience, they will try to see the subtext about what he was trying to say  that a subject or a writer should not be censored, which is what we have even in todays day.

Do you think he was actually ahead of his time?

Yeah, and when an artist is ahead of its time, usually society reacts the way they did to Manto  they dont know how to deal with it. Thats a sign of him being a thinker far ahead of his time.

Apart from acting, did you contribute towards the music or something else?

No I didnt, but I would hope to have contributions like that in the future.

Where do we see Tahir after Manto?

Ive just signed a Nitesh Tiwari film which Im very excited about. The film is produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, who together make an amazing combination. I look forward to working with them.Filmmaker Anurag Kashyaps latest release, Manmarziyaan, may have gotten a thumbs up from critics, but members of the Sikh community are not happy about the fact that Sikh characters in the film have been shown smoking. Theyve lodged a complaint against the makers of the film in Nainital.

Meanwhile, Kashyap has defended his depiction of the community, saying, Every step of the way, we asked for guidance from Sikh people.

He has put out a statement regarding the matter on Twitter, and it reads, We created what we saw with our own eyes and after discussion. It was never the intention to hurt the community and why would we do that when we got so much love from them. The city of Amritsar opened their hearts and doors to us and everything was done with utmost care. Not a single thing was shot without guidance. We wanted to show things the way they are. No religion teaches crime or anything anti-humanity, yet those things happen. It doesnt mean they are offending the religion (sic).

He has also apologised to anyone hurt by his actions, saying, To those whose hurt is genuine, I offer a genuine apology, that wasnt my intention. And for those who are doing it for attention, I am glad you have got the attention (sic).Most harmful bacteria species, including strains of E. coli and MRSA, were most frequently found in ceramic bowls. (Photo: Pixabay)

It turns out that dogs, apart from giving owners love and companionship can also give them a host of diseases.

Scientists have discovered their water bowls can harbour life-threatening bacteria, including E. coli, salmonella and MRSA.

Scientists say they have clear evidence to show dog water bowls can pose rosk of infection to both humans and their pets.

The research, conducted at the Hartpury University, tested three types of bowls as they wanted to know how much the build-up of bacteria could be affected by the material a bowl is made from, and how often it is cleaned.

Results revealed dangerous bacteria was most likely to thrive in plastic bowls, with the cheap containers harbouring the highest quantities of bugs.

However, the most harmful bacteria species, including strains of E. coli and MRSA, were most frequently found in ceramic bowls. Stainless steel bowls were also tested.

The study, presented at the 69th annual meeting of the European Federation of Animal Science at Dubrovnik in Croatia last month, also found the longer dog bowls are used, the greater quantity and species of bacteria that are present.

Animal scientists, led by Coralie Wright, have now called for stricter cleaning regimes of water bowls, to minimise the risk of spreading any killer bugs.

Aisling Carroll, study co-author, said: It is clear from our study that dog water bowls pose a disease risk to both human and animal health.

She further added that increasingly close contact between humans and their pets is leading to concerns regarding bacterial transmission of zoonoses.

Zoonoses are diseases which can be transmitted to humans from animals.

The study comes after University of Copenhagen research in April suggested dogs may cause urinary tract infections (UTIs), such as cystitis.Bengaluru: A Kannada movie producer was arrested for duping three banks by taking loans worth Rs 96 lakh by producing colour photocopies of same set of residential property documents to all the three banks.

The accused, Prasanna R., a resident of Vijayanagar, was arrested by the Seshadripuram police on Wednesday based on a cheating and forgery complaint filed by the chief manager of Syndicate Bank, Seshadripuram branch.

Prasanna, who is the producer of Beautiful Manasugalu, a Kannada movie released in 2017, and co-producer of Neer Dose, released in 2016, is also a grain merchant. He had incurred huge losses in his business and was deep in debt. Prasanna had approached his friends for a loan of Rs 1 crore, but no one bailed him out of his financial crises.

Prasanna then decided to approach a bank for a loan against property. He got in contact with the Seshadripuram branch of Syndicate Bank and submitted the loan application with the original documents of his only house in Kempapura Agrahara as collateral. The bank sanctioned Rs 38 lakh loan in December 2015.

But Prasanna needed more money and tried to get the loan amount increased, but the bank did not agree. Then he approached cooperative banks with colour photocopies of the same house documents to get the loan. He was sure that he would easily get the loan as cooperative societies would not check the authenticity of the documents.

He submitted the documents to Daivagna Cooperative Bank and Margadarshi Chits Karnataka Pvt Ltd and got Rs 20 lakh and Rs 38 lakh loan sanctioned a few months later.

The cheating came to light when Syndicate Bank officials verified the documents after he failed to repay the loan and found that he had availed loans by submitting photocopies of the same documents with two other banks.

When bank officials asked Prasanna to explain, he admitted that he had taken loans from the two banks by furnishing photocopies of the same documents he had submitted to Syndicate Bank. But he assured the bank officials that he would repay the loan and issued two cheques of Rs 10 lakh and Rs 7 lakh in July and August this year. But when the cheques bounced because of insufficient funds, bank officials filed a complaint with the police.

The Seshadripuram police, who registered a case and arrested Prasanna, are also investigating if bank officials had colluded with him to sanction the loans without properly verifying the documents.A day before his summon, Bishop Mulakkal moved the Kerala High Court seeking anticipatory bail. The court will hear his plea on September 26. (Photo: ANI)

Kochi: Accused for raping a Kerala nun, Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal appeared before the Kerala police for questioning on Wednesday.

A five-member Kerala police team led by Vaikom Dy SP K Subhash is interrogating Bishop Mulakkal at Crime Branch (CID).

Security has been tightened at the Crime Branch (CID) where the team is interrogating the bishop.

Ahead of interrogation, Vaikom Dy SP K Subhash held a meeting with Kochi Range IG Vijay Sakhare.

After mounting pressure by activists, nuns and people to initiate action against the bishop, the Kerala police last week issued summon to the priest. He was asked to be present before the police for interrogation on September 19.

A day before his summon, Bishop Mulakkal moved the Kerala High Court seeking anticipatory bail. The court will hear his plea on September 26.

Franco Mulakkal had also written to the Pope seeking permission to temporarily step down from the responsibilities as the bishop or head of the diocese of Jalandhar, saying that he needs to spend more time to fight his case.

In a letter dated September 16, he said he may have to travel to Kerala several times and so he wants to hand over the responsibilities of the diocese temporarily.

The nun in her late 40s has alleged that she was sexually abused by Franco Mulakkal repeatedly between 2014 and 2016 during his visits to a convent in Kottayam district.The controversial Islamic practice allows men to leave their wives immediately by stating 'talaq' (divorce) three times. (Photo: File)

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet Wednesday approved an ordinance making triple talaq a punishable offence after the Narendra Modi-led NDA government failed to pass it through both the houses of Parliament.

During the Monsoon session, triple talaq bill was deferred to the next session after the parties in the Rajya Sabha failed to reach an agreement over the amended bill.

The Lok Sabha cleared the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, in December but it has been stuck in the Rajya Sabha where the BJP-led NDA is in minority.

The bill criminalises the Islamic practice of divorcing by uttering the word talaq thrice in any form  spoken, in writing, or over electronic communication.

The bill presented in the Rajya Sabha included three changes.

The first amendment cleared by the Centre allows only a woman, or a close relative, to file a police case against her husband for instant triple talaq by uttering the word "talaq" (divorce) thrice.

The second amendment allows her to drop the case if the husband comes around later and they arrive at a compromise.

The government, however, has not toned down the three-year jail penalty for the husband or the provision that only empowers a magistrate, and not a local police officer, to release the accused on bail.

The third amendment mandates that the magistrate can decide on releasing the husband on bail only after hearing the wife. This was one of the demands made by the Opposition.

In August 2017, the Supreme Court had declared instant talaq illegal and unconstitutional. The latest argument for "overhauling the [DEA], or even getting rid of it entirely." | Main | "A Way Out: Abolishing Death By Incarceration in Pennsylvania" 

September 19, 2018

Office of Inspector General assails how federal Bureau of Prisons manages female prisoners

As reported in this Washington Times piece, "A critical shortage of correctional officers plaguing the nations prison system is having a disparate effect on female inmates, a government watchdog said Tuesday." Here is more about the report and reactions to it:

The Justice Departments inspector general, Michael E. Horowitz, concluded the dearth of trained prison employees is restricting the access of female prisoners to necessary care and services. The lack of sufficient staff is most noticeable at larger female institutions, Mr. Horowitz wrote in a report.... The report also concluded that 90 percent of the female inmate population would benefit from trauma treatment, but staffing shortages make it nearly impossible to provide eligible inmates with the care they need, according to the report.... Kara Gotsch, director of Strategic Initiatives at the Sentencing Project, said she was not shocked by the inspector generals findings. There is a staffing shortage system-wide, she said. But staff shortages are more complicated with women prisoners because its compounded when you have male correctional officers in positions where women are required to do the strip searches. The inspector general recommended the Bureau of Prisons improve the allocation of staff across the countrys correctional facilities and ensure that all staffers have received proper training. In a response attached to the report, Hugh Hurwitz, acting director for the Federal Bureau of Prisons, said he agrees with the inspector generals recommendations and vowed to improve both staffing and training. The BOP will determine the appropriate level of staffing that should be allocated to the Women and Special Populations Branch, based on an analysis of its broad mission and responsibilities, Mr. Hurwitz wrote. Ms. Gotsch said the best solution to the issue is sentencing reform to reduce the number of women incarcerated for low-level offenses. We are putting too many women in prison for low-level offenses for too long, she said. There is never enough money in the federal budget to adequately care for prisoners if we have significant overcrowding and maintain these high levels of incarceration.

The full 60-page OIG report is titled "Review of the Federal Bureau of Prisons Management of Its Female Inmate Population," and it is available at this link. Here is a paragraph from its introduction:

We concluded that BOP has not been strategic in its management of female inmates. We determined that BOP needs to take additional steps at the Central Office level to ensure that female inmate needs are met at the institution level. Our review identified instances in which BOPs programming and policy has not fully considered the needs of female inmates, which has made it difficult for inmates to access certain key programs and supplies. Further, while BOP is adhering to federal regulations and BOP policies requiring that only female Correctional Officers conduct strip searches of female inmates, BOPs method for ensuring compliance with these requirements assigns staff inefficiently. Finally, we found that BOPs conversion of Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Danbury to house male inmates negatively affected certain female inmates who had been housed there.

September 19, 2018 at 09:47 AM | Permalink

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Post a commentNew Delhi: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat Wedneday pitched for a policy to maintain demographic balance in the country, saying it should cover all sections of the society, beginning with those having more children but "limited" means for their upbringing.

Bhagwat presented Sangh's views on a number of contentious issue while answering wide-ranging written questions on the last day of the RSS' three-day conclave, including on matters like inter-caste marriages, education policy, crimes against women, cow vigilantism.

Bhagwat also strongly backed existing quota for different communities, but said there should not be any politics on the issue. He claimed there is an increasing acceptance of Hindutva, his organisation's founding ideology, in the world but anger existed against it in India due to various wrong practices which have crept in over the years. The Sangh is working to remove them, he added.

To a question about changing demographic balance in parts of India and the 'declining' Hindu population, the RSS chief said the matter of demographic balance is considered significant world over and it should be maintained here also. "Keeping this in mind, a policy on population should be prepared," he said, adding that it should keep in mind the country's projected population in the next 50 years and its resources to deal with the number.

Once a policy is decided, it should be applied on everyone, not sparing anyone, he said, drawing a bid round of applause from the packed auditorium. He added that such a policy should be applied first where the problem (of population) exists, "where there are more babies but means to bring them up are limited... If their upbringing is not good, then they will not become good citizens." Such a policy can be introduced later among those where such a problem is not there, he said, adding only law is a not a solution to the issue.

Many BJP leaders and Hindu outfits have been raising the issue of what they call a dwindling Hindu population against increasing Muslim numbers. Speaking against religious conversion, Bhagwat said it is almost always done with ulterior motives and also causes demographic imbalance.

He also pitched for protection of cows but disapproved of going against law in the name of cow vigilantism.

The RSS chief said it is a crime to take law in one's own hands and there should be stringent punishment in such cases, but added, "we have to reject the double-speak as there is no talk of violence by cow smugglers". He was asked about increasing cases of mob lynching and cow vigilantism in the country.

The three-day event saw presence of several leaders of the ruling BJP, as also of Bollywood actors, artists and academicians. However, almost all major opposition parties gave the conclave 'Bhavishya Ka Bharat -- An RSS Perspective' a miss though the RSS had said it had invited them. On Sangh's view on the issue of inter-caste marriages, Bhagwat said it supports such weddings and if there is a census on inter-caste marriages, the maximum cases will be those from the Sangh.

Expressing anguish over crime against women, he said an environment needs to be created where women feel safe and secure. Replying to another question, he also said that it was responsibility of the government and administration to protect its people against any discrimination.

He also said that LGBTQ should not be isolated as they were also part of society. Bhagwat said that the Sangh was not opposed to any language, including English, but it should be given its proper place, suggesting it cannot replace an Indian language. "You should not be opposed to any language, including English, and it should not be removed...We have no enmity with English. We need proficient English speakers," the RSS chief said.

Among other issues, Bhagwat also talked about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and said the RSS does not accept Article 370 and 35-A of Constitution relating to the state. While Article 370 deals with autonomy of the state, Article 35-A allows the state assembly to define permanent residents of the state.The woman alleged that Sailu came to her house one day with a box of sweets and chocolates and offered them to her. (Representational Image)

Hyderabad: A man was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly raping a 29-year-old physically challenged woman over the past several months on the pretext of getting her a job in the Road Transport Corporation (RTC), police said.

Soma Sailu, a bus driver in the RTC, lured the woman after claiming that he knows union leaders and would get her a job and also took Rs 3 lakh and some documents from her last year, they said.

The woman filed a complaint with the Hyderabad police on September 16, stating that she had been trying for a job following the death of her husband, an employee in the RTC.

She had met Sailu, who had promised to get her a job. Subsequently, when she enquired about it, the man created a fake ID card and salary slip, stating that she had got the job and that the salary would be credited to her account without her ever having to go to office, police said.

The woman alleged that Sailu came to her house one day with a box of sweets and chocolates and offered them to her.

She ate some of them, which were laced with sedatives, following which she fell unconscious.

Sailu then raped her and warned her not to disclose it to anybody, police said.

He also threatened to kill her son and started blackmailing her and, since then raped her several times, the woman alleged in the complaint.

Police registered a case of rape and cheating under relevant sections of IPC and arrested the man.On August 29, the apex court had directed that they be kept under `house arrest and this has been extended further. (Representational Image)

New Delhi: Observing that liberty of an individual cannot be sacrificed in the alter of conjecture, the Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Maharashtra government to produce at least one best document to justify the arrest of five human rights activists, journalists and lawyers on August 28.

A Bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices AM Kanwilkar and DY Chandrachud after perusing the documents and case diary submitted by the State government in a sealed cover asked the Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to produce the best document available showing the involvement of the activists. When the ASG told the court that the `case diary is self explanatory, the CJI asked the ASG show us your one best document first.

The Bench was hearing petitions filed by Dr Romila Thapar and others challenging the arrest of five activists. The five activists Varavara Rao, lawyer Sudha Bhardwaj, Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves and Gautam Navlakha were taken into custody from different parts of the country on August 28. The next day the apex court had directed that they be kept under `house arrest and this has been extended further.

The ASG submitted that the police recovered electronic evidence such as phones, laptops and they were given for Forensic examination. Everything is recorded in the case diary. How can we say we are framing someone? We found concrete materials required to justify the arrest, the ASG said.

He questioned the maintainability of the petition said the case and arrests had nothing to do with dissent or writings by the activists. This concerns serious offences. There is material recovered from their laptops, computers, hard disks, etc. We want your Lordships to go through the materials, which will shock the courts conscience. Dont make up your mind without going through the materials in full.

Justice Chandrachud intervened and told the ASG the court has to look with a hawk's eye at the case of activists' arrest in connection with the Bhima Koregaon violence. Our institutions should be robust enough to accommodate dissent. We want to have a holistic view. We wont go by one or two documents. Dont raise your opposition about this court entertaining the petition. We want our shoulders to be robust and not restricted. We feel liberty cant be sacrificed in the alter of conjecture. We will look at all these attempts with the hawk's eyes."

Justice Chandrachud observed, those at the helm of institutions may not like everything that is said about them but this cannot be grounds to stop them. Our institutions should be robust enough when there is an opposition to the system or even to this court. Then there has to be something different to constitute subversion of law and order as far as elected government is concerned. We may not like it but we must also accept there could be dissent... Let us make a clear-cut distinction between an opposition and attempts to create disturbance, overthrow government etc.

The ASG said dissent is fine but it is also important who is saying it. If the leader of a banned outfit says it, this will have a different connotation.

Senior advocate Harish Salve, who represents the informant of the FIR in this case said, "There must be a distinction between a dissenting view and a criminal act. One may say out of anger that I will burn the Constitution because it has proved to be unfair to a certain class.

The ASG said, We dont doubt the powers of this court. Your Lordships will have to see whether the materials we have produced shocks your judicial conscience and whether the investigation is being carried in accordance with the provisions of CrPC.

Earlier senior counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the five activists, insisted on a probe by a SIT or a court-monitored investigation in the arrest of the activists on August 28 for their alleged role in the Bhima Koregaon violence. He submitted that for the past few months, a canard has been spread about the so-called criminal past of the activists.

He said Varavara Rao has been earlier booked in 25 cases, but was either acquitted or the cases were withdrawn. Gonsalves had 18 cases booked against him. He was acquitted in 17, convicted in one for which appeal is pending. Ferreira was booked in 10 or 11 cases, he was acquitted in all of them. The other two have no cases.

Dr Singhvi repeated that the 13 letters leaked into public domain, of which the seven that canvass a Rajiv Gandhi kind of incident are purported to have been exchanged between one Comrade Prakash and the five accused, are ex facie fabricated and false. These letters are yet to be forensically verified; they do not find a mention in the chargesheet, in any transit remand application and have not been placed on record in any court of law.

Former Union Law Minister Ashwini Kumar submitted that the expansive judicial review jurisdiction of this Court and its logic has been repeatedly asserted by the Court particularly in the context of its constitutional mandate for the preservation and protection of inviolable fundamental freedoms and rights.

He said the core of the petitioners case is that allegations of criminal conduct on the part of those arrested on 28th August 2018, criminal investigations prior to and following the arrests as also detention of the accused is patently mala-fide and a gross violation of their fundamental rights under Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution.

This assertion is prima facie validated by the manner in which the focus of criminality is sought to be shifted from the original accused, that is, Milind Ekbode and Shambhaji Bhide named in the FIR of 2nd January 2018 to those arrested on 28th August who were admittedly neither present at the Elgaar Parishad meeting on 31st December 2017 nor are named in the FIR of 4th January 2018.

Criminal prosecution shown to be ex-facie unsustainable and malafide violate Article 21 and citizens are not obliged in law to suffer oppressive prosecutorial processes of the State that result in the loss of their liberty, reputation and dignity. Such a prosecution negates the legal due process and is violative of Article 14. In matters concerning individual liberty, reputation and human dignity, the Court will lean in favour of liberty and dignity of individuals, he said.

Senior counsel Rajeev Dhavan, Anand Grover and Prashant Bhushan questioned the manner of arrest and called for an independent probe. Arguments will conclude on Thursday.Taking a dig at the Congress, BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra said Kapil Sibal, a leader of the opposition party, defended this practice in the Supreme Court. (Photo: File)

New Delhi: The BJP Monday described the government's decision to bring an ordinance to make the practice of instant triple talaq a penal offence as a huge step towards "empowering women".

Taking a dig at the Congress, BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra said Kapil Sibal, a leader of the opposition party, defended this practice in the Supreme Court.

For all these years, the Congress politicised the triple talaq issue for vote bank politics. The Congress should be ashamed of itself, Patra said at a press conference at the party office here.

The BJP thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing the ordinance. It is a huge feat and huge step towards empowering women, Patra said. The Union cabinet cleared an ordinance to make the practice of instant triple talaq a penal offence on Wednesday.

Read: Cong whose ultimate leader is woman didnt pass triple talaq: Ravi Shankar

Briefing the media about the cabinet decision, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad accused the Congress party of not cooperating in the passage of the Muslim Women Protection of Rights on Marriage Bill, pending in the Rajya Sabha, because of vote bank politics.

The Supreme Court last year banned the practice. But since the practice was still prevalent, a bill was brought to make it a penal offence.THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan wants to unfold the conspiracy behind the espionage case against him and others, and he will go ahead with the civil suit filed against the police and intelligence bureau officials seeking Rs 1 crore in compensation.

Excerpts from his meet-the press programme:

Dont you think that there was at least some spark for the smoke, especially since a team led by an officer like Siby Mathews, who had a good track record, arrested you?

There is smoke without fire too. The Supreme Court itself termed it as a malicious prosecution. Siby Mathews would have to answer this. The conspiracy needs to be unfolded. One thing I am sure, I am not a spy.

Did you opt for voluntary retirement from service even before the ISRO espionage case came up?

That is right, but had no connection with any espionage. It was purely an organisational matter as my promotion prospects in the organisation were uncertain owing to promotions overlooking seniority. Kasturi Rangan was made ISRO chairman overlooking the seniority of my then boss at LPSC. It cast a shadow over my promotion prospects and hence I decided to opt for VRS.

Do you think that then PM Narasimha Rao intervened owing to the involvement of his son?

Rao just wanted to ensure that the cryogenic project should happen. I was the project director, and I too wished that its implemented despite pressures from America.

Do you hope the Justice D. K. Jain Committee appointed by the SC will unravel the conspiracies?

Though the mandate given to the committee was to find out ways and means to take appropriate steps against the erring officials, it may also look into aspects that led to the fabrication of the case against me. I wish the conspiracy behind my arrestalso unfolded.Chennai: Justice Arumugasamy commission, probing the circumstances leading to death of former chief minister J, Jayalalithaa, has posed several questions to Raj Bhavan and the chief secretary in connection with reports sent to Central Government on the condition of Jayalalithaa while she was under treatment in Apollo Hospital.

A week after IAS officer, Ramesh Chand Meena, the then principal secretary to the then acting Governor, CH Vidyasagar Rao, appeared before the Commission, the Commission secretary posed several question to the Raj Bhavan to file its reply.

The commission asked the Raj Bhavan as to how many reports received from state government and Apollo hospital on health condition of Jaya while she treated in hospital. Whether such reports, if received, were submitted to the then Governor. If so whether he filed any reply. After visiting the Apollo hospital did Governor sent any report on the status of Jaya's health to Rashtrapati Bhavan, Delhi?

Similarly, in questions posed to Girija Vaidyanathan, chief secretary, the commission has directed her to file reply on question as to whether the five-member committee, formed to monitor the health condition of the Jayalalithaa, submitted any report to the state government. If the committee had not submitted any report, whether action taken against the committee was taken for dereliction of duty.

Whether department of health submitted any report to the council of ministers, whether the then chief secretary P. Rama Mohana Rao sent any report to the Central government or to state government or to Governor or to the then Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on the status of the Jayalalithaa's health.

The commission has also directed Apollo Hospital chief operating officer Subbiah Viswatthan to appear before the commission on September 25 again to surrender of CCTV camera footages from the hospital. On September 6, the commission directed the CEO to surrender CCTV footages from the hospital. However, CEO, on September 11, replied that footages of CCTV cameras installed in the hospital premises are saved in the servers only from one month to 45 days. After that period new footages would replace the old.

However, not satisfied with the reply the commission directed the CEO to appear before the Commission on September 25.Bishop Franco Mulakkal comes out of Crime Branch office at Tripunithura on Wednesday. (Photo: DC)

Kochi: The police interrogated rape-accused bishop Franco Mulakkal for seven hours at the hi-tech interrogation facility at Tripunithura on Wednesday and allowed him to leave for the day with the questioning set to continue on Thursday.

While coming out of the Crime Branch (CB) office at Tripunithura, Kottayam district police chief and Superintendent of Police (SP) Hari Sankar said that the first phase of the interrogation was over and that the quizzing will continue on Thursday at the same time. As of now, the bishop is cooperating with us and the questioning will continue tomorrow, he said.

Asked whether the days session helped resolve issues on the contradictions in the statements of the accused and He also refused to say anything on the arrest of the bishop at this stage.

Meanwhile, when the bishop was coming out of the Crime Branch office, the activists of the All-India Youth Federation (AIYF) waved black flags and stopped the car for a short time.

The bishop arrived in Kochi on Tuesday evening and stayed at Thrissur for the night. His travel to Kochi by car on Wednesday morning was dramatic as he skipped the media and reached the police station around 11 a.m.

Earlier, it was said that the interrogation would commence at 10 a.m.

The grilling led by Mr. Hari Sankar and DySP K. Subhash started shortly after a discussion with the Inspector-General of Police (Ernakulam Range), Vijay Sakhare, who reviewed the progress of investigation and their preparedness for the session.

Earlier, Vaikom DySP office, Ettumanoor Hi-tech police facility, and an office in Kottayam were chosen as the venues. But considering the sensitive nature of the case and the strong protection needed for the day, IG Vijay Sakhare chose Tripunithura Crime Branch office.

Alternative arrangements were also made at these centres for continuing the process in case anything hampered the ongoing interrogation.

Franco dodges media

In a high drama, Franco Mulakkal dodged media as he travelled by road from Muringoor in Thrissur and pulled up at the crime branch office leaving the media crew waiting in vain in front of his brother Philips house in Kochi and misleading them with another vehicle.

The bishop arrived in Kochi on Tuesday evening and left for his brothers house in Thrissur. Earlier, it was informed that he would report for interrogation around 10 a.m. on Wednesday.

In a high drama, Franco Mulakkal dodged media as he travelled by road from Muringoor in Thrissur and pulled up at the crime branch office leaving the media crew waiting in vain in front of his brother Philips house in Kochi and misleading them with another vehicle.

The bishop arrived in Kochi on Tuesday evening and left for his brothers house in Thrissur.

Earlier, it was informed that he would report for interrogation around 10 a.m. on Wednesday. But he reached by 11 a.m.

To trail the bishop from Thrissur to Tripunithura, reporters and camera persons were present early at the roads.

However, to mislead them, his brother arranged a decoy run on an SUV from his house.

As the media started to follow the SUV, the bishop left for Tripunithura in a Volkswagen Polo car with bright shades on the rear windows to avoid contact with the media.

He reached Tripunithura through the Seaport-Airport Road via Kakkanad.

Few meters before the spot, the car was supposed to take a left through a pocket road to reach the Crime Branch office. However, on witnessing the presence of the huge media crew, the car went straight and then took the second left to the Market Road to reach the office on another route.

On the way, it stopped at Hill Palace police station and with two policemen on motorcycle piloted the vehicle on the onward journey.

Police said that the pilot was to show the way. Even inside the office compound, the car was parked between two other vehicles so that the media and public do not get a clear view of the bishop.

Even when he came out after interrogation, it was hard to get a clear view of the bishop.Chennai: The ruling AIADMK has accused DMK president M. K. Stalin of making desperate attempts to somehow topple the government and become the Chief Minister. The party slammed Stalin for levelling corruption charges against the government out of frustration.

He (Stalin) is making desperate attempts to somehow topple this government and become the Chief Minister, a write-up in the AIADMK mouthpiece mouthpiece Namathu Puratchi Thalaivi Amma said. Referring to the chaotic scenes witnessed in February 2017 during the vote of confidence in the State Assembly, and also DMKS black flag protests against Governor Banwarilal Purohit during his visits to districts to hold review meetings with officials and later petitioning the Governor alleging irregularities in the Highways Department in the wake of I-T raids against a contractor, the party organ said, frustrated that he has not received any success (politically) despite holding many protests and that people are not supporting him, he is levelling corruption charges from the Chief Ministers native place (Salem).

The mouthpiece lashed out at the DMK on a number of issues, including the Sri Lankan Tamils issue and land grab charges against former DMK ministers during its 2006-11 rule. An Opposition party should use the democratic right of holding protests for "just causes" and point out shortcomings which will be addressed by the government. "Instead, levelling corruption charges and seeking the removal of the government... no opposition party in the world does this," it said. It also recalled past corruption charges against the DMK, such as the 2G spectrum allocation scam and took a dig at Mr. Stalin for leading his party's protests on Tuesday from Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami's native district Salem. "Both Mr Palaniswami and his deputy CM O. Panneerselvam were creating new awakening in Tamil Nadu in the AIADMK rule," it said. Following the demise of late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa in December 2016, "those who dreamt of the government falling and a split in the party are frustrated that their dreams have

not come true."Kiran Bedi was one among the brand ambassadors for the "Clean India" campaign initiated by the Prime Minister.

Puducherry: Prime Minister Narendra Modi appreciated the efforts made by Lt Governor Kiran Bedi to make the Union Territory clean and ensuring the success of Swacchata mission in Puducherry.

"The Prime Minister appreciated the keen interest taken by Lt Governor Kiran Bedi in ensuring the success of Swacchata mission in Puducherry and her relentless focus in making the mission a mass movement requested to mobilise more people and spread awarness on waste segregation , composting and creating better local infrastructure for better liquid waste management," an official release from Raj Nivas said.

A meeting of the secretaries of the government was held at Raj Nivas on Wednesday to discuss the activities that different departments will render to observe 'Swacchata hi Seva' from September 15 to October 2.

"In deference to the expectation of the Prime Minister a meeting of secretaries was convened at Raj Nivas and the secretaries have given declaration in writing about the Swaccch activities which will rendered by them to observe 'Swacch hi seva'", the release said.

Action plan was also drawn to make Puducherry Open Defecation Free by October 1 and the secretaries will also give the progress made by their respective departments on the written declaration given.

The best performers will also be recognised and appreciated at a function on October 2.

"Carrying forward Prime Minister's Swatchta Bharat movement all together more unitedly in alignment to make Puducherry Swatchh.

Meeting of secretaries was held this morning to work in Union in their areas and also connecting with regions, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam," said Ms Bedi in a Whatsapp communication.

"Preparation is on to declare Puducherry open defecation free on Oct 2. The cleanliness efforts made so far have already yielded very useful results by bringing down dengue cases substantially," she claimed.

She also said that progress by all departments would be recorded in a consolidated report for the Prime Minister on October 1.

Kiran Bedi was one among the brand ambassadors for the "Clean India" campaign initiated by the Prime Minister.warnings on the intensity of rainfall might help decide on steps to take in preparing for water release from the citys reservoirs in case the northeast monsoon is as bounteous

Chennai: In an effort that could go some way in preparing the people for any imminent threat arising out of the monsoon rains, the State Revenue Department has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Centre for Coastal Research, to know in advance about the condition and intensity of rains.

This will help us to take precautionary measures as we would be in a position to know the intensity of rain 5 days ahead, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister R. B. Udaiyakumar has said.

Given the Kerala experience of flooding this year and Chennais own 2015 floods, sophisticated guidance in preparation might help. Warnings on the intensity of rainfall might help decide on steps to take in preparing for water release from the citys reservoirs in case the northeast monsoon is as bounteous.

A couple of days of pre-monsoon rain and the flooding of the city roads may have convinced the government that preparation is needed.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, the minister said the State government was fully prepared to tackle any emergency arising out of the northeast monsoon.

Flood mitigation works are in full swing in Chennai, he said and added that the progress of work is being reviewed in 32 districts through video conferencing.

About 5,000 officers have been drafted to review the complaints from the people and to take appropriate action, Mr Udayakumar said.Welcoming the diplomat, Trump wished him a successful working tenure.The US President took this occasion to thank the warm welcome to him by the Vietnamese State and people during his visit to Vietnam and attendance at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders Meeting in November 2017, and extend his greetings to Vietnams leaders and people.Ambassador Ngoc also conveyed the greetings by Vietnamese senior leaders to the US leader.He said that the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Partnership is developing strongly and dynamically more than ever, driven by mutual understanding and effective cooperation in numerous fields, at both bilateral and multilateral levels.He affirmed Vietnam is willing to work with the US to boost win-win cooperation, for the interests of the two peoples, and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

VietnamplusBengaluru: Alleging a witch-hunt by the BJP to destabilise the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition government headed by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, Water Resources and Medical Education Minister D. K. Shivakumar who is in the dock after Enforcement Directorate filed a First Information Report in connection with huge stacks of money reportedly found at his Delhi residence, said he was not a coward to run away.

Mr Shivakumar also alleged that the alleged diary that Mr Patra was quoting from did not exist. I have not murdered or raped anyone or indulged in any illegal activities. I am ready to appear before the ED officials after receipt of notice, the minister said.

Reacting strongly to BJP National Spokesperson Sambit Patras startling revelation regarding a diary found at Mr Shivakumars Delhi house and reported confession statements of close aides of the Karnataka minister, Mr Shivakumar who, earlier in the day had been hospitalised at a private hospital following food poisoning, came out of hospital to rebut the BJP spokespersons allegation.

Denying that money had been paid to Congress party or its leaders, the Karnataka minister said the diary that the BJP spokesperson had quoted from during the press conference in Delhi from, does not exist at all.

Terming the Enforcement Directorates evidance as fabricated, Water Resources Minister D.K. Shivakumar said, The diary had been fabricated and mentioned the names of Congress President Rahul Gandhi and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi by their initials - SG and RG - just to tarnish our party national leaders. This was being done in the wake of coming crucial elections to Lok Sabha.

Mr Shivakumar said "I am not afraid of ED or Income Tax Department officials since I haven't done any crime. I am ready to undergo any torture and let them take my blood if they want. But I am confident of coming out clean out of this issue. I am being targeted after keeping the Gujarat Congress legislators in a resort in my district during the Rajya Sabha polls. On the same day, the IT sleuths simultaneosly conducted raids on 82 places in several parts of the country and tortured my family, friends and well-wishers in the name of investigation."

"Today, I am happy that BJP has admitted its role in government administration and in autonomous institutions which all these days remained apolitical. Though, the raids took place on August 2, 2017, why did they keep quiet for more than one year and only want to investigate it now," he asked.

He said officials had revealed that there was a lot of pressure on them to file FIR only to mentally torture him. " Why was no notice served since 2017 on me, seeking my explanation. I am aware of who are all behind this drama and I am going to expose them in the coming days. I too know their (BJP) dealings and will display everything in Delhi".

Throwing down a challenge, he said " I have not made any payment to our party or leaders. The BJP had no moral right to talk about the diary as the country knows the fate of the Jain diary which had contained the names of recepients of huge sum of money to top BJP leaders including the current PM Narendra Modi and former deputy prime minister Lal Krishna Advani."

"Mr Patra, ask your party leaders about the Jain diary. I am also aware of court's verdict in regard to revealation in diary case. I know the law of the land and respect it. The BJP talks of Congress corruption but makes jail-returned leaders like Mr B S Yeddyurappa and Mr Amit Shah as chief minister and party national president respectively".

Mr Shivakumar said he was not aware of any confession statements of the three accused which was read out by Mr Patra in Delhi and claimed that statements had been recorded, by investigation officials who "threatened" them.

He admitted however that Rs 41 lakhs that belonged to him had been seized from his Delhi residence but all the documents pertaining to its sources of income had been handed over to the department concerned. Besides, Rs 1.2 crore seized from the same place belonged to his friend who runs a transport business for which proof of income had been filed.

"I will tell Mr Yeddyurappa and other BJP leaders that they cannot threaten me with such cases. I can threaten somebody but none can threaten me. I have filed my IT returns promptly and paid Rs 30 crore tax. I have not involved in hawala business or earned money through illegal business. Let them put me in jail, I will not allow the BJP to topple the Kumaraswamy government at any cost. Dreams of forming the new government by the saffron party will never become a reality".

He claimed that BJP had offered crores of rupees to woo the Congress and JD(S) legislators and they would soon address the media to expose the saffron party leaders.

"You (BJP) are after my blood, my party and my leaders but you cannot win in 2019 LS polls by blackmailing. Such threats will not work with me. If summoned, I will happily appear before the ED to fight my case. D K Shivakumar is not a coward to run away..I will face it boldly. I have full faith in the judiciary."

Mr Shivakumar ruled out tendering his resignation, saying it was not necessary since there was no truth to the BJP's claim. "Now it's my turn to expose the BJP leaders before the nation. But, I will speak with documents".Hyderabad: Caretaker Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao is learnt to have taken a serious view of the AP government allegedly deploying its intelligence and police staff in Telangana state to undertake political surveys to discover the electoral prospects of TD candidates and those of other parties.

Mr Rao has decided to take up the issue with Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan and lodge a strong complaint against AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for misusing Section 8 of the AP Reorganisation Act on the common capital, Hyderabad.

Mr Rao discussed the issue with the partys senior leaders, who felt that though Hyderabad remains the common capital for 10 years, the AP government cannot deploy police and intelligence staff in Telangana state especially after its entire administration has shifted to Amaravati.

Party leaders from Khammam, Karimnagar, Nalgonda, Nizamabad and Adilabad districts brought to the Chief Ministers notice that several AP intelligence officials were visiting their constituencies and undertaking surveys to gauge the winning prospects of TD candidates and also other parties.

They alleged that this is being done to lure disgruntled leaders from the TRS, who were not given tickets in the recently announced list.Hyderabad: Supporters of caretaker minister T. Harish Rao in Siddipet Assembly constituency are pooling money to pay for the security deposit while filing the nomination papers for the upcoming elections.

Mr Harish Rao has been representing the constituency since 2004. Such is his hold that Opposition parties have failed to retain their deposits since then.

The Yadava Association and women's association in Gurrala Gondi village donated Rs 5,116 each while the Munnuru Kapu Sang-ham, Gowda Sangham and SC Ambedkar Madiga Association donated Rs 2,116 each. The Mudiraj Association, Arya Vaishya Sangham, Reddy Sangham and Gangaputra Assocation gave Rs 3,116 each.

They handed over the money to Mr Harish Rao when he visited the village for the campaign. They also handed him over a copy of the unanimous resolution adopted by villagers vowing to vote only for Mr Harish Rao.

Turning emotional, Mr Harish Rao said, I dont think any leader could ask for more than what you have given. I will be indebted to you forever. He said the people had been standing by him from 2004, and supported him when he resigned twice as MLA.

I have dedicated my life for the development of every village in Siddipet constituency and I will not rest till this goal is achieved," Mr Harish Rao said to thunderous applause.Former Union minister and senior Congress leader Ashwani Kumar spoke to Ashhar Khan on the need for the Congress to have an overarching narrative of freedom versus fear in the coming 2019 Lok Sabha elections. He further added that the gravity of our challenges and the smallness of our politics do not go well together. Excerpts from the interview:

The 60 months which Mr Narendra Modi had asked for are now coming to an end. How do you see the significance of these upcoming 2019 Lok Sabha elections and what is the overarching theme of this election?

Different people may have different takes on this pertinent question. All that I can say is that the way I look at the present political scenario in the country and the way I feel one can underscore a distinction between a BJP-led political regime and the Opposition parties which are committed to fundamental freedoms in this country is to present to the people of India the next Lok Sabha election as a clear choice between freedom and fear. Freedom being represented by those political parties led by the Congress which believe in the fundamental constitutional values of our libertarian and dignitarian democracy, while fear is being represented by the present dispensation, that has not only comprised institutions of libertarian democracy but have also unleashed a repressive regime. You have seen the recent arrests of human rights activists, we have seen the unprecedented persecution of political rivals, we have seen the saga of lynching and we have seen the unleashing of violence by mobs on dissenters. All this clearly is a sign of the nation moving towards a kind of undeclared mobocracy masquerading as democracy. I think a duty is cast on all political parties which believe in Indias Constitution to come together, rising above partisan considerations, to meet this challenge. In this entire process the Congress as a party of the freedom movement will have to play a very significant role. I do wish and hope with all my heart that the Congress will speak up for the freedom of all citizens and make freedom and defence of Indias liberal democracy as the cornerstone of its electoral campaign.

How do you see the role of your party and the new Congress president? There have been a lot of aspersions cast on him after the partys successive defeats since he took over.

In my personal view and I think that is a view which is largely shared, the Congress president remains fully committed to upholding the fundamental values of the republic. He has put his heart and soul into trying to forge a united Opposition against the present regime. He has repeatedly said that his politics is anchored in idealism and in the values of the Constitution. Having said that as the head of Indias premier political party, he will have to reach out to the largest number of people rising above all other considerations with a view to enlisting support of the best within the party and outside the party in forging an instrument of political change that can give to the people of India an alternative narrative. It is necessary not only to demolish the claim of the present government for another five-year term but it is necessary as part of that process to provide the country an alternative narrative. In my view, that narrative can be built around the overarching theme of the defence of liberty and freedom in this country and the defence of secularism, pluralism and inclusiveness in this country.

Do you think that is the strategy that the Congress should follow and is following?

Well, I believe that is the strategy the Congress should follow, whether it is following or not or will follow or not or will effectively follow or nor will depend on the times to come.

We have seen the Congress talk about demonetisation, unemployment, agrarian crisis, the price rise, faulty implementation of GST, unfulfilled promises of the BJP. Do you think these are also issues in building a larger narrative for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections?

Corruption, unemployment, agrarian distress are all important issues  Nobody can deny that these issues are relevant, they are extremely relevant. My view, however, is that these issues have to be built around a central overarching narrative for the 2019 elections. We know from past experience that every election has one overarching distinctive theme. In my personal view, the distinctive theme and the defining theme of the 2019 election would be to present to the people of India a choice between freedom and fear.

What, according to you, are the main challenges faced by the nation and how should the political class respond to these challenges?

There are challenges galore and if I keep counting them I dont think I will be able to count enough. But first and foremost, let me tell you that the polity of this country is increasingly riddled by divisions that are debilitating our democracy. Whether it is caste, whether religion, whether it is social and political inequities, whether it is the gaping divide between the rich and poor, or whether it is socially horrific crimes like rape, exploitation and criminality. These are a huge challenge to Indias democracy and my biggest worry today is that I dont see political parties taking these issues head on. In election after election, we see the parties concentrating on an immediate issue, rather than thinking of the next generation and the country. I think the Congress must show its qualitative distinction by taking up the larger issues first and foremost, which it has often done and it invariably does, but it should do so regardless of the electoral arithmetic. It should do so as a matter of principle, it should do so as a matter of non-negotiable values that define the Congress and define this nation.

Do you think sometimes the Congress also gets carried away for immediate electoral gains and diverts from its path?

I am afraid at times electoral considerations have weighed at the cost of principles, that I hope will corrected under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi.

Do you think that in the last 52 months the level of political discourse has gone down, the kind of words that have been spoken about your party leaders by some Central ministers?

It is most reprehensible that the level of political discourse has been reduced to such a low by responsible leaders of the BJP. Casting aspersions against a founding father of this nation like Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, as well as leaders like Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and other Congress leaders in words that do no justice to those holding high offices in the BJP. These utterances have reduced Indias democracy to a kind of farcical exercise in mudslinging. I believe it has brought the quality of Indias democracy to a new low which is something all citizens of this country should condemn. I must say Rahul Gandhi has always instructed partymen not to use offensive language against political rivals, but Im afraid the BJP hasnt reciprocated. Whoever it may be, whether from the Congress or from any other outfit, there has to be a certain level of dignity in political discourse. It is the collective responsibility of all political formations. I must also add that the gravity of our challenges and smallness of our politics do not go together.

The Congress alleges since the present government came to power there have been institutions that are under attack. Your comments?

There is no doubt one hears about attempts to alter history. One hears about attempts to infiltrate constitutional institutions in order to change the focus of those institutions, but what puts me to shame is that in the political slugfest some individuals have not refrained from dragging the Army and Air Force chiefs into controversy. I read a recent statement saying that the Air Force chief had lied. I think such statements should be made with the utmost circumspection, if at all they have to be made. Our last line of defence is our apolitical defence forces. Speaking for myself, I would think a thousand times before casting any kind of aspersions about our constitutional functionaries and against the defence chiefs.Audi dealers, particularly those from California where Tesla has made significant inroads, cheered the e-tron at Monday nights crowded event.

German luxury car brand Audi on Monday staged the global launch of a new electric sport utility vehicle on the home turf of rival Tesla Inc, and highlighted a deal with Amazon.com Inc to make recharging its forthcoming e-tron models easier.

The Audi e-tron midsize SUV will be offered in the United States next year at a starting price of USD 75,795 before a USD 7,500 tax credit. It is one of a volley of electric vehicles coming from Volkswagen AG brands, as well as other European premium brands including Daimler-owned Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volvo Cars and Jaguar Land Rover.

All aim to expand the market for premium electric vehicles and also to grab share of that market from Palo Alto, California-based Tesla, which has had the niche largely to itself.

I want Audi to be the number-one electric vehicle seller in America over the long term, Audi of America President Scott Keogh told Reuters in an interview on Monday.

Audi dealers, particularly those from California where Tesla has made significant inroads, cheered the e-tron at Monday nights crowded event. Analysts on Tuesday expressed concern that the vehicles driving range may not measure up to the Tesla Model X.

Audi officials said they do not have official range estimates for the e-tron SUV under US testing procedures. They said the vehicle should achieve a range under less rigorous European testing standards of roughly 250 miles or 400 km.

Keogh told attendees at Mondays event that an e-tron had made a 175-mile journey over the mountains east of San Francisco with range to spare. He also emphasized that the e-tron is designed to recharge more rapidly than rival electric vehicles.

UBS analyst Patrick Hummel said in a note on Tuesday that the e-tron fails to set new benchmarks in the premium EV segment, even though we consider it better than the Mercedes EQC. The EQC is a rival electric SUV the Daimler AG brand plans to launch in 2020.

The e-trons 95 kWh battery has less capacity than the 100 kWh battery used in the Tesla Model X 100D model, but more than the base Model X 75D.

The Model X 100D is rated at 295 miles (475 km) of range by the US government.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who is also head of rocket company SpaceX, marked the e-tron launch by staging a SpaceX event in Los Angeles at roughly the same time on Monday evening as Audis unveiling. At the SpaceX event, the company named its first private passenger on a planned voyage around the moon in 2023.

Audi and parent Volkswagen are using the US launch of the e-tron SUV in mid-2019 to take aim at one obstacle to expanding electric vehicle sales - the lack of convenient ways to recharge their batteries.

Audi will partner with online retailer Amazon to sell and install home electric vehicle charging systems to buyers of the e-tron, the companies said on Monday. Amazon will deliver the hardware and hire electricians to install them through its Amazon Home Services operation.

Amazons partnership with Audi to provide home charging systems is the first time the online retailer has struck such a deal with an automaker, and signals a new front in Amazons drive to expand its reach into consumers homes beyond the presence of its Alexa smart speakers in living rooms and kitchens.

We see charging installation as a very important business, Pat Bigatel, director of Amazon Home Services, told Reuters at Audis launch event in San Franciscos Bill Graham Civic Center.

Audi executives said home charging stations would cost about $1,000, depending on the homes electrical system.

Tesla offers wall connectors for home charging at a $500 list price, and will arrange for installation, according to the company.

At the same time, Electrify America, a company funded by Volkswagen as part of its settlement of US diesel emission cheating litigation, plans to launch next year the next round of installations of public charging stations, Electrify America executives told Reuters.

Tesla has developed its own network of Supercharger charging stations with more than 11,000 chargers in North America. Electrify America plans to have 2,000 chargers installed by mid-June next year. Those will be open to any vehicle, and customers can swipe a credit card to recharge.

We want to work with all automotive brands, said Giovanni Palazzo, Electrify Americas chief executive.

Audi has been heralding the launch of the e-tron SUV for some time, but until Monday it had not shared many details of the vehicle.

The e-tron is electric, and has two electric motors - one in the front and one in the rear - driving all four wheels. The Hungarian factory building motors for the e-tron will start with a production pace equivalent to 200 vehicles a day, Audi officials said.

In Europe, the vehicle will use cameras instead of conventional mirrors to give drivers a view to the rear. That feature is still not approved by US regulators.

However, in many other respects the e-tron is a conventional, mainstream luxury SUV. It offers seating for five, and its length and wheelbase position it in the center of the market for midsize, five-passenger luxury SUVs such as the BMW X5. The e-tron is 5 inches (13 cm) shorter than the Tesla Model X, and it has conventional doors. The Model X uses vertically opening falcon wing doors.

The e-tron will have an advanced cruise-control system that can keep the car within a lane and maintain a set distance behind another vehicle, but the system will be designed so that drivers must keep hands on the wheel.

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.Their addition to the board would expand it from 12 directors to 14.

Qualcomm Inc is preparing at add at least two new directors to its board, people familiar with the matter told Reuters, as the US smartphone chip maker looks to appease shareholders who withheld voting support for its board last March.

Qualcomm has been forced to defend its track record this year after upsetting some investors by rebuffing a USD 120 billion takeover bid from rival Broadcom Inc, failing to secure Chinese regulatory approval for its USD 44 billion acquisition of NXP Semiconductors NV, and failing to resolve a longstanding patent dispute with Apple Inc.

Investors expressed dissatisfaction with the company last March when most of Qualcomms board directors, including Chief Executive Steve Mollenkopf, were elected with the voting support of less than 50 percent of the shares outstanding even though they were unopposed.

That followed the exit of the boards chairman Paul Jacobs, who stepped down to explore a long-shot acquisition offer for the company, which has yet to materialize.

Irene Rosenfeld, who stepped down last year as CEO of US snack foods company Mondelez International Inc, and Martin Anstice, CEO of semiconductor equipment manufacturer Lam Research Corp, are in advanced talks to join Qualcomms board, the sources told Reuters on Tuesday.

Their addition to the board would expand it from 12 directors to 14. Qualcomm appointed Neil Smit, vice chairman of US cable operator Comcast Corp, and Mark Fields, former CEO of carmaker Ford Motor Co, to its board in June.

More additions to the companys board next year are possible, the sources said. Board member Thomas Horton, the former chairman of American Airlines Group Inc, is considering whether to seek re-election next year after serving as a director for 10 years and has yet to make a decision, according to two of the sources.

The sources asked not to be identified because the deliberations are confidential. Qualcomm declined to comment.

Qualcomm is under pressure to deliver on the financial goals it laid out while defending itself against Broadcom. The hostile bid was blocked in March by US President Donald Trump over national security concerns.

The financial targets include a sharp increase in earnings per share. Qualcomm is targeting USD 6.75 to USD 7.50 in fiscal 2019, compared with USD 4.28 in fiscal 2017, its last full year. That hinges on resolving its licensing disputes and continuing to diversify revenue.

The San Diego-based company kicked off a USD 30 billion stock buyback earlier this year, it resolved a patent row with client Samsung Electronics Co, and said it expects to bring in USD 1 billion in sales from chips for smartwatches and speakers, part of the USD 5 billion in sales this year it expects from sources outside its core mobile phone chip market.

Qualcomms efforts are satisfying some investors. Its shares have risen more than 50 percent since April and recently hit an almost four-year high.

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.Xiaomi has launched its Mi 8 Youth Edition and the Mi 8 Screen Fingerprint Edition in China. The Mi 8 Youth Edition is a toned-down version of Mi 8 and is powered by a Snapdragon 660 chipset and is backed by a 3350mAh battery with support for Qualcomm's Quick Charge 3.0.

The Youth Edition features a 6.26-inch notched LCD panel with a 19:9 aspect ratio. On the photography front, the smartphone packs a 12MP+5MP dual rear camera setup, accompanied with AI capabilities and dual phase detection autofocus. There is a 24MP Sony IMX576 sensor for shooting selfies with AI capabilities. The phone comes with a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor and is equipped with a face unlock.

The Mi 8 Screen Fingerprint Edition, on the other hand, embraces a 6.21-inch Samsung AMOLED FHD+ display. It runs on a Snapdragon 845 chipset coupled with Adreno 630 GPU. It is kept alive by a 3000mAh battery with support for fast charging. Optics wise, the handset has an AI-based dual rear camera setup, including a 12MP wide-angle lens with a f/1.8 aperture and a 12MP telephoto lens with a f/2.4 aperture. For selfies, there is a 20MP with AI Portrait mode.

Coming to the price, the Mi 8 Youth Edition costs CNY 1,399 (approx Rs 14,800) for the 4GB/64GB variant and CNY 1,699 (around Rs 18,000) for the 6GB/64GB configuration and CNY 1,999 (approx Rs 21,200) for the 6GB/128GB. The Mi 8 Screen Fingerprint Edition, on the other hand, costs CNY 3,199 (around Rs 34,000) for the 6GB/128GB configuration and CNY 3,599 (approx Rs 38,200) for the 8GB/128GB variant.

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.Tense moments prevailed at the Attica Gold Company office on Queens Road on Tuesday evening when Magadi Police, who came to arrest its founder and managing director Bommanahalli Babu on charges of buying stolen gold, were attacked by his supporters.

Babu refused to sit in the police jeep and when the cops forced him in, his supporters attacked the policemen. They also tried to attack mediapersons who were on the spot covering the incident.

Ramesh B, Superintendent of Police, Ramanagara district, said: "There are three FIRs against Babu and associates, including dacoity, at Tavarekere police station. A special team, headed by Magadi circle inspector Shabarish, was formed to investigate the cases. Following investigation, a team visited Bommanahalli Babu's office on Tuesday and arrested him and three staff members."

Investigating officer Shabarish said that a court had issued a notice to Babu, but he neither appeared before the court nor gave any representation. Finally, the court ordered his arrest in the case. "We arrested him following the court order," he said.

Police said a special team was formed to look into a series of burglaries and dacoities reported in the Magadi Circle police station. Police also suspect Babu's role in some of these cases.

During the course of the investigation, a gang was nabbed who, upon interrogation, confessed that it had pledged the booty with Attica Gold Company. Later, raids were conducted on the company and the stolen jewellery sold to them was recovered. Cases were also filed against the company for buying jewellery without proper bills and verification.Custom Officials at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) on Sunday arrested two people who tried smuggling 1.3kg of gold worth Rs 41.31 lakh by concealing it in sandle paste.

Officials noticed Puthaan Veedu Samseer Ali who came from Dubai in an Air India flight and exchanged the sandals with Salman Faris C who had a ticket to fly from Goa to Bengaluru and sat next to him. They arrested both.

MR Reddy, additional Commissioner of Customs, said police caught the duo and recovered gold from the sandals. They were handed over to local police for further investigation.

On Saturday, officials caught Moideen Kunja Mohammed Shafi (47) who landed in KIAL from Kuala Lumpur by Malaysian Airlines. He wore one crude gold kada and one crude gold chain weighing 568 grams worth Rs 17.91 lakh and concealed it under the sleeves and the collar by fastening the buttons.

Similarly on Thursday, customs officers arrested Vinod Kumar Parasmal Jain (44) and Pinto Kumar (38) who landed by an Oman Air flight from Dubai via Muscat.

The duo wore gold kadas with silver coating on the arms below the clothing to conceal the chain. Officials seized two gold kadas of 333 grams worth Rs 10.50 lakh from them.

In total, officials recovered 2.15 kg of gold in the last few days worth Rs 69.75 lakh and arrested five persons.BJP Member of Parliament PC Mohan asked people residing nearby Graphite India Limited (GIL) to file criminal complaint against the company they have been fighting for the last 20 years.

Local people have been complaining that the excessive soot emanated by the factory affects their health and creates air pollution.

As per the air quality data captured by AirCare- a community-developed air quality monitoring network, PM2.5 (fine particles with a size of 2.5 microns and less measured in micrograms in a cubic meter) is more at Graphite junction.

Following complaints by local residents, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) in 1998 called for a joint meeting with GIL and directed the factory to install pollution control measures as per Central Pollution Control Board guidelines and replace all machinery. As GIL didnt follow it, the KSPCB issued a notice and closure order in 2012.

But GIL obtained a stay order on the closure notice in 2012. The residents intervened and challenged the stay order and requested the Appellate court to uphold the closure. In 2014, after many hearings, the Appellate court upheld the stay order and allowed GIL to continue operations.

The residents challenged the order in National Green Tribunal (NGT). As per the case, the KSPCB inspected the GIL premises in 2017 and the report it submitted indicated that the company did not complete orders by the appellate court. The NGT is yet to make a ruling as the judges on the tribunal benches have retired.

GILs license ended in June 2018 and KSPCB chairman Lakshman, who was part of Tuesdays hearing, said the Board will not renew it.

MP PC Mohan urged the locals to file a criminal complaint since the company is functioning without license. GIL representatives argued that they are following the NGT orders and their company is not responsible for the pollution in Whitefield. Lakshman said he will personally inspect GIL on Wednesday with his Board members. The KSPCB will ensure continuous air check from hereafter. Well go to the court and strength the case with all documents and technical data. Well await court order on the factorys closure, he added.The new service will be operational with 7 flights per week, using Airbus 321 aircraft. Flights will depart from Da Nang at 12.20 am.m and Osaka at 9.30 a.m. Travel time will be 4 hours 30 minutes.



The new air route is the eleventh from Vietnam to Japan to be directly operated by Vietnam Airlines, including routes from Hanoi, HCM City and Da Nang City to Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka.

The promotional tickets of the new route will be available from now until September 30. A one-way ticket costs VND5,899,000 (US$249). The special price is applied for flights departing from October 28-December 31.

On this occasion, the airlines has also launched a promotional program, offering 1,000-2,000 bonus miles for members of VNA's Golden Lotus Program when purchasing tickets on Da Nang-Osaka route from January 28, 2018 - January 31, 2019.

Vietnam Airlines is currently the largest carrier operating direct flights between Vietnam and Japan with an average of 70 regular flights per week. Since the first direct flight operated in 1994, Vietnam Airlines' passenger volume has reached 11.3 million passengers, accounting for 65 percent of market share.







By BICH QUYEN  Translated by Kim KhanhUS President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he is seriously considering a request from Poland for US troops to be permanently based in the strategically important country on Europe's flank with an "aggressive" Russia.

At a joint press conference with Polish President Andrzej Duda in the White House, Trump said Poland is offering to pay Washington at least $2 billion to help meet the costs of the base, which would likely irk Moscow.

"The president offered us much more than $2 billion to do this, so we are looking at it," Trump said.

"We are looking at it from the standpoint of, number one, military protection for both countries and also, cost. We're looking at it very seriously," the president said earlier. "If they're willing to do that (pay), it's something we will certainly talk about."

"The United States commits to explore options for an increased US military role in Poland and we will intensify our consultations to determine the concept's feasibility," the White House said in a statement later.

"The results of these efforts will contribute to the defence not only of Central and Eastern Europe, but also of the whole Alliance."

At the press conference, Duda said that Nato member Poland, which was long dominated by Russia and the Soviet Union, wants "a permanent American base in Poland."

He joked that the base could be called "Fort Trump."

Defence Secretary Jim Mattis praised Poland for taking a lead in increasing its military spending, but stressed that no decisions had been made regarding a permanent US troop presence.

"The questions are many," Mattis told Pentagon reporters.

"As you know, it's not just about a base. It's about training ranges, it's about maintenance facilities at the base, all these kinds of things, it's a host of details we've got to study alongside the Poles. So no decision's been made, we are studying it and we are working together on that."

Duda said Russian military expansion, starting with a takeover of rebel areas of neighbouring Georgia and more recently the annexation of Ukraine's Black Sea Crimea region, was part of "constant violation of international law."

"There is a whole range of arguments in favour of the fact that the presence of the US armed forces in this area is absolutely justified," Duda said.

Trump -- accused by political opponents of having colluded in a shadowy Russian operation to aid his surprise 2016 election win against Democrat Hillary Clinton -- agreed with Duda's assessment.

"I think it's a very aggressive situation. I think Russia has acted aggressively," he said.

"They respect force. They respect strength as anyone does. And we have the greatest strength in the world, especially now."

And the White House reinforced that judgment, saying a partnership between the US and Poland "is critical in light of growing security challenges characterised by aggressive Russian behaviour."President Donald Trump on Monday declassified a trove of documents related to the early days of the FBI's Russia investigation, including a portion of a secret surveillance warrant application and former FBI Director James Comey's text messages.

Trump made the extraordinary move in response to calls from his allies in Congress who say they believe the Russia investigation was tainted by anti-Trump bias within the ranks of the FBI and Justice Department.

It also came as Trump continued his efforts to undermine special counsel Robert Mueller's probe in the wake of the guilty plea of his former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, and amid the ongoing grand jury investigation into a longtime associate, Roger Stone.

Trump's decision will result in the release of text messages and documents involving several top Justice Department and FBI officials who Trump has repeatedly attacked over the last year.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced Trump's decision in a written statement, saying the president had directed the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Justice Department to declassify the documents "at the request of a number of committees of Congress, and for reasons of transparency." It was unclear how soon the documents would be released.

In statements, on Monday evening, the Justice Department and the office of Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats said they are working together to comply with Trump's order, which triggers a declassification review by various agencies "to seek to ensure the safety of America's national security interests." That review is now ongoing.

According to the statement, Trump declassified 21 pages of the 101-page June 2017 application to renew a warrant obtained under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, to monitor the communications of former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page in 2016.

Those pages only make up a small part of the 412 pages of FISA applications and court orders related to Page released by the FBI earlier this year in heavily redacted format.

The June 2017 application was the last of four filed by the Justice Department in support of FISA court orders allowing the monitoring of Page. His communications were monitored for nearly a year starting in October 2016.

According to the redacted version, three of the declassified pages involve information included in a section titled "The Russian Government's Coordinated Efforts to Influence the 2016 US Presidential Election." That section includes reference to potential coordination between people associated with Trump's campaign and the Russian election interference effort.

The other 18 pages appear to relate to information the government submitted that came from ex-British spy Christopher Steele before the presidential election. Steele was a longtime FBI informant whose Democratic-funded research into Trump ties to Russia was compiled into a dossier that has become a partisan lightning rod since its publication in January 2017.

In addition to the FISA applications pages, the president is declassifying all FBI reports documenting interviews in connection with the Page surveillance warrant as well as those documenting interviews with senior Justice Department official Bruce Ohr, who was in contact with Steele.

According to Sanders' statement, Trump also directed the Justice Department to publicly release in full the text messages of Comey, Ohr, former acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe, former FBI lawyer Lisa Page and former FBI special agent Peter Strzok that are related to the Russia investigation.

The move comes after a group of Republicans in Congress held a news conference last week asking him to declassify the documents. Democrats criticised the effort, saying the GOP lawmakers are trying to discredit the Justice Department in an effort to protect Trump from Mueller's investigation.

Trump made a similar move in February when the White House, over the objections of the FBI and intelligence community, cleared the way for the Republican-led House intelligence committee to release a partisan memo about the surveillance warrant on Page. Democrats weeks later released their own memo.

The declassification of the documents was quickly praised by Trump allies in Congress and attacked by Democrats.

"Transparency wins. This is absolutely the right call from @POTUS," said Rep Mark Meadows, a North Carolina Republican, on Twitter. Meadows, who had pushed for the documents' release, said it will allow the American people to decide "what happened at the highest levels of their FBI and Justice Department." And the No 3 Republican in the House, Louisiana Rep Steve Scalise, tweeted that Trump made the right call.

"Americans deserve the truth about these egregious actions by government officials," Scalise said.

But Rep Adam Schiff of California, the ranking Democrat on the House intelligence committee, called Trump's decision a "clear abuse of power" intended to advance a "false narrative" to help in his defence from Mueller's probe. Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland and Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York, the ranking Democrats on the House Oversight and Judiciary committees, said in a statement that Trump's actions were a "direct and frantic response" to Manafort's recent guilty plea and cooperation agreement with Mueller.The Andhra Pradesh government has identified 2000 acres of land in four villages for the construction of a 6000 MW Nuclear Power Plant near Kavali in Nellore district.

Russia will be building this plant at an estimated cost of Rs 20 crore per megawatt (MW). According to sources, the state government proposal has been cleared by the Union government.

The Nellore district administration has identified the land in four villages - Chennaya Palem, Tummalapalli, Alluru and Ramapuram - between Kavali and Ramayapatnam in Prakasam district.

Out of these, the first three villages have been cleared by the Centre, district revenue officials told DH.

READ (DH Exclusive): India to give Andhra Pradesh site to Russia for N-plant

Teams from National Institute of Rock Mechanics (NIRM) have collected soil samples from these villages. However, there is no official confirmation about the final site where the NPP will be built, said Venkatesam, Mandal Revenue Officer, Kavali.

Activists oppose

Opposing the setting up of the nuclear power plant, Human Rights Forum (HRF) general secretary V S Krishna said: Setting up of nuclear power plants is a crime against the future generations. There are umpteen safer alternatives compared to nuclear power. Even the developed countries are rejecting nuclear power." Members of HRF, which has opposed the plan to set up a plant at Kovvada too, visited the villages shortlisted for the Kavali plant.

The CPM, which led a wave of agitation against the Kovvada plant, has warned the state government against going for a nuclear power plant at Kavali.

It doesnt matter if the plant is being built by Russia. We oppose nuclear power in principle," said Ch Rajagopal, CPM Nellore district general secretary. Any mishap in a nuclear plant could wipe out life in and around a 150 km radius, Rajagopal added.

The Kovvada debacle

The US-based Westinghouse Electric Company (WEC) was supposed to build the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited's (NPCIL) biggest nuclear power plant in Kovvada and its surroundings with a capacity of 9,540 MW with six reactors of 1,593 MW each. Even as WEC went through bankruptcy proceedings, the district administration has gone ahead with the land acquisition.

Kovvada Nuclear Park former project director G Venkata Ramesh recently told reporters in Tirupati that 2000 acres has been handed over to the project authorities and a compensation of Rs 18 lakh per acre has been paid. Construction work was supposed to begin this year and production by 2024.RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Tuesday said that Sanghs work of organising Hindus is not targeted against any community.

We have no enemyIf a Hindu says that a Muslim cannot stay in India then that person doesn't reflect Hindutva. Inculcating brotherhood is Hindutva's sole intent. Nowadays many things that we see in the name of Hindutva is not real Hindutva, Bhagwat said during the second day of three-day conclave Bhavishya Ka Bharat  An RSS Perspective.

He said that the Sangh is not bothered about politics and it does not ask its volunteers to work for any political party. We do not ask any RSS functionary to work for any particular party. We tell them to back those who are working in the national interest. Such a person can belong to any party and it happens. We dont look at anyone with enmity nor with over-friendliness, Bhagwat said.

While stressing that who has to govern the nation is something to be decided by people, Bhagwat said the Sangh doesnt influence the functioning of the BJP governments as it feels that there is no need of a second power centre.

Any speculation that instruction comes from Nagpur is wrong. The RSS has no influence on the policies and politics of the government. The power centre stands decided by the Constitution and it will remain so, he said.

He said the Constitution is the consensus of the country and the Sangh has always believed in it.

This was the second consecutive clarification by Bhagwat regarding the Opposition's criticism that it is actually the Sangh which controls the functioning of BJP governments.

The RSS chief repeatedly stressed that the RSS works for a social cause and not politics even as it does not hesitate in expressing views on national issues. Sangh has decided from the very beginning that it will not get into daily politics. Many times questions are asked does Sangh has political ambition. Sangh has decided from the very onset that it will have no truck with politics and no office-bearers of the Sangh will hold a post in any political party, he said.

He said since the RSS has reservations about politics, it does not mean it will not speak on issues like infiltration as the organisation is concerned with national interests.

After his hour-long speech, Bhagwat spoke of the fundamental unity of religions and reminded that India is the only country which has preserved even the monuments and symbols of those who came from outside, attacked and ruled it. He said that while many people know this some does not say these things publicly for political reasons.On September 2, 2018, the Jarkiholi brothers warned the Congress of resorting to harsh decisions if Water Resources Minister D K Shivakumar did not stop interfering in Belagavi district politics in support of KPCC Women's Wing president and MLA Lakshmi Hebbalkar.



MLA Satish Jarkiholi had earlier abstained from a meeting convened by AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka K C Venugopal in Bengaluru.



On September 7, KPCC working president Ishwar Khandre said that differences in opinion between Jarkiholi brothers and Hebbalkar were amicably resolved.

However, the next day, Ramesh Jarkiholi said his younger brother Satish had the ambition to become the chief minister and he would ensure that Satish would achieve it.



The Congress leadership was forced to intervene in the Belagavi feud which has set off alarm bells in the coalition government with the JD(S).



The powerful Jarkiholi brothers, who recently faced a setback in a local cooperative bank election in Belagavi, are learnt to have threatened to quit the Congress if their demands are not fulfilled.

On September 11, Satish said anything can happen in state politics in the next fortnight.



The next day, Ramesh claimed that everything had been sorted out and asked reporters to "leave him alone".



State Congress leaders made a beeline to meet their party's "crisis manager" Siddaramaiah, who returned to Bengaluru from a 12-day tour of Europe.



Shivakumar described his Cabinet colleague and Municipalities Minister Ramesh as his best friend, even as the Jarkiholi brothers continued to mount pressure on the party to rein in the Vokkaliga strongman.



Meanwhile, Cabinet expansion has been deferred by a few more months with dissident activities in the Congress threatening to escalate.



The BJP central leadership is learned to have instructed its Karnataka unit not to make any efforts to destabilise the coalition government, but the state unit is hopeful that the present "trouble" will soon turn to its advantage.



The Congress high command summoned Satish to New Delhi to discuss the political crisis. Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president Dinesh Gundu Rao has also been summoned to the national capital.



Amid the rumblings in the coalition government, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Tuesday met the disgruntled Jarkiholi brothers and asked them not to take any hasty decision.



Satish said on Sunday that the Jarkiholis should not be held responsible if the government in the state collapsed. The brothers have remained firm on having their demands fulfilled, even as Siddaramaiah tried to defuse the political crisis on Monday.

On Tuesday, Satish said the political turmoil in the state was a closed chapter but Ramesh is firm on his decision to quit the party if his demands are not fulfilled. Satish is against dragging the issue too much, lest it turns advantageous for the BJP.With a section of disgruntled legislators threatening to raise the banner of revolt in the Congress-JD(S) coalition government in Karnataka, top Congress leaders from the state, including former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, will meet Congress president Rahul Gandhi to discuss how to address the issue on Wednesday evening.

Karnataka In-Charge General Secretary K C Venugopal, Karnataka Pradesh Congress President Dinesh Gundu Rao, Working President Eshwar Khandre, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara, Panchayat Raj Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, will also attend the meeting, which will be held at Rahul' s residence on Tughlaq Lane.

"We are going to discuss the party candidates for the upcoming Karnataka Legislative Council polls," G Parameshwara told reporters soon after his arrival at the national capital.

The current political developments in the state and the next cabinet expansion issues will come up at the meeting, he said. However, "there is no threat to the government and it is stable," he said.

Separately, Siddaramaiah and Dinesh Gundu Rao met Karnataka In-Charge General Secretary K C Venugopal and held a discussion.

Though leaders refused to reveal what transpired at the meeting, sources said that they discussed the legislators' demands and the current political issues.

Prior to Rahul's meeting, the state leaders were trying to hash out the crises, according to a leader who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

With Municipal Administration Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi threatening to quit the party if he is not made the Deputy Chief Minister in the next Cabinet, the leaders are in a bind trying to decide whether they should agree to his demand.

The party leaders also discussed several other leaders' demands with the party top brass.

READ MORE

(DH Exclusive) If D K Shivakumar is kept away from Belagavi, all will be fine

Who are the Jarkiholi brothers?

Anything can happen in next 15 days: Satish Jarkiholi

Kumaraswamy tries to pacify Jarkiholi brothers

Siddaramaiah holds talks with Ramesh JarkiholiForeign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang's Regular Press Conference on September 19

2018/09/19

Q: The leaders of the DPRK and the ROK today inked the Pyongyang Joint Declaration of September, which states theirwill on achieving the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, improving their relations and easing military tensions. In response to this declaration, US President Trump said that Chairman Kim Jong Un has agreed to inspection and verification of the nuclear facilities in the DPRK. What is your comment?

A: We have noted relevant reports. The leaders of the DPRK and the ROK held another summit in Pyongyang, during which the two sides signed the Pyongyang Joint Declaration of September and reached new important consensus on improving and developing their relations, easing military tensions of the region and moving forward the denuclearization and peace talks process of the Korean Peninsula. We welcome this and commend the positive efforts made by the two sides.

Peace and prosperity as well as reconciliation and cooperation represent the shared aspirations of the people on the Korean Peninsula and in the region. As a close neighbor to the Korean Peninsula, China always supports the DPRK and ROK in improving their relations through dialogue and consultation and promoting reconciliation and cooperation. We hope that the DPRK and the ROK can continue to implement the consensus in relevant declarations, strive to promote their interactions and cooperation and play a positive role in politically resolving the Korean Peninsula issue and achieving the long-standing peace of the region.

Q: With regard to the China-US trade disputes, can you confirm whether or not a Chinese delegation will be going to the US for trade talks this or next week? If so, who will lead that delegation?

A: I have no information to offer for this question.

Like I said yesterday, the Chinese side maintains that dialogue and consultation on the basis of equality, good faith and mutual respect make the only viable way out for the China-US trade issues. However, everything the US does for now gives no impression of sincerity or goodwill.

Q: Some media report that the US government asked relevant Chinese media agencies in the US to register as "foreign agents". What's your comment?

A: Media serve as an import bridge and bond to enhance communications and understandings between people of different countries. Countries should perceive media's role in promoting international exchange and cooperation in an open and inclusive spirit. They need to facilitate rather than obstruct media's normal work, still less politicalizing the relevant issue.

Q: FOX News reported that Pentagon on Tuesday unveiled its first cyber security strategy report, saying that the US has been engaged in long-term strategic competition with Russia and China. It also said that China has sought to "steal" sensitive information from the American government and private-sector institutions. Do you have any comment?

A: I haven't yet seen this news report you mentioned or the report released by the Pentagon and I need to check on that.

Regarding the US accusations of China "stealing" sensitive information via the Internet, we have made clear our position many times and I won't repeat that.

As a principle, we hope the US side will discard the cold-war and zero-sum mindset and put the China-US relations in perspective. As we have been stressing, the sound and steady development of China-US relations not only serve the interests of both countries, but also meet the shared aspiration of the international community. We hope the US will work with China to this end.

I would also like to stress that China commits itself to working with other members of the international community to build a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness and justice and win-win cooperation and a community with a shared future for mankind. We are also willing to work with Russia and the US in this respect.

Q: Can you confirm that a delegation from the Vatican will be visiting China later this month? What will be discussed and what sort of deals will be signed?

A: If I remember correctly, I already took similar questions the other day.

I shall say that I have no information to offer at this point. China and the Vatican maintain effective contact.

Q: As to the US demand that relevant Chinese media outlets in the US be registered as "foreign agents", will China consider some reciprocal response on the US media agencies? Has the Chinese government made any official representation to the US government regarding this?

A: The Chinese side welcomes objective and unbiased coverage of China by foreign media and stands ready to support and facilitate their normal reporting in China. This position is clear.

Follow-up: So has there been any official representation to the US government on this matter?

A: As far as I know, China and the US have had communications on this issue, and the US side is aware of China's stance.

Like I just said, we hope relevant side will facilitate and create enabling conditions for normal work of media rather than obstructing them. China has been supporting and facilitating foreign media's normal reporting in China. We also hope foreign media in China will abide by Chinese laws and regulations and cover China in a objective and unbiased manner.

Q: As to China-US trade disputes, the US yesterday said that they are going to go ahead and probably announce tariffs on another $267 billions worth of Chinese goods. Should we presume that for the time being, you are ruling out talks between China and the US?

A: Like I said, dialogue and consultation on the basis of equality, good faith and mutual respect make the only viable way out for the China-US trade issues. However, everything the US does for now gives no impression of sincerity or goodwill.

Q: This week, the Indian government reportedly banned ZTE and Huawei from the 5G network trial in the country. Do you have any comment? Is the Chinese side in touch with the Indian government on this?

A: We have noted the relevant report. The Chinese government always encourages Chinese enterprises to carry out economic and trade cooperation on the basis of observing international rules and local laws. We also hope that the relevant country can provide a fair, just and transparent environment for Chinese businesses to operate there. The China-India economic cooperation and trade are mutually beneficial in nature and now they are going smoothly on the whole.

Q: On September 18, the US side announced that it would impose additional tariffs on $200 billion worth of imported Chinese goods. US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross said in an interview that the US intends to conduct constructive talks with China to address the fundamental issues. He added that as to when the talks would start, "the ball is in China's court". What is your response to that?

A: It is not the first time for the US side to say that "the ball is in China's court". I would like to take some time to help you restore the truth.

US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross held trade talks with the Chinese side in Beijing from June 2 to 3. A few fays before the trade talks, that was on May 29, the US announced the imposition of additional tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese goods.

From August 22 to 23, China and the United States held trade talks at the vice-ministerial level in Washington D.C. On the day when the talks ended, that was on August 23, the US slapped tariffs on additional $16 billion worth of imported Chinese goods.

Not long ago, the Chinese side received the invitation from the US side on holding another round of trade talks and our two sides are in communication on relevant details. However, yesterday, the US announced that it would impose additional tariffs on $200 billion worth of imported Chinese goods and take other tariff escalation measures.

The US side has kept talking up about dialogue and contact while wielding the big stick of sanctions. It sent the invitation for trade talks while imposing maximum pressure. It seems like the US is up to its old tricks again, but we know that only too well and remain unruffled.

Here I want to stress the following two points. Firstly, the US' threat, intimidation and blackmail will not work on China. We will unswervingly push forward the reform and opening up according to our own timetable and road map and continue to resolutely safeguard our legitimate and legal rights and interests. Secondly, the China-US economic cooperation and trade are mutually beneficial in nature. It's only natural that we may have some differences. Dialogue and consultation on the basis of equality, good faith and mutual respect make the only viable way out for the China-US trade issues. We hope that the US side can show goodwill and sincerity.

Q: Should we presume from your answer that you are leaving room for talks?

A: The trade disputes can only be resolved through dialogue and consultation on the basis of equality, good faith and mutual respect.

Q: The US side claimed that China intends to meddle in their mid-term elections. What is your response to that?

A: People who know well of China's foreign policies should be clear that we always follow the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs. We will not interfere in other countries' domestic affairs and we also hope that other countries will not meddle in ours.MILLBOURNE  Fire protection services have been suspended for the small borough of Millbourne as leaders of its fire department and the borough try to settle a years-long dispute over personnel and department resources.

Millbourne Fire Chief Joseph Artmont Jr. officially declared the station out of service Tuesday night after a reportedly contentious borough council meeting. Emergency personnel and residents approached council on how theyre trying to help the department recruit new members and provide a needed training space on the second floor of borough hall. Council provided no answers.

Artmont said the second-floor space had been declared unstable five years ago. Without that area that could be used for training, meetings and social camaraderie, it has been sitting un-worked and membership has been dropping.

We can go back into service if we get a dialogue with the borough or get stuff resolved, said Artmont. about his decision to put the station out of service. For five years we have not had any place for our members to go. No place for training and we lost members like that.

Artmont said the number of active members for the station in that time period had decreased from 22 to 14 at present, but only six of them are truly there for the majority of calls. Only five such members reside in Millbourne, the countys smallest borough by size but with a population of 1,100 that has approximately 80 fire calls a year. The lack of involvement has gotten to the point that routine weekend assistance of ambulance calls provided by Crozer-Keystone Health System and Lansdowne Fire Co. had ended about three months ago.

Were at the point that we cant operate safely, added Artmont.

His efforts to have the borough work on making that second floor space structurally sound and to attract more volunteers or even part-time staff have went unanswered.

According to Artmont, council members said they would need to hire an attorney they would not be able to afford in order to work out a deal with the borough-funded department.

They just dont want to meet with us, said Artmont.

Attempts to reach borough Solicitor Dave Sander, Mayor Tom Kramer and borough Council President Justin Skariah for comment were unsuccessful Wednesday.

Artmont says that the hiring of part-time firefighters would be an asset to the department to continue to provide the necessary fire services that are warranted, but council supposedly doesnt want to do that. Hes happy about the $37,500 annual operating budget the borough allocates to the department, but that even if its trying to squeeze out the department for contracted outside service, it will cost more than the part timers he would like to have.

Theyre either going to have to put part-time firemen in our firehouse, or pay someone else. Theyre not getting it for free anymore, he said. I have to worry about the safety of the firefighters and residents.

The out-of-service status now in effect means the department will not report to service calls they are dispatched to, relying on a mutual aid agreement with Upper Darby to provide coverage. Artmont said that when residents asked council what will happen when they need the fire departments help, Skariah said they should call 911 and Drexel Hill will respond.

Skariah would not answer any other questions pertaining to the fire department, allegedly saying the meeting was for comments only. Upper Darby Mayor Tom Micozzie confirmed Wednesday that Ladder 20 from Garrettford-Drexel Hill Fire Co. is the first piece of apparatus to be dispatched when needed for a service call at Millbourne, followed by Engine 36 from Stonehurst-Cardington and Quint 37 from Upper Darby fire departments, respectively.

Micozzie said the township has been working with Millbourne to discuss a contractual service agreement to the two bodies, and early numbers provided by the mayor worked out to a monthly charge of $15,000 for fire services coverage.

What I said to (Upper Darby Chief Administrative Officer) Tom Judge and others who are interested is that the best thing they can do is sit at the table and work it out themselves, said Micozzie about the ongoing fire conversations involving its neighboring borough. Im not taking their responsibility from Millbourne and transferring it to the taxpayers of Upper Darby Township.

The mayor added that he will not be providing long-term mutual coverage to the borough at the expense of his taxpayers during its out-of-service status, but strongly noted that a call will not go unanswered.

Were not in the fight, but were not going to let them sit there without fire protection without going to the table, he added.

For Millbourne officials to reach out to other municipalities for coverage is illegal, according to Artmont.

In 1989 the department started a two-year out-of-service status that eventually found its way to the county Court of Common Pleas. A referendum was issued by a judge asking the borough if it wanted to retain its fire department, and if so the borough may not contract that service out as long as the department is there. The referendum passed in the departments favor.

They cannot legally contract because were still here, said Artmont. As us being out of service they cant contract by referendum.

Out of service is a different distinction from having the department being closed. If Millbourne Fire Department closed it would have to liquidate its assets and resolve all other monetary and legal holdings. Artmont said the borough is still paying on 20-year loans through the U.S. Department of Agriculture for 2004 HME V-tech pumper and 2008 International V-tech pumper which were bought for respective amounts of $190,000 and $225,000. There is still five-and-a-half years of repayment left on the 2004 truck and 10 years left on the 2008 truck.

Even after going through the two-year, out-of-service period and seeing the referendum pass, Artmont said this is still a devastating time.

The way that council talked to the residents (Tuesday) night, were so upset about it. They wouldnt give residents any information.The Pennsylvania chapter of the National Organization for Women will no longer endorse candidates who do not sign a change.org petition calling for the resignation of state Sen. Daylin Leach, D-17 of Lower Merion, state Rep. Nicholas Miccarelli, R-162, of Ridley Park, and Philadelphia Sheriff Jewel Williams.

Audits and investigations have found evidence against all three of these elected officials indicating a serious, longstanding pattern of harassment and abuse toward women, a release from the organization stated. The fact that they still continue to serve and collect a paycheck from taxpayers shows that they think they are beyond reproach. We will prove them wrong.

Miccarelli, a five-term incumbent, announced earlier this year that he will not seek re-election in the wake of accusations from two women who claim he sexually and physically assaulted them. He will, however, earn a pension and lifetime medical benefits by serving until Nov. 30.

Miccarelli has vehemently denied the accusations, but House leadership conducted an internal investigation and found the womens claims credible. The House also found that Miccarelli retaliated against one of the women in social media posts, in violation of House rules, and stripped him of his committee appointments. Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo is investigating the claims for possible criminal charges.

Miccarelli spokesman Frank Keel declined comment for this story.

Leach, a former state representative who has served in the Senate since 2009, was also accused by eight women late last year for numerous instances of inappropriate touching or making sexually charged jokes that left some feeling uncomfortable.

Leach, a stalwart supporter of womens causes, initially denied the accusations and blamed an unnamed political opponent for chumming the waters of the #MeToo movement, but later wrote a letter to the Philadelphia Inquirer indicating he is truly sorry for ever saying or doing anything that has made anyone uneasy, uncomfortable, or distressed.

About 30 protesters appeared outside Leachs Conshohocken office in June calling for him to step down and fellow Democratic state Senate candidate Katie Muth  a rape survivor  refused to share a stage with him at an event last month.

I have supported PA NOW and its mission for my entire adult life, said Leach in a statement Tuesday. I was disappointed to learn of PA NOWs new endorsement process, which they implemented without ever speaking to me or insisting on any form of due process or investigation. My staff has reached out to PA NOW in hopes of having a constructive conversation. So far, we have not heard back.

Williams has been accused by three women of sexual harassment or misconduct since taking office in 2012, at least one of whom has filed a civil complaint in federal court.

An internal investigation completed earlier this year found Williams had violated the citys sexual harassment policy regarding the claims in the suit. City officials including Mayor Tim Kenney have called on Williams to resign.

The allegations made against me are without merit and I look forward to defending myself in court, said Williams in an emailed statement Tuesday. I believe in the value our legal system has always placed on the fundamental right to due process to guarantee fairness to all parties involved.

The NOW release commends Kenney, state Rep. Leanne Krueger-Braneky, D-161 of Swarthmore, and Gov. Tom Wolf for calling on the three identified officials to resign and urges other candidates to follow suit.

It is imperative that we look past personal relationships, political ties and powers, and fear of party reprisal in order to truly overcome the toxic rape culture that is our society today, according to NOW. Never should a position of power, elected or not, keep a victim of sexual harassment or assault from justice. Never should a position of power enable an individual to continuously perpetrate acts of sexual harassment and violence.

The petition had garnered 84 signatures by Tuesday afternoon.

Sexual predators must face consequences, for what they did and to prevent others from believing they can get away with despicable actions, said one signer.

Im signing because sexual predators need to be held accountable, and for far too long, those in power have not been, said another.

One signer succinctly summed up another reason for singing: Because I am tired of this s.

The release indicates NOW will also begin asking candidates at the local and state level about their stances on combating sexual harassment and assault in the workplace, improving the criminal justice system to better support victims and survivors, and whether they have publically spoken out against elected officials who have been found guilty of sexual harassment, misconduct and assault following due process.

We are asking other organizations across the state to join us in our endorsement process and to include the questions we have proposed, the NOW release states. We must stand together and push out these sexual predators from their positions of power.News

Denton ISD chided by city official following approval of armed staff policy

Denton ISD saw delayed pushback last week to its newest policy that would allow former law enforcement officers to carry guns on campus, prompting a Denton City Council member to call for more transparency.

Officials first discussed the proposed policy at an Aug. 14 board meeting and unanimously approved it on Sept. 11. Under the policy, district employees who have current certifications from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement and at least five years of experience in law enforcement could be approved to carry weapons on campus.

Superintendent Jamie Wilson said the policy targeted certain individuals at secondary campuses that dont have a designated school resource officer from a local police department.

Jamie Wilson

The people that were talking about are teaching law enforcement classes at the Advanced Technology Complex, he said. Were not talking about teachers who are teaching math or science. Its not intended for teachers to carry.

Wilson added that anyone participating in the program would need to be approved by the superintendent, so just because a teacher meets the qualifications doesnt mean he or she would be allowed to carry. For those who do carry, their duties and powers would be determined by the superintendent, according to the policy.

Wilson said the policy would also open the door for the district to hire school security officers with those certifications, if needed, at a lower cost than a school resource officer.

The Denton Record-Chronicle covered the initial discussion of the policy and published an article on Aug. 15. It received some attention online, but no one spoke about the issue during public forums at the two school board meetings before the policy was adopted. Wilson and board member Barbara Burns said they received little feedback on the decision.

Burns

When the Record-Chronicle reported on Sept. 12 the policys approval, several people applauded the decision. However, some parents and teachers said they were angry they hadnt received any direct notification from Denton ISD.

Rodriguez Middle School theater arts teacher Chad Withers, who has been with the district for 12 years, said no one from the district reached out about the policy to teachers on his campus.

Nothing beforehand, nothing afterward, he said. The way I heard about was the way everyone else did: the newspaper.

Wilson said the district contacted parents who have security backgrounds as well as officers from each of the police departments in Denton ISD when crafting the policy. Teachers werent included in discussions, he said, because the policy didnt affect them.

Withers said he was surprised by the boards approval of the policy and noted there was some anxiety among staff members because of it.

There does need to be some clarification so that parents and teachers know whats going on, he said.

Denton City Council member Deb Armintor posted an open letter to Wilson and the school board Monday on Facebook voicing her concerns about the way the policy was placed on the meeting agenda.

Armintor

When it was initially discussed in August, the agenda item read, Discussion & Review of TASB Policy Update 111 & Policy CKE (Local) Safety & Security. The policy was billed again on the Sept. 21 consent agenda as TASB Update 111 & CKE (Local) & FFAC (Local)  2nd Reading.

Armintor, the mother of two Denton ISD students, said the agenda items were not posted in a way that would allow the public to clearly understand what was being discussed, a requirement of the Texas Open Meetings Act. She believes the board should repost the agenda item in clear terms and take another vote.

This is something that everyone has an opinion about, Armintor said. If you think its great or you have a problem with it, we as the public have a right to know. I believe this wasnt in the spirit of the open meetings act.

Denton ISD attorney Randy Stout argued that the policy was properly posted on the agenda and included a reference to school safety and security. He also noted that a draft of the policy was included in the agenda for anyone to click on and read.

Its the way policies have been done for decades in the state of Texas, he said.

This isnt the first time the district has been under fire for the way agenda items are posted. When the school board voted in November 2017 to rename Robert E. Lee Elementary for educator Alice Alexander, the discussion took place in closed session and no reference to facility names was mentioned on the agenda. Board members voted again on the change a month later, this time under an agenda item titled Consider approval of naming of district facilities. Now, board members still discuss building names in closed session, but include an agenda item that says Consider Naming of District Facility.

Regarding the safety policy itself, Armintor said she doesnt support it and believes too much discretion lies in the hands of the superintendent. While she trusts Wilson and the school board, she said shes worried about what the policy will look like when new leaders take over in the future.

Its a lot of authority for a former officer to have and for a superintendent to grant, she said.

Burns, a longtime school board member who campaigned heavily in the spring election on school safety, said the policy makes sense for the district and could be re-evaluated in the future to best suit the districts needs. Her husband is a retired police officer and she said she believes the training police get would be helpful in crisis situations.

I still dont believe teachers should be armed. I dont believe thats the role of a public educator, she said. My feeling is if we have people who have gone through [police] training, we would be remiss if we didnt give those people the opportunity to carry.

To read the policy in its entirety, click here.

The next school board meeting will start at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25, at Denton ISDs Central Services Building, 1307 N. Locust St. The public can fill out a speakers card with the superintendents secretary in order to speak during the public forum.MONTICELLO  The Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service will host three public meetings as part of the ongoing land use planning for the Bears Ears National Monument.

Draft plans for the Shash Jaa and the Indian Creek units, as well as the associated environmental impact statement, were released for public review in August. More information can be found at https://goo.gl/uLrEae.

The meetings will be held at the following times and locations:

 Tuesday, Oct. 2, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., San Juan High School, 311 N. 100 East, Blanding.

 Wednesday, Oct. 3, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Bluff Community Center, 3rd East and Mulberry Avenue, Bluff.

 Thursday, Oct. 4, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Whitehorse High School, state Route 262, Montezuma Creek.

The boundaries of the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments were reduced in December by President Donald Trump in action now under legal challenge by Native American tribes and multiple environmental groups.SALT LAKE CITY  Sometime Wednesday (if it hasn't already happened by the time you read this), the prison doors will open and Wanda Barzee, the woman who supported her husband, Brian David Mitchell, as he kidnapped and repeatedly, cruelly abused a then-teenage Elizabeth Smart, will walk free.

This was supposed to happen about six years from now, which would have seemed too soon, but Barzee has completed her federal prison sentence, and the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole said it mistakenly didnt give her credit for time served in federal prison or the fact her federal and state sentences (she pleaded guilty and mentally ill to kidnapping in state court) were supposed to run concurrently. All of that shortened her date of release from state prison to Sept. 19 of this year.

Smart says shes concerned, which sounds like an understatement. She believes Barzee still is a big threat, which is not an understatement.

Frankly, you ought to be concerned, too.

This is a nation of laws. According to those laws, Barzee has served her time and must be released. That doesnt mean its right to do so.

What may arguably have been the most highly publicized kidnapping case so far of the 21st century ought to turn now into a huge national debate on how the nation has failed in its treatment of the criminally mentally ill.

Heres a quick question to focus that discussion: How has the system changed in this regard since the 17th century?

If you said, Not much at all, you get a star on your forehead.

Thats not my opinion alone. A 2014 report by the Treatment Advocacy Center laid out the history of the nations approach to mental illness succinctly.

In 1694, the Massachusetts Legislature passed a law that confined people to jail if they were lunatic and so furiously mad as to render it dangerous to the peace or the safety of the good people for such lunatic person to go at large. Other colonies passed similar laws.

That was more or less the way the nation treated such folks until the 1820s, when people began to regard it as inhumane and uncivilized. That led to the establishment of state psychiatric hospitals, where mentally ill patients could be kept separate from others and receive treatment. But by the mid-20th century, this practice also was considered inhumane.

That led, the report said, to deinstitutionalization, or what was probably the most well-meaning but poorly planned medical-social policy of 20th century America. The patients who were released often failed to receive any further care. Some committed crimes.

State hospitals still exist, but in most states the prison system now holds many more seriously mentally ill people than do hospitals.

The report said Utah had 324 patients at the state hospital in 2014. And while figures arent available for the number of mentally ill prison inmates, it said a reasonable estimate is that 15 percent of the states 3,814 inmates that year fell into that category, making the prison the de facto largest mental institution in the state.

Nationally, prisons and jails house 10 times more mentally ill people than do state hospitals.

Welcome back to the 17th century.

Prisons are working hard, with limited resources, to provide treatment. But you dont have to look too hard to find reports that show the shortcomings.

Prisons are working hard, with limited resources, to provide treatment. But you dont have to look too hard to find reports that show the shortcomings. A separate report by the Treatment Advocacy Center gave Utah a C- grade for its treatment, based on 2017 figures. It did, however, give the state credit for some recent promising new initiatives and laws.

I dont have any personal knowledge of Barzees condition or state of mind. Smart said she heard Barzee still carries around a manuscript written by her husband, who is serving a life sentence. It details what he claims are the revelations that justified him in kidnapping Smart and others.

Smart also told the Deseret News Barzee hasnt cooperated with her mental health treatment and didnt show up for her parole hearing. She wondered whether anyone really honestly, truly feel(s) Barzee no longer is a threat.

Thats a great question that, unfortunately, doesnt seem relevant to the system.

The state prison system is now finished with Barzee. She will, however, remain on probation in the federal system.

Regardless of this case, the nation needs to rethink the way it handles criminals who are mentally ill, not just for the rest of us, but for the mentally ill themselves. Unfortunately, the Treatment Advocacy Centers report offers little hope for any sort of national debate.

Half a century ago, such reports would have elicited spirited public discussion and proposals for reform, it said, adding, now they elicit a collective public yawn.SANDY  Sustainable farming.

Meatless meat.

Personal produce shoppers.

For decades, Utah farmers and ranchers have produced food for residents and families across the Intermountain West in much the same manner. But consumer demands have changed over the years, and now local food producers and sellers are working together to find new ways to provide the food today's consumers are asking for.

"We're trying to find new markets for our producers," said Dale Newton, CEO of the Utah Farm Bureau Federation. To help in that process, he explained, the federation organized the first Utah Food Innovation Summit  a gathering of local producers aimed at developing ideas that could move the industry in a direction toward continued long-term viability.

"(We want) to help innovate new food products that don't exist now and find new markets. And not just new products to sell in Utah, but all over the world," he said. Eventually, Newton said, the state would develop its own food innovation center as several other states around the country have already done.

"So many of our producers are doing things with new technology and being more productive than ever before," he said. "It's because these people work so hard and produce so many products."

He said having producers collaborate can bring about the creativity and innovation needed to help Utah's food industry prosper in the years to come. He said among the big hurdles to overcome will be to change the thinking on food production.

"It's a challenge for our producers to do things differently," Newton said. "To be more innovative, we have to do things a little differently."

He said some farmers may have to use some of their lands to grow different crops rather than just what they've grown for years. Also, some producers in the food industry are innovating by disrupting the traditional food production system while developing new products with greater potential for broad consumer appeal.

Ethan Brown, CEO of Beyond Meat  a California company that develops plant-based protein products  told the audience gathered at the federation's Sandy headquarters Tuesday that his company is working to create mass-market solutions to replace animal protein with foods made from plant protein.

"The basic idea behind the company is that animals are consuming vegetation and water," he explained. "(Producers are) then using their biology to create something we call meat."

He noted that all the vital nutrients found in meat can also be found in plants.

"So why not get them directly from plants and put them in the architecture of meat?" he queried rhetorically. With that idea in mind, his company developed a sustainable plant-based product with many of the same qualities of meat that is now on sale in grocery stores nationwide, he said.

"We are relentless in the study of what makes meat meat. (People who work for us) need to understand meat better than anybody else," Brown explained. "They need to understand the structure, what drives its flavor and aroma, then we go about finding those same inputs from plants and putting them against that blueprint of meat so the consumer is having the experience of meat that's been grown through an animal."

He said while his company's products have found an audience of consumers, there is still more to be discovered as technology and food science continues to progress. One of the major goals of the company is to figure out ways to partner with U.S. agricultural producers in a collaborative effort to develop new protein products in a long-term, sustainable fashion, he said.

"Why are we importing stuff from Europe (and) Canada? Why aren't we growing it here?" Brown said. "What would that mean for the American farmer?"

He said the company has to continue developing "better and better" products each year, but there should also be efforts made to help farmers and ranchers so they can benefit from the new food innovations that don't rely on animals.

"It could be a massive win for sustainability," he said. "It's much less water use, much less energy use, much less land use and emissions are dramatically lower."

Brown said maintaining the efficiencies that already exist in farming, but without the inefficiency of animals can be a great stride in food production worldwide.

Meanwhile, innovations in how consumers purchase their food are evolving as technology and demand for convenience has grown, explained Bob Harmon, vice president of Utah-based Harmons Grocery that operates 19 stores statewide.

"Innovation for us is trying to buy really high-quality clean foods," he said. Additionally, the company is implementing more "to go" and "heat and eat" type foods.

Another technology enhancement has been the advent of "e-shopping" in which customers can create lists and have their items selected by personal shoppers to be picked up curbside rather than having to go into the store.

Because individuals and families are more pressed for time and are unable to do all the food preparation themselves, grocers are having to develop alternatives that allow consumers to continue patronizing stores, but in sometimes less traditional ways, he said.

"Make it easier  because that seems to be where we live today," he said.SALT LAKE CITY  State legislative auditors said Tuesday that more should be done to collect unpaid income and other taxes owed that add up to $552 million over the past five years.

"I was surprised," Senate President Wayne Niederhauser, R-Sandy, said after the Utah State Tax Commission audit was reviewed by the Legislative Audit Subcommittee. "It's a lot of money."

But both Niederhauser and House Speaker Greg Hughes, R-Draper, said while lawmakers want to ensure the state collects what's owed, they also want to make sure it's not done too forcefully.

"We don't want to be too draconian in our practices," the outgoing speaker said. "It's a balancing act. When I saw the charts, while I think there's always room for us to do better, we've got to think of our taxpayers as well."

Niederhauser, who is also not seeking re-election this year, said the state probably could collect more money by being tougher with delinquent taxpayers, but that can result in bankruptcies and other problems.

"So we've kind of pared back an aggressive approach so that the tax commission doesn't look like the IRS," he said. Taxpayers "want everyone to pay their fair share, obviously. But they don't want an extremely aggressive tax commission, either."

The $552 million cited in the report by the Legislative Auditor General's Office represents 19 percent of delinquent taxes over the same five-year time period, when Utahns owed $42.6 billion in taxes overall.

"It's a small percentage of the total taxes due," said Scott Smith, tax commission interim executive director. Smith said that percentage "stays pretty constant. That is not a surprise."

He said Utahns tend to pay their taxes at a higher rate than residents of other states, so delinquencies are lower. State income taxes owed by individuals account for about 60 percent of the unpaid taxes, Smith said.

John Valentine, tax commission chairman, told the subcommittee the agency agrees with the recommendations made in the audit, which include hiring more collection agents as well as more outside collection agencies.

Valentine said the tax commission made cutbacks during the economic downturn, just as other state agencies had to do, and are still catching up on the backlog created.

"Now, we're still paying the piper for that," he said.

Using tax commission agents to go after taxes owed costs about 2 cents to collect each dollar, Valentine said, compared to paying 14 cents to 19 cents in commissions for each dollar brought in by outside collection agencies.

House Minority Leader Brian King, D-Salt Lake City, said while the number of unassigned delinquent tax cases is increasing, it's "a bit of a no-brainer you're going to have a more efficient collection system" relying more on internal agents.

He said a greater investment in the tax commission would be to allow more cases to be pursued sooner at a lower cost. The audit found that because there are so many cases, tax commission agents never get to some of them.

State law currently prevents the tax commission from sending cases to an outside collection agency for a year. The audit recommends reducing that waiting period, noting the Utah Office of State Debt Collection has no such requirement.

The audit also suggests using multiple outside collection agencies to promote competition. Currently, the tax commission uses only a single vendor, while the state debt collection office uses six.

The audit found that the number of cases assigned to tax commission agents has decreased from 2013 to 2017, from about 29.5 percent to just under 23 percent, while cases going to outside collection agencies is climbing.

"The longer something sits around, the less collectible it is," King says. "It seems to me there's a lot of potential to both collect and save taxpayer money" by hiring more agents.

Utah Taxpayers Association Vice President Billy Hesterman called on the Legislature to give the tax commission what it needs to collect the unpaid taxes.

"These tax cheats increase the pressure on those following the law to pay more," Hesterman said. He said the business-oriented association has always held the position that all taxpayers should pay the tax they legally owe.

"The Legislature should appropriate additional funding to the state tax commission to give it the tools it needs to go after bad actors who are selfishly choosing to avoid paying their fair share while increasing the tax burden on the rest of us."SALT LAKE CITY  Its taken five decades, but a Mary Poppins sequel is here.

Disney released the first official trailer for Mary Poppins Returns Monday, showing Emily Blunt as a kindhearted woman with a bag full of tricks and a spoonful of sugar.

Watch it below.

Blunt will take over for Julie Andrews as Poppins.

The new film, which will take place in London 25 years after the original, will see the Poppins character help the Banks family, according to Variety.

You seem hardly to have aged at all, Michael Banks (Ben Whishaw) tells Poppins in the trailer.

Really? Poppins responds, One never discusses a womans age, Michael.

Social media has already cheered for Dick Van Dyke, who played Mr. Dawes Senior in the first film and will reprise the role in the new film, according to Mashable.

The film will also star Lin-Manuel Miranda as a lamplighter named Jack, and Meryl Streep will play a character named Topsy.

Mary Poppins Returns stars Angela Lansbury, Julie Walters, Colin Firth, Ben Whishaw and Emily Mortimer, among several others.

The film debuts Dec. 19.UTAH STATE PRISON  Wanda Barzee has been ordered to have zero contact with Elizabeth Smart and her family and must stay a certain distance away from her, according to federal court documents.

Barzee, 72, one of the two people who kidnapped 14-year-old Smart in 2002 and contributed to her ongoing sexual and physical abuse, was released from prison Wednesday morning after serving her entire state sentence. A Department of Corrections spokeswoman confirmed she walked out at 7:45 a.m. Details about who picked her up and where she exited on the prison property were not released.

Despite serving all of her state-imposed time, Barzee will now begin five years of supervised release as part of her federal sentence.

Speaking Wednesday night at a previously scheduled event in Pennsylvania, Smart called the day "a roller coaster of emotion."

"At the same time, I've received an outpouring of love, of support, of prayers. And I so appreciate it. It makes such a huge difference to me," Smart said.

"And I just think the best thing that all of us can do, that I will continue to be, that I hope everyone else continues to be, is vigilant in protecting our families, our friends, our communities," she added.

Wednesday afternoon, an order was filed in federal court modifying the conditions of Barzee's supervised release. Among those conditions, Barzee was ordered to have "absolutely no contact," directly or indirectly, with Smart or her family, her attorney, Scott Williams, said.

Additionally, a "geographic condition" was imposed, meaning Barzee will be restricted from certain areas. Williams said he and Barzee stipulated to the condition, but the specifics on where Barzee cannot go or how close she can be to Smart were still being worked out.

The new order also has an "emergency housing condition," which states that Barzee "must reside in an emergency housing facility designated by the probation officer until the probation officer approves an alternative residence."

One of the biggest questions regarding Barzee's release has been where she will live. Last week, members of her family said they would not be taking her in. On Wednesday, Williams declined to get into the specifics of Barzee's living arrangements.

Barzee will have a curfew and not be allowed outside her residence each night from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

The U.S. Probation Office recommended these additional conditions of her release "to increase community safety and provide transitional services to (Barzee) that will increase her chances for long-term success," the order states.

Previously, it was announced that Barzee would be required to meet immediately with a federal probation officer, would be placed on the Utah Sex Offender and Kidnap Offender Registry, would be required to actively participate in a mental health treatment program and she cannot consume alcohol, court records state.

Wednesday morning, Barzee's name and picture appeared on the Sex Offender and Kidnap Offender Registry. Later in the day a South Salt Lake motel was listed for her address.

Federal officials promised in the week leading up to Wednesday that they will be keeping a close eye on Barzee, maintaining a "very short leash" when it comes to the conditions of her supervised release. Any violations to the conditions of her release will result in Barzee being returned to the federal prison system, possibly for the duration of her five-year supervision.

Speaking on "CBS This Morning" on Tuesday, Smart said she has not only been reassured that federal officials will keep track of Barzee, but there is already an expectation that Barzee will violate the conditions of her release.

Although she has concerns about her own safety, her family and the public in general, Smart said she has been told who will be Barzee's federal probation officer, and has faith in that person.

"I do believe that he will do the job to the best of his ability. So I have faith in him. I just lack faith in her," she told host Gayle King.

When asked what specifically she is afraid Barzee will do, Smart said just on past behavior alone, she believes Barzee is unpredictable.

"I don't know. And perhaps that's what worries me, because I know just how bad she can be," she said.

Smart used words like "evil," "dark" and "twisted" to describe what Barzee was like when she was held captive.

Since Barzee's release was announced, Smart has voiced concern that her captor has not been rehabilitated and is still dangerous. Last week, Smart said she has heard Barzee still carries around Mitchell's manuscript, "The Book of Immanuel David Isaiah," in which Mitchell claimed he had received revelations from God to kidnap Smart and six other young girls to all become his wives.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Williams said there was "no credible evidence" that his client still posed a danger to anyone.

"Ms. Barzee will be thoroughly supervised by very professional and skilled officers at the United States Probation and she will comply with all conditions of her release. There is no reliable evidence to support speculation that Ms. Barzee currently poses a threat of any kind to the community in which she resides or any particular person. It is unfair and counterproductive to assert otherwise without reliable evidence and we hope that people will refrain from doing so. Ms. Barzee's singular desire is to comply with all conditions of her release and to be left alone," he said.

Williams also questioned whether claims that Barzee had been refusing her anti-psychotic medication while in prison as well as refusing to attend treatment classes were accurate.

Ed Smart, Elizabeth's father, told the Deseret News Tuesday night he did not know the details of Barzee's release, including who would pick her up from prison or where she would be taken.

"I actually don't even want to know. Because I think that we're hoping she moves forward with her life and takes responsibility. I don't feel like she has taken any responsibility for her actions, so that's disappointing, but there's nothing we can do about it," he said.

And for the Smart family, "it's going to be another day in our lives. And we're really banking on the federal parole officer watching her."

Smart said he feels that Utah's justice system let his family down and he doesn't feel that the plea deal took them into consideration.

"I'm just hoping that she won't pose a threat, but I have to put my faith in the federal system. And they have been very good, and I'm hoping that's the way it will work," he said.

Barzee, along with her then-husband Brian David Mitchell, kidnapped Smart in 2002 from her Salt Lake home and held her captive until their arrests nine months later.

After years of court battles over her competency, Barzee pleaded guilty in federal court in 2009 to kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor. In 2010, Barzee was found competent to proceed in a separate state court case against her. She pleaded guilty and mentally ill in state court to the 2002 attempted kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart's cousin and was sentenced to up to 15 years in prison.

After completing her federal prison sentence, Barzee was returned to the Utah State Prison in April 2016.

In July, the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole announced that Barzee would be held until Jan. 29, 2024. But last week, the board announced that it had erred in calculating the length of the sentence handed down to Barzee by not counting the years she was in the Utah State Hospital, and by not making her state prison time concurrent to her federal prison sentence.

The request to modify the conditions of Barzee's supervised release was signed by Meriska Holt. According to her LinkedIn page, she has been a federal probation officer for 17 years and has a master's degree from the University of Utah in social work from the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

Contributing: Ashley ImlaySAN ANTONIO  Operation Homefront is now accepting nominations for the 2019 Military Child of the Year, as well as applications for the 2019 Military Child of the Year Award for Innovation.

The annual awards will recognize seven outstanding young people ages 13 to 18 who are legal dependents of a service member or military retiree. Six Military Child of the Year recipients will represent a branch of the armed forces  the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and National Guard  demonstrating resiliency, leadership and achievement during their parents military service.

The seventh award is the Military Child of the Year Award for Innovation presented by global technology and consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton. The award goes to a military child who has designed a creative solution to address a local, regional or global challenge.

Nominations are open through Wednesday, Dec. 5, and all awards will be presented at a recognition gala April 18, 2019, in Washington, D.C.

To nominate a child for the award, visit militarychildoftheyear.org and click the nominations tab. Nomination fields include when and how long a parent has deployed, number of family moves, Gold Star Family or Exceptional Family Member status, whether a parent is a wounded service member, nominees volunteerism, and five short questions as to why the nominee is deserving.

All seven recipients will be flown with a parent or guardian to Washington, D.C., and recognized at the April 18 gala, where they will receive $10,000 each and a laptop computer. The recipient of the Military Child of the Year Award for Innovation will also receive donated business expertise in bringing their creative solution to market.

Operation Homefront, based in San Antonio, is a national nonprofit that aims to build strong, stable and secure military families.BOUNTIFUL  The Utah Transit Authority will hold a public hearing to gather feedback for a proposed Flex bus route to service Centerville, West Bountiful, Woods Cross and Bountiful.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 26, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at the Davis County Librarys South Branch, 725 S. Main, Bountiful.

During the hearing, residents, private transportation providers, public officials and interested agencies will be allowed to comment on the proposed route.

Flex buses run on a fixed route and schedule, but unlike regular buses, passengers can request in advance a deviation or a special stop up to three-quarters of a mile from the regular route. The proposed route will run select trips to the Woods Cross FrontRunner Station and will operate weekdays from 6 a.m. to 9p.m., with 30-minute all-day service. No Saturday or Sunday service is proposed at this time.

Written comments or email comments may be submitted to the following address: Andrea Packer, Utah Transit Authority, 669 W. 200 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84101, or emailed directly to hearingofficer@rideuta.com.

All comments will become part of the public record if received by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 10.SALT LAKE CITY  The head of Utah's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was legally justified when he shot and killed a man near a Sandy TRAX station in March, according to a new report released Wednesday.

On March 13, Bryan Keith Liles, 31, of Spanish Fork, was fatally shot just east of the Historic Sandy TRAX Station, near 180 E. 8960 South. Agents from the ATF were looking for another man at the time, when they came across Liles.

Witnesses reported hearing multiple shots before a BMW that Liles was driving ended up in the parkway of a nearby Montessori school.

Few details about the incident were released at the time. On Wednesday, Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill released his final report finding the fatal shooting justified.

ATF agents, including then Resident Agent in Charge Brian Embley, were looking that day for a man named Brian Solis. One agent received information about what was believed to be "Brian's" cellphone and pinged it, according to Gill's report.

The phone, however, actually belonged to Bryan Liles and not Brian Solis, the report stated.

The agents, attempting to track Solis, were led to the TRAX parking lot. When they didn't see Solis, they decided to approach Liles and find out why he seemed to have Solis' phone based on the pinging, the report states.

According to Gill's report, when agents asked Liles and two women he was with for ID, he began walking toward his car. The ATF agents told him to stop and not worry about his identification, but Liles kept walking anyway, the report states.

After Liles got into the car and turned it on, an ATF agent reached in the vehicle in an attempt to grab the keys, according to the report. That's when Liles started driving off with the agent "half inside the car," the report states.

Embley, fearing that his agent would be dragged or run over, and also fearing he, too, would be "taken out," made a "very split second decision" and fired three rounds at Liles, according to the report.

The agent hanging out of the car was able to drop off, and Liles stopped driving a short time later.

Embley said Liles stopping his car raised red flags for him, because he had a clear path to drive away at that point. He told investigators he feared Liles was "stopping to have a battle with us," the report states.

As Embley approached the car, Liles said, "I've been shot. Why did you shoot me?" according to the report.

Liles looked at Embley and then "reached down with both hands as though he were searching for something," the report states. That movement prompted Embley to fire again, striking Liles again. He was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Gill determined that Embley "reasonably believed" Liles presented a risk of serious injury or death, even when he used deadly force a second time because he believed Liles stopped his car to "battle" agents, the report states. The decision was based in part on the "totality of the circumstances," Gill stated in his report.

Although Liles wasn't the man the ATF was looking for that day, he did have several warrants out of his arrest for probation violation. He was also wanted for allegedly hitting a West Valley police officer with his car on Feb. 6 at the Egate Apartments, 2309 W. Fly Catchers Lane.

Solis, the man agents were originally looking for that day, was eventually arrested and convicted on a firearm charge in federal court.SALT LAKE CITY  Mayor Jackie Biskupski has announced the formation of a Commission Against Gun Violence that will explore policy questions regarding gun violence and to make funding recommendations to be shared with city, county and state officials, as well as the Salt Lake City School District.

The commission stems from an exchange with student activists at the July 14 Road to Change town hall in Sandy, sponsored by March for Our Lives. While there, Biskupski asked a panel of activists what they would like to see her do as mayor to address gun violence. One panelist requested she create a gun violence commission to explore funding and policy options.

I told those students done and done when they made their recommendations to me, Biskupski said in a statement. We have seen our young people stand up against the gun violence, which is putting their lives at risk every day, and it is critical leaders begin to listen and act on their message.

The commission will consist of 15 members comprised of individuals from the Salt Lake City School District, Salt Lake City Police Department, March for Our Lives, the faith community, the mental health community, as well as others impacted by gun violence. The mayors office is also seeking applications from Salt Lake City residents interested in the topic to fill four vacant positions.

The panel will be staffed by two members of the mayors office, Simone Butler and Jennifer Seelig. Seelig, a former state representative currently serving as a senior adviser to the mayor, was present at the 2007 Trolley Square mass shooting that claimed the lives of five individuals and wounded four others.

The commission is expected to meet initially in October with a goal of developing potential funding recommendations for the legislative session in January.

Community members interested in applying for the four available seats on the commission can apply at goo.gl/forms/abUUAyXIq1DQO9UI3.Prashanth Neel Gets Candid About KGF

The big budget project of director Prashanth Neel is most likely to release this November. It is said that the film has a budget of around 80 crores. The handsome hunk of Kannada industry Yash will be playing the main lead in the movie.





Prashant seems to be very excited about this project and shared with TOI, KGF has a strong texture of Gold in it. It is about greed and gold. KGF in many ways is akin to El Dorado. The way kings and soldiers have over the years gone looking for mythical El Dorado, where anyone who lays claim to the place ruled the world. This is what Anant Nag says in the film too.





Adding more to the story, the young director shared, In 1978, because of the Cold war between USA and erstwhile USSR that had affected places like Iran and Afghanistan, the price of gold went up the highest in the recorded history. Till date one cannot find another time when the price of gold shot up so much. So, 1978 was the perfect setting for us, because the higher the price of gold, the higher the greed of men.





The director also shared, Our primary goal is to satisfy the audience in Karnataka. This is something we dont want to deviate from. The movie has wide cast including, Srinishi Shetty, Anant Nag, Ramya Krishnan, Nassar, Malavika Avinash and more. We will also see Tamannah in an item song in the movie.

For latest movie reviews, ratings and trailers, download the Desimartini App.

Source: i.ytimg.comHanoi to play iconic role in Vietnam smart city development

Vietnam is a young country with more and more people ready to swarm into urban areas, and Hanoi will become an iconic place for promoting the country's overall smart city projects highlighting energy resources, water resources and transportation, Nguyen Duc Chung, chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee, said when opening the ASOCIO Smart City Forum 2018 on September 18 for a three-day run in the capital city.

Acting on the instruction from the central government, Hanoi has set the goal of achieiving 100% clean water by 2020, and in line with the urbanization trend, Hanoi will serve as a role model for the implementation of smart city projects.

At the opening session, David Wong Nan Fay, chairman of the Asian-Oceanian Computing Industry Organization (ASOCIO) that organizes the forum, said that the attendance of 500 representatives from more than 10 member states of the organization shows the great expectations for fast urbanization and smart city solutions among emerging countries in Asia.

Yvonne Chiu, chairperson of the World Information Technology and Services Alliances (WITSA), also noted that with Bhutan joining as a new member, WITSA now has a total of 83 member states from around the world, with those in Asia particularly abounding in business opportunities. Chiu called for Hanoi to partner with Taiwan in the development of smart cities.

Vietnam now has a population of nearly 100 million, with 60% of them being young people. This, coupled with an annual GDP expansion of over 6%, will turn Vietnam into a star of tomorrow in Asia. Statistics show that Vietnam has over 70 million handset users including 64 million smartphone holders, indicating that the country has developed good infrastructures for digital transformation.

ASOCIO Smart City Forum 2018 takes place in Hanoi

ASOCIO chairman David Wong

Photos: Digitimes staff, September 2018Vietnam focusing on smart city development, says FPT chairman

Facing the great waves of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Vietnam is keen on promoting e-government projects, and the government there has selected five main cities, including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Danang, as pilot sites for smart city development, covering clean energy, environmental protection and transportation, according to Truong Gia Binh, chairman of FPT Group, the largest information technology service company in the country.

Binh told Digitimes in a recent exclusive interview that the information technology service market scale in Vietnam is estimated at US$16 billion a year, with an annual growth of 13% seen in 2017.

FPT just marked its 30th anniversary on September 12. Binh said that he founded FPT from scratch 30 years ago, when Vietnam was just beginnig to introduce reform and open up. After returning to Vietnam following 11 years of studies in the Soviet Union, Binh decided to venture into the country's information service market, which at the time hardly seemed promising.

But now, the FPT Group, dedicated to information services, 3C channel distribution services, and computer education and training services, has a total of 35,000 employees and annual revenues of US$2 billion. The group has extended its software contract services and call-center business to 33 countries, maintaining business ties with at least 100 out of the world's top-500 enterprises.

Speaking about Vietnam's future development prospects, Binh pointed out Vietnam has 65% of its population aged under 35, with the average age of its people at only 27. In addition, Vietnamese students have very good mathematical skills, frequently winning prizes in international math contests, which has prompted FPT to engage in computer education as a major business.

Furthermore, the FPT Group has over 600 franchised partners in Vietnam for 3C products distribution, and it has also set up a joint venture with Taiwan's Synnex Technology International to develop local 3C distribution business in Vietnam.

But Binh still has a lot of concerns about whether to foray into production of consumer electronics devices including handsets.

At the moment, Samsung Electronics undoubtedly is the top vendor in Vietnam's handset market, bolstered by its volume production capability there. Also, chances are also not high for Vietnam makers to outperform China handset brands in the market.

Accordingly, Vietnam is inclined to produce network communication products associated with national security, and develop local information service business.

Truong Gia Binh, chairman of Vietnam's FPT Group

Photo: Digitimes staff, September 2018UPA made terms of Rafale deal difficult for HAL: Sitharaman

The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government failed to strengthen Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for better bidding prices even as the terms of the bidding were against the interests of the state-owned enterprise, defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in a rebuttal to Congress partys allegations of her suppressing facts on Rafale deal.

In fact, Sitharaman said, every question on the Rafale deal should actually be directed to the Congress party. The UPA started negotiations ignoring the interests of IAF and HAL, she added.

The entire issue of HAL not being chosen happened during their time. Every question should actually go to them. You (UPA) have not taken care of HAL. You have not made the terms appealing enough for HAL to bid it successfully with Dassault, Sitharaman said, refuting former defence minister A K Antonys allegations.

The minister said the bidding was already out of bounds for HAL as the UP had already sidelined the interests of HAL, and it is the UPA government to blame for all these, not the present one.

We have addressed all concerns, including basic prices in Parliament, and all other questions must go to them, they must take responsibility, she said.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi accuses the Modi government of tailoring the Rafale deal to benefit one businessman, by sealing the deal at a much higher price than the UPA government had fixed during negotiation, while Antony is accusing the defence minister of suppressing facts.

The NDA government asserts that the Rafale jets are being bought at a much lower price and that the joint agreement between Anil Ambanis Reliance Group and French Company Dassault has nothing to do with the 36 fighter jets that are being delivered in fly away condition.

Sitharaman was addressing a press conference at the Indian Womens Press Corps. She was responding to the accusations made by former defence minister A K Antony earlier on Tuesday afternoon, on shying away from setting up a joint parliamentary committee to probe the Rafale deal.

The Rafale deal didn't happen during UPA. What also didn't happen during UPA was, that between HAL and Dassault, they couldn't agree on production terms. So HAL and Rafale couldn't go together. Doesn't that very clearly say who didn't go together with HAL, under which government did that happen, Sitharaman asked, adding that Antony should understand the process.

Sitharaman also alleged that it was the previous government which didnt take care of the interests of HAL and the Indian Air Force.

Isnt it obvious that the interest of HAL could have been taken care of at that time? Neither HALs interests nor Indian Air Forces interest were taken care of by the UPA government, she said.

If the agreement between Dassault and HAL did not happen, the facts are before us. What we have done after coming into talking with Dassault, with PM going in 2015 and signing agreement in 2016, has been for an intergovernmental based procurement of 36 aircrafts in ready-to-fly condition, the minister said.

Sitharaman also criticised Navjot Singh Sidhus hug with Pakistans army chief on Imran Khans swearing-in ceremony in Pakistan, calling it demoralising.

It certainly has an impact on soldiers and the people in ministry. Public response has been similar that it demoralises. If it demoralises people, I wish Sidhu would have avoided, the Union minister said.

I'm not talking about him going, but that single gesture of hugging the chief of Pakistans Army, she said, adding that we have clear feelings regarding the army chief.US hikes tariffs on $200 bn of Chinese goods, Beijing hits back

China on Tuesday raised tariffs on $60 billion of US products imported into the country in retaliation to President Donald Trumps latest duty increase in a dispute over Beijings technology policy that tended to undermine US industrial prowess.

Chinas finance ministry said it was going ahead with plans announced in August for the increases of 10 per cent and 5 per cent on 5,207 types of US goods, which included coffee, honey and industrial chemicals, besides other products.

The announcement by Beijing follows Trump administrations decision to bring $200 billion more of Chinese goods under tariffs. Starting Monday, some 5,000 Chinese-made goods will be charged at 10 per cent. They are to rise to 25 per cent on 1 January 2019.

However, the US government withdrew some items from its preliminary list of $200 billion in Chinese imports to be taxed, including child-safety products such as bicycle helmets. And in a favour to Apple Inc, the administration removed smart watches and some other consumer electronics products.

A White House release on Monday said, The tariffs will take effect on 24 September, and be set at a level of 10 per cent until the end of the year. On 1 January 2019 the tariffs will rise to 25 per cent. Further, if China takes retaliatory action against our farmers or other industries, we will immediately pursue phase three, which is tariffs on approximately $267 billion of additional imports.

Chinas finance ministry said the increase is aimed at curbing trade friction and the unilateralism and protectionism of the United States. It appealed for pragmatic dialogue to jointly safeguard the principle of free trade and the multilateral trading system.

The United States wants China to review its industrial policies that force foreign companies to part with technology. Chinese industry development plans, including Made in China 2025, which calls for creating global champions in robotics and other fields, are based on stolen technology, violate Beijings market-opening commitments and might erode American industrial leadership, according to the Trump administration.

A Chinese commerce ministry statement earlier said Trumps increase brings new uncertainty to the consultations but did not say whether Beijing would back out of talks proposed last week by Washington.

While almost all trading partners of China, including the European Union and Japan, have long standing complaints about Chinese market barriers and industrial policy, they have warned that Trumps tactics could chill global economic growth and undermine international trade regulation.

In fact, the American Chamber of Commerce in China warned Washington is underestimating Beijings determination to fight back. The downward spiral that we have previously warned about now seems certain to materialize, the chamber chairman, William Zarit, said in a statement.

Trump imposed 25 per cent duties on $50 billion of Chinese products in July. Beijing retaliated with similar penalties on the same amount of American goods.

The US has now added another $200 billion to the hit list and threatened to add $267 billion more of Chinese goods unless China changes its coercive trade policies.

That would raise the total affected by US penalties to $517 billion covering nearly everything China sells the United States.

The tariff action follows USTRs conclusion that China is engaged in numerous unfair policies and practices relating to US technology and intellectual property  such as forcing American companies to transfer technology to Chinese counterparts. These practices plainly constitute a grave threat to the long-term health and prosperity of the United States economy, the White House release stated.

For months, we have urged China to change these unfair practices, and give fair and reciprocal treatment to American companies. We have been very clear about the type of changes that need to be made, and we have given China every opportunity to treat us more fairly. But, so far, China has been unwilling to change its practices.

As President, it is my duty to protect the interests of working men and women, farmers, ranchers, businesses, and our country itself. My Administration will not remain idle when those interests are under attack, President Trump said.

However, the President said, Hopefully, this trade situation will be resolved, in the end, by myself and President Xi of China, for whom I have great respect and affection.Study links natural climate oscillations in North Atlantic to Greenland ice sheet melt

Scientists have known for years that warming global climate is melting the Greenland Ice Sheet, the second largest ice sheet in the world. A new study from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), however, shows that the rate of melting might be temporarily increased or decreased by two existing climate patterns: the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), and the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO).

Both patterns can have a major impact on regional climate. The NAO, which is measured as the atmospheric pressure difference between the Azores and Iceland, can affect the position and strength of the westerly storm track. The study found that when the NAO stays in its negative phase (meaning that air pressure is high over Greenland) it can trigger extreme ice melt in Greenland during the summer season. Likewise, the AMO, which alters sea surface temperatures in the North Atlantic, can cause major melting events when it is in its warm phase, raising the temperature of the region as a whole.

If global climate change continues at its current rate, the Greenland ice sheet may eventually melt entirely  but whether it meets this fate sooner rather than later could be determined by these two oscillations, says Caroline Ummenhofer, a climate scientist at WHOI and co-author on the study. Depending on how the AMO and NAO interact, excess melting could happen two decades earlier than expected, or two decades later this century.

"We know the Greenland ice sheet is melting in part because of warming climate, but that's not a linear process," Ummenhofer said. "There are periods where it will accelerate, and periods where it won't."

Scientists like Ummenhofer see a pressing need to understand out how natural variability can play a role in speeding up or slowing down the melting process. "The consequences go beyond just the Greenland Ice Sheet  predicting climate on the scale of the next few decades will also be useful for resource management, city planners and other people who will need to adapt to those changes," she added.

Actually forecasting environmental conditions on a decadal scale isn't easy. The NAO can switch between positive and negative phases over the course of a few weeks, but the AMO can take more than 50 years to go through a full cycle.

Since scientists first started tracking climate in the late 19th century, only a handful of AMO cycles have been recorded, making it extremely difficult to identify reliable patterns. To complicate things even more, the WHOI scientists needed to tease out how much of the melting effect is caused by human-related climate change, and how much can be attributed to the AMO and NAO.

To do so, the team relied on data from the Community Earth System Model's Large Ensemble, a massive set of climate model simulations at the National Center for Atmospheric Research. From that starting point, the researchers looked at 40 different iterations of the model covering 180 years over the 20th and 21st century, with each one using slightly different starting conditions.

Although the simulations all included identical human factors, such as the rise of greenhouse gases over two centuries, they used different conditions at the start  a particularly cold winter, for example, or a powerful Atlantic storm season  that led to distinct variability in the results.The team could then compare those results to each other and statistically remove the effects caused by climate change, letting them isolate the effects of the AMO and NAO.

"Using a large ensemble of model output gave more statistical robustness to our findings," said Lily Hahn, the paper's lead author. "It provided many more data points than a single model run or observations alone. That's very helpful when you're trying to investigate something as complex as atmosphere-ocean-ice interactions."India weighs hike in import duty on steel and gold to support rupee

The government is considering imposition of raising import duty on steel and gold in a bid to shore up its current account balances and shore up the rupee that has fallen to historic lows.

The steel ministry has proposed to increase the effective import duty on some steel products to 15 per cent from current rates ranging from 5 per cent to 12.5 per cent, reports quoting official sources said.

The commerce ministry is also proposed to hike the import duty on gold to 12-13 per cent from 10 per cent to control the widening current account deficit, a move that will hit jewellery exports and pull down domestic demand.

With margins of jewellery exporters already pressed by the 10 per cent import duty, the proposed duty hike will further handicap Indian jewellery manufacturers as the duty hike comes on top of a fallen rupee that has depreciated about 14 per cent since January.

Besides, the government is reported to be considering some policy measures to restrict gold imports. India is the world`s second biggest gold buyer, and its imports in August rose more than 90 per cent to $3.64 billion.

There is no confirmation from the steel and commerce ministries and there is no certainty that the proposed duty would be imposed.

India had earlier slapped countervailing duties on steel after India became a net steel importer in the three months ended June - the first time in two years - with foreign supplies reaching 2.1 million tonnes, up 15 per cent from a year earlier, according to official data.

In the 2017-18 financial year to end-March, the country imported 8.4 million tonnes of steel, 45 per cent of which came from Japan and South Korea, with which India has free trade agreements.

The proposed duties may apply to imports from other steel suppliers such as China, South Africa, Malaysia, Russia and Indonesia.

Apart from steel, India is considering raising import duties on some farm commodities, potentially for a few months, although it is wary of the risks of retaliation, said a senior government official with knowledge of inter-ministerial deliberations on proposed restrictions.

The government is also looking at curbs on imports of gold and high-end electronic items, a trade ministry source said last week.Islamabad HC orders release of ex-PM Nawaz Sharif, daughter and son-in-law

The Islamabad High Court has suspended the jail sentence against former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter, and son-in-law, and ordered their immediate release, local media reports said.

Sharif, his daughter Maryam and his son-in-law Muhammad Safdar were convicted in July by an anti-corruption court of not being able to prove the source of assets used to buy a set of upmarket London flats.

Sharif and the other two who had been sentenced to 10 years in jail on corruption charges by an anti-corruption court earlier this year, are expected to be released after the payment of a bail bond.

The Islamabad High Court judge Athar Minallah ruled that the National Accountability Bureau, Pakistan's anti-corruption watchdog, was unable to prove a financial link between the former prime minister and the apartments in question.

A two-member bench, led by Minallah, suspended the jail sentences while hearing the Sharifs' appeal against their convictions

Their convictions will stand, although their sentences have been suspended.

Sharif had been sentenced to 10 years in jail and a $10.5m fine, his daughter Maryam to a seven-year jail sentence and a $2.6m fine, and Maryam's husband Safdar to a year in prison.

Sharif remains barred from running for public office for life, after the Supreme Court in April ruled that he had lied on a parliamentary wealth declaration and that the disqualification from that crime would last for an indefinite period.

Sharif, his daughter, and his son-in-law will now each have to pay 500,000 Pakistani rupees (roughly $4,000) in separate surety bonds before their release.

Hamza Shehbaz, Nawaz Sharif's nephew, said the family was thankful for the ruling.

"Today is a happy day that our leader will be released from jail. We are thankful to Allah. As I said earlier, this verdict from the anti-corruption court, it was clear that there was no corruption proved against Nawaz Sharif. Hopefully, we will show that there is nothing to this case."

"Today's fundamental news is that the verdict by the anti-corruption court against Nawaz Sharif was very weak, and ... hopefully, we will continue our legal battle against all the other cases."

A crowd of hundreds of Sharif's supporters had gathered at the court ahead of the verdict and raised slogans praising him following the announcement of the suspension of the sentence.

The National Accountability Bureau is expected to appeal the Islamabad High Court's verdict at the Supreme Court.

Hearings in two other corruption cases against Sharif and his family are continuing at an anti-corruption court.Nuclear pasta, the hardest known substance in the universe

A team of scientists has calculated the strength of the material deep inside the crust of neutron stars and found it to be the strongest known material in the universe.

Matthew Caplan, a postdoctoral research fellow at McGill University, and his colleagues from Indiana University and the California Institute of Technology, successfully ran the largest computer simulations ever conducted of neutron star crusts, becoming the first to describe how these break.

"The strength of the neutron star crust, especially the bottom of the crust, is relevant to a large number of astrophysics problems, but isn't well understood," says Caplan.

Neutron stars are born after supernovas, an implosion that compresses an object the size of the sun to about the size of Montreal, making them "a hundred trillion times denser than anything on earth." Their immense gravity makes their outer layers freeze solid, making them similar to earth with a thin crust enveloping a liquid core.

This high density causes the material that makes up a neutron star, known as nuclear pasta, to have a unique structure. Below the crust, competing forces between the protons and neutrons cause them to assemble into shapes such as long cylinders or flat planes, which are known in the literature as 'lasagna' and 'spaghetti,' hence the name 'nuclear pasta.' Together, the enormous densities and strange shapes make nuclear pasta incredibly stiff.

Thanks to their computer simulations, which required 2 million hours worth of processor time or the equivalent of 250 years on a laptop with a single good GPU, Caplan and his colleagues were able to stretch and deform the material deep in the crust of neutron stars.

"Our results are valuable for astronomers who study neutron stars. Their outer layer is the part we actually observe, so we need to understand that in order to interpret astronomical observations of these stars," Caplan adds.

The findings, accepted for publication in Physical Review Letters, could help astrophysicists better understand gravitational waves like those detected last year when two neutron stars collided. Their new results even suggest that lone neutron stars might generate small gravitational waves.

"A lot of interesting physics is going on here under extreme conditions and so understanding the physical properties of a neutron star is a way for scientists to test their theories and models, Caplan adds. With this result, many problems need to be revisited. How large a mountain can you build on a neutron star before the crust breaks and it collapses? What will it look like? And most importantly, how can astronomers observe it?"The mum of a 15 year old homeless boy who is in custody in Oberstown Childrens Detention Campus because there is no room for him in his familys emergency accommodation, is due to apply shortly to Louth County Councils housing waiting list, Dundalk district court heard last week.

The court had been told by the Defence solicitor a week earlier that the boy was separated from his family as a result of homelessness only, and not as a result of his mother not wanting him.

The court heard the 15 year old  who is charged with eight offences including burglary and assaults, had been staying in unsecured hostel accommodation in Dublin.

The Defence solicitor described it as a homeless matter, and argued her client had done nothing to warrant going into custody while the boy himself told the court he did not want to go to Oberstown where had been before.

Signing on conditions had been imposed as part of his bail, but the court heard the teen had not signed on at the Garda station in question since the ninth of October last, and since the 8th of August he had gone missing and breached his curfew 19 times  on one occasion for four days.

The State objected to bail due to concerns for the boys safety and Judge John Coughlan remanded him in custody to Oberstown Childrens Detention Centre.

Last Wednesday Dundalk district court heard that the teens mum will be applying to Louth County Council for housing and will come off the local authority list where she is currently registered.

The Defence barrister said she was eager to ensure that they dont hit a brick wall  where the boys family is housed and he cant be accommodated as she said he is lucky to have the support of his family and his mum only wants the best for him.

The court also heard how the care team assigned to the boy is working to meet his needs.

It also emerged that the teen had heroin in his system when he was admitted to Oberstown last week, which had not been the case during his previous stay there.

On his admission then he had been taking tablets and cannabis.

Judge Coughlan further remanded the teen in custody and adjourned the case to Drogheda district court on the fifth of October.

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Braavo Capital on Tuesday announced it has raised US$6 million in Series A funding, led by E.ventures with participation from SWS Venture Capital and Bill Smith, CEO of Shipt.

The company also converted $2 million in seed capital from investors including SV Angel and BoxGroup, bringing the total equity raised to date to nearly $8 million.

Braavo, which claims to be the first company to offer Capital as a Service to mobile app entrepreneurs and developers, will use the funds to add personnel to further its mission of funding clients in this space.

(Click Image to Enlarge)

"Our goal is to arm founders with both the capital to take advantage of every opportunity to scale and the insights to know which path will get them there," said Braavo cofounder Sergei Kovalenko.

The company offers two financing products -- Accelerate and Extend -- that employ an automated system to gather and analyze real-time business data on applicants, including current and future earnings.

The application doesn't require any personal credit checks or the applicant's Social Security Number.

Once approved, entrepreneurs begin to receive funding in one to two days.

"This fills an important niche for mobile developers," said Holger Mueller, principal analyst at Constellation Research.

"They usually have to bootstrap themselves as single workers, and may be short on cash when they need to invest into, say, another app or platform or employee," he told the E-Commerce Times.

Braavo formerly was known as "Aprenita."

"We renamed the business to have a more memorable and positive name," said Braavo Marketing Director Alexandra Northington.

The "Braavo" name "reflects better what we do -- provide performance-based financing," she told the E-Commerce Times.

The Series A funding follows combined debt and equity financing of more than $70 million, led by Mark 2 Capital, which Braavo closed last year.

Those funds were earmarked to scale Braavo's financing originations and support the rapid growth of its customer base.

Braavo's Financing Products

Accelerate gives entrepreneurs up to 85 percent of their receivables in weekly payments that they can spend as they see fit.

Entrepreneurs decide what percentage of the previous week's earnings they'll get in advance from each of their platforms, and can adjust the amount at any time. The first payment covers earnings from the beginning of the month.

Clients get a customizable reporting dashboard, consolidated weekly payments, and the visibility to know how they're doing.

Extend provides clients with funds to spend on user acquisition through approved channels, such as Facebook, Instagram and Google.

Braavo typically provides enough capital to double clients' short-term user acquisition budget. Funding terms are based on a client's current budget and performance.

Funds are deposited directly into clients' bank accounts. They can begin spending on growth immediately.

Braavo's free analytics software surfaces insights across clients' accounts so they can see the impact of their efforts and find opportunities to improve.

Loan amounts depend on clients' revenues for Accelerate, and on budget and performance for Extend, Braavo said.

The company charges a fixed percentage of future payments. It does not charge interest.

Braavo receives payments directly from ad networks and app stores, automatically deducts the money it has advanced and its fee, and delivers the remaining balance to clients the following day. The repayments correlate with earnings, decreasing in bad months.

Braavo's financing would be considered medium-risk, noted Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group.

The company "basically takes control of revenue and then pays itself, so their risk is far lower than if they were letting you collect and make payments," he told the E-Commerce Times.

Qualifying for Braavo Financing

There is some confusion over the way Braavo operates.

For example, a Highya review states that applicants' apps must have analytics that can be reviewed using sources such as Flurry, Localytics, Mixpanel or Appfigures.

Applicants also must show they have revenue coming in from their apps, the review says.

Qualifying applicants will need at least six months of revenue history for at least one active app, and most qualifying customers have at least three full-time employees with $10K-plus in monthly revenue, the review states.

However, "none of the info you've been able to gather from Highya is accurate," maintained Braavo's Northington. "We're not sure where they got their information, but we have never spoken with the company."

For analytics, Braavo integrates "with a number of platforms such as Facebook, Appsflyer, Adjust and Aplitude," she said.

Braavo's clients incude Very, Fanatee, Pixite, Homer, Studio, Radish and Spring, Northington said.

"I would think there could be demand for this kind of financing," said Michael Jude, program manager at Stratecast/Frost & Sullivan.

It gives app developers "an easy-to-qualify-for source of financing that, assuming they continue to grow, would be less onerous than using consumer credit to keep operating," he told the E-Commerce Times.

How Braavo Differs

Braavo's approach differs markedly from that of venture capitalists and equity investors.

"Venture capitalists typically want ownership and some aspect of control," Enderle remarked. "Lenders for a revolving credit line may want points up front and collateral."

Braavo lets founders retain control of their companies and not have to give up board seats or equity. It also saves entrepreneurs from spending resources looking for funders or serving their needs.

"VCs can ask for as much as 20 percent of the company plus a three-year return on investment just to say hello," Frost's Jude pointed out. "Angel funding can require not only interest, but equity in the company."

BI Analytics for Clients

Braavo also announced the rollout of a business intelligence analytics tool that will help mobile app businesses understand their performance in real time.

This is "critical if you want to sustain growth and have a reliable revenue source," Enderle said.

The tool is designed for revenue-generating long-tail and mid-market mobile apps. It will be available at no cost for the rest of this year.

"A smarter move would likely have been to partner with Flurry or App Annie rather than build their own analytics tool," Enderle suggested. They are more analytics pure-play, while Braavo is kind of a collections and revenue management agent."

Richard Adhikari has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2008. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, mobile technologies, CRM, databases, software development, mainframe and mid-range computing, and application development. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including Information Week and Computerworld. He is the author of two books on client/server technology. Email Richard.

Robert Boone, Jr.

Viking Highlights Major/Minor:

Business Administration Classification:

Senior Hometown:

Lewiston-Woodville, North Carolina Hobbies/Interests:

Politics Dream Job:

Vice Chancellor/President for Student Affairs Campus Events You Enjoyed Participating In and The Reason(s):

I enjoy participating in Homecoming and Viking Fest events because I get to hear from alums of the university about their experiences here at ECSU. I also like attending the student body meetings because you get to see students perform and share their talents. Your words to live by:

Be the change that you wish to see! Professors who have influenced you and why

Dr. Tarsha Rogers and Dr. Ebere Oriaku. These two professors, who are both committed to student success, encrouraged me to get involved and make a difference of campus. Advice for younger students

Get involved on campus with different clubs, committees, organizations. Let your voice be heard!

Robert Boone, Jr.

Leadership is something Robert Boone takes to naturally. The Elizabeth City State University senior has not only served on the Student Government Association, but also as an intern working with public school students to implement a Student Government Association for Bertie County Schools.

I worked under the supervision of superintendent, Dr. Catherine Edmonds and executive assistant, Ms. Kim Cooper, said Boone. I was tasked with implementing a Student Government Association in the district. My overall goal for the SGA was give students a voice, create transparent relationships, develop student leaders, and improve school and student engagement.

Boone took on a big job over the summer, but the business administration major was up to the task. He says that as a former student in Bertie County, he enjoyed working with the school districts leadership on this project.

I believe my internship with Bertie County Schools was useful and worthwhile because I gained a lot of valuable knowledge, Boone said.

Its knowledge that Boone hopes to use when he pursues a future as a higher education administrator.

I also take advantage of every opportunity that I receive to shadow administrators here at ECSU, he said.

As a student growing up in Bertie County, Boone was no stranger to ECSU. The university is just a couple of counties away from his rural northeastern North Carolina home. But it was an open house on the ECSU campus that helped him make his decision to become a Viking.

I knew that this is where I belonged, said Boone. Along with the affordability, the staff and students were so welcoming that I immediately fell in love with the university.

Boones time at ECSU has been one he describes as positive and forward thinking, molding him into a leader. His activities on campus, the organizations he has joined, and the people at ECSU have all contributed, he says, to his growth here.

Over the years I have met a lot of faculty and staff that committed to the success of the students and this institution, said Boone. I wouldnt trade my student experience for any other school. I am proud to be a Viking!

Being proud of his school, Boone sees opportunity for future Vikings. As the current freshman class settles into life on campus, representing the largest surge of new freshman in years, Boone has some advice for them.

Dont let ECSU make you, you make ECSU, he said. We all have something special to bring to the table. The student experience is what you make it. Get involved on campus with different clubs, committees, organizations. Let your voice be heard!Two of the closest galaxies to the Milky Way -- the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds -- may have had a third companion, astronomers believe.



Research published today describes how another "luminous" galaxy was likely engulfed by the Large Magellanic Cloud some three to five billion years ago.

ICRAR Masters student Benjamin Armstrong, the lead author on the study, said most stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud rotate clockwise around the centre of the galaxy. But, unusually, some stars rotate anti-clockwise.

"For a while, it was thought that these stars might have come from its companion galaxy, the Small Magellanic Cloud," Mr. Armstrong said. "Our idea was that these stars might have come from a merger with another galaxy in the past."

Mr. Armstrong, who is based at The University of Western Australia, used computer modeling to simulate galaxy mergers.

"What we found is that in this sort of merging event, you actually can get quite strong counter-rotation after a merger takes place," he said. "This is consistent with what we see when we actually observe the galaxies."

The Magellanic Clouds can be seen in the night sky with the naked eye and have been observed by ancient cultures for thousands of years.

The Large Magellanic Cloud is a relatively small 160,000 light-years away from us, while the Small Magellanic Cloud is around 200,000 light-years away.

Mr. Armstrong said the finding could help to explain a problem that has perplexed astronomers for years -- why stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud are generally either very old or very young.

"In galaxies, there are these large objects called star clusters," he said. "Star clusters contain many, many, many stars that are all of quite similar ages and made in similar environments.

"In the Milky Way, the star clusters are all very old. But in the Large Magellanic Cloud, we have very old clusters as well as ones that are very young -- but nothing in between."

This is known as the 'age-gap' problem, Mr. Armstrong said.

"Because in the Large Magellanic Cloud we see star formation starting again, that could be indicative of a galaxy merger taking place," he said.

Mr. Armstrong said the finding could also help explain why the Large Magellanic Cloud appears to have a thick disk.

"Our work is still very preliminary but it does suggest that this sort of process could have been responsible for the thicker disk in the past," he said.

Mr. Armstrong said the research was about asking pertinent questions that astronomers could start examining.

"It's about creating a new idea, a new way of looking at an old problem," he said.

The study was released in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, published by Oxford University Press.

Reference: "Formation of a Counter-Rotating Stellar Population in the Large Magellanic Cloud: A Magellanic Triplet System?" B. Armstrong & K. Bekki, 2018 Sep. 18, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society [https://academic.oup.com/mnras, preprint (PDF): https://www.icrar.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Magellanic-Triplet-System_MNRAS.pdf].

The International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) is a joint venture between Curtin University and The University of Western Australia with support and funding from the State Government of Western Australia.

Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook.One year ago, Hurricane Maria ripped through Puerto Rico. For the educators, students, and parents who remain on the island, nothing has been the same since.

In sheer practical terms, they are grappling with lingering storm damage, shifts in school assignments after hundreds of buildings were closed in the wake of the hurricane, and the implications of a system-wide reorganization.

Amid it all, the islands education leaders are still trying to grasp the extent of the trauma they and their school communities are suffering, and how best to address that emotional and psychological pain.

An Education Week reporting team visited several schools in Puerto Rico at the start of the new school year, and talked with teachers, administrators, and others about the lingering challenges caused or exacerbated by the storm. Here are some of their stories.

Browse the data:

Puerto Ricos Schools One Year After Maria

Taking It Apart

Norma Rodriguez Salinas has little time to mourn the elementary school where she used to be the director before she had to dismantle it.

To help other schools get ready for this academic year, Salinas had to remove classroom materials, equipment, and other vital elements that could be salvaged from the now-closed Escuela Calzada and ferry them to other schools that are still open.

All those days and those hours and those dreams that one built with that school just vanished overnight, said Salinas, whos now the director at Escuela Higinio Figueroa Villegas (a K-8 school) in the community of Maunabo, which is just a 10-minute drive away from where she used to work. That hurts. And that hurts because with so much effort and dedication we do things, and later we have to get rid of that to give it to others. [Its] a bit painful.

Salinas is under no illusions. She knows that declining enrollment is a compelling reason her school and others had to close. But like some others in Puerto Ricos education system, Salinas said she felt parents were not properly consulted.

It has been a runaway process. It has not been communicated properly, Salinas said.

See Also: Putting Puerto Ricos Schools Back on Track

As the head of a different school this year, she was worried early about teachers who had not arrived to start work by opening day. But she thanked God for the good start shed had with the staff who did show up to work at Villegas.

Now I am getting to know a new culture, Salinas said. I feel like a new teacher.

Lourdes Flores Rodriguez taught for 18 years at a school about half an hour away before she was also reassigned by the Puerto Rico Department of Education. She cries when she thinks about how long she now has to leave her baby son because she no longer lives close by her job.

I am very far from what I knew, Rodriguez said.

But shes also willing to keep an open mind.

I know that if I fall in love with this school, I will fight, and I will stay here, she said.

People Tend to Resist Change

At an elementary school in the town of Canovanas, the schools new director and the parents couldnt even agree about whether the school should be open.

Escuela Pedro Albizu Campos had to take in students from a nearby school that the Department of Education shut down over the summer. On opening day in mid-August at the elementary school, there was water on the floor and missing sections of classroom ceilings. Tensions boiled over as parents argued with the director, Annette Astrid Llanos Algarin, who was also upset by the medias presence at the school.

After the fight subsided and the parents left, Algarin preached patience. Her message to parents was to give her and her staff time, and they would prove they could provide what students need.

Everything in this environment is a process of adaptation. The first process is that people tend to resist change, Algarin said. If the father feels at ease, if he knows the kind of work we do here in this school, he will be happy and will trust that we will be able to help his children.

She sympathized with the parents who have unwillingly had to take their children to a new school. She said even though shed been working to get the school ready over the summer, she hadnt had the time to finish.

It was obvious to Xiomara Rivera, a parent of a student who was transferred to Pedro Albizu Campos, that some classrooms were not ready to open at the start of the year. She wasnt thrilled that her daughter had to change schools. But she said Campos had a good reputation and that her daughter was happy to be in class.

At least Ill have  my daughter here because economically I cant pay for another school, Rivera said.

But another parent, Suleyra Ortiz, was having none of it. She described the schools condition on opening day as subhuman, and said she had been misinformed about the date the school would start classes, two days later than it actually did.

I think they are not in a position for my girl to take her class here, Ortiz said. The children do not deserve it. I think it is not appropriate.

Getting Her Wish

Margie Cintron spent her summer wondering if her job would disappear.

An English teacher last year at Escuela Jesus T. Pinero in Cidra, she does not have a permanent contract. As the Department of Education shut down hundreds of schools over the summer, she wondered if she would get her wish and be offered a job again at the school, which she said lets her be really creative with her students. With fewer jobs to go around after the school closures, she wondered if she would work at all this year. At the same time, she empathized with permanent teachers who had to leave long-standing jobs to work in new schools.

Cintron said her summer was nerve-wracking. The good news came just 10 days before the new school year started: Cintron was one of the lucky ones. She could return to Jesus T. Pinero, which includes grades 6-11. She said she jumped up and down with joy when she heard.

You get these connections with students, with colleagues, said Cintron, who began her sixth year of teaching this year. You feel like its a family. ... I understand the reason for closing the schools. But that doesnt mean you dont get nervous.

After losing six weeks of class time due to the storm, the end of the last school year felt particularly stressful, said the schools director, Talia Mendez. Her hopes that state tests would be suspended last spring were for naught.

Things got better. But they still lost a lot of time, said Mendez, whos worked at the school as a director and teacher for about 20 years. Students felt a bit overwhelmed.

This year, she has to integrate 75 new students into the school, although a new online enrollment system implemented by the Department of Education made that process go well. And at the start of the year, she didnt know exactly how far students had fallen behind where they should be. The school will have to lean on diagnostic tests for answers to that question.

Hopefully nothing will happen this year and well be able to work normally, Mendez said.

Enlarge graphic.Most days, Lisa Newhouse, a library media specialist with the Upsala Area schools in Minnesota, wakes up at about 4 a.m., gets ready for work, and sits at her computer to teach her first students of the daywho live in China.

Newhouse is one of the more than 60,000 American and Canadian tutors who work for VIPKid, a Beijing-based online English-tutoring company.

After her one-on-one lessons with the elementary-school-age children in China, Newhouse heads off to a full day in her district, where she wears many hats: working in the library, assisting with technology integration, and managing after-school programs. Her days are long but manageable, said Newhouse, who took on the second job, which brings in about $12,000 annually, to help pay off her student loans.

I just drink coffee at 2 p.m. and Im good, she said.

Frustrated with their salaries and looking for second jobs they can work around school hours, some U.S. teachers have turned to teaching Chinese students online for a source of additional income. Peak tutoring times in China line up with early-morning hours on the East Coast and in the Midwest.

English-language tutoring has become a booming industry in China, as more parents seek to prepare their children for a globally competitive marketplace. And while teachers say they appreciate the flexible schedules and opportunity to make extra money, some say working a second teaching shift in the morning can be exhausting.

Virtual Classrooms

VIPKid, which is one of the largest online-tutoring companies in China with more than 500,000 students in China and 63 other countries on the site, requires that teachers have a bachelors degree and one year of teaching experience. The company would not provide information on how many of its tutors are U.S. K-12 teachers but did say that its tutors include current and retired private and public school teachers, as well as home-schooling parents.

While its difficult to know exactly how many U.S. public school teachers are working for Chinese tutoring companies, these platforms are often a topic of conversation in online teacher forums. Of U.S. teachers, who have a second job, more than a quarter say the extra gig is in teaching or tutoring, according to 2015-16 data from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Tutoring with VIPKid doesnt take much planning time, as the company provides tutors with a set of slides that cover the lesson material for each student, said Newhouse, the Minnesota educator. Lessons are 25 to 30 minutes long, and she makes $10 per class. VIPKids pay range is $14 to $22 an hour, according to the companys website.

Ive been a teacher for eight years, but its totally different online, so you get a little nervous at first, Newhouse said.

Students are half a world away on a screen, so teachers have to be patient in different ways than they would in a brick-and-mortar school, she said. If a student doesnt understand a certain direction she gives over the video chatfor instance, Circle the letter t "Newhouse has to figure out a creative way to get that message across. If I was there with you, I could just take your hand and show you, Circle this letter,  she said.

Like many VIPKid teachers, she uses props to help convey lesson content. If a kids having a hard time, Ill model with the monkey, she said, referring to the stuffed animal she uses to act out conversations for her students.

Not all student-teacher interactions on the site have gone smoothly. VIPKid has come under public scrutiny after black teachers spoke about experiencing race-based discrimination on the platform.

Tameka Bazile, a VIPKid teacher and an administrator of a Facebook group for tutors of color on the site, has spoken out on YouTube about teachers who have reported being called names by students in reference to their race.

In a highly publicized incident in 2017, Beatrice Carre-Alleyne, a black VIPKid tutor, posted a video to Facebook of a student calling her a monster and ugly. In the video, Carre-Alleyne calmly challenges the girl, telling her she isnt ugly and asking the student if she is the first brown face that the girl has ever seen. Her student says yes. I gave her a lesson on the beauty of all colors, and we ended up friends, wrote Carre-Alleyne in her public Facebook post. The company later apologized to Carre-Alleyne.

In the rare cases where offensive or inappropriate behavior is reported by teachers or students, we address these matters on our platform immediately and take all cases seriously, the company said in a statement to Education Week. It is company policy to review all reports of inappropriate behavior and, where necessary, take appropriate steps to address it.

Flex Schedules, Long Hours

Teachers on these online-tutoring platforms work as independent contractors. And like other teachers who have joined the gig economy, these tutors often arent guaranteed a steady stream of work. Adelaide Watson, a middle-grades teacher at the South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind in Spartanburg, said she completed 32 lessons in one week earlier this montha high number for her. But she says the number of bookings can vary, especially when students are out of school for holidays.

On most platforms, teachers can set their own hours of availability. Once a class is booked, though, last-minute scheduling changes can be difficult: Several companies implement financial penalties if teachers cancel too close to the start time or if they cancel more than the allotted number of classes per month. But for many educators, the convenience makes online work more attractive than other second jobs.

Tutoring at home in the morning was easier than trying to work after school, said Teresa Danks, a former teacher with the Tulsa public schools in Oklahoma. She often didnt leave the school building until 4 p.m. or 5 p.m. Danks rose to internet fame last year as the panhandling teacher when photos of her asking for donations for classroom supplies on the side of a highway went viral.

Danks started tutoring with VIPKid and Landi, another Chinese platform, this spring, after she participated in the Oklahoma teacher walkouts. She worked from 4:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. before school. I had some days where I was exhausted, she said. But it was supplementing my income a lot, and I needed the money.

Research suggests Danks experience isnt unique and having a second job can take a toll. In a voluntary survey of Texas State Teachers Association members with second jobs, conducted by researchers at the Sam Houston State University in Texas, 79 percent of teachers said that moonlighting hurt the quality of their teaching.

But feeling overwhelmed and frustrated, Danks didnt give up the tutoringshe gave up her public school job. Now, she said, shes making more money working 25 to 30 hours a week as a tutor than she did working full time as a teacher.

She said she might go back into the classroom one day, but right now, the online teaching wins.The Washington state supreme court ended a yearslong fight for school funding earlier this summer by saying the state had finally satisfied its mandate for increased school spendingbut in districts across the state, the battles have continued.

While the court ordered the state to inject billions of dollars into public education, some districts say they have not received a significant windfall of cash. And teachers in 14 districts have gone on strike this fall to fight for sizeable salary increases.

In many places, local teachers unions have already negotiated double-digit salary increases, a result of the additional $2 billion in state funding schools received for teacher salaries this year and last.

Lawsuit Aftershocks

The extra money is the result of the 2012 ruling in McCleary v. Washington that said the state was not amply funding schools. Prodded by the court, the state has since poured billions of dollars into education. It was required to fully fund teacher-salary increases by this school year.

Still, the influx of money has come with its own challenges as districts work to negotiate contracts with their teachers.

Jessica Vavrus, the deputy executive director of the Washington State School Directors Association, said figuring out the states new funding formula has been confusing and frustrating for districts.

To comply with the courts ruling, legislators reduced the amount of funds school districts can collect in the form of local voter-approved levies. The idea is that districts have been over-relying on locally raised taxes, and the state will give new dollars to replace that money.

However, some administrators have said the new formula punishes their districts. For example, Tacomas superintendent, Carla Santorno, wrote in an open letter that local voters routinely approve school operations levies that have generated about $86 million per year. But the states new formula limits the amount Tacoma can collect from levies to $40 million a year, she said.

While the state has given new money to the district to the tune of $50 million, Santorno wrote that the combined total is only a few million more than the district has received with just levies in the past, and there are strings attached.

The legislature also decided to give some districts in high-cost-of-living areas additional fundingsomething those in rural or high-poverty areas have said is unfair.

And after decades of the state failing to fulfill its commitment to fund basic education, districts are cautious, Vavrus said.

If [district leaders] could give their teachers the moon, they would, she said. But they also take their role as the shepherd of their districts long-term financial stability ... very seriously.

But Rich Wood, a spokesman for the Washington Education Association, dismissed what he called excuses from the school districts where teachers went on strike. All districts in the state have received a net funding increase, he said.

All these other schools have found a way to negotiate competitive pay; theres no reason these ... school districts should be any different, Wood said.

A Difficult Position

Last week, eight state legislators who represent parts of the Tacoma school district wrote to Santorno and the school board members, saying the 29,320-student district is in one of the most difficult positions of any district in Washington. They pledged to fix some of the inequities in the state funding formula in the 2019 legislative session.

But Monica Stonier, the vice chairwoman of the state House education committee, said there were always inequities in state funding. The states new formula created different kinds of inequities, but it didnt create new ones, she said.

While she thinks the legislature will try to fix some aspects of the funding formula next year, in the meantime, districts will have to reprioritize their budgets to accommodate teacher pay increases, she said.

This is a really bumpy, uncomfortable road to great schools in Washington state, Stonier said.

In Tacoma, the district and teachers union came to a tentative agreement late last week, with teachers returning to work on Sept. 17 after being on strike for about a week.

No teacher wants to be on strike, said Nate Bowling, a high school teacher in the district and the 2016 Washington State Teacher of the Year. But at the same time, were professionals and want to be compensated as such.

Bowling said the pay raise is important to retain talented teachers in a school system that serves many low-income students. Neighboring districts have negotiated significant raises with their teachers.

If you can make $7,000 to $10,000 more by driving five to 10 minutes in another direction, a bunch of educators are going to leave, he said.The Vietnamese IT service provider FPT is to support Carlsberg Breweries globally with the introduction of artificial intelligence, among other things.

To this end, the new partners have signed a global framework agreement that makes FPT, headquartered in Hanoi (Vietnam) the official technology partner of Carlsberg. The company provides information technology (IT) and digital transformation (DT) services to the global brewery. Both sides also intend to examine other aspects of digital transformation, including smart brewery, cloud migration to Azure, open API platforms, data strategies, and analytics.

The collaboration between FPT and Carlsberg began in January 2018. After a few months, FPT has assumed the role of DT partner for many projects related to Manufacturing Execution System (MES), AI for Planning, and Connected Bar for Carlsberg. With MES, FPT supported the implementation of projects related to digital monitoring and control systems and helped Carlsberg to optimize the manufacturing process and expand production. FPT was selected to implement this project because of its proven technology expertise and strong global presence, particularly in Asia. Carlsberg plans to introduce MES at 14 locations in Asia in the near future.

In addition to MES, FPT will use its expertise in artificial intelligence to help Carlsberg analyze consumer behavior, predict demand, and plan production more efficiently. The digital transformation collaboration between FPT and Carlsberg has also been extended to the Connected Bar which is considered to be Carlsberg's "Game Changer". Connected Bars, with their intelligent sensors, help the brewery giant to ensure product quality and also to monitor consumption for more effective delivery management.

The signing took place as part of FPT's 30th anniversary celebrations and marks a milestone for FPT Corporation on its way to becoming a trusted partner to global companies in digital transformation. FPT was founded in 1988 and has become the leading IT service provider in Southeast Asia with a worldwide customer base of more than 500 companies. FPT is a partner of Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, Siemens, IBM, and GE Predix, among others.Why do we do it? Its because as caretakers, we deeply care about the racehorse itself and obviously we love what we do. Without our caretakers, our industry wouldnt exist.  Tammy MacKay

Three racetracks that didnt have summer harness racing seasons will host National Caretaker Appreciation Day events during the weekend of October 5 - 7 to recognize caretakers racing at their tracks.

Fraser Downs, in co-operation with Harness Racing BC in Surrey, B.C. and The Raceway at the Western Fair District in London, Ont., will host events on Friday, October 5 while Flamboro Downs near Dundas, Ont., will have its event on Saturday, October 6.

Earlier this year, during the weekend of July 20-22, racetracks and associations across the country participated in the inaugural edition of National Caretaker Appreciation Day.

Standardbred Canada along with horsemens associations and tracks across the country partnered on this event along with many industry suppliers, sponsors and businesses local to racetracks.

Caretakers were recognized in different ways at the 14 tracks that took part, but included having names announced in post parades and winners circle presentations, being provided with complimentary refreshments, providing awards for winning caretakers, draw prizes and more.

Caretakers are the foundation of the standardbred breeding and racing industry. They are charged with the responsibility of making sure the horses they care for are happy and healthy, both physically and emotionally.

This is our opportunity to say thank you to the women and men who keep our horses healthy & happy!

SWAG SPECIAL

In celebration of National Caretaker Appreciation Day taking place at racetracks across the country during the weekend of July 20-22, the I Love Canadian Harness Racing Fan Club has some swag with the NCAD logo.

A special edition hat & t-shirt are now available at a cost of $15 per item. Purchase both for only $25!

Quantities are limited so order yours now! Click here to place your order!Next-generation firewalls (NGFWs) from Check Point and Palo Alto Networks appear on eSecurity Planets list of top NGFW vendors  and while both solutions have their fans, there are substantial differences between the two. What follows is a look at the core functionality of each solution, as well as some critical strengths and weaknesses.

The Bottom Line

Check Points and Palo Altos NGFW solutions are highly rated by users and analysts, although both are priced higher than more value-conscious solutions. Check Points wide range of security offerings makes it a good fit for a company seeking a broad, integrated approach for complex and hybrid environments, while Palo Altos solution fits best when features, management and performance are the most important factors.

NSS Labs most recent analysis gave both vendors high marks for security and performance, but suggested that Check Points solution may be more expensive to operate, rating its total cost of ownership per protected Mbps at $13, compared to $7 for Palo Alto. Both are aimed at enterprises that have above average demands, and for those use cases, they deliver.

Check Point Product Highlights

Overview: Check Points NGFWs leverage an application library of more than 6,600 web applications to identify, allow, block or limit usage of applications and the features within them, enabling safe Internet use while protecting against threats and malware. The companys SmartLog analyzer provides real-time visibility into billions of log records over multiple time periods and domains.

Recent developments: Check Point recently expanded its NGFW product lines with the introduction of new high-end platforms, and launched the Check Point Infinity security architecture, which is designed to protect a companys entire IT infrastructure.

Analysts take: Gartner says Check Points offering is a particularly good match for companies seeking an integrated and consolidated approach to security, thanks to its wide range of network, mobile and endpoint security products. User complaints tend to focus on price, the speed of technical support, and firmware releases that take a considerable amount of time to become stable.

Palo Alto Product Highlights

Overview: Palo Alto Networks NGFWs monitor applications, threats and content, and tie them to the user regardless of location or device type. The companys NGFWs are available in purpose-built hardware appliances ranging from the PA-200 to the high-end PA-7000 Series (with threat prevention throughput of 100 Gbps), and as virtual appliances supporting a wide range of cloud environments.

Recent developments: Palo Alto recently released version 8.1 of its PAN-OS operating system, which adds more than 60 new features, including expanded SSL decryption capabilities and more granular control of SaaS applications.

Analysts take: Gartner says Palo Alto Networks boasts high customer satisfaction and is a solid contender for all enterprises, particularly when features and management quality are more important than price. Still, some clients say Palo Altos centralized Panorama solution can experience a performance hit when managing a large number of appliances, and that the company waits too long between firmware releases, resulting in very large updates that require more time to stabilize.

NGFW Product Ratings

Here is eSecurity Planets take on the key features of each solution, followed by a chart comparing the two.

Security Performance: Both are tops. In NSS Labs recent test results, Palo Altos PA-5220 received a 98.7% security effectiveness rating, while the Check Point 15600 blocked 99.6% of attacks in NSS Labs tests.

Performance: Palo Alto topped all firewalls tested by NSS Labs with 7,888 Mbps performance, while Check Point clocked in at a solid 6,034 Mbps.

Value: Both companies NGFWs are more expensive than most. If youre looking at Palo Alto and Check Point, price is likely not your top criteria.

Implementation and Management: Users of both systems say their setup process requires a little more knowledge and advanced planning than most. Once up and running, many Check Point users single out the solutions management interface as a key strength. Palo Alto users praise the rich management features of the companys firewalls, but some users say the Panorama centralized management solution can take a performance hit when managing a large number of appliances.

Support: Check Point has faced some customer complaints about responsiveness. Both companies face customer frustration that their large, infrequent firmware updates can cause stability issues.

Cloud Features: Both are strong contenders for cloud needs, offering virtual appliances and a wide range of cloud functionality.

User Reviews

Gartner Peer Insights users give Check Point an average rating of 4.5 out of 5, with Palo Alto Networks following close behind at 4.4 out of 5.

Check Point NGFW reviewers said the solution is really fast, has a great management interface and a great log server, and offers different sizes of appliances for different purposes. Still, some reviewers said the system is way too complex and requires hiring experienced staff, and that the cost is still high and licensing is still complex.

Palo Alto Networks reviewers said the product itself is rock solid and support is fantastic. It just works, one noted, adding, While the cost may be higher than some, it really does the job we ask of it. Still, some reviewers warned that it has a decent learning curve and can be faulted for overly complicating some simple setup tasks.

Read more reviews written by users of Palo Alto Networks VM Series and Check Point NGFWs.

Deployment

Check Points products are available as hardware appliances, as software only, and as cloud services. The company also offers managed services.

Palo Altos NGFWs are available as hardware appliances (PA Series), as well as the VM Series for use in a virtualized or cloud environment.

Pricing

Check Points pricing is based on the cost of the server and security gateways required, starting as low as $799 for a single gateway. Check Point management appliances start as low as $7,500 for the Smart-1 405. The 15600 tested by NSS sells for approximately $70,000.

Palo Alto Networks offers a wide range of NGFW options. The companys most recently released appliances, the PA-220R (ruggedized), PA-3200 Series and PA-5280, range in price from $2,900 to $200,000, while the base PA-220 lists at $1,000. The 220 offers 100 Mbps VPN throughput and 64,000 sessions; the 5280 offers 24 Gbps VPN throughput and 64 million sessions. The PA-5220 tested by NSS sells for around $70,000, with support packages extra.

Other NGFW product comparisonsBy genetically matching elephant tusks from large ivory seizures and comparing this information to details including the ivory's shipping port of export, researchers have exposed the three major exporters illegally smuggling the greatest amount of ivory out of Africa. Their work reveals how tusks from the same elephant are often shipped by the same trafficker in separate shipments. The researchers hope the data presented in their paper can lead to a more direct way to police this illegal trade, and further, that it can help strengthen ongoing cases against particular cartels by tying their operators to large ivory seizures. African elephant ivory trade has expanded into a multibillion industry that has led to the deaths of up to 40,000 elephants each year. In a 2015 study published in Science, Samuel Wasser et al. reported development of DNA-based tools for evaluating ivory tusks - tools that they used to identify the two major poaching hotspots in Africa. They hoped that this approach could play a role in helping stop ivory trade. However, even though poaching hotspots were few, the poachers in these locations remained hard to stop - in part because it's easy to ship contraband ivory after containerizing it and getting it into transit. Thus, Wasser sought a way to link individual shipments of ivory, otherwise hard to monitor, to individual trafficking cartels. He and colleagues used the same genetic approach previously published to understand the occurrence and patterns of genetically matched tusks. They sampled 38 seizures identified between 2006 to 2015, including bone samples from 10 elephants killed in a high-profile helicopter poaching event in Democratic Republic of the Congo. After genotyping the tusks, 26 of the samples from separate seizures were considered a match with a tusk in another seizure. Based on these genetic match-ups, and on additional information about the ports the tusks were exported from, as well as information on the tusks' geographic origins, the authors identified what they believe to be the three largest cartels moving ivory out of Africa during the peak 2011-2014 trade period. The authors say their findings also shed light on the sizes, interconnectedness and places of operation of these cartels.

###September 18, 2018 (New York, NY) - Geroscience--the burgeoning research field that focuses on the genetic, molecular, and cellular mechanisms that make aging a major risk factor for most chronic diseases as we age--takes center stage in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), the world's most widely circulated medical journal.

"The fact that JAMA, long one of the most highly influential and respected voices for the medical community, invited five AFAR experts to contribute articles on different aspects of geroscience vividly illustrates how this important and potentially transformative area of research continues to gain momentum," AFAR Executive Director Stephanie Lederman said.

Highlighting how geroscience paves the way for therapeutic interventions and extending healthspan at large, the three articles co-authored by five AFAR experts are available online, and will appear in the October 2, 2018 print edition of JAMA. They are:

"Aging as a Biological Target for Prevention and Therapy," by Nir Barzilai, MD, AFAR's Deputy Scientific Director, Ana Maria Cuervo, MD, PhD, a former AFAR grantee, and Steven Austad, PhD, AFAR's Scientific Director. The co-authors outline the substantial progress that has been made in targeting the underlying biological processes of aging in experimental animal models, and the potential to "prevent, or at a minimum delay, the onset and progression of multiple chronic diseases and debilities that are typically observed in older adults." They wrote: "The discovery of cellular and molecular pathways that modulate healthy aging in diverse species across great evolutionary distances offers an unprecedented opportunity for intervention."

"Aging, Cell Senescence, and Chronic Disease: Emerging Therapeutic Strategies," by AFAR President-elect and 2012 AFAR grantee James L. Kirkland, MD, PhD, who heads Mayo Clinic's Kogood Center on Aging. The article recounts the development of senolytic drugs, which target senescent cells that secrete inflammatory substances that exacerbate major chronic diseases. The first senolytics were identified by Kirkland's team at Mayo in 2015, and are now entering clinical trials. "If senolytics are shown to be safe and effective in humans, they could transform care of older adults and patients with multiple chronic diseases that now can only be managed and have not been amenable to disease-modifying interventions. This speculation merits intensive and rapid investigation."

"From Lifespan to Healthspan," by AFAR board member S. Jay Olshansky, PhD. The article celebrates the 30-year increase in expected lifespan achieved in the past century, while arguing that "life extension should no longer be the primary goal of medicine when applied to people over age 65." Instead, Olshansky wrote, "the principal outcome and most important metric of success should be the extension of healthspan"--the time we live independently in good health as we age.

JAMA's recognition of geroscience builds on momentum led by AFAR experts in collaboration with major media and research partners.

All five of the AFAR experts published in JAMA were among the 14 AFAR experts featured in the recent PBS documentary, Incredible Aging: Adding Life to Your Years, which examined the latest research on healthy aging. The program was hosted by 14-time Emmy Award-winning host, executive producer, and anchor Meredith Vieira.

This fall, on November 17, at the Annual Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, AFAR is organizing a panel on "The TAME Trial: A Prototype for Geroscience-Guided Therapeutics." The session will explore how the Targeting Aging with Metformin (TAME) Trial applies geroscience-based research concepts that can be translated into clinically relevant interventions.

In fall 2019, the National Institute on Aging will host its third geroscience summit to expand awareness and engage the research community to fully embrace new funding opportunities unlocked by addressing multiple age-related diseases at once instead of focusing on individual chronic diseases. AFAR has been a sponsoring partner in the first two geroscience summits, which focused on disease drivers of aging, and how aging drives disease, in 2013 and 2016.

"By improving our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the biological processes of aging, geroscience opens the door to exciting and innovative new pathways to address the major chronic diseases that affect older adults," AFAR Medical Officer Richard W. Besdine, MD, said. "We will need a determined effort, involving not only the medical and biological research communities, but public and private partners as well, to make the translational discoveries needed to help people live healthier, longer as they age."

###

About AFAR. The American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR) is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to support and advance healthy aging through biomedical research. Founded in 1981, AFAR has championed the cause and supported the funding of science in healthier aging and age-related medicine. To address the shortage of physicians and researchers dedicated to the science of healthier aging, AFAR funds physicians and scientists probing the fundamental mechanisms of aging, as well as specific diseases associated with aging populations at critical points throughout their careers. Learn more at http://www.afar.org or follow AFARorg on Twitter and Facebook.Central Africa's Albertine Rift region is a biodiversity hotspot consisting of a system of highlands that spans six countries. Recent studies have shown that the population of sooty bush-shrikes occupying the region's mid-elevation forests is a distinct species, and new research from The Condor: Ornithological Applications reveals that this newly discovered species may already be endangered due to pressure from agricultural development.

The newly identified mid-elevation species has been dubbed Willard's Sooty Boubou, as opposed to the previously recognized high-elevation species, the Mountain Sooty Boubou. The Field Museum's Fabio Berzaghi (now with the CEA Laboratory for Sciences of Climate and Environment in France) and his colleagues used museum records and bird survey records to analyze the ecological niche occupied by each species, and their results confirm that there is very little overlap between the ranges of the two species--Willard's Sooty Boubou is found at approximately 1200-1900 meters and the Mountain Sooty Boubou at 1800-3800 meters. In Burundi, Rwanda, and Uganda, 70% of the potential for Willard's Sooty Boubou lies outside of protected areas and has been converted to agriculture, and the numbers for the Democratic Republic of Congo are only slightly better.

Willard's Sooty Boubou joins several other imperiled bird species that depend on the region's mid-elevation forests, which have been largely overlooked by conservation efforts. "The Albertine Rift is a crossroads of amazing biodiversity, dramatic and diverse landscapes, and heartbreaking social and political unrest. It goes from glaciers to volcanoes to plateaus to lakes, with a succession of vegetation types from high-elevation cloud forests to lowland tropical forests," says Berzaghi. "It is home to gorillas and forest elephants as well as a high number of endemic animal and plant species. Unfortunately, much of the region has gone through never-ending conflicts, with very negative consequences for both humans and biodiversity, and conservation involving local populations is paramount."

"This paper provides additional data in support of the recognition of Willard's Sooty Boubou as a species distinct from Mountain Sooty Boubou. Clarification of the niche that Willard's Sooty Boubou occupies, that of mid-elevation forests, distinct from the higher-elevation Mountain Sooty Bouboy, is important, because these habitats are among the most heavily impacted in Africa from agriculture," according to UC Berkeley's Rauri Bowie, an expert on African birds who was not involved in the study. "Conservation agencies have an opportunity to move beyond taxonomic debate and use the models derived from this species to improve conservation outcomes for not only this species, but also a broad set of mid-elevation Albertine Rift endemic vertebrates through protection of mid-elevation forests that have received relatively little protection in comparison to high-elevation montane habitats."

###

"Comparative niche modeling of two bush-shrikes (Laniarius) and the conservation of mid-elevation Afromontane forests of the Albertine Rift" will be available September 19, 2018, at http://americanornithologypubs.org/doi/full/10.1650/CONDOR-18-28.1 (issue URL http://americanornithologypubs.org/toc/cond/120/4).

About the journal: The Condor: Ornithological Applications is a peer-reviewed, international journal of ornithology, published by the American Ornithological Society. For the past two years, The Condor has had the number one impact factor among 27 ornithology journals.(Boston)--Stroke significantly impacts the ability of individuals to function independently. Research suggests that individuals who are physically active before suffering a stroke tend to have better outcomes.

In an editorial in this week's Neurology, Nicole Spartano, PhD, research assistant professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM), agrees that a recent study (Reinholdsson et. al.), which proposes that individuals who reported being physically active (defined as either two hours of moderate intensity or four hours of light activity per week) before their stroke had milder symptoms. She attributes this protection to maintenance of a complex network of blood vessels within the brain. "Animal studies have shown that exercise promotes redundancies in the cerebrovascular system, in which multiple arteries feed the same brain regions. While the mechanism for an active lifestyle's effect on stroke severity is not fully understood, current literature seems to suggest that these individuals may be protected."

Spartano acknowledges that while these studies are promising, more work remains to be done. "Further research will need to investigate the specific doses of physical activity (frequency, duration, and intensity) and contexts that can provide the most benefit for cerebrovascular health." She also notes larger studies that gather data about baseline level of physical activity before their stroke may help to remove some bias from the data. "A study design that assesses lifestyle factors retrospectively through self-report is prone to recall bias, potentially influenced by disease status/severity."

Ultimately, Spartano is optimistic that further study in this area can make a major difference in lowering the impact of stroke on patients' function and independence. "Reducing the size and severity of stroke has great potential to benefit individual and public health."

###According to historians, the Peace of Westphalia 370 years ago also had its dark side. "While the successful diplomatic negotiations in Osnabruck and Munster brought to the people of Europe the peace that they had long waited for, the newly pacified states turned their attention to the outside world, expanded their empire, and founded new colonies. Its global historical dimensions have long been overlooked by historians", says the Dutch historian Beatrice de Graaf from the University of Utrecht in the run-up to the 52nd Historians' Convention in Munster, which will discuss new historical evaluations of the 1648 Peace of Westphalia. "With the peace agreement, there gradually emerged a collective European security culture and polity that made attacks by neighbours on the continent less likely, but also made it possible to expand outside of Europe". Beatrice de Graaf and Tubingen historian Renate Durr are organizing at the Convention the panel "Peace in Westphalia 1648/2018", which aims to close "the divide between European, Imperial and Global History" on the Peace of Westphalia. The panel will also discuss whether the Peace of Westphalia can serve as a model for today's peace processes in the Middle East. At the Historians' Convention in Hamburg in 2016, the then Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier initiated a debate on precisely this question.

"The peace agreement of 1648 was the beginning of far-reaching cooperation between the major European powers in terms of technology, trade and administration, and this became the basis for inter-imperial expansion", says de Graaf. The new and sophisticated system of collective security created space for shared economic activity and the invention of technologies. "Maritime and military contemporary sources show clearly how cartographers, engineers, hydraulic experts, lawyers and the police created new epistemic communities were knowledge was shared and improved. Protocols from the negotiations show that the aim was now cooperation rather than conflict". This common know-how was used until into the 19th and 20th centuries in expeditions on the Nile and the Congo, be it in the fight against epidemics and piracy, in ship navigation or in the construction of hydroelectric plants. "It was not until peace had been achieved in the 17th century that economic empires could emerge whose financial resources and technologies enabled the great expansion of the Netherlands in the 17th century, of England in the 18th and 19th centuries, and of the German Empire in the late 19th century. Spanish colonization in South America in the 15th century, for example, followed quite different lines, took place without this know-how, and was a purely Spanish affair".

Hierarchization and "model for the Middle East"

According to de Graaf, the system of collective security created by the Peace of Westphalia was based on the hierarchization of states: "1648 saw the dawn of an era in which the European states continued to compete; but, through numerous treaties, they were at the same time assigned a place in the hierarchy of the international system, which thereby gained more solidity and permanence". The idea went back to the medieval concept of societas christiana. "The Peace of 1648, but also the end of the War of the Spanish Succession in 1713 and the Congress of Vienna in 1815, breathed new life into this concept. The treaties categorized the countries as powers of the first, second or third order, whereas the 2nd and 3rd rank powers just had to accept that ordering principle - and tried to find leverage to bandwagon with the larger ones", according to de Graaf. The typical European way of thinking in imperial and socially stratified categories of inclusion and exclusion, as well as of hierarchization, was inserted and consolidated into the international states' system from 1648 onwards, and was then projected strongly onto the non-European world from the 1815s on". In the 19th century, the international order was delineated along the lines of a European coalition, pivoting around the quintuple alliance of Prussia, England, Austria, France and Russia at the top, with non-European territories in Asia and Africa suffering the brunt of their mutual inter-imperial expansion".

Interim review two years after Steinmeier speech

Whether the peace agreement of 1648 can serve as a model for conflict resolution in the Middle East is a fiercely debated issue among historians, according to de Graaf - even now, two years after the Historians' Convention in Hamburg, when the then Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier encouraged this debate in a much-publicized speech. De Graaf does not consider 1648 or 1815 to be quite a fitting blueprint, and points out that essential prerequisites that existed back then are not there today, such as the collective conviction of wanting to end poverty and misery together, the notion that this could only be accomplished collectively,by sidelining national interests, and - very important - by building on the common idea of at least the illusion of a societas christiana.

In contrast, the Marburg historian Christoph Kampmann, who is also speaking at the Historians' Convention in the "Peace in Westphalia 1648/2018" panel and who had helped trigger the debate, sees "remarkable parallels" between the Thirty Years' War and modern conflicts, especially with regard to the specific dynamics of conflict: "Then as now, these are asymmetrical conflicts that do not fit into the patterns of the classic state conflicts of the 19th century, such as with regard to interventions by major powers or the conflict-ridden role of religion". In asymmetrical conflicts, actors beyond the state level struggle over the structure of the state, which is already fragile. According to Kampmann, this means "that major powers intervene from outside without necessarily engaging directly in the struggle". During the Thirty Years' War, the Spanish, Swedish and French monarchies successively and at the request of conflict parties interfered in the conflicts in the Roman-German empire; in Syria, there are four major powers - Iran, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and the USA - that pursue their own interests in the region.

"Especially if we make no premature, inadmissible or unhistorical equations between the wars of the 17th century and today's conflicts, it is certainly possible to learn for today - for example, we can reflect better on the situation in Syria", says Kampmann. We can see, for example, that "the parties to the conflict in Syria are still a long way from clarifying and reconciling their respective security interests, and this was a prerequisite for a peace solution in 1648". Neither, unlike in 1648, is there agreement on the issue of what the principle state constitution of a post-war order should look like for Syria. "Unlike in central Europe in 1648, there are fundamental differences in Syria over the future state order". In addition, successful peace negotiations are only possible if all parties are involved, "including the many small actors, such as the Kurds, the weakened Syrian government, and a good 20 rebel groups of different hues. If only one party feels excluded, then the war will simply continue".

"Leaving points of conflict to do with religion to one side"

Religion then as now must also be taken seriously as a factor, since it played and still plays a central role in conflict resolution. "Until into the 1970s, it was thought that new wars were only pursued on account of ideologies or with regard to resources. Today, with Shiites and Sunnis, two denominations are again fighting each other in Syria", explains Kampmann. The conflict between Catholics and Protestants could be solved in the peace negotiations because the negotiating parties left points of conflict to do with spiritual issues to one side. "The peace treaty contains a very pragmatic, secular solution for the coexistence of the denominations, and fixed their distribution in the territories and cities for a previously agreed date (annus normalis) and for all time". That may well appear curious today, but it succeeded "because no side had to fear that the other would gain in influence later", says Kampmann. The durability of the peace was also secured by the fact that the crimes and atrocities committed in the war could no longer be prosecuted - including even heavy devastation just before the peace agreement, such as that visited on Bavaria by Swedish troops. "Everything was subordinated to the peace - even truth and justice".

"The 1648 Peace Congress should also be used as a role model insofar as the desire after decades of hardship led among all those involved to a high level of willingness to embrace innovative negotiating ideas", says Kampmann. The fact that the horrors of war were deeply rooted in the collective memory had a stabilizing effect. "This gave rise to the will to hold talks without a previous truce and to try to resolve all individual conflicts". The form that negotiations assumed saw new paths being taken, such as the still common spatial separation of the opposing delegations, then in Munster and Osnabruck. "The intensive exchange of opinions over the years enabled more realistic assessments of the other side, which facilitated compromises: in 1648, on the question of denomination, and today on the security interests of Iran and Saudi Arabia". Curious from today's point of view, but successful at that time, was the use of mediators who were partisan. "They were more committed than mediators who were not involved since they themselves suffered from the conflict", says Kampmann. (maz/vvm)

Info box "Divided societies" - 52nd German Historians' Convention in Munster

"Divided societies" in all epochs and continents is the theme of the 52nd German Historians' Convention at the University of Munster from 25 to 28 September 2018. Around 3,500 researchers from Germany and abroad will exchange views on current research issues in more than 90 panels at the largest humanities congress in Europe. Wolfgang Schauble, Christopher Clark, Herfried Munkler, Ulrich Raulff, Aladin El-Mafaalani and Birgit Schabler are guest speakers. The host country of the Netherlands will be represented, for example, by the parliamentary speaker Khadija Arib and the author Geert Mak. The panels will deal in many case studies with the social, economic, religious and ethnic divisions challenging not only the present, but also earlier eras. Points of discussion will be, for example, refugee debates from antiquity to the present day, the social, economic and legal exclusion of certain groups in different epochs, the question of whether the Peace of Westphalia can act as a model for the Middle East, economic divisions in the Federal Republic between, say, "Hartz IV families and helicopter parents", and the political use of historical images in today's divided societies such as Catalonia, Scotland and Kosovo. The organizers of the Convention are the Association of German Historians (VHD), the Association of German History Teachers (VGD), and the Westfalische Wilhelms-Universitat Munster (WWU). (vhd/sca/vvm)

###September 19, 2018 - The collection of an estimated 100 trillion resident microorganisms of the human body, termed the human microbiome, contributes to the physiology of human health and disease including nutrition, immune function, metabolism, and development. Recent studies suggest that the maternal microbiome changes composition during gestation and may be associated with pre-term birth. Yet, there remains a lack of detailed analyses regarding the structure, function, and temporal dynamics of the maternal microbiome and how it contributes to gestational outcome and fetal development.

In a study published today in Genome Research, researchers performed detailed whole-community sequencing on the microbial communities of three maternal body sites (vagina, gut, and oral cavity) over the course of pregnancy from the first trimester through delivery. Lead author David A. Relman of Stanford University was, "surprised by the degree of diversity in the human microbiome at the level of bacterial strains and by their temporal patterns during the course of gestation." Of the nearly 1500 taxa identified, community diversity differed among body sites and throughout the course of pregnancy. The vagina was primarily dominated by one organism and taxonomic diversity increased with gestational age. In the gut and oral cavity the communities displayed high diversity throughout gestation, but the abundances of gene families and predicted functions changed over time. Interestingly, the microbiome variation in the oral cavity was associated with pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia. Another important finding of this study was the recovery of near-complete genomes of new strains of bacteria associated with disease. Further characterization of these organisms may improve our understanding of their role in human health.

While this research is still at least several steps away from clinical applications, Relman expects that this work will eventually lead to a more informed strategy for targeted interventions before and during pregnancy that seek to reinforce or restore key functions of the maternal microbiome in support of decreased pregnancy risks and healthier fetal development.

###

Researchers from Stanford University, the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, the University of California, Berkeley, Stanford University School of Medicine, and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory contributed to this work. The study was funded by grants from the March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center at Stanford University School of Medicine, the Thomas C. and Joan M. Merigan Endowment at Stanford University, the Chan Zuckerburg Biohub, and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development of the National Institutes of Health under Award 1K99HD090290.

Media Contacts:

The authors are available for more information by contacting Erin Digitale, Stanford University School of Medicine communications team (digitale@stanford.edu; +1-650-724-9175).

Interested reporters may obtain copies of the manuscript via email from Dana Macciola, Administrative Assistant, Genome Research (macciol@cshl.edu; +1-516-422-4012).

About the article:

The manuscript will be published online ahead of print on 19 Sept 2018. Its full citation is as follows: Goltsman D, Sun C, Proctor D, DiGiulio D, Robaczewska A, Thomas B, Shaw G, Stevenson D, Holmes S, Banfield J, Relman D. 2018. Metagenomic analysis with strain-level resolution reveals fine-scale variation in the human pregnancy microbiome. Genome Research doi: 10.1101/gr.236000.118.

About Genome Research:

Launched in 1995, Genome Research is an international, continuously published, peer-reviewed journal that focuses on research that provides novel insights into the genome biology of all organisms, including advances in genomic medicine. Among the topics considered by the journal are genome structure and function, comparative genomics, molecular evolution, genome-scale quantitative and population genetics, proteomics, epigenomics, and systems biology. The journal also features exciting gene discoveries and reports of cutting-edge computational biology and high-throughput methodologies.

About Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press:

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press is an internationally renowned publisher of books, journals, and electronic media, located on Long Island, New York. Since 1933, it has furthered the advance and spread of scientific knowledge in all areas of genetics and molecular biology, including cancer biology, plant science, bioinformatics, and neurobiology. The Press is a division of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, an innovator in life science research and the education of scientists, students, and the public. For more information, visit our website at http://cshlpress.org.

Genome Research issues press releases to highlight significant research studies that are published in the journal.Lugano, Switzerland, 19 September 2018 - The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), the leading organisation for medical oncology, has revealed the four distinguished oncology professionals who will receive its annual awards during the ESMO 2018 Congress (1), 19-23 October, Munich, Germany. (2)

ESMO Award 2018 honours Jean-Charles Soria (3)

The ESMO Award 2018 is bestowed on Jean-Charles Soria, international lung cancer expert and pioneer in the development of anti-cancer drugs. Soria has been involved in translational research related to precision medicine and tumour progression and has led multiple precision medicine trials.

ESMO Fellowship and Award Committee (4) Chair, Evandro de Azambuja said "Soria has been a true leader to the medical oncology community. He has been an inspiration for the young generation with his great lectures".

"This is truly an immense honour and receiving this award while being only 47 years old is really very special," Soria said. "To receive such a visible award from it is an enormous sign of encouragement for me."

Tony Mok bestowed with ESMO Lifetime Achievement Award 2018 (5)

Tony Mok receives the ESMO Lifetime Achievement Award 2018 for his practice changing contribution to lung cancer. He was principal investigator of the first study confirming the application of precision medicine in advanced lung cancer. He has also led and co-led multiple international phase III studies that have defined current management of advanced lung cancer.

De Azambuja described Mok as "a legend in medical oncology", adding that "he was the first one to really put in practice precision medicine in advanced lung cancer with the use of targeted agents. Much of his research has led to a change of treatment paradigm for our lung cancer patients and helped to define the current practice."

Mok said: "My gratefulness is beyond words. I am deeply indebted to all my local and global collaborators for their selfless support over the past two decades, and more so, to the ESMO leadership for their generous endorsement. This award is also acknowledging researchers in Asia and their significant contribution to personalised medicine."

Pasi Janne receives ESMO Translational Research Award 2018 (6) Pasi A. Janne receives the ESMO Translational Research Award 2018 for his contribution to changing the treatment paradigm of lung cancer. Janne's research combines laboratory-based studies with translational research and clinical trials of novel therapeutic agents in patients with lung cancer.

De Azambuja said: "Janne's investigations made him one of the co-discoverers of EGFR mutations, which changed the treatment paradigm of lung cancer and, subsequently, to the approval of the selective EGFR inhibitor osimertinib. Cancer research can only evolve with people like Janne."

"This award provides both inspiration and energy to continue our quest to develop new and novel therapeutic approaches in our fight against lung cancer. Furthermore, it is a recognition that studying precision therapies in lung cancer can impact and inform analogous approaches across other cancers," Janne said.

ESMO Women for Oncology Award 2018 commends Margaret Foti (7)

Margaret Foti is the 2018 ESMO Women for Oncology Awardee in consideration of the legacy of young women, minority scientists, and investigators-in-training whose careers have been advanced as a result of her mentorship and support.

De Azambuja said: "Foti has clearly invested in women oncologists and researchers by fostering their careers and by ensuring that they do have similar opportunities to their male counterparts. She also has been an inspiration to many young oncologists."

On receiving this distinction, Foti said: "It is very rewarding for me to be recognised with this wonderful award as I have strived throughout my career to serve as a mentor to women in the cancer field. The professional success of female scientists and physicians is essential for rapid progress in cancer research, biomedical science, patient care and public health."

###

Notes to Editors

Info on all ESMO awards is available at https://www.esmo.org/Career-Development/Awards

References

1 ESMO 2018 Congress: https://www.esmo.org/Conferences/ESMO-2018-Congress

2 The ESMO Award, ESMO Lifetime Achievement Award, ESMO Award for Translational Research, and ESMO Women for Oncology Award will be presented during the opening session of the ESMO 2018 Congress, on 19 October 2018, 11:50-13:30 (CEST) in Hall A2 - Room 18 of the Messe Munich.

3 Full press release announcing ESMO Award to Soria: https://www.esmo.org/Press-Office/ESMO-Award-honours-Soria

4 ESMO Fellowship and Award Committee: https://www.esmo.org/About-Us/Who-We-Are/Fellowship-and-Award-Committee

5 Full press release announcing ESMO Lifetime Achievement Award to Mok: https://www.esmo.org/Press-Office/Mok-bestowed-with-ESMO-Lifetime-Achievement-Award

6 Full press release announcing ESMO Translational Research Award to Janne: https://www.esmo.org/Press-Office/Janne-Receives-ESMO-Translational-Research-Award

7 Full press release announcing ESMO Women 4 Oncology Award to Foti: https://www.esmo.org/Press-Office/ESMO-Women-Oncology-Commends-Margaret-Foti

About the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO)

ESMO is the leading professional organisation for medical oncology. With 18,000 members representing oncology professionals from over 150 countries worldwide, ESMO is the society of reference for oncology education and information. ESMO is committed to offer the best care to people with cancer, through fostering integrated cancer care, supporting oncologists in their professional development, and advocating for sustainable cancer care worldwide. Visit http://www.esmo.orgWith a compassionate smile, she asked if he was up for a conversation. She knew an end-of life discussion needed to happen soon, but the family was too overwhelmed with emotions to broach the topic.

Harman began by asking, What are your hopes if you cant get better?

The patients wife had recently had a stroke and he didnt think she would be able to care for him at home. Yet he wanted to be with her during his last days, not in the hospital, even if that meant he might not live as long. He had no advance medical directive, a legal document that specifies who should make decisions for him if he became incapacitated. So, Harman, the primary care team and a palliative-care social worker spent hours helping him find a home hospice service that would support his medical needs and his own plan for the end of his life.

Harmans patient was fortunate; all too often patients die in an intensive care unit with unfinished business and missed goodbyes.

Harman is a co-leader of a Stanford pilot program that aims to change that. Each morning she receives a priority report from an intelligent computer program that, every 24 hours, analyzes which patients under the care of the general medicine physicians would benefit from palliative care. The tool helps her spend more time with patients and less on record reviews and, most importantly, it leads to better endings.

This is one of many Stanford Medicine projects that combine artificial intelligence technologies with medical expertise to help doctors make faster, more informed and humane decisions. They hope it will help them spend less time in front of computer screens and more time doing what they love: caring for patients.

The data wrangler

Harman was first introduced to the concept of AI in palliative care when Nigam Shah, MBBS, PhD, an associate professor of biomedical informatics, attended a hospital quality meeting in early 2017.

Ive developed a computer algorithm that predicts the likelihood of patients dying within 12 months, declared Shah, with a boyish face, a bulldog-like demeanor and onyx-black eyes that seemed to take in everything and everyone in the room. Would you find that useful?

Harman blinked, then said, Yes. Yes. Physicians are terrible at predicting death.

Shah began developing a mortality prediction tool to help palliative care professionals identify patients who might benefit from having end-of-life conversations well before a medical crisis strikes.

Shah grew up in a small town in Gujarat, Indias westernmost state, in an upper-middle-class family. His father was a surgeon who felt duty-bound to perform pro bono procedures for the poor. His mother was a teacher and a school principal.

What if the evidence that physicians needed was buried deep within the vast, messy electronic health databases, and AI could help pull it out?

Shah planned to become an orthopedic surgeon and trained as a doctor, obtaining a bachelor of medicine and surgery degree from Baroda Medical College in Gujarat. But a family friend convinced him to pursue a PhD in the United States first.

He landed at Penn State in 2000 and was so intrigued by the Human Genome Project, the mapping of the 3 billion nucleotide base pairs that make up human DNA, that he convinced his PhD committee to let him work on bioinformatics, the relatively new science of analyzing complex biologic data. For his thesis, he wrote a clever artificial intelligence program that predicted yeast behavior, and one of his PhD committee members suggested a way forward for him: All the physicians who like artificial intelligence work at Stanford.

In 2005, Shah joined the biomedical informatics lab of professor Mark Musen, MD, PhD, at Stanford. The university had been applying artificial intelligence to health care problems since the 1980s, after setting up the legendary Stanford University Medical Experimental computer for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, called the SUMEX-AIM.

In the late 1990s, Musen and his colleague Mary Goldstein, MD, developed ATHENA, one of the first intelligent decision-support systems for managing patients with chronic diseases, such as hypertension. Its still in use at the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System.

Stanford is also where three pioneers in statistics  Bradley Efron, PhD; Trevor Hastie, PhD; and Robert Tibshirani, PhD  developed algorithms to analyze complex data sets, laying the foundation for todays machine learning and data mining.

Stumbling into this AI hotbed just as electronic health records systems were taking off was the aha moment for Shah, who thought, What if the evidence that physicians needed was buried deep within the vast, messy electronic health databases, and AI could help pull it out?

In hindsight this sounds like a brilliantly planned career trajectory, but its nowhere close. It was a uniquely Stanford fluke, said Shah.

Predicting mortality

Shah began thinking about mortality prediction while working with an advanced-illness management group at a nearby hospital. A cursory search of the medical literature confirmed his suspicion that physicians are woefully inaccurate at predicting how long terminally ill patients will live.

One of the best research studies on this topic asked 343 physicians to estimate the survival time frame of the patients theyd referred to hospice. Only 20 percent of the prognoses were accurate. Whats more, the physicians overestimated survival times by a factor of five.

The lead author of the study, Nicholas Christakis, MD, PhD, a professor of sociology and medicine at Yale University, went on to explore the reasons behind this over-optimism in the book, Death Foretold: Prophecy and Prognosis in Medical Care. He attributed this inaccuracy to a complex set of professional, religious, moral and quasi-magical beliefs. Or, put more simply, the physicians innate desire to never give up fighting for their patients lives.

Its terrible when you have to make decisions in crisis, because you may end up with medical care that doesnt match up with what matters to you, and you wont have time to think through the complex options.

To bring some objectivity to prediction, some doctors use palliative scorecards that assign weighted mortality scores to a patients observable symptoms. One system rates walking ability, level of self-care, food and fluid intake, and state of consciousness. Another assesses weight loss, breathing problems and white blood cell counts. Yet another calculates a risk based on food intake, swelling of tissues, delirium and breathing at rest. And for use in intensive care units, the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation 2, or APACHE-2, assesses acute physiology, age and chronic health conditions.

Shah had issues with all of the scorecards. Some used data sets that were too small. Some used oversimplified assumptions. Others narrowly focused on specific diseases or populations. He wanted a tool to predict the probability of death of every patient admitted to the hospital every day, by comparing their medical record to the millions of past patients of the hospital. So, he opened his artificial intelligence toolbox and settled on supervised deep-learning approaches to determine the most important predictors of mortality.

Deep learning is a technique that allows a software algorithm to automatically discover important factors from vast arrays of raw data. When its supervised, the algorithm is allowed to analyze variables associated with known outcomes so that it can learn from the past and apply its findings to future situations in a repeatable way.

In developing the tool, Shah first formulated a problem statement to guide his algorithm: Given a patient and a date, predict the mortality of that patient within three to 12 months from that date, using electronic health record data of that patient from the prior year.

Then he had it search and learn from the anonymized medical records of the millions of patients who entered Stanford hospitals between 2010 and 2016, comparing past mortality factors with those of a newly admitted patient. For Shahs tool, the target outcome was a mortality prediction, and the variables included medical record entries such as an insurance code for a specific disease, a drug prescription or the pattern of visits. Heres how the system works:

Patient X is admitted at 9 p.m. At midnight, the algorithm looks at Xs medical record for the past year and pulls out such features as age, gender, race, ethnicity, number of hospital admissions, disease classification codes, and billing and prescription codes. It aggregates those in groups over the past 30 days, 90 days, 180 days and beyond. The algorithm then compares Patient X's features with the combinations of features seen in millions of past patients and their subsequent outcomes. Finally, the software model calculates a probability of Patient X dying in the next three to 12 months.

The first set of results from Shahs algorithm were pretty good. Flags for high mortality risk included diagnosis codes of certain cancers and MRI and CAT scans, and multiple hospital admissions in a year. But there were obvious errors. A patient was put on the near-death list because an MRI scan was ordered under a brain tumor insurance code, even though the doctor later entered No brain tumor into the record.

But Shah didnt correct the inputs to the algorithm. The algorithm needs to learn to handle such cases, he said, explaining that the algorithm would learn from its mistakes over time.

The value of palliative care

As Shah waited for his deep-learning algorithm to hone its prediction skills, Harman continued to struggle with the day-to-day challenges of a palliative care physician.

She became interested in the specialty during her first year of medical school when her father-in-law was diagnosed with stage-4 lung cancer.

The thing that stuck out in my mind was how he was able to die on his own terms, said Harman. Once it was clear that he wouldnt recover, he stopped treatment and visited his family cabin in Ontario one last time, then died at home with hospice care.

He was the first patient I ever pronounced dead, said Harman.

She thought that everyone died with such dignity, with their wishes honored, but after graduation, she realized it was the exception, not the rule. Studies show that 80 percent of Americans want to spend their final days at home, but only 20 percent do. She went into palliative care to help others experience death according to their wishes and to live well until that time.

Its terrible when you have to make decisions in crisis, because you may end up with medical care that doesnt match up with what matters to you, and you wont have time to think through the complex options.

The thing that stuck out in my mind was how he was able to die on his own terms.

Palliative care physicians are able to discuss death with kindness and clarity in a way that can make some doctors feel uneasy. Doctors are often fighting for a patients life; a palliative care doctor is fighting for a patients quality of life.

But theres a shortage of palliative care professionals in the United States. The National Palliative Care Registry estimates that less than half of the 7 percent to 8 percent of the admitted hospital patients who need palliative care actually receive it.

All of this factored into Harmans desire to work with Shah on an AI model that predicts the need for palliative care.

Ideally with this AI model, were identifying patients who are sicker than we realize, she said. And it gives us an excuse to say, Itd be great if we could talk about advanced care planning. Or, Have you had a discussion with your regular doctor about what matters most to you if and when you get sicker? I think the twist is that were using machine learning to add more to a patients care without taking anything away.

The need for transparency

The tantalizing promise of being able to extract real-world clinical evidence faster and cheaper than the old ways motivates Shah to push his physician colleagues out of their comfort zone in embracing these new AI technologies.

It bothers me that even in a well-studied field like cardiology, only about 19 percent of medical guidelines are based on good evidence, said Shah. Much of it comes from trials that have focused on 55-year-old white males. For the rest of humanity, physicians make a best-faith effort, enter it in the medical record, then never look back.

Robert Harrington, MD, professor and chair of medicine and an interventional cardiologist, believes that AI can help fix this, saying, Clinical trials tell you about populations, not about that patient sitting in front of you. This is where machine learning comes in. It allows you to look at large volumes of aggregated records from the recent past and create models that can assist with predictions about that one individual.

The Achilles heel of todays AI tools, however, is that theyre not that good at cause-and-effect reasoning. For example, an AI algorithm cant tell if a roosters crowing makes the sun rise or the other way around. This is why having human experts involved in tool development is essential.

Ideally with this AI model, were identifying patients who are sicker than we realize. And it gives us an excuse to say, Itd be great if we could talk about advanced care planning. Or, Have you had a discussion with your regular doctor about what matters most to you if and when you get sicker?"

Case in point: When Stanford researchers first tested an AI tool for identifying cancerous moles, they were astounded at its accuracy. But when researchers analyzed the results, they identified a major flaw in the way they were training the algorithm: A large percentage of the cancerous mole photos had rulers in them. The algorithm drew the conclusion that rulers are a sign of cancer, not that physicians were more likely to use rulers to measure moles suspected of being cancerous. To correct this oversight, subsequent testing was done on photos without rulers in them.

The other risk with AI algorithms is that only clinicians with solid computer science know-how understand how they work, and this can lead to outcomes with unintentional biases or hidden agendas.

In the transportation industry, two news stories about algorithms with dark secrets buried in the code were described in a perspective piece that appeared March 15 in The New England Journal of Medicine: A recent high-profile example is Ubers software tool Greyball, which was designed to predict which ride hailers might be undercover law-enforcement officers, thereby allowing the company to identify and circumvent local regulations. More complex deception might involve algorithms designed to cheat, such as Volkswagens algorithm that allowed vehicles to pass emissions tests by reducing their nitrogen oxide emissions when they were being tested.

In health care, the stakes are even higher. Non-transparent black box algorithms could be used to deny care to certain classes of people, overprescribe certain high-profit drugs or overcharge insurance companies for procedures. Patients could be harmed.

This editorial and another in JAMA on Jan. 2 are part of a larger effort by Stanford researchers to address ethical issues to reduce the risk of these negative consequences. The authors include Shah; Harrington; Danton Char, MD, assistant professor of anesthesiology, perioperative and pain medicine; Abraham Verghese, MD, professor of medicine; and David Magnus, PhD, director of the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics and professor of medicine and of biomedical ethics.

These experts warn that feeding biased data into an algorithm can lead to unintentional discrimination in the delivery of care. For example, the widely used Framingham Heart Study used data from predominately white populations to evaluate cardiovascular event risk, leading to flawed clinical recommendations for nonwhite populations.

If we feed racially or socioeconomically biased data into our algorithms, the AI will learn those biases, said Char.

Humanity at the end of life

Harman now uses the second generation of Shahs palliative prediction tool. Each morning, it emails her a list of newly admitted hospital patients who have a 90 percent or higher probability of dying in three to 12 months. There are no names on the email or details about why theyre on the list. Its up to Harman to review the medical records she receives and decide if those patients have palliative care needs. Shes found the list to be helpful, and she sees how it can improve hospital care and enable her to spend more time with the most critical patients.

"I talk with the families. Sometimes they tell stories about the patient  usually funny ones. And I sit and listen for a spell. Even in the midst of such loss, families are welcoming."

Human physicians are way better at predicting death within a few days, but Id bet on my model over a physician any day in predicting death three to 12 months out, Shah said.

The algorithm design and preliminary results of the first pilot study were published online in arXiv on Nov. 17, and another Bay Area health-care institution will be soon be piloting the algorithm.

This isnt a population of patients with a single disease or more predictable courses of illness, said Harman. The patient might have five or 10 different problems that are all interacting with one another  not just a stroke, but also cancer and emphysema, for example. With this model, it looks over a longer time frame, analyzing the overall trajectory of this patient, not just what is happening during this hospital visit.

The palliative care staff still acts on clinician referrals in their daily rounds, but this model provides Harman with longer-range projections on people who might have been overlooked. On a typical day, she meets with the primary care team regarding two to three patients on the models list. The cases that Harman selects are reported back to Shahs group so that they can monitor the algorithms selection accuracy over time.

Harman has become attuned to the physical signs that a person is about to die. Breathing becomes irregular, with longer and longer pauses, the jaw dropping open with each breath. As the heart weakens, hands, feet and knees become mottled and cool to the touch. And theres the most profound moment, when there is only stillness. As a patient takes the last breath, Harman has her own ritual to usher them to the other side.

I always say goodbye and thank you  sometimes out loud, sometimes not. I touch them, usually their hand or foot. I talk with the families. Sometimes they tell stories about the patient  usually funny ones. And I sit and listen for a spell. Even in the midst of such loss, families are welcoming. I express my sorrow for their loved ones death, though not always in words. I dont consider this the end; I believe that all of their souls carry on.The oldest known aquatic reptiles, the mesosaurs, probably spent part of their life on land, reveals a new study published in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. The fossilized bones of adult Mesosaurus share similarities with land-dwelling animals, which -- coupled with the relative scarcity of land-weathered fossilized remains of large specimens -- suggests that older mesosaurs were semi-aquatic, whereas juveniles spent most of their time in the water. This new research emphasizes the importance of thoroughly analyzing fossilized remains from across all stages of a reptile's life to get a full appreciation of its lifestyle and behavior.

"Despite being considered the oldest-known fully aquatic reptile, mesosaurs share several anatomical features with terrestrial species," says Professor Graciela Pineiro, who completed this research at the Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la Republica, Uruguay. "Our comprehensive analysis of the vertebrae and limbs of these ancient reptiles suggests they lived in the water during the earliest stages of their development, whereas mature adults spent more time on land."

Since the discovery of unusually large Mesosaurus bones in the Mangrullo Formation of Uruguay, Pineiro and her international team of colleagues wondered why the larger, presumably adult specimens, around two meters in length, were not as abundant as mesosaur skeletons of around 90 cm.

"The larger specimens, at least twice the length of the more commonly reported Mesosaurus fossils, could just be exceptionally big individuals. However, the environmental conditions of the Mangrullo lagoon of where they lived were harsh, making it difficult for the occasional mesosaur to reach such a relatively large size and age," explains Pineiro.

She continues, "We then realized that in comparison to the smaller, better-preserved specimens, larger Mesosaurus fossils were almost always disarticulated, very weathered and badly preserved. This suggested these larger specimens had extended exposure to the air when they died."

During the reconstruction of a Mesosaurus skeleton and analysis of skeletons representing different life stages of this ancient reptile, the researchers examined the remains for evidence of a terrestrial, land-dwelling existence.

Terrestrial, semi-aquatic and aquatic animals show a clear difference in bone profiles, so they used morphometrics to analyze the shape of the fossilized bones. Forty Mesosaurus specimens, from juveniles to adults, were examined and their bone profiles compared to those of similar reptiles known to be aquatic or semi-aquatic, such as crocodiles and marine iguanas.

"The adult mesosaur tarsus (a cluster of bones in the ankle region) suggests a more terrestrial or amphibious locomotion rather than a fully aquatic behavior as widely suggested before," says Pablo Nunez, also based at Universidad de la Republica. "Their caudal vertebrae, the tail bones, also showed similarities to semi-aquatic and terrestrial animals. This supports the hypothesis that the oldest and largest mesosaurs spent more time on land, where fossil preservation is not as good as in the subaquatic domain."

Published as part of a special article collection on Mesosaurs, these findings have broader implications -- both for future research on early prehistoric animals that laid eggs with embryonic membranes and for the understanding of reptile evolution.

Pineiro explains, "Our study emphasizes the importance of working with fossils representing an entire population of a species, including a wide range of juveniles and adults, before establishing paleobiological interpretations on their lifestyle and behavior."

She continues, "These findings also have important implications on the inferred lifestyle of species closely related to mesosaurs, particularly in the context of the evolution of the amniotic egg. For instance, thanks to our previous discovery of a mesosaur egg and embryos inside the mother's body, our new findings can give support to earlier hypotheses suggesting that the amniotic egg might have appeared in aquatic or semiaquatic animals as a strategy to leave the water to avoid predation."

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Please include a link to the original research in your reporting: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2018.00109/full

Professor Graciela Helena Pineiro would like to acknowledge the multidisciplinary international team of researchers who contributed to this study, including Pablo Nunez Demarco, Melitta Meneghel and Michel Laurin.

Frontiers is an award-winning Open Science platform and leading open-access scholarly publisher. Our mission is to make high-quality, peer-reviewed research articles rapidly and freely available to everybody in the world, thereby accelerating scientific and technological innovation, societal progress and economic growth. For more information, visit http://www.frontiersin.org and follow @Frontiersin on Twitter.SAN FRANCISCO, CA--September 19, 2018--You can think of a cell in your body like a miniature factory, creating a final product called proteins, which carry out various tasks and functions. In this cellular factory, genes control the series of sequential steps needed to create proteins, much like an assembly line moving a product along to completion. This process is known as gene expression.

Even when two cells are genetically identical and in the same environment, the amount of each protein they express can be very different. This variability--or noise--has been shown to play a role in viral infection, antibiotic resistance, and drug resistance in cancer cells.

A group of scientists led by Leor S. Weinberger, PhD, the William and Ute Bowes Distinguished Professor and director of the Center for Cell Circuitry at the Gladstone Institutes, are studying the factors within a cell that can influence noise.

"We are trying to determine whether differences in one step along the assembly line influences the final amount of proteins produced more than other steps," said Weinberger, who is also a professor of pharmaceutical chemistry at UC San Francisco.

Using a combination of computational and experimental methods, the team examined how a variety of cells produce different proteins, and measured noise for each step along the production process. They discovered that for 85 percent of genes, the noise magnitude is higher in the last step as compared to the first step.

"When thinking about gene expression, we used to be unsure how each step contributed to the final outcome," said Maike Hansen, PhD, postdoctoral scholar in Weinberger's laboratory and first author of the new study. "But we discovered that one step works very differently than we thought. It's as if you always thought the production process was very streamlined, but then realized it's actually much noisier."

Their findings, published in the scientific journal Cell Systems, indicate that the scientific community may have been misinterpreting an important step in gene expression for a long time. This could impact work by synthetic and systems biologists, as well as cell biologists.

The group's next step will be to investigate what mechanisms the cells employ to control noise.

"We've discovered an important step that increases cell-to-cell differences. These differences contribute to difficulties in treating various diseases." said Weinberger. "Once we understand the mechanisms involved, we can start to exploit them for therapeutic targets."

###

About the Research Project

Other contributors to this study include Ravi V. Desai from Gladstone and Michael L. Simpson from Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The research was supported by the Bowes Distinguished Professorship, the Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship, the National Institutes of Health (through the NIH Director's New Innovator Award and the Pioneer Award programs), and the Netherlands Organization of Scientific Research.

The paper "Cytoplasmic amplification of transcriptional noise generates substantial cell-to-cell variability" was published by Cell Systems on September 19, 2018: https://www.cell.com/cell-systems/fulltext/S2405-4712(18)30317-X.

About the Gladstone Institutes

To ensure our work does the greatest good, the Gladstone Institutes (http://gladstone.org) focuses on conditions with profound medical, economic, and social impact--unsolved diseases. Gladstone is an independent, nonprofit life science research organization that uses visionary science and technology to overcome disease. It has an academic affiliation with the University of California, San Francisco.New research on marine sediment layers from Antarctica indicates that the East Antarctic Ice Sheet (EAIS) retreated during extended warm periods in the past, when temperatures were like those predicted for this century.

The international research team, led by Dr David Wilson of Imperial College London, used evidence from a previous time in Earth's history, the late Pleistocene, to inform how the EIAS might react to a warming climate.

Scientists had previously focused much attention on the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, which predominantly sits on land below sea level, and contributes most of Antarctica's ice melt today.

The EAIS, in contrast, mostly lies on land above sea level. It is the largest ice sheet on Earth, at around 60 times the area of the UK. It contains around half of Earth's freshwater but is assumed to be less sensitive to a warming climate.

However, the new data, published today in Nature, suggest that 2C warming in Antarctica, if sustained over a couple of millennia, would lead to melting in an area of the EAIS that lies below sea level. This has implications for rising global sea levels and global warming's threat to human civilisation.

Dr Wilson, from Imperial's Department of Earth Science and Engineering, said: "Studying ice sheet behaviour in the geological past can inform us about future changes. By building a picture of how the ice sheet has grown and shrunk as temperatures have fluctuated, we can understand the response of the EAIS to future warming."

The researchers studied the Wilkes Subglacial Basin, one of three major areas where the EAIS sits on land that lies below sea level. If all the ice in this basin were to melt, global sea level would rise by up to four metres.

Glaciers, which come from ice sheets, grind up rocks on the continent, and then transport this sediment to the nearby Southern Ocean, leaving behind a record of past erosion by the ice sheet.

To understand how warming affected the ice sheet in the past, the team chemically analysed layers of sediment from the ocean floor that originated from the Wilkes Subglacial Basin. They were collected during an expedition of the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program.

The researchers studied sediment layers that had settled on the seafloor during four previous warm intervals that occurred between ice ages (interglacials) over the past 450,000 years. They found chemical 'fingerprints' in the sediment that revealed the changing patterns of erosion as the ice sheet advanced and retreated.

The findings show that:

The ice sheet had retreated from its current size during some of the interglacials, when temperatures were as little as two degrees warmer than pre-industrial times.

The most extreme changes in the ice sheet occurred during two interglacial periods 125,000 and 400,000 years ago, when global sea levels were between six and 13 metres higher than they are today.

Ice loss from the EAIS likely made a significant contribution to those higher sea levels in the past.

Dr Wilson said: "What we have learned is that even modest warming of just two degrees, if sustained for a couple of thousand years, is enough to cause the ice sheet in East Antarctica to retreat in some of its low-lying areas.

"With current global temperatures already one degree higher than during pre-industrial times, future ice loss seems inevitable if we fail to reduce carbon emissions."

###

Co-author Professor Tina van de Flierdt, also from Imperial's Department of Earth Science and Engineering, added: "On multi-centennial to millennial time scales, ice sheets will dominate global sea level rise and pose a challenge to coastal regions around the globe. Decarbonising our economy is needed to keep global warming below 1.5 to 2 degrees, as targeted by the Paris Agreement, and to avoid major sea level rise in the future."

The research was funded by the Kristian Gerhard Jebsen Foundation and the Natural Environment Research Council.SEATTLE - New high-resolution maps pinpoint areas across Africa with concentrations of child deaths from diarrhea and show uneven progress over 15 years to mitigate the problem.

"Diarrhea is highly preventable, and tens of thousands of child deaths from diarrhea could be averted each year if interventions targeted mortality hot spots across Africa," said Dr. Bobby Reiner, lead author and Assistant Professor of Health Metrics Sciences at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington. "However, stakeholders need to recognize the uneven distribution of diarrhea within countries means national strategies will be much less effective than focused, local interventions."

The study, covering 2000 to 2015, maps the entire African continent in 5x5 square kilometer units and was published today in The New England Journal of Medicine. National and provincial maps of diarrhea in Africa often mask inequalities at the local community level, according to IHME researchers.

This precision health mapping helps clinicians and policymakers identify communities where children are most vulnerable to dying from the disease and tailor appropriate interventions.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation funded the study, part of a five-year grant that enables IHME researchers and collaborators globally to map a range of health metrics in 5x5 square kilometer units. The research is part of the Local Burden of Disease project at IHME and led by Dr. Simon I. Hay, Director of Geospatial Science at IHME and Professor of Health Metrics Sciences at the University of Washington.

Accounting for more than 330,000 child deaths in 2015, diarrhea was the third leading cause of death and disease in children in Africa. The vast majority of diarrheal diseases are attributable to preventable causes. Established interventions include rotavirus immunization; ensuring access safe drinking water; sanitation and hygiene programs; and minimizing exposure to contaminated food.

The study examines prevalence and incidence of diarrhea and diarrhea-related mortality for children under age 5. Diarrhea is defined as three or more abnormally loose or watery stools within the previous 24 hours in a child younger than 5 years of age. Study findings cover 52 of 54 countries in Africa, excluding the island nations of Mauritius and Seychelles.

Researchers found more than half of all diarrhea-related deaths among children occurred in 55 of 782 total first-level administrative subdivisions (i.e. states, provinces, or regions) across Africa; these jurisdictions are home to 35% of the total population of Africa.

While many countries reduced their diarrhea child mortality burden uniformly at the local level, others saw divergent trends emerge. In Nigeria, for example, mortality rates were improving in some local areas at the same time as they were worsening in others. As a result, in 2015, child mortality rates among Nigerian states differed six-fold, with estimates ranging from 1.6 deaths per 1,000 children in Bayelsa state in the southwest to 9.5 deaths per 1,000 in Yobe state in the northeast.

Despite mortality reductions across nearly all locations in Africa over the 15-year period, several countries saw increases at the local level in certain parts of the Central African Republic, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe.

"We observed diarrhea mortality declines across nearly all locations, but several areas across Africa with persistently high mortality from 2000 through 2015 are at risk of falling even further behind," said Reiner. "Our precision public health maps are critical tools for calling attention to areas where diarrhea-related child mortality is stagnating or worsening, despite proven interventions."

Additional findings include:

Ninety percent of first-level administrative subdivisions (i.e. states, provinces, or regions) saw declines in diarrhea-related child mortality between 2000 and 2015, with several locations achieving substantial reductions: Timbuktu, Mali: 19.25 child deaths per 1,000 in 2000 to 4.08 in 2015 Gao, Mali: 16.23 in 2000 to 3.48 in 2015 Luanda, Angola: 13.78 in 2000 to 1.76 in 2015 Benguela, Angola: 13.63 in 2000 to 2.11 in 2015 Cuanza Sul, Angola: 13.05 in 2000 to 1.99 in 2015 Uige, Angola: 12.75 in 2000 to 1.85 in 2015 Cabinda, Angola: 12.46 in 2000 to 1.62 in 2015 Huambo, Angola: 12.54 in 2000 to 1.78 in 2015 Kuanza Norte, Angola: 12.32 in 2000 to 1.73 in 2015 Maradi, Niger: 13.87 in 2000 to 3.11 in 2015



Some areas in northeastern Nigeria, southeastern Niger, and southern Chad saw their high diarrhea-related child mortality rates change very little over the 15-year span. For example, eight regions in Chad with high mortality rates in 2000 also had rates higher than six deaths per 1,000 children in 2015:

1. Hadjer Lamis: 8.73 in 2000 and 6.69 in 2015

2. Kabia: 9.14 in 2000 and 6.43 in 2015

3. Logone Occidental: 9.45 in 2000 and 6.32 in 2015

4. Logone Oriental: 9.38 in 2000 and 6.03 in 2015

5. Mayo-Boneye: 8.90 in 2000 and 6.33 in 2015

6. Mont De Lam: 9.31 in 2000 and 6.09 in 2015

7. Tandjile Est: 9.51 in 2000 and 6.23 in 2015

8. Tandjile Ouest: 9.76 in 2000 and 6.46 in 2015



Many of the concentrated areas of diarrhea-related child mortality in 2015 were found in Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Niger. For example, three states in Nigeria - Yobe, Bauchi, and Gombe - accounted for six percent of all diarrhea-related deaths in Africa, while encompassing only one percent of the population at risk.



The first-level administrative subdivisions (i.e. states, provinces, or regions) with the highest diarrhea-related child mortality rates in 2015 were the following:

1. Yobe [Nigeria]: 9.51 deaths per 1,000 children, increased from 8.05 in 2000

2. Bauchi [Nigeria]: 8.25

3. Gombe [Nigeria]: 7.86, increased from 7.68 in 2000

4. Hadjer Lamis [Chad]: 6.69

5. Tandjile Ouest [Chad] 6.46

6. Kabia [Chad] 6.43

7. Borno [Nigeria]: 6.35

8. Jigawa [Nigeria]: 6.34

9. Mayo-Boneye [Chad]: 6.33

10. Logone Occidental [Chad]: 6.32

###

The study, "Variation in Childhood Diarrheal Morbidity and Mortality in Africa, 2000-2015," is available online at IHME's website, http://www.healthdata.org.

Media contacts:

IHME: Kelly Bienhoff, +1-206-897-2884 (office); +1-913-302-3817 (mobile); kbien@uw.edu

IHME: Dean Owen, +1-206-897-2858 (office); +1-206-434-5630 (mobile); dean1227@uw.edu

About the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation

The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) is an independent global health research organization at the University of Washington that provides rigorous and comparable measurement of the world's most important health problems and evaluates the strategies used to address them. IHME makes this information widely available so that policymakers have the evidence they need to make informed decisions about how to allocate resources to improve population health.

About the Local Burden of Disease project

The Local Burden of Disease project at IHME aims to produce estimates of health outcomes and related measures that cover entire continents, but to do so at a very fine, local resolution. Such estimates allow decision-makers to target resources and health interventions precisely, so that health policy decisions can be tailored for local areas rather than entire countries. Combining local detail with broad coverage - producing 5x5 kilometer estimates for entire continents and, eventually, the world - would give health officials everywhere the tools to make locally informed decisions and, in the process, help all people live longer, healthier lives. The Local Burden of Disease project is led by Dr. Simon I. Hay, Professor of Health Metrics Sciences at the University of Washington and Director of Geospatial Science at IHME.New Rochelle, NY, September 19, 2018-- Recently, the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) called for the eliminating involvement of the Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee (RAC) in human gene therapy experiments, marking the end of an era of federal government oversight. While the RAC played an essential role in helping human gene therapy research evolve to where it is today, James M. Wilson, MD, PhD, Editor, Human Gene Therapy Clinical Development, believes this is the right moment for it to exit the stage, as he explains in his Editorial "The RAC Retires After a Job Well Done," Human Gene Therapy Clinical Development, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. Click here to read the full-text article free on the Human Gene Therapy Clinical Development website through October 19, 2018.

The RAC initially set guidelines for DNA research, and its role was later expanded to en-compass the review and approval of human gene therapy research. The Committee was composed of stakeholders, including basic scientists, physicians, ethicists, theologians, and patients advocates. "The deliberations often became theatrical and, at times, quite contentious," says Dr. Wilson. Over the years, as the field of human gene therapy ma-tured and became more integrated into the biopharmaceutical industry the potential re-dundancies between the roles of the FDA and the RAC became an increasingly important issue.

"The 2018 proposal...is to completely eliminate the RAC's role in reviewing or monitor-ing human gene therapy studies," says Dr. Wilson. "The new recommendations retain the role of local Institutional Biosafety Committees in the review process, while limiting their evaluation to an assessment of biosafety risks."

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About the Journal Human Gene Therapy, the Official Journal of the European Society of Gene and Cell Therapy, British Society for Gene and Cell Therapy, French Society of Cell and Gene Therapy, German Society of Gene Therapy, and five other gene therapy societies, is an authoritative peer-reviewed journal published monthly in print and online. Led by Editor-in-Chief Terence R. Flotte, MD, Celia and Isaac Haidak Professor of Medical Education and Dean, Provost, and Executive Deputy Chancellor, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Human Gene Therapy presents reports on the transfer and expression of genes in mammals, including humans. Related topics include improvements in vector development, delivery systems, and animal models, particularly in the areas of cancer, heart disease, viral disease, genetic disease, and neurological disease, as well as ethical, legal, and regulatory issues related to gene transfer in humans. Its companion journals, Human Gene Therapy Methods, published bimonthly, focuses on the application of gene therapy to product testing and development, and Human Gene Therapy Clinical Development, published quarterly, features data relevant to the regulatory review and commercial development of cell and gene therapy products. Tables of contents for all three publications and a free sample issue may be viewed on the Human Gene Therapy website.

About the Publisher

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers is a privately held, fully integrated media company known for establishing authoritative peer-reviewed journals in many promising areas of science and biomedical research, including Nucleic Acid Therapeutics, Tissue Engineering, Stem Cells and Development, and Cellular Reprogramming. Its biotechnology trade magazine, GEN (Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News), was the first in its field and is today the industry's most widely read publication worldwide. A complete list of the firm's 80 journals, books, and newsmagazines is available on the Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers website.

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. 140 Huguenot St., New Rochelle, NY 10801-5215 http://www.liebertpub.com

Phone: (914) 740-2100 (800) M-LIEBERT Fax: (914) 740-2101They say you can't teach old dogs new tricks, but new research shows you can teach an old rat new sounds, even if the lesson doesn't stick very long.

Researchers at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (The Neuro) of McGill University examined the effects of aging on neuroplasticity in the primary auditory cortex, the part of the brain that processes auditory information. Neuroplasticity refers to the brain's ability to modify its connections and function in response to environmental demands, an important process in learning.

Plasticity in the young brain is very strong as we learn to map our surroundings using the senses. As we grow older, plasticity decreases to stabilize what we have already learned. This stabilization is partly controlled by a neurotransmitter called gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA), which inhibits neuronal activity. This role of GABA was discovered by K.A.C. Elliot and Ernst Florey at The Neuro in 1956.

First author Dr. Mike Cisneros-Franco and lab director Dr. Etienne de Villers-Sidani wanted to test the hypothesis that plasticity stabilization processes become dysregulated as we age. They ran an experiment where rats were exposed to audio tones of a specific frequency to measure how neurons in the primary auditory cortex adapt their responses to the tones.

They found that tone exposure caused neurons in older adult rats to become increasingly sensitized to the frequency, but this did not happen in younger adult rats. The effect in the older adult rats quickly disappeared after exposure, showing that plasticity was indeed dysregulated. However, by increasing the levels of the GABA neurotransmitter in another group of older rats, the exposure-induced plastic changes in the auditory cortex lasted longer.

These findings suggest the brain's ability to adapt its functional properties does not disappear as we age. Rather, they provide evidence that plasticity is, in fact, increased but dysregulated in the aged brain because of reduced GABA levels. Overall, the findings suggest that increasing GABA levels may improve the retention of learning in the aging brain.

"Our work showed that the aging brain is, contrary to a widely-held notion, more plastic than the young adult brain," says Cisneros-Franco. "On the flip side, this increased plasticity meant that any changes achieved through stimulation or training were unstable: both easy to achieve and easy to reverse."

"However, we also showed that it is possible to reduce this instability using clinically available drugs. Researchers and clinicians may build upon this knowledge to develop rehabilitation strategies to harness the full plastic potential of the aging brain."

###

This study was published in the journal eNeuro on Aug. 21, 2018 It was made possible with funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Mexican Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT).The National Association of Science Writers is pleased to announce the winners of the 2018 Science in Society Journalism Awards:

Winners in each category receive a cash prize of $2,000, to be awarded at a reception on October 13, 2018, during the ScienceWriters2018 meeting in Washington, DC.

NASW established the Science in Society awards to provide recognition -- without subsidy from any professional or commercial interest -- for investigative or interpretive reporting about the sciences and their impact on society. The awards are intended to encourage critical, probing work that would not receive an award from an interest group. Beginning with the first award in 1972, NASW has highlighted innovative reporting that goes well beyond the research findings and considers the associated ethical problems and social effects. The awards are especially prestigious because they are judged by accomplished peers.

NASW currently awards prizes in seven categories: Books, Science Reporting - Short, Science Reporting - Medium, Science Reporting - Long, Science Reporting - Series, Science Reporting for a Local or Regional Market, and Commentary and Opinion.

Big Chicken dives deep into the world of modern agriculture by way of chicken: from the farm where it's raised directly to your dinner table. Consumed more than any other meat in the United States, chicken is emblematic of today's mass food-processing practices and their profound influence on our lives and health. Tracing its meteoric rise from scarce treat to ubiquitous global commodity, McKenna reveals the astounding role of antibiotics in industrial farming, documenting how and why "wonder drugs" revolutionized the way the world eats--and not necessarily for the better. The judges write: Big Chicken is a meticulously researched and beautifully written volume. McKenna provides context for the current antibiotic resistance disaster and retraces its roots with a fascinating historical narrative. Through her colorful and responsible reporting, we meet farmers coping with relentless economic pressures to use antibiotics, while others have found sustainable ways to raise chickens that consumers--and some corporations--are now supporting. It's a compelling tale by one of our finest public health journalists."

"The Mystery of the Wasting House-Cats" was published in The New York Times Magazine on May 16, 2017. It links an epidemic of hyperthyroidism in cats to flame retardants widely present in most homes and explores the question of what these chemicals might be doing to our own bodies. The judges write: "Here's a cat story on the Internet worth reading. This is a delightful look into the lives of hyperthyroid cats and the deeply curious veterinarians caring for them. Anthes writes so well and so succinctly, showing how this increasingly common condition may arise from abundant flame retardants in our homes. It's a novel way to explore the potential human health impacts of PBDEs: an epidemiological investigation across two species, described clearly and with irresistible detail."

"Accidental Therapists: For Insect Detectives, the Trickiest Cases Involve the Bugs That Aren't Really There" was published in STAT on March 22, 2017. The story explores a mysterious phenomenon lurking at the intersection of entomology and psychology. The judges write: "Cases of delusional parasitosis are curiously on the rise. Boodman spins a surprising tale about people suffering from this special kind of torment with sensitivity and flair. His vivid prose and sympathetic treatment of the subject--told through the eyes of an entomologist whom the afflicted call upon for help--make for a gripping read. He has crafted a masterful profile of a Ph.D. scientist committed to gaining their trust and guiding them toward understanding their delusion in ways that medical doctors cannot."

"The Detective of Northern Oddities" was published on January 4, 2017, in Outside. It presents readers with an unforgettable portrait of an Alaskan veterinary pathologist at work. The judges commend it as "a phenomenal piece." They write: "Solomon finds fresh angles to talk about how climate change in the high Arctic might drive the spread of new contagions through animals in Alaska and beyond. He vividly evokes the sights, sounds, and smells of his subjects, both in the field and during necropsies in the lab. The story delves into some intense science without tripping up the reader. It's a flawless narrative, rich with wonderfully atmospheric writing and a memorable protagonist."

"United States of Climate Change" was published by The Weather Channel Digital between April and December 2017. It zeroes in on the tolls of climate change, state by state. "This downright addictive series enables readers to click on any state to see the impact of climate change on their lives," the judges write. "It does so not through cold scientific facts, but with skillful storytelling that makes this global crisis truly personal. The climate is a character in each piece in this ambitious and innovative project that tackles the greatest challenge of our time. The stories provide a crystal ball to show a wide-ranging audience what the future may hold. If that doesn't incite us to action, nothing will."

"Doomed by Delay" was published in the Chicago Tribune on October 8, 2017. The story offers a devastating account of one little boy's life with a progressive disease that could well have been averted. The judges write: "This is old-school investigative journalism that holds government to account for policies that are literally killing people. Callahan has produced a compulsively readable piece about an arcane disease that shows the emotional toll of ongoing bureaucratic ineptitude. We won't soon forget the time we spent with this mother and her son, and her fight to prevent the same tragedy from striking more families. Impressive on so many levels, this moving project showcases the power of in-depth reporting at metropolitan newspapers."

In addition, NASW would like to recognize entries that were finalists in the competition:

Finalists in the Book category

Immersion: The Science and Mystery of Freshwater Mussels by Abbie Gascho Landis, published by Island Press

Into the Gray Zone: A Scientist Explores the Border Between Life and Death by Adrian Owen, published by Scribner

Finalists in the Science Reporting - Short category

"Cruel Fusion" by Heidi Ledford, Nature

"Track Authorities Move to Again Bar Women with Naturally High Testosterone from Competing" by Catherine Caruso, STAT

Finalists in the Science Reporting - Medium category

"What the Gardasil Testing May Have Missed" by Frederik Joelving, Slate

"Why autism seems to cluster in some immigrant groups" by Emily Sohn, Spectrum

Finalists in the Science Reporting - Long category

"Uncertain Inheritance: Epigenetics and the Poisoning of Michigan" by Carrie Arnold, Undark

"Bullet Proof" by Lynn Peeples, Undark

Finalists in the Science Reporting - Series category

"The Hidden Toxic Threat in America's Backyards" by Yvette Cabrera, ThinkProgress

"Conservation Effectiveness: What's the science behind policies and programs that affect people and the environment?" by Shreya Dasgupta and Mike Gaworecki, MongaBay

Finalists in the Science Reporting for a Local or Regional Market category

"Peter Hotez vs. Measles and the Anti-Vaccination Movement" by Laura Beil, Texas Monthly

"Is pain all in your head?" by Markian Hawryluk, Bend Bulletin

Finalists in the Commentary and Opinion category

"The Climate Lab That Sits Empty" by Hillary Rosner, The New York Times

"It's Time for Science and Academia to Address Sexual Misconduct" by Rukmani Vijayaraghavan, Kristy L. Duran, Kelly Ramirez, Jane Zelikova, Emily Lescak, and 500 Women Scientists, Scientific American

"Facial Recognition Technology is Both Biased and Understudied" by Rod McCullom, Undark

No award was made in the Commentary and Opinion category this year.

The final judging committee consisted of Rob Irion (freelance), Liza Gross (freelance) and Jennifer Ouellette (freelance). The Science in Society awards committee was co-chaired by Alla Katsnelson (freelance) and Jyoti Madhusoodanan (freelance).

In addition to the final committee, NASW thanks the volunteers who served on the preliminary committees: Eric Bender (freelance), Emily Monosson (Ronin Institute), David Wolman (freelance), Steve Maran (AAS), Antonia Malchik (freelance), Sarah Everts (Carleton University), Judy Foreman (freelance), Corie Lok (Xconomy), Robin Meadows (freelance), Chris Gorski (Inside Science), Rebecca Guenard (freelance), John Roche (Science View Productions), Cori Vanchieri (Science News), Esther Landhuis (freelance), Sarah Witman (freelance), Peter Friederici (Northern Arizona University), Pamela Worth (Union of Concerned Scientists), Amy Nordrum (IEEE), David Biello (TED), Bill Schulz (freelance), Heather Goldstone (WCAI), Whitney McKnight (freelance), Silke Schmidt (University of Wisconsin-Madison), Jenny Morber (freelance), Bill Funk (freelance), and Shannon Shea (US Dept. of Energy).

###

Entries for next year's competition, for material published or broadcast in 2018, are due February 1, 2019. Entry forms will be available at http://www.nasw.org/scienceinsociety in December 2018.

The largest organization devoted to the professional interests of science writers, the National Association of Science Writers fosters the dissemination of accurate information regarding science through all media normally devoted to informing the public. Its 2,332 members include science writers and editors, and science-writing educators and students. For questions or more information visit http://www.nasw.org or write director@nasw.org.The National Association of Science Writers is pleased to announce the winner of the 2018 Excellence in Institutional Writing Award, "Cut Off," by Elaine Vitone, published in the summer 2017 issue of Pitt Med.

Vitone is a senior editor at Pitt Med, the magazine of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and writer/producer of Pitt Medcast, which has been featured on National Science Foundation's Science360 Radio and several NPR member stations.

In "Cut Off," Vitone leads readers through an investigation into the root of seemingly untreatable severe depression in adolescents. The judges write: "Her compelling narrative follows both an early patient, depicted authentically with details from reports, and an MD leading much of the research. The writing is colorful, compassionate and well-grounded in the science."

Vitone will receive a cash prize of $2,000, to be awarded at a reception on October 13, 2018, at the ScienceWriters2018 meeting taking place this year in Washington, DC.

Two additional entries were selected for Honorable Mention:

"Whole Again," by Timothy Gower, published in Proto Magazine from Massachusetts General Hospital

"Brave New Worlds," by Bill Retherford, published in Columbia Magazine from Columbia University

NASW established the Excellence in Institutional Writing Award in 2018 to recognize high-caliber, publicly accessible science writing produced on behalf of an institution or other non-media organization.

NASW thanks the judging committee: Eric Bender (freelance), Kathryn Jepsen (Symmetry, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory) and Jill Schlabig Williams (Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center). The Awards Committee was co-chaired by Alla Katsnelson (freelance) and Jyoti Madhusoodanan (freelance), and the Excellence in Institutional Writing Award was coordinated by Awards Committee members Barbara Gastel (Texas A&M University) and Jill Sakai (freelance).

###

Entries for next year's competition, for material published or broadcast in 2018, are due February 1, 2019. Entry forms will be available at http://www.nasw.org/excellence in December 2018.

The largest organization devoted to the professional interests of science writers, the National Association of Science Writers fosters the dissemination of accurate information regarding science through all media normally devoted to informing the public. Its 2,665 members include science writers and editors and science-writing educators and students. For questions or more information visit http://www.nasw.org or write director@nasw.org.An analysis of the NRG Oncology clinical trial NRG-GY003 suggests that adding ipilimumab, a monoclonal antibody that targets the protein receptor CTLA-4, to a regimen with the checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab could improve the proportion with tumor response and progression-free survival hazard rates for women with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer. These results were presented as a late-breaking abstract oral presentation at the 17th Biennial Meeting of the International Gynecological Cancer Society (IGCS) in Kyoto, Japan. This trial was sponsored by the Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the agents were provided to NCI by Bristol Myers Squibb under the cooperative research and development agreements between Bristol Myers Squibb and NCI for the development of nivolumab and ipilimumab.

NRG-GY003 assessed the difference in tumor response proportions in 100 women between two treatment regimens over a period of six months. Participants on this trial were randomly assigned to either the first treatment arm (TA1) which received nivolumab alone, or the second arm (TA2) which received a combination of ipilimumab and nivolumab followed by maintenance nivolumab. Tumor response proportions were evaluated through RECIST 1.1 and secondary analyses included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and adverse events (AEs).

Within six months from randomization, 6 (12.2%) responses occurred in TA1 and 16 (31.4%) responses occurred in TA2 (the odds ratio is 3.28 with 85% confidence that it is greater than 1.90). Following the six-month evaluation period, one additional response appeared on TA2. The platinum-free interval stratified hazard ratio (HR) for progression-free survival was 0.528 (95% CI 0.339 to 0.821) and the respective HR for death was 0.789 (95% CI 0.439-1.418). Adverse events (grade 3 or higher) were more prevalent in TA2, however, there were no new safety signals and no treatment-related deaths.

"From my perspective, this is the first evidence that the addition of CTLA4 targeted therapy to PD-1 targeted therapy in patients with ovarian cancer may be more beneficial than PD-1 targeted therapy alone. Future directions could include a trial combining nivolumab and ipilimumab in front line therapy as an adjunct to standard chemotherapy," stated Robert A. Burger, MD, the abstract Lead Author and Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

The trial was not powered to detect a difference in overall survival, and there was no preliminary evidence to indicate a detrimental effect from TA2.

###

Supported by: Bristol-Myers Squibb and grants from the National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Citation: Burger RA, Sill M, Zamarin D, Powell D, Frak I, Zivanovic O, Gunderson C, Ko E, Matthews C, Sharma S, Hagemann A, Khleif S, Aghajanian C. (2018, September). NRG Oncology Phase II Randomized

Trial of Nivolumab with or without Ipilimumab in Patients with Persistent or Recurrent Ovarian Cancer. Abstract presented at the Biennial Meeting of the International Gynecologic Cancer Society (IGCS), Kyoto, JP.

http://www.nrgoncology.org

NRG Oncology conducts practice-changing, multi-institutional clinical and translational research to improve the lives of patients with cancer. Founded in 2012, NRG Oncology is a Pennsylvania-based nonprofit corporation that integrates the research of the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP), the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG), and the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG). The research network seeks to carry out clinical trials with emphases on gender-specific malignancies, including gynecologic, breast, and prostate cancers, and on localized or locally advanced cancers of all types. NRG Oncology's extensive research organization comprises multidisciplinary investigators, including medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgeons, physicists, pathologists, and statisticians, and encompasses more than 1,300 research sites located world-wide with predominance in the United States and Canada. NRG Oncology is supported primarily through grants from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and is one of five research groups in the NCI's National Clinical Trials Network.Demographers from the Higher School of Economics and the University of Southern Denmark have created a detailed colour map of population ageing in European countries; a collection of demographic stories, it uses colour coding to indicate the varying stages of population ageing across Europe. By looking at the map, you can easily spot areas with a higher concentration of older people, countries with the youngest populations and the main destinations for workforce flows. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673618311942?via%3Dihub

Europe's Demographic 'Passport'

Europe is ageing: according to UN estimates, half the region's population are aged 43 and over. This general statistic, however, does not reflect the diversity of age distribution across Europe. According to more detailed Eurostat data, 17.4% of Europeans are aged 65 and over, 16.7% are children aged 14 and younger, and 65.8% are working-age people (aged 15 to 64), but even these numbers are averages, and don't give the full, nuanced picture.

A color-coded map based on Eurostat's detailed regional data and published in The Lancet provides a visual representation of age distribution across and within European countries.

According to Kashnitsky, the map (Figure 1) 'provides a snapshot of population structures in Europe' showing different countries' demographic landscapes at a glance. This cross-section also reveals a historical perspective: by looking at the 'collection of stories', one can get an idea of demographic changes in European countries over time. The predominance of a certain palette of colours indicates both a particular stage of demographic development and recent processes such as an influx of immigrants or an exodus of the workforce.

Ages are colour coded: yellow stands for the elderly, pink for children, and blue for working-age people. The grey palette indicates the average European age (42.8), i.e. a mixture of colours reflects a mixture of ages. Brighter colours on the map stand for areas where the local population's age distribution differs from the European average.

Thus, bright yellow spots in certain areas of France, Germany, Italy and Spain indicate a large proportion of elderly residents - western European countries are rapidly ageing. In contrast,

Kurdistan in the southeastern part of Turkey is coloured in pink and purple indicating a large number of children and high birth rates. This data tells us that Kurdistan has not yet completed its demographic transition from high birth and death rates to lower ones.

Boundaries between Countries

The visual differences between countries in terms of age structure can be so pronounced as to resemble demarcation lines. For example, Eastern Europe, particularly Poland and Slovakia, have large working-age populations (marked in turquoise and blue), in sharp contrast to the neighbouring Germany which has a high concentration of elderly people in its eastern part near the border with Poland.

Also obvious are differences between the east, west and south of Europe. Southern European countries with low birth rates have many yellow areas but no pink ones. This is consistent with the UN data on total fertility rates (TFR, average number of births per woman of fertile age) in this part of Europe, at around 1.3 in Spain, Portugal and Italy, far below the fertility rate of 2.1 required for simple continuation of the population.

According to Kashnitsky, ageing in Europe is uneven, with rates varying vastly across countries. Different factors, from immigration to religion, are behind the demographic mosaic seen in the map.

Judging by its pink and purple colours, Ireland is fairly young; indeed, its TFR of 1.81 (Eurostat, 2016) is one of the region's highest, which is largely due to the influence of the Catholic Church and restriction of abortions, according to the researcher. This does not mean, however, that Ireland is immune from the global trend towards lower fertility rates: its TFR decreased noticeably and rapidly from 2.5 in 2010 to 1.85 in 2015.

Diversity within Countries

The map also reveals demographic contrasts within countries. 'By zooming in on the map, one can see a clear boundary between the two Belgiums: Flanders in the north and Wallonia in the south', Kashnitsky notes. The population of Wallonia is younger, while that of Flanders is closer to the Central European average age'.

A demographically distinct area inside Finland coloured in bright purple is populated by Laestadians, extremely conservative Lutherans. 'According to Finnish demographers, in terms of family planning, these people seem to believe in having as many children as God can give them', the author explains.

The coastal Mediterranean regions of Spain differ markedly from its central part in terms of having a higher concentration of the working-age population due to massive immigration in the 2000s. The map helps visualise a variety of demographic processes, including urbanisation.

Centre vs. Provinces, Cities vs. Villages

Within countries, differences can be observed not only between parts of a particular country but generally between the centre and provinces. Capital cities and other urban centres have always attracted a working-age population, and the map reflects this tendency. 'Highly urbanised areas and capital cities tend to attract young professionals', the researcher notes, 'while young families with children often move from the city centre to the suburbs'. The latter phenomenon can be clearly observed around Paris and London where population ageing is less pronounced.

In contrast, remote provinces tend to age at a faster pace, with young people leaving and the proportion of older people increasing. The same is true of rural areas.

'Colours are created using our 'tricolore' R package. This package, we hope, will allow researchers from different fields of science to easily display colour ternary data compositions', Kashnitsky concludes.

In the future, the researchers plan to examine and map the regional age structures of Russia and the U.S.

###Starting in the spring of 2010, farmers from Sicily - the major pistachio production area of Italy - have been reporting a previously unknown disease on the trees. Characterised by cankers and declines, it sometimes leads to the collapse of the entire plant.

When the research team led by Salvatore Vitale, Centro di Ricerca Difesa e Certificazione, Italy, studied plants from a total of 15 pistachio orchards in Catania, Agrigento and Caltanissetta provinces, they identified cankers associated with vascular necrosis and tree decline on twigs, branches and stems, alongside abundant gummosis. There were also localised, sunken lesions with several central cracks. These lesions would deepen into the woody tissue, where discolouration and necrotic tissue were also present.

Additionally, the scientists conducted a series of pathogenicity tests on 5-year-old potted pistachio plants (Pistacia vera), which successfully reproduced the field observations. As a result, a previously unknown pathogenic fungus, which colonises the woody plant tissue, has been isolated.

The aetiology of the disease and the description of the new species, named Liberomyces pistaciae, are published in the open access journal MycoKeys. Despite cankers and subsequent decline of pistachio trees having been observed in Sicily for several years, the paper is the first work to successfully determine the causal agent.

"On the basis of the high disease incidence and the frequency of this species observed in several orchards in the last years, we believe that L. pistaciae represents amenace to pistachio production in Sicily," say the researchers.

Out of the 15 surveyed orchards, the scientists detected the presence of the fungus in ten of them. Most of the observations occurred in the winter period and during late spring, but the authors found the pathogen in asymptomatic trees as well, which suggests that the fungus has a dormant growth phase.

When already symptomatic, the plants begin to exudate gum. Often, the bark on their trunks and/or branches would scale, appearing as if cracking and peeling. The initial pale circular areas present in the bark turn dark and sunken with time. Later, the infected patches were seen to expand in all directions, yet faster along the main axis of the stems, branches and twigs. When the scientists examined beneath the bark, they saw discoloured and necrotic tissues. Once the trunk of the tree is encircled by a canker, they report, the whole plant collapses.

Other symptoms include canopy decline as well as wilting and dying inflorescences and shoots growing from infected branches or twigs.

The newly described fungus is characterised with slowly growing colonies. With time, they turn from white to pale to dark brown with a whitish slightly lobed margin.

The researchers warn that essential hazard for the further spread and promotion of the infection is the use and distribution of infected propagation material taken from nurseries and mechanical injuries or pruning wounds.

###

Further research and studies are currently in progress aiming to extend the survey to other areas in order to eventually formulate effective disease management strategies.

Original source:

Vitale S, Aiello D, Guarnaccia V, Luongo L, Galli M, Crous PW, Polizzi G, Belisario A, Voglmayr H (2018) Liberomyces pistaciae sp. nov., the causal agent of pistachio cankers and decline in Italy. MycoKeys 40: 29-51. https://doi.org/10.3897/mycokeys.40.28636Imagine an enormous volcano erupting in the Pacific Northwest, pouring lava across Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Imagine the lava flooding out until river valleys are filled in. Until bushes and shrubs are buried in liquid rock. Until the tallest trees are completely covered.

About 16 million years ago, this happened.

Lava erupted in pulses, ultimately burying the region to the height of a 30-story building. If the lava had been spread evenly over the lower 48 states instead of staying concentrated in the northwest, it would cover the country to a depth of about 80 feet.

Before now, most geologists believed that it took almost 2 million years to erupt all that lava, collectively known as "the Columbia River flood basalts." But Princeton researchers are publishing findings today that show it happened more than twice as fast as previously believed, with 95 percent erupting within a 750,000-year window.

Flood basalts have fascinated geologists for centuries. As the largest volcanic events on Earth, they have been implicated in mass extinctions, such as the largest extinction event in Earth history, 252 million years ago. There was no mass extinction 16 million years ago, but there was a major climate event about that time, known as the Mid-Miocene Climate Optimum (MMCO), a global warming event with high temperatures and elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.

The same volcanoes that erupt liquid rock also belch out greenhouse gases, so geologists have wondered if there was a connection between the flood basalts and the MMCO global warming event. Just one problem: Before now, no one was quite sure about the timing of the Columbia River flood basalts.

"In order to answer the question of whether the Columbia River flood basalts caused the MMCO, we need to know the timing of eruptions and climate shifts as precisely as possible," said Blair Schoene, associate professor of geosciences.

"To put it simply, people didn't know exactly when or over how long the Columbia River Basalt Group erupted, which made it difficult to explore a causal relationship with the MMCO," said Jennifer Kasbohm, a graduate student and lead author of the paper appearing today in the journal Science Advances.

To help explain the scale of the eruptions, Kasbohm drew a parallel to the 2010 Eyjafjallajokull eruption in Iceland. "The Icelandic eruption shut down airports in Europe for a week, affecting 10 million travelers, and there were periodic airline disruptions for the following month," she said. "Now imagine having one of those Icelandic eruptions every 8 months for 750,000 years in a row, and that would give you our predicted eruption rate for the Columbia River basalts."

Three undergraduates accompanied Kasbohm and Schoene in the lab and the field, contributing to their research while completing projects of their own: Josh Murray of the Class of 2018, Sam Bartusek '20 and Kyle Duffey '19. "The project involved seven weeks of fieldwork, with many days over 100 degrees Fahrenheit," said Kasbohm. "We encountered a handful of rattlesnakes, numerous spiders, friendly and helpful locals, and we managed to stay one step ahead of the forest fires in the region."

They were looking for zircons, tiny minerals containing trace amounts of uranium. Over time, the naturally radioactive material decays into lead, so geologists can use the ratio of uranium to lead to calculate exactly how old the zircon is. Unfortunately for geologists, basaltic lava flows like the Columbia River flood basalts don't have the right chemistry to make zircons, so until now, geologists have had to settle for dates with uncertainties of over a million years, produced through other dating methods.

"To test for a causal link between climate and eruptions, a million years is not good enough," said Schoene.

The researchers got around the lack of zircons in the lava rocks by looking at layers of volcanic ash between the basalt layers. The ash came from the nearby Cascade volcanoes (including Mount Saint Helens), which do contain zircon and were erupting about the same time as the massive lavas.

In their lab at Princeton, Kasbohm and Schoene separated 0.1 mm sized zircons from the 16-million-year-old rocks, measured the isotopic ratios of uranium and lead, and pinned down the ages of individual lava flows to within a few tens of thousands of years. "That precision is basically the best you can do with any chronometer for samples of this age -- even though 10,000 years sounds like a lot -- so our method is the gold standard," she said.

"This is the most significant paper to come out about the Columbia River flood basalts in a decade or two," said Stephen Reidel, a research professor of geology at Washington State University-Tri-Cities, who has studied these lava flows since 1972 and contributed to the analysis of this research. "Jenn and Blair deserve a lot of compliments for thinking to look at the zircons in the ash beds between the flows.... Of course, now we're going to have to go back and re-calculate everything that used the old timeline or eruption rate. That's okay -- that's part of the fun."

With their more precise timeline, Kasbohm and Schoene have now shown that the prehistoric climate change did start very close in time to the beginning of the eruptions, but further work is needed to pin down the connection between them.

This 16-million-year-old climate change event is the last time that carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere shot above 400 parts per million -- until the last decade.

"The MMCO could be a parallel to our current climate, and further work investigating the timing and duration of that event will tell us more about how we can expect Earth to recover from anthropogenic climate change," Kasbohm said. For instance, if the climate stayed warm for a million years after the volcanoes stopped erupting, as now looks possible, that could have significant implications for predicting how long the atmosphere will respond to human-caused global warming.

"Time matters," said Kasbohm, "whether we're trying to learn about Earth's past or its future. It's very empowering to use tiny minerals to tell the story of these voluminous rocks."

###

The article, "Rapid eruption of the Columbia River flood basalt and correlation with the mid-Miocene climate optimum," published in the Sept. 19 issue of Science Advances (DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aat8223), was supported by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship under Grant No. DGE-1656466, by the Princeton Environmental Institute through the Walbridge Fund and by the Princeton University Department of Geosciences Scott Vertebrate Fund.WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- No woman's breast tissue is the same, so MRIs detecting and monitoring cancer shouldn't treat them all the same.

Without a way to prove that a new MRI technique is safe for all women, clinical MRIs haven't been able to keep pace with the latest advances in MRI research. More informative cancer detection is possible with stronger magnetic fields that also, unfortunately, increase the risk of tissue heating during a screening.

Purdue University researchers have simulated how over 20 different breast tissue ratios respond to heat given off by MRIs at higher field strengths than available in hospitals today.

The simulations would allow cutting-edge MRI techniques to finally show that they meet safety limits, as defined by entities like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and start clinical trials for real-life use.

On the flip side, using knowledge about how much radiofrequency energy each breast tissue ratio can handle, new techniques could one day target the heat produced from an MRI at tumors to kill them.

Published findings are featured in the journal Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, and software code for the simulations is available open-access to the scientific community via Github.

The work aligns with Purdue's giant leaps celebration, acknowledging the university's global advancements made in health, space, artificial intelligence and sustainability as part of Purdue's 150th anniversary. Those are the four themes of the yearlong celebration's Ideas Festival, designed to showcase Purdue as an intellectual center solving real-world issues.

Despite the limitations of clinical field strengths, a yearly MRI screening is still recommended for women with higher than average risk of breast cancer because it's more sensitive than a standard mammogram.

"We're starting to develop techniques at high field strengths that could immediately monitor how tumors respond to treatment. So we don't want tissue heating concerns to stand in the way of improving such a powerful tool," said Joseph Rispoli, Purdue assistant professor of biomedical engineering and electrical and computer engineering.

How dense a woman's breast is determines how much radiofrequency energy from an MRI the breast will absorb in the form of heat, defined as the specific absorption rate (SAR). The more fibroglandular tissue in the breast compared with fat tissue, the higher the breast density and SAR.

But not all women have the same ratio of fibroglandular to fat tissue. This makes it harder for researchers to show that a potentially life-saving MRI technique is safe for every woman, even though the risk of overheated tissue is generally low.

"In hospitals, MRI field strengths are currently up to 3 tesla, tesla being the unit we use for measuring magnetic field strength," Rispoli said. "Many techniques would be far superior at 7 tesla. This would come at a fivefold increase in SAR, but also double the MRI sensitivity."

The researchers demonstrated through their simulations that a fivefold increase could still stay within FDA limits for most breast tissue ratios, even at 7 tesla.

To make these simulations, the team had to jump several public health hurdles, the first being that there are far fewer computer models, or "phantoms," of the female body than the male body. Researchers can test their techniques on computational phantoms, typically generated from MRI or CT image sets, before the techniques are clinically approved for using on real humans.

Japan's National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, for example, developed the "Hanako" model to represent the average Japanese woman, and the Swiss Foundation for Research on Information Technologies in Society developed "Ella" for a typical Caucasian woman.

Other existing phantoms lie behind a paywall; all were developed in a standing or upward position even though a woman would be lying downward for an MRI, and none have been successfully combined with breast phantoms to accurately predict SAR.

Purdue researchers fused 36 breast phantoms at various densities, as classified by the American College of Radiology Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System Atlas, with the full body Hanako and Ella models. They then simulated the behavior of each fused phantom in response to MRI coils at 7 tesla.

The simulations help other researchers to tailor their techniques to each woman's unique breast tissue ratio. Power should be limited somewhat, for example, for those with more fibroglandular tissue.

"We want to facilitate the most cutting-edge of breast MRI techniques at any site in the world," Rispoli said. "Ultimately, a woman will be able to go in, have a fast low-power anatomical MRI scan, and then the computer could quickly simulate on-the-fly what the SAR would be in that patient."

Rispoli is part of a working group with the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine that will use the simulations to inform best practices for safety testing of experimental radiofrequency hardware. The effort will also facilitate these investigations across hospitals and research sites.

###

This research was supported in part by the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering of the National Institutes of Health through grant R03EB026231.

ABSTRACT

Toward 7T Breast MRI Clinical Study: Safety Assessment via Simulation of Heterogeneous Breast Models in Radiofrequency Exposure

Xin Li, Joseph V. Rispoli

Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA

doi:10.1002/mrm.27395

Purpose: To facilitate assessment of RF power deposition and temperature rise within the breast, we present a method to seamlessly join heterogeneous breast models with standard whole-body models and demonstrate simulations at 7 T.

Methods: Finite-difference time-domain electromagnetic and bioheat simulations are performed to analyze specific absorption rate (SAR) and temperature rise distributions in 36 Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI?RADS) categorized breast models fused to two female whole-body models while transmitting from a 7T breast volume coil. The breast models are uncompressed in the prone position and feature heterogeneous tissue contents; fusion with human models uses affine transformation and the level-set method.

Results: The fusion method produces a continuous transient from the chest region to the posterior portion of breast models while preserving the original volume and shape of breast models. Simulation results of both Ella and Hanako models indicate the maximum local SAR, partial body SAR, and local tissue temperature rise are positively correlated with both breast density and the highest BI-RADS density classification. Additionally, maximum local tissue temperature rise is positively correlated with maximum 10-g SAR values.

Conclusion: Fibroglandular tissue content plays an important role in the distribution of SAR and temperature rise within breast tissue. The combined body-breast models preserve the integrity of breast models while concurrently exhibiting the loading of whole-body human models. The procedures presented in this simulation study facilitate safety assessments for breast MRI across the population at both clinical and ultrahigh field strengths.Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a versatile chemical in modern industry, widely applied in many different fields. To date, H2O2 is industrially manufactured by an indirect process that involves the sequential hydrogenation and oxidation of alkyl anthraquinone, which is however a multi-step process with high-cost and energy-intensive. On the sharp contrary, the direct synthesis of H2O2 from H2 and O2 is expected to be the most efficient way to produce H2O2 due to the remarkable advantages of atom economy, low energy consumption and only by-product of H2O.

Hitherto, the direct synthetic route is mainly achieved by the supported Pd-based catalysts. The major problem associated with that is related to the low selectivity of H2O2. Despite great efforts have been devoted to constructing the Pd-based catalysts by introducing the second metals, understanding high-performance Pd-based catalysts for the direct H2O2 generation from either deep characterization or theoretical investigation are still extremely limited.

In a new overview published in the Beijing-based National Science Review, scientists at the Soochow University present the latest advances in direct H2O2 generation. Co-authors Yonggang Feng, Qi Shao, Bolong Huang, Junbo Zhang, and Xiaoqing Huang developed a class of Pd@NiO-x nanoparticles with unique core@shell interface structure, which achieves high activity, selectivity and stability for the direct H2O2 synthesis.

These scientists likewise interpreted the mechanism from both electronic and energetic views.

"Traditional Pd-based catalysts are very active for the side reactions, such as the decomposition and hydrogenation of H2O2 as well as the formation of H2O," they state in an article titled "Surface engineering in the interface of core/shell nanoparticles promotes hydrogen peroxide generation".

"It is considered that the intrinsic surface property of Pd-based catalysts is essential for the selectivity and activity of the direct H2O2 synthesis," they add. "This arises because the barrier for O-O bond scission is sensitive to Pd surface structure, the key parameter governing H2O2 synthesis and decomposition activity."

The creation of porous NiO shell is beneficial for exposing Pd active sites and thus enhancing the productivity of H2O2. "By tuning the composition of Pd@NiO-x NPs and the reaction condition, the efficiency of H2O2 synthesis could be well optimized with 5 wt% Pd@NiO-3/TiO2 exhibiting the highest productivity (89 mol/(kgcath)) and selectivity (91%) to H2O2 as well as excellent stability," they state.

"The first principles simulations further revealed the mechanism from both electronic and energetic views," the scientists interpreted. "The superiority in selectivity is achieved by a spontaneous bond scission of H-H and charge transfer from O20 to O22- within the cavity of NiO interfacing with Pd surface.,"

"The high selectivity and activity making it one of the best catalysts for the direct H2O2 synthesis reported to date," they add. "The present work reported here highlights the importance of surface and interface engineering of Pd-based catalysts for the direct H2O2 synthesis with largely enhanced activity and selectivity."

###

This research received funding from the Ministry of Science and Technology (2016YFA0204100, 2017YFA0208200), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21571135), Young Thousand Talented Program, Jiangsu Province Natural Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (BK20170003), the project of scientific and technologic infrastructure of Suzhou (SZS201708), the start-up supports from Soochow University, and the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD).

See the article:

Yonggang Feng, Qi Shao, Bolong Huang, Junbo Zhang, and Xiaoqing Huang

Surface Engineering in the Interface of Core/Shell Nanoparticles Promotes Hydrogen Peroxide Generation

Natl Sci Rev

https://doi.org/10.1093/nsr/nwy065

The National Science Review is the first comprehensive scholarly journal released in English in China that is aimed at linking the country's rapidly advancing community of scientists with the global frontiers of science and technology. The journal also aims to shine a worldwide spotlight on scientific research advances across China.As refugee flows have increased around the world, many governments are grappling with acute political pressure along with the logistical challenges of supporting refugees and processing asylum applications. Perhaps most notably in Europe, where populist and other opposition parties have seized on the refugee crisis, leaders are pulled in two different directions as they seek both political self-preservation and practical solutions. Policies that resolve political conflict in the short term, on the one hand, tend not to serve refugees' long-term integration, on the other. All too often, these compromises backfire, undermining the country's ability to successfully integrate refugees--and leading to higher social and economic costs in the long run.

Policies surrounding refugee employment are a good example of this dynamic. Locking them out of the labor market may subdue backlash from constituents who worry about facing competition for jobs, or who want to discourage refugees from entering the country and remaining there indefinitely. But it also leaves them dependent on the government, unable to pay taxes, and poorly positioned to find work when their asylum applications are finally approved after a long, idle wait.

Yet most EU countries take this route, barring refugees from working for a period of time after arrival. What does it cost them? According to new research from the Immigration Policy Lab (IPL) at ETH Zurich and Stanford University, governments that impose these temporary "employment bans" are paying a higher price than they realize.

Measuring the Costs

At a time when the European Union is embroiled in debate about the future of its recently arrived refugee population, one might think there would be keen interest in encouraging refugees to become self-sufficient as soon as possible. In practice, however, the Continent's rough consensus in favor of employment bans persists, in part because their detrimental effects are difficult to measure.

First, much of the available historical data doesn't allow researchers to readily distinguish people who entered a country as asylum seekers from the general inflow of immigrants. Second, it's tricky to isolate the employment ban from the many other factors that influence whether refugees struggle or thrive. If refugees fare better in a country with a shorter employment ban or none at all, the reason could be any number of differences that make its labor market or asylum policies more hospitable than those of other countries. If refugees within a country have greater difficulty finding a job after a temporary employment ban is imposed, perhaps the ban itself is to blame, but that can be hard to prove if, say, there was also a downturn in a particular work sector well suited to refugees.

The IPL researchers cut a path through this confusion with the help of a 2000 court ruling in Germany that shortened the country's employment ban to 12 months. Asylum seekers who arrived in 2000 had to wait 12 months before applying for jobs, while those who arrived in 1999 had to wait between 13 and 24 months.

The timing of the ruling was also a boon to the researchers. When the new policy took effect, the overwhelming majority of new arrivals from parts of Yugoslavia, then at war, were asylum seekers. Using Germany's annual, representative survey, the Mikrozensus, the researchers zeroed in on Yugoslavians who arrived in either 1999 or 2000: two groups that look identical in nearly every way except for an average 7 months of forced unemployment.

Long-Term Consequences

At first, both groups had low employment rates once they were allowed to seek work, but those who had the shorter wait soon pulled ahead of their peers. Five years in, about half of the 2000 group were employed (49%), while only 29 percent of their 1999 counterparts had had the same success. It wasn't until 2010, ten years after the new policy went into effect, that the laggards closed the gap.

This divide can't be explained by broader changes in the economy, the researchers found. Fellow Yugoslavians who arrived in 2000 and 2001 found work at similar rates. So did Turkish immigrants who arrived in 1999 and 2000 and weren't affected by the employment ban, since most of them weren't seeking asylum.

So how can just seven months' difference account for such a wide, persistent gap between the two groups of asylum seekers? And why didn't the earlier arrivals benefit from additional time in the country to acclimate and build social networks that might provide onramps to employment?

Extended, involuntary unemployment can be powerfully demoralizing, a phenomenon other studies have called "scar effects." Facing a much longer wait may have drained the 1999 group of motivation, and when the employment ban finally lifted, that motivation didn't suddenly snap back into place. Despite their lower employment levels, researchers found, this group was less likely to have searched for a job in the days before survey-takers interviewed them.

Refugees might be particularly susceptible to these "scar effects", the IPL study suggests, because they are new to a foreign country and culture, have recently experienced the trauma of violence or persecution, and lack the resources and social support that help see others through the difficulties of unemployment. "Policies such as employment bans are short-sighted," says Moritz Marbach, a postdoctoral researcher at ETH Zurich and co-author of the study. "Instead of having refugees depend on government welfare for years, countries can capitalize on their initial motivation and integrate them quickly."

The findings also illustrate how formative refugees' early experiences can be. Even modest forms of encouragement and support during this window of opportunity may give them a big lift into integration; barriers, even temporary ones, can likewise have disproportionately negative effects.

Consider the high price of Germany's employment ban. If the 40,500 Yugoslavian refugees who arrived in 1999 had been allowed to work just seven months earlier, bringing their employment rates up to the level of the 2000 arrivals, the country would have saved about 40 million per year in lower welfare payments and higher tax contributions. Meanwhile, native workers don't necessarily benefit from policies keeping refugees out of the labor force. Previous studies have found that allowing refugees to work doesn't lower natives' wages or make them more likely to be unemployed.

The irony is that the employment ban is motivated in part by policymakers' desire to reassure the public that refugees won't compete for their jobs. However, when refugees are unable to support themselves and perceived as a drain on the social welfare system, policymakers may face even greater political punishment from the public. Ultimately, policies that improve refugee integration can also benefit the host country. A necessary first step is to consider refugees not as a burden to be mitigated but as a potential asset to be maximized.

###CRANE, Ind. - A Navy engineer has invented a groundbreaking method to improve night vision devices without adding weight or more batteries.

Dr. Ben Conley, an electro-optics engineer at the Naval Surface Warfare Center-Crane Division, has developed a special metamaterial to bring full-spectrum infrared to warfighters. On August 28, the Navy was granted a U.S. patent on Conley's technology.

"Our ground forces will be able to see much more, with better clarity, in all environments including caves and tunnels," Conley told TechLink. "Enemy forces hiding in the bushes? No problem, we'll see their body heat."

Benjamin Conley is an electro-optics engineer at the Naval Surface Warfare Center-Crane Division.

Instead of treating infrared light as a particle as most physicists do, Conley, a Marine combat vet, treats it as a wave.

Using tiny metal structures (you'd need 25 of them to equal the width of a human hair), Conley built an infrared antenna that can see the waves.

Recall that night vision technology was first used in World War II but got a big boost during the Vietnam War when U.S. forces used "Starlight" scopes. The sights and goggles, then and now, intensify visible light and just a bit of near-infrared radiation.

But defense scientists have been working to advance U.S. capabilities as near-peer adversaries like Russia and China attempt to catch up.

Conley's metamaterial antenna will expand the sensed spectrum, adding short and mid-wavelength infrared.

This isn't a new concept, but other "fusion" devices combining near-infrared and infrared together are bigger and require additional battery power that increases system weight. That's a no-no in the world of ground combat where lighter is always better.

Conley's new infrared image intensifier, or "I-cubed," as he calls it, will add no weight and require no additional battery power.

For the past 12 months, Conley's been funded by the Office of Naval Research. He's hustling now to prepare a prototype for testing and evaluation within three months.

In coordination with the Technology Transfer Office at NSWC-Crane, TechLink, the Department of Defense's national partnership intermediary for technology transfer, is marketing the technology to companies for night vision devices or other applications like machine vision, thermal imagers, security systems, and self-driving cars.

Businesses that can integrate Conley's invention into their products, whether they be night vision goggles or self-driving cars, will need a patent license agreement that includes a commercialization plan, said Sean Patten, senior technology manager at TechLink. The first step for interested businesses is to contact Patten, who can provide no-cost licensing assistance, which includes the development of a commercialization plan and patent license application.

"This is going to be a game changer for our warfighters; this is why we have DoD labs, to keep our advantage on the battlefield," Patten said. "Tech transfer is the first step in seeing technology like this come full circle back to the warfighter, but also see if it can be of use in non-military applications."

Conley is motivated to see the technology transition back to the warfighter. He earned his doctorate in microelectronics after six years as a Marine infantry sergeant. His first experience with infrared imaging was behind the sights of an anti-tank guided missile system.

"Night vision is a huge topic area for the military so we're coming up with innovative ideas, pioneering technologies really, that support current and future requirements," said Conley. "I'm really committed to developing this because U.S. equipment has to stay on the cutting edge."

###

To learn more about licensing U.S. patent 10,062,554 email Sean Patten at spatten@montana.edu or call 406-994-7721.New study demonstrates that postmenopausal women have an increased risk of vitamin D deficiency at the time of breast cancer diagnosis, associated with a higher rate of obesity

CLEVELAND, Ohio (September 19, 2018)--Vitamin D is already well known for its benefits in building healthy bones. A new study supports the idea that it also may reduce cancer risk as well as breast cancer mortality, especially in women with a lower body mass index. Study results are published online today in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS).

Breast cancer remains the most common cancer in women worldwide and is the leading cause of death from cancer in women. Reproductive risk factors such as early onset of puberty, late menopause, later age at first pregnancy, never having been pregnant, obesity, and a family history have all been shown to be associated with breast cancer development. The role of vitamin D concentration in the development of breast cancer, however, continues to be debated.

This study involving more than 600 Brazilian women suggests that vitamin D may reduce cancer risk by inhibiting cell proliferation. Study results appear in the article "Low pretreatment serum concentration of vitamin D at breast cancer diagnosis in postmenopausal women."

Researchers involved in the study concluded that postmenopausal women had an increased risk of vitamin D deficiency at the time of their breast cancer diagnoses, associated with higher rates of obesity, than women of the same age group without cancer. Similar studies also have previously demonstrated a relationship between vitamin D and breast cancer mortality. Women in the highest quartile of vitamin D concentrations, in fact, had a 50% lower death rate from breast cancer than those in the lower quartile, suggesting that vitamin D levels should be restored to a normal range in all women with breast cancer.

"Although published literature is inconsistent about the benefits of vitamin D levels and breast cancer, this study and others suggest that higher levels of vitamin D in the body are associated with lowered breast cancer risk," says Dr. JoAnn Pinkerton, executive director of NAMS. "Vitamin D may play a role in controlling breast cancer cells or stopping them from growing. Vitamin D comes from direct sunlight exposure, vitamin D3 supplements, or foods rich in vitamin D."

###

For more information about menopause and healthy aging, visit http://www.menopause.org.

Founded in 1989, The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) is North America's leading nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the health and quality of life of all women during midlife and beyond through an understanding of menopause and healthy aging. Its multidisciplinary membership of 2,000 leaders in the field--including clinical and basic science experts from medicine, nursing, sociology, psychology, nutrition, anthropology, epidemiology, pharmacy, and education--makes NAMS uniquely qualified to serve as the definitive resource for health professionals and the public for accurate, unbiased information about menopause and healthy aging. To learn more about NAMS, visit http://www.menopause.org.In the last few years, the Vavilov Ice Cap in the Russian High Arctic has dramatically accelerated, sliding as much as 82 feet a day in 2015, according to a new multi-national, multi-institute study led by CIRES Fellow Mike Willis, an assistant professor of Geology at CU Boulder. That dwarfs the ice's previous average speed of about 2 inches per day and has challenged scientists' assumptions about the stability of the cold ice caps dotting Earth's high latitudes.

"In a warming climate, glacier acceleration is becoming more and more common, but the rate of ice loss at Vavilov is extreme and unexpected," said Mike Willis, CIRES Fellow and lead author of the paper published this week in Earth and Planetary Science Letters.

Glaciers and ice caps like Vavilov cover nearly 300,000 square miles of Earth's surface and hold about a foot of potential sea-level rise. Scientists have never seen such acceleration in this kind of ice cap before, and the authors of the new paper wrote that their finding raises the possibility that other, currently stable ice caps may be more vulnerable than expected.

For the new assessment, researchers played the part of forensic ice detectives, piecing together the ice cap's deterioration by spying on the advancing ice with remote sensing technology from a constellation of satellites operated by DigitalGlobe Inc, headquartered in Westminster, Colorado. The project also relied on support from the National Science Foundation and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, which funded the development of high-resolution topographic maps of the Arctic.

By satellite, they watched ice on the cap creep slowly forward for several years, before it accelerate slowly in 2010, surging rapidly forward in 2015. The initial very slow advance is thought to have been caused by a shift in the direction of precipitation that occurred about 500 years ago. Before this time snow and rain came from the southeast, after this time rain and snow came from the southwest. As the western part of the ice cap advanced into the ocean the ice surged forward.

"Cold" ice caps, like Vavilov, occur in polar "deserts" with very little precipitation, and they're normally frozen to their beds, flowing only due to bending of the ice under the force of gravity. With beds above sea level, they are normally insulated from the kinds of changes that have hit glaciers in less frigid regions: melting from below by warm sea water, for example, or sliding faster when warm surface meltwater drains to the bed of the ice.

Researchers suspect the ice cap began to dramatically advance when the bottom of the ice cap became wetter and the front of the glacier advanced onto very slippery marine sediments. The ice began to speed up, and friction caused some of the ice underneath the glacier to melt, which supplied more water to the bottom of the ice, reducing friction, which caused the ice to speed up, which in turn, again produced more water. Some of this water might have combined with clay underneath the glacier, reducing the friction beneath the glacier even further and allowing the truly extraordinary sliding speeds to occur.

By 2015, the sediments and rock at the bed beneath the ice had become so slippery that the material couldn't stop the ice from flowing. It took just two years for the ice cap base to reach that tipping point, transforming into a near frictionless zone, which is well-lubricated and highly mobile. The glacier continues to slide today at accelerated speeds of 5-10 meters per day.

The Vavilov Ice Cap thinned by a total of a few meters, advanced about 2 km, and lost about 1.2 km3 in total volume into the ocean in the 30 years before the speedup. In the one year between 2015 and 2016, the ice advanced about 4 kilometers and thinned by about 100 meters (~0.3 m per day). The ice cap lost about 4.5 km3 of ice, enough to cover Manhattan with about 250 feet of water, or the entire state of Washington with an inch. And it's unlikely the ice cap will ever be able to recover ice mass in today's warming climate, the paper states.

Many scientists have assumed that polar ice caps that sit above sea level will only respond slowly to a warming climate--but the authors of this study urge that this assumption be questioned. The rapid collapse of the Vavilov Ice Cap has significant ramifications for glaciers in other polar regions, especially those fringing Antarctica and Greenland.

"We've never seen anything like this before, this study has raised as many questions as it has answered." said Willis. "And we're now working on modeling the whole situation to get a better handle of the physics involved."

###A recent study of more than 100 years of river level records from the Amazon shows a significant increase in frequency and severity of floods. The scientists' analysis of the potential causes could contribute to more accurate flood prediction for the Amazon Basin.

Water levels of the Amazon River have been recorded daily in Port of Manaus, Brazil since the beginning of the last century. The team used 113 years of water level records and found extreme floods and droughts have become more frequent over the last two to three decades.

Their findings show that in the first part of the 20th century, severe floods with water levels exceeding 29 metres - the benchmark for a state of emergency in Manaus City - occurred roughly every 20 years. Now, extreme floods occur on average every four years.

Study lead author, Dr Jonathan Barichivich, from Universidad Austral de Chile and former Research Fellow from the University of Leeds, said: "Increases of severe droughts in the Amazon have received a lot of attention by researchers. However, what really stands out from this long-term river record is the increase in the frequency and severity of the floods. With a few minor exceptions, there have been extreme floods in the Amazon basin every year from 2009 to 2015."

According to the study, the increased flooding is linked to a strengthening of the Walker circulation - an ocean-powered system of air circulation caused by differences in temperature and pressure over the tropical oceans. This system influences weather patterns and rainfall across the tropics and beyond.

Co-author Professor Manuel Gloor, from the School of Geography at Leeds, said: "This dramatic increase in floods is caused by changes in the surrounding seas, particularly the Pacific and Atlantic oceans and how they interact. Due to a strong warming of the Atlantic Ocean and cooling of the Pacific over the same period, we see changes in the so-called Walker circulation, which affects Amazon precipitation.

"The effect is more or less the opposite of what happens during an El Nino event. Instead of causing drought, it results in more convection and heavy rainfall in the central and northern parts of the Amazon basin."

The ultimate underlying cause for the warming of the Atlantic is not entirely clear. However, in addition to natural variability, global warming is at least partially responsible but in an unexpected and indirect way, according to the study.

As a result of greenhouse warming, wind belts in mid to high latitudes in the Southern hemisphere have shifted further south, opening a window for transport of warm Indian ocean waters around the tip of Africa, via the Agulhas current, towards the tropical Atlantic.

The changes to the Amazon Basin's water cycle have had severe consequences for people and livelihoods in Brazil, Peru, and other Amazonian nations.

Co-author Dr Jochen Schongart from the National Institute for Amazon Research in Manaus, has experienced Amazon River floods first-hand. He explained that these extreme flooding events last for many weeks and have disastrous consequences. Flooding can contaminate water supply and spread disease, as well as destroy homes and livelihoods. Economic activities in the floodplains such as agriculture a cattle ranching are strongly affected.

The research indicates that these floods are not over yet. The year 2017, which was not included in the study, again saw water levels rise to over 29 meters. As the tropical Atlantic is expected to continue warming faster than the tropical Pacific over the next few decades scientists expect more of these high water levels. The findings of this study could help predict the probability of flooding extremes in the Amazon in advance and help mitigate the impacts for urban and rural Amazonian populations.

###

Further information:

High res images and captions available for download at: https://bit.ly/2p7cmcx

The paper Recent intensification of Amazon flooding extremes driven by strengthened Walker circulation is published in Science Advances 19 September 2018 (DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aat8785)

For more information contact press officer Anna Harrison at the University of Leeds a.harrison@leeds.ac.uk or +44(0)113 343 4031.

Full list of authors: J. Barichivich, E. Gloor, P. Peylin, R. J. W. Brienen, J. Schongart, J. C. Espinoza, K. C. Pattnayak, Recent intensification of Amazon flooding extremes driven by strengthened Walker circulation. Sci. Adv. 4, eaat8785 (2018).

University of Leeds

The University of Leeds is one of the largest higher education institutions in the UK, with more than 33,000 students from more than 150 different countries, and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities.

We are a top ten university for research and impact power in the UK, according to the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, and are in the top 100 of the QS World University Rankings 2019. Additionally, the University was awarded a Gold rating by the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework in 2017, recognising its 'consistently outstanding' teaching and learning provision. Twenty-six of our academics have been awarded National Teaching Fellowships - more than any other institution in England, Northern Ireland and Wales - reflecting the excellence of our teaching. http://www.leeds.ac.ukThe center will examine the effects of advertising, packaging, and labeling on perceptions, use, and exposure to tobacco products

PHILADELPHIA--A new $18 million grant to Penn Medicine researchers will allow them to take aim at the effects of tobacco marketing. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) have renewed their commitment to the Tobacco Centers of Regulatory Science (TCORS) program and awarded a second cohort (TCORS 2.0) of centers. The grant will support research at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and the Rutgers University School of Public Health. The grant will help the center conduct work for the next five years, driving research that will provide data to protect public health and inform regulatory science issues related to tobacco control.

The center is focused on examining the effects of advertising, packaging, and labeling on perceptions, use, and exposure of combustible tobacco products such as cigarettes and cigarillos (short, narrow cigars that are wrapped in tobacco leaves or brown tobacco-based paper). Researchers combine expertise in assessing smoking behaviors, toxin and nicotine exposure, as well as eye tracking and product risk perceptions measures to better understand the impact of potentially misleading advertising claims, descriptors, labeling, and packaging features of combustible tobacco products.

"Perceptions of risk and product expectations begin when people encounter product marketing and labeling. We are taking a comprehensive approach to better understand the effects of tobacco advertising and packaging--from psychological responses to use patterns and exposure," said Andrew Strasser, PhD, director of the Biobehavioral Smoking Laboratory at Penn's Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Nicotine Addiction and Principal Investigator (PI). Cristine Delnevo, PhD, MPH, professor and director of the Center for Tobacco Studies at the Rutgers University School of Public Health, is the co-PI.

The center will focus on four primary projects and four cores, including:

Assessment of smoking behaviors, psychological responses, and biological effects to understand the effect of cigarette packaging on smoking low-nicotine content cigarettes, an important component of potential regulatory strategies.

Experimental analysis of low-nicotine cigarette advertising and novel tobacco product marketing, with an aim to identify how the public is misinformed about health risks.

Experimental analysis of how cigarillo packaging with varying colors, graphic designs, descriptors, and warning labels influences perceptions and use.

Examination of the effect of cigarette descriptors that can mislead about the health harms of tobacco products.

The cores will provide continued surveillance of the tobacco industry's marketing strategies for combustible tobacco products; tobacco regulatory science training and career enhancement opportunities; and expert support on emerging biomarkers, analytic approaches, and regulatory expertise.

"The greatest contributor to tobacco caused disease is from cigarettes and other combustible products. Tobacco regulatory science can inform the FDA on future steps that can reduce harm from the most dangerous tobacco products and have the greatest potential to improve public health," Delnevo said. "We've assembled a stellar team of collaborative researchers who have been deeply committed to tobacco regulatory science since the passage of the 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act."

###

Additional Penn collaborators include Janet Audrain-McGovern and Melissa Mercincavage in Psychiatry, and Joseph Cappella at the Annenberg School for Communication. Additional Rutgers experts include Olivia Wackowski and Jane Lewis. The TCORS 2.0 will also collaborate with researchers at other institutions including Columbia University, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, University of Nevada-Reno, and University of Vermont.

Penn Medicine is one of the world's leading academic medical centers, dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, and excellence in patient care. Penn Medicine consists of the Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (founded in 1765 as the nation's first medical school) and the University of Pennsylvania Health System, which together form a $7.8 billion enterprise.

The Perelman School of Medicine has been ranked among the top medical schools in the United States for more than 20 years, according to U.S. News & World Report's survey of research-oriented medical schools. The School is consistently among the nation's top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health, with $405 million awarded in the 2017 fiscal year.

The University of Pennsylvania Health System's patient care facilities include: The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center -- which are recognized as one of the nation's top "Honor Roll" hospitals by U.S. News & World Report -- Chester County Hospital; Lancaster General Health; Penn Medicine Princeton Health; Penn Wissahickon Hospice; and Pennsylvania Hospital - the nation's first hospital, founded in 1751. Additional affiliated inpatient care facilities and services throughout the Philadelphia region include Good Shepherd Penn Partners, a partnership between Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network and Penn Medicine, and Princeton House Behavioral Health, a leading provider of highly skilled and compassionate behavioral healthcare.

Penn Medicine is committed to improving lives and health through a variety of community-based programs and activities. In fiscal year 2017, Penn Medicine provided $500 million to benefit our community.Parts of the world's largest ice sheet would melt if Antarctic warming of just 2C is sustained for millennia, according to international research.

University of Queensland scientist Dr Kevin Welsh was part of a team that used evidence from warm periods in Earth's history to see how the East Antarctic Ice Sheet might react to a warming climate.

Dr Welsh said marine sediment layers indicated the ice sheet had retreated during warming in the late Pleistocene period, when temperatures were like those predicted for this century.

"Antarctica is around twice the size of Australia, with ice sheets several kilometres thick and containing around half of the world's fresh water," he said.

"The East Antarctic Ice Sheet covers about two thirds of the area, and because its base is largely above sea level it was generally thought to be less sensitive to warming climates than the adjacent West Antarctic Ice Sheet.

"However, some areas - like the Wilkes Land Subglacial Basin, directly south of Australia - are below sea level and contain enough ice to raise global sea levels by several metres.

"The evidence we have suggests that with the predicted 2C warming in Antarctica - if sustained over a couple of millennia - the sheet would start melting in these locations."

Dr Welsh, from UQ's School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, said the team chemically analysed layers of sediment deposited on the Southern Ocean floor by glaciers.

"We found that the most extreme changes in the ice sheet occurred during two interglacial periods 125,000 and 400,000 years ago, when global sea levels were several metres higher than they are today," he said.

"These periods could be analogues for future climates and it seems likely that ice loss from the East Antarctic Ice Sheet contributed to those higher sea levels.

"Ice loss contributes to rising global sea levels which are a threat to many coastal communities, and making projections requires a solid understanding of how sensitive these ice sheets are."

Imperial College London researcher Dr David Wilson said the findings were extremely concerning for humanity.

"With current global temperatures already one degree higher than during pre-industrial times, future ice loss seems inevitable if we fail to reduce carbon emissions," Dr Wilson said.

###

The study was made possible by the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP), part of the Australia and New Zealand IODP Consortium, funded by the Australian Research Council and other research organisations and universities in Australia and New Zealand, including UQ.

The scientific drilling ship JOIDES Resolution is funded by the US National Science Foundation.Scientists at the University of Stirling have shed new light on the impact of sexual selection on species diversity after studying the mating rituals of dance flies.

The team, from the Faculty of Natural Sciences, examined the unique mating behaviour of Rhamphomyia longicauda - the long-tailed dance fly - in a bid to understand how species evolve.

Some female dance flies exhibit extravagant sexual ornaments - characteristics to help attract mating partners - which is unusual because, in other animals, such traits are typically observed in males. Examples include peacocks, which use their tail feathers to advertise their sexual and physical fitness and male black grouse, which attract partners by singing, dancing and showing their tail fans.

In dance flies, some females use their hairy legs and inflatable abdominal sacs to make themselves appear bigger - and more attractive - to potential partners.

Dr Luc Bussiere, a Lecturer in Biological and Environmental Sciences, worked on the research alongside PhD student Rosalind Murray and colleagues at the University of Toronto.

"Generally speaking, females do not have any sexual ornaments at all - they are typically a male characteristic," explained Dr Bussiere. "Our study looked at this species and considered why females had ornaments and what exactly attracted the males to their partners.

"Interestingly, the research found that females often deceive males by attempting to make themselves appear bigger - and ultimately more attractive - than they actually are. In contrast, the males are constantly evolving in an attempt to avoid being duped.

"This work supports our understanding of how sexual selection creates diversity and, in turn, can help us to provide an answer to one of the biggest questions in biology: why are there so many different species?"

Large female dance flies may be more attractive to males because they appear to be full of eggs - enhancing males' opportunity to father offspring - and during each mating process, the male "gifts" food to the female.

The scientists wanted to understand the significance of each of the female's sexual ornaments and, in a bid to gain a greater insight into the preferences of males, they used artificial physical models of females in the wild, combining varying sizes of abdominal and leg ornaments. The team were then able to count how much interest each artificial model attracted from wild males.

"We found that males like both large bodies and hairy legs, but were much more attracted to large bodies than hairy legs," Dr Bussiere said. "Our findings suggest that these ornaments may be deceptive rather than honestly indicating female value to males. In other words, the females are seducing the males by inflating their abdominal sacs and positioning their hairy legs in such a way to fool the males into believing they are full of eggs. In turn, the female is rewarded with food."

This work may explain why the focal species has multiple female ornaments, while close relatives have one or none. The scientists concluded that sexual conflict - females deceiving the males so as to increase their chances of obtaining food from mates, and males trying to adapt to protect themselves from being duped by skinnier-than-advertised females - creates diversity among closely related species.

"The angle about deception is the most intriguing one from our perspective," Dr Bussiere continued. "One might have expected the two ornaments work together to create a better signal than either on its own, but the asymmetric importance of the traits to attraction is best explained by conflicts of interest between the sexes.

"We suggest that cycles of evolution could produce a series of ornamental traits in females, as males evolve to resist the deceptive adornments each in turn. Such an explanation would simultaneously explain why females are able to exhibit such elaborate displays - otherwise mostly absent elsewhere in the animal kingdom - and why, in several dance fly species, there are multiple ornaments."

He added: "In order to explain diversity, we have to challenge our understanding of rare cases like this example of female ornamentation, which at first seems to contradict what we know about evolution."

###

Dr Jill Wheeler and Professor Darryl Gwynne, both from the University of Toronto, collaborated on the research, Sexual selection on multiple female ornaments in dance flies, which is published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

The study was funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the University of Stirling.The RemoveDEBRIS satellite has successfully used its on-board net technology in orbit - the first demonstration in human history of active debris removal (ADR) technology.

The spacecraft began the experimental phase of its mission on Sunday 16 September, when it used a net to capture a deployed target simulating a piece of space debris.

RemoveDEBRIS was designed, built and manufactured by a consortium of leading space companies and research institutions led by the Surrey Space Centre at the University of Surrey. The spacecraft is operated in orbit by engineers at Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd in Guildford, UK. The project is co-funded by the European Commission.

Professor Guglielmo Aglietti, Director of the Surrey Space Centre, said: "We are absolutely delighted with the outcome of the net technology. While it might sound like a simple idea, the complexity of using a net in space to capture a piece of debris took many years of planning, engineering and coordination between the Surrey Space Centre, Airbus and our partners - but there is more work to be done. These are very exciting times for us all."

Ingo Retat, Airbus RemoveDEBRIS project head, said: "To develop this net technology to capture space debris we spent 6 years testing in parabolic flights, in special drop towers and also thermal vacuum chambers. Our small team of engineers and technicians have done an amazing job moving us one step closer to clearing up low Earth orbit."

In the coming months, RemoveDEBRIS will test more ADR technologies: a vision-based navigation system that uses cameras and LiDaR technology to analyse and observe potential pieces of debris; the first harpoon capture technology used in orbit; and a drag-sail that will finally bring RemoveDEBRIS into the Earth's atmosphere where it will be destroyed, bringing its mission to a close.

The US Space Surveillance Network tracks 40,000 objects and it is estimated that there are more than 7,600 tonnes of 'space junk' in and around Earth's orbit - with some moving faster than a speeding bullet, approaching speeds of 30,000 miles per hour.

The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union Seventh Framework Programme [FP7/2007-2013] under grant agreement n607099.

The RemoveDEBRIS consortium consists of:

Mission and consortium coordination - Surrey Space Centre (UK)

Satellite system engineering - ArianeGroup (France)

Platform, avionics and spacecraft operations - SSTL (UK)

Harpoon - Airbus (UK)

Net - Airbus (Germany)

Vision based navigation - CSEM (Switzerland)/ INRIA/ Airbus (France)

CubeSat dispensers - Innovative Solutions in Space (Netherlands)

Target CubeSats - Surrey Space Centre (UK)/ Stellenbosch University (South Africa)

Dragsail - Surrey Space Centre (UK)

###

Note to editors

A video of the demonstration is available upon request. Please credit University of Surrey.

Professor Aglietti is available for interview upon request.Traders see strong whipsaw trading in the EUR/USD exchange rate over the past 4 trading days.

US and China tariff debacle continue to weigh in on the US Dollar (USD) exchange rates, ECB comments and German economic data add to the weight.

Above: DXY coming against significant pattern, price and time cycles. Significant volatility and high probabilities of macrotrend changes ahead.

Wide trading ranges causing whipsaws in price action

The EUR/USD exchange rate continues to trade around the key Major Harmonic value area of 1.1689. The trading over the past four trading days has seen some extreme in the ranges being swapped back and forth. On September 13th, the EUR/USD opened at 1.1625 and closed at 1.1690.,a gain of 65 pips. On September 14th, the EURUSD opened at 1.1690 and closed at 1.1620, a loss of 70 pips. Then on September 17th, the EUR/USD opened at 1.1625 and closed at 1.1682, a gain of 57 pips. The trading on the 18th of September saw the trading range tighten considerably compared to the prior three trading day. The EUR/USD exchange rate did make a new two week high but closed below the open of the day  1.1682.

There is clear suppression and rejection at price above the Major Harmonic of 1.1689. There have been four consecutive daily wicks that have pierced the 1.1689 value area. The wicks should provide a heads up to traders and speculators  four consecutive days of piercing the 1.1689 value area without a strong trend change lower indicates that traders want to trade the EUR/USD higher. A breakout of this zone would be significant and would more than likely generate a strong 80+ pip move higher. Ultimately, the 45-degree angle is the key target area beyond the 1.1689 level. That 45-degree angle rests near the 1.178 zone.

US and China trade spat continues to weigh in on global markets, German orders weigh in on Eurozone health

US and Chinese trade negotiations continue to create spasms and whipsaws in all markets. FX traders have observed that any hint of thawing between the US and China has dropped the US Dollar against every major FX pair. However, just today there were announcements that the US was levying another 200 billion in trade tariffs against China and that China was retaliating with 65 billion of their own. After further investigation and as news became available, Wall Street did not see a significant effect from either of the nations tariffs. In other words: they were not as bad as originally thought. This buoyed the US Dollar higher.

Another contributing factor to the EUR/USD exchange rates performance is the most recent German economic data related to the volume of orders for manufacturing. Lloyds reports that these orders have dropped since the start of the year. Most of the drop is related to foreign capital goods. An alarm has been raised based on the YoY negative number announced in July (-5%)  this was the first time since 2016 that this number has been negative, and it confirms the protracted period that order flows have been down.When the US imposed tariffs on Chinese goods this week, the market was braced for retaliation by the Chinese.

The retaliation was swift, but not as severe as many had feared. Perhaps the trade war can now de-escalate.

Asian markets have showed recent strength, particularly the Nikkei in Japan. However, the BoJ meeting last night concluded with no change in sight.

Risk markets  especially US indices  breathed a sigh of relief on Tuesday as China retaliated in the latest round of tit-for-tat tariffs, but did so in a fairly non-combative way. So while the US imposed a 10% tariff on 200bn worth of Chinese goods, the Chinese government yesterday responded by announcing retaliatory tariffs of 10% on USD60bn worth of US goods. This is partly because China imports so much less from the US than vice versa, but the fear was it would use alternative weapons to respond. Currency devaluation, selling US treasuries, targeting Apple and many other tactics were feared, but in the end China only filed a complaint with the WTO over tariffs imposed by the US. Premier Li Keqiang also said he will not let the Yuan devalue to stimulate exports. Perhaps this measured response is enough to keep the US from firing the next shot, a real threat given the rhetoric from President Trump. But for how long? Goldman Sachs is giving 50/50 odds for the US to impose sanctions on the entirety of Chinese imports by 2019, at which point youd feel China would use all the tools at its disposal as it would no longer have anything to lose.

This weeks escalation has led to a surprising boost to global equities, with the S&P500 back above 2900, and even China staging a rally. Now the news is out there and not as bad as feared, buyers have shown up again. The US dollar meanwhile is weakening, with a fall below 94.5 support and fears the trade war may cause the Fed to ease off the hiking schedule. However, the Fed will be data dependent, and as long as there are no signs of a slowdown in the US economy  and if anything there are signs of the exact opposite; acceleration  then there is little merit to the idea the Fed will back down quite yet.

BoJ Not to Blame for Japanese Strength

The Nikkei in Japan has been on a conspicuously strong rally in recent sessions, with a 7.5% gain since the 7th September low. This was at times moving against the direction of other global indices as the trade war concerns weighed.

Some of the gains were driven by a resurgent USDJPY and weak JPY. With a BoJ meeting last due there was a growing expectation that there may be some kind of dovish policy tweak. Yet as the market found out, last night there was to be nothing of the sort. This from Danske Bank,

The Bank of Japan (BoJ) kept its monetary policy unchanged this morning, and the policy balance rate and the yield target on 10-year Japanese government bonds was maintained at -0.1% and 0% (+/-20bp), respectively. The BoJ also maintained its forward guidance and left its asset purchases unchanged. The BoJ has clearly shifted to auto pilot mode after it announced some policy tweaks at the July meeting, and an unchanged signal from the BoJ today was fully expected We expect the BoJ to keep its current policy intact until the end of 2019 at least.

Autopilot is a term used more and more to describe central banks such as the BoJ, the ECB and the RBA as there is little scope for change over the next year or so. The BoJ cannot really get more dovish than it already is, so perhaps the JPY weakness and NKY strength is driven by sentiment or technical reasons. With the January high now within reach for the Nikkei, it seems the rally could continue above 24k.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.From NASA EOS to commentary we are asked to look at our actions

What can you do with a New Year?- reach out, restore, remember, Connect.

It's the holiest days of the year for temples and synagogues all over the world. This year the Beverly Hills Temple of the Arts is sharing their programs worldwide through technology. You can watch last year on broadcasts or streaming on Jewish Life Television (JLTV) or DIRECTV, Comcast, Spectrum and other video providers. Today Wednesday, Yom Kippur September 19 from 10 am-12:00pm EST and 9:00-11pm EST and in the West 10 am-12pm PST and during the day. Services will be streamed live at www.bhtota.organd www.jltv.tv.

Consider where we are:

While Florence has been down graded as a storm, there is still necessity to respond today and over time. Disaster maybe an ongoing opportunity to reconnect that is part of this High Holy Day command. It is a feature of looking at the world as "one family indivisible" (allegiancemusical.com website quote).

How will humans treat each other, the earth, next door neighbors, the woman who complains, equal rights, elders, widows, strangers is part of this annual self review. Yom Kippurs seems ever more connected to the tenets to correct course, ask for forgiveness, forgive yourself and get back on course. This is a cliff's note's approach to live a significant live RX to review one's actions, intentions, judgments, and errors/miscalculations annually on the Day of Atonement and throughout the Days of Awe.

Tenets of the faith with new streaming services:

Every service is different whether in California, Japan, Dublin and each of the gatherings uses the same 'book'. The Torah carried in services by the people of the bookcovers the rules and commandments that 'led the Israelites out of bondage'

Rabbi David Baron is surrounding the congregation and those watching worldwide with vital conversation with a subject of the human capacity to respond to tragedy with resourcefulness. He is leading all of us to meet to failure with forgiveness and loss and missteps with redemption. He is modeling this teachable moment to respond, to be resilient, to be creative and to be loving in the middle of crisis or event.

If you want to see or hear the words, the music, the ideas or the guests please tune in:

https://www.broadwayworld.com/los-angeles/article/Rabbi-David-Baron-Announces-Yom-Kippur-Guests-at-the-Beverly-Hills-Temple-of-the-Arts-at-the-Saban-Theatre-20180912

Theme: Resiliency and Guests

Here's what you missed last nightbut watch for how this message is crafted and moves forward today with Veterans and more terrific stories, songs, performances and prayers:

"On Yom Kippur Eve (Kol Nidre) guests on Tuesday, September 18, 2018 will include: Ryan Deitsch, a survivor of the Parkland, FL massacre at Marjory Stoneman High School on February 14, 2018, who is a Student Activist Against Gun Violence, a leader of the March For Our Lives Demonstration in Washington, D.C. and an organizer of the #NeverAgain MSD Movement; Justin and Laura Reiner, a Los Angeles Police Department Officer and his wife, survivors and concertgoers of the October 1, 2017 mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival on the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada; and Dr. Judea Pearl, father of the slain Wall Street Journal journalist, Daniel Pearl, who will speak about the death of his son at the hands of terrorists in Pakistan and a global music day in his son's memory."

Turn it on and participate:

If you missed the last night program, you can watch today tonight or in a few minutes.

The call of the shofar to break down walls and address human needs physical or dynamic.

Small or large tasks can be attempted.

It is no longer rare to think about bringing food, education, medical care, transportation, counseling, voter registration, and helping out.

Media Literacy can help to become aware. Opening the hardened or denying heart is part of this examination and time of prayer.

This thoughtful program is continuing today to deal with "universal themes" to enlighten, entertain, and deliver issues. The Rabbi and participants are acting to confront, to explore, to address, and to redirect ourselves to re-member our highest selves.

It is the perfect time, now, to say we are sorry, we missed the mark, to do good by doing better, and by acknowledging where we have judged and are now responsible to choose life in the time we are allotted. This is the message of this New Year.

________________________________________________

Links and quotes:

Watch Services:

http://jltv.tv

Give Blood to the Red Cross, or read the constitution- "we the people":

http://constitutionus.com

Teen age Initiative that rocked the world:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_for_Our_Lives

George Takei:

http://allegiancemusical.com

http://www.great-quotes.com/quotes/author/George/Takei0



0

"We are going to make a stronger, better, truer democracy.... We will boldly go where America has never gone before."  George Takei

The Great American Songbook may have a word or two for the moment:

Sondheim (Children will Listen) No one is alone people make mistakes):

https://www.songlyrics.com/stephen-sondheim/children-will-listen-lyrics/

No One is Alone (Into the Woods):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unVTf5_p_1A

Watch the services:

https://www.broadwayworld.com/los-angeles/article/Rabbi-David-Baron-Announces-Yom-Kippur-Guests-at-the-Beverly-Hills-Temple-of-the-Arts-at-the-Saban-Theatre-20180912From: Joyce L. Gioia, CMC, CSP -- The Herman Group Austin , TX Wednesday, September 19, 2018

The Herman Trend Alert September 19, 2018 Overtourism According to the latest figures from the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), in 2017, international tourist arrivals set a new record at 1.332 billion, up by about 84 million. That number represents 7 percent growth the largest increase since 2010---and this growth has been happening for eight years in a row. In the first 4 months of 2018, Asia and the Pacific led the world with an increase of 8 percent, while the other regions of Europe (+7 percent), Africa (+6 percent), the Middle East (+4 percent), and the Americas (+3 percent) also recorded upticks. (As previously reported, we believe strongly that the nationalistic and isolationist rhetoric of the current administration has been responsible for depressing these numbers.) The benefits of tourism



No one would dispute the benefits of tourism; it has brought sorely needed financial support to neglected rural communities, softened the blows of financial downturns, brought attention to endangered species, and been responsible for the rebuilding of crumbling, historic cities. "Overtourism" defined



Coined in 2017, "Overtourism" occurs when too many visitors travel to a particular destination. The key is to explain "too many", clearly a subjective assessment. Locals would define it as when rent prices push them out to make way for vacation rentals. Or when narrow roads become clogged by tourist vehicles. Or when wildlife is scared away or when fragile environments become degraded. Locals revolt



Interestingly, it is the local communities in Barcelona, Iceland, Cornwall (UK), and Venice that have begun to revolt. We would add Antarctica to the list, though the penguins are unlikely to protest. (Of these places, only Antarctica and Iceland have taken steps to limit the numbers of tourists.) Even Gili Trawangan, a remote island in Indonesia has been affected by hordes of tourists. There is even a powerful, yet short documentary called, Crowded Out: The Story of Overtourism. The near-term and no-so-near-term futures



The opposite of "responsible tourism", we see that the near-term future for popular tourist spots is bleak. Enterprising entrepreneurs will arrange exclusive visits for small affluent groups when others will be barred. Eventually, the situation will become intolerable for those who have the resources to take effective action---but unfortunately that will not be for at least 10 years. In the meantime, the best advice we can give is to take your vacations at off times, so hopefully the crowds will be somewhat diminished. Special thanks to TravelMole.com for raising our consciousness to this important issue. When they asked their thousands of UK and US travel providers whether they considered overtourism to be "a real issue", 57 percent "Yes"., for calling our attention to this new development.  Copyright 1998-2018 by The Herman Group, Inc. -- reproduction for publication is encouraged, with the following attribution: From "The Herman Trend Alert," by Joyce Gioia, Strategic Business Futurist. 336-210-3548 or http://www.hermangroup.com. To sign up, visit http://www.HermanTrendAlert.com. The Herman Trend Alert is a trademark of The Herman Group, Inc" ********* The Herman Group is a firm of Strategic Business Futurists concentrating on workforce and workplace issues. We forecast the future and advise clients regarding relevant trends and how those trends may affect their lives. Applying our expertise as Certified Management Consultants, we advise corporate leaders regarding employee retention and organizational development to help them build workforce stability. We help organizations become Employers of Choice. We also work with Employer of Choice, Inc. to formally recognize employers that meet the stringent standards dictated by the labor marketplace. As authors of management books and as active professional speakers, we inform and inspire people to make a positive difference in the world of work. You did really get the ball rolling with our retention presentation, overall we have seen a move in the right direction with our turnover. In practice since 1980, we have served a wide variety of clients throughout the United States and in other countries. Our global affiliates assist us in sharing our expertise and advice with clients internationally. Our team of professional consultants and trainers is supported by an administrative staff that gets things done. We also have consultants certified to deliver our programs in your local area. Delivering to both small and large groups across 100 industries, The Herman Group has provided over 2,500 educational and informative keynote speeches and training seminars worldwide. Based in Greensboro, North Carolina, we travel extensively to meet the needs of our clients. We can always be reached through the support team in our office at (800) 227-3566. Overseas callers may reach us through 336-210-3547. Should you have any questions after touring our website, please call or e-mail us at info@hermangroup.com. Get started now on improving the stability and performance of your workforce and increase your chances for success in the future.

Jeff Wheeler /Minneapolis Star Tr /Jeff Wheeler /Minneapolis Star Tr

One of the largest West Texas oil and gas drillers has bought into a sand mine in that region to cut costs.

The Irving company Pioneer Natural Resources, primarily focused on West Texas Permian Basin oil field, said last week that it signed an agreement with U.S. Silica Holdings Inc. to buy a 15-year interest in U.S. Silicas Lamesa sand mine.Convicted felon and former state Sen. Carlos Uresti has received court approval to sell his Helotes estate.

Senior U.S. District Judge David Alan Ezra on Friday granted a joint request by Uresti and federal prosecutors to partially lift a restraining order so the residential property at 15530 Spur Clip can be sold. At least some proceeds from the sale are expected to go to repay defrauded investors in a startup oil field services company in which Uresti had an integral role.

Uresti was convicted earlier this year of 11 felony charges, including securities fraud and money laundering. He was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison and ordered to pay $6.3 million to FourWinds Logistics victims. He was the companys outside legal counsel, recruited investors and held a 1 percent ownership interest.

The San Antonio Democrats conviction ended his political and legal careers.

Uresti, 55, and his wife, Lleanna, have received an offer for the house that is acceptable to them and prosecutors, according to a Friday court filing. The offer was not disclosed, but the house is listed for $1.5 million, down from the original listing amount of $1.7 million.

Any remaining proceeds from the sale, after property loans, taxes and sale costs are paid, will be deposited into the courts registry.

The 8,064-square-foot house, built in 2013, features six bedroom and eight bathrooms. This property is truly captivating, unmatched by its beauty, the listing on Zillow reads. Sitting in the master tub watching the Spurs helps to relax after a long hard day.

Following Urestis conviction, the government obtained a restraining order to prevent Uresti and those close to him from disposing of assets that could be used to pay FourWinds victims.

Prosecutors asked for the restraining order after Lleanna Uresti filed for divorce from her husband about a week after his conviction. Prosecutors have questioned the motives behind the divorce, alleging its an attempt to avoid having to pay restitution to the FourWinds investors. Juanita Pelaez-Prada, Lleana Urestis divorce lawyer, has disputed assertions that the divorce is a sham.

Lleanna Uresti expects to get a portion of the proceeds from the house sale, her lawyer said.

Its a community property state, Pelaez-Prada noted. Were working right now on negotiating a deal but were not sure what exactly that is, so I cant really speak to that.

Attorney John Bud Ritenour Jr., who is handling the appeal of Urestis conviction, said he is not part of that negotiation.

Whatever proceeds Mr. Uresti gets goes to the government for his restitution, Ritenour said.

Ezra also is allowing Uresti to sell some of the personal property in the house. An estate firm has been hired to handle the sale. Proceeds will be deposited in a trust account of Pelaez-Prada.

Meanwhile, JPMorgan Chase Bank has sued Uresti and his one-time law firm to collect more than $325,000 on a loan they allegedly failed to pay back. Urestis law firm originally borrowed $518,900 on his law firms office building in 2012. Uresti personally guaranteed repayment, according to the lawsuit. The suit was filed Friday in Bexar County District Court.

Uresti earlier this year had a deal to sell the building at 924 McCullough Ave. for a little less than $1 million, but the transaction fell through.

Mikal Watts, another lawyer for Uresti, didnt immediately respond to a request for comment on Chases lawsuit. Dallas lawyer K. Mark Vincent, who represents the bank, couldnt immediately be reached for comment.

Uresti was indicted in May 2017 over his involvement in FourWinds. Also indicted were CEO Stan Bates and consultant Gary Cain.

Last week, Bates was sentenced to 15 years in prison and also ordered to pay $6.3 million in restitution. Bates appealed the sentence two days later.

Cain is appealing his sentence of five years and eight months. He was scheduled to self-surrender Tuesday but requested to remain free on bond pending his appeal so he can address his health concerns and care for a disabled daughter.

Ezra denied the request Monday but allowed Cain to surrender Nov. 9.

Patrick Danner is a San Antonio-based staff writer covering banking and civil courts. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | pdanner@express-news.net | Twitter: @AlamoPD2 1 of 2 Photo provided by the Society for Science and the Public Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Photo provided by the Society for Science and the Public Show More Show Less



A San Antonio middle school student who studied how to speed tissue regeneration and healing in injured worms has been named one of 30 finalists for the national Broadcom MASTERS middle school STEM competition.

St. Matthew Catholic School student Laura Reilly, 15, will compete Oct. 19 in Washington, D.C. against 29 other finalists nationwide for prizes of up to $25,000.Carolyn Van Houten /San Antonio Express-News

The San Antonio Independent School District will open an all-girls elementary school next August in what is now Page Middle School.

Students from the campus could go on to SAISDs celebrated Young Womens Leadership Academy, which serves middle and high school grades. The new school, YWLA Primary at Page, will open with kindergarten and first grades, adding grades each year up to fifth.The Border Patrol agent accused of killing four people and assaulting a fifth lived what at least one neighbor called a quiet life with his wife and two children in an upper middle-class subdivision in north Laredo.

A San Antonio man who remembers Juan David Ortiz, 35, when he and his wife, Daniella, lived in a West Side subdivision while he was getting a masters degree at St. Marys University also called him a normal, law-abiding citizen.

Ortiz, known as J.D. to friends, was a Navy veteran who served from July 2001 until May 2009, according to Navy records. A native of Brownsville, he had at least one tour of duty in Iraq as a medic and was the focus of a jubilant welcome-home event at the Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport when he returned from Iraq in 2003.

Its a miracle for me that hes coming home, his mother, Lupita Rocha, told the Brownsville Herald at the time. I can rest now. Im happy.

Rocha has since moved to San Antonio. On Tuesday, her husband said she didnt want to talk about her son.

Over the course of his military career, Ortiz was stationed at Great Lakes, Ill.; Fort Sam Houston; Camp Pendleton, Calif.; Twenty-Nine Palms, Calif.; and Fort Sam Houston again from 2005 to 2009.

While in the military, Ortiz enrolled in American Military University, a private, for-profit online institution, and received a bachelors degree in criminal justice in 2009, a spokesman said.

Ortizs rank was hospital corpsman 2nd class. A Navy spokeswoman declined to answer questions about the nature of Ortizs discharge or whether he had ever been disciplined.

Ortiz and his wife, Daniella, whom he married in 2004, bought a home in the Westbury Place subdivision during his second stint at Fort Sam Houston. He stayed there and commuted to Cotulla once he began working for the Border Patrol in 2009, a neighbor said.

At the Border Patrol, he was promoted to supervisor. He attended St. Marys University between 2011 and 2013 and earned a masters degree in international relations.

In 2015, Ortiz and his wife sold their San Antonio house and moved to Laredo, records show. In December, they took out a $240,000 mortgage for a newly built home in a neighborhood where several other law enforcement officers live.

No one has answered the door at Ortizs house since his arrest; the home appears to be empty.

Ortiz remains in Webb County Jail in lieau of $2.5 million bail, charged with four counts of murder in the deaths of Melissa Ramirez, 29; Claudine Anne Luera, 42; Humberto Ortiz, 28; and a fourth person who hasnt been identified. Hes also charged with aggravated assault and unlawful restraint involving Erika Pena, 26.

Tuesday evening, about 200 people joined the victims relatives for a moment of prayer at San Agustin Plaza in Laredo.

Elva Ortiz said it was hard to learn of her death of her son, who was known as Janelle.

We all lost somebody, a sister, a mom. I lost a son. Its good that they came, and they prayed. It helped me calmed down a little bit because I havent stopped crying, she said.

Were glad for the publics support, said Patricia Benavides, Ramirezs aunt. The prayer gave us a little bit of peace, but we are still destroyed  Look at all that is happening because of one man.

Julia Wallace reports on city and county government for the Laredo Morning Times. | jwallace@lmtonline.comAfter months of construction work, the Archdiocese of San Antonio on Tuesday opened a newly renovated archival center that will safeguard and bring its historical records and artifacts not only into meticulous order but up to 21st-century archival standards.

The collection of rooms inside the archdiocese headquarters on the citys West Side amounts to about 2,800 square feet  a compact space where three centuries of history will be preserved and open both to academics and the public for research.

The archive, formally established in the 1970s, now contains an exhibit area, research library, processing room where documents are scanned, and a vault equipped with a separate heating and air-conditioning system and a nitrogen fire suppression system.

A tour of the reopened archives was conducted for news media Tuesday and a tricentennial celebration of its opening was planned for the evening, officials said.

The (Catholic) Church is the greatest keeper of memory, said Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller. Even Christ said, Do this in remembrance of me, so at the heart of the churchs life is an act of remembrance, which looks at the past, present and, at the same time, looks forward to the future with expectant hope.

Garcia-Siller said the new archive will help us look back with gratitude and learned lessons, so we may go forward with hope.

Archdiocesan officials, who acknowledged the archives have had little investment until now, said about $300,000 was spent on renovations. An additional $200,000 added an electronic document and records management system that allows for the storage and retrieval of a multitude of digitized documents.

Archivist Elvira Sanchez-Kisser said her team will next tackle the organization and moving of collections into the vault. Its the archives largest room with 17 rolling-shelf units that are each six columns deep, each column containing five shelves.

The shelves are mostly empty now, but over the next several months, the four-member staff will fill them with collections of historical documents, church records, papers of bishops and archbishops and precious artifacts, including those of the 1987 visit to San Antonio by Pope John Paul II.

Its a monumental addition, said Sister Jane Ann Slater, the chancellor of the Archdiocese, who the archbishop credited with the vision to reimagine our archives.

Archivists will mount regular exhibitions highlighting special documents and artifacts in hopes of drawing visitors, including schoolchildren.

Among the items now on exhibit is a 1703 baptismal book, handwritten in 18th-century Spanish that contains baptismal, marriage and death records up until 1783. It also documents the establishment of Mission San Antonio de Valero on May 1, 1718, and thus the citys founding. Valero was moved several times before landing at its current location, which later became known as the Alamo.

Garcia-Siller described it as the oldest book in existence about San Antonio and for San Antonio. It contains entries by Fray Antonio de Olivares and Fray Antonio Margil de Jesus and refers to regional peoples such as the Xarame, Mescal, Payugan, Payaya and Apache.

The volume was transferred from San Fernando Cathedral to the archdiocese in 1976 along with 30 other sacramental books dating from 1703 to 1911.

Garcia-Siller thanked retired archivist Brother Ed Loch, a Marianist who for three decades oversaw the archives, for his many years of caring for and collecting and recording the history of the archdiocese.

The archive, established in 1972 by Archbishop Francis Furey, in July received the 2018 Cardinal Bernardin Award for outstanding archive program from the Association of Catholic Diocesan Archivists. Sanchez-Kisser noted that a lot of other dioceses, some even larger than San Antonio, dont provide research opportunities.

Jac Treanor, an archivist and records manager who worked in the Archdiocese of Chicago for many years, assisted with the design of the new archive space and the records management program.

Archive officials hope to have an outside company scan and index the sacramental records up to 1920 and make them available online; publish finding aids so researchers know what the archive contains; and scan additional materials to add to the archive.

Garcia-Siller said modernizing the archive and making it more accessible is a duty to the service of all people.

Our archives preserve the history of the people who have built the church, our city and our archdiocese from the very beginning, the archbishop said. We want to keep alive their significant contributions, travels and sacramental moments so we may remember and find connections with our roots.

Elaine Ayala covers religion and minority affairs in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | eayala@express-news.net | Twitter: @ElaineAyalaTemporary signs in and around Alamo Plaza announce that a public hearing on proposed street closures in the historic plaza is tentatively set for Oct. 18.

Closure of parts of Alamo, Houston and Crockett streets to traffic is a key element of a planned overhaul of the plaza. Proponents say the removal of traffic would make the plaza a more quiet and reverent place and provide room for an interpretive area with outdoor exhibits that would be connected to new Alamo museum on the west side of the plaza.

Alamo Street would be closed from north of Houston Street to Commerce Street on the south. That would require Losoya Street to be converted from one-way southbound to two-way. Both changes have drawn some opponents, in part because the plaza would no longer be wide open, with access controlled with 42-inch-tall barriers and gates.

The street closures will be among the issues considered by the City Council.

The earliest that a hearing could be held by the council is 9 a.m. Oct. 18. That date is contingent on decisions by the citys Historic and Design Review Committee and the Planning Commission, which also will review the plan for the plaza. Another factor is the negotiation of a long-term lease agreement between the city, which owns the plaza, and the Texas General Land Office, which is the custodian of the state-owned Alamo complex.

The city said the date could be changed if those three conditions are not met in time for the Oct. 18 public hearing and City Council consideration.

Mayor Ron Nirenberg has not added his signature to a resolution signed Sept. 12 by Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush to endorse the plan, as a member of a two-person executive committee. A spokesman for the mayor said the citys approval process can move forward without Nirenbergs signature.

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The head of the Air Force training command said Tuesday that pilots suffering mysterious physiological episodes in the T-6A Texan II sometimes received varying amounts of oxygen from an onboard system, in some cases less than half of what it was capable of delivering.

Lt. Gen. Steven Kwast said blame for the problem rested with the system, a device designed to pump fresh air to pilots as they fly at high altitudes. He said the good news is it has nothing to do with the mix of gases in the cockpit of the plane itself, describing the air in it as safe and effective.

Oxygen levels, however, can lurch from from as low as 40 percent to 100 percent, a fluctuation that some pilots have no trouble with during a flight  though not in all cases.

Its that fluctuation that were finding is the human body, on some days it does just fine with that because the normal mechanisms in your body adjust, but sometimes - and were not sure exactly why, if youre tired, if youre dehydrated or whatever it might be  that dynamic can create what feels like physiological instances or hypoxia, for example, Kwast said.

Kwasts comments, made during a media roundtable at the Air Force Associations Air, Space & Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, came only hours before the crash of a T-6A in a field near Rolling Oaks Mall. Both pilots ejected.

The Air Force confirmed the crash, but had no information on the cause.

Failures in the planes oxygen system have so far resulted in at least 61 reported unexplained physiological episodes during the first six months of this year and triggered an Air Force, Navy and NASA investigation.

The San Antonio-based Air Education and Training Command last week said the investigation had found that varying levels of oxygen in the cockpit was the major factor in unexplained physiological episodes.

The problem has alarmed T-6 pilots and their families. As many as 11 pilots with the 12th Flying Training Wing had refused to fly the aircraft earlier this year. A squadron commander, Lt. Col. J.C. Gorman, halted flight operations June 25 after pilots expressed concerns about the safety of the Texan II, the primary Air Force trainer. The resumed flying the next day.

The Navy, too, has struggled to cope with a rising number of physiological episodes in its T-45C Goskawk trainer since 2014. In January 2017, a significant increase in severity and frequency of physiological events related to the oxygen system occurred and continued through March.

Reacting to the problem, 49 T-45 Goshawk instructor pilots at training bases in Florida and Texas bases refused to fly the plane at the end of March. The T-45 fleet resumed modified flight operations in mid-April for instructors, using a modified mask that circumvented the oxygen system.

Even as the Air Force has said it believes it has found the root cause of the oxygen problem, the Navy said Tuesday it had not. It said in a release Tuesday that progress has been made in understanding and applying mitigation of both types of physiological episodes, but the trends have not been reversed or a root cause identified.

The Air Force has been tight-lipped about its safety investigation. After pilots told the Express-News about a Randolph instructor pilot who suffered a physiological incident that left him struggling to recall parts of the mission the next day, commanders ordered that reports of such episodes be covered by safety privilege, which forbids public discussion about them.

Kwast said Tuesday that the severity of the Air Forces episodes has been very, very low, and added that the issue would be made clear when the Safety Investigation Report is released. A training command spokeswoman later cautioned that the entire report would not be released, but parts of it would be provided to the media.

He did not say which bases had reported physiological episodes.

So youll see some of those numbers come out, but thats the bottom line takeaway is they are outliers, they are minor, but again, our responsibility is to really know whats going on in the physics here and making sure we are doing everything in our power to make sure we have safe and effective aircraft for our air crew to train in, Kwast said.

sigc@express-news.netVoters elected political newcomer Pete Flores to the Texas Senate on Tuesday, flipping a Democratic district red for the first time in 139 years and bolstering Republicans supermajority in the chamber ahead of the November elections.

A retired game warden, Flores defeated former state and U.S. Rep. Pete Gallego for the Senate District 19 seat after receiving backing from some of the states most prominent politicians, including Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and U.S. Sens John Cornyn and Ted Cruz.

We conservatives are conservative in the way we make approaches. The gunfights not over until the last shots fired, Flores told the Express-News after Gallego conceded in a phone call just before 9 p.m. The last shots been fired.

SUBSCRIBERS: How a retired game warden defied odds in Senate District 19

According the Secretary of States website, Flores won with 53 percent of the vote to Gallegos 47 percent with 44,487 ballots cast.

Flores and Gallego competed in Tuesdays runoff after emerging from an eight-candidate field in first- and second-place, respectively, in Julys special election to replace former Sen. Carlos Uresti. The longtime lawmaker vacated his seat in June after being convicted of 11 felony charges.

Now Playing: Voters elected political newcomer Pete Flores to the Texas Senate on Tuesday, Sep. 18. Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick addressed the watch party in San Antonio. Video: San Antonio Express-News

In his victory speech, Flores reflected about the historic significance of his win and the job ahead.

This district has not been Republican since Reconstruction. And in September of 2018, its Republican once again, Flores told supporters. The work starts tomorrow.

Christian Archer, Gallegos campaign strategist, said he was shocked by the results, adding that they werent able to generate as much excitement as the Republicans.

I dont have any regrets, but I have a lot of disappointment, Archer said.

Flores win marked an incredible upset in a district that political observers said shouldnt have been competitive for Republicans. Low turnout in special elections and high-level GOP interests in preserving a Senate supermajority helped push Flores across the line, they said.

It will provide a completely unexpected gift for Republicans for the next legislative session, said Mark Jones, a professor of political science at Rice University.

READ ALSO: Judge denies Texas GOP's request that could have kept Democrat off SD 19 ballot

Jones said Flores victory all but assured a Republican supermajority next year, which would allow Senate Republicans to bring bills to the floor without any Democratic support

Tonight, I doubt anyone other than Pete Flores is happier than Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Jones said.

Indeed, Patrick was jubilant at Flores victory party at Don Pedros restaurant on San Antonios Southwest Side.

Tonight, you all just made history, Patrick told supporters. For the first time in history, we have 21 Republican senators. For the first time in history, we have a Hispanic Republican senator.

Patrick, who spent around $175,000 on Flores campaign, said the supermajority was secured Tuesday night.

This guy gives us a two-thirds majority, he said.

Late Tuesday, the Republican Party of Texas also touted Flores win.

Congratulations to Peter Flores on his stunning victory in SD 19 tonight  a thrilling win for Peter Flores, the citizens of SD 19 and Republicans across Texas, Chairman James Dickey said in a statement.

More than 25,000 Texans voted in the early voting period and by mail before Tuesday. Some county election officials said theyve seen higher turnout in the runoff than the special election a few months ago.

Brandon Rottinghaus, a professor of political science at the University of Houston and author of Inside Texas Politics, credited Gallegos loss to complacency.

Earlier Tuesday, he said Flores candidacy energized state GOP leaders who saw the district as a potential steal.

In Medina County, a line started to form at the polling location in Castroville around 4:30 p.m.

Hilda Mendoza, the election judge there, said turnout was higher than expected, which she said was likely because the election pitted a Republican against a Democrat.

It was an enormous ... increase from the special election across Devine, Hondo and Castroville, Mendoza said.

Voters in the heavily-Republican district said they were confident Flores would win. Others said they did not want to elect Gallego, who previously represented the county.

Weve had Pete Gallego and I wasnt happy with what he did before, Marie Rowe said.

In Bexar County, Elections Administrator Jacque Callanen said turnout was relatively low, but impressive for a special election.

Theyre voting like crazy, Callanen said.

At around 6:30 p.m., as pollsters were packing up Vote Here signs at Collier Elementary School in South San Antonio, Jose Duran cast his ballot for Gallego.

The seat was empty. You have to fill it with somebody, Duran said. He preferred Gallego because of his experience in government, he said.

Ruben Trejo, who also voted in the final hour, said the choice was simple: Hes a Democrat, so he also chose Gallego.

The last Republican to hold the seat was Andrew Phelps McCormick. According to the Legislative Library of Texas, he left office in 1879.Democrats tried to console themselves after the July 31 special election in Senate District 19.

Yes, they conceded, it was disappointing that Pete Flores, a retired Republican game warden from Pleasanton, finished first in this solid Democratic district.

But everything would be different in the runoff, they said. After all, the two Democratic heavyweights in the race  state Rep. Roland Gutierrez and former Congressman Pete Gallego  split the Dem vote in the special election and with Gallego getting a one-on-one shot against Flores in the runoff, the planets would realign and order would be restored.

READ ALSO: Flores flips a Democratic district red for the first time in 139 years

Raw numbers supported that theory: Flores received 9,003 votes in the special election, while Gallego and Gutierrez combined for 13,969. Simple math, right?

Except for the real-world inconvenience of living, breathing human beings who dont necessarily adhere to such simplistic assumptions.

Thats why Pete Flores did the near-impossible and carried Senate District 19 in Tuesdays runoff.

Democrats should have been worried from the moment the runoff race took shape.

Senate District 19, a sprawling 17-county border district that winds its way from the South Side of San Antonio past the West Texas town of Alpine, is familiar ground for Gallego.

He won his first political race there in 1990 as a mustachioed 28-year-old prosecutor who knocked off Democratic incumbent Dudley Harrison in Texas House District 68. He held that seat for 22 years and then won a congressional seat in 2012 in U.S. District 23, basically an elongated version of Senate District 19.

If, after all that history, all those campaigns, Gallego hadnt yet closed the deal with the voters in this district, what chance did he have to win their enthusiastic backing in the seven weeks between the special and the runoff?

Flores, on the other hand, was still in the process of introducing himself to voters. And after getting endorsements from GOP leaders such as Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in the week before the July 31 election, he surged to the finish line, getting more votes than Gallego and Gutierrez combined.

When we polled this thing a month ago, I was very encouraged for a lot of reasons, said Flores strategist Matt Mackowiak. One of the reasons I was encouraged was that Pete Flores only had 50 percent name ID. So we had room to grow.

After running a bare-bones operation in the first round, Flores suddenly found himself flush with cash from Republican leaders excited by the real possibility of an upset victory.

Since July 22, Flores has raised $327,017, nearly half of it in in-kind contributions from Patrick for advertising and polling.

In the final weeks, he hit the airwaves hard, with TV ads touting his pro-life, pro-gun conservative credentials and radio spots featuring allies such as former Gov. (and current Energy Secretary) Rick Perry.

READ ALSO: Judge denies Texas GOP's request that could have kept Democrat off SD 19 ballot

Gallego offered no TV ads of his own.

Floress push was most evident in Medina County, a community where Democratic dreams go off to die.

The early vote turnout in Medina County was so strong for the runoff that it actually exceeded the entire special-election turnout. Flores took an astounding 81 percent of the Medina County vote, giving him a 3,000-vote cushion that decided the race.

Medina is one of the most Republican counties in the state, not just this district, Mackowiak said. Our strategy all along was to tie in Bexar if we could, or even narrowly win it, because if he (Gallego) didnt have the margin in Bexar, there was really no path.

Whats the expression? You fish where the fish are? We went where the fish were.

Gallego has been a solid public servant over the years, but hes also an old-school centrist who doesnt stir passion among young progressives. At the same time, he was just liberal enough for Flores to define as a stooge of U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (a favorite target of the GOP for a solid decade).

Gutierrez did nothing to help his fellow Democrat in the runoff, a predictable outcome given the bitter, personal battle they waged in the first round. In addition, Gallego had to face allegations, reported by the Express-News, that he lived outside the district, with his wife and son in Austin.

Finally, he faced the residual effects of the corruption scandal that forced the last Democrat in this seat, Carlos Uresti, to resign in disgrace.

The conventional wisdom is that this seat wont stay Republican for long and its easy to see Gutierrez coming back for another shot in 2020.

As for Gallego, this looks like the end of the line. Over the past four years, he has lost two congressional races and a state Senate contest.

He fell to Will Hurd two years ago in U.S. District 23, despite the fact that Democratic standard bearer Hillary Clinton carried the presidential vote there by three percent over Republican candidate Donald Trump. And on Tuesday night Gallego dropped an election in a district thats been an automatic for Democrats.

Ultimately, however, Gallego didnt lose this race so much as Flores won it.

@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2 1 of 2 Nathan Hunsinger, The Dallas Morning News / Staff Photographer Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Courtesy of Twitter Show More Show Less



AUSTIN  The Twitter account for the state attorney generals spokesman has vanished days after the high-ranking state employee shared tweets mocking allegations of sexual assault against U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

The Twitter account for Marc Rylander, the attorney generals communications director, was apparently deleted late Tuesday or early Wednesday. It is unclear whether he will be tweeting under another account.Re: Trump not the only one breaking norms, by Marc A. Thiessen, Other Views, Saturday:

Thiessen seems to conveniently forget that George W. Bush left the presidency markedly unpopular. The Iraq War and the collapse of the economic bubble of 07 and 08 weighed heavily on him. Republicans had not called on him for more than a decade.

If Barack Obama reversed Bushs policies, it was because, first, Democrats had to regulate predatory lending, subprime mortgages, derivative bundling and American credit card debt. Second, the health care industry was in crisis, with Americans paying a greater portion of their income for care than the rest of the industrialized world.

Today, Bush and Obama are in agreement on the Trump-induced moral crisis. Thank you for listing Obamas achievements. His speech was so refreshing and reassuring. American class and dignity still exist somewhere.

The author also forgets to mention that the Russians have helped install the Trump government and even today are menacing the November election. Many of Trumps cronies are flipping, eager to offer evidence.

Michael L. Vogelsang

Go ahead, compare

Re: In cahoots with Cruz, Your Turn, Sept. 9:

I wish the Express-News would publish a comparison of Rafael Ted Cruzs and Robert Beto ORourkes stands on immigration  the wall and the separation of families and detention of children  education and the poverty resulting without it.

Also on health care, the war on womens ability to prevent unwanted pregnancies, lack of protection for the environment, the ignorant bathroom bill mentality, the ineffective and expensive war on drugs and all the other issues our dysfunctional Texas politicians and the Congress havent addressed appropriately.

If young people and all those who display Beto signs show up at the polls for the November election, letter writers and other right-wingers may be in for a rude awakening!

Ginger Burkholder, Grey Forest

No ethnic conflict

Re: Alamo battle against dictatorship, Another View by Allan Parker, Saturday:

Thank you for printing this. It is a sensible, timely and informed message. I agree to never surrender and never forget.

Bev Lemes, BulverdeThe San Antonio Board of Realtors has appointed its former general counsel as CEO, two weeks after firing the CEO it had hired in June after conducting a national search.

The new CEO, Gilbert S. Gonzalez, joined SABOR in 2012 and also served as the organizations vice president of risk management and supervised its government affairs team, according to a news release.

Gilbert has displayed an unwavering commitment and dedication to SABORs staff, mission and vision, SABOR Chair Lorena Pena said in the release. Gilbert is a native San Antonian and already has a strong track record with SABOR. His knowledge of the community and his experience with SABOR make him uniquely qualified to lead the organization.

EXPRESS-NEWS: San Antonio Realtors group fires CEO, raising concerns

On Sept. 5, SABORs board of directors voted to terminate the former CEO, Shane Johnson, who joined the organization in mid-June after it hired a recruiter to lead a six-month national search. The board decided he was just not the right match, Pena told the Express-News earlier this month, declining to elaborate.

Johnsons abrupt termination came after SABOR voted last year to oust its chairwoman Michele Bunting Ross, accusing her of poor attendance and mistreatment of staff. But Ross and some SABOR members said the charges were trumped up and that she was targeted for trying to make changes that were unpopular with the board.

I am honored to represent the members of SABOR at a local, state and national level, Gonzalez said in a statement. The growth of San Antonio and surrounding areas makes this an exciting time to be part of the real estate community.

Before joining SABOR, Gonzalez served as a staff attorney for the Bexar County Courts Administration and worked as an assistant district attorney in the Bexar County District Attorneys Office, according to the news release.STAMFORD  Removing the dam didnt create a buzz. Neither did redirecting the river or reshaping the land to form a flood plain.

But the fountain that will start shooting streams of water Thursday in Mill River Park is likely to ignite some excitement.

Its because, after nine years of construction on the citys central park  a concept that dates back a century  the fountain will be something people can see from Washington Boulevard, the biggest vantage point.

That side of the park has looked like a construction site  mounds of dirt surrounded by a chain-link fence  until it was cleared last month.

For the longest time, people coming down Washington Boulevard couldnt see the part of the park thats completed, said Dudley Williams, president and CEO of the Mill River Park Collaborative, the nonprofit working with the city on a major renovation of the once-blighted park. We hope the fountain will be a sign of a new era.

The fountain will get a lot of ooohs and aaahs, said Nia Rhodes Jackson, director of visitor experience for the collaborative. She anticipates it will draw more people to the quietly rippling Mill River, swimming with fish and visited by snowy egrets  an interaction of people and nature in the heart of the city, Rhodes Jackson said.

Where else in a large city can you go into the central district and see rabbits and turtles and red-tailed hawks, meadows and native plantings, butterflies and all kinds of birds? she said. You can see half-a-dozen species of fish just steps from Broad Street.

To view the fish, you have to walk along one of the park paths to the natural stone slabs placed on the river bank. Water jets from the fountain, however, will be visible even to the speediest motorist wheeling down Washington Boulevard.

We hope it will get people out of their cars, Williams said.

The fountain, designed by Delta Fountains of Jacksonville, Fla., the company that designed the Sept. 11 memorial fountains in lower Manhattan and at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., has 52 nozzles, said James Turner, vice president of design for the company.

Half are pop jets that shoot water in short bursts or sustained streams about 6 feet high, Turner said. The other half are arching jets that throw water about 20 feet from the edge of the perimeter toward the center.

Each nozzle has its own controlled, color-changing LED.

A variety of light shows have been programmed so far, for special occasions such as pink for breast cancer awareness and red, white and blue for Fourth of July celebrations, Turner said.

The staff of the collaborative has been trained to operate the lights, he said. The fountain can operate for many hours a day, all week long, he said.

Its a circulating system, Turner said. The water is captured and filtered and chemically treated. Its not supposed to pool  it drains back to the trench. Pumps pull it from the trench and pump back to the nozzles.

The 10,000-square-foot oval, measuring 134 feet by 92 feet, is top-tier in terms of scale, Turner said.

The fountain, which will convert to an ice rink each winter, was funded by a $5 million donation from the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation. The gift also covers the cost of a splash pad under construction at the park playground, set to open next year, and skate rentals and lessons for children who otherwise would not have an opportunity to enjoy the sport.

The ice rink, which can accommodate 150 recreational skaters, is set to open Nov. 17, Williams said.

In the meantime, his staff has to tackle the learning curve of programming the fountain, Williams said. The goal is to have the jets streaming from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day, he said.

Thats our plan, he said.

We want people to have a chance to view it at night with all the colored lights, Rhodes Jackson said.

A sound system, set to be installed next year, will allow the staff to set the water jets to music, she said. It also will provide music for skating.

The Steven & Alexandra Cohen Skating Center and Fountain is the latest addition to Mill River, a city park. The nonprofit collaborative is contracted to run programs, oversee the renovation, and raise money for the park. The parks master plan estimates the renovation will cost $60 million and encompass 28 acres of greenway along the river from Stamford Harbor to Bridge Street.

The collaborative has reported that it has raised $22 million in private donations and $6 million in grants for the renovation. The city provides a third of the parks annual operating budget, about $640,000, and the collaborative receives 50 percent of the incremental tax increases that result when the value of properties surrounding the park are enhanced by development or renovations.

In most cities, you hear stories about green space disappearing, Williams said. We have a story of green space being created.

Many U.S. cities work with nonprofit collaboratives or conservancies to build and operate urban parks, Rhodes Jackson said. It started with New Yorks Central Park in the 1980s, she said.

That showed that, to get the kind of care and attention you have to put into these places, the public and private sectors have to work together, she said.

acarella@stamfordadvocate.com; 203-964-2296. American Consumer News, LLC dba MarketBeat 2010-2021. All rights reserved.

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View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19.Farmers are being asked to submit live samples of cabbage stem flea beetle with suspected resistance to insecticides for testing.

AHDB-funded monitoring work has tracked the rise of beetles with resistance to pyrethroids, a special chemical class of active ingredients found in many insecticides, over the last few years.

Cabbage stem flea beetle samples from right across the winter oilseed rape production area are required to provide an accurate picture of resistance in the UK.

Steve Foster, who coordinates the screening work at Rothamsted Research, said: Weve already received many samples from the South East this season but we need more samples from other parts of the UK too, including Scotland.

So far, 25 samples have been screened at the equivalent of a full field rate pyrethroid application. Of these samples, many were relatively resistant.

The screening evidence reinforces the point that any decision to apply pyrethroid insecticides must be based on risk.

Failure to do this places additional selection pressure on resistance mechanisms and results in increasing control issues in subsequent years.

If a pyrethroid application is deemed necessary, full recommended field rates should be used. If the application is not effective and cannot be explained by factors, such as poor spray coverage, then it is likely that the population is resistant.

In such cases, further pyrethroids should not be applied, as it will continue to select for resistance and harm natural enemies.An agricultural college has been awarded 430,000 to construct a "modern digital hub" which will showcase the future of British farming.

Askham Bryan Colleges will install the latest high-tech robotic milking parlour and automated calf feeding system, plus a farm information centre with a new digital classroom.

Around 60 of the college's 200-head dairy herd will use the robot system, with the rest being milked traditionally using the existing system.

The college, based in North Yorkshire, specialises in land-based further and higher education courses and apprenticeship provision and has around 5,000 students from across the country.

The digital hub, made possible due to the 430,000 investment from LEP Local Growth Fund, will be situated at Westfield Farm, within the main York campus.

'Huge challenge'

Dr Ruth Smith, Chair of the York, North Yorkshire & East Riding Enterprise Partnership (YNYER) Skills explained that the investment was made because the local rural economy will likely face a "huge challenge" in the coming years with Brexit.

Farming will need to innovate and be ready to use the very latest technology that allows them to bring efficiencies into production lines, Dr Smith said.

By investing in Askam Bryans technology offering, were ensuring that the young people of the region will be prepared with the right skills, to not only seek employment in the farming industry, but to develop as the next generation of leaders in agriculture.

Digitalising the farm means that college will be able to collect data, analyse it and compare different milking systems, looking at costs and driving efficiency.

Work on the project is expected to begin this autumn with completion anticipated for the start of term in September 2019.A seasonal agricultural workers scheme could be the only possible sector-based work migration scheme permitted for low-skilled workers after Brexit, a new report suggests.

It also calls for farmers to pay out more for the privileged access to post-Brexit labour they will receive.

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has published its report on the impact of European Economic Area (EEA) migration in the UK.

The report explores current and likely future patterns of EEA migration into the UK and makes a series of recommendations for designing the UKs post-Brexit system for work-based immigration.

The Committee sets out a general principle that policy changes should make it easier for higher-skilled workers to migrate to the UK than lower-skilled workers.

It recommends that EU citizens should not necessarily be preferred over non-EU migrants, on the assumption that UK immigration policy will not form part of an agreement with the EU.

Under the current system, workers from the EEA, which includes all EU countries, enjoy freedom of movement, travelling and working within the area without visas.

'Privileged access'

Despite an emphasis on higher-skilled workers, the report said not bringing in a new seasonal agricultural workers scheme (SAWS) could lead to closures in the fruit-picking industry.

It said: If a seasonal agriculture worker scheme was introduced we recommend that employers pay a higher minimum wage in return for the privileged access to labour this scheme would give the sector, in order to encourage increases in productivity.

The government has confirmed that it will study the findings of the report, but plans to permanently reintroduce SAWS or any similar scheme are not yet definite.

However, both the Home Secretary Sajid Javid and Defra Secretary Michael Gove confirmed earlier this month that a two-year pilot scheme will give the green light for British farmers to attract non-EU workers.

The scheme will be capped at just 2,500 workers a year as part of the two-year trial.

While welcomed as a step in the right direction, farm groups and associations have said the '2,500' figure will have "little effect" on the current shortages UK farms are facing.

'Fails to recognise'

Meanwhile, the CLA, which represents 30,000 farmers and rural businesses, said the MAC report "fails to recognise" that the need for seasonal labour within the rural economy is far broader than just farming.

CLA President, Tim Breitmeyer said: Tourism and the agri-food industry require a constant supply of multi-skilled labour. Putting a stop to this pipeline will jeopardise the future viability of many rural businesses and encourage the moving of production offshore.

We are against an arbitrary immigration cap and will continue to work with the Government to ensure post-Brexit immigration policy is as flexible as possible.

We want to see the supply of migrant labour to rural businesses maintained and increased to boost growth and productivity. These workers are critical and without them the rural economy will struggle to survive, Mr Breitmeyer said.

The government says it will listen to the Committee's report and bring in an immigration system that works for the whole of the UK, adding: "EU citizens play an important and positive role in our economy and society and we want that to continue after we leave".The tenant farming sector has demanded the Government moves quickly to rectify its "failure" in addressing changes to the legislative framework for agricultural tenancies.

The recently-announced Agriculture Bill does not include the recommendations for legislative change presented to Government last autumn by the Tenancy Reform Industry Group (TRIG).

Instead, Defra have promised a consultation on possible changes.

The Tenant Farmers' Association (TFA) is now appealing for an "absolute commitment" from the Government for new legislation rather than "further warm words".

One of the TFAs keystone recommendations is to encourage landlords to offer longer term farm business tenancies by restricting existing Inheritance Tax Agricultural Property Relief available for let agricultural land, only to those landlords prepared to let for 10 years or more.

Figures show that 85% of all farm business tenancies are let for 5 years or less, which the TFA says is unsustainable for the sector.

'Illogical'

Disappointment in the sector is compounded by the fact that Defra specifically asked for the advice and recommendations of TRIG on what changes would be needed to assist the tenanted sector of agriculture in the post-Brexit, economic environment.

But according to TFA Chief Executive, George Dunn it is "illogical" for the Government to ask for recommendations and then do nothing.

We must have Government amendments to the Agriculture Bill to plug this gap or a commitment to an early, agricultural tenancies Bill, said Mr Dunn.

The TFA is also submitting its representations to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond, in advance of this years autumn budget statement.

The Government has challenged the farming industry to achieve greater levels of productivity, Mr Dunn added.

The tenanted sector of agriculture accepts that challenge but needs the Government to play its part by bringing forward essential changes to tenancy legislation and taxation of land, said Mr Dunn.Home-grown British food accounts for three-quarters of the NHS's 200m annual food budget, it has emerged.

This years British Food Fortnight, the biggest annual celebration of local food, shines a light on the NHS and the hospitals who continue to buy and serve local and seasonal food.

According to the Hospital Caterers Association, hospitals are thanking British farmers by buying plenty of British food, accounting for 75% of the entire food budget.

British Food Fortnight, which starts in autumn, will be paying tribute to hospital caterers who continue to serve the very best British ingredients in healthy meals, day in day out.

It coincides with the year-long celebration of the founding of the NHS, which turned 70 on 5 July 2018.

All members of the Hospital Caterers Association will now be offered a new, specially designed Love British Food/NHS logo in recognition of their support for British food and farming.

'Seasonal ingredients'

PS100, a group which advocates healthy eating in the public sector, said it is "encouraging" to see hospitals back British and turn away cheaper imports.

The group's chair, Andy Jones said: While the average budget for food only per patient per day is just 3.45, by using good quality, British seasonal ingredients, its possible to provide healthy and hearty meals for patients within this budget.

Chris Neale, Head of Catering at Nottingham University Hospital, is saving 500k a year by procuring approximately 65% of their food locally, and taking patients meal order 3 hours before the next meal service and distributing to its 90 wards where it is reheated using Burlodge ovens.

It is important that patients of Nottingham University Hospital know the provenance of the ingredients used in their meals and we promote this at every opportunity, Mr Jones added.

It follows news of 140 MPs from across the political spectrum displaying their support for the British farming industry last week, by wearing a specially made wheat-pin badge.Farmers have called for the badger cull to be reinstated in Wales following the release of figures which show the cull is having positive progress in England.

The Farmers' Union of Wales (FUW) is calling for the Welsh badger cull programme to be reinstated following English cull results.

The figures demonstrate the impact of badger culling on bovine TB levels in the High Risk Area of England.

Defra statistics demonstrate that the completion of the 4 year badger culls in both Somerset and Gloucestershire have reduced the number of new TB outbreaks by around half.

Now the union is urging the Welsh Government to reinstate the Intensive Action Area (IAA) badger cull programme, which was abolished and replaced with a badger vaccination programme under the then Environment Minister, John Griffiths.

The English badger cull programme forms part of the strategy for achieving Officially Bovine TB Free Status for England by 2038.

The results have prompted Defra to roll-out the cull in the remaining High Risk Areas of England.

Ian Lloyd, FUW Animal Health and Welfare Committee Chairman, said the findings are "unsurprising" and support the union's interpretation of the results of the Randomised Badger Culling Trials.

"Previous modelling by the FUW showed that herd incidences could be reduced by 30 percent in a 5 year cull and by a further 33 percent in the following 3 years post-culling," Mr Lloyd said.

The union's stance on badger culling is supported by the European Commission's bTB sub-group, comprising veterinary experts from across the EU.

Indeed, the 2012 report from this group stated that there was "no scientific evidence to demonstrate that badger vaccination will reduce the incidence of TB in cattle".

The report went on to state that there was "considerable evidence to support the removal of badgers in order to improve the TB status of both badgers and cattle".

Mr Lloyd added: "The conclusions of this report, and the ongoing failure of Welsh Government to tackle the wildlife reservoir of disease confirm that Wales' TB eradication programme has lost impetus.

In contrast to England, farmers in Wales have seen just 5 badgers culled since the start of the Refreshed TB Eradication programme almost a year ago.

"The costs of this meagre cull programme have been exorbitant and it is now time for the Welsh TB programme to place the same emphasis on dealing with wildlife as it does cattle.

In light of the English results, and the fact that Welsh Government effectively has a plan on the shelf which is, in many ways, ready to go, it is now time to reinstate the original plan for the IAA in order to accelerate the Welsh bovine TB programme.

He added: Under the Refreshed TB programme, cattle keepers in Wales have adhered to numerous costly and burdensome cattle controls and restrictions. FUW members had a reasonable expectation that this same programme would make significant inroads in dealing with badgers. That expectation has not yet been met.

Statistics show that more than 10,000 cattle were culled due to bovine TB in Wales in 2017, representing a 2.3 percent rise on the previous year.Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release

SubCategory Select Sub-CategoryAbhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan are not just famous Bollywood stars but also doting parents to their daughter, Aaradhya Bachchan. The adorable family often travels together and the paps love to click their pictures, especially of Aaradhya. While mostly we see the little one happily posing with mamma Aishwarya, there are times when she seems to be uncomfortable with it.Not too happy with the star kids constantly being under the media glare, Manmarziyaan actor Abhishek Bachchan spoke at length about disadvantages that come with it. Abhishek said, When I was growing up, we didn't have that amount of media around. But it is what it is. It's here to stay. There's nothing that you can do about it. I request them to leave the children alone. Let them just grow up normally and have a normal childhood. They (the kids) don't understand what's going around.Speaking about the constant media attention on his daughter Aaradhya, Abhishek added, Aishwarya and I decided to be actors. We decided to step into this world. It's not Aaradhya's choice. She's our child. Let her grow up and decide. Then it's okay. Let the children just be. They are too young. Let them have a normal life. That would be my request which I know would not happen. This is what it is. Now, you just have to learn to deal with it.On the work front, Abhishek and Aishwarya will begin shooting for their next together  Gulab Jamun next year in June or July.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After a series of successful song hits Like 'Paani Da Rang', 'Saadi Galli Aaja' and 'Nazm Nazm' amongst others, Ayushmann Khurrana is back with a romantic melody titled ' Aap se Milkar 'for his upcoming next AndhaDhun to woo your hearts.

Penned by Jaideep Sahni and composed by Amit Trivedi, the track has been shot at Francos the bar in Mumbai. Its a romantic number which shows the love chemistry between Ayushmann and Radhika moving around the city. Ayushmann is super excited about this song since its first association with Sriram Raghavan. Check out the song right away here-

Interestingly, the actor plays a musician in the film however with a twist. Ayushmann Khurrana plays a blind pianist in the film. A love connection with Radhika Apte and an unknown relationship with Tabu in the film with Ayushmann has left the audience with curiosity.

Exclusive! Sanya Malhotra Is Excited To Watch Thugs Of Hindostan For This Reason

AndhaDhun stars celebrated actress Tabu in a pivotal role. The actress will be seen in a grey character once again after Drishyam . The film also features Radhika Apte who lately had been getting a lot of appreciation for her work.

'AndhaDhun' is directed by Sriram Raghavan starring Tabu, Ayushmann Khurrana, and Radhika Apte and is slated to release on 5th October.Salman Khan announces Aayush Sharma & Warina Hussain's Loveratri title to Loveyatri| FilmiBeat

Aayush Sharma is all geared up for his big debut. But even before its release, the film found itself in the midst of a controversy when a certain section of people expressed their displeasure over the film's title which was rhyming with Navratri, a popular festival in India. So much so that they even filed a petition in a court in Muzzafarpur and the court asked the police officials to file an FIR against the makers of Loveratri, including Salman Khan.

Exclusive! Sanya Malhotra Is Excited To Watch Thugs Of Hindostan For This Reason

Fearing unnecessary controversy, Salman has now changed the film's title to Loveyatri, captioning it as 'The Journey of Love'. Last night, the superstar took to his Instagram page to unveil the new poster, mentioning the new title.

Earlier, during the launch of Bigg Boss 12, Salman had said that the title of the film was beautiful, and he cannot comprehend why few people have a problem with it.

The superstar was quoted as saying, "Some people, I don't know who they are, have some problem with title of the film. It is a beautiful title. There is nothing more beautiful than love, so it is called Loveratri. It is not demeaning any culture. Our prime minister is from that culture. So, when you play a character, like I played a sardar in a film or I played a Haryanvi in Sultan, I do it with a lot of respect. We are making the film with Navaratri in the backdrop. We have made this beautiful film celebrating the music, colour, love and the fun of festive season."

Abhishek Bachchan Doesn't Like Aaradhya Getting Papped; Says, 'Let Her Grow Up & Decide'!

Directed by Abhiraj Minawala, Loveyatri marks the Bollywood debut of Warina Hussain. The film is slated to hit the big screens on 5th October.

Meanwhile, do you folks think it was right of Salman and the makers to change the title to Loveyatri? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.Bigg Boss Malayalam, hosted by none other than Mollywood's own Mohanlal, does enjoy a fan base of its own. The first season is almost nearing its completion and the contest is becoming more exciting with each passing day. The house is left with as many as 7 contestants now.

As you all know, in the Bigg Boss house, the contestants have to spend nearly 100 days and they aren't allowed to use mobile phones, computers or books. Interestingly, in the weekend episode, which was aired a couple of days ago, some of the contestants had expressed their eagerness to watch a film.

Later, Bigg Boss announced that as per the request of the members, a movie will be aired for the members of the house in the activity area of the house. The contestants were asked to dress up just like the way they would while going to watch a movie in the theatres. They were also provided with snacks like popcorn, soft drinks, etc.

The film that was to be aired was kept as a suspense. Interestingly, it was the Mohanlal starrer Manichithrathazhu, which was screened for the contestants of the house.

The Bigg Boss Malayalam contestants were excited to watch this much-loved Malayalam movie, which enjoys a cult fan following. The film was played just like the way in the theatres with lights turned off and the 10-minute break during the interval.PRESS RELEASE

Kudelski Security Announces Partnership with SentinelOne

Company's Focus on Endpoint Security Expands with the Addition of New Technology Offerings for Clients in the United States

CHESEAUX-SUR-LAUSANNE, Switzerland and PHOENIX, September 19, 2018 - Kudelski Security, the cybersecurity division within the Kudelski Group (SIX:KUD.S), today announced it has signed a reseller agreement with SentinelOne (https://www.sentinelone.com/), the autonomous endpoint protection company. After a rigorous analysis, including technology testing and a business review, the company will add SentinelOne products to its lineup in the United States for endpoint detection.

"Endpoint security technologies are the front line of many cyber defense strategies, and key to helping clients rapidly identify and remediate threats," said Rich Fennessy, chief executive officer, Kudelski Security. "With the addition of SentinelOne to our selective list of highly qualified technologies, we're able to offer clients best-in-class solutions for endpoint protection."

Having focused on the endpoint since the company's inception through a managed service offering, Kudelski Security has sought alternative technologies that can be deployed and maintained by clients, providing capabilities suited to their organizational needs and regional preferences.

"Our goal is to ensure that we have the tools needed to help clients mitigate threats in a way that best suits their organization's needs," continued Fennessy. "From on-premise, to the cloud, to managed services, clients in the U.S. and Europe have different needs. We want to provide clients a range of tested and proven capabilities to ensure they have the ability to protect their most precious assets. We're pleased that SentinelOne is being added to our expanded endpoint portfolio."

Kudelski Security launched its Managed Detection and Response (MDR) as a managed service in February 2017 and was immediately recognized for its vision by Gartner in its Market Guide for Managed Detection and Response (MDR) Services (https://www.kudelskisecurity.com/about-us/news/gartner-recognizes-kudelski-security-managed-detection-and-response-services) as a Representative Vendor. Powered by the 24x7x365 Cyber Fusion Centers in Phoenix and Cheseaux, Switzerland, Kudelski uses people, process and technology to quickly identify malicious activity and accelerate incident response actions to safeguard critical assets and data.

For more information about Kudelski Security and its portfolio of innovative security solutions, please visit: https://www.kudelskisecurity.com (https://www.kudelskisecurity.com).

###

About Kudelski Security

Kudelski Security is the premier advisor and cybersecurity innovator for today's most security-conscious organizations. Our long-term approach to client partnerships enables us to continuously evaluate their security posture to recommend solutions that reduce business risk, maintain compliance and increase overall security effectiveness. With clients that include Fortune 500 enterprises and government organizations in Europe and across the United States, we address the most complex environments through an unparalleled set of solution capabilities including consulting, technology, managed security services and custom innovation. For more information, visit www.kudelskisecurity.com (http://www.kudelskisecurity.com).

About SentinelOne

SentinelOne delivers autonomous endpoint protection through a single agent that successfully prevents, detects and responds to attacks across all major vectors. Designed for extreme ease of use, the S1 platform saves customers time by applying AI to automatically eliminate threats in real time for both on premise and cloud environments and is the only solution to provide full visibility across networks directly from the endpoint. To learn more visit sentinelone.com or follow us at @SentinelOne (https://twitter.com/sentinelone), on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/2886771?trk=tyah&trkInfo=clickedVertical%3Acompany%2CclickedEntityId%3A2886771%2Cidx%3A2-3-4%2CtarId%3A1483744835083%2Ctas%3ASentine) or Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/sentinelone/).

Media Contact for Kudelski Security:

John Van Blaricum

Vice President, Global Marketing

+1 650 966 4320

john.vanblaricum@kudelskisecurity.comDUBAI, UAE, September 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

The Dubai extension of Mumbai's Basanti & Co. will feature interiors and fit-outs designed by the HTS Interiors team

HTS Interiors, Dubai have announced that they shall be managing the interior design and fit out work for Basanti & Co., the 5,881 sq feet flagship restaurant project by Jetty Ventures. The restaurant specializes in Indian cuisine and is hugely popular in Mumbai with rave reviews from food lovers and critics. The HTS Interiors team has conceptualized its Dubai wing keeping the Meraas aesthetics in mind while staying true to the Basanti & Co. brand idea.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click: https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8396751-hts-interiors-conceptualize-interior-design/

"Jetty Ventures, the brainchild behind Basanti & Co.'s Dubai chapter wanted us to focus on creating sophisticated interiors without losing the restaurant's eclectic appeal. This was important because the target audience for Basanti & Co. will be the millennial crowd with a preference for cool and contemporary settings. We have re-interpreted the Mumbai concept to align it with Bluewaters Island's aesthetic sensibility, but included Basanti & Co.'s original summer color scheme," says Nitin Nadukandy, the Founder, and CEO of HTS Interiors.

"Conceptually, we wanted to tell the story of Basanti, the lead character from the 1975 Hindi cult movie, Sholay, after which the restaurant is named. This is a story of a journey, destinations and experiences. Thus, the story starts with the approach to the restaurant via the outside seating area, which is an informal, relaxed space. This informal character is also reflected in the design look and feel of the ground floor interior. However, we've also incorporated a few formal materials to slightly change the look and feel - as a phase-over between an informal exterior and the more formal interior on the first floor," says Laurika Muller, the Design Director and Project-in-Charge for the Basanti & Co. project.

"The stair case connecting the ground floor and 1st floor was designed to be an experiential space (continuing the journey) with a "Juliet" balcony (a rest point) overlooking the beach and boats. The first floor has been designed with six mini-destination experiences to suit a variety of client's seating preferences. Although our design approach was very conceptual and in line with client requirements, we've also tried to capture the true identity of Dubai - Diversity," adds Laurika.

Basanti & Co. will be a part of the ambitious Bluewaters Island project - a manmade island that shall serve as a modern, family-oriented fun destination with premium apartments, penthouses, townhouses, and over 200 retail and dining concepts.

HTS Interiors is a premier custom fit out company offering a wide range of interior design services. Their creative designs and professional services make them one of the most sought-after interior design companies in Dubai. The company's expertise includes but isn't limited to restaurant interiors. Some of their prestigious projects within the UAE include Prime Minister Office (Emirates Tower), Rivera Mall, Boeing Office, Mekong Anantara, Adventz, Seagrill Fairmont and many more.

About HTS Interiors:

HTS Interiors is a leading interior design company in Dubai offering a wide range of solutions, including interior fit-out and consultancy. Established in 2011, the company has worked with small, medium, and large-scale clients across the UAE.

For more information, visit https://www.htsinteriors.com/

Contact:

Bavya Rajalekshmi, +971-545861335

(Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/740419/HTS_Interiors.jpg )



Video:

https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8396751-hts-interiors-conceptualize-interior-design/XI'AN, China, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 10th, 2018 it was announced that the ancient Silk Road capital, and China's most internationally investible city, Xi'an, will become the 'spiritual home' of programming once more as it hosts the 2nd Global Programmers Festival this October 24th - 25th at the Xi'an Hi-Tech Industries Development Zone.

The announcement was made by Secretary of the Standing Committee of the Xi'an Municipal Committee, Zhong Hongjiang during a press conference to an audience of local and international government officials, leading enterprise figures and media. The conference was hosted by Zhang Xiaoning, Director of the Xi'an Municipal Information Office, and attended by Dr. Henry Chen, Chairman of Chinasoft International; Gao Sumei, Executive Secretary of the China Information Technology Industry Federation; and Wang Hairuo, the Deputy Director of Xi'an Hi-tech Industries Development Zone Administration Office.

"Xi'an is regarded as a special place for its history, location and future as a model city in China. Designated as an experimental national reform and Innovation Centre and central element of the Belt and Road Initiative, this vibrant city, with its long history of innovation, is the clear choice to host the 2nd Global Programmer's Festival," said Zhong Hongjiang.

The first Global Programmer's Festival, held in 2017, welcomed more than 2,500 attendees, ministry-level government officials, executives from the world's top 500 companies and household-names including HSBC, Huawei, and Baidu. Also attending this year are students of the late Prof. Stephen Hawking, French Scientist and Author of The Universe in Your Hand, Christophe Galfard, Design Thinking influencers, renowned academicians, industry leaders, and top-tier tech companies like Infosys.

Dr. Henry Chen, Chairman of the Board of Chinasoft International, commented: "Although titled the Global Programmer's Festival, it goes far beyond programming. It is an event for regional economic cooperation, knowledge exchange, pragmatic innovation and cultivation of talent; it covers the full spectrum of the digital world and how to prepare for a future defined by software."

In support of the Global Programmer's festival, Director of Xi'an Hi-tech Industries Development Zone Administration Office Yang Renhua will conduct a series of international outreach programmes, including leading a delegation to Israel to launch the event alongside the "Father of Entrepreneurship" and founder of the Tel Aviv Innovation Festival, the largest entrepreneurial innovation activity in Europe and the Middle East, and joint partner of the Global Programmer's Festival.

For more information on the Global Programmer's Festival, please visit: http://en.codingthefuture.com/

About the Global Programmer's Festival

The Global Programmer's Festival, with the theme of "Coding for the Future" invites industry leaders and tech elites from home and abroad to gather in Xi'an. The festival aims to build talent, capital investment and innovation through a series of forums and competitions. As a leading annual event in the tech industry calendar, it provides a national platform for programmers from across the world to communicate, share ideas, inspire and grow together.LONDON, September 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Graydon, leading provider of business data, insights and analytics in Europe, today announced a strategic technology partnership with global financial crime experts, TruNarrative. The partnership will provide a comprehensive onboarding tool for the UK's business community. Graydon Onboarding is the UK's first commercial onboarding solution combining credit decisioning, fraud detection and compliance screening.

With fraud on the rise (estimated to have cost UK businesses 125bn in 2017), and the methods becoming more and more sophisticated, combined with increasing levels of regulation in many industries, more responsibility falls on Credit and Risk teams to not only assess credit risk, but also to identify fraudulent applications and ensure compliance with relevant regulations.

Underpinned by the expertise of TruNarrative's data science and technology team, combined with the predictive capabilities of Graydon's data, Graydon Onboarding enables organisations to identify potential fraud, reduce credit risk and ensure compliance throughout the customer onboarding process, resulting in significant time savings and adherence to credit, regulatory and fraud policies.

The platform also allows for the integration of third-party data sources, meaning users can supplement Graydon insights with complementary data sets from any supplier, allowing customers maximum flexibility whilst optimising onboarding processes, and consolidating numerous data sources.

The partnership operates on a reciprocal basis and sees TruNarrative integrating Graydon's extensive international business database used in trade credit, supplier management and corporate risk identification, this further strengthens the TruNarrative platform and its 'App Store', a gateway to 40+ integrated third-party data services for the prevention of financial crime and provides insights on more than 160 countries.

John Lord, CEO at TruNarrative, said:

"TruNarrative is proud to facilitate Graydon in providing its customers an agile approach to onboarding and managing risk and improving the sharing of fraud insights. The key part of our model is to make safe commerce simpler; the Graydon datasets and commitment to onboarding smoothly, without friction and minimising risk & fraud prevention make them an ideal partner in this space. We look forward to working with their customers and to bringing Graydon data to ours".

Simon Blackwell, Managing Director at Graydon said:

"Today'scredit and risk professional is under increasing pressure to not only perform a credit risk assessment but also identify potential frauds and ensure compliance with ever-growing regulation when onboarding new customers. With these increasing demands, they need to make their existing team more effective and efficient and embrace innovative tools and technology. Combining Graydon and TruNarrative's deep domain knowledge in fraud prevention, accurate data and technology alongside 130 years of helping credit and risk professionals make fast, profitable decisions, I am confident that Graydon Onboarding will become the go-to platform for customer acceptance and onboarding."

Mike Harriss, Head of Channel at TruNarrative said:

"The TruNarrative partnership with Graydon is a perfect example of our channel strategy in action. We are offering the latest and best technology in financial crime management and providing a platform for our partner to extend their range of value add services for a mature client-base. At the same time, we are enhancing our own proposition with data and insights from an industry leader".

If you would like to be shown Graydon Onboarding or would like to talk about the business' benefits of an advanced tool, you can either liaise with TruNarrative or Graydon UK.

About TruNarrative

TruNarrative was founded with a single mission: to make safe commerce simpler. With its head office in Leeds, TruNarrative also has offices in London, New York, Hong Kong, Beijing and Singapore.

TruNarrative is transforming the fraud, identity, KYC and AML process by continually providing products built on state-of-the-art technology, bringing the best of data science to ambitious companies of all sizes.

TruNarrative has also established partnerships leading brands in the financial crime management industry including; Cifas, Comply Advantage, and HelloSoda, and features some 40 third-party apps in the TruNarrative App Store which can all be configured through the platform.

TruNarrative -We Make Safe Commerce Simple

http://www.trunarrative.com

About Graydon

With more than 130 years of experience, Graydon is a leading provider of business information, analytics and insights. Graydon helps its customers to make fast, accurate decisions, enabling them to minimise risk and identify fraud as well as optimise opportunities with their commercial relationships. To do so, Graydon uses more than 130 international databases and the information of more than 90 million companies. Graydon has offices in London, Cardiff, Amsterdam and Antwerp. Since 2016 Graydon has been part of Atradius, one of the world's largest credit insurance companies.

Graydon UK

http://www.graydon.co.uk

marketing@graydon.co.uk

+44(0)20-8515-1400ALBANY, New York, September 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

According to TMR, the global endocrine testing market will exhibit a CAGR of 8.5% between 2015 and 2023. At this pace, the market will reach US$12.8 bn by the end of 2023. Among end users, the market is likely to witness the highest demand from commercial laboratories segment. The rising trend of outsourcing various testing procedures will fuel the demand for endocrine testing from commercial laboratories. Regionally, North America is forecast to contribute the highest revenue towards the global endocrine testing market. However, in the coming years, the Asia Pacific market is expected to rise at a stellar CAGR and offer lucrative prospects for companies.

(Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/664869/Transparency_Market_Research_Logo.jpg )



Rising Incidence of Chronic Diseases to Fuel Demand for Endocrine Testing

The demand for endocrine testing is expected to rise in response to the increasing incidence of diabetes and obesity around the world. A key point to note here is that monitoring the endocrine hormone is vital for the management of diabetes. This as per TMR is a crucial factor driving the market. Additionally, the rising incidence of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and other ailments will fuel the demand for endocrine testing in the coming years.

Get PDF Brochure for Research Insights at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=1645

High Price of Endocrine Testing May Hinder Market's Trajectory

On the downside, the high price of advanced endocrine testing technologies has made them unaffordable across various developing and underdeveloped regions. This is a key factor hampering the market's growth rate. Besides this, limited awareness about healthcare facilities among people living in low-income region will hinder the market's trajectory to an extent.

Nonetheless, recent advancements in assays and various methods used for endocrine testing will enable growth in the market in the coming years. Furthermore, the market is likely to benefit from recent improvements in diagnostic technologies such as liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Spurred by these factors, the global endocrine testing market will exhibit steady growth over the course of the forecast period.

Request a Sample of Report:https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=1645

The global endocrine testing market exhibits a fairly oligopolistic vendor landscape, with the top five companies occupying nearly 90% of the overall market in 2014, finds Transparency Market Research (TMR) in a new study. According to the report, DiaSorin, Abbott Laboratories, Siemens Healthineers, Agilent Technologies, and F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG emerged dominant in the global endocrine testing market in 2014. Among these companies, Roche led the overall market in the same year. In order to maintain a strong foothold in the global market, the leading companies are developing next-generation sequencing platforms, advanced lab automation systems, analyzers, and endocrine test kit.

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Currently, the market is witnessing intense competition among the leading companies and it is expected to get fiercer in the coming years. In order to steal a march against competition, the market players are likely to invest in expanding their product portfolio and developing innovative technologies. These strategies are likely to have positive influence on the overall market.

Browse Press Release:https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pressrelease/endocrine-testing-market.htm

This review is based on a TMR report, titled "Endocrine Testing Market (Test - Estradiol (E2) Test, Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) Test, Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) Test, Luteinizing Hormone (LH) Test, Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) Test, Progesterone Test, Testosterone Test, Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) Test, Prolactin Test, Cortisol Test, Insulin Test Gastrin, Thymosin Secretin; Diagnostic Technology - Tandem Mass spectrometry, Immunoassay Technologies (Enzyme immunoassays and Radioimmunoassays (RIA)), Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibody Technologies, Sensor Technologies (Electrochemical and Biosensors), Clinical Chemistry Technologies, and Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS); End User - Hospitals, Commercial Laboratories, Ambulatory Care Centers, Home Based Tests, and Physician Offices) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth Trends and Forecast, 2015 - 2023."

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About Us

Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The company's exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.

TMR's data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.



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Research Blog: https://theglobalhealthnews.com/ALBANY, New York, September 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

In terms of revenue, the global copper market is projected to expand at a CAGR of 4.6% from 2018 to 2026, according to a new research report titled 'Copper Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 2018-2026' by Transparency Market Research (TMR). According to the report, the global copper market is expected to reach 32,932.1 kilo tons, in terms of volume, by 2026. The global copper market is driven by growth of automotive and construction industries across the world. The copper market in Asia Pacific is estimated to expand at a CAGR of 4.8% during the forecast period, owing to presence of a large number of manufacturers of copper in the region. Among types, the primary copper segment held a significant share of the global copper market in 2017. However, secondary copper was the most rapidly expanding segment in the year and the same trend is projected to continue throughout the forecast period.

(Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/664869/Transparency_Market_Research_Logo.jpg )



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Rise in demand for copper-based electric products such as power cables in several end-use industries boosts the demand for copper wire rods

Based on form, the copper market has been divided into wire rods, plates, sheets & strips, tubes, bars & sections, and others. The others segment includes copper in the form of ingots, powder, etc. The wire rods segment held a leading market share, in terms of both volume and value, in 2017, owing to wide range of applications of copper wire rods. Copper has properties such as strength, ductility, corrosion resistance, and energy efficiency. This makes copper a choice of material for various electric and electronic products such as wires, power cables, and other industrial equipment. In terms of application, the global copper market has been classified into construction, transportation, appliances & electronics, power generation, distribution and transmission, and others. Construction, power generation, and appliances & electronics segments collectively held more than 70% share of the global copper market in 2017. Based on type, the copper market has been segmented into primary copper and secondary copper.

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Increase in investments in infrastructure development, particularly in developing countries, to boost demand for copper

Based on application, the copper market has been segregated into construction, transportation, appliances & electronics, power generation, distribution and transmission, and others. The others segment comprises ammunition coins, machinery, defense, etc. The construction segment holds a major share of the global copper market. This trend is likely to continue throughout the forecast period, owing to high demand for copper for use in construction applications to make taps, valves, plumbing, and fittings. Copper has advantageous properties such as high temperature resistance and it does not release toxic fumes in case of fire. Copper is antimicrobial and hence, copper tubes used in water systems can prevent bacterial infection. Also, durability and enhanced weather-ability make copper the best choice of material for construction applications. The transportation segment held the second-largest share of the global copper market in 2017. The segment is expected to gain market share by the end of the forecast period, due to rising adoption of electric vehicles. New copper applications being developed include antimicrobial copper-touch surfaces, lead?free brass plumbing, high-tech copper wires, and heat exchangers.

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Price trends of copper

Copper is one of the most traded commodities in the world. Copper prices are mostly fixed. Copper is traded by three major commodity exchange facilities such as the London Metal Exchange (LME), the Commodity Exchange Division of the New York Mercantile Exchange (COMEX/NYMEX), and the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE). Copper prices are affected by various economic indicators such as GDP, Sensex, and news in financial markets. Copper prices are strongly correlated to global economic performance, as the manufacturing activity directly affects the demand for the metal. Copper prices increased by 27% in 2017 over that in 2016 and touched more than US$ 6000/ton. This is attributable to the large number of planned and unplanned shutdowns at major copper smelters, leading to lower production of copper that has created supply shortage. Copper prices are expected to register a sluggish growth rate from 2019 to 2021.

Asia Pacific to dominate the global market

Geographically, the global copper market has been divided into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. Asia Pacific is anticipated to hold a prominent share of the global market during the forecast period, owing to growth of automotive, construction, and appliances industries. This boosts usage of copper in the manufacture of copper motors, wiring, radiators, connectors, brakes, heat exchange equipment, pressure vessels, vats, etc. North America is anticipated to be a rapidly expanding region of the global copper market during the forecast period, followed by Asia Pacific. This is due to rising advancements in the transportation industry including new-generation airplanes and trains. Recently developed high-speed trains can use two to four tons of copper on an average, which is significantly higher than the one to two tons used in the traditional electric trains. Europe is another region with high demand for copper, due to presence of a large number companies operating in industrial machinery, transportation, and power generation industries in the region.

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Highly consolidated market with a few major players

The report comprises profiles of major companies operating in the global copper market. Key players operating in the market include Codelco, Rio Tinto, Glencore International AG, Freeport McMoRan Inc., Jiangxi Copper Corporation, BHP Bilition, Antofagasta Plc., Group Mexico, and Aurubis. Other prominent market players include Vedanta Resources Plc, Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. Ltd, LS-Nikko Co., and Tongling Non-Ferrous Metals Group. The report also comprises matrix of comparison between the top four players operating in the copper market along with the market share analysis for 2017. On September 27, 2017, the International Copper Study Group partnered with the Common Fund for Commodities, the International Copper Association, and the International Copper Promotion Council (India) for technology transfer in a project titled 'High-pressure Copper Die Casting in India'. The project is related to the manufacture of rotors and motor systems by using high-pressure copper die casting parts that are highly energy efficient.

Global Copper Market, by Type

Primary Copper

Secondary Copper

Global Copper Market, by Form

Wire Rods

Plates

Sheets & Strips

Tubes

Bars & Sections

Others (Ingots, Powder, etc.)

Global Copper Market, by Application

Construction

Transportation

Appliances & Electronics

Power Generation, Distribution and Transmission

Others (Ammunition Coins, Machinery, Defense, etc.)

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About Us

Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information.

Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.

Contact

Mr. Rohit Bhisey

Transparency Market Research

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Research Blog: https://cmfenews.com/Mars Wrigley Confectionery puts smallholder farmers at the center of its ambitious strategy

CHICAGO, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Mars Wrigley Confectionery, a maker of chocolate for more than 100 years and one of the world's largest buyers of cocoa, today launched a new plan for overhauling its cocoa supply chain.

Called Cocoa for Generations, the plan places the interest of the smallholder farmer at its center, helps to safeguard children and forests, and creates a pathway for cocoa farmers and cocoa-growing communities to thrive. Cocoa for Generations is backed by an investment of $1 billion over 10 years and is incremental to the Sustainable in a Generation Plan investment Mars announced last year.

"For nearly 40 years we've been working to achieve sustainable cocoa production," said John Ament, Global Vice President - Cocoa, Mars Wrigley Confectionery. "While we've made progress, including reaching nearly 180,000 farmers with sustainability certification, we are impatient with our pace of progress and of the cocoa sector overall. We don't have all the answers but our first step is to put the farmer at the center of our ambitions and actions. We plan to inspire others and work together to ensure Cocoa for Generations."

Despite significant progress, farmers haven't experienced improvements in their incomes or living conditions at an adequate pace. Children continue to labor in hazardous conditions and deforestation continues with farming occurring in protected forest areas. Mars believes a step change is needed where business, civil society and government must think and act differently, and take a new approach that creates a pathway for cocoa farmers, their families, and communities to thrive.

Cocoa for Generations consists of two pillars:

Responsible Cocoa Today

Through its first pillar, Mars aims to have 100 percent of its cocoa from the Responsible Cocoa program responsibly sourced globally and traceable by 2025. Responsible Cocoa means having systems in place to address deforestation, child labor and higher incomes for farmers.

Specifically, Mars expects farms that are part of our Responsible Cocoa program to provide satellite based GPS locations for farms that supply its cocoa so that we have assurances that such cocoa does not come from protected forest areas. Mars will work with suppliers and certifiers to enhance the child labor monitoring and remediation programs (CLMRS) deployed in its Responsible Cocoa supply chain, and continue to help improve education in cocoa-growing communities, with a focus on access to and quality of schools.

In addition, Mars will work with partners to ensure that the model for premiums the company pays for responsibly-produced cocoa is overhauled to ensure that farmers receive a higher share of the premium. Mars will explore and encourage further sector-wide changes and partnerships that can bring about increased income for farmers.

Mars' new approach to cocoa goes beyond the current level of certification standards and practices and is a step change from the initial commitment Mars made in 2009.

While this new approach is implemented, Mars will maintain its current certified cocoa levels with the Rainforest Alliance and with Fairtrade and work with both organizations as they continue to strengthen implementation to raise the bar across the cocoa sector. Mars applauds both certification organizations' efforts to organize individual farmers into groups and cooperatives, providing training and implementing management systems in certified farmer groups, and is committed to collaborate with them to improve audit controls, child labor monitoring, traceability and premiums paid to farmers. As further measurable efforts are made, Mars will continue transitioning its cocoa volumes to these new and stronger approaches.

Fairtrade says: "We applaud Mars for recognizing the role of the smallholder farmer at the heart of any ambitious plan in cocoa sustainability. Without progress on incomes for these farmers, sector-wide transformation is not possible. We need more companies showing leadership on issues in this way, which is why we are excited at the prospect of continuing to work with Mars to grow our impact in a way that delivers more for the company, whilst putting farmers first."

Rainforest Alliance says: "We can all agree there needs to be a change on the ground for farmers, their families and forests," said Britta Wyss Bisang, Chief of Sustainable Supply Chains for the Rainforest Alliance. "We commend Mars for deepening their commitment to cocoa producers, and for recognizing that step-change in action on the ground is needed. We look forward to furthering our relationship with Mars as this is well aligned with our new strategy, which puts more focus on collaboration between producers, NGO's, companies and governments."

Sustainable Cocoa Tomorrow

Through its second pillar, Mars hopes to demonstrate that a step-change in farmer income and livelihoods is possible. In partnership with an initial global group of 75,000 cocoa farming families and cocoa suppliers, Mars plans to test ways to increase productivity, income, resilience, and overall sustainability through crop and income diversification, gender programs, village and savings and loan models and farm development plans.

In parallel, Mars will work with the industry, governments and other civil-society partners to seek shared solutions and mutually-beneficial results for cocoa farming families. Mars will continue to collaborate pre-competitively with its peers and with suppliers to accelerate shared learning via industry forums including the World Cocoa Foundation and their CocoaAction platform and the International Cocoa Initiative.

About Mars, Incorporated

Mars is a family-owned business with more than a century of history making diverse products and offering services for people and the pets people love. With more than $35 billion in sales, the company is a global business that produces some of the world's best-loved brands: M&M's, SNICKERS, TWIX, MILKY WAY, DOVE, PEDIGREE, ROYAL CANIN, WHISKAS, EXTRA, ORBIT, 5, SKITTLES, UNCLE BEN'S, MARS DRINKS and COCOAVIA. Mars also provides veterinary health services that include BANFIELD Pet Hospitals, Blue Pearl, VCA and Pet Partners. Headquartered in McLean, VA, Mars operates in more than 80 countries. The Mars Five Principles - Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom - inspire its more than 100,000 Associates to create value for all its partners and deliver growth they are proud of every day.

For more information about Mars, please visit www.mars.com. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/745536/Mars_Cocoa_for_Generations_graphic.jpgWerbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 19, 2018) - Bell Copper Corporation (TSXV: BCU) ("Bell Copper" or the "Company") reports that 2018 core drilling has begun on the Perseverance Porphyry Copper project (formally known as Kabba) located in Mohave County, Arizona. The Company is also pleased to provide further corporate and project updates.

Highlights

Core drilling underway at K-20

Cuttings from the bottom of K-20 precollar reveal abundant fluorite suggesting proximity to a porphyry intrusion

Visible gold also identified in four gold grains along with composite grains of native silver and copper

Water well testing on K-20 drill location shows +3.5 times the levels of Cu, Mo, and sulfate of 14 previously tested water wells at the Project

Corporate Update

As previously announced on August 27 2018, Bell Copper entered into a JV - Earn in agreement with Cordoba Minerals on the Perseverance Porphyry Copper project (aka Kabba).

Project Name Change

Bell also reports that it has elected to change the project name of the "Kabba" Porphyry Copper project. Moving forward the project will be called the "Perseverance" Porphyry Copper project.

Perseverance Project Update

The Company started core drilling at the Perseverance Copper porphyry project near Kingman Arizona on September 19, 2018.

During the last week of June 2018, the Company completed pre-collar drilling and casing to a depth of 1000 ft. at the K-20 drill site. Bedrock was encountered at a depth of 850 ft., followed by 150 ft. of strongly hematitic leached capping that remains open at depth.

Subsequent sampling and panning of the cuttings from the bottom of the K-20 pre-collar revealed what the Company interprets to be further proximal indicators to a copper shell. The presence of abundant fluorite suggests proximity to a porphyry intrusion. Visible gold was also identified in four gold grains along with composite grains of native silver and copper (see images at https://www.bellcopper.net/pics). The gold was positively identified using a Niton X-ray fluorescence analyzer, which showed characteristic gold X-ray emissions at 9.72 and 11.42 keV.

At the Perseverance project, 14 water wells have previously been tested for dissolved heavy metals and other compounds commonly associated with metallic deposits. Several of these wells show elevated levels of copper, molybdenum, sulphate, and fluoride. Recent testing of the water well near K-20 shows levels several times higher than any of the previously tested wells.

"The two drill programs in 2017, along with 2018 field work and further data analysis and has gone a long way toward supporting the Ovoid Target inside the copper shell. With an impressive halo of pyrite, zinc and lead and supergene copper bleeding out into three nearby drillholes, we are very excited to be back core drilling" - Dr. Tim Marsh, Bell Copper President & CEO

About Bell Copper

Bell Copper is a mineral exploration company focused on the identification, exploration and discovery of large copper deposits located in a region responsible for 10% of the world's copper production: Arizona.

Perseverance Porphyry Copper Project

A primary focus for Bell Copper is the ongoing exploration and development at the Perseverance Porphyry Copper Project near Kingman, AZ, where we are pursuing the faulted-off top of a major porphyry copper system, the bottom of which is exposed in the foothills 8+ km west of the Company's property.

Qualified Person

The technical content of this release has been reviewed and approved by Timothy Marsh, PhD, PEng., the Company's CEO and President. No mineral resource has yet been identified on the Perseverance Project. There is no certainty that the present exploration effort will result in the identification of a mineral resource or that any mineral resource that might be discovered will prove to be economically recoverable.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of

Bell Copper Corporation

"Timothy Marsh"

Timothy Marsh, President, CEO & Director

For further information please contact the Company

Tel: 1 800 418 8250

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.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release includes "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "potential", "target", "budget" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof.

Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management based on the business and markets in which Bell Copper operates, are inherently subject to significant operational, economic, and competitive uncertainties, risks and contingencies. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results, and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include actual exploration results, interpretation of metallurgical characteristics of the mineralization, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, uninsured risks, regulatory changes, delays or inability to receive required approvals, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators, including those described in the Company's most recently filed MD&A. The Company does not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable law.LONDON, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- CRU is pleased to announce the appointment of Rodrigo Toro as Associate Director, based in Santiago, for our global copper consulting and research businesses. He joined in August 2018, following his retirement from Codelco in April 2018.

Rodrigo brings more than 40 years of experience in the copper trading market. He has worked in the main world copper producers always on commercial and trading positions.

He started in Codelco in 1976 focused on molybdenum sales and was then appointed as Molybdenum Manager based in London. After Codelco he was hired by Refimet during the construction of the Altonorte smelter with the responsibility for securing feed to the new project as well as in charge of the smelter's products sales. He then joined Collahuasi for 10 years as VP Commercial and 2008 he moved to Anglo American Chile as Senior Marketing VP. Since 2010 he was the Senior Sales VP of Codelco.

CRU's Head of South America, Juan Esteban Fuentes, says, "I am delighted Rodrigo has joined our team in Santiago and I am truly confident he can successfully add value to our customers as well as improving our already deep copper research."

Rodrigo says, "I am excited to be collaborating with CRU as I enter a new chapter of my over 40 years career in the copper industry. CRU has long, proven and successful experience in copper market research. I'm looking forward to contributing to that magnificent track record of excellence."

Read the full story:https://www.crugroup.com/about-cru/news/2018/cru-appoints-associate-director-for-copper/

Read more about CRU: http://bit.ly/About_CRU

About CRU

CRU offers unrivalled business intelligence on the global metals, mining and fertilizer industries through market analysis, price assessments, consultancy and events.

Since our foundation by Robert Perlman in 1969, we have consistently invested in primary research and robust methodologies, and developed expert teams in key locations worldwide, including in hard-to-reach markets such as China.

CRU employs over 260 experts and has more than 10 offices around the world, in Europe, the Americas, China, Asia and Australia - our office in Beijing opened in 2004.

When facing critical business decisions, you can rely on our first-hand knowledge to give you a complete view of a commodity market. And you can engage with our experts directly, for the full picture and a personalised response.

CRU - big enough to deliver a high-quality service, small enough to care about all of our customers.RIGA, Latvia, September 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

International pharmaceutical companies represented in Latvia welcome the progress achieved in implementing the health care reform and strongly support its continuation.

"After quite some time, this year for the health care sector in Latvia has finally been hopeful and development-based. Having held discussions with organisations representing patients, doctors and the industry as a whole, the government and the parliament have finally supported a significant budget increase for health care, including reimbursed medicines," explains Dr Valters Bolevics, Executive Director of the Association of International Research-based Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (SIFFA).

"We would like to hope that the new government, which will be established after the parliamentary election in October, will keep up this positive trend, and that by 2020 the health care system in Latvia will already receive 4% of the GDP. That would allow Latvia, which currently has one of the lowest budget allocations for health care in Europe, to move closer to the performance level of OECD member states," Bolevics emphasises.

Pharmaceutical manufacturers welcome the intention of the Ministry of Health to include among the priorities in next year's budget the improved availability to the public of reimbursed medicines. One of the proposals envisions returning to the pre-crisis level of reimbursement of medicines, thus ending an injustice which has lasted for years, i.e., medicines, which are currently reimbursed at 50% or 75% would henceforth be 100% state funded.

Another positive element is the desire of the Ministry of Health to continue including in the list of reimbursed medicines the latest generation of medicines for oncology patients, requesting increased financing for this objective in the next state budget.

"The number of state-paid research-based medicines for cancer treatment available in Latvia will increase to 12 by the end of the year, from just a handful last year. These include medicines for lung cancer treatment, a new combination drug for breast cancer and intestinal cancer treatment, two medicines for neuroendocrine cancer," Bolevics says.

Positive changes have also been achieved in HIV treatment - additional funding in the 2018 budget has opened the door for early antiretroviral therapy, placing the threshold for the CD4 cell count at 500, rather than 350 or less as it was before. This brings hope of limiting the spread of HIV/AIDS in Latvia, similarly to what has been achieved in other EU countries.

Furthermore, this year EUR 15 million which is nearly 5 million more than in 2017, have been allocated for state-of-the-art medicines for hepatitis C patients. This allows providing modern interferon-free treatment to all hepatitis C patients, as is the practice elsewhere in Europe.

Another positive element is the work begun by the Ministry of Health on the Rare Diseases Plan, which aims to promote of an improved approach to medicines, including research-based drugs, expanding the range of eligibility.

The first state-of-the-art medicine has also been included in the cardiovascular disease treatment area, but there should definitely be more such medicines, as they create savings for the state budget in the long-term, Bolevics stresses.

About Association of International Research-based Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (SIFFA)

The Association of International Research-based Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (SIFFA) was founded in January 1996. At the present, SIFFA unites 19 members, representing: AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Bayer Schering Pharma AG, Berlin-Chemie/Menarini, Boeringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Gedeon Richter, GlaxoSmithKline, Ipsen, Johnson & Johnson, Merck Serono, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Sanofi, Santen,Servier International, Takeda.

SIFFA members are the world's biggest manufacturers of pharmaceutical products, by their turnover and capitalization also ranking among the world's biggest companies in general. The Association members are engaged in both medicine production and development and research of new medicines.Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 19, 2018) - GoviEx Uranium Inc. (TSXV: GXU) (OTCQB: GVXXF) ("GoviEx" or "Company") today announced the appointment of SRK Consulting (UK) Ltd ("SRK") and SGS Bateman (Pty) Ltd ("SGS") as the consultants for the completion of a feasibility study for the Madaouela Project (the "Feasibility Study"). SRK and SGS were part of the team that completed the pre-feasibility study (the "Pre-Feasibility Study")1 and environmental permitting work for the Madaouela Project. Both companies have considerable experience in uranium and African project development.

"We are excited to commence this next stage in the development of the Madaouela Project," said Chairman Govind Friedland. "GoviEx has steadily and actively focused on value accretion for our projects while staying in tune with the state of the market; our appointment of SRK and SGS corresponds with a recovering uranium market price. GoviEx will continue to advance our projects with discretionary spending commensurate with improving market fundamentals."

During the period of weak uranium pricing, GoviEx' strategy focused on building its project pipeline by targeting low-cost acquisitions and advancing project development with technical optimization. The Feasibility Study will allow GoviEx to include the positive effects of certain optimizations, which were not available at the time the Pre-Feasibility Study was produced:

The addition of Agaliouk Exploration Permit (announced November 15, 2017) adds 11.67 million pounds (Mlb) U 3 O 8 in the Measured and Indicated categories (of which 5.96 Mlb U 3 O 8 relates to the open-pit amenable Miriam Deposit) and 9.35 Mlb U 3 O 8 in the Inferred category.

O in the Measured and Indicated categories (of which 5.96 Mlb U O relates to the open-pit amenable Miriam Deposit) and 9.35 Mlb U O in the Inferred category. The inclusion of membrane separation in the Madaouela Project process design could potentially reduce operating and capital costs, which may significantly improve project economics. The review study results (announced April 5, 2018), while based on the Pre-Feasibility Study inputs, are preliminary in nature and require further technical studies; however, these initial results are sufficiently relevant to support their inclusion of membrane separation in the Feasibility Study for the Madaouela Project.

"We believe the fundamentals of the uranium market are recovering," noted Chief Executive Officer Daniel Major. "The World Nuclear Association is reporting increased nuclear reactor start-ups, and major uranium producers have announced production cuts. The current impacts of these developments are evidenced by the rising uranium spot price. The Board of GoviEx believes our key commercial advantages are our two mine-permitted projects, as they provide us with the ability to react positively to a uranium rally."

GoviEx's corporate strategy remains focused on the development of two projects: initially, Madaouela in Niger, and then Mutanga in Zambia. The Madoauela Project is located approximately 10 km south of the town of Arlit and Orano Mining's mining subsidiaries of Cominak and Somair, in north central Niger. Deposits are hosted within sandstones of the Tim Mersoi Basin. The Madaouela Mine Permit was approved in January 2016, with approval of the Environmental Permit in July 2015. Infrastructure includes road access, labour, ground water and available grid power.

The key highlights from the Pre-Feasibility Study are as follows:

The Madaouela Project contains Mineral Resources (November 2017) of 111 Mlb U 3 O 8 in the Measured and Indicated categories, and 28 Mlb U 3 O 8 in the Inferred category.

O in the Measured and Indicated categories, and 28 Mlb U O in the Inferred category. Probable Mineral Reserves are 60.54 Mlb U 3 O 8 .

O . Uranium recovery is forecast at 93.7%.

Annual production is forecast at 2.69 Mlb U 3 O 8 for 21 years.

O for 21 years. Cash Operating Cost is forecast at US$24.49 per pound of U 3 O 8 .

O . Start-up Capital Expenditure is estimated at US$359 million.

Further recovery and cost optimization will be the focus of the Feasibility Study that SRK and SGS will complete.

GoviEx has an integrated four-part strategy to advance the Madaouela Project towards a production decision. This strategy includes debt finance structuring, for which Medea Capital has been appointed as adviser; off-take structuring, with advice provided by Holihan Lokey; project equity financing; and lastly, project optimization and completion of the appropriate engineering, for which SRK and SGS have been appointed.

Qualified Persons

The scientific and technical information disclosed in this release has been reviewed, verified, and approved by Dr. Rob Bowell, a chartered chemist of the Royal Society of Chemistry, a chartered geologist of the Geological Society of London, and Fellow of the Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Materials, who is an independent Qualified Person under the terms of National Instrument 43-101 for uranium deposits.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

____________________

1 An independent NI 43-101 technical report was prepared for the Madaouela Project in 2015 to a pre-feasibility level of confidence. The report titled "An Updated Integrated Development Plan for the Madaouela Project, Niger" has an effective date of August 11, 2015, and a revision date of August 20, 2015, and is available at GoviEx's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

About GoviEx Uranium

GoviEx is a mineral resource company focused on the exploration and development of uranium properties in Africa. GoviEx's principal objective is to become a significant uranium producer through the continued exploration and development of its flagship mine-permitted Madaouela Project in Niger, its mine-permitted Mutanga Project in Zambia, and its other uranium properties in Africa.

About SRK

SRK Consulting (UK) Ltd is part of the international SRK Group, which employs over 1,400 professionals internationally in over 45 offices on 6 continents. SRK Consulting (UK) was established in Cardiff in 1988 and we now employ over 100 professionals providing experienced support for all aspects of the natural resource industry. Being part of the SRK Group we are wholly owned by SRK employees and in addition we ensure our independence by holding no equity in any project. This enables us to provide multi-disciplinary conflict-free and objective recommendations on crucial judgement issues. Though based in the UK we work on projects all over the world. In conditions ranging from the tropics to the permafrost; and on projects large and small, we have provided our clients innovative, practical, cost effective solutions for more than twenty years.

About SGS

SGS is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognised as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 95,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 2,400 offices and laboratories around the world. Within the SGS group, SGS Bateman manages the complete project lifecycle from concept to commissioning, maximising the success and profitability of a project through state-of-the-art process engineering and design, and leading-edge project execution systems. Comprehensive services for new process plants and brownfield upgrades cover a wide range of commodities and are tailored to both large and small projects. SGS Bateman's engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) skills have been proven on some of the most exacting mineral resource projects, in the most difficult of terrains. Please visit www.sgs.com/minerals.

Information Contacts

Govind Friedland, Executive Chairman

Daniel Major, Chief Executive Officer

+1-604-681-5529

info@goviex.com

www.goviex.com

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All information and statements other than statements of current or historical facts contained in this news release are forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors disclosed here and elsewhere in GoviEx's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. When used in this news release, words such as "will", "could", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "may", "potential", "should," and similar expressions are forward-looking statements. Information provided in this document is necessarily summarized and may not contain all available material information.

Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the potential for membrane separation technologies to reduce the capital and operating expenses of the Madaouela Project; statements regarding GoviEx continuing to target further project optimization opportunities at the Madaouela Project, GoviEx's integrated four-step strategy to advance the Madaouela Project towards a production decision; and other statements that are not facts. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management based on the business and markets in which GoviEx operates, are inherently subject to significant operational, economic, and competitive uncertainties and contingencies.

Assumptions upon which forward-looking statements have been made in this news release include that the results of the Review will prove to be applicable to the Madaouela Project; that the utilization of membrane separation technologies at the Madaouela Project will result in reduced capital and operating expenses, that SRK and SGS will be able to produce a feasibility study for the Madaouela Project, that the Company will be able to identify and execute on further project optimization opportunities and implement its integrated four-step strategy to advance the Madaouela Project towards a production decision, that the Company will be successful in completing a mine on the Madaouela Project (including the portion covered by the Agaliouk Exploration Permit), and that GoviEx successfully will recover resources available on the Madaouela Project in a manner more cost-effective than is contemplated under the Pre-Feasibility Study.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include, among other things, the inability to complete a feasibility study on the Madaouela Project for any reason, and the possibility that the utilization of membrane separation technologies for the Madaouela Project will not yield the expected reduction in capital or operating expenses, the possibility that the Company will fail to identify and/or execute on further project optimization opportunities at the Madaouela Project or to meet the contemplated timelines for implementing GoviEx's integrated four-part strategy that is anticipated to allow GoviEx to be in a position to make a production decision, if any; and the Company's possible inability to complete a mine for technical, economic, legal or other reasons, as well as the Company's possible inability to use an open-pit or other approach with a similar cost for any mining operations that may occur on the Madaouela Project, for whatever reason. In addition, the factors described or referred to in the section entitled "Financial Risks and Management Objectives" in the MD&A of GoviEx for the year ended December 31, 2017, which is available on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com, should be reviewed in conjunction with the information found in this news release.

GoviEx has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. There can be other factors that cause results, performance, or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate or that management's expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances, or results will materialize. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, the results or events predicted in these forward-looking statements may differ materially from actual results or events. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and GoviEx disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law, and GoviEx assumes no any liability for disclosure relating to any other company herein.RHEINBREITBACH, Germany, September 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Jennewein Biotechnologie GmbH announces the introduction of a total biosynthesis approach for the production of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs). Currently the production of HMOs by fermentation requires lactose as a starting material. Lactose is a costly dairy by-product and is difficult to handle in large-scale fermentations.

Jennewein Biotechnologie has recently developed processes for the complete biosynthesis of complex HMOs from simple carbon sources rather than lactose. "The introduction of total biosynthesis concepts makes the fermentation process more robust and also more cost effective," states Dr. Stefan Jennewein (CEO). "The last point is particularly relevant because even the most advanced infant formulae contain lower concentrations of HMOs thannatural human milk."Glyn Brookman (Director of Sales) takes up the story: "In order to replace unnecessaryHMO surrogates, like Galactooligosaccharides (GOS) and Fructooligosaccharides (FOS), in infant formulae, the cost of HMOs must be addressed."

Dr. Benedikt Engels (Chief Operation Officer) continues: "The new total biosynthesis process will initially replace our current large-scalefermentation process for the production of 2'-fucosyllactose, and will also be used to produce lacto-N-neotetraose." Dr. Stefan Jenneweinsums up the promise of the new technology:"The introduction of our total biosynthesis concept for HMOs is a big leap forward in our mission to bring the significant health benefits of HMOs into every infant formula product for the benefit of all babies."

About Jennewein Biotechnologie:

Jennewein Biotechnologie is a leading international industrial biotechnology company with a range of products in the field of complex oligosaccharides (HMOs) and rare monosaccharides. The company manufactures an extensive portfolio of innovative HMO products, such as 2'-fucosyllactose, 3'-fucosyllactose and lacto-N-tetraose. These rare sugars are used in the food industry (particularly infant milk formulas), the pharmaceutical industry, and the cosmetic industry. The manufacturing process involves state-of-the-art fermentation techniques. In 2015, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Jennewein Biotechnologie a license to market 2'-fucosyllactose in the USA. This was followed in 2017 by European Union marketing authorisation under the Novel Food Regulation.

Press contact:

Dr. Bettina Gutierrez

+49(0)2224-98810-797

bettina.gutierrez@jennewein-biotech.de



Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 19, 2018) - Maritime Resources Corp. (TSXV: MAE) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company has entered into a nonbinding Letter of Intent with Rambler Metals and Mining Canada Limited, a subsidiary of Rambler Metals and Mining plc (AIM: RMM) (TSXV: RAB) ("Rambler") for a Toll Milling Agreement ("Agreement") to process ore from the past producing Hammerdown gold mine at Rambler's idle Nugget Pond carbon in pulp (CIP) circuit.

Maritime and Rambler will work closely together to determine the most effective way to optimize the Nugget Pond grinding circuit to process Rambler's Ming mine copper ore through their copper floatation circuit and Maritime's Hammerdown gold ore through the CIP gold circuit separately. Engineering studies and a review of capital cost are scheduled to support finalizing a binding Agreement.

Maritime has had a close working relationship with Rambler for the past several years. In November 2014 the company's signed a letter of intent (see news release MAE-NR14-08, dated November 17th, 2014) to evaluate the potential of reopening the Hammerdown mine. As well in May 2016 signed an Engineering, Evaluation and Services Agreement (see news release MAE-NR16-06, dated May 9th, 2016) where the companies worked together and appointed an independent qualified third-party consultant to prepare and complete a pre-feasibility study which was completed in April 2017.

During this optimization and engineering studies, Maritime will continue to advance the Hammerdown project with dewatering the mine, drilling the inferred resource near the existing mine plan that contains approximately 400,000 oz of gold and evaluating open pit opportunities to include the J, K and L veins where drilling was completed last winter.

Exploration potential at Green Bay is also substantial in three areas; the Rumbullion vein system which extends for 800 metres to the northeast of the current mine plan, the Hammerdown offset fault extension which is projected at approximately 500 metre depth on the southwest side of the historic mining operations and under ground workings and the open Orion vein system/resources which lies approximately 1,500 meters to the southwest of Hammerdown and has only been drilled to 300m depth.

Doug Fulcher, President and CEO of Maritime commented:

"We are very pleased to have entered into this LOI with Rambler.The toll milling option at the permitted Nugget Pond gold mill, where Hammerdown ore was previously processed averaging over 97% recoveries, would allow for the project to be fast-tracked to production following a positive production decision by Maritime.Rambler's presence and operational expertise in Newfoundland is a huge asset to Maritime as we move the Hammerdown project forward."

Norman Williams, President and CEO of Rambler Metals and Mining commented:

"As we continue to ramp up the Ming Mine ore production to a sustained production of 1,250 dry metric tonnes per day at the Nugget Pond copper floatation plant we remain supportive of possible toll milling opportunities with Maritime through our idle gold plant at Nugget Pond. This LOI is a step forward and supports Maritime in its further engineering studies as it targets a move towards production."

About Maritime Resources Corp.

Maritime Resources holds 100% of the Green Bay Property, located near Springdale, Newfoundland and Labrador. The property hosts the past producing Hammerdown gold mine and the Orion gold deposit separated by a 1.5 km distance that sits within an overall strike length of 4000 metres. As well the Lochinvar base metals/precious metals deposit sits to the north end of the Rumbullion.

The Company announced a PFS (March 2, 2017) that successfully demonstrated a viable mining operation with low upfront capital and short time line to the start of gold production. The engineering design optimizes a small foot print within the historical mine area as well as utilizing some of the existing underground infrastructure where possible. The operation is scheduled to run at a capacity of approximately 400 metric tons per day ('mtpd') over a five-year mine life.

The results show positive economics, strong internal rate of return, short payback period and significant cash flow under reasonable commodity price assumptions. The pre-tax operating cash cost to produce an ounce of gold is $558 CDN with an all-in pre-tax-cost (including capital, sustaining capital and operating cost) of $955 CDN per ounce of gold.

In addition, there remain numerous opportunities for improvement to reduce the planned development and capital costs. Maritime will continue to evaluate these opportunities with a goal to fully optimize the returns from the mining operation.

The Hammerdown gold deposit was successfully mined by Richmont Mines between 2000 and 2004 while gold prices averaged $325/oz. During its operation, a total of 290,180 tonnes of ore were mined and milled, at an average grade of 15.74 g/t Au, recovering a total of 143,000 ounces of gold at an 8 g/t cut-off. The ore was processed at the Nugget Pond mill, now owned and operated by Rambler Metals and Mining Canada Limited, with an average gold recovery of 97.4%.

Further information on the Green Bay Gold Property can be found on our website along with the NI43-101 Technical Report filed on SEDAR on July 11, 2013 at www.maritimeresourcescorp.com.

Bernard H. Kahlert, P.Eng. is the Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure contained in this release.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

"Doug Fulcher"

Doug Fulcher

President & CEO

For further information, please call:

Doug Fulcher

Telephone: (604) 336-7322

info@maritimeresourcescorp.com



The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Statements in this press release, other than purely historical information, including statements relating to the Company's future plans and objectives or expected results, may include forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions and are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties inherent in resource exploration and development. As a result, actual results may vary materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.

Caution Regarding Forward Looking Statements:

Certain information included in this press release, including information relating to future financial or operating performance and other statements that express the expectations of management or estimates of future performance constitute "forward-looking statements". Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding copper, gold and silver forecasts, the financial strength of the Company, estimates regarding timing of future development and production and statements concerning possible expansion opportunities for the Company. Where the Company expresses or implies an expectation or belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief are based on assumptions made in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. Such assumptions include, without limitation, the price of and anticipated costs of recovery of, copper concentrate, gold and silver, the presence of and continuity of such minerals at modeled grades and values, the capacities of various machinery and equipment, the availability of personnel, machinery and equipment at estimated prices, mineral recovery rates, and others. However, forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed, projected or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, but are not limited to, interpretation and implications of drilling and geophysical results; estimates regarding timing of future capital expenditures and costs towards profitable commercial operations. Other factors that could cause actual results, developments or events to differ materially from those anticipated include, among others, increases/decreases in production; volatility in metals prices and demand; currency fluctuations; cash operating margins; cash operating cost per pound sold; costs per ton of ore; variances in ore grade or recovery rates from those assumed in mining plans; reserves and/or resources; the ability to successfully integrate acquired assets; operational risks inherent in mining or development activities and legislative factors relating to prices, taxes, royalties, land use, title and permits, importing and exporting of minerals and environmental protection. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements and the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained herein are made as at the date hereof and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any such forward-looking statements or any forward-looking statements contained in any other documents whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable security law.St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador--(Newsfile Corp. - September 19, 2018) - Sokoman Iron Corp. (TSXV: SIC) ("Sokoman" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that it has awarded the Moosehead Project Phase 2 diamond drilling contract to Springdale Forest Resources (Diamond Drilling Division) of Springdale, NL, and that site preparations will begin immediately.

The proposed program will consist of up to 10,000 metres of NQ-sized core utilizing two diamond drill rigs operating 24 hours a day with two shifts per rig. At least 50% of the proposed meterage will focus on the Eastern and Western Trends to follow up and expand on the very successful Phase 1 program completed last month, with the exact number of holes to be determined by results received.

Rig #1 is expected to commence drilling on or about October 1, 2018 and will focus on the Eastern Trend area immediately surrounding the high-grade intercept from MH-18-01 which cut 11.90 m @ 44.96 g/t Au (core thickness) from the Eastern Trend (see NR July 24, 2018). A series of approximately 15 m to 25 m spaced bracket and undercut holes will be completed to depths of 250 to 300 metres to establish a strike, dip and/or plunge of the high-grade intercept reported from MH-18-01. These same holes will also target the historical intercept from MH-03-15 of 0.45 m of 278 g/t Au from drilling completed in 2003, which remains the deepest intercept to date (200 m vertically) on the property, and which was the original target of MH-18-01.

Rig #1 will also expand on open-ended mineralization in the Western Trend testing for extensions of near surface (less than 50 metres depth), high-grade gold bearing quartz veins similar to veins intersected by MH-18-08 which cut two vein zones assaying 1.05 m @ 207.51 g/t Au from 8.50 m downhole, and 2.28 m @ 42.36 g/t Au from 33.07 m downhole (see NR August 29, 2018).

Rig #2 will commence drilling approximately one week after Rig #1 and will be largely testing high-priority targets outlined by historical drilling elsewhere along the two-kilometre-long, roughly north south trending North Pond, South Pond and Discovery Faults. A total of 20-30 holes ranging from 100 to 300 metres in depth will test targets up to one kilometre north and south of the core area defined by the Western and Eastern Trends. The Western Trend is located between these key faults while the Eastern Trend appears to lie just east of the main structures and may be lying on a previously unrecognized structure. These targets include multiple historical drill holes that reported visible gold but had limited or no follow-up drilling. Additional details will be provided once the rig has been mobilized to the property.

The program is expected to take two months to complete, however, certain targets may be more effectively and environmentally responsibly tested when the ground is frozen. These holes will be added to a Phase 3 program which would begin in early 2019 once all results from Phase 2 have been received and compiled. The Company expects to release drilling results in batches as the program progresses.

About Sokoman Iron Corp.

Sokoman Iron Corp. (TSXV: SIC) is a discovery-oriented company with projects in Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada. The Company's primary focus is its portfolio of gold projects in Central Newfoundland on the structural corridor hosting the 3.1 million ounce Valentine Lake gold project 150 km southwest of the Company's high-grade Moosehead gold project. The Company also has a 100% interest in an early-stage antimony project in Newfoundland, as well as a 100% interest in the Iron Horse (Fe/U/REE) project in Western Labrador.

For more information, please contact:

Sokoman Iron Corp.

Timothy Froude, P. Geo., President & CEO

Phone: 709-765-1726

Email: tfroude@sokomaniron.com

CHF Capital Markets

Cathy Hume, CEO

Phone: 416-868-1079

Email: cathy@chfir.com

Website: www.sokomaniron.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Investors are cautioned that trading in the securities of the Corporation should be considered highly speculative. Except for historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially. Sokoman Iron Corp. will not update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. More detailed information about potential factors that could affect financial results is included in the documents filed from time to time with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities by Sokoman Iron Corp.CHICAGO, September 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

According to the new market research report "Food Inclusions Market by Type (Chocolate, Fruit & Nut, Cereal, Flavored Sugar & Caramel, Confectionery), Application (Cereal, Snacks, and Bars, Bakery, Dairy & Frozen Desserts, Chocolate & Confectionery), Form, Flavor, and Region - Global Forecast to 2023", published by MarketsandMarkets, the market for food inclusions is estimated at USD 10.74 billion in 2018; it is projected to reach USD 15.78 billion by 2023, at a CAGR of 8.0%.

(Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg )

For more Insights on this report, Speak to Our Analyst:

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalyst.asp?id=43206052

Inclusions are extra ingredients that are added to food products to improve the aesthetics and organoleptic & sensory properties of food products, resulting in an enhanced appeal. Owing to the growing industrial demand, various types of inclusions have been introduced by market players in different forms and characteristics that cater to and comply with end-consumer demand in terms of flavor, texture, and allergen & health concerns, among others.

The chocolate segment is projected to dominate the Food Inclusions Market through 2023.

In 2018, the chocolate segment is estimated to account for the largest share, by type, in the Food Inclusions Market, in terms of value. Chocolate is among the most preferred and popular flavors among consumers, worldwide, and is a major factor that is expected to drive significant consumption of chocolate inclusions in the food & beverage industry. The use of chocolate inclusions adds gloss and enhances the taste of products, while also enhancing other organoleptic properties. Thus, the use of chocolate inclusions in varieties of food applications such as confectionery, ice cream, bakery, dairy, beverages, frozen desserts, and cereal products is expected to drive the market.

Browse in-depth TOC on "Food Inclusions Market"

66 -Tables

42 - Figures

140 - Pages

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/food-inclusion-market-43206052.html

The cereal products, snacks, and bars segment to dominate the Food Inclusions Market through 2023.

Cereal products, snacks, and bars are estimated to form the major application in which food inclusions are most widely used. The consumption of various types of food inclusions in this application is largely attributed to the multiple benefits these inclusions add to the products in this category, such as addition of required flavors (fruit, chocolate, caramel, and nut), enhancement in product appearance in terms of color and visibility, and provision of required textures to products. Further, the use of inclusions enhanced the product value, both in terms of nutritional aspects as well as consumer requirements that drive the use of food inclusions in this segment.

Asia Pacific is projected to be the fastest-growing regional market for food inclusions.

The Asia Pacific region is projected to be the fastest-growing market for food inclusions over the next five years, owing to an increase in overall economic growth, with diversity in income levels, technology, and demand from end consumers leading to enhanced scope for future growth. The main countries contributing significantly toward the growth of the market in this region are China, Japan, and Australia & New Zealand. China has always been a huge consumer base for food products, due to its large population base. The increasing purchasing power of consumers, due to the economic development in China and the influence of the Western culture on the Chinese urban middle-class, has led to an increase in demand for high- & premium-quality food products.

In this region, countries such as China and Japan are expected to account for a major share of the market. India is projected to be one of the fastest-growing markets for food inclusions in the Asia Pacific region.

Request for PDF Brochure:https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=43206052

This report studies the marketing and development strategies, along with the product portfolios of leading companies such Cargill (US), ADM (US), Barry Callebaut (Switzerland), Kerry (Ireland), Tate & Lyle (UK), AGRANA (Austria), Sensient Technologies (US), Puratos Group (Belgium), SensoryEffects (US), Taura Natural Ingredients (New Zealand), Georgia Nut Company (US), Inclusion Technologies (US), Nimbus Foods (UK), IBK Tropic (Spain), TruFoodMfg (US), FoodFlo International (New Zealand), and Confection by Design (UK).

About MarketsandMarkets

MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions.

Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve.

MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets.

Contact:

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MarketsandMarkets INC.

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Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/food-inclusion-market.aspManibridge and Strong projects to receive $4 million under proposed transaction; Winter drill program approved for Manibridge high-grade zone

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 19, 2018) - CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. (TSXV: CVV) (OTCQB: CVVUF) (FSE: DH7N) ("CanAlaska" or the "Company") reports that it has entered into letters of intent (LOI) with Melbourne-based Canada Metals Ltd. for an Option-Purchase of the Manibridge nickel project, and an Option to earn 70% of the Strong nickel project. Canada Metals Ltd. is an Australian-incorporated public unlisted company based in Melbourne, Australia, and supported by Peak Asset Management investment group. Canada Metals Ltd is currently planning to undertake an IPO to list on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). Both projects will receive significant drill programs following the proposed financing of Canada Metals Ltd pursuant to its ASX listing.

The LOIs are largely non-binding, and the transaction is subject to satisfactory due diligence being undertaken on the projects by Canada Metals, and the parties executing binding contractual agreements. The parties will now proceed to conduct the diligence process and negotiate the terms of binding contractual documentation for the transactions.

New Targets Developed at Thompson Nickel Belt Properties

The Strong and Manibridge nickel projects are 100% owned by CanAlaska, and were generated by the Company's technical team. They occupy significant land positions in the Thompson Nickel Belt see; (http://www.canalaska.com/s/News.asp?ReportID=831054).

On the Strong property a series of VTEM geophysical anomalies with characteristics similar to nearby nickel deposits have been modeled. Six of these targets are classified as high priority for drill testing and will be the focus of Canada Metals Ltd's drill programs.

On the Manibridge property a 1.2 km long zone of mineralized drill intersections provide targets with high-grade and high-tenor nickel mineralization immediately northeast of the historical Manibridge nickel mine operation. Permits for a winter drill program have been received, and this will likely be a priority first area of focus for Canada Metals Ltd.

Option and Purchase Agreement terms

The Manibridge project agreement requires Canada Metals Ltd to fund a $5M IPO and carry out 7,000 metres of drilling on the project. Cash consideration is $100,000 CDN, and subject to exchange approvals, 7 million shares and 8 million share options will be issued to CanAlaska. An additional 3 million shares of Canada Metals Ltd are due following definition of JORC compliant resources of approximately 5 million tonnes of nickel mineralization. CanAlaska will retain a 1.5% royalty at the completion of the purchase.

The Strong project agreement allows Canada Metals Ltd to earn a 70% interest in the project following the proposed IPO by carrying out 7,000 metres of drilling and, subject to exchange approval, issuing 3 million shares of Canada Metals Ltd. Cash consideration is $100,000 CDN. An additional 4 million shares of Canada Metals Ltd are due following the definition of JORC compliant resources of approximately 5 million tonnes of nickel mineralization.

The parties are targeting completion of the transaction by end of December 2018.

Comment.

President Peter Dasler commented, "this is a great step forward for CanAlaska, as we get a timely funding of exploration on two of our three nickel projects. Historical exploration work has been compiled on each property and there are a number of compelling nickel targets. We get to participate alongside a good technical group with strong funding sources."

Canada Metals Ltd's Director, Cory Belyk commented, "it is a rare opportunity for an emerging exploration company such as Canada Metals Ltd to acquire high-value exploration projects in the Thompson Nickel Belt, the 5th largest nickel belt in the world. Even more rare is an opportunity to expand known and sparsely drilled high-grade nickel mineralization immediately adjacent to a past producing sulphide nickel mine with the first drill program. This is an exciting foundation on which to build a new company such as Canada Metals Ltd."

About CanAlaska Uranium

CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. (TSXV: CVV) (OTCQB: CVVUF) (FSE: DH7N) holds interests in approximately 152,000 hectares (375,000 acres), in Canada's Athabasca Basin - the "Saudi Arabia of Uranium." CanAlaska's strategic holdings have attracted major international mining companies. CanAlaska is currently working with Cameco and Denison at two of the Company's properties in the Eastern Athabasca Basin. CanAlaska is a project generator positioned for discovery success in the world's richest uranium district. The Company also holds properties prospective for nickel, copper, gold and diamonds. For further information visit www.canalaska.com.

About Canada Metals Ltd

Canada Metals Ltd. is an Australian incorporated public unlisted company based in Melbourne, Australia, and supported by Peak Asset Management investment group.

The qualified technical person for this news release is Dr Karl Schimann, P. Geo, CanAlaska director and VP Exploration.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Peter Dasler"

Peter Dasler, M.Sc., P.Geo.

President & CEO

CanAlaska Uranium Ltd.

Contacts:

Peter Dasler, President

Tel: +1.604.688.3211 x 138

Email: info@canalaska.com

John Gomez, Corporate Development

Tel: +1.604.484.7118

Email: jgomez@canalaska.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-looking information

All statements included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions made by the Company based on its experience, perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. In addition, these statements involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will prove inaccurate, certain of which are beyond the Company's control. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend to revise or update these forward-looking statements after the date hereof or revise them to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated events.Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 19, 2018) - TerraX Minerals Inc. (TSXV: TXR) (FSE: TX0) (OTC Pink: TRXXF) is pleased to announce the purchase of a 100% interest in the Tom Mine (6 sq km) and Sickle (2 sq. km) properties from Altamira Gold Corp. These properties increase the area of the YCGP from 772 square kilometers to 780 square kilometers. A map of the property locations is available here (https://terraxminerals.com/site/assets/files/2644/Sickle-Tom_17Sep18.jpg).

As part of the agreement, TerraX will pay Altamira a total of $25,000 cash and 250,000 shares of TerraX. Altamira will retain a 2% NSR royalty. The agreement is subject to the approval of the TSX-V exchange and is expected to close by the end of September.

David Suda, the Chief Executive Officer and President of TerraX stated "While results from our summer exploration program continue to fill our pipeline of focused targets; our team continues to build the world class land package. We are pleased to have completed an amicable transaction with Altamira."

The Tom Mine was a gold producer in the Yellowknife gold district from 1985-1997. The Tom and C vein systems were accessed by ramp to 122 vertical metres over 300 metres of strike length. The Tom Mine production was milled at the Ptarmigan Mine (January 12, 2018 press release) so separate production records for the Tom Mine are not available. The Tom Mine gold ore has the same characteristics as the Ptarmigan Mine which is free milling with reported recovery of 94%. When the mine closed in 1997 the veins were still open at depths below the current mine workings. (Source: The Operational History of Mines in the Northwest Territories, R. Silke, 2009; and Treminco Resources Limited, Annual report 1990). The southern portion of the property is contiguous with the Ptarmigan Gold Mine property.

The Sickle property is underlain by the Walsh Lake sediments, which are host to TerraX's Mispickle Zone (September 22, 2016, press release). Several historic gold showings occur on the property with gold values up to 4 g/t.

Joseph Campbell, the Executive Chairman of the Board of TerraX, stated "The purchase of the Tom Mine property gives TerraX access to another gold bearing vein system similar to the past producing Ptarmigan Mine, which TerraX owns. The property is also near paved road access to Yellowknife and high-tension powerlines that are connected to the past producing Ptarmigan Gold Mine. The purchase of the Sickle property gives TerraX an additional 5 kilometers of strike length in the gold bearing Walsh Lake sediments."

The technical information contained in this news release has been approved by Joseph Campbell, the Executive Chairman of the Board of TerraX, who is a Qualified Person as defined in "National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects."

About the Yellowknife City Gold Project

The Yellowknife City Gold ("YCG") project encompasses 780 sq km of contiguous land immediately north, south and east of the City of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories. Through a series of acquisitions, TerraX controls one of the six major high-grade gold camps in Canada. Being within 10 km of the City of Yellowknife, the YCG is close to vital infrastructure, including all-season roads, air transportation, service providers, hydro-electric power and skilled tradespeople.

The YCG lies on the prolific Yellowknife greenstone belt, covering 70 km of strike length along the main mineralized break in the Yellowknife gold district, including the southern and northern extensions of the shear system that hosted the high-grade Con and Giant gold mines. The project area contains multiple shears that are the recognized hosts for gold deposits in the Yellowknife gold district, with innumerable gold showings and recent high-grade drill results that serve to indicate the project's potential as a world-class gold district.

For more information on the YCG project, please visit our web site at www.terraxminerals.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"JOSEPH CAMPBELL"

Joe Campbell

Executive Chairman of the Board

For more information, please contact:

Samuel Vella

Manager of Corporate Communications

Phone: 604-689-1749

Toll-Free: 1-855-737-2684

svella@terraxminerals.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains forward-looking information, which involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual events to differ materially from current expectation. Important factors - including the availability of funds, the results of financing efforts, the completion of due diligence and the results of exploration activities - that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations are disclosed in the Company's documents filed from time to time on SEDAR (see www.sedar.com). Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The company disclaims any intention or obligation, except to the extent required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise.Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - September 19, 2018) - Antioquia Gold Inc. (TSXV: AGD) (OTC Pink: AGDXF) ("Antioquia Gold" or the "Corporation") is pleased to provide an update on the status of construction work and development at the Cisneros Project.

Mine development continues to advance at a rapid pace. To date, 10,000 meters of development and mining infrastructure have been completed between the Guaico and Guayabito mines. The current status at each mine is detailed below:

Guaico Mine:

Preparation and development work continues with the extension of the main ramp down to level 1060. To date 6,650 meters are complete, of which 2,350 meters were developed on mineralized structures.

Cut and Fill mining tests started at level 1160 in August, with mining of the mineralized zone at a width of 1.2 meters to minimize dilution and with subsequent expansion to 1.8 meters for the transit of the equipment (Jumbo Muki and Scoop Aramine L130D). This technique is known as "circado" and is being applied in the narrow veins such as Guaico, FW3 and FW5.

Bench and Fill mining is planned for the Nus shear zone A geomechanical study was carried out by DCR Ingenieros SR Ltda, who validated the opportunity to increase the bank height to 20 meters, allowing for a reduction in the cost of mining and an increase in productivity.

The newly acquired mineral sorting equipment will be installed inside the Guaico mine in order to maximize the benefits of pre-concentration. Currently, the excavation of the two chambers required to host the ore sorting area is under construction.

Guayabito Mine:

Progress includes the recognition of mineralized structures at level 1460, and development of 3,350 meters, of which 1,110 meters are on the mineralized structures El Bolo, GYBX, GYBD4, GYBC, and GYB2.

Development is focused on deepening the ramp and the positive operating ramp of level 1460.

A ventilation raise 250 meters in length has been connected to the surface, and the mine now has an open ventilation circuit and an alternative exit in case of emergencies. In addition, this work confirmed the continuity of the structural system south of previously identified zones.

Regional exploration:

The company made the final payment to Gramalote as consideration for the recently acquired Guadualejo mining property. (see news release August 22, 2018). Currently, exploration work within the 5,245 ha area is being planned and will include soil sampling, geophysics and geological mapping to identify potential mineralization near the Guaico mining unit.

Construction and Assembly:

The construction of the plant, tailings dam, tailings pipe, electrical substation and other main components of the Cisneros Project is 88% complete. Details of the progress are outlined below:

Construction of columns ("pilotes") for foundations of all the terraces are complete.

The concrete works of the filtration, flotation, gravimetric, air and water service, grinding, and electric substation areas are complete, and progress is made in the concrete works of the tailings, reagents and crushing areas.

The 8'x10' Denver ball mill assembly has been completed. Installation of hydrocyclone, high frequency saw, press filter, equipment for air service, flotation cells and pulp pumps is complete. Water tanks, gravimetry and bridge cranes are being assembled.

The assembly of the metallic structure of the buildings in the filtering, grinding and air service areas are complete, and the assembly of roofs and of the metallic structure of the flotation area are near completion.

The main connection works and the internal electrical network have been completed. Work is being carried out on the installation of cable tray and wiring from the electric substation to the plant, as well as the support for the air building.

Construction of the north and south tailings dams is complete, as well as the north dock. Progress is made in the construction of the last 200m of bypass channels for the control of surface water, together with the revegetation of slopes. The assembly of the industrial wastewater treatment plant (PTARI) located in the tailings dam was finalized and progress is being made in preparation to begin operation tests. When these tests are complete, the hydraulic structure of the dam will be complete

The extension and welding of the pipeline, consisting of two pipelines 9.7 km in length, was completed throughout the project. Work on the construction of foundations for overpasses and installation of accessories and valves for venting and purging is being carried out.

The detailed engineering for the ore sorting plant is in process.

Qualified Persons

Roger Moss, Ph.D., P.Geo., Consultant to Antioquia Gold, is the qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information provided in this news release.

For further information on Antioquia Gold Inc. contact:

Antioquia Gold Inc.

1-800-348-9657

www.antioquiagoldinc.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

Reader Advisory Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements", are made as of the date of this press release and the Corporation does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect current expectations or beliefs regarding future events and include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: the completion of the Rights Offering and the use of proceeds of the offering. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects", "anticipates", "plans", "projects", "estimates", "assumes", "intends", "strategy", "goals", "objectives", "schedule" or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are made based upon certain assumptions by the Corporation and other important factors that, if untrue, could cause the actual results, performances or achievements of Antioquia to be materially different from future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business prospects and strategies and the environment in which Antioquia will operate in the future, including the accuracy of any resource estimations, the price of gold, anticipated costs and Antioquia's ability to achieve its goals, anticipated financial performance, regulatory developments, development plans, exploration, development and mining activities and commitments. Although management considers its assumptions on such matters to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect. Additional risks are described in Antioquia's most recently filed Annual Information Form, annual and interim MD&A and other disclosure documents available under the Corporation's profile at: www.sedar.com.

By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved or that assumptions do not reflect future experience. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as a number of important risk factors could cause the actual outcomes to differ materially from the beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations, anticipations, estimates, assumptions and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements.

Readers should also be cautioned that the Corporation's decision to move forward with the construction and production of the Cisnero Mine is not based on the results of any pre-feasibility study or feasibility study of mineral resources demonstrating economic or technical viability. Readers are referred to the Cisneros Report for details on independently verified mineral resources on the Cisneros Project. Since 2013, the Corporation has undertaken exploration and development activities; and after taking into consideration various factors, including but not limited to: the exploration and development results to date, technical information developed internally, the availability of funding, the low starting costs as estimated internally by the Corporation's management, the Corporation is of the view that the establishment of mineral reserves, the commissioning of a pre-feasibility study or feasibility study at this stage is not necessary, and that the most responsible utilization of the Corporation's resources is to proceed with the development and construction of the mine. Readers are cautioned that due to the lack of pre-feasibility study or feasibility study, there is increased uncertainty and higher risk of economic and technical failure associated with the Corporation's decision. In particular, there is additional risk that mineral grades will be lower than expected, the risk that construction or ongoing mining operations will be more difficult or more expensive than management expected. Production and economic variables may vary considerably, due to the absence of a detailed economic and technical analysis in accordance with NI 43-101. Project failure may materially adversely impact the Corporation's future profitability, its ability to repay existing loans, and its overall ability to continue as a going concern.PALM BEACH, Florida, September 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

MarketNewsUpdates.com News Commentary

There is a growing speculation and excitement building in the Cannabis industry of late as many are seeking any level of validation of the massive global potential of the cannabis industry as legalization looms in Canada. Validation seems to be more and more apparent as it was reported by BNNBloomberg.com recently that New Age Beverages Corp., which surged as much as 45% on September 5th merely for saying it tested a cannabis-infused beverage in Colorado at the Liolios Gateway Conference in San Francisco. Also it was reported by Bloomberg.com that Coca-Cola said it's monitoring the nascent industry and is interested in drinks infused with CBD -- the non-psychoactive ingredient in marijuana that treats pain but doesn't get you high. However Coke downplayed the speculation this week but did indicate "we are closely watching the growth of non-psychoactive CBD as an ingredient in functional wellness beverages around the world. The space is evolving quickly. No decisions have been made at this time." This could be a great indication of things to come all while companies are already looking to the next phase of the Cannabis industry such as edibles and other THC-infused products and drinks. Active companies in the markets today include: The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (TSX-V:WTER) (OTC:WTER), Aurora Cannabis Inc. (OTC:ACBFF) (TSX:ACB), Hexo Corp. (OTC:HYYDF) (TSX:HEXO), Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ) (NYSE:STZB), Canopy Growth Corporation (TSX:WEED) (NYSE:CGC).

The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (TSX-V:WTER.V) (OTCQB:WTER) BREAKING NEWS: The Alkaline Water Company, with products bottled under the trademark Alkaline88 that are available in over 40,000 retail locations across the U.S., including 39 of the Top 50 Grocers in the U.S., is pleased to announce the formation of A88 Infused Beverage Division, Inc., a wholly owned Nevada corporation ("A88 Infused"). A88 Infused will focus on brand extension and product innovations in the healthful water category.

"We are excited to announce the launch of our new A88 Infused Beverage Division, Inc. Our national success with Alkaline88 and expertise gained in the enhanced water segment makes A88 Infused a logical step in Alkaline88's brand evolution. We have partnered with industry leaders and experts to develop healthful products using the technology currently used by Alkaline88 as their foundation," stated Richard A. Wright, President and CEO of The Alkaline Water Company Inc.

"Consumer demand for enhanced and functional beverages is at an all-time high. Over 83% of consumers want some sort of nutritional or functional benefit in their water. A88 Infused is capitalizing on this trend with the planned launch of four new products centered around growing trends in the beverage space. A88 Infused is uniquely positioned to dominate these emerging beverage markets through our already established nationwide footprint of Alkaline88," stated Richard A. Wright, President and CEO of The Alkaline Water Company Inc.



New Products Coming Soon to Market Will Include:

Hemp-derived CBD infused Alkaline88 water

Naturally Flavored Alkaline88 water

Natural Sparkling Alkaline88 water

Alkaline88 infused with Natural Vitamins and Minerals

"We expect these new products to be all natural and plant derived. Each of the four initial areas were chosen based on our current customer demand, consumer demand, and market potential. Each new product line is already in various stages of development. Management feels the formation of A88 Infused will hasten their speed to market while maintaining our momentum with our lead product, Alkaline88. On October 17th of this year, CBD will be legal throughout all of Canada and is already legal in the U.S. We feel it is imperative that our hemp-derived CBD infused Alkaline88 water, along with each of the other products planned, be available for purchase throughout Canada and the U.S. We hope to be announcing many milestones over the next few months as we expand our brand offerings. Each product line was chosen based on our belief that consumers will embrace an infused Alkaline88 healthful product line. A brief overview of our current vision is outlined below," concluded Mr. Wright. Read this and more news for Alkaline Water Company at: http://www.marketnewsupdates.com/news/wter.html

In other industry developments in the markets:

Aurora Cannabis Inc. (OTCQX:ACBFF) (TSX:ACB.TO) and its wholly owned subsidiary MedReleaf have entered into additional supply arrangements with a number of provinces across Canada to supply a broad range of dried flower and higher margin products, such as prerolls, oils and capsules. In addition to supplying adult consumer use markets in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia, the company is pleased to advise of arrangements with the Yukon, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. The Aurora and MedReleaf brands are expected to have a strong presence across Canada, positioning the company well for rapid growth in the upcoming adult use market. Appointment of Darren Karasiuk, executive vice-president of adult usage, global. The company also announces the appointment of Mr. Karasiuk as its new executive vice-president of adult usage, global. Mr. Karasiuk will be responsible for the execution of Aurora's commercial adult use strategy, which includes oversight of adult-use retail, marketing, sales, business intelligence and analytics, partnerships, and customer service.

Hexo Corp. (OTCPK:HYYDF) (TSX:HEXO) has bolstered its leadership team by appointing Nick Davies as vice-president of marketing and Dominique Jones as vice-president of human resources. "I am pleased to welcome Nick and Dominique to our world-class leadership team," said Hexo's chief executive officer and co-founder, Sebastien St-Louis. "Together, they have decades of experience in their given fields and will be instrumental as we execute our business plan and continue expanding throughout Canada, and beyond." Mr. Davies is an accomplished marketing executive with over two decades of experience building trusted global brands and market-leading products. Having worked with Puma, Coleman, Virgin and Corel, Mr. Davies has earned a reputation as an energetic marketing leader known for building high-quality consumer experiences. As executive vice-president at Corel, he held global profit and loss responsibility for the graphics and productivity division, and led the company's expansion into new international markets. Mr. Davies is a graduate of the European Business School and holds an MBA from INSEAD.

In additional news about Cannabis and the Beverage markets:

Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ) (NYSE:STZB), a leading beverage alcohol company, and Canopy Growth Corporation (TSX:WEED.TO) (NYSE:CGC), a leading diversified cannabis company (together, the "Companies"), last month announced a significant expansion of their strategic partnership to position Canopy Growth as the global leader in cannabis production, branding, intellectual property and retailing. Constellation Brands will increase its ownership interest in Canopy Growth by acquiring 104.5 million shares directly from Canopy Growth, thereby achieving approximately 38 percent ownership when assuming exercise of the existing Constellation warrants. Constellation Brands is acquiring the new shares at a price of C$48.60 per share, which is a 37.9 percent premium to Canopy's 5-day volume weighted average price of the common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange ("VWAP"), and a 51.2 percent premium to the closing price on August 14, 2018. Constellation will also receive additional warrants of Canopy that, if exercised, would provide for at least an additional $4.5 billion CAD to Canopy Growth.



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This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. "Forward-looking statements" describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as "may", "future", "plan" or "planned", "will" or "should", "expected," "anticipates", "draft", "eventually" or "projected". You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company's annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and MNU undertakes no obligation to update such statements.

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NEW YORK, September 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Hanaa Helmy recognized forInvesting in Social Development.

Today, the United Nations Global Compact announced ten SDG Pioneers for 2018. Each year, the UN Global Compact celebrates a group of SDG Pioneers - individuals from around the world as who are championing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through their own companies and inspiring others to join the movement. Among the SDG Pioneers selected this year is Hanaa Helmy, CEO of the EFG Hermes Foundation and Head of CSR.

(Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/746726/Hanaa_Helmy.jpg )

Hundreds of nominations were received from diverse regions of the world, from which ten finalists were selected through a rigorous committee, exemplifying how business can be a force for good in addressing the challenges we face as a global society. The SDG Pioneers will be recognized during the UN Global Compact Leaders Summit 2018 on 24 September at the Headquarters of the United Nations in New York.

An SDG Pioneers Selection Group, comprised of representatives from the UN Global Compact Board Members, Expert Networks, Global Compact Network Council, Academia, UN Focal Points and previous SDG Pioneers, voted on the nominees based on a set of criteria. These criteria cover the individual's commitment to embed the Ten Principles and raise awareness on the SDGs, as well as their engagement with the UN Global Compact and its Local Networks.

"These ten outstanding individuals are demonstrating how business can unlock economic, social and environmental gains for the world by advancing the Sustainable Development Goals," said Lise Kingo, CEO & Executive Director of the UN Global Compact. "Showcasing the pioneering actions and progress of these leaders will help mobilize others in this exciting movement to create the world we all want."

The EFG Hermes Foundation for Social Development, headed by Hanaa Helmy, implements integrated sustainable development programmes. Their most recent programme showcases a partnership with civil society organizations, local and central government agencies as well as private sector entities to realize a USD 3.7 million integrated sustainable development project that reflects all ten UNGC principles and many SDGs. The project will improve the lives of approximately 60,000 under-privileged citizens through investments in infrastructure development, educational opportunities, economic empowerment and providing basic human rights for underprivileged areas.

Following a successful Foundation for social development that serves the Firm's surrounding community; Helmy started to work on a sustainability strategy, a Firm-wide adopted social purpose and a public responsibility principle that places emphasis on responsible business conduct and social investment. The strategy highlights and provides a deeper understanding of the SDGs by actively working to implement ESG considerations across business lines. Specific guidelines were developed for business lines. Engaging with investee companies and initiating dialogue on ESG issues was a priority throughout the process of policy development and adoption to manage ESG factors. EFG Hermes is proud to assume its sustainability role as ambassadors within the field financial services providers.

"The adoption of the UNGC principles and SDGs lead us to develop an ESG Policy, which by its turn was a step towards becoming fully compliant with the UNPRI and publicly demonstrate the Firm's commitment to sustainable responsible investment," said Helmy. "I am proud to have worked with stakeholders and succeeded in positioning EFG Hermes as the first Egyptian financial services corporation to take this step."

The world's largest corporate sustainability initiative, the UN Global Compact calls on companies to align strategies and operations with universal principles on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption, and take actions that advance societal goals. In Egypt, over 120 companies and non-business organization have joined the initiative, and the Global Compact Network Egypt has supported their efforts to advance sustainable business practices since 2004.

About Hanaa Helmy

Hanaa Helmy is the founding CEO of the EFG Hermes Foundation, a non-profit, non-governmental organisation that assists communities and institutions overcome financial, educational and health-related challenges. The Foundation focuses on integrated development programmes in Egypt to combat widespread diseases and support holistic development initiatives in the areas of infrastructure and human development, and economic empowerment.

Hanaa is social entrepreneur and Ashoka fellow who has devoted the last 20 years to working with children with special needs. She is the founder of the MOVE Foundation for Children with Cerebral Palsy, a non-profit organization that provides children with severe disabilities new opportunities for fuller participation and inclusion in the community. She is one of 18 global change makers recognized by the Economist's Intelligence Unit for her efforts in the fight to eradicate liver disease in Egypt.

Heading the CSR department, Hanaa helped EFG Hermes to be recognized for the drive towards Sustainability, by receiving the Best Sustainable Financial Provider 2017 by The European magazine for EFG Hermes. She led EFG Hermes to develop its comprehensive ESG strategy. She oversaw the company's appointment as the first Egyptian financial services corporation signatory to the UN Principles for Responsible Investment.

Hanaa is a member of the EGX Sustainability Advisory Committee, the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt CSR Committee, and the UNGCNE Board of Trustees.Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 19, 2018) - Further to its news release dated July 11, 2018, Forum Energy Metals Corp. (TSXV: FMC) ("Forum") is pleased to announce that it has executed a formal agreement (the "Agreement") to acquire the Quartz Gulch cobalt property located in the Idaho Cobalt Belt and the Juneau-Standard gold/silver/copper/cobalt property in Grant County, Oregon from Lumina Cobalt Corp. ("Lumina").

Quartz Gulch, Idaho Cobalt Belt

The Quartz Gulch claim block consists of 127 claims totaling 10.65 square kilometres, located approximately five kilometres to the southeast of the past producing Blackbird cobalt mine and the eCobalt Solutions Idaho Cobalt Project, the only permitted cobalt mine development in North America (Figure 1).

Noranda, a previous explorer of the Idaho Cobalt Belt completed a regional geological and stream sediment sampling study in the late 1970's/early 1980's establishing the Quartz Gulch property as prospective for stratabound cobalt mineralization and cobalt hosted in quartz-tourmaline breccias. Noranda recognized Quartz Gulch as a priority exploration target for finding future reserves for its Blackbird Mine but was never drilled. The Idaho Cobalt Belt has highly developed infrastructure and the Quartz Gulch property is easily accessed via the main road to the Blackbird mine. Assuming closing of the Agreement, Forum plans to conduct initial exploration of the property this fall.





Figure 1. Location of the Quartz Gulch property southeast of the past producing Blackbird Mine and eCobalt Solutions cobalt mine development. The Yellowjacket Formation, host to cobalt deposits in the area, trends onto the property.



To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4908/38742_a1537305770308_78.jpg

Juneau- Standard Gold/Silver/Copper/Cobalt, Grant County, Oregon

The JS claim block consists of 155 claims totaling 9.43 square kilometres surrounding patented claims in the Juneau-Standard, Quartzburg historical mining camp. Numerous mines in the district were known for their high-grade gold/silver/copper/cobalt veins, the largest of which were the Standard and Keystone Mines. The property is easily accessible via graded gravel forestry road, 10 kilometres from the town of Prairie City.

Gold-cobalt grades increased with depth and the highest grades were found in the lowest level of the Standard Mine, just above the water table. No historical exploration or mining was ever conducted below water table depths. It appears that mineralization is within a series of vein and breccia systems that are zoned with a copper rich zone and a gold-cobalt rich zone. The Keystone Mine was mined primarily for its gold and silver mineralization.

Lumina geologists prospected the property and sampled historical mine dumps which resulted in gold grades ranging from 0.125 to 548 grams gold per tonne. The potential for similar vein systems on the JS claims remains to be investigated. Assuming closing of the Agreement, Forum plans to conduct initial exploration of known veins and to identify new zones within the property this fall.

Adrian Karolko, P.Geo. a qualified person under the provisions of National Instrument 43-101 has reviewed and approved the technical data in this news release.

Agreement Terms

The Agreement terms are summarized as follows:

Forum shall pay Lumina a total of US$75,000: US$15,000 on closing of the Agreement; a further US$25,000 on the first anniversary of the Agreement; and the remaining US$35,000 on the second anniversary of the Agreement;

Forum shall issue Lumina a total of 3,000,000 common shares of Forum Energy Metals Corp., which are subject to a four month hold period and are also restricted under the Agreement on the basis that 1,000,000 shares are tradeable on the 6 month anniversary of the Agreement, a further 1,000,000 on the first anniversary of the Agreement, and the final 1,000,000 on the second anniversary of the Agreement;

Lumina shall retain a 2% net smelter returns royalty ("NSR"). Forum will have the option to purchase one half (1%) of the NSR at any time for US$1,000,000.

In addition, Lumina is also to enter into a two year voting support agreement and has been granted the right to participate in future financings of Forum on a pro rata basis for two years following closing. During the term of this participation right, Forum will have a right exercisable within five business days to place any shares of Forum that Lumina wishes to sell, provided that such right does not apply to sales through the facilities of the TSX Venture Exchange up to maximum of 100,000 shares in any five day trading period.

This Agreement is subject to regulatory approval, including approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

About Forum Energy Metals

Forum Energy Metals Corp (TSXV: FMC) explores for energy metals, most notably copper and uranium in Saskatchewan, Canada's Number 1 mining province, and is evaluating other energy metals opportunities in North America. Forum has initiated exploration of its Janice Lake sedimentary copper project and is well positioned for a rebound in the uranium market with 7 drill ready projects in the Athabasca Basin.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Richard J. Mazur, P.Geo.

President & CEO

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.

For further information contact:

Rick Mazur, President & CEO

mazur@forumenergymetals.com

Tel: 604-630-1585

Craig Christy, VP Corporate Development

cchristy@forumenergymetals.com

Tel: 250-863-0561Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 19, 2018) - Canntab Therapeutics Limited (CSE: PILL) ("Canntab" or the "Company"), a leader in the development of the cannabis in tablet or capsule form, is pleased to announce that the Company's common shares ("Common Shares") yesterday reached new all-time daily high and closing prices of $1.25 and $1.22, respectively, on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE"). This constitutes a 25% and 22% premium on the price of the Common Shares that were issued in the Company's private placement that closed concurrently with its reverse takeover in April. In addition, the Company traded an aggregate of 776,999 Common Shares yesterday, which represents the second highest daily volume in the Company's history, only being surpassed by the Company's opening day of trading on April 20, 2018.

"We are proud to report that Canntab is executing on its promise to deliver value and liquidity to our shareholders. Today's closing price demonstrates that the marketplace believes in our vision, and we intend to continue to reach new highs," said Jeff Renwick, CEO and a director of Canntab.

Stock Options

The Company also announces that the board of directors has authorized the grant of 100,000 incentive stock options to certain employees and consultants. Each such option entitles the holder to acquire one Common Share for a period of 3 years at an exercise price of $1.22 per Common Share.

About Canntab

Canntab Therapeutics Limited is a Canadian cannabis oral dosage formulation company based in Markham Ontario, engaged in the research and development of advanced pharmaceutical grade formulations of cannabinoids. Canntab has developed in-house technology to deliver standardized medical cannabis extract from selective strains in a variety of extended/sustained release pharmaceutical dosages for therapeutic use. Simply put, Canntab's mission is to put the "Medical" into medicinal cannabis!

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Canntab Therapeutics Limited

Richard Goldstein, CFO

Office: 416 957-6303



Email: info@canntab.ca

Certain statements included in this press release constitute forward-looking information or statements (collectively, "forward-looking statements"), including those identified by the expressions "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "should" and similar expressions to the extent they relate to the Company or its management. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect current expectations regarding future results or events. This press release contains forward looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and various estimates, factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be anticipated, estimated, or intended.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 19, 2018) - Robert Friedland, Executive Co-Chairman of Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN) (OTCQX: IVPAF), and Lars-Eric Johansson, Chief Executive Officer, are pleased to announce that Yufeng "Miles" Sun, President of CITIC Metal Group Limited, and Tadeu Carneiro, former Chief Executive Officer of Brazil-based Companhia Brasileira de Metalurgia e Mineracao (CBMM), have joined the Ivanhoe Mines Board of Directors.

The new appointments, which became effective earlier today with the closing of a C$723 million equity investment in Ivanhoe by CITIC Metal Africa Investments Limited, expand the Ivanhoe Board to 11 members. Mr. Sun and Mr. Carneiro were nominated by CITIC Metal Co., Ltd. pursuant to the terms of CITIC Metal Africa's equity investment and acquisition of an approximate 19.5% interest in Ivanhoe Mines.



Figure 1: Yufeng "Miles" Sun



To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/38762_ivan3.gif

Mr. Sun has been appointed Non-Executive Co-Chairman of Ivanhoe Mines.

Mr. Sun joined CITIC Group Corporation in August 1987 and managed the company's trading business in the United States for five years. He joined CITIC Metal Co. in April 1999 and served as its General Manager and Chairman between January 2003 and November 2016, during which CITIC Metal Co. developed into a major commodity trading and mining investment arm of CITIC Metal Group.

Mr. Sun also holds directorships in several other mining, processing and trading companies, including China Platinum Co. Ltd., Western SuperconductingTechnologies Co., Ltd., Companhia Brasileira de Metalurgia e Mineracao (CBMM) , and MMG South America Management Company Limited, which owns the Las Bambas copper project.

Mr. Sun holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Delaware and a Bachelor of English Literature from Shanghai International Studies University.



Figure 2: Tadeu Carneiro



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/38762_ivan2.gif

Mr. Carneiro is CEO of Boston Electrometallurgical Corporation, an invited lecturer in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and a part-time lecturer in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Tufts University, also in Massachusetts.

Before his retirement as CBMM's CEO in 2016, Mr. Carneiro spent 30 years with the company in progressively senior leadership positions. CBMM provides approximately 80% of the world's niobium metal and its basic alloys, which are used in pipelines, and heat-resistant superalloys that are used in jet engines.

Mr. Carneiro is a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining in the U.K., and is a board member of Sigma Lithium Resources in Canada.

"We are delighted to welcome Miles and Tadeu as Ivanhoe directors," said Mr. Friedland. "Their decades of experience in the resources industry, especially in developing international mining businesses in emerging markets, will be extremely valuable assets as we work to bring our projects into production."

About Ivanhoe Mines

Ivanhoe Mines is a Canadian mining company focused on advancing its three principal projects in Southern Africa: The development of new mines at the Kamoa-Kakula copper discovery in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Platreef platinum-palladium-nickel-copper-gold discovery in South Africa; and the extensive redevelopment and upgrading of the historic Kipushi zinc-copper-germanium-lead mine, also in the DRC.

Information contacts

Investors

Bill Trenaman +1.604.331.9834

Media

North America: Bob Williamson +1.604.512.4856

South Africa: Jeremy Michaels +27.82.772.1122Zijin Mining also has exercised its anti-dilution rights,raising additional C$78 million for Ivanhoe

Beijing, China--(Newsfile Corp. - September 19, 2018) - Robert Friedland, Executive Co-Chairman of Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN) (OTCQX: IVPAF), and Lars-Eric Johansson, Chief Executive Officer, today announced the completion of a major strategic equity investment totalling C$723 million (approximately US$556 million) in Ivanhoe Mines by CITIC Metal Africa Investments Limited (CITIC Metal Africa), a direct subsidiary of CITIC Metal Co., Ltd. (CITIC Metal), one of China's leading international resources companies.

The investment, initiated three months ago by CITIC Metal, is an integral part of Ivanhoe's long-term strategic cooperation and investment agreement with CITIC Metal.

Ivanhoe Mines has issued 196,602,037 common shares to CITIC Metal Africa through a private placement at a price of C$3.68 per share.

CITIC Metal Africa now has become Ivanhoe Mines' largest single shareholder through its acquired ownership of approximately 19.5% of the company's issued and outstanding common shares. Mr. Friedland has the second-largest Ivanhoe shareholding, with an ownership stake of approximately 17%.

As part of the private-placement agreement, CITIC Metal Africa and Mr. Friedland have signed reciprocal standstill agreements that prevent either of them from increasing their individual ownerships in Ivanhoe Mines to more than 19.9% until January 8, 2022.

The investment has generated gross proceeds for Ivanhoe Mines of C$723 million (approximately US$556 million). Approximately C$131 million of the C$723 million owing from the strategic equity investment was used to repay an interim loan of US$100 million that Ivanhoe Mines received on August 9, 2018, from CITIC Metal's corporate parent, CITIC Metal Group Limited. This resulted in a net cash payment to Ivanhoe today of C$592 million (approximately US$455 million). The full repayment of the interim loan eliminates the limited-recourse guarantee and share pledge previously provided by Mr. Friedland to secure Ivanhoe Mines' obligation under the loan facility.

"For more than 15 years, we have been mutually building the foundation for a long-lasting and trust-based relationship with CITIC," said Mr. Friedland. "We first formed a strategic alliance with CITIC in 2003 and since then have worked together to deepen our understandings of each other's values, strategic priorities, and operating and financial capabilities.

"After a period of extensive due diligence and multiple site visits, we are delighted to welcome CITIC Metal Africa as our new, largest shareholder. CITIC's leaders have reviewed hundreds of mining projects around the world, helping them to fully appreciate the world-scale significance of our three tier-one projects, and the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead as we move forward with our ongoing mine developments and exploration programs.

"We are confident that the CITIC Metal Group has the experience, financial resources - and a shared commitment to our objectives - to greatly assist us as we advance our projects to production, creating value for Ivanhoe's stakeholders in the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa, and our international shareholders."

Yufeng "Miles" Sun, President of CITIC Metal Group Limited, commented: "For several years, CITIC Metal has been focused on investing in high-quality mining assets with strategic, global partners. We are very pleased to have partnered with Ivanhoe Mines as Ivanhoe's three world-class assets are among the very best in the mining industry and Mr. Friedland is a respected, long-standing friend of CITIC's.

"CITIC Metal's strategic investment in Ivanhoe reflects our strong belief that the long-term prospects for the mining industry are extremely positive, especially given the projected robust future demand for key metals, such as copper, for renewable energy infrastructure and electric vehicles.

"We recognize the professional competence of the Ivanhoe Mines team, and we share their profound understanding and embracing of diverse cultures, which are indispensable factors in successful construction and operation of large-scale mining assets in Africa. We are confident that by working closely with the Ivanhoe Mines team and other existing shareholders and stakeholders, Ivanhoe's three tier-one projects can be successfully brought into production on schedule," Mr. Sun added.







Figure 1: CITIC Metal's Strategic Investment in Ivanhoe Mines Closing Ceremony



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/38761_ivanhoe_figure1.jpg







Figure 2: CITIC Metal's Strategic Investment in Ivanhoe Mines Closing Ceremony



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/38761_ivanhoe_figure2.jpg

Zijin exercises anti-dilution rights at C$3.68 per share to raise additional C$78 million for Ivanhoe.

Ivanhoe's joint-venture partner at the Kamoa-Kakula Project, Zijin Mining Group Co., Ltd., has exercised its anti-dilution rights, generating additional proceeds for Ivanhoe of C$78 million (approximately US$60 million). The exercise by Zijin of its anti-dilution rights also was at a price of C$3.68 per share. This has resulted in Zijin retaining a 9.7% ownership stake in Ivanhoe Mines - its level of ownership prior to the completion of CITIC Metal Africa's strategic investment.

With receipt of the combined proceeds of more than C$800 million from CITIC Metal Africa and Zijin, and the repayment of the interim loan, Ivanhoe now has cash and cash equivalents of approximately C$855 million (US$657 million) - and no significant debt.

Ivanhoe intends to use the funds to continue advancing its development and exploration activities at the Kamoa-Kakula, Platreef and Kipushi projects on their current, accelerated timetables.

"With today's closing of the private-placement financings with CITIC and Zijin, we have enhanced our strategic cooperation partnership with two of China's leading mining companies," said Mr. Friedland.

"Both partners share our expectation that future markets for metals will be influenced by steadily increasing urbanization and demands for cleaner air and water, which require strategic metals, such as nickel, zinc, platinum-group metals and, especially, copper.

"Ivanhoe Mines now is in the extremely advantageous position of having current cash resources of approximately US$657 million. We are confident in our capacity to successfully finance all three of our mine-development projects to production," Mr. Friedland added.

Mr. So Hon Chun, the controlling shareholder of Crystal River Global Limited, the holder of the 1% interest in the holding company for the Kamoa-Kakula Project with Zijin, previously assisted in connection with Zijin's initial investment in Ivanhoe Mines. Mr. So has a long-standing relationship with the Ivanhoe group of companies and continues to assist Ivanhoe in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Yufeng "Miles" Sun and Tadeu Carneiro join expanded Ivanhoe Board.

Pursuant to the terms of the private-placement agreement with CITIC Metal Africa, Ivanhoe Mines has accepted CITIC Metal's nomination of Mr. Sun and Tadeu Carneiro to the Ivanhoe Mines Board of Directors. The two new appointments expand the Board to 11 members.

Mr. Sun, President of CITIC Metal Group, has been appointed Non-Executive Co-Chairman of Ivanhoe Mines. Mr. Carneiro, former Chief Executive Officer of Brazil-based Companhia Brasileira de Metalurgia e Mineracao (CBMM), the world's largest producer of niobium metal and its basic alloys, has been appointed as a non-executive director.

Advisors

Ivanhoe Mines' financial advisors are BMO Capital Markets and Citi. Legal counsel for the company is Stikeman Elliott LLP. CITIC Metal is advised by RBC Capital Markets, as financial advisor, Ernst & Young (China), as tax advisor, RPM Global and BGRIMM Technology Group, as technical advisors and CITIC Securities, as PRC strategic advisor. Legal counsel for CITIC Metal is Baker McKenzie. Counsel for Zijin is Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP.

About CITIC Metal and CITIC Limited

CITIC Metal Africa Investments and CITIC Metal are affiliates of CITIC Limited. As CITIC Limited's arm in the business of resources and energy, CITIC Metal specializes in the importation and distribution of copper, zinc, platinum-group metals, niobium products, iron ore, coal and non-ferrous metals; trading of steel products; and investments in metals and mining projects. CITIC Metal's major mining investments include a 15% ownership in the Las Bambas copper project in Peru and leading a Chinese consortium in acquiring a 15% ownership in the Brazil-based niobium producer CBMM. CITIC Metal Africa is an Investment holding company incorporated in Hong Kong, with its 100% equity interests directly held by CITIC Metal.

CITIC Limited is China's largest conglomerate, with total assets of more than US$900 billion. Among its diverse global businesses, CITIC Limited focuses primarily on financial services, resources and energy, manufacturing, engineering contracting and real estate. CITIC Limited enjoys leading market positions in sectors well matched to China's economy. CITIC's rich history, diverse platform and strong corporate culture across all businesses ensure that CITIC Limited is unrivalled in capturing opportunities arising in China.

CITIC Limited is listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, where it is a constituent of the Hang Seng Index. CITIC Group Corporation, a Chinese state-owned enterprise, owns 58% of CITIC Limited.

About Ivanhoe Mines

Ivanhoe Mines is a Canadian mining company focused on advancing its three principal projects in Southern Africa: the development of new mines at the Kamoa-Kakula copper discovery in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Platreef platinum-palladium-nickel-copper-gold discovery in South Africa; and the extensive redevelopment and upgrading of the historic Kipushi zinc-copper-germanium-lead mine, also in the DRC.

Information contacts

Investors

Bill Trenaman +1.604.331.9834

Media

North America: Bob Williamson +1.604.512.4856

South Africa: Jeremy Michaels +27.82.772.1122Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 19, 2018) - Southern Silver Exploration Corp. (TSXV: SSV) ("Southern Silver") reported today that additional metallurgical test work on the Skarn Front deposit from the Cerro Las Minitas Project has resulted in both the successful separation of a potential "saleable grade" copper concentrate as well as the generation of a cleaner zinc concentrate grading above 50% zinc without sacrificing zinc, lead or silver recoveries.

This most recent test work conducted on behalf of Southern Silver by Blue Coast Research of Parksville, British Columbia, complements and improves on earlier batch work tests (see NR-06-18, May 14, 2018) that generated high-grade lead and zinc concentrates from the Blind-El Sol deposits and a high-grade lead concentrate from the Skarn Front deposit. However, heavy dilution of the zinc concentrate by chalcopyrite resulted in lower than optimal recoveries and grades of zinc concentrate generated from the Skarn Front composite.

The focus of this new test work was to optimize the flotation sequence, upgrade the zinc concentrate by removing the chalcopyrite and if possible, create a separate copper concentrate. The best results were achieved using a sequential float of Cu-Pb-Zn followed by subsequent cleaning of each concentrate. The test work on the Skarn Front composite recovered:

67.7% Cu and 15.1% Ag into the copper concentrate assaying 27.9% Cu and 1661g/t Ag respectively after three stages of cleaning;

85.2% Pb and 67.3% Ag into the lead concentrate assaying 60.8% Pb and 4596g/t Ag respectively after one stage of cleaning; and

89% Zn and 8.2% Ag into the zinc concentrate assaying 50.7% Zn and 111g/t Ag respectively after three stages of cleaning.

These test results are significant in that they produced a saleable copper concentrate and increased both the recovery of zinc and the grade of the zinc concentrate by approximately 10% over the earlier flotation test results (see NR-06-18). Silver strongly partitions into the lead and copper concentrates for a combined 82.4% Ag recovery in concentrates that traditionally receive favourable payable terms.

These latest test results complement previously reported recoveries from the Blind - El Sol sulphide composite (see NR-06-18) which recovered:

82% Ag, 90% Pb and 4% Zn into a lead concentrate assaying 2880ppm Ag, 68% Pb and 2% Zn; and

78% Zn into a zinc concentrate assaying 52% Zn.

The combined results from the Blind - El Sol and the Skarn Front deposits provide very favorable recoveries and grades of silver, lead and zinc which form the initial basis for a metallurgical processing flowsheet which in turn, can be used in the further evaluation and scoping of the CLM project. More advanced metallurgical test work should include variability tests of different parts of the CLM deposits and lock cycle tests to better define the processing flowsheet and will proceed with the acquisition of further data from the current 2018 and subsequent drill programs.

Table 1: Cleaner test results from the Skarn Front deposit test work





To view an enhanced version of Table 1, please visit: http://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5344/38738_a1537298499462_98.jpg

Cerro Las Minitas Project

The Cerro Las Minitas project is an advanced exploration stage polymetallic Ag-Pb-Zn-Cu Skarn/CRD project located in southern Durango, Mexico. Approximately 5,200 metres of drilling has been completed of an anticipated 12,000 core hole 2018 exploration program. Drilling continues with one core drill focused on systematic resource expansion in the Area of the Cerro which contains the existing Mineral Resource Estimate and the second core drill rig focused on new Ag-Au epithermal vein targets in the recently staked CLM West claim group. The company continues refining the CLM West drill targets through surface sampling and VLF-EM surveys over specific target areas.

The Cerro Las Minitas project as of January 8th , 2018 contains an estimated Indicated Resource, at a 175g/t AgEq cut-off, of 33.6Mozs silver and 319Mlbs of lead and 813Mlbs zinc (116.1Mozs AgEq) and an estimated Inferred Resource of 20.7Mozs silver, 131Mlbs lead and 870Mlbs zinc (92.7Mozs AgEq).(1)

A total of 119 drill holes for 54,800 metres have now been completed on the Cerro Las Minitas project with exploration expenditures of approximately US$15.5 million equating to exploration discovery costs of approximately $0.07 per AgEq ounce to the end of 2017. A further US$3.0 million is budgeted for the current 2018 exploration program.

The Cerro Las Minitas project operates on a joint venture basis by Southern Silver at a 40% interest and Electrum Global Holdings LP at a 60% interest. Southern Silver is operator of the project. Since formation of the Joint Venture in September, 2017, the partners have approved over US$3.5 Million in exploration on the project.

About Southern Silver Exploration Corp.

Southern Silver Exploration Corp. is a precious metal exploration and development company with a focus on the discovery of world-class mineral deposits in north-central Mexico and the southern USA. Our specific emphasis is the Cerro Las Minitas silver-lead-zinc project located in the heart of Mexico's Faja de Plata, which hosts multiple world-class mineral deposits such as Penasquito, San Martin and Los Gatos. We have assembled a team of highly experienced technical, operational and transactional professionals to support our exploration efforts with the objective of developing, along with our partner, Electrum Global Holdings LP, the Cerro Las Minitas project into a premier, silver-lead-zinc mine.

The Company engages in the acquisition, exploration and development either directly or through joint-venture relationships in mineral properties in major jurisdictions. Our property portfolio also includes the Oro porphyry copper-gold project located in southern New Mexico, USA. The Oro property consists of patented land, State leases and BLM located mineral claims which cover a highly prospective quartz-sericite-pyrite alteration zone, interpreted to overlie an unexposed porphyry centre and distal sediment-hosted, oxide-gold target.

The 2018 Cerro Las Minitas Resource Estimate was prepared following CIM definitions for classification of Mineral Resources. Resources are constrained using mainly geological constraints and approximate 10g/t AgEq grade shells. The block models are comprised of an array of blocks measuring 10m x 2m x 10m, with grades for Au, Ag, Cu, Pb, Zn and AgEq values interpolated using ID2 weighting. The models identified at a 175g/t AgEq cut-off, an indicated resource of 10,135,000 tonnes averaging 102g/t Ag, 0.1g/t Au, 1.4% Pb, 3.6% Zn and 0.15% Cu and a cumulative inferred resource of 8,685,000 tonnes averaging 74g/t Ag, 0.04g/t Au, 0.7% Pb, 4.5% Zn and 0.15% Cu. Mineral Resource cut-offs are estimated using an average long-term price of $16/oz silver, $1,200/oz gold, $2.75/lb Cu, $1.00/lb lead and $1.10/lb zinc and metal recoveries of 82% silver, 86% lead 80% copper and 80% zinc. AgEq calculations did not account for relative metallurgical recoveries of the metals. All prices are stated in $USD. Mineral Resources are conceptual in nature and as such do not have demonstrated economic viability.



The current Resource Estimate was prepared by Garth Kirkham, P.Geo. of Kirkham Geosciences Ltd. who is the Independent Qualified Person responsible for presentation and review of the Mineral Resource Estimate.

Robert Macdonald, MSc. P.Geo, is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and responsible for the supervision of the exploration on the Cerro Las Minitas Project and for the preparation of the technical information in this disclosure.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Lawrence Page"

Lawrence Page, Q.C.

President & Director, Southern Silver Exploration Corp.

For further information, please visit Southern Silver's website at southernsilverexploration.com or contact us at 604.641.2759 or by email at ir@mnxltd.com.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include the timing and receipt of government and regulatory approvals, and continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. Southern Silver Exploration Corp. does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law.TELTOW, Germany, September 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

10 years Navilas -Renowned customer community bringsthe benefits of retina navigationto applications beyond DME. All-digital platform supports subthreshold treatments, digital collaboration, standardization, and learning in retina care.

OD-OS, the inventor of the Navilas laser systems, celebrates 10 years of retina navigation with expert sessions at the upcoming EURETINA 2018 conference (Vienna, Sep 21-25, booth C207).

Navilas has brought digital pre-planning and precise and fast computer-assisted delivery of laser spots to focal and peripheral laser treatment - with the option to plan and treat on external diagnostic images such as OCT-A or FA. Today, Navilas is being used in more than 25 countries worldwide including the ten countries with the highest gross income. Private practices and renowned hospitals like the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary (USA), the Nagoya City University Hospital (Japan), the University Clinics of Tubingen and Freiburg, and the Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich (Germany) are working with Navilas to provide enduring results and reduce treatment burden for their patients [1].

Thanks to contributions from this global customer community and the success of the compact Navilas 577s system, effective and comfortable treatment with navigated retina laser is now expanding into applications beyond DME (1). At the same time, the all-digital platform is incorporating trends such as subthreshold microsecond pulsing therapy and telemedicine, thus supporting digital collaboration, standardization and learning in retina care.

Prof. Eric Souied of CHI de Creteil, France, elected for the 2018 Power List of the top ophthalmologists worldwide, says: "Navilas provides the digital functionality and safety to explore optimal treatment strategies in a range of retinal indications. Our patients especially value the possibility of contact-free focal treatments."

His colleague Dr. Alexandre Pedinielli adds: "Therefore, we are excited that at EURETINA OD-OS presents the result of a close collaboration with our team - the demonstrator of a new widefield objective which can make non-contact panretinal photocoagulation with access to the extreme periphery a treatment option for experienced Navilas 577s users. We are looking forward to seeing more clinical data from this solution in practice. We really believe that this could be an important step towards the future of PRP as an almost completely harmless procedure for the patient."

"In the last decade, we have brought the latest computer vision technology to our retina navigation platform," says Dr. Winfried Teiwes, Managing Director at OD-OS GmbH. "Feedback from users and patients is now helping us extend the Navilas treatment approach to new retina applications like CSCR, which require a precise, effective and tissue-friendly retina laser."

"The next decade is also seeing new concepts and functionalities to be added thanks to advances in computer vision technology. One important step is to make the treatment planning functionality of our retina laser accessible in the cloud. Thus, we are moving step by step towards more efficient workflows, and a pool of online knowledge which brings expertise resources to underserved areas and benefits efforts to standardize treatment approaches."

At the EURETINA 2018 conference in Vienna, retina specialists will present their clinical experiences with the all-digital Navilas laser. Cases cover a range of applications from Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy to Central Serous Chorioretinopathy - with a special focus on navigated microsecond pulsing treatment results.

Meet the expert presentations will be held Friday through Sunday at 10:00 am at the OD-OS Navilas booth C207. Official program sessions on Navilas include a talk by Dr. F. Amoroso, CHI de Creteil (Friday, Sep 21, 11:00 am-12:30 pm, Room C2) which covers experiences with the demonstrator of the widefield objective for non-contact PRP treatment with Navilas.

A list of all Navilas related Euretina sessions is available at: https://www.od-os.com/events/detail/sep-20-26-2018-euretinaescrs-vienna-austria/

About Navilas: Navilas laser systems enable physicians to digitally pre-plan the entire laser therapy on fundus images as well as on third-party diagnostic images, and to precisely execute this therapy plan with the help of computerized image guidance.

About OD-OS: OD-OS GmbH is a privately-held medical device company founded in 2008 with offices in Teltow, Germany, and Irvine, CA.www.od-os.com

- Cross reference: Picture is available at AP Images (http://www.apimages.com) -

For further information, please contact:

Stefanie Gehrke, Director Marketing | stefanie.gehrke@od-os.com, +49-(172)-3808-537

OD-OS GmbH | Warthestr. 21 | 14513 Teltow | Germany





Reference:

[1]www.od-os.com/publicationsSpecialist secondaries fund hits US$800 million, exceeding target

Northleaf's private markets commitments under management now total more than US$11 billion

Northleaf Capital Partners (Northleaf) announced today it has raised US$2.2 billion in new capital across its global private equity program. Northleaf now manages more than US$11 billion in private equity, private credit and infrastructure commitments on behalf of institutional investors in Canada, Europe and the United States.

The new capital raised for Northleaf's global private equity program includes commitments to Northleaf Private Equity Investors VII (NPE VII), the firm's seventh global fund, Northleaf Secondary Partners II (NSP II), the firm's second specialist secondaries fund that closed above target at US$800 million, and a number of discretionary separately managed accounts that invest alongside Northleaf's pooled investment funds. Both NPE VII and NSP II have commenced their investment periods, which will run through 2020. NPE VII will remain open to new investors until early 2019.

"We are very pleased with the strong support from both existing and new investors," said Stuart Waugh, Managing Partner of Northleaf. "Our integrated private equity strategy combines mid-market fund investments with secondary market transactions and direct minority investments and co-investments. This differentiated, global approach has continued to generate long-term returns for our investors while managing risk through diversification and disciplined portfolio construction."

Northleaf recently announced a direct investment in Encore Textiles, a US-based outsourced linen management services provider, showcasing Northleaf's ability to provide customized, one-stop capital structure solutions. Northleaf also recently announced the successful exit of its investment in Centaur Holdings, LLC, which was acquired through a secondary market transaction in November 2016.

"We continue to demonstrate the ability to identify and acquire mid-market private companies with the potential to create long-term shareholder value," said Michael Flood, Managing Director and Head of Northleaf's Private Equity team. "At the same time, we are actively selling our mature portfolio investments at a profit and returning cash to investors. The ability to generate early cash back to investors is a hallmark of our secondary market strategy, in particular."

Northleaf has continued to expand its investment team and global office footprint, leveraging the proprietary investment insights and deal flow generated by its integrated private markets platform. In recent months, the firm announced the opening of its New York office, and has further strengthened its global investment capabilities with the addition of Matt Shafer as a Managing Director, Private Equity in New York. Northleaf's New York location is the firm's seventh office alongside Toronto, Montreal, London, Chicago, Menlo Park and Melbourne. Northleaf has a team of 110 people focused exclusively on mid-market investments in private equity, private credit and infrastructure opportunities on behalf of more than 80 institutional investors globally.

About Northleaf Capital Partners

Northleaf Capital Partners is an independent global private markets fund manager with more than US$11 billion in private equity, private credit and infrastructure commitments under management on behalf of public, corporate and multi-employer pension plans, endowments, foundations, financial institutions and family offices.

Northleaf's 110-person team, located in Toronto, Montreal, London, New York, Chicago, Menlo Park and Melbourne, is focused exclusively on sourcing, evaluating and managing private markets investments globally. Northleaf's portfolio includes more than 250 active investments in 14 countries, with a focus on mid-market companies and assets. Northleaf currently manages seven global private equity funds, two specialist global private equity secondaries funds, a global private credit fund, two direct OECD-focused infrastructure funds and a series of customized investment mandates tailored to meet the specific needs of institutional investors and family offices. For more information on Northleaf, please visit www.northleafcapital.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180919005196/en/

Contacts:

Investor and media inquiries:

Northleaf Capital Partners

Nadine Cannata

Vice President

416-477-6623

nadine.cannata@northleafcapital.comCoca-Cola PartnershipIt's been a hectic week for marijuana stocks so far, with a lot of news dropping on a variety of fronts. But none has been more impactful than the rumors that The Coca-Cola Co (NYSE:KO) is looking to enter the marijuana industry and could choose Aurora Cannabis Inc (OTCMKTS:ACBFF, TSE:ACB) as its vessel. Needless to say, the potential Coca-Cola partnership proved to be a massive boon to the Aurora stock forecast.Reports have come in that Coca-Cola is in talks with Aurora to produce non-alcoholic, cannabis-infused beverages. As a result, Aurora Cannabis stock climbed swiftly, surging 10% when the reports came in, while.

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.Appointment of Holweger reaffirms LGA's commitment to serving US customers through digital innovation and financial education

FREDERICK, MD / ACCESSWIRE / September 19, 2018 / Legal & General America (LGA), a top five U.S. life insurer, today announced the appointment of Mark Holweger as President and CEO of its insurance division, which includes operating companies Banner Life Insurance Company and William Penn Life Insurance Company of New York. Holweger previously served as Executive Vice President, Distribution and Marketing for LGA, which he joined earlier this year after transitioning from Legal & General Insurance in the UK.

In his new role, Holweger will focus on continued business growth with an emphasis on investing in LGA's distribution channels by building propositions that address key partner and customer needs in an ever-evolving digital world.

"LGA has experienced strong market growth by implementing changes that have allowed us to diversify the ways we are reaching consumers - delivering new digital solutions, as well as offering insightful information around financial wellness through our newly launched blog," Holweger said. "I look forward to building upon the team's accomplishments to date and to further solidifying our place as a digital innovator while investing in our distribution to bring about solutions that meet our customers where they are."

As part of LGA's continued prioritization of tech-driven innovation, Holweger will join other industry thought leaders at InsureTech Connect - the world's largest insurtech event - on Oct. 2-3 to speak on a panel called "Can Insurance Be Bought Not Sold." Holweger, along with other industry executives, will discuss what it takes from a product and organizational standpoint to shift how consumers think about insurance, allowing it to be bought rather than sold.

The announcement of Holweger's new role comes shortly after LGA launched its consumer-facing blog covering timely life insurance, family, money, lifestyle and technology topics. The blog serves the specific needs of the U.S. insurance customer base, educating them on ways to succeed along their path toward financial fitness. Visit the blog at www.blog.lgamerica.com.

About Legal & General America

Legal & General America (LGA) is part of the worldwide Legal & General Group. For nearly 70 years, the Legal & General America companies have been in the business of providing financial protection through life insurance for American families. The Legal & General America companies are Banner Life Insurance Company and William Penn Life Insurance Company of New York. With more than $53 billion in new coverage issued in 2017, LGA is ranked in the top five of U.S. life insurers and ended 2017 with in excess of $703 billion of coverage in force with 1.3 million U.S. customers. LGA shares Legal & General's independent financial strength ratings: A+ Superior from A. M. Best and AA- Very Strong from Standard and Poor's and Fitch. To learn more, visit www.lgamerica.com.

Top five term life ranking based on coverage in the brokerage channel, LIMRA 2017 - US Retail Individual Life Insurance Sales By Channel. 18-231

Media Contact:

Kristina Pereira Tully

Caliber Corporate Advisers

kristina@calibercorporate.com

888.550.6385 ext. 5

SOURCE: Legal & General America

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/512161/Legal-General-America-Appoints-Mark-Holweger-as-President-and-CEO-of-its-Insurance-DivisionVancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 19, 2018) - SilverCrest Metals Inc. (TSXV: SIL) (NYSE American: SILV) ("SilverCrest" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the updated mineral resource estimation for the Las Chispas Property, located in Sonora, Mexico. Inferred Mineral Resources are estimated at 4.3 million tonnes grading 3.68 grams per tonne ("gpt") gold (or "Au") and 347 gpt silver (or "Ag"), or 623 gpt silver equivalent ("AgEq"; based on 75 (Ag):1 (Au) calculated using long-term silver and gold prices of US$18.50 per ounce silver and US$1,225 per ounce gold, with average metallurgical recoveries of 86.6% silver and 98.9% gold). The Inferred Resource Estimate contains 511,800 ounces gold and 48.3 million ounces silver, or 86.7 million ounces of AgEq, using a 150 gpt AgEq cut-off grade and minimum true vein width of approximately 1.5 metres. The combination of the Area 51 zone (Babicanora Vein) and adjacent Babicanora Norte Vein hosts a combined Inferred Resource of 1.6 million tonnes grading 6.97 gpt gold and 568 gpt silver, or 1,091 gpt AgEq containing 56.3 million ounces of AgEq. Of the 30 veins in the district, eight veins were used for the updated resource estimate: Babicanora (including Area 51 zone), Babicanora Norte, Granaditas, Las Chispas, Giovanni (including La Blanquita), William Tell, and Luigi. For comparative purposes, please refer to the technical maiden resource report titled "Technical Report and Mineral Resource Estimate for the Las Chispas Property, Sonora, Mexico"and effective February 12, 2018, as amended May 9, 2018 ("Maiden Resource Report").

Highlights of the Las Chispas Updated Resource (Sept. 2018) including comparison to the Maiden Resource Report (Feb. 2018):

38% increase in AgEq ounces from 62.8 to 86.7 million ounces AgEq;

26% increase in tonnes from 3.4 million to 4.3 million;

10% increase in AgEq grade from 568 gpt AgEq to 623 gpt AgEq;

75% increase in high-grade AgEq ounces greater than 1,000 gpt from 32.2 million (Area 51 zone) to 56.3 million (revised Area 51 and Babicanora Norte Vein);

66% increase in high-grade tonnes grading greater than 1,000 gpt from 967,000 tonnes to 1,606,000 tonnes;

Approximately 80% of the updated resource is in the Babicanora Area (3 veins) with 20% in the Las Chispas Area (5 veins).

Five epithermal veins in the maiden resource, eight epithermal veins in the updated resource. Total of 30 epithermal veins defined to date in district controlled by the Company; and

Discovery cost per AgEq ounce is estimated at US$0.30, inclusive of all property costs and G&A.

The increase in the Inferred Resource estimate is based on the following: (1) 24 additional drill holes in the Babicanora Vein, including Area 51 and Babicanora Footwall Vein, (2) expansion of Area 51 high-grade footprint from approximately 500 metres to 800 metres, (3) splitting the Babicanora Vein into three separate domains for statistical analysis and top-cutting, (4) discovery of the Babicanora Norte Vein with 40 drill holes, (5) discovery of the Granaditas Veins with 21 drill holes, (6) discovery of the Luigi Vein with 22 drill holes, and (7) expansion drilling of three additional drill holes into the Giovanni Vein.

N. Eric Fier, CPG, P.Eng and CEO, remarked, "The delivery of this updated resource estimate is another major milestone for SilverCrest as we continue to systematically expand high-grade mineralization in the Las Chispas district. In the spring of 2018, we started our Phase III drill program with a Q3 target of 75 to 85 million ounces silver equivalent at a grade of around 600 gpt AgEq. With the recent expansion and discovery of multiple high-grade veins and zones, this target has been exceeded with an updated Inferred Resource of 4.3 million tonnes grading 623 gpt AgEq for an estimated 86.7 million AgEq ounces. The most exciting aspects of this resource update are the high-grade resources identified in the Area 51 zone of the Babicanora Vein and the Babicanora Norte Vein. These two near surface adjacent zones cumulatively host 1.6 million tonnes grading 1,091 gpt AgEq for an estimated 56.3 million AgEq ounces which can conceptually be developed using the same underground infrastructure. The Company plans to continue exploration drilling with six to eight core drills operating up to Q1, 2019. A further resource update and a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") are planned for Q1, 2019. Congratulations to our team and supporters who have worked diligently to make several significant discoveries and milestones at Las Chispas over the last six months."

SilverCrest's Las Chispas Resource Summary - September 2018 Resource Category() Tonnes (M) Au

gpt Ag

gpt AgEq(2) gpt Contained Au Ounces Contained Ag Ounces Contained AgEq(2) Ounces February 2018 Resource 3.4 3.63 296.0 568 401,600 32,675,600 62,826,100 Includes* 1.0 7.43 469.0 1,026 231,000 14,581,000 32,247,000 September 2018 Resource 4.3 3.68 347.0 623 511,500 48,298,700 86,701,200 Includes** 1.6 6.97 568.5 1,091 359,900 29,343,600 56,333,400

Inferred Resource Summary By Vein - September 2018 Vein(6) Tonnes Au gpt Ag gpt AgEq(2)

gpt Contained

Au Ounces Contained

Ag Ounces Contained AgEq(2) Ounces Babicanora(4) 1,931,200 5.06 447.2 826 314,100 27,763,700 51,318,800 Includes Area 51 1,116,800 7.13 613.8 1,148 256,000 22,040,000 41,238,100 Babicanora Norte 488,800 6.61 464.8 961 103,900 7,303,600 15,095,300 Granaditas 95,100 2.46 220.9 405 7,500 675,100 1,239,200 Las Chispas 171,000 2.39 340.0 520 13,000 1,869,500 2,861,000 Giovanni(4)(5) 686,600 1.47 238.7 349 32,500 5,269,000 7,699,800 William Tell(5) 595,000 1.32 185.0 284 25,000 3,543,000 5,438,000 Luigi 186,200 1.32 202.1 301 7,900 1,210,200 1,803,000 Historic Dumps(5) 174,500 1.38 119.0 222 7,600 664,600 1,246,100

Notes:

* Area 51 zone only in maiden resource.

**Combination of Area 51 zone and adjacent Babicanora Norte Vein resource estimation.

(1) Conforms to NI 43-101, Companion Policy 43-101CP, and the Canadian Institution of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. Inferred Resources have been estimated from geological evidence and limited sampling and must be treated with a lower level of confidence than Measured and Indicated Resources.

(2) AgEq based on 75 (Ag):1 (Au), calculated using long-term silver and gold prices of U.S.$18.50 per ounce silver and U.S.$1,225 per ounce gold with average metallurgical recoveries of 86.6% silver and 98.9% gold.

(3) All numbers are rounded.

(4) Babicanora resource includes the Babicanora Vein with Area 51 zone and Babicanora Footwall Vein. Giovanni resource includes the Gio-mini and the La Blanquita veins.

(5) Resource estimations for the Las Chispas and William Tell veins and the historic dumps are unchanged from the Maiden Resource.

(6) Vein resource is reported using a 150 gpt AgEq cut-off grade and minimum 1.5 m true width (approximate), and surface stockpile resource is reported using a 100 gpt AgEq cut-off.

The mineral resource estimate is based on the Company's phase I, II, and III exploration programs from April 2016 to September 13, 2018 and is classified as an Inferred Mineral Resource. The effective date for the Updated Inferred Resource Estimate is September 13, 2018. Depending on the vein, drill sections were spaced 25 to 75 metres along strike, with intercepts on each section averaging 50 metres apart down dip. The most significant component of the data, collected and validated by SilverCrest between April 2018 and September 2018 (Phase III), are results from an additional 126 drill holes (38,635 metres). Since the startup of the Phase I exploration program in 2016, a total of 306 drill holes (83,230 metres), 8,984 (7,212 metres) underground channel samples, and 2,895 dump samples have been completed and analyzed which comprise the database up to September 13, 2018. A majority of the resource is in unmined areas, with only the Las Chispas and William Tell veins being partially mined out and voids (stopes) being accounted for in the resource estimation. Since underground work continues in the Las Chispas Vein, details on revised pillar resources will not be complete until the next updated resource. Details of the drill assays, surface and underground sampling results can be found in various press releases from March 2, 2016 to September 13, 2018 and available on the Company's website. The resource remains open in several directions depending on which vein is considered. A Technical Report prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") will be filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com within 45 days.

The Las Chispas resource estimate is based on the following key assumptions. A specific gravity of 2.55 was used based on test work. Veins were modelled to capture mineralization grade of 150 gpt AgEq or greater. For the veins in the Babicanora Area (approximately 80% of the updated resource), a minimum of 1.5 metres true width (a range of 1.5 to 6.0 metres) from drill hole intercepts was used to create vein shapes for modeling. For the Las Chispas Area, the true widths are variable (1 to 5 metres) for creating vein shapes for modeling as presented and estimated in the February 2018 maiden resource. Grade capping (top cut) of silver and gold grades are at 97.4 to 99.9 percentile depending on the vein. Specifically, by applying a 98 percentile top cut to the Babicanora Vein, approximately 7.5 million AgEq ounces (14%) were deducted from the total ounces estimated for the vein. Raw data was composited to 1.0 metres. A 2 metre by 2 metre by 2 metre block size was used based on geological constraints and potential future mining method. Variography, ordinary kriging and inverse distance squared (ID2) were used to create both silver and gold block models. A comparative review of ordinary kriging verses ID2 was completed, with total resource ounces nearly the same and ID2 conforming better to geologic constraints. Therefore, ID2 was used on all revised resources until infill drilling data is available to complete more representative variography. Block models were classified into Inferred Resources according to appropriate criteria based on geologic constraints, sample sets, and search radii. Details of these criteria will be presented in the Technical Report to be filed on SEDAR.

The Las Chispas resource estimate is focused on an estimated 5.5 kilometres of approximately 20 known kilometres of cumulative vein strike length in the district. As planned, the Company will continue the Phase III drilling up to Q1, 2019, which will focus on expansion and infill drill holes. Drilling priorities over the next six months are: (1) potential for Babicanora Norte Vein high-grade expansion, (2) potential for Granaditas Vein high-grade expansion, (3) further definition drilling on the Ranch veins, (4) further definition drilling for unnamed veins between the Babicanora Main and Babicanora Norte veins, (5) additional definition drilling on Babicanora Sur Vein, (6) Area 51 zone infill drilling for resource re-categorization, (7) initial infill drilling on several other high-grade veins, and (8) initial drilling on several other identified vein (new targets) on the Las Chispas Property. The Company intends to provide another updated resource estimate, with resource re-categorization, and deliver a PEA in Q1, 2019. There is no certainty that these Inferred Mineral Resources will be converted to the Measured and Indicated categories through further drilling.

Qualified Assurance Program and Quality Control Measures ("QA/QC")

SilverCrest has implemented QA/QC protocols including the insertion of duplicate, blank and standard samples in all drill holes and underground sampling. The samples were submitted directly to the ALS Chemex in Hermosillo, Mexico, and North Vancouver, BC, Canada, for preparation and analysis. SilverCrest's qualified person visited the Property numerous times, between February and September 2018. Duplicate and triplicate core sampling was completed with verified selective grades being reported to have a moderate to high nugget effect. SilverCrest's qualified person believes that all QA/QC work completed from February 2018 to September 2018 has been done to adequate standards. QA/QC work on the previous resource estimation announced in February 2018 was completed by P. James Barr, P.Geo. of Tetra Tech Inc. as an independent qualified person, with work completed to adequate standards.

Qualified Person

The Mineral Resources for the Las Chispas Property disclosed in this news release have been estimated by N. Eric Fier, CPG, P.Eng, and CEO of SilverCrest. Mr. Fier is a Qualified Person under NI 43-101 but not independent of the Company. Tetra Tech Inc. assisted with data statistical analysis, variography, and QA/QC review under the direction of P. James F. Barr, P. Geo., Senior Geologist and Team Lead - Geology for Tetra Tech and is independent of SilverCrest. Mr. Barr is a Qualified Person under NI 43-101. The Mineral Resources have been classified in accordance with CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. Mr. Fier has read and approved the contents of this press release as it pertains to the disclosed mineral resource estimate.

ABOUT SILVERCREST METALS INC.

SilverCrest is a Canadian precious metals exploration company headquartered in Vancouver, BC, that is focused on new discoveries, value-added acquisitions, and targeting production in Mexico's historic precious metal districts. The Company's current focus is on the high-grade, historic Las Chispas mining district in Sonora, Mexico. SilverCrest is the first company to successfully drill-test the historic Las Chispas Project resulting in numerous discoveries. The Company is led by a proven management team in all aspects of the precious metal mining sector, including taking projects through discovery, finance, on time and on budget construction, and production.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. These include, without limitation, statements with respect to: the strategic plans, timing and expectations for the Company's exploration, rehabilitation and drilling programs of the Las Chispas Property, including preparation of an updated mineral resource estimate and preliminary economic assessment; information with respect to high grade areas and size of veins projected from underground sampling results and drilling results; the accessibility of future mining at the Las Chispas Property; and the filing of a NI 43-101 technical report within 45 days. Such forward-looking statements or information are based on a number of assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things: the conditions in general economic and financial markets; availability of skilled labour; timing and amount of expenditures related to rehabilitation and drilling programs; and effects of regulation by governmental agencies. The actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of risk factors including: the timing and content of work programs; results of exploration activities; the interpretation of drilling results and other geological data; receipt, maintenance and security of permits and mineral property titles; environmental and other regulatory risks; project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; and general market and industry conditions. Forward-looking statements are based on the expectations and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. The assumptions used in the preparation of such statements, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statements were made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements included in this news release if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as otherwise required by applicable law.

N. Eric Fier, CPG, P.Eng

Chief Executive Officer

SilverCrest Metals Inc.

For Further Information:

SilverCrest Metals Inc.

Contact: Fred Cooper, Investor Relations

Telephone: +1 (604) 694-1730

Fax: +1 (604) 357-1313

Toll Free: 1-866-691-1730 (Canada & USA)

Email: info@silvercrestmetals.com

Website: www.silvercrestmetals.com

570 Granville Street, Suite 501

Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 3P1

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.HARLOW, England, September 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Last week, Haag-Streit UK hosted its 12th 'Improving Outcomes' Biometry Course at SpaMedica in Bolton. Once again, the 'Improving Outcomes' course was a huge success, receiving very positive delegate feedback.

(Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/746794/Improving_Outcomes_Biometry_Courses.jpg )



Since March 2014, when the first course was run, HS-UK has welcomed a total of 383 delegates on these popular biometry events.

These 'Improving Outcomes' courses have given HS-UK the opportunity to provide both basic and advanced training to a host of candidates, from a wide range of professional backgrounds. Their primary objective is to improve post-refractive outcomes through the delivery of first-class, CPD-accredited education.

These courses are designed to help both beginners and experienced Ophthalmic Consultants get the most from their biometers. The Basic Course covers 'Improving Outcomes' standard biometry methods and is aimed at Cataract and Refractive Nurses, as well as Allied Health Professionals with an interest in biometry. The Advanced day targets Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, along with Healthcare Professionals with a special interest in biometry and focuses on more advanced techniques.

The 'Improving Outcomes' events cover a variety of topics, including; 'The anatomy of the human eye', 'The development and treatment of cataracts' and 'The principles of biometry '. Delegates learn how to analyse biometry data and interpret results, as well as understand IOL calculations. The format of the event includes practical, hands-on workshops and there is an opportunity to discuss case studies and real-world experiences.

Courses have been run in a variety of locations UK-wide, including; Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and London. The expert faculty is made up of members of the Haag-Streit UK Clinical Education and Training (CEaT) team as well as guest Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeons, recognised as experts in the cataract field, from across the UK.

Three further 'Improving Outcomes' courses are planned for 2019;

7 th and 8 th March 2019 - Glasgow

and 8 - 6 th and 7 th June 2019 - Birmingham

and 7 - 10th and 11th October 2019 - Harlow

Grant Duncan, HS-UK Clinical Training Manager, said, "I am delighted with the success of the 'Improving Outcomes' courses. Over the past 4 years, we have received excellent feedback from delegates and have secured some very well-respected Key Opinion Leaders to deliver first-class lectures on our behalf."

Grant added, "We will continue to host these courses while there is a strong demand for quality biometry education and have already scheduled 3 further course in 2019. We are looking forward to welcoming future 'Improving Outcomes' delegates in Glasgow, Birmingham and at the HS-UK training facility in Harlow."Washington D.C.--(Newsfile Corp. - September 19, 2018) - The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced it has obtained a court order halting an ongoing Ponzi-like scheme that raised more than $345 million from over 230 investors across the U.S. The SEC also obtained an emergency asset freeze and the appointment of a receiver.

An SEC complaint unsealed yesterday alleges that Kevin B. Merrill, Jay B. Ledford and Cameron Jezierski attracted investors to their scheme by promising significant profits from the purchase and resale of consumer debt portfolios. But in fact, the defendants were allegedly using a web of lies, fabricated documents, and forged signatures in an elaborate scheme to entice investors and perpetuate the fraud. Rather than direct investor funds to the acquisition and servicing of debt portfolios as promised, the defendants allegedly used the funds to make Ponzi-like payments to earlier investors. The SEC also alleges that Merrill and Ledford stole at least $85 million of the investor funds to maintain lavish lifestyles, spending millions of dollars on luxury items, including $10.2 million on at least 25 high-end cars, $330,000 for a 7-carat diamond ring, $168,000 for a 23-carat diamond bracelet, millions of dollars on luxury homes, and $100,000 to a private fitness club.

"The defendants touted their purported investment expertise to siphon millions of dollars from unsuspecting investors," said Stephanie Avakian, Co-Director of the SEC's Division of Enforcement. "We filed this action on an emergency basis to put a stop to this fraud and protect investors from further harm."

"We allege that the defendants engaged in a brazen fraud, deceiving investors to perpetuate their wrongdoing and line their pockets with ill-gotten gains," said Kelly L. Gibson, Associate Regional Director of the SEC's Philadelphia Regional Office. "Investors should be warned that low-risk, high-return investments that never lose should be a red flag."

In a parallel action, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland today announced criminal charges against Merrill, Ledford, and Jezierski.

The SEC's complaint, filed on Sept. 13 in federal district court in Maryland, charges Merrill, Ledford, and Jezierski, along with their entities, Global Credit Recovery, LLC, Delmarva Capital, LLC, Rhino Capital Holdings, LLC, Rhino Capital Group, LLC, DeVille Asset Management LTD, and Riverwalk Financial Corporation, with violations of the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws. The court granted the SEC's request for an asset freeze, temporary restraining order, and the appointment of a receiver. The SEC seeks disgorgement of allegedly ill-gotten gains and prejudgment interest, and financial penalties against the defendants.

The SEC's continuing investigation is being conducted by Norman P. Ostrove, Dustin E. Ruta, and Scott A. Thompson in the Philadelphia Regional Office and supervised by Ms. Gibson. The SEC's litigation is being led by Julia C. Green, Mark R. Sylvester, and Jennifer C. Barry. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.BLACKROCK GREATER EUROPE INVESTMENT TRUST plc (LEI - 5493003R8FJ6I76ZUW55)

All information is at 31 August 2018 and unaudited.



Performance at month end with net income reinvested



One

Month Three

Months One

Year Three

Years Launch

(20 Sep 04) Net asset value (undiluted) 1.8% 6.6% 11.8% 60.1% 392.1% Net asset value* (diluted) 1.8% 6.6% 11.8% 60.5% 392.5% Share price 2.3% 8.0% 12.5% 57.2% 371.5% FTSE World Europe ex UK -1.4% 3.9% 1.4% 47.4% 251.7%

* Diluted for treasury shares and subscription shares.

Sources: BlackRock and Datastream

At month end

Net asset value (capital only): 377.80p Net asset value (including income): 382.22p Net asset value (capital only)1: 377.80p Net asset value (including income)1: 382.22p Share price: 363.00p Discount to NAV (including income): 5.0% Discount to NAV (including income)1: 5.0% Net gearing: 1.9% Net yield2: 1.5% Total assets (including income): 330.5m Ordinary shares in issue3: 86,459,691 Ongoing charges4: 1.10%

1 Diluted for treasury shares.

2 Based on a final dividend of 3.70p per share for the year ended 31 August 2017 and an interim dividend of 1.75p per share for the year ending 31 August 2018.

3 Excluding 23,869,247 shares held in treasury.

4 Calculated as a percentage of average net assets and using expenses, excluding interest costs, after relief for taxation, for the year ended 31 August 2017.

Sector Analysis Total Assets (%) Country Analysis Total Assets (%) Industrials 35.1 Switzerland 18.8 Health Care 21.0 France 15.5 Consumer Goods 11.5 Germany 12.7 Financials 10.1 Denmark 11.1 Technology 9.2 Netherlands 11.0 Consumer Services 6.2 Sweden 7.1 Basic Materials 3.6 Spain 4.9 Telecommunications 1.8 Italy 4.0 Oil & Gas 1.7 Israel 3.7 Net current liabilities (0.2) Russia 3.5 ----- Finland 2.9 100.0 Ireland 2.1 ===== Belgium 1.7 Greece 1.2 Net current liabilities (0.2) ----- 100.0 =====

Ten Largest Equity Investments Company Country % of Total Assets Lonza Group Switzerland 5.9 Novo Nordisk Denmark 4.7 Safran France 4.7 SAP Germany 4.6 Sika Switzerland 4.6 Unilever Netherlands 3.7 Fresenius Medical Care Germany 3.6 Thales France 3.3 Hexagon Sweden 3.2 DSV Denmark 3.0

Commenting on the markets, Stefan Gries, representing the Investment Manager noted:

During the month, the Company's NAV rose by 1.8% and the share price rose by 2.3%. For reference, the FTSE World Europe ex UK Index returned -1.4% during the period.

Continental European markets fell in August. Markets were driven down by the financial sector, which sold off in fear of potential contagion within Turkey, which looked to be heading towards crisis as its currency plunged. In economic data, second quarter Eurozone GDP was revised up slightly to 2.2% but the first half of 2018 was still very soft compared to the end of 2017. The main culprits behind this slowdown were France and Italy. Other peripherals such as Spain, Portugal and Cyprus are growing quicker than the euro area average. August PMI readings showed Services rebounding, whilst Manufacturing continued to edge down, suggesting that the external environment remains challenging, whereas the domestic Eurozone economy is holding up better. German IFO rose to the highest level since March, driven by the expectations index suggesting a possible rebound of growth in the coming quarter as well.

The Company outperformed the market over the month. Strong stock selection was the primary driver of the Company's performance over the period. Sector allocation also aided returns. The lower allocation to the financials sector was positive for performance, as the banking sector in particular was dragged down on heightened political risk. However, a holding in Sberbank Russia detracted. The higher allocation to both industrials and technology compared with the reference index, also aided returns. The higher allocation to consumer goods, however, dampened returns.

The top performing holding over the period was Israeli Chemicals. The stock rallied in response to rising potash prices, given supply constraints following production issues in Brazil and Argentina.

A position in freight forwarder DSV proved positive for performance. Despite ongoing trade war rhetoric and a number of tariffs imposed, global trade volumes and DSV's revenues remain healthy. The company reported another strong quarter with earnings ahead of expectations in all divisions. With this, DSV raised guidance for growth by 4% and increased their share buybacks.

Other large active positions, such as Lonza and Safran, also both contributed positively to performance as fundamentals remain robust. A holding in Kingspan also aided returns as first half results came in 5% ahead of expectations at the earnings level. This was driven by pricing dynamics in the insulated board business, improved dynamics from acquisitions and positive trends in the UK.

A position in Inditex detracted from returns, impacted by the disruption of the Turkish Lira given 15% of sourcing costs are from Turkey. Furthermore, as the market moved into more defensive names, those less exposed to the economic cycle given a lower appetite for risk, Nestle and Roche, outperformed the market. Not holding either of these stocks detracted from the Company's performance.

At the end of the period the Company had a higher allocation than the reference index towards industrials, technology, consumer services and health care. A lower allocation was held in financials, consumer goods, utilities, telecommunications, basic materials and oil & gas.

Outlook

The apparent attractiveness of European equities has waned year-to-date. Political headlines have shifted sentiment towards the region and expectations have been reset lower. These expectations, and indeed market positioning, have however come from bullish levels at the onset of 2018. We continue to see earnings progressing positively in the region and note that foreign exchange impacts are probably past their worst. The continued global growth has supported revenues in Europe. Risks are clearly present in the market, but resolutions on trade wars could prove a catalyst for the region and particularly for stocks with depressed valuations. We believe navigating risks and extreme valuations through active stock selection is increasingly important at this stage in the cycle. From a fundamental standpoint, there are ample attractive investment opportunities within Europe which can deliver earnings growth and strong cash flow irrespective of the political environment.

19 September 2018

ENDSSharp improvement in operating results

Net result close to breakeven

Regulatory News:

Theradiag (ISIN code: FR0004197747, Ticker: ALTER), a company specializing in in vitro diagnostics and theranostics, today released its consolidated interim results for the six months to June 30, 2018, as approved by the Board of Directors on September 18, 2018.

"With the growth in sales of Tracker kits for routine use, the improvement in our gross margin and the benefits of the late 2017 restructuring program, we came close to break even in the first half of 2018, in line with our stated target for 2018 as a whole," commented Michel Finance, Theradiag's Chief Executive Officer.

2018 interim results

In thousands of euros First half 2018 First half 2017 % change Revenue 4,565 5,042 -9% of which in-house 3,279 3,805 of which distribution 1,286 1,237 Operating income/(loss) -196 -932 +79% Net financial income/(expense) -30 -36 +17% Income/(loss) before tax and non-recurring items -225 -968 +77% Non-recurring items 16 32 -50% Net income/(loss) -89 -743 +88%

Consolidated financial statements including the financial statements of Prestizia, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Theradiag

First-half 2018 revenue

First-half 2018 revenue broke down as follows:

In thousands of euros First half 2018 First half 2017 Change Revenue 4,565 5,042 -9% o/w Theranostic revenue 1,845 2,392 -23% o/w Lisa Tracker kit sales for routine 1,845 1,662 +11% o/w IVD revenues 2,720 2,650 +3%

Theradiag's total revenue declined 9% in the first half of 2018 as a result of the contraction in theranostics revenue reflecting the fact that no non-recurring theranostics revenue was recorded in the first half of 2018. In contrast, substantial revenue was booked in the same period of 2017 under agreements with pharmaceutical companies.

During the first half of 2018, theranostics sales consisted solely of sales of kits for routine use, which were 11% higher than in the first half of 2017.

Sales of Tracker kits for routine use were 15% higher in the second quarter of 2018 than they were in the second quarter of 2017. They had grown 8% in the first quarter of 2018.

IVD revenue rose 3% in the first half of 2018.

Lower operating costs

Following the restructuring plan implemented in late 2017, Theradiag's operating costs declined 20%.

Restructuring was fully completed in the first quarter of 2018.

79% improvement in operating performance and net result close to breakeven

The improvement in the operating performance and the net result for the first half of 2018 reflected the anticipated impact of the shutdown of the Prestizia business and implementation of the restructuring plan introduced in late 2017.

Theradiag's 2018 interim net loss came to 89 K, down from 743 K in the first half of 2017.

Cash position

At June 30, 2018, Theradiag held 3.7 million in cash and cash equivalents, compared with 5.7 million at June 30, 2017.

Significant events of the first half of 2018

Termination of the commercial agreements with HOB Biotech

As a result of HOB Biotech's failure to comply with the contractual terms of the 2015 agreements between the two companies, Theradiag has been unable to distribute the agreed products in Europe or to market its reagents in China. Legal proceedings have been launched against HOB Biotech to remedy the loss suffered by Theradiag.

Partnership with Biogaran

Theradiag has entered into a partnership agreement with pharma group Biogaran to supply its Lisa Tracker kits for monitoring Biogaran's biosimilar drugs.

Under this agreement, Biogaran is listing Lisa Tracker monitoring kits in France to support the biosimilar drugs it supplies. Theradiag will handle implementation, provide training to laboratories in how to use kits and follow up on clinician requests concerning monitoring.

ECCO Congress

At the 13th edition of the ECCO Congress, over 90 publications presented biotherapy monitoring data. Of these, around 20 included results obtained using Lisa Tracker kits, confirming the scientific community's keen interest in biotherapy monitoring. The increasing volume of publications also reflects the more widespread use of monitoring kits in what is a growing number of centers.

The Lisa Tracker range remains the most extensive available in the market and can be used to monitor all gastroenterology patients.

Changes to composition of the Board of Directors

At the close of the Annual General Meeting on May 29, 2018, Theradiag's Board of Directors had seven members, including Sylvie Bratel, a new director who declared that she is independent.

The Board of Directors now has the following members:

Gerard Tobelem, Chairman of the Board of Directors

Sylvie Bratel, Independent director

Dominique Costantini, Independent director

Vincent Fert, Independent director

John Li, Director

Pierre Morgon, Independent director

Dominique Takizawa, Independent director

About Theradiag

Capitalizing on its expertise in the distribution, development and manufacturing of in vitro diagnostic tests, Theradiag innovates and develops theranostics tests (combining treatment and diagnosis) that measure the efficiency of biotherapies in the treatment of autoimmune diseases and cancer. Theradiag is thus participating in the development of customized treatment, which favors the individualization of treatments, the evaluation of their efficacy and the prevention of drug resistance. Theradiag notably markets the Lisa Tracker range (CE marked), which is a comprehensive multiparameter theranostic solution for patients with autoimmune diseases treated with biotherapies. The Company is based in Marne-la-Vallee, near Paris, and has over 65 employees.

For more information about Theradiag, please visit our website: www.theradiag.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180919005477/en/

Contacts:

Theradiag

Investor Relations

Fabienne Francois

CFO

Tel.: +33 (0)1 64 62 10 12

contact@theradiag.com

or

NewCap

Financial Communications

& Investor Relations

Valentine Brouchot

Tel.: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94

theradiag@newcap.eu

or

Alize RP

Press Relations

Caroline Carmagnol

Tel.: +33 (0)1 44 54 36 64

theradiag@alizerp.comTAIZHOU, China, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Jolywood (Taizhou) Solar Technology Co. Ltd ("Jolywood" or "the Company"), a leader in the research, development, and mass production of N-type Bifacial solar cells, has signed a module supply agreement ("the Agreement") with Zonnepark Rilland BV in the Netherlands ("Zonnepark"), for a dedicated renewable energy project developed by Cooperation Unisun Energy in Rotterdam. Jolywood will provide 40,000 premium Double-Glass Bifacial Photovoltaic Solar Modules to the project. This marks the first time Jolywood will partner with a strong project developer as part of its push to enter the Europe market.

Zonnepark Rilland BV is a 11.84 MW solar park developed by Cooperation Unisun Energy in cooperation with the local landowner. Zonnepark Rilland is being constructed in a renewable energy area, where already 15 MW of wind is producing green energy. Zonnepark Rilland is the first of many projects Cooperation Unisun Energy is developing in the Netherlands. The maintenance of the project will be executed by Uper International BV, a global O&M partner of the Unisun Group.

Mr. JianWei LIN, Chairman of Jolywood, said, "Europe has a maturing solar market with potential to grow significantly. UNISUN Energy has extensive experience working with top-tier clients and has the capability to effectively advance our value-added technologies. Holding hands together, we look forward to building a greener lifestyle for customers throughout the Europe region."

Mrs Yisha HE, Chairman of UNISUN Energy, said, "We are very pleased to establish this partnership with Jolywood. UNISUN Energy is careful to only select products with leading technologies to offer to our esteemed list of clients. We see the Jolywood product line, and their strategy of producing only top-of-the-line solar products, as being an excellent fit with IMI's vision to provide our customers with solar power facilities featuring the best levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) on the market."

Jolywood and UNISUN Energy are targeting a total sales goal of 200 megawatts (MW) modules for the European market starting from 2018 to 2020.

About Unisun Energy

Unisun Energy is a global renewable energy system integration and green energy services provider. Its core team has an average of over 15 years of international experience and over 10 years of global photovoltaic stations development and financial operations experience.

Since its establishment in 2013, Unisun has implemented over 500MW photovoltaic projects in both domestic and international photovoltaic markets.

For more information, please visit: www.unisun-energy.com

Contact Info: hanfeng.xu@unisun-energy.com

About Cooperation Unisun Energy

Cooperation Unisun Energy in the Netherlands was established in August 2016. The company provides a complete package, from developing, design, finance and full construction of the installations. Current projects under development cover a portfolio of 200 MW. Operation and maintenance will be handled by Uper International, a subsidiary of Uper Energy, who has an active portfolio of 1.3 GW of projects to maintain.

For more information, please visit: www.unisun-energy.nl

Contact Info: andre.kempenaars@unisun-energy.com

About Jolywood (TaiZhou) Solar Technology Co. Ltd.

Jolywood (Taizhou) Solar Technology, tops the global solar industry with 2.4GW in manufacturing capacity of N-Type Mono Bifacial solar cell, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Jolywood (Suzhou) Sunwatt Co. Ltd., is engaged in the research & development, production and marketing of solar cells, solar modules and technical advisory services. Founded in 2008, Jolywood (Suzhou) Sunwatt Co. Ltd. (SZ: 300393), is the largest professional manufacturer of PV backsheet worldwide, with an annual production capacity of over 100 million meters.

For more information, please visit: http://en.jolywood.cn/

Contact Info: mkt@jolywood.cnTransgene obtains $48 million in Tasly Biopharmaceuticals shares with the sale of the Greater China rights of TG1050 and TG6002

Key trials of Transgene's immunotherapeutics to deliver results before the end of 2018 and over the course of 2019

Strong research capabilities put Company at the forefront of innovation Oncolytic virus Invir.IO TM platform progressing well An ambitious personalized therapeutic vaccine platform to be presented in the coming weeks

33.0 million in cash and cash equivalents providing financial visibility until the end of September 2019

Conference call scheduled today at 6:30 p.m. CET (in English)

Regulatory News:

Transgene (Paris:TNG) (Euronext Paris: TNG), Transgene (Euronext Paris: TNG), a biotech company that designs and develops virus-based immunotherapeutics against cancers and infectious diseases, announces its financial results for the six-month period ended June 30, 2018, and provides an update on its clinical and preclinical portfolio.

Philippe Archinard, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Transgene, commented:

"2018 is a period of intense activity for Transgene. We obtained $48 million in the form of Tasly Biopharmaceuticals shares following the sale of TG1050 and TG6002 rights in Greater China. We presented new results on our oncolytic virus Pexa-Vec at ASCO that benefitted from a positive reception. We have continued to make progress with our clinical and preclinical programs.

Looking ahead we expect to announce more comprehensive clinical results from our strategic studies before the end of 2018 and over the course of 2019.

Our research efforts are focused on our world-leading viral vector expertise applied to our two core technologies: oncolytic viruses and therapeutic vaccines. With our Invir.IOTM platform, we are designing new viruses to provide a better modulation of the tumor micro-environment. We are also about to present our ambitious approach in neoantigen-based therapeutic vaccines at a scientific congress in the coming weeks.

The progress that we have made in 2018 further confirms Transgene's strategic position as leading innovator in the fight against cancer."

Clinical Pipeline Review

1. Update on company-sponsored strategic trials

Transgene has been making significant progress with its key clinical trials, which are aimed at generating proof-of-concept clinical data. Positive results from these trials would create significant partnering opportunities.

TG4010

+ Opdivo (ICI)

(nivolumab)

+ chemotherapy

Phase 2 Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) 1st line Trial of TG4010 in combination with nivolumab and with chemotherapy in patients whose tumor cells express low or undetectable levels of PD-L1. Collaboration deal signed with Bristol-Myers Squibb, for the supply of nivolumab. Centers open in Europe and the US. First patient treated in January 2018. Recruitment is progressing with the opening of additional centers; expected completion in 2Q 2019 ? Evaluation of the primary endpoint (ORR) on all patients (n=35) expected in 2H 2019 Pexa-Vec

+ sorafenib

(PHOCUS)

Phase 3 Advanced liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma HCC) 1st line Clinical trial being conducted by Transgene's partner, SillaJen, Inc. (sponsor). Ongoing global recruitment. First patient treated in China (September 2018). ? First data readout expected in 2019. Pexa-Vec

+ Opdivo (ICI)

(nivolumab)

Phase 1/2 Advanced liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma HCC) 1st line Several active trial sites in France and Italy. ? Safety review committee expected before year-end 2018. ? Interim analysis on 15 patients expected mid-2019 (primary endpoint: ORR). TG4001

+ Bavencio (ICI)

(avelumab)

Phase 1/2 HPV-positive cancers including oropharyngeal head and neck cancer 2nd line Clinical collaboration agreement with Merck KGaA and Pfizer, for the supply of avelumab for the trial. Principal investigator: Prof. Christophe Le Tourneau (Institut Curie, Paris). ? Following positive safety evaluation of the combination regimen, Phase 2 part is ongoing and additional sites are being activated in Europe. ? Phase 1 part results in 4Q 2018 (n=9 patients). ? Next clinical readout expected in 2H 2019. TG6002

Phase 1/2a Gastro-intestinal adenocarcinoma (colon cancer) TG6002 is an oncolytic virus that produces chemotherapy (5-FU) in the tumor. Principal investigator: Prof. Philippe Cassier, Centre Leon Berard, Lyon (France). Multi-center trial; INDs granted in Belgium, France and Spain. ? First patient to be treated in the coming weeks. TG1050

+ Standard of care

Phase 1 Chronic hepatitis B Trial completed. ? Full results to be presented at a major liver conference in 4Q 2018.

2. Update on investigator-sponsored trials evaluating Transgene's products

Transgene is collaborating with leading physicians at world-renowned clinical centers to identify and evaluate novel treatment regimens based on the initiative of the clinicians. These trials are designed to generate further clinical data demonstrating the value of Transgene's products in exploratory clinical settings. These trials also contribute to strengthening the data packages and increase the visibility of the products amongst the medical community.

TG4010

+ Opdivo (ICI)

(nivolumab)

Phase 2 Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) 2nd line Trial of TG4010 in combination with nivolumab (supplied by Bristol-Myers Squibb) in a collaborative agreement with UC Davis Medical Center (USA); principal investigator: Dr. Karen Kelly; sponsor: UC Davis. The prevailing use of ICIs in first-line therapy in the USA has led to a very significant slowdown in the recruitment of this trial, as patients previously treated with ICIs are excluded per protocol. ? Based on Dr. Kelly's recommendation, the trial will be discontinued due to poor patient accrual. ? No unexpected safety issues have been observed. Pexa-Vec

Neo-adjuvant Solid tumors Principal investigator: Prof. Alan Anthoney; sponsor: University of Leeds (UK). Completion of the recruitment (9 patients). ? First positive results presented at the ASCO conference in June 2018, confirming strong anti-tumor immunity after intravenous administration. Of the four evaluable patients with liver metastases, one showed complete tumor pathological response at the time of surgery. The final data from this trial will be published in an upcoming paper and will be presented at a future scientific conference. ? Data support ongoing development of Transgene's Vaccinia virus-based oncolytics. Pexa-Vec

+ Yervoy (ICI)

(ipilimumab)

Phase 1 Solid tumors (ISI-JX) Coordinating investigator: Dr. Aurelien Marabelle; sponsor: Centre Leon Berard, Lyon. ? The combination regimen was well tolerated to-date. Additional sites are being activated. Pexa-Vec

+ metronomic

cyclophosphamide

Phase 1/2a HER2 negative breast cancer and soft tissue sarcoma (METROmaJX) Principal investigator: Prof. Antoine Italiano (Institut Bergonie, Bordeaux); sponsor: INCa (French national cancer institute). ? The combination regimen was well tolerated. ? At the interim analysis of the patients treated for soft tissue sarcoma, the pre-specified primary endpoint was not reached; enrolment for this indication has been discontinued. TG6002

Phase 1/2a Glioblastoma Principal investigator: Prof. Ahmed Idbahi (AP-HP, Paris), with the support of INCa; sponsor: AP-HP. Single-center trial. ? No safety issues have been observed to-date.

Sale of the Rights of TG1050 and TG6002 in Greater China

On July 10, 2018, Transgene entered into a set of agreements with Tasly Biopharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. under which Transgene sold both the T101 Greater China patent rights and its entire 50% stake in the Transgene Tasly (Tianjin) BioPharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. joint venture which already owned the T601 Greater China patent rights. Following these agreements, Tasly Biopharmaceuticals now holds all rights to research, development and commercialization for T601 and T101 in Greater China.

In return, Transgene received a total of 27.4 million new Tasly Biopharmaceuticals shares valued at $48 million based on the subscription price in pre-IPO financing round of Tasly Biopharmaceuticals, which took place concurrently with the transaction with Transgene. Transgene's stake represents 2.53% of Tasly Biopharmaceutical's expanded share capital. Tasly Biopharmaceuticals has announced its intention to list its shares on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

The transactions were finalized in August 2018.

NB: T601 and T101 are products developed in China and respectively incorporating Transgene's TG6002 and TG1050 patented technologies.

Research and preclinical portfolio

In the first half of 2018, Transgene significantly reinforced its preclinical capabilities, capitalizing on its leading viral vectors expertise in the most attractive fields of onco-immunotherapy.

With Invir.IOTM, Transgene is making progress in the increasingly attractive field of novel oncolytic viruses (OVs). The Invir.IOTM platform aims at generating multifunctional novel oncolytic viruses that incorporate several transgenes encoding for a range of specific anticancer weapons and that are capable of better modulating the tumor micro-environment.

The Company is currently evaluating several preclinical Invir.IOTM OV candidates to identify the most attractive one to progress into clinical development. Current candidates include OVs encoding an anti-CTLA-4 antibody in a collaboration with BioInvent, as well as other anti-cancer agents (ligands, cytokines, chemokines, enzymes, etc.). Transgene is on track to initiate the first clinical trial with the first Invir.IOTM designed virotherapy in 2019.

Transgene will shortly be presenting an ambitious personalized immunotherapy approach that will allow the Company to enter the promising field of personalized medicine. This approach combines the Company's expertise in therapeutic vaccines with neoantigen vectorization and artificial intelligence.

Transgene will provide further updates on preclinical activities in the coming months, including at key upcoming immunotherapy congresses.

Key Financials

Key elements of the income statement

(in thousands of euros) June 30, 2018 June 30, 2017 Operating revenues 3,548 3,898 Research and development expenses (13,767) (16,855) General and administrative expenses (2,963) (3,066) Other expenses (82) (107) Operating expenses (16,812) (20,028) Operating income (loss) (13,264) (16,130) Net income (loss) (14,874) (18,346)

Operating revenues amounted to 3.6 million for the first six months of 2018 compared to 3.9 million for the same period in 2017.

Revenues from collaboration and licensing agreements amounted to 0.6 million for the first six months of 2018 versus 0.5 million in the same period in 2017.

The research tax credit amounted to 2.8 million for the first half of 2018, compared to 3.0 million for the first half of 2017.

Research and Development (R&D) expenses amounted to 13.8 million in the first half of 2018 compared to 16.9 million for the same period in 2017. This decrease was mainly due to the 2017 milestone payment of 3.8 million ($4 million) to SillaJen, Inc. triggered by the first patient being recruited in Europe in the Phase 3 trial of Pexa-Vec (Phocus trial). External expenses for clinical projects increased by 0.5 million to 3.7 million as we continued to progress the development of all our products.

General and administrative expenses were stable at 3.0 million for the first half of 2018 compared to 3.1 million for the same period in 2017.

Net loss amounted to 14.9 million for the first half of 2018 compared to 18.3 million for the same period in 2017.

As of June 30, 2018, the Company's cash, cash equivalents, available-for-sale financial assets and other financial assets amounted to 33.1 million versus 41.4 million as of December 31, 2017.

Transgene's cash burn amounted to 8.4 million in the first half of 2018, compared with 12.3 million for the same period in 2017 (mainly due to the milestone payment of 3.8 million ($4 million) to SillaJen, Inc. in 2017).

Transgene confirms its net cash burn target of approximately 25 million for 2018.

"Our results for the first six months of 2018 are in line with our expectations. We confirm our financial visibility for the next 12 months, excluding the monetization of the Tasly Biopharmaceuticals shares," commented Jean-Philippe Del, Chief Financial Officer of Transgene.

The Board of Directors of Transgene met on September 19, 2018 and adopted the financial statements for the six-month period ended June 30, 2018. The Statutory Auditors have conducted a limited review of the interim consolidated financial statements. The half-year financial report is available on Transgene's website, https://www.transgene.fr

A conference call in English is scheduled today, on September 19th at 6:30 p.m. CET.

Webcast link to English language conference call:

https://channel.royalcast.com/webcast/transgene/20180919_1/

Participant telephone numbers:

France: +33-(0)1-72-72-74-03

United Kingdom: +44-207-1943-759

United States: +1-646-7224-916 Confirmation code: 39351470#

A replay of the call will be available on the Transgene website (www.transgene.fr) following the live event.

Notes to editors

Transgene (Euronext: TNG), part of Institut Merieux, is a publicly traded French biotechnology company focused on designing and developing targeted immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Transgene's programs utilize viral vector technology with the goal of indirectly or directly killing infected or cancerous cells. The Company's lead clinical-stage programs are: TG4010, a therapeutic vaccine against non-small cell lung cancer, Pexa-Vec, an oncolytic virus against liver cancer, and TG4001, a therapeutic vaccine against HPV-positive head and neck cancers. The Company has several other programs in clinical development, including TG1050 (chronic hepatitis B) and TG6002 (solid tumors).

With its proprietary Invir.IOTM, Transgene builds on its expertise in viral vectors engineering to design a new generation of multifunctional oncolytic viruses.

Additional information about Transgene is available at www.transgene.fr

Follow us on Twitter: @TransgeneSA

Disclaimer

This press release contains forward-looking statements, which are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. There can be no guarantee that (i) the results of pre-clinical work and prior clinical trials will be predictive of the results of the clinical trials currently underway, (ii) regulatory authorities will agree with the Company's further development plans for its therapies, or (iii) the Company will find development and commercialization partners for its therapies in a timely manner and on satisfactory terms and conditions, if at all. The occurrence of any of these risks could have a significant negative outcome for the Company's activities, perspectives, financial situation, results and development.

For a discussion of risks and uncertainties which could cause the Company's actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the Risk Factors ("Facteurs de Risques") section of the Document de Reference, available on the AMF website (http://www.amf-france.org) or on Transgene's website (www.transgene.fr). Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and Transgene undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

Appendices

Consolidated balance sheet, IFRS

(in thousands)

ASSETS June 30, 2018 Dec. 31, 2017 Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents 4,403 1,643 Other current financial assets 28,641 39,762 Cash, cash equivalents and other current financial assets: 33,044 41,405 Trade receivables 1,813 2,564 Inventories 314 270 Other current assets 13,728 14,497 Assets available for sale 2,412 Total current assets 51,311 58,736 Non-current assets: Property, plant and equipment 13,921 13,604 Intangible assets 205 250 Non-current financial assets 4,078 3,971 Investments in associates 2,916 Other non-current assets 15,611 21,396 Total non-current assets 33,815 42,137 Total assets 85,126 100,873 LIABILITIES AND EQUITY June 30, 2018 Dec. 31, 2017 Current liabilities: Trade payables 3,745 2,868 Current financial liabilities 11,145 10,283 Provisions for risks 18 356 Other current liabilities 3,662 3,359 Total current liabilities 18,570 16,866 Non-current liabilities: Non-current financial liabilities 48,727 51,717 Employee benefits 3,864 3,710 Other non-current liabilities 324 491 Total non-current liabilities 52,915 55,918 Total liabilities 71,485 72,784 Equity: Share capital 62,276 62,075 Share premiums et reserves 512,410 512,228 Retained Earnings (545,468) (513,194) Profit/(loss) for the period (14,874) (32,274) Other comprehensive income/(loss) (703) (746) Total equity attributable to Company shareholders 13,641 28,089 Total equity and liabilities 85,126 100,873

Consolidated income statement, IFRS

(in thousands, except for per-share data)

June 30, 2018 June 30, 2017 Revenue from collaborative and licensing agreements 605 472 Public funding for research expenses 2,837 3,028 Other income 106 398 Operating income 3,548 3,898 Research and development expenses (13,767) (16,855) General and administrative expenses (2,963) (3,066) Other expenses (82) (107) Operating expenses (16,812) (20,028) Operating income/(loss) (13,264) (16,130) Net finance cost (1,107) (981) Share of profit/(loss) of associates (503) (1,235) Income tax expense (14,874) (18,346) Income tax expense Comprehensive net income/(loss) (14,874) (18,346) Basic loss per share () (0.24) (0.33) Diluted earnings per share () (0.24) (0.33)

Cash Flow statement, IFRS

(in thousands)

June 30, 2018 June 30, 2017 Cash flow from operating activities: Net income/(loss) from continuing operations (14,874) (18,346) Cancellation of financial income 1,107 981 Elimination of non-cash items Income of associates 503 1,235 Provisions (184) (770) Depreciation 866 747 Share-based payments 202 218 Other 11 18 Net cash generated from/(used in) operating activities before change in

working capital and other operating cash flow: (12,369) (15,917) Change in operating working capital requirements: Current receivables and prepaid expenses 1,046 (78) Inventories and work in progress (44) 27 Research tax credit (RTC) (2,914) (3,113) Other current assets 289 1,119 Trade payables 996 (408) Prepaid income (179) 1,026 Employee benefits 79 (563) Other current liabilities 236 (20) Net cash used in operating activities: (12,860) (17,927) Cash flows from investing activities: (Acquisitions)/disposals of property, plant and equipment (1,243) 160 (Acquisitions)/disposals of intangible assets (25) (10) Other (acquisitions)/disposals 891 10 Net cash used in investing activities: (377) 160 Cash flows from financing activities: Net financial income/(loss) proceeds (67) (239) Conditional subsidies 30 29 (Acquisition)/disposal of other financial assets 11,120 10,499 Net amounts received for financing of tax credits 4,669 6,294 Financial leases 244 (578) Net cash generated from/(used in) financing activities: 15,996 16,005 Effect of changes in exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents 1 (2) Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents: 2,760 (1,764) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 1,643 4,855 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period: 4,403 3,091 Investments in other current financial assets 28,642 40,852 Cash, cash equivalents and other current financial assets: 33,045 43,943

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180919005559/en/

Contacts:

Transgene

Lucie Larguier, +33 (0)3 88 27 91 04

Director Corporate Communications IR

investorrelations@transgene.fr

or

Media:

Citigate Dewe Rogerson

David Dible Marine Perrier

+ 44 (0)20 7638 9571

transgene@citigatedewerogerson.comRevenue: 467.5 million, +4.2% ([1])

EBITDA: 156.6 million, +1.9% (1)

EBITDA margin: 33.5%, +0.4pt

Operating income: 64.6 million, +2.2% (1)

Free Cash-Flow: 107.1 million, +2.7% ([2])

Serge Clemente, Chief Executive of Infra Park, said:

"These results show solid progress for our Group, under the INDIGO brand, towards implementing our 2025 strategic plan and underpinning our position as a leading player globally in individual mobility. We continued to develop our parking activities in mature markets where we can become number one or two in the market, increasing investment in wholly-owned car parks and long-term contracts; streamlined our approach in markets we consider emerging; invested further in new mobility businesses.

Our Group's businesses combine to make us a key partner for cities when planning the individual mobility of their citizens. We expect business levels to continue to rise in the second half of 2018. We will continue to invest in car parks to prepare them for the arrival of smart and self-driving cars and the complementary services which are currently fulfilled through bicycles, scooters and car shared platforms and digital parking solutions.'

Overview

As at 30 June 2018, the Group managed 2,369,000 parking spaces across 5,693 facilities (based on a 100% share of operations, including in countries where the Group operates through a joint venture). Out of those spaces, 57.6% were located in North America and the United Kingdom, 19.0% in France, 15.4% in the IBSA region (Spain, Brazil, Colombia and Panama) and 8.0% in other Continental European countries.

The Group's consolidated global proportionate revenue[3] for the first half of 2018 was 467.5 million, up 4.2% on the first half of 2017 at constant exchange rates and down 0.5% (down 2.4 million) unadjusted for currency movements, due to a negative exchange difference of 21.0 million. The increase in revenue at constant exchange rates was due to expansion in France, where revenue rose 4.7%, in the North America-United Kingdom zone (up 5.2%) and in other European markets (up 0.7%), while it fell 4.4% in the Iberica and South America zone (Spain, Brazil, Colombia and Panama). The Mobility and Digital Solutions business line (MDS) contributed 5.6 million.

Global proportionate consolidated EBITDA was 156.6 million in the first half of 2018, up 1.9% (up 3.0 million) at constant exchange rates compared with the first half of 2017 and up 0.6% (up 0.9 million) unadjusted for exchange-rate movements, despite a negative exchange difference of 2.0 million. EBITDA as a proportion of revenue was 33.5%, 0.4 point more than in the year-earlier period (33.1%), despite the 2018 figure including the cost of launching the on-street parking enforcement business in France (Streeteo) and starting Smovengo's Velib 2 contract. EBITDA margin was 55.7% in France, 43.1% in other Continental Europe countries, 8.7% in the North America-United Kingdom region and 25.8% in Iberica-South America. These figures reflect the different business models used in the latter two geographical zones which, with the exception of Spain, mainly involve contracts under which the Group bears no traffic-level risk and carries out little investment but in return generates lower margins.

Taking into account global proportionate operating income of 64.6 million in the first half of 2018, as opposed to 63.8 million in the year-earlier period, Infra Park posted a consolidated net loss attributable to owners of the parent of 2.7 million as opposed to a consolidated net income of 23.2 million in the first half of 2017. The year-on-year change includes 19.8 million of non-recurring financial expenses arising from the early redemption, in May 2018, of the 500 million of bonds due to mature in 2020, as well as a tax expense of 23.8 million, translating in an effective tax rate of 112.3% in the first half of 2018, as a consequence, among others, of these non-recurring financial expenses.

IFRS net financial debt was 1,819.5 million at 30 June 2018 after a 80.0 million distribution as opposed to 1,665.7 million at 31 December 2017 and 1,707.8 million at 30 June 2017. This change in debt reflects the Group's continued investment at a sustained pace, both in its parking activities and in the launch of its new MDS activities. At the same time, Infra Park's IFRS Free Cash-Flow increased slightly between the two periods, reaching 107.1 million in the first half of 2018, representing a cash conversion ratio of 70.4% over the period.

Key events in the first half of 2018

Successful refinancing

Launch in April 2018 of a new 700 million issue of bonds with a 10-year maturity (April 2028) and a fixed coupon of 1.625%. They were twice oversubscribed, confirming the market's confidence in the long-term strength of the company's business model.

Confirmation of the Group's BBB credit rating

In April 2018, S&P confirmed the BBB rating of Infra Park and adjusted its outlook from positive to stable.

Infra Park's extra-financial rating

In March 2018, extra-financial rating agency Vigeo awarded Infra Park a score of 61/100, making the Group the leading European company in its sector. This rating reflects the Group's workforce-related and environmental commitments.

Acquisition of Besix Park NV

In line with our strategic aim to consolidate the market in countries where the Group could become a leader or co-leader, we formed in June 2018 an agreement to acquire 100% of Besix Park NV, a major player in the Belgian parking market. Besix Park manages around 17% of Belgium's parking spaces and generates annual revenue of over 12.0 million. The transaction was completed on 4 July 2018, making the Group the number-one player in the Belgian parking market in terms of the number of spaces managed, and brought it closer to the number-two player in terms of revenue.

Geographical refocusing

A strong global presence, focused on the most attractive markets, is a major part of our strategy.

Europe, a continent of compact cities, is a mature market, dominated by established operators. INDIGO's goal is to strengthen its model, focusing on concessions, long-term leases and ownerships, while using its strong market position to remain efficient in all segments. In addition to the Besix Park acquisition, Infra Park also expanded INDIGO weel, its flagship cycle-sharing system to 7 cities. The Group now has 8,000 bicycles in circulation and the INDIGO weel app has been downloaded 160,000 times since its launch in December 2017.

North America is a fragmented market, filled with many multicentric cities, offering opportunity for organic growth, specifically concessions, and acquisitions. LAZ Parking won a 17.5-year management contract (renewable once) to operate the 9,700 spaces of East Michigan University.

South America is much less-developed, and equally fragmented, offering opportunities for swift growth in all market segments. The Group won a contract with Sport Club Corinthians Paulista (Sao Paulo Arena Corinthians) to operate the car park for one of Brazil's most modern stadium (2,800 parking spaces).

Asia represents a huge untapped market with significant opportunity for new market entrants.

Consistent with this strategy, the Group has started to refocus its business geographically, resulting in the sale, in February, of all its shares in Qatari company QDVP P.Q.S.C. to its Qatari co-shareholder QDVC Q.S.C. In April, the Group also sold the Russian car park held indirectly through the Russia Parkinvest joint venture, in which the Group owns 50.13%. The Group also started exploring disposal of its subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, Germany, Czech Republic and Slovakia. Together, these countries accounted for less than 6% of Group's global proportionate EBITDA in 2017.

Outlook

At constant scope, business levels are expected to continue rising in full-year 2018. That growth will be driven by the Group's new strategic plan called Goal 2025, as the previous Goal 2020 plan was completed two years ahead of schedule.

The new strategic plan is accompanied by a new Group organization, which consists of two business lines:

Car parks, on-street parking and related activities (car, district and personal services), with the ambition of offering cities a comprehensive solution,

Mobility and Digital Solutions (MDS), with the aim of providing shared and individual mobility solutions (bicycles, scooters, motorbikes and cars) using a shared platform and shared batteries (INDIGO weel) and offering digital parking solutions (OPnGO).

With these two business lines, Infra Park is positioning itself clearly as a key partner for cities regarding individual mobility solutions.

The main strategic aims of the Goal 2025 plan are to:

Strengthen our model based on facilities operated under concession and owned outright through organic growth in key countries, in order to ensure recurring cash flow over the long term,

Step up acquisitions in "major countries" to allow us to maintain or gain a position as leader or co-leader, while adjusting the scope of operations as the case may be,

Use our expertise in international markets, supported by our three existing platforms (Europe, North America and South America), to move into the Asian market,

Continue our policy of customer-focused innovation and quality,

Become a leading player in digital and individual mobility services, based on our two main entities of OPnGO and INDIGO weel.

We will continue to invest in our car parks to prepare them for the arrival of electric, smart and self-driving cars, which is likely to cause a major and positive shift in our business model.

Finally, in geographical terms, Asia and particularly China remain strategically important markets that we aim to participate.

**********

The non-audited consolidated statements at 30 June 2018 and management report are available in English and French on the Group's website at www.infraparkgroup.com under Investors relation /Financial results.

The slide presentation of the H1 2018 results for the investors' conference call scheduled on Thursday September 20th, at 10:30pm CET, is available under Investor relations /Investor presentations section.

Contact analysts/ investors:

Erwan Begos

Tel.: +33 1 49 03 15 80

Cell: +33 6 25 71 28 76

ir@infraparkgroup.com Press contact:

Claire Lise Beaurenault

Tel: +33 1 49 03 12 79

Cell: + 33 7 50 68 30 64

claire-lise.beaurenault@infraparkgroup.com

About reported financial figures

To make its performance easier to understand and to improve its presentation, the Group presents operational figures (revenue, EBITDA, operating income) on a "global proportionate" (GP) basis, including the Group's share of joint ventures (mainly in the USA, Colombia, Panama and Smovengo) as if they were consolidated proportionately and not under the equity method applied in accordance with IFRSs when preparing the consolidated financial statements.

Note 9.7 to the Group's consolidated financial statements for the period ended 30 June 2018 sets out the contribution of these joint ventures to the main balance sheet and income statement items, and so allows reconciliation with the global proportionate figures presented in this press release and the consolidated financial statements.

About Infra Park

Infra Park, holding about 100% of Indigo Infra, OPnGO and INDIGO weel, is a key global player in car parking and urban mobility, that manages more than 2.3 million parking spaces and related services in 14 different countries. In 2017, Infra Park revenues and EBITDA amounted to 897.5 million and 310.0 million respectively (global proportionate figures).

Infra Park is indirectly held at 49.2% by investment funds managed by Ardian, 49.2% by Credit Agricole Assurances, and the remainder by the employees and management of the Group.

www.infraparkgroup.com

Infra Park

A joint stock corporation with a capital of 160,044,282 euros

Headquarters: 4, place de la Pyramide - Immeuble Ile de France - Batiment A

92800 PUTEAUX LA DEFENSE

800 348.146 RCS Nanterre www.infraparkgroup.com

[1] Consolidated global proportionate figures, variation at constant exchange rates against H1 2017

[2] Consolidated IFRS figures, variation at constant exchange rate against H1 2017

[3] Amounts adjusted in accordance with the change in method relating to revenue recognition as part of the first-time adoption of IFRS 15 from 1 January 2018 (see Note 4 "Change in accounting method" of the consolidated financial statements for the six months ended 30 June 2018).

------------------------



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Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-55098-infra-park_press-release_financial-results-h1-2018_en.pdfVancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 19, 2018) - North American Nickel Inc. (TSXV: NAN) (OTCQB: WSCRF) (CUSIP: 65704T108) (the "Company") has completed its 2018 exploration and drilling program at the Company's 100% owned Maniitsoq nickel-copper-cobalt-PGM project in Southwest Greenland.

NAN completed 14,287.6 metres of drilling this season, which includes 1,305m at the Qeqertaasaq Carbonatite Complex (see news release dated September 10, 2018). This represents an increase of 5,520.6m from our previous program in 2017. This year's program was achieved over a 15 week period and surpassed the initial planned program of 12,500m.

The 2018 exploration program took a step away from NAN's previous exploration strategy, which involved the systematic follow-up down plunge of known mineral zones, anticipating that these shallow pipe-like bodies would grow in size at depth and achieve an economic threshold. The strategy for 2018 placed an emphasis on evaluating the roots of large intrusions that contain thick intervals of noritic rock with unusually high magnesium oxide (MgO) concentrations. This new approach, was driven by the technical data that indicated that the majority of the highest-grade mineralization comprising of heavily disseminated, net-textured, breccia and massive sulphides are hosted within a specific high MgO rock type termed melanorite.

This strategy drove NAN to investigate the contacts, keels, and root zones of some of the intrusions where there is space for a large tonnage melanorite hosted deposit of high-grade breccia and massive sulphide mineralization within a broader envelope of disseminated sulphide.

Exploration activity in 2018 was focused on the use of geological and geophysical data to target the melanorite contact and keel zones of prioritized intrusions at Fossilik, P-030-31-32, P-008, Pingo and in the footprint of the Imiak Hill Complex (Figure 1). The program included the use of deep-penetrating surface electromagnetic methods designed to optimize the possibility of detecting large conductive massive sulphide bodies at depth, coupled with borehole electromagnetic surveys (BHEM), structural geology, surface physical property, geochemical sampling, and 3D modeling. The extensive program of work has generated the data and samples required to add significant value to the Maniitsoq database, and provides a basis to refine future exploration strategies.

NAN's CEO Keith Morrison stated, "The Greenland Norite Belt, when compared on a global basis to other NiS exploration projects, is unusually well endowed with numerous zones of high-quality Ni-Cu-Co-precious metal mineralization. The bulk of the known occurrences within the belt, have elevated Ni grades with high Ni tenors. Outside of the Maniitsoq project, there are very few opportunities for exploration assets, located in a supportive jurisdiction, that offers the combination of exploration potential and metal value that if successful, will supply the long term market demand for strategic base metals."

The 2018 program of work was executed from the Maniitsoq Camp. Despite challenging weather conditions this season, a total of 14,287.6m of drilling in 33 holes was completed by early September. These numbers include 6 holes drilled on the Qeqertaasaq Carbonatite Complex designed to test potential nickel targets and evaluate the strategic metal potential in this area. Table 1 provides a list of the drilling completed at each target area. Turnaround time from shipping of samples out of camp to receipt of finalized assays is approximately 6 to 10 weeks. The Company plans to collate assay results as they are received and report them by target area or grouped target areas.

Table 1: Listing of 2018 Drill Holes by Target Area

Target Area Hole Number Length (m) Fossilik:P-058 Deep MQ-18-158 797 Fossilik Body MQ-18-161 948 Fossilik Body MQ-18-173 1164 Fossilik Body MQ-18-184 814.7 P-246 MQ-18-189 260.1

Imiak Hill Complex: Spotty Hill MQ-18-157 788 G-036 MQ-18-160 579 G-026 MQ-18-165** 22.2 G-026 MQ-18-166 690.8 G-017 MQ-18-170 732.8 G-017 MQ-18-178 498 G-026 MQ-18-179 461

P-030/P-032: P-032 MQ-18-181 645 P-030 MQ-18-186 417 P-031 MQ-18-188 672

P-008: MQ-18-162 171 MQ-18-163 231 MQ-18-167 326 MQ-18-177 443

Pingo: MQ-18-183 333 MQ-18-185 321 MQ-18-187 363

OTHER:



G-025 MQ-18-176 516 P-005 MQ-18-164 122 P-293 MQ-18-180 252 P-293 MQ-18-182 86 P-012 MQ-18-159 329

Qeqertaasaq Carbonatite Complex:





MQ-18-168 140

MQ-18-169 413

MQ-18-171 104

MQ-18-172 203

MQ-18-174 224

MQ-18-175 221

TOTAL: 14,287.6

Notes:

*EOH lengths have been rounded to nearest decimetre

** Hole stopped and re-drilled as MQ-18-166

Technical Information; "Qualified Person"

The Company is not aware of any legal, political, environmental or other risks that could materially affect the potential development of the project other than those set out in its annual information form filed on www.sedar.com. Please see below under the heading "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements" for further details regarding risks facing the Company.

All technical information in this release has been reviewed and approved by Peter C. Lightfoot, Ph.D., P.Geo. (Chief Geologist), who is the Qualified Person for the Company.

About North American Nickel

North American Nickel is a mineral exploration company with 100% owned properties in Maniitsoq, Greenland and Sudbury, Ontario.

The Maniitsoq property in Greenland is a Camp scale permitted exploration project comprising 2,985 square km covering numerous high-grade nickel-copper + cobalt sulphide occurrences associated with norite and other mafic-ultramafic intrusions of the Greenland Norite Belt (GNB). The >75km-long belt is situated along, and near, the southwest coast of Greenland accessible from the existing Seqi deep water port with an all year-round shipping season and hydroelectric power potential from a quantified watershed.

The Post Creek/Halcyon property in Sudbury is strategically located adjacent to the past producing Podolsky copper-nickel-platinum group metal deposit of KGHM International Ltd. The property lies along the extension of the Whistle Offset dyke structure. Such geological structures host major Ni-Cu-PGM deposits and producing mines within the Sudbury Camp.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" under applicable securities laws concerning the business, operations and financial performance and condition of the Company. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the success of exploration activities; impact of mineralogy, estimation of mineral resources at mineral projects of the Company; the future economics of minerals including nickel and copper; synergies and financial impact facilities; the benefits of the development potential of the properties of the Company and currency exchange rate fluctuations. Except for statements of historical fact relating to the Company, certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan," "expect," "project," "intend," "believe," "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are based on a number of assumptions and subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Many of these assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of the Company and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct.

Factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from results anticipated by such forward-looking statements include variations in metal grades, changes in market conditions, variations in recovery rates, risks relating to international operations, fluctuating metal prices and currency exchange rates, and other risks of the mining industry, including but not limited to the failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated. The Company cautions that the foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. Investors and others who base themselves on forward-looking statements should carefully consider the above factors as well as the uncertainties they represent and the risk they entail. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this press release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. Statements concerning mineral reserve and resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements to the extent they involve estimates of the mineralization that will be encountered if the property is developed.

Statements about the Company's future expectations and all other statements in this press release other than historical facts are "forward looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and as that term defined in the Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbours created thereby. Since these statements involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time, the Company's actual results may differ materially from the expected results. For further information on the project, please see National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101) technical report prepared by SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. (SRK) dated effective March 24th, 2016, titled "Independent Technical Report for the Maniitsoq Nickel-Copper-PGM Project, Greenland", available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com or at www.northamericannickel.com

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Mark Fedikow

President

North American Nickel Inc.

For more information contact:

North American Nickel Inc.

Jaclyn Ruptash

Corporate Communications

(604) 770-4334

Toll free: 1-866-816-0118

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.





Figure 1: Location of 2018 drilling.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/2081/38772_enhancednan.jpgWeekly net asset value ("NAV") is calculated as of the close of business on each Tuesday and posted on the following business day. In the event that Tuesday is not a business day, the Company will calculate the close-of-business NAV as of the business day immediately preceding that Tuesday. The end-of-month NAV is calculated as of the close of business on the last day of the month and posted on the following business day. For weeks that include a month-end NAV report, PSH will provide only the month-end NAV and not report the Tuesday NAV. Monthly NAVs are published in accordance with the Decree on Conduct of Business Supervision of Financial Undertakings under the Wft (Besluit Gedragstoezicht financiele ondernemingen Wft).

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.CNH Industrial announces the closing of its notes offering of Euro 500,000,000 guaranteed 1.875% notes due January 2026

London, September 19, 2018

Today CNH Industrial N.V. (NYSE: CNHI / MI: CNHI) settled its offering of Euro 500,000,000 in principal amount of 1.875% notes due January 19, 2026, with an issue price of 98.944% of the principal amount, which was priced on September 12, 2018.

The notes have been issued by CNH Industrial Finance Europe S.A., a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNH Industrial N.V., under the Euro Medium Term Note Programme guaranteed by CNH Industrial N.V. CNH Industrial Finance Europe S.A. intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for its general corporate purposes.

The notes have been admitted to listing on the Irish Stock Exchange.

MiFID II professionals/ECPs-only / No PRIIPs KID - Manufacturer target market (MIFID II product governance) is eligible counterparties and professional clients only (all distribution channels). No PRIIPs key information document (KID) has been prepared as not available to retail in EEA.

The notes are only being offered and sold outside the United States to institutional investors that are not "U.S. persons" (as such term is defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act")) and have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or any other securities laws. The notes may not be offered or sold in the United States or to or for the account or benefit of "U.S. persons" absent registration under the Securities Act or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements thereof.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or an offer of financial products or securities, nor shall there be any sale of these notes, in the United States or any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer or sale would be unlawful. No action has been or will be taken to permit a public offering of the notes in any jurisdiction.

The offering of the notes has not been cleared by the Commissione Nazionale per le Societa e la Borsa (CONSOB), pursuant to Italian securities legislation. Accordingly, the notes have not been and will not be offered, sold or delivered in Italy in a solicitation to the public (sollecitazione all'investimento), and the notes may only be offered, sold or delivered in Italy in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

In the Netherlands, this press release is directed only to qualified investors within the meaning of the Dutch Financial Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht).

CNH Industrial

N.V.

Contacts:

Corporate Communications

Email: mediarelations@cnhind.com

Investor Relations

Email: investor.relations@cnhind.com

AttachmentElanco Animal Health Incorporated, a subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY), announced today the pricing of its initial public offering (IPO) of 62.9 million shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $24.00 per share. The shares are expected to begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on September 20, 2018 under the ticker symbol "ELAN." The offering is expected to close on September 24, 2018, subject to customary closing conditions.

Elanco has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 9.435 million additional shares of common stock at the initial price to the public less underwriting discounts.

Following the IPO, Lilly is expected to hold approximately 82.3% of Elanco (80.2% if the underwriters' option to purchase more shares is exercised in full). The net proceeds from the IPO, net of certain amounts to be retained by Elanco, will be paid to Lilly as partial consideration for the animal health businesses that Lilly is transferring to Elanco in connection with the IPO.

Goldman Sachs Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan and Morgan Stanley are joint lead book-running managers for the offering. Barclays, BNP Paribas, BofA Merrill Lynch, Citigroup, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank Securities, Evercore ISI and Cowen are book-running managers for the offering.

The offering will be made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the prospectus related to the offering may be obtained when available from:

Goldman Sachs Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282, email: prospectus-ny@ny.email.gs.com, telephone: 1-866-471-2526, fax: 1-212-902-9316;

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717 or by telephone at 866-803-9204 or by email at prospectus-eq_fi@jpmchase.com; or

Morgan Stanley Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 180 Varick Street, Second Floor, New York, New York 10014.

A registration statement relating to these securities was filed with, and declared effective by, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About Eli Lilly and Company

Lilly is a global healthcare leader that unites caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. We were founded more than a century ago by a man committed to creating high-quality medicines that meet real needs, and today we remain true to that mission in all our work. Across the globe, Lilly employees work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to communities through philanthropy and volunteerism.

About Elanco Animal Health

Founded in 1954, Elanco provides comprehensive products and knowledge services to improve animal health and food-animal production in more than 90 countries around the world. We value innovation, both in scientific research and daily operations, and strive to cultivate a collaborative work environment for more than 5,800 employees worldwide. Together with our customers, we are committed to raising awareness about global food security, and celebrating and supporting the human-animal bond. Our worldwide headquarters and research facilities are located in Greenfield, Indiana.

C-LLY

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based on management's current expectations, but actual results may differ materially due to various factors. These statements relate to the offering and the use of proceeds therefrom. There are significant risks and uncertainties relating to the offering. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from management's expectations include, without limitation: the satisfaction of customary closing conditions relating to the IPO; capital market risks; and the impact of general economic or industry conditions. There can be no guarantees that Lilly will achieve the anticipated benefits of the IPO. Lilly's ability to achieve the anticipated benefits of the IPO may be materially affected by such factors as changes to the business, results of operation or financial condition of Elanco or Lilly, changes in the animal health or pharmaceutical industries, adverse market or macroeconomic conditions and other factors outside Lilly's control. For additional information about the factors that affect Lilly's and Elanco's businesses, please see their respective filings with the SEC. Each of Lilly and Elanco undertakes no duty to update forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180919005836/en/

Contacts:

Elanco Animal Health Incorporated

Media:

Colleen Parr Dekker, 317-989-7011

colleen_parr_dekker@elanco.com

or

Investors:

Jim Greffet, 317-383-9935

greffet_james_f@elanco.comNew Minimally Invasive Device Exhibited at EUROSPINE Barcelona and NASS Los Angeles

joimax, the Germany-based market leader of technologies and training methods for full-endoscopic spinal surgery, introduces another minimally invasive device, Intracs em Electromagnetic Navigation System, at two global spine events: EUROSPINE Barcelona, the Spine Society of Europe's annual conference and expo (September 19-21), and NASS 2018, the North American Spine Society premier meeting in Los Angeles (September 24-28).

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180919005855/en/

We're Going Ultra Hi-Def (Graphic: Business Wire)

"With developments such as Intracs em, we are steadily positioning ourselves as true innovators in this space," states Wolfgang Ries, Founder and CEO of joimax. "And we further strengthen our leading role in endoscopic spinal surgery," he adds.

Intracs em Electromagnetic Navigation System

Intracs em relies on electromagnetic tracking and is specifically designed for simple and safe access to any spinal target. For exceptional accuracy, the instruments are vector-guided directly at the tip; therefore, bending of needles or other pliant instruments will not affect the navigation's precision. The new smart and user-friendly system can serve as a stand-alone device, or be completely integrated with the joimax Endoscopic Tower. It is the only system on the market which allows for simultaneous navigation of multiple instruments such as needles, guiding rods, reamers, and endoscopes; developed by joimax

The full European product launch is scheduled for Q4 2018. The global launch, including the United States, will be rolled out in the beginning of 2019.

Trade Show Exhibitions and Demo Workshops

joimax will be exhibiting at EUROSPINE 2018 and NASS 2018.

EUROSPINE 2018: On September 20, joimax will present at a lunch symposium. In addition, members of the internationally acclaimed joimax faculty group will host daily Meet the Expert sessions at the joimaxbooth, No. 05A.

NASS 2018: On September 27, the company will be part of the After Hours Workshop presentation and hands-on cadaver lab. Plus, following a successful introduction at the Annual Meeting of the American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) in New Orleans last March, joimax will showcase its combined 4K UHD resolution camera and LED light source system, Camsource LED, and the fully integrated documentation and command system, Vitegra Docu and Command. Presentations held at Booth No. 1529.

About joimax

Founded in Karlsruhe, Germany, in 2001, joimax is the leading developer and marketer of complete systems for full-endoscopic and minimally invasive spinal surgery. With the Endoscopic Surgical Systems TESSYS (transforaminal), iLESSYS (interlaminar) and CESSYS (cervical) for decompression procedures, MultiZYTE for facet and sacroiliac joint pain treatment and EndoLIF and Percusys for minimally-invasive endoscopically assisted stabilizations, established systems are provided, addressing a whole range of indications. In procedures for herniated disc, stenosis, pain therapy or spinal stabilization treatment, surgeons utilize joimax technologies to operate through small incisions under local or full anesthesia, via tissue and muscle-sparing corridors and through natural openings in the spinal canal, e.g. the intervertebral foramen, the so called "Kambin triangle."

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180919005855/en/

Contacts:

Press Contact USA :

joimax Inc.

Melissa Brumley

Melissa.brumley@joimaxusa.com

001 949 859 3472Talking about Flipkart's plan to go public in the near future, Bansal said, We believe you can be way more competitive with the right partners around.

Binny Bansal, Group CEO of Flipkart, is of the view that US retail giant Walmart made a bargain buy in acquiring home-grown giant Flipkart at $16 billion in mid-August.

Refuting the claims in media reports that Walmart overpaid for Flipkart, Bansal, in an interview with San Francisco-based news website Recode, said that the US retail giant had made a long-term bet on India that would pay off over the next five to ten years, Mint reported.

Talking about Flipkart's plan to go public in the near future, Bansal said, We believe we can be way more competitive with the right partners around. The other partner we have is Tencent, we also have Microsoft as an investor. Bringing the right partners on board is crucial, we believe, for success in the future, he added at the Recodes Code Commerce conference at Industria in New York City on Monday.

Talking about Flipkart's logistics capabilities, Bansal said that the homegrown e-commerce company reaches 400 cities and 90 percent of deliveries are done by its own network. From a logistics perspective, the kind of reach we have in the country, especially in tier 2, tier 3 areas, is unparalleled, he was quoted as saying by Recode.

Meanwhile, Flipkart Internet, the online marketplace arm of the Walmart-backed company, has received over Rs 3,462-crore fund infusion from Flipkart Marketplace, Singapore, as per regulatory documents.

The fund infusion -- done in two tranches -- will provide more ammunition to Flipkart, which is locked in an intense battle with US-based Amazon for leadership in the burgeoning Indian e-commerce market.

"...in accordance with the Letter of Offer dated 14 August, 2018 circulated by the company for the rights issue of shares, the board of directors of the company be and hereby allot 14,57,598 Class A equity shares...for an amount aggregating to Rs 30,07,02,46,740 for cash to Flipkart Marketplace Private Ltd, Singapore," regulatory documents filed with Corporate Affairs Ministry said.

The resolution was passed at the board meeting held on 30 August, 2018.

The board, during the same meeting, also passed another resolution (in accordance to a Letter of Offer dated 18 July) for allotting 2,21,002 equity shares for Rs 455.92 crore for cash to Flipkart Marketplace, Singapore.

The fresh capital also comes close on the heels of festive sale season that not only brings in discounts and deals for customers, but is also an annual showdown of sorts between the two largest players in the segment -- Flipkart and Amazon India.

Market watchers expect the competition between the two to be even fiercer this year as both companies have invested significantly through the year to ramp up product offerings as well as logistics infrastructure to ensure speedier delivery.

While Flipkart now has the backing of US retail giant Walmart (via a $16 billion deal signed earlier this year), Amazon India too has received millions of dollar in funding through the year from the US parent across operations like marketplace and payments business.

About 20 million people are expected to shop on various e-commerce platforms during the festive sale next month, translating into sales of around $3 billion for players like Amazon and Flipkart, according to a report by research firm RedSeer.

In a statement Tuesday, Flipkart said it expects to see a surge of 8-10x in sale of perfumes on its platform during the sale season. This growth, it said, would be on the back of an overhaul undertaken by the company.

"Project 'Authenticated' promises a revamp of Flipkart's portfolio comprising over 2000 perfumes and a seal of authenticity on the listing image, a new feature that showcases brand-approved sellers," it said.

The company will also add more exclusive partnerships and expand its collection of globally recognised labels in coming months, it added.

The size of the perfume industry as a whole is predicted to grow 50 percent to Rs 3,000 crores over the next five years, the statement said.

With inputs from PTIThe Union Cabinet did not consider on Wednesday Rs 4,500 crore plan to more than double the production assistance paid to sugarcane farmers and transport subsidy to sugar exporting mills

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet did not consider on Wednesday Rs 4,500 crore plan to more than double the production assistance paid to sugarcane farmers and transport subsidy to sugar exporting mills, sources said.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) may take up the food ministry's proposal next week, they added.

The ministry has proposed sharp increase in production assistance to farmers to Rs 13.88 per quintal for 2018-19 marketing year (October-September) from Rs 5.5 at present.

The proposal to raise production assistance and transport subsidy of up to Rs 3,000 per tonne to mills for exports of five million tonnes of surplus sugar is part of the government plan to clear more than Rs 13,500 crore arrears sugar mills have towards farmers.

Yesterday, sources had said the government will have to bear about Rs 4,500 crore on account of these measures to help sugar mills and cane farmers.

These steps will enable mills to boost sugar export and clear cane arrears, which currently stand at Rs 13,567 crore. Mills in Uttar Pradesh owe the maximum at Rs 9,817 crore to cane farmers.

India's sugar output is set to increase further to 35 million tonnes in the next marketing year from 32 million tonnes in this year. The annual domestic demand stand at 26 million tonnes. The opening stock of sugar is estimated at 10 million tonnes on 1 October.

The government has taken a slew of measures to bail out cash-starved sugar mills as well as cane farmers in the last one year.

First, it doubled the import duty on sugar to 100 percent and then scrapped the export duty on it. It also made it compulsory for millers to export two million tonnes of sugar even as the global prices were low.

In June, the government had announced Rs 8,500 crore package for the cash-starved industry, which is facing a glut-like situation because of record 32 million tonnes of sugar production in the current 2017-18 marketing year ending this month.

The package includes soft loans of Rs 4,440 crore to mills for creating ethanol capacity. It will bear an interest subvention of Rs 1,332 crore for this.

The Centre had also announced an assistance of Rs 5.50 per quintal of cane crushed, amounting to Rs 1,540 crore, to mills. Around Rs 1,200 crore was allocated for the creation of 3 million tonnes buffer stock of sugar.

The minimum selling price of the sweetener has been fixed at Rs 29 per kg.

Last week, the government approved an over 25 percent hike in the price of ethanol produced directly from sugarcane juice for blending in petrol in a bid to cut surplus sugar production and reduce oil imports.

The CCEA raised the procurement price of ethanol derived from 100 percent sugarcane juice to Rs 59.13 per litre from the current rate of Rs 47.13.

The price for ethanol produced from B-heavy molasses (also called as intermediary molasses) was hiked to Rs 52.43 a litre from the current Rs 47.13 but that for ethanol produced from C-heavy molasses was reduced marginally to Rs 43.46 from Rs 43.70.The Delhi High Court A refused to interfere with the government policy on fixing petrol prices, which the petitioner said were making people suffer irreparably.

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday dismissed an application seeking a direction to the Centre to disclose the formula on the basis of which daily prices of petroleum and diesel are fixed.

A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V Kameswar Rao refused to interfere with the government policy on fixing petrol prices.

The court was hearing an application filed by Delhi-based designer Pooja Mahajan. Her advocate A Maitri sought a direction to call the records from the government, including oil companies, to disclose the formula and furnish details on the basis of which the daily fuel prices are fixed.

The petitioner said that people were suffering irreparably because these prices were being enhanced on presumption. Maitri said that the oil manufacturing companies were selling their old stock of petrol and diesel at enhanced prices while admittedly the said stock was purchased at a cheaper rate.

As per official claims, petrol and diesel prices are fixed on account of increase in international prices. Admittedly, international price of crude oil is fixed on a per barrel basis, the plea said.

The application was filed on the pending public interest litigation by the petitioner, in which she has sought direction to the central government to fix a "fair price" of petrol and diesel as it is a policy matter that involved larger economic issues.

The high court has asked the government to consider an earlier representation pending before it on the price rise of petrol and diesel.

Mahajan had filed a similar plea in July but the high court had then directed the Centre to treat the PIL as a representation. The petitioner has sought a directive to the Centre to fix a "fair price" of petrol and diesel in line with the Essential Commodities Act.OYO currently has its footprint in more than 349 cities across India, China, Malaysia, Nepal, and the UK, with over exclusive 10,000 hotels in its chain.

New Delhi: Hospitality firm OYO Wednesday said it has forayed into the United Kingdom and intends to invest GBP 40 million (approximately Rs 382.93 crore) for its expansion in the country.

This is the company's first market beyond Asia, OYO said in a statement.

The company plans to invest GBP 40 million into the UK market and looks to launch in 10 cities in the UK including Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and Edinburgh by 2020, it added.

Commenting on the development, OYO Founder and CEO Ritesh Agarwal said, "Driven by its booming domestic and international travel and budget hospitality needs, the UK presents a multi-billion dollar opportunity for OYO."

The company is thrilled to now be able to offer its affordable, hassle-free and quality living experiences to guests across the UK and to be empowering the UK independent hoteliers with the technology and operational expertise that helps them focus on customer experience and thereby generate increased, sustainable incomes, he added.

The UK business will be led by British entrepreneur Jeremy Sanders, who co-founded the British restaurant chain, Coco di Mama, the statement said.

OYO currently has its footprint in more than 349 cities across India, China, Malaysia, Nepal, and the UK, with over exclusive 10,000 hotels in its chain.Jet Airways' market valuation fell by Rs 105.38 crore to Rs 2,774.62 crore on BSE

Mumbai: Income Tax Department officials conducted "verification surveys" at the business premises of Jet Airways at four locations in New Delhi and Mumbai on Wednesday.

According to sources in the Income Tax Department, surveys were carried out to verify the expenses claimed by the company.

Shares of Jet Airways tumbled 3.67 percent to end at Rs 244.25 on BSE. During the day, it lost 5.71 percent to Rs 239.05 -- its 52-week low level. At NSE, shares of the company dropped 4.21 percent to close at Rs 243.15.

The company's market valuation also fell by Rs 105.38 crore to Rs 2,774.62 crore on BSE. In terms of equity volume, 6.19 lakh shares of the company were traded on BSE and over 64 lakh shares changed hands at NSE during the day.

"These are verification surveys and not raids as such. The Income Tax officers have visited four business units of Jet Airways to ascertain if the expenses claimed by the company are correct," sources said.

"Out of the four premises, two each are in New Delhi and Mumbai."

On its part, the airline in a statement said: "Income Tax officials are conducting a survey at Jet Airways' office."

The Naresh Goyal-run Jet Airways late last month reported a whopping Rs 1,323 crore of net loss for the three months to June. Earlier the airline had abruptly postponed result announcement on 9 August.

(With inputs from agencies)Under the partnership, India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) will facilitate customers to pay for Bajaj Allianz life insurance products through their accounts.

New Delhi: India Post Payments Bank and Bajaj Allianz Tuesday announced a five-year partnership to sell life insurance products on a revenue share basis.

Under the partnership, India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) will facilitate customers to pay for Bajaj Allianz life insurance products through their accounts.

"Financial inclusion and financial literacy are the key requirements for any progressive nation, and I believe this partnership will enable India to move steadily in that direction," Department of Posts Secretary AN Nanda said while announcing the partnership.

The products will be first available across IPPB's network of 3,250 access points, gradually expanding to 1,55,000 post offices across every village, town and district in India.

"IPPB cannot sell insurance on its own but tie-up with the third party for offering their product. We will get a commission on the sale of third-party products. In next 50-60 days, we will also facilitate payment of postal life insurance products. There will no overlap of insurance products between Department of Posts offerings and Bajaj Allianz," IPPB MD and CEO Suresh Sethi said.

He said that the digital product offering footprint of Bajaj Allianz is well established and this will help IPPB in facilitating sale through a paperless process.

Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance, MD and CEO Tarun Chugh said that he expects the partneship should continue forever but at the moment it has been signed for a five-year period.

"Though this partnership we will get access to rural customers through one of the most credible institutions of the country. Bajaj Allianz Life has dedicated teams across the board to ensure this partnership benefits IPPB, its customers, and imbibes the financial inclusion vision of the country," Chugh said

Under the partnership, Bajaj Allianz Life will offer life insurance solutions, which will also include a comprehensive life insurance cover with accidental permanent total and partial disability benefit and accelerated critical illness.

Launched on 1 September, the IPPB has gained around 9 lakh customers.Ma said trade tensions would likely impact Chinese and foreign companies immediately and negatively

Shanghai: Alibaba chairman Jack Ma said on Tuesday that trade frictions between the United States and China could last for two decades and would be a mess for all parties involved, citing weak trade rules.

Ma was speaking at an Alibaba investor conference hours after Washington said it would impose duties on an extra $200 billion worth of Chinese imports, drawing a warning from Beijing that it would retaliate.

Ma said trade tensions would likely impact Chinese and foreign companies immediately and negatively. He predicted that Chinese businesses would move production to other countries in the medium-term to get around the tariffs.

You may win the battle, but you lose the war, Ma said at the shareholder event in Hangzhou.

Middle term, a lot of Chinese business will move to other countries, he added.

Ma said new trade rules were needed over the long term.

Even if Donald Trump retired, the new president will come, it will still continue...We need new trade rules, we need to upgrade the WTO, he said, referring to the World Trade Organization.

Ma made the comments in what he said was his last speech to shareholders as chairman of the Chinese internet giant.

He announced last week that he will step down within a year and hand the company reins to chief executive Daniel Zhang.

Ma met with US President Donald Trump last year in a high-profile meeting where he promised to create 1 million US jobs linked to small merchants selling items on Alibaba platforms.

Trade relations have since deteriorated between China and the US in a tit-for-tat escalation in tariffs.Nikon is expanding its retail presence and has plans to add 10 more Nikon experience zones to take the tally to 150, besides engaging more photo enthusiasts through its Nikon photo schools.

New Delhi: Japanese imaging product major Nikon India is targeting around 5 percent growth in turnover at Rs 1,200 crore this fiscal on the back of its D-SLR and mirrorless cameras, a top company official said.

Nikon India is working on a twin strategy -- expanding the mirrorless camera segment, which is expected to grow in coming years while focusing on its traditional D-SLR (digital single-lens reflex) cameras.

The company is also expanding its retail presence and has plans to add 10 more Nikon experience zones to take the tally to 150, besides engaging more photo enthusiasts through its Nikon photo schools.

"Last year, we have concluded to around Rs 1,150 crore and we are aiming this year (FY 2018-19) close to Rs 1,200 crore, with approximately 5 percent increase," Nikon India Managing Director Sajjan Kumar told PTI.

He further said, "The growth would come from D-SLR segment which is still growing in India and mirrorless and full frame cameras."

The company as part of its strategy today introduced Nikon FX format (full-frame) mirrorless cameras Nikon Z 7 and Nikon Z 6, strengthening its presence in the segment.

"Year on year share of mirrorless cameras would increase. Today they are contributing 12-15 percent from mirrorless and it is bound to increase in the coming years and within two years I am expecting it to close 30 percent for Nikon as well," he said.

Nikon India, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tokyo-based Nikon Corporation, expects India unit to contribute around 5 percent of its global sales in the next two financial years.

"Today, we are contributing close to 2 percent of the worldwide pie within the imaging as a category certainly, we would like to contribute around 5 percent in the next 2-3 years," Kumar added.

Nikon has a retail presence over 3,000 point of sales pan India and has presence across all formats. It will add 10 more Nikon Experience Zone, which are in a shop-in-shop format, by the end of this fiscal. The company has 140 Nikon Experience Zone at present, he added.

Nikon India which presently has around 45 percent market share in the domestic market in D-SLR and compact cameras, expects to retain its position, he added.

Presently, the estimated size of the Indian D-SLR market is estimated to be around half million units and is growing between 8 to 10 percent. It is expected to be around 5.4 lakh unit this fiscal.

The company is also organising several Nikon School Workshops to engaging several photo enthusiast, where it organises photography workshops, training etc by associating with ace photographers.

"This year, we are aiming 820 workshops. Year on year, we have shaped our Nikon School Concept... we are reaching out to the customer so that they can directly hear from the brand ," he said adding that these workshops are happening are around 200 locations and not confined to top cities only.

Mirrorless camera does not require a reflex mirror, a key component of D-SLR cameras. The mirror in a DSLR reflects the light up to the optical viewfinder. In a mirrorless camera, there is no optical viewfinder. Instead, the imaging sensor is exposed to light at all times.By Stephanie Kelly NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil futures rose more than 1 percent on Tuesday on signs that OPEC would not be prepared to raise output to address shrinking supplies from Iran, and as Saudi Arabia signalled an informal target near current levels. Brent crude futures rose 98 cents to settle at $79.03 a barrel, a 1.26 percent gain. U.S.

By Stephanie Kelly

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil futures rose more than 1 percent on Tuesday on signs that OPEC would not be prepared to raise output to address shrinking supplies from Iran, and as Saudi Arabia signalled an informal target near current levels.

Brent crude futures rose 98 cents to settle at $79.03 a barrel, a 1.26 percent gain.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose 94 cents to settle at $69.85 a barrel, a 1.36 percent gain.

Ministers from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and non-OPEC producers meet on Sunday to discuss compliance with output policies. OPEC sources have told Reuters no immediate action was planned and producers would discuss how to share a previously agreed output increase.

Bloomberg reported on Tuesday, citing unnamed Saudi sources, that the kingdom was currently comfortable with prices above $80 per barrel, at least for the short term.

Bloomberg reported that while Saudi Arabia had no desire to push prices higher than $80, it may no longer be possible to avoid it. U.S. sanctions affecting Iran's petroleum sector are due to come into force from Nov. 4.

Reuters previously reported that Saudi Arabia wants oil to stay between $70 and $80 a barrel for now, as the world's biggest crude exporter strikes a balance between maximizing revenue and keeping a lid on prices until U.S. congressional elections.

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said an oil price between $70 and $80 was temporary and sanctions-driven, adding the long-term price would stand around $50 a barrel.

U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry said last week in Moscow that he did not foresee any price spikes once sanctions came into effect, and was positive about Saudi output.

Oil futures also drew support from geopolitical risk on Tuesday.

Russia's Defense Ministry said a Russian military plane was shot down by Syrian anti-aircraft systems, but accused Israel of indirectly causing the incident, saying Israeli jets nearby had put the Russian plane in the path of danger.

Russia has told Israel it will take all necessary measures to protect its military personnel in Syria, the Foreign Ministry in Moscow said.

Market participants awaited industry data on Tuesday from the American Petroleum Institute that was expected to show U.S. crude inventories last week fell for a fifth straight week. The data is due to be released at 4:30 p.m. EDT (2030 GMT), while the government's weekly report is due on Wednesday.

TRADE WAR CAPS GAINS

The longer-term outlook remains weighed down, however, by an escalation in the China-U.S. trade war that has clouded the outlook for crude demand.

China, one of the world's largest oil consumers, on Tuesday added $60 billion of U.S. products to its import tariff list. The move was in retaliation for President Donald Trump's planned levies on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods.

On Monday, the Trump administration said it would begin to levy new tariffs of 10 percent on about $200 billion of Chinese products next Monday, with the tariffs to go up to 25 percent by the end of 2018.

The tariffs are likely to limit economic activity in both China and the United States.

"The brinkmanship between Beijing and Washington has the potential to severely impact the competitiveness of U.S. crude oil and petroleum products in the Chinese market, and it will also deter Chinese investment in the U.S. energy sector," said Abhishek Kumar, senior energy analyst at Interfax Energy in London.

(Reporting by Stephanie Kelly in New York; Additional reporting by Julia Payne in London, Meng Meng and Aizhu Chen in Beijing and Roslan Khasawneh in Singapore; Editing by Paul Simao and Peter Cooney)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.In a major overhaul of the fee structure that mutual funds charge from investors, SEBI on Tuesday decided to cap the total expenses for investment in such funds to 2.25 percent.

New Delhi: Shares of Asset Management Companies (AMCs) tumbled up to 10.3 percent on Wednesday after markets regulator SEBI decided to slash the charges levied by mutual funds from investors.

The scrip of Reliance Nippon Life Asset Management dived 10.29 percent to hit its one-year low level of Rs 192.10 on BSE.

Shares of HDFC AMC tumbled 9.29 percent to Rs 1,397 -- its 52-week low.

Commenting on SEBI's announcement on significant changes to TER structure, JM Financial Institutional Securities in a report said: "While the move is a positive step towards increasing reach and reducing costs for retail MF investors as also improving transparency, it has a negative impact on profitability for AMCs."

In a major overhaul of the fee structure that mutual funds charge from investors, SEBI on Tuesday decided to cap the total expenses for investment in such funds to 2.25 percent.

Mutual fund industry must adopt the full-trail model of commission in all schemes, SEBI Chairman Ajay Tyagi told reporters in Mumbai after the board meeting.

A trail-fee model benefits distributors if their clients stay invested in schemes for a longer period.

At present, mutual funds pay distributors upfront commission as high as 2 percent against the one percent recommended by industry body Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI).

SEBI board has cleared the proposal to cap the maximum total expense ratio (TER) -- the fee that mutual funds collect from investors every year to manage their money -- for closed ended equity schemes to 1.25 percent and other than equity schemes to 1 percent.

The maximum TER for open-ended equity schemes will be 2.25 percent.The current spate of tariff wars between the two largest economies have impacted the Aditya Birla group's business in the US, chairman Kumarmangalam Birla said

Mumbai: Even though the group has a diversified presence across the globe which acts as a hedge, the current spate of tariff wars between the two largest economies have impacted the Aditya Birla group's business in the US, chairman Kumarmangalam Birla said on Tuesday and warned of more dumping by Chinese in the domestic market. He said the domestic market can expect a lot of Chinese dumping, as they will be unable to find a market in the US because of the heavy duties.

"For the first time because of these tariff wars, there is some sort of impact on our business in the US," Birla said speaking at the third Bloomberg India Economic Forum on Tuesday evening.

The group draws a considerable portion of its metals (aluminium business from its US subsidiary Novelis).

He made the comments while answering a question on bureaucratic troubles faced by companies, in which he said there is far too less need for meeting government officials while operating in the US compared to India, even though a lot of work on ease of doing business has happened under the present government.

Earlier, he said either by design or inadvertently, businesses of his group are spread across geographies which acts as a natural hedge in periods of bad times like the ongoing tariff wars between the US and China.

He said the group has presence in the US, South America and Europe which acts as the hedge.

Citing aluminium, on which the US has imposed a 25 percent duty on Chinese imports, he said a lot of the products will not be able to go to the US and may end up here where the consumption story is still strong.

"I see there is some risk in terms of Chinese goods coming into the economy," he said.

It can be noted that over the past few months, the Donald Trump administration has upped the ante on tariffs, seeking what it calls fair trade and reciprocity from its partners mainly China, which is the world's largest exporter, and thus one of the prime targets of these measures, more of which are due next week.

Birla said he hopes for normalcy to return at the earliest and that the trade wars do not last long. He, however, said the Indian growth story will not be affected because of the trade wars.

"A lot of our growth is propelled by domestic consumption and not much by exports," he said.Activists and villagers raised their concerns over a proposed nuclear power plant in Chutka in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday, saying it would destroy nature and take away their homeland.

New Delhi: Activists and villagers raised their concerns over a proposed nuclear power plant in Chutka in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday, saying it would destroy nature and take away their homeland. In 2009, Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL) has decided to set up the atomic station in Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh to generate 1,400 MW power.

Madhya Pradesh Power Generating Company Limited (MPPGCL) is the nodal agency to facilitate the execution of the project. The villagers claimed they have been protesting for the past nine years over the atomic power plant and when they did not relent, compensation was put into their accounts forcefully. "MPPGCL forcefully put the compensation amount in our bank accounts and took our Aadhaar copies from the bank. We have written to the bank to remove their money," said Meera Bai, a resident of Chutka.

Another resident, Dadu Lal Kudape, said they visited other villages where nuclear plants would be coming up and they found contaminated water and polluted environment. "We do not want the same things to happen to us," he said. Padmini Ghosh, Women's Regional Network India Coordinator, said if European countries are dismantling nuclear power plants, India is building them.

"We need to review nuclear policy and install renewable energy plants," Ghosh said.

Raj Kumar Sinha, activist working with the villagers, said they are being exploited and no amount of money could compensate for their land. "These people are nature lovers. They can't be bought with money," he said. The Women's Regional Network said a total of 17,000 people would be displaced if the plant comes up.Pravin Togadia said if the government was not paying heed to their peaceful protests, cultivators 'should pick up sticks'.

Raipur: Antarrashtriya Hindu Parishad (AHP) chief Pravin Togadia on Tuesday said suicide by around "three lakh farmers" in the last 17 years was nothing but a "genocide committed by the governments".

He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "ditching" farmers and not providing remunerative prices to them for their produce as promised by him. The 62-year-old Hindutva leader blamed government's policies for "agrarian distress" in the country.

Raghav Reddy who lost a key organisational poll, was addressing a rally organised at Idgah Bhata Ground in Raipur by farmers from the tribal-dominated Bastar region of the state. The rally marked the end of a foot march taken out by agriculturists from Jagdalpur on 10 September to press for their demands, which included a farm loan waiver and a hike in Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for crops.

Over 1,000 farmers took part in the 300-kilometre-long foot march held under the aegis of the Rashtriya Kisan Parishad, a farmers outfit whose patron is Togadia. "Annadata (farmers) have been bearing the pain of policies drafted by the government since the Independence. They are not only reeling under pain, but are also debt-ridden. "Farmers who feed people end their life when they find it difficult to feed their own children," Togadia said.

"Suicide committed by three lakh farmers in the last 17 years is the biggest genocide in any country of the world. It is a genocide committed by the government," he said. He said Modi has "failed" to fulfil his promise on the MSP front made to farmers in the run up to the 2014 polls.

"Modi ji had promised to hike MSP for crops by 1.5 times of the production cost as recommended in the Swaminathan Committee report but he failed. Modi ji should apologise for not providing MSPs (for crops) as per the Swaminathan report," Togadia said.

The former Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader said the Modi government is no different than the one headed by the Congress. The Modi government has done what the Congress did. The Congress (UPA government) had increased MSP by Rs 50 every year and the Modi government has hiked it by Rs 200 after four years, he added.

Togadia said if the government was not paying heed to their peaceful protests, cultivators "should pick up sticks". "The padyatra taken out by farmers is just a beginning of a farmers revolution. Farmers who plough their fields can also pick up plough (to protest)," he added.

Earlier, Togadia joined the march at Abhanapur town, located around 27 kilometres away from the state capital, before it culminated at the rally venue. The surgeon-turned-Hindutva leader also washed the feet of some farmers after the march culminated.The AIADMK, in a party mouthpiece, also recalled past corruption charges against the DMK, such as the 2G spectrum allocation scam and the Sri Lankan Tamils issue.

Chennai: The ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu Wednesday hit out at DMK President MK Stalin for levelling corruption charges against its government, saying he was making such allegations out of 'frustration.'

AIADMK mouthpiece Namathu Puratchi Thalaivi Amma also recalled past corruption charges against the DMK, such as the 2G spectrum allocation scam and took a dig at Stalin for leading his party's protests on Tuesday from Chief Minister K Palaniswami's native district Salem.

Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam were "creating new awakening" in Tamil Nadu in the AIADMK rule, it said. It alleged that following the demise of late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in December 2016, "those who dreamt of the government falling and a split in the party are frustrated that their dreams have not come true."

"Stalin is making desperate attempts to somehow topple this government and become the Chief Minister," a write-up in the AIADMK mouthpiece said.

The leader of Opposition in the state assembly made attempts to create 'violence' in the House "to create law and order problems", it charged, while referring to the chaotic scenes witnessed during the February 2017 confidence vote of the Palaniswami government, allegedly involving the Opposition party MLAs.

It said Stalin, whose DMK had staged black flag protests against Governor Banwarilal Purohit during his visits to districts to hold review meetings with officials, later petitioned the latter regarding alleged irregularities in the Highways Department in the wake of IT raids against a contractor.

Palaniswami holds, among others, the Highways portfolio. "Frustrated that he has not received any success (politically) despite holding many protests and that people are not supporting him, he is levelling corruption charges from the Chief Minister's native place (Salem)," it said.

The mouthpiece lashed out at the DMK on a number of issues, including the Sri Lankan Tamils issue and land grab charges against former DMK ministers during its 2006-11 rule. An Opposition party should use the democratic right of holding protests for "just causes" and point out shortcomings which will be addressed by the government. "Instead, levelling corruption charges and seeking the removal of the government... no opposition party in the world does this," it said.

Opposition DMK Tuesday staged state-wide protests against the "corrupt" AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu, with party chief MK Stalin leading the charge in Salem. Stalin had said "people of Tamil Nadu have not seen such a corrupt government in the history of the state" and called it a "slave" to the Centre.A Dubai court on Tuesday ordered for the extradition of British national and alleged middleman Christian Michel in the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP choppers deal case.

A Dubai court ordered the extradition of British national and alleged middleman Christian Michel to India in the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP choppers deal case.

Officials, on Tuesday, said that the court pronounced the judgment after India had officially made a request for extradition to the Gulf nation based on the criminal investigations conducted in this case by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Michel is one of the three middlemen being probed in the case, besides Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa, by the ED and the CBI. Both the agencies have notified an Interpol red corner notice (RCN) against him after the court issued a non-bailable warrant against him.

On 1 January, 2014, India scrapped the contract with Finmeccanica's British subsidiary AgustaWestland for supplying 12 AW-101 VVIP choppers to the Indian Air Force (IAF) over the alleged breach of contracts and charges of kickbacks of Rs 423 crore paid by it to secure the deal. The ED alleged that money was laundered through multiple foreign companies which were used as fronts to park alleged kickbacks.

The government cancelled the deal after Bruno Spagnolin, CEO of AgustaWestland and Guiseppe Orsi, chairman of the Italian parent company Finmeccanica, were arrested on charges of bribing middlemen to acquire the deal with IAF. Then defence minister AK Antony had ordered a probe into the matter. "Yes, corruption has taken place in the helicopter deal and bribes have been taken. The CBI is pursuing the case very vigorously," Antony had said in March 2013.

There have been several key players in the VVIP choppers deal case, the most prominent of whom are the three alleged middlemen between the companies abroad and the Indian government  Christian Michel, Guido Haschke, and Carlo Gerosa.

Christian Michel

Christian Michel is a British consultant who was allegedly hired by AgustaWestland  the British arm of the Italian company Finmeccanica  to acquire the Rs 3,600 crore deal for the company by influencing officials of the IAF and the then UPA government. According to a Firstpost report, Michel was named as a middleman by Italian investigators. According to Italian court documents, Michel handled 18 million of the total kickback of 30 million.

The Firstpost report also reveals that Michel had actually been working on the deal since 2002 when the first global Request for Proposal (RFP) for choppers was issued (March 2002), even though there are reports to suggest that he got involved in the deal towards the end of 2006.

In February 2017, the UAE authorities arrested Michel. He faced prosecution there as several investigations revealed that he rerouted bribes to India through his Dubai-based firm Global Services. The bribes came from the money he had received from AgustaWestland to broker the deal.

Soon after his arrest, Michel revealed that the CBI had forced him to mention Congress president Sonia Gandhi's name in the course of the interrogation. He had accused Indian investigators of pressuring him to frame the Congress leaders in return for a clean chit in the multi-crore scam  a charge the CBI has refuted.

The Indian Express reported that Michel's advocate and sister who said that the Modi government and its agencies were forcing him to sign a false confessional statement naming Gandhi in return for complete exoneration from any charge whatsoever in the AgustaWestland case.

Guido Haschke

Guido Haschke is an Italian and US citizen who was residing in Switzerland. He was arrested in October 2012 by Switzerland police after he was raided by Italian officials. The CBI had named Haschke in its FIR in 2013. However, CBI sources had said in 2013 that they were not seeking Haschke's immediate extradition to India at the time. In March 2013, Italian officials had sought his extradition from Switzerland following the alleged VVIP chopper deal case.

According to reports, AgustaWestland's former chief executive Giuseppe Orsi hired US-born Guido Ralph Haschke, who was then a consultant for the Finmeccanica group, to lead dealings in India to secure the VVIP choppers contract.

Haschke's main involvement in the case was regarding a note allegedly written by him and addressed to Michel, which named the Gandhi family and several other Indian politicians. Michel had later denied the claim while questioning the authenticity of Haschke's handwritten note that named Indian leaders.

NDTV in 2016 had reported that Indian investigators had been allowed to question Haschke when he was extradited to Italy in 2013 but he refused to identify the "AP" mentioned in his note, whom prosecutors suspect was Congress President Sonia Gandhi's political aide Ahmed Patel.

Carlo Gerosa

The 70-year-old Carlo Gerosa was named as one of the three alleged middlemen by the CBI wanted in the case. According to reports, Gerosa's interrogation and statement have been very important for the ED's and CBI's investigation.

In October 2017, Italian authorities, on the basis of an Interpol notice sought by the ED, arrested Gerosa but soon released him. In June this year, Italy refused India's request to extradite Gerosa in connection to the case. CBI sources said that Italy has refused the agency's November 2017 request to extradite Gerosa, adding that the message had been delivered to the Ministry of External Affairs.

With inputs from agenciesEminent citizens including Romila Thapar told the Supreme Court that the case against five activists arrested in Koregaon-Bhima case was 'cooked up'.

New Delhi: Eminent citizens including historian Romila Thapar on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that the case against five activists arrested in Koregaon-Bhima case was "cooked up" in the name of former Delhi University professor GN Saibaba who is serving life sentence for Maoist links.

Thapar and other noted personalities, who have filed plea against the arrest of the five activists, said the case was based on 13 letters, which are in the public domain, either written or received by one Comrade Prakash, whom a lower court has said is actually Saibaba and now serving life sentence after his conviction.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud was told how a person currently in jail could write or receive letters.

"The entire case is cooked up and based on 13 letters which are in public domain. Out of 13 letters, 6-7 letters are written or received by one Comrade Prakash. GN Saibaba is actually comrade Prakash which is reflected in the trial court order. He was convicted on March 7, 2017 and is in jail. Then how can a person in jail write or receive letter," senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Thapar and others, said.

He said all intrinsic evidences were being "cooked up" in the name of a person who is in jail and hence the court should order an SIT probe or a probe monitored by it.

Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Maharashtra government, referred to the order of trial court which convicted Saibaba and said the court had recorded that Saibaba had changed his name from Prakash to Chetan after his earlier alias was exposed to the public.

Countering Singhvi's contention, Mehta said that in the letters, the name Prakash refers to the chief communicator of banned organisation CPI (Maoist), and not Saibaba.

The plea by Thapar and economists Prabhat Patnaik and Devaki Jain, sociology professor Satish Deshpande and human rights lawyer Maja Daruwala has sought an independent probe into the arrests and the immediate release of the five activists.

The Maharashtra police had arrested the rights activists on 28 August in connection with an FIR lodged following a conclave  'Elgaar Parishad'  held on 31 December last year that had later triggered violence at Koregaon-Bhima village.

Prominent Telugu poet Rao was arrested on 28 August from Hyderabad, while activists Gonsalves and Ferreira were nabbed from Mumbai, trade union activist Sudha Bharadwaj from Faridabad in Haryana and civil liberties activist Navlakha from Delhi.

In March last year, Saibaba was awarded life sentence by a trial court in Maharashtra for his links with the Maoists.

The court had also found former JNU student Hem Mishra and four others guilty of waging war against the country and supporting the ideology of the CPI (Maoist).At the last hearing in the Bhima Koregaon case, the Supreme Court said it would order an SIT investigation if the evidence against the activists was found to be cooked up.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday extended by a day the house arrest of the five rights activists who were arrested by teams of the Pune Police in August from several cities in connection with the Bhima Koregaon violence case.

A bench of Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra and justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud will continue with the hearing on Thursday on the plea filed by historian Romila Thapar and four others.

The Supreme Court observed that "institutions must be robust enough to tackle opposition". "Liberty cannot be subjected to conjectures. There has to be a distinction between opposition and overthrowing of a government by constitutionally impermissible methods," The Leaflet quoted Justice DY Chandrachud as saying.

Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Tushar Mehta, arguing on behalf of the Maharashtra government, said that the action taken against all the accused activists was because of cogent material found against them.

Teams of the Pune Police had raided the homes of the five activists  Varavara Rao, Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves, Sudha Bharadwaj and Gautam Navlakha  on 28 August, claiming that statements made at an event they had attended on 31 December had triggered the violence in Bhima Koregaon on New Year's Day. They have been under house arrest since their homes were raided and they were briefly arrested.

Accused of being 'urban Naxals' and the intellectual face of the violent fight against State, prominent Telugu poet Rao was arrested on 28 August from Hyderabad, while activists Gonsalves and Ferreira were nabbed from Mumbai, trade union activist Sudha Bharadwaj from Faridabad in Haryana and civil liberties activist Navlakha from Delhi.

On Wednesday, defence lawyer Ashwini Kumar argued that the court should ensure the liberty of people against illegal incarceration. He said that the criminal prosecution of the activists seems to be mala fide and arbitrary.

At the last hearing in the case on Monday, the top court had said it may order a probe by a Special Investigating Team (SIT) if it found that the supposed evidence against the activists had been "cooked up". It had also said that the material, supporting the arrest of the five activists in the case, needed to be examined.

"Every criminal investigation is based on allegations, and we have to see whether there is some material," the bench had said.

"First of all, we must have a look at the material. If we find that the material is cooked up, we will set up SIT... How can we adjudicate against them (the Maharashtra Police) without hearing them and looking at the material? We will see the materials of the agency," the Supreme Court had said.

With inputs from PTIThe Congress alleged that the Centre was taking fake credit for the triple talaq ordinance, whereas activists said not only Muslim men but even Hindus should face action for abandoning their wives.

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved an ordinance making instant triple talaq a punishable offence, after the government failed to pass a law on the practice in Parliament. The government took the ordinance route to include provisions on triple talaq in the Muslim Women Protection of Rights in Marriage Act, which was cleared by the Lok Sabha in 2017 and is pending in the Rajya Sabha.

The move has elicited reactions from both extremes.

Ishrat Jahan  one of the the five petitioners in the triple talaq case in the Supreme Court  welcomed the Cabinet's decision. It is a big step towards "empowering Muslim women" in the country, she said. adding that Muslim men and religious leaders should now mend "their ways or be ready to face the music".

"I welcome the Centre's decision to bring an ordinance to make triple talaq a penal offence. It is a huge step towards empowering Muslim women in the country," Jahan said.

On 22 August, 2017, the Supreme Court had struck down the Islamic practice of triple talaq and declared it unconstitutional. Jahan had moved the court after her husband divorced her over the phone from Dubai in 2014 by uttering "talaq" three times. She has a 13-year-old daughter and a seven-year-old son.

Owaisi flays move, calls ordinance anti-women

Unlike Jahan, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen president Asaduddin Owaisi criticised the Cabinet's ordinance on triple talaq, calling it unconstitutional and anti-women. He said that the burden of proof will lie on the woman and do further injustice to her.

"The ordinance is against the Right to Equality guaranteed in the Constitution as it is being made only for Muslims. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board and women's organisations should challenge this ordinance in the Supreme Court," ANI quoted him as saying.

"This ordinance is against Muslim women. This ordinance will not provide justice to Muslim women. In Islam, marriage is a civil contract and bringing penal provisions in it is wrong."

The Hyderabad MP said that if Prime Minister Narendra Modi was really concerned about the welfare of women, he should bring a legislation for the 24 lakh women who have been deserted by their husbands. "These 24 lakh women, including 22 lakh Hindu women, are married, but they are not living with their husbands," Owaisi said.

He alleged that the ordinance was a tactic of the Narendra Modi government to divert people's attention from the skyrocketing prices of petrol and diesel, devaluation of rupee, lack of jobs for youth, instability in Jammu and Kashmir and the failure of governance.

BJP hails move, targets Congress

The BJP, on the other hand, hailed the ordinance and, like Jahan, said it was a huge step towards empowering women in India. BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra said the Congress had been politicising the issue for years.

Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, too, targeted the Congress, saying, "As many as 22 Muslim countries have regulated triple talaq by various measures, but in a secular country like India, gender justice was given a complete go-by because of vote bank politics."

Moreover, Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri said: "This ordinance will strengthen the hands of our Muslim sisters and offer them a life of equal rights and dignity in marriage, and above all, it will make them equal partners in our nation's progress without fear or insecurity."

'Subterfuge, subversion, suppression and diversion of truth'

Soon after the law minister's press conference, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said "subterfuge, subversion, suppression and diversion of truth' were ingrained in the DNA of the Modi govt and the BJP. He accused the Centre of using the triple talaq debate as a "political dootball" for the sake of "fake credit-seeking".

"Instead of false credit-seeking, bravado and chest thumping, let PM Modi and the law minister answer the question as to why they did not bring a legislation or ordinance to ban instant triple talaq between 26 May 2014 until the judgment of the Supreme Court (on 22 August, 2017). We not only welcomed the SC judgment quashing triple talaq as a victory for the rights of Muslim women, but it was INC leaders,who represented the women petitioners before the SC," he said.

An unnerved BJP finding itself cornered on the issue of repeated and gruesome Rape incidents, as also issues of Women Security seeking to divert and reset the political agenda by hurriedly bringing an ordinance on Instant Triple Talaq. #TripleTalaq Our Statement:- pic.twitter.com/yYvxdMcl6C  Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) September 19, 2018

Twitterati also pitched in with their opinions on the triple talaq ordinance:

A compromise can be achieved only when the woman is willing and says so to a magistrate. A magistrate can grant bail only after the wife's consent : Shri @rsprasad #TripleTalaq  BJP (@BJP4India) September 19, 2018

Finally after a 72 year wait Muslim women in India get justice. Triple Talaq needed the Ordinance route because some Opposition parties couldnt come to a consensus that these women needed Equality & Empowerment. Sad.  navika kumar (@navikakumar) September 19, 2018

For all those 'idiots' who criticised Modi and his party, BJP, for not showing empathy to Indians on rising fuel prices, joblessness, broken economy, growing rapes, 1000s crores of scam in Rafale deal, here's #TripleTalaq ordinance. All problems solved. India is superpower!  Rifat Jawaid (@RifatJawaid) September 19, 2018

Huge victory for our Muslim mothers & daughters living in the fear of instant divorce. Historic decision by Hon PM Sh. @narendramodis Cabinet to approve an ordinance outlawing #TripleTalaq.Despite opposition's attempts to delay the bill #ModiGovt stood firm with women of India.  Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) September 19, 2018

No society can grow without its women. Congratulations India that her Muslim women now have found freedom from regressive and oppressive system of Triple Talaq. Everything else is rubbish.  Vivek Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) September 19, 2018

India got independence on 15th August 1947 Indian muslim women got on 19 September 2018 #TripleTalaq  Dr. Gill (@ikpsgill1) September 19, 2018

Women's rights activists question government's intention

However, a few women's activists condemned the government's decision to make instant triple talaq a penal offence, saying it was a "politicised move" made without the complications it could pose to Muslim women being taken into consideration.

Kavita Krishnan, activist and secretary of the All India Progressive Women's Association, questioned "why only Muslim men were getting punished for abandoning their wives, and why not Hindu men", too.

"Triple talaq is not an official divorce, it is a form of abandonment. Does a Hindu man gets imprisoned for abandoning his wife? We do not agree with the government's decision to make it a criminal offence," she said.

Annie Raja, National Federation of Indian Women's general secretary, said she doubts the "intention and sincerity" of the government in introducing the ordinance.

"There needs to be a comprehensive law. There are many issues related to triple talaq that need to be dealt with. But the government has taken this step for political gains in the upcoming elections. There are issues related to maintenance of women and children after her husband goes to jail, no one is talking about them," she said.

Women's rights activist Shabnam Hashmi said criminalising triple talaq was aimed at polarising people. "It was banned by the Supreme Court. Criminalising it will polarise people ahead of the general elections," Hashmi said.

Mariam Dhawale, general secretary of the All India Democratic Women's Association, said Muslim women will face most of the problems because of this ordinance. "It will leave them nowhere. What about the property rights of the women and her children after triple talaq? There needs to be clarity on that."

With inputs from agenciesSambit Patra hit out at Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, saying he has been asking questions on a daily basis from the government but these 'confessional statements' have exposed his party

New Delhi: The BJP on Wednesday demanded that the top Congress leadership respond to the purported "confessional statements" made to Income Tax (IT) department by alleged associates of Karnataka minister DK Shivakumar claiming the money trail in a hawala network' went to Congress headquarters in Delhi.

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra hit out at Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, saying he has been asking questions on a daily basis from the government but these statements "have exposed his party, which has become synonymous with corruption".

"The Congress is standing on a tripod of unaccounted cash, hawala transactions and corrupt deeds," Patra alleged.

"The case shows that money trail from the state went to the Congress' headquarters at Akbar Road," he said.

"The confessional statements of three persons, who along with Shivakumar- a Congress leader- who have been given charge sheet by the IT department, have completely exposed the Opposition party," he claimed.

"Unaccounted cash would be measured in kilos and tonnes and brought from Chandni Chowk to the Congress' office on Akbar Road in Delhi," Patra alleged, citing the purported statements.

The IT department had raided Shivakumar's premises in Karnataka 2017 and of those people linked to him, including in Delhi, and had claimed to have recovered incriminating evidence against him.

Other accused in the charge sheet are Sachin Narayan, Anjaneya Hanumanthaiah and N Rajendra. Patra cited alleged statements made by these accused among others.

According to the tax department, Narayan is a business partner of Shivakumar and Sharma is the proprietor of Sharma Transports, which runs a fleet of luxury and passenger buses and provides transport services on rental basis.

Haumanthaiah is an employee at Karnataka Bhavan in New Delhi. He was responsible for allegedly storing and handling unaccounted cash of Shivakumar in Delhi.

Patra also cited diaries allegedly recovered from Congress leaders in the state claiming "entries of money running up to Rs 600 crore were shown against SG and RG among others".

The BJP leader alleged they referred to the top Congress leaders. "Both Congress president Rahul Gandhi and his predecessor Sonia Gandhi should come out and respond," he said.

"Instead of repeating his lies on the Rafale case, Rahul Gandhi should respond to these confessional statements", he said.

He noted that BJP president Amit Shah had said during the Karnataka assembly polls held earlier in 2018 that the Congress has been using the state as an 'ATM machine', and added that the IT case has proved him right.

Following the IT department charge sheet, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) also registered a money laundering case against Shivakumar and others on the basis of an alleged tax evasion and hawala transactions case.The Centre has not quashed any proceedings against the Adani Enterprise Limited, a senior government official Tuesday claimed.

New Delhi: The Centre has not quashed any proceedings against the Adani Enterprise Limited, a senior government official Tuesday claimed. He rejected charges made by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh that the government has protected Adani and his businesses.

Ramesh had Monday alleged the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has tried to save industrialist Gautam Adani whenever a probe is launched against him and cited a Rs 6,500-crore alleged scam relating to the purchase of power appliances. He had asked PM Modi whether his government would appoint a special counsel to defend the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) for accepting its Letters Rogatory (LRs) to seek information on the alleged Rs 29,000-crore scam in over-invoicing of coal imports by industrialist Gautam Adani-led group from Singapore.

"It is factually incorrect that whenever a probe is initiated on Adani Enterprise Limited (AEL) the probe is immediately quashed by the Government of India. On the contrary, three show cause notices involving various transactions were issued during 2014 to 2016," a senior government official claimed. The government sources said notice(s) were issued to Adani Enterprise, out of which two notices were adjudicated by the competent authority in favour of the company. The other cases are still under the process of investigation/ adjudication, he said.

"The Government of India has not intervened in any matter relating to tariff of power purchase agreement of the Adani Enterprise Ltd. in Gujarat. The issues of power purchase agreement with the Government of Gujarat and the burden on citizens pertains to the domain of the Government of Gujarat and may be clarified by the Government of Gujarat," the official said.Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad briefed the media about the decisions taken by the Union Cabinet in its meeting in Delhi on Wednesday.

Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad briefed the media about the decisions taken by the Union Cabinet in its meeting in Delhi on Wednesday. Among the decisions taken by the lawmakers, clearing of the second ordinance for Triple Talaq Bill was the most prominent.

Prasad said that there was a "compelling necessity" and "overpowering urgency " to come with an ordinance as the issue of triple talaq has nothing to do with faith or religion but instead, it is a matter of gender justice gender and gender equality  to which the Centre is committed. "Twenty-two Muslim countries have regulated triple talaq by various measures, but in a secular country like India, gender justice was given a complete go-by because of vote bank politics," Prasad said.

He appealed to women leaders of the Opposition like Sonia Gandhi, Mayawati and Mamata Banerjee to come forward and support the bill in Rajya Sabha, where it will now be tabled in the Winter Session. Prasad said that the Congress should keep aside politics from an issue that relates to humanity and help the government frame a law which will help Muslim women, who have suffered for a long time due to this practice. He said that he himself has personally approached the party five or six times to seek their cooperation on the matter.

Prasad read out the state-wise statistics of the number of triple talaq cases reported before and after the 2017 Supreme Court judgment which rendered it illegal and unconstitutional. He said that a total of 430 cases have been reported across India from January 2017 till 13 September, 2018, of which 229 were reported before the Supreme Court judgement, and 201 after the verdict. Uttar Pradesh recorded the largest number of triple talaq cases, he said, with 126 cases before the apex court's ruling and 120 being reported after it. "The curse of triple talaq continues unabated," Prasad remarked.

Prasad laid down the amendments made in the ordinance, in accordance with the Opposition's objections in the Parliament  raised when the first ordinance was introduced. He said that according to the latest ordinance, only the aggrieved woman herself or her family  by blood or marriage, can file a complaint of triple talaq against a Muslim man. However, the case will be compoundable if the wife agrees to a compromise or a settlement is done thereafter, with her consent. Further, only the magistrate will be able to grant a bail to the accused in such a case but, only after hearing the wife's plea. And in case of the couple's child's custody, a minor's custody will be given to the wife and she will also be entitled to alimony from the husband for herself and minor children, as ordered by the magistrate.

Apart from the triple talaq ordinance, Prasad informed the media about the other decisions taken by the Cabinet on Wednesday. He said that the government has allocated Rs 3,466 crore for rehabilitation and project management of 198 dams across the country. The government also plans to lay down a railway line from Indore to Budni railway for a cost of Rs 3,261.82 crore, Prasad added.

A gasification fertiliser project in the Talcher fertiliser factory is also in the pipeline. Prasad said that the prime minister has given his "blessings" to anganwadi and ASHA workers by increasing their monthly pay. An anganwadi worker will now get Rs 4,500 per month while those working in mini-anganwadi centres will get Rs 3,500. Moreover, anganwadi helpers will also now get an increased pay of Rs 2,250 per month and all-in-all, the Central government's move will benefit around 27 lakh anganwadi workers, Prasad told reporters.According to Sambit Patra's statements, the confessional document also noted Haumanthaiah saying that he was not aware of the amount being transferred to the AICC.

On Wednesday, the BJP launched a fresh attack on the Congress as party spokesperson Sambit Patra held a press conference and presented documents related to the 'hawala link' investigation and Congress' involvement.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had registered a money laundering case against Congress leader in Karnataka DK Shivakumar and his associates on the basis of an alleged tax evasion and hawala transactions case.

"Congress and corruption has become synonymous. Unaccounted cash, hawala transactions and corrupt deals, these are the pillars on which the Congress sits," Patra said while presenting confessional statements of accused Anjaneya Haumanthaiah, an employee at Karnataka Bhavan in New Delhi and others to the Income Tax Department.

He said that the statements show Congress' involvement and 'proof of hawala network' that helped transfer of money from Karnataka to All India Congress Committee (AICC).

Patra reiterated that the documents presented to the media proved that money was being transferred to the AICC office 'not in lakhs or crores but in kilos'. "We have statements of DK Shivakumar's driver, who told the I-T Department, about how money in kilograms were sent to AICC. We now know, why Congress party was crying during demonetisation," Patra said during the press conference.

He also read out from the documents which pertained to the conversation between I-T officials and Haumanthaiah, who confessed that he used to carry money to the AICC which was brought by N Rajendra, caretaker of the Karnataka Bhavan. Haumanthaiah had further said that he only accompanied Rajendra and driver Jagdeesh Chand, who worked for Shivakumar, till the AICC office.

According to Patra's statements, the confessional document also noted Haumanthaiah saying that he was not aware of the amount being transferred and that only Rajendra would know as he would maintain the lists.

The ED had booked Shivakumar, Haumanthaiah and others under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The case had been filed based on a chargesheet (prosecution complaint) filed by the I-T Department against him early this year before a special court in Bengaluru on charges of alleged tax evasion and hawala transactions worth crores.

The I-T Department has accused Shivakumar and his associate SK Sharma of transporting huge amount of unaccounted cash on a regular basis through 'hawala' channels with help of three other accused. "As per facts and analysis of evidences, it is clear that accused number one (Shivakumar) has set up an extensive network of persons and premises across Delhi and Bengaluru in order to transport and utilise unaccounted cash," the department had said.

The other accused are Sachin Narayan, Hanumanthaiah and Rajendra, the department had further said.

Haumanthaiah is allegedly responsible for storing and handling unaccounted cash of Shivakumar in Delhi, according to the complaint. Rajendra works for Sharma, besides looking after immovable properties of Shivakumar and Sharma, it said.

Shivakumar was allegedly involved in organised tax evasion as part of conspiracy by engaging others, the department said. Unaccounted cash worth approximately Rs 20 crore was found and seized during raids in New Delhi and Bengaluru last August which were directly relatable to Shivakumar, PTI reported.

According to The Deccan Chronicle, in August 2017, the I-T Department had raided several properties of Shivakumar and officials had alleged that they had found Rs 8 crore worth of unaccounted cash at his New Delhi residence. The I-T department had filed charges at the Economic Offences Court in Bengaluru.

Shivakumar was instrumental in ensuring the safe stay of Gujarat Congress legislators in a Karnataka resort during Rajya Sabha polls last year amid allegations that the BJP was trying to poach them.

With inputs from PTIThe 15th Finance Commission headed by NK Singh is on a three-day visit to the state.

Mumbai: The 15th Finance Commission headed by NK Singh held talks with political parties, trade and industry organisations and local bodies in Maharashtra on Tuesday, while the government and political parties sought a special grant of Rs 50,000 crore for Mumbai's development, an official said.

On a three-day visit to the state, the commission comprises Ashok Lahiri, Shaktikanta Das, Anoop Singh and Ramesh Chand.

Leaders and delegations of several political parties expressed concern that the state has been deprived of tax devolution on the pretext that the state has the highest Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) and successive commissions ignored the challenges of regional inequality within Maharashtra.

They demanded that since Maharashtra has maintained the population replacement rate of 1.8, it should be incentivized for the same.

Raising issues concerning Mumbai, which has been the growth magnet for the country, they discussed the resultant immigration which puts enormous stress on resources and infrastructure.

For this, the parties demanded from the Commission a special grant of Rs 50,000 crore for the city's development as people from all states in the country live here.

They pointed out that while population is a critical indicator for devolution, due weightage should be given to "in-migration", sought adequate revenue deficit grants and to pay attention to the farm crises and drought afflicting the state.

Various industry and agriculture groups informed the Commission about the shortage of equity and credit faced by them and requested that Goods and Services Tax (GST) on services used by the centre and state may be borne by the respective governments to spare the MSMEs of the burden of frequent taxation.

The industry groups pointed out that the competitiveness of Indian exporters would improve due to the Rupee depreciation within a range of Rs 72-73 per US Dollar.

They added that the domino effects of insolvency and National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) is faced by Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and sought relaxation in the rules of the Insolvency Act.

Local civic bodies in the urban and rural areas raised issued of need to devolve funds to the Zilla and Taluka Panchayats, besides village Panchayats, to maintain community assets, capacity building, raising internal resources and cluster-based approach for effective delivery of services like sold waste management.

Representatives from the coastal Konkan demanded special grants for dealing with cleanliness and beautification of sea shores, arresting saline water ingression and hill regions like Panchgani sought funds to provide services to the tourist population and performance-based incentives.The racket was busted in 2017 when one of the victims, Komal Dabgar, was deported from Canada after the authorities found that her passport was fake.

A year after the Gujarat Police busted a gang involved in trafficking people from India to Canada, the Sahar police in Gujarat filed a chargesheet against 16 people in the case on Tuesday, reports said.

The gang is charged with trafficking 52 people from Gujarat to Canada using forged documents, between 2015-2017, reported Times of India. The racket was busted in 2017, with the police arresting 21 people in the case, who are now out on bail.

The gang, according to Hindustan Times, made at least Rs 26.5 crore  charging Rs 50 lakh per trafficked person on an average  in two years.

As per the chargesheet five immigration officers at Mumbai airport were key to the racket but their names have not figured in the chargesheet yet as the police are waiting for the approval of the Union government, said the TOI report.

According to chargesheet, 51 trafficked individuals are now in the US, where they went from Canada and remain illegally. A constable, S Thorat attached to the special branch at the international airport, was also involved in the case, acting as mediators between the immigration officers and the racketeers, and was nabbed last September after his anticipatory bail plea was rejected, the report said.

The racket was busted in 2017 when one of the victims, Komal Dabgar, was deported from Canada after the authorities found that her passport was fake. The passport was in the name of Trupti Kaur, who is the daughter of a carrier, Manjit Singh.

The police found that Singh, an Oshiwara resident, had used the passports of his daughter and son to help around 10 people fly illegally to Canada. After the deportation, Dagbar along with two immigration officials were arrested, according to The Indian Express. They were later released on bail.

As per government data, almost 20,000 women and children were victims of human trafficking in India in 2016, a rise of nearly 25 percent compared to 2015.

According to a report published by the US Department of State, India is the source, destination and transit country for human trafficking who then get involved in forced labour and sex trafficking.

The statistics of the Ministry of Women and Child Development states that 19,223 women and children were trafficked in 2016 against 15,448 in 2015, with the highest number of victims being recorded in the eastern state of West Bengal.

With inputs from PTIVishnu Khare was part of the Hindi Academy and a recipient of the Order of the White Rose of Finland for his translation of Kalevala, the national epic of Finland.

Renowned poet, critic and journalist Vishnu Khare passed away at the age of 78 on Wednesday at Delhi's GB Pant Hospital, reports said. He was admitted to the hospital a week ago and is reported to have suffered a severe brain haemorrhage, after which his health remained critical.

Khare was born in Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh, and held a post-graduate degree in English literature from Christian College in Indore. He served as the chairman of the Hindi Academy and translated several works over the span of his career, including those of TS Eliot and Goethe. He wrote seven collections of poetry and five books on film and literary criticism. His own collection of poems, Vishnu Khare Ki Kavitaye, has been edited by Ashok Vajpeyi.

Khare's journalistic career began with Dainik Indore, a Hindi daily. He went on to work at the Navbharat Times, where he served as editor of the Lucknow and Jaipur editions.

He was awarded the Order of the White Rose of Finland for his translation of Kalevala, which is regarded as the national epic of Finland. He received several other awards such as the Hindi Academy Literature Award, the Raghuveer Sahay Samman, the Shikhar Samman and the Maithilisharan Gupta Award.

Vajpeyi mourned Khare's death and wrote about the poet in a Facebook post. "Hindi has lost one of its most fearless and courageous poet-critics, who always stood by truth and justice as he saw them. His poetry explored with rare skill and deep human empathy the scantily noticed urban life in all its suffering, inequities and humanness."

He added that the Raza Foundation, too, mourns Khare, who was working on an English translation of Muktibodh's poetry under a fellowship.Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat answered questions on a variety of issues on the third and final leg of his three-day lecture series in Delhi.

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday answered questions on a variety of issues on the third and final leg of his three-day lecture series at Delhi's Vigyan Bhavan, where the organisation held a conclave titled "Future of Bharat: An RSS Perspective".

On Wednesday, Bhagwat reiterated his remark about all Indians being Hindus by identity and said that Hindutva was all about unity and inclusion.

"The RSS is trying to unite all Hindus...All Indians are Hindus by identity. Hindutva is the balance between all religions. A Hindu's true belief is unity," he said. "No one is an outsider in India. Hindutva is different from Hinduism. Hindutva is about unity."

"In the world, there is no violence over Hindutva. The world is accepting Hindutva more and more these days. In India, there is aggression towards Hindutva," Bhagwat said, adding that the aggression was because of a lack of understanding of Hindutva and the politics over it.

When asked about the rise in cow vigilantism in India, he said: "Taking law into one's own hands is a crime, and such criminals should be punished. But there should be gau raksha (protection of cows). Gau raksha cannot just be left to laws... Gau rakshaks shouldn't be compared to trouble makers."

The RSS chief also spoke on casteism and the state of education in India.

"Our nation needs to rise above caste barriers. The RSS does not believe in casteism. Inter-caste marriages are the most common among RSS volunteers," he said.

On education, Bhagwat said, "Every student has a unique potential. There is a lack of research work in the country... Degrees are being given out by institutes, but research work is decreasing."

The RSS head also mentioned the importance of language in his speech and spoke of the different languages in India.

"People from Hindi-speaking regions in India should learn a language from another region in the country. This is a way to encourage unity and diversity. There should be one common language that unites all regions in India. We should respect all languages."

On the issue of safety and security of women in India, Bhagwat said, "In earlier times, when women were forced to stay inside their homes, the responsibility of their security lay with their families. But now that women are stepping out and have equal rights, it will be necessary to make them strong and independent enough for their security."

Bhagwat also said that people in India should follow the thought process of looking at every women apart from one's wife as a mother. He also said that strict laws should be brought into force to punish those guilty of crimes against women.

Speaking on the subject of LGBTQ rights in India, the RSS chief said that the community should not be isolated, emphasising that they are as much a part of the society as others. However, he also said that gay rights is not the only pressing issue that should be debated right now in the country. "Times are changing, and society has to take a call on such issues," he said.

The RSS chief also spoke on religious conversion. "God is not sold in the market. If all religions are the same, what is the need for conversion? Conversion by unfair means is wrong."

To a question about changing demographic balance in parts of India and the 'declining' Hindu population, the RSS chief said the matter of demographic balance is considered significant world over and it should be maintained here also.

"Keeping this in mind, a policy on population should be prepared," he said, adding that it should keep in mind the country's projected population in the next 50 years and its resources to deal with the number.

Once a policy is decided, it should be applied on everyone, not sparing anyone, he said, drawing a bid round of applause from the packed auditorium.

He added that such a policy should be applied first where the problem (of population) exists, "where there are more babies but means to bring them up are limited...If their upbringing is not good, then they will not become good citizens."

Such a policy can be introduced later among those where such a problem is not there, he said, adding only law is a not a solution to the issue.

Many BJP leaders and Hindu outfits have often claimed that the Hindu population was dwindling whereas Muslim numbers were on a upswing.

On the issue of reservation, Bhagwat said: "Reservation should continue until those who reap the benefits of reservation feel that they no longer need it. Reservation itself is not the problem; the politics over it is the problem. The SC/ST Act should not be misused."

When asked about the Kashmir dispute, Bhagwat said that "the RSS does not accept Article 370 and 35A of the Constitution related to Jammu and Kashmir". "The people in all regions of Kashmir deserve good governance," he added.

Bhagwat also spoke on the Ram temple issue. "A Ram temple should be constructed at the Ram Janmabhoomi (site in Ayodhya). If this happens, discrimination against Muslims over this issue will be reduced," he said.

He also supported a dialogue on the matter, but said that the final decision rests with the Ram Mandir Samiti, which is spearheading the campaign for the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya. Bhagwat also said that he did not know whether an ordinance on the Ram temple could be promulgated because he is not part of the government.India has lodged a protest with Pakistan over the killing of a BSF personnel along the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir.

New Delhi: India has lodged a protest with Pakistan over the killing of a BSF personnel along the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir, during the Directorate of Military Operations-level talks, army sources said.

"In the functional-level talks held yesterday, India lodged a protest against a ceasefire violation along the International Border targeting the BSF personnel," the sources said.

Pakistani troops slit the throat of a Border Security Force jawan, Narender Kumar, after fatally shooting him along the International Border near Jammu on Tuesday.

The brutal and "unprecedented" incident that took place in the Ramgarh sector has prompted the security forces to issue a "high alert" along the IB and the Line of Control (LoC) even as the BSF has lodged a strong complaint with its counterparts  the Pakistan Rangers.

Official sources said the body of Head Constable Kumar also bore three bullet wounds and it could only be retrieved from a spot ahead of the India-Pakistan fence after over six hours as the Pakistani side "did not respond" to the calls to maintain the sanctity of the frontier and ensure that the BSF search parties were not fired upon.

In May, the Director General of Military Operations of India and Pakistan had agreed to "fully implement" the ceasefire pact of 2003 in "letter and spirit" forthwith to stop cross border firings in Jammu and Kashmir.

This was agreed during a hotline conversation between the two countries against the backdrop of increasing ceasefire violations along the LoC.

However, tensions along the IB and LoC still prevail.Ashraf Ghani briefed Narendra Modi on the Afghanistan government's initiatives towards peace and to confront the challenges of terrorism and extremism.

New Delhi: India on Wednesday reiterated its commitment and support to Kabul's efforts towards an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled peace and reconciliation process, at a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Afghan president Ashraf Ghani in Delhi.

According to a statement issued by the External Affairs Ministry, the two countries also agreed to strengthen their cooperation at various international fora and decided to work even more closely with their regional and international partners for prosperity, peace, stability and progress in the region.

They also expressed determination to strengthen connectivity among the two countries, including through the Chabahar port and direct air-freight corridor.

Ghani briefed Modi on the initiatives by his government towards peace and reconciliation and also in confronting the challenges of terrorism and extremism imposed on Afghanistan and its people.

Modi condemned terrorist attacks and violence in Afghanistan and expressed solidarity with the people and national defence forces in their fight against terrorism. He expressed India's "unwavering commitment" to support the efforts of the Afghanistan government to continue as a united, peaceful, inclusive and democratic nation and emerge as an economically vibrant country.

The two leaders reviewed the progress of the multi-faceted India-Afghanistan strategic partnership and expressed satisfaction at the increase in bilateral trade that has crossed the $1-billion mark.

During the meeting, the two countries also agreed to deepen their partnership in the areas of high impact projects in Afghanistan in the fields of infrastructure, human resources development and other capacity building projects.

According to official sources in Delhi, Ghani appreciated the decision of India and China to jointly work on projects and programmes in Afghanistan.

The two Asian countries are planning to start their partnership in Afghanistan with a training programme for Afghan diplomats in October. Modi, the sources said, also sought long-term business visas for Indian businessmen to boost bilateral trade.

The India-backed Shahtoot dam that will be crucial for drinking water in Kabul also came up for discussion during Wednesday's meeting. "We hope we can move closer to its finalisation," a source said.

Among other issues that came up for discussion, it is learnt, are a low-cost housing project in Nangarhar province, irrigation projects, polishing of gems, food processing and export of marbles to India.

During the meeting, Modi expressed concern over the six Indian workers who were abducted in Afghanistan in May this year. Ghani said he was personally monitoring the issue and assured Modi of the workers' safe release.A day after alleged violence between members of the RSS-affiliated ABVP and Left members in Jawaharlal Nehru University, there was an eerie silence across the campus as students alleged curfews had been imposed by the administration and it felt like they are 'living in an era of emergency'.

New Delhi: A day after alleged violence between members of the RSS-affiliated ABVP and Left members in Jawaharlal Nehru University, there was an eerie silence across the campus as students alleged curfews had been imposed by the administration and it felt like they are "living in an era of emergency". The JNU administration said the its students' union members had made "certain statements" which has caused anguish to them.

Police and paramilitary personnel continued to be deployed at the gates of the varsity and entry of outsiders and mediapersons was banned inside campus. "There is no written order with the security personnel banning the entry of media and outsiders but the guards have been issued verbal instructions. All the gates are being manned by security personnel," a Left member said. Another student said the campus wore a deserted look with the dhabas being closed and even students being asked to furnish ID-cards to gain entry to hostels. "Students are being asked to furnish ID cards to their hostels. Curfew timings have been imposed and we have to be in our rooms by 10 pm. A general body meeting was held in Brahmaputra hostel and they have decided to not follow the rule of showing ID cards. Even other hostels are planning to follow suit," a student said.

Another student said they are feeling like "they are living in Emergency". "The university has banned gatherings and protests. The campus bears a deserted look and the women students are feeling unsafe. On Monday night, a woman member of Left had to face sexist comments from ABVP members. It is like Section 144 (of CrPC) has been imposed without formal orders," a woman student said. Meanwhile, the JNUSU also condemned the "virtual emergency" in the campus. "In place of taking action against the culprits, the JNU administration, in the pretext of this ABVP hooliganism, has imposed a virtual emergency in campus  by closing down dhabas after 8 pm, restricting entry of students post 10 pm in hostels, harassing students in the name of ID checks, banning entry of media in campus, banning protests and campaigns," the JNUSU said.

The JNUSU alleged the students' Union president N Sai Balaji was "stopped, intimidated and denied entry into his own Periyar hostel by hostel wardens who are very close to the ruling party and prominent members of VC's team to destroy JNU". "Joining the wardens, the ABVP cadres present at the scene also stopped and threatened the JNUSU president. Throughout the campus, the ABVP continues to openly abuse and threaten common students, especially women students," they alleged.

The JNUSU accused the administration of being hand in glove with the ABVP to "create an environment of terror, anarchy and chaos in the campus and also trying their best to turn our university into a virtual prison to muzzle democratic voices". The JNU administration asked the students to desist from rumour mongering. "JNU administration has noted with anguish certain statements made on social media by the recently elected office-bearers of Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union. "Any kind of misinformation or rumour which causes anxiety and fear among the students and residents of JNU campus will be met with strict disciplinary action envisaged in the rules and statutes of JNU," the varsity administration said.

In protest, the students have started operating the Guerilla Dhaba from Monday night. Guerilla Dhaba, is owned by nobody, run by volunteering students, and was set up by them as a mark of protest against the administrations decision to shut down canteens on campus at 11 pm over "security reasons" in 2017. After the administration's order banning gatherings, the students have begun operating it again.

Members of the ABVP's JNU unit alleged on Tuesday that they are being attacked by Left-affiliated groups in the varsity and refused to go back to the campus till the university administration assured them of security. Alleging a series of attacks on its members, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's student wing accused Left activists of curtailing their "freedom of expression". Violence erupted on the JNU campus after a united front of Left student groups Sunday won all four central panel posts in the union defeating the ABVP by considerable margins.

While the AISA alleged that ABVP members randomly attacked students, with a former student being almost "lynched" and the new JNUSU president being beaten up, the RSS-affiliate claimed its activists were attacked by Left supporters and three were injured on Monday. On Saturday groups clashed ahead of the counting, which was suspended after election authorities cited "forcible entry" and "attempts to snatch away ballot boxes". Six FIRs have been registered on the basis of cross complaints in connection with the alleged incidents of violence on the JNU campus.

An organisation Jan hastakshep condemned the violence on campus and demanded action against the miscreants. "It is not only an attack on JNU's democratic ethos but sounds the danger- bell for the democratic ethos of the country. "Ever since the present government took over power, ABVP has been acting as Nazi storm troopers (SA), the latest act of their criminal hooliganism is violence in JNU campus," they said in a statement.Orders have been signed by the defence ministry to shift Mukund Naravane to Kolkata to head the Eastern Command, while the current Eastern Army Commander Abhay Krishna is being posted to the Central Command, replacing BS Negi.

In a move that could provide an indication as to who would succeed General Bipin Rawat as the next Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane was shifted out as the head of the Shimla-based Army Training Command and posted as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the operationally significant Eastern Command in Kolkata. Lt Gen Naravane had taken charge of Army Training Command (ARTRAC) in December 2017.

However, a formal decision on General Rawat's successor will be taken by the government only months before he retires.

As per a report from The Economic Times, orders have been signed by the defence ministry to shift Lt Gen Naravane to Kolkata allowing him to gain the necessary operational experience to have a shot at the top post of army chief next year.

The Eastern Command looks over Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh towards the north apart from Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and Meghalaya in the North East, as well as Assam and West Bengal.

Additionally, the current Eastern Army Commander Lt Gen Abhay Krishna is being posted to the Central Command, replacing Lt Gen BS Negi. The area of Central Command covers the seven states of Uttranchal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha. It is also home to 18 Regimental Centres as well as a large number of logistic and training establishments, according to the Indian Army website. It is also responsible for guarding a big chunk of India's border with China along the McMahon Line.

"The shifting around of posts is taking place as two senior officers  the head of the Central Command and the Southern Command  are retiring at the end of this month. Lt Gens Sanjiv Chopra and PS Rajeshwar are being elevated to the position of Army Commanders to take up the vacant positions in the South and at the training command," The Economic Times reported.

Lt Gen Naravane was commissioned into the 7th Battalion Sikh Light Infantry in June 1980. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy in Pune and the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun, he has tenanted critical command and staff appointments in peace, field and active Counter Insurgency environment both in the North East and in Jammu and Kashmir. The officer also commanded a Rashtriya Rifles Battalion in Jammu and Kashmir, an Infantry Brigade, Inspector General Assam Rifles (North) in the North East and a Strike Corps of the Indian Army. He also served as an instructor at the Army War College and was the Indian Defence Attache to Myanmar. Lt Gen Naravane also holds a Masters degree in Defence Studies from Chennai University and has acquired MPhil in Defence and Management Studies from DAVV, Indore.Madhya Pradesh was the first state to enact a law last December providing for death penalty for rapists of minor girls below 12.

Satna: A court in Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday awarded death sentence to a contractual teacher for raping a four-year-old girl in Satna district nearly three months ago.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Dinesh Kumar Sharma awarded the death penalty to Mahendra Singh Gond (23), under Section 376 AB (rape of woman under 12 years of age) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 5/6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The girl, who was raped on 1 July, is still in a critical condition and undergoing treatment at a Delhi-based hospital.

The court also sentenced the convict to seven years of rigorous imprisonment for kidnapping the girl.

"The court awarded the death penalty to Gond after recording the statements of the girl and her parents over video-conferencing as they are in Delhi," District Prosecution Officer Rampal Singh said. The judge cross-examined 21 prosecution witnesses.

According to Singh, Gond was friendly with the victim's family. On the night of 1 July, he went to their place in a village here in an inebriated condition to meet the girl's father. There, he saw the girl sleeping next to her father on a cot outside their house. He returned home after meeting the girl's father.

After some time, Gond came back and spotted the girl alone on the cot as her father had gone to relieve himself, Singh said. "Taking advantage of the situation, Gond took the girl away from her house and raped her. After the sexual assault, he dumped her in the bushes."

When the girl's father returned and did not find his daughter, he raised an alarm and the family launched a search for her. Later, they found her lying in the thick bushes. Gond was later arrested by the police and a chargesheet was filed against him.

Madhya Pradesh was the first state to enact a law last December providing for death penalty for rapists of minor girls below 12. On April 21, the Centre brought an amendment to the Indian Penal Code to punish rapists of minor girls below 12 with death.Terrorists hurled a grenade followed by heavy firing at a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) police combine camp located near railway station Kakapora in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district.

Pulwama: Militants hurled a grenade followed by heavy firing at a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) police combine camp located near railway station Kakapora in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district.

The security personnel also retaliated and forced the militants to flee from the spot. No losses of lives or injuries have been reported till now.

In a similar incident, a CRPF personnel had sustained bullet injury on 18 September in an exchange of fire following a grenade attack at the CRPF camp in Newa area of Pulwama district. The valley has been witnessing a surge in encounter incidents since the past few months.As many as 1,000 farmers affected by the proposed Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train submitted affidavits in the Gujarat High Court on Tuesday, voicing their opposition to the project.

Ahmedabad: As many as 1,000 farmers affected by the proposed Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train submitted affidavits in the Gujarat High Court on Tuesday, voicing their opposition to the project.

A division bench of Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice VM Pancholi is hearing five petitions challenging the land acquisition process for the high-speed rail project.

Besides these petitioners, 1,000 farmers submitted separate affidavits in the high court to make a point that many more cultivators are affected by the Centre's ambitious Rs 1.10 lakh crore project and are opposed to it.

In the affidavit, the affected farmers from various districts of Gujarat, from where the bullet train route will pass, stated that they do not want acquisition of their land for the project.

They also said that the existing land acquisition proceedings are contrary to guidelines of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) that has provided soft loan to the Indian government for the project.

The farmers alleged that the Gujarat government diluted the Land Acquisition Act 2013 after Japan entered into a contract with India for the bullet train in September 2015, and that the state amendment itself violates JICA guidelines. They told the court that neither their consent was taken, nor any consultations were done with them while initiating the land acquisition.

They said the social impact assessment for rehabilitation and resettlement is also not being discussed by the government and that the agencies have undertaken "unknown proceedings" (that farmers are not aware of).

During the hearing, the central government sought more time to file a reply. Notably, the Supreme Court had directed the high court on 10 August to expeditiously hear matters of the bullet train-affected farmers.

Farmers' lawyer Anand Yagnik told reporters that the high court is unable to hear the matter as since the last five weeks, the Centre has been consistently seeking time to submit the reply.

"These 1,000 affected farmers will be approaching the Supreme Court with a prayer to stay the project. We will mention the matter before the apex court on Wednesday for an urgent hearing," Yagnik said.

In their petitions filed in July, the five farmers, all from Surat district, said since the project extends to more than one state (Gujarat and Maharashtra), the Centre is the "appropriate government" to acquire the land for it.

Another contention of the petitioners is that the market value of the land was not revised, as required under Section 26 of the Land Acquisition Act. The petitioners have also challenged the Gujarat Amendment Act 2016 which tweaked the 2013 law.

It gives "unbridled and unfettered powers" to the state government to exempt any project "in public interest" from the social impact assessment (SIA), they said. The state government, in its reply, said since the width of land to be acquired for the project is just 17.5 metres, the resettlement issues are minimal.

The project was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe in September last year. The bullet train will run at a speed of 320-350 kilometres per hour, and have 12 stations across its 500-kilometre stretch. For the project, around 1,400 hectares of land will be acquired in Gujarat and Maharashtra, 1,120 hectares of which is privately owned. Around 6,000 land owners will have to be compensated.Chakraborty raised concerns to reporters that Asia's top drug kingpin had organised a meeting at Myanmar capital and decided to eliminate Biplab Kumar Deb.

Agartala: Tripura's former minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Ratan Chakraborty has claimed that Myanmar-based drug peddlers have hatched a plot to kill state chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb. Chakraborty further claimed that the drug kingpins recently had a meeting in Myanmar's capital Naypyidaw to eliminate Deb.

Deb, after coming to power, had earlier launched a massive operation against drugs. During his tenure, security forces in Tripura have seized more than 41,000 kilograms of marijuana, 80,000 bottles of contraband cough syrup, 1.35 lakh tablets (including Yuba, which is manufactured in Myanmar), two kilograms of heroin, and 620 grams brown sugar, and also arrested more than 250 drug peddlers.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters in Agartala, Chakraborty said, "The Union Home Ministry is very worried as Asia's top kingpin and drug peddlers had organised a meeting at Myanmar capital and decided to eliminate Biplab Kumar Deb."

He further said, "They have declared the death penalty for him. So, the Union Home Minister also sat on an urgent meeting and informed and alerted the state Home Ministry. As he had launched the operation in Tripura against the drug mafias, they may even try to take his life."

He also alleged that the former Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM)-led Left Front government and its leaders have been aiding the drug mafias who have been operating free during that period. Chakraborty added that as soon as the new BJP-IPFT government came to power, the chief minister declared to make Tripura a drug-free state.

As a result of all these, the drugs mafias are hatching a conspiracy to eliminate the chief minister of the state, said Chakraborty who was accompanied by another MLA Rampada Jamatia and BJP senior leader Pratima Bhowmik.Prime Minister Narendra Modi's personal mobile application, the NaMo app, is now selling merchandise like t-shirts, mugs, caps and pens.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's personal mobile application, the NaMo app, is now selling merchandise like t-shirts, mugs, caps and pens. The app, which is available on Android as well for iPhone users, has over 10 million downloads.

Some of the goods available on the app have slogans like 'NaMo Again', 'Yuva Shakti' and 'India MODIfied'. While the t-shirts are priced at Rs 199, a pair of mugs will cost you Rs 150. According BJP's IT-cell head, Amit Malviya, the proceeds from the sale of these items will go to the 'Clean Ganga Fund'. He also said that once a user signs up as a volunteer, options for digital volunteering and on ground tasks will become available to him or her, according to The Times of India's report.

Interestingly, the platform which is hosting the merchandise on the app is called Flykart, which sounds similar to Indian online retail portal Flipkart. Flykart is owned by a Delhi-based company Firki Wholesale Pvt. Ltd., a Business Today report said.Nayabuddin Shaikh, brother of Sohrabuddin Shaikh, has told the special CBI court here that he 'never mentioned' the names of BJP chief Amit Shah and police officer Abhay Chudasama in his statement about the alleged fake encounter

Mumbai: Nayabuddin Shaikh, brother of Sohrabuddin Shaikh, has told the special CBI court here that he "never mentioned" the names of BJP chief Amit Shah and police officer Abhay Chudasama in his statement about the alleged fake encounter. Nayabuddin deposed before CBI judge SJ Sharma during the trial of the Sohrabuddin Shaikh fake encounter case on Monday. He appeared before the court after several summons were issued to him.

As per the CBI, Nayamuddin had told the agency that Shah and Chudasama had threatened him in connection with the Sohrabuddin case. To a question, Nayamuddin on Monday denied making any statement to the CBI in 2010 about receiving threats from Shah and Chudasama. "He never mentioned these two persons," he told the court.

Shah was a Minister of State for Home in Gujarat when the alleged fake encounter took place. He has been discharged from the case by trial court. Shaikh, a suspected gangster, was killed in an alleged fake encounter by the Gujarat police in November 2005. His wife Kausar Bi was also allegedly killed. Tulsi Prajapati, an aide of Shaikh who was said to be a witness to the encounter, was allegedly killed by police at Chapri in Gujarat's Banaskantha district in December 2006. Of the 38 people charged by the CBI for the alleged fake encounters, 15 have been discharged by the trial court.Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday rejected the opposition's demand for setting up of a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) to probe allegations relating to the Rafale deal

New Delhi: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday rejected the opposition's demand for setting up of a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) to probe allegations relating to the Rafale deal, saying all the details on it have already been placed before Parliament. She also slammed the UPA alleging that it did not extend support to Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) when the state-run company was engaged in talks with French firm Dassault Aviation for manufacturer of Rafale jets in India.

"The UPA did not care for either the Indian Air Force or the HAL. To say that we are not taking care of HAL is totally incorrect," Sitharaman said during an interaction at the Indian Women Press Corps here. The UPA was negotiating a deal with the Dassault Aviation under which 18 Rafale jets were to be supplied in fly-away condition while 108 aircraft were to be manufactured in India by the company along with HAL.

Asked about the opposition's demand for probe by a joint parliamentary committee, Sitharaman said there was no need for it as all facts relating to the deal have been placed before Parliament. "Why JPC? We have placed all the details before the Parliament. The opposition should go through them," she said.

Asked about Congress leader AK Antony's comments on why the central government did not go for buying 126 aircraft instead of 36 jets if the price was less than what was negotiated by the UPA, Sitharaman did not give a direct reply. Antony was the defence minister during the UPA regime. "Buying an aircraft is not an over-the-counter process. There is a process for it," she said.

At a press conference, Antony said Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad recently claimed that in the new agreement, the aircraft is nine per cent cheaper than the UPA deal, the finance minister said it is 20 percent cheaper while an officer of IAF also said it is 40 per cent cheaper, then "Why did they not buy more than 126 if it was cheaper?" he told reporters. Asked about rumours that negotiations for the Rafale deal under the UPA government could not proceed due to allegations of kickbacks, she said "let the rumour gain strength".

In 2016, the Modi government signed a government-to-government deal with France for purchase of 36 Rafale jets at a cost of Rs 58,000 crore. The Congress has been alleging irregularities in the deal, saying the UPA had finalised the price of each aircraft at Rs 526 crore while the NDA was buying the same jet at Rs 1,670 crore. The government has been maintaining the cost of the Rafale aircraft was nine percent less than what was negotiated during the UPA regime.

Last week Sitharaman had said that negotiations for 126 Rafale jets under the UPA government fell through as the government did not support HAL to which Congress alleged that the NDA completely kept away the state-run company from the project. "Dassault and HAL could not go together. The agreement did not happen during UPA, so is not it obvious that the interests of HAL could have really been taken care of," Sitharaman said

The Congress had demanded answers from the government on why HAL was not involved in the new deal. She said the UPA should reply why HAL could not finalise the agreement with Dassault. "All questions on HAL should go to UPA." When asked whether approval of the Cabinet Committee on Security was taken before Modi announced about the procurement of 36 jets during his visit to Paris in April 2015, Sitharaman said the prime minister had only expressed an interest to buy the jets and the deal was finalised one-and-a-half years later. "The prime minister does not talk about issues like life cycle cost of the aircraft or other details. The prime minister just initiated the process," she said.As a JNU alumna, Sitharaman may hold views about her alma mater, but as defence minister, she does not have the freedom to air her opinions in public

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's comments on the outcome of the elections to the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) betray a most unfortunate disregard for the importance and dignity of the office she holds. The defence minister is a member of a constitutional body  the Union Cabinet (or council of ministers) that aids and advises the President of India, in whom the executive power of the Union is vested, in the discharge of his duties. The defence minister, in fact, has a special position, because the president is also the supreme commander of the armed forces.

It would hardly be quixotic to posit that a position of such high responsibility enjoins upon its holder the concurrent responsibility to conduct oneself, in accordance with a basic sense of protocol, with a dignity befitting ones rank and responsibility. Or, to put it simply, it does not behoove the defence minister to make public comments on the outcome of the election to the students union of a university, any university, at a public event.

Yet, Sitharaman did just that.

We shall get to the merits of what she told journalists at the Indian Womens Press Corps on 18 September in just a bit. Before that, it must be pointed out that Sitharamans behaviour was precisely an example of how an incumbent of a high office ought not to behave. Sitharaman, to be sure, is a JNU alumna and was moreover an anti-Left student activist during the time she spent there. It can be presumed that she holds strong opinions about what happens at her alma mater, but as the defence minister she does not have the freedom to air her feelings or opinions in public  if the conventions sedulously cultivated for the conduct of parliamentary democracy are to have any value.

Then, of course, there is the small matter of what she actually said. It appears from media reports that there were two parts to what she said. First, she expressed sadness for what has been happening at the university. "Election time arguments are normal, but the kind of things which have happened in the last few years are not encouraging at all," she was reported as having said.

Second, she went on to say, "The way in which they have probably got led by forces which are anti-India they are waging a war against India as their pamphlet (sic), their brochures say that. Such people leading the JNUSU or JNUSU members openly participating with such forces, you dont need to hesitate to say anti-India therefore."

It has been necessary to quote parts of the statement because of their peculiar, if not absurd, character and because of their ambiguity. Before getting to those, it is necessary to explain why we think there are two parts to what Sitharaman said. It can reasonably be presumed that when she says that 'disagreements in connection with the elections are normal, but the kind of things that have been happening of late are not encouraging', she is talking about the spirit and manner in which student politics in general, and the elections in particular, are being conducted. That is one part of the burden of her song.

The other part is ideologically specific. Sitharaman is saying that 'they', presumably referring to the alliance of left groups that won the JNUSU elections, are being led by anti-Indian forces. This can be easily taken to mean that she is accusing the members of four Left parties of colluding with anti-Indian forces; in other words, they are guilty of treasonous conduct.

Logically, this presumption can be extended to all those students who voted for these treasonous parties. Given that there was a high turnout in the elections  at 67.8 percent, the highest in recent years and nine percentage points higher than last year's turnout  and that a majority of students voted to elect members of the Left alliance to every seat and office in the students' union, it must then be presumed that Sitharaman is in effect accusing a large number  say 35 percent  of JNU students of colluding with the forces of treason.

The use of the word 'treason' here is deliberate, since the incessant use of the word 'anti-national' by members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), including ministers at the Centre and in the states, and affiliated Sangh parivar affiliates has emptied it of all meaning. Before following this train of thought, an ambiguity in Sitharamans statement, as reported, should be noticed. She says that 'their' pamphlets and brochures say they are waging war against the Indian State. It is not clear to whom exactly 'their' refers: Those with whom the Left forces in JNU are colluding, or the leftists themselves?

It would, of course, be futile to ask the defence minister for a clarification or demand that she produces for public examination this impugned literature with an explanation about its provenance.

To return to these most unfortunate allegations, made practically impromptu without their being accompanied by a scintilla of evidence by one of the most senior members of the Union Cabinet, we must ask a fundamental question:

Who was it that was speaking at the meeting with members of the press? Was it Nirmala Sitharaman, JNU alumna and private citizen, or Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of Defence of India?

If it was the former, she had no business to say what she did at a public event. The obvious penalty for doing so is that she should no longer be a part of the Cabinet. If it was the latter, it is incumbent on Sitharaman to produce evidence that those she has accused are indeed engaged in treasonous activities and prosecute them following all due judicial process. Or, not to put too fine a point on matters, she should quit office, because she would otherwise have disgraced her station, engaged critically in ensuring the security of the nation-state.

The arguments made up until now relate to most basic matters of procedure and protocol. The political implications of Sitharamans comments are probably even more germane. The ruling party has spared no effort in creating an atmosphere in the country in which legitimate dissent and plurality of opinion finds it hard to survive, far less flourish. The incessant branding as 'anti-national', whatever that means, of all those who do not subscribe to the atavistic denominational nationalism of the BJP and its Sangh parivar brethren is one of the dominant elements of the strategy to bring this situation to a pass.

Sitharaman's comments are part of this strategy: They seek to demonise the Left parties for having had the temerity to form a front to defeat the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student organisation affiliated to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, and the current regimes attempt to capture JNU, perceived by the Sangh parivar to be a Left redoubt and a dangerously inimical force. Worse, by implication, as we have indicated above, it seeks to implicate a substantial section of JNUs student community in treasonous conduct.

Another prong of this strategy is what should actually occasion sorrow or sadness, although not of the sort Sitharaman says she feels. That is the use of violence and thuggery to disrupt political processes in JNU. Normal disputes and disagreements have always flourished in JNU: Between Left and anti-Left forces, and, for that matter, among Left parties and anti-Left parties. But they have been historically sorted out through debate. The worst that used to transpire were poster wars or battles of resolutions condemning this or that. (As a JNU alumnus himself, this writer should know.)

It was only with the advent of the ABVP that the culture of violence and intimidation that scars student politics in most universities in the country, including, for instance, Delhi University, where the ABVP has been a dominant force for many decades, was imported into JNU. Last weeks elections in JNU demonstrated that all over again.The increase will be implemented in the gas bills of October and it will help the cash-starved Pakistan government to recover Rs94 billion from consumers.

Islamabad: Millions of Pakistanis woke up on Tuesday to the first shock of 'Naya Pakistan' to find out that their next month's gas bill will be hiked by up to a whopping 143 percent to recover Rs 94 billion from the consumers, in effect slashing consumer subsidies that were a fiscal drag on the government's budget.

The decision to increase the gas prices for both household and commercial consumers was taken by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet on Monday and announced by Minister for Petroleum Ghulam Sarwar Khan.

"The ECC allowed raise in the gas prices for domestic consumers in the range of 10 percent for the lowest slab consumers to 143 percent for the highest slab domestic consumers," Khan said.

The increase will be implemented in the gas bills of October and it will help the cash-starved government to recover Rs94 billion from consumers.

The decision will hurt as many as 9.4 million domestic users  3.6 million of them falling in the lowest income slab and another 2.63 million in the second lowest income group.

The gas prices for commercial and industrial consumers will increase from 30 percent to 57 percent that will increase the prices of fertiliser, manufacturing units, electricity generation, cement and Compressed Natural Gas.

The minister said that the state gas companies were running in deficit and it was not possible for the government to continue with the existing price system.

Officials said that the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra), an independent watchdog, proposed to hike gas prices by up to 186 percent to meet the revenue shortfall of the Sui Northern Gas Company Limited (SNGPL) and the Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL).

Pakistan has one of the lowest prices of piped gas. At present half of the piped gas is being used by the domestic consumers on the SNGPL pipeline and 24 per cent by the SSGC consumers.

The increase was against an earlier decision of the government when information minister Fawad Chaudhry said last week that there was no plan to increase gas prices. Opposition has lambasted the government for increasing the prices of gas.

Pakistan Muslims League-Nawaz leader Ahsan Iqbal said that the government was doing everything against its stated polices. "Twenty jokes have become famous about this government in first 20 days," he said. He also referred to the statement of information minister when he said that helicopter ride cost about Rs 55 per kilometer and was ridiculed on social media for his poor information.The Kerala-based nun had accused the bishop of having sexually assaulted her repeatedly between 2014 and 2016 at a convent run by the Jalandhar diocese in Kottayam district

Kochi: It is devoid of any big stage or the cacaphony associated with most agitations, yet the 12-day old protest by Catholic reformist forums and some nuns demanding action against Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal, facing rape charges by a nun, here is intensifying each day.

Vanchi Sqaure, the protest venue, in the heart of the city and near the Kerala High Court is alive with steady stream of people from different walks of life including activists, common man and regular church goers dropping in to express their solidarity.

As 54-year old bishop Franco appeared before police investigating the case in Thrippunithura near here Wednesday, the protesters expressed hope their demand for justice will be met and he would be arrested.

A sister of the survivor nun, on a hunger strike, was hospitalised Wednesday after her health deteriorated even as a march was taken out to the office of Inspector General of Police here seeking the arrest of the Bishop.

The Kerala-based nun had accused the bishop of having sexually assaulted her repeatedly between 2014 and 2016 at a convent run by the Jalandhar diocese in Kottayam district.

Mulakkal has, however, dismissed the allegations as "baseless and concocted", insisting he was 'innocent'.

A Christian priest, whose Save Our Sisters (SOS) Action Council has emerged as the platform of various organisations and people who had initially launched the agitation, said the protest was at a crucial stage and insisted that the bishop should be arrested to ensure justice to the survivor nun.

"It is in a crucial stage now. The Bishop has appeared before the investigation... he should be arrested. If he is not arrested, justice will not be done in the case," said Fr Augustine Vattoli, serving under the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese of the Syro-Malabar Church, at the protest venue.

The campaign by the nuns has "gone deeper and wider realms" of the Church and the Kerala society, 47-year-old Vattoli claimed.

The protesting nuns also expressed hope that the police probing the case would arrest Bishop Franco.

"We strongly believe that there are sufficient evidences against Bishop Franco and he will be arrested. It may take some time but his arrest is inevitable," a nun said.

She said the protest will continue till he was arrested. The protesters took to the street alleging that there were attempts to divert the probe into the case.

However, those rallying behind the bishop have maintained that the agitation was motivated and questioned whether declaring a person guilty without probe and trial was also a new Kerala model.

The Kerala Catholic Bishop Council (KCBC) had slammed the nuns' protest, saying that it has "crossed all limits" and 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.

The clergyman, in his anticipatory bail plea in the high court, has claimed the allegations against him were a "cooked up story to wreak vengeance" after he initiated action over a complaint against her.

Mulakkal has alleged that the nun had an illicit relationship with a relative and a complaint about it was received by her congregation --the Missionaries of Jesus.

Vattoli claimed the protest was growing stronger with activists from various parts of the state joining them and said it had to be taken to the logical conclusion (arrest of the bishop).

"The Church in Kerala is witnessing an unprecedented movement that was never witnessed in its history," he said.

He hit out at the KCBC for snubbing the movement of its own nuns seeking justice and said it was against the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Vattoli said people from different walks of life have expressed their solidarity with the agitation. Even 13 priests from the Syro-Malabar Church of Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese visited the venue supporting the cause.

He urged the politicial parties not to ignore the nuns' protest seeking justice to their fellow nun.The Punjab Agriculture department has delivered 7,337 subsidised agro-machines and farm equipment to farmers do far for effective scientific management of paddy residue, a senior official said.

Chandigarh: The Punjab Agriculture department has delivered 7,337 subsidised agro-machines and farm equipment to farmers do far for effective scientific management of paddy residue, a senior official said.

Agriculture Secretary KS Pannu said that the department was working to ensure the delivery of the machines before the onset of paddy harvesting, in line with the chief minister's commitment to the elimination of the menace of stubble burning from the state.

All the Deputy Commissioners had been directed to aggressively pursue the campaign to end stubble burning  a major cause for pollution in north India, said Pannu in a statement.

Under the scheme, subsidy of 50 percent was being provided to individual farmers, and 80 percent to the cooperative societies, said Pannu. In all, 24,315 machines shall be supplied to farmers and cooperative societies this season.

Pannu said 2,819 machines or equipment had been given to individual farmers, 2,144 to cooperative societies and 2,374 to Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs) across the state.

The equipment included the latest Happy Seeder, Paddy Straw Chopper/Cutter, Mulcher, RMB Plough, Shrub Cutter, Zero Till Drill, Super Straw Management System on Combine Harvesters, Rotary Slasher and Rotavator.Justice CY Somayajulu commission concluded that Pushkaram stampede in 2015 could have occurred due to overcrowding of pilgrims caused by 'undue and unwarranted publicity 'about the time at which the river festival was going to be inaugurated

Amaravati: The one-man commission, which inquired into the Godavari Maha Pushkaram's stampede that claimed 29 lives at Rajamahendravaram on 14 July, 2015, has given a clean chit to the Chandrababu Naidu-led government and blamed the media for the tragedy.

The Justice CY Somayajulu commission has concluded that it could have occurred due to overcrowding of pilgrims caused by "undue and unwarranted publicity "about the time at which the Pushkarams (river festival) was going to be inaugurated.

"The stampede could have occurred due to overcrowding of pilgrims near the Pushkar Ghat, which cannot be doubted or disputed. The undue and unwarranted publicity about the time at which pushkarams are going to be inaugurated by the chief minister may be a cause for the huge gathering of people near the Pushkar Ghat, hoping thereafter the chief minister finishes his bath," the report of the Commission, headed by the retired judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, said.

The report was tabled in the state Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.

"The media, which became an important instrument of publicity and promotion of products and personalities, brought its own share of misery and inconvenience to the public at large....," the report said.

Rebutting claims that the stampede took place because of the restrictions placed on general public due to the presence of the chief minister at the ghat, the retired judge asserted that the stampede took place after the chief minister finished the bath and went to his van for changing.

The commission also blamed the Opposition parties for casting aspersions and criticising the chief minister.

"Contemporary situation reveals that the parties who are not in power, or the parties who are not friendly or at loggerheads with the party in rule, or their leaders, seize any and every opportunity or event, calamity or untoward incidents to cast aspersions on the party in power and resort to mudslinging and always try to find fault with the leader of the party in power," it said.

"They become intolerant even to a single lapse," it added.

At the same time, the commission was all praise for the state government saying it planned the event (Godavari Maha Pushkarams) well to promote Brand Godavari "with one year of prior planning and with an estimated expenditure running into Rs 1500 crore."

"The idea was not to confine it to the two Godavari districts only but promote it in all 13 districts (of the state), neighbouring states and across north India besides reaching Indian diaspora," it said.

The state government started a high decibel media campaign for this purpose as early as in 2014.

"(It) assumed the role of a religious organisation and people of the state were welcomed for pushkarams in large numbers," the commission said.

"The grand opening ceremony, laser shows, huge display of sky lanterns were instrumental in the mega marketing of this spiritual event," it said.

"Mushroom growth of all types of news and devotional channels, which have their own captive viewers, also recorded their phenomenal growth in this century. Print, audio and visual media started making money by advertisements and became money spinners, like many popular devotional channels who have a large viewership and they tried to encash the opportunity to promote their channels," the commission added.Reports indicate that the army is looking at cutting the flab at the headquarters, organisational restructuring of formations, with the option to remove divisional headquarters and bringing modular self-contained brigades directly under a corps

In 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid out his vision for the armed forces in his address to a combined commanders' conference. "Full-scale wars may become rare, but force will remain an instrument of deterrence and influencing behaviour, and the duration of conflicts will be shorter," he said.

He went a step further a year later, rejecting the notion of plans based on "outdated doctrines" that are "disconnected from financial realities". In a telling comment, Modi said, "At a time when major powers are reducing their forces and relying more on technology, we are still constantly seeking to expand our forces." He challenged the assumption of "massive funds locked up in inventories".

Now, news has emerged that the Indian Army brass is looking to "right-size" the force. However, can an endeavour aimed at restructuring be undertaken without addressing the strategic imperatives that dictate structures in the first place?

An understanding of the recent inputs and analysis of lessons from the past provide pointers for the ongoing reforms.

Reports indicate that the army is looking at cutting the flab at the headquarters, organisational restructuring of formations, with the option to remove divisional headquarters and bringing modular self-contained brigades directly under a corps. There is also a proposal to promote officers directly from the rank of colonel to major-general.

The restructuring is a desperate bid to enhance the forces effectiveness by reducing the share of revenue expenditure currently pegged at 83 percent and capital at a mere 17 percent. This remains grossly inadequate for the modernisation needs of the army, especially given the nature and degree of obsolescence of equipment. Further, the projected defence budget indicates that it is likely to hover around 1.5 percent of GDP, unless there is a major change.

This is not the first time that the army is trying to cut numbers. An attempt was made by General VP Malik cutting the strength by 50,000 and a transformation study was close to implementation under General VK Singh. Perhaps the most successful endeavour was headed by then Lieutenant-General (later General) KV Krishna Rao in 1975. There are important lessons that can be learnt from the success and failures of that effort.

In 1975 the Krishna Rao committee, perhaps for the first time, was required to think long-term  it was to plan till the year 2000. This included an evaluation of security threats, proposal for a strategy against them and visualisation of the future battlefield. On the basis of this assessment, the committee was to determine the size of the army and its build-up.

Interestingly, the mandate was given under challenging circumstances, which despite the prospect of a two-front war, required the army to cap its strength at 8.38 lakh.

Given the disadvantage posed by a superior combined forces of China and Pakistan and Indias limited ability to move forces from the Chinese front, Rao concluded: "The option, therefore left, to tackle the problem in the West is to improve the quality of the forces in all respects, as opposed to quantity."

During the next decade or so this quality was achieved through a clear strategic vision, careful manpower jugglery and an enhanced budget to pursue mechanisation.

What followed was the most transformative evolution of the Indian Army. The modernisation that took place in the 1970s and 1980s was not merely through mechanisation, but was a result of a fresh approach to war-fighting. Perhaps for the first time since Independence, India leapfrogged its potential adversaries.

This experience suggests important takeaways in the process of military transformation, including restructuring.

First, the exercise had the complete backing of the government. This ensured the required financial support was consistently available.

Second, the process was not merely an exercise in restructuring. It was also aimed at strategic reorientation of the army's fighting capability.

Third, the army consulted a large number of governmental bodies for a holistic perspective, which could in turn guide its decision-making process.

Fourth, the primary objective of the changes was to enhance operational effectiveness; restructuring was the means to achieve it and not the end.

Fifth, while there was an integrated approach within the government, each service independently went about its modernisation plan. This was against the spirit of joint planning and implementation  one of the few flaws in the process.

What lessons does this hold for the changes now underway?

The first factor relates to the changing character of war. It is a reasonable premise that major wars are likely to be rare and standing armies, at least in the conventional sense, will be employed more as instruments of deterrence. By all available evidence, sub-conventional and non-conventional wars such as insurgency and cyber warfare have moved to the forefront while conventional conflict has taken a back seat.

The restructuring must therefore be preceded by doctrinal underpinnings that reflect this reality. While the armys doctrine is not in public domain, Indias 2017 joint forces doctrine did not give this indicator.

If the changing character of war is a given, then the debate over its impact cannot remain constrained within the power circles of the army.

Future conflicts are likely to blur traditional boundaries of war and peace in numerous ways: Between military means and coercive diplomacy; challenges of law and order and public order; localised discontent and systemic State-led subversion.

Therefore, the proposed strategic shift must be debated not only within the three services but also among other organs of the state, academia and think-tanks. The armed forces, specifically the army, must translate it into structural reality based on the time-tested model of concept creation, wargaming, exercise with troops and implementation.

Given this sequence of envisaged action, the premise or prerequisite of a figure that dictates the percentage of defence budget (whether 1.5 or three percent) or cut in the size of the army (say by 1.5 lakh), cannot become the bottom line for manpower or structural changes.

Instead, it must be dictated by the threat, challenges and ambitions that the State visualises. The armed forces and other organs of the State, must flesh out the capacity needed to achieve these ends. If the creation and maintenance of this capacity is not immediately feasible, it must be staggered. Simultaneously, India's strategic ambitions must be tailored to reflect the country's actual national power.

There is little doubt that the army's foundations have been built on the experiences forged by wars fought in past decades. It is equally critical, though, to look at national security through the prism of insurgencies and small wars that have bled India for this entire period. The restructuring process must address the conflicts we face, not merely be a band-aid to fix budgetary constraints.The surprise over Mohan Bhagwat's remarks on Muslims in a 'Hindu rashtra' indicates a lack of understanding of the RSS' concept of Hindutva.

Expectedly, among the range of topics that Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat addressed on day two of the three-day conclave of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in New Delhi on Tuesday, the media chose to highlight the bit where he proclaims in unambiguous terms that a Hindu rashtra cannot be envisaged without Muslims.

Hum kehte hain ki hamara Hindu rashtra hai. Hindu rashtra hai iska matlab isme Musalman nahi chaiye, aisa bilkul nahi hota. Jis din yeh kaha jaega ki yahan muslim nahi chaiye, uss din vo Hindutva nahi rahega (We envision a Hindu rashtra. But that absolutely doesnt mean that there will be no place for Muslims in it. If ever it is said that Muslims are unwanted, Hindutva will cease to exist, Bhagwat said at the event.

Hindu Rashtra doesn't mean there's no place for Muslims. The day it becomes so, it won't be Hindutva. Hindutva talks about one world family. #FutureBharat  RSS (@RSSorg) September 18, 2018

There are two reasons why this became the instant talking point and elicited surprise in some quarters. The obvious reason is that Bhagwats declaration demolishes the RSS-is-anti-Muslim narrative that we have been relentlessly fed since Independence. This places the opinion-makers in a quandary. The RSS has been universally defined as a sectarian, secretive organisation that fantasises about majoritarian control over all institutions and seeks to banish dissenting voices and minorities from Indias soil.

The RSS has been painted as a Brahmanical, dogmatic, autonomous body that holds regressive views on social issues, encourages violence and hatred towards minorities, seeks homogeneity in the Indian society and refuses to swear by the Constitution or the Tricolor.

The Sangh has inadvertently contributed towards this systemic maligning by refusing to engage in public debates. This is partly because it sees itself primarily as a faceless, activist organisation that focuses on silent institution-building and relies on the pracharak model of community outreach than publicity campaigns, and partly because the distrust between the RSS and the disseminators of public opinion is mutual.

As author and screenwriter Advaita Kala writes in Open magazine, its (RSS) deep suspicion of being misrepresented over the years and being banned has made it retreat, choosing to work on the streets as opposed to having its version out in the broadsheets.

In the interview, she quotes Bhagwat as saying: You may notice that we are finally speaking out loud in public about issues. It is because for the first time, we have the space to do so.

This reticence of the RSS to communicate aided myth-creation, and ideological rivals utilised this space to demonise the organisation. Bhagwats attempts at dispelling fiction from fact through a discursive lecture is a much-needed course correction, but any such effort faces deep-seated resistance and distrust in public discourse because the long-standing and fundamental misrepresentation has led to bias against the RSS being mainstreamed. It is viewed with suspicion and hatred, and its very presence  not to speak of its expansion  is seen as dangerous for the idea of India.

This mainstreamed bias has, in turn, led to an otherisation of the organisation in political, intellectual and academic circles. Therefore, we witnessed two contrasting churns. While the RSS kept expanding across the length and breadth of India through its social welfare and vyakti-nirman (character-building) programmes and gained commensurate cultural influence and strength, vilification of Sangh became a political construct in the media and public discourse.

Having erected this political construct, the Congress, other Opposition parties and the media  which is still largely tied to Leftist ideology  now finds it difficult to reconcile its anti-RSS bias with Bhagwats progressive and inclusive views that have been on display at the conclave. This difficulty in reconciliation between bias and truth has resulted in some exquisite mental gymnastics, where some commentators have explained Bhagwats views on Muslims being an integral part of the Hindu rashtra as RSS changing its tune.

In truth, it is not the RSS that has shifted from its position. It has never wavered from its vision about a Hindu rashtra, where Hinduism is an inclusive, civilisational, ideational and cultural concept, not a religious term. It is the opinion-makers and political parties who have remained trapped within their stereotyped ideas of the Sangh who must either show a greater understanding of the subject that it likes to critique, or invite ridicule.

Its critics remain mostly ill-informed about the RSS. It is an unfortunate paradox. Debates cannot rise in height unless moored in knowledge and greater understanding of the subject of criticism. For instance, baiters frequently portray the RSS as a Brahmanical organisation that, among other issues, propagate caste system without bothering to know its views on it.

On day three of the discursive lecture, Bhagwat clarified that the RSS is not only against the caste system but is actively working towards removing this social ill. He lent support for inter-caste marriage and said that if there is a census on inter-caste marriages, the maximum cases will be those from the Sangh.

The caste system wont go if one shouts at it. One has to light a lamp to dispel the darkness, Bhagwat said at Wednesdays question-and-answer session.

Caste system is a wrong Phraseology. It is not a vyavastha, it is completely Avyavastha.

Darkness will not go if you shout at it. It will go only when you light a lamp. That is what which Sangh is doing. #RSS4Bharat pic.twitter.com/1IFQ7tjRpv  J Nandakumar (@kumarnandaj) September 19, 2018

The second reason why Bhagwats remark on Muslims became a talking point is that our critiques and criticisms reflect the boundaries of our knowledge. That the Sanghs version of a Hindu rashtra is an inclusive concept that seeks to take everyone along has surprised many. It shouldnt have. The confusion rises, as Bhagwat said, because we treat Hindutva as a signifier of a religion  Hinduism.

Hindutva Vs Hinduism

Hindutva is an eternal search for truth.

It is a process not a product

it can never be an ism, ism is a closed book of thought.#RSS4Bharat  J Nandakumar (@kumarnandaj) September 19, 2018

According to the RSS, said Bhagwat, Hindutva is not a religion replete with codes, dos and donts; it is a value system that teaches unity in diversity, sacrifice, coordination, self-restraint and love. It is a quest for the truth  the immersive unity of existence  that accepts diversities of the world, celebrates melange and vividity and instructs us to stay united. The RSS calls this value system Hindutva, but it could just as well be explained by synonymous terms such as Indic thought, Bharatiyata, etc.

Since Hindutva does not denote a religion but a value system that teaches unity in diversity, it is imperative that an organisation that places such an inclusive value system above all religions will take everyone along. Bhagwats words on Muslims, Christians or any other race or community that calls India its motherland, therefore, flows from this principle of dharma (distinct from religion), and it is but natural that the concept will be inclusive. It shouldnt have surprised anyone.

The fact that it has points to insufficient understanding of the concept of Hindutva that the RSS takes as normative. Since, in public discourse, Hindutva is considered a monolithic concept comparable to Abrahamic religions, it is imbued with attributes that it never stood for. Therefore, when the RSS talks about a Hindu rashtra and Hindutva, it is interpreted as a majoritarian impulse that has no place for minorities.

The RSS chief says that Hinduism, as understood today, is not the religion of Hindus. It is not in the shastras that speak of a dharma for the whole of humanity. It is not the property of one community, or attributable to one country. It is humanism. Placed in this spiritual strain, Hindutva takes on a wider meaning and becomes a completely different concept  one that has space for everyone.

Bhagwats approach indicates a subtle shift in RSS ideology. The organisation has, perhaps, understood that its growing strength and cultural influence make it imperative for its heads to engage in outreach programmes to clear cobwebs, or risk opening itself up for more myth-making.The true test of the RSS worldview, in the final analysis, would lie not in the lofty speeches of its leaders but by the banter that we hear among its cadres

There is a simple question to ask after the Sarsanghchalak, or the head, of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's benign statement, that his organisation that believes in a 'Hindu Rashtra' is not averse to Muslim citizens in India: Will the real RSS please stand up?

On the face of it, Mohan Bhagwat's words at a special conference meant to allay fears and misconceptions on his nationalist body are welcome. But coming as it does in the context of a charged political atmosphere when the RSS's ideological child, the BJP, is in power under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his speech raises more hard questions than easy answers. There is a lot in the history, ideology, posturing and demeanour of the RSS to suggest that his claimed position cannot be taken at face value.

It is, however, only appropriate that the nation engages in a dialogue as the RSS seems to suggest.

The biggest issue in the current context of an RSS volunteer running the country is one on what could be called the Muslim question and 'Hindu Rashtra.' "The day it is said that Muslims are excluded from such a conception, it would render Hindutva infructuous," Bhagwat said. However, in an India based on a Constitution, the Preamble of which begins by saying, "We, the People of India...", the RSS needs to be clearer on the nature of inclusion of which it speaks. The key point is whether Muslims are an equal part of the "We" as modern democrats would like to believe or do they form part of a patronising inclusion of a minority by a hegemonic majority? A rhetorical question needs to be answered: Can a practicing Muslim woman become India's prime minister in the RSS vision?

The hard fact is that the RSS was not significantly active in the movement against British rule that was led by the Indian National Congress. While it is great to see the RSS recognising the Congress' role in the movement, the deeper question is of whether it is for Congress to recognise the RSS role in India's nationalist awakening or the other way around. Muslim leaders including Maulana Azad and Shahnawaz Khan were part of the fight against British rule and the RSS needs to reaffirm itself as an equal participant in nation-building rather than a patronising force.

Bhagwat quoted Ambedkar, the leading figure in the authoring of the Indian Constitution, as backing a Buddhist view of "fraternity" rather than one inspired by the French Revolution. Much as it sounds good, the fact is that the French Revolution has inspired modern democracies with a sense of equality. In this view, diversity forms the very basis of fraternity, not just an "accommodation".

"The Sangh works towards universal brotherhood and the cardinal principle of this brotherhood is diversity. This thought comes from our culture, which the world calls Hindutva," Bhagwat said. The fact is that the term Hindutva is itself one of recent vintage and less than 100 years old. It is used more in the lexicon of contemporary Indian politics than by the world at large.

There is in the backdrop of all this the term "Hindu" itself. The flexible use of the word to sometimes mean the followers of a broad socio-religious regime representing an "Eternal Order" (Sanatana Dharma) and at other times meaning inhabitants of a landmass south of the Indus (Sindhu) since ancient times gives it a complex character that critics will see as a double-faced one.

The RSS may be justified in having ideological worries linked to invasions, incursions or waves of immigration by Muslim warriors of Turkish, Afghan, Mongol (Mughal) or Persian descent, but it has to see the descendants of these people as equal citizens of a modern India and not as heirs of invaders or "foreigners", who need to be included from above by traditional inheritors of a homeland.

A more articulate clarification on this would be appropriate on this issue as citizenship is increasingly defined by adherence to constitutional values than issues concerning race or origin.

The RSS chief has been making his conciliatory speeches at Vigyan Bhavan, named after science. A scientific contextualisation of his speech should include a clear-cut understanding of whether the Sangh is only softening its posture or whether it has had a clear change of heart and mind.

RSS has its intellectual defenders, some of whom say the latest conference is a "turning point" and a "coming out party" for the RSS. If that is indeed the case, it is not old wine in a new bottle but a new brew altogether. For the world at large to believe that to be true, the RSS must say so clearly. It is one thing for apologists to say it has changed and another thing for the organisation itself to assert that it is not what it used to be. Even as recently as this month, the RSS gave a muted acceptance of the Supreme Court verdict that decriminalised same-sex relationships, calling it "unnatural" and against Indian tradition.

Such views would make the RSS an organisation of reluctant constitutionalists, although Bhagwat must be lauded for explicitly saying, "The Constitution is the consensus of our country. Following the Constitution is everyone's duty."

The true test of the RSS worldview, in the final analysis, would lie not in the lofty speeches of its leaders but by the banter that we hear among its cadres. It is not the nuanced words at Vigyan Bhavan that matter as much as how much the average "pracharak" knows of these words and shows in his behaviour. It is time for us to overhear conversations in the "chai pe charcha" at small-town tea shops where values of citizenship are discussed after a 'shakha' meeting.

The author is a senior journalist. He tweets as @madversityCongress has been hit by internal dissent, triggered by a faction of MLAs led by minister Ramesh Jarkiholi, who is locked in a turf war with another minister DK Shivakumar. The Jarkiholi brothers' activities have led to speculations that BJP was fishing in troubled waters and was in touch with them to dislodge the government.

Bengaluru: Former chief minister Siddaramaiah, who heads the coordination committee of the Congress-JD(S) coalition government,today rubbished reports of dissent in the Congress and said media reports of it were 'baseless.'

"There is nothing, no discord. Whatever is coming in the media does not have even an iota of truth.... It is totally baseless," he told reporters after meeting the Jarkiholi brothers.

Congress has been hit by internal dissent, triggered by a faction of MLAs led by minister Ramesh Jarkiholi, who is locked in a turf war with another minister DK Shivakumar. The Jarkiholi brothers' activities have led to speculations that BJP was fishing in troubled waters and was in touch with them to dislodge the government.

The siblings are upset over Shivakumar allegedly trying to challenge their supremacy in Belagavi district through MLA Laxmi Hebbalkar. Siddaramaiah said there are six ministerial posts to be filled and many aspirants for the posts, leading to speculation in the media about dissidence in the party.

The former chief minister claimed that BJP was trying to destabilise the government as many MLAs have said that some people from BJP had approached them. "It is true that the BJP is trying to destabilise this government. They have given up all the civility to come to power.

There is no discord in our party,"Siddaramaiah asserted. The chief minister said he along with Satish Jarkiholi and senior party functionaries would leave for Delhi Wednesday to meet party chief Rahul Gandhi to hold discussions on filling the six ministerial posts. Tomorrow, I will not discuss about the cabinet expansion. We will expand the cabinet at an appropriate time...nobody has complained about the delay in expanding the ministry," he said.

Earlier in the day, Satish Jarkiholi called on chief minister HD Kumaraswamy. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Jarkiholi said he had discussions about issues pertaining to the development of Belagavi and his community and nominations to the boards, corporations and the legislative council.

Another demand discussed was that one person from the scheduled tribe from Ballari should be made a minister. "There is no discord as being made out," he said.Spiritual leader Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev's visit to the Film & Television Institute of India (FTII) here has been cancelled, a senior official said Tuesday.

Pune: Spiritual leader Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev's visit to the Film & Television Institute of India (FTII) here has been cancelled, a senior official said Tuesday.

The FTII Students' Association said that it had expressed reservations about the event "informally". "Sadhguru's interaction with students was scheduled on the evening on 19 September, however, the program is not happening now," said Bhupendra Kainthola, Director, FTII. He did not give any reasons for the cancellation.

Isha Foundation of Vasudev also said in a statement that as"final confirmation of the event Youth and Truth at FTII did not happen in time, Sadhguru's schedule got committed to other engagements." Robin Joy, president of the FTII Students' Association, said it had not taken any objection to Vasudev's program "formally". "We did not make any formal communication with the

FTII administration, however, we did raise concerns about the event informally as there are already some academic issues and the event is not relevant to the academics of FTII," he saidSushma Swaraj is likely to attend an informal meeting of SAARC Council of Foreign Ministers on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly.

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is likely to attend an informal meeting of SAARC Council of Foreign Ministers on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York later this month, official sources said on Wednesday.

Asked about the possibility of a meeting between Swaraj and Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in New York, they, however, said her schedule is being worked out.

The SAARC (South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation) foreign ministers' informal meeting has been taking place for last few years on the margins of the UNGA.

In Islamabad, Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Mohammad Faisal said it is "engaged" with India to facilitate a bilateral meeting between Qureshi and Swaraj in New York. Both Swaraj and Qureshi will be in New York next week to attend the UNGA.

The India-Pakistan ties nose-dived in recent years following a spate of terror attacks in India by Pakistan-based terror groups. India has not been holding official talks with Pakistan following the attacks.

Asked about possibility of India participating in SAARC summit if it is organised, the sources said it will not change its position unless Pakistan stops cross-border terrorism.

The last SAARC Summit in 2014 was held in Kathmandu, which was attended by Modi. The 2016 SAARC Summit was to be held in Islamabad.

But after the terrorist attack on an Indian Army camp in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir on 18 September that year, India expressed its inability to participate in the summit due to "prevailing circumstances" and stepped up diplomatic pressure on Pakistan.

The summit was called off after Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan also declined to participate in the Islamabad meet.Telangana Congress leaders discussed issues related to the proposed alliance and some other matters with Rahul Gandhi at the international airport in Hyderabad.

Hyderabad: Congress leaders in Telangana on Tuesday discussed with party chief Rahul Gandhi, the proposed broad-based alliance for the coming assembly elections and other issues.

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president N Uttam Kumar Reddy told reporters that they discussed with Gandhi, issues related to the proposed alliance and some other matters, at the international airport in Hyderabad.

Gandhi was on his way to Delhi after visiting Kurnool in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

Reddy said Congress has taken a stand to collectively move ahead with those who join forces with it to end the 'misrule' of TRS.

Congress had earlier called upon all political and non-political forces to join forces with it to defeat the TRS.

Talks are underway among Congress, TDP, CPI and other parties to form the "grand alliance". Reddy had earlier said the party leadership has given "in principle" acceptance to the alliance.

Reddy on Tuesday wrote an open letter to government employees, teachers and pensioners, alleging that the ruling TRS has cheated them, though many had participated in the agitation for a separate Telangana, "risking their careers and the future of their families." "The caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, however, did not do anything for them," Reddy alleged.

Rao dissolved the Assembly abruptly without fulfilling any of the promises he made to them, Reddy said.

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.

Reddy said that the Congress, if elected to power, would scrap the Contributory Pension Scheme with immediate effect and restore the Old Pension system to protect the interests of lakhs of employees and teachers.Six of the seven persons arrested in connection with the alleged honour killing of a Dalit Christian man in Telangana's Nalgonda district were sent to judicial custody.

Hyderabad: Six of the seven persons arrested in connection with the alleged honour killing of a Dalit Christian man in Telangana's Nalgonda district were sent to judicial custody by a court on Wednesday, police said.

In a related development, the wife of the deceased and her father-in-law demanded stern punishment for all those arrested by awarding them death penalty and to ensure a speedy trial.

Seven persons, including two men acquitted in the murder of former Gujarat home minister Haren Pandya, were on Tuesday arrested in connection with the killing of 23-year-old P Pranay Kumar, who had married an upper caste woman Amrutha Varshini, at Miryalguda in Nalgonda district.

Pranay's killing on 14 September had sparked an outrage in the state.

Amrutha's father Maruti Rao, whom she had accused of being behind her husband's murder along with her uncle Shravan, was among those arrested in what turned out to be a case of contract killing of Rs one crore, Nalgonda police chief AV Ranganath said on Tuesday.

Maruti Rao, who was opposed to the marriage of his daughter, conspired with other accused to eliminate Kumar and also paid an advance of Rs 15 lakh, police said.

Shocking CCTV footage of the incident showed Pranay walking out of a hospital in Miryalguda with his pregnant wife when the assailant, who was later identified as Subhash Kumar Sharma, paced up and attacked him with a machete from behind, killing him instantaneously.

Amrutha, from 'vaishya' community, had claimed on Monday her father and uncle were behind the attack as they strongly disapproved of her marrying a Dalit Christian.

Asghar Ali and Abdul Bari, who were acquitted in the murder of Pandya, had hired the "assassin" Subhash Sharma from Bihar to execute the murder, police said.

Local Congress leader Abdul Karim, who is a friend of Rao, and car driver Siva are the other accused in the case.

"Six of the accused were produced before a local court which remanded them in 14 days judicial custody," an investigation official told PTI over phone from Miryalguda.

He said that Sharma, who attacked Pranay, was apprehended from Samastipur in Bihar and is being brought to Nalgonda on a transit warrant.

Since 9 August, the hired killers conducted a recee of different places before executing their plan on Friday last, police said, adding Sharma allegedly made attempts to kill Pranay twice, but were both unsuccessful.

Maruthi Rao pressured his daughter to get the foetus aborted but failed, they said.

Amrutha and Pranay's father P Balaswamy told reporters that all those involved in the murder of Pranay should be handed the death penalty and it should be seen that none of them get bail.

"They should be kept in the jail only and should not be released. If they are released they may again target us," the family members said.

"I felt he (Rao) may take away Amrutha but had never thought he will get my son killed."

"They were opposed to the inter-caste marriage and that's the reason for the murder," Pranay's father said.The police say Subhash Sharma fits the bill usually associated with an archetypal hired killer. Such men often hail from impoverished backgrounds, depend on drugs or alcohol or both and are school dropouts.

Subhash Sharma was taken by surprise when a joint team of Telangana and Bihar Police landed at his doorstep in Jagatpur, a mofussil on the outskirts of Samastipur town. Two inspectors from Nalgonda district police had come with an arrest warrant for Sharma, charging him with killing 23-year-old Pranay Kumar in Miryalaguda on 14 September. Sharma, a killer available on hire, had been tasked with using the machete on Pranay. The hit had allegedly been ordered by Pranay's father-in-law, Maruthi Rao because he was unhappy that his daughter Amrutha had married a Dalit boy.

"A five-member team from Samastipur police arrested Sharma on Monday evening. He did not anticipate us because his modus operandi was to commit crime outside Bihar, get back to his home and stay safe. Usually the police in other states are not able to trace him but in this case, the Telangana Police was efficient," said Pritish Kumar, a sub-divisional police officer in Samastipur, who supervised the operation to nab Sharma.

Rao a real estate tycoon with considerable political influence in Miryalaguda had reportedly agreed to pay Rs 1 crore to the hired assassins to eliminate Pranay. The deal was struck in June-July after a fair bit of haggling as the three-member team of supari killers initially demanded Rs 2.5 crore. Asghar Ali, Abdul Kareem and Mohammed Bari took an advance amount of Rs 15 lakh and hired Sharma to take Pranay's life. In 2003, Asghar and Bari were arrested for killing former Gujarat home minister Haren Pandya but were later acquitted by the Gujarat High Court.

The police say Sharma fits the bill usually associated with an archetypal hired killer. Such men often hail from impoverished backgrounds, depend on drugs or alcohol or both and are school dropouts. The mastermind, on the other hand, is comparatively well-off with good political connections so that he is able to get bailed out of a difficult situation. Such men more often than not, when not bumping off people, get into the business of sorting out civil disputes, using their access to muscle power to intimidate.

Rao had got in touch with Kareem, his friend who was involved in shady land settlements. Both kept their feet in all political boats to ensure immunity. Kareem was a member of the local unit of the Congress party, that has now suspended him while Rao was with the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi. In fact, Miryalaguda town has several banners of Rao with district minister Jagdish Reddy.

Senior police officers who have dealt with hired killers say those who take the contract to kill, prefer to hire men from outside to carry out the job. This makes the job of the police to trace the killer's footprints cumbersome.

It also makes it difficult for the cops to establish a motive to kill. Such assassins are often tough to crack which means the police have the onerous job to track the money trail and electronic evidence of hiring, making it difficult to secure convictions in court. It is too reliant on the confession of a person and if he turns hostile in court, the case runs the risk of falling apart.

What is the profile of a hired assassin?

"They do it for money, the target does not matter. In this case, the emotional angst was for the father. For Sharma, Pranay was a target, he would have worried only about killing him in one stroke," said a senior IPS officer who has served in the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh, where killers are available on hire. Indeed, if one notices Sharma's gait captured on CCTV, it is the walk of a confident man, a professional killer.

Another marked characteristic is that the assassins show no remorse. Jail terms do not reform them and in fact, prisons often serve as catchment areas for them to make contacts for the future. Like in this case, where Sharma and Bari had spent time together a decade ago in Rajahmundry prison and that is how the team decided to outsource the job to the man from Samastipur.

"Not many have an understanding of the consequences. There are hired killers and kidnappers who have told me during interrogation that they never thought they will get caught," said a senior Telangana cadre IPS officer, now on deputation to the Centre.

The money involved is huge so that there is an incentive to take the risk involved. If the plan had gone off as planned, Sharma would have pocketed at least Rs 30 lakh of the total amount. Now if the prosecution is able to argue its case well, Rao, Sharma and the other accused would be looking at an extended term behind bars, if not the gallows.Uttar Pradesh Health Minister Sidharth Nath Singh, who had visited Bareilly last week, had said the government will undertake a 'death audit' to find out the number of those who died due to the fever.

Lucknow: An "unknown fever" has claimed 79 lives in Uttar Pradesh in the last six weeks, a government official said Wednesday.

The official added that medical teams were put on high alert and that they have been asked to check the spread of unnecessary alarm among the people.

"The toll due to an "unknown fever" in the last one and a half months has risen to 79, in view of which officials have been alerted to take all necessary precautions besides creating awareness," a government spokesman said.

"The toll in Bareilly reached 24, followed by Badaun and Hardoi at 23 and 12 respectively," the spokesman said, adding that Sitapur accounted for eight deaths, Bahraich six, Pilibhit four and Shahjahanpur two.

"Death audit is being conducted in all the cases and an active surveillance has been initiated in the rural and urban areas to prevent spread of the disease," the spokesman said.

According to the spokesman, an awareness drive is also being carried out against the unnecessary alarm which is being caused by "misleading and incorrect media reports".

Uttar Pradesh Health Minister Sidharth Nath Singh, who had visited Bareilly last week, had said the government will undertake a "death audit" to find out the number of those who died due to the fever.

"The state government has constituted three teams of doctors to look into the cases in Bareilly and Badaun," Uttar Pradesh DG (health) Padmakar Singh had told reporters in Bareilly.

"Necessary medicines were being distributed, fogging and spraying of larvacides have been undertaken as well," he had said.The plan to 'name and shame' Pyongyang comes as negotiations over North Korea's nuclear program appear to have reached a standstill, CNN reported. A defence official told CNN that North Korea was regularly employing 'deceptive tactics to evade UN sanctions'.

Washington: The US and its allies are ready to launch a new effort to publicly expose North Korean violations of sanctions aimed at curbing its nuclear and missile programmes , a media report said.

The plan to "name and shame" Pyongyang comes as negotiations over North Korea's nuclear programme appear to have reached a standstill, CNN reported. A defence official told CNN that North Korea was regularly employing "deceptive tactics to evade UN sanctions".

Earlier on Monday the US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley accused Russia of "cheating" and helping North Korea evade the international sanctions, CNN reported.

US allies Japan, Australia, and New Zealand were expected to make announcements about their own monitoring and surveillance efforts in disrupting North Korean smuggling. Canada, France, South Korea and the UK are also involved in coordinating these efforts, CNN reported.

The new efforts would particularly aim at monitoring of ships performing illicit transfers of refined petroleum to North Korean oil tankers in the East China Sea.

The US has deployed aircraft and surface vessels to detect and disrupt these activities, but has made its actions public until now, perhaps to avoid irritating Pyongyang amid negotiations over its nuclear program.

Meanwhile, Trump has raised the possibility of a second summit with leader Kim Jong-un. Asked Tuesday about the prospect of increased US military activity to enforce the sanctions, Secretary of Defence James Mattis said: "I generally don't talk about upcoming operations, as you know.

"But we have seen from Japan and Canada, from New Zealand and Australia, they're  there's a lot of nations contributing to this." "We'll do whatever we have to do to support the diplomats in the negotiation, and carry out the UN, the international sanctions," he added.

"Russia has been cheating. And now they've been caught," Haley said on Monday during her speech at a UN Security Council meeting. Her remarks came as the US and its allies ramped up military efforts to monitor and document evidence of sanctions violations. "The US has evidence of consistent and wide-ranging Russian violations," Haley added.The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has arrested a BSF jawan from Noida on the charge of sharing vital information with Pakistan ISI agents, state police chief OP Singh said Wednesday.

Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has arrested a BSF jawan from Noida on the charge of sharing vital information with Pakistan ISI agents, state police chief OP Singh said Wednesday.

Achutanand Misra, hailing from Madhya Pradesh's Rewa district, was "honey-trapped" into sharing information about unit operational details, police academy and training centre by a woman who claimed to be a defence reporter, the director general of police (DGP) said.

Misra, who is married and has two children, was interrogated by ATS and BSF officials on Monday and Tuesday in Noida. Prima facie, there is enough evidence to prove that he has committed crime under the Official Secrets Act, Singh said.

He was recruited in the Border Security Force (BSF) in 2006 and had come into contact with the woman in 2016. After sometime, he started sharing information about unit location, details of ammunition and pictures of the BSF camp, the DGP said.

Later, he started WhatsApp chat with a phone number registered in Pakistan and the details of the conversation indicate that he was being influenced on religious conversion and Kashmir, the officer said.

The Pakistani number was saved in his mobile phone as "Pakistani dost" (friend), the DGP said, but declined to divulge the number to the media on which Misra had been chatting.

Misra has accepted his crime and several cyber evidences have been found through his phone and Facebook account, the DGP said.

The pictures and videos sent by him have also been found in the extraction and this amounts to crime under sections 3,4,5,9 of the Official Secrets Act, 121A of the IPC, 66D of the IT Act, he said.

He will be produced before a Lucknow court for taking him on police remand for detailed interrogation.

Information regarding who all were with him in this network, the motivation which led him into sharing this information, whether he got money in return as well and his accounts will also be checked, the DGP said. It will also be ascertained as to what information he has passed on and what damage has been caused because of it.

"We have come to these conclusions based on the preliminary investigations," the DGP said, pointing out the need to create more awareness among the members of the armed and paramilitary forces.

The UP ATS is in constant touch with BSF officials and their intelligence branch.

There were inputs that the Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) was "honey-trapping" jawans of the Army and paramilitary forces using Facebook and the Military Intelligence of Chandigarh had tipped off the UP ATS about a fake social-media profile sometime ago.With the Rafale row and fuel price hike compounding troubles of the current dispensation, you are a lot likely to hear more about AgustaWestland case. Here is all you need to know.

With a UAE court ordering the deportation of Christian Michel, the alleged middleman in the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam, Indian investigating agencies are likely to now focus on the political links to the alleged scam, if any.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) probing the case had alleged that Michel received 30 million (around Rs 225 crore) as kickbacks from AgustaWestland to broker a deal with Indian authorities. Names of around three dozen individuals and companies, including former air chief SP Tyagi and his cousins, have been mentioned in the case. Meanwhile, more recently, names of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, former prime minister Manmohan Singh, and Congress leader Ahmed Patel were also dragged in.

However, Michel later claimed he was forced to take Sonia and Manmohan's name by Indian investigative agencies.

The case, which dates back to the final years of the 10-year-long UPA rule, had become a major embarrassment for the Congress-led government heading into elections under a cloud of corruption scandals.

With the Rafale controversy, falling rupee prices and fuel price hike compounding troubles of the current dispensation, you are likely to hear more about this case, especially in view of Michel's deportation ordered by the Dubai court. Here is all you need to know about the case:

What is the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper case?

The scandal relates to a 2010 deal, inked by the then Congress-led UPA government, to supply 12 AW101 helicopters for the Indian Air Force for Rs 3,600 crore. These choppers were supposed to be used for flying the President of India, the Prime Minister, and other such VVIPs.

However, the scent of a scandal was first picked up in Italy in 2013. The Italian authorities were first to allege that kickbacks worth Rs 40 million had been paid to Indian officials to grease contracts favouring debt-laden State-controlled Finmeccanica, through its Britain-based subsidiary AgustaWestland. The country's authorities arrested Giuseppe Orsi, the head of Finmeccanica and Bruno Spagnolin chief of AgustaWestland, for alleged financial irregularities and corruption in procuring the deal with India.

The following day, then defence minister AK Antony ordered a probe into the matter, which ultimately led to the deal being shelved on 1 January, 2014.

"Yes, corruption has taken place in the helicopter deal and bribes have been taken. The CBI is pursuing the case very vigorously," Antony had said in March 2013.

Who is Christian Michel?

Michel, a British businessman, is one of three main middlemen  along with Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa  who allegedly greased their way through the Indian bureaucracy and air force circles to broker the deal.

On paper, Michel had a 18.2 million contract to buy back discarded WG 30 choppers from India, a 6 million deal for servicing VVIP choppers and a 12 million contract to supply spares and parts for naval choppers, according to Economic Times.

However, According to a Firstpost report, Italian investigators named Michel as the key intermediary between AgustaWestland and the Indian middlemen involved in the deal. According to Italian court documents, Michel handled 18 million of the total kickback of 30 million. An Italy court, hearing the matter also noted that the payments made to Michel were grossly disproportionate to the work he promised to do for the company.

The Firstpost report further reveals that although it was suggested that although it is suggested Michel got involved in the deal towards the end of 2006, he had actually been working on it since 2002 when the first global Request for Proposal (RFP) for choppers was issued (March 2002).

Michel was arrested in February 2017 by the UAE authorities and was facing prosecution there as several investigations revealed that he rerouted bribes to India through his Dubai-based firm Global Services. The ED investigation found that Michel made remittances through Global Services to a media firm he floated in Delhi, along with two Indians. This money was actually the funds he got from AgustaWestland to broker the deal.

Although it was not immediately clear if the UAE court order can be challenged or if there are other means for Michel to escape extradition, if Michel's extradition actually takes place, then investigating agencies can probe his alleged connection with Indian politicians, air force officers and other middlemen.

Former IAF chief SP Tyagi's involvement

Early in 2014, the Italian court investigating the chopper scam named former chief of the IAF, SP Tyagi in the scam, stating that he was bribed by Finmeccanica to sign the deal with AgustaWestland.

The IAF had urged the defence ministry to purchase helicopters capable of flying in high-altitude areas like Siachen and Tiger Hill. However, after careful evaluation of the AW101, it was ascertained that it was not capable of flying at 6,000 metres above sea level as was warranted necessary in the initial specifications outlined for the procurement of choppers.

The ED, in its chargesheet alleged, that the three middlemen "managed to" make inroads into the IAF to influence the stand of the officials into reducing the service ceiling of the helicopters from 6,000 metres to 4,500 metres in 2005. AgustaWestland became eligible to supply the dozen helicopters for VVIP flying duties after this change.

The alleged middleman in the deal, Guido Haschke, revealed that while AW101 did not meet the technical requirements of the IAF, the deal was signed after Haschke tweaked the contract with the help of his Indian contacts.

AgustaWestland allegedly paid 30 million in bribes, of which 20 million was routed through Haschke and Carlo Gerosa. A CBI report that came in later said that prior to Tyagi's appointment as Air Force chief, the IAF had "vehemently opposed" lowering of the altitude requirement. This changed after Tyagi came into the picture and the IAF conceded to reduce altitude requirements, allowing AgustaWestland to re-enter the bidding process.

Initial investigations by the Italian prosecutor said that Tyagi had personally met Haschke before and that the bribery took place via Tyagi's cousins Julie, Sandeep and Dosca. Tyagi, however, has denied any claims of having met Haschke.

The Milan Court of Appeals again mentioned Tyagi's name while pronouncing its judgment. "In the absence of contrary indications, it must be concluded that the reward bestowed to Tyagi's family for their work in support of AW in relation to the race of the Government (of) India for military helicopters amounts to 10,500,000."

The CBI has also alleged that the AgustaWestland managed to introduce a comparative flight trial with non-functional engine and eventually succeeded in getting the contract for supply of 12 AW-101 VVIP helicopters from the Defence Ministry mainly due to softening of the IAF on service ceiling after SP Tyagi took over as its chief.

In 2015, however, reports of Tyagis acquital by the Italian court appeared, stating that there was no corruption by Indian officials. Currently on bail, he is still under investigation by Indian authorities.

Why and how did Sonia, Congress leaders' names crop in ?

Sonia's name was dragged into the deal, when a Milan court mentioned the conversations between the three middlemen mentioning a 'Mrs Gandhi'. The middlemen had allegedly referred to a 'Mrs Gandhi' as being the driving force behind the deal. They also mentioned names of her close aides Ahmed Patel and Pranab Mukherjee.

In a letter dated 15 March, 2008, Christian Michel wrote to Peter Hulet, the then head of India region sales and liaison for AgustaWestland, saying, "Dear Peter, since Mrs Gandhi is the driving force behind the VIP, she will no longer fly with MI8. Mrs Gandhi and her closest advisers are the aim of the High Commissioner, senior adviser Prime Minister Manmohan Singh obviously the main figure, then there's Ahmed Patel Secretary."

However, the Congress has vehemently denied these charges. In July 2018, after he was granted bail in Dubai, Michel retracted his statement against the Congress leader and said that he had named Sonia and senior Congress leaders on the behest of the CBI. He had accused Indian investigators of pressuring him to frame the Congress leaders in return for a clean chit in the multi-crore scam  a charge the CBI has refuted.

The investigative agency claims that it has never examined Michel as a witness and hence, could not have manipulated or pressurised Michel.

With inputs from PTIA Dubai court on Monday ordered the extradition of alleged British middleman Christian Michel in the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam

New Delhi: In a major breakthrough for Indian investigating agencies, a Dubai court on Monday ordered the extradition of alleged British middleman Christian Michel in the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam. Michel is considered to be key in unlocking the names of politicians involved in the alleged scandal and his relationship with two other middlemen  Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa.

Michel's custodial interrogation may unravel the mystery of the 30 million (~$35 million) that was allegedly paid to swing the deal in favour of the Italian company. It was revealed in an Italian court judgment that arounf half of the money was paid to Indian politicians. Michel had later denied the claim while questioning the authenticity of Haschke's handwritten note that named Indian leaders. Although it was suggested that Michel got involved in the deal towards the end of 2006, Firstpost has learnt that he had been working on it since 2002 when the first global Request for Proposal (RFP) was issued (March 2002).

Confidential notes in Firstpost's possession suggest that Michel was in India between 3 and 5 March, 2002, when vendors responded to the global RFP for the helicopter deal. He was in India again from 2 to 8 November, 2003 and 28 November to 15 December, 2003  before and after the meeting convened by then national security advisor Brajesh Mishra, in which it was decided to make mandatory the requirement for operational altitude of 4,500 metres. Thus, making AgustaWestland eligible for the deal.

Documents suggest that Michel visited India 11 times in 2005, when operational requirements were being deliberated between the Indian Air Force (IAF), NSA, SPG and Ministry of Defence. Italian investigators named Michel as the key intermediary between AgustaWestland and the Indian middlemen involved in the deal. According to Italian court documents, Michel handled 18 million of the total kickback of 30 million. Indian investigators claim that a contract was signed between Global Services FZE and Westland Helicopters on 1 February, 2003, which was replaced by a contract on 1 February, 2005 and renewed on multiple occasions thereafter.

In total, Global Services FZE was paid 6.16 million between 2003 and July 2012 to bribe and swing the deal in favour of AgustaWestland. Subsequently, another contract was signed on 1 November, 2006 between AgustaWestland Holdings Ltd and Global Services FZE, for which Global Services was paid a total of 7.87 million between November 2006 and January 2011.

Indian investigators who had swung into action following the registering of a case in early 2013, have claimed that Michel inherited the arms-dealing business from his father Wolfgang Max Michel Richard and exploited his contacts in India. It was alleged that Michel may have played a key role in French company Dassaults Rs 2,500 crore Mirage fighter deal with India. In 2004, when his fathers company Entera Corporation went bankrupt and Michel was barred from doing business in the UK for seven years, he decided to set up shop in Dubai and subsequently floated a company called 'Global Services FZE'.

Indian investigators believe that Michel had also floated a company in the UK called 'Beetle Nut Home Limited' in October 2009 at a time when the Ministry of Defence concluded the final contract negotiations for the deal. The Cabinet Committee on Security approved the deal on 18 January, 2010 and the final contract was signed on 8 February, 2010. A week after the deal was signed, Beetle Nut Home Limited inducted two UK citizens of Indian origin as directors of the company on 15 February, 2010.

In the Italian court judgment, several references were made to Indian political leaders including former UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. Former prime minister Manmohan Singh's name also figures in the judgment where former Finmeccanica (known now as Leonardo) CEO Giuseppe Orsi, convicted in the case, told his people to contact then Italian prime minister Mario Monti or former ambassador Pasquale Terracciano, who could speak to Manmohan on his (Orsi) behalf. The Congress had accused the NDA government of putting pressure on Michel to frame Sonia in lieu of exoneration in the case.

Michel, in the latest investigation report prepared by Corruption Watch UK, had denied making any handwritten budget sheet with the help of Haschke. Michel said, "Of the three people present at the meeting when the budget sheet was created, according to Haschke, two have no recollection of any such budget sheet. Furthermore (Michels business partner, David) Syms has given a legal affidavit to the effect that he has never seen the budget sheet before. Furthermore I have never seen it before."

"The statement that my contracts were corruptly conceived and for the purpose of bribing Indian officials is demonstrably incorrect. The Italian authorities have removed my arrest... The Swiss authorities have dropped the case against me," Michel said in the report. He further said that Indian investigation agencies had failed to produce the evidence in a Dubai court for extradition last year.

"I was arrested in Dubai in February 2017 for the purpose of extradition after a personal request was made by the Indian prime minister to the rulers of the UAE who were attending the Republic Day parade in Delhi in January. Under UAE law, for extradition, evidence of a crime must be presented and the Indian authorities were given 30 days to present their evidence. No evidence was forthcoming. The Indian authorities were given a further 30 days, but no evidence was forthcoming. The Indian authorities were given a further 30 days, but no evidence came," Michel had further added in the Corruption Watch UK report.

A year later, the law finally caught up with him. His sustained interrogation may finally unlock the mystery of the money trail in this defence scam.According to Haryana Police an FIR has been registered and have launched a manhunt to nab the culprits

Ballabhgrah (Haryana): A woman was allegedly thrashed and gang-raped by four men in Haryana last night. The incident happened in Ballabgarh in the state's Faridabad district bordering Delhi.

An FIR has been registered and the police have launched a manhunt to nab the culprits. "We received information that a woman was gang-raped by four men. We have recovered important evidence from the spot and will find the culprits very soon. An FIR has been registered. We have rounded up some men, and the interrogation is underway," said Balbir Singh, the Superintendent of Police (SP), Ballabhgarh .

The sexual crime has come in the wake of rising criticism against Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar-led Haryana government over the issue of women safety in the state.

Last week, a 19-year old girl from Rewari was allegedly kidnapped and gang-raped. The accused have been arrested and Khattar has assured strict action against the rapists."In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful Here lies Saadat Hasan Manto, and with him lie buried all the secrets and mysteries of the art of short-story writing... Under tons of earth he lies, still wondering who among the two is the greater short-story writer: God or He. - Mantos epitaph for himself Over six decades after his death, the literary legacy of Saadat Hasan Manto remains as relevant as ever. Actress-filmmaker Nandita Das feature film Manto, which is set to release on 21 September and stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui, is a homage to a writer both celebrated and condemned for his fearless, honest writing. Das calls Manto a cosmopolitan Bombaywallah, referring to the mix of Hindi and English words he used, despite being an Urdu writer. Manto stayed in Mumbai for a large part of his adult life, moving to Pakistan in 1948 post-Partition. While in Bombay, Manto was both an author as well as a screenwriter for films. In fact, the Hindi film industry greatly influenced Mantos career  just as it did with many leading Urdu and Hindi writers of that era, including Ismat Chughtai, Krishan Chander, Qurratulain Hyder. These writers also spearheaded the Progressive Writers Movement in India. Manto, however, had reservations about the association and chose not to join. Manto and his peers were unafraid of expressing the harsh realities of the times; voices of dissent, of course, have never had an easy time, and Manto found himself facing obscenity charges  both in India and Pakistan  for his stories (including Dhuan, Bu, Khol Do and Thanda Gosht).

His legal troubles and Partition took a toll. Manto became an alcoholic, and his home life deteriorated. He passed away on 18 January 1955. For Nandita Das, the challenge was to depict not just Manto the man, but also his many literary characters. She also wanted to introduce the writer to those as yet untouched by his literary genius. Das spoke about her exploration of Manto and his 'Mantoiyat' (meaning, the spirit of Manto) through three phases of the filmmaking process: scripting, finding shoot locations and casting. These form the pillars of her upcoming film. Scripting Das first encountered Mantos writing while in college; she read the works in English. It was on reading Manto in Urdu that she awoke to the true meaning and essence of his words. When you start reading Mantos works in their original form, you realise how poignant, pithy and perfect the play of words is. Yet it doesnt feel like someone has laboured over it. It is absolutely raw, in fact, it is known that he never used to cut a single word, says Das. She also explains how being raised by a rather Manto-esque father  the renowned artist Jatin Das  helped her gain an insight into what it must have been like to be around the writer. I grew up with a person who was a complete maverick. Like Manto, my father also never subscribed to the idea of selling art as a commodity in the market. They both didnt have anything to with money, they were sort of purists in that sense. They were blunt to the point of being misunderstood and felt like misfits. Growing up with a father like that meant going through discomfort, and at the same time, feeling very proud and privileged to have the independence to live life on my own terms. These were not values from books, they were lived life ideals. After all, a film on Manto cant just be about the protagonist; it is as much about the world around him. Mantos persona was developed through a detailed understanding of his relationships with others  the other Progressive writers; the film world which featured names like Ashok Kumar, Nargis, her mother Jaddan Bai; his closest friend Shyam; his wife Safia; his sisters; and his children. Das went to Lahore and met Mantos daughters and other immediate family members (including Zakia Jalal, who was married to his favourite nephew Hamid Jalal). Hamid Jalal was a writer himself and wrote about his uncle; he took care of Manto at a time when alcoholism had reduced him to a state of penury.

Their memories of him are very endearing. They remember Manto as a loving and engaging father. So when you collect all this information, you are finally telling a story that has the anger and outspokenness of Manto along with that undying love for his children and sensitivity towards his wife. Here was a man full of contradictions and you cant take away that from him because it makes him that much more real. It was not an easy script at all. You need to understand all these emotions and depict those contradictions on the screen in a way that it is believable, which is a difficult feat to achieve in films, says Das. "Haqeeqat se inqaar karna kya hamein behtar insaan banayega? Main likhta hu jo main dekhta hu aur jaanta hu." The shoot and location Besides the performances of the main actors, a film like Manto also heavily relies on the mise-en-scene. Recreating the 1940s and incorporating every aspect of that era, including the people, places and events, was a daunting task for the makers of the film. Every detail was taken into consideration, and the list of historical influences is long: Colonial society, the freedom struggle, the Hindi film industry, men of letters, men on streets fighting over Partition and its aftermath. Rita Ghosh, the art director of the film, explains how they executed the directors brief and recreated that era. Nanditas brief to me was to create the period of the 1940s in a believable manner  the period of pre/post-Partition India. The film includes both the exterior as well as interior as spaces, so for me, it all started from research in terms of the look and feel for two distinct places  Mumbai and Lahore  and accordingly, the look for the architecture, props, costume, colour palettes, lighting, and so on. She says it was very challenging to shoot at two locations. Maintaining the continuity was a challenge as we didnt shoot in the chronological order of the story. Some parts of Lahore were recreated in spaces of Bombay, which included mostly the interiors. A conscious effort was made to show the space when Manto was in Bombay when he was in a better financial state, and when Manto goes to Lahore in 1948, where people were still trying to settle down after the Partition. There was still some tension in the air, there were riots on the streets, houses were burnt down, people were migrating. The detailing involved not only props but also altering the houses, lanes, market, lights and vehicles. Nandita Das Manto has been extensively shot in various parts of south Mumbai where Saadat Hasan Manto lived: Claire Road, Byculla, Grant Road, and Reay Road station. But because of the changes that the city has undergone since that era coupled with the inaccessibility of Lahore, she had to look for a place which still had the old-world charm, devoid of crowds of people, cables and cars everywhere.

After an exhaustive search, she found an undisturbed village in Gujarat named Vaso that became Das Lahore. There is a sense of irony in finding this location. Firaaq (her 2008 National Award-winning feature film) was filmed in old Hyderabad, as we couldnt shoot in Gujarat. I feared there would be tensions and we wouldnt be allowed to shoot there. During the screening, I had people come up to me and say that they recognised certain streets and houses in Ahmedabad. I said, 'I am fine with you thinking that you know these streets and houses. I am not going to go around proving that we shot all of it in old Hyderabad city.' Similarly, for Manto, after many recces in Lucknow, Bhopal, Pune, Mumbai, Amritsar and various other parts of Punjab, I finally narrowed it down to Vaso. So, Firaaq which was set in Gujarat was shot in Hyderabad, while Manto was filmed in Gujarat. Attention had to be paid not only to the location but also to the costumes of the people  real and the fictitious. Sheetal Iqbal Sharma who did the costumes for the film takes us through the whole process behind choosing the right texture, style and colour palettes. The costumes had to reflect the honesty of Mantos thoughts and convey the gloom, grunge and grittiness of his stories. We delved into the lives of people across the social strata and researched the looks of the 40s extensively. A lot of the information came from meeting families who have still preserved the items from that era as heirloom, souvenirs or just remnants. We were thrilled when Nandita informed us about her associations with the artists and that they have offered to lend us their sarees out of their vintage collectables for us to use in the party scenes. Some of the collectables came from Bina Sarkar, Ila Arun and legendary actor Smita Patil," says Sharma. The everyday look of the people on the streets had to be devised from extensive research about the dressing sense in those times. Sharma explains, "A lot of mulmul, cottons, khadi, floral prints, tweeds and handloom have been used to bring out the essence. As for the women in the film, we have tried to depict them as any other female character aiming for happiness, love and respect. There are only subtle variations of details that have helped to differentiate the characters: the style of drapes, long blouse lengths, short length loose salwars and pajamas over the traditional loose silhouettes of the kameez, puffed sleeves with short length, long sleeves with cuffs, plain cotton fabric with zari or gota embellishment, or khadi with a resham embroidered border, patterns of necklines with collars, laces and trims and styles of bindi as kumkum or chandan on the forehead.

Since Partition was such an integral part of the films narrative, it obviously impacted Mantos look and feel. Sharma says, With regards to culture and costume history, the era of the 1940s and early 1950s cannot be divided in India and Pakistan. What differed was the approach to the transition of the film. Nandita presented the story as one film but segmented it well enough in terms of the feel of the frame." While the pre-Partition stories have some of the refreshing, charming and glamorous vibe of Indian cinema and the Bombay Talkies, the post-Partition era needed to show a brutal saga of destruction and despair. The era of the Bombay Talkies has enchanting hues of deep reds, bottle green, royal blue and burgundy mixed with pastel browns and grey with slight hints of sheen to the frame, while post-Partition Lahore has been shown in ruins, with clothes tattered and the general feeling of loss and confusion in the air. So our colour palette was derived from the burnt and weathered backdrops of the refugee camps. Every single garment went through weeks of ageing, drying in the sun and washes in muddy water for texture. The costumes had to merge into the surroundings they were placed in to portray the melancholic stillness required in the frame, adds Sharma. Casting Nandita Das has mentioned that while working on Manto, she always envisaged Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the title role. Casting Rasika Dugal as Safiya, Mantos wife, was a result of both Dugals credibility as a performer as well as her uncanny resemblance to the real Safiya. Because the film industry features in Manto, theres also a league of supporting cast members playing the parts of Bollywood luminaries like Ashok Kumar, Nargis, K Asif, and so on.

Finding actors to play these roles was a challenging task. Casting director Honey Trehan came to Das rescue. Casting these iconic yesteryear stars cannot actually happen through a brief; we all know who they were, how they looked. When Nandita approached me, I asked for a weeks time in order to research and study these people. Though I didnt want these actors to be caricatured in this film, their mannerisms and looks were really important. Wed never call out their names in the film. Instead, we wanted viewers to figure out who these people are through their conversations with each other, says Trehan. The actors who play film stars are Bhanu Uday (Ashok Kumar), Sahil Vaidya (K Asif), Ila Arun (Jaddan Bai), Indian-British actor Feryna Wazheir (Nargis), and Rishi Kapoor as a lecherous producer. A league of promising actors and veterans like Paresh Rawal, Gurdas Maan, Ranvir Shorey, Divya Dutta, and Vinod Nagpal essay characters from Mantos literary world, including the short stories Thanda Gosht, Khol Do and Toba Tek Singh. Lyricist and poet Javed Akhtar also features in the film as Abid Ali Abid, a renowned Urdu poet and the principal of Dyal Singh College in Pakistan, who was called as a witness during the trial of Manto when he was charged with obscenity. According to Trehan, Akhtars decision to play the role was the biggest form of tribute from one poet to another. Trehan says that getting all these names on board was a result of the everlasting impact of Manto and his words. About 90-95 percent of the actors in the film belongs to the theatre or have some literature background. And every theatre actor aspires to play a character from the world of Manto at least once in their lifetime; his characters are so full of honesty and they are real-life people. Of these actors, 90 percent worked in the film for free; they all came to pay their respects to Manto. Perhaps Manto himself chose the actors who would be part of his biopic, not me. Not Nandita. He is the true casting director of the film.

 Still images from the film courtesy Viacom18 Motion Pictures. Storyboards and other pictures courtesy Nandita Das.Make no mistake, these results stand as proof of the fact that Indias best-known Central university will not vindicate the saffron politics of hate and fear anytime soon.

As the final returns from this years Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) elections came in, it once again became apparent why the current political dispensation, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Sangh, and their student affiliates in the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) have always been so obsessively mindful of this campus. They are, after all, not used to being challenged with such infectious assertion and solidarity elsewhere.

The ABVP, despite its signature attempts to sabotage the counting process through violence and hooliganism, lost all the central panel seats to the Left Unity (a coalition of four left parties) by large margins. The Right-wing student party even lost significant chunks of votes from the Sciences schools, which are considered to be its core constituencies. The margins of loss were less than consoling: the ABVP president candidate, Lalit Pandey, lost to his Left Unity counterpart, N Sai Balaji, by a daunting 1,179 votes.

As the leads began to trickle in, JNU students got their first glimpse of what Delhi University is thoroughly familiar with: SUV politics. Multiple first-person accounts accused ABVP cadres, including former JNUSU joint secretary Saurabh Sharma, of bringing in vehicles filled with goons armed with sticks and rods into the campus when the leads began to pour in. Even on Monday, the newly-elected president, Balaji, accused Sharma and his gang of violently assaulting students inside the campus. Sharma, however, accused the left parties of attacking ABVP cadres.

]

Look how in the morning in front of Periyar the entire crowd ran towards ABVP activists to beat them up and the phone was also snatched in which video recording was being done. @HMOIndia@DelhiPolice @rajnathsingh#LeftistGunde #RedTerrorInJNU

Is this not mob lynching? pic.twitter.com/HZnlFLavPQ  Saurabh Sharma JNU (@SaurabhJNU) September 17, 2018

Clearly, the party is struggling to stomach its inglorious defeat. To compensate, it is out to intimidate the student community and political opponents with punches, kicks, sticks, and stones. But, unfortunately for them, JNU isnt any other university: the rejoinder has already come in the form of a stunning democratic mandate against the Sanghs politics of fear. No amount of violent coercion can overturn that.

Make no mistake, these results stand as proof of the fact that Indias best-known Central university will not vindicate the saffron politics of hate and fear anytime soon, despite the most systematic of efforts at subversion. In an otherwise national playfield where the BJP-Sangh might be winning elections block after block despite its patently communal and propagandist agendas, here is an island of collective dissent that remains steadfastly assertive of its rich democratic tradition.

JNU has seen a lot after the BJP government came to power in 2014. From receiving a police battalion in its doorstep for the first time since 1983 to falling at the short end of the administrations relentless attacks on the universitys traditions, JNUites have had an unprecedented four years under the current regimes shadows. These results, thus, are nothing short of a victory mile for all those who care about keeping India's university campuses free from ideological homogenisation and administrative hegemony.

The signalling takes an even more loaded significance in light of the upcoming national election in 2019: Modi Hawa or Modi tsunami, JNU does not care and stands resolutely against BJP and its divisive, sentimental politics. The mood of the nation is coalescing fast, and opinions are being frozen. In such a situation, a massive mandate against the saffron coterie by young, educated people in Indias capital city is something that the ruling party can only overlook to its own peril.

The JNUSU results should also be read in a broader context of other recent campus elections, including the historic victory in Panjab University by 22-year old Kanupriya who belongs to the Left-leaning Students for Society (SFS), and the ABVPs damning losses in Uttarakhands Garhwal University and Gurukul Kangri University. Notably, these are familiar territories for the right-wing party, which now finds itself decisively challenged and floundering for mandates.

Together, these new trends tell us that the saffron cheerleaders might have taken India's young minds for granted too soon; that no amount of intimidation, coercion, slandering, and misinformation can finish off opposing ideological persuasions so easily; that the project of intellectual homogenisation is a total non-starter in a democratically vibrant country like India.

However, the Left parties in JNU, too, cannot take their student constituencies for granted. In a situation where the ABVP has come only second, the Left alliance cannot afford to project even the slightest hint of disunity. More importantly, it must create agendas and platforms that are fully inclusive and mindful of differing persuasions, rather than propagating an only benign version of the ABVPs sectarian, divisive politics. This is particularly so given the upward trajectory of identity-based student parties, like the BAPSA. Even the NOTA constituency, which clocked at a significant 1,148 votes this time (only slightly lower than last year), must be a beacon of warning to the left parties.

Further, as much as national political issues are important (especially because of the fast approaching national election), the winning alliance needs to bring the focus back to core student welfare. As student parties, their foremost priority is to ensure that the student communitys needs and grievances are duly addressed. More crucially, the dominant Left parties, rather than hegemonizing the space for dissent, must ensure that ordinary students are given greater agency in movements and protests. In short, they need to render JNUs campus politics more participatory and deliberative than it was ever before.

In a situation otherwise, belligerent groups like the ABVP are bound to invalidate it to the point of transforming it into a passive, heavily technocratic college campus that only claps, not questions; that cheers, not demonstrate. That would be incredibly tragic for JNU -- the last hope for a truly democratic, liberal university space in the midst of an authoritarian, anti-intellectual swamp.BJP president Amit Shah has called a meeting of Goa BJP leaders, in order to prevent any political crisis in Goa after the Congress staked claim to power in the absence of Manohar Parrikar, who is hospitalised in AIIMS, Delhi

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah will hold a meeting with leaders from the Goa unit of the party on Wednesday, with Goa BJP chief Vijay Tendulkar, and BJP MPs Sripad Naik and Narendra Sawaikar expected to be in attendance.

According to India Today, Shah plans to discuss portfolio distribution and alliance management with the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and Goa Forward Party (GFP) as well.

The move to work out a plan and prevent any political crisis comes after the opposition Congress staked claim to power in the absence of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who has been receiving treatment at AIIMS hospital in Delhi.

As per a report from NDTV, Shah has already contacted Goa Forward Party's Vijay Sardesai, a minister in the BJP-led government, after the latter party rejected a plan to have MGP leader and PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar take charge as deputy chief minister in the coastal state.

Sardesai, however, told CNN-News18 that he appreciated the prompt action by the BJP chief. The town planning minister in the state cabinet has reportedly been upset about rumours that Dhavalikar would be made the chief minister of the state after merging his party with the BJP.

Sardesai, with three MLAs, is said to have for long nourished chief ministerial ambitions.

Shah also held a meeting with Ram Lal, one of the three leaders who was sent to the state to assess the ground situation and talk to MLAs and allies, DNA reported. The central observers briefed the leadership about the ground situation and possible options. Shah, later, visited Parrikar in AIIMS on Monday evening.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman condemned the Congress for not showing any sensitivity towards the ailing Parrikar. Interacting with Delhi's women press corps, she said that the Congress was out to take advantage and playing politics out of Parrikar's ailment. "The chief minister is ill. That is why he is not attending his office. What Congress is doing, shows their desperation and lust for power," she said, adding the party has lost all the morals.The Congress should be ashamed for politicising the issue for so many years, BJP leader Kapil Sibal said.

New Delhi: The BJP on Monday described the government's decision to bring an ordinance to make the practice of instant triple talaq a penal offence as a huge step towards "empowering women".

Taking a dig at the Congress, BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra said Kapil Sibal, a leader of the Opposition party, defended this practice in the Supreme Court.

For all these years, the Congress politicised the triple talaq issue for vote-bank politics. The Congress should be ashamed of itself, Patra said at a press conference at the party office in Delhi.

The BJP thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing the triple talaq ordinance. It is a huge feat and huge step towards empowering women, Patra said.

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday cleared an ordinance to make the practice of instant triple talaq a penal offence.

Briefing the media about the Cabinet decision, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad accused the Congress party of not cooperating in the passage of the Muslim Women Protection of Rights on Marriage Bill, pending in the Rajya Sabha, because of vote-bank politics.

The Supreme Court last year banned the practice. But since the practice was still prevalent, a bill was brought to make it a penal offence.Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh on Wednesday ordered an inquiry by a magistrate into a lathicharge by police on Congress workers in Bilaspur city.

Bilaspur: Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh on Wednesday ordered an inquiry by a magistrate into a lathicharge by police on Congress workers in Bilaspur city.

At least seven Congress workers were injured in a lathicharge by police Tuesday following a protest by party workers outside urban administration minister Amar Agrawal's house.

During the protest, Congress workers allegedly threw garbage inside the minister's house. Later, 52 Congress workers were arrested from the party's local office.

The Congress alleged that police used lathicharge for no reason while arresting workers from the party office.

The party had organised the protest outside the minister's house over his alleged remark describing the Congress as "kachra" (garbage).

Chief Minister Raman Singh, speaking to reporters in Korba district on Wednesday, condemned the incident and announced probe by a magistrate.

"Neither the act of throwing garbage into the minister's house nor what happened at Congress Bhawan (lathi-charge) was appropriate," Singh said.

"Chhattisgarh is a peace-loving state where all political parties are equally respected. I condemn these incidents. A magisterial inquiry will be conducted," he said.

Bilaspur collector P Dayanand said that upper district magistrate Bhagwan Singh Uike will conduct the inquiry and submit his report within three months.

The probe will deal with several points including whether the Congress had taken permission for its protest and what led to the incident, he said.

Superintendent of Police Arif H Sheikh said he will also conduct a departmental enquiry into the incident.

The Opposition party, however, demanded probe by a sitting judge of the high court and immediate removal of Bilaspur Additional Superintendent of Police Neeraj Chandrakar.

"The inquiry ordered by Raman Singh is not acceptable to us. A time-bound probe by a sitting judge of the high court should be ordered," state Congress general secretary Shailesh Nitin Trivedi said.

Over 400 Congress workers staged a sit-in in front of Civil Lines police station in Bilaspur Wednesday. Party workers also burnt effigies representing the Raman Singh government at all district headquarters to protest its "oppressive" and "barbaric" act, Trivedi said.The Opposition Congress in Goa on Wednesday claimed that it had the support of over 21 legislators in the 40-member Assembly, giving it enough strength to form the government in the state.

Panaji: The Opposition Congress in Goa on Wednesday claimed that it had the support of over 21 legislators in the 40-member Assembly, giving it enough strength to form the government in the state.

The Congress, which is the single-largest party with 16 MLAs, has already staked claim to form the government in the coastal state.

The Opposition party's claim comes at a time when Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar (62) is admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi for a pancreatic ailment.

Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Chandrakant Kavlekar told PTI that the Congress had enough support to form the government in Goa.

"We have the required numbers. I am not going to tell you whom we are in discussions with, but we need the support of 21 MLAs and we have more than that," he said.

The Congress legislators, led by Kavlekar, had met Governor Mridula Sinha on Tuesday and demanded a floor test by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government to prove its majority in the Assembly.

Kavlekar said his party was waiting for a response from the governor, who had assured them that she would get back on the issue in three-four days.

The state is being ruled by the BJP with the support of the Goa Forward Party (GFP), the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Independent MLAs.

The BJP has 14 seats in the Assembly, the GFP and the MGP have three each and the NCP has one. There are also three Independent legislators.

Kavlekar claimed the political situation in the state was in the favour of the Congress as there was a lot of "discontent" among the ruling coalition partners.

"You have seen how the BJP observers came to Goa and met their legislators, former MLAs and alliance partners. They are also talking about inviting a leader from one of the allies to head the government.

"This has created a bitter situation as allowing one alliance partner to head the coalition will upset another," he said.

Kavlekar also claimed that a section within the BJP was upset over the possibility of a leader being "imported" from outside and was in touch with the Congress for joining the opposition party.

"We need not go to anyone with the proposal of supporting or joining us. In fact, they are coming to us with proposals," he added.

The Congress leader had earlier said the BJP might force the dissolution of the Assembly and another election in just a year-and-a-half.

The Assembly polls in Goa were held in February, 2017.

The Congress legislators have urged the governor not to allow the Assembly to be dissolved.

BJP national general secretary Ram Lal, who, along with two other senior leaders, was deputed by the party's central leadership to take stock of the political situation in Goa, had on Monday said the state government was stable and there was no demand for a change in the leadership.

He had said this after a meeting with the party's MLAs, former legislators and core committee members.

According to Ram Lal, the allies of the saffron party had conveyed that they would abide by any political decision taken by it.

On 18 May too, the Congress had staked claim to form the government in Goa, citing the example of Karnataka, where the largest-party, the BJP, was invited to form the government after the Assembly polls threw up a fractured verdict.

The Congress had said it was not invited to form the government in Goa after the Assembly polls last year, despite emerging as the single-largest party.

The party representatives had also met the governor on 7 September, urging her to intervene as the state administration was suffering due to the failing health of the chief minister.According to a report of the Association of Democratic Reforms and National Election Watch on donations received (above Rs 20,000) by national political parties in FY 2016-17, Congress received a much lesser amount than the BJP.

The full impact of losing elections in state after state in the past few years, including the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, is now visible on the Congress partys coffers.

Once the largest party of the country, Congress is now facing an embarrassing fund crunch in a crucial election year -- to the extent that it is going public with a nationwide fundraising programme.

Named as Mission Rs 500 crore, the cash-starved Congress will kick-start the programme on 2 October, when the nation will engage in a two-year-long celebration across the country and all over the globe to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

The newly appointed treasurer of Congress, Ahmed Patel has instructed the state and district units of the party along with the frontal organisations to get actively into the mass campaign for fund collection from 2 October. The campaign will conclude on the birth anniversary of former prime minister Indira Gandhi on 19 November.

A decision was taken in a meeting a fortnight ago to raise funds for the party ahead of elections. Its for the first time that the Congress is going public for funds on such a large scale. The reason is obviously the shortage of funds in the party to contest elections this year, including the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Our party treasurer Ahmed Patel has communicated it to all committees in the states, districts, frontal organisations and various departments and cells of the Congress party, a senior Congress leader told Firstpost.

Besides reaching out for funds, the Congress party workers will visit every booth and discuss with the public state and national issues ahead of elections, the senior leader said.

Keeping forthcoming elections in mind, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Ashok Gehlot in an official communique to AICC, PCC, DCC, frontal organisations, departments and cells of the party on 1 September had asked the heads and top office bearers of respective bodies for a detailed action plan in order to formulate a strategy at national level. Sourcing and utilisation of funds were two of the key areas of discussion in the follow-up meeting.

Why fund crunch?

According to a Congress MLA from Madhya Pradesh, who didnt want to be named, the fund crunch in the party has been due to the electoral losses it faced over the years.

The Congress faced a major loss in 2014 Lok Sabha election and consecutive state Assembly elections.

Besides the annual membership fee which is a minuscule amount, the MPs and MLAs also contribute funds to the party. It has declined drastically. The donations and corporate contribution have also reduced in comparison to the past. Contributors would like to go with the party in power like BJP, which is financially in a much stronger position. Now well go to the public with issues and try to win back the trust they had in Congress earlier, the MLA said.

An internal report of the party highlighted that Congress would need Rs 1,000 crore for election campaigning along with other expenses during the Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Mizoram by the year-end.

Besides Assembly elections this year, Congress shall have to engage in a nationwide campaign ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha election, which requires major funding.

A decline in donations, especially from corporate houses after 2014, has added to the woes. According to a report of the Association of Democratic Reforms and National Election Watch on donations received (above Rs 20,000) by national political parties in FY 2016-17, Congress received a much lesser amount than the BJP.

While the BJP in FY 2016-17 received Rs 532.27 crore, the Congress got Rs 41.90 crore. The report further mentioned that in comparison to FY 2015-16, there was a rise of 593 percent in donations received by the BJP in FY 2016-17, whereas Congress received 105 percent more amount. BJP received Rs 76.85 crore and Congress Rs 20.42 crore in 2015-16.

As donations from business houses while the BJP got Rs 515.43 crore in 2016-17, the Congress received Rs 36.06 crore.

The Congress party has been facing the heat of fund crunch for quite some time. One may recall, the partys general secretary and Madhya Pradesh in-charge, Deepak Babaria, had created a flutter within the party by suggesting an application fee for candidates for the Assembly election in the state to be held later this year.

In a meeting with party workers in Jabalpur in February this year, Babaria said that contestants seeking a ticket should deposit Rs 50,000 as an application fee. This would be deposited in the party fund and will be used for campaigning.

Congress plan

With an aim to collect Rs 500 crore, the party has fixed a minimum target for each booth committee at Rs 5,000. There are a total of 10 lakh booths. It has been decided by the party that Congress workers will visit every booth and discuss with the public on the state and national issues, besides taking donations. A door-to-door collection by booth workers will also be carried out with anyone contributing any amount from Rs 5 onwards. The party hopes that besides bringing some respite to its stressed coffers, the exercise will also strengthen grassroots connectivity of the party.

Weve already started Soch-se-Soch ki ladai campaign along with membership drive named Yuva Shakti across the country. Were doing small programmes to connect with the youth and engage in discussions on state and national issues. Besides the support from the party, well get our resources, president of Indian Youth Congress, Keshav Chand Yadav said.Criminal records are not likely to be a deterrent to MPs and MLAs as no more than 6 percent of criminal cases against Indias MPs and MLAs ended in conviction, according to data submitted by the Centre to the Supreme Court

By Shreya Raman

Mumbai: As Mizoram, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh prepare for elections and India for general elections next year, criminal records are not likely to be a deterrent to members of Parliament (MPs) and state legislative assemblies (MLAs).

No more than 6 percent of criminal cases against Indias MPs and MLAs ended in conviction, according to data submitted by the Centre to the Supreme Court.

Of 3,884 such cases  conviction for which results in a six-year ban from contesting elections  guilty judgements were pronounced in 38 and 560 were acquitted, the Centre told the Supreme Court on 11 September, 2018.

Source: Centres affidavit in Supreme Court, dated 11 September, 2018

In 18 of 29 states and two of seven Union territories, there were no convictions for criminal cases against MPs and MLAs; the cases include murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, hate speech and criminal intimidation.

The highest number of acquittals were in Kerala (147 acquittals, eight convictions), Tamil Nadu (68 acquitals, three convictions) and Bihar (48 acquittals, zero convictions).

The highest number of convictions were in Orissa (10), Kerala (eight) and Uttar Pradesh (five).

The affidavit was submitted during a hearing of a two-year-old public interest litigation, which demanded a life ban for politicians convicted in criminal cases. On 14 December, 2017, the court ordered the Centre to set up 12 special courts to deal with such cases, asking the courts to start working from 1 March, 2018.

With a budget of Rs 7.8 crore, courts were established in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal and two special courts in the National Capital Territory of Delhi. The other 19 states and one union territory were to fast-track pending cases.

Six months after the March deadline, 40 percent (1,233) of these cases were transferred to the special courts, of which judgments were pronounced in 136 (11 percent); 89 percent (1,097) cases so transferred are pending.

The highest number of pending cases among the states where special courts were set up was in Bihar (249), followed by West Bengal (226) and Kerala (233).

In Kerala and West Bengal, only one case each has been disposed. In Uttar Pradesh, which had the highest number of cases (565), the special court started functioning on 21 August, 2018. In Tamil Nadu, where 402 cases were filed against legislators, the notification for the special court was issued on 6 September, 2018.

Source: Centres affidavit in Supreme Court, dated 12 March, 2018

*Data for Maharashtra and Goa sourced from Centres affidavit in Supreme Court, dated 11 September, 2018

These cases should be fast-tracked, especially as four state elections (Mizoram, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh) and the Lok Sabha elections will be conducted over the next eight months, Major General Anil Verma (retired), National Coordinator of Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), an advocacy, told IndiaSpend.

In 2014, ADR, along with National Election Watch (NEW), a campaign comprising of 1,200 non-governmental organisations working on electoral reforms, analysed the self-sworn affidavits of 542 of 543 winners in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and found that a candidate with a criminal background was almost twice more likely to win than a candidate with no criminal background. The winning chances of a candidate with criminal background were 13 percent, while those of a candidate with no criminal background were 5 percent.

People feel these legislators with criminal backgrounds have clout, and they are able to get work done from bureaucrats or lower level functionaries of the government, said Verma, adding, In rural areas, people do not give too much importance to criminal cases. They think, if he gets our work done, it is okay, we will vote for him.

The petition in the Supreme Court argued that current provisions of the Representatives of Peoples Act (1951) for convicted legislators are not enough. The petitioner and a spokesperson of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, Ashwini Upadhyay, told IndiaSpend that a ban for six years is not enough.

The bar for legislators has to be set higher than that for other civil servants, said Upadhyay. Civil servants are suspended the moment the police files a chargesheet against them and are allowed to resume work only when the court acquits them. But so many politicians continue to hold posts despite several cases against them, including those of rape, kidnapping, murder and hate speech.

An analysis by ADR in April 2018 found that 48 legislators had criminal cases filed against them for crimes against women. In another report, released in April 2018, ADR found 58 legislators have cases registered against them on charges related to hate speech.

The author is is a data analyst at IndiaSpend

Indiaspend.org is a data-driven, public-interest journalism non-profit/FactChecker.in is fact-checking initiative, scrutinising for veracity and context statements made by individuals and organisations in public life.The AAP leader alleged that BJP government in the state has completely failed on the law and order and women safety front.

Chandigarh: AAP's Haryana unit chief Naveen Jaihind Tuesday provoked a controversy over the alleged gangrape of a girl in the state, saying he will give Rs 20 lakh to any BJP leader who gets sexually assaulted by 10 people.

Jaihind, the husband of Delhi Commission for Women chairperson Swati Maliwal, made the remarks while condemning the BJP government in Haryana for giving only Rs 2 lakh as compensation to the Rewari gang rape victim.

The Aam Aadmi Party leader alleged that BJP government in the state has completely failed on the law and order and women safety front.

The 19-year-old rape victim's family had Saturday decided to return a cheque of Rs 2 lakh handed over to them by officials under the Haryana Victim Compensation Scheme, 2013.

"Is a woman's honours worth Rs 2 lakh?" Jaihind told reporters in Rohtak. "Be ashamed, chief minister 'sahab'."

"We will give Rs 20 lakh to any BJP leader who gets raped by 10 people. Does woman's honour have a value? (BJP ka koyee neta dus logon say ku-karam karvaye 20 lakh hum denge unko, arrey izzat ki koyee keemat hote hai kya)," he said.

When contacted, the AAP leader said he stands by his comments.

"I stand by what I have said. You cannot disrespect any woman in society. The victim or her family are not asking for money, all they want is justice," he said over the phone.

He said the gang rape incident was very unfortunate. "But what happened in this case. The victim is made to run from pillar to post to get her complaint registered. Instead of acting against the culprits, the victim is harassed. While the family is demanding justice, you are handing them a cheque of Rs 2 lakh, which they don't want. Isn't it like rubbing salt on their wounds?" Jaihind asked.

"So many crimes against women are taking place in Haryana, but the chief minister has become a 'Dhritarashtra'. The government has completely failed. It is like the Kauravas are ruling the state," he said.

Activists lashed out at Jaihind for making the "insensitive" remarks.

Women rights activist Shabnam Hashmi said the comments were "very obnoxious and irresponsible".

"This shows the patriarchal mindset of these leaders who consider women an object," she said.

Annie Raja, National Federation of Indian Women's general secretary, said it is a "criminal opinion".

"He is trying to take political mileage out of the situation. These people do not consider women equal beings. After a few days, they apologise and escape by making such statements," she said.

The 19-year-old woman, a Class 12 topper from Rewari, was abducted from a bus stop in Mahendragarh district Wednesday. She was allegedly drugged and gang raped in an agricultural field, police had said.

Police have arrested three persons, including one of the prime accused, in connection with the incident. Two key accused are on the run.Karnataka minister DK Shivakumar said BJP was dragging the Gandhis into the controversy, and that he was ready to face 'any kind of torture' by central agencies.

Bengaluru: Rejecting the BJP's allegation that he had paid money to the Congress's central leadership, Karnataka minister DK Shivakumar on Wednesday accused the saffron party of misusing central agencies to harass him and pull down the Congress-JD(S) government in the state.

Pleading innocence, the high-profile minister said he was not involved in hawala transactions and was ready to face "any type of torture" by central agencies. He asserted he would come out clean.

Shivakumar's repudiation came after a BJP spokesperson in New Delhi demanded that the top Congress leadership respond to the purported "confessional statements" made to the Income Tax Department by his alleged associates, claiming that the money trail in a hawala network led to the Congress headquarters.

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra also referred to diaries allegedly recovered from Congress leaders in the state claiming "entries of money running up to Rs 600 crore were shown against SG and RG among others". Patra alleged the acronyms referred to top leaders in the Opposition party and demanded that Congress president Rahul Gandhi and his predecessor Sonia Gandhi come out and respond.

"He is simply using RG names, SG names. Where is RG name and SG name? I want to make it very clear that no SG or RG names are there. No way we are connected. They are unnecessarily trying to damage the name of our leaders. Let them (Enforcement Directorate) call me," Shivakumar said.

Hitting out at the BJP spokesperson, Shivakumar sought to know why he was dragging Congress leaders into controversy. "Unnecessarily you are bringing my party leaders (into the controversy). I have not paid any money to my party leaders, nor to the party. If anything is there, it is me and my party. They have to ask me, I have to reply to them. I need not reply to any of my BJP friends," he said.

At a press conference in New Delhi, Patra showed the purported confessional statements of Anjaneya Hanumanthaiah, an employeeof the Karnataka Bhavan in Delhi, and claimed the documents were the proof of Congress's involvement in a hawala network.

"We have statements of D K Shivakumar's driver, who told the I-T Department about how money in kilograms were sent to All India Congress Committee. We now know why Congress party was crying during demonetisation," Patra said.

Shivakumar asserted, "I am ready to face any kind of consequences or any type of torture they (central agencies) want to give me. I am confident that I will come out clean because I am a law abiding citizen."

Hitting back at Patra for referring to the abbreviated names in the diary, Shivakumar said, "What diaries are you talking about? Did you forget the Jain diaries, Advani diaries, or Modi Sahab's diary?"

Shivakumar claimed he was being subjected to harassment by central agencies ever since he hosted Gujarat Congress MLAs during Rajya Sabha elections when the party leaders felt the BJP may poach on them in August last year.

Sonia Gandhi's close aide Ahmed Patel was contesting the election which he narrowly managed to win.

The Karnataka minister also linked his "harassment" to the BJP's alleged attempts to destabilise the coalition government in Karnataka.

"These are your day dreams Mr Yeddyurappa (the state BJP chief and leader of opposition). We have thenumbers," asserted Shivakumar, adding these "blackmailing tactics will not work".

The Enforcement Directorate has registered a money laundering case against Shivakumar and a few others for alleged tax evasion and hawala transactions.Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar was likely to meet top leaders of the BJP during his ongoing visit of New Delhi and thrash out the issue of seat-sharing for the Lok Sabha polls,

Patna: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar was likely to meet top leaders of the BJP during his ongoing visit of New Delhi and thrash out the issue of seat-sharing for the Lok Sabha polls, his close aide said here on Tuesday. "When our leader is in New Delhi, he would naturally meet leaders of our alliance partner. Moreover, I have said earlier that talks on seat-sharing are in final stages", JD(U) national general secretary RCP Singh told reporters.

He was replying to a query as to whether Kumar, who is also the JD(U) national president, was likely to meet BJP top brass and finalise sharing of seats during his tour of the national capital for a medical check-up. The chief minister, who had made a dash to New Delhi on Monday, was on Tuesday admitted to AIIMS this morning with complaints of fever and problems in eyes and knees.

Singh, who is also the JD(U)'s leader in the Rajya Sabha, took a swipe at the opposition "Mahagathbandhan" with the sarcastic remark " our full sympathy is with Hindustani Awam Morcha leader Jitan Ram Manjhi who has sought to contest 20 out of 40 seats in the state. After all, he is a former chief minister".

Manjhi had made a statement to the effect on Sunday. However, his party on Monday had clarified that he was only expressing that the HAM was "ready" to contest 20 seats and there was no demand for a specific number of seats. To a query about RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav's repeated barbs that Bihar government levied an "RCP tax" - an allusion to corruption - the JD(U) leader shot back "I was an Indian Revenue Service officer when he was not even born".

About the Congress' appointment of Madan Mohan Jha, an upper caste leader, as its state unit chief, Singh said "I do not wish to comment on any party's internal matter. But if anything is done purely out of caste considerations, it is not good".

Speaking in presence of former minister and the party's deputy leader in the state assembly Shyam Rajak, Singh announced that after having held "Ati Picchara" (extremely backward classes) conferences across the state, the JD(U) would now be organizing similar congregations of the Dalits and the Mahadalits.The Mamata Banerjee-led TMC's comments come after the BJP had mocked the TMC for winning over 30 percent of local bodies seats unchallenged in West Bengal recently.

Kolkata: In a tit-for-tat attack, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Tuesday questioned the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for winning 96 per cent of seats uncontested in the by-elections to three-tier panchayat polls in Tripura.

The Mamata Banerjee-led party's attack comes after the BJP had mocked the TMC for winning over 30 percent of local bodies seats unchallenged in West Bengal recently.

The ruling BJP has won around 96 percent of the over 3,000 seats in gram panchayats, panchayat samitis and zilla parishads without contest in the by-elections of three-tier panchayat polls in Tripura scheduled to be held on 30 September.

"Why is the BJP silent about its victory? When we had won seats uncontested they had moved court accusing us of unleashing violence, but now they too have won seats uncontested. What would they say now?" asked State Minister and senior TMC leader Firhad Hakim said.

TMC secretary-general Partha Chatterjee said, "Those who live in glass house should not throw stones at others. If TMC wins uncontested then it is due to violence, but if BJP wins then it is a victory for democracy. The BJP and opposition parties should stop coming up with such childish logic."

Reacting to TMC's allegations, the BJP said not a single incident of violence was reported during the panchayat polls in Tripura. "The TMC should not mix both the elections. Unlike panchayat elections in West Bengal, you cannot show a single incident of violence in the rural polls in Tripura," BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha told PTI.

BJP Tripura spokesman Mrinal Kanti Deb told PTI that their candidates won uncontested due to "spontaneous" support of the people and that it has no comparison with the scenario in West Bengal where the poll was allegedly rigged.

Elections were held in phases for 48,650 posts in gram panchayats, 825 posts in zilla parishads and 9,217 posts in panchayat samitis in West Bengal. The ruling TMC won about 34 per cent seats uncontested in May.

The BJP and CPM had moved court demanding cancellation of elections at uncontested seats. The Supreme Court in August turned down the pleas. It, however, took note of allegations and said the aggrieved candidate may file election petitions to challenge panchayat polls in courts concerned.

The CPM, which is the opposition party in Tripura and West Bengal, said TMC and BJP are different sides of the same coin and it is expected that they will follow the same kind of strategy when fighting elections. "The TMC and the BJP are two sides of the same coin. They are engaged in breaking each other's records in terms of percentage seats won uncontested," CPM central committee member Sujan Chakraborty said.The fact that triple talaq has either been banned or has been regulated in 22 Islamic countries is only helping the ruling BJP to make its arguments more convincing.

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi government on Wednesday gave nod to an ordinance to ban triple talaq. This means that in the next few days, after receiving presidential assent and issuance of the notification, it will become the law of the land but will have to be ratified by both Houses of Parliament in the Winter Session.

The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017, popularly called as the Triple Talaq bill was passed by Lok Sabha but has been pending in Rajya Sabha since January this year due to opposition from Congress and its allies. The bill also couldnt be taken up in this years budget and Monsoon session.

The criminalisation of talaaq-e-biddat or triple talaq has a significant amount of political connotations apart from social ones as many BJP-ruled states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh are going for polls later this year besides Telangana and Mizoram which are not BJP-ruled. The Lok Sabha polls are also due in the first half of next year.

Although Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad made it amply clear that the proposed law was about gender justice and gender equity among Muslim women, the underlying political message was unmissable. While talking about the need for an ordinance, Prasad kept on repeating how the Congress has consistently plotted to stall the bill in Rajya Sabha. He even mentioned about his and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumars meetings with Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad and his deputy in Congress party in Rajya Sabha, Anand Sharma. In a clear reference to Sonia Gandhi, Prasad said that despite "a distinguished woman" being at the helm of the Congress until recently, the bill to prevent suppression of Muslim women couldnt get the party's support because of vote bank considerations. The minister's appeal to women leaders of the Opposition like Sonia Gandhi, Mayawati and Mamata Banerjee to come forward and support the bill in Rajya Sabha, where it will now be tabled in the Winter Session, also has a political implication apart from gender considerations.

The Congress, Bahujan Samaj Party and Trinamool Congress collectively have 67 MPs in the Upper House and heavily bank on the Muslim community to win elections.

It appears that womenfolk in the Muslim community are largely in favour of the triple talaq bill but most men in the community, as also the religious leaders of the community, are stridently opposed to the bill, particularly because of the penal provisions in the bill. The Congress objections to the bill, which have proved to be stalling or delaying tactic, are same as that of All India Muslim Personal Board (AIMPLB) and other community leaders.

Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal had represented Muslim AIMPLB in Supreme Court, an organisation which supports the continuance of triple talaq. The BJP used Sibals contention in the Supreme Court as an electoral issue against Congress in the Gujarat elections which the saffron entity won.

The triple talaq bill has put the Congress, Samajwadi Party, BSP, TMC, Rashtriya Janata Dal and such other like-minded parties in a catch-22 situation. If they support the ordinance and its prospective passage in the Parliament they might end up antagonising the maulanas and the menfolk in the community and if they oppose it they might end up pushing the womenfolk in the community to support Narendra Modi and the BJP.

At a public rally in Azamgarh in July this year, Modi had said, "The real face of these parties was revealed by their approach on triple talaq On one side, the Centre is making efforts to ease and improve the lives of women and on the other hand, these parties are working to put the lives of women, especially Muslim women, in dangerCrores of Muslim women had always demanded that triple talaq should be banned, as it is also banned in Islamic countries. I read in the newspaper that the Congress president had said that the Congress is a party of MuslimsBut I want to ask the Congress whether it is a party of Muslim men alone."

The BJP has built a smart public narrative around this issue. The fact that triple talaq has either been banned or has been regulated in 22 Islamic countries is only helping the ruling BJP to make its arguments more convincing.

The Modi government claims that there was compelling necessity and a great deal of urgency to bring an ordinance because the practice of triple talaq continues even after Supreme Court in August 2017 declared triple talaq as illegal. Since January 2017 till the current month, 430 triple talaq cases have been reported, 229 before the Supreme Court verdict and 201 after that.

The government has made three crucial amendments in the original bill  first, the offence will be cognisable only when a complaint is filed by the wife, a relative by blood or by marriage; second, it was compoundable at the instance of wife on appropriate terms and conditions; third, magistrate will have powers to give bail after hearing the wife because this was a private dispute between husband and wife.

Although the Congress is not convinced by the amendments, as it stands today, in the politics of triple talaq, the BJP has placed itself in an advantageous position.The Associated Press

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) accused Facebook of discrimination, saying the company violated federal and state laws prohibiting businesses from excluding women from job ads.

In a complaint filed 18 September with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the ACLU also lists 10 employers that it claims have placed discriminatory ads. The group says changes that Facebook made to its ads systems this year to prevent discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion and other characteristics didn't extend to gender.

Facebook said there is "no place for discrimination" on its platform and that it will defend its practices once it can review the complaint.

The complaint by the ACLU and the Communications Workers of America labor union says Facebook allows for job ads that target potential applicants based on gender. This includes women as well as people who do not identify as either men or women, or "non-binary" people.

The complaint was filed on behalf of three women, living in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois, who allegedly were not shown ads for jobs in traditionally male-dominated fields, even though they appeared qualified for those positions. The ads, which the ACLU says appeared over the course of several months in 2017 and 2018, were for jobs such as tire salesman, mechanic, roofing worker and security engineer, said Galen Sherwin, senior staff attorney at the ACLU's Women's Rights Project.

The ACLU says that the women, as well as the union's other female and other non-male members, have "routinely been denied the opportunity" to receive job ads and recruitment on Facebook that their male counterparts received. Targeting job ads by gender is illegal under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Facebook already tells advertisers that their ads must not discriminate, or encourage discrimination against people based on "personal attributes such as race, ethnicity, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, family status, disability, medical or genetic condition."

In April, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development filed an administrative complaint saying Facebook's advertising tools allow landlords and real estate brokers to engage in housing discrimination. Facebook said at the time that it prohibits such discrimination and that it has been working to strengthen its systems.

But the 18 September complaint says Facebook has "long known" that employers and employment agencies were using its platform to discriminate on the basis of gender. Instead of eliminating this behavior, the ACLU said 18 September, Facebook has encouraged it.

"They have been on notice for quite some time," Sherwin said. "They should have paid closer attention. They had plenty of opportunity to fix this."

According to the complaint, Facebook has "consciously decided not to stop itself or employers from targeting employment ads that exclude female users from receiving the ads."

In addition, while companies can actively choose to exclude women from seeing their job ads, a popular Facebook advertising tool called "lookalike audiences" can also lead to similar results, the ACLU says, even if it is not intended.

It lets advertisers target people who "look like" their existing customer base, but are not customers yet. When it comes to job ads, a company can target potential employees with similar characteristics including gender  to their existing employee base. This, the ACLU says, is illegal.

"Their machine learning is supposed to flag (ads for) employment, housing or credit," Sherwin said. "But it isn't working. Whatever mechanism they have in place is not up to the job."Reuters

Indian ride-hailing platform Ola said on 19 September it plans to launch operations in New Zealand, and expand its overseas rivalry with US-based peer Uber Technologies Inc.

The Indian start-up founded in 2011, which is backed by Japans SoftBank Group, first expanded its international operations with a foray into Australia and the United Kingdom earlier this year.

Brian Dewil has been appointed as country manager for New Zealand operations, Ola said. The company, which is competing with Uber in Indias $12 billion taxi market, did not provide further details about its expansion plans.

Meanwhile, Ola has also raised $50 million at a valuation of roughly $4.3 billion from Hong Kong-based Sailing Capital and the China-Eurasian Economic Cooperation Fund, a media report said. Ola did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.tech2 News Staff

Mid-term elections in the US are just 49 days away, and Instagram has chosen to participate in encouraging citizens to vote. On 18 September, Instagram launched a new campaign showing ads which appeared on users feed and also Stories, leading to a link which had information on registrations for voting.

The social media platform is doing this in a partnership with TurboVote, which is a startup that aims to revolutionise voter registration and vote by mail via the Internet and snail mail.

The ads will lead users to links that will give information about topics such as  how to access your state's voting rules, how to update your registration and how to register.

Additionally, on 6 November, which is the election day, users will be able to share their voting stories by adding an I Voted sticker. The sticker has been there during that previous elections as well, but this time Instagram is making the experience more interactive. The sticker will act as a link to Get to the polls to help other users find polling locations on the day of the mid-term elections.

While Instagram is doing its bit towards civic engagement, the US is still worried about its parent company Facebook and the protection of the elections from foreign interference.

Facebook's ex-chief of security Alex Stamos thinks that the country has already failed to protect the 2018 elections and is not prepared for it, but CEO Mark Zuckerberg is convinced that the company is "better prepared."

In a rather lengthy post, Zuckerberg outlined the main efforts that Facebook was focused on preventing election interference, misinformation and fake newstech2 News Staff

Leaked images of the Nokia 7.1 Plus which is expected to launch somewhere by the end of October and the beginning of November have surfaced online and it seems that the device is going to have a display slightly smaller than the Nokia 7 Plus.

On 18 September, a blogger on Weibo leaked images of the Nokia 7.1 Plus front panel along with a few details. The phone will likely sport a 5.9-inch screen, which is slightly smaller than the 6-inch Nokia 7 Plus screen. The display retains the 1080 x 2160 pixels resolution.

What you can gather from the images, is that the phone will have thin bezels and a slightly thicker chin. On the top, the bezel will house the selfie camera and also proximity sensors.

The device is expected to come with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 chipset which will be an upgrade from the Nokia 7 plus which features a Snapdragon 660 chipset. The device is also rumored to support 18 W fast charging.

Read our full review of the Nokia 7 Plus here.

There is a speculation that the device will release alongside the Nokia 9, which has been in the news recently for sporting a strange camera set up at the back, with as many as 5 camera units. Nokia 9 is expected to be powered by a Snapdragon 845 SoC with 8 GB RAM and 256 GB internal storage. It might feature a 6-inch display.tech2 News Staff

The Galaxy S9 is barely a year old yet, and the Samsung Galaxy S10 has already become one of the most anticipated smartphones being looked forward to in 2019. And from what it seem, it is not just the fans who are excited about Samsungs 10th anniversary Galaxy smartphone.

In an accidental slip-up, the company itself has revealed some radical upgrades to the Galaxy S10.

First spotted by Ice Universe on Twitter, Samsung apparently let out some benchmarking test results, which reveal a significant change in the appearance of the smartphone.

The Galaxy S10 series screen aspect ratio is 19:9, which indicates that it does have a big change in appearance. Samsung is accustomed to camouflage Galaxy Sx and Sx+ with SM-G4x0 or G4x5 pic.twitter.com/yBUD6j0hEj  Ice universe (@UniverseIce) September 18, 2018

According to the benchmarking test, the Samsung Galaxy S10 is expected to sport a 19:9 aspect ratio and a potential 3,040 x 1,440-pixel display. This bit falls perfectly in line with the previous reports that Samsung will supersize the Galaxy S10, while still not making it physically any bigger. How would you imagine that happening? Pretty much the trend we have been seeing on previous Galaxy phones  they will become taller, and the top and bottom bezels will become thinner.

Finally, the leak also tries to trace back these benchmarking test back to Samsung. The tweet points out that Samsung usually camouflages the Galaxy Sx and Galaxy Sx+ with SM-G4x0 or G4x5, and if we see the test, the phone has been labelled SM-G405F and SM-G485F.

Also, revealed in the leak is the fact that the Samsung Galaxy S10 will run Android 9.0 Pie out of the box.

Other than that, previous reports also suggest that we may see an all-new design, a triple rear camera setup, an in-display reader, and a full-fledged Face ID rival on the new Galaxy S10 phones next year.

While that is the extent of what this leak reveals, we are hoping to hear some more about the phone very soon. Interestingly, Samsung seems to have adopted leaks as a way of creating hype around its product. The Galaxy S9 and Galaxy Note 9 were also accidentally leaked so many times, sometimes on the Samsung website itself, that it hardly feels accidental anymore.

Keep watching this space for more updates on the Galaxy S10.Reuters

Tesla Inc said on 18 September the US Department of Justice was investigating Chief Executive Elon Musks public statements in August that he was considering taking the electric car maker private, the latest and biggest threat to Musks leadership.

The Justice Department asked Tesla for documents about Musks announcement, Tesla said, describing it as a voluntary request. The company said it was co-operating and that the matter should be quickly resolved.

The probe by the Justice Department, which can press criminal charges, comes on top of a civil probe by the Securities and Exchange Commission and shareholder lawsuits.

The Justice Department declined to comment. Bloomberg reported earlier that federal prosecutors had opened a criminal fraud investigation. Tesla did not say whether the Justice Department probe was criminal or civil.

Musk surprised investors on 7 August with his plan to take Tesla private, tweeting that he had funding secured for a deal that would have valued the company at $72 billion. In a separate tweet, he wrote: Investor support is confirmed.

Teslas shares rose after his tweet, but investors in the companys bonds and convertible debt were skeptical that the tens of billions of dollars needed for the buyout would materialize.

After two weeks of uncertainty, particularly over funding, Musk abruptly abandoned the plan on 24 August, saying it would be even more time-consuming and distracting than anticipated, and that most of Teslas existing shareholders believe we are better off as a public company.

Teslas stock, which has lost about 25 percent since its gains after Musk first tweeted about going private, fell 3.5 percent to $284.50 on 18 September.

The SEC has already opened an inquiry into Musks tweets, according to one person with direct knowledge of the matter, and short-seller Citron Research has sued Musk over the truthfulness of his tweet about secured funding. The SEC has not commented on the case.

The SEC has in the past month sent subpoenas also to investment bank Goldman Sachs Group Inc and buyout firm Silver lake as they were hired by Tesla to explore the going-private deal, the New York Times said.

Goldman Sachs and Silver Lake did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Tesla biggest institutional investor Baillie Gifford said last week it was questioned by the SEC about Musks plans to take the electric carmaker private. An executive with the asset manager said the chief executive needed help running the company.

Strong Government Case?

Any criminal investigation takes this up a level and creates more danger for the company and Musk, said Peter Henning, a lawyer who has worked for the SEC and the Justice Department.

To charge Musk with a crime, the Justice Department would need to show that he intended to manipulate Teslas stock price, said Henning, now a law professor at Wayne State University.

For a civil enforcement action, the SEC would only need to show that Musk acted negligently, which is easier to prove, he said. The SEC could subject Musk to civil sanctions such as fines, relinquishing improper profits and a ban on running public companies.

If the Justice Department brings criminal charges against Musk and a trial results in a guilty verdict, the 47-year-old billionaire could face jail time, in addition to any financial penalties, said Jay Dubow, a former branch chief in the SECs enforcement division.

Musks public antipathy to short-sellers of Tesla - who have sold stock and hope to make a profit by buying it back for less later on - may help the government make the case that he intended to hurt them by claiming funding was secured, said Eric Gordon, a professor at the University of Michigans Ross School of Business.

Musk said funding secured, which is not a prediction, but a statement in the past tense which seems like a fact, and this could be a strong case from the government side, said Gordon.

Musks recent behavior, which included smoking marijuana during a video interview, has raised concerns about his leadership, with several Wall Street analysts and some investors urging Tesla to appoint a strong second-in-command.

He has been under intense pressure to prove he can deliver consistent production numbers for the Model 3 sedan, which is crucial to Teslas plan to become a mass-market automaker.tech2 News Staff

Xiaomi launched the Mi 8 and Mi 8 Explorer Edition back in May and today the company announced two new phones to join the Mi 8 family  the Mi 8 Pro and the Mi 8 Lite.

The Mi 8 Pro has been priced at CNY 3,200 (Rs 33,990) for the 6 GB RAM and 128 GB storage model and CNY 3,600 (Rs 38,238) for the top of the line variant with 8 GB RAM and 128 GB storage.

Shippings are expected to begin on 21 September and the phone is available in three colours  Blue, Gold and a transparent back like the Explorer Edition.

The Mi 8 Lite, on the other hand, goes on sale for CNY 1,400 (Rs 14,870) for the variant with 4 GB RAM and 64 GB model, CNY 1,700 (Rs 18,057) for the 6 GB RAM and 64 GB storage variant and CNY 2,000 (Rs 21,243) for the 6 GB RAM and 128 GB storage variant.

All variants begin shipping on 25 September and the phone comes in two gradient colour finishes  Blue and Purple as well as Orange and Yellow.

While Xiaomi has not yet clarified but as per a report by GSMArena, the Mi 8 Pro is expected to be the global variant of the Mi 8 Explorer edition, but features a few differences. The Mi 8 Pro gets a pressure-sensitive in-display fingerprint scanner but swaps out the 3D Face unlock hardware on the Mi 8 for an IR-based face unlock, similar to the one on the Poco F1.

As for other specifications, the Mi 8 Pro gets a 6.21-inch OLED display which runs at a resolution of 1080 x 2248 pixels and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset. For optics, the phone features a 12 MP f/1.8 primary camera and 12 MP f/2.4 secondary rear camera. On the front, we have a 20 MP camera unit for selfies. There's also a 3,400 mAh battery unit inside to keep things chugging along.

As for the Mi 8 Lite, the phone features a 6.26-inch FHD+ display with a resolution of 1080 x 2280 pixels. Inside, we have a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 chipset and a dual camera unit on the back. The primary lens here is a 12 MP f/1.9 sensor with the secondary unit being a 5 MP f/2.0 depth-reading sensor. The Lite also has a comparatively smaller 3,350 mAh battery unit.

No word yet on whether either of the two variants of the Mi 8 are being brought to India or whether they will be launched globally.Afghan President Ashraf Ghani will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday during which a host of issues, including regional security and the developmental partnership between the two neighbours, are expected to be discussed.

New Delhi: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday during which a host of issues, including regional security and the developmental partnership between the two neighbours, are expected to be discussed.

Ghani will arrive in India on Wednesday morning on a day-long visit. He will hold talks with Modi in the afternoon and attend a civic reception hosted by the India Foundation before heading back, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.

The visit comes just days after India and Afghanistan agreed to enhance cooperation under the New Development Partnership as part of which New Delhi had announced taking up 116 "high impact community developmental projects" in the war-torn country.

The decision to scale up cooperation and collaborate on infrastructure and high impact community development projects had been taken at the third meeting of the Joint Working Group on Political and Security Cooperation between India and Afghanistan in Kabul last week.The move lets Angela Merkel's government live to see another day, after her Social Democratic coalition partners had insisted on Hans-Georg Maassen's departure as head of the BfV intelligence service.

Berlin: Angela Merkel's government on Tuesday removed domestic spy chief Hans-Georg Maassen from office, transferring him to a different post to defuse an explosive row over immigration and the far right that once more rocked the German chancellor's fragile coalition.

"Mr Maassen will become state secretary in the interior ministry," Merkel and the leaders of her coalition parties announced in a statement after crisis talks.

The face-saving compromise lets Merkel's fourth-term government live to see another day, after her Social Democratic coalition partners had insisted on Maassen's departure as head of the BfV intelligence service, against the wishes of Interior Minister Horst Seehofer from her Bavarian CSU sister party.

Maassen, 55, was at the centre of a heated controversy after he raised doubts about the veracity of reports of far-right hooligans and neo-Nazis randomly attacking immigrants in the eastern city of Chemnitz in late August. In his senior new role, essentially a promotion, Maassen will not be responsible for supervising the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), the party leaders stressed in their statement.

The far-right attacks in Chemnitz, which caused revulsion in Germany, were triggered by the fatal stabbing of a German man over which police are holding a Syrian suspect and searching for an Iraqi man. A court freed another initial Iraqi suspect on Tuesday.

Days after the unrest, Maassen questioned the authenticity of amateur video footage showing street violence and voiced doubt that racists had indeed "hunted down" foreigners  comments that directly contradicted Merkel, who had deplored the xenophobic attacks and "hatred in the streets".

SPD leaders as well as the opposition Greens, Free Democrats and Linke parties had demanded the resignation or sacking of the spy chief for political meddling and pointed to his repeated meetings with leaders of the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Whatever Maassen's true political leanings, the issue has turned him into a martyr of Merkel haters and the far right.

The AfD's Alice Weidel wrote on Facebook that "anyone who criticises Merkel's illegal immigration policy is mercilessly put through the wringer by the mainstream parties".

Maassen has rejected accusations that he has supported AfD lawmakers with early access to unpublished data and advice on how to avoid surveillance by his office.

Social Democrat leader Andrea Nahles had charged that Maassen had "provided material for right-wing conspiracy theorists". However, Maassen had the backing of his immediate boss, the CSU's hardline Interior Minister Seehofer, who has for three years been Merkel's nemesis within the ruling grand coalition.

Seehofer, a harsh critic of Merkel's 2015 decision to allow a mass influx of migrants and refugees, had in July brought the government to the brink of collapse with his threat to shutter national borders to asylum seekers.

With that bitter dispute barely papered over, the conflict over Maassen's fate once more highlighted the deep chasms within Merkel's coalition.

On one level, both major parties, the CDU and SPD, are distrustful partners stuck in a political marriage of convenience after the AfD, a one-time fringe party, poached millions of their voters in last year's elections. But the rift is deepest between Merkel and Seehofer, whose own political future hangs in the balance as his CSU braces for potentially massive losses to the AfD in Bavarian state elections next month.

Seehofer recently labelled the migration issue "the mother of all problems" in German politics -- a comment read by many as a veiled reference to Merkel's nickname "Mutti", or Mummy.Accusations of election meddling are especially sensitive in the US, given the political maelstrom over Russia's alleged intervention to support Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential vote

Beijing: China on Wednesday called on the United States to show "respect" in their trade spat and refuted President Donald Trump's claims that it was meddling in the US midterm elections by taking aim at his political base.

The comments followed a combative series of tweets claiming Beijing's retaliatory import duties on US goods were seeking to influence knife-edge midterm congressional elections due in November, where Trump's Republicans fear losing control of Congress.

But Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang rejected the claims, saying: "Anyone who has some knowledge of China's diplomacy will know that we will not interfere in other countries' domestic affairs."

"We don't want others to interfere in our domestic politics, and we will not interfere in the domestic politics of others," Geng said at a regular press briefing.

Accusations of election meddling are especially sensitive in the US, given the political maelstrom over Russia's alleged intervention to support Trump in the 2016 presidential vote.

The US announced Monday that it would push ahead with tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods, on top of $50 billion already targeted.

This means the additional levies will hit more than half of US goods from China - its largest source of imports.

After China retaliated on Tuesday with duties on $60 billion of American products, Trump accused China of trying to sway the elections.

'Great and fast' retaliation

"China has openly stated that they are actively trying to impact and change our election by attacking our farmers, ranchers and industrial workers because of their loyalty to me," Trump wrote on Twitter.

"China has been taking advantage of the US on Trade for many years. They also know that I am the one that knows how to stop it," he added, warning of a "great and fast economic retaliation" if China targets American farmers and industrial workers.

Some of the items included in the new tariffs announced Tuesday include a slew of daily necessities like diapers and furniture - which would hit US consumers hard - as well as solar panels and liquified natural gas.

In July, Beijing had announced a 25 percent increase in tariffs on soybeans, dealing a blow to Trump's rural base in the soy-growing American heartland.

China, the world's biggest importer of soybeans - used in cooking oil and animal feed - bought about one third of its beans from the US in 2017.

The US also accuses China of seeking global industrial dominance through industrial espionage and forced transfers of technology from foreign companies, state-sponsored corporate acquisitions, illicit market interventions, subsidies and dumping.

Despite the escalating trade tensions, Washington had last week asked China for a new round of trade talks led by US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

Mutual respect

"On the one hand the US is making contact for dialogue and extending invitations but on the other hand it is threatening with sanctions, with pressures," Geng said on Wednesday.

"These little actions by the US have become the routine, and we are prepared for them," he said, calling on Washington to show "mutual respect", "sincerity" and "good faith".

Meanwhile, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang railed against "unilateralism" in a veiled allusion to the trade war while also calling for disagreements to be worked out through consultations.

"It is essential that we uphold the basic principles of multilateralism and free trade," Li said in his speech at the summer session of the World Economic Forum in the eastern Chinese city of Tianjin.

Li also rejected claims made by Trump in the past that China was manipulating its currency to offset the cost of tariffs.

"For China, depreciation holds more negatives than positives," he said.

Still, he acknowledged China faced problems, like infrastructure investment levels falling to record lows and external trade friction.In his tweets, Trump did not offer evidence to support his accusation, nor did he specify whether it was the upcoming mid-term elections which China was allegedly targeting

Washington: US president Donald Trump has escalated his tirade against China and accused it of trying to influence US mid-term elections by attacking American farmers, ranchers and industrial workers, a charge denied by Beijing.

Trump did not offer evidence to support his accusation nor did he specify whether it was the upcoming mid-term elections in November which China was allegedly targeting. He tweeted:

China has openly stated that they are actively trying to impact and change our election by attacking our farmers, ranchers and industrial workers because of their loyalty to me. What China does not understand is that these people are great patriots and fully understand that.....  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 18, 2018

He followed up with a threat of additional tariffs, adding:

.....China has been taking advantage of the United States on Trade for many years. They also know that I am the one that knows how to stop it. There will be great and fast economic retaliation against China if our farmers, ranchers and/or industrial workers are targeted!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 18, 2018

The accusation comes one day after China promised to take "countermeasures" against Trump's plan to impose tariffs on an additional $200 billion worth of Chinese imports. The new duties, which take effect on 24 September, will begin at 10 percent, then rise to 25 percent on 1 January, 2019.

China responded to the latest announcement by hiking tariffs on $60 billion worth of US imports. The more than 5,000 products affected include coffee, honey, and industrial chemicals, according to reports.

Reacting to Trump's accusation of election interference, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said, "Anyone who has some knowledge of China's diplomacy will know that we will not interfere in other countries' domestic affairs," adding that "We don't want others to interfere in our domestic politics, and we will not interfere in the domestic politics of others."Russia expressed concern in May over reports about Poland's request, saying NATOs expansion towards Russias borders undermined stability in Europe.

Washington: President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the United States is considering a request from Poland for a permanent US military presence in the fellow NATO country.

Poland has repeatedly requested a permanent US military presence on its soil amid fears of Russian aggression, offering up to $2 billion in funding for such a base. US soldiers are now present on its soil through NATO's back-to-back rotation.

Russia expressed concern in May over reports about Poland's request, saying NATOs expansion towards Russias borders undermined stability in Europe.

"Poland is willing to make a very major contribution to the United States to come in and have a presence in Poland, and certainly it's something we'll discuss," Trump said at the White House before a meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda.

"We're looking at it very seriously, I know Poland likes the idea very much, and it's something that we are considering, yes," he said.

Poland joined NATO in 1999 along with Hungary and the Czech Republic, and since then other former communist states, including Baltic republics bordering Russia, have joined despite Moscows strong opposition.

Warsaw could offer up to $2 billion in funding for a US military base, according to a Polish Defense Ministry proposal reported by Polish media. A government source in Poland confirmed to Reuters that such a proposal had been made.

Trump also said the United States was considering a visa waiver program for Poland.BEIRUT (Reuters) - The leader of Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah, a key Damascus ally, said on Wednesday that his group will keep its military presence in Syria until further notice, commending the Idlib Russian-Turkish agreement as a step towards reaching a political solution in the country. 'We will stay there (in Syria) even after the settlement in Idlib. Our presence there is linked to the need and the consent of the Syrian leadership' Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the powerful Shiite group leader, said in a televised address

BEIRUT (Reuters) - The leader of Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah, a key Damascus ally, said on Wednesday that his group will keep its military presence in Syria until further notice, commending the Idlib Russian-Turkish agreement as a step towards reaching a political solution in the country.

"We will stay there (in Syria) even after the settlement in Idlib. Our presence there is linked to the need and the consent of the Syrian leadership" Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the powerful Shiite group leader, said in a televised address.

Lebanons Shiite Hezbollah has provided vital support to Syrias military in the seven-year war across the border, helping it regain swathes of the country.

"The quietness of the fronts and less number of threats.. will naturally affect the current numbers (of Hezbollah fighters)," he added.

"No one can force us out of Syria," Nasrallah vowed. "We will stay there until further notice."

Nasrallah commended the outcome of the Iranian, Russian and Turkish diplomacy to spare Idlib a military offensive that could have led to a catastrophic humanitarian situation.

On Monday, Russian and Turkey agreed to exclude the military solution in Idlib in favour of enforcing a new demilitarized zone in Syrias Idlib region from which "radical" rebels will be required to withdraw by the middle of next month.

"The outcome (of the diplomatic efforts) is good and reasonable but depends on results," Nasrallah said, describing the agreement as a step towards reaching a political solution to the more than seven-year conflict.

Russia, the biggest outside backer of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in his fight against rebels, has been preparing for an offensive on the city of Idlib, which is controlled by rebels and now home to about 3 million people.

The United Nations had warned such an attack would create a humanitarian catastrophe in Idlib province, where about 3 million people live.

The Idlib region and adjoining territory north of Aleppo represent the oppositions last big foothold in Syria. Assad has recovered most of the areas once held by the rebels, with decisive military support from Iran and Russia.

(Reporting by Dahlia Nehme and Laila Bassam; Editing by Alison Williams and Ed Osmond)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.About 1.7 million chickens have been killed in flooding from Florence as rising North Carolina rivers swamped at least 60 farm buildings where the animals were being raised for market, according to a major poultry producer.

Raleigh: About 1.7 million chickens have been killed in flooding from Florence as rising North Carolina rivers swamped at least 60 farm buildings where the animals were being raised for market, according to a major poultry producer.

Sanderson Farms said Tuesday the losses occurred at independent farms that supply its poultry processing plants. The company said its facilities suffered no major damage, but supply disruptions and flooded roadways had caused shutdowns at some plants. In addition, about 30 farms near Lumberton have been isolated by flood waters, hampering the delivery of feed to animals. The lack of food could cause additional birds to die if access isn't restored quickly, the company said.

The NC Pork Council says some hogs also may have died when farms flooded, but that mortality figures are not yet available. The pork industry trade group says farmers have been working before and after the storm to move at-risk animals to higher ground. The industry lost about 2,800 hogs during flooding from Hurricane Matthew in 2016. The Department of Environmental Quality said the earthen dam at one hog lagoon in Duplin County had breached, spilling its contents. Another dozen of the pits containing animal feces and urine had either suffered structural damage, had wastewater levels go over their tops from heavy rains or had been swamped by floodwaters. Large mounds of manure are also typically stored at poultry farms.

Even though the sun shown in parts of the state Tuesday, major flooding is continuing after Florence's passage and is expected to worsen in some areas. Sixteen North Carolina rivers were at major flood stage Tuesday with an additional three forecast to peak by Thursday. An environmental threat is also posed by human waste as low-lying municipal sewage plants flood. On Sunday, the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority reported that more than 5 million gallons of partially treated sewage had spilled into the Cape Fear River after power failed at its treatment plant.

The Environmental Protection Agency said Monday that 16 community water treatment facilities in North Carolina are unable to supply drinking water and that seven publicly owned sewage treatment works are non-operational due to the flooding. Duke Energy is continuing cleanup operations Tuesday following a weekend breach at a coal ash landfill at its LV Sutton Power Station near Wilmington. Duke spokeswoman Paige Sheehan said a full assessment of how much ash escaped from the waterlogged landfill is ongoing. The company initially estimated Saturday that about 2,000 cubic yards (1,530 cubic meters) of ash were displaced, enough to fill about 180 dump trucks.

The coal-fired Sutton plant was retired in 2013 and replaced with a new facility that burns natural gas. The company has been excavating millions of tons of leftover ash from old pits there and removing the waste to a new lined landfill constructed on the property. The gray ash left behind when coal is burned contains toxic heavy metals, including arsenic, lead and mercury. Photos from the site provided to The Associated Press by Cape Fear River Watch, an environmental advocacy group, show cascades of gray-colored water spilling from at least two breaches at the landfill and flowing toward Sutton Lake, the plant's former cooling pond which is now used for public recreation, including fishing and boating.

Sutton Lake drains into the Cape Fear River. Sheehan said Duke's assessment is that there was minimal chance any contaminants from the spill had reached the river. At a different power plant near Goldsboro, three old coal ash dumps capped with soil were inundated by the Neuse River. Duke said they had no indication those dumps at the HF Lee Power Plant were leaking ash into the river. Duke's handling of ash waste has faced intense scrutiny since a drainage pipe collapsed under a waste pit at an old plant in Eden in 2014, triggering a massive spill that coated 70 miles (110 kilometers) of the Dan River in gray sludge. The utility later agreed to plead guilty to nine Clean Water Act violations and pay $102 million in fines and restitution for illegally discharging pollution from ash dumps at five North Carolina power plants. It plans to close all its ash dumps by 2029.The agency said Najib was detained at its office and will be taken to court on Thursday to face the charges. Najib was earlier charged with multiple counts of criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering over the scandal at the 1MDB state fund. He has pleaded not guilty.

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia's anti-graft agency said it arrested former prime minister Najib Razak on Wednesday over the multimillion-dollar looting of a state investment fund and that he will face further charges in court.

The agency said Najib was detained at its office and will be taken to court on Thursday to face the charges. Najib was earlier charged with multiple counts of criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering over the scandal at the 1MDB state fund. He has pleaded not guilty.

Those charges involve the transfer of 42 million ringgit ($10.3 million) into his bank accounts from SRC International, a former unit of the 1MDB fund that international investigators say was looted of billions by Najib's associates.

Najib set up 1MDB when he took power in 2009 for the stated purpose of promoting economic development, but the fund amassed billions in debts and is being investigated in the US and several other countries for alleged cross-border embezzlement and money laundering.

After leaked documents exposed the scandal, Najib sacked critics in his government, muzzled the media and quashed investigations. Public anger led to the defeat of Najib's long-ruling coalition in 9 May elections and ushered in the first change of power since Malaysia gained independence from Britain in 1957.

The new government reopened the investigations stifled under Najib's rule and barred him and his wife from leaving the country. Police also seized jewelry and valuables valued at more than 1.1 billion ringgit ($270.2 million) from properties linked to Najib.WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Tuesday flatly dismissed reports suggesting he may be leaving President Donald Trump's administration in the coming months, saying flatly: 'I wouldn't take it seriously at all. 'How many times have been through this, now, just since I've been here?

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Tuesday flatly dismissed reports suggesting he may be leaving President Donald Trump's administration in the coming months, saying flatly: "I wouldn't take it seriously at all.

"How many times have been through this, now, just since I've been here? It will die down soon, and the people who started the rumour will be allowed to write the next rumour, too," Mattis told reporters at the Pentagon."Just the way the town is," he said. "Keep a sense of humour about it."

(Reporting by Phil Stewart; editing by Jonathan Oatis)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.After the Islamabad High Court's verdict, Nawaz Sharif said Allah will grant justice to him, reiterating that he was innocent and had done nothing wrong.

Islamabad: Ousted Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter and son-in-law were released from prison on Wednesday, hours after a top court suspended their sentences in a major corruption case that jeopardised their political career.

In a relief to the still-grieving Sharif family, a two-judge bench of the Islamabad High Court suspended the jail sentences of the embattled former prime minister Sharif, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Captain (retired) Muhammad Safdar in the Avenfield corruption case and ordered their release.

Sharif's younger brother and President of his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Shehbaz Sharif and other party leaders meet the former premier at the high-security Adiala Prison before he was released, Geo News reported.

Shehbaz, along with party leaders, met Nawaz in the office of the jail superintendent. During the meeting, Nawaz said, "I have not done anything wrong; my conscience is satisfied."

He told party leaders that the almighty Allah favours what is right and just. "Allah will grant justice to me," he said.

The former three-time premier, his daughter and son-in-law were taken to the Noor Khan Airbase amid tight security. They will leave for Lahore via a special plane, the report said.

A large number of party workers have also been accompanying the PML-N supremo to the airbase. Jubilant workers have been chanting slogans and showering the ex-premier's vehicle with rose petals.

A two-judge bench of the Islamabad High Court heard the petitions filed by Sharif, Maryam and Safdar challenging their conviction related to the purchase of four luxury flats in London through corrupt practices. "The instant writ petition is allowed and sentence awarded to the petitioners by the accountability court shall remain suspended till the final adjudication of the appeal filed by the petitioner," reads the judgment.

A date will now be fixed for the hearing of the appeals. The accountability court judge Mohammad Bashir had sentenced the trio on 6 July.

Sharif, 68, Maryam, 44, and Safdar, 54, were sentenced to 10 years, seven years and one year, respectively, in prison and fined in the Avenfield properties case.

The accused were also disqualified from contesting elections or holding public office for a period of 10 years after release. Both Maryam and Safdar are politicians. The accountability court verdict had ruined their political career.

Following the accountability court's judgment, the Sharifs filed separate petitions requesting the high court to suspend sentences and set aside the verdict.

The ruling by the Islamabad High Court comes just a week after Sharif's wife, Kulsoom Nawaz, died from cancer in London. The trio were briefly allowed out of the high-security Adiala Jail on parole to attend her funeral. They returned to jail on Monday.

The two-judge bench also ordered the release of the former premier, his daughter and son-in-law from Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. The three were also directed to submit bail bonds worth Rs 5,00,000.

Pakistani media reported that the verdict would remain a temporary relief for the former prime minister and his family members until the court gives the final decision on their application seeking suspension of their conviction in the Avenfield case.

Apart from the Avenfield case, the Sharifs face jail terms if they are convicted in two more corruption cases related to Al-Azizia and Flagship cases. The cases against the family stemmed from Panama Papers leak in April 2016.

In a blow to Pakistan's anti-corruption watchdog, the Islamabad High Court also dismissed the National Accountability Bureau's (NAB) request to first announce a judgment on the maintainability of the pleas. The bench also imposed a fine on the NAB lawyers earlier for using delaying tactics.

The NAB was also pulled up by the Supreme Court on Monday when it rejected its petition challenging the high court's decision to hear the Sharifs' petitions against the Avenfield verdict.

Chief Justice Saqib Nisar called the NAB petition frivolous and imposed a Rs 20,000 fine on the anti-corruption watchdog.

Nawaz resigned as Pakistan prime minister last year after the Supreme Court disqualified him from holding public office and ruled that graft cases be filed against the beleaguered leader and his children in the Panama Papers scandal.

The Avenfield case was among the three corruption cases filed against the three-time former premier and his children by the NAB on the Supreme Court's orders in the Panama Papers case which disqualified Sharif. Nawaz has denied any wrongdoing and says the charges are political motivated.

His supporters believe the real reason he was convicted was because he had fallen out with the country's powerful army.

After the verdict, Leader of the Opposition and Sharif's younger brother, Shahbaz, tweeted a Quranic verse to express gratitude on suspension of the sentences. "Truth has come, and falsehood has departed. Indeed is falsehood, (by nature), ever bound to depart," he tweeted.The quota increase comes at a time that overall immigration to New Zealand is forecast by the government to decline.

Wellington: New Zealand plans to increase the number of refugees it takes each year from 1,000 to 1,500. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced on Wednesday that the new quota will take effect from 2020.

The country has previously been criticized for not taking enough refugees after the annual quota remained at 750 for three decades before it was raised to 1,000 this year.

Ardern said moving the number to 1,500 represents a significant increase. "It is the right thing to do," she said. "It puts New Zealand much more in line with the humanitarian policies of other developed countries." Ardern said she doesn't anticipate the negative reaction to refugees that some people have had in countries like Germany because New Zealand gives refugees intensive support to ensure they have adequate housing and are well integrated into the community.

"We have one of the best records globally in the way we resettle," Ardern said. "So no, I don't anticipate having those issues." New Zealand focuses most of its efforts on resettling refugees from the Asia-Pacific region, said immigration minister Iain Lees-Galloway. He said other regions could be considered in the future.

The quota increase comes at a time that overall immigration to New Zealand is forecast by the government to decline, from current near-record levels of about 70,000 to just over 50,000 by 2020. The new policy is not likely to help the more than 600 refugees who are stuck on the tiny Pacific island of Nauru after they tried to reach Australia by boat. New Zealand has offered to take some of those refugees, but so far Australia has declined that offer, saying its worried the refugees will use New Zealand as a backdoor to gain access to Australia.By Jeff Mason WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Tuesday the United States is considering a request from Poland for a permanent U.S. military presence in the fellow NATO country, acknowledging that he shares Poland's concerns about possible Russian aggression. Polish President Andrzej Duda asked Trump for a permanent U.S

By Jeff Mason

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Tuesday the United States is considering a request from Poland for a permanent U.S. military presence in the fellow NATO country, acknowledging that he shares Poland's concerns about possible Russian aggression.

Polish President Andrzej Duda asked Trump for a permanent U.S. base during a White House meeting, offering to name it "Fort Trump," and explaining it would be a bulwark against what he considers a threat from Russia.

Trump said he agreed with Duda that Moscow had "acted aggressively" in the region and said the request for a base was under consideration. He said he appreciated Duda's offer to put more than $2 billion into the project.

"We're looking at it very seriously, I know Poland likes the idea very much, and it's something that we are considering, yes," Trump told reporters.

Moscow expressed concern in May over reports about Poland's request, saying NATOs expansion towards Russias borders undermined stability in Europe.

Poland joined NATO in 1999 along with Hungary and the Czech Republic, and since then other former communist states, including Baltic republics bordering Russia, have joined despite Moscows strong opposition.

Poland has repeatedly requested a permanent U.S. military presence on its soil. The United States currently rotates troops through Poland temporarily but permanently stationing forces there would be expensive because of costs that can include housing for families, schools and hospitals.

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said the U.S. military was studying options with Poland but cautioned that no decisions had been made.

"Its not just about a base. Its about training ranges, its about maintenance facilities at the base, all these kinds of things. Theres a host of details weve got to study alongside the Poles, Mattis told reporters at the Pentagon.

Trump and Duda also expressed shared concerns about Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline which they said could make Europe overly reliant on Moscow for energy and expose it to the risks of what Duda called "political blackmail" with shipments.

But Trump said the United States was not looking to sanction companies that participated in the project with Russia. "We just think it's very unfortunate for the people of Germany that Germany is paying billions and billions of dollars a year for their energy to Russia," he said.

Trump also said the United States was considering a visa waiver program for Poland.

(Additional reporting by Roberta Rampton, Steve Holland and Phillip Stewart; Writing by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Alistair Bell and Grant McCool)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.South Koreas trade ministry is preparing for the possible signing between President Moon Jae-in and US president Donald Trump during the UN meeting next week.

US president Donald Trump said on Tuesday that a trade deal with South Korea has been fully renegotiated and may be signed at the United Nations, where leaders have gathered for the 73rd session of the General Assembly.

In March, the two countries agreed in principle to revise the deal, which Trump had criticized for increasing US trade deficits with South Korea.

The trade deal with South Korea has been fully renegotiated and is ready for signature, Trump told a news conference. We may sign it at the United Nations or shortly thereafter. It was a terrible deal for the United States, now its a fair deal.

South Koreas trade ministry is preparing for the possible signing between President Moon Jae-in and Trump during the UN meeting next week, a ministry official said. She said it was hoped the deal could be implemented from 1 January, 2019, but the schedule depended on a parliamentary approval.

Separately, the Trump administration is considering whether to impose tariffs of up to 25 percent on US imports of autos and auto parts from South Korea and other countries under the Section 233 investigation. South Korea has said it should be exempt from the tariffs, saying it had already made concessions in autos under the revised trade deal.

Euisun Chung, executive vice chairman at Hyundai Motor Group, on Sunday left for the United States to meet US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and other officials to discuss tariff exemptions, a presidential aide said.US President Donald Trump Wednesday said he agreed with his visiting Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda that Russian actions in the region pose a threat to peace and stability.

Washington: US President Donald Trump Wednesday said he agreed with his visiting Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda that Russian actions in the region pose a threat to peace and stability. "I think it's a very aggressive situation. I think Russia has acted aggressively. They respect force. They respect strength, as anyone does. And we have the greatest strength in the world," he said.

Trump was talking to reporters at a joint news conference with Duda at the White House. When asked if he shares the view that a permanent American base in Poland was justified, he said, "I do. I actually do". "Poland would be paying billions of dollars for the base," Trump added said.

Duda had requested Trump for US troops to be permanently based in Poland. Duda said the threat of absolute Russian domination in Europe, in terms of gas deliveries, was obvious. "What are the results of such a domination. We were able to see that ourselves a couple of years ago in Ukraine. A sudden interruption of supplies. Of course, it had nothing to do with economic factors. It was connected only and exclusively with political blackmail. It was a fact," he said.

Duda said Russia over the years has increased its military presence in the Kaliningrad Oblast."As far aggressive Russian behaviour is concerned increased military activities concerned, including increasing of the militarisation, it has been conducting such activities in a systematic way. And for the first time, we were able to see that in a materialised way in Georgia," he said.Ngar Min Swe, a columnist under the previous army government in Myanmar, has written a number of posts against Aung San Suu Kyi since her party rose to power in 2016.

Yangon: A former columnist for state media has been jailed for seven years for "abusive" Facebook posts about Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a court official said on Wednesday, the latest case threatening free expression in the country. Ngar Min Swe was sentenced for sedition on Tuesday, Yangon's Western District Court spokesperson Htay Aung said.

"He was convicted... for writing abusive posts on Facebook against State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, making people get the wrong impression of her," Htay Aung said.

Myanmar has already faced widespread condemnation for infringing on freedom of expression after the jailing earlier this month of two Reuters journalists who reported on the Rohingya crisis.

Ngar Min Swe worked as a columnist under the previous military-backed government. Since Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party rose to power in 2016, he has written posts against her and the party.

He was arrested on 12 July, the same day he posted about Suu Kyi receiving a kiss on the cheek from former United States president Barack Obama during his visit in 2013. The innocuous gesture came in for criticism from a conservative Myanmar public, especially supporters of the army-aligned Union Solidarity and Development Party  like Ngar Min Swe, who took to social media to lob sexist jibes at Suu Kyi.

Facebook is wildly popular in Myanmar, but users who have hit out at senior leaders of the military or civilian government have faced jail time.

Independent analyst David Mathieson said the sentence is yet another example of "the strangulation of free speech" in the country. "Myanmar is in free-fall to resurgent autocracy and imprisoning journalists for colonial-era sounding 'sedition' is yet another warning sign," Mathieson said.

Under the junta, Myanmar routinely jailed journalists and activists but gradually opened up from 2011 and promised greater freedoms for the media.

But supporters of Suu Kyi have been disappointed in recent years by the deterioration of human rights in the country, most notably in the jailing of the Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, who had exposed a massacre of Rohingya Muslims committed by soldiers.

British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt promised to raise the Reuters case in meetings with Suu Kyi this week during a high-profile visit, in which will visit Rakhine state, the epicentre of the Rohingya crisis. Hunt's visit comes as the United Nations has called for the Myanmar military to be held accountable for the "genocide" committed against the Muslim minority.The civil war in Syria has killed more than 3,60,000 people and displaced millions more since it erupted with the brutal repression of anti-government protests in 2011.

Beirut: Thousands of residents of Syria's last major rebel bastion Idlib headed home within 48 hours of a deal being announced to avoid a government offensive to retake the province, a war monitor said on Wednesday.

As airstrikes intensified earlier this month, the looming threat of a Russian-backed assault had prompted tens of thousands of civilians to flee areas near the front line.

But many headed home after a deal was reached between Russia and rebel supporter Turkey to create a demilitarised buffer zone along the front line, as the first step in a wider settlement, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

"Around 7,000 people have returned to their towns and villages since the announcement of the deal on Monday, especially in the southeast of Idlib and the north of (neighbouring) Hama," said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Britain-based Observatory.

At a camp for the displaced in the town of Atme on the Turkish border on Tuesday, dozens of Syrians held up banners welcoming the agreement. "We will return, God permitting," said one.

"Thank you to our Turkish brothers," said another, signed by the people of a town in the north of Hama province that had been bombarded in recent weeks.

One of the demonstrators, Marhaf al-Jadou, said he was tired of running from the shelling and airstrikes. "Enough of being displaced and sitting in tents. We want to return to our homes and our children to their schools," he said.

The United Nations has given cautious backing to the Russian-Turkish agreement. It "will allow for the delivery of humanitarian assistance and for the saving of civilian lives," UN humanitarian coordinator in Syria, Ali al-Zaatari, said on Tuesday. "We are engaging with all parties involved for more information and how this can be used to allow us to further access people in need."

The civil war in Syria has killed more than 3,60,000 people and displaced millions more since it erupted with the brutal repression of anti-government protests in 2011.

Around half of the three million residents of the rebel zone in and around Idlib have fled from other parts of Syria recaptured by government forces in previous offensives.SEOUL (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed developments on Wednesday at an inter-Korean summit in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang as 'very exciting'. 'Kim Jong Un has agreed to allow nuclear inspections, subject to final negotiations, and to permanently dismantle a test site and launch pad in the presence of international experts,' Trump said on Twitter, referring to agreements the North Korean leader made in talks with South Korea's President Moon Jae-in

SEOUL (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed developments on Wednesday at an inter-Korean summit in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang as "very exciting".

"Kim Jong Un has agreed to allow nuclear inspections, subject to final negotiations, and to permanently dismantle a test site and launch pad in the presence of international experts," Trump said on Twitter, referring to agreements the North Korean leader made in talks with South Korea's President Moon Jae-in.

"In the meantime there will be no Rocket or Nuclear testing," Trump added.

Referring to the repatriation of remains of U.S. service people killed in the Korean War, which Kim and Moon also discussed, Trump said:

"Hero remains to continue being returned home to the United States. Also, North and South Korea will file a joint bid to host the 2032 Olympics. Very exciting!"

(Reporting by Joyce Lee; Editing by Robert Birsel)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.Vladimir Putin's comments appeared to somewhat defuse a possible crisis after Russia's Defence Ministry accused Israel of indirectly causing the incident.

Moscow/Jerusalem: Russian president Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that the shooting down of a Russian military plane near Syria's seacoast was the result of a series of tragic and chance circumstances.

His comments appeared to somewhat defuse a possible crisis after Russia's Defence Ministry accused Israel of indirectly causing the incident. It said that while Syrian anti-aircraft had mistakenly shot down the plane of a close ally, Israeli jets flying nearby had put the Russian jet in the path of danger, and it threatened to retaliate over what it called a hostile act.

"It looks most likely in this case that it was a chain of tragic chance events because an Israeli aircraft did not shoot down our aircraft. But, without any doubt we need to seriously get to the bottom of what happened," Putin told reporters.

Putin said Moscow's response would aim to secure the safety of Russian military personnel in Syria's complicated civil war, in which various outside powers have backed opposing sides.

"As for retaliatory measures, they will be aimed first and foremost at further ensuring the safety of our military personnel and facilities in Syria. And these will be steps that everyone will notice," Putin said.

Russia's Defence Ministry said the Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft, with 15 Russians on board, was downed by Syrian government anti-aircraft guns in a "friendly fire" incident.

However, the ministry said it held Israel responsible because, at the time of the incident, Israeli jets were attacking targets in Syria and had only given Moscow one minute's warning, putting the Russian aircraft in danger of being caught in cross-fire. "We view the actions of the Israeli military as hostile," Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov told Russian state television. "As a result of the irresponsible actions of the Israeli military, 15 Russian service personnel perished."

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to Putin by phone on Tuesday and blamed Syria for the aircraft's downing but offered "all necessary information" for the investigation into the incident, Netanyahu's office said.

Any dispute between Israel and Russia could crimp Israel's ability to carry out air strikes inside Syria on what it sees as the greatest threat to its security from the war  build-ups of Iranian forces or groupings of the Shi'ite Hezbollah militia.

Since intervening in Syria in 2015, Russia has usually turned a blind eye to Israeli attacks. Israel has launched about 200 such raids in the last two years, Israeli officials say.

Amos Yadlin, Director of Tel Aviv University's Institute for National Security Studies, said on Twitter the downing of the Russian plane could "limit the bid to stop Irans entrenchment in Syria and the transfers of advanced weapons to Hezbollah."

Israel blames 'inaccurate' Syrian fire

In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also voiced sorrow at the deaths but blamed the Syrian government and its main regional allies Iran and Hezbollah.

The IDF said the initial Israeli inquiry into the incident found "extensive and inaccurate" Syrian surface-to-air anti-aircraft fire "caused the Russian plane to be hit and downed." "The Syrian anti-air batteries fired indiscriminately and from what we understand, did not bother to ensure that no Russian planes were in the air," the statement said.

It added that by the time the Russian plane was struck, the Israeli jets were already back in their own airspace. The Russian plane was "not within the area of the operation" carried out by the Israeli jets, it said.

After the incident, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told his Israeli counterpart, Avigdor Lieberman, that Moscow held Israel wholly responsible, Russian news agencies reported.

Israel's Foreign Ministry said its deputy ambassador in Moscow had been summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry but gave no details of what was discussed. The Russian Ministry said the meeting was to do with the loss of the Russian plane.

In his conversation with Putin, Netanyahu's office said, the prime minister stressed the importance of defence coordination with Russia that had managed "to prevent many losses on both sides in the past three years" in Syria's war.

At a monthly U.N. Security Council meeting on Syria on Tuesday, US Syria adviser James Jeffrey offered condolences to Russia for the loss of life. "The unfortunate incident reminds us of the need to find a permanent, peaceful, and political resolution to the conflict," Jeffrey said.

"Cover"

Moscow said its plane disappeared from radar as it came into land at the Hmeymim air base in western Syria late on Monday.

According to the Russian Defence Ministry, Israeli F-16 jets carrying out air strikes used the Russian plane as cover to allow them to approach their targets on the ground without being hit by Syrian fire.

"Hiding behind the Russian aircraft, the Israeli pilots put it in the line of fire of Syrian anti-aircraft systems. As a result, the Il-20 ... was shot down by the (Syrian) S-200 missile system," the ministry's Konashenkov said.

He said the Israeli pilots "could not have failed to see the Russian aircraft, as it was coming in to land from a height of 5 km (three miles). Nevertheless, they deliberately carried out this provocation," Konashenkov said. "This absolutely does not correspond to the spirit of Russian-Israeli partnership."

The Israel military said that overnight its fighter jets had "targeted a facility of the Syrian armed forces from which systems to manufacture accurate and lethal weapons were about to be transferred on behalf of Iran to Hezbollah in Lebanon".

It said the weapons targeted in the Mediterranean coastal city of Latakia "were meant to attack Israel and posed an intolerable threat against it".

The IDF said the "deconfliction" system used by Israel and Russia "was in use tonight", adding: "Israel will share all the relevant information with the Russian government to review the incident and to confirm the facts in this inquiry."

Several countries have military operations underway around Syria, with forces on the ground or launching strikes from the air or from ships in the Mediterranean.

Foreign powers involved in the protracted conflict - including Israel and Russia - operate hotlines to exchange operational details to avoid one side accidentally attacking the other's forces. However, diplomats and military experts have warned that the risk of inadvertent strikes is high.

Separately, Turkey said on Tuesday it would send more troops into Syria's rebel-held Idlib province after striking a deal with Russia that has averted a government offensive there.Samsung has officially announced the Galaxy J6+ and Galaxy J4+ smartphones with Infinity displays after the listing surfaced online. Both the smartphones have 6-inch HD+ Infinity displays, Quad-Core SoC, which could be Snapdragon 425 as rumored earlier, but the company says that the SoC differs depending on the region. These run Android 8.1 (Oreo) and pack a 3300mAh battery. The J6+ will feature a fingerprint sensor on the right frame as well as dual rear cameras, which the J4+ lacks.

Samsung Galaxy J6+ (SM-J610F) specifications

6-inch (1480 x 720 pixels) HD+ Infinity 2.5D curved glass display

1.4GHz Quad-Core Snapdragon 425 Mobile Platform with Adreno 308 GPU

3GB RAM with 32GB storage / 4GB RAM with 64GB storage expandable memory up to 256GB with microSD

Android 8.1 (Oreo)

Dual SIM

13MP rear camera with LED flash, f/1.9 aperture, secondary 5MP camera, f/2.2 aperture

8MP front-facing camera with LED flash, f/1.9 aperture

Side-mounted fingerprint sensor

Dimensions: 161.476.97.9mm; Weight: 178g

3.5mm audio jack, FM Radio

4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2 LE, GPS, NFC (optional)

3300mAh battery

Samsung Galaxy J4+ (SM-J415F) specifications

6-inch (1480 x 720 pixels) HD+ Infinity 2.5D curved glass display

1.4GHz Quad-Core Snapdragon 425 Mobile Platform with Adreno 308 GPU

2GB RAM with 16GB storage / 3GB RAM with 32GB storage, expandable memory up to 256GB with microSD

Android 8.1 (Oreo)

Dual SIM

13MP rear camera with LED flash, f/1.9 aperture

5MP front-facing camera with f/2.2 aperture, LED flash

Dimensions: 161.4 x 76.7 x 7.9mm; Weight: 178g

3.5mm audio jack, FM Radio

4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2 LE, GPS, NFC (optional)

3300mAh battery

The Samsung Galaxy J6+ comes in Gray, Black and Red colors and the Galaxy J4+ will comes in Black, Gold and Pink colors. We should know the price when the phones go official soon on Amazon India.

SourceXiaomi just announced Mi 8 Lite (Youth Edition), a cheaper version of the Mi 8 in China, as expected. It has a 6.26-inch FHD+ display with a notch, is powered by Snapdragon 660 AIE with up to 6GB of RAM, runs Android 8.1 (Oreo) with MIUI top, has a 12-megapixel rear cameras with f/1.9 aperture with AI scene recognition to recognize 238 scenes, along with a 5-megapixel secondary camera for portrait shots. It features a 24-megapixel front camera with AI beautify features.

The phones display can light up in different colors to suit different scenarios when taking selfies, intelligently illuminating the face with the right color temperature. It has a glass back with gradient finish, has a fingerprint sensor on the back and packs a 3350mAh battery with support for Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0.

Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite (Youth Edition) specifications

6.26-inch (22801080 pixels) Full HD+ 19:9 2.5D curved glass display, 1500:1 contrast ratio

Octa Core Snapdragon 660 14nm Mobile Platform (Quad 2.2GHz Kryo 260 + Quad 1.8GHz Kryo 260 CPUs) with Adreno 512 GPU

4GB / 6GB LPDDR4x RAM with 64GB storage, 6GB LPDDR4x RAM with 128GB storage

Android 8.1 (Oreo) with MIUI

Dual SIM

12MP rear camera with LED flash, Sony IMX363 sensor, 1.4m pixel size, f/1.9 aperture, 5MP secondary camera, Samsung S5K5E8, 1.12um pixel size

24MP front-facing camera with Sony IMX576 sensor, 1.8um pixel size

Fingerprint sensor

Dimensions: 156.475.87.5mm; Weight: 169g

Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 ac (2.4GHz / 5GHz) 22 MIMO , Bluetooth 5 LE, GPS + GLONASS, USB Type-C

3350mAh (typical) / 3250mAh (minimum) battery with Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0

The Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite comes in Aurora Blue, Sunset Gold and Midnight Black colors, is priced at 1399 yuan (US$ 204 / Rs. 14,835 approx.) for the 4GB RAM with 64GB storage version, 6GB RAM with 64GB storage version costs 1699 yuan (US$ 248 / Rs. 18,020 approx.), and the top-end 6GB RAM with 128GB storage version costs 1999 yuan (US$ 290 / Rs. 21,200 approx.). It is available for order from today and goes on sale from September 25th.

SourceMeizu just announced the 16X, the companys latest mid-range smartphone in China, after it got certified last month. It packs a 6-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display with 90.62% screen-body ratio, is powered by Snapdragon 710 with 6GB of RAM and runs Android 8.1 (Oreo) with Flyme OS.

It has a 12-megapixel rear camera with Sony IMX380 sensor, 1.55m pixel size, f/1.8 aperture along with a 20-megapixel secondary telephoto lens with Sony IMX350 sensor for portrait shots and 3x loss-less zoom and a 20-megapixel front facing camera with AI beauty recognition and Face unlock, similar to the Meizu 16. It packs a 3100mAh battery with mCharge flash charging.

Meizu 16X specifications

6-inch ( 1080  2160 pixels) Full HD+ AMOLED display with 100000 : 1 contrast ratio, 430cd/m2 (typical) brightness, 402 PPI

Octa Core Snapdragon 710 10nm Mobile Platform (Dual 2.2GHz Kryo 360 + Hexa 1.7GHz Kryo 360 CPUs) with Adreno 616 GPU

6GB RAM, 64GB / 128GB (UFS 2.1) internal memory

Dual SIM

Android 8.1 (Oreo) with Flyme OS

12MP rear camera with wide-angle lens, 1/2.3 Sony IMX380 sensor, 1.55m pixel size, f/1.8 aperture, Four-axis OIS, PDAF, Laser auto-focus, secondary 20MP telephoto lens, Sony IMX350 sensor, f/2.6 aperture, 6-LED ring LED flash

20MP front-facing camera with f/2.0 aperture, AI face unlock

In-display fingerprint sensor

3.5mm audio jack, dual speakers

Dimensions: 15173.57.5mm ; Weight: 154g

Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 ac (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth 5, GPS + GLONASS, USB Type-C

3100mAh battery with mCharge fast charging

The Meizu 16X comes in Black, White and Gold colors, is priced at 2098 yuan (US$ 206 / Rs. 22,285 approx.) for the 64GB storage version and the 128GB storage version costs 2398 yuan (US$ 349 / Rs. 25,470 approx.). It is available for order today and goes on sale from September 26 in China.

SourceOnePlus has started teasing the companys upcoming OnePlus 6T flagship smartphone in India. The company shows a short TV ad during the India vs Pakistan Match on Star Sports. The ad featuring Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan who was roped in as the companys brand ambassador last year, even shows the back of the phone. It also shows curved glass screen with curved corners.

This reveal vertical camera arrangement, but it is not clear if it will have triple rear cameras like the OPPO R17 Pro. Even Amazon has also started teasing the OnePlus 6T, but it just says coming soon without revealing its design or features.

OnePlus already confirmed in-display fingerprint sensor for the phone, and also said that it will ditch the headphone jack for a bigger battery. The phone expected to pack a 6.4-inch AMOLED display with a water-drop notch, powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset with up to 8GB RAM and it might run Android 9.0 (Pie) out of the box. We should know more details including the launch date soon.

Thanks Vivek!Over the past two years, rising fuel prices and fare wars in parts of the U.S. have combined to put pressure on many airlines' profitability. Alaska Air (NYSE:ALK) has been one of the hardest-hit companies.

In 2015 and 2016, Alaska's adjusted pretax margin reached 24%, a phenomenal achievement. However, its pretax margin fell to 17% last year and is on track to plunge into single-digit territory in 2018. As a result, the stock fell from an all-time high of around $100 in early 2017 to a multiyear low of $57.53 just a few months ago.

Fortunately, there are growing signs that Alaska Air is on the brink of a turnaround. While the stock has already started to recover, there is plenty of upside left, even if the company's pretax margin never comes close to 20% again.

A small guidance improvement

On Monday, Alaska Air modestly increased its third-quarter revenue outlook in its monthly investor update. The carrier now expects revenue per available seat mile (RASM) to come in between 12.76 cents and 13.06 cents for the third quarter, down roughly 0% to 2% year over year.

The previous guidance range for RASM was 12.66 cents to 13.06 cents. Alaska attributed the guidance change to higher fares for last-minute bookings.

Alaska Airlines also improved its third-quarter unit cost forecast in the recent investor update. It now expects adjusted nonfuel unit costs to increase about 4.1% year over year this quarter, whereas it had previously projected a roughly 4.9% increase.

With fuel costs soaring, nonfuel costs rising, and unit revenue on track to be flat or down year over year, Alaska Airlines is still facing substantial margin pressure. But the trend is finally moving in the right direction. In the first half of 2018, RASM fell 3.4%.

Retrenching to focus on its strengths

Over the past few quarters, Alaska Airlines has rethought its growth plans in light of its subpar results. One key takeaway is that the carrier's late-2018 and 2019 growth will be centered on the Seattle region, where Alaska is the leading airline. By contrast, it grew rapidly in California in 2017 and early 2018, sparking a damaging fare war with Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV).

Alaska Airlines has already eliminated numerous underperforming routes from California this year and reduced capacity on others. A few more routes will be cut between now and early 2019.

Furthermore, Alaska is leasing all of its slots at New York's LaGuardia Airport and Washington, D.C.'s Reagan National Airport to Southwest Airlines for 10 years, starting next month. This will result in it ending its money-losing routes from Dallas to New York and Washington, D.C.

Meanwhile, Southwest Airlines will stop flying from San Francisco to Portland (a route that Alaska dominates) and to Orange County, California (a route that Alaska added last year). In other words, the competitive battle between the two low-fare carriers seems to be winding down.

Instead, Alaska Airlines plans to expand on its home turf. Earlier this month, it began flying between Seattle and Pittsburgh. A week before that, it announced plans to launch a SeattleColumbus, Ohio, route in March 2019. No other carrier flies either route. Alaska is also set to begin operating 13 daily flights to eight destinations from Paine Field (about 20 miles north of Seattle in Everett, Washington) as soon as the FAA gives its final approval for commercial flights there.

Merger synergies and revenue enhancements coming on line

Lastly, merger synergies and other revenue-generating initiatives should drive a meaningful improvement in Alaska Airlines' RASM trend next year. First, Alaska expects to capture $130 million of incremental merger synergies next year, related to fully integrating the Virgin America operation during 2018.

Second, Alaska Airlines will soon begin selling "Saver" fares, its version of the basic economy tickets that have boosted its larger competitors' bottom lines. It has also implemented several fee and policy changes. In total, these moves are expected to boost annual revenue by $150 million going forward.

Alaska Air hasn't stabilized its profitability just yet. But between shifting capacity to the Seattle area -- where it is most dominant -- and capitalizing on merger synergies and other revenue initiatives, it is on track to return to strong profit growth in 2019. While the shares trade for almost 17 times projected 2018 earnings (which is pricey for an airline stock), the likelihood of substantial margin improvement in 2019 and beyond could push Alaska Air stock even higher.The rebooted Tomb Raider video games were originally meant to be a trilogy and it doesnt look like the plans are changing anytime soon, as the story of the young Lara Croft seems to have wrapped up with Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

In a recent interview, Laras voice and performer Camilla Luddington has shared that shes always thought of it as a trilogy and that, as for what she knows, there wont be any other games featuring her presence.

When I started, I always knew that it was going to be a trilogy, so thats how I thought of it. So I did leave thinking [Shadow of the Tomb Raider] could possibly be my last journey with Lara. But who knows!, she said.

So it really looks like Shadow of the Tomb Raider is a transformative chapter for the series, as what follows might be totally different if not a brand new game with Lara Croft finally begun the heroine weve learned to know across the years.

Anyway, Luddington also added that she would be interested into being Lara Croft again for a TV series or movie, even though that doesnt look probable since, at least for what matters movies, that role is Alicia Vikanders.

I would love to. I get asked about the Alicia Vikander movie, and I joke that I would have made a very pregnant and slow Lara Croft. But yeah, I think I would love to. But I also got the chance to be a part of [these games] and this is so iconic to me that I feel like Ive done my part too, she commented.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider is now available for PC, PS4 and Xbox One.Exclusive: Voto Mobiles plans to invest Rs. 500 crore in new plant News oi-Priyanka Dua In addition to that, the company is also in talks with Reliance Jio, Vodafone and Idea for providing bundled offers with its mobile phone.

Exclusive: Chinese brand VOTO Mobile plans to invest Rs. 500 crores in Indian market+

Chinese smartphone brand Voto Mobiles is planning to set up manufacturing plants in India by the end of this financial year.

"Currently we are manufacturing our products with GDN Enterprises but now we are setting up our own manufacturing plant in Gurgaon or in Noida by the end next financial year," Santosh Singh, National Sales Head, VOTO India told Gizbot in an exclusive interview.

The company's top-man said that they are planning to invest Rs. 500 crore in branding, marketing and in setting up a plant in the country.

Meanwhile, the Chinese smartphone company plans to launch three smartphones in the country. However, they will start their operations from Rajasthan initially.

It was also interesting to hear that Voto is also planning to launch its accessories brand in India after the launch of its three smartphones.

"Initially we will launch smartphones based on Mediatek SoC and later on Snapdragon," he replied when asked about the chipset they are using.

In addition to that, the company is also in talks with Reliance Jio, Vodafone and Idea for providing bundled offers with its mobile phone.

To recall, the brand forayed into the Indian market in August 2017 in association with Xunrui Communications Co. Ltd. for manufacturing its smartphones in China. But now, since the company is likely to assemble its phones in India itself, the relationship and the function of Xunrui Communications Co. Ltd. remains a question.

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Nokia 7.1 Plus aka Nokia X7 images leak: Snapdragon 710 SoC, notchless display and more News oi-Abhinaya Prabhu Nokia 7.1 Plus is said to have a smaller display than the Nokia 7 Plus.

Lately, we have been coming across reports regarding a new Nokia flagship - the Nokia 9. Initially, this smartphone was speculated to be unveiled later this year but the same is likely pushed to February 2019 and this hints at an MWC 2019 announcement.

In addition to the Nokia 9, another smartphone called the Nokia X7 aka Nokia 7.1 Plus is also rumored to be on cards. Previous reports have hinted that this smartphone could be launched later this year. And, a recently leaked image showing the display panel of the smartphone revealed that there will no notch on top. Now, a new set of images have been leaked on Weibo showing the front panel of the alleged Nokia 7.1 Plus.

Nokia 7.1 Plus: What to expect

These images show that the device might arrive with a 5.9-inch display with a FHD+ resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels. If this turns out to be true, then the smartphone could bestow a smaller display than the 6-inch panel on the Nokia 7 Plus.

It can be seen that the smartphone might arrive with thin bezels at the sides and a relatively thicker bezel at the bottom. At the top, there could be a selfie camera and proximity sensors. There are claims that this smartphone might be launched with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 SoC, which is an upgrade from the Snapdragon 660 SoC used by the Nokia 7 Plus. The device is also believed to get the power from a bigger battery than the one used by the X6.1 Plus and support 18W fast charging as well.

Having said that, we can expect this upcoming Nokia smartphone to use 4GB/6GB RAM and 64GB/128GB storage space along with support for microSD card. But none of these details are confirmed.

Likely launch date

When it comes to the alleged launch date of this smartphone, there are claims that it might be announced in October. Similar to the Nokia X6 and X5, we can expect this one to be announced initially in China before going global. However, we need to consider these details as mere speculations until HMD Global comes out with a confirmation.

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Nokia might launch its first gaming smartphone in India News oi-Karan Sharma Nokiavocal planning to launch a gaming smartphone soon in India. All you need to know.

Gaming smartphones have gained a serious traction in the smartphone industry. Razer Phone was the first one to come up with the gaming smartphone, and now the company is preparing for the second generation gaming phone. There are other companies who have taken inspiration from Razer and manufacture their own gaming phones.

HMD Global has never been vocal about their gaming smartphone, but out of nowhere, the company has started teasing for an upcoming Nokia-branded phone which seems to be a gaming smartphone. The company has teased a video which reads "phone you can #GameOn."

The company has posted the video on its official Indian Twitter handle with a caption saying, "Stay tuned for a phone you can #GameOn." This teaser is clearly pointing towards a new gaming smartphone from the HMD Global.

But before getting excited about the phone lets us tell you that Nokia has a bad habit of overhyping the routine mid-range smartphones release. Recently the company has done the same with the Nokia 6.1 Plus smartphone by promoting it as "most awaited phone."

#GameOn with the teaser might be used just to hype the regional launch of the Nokia 5.1 Plus, and that is nothing to do with the gaming smartphone category. If that is the case then the company is stretching the definition of "phone you can game on" wildly. Because the smartphone only comes with a 5.8-inch display and packs a MediaTek Helio P60 SoC which is paired by a 3GB RAM.

Let's see whether the company is seriously going to make a debut in the gaming smartphone section or it is just playing around with the words like it did in the past. So far we have this much information about the upcoming smartphone. We can expect some more teasers and information about the phone in the near future.

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When she didnt see a candidate she could support for Montanas lone Representative seat, she decided to do something about it. A former Democrat, Elinor Swanson is running for the position now as a Libertarian. Swanson has been campaigning throughout the state, even making a stop in Glasgow on Sept. 12, discussing her campaign stands on two basic philosophies: decrease the debt, and live and let live.

Her campaign website points out that every citizen in the country is $75,000 in debt due to federal borrowing. If elected, Swanson has pledged to reduce her salary by that exact amount as a donation to pay down the debt. Swanson strongly believes in the live and let live tenet, for both domestic and international policies. Recognizing the diversity of the countrys population and the improbability of agreement on a single set of cultural, religious and social values, she relies on the idea that people can live peacefully by respecting one anothers desire to live as they please, provided they do not harm any one. Underpinning the live and let live approach is her staunch opposition to international interventions that are not directly related to the U.S.s national security, going so far as to say that she would not support military intervention, even in cases of genocide.

Swanson says that if elected, she would take small steps to limit the federal government by making cuts feasibly and reasonably. In addition to drastically scaling back military operations, she would like to do away with the Department of Education, noting that the government is the direct cause of student costs and debt. She would see education implemented at the local level, stressing the need for maximizing choice at every level and expressing support for charter schools and the privatization of education. She acknowledged that while issues regarding public lands are important, she does not believe those issues should be a top priority at this time but, rather, chooses to see federal spending and debt as her focal point.

The political polling website, FiveThirtyEight, gives her chance of winning at less than one in 100. Swanson projects confidence in herself and the beliefs she espouses even while recognizing her campaign is a long shot. She paints herself as neither a liberal nor an anarchist, and claims that libertarians are the new moderates. And she hopes her message and beliefs will connect with the voters of Montana, offfering them a viable alternative candidate this November.

The election will be Tuesday, Nov. 6, this year, with absentee ballots going out Oct. 12.Supporters and curious voters packed into Sean R. Heavey's gallery this past Saturday, Sept. 15, to meet Tom Boyer, the write-in candidate for sheriff. The crowd included past and current Valley County Sheriffs and deputies out to show their support for the current law enforcement officer.

Among those supporters was Dewey Doucette who expressed his hope for change under Boyer saying, "It's time for change, and he already knows the department. I think he will deal with people better." Doucette is a retired Sheriff Deputy and at one time served as the Nashua Town Constable. Another Boyer supporter expressed her admiration for Boyer and his fresh take on the office saying, "It's nice he is not part of the good old boy club."

In a speech to the crowd ,Boyer introduced himself, his wife, his parents, who had travelled from Seeley Lake, and his brother and sister-in-law, who he credited with helping him discover Valley County. On the office side, Boyer spoke to his desires and motivations for running. Responding to the question of why he wanted to be sheriff Boyer stated, "It's important to have someone in there that can lead the department forward." He would go on to talk about treating everyone in the county equitably and understanding the community. Boyer included his understanding of the deputies and their current situation saying that not only with the deputies but in dispatch and other positions in the office his focus would be on retention and creating "happy employees."

Boyer expressed his hope for the future of the department as well as stating that he wanted the department to be, "trained and capable to face whatever happens in our community." That statement sparked a question from Retired Sheriff Glen Meier who asked Boyer about the Keystone XL Pipeline that would be built in the coming months and years. Boyer responded to the question highlighting the office's ongoing training and preparation for the issues that could arise.

Boyer pointed to the increased calls for service that will come with an increased population as a potential hurdle. He also said he hoped to understand the past issues that occurred with the Dakota Access Pipeline to hopefully avoid similar unrest in Valley County. Boyer described it in the following terms, "It's (Keystone XL) a double-edged sword. On one side you have an increased population and the issues that come along with that: Calls for service, potentially more crime and some bad things. On the other side you have the potential for opposition to the pipelines construction. And on that side we are training for how to handle that opposition with cooperation from the state and federal level."

In response to a question from the Courier inquiring as to the largest budget he had managed, Boyer pointed to his time managing a business in western Montana that operated in more than $3 million dollars in annual sales. He also pointed out that he managed 12 to 15 employees at that same job, and oversaw a large expansion of that business services.

Boyer also addressed the current staffing at the office clarifying that he wanted to pursue scheduling rearrangements to increase the deputy quality of life and look to recruit and retain quality individuals to be his deputies. His priorities would be in making thoughtful decisions about who to hire, training each deputy appropriately for the challenges to come and increasing communication. Boyer concluded his Q&A stating that he had made no decision on undersheriff, but that he felt the two would need to have a common goal.

Tom Boyer is running against Joe Horn as a write-in candidate for Valley County Sheriff. The election will be Tuesday, Nov. 6 this year, with absentee ballots going out Oct. 12.As the U.S. Supreme Court considers the constitutionality of Texas's Heartbeat Bill, a law that prevents abortion after fetal cardiac activity is detected, usually around six weeks of pregnancy, justices appeared to focus on the bill's enforcement mechanism that allows anyone to file a lawsuit against those violating the law. The mechanism is considered a loophole to the constitutional right to abortion because it removed responsibility for enforcement from state officials. Do you believe justices should support the enforcement mechanism?

You voted:Zane James Tollefson, 69, passed away Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, at Valley View Home after a brief battle with cancer.

A private family ceremony will be held at Reitan Cemetery, north of Saco, at a later date.

He was born in Malta, Mont., the son of Jim and Georgel (Elhard) Tollefson. He was the oldest of four siblings.

He attended Malta, Vandalia, and Hinsdale schools, graduating in 1967 from Hinsdale High School. While in high school, he began working for KLTZ filling in on Saturdays hosting a program called "Record Romp," a call-in request show.

Following graduation, Zane attended Brown Institute in Minneapolis, Minn., to study radio broadcasting. He worked in Minneapolis for four years before returning to Hinsdale in 1971 and purchased the Hinsdale Tribune and Saco Independent newspapers. He eventually merged the two papers, calling the publication the Independent Tribune.

In the four years he operated the Independent Tribune, he won several newspaper awards including those for general excellence, best photograph, and best special issue. In 1975, he moved to Corte Madera, Calif., where he worked for the Twin City Times and the Corte Madera Larkspur News. He also worked in La Jolla for Del Mar News Press in sales. After his time in California, he moved back to Montana and owned and operated several small businesses, including the Sunlit Plains publication and two TMG (Tollefson Media Group) video stores in Glasgow and Wolf Point. He also had an interest in the arts and was involved in several productions at the Fort Peck Summer Theatre.

Through all of these ventures, his passion for radio never ceased and he continued working for KLTZ for many years. Zane was an extremely creative and talented individual.

He was preceded in death by parents, James G. Tollefson (1993) and Georgel E. Tollefson (2011); and one nephew, Adam Tollefson (2007).

Survivors include one brother, James (Doris) Tollefson, Hinsdale, Mont.; two sisters, Hollie (Stuart) Frost and Ruth (Roger) Waarvik, all of Glasgow, Mont.; two nephews; and four nieces.

Memorials in honor of Zane can be sent to Valley View Home or Fort Peck Summer Theatre.Gianforte to Army Corps of Engineers

Editor's Note: The following is a letter sent to the Army Corps of Engineers from Congressman Greg Gianforte. This is being reproduced here as it was alluded to in an article involving a similar letter sent by Jon Tester's office to the Corps pert...Defense Intel Chief Puts Great Power Competition in Context

Sept. 18, 2018

By Jim Garamone

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON -- People told the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency that in his speech to the Center for Strategic and International Studies he should just say "Great power competition, artificial intelligence" and then drop the mic and walk off.

It was a good line, but Army Lt. Gen. Robert P. Ashley Jr. knows the world is more complex and that even in great power competition among the United States, China and Russia, context is important.

"We look very closely at the technology development. Obviously, there's some breakout things -- we watch the AI side of the house, the hypersonics, counter-space, [and] what they're doing with regard to subs, if you're following the maritime piece of that as well," he said. "They're in the trials for their first carrier. They got an old one from the Russians; now they're building their own."

Ashley said DIA's mission is to "make sure the secretary of defense is never surprised," and that the 16,500 people in DIA work constantly to ensure Defense Secretary James N. Mattis receives the intelligence he needs, when he needs it.

The general talked about context, saying it is not enough to tell leaders what equipment or how many troops a rival military has; they need to know what foreign leaders are likely to do with those troops and equipment. "How are they going to fight it?" he said.

For example, the Russians now have a major exercise -- Vostok -- going on in the Far East. They invited China to exercise with them. "What does that mean? What do U.S. leaders really need to know about Vostok?" Ashley asked.

"What is it that I can pull out of that that tells our key leaders, 'This is the strategy you need think about [in terms of] of how you counter it," he said. "So for me, that's the context."

More Than Simple Military Intelligence

DIA has to be more than simple military intelligence. The agency needs to analyze the diplomatic, economic and military aspects together, he said. "It touches strategy," he said. "It touches what we may see some of those foreign entities do. It touches acquisition. It touches technology."

The general put the great power competition with Russia and China into context during his discussion. "When you think about greater power of competition, even if you go back to the Cold War time,  any place that Russia could change an alignment, change a relationship, align it to Russia, that would be something they would do to their favor," he said. "They would want to do that."

The same applies today, he said. Russia will do what it can to get a foothold in a nation and develop a relationship separating it from the United States and its allies. The other part of being a great power for Russian President Vladimir Putin is that he sits at the table with other great powers, Ashley said. "And so, that's part of the intent behind what he wants to accomplish," the general said.

Putin wants to be a player, Ashley said, and that is why Russia injects itself into Syria, Libya, the greater Middle East and even in central Asia. "[Putin] gets himself to the table in some way, shape, or form  to make a decision," Ashley said.

China's Economic Might

China is different, he said, in that the Chinese have the economic might to truly be a great power, noting that have watched the U.S. military closely since 1991's Operation Desert Storm and were amazed at what the American military has done since 9/11.

"They've watched us over the course of the last couple of decades as they have grown capability," Ashley said. "And in many ways, they've mirrored some of the things we've done." The Chinese are trying to develop joint capabilities, he added, and have built a number of national training centers.

It is tough to ascertain what the Chinese see as the end state, the general said. They could be intent on putting in place a strategy for global hegemony over a period of 100 years, or it could simply be about taking care of the Chinese people.

Still, the general said, there are disturbing trends. Building islands is one thing, he said, but placing defenses and missiles on those islands in the South China Sea is destabilizing. "This we watch closely -- obviously, as we do on behalf of the nation," Ashley said. "But it's not a foregone conclusion that this is going to be a competitor that turns to an enemy."

He also watches the growing Chinese economic influence in Djibouti, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. "What takes place over time? Does that lease become a constant visit of a naval presence? Does that naval presence turn into a base? Does that base turn into yet a presence again, mirroring very much what the U.S. is able to do from a global standpoint?" he said.

The debate about China, he said, is whether it is a regional hegemon looking after Chinese interests, or is pursuing interests that are more global in nature.

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Germany's Intel Chief Dismissed Over Migration Dispute With Merkel - Reports

Sputnik News

19:03 18.09.2018(updated 20:22 18.09.2018)

Head of the German domestic intelligence agency Hans-Georg Maassen previously faced harsh criticism after he expressed doubts over the authenticity of the footage showing alleged attacks by right-wing activists on migrants in Chemnitz.

Head of Germany's BfV Hans-Georg Maassen has been dismissed from his position and will be moved to a new post within the ministry, the German chancellor's office announced Tuesday. The decision to fire the politician was taken after the three-way talks between Angela Merkel and heads of governing coalition parties.

"After the negotiations between Chancellor and CDU [Christian Democratic Union] head Angela Merkel, Interior Minister and CSU [Christian Social Union] Horst Seehofer as well as head of the SPD [Social Democratic Party] parliamentary group, SPD chair Andrea Nahles, we say that the head of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution will be replaced. Mr. Maassen will become state secretary of the German Interior Ministry," the statement said.

The announcement confirms yesterday's publication by Die Welt, which reported on the upcoming dismissal.

Hans-Georg Maassen has been under fire ever since he raised suspicions in an interview with Bild that reports and videos of Chemnitz residents "hunting down" foreign-looking people were fake. He claimed to have reasons to doubt their authenticity.

Many politicians from opposition parties, and even within the ruling coalition, have slammed Maassen and demanded his resignation, recalling his alleged ties to the right-wing AfD party, which is known for its harsh stance on immigration.

The German city of Chemnitz was recently rocked by anti-immigrant protests after a local carpenter was allegedly stabbed to death by migrants from Syria and Iraq after a conflict at a music festival. The protests, led by right-wing activists, lasted several weeks. Several German media outlets reported having witnessed some of the protesters making Hitler salutes, as well as chasing and harassing foreign-looking residents of Chemnitz.

 Sputnik

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Coalition Effort Aims at Stability in Iraq, Syria

Sept. 18, 2018

By Jim Garamone

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON -- The coalition continues to help forces in both Iraq and Syria establish security and stability in areas that have known nothing but oppression since the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria reared its head five years ago, the spokesman for Operation Inherent Resolve said today.

Speaking to Pentagon reporters from Baghdad, Army Col. Sean Ryan noted that Iraqi forces are working together across the country to rid the nation of the last remnants of the terrorist group.

"The various security elements -- to include the [Iraqi forces], the peshmerga, counterterrorism services and the federal police -- are all working together to continue securing their country," he said.

In Ninevah province, Iraqi forces continue to find and disarm improvised explosive devices and continue to root out ISIS holdouts. In the mountains of Kirkuk, the Iraqi federal police and the Kurdish peshmerga work together to secure remote villages.

Out west, in Anbar province, border security forces continue to prevent ISIS fighters from streaming into the country, the colonel said.

"For its part, the coalition is  enabling the [Iraqi] efforts to secure Iraq by advising strategic leaders, training thousands of Iraqi service members and divesting equipment they need to effectively secure their country," he said.

Coalition members also continue to train Iraqi forces. Since the effort started in 2015, coalition forces have trained more than 175,000 Iraqis in basic soldier skills and specialized fields such as intelligence, law enforcement, medical support and aviation.

Syria

In Syria, the picture is more complex and dangerous. Ground operations for Phase 3 of Operation Roundup have begun, and Syrian partner forces continue clearance of the Middle Euphrates River Valley, Ryan said. "Hajin and the surrounding villages are the last remaining territory acquired by ISIS in the coalition's area of responsibility, and the victory by the Syrian Democratic Forces there will mean that ISIS no longer holds territory," he added.

ISIS fighters are trying desperately to hang onto the territory, and hard fighting lies ahead, the colonel told reporters. "Despite this, we are confident that the SDF will prevail," he said.

In Tanf earlier this month, Marines conducted training to reinforce partner forces, he said. "The coalition has supported the SDF through air support, as well as training and equipment," Ryan said. "Additionally, in liberated areas, the coalition trained internal security forces to maintain the peace and security in liberated cities, provide basic law enforcement support, as well as specialized services such as counter-[improvised explosive devices] and engineering."

Ryan noted changes in Iraq as Army Lt. Gen. Paul J. LaCamera assumed command of Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve from Army Lt. Gen. Paul E. Funk II.

Ryan said the military stabilization efforts are going well, but are not enough. "Security creates the space for rebuilding," he explained. "Residents only gain hope for the future when their children can go to school free from harm, women go buy basic necessities in local shops, and when they can go to their jobs that allow them to support their families. Ultimately, the military cannot fight its way to stability."

The cost of reconstruction is high, with estimates of rebuilding Mosul -- Iraq's second-largest city -- pegged at $100 billion. "We call on all nations to help those who have sacrificed tremendously fighting this global threat," Ryan said.

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U.S. Department of Defense

Press Operations

News Transcript

Presenter: Colonel Sean J. Ryan, spokesman, Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve; Commander Sean Robertson, Pentagon spokesman September 26, 2018

Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve Press Briefing By Col. Ryan via Teleconference from Baghdad, Iraq

COMMANDER SEAN ROBERTSON: Good morning. I'm Commander Sean Robertson. I'll be moderating the brief for you this morning. We're going to begin with a brief communication check.

Sir, can you hear me?

COLONEL SEAN J. RYAN: Yes, I can.

CMDR. ROBERTSON: This brief should last approximately 45 minutes.

Today, we have Colonel Sean Ryan, spokesperson for Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve in Baghdad, Iraq, for an update on operations.

Sir, the floor is yours.

COL. RYAN: Good morning. Today, I'd like to update you on the ongoing operations in Iraq and Syria, and conclude by providing the current status of efforts to enable stability in our areas of responsibility.

However, first, I want to mention Lieutenant General Paul LaCamera assumed command of the Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve from Lieutenant General Paul E. Funk II, during a September 13th ceremony in Baghdad with CENTCOM commander General Joseph Votel presiding over the events. We proudly thank General Funk and his team for their service, and welcome General LaCamera and the 18th Airborne Corps staff.

Starting in Iraq, operations by the ISF to secure the nation and to combat malign actors continue as they threaten the safety of civilians who are trying to stabilize and rebuild. The ISF continues to fight and secure the hard-fought gains that they have made in the past year to secure the nation against remaining pockets of ISIS, who continue to threaten their peace and security. The various security elements, to include the ISF, the Peshmerga, counterterrorism services and the federal police, are all working together to continue securing their country.

In Nineveh, the ISF work daily to reduce improvised explosive devices and to arrest terrorists. In the mountains of Kirkuk, the federal police and the Peshmerga are working together to secure the remote villages through the region and to clear pockets of terrorists who are trying and failing to exploit the rough terrain to maintain a foothold.

In Anbar province, border security forces continue to prevent ISIS fighters from streaming into the country, establishing presence in the villages across the western desert region and harassing residents.

For its part, the coalition is enabling the ISF efforts to secure Iraq by advising strategic leaders, training thousands of Iraqi servicemembers and divesting equipment they need to effectively secure their country.

In addition, since 2015, a multi-national effort led by various coalition members have trained more than 175,000 ISF members in basic soldier skills and specialized fields critical to the mission, such as intelligence, law enforcement, medical support and aviation.

Moving to Syria, ground operations for Phase Three of Operation Roundup began this month, and the coalition and its partner forces' efforts to defeat ISIS in the clearance of the Middle Euphrates River Valley.

Hajin and the surrounding villages are the last remaining territory acquired by ISIS in the coalition's area of responsibility, and the victory by the Syrian Democratic Forces there will mean that ISIS no longer holds territory.

As expected, ISIS is trying hard to -- to preserve their remaining space, by using tactics like burning tires, using innocent civilians as human shields, and dressing up like women. Despite this, we are confident that the SDF will prevail.

Finally in At-Tanf, the MaT continues to secure the area within the 55 kilometer deconfliction zone, and to prevent the movement of terrorists through the area. Earlier this month, U.S. Marines conducted training within the area to reinforce our partners' forces, efforts and capabilities.

The coalition has supported the SDF through air support, as well as training and equipment. Additionally, in liberated areas, the coalition trained internal security forces that maintain the peace and security in liberated cities, provide basic law enforcement support, as well as specialized services such as counter-IED and engineering.

In both Iraq and Syria, the success of our partner forces is creating stability in areas that have not seen peace since the arrival of ISIS more than five years ago. Lives are being rebuilt again because the ISF and the SDF are providing the necessary security for residents to go back home, rebuild their lives and again hope for their future.

However, the truth is military stabilization efforts are not enough. Security creates the space for rebuilding. Residents only gain hope for the future when their children can go to school free from harm, women go buy basic necessities in local shops, and when they can go to their jobs that allow them to support their families.

Ultimately, the military cannot fight its way to stability.

The cost of reconstruction is dauntingly high for our partners, who must allocate very limited resources to address very serious concerns. The reconstruction efforts in Mosul alone, for example, can cost as much as $100 billion. We call on all nations to help those who have sacrificed tremendously fighting this global threat.

With that update, I'll be happy to take your questions.

CMDR. ROBERTSON: For all questions, please provide your full name and agency prior to asking your question. All called on will have an opportunity to ask one follow-up.

Tara?

Q: Hi, Colonel Ryan. Tara Copp with Military Times.

Based on reports that Russia and Turkey have come to an agreement over Idlib, does the U.S. welcome this agreement? Have you had any chance to discuss what it might mean for any efforts to protect partnered forces in and around Idlib?

COL. RYAN: Hi, Tara.

We have not had time to really discuss that.

I'll tell you what, if this holds up and it can save lives and avoid the humanitarian disaster that it could have been, then we're definitely supporting that. But that's definitely a decision between Russia and Turkey, and the coalition was not involved with that.

Q: But at the present moment, the coalition would welcome an agreement between Russia and Turkey over Idlib?

COL. RYAN: What we want is a political solution that will save lives, is what we're really looking at.

Q: Okay.

And secondly, can you comment at all on the -- the shoot-down of the Russian jet yesterday, and whether or not U.S. has any visibility in it over a deconfliction line or any other means?

COL. RYAN: As far as I'm tracking, Tara, we did not -- the coalition was not involved with this.

Tough to comment because it just happened, and I'm sure an investigation has -- has already been on the way. So I can't comment any further than that.

Q: (Off-mic) involved, but were you able to -- did you have any visibility into it as it was happening through either your own radar or through the deconfliction line?

COL. RYAN: We did not that I'm tracking.

CMDR. ROBERTSON: Ryan?

Q: Hello, Colonel. Ryan Browne with CNN. Thank you for doing this.

A quick question on Phase Three of Operation Roundup. Have you -- so far, as the SDF progresses, has there been any high-value targets captured or foreign fighters captured in -- as the SDF has made its initial moves into the Hajin area?

COL. RYAN: Hi, Ryan.

We have not captured any high-value targets that we're tracking. We have had some individuals give up, and the SDF has them in custody.

It's been a very difficult fight so far, a lot of IEDs and booby traps as we expected. So they are constantly changing their TTPs, their training tactics, to avoid some of this.

But -- but we have not seen any high-value targets to this point.

Q: Thank you.

And then on At-Tanf, obviously this exercise with the Marines was well publicized, there was a lot of talk of Russia threatening to conduct unilateral operations within the deconfliction area, there was some unidentified shelling in the At-Tanf area.

What do you ascribe this kind of increased tensions around At-Tanf? What do you -- what do you, kind of, credit that to? What's going on there? And have you seen some of these tensions subside in recent days?

COL. RYAN: Well, there's a lot of actors, there's a lot of malign actors out there. And as you know, not all of them are -- are thrilled that the U.S. is in this area. However, our goal remains the same, and that's to defeat ISIS.

So I haven't seen any tensions that have been any different than before. But again we're there, we will definitely, you know, reinforce our capabilities when needed and protect ourselves whenever necessary.

Q: Has Russia threatened again to conduct unilateral operations in that area in recent days?

COL. RYAN: Not that I'm tracking, Ryan.

Again, our reinforcement of our capabilities ensuring we're ready to respond was definitely not aimed at anyone. It's something that we need to do as a military force.

But we have not seen any other aggression from -- from anybody since that.

Q: Thank you, Colonel.

CMDR. ROBERTSON: Kasim?

Q: Hi, Colonel. It's Kasim Ileri with Anadolu Agency.

I have a question on Manbij. I don't know if you still remember, there was an -- a roadmap agreement between Turkey and U.S. on Manbij. Can you update us about it, what's going on?

And I will have a follow-up.

COL. RYAN: Sure.

We just conducted number 46 for independent coordinated patrols with Turkey outside Manbij. And I'd like to think that Manbij is -- is a beacon of hope right now, because, again, there's stability there, the shops are open, people are moving around freely, there's very few signs of any ISIS or any other malign actors in that area.

So I believe that those patrols are working.

Q: And -- so the Manbij plan, the roadmap was detailed and was phased and also there was a timeline on it, so there was going to be some joint patrols between -- with, you know, United States and Turkish forces together. Also, YPG elements would have, according to the plan to leave the city.

So what about the second phase of the plan? Why is it not working?

And Secretary Mattis has -- as you would remember, has last month or the month before said that the training for joint patrols to begin soon and we have not heard about -- anything about those trainings.

What -- what -- what is the reason behind the stall in the plan to move ahead?

COL. RYAN: Well, the training continues, so thanks for the question.

They just have not started the joint patrolling yet, but training is ongoing.

I don't want to get ahead of the secretary, but that's why we don't go into timelines. There's a lot of things militarily that -- that we have to do whenever you have a joint patrol, and those issues are being addressed right now.

But again, there's -- there's very few incidents in Manbij right now and to us that's a sign of success that the patrols are working.

Q: Just -- just a last follow-up. Can you confirm that YPG elements have left the city?

COL. RYAN: As far as I'm tracking, there's very little YPG if any at all. And we are adhering to that agreement that the YPG will not be part of Manbij.

Q: Thank you very much.

CMDR. ROBERTSON: Lucas?

Q: Lucas Tomlinson, Fox News.

Colonel, how many ISIS fighters do you estimate are -- estimate are in eastern Syria in the city of Hajin?

COL. RYAN: Right now our estimate's around 1,500 to 2,000 fighters.

However, again, let me reiterate that they have freedom of movement underneath the ground in their tunnels and of course, you know, they built their own trenches as well. So that's one of things that the SDF is fighting. So it's very difficult to come up with an actual number when a lot of folks are underground and, of course, they -- they come out at night.

Now that the operation is underway, I think we'll get a -- get a better clue once things get progressing.

Q: Following the downing of the Russian reconnaissance aircraft, is the U.S. military beefing up its combat air patrols over the skies of Syria?

COL. RYAN: No, nothing's changed since that. Obviously that was just yesterday, so nothing's changed from the coalition standpoint.

Q: And finally, Secretary Pompeo on Friday mentioned that the U.S. embassy in Baghdad had received rocket fire from Iranian-backed forces. How concerning is this for the coalition? And what steps are you doing to mitigate future attacks?

COL. RYAN: Well, it is concerning, because we have groups that are firing, you know, obviously, at the embassy compound and at coalition forces.

I mean, I get paid to be here, so they can fire those weapons at me all they want. But the problem is they don't have very good aim and those -- they fell very short and they can, you know, hurt the Iraqi people. And that's what we have a problem with.

If you want to, you know, have a beef with the military, that's one thing, but just aimlessly and recklessly shooting off weapons at the Baghdad population, that's the part that bothers us.

Q: Would you say the threats from these Iranian-backed forces is increasing throughout Iraq and Syria?

COL. RYAN: I think the -- it's stayed the same throughout. I wouldn't say it's increasing.

Q: Okay, thank you.

CMDR. ROBERTSON: Tom Squitieri?

Q: Hi, Tom Squitieri with Talk Media News. Thank for doing this, sir.

I wanted to follow up on Ryan's initial question about Operation Roundup.

Could you -- I read over the weekend some news reports that SDF had taken one village already. And you mentioned in your remarks that there's several little villages or cities in that area.

Could you be a little more specific as to the -- what's been captured already by SDF, as well as go into a little more detail please of how the U.S. coalition -- the U.S. is supporting this effort, through, what, air, intelligence, whatever?

Thank you.

COL. RYAN: Sure.

Well, the coalition is supporting with air support and of course medvac if they need that as well, to include ISR as well.

And so it's not just in the Hajin area. I mean, it's -- they're fighting Al-Souza, (Bagouth, Baquani?). I mean there's other areas but eventually, you know, Hajin is -- is a hot spot. But we have to -- you know, without getting into too much military detail on -- on where the forces are going, but there's -- there's other topics, there are other spots where the SDF have to fight and -- and there's obviously a very concentrated military plan.

But we're fighting a very difficult enemy right now. The advance has been slow and methodical, but they're doing that -- that -- that way they don't lose forces either. So we just can't -- they can't jump into it haphazardly.

And again, if they see something that is slowing them down, they're -- they're changing their techniques to meet the needs and to destroy ISIS.

Q: Thank you.

Q: Thank you, Colonel Ryan. (inaudible) -- from Turkish Radio and Television.

There are reports that the U.S. is stepping up its presence in northern Syria, especially in Manbij, Kobani and Shaddadi. These reports also say that U.S. is deploying radars and missile defense systems there.

Can you confirm these reports in some local media and the social media?

Thank you very much.

COL. RYAN: I'm sorry, that was a -- that didn't come in very well. Could you repeat part of that question?

Q: There are reports that United States is stepping up its presence in northern Syria, especially in Manbij, Kobani and Shaddadi. And also the U.S. Army is deploying missile defense systems and radars there.

Can you confirm these reports?

COL. RYAN: I can confirm that the coalition forces have installed those radars in the past. Some of the photos, I think, that were on the internet were old.

And we do this all the time to secure our planes in the air and our forces on the ground. So I wouldn't say we're stepping up. This is something that we constantly do, you know, based off the enemy to continue to make sure that all of our forces stay safe at all times.

Q: Just a quick follow-up: How many U.S. soldiers are there now?

COL. RYAN: In Syria?

Q: In Syria.

COL. RYAN: Around 2,000.

Q: Thank you.

CMDR. ROBERTSON: Tara for a quick follow-up here.

Q: Hi, Colonel.

I wanted to get back to the -- the shoot-down. Did Israel communicate its flight plans or plans to hit Latakia prior to the -- the Russian plane being hit?

COL. RYAN: I don't have any other information than -- than what I've discussed already on that.

We're -- we're tracking probably what you're tracking. I'm sure at the higher levels, you know, the building you're at was tracking that. But -- but we were not at the coalition level.

Q: And just for my clarification, at the coalition level, would Israel be communicating to the coalition what its particular air strikes would be on any given day? Is it -- does it operate within the coalition or is it operating independently?

COL. RYAN: No, they operate independently. They're not operating within our coalition communication system.

Q: Okay, so they don't communicate their moves to the coalition at all -- their air moves?

COL. RYAN: Not that -- not that I'm tracking, no.

Q: Okay, thank you.

CMDR. ROBERTSON: Katie from Defense One.

Q: Hi, Colonel. Thank for -- for doing this.

I just wanted to follow up on Lucas' question about the rocket fire on the U.S. embassy, as well as some of the -- the violence we've seen in Basra.

How concerned are you all that this stalemate in government formation is increasing instability in -- in the region? And how do you see this as a -- as a -- as a factor in the, sort of, violence that we've seen so far?

COL. RYAN: Well, it's definitely a concern, but you have to understand, too, that the Iraqi government has not formed yet, which I believe makes it more difficult.

I mean, what the residents are asking for are essential services. I just had talks with the Iraqis today about that: you know, water, electric -- electricity, things of that nature, which they deserve. So that's something that the Iraqi government's going to have to take a good look at. But once they form, I'm sure things will go a lot more smoother. But right now, it's -- they're still in a little bit of flux right now, so it's a difficult situation.

Q: Are -- are you concerned that the longer that flux goes on, the longer that stalemate goes on without the formation of a government, that that's going to -- to increase violence?

COL. RYAN: I would say that the ISF is -- is doing a pretty good job right now curbing that. The ISF's very respected in Iraq, and I think they're doing a pretty good job.

But obviously -- you know, I don't want to delve into politics too much. But obviously, any time you -- you form a government, the faster you can do it, the better.

But, you know, they're a sovereign country, and they need to do things at their pace, so definitely don't want to dictate that for them.

Q: Thank you.

CMDR. ROBERTSON: Okay, and before I come back up to the front here, was there anybody who hasn't had an opportunity to ask a question that wanted to -- wanted to get one in?

Luis?

Q: Hey, Colonel. Thanks for doing this briefing.

A -- a question about the -- the operations in the MERV. Exactly -- you gave us the estimate of 1,500 and 2,000, but in that overall area that remains, what is the estimate? Is it -- is it 1,500, 2,000 for that whole area, or just strictly for the -- the town that you were referring to?

COL. RYAN: No, 1,500 to 2,000 in the whole operation that we're working in the MERV is what we're guesstimating.

Q: And do you have an estimate for how large the force is that the -- the SDF force is that's pushing into that area?

COL. RYAN: I do, but that's operational information, and I'd prefer not to give that out.

Q: Understood.

Last question: It seems that -- is there new guidance about how long the U.S. presence in eastern Syria is going to continue after the potential defeat of ISIS in the future?

COL. RYAN: Well, I'll follow what the Secretary of Defense mentioned, and, you know, he had three -- three things: destroy ISIS, train local troops so they can take over, and then, hopefully, the Geneva process will take over. I know that they had a meeting in Geneva on September 14th. I have not seen the details from that, but that's the basis that we're going off right now.

Q: Thank you.

CMDR. ROBERTSON: Ryan?

Q: Hey, Colonel. Thanks for taking a follow-up.

Just wanted to, kind of, follow up on one thing you had said, I think at the top, which you -- you described this area around Hajin as the, kind of, remain -- last ISIS redoubt in the coalition's area of responsibility.

And I guess this, kind of, raises the question, I mean, what can the coalition do about ISIS pockets west of the Euphrates? And -- and how significant is that a problem, that ISIS, kind of, has a safe haven in regime-controlled areas?

COL. RYAN: Well, obviously, we -- we follow that to the best we can. But our mission is not complete yet in the MERV, so that's obviously our -- our main goal right there.

But, you know, you hope that these other countries out there have the same goal as you do, is to defeat ISIS. And I know in Iraq that they're dealing with this problem of pockets, and on the regime side, that's something that, again, we -- we hope that they're going to deal with, as well.

But right now, we just have to concentrate on our area.

Q: And then very briefly, if I could follow on Luis' kind of, point, you know, the enduring defeat is also described as training significant numbers or satisfactory numbers of local security forces to, kind of, take over. Where are you in that process? I mean, what -- how many fighters are you hoping to train, and how many fighters have you trained thus far?

COL. RYAN: Well, I can use, like, Raqqa as example. We've trained over 6,000 RISF soldiers to this point. I mentioned in the topper, 175,000 ISF. So, of course, we're still fighting this war, but we're still training on the same side. And, of course, as you know, NATO will come in later, and they'll help the training process, as well.

And the training will lead to stability, and that's what this region needs. So the more we can make it stable, then the more that, you know, these people can get back to their lives.

But training will continue to the best we can without taking away from the fight itself.

CMDR. ROBERTSON: Okay, we'll go to Lucas for a last question here.

Q: Colonel, going back to the rocket attacks on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, how often are these rocket attacks happening? How close the rounds impacting? And how much of a threat is it to U.S. embassy personnel and U.S. troops?

COL. RYAN: Well, the rockets fell very short of the embassy. They fell into an open field.

The great story on this one is that these -- I don't even know what you want to call them; I guess terrorists, we can call them -- were -- were firing this. The local residents came out and basically, they called the ISF, and the ISF came, and they basically ran them out of the area. So that was great news.

I don't believe that the embassy's been hit for -- for over a year possibly, maybe more. It's very seldom, but it's a very secure compound, as well. That doesn't mean there's not a threat. There's always a threat when you're -- when you're over here, and you -- you know, you're part of the coalition forces, or -- or the U.S. So that's just part of life.

But, you know, what -- like I said, it's a good news story when -- when the residents are telling these guys to get out of town.

Q: It's happening, these -- how often is this happening, these rocket attacks? Was this an isolated incident, or has it been going on for weeks and months?

COL. RYAN: No, this is an isolated incident for sure.

Q: Okay, thank you.

CMDR. ROBERTSON: Okay, sir, did you have any final words for those here?

COL. RYAN: I do.

I just want to say thanks again for -- for coming out, and feel free to hit up myself and my staff any time you have questions.

CMDR. ROBERTSON: Okay, Colonel, thank you very much for your time, and have a fantastic day.

COL. RYAN: You as well. Thanks.

http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Transcripts/Transcript-View/Article/1638001/

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Ansarullah leader: Yemenis demand peace, security and stability

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Sept 18, IRNA -- Yemeni Ansarullah leader Abdul Malek Badr al-Din al-Houthi said that the Yemeni people seek peace, security and stability in their country, in Sana'a during a meeting with the UN Special Representative for Yemen on Monday.

Mohammed Abdul Salam, the head of the Ansarullah national delagation, posted on his personal page on one of the social networks the news of the meeting of the leader of the Ansarullah movement in Sana'a with Martin Griffiths.

In this meeting, the two sides spoke on providing conditions for future talks, as well as the plight of the Yemeni people under the economic blockade of the Saudi's coalition.

Abdul Salam added that the leader of the Ansarullah movement in the meeting emphasized that 'our efforts are in favor of the peace, security and stability that the Yemeni people are demanding'.

Abdul Malek al-Houthi said in the meeting with the UN special envoy for Yemen that the Yemeni people are defending dignity, sovereignty and independence of their country.

The Yemeni peace talks were scheduled to take place on September 15, under the supervision of Griffiths in Geneva, Switzerland, but Saudi Arabia's measure postponed the meeting by blocking the participation of Ansarullah delegates.

The Saudi coalition did not issue a license for landing of Omani plane for the transfer of Ansarullah's delegation, as part of the deal agreed by negotiation with the aim of curbing and blocking the presence of the Sana'a delegation.

UN special envoy for Yemen after the cancellation of the Geneva summit without announcing the next meeting stressed on the continuation of the diplomatic measures for restoring peace in Yemen.

9455**2050

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Deputy Secretary General welcomes Colombian Foreign Minister to NATO

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

18 Sep. 2018

Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller welcomed Colombian Foreign Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo to NATO Headquarters on Tuesday (18 September 2018). Ms. Gottemoeller and Mr. Trujillo welcomed the deepening ties between the Alliance and Bogota, and discussed the regional security context in Colombia. Looking to the future, they agreed that cyber defence, demining, and promoting the role of women in peace and security should be among the top priorities for cooperation. Deputy Secretary General Gottemoeller welcomed that NATO and Colombia share "a mutually beneficial relationship, a true partnership".

NATO's cooperation with Colombia has been developing steadily in recent years. In 2015, Colombian forces worked side-by-side with NATO off the Horn of Africa to suppress piracy and secure international shipping lanes. Colombian personnel have benefitted from courses at the NATO School in Germany and the NATO Defense College in Italy. NATO's Building Integrity programme has also helped to increase transparency and professionalism in Colombia's defence institutions.

Colombia officially became a partner country  the Alliance's newest, and its first in Latin America  in May 2017. NATO works with 41 partner countries around the world to promote international peace and security.

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New Official Mail Delivery System Installed at NAS Jacksonville

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS180918-08

Release Date: 9/18/2018 1:32:00 PM

From NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center Jacksonville, Office of Corporate Communications Public Affairs

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (NNS) -- Collecting mail for your command just got easier at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, thanks to the Pitney Bowes mail delivery system, installed by NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center Jacksonville to support official mail delivery and pickup for NAS Jacksonville tenant commands, Sept. 13.

NAVSUP FLCJ is responsible for post office operations throughout the Southeast region, from Texas to Cuba. When faced with the challenge to upgrade the existing manual delivery system, Michael Heard, the Director of Postal Operations for NAS Jacksonville, knew the Pitney Bowes system would resolve many of the delivery issues.

The intelligent mail equipment offers a streamlined system for command mail clerks to pick up official mail, as well as advanced custody control measures. Mail orderlies will now be able to scan their mail card at one of two kiosks, which is automatically linked to their command's mailbox. Once they have registered their card and signed for the delivery, their postal box will automatically open.

"With the old system, we were limited in how we could document the chain of custody, and how many tenant command mail orderlies we could service at one time," said Heard. "With the new automated system, commands will get email notification when their mail is ready for pick-up, as well as thorough documentation of how the mail was handled from the time it arrived in this facility to when it was signed for and removed from the facility."

The software optimizes the mail delivery process at the base while providing a high degree of security for the command's deliveries. The Pitney Bowes software and delivery system is used widely at commercial establishments, such as banks, colleges and hotels. Most recently, it has been successfully implemented at the naval base in Pearl Harbor.

"We are working diligently to modernize our infrastructure, processes and equipment to bring our Warfighters what they need, when they need it," said Capt. Matt Ott, commander, NAVSUP FLCJ. "The procurement, installation, testing and operation of this equipment was a team effort with our military and civilian team working hand-in-hand with our industry partners to bring a quality product to our men and women in uniform."

The new mail delivery system will be fully operational in the coming weeks. In the meantime, command mail orderlies are still able to receive and deliver mail at the NAS Jacksonville Post Office during normal business hours.

Intelligent mail lockers were a NAVSUP Headquarters Global Initiative designed to bring enhanced support to our nation's warfighters. FLCJ was the first to install the system for official mail use. FLCJ Site Gulfport, Pensacola and Whiting Field are set to install the new intelligent mail software in early October.

NAVSUP FLC Jacksonville, one of eight fleet logistics centers under Navy Supply Systems Command, provides operational logistics, business and support services to fleet, shore and industrial commands of the Navy, Coast Guard, Military Sealift Command, and other joint and allied forces.

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Australia-China joint military exercise kicks off in Canberra

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 17:45, September 17, 2018

CANBERRA, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- The opening ceremony of Exercise Pandaroo 2018 was held here on Monday, marking the start of a joint exercise by soldiers from the Australian Army and the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

This is the fourth joint exercise since 2015, which will last till September 28. Hosted by the Australian Army's 6th Brigade, the exercise this year will see participants undertaking adventure training activities, including abseiling and sea kayaking, focusing on teamwork, friendship and trust among participants from the two countries.

"In recent years, bilateral defense tie between Australia and China has been developing steadily, which played a positive role in deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership between our two nations," said Senior Colonel Wang Jingguo, Defence Attache of the Chinese embassy in Australia.

"Through the joint exercise, our soldiers could learn from each other and improve together," he said. "The exercise helps promote the mutual understanding and trust between the two armed forces."

Brigadier Cameron Purdey of the Australian Army said that the exercise is a "fantastic opportunity for us to continue developing our relationship among junior soldiers and junior officers."

The soldiers, 10 from each side, were welcomed by indigenous Aunty Tina Brown with a smoke ceremony. Then Colonel Wang and Brigadier Purdey gave patches to all participants.

"We buddied up the Australian and the Chinese," said Maj. Terri King. "It is important for them to understand that language is not the barrier. Language can be cut down so quickly and so easily."

Fu Dingli, a 24-year-old Chinese soldier who went abroad to join such exercise for the first time, told Xinhua that he was looking forward to gaining more field experience and building relationship with the Australian counterparts.

In the following 10 days, soldiers from both sides will have exercises in the Blue Mountains and Sydney regions in New South Wales.

Exercise Pandaroo 2018 followed Exercise Kowari earlier this month featuring Chinese, Australian and U.S. armed forces, and Exercise Kakadu, Australia's largest maritime military exercise to which China sent a warship for the first time.

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The best bang for your buck! This option enables you to purchase online 24/7 access and receive the Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday print edition at no additional cost * Print edition only available in our carrier delivery area. Allow up to 72 hours for delivery of your print edition to begin. Print edition not available for Day Pass option.US Air Force plans massive expansion to confront Russia, China

Iran Press TV

Tue Sep 18, 2018 05:32AM

The US Air Force plans to return to Cold War firepower levels by adding more bombers, fighters, tankers and other frontline units -- part of President Donald Trump's vision of a stronger military to confront Russia and China.

Air Force leaders called Monday for a nearly 25 percent increase in operational squadrons over the next 12 years, which would bring the service to a size not seen since the Cold War, when it sustained 401 squadrons.

The service now has 312 squadrons, which number anywhere from eight to 24 aircraft depending on the type of the plane.

"The Air Force is too small for what the nation is asking us to do," Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson said during a speech at the Air Force Association's annual Air, Space & Cyber Conference in Maryland.

"The Air Force we need has 386 operational squadrons by 2030," she added. The service calculates that it would need 40,000 more personnel to support the additional squadrons.

The call for more than 70 additional squadrons is based on estimates of what it would take to fight and win a potential conflict with China or Russia in the future, Wilson said, adding, "It's not just larger; the way we fight will be different."

The Air Force secretary noted that the new assessment is in line with the administration's National Defense Strategy outlined by the Pentagon chief, James Mattis, earlier this year.

That strategy shifts the focus of military planning from the so-called war on terror to deterring and/or defeating what it calls "revisionist" states -- Russia and China in particular, but also Iran and North Korea.

"Inter-state strategic competition, not terrorism, is now the primary concern in US national security," the document says, adding, "Long-term strategic competitions with China and Russia are the principal priorities for the [Defense] Department."

"Today, we are the best Air Force in the world," Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein said. "Our adversaries know it. They have been studying our way of war and investing in ways to take away those advantages. This is about how we stay in front."

Last year, the US Air Force conducted 172,000 separate sorties as part of the campaign against Daesh (ISIL) -- an average of nearly 500 per day. About 98,000 of those flights were precision-strike missions employing air-to-ground munitions.

But with the Trump administration's defense strategy adding to the list of tasks the Air Force must accomplish, the service needs to grow and adapt, officials said.

The largest growth would be to the Air Force's bomber squadrons, which would increase from nine to 14. Most of the current bombers, which include nuclear capable B-52 and B-2, are set to retire after Northrop Grumman's new B-21 Raider bomber joins the force in 2025.

Cold War strike fighters will be replaced by F-35 jets. Aerial tankers as well as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms will also see a big increase in numbers.

The proposed increases have not yet been worked in the Defense Department's budget blueprints. But Air Force leaders believe the changes are essential to ensuring that the United States can meet the requirements outlined in the new defense strategy.

"We usually have the dialogue about the Air Force we can afford," Goldfein said. "This is different. This is about the Air Force we need to present credible options to compete, deter and, if deterrence fails, win."

The Air Force believes that an increased bomber presence is vital in the Pacific, where China's first aircraft carrier has been conducting flight operations after being declared combat ready this year.

"China has militarized islands in the South China Sea, and now all of Southeast Asia is within reach of its long-rang bombers," Wilson said. "Part of President Xi's plan is for China to be a top-ranked military by 2050, and President Xi is no longer bound by term limits on his presidency."

The US Navy has announced similar plans to grow its fleet size by nearly a third and shift tactics to counter rising threats from Russia and China.

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US to Consider Establishing Permanent Military Base in Poland - Trump

Sputnik News

21:43 18.09.2018

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday in a meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda at the White House that the two would discuss establishing a permanent US military base in Poland.

"We're looking at it very seriously, I know Poland likes the idea very much, and it's something that we are considering, yes," Trump told reporters.

The statement of the US President comes just a few days after Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaschak announced that his country can pay up to $2 billion for the deployment of a permanent US military base in the country.

The Polish Defense Ministry previously claimed that deployment of the US troops in the country would send a message to Moscow that Washington is ready to protect its allies in Eastern Europe.

Addressing the issue, Russia has repeatedly voiced its protests against the NATO military buildup near its borders, saying that this move would undermine regional stability and would lead to a new arms race.

 Sputnik

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US Air Force Demands 74 More Squadrons to Prepare for Major Conflict  Reports

Sputnik News

09:40 18.09.2018

US Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson called for a 24% growth in the number of squadrons by 2030, claiming that the additional aircraft would be necessary to prepare for a possible conflict against major nations and extremist groups.

The demand came as a part of the service's "Air Force We Need" proposal, which had been in the works for six months now, the Air Force Times reported on Monday. The proposal was prepared after the Pentagon released its National Defense Strategy, which outlined the need of the US military to shift away from the extremist fight towards a deterrent strategy aimed at opposing nations with significant military resources.

In her keynote address at the Air Force Association's Air, Space, Cyber Conference, Air Force Secretary Wilson noted that the Air Force took a look at Russian military exercises involving more than 300,000 troops in September and the Chinese unveiling of their first aircraft carrier and the ongoing militarization of the South China Sea before presenting the proposal.

"We must see the world as it is," Wilson said. "That was why the National Defense Strategy explicitly recognizes that we have returned to an era of great power competition."

Wilson noted that the current Air Force service isn't big enough to carry out all the missions currently assigned to it. The addition of 74 squadrons would raise the number of operational squadrons from 312 to 386 and necessitate significantly more total force manpower. Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said that the Air Force now has about 670,000 active duty and 74 new squadrons would require this figure to grow to 725,000 Guard and Reserve airmen and civilians by 2030.

However, such increase would require a massive boost of the Air Force's budget, which is almost $50 billion in FY 2019, according to Todd Harrison, a defense budget analyst for the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

"The cost of pay and benefits for 40,000 airmen is about $5.2B per year (give or take)," he wrote in a Tweet on Friday. "Right now the Air Force spends about $53B per year on aircraft operations, training, and recruiting. Increasing the number of squadrons by ~24% would probably add another $13B per year in these operating costs."

Air Force General David Goldfein in an interview with Air Force Times on Monday said that such enormous financial support would allow the Air Force to change the way the squadrons are deployed. He outlined that currently, airman are deployed in groups in three or more to quickly arrive at the established bases and fight violent extremist groups, yet this positioning would be impossible to maintain while fighting a "peer". Goldfein also claimed that the current Air Force lacks experience and practice it had 17 years ago while fighting Saddam Hussein with unit-wide deployment, calling it "a kind of muscle memory" that needs to be regained.

 Sputnik

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Saudi-Led Coalition Announces Large-Scale Offensive on Hodeidah Port in Yemen

Sputnik News

04:58 18.09.2018

DOHA (Sputnik) - The Arab coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates announced the launch of a large-scale military operation to liberate the Yemeni port city of Al Hodeidah on the Red Sea from Shiite militants from Ansar Allah movement, the commander of coalition forces on Yemen's west coast Gen. Ali Taniji said Tuesday.

"The attack of troops on the side of President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi with the support of the military Arab coalition on Al Hodeidah began from several directions," Taniji said, as quoted the WAM news agency.

According to the commander, the Houthis lost their ability to resist. Coalition aircraft are bombing their positions on the outskirts of Al Hodeidah. The coalition reported that it had cut off the channel of supply of rebels in Hodeida from the city of Saada. According to Taniji, thousands of trained fighters of the Yemeni resistance will stop the Houthis' attempts to regain the areas of Al Hodeidah that were repulsed from them.

In turn, the Al Masirah broadcaster, which is controlled by the insurgents, reported that the Arab coalition had inflicted a strike on the building of the naval faculty in Al Hodeidah.

Yemen has been engulfed in an armed conflict between the government forces led by president Hadi and the Houthi rebels for several years. The Saudi-led coalition of mostly Persian Gulf nations has been carrying out airstrikes against the Houthis at Hadi's request since March 2015.

The situation in the war-torn country has deteriorated sharply since June, when the Saudi-led coalition launched an offensive to seize Al Hodeidah, a key port city for humanitarian aid, from the Houthis.

 Sputnik

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Qatari jet export deal swings into action

Qatar's deal to buy 24 Typhoon jets and nine Hawks is now officially effective after BAE Systems received its first payment today.

18 September 2018

The deal, worth around 5bn includes the aircraft and a bespoke support and training package. Qatar is now buying nine Hawk trainers, rather than six, which will also be welcome news for BAE Systems' factories in Warton and Brough which make the jets.

Welcoming the news, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said:

"This monumental, multi-billion-pound deal is now officially in place, and those from across government and industry who have worked so hard on it together can be extremely proud to see it reach this stage. It's a massive boost to the British defence industry, helping to support thousands of jobs, and it will help us further build the trust between the UK and Qatar to tackle the challenges we both share, support stability in the region and deliver security at home."

UK Export Finance's (UKEF) 5bn package of support was vital to securing the deal, including by providing financing and insurance. UKEF's role is to support UK exports including by providing export finance to enable overseas buyers to purchase goods and services from the UK, and export insurance for companies selling overseas.

International Trade Secretary, Dr Liam Fox said:

"The UK Government is proud to be a part of this hugely significant export contract, supporting BAE Systems, its nearly 35,000 employees and the 9,000 companies in its supply chain."

"This support from UK Export Finance will sustain jobs in one of the UK's key industrial sectors, support economic growth, and strengthen our own defence capabilities as well as those of a key strategic ally."

BAE Systems Chief Executive, Charles Woodburn said:

"This contract, effective today, represents a significant step in BAE Systems' long-term relationship with the State of Qatar, as it becomes the ninth country to choose Typhoon. The proven combination of Typhoon and Hawk will provide the Qatari Armed Forces with the most advanced and flexible multi-role combat aircraft on the market today, along with best in class support and training."

The Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson and his Qatari counterpart, Dr Khalid bin Mohammed al Attiyah, oversaw the signing of the deal in Doha in December. Deliveries of the first Typhoon aircraft are expected to commence in 2022.

The deal also involves a package of training and co-operation between the British and Qatari Air Forces which will see them working closely together in the future. A new UK-based Typhoon joint squadron, reformed as No.12 squadron, will comprise both Qatari Emiri Air Force and RAF personnel, including pilots and ground-crew based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire ahead of the delivery of the aircraft. It represents a unique initiative, with the RAF not having formed a squadron with another nation since the Second World War and the Battle of Britain.

The UK and Qatar share mutual interests in countering violent extremism, and ensuring stability in the region, and the deal further reinforces those ties by helping to prevent terrorism from spreading and protecting the prosperity and security of the UK at home.

Qatar is the ninth country to purchase the Typhoon, with the deal sustaining thousands of UK jobs. The MOD continues to bang the drum for the UK's world-leading aerospace industry, with sales of defence equipment to foreign customers surging by 53% last year to 9bn.

The UK is a world-leader in the combat air sector, with a mix of skills and technologies unique in Europe, supporting over 18,000 highly skilled jobs. The sector delivers a turnover of more than 6bn a year and has made up over 80% of defence exports from the UK over the last ten years.

The support follows the launch of the Government's Export Strategy, which sets out how the government will support businesses of all sizes to make the most of the opportunities presented by markets around the world.

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Make the guns fall silent. 'Immediately and everywhere": South Sudan envoy

18 September 2018 - Warring parties in South Sudan must demonstrate their willingness to a peaceful end to their conflict by "making their guns fall silent. Immediately and everywhere," said Nicholas Haysom, outgoing UN Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, on Tuesday.

Mr. Haysom's comments were delivered during a briefing to the Security Council on South Sudan, led by Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the head of UN Peacekeeping Operations.

Mr. Haysom said that two years ago, when he took up his post, South Sudan was trying to implement the original version of the peace agreement that has now been revitalized, and formally agreed only last week, in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, between President Salva Kiir and his former Vice-President, Riek Machar.

The two years-long rivals signed a "landmark" agreement on 12 September at the main UN office in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, following 15 months of negotiations led by the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD, an eight-country trade bloc in Africa) and the Governments of Sudan and Ethiopia.

Since 2013, the country has suffered devastating civil conflict that has seen tens of thousands killed, multiple human rights abuses and millions displaced or forced to flee across the border.

Mr. Haysom said that the important question facing the Security Council is how the international community and UN should respond to the new agreement and that, whilst the agreement is not perfect, it could still be an effective platform for peace.

Mr. Lacroix described the new agreement as "an important milestone in a crisis now entering its fifth year," saying that the need for peace in South Sudan is so urgent that "we must seize this as an opportunity and work together to make the agreement a basis for lasting peace."

Mr. Haysom told the Security Council that he has advised the parties to the South Sudanese conflict that simply signing a peace treaty will not lead to the automatic support of the international community, noting that previous agreements have been violated within hours of the relevant parties committing to peace.

An assessment of the sustainability of the agreement, he said, is necessary. This assessment includes its enforceability, political accountability and trust levels: with trust currently very low between the two parties, confidence building measures are needed to build faith in the peace process, following years of intercommunal violence.

In addition, potential donors will not be willing to fund the peace process unless there is financial transparency, and accountability for the past misuse of public funds.

In his briefing, Mr. Lacroix also stated that trust is crucial, and that this would allow all South Sudanese stakeholders, including women, to meaningfully engage in the full implementation of the agreement.

However, renewed fighting had already been reported within days of the signing in Addis Ababa, in several regions of South Sudan, with both sides in the conflict mobilizing reinforcements to support operations to secure territory.

This fighting, said Mr. Lacroix, has worsened the already dire humanitarian and human rights situation in the country.

Almost 2 million people are displaced within South Sudan, and another 2.5 million have been forced to live in neighbouring countries. A key hallmark of the conflict includes sexual violence, threats and harassment.

Mr. Lacroix and Mr. Haysom both supported the proposal of IGAD to enable Sudan, Uganda, Djibouti and Somali troops to join the Regional Protection Force (RPF) deployed in South Sudan.

These soldiers would be tasked with, among other things, the protection of the opposition leaders once they return to the country to take part in the transitional government.

The UN Mission in South Sudan, UNMISS, will continue to perform its mandate to contribute to a secure environment, with an emphasis on protecting civilians.

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UN chief welcomes meeting between leaders of Djibouti and Eritrea

18 September 2018 - The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has welcomed the meeting between the Presidents of Djibouti and Eritrea, held on Monday in Saudi Arabia, as "yet another step in the consolidation of recent peace and security gains in the Horn of Africa region".

Mr. Guterres said in a statement from his Spokesperson that he hopes the encounter in Jeddah between President Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti, and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, will "initiate a process to settle all pending issues between the two countries and lead to greater peace, stability and development in the region", and expressed appreciation to the leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its efforts in facilitating this dialogue.

The simmering conflict between the two countries started over 10 years ago and stems from a border dispute over the status of Dumeira Mountain and Dumeira Island, off the coast of both Djibouti and Eritrea, which have been claimed by both nations.

The meeting in Jeddah follows a request made in July by Djibouti's ambassador to the UN, Mohamed Siad Doualeh, for help in settling the dispute with Eritrea.

On Sunday, the UN chief applauded another major step for peace in the region with the signing of the peace agreement between Ethiopia and Eritrea, which ended decades of hostilities over a disputed border area.

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Eritrea: Peace deal prompts hope of internal reforms, to improve fundamental human rights

18 September 2018 - The peace agreement between Eritrea and Ethiopia has raised hopes that improving human rights will be front and centre on Eritrea's path forward, according to a United Nations Special Rapporteur on Tuesday.

On 9 July, leaders of both countries signed a Joint Declaration of Peace and Friendship, raising expectations that the end of the "no war, no peace" stalemate between them, would positively impact Eritrea's internal human rights situation.

The thaw in relations between the neighbouring countries, who fought a bloody, unresolved war in the late 1990s, began earnestly in June, when Ethiopia's newly-elected leader, Abiy Ahmed, made peace overtures to his counterpart.

Yet, repression reportedly continues within Eritrea.

"During the past 17 years, the Government of Eritrea has maintained tight control over the country, stifling any form of public debate and participation," said Sheila B. Keetharuth, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea.

Eleven government officials who had criticised the President in an open letter, along with 10 independent journalists, were arrested in 2001  silencing public political discourse and the independent press  setting off a period of sweeping oppression throughout the country.

"I have received reports that the former Minister of Finance," Ms. Keetharuth continued, "who recently wrote two books on the current state of affairs in the country, including the rule of law, has been arrested in Asmara during the morning of 17 September."

If confirmed, the arrest, on the eve of the 2001 clampdown anniversary, would question the will for genuine reform, "especially regarding respect for fundamental rights and freedoms," the expert asserted.

According to Ms. Keetharuth, while comprehensive domestic reforms would be required for a free, fair, democratic society with all human rights entitlements, the Government can take immediate action towards that end in three concrete, urgent areas.

Firstly, the families of prisoners who have disappeared in Eritrean jails should be informed about the fate of their loved ones. Secondly, implementing the 1997 Constitution would provide a natural basis for a national legal framework and a society governed by the rule of law. And thirdly, the Government could inform new military conscripts that they would not have to serve beyond the 18 months stipulated by Eritrean law.

"The achievement of peace between Eritrea and Ethiopia must be duly celebrated," stated Ms. Keetharuth. "However, Eritrean authorities must urgently embrace and implement bold measures to strengthen protection of and respect for human rights, justice and accountability," she concluded.

Special Rapporteurs are appointed by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a specific human rights theme or a country situation. The unpaid positions are honorary, and independent from any government or organization.

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New Biodefense Strategy Combats Man-Made, Natural Threats

Sept. 18, 2018

By Jim Garamone

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON -- The new National Biodefense Strategy is a living document designed to counter man-made and natural biological threats, National Security Advisor John Bolton said during a White House briefing today.

"This is critical, we think, for our defense purposes looking at the range of weapons of mass destruction the United States our friends and allies face," he said.

While nuclear weapons are an existential threat to the United States, chemical and biological weapons also pose dangers to Americans. Bolton noted that biological weapons often are called "poor man's nukes" and said the biodefense strategy aims at countering that threat.

Steering Committee

"What we've done is establish a Cabinet-level biodefense steering committee to be chaired by the Department of Health and Human Services," he said. "This is the approach best suited for carrying out the strategy operationally." HHS Secretary Alex Azar will chair the committee.

Participating agencies include the departments of Defense, Agriculture and Homeland Security, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency and others.

Bolton stressed that this is just one part of the nation's biodefense strategy and does not encompass what the U.S. offensive response would be to a biological attack. He also said the strategy will evolve as needed. As new techniques or new medical treatments or new threats emerge, he added, the strategy will change.

Azar, who also spoke at the briefing, noted that the strategy has to cover a range of threats, from nation-states to individuals. He noted that the anthrax attack of 2001 was launched by an individual, while the Spanish Flu outbreak in 1918 that infected a quarter of all Americans and killed almost 700,000 was natural.

The threats are real and growing, Azar said. The world is growing more urbanized and interconnected, which speeds the spread of infectious threats. He noted the Ebola outbreak earlier this summer in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. "Such is the ease of travel between countries now that just in the DRC, more than 100,000 people are being screened at border crossings every day," he said. "We also face accidental and man-made threats. Today's rapid technological advances have great potential to improve public health and human health, but they also create the opportunity for new kinds of threats and for more and more actors to make use of biological weapons."

The strategy looks to promote research into combating pandemics and coordinating response to attacks or outbreaks. It looks to work with allies, the United Nations' World Health Organization, the Red Cross and others.

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US Unveils New Biodefense Strategy

By Marissa Melton September 18, 2018

U.S. President Donald Trump introduced the new national strategy for combating disease outbreaks and bioterrorism Tuesday, on the anniversary of the 2001 anthrax attacks on the United States that left five people dead.

In a statement, the president said, "Biological threats emanate from many sources, and they know no borders."

In the 2001 attacks, letters containing anthrax spores were mailed to two Democratic U.S. senators and several news media outlets. Five people died in the attacks, and another 17 were infected by exposure to the spores. The identity of the person responsible for the letters was never discovered, although the prime suspect, a government scientist, committed suicide in 2008.

This year's strategy, the president said, builds on lessons learned from past biological incidents, including not only the anthrax attacks but the 2009 U.S. outbreak of influenza and the Ebola virus epidemic that killed thousands of people in West Africa in 2014.

Trump said he has authorized Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar to serve as the federal lead in coordinating implementation of the national strategy. He said he has also established a cabinet-level biodefense steering committee, and directed National Security Adviser John Bolton to review threats and prioritize biodefense actions annually.

In a news briefing Tuesday, Azar told reporters that biological threats are "very real, and they're growing." He said this year's strategy is the first by the U.S. to include naturally occurring threats.

Previously, the national biodefense strategy focused on the weaponization of biological threats by enemy forces. But Bolton told reporters at the briefing that there is no "particular immediate threat" of a biological attack.

Cuts to funding

Ashley Arabasadi, chair of the Global Health Security Agenda Consortium, told VOA on Tuesday that her collective welcomes the release of the strategy after several delays. However, she said in an email, "the administration's actions do not match its words."

She said the Trump administration's proposed budget cuts health security funding to the Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Agency for International Development, and withdraws unspent funding for Ebola defense.

"Without funds, we cannot continue to implement the programs on the ground and ensure that we are making the world [and the U.S.] safer from infectious disease threats whether natural, man-made, accidental, or intentional," she said.

The Global Health Security Agenda Consortium is an international group of nongovernmental organizations that promotes cooperation on world health security needs and defends against infectious threats.

White House correspondent Patsy Widakuswara contributed to this report.

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Top DPRK leader Kim greets South Korea's Moon at airport

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 09:40, September 18, 2018

PYONGYANG, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in arrived in Pyongyang Tuesday morning and was received with a grand welcome ceremony led by Kim Jong-un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Kim and several senior officials, ceremonial guards and hundreds of local residents welcomed Moon at the airport with flowers, national flags and peninsula flags.

The two leaders shook hands and hugged and greeted each other after Moon touched down.

This is the first inter-Korean summit in DPRK's capital Pyongyang in 11 years.

The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said that the Pyongyang summit aims to implement the Panmunjom Declaration issued after the first inter-Korean summit in April this year.

The Pyongyang summit "will offer an important opportunity in further accelerating the development of inter-Korea relations that is making a new history," the KCNA said.

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North Korean leader says wants 'bigger outcome' from summit with South Korea

Iran Press TV

Tue Sep 18, 2018 03:11PM

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un says he seeks "bigger outcome at a faster pace" in a three-day summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in Pyongyang than the two leaders of the Korean Peninsula have achieved so far.

The first session of talks between the two leaders were held on Tuesday afternoon, a few hours after President Moon, along with his wife, arrived at Pyongyang's international airport and were warmly welcomed by Kim and his wife.

A team of high-ranking officials and some South Korean business tycoons also accompany President Moon, who is holding his third summit meeting with Kim. The two previous meeting, in April and May, had been held at the border village of Panmunjom.

The summit is aimed at hammering out a consensus on officially ending the 1950-53 Korean War, improving inter-Korean ties, easing tensions along the two neighbors' border, the most militarized in the world, and reviving stalled denuclearization talks held in Singapore between the North's leader and US President Donald Trump back in June.

During the three-year-long Korean War, a United Nations force led by the US fought for the South, and China fought for the North. The fighting ultimately ended when 1953 Korean War Armistice Agreement was signed. However, no peace treaty has ever been signed since then, meaning Washington and Seoul are technically still at war with Pyongyang.

"Thanks to that, the political situation in the region has stabilized and I expect more advanced results," Kim told Moon, referring to the Seoul-brokered Singapore gathering, at the start of their talks.

Moon, for his part, expressed gratitude for Kim's "bold decision to open a new era", adding that it was "time to bear fruit."

The first session of the talks, which lasted for almost two hours, was held at the headquarters of the North's ruling Workers' Party Central Committee. On Wednesday, the two leaders plan to hold a second day of official negotiations after which they are expected to issue a joint statement, and a separate military pact formed to resolve tensions and end armed clashes. President Moon will return home early on Thursday.

Earlier this year, Kim declared an intention to bring economic prosperity to his country, long subjected to harsh international sanctions due to his country's pursuing of nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

During the Singapore meeting between Kim and Trump, the pair made a broad agreement but Pyongyang has denounced what it has called "gangster-like behavior" by the US since then. The North says Washington has betrayed the spirit of the summit by making unilateral demands on the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization, while putting the sanctions in place.

Pyongyang has firmly defended its military program as a deterrent against the hostile policies of the US and its regional allies, including South Korea and Japan. Thousands of US soldiers are stationed in South Korea and Japan.

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Fifth North-South Summit Held

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

Pyongyang, September 19 (KCNA) -- There took place the historic fifth north-south summit meeting at the office building of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea on September 18.

Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK, had talks with Moon Jae In, president of south Korea.

Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un warmly greeted President Moon Jae In who visited the office building of the WPK and had a souvenir photo taken with him.

Before the talks, President Moon wrote in a guest book of the office building in commemoration of the historic Pyongyang north-south summit; "Single is the mind of all fellow countrymen for peace and prosperity! September 18, 2018. President of the Republic of Korea Moon Jae In"

At the talks there was an in-depth exchange of opinions on various issues arising in further accelerating the development of the north-south relations by honestly implementing the Panmunjom declaration in an all-round manner.

The Supreme Leader and the south Korean president highly appreciated the present state of the north-south relations positively developing on good terms after the two meetings and talks held successfully this year, and had a frank and candid conversation over important matters of mutual concern.

Present at the talks from the north side were Kim Yong Chol, vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the WPK, and Kim Yo Jong, first vice department director of the Central Committee of the WPK.

Present there from the south side were Jong Ui Yong, chief of the State Security Office of Chongwadae, and So Hun, director of the Intelligence Service. -0-

(2018.09.19)

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Iraqi Hashd Sha'abi leader says he won't run for premiership

Iran Press TV

Tue Sep 18, 2018 03:28PM

Secretary General of Iraq's Badr Organization, who is also the leader of the political Fatah (Conquest) Alliance and the pro-government Hashd al-Sha'abi (Popular Mobilization Units), has withdrawn his candidacy for prime minister, stressing the need for political consensus in order to make progress in the Arab country's political process.

"I would like to announce to the dear Iraqi people the withdrawal of my candidature for the head of the Council of Ministers, to open the way for serious dialogue to elect a prime minister and his government according to the vision of the Supreme religious authority," Ameri said in a press conference in Baghdad on Tuesday.

He added, "There is no choice but reaching consensus in the political process, and prioritizing public interests over private ones."

On September 13, outgoing Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said he was 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

Ayatollah Sistani, the country's most senior cleric, said earlier this month that Iraq needed new faces in the government as protests escalated in the southern oil-rich city of Basra and Baghdad.

Iraqi lawmakers on Saturday elected former governor of Anbar Province Mohammed al-Halbousi as the speaker of the 329-seat parliament, putting the country one step closer to forming a government for the next four years.

During a parliamentary session with 298 lawmakers in attendance, Halbousi garnered 169 votes, while his competitor, former Defense Minister Khalid al-Obeidi, obtained 89 votes.

Former parliament speaker Osama al-Nujaifi and politician Mohammed al-Khalidi received lower numbers of votes.

The two leading parliamentary coalitions of Sairoon and al-Fatah have called on Abadi to step down over deadly protests in the southern oil-rich port city of Basra.

"We demand Abadi and his government to resign immediately and to apologize to the people of Iraq," Hassan al-Aqouli, spokesman for Sairoon coalition, backed by influential Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, said in a press conference earlier this month.

Aqouli added, "Sairoon Coalition is seeking to form a national and strong government to save the country."

The Fatah alliance also asked Abadi to resign, noting that "all political blocs agree that Abadi's government has failed to meet its commitment toward Basra province."

"The people of Basra are fed up with the promises of the government," Ahmed al-Asadi, spokesman of Fatah alliance, said.

At least 12 protesters were killed in Basra and many of its institutions were set ablaze. Calm returned to the city late on September 8.

Basra has long witnessed complaints among its 2.5 million residents about failing infrastructure, power cuts and corruption. Water supply is also widely criticized for high salinity.

Anger boiled over on September 4 after more than 30,000 people were hospitalized by water pollution.

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Iraq to send troops along border to stop Turkish 'violations'

Iran Press TV

Tue Sep 18, 2018 06:00AM

Iraq has announced plans to deploy troops along the border with Turkey in an effort to defend the frontier against any "violations" of its territory and airspace.

In a statement released on Sunday, the office of Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said the deployment of border guards is meant "to protect the country's border areas and to prevent any violations."

The decision was made during a meeting of the Iraqi Ministerial Council for National Security that focused on "the security and the stability within Iraq and on its border, documenting airspace and land violations, and the federal police's responsibilities," according to the statement.

The meeting, chaired by Abadi, also instructed the Foreign Ministry to "take the necessary measures to document the Turkish violations of Iraqi airspace to the United Nations."

Meanwhile, Turkey's Ambassador to Baghdad Fatih Yildiz told Yeni Safak daily that the Iraqi premier had during his last visit to Ankara expressed his intent to increase the presence of forces linked to the Interior Ministry along the border.

Over the past years, the Turkish military has repeatedly violated the Iraqi territory and airspace amid its crackdown campaign against militants of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which operates in southern Turkey and runs bases in northeastern Iraq.

In late 2015, tensions flared up between Baghdad and Ankara after the latter deployed soldiers and armored vehicles to the Bashiqa military base in Iraq's northern province of Nineveh without Baghdad's permission under the pretext of training Kurdish Peshmerga fighters amid battles against the Daesh terror group.

Earlier this year, Ankara also admitted that it had carried out operations in Iraq's Sinjar region against the PKK militants active there.

Turkey regularly conducts airstrikes on positions held by the PKK in northern Iraq.

Ankara claims that it has Iraq's permission for the anti-PKK operations in Iraq. Baghdad, however, rejects this.

"The Iraqi government will not accept any advance on its land by Turkish forces in pursuit of the PKK elements currently present in the Sinjar, Makhmour and Qandil Mountains," Saad al- Hadithi, a spokesman for Abadi, said back in June.

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ICC launches investigation into Myanmar's crimes against Rohingya Muslims

Iran Press TV

Tue Sep 18, 2018 10:58PM

The International Criminal Court has opened a preliminary probe into Myanmar military's crimes, including killings, sexual violence and forced deportations, against members of the Rohingya Muslim minority group in the Southeast Asian nation.

Prosecutor of the Hague-based, Fatou Bensouda, will look into whether there is compelling evidence to warrant a full investigation into Myanmar's military crackdown, which has claimed the lives of thousands of Rohingya Muslims and forced many more to flee into neighboring Bangladesh.

"I have decided to proceed to the next phase of the process and to carry out a full-fledged preliminary examination of the situation at hand," Bensouda said in a statement.

Bensouda said the initial probe "may take into account a number of alleged coercive acts having resulted in the forced displacement of the Rohingya people, including deprivation of fundamental rights, killing, sexual violence, enforced disappearance, destruction and looting."

She noted that she would also examine whether other crimes would apply to the plight of the Rohingya "such as the crimes of persecution and other inhumane acts."

The ICC announcement came on the same day that the United Nations (UN) reiterated its call for the prosecution of Myanmar's top military officials for what the international body described as genocide against Rohingya Muslims.

UN investigators said in a report on Tuesday that Rohingyas had faced four of five prohibited acts defined as genocide at the hands of Myanmar's military in the northwestern state of Rakhine.

The UN report also said that Myanmar's military should be removed from politics and stripped of further influence over the country's governance. The military has members in the Myanmarese parliament.

The civilian government "should further pursue the removal of the Tatmadaw from Myanmar's political life," the UN report said, referring to the country's military by its local name.

Meanwhile, Amnesty International said it was "great that the International Criminal Court has opened this important avenue to justice for the Rohingya.

"Keep the momentum going -- the UN Security Council needs to refer the situation in Myanmar to the ICC to ensure it can investigate all crimes under international law," the London-based rights group said on its official Twitter page.

Thousands of Rohingya Muslims were killed, injured, arbitrarily arrested, or raped by Myanmar soldiers and Buddhist mobs mainly between November 2016 and August 2017, when many of the surviving members of the community started fleeing to Bangladesh en masse.

The plight of the Rohingya Muslims, long suffering in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, has attracted Western attention only recently.

The Rohingya  who have lived in Myanmar for generations  are denied citizenship and are branded illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, which likewise denies them citizenship but which has granted them refuge on humanitarian grounds.

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S.Korean president hopes his DPRK visit leads to resumption of DPRK-U.S. talks

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 09:40, September 18, 2018

SEOUL, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Tuesday that his visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) would be a success if it helps to restart the DPRK-U.S. dialogue.

"If North Korea (DPRK)-U.S. dialogue resumes with his (Moon's) visit to North Korea this time, it will have a great meaning by itself," Moon's senior press secretary Yoon Young-chan quoted Moon's saying at a press briefing at the Seoul press center for the S.Korea-DPRK summit.

Moon said it would be very significant for the leaders of the two Koreas to meet frequently, noting the relationship between the leaders has gone beyond a regular meeting into the one that they can meet whenever they want.

Moon said on Monday that what he wanted was an irreversible, permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula, noting that he aimed to have lots of frank talks with DPRK top leader Kim Jong Un during his first Pyongyang visit.

It would mark the first inter-Korean summit in the DPRK's capital city in 11 years. The first and second ones were held in 2000 and 2007, respectively.

Moon was slated to arrive at the Pyongyang International Airport, where a welcoming ceremony is set to be held, at about 10 a.m. local time (0100 GMT).

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S. Korean president arrives in Pyongyang for summit with DPRK top leader

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 09:06, September 18, 2018

South Korean President Moon Jae-in arrived in Pyongyang on Tuesday for a much-anticipated meeting with Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the third inter-Korean summit this year.

Moon and South Korean first lady Kim Jung-sook landed in Pyongyang at around 10 a.m. local time (0100 GMT). They were received by Kim and his wife Ri Sol Ju at the Pyongyang International Airport, with a crowd in suits and traditional costumes waving flowers, national flags and the unified flag for the Korean Peninsula which features a map of the peninsula.

"Warmly welcome President Moon Jae-in for a visit to Pyongyang," a banner in the background reads.

The two leaders greeted each other with a hug and inspected the guards of honor before leaving together for the Baekhwawon State Guest House in a black sedan.

They were seen later to step out of the same vehicle outside the state guest house.

Moon's visit was closely followed in South Korea and was broadcast live at the Seoul press center.

Kim and Moon met in the truce village of Panmunjom on the border on April 27 and May 26, respectively. Their meetings were seen as major milestones in the relations between the DPRK and South Korea.

Moon is expected to stay in Pyongyang for three days through Thursday. The two leaders will meet for 1.5 hours on Tuesday from 3:30 p.m. local time (0630 GMT), Yoon Young-chan, Moon's senior press secretary, told a press briefing at the Seoul press center.

Moon's entourage is composed of ministers, officials, lawmakers, business people as well as entertainers.

The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said that the Pyongyang summit aims to implement the Panmunjom Declaration issued after the first inter-Korean summit in April.

The Pyongyang summit "will offer an important opportunity in further accelerating the development of inter-Korea relations that is making a new history," the KCNA said.

Before leaving for Pyongyang, Moon said he planned to have a lot of frank talks with Kim during his visit to the DPRK in order to bring "irreversible, permanent peace to the Korean Peninsula" and help restart the DPRK-U.S. dialogue on the denuclearization of the peninsula.

Progress has been remarkable in the dialogues on the Korean Peninsula since the beginning of the year but there are still challenges as the United States and the DPRK find it not easy to get closer to each other in negotiations over the denuclearization of the peninsula.

Moon is the first head of state from South Korea to visit Pyongyang in 11 years. South Korea's late presidents Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun visited Pyongyang for meetings with then DPRK leader Kim Jong Il, father of the current leader, in 2000 and 2007, respectively.

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Russia holds Israel accountable for Russian aircraft downing

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Sept 18, IRNA -- The Russian Defense Ministry held the Israeli entity accountable for the destruction of the Russian aircraft in Syria.

Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov told reporters on Tuesday that "The Israeli pilots used the Russian plane as cover and set it up to be targeted by the Syrian air defense forces. As a consequence, the Il-20, which has radar cross-section much larger than the F-16, was shot down by an S-200 system missile," SANA reported from Moscow.

He added that 15 Russian military service members have died as a result.

He pointed out that the Israeli aviation control systems and pilots knew that the Russian plane was present in the area, but this did not stop them from executing "the provocation."

He considered the Israeli provocation "an act of hostility, as the illegal practices of the Israeli pilots killed 15 Russian servicemen, saying that Moscow reserves the right to respond accordingly.

Later, the Russian Defense Ministry said that the bodies of the crew of the downed Il-20 and their personal belongings, as well as the wreckage of the aircraft, have been located and pulled up on board the Russian ships off the Eastern Mediterranean.

"Eight ships, including Russian Naval cutters and supply vessels, are participating in the operation to locate the crew of the Russian Il-20 aircraft which crashed off the coast of Lattakia," the ministry said, adding that the location of the plane's crash is found 27 kilometers to the west of Banyas town.

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu has held Israel fully accountable for the crash of the Russian aircraft and the death of its crew.

According to the ministry, Shoigu talked via phone with his Israeli counterpart Avigdor Lieberman earlier in the day.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said that it had summoned the Israeli Ambassador to Russia over this incident.

1396**1396

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Syria welcomes agreement on Idleb announced in Sochi

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Sept 18, IRNA -- Syria has welcomed the agreement on Idleb Province announced Monday in the Russian city of Sochi, stressing that it was an outcome of intensive consultations between it and the Russian Federation with complete coordination between the two countries.

An official source at Foreign and Expatriates Ministry told SANA on Tuesday that the Syrian Arab Republic has always welcomed any initiative that stops bloodshed and contributes to reestablishing security and stability to each inch that was struck by terrorism as it stresses determination to go ahead in its war against terrorism until all the Syrian territories are liberated whether by military operations or by local reconciliations, which proved their capability in stopping bloodshed and reestablishing stability to areas taken place in a way that contributes to the turning back of the displaced to their areas, SANA reported.

The source added that the Idleb agreement announced yesterday is a time-bound agreement and it is part of previous agreements on de-escalation zones resulted from the Astana track since the beginning of 2017, essentially stemming from commitment to sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Syrian territories as well as liberating all the Syrian territories whether from terrorism and terrorists or from any illegitimate foreign presence.

1396**1396

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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.U.S. sees missing Russian aircraft accidentally downed by Syrian forces: report

People's Daily Online

By huaxia (Xinhua) 13:54, September 18, 2018

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- The United States believed that the Russian aircraft that went missing on Monday over the Mediterranean had been mistakenly shot down by Syrian forces, U.S. media reported on Monday citing a U.S. official with knowledge of the incident.

A Russian aircraft with 14 servicemen on board went off radar near the Hmeymim airbase in Syria Monday evening and the Hmeymim airbase has launched a search and rescue operation for the missing aircraft, said the Russian Defense Ministry in a statement.

The Russian maritime patrol aircraft was accidentally shot down by the Syrian government's anti-aircraft artillery when they were fighting against missile attacks, reported CNN citing an anonymous U.S. official.

Earlier on Monday, Syrian media reported a missile attack on the Syrian city of Latakia.

The Syrian government has yet to name the party behind the attack but the state TV was pointing to Israel as the perpetrator.

Sean Robertson, a spokesperson for the Pentagon, told reporters on Monday that it was not the U.S. military which fired the missiles.

Enditem

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Russian aircraft with 14 aboard goes off radar near Hmeymim airbase in Syria

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 09:50, September 18, 2018

MOSCOW, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- A Russian aircraft with 14 servicemen on board went off radar near Hmeymim airbase in Syria Monday evening, the Russian defense ministry said in a statement.

"On September 17, at about 11 p.m. Moscow time (2000 GMT), the communication with the crew of the Russian Il-20 aircraft was lost when it was over the Mediterranean Sea, some 35 kilometers from the Syrian coast, on its way back to Hmeymim airbase," the statement said.

The Hmeymim airbase has launched a search and rescue operation, added the statement.

Earlier on Monday, Syrian media reported a missile attack on the Syrian city of Latakia.

The Syrian government has yet to name the party behind the attack but the

state TV was pointing to Israel as the perpetrator.

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Turkey needs to send more troops to Idlib under deal with Russia: FM

Iran Press TV

Tue Sep 18, 2018 01:56PM

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu says his country will need to deploy more troops to Syria's militant-held northwestern province of Idlib following an agreement with Russia, which entails a demilitarized zone in the crisis-plagued area.

"We need extra troop reinforcements. Idlib's borders will be protected. People will stay in their place. Russia will take necessary measures to prevent attacks against this region... Twelve of our monitoring stations will remain," Cavusoglu said at a ministerial meeting in the capital Ankara on Tuesday.

The top Turkish diplomat added, "The borders of Idlib will be protected under the memorandum of understanding signed in Sochi. There would be no change in the status of Idlib."

Cavusoglu said heavy weapons will be removed from the demilitarized zone in Idlib, stressing, "Civilians will stay. Only terrorist groups will be removed."

The Turkish foreign minister noted that the region would be cleared off from "radicals," and that a ceasefire would be enforced.

Cavusoglu underlined that heavy weapons will be removed from the demilitarized zone in Idlib by October 15.

He said the M4 and M5 highways, which run east to west and north to south through Idlib, linking the strategic northwestern city of Aleppo with the capital Damascus and the Mediterranean coast, would be open to traffic by the end of the year.

The remarks came a day after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin met in Russia's coastal city of Sochi, and agreed to divide Idlib into a demilitarized zone between militant-held and government-controlled areas.

Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. The Syrian government says the Israeli regime and its Western and regional allies are aiding Takfiri terrorist groups wreaking havoc in the country.

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Iran welcomes Turkey-Russia deal on buffer zone in Syria's Idlib

Iran Press TV

Tue Sep 18, 2018 09:47AM

Iran has welcomed a recent agreement reached between Turkey and Russia to create a buffer zone in Syria's Idlib Province, the last major terrorist bastion in the Arab country.

In a post on his official Twitter account, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif hailed the deal as the fruit of "intensive responsible diplomacy" meant to avert a war in Idlib.

Turkish President Recep Tayyib Erdogan held talks with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on Monday.

Following the meeting, Putin told a joint news conference with Erdogan that they had agreed to create a demilitarized zone of a depth of 15-20 kilometers in Idlib along the contact line between the armed opposition and government troops by October 15.

Separately on Tuesday, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi described the Sochi meeting and its outcome as "an important and major step towards cleansing Syria of the remaining terrorists."

He further stressed that the Idlib agreement could help politically resolve the Syria crisis.

"Halting any violence and bloodshed while ridding the region of terrorism is among the most basic and fundamental pillars of the Islamic Republic of Iran's foreign policy," Qassemi added.

The Iranian spokesman also expressed hope that the results of the Sochi summit, which was held within the framework of the Astana peace process, could play an "effective role" in ending the Syrian people's suffering and speeding up the expulsion of "violence-seeking forces" from the country.

The Russia-Turkey deal follows a summit in Tehran, where Iranian President Hassan Rouhani hosted his Russian counterparts.

In a joint statement issued at the end of the Tehran talks, the three sides said the Syria crisis could only be resolved through a negotiated political process, and has no military solution.

Tehran, Moscow and Ankara have recently stepped up their diplomatic efforts to resolve the Syria crisis. The three states serve as guarantors of the Astana process, a track of negotiations which have resulted in the return of a succession of militant bastions to the government fold and movement of civilians to safe zones.

The strategic Syrian province of Idlib hosts several militant groups backed by Turkey and other foreign parties  especially Western states, Israel and their regional allies.

In recent weeks, the Syrian army has been preparing for the liberation of Idlib, drawing support from Iran and Russia, but concerns from Turkey. Ankara fears a fresh influx of Syrian refugees in the wake of the Idlib battle.

Idlib deal 'respects Syrian sovereignty'

Damascus also welcomed the Idlib agreement, saying it was "the result of intense discussions between Syria and Russia."

Syria's official SANA news agency quoted an official source at the Foreign Ministry as saying that the fresh deal has a specific timeframe and is based on the "sovereignty and unity" of Syrian land.

"It is part of previous agreements ... which were based on the commitment to ... liberating all Syrian land, whether from terrorists or from any illegitimate foreign military presence," he added.

The official also expressed Damascus' determination "to go ahead in its war against terrorism until all the Syrian territories are liberated whether by military operations or by local reconciliations."

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Russia: Deliberate Israeli provocation led to plane downing

Iran Press TV

Tue Sep 18, 2018 08:08AM

Russia blames Israeli warplanes for "creating a dangerous situation" that led to the shooting down of a Russian military plane by Syrian air defense systems, saying it reserves the right to give a due response to the hostile action.

The plane vanished from radar screens over Syria's Latakia Province late Monday while Israeli and French forces were launching strikes against the Arab country.

Fifteen Russian military personnel were killed as the aircraft was coming to land at the Hmeymim air base in Latakia, which is run by Russian forces.

"The Israeli pilots used the Russian plane as cover and set it up to be targeted by the Syrian air defense forces," the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

"As a consequence, the Il-20, which has radar cross-section much larger than the F-16, was shot down by an S-200 system missile," it said, adding Israel had warned Russia of an impending airstrike on Latakia only one minute beforehand.

Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said, "We reserve the right to take commensurate measures in response."

Konashenkov described the Israeli military's actions as "hostile" and "an act of provocation," Russia's Interfax news agency reported.

Shedding further light on the incident, Syrian state media said that Latakia's capital of the same name came under attack from "enemy missiles" at around the time when the plane disappeared, forcing Syrian air defenses to respond.

France has, meanwhile, denied any involvement in the incident.

'The blame lies squarely on Israel'

Meanwhile, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu spoke to Israeli minister for military affairs Avigdor Lieberman, on the phone about the incident.

"The blame for the downing of the Russian plane and the deaths of its crew members lies squarely on the Israeli side," Shoigu said. "The actions of the Israeli military were not in keeping with the spirit of the Russian-Israeli partnership, so we reserve the right to respond."

Israel's Ambassador to Moscow has been summoned by the Russian Foreign Ministry in connection with the incident, the ministry's spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, announced on social media.

The Kremlin also said it was studying the situation and would have more to say later.

Israel carries out regular reconnaissance and military operations against Syrian soil.

The regime is wary about Syria's advances against militants, especially those in the Arab country's south near the Golan Heights, which Tel Aviv has been occupying since 1967.

Earlier this month, Israeli Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz said the regime has taken military action within Syria more than 200 times in the last two years.

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Russian plane with 14 on board goes off radars amid Israeli air raids on Syria

Iran Press TV

Tue Sep 18, 2018 12:36AM

A Russian military Il-20 plane carrying 14 service members disappeared from radars on Monday night as four Israeli jet fighters were attacking state institutions in Syria's Latakia.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, air traffic controllers at the Hmeimim Air Base "lost contact" with the aircraft, during the attack of Israeli F-16 fighters on Latakia.

The plane was 35 kilometers off the coast of Syria when it went off the radars, RT quoted the Russian defense ministry as saying.

A search and rescue mission is reportedly underway to find the fourteen people aboard the Il-20 aircraft.

The Ilyushin 20 surveillance turboprop plane is an Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) platform, equipped with a wide range of antennas, infrared and optical sensors. The plane's SLAR (Side-Looking Airborne Radar) and its satellite link allow the Russian military to monitor Syrian skies in real time.

The news of the plane's disappearance surfaced shortly after Syria announced its air defense system had shot down several missiles fired from the sea, targeting state technical industry institutions in Latakia.

Meanwhile, a US official with knowledge of the incident claimed the Russian plane had been inadvertently shot down by the Syrian anti-aircraft artillery after the Syrians came under attack by Israeli missiles.

CNN quoted the US official as saying the Syrian army was actually trying to stop a barrage of Israeli missiles, and a second official confirmed that Israel was responsible for the missile strikes on the Syrian positions.

Syrian officials could not initially confirm rumors that Israel was behind the attack, but the Russian sources later announced that the missiles had been fired both by Israeli jet fighters and a French frigate in the Mediterranean.

According to the Russian defense ministry, the attacks started around 10 pm local time and lasted one hour, targeting a power station as well as two facilities belonging to the Syrian military.

While the Russian military said it registered four F-16 Israeli jets over Syria at the time of the attack on Latakia, the Israeli military has refused to comment on the report.

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Iran Hails 'Responsible Diplomacy' After Turkey, Russia Agree On Idlib Plan

RFE/RL September 18, 2018

Tehran, Damascus, and Syrian opposition groups have welcomed an agreement between Russia and Turkey to avert an assault on Syria's last major rebel stronghold in the northwestern province of Idlib.

"Intensive responsible diplomacy" between Russia, Turkey, and Iran succeeded in "avert[ing] war" in Idlib, "with a firm commitment to fight extremist terror," Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted on September 18.

"Diplomacy works," he added.

A Syrian Foreign Ministry official said the deal reached by the Russian and Turkish presidents on September 17 to create a demilitarized buffer zone in Idlib to separate government and rebel forces was the result of "intense discussions" between Damascus and Moscow, according to Syria's state media.

The SANA news agency quoted the official as also saying that the Syrian government will press on with its "war against terrorism" to "liberate" the entire country, "by military operations or local reconciliation."

The Syrian government and its allies Iran and Russia often refer to any armed opponent of the Syrian government as a "terrorist."

Syria's opposition groups also hailed the deal between Russia and Turkey, with the opposition Syrian Negotiations Commission (SNC) saying that the deal safeguarded the lives of the population.

SNC spokesman Yahya al-Aridi told the Reuters news agency that the agreement was also an indication that the "path of peace" must now be opened.

Mustafa Sejari of the Free Syria Army (FSA) said the agreement "preserves lives of civilians and their direct targeting by the regime. It buries [Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's] dreams of imposing his full control over Syria."

Moscow and Tehran have given Assad crucial support throughout the Syrian war, which began with a government crackdown on protesters in March 2011.

The three allies have been pressing ahead with an expected Syrian government offensive in Idlib Province, saying they want to put an end to what they call the last main "terrorist" stronghold in Syria.

Turkey, which is backing rebel groups, has called for a cease-fire to prevent what he said would be a "bloodbath" and another major refugee crisis on Turkey's southern border.

The country is already home to more than 3 million Syrians who have fled the war.

After meeting in Russia's Black sea resort city of Sochi on September 17, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said they agreed to create a buffer zone in Idlib.

Speaking at a joint news conference, Putin said it will be 15 to 25 kilometers wide and come into force by October 15.

"Radical fighters," including the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Nusra Front, would have to leave the zone, he said.

The Russian president also said that under the deal, rebel groups will have to pull out all heavy weaponry, including tanks, multiple-launch rocket systems, and mortar launchers from the area by October 10.

Erdogan said Turkish and Russian troops will carry out coordinated military patrols on the borders of the buffer zone.

"We will prevent a humanitarian tragedy that could happen as a result of military action," he said.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the deal meant there will be no offensive in Idlib.

Idlib Province, home to some 3 million people, is the last major stronghold of rebel and jihadist groups that have been trying to overthrow Assad for the past 7 1/2 years, in a civil war that has killed more than 400,000 people and displaced millions.

With reporting by AFP and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-hails- responsible-diplomacy-after-turkey-russia -agree-on-idlib-plan/29495848.html

Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Israel Rejects Russian Blame For Deadly Downing Of Surveillance Plane By Syria

RFE/RL September 18, 2018

Syrian air defenses inadvertently shot down a Russian surveillance plane over the eastern Mediterranean Sea, Moscow has said, blaming what it called reckless actions by Israel that led to the deaths of 15 Russian servicemen.

The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement on September 18 that Israeli pilots conducting attacks on targets in Syria "used the Russian plane as a cover, exposing it to fire from Syrian air defenses."

"The blame for the downed Russian plane and the death of the crew lies fully with the Israeli side," Shoigu told his Israeli counterpart, Avigdor Lieberman, in a phone call, the ministry said in a statement.

"The Russian Defense Ministry, through various channels of coordination, has repeatedly called on the Israeli side to refrain from strikes on Syrian territory that create a threat to the safety of Russian servicemen," Shoigu added, according to the statement.

The Israeli military rejected the accusation, saying Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces were to blame.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, meanwhile, refrained from directly accusing Israel of responsibility for the incident while speaking alongside Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban following their talks in Moscow.

He said the plane was downed following a "chain of tragic accidental circumstances."

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said earlier in the day that Moscow could take "commensurate measures in response" to "the irresponsible actions of the Israeli military."

Putin said Russia's response would be focused on the security of Russian personnel in Syria. "These will be steps that everyone notices," he said, calling the deaths of the servicemen "a tragedy for everyone, for the country, for the loved ones of our fallen comrades."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed sorrow for the death of the Russian soldiers, his office said in a statement on September 18.

Netanyahu told Putin during a phone call that Syria bears responsibility for the downing of the jet.

He also noted that Israel is determined to block Iran from establishing a military presence in Syria and transferring weapons to its proxy Hizballah militia for use against Israel, the statement said.

State-run Russian news agency RIA Novosti said that the Israeli ambassador to Moscow had been summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry on September 18.

The accusation against Israel came hours after the Russian Defense Ministry said that the Ilyushin Il-20 aircraft went off radar 35 kilometers from the Syrian coast at about 11 p.m. local time the previous day.

The Ilyushin disappeared from radar at around the same time that Israeli F-16 fighters attacked Syrian facilities in Latakia Province, the ministry said.

It said the plane was returning to Hmeimim air base in the northwestern Syrian province of Latakia, where the bulk of Russia's armed forces in the country are stationed. Hmeimim is Russia's main base for air strikes on rebel groups in Syria.

Fragments of the plane were found 27 kilometers west of the city of Banias, Russian authorities said, adding that some remains of the crew had been recovered as well.

In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said it was an "unfortunate" incident and a reminder that a political resolution to the conflict was needed.

"Yesterday's unfortunate incident reminds us of the need to find permanent, peaceful, and political resolutions to the many overlapping conflicts in the region and the danger of tragic miscalculation in Syria's crowded theater of operations," Pompeo said in a statement on September 18.

Russia has given Syrian President Bashar al-Assad crucial support throughout the Syrian conflict, which began with a government crackdown on protesters in March 2011.

Several countries are conducting military operations in Syria, in some cases supporting opposite sides in the conflict. Communication lines have been set up between countries to mitigate the risk of unintended military confrontation in Syria.

Russia and Israel have largely maintained friendly relations in recent years, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has visited Putin in Moscow several times to discuss the Syria conflict.

Israel is not backing a specific side in the Syria conflict, though it has admitted to conducting air strikes in the country targeting Iran and its allies, including Hizballah.

"These weapons were meant to attack Israel, and posed an intolerable threat against it," it said.

Before announcing its plane was shot down by Syrian forces, Russia had said rocket launches were detected from the French frigate Auvergne nearby around that time, though the French military denied any involvement.

Israel claimed that its jets were already inside Israeli air space when Syrian forces launched the missiles that struck the Russian aircraft.

Konashenkov said the plane was downed by Syria using an S-200 air-defense system that Russia had provided.

Earlier, the official Syrian news agency SANA reported that missiles were fired at several locations in Latakia Province late on September 17.

State media said the explosions were suspected to have been caused by Israeli strikes.

With reporting by Interfax, Reuters, AP, RIA Novosti, TASS, AFP, and the BBC

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-military-plane- downed-mediterranean/29495524.html

Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Il-20 Accidentally Downed by Syria: Putin Calls Incident Tragic Chain of Events

Sputnik News

18:01 18.09.2018(updated 18:07 18.09.2018)

A Russian military aircraft went off radar near Hmeymim Airbase on Monday, which coincided with Israeli strikes on Syrian targets in Latakia. On Tuesday, the Russian MoD stated that the plane was downed by Syrian air defenses after Israeli jets used it as cover. In light of the revelations, Sputnik has rounded up the key details about the incident.

Missiles Strike Infrastructure in Latakia

On Monday evening, Syrian media reported missile strikes on the province of Latakia, with some rockets hitting parts of the city, while many projectiles were successfully intercepted by Syrian air defenses.

"Syria's air defense systems have responded to an air attack in Latakia. Most likely there were drones and missiles involved," a source told Sputnik, while another source from the Syrian military suggested that the attack was perpetrated from the sea.

Reacting to the reports, the Russian military stated that airspace control radar systems had detected missile launches from the French frigate Auvergne in the Mediterranean. Later on Tuesday, French military Colonel Patrik Steiger said that Paris denied "any involvement in the incident."

Russian Plane Goes Off Radars

Shortly afterwards, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that the Russian Il-20 aircraft vanished from radar near Hmeymim Airbase in Syria with 15 servicemen on board.

"On September 17, at about 11 p.m. Moscow time [20:00 GMT], the communication with the crew of the Russian Il-20 aircraft was lost when it was over the Mediterranean Sea, some 35 kilometers from the Syrian coast, on its way back to Hmeymim Airbase."

Addressing the missing plane, the ministry stated that it had identified four Israeli F-16 jets carrying out airstrikes on targets in Latakia. An Israeli Defense Forces spokesman, however, refused to comment on the foreign reports.

US Media Report Russian Jet Was Accidentally Shot Down by Syria

In the aftermath of the incident, CNN cited an unnamed US official with knowledge of the situation as saying that the Il-20 plane was accidentally downed by the Syrian military's anti-aircraft artillery when Damascus tried to "stop a barrage of Israeli missiles."

Russian MoD Accuses Israel of Provoking Plane's Downing

During a presser earlier in the day, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov stated that the Russian aircraft was indeed downed by Syrian air defenses after Israeli F-16s used it as a shield.

"Using the Russian plane as a shield, the Israeli pilots put it in the fire of Syrian air defense systems the Il-20 was hit by the S-200 system's missile," Konashenkov stated.

Search Op Underway

Stressing that the search-and-rescue operation near the crash site was underway, Konashenkov said 15 Russian servicemen had died as a result of the "irresponsible actions" of the IDF, which violated "the spirit of the Israeli-Russian partnership."

"Eight ships, including Russian Naval cutters and supply vessels, are participating in the operation to locate the crew of the Russian Il-20 aircraft which crashed off the coast of Latakia," the ministry said.

He further branded "these provocative actions" by Israel as "hostile," adding that the MoD reserved the right to an "adequate" response.

Shortly after, the ministry announced that as a result of the search mission, the bodies of the crew had been located and pulled up on board the ships.

Syria Has No Comments, IDF Blames Damascus

In light of the Russian MoD's statements, the Syrian army has not provided any comments so far. Meanwhile, the IDF broke its silence via Twitter to address the incident, which it blamed on Syrian forces, and promised to share "all the relevant information with the Russian government." At the same time, Israel appeared to have recognized that it had struck military infrastructure in Latakia.

Putin: Israel Didn't Down Il-20, It Was a Chain of Tragic Accidental Circumstances

During a press conference with Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban later on Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Israel didn't down the Russian plane; it was a "chain of tragic accidental circumstances" that led to the crash.

"When people die, especially in such tragic circumstances, it is always a tragedy, a tragedy for us all, for the whole country and for the families of our dead friends. In this connection, I certainly offer my condolences to the relatives of those who were killed in the crash," Putin said.

"Most certainly, we have to sort the case out most seriously. And our attitude to the tragedy is outlined in the Russian Defense Ministry's statement," he stressed.

The president promised to boost the security of Russian military personnel in Syria.

"Russia's retaliatory measures with regard to the Il-20 downing will be directed primarily at stepping up security of Russian military officers in Syria, our military facilities in the Syrian Arab Republic. These will be the steps everyone will notice," he emphasized.

According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Putin will likely hold a phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later in the day.

 Sputnik

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F-16s Were Already in Israeli Airspace When Syria Hit Russian Aircraft - IDF

Sputnik News

17:28 18.09.2018

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The IDF stated earlier in the day that Israel would share all information on the incident with Moscow, also expressing regret over the deaths of the Russian troops and put the blame on Damascus and Tehran.

"When the Syrian Army launched the missiles that hit the Russian plane, IAF [Israeli Air Force] jets were already within Israeli airspace  During the strike against the target in Latakia, the Russian plane that was then hit was not within the area of the operation," the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) wrote on Twitter.

The military noted that the incident was caused by "extensive and inaccurate" fire of Syrian air defense systems.

"The Syrian anti-air batteries fired indiscriminately and from what we understand, did not bother to ensure that no Russian planes were in the air," the IDF added.

The Russian Hmeimim airbase had lost contact with the crew of the Russian Il-20 military aircraft late on Monday during the attack of four Israeli F-16 aircraft on Syrian targets in the province of Latakia. The Russian Defense Ministry said earlier on Tuesday that the Israeli military deliberately created a dangerous situation

by using the Russian aircraft as a shield against Syrian air defense systems. As a result, the Il-20 jet was downed by a missile launched by Syria's S-200 air defense system.

The incident claimed the lives of 15 Russian servicemen. The Russian military said it regards Israel's provocative actions as hostile and reserves the right to a proper response.

 Sputnik

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Downed Il-20 Was on Recon Mission Over Idlib De-Escalation Zone  Russian MoD

Sputnik News

16:45 18.09.2018(updated 17:20 18.09.2018)

The Russian Hmeymim airbase had lost contact with the crew of the Russian Il-20 military aircraft late on Monday during the attack of four Israeli F-16 aircraft on Syrian targets in the province of Latakia.

"Our reconnaissance Il-20 aircraft with a crew of 15 on board was carrying out a reconnaissance mission over the Idlib de-escalation zone to determine the locations of storage and collection of unmanned aerial vehicles that fly out of the zone and strike different areas of Syria," Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu stated at a meeting with senior military commanders.

Israeli F-16 jets attacked Syria under the cover of the Russian Il-20, assuming that the Syrian air defense forces would not act in this direction, Shoigu said.

"Without warning, more precisely, with a minute beforehand, Israel's informed us of a strike they were planning to conduct; they informed us that they were striking objects in Syria. And then they attacked," the defense minister stated.

He stressed that the Russian Il-20 was shot down "as a result of the response from the Syrian air defense systems to the Israeli forces' attack."

The Russian Defense Ministry said earlier on Tuesday that the Israeli military deliberately created a dangerous situation that resulted in the downing of the Il-20 by a missile launched by Syria's S-200 air defense system.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), in turn, stated that the Israeli jets were targeting a facility in Syria that contained "systems to manufacture accurate and lethal weapons" which could be sent "on behalf of Iran" to the Hezbollah movement in Lebanon.

 Sputnik

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Putin: Israel Didn't Down Il-20, Chain of Tragic Circumstances Led to Incident

Sputnik News

16:14 18.09.2018(updated 18:08 18.09.2018)

Vladimir Putin has addressed the downing of a Russian IL-20 by a Syrian surface-to-air missile on Monday evening. Earlier Moscow blamed Israeli jets for having provoked the tragic accident.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered condolences over the death of the crew of the aircraft Il-20 downed in Syria.

"When people die, especially in such tragic circumstances, it is always a tragedy, a tragedy for us all, for the whole country and for the families of our dead friends. In this connection, I certainly offer my condolences to the relatives of those who got killed in the downing,' Putin said at a press conference with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Moscow.

Putin stated that the Russian side is set to thoroughly investigate the case, while stressing that "the Israeli jet didn't down our aircraft."

"Most certainly, we have to sort the case out most seriously. And our attitude to the tragedy is outlined in the Russian Defense Ministry's statement," he noted, adding he personally approved it.

"Russia's retaliatory measures with regard to the Il-20 downing will be directed primarily at stepping up security of Russian military officers in Syria, our military facilities in the Syrian Arab Republic," he said. "These will be the steps everyone will notice," he stressed.

"When it comes to comparing the Il-20 crash with other incidents, namely an attack on a Russian plane, when a Russian plane was downed by a Turkish military jet, this is still a different situation," Putin noted, adding that the latest incident looks like "a chain of tragic accidental circumstances."

On September 17, around 23 p.m. Moscow Time, a military jet Il-20 disappeared from the Russian radar screens, while on its way back to the aviabase Khmeimim, which lies 35 kilometers away from the Mediterranean shore. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, around the same time, four Israeli military jets F-16 attacked Syrian targets in Latakia. The ministry went on to state that by hiding behind the Russian jet, the Israeli pilots thereby subjected it to an attack by the Syrian air defense units, with a Syrian S-200 missile ultimately downing the Russian aircraft. A total of 15 Russian military servicemen were killed in the aircraft destruction.

 Sputnik

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Turkey Could Deploy Additional Troops to Idlib Under Deal With Russia - Ankara

Sputnik News

14:21 18.09.2018(updated 15:46 18.09.2018)

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed on September 17 to create a demilitarized zone along the contact line between the armed opposition and government troops in Idlib by October 15.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has spoken in favor of deploying additional troops to the Syrian city of Idlib.

"We will have 12 observation points in Idlib. However, we need to send additional troops there," the minister said at a press conference in Ankara broadcasted by the NTV television channel.

Russia and Turkey will carry out coordinated patrols, with drones also taking part, Cavusoglu said.

"Terrorist groups will leave, heavy weapons will be withdrawn, civilians and moderate opposition with a small number of light weapons will remain. Turkey and Russia will jointly control this process. We will need to deploy additional military troops to Idlib," Cavusoglu told reporters.

Before the talks, on September 14, Ankara reportedly sent reinforcement troops to Idlib province, increasing its presence in the country.

Idlib is the last remaining stronghold of anti-government insurgents and al-Qaeda-linked terror groups in Syria.

 Sputnik

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Downed Russian Aircraft

Press Statement

Michael R. Pompeo

Secretary of State

Washington, DC

September 18, 2018

The United States expresses sorrow for the death of the aircrew members of the Russian plane that was downed by Syrian regime anti-aircraft fire. Yesterday's unfortunate incident reminds us of the need to find permanent, peaceful, and political resolutions to the many overlapping conflicts in the region and the danger of tragic miscalculation in Syria's crowded theater of operations. It underlines the urgent need to resolve the Syrian conflict in accordance with UNSC Resolution 2254 and to end Iran's provocative transit of dangerous weapon systems through Syria, which are a threat to the region.

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Agreement over buffer zone to spare civilians in Syria's Idlib welcomed by top UN officials

18 September 2018 - The agreement between Turkey and Russia to create a demilitarized buffer zone protecting civilians living in Idlib, Syria, has been welcomed by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the world body's humanitarian chief, who called on all warring parties and countries supporting them to make it effective.

In a statement, Mr. Guterres also urged all parties in Syria to ensure safe and unimpeded humanitarian access to all areas of the country, where a brutal civil conflict has raged for more than seven years.

"The Secretary-General stresses the need for swift action to address the root causes of the conflict and forge, at long last, a durable political solution in line with Security Council resolution 2254", noted the statement, released by his Spokesperson.

The agreement, reached between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, aims to avert a full-scale military operation that the UN chief warned last week, could turn the region into a "bloodbath". The last rebel-held Governorate in Syria, half of Idlib's population of nearly three million, are internally-displaced civilians, and a million are children.

According to media reports, a 15-20-kilometre-wide de-escalation zone  to be patrolled by Russian and Turkish troops  will be established by 15 October, to separate Government forces from rebel fighters based there.

Military action will only exacerbate a complex situation  UN envoy

The agreement is also a welcome development amid "worrying escalation" in other parts of the country, Staffan De Mistura, the UN Special Envoy for Syria, told the Security Council on Tuesday, citing reports of fresh airstrikes in Damascus and the downing of a Russian military aircraft on Monday night, which left 15 servicemen dead.

Russia has blamed Israel for the incident. Israel on the other hand, said that its fighter aircraft were targeting a weapons shipment to Lebanon, threatening its security. The Israeli Defense Forces issued a statement on Twitter "expressing sorrow" for the deaths and blamed the Syrian military for the Russian aircraft being shot down. Israel also said that it will share all the relevant information concerning the incident with the Russian Government.

At the Security Council, UN envoy De Mistura, urged all parties to refrain from military action, reiterating that it would "only exacerbate a complex situation" in war-ravaged Syria.

Turning to the agreement itself, Mr. De Mistura said that there is now "no reason not to move forward expeditiously" on the political process, guided by Security Council resolution 2254, that lays out a roadmap for a political settlement in the country.

"We need an inclusive political process, and the UN is here to facilitate that process, starting with a constitutional committee getting to work," he said, noting that the process must be credible, "because only then can the UN invest it with the legitimacy it needs."

"I ask all concerned to give the UN facilitation in the next weeks, their full support," he said.

Humanitarian challenges persist  UN relief chief

Speaking alongside Mr. De Mistura, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock said that UN agencies and humanitarian organizations continue to deliver life-saving assistance to some two million people in north-west Syria through cross-border convoys from Turkey.

However, delivering supplies remains difficult in other parts of the country, he said, noting in particular the situation in Rukban where lack of security is hampering aid operations.

He also spoke of "significant concerns" for the safety of civilians in Deir-ez-Zor, in eastern Syria, as well for displaced families returning home to Raqqa, the former stronghold of the ISIL terrorist group, despite the area remaining highly contaminated by explosive hazards.

"Efforts have been made to scale-up the mine action response However, much more needs to be done before the city is safe and conducive for returns," said Mr. Lowcock.

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Putin: Syrian Downing of Russian Jet Was 'Tragic, Accidental'

By VOA News September 18, 2018

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday called the downing of a Russian military plane by Syria "a chain of tragic, accidental circumstances," tamping down what could have turned into a tense situation with Israel.

Fifteen people aboard the Russian reconnaissance jet died when the Syrians shot it down, responding to an Israeli missile strike.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told his Israeli counterpart, Avigdor Lieberman, that Israel "bears full responsibility" and that Russia had the right to retaliate.

But Putin stepped in, calling it "a chain of tragic, accidental circumstances." He said Russia would respond by "taking additional steps to protect our servicemen and assets in Syria." He said "everyone will notice" those steps.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his sorrow at the loss of Russian lives and blamed Syria for the incident.

The Israeli military said its jets were targeting a Syrian military facility supplying arms to the Iranian-backed terror group Hezbollah.

Israeli warning

Israel said it had warned Russia of the airstrike in advance, and its jets were already back in Israeli airspace when Syria fired its missile.

The Russian defense ministry said Israel's warning came less than a minute before the airstrike. It accused the Israelis of using the Russian plane as a cover to avoid Syrian air defense systems.

While Putin did not appear to blame Israel outright for causing the Russian plane to be shot down, the Kremlin said it told Netanyahu that Israel had violated Syrian sovereignty and urged it "not to let such situations happen again."

President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House that, based on what he had been told, Syria shot down the Russian plane. He called the deaths of those aboard "a very sad thing."

Trump took a moment to say the United States has done a "tremendous job" in helping eradicate Islamic State from Syria and said "we are very close to finishing that job."

Putin is striving to maintain his good relationship with Israel, while continuing to back the Syrian government in its fight against the rebels.

Russia also has healthy relations with Iran, Israel's archenemy.

Israel has said it will not allow any permanent Iranian military presence inside Syria and has looked to the Russians to help keep Iranian-backed forces away from the Israeli-Syrian frontier.

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UN Chief Welcomes De-escalation in Syria's Idlib

By Margaret Besheer September 18, 2018

The U.N. secretary-general has welcomed an agreement reached Monday between the presidents of Russia and Turkey to create a demilitarized buffer zone in Syria's Idlib region, saying it should "avert" a full-scale military operation and provide a reprieve for some three-million civilians."The secretary-general calls on all the parties in Syria to cooperate in the implementation of the agreement and ensure safe and unimpeded humanitarian access in all areas through the most direct routes," Antonio Guterres' spokesperson said in a statement Tuesday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed Monday to create a 15- to 20-kilometer (9- to 12-mile) demilitarized zone inside what is already a de-escalation zone.

Putin said Russian and Turkish forces would enforce the demilitarized zone, which would see the removal of the rebels' heavy weapons and the "withdrawal of all radical fighters" from Idlib, including the terrorist al-Nusra Front, by mid-October.

The United Nations has been sounding the alarm bell on Idlib for weeks, warning of a humanitarian catastrophe if the Syrian government followed through on its plans to clear the last rebel stronghold. The U.N. estimates some 15,000 fighters are mixed in among the civilian population.

More than a million of Idlib's residents are displaced from other parts of Syria and have sought safety in the de-escalation zone. Turkey, which already shelters more than 3 million Syrian refugees, feared a massive exodus into its territory if nearby Idlib was attacked.

"Of course, everybody, especially the 3 million civilians in Idlib, want to know how long this agreement is going to last," U.N. humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock told reporters. "Is it simply a temporary arrangement or can it provide the basis through which the threat of a massive military onslaught on Idlib can be removed on a more permanent basis?"

"Russia alongside other Astana guarantors has and continues to undertake tremendous efforts to see that situation around Idlib resolved through negotiations and that civilians will not suffer," Russia's U.N. envoy, Vassily Nebenzia said. Russia, Iran and Turkey make up the group referred to as the Astana guarantors. They oversee what were originally four de-escalation zones in Syria, but of which Idlib is the last remaining.

Nebenzia, who spoke during a regular meeting of the Security Council on Syria, added that a key part of the deal is a reaffirmation "to combat terrorism in Syria in all of its forms and manifestations."

The newly appointed U.S. Special Representative for Syria Engagement, Ambassador James Jeffrey, called on all parties to commit to a lasting cease-fire and to take immediate steps to advance the peace process. "The only way forward is a genuine and inclusive political solution," Jeffrey told the council.

Russian fighter jet downed

"We hope that this agreement is expeditiously implemented," U.N. Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura said in his briefing to the council. He said international humanitarian law must be respected and sustained humanitarian access allowed. But he warned that as the crisis in Idlib has been averted, there have been worrying escalations elsewhere.

"This week fresh airstrikes were reported in Damascus that the Syrian government attributes to Israel; Israel has not commented," de Mistura noted. "And overnight, a Russian military aircraft was downed, killing 15 servicemen." The Russian jet was hit by Syrian anti-aircraft fire.

Israel has expressed "sorrow" for the downing of the Russian jet, but added that it holds the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad, Iran and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah responsible for the incident.

"Overnight, Israel Defense Forces fighter jets targeted a facility from which systems to manufacture accurate and lethal weapons were about to be transferred on behalf of Iran to Hezbollah in Lebanon," an Israeli military spokesperson said in a statement.

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Ukraine to Build Naval Base Along Turbulent Azov Sea

Sputnik News

03:36 18.09.2018

The Ukrainian government announced on Sunday plans for a naval base along the Sea of Azov, a body of water situated between Crimea, Ukraine and Russia.

The announcement comes days after US President Donald Trump's special envoy to Ukraine, Kurt Volker, said America is considering delivering even more lethal weapons to Ukraine to fight Russian sympathizers in the country.

Volker told the media that "wherever" gaps in the Ukrainian military's capabilities exist, the US is "prepared to sit down and talk with Ukraine about what their needs are. They can buy things through our foreign military sales."

"We do not accept Russian claims about territory in the waters. We believe the presence of Russian military forces has become a provocative, aggressive step, so we are very concerned about that," Volker said of the Sea of Azov.

In April, the Trump administration upended an Obama-era policy of refusing to supply the country with lethal weaponry, sending it more than 200 Javelin anti-tank missiles.

The base "will create conditions for rebuffing the aggressive actions of the Russian Federation in this region," the Ukrainian government said on Sunday.

The US State Department decried Russia's alleged "harassment of international shipping" in the Sea of Azov and Kerch Strait on August 30. Spokeswoman Heather Nauert accused Moscow of attempting to destabilize Ukraine, adding that 16 commercial ships had been blocked from reaching Ukrainian ports around that time.

The State Department also claimed "hundreds" of ships have been delayed trying to get through the Kerch Strait, the body of water separating Crimea from the larger Russian Federation.

Ukraine and its Western backers condemned the Russian construction of a bridge over the Kerch Strait in May as illegal. Critics have characterized Russia's military presence on its western border and the waters surrounding it as a blockade and economic blackmail.

Oleksandr Turchynov, the secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, hyped up a successful test of an indigenous cruise missile in late August, saying that the missile could destroy "strategic bridges and ferry crossings in case of their use by the enemy for aggression against our state."

 Sputnik

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Bring the United Nations closer to the people, urges Assembly President in her inaugural speech

18 September 2018 - The new session of the United Nations General Assembly opened on Wednesday with its President pledging to use her year in office to bring the world body closer to the people and strengthen their sense of ownership and support for the UN.

In her first keynote address to what is the 73rd session of the 193-member General Assembly, President Maria Fernanda Espinosa, said that the need for stronger global leadership in the service of multilateralism, to ensure more peaceful, equitable and sustainable societies, would underpin her work.

"Let us proceed together, building a world more equal and free, more sustainable and respectful of nature, and more inclusive and supportive," she said.

Ms. Espinosa, who was elected the President of the General Assembly in June, succeeds Miroslav Lajcak, the President of the 72nd session. She is only the fourth woman to hold that position in the history of the world body, and the first woman ever from Latin America and the Caribbean region.

In her address, the Assembly President outlined her seven priorities  identified in consultation with Member States  that will shape the year-long session: promoting gender equality; promoting and implementing the new global compacts on migration and refugees; advocating for decent work; protecting the environment; focusing on rights of persons with disabilities; supporting the UN reform process; and facilitating dialogue.

"I am also prepared to facilitate quick and effective responses of the General Assembly to emergency situations as they arise," she added, noting that "unfortunately, they will arise."

Concluding her remarks, Ms. Espinosa also pledged that she will uphold good practices in her Office, ensuring its geographical representation, gender parity, and total transparency in its administrative and financial management.

She also assured that she will observe, "with absolute responsibility", the Code of Ethics for the President of the General Assembly, and will abide strictly by the precepts of the United Nations Charter and the Assembly's Rules of Procedure.

World needs the General Assembly to show the value of international cooperation  UN chief Guterres

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also addressed the new General Assembly, congratulating President Espinosa on assuming the office and noting the important issues that lie ahead.

"We need action for peacekeeping, gender parity, financing for the 2030 Agenda [for Sustainable Development], empowerment for the world's young people, urgent steps to end poverty and conflict, and much else," he said, calling on world leaders to come to the high-level week beginning on Monday, "ready to be bold and ready to forge solutions for our global challenges."

The Secretary-General also underscored the importance of international cooperation and for the Assembly to show the true value of working together.

"The Secretariat and I are committed to supporting you," he said.

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By Azernews





By Laman Ismayilova

Azerbaijan Carpet Museum will host the 3rd International Symposium Common Language of the Turkic World ? Patterns on the topic Intersections in Felton on October 25-27.

A scientific conference Intersections in Felt comprises three topics ? Felt as a Tradition; Felt in Contemporary Art; and Felt as a Fashion Trend. Two thematic exhibitions, workshops, a fair exhibition, and a fashion show will be held as part of the symposium.

Dinara Chochunbaeva (Kyrgyzstan), the participants of academic sessions within the symposium, will make a presentation on the theme Kyrgyz Traditional Felt Carpets: Ala-Kiyiz and Shyrdak. She is the member of the Union of Artists of Kyrgyzstan, UNESCO expert on intangible cultural heritage, expert on the development of crafts, and the author of the book Kyrgyz Traditional Felt Carpet Shyrdak. In Kyrgyzstan, as is known, felt art is one of the main folk handicrafts and therefore never completely lost its importance.

Dinara Chochunbaeva, an artist, public figure, and art manager, has brilliantly shown herself in all these areas. Currently, she is the Director of Central Asian Crafts Support Associations Resource Center in Kyrgyzstan (CACSARC-kg) and coordinator of UNESCO Award of Excellence Program for Central Asia (since 2004). In 2006, she established the Public Foundation Crafts and Traditional Knowledge, the aim of which is to make the inventory of crafts and traditional culture of Central Asian people.

It should be noted that the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum are the symposium organizers.

The symposium aims at the exchange of ideas on the common heritage of the Turkic peoples ? felt, as well as research and preservation of this crafts traditions and customs, the revival of interest in it, and its application in various fields.

Media partners of the event are Azernews.az, Trend.az, Day.az







Vancouver, September 19, 2018 - CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. (TSXV: CVV) (OTCQB: CVVUF) (FSE: DH7N) ("CanAlaska" or the "Company") reports that it has entered into letters of intent (LOI) with Melbourne-based Canada Metals Ltd. for an Option-Purchase of the Manibridge nickel project, and an Option to earn 70% of the Strong nickel project. Canada Metals Ltd. is an Australian-incorporated public unlisted company based in Melbourne, Australia, and supported by Peak Asset Management investment group. Canada Metals Ltd is currently planning to undertake an IPO to list on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). Both projects will receive significant drill programs following the proposed financing of Canada Metals Ltd pursuant to its ASX listing.

The LOIs are largely non-binding, and the transaction is subject to satisfactory due diligence being undertaken on the projects by Canada Metals, and the parties executing binding contractual agreements. The parties will now proceed to conduct the diligence process and negotiate the terms of binding contractual documentation for the transactions.

New Targets Developed at Thompson Nickel Belt Properties

The Strong and Manibridge nickel projects are 100% owned by CanAlaska, and were generated by the Company's technical team. They occupy significant land positions in the Thompson Nickel Belt see; (http://www.canalaska.com/s/News.asp?ReportID=831054).

On the Strong property a series of VTEM geophysical anomalies with characteristics similar to nearby nickel deposits have been modeled. Six of these targets are classified as high priority for drill testing and will be the focus of Canada Metals Ltd's drill programs.

On the Manibridge property a 1.2 km long zone of mineralized drill intersections provide targets with high-grade and high-tenor nickel mineralization immediately northeast of the historical Manibridge nickel mine operation. Permits for a winter drill program have been received, and this will likely be a priority first area of focus for Canada Metals Ltd.

Option and Purchase Agreement terms

The Manibridge project agreement requires Canada Metals Ltd to fund a $5M IPO and carry out 7,000 metres of drilling on the project. Cash consideration is $100,000 CDN, and subject to exchange approvals, 7 million shares and 8 million share options will be issued to CanAlaska. An additional 3 million shares of Canada Metals Ltd are due following definition of JORC compliant resources of approximately 5 million tonnes of nickel mineralization. CanAlaska will retain a 1.5% royalty at the completion of the purchase.

The Strong project agreement allows Canada Metals Ltd to earn a 70% interest in the project following the proposed IPO by carrying out 7,000 metres of drilling and, subject to exchange approval, issuing 3 million shares of Canada Metals Ltd. Cash consideration is $100,000 CDN. An additional 4 million shares of Canada Metals Ltd are due following the definition of JORC compliant resources of approximately 5 million tonnes of nickel mineralization.

The parties are targeting completion of the transaction by end of December 2018.

Comment.

President Peter Dasler commented, "this is a great step forward for CanAlaska, as we get a timely funding of exploration on two of our three nickel projects. Historical exploration work has been compiled on each property and there are a number of compelling nickel targets. We get to participate alongside a good technical group with strong funding sources."

Canada Metals Ltd's Director, Cory Belyk commented, "it is a rare opportunity for an emerging exploration company such as Canada Metals Ltd to acquire high-value exploration projects in the Thompson Nickel Belt, the 5th largest nickel belt in the world. Even more rare is an opportunity to expand known and sparsely drilled high-grade nickel mineralization immediately adjacent to a past producing sulphide nickel mine with the first drill program. This is an exciting foundation on which to build a new company such as Canada Metals Ltd."

About CanAlaska Uranium

CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. (TSXV: CVV) (OTCQB: CVVUF) (FSE: DH7N) holds interests in approximately 152,000 hectares (375,000 acres), in Canada's Athabasca Basin - the "Saudi Arabia of Uranium." CanAlaska's strategic holdings have attracted major international mining companies. CanAlaska is currently working with Cameco and Denison at two of the Company's properties in the Eastern Athabasca Basin. CanAlaska is a project generator positioned for discovery success in the world's richest uranium district. The Company also holds properties prospective for nickel, copper, gold and diamonds. For further information visit www.canalaska.com.

About Canada Metals Ltd

Canada Metals Ltd. is an Australian incorporated public unlisted company based in Melbourne, Australia, and supported by Peak Asset Management investment group.

The qualified technical person for this news release is Dr Karl Schimann, P. Geo, CanAlaska director and VP Exploration.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Peter Dasler"

Peter Dasler, M.Sc., P.Geo.

President & CEO

CanAlaska Uranium Ltd.

Contacts:

Peter Dasler, President

Tel: +1.604.688.3211 x 138

Email: info@canalaska.com

John Gomez, Corporate Development

Tel: +1.604.484.7118

Email: jgomez@canalaska.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-looking information

All statements included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions made by the Company based on its experience, perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. In addition, these statements involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will prove inaccurate, certain of which are beyond the Company's control. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend to revise or update these forward-looking statements after the date hereof or revise them to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated events.Vancouver, September 19, 2018 - Deep-South Resources Inc. ("Deep-South" or "the Company") (TSX-V: DSM) announces that it has amended the agreement (the "Agreement"), previously announced on June 19, 2018, to acquire 75% of RCR Quantum ("Quantum"), a Turkish company, which holds the Kapili Tepe project ("Project") comprising of one (1) mining license and two (2) exploration licenses in the Sivas Province in the North Central part of Turkey.

Furthermore, Deep-South has not amended the agreement to acquire all the exploration and metallurgical data from Afrasia Mining & Energy Investment Holdings Ltd ("Afrasia").

Deep-South has also completed its due diligence of the Project and of Quantum and will close the acquisition upon receiving the approval from the TSX Venture Exchange.

The Acquisition

Further to the amended agreement, Deep-South shall acquire all the common shares held by Jeanette Gyldstoff Borg ("Seller") in ("Quantum"),. Deep-South shall acquire the shares in consideration for the following common shares of Deep-South to the Seller:

a)Upon Closing Deep-South shall issue 3.5 million common shares to the Seller and;

b)Upon closing of a first financing of $ 1 million or more following the closing of the acquisition of the Shares, Deep-South shall pay CA $150,000 to the Seller ;

c)Upon completion of a resources estimation prepared in accordance with CIM definitions and compliant with the National Instrument 43-101, estimating an inferred resource totalling a minimum of 20 million tonnes at a minimum grade of 1% Cu equivalent, Deep-South shall issue additional common shares to the Seller at a valuation of CA $ 2 million;

d)In the case that the first resources estimation prepared in accordance with CIM definitions and compliant with the NI 43-101 or any further NI 43-101 compliant resource estimation, estimates an inferred resource totaling a minimum of 100 million tonnes at a minimum grade of 1% Cu equivalent, Deep-South shall issue additional common shares to the Seller at a valuation of CA $ 2 million;

e)The Seller is the beneficiary of a non-guaranteed subordinated loan bearing no interest totalling TRY 3,800,000 (Turkish Lira) from Quantum. Deep-South shall buy back TRY 2,400,000 of the loan (CA $ 480,000 on today's exchange rate), in cash or shares at the election of The Seller, upon completion of a NI 43-101 resources report estimating an inferred resource totaling a minimum of 20 million tonnes at a minimum grade of 1% Cu equivalent. Deep-South shall have 90 days upon election of the payment by The Seller to issue the shares or make the cash payment. Deep-South shall buy back the remaining balance of TRY 1,400,000 of the loan(CA $ 285,000 on today's exchange rate),, in cash or shares at the election of Deep-South, upon completion of any further NI 43-101 resources report estimating an inferred resource totaling a minimum of 100 million tonnes at a minimum grade of 1% Cu equivalent. Deep-South has no obligation to buy back the loan until a NI 43-101 compliant resource estimates a minimum inferred resource of 20 million tonnes at a minimum of 1% Cu equivalent;

f)A first NI 43-101 resource estimation report shall be completed by October 30, 2019. Deep-South shall not be allowed to sell its interest in Quantum until the first NI 43-101 resource estimation is completed;

g)Upon Closing The Seller shall hold the right to appoint one Director to the Board of Deep-South;

The Amended Agreement is conditional to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. All securities issued to The Seller pursuant to the Agreement will be subject to a holding period of four months and a day from the date of issuance.

Data acquisition:

Deep-South acquires all the exploration and metallurgical data from Afrasia in consideration for the following common shares of Deep-South to Afrasia:

aUpon Closing Deep-South shall issue 700,000 common shares to Afrasia;

bUpon completion of a resources estimation prepared in accordance with CIM definitions and compliant with the National Instrument 43-101, estimating an inferred resource totaling a minimum of 20 million tonnes at a minimum grade of 1% Cu equivalent, Deep-South shall issue additional common shares to Afrasia at a valuation of CA $ 360,000;

aIn the case that the first resources estimation prepared in accordance with CIM definitions and compliant with the NI 43-101 or any further NI 43-101 compliant resource estimation, estimates an inferred resource totaling a minimum of 100 million tonnes at a minimum grade of 1% Cu equivalent, Deep-South shall issue additional common shares to Afrasia at a valuation of CA $ 300,000;

The TSX Venture Exchange has approved the Agreement with Afrasia and the transaction will close concurrently to the closing of the agreement with the seller of Quantum. All securities issued to Afrasia pursuant to the Agreement will be subject to a holding period of four months and a day from the date of issuance.

Mr. John Akwenye, Chairman of Deep-South stated, "We are very enthusiastic with this transaction. We are securing a large area in the heart of a highly prospective area in one of the most mining friendly country in the world. Kapili Tepe is a high-quality asset that adds strong value for our shareholders."

About the Kapili Tepe Project:

The Project is located close to Imranli in the province of Sivas in north-east Central Turkey, approximately 500Km due east from Ankara by good asphalt roads. The Kapili Tepe project is situated within Tethyan Orogenic Belt of Turkey. The project comprises one Mining License and two Exploration Licenses, which importantly are both contiguous and adjacent.

The licensed area covers approximately 50 Km2 and both the mineralized zones and structural hosting features have been proven by both geological and structural mapping to extend for many Km to both the north-east (of the Main Zone (MZ) and east (of the South-East Zone (SEZ) offering district size potential for the project.

Geologically the project could broadly be described as follows;

The project area sits on the Tethyan Orogenic Belt of Turkey. The property as a whole consists of ultramafic rocks that have been sheared and broken along thrust faults. Fluids travelling through the shear and along the thrust faults strongly altered the rocks over an area of several square kilometres.

The broad geology of the project area can therefore be regarded as several ophiolite thrust sheets bounded by highly altered and brecciated shear zones (= "mineralised zones") which dip moderately to the south-east. The resultant copper and nickel mineralization which is strongly disseminated was deposited within the layered rocks, as evidenced by the numerous surface exposures of copper mineralised materials and staining.

The most important observations are :

There are more than twenty surface locations recorded with grades of over 1% copper showing, mainly oxides but some disseminated sulphides also appear;

The upper zone areas show stronger copper oxide mineralization, i.e. Malachite, Azurite and Cuprite, with high nickel grades;

More sulphide mineralisation occurs as one gets deeper and disseminated as both grains and veining of dominant chalcopyrite, but with Bornite, Chalcocite and Covellite;

All of these sulphides indicate potential Volcanic Massive Sulphide ("VMS") origin and the latter two; Chalcocite and Covellite are interesting as strong indicators for a significant zone of secondary enrichment (supergene).

The project has been explored by Falconbridge in the early 2000's. They have conducted geological mapping, large and deep induced polarization (IP) surveys, grab and rock sampling programs. Falconbridge has identified two extensive outcropping areas. The Main Zone (MZ) is outcropping over a length of 4,500 metres and a width between 75 and 100 metres. The South East Zone (SEZ) has overlapping outcrops over a length of 1,500 metres and an average width of 30 metres. Some of the rock sampling results as follows:

2002 assay samples Main Zone

Sample Cu (ppm) Ni (ppm) Co (ppm) Au (ppm) PG 09205 79,000 700 32 0.05 PG 02955 20,000 190 24 0.02 PG 02903 15,000 47 14 0.07

2002 assay samples South-East Zone

Sample Cu (ppm) Ni (ppm) Co (ppm) Au (ppm) PG 02918 56,000 3,900 210 0.04 PG 02906 730 36,000 89 0.01 PG 02956 120 11,000 220 0.01

In 2011, Red Crescent Resources, a company previously listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) acquired the project and has conducted a further confirmatory deep IP study review and some 1500 metres of drilling and some channel sampling. The diamond drilling was conducted at a maximum depth of 100 metres and included some results such as follows in MZ:

MZ - 001: Drilled true thickness 69 metres including:

Drilled Thickness (m) Weighted Average Cu (%) Depth from Depth To 10 0.49 27.8 37.8 Including 5.8 0.60 30.0 35.8

And some results such as follows in SEZ:

SEZ- 007 true thickness 82.5 metres including:

Drilled Thickness (m) Weighted Average Cu (%) Depth From (m) (Depth To (m) 6.0 0.57 30.7 36.7 7.0 0.36 39.7 46.7 26.6 0.59 48.9 75.5 Including 8.3 1.12 54.3 62.6

In SEZ RCR has also conducted surface channel sampling over a 60m wide zone of outcropping copper mineralisation within listvenite exposures. The sampling was undertaken in the form of continuous 2 m channel samples as well as a 25-tonne bulk sample for process metallurgical test works. The channel samples were sent for mineralization study and preliminary metallurgical test work in South Africa at 3 independent laboratories and these tests were significantly indicative of both the strong poly-metallic nature of the mineralization for base & precious metals, as well as best potential process route.

The central portion of the sampled zone contains stockwork quartz and barite veining and returned an average grade of 1.04% Cu over approximately 26 m including a higher-grade zone of 2,1% Cu over 4 m.

Cobalt grades for the SEZ were not seen as representative as they were only tested from samples taken from the small bulk sample test pit area. However, they assayed with grades of 0.35% to 0.66%. The 0.66% Co sample also tested at 19.7% Ni.

Mineral Resources have not been estimated yet on the project nor has it demonstrated economic viability at this stage. The historical drilling and sampling results demonstrate potential to classify the project as one of merit but are considered too speculative geologically to complete a NI 43-101 resource estimation at this time and it is uncertain that those historic results will be converted into minerals resources.

All the reports and information above are available at the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of Turkey and is also available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com in the file of Red Crescent Resources.

Alan M. Clegg Pr. Eng PMP Pr.CPM FSAIMM, is responsible for the technical part of this press release and is the designated Qualified Person under the terms of National Instrument 43-101.

Alan M. Clegg was President & CEO of Red Crescent Resources Ltd (RCR) and was supervising the exploration project and was a qualified person for Red Crescent. Data verification and exploration results reported by RCR were all filed on SEDAR and were verified by the qualified person of RCR. MSA Group of South Africa were contracted by RCR to manage the field exploration programs and were responsible for the data verification, including sampling, analytical and test data. As such Alan M. Clegg verified the underlying information contained in this press release. The data and information from Falconbridge reports has not been fully verified but MSA Group was able to verify the geophysical surveying data and soil and rock chip sampling under custody at the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Turkey. Tests such as XRF Grade measurements have enabled to validate the assays results. MSA were contracted by RCR and their work was verified by Alan Clegg. MSA nor than Alan Clegg have reported any limitation or failure in the data disclosed in this press release. However, the historical work and results, such has drilling results by Flaconbridge, that have not been verified by MSA Group or Alan Clegg are not reported in this press release.

The drill and sampling of RCR were assayed independently as follows: Gold and copper assays were performed by the ALS Chemex laboratory in Izmir, Turkey. Sample preparation and gold analysis using conventional fire assay procedures with AAS finish on 50g aliquots was carried out (method code Au-AA24). Copper analysis was carried out by aqua regia digest with AAS finish (method code Cu-AA46). In addition, gold and multi-element analyses are currently being performed by ISO17025 accredited ALS Chemex laboratory in Vancouver, Canada.

Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) for the Kapili Tepe Copper Project includes a chain of custody protocol, and systematic submittal of approximately 20% QA/QC samples including field duplicates, field blanks and certified reference samples into the sample stream submitted to the laboratory.

About Turkey

Turkey is considered as one of the most prospective and mining friendly country. Their recent amendments to the mining legislation and Investment incentive scheme provide value added taxes exemptions, custom duty exemptions, reduced royalty for strategic metals employee income tax relief and 80% tax reduction rate for certain projects depending on their geographical position within the country. Large companies such as Eldorado Gold, Teck Resources, Inmet Mining, and First Quantum Minerals are operating in Turkey currently.

About Deep-South Resources Inc.

Deep-South Resources Inc. is a mineral exploration company largely held by Namibian shareholders and Teck Resources Ltd., which holds about 35% of Deep-South share capital. Deep-South is actively involved in the acquisition, exploration and development of major mineral properties. Deep-South currently holds 100% of the Haib Copper project in Namibia, one of the largest copper porphyry in Africa. Deep-South growth strategy is to focus on the exploration and development of quality assets, in significant mineralized trends, close to infrastructure, in stable countries.

More information is available by contacting Pierre Leveille, President & CEO at

+1-819-340-0140 or at: info@deepsouthresources.com or

Paradox Public Relations at +1-514-341-0408.

Cautionary statement on forward-looking information

Certain statements in this release constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws.

Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such statements can be identified by the use of words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "expect", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "estimate", "scheduled", "forecast", "predict" and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. These statements reflect the company's current expectations regarding future events, performance and results and speak only as of the date of this release.

All such forward-looking information and statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by Deep-South's management in light of their experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors management believe are appropriate in the circumstances. These statements, however, are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information or statements including, but not limited to, unexpected changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of parties to contracts to perform as agreed; social or labour unrest; changes in commodity prices, including the price of copper; unexpected failure or inadequacy of infrastructure, or delays in the development of infrastructure, the failure of exploration programs or other studies to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued studies, development or operations, and the results of economic studies and evaluations. Other important factors that could cause actual results to differ from these forward-looking statements also include those described under the heading "Risk Factors" in the company's most recently filed MD&A filed by Deep-South. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements. The factors and assumptions used to develop the forward-looking information and statements, and the risks that could cause the actual results to differ materially are set forth in the "Risk Factors" section and elsewhere in the company's most recent Management's Discussion and Analysis report and Annual Information Form, available at www.sedar.com.

This news release also contains references to estimates of Mineral Resources. The estimation of Mineral Resources is inherently uncertain and involves subjective judgments about many relevant factors. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The accuracy of any such estimates is a function of the quantity and quality of available data, and of the assumptions made and judgments used in engineering and geological interpretation, which may prove to be unreliable and depend, to a certain extent, upon the analysis of drilling results and statistical inferences that may ultimately prove to be inaccurate. Mineral Resource estimates may have to be re-estimated based on, among other things: (i) fluctuations in copper prices or other mineral prices; (ii) results of drilling; (iii) results of metallurgical

testing and other studies; (iv) changes to proposed mining operations, including dilution; (v) the evaluation of mine plans subsequent to the date of any estimates; and (vi) the possible failure to receive required permits, approvals and licences, or changes to any such permits, approvals or licence.

Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the company believes are reasonable assumptions, the company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject to applicable securities laws, the company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this news release.

Copyright (c) 2018 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.Share Buyback by Coal India, KIOCL Next Month Part Of Centre's Disinvestment Plan Business oi-Roshni Agarwal

The disinvestment programme of the Centre will get a push as state-run Coal India Limited and KIOCL or formerly Kudremukh Iron Ore Company are set to buyback their own shares.

Mahanadi Coalfields (MCL), wholly-owned subsidiary unit of CIL, will buyback shares equivalent to 25% of its aggregate fully paid-up capital from the parent company. CIL will then use the proceeds to buyback shares from other shareholders and the government. The Centre has a stake of 78.32% in CIL. It is worth mentioning that surplus cash with Mahanadi Coalfields as on March 31, 2018 amounted to Rs. 13,301 crore.

Meanwhile another company, KIOCL in its board meeting held on September 18, 2018 has approved the proposal to buyback 1,25,88,235 equity shares at a price of Rs. 170 per share of face value Rs.10 each, payable in cash for an aggregate consideration not exceeding Rs. 214 crores.

The company has fixed record date for the KIOCL buyback as October 1, 2018 to discover the entitlement as well as the beneficial owners or eligible shareholders who will be able to participate in the buyback.

The Centre so far as part of its disinvestment scheme has garnered only Rs. 9,220 crore or a little more than 11% of its annual disinvestment target. Further, as it aims to exceed the FY19 disinvestment target of Rs 80,000 crore, it has planned a series of disinvestments to be completed until November end. As per an official, the Centre can mop up close to Rs. 12,000 crore via buybacks by PSU majors including CIL, KIOCL, Oil India, ONGC etc.

Goodreturns.inMax Verstappen has sent a warning out to the rest of the field about the car that Red Bull will bring in future seasons. He claims that Singapore proved that Red Bull have the best chassis and set-up out of any of its competitors. It's clear Verstappen can't wait to receive the Honda engine.

"If you look at Singapore, I think we clearly had the best car on the grid. The hope is that from next season we can go a better way and get the whole package working," the Dutchman explained to his fans in Groningen.

The Renault engine is, without a doubt their major limitation. The 20-year-old Dutch flyer finished the race in second while team-mate Daniel Ricciardo took the chequered flag in sixth.

Verstappen did warn his 'orange army' that 2019 may well be a difficult year when Red Bull first works directly alongside Honda. But he expects all problems to be ironed out ready for 2020.

"In 2019 it will be a bit difficult, I think, but I really hope that we will have a chance in 2020," Verstappen added.

"In addition, Honda also has the same mentality that we are looking for. They also really want to win. They also have a much higher budget, which means they can do more. You can also see that in the results of the tests they carry out."

As already announced by Red Bull, Pierre Gasly will drive alongside Verstappen next season. Gasly joins to form one of the youngest partnerships F1 has ever seen. But Verstappen is confident this won't hamper anything.

"I can find it very well with Pierre, so I think they have taken that into their choice for next year. Fernando Alonso was certainly not an option and Pierre fits well within the team," Verstappen concludes.By Azernews





By Rashid Shirinov

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, who is on a working visit to China, met with the President of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Borge Brande, the Foreign Ministry informed on September 18.

The meeting was held within the annual meeting of New Champions organized by the WEF in Tianjin, China.

The sides noted with satisfaction the traditional ties established between Azerbaijan and the WEF. The participation and speeches of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in the annual meetings of the WEF were particularly emphasized. Azerbaijans participation in the current meeting on the threats facing the modern world in the political, economic and environmental spheres was highly appreciated.

Mammadyarov noted that the growth of indicators every year on providing conditions and competitiveness for business activities and creating new jobs in Azerbaijan in the annual reports of the WEF on development of global economic trends and forecasting their prospects is not accidental.

He stressed that thanks to these positive results, achieved through the reforms carried out in Azerbaijan and the ongoing development programs, stable and sustainable development is ensured.

Mammadyarov added that in order to ensure more effective use of the rich potential of Azerbaijan for the welfare of the people, much attention is paid to regional cooperation projects. The minister also spoke about the importance of the East-West, North-South and South-West transport corridors.

Touching upon the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, he noted that the illegal presence of the Armenian armed forces in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan not only poses a serious threat to regional peace and security, but also hinders comprehensive cooperation in the South Caucasus region and in the wider area.

During the meeting, the sides also expressed confidence that the traditional relations between Azerbaijan and the WEF will continue to develop successfully and exchanged views on the role of Azerbaijan in the global economy and other issues of mutual interest.

The World Economic Forum, based in Geneva, aims to improve the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic, and other leaders of society to shape global, regional, and industry agendas. The Forum is best known for its annual meeting at the end of January in Davos. The meetings bring together some 2,500 top business leaders, international political leaders, economists, celebrities and journalists for up to four days to discuss the most pressing issues facing the world.UAE-based International Real Estate and Investment Show (IREIS) has partnered with Abu Dhabi Investment Office, which will give the show a strategic push to attract investors in the emirate of Abu Dhabi and increase investor confidence.



Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) will also support International Real Estate and Investment Show (IREIS) as strategic partners in organizing the Abu Dhabi Investment Forum 2018, a specialized investment conference with a line-up of top-notch global experts, renowned academics, and seasoned practitioners to enlighten audiences with Abu Dhabis current investment trends and potential opportunities.



The conference will host a special session to highlight the most promising investment opportunities in the emirate to the public and establish a connecting point between the investor and master developer to secure and safeguard the interest of all stakeholders in the investment process.



Ministers, business leaders, senior public officials, heads of international institutions and academia representing major stakeholders of the international investment community will take part in various sessions.



To attract foreign direct investment (FDI), the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), a government entity, connects appropriate private and public sector entities, such as IREIS, in the emirate of Abu Dhabi to build investor awareness and confidence that lead to tangible results to accelerate and achieve investment results.



Services offered by ADIO to investors include providing extensive information on all aspects of doing business in Abu Dhabi, linking investors with relevant private and public stakeholders, helping identifying local strategic partners, maximizing local synergy for successful investment; coordinating with all stakeholders to facilitate the procedures for doing business in Abu Dhabi.



Ahmed bin Ghannam, CEO of ADIO, said: We are proud of the IREIS Exhibition, which is playing a pivotal role in Abu Dhabis realty investment by attracting large number of international exhibitors and visitors. ADIO-IREIS tie-up will bring out host of benefits for public-private partnership. Our all-out support will be available throughout the show and post event follow up. My message to the exhibitors and visitors is that exhibiting in IREIS will yield economic results given that the Abu Dhabi government unveiled a 10-point economic stimulus programme with a number of benefits of doing business in the Emirate.



Last June, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, Ruler and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, launched a massive Dh50 billion ($13.6 billion) economic stimulus package for Abu Dhabi. Officials were given 90 days to create a detailed execution plan for the package, which seeks to transform Abu Dhabi in ease of doing business, and bring lasting economic benefits to residents and investors.



Mohamed Ebrahim Al Hosani, Director at ADIO, said: It gives us immense pleasure to see that IREIS is growing, receiving quality exhibitors and visitors and making inroad to the international markets. Based on this progress, we at ADIO are looking at that long term relations with the event to propel UAE agenda to the international markets.



Abu Dhabi announcement focuses 10 initiatives with the aim of accelerating the economy over the next three years. Major initiatives include allowing people to officially work from home for the first time in the history, new building regulations for reducing costs for developers and encourage urban development, and elimination of red-tape which creates unnecessary delays in payments to the private contractors.



Antoine Georges, managing director of DOME Exhibitions, said: We are privileged to have ADIO with us that will prove to be one-stop-shop for our exhibitors and trade visitor who decide to invest in Abu Dhabi. It will accelerate the process of doing business and help bring investment flow. ADIO support is a testament to IREISs role in UAEs economy. The tie-up is one-off but we are talking to a permanent arrangement and we are also in touch with other relevant authorities so that our exhibitors and visitors take the full advantage of their presence in the IREIS.



The 10th edition of the International Real Estate and Investment Show, a B2C sales and networking platform where spot sales are permitted, is bringing leading local and foreign real estate developers, investors and agents under one roof will reflect the attractiveness of UAEs real estate sector and will attract investors from various parts of the world.



The show, running from November 1 to 3 at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, is expecting over 125 high-end exhibitors and more than 12,000 visitors. To give a greater value to the exhibitors and visitors, the associated events that will complement the main IREIS Abu Dhabi 2018 are International Real Estate Conference, Citizenship & Residency Expo and the Real Estate Developer - Agent Meet.  TradeArabia News ServiceOver 30 senior officials of the G20 Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity are meeting on Thursday in Paris to discuss collective solutions to the global challenges faced by the steel industry.



Over the course of the meeting, which will be held at the headquarters of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), in Paris, ministers and senior officials from G20 and OECD countries will look to address steel excess capacity in global markets, increasing information sharing and cooperation, and implementing effective measures to comply with the forums recommendations adopted under the German G20 presidency.



Taking place immediately after the working group meeting on Wednesday 19 September, the ministerial meeting will consider the progress made at the working group meetings in March and June, with a view to gradually removing subsidies and other forms of government support that distort the market.



Steel is a vital raw material used in almost all industrial and construction sectors. Steel excess capacity is a challenge for manufacturers from both developed and developing countries. The G20 seeks to create collective actions to address this issue.



The Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity was created after recommendations at the 2016 G20 Leaders Summit in Hangzhou, China, and was formally established in Berlin, Germany, on 16 December 2016. The forum has met twice this year, in Paris, France, on 7 and 8 March, and in Buenos Aires on 4 and 5 June.



The forums progress report will be submitted for consideration by heads of State at the G20 Leaders Summit in Buenos Aires on 30 November and 1 December.  TradeArabia News ServiceLeading Japanese industrial company Asahi Yukizai Corporation has set up its regional base in Dubai Airport Freezone (Dafza).



A major player in the manufacture of industrial resins and plastic valves, Asahi Yukizai Corporation said the new office will play a key role in expanding its business across the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region.



The office was inaugurated by Nasser Al Madani, Assistant Director General at Dafza, Akima Umezawa Ph.D, Consul-General of Japan in Dubai, and Kazuya Nakano, President of Asahi Yukizai Corporation in the presence of senior ranking officers from Dafza and Dubai Economy Foreign Investment as well as Japanese and local guests.



Speaking at the launch, Nakano said: "Today marks a momentous milestone in our companys history, as we make our official entry into the Middle East."



"Asahi Yukizai Corporation has a long history of supporting industries in Japan and beyond, and we have built a strong reputation based on the quality of our products and our customer-centric business philosophy," he stated.



It was established in 1945 to develop and manufacture organic materials (such as wood and plastic) as an alternative to metal materials for industrial use. In 1956 Asahi Yukizai Corporation  Japan developed the worlds first thermoplastic valves.



Today, it boasts a wide range of products (more than 50,000 valves and 20,000 fittings) and six overseas sales offices.



Welcoming the Japanese group, Al Madani said: "At Dafza, we are proud to provide world-class investment facilities and services, and are very pleased to welcome Asahi Yukizai Corporation."



"We are already a host to a large number of Japanese companies, making up 23 per cent of our total Asia Pacific companies. These companies are taking advantage of our strategic location, tax free benefits and superb infrastructure and modern management practices, and we look forward to offering the same advantages to Asahi Yukizai Corporation," he added.-TradeArabia News ServiceSaudi Arabias King Salman bin Abdulaziz and HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman recently oversaw the signing of a historic peace agreement between Eritrea and Ethiopia in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.



The agreement, known as the Jeddah Peace Agreement, and signed at Al-Salam Palace between the President of Eritrea Isaias Efwerki and the Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed Ali, officially ends 20 years of war between the two countries.



To mark the occasion, an official welcome ceremony was accorded to the President of Eritrea and the Prime Minister of Ethiopia and the two presidents were awarded the Medal of King Abdulaziz.



The signing was also attended by the United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates.



Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel Al Jubeir stated that The Jeddah Peace Agreement signed before the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques is a "historic milestone for the peoples of Ethiopia and Eritrea and will contribute to strengthening security and stability in the region at large."



UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said: "I want to express my deep appreciation to the role played by His Majesty the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques (King Salman) and by the government of Saudi Arabia for facilitating this agreement and contributing to bring together the parties.



The UN chief also paid tribute to "the courage, the vision, and the wisdom of the prime minister of Ethiopia, who had the capacity to overcome the resistance from the past and open a new chapter in the history of his country, and also the way the president of Eritrea responded to his peace initiatives.



This means that there is a wind of hope blowing in the Horn of Africa," he said.



The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is committed to furthering the cause of international peace, based on its long-standing principles of maintaining global security, development and ending conflicts around the world and continuing its efforts to serve as a stabilizing force in the region.  TradeArabia News ServiceDubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) won 11 international awards and five honourable mentions at the awards ceremony held by the IdeasAmerica Annual Training Summit in Las Vegas, USA, a media report said.



These awards recognise Dewa as a global leader in innovation and creativity, and support its vision to become a sustainable innovative world-class utility.



Dewa won four gold awards; one in the Team Idea of the Year category, and three in the Teams and Individuals category: in communication excellence, employee participation 100% as per the target, and executive leader.



Dewa also received three silver awards for best programme administrator, performance excellence for total dollars saved, and performance excellence for saving implemented suggestion. Another three bronze awards were also earned in the Team Idea of the Year category and the Teams and Individuals category. The awards also included a Kudos award and five honourable mentions for the Green Idea of the Year and Teams and Individuals categories.



Dewa held a ceremony at its headquarters to honour the winners of IdeasAmerica 2018 from Dewas various sectors and divisions.



Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dewa, expressed his happiness with this great achievement that represents a new global recognition of Dewas efforts to instil a culture of creativity, innovation, and excellence in government work. This achievement consolidates Dubais global position as an innovation hub, supporting the objectives of the National Innovation Strategy, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make the UAE one of the most innovative countries in the world.



It is also aligned with the Dubai Innovation Strategy, adopted by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai Future Foundation, to make Dubai the most innovative city in the world.



"Our efforts in innovation support our wise leaderships initiatives to shape the future. We are committed to implementing best practices, and the highest international standards, to strengthen Dewas leading position amongst utilities locally, regionally, and internationally. The awards received by Dewa from prestigious international organisations for its innovative initiatives and projects are a testament to its leading position in innovation as a work method and a culture," said Al Tayer.



"Dewa supports the development of employee knowledge and creativity in an environment that stimulates creativity and innovation. Dewa added new objectives to its strategic plan that focus on innovation, shaping the future and ensuring our stakeholders happiness. Dewa has successfully institutionalised innovation in all its divisions and operational processes, keeping pace with the wise vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to make a comprehensive change in government systems, supporting the Dubai Smart initiative to make Dubai the smartest and happiest city in the world," concluded Al Tayer.GREENWICH  Julie Carriero recently learned a 7-year-old family member, who lives in another state, expressed she was considering suicide.

She said that nobody in school liked her and she was thinking about killing herself, the Riverside resident and mother said. That was just so shocking to me.

The childs guardians didnt react to the statement the same way Carriero did, she said.

I ...wanted to see if I was overreacting to this, Carriero said. And I dont think that I was.

So she decided to participate in suicide prevention training the town offered this week.

The main lesson she learned was: Take everything seriously.

The Question, Persuade, Refer training, hosted by the Greenwich Department of Human Services and regional mental health nonprofits, gave community members tools to help others they believe are at risk of taking their own lives. Participants learned how to identify warning signs, ask directly if a person is considering suicide and refer those in need to available resources.

This training is aimed at the general public, said Margaret Watt, executive director of the Southwest Regional Mental Health Board. These are concepts anyone can learn; recognizing warning signs and reducing the emotional barrier to go deeper with someone.

The point is to offer hope, Watt said.

When people are thinking about suicide, it is something they see as a solution, she said. When you come across someone that seems distressed, you are literally offering hope and youre saying its OK to talk about this. That is huge because there is so much shame attached to suicide.

Warning signs

Red flags to look out for include direct verbal clues like, I wish I were dead, or, Im going to end it all. Indirect verbal clues like, No one cares if Im dead, or I wont be around much longer, are also indicators, said Watt.

Behavioral clues including a person stockpiling pills, collecting guns, giving away prized personal possessions or getting their affairs in order are also warning signs. Previous suicide attempts, sudden interest or disinterest in religion, drug or alcohol abuse or relapse, and unexplained anger are all indicators, according to the training.

Situational clues can include a person being fired or expelled from school, a recent move, loss of any major relationship and diagnosis of serious or terminal illnesses, Watt said. A sudden unexpected loss of freedom or fear of punishment, anticipated loss of financial security or a fear of becoming a burden to others also indicate a risk of suicide.

Asking the question

The best way to ask someone who might be at risk if they are thinking about suicide is to simply ask directly, said Watt. Many people dont want to use the word suicide because of its stigma or a fear that by using the word, they may encourage the action.

You feel worried by asking youre somehow going to put the idea in someones head, said Christophe Armiero, a Greenwich resident who lost his son to suicide. Its great to hear from the experts that thats not the case.

The worst-case scenario is that the person might get mad or be shocked by the question, said Watt.

But theyre not going to do anything to themselves because youve asked, she said.

If you ask and they are thinking about it, they will open up.

Other tips Watt offered include being persistent if the person is reluctant to answer, talking in a private setting, allowing the person to talk freely and allowing plenty of time for the discussion. Its also important to have resources in-hand, like a counselors name, crisis line numbers and any other helpful information.

Sometimes the best person to have the conversation is someone who isnt close to the person at risk, said Ingrid Gillespie, executive director of Communities for Action. Many times spouses dont want to open up to their partners because they dont want to hurt them. Or children might not be as forthcoming about their feelings with their parents.

If your kids have a mentor or friend or teacher they feel comfortable with, they may hear the message very differently from them, said George O'Loughlin, director of case management for the town Department of Human Services. If you think someone can deliver the message better than you, that's a good tool you can use.

Gillespie said its also important to not phrase the question in a way that already implies an answer, like saying. You arent thinking of doing anything crazy or stupid, are you?

Persuading and Referring

Once the person opens up, its essential to give them full attention, said Watt. She said to not jump to conclusions, to express caring about their feelings and to thank them for sharing.

The next step is to ask if theyll get help. Offering to go with them or make appointments for them is a proactive way to ensure getting help will be possible, Gillespie said, suggesting to stay with the person until they have help.

At this point, its a good idea to get other people involved in aiding the person at risk, said Watt, so multiple people are looking out for their well-being.

There are 45,000 deaths due to suicide each year in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control. Its the 10th leading cause of death in America and has an annual cost of $69 billion.

If you or someone you know needs help, call the Connecticut Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 211. In parts of Greenwich where 211 does not work, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-203-1234. Those in need of help can also text hello to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741.

For more information about resources offered through the towns Department of Human Services, visit greenwichct.gov.Sen. Elizabeth Warrens support for Democratic newcomer Jahana Hayes in the race for Connecticuts most competitive Congressional seat is the latest evidence that Hayes appeal reaches beyond the 5th District.

Warren, the outspoken Democratic senator from Massachusetts who is considered a presidential contender in 2020, tweeted her support for Hayes and encouraged donors in a letter to give generously to Hayes campaign.

The only way we are going to protect what makes our country truly great already will be by electing leaders like Jahana Hayes, reads a letter to supporters from Warren. Shes committed to fighting for Medicare for all, for stronger guns laws, and for an education system that serves all our kids...

While Hayes said she was grateful for Warrens support, her GOP opponent said the endorsement was evidence that Hayes was too far left for voters of the 5th District, which stretches from greater Danbury to Massachusetts.

Elizabeth Warren is one of the most progressive senators in Washington, who will push to remove President Trump from office, Santos wrote in posts on Facebook and Twitter. Donate to our campaign to ensure this doesn't happen.

Connecticuts GOP leader agreed.

There is no question that Elizabeth Warren is a senator who is more interested in resisting than in leadership, and our state desperately needs leadership, said J.R. Romano. Connecticut is in the position we are in because of Democratic policies.

Hayes, who is considered a rising star in the party, is part of a wave of progressive Democrats that are winning primaries across the country.

She is running against Santos to replace U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty, a three-term Democrat who dropped re-election plans after admitting her role in covering up an office abuse scandal.

A Hayes spokesman said Warrens support was a consequence of Hayes hard work to raise money and mobilize voters.

Jahana is focused solely on the 5th District and working hard to make sure folks knows she understands the issues, said Andrew Doba. Given her profile and what she stands for, it is not surprising that she is attracting attention from across the country.

rryser@newstimes.com 203-731-3342A report on the  National consultation on Budget Justice: Agenda for the Next Five Years by Pervez Bari

New Delhi, September 19: D. Raja, National Secretary, Communist Party of India, has said that in the preparation of Union Budget the pre-budget consultation before its presentation in Parliament has become a ritual. The voices of various sectors of civil society are rarely heard while the corporate sector has its say all the way capturing lions share. Thus, the final outcome of the budget that is presented often becomes Corporate-centric.

Raja made these remarks while speaking as chief guest in the concluding session of day-long national consultation on Budget Justice: Agenda for the Next Five Years which was organized here on September 14, 2018 under the aegis of the Peoples Budget Initiative, (PBI). The session was chaired by Amitabh Behar of PBI/Wada Na Todo Abhiyan.

It may be noted here that the PBI is a coalition of civil society organisations from across the country which promotes peoples voice in policy making processes related to government budgets in India. The national consultation was a part of its campaign on Budget Justice for Disadvantaged Sections.

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As the country is gearing up for the upcoming general elections both at the Centre and in a few States in 2019, efforts are being made by PBI to capture peoples budget related expectations from the new governments. In this regard, State Consultations on Peoples Expectations on Budgetary Priorities were held in Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The National Consultation brought together civil society coalitions, grassroots level organisations, budget groups and leaders of peoples movements from across the country for consolidating the demands emerging at the state consultations.

Continuing Raja lamented that the Revenue Foregone, which is the amount reflecting the loss to the government on account of tax cuts offered to the Corporate, is huge. This amount can be used to finance essential services like Education and Health, which should be free to People, he added.

It may be pointed out here that tax expenditures or the revenue forgone are sanctioned in the tax laws. A statement of the same, (as far as Federal/Union/Central Government is concerned) is presented to the Parliament at the time of Union Budget by way of a separate budget document titled Statement of Revenue Foregone.

Raja said that neo-liberal economic policies adopted by India since the 1990s has resulted to broaden the gap between the poor and the rich. This fact has been corroborated by the IMF (International Monetary Fund) which has admitted that the neo-liberal economic policies have not only widened further the economic disparity between countries but also within the country, he pointed out.

He said the present government at the Centre is not peoples government as it was elected by just 31 per cent votes. As such, Abraham Lincolns well-known quote: Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth does not apply at the present dispensation. The anti-people policies of the NDA Government will spell its doom.

Meanwhile, the theme of the inaugural session was The Governance Agenda for the Next Five Years from the Lens of Equity and Social Justice. Anjali Bhardwaj and Subrat Das, Co-convenors of PBI, introduced the topic while Bezwada Wilson (Safai Karmachari Andolan) delivered the keynote address in the session.

Bezwada Wilson in his address said that all Indians are tax payers and equal in political sphere. He, however, lamented that though the country gained freedom in 1947 but the common man by and large is still a slave as the fruits of freedom have not reached him. He continues to be ravaged by poverty, illiteracy, poor health conditions etc.

Wilson moaned that the preamble of the Indian Constitution is not being followed while preparing Union or state budgets. The preamble clearly states to secure to all its citizens Justice, Liberty, Equ ality and Fraternity. Justice which enta ils social, economic and political aspect is missing out as we have not been able to implement even the Constitutions preamble by building an equal society.

According to a report, he said, one per cent people of the country have grabbed the 73 per cent wealth of India. It should have been equal opportunity for all to access the wealth of the country. The economic policy of the country, however, is not right and there is total devastation due to political system in the country, he added.

Speaking on the occasion Subrat Das, Executive Director, Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability, (CBGA), said that Budget is a political issue, not a technical issue, and therefore the process of budget making should be inward having people at its centre. He pointed out that unless locally relevant budget information is made available in public domain in a timely manner, people cant engage with budget issues. A tokenistic participation in this important process doesnt lead to anything, it is peoples right to have a meaningful participation at every level.

While Anjali Bhardwaj, Co-Convenor, Nationa l Campaign for Peoples Right to Information (NCPRI), said that efforts and acts towards directed at diluting the accountability institutions needs to be squarely addressed. The issues discussed will feed into the Peoples Agenda for the next five years to be developed by PBI. The discussion also noted that the big tax reforms initiated recently hurt the unorganised sector. Members discussed the need for greater reliance on direct taxes for mobilisation of resources by the government.

In the coming months, PBI will campaign to advocate for progressive changes in policies and budgets that address inequalities faced by disadvantaged sections of population.

Meanwhile, apart from the inaugural and concluding session there were three plenary sessions. After the inauguration session a session was held on the topic Challenges in Accessing Public Services: Voices from the Communities. The session was chaired by Sachin Jain (Vikas Samvad, Madhya Pradesh). In this session panellists were Amit Tripathi (Youth Policy Advocacy Network, Uttar Pradesh); Chandrakala Sharma (Ekal Nari Shakti Sangathan, Rajasthan); Dhrubo Jyoti (Journalist and LGBTQ Activist); Mithilesh Kumar (NREGA Watch, Jharkhand); Pushpa Latha and Amrita Johri (Satark Nagrik Sangathan / NCPRI); Saira Begum (Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, West Bengal); Usha Rani (All India Federation of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers, Punjab).

The second session was on the topic of Issues and Priorities Emerging from the PBI State Consultations which was chaired by Subrat Das of Peoples Budget Initiative who is also Executive Director CBGA. The panellists in the session included: Hilda Grace (Peoples Monitoring Committee, Andhra Pradesh); Monisha Behal (North East Network, Assam); Nesar Ahmad (Budget Analysis Resource Centre, Rajasthan); Sangeeta Maurya (Sahayog / Health Watch, Uttar Pradesh); Sunil Minj (National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights, Jharkhand); Trupti Joshi (SATHI/ Jaganyacha Hakkache Andolan  Movement for Right to Live, Maharashtra).

While the third session of the day was titled Priorities and Demands of National Campaigns / Movements on Budget Justice. The session was chaired by Prof. Praveen Jha of Jawaharlal Nehru University. In this session speakers were Ambarish Rai (Right to Education Forum); Ms Beena Pallical (National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights); Chandan Kumar (Working Peoples Charter); Dipa Sinha (Right to Food Campaign); Ravi Duggal (Jan Swasthya Abhiyan); Soma K. P. (Mahila Kisan Adhikaar Manch  MAKAAM); Venkatesh Nayak (National Campaign for Peoples Right to; Information); Ms Zakia Soman (Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan).Brands have multiple ways to market their services these days, and online methods are among the most effective. But with many different options available, it leaves many companies allocating (and wasting) their limited budgets toward campaigns that dont produce a return.

Small online marketing budgets are common among service providing brands, but that doesnt mean the results have to be small. Little things like knowing which channels are best and what tweaks can help you increase conversion rates go a long way.

I am friends with several small- and medium-size-business owners operating in service-providing industries. One of them, Lyuda Ksenych, CEO of H2H Movers, a moving company located in Chicago, attributes a large portion of their recent growth to small yet effective changes to the companys online marketing efforts. Here are five online marketing tips, some of which can be done at no cost, that helped Ksenychs business and can also help you thrive in competitive industries.

1. Highlight your reviews from all major platforms.

Before a consumer makes any purchase decision online, they are going to read reviews.

A lot of companies make it hard for the consumer to read all of their reviews, which just forces them off your website to find them. We make it easy for a potential customer to read all of our reviews from Google, Yelp, Angies List, Thumbtack and Yellow Pages directly from our homepage, says Ksenych.

By making it easy for a potential customer to read your reviews, it keeps your business on their mind, which, if they like what they read, will greatly improve the odds of them converting into a lead or sale.

Related: How to Write Cold Emails That Quickly Convert Sales

2. Provide multiple, instant-contact options.

A lot of times, especially when it comes to a service provider, a potential customer is looking for a solution immediately. If you dont have multiple ways for them to contact your business and speak to someone right away, you will miss out on many opportunities.

Ksenych explains that their customers come from several contact channels: Our contact information is displayed at the very top of every page on our website. A potential customer can contact us by phone, email us directly or submit a detailed moving quote request. These options accommodate all needs, from those that want to speak to someone right away as well as those that might be multi-tasking and prefer to send a detailed email.

All the contact options in the world wont help unless you make an effort to "touch" each lead immediately. Phones should be answered on the first ring and emails should be replied to instantly. The longer you delay that first touch, the more opportunity you give the prospect to find another solution.

3. Leverage well-known badges of trust to instill confidence.

First impressions are everything, so anything you can do to showcase your reputation and trustworthiness should be leveraged. Any potential customer that visits our About page will see all of the professional organizations we are members of, like the Chamber of Commerce, as well as our Better Business Bureau (BBB) accreditation and our A rating, explains Ksenych.

For a service provider brand, these memberships and awards go a long way, more so than an e-commerce website. When someone is making an impulse purchase online for a $20 or $30 product, they arent digging as deep as they would be if they were hiring a moving company or a general contractor. The BBB, for example, is something all local service providers should leverage online.

4. Assume that 80 percent of your leads will come via mobile devices.

Most service providers have websites that are used for lead generation purposes, so its important to make sure its easy for a customer to contact your business or request information on a mobile devices, as the traffic source continues to dominate with no sign of slowing down.

We put a lot of focus on making sure our mobile traffic can easily contact us ... without having to scroll or navigate our website, says Ksenych.

When you make the conversion process completely effortless, you will see your rates increase dramatically. The average consumer is lazy and will not go out of his or her way to find out how to contact your business, so place it directly in front of their face upon landing on your website via their mobile device.

Related: 'Magic Dentist' Shows How to Make a Memorable Ad on a Budget

5. Use retargeting to pull prospects back while they are comparison shopping.

If a consumer is looking for a local service provider, he or she is going to do research and contact several options before making a decision. You need to stay on their mind while they comparison shop, and retargeting is one of the most effective ways.

When a potential customer leaves our website, they might go look at other options, but because we are retargeting, we show up in their Facebook feed and follow them around the internet as they browse. When they are ready to make a decision, there is a good chance we are still on their mind, says Ksenych.

Its a good idea to really personalize your retargeting for the best results. For example, someone who simply visited your website needs to be shown a completely different marketing message than someone who has already submitted a quote request. They are at different stages and require tailored marketing messages designed to push them to that next step, whether its completing a quote request or making the final purchase decision.

Related:

Should You Hire an Agency to Market Your Business?

Here is Why Retailers are Embracing Omnichannel Marketing in a Big Way

5 Online Marketing Tips for Small Businesses in Competitive Service Industries



Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reservedThe term "personal brand" denotes the phenomenon of people marketing themselves and their careers as brands. I know, because Ive spent a number of years perfecting mine.

Related: 8 Reasons a Powerful Personal Brand Will Make You Successful

I wear jeans and cowboy boots at every event I go to, for example -- no matter how fancy the occasion. That wardrobe choice is just another way I present my brand, the C-Suite Network, as being brash and bold -- like me -- and refusing to do things a certain way just because they've ways been done that way in the past.

But what about other CEOs? Do they "own" their own brand? Should a CEO cultivate his or her own brand, separate from the company? The short answer is  yes!

There are good reasons why: A study by Burson-Marsteller concluded that 48 percent of a companys reputation can be attributed to the standing of its CEO. These leaders represent their companys vision, so both should exemplify the same traits and values. However, a CEO wont stay CEO forever of that same company. That's why its essential to create a brand identity CEOs can own -- a parallel brand of sorts.

A personal brand will travel, in other words. And while the public may have a fascination with a particular company, its the people in that company they feel the biggest connection to.

So, why do as many as 61 percent of CEOs, according to CEO.com, lack a personal brand because they have no social media presence? Because they dont think that move will have an impact, personally or professionally. They couldnt be more wrong.

A study by Weber Shandwick and KRC Research estimated that 44 percent of a companys market value can be directly linked to the CEOs reputation. The same study highlighted other benefits when CEOs have a positive brand reputation, including: attracting investors (87 percent), positive media attention (83 percent), crisis protection (83 percent) and [the ability to] attract prospective employees (77 percent) and retain employees (70 percent).

The takeaway here, of course, is that more CEOs need to own their brand. So the next question has to do with personal branding mistakes. Here are three common ones:

Thinking you dont need a personal brand

If this phrase describes how a CEO thinks about his or her personal brand, that person has no business being CEO of anything. This isnt about I dont want to or I hate talking about myself. This needs to be about what defines you as a leader and what defines you outside of your day job. What are your beliefs and values? How do you want to drive growth and innovation? Basically, this is anything that makes you, you.

Related: The 5 Keys to Building a Social-Media Strategy for Your Personal Brand

Dave Newman, founder of Do It! Marketing, told me once that when a CEO doesnt own their brand, they lose control of the companys story. Therefore, no story, no distinction.

I stated before that your personal brand is forever yours, so it's your responsibility to create one that blends your leadership style, ideals and values with your companys brand. Together, these two brands should comprise the perfect complement, but should also be able to exist separately. Remember, you wont always be the CEO of that company.

Thinking you can delegate your brand

I get it: As CEOs, were busy people, but that doesn't mean you can tell your PR or marketing team to "create" a brand for you. Theres no shame in using your PR or marketing team to help you craft aspects of your brand, such as talking points, content or a new, improved bio. It's just that shaping and creating are two different things.

Many executives believe that the hardest part about building a brand is not knowing what to write about and that thats something your team can help you with. However, if you dont know who you are by now and or what you stand for, no PR team can help you.

Sure, they can create a persona for you, but what comes through wont be authentic, and it will cause irreparable damage, not just to your personal reputation, but to your companys, too. Creating a brand persona shouldnt be transactional; it should be (and feel) incredibly personal.

Thinking you dont need a social media presence

Again, wrong! A 2016 report by BRANDfog said that 75 percent of those surveyed believed the executive leadership of a company is improved by those leaders being active on social media. If you're a leader yourself, you dont have be present on all platforms, but you should be highly present where most of your target audience lives; and you must use that platform well.

If youre a strong writer, think about writing a blog -- either on your companys website or for a magazine that covers your industry. Also share the published article on your companys platforms, including LinkedIn. The content you write doesnt have to be lengthy or overly technical. It has to be accurate, thoughtful (or thought-provoking), entertaining and educational.

Think of the different social platforms as TV channels; you dont have to watch all of them, but you do need to present in several mediums to get your message across.

Heres the good news, then: Its never too late to turn the ship around. Here are some steps you can take to do that.

Think about claiming your URL. Sounds simple enough, but we still sometimes forget to do it. I have my very own -- which includes a small bio, social media information, TV interviews Ive done, a link to my podcast, listings of my books and more. Thats mine and mine alone. No one can claim to be me (as they do on other platforms).

It is also through my social channels that I get more "personal" with my followers. Dave Farrow, CEO and founder of Farrow Communications, told me, Your brand is just an image of who you actually are. Today, any difference between the two is seen as a betrayal.

The message here is that people make connections with people. So, give them an insight about your thoughts, opinions and style. Everyone I do business with knows what Im about. I live my brand 24/7. Everyone should. As Hall of Fame speaker Mikki Williams said, Dont be different; be unique. Anyone can be different, but no one can copy 'unique.'

Get in front of the media. This is the part where your team comes in handy. Its members should have the connections to get you in front of a camera. I have been a frequent guest on several national shows and networks. One thing I used to do at one of those networks was have my team look at the news of the day and then pitch me to the show.

The producers knew I could be ready in a pinch, so it was a quick turnaround between prepping and going on air. In short, staying on top of the news is critical to getting yourself out there. CEOs need to be topical and, according to Linda Popky, president of Leverage2Market Associates, use situations as they arise as an opportunity to reinforce the brand and tie the brand to whats happening on a day-to-day basis.

Write a book! Im now writing my fourth book, The Hero Factor: How Great Leaders Transform Organizations and Create Winning Cultures. As any author can tell you, books are a long, drawn-out process, but one that should help establish you as a knowledgeable and credible source.

Related: The Keys to Building an Influential Personal Brand

In short, we live in a world thats connected all the time. One simple click of a button can tell people nearly anything they need to know about you. So, in that kind of world, having a strong CEO brand is no longer a luxury, it's a necessity. That's why you should get on this.

Dont wait until youre managing a crisis to decide who you want to be and what values you want your company to espouse.

Related:

The 3 Biggest Mistakes CEOs Make With Their Personal Brand (and How to Turn Those Mistakes Around)

3 Mind Hacks for Overcoming Your Fear of Marketing Yourself

Women: Here's How to Overcome Your Fear of Your Personal Brand



Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reservedBy Auqib Javeed, TwoCircles.net

The Muharram procession in Srinagar saw an interesting political angle to the occasion when a portrait of Burhan Wani, the former Hizbul Mujahideen commander, was displayed during the event. A clip of the event where the portrait can be seen went viral on social media, prompting swift backlash from the authorities who deleted the video and blocked accounts sharing the same.

Comparing Kashmir with Karbala, a youth during the procession organised by hundreds of Shia Muslims said, Every day is Ashura in Kashmir. Thousands of people joined the 7th Muharram procession, the only traditional procession allowed in Srinagar City and chanted slogans of resistance and freedom during the event.

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Shaheed Burhan Wanis and his 11 companions stood against millions of Yazidis (Referring to the government forces) following the footsteps of Imam Hussain and his companions. Our salutes to Burhan, a youth is seen to have said in the one-minute clip that went viral on Social media networks in the Valley. In the video clip which that ends with intense pro-Azadi sloganeering and garnered millions of views, a youth can be heard praising the 22-year-old former commander. In the video clip, the youth wearing a headband bearing the name of Imam Hussain can be heard saying Burhan and his group followed the footsteps of martyrs of Karbala.

The procession began with the speech of senior Hurriyat Conference leader Maulana Masroor Abbas Ansari, who spoke with TwoCircles.net later. Pointing out that the main aim of Muharram procession is to remember the sacrifices of those who gave their lives in the way of truth while rejecting falsehood, Ansari said, Imam Hussain (RA) is the king of all those martyrs who sacrificed their lives and we remember all those who fight against the tyranny. In Kashmir too people are fighting against the tyrant rulers and are sacrificing their lives in the name of Islam and freedom.

Burhan wani too followed the path of Imam Hussain (RA) and sacrificed his life so he is also remembered with the martyrs of Karbala in our processions. He is the symbol of resistance in Kashmir. And that is why our youth praised him in the processions he added.

Srinagar-based Journalist Saqib Mugloo said it was no surprise that Burhan Wani dominated the Muharram processions this year. He has been a symbol of resistance and his nature is something that has attracted people across the religious and sectarian divide. People say Burhan helped poor and the downtrodden of the society, and he never harmed anyone, despite being a rebel, he said.

Mugloo also said that it was natural that Shias praised Burhan. Given that they follow Hussain (RA) who stood against injustice and tyranny despite having very people by his side, the sacrifice of Hussain teaches people to stand up against oppression. And Burhan was one among those who stood up against it. One cannot also ignore the magnitude of oppression that has been prevalent in the valley since the death of Burhan Wani, he added.

Even though traditional Muharram processions remain banned in Srinagar, smaller ones taken out in interiors of the city are increasingly turning into sort of demonstrations against what is described here as State Terrorism.

This despite police summons issued against dozens of youth who were involved in pro-Azadi slogans during Muharram processions earlier on Monday.

Ever since the beginning of Muharram, Shia Muslims in Kashmir have demonstrated against the killings in Kashmir by raising pro-freedom slogans during the mourning processions, videos of which have widely been shared on social media.

Reports said Police has summoned youth appearing in these clips to Police stations in a bid to stem the tide.

In Kashmir, the governments ban on Muharram processions (Muharram 8 and 10) in Srinagar city is in place since 1990, when the armed rebellion against Indian rule gained momentum. Despite the clampdown and curfew-like restrictions imposed by authorities, thousands of mourners carry out peaceful processions every year and are subjected to brutal police action.

Each year, police impose curfew-like restrictions on Muharram 8 and 10 in parts of Srinagar city, including Lal Chowk, the nerve-centre of Srinagar. Iron barricades and spools of concertina wires are put up at every entry point. The fully-armed police personnel do not even allow pedestrian movement as tough restrictions are enforced.

However, despite the clampdown, mourners each year defy police restrictions and take out peaceful mourning processions in the main city. Each time, they are intercepted by massive contingents of heavily-armed police and paramilitary personnel. They fire tear smoke canisters, resort to baton charge and brutally manhandle the mourners participating in these processions.BERLIN - Poland is one of the few European countries where President Donald Trump is still not only welcome but indeed sought after. When Polish President Andrzej Duda visited the White House on Tuesday, he repeatedly praised the president and even floated the idea of naming a possible future U.S. military base in his country Fort Trump.

The Polish government did everything it could to turn Tuesday's visit into one of Trump's more enjoyable moments.

Yet, somehow, Trump managed to offend the Poles so deeply that the fallout was all over Polish news sites on Wednesday morning.

What happened? At the end of their meeting, the two leaders agreed to sign a strategic partnership pact to boost defense, energy, trade and security ties. But what could have been a peaceful moment for both presidents immediately took an awkward turn.

While signing the document, Trump sat comfortably in his chair while the Polish leader was forced to stand next to him and awkwardly reach over the table to sign. Poland's Duda still somehow managed to smile at the camera, as Trump looked on with a stern face. The scene was captured on camera by the White House and was tweeted out shortly after - much to the bewilderment of Polish journalists, politicians and researchers.

"It's nice of President Trump that he moved a bit, because otherwise our president would have had to sign the document on his knees," Polish radio correspondent Pawel Zuchowski sarcastically commented on Twitter.

In an interview with Polish news site Gazeta.pl, international diplomacy scholar Janusz Sibora called the incident an "offense."

The Polish news site compared the meeting of the two allies with Trump's ceremonial signing of an agreement with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in June, when both leaders sat at the same table.

"The message is clear: Americans do not respect Poles," Sibora told the Polish news outlet. "If we sign such an important document in that way, we should ask ourselves whether this wasn't detrimental to the honor of Poland."

There was no sign, however, that Duda himself was bothered by the photo, and there has been no statement about it from the government. In fact, much of the anger seems to be emanating from the opposition.

"Signing a Polish-American declaration at the desk of the American president, while he is sitting, and [the Polish president] is standing is a symbolic confirmation [of] @AndrzejDuda as a customer [of] @realDonaldTrump.We have never been so low," Pawel Zalewski of the opposition liberal-conservative party wrote on Twitter.

According to Polish tabloid Fakt, other politicians and former ministers described the picture as "unbelievable" and as a "humiliation."

"I'm ashamed," Roman Giertych, a former deputy prime minister, was quoted as saying by the paper. Many commentaries did not exclusively blame the Trump administration, however, but also their own government for refraining to raise objections to the White House.

On Facebook, an account associated with former centrist Polish president and Nobel Peace Prize winner Lech Walesa appeared to troll Duda with a photo of Walesa sitting with Trump standing next to him. The photo appeared to have been taken during a prior meeting of the two, but it was unclear where or when it happened. "You find difference," read the caption.

The angry responses following Duda's White House visit come as the Polish government is seeking closer ties to the Trump administration, despite opposition protests. After a number of controversial measures, Poland has been increasingly at odds with the European Union, of which it is a member state. After its critics accused Poland of infringing upon judicial independence, the country was suspended from the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary this week. The E.U. sanction was the latest in a string of attempts to rein in what critics say are undemocratic changes in the country.

But Poland's right-wing government hopes to have found a powerful ally in Trump, who shares some of the same political goals and has refrained from joining the chorus of critics lashing out at what it sees as a dismantling of democratic rights in the center of Europe.

For months, Warsaw has tried to persuade the United States to set up a permanent U.S. military presence in Poland, to bolster the country's defense against Russia. Poland appears to be willing to spend a substantial amount in exchange.

"If they're willing to do that, it's something we will certainly talk about," Trump said Tuesday. But to more-critical observers watching from Warsaw, the photo that was released only a short time later spoke a very different language.Google has just announced that Assistant is finally available for Android Auto. It will appear both on the app and on supported cars and will be activated with the OK Google command.

Google Assistant will support plenty of commands while you are driving. You can navigate to specific points of interest, and you might use both Google Maps and Waze, according to your preferences. The usual questions whats on my calendar or call John or remind me to arrange dinner plans are also supported.

Google Assistant will work with follow-up questions similar to how it's performing on a mobile device. You can ask if a particular store is open and later to ask for directions. You can also play music, listen to the news, turn on/off Bluetooth, etc. Although Google Assistant has a typing feature on smartphones, it lacks from Android Auto in order to keep your hands on the steering wheel.

Although Android Auto is available in over 30 countries, Google Assistant is initially launching to seven countries, including Australia, France, Germany, United Kingdom, United States.

Source 1  Source 2When it comes to the phones that Google will announce at its big event on October 9, we already know pretty much everything there is to know about them (aside from pricing information, that is). But these shindigs have in the past yielded more products being unveiled than just handsets, and it looks like this year will be no different.

Ladies and gentlemen, meet the upcoming Google Home Hub. It's a 7-inch smart display, preparing to enter a nascent market already populated by the Lenovo Smart Display and the JBL Link View. The Google Home branding isn't a mistake - think of this basically as a smart speaker with a display slapped onto it.

Oh, and definitely don't think about it as an Android tablet with a smart speaker attached. The company's smart display platform doesn't allow for apps to be installed or any such thing. It's just another portal for the Google Assistant to live in. So you'll be able to talk to it like you would to a Google Home, but unlike smart speakers, on such a smart display the Assistant will obviously also be able to show you things.

If you integrate it with a Nest Cam, for example, you can ask the Assistant to show you what your front door camera is currently seeing, and it will do that. You'll get visual feedback, on the screen, for other things too, such as when you ask the Assistant to add appointments to your calendar. Another use case would be asking it to play something from YouTube, or wanting to see your vacation pictures.

Naturally it will also include all the functionality found in the Google Home, Home Mini, and Home Max smart speakers. In terms of looks, it definitely feels like it's part of the same family, with its aesthetics and design. It will be offered in Chalk White (pictured in this leak) as well as Charcoal (a darker grey).

Connectivity-wise, you get dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. There are ambient light and color sensors near the display, and the Home Hub weighs 480g. The main thing it lacks is a camera, oddly enough.

Google is apparently readying 3 million units for sale in the first production batch, so the company seems pretty certain this will be a success. And with a rumored $149 price, that may not be out of the question. For comparison's sake, remember that Lenovo's 8-inch Smart Display costs $199, while JBL's Link View goes for $249.

Source 1 | Source 2Samsung is one of the most popular Android smartphone makers and it is also perhaps the one with the longest delay between major updates, sometimes skipping releases altogether. Android Pie came out in early August and just over two months later and were already seeing some of the new features to come for the Samsung Experience UI on the Galaxy S9+.

XDA-Developers got its hands on an early build of Android Pie for a Snapdragon variant of the Samsung Galaxy S9+ with a host of notable changes to the Android skin. The early build is from Firmware.Science and is in a developmental stage so there are bugs and broken features in its current state.

The UI gets an overhaul with the most notable change being a proper AMOLED Dark mode for the Samsung Experience UI. Does this mean well be able to make the navigation bar black again? So far it looks like the answer to that is yes.



General UI changes

Other changes in the UI include more of a card-based interface with rounded corners. The notification shade and Quick Settings get new layouts and aesthetics. Theres also a new lock screen, one with the time closer to the center and a new clock design as well. Finally, recent apps have a new horizontal scrolling like in the alternative Samsung UI called Good Lock.

Next up is the System Settings. It looks like youll be able to schedule that Dark mode to switch schedules intervals or automatically. There are also a couple of new gestures like lift-to-wake and a new gesture-based navigation.



System Settings changes

Rather than Googles gesture pill, Samsungs gesture navigation is enabled when the nav bar is hidden and requires a swipe up in the spot where a virtual button would otherwise be.

Gesture navigation

Samsungs stock apps have also gotten new looks and UI layouts, rounded corners and card-based design. Finally, the camera sees an all-new UI layout. A new macro/micro toggle appears to be a new feature in the UI while some of the settings and options got moved around.



Samsung apps and Camera UI changes

It would seem that the benefits of Project Treble are finally showing through. Considering the timing of this early build, we think itd be safe to speculate that Samsung might release the Pie update before the end of the year.

Check out the Source link for the full collection of screenshots from the leaked build of Android Pie on the Samsung Galaxy S9+.

SourceSony's Xperia XZ3 is now finally up for pre-order in the US. It was announced at IFA in Berlin last month, and it's the Japanese company's latest high-end device. Pre-orders in Europe opened immediately afterwards, but in a weird twist it turns out that it will be released in the US first.

The official launch date in the States is September 24, while across the pond you'll need to wait until October 5 to receive your XZ3.

If you are in the US and want one, you will need to fork out $899.99 for the privilege. You are getting an unlocked model for all that cash, but as usual with Sony handsets it's only compatible with AT&T, T-Mobile, and GSM-based MVNOs. No Sprint or Verizon.

To make that high price slightly more palatable, Sony is throwing in a free Xperia Ear Duo true wireless headset. If you want to learn more about the XZ3 before you decide whether to pre-order one or not, make sure you read our full review.

Source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.



Haiti - Politic : It is time to involve the diaspora in the country's active life dixit Mamatha Irene Ternier





On Tuesday, the Minister of Public Works, Transport and Communications, Mr. Fritz Caillot installed, Ms. Mamatha Irene Ternier in her new function at the head of the Ministry of Haitians Living Abroad (MHAVE).



The ceremony was held in the conference room of the Ministry in the presence of the outgoing Minister, Mr. Guy Andre Francois, the Minister of Justice and Public Security, Mr. Roudy Aly, the Secretary of State for Public Security , Mr. Leon Ronsard St-Cyr, the Director General of MHAVE, Mrs. Yolette Mengual, Ministry officials, journalists and some guests.



In his speech of convenience, Mr. Fritz Caillot, Minister of Public Works, Transport and Communications (MTPTC), thanked the outgoing Minister, Mr. Guy Andre Francois Junior for his dynamism and the valuable work done in a short time to the ministry. Addressing the new owner of the MHAVE, he invited her to rise to the height of the mission to lead the barque of the institution.



Ms. Mamatha Irene Ternier, the new Minister of Haitians Living Abroad (MHAVE), thanked the President of the Republic, Jovenel Moise and Prime Minister Jean-Henry Ceant for the trust placed in her. She said she was proud to be part of this government, and, citing the contribution of the diaspora to the national economy, said that it is time to involve the diaspora in the country's active life. Ms. Ternier mentioned her knowledge of public affairs and her proximity to diaspora communities - for having studied in the United States - to assert that the task will be accomplished effectively.



The outgoing Minister, Mr. Francois Junior, gave a summary of his actions during the 5 months spent at the MHAVE and presented to the Minister some files relating to compatriots of the diaspora requiring the attention of the new team; These include the regularization of the status of 50,000 Haitians in Chile, the TPS file of Haitians living in the United States, the participation of the diaspora in the next elections.



S/ HaitiLibre

















In a webinar facilitated by HRD news editor John Hilton and hosted by Instructure, HR professionals can learn about how to engage employees in their development.

We found that employees become engaged when they do something every day that helps them develop; when they get feedback to drive improvement; when there is an opportunity to grow in their career and skill set; and when they connect with managers and peers on a regular basis, says Jeff Weber, SVP of People & Places, Instructure one of the webinar speakers.Researchers at Kings College London have discovered a vicious feedback loop underlying brain degeneration in Alzheimers disease which may explain why so many drug trials have failed. The study also identifies a clinically approved drug which breaks the vicious cycle and protects against memory-loss in animal models of Alzheimers.

Overproduction of the protein beta-amyloid is strongly linked to development of Alzheimers disease but many drugs targeting beta-amyloid have failed in clinical trials. Beta-amyloid attacks and destroys synapses  the connections between nerve cells in the brain  resulting in memory problems, dementia and ultimately death.

In the new study, published in Translational Psychiatry, researchers found that when beta-amyloid destroys a synapse, the nerve cells make more beta-amyloid driving yet more synapses to be destroyed.

We show that a vicious positive feedback loop exists in which beta-amyloid drives its own production, says senior author Dr Richard Killick from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN). We think that once this feedback loop gets out of control it is too late for drugs which target beta-amyloid to be effective, and this could explain why so many Alzheimers drug trials have failed.

Our work uncovers the intimate link between synapse loss and beta-amyloid in the earliest stages of Alzheimers disease, says lead author Dr Christina Elliottfrom the IoPPN. This is a major step forward in our understanding of the disease and highlights the importance of early therapeutic intervention.

The researchers also found that a protein called Dkk1, which potently stimulates production of beta-amyloid, is central to the positive feedback loop. Previous research by Dr Killick and colleagues identified Dkk1 as a central player in Alzheimers, and while Dkk1 is barely detectable in the brains of young adults its production increases as we age.

Instead of targeting beta-amyloid itself, the researchers believe targeting Dkk1 could be a better way to halt the progress of Alzheimers disease by disrupting the vicious cycle of beta-amyloid production and synapse loss.

Importantly, our work has shown that we may already be in a position to block the feedback loop with a drug called fasudil which is already used in Japan and China for stroke. says Dr Killick. We have convincingly shown that fasudil can protect synapses and memory in animal models of Alzheimers, and at the same time reduces the amount of beta-amyloid in the brain.

The researchers found that in mice engineered to develop large deposits of beta-amyloid in their brains as they age, just two weeks of treatment with fasudil dramatically reduced the beta-amyloid deposits.

Researchers at Kings College London are now seeking funding to run a trial in early stage sufferers of Alzheimers to determine if fasudil improves brain health and prevents cognitive decline.

Professor Dag Aarsland from the IoPPN said As well as being a safe drug, fasudil appears to enter the brain in sufficient quantity to potentially be an effective treatment against beta-amyloid. We now need to move this forward to a clinical trial in people with early stage Alzheimers disease as soon as possible.

The research was funded by the Medical Research Council.

NOTES TO EDITORS

Paper reference

A role for APP in Wnt signalling links synapse loss with -amyloid production, Elliott et al, Translational Psychiatry, DOI: 10.1038/s41398-018-0231-6

About Kings College London and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience

Kings College London is one of the top 25 universities in the world (2017/18 QS World University Rankings) and among the oldest in England. Kings has more than 26,500 students (of whom nearly 10,400 are graduate students) from some 150 countries worldwide, and nearly 6,900 staff. The university is in the second phase of a 1 billion redevelopment programme which is transforming its estate. www.kcl.ac.uk

The Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at Kings College London is the premier centre for mental health and related neurosciences research in Europe. It produces more highly cited publications in psychiatry and mental health than any other university in the world (Scopus, 2016), with 12 of the most highly cited scientists in this field. World-leading research from the IoPPN has made, and continues to make, an impact on how we understand, prevent and treat mental illness and other conditions that affect the brain. www.kcl.ac.uk/ioppn

About the Medical Research Council

The Medical Research Council is at the forefront of scientific discovery to improve human health. Founded in 1913 to tackle tuberculosis, the MRC now invests taxpayers money in some of the best medical research in the world across every area of health. Thirty-two MRC-funded researchers have won Nobel prizes in a wide range of disciplines, and MRC scientists have been behind such diverse discoveries as vitamins, the structure of DNA and the link between smoking and cancer, as well as achievements such as pioneering the use of randomised controlled trials, the invention of MRI scanning, and the development of a group of antibodies used in the making of some of the most successful drugs ever developed. Today, MRC-funded scientists tackle some of the greatest health problems facing humanity in the 21st century, from the rising tide of chronic diseases associated with ageing to the threats posed by rapidly mutating micro-organisms. www.mrc.ac.ukResearchers have found that the signals in peoples brains differ depending on a particular aspect of an individuals personality, termed Schizotypy, a discovery that could improve the way schizophrenia is characterised and treated.

The study  Attenuated Post-Movement Beta Rebound associated with schizotypal features in healthy people  published in Schizophrenia Bulletin was led by the University of Nottingham and the findings suggest that many mental illnesses may be thought of as extreme variants of a normal personality.

Shared thinking patterns

Peoples personalities vary in many ways and this variation can be measured using questionnaires. Similarly to how some people are more or less outgoing, a healthy individual with a highly schizotypal personality shares more thinking patterns with a person diagnosed with schizophrenia. This bridge between normal personality and mental illness provided a way for the researchers to understand if the brains of patients with schizophrenia are totally distinct from healthy volunteers, or whether they overlap.

The researchers used a technique called Magnetoencephalography (MEG) to measure volunteers brain waves while they moved their index finger. In 2016 a Nottingham led-team using the same technique found the brain response to this finger movement was reduced in patients with schizophrenia. The more severe the patients symptoms, the more the response was reduced. In this latest work, a similar relationship was found but in healthy volunteers. Volunteers with a personality more similar to that of a person with schizophrenia, or highly schizotypal, had a reduced brain response as compared to those with less schizophrenia-like personalities.

Diagnosis and planning

Although more research is required, the researchers hope that in the future this or a similar technique will be used to help in the diagnosis and planning of treatment for people with mental health problems. Peter Liddle, professor of psychiatry at the Universitys Institute of Mental Health, and the studys senior author commented: This finding should help to dispel the idea that people with serious mental problems are categorically different from so-called normal people. Even more importantly, it tells us that the same kinds of strategies that help any of us deal with the challenges we face in everyday life could also be helpful in dealing with the more demanding challenges faced by people with serious illness. Nonetheless it would be a mistake to under-estimate those challenges.

The research, carried out at the University of Nottinghams Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre and Cardiff University, was part of a much larger project aiming to provide scientists with a detailed picture of healthy brain function when using MEG (see www.meguk.ac.uk). MEG is relatively rare technique, with less than 150 machines across the world.

Dr Benjamin Hunt, lead author of this research and who now works at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada, commented: MEG is an incredibly powerful technique to look at how the brain functions. Although this work is extremely exciting for the study of psychosis, it builds on other exciting work demonstrating that MEG can be useful for mental health diagnoses. I also hope that by showing there to be a continuous brain link between healthy people and people with schizophrenia, this work will help to remove the stigma associated with mental illness.

 Ends 

Our academics can now be interviewed for broadcast via our Media Hub, which offers a Globelynx fixed camera and ISDN line facilities at University Park campus. For further information please contact a member of the Communications team on +44 (0)115 951 5798, email [email protected] or see the Globelynx website for how to register for this service.

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Notes to editors:

The University of Nottingham is a research-intensive university with a proud heritage, consistently ranked among the worlds top 100. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our 44,000 students  Nottingham was named University of the Year for Graduate Employment in the 2017 Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, was awarded gold in the TEF 2017 and features in the top 20 of all three major UK rankings. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia  part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement. We are ranked eighth for research power in the UK according to REF 2014. We have six beacons of research excellence helping to transform lives and change the world; we are also a major employer and industry partner  locally and globally.

Impact: The Nottingham Campaign, its biggest-ever fundraising campaign, is delivering the Universitys vision to change lives, tackle global issues and shape the future. More newsby Deanna Csomo McCool

The bodys immune system is a valiant weapon against disease, and harnessing its power through a technique called immunotherapy is at the forefront of current research to treat cancer and other diseases.

Thats why an unexpected finding by University of Notre Dame researchers and their collaborators, related to the way two distinctively different peptide antigens react with one T-cell receptor (TCR), tosses a new wrench into the process of building better molecules to develop immunotherapies.

The surprising research showing peptide adaptability was published Monday (Sept. 17) in Nature Chemical Biology. Brian Baker, the John A. Zahm, C.S.C., Professor of Structural Biology and chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, was principal investigator on the study and worked with co-authors from Notre Dame as well as Stanford University, Loyola University and the University of Kentucky.

Essentially, we discovered that T-cell receptors can be much more cross-reactive than we previously envisioned, which is somewhat concerning for the entire field, said lead author Timothy Riley, Bakers former graduate research assistant and now co-founder and chief scientific officer of startup Structured Immunity, a company incubated through Notre Dames IDEA Center that aims to de-risk early stage immunotherapeutics.

T cells are a subtype of a white blood cell responsible for sensing whether youre healthy or have an infection, but they often ignore cancer cells as a potential threat. In T-cell immunotherapy, some of the cells are altered to contain receptors that allow the T cells to seek and destroy specific, undesirable cells when the receptor reacts with specific peptide antigens, an action required to induce an immune response. While the treatment is effective in some cases, in others, it can destroy healthy cells. Therefore, researchers seek to predict reactivity and assure the reaction is specific only to the cells they want to target.

Scientists knew there were many millions more peptides, or antigen targets, than TCRs. They expected that the receptors recognized and adjusted to many different peptides that have similar properties. In the case of the TCR studied in the current research, DMF5, researchers knew it recognized hydrophobic peptide antigens, which are water-insoluble. But K. Christopher Garcia, the Younger Family Professor and Professor of Structural Biology at Stanford University, alerted Baker to an anomaly uncovered in his own research. Garcia noticed that DMF5 also appeared to bind with a different class of peptides  one that was highly charged and easily dissolvable.

Bakers lab, which has experience in analyzing that TCR, decided to delve deeper.

We thought the TCR was ignoring small differences (in the highly charged target) a little bit, and simply found things similar to recognize, said Baker, who is also affiliated with the Harper Cancer Research Institute. But that was wrong. We discovered that this peptide moved and adapted in order for the receptor to bind, in a way that no one had seen before.

The two different peptide antigens worked equally well at binding with DMF5, stimulating the receptor and inducing an immune response. It doesnt really matter how it works, as long as binding occurs, Riley said.

Though the discovery is notable for increasing the understanding of how to develop immunotherapies, its an unexpected challenge to overcome, Baker explained. Though the current research was completed on just one TCR and that only two peptides were evaluated, he noted, its likely that others may function in a similar way.

Whats significant is that people try to make predictions for developing these models for therapy, and about the kinds of ways you can recognize targets, he said. And this is a new, unanticipated complication.

Researchers have dealt with the knowledge that some TCRs can attack healthy cells as well as the life-threatening ones theyve been engineered to tackle, and have built that concern into their studies. But for those people who are trying to take advantage of that biology to develop immunotherapies, you have to be worried about this new issue and build it into whatever design platform that you have, Baker said.

Armed with this new discovery, however, Riley is up for the challenge. Now that we have great examples of a T-cell receptor recognizing multiple peptide antigens that are structurally different, we can use them to build hypotheses and test predictions, he said.

Co-authors in addition to Riley and Garcia include Lance M. Hellman at Notre Dame; Marvin H. Gee, Juan L. Mendoza and Jesus A. Alonso at Stanford; Kendra C. Foley and Michael I. Nishimura at Loyola; and Craig W. Vander Kooi at Kentucky.

The study at Notre Dame was funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health and the American Cancer Society and fellowships from the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute. The research was also supported at Stanford by the NIH, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy.

University of Notre DameSolar system covers home's electricity for the year

The verdict is on Keith Metlers solar system. He paid nothing for electricity for the year ending May 31.

Metler, a retired contractor, built a 36-panel system in an open field behind his home off Nelson Valley Road. Hes hooked up to Duke Energy for backup and for when the sun is not generating enough electricity to power his home. Those days turned out to be rare.

The system generated surplus power from June 1 until December. Heating our home during many cold days of 32 degrees or less, required solar credits, he said. From our data, it is more efficient to cool our home than to heat it. 

For the year ending last May 31, his solar system ended with a credit of 690 kwh or about 17.8 days of additional energy produced.

So how much does he pay Duke for heat, air, hot water, lights and appliances in the 4,800-square foot home? A meter fee of $13.51 a month or a yearly total of $162.12 to Duke Energy.

All our lighting, HVAC, cooking, well pump, water heater, work shop, refrigerator, bath exhausts and appliances are essentially powered by the sun, he said. We maintain the house temperature at 68 degrees continuously without setback.

In speaking with Duke they claim that we are the only net zero residence in the county, Metler said. And also, we are so unique in the Duke Energy grid that they cant generate our bill. Our bill is hand generated. They dont have software to do credit forward billing.

Craig DeBrew, Duke Energys community relations manager for Henderson County, said figures on the total number of net-zero customers were not readily available.

I can confirm that net zero customers are rare, so Mr. Metler is definitely one of the few on the system, he said. As (solar) hardware has become less expensive, we are seeing residential customers installing larger and larger systems. So the trend going forward is likely to result in having more net zero customers.

A retired contractor from Chicago, Metler does home renovation work here part-time. He welcomes questions about the solar system. Email him at fixer687@hotmail.com.Playhouse, Arts Council receive state grants

Grants totaling more than $7.2 million have been awarded to nonprofit arts and cultural organizations to support arts programs in all 100 counties, the North Carolina Arts Council announced today. Henderson County received $117,000 worth of grants.

During 201819 an additional $300,000 from the N.C. Legislature will support the Grassroots Arts Program, a nationally-recognized program that provides per capita funding for the arts in every county.

These investments across North Carolina help shape the appeal and economic growth of our towns and cities, said Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Secretary Susi H. Hamilton. Our grants range from providing arts in schools, to serving veterans and their families, to revitalizing downtowns through the arts.

Grants awarded in Henderson County included $34,386 for the Henderson County Arts Council's Grassroots Arts program and $2,400 for its to support professional development of artists in Henderson, Polk and Transylvania counties and $80,000 to the Flat Rock Playhouse for arts programs and administrative support.

Grant funds come from both state legislative appropriations and the National Endowment for the Arts and provide support for concerts, festivals, exhibitions, performances, art classes, and hundreds of arts activities in communities across the state. For every dollar invested by the Arts Council, there is a return of almost $20 in private, matching funds. Nearly six million school children and residents participate in arts opportunities funded by the N.C. Arts Council annually.County dedicates 'Charters of Freedom' at Historic Courthouse

County officials look at the Charters of Freedom.

Henderson County officials on Wednesday dedicated the new display of Americas founding documents at the Historic Courthouse plaza with speeches, a cannon salute, an honor guard and patriotic music.



A gift of a nonprofit organization called Foundation Forward Inc., the Charters of Freedom displays the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights exhibit displays the first proposed 12 amendments, 10 of which were ratified by the states and became the Bill of Rights. The historical documents rest on concrete foundations that are sunk 3 feet into the ground and weigh more than 19 tons. The facade is covered with natural stone locally quarried.

The nonprofit organization that brought the monuments here was founded by Vance Patterson. A Morganton resident who owns a company that makes industrial fans, Patterson ran for the 11th Congressional District seat in 2012, losing to Mark Meadows in a Republican primary runoff.

The ceremony included music by the West Henderson High School band, a welcome by County Commission Chair Michael Edney, invocation by Commissioner Tommy Thompson, Pledge of Allegiance led by Commissioner Grady Hawkins, recognition of other elected officials by Commissioner Bill Lapsley and acceptance of the exhibit by Commissioner Charlie Messer.

On a visit to Washington seven years ago, Patterson told the audience of 50 people, he and his wife, Mary Jo, went to see the nations founding documents in the National Archives for the first time.

The first time I saw the Declaration of Independence, I just got goose bumps, he said. And then when I moved over to the first page of the Constitution I actually got a lump in my throat. It was a very emotional experience.

When he left, two thoughts lingered.

First of all, Id probably never see these documents again, because it took me 60 years to see them the first time, he said. And second, most people would never see these original documents.

He vowed to start a project that would educate people about the charters of freedom by having the documents visible and accessible in their communities. The day after the Burke County Board of Commissioners approved Pattersons request to place them at the courthouse in Morganton, he realized he had no information on how the display was arranged in the National Archives. There are no drawings, no dimensions, only pictures, he said.

Patterson and Mary Jo drove to Washington to figure it out. He recalled that he made two large strides in front of the display cases to measure the size. Mary Jo stood next to them and was marking on her body the elevations.

So while whats sitting here may not be exactly whats up in Washington, keep in mind its based on two paces of a short guy and three marks on my wifes body, he said. On July 2, 2014, they dedicated the first Charters of Freedom display, in Morganton. A second one was placed in Murphy and a third one was dedicated in downtown Asheville. Then the couple branched out, to Jacksonville, Illinois, where Mary Jo grew up, then to Kokomo, Indiana, where Patterson grew up. Hendersonvilles is the 15th overall and the ninth in North Carolina.

Yours is the first one to be done out of local stone, he said. And I think it turned out to be an incredible setting. Im very proud of this one.  People ask us, Why are we doing this, because its very expensive. We believe its a direct link to our founding farmers by helping to preserve what it is they gave this country, a government, to serve and protect the people. And also, from the beginning, this has been about education.

Patterson asked the audience to imagine schoolchildren visiting the documents and learning about the founding documents and about how their national, state and local government work. There are more than 3,100 cities, towns, counties and parishes in the U.S.

Our goal is to put a Charters of Freedom setting in as many of those communities as possible over the next 10 years, he said.Police officers and shocked concert-goers close to the scene of the Manchester Arena bombing, which took place in May last year

A County Donegal branch of Specsavers has been ordered to pay 12,000 in compensation to a Muslim woman who was sacked the day after the Manchester terror attack last year.

Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) adjudication officer Emer O'Shea found that Letterkenny Specsavers discriminated against optical assistant Amina Ferrah on the grounds of religion when it sacked her on May 23, 2017.

Ms O'Shea said she was satisfied that Ms Ferrah's dismissal in advance of the standard three-month review constituted less favourable treatment and that her non-Muslim colleagues had not been subjected to such treatment.

The night before Ms Ferrah was sacked, terrorist Salman Abedi murdered 22 people in a suicide bomb attack at an Ariana Grande concert at the Manchester Arena.

Ms Ferrah claimed that she was sacked on discriminatory grounds "as a knee-jerk reaction to the fact that she was clearly identifiable as a Muslim".

Headscarf

She always wore her headscarf to work and her uniform and name badge had been ordered for her by her employer the day before the bombing.

Ms Ferrah submitted to the WRC that her employer "may have been overly concerned about public sentiment following the attack and the impact it might have on their business".

She started working at the outlet on April 3, having previously worked for a Specsavers in the UK for two years.

On the evening of May 23, she said she was asked to attend a meeting with the company directors, where she was told "it's not working out", "you are not what we expected" and "you are not interactive enough on the shop floor".

Ms Ferrah said she was told that her skills lay more in pre-testing "and we will have to let you go".

She asked for a chance to prove herself but was told "no" and that she would be paid up until the end of the month.

Ms Ferrah said she was very surprised as the feedback she had received up until that meeting was very positive and she was fitting in and working well.

The store firm strongly denied the claim of discrimination and told the WRC that Ms Ferrah was employed less than two weeks after a terror attack at London's Westminster Bridge.

However, she told the hearing that the London attack had to be distinguished from the Manchester attack in terms of the media coverage.

The firm said the decision to dismiss Ms Ferrah was purely down to performance.

It alleged that she lacked crucial skills which were necessary to carry out her role.

However, in finding that the firm did discriminate against Ms Ferrah, Ms O'Shea said no records of any performance deficits on the part of Ms Ferrah were presented.Martha Sanchez (29) was spared a prison sentence after volunteering to donate 2,000 to charity

A bride-to-be assaulted a female garda and tried to bite her, leaving a blood-stained saliva mark on her uniform, after she became "hopelessly" drunk celebrating her engagement with a bottomless brunch.

Dublin woman Martha Sanchez avoided a prison sentence after she made a "substantial" charitable donation.

Judge Dermot Dempsey said he "seriously considered" a custodial sentence.

Sanchez celebrated her engagement with a bottomless brunch - where a meal is paid for and an unlimited amount of Prosecco is served - but was arrested after she and a friend refused to pay a taxi fare of 30.

Swords District Court heard that the 29-year-old, who works in the marketing department of a car hire company, took a taxi from Ranelagh in south Dublin to Swords, Co Dublin, and had agreed to pay 30 to the cab driver.

But when they arrived in Swords, the pair refused to pay the money.

Sanchez claimed that she "didn't remember much bar being in the restaurant" and a misunderstanding broke out, marred by being hopelessly drunk.

Gardai were called and Sanchez, whose parents are a teacher and doctor in Spain, refused to acknowledge gardai - calling them "assholes and c**ts".

She continued to shout and tried to persuade her friend to walk away with her.

"She went to an ATM and took out 20 but refused to pay the taxi driver, saying she had no money," Garda Kieran McGroder told the court.

As Sanchez attempted to walk away she continued to verbally abuse gardai and ended up being arrested.

Abuse

When she was brought to Swords Garda Station she started to hurl abuse at Garda Elaine Duffy, calling her a b***h on multiple occasions.

She then tried to run out of the station but pulled the door into herself, causing an injury.

When Gda Duffy attempted to administer first aid, Sanchez kicked her and attempted to bite her, leaving a blood-stained saliva mark on her uniform.

The defendant, of Swords Central, Main Street, Swords, pleaded guilty to violent behaviour in a garda station, assault, being intoxicated and using threatening and abusive behaviour on December 16, 2017.

She has no previous convictions.

On hearing the evidence in the case, Judge Dempsey remarked that the assault charge against her "should have been a more serious charge for viciously assaulting the garda and attempting to bite her".

Sanchez's barrister said her client, who has since married her fiance, wasn't able to handle the amount of alcohol and didn't drink any more.

"She is ashamed to say she doesn't remember much bar being in the restaurant," the barrister added.

"It is out of character and such is her shame only her friend and her husband are aware of what happened.

"Her parents, a teacher and a doctor in Spain, don't know about the incident.

"It has had a lasting effect on her and she is taking it all very seriously and is ashamed," the barrister said, adding that Sanchez had a "significant amount of money with her" for a charitable donation if the court saw fit.

Custody

Judge Dempsey placed the defendant in custody for an hour before making his decision on the case, saying: "She viciously assaulted a garda and attempted to bite her.

"I am seriously considering a custodial sentence for biting and assaulting a garda who went to her assistance.

"It's a despicable act and she can't hide behind being drunk and not remembering."

When the barrister said the defendant had 2,000 with her, Judge Dempsey said he would allocate 1,000 to the Hope Foundation and 1,000 to St Francis Hospice.

He applied Section 1.1 of the Probation Act, leaving the defendant without a conviction but remarked that she was "lucky she had a substantial amount of money" with her.Springville explosion leaves families displaced, gas line may be the cause

Just after noon on Tuesday, a large explosion and subsequent fire came from an apartment complex at 500 South and Main Street in Springville. Two units of a six-unit north complex were completely lost. Several people have been displaced from both the north and south apartment complexes, according to police reports. No one was in the apartment where the explosion occurred according to Lt. Warren Foster. A parent and child were in the unit next door, but both got out safely. No one else was harmed. Work had been done on the gas line and it had been shut off. When the gas was turned on ...POW to patriot: Ceremony marks grave of Revolutionary War veteran

"We don't want them to be forgotten. We don't want their way of life to be forgotten. We want to appreciate them for who they were."On September 6, 2018, a pretrial chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a decision which has far-reaching consequences. The chamber held that the ICC has jurisdiction over the deportation of Rohingyas, as a crime against humanity.

Deportation and jurisdiction of the court: At the crux of the decision is recognition of the jurisdiction of the court over deportations across an international border, between a state party to the Rome Statute (Bangladesh) and a non-state party (Myanmar). The Rome Statute is the treaty establishing the ICC and states agree to be bound by its provisions when they ratify it. Myanmar argued that the court did not have jurisdiction or the legal standing over allegations of mass atrocities, as it has not ratified the Rome Statute. However, due to the nature of the crime of deportation  which continues upon crossing the border, with elements of the crime occurring in the territory of a state party, Bangladesh  the court held that actions in Myanmar can come under the scanner of the court.

The prosecutor will now determine whether there is sufficient merit to commence a formal investigation. As the Security Council has not referred the matter to the ICC so far, this decision is viewed as a significant step towards justice and accountability. Arguably, though, this does not go far enough as it does not include examination of allegations of other serious crimes.

Impact beyond Myanmar: The decision has wider ramifications for the assertion of jurisdiction of the ICC over a non-state party. Essentially, a country that is not a party to the court may still be investigated in the case of the crimes against humanity of deportation and associated crimes. In relation to the civil war in Syria, given Jordan is a state party and has taken in a mass influx of refugees, proceedings at the ICC may be initiated on the basis of the Myanmar precedent. Similar arguments are also made in relation to US actions at the border with Mexico, relating to the repatriation and detention of migrants. While the US is not a state party, Mexico is.

In India, the process of registration, detention and identification of non-citizens in accordance with the National Register of Citizens continues in Assam, which shares a border with Bangladesh. Should a situation of mass violence and border crossings occur due to the fallout of the NRC  which cannot be ruled out  this decision opens up the potential for an ICC investigation on Indian soil.

Overall, the decision of the court changes the landscape in relation to international accountability through the ICC. It is a legitimate cause for concern for any state that is not a party to the Rome Statute, and that borders a state party. The court has now set a precedent, which would be wise to heed.

Priya Pillai is a lawyer, with expertise in international justice and humanitarian issues

The views expressed are personalFor several years now, some hyper-patriotic commando-comic channels have been behaving as if they are a strategic asset of the BJP. Every evening you can find more than one of these channels putting either a maulvi, a Kashmiri activist/politician or a retired Pakistani general in the dock, in an abusive manner. At least the Pakistani veterans are handsomely compensated for suffering such nationalist admonition. The rest are just fodder for the TRP mill.

It is useful politics. You can see it written all over the BJP spokesmens faces on these channels. The implication is that unless proven to be a patriot, an Indian Muslims loyalty is suspect, Kashmiris are in Pakistans pocket and are all terrorists. You can then draw a straight, diabolical line. You can see how cornered Indian Muslims, 200 million of our fellow countrymen, must feel.

Tuesday morning on, it seems even Sikhs, a much smaller minority, have also been marked out for the same treatment. In unleashing the same propaganda machine against the Sikhs, especially as it pertains to an issue linked to one of their holiest shrines, the karmabhoomi of their founder, Guru Nanak Dev, the BJP may be playing with fire that patriotic, and smart, Indians would rather not.

Since Sikhs are only about 2% of Indias population, we need to understand what Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan means to them. This is where Guru Nanak Dev lived, tilled the lands, and, as Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu reminds us, gave Sikhism its leitmotif, or its three pillars: naam japo, kirat karo, vand chhako (work hard, chant Gods name, fairly divide and enjoy the harvest). Guru Nanak spent the last 17 years of his life here. The Gurudwara, Kartarpur Sahib, was built at the spot where he died. For the Sikhs, as well as several crore Sindhis who pray to Guru Nanak, this is among their most hallowed shrines.

Founded at the end of the 15th century, Sikhism is the worlds youngest major religion. Its founders were the most liberal and large-hearted saints who drew what they saw as the best from all religions, especially Hinduism and Islam, and the teachings of other Sufi contemporaries. Because the faith is so young and vibrant, it is given to rapid transformations, even upheavals, and revivalist streaks. The last time it happened was in the 1980s under Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.

Sikhs are also a little like the much older Jews in that, remembering their martyrs, victims of (mostly Mughal) excesses and the many holocausts is central to their prayers. As is the wish to visit/reclaim the holy places they left behind in Pakistan because of the Partition. Sikh pilgrim jathas (groups) are organised to these places. Some, like Nankana Sahib and Panja Sahib, are deep inside Pakistan, near Faisalabad and Attock, respectively.

Kartarpur Sahib is next door to our Punjab, just across the Ravi. On clear days, devotees climb to any little mound along the Ravi river for a darshan of the shrine across the borders. A proposal for the construction of a causeway and visa-free access to pilgrims has been floating between the two governments for decades. If the borders were opened here, literally millions of Sikhs and Sindhis would go for just a few hours pilgrimage. This is what Pakistani Army chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, promised Sidhu, who duly wrote to external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj to move it forward.

In Punjab, this unleashed competitive politics. Theres no way the Akalis, the BJPs allies, would let the Congress run with this credit. The Badals will thwart it, but without seeming to look like they are denying their fellow Sikhs this opportunity. And jealousy, as the most recent Sidhuism goes, is the jaundice of the soul.

Therefore, the strategy of making it out to be a giant Pakistan Army-ISI plot, Sidhu their gullible pawn, if not an agent. Then it grows into a Bikram aur Betal kind of fantasy: This is a ploy to make our Punjab release more water in the Ravi; that the Sikhs going for pilgrimage will be brainwashed by the ISI. The vaults of the intelligence agencies have suddenly been opened, Official Secrets Act lifted, and files opened up to prime-time patriots. Of course, our James Bonds, Jack Ryans and Agent Vinods already have all foreign conspiracy plots well-documented. Now, calling the Indian Muslims names, raising questions on their patriotism is bad enough. But you think you can get away with giving the Sikhs the same treatment? And really, do you want to teach the Punjabis in general, and Sikhs in particular, the virtues of patriotism?

You are playing with fire that could burn you, and much else. That an experienced party like the BJP, in power, is falling for this, is disappointing. It could lose Punjab for a long time. Worse, the temptation of also pitchforking the devout Sikhs in this idiotic patriotism debate has self-destruction written all over it. A quickest possible retreat is called for. So please call the commando-comedians back to the barracks.Andhra Pradeshs (AP) power sector is going through a second phase of reforms. While the first phase (1999 - 2004) was widely seen as focused on privatisation of electricity distribution, this time the goal is to ensure affordable and reliable power supply for all. To do so, chief minister Chandrababu Naidu has pledged to keep retail tariffs unchanged in the coming years for all consumer categories, while improving the quality of supply and service.

At present, there is a strong Central government push to raise retail tariffs to reflect the rising costs of supply  a target set for states under the UDAY scheme for discoms financial turnaround. This makes Andhra Pradeshs plan to improve electricity without any additional cost burden on the consumers particularly intriguing. Can Naidu pull off this trick while avoiding negative consequences for Andhra Pradeshs electricity sector? What are the consequences of failure?

The context for this latest gambit is the earlier reform effort of 1999-2004. Back then, despite backing from the chief minister (it was Naidu then too), supportive and skilled regulators and utilities, and Central government backing, the plan to improve discoms health through tariff and management reforms did not receive public support. Although discoms registered efficiency gains, the public focused on the accompanying tariff hikes which caused mass agitations. Some have suggested this was central to Naidus defeat in the 2004 state assembly election.

In his return to power in 2014 in a smaller Andhra Pradesh, Naidu has devised a second, revised reform strategy. First, consumers are at the centre of reforms, and are promised high quality service at affordable prices. Notably, however, this does not include promises of 247 supply of free power to farmers, as in Telangana. Second, the reform relies on disruptive technologies to bring down the power bills of discoms through a fivepoint strategy: improve supply through enhanced renewable energy (RE) generation, energy storage technologies, and full capacity utilisation of conventional power plants; implement energy efficiency measures; strengthen the transmission and distribution (T&D) network to bring down losses to below 6%; adopt IT for better consumer services; and lastly, improve financial management of power projects including loan swaps.

There are early signs of progress. The state has achieved 7 GW RE installed capacity, which is 10% of the national RE capacity and 30% of the states total generation capacity. To complement RE capacity, Andhra Pradesh has inaugurated the first thermal battery plant of India and allocated over 100 acres land for energy storage projects. The state has set a target of 1 million electric vehicles on road by 2023 backed by a dedicated electric mobility policy and planned investment of Rs 30,000 crores. Andhra Pradesh has emerged as a national frontrunner in the State Energy Efficiency Preparedness Index. To improve efficiency and reliability of the T&D network, the state has initiated a US$ 570 million project last year, with donor assistance.

What works in Andhra Pradeshs favour is that the state has some breathing room to manoeuvre. Following the bifurcation of the state, Andhra Pradesh gained from a slight reduction in subsidised load (domestic and agriculture) and AT&C losses.Since it is a relatively wealthy state, it has managed a persistent revenue gap by increased state subvention, from 12% of discoms revenue requirement in 2014-15 and 2015-16 to 19% in 2018-19 (see chart), preventing a decline in quality of service. In September 2018, the per unit revenue gap was Rs 0.06, onefifth of the national average, and AT&C losses were 11%, half of the national average, as reported by the UDAY portal. These developments make Andhra Pradesh a leader in UDAY target achievements while providing the fiscal space to manage the political demands for explicit subsidies.

However, for long term gains, Andhra Pradesh will need to use this breathing room to bring down the costs of supply and create enough demand for the additional power capacity it is adding through RE and augmented capacity utilisation. Naidu hopes his plans for industrialisation will absorb the surplus power. Whether this works will depend on growth in industrialisation as well as proper resource planning for the additional generation capacity.

Notably, Andhra Pradesh has proactively sought to capture the gains of falling RE generation costs as technology improves. The counter, and more problematic story, is that industrial consumers would leave the grid to capture these gains through direct installation of RE, which would cut into the cross subsidy available for poorer customers. Andhra Pradesh is seeking to manage this transition by proactively adopting these disruptive technologies in an effort to reduce the power bills for all, but also retaining industry through improved quality and a stable tariff.

In this tale of two reforms, Andhra Pradesh has moved from a price and privatisation-focused effort to one that aims to put consumers upfront. If they fail, the results would be dismal and all too familiar  low tariffs combined with growing stranded capacity as new generation finds no takers, and cross subsidy declines as industrial customers flee. But the Andhra Pradesh reforms are designed specifically and deliberately to avoid these traps, which is what makes them interesting. If Andhra Pradesh succeeds, it will signal an alternative, consumer welfare-focused, model of power reforms. While it is too early to predict success, this is an effort worth watching.

(Ashwini K Swain is executive director at Centre for Energy, Environment & Resources, and visiting fellow at Centre for Policy Research. This research is based on work presented in full in the book Mapping Power.)Alia Bhatt has been posting candid pictures on her Instagram from the Brahmastra shoot in Bulgaria with boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor. But in the latest photo posted to her Instagram on Wednesday, Alia is nowhere near the scenic, awe-inspiring locales of her recent photos. After the typical breathtaking locales of Bulgaria, Alia decided to pose in a rather intriguing locale for her new photo: Outside a restroom. See for yourself:

After wrapping up the Brahmastra shoot, Alia is back in Mumbai and letting her hair down. Alias new photo shows her enjoying her time with her stylist Shnoy. Alia posted a picture of the two posing in front of a mirror and it looks fun. These days, a simple picture in front of a mirror will simply not do, so while her stylist is busy checking himself out in the mirror behind her, the Raazi actor is being the star that she is and posing away, with her back against the mirror.

Before this, Alia had turned photographer for Ranbir and posted a nice monochrome picture of him from Bulgaria:

Since the two confirmed their relationship, Alias Instagram has been full of great pictures of the couple together.

Speaking about his relationship with Alia, Ranbir had said in an interview, I have said this before: its very new right now, so it would be really presumptuous to say anything about it or judge it. Workwise, as I work with her in Brahmastra, I know that as a talent, she is at a superlative level. The kind of dedication and love she has for her work is very inspiring. Work comes first for her. After working for 10 years, I may have felt a little jaded or tired, but when you look at her commitment, it rejuvenates you and makes you want to do better.

Ranbirs father Rishi Kapoor also praised Alia for her work and now Alias mother Soni Razdan also commented on the same. Speaking to Hindustan Times, Soni said, I have a very good relationship with my daughter. I dont go by what rumours say; I talk to her directly. We have had discussions on whats going on or not going on in her life. Its her life at the end of the day, so I am happy to let her live it the way she wants to.

Follow @htshowbiz for moreSalman Khans latest production, Loveratri starring brother-in-law Aayush Sharma and newcomer Warina Hussain, is now LoveYatri. Yes, you read it right. Days before the release of the film, the makers have decided on a name change.

Taking to social media, Salman on Tuesday, wrote: This is not a spelling mistake... #loveyatri #lovetakesover...@SKFilmsOfficial @aaysharma @Warina_Hussain @abhiraj21288 @TSeries. He also shared a new poster of the film.

This has been done to avoid any trouble with the censor board of India and Karni Sena, the Rajput outfit which made life miserable for Sanjay Leela Bhansali, ahead of the release of his ambitious Padmaavat late last year and early this year.

Sources close to the development said, Taking into consideration the concerns from the censor board and sensitivity of Karni Sena towards the title of the film, the makers decided to release the film as LoveYatri. Producer Salman Khan decided to opt for a change in title considering the safety and best interest of his audience.

It may also be recalled that the Salman production has already been dragged to a court after a lawyer in Bihar filed a case against the makers. Later, a court in Muzaffarpur in Bihar directed the police to lodge an FIR against Salman and the cast and crew of the film on the basis of a complaint that the title and contents of the movie had hurt the Hindu sentiments.

Sub divisional judicial magistrate (East) Shailendra Rai directed the Mithanpura police station in the town to lodge an FIR, based on a complaint filed in the court by advocate Sudhir Kumar Ojha. The petitioner claimed the title of the film is meant to make fun of the holy festival of Navaratri.

The film is set in Gujarat and deals with love blossoming during the annual Navratri festival. The film will introduce two new actors -- Aayush (who is married to Salmans sister Arpita) and Warina, a new find.

The film has been written by Naren Bhatt and has been directed by Abhiraj Minawala. Its songs are already popular and the film is set to release on October 5.

Follow @htshowbiz for moreUnveiling more reform measures for the securities market, Sebi on Tuesday decided to come out with revised KYC norms for foreign investors, reduce the listing time after public offer to three days and slash the charges levied by mutual funds from investors.

In a significant move that would help deepen the commodities market, overseas entities have been permitted to trade in commodity derivatives segment subject to certain conditions. A common application form would be introduced for foreign portfolio investors seeking to enter the domestic markets.

The watchdog would put in place a revised settlement mechanism that bars wilful defaulters and fugitive economic offenders from settling proceedings. The offenders would also not be allowed to make open offers, among others.

During its meeting in Mumbai, the Sebi board also cleared proposals for mandating large listed companies to raise at least 25 per cent of their long-term borrowings through corporate bonds and levying a flat fee of Rs 1 lakh per exchange on turnover arising from agricultural commodity derivatives.

As part of bolstering the corporate governance framework, listed companies would soon be required to list out in detail complaints of sexual harassment women received in a financial year.

Briefing reporters after the board meeting, Sebi Chairman Ajay Tyagi said the key decisions include revised Know Your Client (KYC) norms for foreign portfolio investors (FPIs).

According to him, the decision to cap the total expenses for investment in mutual funds would help provide 10-12 per cent gains to the investors.

The regulator has decided on a major overhaul of the fee structure that mutual funds charge from investors and the mutual fund industry would have to adopt the full-trail model of commission in all schemes.

A trail-fee model benefits distributors if their clients stay invested in schemes for a longer period. At present, mutual funds pay distributors upfront commission as high as 2 per cent against the one per cent recommended by industry body Association of Mutual Funds in India (Amfi).

The time to list shares on stock exchanges after initial public offerings (IPOs)would be reduced to three days from six days at present.

Another proposal cleared by the Sebi board is introduction of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) as an alternative payment option for retail investors buying shares in an IPO.

To bolster its evidence-gathering mechanism, Sebi said it may approach the government to seek powers to intercept calls and electronic communications of those suspected of serious economic offences.Participants in the OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting, which is being held in Warsaw, discussed situation in Pamir. President Emomali Rakhmon visited the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAR) of Tajikistan. He accused leadership of the region in cooperating with local drug dealers. Head of state instructed to restore order in the region within a month and, if necessary, use armed forces of the country in fight against crime. OSCE believes that Tajik leader's statement was regarded as a gross violation of international law and country's constitution.

Emomali Rahmon doesn't visit the GBAR that much. Economically depressed region has never been particularly loyal to the center. Authorities couldn't take complete control over it for a long time. During the civil war in Tajikistan Pamir was one of the bases of opposition. Many militants couldn't live in new reality of Tajikistan. Alim Sherzamonov, member of the Council of the National Alliance of Tajikistan, told Vestnik Kavkaza that population of the GBAR still doesn't agree with many initiatives of Dushanbe, starting with shaving beards and restrictions on holding family events. They are particularly irritated by appointments of representatives from Dushanbe and other regions of the republic to leading positions in the law enforcement structures, courts, prosecutor's office. According to him, Rahmon's regime managed to deal with political and military opponents in other parts of Tajikistan, but Badakhshan remains uncontrollable for a long time. In 2012, it was necessary to carry out military operation to bring order to the GBAR. At that time, it was explained by assassination of special services general Abdullo Nazarov. "Today authorities didn't even bother to come up with any excuses. They gathered information about all crimes committed in the GBAR over the past 5 years and presented them as a proof of rampant crime and prosperity of drug business. Although according to statistics, crime rate in the GBAR and in other regions of the republic is almost the same. It was exaggerated specifically to enable authorities to resolve their political issues. It's not a criminal issue or security issue," Sherzamonov said. Politician believes that Rahmon wanted to strengthen his positions in the region and decided to do it now, before presidential elections, scheduled for 2020.

Emomali Rahmon visited Pamir during celebration of Tajikistan's Independence Day. Khorog organized military parade on this occasion. Around 4000 soldiers participated in it, including those transferred from other regions. During his visit, Rahmon criticized officials for criminal situation in the GBAR and called all regional structures "crooked", since they are unable to deal with drug trafficking, organized crime and illegal possession of weapons. According to Rahmon, before his arrival to Khorog, 92 anti-tank shells were seized from the house of one of the residents. "There are 2 thousand civil servants in Khorog, and you can't deal with five or six criminals? I take responsibility for this myself: we will use armed forces if necessary," Rahmon said.

President demanded to do something about all crimes committed in the territory of the GBAR. He warned regional authorities that they will be dismissed in worst case. Head of state was outraged by the fact that criminals who killed traffic police officer weren't found yet. He also said that some leaders of law enforcement agencies are cooperating with criminal groups active in the territory of Khorog. "We have all necessary information, we will take strict measures against such people," Emomali Rahmon stressed.

President's statement caused mixed reactions in Pamir. Residents of Khorog talk about repetition of the 2012 events, when authorities used helicopters to attack the city during military operation. One-day war claimed lives of 21 civilians and over 200 soldiers of Tajik army.

During the OSCE meeting it was noted that Rahmon's "statement is a gross violation of the country's constitution and international law." "Making this statement in such a difficult situation is simply irresponsible, if not criminal. A month earlier, Rahmon publicly declared Shia Islam banned in Tajikistan. This is not the first statement that sows interethnic discord in the country," Alim Sherzamonov said.

Personnel reshuffles began in the GBAR on Monday. According to the "Ozodi" radio (Tajik branch of Radio Liberty) chairman of the GBAR Shodikhon Jamshedov, introducing his new deputies, said that their candidacies were discussed with President.

Meanwhile, representatives of military stuctures, commenting on Rahmon's statement on the use of armed forces, noted that they will be used only in emergency situations. "Right now situation in Khorog is under control. There were some previous cases, when we had to use force, but it's not one of them," Secretary of the Security Council of Tajikistan said.Policy reforms are hard to come by, but when they do, they are singular moments of victory marking sweeping change: reversing an existing regressive norm, or introducing a progressive new one. In the past few months alone, we have seen the critical role played by the courts in catalysing such reforms  from privacy issues to the recent LGBT ruling. While these are large constitutional issues of civil rights and freed`oms, the courts play a critical role in more mundane battles too.

In Bengaluru, for example, over the past few weeks, a high court division bench has set in motion a flurry of activity on reforming outdoor advertising in the city. A series of court orders in August 2018 directed the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (Bengaluru Municipal Corporation, BBMP) to remove all illegal hoardings, flexes and banners, as well as prevent their re-occurrence so as to ensure Bengaluru becomes a flex-free, poster-free, plastic-free city.

The order was triggered by offences reported under the Karnataka Open Spaces Prevention of Disfigurement Act of 1981, and the ban on plastics by the Karnataka department of forest ecology and environment. The divisional bench has been unsparing in its criticism of the municipal corporations perceived inaction on the matter, and the BBMP has responded with two commitments: first, speedy action on removal of illegal hoardings; second, drafting of a new advertising policy for Bengaluru. The second is because the BBMP is cognisant of the 1997 case - MC Mehta v Union of India, and the ruling of the Supreme Court whereby the civic authorities, including the DDA, railways, police and transport authorities are directed to identify and remove all hoardings against the roadsidecarried out not withstanding any other order or directions by any other authority, court, or tribunal.

On the first commitment, the Bengaluru Traffic Police and BBMP have booked 228 cases against violators, closed many facilities that print flex banners and hoardings, and gone on a war footing to remove all hoardings, banners, wall posters, in the city, so much so that the aam aadmi has begun to notice.

On August 31, the BBMP also submitted a new draft advertising policy to the court. The draft policy prohibits all commercial hoardings and banners within the BBMP jurisdiction. The only allowance on public roads is for signage that communicates on-premise use and activity. Sponsored advertising in the public realm is permitted at bus shelters, public transit stations, bike-sharing stations, car-share facilities, public park signboards, recreation grounds, street furniture, public toilets, street kiosks, public art, pedestrian bridges and tunnels, and other such facilities.

New draft by-laws to replace the existing 2006 by-laws were tabled and discussed in the municipal council. Impressively, the members of the municipal council appear to have taken an enlightened view of the high courts orders. By unanimous consensus, the council has approved the new policy and by-laws. For a change, the municipal council will play hero in the tale.

The councils decision could be a calculated response based on two factors: first it retains the moral high ground rather than ceding it to the court, which would presumably use the 1997 Supreme Court precedent to ban all hoardings anyway. Second, the municipal revenue from advertising tax is a paltry Rs 26 crore annually, from about 2,500 licensed hoardings, with an equal number estimated to be illegal. Realistically therefore, the current revenue could at best double, even with the best enforcement measures. The visual degradation and public criticism is too large a price for so meagre a return.

At first glance, this new policy of virtually zero hoardings seems draconian. But because the virus of outdoor advertising has crept in gradually, we dont even see the epidemic it has become  rather like the frog that is boiled slowly in water and doesnt jump out. If the new by-laws do indeed see the light of day, Bengalureans may expect to see a lot more of their city sky.

The revised policy places public purpose above revenue generation  for private business, property owners, or the municipal corporation. There are three public purpose considerations that anchor the proposed policy: environment, traffic safety, and aesthetics.

In undertaking this reform, Bengaluru will be following in the civic footsteps of many cities around the world, big and small. Beyond the usual examples of global cities like New York or London, in 2007, the municipality of Sao Paulo in Brazil passed a Clean City Law, with a blanket ban on all commercial advertising, removing thousands of hoardings, oversized shop signs, and advertisements on taxis and buses. In 2014, the local government of Grenoble in Europe replaced all commercial advertising with community boards.

In India, Mumbai and Chennai too have taken baby steps  undertaking removal drives and area specific prohibitions. Hopefully, Bengaluru s experience can trigger substantive advertising reform in other cities as well.

While the state has given an in-principle blessing to the ban on hoardings, it remains to be seen if the divisional bench continues to keep the foot on the accelerator. One hopes that in the coming weeks, unaided by fanfare in a quiet courtroom, a small but crucial reform can be catalysed for our cities.

Swati Ramanathan is the co-founder of Jana Group, and chairperson of Jana Urban Space Foundation. Jana Urban Space supported the BBMP in the formulation of the draft outdoor signage policy and by-laws for Bengaluru.

The views expressed are personalWith the Delhi government banning the use of coal in the national Capital, the Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) is concerned with the influx of coal imported from Indonesia and the US. This coal has high sulphur content and triggers heavy air pollution when burned.

In a meeting held last week, EPCA asked officials of Coal India Limited to suggest how the supply of coal to Delhi-based traders could be restricted.

The court-appointed body will also discuss with the shipping ministry and directorate general of foreign trade on how to check the entry of imported coal to Delhi. The use of coal has been banned in Delhi but we were informed in a recent meeting that imported Indonesian and US coal was still reaching NCR and Delhi. They are mainly coming from the Kandla port in Gujarat. They have high sulphur content and we have to find ways to check their entry to Delhi, said Sunita Narain, member of EPCA.

The Delhi environment department had published a list of approved fuels on June 29 this year in which the use of coal was banned.

Only thermal power plants have been allowed to use coal that has sulphur content less than 0.4%. Industries have been asked to shift to piped natural gas by September-end.

Indonesian coal has a sulphur content of 8% - 9%. This means if used, they would produce huge amounts of sulphur dioxide.

We have asked Coal India to explore ways on how to restrict the entry of coal to Delhi. One of the suggestions that have come up is to refuse supply of coal to any trader whose address shows that he is based in Delhi, said an EPCA member.

But after Coal India officials claimed that they are not a part of the supply chain when it comes to imported coal, EPCA is now exploring ways on how to stop its entry to Delhi.

We are not sure as to how the supply chain of imported coal works. We are exploring ways on how to check coal coming from ports. We might have to discuss it with the directorate general of foreign trade and the shipping ministry, said an EPCA member.

HT had earlier reported that bunker oil  one of the most polluted fuels in the world and used by ships  was allegedly being used by industries in the National Capital Region to replace banned furnace oil, EPCA was warned.

A senior official of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee said coal was largely used by industries and power plants.

But the use has gone down over the years. While industries are now shifting to PNG, the use of coal has also come down in houses because of LPG. Some small-time traders such as dhabas, restaurants, and those who iron clothes have been exempted and they could use charcoal, said a DPCC official.The Delhi Police on Tuesday claimed to have busted a pan-India job racket that duped aspirants of money after promising them jobs in the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC). Seven men two of them employees of the rural development ministry, a software engineer and a web designer were arrested.

Police said the men conducted interviews of job aspirants at the vacant offices of senior officials at Krishi Bhawan with the help of the two junior employees of rural development ministry. They put ONGCs banners in the interview rooms and the gang members impersonated as senior officials of the department as interviewers, police said.

Deputy commissioner of police (crime) Bhisham Singh said the fraudsters sent interview confirmation emails to candidates through accounts that were similar to the official ones used by ONGC.They also used mobile apps to make the job applicants believe that they had indeed received a call from the landline number of the ONGC.

The spoofing of the email account and landline numbers were done through a software that the gang members had developed. Their objective was to win the confidence of candidates by making everything look genuine, Singh said.

An ONGC spokesperson said, The ONGC filed two FIRs and extended all cooperation to the investigation. Whenever such fraudulent activities are brought to the notice, ONGC takes necessary actions.

The arrested persons were identified as Kunal Kishore, 32, the mastermind; Jagdish Raj,58, permanent multi-tasking staff (MTS) of the rural development ministry; his colleague Sandeep Kumar,31, a contractual MTS; Wasim,28; Ankit Gupta,32; Vishal Goel,27; and Suman Saurabh,32.

Police seized 27 mobile phones, 45 SIM cards, fake voter IDs and other items from them.

DCP Singh said the arrests came following an investigation into a case filed by the ONGC at the Vasant Kunj North police station in May this year. It was later transferred to the crime branch. Two persons, both BTech graduates from Hyderabad, had filed complaints with the ONGC and had alleged that they were duped of Rs 22 lakh after being promised jobs as assistant engineers in the ONGC.

During the investigation, Singh said it was found that the complainants had received interview confirmation emails from parody email ID of the ONGC and they were interviewed at Krishi Bhawan. They were also given fake appointment letters and were tricked into paying the entire money in cash.

Investigators collected details of the services such as cab and hotel bookings for candidates that the suspects had done using their phones. They got the internet protocol (IP) address of a computer that one of the suspects had used for online shopping. The IP address led them to an office in Delhis Laxmi Nagar from where an online educational test and scholarship company was being run, the DCP said.

The companys director, Kunal Kishore, was interrogated and he confessed to his involvement in the racket. His grilling led to the arrest of his six accomplices. Kishore revealed that his associate, Ravi Chandra, who runs a consultancy firm in Hyderabad, used to lure job aspirants. Chandra is yet to be arrested.

Police said Kishore promised jobs in ONGC by claiming that his brother-in-law is a senior official in the ONGC. Wasim, a web designer, allegedly prepared the fake interview letters and the same were sent to candidates through the ONGCs parody email ID created by Goel, a software engineer.

The arrested rural development ministry employees facilitated the entry of candidates into Krishi Bhawan and arranged vacant offices for their fake interviews. Gupta and Saurabh, marketing head of a private company, interviewed the candidates by posing as ONGC officials, Singh said.

Police said the arrested men have admitted to have conned over two dozen job aspirants from various states over the last three or four years.Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), the countrys busiest and the worlds 20th busiest, has achieved the highest on-time performance (OTP), albeit for a month, among airports that handle the most number of passengers.

Data for August released by OAG, a UK-based air travel consulting company that analyses travel data, in its Flightview section showed that Delhi had achieved its highest punctuality in the financial year 2018-19 with an OTP of 82.9%.

For the first time, IGIA breached the 60 million-mark and handled 63.5 million passengers in 2017, making it to the list of the worlds top 20 busiest airports. It is expected to breach the 70 million passenger mark this year. OTP is a measure of flights departing or arriving within 15 minutes of scheduled departure or arrival.

To be sure, Delhi doesnt do as well when compared with smaller airports that handle a limited number of flights. It figured at the 348th position overall in terms of on-time performance given that many smaller airports, which handle around 10 departures every day, have a better OTP. But Delhis performance stood out among the busiest; handling 630 departures a day it achieved an OTP close to 83%, Chicago international airport, the worlds busiest ,handling 1,200 departures a day, achieved an OTP of 71.6% in August.

In July, Delhis OTP was 78.5%, the third highest among 20 busiest airports with Seattle leading with 83.2%. In June, Delhi was on fourth and in May, Delhi was not even in top 10 with 78% OTP. Delhis overall ranking improved from 831 in May to 593 in June and 484 in July to 348 in August.

Smaller airports will naturally have better OTP since they are not facing (capacity or traffic) constraints. In India, most of the metro airports are operating beyond capacity and an OTP between 80-85% should be considered very good. If they can improve it further, nothing like it, but maintaining it in this range will also be an achievement, said Mark Martin, founder and CEO of Dubai-based Martin Consulting.

Indian airports such as Hubli, Mangalore and Vadodara figure on the list of the top 100 airports with the best OTP, but they handle only around 300-600 flights a month. Among other metro airports, Mumbai with a 77% OTP found itself in 637th position, improving from 834 in July.

According to an official of Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), a GMR Group-led consortium that operates Delhi airport, Delhi handled 19,748 flight movements in August.

The airport operator has taken several measures to enhance the OTP of all departing flights. Airport Operations Control Centre (AOCC) enables efficient handling of airport operations including parking bay allocation. There is also a dedicated flight operations performance committee involving all key stakeholders for faster decision making, said an official of DIAL who didnt want to be named.

Delhi airports air traffic flow management system also helps in better planning of operations and predictability. Also, aerobridges, fuel hydrant systems, ground handling processes and baggage handling systems enable quicker turnaround of flights.

Credit should also go to air traffic controllers for handling so many flights and helping in achieving the goal, Martin said.Anil, the sanitation worker who died while cleaning a west Delhi sewer last week, would drink alcohol only once a month. It would be on the only day he had a fixed job. But he drank not to celebrate but to suppress his body pain at the end of a tiring day.

The fixed job involved cleaning a 250-metre long sewer line in his neighbourhood and Anil would single-handedly clean the sewer. The work would take hours but it would fetch him Rs 1,500. The daily jobs would fetch him only between Rs 150 and Rs 600.

Unlike most sanitation workers who intoxicate themselves to bear the sewer stench, Anil didnt need alcohol or marijuana. He would only carry a beedi bundle and gutkha sachets. But the days he cleaned an entire sewer line, he would shyly tell me he would drink later in the evening, said Virender, another sewer worker. He said Anil was like a younger brother to him.

Anil

Anils inability to bear body pain had made him quit his previous job of rickshaw-pulling. Five years ago, he came to me and said he didnt care about his dignity and was willing to touch human waste if it could save him from pedalling a rickshaw. Physically, this was easier, Virender said.

Soon, Anil went on to become one of the 50-odd sanitation workers in Dabri  responding to calls by residents and commercial establishments for unclogging pipes to cleaning sewers. He would even help lay drains.

Occasionally, municipalities would offer them work  something they would look forward to eagerly.

We are more skilled in unclogging sewers. So, when people working for municipal corporations fail to clear a sewer, they call us. We prefer that because they shell out Rs 500, no matter how easy the work is, said Sonu, another sanitation worker. Sonu took to sanitation work two years ago after his father died of a fall while painting a building. I, too, was a painter but I realised the risks and took up sanitation work. But I refuse a work if I find it risky, he said.

Virender and Sonu were among the very few who attended Anils cremation on Friday afternoon. Anil was a good friend who spoke little and never turned down a request, Sonu said.

Anils inability to say a no cost him his life, they said. That sewer was 20-foot deep. We generally refuse to enter such sewers. Such tasks require the use of machines as are unsafe. But Anil may not have been able to say no to the request, Sonu said.

Yet, the right safety apparatus  instead of the weak rope that was tied around Anils waist on the fateful day  could have prevented his death. In terms of tools, Anil only had a long bamboo he would vigorously poke into a sewer to unclog it. But as a group, the sanitation workers had access to belts for safety and tools needed for cleaning.

I had purchased the equipment with my own money years ago right after I quit a catering job to take up sanitation work. Other workers borrow it from me for a percentage of their earnings, said Virender, who also leads the group of workers. I began as a sewer cleaner but tended to vomit because of the stench. So, I now assign work to others, said Virender.

Virender would be aware of every assignment undertaken by Anil  but not on Friday. Anil had left for the work directly from a school he had got his son admitted to. He hadnt informed Virender or taken the safety tools. Virender got to know of his death only when he saw Anils wife wailing in the street.

At their workplace, workers say they hardly ever receive any help or safety gear such as masks, belts or an oxygen cylinder in case of an emergency. We request our hirers for exhaust fans but hardly ever anyone arranges it. Sometimes, they refuse to let us wash ourselves after work and we have to walk back home all dirty, said Sonu.

People feel that we overcharge, but I challenge them to find someone else to do the dirty job, said Radhe Shyam, another sanitation worker.A 50-year-old woman, allegedly held captive on the terrace of her brothers house in northwest Delhis Rohini for the past two years, was rescued on Tuesday in a very poor condition.

The woman, who was lying in her own excreta and was allegedly tortured, was found almost reduced to bones by a team of Delhi Commission for Women (DCW).

The woman was fed only a slice of bread once in four days. She did not even have water to drink and would save rain water . She was found lying in piles of her own excreta, wearing the same set of clothes for the past two years, the DCW said in a statement.

It was only after the womans elder brother called the commissions 181 helpline number about her being locked up that the team reached the house located in Rohinis sector -7. The brother also said the woman was not mentally sound.

According to the Commission, a DCW team was sent to the spot to rescue the woman but the family members refused to open the gate. The commission then sought polices help to enter the house.

After several attempts, the team entered the house by climbing the neighbours roof to find the 50-year-old woman lying on open terrace.

The woman used to earlier live in her parental house. However, after the death of her mother, she started living with the younger brother. Also, the elder brother who made the call, said the younger brother and his wife would not allow anyone to meet her.

A DCW member said that an FIR has been registered at Rohini Sector 7 Police Station and the woman has been admitted to a local hospital.

I am deeply shocked at the inhuman manner in which the lady has been treated. She is only 50 years, but she looks as though she is over 90. Her starvation is so extreme that she was unable to look after her basic needs. I urge all citizens to please come forward and report such incidents so that more girls and women can be saved, said DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal.Monetary help continued to pour in for the family of the 37-year-old worker, who died in Delhi last week after the rope lowering him to clean a sewer snapped.

A photograph this reporter had tweeted on Monday of Anils son, Gaurav, 11, weeping next to his fathers body at a Delhi crematorium, had moved the Twitterati to raise the money for the family.

Anils neighbours had pitched in to buy wood for his cremation. His family did not have money for his last rites. Anils four-year-old son, Shivam, had died of pneumonia four days before his fathers death for the want of medicines.

As many as 2,422 good Samaritans had raised 51.43 lakh for the family via an online crowdfunding platform until Wednesday evening.

Anils widow, Rani, said she was glad that she could finally be able to send her three children to school now. We had not paid rent for three months and thought we would be kicked out of our house after his (Anil)s death. My husband was the only earning member. We will have a home now.

Rani said the crowdfunding platform had provided them ration, a bicycle and other essential items that will see them through the next few months. I have been told that people have given money for the children. I want to send my kids to a good private school, she said on Wednesday.

Gauravs photo had gone viral on the social media with over seven thousand re-tweets, prompting NGO Uday Foundation to open bank accounts for the family to receive help.

The money raised has exceeded the NGOs expectations. Uday Foundation founder Rahul Verma said their target was to raise Rs 24 lakh within a fortnight. He said the money would mostly be kept in fixed deposits in the names of the Anil children, Gaurav and his sisters, Lakshmi and Suman, aged seven and three.

Verma said some of the money would be given to the family for the education of the children and to meet their daily expenses.

Separately, the Delhi government has called a meeting on September 24 to review measures taken to stop manual scavenging in the city, officials aware of the development said.

Over the past two weeks, six men have died in two separate cases of manual scavenging.

An estimated 100 sewer workers die in India annually because of the lack of safety equipment.A day after several clashes were reported between student groups at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus, heavy security was deployed at the universitys three gates to prevent the entry of outsiders. Officials from the Delhi Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were seen manning the gates throughout the day.

The administration, which continued its ban on protests in the campus for the second day, issued a warning to students, including the newly-elected JNU Students Union (JNUSU) office bearers, to restrain from spreading misinformation on social networking sites. The administration warned students of strict action if they did not follow these instructions.

JNU registrar Pramod Kumar said in a statement, JNU administration has noticed with anguish certain statements made on social media by the recently elected office bearers of JNUSU Any kind of misinformation and/or rumour which causes anxiety and fear among students of JNU will be met with strict disciplinary action envisaged in the rules and statutes of JNU.

The students union alleged that the officials had imposed a virtual emergency on campus. Since Monday night, university students are reportedly being asked to show their identity cards in order to enter the campus.

The JNUSU said, They have shut down the dhabas, fixed a curfew of 10pm at hostels, banned protests and the entry of media persons at the campus. Instead of taking action against those who perpetrated the violence, the administration is imposing a virtual emergency.

JNUSU president N Sai Balaji said he was denied entry to his hostel because he was not carrying his ID card. On Tuesday when I went to my hostel, the security guards asked me to show the ID card, he said. I told them that I am a hostel resident, but they refused to allow me inside. It took me really long to convince them before they finally let me in. If students are stopped from entering their hostels and anything happened to them outside, who will take the responsibility?

On Monday night, wardens at almost all JNU hostels issued notices to prohibit entries of outsiders. We have been instructed to check IDs of all students before allowing them in. We are also being asked not to allow any entry and exit from the hostel between 11pm and before 5am, said a guard deployed outside Kaveri hostel.

Some students at Brahmaputra hostel said that security guards had checked their rooms late on Monday night. It was a raid like situation. How can they just enter in our rooms and check if we are hiding some outsider or not? said another student.

JNU officials, however, said the measures were being taken to ensure peace and safety at the campus. We have conducted several meetings with all stakeholders in the last two days and have decided to take these precautions, a senior official said.

Delhi Police have filed six FIRs after members of Left organisation and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) accused each other of indulging in violence on Monday. Police are yet to make any arrests.

Meanwhile, Union defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the instances of violence at the JNU campus was not agreeable. But people who are anti-India were seen with students union members that is now leading JNU and that makes me uneasy, she said.A standardised test is a common pre-requisite for admission to overseas business programmes, but which to take?

Fortunately for Indian students, there are multiple options to consider.

WHETHER GRE OR GMAT?

For students opting for an MBA or specialised masters in business, the GRE vs GMAT debate places them in the horns of a dilemma, as there are valid points on both sides of the argument. However, there need not be a dilemma provided the applicant consider a few pieces of information before making his or her decision.

The most important consideration is whether scores from both exams are accepted for entree to the programmes you wish to pursue. If a school accepts both tests, then you are free to choose whichever exam you prefer.

The vast majority of schools these days accept both exams, and 73% of business school admissions officers said that GMAT and GRE test-takers were treated equally during their admissions process, according to a 2016 survey of 224 US business schools.

Advantage GRE

Three main benefits to taking the GRE test are access, flexibility, and test-taker friendly features.



IS GRE A BETTER TEST?



Regarding access, more than 1,300 business schools around the world accept GRE scores for admission to their MBA, specialized masters and other graduate business programmes. These include top-ranked business schools, as recognised by QS World University Rankings, such as the business programmes at Stanford, Harvard, Yale, University of Chicago and University of Pennsylvania in the United States, and University of Cambridge and Oxford in the UK Said Business School, HEC Montreal in Canada and University of Toronto Rotman School of Management in Canada are among the top business schools that accept GRE scores.

The GRE test is always more flexible than the GMAT in that it is an exam used to gain admission to graduate programmes across almost all subjects, including business, the sciences, IT, engineering, and the humanities.

This underscores the intrinsic advantage in opting for the GRE.

The GRE will be the best choice for those applicants who want to pursue their MBA in conjunction with another masters degree, i.e. a dual degree programme, or in pursuit of a PhD. Taking the GRE allows one to apply to both programmes with one test, which is not only a cost savings, but a huge savings in the amount of time and energy required to prepare for and take two separate exams.

Unlike the GMAT test, the GRE test has a number of features that allow test takers to use their own test-taking strategies, which can reduce the amount of stress involved in completing the test and may even lead to a better score. Within each section, a test-taker can preview and review questions, skip questions and go back, and change answers. These features can give a student a real advantage, since data from ETS shows that most GRE test takers who changed answers went from wrong to right and boosted their scores. And all test takers who skipped a question and later completed it saw the same or better scores.

Should an aspirant take the GRE test and feel not quite satisfied with her scores, there is another benefit to help take the pressure off.

Should an examinee feel the need to take the GRE General Test more than once, she can choose which scores you send to schools. Only the GRE test offers this option.

(The author is senior director of global education at Educational Testing Service. Views expressed here are personal)A court in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has not ordered the extradition of a key middleman in the AgustaWestland chopper scandal, but has not ruled it out despite him being a British national, two Indian officials with knowledge of the matter clarified on Wednesday.

A final decision in the case is pending, they added.

Indian officials believed on Tuesday night that the UAE court had ordered Michels extradition. But a copy of the courts remarks, written in the Arabic script, showed on Wednesday that it had only expressed an opinion in the matter after the local government asked whether Michel, a UK national, could be extradited to a third country, according to an official who asked not to be named.

The courts opinion, which is in Arabic, says the possibility of Christian Michel being extradited to India cannot be ruled out. It is not an order clearing extradition of Michel.

The opinion has been made available to us through informal channels, another government official said on the condition of anonymity.

Michel, who is alleged to have been a middleman in the Rs 3,600-crore deal for 12 VVIP choppers, was detained by UAE authorities following an extradition request by India in June this year. He was later released on bail pending court proceedings. India cancelled the chopper deal after bribery allegations surfaced in 2014.

India has not received any official communication from authorities in the UAE relating to Michels extradition, the second official said. However, in the light of fresh news reports about his extradition being granted by a court, Indian mission urged the UAE authorities to provide them with details of new developments that they might have, he added.

The Central Bureau of Investigation, which alleged that Michel routed bribe money to political contacts in India, said it had not received any formal communication on Michels extradition. Both the CBI and Enforcement Directorate filed charge sheets against Michel and several others in connection with the case.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Vladimir Putin yesterday evening to expressed his condolences over the death of the 15 servicemen aboard the Il-20 aircraft shot down in Syria on September 17. With respect to a thorough investigation, Netanyahu promised to provide detailed information on the activities of the Israeli Air Force over Syrian territory on that day, which will be delivered soon to Moscow by the Israeli Air Force commander. In response, Putin noted that operations of this nature by the Israeli Air Force are in violation of Syria's sovereignty. In this particular case, Russian-Israeli agreements on preventing dangerous incidents had not been observed either, and that resulted in the Russian aircraft coming under Syrian air defence fire.

Shortly before Netanyahu's call to the Kremlin, the chairman of Russias Federation Council Commission on Information Policy, Alexei Pushkov, spoke rather harshly of Israel's actions. He said that in the first place there were several versions of the disaster: "There was a version that it was the French, a version that it was a technical glitch on the plane, a version that it was Syrian air defense, and a version that it was Israeli aircraft. The French immediately denied the accusations, said they had nothing to do with this. Syria said that it technically could not shoot down the plane for a number of reasons. So, there were two versions left: an accident, or Israel, but Israel declined to comment."

Pushkov considers such a position of Tel Aviv strange and irresponsible: "Israel wants to have free hands in Syria and not to be responsible for its actions. Sooner or later it had to lead to serious trouble. This situation emerge naturally from a random system of Israel's actions in Syria. They usually explain their actions with attacking the Iranian forces in Syria. But unlimited military activity is fraught with such events. It is still necessary to clarify the details through closed channels: to what extent this action was deliberate. "

Alexei Pushkov noted that Moscow and Tel Aviv had established extensive relations on the Syrian problem: "Israel is a major player in the Middle East, it has its own security interests, which are undermined by periodic shelling from outside the country, which Israel regularly stresses. It strives for the security of his borders. And Israel's position is well founded here. But an attempt to ensure its security should not lead to arbitrary actions throughout Syria far from Israel's borders. Latakia is far from the borders of Israel. What did the Israeli planes do there? If Israel refuses to comment on it, then we may have a state, which is not responsible for its actions. This is the zone where Israel's actions start to conflict directly with Russia's security interestsMobile application cVIGIL, denoting Vigilant Citizen, will be used for the first time in the coming assembly elections through which any person can report poll code violations by a candidate or party, chief election commissioner OP Rawat said on Tuesday.

To make elections accessible for all, the commission is for the first time appointing accessibility observers who will monitor and assess facilities for divyang (people with disabilities) at polling stations, he said.

Addressing the media in Jaipur, Rawat said the election commission has launched the cVIGIL mobile app that will be used for the first time in the assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Mizoram.

He said a user will be able to download the app and can take a photo or video of a poll code violation and upload it. The app will identify the area and booth of the code violation and send it to the election official concerned. Within 100 minutes, the complainant will be informed what action has been taken on his or her complaint.

In case a user wants to keep his or her identity secret, this facility is also available in the app. Rawat said the app will get activated after the elections are notified.

Rawat with a central election commission team was on a two-day visit to the state to review preparations for the assembly elections. The election commission members met with representatives of political parties and civil society and took note of their concerns.

Regarding complaints of duplicate and missing voters, Rawat said that after physical verification, duplicate voters will struck off of the electoral rolls in the presence of district election officers. The names will also be listed on the polling stations, notified to political parties and shown on website of the election commission.

He said after publication of final electoral rolls on September 27, special camps will be held on three days for enrolment of voters who have been left out or want to make corrections.

Rawat stressed that the EVM and VVPAT machines are credible and cannot be tempered with. He said the latest M3 EVM and VVPAT machines which allow transparent and unbiased polling will be used in all 200 assembly constituencies in the state.

Rawat said that as per the draft electoral roll published on July 31, there are 4.75 crore voters in the state. Of these, 2.48 crore are male and 2.26 crore female.

Rawat said officials have been asked to take steps, such as sudden inspection of jails, serving of non-bailable warrants, and identification of anti-social elements, to strengthen the law and order situation. All armed licences will be verified and deposited, and adequate security provided in sensitive areas.

Enforcement agencies have been asked to prevent misuse of money, liquor, drugs, and gifts during the elections. The expenditure limit per candidate is Rs 28 lakh and anyone going above it will be punished.Three months after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ended its power-sharing alliance with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Jammu and Kashmir, former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, 59, is picking up the lost threads. Facing the twin challenge of reaching out to the people of the state while keeping her flock together, she seems to have regained some of her political intuitiveness by swiftly making common cause with arch-rival National Conference (NC) on boycotting local elections over Article 35A, which guarantees special rights to people of the state. She spoke to Hindustan Times on Monday, at her serene but heavily secured residence on the edge of Dal Lake in Srinagar, about the alliance, the special provisions for the state, the local body elections, and the way forward for the state. Edited excerpts:

Why is the PDP staying away from the local elections?

As a party, we are part and parcel of the democratic process. Holding these elections has been under consideration for a while. Early this year, I, as chief minister, held an all-party meeting in which the consensus was that the situation was not conducive for such an exercise. (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi ji had also desired these elections. Now, with the state under Central rule, I wish the governor had called an all-party meeting and built a consensus. Unfortunately, the elections got linked with Article 35A, which is under challenge in the Supreme Court. Both the solicitor general and the states legal representative sought the cases deferment, citing local elections in two months. Already, there was fear and suspicion among people that there is something up the Centres sleeve on Article 35A. Linking it with the elections further vitiated the atmosphere. When people are disturbed and pre-occupied with the fate of a crucial constitutional provision, how can we go and ask them to vote?

But the government is going ahead with the elections.

I dont think it will serve the purpose. Democracy is about electoral competition. When two main political players have opted out, what kind of competition is there going to be? We are the mainstream parties and do not belong to the other side (separatists).

We had valid reasons and good intentions behind flagging the groundswell against Article 35A. If not an all-party meeting, a consultative mechanism should have been followed to take everyone on board. That was not done. If the government is still going ahead, there is little we can do. It will not be a good election. It will not have the legitimacy that it should have. Only selective people are going to contest because of the fear psychosis. That may defeat the purpose.

But the governor says only an elected government will represent the states stand on Article 35A.

I wish the government had said the same before the court. Its deferment plea rang alarm bells.

What do you expect from the Centre on Article 35A?

Kashmir aligned with India under certain conditions. Article 35A is part and parcel of this relationship. Why should somebody challenge it in court? The Centre should pass a direction that this (Article 35A) is off limits. Why should this sword dangle over our heads all the time?

It appears as if they are trying to scare Kashmiris. This doesnt help. It has backfired. Article 35A has brought everybody on the same platform. That includes people in Jammu, who realise that if this provision goes, outsiders will take away their jobs, ration and land.

Our state has deep emotional ties with Article 370, which gives residents special rights. You cant fiddle with it. New Delhi says Kashmir is a settled issue; so is Article 370. If you open this, it will open many more things.

By not participating in the elections, dont you run the risk of losing political space?

There are certain issues where you cant compromise. Article 35A is one such issue. Our message to the Centre is loud and clear: Keep your hands off. This is off-limits; dont play with this.

Arent you endorsing the separatists anti-election line?

Article 370 is not a separatist slogan. They dont believe in the Indian Constitution. Only mainstream parties do. We swear by it and hold the Indian flag high. Bracketing us with separatists doesnt scare us. We cant keep our mouths shut.

Whats the way forward to revive the stalled politics in the state?

When my father Mufti (Mohammad Sayeed) saab forged an alliance with the BJP in 2014, his intention was to recreate the (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee era, when there was an internal dialogue with separatists and an external reconciliation with Pakistan.

After all, how many people are you going to put behind bars? How many can you kill? You kill two militants, four pick up the gun; kill four, eight take to arms. It (Kashmirs secession) is an idea. It is in the minds.

You cant kill or jail it. But you have to offer a better idea through political dialogue and reconciliation. Thats the only way forward.

In hindsight, was your alliance with the BJP worth it?

It was an unpopular decision. Kashmiris hated it. But Mufti saab had a larger vision. When Vajpayee was PM and my father at the helm of J&K in his first tenure (2002-08), there was chemistry between them. Thats when India engaged with Pakistan despite the Kargil war and the Parliament terror attack, and achieved a ceasefire on the border. Spadework on opening the Line of Control (LoC) happened during that period. So when the 2014 assembly results threw up a fractured mandate, Mufti saab instinctively took a huge risk of sharing power with the BJP despite my stiff opposition. In doing so, he put everything at stake.

He believed, and rightly so, that internal dialogue, reconciliation with Pakistan and governance have to go hand in hand.

If there is no political process, everything goes haywire in Kashmir. After his death, I couldnt abandon his commitment halfway. Thats what forced me into it.

But didnt you end up as a bigger loser in the doomed alliance?

Of course, I did. We had to bear the wrath of the people. The love and affection they showered on me when I was in the Opposition turned into anger and hatred after we partnered with the BJP. They had high expectations, which didnt fructify. Modiji promised to follow Vajpayees approach on Kashmir. He did try, and even went to Lahore. Then came the Pathankot terror attack, and things began falling apart. The consistency of Vajpayees time was missing.

Do you feel that the BJP let you down?

Perhaps we overestimated things. We were so much in awe of the Vajpayee era and felt things will be the same under Modi. That didnt happen because the BJPs thought process was different.

Has the clock been set back on Kashmir in three years?

The clock began turning back in 2008 over the Amarnath land row. That led to the summer upheaval of 2010 followed by the hanging of Afzal Guru. Kashmir was festering when we took charge in 2014. When the disillusionment set in with our rule, July 8, 2016, (militant leader Burhan Wanis killing) became another trigger. All hell broke loose as the aftermath was orchestrated by certain forces.

There is a perception that the BJP is using Kashmir to polarise votes elsewhere. Do you buy into that theory?

The BJP tried doing good things here, but I dont know whether they actually believed in them, or were doing it only because I was driving them.

We had a Ramzan ceasefire, appointment of an interlocutor of chief secretary rank, and amnesty to stone-pelters. The Union home minister made an offer for dialogue with separatists three times. But unless you believe in what you are saying, you dont get success. The BJP wasnt ready to absorb certain setbacks and stay the course on Kashmir.

Do you believe the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is controlling the Kashmir policy?

I dont know who is calling the shots but the Vajpayee vision was missing. Every time theres an election in any state, the impact of Kashmir is counted. Vajpayeeji didnt chart his Kashmir policy through a poll prism.

After a bitter break-up, are you still keeping channels open with the BJP?

Im not bitter about this  not at all. I was expecting it any time. I was adamant on the PDP agenda, and the BJP on its own. Im not as large hearted as my father.

Which side of the fence does the PDP stand in national politics ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections?

We are not on any side. I cant even say who will be the best for Kashmir. We had high hopes from Modi because of his huge mandate and the BJPs nationalist credentials. Even the Opposition confines itself to condemning killings of security personnel in Kashmir.

Nobody really talks about or understands the pain of Kashmiris.

Are there any attempts to break your party?

Every party has problems. If a couple of your MLAs are unhappy or angry, you can understand.

If somebody claims that he has more than half of the party with him, it cant be done without Delhis help. A lot of hard work has gone into restoring Kashmiris faith in the democratic process.

They trust that their vote can make or break a government. So if you are trying to break a party and then form a government which will have no legitimacy, it will wreck peoples faith that already stands shaken due to Article 35A.

That kind of adventure will harm the country.

Democracy is something that binds Kashmir with the country. If that is broken, what will be left?

So you are in favour of fresh assembly elections?

We will have to face elections sooner or later. Creating a government of chun chun ka murabba (a hodgepodge) will not lead anywhere.

Has the gap between mainstream politicians in Kashmir and New Delhi widened?

It has due to the Centres stand on Article 35A. We stick our necks out here in Kashmir. Taking the mainstream parties for granted is not good.

Do you sense that the countrys secular fabric is under strain?

I have full faith in the DNA of India.

I dont think it will allow any party to succeed in its designs. You will see that in 2019. If any party fights the election on the basis of religion, it will not succeed.

You said you had forgotten to smile during two years as chief minister. Has that changed?

Thats true (smiles). Everybody tells me I look relaxed now. Those two years were the toughest in my political life. It was like walking on egg shells all the time.In the latest barb delivered through its mouthpiece the Saamana, the Shiv Sena has accused ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of placing Goa is in the ICU.

The BJPs oldest ally often uses editorials in its magazine to comment on developments, directing sharp criticism at the BJP. This time it has held the party responsible for what it calls instability and uncertainty in the coastal state ever since chief minister Manohar Parrikar fell ill. The BJP rules Goa with the help of regional allies.

Governance, the Sena alleged, has come to a standstill in Goa. It seems that the Goa Cabinet is in the intensive care unit for a year now. The situation in Goa is such that government business is stuck. This political instability has led to uncertainty. This is not right, it said.

Manohar Parrikar, 62, was flown to Delhi for treatment last weekend as his health deteriorated. He had earlier been away in the US for treatment for a pancreatic ailment between June and February this year.

The BJP has been in a huddle since the chief minister flew to Delhi, attempting to freeze on alternate plans and keep its Goa allies together with the Congress building pressure by meeting the states Governor and staking claim to form government as the single largest party in the state assembly.

In the Goa elections last year, the Congress won the most seats, 17, while the BJP came in second with 14, but neither party had the 21 seats needed for a majority in the 40-member assembly. The BJP outmanoeuvred the Congress, moving swiftly to tie up with regional parties the Goa Forward Party and the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and three independents to form government.

Parrikar, who was then Defence Minister, was sent to Goa by the BJP to head the government; he is seen as the glue that has bound the regional allies to the BJP.

In the Saamana editorial, the Sena also criticised the BJP for not preparing a second-rung leadership in Goa. Parrikar should have been kept in New Delhi, the BJP should have formed a new team in Goa and the government would have run stably. Had this happened, then the question of who will take over after Parrikar would not have arisen. The BJP is responsible for the current situation on Goa, the editorial said.

The Shiv Sena and the BJP have been allies since 1989, both in Maharashtra and at the Centre, but for some time now relations have been strained, often seeming to come to breakpoint over issues. The BJPs growing strength in Maharashtra, where it had served as the Senas junior partner for years is seen to have exacerbated the differences.Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti has said that she and her party suffered significantly from the alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which was broken abruptly in June following three turbulent years in power.

Of course, I did, Mufti remarked when asked if the alliances collapse left her and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the bigger losers. We had to bear the wrath of the people. The love and affection they showered on me when I was in the Opposition turned into anger and hatred after we partnered with the BJP, she told Hindustan Times in an interview.

The alliance between the PDP and the BJP was forged in March 2015 after the state elections threw up a fractured result, with Muftis father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed leading the initiative. Sayeed died in January, 2016, months before the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhaan Wani set off a cycle of violence that claimed the lives of at least 100 civilians.

Mufti, 59, said that the BJP lacked the vision of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who was credited for an outreach to Kashmiris in the late 90s and the early 2000s. Perhaps we overestimated things. We were so much in awe of the Vajpayee era and felt things will be the same under (PM Narendra) Modi. That didnt happen because the BJPs thought process was different, she said.

Read full interview here

On the topic of secularism and if she saw a rise in communal friction, Mufti said she had full faith in the DNA of India. I dont think it will allow any party to succeed in its designs (of communalism). You will see that in 2019. If any party fights the election on the basis of religion, it will not succeed.

The PDP leader rejected criticism that her party was sharing an approach with Kashmiri separatists in opposing the upcoming panchayat elections, saying: They dont believe in the Indian Constitution. Only mainstream parties do. We swear by it and hold the Indian flag high.

The PDP as well as arch-rival National Conference said they will boycott local polls over the issue of Article 35A, which has been challenged in the SC. The constitutional provision lays down curbs on what people from outside J&K can do in the state, such as not buy property or apply for government jobs.Karnataka minister D K Shivakumar accused the BJP-led central government of misusing investigating agencies to torture him his family, hitting back a day after after it was reported that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered a money laundering case against him.

Shivakumar said at a press conference in Bengaluru he was being harassed because he had hosted Gujarat Congress MLAs during Rajya Sabha elections in August 2017 and foiled the BJPs plan to lure them.

I am ready to face any kind of consequences or any type of torture they (central agencies) want to give me. I am confident that I will come out clean because I am a law abiding citizen, said Shivakumar, who a senior Congress leader in Karnataka and is in charge of the irrigation and medical education ministries.

I know how you (BJP) are trying to destabilise the government as Lok Sabha elections are coming up. You want to damage my party. You cant form a government here. You are having a daydream. I know how many MLAs you are trying to block and how many crores you offered, he said. The Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) govern Karnataka together as alliance partners.

Shivakumar rejected BJP spokesperson Sambit Patras allegation that he had paid money to top Congress leaders, saying blackmailing tactics will not work.

Unnecessarily you are bringing my party leaders (into the controversy). I have not paid any money to my party leaders, nor to the party. If anything is there, it is me and my party. They have to ask me, I have to reply to them. I need not reply to any of my BJP friends, he said.

BJP leaders are acting like judges and the supreme authority. How can (former Karnataka chief minister) BS Yeddyurappa say that he will send me behind bars within two days? Who is he by the way?

The ED booked Shivakumar after the Income Tax department earlier this year filed a case before a special court in Bengaluru accusing the politician of tax evasion and hawala transactions worth crores of rupees.A BSF jawan, alleged to have been honey-trapped by Pakistans ISI over Facebook, has been arrested for spying by Uttar Pradeshs anti-terror squad, state police chief OP Singh said.

Singh said the Border Security Force (BSF) jawan was arrested from Noida near the national capital on Wednesday.

Constable Achuytanand Mishra was posted at the BSF Composite hospital in Delhi.

He was in touch with a Facebook ID apparently of a girl, who posed as a defence reporter, since January 2016.A Border Security Force (BSF) jawan is suspected to have been executed and mutilated by men from Pakistan across the International Border in Jammu, according to two officials who said that this would be among the first such killings along the demarcated boundary.

Following an attack by Pakistani forces on Tuesday, head constable Narender Kumar was found with multiple bullet injuries and gashes that suggested his throat was slit and an attempt was made to gouge his eyes out, according to officials who asked not to be named.

The BSF jawan was ambushed, his weapon was confiscated and his throat was slit. An attempt was made to gouge his eyes out, an intelligence official said in Jammu.

Such killings are not unheard of on the Line of Control in Kashmir, where troops from both sides often accuse each other of engaging in hostilities, but are rare on the International Border.

The Pakistan Rangers did not respond for six hours to requests to allow for a search operation, and, when they eventually did, they did not cooperate fully, a second government official in New Delhi told Hindustan Times, asking not to be named.

The Border Security Force then waited for the sun to set and launched a risky operation to bring the jawans body back to the post by late evening, the official added. The jawan had been dragged to the Pakistani side.

In a statement, BSF confirmed Kumars death and said that he was part of a patrol party that came under fire while clearing tall grass close to the boundary.

The firing of Pakistan side was retaliated by the patrol and they tactically extricated themselves to their side of the fence. The patrol found one of their members missing, it said, adding that reinforcements later retrieved the body.

The statement did not refer to the knife wounds, identifying only multiple bullet injuries on his torso including neck.

According to an official in the army headquarters, India lodged a protest with Pakistan against the firing on the BSF troopers at the level of the directorate of military operations on Tuesday.

According to the intelligence officer quoted above, attacks of this nature are usually carried out by the Border Action Team on the Pakistani side.

This squad, Indian officials have long believed, consists of Pakistani army regulars as well as members of militant organisations such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba and the Hizbul Mujahideen.

That Pakistan is now under new Prime Minister Imran Khan also makes Tuesdays unprecedented attack significant.

(With inputs from HTC in New Delhi)Keen to check a division of Dalit votes, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati has started gearing up her party cadre to counter fringe Dalit outfits, who are wooing the community in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, party leaders and political observers have said.

Besides the Bhim Army led by Chandrashekhar aka Ravan, a host of organisations had possibly become a new worry for Mayawati who was trying to regain her support base in the state before the polls, they added.

These organisations include the Dalit Yuva Dal, the Bahujan Azad Party, the Rashtriya Bahujan Morcha, the Mission Suraksha Parishad, the Bahujan Samajik Parivartan Manch, the Dalit Yuva Dal, the Dalit Federation, the Dalit Caravan, the Ambedkar Army, the Dalit Revolution and the Dalit Rising.

A senior BSP leader, who did not wish to be named, said, Behanji (Mayawati) has directed the office bearers of the zonal and district committees to counter the move of the fringe Dalit outfits. The office bearers have been directed to alert the party supporters in the cadre camps and bhai-chara committee meetings about the designs of the fringe groups.

Some of the fringe organisations are led by rebel BSP leaders Daddu Prasad, Pramod Kureel, Ganga Ram Ambedkar and KK Gautam. The rebels are mobilising the Dalits in the areas considered their stronghold. Daddu Prasad has invited BAMCEF leaders to a conference in Agra on September 30. BAMCEF (The All India Backward (SC, ST, and OBC) and Minority Communities Employees Federation) was founded by Mayawatis political mentor Kanshi Ram in 1978.

The BSP chief is holding meetings with the senior party leaders at her new residence at 9 Mall Avenue in Lucknow to discuss the strategy for the Lok Sabha election. Political observer RK Gautam said Mayawati was reorganising the party by abolishing posts of national coordinators.

She removed her brother Anand from the post of the partys national vice president recently. She had appointed young Dalit leaders as office bearers in the district committees to send a message to the youths, he said.

Her aim is to tell Dalits to remain with the BSP for recapturing political power and not fall into the trap of her political rivals, Gautam said. Snubbing Bhim Army chief for referring to her as bua (aunt), she made it clear at a press conference on Sunday that she had no relation with him.

She said rather than serving the cause of the Scheduled Castes (SCs), the fringe organisations were more interested in serving their leaders interest. They projected themselves as the champion of Dalits to create confusion in community, she said.

If the leaders of these organisations were really interested in Dalit empowerment, rather than launching a separate outfit, they should work under the banner of the BSP to take forward the movement launched by Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar and Kanshi Ram, Mayawati said.

Describing herself at the tallest Dalit leader, she said she had devoted her life to the uplift of the community, which considered her its role model.The Cabinet on Wednesday approved an ordinance to criminalise instant triple talaq, the Muslim practice of immediate divorce, a move which follows the governments efforts to pass a bill to that effect in Parliaments last session.

The proposed ordinance  which takes effect as soon as the President approves it  will make instant, arbitrary divorce by a Muslim man a crime, but has provisions for reconciliation and bail.

An ordinance, under Article 123 of the Constitution, allows a government to bring a law on urgent matters when Parliament is not in session. The ordinance, however, has to be brought before Parliament and passed by it within six weeks of a forthcoming session. Parliament convenes again for its winter session later this year.

There was a compelling necessity to bring the ordinance. Triple talaq is taking place across the country. We have information on 430 instances between January 2017 and September 2018, despite the Supreme Court having annulled it, Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

Prasad said the new law had three core provisions. One, the offence would become cognisable  which allows the police to make an arrest without a warrant  only when the victim wife or her blood relatives or relations through marriage lodge a complaint.

Unrelated individuals will not be able to bring a case before the police.

Watch: Hyderabadi woman gets Talaq over WhatsApp from Omani husband

Second, the offence will be compoundable, meaning a compromise can be reached at the instance of the wife.

Third, a magistrate can grant bail only after hearing the wife. The punishment for the crime is up to three years in jail.

To ban instant triple talaq, the Modi government had brought the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017, in the Lok Sabha on December 28, 2017, where it had been passed by a voice vote.

However, the government did not table it in the Rajya Sabha due to a lack of consensus over some of the laws provisions. The bill sought to ban talaq-e-biddat, a Muslim practice that allows a husband to utter the word talaq (Urdu for divorce) three times in a row for an irrevocable, instant divorce.

The Cabinet in August 2018 had approved three amendments to the triple talaq bill. The latest ordinance is pretty much in line with those changes.

The first amendment was a provision of bail by a magistrate. The provision has been added to allow the magistrate to grant bail after hearing the wife, Prasad said at the time.

Another provision was that the police would act only if approached by the victim (wife), her blood relations or people who become her relatives by virtue of marriage. The third amendment had sought to make the offence of instant triple talaq compoundable. In August 2017, the Supreme Court had, by a 3:2 majority decision, ruled instant triple talaq unconstitutional, arbitrary and not part of Islam.

As part of the minority verdict, the then Chief Justice JS Khehar and Justice S Abdul Nazeer, in a dissenting note, had stated instant triple talaq should be suspended and the government should bring a law to regulate the practice within six months.

Prasad said the Congress was resisting the bill in the Rajya Sabha because of vote bank politics. Sonia Gandhi ji has maintained silence on the issue. The triple talaq matter has nothing to do with faith, mode of worship or politics but gender justice and dignity, he said.

The Congresss chief spokesperson, Randeep Surjewala, said the government had not accepted the partys suggestions to make a provision for attaching the property of those not providing compensation to affected women and children after giving them divorce. For us, triple talaq has always been a human issue related to womens rights and extending justice to them. However, the Modi government is treating the issue more as a political football than a matter of justice to Muslim women, Surjewala said. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board continued to oppose the governments stand on instant triple talaq.When British national Christian Michel first figured on the radar of the Indian investigation agencies in connection with the AgustaWestland chopper deal in 2013, at least Indian intelligence operatives were not surprised.

Christian Michels father, Wolfgang Michel, was well known to Indian intelligence operatives, especially from the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), the countrys external intelligence agency.

Old-timers in R&AW recall how Wolfgang Michel was handled at the level of R&AW chief. The elder Michel developed deep ties with Indian political actors in the 80s and 90s.

Wolfgang Michel was often used to gather information about arms deal negotiated by Indias enemies as he, too, was involved in the arms business. Christian Michel inherited most of his business contacts. But later the relations between the father and son soured and the elder Michel told few friends that his son will ruin whatever he had earned in his life, a former intelligence officer said.

Indian investigators have alleged that three middlemen  Christian Michel and two Italians, Guido Ralph Haschke and Carlo Gerosa  played a key role in the swinging the deal in favour of AgustaWestland.

Haschke and Gerosa handled the bureaucrats and Michel was a conduit for bribing political contacts. We believe that he was paid around 42 million Euros by Agusta to get the deal, said a senior investigator.

Italian investigators, who, too, probed the case suspected that Christian Michels firm, Global Trade and Commerce, was paid around 18 million Euros by AgustaWestland to buy back 10 Pawan Hans helicopters that the UK had sold to India as part of an aid programme in the 1980s.

Nine of these choppers were sent back to the UK in 2000. The central agency believes that Michels extradition is key to unravelling the mystery behind bribe to political personalities.

The agency is preparing its supplementary charge sheet in the Agusta case, which will focus on the political bribes in the case, said another investigator.This week, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed at the meeting in Sochi to create a demilitarized zone along the line of contact between Syrian government forces and armed opposition units in the Syrian province of Idlib by October 15, while the defense ministers of the two countries signed a memorandum on stabilizing the situation in the Idlib de-escalation zone.

The chairman of Russias Federation Council Commission on Information Policy, Alexei Pushkov, explained the essence of this agreement: "A demilitarized zone in Idlib means a pause in military confrontation. It is very difficult to solve the problem of this province even technically. There are some 30,000-70,000 militants there, according to various sources. About 14-15 thousand of them are Jabhat al-Nusra militants, that is, renamed Al-Qaeda. Militants from other regions - Hama, Homs, Palmyra, other places that were liberated by the Syrian army - were brought there. Everyone who wanted to leave did it. Now either the most fanatical, or the most motivated for some other reasons people - financial, those who have nowhere to go, or those who committed so many crimes that they will not be forgiven, left in Idlib. Anyway, it is the most radical part of the militants. This is the first difficulty."

The second difficulty, according to Pushkov, is that it is not clear what to do with these fighters from Idlib.

The third is that the armed opposition concentrated in Idlib feels the political support of the United States, the Western coalition and the Middle Eastern states, which supported those fighting Assad.

"These three factors complicate the Idlib settlement. Two million civilians live there, and extensive military actions will seriously damage the civilian population. Taking into account all these factors and the fact that Russia, Iran and Turkey has no unified position on it, an agreement has been reached between Putin and Erdogan to abandon the military scenario to resolve this issue," Pushkov explained.

However, according to him, the rejection of the military scenario still leaves the question of Idlib's future open: "A hotbed of armed opposition cannot be in the territory of Syria forever. I do not think that the armed opposition will live there peacefully, cultivating the land, restoring communications and turning into civilians. They are militants, they will not agree with a passive stay on the territory of Idlib. Therefore, there will be some provocations. That is, an attempt to avoid a military scenario is justified. Russia and Turkey have different positions, but we preferred to five common language instead of stating differences."

At the same time, Pushkov acknowledged that the Idlib problem continues to exist in a longer term: "This is an interim solution, which allows us at the moment to give up military operations and see how the situation will develop further. But it is quite obvious that the government in Damascus, which is gradually regaining control over the territory of the country, may not agree with the preservation of quasi-state structure in the territory of Syria. In short, this is an important tactical agreement on the path to a peaceful solution to the Idlib issue".The Congress on Wednesday announced its participation in the local bodies elections being held in Jammu and Kashmir from October to December days after saying the situation was not conducive for the polls amid a spike in militant violence in the state.

We cannot leave the field open for the BJP and the RSS, said state Congress chief Ghulam Ahmad Mir.

He said the secular forces should have joined hands to stop the communal forces.

The BJP was happy that some parties are not participating, said Mir, while referring to the poll boycott of the states two main parties, the National Conference (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The two parties are boycotting the polls to protest against the Centres unclear stand over the attempts to undo the states special constitutional status. A bunch of petitions challenging the validity of the Constitutions Article 35A, which prevents outsiders from buying property in Jammu and Kashmir, is pending before the Supreme Court.

The Congress held a series of meeting over the last week to take a call on whether to contest the polls. Mir said the participation was necessary as the Congress is a national party with much responsibility.

(We will) foil the designs of the BJP. We (the Congress) gave Article 35 A to Jammu and Kashmir and if our party will come to power, we will safeguard it.

The Congress decided to contest the polls even as the partys leaders in the Kashmir Valley were in favour of boycotting them, said leaders aware of the discussions within the party.

The view that the Congress should not offer a walkover to the BJP, especially in Jammu where the two parties compete for influence, eventually prevailed. A section of the party felt that the BJP could exploit the boycott against the Congress at the national level.

An organisation of former panchayat members had earlier on Monday announced that its members will contest the rural bodies polls to be held in the state in November and December amid calls to the people from militants and separatists to boycott the elections.

PDP spokesman Tahir Sayeed said the Congress is a national party and must have taken the decision keeping in view the national politics.

We took the decision keeping in view aspirations of the states people.

NC spokeswoman Sarah Hayat said the elections without two parties will look like a mockery. It will make no sense as the NC and PDP take most seats in the state. It is like a (national) election (without) the Congress and BJPs participation.

BJP spokesman Altaf Thakur said Congress. as a national party, could not have stayed away from the polls. Other parties like the Janata Dal (United), the (former separatist Sajad Lone)s Peoples Conference will also take part in these polls.

Unidentified arsonists have tried to set ablaze panchayat buildings in South Kashmir since the rural poll schedule has been announced.

The announcement for the civic election schedule on Saturday coincided with the killing of a civilian in clashes following a gunfight between militants and security forces in South Kashmirs Kulgam district.

Five militants were also killed in the gunfight.

As many as 16 sarpanches (panchayat heads) and panchs (rural bodies members) have been killed over the last four years after a record 75% voter turnout was recorded when rural polls were last held in 2011.

The government has deputed over 15,000 additional paramilitary forces to conduct the polls.Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday wished for the speedy recovery of ailing state Congress president Ajay Maken.

I pray to God for the fast recovery and good health for Ajay Makenji, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo tweeted.

Maken on Tuesday left for medical treatment abroad for recurring back pain, party incharge of Delhi PC Chacko told news agency ANI. He was responding to media reports that Maken has resigned.

Ajay Maken has not resigned. He has some health issues and has gone for a check-up. He will be back soon. He had recently met party president Rahul Gandhi, Chacko said.All people living in India are Hindus in terms of identity, said Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday, explaining his organisations philosophy.

Bhagwat was speaking on the third day of his lecture series in Delhi when he explained the RSSs views on Hinduism, education and caste.

Its Indian culture and Hindutva which believe in working with other schools of thought. All people living in India are Hindu in terms of identity and nationality, Bhagwat said.

Hinduism is a wrong word--ism is a closed concept. Hindutva, Hinduness is not any ism but a dynamic process. Gandhi ji has said the endless search for truth is called Hindutva. S Radhakrishnan has said Hindutva is a continous process, Bhagwat was quoted by the RSSs Twitter handle as saying.

A Hindu Rashtra (nation) does not envision the exclusion of Muslims and the RSS has not gone against the Constitution and the law of the land, Bhagwat had said on Tuesday, the second day of the lecture series called Bhavishya ka Bharat - an RSS perspective.

We think everyone must abide by the ConstitutionThe RSS has never gone against the Constitution. (Sure), The words secular and socialist were added later, but now they are there, he said.

Bhagwat said the concept of a Hindu Rashtra or Hindu nation does not rest on segregation or rejection of any community or faith. Hindu Rashtra doesnt mean theres no place for Muslims. The day it becomes so, it wont be Hindutva. Hindutva talks about one world family, Bhagwat said. The RSS is the ideological parent of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).It was a verdict space scientist K Chandrasekhar had been eagerly waiting for. But when the court order came on nearly two and half decades old ISRO espionage, he was not even aware of it.

Chandrasekhar slipped into coma hours before the Supreme Court delivered its judgment on Friday, dismissing the espionage case as a frame-up.

In its verdict, the apex court held that former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientist Nambi Narayanan was arrested unnecessarily, harassed and subjected to mental cruelty in a 1994 espionage case.

It also awarded Rs 50 lakh compensation to 76-year-old Narayanan for being subjected to mental cruelty in the case, in which Chandrasekhar was one of the six accused but was exonerated along with others in 1998.

Even as the much-waited ruling came at 11 am, Chandrasekhar had slipped into a coma.

He fell into coma on Friday at 7.15 am and passed away at the Columbia Asia Hospital on Sunday at 8.40 pm. He was anxiously waiting for the verdict from early hours of Friday, said Chandrasekhars wife K J Vijayamma as tears welled up in her eyes.

Vijayamma recalled the final hours of the scientist who underwent untold agony and misery in the false case that shattered him and his family.

Chandrasekhar had undergone a surgery to remove gall bladder stone. On Friday at 3.15 am, he asked for coffee and spoke about the case, she said.

He knew that the verdict will come on Friday and he was confident that they all will win. But he wasnt there to listen to the news he had been waiting for more than two decades, Vijayamma told PTI.

Chandrasekhar had worked as Indias Representative to Russian space agency Glavkosmos since 1992.

It was Vijayammas job in the public sector undertaking HMT as General Manager that saved the couple from the financial travails after the false case cost Chandrasekhar his job.

We were leading a royal life and after this case we suddenly became penniless. We could manage to survive because of my job, said Vijayamma. She claimed that there were attempts to dismiss her from the service for her husbands background.

Even today Vijayamma is anxious to know what made the intelligence agencies cook up a story and frame the six.

The espionage case, which hit the headlines in 1994, pertained to allegations of transfer of certain confidential documents on Indias space programme to foreign countries by two scientists and four others, including two Maldivian women.

The case was first investigated by the Kerala police and later handed over to the CBI, which found no espionage as was alleged to have taken place.

The case also had its political fallout with a section in the Congress targeting then chief minister late K Karunakaran over the issue, that eventually led to his resignation.

In 1998, the top court granted a compensation of Rs 1 lakh to Narayanan and others, who were discharged in the case, and directed the state government to pay the amount.

Narayanan later approached the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) claiming compensation from the state government for the mental agony and torture he suffered.

The NHRC, after hearing both sides and taking into account the apex court judgement of April 29, 1998, awarded him a compensation of Rs 10 lakh in March 2001.Union minister Babul Supriyo, not new to controversy, scripted another when he admonished a person in the audience he was addressing for moving too much, threatening to break his leg and hand him a crutch.

The minister is on video saying from the stage at a public event in West Bengals Asansol, Why are you moving? Please sit down. And then, irritated at being distracted, What happened to you? Any problem? I can break one of your legs and can give you a crutch.

Supriyo was attending an event organised to donate wheelchairs and other equipment for the differently-abled and the video has been widely shared amid massive criticism.

This is BJP culture! Drunk on power, activist and lawyer Prashant Bhushan tweeted.

On stage, Supriyo ordered the man to stand on the side and also told security personnel to break the mans leg and hand him a crutch if he dares to move further from his place. He then asked the audience to applaud.

In March, Supriyo, on a visit to Asansol after communal violence following Ram Navami celebrations in the state, had reportedly lashed out at protesting crowds, saying he would skin them alive.Indias neighbours Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are among countries that have banned instant triple talaq prevalent among Muslims for divorce. India and 22 other countries have banned the practice.

In Pakistan and Bangladesh, it requires the man who wishes to divorce his wife to give the arbitration council a written notice of his having done so, and supply a copy of the same to his wife.

In Pakistan, triple talaq was abolished when it issued its Muslim Family Law Ordinance in 1961, according to Geo News. In Afghanistan, divorce through three pronouncements made in only one sitting is considered to be invalid.

Sri Lankas Marriage and Divorce (Muslim) Act, 1951, as amended up to 2006, banned triple talaq, according to a report by Pakistani scholar Muhammad Munir.

Indias Supreme Court last year banned instant triple talaq or talaq-e-biddat practised by some in the Muslim community, saying it was unconstitutional.

The other countries where instant talaq is banned are Turkey, Cyprus, Tunisia, Algeria, Malaysia, Jordon, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Brunei, the UAE, Indonesia, Libya, Sudan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Kuwait.

The Union cabinet on Wednesday approved an ordinance to ban the practice of instant triple talaq, with law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad saying there was a compelling necessity to bring the measure as instances of talaq-e-biddat continued unabated despite the Supreme Court striking it down.

Under the proposed ordinance, giving instant triple talaq will be illegal and void and will attract a jail term of three years for the husband.

Describing the practice of triple talaq as barbaric and inhuman, Prasad on Wednesday said nearly 22 countries have regulated triple talaq but gender justice was given a complete go-by in a secular country like India because of blatant vote bank politics.JNU students union president N Sai Balaji hit out at defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman for her statement alleging there are forces in the varsity which are waging a war against India and said she herself has not answered questions on Rafale deal.

Sitharamans comments came days after candidates backed by Left groups won all four key posts in the JNU Students Union elections and clashes took place between members of the RSS-backed Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the Left-affiliated All India Students Association (AISA).

When asked about developments in the JNU, she had said, There are forces which are waging a war against India and it is they who are also seen with elected representatives of students union. That makes me feel uneasy.

The kind of things which have happened in the last few years (in JNU) are not really encouraging at all. It is very different to have a party whose ideology you may not agree with. But the way in which they were probably got led by forces which are anti-India, she said.

They are waging a war against India, say pamphlets. Their brochures say that. Such people leading the JNUSU or JNUSU members openly participating with such forces, you do not need to hesitate to say anti-India, therefore, Sitharaman said.

The JNUSU president attacked the government, saying The government wants the country to talk about the national versus anti-national debate. They want to divert attention from the real issues - the Rafale deal, the Jio university, unemployment.

Sitharaman, who herself, is a product of the JNU, has not answered questions why Ambani was helped in the Rafale deal.

They want to end public-funded education and encourage corporatisation while the common man talks about nationalism and anti-national elements, he added.

On February 9, 2016, an event against Afzal Gurus hanging was held on the JNU campus during which slogans against the country were allegedly raised, propelling the varsity to the centre of a countrywide debate on nationalism.

A JNU panel had in 2016 recommended rustication of Umar Khalid and two other students and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on Kanhaiya Kumar, the then students union president, in connection with the campus event.

Kumar, Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya were arrested in February 2016 on charges of sedition in connection with the controversial event and are out on bail. Their arrest had triggered widespread protests.A joint India-China project for training Afghan diplomats will begin next month. The two countries had agreed to train the diplomats during Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese president Xi Jinpings informal summit in Chinas Wuhan in April.

The project was discussed at a meeting between Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Modi in New Delhi on Wednesday. The diplomats will be first trained at New Delhis Foreign Service Institute before they travel to Beijing for the next training phase, a person familiar with the issues discussed at the meeting said.

India would discuss further joint cooperation with China in Afghanistan, which could involve socio-economic projects or opening of a school.

Officials said Ghani spoke in detail about the security-situation in Afghanistan at the meeting. He briefed Modi about the terrorist attack in Ghazni in August, increased presence of Islamic State (IS) fighters and the peace process with the Taliban.

Ghani is learnt to have shared Afghan interior ministrys finding about the involvement of Pakistani nationals in the Ghazni attack.

India believes the IS is a major concern, but the biggest threat to Afghanistans security comes from the Taliban.

India has been pointing out that most of the IS fighters are those, who have returned from Iraq and Syria.

Ghani, who was here for a day-long visit amid efforts to bring lasting peace to Afghanistan, was quoted as maintaining that with international support, he is confident of addressing the security challenges in his country.

Modi raised the issue of seven Indians kidnapped in Afghanistans Baghlan province. Ghani assured him that he is personally monitoring the efforts to secure their release, an official said on condition of anonymity.

The two leaders agreed to speed up the building of Shahtoot Dam project that is expected to provide drinking water to over two million residents of the Afghan capital, Kabul.

Modi reiterated Indias commitment to settling Afghan refugees returning to their country. Ghani sought Indias help in sectors such as gem stones, food processing and export of marble to India.

Ghani briefed Modi on initiatives his government had taken towards peace and reconciliation and also in confronting the challenges of terrorism and extremism.

The Prime Minister reiterated Indias support to an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled peace and reconciliation process that would enable Afghanistan to continue as a united, peaceful, inclusive and democratic nation and emerge as an economically vibrant country, a statement issued after the meeting said.

Ghani appreciated New Delhis continuing help.The Kerala government Wednesday decided to take the crowd funding route to rebuild the state in the aftermath of the deluge which wrecked havoc last month.

For construction of houses, providing means of livelihood and basic infrastructure, it has been decided to accept sponsorship after imposing certain conditions.

The decision to go in for crowd funding was taken at a cabinet meeting here on the suggestion of KPMG, one of the largest professional service companies in the world, appointed as project consultant partner last month to rebuild the state.

The government also decided to set up a body to implement various projects.

The cabinet meeting was the first one to be chaired by Industries minister EP Jayarajan in the absence of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who is away in the USfor medical treatment.

A decision was taken to organise an intensive drive from September 24 to October 2 as part of continuing efforts to clean up the state after the flood ravage, a release said.

Garbage piled up in houses, institutions and in public places would be collected, segregated and re-cycled as part of waste management.

Along with this, rivers, streams and public places would also be cleaned of garbage, the release added.

The rains and subsequent floods, said to be the worst in the last 100 years, had claimed 493 lives since the onset of the South West Monsoon on May 29, besides leaving a trail of destruction that saw nearly 14 lakh people displaced from their homes.

Many houses in Kuttanad in Alapuzha district are still waterlogged.Franco Mulakkal, the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jalandhar, appeared before Kerala police for questioning on Tuesday in connection with the rape case filed against him by a nun.

Earlier, a police team and the Bishop arrived separately at the Crime Branch (CID) office in Tripunthara, on the outskirts of Kochi. While questioning was on, people gathered outside and blocked the road protesting alleged inaction by police in the case.

In a setback to the Bishop on Tuesday, the Kerala High Court deferred till September25 hearing on his petition for anticipatory bail . In his bail plea, the Bishop had said he had been implicated for taking action against the nun.

The Bishop had been summoned in connection with the probe into allegations of rape by a nun amid mounting pressure for action against him and continuing protests by Missionaries of Jesus nuns and officials of various churches for the past 10 days in Kochi.

The day after he received the summons and following mounting pressure and growing protests, the Bishop stepped down and handed over charge of the Diocese to a deputy.

In June, a 43-year-old nun, also a mother superior, had complained to the police that Mullakkal, 54, had raped her 13 times between 2014 and 2016. The nun is a member of the Missionaries of Jesus congregation based in Punjab which runs two convents in Kerala.

She also wrote to Vaticans India Ambassador accusing church officials, including Pope Francis, of ignoring her complaints.

Calling Mullakal a predator, she alleged at least 20 nuns were forced to leave the congregation due to his sexual advances.

Bishop Franco had always an eagles eye on few other sisters of the Missionaries of Jesus congregation. Whichever sister he felt attracted to, he tried to put them in his trap by force or taking advantage of their weaknesses, she alleged.

Mulakkal has rejected all allegations, calling them a conspiracy against the church.China is to slap tariffs on an additional $60bn of imports from the U.S. in retaliation against $200bn of new trade sanctions on Chinese goods announced by President Donald Trump.

Trump announced his latest escalation of the bitter trade standoff late on Monday, promising to introduce the additional border taxes of 10% on Chinese goods from next week.

The tariffs apply to almost 6,000 items, including consumer goods such as luggage and electronics, housewares and food.

The US president threatened further tariffs on an additional $276bn of goods if Beijing unveils retaliatory measures  a step that would mean tariffs on all Chinese imports to the US and equate to 4% of world trade.

Early on Tuesday he tweeted to accuse China of "actively trying to impact and change our election by attacking our farmers, ranchers and industrial workers because of their loyalty to me."

The US president added: What China does not understand is that these people are great patriots and fully understand that China has been taking advantage of the United States on trade for many years.

"They also know that I am the one that knows how to stop it. There will be great and fast economic retaliation against China if our farmers, ranchers and/or industrial workers are targeted!" the Guardian cited him as saying.

However, China then unveiled $60bn of tariffs on US imports including aircraft and coffee.A 33-year old post-graduate student of dental sciences committed suicide by hanging himself at his residence in Hyderabad on September 17, allegedly due to depression, police said.

According to the police, Mirza Asim Ahmed Baig, pursuing his final year Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) at Panineeya Institute of Dental Sciences at Dilsukhnagar, hanged himself from the ceiling in his room at Kurmaguda under Madannapet police station.

The family members initially told the police that Baig was depressed as he was not performing well in studies and had failed a couple of papers in the last semester. However, a suicide note recovered from him blamed the college authorities for his failure in the examinations.

Baig said in his suicide note that the department authorities had a personal grouse against him, which was the reason why he had failed in the exams. We are verifying the authenticity of the letter. We have sent it to the forensic science laboratory for analyzing the content. We are investigating whether there is any lapse on the part of the college management that led to the suicide, Madannapet inspector D Nagesh said.

The college authorities said that Baig had been depressed for quite some time. He did not write an examination and failed in two other theory papers, though he cleared practicals. There was no harassment on the part of the department or the college management, Principal P Karunakar said.As negotiations for seat sharing in Bihar for next years general elections enter the last lap, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar called on BJP boss Amit Shah on Wednesday and is learnt to have discussed, what he has already prophesised, would be as an honourable seat-sharing arrangement.

Nitish Kumar, who is in the national capital for some routine medical tests at the All India Institute for Medical Sciences, had a quiet meeting with Amit Shah at his residence.

It was quite a sharp contrast to their last set of widely-publicised meetings in Patna, over breakfast and dinner, which were designed to convey that there was no rift between the alliance partners.

Wednesdays meeting, being described as a courtesy call by BJP leaders, comes days after Janata Dal (United) chief Nitish Kumar announced that the seat-sharing arrangement would be finalised in just more few days.

Kumar had then, also asked leaders not to go by media speculation and be assured that the JD (U) would contest elections with pride and honour.

After his meeting with Amit Shah, Nitish Kumar headed straight to Bihar Bhavan where he is said to have be closeted at a meeting with KC Tyagi, his partys general secretary and Prashant Kishor, the political strategist who joined JD (U) last week.

Bihar sends 40 members to the Lok Sabha that will need to be split between the four partners of the NDA for next years general elections. Ram Vilas Paswans Lok Janshakti Party and Upendra Kushwahas Rashtriya Lok Samta Party are the two other partners in the state.

The JD (U) contested the 2014 elections separately and managed to win just two Lok Sabha seats. The three other NDA allies in the state won 31 out of the 40 seats in that election.

In the 2015 Bihar assembly elections, the JD (U) won 71 of the 101 seats it contested, while the BJP emerged victorious in 53 out of 157 seats in which it fielded candidates. Sundays meet of the JD (U) was the first after the partys national executive authorised Kumar to take a call on seat-sharing with the BJP.Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday met Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Amit Shah in the national capital, for the second time in three months, to ink out a seat-sharing formula for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

The two had met in Patna in July. Janata Dal (United) principal national spokesperson KC Tyagi confirmed Wednesdays meeting.

The meeting went off well. We are satisfied with the talks, said Tyagi, reiterating that both BJP and JD(U) would contest the polls together.

Kumar, addressing a meeting of the JD(U) state executive on Sunday, had said an honourable pact with the BJP has almost been reached and an official announcement will be made soon.

The JD(U) had been demanding an early resolution of seat-sharing exercise and had set a deadline of four weeks for receiving a formal proposal from the BJP, which expired in the first week of September.

The share of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in the state has been a contentious issue between the two parties. In the 2014 elections, the BJP won 22 and the JD(U) had won two seats.

The JD(U) has been demanding a larger share of seats for 2019. On Sunday, Kumar had taken feedback from senior leaders on so that the party could negotiate for specific constituencies.Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders who emerged from discussions in New Delhi over a solution to Goas political impasse with the partys national president Amit Shah on Wednesday said no decision had been made yet.

Three BJP MPs  south Goa MP Narendra Sawaikar, north Goa MP Shripad Naik and Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Tendulkar, who is also state BJP president  met Shah along with the partys central observers in a bid to thrash out a solution in the impasse created after chief minister Manohar Parrikar was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) due to a pancreatic ailment. He (Amit Shah) is seized of the matter. No decision has been arrived at yet, said Sawaikar after the meeting.

The meeting was held on a day when the BJPs alliance partners  the Goa Forward Party (GFP) and the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP)  toned down their respective demands.

While the MGP has reiterated that it will work only under Parrikar or alternatively, have its leader, Sudin Dhavalikar, given charge of the CMs responsibilities, the GFP has indicated that it does want a BJP leader not among the present set of MLAs to be given additional charge. Parrikars inputs have been taken, officials aware of the matter said.

Meanwhile, BJP general secretary (organisation) Ram Lal, who returned from Goa on Tuesday also briefed Shah about the situation. BJP leaders in Delhi said the party was in no hurry to take a call on Goa and its leadership was keeping a close watch.The Kerala police on Wednesday questioned Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mullakkal, who is accused of sexually exploiting a nun. The questioning lasted for seven hours.

The first round of questioning is over. We have asked him to come again on Thursday. He is cooperating with the (investigating) team well. Since it is an ongoing investigation, we cannot reveal anything more now, said Kottayam police superintendent Harishankar.

Mullakkal repeatedly pleaded his innocence, telling his interrogators that he had not gone to Keralas Kuravilangad convent on the days when the nun has accused him of assaulting her, officials aware of the developments said. His lawyer and other priests from Jalandhar accompanied Mullakkal when he came for the questioning.

Activists showed Mullakkal black flags when he came out after questioning in Tripunithura on the outskirts of Kochi.

The Kerala police have drawn flak for delaying Mullakkals arrest. The nun had pointed out that she had been questioned seven times while the accused just once. She has accused Mulakkal of using his influence. Mulakkal, 54, has rejected the allegations, calling them a conspiracy against the church.

In her complaint, the 43-year-old nun said that the bishop sexually assaulted her after summoning her on the pretext of discussing an important issue in 2014. The abuse continued for two more years, she alleged.

The nun last week wrote to the Vatican Ambassador in India, narrating how the church had ignored her plight while calling Mullakkal a predator.

Sister Anupama, one of the five Missionaries of Jesus staging a sit-in against the alleged police inaction in the case in Kochi for 12 days, said the police seem to be giving Mullakkal enough time to influence witnesses and fabricate evidence. The nuns sister, who has been on a hunger strike over the alleged police inaction, was shifted to a hospital after her condition deteriorated. She vowed to continue her fast.

The Kerala high court has deferred the hearing into the bishops anticipatory bail plea to September 25.Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said a lathi charge by police on protesting party workers in Bilaspur the previous day was an attack on fundamental rights. In response, Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh criticised both the Congress and the state police for their actions on Tuesday, and ordered a probe into the incident.

Gandhi tweeted a video showing a Congress party worker surrounded, and being hit, by policemen. In Narendra Modis regime, dictatorship has become a vocation. The cowardly manner in which the fundamental rights of Congress party workers were attacked by the Raman Singh government will be remembered by the people as an act of political persecution, Gandhi wrote in his tweet on Wednesday morning.

According to Chhattisgarh police, on Tuesday, Congress workers threw garbage in state minister Amar Agarwals house in response to the allegation that Agarwal had, at a public gathering, described the Congress party as garbage. Agarwal has denied the charge.

Bilaspur police registered a case against the Congress workers for rioting, attacking a public servant and other sections of the Indian Penal Code.

As many as 55 Congress activists were arrested, and later released, by the police. Seven Congress workers are still in hospital, said Congress general secretary Chandan Yadav, who is leading the protest at Bilaspur. Yadav is sitting on dharna in front of Civil Lines police station.

The Congress workers have also been accused of manhandling constables. The party maintains that the protest was peaceful until the police tried to arrest workers outside Congress Bhawan.

Superintendent of police, Bilaspur, Arif Sheikh, said mild force was used.

Chief minister Raman Singh ordered a magistrate inquiry but condemned Congress workers for their alleged misdemeanour, and the police for its action. Throwing garbage inside a ministers house and the subsequent lathi charge that took place at Congress Bhawan in Bilaspur are not correct, Singh said, adding that those found guilty will be punished.

Chhattisgarh Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel said the inquiry was an eyewash and demanded a judicial probe. He also sought strict action against the police officers responsible for beating Congress workers inside the party office in Bilaspur

We will raise this issue with the election commission - that the chief minister is using police against us, he said, adding that the Congress would organise a protest next week to coincide with Prime Minister Narendra Modis visits to Chhattisgarh.

The party will also move a petition in the Chhattisgarh high court in Bilaspur, seeking action against the police officials and organise protests all over the state, said party spokesperson RP Singh.The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed Assam National Register for Citizens (NRC) coordinator Prateek Hajela to start the process for accepting claims and objections for inclusion in the Final Draft NRC from September 25.

Those excluded from the list can file their claims and objections relying on one of the 10 documents Hajela had approved from the standard operating procedure (SOP) suggested by the Centre. The process will continue for 60 days.

A bench of justices Ranjan Gogoi and Rohinton F Nariman said those wanting to rely on the five documents about which Hajela had expressed reservation would get a chance to apply once the coordinator gives his views on the Centres amended SOP. As per a new affidavit by the Union ministry of home affairs, no change in family tree by claimants will be permitted at the stage of filing claims and objections.

The bench said, We are not shutting out the rest of the five documents. All we are saying is that at this stage claims and objections shall be filed on the basis of 10 documents. Justice Gogoi said Hajelas report has raised apprehensions over the validity of the five documents. Justice Nariman said it is felt that these documents can be forged. Both judges clarified that filing of claims and objections was a concession given by the court.

There are some materials which have been given in the confidential report to us. Its not in public interest to disclose it...

We have to protect the officer who has given this information. If we expose it, then tomorrow if we ask for more information he wont be able to give it to us, Justice Gogoi told attorney general KK Venugopal who urged the court to share the report. Interest of the public is as safe in the hands of the Union of India as it is in the hands of the court, the top law officer said.

10 documents that can be used to claim for inclusion in the NRC Land documents like Registered Sale Deed, Records of land rights up to 24th March, 1971 (midnight) Permanent Residential Certificate issued from outside the State upto 24th March, 1971 (midnight) Life Insurance Corporation of India Insurance Policy (LICI) of relevant period upto 24th March, 1971 (midnight) Any license/certificate issued by any Government authority of relevant period i.e. upto 24th March, 1971 (midnight) Bank/Post Office Accounts of relevant period i.e. up to 24th March, 1971 (midnight) Birth Certificates issued by the competent authority up to 24th March, 1971 (midnight) Educational certificate issued by Board/Universities up to 24th March, 1971 (midnight) Records/processes pertaining to court up to 24th March, 1971 (midnight) provided they are part of a processing in a Judicial or Revenue Court.

The bench said after getting Hajelas view it will consider after a month whether to allow the other five documents as well or not. It will hear the matter on October 23.

We are of the view that the order that would be required to be passed at this stage is to open the process for receipt of claims and objections in respect of entries in the final draft NRC published on 30th July, 2018. The said process of receipt of claims and objections will now begin on and from 25th September, 2018 and will be remain open, tentatively, for a period of 60 (sixty) days effective from 25th September, 2018, the court ordered.

Hajela was directed not to share his confidential report he has submitted to the top court with any one from the legislature, executive or judiciary. The report shall remain in a sealed cover with the court.

The SC also issued notice to the Centre, Assam government and the NRC coordinator on a plea filed by two lakh Gorkhas excluded from the draft list.

Both Venugopal and additional solicitor general Tushar Mehta tried to impress upon the top court on behalf of the Centre and the Assam Government respectively to consider allowing the five documents in the wake of its new stand. Venugopal said most of the people in rural areas of Assam were illiterate. Two of five papers, Venugopal said, were permitted as per the law related to citizenship of Assam residents. The two documents are electoral roll and NRC draft of 1951.

Hajelas version was asked for after the co-ordinator revealed that 93-94 per cent of applications for the NRC were based on voters list and the NRC draft of 1951.

But the court repeatedly said it will consider allowing the rest of the five documents for filing of claims and objections after a month.

The final draft NRC list was published on July 30 in which names of 2.89 crore of the 3.29 crore people were included. The names of 40,70,707 people did not figure in the list. Of these, 37,59,630 names have been rejected and the remaining 2,48,077 are on hold.The liberty of individuals cannot be curtailed at the altar of conjectures and institutions need to be robust to take on dissent, the Supreme Court observed on Wednesday, even as the Maharashtra government put up a strong defence to justify the August 28 arrest of five activists in connection with the Bhima Koregaon violence in January.

Arguing before a bench led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, additional solicitor general Tushar Mehta said the six other alleged Maoist cadre, arrested in June, had thrown up concrete material requiring the custody of the five activists. He began his arguments by reading out the case diaries of the case.

However, the bench asked Mehta to indicate specific evidence against the five activists arrested on August 28 during nation-wide simultaneous raids.

The Maharashtra police had arrested Varavara Rao (Hyderabad), Sudha Bharadwaj (Faridabad), Arun Ferreira (Mumbai), Gautam Navlakha (Delhi) and Vernon Gonsalves (Mumbai) in connection with an FIR lodged following a conclave  Elgaar Parishad  held on December 31 last year that had triggered violence at Bhima Koregaon a day after.

Justice DY Chandrachud, who is a member of the bench, cautioned Mehta that a clear-cut distinction should be made between opposition and attempts to create disturbance and overthrow governments and advised the state to focus on such material, if it has any.

Our institutions should be robust enough when there is an opposition to the system or even to this court. Then there has to be something different to constitute subversion of law and order as far as elected government is concerned, he said.

Senior counsel Harish Salve, appearing for the complainant in the Bhima Koregan case, sought to counter the judges concern. Whether systematic breakdown of law and order is within permissible limits of dissent has to be seen. There was a difference between someone who is angry saying burn the Constitution and someone being part of an organisation which aims to create unrest trying to provoke, Salve said. A lot of it depends on who says and what is said and the context in which it is said, the lawyer pointed out.

We cannot stifle liberty on the altar of conjectures. We will look at all these attempts with the hawks eyes, Justice Chandrachud said in response.

Dissent is fine but it is also important who is saying it. If the leader of a banned outfit says it, this will have a different connotation. This court has to look after the liberty of all citizens and not just five, Mehta told the bench.

The arguments in the case will continue on Thursday. As a result, the SC extended the house arrest of the activists.

Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi addressed the court earlier in the day. Arguing for the petitioners  historian Romila Thapar and others  Singhvi raised questions on the police claim that one comrade Prakash, who is identified as GN Saibaba, had written letters to the five activists. He wondered how this could be when GN Saibaba was in jail since March 2017 and claimed it was cooked up evidence.

He also disputed the Maharashtra police using witnesses from Pune to make arrests in Faridabad asking What business does Pune Municipal corporation employees have in Faridabad?The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Pune Police to present before it one document showing the involvement of five activists in supporting Maoist rebels.

Lawyer and trade union activist Sudha Bhardwaj, Telugu poet P Varavara Rao, activist Gautam Navlakha, and lawyers Arun Ferreira and Vernon Gonsalves were arrested on August 26 for alleged links with left-wing rebels called Naxals or Maoists.

Police allege the arrests were part of their probe into an event called Elgar Parishad in Pune on December 31, 2017, when activists and Dalit organisations came together. The next day, violence broke out at Bhima Koregaon, about 40 km from Pune, as tens of thousands of Dalits celebrated the 200th anniversary of an 1818 war between the British army, manned mainly by Dalits, and the states Peshwa rulers.

The Supreme Court had extended the activists house arrest till September 19.The four suspects arrested last week for their alleged involvement in the Rs 94.42 crore Cosmos Bank online theft in August had used similar modus operandi in December 2017 to steal Rs 33.93 crore from the City Union Bank in Bengaluru, police investigators said on Tuesday.

Shaikh Mohammad Abdul Jabbar, 28, Fahim Azim Khan, 30, Naresh Maharana, and Yustace Augustine Vaz alias Anthony, 41, had allegedly used cloned cards for the fraud, investigators said.

Police said the four had confessed to four similar bank frauds.

On August 14, the Cosmos Bank had revealed the details of the Rs 94.42 crore theft from the pool account by a multinational hacking ring on August 11 and August 13.

The bank first lost an aggregate of Rs 80.50 crore following multiple ATM swipes in 28 countries.

In the second attack, the hackers stole Rs 13.92 crore via Swift transfers.

Read | Rs 94 crore Cosmos Bank theft: Hackers first attempt failed, went unnoticed

The banks managing director, Suhas Subhash Gokhale, had lodged an FIR at Punes Chatuhshrungi police station under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections relating to theft, cheating, conspiracy and the Information Technology Act, 2008.

The Rs 33 crore fraud, too, was committed with the help of cloned debit cards which were used at ATMs in Bangalore, an official said.

Their absolute involvement has been revealed in the CCTV footage we have obtained from the ATMs related to City Union Bank. An FIR, in this case, had been registered in December 2017, said deputy police commissioner Jyotipriya Singh.

The offence was undetected so far and we have been able to establish the links of these accused in the Rs 33 crore cyber fraud in Chennai through CCTV footage. The accused will be handed over to Chennai police for further investigation in the case.

Singh called the confession of the four a major breakthrough and said the Special Investigation Team (SIT), probing the multi-country fraud, was focused on nabbing the fraud mastermind to find out the international linkages of the organized cybercriminals.US President Donald Trump said that Washington was looking at the proposal to build a new permanent American base in Poland "very seriously."

Polish President Andrzej Duda has confirmed his country's willingness to pay part of the hefty cost associated with the construction of a new US base on Poland's soil.

Speaking to TVP Polonia, Duda said that while "the cost of deploying such a base would be very large," Warsaw was ready to "undertake and finance preparatory activities, and the costs of preparing a place where the Americans could be stationed," with Washington expected to pick up the cost of the base's contents.

"We have long said that we are ready  to assume the financial obligations to prepare such place," Sputnik cited Duda as saying.

"I hope that such a base will appear," Duda stressed, emphasizing that it would be in the interests of both Poland and the United States.

During talks with President Trump in Washington on Tuesday, Duda is believed to have discussed the expansion of US-Polish military cooperation, as conducted negotiations on the possibility of the supply of more US arms to the country.Triple talaq ordinance a welcome step, says petitioner Ishrat Jahan

Triple talaq ordinance a welcome step, I am very happy that Centre has taken such a decision,says Ishrat Jahan, the petitioner in case: PTI

PM should bring a law for deserted women: Owaisi

I demand from PM that this national requires a law for those married women, who are 24 lakh in number,their husbands in their election affadavit say they are married but the wife is not living with them. PM should bring a law for those deserted married women:A Owaisi #TripleTalaq  ANI (@ANI) September 19, 2018

Ordinance against Muslim women, says Asaduddin Owaisi

This ordinance is against the Muslim women. This ordinance will not provide justice to the Muslim women. In Islam, marriage is a civil contract and bringing penal provisions in it is wrong: Asaduddin Owaisi on Cabinet approving an ordinance on TripleTalaq

For Cong, triple talaq has been an issue associated with womens rights: RS Surjewala

For the Congress, the triple talaq issue has always been a humane issue, associated with gender justice, womens rights ..that is why our partymen had represented those women in court, be it Manish Tiwari or Salman Khurshid...Now the next issue is of justice for Muslim women ..that they should get maintenance from the husband. If the husband fails to do this, his property should be attached. But the Modi govt is shying away from doing this because it does not want that Muslim women should get maintenance. That is why we (Congress) suggested amendments (to the Ordinance). But the Modi govt wants to make this a political issue: Randeep Singh Surjewala, Congress spokesperson

Muslim youth should demand abolition of triple talaq: Ex-SC judge Katju

Whoever supports TripleTalaq is a shameless feudal barbarian. The lives of thousands of innocent Muslim girls have been ruined by it. TripleTalaq and burqa are the two most important reasons for the backwardness of much of Muslim society. Muslim youth should demand their abolition, tweets former SC judge Markandey Katju

Victim wife must get childs custody, entitled to maintenance: RS Prasad

Under other provisions of the ordinance, the mother or the victim wife must get the custody of the minor child and the mother is entitled to a maintenance suitably determined by the magistrate for herself and the child: Law Minister RS Prasad

Would appreciate Congress support on floor of House

Would appreciate support of Congress on floor of the House, not in front of the television channels: RS Prasad on Congress support for the ordinance.

Will appeal to Sonia Gandhi to support the ordinance

Will appeal to Sonia Gandhi once again to rise above vote bank politics to support the ordinance in the name of gender justice. Will appeal the same to Mayawati ji and Mamata Banerjee: RS Prasad

Magistrate can grant bail after hearing the wife

The matter can be solved on the initiative of the wife in front of the magistrate. The magistrate can grant bail after hearing the wife: RS Prasad

Ordinance to be an offence only when FIR is filed by victim

Giving details of the ordinance, RS Prasad said the core component of this Ordinance is that an offence will be cognizable only when the FIR is filed by the victim wife or her close relations by blood or marriage

There was compelling urgency to come up with ordinance: RS Prasad

There was compelling urgency to come up with an ordinance, says Union minister RS Prasad,  In a secular country like India, gender justice was given a complete go by because of vote bank politics.

Triple Talaq ordinance not allowed due for vote bank politics: RS Prasad

Its my serious charge with full sense of responsibility that a distinguished woman leader is ultimate leader of the Congress, yet barbaric inhuman Triple Talaq was not allowed to be ended by a Parliamentary law for pure vote bank politics, says RS Prasad.

Congress didnt support Triple Talaq ordinance under vote bank pressure

Congress didnt support triple talaq ordinance due to vote bank pressure: RS Prasad

Tried to reach out to Congress for consensus: Law minister

We tried to reach out to Congress 5-6 times to develop consensus for passage of triple talaq Bill but they did not cooperate on this sensitive matter of women empowerment, says law minister.

Instances of triple talaq continue unabated: Union minister RS Prasad

Union minister RS Prasad says instances of triple talaq continue unabated despite SC judgement and its passage in LS.

Modi govt making this into a political issue: Congress

Modi government is not making this an issue for justice for Muslim women, but making this into a political issue: Randeep Surjewala, CongressA woman, upset at not being able to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Varanasi, torched a bus carrying passengers to Lucknow on Wednesday, police said.

However, before the fire could spread, the passengers of the Uttar Pradesh State Roadways Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) luxury bus got out safely.

The woman, identified as Vandana Raghuvanshi, was arrested. She has been demanding the carving out of a separate Poorvanchal state from Uttar Pradesh.

The incident occurred at the Cantonment bus station here early in the day. An eyewitness said she sprinkled petrol on the bus and set it afire. The Volvo bus was gutted. It took firemen more than an hour to douse the flames.

Raghuvanshi was on an indefinite fast to press for her demand since August 15. When her condition worsened she was force-fed on August 29, Varanasi Superintendent of Police Dinesh Kumar Singh told IANS.

Modi was in his parliamentary constituency on Monday and Tuesday as he celebrated his 68th birthday on September 17 and launched many projects the next day.Uttarakhand assembly on Wednesday recommended declaration of cow as rashtra mata (mother of the nation).

The single line resolution will be sent to the Union government for further consideration.

Rekha Arya, minister of animal husbandry, proposed the resolution. The last BJP government made Uttarakhand Protection of Cow Progeny Act, banning cow slaughter in the state. This time we want to ban cow killing in the country, she said.

Moving the resolution in the Assembly, Arya claimed that the cow was the only animal that not only inhales oxygen, but also exhales it, and spoke at length about the medicinal qualities of cow urine, PTI adds.

The cow is treated as an incarnation of motherhood. The cows milk is scientifically considered the best for newborn after his mothers milk, the minister said.

Leader of Opposition Indira Hridyesh sought the government stance on abandoned bovines, while state Congress chief Pritam Singh supported the resolution.

R Meenakshi Sundaram, secretary animal husbandry, claimed population of abandoned cows will be reduced in a decade.

Nearly 75% abandoned bovines are male. Last month, we started production of sex sorted semen with the help of Inguran Sexing Technology under Rashtriya Gokul Mission. This is going to help in reducing the population of stray bovine, he said.

The state is also giving financial aid to cow shelters. In a decade, we would be able to reduce 20-25% stray bovine.

(With PTI inputs)Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Ghulam Ahmad Mir on Wednesday said that if their party is voted to power in the state, they will safeguard Article 35A.

If Congress is voted to power, we will build consensus to address the concerns as per legislation of the state. We will safeguard Article 35A, Mir told ANI.

Mir had earlier said that Jammu and Kashmir Governor, Satya Pal Malik, and the central government need to clarify their stance on the situation arising in connection with the upcoming municipal and panchayat elections in the state. Expressing his disillusionment, he claimed that the polls were declared without an assessment of ground realities.

On September 15, Malik, speaking on Article 35A, requested all political parties to participate in the upcoming electoral exercise  panchayat and municipal elections in the state.

The matter of Article 35A is sub-judice for a long time. We had said that we cant take a stand until a new government 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 Jammu and Kashmir, Malik told ANI.

On Sunday, chief electoral officer of Jammu and Kashmir, Shaleen Kabra, had announced that panchayat elections in the state would be held in nine phases, from November 17 to December 11.

Earlier, Kabra had announced that municipal elections across the state would be held in four phases  on October 8, 10, 13 and 16. National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party have said that they would boycott the elections unless the Centres stance on Article 35A is clear.

The Article disallows people from residing in Jammu and Kashmir, buying or owning immovable property in the state, settling permanently, or getting state government jobs.A 21-year-old woman was critically injured on Wednesday when her father hacked her with a sickle in a suburb of Hyderabad for marrying outside their caste after luring the couple to meet him for buying new clothes, police said.

Madhavi was attacked at around 4pm in Erragadda on the busy Hyderabad-Mumbai highway, suffering serious injuries on her neck and hand. Her husband Billa Navdeep, 24, from Premnagar Colony of Erragadda was injured in his face and neck.

Madhavi, a resident of Vinayaknagar in Hyderabads Borabanda area, belongs to the Other Backward Class community and was seeing Sandeep, a Dalit, for five years. Her father, Manohara Chary, did not accept their relationship and a few days ago decided to marry her to her maternal cousin.

Madhavi and Navdeep secretly married at a temple in Alwal near Hyderabad around 10 days ago. Madhavis parents accepted the marriage and she started living with her in-laws in Erragadda.

Her parents had been talking to Madhavi over phone for two days, police said. Chary called Madhavi and asked the couple to come to Borabanda, saying he would buy them new clothes. Madhavi and Navdeep were waiting on the main road near a Hero Honda showroom, when Chary parked his motorbike and attacked them.

He suddenly took out a sickle-like weapon from his back and assaulted Navdeep. When Madhavi tried to stop him, he pushed her down and hacked her, leaving her in a pool of blood. When onlookers rushed to him and tried to stop him, he threatened and fled the spot, said a police officer who didnt wish to be named.

People called the police and took the couple to a nearby nursing home. With Madhavis condition turning serious, they took her to a corporate hospital in Somajiguda. The condition of Navdeep is stable.

The incident follows a similar crime in Miryalguda town of Telanganas Nalgonda district on Friday when an upper caste businessman got his Dalit Christian son-in-law killed by hiring a contract killer for Rs 1 crore. He was arrested along with six others on Tuesday.Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said his government was developing his parliamentary constituency Varanasi as the gateway to East India.

Addressing a rally at the Banaras Hindu University (BHU), the PM said: Efforts are being made to develop Varanasi as a gateway to east India. The endeavour of the government is to link Kashi with world-class infrastructure. Today, Kashi is glowing in LED lights.

We are trying to equip the city with world-class transportation, education and medical facilities. Road projects worth thousands of crores of rupees are being constructed. The ring road project has been completed. Manduadeeh flyover has already been completed. Work to widen Andhara Pul, which was pending for many years, has also been completed. Railway stations have been modernised, the PM said.

Alluding to the pictures of the railway stations posted on social media, Modi said people could see the changing face of the city soon after stepping down from trains.

Kashi has started emerging as a health hub. The city already has a new cancer hospital. A super speciality hospital and a cancer hospital will come up providing modern facilities to patients. BHU has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with AIIMS to develop a world-class health institute, he added.

Modi said the Atal Incubation Centre would give fresh energy to startups and added he was informed that the centre had already received applications from 80 startups and 20 others were already connected with it.

We are trying to uplift the status of people of every class. Kashi is among the selected cities where cooking gas is being supplied through pipeline. A line has been laid from Allahabad to Varanasi. Work is in progress to provide cooking gas supply through pipeline to 40,000 houses in Varanasi, he said.

We are committed to bringing about a positive change. Please come forward and contribute in making new Kashi and New India, he said.

I am the son of Kashi. The people of Varanasi gave me immense affection and blessings. I am beginning a new year to serve the country after seeking the blessings of Baba Vishvanath and Maa Ganga, he added.

Modi said French President Emmanuel Macron and German President Frank Walter Steinmeier still recalled the kind of welcome they received in Varanasi. He urged the people to extend a rousing welcome to non-resident Indians when they visit Varanasi to attend the Uttar Pradesh NRI Diwas in January next year.

When the NRIs visit Varanasi they should get the reflection of culture and ras (essence) of Banaras at every intersection and street, he added.Worli witnessed the loudest processions (112.6 decibels) on the fifth day of Gauri-Ganesh immersions on Monday, according to anti-noise campaigners.

Noise in the range of 110-113dB is as loud as a chainsaw or a live rock concert. On Monday, the city saw 70,048 immersions  2,019 sarvajanik, 63,196 household and 4,833 Gauri  across beaches and artificial immersion sites.

In its report released on Tuesday, NGO Awaaz Foundation identified musical instruments as the source of noise in Worli.

Other locations such as Shastri Nagar, Santacruz, and Juhu Koliwada recorded noise levels over 107dB (as loud as a motorbike), and areas in Mahim were at 104dB (as loud as a pneumatic hammer) with loudspeakers, drums and dhols as the sources.

The noise level of traditional instruments is high. Despite the Bombay high court ban on sound systems, noise levels exceeded the permissible limit in residential areas, said Sumaira Abdulali, convener, Awaaz Foundation.

The government needs to regulate the sound of such instruments too, she said.

According to the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, residential areas should have a maximum noise level of 55dB in the day and 45dB at night.

Last year, while Awaaz Foundation did not record the noise levels on day five of the festival, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) had said the area around Juhu Chowpatty was the loudest at 101.6 dB, the noisiest in the 11-day festival.

According to Awaaz Foundation, highest noise levels last year was recorded on the second day of immersions at 116.8dB near Sena Bhavan, Dadar.

Last Friday, a bench led by justice Shantanu Kemkar denied relief to Professional Audio and Lighting Association and directed that it should not become a nuisance, and asked all mandals across the state not to use DJs and high volume sound systems.

The ban on DJs helped control the noise pollution, especially in sensitive urban areas, Abdulali said.

This year, the violations were observed in some cases, despite the presence of police, she said.

The Mumbai police said they had given written instructions to all police officers to act against noise pollution complaints and violations.

We have circulated the HC order to all zones and police stations, and directed them to take action against any violation of the guidelines. We will submit noise readings for all immersion day proceedings to the high court, which will review whether guidelines were breached, said Manjunath Shinge, deputy commissioner of police and Mumbai Police spokesperson

The umbrella body of Ganesh mandals said noise norms were not violated, in the absence of loudspeakers and DJs.

Only traditional instruments were used and the 10pm deadline was adhered to, said Naresh Dahibhavkar, president, Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti. Our members stopped whenever any violation was observed. Directions of the HC were communicated to all and strictly followed, said Dahibhavkar.The Bombay high court (HC) recently directed 72 residents of six dilapidated buildings in Matunga to pay Rs 15 lakh fine to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for failing to vacate the structures, despite giving an undertaking to the court.

The civic body issued eviction notices to the buildings, which had been constructed on a BMC plot, in 2017. The residents, including former All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) chairman SS Mantha, had filed a writ petition seeking time to vacate the premises. The court gave them time until May 31, after they gave an undertaking promising they would leave the buildings before the deadline.

Senior advocate Mihir Desai, appearing for the residents, told a division bench of justices Abhay Oka and Riyaz Chagla that while the civic bodys structural audit claimed the six buildings were in a dilapidated condition in C-1 category (that requires vacation), a report by the Veermata Jijabai Institute of Technology (VJTI) in Matunga stated otherwise because of which the residents did not leave their homes.

Desai urged the court to direct the matter to be heard by the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) of the civic body, owing to the contradictions in the structural audit and VJTI report.

After hearing the submissions, the court held the residents were wrong in not vacating the premises. The bench held that as the residents did not inform the court of the VJTI report and simply attached it to the petition, their refusal to vacate the premises on the basis of the report could not be justified. Observing that the residents were taking undue advantage of the leniency shown by the court and in light of the undertaking being flouted, the bench directed the residents to pay Rs 1 lakh each, but later reduced it to Rs 15 lakh to be paid collectively by all residents.

The court asked the residents to approach with their plea on TAC, only after paying the fine.The next time a blaze erupts in Mumbai, you might see a thermal-camera-assisted robot doing the firefighting. If the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) gives the nod, the citys fire brigade will acquire the robot for a cost of Rs 92 lakh.

The robot, built using Chinese technology, will be remotely guided by fire brigade officers to the source of the fire and douse it. The inbuilt thermal cameras will be able to see through both smoke and darkness. The fire brigade plans to use the robot especially in congested areas and if the fire is caused by a chemical leakage. This proposal has been tabled before the BMCs standing committee, who will take a decision on Friday.

The body of the robot is made up of aluminium sheets which can withstand temperatures up to 700 degree Celsius. The robots will be used in life-threatening situations and where it is extremely dangerous for the fire brigade officials to venture in, said a fire brigade official. The robot can spray water and foam mist up to 80m. It will have a hydraulic lift attached to aid climbing stairs. It will come handy in a fire in dilapidated structures, multilevel basements without ventilation or places with narrow passageways.

The firefighting robot is a pilot project and further robots will be procured depending on its success. This year, the civic body has allotted Rs 151 crore towards the acquisition of new technology, as compared to the Rs 165 crore in 2017. The BMC also plans to buy fire-mapping drones.The Lalbaugcha Raja on Tuesday got its costliest gift in 85 years since it was formed  a Ganesh idol made of gold, with a diamond encrusted on his crown, worth approximately Rs 42 lakh.

The idol, left by an unknown devotee, weighs approximately 1kg and 200gm. The value of the diamond has not been estimated, but could be Rs1 lakh.

Balasaheb Kamble, president, Lalbaugcharaja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, said, We dont know who donated the idol. It was found in the hundi [donation box].

The collection in cash and kind at the mandal last year was around Rs 10 crore.

Meanwhile, the Lalbaughcha Raja idol on Tuesday wore a different look, with a garland of notebook around it to denote the mandal will help underprivileged children get education.

Last year, during the auction, the mandal received a silver-plated copper sword, which was considered to be a unique donation, which would have fetched up to Rs 3 lakh. The other donations that the mandal received last year, included a 1kg gold biscuit and two gold idols of Laxmi and Ganpati each weighing 550gm.North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in signed a broad agreement in Pyongyang today that both said would usher in a new era of peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Moon announced at a joint news conference with Kim that North Korea agreed to take further steps towards denuclearization, including permanently dismantling its Dongchang-ri missile engine test site and launch pad and allowing international inspectors to observe the process.

Kim said the two sides have taken active measures to free the Korean Peninsula of nuclear weapons and threats and turn it into a "land of peace."

According to the text of the Pyongyang agreement, the North also said it was willing to take additional measures such as decommissioning its Yongbyon nuclear facility if the United States made further concessions "in the spirit of the June 12 North Korea-U.S joint. statement" signed by Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump at a summit in Singapore.

That meeting between Trump and Kim ended with promises to work towards establishing "a lasting and stable peace regime" and completely denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula, but without a roadmap to get there.

"I hope summit talks between the United States and North Korea will resume soon and I hope they can find a point of agreement," Moon said at the news conference today.

"Kim Jong Un has agreed to allow Nuclear inspections, subject to final negotiations, and to permanently dismantle a test site and launch pad in the presence of international experts," he wrote.

The two Korean leaders also announced that Kim would visit Seoul in the near future, which would mark the first trip by a North Korean leader to the city, and that the nations would file a bid to jointly host the 2032 Summer Olympics.

Steps towards joint economic cooperation were also part of the deal, with the countries agreeing to begin reconnecting their road and railway links by the end of the year, USA Today reported.

The agreement called for the reopening of the Kaesong Industrial Complex, an inter-Korean joint manufacturing zone that was shuttered in 2016, and for restarting tourism programs to the Norths Mount Kumgang when "conditions are met."

A separate agreement signed by the two countries defense ministers outlined measures to reduce military tensions along the heavily-militarized border that divides the peninsula, including the removal of land mines and guard posts from the Joint Security Area inside the truce village of Panmunjon.

The director of the Center for Studies of Eastern Asia and the SCO of the Institute for International Studies of MGIMO, Alexander Lukin, speaking with Vestnik Kavkaza, noted that the main result of the summit of the two Korean leaders was the very continuation of the dialogue between the states at the highest level. "The war on the Korean peninsula is formal, and the summit will have a positive impact on maintaining peace between Pyongyang and Seoul, as its final statements show the state's mood for peaceful coexistence," he said.

According to the expert, Seoul and Pyongyang can return to the times of President Kim Dae-jung at the turn of the century. "Then there was a zone of joint development, which was closed later due to the deterioration of relations. This policy can be revived - both economic cooperation and political ties. Perhaps even establishment of diplomatic relations is possible, although this is a matter of the distant future. For Russia, by the way, it's good, because we have long offered several projects, which would include both countries - the restoration of the railway to South Korea through the North, the construction of a gas pipeline to South Korea through the North, and so on. If the situation is favorable, then these projects should be returned," Alexander Lukin stressed.

At the same time, the current warming of relations between the two Koreas is not stable. "There are enough people in the world who do not want it. For example, there are people in the U.S. who call for tightening the terms of contacts to prevent Pyongyang from it. There are also people in Washington who scold the Trump administration for excessive softness towards Pyongyang. In South Korea, there is an opposition party as well, the ruling party in the past, which takes a more assertive position towards the DPRK," the director of the Center for Studies of Eastern Asia and the SCO of the Institute for International Studies of MGIMO warned.With romance scams and matrimonial frauds becoming a growing concern for Mumbai Police, matrimonial websites have protested they cant verify every account or be held responsible for every person who signs up for an account. However, security experts feel the websites need to do more, for particularly the victims of such frauds.

Speaking in the city at a recent meeting organised by the Maharashtra Cyber police and Bombay Chambers of Commerce and Industry to discuss issues pertaining to matrimonial frauds, representatives from matrimonial websites said that they are just intermediaries. The meet was attended by cyber security, banking and forensic experts, including cyberlaw expert and Supreme Court lawyer Karnika Seth, special inspector general Maharashtra (cyber) Brijesh Singh, cyber law and security expert lawyer Prashant Mali, superintendent of police (SP, cyber) Balsing Rajput and general manager of Matrimony.com, S Ravichandran.

Ravichandran said websites like his have complained to the police about fake profiles and explained they couldnt be held responsible by law. Matrimonial sites are intermediaries under the IT Act. It is up to the members to verify the credentials of the other person and proceed further for marriage. It does not make any difference whether it is a paid or free member, he said.

Replying to a written query from HT, chief executive officer of Shaadi.com Gourav Rakshit said his website uses a multi-layered screening system in which checks are done at every stage of a members journey and every time they actively engage on the platform.

In fact, due to our stringent processes almost one-third of the sign-ups are not activated as they dont meet our requirement of information that needs to be shared with us, said Rakshit.

Raising the issue of counselling victims, Mali said, Matrimonial websites should buy some insurance policy for fraud victims. The state must make it mandatory for matrimonial websites to use 2% of their revenue for customer awareness.

Seth agreed with Mali. Some checks and balances, due identity verification should be made, through use of id proof . If they fail to take diligence measures, they can be vicariously liable and criminally liable. They could be said to abet the crime as they wilfully omit to exercise diligence.A Ludhiana resident, who was returning from Dubai, was caught with 1.9-kg gold, valued at 59 lakh, at the Chandigarh International Airport here on Wednesday. The passenger identified as Kulwinder Singh, 43, had concealed the gold as mould inside an electric iron.

It is the third incident wherein gold was found concealed inside an electric iron. In July, the authorities had seized 3.2-kg gold  2-kg and 1.2-kg in separate incidents  concealed in similar appliances.

Moreover, 50 kg gold worth around 15 crore has been seized at the Chandigarh airport since operations began here in September 2016.

The man was booked under the Customs Act-1962 and was bailed out soon after interrogation. According to the customs law, a smuggler is produced before the judicial magistrate only if the gold seizure is above 1 crore. Otherwise, it is a bailable offence and smugglers face adjudication process at the zonal commissioner level.

GOLD RUSH Sept 3: Two air passengers returning from Sharjah caught with 3.86-kg gold, valued at 1.2 crore Aug 2: Nagpur man caught with 9 gold biscuits, weighing over 1kg, worth 31 lakh July 9: 1.16-kg gold worth 35.5 lakh recovered from a passenger returning from Dubai July 6: 800-gm gold seized from an Amritsar man July 3: 7-kg of the yellow metal  second biggest haul at the airport  was seized from a Bathinda youth July 2: 900-gm gold seized from a Delhi woman

Working as carrier?

Sources in the customs department said Kulwinder seems to be working as a carrier for a gold-smuggling gang.

During questioning, Kulwinder said he had gone to Dubai for work where he was approached to smuggle the gold. But he did not reveal the identity of people who hired him for this job, said an official.

Why smuggling is rampant

Gold smuggling from the Middle-east is rampant for its high purity and lesser price as compared to India. The price difference can be as high as 5 lakh per kg.The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) rebel group led by Bholath MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira on Tuesday asked Delhi chief minister and national convener Arvind Kejriwal to address issues plaguing the party instead of sending his emissaries to individuals to placate them.

Khaira, while welcoming the reconciliation efforts started by the party to reach out to former leaders and rebels, said the AAP leadership needed to deal with issues such as autonomy, undue interference and neglect of leaders that were responsible for the present disaffection in the party instead of trying to divide the leaders by approaching them individually.

If they agree to grant khudmukhtyari (functional autonomy) to Punjab leaders and agree to other resolutions passed at Bathinda, everything will be fine, he said at a joint press conference with Kharar MLA Kanwar Sandhu.

Khaira and Sandhu were responding to the exercise started by the AAP state leaders on Kejriwals directions ahead of the 2019 parliamentary polls to reach out to leaders who had fallen out with the party or are disgruntled for one or the other reason.

While these emissaries have already met former state convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur and Patiala MP Dharamvira Gandhi, there is a long list of sacked, suspended and dissident leaders.

Sandhu said the AAP leaders reconciliation efforts showed a realisation in the party that what it did was wrong.

Kejriwal should say sorry to the people of Punjab for the way in which the party insulted some of its leaders and took action against them, he said.

On being asked if the party leaders had reached out to them, Khaira said no MLA, emissary or any other party leaders had contacted them.

They may have gone to Chhotepur and Gandhi, but no one has talked to us so far. We are not running away or going budge from our demand for autonomy. They should let the Punjab leadership decide the structure and who will be the leader of opposition in the state, he said.

Though the party has been having group rivalries for a long time, the latest crisis was triggered by the revolt staged by eight of the 20 party MLAs after Khaira was unceremoniously removed from the post of leader of opposition seven weeks ago.A day after a Class 11 boy of a school in Sector 7 here was stabbed to death outside its gate, the Panchkula police detained two juveniles on Tuesday.

However, in a twist in the tale, police claim the two were friends of the 15-year-old victim and one of them accidentally stabbed him while attacking a rival group member.

HT is withholding the name of the victim and school for ethical reasons.

The victim was studying in the humanities stream and was attacked as soon as he stepped out of the school gate around 2:30pm on Monday. Police had earlier stated that he had slapped a schoolmate during a quarrel over a mobile phone on Saturday and the latter along with his friends from outside attacked him on Monday.

However, now it has come to light that it was the victim who had called his friends following the fight with a Class 9 student, according to the police.

Four outsiders had further called their friends. The Class 9 student was then attacked by the group and his other classmates came to his rescue. In the meantime, the victims friend, who lives in the same locality, tried to attack the other student but accidentally stabbed him in the melee, said a police official privy to the investigation.

Not named in FIR yet

Two juveniles have been apprehended, said deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Abhishek Jorwal. According to preliminary investigation, the two are outsiders and were known to the victim. We are working on several angles.

Sources said a school student who was present during the fight led the police to the duo. The two have not been named in the murder FIR yet and are likely to be sent to a juvenile home.

Earlier in the day, the victims parents along with their relatives and neighbours blocked the Zirakpur-Kalka national highway near Sector 21 with the victims body after its postmortem. It led to traffic snarls for an hour before police assured them of arresting the accused.

After the two juveniles were detained, the victims father said: I dont know whether the police version is true or they are trying to turn around the case. We want justice and fair probe.

School wrote to police twice for stationing PCR

The principal said he had written to the authorities twice to station a police control room (PCR) vehicle outside the gate.

Nearly 1,000 students are enrolled in the school, mostly from colonies on Panchkulas periphery and fights are a common place, said the school principal.

Even last month, a group clash had taken place outside the school, and a few youths were even wielding swords, said sources.

The principal said he had written two letters to the police department  in February and July  to station a PCR vehicle, especially during the closing time between 2pm and 3pm.

But nothing concrete was done. We will again take up the matter, he said, while denying the police claim that there is regular patrolling in the area.

Not a solution

However, Panchkula deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Abhishek Jorwal said stationing a PCR vehicle was not the solution.

How can a PCR vehicle be deputed on duty for a single school? How can it solve the issue? If there are scuffles among students on a routine basis, the school should look into it. Why dont they take the matter seriously and depute their own private guards? he said, while claiming the department has only 50 PCR vehicles for the whole district.

HT has access to both letters, dated February 2 and July 17, 2018. The first was sent to the director general of police (DGP) and the other to the Sector 7 police post in-charge.

The letters state: During the schools closing time, some outsiders and notorious elements roam around her, raising security concern and vitiating the atmosphere. It is requested to arrange a PCR vehicle outside the school. The letter to the DGP also states that women police officials be stationed during the closing time for the safety of girl students.Online ads in Singapore offering Indonesian maids for sale were on Wednesday condemned as unjust and demeaning, in a rare flare-up of tensions between the neighbours over domestic helpers.

Singapore is home to almost 2,50,000 maids, mostly from poor parts of Indonesia or the Philippines, who head to the wealthy city-state to earn higher salaries than they can back home.

While Indonesia regularly protests about abuse and exploitation of helpers in Malaysia and parts of the Middle East, complaints about treatment of maids in tightly-regulated Singapore are less common.

However reports that Indonesian helpers were being offered for sale in the city-state on online marketplace Carousell quickly drew condemnation from rights groups.

The adverts under the user name maid.recruitment reportedly offered the services of several helpers from Indonesia, while some ads indicated maids had been sold.

The posts on the e-commerce site, which operates in several Asian countries and describes itself as a simple way to sell the clutter in your life, have now been removed.

Wahyu Susilo, executive director of Indonesian NGO Migrant Care, said the group strongly condemned the adverts and called for those behind them to be brought to justice.

This is very unjust and demeaning to the migrant workers dignity, he told AFP. Singapores labour ministry said it was aware of cases where maids were being marketed inappropriately on Singapore-headquartered Carousell, and had got the adverts taken down and launched an investigation.

Advertising (foreign domestic workers) like commodities is unacceptable and an offence under local laws, a statement from the ministry said. Employment agencies found guilty of such practices will have their licences revoked or suspended, it said.A younger generation of Pakistan Army officers tends to consider home-grown terrorists, an enemy they have personally fought, a more significant threat than India, according to a new study by an elite Pakistani training school for senior officers who go on to man the upper echelons of the force.

They are forced to keep their views to themselves though, to private dinner parties and smaller conversations, and away from older officers, who are senior and seek to enforce the traditional anti-India narrative to safeguard and perpetuate their own legacy, the study says.

The Quetta Experience, written by retired US Army colonel David O Smith, an alumnus of the Command and Staff College in Quetta, and published by the Washington-based Wilson Center, offers an inside look at Pakistans middle-level and senior officers, their thoughts, attitudes and angst as expressed in unguarded moments to or around their American classmates.

Smith interviewed US Army officers who attended the Quetta institution, which counts Indian Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw among its alumni, under a long-term US programme from 1977 to 2014, on what they saw there and heard from Pakistani classmates, the directing staff and faculty.

The study was completed in 2014 but a decision was taken then not to distribute it, fearing adverse impact on US Army officers serving at the Quetta facility. The US cancelled the programme in 2016 and Smith felt confident enough to publish it after he was told in late 2017 that it would not be resumed.

In the section on India, Smith charts changing attitudes of Pakistani officers based on accounts of their American classmates going back to 1977, and, citing an American student from that year, he writes that the course material reflected the central belief that India was the number one threat.

A US student from 1981 said, when asked to prioritise the Pakistan Army officers perception of the most dire external threat: India, India, and India.

And so it stayed for most of the 1980s, with brief periods of spike about the Soviet Union, but India it was at the top, reinforced each year by more of the same until it began to sound like, in the words of a US student from 1995, memorised propaganda...perhaps as a way to reinforce long held attitudes. There was just no questioning of it.

One US student heard a Pakistani officer describe India to his child as evil, another officer recalled widely held contempt for the Hindu religion and a belief that Hindus were deceptive, tricky, and generally morally reprehensible people.

Things stayed the same for that decade and the next, through the world-changing 9/11 terrorist attacks in the US and a new threat posed by differences over the sharing of river waters. If the needle shifted, it was only for the worse.

But changes were under way.

The single bright spot in a dismal litany of conspiratorial conjecture was thought by some (US) students to be a subtle change in recent thinking about the centrality of the military threat posed by India compared to growing internal security threats from the plethora of extremist groups in Pakistan, the report states.

According to the report, a US student from the 2009-2010 batch noted a generational divide between old and long-time Pakistani officers clinging to their long-held anti-India bias and the young crop of officers who were the complete opposite.

The report notes this new attitude was more prevalent among small numbers of Pakistan Air Force and navy students at the institution.

But the key factor was the experience of junior and mid-level army officers who served in the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas, the historically lawless northwestern area bordering Afghanistan, and tended to view terrorism as a much more immediate threat to Pakistan than India.

The report states: These officers, he said, had spent the bulk of their military careers fighting this new threat, had seen their brother officers and soldiers killed and wounded by the groups, and watched their friends and their families lives shattered forever.

Things begin to change and rapidly.

A US student of the 2012-2013 batch told Smith he was told by a Pakistani student, I dont know why we hate them (Indians) so much. We like their music, their movies, and our two languages are nearly the same.

Others in that class said it was time to move on.

The next batch, arriving in 2013-2014, went further. A majority of these Pakistani officers believed in and desired a better bilateral relationship with India but said they felt the Quetta schools staff was all against it.

These young Pakistani officers will go on to lead the most resilient of the countrys institutions, the military. But can they change it?

Thats something we can certainly hope for  that when the younger officers eventually get older and run the army, they will help engineer shifts in institutional narratives that reduce the focus on the India threat, said Michael Kugelman, head of Wilson Centers South Asia wing that published Smiths report.

If that were to happen, there would be more reason to believe that Pakistan could finally develop a more comprehensive and multifaceted foreign policy that doesnt simply revolve around India.The Nepal government announced on Wednesday it has scrapped an agreement with China Three Georges Corporation for building the $1.5-billion West Seti hydropower project, a blow to Beijings ambitious infrastructure plans in the country.

The proposed 750-MW project in western Nepal was considered one of the major Chinese ventures in Nepal, which has signed up for the Belt and Road Initiative. The two sides signed a memorandum of understanding for the project in 2012.

The move came 10 months after Nepal scrapped the award of the 1,200-MW Budhi Gandaki hydropower project to Chinas state-owned Gezhouba Group. It also came days after Nepal pulled out of the Bimstec joint military exercise in India.

A meeting of the Investment Board Nepal (IBN), chaired by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, decided late on Tuesday to cancel the MoU with the Chinese state-run firm and to work out new modalities for building the dam.

After Three Georges (Corporation) refuses to develop West Seti project, a task force is formed to recommend an appropriate model to develop the project. A three-member team that consists of the energy minister, finance minister and CEO of the board will recommend an appropriate model to develop the project, an IBN statement said.

International media reports had said Three Gorges Corporation wanted to withdraw as it found the West Seti project unfeasible because of high resettlement and rehabilitation costs.

The statement does not talk about the scrapping of the MoU with the Chinese firm because mutual understandings like an MoU do not have legal consequences. We also did not want to antagonise the Chinese, an official of the board said.

After Oli, who is perceived as pro-China, formed the government, Chinese media reports had suggested Nepals Communist administration would go ahead with the West Seti project.

At the end of August, a team from Three Georges Corporation visited Kathmandu and held talks with IBN officials for two days but made no headway. Three Georges Corporation will now be officially notified of its removal from the project.

The Chinese firm had indicated the project was unviable even after the Nepal government agreed to certain conditions, including revision of the projects installed capacity and a power purchase agreement in US dollars.

At Tuesdays meeting, Oli did not consider any of the conditions put up by the Chinese firm and decided to scrap the deal, officials said. IBN had also offered to downsize the projects capacity from 750 MW to 600 MW.

Officials present at the meeting said the Chinese firm had not shown any intent to take the project forward. Instead, the firm brought up the issues of resettlement and rehabilitation and described them as expensive and unpredictable.

The Chinese company entered the scene in 2011, after Nepal scrapped the licence of West Seti Hydropower Company Limited, in which Australias Snowy Mountain Engineering Corporation had a majority stake.

The project was originally conceived as export-oriented, with plans to sell 90% of the power to India. However, the West Seti Company failed to go ahead with the construction, mostly because of its failure to raise funding.

A political analyst in Katmandu described the latest development as a smart, calculated and balancing act by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli that was apparently aimed at maintaining good relations with both India and China.Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has described the agreement between Turkey and Russia to establish a demilitarized zone in Syrias Idlib as "a step toward peace."

"The defense ministers of both sides signed a document. It is to stop bloodshed in Idlib. There are 12 articles in the signed agreement," Erdogan said at the War Veterans Day ceremony at the presidential complex in Ankara.

"This is a step toward peace beyond our border," Hurriyet Daily cited the Turkish leader as saying.

Following a meeting in the Russia's Sochi between Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the two countries agreed September 17 to establish a demilitarized zone in Idlib.

According to the memorandum of understanding, opposition groups in Idlib will remain in areas in which they are already present, while Russia and Turkey will conduct joint patrols in the area with a view to preventing renewed fighting.

Located near the Turkish border, Idlib province is home to more than 3 million Syrians, many of whom fled from other cities following attacks by regime forces.W hat would Grand Designs be without a wide-eyed optimist hell-bent on finishing their overly-ambitious self-build project on time and budget, only to fall spectacularly short?

Well, it wouldn't be Grand Designs.

Luckily, the first episode of the new series of the hit Channel 4 show doesn't disappoint.

It takes us to Aylesbury Vale in Buckinghamshire, where a passionate Spanish architect brimming with self-belief has set about turning a Grade II-listed folly  abandoned for 200 years  into a family home.

But can he make it fit for his long-suffering wife, their two-year-old son George and their soon-to-be-newborn child?

RESCUED FROM RUIN

Jimmy and Mimi Fernandez's miniature castle may look like an old Tudor tower, but it wasn't built for defence. Purely decorative, it was erected 250 years ago to house a gentlemans fossil collection, and is something of a relic itself, with crumbling stonework and insides gutted by fire.

Kevin sums it up best: "It's a building that doesn't want to stand up anymore."

Barely standing: the couple save the 200-year-old folly just in time / Channel 4

Jimmy, however, has a long love affair with old buildings ("the more rundown the better") and relishes the opportunity to fulfil their potential to become something glorious again. There's just one problem. He's only ever worked on new-builds.

SAGE OR STUPID?

Now based in the UK after meeting in Madrid six years ago, this warm couple were drawn to the folly after Mimi remembered passing it all the time while living locally as a child. They paid 100,000 for it, with no planning permission, in a move some may call brave, others reckless.

Getting approval to start work took a year, but they had to agree not to add to the original, tiny footprint. When the programme starts, Jimmy and Mimi are renting a bungalow a few miles away while he project manages its restoration. He has a budget of just 200,000 and insists it will be ready to move into in just six months.

Grand Designs 2018: highlights from the latest series 1 /45 Grand Designs 2018: highlights from the latest series A project with a serious motive Born and Elinor's young sons Pascal, 5, and Avery, 7, suffer from a smorgasbord of life-threatening allergies, from dust and pollen to the chemicals in certain cleaning products, forcing them to spend a lot of time in hospital. Channel 4 Putting all they have into it Unable to move out of London due to job commitments, this inspiring couple plan to channel their savings into building a "hypoallergenic home" in Richmond where the boys - and their little girl - can grow up literally breathing easy. Tight budget for a high-spec home But sourcing low-toxin materials and installing a mechanical ventilation system to filter the air will cost money, and ideally they'd like their new family residence to reflect their personalities, too.



Having bought a plot in Richmond for 765,000, their budget is now limited to half a million pounds, which is tight for a project with such high-spec demands. Calling in the specialists Born and Elinor have enlisted the help of a team of 'healthy building specialists', who are adapting their original architect's design to meet their bespoke needs.



Because theirs is a garden plot, the council has limited them to "a single-storey house with basement dwelling".



The four bedrooms will be housed in a large concrete basement overlooking a sunken garden, while above ground, huge, pre-formed, pre-insulated timber panels from Latvia will give the appearance of "a beautiful back garden shed". Channel 4 The low-toxin shop Clad in larch and white render with a modest, grey zinc roof, the entire building will be skimmed with an airtight membrane before being fitted with the aforementioned mechanical ventilation system, which costs 10,000.



Hours are spent searching for solvent-free paints, MDF free of formaldehyde (a chemical commonly used for embalming dead bodies) and flooring low in VOCs (volatile organic compounds) which slowly 'off-gas' and produce a charming cloud of toxicity that ends up in our lungs. Pedal to the metal Ten months later and with just weeks to go until Christmas, crack of dawn starts become the norm. Everyone is working flat out to put the finishing touches on what looks like a humble scouts' house from the front... The iceberg effect ...but triples in size to reveal a sleek, contemporary family home as you walk around the corner. Channel 4 Going the extra mile "I've watched hundreds of people build a home to try and improve their lives. But for a building to actually have a physical effect on our health is something else," says Kevin, as he returns after the family have been living here for six months. Instantly surprising Immediately, he feels suspended in mid-air by a glass walkway in the entrance hall... Clever design ...which leads into a fabulous open-plan living space that feels bigger than it is thanks to the bolted ceiling and three huge windows that draw the outside in. Channel 4 Looks can be deceiving "It's a shed on the outside, but sheer joy and luxury on the inside," says Kevin. Saving pennies and being healthier too Elegant decorations complement the sturdy masculinity of the polished floor and black exposed beams.



Finding a suitably 'healthy' sofa proved a struggle as brand new ones off-gas terribly due to foam and glue. Instead, they opted for a second-hand one which has already off-gassed elsewhere, and have cosied things up with knotted and woven rugs. Calming kitchen As the glazing increases, the light gets softer, and the colour scheme darker. The kitchen is a trendy, moody blue, while downstairs, the bedrooms are bathed in a wonderful golden glow come evening courtesy of the biodynamic lighting. Peaceful retreat The tranquil master suite enjoys a view of a South of France style courtyard filled with air-purifying plants and the family bathroom is spa-like and serene. Spa style "I'm not normally jealous of peoples bathrooms but that is very special," says Kevin. A real wake-up call for all of us This is an imaginative piece of architecture brimming with colourful surprises, but it is when Born pulls out of one of the air filters to show Kevin how much dirt, dust, spores, mould, insects and exhaust particulates it is trapping, that we're reminded of the driving force behind it. Fantastic result Since moving into their new home, the boys have had "only one or two" allergic reactions, as opposed to a minimum of one attack every other week. Proof it was all worth it The University of York has lent Born and Elinor a VOC monitor to assess their air quality. It shows that their home is performing over 70 per cent better than the average new-build. Enjoying the fruits of their labour "It's been a rollercoaster ride but we feel really proud," says Elinor, explaining that they only went over budget by 60,000.



"The moments that we get to sit down, reflect on what we've done and enjoy the house, and see the children enjoying the house, are priceless." Channel 4 More Grand Designs projects from this series London leavers Harry and Briony have relocated their young family to Padstow, Cornwall with the aim of building a modernist steel and glass house like the one made famous in cult Eighties teen movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Channel 4 Big plans The "sexy" centrepiece will be a massive 220sq metre open-plan living space made from 40 chunky Speyer-style steel beams and four-metre high glass walls, creating the impression of "a structure floating out over the valley", as seen in the real-life Speyer house above. Wikipedia/ Carmen B Inspired by... The Ben Rose House designed by James Speyer featured in the cult Eighties film Ferris Bueller's Day Off Wikipedia/ Carmen B Too late to back out When we meet them for episode two of the latest series of the hit self-build show, they've bought the eight-acre site of a former dairy farm for 490,000. Channel 4 Ferris Bueller fanboy Harry has taken on the role of project manager after developing an "obsession" with James Speyer's Ben Rose House, whichinspired the classic pavilion seen in the hit comedy. Despite never visiting it himself, he seems sure that he can honour it  in just eight months. Channel 4 Too ambitious? Optimistic timing aside, the problem, as Kevin quickly points out, is that a high-spec replica of the Speyer house would cost around 800,000 to build. Harry and Briony's "Speyer on steroids" will be a third bigger  and their budget extends to 400,000 tops. Channel 4 Forced to reassess his dream When a measurement mistake by Harry halts progress by several weeks, all hope of moving in by Christmas slips away and anxiety levels start rising.



"Maybe ego got the better of us, of me," he says, as he's forced to take gamble after gamble and painfully veer away from the Speyer model to do the best job he can on a shoestring. Channel 4 Presenting their own fabulous take But come June, 14 months after starting, it's finally ready, and it's fabulous. "Speyer was pure glass and perhaps a bit impractical, but it inspired us and this is our version," says Harry proudly. Channel 4 Mad for ply The walls of the vast kitchen/dining/living space have been covered in ply to cool, industrial effect. Channel 4 Super-size style Everything is super-sized, from the huge sofa area... Channel 4 The coolest room divider ever? ...to the ceiling-high custom-built bookcase on wheels that serves as a movable wall. Channel 4 Retreat to the bedrooms A 20-metre long hallway leads through a five-bedroom wing also made of steel but hidden behind more modest timber cladding. The peaceful master suite is at the end, with huge picture windows. Channel 4 Part of the landscape The house is accessed via a walkway leading down from the hillside above. Channel 4 100k over budget Overall, the couple have smashed through 510,000, some 100,000 over budget, but the extra time and expenditure have proven worth it, thanks largely to Harry's skill at spotting talent and accepting his own limits early on. Channel 4 More timber than glass, but still gorgeous The house blends in seamlessly with its surroundings, despite not having as much glass as Harry and Briony initially wanted due to budget limitations. Channel 4 Remembering Ken Pearce "Great buildings are only great because of the work and love that people put into them," says Kevin, as Harry tears up remembering head builder Ken Pearce, who sadly died suddenly at home mid-way through the project. Channel 4 First stop: Buckinghamshire Spanish architect Jimmy Fernandez and his wife Mimis miniature castle in Aylesbury Vale, Buckinghamshire, may look like an old Tudor tower, but it wasn't built for defence. Purely decorative, it was erected 250 years ago to house a gentlemans fossil collection, and is something of a relic itself, with crumbling stonework and insides gutted by fire.



Kevin sums it up best: "Its a building that doesn't want to stand up anymore." Channel 4 Brave or reckless? The couple were drawn to the folly after Mimi remembered passing it all the time while living locally as a child. They paid 100,000 for it, with no planning permission, in a move some may call brave, others reckless.



Getting approval to start work took a year, but they had to agree not to add to the original, tiny footprint.



Jimmy has a budget of just 200,000 and insists it will be ready to move Mimi and his two children (George, 2, and Luke, born during filming) into in just six months. Channel 4 Inexperienced builders and a leaky roof Jimmy, it emerges, is not an easy boss to work with, insisting on being on site every day to micromanage an inexperienced team of contractors after his trusted Spanish stonemasons let him down.



"This is a big learning curve for us" is not something you want to hear your builders say, especially when a mistake with the roof means they have to rip the whole thing off and start again. Reaping the rewards Finally, six months later than planned and 100,000 over budget, after excavating Anglo Saxon skeletons, securing a loan from family, they get there  and it's beautiful. Channel 4 Making best use of original features Downstairs is a compact yet functional kitchen with a stove slotted into the gap left by the original fireplace. Surprisingly spacious An octagonal lounge with views from all windows fills the first floor... Channel 4 Clever, compact design ... and two bedrooms, both with ensuites, take over the second with its lofty ceilings. Treehouse delight Jimmy's pride and joy, a spiral staircase made from giant chunks of plywood, leads up the east turret to a roof terrace, giving them the feeling of "being in a treehouse" and playing into the building's sense of magic and romance. Channel 4 Endless obstacles to overcome "A project like this really tests a relationship to its boundaries but we've made it so, well done, says Jimmy, hugging Mimi, before admitting that while he will consider restoring an ancient property for someone else, he will not put his family through that stress again. From folly to family home Presenter Kevin McCloud concludes by rhetorically asking: "Was this fossil of a building a folly to take on?"



Maybe, but for the first time in its long history, it now has a meaningful purpose. Channel 4



SCUPPERED BY SKULLS

The first inevitable obstacle rears its head, quite literally, when digging trenches for power, water and sewerage. The folly is built on an Anglo Saxon burial ground, meaning Jimmy has to pay an archaeologist to examine any dirt the digger brings up. Just two days in, skull fragments appear, threatening to stall the project as an excavation license is sought.

Luckily, a different route to the folly  clear of human remains  is found, but it costs Jimmy 30,000 and double the time. "Impossible is nothing," he says, with smiling eyes that stubbornly refuse to reveal the doubts he must be harbouring.

UNDER PRESSURE

Jimmy, it emerges, is not an easy boss to work with, insisting on being on site every day to micromanage an inexperienced team of contractors after his trusted Spanish stonemasons let him down.

"This is a big learning curve for us" is not something you want to hear your builders say, especially when a mistake with the roof means they have to rip the whole thing off and start again.

Leaky: Jimmy's inexperienced builders are forced to rip the roof off and start again

Once the complex external stonework is complete, Jimmy has just 80,000 in the bank and a new baby, Luke, at home. The family have to be out of their rental house by Christmas, and time is ticking on.

Rapidly running out of money, Jimmy is forced to ask his family for a loan, before yet more delays force him to move the brood back to Spain. It's a short-term solution, with so much to do a thousand miles away.

PUSHING IT

When Jimmy returns to finish the job, the weather is not on his side, "everything's a mess" and Mimi's dad is the only person on hand to help. The constantly slipping moving date is pushing Mimi to the limits.

"Will you be able to forgive the building?" asks Kevin, pertinently, after she understandably declares that at times, she "really hates it".

Finally, six months later than planned and 100,000 over budget, they get there  and it's beautiful.

Ready for a family: the kitchen and living room are both cosy yet spacious

Downstairs is a compact yet functional kitchen with a stove slotted into the gap left by the original fireplace. An octagonal lounge with views from all windows fills the first floor and two bedrooms, both with ensuites, take over the second with its lofty ceilings.

Jimmy's pride and joy, a spiral staircase made from giant chunks of plywood, leads up the east turret to a roof terrace, giving them the feeling of "being in a treehouse" and playing into the buildings sense of magic and romance.

Up in the trees: the spiral staircase in the east turret leads to a roof terrace / Channel 4

REAPING THE REWARDS

"A project like this really tests a relationship to its boundaries but we've made it so, well done," he says hugging Mimi, before admitting that while he will consider restoring an ancient property for someone else, he will not put his family through that stress again.

Kevin concludes by asking: "Was this fossil of a building a folly to take on?"

Maybe, but for the first time in its long history, it now has a meaningful purpose.R ose McGowan is house hunting in London and we may have found her the perfect pied-a-terre.

The former Charmed actress and womens rights activist, who has been at the forefront of the #MeToo movement, sold her 1.5 million home in LA to pay her legal bills against former film producer Harvey Weinstein, who she claims raped her in 1997. She is one of several women to accuse him of rape. He denies all allegations of non-consensual sex.

McGowan, 45, has since moved to the UK and is renting a flat in Mayfair. She is building up quite a community here, modelling for British designer Nicholas Kirkwoods SS19 London Fashion Week show last weekend.

A recently renovated one-bedroom flat is for sale close to her current rental home, with a guide price of 885,000 through Dexters. Near the Opera and Beaux Arts Galleries, this small but smart flat is in the thick of the action and would be a fab first rung on the London property ladder.I t survived the Blitz  and for hundreds of years before that  but now an ancient tree is to be uprooted and relocated to make way for new apartments, despite fears the move could cause damage resulting in the mulberrys probable death.

Thousands have signed a petition to save the tree, which grows in the grounds of the former London Chest Hospital beside Victoria Park in Bethnal Green.

However, Tower Hamlets council is this week expected to approve a redevelopement scheme to create 291 flats in and around the Grade II-listed hospital building which has stood empty for three years.

As a sop to objectors, housebuilder Crest Nicholson has unveiled plans to dig up the gnarled tree, thought to be more than 500 years old, and replant it within the hospital grounds.

The scale of the public benefits deliverable through the scheme is considered to outweigh the potential risk of the veteran black mulberry tree not surviving the proposed relocation, says Ann Sutcliffe, the councils acting corporate director of place, in a report which will be considered by planners.

Local residents have made almost 400 individual objections against the proposal, while an online petition launched by the East End Preservation Society has been signed by nearly 10,000 people.

The Woodland Trust also opposes the plan to relocate the tree, planted by an early Bishop of London, to the lawn in front of the main hospital building, arguing that the aged mulberry is too frail to survive the move.

The trees assumed age of over 500 years and the fragility of this specimen means that any relocation will have a detrimental impact on the remaining lifespan of the tree, reads the official objection from the charity. The trust is concerned that there is a distinct possibility that an attempt to move it would indeed result in irreparable damage, and probably death.

Rather than move the tree to fit the new development, the trust believes Crest Nicholson should redraw its plans to allow the mulberry to stay exactly where it is.

Despite the scale of the objections, believed to be unprecedented in support of a single tree, and a High Court ruling against an earlier attempt to remove the mulberry, Tower Hamlets has decided to support the project at a time of huge demand for new homes in London.

Just over a third of the flats will be affordable, aimed at low- and middle-income buyers and renters.

The scheme would provide significant public benefits including securing the listed hospitals future upkeep and conservation, additional housing and affordable housing, says Sutcliffe.

A spokeswoman for Crest Nicholson said: Crest Nicholson are acutely aware that the history of the site and the former hospital is of huge importance to the local community. The proposals are an opportunity to safeguard the future of the Grade II Listed main building.

The challenges and constraints in respect of how the site can be developed have been by no means straightforward; but we are proud and excited about the proposal.C hange is what London does best. This is the theme underpinning Open House London this year, with new landmark buildings and entire regeneration districts on show this Saturday and Sunday.

Together with guided tours and talks from a host of volunteers, in total there are more than 800 programme items to enjoy  and its free.

You can walk through the old haunts, down the corridors of Whitehall and tread the floorboards of the Old Vic, but in our 27th year were exploring the new London emerging around us as the capital remakes itself in the Brexit era, says Rory Olcayto, chief executive of Open City.

For the second consecutive year the venues are spread across the capital with all 33 boroughs represented.

Worlds biggest architectural exhibition

Open House started as a modest architectural affair in 1992 as a busload of 100 sightseers toured 20 buildings. The weekend festival now features 834 places of interest with 250,000 visitors expected to descend.

It is has become the worlds biggest architectural exhibition, says Olcayto. The turnout shows the depth of regard we all share for our citys great townscape and the range of emotions it can inspire within us.

As Crossrail prepares for its delayed launch, Open House weekend is celebrating the capitals feats of engineering with tours of the RIBA award-winning Peckham Library  an upside-down L of coloured glass and green copper with protruding pods.

Women in architecture is also a focal point for the event organisers, featuring the likes of Camden-based Clare Wright and her practice Wright & Wright. She is currently refurbishing the Grade I-listed Geffrye Museum in Hoxton.

Visitors can download the Open House app from this Saturday which will display projects to see near you.

Most of the properties are accessible on a first-come basis but be warned, last entry to many of the sites is 4.15pm (openhouselondon.open-city.org.uk).

Heres the Homes & Property pick for a good snoop of London locations where the doors are normally locked.

New London

Covering 1,600 acres, equivalent in size to the City, Old Oak and Royal Park in north-west London is the capitals largest redevelopment site.

Its already home to 2,000 businesses, 40,000 employees and 4,000 residents but as of 2026 will become a major transport hub and the only place in the UK where Crossrail meets HS2.

Open House visitors can witness the 26 billion transformation of marshland and former industrial sheds into a new town connecting London with the Midlands and 25,500 new homes.

Amid the cranes, longstanding buildings of note include the Ace Cafe, which opened in 1938 and is a meeting point for car and motorbike enthusiasts. Visitors can create Fifties-inspired costumes and dress up for a photoshoot.

Londons newest office space, along with technology, is showcased at the 16-storey White Collar Factory in Old Street Yard. In the heart of Silicon Roundabout, six buildings include offices, studios, incubator space for start-ups, restaurants and apartments. Completed last year, it was imagined as a warehouse-style factory tower.

Old haunts

The Foreign Office is always Open Houses busiest building, with 10,500 people visiting over two days last year. The Grade I-listed Victorian offices in King Charles Street in Westminster were built by George Gilbert Scott and Matthew Digby Wyatt in 1861.

In the Sixties, as part of grand plans for a new Whitehall, the buildings were to be torn down but a lack of money meant the plans were scrapped.

Scotts masterpiece Dunbar Court represents the pomp of Colonial times. Originally open to the sky, the four sides of the court are surrounded by three levels of columns and piers supporting arches.

The ground floor Doric and first-floor Ionic columns are polished red Peterhead granite, the top-floor Corinthian columns are of grey Aberdeen granite and the pavement is made of Greek, Sicilian and Belgian marble.

The waiting room at Peckham Rye station was once considered to be one of south Londons grandest. Designed by Charles Henry Driver in 1865 it closed in 1962.

After a campaign to get the building Grade II listed in 2007, the space was restored for events and is already fully booked for Open House this year, as are the Bloomberg Building and the US Embassy.

Top picks still available include St Augustines Church in Fulham Palace Road which has undergone award-winning restoration by architect Roz Barr. It was destroyed in the Blitz and temporarily rebuilt.

In this latest project layers of paint were stripped back to reveal original timber and stone columns, all treated with white oil for a more sacred feel.

Also recommended is 168 Upper Street, a restored war-damaged 19th-century block in Islington.

Windows and stonework details have been misremembered, overscaled and underscaled, placed incorrectly, making the whole composition feel dream-like, says Rory Olcayto. Serious and playful, this is highbrow architecture we can all enjoy.

Quirky and uplifting

Designed as an inverted pyramid Canada Water Library is a big building on a small footprint. The civic centrepiece for the districts regeneration, it has a cafe, performance space and is aluminium-clad, with deep windows.Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that there is no crisis in Turkey, and all happening in the country was manipulation.

Speaking at Veterans Day ceremony in Ankara, Erdogan urged the use of the local currency for rental payments and said, "otherwise, they will pay the price."

"There is no crisis, do not bothered by these [allegations]. It is all manipulation... Turkish lira will prevail in this country from now on... This is Turkey not America," Anadolu Agency cited him as saying.

Last Thursday, the Turkish president signed a decree that requires using the lira for buying, selling and renting of real estate and leasing of vehicles, according to presidential sources.Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet with heads of 30 U.S. companies.

The meeting will be held today in Turkeys Presidential Palace, the Turkish media reported.

The participants of the meeting are expected to discuss investing in different sectors of the Turkish economy.

Relations between Washington and Ankara have recently deteriorated because of the case of US pastor Andrew Brunson detained in 2016 by the Turkish authorities.Pipeline

19 September 2018

Viceroy Hotel Group is enticing travelers to leave the status quo with the announcement of its new San Francisco boutique hotel, Hotel Emblem. The 96-room property, formerly Hotel Rex, will re-open in early 2019 after an extensive renovation and rebrand inspired by the Beat Generation. San Francisco's famous cultural movement awoke the nation's rebellious side, and Hotel Emblem will bring the vibe back as a free-thinking enclave brimming with creative design elements and modern provocations.

Every corner of Hotel Emblem is being reimagined to spark conversation and empower guests to think and act boldly. Experiences include a cocktail-focused lounge, lobby with a book-filled Writer's Alcove, and stylishly eclectic guestrooms. Throughout the spaces, guests will be inspired by figurative and literal pages from the works that defined the Beat Generation. In addition to setting a counterculture scene, the hotel offers the warm hospitality that Viceroy guests are accustomed to, along with unique access to the best San Francisco has to offer.

Hotel Emblem is ideally located in the heart of the city, at the confluence of two storied neighborhoods, Union Square and Nob Hill, and mere blocks away from Jackson Square, the historic and culturally rich epicenter of the Beat Generation. The hotel is owned by DiamondRock Hospitality Company and is newly a member of The Viceroy Urban Retreats, poised to redefine the modern hotel experience.

"San Francisco is one of the most diverse and extraordinary cities in the country, and it is our goal with Hotel Emblem to reflect and tell the story of its distinct character and expressive history," said Brad Busby, General Manager. "Every detail, from the symbolic name choice to the dramatic, purposeful design, is an expression of the pioneering nature of the city and its people. We are honored to debut Hotel Emblem next year as one of the most authentic and dynamic new destinations for drinking, dining, culture and accommodations in San Francisco."

Guests can expect distinct food and beverage experiences that will add even more vibrancy to San Francisco's legendary dining and drinking scene. An onsite coffee shop and cafe will be a neighborhood hub, appealing to both hotel guests and locals. A robust bar program, a highlight of Hotel Emblem's lounge, will showcase creative drinks dreamt up by an acclaimed Bay Area bar talent. Designed to cultivate communal experiences, these spaces will encourage "meeting of the minds" that were common between iconic creatives of the Beat Generation.

The inspirational design of Hotel Emblem's lobby and spacious public areas is led by San Francisco-based design firm Wilson Ishihara. Eyes will be drawn to thought-provoking aesthetic elements like a poetry projection wall. The cozy vignettes, mid-century modern furniture and low glowing lights found throughout the hotel evoke drama tempered with comfort. Hatch Design Group has been charged with revamping the 96 guestrooms with elevated, eclectic decor and an expressive color palette reflecting the many shades of San Francisco's past and present.Appointment

19 September 2018

Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), one of the world's largest hotel franchisors, announced Curtis Osekowsky has joined the company as vice president of franchise services.

In this role, Osekowsky will lead Choice's nationwide, field-based franchise services organization which delivers business analysis and performance consulting support to nearly 5,800 domestic hotels. The company's franchise services organization strategically engages franchisees to help them benefit from the company's many resources and programs that can help optimize franchisee profitability and guest satisfaction.

Osekowsky joins Choice Hotels with more than 20 years of industry experience. Most recently, he served as regional vice president of operations at Radisson Hotel Group, where he oversaw the performance of Radisson branded hotels throughout the United States, Costa Rica and Panama. Earlier in his career, Osekowsky held various leadership positions related to operations, revenue management and sales. He earned his bachelor's degree from New Mexico State University and Master of Business Administration from Liberty University.Appointment

19 September 2018

JLL's Hotels & Hospitality Group announced that Gilda Perez-Alvarado has been named chief executive officer of the firm's Americas Hotels & Hospitality Group. Perez-Alvarado will work closely with Mark Wynne Smith, JLL's Global Chief Executive Officer, Hotels & Hospitality, over the next year to transition leadership responsibilities for the Americas.

In her new role, Perez-Alvarado will lead JLL's Americas hospitality real estate services including investment sales, debt, and equity placement, strategic advisory, and asset management. Additionally, Perez-Alvarado will maintain leadership of the Global Hotel Desk, an international team focused on facilitating cross-border transactions, and will continue serving as a member of JLL's Global Capital Markets Advisory Group.

Perez-Alvarado's 16 years of hotel industry experience includes 14 years with JLL in Madrid, London, Miami, and New York. Prior to this appointment, she served as a managing director focused on full-service global investment sales and managed high-profile transactions. She is a prior recipient of The Americas Lodging Investment Summit Jack A. Shaffer Advisor of the Year award and serves as a member of Qiddiya's Global Advisory Board.JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.



You should upgrade or use an You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.You should upgrade or use an alternative browserThe hotel chain has just acquired a building close to Victoria Station, which it plans to convert into a 4-star hotel as part of its Riu Plaza urban line.

RIU Hotels & Resorts has bought a building in one of London's top neighbourhoods where, following a total refurbishment, it will open a hotel in its Riu Plaza urban line. The building is at 1 Neathouse Place, right next to Victoria Station, Westminster Cathedral and Buckingham Palace.



By the end of 2020, the future Riu Plaza hotel in London will become the chain's first hotel in the United Kingdom, a country that represents a large proportion of RIU's clientele in Spain and the Caribbean, and where the chain has spent some time seeking the ideal opportunity to expand the city hotel brand. The hotel that RIU is planning will be 4-star, with 350 rooms, and it will be geared mainly towards guests visiting London on sight-seeing holidays.



Luis Riu, CEO of RIU Hotels & Resorts, explains that "location is very important for all our hotels, but for the Riu Plaza line it is essential that we are located very close to the places of cultural and tourist interest and very well-connected. After years spent studying the best offers in the city, we are very pleased to announce this project, for which we estimate an investment of around 250 million euros to cover the purchase of the building and the refurbishment. The location is unbeatable, the building is in excellent condition and I think that in less than two years we will be able to celebrate the opening of our first hotel in London."



London Victoria Station is the second-busiest station in the UK, after Waterloo, with an annual footfall of more than 75 million passengers using its underground, train and bus terminals. One of the many advantages of the hotel's location is its direct connection to Gatwick airport in 30 minutes.

The building was originally constructed in the 1960s and it was fully renovated in 1997. The future RIU hotel will keep the structure and the best aspects of the building, and the interior will be completely transformed, with attention to design and comfort as well as the latest developments in energy efficiency and sustainable operations. Some of the rooms will enjoy spectacular views, and the hotel will also have a bar and restaurant, and an open-air terrace, which is not common in central London.



RIU currently has six Riu Plaza hotels worldwide, as well as two undergoing construction: Riu Plaza Espana and a second in New York. The first city hotel opened its doors in Panama in 2010 and, since then, it has been joined by the Riu Plaza Guadalajara hotel in Mexico, Riu Plaza Miami Beachand Riu Plaza New York Times Square in the USA, Riu Plaza Berlin in Germany and Riu Plaza The Gresham Dublin in Ireland.



Daily News Delivery Join your colleagues and stay up to date on the latest Hotel industry news and trends. Subscribe

 2021 Hotel News ResourceDrake fans will know the rapper represents for The Six. The rapper is, however, of mixed origin, and his father, Dennis Graham, is from Memphis, Tennessee. Last night, Drake's Aubrey and Three Migos tour made a stop in Nashville Tennesse, and in the face of an apparent wave of nostalgia, Drake told the crowd he was "so happy to be home."

Tuesday night's show took place in the iconic Bridgestone Arena, in an idyllic setting across some of the cities celebrated honkey-tonks. According to the Tennessean, several of the rapper's family members were present, including his dapper father, seated in the VIP area of course. Drake made sure quite literally shine a light on them and ensure that the crowd shared in his joy at being in the city. "I'ma be honest with you, I checked the schedule every f*cking day to find out when we're coming to Nashville, Tennessee," he told the crowd.

He also took a moment to shout-out another musician, co-collaborator and Memphis resident in attendance, producer Tay Keith. Keith grew up in Memphis and graduated from Middle Tennessee State University, and cites local musicians such as MJG and Three 6 Mafia as major influences. He's produced hits with Drake such as "Nonstop," and "Look Alive."

After the show, Drake took to his IG to post some throwbacks in celebration of his Nashville show. Take a look at the vintage snaps below.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn5f26VH1si



https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn5flDWnLMp



https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn5fcOHH5qr

Amidst the final days of his On The Run Tour II days, Jay-Z has been embroiled in an ongoing court battle with perfume giant, Parlux Fragrance. The "Hard Knock Life" rapper was confronted with an 18 million dollar lawsuit. The company suing him claims that he failed to honor a commitment to promote one of the company's fragrances, titled "Gold."

In his defense, Jay-Z's lawyers have argued that he did not intend to neglect his responsibilities to the company, but was in fact overwhelmed with a substantive amount of work, and work-related engagements such as appearances at "Good Morning America." Jay's lawyers are claiming that he essentially, could not have completed any worthwhile promotional work for "Gold."

While in court earlier this week, Parlux Fragrance claimed the defense does not hold water, and asked that the judge presiding over the case require Jay-Z to present his calendar for the years 2013, 2014 and 2015 to the court. In response to this, Jay's lawyers contended that forcing their client to present his schedule would reveal little known and imperative business information and compared the case to the "Spanish Inquisition."

Following news of the lawsuit, Hov proceeded to counter-sue Parlux Fragrance, accusing the company of with-holding 2 years' worth of royalties from him. The judge has told both parties that they have 2 weeks to resolve matters on their own.

[via]Female artists like Bianca Bonnie and Sukihana believe that they are made to work harder than many of their counterparts because of their skin tone. Kash Doll isn't messing with that idea at all and intervened when people tried to place her in that colorist box of oppression.

One social media user straight up told the rapper that some of her contemporaries of lighter complexions are getting ahead quicker because of society's tendency to favor women with "fair" skin.

"Colorism is universal baby. There's a reason why Cardi, Cuban and Dream blew up faster and have more promo than you. You should be bigger and I'm sure you know. It's because you're dark skinned."

Kash Doll took absolutely none of those elements on board and disagreed with the post's whole perspective.

"Lol Cuban and dream are not bigger artist than me...secondly i believe in God and his timing..i will not let Society make me believe my fine ass skin tone is the reason I'm not as big of an artist...Oprah is black! Anything is possible, be positive!"

Some took her response as a complete dismissal of colorism as a valid issue. Kash clarified her stance.

" When did i say it wasn't a thing my pretty brown sis?? I said as far as female rap i HAVE NOT YET TO EXPERIENCE IT...SIMPLE."

She ended the whole ordeal on a positive note, gassing her dark-skinned sisters and their ambition.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bnzg0XHAA8h

Having just ended things with 25-year-old Younes Bendjima, Kourtney Kardashian is seemingly ready to date and test out the waters with a new candidate by the name of Luka Sabbat. The 20-year-old is a model and actor known for his role in Grown-ish.

Kourtney and Luka were spotted hanging out over the weekend, first at dinner at The Nice Guy in Los Angeles and then at the grand opening of TAO Chicago nightclub on Saturday. "They seemed to be really bonding and having fun," a source told E! News of their dinner outing. "They sat in the back trying to keep a low profile, and then a few friends arrived to meet up with them. Kourtney was smiling a lot and sitting next to Luka the entire time."

"They always had chemistry, but Kourtney was in a serious relationship and her and Luka always kept things platonic," the source added. "Now that Kourtney is single, she has been enjoying being able to do whatever she wants."

Neither party has confirmed or denied the news.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmHZAPrDqLz

Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has signed an order to award The honorary diploma of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Mikhail Yefimovich Shvydkoy for his fruitful services rendered to the development of cultural relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation, Trend reported.Nicki Minaj made waves during New York Fashion Week and she plans to kick it up a level in Milan. The artist paired up with the Italian brand Diesel for a fashion collaboration.

Diesel's founder Renzo Rosso teased fall Hate Couture in July during a campaign in Paris.

Diesels Ha u te Couture will be a bold message toward haters worldwide  and an invitation for everyone to step up, face and own the negative messages we receive every day.

The "Chun Li" rapper is clearly excited about this new project. She is completely on board with the spirit behind this collection as someone who has faced criticism for being an alleged "bully" to other female artists.

She teased the new line with a photo of herself wearing a hoodie marked by bold letters: "Bad Guy."

"You need people like me. So you can point your finger & say: THATS THE BAD GUYai Got a surprise for anyone whos ever been labeled #TheBadGuy."

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn1Aw-JBLEj



Billboards of the star flaunting the gear are plastered over a whole block in the fashion capital.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn1md6AhSuW



Essentially, she's capitalizing on the stories that were told to make her look like a "bad guy." This whole thing is genius.Young Thug apparently thinks their mightve been a rat spilling the dirt on him to the George Police. According to TMZ, Thuggers lawyers have asked a judge for any and all information related to potential snitches who might've sold out their client to the police, who was just recently hit with with 8 felonies for and was just in jail last week. If anyone did cut a deal for snitching on the rapper, the lawyers want to know who they are. They also want to know their criminal records, personnel files and any other relevant dirt as well.

Thugger was charged with possession and intent to distribute meth, hydrocodone and weed. He's also charged with possession of amphetamine, Alprazolam, codeine (2 counts) and a firearm, all stemming from getting pulled over for having tinted windows last year in Georgia.

Unfortunately, thats not the only legal issue Thug has to deal with right now either. He's also facing a felony gun charge from a weapons bust in Los Angeles last month.

Despite all the legal issues, Thugger is getting ready to drop off a fitting new project called On The Rvn, which is play off his recent legal woes. He recently shared the projects cover art and said its dropping sooner then u think, so keep your eyes peeled for that.

Well continue to keep you posted on Thuggers legal battles moving forward.

[Via]Something crazy happened on the way to 2019 enrollment for Affordable Care Act insurance plans.

Rates went down.

After years of teeth-gnashing about unsustainable industry losses and astounding rate increases, insurers in the Houston area have changed course. They say the market has stabilized and, after years of experience, they know more about the people they will cover, which is a key factor in determining rates.

One of the most striking examples is Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, which filed a request for 2019 to cut rates by about 6 percent for two ACA individual plans after making national headlines by requesting increases for 2017 of nearly 60 percent. Federal officials whittled that request to less than 50 percent, but Blue Cross came back the next year with 24-percent rate increase request, which was reduced to about 20 percent.

The rate reductions come, ironically, as the health care law, known as Obamacare, continues to come under attack by the Trump administration and its Republican allies. A lawsuit filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and joined by 19 other states earlier this year challenges the law's constitutionality. The case is now before a federal judge in Fort Worth but could ultimately end up in the U.S. Supreme Court.

RELATED: Texas leads new lawsuit to effectively repeal Obamacare

Since Trump took office, his administration and the Republican-controlled Congress have taken multiple steps to undermine the law, such as repealing the penalty for not having insurance and expanding the availability of so-called skimpy plans, which are cheaper but tend to offer limited coverage. Both are seen by critics as siphoning off younger, healthier people from the risk pool and forcing sicker patients to pay higher and higher premiums until they are priced out of the market, leading to an eventual collapse.

Earlier this month, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said it would dramatically cut grants to help boost 2019 enrollment, with funding in Texas slashed to $1.4 million from about $61 million in 2018.

Still opposed

Opponents continue to call for the laws repeal. Robert Henneke, general counsel for the Texas Public Policy Foundation, an Austin think tank that joined Paxtons lawsuit, said high premiums and limited choices hurt people.The Affordable Care Act continues to be a disaster for Americans, he said in a statement.

But supporters say the rate declines show the ACA is working much as economists predicted, expanding coverage and slowly bringing costs under control  despite unrelenting efforts to undermine it.

As the market matures it becomes more predictable, said Elena Marks, president of Houston-based Episcopal Health Foundation. We are this many years in and that piece is beginning to work.

Timothy Jost, a professor at Washington and Lee School University School of Law in Lexington, Va., and an expert on the health care law, said he had expected rates to rise again in 2019, given the adverse policy changes. The declines, he said, might simply be a market correction, offsetting rates that rose too much in previous years.

By rights, this would be the year that there would be big increases, he said. After two years of huge increases, they overshot their mark and now theyre dialing back.

Blue Cross said in a statement that setting rates requires complex calculations that not only capture past experience, but also incorporate predictions of the future. The company, the states largest insurer, said it was pleased to request rate decreases, but acknowledged that  health coverage still remains out of reach for thousands of people in Texas.

More than 1 million Texans signed up for health insurance through the federally run exchange last year, even though the Trump administration cut the enrollment period to 45 days from the previous 90 days. The sixth annual Obamacare enrollment also will last 45 days, running from Nov. 1 and will continue until Dec. 15.

Texans who do not get their insurance through their employer are able to enroll for individual plans offered through a federally run exchange. For those with lower incomes, premium prices are sharply discounted by federal subsidies. As many as 90 percent of Texans who signed up for ACA plans last year got a subsidy, according to research by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

In the Houston area , four insurers will offer individual plans on the exchange next year. In addition to Blue Cross and Blue Shield, other insurers will be Community Health Choice, Molina Health Care of Texas, and Ambetter Health, which operates as Celtic Insurance Company.

Community Health Choice, Molina, and Ambetter are all seeking rate increases but the requests are substantially lower than a year ago. Molina, for instance, has asked for a 3.9 percent increase in one of its individual plans for 2019, after receiving a 41 percent increase last year.

Community Health Choice, a Houston insurer with about 110,000 members in the region, is asking for an 8.5 percent increase for 2019 after boosting rates by 49 percent last year. Celtic Insurance Company has asked for a 6.4 percent rate increase, compared to a 47 percent increase last year

Less messing

Insurers blamed the 2018 price surge on the Trump administrations abrupt halt of billions of dollars in payments to them just before the enrollment period began a year ago. The payments, called Cost-Sharing Adjustments, were a second federal subsidy baked into the health care law to help defray out-of pocket expenses for lower-income customers. With the loss of the government payments, insurers dramatically increased rates to make up for the expected shortfall, said Ken Janda, CEO of Community Health Choice.

The government hasnt messed with us as much this year, Janda said..

RELATED: White House drastically cuts grants that fund Obamacare enrollment efforts

Premium rate requests are significantly lower throughout the country for the coming year, according to information compiled by the Associated Press and Avalere Health, a Washington consulting firm. Overall, in 47 states and Washington D.C., the rate increase requested for 2019 averaged of 3.1 percent, compared to about 30 percent last year, said Chris Sloan, director of Avalere Health..

The proposed average increase statewide in Texas is 3.8 percent, down from a 41 percent average increase last year among benchmark plans on the exchange, Sloan said.

For Texas, the question is whether lower premiums, or at least smaller increases, will stop the uptick in residents without coverage. New Census data shows that Texas continued to have both the highest number and highest rate of uninsured in the nation, rising to 17.3 in 2017 from 16.6 percent in 2016. That translates to 4.8 million Texans without coverage in 2017, up from 4.5 million in 2016, according to the Census.

Houston had the highest uninsured rate in the country among the most populous metropolitan areas, 18.2 percent, according to the latest Census figures. Dallas-Fort Worth was ranked second at 16.5 percent and the San Antonio region fourth with a 14.5 percent uninsured rate, the data showed.

RELATED: Number of uninsured Americans on the rise, especially in Texas, new study finds

I think there will not be a big drop-off, Janda said about enrollment number for next year. but I dont think there will be a big gain.Stock up at Walmart and Target, because everything Made in China is about to get 10 percent more expensive.

President Donald Trump approved tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods this week to take effect Sept. 24. If he does not reverse himself, U.S. Customs will levy this new fee when Chinese products arrive on American shores and collect it from American importers, who will pass along higher prices to retailers.

Consumers like you and me will pay the tariffs, whether on the imported goods or more expensive alternatives from the U.S. or other countries. Thats why economists refer to tariffs as what they truly are: taxes.

Trumps tariffs are taxes on Americans, not fees charged to Chinese companies.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Trumps steel tariffs holding back oil and gas

Just ask American manufacturers that buy steel and aluminum. When Trump imposed 25 percent tariffs this year, U.S. steel and aluminum companies hiked prices on their products.

As a result, domestic steel mills are making their biggest profits in years. But American manufacturers are struggling.

"Global steel costs have risen substantially and, particularly in the U.S., they have reached unexplainable levels," Whirlpool CEO Marc Bitzer said during a call with stock analysts. "Uncertainty related to tariffs and global trade actions" is making inputs more expensive.

Major steel consumers will have to raise prices on finished goods. Some consumers, though, will decide to forgo the purchase. That means fewer sales, lower profits and a slowing economy.

Sen. Reed Smoot and U.S. Rep. Willis Hawley learned this the hard way. The Smoot-Hawley Act of 1930 imposed broad tariffs on imports to protect American jobs after the 1929 stock market crash. Other nations retaliated, international trade fell by half and the Great Depression got a whole lot worse.

The Trump Administration hopes it wont get to that. Trump wrote a book about negotiating deals, and he likes to trash talk. Some in the administration are telling journalists that the tariffs are merely a negotiating stance ahead of a meeting with Chinese officials this week.

In other words, the president is threatening to blow up diplomatic and economic relations between the planets two largest economies as a negotiating ploy. He thinks tariffs would hurt China more than the U.S.

After all, Chinas economy was built on exporting goods to the United States, and economic growth is slowing. Chinese Communists know their social contract with the population relies on delivering prosperity, so they are under pressure to perform.

Chinese officials see things differently. The government wants to wean the Chinese economy off exports and make it consumer-based. President Xi Jinping has also spent years promoting nationalism, setting the population up for a confrontation with the U.S. He also has rewritten the constitution to give him unlimited power for the rest of his life.

The Chinese government announced Tuesday it would retaliate against the new tariffs by imposing levies on U.S. goods, including liquefied natural gas exported from Texas.

Trump and Xi are like two boxers circling the ring, wondering if the other one can take a punch. They also share pride, the most serious of the deadly sins. They both consider themselves transformational leaders making their nations great.

Xi believes that Communism with Chinese Characteristics is superior to Western Capitalism. Trumps raison d'etre is to rewrite global trading rules, guarantee American economic dominance and provide for the average American worker.

On HoustonChronicle.com: World views clash in China-U.S. talks

Both hope to land a knock-out blow in this bout. If Trump and Xi cannot find a way to compromise, though, they will use nationalism to rally supporters to dull the economic sting, turning a diplomatic failure into a political victory.

Trump hopes his tough stance will give Republicans a boost ahead of the election. Xi will retaliate by crippling American companies in China and invoke Chinese resentment to convince them to buy local.

Workers and consumers, though, will still lose jobs and pay higher prices.

Xis more muscular foreign policy and aggressive economic agenda are a clear and present danger to the U.S. and the global trading system. The Trump administrations demands on China are well-reasoned and justified.

Tariffs, though, should not be the weapon of choice. Gathering allies across Asia and Europe should have been the first move. The U.S. should be negotiating international agreements that prohibit Chinas full participation in the global economy until it conforms to capitalist norms. In other words, leave Chinese businesses out in the cold until the government complies.

Unfortunately, the Trump administration pulled the U.S. out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, halted talks on a European free trade agreement and is threatening to kick Canada out of NAFTA. We have angered our allies.

If Smoot and Hawley were alive today, theyd warn Trump against the treacherous strategy hes chosen.

Chris Tomlinson writes commentary about business and economics.

chris.tomlinson@chron.com

twitter.com/cltomlinsonOne young Houston girl is melting hearts after her brother shared photos on Twitter of her dressed up as the character 'Mama Coco' from Pixar's hit film 'Coco.'

Noraelia Rodriguez, 37, says after a stressful Monday, she was helping her 5-year-old daughter Khloe with her homework. Rodriguez' boss had passed away recently, she was looking for a way to bring a little joy back into her home and brighten her day.

She was reaching for a hair tie in the bathroom and that's when Rodriguez says inspiration struck. "When I opened the drawers I saw the spray can, and thought dressing Khloe up as Mama Coco would take me out of the funk I'm in," she said.

So she got to work with the spray-on hair color and the result was adorable.

Khloe used to be called 'Koko,' but her family had taken to call her 'Mama Coco' after the movie released. In the film, Mama Coco is the warm-hearted great-grandmother of the film's protagonist, Miguel.

"We love that movie," said Rodriguez, "(Khloe) always cries at the end."

Rodriguez says Khloe loved her new look so much that she didn't want to take it off.

"It was about 10:30 when I finally made her take it off," said Rodriguez. Even though Khloe was dressed as an old woman, she couldn't avoid bedtime.

The family didn't expect Khloe's brother, Alejandro's tweet to go as viral as it did. At the time of this post, the tweet had garnered 103K favorites and 23K retweets.

See photos of Khloe as 'Mama Coco' and an ingenious mom who dressed her baby up in 31 costumes last year for every day of October.Barry Bostwick, who played newlywed Brad Majors in "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," is headed to Houston to host a screening of the cult classic.

He'll be here Oct. 20 at The Cullen Theater at the Wortham Theater Center to host a screening, judge a costume contest and talk to fans during an interactive Q&A.If there were any moviegoing justice in this country, more Americans would be clamoring to see the South Korean film The Great Battle than, say, The Predator but, sadly, that more perfect world is just the stuff of dreams.

Its too bad because the majestically epic Great Battle has it all: heroic good guys to love, an imperious bad guy to hate, brutal battle scenes, sumptuous cinematography and a galloping pace that makes short order of its lengthy 135-minute running time.

The film is loosely based on history when, at some point in the late 600s during the Tang Dynasty, Chinese emperor Taizong attempted to conquer Goguryeo, a kingdom on the Korean peninsula. Standing between Taizong (Park Sun-Woong), accompanied by his 200,000 troops, and the Goguryeo capital is the fortress of Ansi, which is defended by Yang Manchun (Jo In-sung) and his comparatively ragtag crew of a mere few thousand. Manchun stands little chance in the face of Taizons imperial ambitions.

And thats not Manchuns only problem. His rival in the capital, General Yeon (Yu Oh-seong), has sent an assassin, a young cadet (Nam Joo-Hyuk), to insinuate himself into Manchuns circle and take him out. Its going to be a tough day at the office.

The Great Battle In Korean with English subtitles Unrated: (extreme medieval war violence) Running time: 135 minutes xxxx (out of five stars) See More Collapse

RELATED: New films being released in Houston this week.

Director Kim Kwang-shik, whose previous films were much smaller in scope, has a surprisingly keen eye for wide-screen, CGI-embellished action choreography that is often wildly impressive, especially considering the comparatively low budget of around $20 million. If this had been done in the U.S. with a big star, it would easily have cost at least five times as much. (The Chinese-shot 2017 action film The Great Wall, starring Matt Damon, cost $150 million.)

The film has taken some knocks in the Korean press for not being historically accurate but thats not going to bother most American viewers unless they have a deep knowledge of ancient Korean history. Besides, if Manchun didnt really have an all-female squad of death-dealing crossbow warriors, he probably should have.

Sure, some of the English subtitles have a distinctly contemporary American vibe (I feel you? Really?) and a few of the effects are not quite up to Hollywood snuff; some of the slo-mo kill shots are as cheesy as Kraft slices.

Yet, at its best  when the swords are hewing heads, catapulted boulders are falling like rain, and fiery wagon wheels set the battlefield ablaze like an octogenarians candle-lit birthday cake  The Great Battle rings with the echoes of such sweeping, cinematic blitzkriegs as the Battle of Helms Deep in Peter Jacksons The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers or any number of Game of Thrones assaults  minus the orcs and dragons, of course.

After all, whats not to like when there are weapons with such names as malevolent wood, siege tower and wolf teeth striker? When, after an attack is launched, one character matter-of-factly says, quite intense, audiences will know exactly how he feels.

Heck, the movie opens with a ferocious eight-minute battle scene and just when you think it cant bring it any more, The Great Battle brings it again and then says, You know what? Just for laughs and giggles, Im going to bring even more.

Kwang-shik makes time for a little character development, and even a bit of a love story, but none of it gets in the way of the limb-chopping, skull-splitting and other assorted medieval mayhem.

With his sure-shot bow and arrow, Manchun might even be able to take on the predator and win. His movie certainly does.SPRING  Its not every day that Hollywood lands in the far northern reaches of Harris County.

Sure, there are no celebrity-crowded red carpets, sky-sweeping klieg lights or pushy paparazzi, but that doesnt make it any less of an event for the approximately 1,000 high school and elementary students assembled in the gym at Klein Oak High School in Spring last Monday.

They are there to greet the young stars of the CBS sitcom Young Sheldon  the hit prequel to the long-running The Big Bang Theory  who had flown in the previous day and would be leaving the next.

And the students greet them with whoops and enthusiastic applause.

I am so excited to be here and support you guys, enthuses Iain Armitage, 10, who plays the shows titular boy genius who grows up to be the nerdy know-it-all portrayed by Jim Parsons in The Big Bang Theory at the assembly. Ive been so excited for the last few weeks.

But Kleins name wasnt just plucked randomly out of a hat and bestowed a quick visit by Armitage as well as co-stars Montana Jordan, 15, who plays his older brother, Georgie, and Raegan Revord, 10, who plays his twin sister, Missy. After all, they probably could have avoided the wear and tear of travel and just stayed in LA, maybe attend televisions biggest night, the Emmy Awards, that were also taking place Monday.

Young Sheldon Season 2 premiere When: 7:30 p.m. Monday Where: CBS See More Collapse

But anybody who knows anything about TV and Texas knows these essential facts: Young Sheldon, which begins its second season 7:30 p.m. Monday, is set in East Texas; and Parsons hails from the Houston area and attended the three schools  Klein Oak High, Strack Intermediate and Haude Elementary  whose students are in attendance.

So when Big Bang/Young Sheldon producer Chuck Lorre, through his Chuck Lorre Family Foundation, decided to give grants to STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) programs at public schools, he chose 10 schools in Texas because Young Sheldon takes place here and nine in Southern California where his shows are filmed.

The other Lone Star State schools on the list are five in the Tomball school district (Tomball High, Tomball Memorial High, Creekside Park Junior High, Tomball Junior High and Willow Wood Junior High) and two in Ore City, near Longview, which Jordan attended (Ore City Elementary, Ore City Middle School).

The three actors showed up at Klein Oak on Monday morning and were due that afternoon to visit the Tomball district, to present certificates to teachers and students. Thats just the most visible, camera-ready part of a program that is allotting more than $600,000 to the 19 schools over the course of two years.

Parsons proud

I was pretty shocked, said Klein Oak principal Thomas Hensley after the ceremony of the day he got the call from the Lorre Foundation asking his school to submit a proposal for what the staff would do with the $15,000-per-year grant.

Hes seated in a room off the main floor of the gym thats been turned into a makeshift green room, of sorts, filled with parents, students, CBS minders, well-wishers, a reporter and a photographer from the school paper, Panther Press, and a table laden with fruit and snacks.

Its really cool because were so proud of the Parsons name around here, Hensley continued. To hear that theres a connection back to our school and a chance for us to showcase that, and at the same time do some great things for our students, its a win-win.

He wasnt the only one in that room bursting with pride on Monday. Parsons mother, Judy Ann Parsons, and his sister, Julie Ann Parsons, were also at the event, and Judy Ann, who was a first-grade teacher in the Klein district for many years, remembered how she felt when she heard about the grant.

I was so proud, she said. Jim told us about it quite awhile ago, and we had to stay quiet about it until the press release. And Jim is so happy to be able to give back to the schools.

Also on hand was one of Jim Parsons former teachers, Frances Ditta, whos now an assistant principal. He was a good student, remembered Ditta, who taught him in government. He was quiet. But then he would drop a hilarious bomb. He was voted most witty, which really fit him very well. He just had a very quick, wicked sense of humor.

Parsons couldnt make it to Spring  hes in the midst of filming the final season of The Big Bang Theory  but he did have a prepared statement read to the crowd by the Lorre Foundations Trisha Cardoso.

I never really excelled at science or math or technology, even after playing a genius physicist on television for 12 years, it said in part. I cant say I would fare any better in science or math tests today but I am smart enough to realize just how terribly important STEM courses are to students in our country.

Perhaps its appropriate then that Armitage, too, doesnt consider himself a wiz at science and math. I think Im OK with them, he said during a moment of relative quiet after the ceremony, but Raegan is better.

But then Revord, seated next to him, demurred  sort of. I hate math, she insisted. But I love science  Im OK at math; my teacher has told me that. I dont believe her.

Bye California

The one thing that Armitage and Revord say they do like is Texas. They had never visited, and in their brief time here, they got to hang out at Discovery Green and were due to take in the Johnson Space Center the day after the presentation.

We dont get much time, but were going to come back soon. I really want to come back here soon, said Armitage after his appearance before adding diplomatically, its a beautiful state.

He concedes its strange to finally be in the place where his character lives. Its fun, he said. Its odd because were so used to California filming that its so weird to finally be here.

And he cant wait to get to NASA. Im just excited to look around at all the rockets and stuff.

But for Jordan, the trip meant coming home. When I have a break, I come back to Texas, said Jordan, who had another high-profile role this year in the Netflix film The Legacy of a Whitetail Deer Hunter with Josh Brolin and Danny McBride.

Still, hes bummed he cant do what he would really like to do when hes here: riding his dirt bike and motocross racing. Hes forbidden by his contract from participating in the sport because of the potential for danger.

Still, he gets to catch up with family, and its something he tries to do whenever he can.

He goes straight back, Revord pipes up. Hes like Bye, California. Im outta here.Political statements added a bit of drama to the The 70th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards red carpet Monday night.

Leading the trend was Jenifer Lewis of "black-ish" who wore a red-and-black Nike sweatshirt in support of Colin Kaepernick's protest against "police brutality and racial injustice."

EMMYS STYLE: Red carpet gives 'em something to talk about

Other celebs wore blue ribbons to protest the treatment of immigrant families and their children along the Texas border.

There were many fashion standouts: SNL's Leslie Jones in an iridescent suit by Christian Siriano, Mandy More of "This Is Us" in custom Rodarte, Elizabeth Moss of the "The Handmaid's Tale" in custom Vera Wang and the entire cast of "Stranger Things," who showed how to rock youthful style.Two of the country's most volatile fault lines straddle San Francisco, where thousands of leaders gathered last week for the first-ever Global Climate Action Summit. The event laid bare two growing chasms in the nation's war on climate change.

The most obvious chasm is the rift between President Trump's administration and its critics, many of whom attended the summit. The day before the summit began, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed to rollback rules against methane leaks from oil and gas. California Gov. Jerry Brown quickly denounced the rollback as insane, dangerous and irresponsible. But the proposal was just the latest dagger through the heart of President Obama's climate initiatives, as Trump moves to renounce the Paris Climate Agreement, halt fuel economy improvements and repeal and replace the Clean Power Plan.

Governors, mayors and corporate leaders at the summit pledged their renewed resolve to uphold the Paris agreement. As Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner put it, if the president "doesn't lead from the top, mayors will lead from where they are." Houston's first-ever climate action plan was one of over 500 commitments issued by cities, states, businesses and universities ahead of the summit.

California took the lead with a flurry of bills and an executive order signed by Gov. Brown just before the summit began  one bill committing the state to 100 percent clean electricity by 2045, matching a date set by Hawaii. Brown also signed legislation to strengthen incentives for zero-emission vehicles, expand vehicle charging infrastructure and improve the efficiency of homes and buildings.

Gov. Brown then issued a moonshot pledge  an executive order for California to become carbon neutral by 2045. That means that any emissions from cars, factories and other sources would need to be balanced by storing carbon in forests, soils and other sinks.

It's no understatement to call Gov. Brown's pledge "history's most ambitious climate target." It's also unclear how California will achieve it. Perhaps it won't, since executive orders don't carry the force of legislation. The bill eliminating power plant emissions will get California only one-sixth of the way there. Emissions from other industries and vehicles are far more difficult to clean up. Carbon sequestration technologies are still in their infancy, and there's little reason to deploy them without a hefty price on carbon.

Pledging carbon neutrality without a plan to get there highlights the second chasm in the war on climate change  the widening gap between ambitions and achievements. Last week's summit described itself as an opportunity to "celebrate the extraordinary achievements" of states, cities and businesses and serve as a "launchpad" for deeper commitments.

In fact, it was the commitments that were truly extraordinary, while actual achievements continue to lag ambitions.

U.S. emissions have fallen 12 percent since 2005 after decades of inexorable growth. But that downward momentum is grinding toward a halt, as Trump's moves counteract state and local actions. Analysts project emissions will bottom out around 17 percent below 2005 levels, hovering far above our Paris Agreement pledge for a 26 percent to 28 percent cut by 2025.

WAKE-UP CALL: Are candidates ready to face climate change? Voters are.

Just before the summit began, the America's Pledge initiative released a report assessing 10 climate action strategies that could narrow that shortfall. Those strategies include raising targets for renewable energy and electric cars, making homes and businesses more efficient, stopping methane leaks, soaking up carbon with forests and croplands and putting a price on emissions.

Each hypothetical strategy was designed to be achievable by states and others without relying on federal action. But it's hard to imagine all 10 being achieved any time soon, let alone the additional "enhanced engagement" measures that would still be needed to push down U.S. emissions "within striking distance" of the 2025 target. That's like layering wishful thinking on top of hopes and prayers  and still coming up a little bit short.

Even if they succeed, emissions would still be falling at just over one percent per year. That pace would need to zoom up by a factor of five to reach Obama's subsequent target for an 80 percent reduction by 2050.

A DANGEROUS FUTURE: How Harvey showed us the risks of climate change

The 2050 target is just another milestone toward cutting net emissions to zero, as the entire world must do to hold global warming below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit). Carbon pollution accumulates in the atmosphere for centuries, so our climate will keep warming until it can equilibrate with stable carbon levels. In other words, carbon neutrality must be the ultimate aim if we take our temperature targets seriously.

That's why the Paris Agreement signatories and Governor Brown have set carbon neutrality as their ultimate ambitions, and why America's Pledge sees such urgency in meeting our initial targets. But those ambitions far outpace actual achievements. Climate Action Tracker projects that under current policies, U.S. emissions will stop falling and global warming will top 3 degrees Celsius (5.4 degrees Fahrenheit) this century and continue rising thereafter.

Last week demonstrated the continued resolve of governors, mayors and executives to fend off such bleak projections, even as the federal government abandons its leadership. They'll eventually need to join forces to match ambitions with achievements in battling climate change.

Daniel Cohan is an associate professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Rice University.

Get the Gray Matters newsletter. Its ultimate ambition is carbon neutrality.French President Emmanuel Macron will separately meet his US and Iranian counterparts, Donald Trump and Hassan Rouhani, during the UN General Assembly in New York next week, the French presidency said.

The French president will meet Trump on Monday afternoon before having dinner with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, AFP reported.

On Tuesday, Macron will address the assembly and hold talks with Rouhani, an Elysee Palace official said.

The meetings come as Macron and other European leaders try to salvage a landmark 2015 accord to curb Tehran's nuclear programme, which Trump pulled the US out of last May.Deputy constables arrested two more juveniles Wednesday they say are linked to a string of attacks in the Westbury neighborhood, Harris County authorities said.

The two were among seven juveniles officials with Harris County Precinct 5 say are are responsible for at least nine attacks in the southwest Houston neighborhood. Authorities also believe they could be connected to at least 26 reported aggravated robberies, carjackings and thefts since May in and near Westbury.OUT OF CONTROL: Drivers impaired by booze and drugs are dying  and killing  in the Houston area at a startling rate, an epidemic unchecked by police, prosecutors or public-awareness campaigns. A Houston Chronicle analysis reveals why, and what we need to do about it.

***

Impaired driving in Texas doesn't start and end with the 12-pack or the little brown bottle. It's also in the medicine cabinet.

In Houston and across the country, police contend with drivers high on prescription drugs, PCP and painkillers. And detecting drug impairment isn't anywhere near as easy as smelling alcohol or reaching for a breathalyzer.

"Someone on ecstasy is not going to look like someone on alcohol," said Sgt. Erik Burse with the Texas Department of Public Safety office in Conroe.

More than 35 percent of the 2,608 Texas drivers found with hydrocodone in their system from 2015 to 2017 were apprehended in the southeast Texas DPS region dominated by Houston. More than half the 1,593 Texans found with Carisoprodol  a powerful muscle relaxant  were driving on streets around Houston. Half of those driving in Texas who tested positive for etizolam, another sedative, were found in the Houston region. (Houston, however, trails other areas in the state in surveys involving drug use.)

In several high-profile cases, officers have allowed drivers impaired by drugs to leave the scene of crashes  decisions with lethal consequences.

OUT OF CONTROL: Houston is 'ground zero' for drunken and drugged driving

Three years ago, Blaine Boudreaux, then 34, got into his black Dodge Ram and set into motion a deadly, hours-long path of destruction that claimed two lives and sent three others to the hospital.

Boudreaux, who authorities said moved to Houston from Louisiana around 1999 after two previous DWI arrests, first crashed around 3:30 p.m. on April 26, 2015, in the Texas Medical Center. Police responded to the crash and ticketed him for failing to control speed but didn't arrest him. Two people in the car he hit were hospitalized.

A day of drugs, wrecks and death: One of the most egregious cases of drugged driving in Houston came on a wreck-killed day three years ago. Police say Blaine Boudreaux, a then-34-year-old with a history of impaired driving arrests, left his house in west Harris County, got into his black Dodge Ram, and set into motion a deadly, hours-long path of destruction that claimed two lives and sent three people to the hospital. Boudreaux tested positive for amphetamines and a tranquilizer after his arrest, according a report filed after the crash. Source: Harris County District Attorneys Office

1. About 3:30 p.m. Boudreaux, who had previously been arrested twice in Louisiana for impaired driving, first crashes in the Texas Medical Center around 3: 30 p.m., injuring two people. Police issue a ticket, then let him go on his way.

2. About 5:15 p.m. Boudreaux drives several miles west and rear-ends a 72-year-old man at Weslayan and Westpark at about 5:15 p.m. Police respond but again allow Boudreaux to drive away.

3. About 5:45 p.m. Half an hour later, Boudreaux crashes into a 61-year-old homeless veteran sitting on the side of the road near the University of Houston and kills him. Boudreauxs license plate and bumper are later discovered at the scene of the crash.

4. About 6:10 p.m. Boudreaux travels north and at approximately 6:10 p.m., crashes into a Honda Civic, injuring Cynthia Medrano and killing her 6-year-old son, Joshua. Police then arrest Boudreaux.

After he left that crash, Boudreaux is accused of driving several miles west and rear-ending a 72-year-old man at Weslayan and Westpark at about 5:30 p.m. Police responded to that wreck, too, but again allowed Boudreaux to drive away. Half an hour later, prosecutors say, Boudreaux drove several miles east, only to crash into a homeless veteran sitting on the side of the road near the University of Houston.

UPDATE: Jury finds Boudreaux guilty of murder

The crash killed Leonard Batiste, 61. Boudreaux fled the scene, prosecutors say, then took a right onto Lockwood and traveled north, leaving behind his bumper and license plate. Two miles away, at approximately 6:10 p.m., Boudreaux crashed again, hitting a Honda Civic carrying Cynthia Medrano and her 6-year-old son, Joshua. The crash injured Cynthia and killed Joshua.

After they arrested him, Boudreaux told police he was taking a drug used to treat opiate addiction. He faces murder charges.

Matthew DeLuca, his attorney, said Boudreaux maintains his innocence and is awaiting trial.

"We look forward to presenting his case at trial," he said.Out of Control Houston is ground zero for drunken and drugged driving

Out of Control Houston is ground zero for drunken and drugged driving

Second in an occasional series

Mishann Childers slowed as the flashing lights came into view.

Telge Road in northwest Harris County was closed. A crash, a sheriff's deputy said. Someone hit a silver Buick.

Her husband, Wayne, drove a silver Buick. He often took that road.

Owen McNett's blood-alcohol content was nearly four times the legal limit when he crashed into Wayne Childers' car, killing him, police said. Five times before, McNett had been arrested for driving drunk, with two lengthy prison stays. That rainy Friday night in February became the sixth. He had a valid Texas driver's license.

Consider the tragedy for the Childers, then multiply it by more than 300 each year. Drivers impaired by booze and drugs are dying  and killing  in the Houston area at a startling rate, an epidemic unchecked by police, prosecutors or public-awareness campaigns.

The nine-county region tallied more fatal drunken-driving crashes during the last 16 years than any other major metropolitan area in the country, a Houston Chronicle analysis of federal highway data shows. Drivers and passengers died in more than 3,000 wrecks caused by drunk or drugged drivers, roughly 1,000 more than Los Angeles, which has about twice the population.

PART 1: Houston's roads, drivers are country's most deadly

Among the 12 largest metro regions in the country, only Dallas/Fort Worth  with 2,425 alcohol- or drug-related fatal crashes over the same time period  even comes close. The top two spots show that the cliche holds: Everything is bigger in Texas, including the body count.

The Houston region has broader trouble on its roads. The nine-county area is the most deadly major metro area in the U.S. for drivers, passengers and people in their path, the Chronicle reported earlier this month.

But the wreckage left behind by impaired drivers is a significant reason that Houston outpaced the others. Since 2010, the Houston area has averaged more than 5,000 crashes caused by impaired drivers annually. That's roughly 14 a day, or more than one every other hour. Fatalities across the region remain above 300 each year.

Drunk and drugged The Houston region, with more than 3,000 drunk and drugged driving fatal crashes from 2001 through 2016, is the deadliest place for impaired driving. Los Angeles, with about double the population, had about 1,100 fewer such incidents.

"Houston is ground zero for DWI fatalities ...," Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said. "No family should live with the pain of getting that knock on the door in the middle of the night." Earlier this year, Ogg lamented that the area "really couldn't do worse."

Some were killed in crashes of their own making. Roberto Antonio Alas, a 47-year-old father of four, died early one June morning while driving on the North Sam Houston Tollway around 3 a.m. An autopsy found his blood-alcohol content was more than three times the legal limit.

Numerous other drinkers spread tragedy in their wake. One spring night two years ago in northwest Harris County, Jeremy Paul Valdez sped through a red light at 103 mph, prosecutors said. He slammed into a black Honda containing Emilio Avila-Blanco, 33, Hilda Avila, 42, and Mauricio Ramires, 18, killing all three and turning their vehicle into mangled scrap.

AN AVERAGE WEEK: In Houston, 11 fatal wrecks, 12 deaths

"We are the worst state in the nation for drunk-driving fatalities and crashes," Police Chief Art Acevedo said. "And we happen to be the worst of the worst in Harris County. We can't afford to have an 'it's not important' attitude."

But Texas is not doing enough to stop impaired drivers, according to a Chronicle analysis of court records, state highway crash data, police staffing records and state laws and dozens of interviews with police, prosecutors, traffic safety experts and those left grieving.

Law-enforcement leaders deploy inadequate numbers of officers to drunken-driving enforcement. Prosecution remains uneven, hampered by complicated and costly probation programs so arduous that many drunken drivers choose jail time instead of treatment. Texas prisons provide beds in treatment facilities for just a small portion of the offenders serving time for drunken and drugged driving. And state laws provide little recourse to supervise chronic drunken drivers once their prison sentences are completed  and don't allow use of measures proven to reduce crashes and fatalities.

If caught  even after killing passengers, other motorists or pedestrians  impaired drivers sometimes receive little or no punishment. Since 2015, for example, more than a dozen drivers convicted in intoxication manslaughter cases in Harris County got off with no time served.

A lack of consequences, coupled with Texans' near-religious connection to their cars and trucks, leads to an ingrained culture of drinking and driving that doesn't carry the same stigma it does in other states.

"The citizens of Harris County aren't scared to get arrested for a DWI," said Harris County Sheriff's Sgt. Kirby Burton, who oversees the department's DWI task force.

Drivers in Houston and local officials acknowledge more must be done. Many believe traffic laws take a back seat to other priorities.

"People here just drink and drive," said Ron Micklewaite, 77, a lifelong Houstonian and cab driver, who often carts revelers from bar to bar. "Every weekend I'm out I see someone sliding all over the road."

Mike Davis, a trainer at the Alamo Area Regional Law Enforcement Academy in San Antonio, has a similar observation from a statewide perspective.

"We are big, and we drive everywhere," he said. "But we like to drink."

A knock at the door

At the roadblock, police wouldn't tell Mishann Childers anything. She stood in the rain for hours, a churn of dread rising, before returning home to wait.

Finally, at 1:30 a.m., two police officers knocked on her door. She saw them, and she knew.

She and Wayne, 54, had met 31 years before at a movie theater. They had raised four children. The night he died, they had dinner at Aguirre's Tex-Mex in Tomball around 6 p.m., then left for home in separate cars. Mishann arrived and waited for him.

Wayne Childers, 54, was driving home in this Buick in February when he was struck and killed by an alleged drunken driver. The driver, Owen McNett, faces murder charges. (Metro Video)

As Wayne was driving home shortly after 8 p.m., police said, a 45-year-old wastewater technician driving a company pickup tore through the stop sign at Telge and smashed into his car. Owen McNett had a blood-alcohol content of 0.312, according to prosecutors  nearly four times the legal limit. At the time of the crash, he was on parole for his latest drunken-driving conviction. The term of his license revocation had run while he was in prison.

McNett could serve 25 years to life in prison if convicted. He has pleaded not guilty.

"He absolutely feels horrible about someone being killed," said Jed Silverman, his attorney. "He's got a huge sense of remorse."

Drunk, drugged and dead Two years of impaired driving crashes show the highest number of drunken and drugged driving crashes occur on the Houston regions busiest roadways. But no area is spared. Source: Crash Reporting Incident System, Texas Department of Transportation | Created by Rachael Gleason

A meager force

Police arrested McNett at the scene. But many other impaired drivers travel on the region's roads with little likelihood of running into law enforcement officers.

The Chronicle's analysis reveals that traffic and speeding enforcement have been declining for years. And staffing records from local departments show that agencies assign just a handful of officers to regular DWI enforcement.

The Harris County Sheriff's Office's unit  created two years ago  currently counts five deputies. At the Pasadena Police Department, five officers trawl the roads. Houston police's DWI enforcement unit includes about 25 officers and supervisors, out of roughly 5,000 personnel.

Many other departments don't have anyone designated to keep drunks off the road, arguing that the task is part of everyday patrol activities. But law enforcement veterans say that such stops are technical and time-consuming affairs that regular officers often prefer to avoid.

Each stop can take hours, requiring field-sobriety tests, trips to hospitals and lengthy bureaucratic waits before technicians can collect a blood sample.

"There are officers that would rather go work a homicide than they would a DWI," said Pasadena Police Asst. Chief Josh Bruegger, a veteran DWI officer.

Still, records show departments  no matter how big or small  can enforce the streets when they dedicate resources either in targeted teams or policing philosophy.

Deputies at the Precinct 8 Constable's Office, southeast of Hobby Airport, arrested nearly 1,400 drunken drivers since the beginning of 2015  the sixth-highest number of arrests in Harris County. The department, small by local standards, has approximately 70 officers, including a three-person DWI task force, according to Chief Deputy Jason Finnen.

"We're very proud of that number," Finnen said.

Forces double the size report fewer arrests. The Baytown Police Department, an agency of some 160 officers, arrested 800 drunken drivers in that time, according to records from the Harris County District Clerk's Office.

RELATED: Officers find themselves on 'high' alert for impaired drivers

There's a similar shortage of manpower to stop the state's bars and restaurants from selling liquor to minors or continuing to serve drunken customers. In greater Houston, 40 agents oversee 6,000 establishments, according to Chris Porter, spokesman for the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. The agency has only 225 agents statewide.

In fiscal 2019, which starts Oct. 1, the Houston region is expected to receive more than $2.5 million in federal money for on-street enforcement, most of it going to Houston and Harris County law enforcement. Funding, however, fluctuates and is spread across many agencies for efforts ranging from education campaigns in schools to enforcement on special holiday weekends.

The agencies say the money isn't enough and that it pays only for extra enforcement on holiday weekends. They say they are stretched too thin to consistently afford extra officers.

"The enforcement isn't in the right place," said Larry Krantz, a liaison between TxDOT and local police. Where officers focus, they can make arrests, he said, but the problem is larger than what one or two cops can handle on Labor Day.

"Otherwise you are playing whack-a-mole out on the highway," Krantz said.

'Failure on every level'

When police do take impaired drivers off the road, many are familiar faces in Harris County District Court. Of the approximately 30,000 impaired drivers arrested in the county since 2015, roughly 8,000 were drivers previously convicted of DWI.

Eleven times, Harris County law enforcement officers arrested people for impaired driving who had previously been convicted for killing someone while driving drunk, in Texas or elsewhere, records show.

The Chronicle reviewed more than 100 cases of drivers accused of intoxication manslaughter. More than 20 of those drivers had previous DWI convictions or cases still pending.

Owen Franklin McNett

Owen McNett's February crash was the first in which he was charged with a drunken driving crash that killed someone  but it wasn't even close to his first DWI. He was first convicted of driving drunk in 1992, court records show, after he was caught under the influence in Kimble County. More trouble followed:

 In 1996, he was convicted after he was caught by police in Tarrant County. He served 30 days in jail.

 On June 19, 2005, Burleson police arrested him after catching him with an open container and a blood-alcohol content of 0.321, or four times the legal limit. He pleaded guilty on Jan 17, 2006, in exchange for 10 years of probation.

 In 2007, while he was on probation, Houston police arrested him for driving drunk, with a BAC of 0.20. McNett pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four years in prison. He also received a seven-year sentence for violating his 2005 probation.

 Troopers in McLennan County caught him driving drunk again in 2012, with a BAC of 0.299. That time, he received a six-year prison sentence.

He was paroled for his fifth offense early in 2015 and was set to be on parole until Oct. 6 of this year. After the Feb. 9 crash that killed Wayne Childers, he was charged with murder. If convicted, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.

"It was a failure on every level," said Sean Teare, chief of the Vehicular Crimes Unit at the Harris County District Attorney's Office. "The fact that he was allowed to drive after that many DWIs. The fact that he was allowed to use a company truck. The fact that he was allowed to have a driver's license. The fact that he received light sentences for those previous DWIs. There's no question he posed a danger to society."

Weekend havoc In 2016 and 2017, nearly two-thirds of impaired driving crashes in Texas occurred on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Other repeat offenders  even those who have injured others in drunken-driving crashes  have returned to the roads, only to cause carnage and destruction.

Valdez, the 25-year-old driver whose crash killed the Avilas and their son, had already been convicted three times for driving while intoxicated at the time of that crash. None of the charges, convictions or punishments kept him off the road in northwest Harris County in May 2016, where he drove his black Dodge pickup down FM 2920, slamming into the family of three.

He was convicted in 2011 for driving drunk; a judge sentenced him to 12 days in jail and suspended his license. In 2012, he was convicted again of drunken driving, this time in Chambers County.

Then in May of 2013, authorities in Montgomery County tried to pull Valdez over for driving drunk, but he sped away, sparking a 22-mile chase. Police caught him only after he crashed into a pickup and injured two women. His blood-alcohol content was 0.228, or nearly three times the legal limit. That case earned Valdez two years in prison because he had been convicted of driving drunk three or more times, a felony.

Then in 2016, after his release, he drove drunk again, this time with lethal results. He did not have a valid driver's license when he crashed into the Avilas. Valdez pleaded guilty to three counts of intoxication manslaughter and was sentenced to 50 years in prison.

The vast majority of drunken drivers who crash and kill Harris County residents receive lighter punishments. By law, intoxication manslaughter cases for offenders with otherwise clean records carry a maximum of 20 years.

LISTEN: St. John Barned-Smith discusses his reporting on deadly DWI crashes on Houston Matters.

An analysis of 62 completed intoxication manslaughter cases since 2015 in Harris County shows that sentences for drunken drivers responsible for killing others in crashes varied widely: Some were sentenced to decades in prison. Others  nearly a quarter  received sentences that allowed them to avoid time behind bars.

W. Clay Abbott, a DWI expert for the Texas District and County Attorneys Association, said the circumstances for each case required individual consideration. A crash between two drunken drivers, for example, deserves a different sentence than a man who crashes and kills his wife.

"The cases are radically different, which means sometimes the sentences have to be," he said. "It creates a more just, if less-consistent system."

In 30 non-fatal cases involving repeat drunken drivers, a third of defendants had a drunken-driving charge dismissed after being convicted in another DWI case. That means that they avoided additional punishment for the subsequent offense.

As with the intoxication manslaughter cases, sentences varied widely. Some defendants received probation; others received months of jail time.

"I think in the rush to resolve cases, we can forget the seriousness of the allegations," said Harris County Court at Law #14 Judge Michael Fields.

Harris County Court at Law #11 Judge Diane Bull said part of the problem stemmed from a lack of consistency among other misdemeanor court judges  and a system that currently fails to quickly assess defendants' risk continuing to drink and drive after they're first arrested.

READ MORE: Courts look to cure offenders, not corral them

"When you have 16 different (misdemeanor) judges, there are going to be 16 ways of doing something," she said. "These inconsistencies lead to spotty outcomes. We can miss opportunities to identify someone who poses a risk to public safety. If someone gets time served, or jail time with no treatment, it's a missed opportunity to give someone intervention they need. And that would have an effect on public safety as well."

Weak penalties in Texas

When McNett crashed into Childers, he had a valid Texas driver's license, court records show. State statutes limit license suspensions to a maximum of two years. License suspensions go into effect within 40 days of conviction, meaning that in the most serious cases, drivers are barred from driving while they are locked up.

Beyond one little-known statute allowing Texas judges to require repeat drunken drivers to use interlocks for a year after their prison sentence is completed, state law provides virtually no mechanisms to monitor them.

"Once our punishment time frame is over, we have no ability to supervise or observe, even if we know they're chronically drunk drivers," Teare said. "We can't restrict them in any other meaningful way."

A Chronicle survey of state laws pertaining to license suspensions and interlock use found Texas' were among the most lenient. Lawmakers in 36 states have established longer license revocations, suspensions or more lengthy interlock use than Texas.

For repeat offenders, Florida can impose permanent suspensions. Florida does not allow suspension time to run while the offender is in prison.

Texas' laws allow repeat drunken drivers to get new licenses once their suspensions are complete after they finish a drug education program and apply for reinstatement. For many offenders returning to freedom, the ability to drive is critical to get work or to alcohol counseling.

"You can't get from Cleburne, Texas, to Dallas on a bike," said state Rep. Jason Villalba, R-Dallas, who has worked with Mothers Against Drunk Driving on various state bills.

Texas exerts some control by requiring offenders to obtain licenses that allow them only to drive to and from work, or in a vehicle equipped with an interlock, a breathalyzer-type device that lets the automobile start if the driver shows no signs of alcohol in his system.

Use of interlock and occupational licenses, however, is declining even as Texas allows first offenders the chance to use interlocks. In 2016, the number of interlock licenses issued by DPS declined 16 percent to 4,190. Since 2013, the number of occupational licenses issued has dropped annually in Texas, from 18,358 to 15,098 last year.

But experts say Texas' sprawl means drunken drivers will get behind the wheel even if their license is suspended  they'll just do it illegally.

"The simple fact is that drunk drivers drive without driver's licenses," Abbott said. "Taking away someone's driver's license has never taken away their car keys."

Gridlock in Austin

As they attempt to curb drunken drivers, police and prosecutors say they are hamstrung by state law. Proven efforts to reduce fatalities  including sobriety checkpoints  have found little traction in Texas, earning the state one of the worst rankings in a state-by-state comparison by Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

The organization, which weighs fatalities and five criteria in its assessment of DWI prevention efforts, also faulted Texas for weaknesses in the state's interlock and license revocation laws.

Lawmakers and judges say meaningful reforms are a political minefield.

"The kinds of measures that can reduce drunk driving are exactly the issues Texans struggle with," Villalba said. "The kinds of things that can be done are the kinds of things that usually interfere with the rights of the people who are not engaging in the behavior."

THE WAY FORWARD: Solutions are available, but they can be taxing

Lawmakers were similarly slow to adopt a general ban on texting while driving  despite overwhelming consensus it would save lives  for more than a decade because of a reluctance to legislate behavior. That finally changed in 2017 when state senators and Gov. Greg Abbott relented and approved the legislation.

The same staunch opposition would await debate of allowing sobriety checkpoints, where police set up along a road and monitor all drivers for signs of intoxication. The checkpoints have come under withering criticism from civil rights advocates. Checkpoints have been shown to reduce impaired-driving fatalities by as much as 20 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"I think as far as it would ever get is a committee hearing, if even that," said Villalba, a moderate Republican defeated in the March primary by Lisa Luby Ryan. "I don't think you would see it get out of committee. It may work, it may be a good thing, but there is just not the support there."

Acevedo, the Houston police chief, remains optimistic.

"Police chiefs have talked about DWI checkpoints for the 11 years I've been here in Texas," he said. "Eventually we're going to get them. ... The data isa very clear. It actually reduces instances of drunk driving."

Moments missed

For years, Mishann Childers watched her husband putter around the house. He liked to work with his hands, and nearly every room in their cozy home in Cypress bears his touch  the bathroom, the bedrooms, the kitchen, the deck outside.

He liked to take care of his family, driving for hours to visit his children when they were away at college. When they were younger, he took each of the four on their own trip to Disney World.

He was the same way at his job at AMC Theatres, mentoring younger employees at different locations across Harris County. Dozens showed up at his funeral, some of whom hadn't worked for him for almost a decade, joining the hundreds who gathered to pay their respects.

She wondered about the moments he will never get to see  his children's graduation, or their weddings, or meeting future grandchildren. She thinks about dinners with Wayne, their daily conversations, the quiet moments she will miss most of all.

"It's just overwhelming. Everything you don't realize when you have a spouse," she said. "Each one has things you do every day in your lives for each other. You don't realize how much that was until it's not there anymore.

"He should be here," she said. "This isn't the way it was supposed to be."

OUT OF CONTROL: See our full investigation here

New efforts

Here are some new tactics local law enforcement officials are trying to rein in drunken driving:

 Harris County's Joint Processing Center will accept arrests from all local agencies, speeding up processing of impaired drivers and allowing officers to get back out on patrol faster.

 The Houston Police Department is adding a requirement for new officers to perform several DWI arrests before they complete field training.

 The Harris County DA's office has launched a high-profile campaign with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission to educate businesses to curb sales of alcohol to minors  and has cracked down on bars that serve minors or over-serve intoxicated patrons.

 The DA's office also has increased pretrial assessment and treatment options for defendants, and it recently announced it would seek permanent license revocations for third-time DWI offenders.

 In Montgomery County, constable offices created a countywide DWI task force last year and bulked up "no-refusal" weekends, when law enforcement take blood samples if drivers say no to a breathalyzer test.

Related stories:

Officers find themselves on 'high' alert for impaired drivers

Courts look to cure offenders, not corral them

Solutions are available, but they can be taxing

About the series

This is the second in an occasional series that explores why the Houston area is such a dangerous place to drive. The first report showed that the region is the most deadly major metro region in the country for drivers, passengers and those in their path.

Next, in October: A crash course in road design.

Part 1: The greater Houston region is the most dangerous major metro area for drivers in the United States. Read our story here.

Crash Week: In Houston, 11 fatal wrecks, 12 deaths: An average week. Read our story here.

Tell us your story

Have a story about a dangerous speeder, a drunk driver, or an accident you witnessed? Want to weigh in on the design of Houston's roads, or a driver who just wouldn't stop texting? Have thoughts about making the region safer for pedestrians or cyclists? Share your story using this form.

Data editor Matt Dempsey and data journalist Jordan Rubio contributed to this report.

St. John Barned-Smith joined the Houston Chronicle in 2014 and covers public safety and major disasters. He has worked on two teams named Pulitzer finalists in recent years  for covering Hurricane Harvey and for helping show how Texas unlawfully denied education services to children with special needs. He previously reported in Philadelphia and Maryland and spent two years in the Peace Corps in Paraguay. Follow him on Twitter or email tips to st.john.smith@chron.com.

Dug Begley is the transportation writer for the Houston Chronicle. Contact him at dug.begley@chron.com. Follow him on Twitter @DugBegley.

Godofredo A. Vasquez is a staff photographer for the Houston Chronicle, primarily covering breaking news. Godofredo was born in El Salvador but grew up in the Bay Area, where he attended San Francisco State University and graduated with a B.A. in Photojournalism. Before joining the Chronicle in early 2017, Godofredo spent two years working for the Corvallis Gazette-Times and the Albany Democrat-Herald in Oregon. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram at @godovasquez, or reach him by email at godofredo.vasquez@chron.com.

Graphics by Rachael Gleason and Charles Apple

Design by Jordan Rubio

Subscribe

The Houston Chronicle is dedicated to serving the public interest with fact-based journalism. That mission has never been more important. Show your support for our journalism at HoustonChronicle.com/subscribe.

***Ray Johnson has been treating wounds on the back of his head since Sept. 9, when he went for a walk in his Westbury neighborhood and a group of kids attacked him from behind.

The boys took his heavy walking stick and beat him with it, then demanded his money, the 76-year-old said. They pistol-whipped the back of his head, then pointed the gun straight at his face.

"I was convinced it was a pellet gun," said Johnson. "But still when it's big and black and about the same frame size as a .45, you just think: 'Uh, well, maybe God's calling me home.'"

Three juvenile suspects were arrested this week in Johnson's attack, the Precinct 5 Constable's Office announced Tuesday. Investigators say the boys  ages 11 to 14  are part of a group responsible for a number of aggravated robberies, carjackings and thefts over the past several months in and around Johnson's southwest Houston neighborhood.

Authorities have identified two more suspects and expect to arrest three more juveniles by the end of the week, Precinct 5 Constable Ted Heap said at a press conference Tuesday morning.

The constable's office has linked the juveniles to at least nine cases, Heap said. They're now working with the Houston Police Department to see if more cases can be linked to the same group.

Investigators believe the suspects could be connected to a total of 26 reported robberies and thefts in the area since May, officials said.

"I would imagine we'll be investigating this and digging into it for some time," Heap said.

The first two boys  ages 11 and 12  were arrested Sunday, Heap said, when plainclothes investigators saw them stealing a gas can from the back of a lawn maintenance company's truck in the area. When a patrol unit pulled over the vehicle they were driving, the juveniles fled on foot, he said. Two escaped, but two were apprehended and confessed that they were driving a stolen vehicle and were planning to use the stolen gas to torch it.

The two juveniles in custody have helped lead investigators to other suspects, Heap said. A 14-year-old was arrested Monday and, like the others, admitted involvement in Johnson's assault.

The group seems to have operated primarily in the Westbury neighborhood, Heap said Tuesday. The nine cases the constable's office have connected are all within about a mile of each other.

Johnson's attack  an aggravated robbery  was near the intersection of Rampart Street and Firenza Drive, in the southernmost portion of the neighborhood. Authorities have surveillance footage of the suspects at a convenience store in the 12000 block of Hillcroft just after the assault.

The connected cases "all have very similar MOs," Heap said: A group of juveniles will approach an individual and often ask for change. "At that point, when you take your eyes off them, they will assault you, strike you, steal your vehicle."

In Johnson's case, Heap said, he was beaten with his own walking stick.

Johnson said he yelled for help when he saw the gun in his face. A neighbor heard him and ran to the rescue.

"The kids saw (my neighbor) and started to run," he recalled. "That's when they threw my stick down and kept on going."

Johnson, who has white hair and a bushy white beard, said he's a part-time Santa Claus and has an adult son of his own. "I love kids," he said. "I'm always concerned when they're starting off on the wrong foot."

Investigators have canvassed the area and talked to neighbors, parents, school officials and nearby shop owners to identify the group of boys, Heap said Tuesday.

The suspects all appear to be registered in school and attending classes, he said. The crimes generally have occurred in the evenings and on weekends.

The suspects in custody have been "cooperative," said Sgt. Luis Gonzalez, an investigator in the constable's office. "They've been helping us."

"We don't come across youngsters like that, not very often," Gonzalez said. "When I started reading some of the reports, I was surprised  11 years old, out here robbing adults? You don't see that very often."

Heap said the cases will all go through the Harris County District Attorney's Office and "appropriate charges are coming."

"What is really very, very disturbing to me," Heap said, is what two of the young suspects said when investigators asked them why they'd assaulted someone: "Their answer was 'We did it for kicks.'"

"This is the attitude of some of the young juveniles we have out there," Heap said. "'We are going to assault people, we are going to steal their goods, we are going to cause serious bodily injury just for kicks.'"

Kaylee Dusang contributed to this report.

Alyson Ward is a Metro writer for the Houston Chronicle. She can be reached at alyson.ward@chron.com or on Twitter @alysonward.Baylor St. Lukes Medical Center is appealing the decision by federal regulators to terminate Medicare funding to its troubled heart transplant program.

The hospital filed the administrative appeal with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Friday, three months after the agency announced it was cutting off funding because too many of the hospitals patients died following heart transplants in recent years.

The Medicare termination followed an investigation by the Houston Chronicle and ProPublica in May that detailed the depth of the transplant programs problems and revealed that several physicians had left the program in recent years after raising concerns.

Over the past few years, Baylor St. Lukes has continued to strengthen its heart transplant program, implement new processes and add new surgical expertise, the hospital said in a statement announcing the appeal. We do not believe CMS recent decisions reflect our ongoing progress and accomplishments to improve the quality of our care, and we look forward to presenting the facts so that heart transplant reimbursements can be reinstated.

The appeal will be heard before an administrative law judge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

CMS formally terminated funding to the program on Aug. 17, barring the hospital from billing Medicare or Medicaid for heart transplants and threatening the programs viability. Once Medicare refuses to cover heart transplants at a hospital, experts say, private insurance companies often follow suit.

Despite the federal termination  and despite St. Lukes not performing a single heart transplant in June, July or August, according to publicly available data  hospital leaders say the program is continuing to treat the remaining 79 patients on its heart transplant waiting list.

When CMS reiterated its plans in July, Baylor St. Lukes advised all Medicare patients on the heart transplant wait list of their options to transfer to other programs, the hospitals statement said. Many patients chose to continue their care at Baylor St. Lukes with the physicians and staff they have come to know.

mike.hixenbaugh@chron.com

twitter.com/mike_hixenbaughJust days after the public debut of a brand-new baby De Brazza's monkey at the Houston Zoo's Wortham World of Primates habitat zoo staff announced that it had welcomed two more residents into the fold.

NEW DIGS: The Houston Zoo's two female black bears move into an expanded habitat

Two white-cheeked gibbon brothers named Murray, 8, and Max, 5, recently arrived at the Houston Zoo. The pair had previously resided at a zoo in Florida.

Now Playing: Brothers Max and Murray, two white-cheeked gibbons, recently debuted at the Houston Zoo. The pair came from a zoo located in Florida. Video: Houston Zoo

Gibbons of this sort are native to southeast Asia, especially Vietnam. The Houston Zoo helps fund conservation efforts of gibbons in Vietnam where their numbers have been dwindling.

According to the Smithsonian's National Zoo these sort of primates are critically endangered which means that education is key.

YESTERDAY AND TODAY: See how the Houston Zoo has evolved over the past 100 years

White-cheeked gibbons typically eat fruits and leaves and spend most of their time in trees. Zoo patrons might see the two brothers grooming themselves quite a bit as that trait is common among their species.

Craig Hlavaty covers Houston history and pop-culture. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com. | craig.hlavaty@chron.com.

Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message.A 17-year-old girl has been charged with murder after allegedly luring a man to his death at the hands of alleged MS-13 gang members who shot and hacked him to death with a machete.

Karla Morales was arrested Friday after telling Harris County Sheriffs Office investigators she was forced to lie to 24-year-old Jose Alfonso Villanueza with the promise of belated birthday marijuana. It was a ruse to coax him out of his apartment before the July 29 killing, which his family says took place on Spring ISD property.

She told one of the males she didnt want to go through with it anymore but they said it was too late, investigators wrote.

Now Playing: Karla Morales, 17, stands before Judge Nikita Harmon during a probable cause hearing on Sept. 15, 2018, after her arrest on a murder charge. Video: Harris County Office Of Court Management

Villanueza, whose birthday was on July 25, fell for the plot and joined Morales in a car with two men she identified as MS-13 members. Around 10:30 p.m., the four drove to a nearby field about 400 feet from a Lewis Elementary School parking lot where more men were waiting for him.

Morales watched the gang repeatedly pump Villanueza with bullets before one of the men landed the final blow with a machete  a signature blade associated with the transnational gangs killings. On Aug. 7, a week before students returned to the nearby school, his partially-clothed body was found in an advanced stage of decomposition with a spent .45-caliber shell under him, according to authorities.

IN GALVESTON: MS-13 gang members indicted in strangulation

Villanueza was identified through his fingerprints in a FBI database. An autopsy revealed he died of multiple gunshot wounds and sharp force trauma.

The address in court documents showing where Villanueza was found matches tracts of grassy fields owned by Spring ISD. Karen Garrison, a spokeswoman for the district, said the administration was never notified of the homicide investigation. The school is located at 3230 Spears Rd., Houston.

During Morales probable cause hearing Saturday, her public defender, Teiva Bell, said the teen was a senior at Westfield High School in Spring ISD. But the district has no record of the girl attending one of its schools, Garrison added.

Bell said Morales has lived with her mother, a house cleaner, and step-father, an electrical worker, in the Houston area for the past five years.

20 ARRESTED: Notable MS-13 activity in Texas this year

The teen was apprehended about a week after a Sept. 4 press conference where Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo announced the arrest of nearly a dozen alleged MS-13 gang members, four of whom were accused of slaying a confidential informant with a machete. The victims body was found hacked to death in southeast Houstons Cullinan Park on June 6.

Acevedo estimated at the time that there were about 800 MS-13 members in the states Gulf Coast.

The presence of MS-13 in the United States, where the gang originated, has become a focal point of President Trumps call to limit immigration and build a border wall to Mexico.

The Harris County Sheriffs Office, which did not publicize the gruesome killing in August, failed to respond to requests for comment and the Harris County District Attorneys Office declined to elaborate on the investigation when reached on Tuesday.

It was not immediately clear if more suspects are outstanding.

About four days before Villanuezas body was found, his cousin, Rosa Flores, became worried after he failed to return her calls and messages. She waited three more days for him to respond and then, on Aug. 6, she called police to report him missing. She later told investigators a rap battle with apparent rivals may have preluded the retaliation death.

They got upset and starting rapping back telling him they were going to kill him. In a week, he was dead, Flores told the Houston Chronicle.

Flores identified the location where Villanuezas body was found and told the Chronicle she wished he had accepted her offer to stay with her a day before the slaying.

I was telling him, Are you sure? Are you OK? Are you sure you dont want to come to my house and stay the night? But he said he was OK, she recalled.

She knew Villanueza had friends with ties to MS-13 but didnt know him to be involved with the transnational gang.

He wasnt no bad guy. His thing was rap. He liked to rap, Flores said.

Villanuezas sister, Mayra Nuevo, said he was born in Los Angeles but both of them were sent back to their familys home country of El Salvador as children. The siblings returned to Houston as teens.

For me this is something really hard, Nuevo said. It hurts, I dont have the words to say how I feel.

Villanuezas mother lives in Mexico, according to the Harris County Forensic Insititute.

Nuevo did not know the teen arrested in Villanuezas death, she said.

Morales recalled meeting the victim at a bar months before, according to court documents. He began boasting about his ties to the rival 18th Street gang during a rap battle that apparently insulted members of MS-13 who worked for the same landscaping outfit as Villanueza. That same week, Morales told an investigator her boyfriend  an MS-13 gang member  overheard Villanueza insulting her.

According to the probable cause document, Morales played a key role in the plot to lure Villanueza out of the apartment complex on Antoine Street. She allegedly messaged Villanueza telling him she wanted to give him a birthday present, a gesture which struck Villanuezas roommate as odd because they were not close friends.

Morales has since been jailed on a $100,000 bond. She is slated to return to court on Nov. 7.

During Morales hearing, prosecutors requested a higher bond because she did lure him into a field knowing he would be murdered by gang members.

Lomi Kriel contributed to this report

nicole.hensley@chron.comA few months into his job as the top law enforcement officer for a massive quadrant of Texas, Trump administration appointee Ryan Kelley Patrick stood in a field surrounded by hundreds of federal, state and local police officers responding to a mass shooting at Santa Fe High School.

Patricks well-known father, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and his first deputy recounted the moment as a example of his ability to lead in his role as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas. They were part of the public remarks Tuesday as Patrick was sworn into office for a second time to the key federal post, during a formal investiture ceremony in a Houston courtroom before luminaries from the executive and judicial branches.

Three of Patricks predecessors and two newly-appointed prosecutors from the eastern and western districts of Texas were on hand along with 10 federal judges and magistrates, Patricks wife and three young children, his mother-in-law and his parents.

Patrick, 39, is a former state district judge and criminal lawyer with no experience in federal court. His father, a GOP stalwart in the conservative culture wars, was an early supporter of Donald Trumps candidacy.

Chief U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal acknowledged the familys history at the U.S. attorneys ceremony.

RELATED: U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick takes the helm in Houston

He comes from a political family but his current focus is not on politics, its on policy, Rosenthal said. And that is as it should be as he faces intensely tactical problems of running this large and complicated office in our very large and very complicated districtat a large and complicated time.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Braley ribbed Patrick from the podium about coming on board in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, enduring a government shutdown in his second week, and noted that Patrick had learned quickly on the border that building a few miles of fence was really complicated and really expensive.

Braley joked, over the squeals of Patricks 1-year-old son, that the office, introduced him to the concept of zero tolerance and he learned that it wasnt simply a parenting technique. Because the district has been a focal point amid this highly controversial policy, which separated hundreds of children from parents, Patrick has regularly spoken on the phone with U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and sometimes with the Vice President Mike Pence and President Trump, Braley said.

HIRING PROSECUTORS: Justice Department needs lawyers to fight expected flood of border wall lawsuits

The Southern District of Texas, which encompasses 43 counties, handles the largest criminal caseload in the country with courthouses in Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo, Patrick said.

In his speech, Patrick cited the federalist papers and quoted President Calvin Coolidges statement that To live under the American Constitution is the greatest political privilege that was ever accorded to the human race.

We are on the front lines of so much of what is going on in our country, he said. He said the department is in the midst of unprecedented hiring, with 34 attorneys currently undergoing background checks. He has 12 openings yet to fill, he said.

Gabrielle Banks covers federal court for the Houston Chronicle. Follow her on Twitter and send her tips at gabrielle.banks@chron.com.The arrest of a Border Patrol agent who confessed to fatally shooting four women in the past two weeks is the latest scandal threatening the agency's reputation.

In the wake of the alleged killer's arrest the second Laredo agent to be arrested over charges of murder this year lawmakers are already looking for changes to make to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Rep. Henry Cuellar, who represents the Rio Grande area and the suburbs of San Antonio, said on Sunday that he met with Customs and Border Protection to discuss "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."

In addition, Cuellar suggested "hiring more Professional Responsibility officers" so that CBP can better police its own agents.

RELATED: Things to know about the alleged Border Patrol serial killer

Now Playing: Monday afternoon Webb County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Federico Garza identified 3 of the 4 victims investigators believe were murdered by U.S. Border Patrol supervisor Juan David Ortiz. Video: Fox7

The arrest of Juan David Ortiz has also worried CBP leadership, who fear the 35-year-old's confessed 10-day murder spree will harm the agency's reputation.

"I would hate for this to tarnish the great work that those men and women do," Border Patrol chief Carla Provost told reporters on Tuesday, according to the Associated Press.

But Ortiz' arrest is just one of the many image management problems facing the agency.

In June, a Quinnipiac University poll revealed that separation of migrant families by CBP was largely unpopular, with two-thirds of Americans opposing the now-defunct "zero tolerance" policy.

Moreover, the accusations of maltreatment at detention facilities across the nation have also weighed heavily on the agency.

To see some of the stories that brought CPB underfire this year, check the gallery above.

Fernando Ramirez covers Texas news and politics. Read him on our breaking news site and on our subscriber site. | Fernando.ramirez@chron.com | @fernramirez93



Oil rose as Saudi Arabia was said to be comfortable with Brent crude exceeding $80 a barrel.

Futures in London added as much as 1.7%. The world's biggest crude exporter is content to see the global benchmark advance, at least in the short term, as markets adjust to the impact of US sanctions on Iranian supply, according to people familiar with the kingdom's view. Iranian oil exports have already plunged to a 2 1/2-year low, tanker-tracking data show.

Brent for November settlement rose as much as $1.32 to $79.37 on the ICE Futures Europe exchange, and traded at $79.05 at 1:15 pm in London. The contract fell 4 cents on Monday. The global benchmark crude traded at a $9.51 premium to West Texas Intermediate for the same month, the Business Times reported.

WTI for October delivery gained as much as $1.04 to $69.95 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, following Monday's 8-cent decline. Total volume traded was about 12% above the 100-day average.The mayor of Livingston is taking community protection into her own hands. Literally.

Livingston, Texas mayor Judy B. Cochran managed to kill a 12-foot, 580-pound alligator with just one shot Sunday night at her ranch in Goodrich, Texas.

It must run in the family: The hunt took place in the same pond where her 5-year-old grandson, Simon Hughes, took down a gator in 2009.

ALL IN THE FAMILY: Hefty gator bagged by 5-year-old boy

Now Playing: Great-grandmother and Livingston, Texas mayor, Judy B. Cochran, hunts 12-foot, 580-pound alligator. Video: Scott Hughes

This particular reptile is a familiar one to the family, she explained.

"We think this is the gator that ate one of our miniature horses several years ago, as big as this gator was, he could've easily eaten it,"she said. "Typically the gators don't bother us, but we've been looking for (this one)."

As an elected official, Cochran wants to make sure the public knows this was a safe, ethical hunt.

"There are a lot of requirements to kill a gator in Polk County," she explained. "We're one of 12 counties that has a hunting season for alligators, between Sept. 10 and 30. You have to have a permit and tags from a wildlife biologist, and you have to catch it on a hook first. We don't just go to the ranch and hunt a gator."

TRAFFIC STOPPER: Massive alligator stops US 59 traffic in Cleveland

Handlers caught the gator on a hook with a seasoned raccoon Sunday night and alerted Cochran she could proceed with the kill.

Cochran already knows the fate of her catch: "Moye Taxidermy will be processing it, we'll eat the meat, have the head mounted and have the ridgeback part of the tail in my office. We'll have the hide tanned to make some boots out of it, you can only make boots from the belly."

She'll have plenty of material for several pairs of boots.

Cochran said it's been a particularly exciting time for her and her family. She said she just became a great-grandmother, is a newly elected mayor and now claims a 12-foot gator as a hunting prize.

Cochran, whose grandchildren call her Nana, has a fair warning to share: "Don't mess with Nana!"Ted Cruz believes Democrats were too quick to weigh in on the death of Botham Jean, the victim who authorities say was fatally shot by a Dallas Police officer earlier this month.

In a recent interview with Fox 26, Cruz said the facts surrounding the tragic incident weren't fully known yet.

"It's possible what happened was a horrifying and horrific misunderstanding, or it may be something else," Cruz said.

"That's why we have a legal justice system, to actually learn what the facts are," Cruz said. "I wish Beto O'Rourke and Democrats weren't so quick to always blame the police officer."

On Friday, O'Rourke said he believed Amber Guyger, the officer charged with manslaughter in the shooting, should be fired. He told a reporter, "I don't understand, given the actions, how anyone could come to any other conclusion."

LATEST: 'Dallas nine' released from jail two days after arrest during peaceful protest

Guyger is accused of shooting Jean after attempting to enter his apartment, which was a floor above hers. She told police she thought the apartment was her own and shot Jean because she thought he was an intruder 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.

Now Playing: 'How can we continue to lose the lives of unarmed Black men in the United State of America at the hands of white police officers?' - Beto O'Rourke speaking out on Botham Jean. This video, "Beto O'Rourke on the Killing of Botham Jean", first appeared on nowthisnews.com. Video: NowThis News

Cruz admitted that Guyger could be in the wrong, but added, "I don't think we should jump to conclusions."

Earlier in the interview, Cruz described the fatal shooting in a manner that later sparked criticism on social media.

"It may well be that two lives were destroyed that night," Cruz said. "Obviously, the individual that was at home in his apartment and found himself murdered."

RELATED: Activists, critics slam Texas news station for reporting marijuana use of slain victim

The race between Cruz and O'Rourke has tightened to single digits in recent months. Multiple polls averaged together by RealClearPolitics show Cruz leading O'Rourke by 4.5 percentage points.

Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message.

Fernando Ramirez covers Texas news and politics. Read him on our breaking news site and on our subscriber site. | Fernando.ramirez@chron.com | @fernramirez93Two pilots safely ejected from an Air Force plane Tuesday afternoon before it crashed in a field on the far North Side, prompting a suspension of training flights at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph.

Both pilots survived the bailout from the T-6 Texan II training aircraft with minor injuries. The plane crashed in a field near Nacogdoches Road just outside Loop 1604 in the northern suburban fringe, where such wide-open acreage is rapidly shrinking.

The commander of the 12th Flying Training Wing suspended flights of the two-seat, turboprop T-6A. It is the services mainstay trainer for novice pilots at several bases in Texas, Oklahoma and Mississippi under the Air Education and Training Command.

The cause of the crash wasnt known, but an Air Force investigation team was on the ground along with military and civilian firefighters, said Randy Martin, the wings spokesman.

Obviously, this is a serious accident, so we have to follow the protocol established by the Air Force, Martin said.

At Randolph, the T-6A is used to train instructor pilots. The wings commander, Col. Mark Robinson, suspended training and will evaluate its resumption over the coming hours, Martin said.

Robinson also established an interim safety board to preserve evidence until a formal safety board is established this week, Martin said.

T-6A Texan II The T-6A Texan II is a single-engine, two-seat trainer. It teaches basic flying skills to Air Force and Navy pilots in a variety of roles, including fighters, bombers, tankers and cargo aircraft, as well as helicopters. Instructor pilot training in the T-6A began at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph in 2000, with the first novice aviators starting in 2001. Builder: Raytheon Aircraft Co. Powerplant: 1,100 horsepower Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68 turbo-prop engine Speed: 320 mph Ceiling: 31,000 feet Range: 900 nautical miles Cost: $4.27 million each Inventory: Active force, 444 See More Collapse

The plane crashed about 5 miles from Randolph but within a half a mile of Rolling Oaks Mall and a Wal-Mart Super Center to the west and Judson Independent School Districts Veterans Memorial High to the north.

Randolph commanders have worked with Universal City and other nearby cities to limit the density of development far closer to its runways, where the risks of a crash are highest, but Tuesdays mishap was sure to reinforce concerns that the high pace of construction in northern Bexar County was incompatible with the high pace of pilot training there.

No one on the ground was hurt. The aircraft appeared broken in two pieces after ripping a long skid mark into the earth.

Chris Lowe, 41, who manages the Circle Dot Ranch, said he heard an explosion and looked up to see the plane falling and the two pilots parachuting toward the middle of the property.

He and his wife drove their pickups to where they found the pilots standing among several mesquite trees. Both were scratched from the trees, but appeared OK, he said.

Lowes wife, Brandi Williams, 35, said one pilot received a phone call moments after they arrived.

Hes like, Hello? You were just in a plane crash, really? she recalled thinking.

One pilot spoke to his commanding officer and was handling it pretty well, Lowe added. The other pilot, you could tell he was a little shaken.

After a few moments, the two pilots hugged each other, Lowe said.

That felt really good to see that, that they felt compelled to be thankful, Lowe said.

A photo taken by someone on the ground showing both pilots standing and smiling after receiving treatment by paramedics was posted to the Twitter feed of a local TV news station. A parachute resting in a set of tree limbs dangled a few feet above their heads.

Martin said the pilots were taken to JBSA-Randolph Clinic for treatment.

Michael Spencer, 36, also looked up when he heard a boom, and could see the descending plane and the two parachutes from his house. The plane crashed on his property.

It was loud, Spencer said. It took a tumble probably three or four times and then came to a stop.

Several drivers on Nacogdoches Road pulled over and ran to the wreckage to search for survivors, he said.

I saw about five or six guys jump the fence and take off running out there, Spencer said. I took off running too, from my kitchen, just to make sure nobody was still in there.  You could feel the heat and you could smell the fuel.

Spencer said he has lived there all his life. A plane crashed there in the 1980s, too  I remember hearing stories about it, he said. To actually see it happen, it's crazy.

Both Spencer and Lowe said their properties are under a regular Randolph flight path.

We see those planes come looping around all the time, Spencer said.

The Air Force recorded at least four crashes with 18 fatalities since last October. Three of those involved T-38 jet trainers, including one near Del Rio on Nov. 14, but none involved the T-6A, which has been plagued by problems with its onboard oxygen generation system, called OBOGS.

The system never has caused a T-6A crash, the Air Force said, but it has been blamed for at least 61 unexplained physiological episodes among its pilots during the first six months of this year. The San Antonio-based AETC last week said a lengthy investigation had found the main cause was varying levels of oxygen concentrations in the cockpit and announced plans to make improvements.

The AETC grounded the T-6A in February, then resumed training operations with more frequent inspections and maintenance and new testing equipment, though some pilots over the summer expressed concern about the services failure to find a root cause for the OBOGS problems.

Bexar County has bought land near Randolph, including older houses built before the Air Force created the clear zones near runways, where it wants no construction at all.

Commanders at area military installations  Randolph, Lackland, Fort Sam Houston and Camp Bullis  generally have won concessions against what the military calls encroachment, allowing the services to continue and expand training there.

The most complicated such problem affects Randolph, where aviators learning to become fighter and instructor pilots made 196,393 takeoffs and landings in 2016  some 30,000 more than International Airport.

Staff Writer Fares Sabawi contributed to this report. | 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Two pilots safely ejected from an Air Force plane Tuesday afternoon before it crashed in a field on the far North Side, prompting a suspension of training flights at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph.

Both pilots survived the bailout from the T-6 Texan II training aircraft with minor injuries. The plane crashed in a field near Nacogdoches Road just outside Loop 1604 in the northern suburban fringe, where such wide-open acreage is rapidly shrinking.

The commander of the 12th Flying Training Wing suspended flights of the two-seat, turboprop T-6A. It is the services mainstay trainer for novice pilots at several bases in Texas, Oklahoma and Mississippi under the Air Education and Training Command.

SUBSCRIBERS: Air Force's mainstay T-6A trainers grounded over pilot safety concerns

The cause of the crash wasnt known, but an Air Force investigation team was on the ground along with military and civilian firefighters, said Randy Martin, the wings spokesman.

Now Playing: Two pilots ejected from an Air Force plane Sept. 18, 2018 before it crashed in a field near Rolling Oaks Mall. Video: San Antonio Express-News

Obviously, this is a serious accident, so we have to follow the protocol established by the Air Force, Martin said.

T-6A Texan II The T-6A Texan II is a single-engine, two-seat trainer. It teaches basic flying skills to Air Force and Navy pilots in a variety of roles, including fighters, bombers, tankers and cargo aircraft, as well as helicopters. Instructor pilot training in the T-6A began at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph in 2000, with the first novice aviators starting in 2001. Builder: Raytheon Aircraft Co. Powerplant: 1,100 horsepower Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68 turbo-prop engine Speed: 320 mph Ceiling: 31,000 feet Range: 900 nautical miles Cost: $4.27 million each Inventory: Active force, 444 See More Collapse

At Randolph, the T-6A is used to train instructor pilots. The wings commander, Col. Mark Robinson, suspended training and will evaluate its resumption over the coming hours, Martin said.

Robinson also established an interim safety board to preserve evidence until a formal safety board is established this week, Martin said.

The plane crashed about 5 miles from Randolph but within a half a mile of Rolling Oaks Mall and a Wal-Mart Super Center to the west and Judson Independent School Districts Veterans Memorial High to the north.

Randolph commanders have worked with Universal City and other nearby cities to limit the density of development far closer to its runways, where the risks of a crash are highest, but Tuesdays mishap was sure to reinforce concerns that the high pace of construction in northern Bexar County was incompatible with the high pace of pilot training there.

No one on the ground was hurt. The aircraft appeared broken in two pieces after ripping a long skid mark into the earth.

Chris Lowe, 41, who manages the Circle Dot Ranch, said he heard an explosion and looked up to see the plane falling and the two pilots parachuting toward the middle of the property.

He and his wife drove their pickups to where they found the pilots standing among several mesquite trees. Both were scratched from the trees, but appeared OK, he said.

Lowes wife, Brandi Williams, 35, said one pilot received a phone call moments after they arrived.

Hes like, Hello? You were just in a plane crash, really? she recalled thinking.

One pilot spoke to his commanding officer and was handling it pretty well, Lowe added. The other pilot, you could tell he was a little shaken.

After a few moments, the two pilots hugged each other, Lowe said.

That felt really good to see that, that they felt compelled to be thankful, Lowe said.

A photo taken by someone on the ground showing both pilots standing and smiling after receiving treatment by paramedics was posted to the Twitter feed of a local TV news station. A parachute resting in a set of tree limbs dangled a few feet above their heads.

SUBSCRIBERS: Air Force says varying oxygen levels in cockpit sickened pilots

Martin said the pilots were taken to JBSA-Randolph Medical Clinic for treatment.

Michael Spencer, 36, also looked up when he heard a boom, and could see the descending plane and the two parachutes from his house. The plane crashed on his property.

It was loud, Spencer said. It took a tumble probably three or four times and then came to a stop.

Several drivers on Nacogdoches Road pulled over and ran to the wreckage to search for survivors, he said.

I saw about five or six guys jump the fence and take off running out there, Spencer said. I took off running too, from my kitchen, just to make sure nobody was still in there.  You could feel the heat and you could smell the fuel.

Spencer said he has lived there all his life. A plane crashed there in the 1980s, too  I remember hearing stories about it, he said. To actually see it happen, it's crazy.

Both Spencer and Lowe said their properties are under a regular Randolph flight path.

We see those planes come looping around all the time, Spencer said.

The Air Force recorded at least four crashes with 18 fatalities since last October. Three of those involved T-38 jet trainers, including one near Del Rio on Nov. 14, but none involved the T-6A, which has been plagued by problems with its onboard oxygen generation system, called OBOGS.

The system never has caused a T-6A crash, the Air Force said, but it has been blamed for at least 61 unexplained physiological episodes among its pilots during the first six months of this year. The San Antonio-based AETC last week said a lengthy investigation had found the main cause was varying levels of oxygen concentrations in the cockpit and announced plans to make improvements.

The AETC grounded the T-6A in February, then resumed training operations with more frequent inspections and maintenance and new testing equipment, though some pilots over the summer expressed concern about the services failure to find a root cause for the OBOGS problems.

Bexar County has bought land near Randolph, including older houses built before the Air Force created the clear zones near runways, where it wants no construction at all.

Commanders at area military installations  Randolph, Lackland, Fort Sam Houston and Camp Bullis  generally have won concessions against what the military calls encroachment, allowing the services to continue and expand training there.

The most complicated such problem affects Randolph, where aviators learning to become fighter and instructor pilots made 196,393 takeoffs and landings in 2016  some 30,000 more than International Airport.

Text "NEWS" to 77453 for breaking news alerts from mySA.com

Staff Writer Fares Sabawi contributed to this report. | 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The Russian investigation into the source of an air leak-causing hole in the International Space Station will stretch into November  a full month after the next scheduled flight to the orbiting laboratory.

But NASA astronaut Nick Hague told the Houston Chronicle on Wednesday that he's received no indication it will impact his October flight.

"I showed up [in Russia] four weeks ago and started training and all the training has been based on" an Oct. 11 launch, Hague said. "We're still marching to that time."

The leak was discovered Aug. 30 in Russia's Soyuz spacecraft attached to the space station. The Soyuz has been the only way to ferry astronauts to and from the space station since the space shuttle program was shuttered in 2011. But the compromised part of the Soyuz does not return to Earth and the patch astronauts put in last month is holding.

After the hole was discovered, Russia immediately launched an investigation  initially estimated to be complete this month  into how the hole occurred, whether it was intentional and if other Soyuz modules currently in development also have defects.

They initially thought the hole was the result of space debris, but they later said it likely was the result of sloppy drill work, either here or in space.

BLAME: Hole that caused air leak in International Space Station made by 'human hand,' Russia says

"It is a matter of honor," Roscosmos state space corporation head Dmitry Rogozin previously said, "...to find the one responsible for that, to find out whether it was an accidental defect or a deliberate spoilage and where it was done  either on Earth or in space."

That comment drew ire from NASA astronaut Drew Feustel, who currently is living on the station. Last week, he told ABC News that it was "a shame and somewhat embarrassing that anybody is wasting any time talking about something that the crew was involved in."

'A SHAME:' NASA astronaut says hole in the International Space Station did not happen on orbit

Nikolai Savostyanov, Roscosmos first deputy director general, told state-run news agency TASS on Wednesday that Russia didn't find any "systematic flaws" in the Soyuz' production, "which could have led to an accidental damage of the Soyuz MS-09 spacecraft."

Their investigation, however, will continue and they plan to use a spacewalk, previously scheduled for Nov. 15, to examine the hole further. During that spacewalk, Russian cosmonauts will examine the hole by removing a layer of thermal isolation, as well as an anti-meteorite shield.

"We have outlined a plan of work," Savostyanov said. "We plan to gather once in two weeks and complete the commission's work in late November."

Roscosmos chief Dmitry Rogozin told TASS it's been more difficult to investigate the incident than initially anticipated.

'I TRUST THEM': Astronaut confident Russia will figure out source of hole

Rogozin and NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine already have discussed the situation and they plan to meet in Kazakhstan Oct. 10, the day before Hague's flight is scheduled to launch.

Hague was in Russia when the hole was discovered and said he watched closely as the crew worked through the procedures of finding and patching the hole.

"It impressed me  I trained with some of them for this exact scenario," he said. "Watching them work was a thrill, to see them put our training to use. They executed it flawlessly."

The fact that Russia still has not discovered what caused the hole does not give Hague pause as his flight fast approaches, he added.

"I've been over here in [Russia] working side by side with the Russian space program and I can tell you they're committed to making sure they deliver a safe vehicle and it performs safely," he said. "Everyone has crew safety in mind, and they're leaving no stone un-turned figuring out what happened."

Alex Stuckey covers NASA and the environment for the Houston Chronicle. You can reach her at alex.stuckey@chron.com or Twitter.com/alexdstuckey.U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz has a comfortable 9 percentage point lead over Democrat Beto ORourke in the latest major public poll.

While ORourkes national popularity has surged with major television show appearances, his numbers among likely Texas voters have not followed suit, according to the new Quinnipiac University Poll.

The poll of 807 likely Texas voters showed 54 percent favored Cruz's re-election while 45 percent sided with ORourke, a congressman from El Paso.

Unlike other Quinnipiac surveys released in previous months, this time the pollsters only questioned likely voters and pushed any undecided respondents to say which way they lean. In an Aug. 1 Quinnipiac poll, Cruz had led ORourke 49 percent to 43 percent.

Congressman ORourke may be drawing big crowds and media attention, but Texas likely voters like Sen. Cruz better, said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.

Texas Republicans have been highly skeptical of a bevy of summer polls showing Cruz in essentially a dead heat with ORourke. Cruz has questioned the legitimacy of some of the polling while on the campaign trail but has consistently said he believes the race is tight and has warned against complacency in a year that Democrats are fired up.

The poll shows Cruz doing far better among women than earlier polls, winning 50 percent to 48 percent; the August poll had showed ORourke winning among women 49 percent to 43 percent. Similarly, an NBC/Marist College poll last month showed ORourke winning among women voters 51 percent to 41 percent.

In the Texas governors race, the new Quinnipiac poll showed GOP Gov. Greg Abbott with a commanding lead over Democrat Lupe Valdez. About 58 percent of likely voters picked Abbott, versus just 39 percent for Valdez.

Abbott also holds a 62 percent job approval rating among Texans, according to the poll  far ahead of Cruz, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn or President Donald Trump. Cruz has a 53 percent approval rating in the poll, while Trump and Cornyn are both at 49 percent, according to the poll.Aggressive behavior of new Armenian authorities under leadership of Nikol Pashinyan only makes situation inside the republic more uncontrollable, negatively affecting stability of the entire South Caucasus, American expert on international relations, Peter Tase, sain today in an interview with Vestnik Kavkaza, commenting on Pashinyan's latest statements on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement.

"Pashinyan's provocative rhetoric against Baku is inappropriate and aggressive, it will ultimately lead to more chaos and unrest inside and outside of Armenia," political scientist said.

New Yerevan's foreign policy looks especially strange because it doesn't expand circle of Armenia's allies, on the contrary, it just narrows it, while Azerbaijan continues to strengthen its regional and international ties, Peter Tase noted.

"While Pashinyan repeats the same uncompromising statements over and over again, President of Turkey strengthens friendly, mutually beneficial relations with Azerbaijan," he said.

According to Tase, Russia has key role as mediator in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement. That's why Moscow will likely take more steps to make new Yerevan less aggressive.

"Russia is able to convince Armenian government that it's necessary to withdraw its troops from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan and comply with international law," Peter Tase concluded.And to think, up until last week, I would have said that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh was painfully boring with a confirmation process to match.

What do I know? Scandals are never boring. Still, as a proud American who hates to see our institutions sullied, give me boring any day.

The Kavanaugh proceedings have taken a detour into the sewer, which explains the stench.

Senate Democrats are trying to take out this nominee, for the unpardonable sin of having been nominated by President Trump. And a lot of what has happened over the last several days does not make their side look pure and wholesome.

Consider:

The fact that the accusation of sexual misconduct was initially made anonymously.

The fact that Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California  who learned of the allegation several weeks ago  never mentioned it during the hearings or in a private meeting with Kavanaugh.

The fact that the man who was reportedly with Kavanaugh during this alleged assault says it never happened, and that he never witnessed the nominee being disrespectful to women.

None of this helps the Democrats in their crusade to kill the Kavanaugh confirmation by any means necessary.

To get here, we took a dark and dangerous road.

But here we are nonetheless. And, just days before the scheduled Senate vote on Kavanaughs nomination, were facing a barrage of questions. For instance, do we believe what she said, or what he said?

And: Even if Kavanaugh did  as a 17-year-old who had too much to drink  everything that she said, should it doom Kavanaughs nomination?

And also: What about that article of faith among liberals that says people can change?

Barack Obama admitted to using cocaine. George W. Bush had a drinking problem. Bill Clinton said he smoked marijuana but apparently incompetently since he claims he didnt inhale.

American voters gave them all a second chance  and, ultimately, two terms in office.

I could list the moral failings of the current president that his supporters  including on the religious right  are all too willing to forgive, but I dont have the word space.

Which brings us to this question: Is the moral standard for a Supreme Court justice higher than it is for the leader of the free world?

And this one: Whats the standard for a U.S. senator? The late Edward Kennedy left the scene of a car crash off a bridge on Chappaquiddick Island in 1969, where a young woman died. Kennedy served for another 40 years.

Why? Because, as they say on the left, people change.

But apparently not Supreme Court nominees put up by Republicans. They arent people, too?

And yet, at the same time, Kavanaugh has not done himself any favors with the way he has responded to his name being dragged through the mud. How he reacts now, as a grown man, says more about his character than what he may have done as a teenager. So far, not so good.

The accuser is Christine Blasey Ford, a California psychology professor who says that she recently passed a lie-detector test about the incident and that she told a marriage counselor about it in 2012, though she didnt mention Kavanaugh by name back then.

Why would she? How many people knew who Brett Kavanaugh was in 2012?

There is no upside for Ford. Whether the allegation is true or not, her life will never be the same. Ask Anita Hill.

To all this, Kavanaugh says coolly: It never happened. Thats it.

His handlers have also released a letter signed by 65 women who claim that they knew the nominee in high school and he never behaved this way.

The letter is a ridiculous tactic that proves absolutely nothing, by the way, except perhaps that Kavanaugh didnt behave badly with any of those 65 women.

The nominee must do better. If youre innocent, you dont parse your words. You holler! Its time for a Clarence Thomas high-tech lynching moment where Kavanaugh goes back before the Senate Judiciary Committee - as he is scheduled to do on Monday, along with Ford - and says that, as the father of two young girls, he is outraged that the opposition would sink this low. This is your name, Judge. Lets hear the holler.

Otherwise, Ill be inclined  along with what Im sure will be many other Americans  to discount what he said and believe what she said.

Navarrettes email address is ruben@rubennavarrette.com. His daily podcast, Navarrette Nation, is available through every podcast app.The companies behind the listings were said to be hunting for prospects for male-dominated fields. The employers purportedly used the networking sites ad targeting system to exclude female and non-binary jobseekers from the opportunity.

The ACLU, which lodged the complaint together with Outten & Golden, a law firm, and the Communications Workers of America labour union, claimed the employers pre-selected potential applicants based on age and gender  suggesting a violation of federal and state laws.

We look forward to defending our practices once we have an opportunity to review the complaint, Joe Osborne, a spokesperson for Facebook, told CNNMoney.

Osborne pointed out how there is no place for discrimination at Facebook, and that the company has beefed up its system against misuse.Te Runanga set a goal to our companies to increase the wages they are offering their staff, so it is great to see Ngai Tahu Tourism pick up the challenge, said Tumahai.

I hope other tourism companies follow the lead of Ngai Tahu Tourism.

Quinton Hall, chief executive at Ngai Tahu Tourism, said the change has already positively impacted over 200 staff.

We want all of our people to be paid fairly and at a level which is not only sustainable for our business but also recognises the value that every individual brings to our mahi (work), said Hall.

This wage movement is a large investment for our business, but it will make a big difference to our people and their whanau (extended family), which is important to us.Translation:

Liberando los beneficios de la aviacion en America Central (pdf)

San Jose, Costa Rica - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) urged governments across Central America to work with industry to maximize the benefits that aviation can bring to the region. Aviation supports over 859,000 jobs and makes a $17.9 billion contribution in gross value added to the combined GDP of the seven Central American countries, said Peter Cerda, IATAs Regional Vice President, The Americas.

Speaking at Aviation Day Central America, organized by IATA, the Airline Association of Costa Rica (ALA), and the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA), Cerda said, The contribution of aviation is not divided equally. Some countries in the region are having greater success unlocking aviations benefits to support economic and social development.

In Panama, for example, 14% of GDP and 238,000 jobs are supported by air transport and foreign arrivals, while in Belize, aviation supports fully 33% of the countrys GDP. By contrast, in Guatemala, just 1% of GDP is supported by air transport, while in Honduras, the figure is 3%.

To help drive the benefits of aviation connectivity to new heights, countries should:

Align their aviation regulatory framework with global best practices

Ensure competitive costs and efficient administration in airports through open communication with the industry

Ensure transparency and participation of the industry in infrastructure planning and development across Central America



Unfortunately, there are too many examples where this formula is not being followed. In Guatemala, airlines face potential tax penalties owing to the tax authoritys non-recognition of the use of globally-accepted cost allocation formulas to calculate the taxable amount corresponding to the airlines operations in Guatemala. IATA and other stakeholders are now working with the government and the industry to resolve this issue to ensure Guatemala follows globally-accepted best practices and principles related to taxation of aviation.



Even in countries where governments understand the importance of aviation as a catalyst for growth, there are opportunities to do more. In Panama, a court awarded more than $1 million in damages in a cargo claim brought against an airline. This far exceeds the liability limits for cargo claims contained within the Montreal Convention, to which Panama has fully acceded. IATA has intervened in the case, which is currently on appeal.

Countries also need to prepare to accommodate an additional 421 million passengers across the Latin American region by 2036. Within Central America, San Jose (Costa Rica) and Tegucigalpa (Honduras), need new airports, while Panama Tocumen requires a third runway as well as much-needed airspace modernization that the government is undertaking. In El Salvador, the terminal at San Salvador also requires expansion, Cerda said.



Owing to its geographic location, Central America is well-positioned to increase the economic gains that aviation can deliver. The recipe for success is not complicated but it requires all stakeholders working together in partnership. We see differing approaches to how governments approach aviation. This presents an opportunity to learn from the true success stories in the region, said Cerda.

Learn more about the benefits of Aviation in Central America



For more information, please contact:

Perry Flint

Assistant Director, Corporate Communications

Tel: +1 202-628-9444

Email: flintp@iata.org



Notes for Editors:U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will host a meeting of the U.N. Security Council on North Korea on September 27, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said.

"That meeting will give the secretary a chance to update the Security Council on our efforts toward the final, fully verified denuclearization of North Korea as well as underscore the need for all member states to enforce existing sanctions," Reuters cited Nauert as saying.Using a cheap smartphone to catch fish

September 18,2018 | Source: BBC

Trapped between rising sea levels and development projects that are eating into the coastline of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, fishing communities using cheap technology have taken matters into their own hands, reports Mahima A Jain.



"Fisherfolk will be the worst affected if common lands such as mangroves, wet lands and beaches are lost," says Saravanan, who only uses his first name. He is a 35-year-old fisherman by trade but often rides along the length of the northern coast of Tamil Nadu with a borrowed MacBook Pro and a smartphone to map contested and vulnerable areas.



"We are among the first to undertake such a mapping exercise along the coast in India," says Saravanan.



He is a coordinator at the Coastal Resource Centre (CRC) in Chennai (formerly Madras), which is helping more than 40 fishing villages around the city create land use maps using open source software and affordable technology. A land use map helps identify which areas of land are used for which purpose.



Coastal areas in the region have witnessed a surge in storms, floods and beach erosion in the last decade alone. The devastating floods in Chennai in 2015 were also largely blamed on encroachment of lakes and rivers for building projects, according to a report by a government committee.



Fishermen like Saravanan have been spurred to act because, for the last five years, the state government has failed to finalise a coastal zone management plan (CZMP). This is crucial to monitor development projects along the shoreline, protect the livelihoods of fishermen and conserve ecologically sensitive areas.



In recent years - as the CZMP was delayed - several industrial and development projects have sprung up along protected coastal areas in Tamil Nadu.



"So we mapped all our common areas and village boundaries so that the government can't evict us and private companies can't encroach on to our land," says R Suraya, 21, a fisherman in the Koraikuppam village, which is located to the north of Chennai. (Common areas are those used by fishermen for landing boats and drying the day's catch and fishing nets.)



A one-metre rise in sea levels by 2050 will affect more than a hundred thousand fisherfolk in just three districts of the state including Chennai, according to a 2017 report by the Indo-German Centre for Sustainability.



Many of the villages that have been mapped by CRC are among those likely to be submerged.



The tiny village of Koraikuppam is one of them. The Tamil Nadu government has offered to relocate the villagers. But according to Mr Suraya this plan is not feasible as it would involve villagers moving further inland and a "lot of time and effort would be wasted to reach the sea" every day to fish.



Mr Suraya was appointed by his village to learn to make the land use maps as he is its only resident with an undergraduate degree. Along with Mr Saravanan, he has led the villagers in an exercise to map areas on their phones. Based on these maps and meetings with the village council and local officials, Mr Saravanan has created detailed maps of scale using open source geographic data.



These include land use patterns as well as high tide, low tide and hazard lines, as per official requirements. They are then submitted for official approval. This is an ongoing process - some maps have become a part of the official record, while others are still awaiting approval.



"By doing this exactly the way the government wants, we create scientific proof of what should and should not be there," explains Mr Saravanan.



This way, he adds, these maps are comparable to those produced by the government or private developers.



"When compared to government maps which lack any data at the village level, you can see that ours are the original maps," says Duraimahender, who is the chairman of the Tamil Nadu fishermen's association.



"Now everyone uses a mobile phone. We use GPS even when we are out on the sea. So these maps have become a part of our fight."



He adds that they also help environmental activism, providing enough information in disputes.



"For the government, the map is some lines. For us, it's life," says K Bharathi, head of the south Indian fishermen's welfare association.



Fishermen in Chennai first mapped land use when the government proposed an expressway in 2010 that would cut across an intertidal zone, affecting 14 villages, including the nesting ground for the endangered Olive Ridley turtles. The project was later dropped amid massive public opposition.



Yet mechanised fisheries, real estate projects and private industry continue to take over common areas along the coast.



In such situations, the maps are a huge help. Recently, they were used by the CRC and villagers to challenge a plan - by the government-owned Kamarajar Port Limited - to convert wetlands and salt marshes into industrial real estate. The maps have also been used in disputes involving city "beautification" plans, road expansions and expressway projects.



Mr Saravanan says most mapping projects kick off only when villagers sense a threat to their land from development projects.



So far, he has held workshops in Gujarat, Goa and West Bengal but no village outside Tamil Nadu has caught the mapping bug yet.

 2018 BBC

Theme(s): Fishing Craft, Gear and Fishing Methods.Anglo-French dispute over fishing rights intensifies after negotiations fail

by Ilia Roubanis

September 17,2018 | Source: NEOnline

A long-running dispute between the UK and France over fishing rights off the Normandy coast shows no sign of de-escalation after violent confrontations broke out on the high seas and negotiations aimed at settling the issue collapsed in recent days, leaving both the French and British governments at odds over how to end the crisis.



Both remain reluctant to take over the negotiations or involve the French and Royal navies.



UK vessels tried in August and early September to fish for the highly sought after the local scallop known as coquille Saint-Jacques, which British vessels attempted to catch inside Frances exclusive economic zone during the species breeding period.



French law strictly forbids fishing for scallops from May 15 to the first of October to protect the reserve stocks, a legal position that British law makes no reference to. This led French fishermen based in the traditional maritime coastal regions of Normandy and Brittany to accuse their British counterparts of depleting shellfish stocks.



To prevent British vessels from crossing into French waters, local fishermen have attempted, at time violently, to block the vessels coming from the UK. There have been several cases where the boats have collided with one another and incidents where rival crews have thrown stones at a rival fishing craft.



British fishermen have accused the French of piracy as EU laws entitle boats from the UK to have access to the areas in question.





Bilateral negotiations between the UK and French fishing associations collapsed on September 12, after the two sides failed to agree on the level of compensation to be paid. Neither London or Paris has stepped in to take over the negotiations, with the head of the French delegation, Hubert Carre, telling the AFP news agency that the French side had made an offer they considered more than fair, which was rejected by those representing the UK.



According to reports, the French offer provided UK fisherman with catch quotas for other species, including 50 tonnes of cod and 25 tonnes of sole. Similar agreements have been in the past, but British fishermen are now demanding greater access to high yield water or more compensation for agreeing to leave the areas free of British fishing bats.



The UKs Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs described the French offer of financial compensation as unacceptable and warns that the British government needs to guarantee the safety of the UK fishermen.



On September 14, British Conservative MP Philip Hollobone asked the government to deploy a contingent of the Royal Navy as a protection force for fishermen who have been attacked by their French counterparts. Hollobones suggestion came after the French Navy was placed on standby in the event that the situation became more violent.



Ukips Member of European Parliament Mike Hookem told the British Tabloid Express that French fishermen are in violation of EU law.



Frances Minister for Food and Agriculture, Stephane Travert, has his expressed his regret for the failure of the negotiations and has been quick to defend Paris compensation offer, but has said he will not intervene directly despite a request by the UK Minister for Agriculture, Michael Gove, who has asked the French government to intervene to prevent a further escalation of the crisis.



French fishermen have made it clear that their offer is final and will not be returning to the negotiating table at any time in the near future.

 2018 NEW EUROPE

Theme(s): Others.When rescue at sea becomes a crime: who the Tunisian fishermen arrested in Italy really are

by Valentina Zagaria

September 15,2018 | Source: Open Democracy

Fishermen networks from Morocco and Mauritania have released statements of support, and the Tunisian State Secretary for Immigration, Adel Jarboui, urged Italian authorities to release the fishermen, considered heroes in Tunisia.



On the night of Wednesday, August 29, 2018, six Tunisian fishermen were arrested in Italy. Earlier that day, they had set off from their hometown of Zarzis, the last important Tunisian port before Libya, to cast their nets in the open sea between North Africa and Sicily. The fishermen then sighted a small vessel whose engine had broken, and that had started taking in water. After giving the fourteen passengers water, milk and bread  which the fishermen carry in abundance, knowing they might encounter refugee boats in distress  they tried making contact with the Italian coastguard.



After hours of waiting for a response, though, the men decided to tow the smaller boat in the direction of Lampedusa  Italys southernmost island, to help Italian authorities in their rescue operations. At around 24 miles from Lampedusa, the Guardia di Finanza (customs police) took the fourteen people on board, and then proceeded to violently arrest the six fishermen. According to the precautionary custody order issued by the judge in Agrigento (Sicily), the men stand accused of smuggling, a crime that could get them up to fifteen years in jail if the case goes to trial. The fishermen have since been held in Agrigento prison, and their boat has been seized.



This arrest comes after a summer of Italian politicians closing their ports to NGO rescue boats, and only a week after far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini[1] prevented for ten days the disembarkation of 177 Eritrean and Somali asylum seekers from the Italian coastguard ship Diciotti. It is yet another step towards dissuading anyone  be it Italian or Tunisian citizens, NGO or coastguard ships  from coming to the aid of refugee boats in danger at sea. Criminalising rescue, a process that has been pushed by different Italian governments since 2016, will continue to have tragic consequences for people on the move in the Mediterranean Sea.



Among those arrested is Chamseddine Bourassine, the president of the Association Le Pecheur pour le Developpement et lEnvironnement, which was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize this year for the Zarzis fishermens continuous engagement in saving lives in the Mediterranean.



Chamseddine, a fishing boat captain in his mid-40s, was one of the first people I met in Zarzis when, in the summer of 2015, I moved to this southern Tunisian town to start fieldwork for my PhD. On a sleepy late-August afternoon, my interview with Foued Gammoudi, the then Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) Head of Mission for Tunisia and Libya, was interrupted by an urgent phone call. The fishermen have just returned, they saved 550 people, lets go to the port to thank them. Just a week earlier, Chamseddine Bourassine had been among the 116 fishermen from Zarzis to have received rescue at sea training with MSF. Gammoudi was proud that the fishermen had already started collaborating with the MSF Bourbon Argos ship to save hundreds of people. We hurried to the port to greet Chamseddine and his crew, as they returned from a three-day fishing expedition which involved, as it so often had done lately, a lives-saving operation.



The fishermen of Zarzis have been on the frontline of rescue in the Central Mediterranean for over fifteen years. Their fishing grounds lying between Libya  the place from which most people making their way undocumented to Europe leave  and Sicily, they were often the first to come to the aid of refugee boats in distress. The fishermen have never really had a choice: they work here, they encounter refugee boats regularly, so over the years they learnt to do rescue at sea, explained Gammoudi. For years, fishermen from both sides of the Mediterranean were virtually alone in this endeavour.



Before the Tunisian revolution of 2011, Ben Ali threatened the fishermen with imprisonment for helping migrants in danger at sea  the regime having been a close collaborator of both Italy and the European Union in border control matters. During that time, Tunisian nationals attempting to do the harga  the North African Arabic dialect term for the crossing of the Sicilian Channel by boat  were also heavily sanctioned by their own government.



Everything changed though with the revolution. It was chaos here in 2011. You cannot imagine what the word chaos means if you didnt live it, recalled Anis Souei, the secretary general of the Le Pecheur association. In the months following the revolution, hundreds of boats left from Zarzis taking Tunisians from all over the country to Lampedusa. Several members of the fishermens association remember having to sleep on their fishing boats at night to prevent them from being stolen for the harga. Other fishermen instead, especially those who were indebted, decided to sell their boats, while some inhabitants of Zarzis took advantage of the power vacuum left by the revolution and made considerable profit by organising harga crossings. At that time there was no police, no state, and even more misery. If you wanted Lampedusa, you could have it, rationalised another fisherman. But Chamseddine Bourassine and his colleagues saw no future in moving to Europe, and made a moral pact not to sell their boats for migration.



They instead remained in Zarzis, and in 2013 founded their association to create a network of support to ameliorate the working conditions of small and artisanal fisheries. The priority when they started organising was to try and secure basic social security  something they are still struggling to sustain today. With time, though, the association also got involved in alerting the youth to the dangers of boat migration, as they regularly witnessed the risks involved and felt compelled to do something for younger generations hit hard by staggering unemployment rates. In this optic, they organised training for the local youth in boat mechanics, nets mending, and diving, and collaborated in different international projects, such as NEMO, organised by the CIHEAM-Bari and funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Directorate General for Cooperation Development. This project also helped the fishermen build a museum to explain traditional fishing methods, the first floor of which is dedicated to pictures and citations from the fishermens long-term voluntary involvement in coming to the rescue of refugees in danger at sea.



This role was proving increasingly vital as the Libyan civil war dragged on, since refugees were being forced onto boats in Libya that were not fit for travel, making the journey even more hazardous. With little support from Tunisian coastguards, who were not allowed to operate beyond Tunisian waters, the fishermen juggled their responsibility to bring money home to their families and their commitment to rescuing people in distress at sea. Anis remembers that once in 2013, three fishermen boats were out and received an SOS from a vessel carrying roughly one hundred people. It was their first day out, and going back to Zarzis would have meant losing petrol money and precious days of work, which they simply couldnt afford. After having ensured that nobody was ill, the three boats took twenty people on board each, and continued working for another two days, sharing food and water with their guests.



Sometimes, though, the situation on board got tense with so many people, food wasnt enough for everybody, and fights broke out. Some fishermen recall incidents during which they truly feared for their safety, when occasionally they came across boats with armed men from Libyan militias. It was hard for them to provide medical assistance as well. Once a woman gave birth on Chamseddines boat  that same boat that has now been seized in Italy  thankfully there had been no complications.



During the summer of 2015, therefore, Chamseddine felt relieved that NGO search and rescue boats were starting to operate in the Mediterranean. The fishermens boats were not equipped to take hundreds of people on board, and the post-revolutionary Tunisian authorities didnt have the means to support them. MSF had provided the association with first aid kits, life jackets, and rescue rafts to be able to better assist refugees at sea, and had given them a list of channels and numbers linked to the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Rome for when they encountered boats in distress.



They also offered training in dead body management, and provided the association with body bags, disinfectant and gloves. When we see people at sea we rescue them. Its not only because we follow the laws of the sea or of religion: we do it because its human, said Chamseddine. But sometimes rescue came too late, and bringing the dead back to shore was all the fishermen could do.[2] During 2015 the fishermen at least felt that with more ships in the Mediterranean doing rescue, the duty dear to all seafarers of helping people in need at sea didnt only fall on their shoulders, and they could go back to their fishing.



The situation deteriorated again though in the summer of 2017, as Italian Interior Minister Minniti struck deals with Libyan militias and coastguards to bring back and detain refugees in detention centres in Libya, while simultaneously passing laws criminalising and restricting the activity of NGO rescue boats in Italy.



Media smear campaigns directed against acts of solidarity with migrants and refugees and against the work of rescue vessels in the Mediterranean poured even more fuel on already inflamed anti-immigration sentiments in Europe.



In the midst of this, on 6 August 2017, the fishermen of Zarzis came face to face with a far-right vessel rented by Generazione Identitaria, the C-Star, cruising the Mediterranean allegedly on a Defend Europe mission to hamper rescue operations and bring migrants back to Africa. The C-Star was hovering in front of Zarzis port, and although it had not officially asked port authorities whether it could dock to refuel  which the port authorities assured locals it would refuse  the fishermen of Zarzis took the opportunity to let these alt-right groups know how they felt about their mission.

Theme(s): Communities and Organisations.Species-specific advisories are helping fishermen in India find good catch, save time

by Mayank Aggarwal

Already benefiting several hundred thousand fishermen with daily predictions about potential fishing zones along the Indian coast that can lead to a good yield, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services is now ready to roll out species-specific advisories for fish like tuna, hilsa and sardine.



India has a vast coastline of over 7,500 km and an estimated seven million people living along the coast depend on fishing for their livelihood. With depleting fish stock over the years, it is a challenging task in some areas where the search for fish often involves a high investment of time and resources, with low profitability in return.



To help the fishermen use their time and resources efficiently, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services, an institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences that is working on ocean research, started giving advisories to fishermen, suggesting potential zones of fish aggregation along the coast.



The Potential Fishing Zone advisory provides information on regions with fish availability as a map (including latitude and longitude) and in text form on a daily basis with specific references to 586 fish landing centres along the Indian coast. The information is available in 10 languages, including Hindi and English.



As per the centre, the Indian coast is divided into 14 sectors  Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, South Tamil Nadu, North Tamil Nadu, South Andhra Pradesh, North Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, Lakshadweep Islands, Andaman Islands and Nicobar Islands  and advisories are generated for each sector.



Though it was started in 2004, the system of issuing fishing zone advisories has picked up pace in recent years. The advisories are generated by using satellite measurements of the sea surface temperature and chlorophyll, and include details like the depth at which the catch would be possible. The advisories are shared through various media such as telephone, fax, e-mail, website, Doordarshan channel on television, radio, news media, mobile phones and LED boards at major fishing harbours.



Along with the advisories, fishermen are also informed about the expected behaviour of the sea at that location (or on the route) on that particular day or for the next few days. Since the Potential Fishing Zones can shift from the marked location, the advisories include wind speed and directional information to help fishermen even when they reach the location after a day.



Advisories on Potential Fishing Zones is one of our flagship programmes, said scientist Dr Balakrishnan Nair TM, who is also head of information services and the ocean science group at the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services. We already have over 5.4 lakh [540,000] registered users and we plan to increase our registered user base to over 900,000 during the next one or two years.



Additionally, for over two years now, the institute has been giving specific advisories for tuna, which is in high demand. The advisory for tuna is significant as it helps fishermen target this commercially important species. With a favourable response to the tuna advisories, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services has now decided to roll out similar advisories for other species like hilsa and sardines.



Fishermen are the backbone of the coastal economy and such service helps them save resources and time. We have got a very good response from fishermen too as they dont need to wander around and waste time at seas for days, emphasised Nair.



The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services advisory service received high praise from Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu who, in July, said the advisories have now become part of the value chain of the fishing community.



I am told that an estimated 4.5 lakh [450,000] users are regularly accessing this advisory and reducing their fishing time by 60%-70%, while netting two to three times higher profit as compared to their previous searches prior to receiving these advisories, Naidu said. With millions along the Indian coastline dependent on fishing for their livelihood, I am pleased to know that these PFZ [Potential Fishing Zone] advisories with specific references to 586 fish landing centres along the coast are being given in the form of maps and texts in native languages.



He added, I am happy that the techniques and knowledge base developed at our research centres are helping in improving the quality of the life of the fishing community. This results in huge national savings on diesel and valuable human effort.



The vice-president also said the centres efforts to fine-tune the accuracy of the advisories would further help out fishermen in their fishing activities.



In August 2017, the Ministry of Earth Sciences had told Parliament that fishermen in the country made an annual profit of Rs 30 billion (Rs 3,000 crore) from these advisories.



According to the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services, feedback from fishermen indicated that catch in Potential Fishing Zones is substantially higher when compared to other areas. The advisories were also found to be more beneficial to artisanal, motorised and small mechanised sector fishermen.



The institutes effort now is to make its services available to more fishermen. Thus, it is reaching out to state fisheries departments to obtain the mobile numbers of all fishermen for targeted messaging. It has also learnt from years of experience and is fine-tuning its outreach strategy. For instance, studies indicate that fishermen prefer to receive the advisory as mobile-based voice messages and text messages rather than from other sources and some of them even want training to be able to understand the advisories.



One concern has been that many a time, the Potential Fishing Zones are away from the traditional fishing grounds of fishermen.



Excessive use of technology is harming the traditional culture of fishing in India, said Debasis Shyamal, secretary of the National Fishworkers Forum, a national federation of state-level small and traditional fish workers unions. If everyone gets the same information, it may lead to destruction of fish stock in that particular area. Fishermen dont need so much of technology as they have vast experience and knows which fish will be found where.



Shyamal added, Mechanised fishing is looting our sea. That stock first needs to be protected. If a proper fish stock is maintained, then the fishermen will easily get fish. Destructive fishing gear should also be banned to save the fish stocks.

Theme(s): Others.Any U.S. decision on extending the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) will depend on whether it covers Russia's recently announced strategic nuclear weapons, Undersecretary of State Andrea Thompson told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee yesterday.

"A decision has not been made at this time. Among issues to consider will be Russias decision to manufacture compliance issues regarding US weapons, and the uncertainty of whether or not Russias recently announced strategic nuclear weapons will be held accountable under the Treaty," Thompson said.

In addition, she stressed that Russias continued compliance with New START is a requirement for any potential extension of the Treaty, adding that Washington would continue to implement the treaty and verify Russian compliance on the issue.

Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy David Trachtenberg also addressed the issue, telling Senate that the U.S. "assesses that Russia is in compliance" with the New START, adding, however, that Moscow keeps violating Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF).

Earlier in 2018 the US suspended mutual flights over strategic military objects, which were inspection mechanism stipulated in the new START, meant to prove the signatories compliance with the agreement, Sputnik recalls.Moscow believes that the development of the Iranian missile program is Tehran's sovereign right, and all the issues arising in this regard should be resolved without pressure, especially military, at the negotiating table, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said, Sputnik reported.

"We have always supported resolving any problems that arise in interstate relations and in the dialogue on acute issues through negotiations and through relevant agreements," Ryabkov said on Wednesday.

The deputy foreign minister further stressed that the developments in the situation around Iran nuclear deal and other issues that American counterparts put in the context of this deal, as well as Iran's behavior, attracted Russia's close attention.

Speaking to Sputnik reporter, Ryabkov also revealed that the meeting of the five mediators and Iran at the level of foreign ministers will take place on the sidelines of the high-level week of the UN General Assembly at the end of September.

"The meeting of the participants of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)  those who stayed in the agreement  will be held at the ministerial level," the official stated.

He also noted that the definite time is being coordinated, and the European External Action Service is expected to make a relevant announcement in the near future. However, Ryabkov assured that it was certain that the meeting would take place.The United States was not looking to sanction companies that participated in Russias Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday.

"Were not looking to do that. We just think its very unfortunate for the people of Germany that Germany is paying billions and billions of dollars a year for their energy to Russia. And I can tell you the German people dont like it," Trump said during a joint news conference with Poland's President Andrzej Duda.

In a joint statement, Trump and Duda said they will continue coordinating efforts "to counter energy projects that threaten our mutual security, such as Nord Stream 2," Reuters reported.

Earlier, U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry said that the United States could impose sanctions on a new Russia-Germany gas pipeline.U.S. President Donald Trump said that Syria likely shot down a Russian military plane near its coast, adding that the United States and other countries are close to eliminating the presence of Islamic State in Syria and the region.

"It sounds to me and it seems to me based on a review of the facts that Syria shot down a Russian plane. And I understand about 14 people were killed and thats a very sad thing but thats what happens," Reuters cited the U.S. president as saying.

"We have done a tremendous job in Syria and in that region eradicating ISIS, which is why we are there. And we are very close to finishing that job," Trump said at a joint press conference with Polish President Andrzej Duda.

The Russian Defense Ministry said that at about 23:00 Moscow time on Monday contact was lost with a Russian Ilyushin Il-20 plane, which was flying back to the airbase at Syrias Khmeymim. According to the ministry, the plane went off radar screens as four Israeli F-16 fighter jet were delivering airstrikes on Syrian targets in the Latakia governorate.

Later, the ministry said the Russian Il-20 was shot down by Syrias air defense over the Mediterranean Sea because Israels F-16 fighter jets used it as a cover. The Israeli command centers and the F-16s pilots could not but see the Russian plane, which was approaching the runway from an altitude of five kilometers.Imperial Valley News Center

Daily low-dose aspirin found to have no effect on healthy life span in older people

Washington, DC - In a large clinical trial to determine the risks and benefits of daily low-dose aspirin in healthy older adults without previous cardiovascular events, aspirin did not prolong healthy, independent living (life free of dementia or persistent physical disability). Risk of dying from a range of causes, including cancer and heart disease, varied and will require further analysis and additional follow-up of study participants. These initial findings from the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) trial, partially supported by the National Institutes of Health, were published online on September 16, 2018 in three papers in The New England Journal of Medicine.

ASPREE is an international, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that enrolled 19,114 older people (16,703 in Australia and 2,411 in the United States). The study began in 2010 and enrolled participants aged 70 and older; 65 was the minimum age of entry for African-American and Hispanic individuals in the United States because of their higher risk for dementia and cardiovascular disease. At study enrollment, ASPREE participants could not have dementia or a physical disability and had to be free of medical conditions requiring aspirin use. They were followed for an average of 4.7 years to determine outcomes.

Clinical guidelines note the benefits of aspirin for preventing heart attacks and strokes in persons with vascular conditions such as coronary artery disease, said NIA Director Richard J. Hodes, M.D. The concern has been uncertainty about whether aspirin is beneficial for otherwise healthy older people without those conditions. This study shows why it is so important to conduct this type of research, so that we can gain a fuller picture of aspirins benefits and risks among healthy older persons.

The team of scientists was led by John J. McNeil, M.B.B.S., Ph.D., head of the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Health at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, and Anne M. Murray, M.D., director of the Berman Center for Outcomes and Clinical Research at Hennepin Healthcare in Minneapolis. The research was supported in part by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), both parts of the NIH. The Australian component of the study also received funding from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council and Monash University. Aspirin and placebo were supplied by Bayer, which had no other involvement with the study.

In the total study population, treatment with 100 mg of low-dose aspirin per day did not affect survival free of dementia or disability. Among the people randomly assigned to take aspirin, 90.3 percent remained alive at the end of the treatment without persistent physical disability or dementia, compared with 90.5 percent of those taking a placebo. Rates of physical disability were similar, and rates of dementia were almost identical in both groups.

The group taking aspirin had an increased risk of death compared to the placebo group: 5.9 percent of participants taking aspirin and 5.2 percent taking placebo died during the study. This effect of aspirin has not been noted in previous studies; and caution is needed in interpreting this finding. The higher death rate in the aspirin-treated group was due primarily to a higher rate of cancer deaths. A small increase in new cancer cases was reported in the group taking aspirin but the difference could have been due to chance.

The researchers also analyzed the ASPREE results to determine whether cardiovascular events took place. They found that the rates for major cardiovascular eventsincluding coronary heart disease, nonfatal heart attacks, and fatal and nonfatal ischemic strokewere similar in the aspirin and the placebo groups. In the aspirin group, 448 people experienced cardiovascular events, compared with 474 people in the placebo group.

Significant bleedinga known risk of regular aspirin usewas also measured. The investigators noted that aspirin was associated with a significantly increased risk of bleeding, primarily in the gastrointestinal tract and brain. Clinically significant bleedinghemorrhagic stroke, bleeding in the brain, gastrointestinal hemorrhages or hemorrhages at other sites that required transfusion or hospitalizationoccurred in 361 people (3.8 percent) on aspirin and in 265 (2.7 percent) taking the placebo.

As would be expected in an older adult population, cancer was a common cause of death, and 50 percent of the people who died in the trial had some type of cancer. Heart disease and stroke accounted for 19 percent of the deaths and major bleeding for 5 percent.

The increase in cancer deaths in study participants in the aspirin group was surprising, given prior studies suggesting aspirin use improved cancer outcomes, said Leslie Ford, M.D., associate director for clinical research, NCI Division of Cancer Prevention. Analysis of all the cancer-related data from the trial is under way and until we have additional data, these findings should be interpreted with caution.

Continuing follow-up of the ASPREE participants is crucial, particularly since longer term effects on risks for outcomes such as cancer and dementia may differ from those during the study to date, said Evan Hadley, M.D., director of NIAs Division of Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology. These initial findings will help to clarify the role of aspirin in disease prevention for older adults, but much more needs to be learned. The ASPREE team is continuing to analyze the results of this study and has implemented plans for monitoring participants.

As these efforts continue, Hadley emphasized that older adults should follow the advice from their own physicians about daily aspirin use. It is important to note that the new findings do not apply to people with a proven indication for aspirin such as stroke, heart attack or other cardiovascular disease. In addition, the study did not address aspirins effects in people younger than age 65. Also, since only 11 percent of participants had regularly taken low-dose aspirin prior to entering the study, the implications of ASPREEs findings need further investigation to determine whether healthy older people who have been regularly using aspirin for disease prevention should continue or discontinue use.

The ASPREE trial was partly supported by NIH funding (U01AG029824).Another Alien Smuggler Arrested During Operation Blazing Sands

El Centro, California - Border Patrol Agents arrested a man suspected of alien smuggling in El Centro Sector Wednesday afternoon.

The apprehension was part of the ongoing Operation Blazing Sands, a joint operation between El Centro and Yuma Border Patrol sectors.

The incident occurred at approximately 4:35 p.m., when agents observed two individuals illegally enter the United States before loading into a red Hyundai sedan on Interstate 8, west of Yuma.

Agents continued mobile surveillance of the red sedan as it drove west on Interstate 8, and then proceeded north on Highway 111. The sedan continued north until stopping in Niland.

Agents then approached the vehicle and conducted an immigration inspection on the driver and passengers. The driver of the sedan was identified as a 44-year-old United States citizen, while the two passengers were citizens of Mexico illegally present in the United States.

The driver was processed for Alien Smuggling and the two passengers were processed for removal back to Mexico.USDA Partners to Improve Water and Wastewater Infrastructure for More than 442,000 Rural Americans Across 42 States

Fort Worth, Texas - Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett Monday announced that USDA is investing $392 million (PDF, 238 KB) to help rebuild and improve rural water and wastewater infrastructure in 42 states.

Put simply, modern and reliable water infrastructure is foundational to quality of life and economic development, Hazlett said. USDAs partnerships with rural communities underscore Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdues commitment to rural people and the places they call home.

USDA is supporting investments in 120 infrastructure projects through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant program. It can be used to finance drinking water, stormwater drainage and waste disposal systems for rural communities with 10,000 or fewer residents. In many cases, states, other federal partners and nonprofits are working with USDA to also provide funding for these projects.

Hazlett announced the awards here today during the Water Pro Conference hosted by the National Rural Water Association. Below are some examples of the types of investments USDA is making to improve infrastructure in rural communities:

The city of Stuttgart, Ark., will use a $1 million loan to replace deteriorated water lines in its water system. The project will enable the city to have a safe and more reliable water supply for residents. More than 9,300 residents will benefit from this investment.

The city of Swartz Creek, Mich., will use a $2.9 million loan and a $2.3 million grant to make improvements to its water system. A majority of the distribution system was developed 40-50 years ago with mostly cast-iron pipe. The water mains are growing increasingly brittle and have experienced numerous breaks in the past five years. With each break, customers receive a boil water notice of varying durations. A majority of the water main has exceeded its life expectancy. The project includes replacing approximately four miles of water main, hydrants and valves, and making other repairs. The project will serve 2,098 residential and 216 commercial customers.

In Oral, S.D., the Fall River Water Users District is receiving a $506,000 loan and a $401,000 grant to dig a new well. The District has two wells, one of which is not producing the quantity of water that was expected. Constructing a new well, west of Fairburn, will supplement the system and provide an adequate supply of water to better serve its 1,015 customers.

USDA is making investments in rural communities in: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansans, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Wyoming.

In FY 2018, Congress provided a historic level of funding for water and wastewater infrastructure. The 2018 Omnibus spending bill includes $5.2 billion for USDA loans and grants, up from $1.8 billion in FY 2017. The bill also directs Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to make investments in rural communities with the greatest infrastructure needs.

Eligible rural communities and water districts can apply online for funding to maintain, modernize or build water and wastewater systems. They can visit the interactive RD Apply tool, or they can apply through one of USDA Rural Developments state or field offices.

In April 2017, President Donald J. Trump established the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to identify legislative, regulatory and policy changes that could promote agriculture and prosperity in rural communities. In January 2018, Secretary Perdue presented the Task Forces findings to President Trump. These findings included 31 recommendations to align the federal government with state, local and tribal governments to take advantage of opportunities that exist in rural America. Increasing investments in rural infrastructure is a key recommendation of the task force.

To view the report in its entirety, please view the Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity (PDF, 5.4 MB). In addition, to view the categories of the recommendations, please view the Rural Prosperity infographic (PDF, 190 KB).

USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community services such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.Facebook is in hot water over its targeted ads--again.

The American Civil Liberties Union and Communications Workers of America filed charges with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on Tuesday accusing Facebook and 10 other companies of letting employers publish job ads that discriminate against women. Because Facebook requires users to select gendered pronouns of either male, female or neutral--information it then turns over to advertisers--the company allegedly enabled employers to target only young males for certain job postings, which is illegal under federal law. Facebook previously faced similar criticism for allowing employers to discriminate based on age and for allowing landlords to discriminate based on race.

"When employers in male-dominated fields advertise their jobs only to men, it prevents women from breaking into those fields," the ACLU wrote in a blog post on Tuesday, adding that hiding job ads from women also prevented them from seeing other postings from the same company. "Our data profiles should not determine what information is available to us when it comes to economic opportunities."

Facebook wrote in an emailed statement that discrimination is "strictly prohibited in our policies, and over the past year, we've strengthened our systems to further protect against misuse. We are reviewing the complaint and look forward to defending our practices."An end to seal and grouse shooting, dog-free nature reserves and a tax on pesticides are among the proposals being released as part of a peoples manifesto to save British wildlife.

The call is being led by Chris Packham, who says its time to wake up to the mass extinction in our own backyard.

Together with 17 independent wildlife experts, the naturalist and TV presented has assembled nearly 200 measures to reverse the massive declines that have struck so many of the UKs animal and plants.

According to the most recent State of Nature report conducted by a coalition of environmental organisations in 2016, the UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world.

Between 1970 and 2013, 56 per cent of British species declined, and of the 8,000 creatures assessed rigorously 15 per cent are threatened with extinction.

In recent months experts have warned that Britain is rapidly losing hedgehogs, farmland birds and wildflowers as a result of pesticide use, land conversion and climate change.

Among the proposals in the peoples manifesto to save UK wildlife are 1. Every primary school in Britain to be twinned with a farm to help children understand farming and food growing 2. Primary school classes to name and own significant urban trees 3. Replant 300,000km of hedgerows destroyed since 1960 4. Wildlife ponds for every industrial estate and all municipal parks 5. Swift/sparrow/starling boxes to be included in all new-build homes 6. Rewild 10 per cent of UK uplands 7. 10 per cent of every farm to be managed for wildlife 8. Introduce a pesticide tax and set target for 50 per cent reduction in pesticides use 9. Make 30 per cent of UK waters off-limits to commercial fishing 10. Ban scallop-dredging in UK waters 11. Outlaw the use of lead ammunition and snares 12. Ban driven grouse shooting 13. Stop seal culling in Scotland 14. Make all nature reserves dog-free (except for assistance dogs) and create new dog-walking hotspots 15. An independent public service body  Life UK  to oversee all environmental care, free from party politics and government interference

Conservation has become complacent  I think we have normalised these declines that we talk about so freely, and we have lost the ability to see them in any tangible way, Packham told The Independent.

We need to be more terrified about what they actually mean. We are talking about declines of 95, 97, 98 per cent, so we are a few per cent away from losing these species.

At the same time, he said experts have developed a remarkable toolkit for conservation that will allow them to make a real difference, but this is currently not being implemented properly.

Packham has released the first draft of this manifesto ahead of his Peoples Walk for Wildlife in London on Saturday.

There is a growing feeling among the public, a groundswell of frustration, and the manifesto was born of that frustration, he said.

He compared the immediate aims of the report to the governments 25-year plan for the environment, which he said set targets too far away in the future.

Among the more controversial suggestions laid out in the manifesto are proposed bans on lead ammunition, snares and scallop trawling. There are also calls for a rewilding of a tenth of the UKs uplands, and the reintroduction of species like lynx and beavers.

A tax on pesticides, which have been blamed for many of the nations most catastrophic declines, has already been announced in Denmark, as have major reduction targets for these toxic chemicals.

However, Packham described the manifesto as overwhelmingly pro-farming, and emphasised the need to encourage nature-friendly practices across the UK.

British mammals fight for survival Show all 11 1 /11 British mammals fight for survival British mammals fight for survival The Mammal Societys assessment of Britains mammal populations is the first such review in over 20 years. The results reveal winners and losers, and highlight some of the key threats facing the countrys wildlife such as habitat loss, invasive species and the spread of diseases. British mammals fight for survival Hedgehogs Populations of the much-loved insectivore may have declined by as much as 73% Richard Bowler British mammals fight for survival Greater mouse-eared bats Only one of these flying mammals has been recorded in the whole country, in a railway tunnel in West Sussex Andrew Harrington British mammals fight for survival Rabbits Despite being a common sight across the countryside, rabbits have decreased in number by nearly 10% Danni Thompson British mammals fight for survival Black Rats Though not generally considered threatened animals, black rats number have collapsed in recent years due largely to pest control measures. However their far more common cousins, the brown rats, are thriving. Tim Melling British mammals fight for survival Red Squirrels Though it is difficult to measure changes in squirrel numbers, their range has shrunk considerably due largely to the spread of squirrel pox virus by invasive grey squirrel Alistair Marsh British mammals fight for survival Wildcats There has been a marked decline in wildcat populations, with only around 200 left in Scotland Rachel Profit British mammals fight for survival Badgers Due to legal protections badgers have recovered from past persecution and the density of their setts (holes) has increased by over 100% in recent decades Phil Mumby British mammals fight for survival Otters The banning of persistent organic pesticides has had a positive population effect on otters Allan Chard British mammals fight for survival Fallow Deer The 2018 review estimates a population size of fallow deer almost three times the size of that estimated in the 1995 review  a positive trend that is seen in other deer species. James Shooter British mammals fight for survival Eurasian Beavers These aquatic mammals were nearly extinct in Europe at the start of the 20th century, but their reintroduction to the UK have been largely successful Paul Scott

In the manifesto, Cumbrian hill farmer James Rebanks says: Some people think that farmers and environmentalists are locked in a fight about nature. I dont. I think if it becomes a fight we all lose. It is time to put egos aside and work together to change things.

Packham said: We need to encourage good quality, forward-looking, intelligent farming, and its out there, its being done  but we need more of it.

The call comes in the wake of environment secretary Michael Gove announcing his plans to deliver a Green Brexit by paying farmers for public goods such as curbing flooding and improving access to the countryside.

Recommended At least fifth of British mammal species could be gone in a decade

In response to the bold manifesto set out by Packham, Friends of the Earth chief executive Craig Bennett said: Our natural environment isnt just a nice to have  it is crucial for our food, health and wellbeing.

Its time to end the sustained assault on wildlife and put it firmly at the heart of government policy-making where it belongs. This must include a post-Brexit agriculture policy with clear targets and timetables to deliver the greener farming future ministers have promised.

But we can all play a role by making more space for nature in our homes and workplaces  as well as our towns, cities and countryside.DNA taken from massive shipments of ivory has been used to identify the three largest wildlife trafficking gangs operating at the height of Africas elephant poaching epidemic.

Ivory tends to be shipped around the world from African ports in bulk, and scientists have used genetic evidence gleaned from intercepted batches to reveal their origins.

Led by Dr Samuel Wasser from the University of Washington, they traced a number of these shipments to three cartels operating out of Kenya, Uganda and Togo.

Evidence collected by Dr Wasser has already helped convict ivory kingpin Feisal Mohamed Ali, and as his team joins the dots between shipments they plan to shore up the cases against more of the continents most prolific smugglers.

Though the international trade in ivory has been outlawed since 1989, it has continued to grow into an illegal multibillion pound industry that kills up to 40,000 elephants every year.

Using DNA techniques, scientists have been able to identify hotspots across Africa where poachers are operating, but convictions remain rare and insufficient.

To our surprise, the poachers still remain very hard to stop, said Dr Wasser.

Dr Samuel Wasser and his team do forensic analysis of a 4.6-tonne ivory seizure in Singapore in 2015. The containers were being shipped from Mombasa, Kenya to Vietnam. (Kate Brooks/The Last Animals)

They operate in large areas that they know really well  and even when they are apprehended they only have as much ivory as they can carry.

They sell their ivory to the this pyramid of middle men who move it up the crime chain to the ports, where it is consolidated and shipped in large volumes.

At $25 (19) per bullet, killing elephants is an expensive business for impoverished poachers. This suggests that these individuals are being supported by large cartels, but this has been hard to prove.

Dr Wasser and his team realised they could help tackle this problem when they found that many tusks being shipped were orphans  they were not being transported with their partner tusk.

The scientists matched partners between different shipments, and compared their data with a DNA map of elephants across the continent obtained from dung samples. This meant they could link tusks both with a geographic origin and other shipments.

Out of the 38 ivory consignments the researchers analysed, covering a three-year peak period for poaching, they matched up 26 pairs of tusks from 11 shipments.

By linking these matching seizures together like links in a chain, we were able to identify the three largest cartels moving ivory out of Africa during this peak 2011-2014 period, said Dr Wasser.

Wasser (left) and his team sample ivory from tusks in Malaysia in 2014. (Malaysia Department of National Parks)

When traffickers are caught, they tend to face charges for a single seizure. This means that criminals who have been caught in the past with the help of Dr Wassers genetic evidence  including Ali  have not faced significant sentences or have already been released.

Finding connections between large shipments means law enforcement officials can link individuals to large networks of criminal activity and convict them accordingly.

John Brown, special agent in the US Department of Homeland Security, said with the scientists help it has been able to identify, dismantle and disrupt the transnational criminal organisations behind this illegal trade.

In pictures: Kenya stages largest ivory burn in history Show all 15 1 /15 In pictures: Kenya stages largest ivory burn in history In pictures: Kenya stages largest ivory burn in history Reuters In pictures: Kenya stages largest ivory burn in history Traditional Maasai tribesmen pose for a photograph near elephant tusks, part of an estimated 105 tonnes of confiscated ivory to be set ablaze, stacked onto a pyre at Nairobi National Park near Nairobi, Kenya, April 28, 2016. Reuters In pictures: Kenya stages largest ivory burn in history A Kenya Wildlife Services ranger guards the burning of an estimated 105 tonnes of Elephant tusks confiscated ivory from smugglers and poachers at the Nairobi National Park near Nairobi, Kenya, April 30, 2016. Reuters In pictures: Kenya stages largest ivory burn in history Reuters In pictures: Kenya stages largest ivory burn in history Reuters In pictures: Kenya stages largest ivory burn in history Reuters In pictures: Kenya stages largest ivory burn in history Reuters In pictures: Kenya stages largest ivory burn in history Reuters In pictures: Kenya stages largest ivory burn in history Reuters In pictures: Kenya stages largest ivory burn in history Reuters In pictures: Kenya stages largest ivory burn in history Reuters In pictures: Kenya stages largest ivory burn in history Reuters In pictures: Kenya stages largest ivory burn in history Reuters In pictures: Kenya stages largest ivory burn in history Reuters In pictures: Kenya stages largest ivory burn in history Reuters

The connections through the DNA analysis have facilitated the financial investigations into these transnational criminal organisations, which in the end we hope will help us facilitate recuperating the assets that were illegally gained through their illegal activity, he said.

Though their work, published in the scientific journal Science Advances, focused on poaching activities earlier this decade, Dr Wasser emphasised its importance in continuing to bring thee criminals to justice.

It takes a long time to catch these guys, and when you do hopefully we have accumulated a large number of seizures that are relevant to the case, he said.

Faisal [Mohamed Ali] is a great example  our data helped convict him and since then they have built a much stronger case against him.No sooner had humans discovered it, than they discovered they were dooming it to extinction.

The emergence of the Willards sooty boubou, a new species of bird found in parts of Central Africa, has been overshadowed by the realisation it is dying out as its habitat is converted into farmland.

Scientists first described the animal in 2010, based on a few specimens collected in the region years earlier.

New research has confirmed the its status as a new species, distinct from similar-looking black birds found in the region, but has also warned it is endangered.

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Experts used bird survey data and museum records collected from the boubous home in the Albertine Rift, which covers parts of Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania.

The Albertine Rift is a crossroads of amazing biodiversity, dramatic and diverse landscapes, and heartbreaking social and political unrest, said Dr Fabio Berzaghi of the CEA Laboratory for Sciences of Climate and Environment.

It goes from glaciers to volcanoes to plateaus to lakes, with a succession of vegetation types from high-elevation cloud forests to lowland tropical forests.

It is home to gorillas and forest elephants as well as a high number of endemic animal and plant species.

Colombian reserve becomes worlds largest rainforest national park Show all 12 1 /12 Colombian reserve becomes worlds largest rainforest national park Colombian reserve becomes worlds largest rainforest national park The Stadium, one of the most impressive geological formations of the Serrania de Chiribiquete. Colombian Amazon Colombian reserve becomes worlds largest rainforest national park Forest burns due to the colonisation front near the northern border of Chiribiquete National Park, Colombian Amazon Cesar David Martinez Colombian reserve becomes worlds largest rainforest national park Grandpa Marcelieno and his son, of the indigenous Araracuara people, with sacred plants from the region: mambe and ambil. Colombian Amazon Cesar David Martinez Colombian reserve becomes worlds largest rainforest national park Cattle ranching at the agricultural frontier near the northern border of the Chiribiquete National Park Cesar David Martinez Colombian reserve becomes worlds largest rainforest national park Oil palm monoculture, Puerto Concordia on the Ariari River, Colombian Amazon Cesar David Martinez Colombian reserve becomes worlds largest rainforest national park Preparation of traditional sugarcane-based beverage by the indigenous Barasano people of Pacoa, on the Apaporis River, near the southeastern border of Chiribiquete National Park Cesar David Martinez Colombian reserve becomes worlds largest rainforest national park Tapir in the community of Buenos Aires, Apaporis River. Colombian Amazon Cesar David Martinez Colombian reserve becomes worlds largest rainforest national park (Left) Pictograms over 20.000 years old found on stone in the Chiribiquete National Natural Park FCDS Colombian reserve becomes worlds largest rainforest national park The main maloca of the Mutanacua indigenous community of Pacoa, on the Apaporis River, near the southeastern border of Chiribiquete National Park. Colombian Amazon Cesar David Martinez Colombian reserve becomes worlds largest rainforest national park Vigilant Grandfather, one of the Chiribiquete National Parks representative tepuyes. Colombian Amazon Cesar David Martinez Colombian reserve becomes worlds largest rainforest national park Aerial view of one of the park's waterfalls FCDS Colombian reserve becomes worlds largest rainforest national park Ajaju River, Chiribiquete National Park. Colombian Amazon Cesar David Martinez

Unfortunately, much of the region has gone through neverending conflicts, with very negative consequences for both humans and biodiversity, and conservation involving local populations is paramount.

Dr Berzaghi and his colleagues pinpointed the habitat of the Willards sooty boubou, which lives at lower altitudes than its close relative, the mountain sooty boubou.

This is crucial as it places most of the birds range squarely outside of protected areas.

The scientists estimated that in Burundi, Rwanda, and Uganda, 70 per cent of the potential habitat for these birds has been converted into agricultural land. Their findings were published in the journal The Condor: Ornithological Applications.

Clarification of the niche that Willards sooty boubou occupies, that of mid-elevation forests, distinct from the higher-elevation mountain sooty boubou, is important, because these habitats are among the most heavily impacted in Africa from agriculture, said Dr Rauri Bowie, an expert on African birds at the University of California, Berkeley, who was not involved in the study.

As these mid-elevation forests have received relatively little protection compared to those higher up, Dr Bowie said conservation agencies have an opportunity to move beyond taxonomic debate and use the boubou example to help the rest of the regions wildlife.The nearly 20-year-old images have entered French folklore: peasants, farmers and ex-hippies dismantling a rural McDonalds, panel by panel, in what became a symbol of Frances resistance to American fast food.

Today that ageing newsreel is being played in sharp reverse. A group of workers and their union leaders in Marseille are fighting tooth-and-nail to save a McDonalds from closing in a working class, largely immigrant neighbourhood. A so-called Festival of Dignity protest was recently organised by the McDonalds employees in an effort to save their roughly 70 jobs.

Even though McDonalds was once seen as a cultural menace to a glorious French tradition, the workers say this particular McDonalds, in its quarter-century of existence, has played a vital role as a social integrator in one of Frances most troubled districts  providing employment and shielding local youth from pervasive drug dealing, getting them out of jail and helping them stay out.

Look, were not thugs here, says Kamel Guemari, the restaurants assistant manager, who was hired at age 16 and is now 37. Were working. And were setting an example for the others. Were playing a social role.

The plan for this McDonalds? Sell it to a Muslim halal food operator who aims to provide Middle Eastern food. The employees, many themselves Muslim and north African, are outraged.

This is an insult. Were fighting for laicite here, says Salim Grabsi, a local schoolteacher and former employee, referring to Frances official credo of secularism. The republic is one and indivisible.

The object of their improbable affection is a squat low-rise box in the Saint-Barthelemy neighbourhood, in the citys far north, miles from the pastel-hued port. It is marooned by highway construction on a projected bypass, at the edge of a choked traffic circle.

Lately the stores windows have been plastered over with pro-union banners and signs saying, We want to work.

Although the French invented a word, malbouffe, or bad feed, to negatively capture the fast-food experience, saving the McDonalds here has become a cause. Last week, Marseilles mayor, Jean-Claude Gaudin, announced his support for the employees.

It seems to me that a company as big as McDonalds, which received financial help during the construction of the bypass, can make an effort in an our northern neighbourhoods to stay in business and preserve jobs, he says.

On Monday, the employees were in court to argue that their restaurant and five other Marseille McDonalds should not be sold because of the potential risk to jobs and benefits from new owners. The other restaurants would continue under the golden arches, just owned by a new franchisee.

A decision in the case is expected on Friday.

The neighbours of the Saint-Barthelemy McDonalds  boxy, off-white, six-storey cement housing projects with difficult reputations  are hardly more picturesque than the fast-food restaurant.

What people who work in McDonald's really think of their job Show all 6 1 /6 What people who work in McDonald's really think of their job What people who work in McDonald's really think of their job High stress job "You get treated very poorly by customers and it's a high stress job at peak hours, but I believe this holds true for any fast food service job." What people who work in McDonald's really think of their job Regimented "I was trained in the kitchen and every process was regimented down to the last little detail. I got a test at the end of my training that included questions like: How many pieces of diced onion do you put on a cheeseburger? (the answer was 17)" Copyright (c) 2009 Rex Features. No use without permission. What people who work in McDonald's really think of their job Lifelong friends "Working at McDonald's was one of the most fun experiences in my life! I met lifelong friends while putting myself through college. I also got to eat there for almost two years everyday." What people who work in McDonald's really think of their job Higher standards than most "The kitchens are clean and organised. They have a lot of checklists and protocols to make sure the quality of the food is top notch. They have higher standards than most companies when it comes to health codes and when something doesn't meet their standards they throw it away immediately." What people who work in McDonald's really think of their job Well trained "An old boss of mine, at a very high-end boutique catering company, told me he always hired workers who listed McDonald's on their resume because he knew they were already well trained." What people who work in McDonald's really think of their job Big on cleanliness "I loved how big they were on cleanliness. I found out later that this is not the case at every location, but those two (especially the one in my hometown) were very clean."

Outside the project buildings, nervous drug dealer scouts keep a watchful eye for strangers, even as they salute the militant unionists at the restaurant. A shootout with kalashnikovs in broad daylight this spring, outside an elementary school and filmed by a resident, is a fresh memory.

Inside the McDonalds, families consume Happy Meals.

The two worlds are not mutually exclusive and that is the whole point, the workers say.

The Saint-Barthelemy McDonalds is not like others, they earnestly argue  particularly not like those in America. Since its ceremonious opening by Frances labour minister in 1992, the restaurant has served as a social shock absorber for the neighbourhood, says Grabsi, the teacher who worked there in younger days.

The McDonalds is Saint-Barthelemys second largest employer, after a supermarket chain, and a start in the world of employment for largely Muslim youth; often victims of employment discrimination. Judges have been known to reduce jail sentences for those promised jobs there. Some have even been sent to work wearing ankle bracelets to track their whereabouts.

When theres a problem with delinquents, we find them a job here, says Grabsi, speaking of his students.

People come for a first job and stay for years, building careers and families in an area with few other opportunities besides drug dealing. Fabrice Elbaz, the operations manager, has been there 25 years.

Abdel Saidi, 33, worked at the restaurant for three years. I had no experience, no diploma, says Saidi, now a bus driver for Marseille public transit. The McDo really helped me. It was my first job. My mother was so proud.

Guemari, who is leading the push to keep the McDonalds open, recalls sleeping on benches at the port and the train station before coming to work in his early days at the restaurant.

Look, I come from the poorest neighbourhood of all, he says. This was a chance for me to be hired by McDonalds.

Nordine Aklil, 28, has worked at the McDonalds for three years. Im coming out of the lower depths, drugs and all that, he says. I did three years of prison.

His family spoke to the judge about a job at the restaurant, he says, and thanks to that I left prison a year early. He added: I was able to reinsert myself into society. They gave me a chance.

Antoine Moreno, 31, also did time for selling drugs. To be frank with you, he says, I was earning good money.

Then, I started to work here, he continues. I got a family. Ive been here seven years. Ive abandoned my old life, thanks to this place.

McDonalds corporate headquarters in France would not comment on the restaurant. A spokesperson provided an email from the local franchise operator, Jean-Pierre Brochiero.

As for the restaurant in Saint-Barthelemy, the best option to continue to support 70 restaurant managers and crew is to sell this restaurant to an outside buyer, Brochiero says.

Ralph Lindauer, the lawyer for the McDonalds employees, acknowledged that the Saint-Barthelemy restaurant had suffered undeniable losses, even before the highway work.

But he says the restaurants big structural role in Marseilles north should not be ignored. Theres a lot at stake here for Saint-Barthelemy, Lindauer says. Everybody knows the reputation of these neighbourhoods.

The restaurant is a social and economic model which doesnt correspond to the McDonalds model of elsewhere  short contracts, minimal pay, no union representation, the lawyer says. Here, its the opposite: personnel with lots of seniority, and even some benefits.

No McDonalds executive has met with the employees here, nor have they met the new owner.

Were shocked by this, Grabsi says. Were not here just to sell hamburgers. Theyre just not recognising what kind of people we have here.

 New York TimesAmazon launched in Turkey on Wednesday, offering products in 15 categories to customers across the country.

The e-commerce giant's latest operation will sell books, electronics, tools, toys, and baby goods, among other lines, including ranges from over 1,000 Turkish businesses.

Alpagut Cilingir, head of seller services for Amazon's Turkish operation, said the new service would level the playing field between big and small businesses and empower local companies of any size to grow their business online.

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"We are investing in helping sellers become successful  continually building tools that do the heavy lifting to help them to sell more, Mr Cilingir said.

In Turkey, Amazon adds a nation of more than 80 million people to the markets it already operates in.

Turkey's economy grew 7.4 per cent last year and while growth is expected to slow to in 2018, at 4.1 per cent it is still likely to far outstrip many other European economies.

Amazon is also looking to expand into new markets in countries where it already operates.

Last month it was reported that Amazon is considering creating a new insurance comparison website.

The e-commerce giant is said to be in talks with some of Europes largest insurers over the new site. It is not yet clear what products might be offered on Amazons rumoured new venture, or when it might launch.

The news was enough to send shares in insurance comparison site GoCompare plummeting 10.2 per cent on Thursday morning, before swiftly regaining most of the losses.The Department of Justice has launched an investigation looking at whether Tesla CEO Elon Musk broke the law by musing on Twitter about taking the company private.

The firm was contacted by the Department of Justice after Mr Musk made the comments on Twitter last month in a tweet that spurred theories the tech CEO was trying to communicate he was smoking marijuana because he suggested he would take his company private once shares had reached $420 a share. In the US, the number 420 is associated with April 20, when annual marijuana celebrations take place.

Last month, following Elons announcement that he was considering taking the company private, Tesla received a voluntary request for documents from the DOJ and has been cooperative in responding to it," a Tesla spokesperson told The Independent in an emailed statement.

The spokesperson continued: "We have not received a subpoena, a request for testimony, or any other formal process. We respect the DOJs desire to get information about this and believe that the matter should be quickly resolved as they review the information they have received.

The company has not provided further details about what the Justice Department is interested in, or about an already underway investigation into the company by the Security and Exchange Commission.

But the criminal probe had an impact on Tesla share prices after it was first reported Tuesday afternoon by Bloomberg. Soon after the first report of the probe by the DOJ was announced, Tesla shares fell by 6 per cent. The stock price had rebounded later in the afternoon, however.

LA to San Francisco in 30 minutes: Paypal founder Elon Musk unveils 800mph Hyperloop 'trains' Show all 6 1 /6 LA to San Francisco in 30 minutes: Paypal founder Elon Musk unveils 800mph Hyperloop 'trains' LA to San Francisco in 30 minutes: Paypal founder Elon Musk unveils 800mph Hyperloop 'trains' hyperloop.jpg LA to San Francisco in 30 minutes: Paypal founder Elon Musk unveils 800mph Hyperloop 'trains' hyperloop-2.jpg Reuters LA to San Francisco in 30 minutes: Paypal founder Elon Musk unveils 800mph Hyperloop 'trains' hyperloop-3.jpg Reuters LA to San Francisco in 30 minutes: Paypal founder Elon Musk unveils 800mph Hyperloop 'trains' hyperloop-4.jpg spacex.com LA to San Francisco in 30 minutes: Paypal founder Elon Musk unveils 800mph Hyperloop 'trains' hyperloop-5.jpg spacex.com LA to San Francisco in 30 minutes: Paypal founder Elon Musk unveils 800mph Hyperloop 'trains' hyperloop-6.jpg spacex.com

Mr Musks tweet, on 7 August, came in the middle of the trading day, and indicated he had secured funding for taking the company out of the public sphere. The tweet initially brought the shares up 9 per cent, but they have since declined to roughly 25 per cent below the high achieved following the announcement.

The CEO has since abandoned the idea, and said that his funding secured comment came from talks with Saudi Arabias sovereign wealth fund. He said that organisation had urged him to take his company private, and that they would invest more in Tesla if he did so.

But the comments resulted in shareholder lawsuits which claim Mr Musk was attempting to manipulate the stock price of his company. The comment also reportedly resulted in investigations being launched by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The Department of Justice declined to confirm or deny the existence of an investigation into Tesla or Elon Musk.Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed the decree easing the required limits for foreigners to acquire Turkish citizenship. The decree was published in the countrys Official Gazette today.

The lower limit of fixed capital investments to acquire Turkish citizenship for foreigners has been reduced to $500,000 from $2 million.

Foreigners who own real estate in Turkey worth a minimum of $250,000, instead of $1 million, can avail Turkish citizenship.

The deposit requirement of minimum $3 million in Turkish banks has also been lowered to $500,000.

According to the decree, foreigners who generate jobs for minimum 50 people will also be able to take Turkish citizenship. The previous number required was 100.

Foreign investors should hold the properties or continue the minimum limit of financial investments for at least three years to meet the criteria for Turkish citizenship, Hurriyet Daily reported.Royal Mail chairman Peter Long is stepping down with immediate effect to concentrate on his other role at estate agent Countrywide.

The announcement comes after a revolt which saw 70 per cent of the privatised postal services voting shareholders reject a pay deal for new chief executive Rico Back.

Royal Mail said Mr Long had decided it was not possible to continue in his role while also serving as Countrywides executive chairman. He will be replaced by Royal Mail board member and former Axa Sun Life boss Les Owen.

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Peter has reviewed his board appointments and concluded it is no longer possible for him to remain executive chairman of Countrywide and non-executive chairman of Royal Mail, the company said in a statement.

His departure comes after Zurich-based chief executive Mr Backs pay package sparked anger among the companies.

Mr Back is being paid a 640,000 annual salary, 100,000 more than his predecessor, Moya Greene. He also received close to 6m as a golden hello when Royal Mail hired him from its European parcels business.

After the payment was revealed, MPs wrote to demand answers as to why Royal Mail had not disclosed it in its remuneration report.

Rachel Reeves, chair of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee, said she was surprised to learn about the golden hello, which had been buried in the companys annual accounts.

Royal Mail insisted that it had to pay the sum to end Mr Backs previous contract early and that his fixed pay was the same as his predecessors because his pension contribution is lower.

Mr Back has attracted further criticism for his decision to continue living at his home in Switzerland, making regular trips to work at Royal mails headquarters in London.

Departing chairman Mr Long ends an three-year stint on the companys board.

It is with a heavy heart that I step down from the Royal Mail board, he said.

Over my three years as chairman, I have taken great pride in what has been achieved by the group.

It is a company with an incredible heritage. Operating in a challenging environment, it is positioning itself well for diversified growth under the leadership of Rico Back and his executive team.In her fourth-floor apartment in central Rome, Emanuela Tripi wakes at dawn to the terrifying sounds of a home invasion. She creeps into her kitchen and spots the culprit  long white neck, red-rimmed eyes, yellow-webbed feet  stabbing its beak into a rubbish bag.

Growing up in Sicily, Tripi always had a romantic vision of seagulls, but now she is face to face with a predator that is aggressively colonising a city a good 20 miles from the sea. She throws a slipper. It ignores her. She lifts a second slipper. It caws violently, takes flight and charges.

Arrivederci, you win, she thinks as she runs out of the kitchen, closing the door behind her.She was 14 when she joined the Dutch resistance, though with her long, dark hair in braids she looked at least two years younger.

When she rode her bicycle down the streets of Haarlem in North Holland, firearms hidden in a basket, Nazi officials rarely stopped to question her. When she walked through the woods, serving as a lookout or leading her SS target to a secluded place, there was little indication that she carried a handgun and was preparing an execution.

The Dutch resistance was widely believed to be a mans effort in a mans war. If women were involved, the thinking went, they were likely doing little more than handing out anti-German pamphlets or newspapers.

Yet Freddie Oversteegen and her sister Truus, two years her senior, were rare exceptions  a pair of teenage women who took up arms against Nazi occupiers and Dutch traitors on the outskirts of Amsterdam.

With Hannie Schaft, a onetime law student with fiery red hair, they sabotaged bridges and rail lines with dynamite, shot Nazis while riding their bikes, and donned disguises to smuggle Jewish children across the country and sometimes out of concentration camps.

In perhaps their most daring act, they lured their targets in taverns or bars, asked if they wanted to go for a stroll in the forest  and liquidated them, as Oversteegen put it, with a pull of the trigger.

Oversteegen described her part in the resistance as a source of both pride and pain (National Hannie Schaft Foundation)

We had to do it, she told one interviewer. It was a necessary evil, killing those who betrayed the good people. When asked how many people she had killed or helped kill, she demurred: One should not ask a soldier any of that.

Freddie Oversteegen, the last remaining member of the Netherlands most famous female resistance cell, died one day before her 93rd birthday. She was living in a nursing home in Driehuis, five miles from Haarlem, and had suffered several heart attacks in recent years, Jeroen Pliester, chairman of the National Hannie Schaft Foundation, said.

The organisation was founded by Oversteegens sister in 1996 to promote the legacy of Schaft, who was captured and executed by the Nazis weeks before the end of Second World War. Schaft became the national icon of female resistance, Pliester said, a martyr whose story was taught to schoolchildren across the Netherlands and memorialised in a 1981 movie, The Girl With the Red Hair, which took its title from her nickname.

Oversteegen served as a board member in her sisters organisation. But she decided to be a little bit out of the limelight, Pliester said, and was sometimes overshadowed by Schaft and Truus, the groups leader.

I have always been a little jealous of her because she got so much attention after the war, Oversteegen told Vice Netherlands in 2016, referring to her sister. But then Id just think, I was in the resistance as well.

It was, she said, a source of pride and of pain  a five-year experience that she never regretted, but that came to haunt her in peacetime. Late at night, unable to fall asleep, she sometimes recalled the words of an old battle song that served as an anthem for her and her sister: We have carried the best to their graves/ torn and fired at, beaten till the blood ran/ surrounded by the executioners on the scaffold and jail/ but the raging of the enemy doesnt frighten us.

Freddie Nanda Oversteegen was born in the village of Schoten, now part of Haarlem, in the Twenties. Her parents divorced when she was a child, and Freddie and Truus were raised primarily by their mother, a communist who instilled a sense of social responsibility in the young girls; she eventually remarried and had a son.

In interviews with anthropologist Ellis Jonker, collected in the 2014 book Under Fire: Women and World War II, Freddie Oversteegen recalled that their mother encouraged them to make dolls for children suffering in the Spanish Civil War, and beginning in the early 1930s volunteered with International Red Aid, a kind of communist Red Cross for political prisoners around the world.

Although living in poverty, sleeping on makeshift mattresses stuffed with straw, the family took in refugees from Germany and Amsterdam, including a Jewish couple and a mother and son who lived in their attic. After German forces invaded the Netherlands in May 1940, the couples were moved to another location; Jewish community leaders feared a potential raid, because of the familys well-known political leanings.

They were all deported and murdered, Oversteegen told Jonker. We never heard from them again. It still moves me dreadfully, whenever I talk about it.

Oversteegen and her sister began their resistance careers by distributing pamphlets (The Netherlands have to be free!) and hanging anti-Nazi posters (For every Dutch man working in Germany, a German man will go to the front!). Their efforts apparently attracted the attention of Frans van der Wiel, commander of the underground Haarlem Council of Resistance, who invited them to join his team  with their mothers permission.

Only later did he tell us what wed actually have to do: sabotage bridges and railway lines, Truus Oversteegen said, according to Jonker. We told him wed like to do that. And learn to shoot, to shoot Nazis, he added. I remember my sister saying, Well, thats something Ive never done before.

By Truus account, it was Freddie Oversteegen who became the first to shoot and kill someone.It was tragic and very difficult and we cried about it afterwards, Truus said. We did not feel it suited us  it never suits anybody, unless they are real criminals... One loses everything. It poisons the beautiful things in life.

The Oversteegen sisters were officially part of a seven-person resistance cell, which grew to include an eighth member, Schaft, after she joined in 1943. But the three girls worked primarily as a stand-alone unit, Pliester said, acting on instructions from the Council of Resistance.

After the war ended in 1945, Truus worked as an artist, making paintings and sculptures inspired by her years with the resistance, and wrote a popular memoir, Not Then, Not Now, Not Ever. She died in 2016, two years after prime minister Mark Rutte awarded the sisters the Mobilisation War Cross, a military honour for service in the Second World War.

For her part, Freddie Oversteegen told Vice that she coped with the traumas of the war by getting married and having babies. She married Jan Dekker, taking the name Freddie Dekker-Oversteegen, and raised three children. They survive her, as do her half brother and four grandchildren. Her husband, who worked at the steel company Hoogovens, is deceased.

In interviews, Oversteegen often spoke of the physics of killing  not the feel of the trigger or kick of the gun, but the inevitable collapse that followed, her victims fall to the ground.

Yes, she told one interviewer, according to the Dutch newspaper IJmuider Courant, Ive shot a gun myself and Ive seen them fall. And what is inside us at such a moment? You want to help them get up.

Freddie Oversteegen, Dutch resistance fighter, born 6 September 1925, died 5 September 2018Violent crime is to be treated as a public health issue in London as authorities work to prevent stabbings and shootings.

Mayor Sadiq Khan has awarded 500,000 to establish the capitals new Violence Reduction Unit, which is modelled on a long-term programme in Glasgow.

He cautioned that its work would not deliver results overnight, adding: The causes of violent crime are many years in the making and the solutions will take time.

This unit is not a substitute for the investment our public services needed if London is to significantly cut levels of violent crime.

The unit is tasked with tackling societal problems like poverty, social alienation, mental ill-health and a lack of opportunity that drive violent crime, using health and justice data to identify risk factors in childrens lives.

It aims to improve coordination between the Metropolitan Police, local authorities, youth services, health services, criminal justice agencies and City Hall.

Officials from London have modelled the programme on work carried out for more than a decade in Glasgow, which has seen the homicide rate in the former murder capital of western Europe halved.

Niven Rennie, director of the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit, said it started by treating violence as a disease which was infecting our communities.

 Amber Rudd claims no link between cuts to police and youth services and spike in violent crime

Scotland has shown that change is possible and we believe London can do the same, he added. Start with the belief that violence is preventable and anything is possible."

More than 100 murders have taken place in London so far this year, with a third of the victims aged 16 to 24, and three in five of the deaths being stabbings.

The latest fatal attack was on Tuesday night, when a 25-year-old man was found with a stab wound in Islington and pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene.

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Police are also appealing for information on a double stabbing in Greenwich on Monday, which left one man in a critical condition and another injured in hospital.

Dr Vin Diwakar, the regional medical director for NHS England in London, said the capitals major trauma units were currently at the receiving end of violent crime.

It is vital that we take a joined-up approach to tackling this issue and understand that no single organisation can deal with it in isolation, he added.

Patrick Green, CEO of the Ben Kinsella Trust, said knife crime needs solutions that go beyond arrests and police enforcement, adding: Bringing together experts from a range of disciplines, sharing information which helps to disrupt criminal activity and intervene earlier to reduce the likelihood of violence is an important step forward in the fight to end knife crime.

Womens groups also welcomed the initiative, which will cover domestic abuse and the impact it has on children.

The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Show all 21 1 /21 The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Oluwadamilolda Odeyingbo Oluwadamilolda Odeyingbo, 18, was killed in a fight in Chislehurst on 10 January 2018 Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Hasan Ozcan Hasan Ozcan, 19, was stabbed to death on the Gascoigne Estate in Barking on 3 February 2018 Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Sabri Chibani Sabri Chibani, 19, was stabbed fatally in the chest in Streatham on 11 February 2018 Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Promise Nkenda Lord Promise Nkenda, 17, was stabbed to death in Canning Town on 14 February 2018 Facebook The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Lewis Blackman Lewis Blackman, a 19-year-old rapper from Kentish Town, was stabbed to death in Kensington on 18 February 2018 Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Abdikarim Hassan Abdikarim Hassan, 17, was stabbed to death near his home in Camden's Peckwater estate on 20 March - less tahan two hours before another man was stabbed to death nearby Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Kelvin Odunuyi Kelvin Odunuyi, a 19-year-old rapper known as DipDat and Lampz, was shot dead in Wood Green on 8 March Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Lyndon Davis Lyndon Davis, 18, was chased down and stabbed to death in Chadwell Heath on 14 March Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Tanesha Melbourne-Blake Tanesha Melbourne, 17, was killed in a drive-by shooting in Tottenham on 2 April PA The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Amaan Shakoor Amaan Shakoor, 16, was shot dead in Walthamstow on 2 April Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Israel Ogunsola Israel Ogunsola, 18, was stabbed to death in Hackney on 4 April Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Rhyhiem Ainsworth Barton Rhyhiem Ainsworth Barton, a 17-year-old rapper and aspiring architect, was shot dead in a Kennington Street on 5 May Handout The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Jordan Douherty Aspiring rapper Jordan Douherty died of his injuries outside a birthday party in Romford on 23 June Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Katrina Makunova Katrina Makunova, 17, was stabbed to death in Camberwell on 12 July 2018 Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Latwaan Griffiths 18-year-old Latwaan Griffiths was fatally stabbed on 25 July and died in hospital after being thrown off the back of a moped in Camberwell Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Guled Farah Guled Farah, 19, was shot in Walthamstow on 22 September Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Ethan Nedd-Bruce Ethan Nedd-Bruce, 18, died after he was shot outside a party at a flat in Greenwich, south-east London, on 22 October. He had also been stabbed, but the gunshot wound was the cause of death. Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Jay Hughes Jay Hughes, 15, died was fatally stabbed outside a chicken shop in Bellingham, south-east London, on 1 November Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Malcolm Mide-Madariola Malcolm Mide-Madariola, 17, was found suffering from a stab wound outside Clapham South Tube station on 2 November Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 John Ogunjobi John Ogunjobi, 16, died in front of his parents after he was stabbed in Greenleaf Close, Tulse Hill, on 5 November Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Aron Warren Aron Warren, 18, was found stabbed in a flat block in Greenwich on 8 December and died at the scene Metropolitan Police

Mary Mason, CEO of Solace Womens Aid, said: "Children of any age can develop symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder ... it has negative implications as they get older and can lead to becoming perpetrators of abuse themselves."

The Violence Reduction Unit will work alongside the Metropolitan Polices Violent Crime Taskforce, which has 272 officers focused on the worst-affected areas.

The mayors office said that although the taskforce had been making arrests and seizing weapons, enforcement alone cannot solve this problem.

Whole communities must be part of designing and working towards the solutions, a spokesperson said.

The ultimate aim is to divert young people away from criminal activity, by supporting the vulnerable at an early stage and giving young Londoners better life opportunities.

Steve OConnell, chair of the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee, said there was a worrying lack of detail on how the unit will work across the whole of London.

We will be keeping a close eye on whether this new plan has an impact on the ground and does not end up a missed opportunity, he added.

Some critics have personally blamed Mr Khan for the rise in violent crime in London (AFP/Getty)

Mr Khan has also launched a 45m Young Londoners Fund to provide young people with alternatives to crime and move those involved with gangs into employment and training.

Figures show an increase in violent crime across England and Wales, with the number of homicides recorded by police up by 12 per cent, knife crime up by 16 per cent and robbery by 30 per cent in a year.

In the year to June, more than 21,100 knife offences were dealt with by the criminal justice system  the highest number since 2010.

Earlier this year, the governments first ever Serious Violence Strategy cited potential drivers including the county lines drug trade and incitement on social media.

But it was heavily criticised for omitting a leaked Home Office document saying government funding cuts to the police may have encouraged offenders amid the loss of more than 20,000 police officers since 2010.

Some senior police officers have also raised concerns that a dramatic fall in the use of stop and search has emboldened offenders to carry knives in the belief they will not be discovered.

The decline is now starting to reverse after calls for greater use of the tactic from the government and police leaders, who say the spread of body-worn cameras has caused the number of complaints to fall and reassured officers fearing racism accusations.

Police have been calling on the government to increase the funding given to stretched forces responding to an increase in violence, demand and the terror threat.

Speaking to officers at a national conference last week, the home secretary Sajid Javid vowed to fight for more money in a government-wide spending review.The Westminster attackers mother feared he would become a killer when he was just a teenager, an inquest into his victims deaths has heard.

Police told the Old Bailey in London of Khalid Masoods history of domestic abuse, crime and extreme violence, which saw him jailed twice and convert to Islam while in prison.

The 52-year-old had been known to the security services for his Islamist connections since 2004 but was not considered an imminent threat when he murdered five victims in March 2017.

Masood was shot dead by police after ploughing a rented car into Kurt Cochran, 54, Leslie Rhodes, 75, Aysha Frade, 44, and Andreea Cristea, 31, on Westminster Bridge and then stabbing PC Keith Palmer to death outside the Houses of Parliament.

Police believe he may have considered using gas canisters to cause an explosion during the impact, after telling children he was going to die fighting for God weeks before the atrocity.

Masood, who was formerly named Adrian Russell Ajao, first got into trouble with police when he was just 14 years old and living in Tunbridge Wells with his mother, stepfather and two stepbrothers.

Detective Chief Inspector Dan Brown told the inquests: His mother suggested he exhibited normal boisterous behaviour, but his two brothers suggested he was a violent, disruptive person, who would not back down from a disagreement.

Floral tributes left for the victims of the Westminster terrorist attack (Getty)

Masoods mother, Janet Ajao, told police he would go to pubs and clubs looking for a fight as an older teenager.

She also described him as an angry person, DCI Brown added. She was worried he would kill someone through fighting.

Masood was convicted seven times between 1983 and 2003 for offences ranging from criminal damage to possession of an offensive weapon, threatening behaviour, actual bodily harm, assault on police and unlawful wounding.

A criminal records check carried out for a job application in 2009 said Masood had a violent temper and that police incidents dating back to 1998 had got progressively more serious.

In 1998 he punched a woman in the face after she said she did not like his attitude, and after moving to Eastbourne was charged with actual bodily harm on a girlfriend, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and intimidating a witness.

Investigators believe Masood converted to Islam while serving a two-year prison sentence imposed in July 2000 for attacking a man with a knife as he was ejected from a pub.

Masood began reading the Quran while jailed at HMP Lewes, Wayland and Ford, but showed no sign of extremist beliefs that was detected at the time, the inquests heard. His relationship with Jane Harvey, with whom he had two children, ended at this time amid ongoing domestic abuse.

In 2002, he hit a man over the head with a glass and cut another mans face with a knife at a pub. He was arrested but the case was discontinued because the witnesses would not help investigators following suspected intimidation.

In the same year it was alleged that he hit someone with a cosh during a robbery and in March 2003, he beat a man with a baton so badly the victim was left with a dislocated shoulder, broken collarbone and extensive bruising.

Just two months later, Masood plunged a carving knife through the nose of Daniel Smith after being accused of being an undercover police officer in May 2003.

In pictures: Westminster attack Show all 9 1 /9 In pictures: Westminster attack In pictures: Westminster attack An air ambulance lands after gunfire sounds were heard close to the Palace of Westminster in London PA wire In pictures: Westminster attack MPs wait until the situation is under control in Westminster. 'The alleged assailant was shot by armed police,' David Lidington, leader of the House of Commons, told the house. BBC News In pictures: Westminster attack Crowds gather in Westminster after shooting incident, which police are treating as terror attack BBC News In pictures: Westminster attack Police were also called to an incident on Westminster Bridge nearby AP In pictures: Westminster attack Early reports indicate the car, which mounted the pavement on Westminster Bridge and mowed into around a dozen people, was the same vehicle which then rammed into the railings of the Palace of Westminster, just around the corner Reuters In pictures: Westminster attack Security sources described the suspected assailant as a middle-aged Asian man, who is understood to have left the car before attacking a police officer with a seven-to-eight inch knife PA wire In pictures: Westminster attack Police have asked people to avoid the immediate area to allow emergency services to deal with the ongoing incident AP In pictures: Westminster attack One woman has died and a number of others, including the police officer, have been hurt, according to a junior doctor at St Thomas' Hospital Reuters In pictures: Westminster attack At least three gun shots were heard by those inside Westminster, and proceedings in the House of Commons have been suspended AP

In what was described as a horrific incident, the Old Bailey heard the blade went through the palate of his mouth, through the tongue and into his jaw with such force the last inch of the blade broke off.

Masood was acquitted of attempted murder, wounding with intent and having a bladed weapon after claiming self-defence and released from HMP Lewes, where he had been held on remand.

The inquest heard he credited his acquittal, as well as the survival of his eldest daughter in a later serious car accident, as the miracles that reinforced his Muslim faith.

Police records detailed Masoods involvement in drug dealing, racketeering and enforcement, but no further criminal offences were recorded after he was released from his second prison sentence in 2003.

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In 2004 he moved to Crawley to train to teach English as a foreign language, and met Farzana Malik, who he married within a matter of weeks. In her words the union was a disaster and the pair parted ways after a few months.

In November 2005, he began a years contract teaching English in Saudi Arabia, as his connections to terror suspects and members of Anjem Choudarys al-Muhajiroun network drew the attention of security services.

But Masood never crossed the threshold for a high-priority investigation and was able to return to the UK.

In 2007 he married Rohey Hydara and moved to east London, where his wife recalled him meeting a friend who had been convicted of terror offences in a park.

From April 2008, he returned to work in Saudi Arabia for a year, which he described as a utopia.

According to his CV, from October 2009 to June 2012 he worked teaching English in Luton. At this time, he also started working out and using steroids.

DCI Brown told the inquest: Ms Hydara told us that he had anger issues. He would get very angry and controlling and they did have periods of separation as a result of these anger problems.

In June 2012, Masood moved to Birmingham to run his own business teaching English and described himself as a good Muslim on an Islamic dating site.

MP Tobias Ellwood performing first aid on PC Keith Palmer after the officer was fatally stabbed during the Westminster attack (PA)

As a typical non-believer, I drank in pubs at the weekend but alcohol did not agree with me and sometimes I got into fights, his profile said.

He also complained about his wife wearing tight jeans, having her hair exposed and allowing their children to celebrate their birthdays.

In 2014, the inquest heard he used heavy emotional persuasion to get his second eldest daughter to live with him in Birmingham and convert to Islam, but she chose to return home.

Masood was offered another job in Saudi Arabia in May 2016 but later rejected, and was struggling with money, in debt and trying to move to a predominantly Muslim country in the run-up to the attack.

In the preceding weeks, he told his younger children he had been having prophetic dreams during video calls.

DCI Brown said: He told them that he was going to die fighting for God.

Internet searchers for Birmingham Calor Gas Centre suggested it was at least possible that he had planned to use gas as a weapon, the officer added.

Masood drove from Birmingham to Wales to visit his mother and stepfather on 16 March after picking up the vehicle he used to carry out the attack in what police believe was a goodbye visit.

DCI Brown told the court: As he was leaving the house on 17 March he turned over his shoulder and said, they will say Im a terrorist. Im not.

The inquests into the deaths of Masoods victims continue, and a hearing to establish the circumstances of his death will be held at a later date.

Additional reporting by PAPolice leaders are being forced to divert precious resources to working out how to cope with protests, disorder and the sudden loss of access to vital information in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

One of the UKs most senior officers warned fallback plans agreed by chief constables this week were still slower, more bureaucratic and ultimately less effective than the systems currently used.

The Home Office has allocated 2m for a dedicated new unit of 50 police officers and staff, who will prepare for the possibility of public disorder, protests and disruption on transport and at borders, and re-learn how to use outdated methods of accessing information that is currently accessible via shared databases.

Simon Kempton, operational lead for the Police Federation of England and Wales, said it was highly concerning that with Brexit only six months away we still dont know what the policing landscape will look like, adding: The government  as ever  needs to get its house in order to avoid Brexit being at best a bureaucratic nightmare and at worse a dangerous situation created by its inability to provide certainty.

He told The Independent that both Brexit planning and the projected reality was adding further strain onto forces that are already dealing with a huge rise in 999 calls, violent crime, the terror threat and government cuts.

My worry is that the officers used to staff this unit will need to be diverted from other already stretched areas, thus creating more capacity and back-filling issues, Mr Kempton said.

There have been discussions about cancelling officers rest days and putting a moratorium on leave in the weeks and even months immediately pre and post 29 March  Planning and resourcing around [potential disorder] will put further strain on a service which is already struggling from years of cuts and a lack of investment and support.

Police say there is 'no alternative' to the Schengen Information System (PA)

Britain risks losing access to 40 tools, including Europol, the European arrest warrant and Schengen Information System II (SIS II)  a huge database containing information on terrorists, criminals, missing people and objects, to which the police say there is no alternative.

It may also be locked out of the European Criminal Records Information System and Eurojust if an agreement to allow continued cooperation is not struck.

The EUs chief negotiatior, Michel Barnier, said in June that the UK would lose access to the European arrest warrant and no longer have a managing role on Europol.

He said that while the EU was open to exchanging intelligence with the UK, it could not be based on access to EU-only or Schengen-only databases.

Sara Thornton, chair of the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) said: Existing EU tools allow us to respond quickly and intelligently to crime and terrorism in the UK and the EU  they make us better at protecting the public.

The alternatives we are planning to use, where they exist, are without exception slower, more bureaucratic and ultimately less effective.

Under current systems it would take an average of six days to check if a foreign national has criminal convictions in their home country, but in the event of no-deal that would extend to an estimated 66 days.

For every one person currently arrested on a UK-issued European arrest warrant, the UK arrests eight people on warrants issued by other member states.

British officers checked SIS II 539 million times in 2017 alone, with their equipment currently searching the system and the police national criminal database simultaneously.

Ms Thornton said the loss of UK contributions would also be felt in Europe, with Britain currently one of the biggest intelligence contributors to Europol and leading half of its operational coordination meetings.

The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Show all 8 1 /8 The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Post-Brexit immigration workers sorting radishes on a production line at a farm in Norfolk. One possible post-Brexit immigration scheme could struggle to channel workers towards less attractive roles - while another may heighten the risk of labour exploitation, a new report warns. PA The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Customs union A key point in the negotiations remains Britain's access to, or withdrawal from, the EU customs union. Since the referendum there has been hot debate over the meaning of Brexit: would it entail a full withdrawal from the existing agreement, known as hard Brexit, or the soft version in which we would remain part of a common customs area for most goods, as Turkey does? No 10 has so far insisted that Brexit means Brexit and that Britain will be leaving the customs union, but may be inclined to change its position once the potential risks to the UKs economic outlook become clearer. Alamy The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Northern Ireland-Irish border Though progress was made last year, there has still been no solid agreement on whether there should be a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. To ensure borderless travel on the island, the countries must be in regulatory alignment and therefore adhere to the same rules as the customs union. In December, the Conservative Partys coalition partners, the DUP, refused a draft agreement that would place the UK/EU border in the Irish Sea due to its potential to undermine the union. May has promised that would not be the case and has suggested that a specific solution would need to be found. Getty The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Transition period Despite protests from a small number of Conservative MPs, the Government and the EU are largely in agreement that a transitional period is needed after Brexit. The talks, however, have reached an impasse. Though May has agreed that the UK will continue to contribute to the EU budget until 2021, the PM wants to be able to select which laws made during this time the UK will have to adhere to. Chief negotiator Michel Barnier has said the UK must adopt all of the laws passed during the transition, without any input from British ministers or MEPs. EPA The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Rights of EU citizens living the UK The Prime Minister has promised EU citizens already living in the UK the right to live and work here after Brexit, but the rights of those who arrive after Brexit day remains unclear. May insists that those who arrive during the transition period should not be allowed to stay, whereas the EU believe the cut-off point should be later. Getty The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Future trade agreement (with the EU) Despite this being a key issue in negotiations, the Government has yet to lay out exactly what it wants from a trade deal with the EU. Infighting within the Cabinet has prevented a solid position from being reached, with some MPs content that "no deal is better than a bad deal" while others rally behind single market access. The EU has already confirmed that access to the single market would be impossible without the UK remaining in the customs union. Getty The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Future trade agreements (internationally) The Government has already begun trying to woo foreign leaders into prospective trade agreements, with various high profile state visits to China, India and Canada for May, and the now infamous invitation to US President Donald Trump to visit London. However the UK cannot make trade agreements with another country while it is still a member of the EU, and the potential loss of trade with the world's major powers is a source of anxiety for the PM. The EU has said the UK cannot secure trade deals during the transition period. EPA The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Financial services Banks in the UK will be hit hard regardless of the Brexit outcome. The EU has refused to give British banks passporting rights to trade within the EU, dashing hopes of a special City deal. However according to new reports Germany has suggested allowing trade on the condition that the UK continues paying into the EU budget even after the transition period. Getty

We have agreed a model that minimises the risks and makes best use of already pressured police resources, she added. It does not predict a worst-case scenario but it does prepare for it.

The contingency plans were agreed by all chief constables in England and Wales, and the new unit will also work with Police Scotland and the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

They will see UK law enforcement revert to use of international police tools through Interpol, bilateral channels and Council of Europe conventions to enable criminals to be extradited, trace missing people and share intelligence about crime and terrorism.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Richard Martin, the NPCC lead for Brexit, said police remain hopeful that a deal will be struck allowing continued access to the instruments.

Criminals dont respect borders, he added, warning that the UK and EU may no longer be able to share real-time alerts for wanted persons, including serious criminals.

We would respond less swiftly to alerts for missing people  and our collective ability to map terrorist and criminal networks across Europe and bring those responsible to justice would be reduced.

Last week, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick revealed her force was preparing for potential disorder around Dover, and leaders say they have conducted threat assessments and are preparing for all possible outcomes.

Earlier this year, the Home Affairs Committee warned that Britain was on course for a "catastrophic" Brexit security deal that could see criminals and terrorists go free.

MPs condemned both UK and EU negotiators for endangering the security of their citizens by refusing to cross political red lines and called on the UK to submit to European Court of Justice jurisdiction.

Then in August, the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) wrote to the government warning a no-deal Brexit would put public safety at risk and reduce policing capacity in Britain.

The right deal for everyone needs to be agreed as soon as possible, said APCC Brexit lead Matthew Scott.Two of my friends were killed in one week, and the week after I had a gun put to my head, says Alika Agidi-Jeffs, a 27-year-old from south London. Before I knew it all these things mounted and I was having a breakdown. I was gearing up for suicide.

Alika was referred to a psychiatric unit at the age of 22. He had spiralled into a state of high-level depression after two of his friends were stabbed to death within days of each other  an experience that caused him to start to lose grips with reality.

It rocked up my world, he says. I felt like I had had enough of life. I thought I was the only one in the world going through it. I didnt understand what the hell was happening until my sister called the ambulance and they took me to the hospital.

The 27-year-old is one of a growing number of young people who are driven to a mental health crisis after being involved in or affected by street violence in London as a knife crime epidemic grips the capital.

More than 100 murders have taken place in the city so far this year, three in five of which have been stabbings. A third of the victims were aged 16 to 24.

Mayor Sadiq Khan said on Wednesday that the rise in youth violence must be treated as a public health issue, and announced that 500,000 had been earmarked to establish the capitals new Violence Reduction Unit, modelled on a long-term programme in Glasgow.

While the intervention is welcomed, experts say there must be a specific focus on mental health, warning that a generation of young people have been traumatised by experiencing and witnessing violent deaths within their communities, at a time when youth psychological services have been cut.

Figures obtained by the NSPCC show that in two of Londons largest mental health trusts, the number of children being referred from education settings has increased dramatically in the past three years  with a considerable number refused help entirely.

In West London Mental Health Trust, referrals increased by 73 per cent between 2014 and 2018, from 417 to 721, while referrals to South West London and St Georges Mental Health Trust are up by more than 300 per cent, from 640 to 2,605.

Nearly four in 10 (38 per cent) of these referrals  a total of 1,279 children  were not deemed eligible for treatment last year.

Alika says the NHS did their job amazingly when he was eventually taken to hospital after having a nervous breakdown. But he believes not enough is being done by schools and other agencies to educate young people affected by street violence about mental health.

Its not normal that I was coming home to a block that has blood on the stairs, or experiencing my friend die not due to natural causes, but because they were shot or stabbed over something trivial. But youre made to feel that youre meant to get on with it, he says.

I know for a fact that a lot of the young people carrying knives are going through a lot of mental turmoil. They will say deep, sad things like I dont care if someone kills me, they will be doing me a favour anyway. How do you not hear that and hear the mental health need there?

They are basically begging for help. But nobody is seeing that. Its like someone seeing me on the top of a building about to jump off, and doing nothing.

Tom Isaac, a youth worker who heads up a service called Oasis Youth, which works with stabbing victims at a paediatrics unit in South London, says the rise in stabbings across the capital in recent years has created a surge in mental health need among the young people involved.

The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Show all 21 1 /21 The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Oluwadamilolda Odeyingbo Oluwadamilolda Odeyingbo, 18, was killed in a fight in Chislehurst on 10 January 2018 Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Hasan Ozcan Hasan Ozcan, 19, was stabbed to death on the Gascoigne Estate in Barking on 3 February 2018 Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Sabri Chibani Sabri Chibani, 19, was stabbed fatally in the chest in Streatham on 11 February 2018 Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Promise Nkenda Lord Promise Nkenda, 17, was stabbed to death in Canning Town on 14 February 2018 Facebook The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Lewis Blackman Lewis Blackman, a 19-year-old rapper from Kentish Town, was stabbed to death in Kensington on 18 February 2018 Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Abdikarim Hassan Abdikarim Hassan, 17, was stabbed to death near his home in Camden's Peckwater estate on 20 March - less tahan two hours before another man was stabbed to death nearby Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Kelvin Odunuyi Kelvin Odunuyi, a 19-year-old rapper known as DipDat and Lampz, was shot dead in Wood Green on 8 March Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Lyndon Davis Lyndon Davis, 18, was chased down and stabbed to death in Chadwell Heath on 14 March Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Tanesha Melbourne-Blake Tanesha Melbourne, 17, was killed in a drive-by shooting in Tottenham on 2 April PA The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Amaan Shakoor Amaan Shakoor, 16, was shot dead in Walthamstow on 2 April Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Israel Ogunsola Israel Ogunsola, 18, was stabbed to death in Hackney on 4 April Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Rhyhiem Ainsworth Barton Rhyhiem Ainsworth Barton, a 17-year-old rapper and aspiring architect, was shot dead in a Kennington Street on 5 May Handout The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Jordan Douherty Aspiring rapper Jordan Douherty died of his injuries outside a birthday party in Romford on 23 June Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Katrina Makunova Katrina Makunova, 17, was stabbed to death in Camberwell on 12 July 2018 Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Latwaan Griffiths 18-year-old Latwaan Griffiths was fatally stabbed on 25 July and died in hospital after being thrown off the back of a moped in Camberwell Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Guled Farah Guled Farah, 19, was shot in Walthamstow on 22 September Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Ethan Nedd-Bruce Ethan Nedd-Bruce, 18, died after he was shot outside a party at a flat in Greenwich, south-east London, on 22 October. He had also been stabbed, but the gunshot wound was the cause of death. Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Jay Hughes Jay Hughes, 15, died was fatally stabbed outside a chicken shop in Bellingham, south-east London, on 1 November Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Malcolm Mide-Madariola Malcolm Mide-Madariola, 17, was found suffering from a stab wound outside Clapham South Tube station on 2 November Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 John Ogunjobi John Ogunjobi, 16, died in front of his parents after he was stabbed in Greenleaf Close, Tulse Hill, on 5 November Metropolitan Police The teenagers murdered in London in 2018 Aron Warren Aron Warren, 18, was found stabbed in a flat block in Greenwich on 8 December and died at the scene Metropolitan Police

Theres masses of unmet need. The majority of the young people who have been stabbed arent able to get support, Isaac tells The Independent.

There are also a lot of young people who have had to witness murders of teenagers right outside their block. Imagine the trauma of living there and growing up there, and what that does to your psyche. All of them need safety, support and counselling to help them process what theyve gone through.

Isaac says that over recent years, he has seen thresholds for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) increase, making it harder to get young people the support they need.

Several years ago, you might have been able to get a young person some level of CAMHs support if they had mental health issues that were noticeable but not yet suicidal or dangerous, such as anger issues, depression or really low moods. But now it has to hit quite a big crisis point to get any help, he says.

We cant get young people the support unless theyre already high risk  so already at the point where they are hurting themselves or hurting others.

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As violence goes up, you get more trauma, so mental health is a massive part of the rise in youth violence. You cant divide it. If youve been a victim of violence, its instantly a mental health issue.

Charlie Howard, clinical psychologist and founder of MAC-UK, a London-based charity that reaches out to offer mental health services to young people involved in violent crime, says the rise in knife crime is producing a generation of young people who are "traumatised, but not talking about it".

She says the link between mental health and youth violence or gang involvement is bi-directional, explaining that while already existing mental health issues make a young person more vulnerable to being groomed or pulled into a gang, that mental fragility rises significantly as they see more violence.

Theyre witnessing, either directly or second hand, young people losing their lives. Or theyre living in fear because theyre constantly having to watch their backs. These are all things that are not conducive to positive mental health, Howard tells The Independent.

When were looking at young people who have witnessed murders in front of their eyes, were talking about trauma. They dont talk about the flashbacks theyre having at night, its much more an Ive got to be strong mentality.

It also links back to adverse childhood experiences. The young people involved in gangs or violence are disproportionately likely to have a large number of risk factors from an early age, and those are the same risk factors that would lead to mental health difficulties in the short and long term.

 Amber Rudd claims no link between cuts to police and youth services and spike in violent crime

Howard says this psychological suffering is being overlooked due to a lack of recognition by authorities and the fact that the current youth mental health services are often inaccessible to the children and teenagers who need it.

When we think of depression, we might think of a young person crying, being very low, when actually it can present, very aggressively, particularly in young men, she says.

Its quite unlikely when someones holding a knife that anyone stops and says hold on, is this young person clinically depressed? Can we help them?

When you have a spike in events like recently, it has a big ripple through our communities. The mental health aspect of this is broadening. This absolutely doesnt sit with policing and crime  it requires a public health response.

An NHS England spokesperson said: An increasing proportion of young people say that they have a mental health condition and the NHS is responding by ramping up capacity, with 70,000 more young people set to get help by 2020/21, and the NHS long-term plan will set out further priorities for the years ahead.Theresa May is facing new demands to stump up more cash for European migrant policing, with Belgiums prime minister set to corner her at an EU summit in Salzburg in a bid to extract money.

Belgian media reports that Charles Michel, the countrys PM, will meet with Ms May at this weeks EU summit in Salzburg and ask her for a budget contribution similar to the one Britain already pays to France.

The backdrop to the latest demand is an ongoing political row in Belgium about so-called trans-migrants  who are increasingly travelling through Flanders on their way to the UK.

Faced with disquiet in his governing coalition on the issue, Mr Michel is dragging Britain into the row in an apparent attempt to unite his domestic parties by shifting the focus on to the UK.

He is expected to tell Ms May that since the migrants are destined for the UK and it is Britain who benefits from the border policing, it should pay the bill to keep them excluded from the country.

Downing Street confirmed a bilateral meeting was scheduled between the two leaders, but a spokesperson said they were not aware of the expected demands for money, which have been reported in a number of Belgian media outlets.

Though focus on the Salzburg meeting in the UK media has been on the limited Brexit discussion set to take place, the headline topic of the summit is actually about migration and security  with countries piling in to defend their interests on the issue.

The UKs own National Crime Agency has already acknowledged that a crackdown on undocumented migration and people-smuggling in France has pushed activity into neighbouring Belgium, where people are now increasingly boarding lorries instead before travelling to the UK.

In Belgium smuggling is prevalent. They are putting people on lorries in Belgium and then moving them across the border, NCA deputy director Tom Dowdall told The Independent in July.

They are loading up HGVs at stops and service stations. Some of the drivers are being duped but an increasing number are complicit [and being paid].

The NCA says it is working with the Belgian authorities, as well as those of neighbouring France and the Netherlands.

Refugee crisis - in pictures Show all 27 1 /27 Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugee crisis - in pictures A child looks through the fence at the Moria detention camp for migrants and refugees at the island of Lesbos on May 24, 2016. AFP/Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Ahmad Zarour, 32, from Syria, reacts after his rescue by MOAS (Migrant Offshore Aid Station) while attempting to reach the Greek island of Agathonisi, Dodecanese, southeastern Agean Sea Refugee crisis - in pictures Syrian migrants holding life vests gather onto a pebble beach in the Yesil liman district of Canakkale, northwestern Turkey, after being stopped by Turkish police in their attempt to reach the Greek island of Lesbos on 29 January 2016. Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees flash the 'V for victory' sign during a demonstration as they block the Greek-Macedonian border Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants have been braving sub zero temperatures as they cross the border from Macedonia into Serbia. Refugee crisis - in pictures A sinking boat is seen behind a Turkish gendarme off the coast of Canakkale's Bademli district on January 30, 2016. At least 33 migrants drowned on January 30 when their boat sank in the Aegean Sea while trying to cross from Turkey to Greece. Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A general view of a shelter for migrants inside a hangar of the former Tempelhof airport in Berlin, Germany Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees protest behind a fence against restrictions limiting passage at the Greek-Macedonian border, near Gevgelija. Since last week, Macedonia has restricted passage to northern Europe to only Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans who are considered war refugees. All other nationalities are deemed economic migrants and told to turn back. Macedonia has finished building a fence on its frontier with Greece becoming the latest country in Europe to build a border barrier aimed at checking the flow of refugees Refugee crisis - in pictures A father and his child wait after being caught by Turkish gendarme on 27 January 2016 at Canakkale's Kucukkuyu district Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants make hand signals as they arrive into the southern Spanish port of Malaga on 27 January, 2016 after an inflatable boat carrying 55 Africans, seven of them women and six chidren, was rescued by the Spanish coast guard off the Spanish coast. Refugee crisis - in pictures A refugee holds two children as dozens arrive on an overcrowded boat on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugee crisis - in pictures A child, covered by emergency blankets, reacts as she arrives, with other refugees and migrants, on the Greek island of Lesbos, At least five migrants including three children, died after four boats sank between Turkey and Greece, as rescue workers searched the sea for dozens more, the Greek coastguard said Refugee crisis - in pictures Migrants wait under outside the Moria registration camp on the Lesbos. Over 400,000 people have landed on Greek islands from neighbouring Turkey since the beginning of the year Refugee crisis - in pictures The bodies of Christian refugees are buried separately from Muslim refugees at the Agios Panteleimonas cemetery in Mytilene, Lesbos Refugee crisis - in pictures Macedonian police officers control a crowd of refugees as they prepare to enter a camp after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A refugee tries to force the entry to a camp as Macedonian police officers control a crowd after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees are seen aboard a Turkish fishing boat as they arrive on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing a part of the Aegean Sea from the Turkish coast to Lesbos Reuters Refugee crisis - in pictures An elderly woman sings a lullaby to baby on a beach after arriving with other refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A man collapses as refugees make land from an overloaded rubber dinghy after crossing the Aegean see from Turkey, at the island of Lesbos EPA Refugee crisis - in pictures A girl reacts as refugees arrive by boat on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees make a show of hands as they queue after crossing the Greek border into Macedonia near Gevgelija Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures People help a wheelchair user board a train with others, heading towards Serbia, at the transit camp for refugees near the southern Macedonian town of Gevgelija AP Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees board a train, after crossing the Greek-Macedonian border, near Gevgelija. Macedonia is a key transit country in the Balkans migration route into the EU, with thousands of asylum seekers - many of them from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia - entering the country every day Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures An aerial picture shows the "New Jungle" refugee camp where some 3,500 people live while they attempt to enter Britain, near the port of Calais, northern France Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures A Syrian girl reacts as she helped by a volunteer upon her arrival from Turkey on the Greek island of Lesbos, after having crossed the Aegean Sea EPA Refugee crisis - in pictures Refugees arrive by boat on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey Getty Images Refugee crisis - in pictures Beds ready for use for migrants and refugees are prepared at a processing center on January 27, 2016 in Passau, Germany. The flow of migrants arriving in Passau has dropped to between 500 and 1,000 per day, down significantly from last November, when in the same region up to 6,000 migrants were arriving daily.

In January of this year, Britain agreed to pay an extra 44.5m to France for policing at channel ports after Ms May came under pressure from Emmanuel Macron on the issue. The payments are a bilateral deal and are not dependent on Britains membership of the EU.

France had threatened to drop the Le Touquet deal  which allows British border controls to be sited on the France side of the channel  if the UK did not make a contribution to cover the costs of police work. Belgium also has so-called juxtaposed controls with UK passport checks conducted in Brussels for Eurostar passengers, albeit on a smaller scale.

The backdrop of continuing Brexit negotiations also means that Britain needs allies on the European Council, giving the Belgian government some potential cards to play if it looks to extract concessions.Theresa May is set to make a major new compromise in Brexit talks in a bid to break the deadlock over the Irish border problem.

Under proposals to be brought forward by the UK government, Britain is expected to accept some checks taking place between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

The plans are likely to spark angry reaction from Brexiteers and the DUP, on whom the PM relies for a Commons majority, who have said that they will not accept any checks or different treatment for Northern Ireland.

The concession comes as Mrs May gave a tough-talking dinner speech to EU leaders in Salzburg in which she said the European Commissions proposal that I should assent for a legal separation of the United Kingdom into two customs territories is not credible.

But the PMs carefully-worded attack on the EUs backstop notably left the door open to regulatory checks at Irish Sea ports, which are technically different but similar to customs checks.

The shift, combined with other moves by the EU to de-dramatise its own backstop plan, means there is now a real possibility that both sides could meet in the middle on the issue  which would allow them to prevent a hard border with Ireland and avoid a no-deal Brexit.

A senior UK government official speaking in the margins of the Salzburg summit said the government would bring forward new proposals for its own backstop, and indicated that regulatory checks on the Irish sea were now on the table.

There are checks which take place already [between Northern Ireland and Great Britain] in relation to some agricultural products, the official said.

On the Irish backstop, we have put forward our proposal in relation to customs backstop. Weve been having discussions on that with the EU for a number of months now.

Weve always said that we will need to bring forward further proposals in relation to the regulatory aspects of the backstop. That will happen.

The official insisted that customs checks at ports would undermine the economic and constitutional integrity of the UK and would not be drawn on why the Government did not consider regulatory checks to do so as well.

Our only red line is that we are not treated any different from the rest of the United Kingdom Arlene Foster, DUP leader

The looming concession by the UK comes after months of work by negotiators on both sides to decide which if any checks could be moved away from ports in a bid to "de-dramatise" them.



Michel Barnier also softened the EUs stance on Tuesday night, stating that most checks can take place away from the border  at the company premises or in the markets.

The Independent understands that some officials regard it as easier to move customs compliance checks away from ports, but not regulatory checks. The combination of concessions  with Britain accepting regulatory checks at ports and the EU moving some customs checks in-land  therefore appears to clear the path for a potential solution.

Whether the compromise backstop would get through the House of Commons is another matter. Mrs May has no majority without the DUPs nine MPs, but the partys leader, Arlene Foster, has said our only red line is that we are not treated any different from the rest of the United Kingdom, that there are no trade barriers put up between Northern Ireland and our biggest market  which, of course, is Great Britain.

 What does a no-deal Brexit mean?

Speaking of Mrs May over the summer, Ms Foster said: I have confidence that she knows that she cannot bring forward anything that will breach that red line or we simply will not be able to support them.

The movement in talks comes after Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, warned the UK publicly that the UK policy on Ireland, as well as the PMs Chequers proposals on trade, needed to be reworked and further negotiated.

Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures An abandoned shop is seen in Mullan, Co Monaghan. The building was home to four families who left during the Troubles. The town was largely abandoned after the hard border was put in place during the conflict. Mullan has seen some regeneration in recent years, but faces an uncertain future with Brexit on the horizon Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures A defaced Welcome to Northern Ireland sign stands on the border in Middletown, Co Armagh Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures Mervyn Johnson owns a garage in the border town of Pettigo, which straddles the counties of Donegal and Fermanagh. Ive been here since 1956, it was a bit of a problem for a few years. My premises has been blown up about six or seven times, we just kept building and starting again, Johnson said laughing. We just got used to it [the hard border] really but now that its gone, we wouldn't like it back again Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures Farmer Gordon Crocketts Coshquin farm straddles both Derry/Londonderry in the North and Donegal in the Republic. At the minute there is no real problem, you can cross the border as free as you want. We could cross it six or eight times a day, said Crockett. If there was any sort of obstruction it would slow down our work every day Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures John Murphy flies the European flag outside his home near the border village of Forkhill, Co Armagh Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures Potter Brenda McGinn stands outside her Mullan, Co Monaghan, studio  the former Jas Boylan shoe factory which was the main employer in the area until it shut down due to the Troubles. When I came back, this would have been somewhere you would have driven through and have been quite sad. It was a decrepit looking village, said McGinn, whose Busy Bee Ceramics is one of a handful of enterprises restoring life to the community. Now this is a revitalised, old hidden village Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures Union Flag colours painted on kerbstones and bus-stops along the border village of Newbuildings, Co Derry/Londonderry Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures Grass reflected in Lattone Lough, which is split by the border between Cavan and Fermanagh, seen from near Ballinacor, Northern Ireland Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures Donegalman David McClintock sits in the Border Cafe in the village of Muff, which straddles Donegal and Derry/Londonderry Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures An old Irish phone box stands alongside a bus stop in the border town of Glaslough, Co Monaghan Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures Billboards are viewed from inside a disused customs hut in Carrickcarnon, Co Down, on the border with Co Louth in the Republic Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures Seamus McQuaid takes packages that locals on the Irish side of the border have delivered to his business, McQuaid Auto-Parts, to save money on postal fees, near the Co Fermanagh village of Newtownbutler. I live in the south but the business is in the North, said McQaid. "I wholesale into the Republic of Ireland so if theres duty, Ill have to set up a company 200 yards up the road to sell to my customers. Ill have to bring the same product in through Dublin instead of Belfast Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures A disused Great Northern Railway line and station that was for customs and excise on the border town of Glenfarne, Co Leitrim Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures Alice Mullen, from Monaghan in the Republic of Ireland, does her shopping at a former customs post on the border in Middletown, Co Armagh. Id be very worried if it was a hard border, I remember when people were divided. I would be very afraid of the threat to the peace process, it was a dreadful time to live through. Even to go to mass on a Sunday, youd have to go through checkpoints. It is terribly stressful, said Mullen. All those barricades and boundaries were pulled down. I see it as a huge big exercise of trust and I do believe everyone breathed a sigh of relief Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures A bus stop and red post box stand in the border town of Jonesborough, Co Armagh Reuters

Solving the Irish border issue would remove the biggest stumbling block to a withdrawal agreement, though a host of other issues  such as whether the UK will continue to accept EU protected designations of origin and how the withdrawal agreement will be governed  are yet to be worked out.

Negotiators also want to come to an agreement about what Britains future relationship with the EU will look like, but with the Chequers trade proposals roundly rejected by the Commission and little hope of coming up with a detailed plan, there is disagreement about how much detail that statement should include.

Some member states say the plan should be permitted to be vague to help prevent a no-deal, while France and other member states argue it would be wrong to kick the trade talks can down the road.Senior female MPs are planning a bid to force political parties to publish the gender breakdown of candidates amid warnings the government is turning a blind eye to the lack of diversity in Westminster.

Campaigners want to step up pressure on the government to enact equality legislation that would oblige political parties to report what proportion of their parliamentary candidates are women.

Record numbers of female MPs were elected last year but women still only account for 32 per cent of MPs, while 26 per cent of peers are women and 32 per cent of local councillors in England.

Recommended First female MP to be honoured in Westminster

Cross-party MPs, including Tory former minister Nicky Morgan, Liberal Democrat deputy leader Jo Swinson and shadow equalities minister Dawn Butler, believe recent gender pay gap reporting requirements for big businesses have paved the way for greater transparency in politics.

The group hopes to capitalise on Theresa Mays wafer-thin parliamentary majority by putting forward an amendment to upcoming legislation, a strategy which has proved successful on backbench campaigns such as allowing women in Northern Ireland to access abortions on the English NHS.

The arithmetic of this parliament is such that it is easier, they cant just brazen through in the way that previous governments would have been able to, said Ms Swinson, a former minister in the coalition government.

She told an event in Westminster: If parliament was more reflective of society in terms of gender and race and disability and class and all of these different characteristics where it is currently far too homogenous, we would have a parliament that would be more legitimate in the eyes of the public.

I think part of that legitimacy would just be how it would look when you turned on the television or you opened a newspaper, it would look more like the Britain we live in, and it doesnt currently.

Ms Morgan, who chairs the Treasury committee, said gender pay gap reporting concentrates minds and could be successfully applied to political parties.

Asked why the government has been slow to enact the legislation, she said: I dont know what the blockage is. I dont think its necessarily a disagreement with it overall, I think there is definitely a lack of time.

But given what we are doing at the moment... I can think of far more productive things we could be doing that hanging about waiting for Brexit deals and everything else.

I think there is also a sort of, Oh well is it for government or parliament to tell parties what to do? and thats true up to a point.

But on the other hand we are telling companies of all sizes and organisations that they need to publish gender pay, so I think we have breached that now.

Labours Ms Butler backed the calls but urged a greater focus on intersectionality, to increase the number of female BME, disabled and LGBT+ MPs.

She said: That data should already be there because if it is not, it means the party is not really committed because if they are not monitoring, how will they know if they have improved?

So if the parties are not collecting that data, that means they are not taking the situation seriously anyway.

Processions 2018: March to celebrate 100 years of womens suffrage Show all 10 1 /10 Processions 2018: March to celebrate 100 years of womens suffrage Processions 2018: March to celebrate 100 years of womens suffrage Marchers hold up banners as they gather in London to mark 100 years since women won the right to vote in the UK Getty Processions 2018: March to celebrate 100 years of womens suffrage Women hold up banners as they march down the Royal Mile in Edinburgh during Processions 2018 Getty Processions 2018: March to celebrate 100 years of womens suffrage Getty Processions 2018: March to celebrate 100 years of womens suffrage Women march in London Reuters Processions 2018: March to celebrate 100 years of womens suffrage Women march in London AFP/Getty Processions 2018: March to celebrate 100 years of womens suffrage Women march in Belfast Reuters Processions 2018: March to celebrate 100 years of womens suffrage Women march in Belfast Reuters Processions 2018: March to celebrate 100 years of womens suffrage A banner at the London march PA Processions 2018: March to celebrate 100 years of womens suffrage Women march in Edinburgh Getty Processions 2018: March to celebrate 100 years of womens suffrage A samba band performs at the Edinburgh march Getty

The calls are being led by the Centenary Action Group, a coalition of more than 100 womens rights activists and politicians, which wants to capitalise on the anniversary of some women getting the vote to bring about change.

Convenor Helen Pankhurst, the great grand-daughter of the suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst, said: The government must demand transparency in politics, in parallel to initiatives like the gender pay gap reporting requirements demanded of large companies.

We can no longer turn a blind eye to who is being selected into office and just as importantly who is not.

A simple way of improving representation through greater accountability is available  it just needs to be put in place by the Minister for Women and Equalities  this year, on this momentous centenary.

The Equality Act was passed in 2010 under the Labour government but section 106 of the act, which covers transparency, has never been enacted.

A Government Equalities Office spokesperson said: This Parliament is the most gender and LGBT diverse ever, but there is still more to do.

The Government Equalities Office continues to work on supporting groups to participate in politics.A delegation of the Turkish parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee paid a visit to the Azerbaijani capital of Baku on Wednesday, Anadolu agency reported.

The delegation led by the head of the Turkish parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee Volkan Bozkir met the Turkey Friendship Group at Azerbaijans National Assembly, members from the International Relations Commission and Turkish businesspeople working in Azerbaijan.

Many topics including the latest developments in Syria's Idlib and the Upper Karabakh issue were discussed during talks.

Underlining the importance of the Upper Karabakh issue for Turkey, Bozkir said: [] We will not open our border with Armenia until the Upper Karabakh issue is resolved.Alastair Campbell is currently answering your Brexit questions in a Reddit Ask Me Anything (AMA) hosted by The Independent.

Labours former communications chief is backing our campaign for a Final Say on the terms of the UKs exit from the European Union.

Hes taking questions on the issue  as well as anything else you want to ask him  for an hour from 5pm BST on Wednesday 18 September. You can post questions by following this link.

Best known as Tony Blairs former spin doctor, Mr Campbell has recently been reunited with the former Labour prime minister in calling for a Peoples Vote on the final Brexit deal.

He is also an interviewer for GQ magazine, an author, and a prominent mental health campaigner.

But it is Brexit and the Peoples Vote that is getting my political pulse racing just now, said Mr Campbell.

More than 810,000 people now signed The Independents petition urging Theresa May to call a referendum on the final Brexit deal.

Whether you support leaving or remaining in the EU, you can call for a Final Say by signing our petition and by attending the March for the Future, hosted by People's Vote and The Independent, in central London on 20 October.Labour should throw its weight behind a public vote on the final Brexit deal if it wants to boost its electoral standing, Alastair Campbell has said.

The former Labour spin doctor called on Jeremy Corbyn to listen to the views of party members, who he claimed were overwhelmingly for a Peoples Vote and anti-Brexit.

Brexit looks likely to dominate the partys annual conference in Liverpool next week, as activists have submitted more than 150 motions on Britains exit from the European Union  including dozens asking for a general election or a public vote on the final deal.

It comes as The Independents campaign for a Final Say referendum on Theresa Mays Brexit deal secured more than 810,000 signatures.

Writing in a Reddit Ask Me Anything thread for The Independent, Mr Campbell said: I really think Labour should be leading on this.

Jeremy Corbyn puts a lot of store on the views of members. Labour members are overwhelmingly for a Peoples Vote and anti-Brexit.

I think if Labour backed the Peoples Vote, and led on it with real vigour and fight, it would be the biggest and best single thing they could do to improve their electoral standing.

Mr Campbell said the Labour leader had a pretty sceptical approach to Brexit, but added: He did campaign and vote for Remain, though I wish he had done more in the campaign.

However, I think as the endgame for the Tory negotiation nears, surely the overwhelming view of Labour members must count for something.

And also I think we have to do a better job of persuading him that this Brexit is a project of the right, for the right, by the right, and that the Brexit elite are doing it for themselves, not the people.

Mr Campbell has teamed up with his former boss, Tony Blair, in his condemnation of the Brexit vote and demands for a fresh referendum.

Asked how hopeful he was about the prospect of a second vote, he said: I go up from day to day (as much about my changeable moods as anything).

But a few months ago, I would have said 1-2, now I am edging between 4-5, and I think if people keep fighting, keep making the case, keep exposing the lies and the mess and the fantasies of the Brextremists, we can get to 10 when we need to.

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

Mr Corbyn has consistently refused to support a fresh Brexit referendum, but the party leadership has also left the door open to a change of approach.

On Tuesday, shadow chancellor John McDonnell said the party respects the referendum result but it would vote down Ms Mays deal if it did not meet its red lines.

He said: We should have a general election because people can not only debate the range of issues in full, they can also select the team that will then negotiate our future position.

If we cant get a general election, we are keeping the option of another vote  a peoples vote  on the table.

The Peoples Vote and The Independent March for the Future, is on 20 October in London.The Government is to crack down on people smugglers advertising their services to people in developing countries via Facebook in a bid to stem the flow of undocumented migrants to the UK at its source.

The UK has identified 539 social media pages  the vast majority on Facebook  which it says are used by people illegally offering others transit to Europe.

We must now match our pursuit of people smugglers and traffickers with a renewed effort to prevent immigration crime from occurring in the first place, Theresa May told EU leaders at a migration summit in Salzburg

Recommended Belgium to demand cash for migrant policing from Theresa May

To achieve this, we must tackle the enabling environment  all those factors that make it far too easy for criminal networks to emerge and grow, putting migrants lives at such risk.

Groups are openly advertising illegal transit services on Facebook with travel agent style ads, with some even offering discounts for children.

The Government has tried to partly blame criminal gangs and people smugglers for refugees and migrants travelling to Europe.

Many people are however fleeing conflict zones or economic and social turmoil and lack other means to reach Europe to claim asylum.

 Meet the refugee who is working on a cure for cancer

Facebook says it removes posts advertising illegal activity and works closely with law enforcement agencies.

The Government is also funding advertising and outreach campaigns in countries like Ethiopia and Sudan to convince would-be migrants that it is a bad idea to come to the UK.

Speaking at the Salzburg summit the Prime Minister offered to share UK expertise on cyber-policing with other countries, stating that online platforms have no respect for borders. She said cooperation in this and other areas would be unaffected by Brexit.

Thanks in part to populist governments exploiting the issue, migration is still at the top of the agenda at the EU level despite a massive fall in people trying to travel to Europe compared to previous year.

In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea Show all 7 1 /7 In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea A baby being taken on to MSF's Bourbon Argos ship from a boat carrying 130 migrants and refugees Lizzie Dearden In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea A refugee boat carrying 101 people being rescued by MSF's Bourbon Argos Lizzie Dearden In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea A refugee boat carrying 101 people being rescued by MSF's Bourbon Argos all images by Lizzie Dearden In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea A baby among refugees on a boat carrying 185 people off the coast of Libya Lizzie Dearden In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea Migrants and refugees sleeping after being rescued by MSF's Bourbon Argos ship Lizzie Dearden In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea A crew from MSF's Bourbon Argos ship rescuing a boat carrying 130 migrants and refugees off the coast of Libya, at sunrise Lizzie Dearden In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea A woman in a stretcher being lifted onto MSF's Bourbon Argos ship from a boat carrying 130 migrants and refugees off the coast of Libya Lizzie Dearden

European Council president Donald Tusk warned governments to "stop the migration blame game" at the meeting and said that instead of taking political advantage of the situation they should try and work out a solution. He also pointed out that migration to Europe now had fallen to levels lower than the start of the crisis.

Concern about immigration in the UK has fallen sharply since 2016 and is also now at its lowest level in years, according to the Ipsos MORI issues index.

A Facebook spokesperson said: "People smuggling is illegal and any ads, posts, pages or groups that co-ordinate this activity are not allowed on Facebook.

We work closely with law enforcement agencies around the world including Europol to identify, remove and report this illegal activity, and were always improving the methods we use to identify content that breaks our policies, including doubling our safety and security team to 20,000 people and investing in technology.Theresa May says EU plans for the Irish border after Brexit remain totally unacceptable, putting the two sides on a collision course ahead of crucial talks in Austria.

Ahead of arriving in Salzburg, the prime appeared to dismiss a new EU offer, which Brussels hoped would de-dramatise the border issue and pave the way for an agreement.

The EU has promised improved proposals for its backstop to effectively keep Northern Ireland in the single market and customs union, if that is necessary to avoid a hard land border.

Checks on goods travelling between Britain and Northern Ireland would be carried out away from ports, to ensure the Irish Sea is not a border, said Michel Barnier, the EUs chief negotiator.

But, ahead of meeting other EU leaders in the Austrian city, Ms May said: No side can demand something totally unacceptable from the other, such as an external border between parts of the UK.

Without an agreement on the backstop, there can be no Brexit deal, despite a growing expectation that it will be signed at an emergency summit in November.

In an article, for a German newspaper, the prime minister made no mention of Mr Barniers adapted proposals, which would see most checks take place at company premises, or at the point of sale.

Instead, she again made the case for her Chequers proposals, although the EU has rejected both the UK collecting customs tariffs on its behalf and remaining aligned on goods but not services.

On the backstop, Ms May wrote: We will also honour our commitment to ensuring that there is a legally binding protocol on Northern Ireland, but this protocol must preserve the Good Friday Agreement in its entirety and respect the constitutional and economic integrity of the United Kingdom, which the Commission proposal does not.

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

She insisted further compromise by Brussels was needed, after the UK developed its position, writing: In order to achieve a good result, the EU now has to do so.

The prime minister has accepted a backstop in principle, but has said it must be time-limited and apply across the UK as a whole.

Crucially, despite the EUs attempts to take some of the heat out of the controversy with softer language, it is still proposing that Northern Ireland, alone, maintains EU rules.

Leo Varadkar, the Irish prime minister, rammed home the point in Dublin, saying: As things stand, we are planning for a situation in 2021 where there will need to be east-west checks and controls, though not between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Privately, No 10 accepts the two sides are still a long way from a deal on the border  while drafting of a blueprint for a future trading relationship has barely begun.

In Salzburg, the prime minister will be given a few moments to set out her Brexit plans at working dinner with other EU leaders, where she will again urge them to accept her Chequers proposals.

But she will be absent on Thursday, when the EU27 reconvene to discuss their stance over lunch on Thursday, when they will be joined by Mr Barnier.

The special November summit is likely to be officially announced, alongside a welcome for some of the Chequers proposals  but not, crucially, on trade.Multiple people have been injured in a shooting at an office building in Wisconsin, where the suspect was shot and killed by police.

Middleton Police Chief Charles Foulke said officers responded to reports of an active shooter in the suburban area around 10:25 am local time. The suspect shot three victims, he said, before the officers fatally wounded him. There were no other suspects in the attack.

I know you have a million questions and so do I, and I dont know those answers," Mr Foulke said at an afternoon press conference. "The main thing we can say right now is that the suspect was neutralized.

A UW Health University Hospital spokeswoman confirmed to The Independent earlier on Wednesday that four people had been transferred to the hospital with injuries. Two people were in serious condition and one was in critical condition, she said. The condition of the fourth was unclear at the time.

Officers from the county sheriff's department and the regional office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) also responded to reports of an active shooter on the 1800 block of Deming Way in Middleton that morning.

The block houses offices for software companies WTS Paradigm and Esker, but employees of the latter told local news outlets the shooter had not entered their office. A witness to the shooting who works for WTS Paradigm told the Wisconsin State Journalthat the shooter was an employee of the company.

The witness said he heard about a dozen gunshots from what sounded like a handgun. He estimated the company had about 160 employees at that location.

The scene was still active more than an hour after the first report, with police warning residents to shelter in place. An Esker employee told the Associated Press that he and his colleagues hid in their office cafeteria for more than an hour after the shooting. The employee, Gabe Geib, said he watched people running away from the building in full sprint.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

At least three schools in the area were also on lock down, as was the shopping centre next to the office building. Occupants of the office building and several others around it were evacuated to a nearby hotel.

"Please lock all doors, stay inside and shelter in place until further notice," the police department said in a news alert.

Judy Lahmers, a business analyst at WTS Paradigm, told the Associated Press that she ran out of the building and hid behind a car when she heard the shots. The building's glass entrance had shattered, she said.

Im not looking back, Im running as fast as I can," she recalled. "You just wonder, Do you hide or do you run?'

US Senator Tammy Baldwin, who represents the state, thanked local law enforcement and said her office was monitoring the situation.

"My heart goes out to the people involved in the shooting," Middleton Mayor Gurdip Brar said. "You never would think this type of thing would happen in your city. Really, so sad that this happened here."Los Angeles is taking steps to become the largest US city to ban the sale of new fur products.

Following the lead of San Francisco and two smaller California municipalities, Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously to direct the city attorney to draft legislation banning the manufacture and sale of fur clothing and accessories.

This is something that is not just a good legislative win, its a moral win, councillor Bob Blumenfield said. We feel like were evolving as a city, as people to stop this kind of unnecessary cruelty.

The draft bill must gain final approval by the council and then be signed by the mayor, Eric Garcetti, to be enacted.

Supporters said they hoped adopting a fur ban in the nations second largest city, which is also one of the worlds major fashion centres, would encourage similar bans around the globe.

Los Angeles is one of the fashion capitals of the world, and if we can do it here, we can do it anywhere, councillor Paul Koretz, a sponsor of the measure, told a news conference before the vote. We hope that New York City and Chicago and Miami are all watching.

Under the plan tentatively approved on Tuesday, a fur ban would go into effect in January and be phased in over two years, giving retailers until 2020 to sell off existing inventories. Used fur products would be exempt.

The council is considering an exemption for products used for religious purposes, such as fur hats worn by Orthodox Jews, as well as for items made from pelts legally taken under the authority of a California fur-trapping license.

Major fashion companies, including Michael Kors, Armani and Gucci, have also moved away from using fur. Earlier this month, Burberry said it would stop selling real fur.

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Activists have condemned the fur industry as inhumane, arguing that the animals are subject to brutal conditions and torturous deaths.

However, Keith Kaplan, a spokesman for the Fur Information Council of America, said that while full-length coats of sable and mink may not be as popular as they once were, fur is still found in around 70 per cent of the worlds latest autumn fashion collections.

If consumers werent buying it, fashion houses wouldnt be designing it, and manufacturers wouldnt be making it, he said.

He also disputed as bogus claims by animal rights groups that the methods employed by the fur industry are inherently cruel and inhumane.

Retail fur sales globally accounted for $35.8bn (27.2bn), and the fur industry employed more than one million people in 2014, the latest year figures were available from the industry, Mr Kaplan said.

 Fur Free Britain pleads for MPs to ban import of animal fur

Responding to news of the ban, Humane Society International (HSI) called on the British government to work towards making the UK the first country in the world to ban the sale of animal fur.

Farming fur was made illegal in the UK in 2000, and EU law bans fur from domestic cats, dogs and hunted seals. However, Britain imports fur from other species including foxes and rabbits.

Claire Bass, HSI UKs executive director, said: A cruel product like fur has no place in the City of Angels, and we applaud the Los Angeles City council for taking a moral stand.

Now it is time for the UK government to show equal compassion and listen to the vast majority of British people who want the UK to become the first country in the world to fully ban the sale of animal fur.

Our government has stated its ambition for the UK to be a world leader in animal welfare, blazing a trail as the first country to outlaw the cruel and unnecessary fur trade would show that this ambition will be delivered with actions, not just words. The sale of cat, dog and seal fur is already banned here so now lets finish the job and ban fur full stop.

Additional reporting by agenciesPresident Donald Trumps defenders responded to the news of Paul Manaforts plea deal on Friday with the usual refrain: his case has nothing to do with the Trump campaign or allegations that it colluded with Russia in 2016.

They are wrong. Why? Because they are overlooking the blackmail factor.

Special counsel Robert Muellers investigation has painstakingly documented evidence of Manaforts role in a 10-year scheme involving money laundering, tax evasion and illicit lobbying  crimes that could lead to decades in a prison cell. Given Manaforts extensive ties to Russian and Ukrainian oligarchs, Russian president Vladimir Putin would almost certainly have had detailed knowledge of Manaforts transgressions. And that means that, when Manafort was promoted to chairman of Mr Trumps campaign in May 2016, the Kremlin probably had vast amounts of material it could use to blackmail him. When it was revealed in August 2016 that Manafort had received at least $12.7m (9.6m) in secret payments from the pro-Kremlin party of Viktor Yanukovych, Ukraines ousted president, that alone was enough to end his nascent return to US politics.

Recommended Follow live updates with Paul Manafort set to plead guilty

The use of blackmail, or kompromat, in the former Soviet Union is as common as beet dishes. Indeed, Mr Putin has cultivated his system of power around selective use of compromising information, especially evidence of financial malfeasance. And its use is reserved not only for his opponents. As the Russian journalist Yulia Latynina once wrote, To keep kompromat on enemies is a pleasure. To keep kompromat on friends is a must. The regimes use of the tactic is so widespread that one scholar of modern day Russia has described the country as a blackmail state.

The gathering of kompromat is an organic process. Rarely is there a longterm strategy behind it; it often functions as a kind of insurance in business or political dealings. Accordingly, to say that the Russian government would have access to kompromat on Manafort is not necessarily to argue that its procurement was part of a sustained, centrally orchestrated campaign. Instead, it could have been casually generated through Manaforts dealings with Kremlin-connected oligarchs and politicians, as well as Konstantin Kilimnik, his right hand man, who Mueller has alleged had active ties to Russian intelligence through 2016.

Kilimnik was integral to Manaforts decadelong scheme to defraud the United States. He was a close confidant, business associate, interpreter and someone Manafort often described as his Russian brain. In Kiev, Kilimnik was known as Manaforts Manafort, and he probably helped the American lobbyist to use stolen or false Ukrainian identities to set up offshore shell companies that were used to launder some $30m (22m). Kilimnik ran Manaforts office in Ukraine, where investigators found forged invoices, including one that billed a Manafort front company $750,000 (568,000) for hundreds of nonexistent computers. The intimate relationship between Manafort and Kilimnik is perhaps best captured by Kilimniks frustrated attempts to contact witnesses in Europe to ensure they would not disclose Manaforts secret lobbying in the United States, which violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

Kilimnik was also Manaforts main conduit to Oleg Deripaska, a sanctioned Russian oligarch within Mr Putins inner circle. Kilimnik facilitated Manaforts failed investments of Deripaskas money and communicated with Deripaska on Manaforts behalf when the latter wanted to use his new role as Trumps campaign chairman to get whole. When Manafort agreed to work for Mr Trump for no salary, he reportedly owed Deripaska almost $30m, including for a $10m (7.5m) unpaid loan. (It is worth noting that the Justice Department attempted to persuade the oligarch to give up Manafort  apparently without success.)

If Kilimnik and Deripaska knew of Manaforts crimes and crippling financial distress, so did the Kremlin. We can safely assume that Manafort was a compromised man when, on 9 June 2016, he met with a Russian government attorney to, in an ironic twist, receive illicit dirt on Hillary Clinton.

Trump's presidency: US media reacts to Manafort and Cohen convictions Show all 16 1 /16 Trump's presidency: US media reacts to Manafort and Cohen convictions Trump's presidency: US media reacts to Manafort and Cohen convictions New York Post Trump's presidency: US media reacts to Manafort and Cohen convictions The Washington Post Trump's presidency: US media reacts to Manafort and Cohen convictions Newsday Trump's presidency: US media reacts to Manafort and Cohen convictions St Louis Post Dispatch Trump's presidency: US media reacts to Manafort and Cohen convictions Chicago Sun Times Trump's presidency: US media reacts to Manafort and Cohen convictions The Star Ledger Trump's presidency: US media reacts to Manafort and Cohen convictions Daily News Trump's presidency: US media reacts to Manafort and Cohen convictions The New York Times Trump's presidency: US media reacts to Manafort and Cohen convictions San Francisco Chronicle Trump's presidency: US media reacts to Manafort and Cohen convictions The Boston Globe Trump's presidency: US media reacts to Manafort and Cohen convictions Houston Chronicle Trump's presidency: US media reacts to Manafort and Cohen convictions Miami Herald Trump's presidency: US media reacts to Manafort and Cohen convictions Detroit Free Press Trump's presidency: US media reacts to Manafort and Cohen convictions The Wall Street Journal Trump's presidency: US media reacts to Manafort and Cohen convictions The Dallas Morning News Trump's presidency: US media reacts to Manafort and Cohen convictions USA Today

But Manafort was not the only person on the Trump campaign vulnerable to potential kompromat possessed by the Kremlin. Like his campaign chairman, Mr Trump has been plagued by self-engineered financial distress. He has grown reliant on money from the former Soviet Union, including Russia. He worked closely with politically connected oligarchs and corrupt business partners. His financial empire is shrouded in the secrecy of hundreds of shell companies. And questions about his tax and bank documents abound. The parallels between Mr Trump and Manafort are many, but they do not end there.

Manaforts cooperation with Mueller could soon reveal how the Kremlin employed kompromat to attack US democracy, because if Putin had compromising information on the campaign chairman of a major party candidate in a US general election, he would probably put it to use. The same applies to the candidate himself.

The Washington PostPresident Donald Trump has visited North and South Carolina to reassure residents that the government is doing everything it can to help following the devastation brought by Hurricane Florence, which hit the coast last week and brought torrential rains to the region which has caused major flooding

Mr Trump promised after landing on Wednesday to make sure that officials in North Carolina have all of the support that they need to continue their rescue and response operations, and that he would make sure the state continues to receive help as it begins to rebuild.

Were ready  To do whatever we have to do to make this perfect, Mr Trump said during a briefing with state and local officials at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in eastern North Carolina. Nearly 20,000 federal and military personnel are supporting response efforts. More than 1.6 million meals have been delivered.

Recommended Tornadoes reported in North Carolina as Florence brings major rains

The president said that Florence  which made landfall on Friday in North Carolina as a Category 1 hurricane before coming to a virtual stall over the US east cost  was one of the most powerful and devastating storms ever to hit our country.

Our hearts break for you. God bless you. We will never forget your loss. We will never leave your side, Mr Trump said. We are with you all the way. And to all those impacted by this terrible storm our entire American family is with you and ready to help and you will recover.

Since landfall, Florence has dropped torrential rains, leading to hundreds of emergency rescues in places like New Bern, which was one of the first parts of North Carolina to be hit hard by the storm.

The official death toll from the hurricane has reached at least 37 .

As this week progressed, heavy flooding persisted  and officials on Wednesday continued to warn that flooded rivers continue to crest  and sunshine found its way to the state. What it showed was lingering debris from the storm, and the floodwaters that surrounded homes and businesses in the area.

Our state took a gut punch, Mr President, and our people are still reeling, North Carolina governor Roy Cooper said during the briefing in eastern North Carolina.

He continued to note the magnitude of the challenge ahead of his state.

We have a lot of power that has been restored but there are thousands of people that are still waiting to get their power back. I know that this state has a great economy, a great education, Mr Cooper said. We are a beacon in the south and we have weathered storms before in our state but Mr President we have never seen one like this. This one has been epic, it has been disastrous, and it has been widespread. It is a storm like no other.

Workers in the state are rushing to get power back in the state for the quarter of a million people who lost their connections last week. It may be a while before the total cost of the storm is known  and, of course, how long the recovery process may extend.

In South Carolina, Mr Trump said the state is in for a rough few days in the aftermath of Florence. The president spoke at an emergency management centre in the city of Conway, near Myrtle Beach.

He told South Carolina residents that all that water is coming your way.

Soon after the storm hit into the Carolinas, Moodys Analytics estimated that the storm could leave an estimated $17bn to $22bn in damages, or higher. That firm indicated that Florence was likely to be one of the top 10 costliest hurricanes in US history.

Reports from North Carolina indicate that residents view the presidents trip to the state as a sign that he is taking the storm seriously, and that he is prepared for a hands-on approach to righting the ship now that Florence is in the rearview mirror.

In New Bern, NPR reported that residents largely viewed Mr Trumps visit in a positive light. Truck drivers told that radio stations reporters that the trip shows that Mr Trump is on top of his efforts, and that he is going to be there with help when needed.

The region knows what it is like in the aftermath of a major storm, too, and some residents are now facing the potential for weeks away form home  just like they did after Hurricane Matthew in 2016.

As things stand, roughly 10,000 people are stuck in shelters following Florence, Mr Cooper said. We are beginning the process of getting our feet under us, Mr President, the governor said.Donald Trump has launched another series of tirades against Jeff Sessions, saying in a new interview, "I dont have an attorney general."

The president has repeatedly lambasted the man he appointed to spearhead the Justice Department, criticising his decision to recuse himself from the agencys ongoing investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election and possible collusion with Trump campaign officials.

Speaking outside the White House, Mr Trump said "a lot of people" have asked him to fire Mr Sessions, and that his administration was "looking at lots of different thngs".

"Im so sad over Jeff Sessions because he came to me. He was the first Senator that endorsed me. And he wanted to be Attorney General, and I didn't see it," Mr Trump said on Tuesday, speaking with Hill.TV in the Oval Office. "And then he went through the nominating process and he did very poorly. I mean, he was mixed up and confused, and people that worked with him for, you know, a long time in the Senate were not nice to him, but he was giving very confusing answers. Answers that should have been easily answered. And that was a rough time for him."

The presidents attacks on Mr Sessions arrived shortly after the White House ordered the Justice Department to declassify key documents related to the federal Russia probe.

The move will allow the release of various documents and text messages related to the investigation, an unprecedented order from a sitting president during an ongoing probe against his campaign.

Mr Sessions delivered a strongly-worded defence of his leadership in the Justice Department, writing that the agency would not be "improperly influenced by political considerations" under his watch.

During Mr Trumps Tuesday interview, the president continued to sharpen his attacks against Mr Sessions for recusing himself  a move he doesn't feel was warranted or even necessary, despite the attorney general having worked on his 2016 campaign.

He gets in and probably because of the experience that he had going through the nominating when somebody asked him the first question about Hillary Clinton or something he said I recuse myself, I recuse myself,'" Trump said. "And now it turned out he didn't have to recuse himself. Actually, the FBI reported shortly thereafter any reason for him to recuse himself. And its very sad what happened."

 Donald Trump says Jeff Sessions will investigate the op-ed

Recent reports have suggested the president is planning to remove Mr Sessions from his post after the 2018 midterm elections, replacing him with an attorney general who may be more willing to go along with Mr Trumps political demands. Speaking to reporters outside of the White House on Wednesday, Mr Trump echoed his Tuesday comments about Mr Sessions' recusal, saying, "My worst enemies...people that, you know, are on the other side of me, in a lot of ways including politically, have said that was a very unfair thing he did."

Senate Republicans  once adamant the president would face their backlash if he were to fire Mr Sessions  now appear resigned to the idea of his ousting.

The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Show all 17 1 /17 The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Paul Manafort Mr Manafort is a Republican strategist and former Trump campaign manager. He resigned from that post over questions about his extensive lobbying overseas, including in Ukraine where he represented pro-Russian interests. Mr Manafort turned himself in at FBI headquarters to special counsel Robert Muellers team on Oct 30, 2017, after he was indicted under seal on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. Getty The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rick Gates Mr Gates joined the Trump team in spring 2016, and served as a top aide until he left to work at the Republican National Committee after the departure of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort. Mr Gates' had previously worked on several presidential campaigns, on international political campaigns in Europe and Africa, and had 15 years of political or financial experience with multinational firms, according to his bio. Mr Gates was indicted alongside Mr Manafort by special counsel Robert Mueller's team on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. AP The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation George Papadopoulos George Papadopoulos was a former foreign policy adviser for the Trump campaign, having joined around March 2016. Mr Papadopoulos plead guilty to federal charges for lying to the FBI as a part of a cooperation agreement with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. Mr Papadopoulos claimed in an interview with the FBI that he had made contacts with Russian sources before joining the Trump campaign, but he actually began working with them after joining the team. Mr Papadopoulos allegedly took a meeting with a professor in London who reportedly told him that Russians had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton. The professor also allegedly introduced Mr Papadopoulos to a Russian who was said to have close ties to officials at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr Papadopoulos also allegedly was in contact with a woman whom he incorrectly described in one email to others in the campaign as the "niece" to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Twitter The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Donald Trump Jr The President's eldest son met with a Russian lawyer - Natalia Veselnitskaya - on 9 June 2016 at Trump Tower in New York. He said in an initial statement that the meeting was about Russia halting adoptions of its children by US citizens. Then, he said it was regarding the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. In a final statement, Mr Trump Jr released a chain of emails that revealed he took the meeting in hopes of getting information Ms Veselnitskaya had about Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. He and the President called it standard "opposition research" in the course of campaigning and that no information came from the meeting. The meeting was set up by an intermediary, Rob Goldstone. Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort were also at the same meeting. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jared Kushner Mr Kushner is President Donald Trump's son-in-law and a key adviser to the White House. He met with a Russian banker appointed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in December. Mr Kushner has said he did so in his role as an adviser to Mr Trump while the bank says he did so as a private developer. Mr Kushner has also volunteered to testify in the Senate about his role helping to arrange meetings between Trump advisers and Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rob Goldstone Former tabloid journalist and now music publicist Rob Goldstone is a contact of the Trump family through the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant, which took place in Moscow. In June 2016, he wrote to Donald Trump Jr offering a meeting with a Russian lawyer, Natalya Veselnitskaya, who had information about Hillary Clinton. Mr Goldstone was the intermediary for Russian pop star Emin Agalaraov and his father, real estate magnate Aras, who played a role in putting on the 2013 pageant. In an email chain released by Mr Trump Jr, Mr Goldstone seemed to indicate Russian government's support of Donald Trump's campaign. AP images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Aras and Emin Agalarov Aras Agalarov (R) is a wealthy Moscow-based real estate magnate and son Emin (L) is a pop star. Both played a role in putting on the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow. They allegedly had information about Hillary Clinton and offered that information to the Trump campaign through a lawyer with whom they had worked with, Natalia Veselnitskaya, and music publicist Rob Goldstone. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Natalia Veselnitskaya Natalia Veselnitskaya is a Russian lawyer with ties to the Kremlin. She has worked on real estate issues and reportedly counted the FSB as a client in the past. She has ties to a Trump family connection, real estate magnate Aras Agalarov, who had helped set up the Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant which took place in Moscow. Ms Veselnitskaya met with Donald Trump Jr, Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort in Trump Tower on 9 June 2016 but denies the allegation that she went there promising information on Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. She contends that the meeting was about the US adoptions of Russian children being stopped by Moscow as a reaction to the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Mike Flynn Mr Flynn was named as Trump's national security adviser but was forced to resign from his post for inappropriate communication with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. He had misrepresented a conversation he had with Mr Kislyak to Vice President Mike Pence, telling him wrongly that he had not discussed sanctions with the Russian. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sergey Kislyak Mr Kislyak, the former longtime Russian ambassador to the US, is at the centre of the web said to connect President Donald Trump's campaign with Russia. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Roger Stone Mr Stone is a former Trump adviser who worked on the political campaigns of Richard Nixon, George HW Bush, and Ronald Reagan. Mr Stone claimed repeatedly in the final months of the campaign that he had backchannel communications with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and that he knew the group was going to dump damaging documents to the campaign of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton - which did happen. Mr Stone also had contacts with the hacker Guccier 2.0 on Twitter, who claimed to have hacked the DNC and is linked to Russian intelligence services. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeff Sessions The US attorney general was forced to recuse himself from the Trump-Russia investigation after it was learned that he had lied about meeting with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Carter Page Mr Page is a former advisor to the Trump campaign and has a background working as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch. Mr Page met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Mr Page had invested in oil companies connected to Russia and had admitted that US Russia sanctions had hurt his bottom line. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeffrey "JD" Gorden Mr Gordon met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republian National Convention to discuss how the US and Russia could work together to combat Islamist extremism should then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump win the election. The meeting came days before a massive leak of DNC emails that has been connected to Russia. Creative Commons The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation James Comey Mr Comey was fired from his post as head of the FBI by President Donald Trump. The timing of Mr Comey's firing raised questions around whether or not the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign may have played a role in the decision. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Preet Bharara Mr Bahara refused, alongside 46 other US district attorney's across the country, to resign once President Donald Trump took office after previous assurances from Mr Trump that he would keep his job. Mr Bahara had been heading up several investigations including one into one of President Donald Trump's favorite cable television channels Fox News. Several investigations would lead back to that district, too, including those into Mr Trump's campaign ties to Russia, and Mr Trump's assertion that Trump Tower was wiretapped on orders from his predecessor. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sally Yates Ms Yates, a former Deputy Attorney General, was running the Justice Department while President Donald Trump's pick for attorney general awaited confirmation. Ms Yates was later fired by Mr Trump from her temporary post over her refusal to implement Mr Trump's first travel ban. She had also warned the White House about potential ties former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn to Russia after discovering those ties during the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign's connections to Russia. Getty Images

"We wish the best for him, but as any administration would show, Cabinet members seldom last the entire administration, and this is clearly not an exception," Roy Blunt, a Montana Republican, told the Chicago Tribune.

Mr Sessions has previously defended his decision to recuse himself from Russia-related matters, telling the Senate Intelligence Committee last year, "I recused myself not because of any asserted wrongdoing on my part during the campaign, but because a Department of Justice regulation, 28 CFR 45.2, required it."The woman who has accused Donald Trumps Supreme Court nominee of sexual misconduct will not publicly testify until her claims have been investigated by the FBI, her lawyer has said.

Earlier this week, Republican Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, invited both Brett Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford, to appear before the committee on Monday.

Ms Ford has accused Mr Kavanaugh of trying to take her clothes off at a high school party three decades ago, and he has stridently denied the allegation. Mr Grassley and the White House had hoped to move the issue forward by having both appear and answer questions from senators or else an independent lawyer.

But on Tuesday evening, Lisa Banks, a lawyer for Ms Ford, a California-based professor, said the priority for her 51-year-old client was having the FBI thoroughly probe the allegation she has made about Mr Kavanaugh. She has said the alleged incident, which she did not talk about for years and which she was very concerned about speaking publicly about, took place at a party in Maryland in 1982.

In a letter to Mr Grassley, Ms Fords lawyer said the investigation should precede any testimony. A full investigation by law enforcement officials will ensure that the crucial facts and witnesses in this matter are assessed in a non-partisan manner, and that the committee is fully informed before conducting any hearing or making any decisions, the lawyers wrote.

In the 36 hours since her name became public, Dr Ford has received a stunning amount of support from her community and from fellow citizens across our country. At the same time, however, her worst fears have materialised.

They added: She has been the target of vicious harassment and even death threats. As a result of these kind of threats, her family was forced to relocate out of their home. Her email has been hacked, and she has been impersonated online.

The lawyers added that while Ms Fords life was being turned upside down, they organised for her to testify at the same table as Judge Kavanaugh in front of two dozen US senators on national television to relive this traumatic and harrowing incident.

The hearing was scheduled for six short days from today and would include interrogation by senators who appear to have made up their minds that she is mistaken and mixed up, they added.

In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing Show all 21 1 /21 In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing Getty Images In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing EPA In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing Getty Images In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing AP In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing Getty Images In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing Getty Images In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing AP In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing REUTERS In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing REUTERS In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing REUTERS In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing EPA In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing EPA In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing AFP/Getty Images

While no sexual assault survivor should be subjected to such an ordeal, Dr Ford wants to cooperate with the Committee and with law enforcement officials.

Later, speaking to CNN, Ms Banks was asked if Ms Ford would appear on Monday, as many had expected her to.

Theres no reason that we should have a public hearing on Monday. This is being rushed through, and its too important to be rushed through, she said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the committees Republican members, said the panel would vote on the nomination next week whether or not Ms Ford testified. A vote in committee would be a precursor to action in the full Senate.

 Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh delivers opening statement

If she does not want to come Monday, publicly or privately, were going to move on and vote Wednesday, he told Fox News.

In a statement on Monday, a representative for the Justice Department said the FBI had followed protocol forwarding information about the allegation to the White House. The FBIs role in such matters is to provide information for the use of the decision makers, the statement said.

On Tuesday, Mr Trump doubled down on his defence for his nominee and even expressed sympathy.

I feel so badly for him that hes going through this, to be honest with you, Mr Trump told a news conference, according to Reuters. This is not a man that deserves this.

He added: Hopefully the woman will come forward, state her case. He will state his case before representatives of the United States Senate. And then they will vote.U.S. President Donald Trump's statement on the Nord Stream-2 project is a pragmatic and reasonable political decision, the head of the Russian State Duma Committee on Energy, president of the Russian Gas Society Pavel Zavalny said, drawing attention to the obvious failure of Washington's attempt to influence the project.

"Obviously, a rather vigorous attempt to pressure on companies and states interested in the project, primarily on the German government, an attempt to politicize a commercial project in its essence has failed. It is evidenced by the statements of the German leadership, including Chancellor Angela Merkel, at various sites, even in the Baltics, where the position on the project is different," RIA Novosti cited Zavalny as saying.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Poland's President Andrzej Duda on Tuesday, Trumps said that the U.S. was not looking to sanction companies that participated in Russias Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project. Earlier, U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry said that the United States could impose sanctions on a new Russia-Germany gas pipeline.

The German government said that Berlin sees the proposed Nord Stream 2 pipeline as a private venture but wants clarity on the implications for Ukraine.

"We are aware of the comments and see no reason to comment, German government spokeswoman Ulrike Demmer said on Wednesday. "The chancellors position on Nord Stream 2 is that it is primarily a commercial project but naturally we need clarity on the future transit role of Ukraine," Reuters cited her as saying.

Deputy director of energy policy of the Institute of Energy and Finances, Alexey Belogoriev, speaking to Vestnik Kavkaza, noted that Trump's decision is not so much a softening of his position on Russian pipeline projects, but a pause in the fight against them. "It is unprofitable for the Trump administration to politically exacerbate the Nord Stream 2 situation. Since the European political elite, Germany in particular, has said for more than a year at all levels that the sanctions against European companies would further worsen the already difficult relations between Washington and Brussels," he stressed.

The expert expressed confidence that in the future pressure on European companies associated with the Nord Stream-2 project will continue. "It will be at the level of indirect constraints of companies. In addition,Trump does not want to burn all bridges with Russia," Alexei Belogoriev said.

"The US is trying to persuade Russia and Saudi Arabia to raise quotas for oil production to nullify the OPEC+ agreement in order to compensate for those volumes of Iranian oil that will leave the market by the end of the year in connection with the imposition of sanctions. And a year later, when the North Stream-2 will be built, it will be a completely different story," the deputy director of energy policy of the Institute of Energy and Finances concluded.The California psychology professor who has accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault is reportedly receiving death threats, as Donald Trump says he will make a decision on his nominee based on her testimony.

The professor, 51-year-old Christine Blasey Ford, has accused Mr Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her at a party when they were both in high school. Mr Kavanugh has categorically denied the allegations.

In the days since Ms Blasey Fords name was made public, her attorneys said, her worst fears have materialised.

She has been the target of vicious harassment and even death threats, attorneys Debra Katz and Lisa Banks wrote in a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee chair Chuck Grassley.

As a result of these kind of threats, her family was forced to relocate out of their home, they added. Her email has been hacked and she has been impersonated online.

The attorneys asked for an FBI investigation of Ms Blasey Fords allegations before she was called to testify publicly in front of the Senate committee. Mr Grassley had previously scheduled a televised hearing on the allegations for Monday.

In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing Show all 21 1 /21 In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing Getty Images In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing EPA In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing Getty Images In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing AP In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing Getty Images In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing Getty Images In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing AP In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing REUTERS In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing REUTERS In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing REUTERS In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing EPA In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing EPA In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Chaos and fury at Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing AFP/Getty Images

President Trump said on Wednesday that it would be wonderful if the professor appeared in front of the committee.

Look, if she shows up and makes a credible showing, that will be very interesting and well have to make a decision, he told reporters outside the White House.

But Ms Blasey Fords attorneys pushed back on the Monday deadline, saying the accusers life was being turned upside down, and chiding Mr Grassley for suggesting she relive a traumatic and harrowing incident at the same table as Mr Kavanaugh.

Democrats quickly spoke out in support of the professors wishes, saying the hearing should be delayed until a full investigation could be completed.

That this brave woman is receiving death threats and has been forced to flee with her family is appalling and heartbreaking, Senator Dianne Feinstein, the ranking Democrat on the judiciary committee, said in a statement. This abuse must stop. Were better than this.

 Five key moments from Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh's senate hearing

But Republicans were reluctant to delay the hearing, which could push a vote on Mr Kavanaughs confirmation until after the contentious midterm elections. Some pointed to a statement from the Justice Department that noted Ms Blasey Fords allegation does not concern a federal crime, and that the FBI does not make any judgement about the credibility or significance of any allegation.

Mr Grassley said on Tuesday that the hearing should proceed, regardless of whether or not Ms Blasey Ford decided to testify.

The invitation for Monday still stands. Dr Fords testimony would reflect her personal knowledge and memory of events, the chairman said. Nothing the FBI or any other investigator does would have any bearing on what Dr Ford tells the committee, so there is no reason for any further delay.

Meanwhile, in Ms Blasey Fords hometown of Palo Alto, a group of local mothers had gathered together to support their friend. Kirsten Leimroth, whose daughters are part of the same junior lifeguard programme as Ms Blasey Fords two sons, said it was preposterous to think the professor had invented the allegations for political reasons.

Theres absolutely no way its made up. She cant even go home, Ms Leimroth told the Mercury News. She had to have her kids stay somewhere else. She had to shut down all social media. Why would she do that?The North and South Korean leaders presented a joint agreement during their summit in Pyongyang on Wednesday that Kim Jong-un said represented a leap forward for peace on the peninsula.

At a joint press conference after the signing, South Koreas Moon Jae-in said North Korea had agreed to permanently shut down all of its nuclear and missile testing facilities, in the presence of international experts, as long as the US takes reciprocal measures.

The two sides agreed that Mr Kim would visit Seoul, in what would be a first for a North Korean leader. And the two leaders agreed a number of wide-ranging measures designed to increase cooperation and reduce the risk of armed clashes on the border.

Mr Kim said the pair had agreed to turn the Korean peninsula into a land of peace without nuclear weapons and nuclear threats.

The US had called for concrete developments regarding denuclearisation during Mr Moons three-day visit to Pyongyang, and Donald Trump suggested the joint agreement did not disappoint.

Very exciting! was his response to the news on Twitter. Kim Jong-un has agreed to allow nuclear inspections, subject to final negotiations, and to permanently dismantle a test site and launch pad in the presence of international experts. In the meantime there will be no Rocket or Nuclear testing, Mr Trump wrote.

Mr Kim has promised the complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula before, after which US officials said they suspected work continued to be carried out at North Koreas nuclear sites in secret.

The most practical details in Mr Kim and Mr Moons agreement came with regards to inter-Korean projects and relations. The pair agreed to launch a joint Korean bid for the 2032 Summer Olympics, as well as pooling resources for major sporting events before then.

They agreed to establish a joint military committee to evaluate how to reduce tensions and maintain communication to defuse crises and prevent accidental clashes.

And according to a joint statement signed by the countries defence chiefs, the two agreed to establish buffer zones along their land and sea borders to prevent accidental clashes. They will withdraw 11 guard posts from the demilitarised zone by December and establish a no-fly zone above the military demarcation line that bisects the two Koreas, applying to planes, helicopters and drones.

With the main business of the day over, North Korea was expected to hold a huge mass games spectacle in the evening, with Mr Moon as the special guest.

The north had put the games, which feature tens of thousands of performers dancing and flipping placards in unison to create giant mosaics and slogans, on a back burner for the past several years, but revived them for this months celebrations of its 70th founding anniversary. In a performance for the anniversary, a giant photo of Mr Moon and Mr Kim shaking hands at their first summit in April was projected onto one side of the stands in Pyongyangs 150,000-seat May Day Stadium.

Additional reporting by agenciesDual UK-Iranian nationals have been advised against all but "essential" travel to Iran by the Foreign Office, as the government warned it had "only limited powers" to support travellers if they are detained in the Middle Eastern country.

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt took the decision to heighten the warning because of the risks they had seen "all too sadly in a number of cases", a spokesperson said in a statement, adding: "The Iranian government does not recognise dual nationality so if a dual national is detained our ability to provide support is extremely limited."

The new travel advice warns Any behaviour that doesn'tt have an obvious explanation can put you at risk, no matter how innocent you believe it to be.

This may include travel off the beaten track, being present near crowds or sensitive sites, having contact with Iranians who are of interest to the authorities, taking photographs (except in major tourist sites), or behaviour that could be perceived as contrary to official Iranian interpretations of Islam.

The threat to travellers is likely to be higher if theres any national unrest, terrorist incident or an increase in tensions between Iran and the international community.

The announcement comes as Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe remains imprisoned in Tehran, convicted of spying. Human rights groups are currently seeking the release of the British-Iranian project worker who was sentenced to five years imprisonment in 2016 after she was accused of spying by Tehrans Islamist regime, which she denies.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

In August, the 39-year-old Thomson Reuters Foundation employee was given a three-day release following diplomatic intervention and was able to spend some time with her four-year-old daughter Gabriella, who is living with her parents in the country.

Mr Hunt vowed to leave no stone unturned in his efforts to secure her release, describing her imprisonment as a "gross injustice".An Iraqi joke says that their country must have the most environmental government in the world since the same political leaders are always recycled, however dismal their past performance and low expectations that they will do any better in future.

The biggest change in the next Iraqi government will be that Haider al-Abadi, appointed prime minister after the Isis victories of 2014, is unlikely to be heading it. He has conceded that he will not last in office after protests engulfed Basra in southern Iraq and led to important religious and political leaders withdrawing their support and calling on him to resign.

Mr Abadis fate had been in the balance since he did unexpectedly badly in the general election on 12 May when his coalition came in third. Weakened by the result of the poll, he needed to bring on side those who had done better such the nationalist cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, but he ultimately failed to do so.

Although Mr Abadi will not be the next prime minister, most of the top political players will be the same as those blamed by many Iraqis for misruling the country in the 15 years since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in 2003. A quota system dividing senior posts between Shia, Sunni and Kurds combined with the sharing out of ministries between the parties, favours permanent political stalemate and ensures a complete failure to tackle rampant corruption or to provide essential services such as electricity and water.

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Mr Abadi had hoped that the defeat of Isis and the recapture of Mosul after a nine-month siege last year would win voters backing. The Iraqi armed forces followed up victory at Mosul by retaking Kirkuk along with territory long disputed with the Kurds in northern Iraq.

Security in Iraq has much improved since the defeat of Isis and over the last six months it has been the best since 2003. But Iraqis did not see Mr Abadi as the sole architect of military success and the low 45 per cent turn out in the election underlined their disillusionment with the entire political elite. Mr Sadr and his Sairoon group got the most seats by campaigning for progressive economic and social policies, followed by the Fatah alliance led by the paramilitary leader Hadi al-Amiri. Mr Amiri has withdrawn from consideration to become prime minister.

Mr Abadi, strongly supported by the US, might have clung on if he had kept the backing of the Sadrists, but they felt that their support had been taken too much for granted in the past. They wanted Mr Abadi to resign from the ruling Dawa party and endorse their reformist programme. Other politicians whom Mr Abadi needed to conciliate accused him of seldom consulting them and operating through a narrow clique of advisers.

 Water level drops dramatically in Iraq's Tigris river

Although the main players in Iraqi politics are much the same, the overall political environment has altered radically. Isis had been advancing on Baghdad when Mr Abadi first became prime minister and people feared massacre and displacement. But the defeat of Isis meant less concern for personal security and heightened resentment against the corruption and incompetence of the government, despite oil revenues that in August alone this year were worth $7.7bn. Mr Abadi could claim credit for defeating Isis, but many Iraqis felt that this was almost his only identifiable achievement.

The protests in Basra, at the heart of the area that produces most of the crude oil, were the most widespread and destructive since the fall of Saddam Hussein. They showed grievances boiling over in the majority Shia community. During this summer, which was hot even by Iraqi standards with temperatures rising to 50C, there was an electricity shortage in southern Iraq so air conditioning did not operate and there was too little drinking water.

The breaking point for many in Basra came when there was not only a lack of water to drink but thousands of those who did drink it became ill with diarrhoea and stomach complaints. There were fears of a cholera epidemic. Salt water was mixing with the fresh water because of broken pipes, reducing the effectiveness of the chlorine in killing bacteria. Hospitals said they had treated 17,500 patients, though this was denied by a government official who, showing a lack of sympathy that enraged people in Basra, said that the figures for those in hospital were much exaggerated and only 1,500 people have been poisoned.

Peaceful protests grew violent with 27 people killed as government and party offices, with the exception of Sairoon, were set ablaze as well as the Iranian consulate. Mr Abadi went to Basra but could not get a grip on the crisis. This was a final blow to his hopes of remaining prime minister. Mr Sadr withdrew his support and called on him to resign. The vastly influential Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani issued a statement saying that the next prime minister should be a new one.

The parties will eventually choose a new prime minister and a national unity government, in which all the big players will get a share of the political cake, but it is unlikely to be any more effective than Mr Abadis outgoing administration.The Czech Republics second largest city offers a welcome respite from the constant crowds of Prague. A renowned university town, locals and students are extremely well catered for in this burgeoning gastronomic and cultural hub. Brnos history of nurturing young talent dates back to 1769, when an 11-year-old Mozart conducted at the Reduta, Central Europes oldest theatre.

 Instagram influencer Gabriel Tiranti discovers the Czech Republic

Often referred to as the Moravian Manchester  referencing its industrial heritage and plethora of textile mills in the late 19th Century  Brnos moniker is doubly appropriate as, akin to its northern UK counterpart, Brno has its own definitive personality, holding its own alongside the Czech capital.

What to do

This is a city designed for walking around in. A stroll through the labyrinthine centre displays Brnos investment in preserving its history and future, with a keen eye on both modern and classic design.

Brno's astronomical clock is famed for its arresting design (Getty Images)

Tell the time at the astronomical clock

Since installation in 2010, Brnos main square, Namesti Svobody, has been dominated by a 6m-high black granite bullet. The clock attracts crowds early in the day as people position themselves by one of the four openings in an attempt to catch the commemorative glass marble, which drops daily at 11am, signifying the end of the 15-week battle with a Swedish invading army in 1645.

Go underground at St James Church

Much thats fascinating about Brnos past is subterranean. In 2001, the remains of approximately 50,000 diseased and embattled humans were unearthed in St James Church during the renovations of the Square. This 17th century three chambered discovery is the second largest ossuary in Europe. Entry CZK 140 (5); open Tuesday to Sunday, 9.30am-6pm.

The ossuary of St James is well worth a visit (Getty Images)

Visit Spilberk Castle

The sprawling 13th century Spilberk Castle has served many purposes during its long history. During the 17th and 18th centuries, it was used as a military fortress and latterly a prison for the countrys most notorious criminals and political opponents. Entry CZK90 (3); open Monday to Sunday from April to September, 10am-6pm, Tuesday to Sunday from October to March, 9am-5pm.

Where to stay

The centrally located five-star Brno Barcelo Palace was originally designed as an apartment building in 1855, housing some of the citys most affluent residents. The hotel has preserved many of the key features including the light-filled atrium. Rooms are spacious, modern and elegantly designed. Extra points for offering a pillow menu. Doubles from 72, room only.

Brnos only other five-star, Hotel Grandezza, sits in prime position in the Cabbage Market. The former bank is muted in design with a classic style throughout. The lobbys hand-painted glass ceiling has the wow factor and a climb to the third floor of the Onyx Suite rewards guests with panoramic views of the city. The hotels Momenta Cafe is a lovely spot to watch the city go by. Doubles from 100, room only.

Hotel Grandezza's Onyx Suite has panoramic views of the city (Hotel Grandezza)

Hostel Mitte in the heart of the city offers a selection of shared and private rooms or apartments. For those sharing, a fully equipped room with microwave, fridge and cooker is available at all times. The popular in-house cafe is also a firm favourite with locals; hostel guests receive a 20 per cent discount on coffee. Prices start at 18 for a bed in a six-bed dorm, and 54 for an apartment with private bathroom and kitchen for two people.

Where to eat

The speciality of Kohout na Vine is, as youd expect from the translation, coq au vin. This and other classic dishes are regularly reimagined on a compact seasonal menu. The eight-course tasting menu starts at 995 CZK (35); on requesting the wine list, youll be led inside to the wine library  an ever-changing wall of their finest offerings with a focus on the Moravian region.

Koishi owner Janko Martinkovic decided to branch out into sushi 10 years ago  but only if it was done right. He tracked down and secured the services of a Japanese Sushi Master; that and a keen eye on quality control and the freshest of fish ensures Koishi is a regular on best restaurants in the Czech Republic lists.

Koishi serves authentic sushi (Koishi)

Celebrating its 10th year, Borgo Agnese is a consistently good Mediterranean restaurant focusing on beautifully presented food, made with the finest ingredients.

Where to drink

So many of Brnos establishments blur the lines between bar and bistro as they change their personality and menus depending on the time of day or night. The most notable in this category is the round-the-clock popular 4pokoje (4 Rooms). Many kick off their nocturnal adventure here, enjoying the various cocktail concoctions devised by the talented bar staff, before returning bleary-eyed in the wee hours, rounding off the night with a hearty breakfast.

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Atelier may be a recent addition to Brnos nightlife scene, but its quickly established itself as a major player. Owner Milan relishes the challenge of pairing wines with co-owner and chef Jacobs excellent selection of small plates, such as the rabbit terrine and moreish furikake seaweed popcorn.

The success of a stall in the Christmas market selling home-made apple juice led to the eventual opening of The Bar Which Doesnt Exist. Drinks are taken very seriously here and they stock an impressive collection of whiskies. It gets very busy at weekends so its worth reserving a table.

Super Panda Circus Bar offers a weird and wonderful drinking experience (Super Panda Circus Bar)

If youre fortunate enough to stumble across the entrance to Super Panda Circus Bar and are bold enough to ring the doorbell, youll enter Brnos most fun drinking den. Give way to destiny to determine what cocktail to imbibe. Whats not to love about a bar that serves your cocktail in a rams horn perched in a pirates chest?

Quality beer is a must here and there are many excellent pubs to choose from. Vycep Na Stojaka so-called as its a standing only venue, is a constant favourite. Other recommended pubs include Zelena kocka Pivarium, winner of the Czech Bar Awards Best Beer category.

Attracting a largely student crowd, the stock exchange concept behind Pivni Burza adds an element of fun when ordering beer. The fluctuating price of a pint corresponding to demand is shown on screens throughout the bar.

There are more coffee houses in Brno than anywhere in the Czech Republic, so the standard has to be high to survive the competition. One of the best cafes is the light and airy SKG. They serve their own roasted coffee and a vegetarian menu.

Where to shop

Take a taste of Moravia back home and pick up a four-pack of beer from Pivoteka U Modreho lva. For a fantastic choice of Moravian wine, Petit Cru wine bar and shop holds weekly tastings so you can try before you buy.

Muse stocks interesting clothing designs (Muse) (MUSE)

A five minute walk from the main train station leads to Galerie Vankovka shopping mall, containing all the usual European suspects plus leading Czech shoe shop chain, Bata.

For cutting edge fashion, city centre boutique DNB showcases local talent; MUSE stocks well-curated directional designs; and Wolf Gang specialises in stylish casual wear.

Architectural highlight

In 1929, Grete and Fritz Tugendhat commissioned Mies van der Rohe to design a modern spacious house with clear and simple shapes. Villa Tugendhat remains the Czech Republics sole Unesco World Cultural Heritage modern architecture listing, and is one of the finest examples of Functionalism. Entry 350kc (12) for a 90-minute tour; open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am-6pm.

Villa Tugendhat is the Czech Republics only Unesco-listed bit of modern architecture (Getty) (Getty Images)

Nuts and bolts

What currency do I need?

Czech koruna.

What language do they speak?

Czech.

Should I tip?

Yes, 10-15 per cent.

Whats the time difference?

One hour ahead of the UK.

Whats the average flight time from the UK?

Wizz Air flies daily from Luton to Prague in one hour and 45 minutes; from 23 one-way.

Public transport

As the city centre is so compact, its best to go on foot here. If travelling further afield, trams are easy to navigate or take a cab. Unlike their Prague neighbours, taxis in Brno are reasonably priced and metered.

Best view

Head to the top of the 63-metre tower in the Old Town Hall for a fine vista of the city.

Insider tip

For increased chances of being the lucky recipient of an Astronomical Clock marble, head to Brno during the Christmas Markets, when these prized collectibles drop hourly from 11am-11pm.Labours, or more specifically Emily Thornberrys, call for an early general election as a result of the Conservative Partys suppurating internal divisions over Brexit is not new.

At the Glastonbury Festival in 2017, Jeremy Corbyn said he expected to be in Downing Street by Christmas last year.

When December came around he said there would be an election in 2018 which would propel him to power. He has three months left. While the parliamentary numbers on Brexit are not good for any solution, it does not follow that Tory MPs will be turkeys voting for Christmas and produce a majority for an election.

If Thornberry and Corbyn tried to whip all Labour MPs to vote with Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees-Mogg for a full amputation Brexit to defeat Theresa May, many Labour MPs would refuse to obey the whip. After all, Jeremy Corbyn voted 500 times against the official Labour vote so he cannot demand loyalty for an opportunistic vote to defeat May.

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

Even if she did lose such a Brexit vote there is no certainty she would go. A subsequent confidence vote would see most Tory MPs, plus the DUP, providing a majority. In fact, there is no surer way of sending Tory MPs back into the Conservative fold than a grandstanding Labour announcement that they will vote against any deal the government cobbles together on Brexit in order to try and get an early election.

So Thornberrys call for a Brexit general election may have the paradoxical effect of increasing support for the prime minister from Tory MPs and party activists in order precisely to avoid any risk of what the chancellor Philip Hammond called at the weekend the Marxist programme of Labours current anti-Blairite leadership.

And it is hardly a secret that Labour itself is as divided on Brexit as the Tories. Many Labour candidates in London, for example, cant support the shadow cabinets supine acceptance that the UK must leave the single market and lose rights to live and work in Europe, given most of their voters oppose Brexit.

 Tony Blair says Brexit could lead UK down 'dark path'

There is an alternative to a general election. And that would be for Thornberry to support  as the majority of Labour Party members now do  a peoples vote, given all the information we now have and the great fears for jobs, wages and investment in the event of any kind of Brexit.

Repeating the shop-worn demands for an election doesnt change the political weather. If Corbyn or Thornberry were to call for a serious examination of a peoples vote, either or both would be showing the kind of leadership that alters the terms of debate and puts Labour alongside progressive forces, as well as the growing voices in the UK economy and civil society who are now seriously worried about Brexit.

And if Labour were to be seen as the architect of a peoples vote to stop Brexit, the party would then be in a powerful position to demand an election to remove an administration which has refused ever to question or challenge Brexit since June 2016.

Denis MacShane is the former minister of state for Europe. His latest book is Brexit, No Exit. Why (in the End) Britain Wont Leave Europe (IB Tauris)Campaign group Derry Girls Against Borders has taken their message to Dublin on Wednesday to encourage those in the Irish Republic who are against a hard border post-Brexit to join their fight.

The group has also called on those involved in the Brexit negotiations to listen to the fears and anxieties of those living in border communities.

Their campaign message includes taking a stand against any borders on the island of Ireland or down the Irish Sea, and the freedom and flexibility currently afforded to those on the island to continue.

The @DerryGirlsAB campaign group have brought their message to Dublin to ask those who oppose a hard border post-Brexit to join in their fight. pic.twitter.com/vmyfH3sqC1  aoife moore. (@aoifegracemoore) September 19, 2018

Co-founder Sarah Wallace, who is originally from Londonderry and now lives and works and Dublin, says people from both north and south of the border must come together to protest against checkpoints and visas to travel across the Irish border that could soon become a reality.

Thousands of people cross the border every day, most people dont even notice theyre crossing it  and thats how it should stay, she said.

Ms Wallace added that although the border issue had dominated headlines, the conversation to date had not yet focused on the effect a border would have on local communities and how heavily the Northern Ireland peace process depends on the border issue.

Parts of the Good Friday Agreement depend on the border and the peace process cannot be put at risk.

Were non-partisan, were appealing to everyone, even those who voted for Brexit but did not vote for a hard border, to join in this fight against it.

The panel discussion held in Dublins Trinity College heard from a number of people who live in the Republic and Northern Ireland.

Before we lived in it, my house and the land around it was often patrolled by guards to catch smugglers. We don't want to go back to the dark days of violence and smuggling, and limits on a free communityTate Donnelly

One issue that was addressed was the epidemic of border-smuggling during the Troubles and how easy it would be to restart due to the porous nature of Irelands border.

Tate Donnelly, from Co Monaghan, spoke about his experiences growing up in a house directly on the border.

When I go for a jog, or walk my dog, I cant count how many times I cross the border and back again.

Before we lived in it, my house and the land around it was often patrolled by guards to catch smugglers. We dont want to go back to the dark days of violence and smuggling, and limits on a free community.

It is believed more than 30,000 people cross the Irish border daily, which has between 200 and 300 hundred crossings.

It has been estimated 7,000 jobs could be impacted in Co Donegal alone should a hard border be implemented when the UK leaves the EU.

The group  which is collecting signatures for a petition to hand over to political representatives from the governments in London, Dublin and Brussels  travels to London on Thursday to take their message across the Irish Sea.Flag of inconvenience: an anti-Brexit protester outside the House of Commons in London

Theresa May answers questions when arriving at the informal EU summit in Salzburg (Kerstin Joensson/AP)

Theresa May insisted her Chequers plan was the only possible route to a Brexit deal after European Union chiefs told her key elements of the proposals had to be reworked.

The Prime Minister was using a gathering of EU leaders in Salzburg to personally set out the Governments blueprint for Brexit but was warned that time is running out to reach a deal.

European Council president Donald Tusk said the Prime Ministers Chequers blueprint was a welcome evolution in the UKs approach but major issues remained to be resolved including avoiding a hard border in Ireland and the future trading relationship between Britain and the EU.

Warning that there was less and less time to reach a deal before the UKs March 29 2019 exit date, Mr Tusk confirmed he would propose an emergency EU Brexit summit in November.

Arriving at the meeting in Salzburg, Mrs May said Chequers was the only credible and negotiable plan on the table that delivers no hard border in Northern Ireland and also delivers on the vote of the British people.

She added: If we are going to achieve a successful conclusion then, just as the UK has evolved its position, the EU will need to evolve its position too.

Her comments came just hours after Mr Tusk said that on key issues the UKs proposals will need to be reworked and further negotiated.

Meanwhile, the domestic difficulties facing Mrs May  which EU leaders are all too aware of  were further illustrated as it emerged her former Brexit secretary David Davis has described Chequers as a non-starter.

In extracts of a speech he plans to deliver in Munich on Thursday, Mr Davis said the PMs plan crossed all of her own negotiating red lines.

He said: Chequers is devoid of democracy altogether. This is why many of us will shortly be presenting an alternative plan which will outline a more ambitious vision.

Ahead of the summit in Austria, the EUs chief negotiator Michel Barnier said he was ready to come forward with a new offer on the Irish border.

However, Mrs Mays DUP allies poured cold water on the suggestion and the Prime Minister stressed she would not be prepared to accept anything that resulted in Northern Ireland effectively being carved away from the rest of the UK.

In order to de-dramatise the main obstacle to a withdrawal deal, Mr Barnier suggested arrangements could be made to conduct the majority of checks on imports and exports away from the border itself.

The Democratic Unionist Party, which props up Mrs Mays minority administration in Parliament, dismissed Mr Barniers proposals as unpalatable, because they would involve a customs border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

It still means a border down the Irish Sea although with different kinds of checks, said the partys deputy leader Nigel Dodds.

Mrs May said: I welcome the fact that Michel Barnier is recognising the need to find a new solution because the original proposal put forward by the European Commission was unacceptable to us.

We have always recognised that there are unique circumstances that apply in Northern Ireland  for example in relation to checks for some

agricultural products.

But what we cannot accept is seeing Northern Ireland carved away from the UK customs territory because regardless of where the checks would be, what that would mean would be that it would be a challenge to our constitutional and economic integrity.

The Salzburg meeting came as campaigners in the UK published a roadmap setting out how MPs could force the Prime Minister to accept what they call a Peoples Vote on her deal, with the option of remaining in the EU.

Despite Mrs May insisting the choice was between her deal or no deal, Treasury minister Mel Stride appeared to suggest that a second poll was still a possibility.

Mr Stride told Sky News: When we have a firm deal on the table, I suspect that those to the right of the party  the pro-Brexit wing  will be very concerned that if that deal does not prevail, they will end up in the situation where we could have a second referendum or we could end up not leaving the EU altogether, so there is a danger of that happening if Chequers does not prevail.

But Mrs May slapped down any suggestion that her government could hold a so-called Peoples Vote.

I want to be absolutely clear, this government will never accept a second referendum, she said.

The British people voted to leave the European Union and we will be leaving on March 29, 2019.

She challenged the Labour leadership to rule out the prospect of support for a second referendum  something that is likely to be a hot topic as Jeremy Corbyns party gathers for its conference in Liverpool starting on Sunday.European Union chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier speaks during a media conference at EU headquarters in Brussels on Friday, June 8, 2018. European Union Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier briefed reporters in Brussels Friday on progress made in negotiations on Britain's departure from the EU next year. (Olivier Hoslet, Pool Photo via AP)

Negotiators are getting down to the real business of Brexit, and suddenly the ground is shifting under Ireland's feet.

Over the weekend, we heard a warning the Government could soften the language around our "bullet proof" Brexit backstop. That was the guarantee announced with huge fanfare in December when all sides - ourselves, Brussels and Westminster - agreed that regardless of what shape Brexit takes, it won't mean significant changes at the Border. This week we learn the backstop is being redrafted. Bullet proof has become porous.

At the same time we learn that "our" EU negotiators led by Michael Barnier want to "de-dramatise" the Border as an issue in the talks.

But the Border is dramatic for Ireland; for the people who live with it. De-dramatise sounds a lot like de-prioritising - something that should be unacceptable to any Irish Government.

Then came reports via international news agency Bloomberg that some of our EU partners want to link support for Ireland's stance on Brexit to concessions from Ireland on the vexed issue of taxing tech giants - a sector that's a mainstay of Irish jobs policy, but deeply unpopular in Brussels and Paris.

Despite mounting evidence, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and the Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney insist there's nothing to be alarmed about. Support for Ireland is "solid" we're told. Leaks to the foreign media are dismissed. But for those of us who watched the bailout unfold it is suddenly, and horribly, familiar.

Eight years ago, then ministers Noel Dempsey and Dermot Ahern were equally dismissive of foreign media reports. Their successors should be wary of being so emphatic.

The threat to link "solidarity" with Ireland to an assault on our right to set tax policy is all too credible. In 2011, then French President Sarkozy and Angela Merkel tried exactly that with Enda Kenny, putting the former Taoiseach under massive pressure to give up the 12.5pc tax rate - and the freedom of action it represents for Ireland - at a time when the country was on its knees. That attack was seen off - a major factor in our recovery. But it re-emerges at the slightest hint that Ireland is on the back foot, despite our position being backed up by a legal guarantee enshrined in international treaties.

Solidarity was pretty thin on the ground when our EU partners set the initial bailout rate at a ruinous 5.8pc, or refused to accept the case for burning bondholders even after the bank guarantee had expired.

Despite that recent history there's a belief among some, at the highest levels in Irish life, that we can rely completely on an EU that stretches seamless from Belmullet through Berlin to Bratislava. We cannot.

Ireland is stronger in the Union, we belong in it. But we can't be naive. Only Ireland can fully know and advance Irish interests.

History doesn't really repeat itself; the French at Killala were not the Spanish at Kinsale - though in both cases our allies came up short.

Help from across the sea was too little, too late and too conditional to turn the tide for Ireland. Its no harm to remember that lesson even if, like the backstop, we hope never to need it.A "backstop" policy on Northern Ireland's land border with the European Union is a key obstacle to Britain securing a deal with Brussels on an orderly exit from the bloc in March. This is what it is and why it matters:

BOTH SIDES WANT TO AVOID A "HARD BORDER" - WHAT'S THAT?

In 1998, Britain and Ireland made the Good Friday agreement to end 30 years of violence in Northern Ireland over whether it should stay British or join the Irish republic to the south. That ended controls along the 500-km (300-mile) land border and set up many all-Ireland rules and institutions. Brexit would mean the north leaving the EU and so could mean checks along the frontier again and different trade rules that could inflame tensions once more.

SO THE SOLUTION IS...?

British Prime Minister Theresa May says a special customs and trade arrangement with the EU, to be negotiated during a 20-month status-quo transition period, will ensure seamless borders between the whole of the United Kingdom and EU -- so there will be no need for intrusive checks on goods at the Irish border.

THAT SOUNDS FAIR - SO WHAT'S THE CATCH?

Two catches really. EU negotiator Michel Barnier says May's "Chequers" proposals for future customs and trade in goods give Britain unfair access to the EU single market. Second, the Irish government, backed by the rest of the EU, wants an insurance policy in case those future trade talks fail.

AND THAT INSURANCE POLICY IS WHAT?

Early this year, Barnier proposed that, if a better solution involving the whole UK is not found before the end of transition in 2020, Northern Ireland alone would effectively remain in the EU economic space for as long as a better solution was lacking. That would mean the province applying EU regulations and customs checks and hence monitoring trade with the British mainland.

BUT BRITAIN OBJECTS, RIGHT?

Yes. May and her vital allies in a pro-British Belfast party reject any border between two parts of the UK. Northern Irish unionists fear that would push the province toward a merger with the republic. Britain suggested applying the backstop customs deal to the mainland too. Brussels dismissed that as a dodge to get British goods into the single market by a back door. At the heart of arguments is not so much customs duties, though they do matter, but checks to make sure goods are produced in line with EU rules -- from which Britain aims to be free after Brexit.

COULD THEY JUST DO A BRUSSELS POLITICAL FUDGE?

There could be a temptation to leave some loose ends on Ireland to be sorted out in talks on the future EU-UK trade deal. But Dublin, backed by the EU, demands a legally watertight backstop that it could hold Britain to international courts.

SO WHERE DO THINGS STAND NOW?

May says she is willing to agree to a backstop to assuage EU and Irish worries - but not to a border in the Irish Sea. Barnier is offering to rework the insurance policy to "de-dramatise" fears in London and Belfast, insisting it poses no threat to Britain's constitutional integrity. There would be no border as such between the province and the mainland but checks, often by British officials, at factories, markets, on ships and in ports, on the status of goods moving between the two. He is also stressing that it may never be needed, assuming that the EU and Britain will indeed agree a close trade agreement by 2020.

AND WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

May will appeal to EU leaders over dinner in Salzburg on Wednesday to understand what is unacceptable to Britain. The 27 will discuss that over lunch on Thursday and summit chair Donald Tusk will then brief May in Salzburg on those discussions.

May must survive criticism of her plans from hardline Brexit supporters at her Conservative Party conference early next month and then diplomats expect Barnier to unveil new draft terms. He hopes for a "moment of truth" at an Oct. 18 summit in Brussels, where leaders could agree the outline accord with May.

That would give negotiators a month to nail down a final treaty and accompanying political declaration of intent on a future trade deal at a special Brexit summit in mid-November.

The British and EU parliaments must ratify the treaty before Britain leaves on March 29, ushering in the status quo transition which ends, under current plans, on Dec. 31, 2020.The United States is seeking to negotiate a treaty with Iran that will cover both its ballistic missile and nuclear programs, the U.S. special envoy for Iran said on Wednesday ahead of U.N. meetings in New York next week, Reuters reported.

The new deal that we hope to be able to sign with Iran, and it will not be a personal agreement between two governments like the last one, we seek a treaty, envoy Brian Hook told an audience at the Hudson Institute think tank.

But Hook said Iranian leaders have not been interested in talking despite statements by President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo this year that the administration was willing to meet.The Government is facing the threat of European countries demanding concessions on our tax regime in exchange for support in the Brexit Border battle.

A renowned global news agency says some member states may press Ireland to drop its opposition to wide-ranging corporation tax reform in return for such backing.

Bloomberg quotes an unnamed European official saying solidarity doesnt come for free.

The move is viewed as the first sign that some EU members expect a price in return for commitments to Ireland in the Brexit process.

However, last week European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker launched another assault on our powers to veto tax matters at EU level.

The suggestion Ireland will be held to ransom was rejected by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. I can absolutely guarantee that EU solidarity behind Ireland, the 27 member states supporting us as a country that is staying in the European Union, is absolutely solid, he said.

European leaders will meet today in Salzburg and will discuss the joint political declaration of the EU's future relationship with Britain.

The low rate of corporation tax in Ireland remains an open sore in our relations with the European Union.

The 12.5pc corporation tax rate is key to attracting foreign direct investment.

Read More

The Bloomberg report says the focus will be on a proposed tax on tech companies.

The news agency report says "some members may press Ireland to drop its opposition to wide-ranging corporate tax reform in return for the bloc's backing on Brexit".

"While no direct link has yet been made between Ireland's opposition to a proposed digital tax on tech giants, pressure may be brought to bear in exchange for support to avoid a hard Border on the island.

Ireland is one of several states to voice concern, amid fears over our ability to attract foreign direct investment.

EU leaders have frequently pressed Ireland over tax reforms. In June, as Mr Juncker reassured TDs of the EU's determination to avoid the return of a hard border in Ireland after Brexit, he also urged them to drop opposition to the digital tax.

"Given the EU's unwavering support around Brexit, it will be politically unsustainable for Ireland to be the sole blocker of tax changes, the person said. Any tax proposal will need the unanimous approval of all EU members before becoming law, meaning a single country could block it," Bloomberg reports.

Opening the Government's Data Summit last night, Mr Varadkar doubled down on Ireland's corporate tax regime, telling the audience: "No matter what happens with Brexit, Ireland will continue to offer a stable and competitive corporation tax regime, strong incentives for research and development, an agile, capable and cosmopolitan work-force, access to the single European market of 500 million people and membership of the Eurozone."

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe's spokesperson said the negotiations on Brexit and tax reforms are "two separate issues".

Fine Gael MEP Brian Hayes went a step further and branded the suggestion as "laughable".

"No serious person has said this from the Brexit taskforce or the commission," Mr Hayes said. "Clearly, people close to the Commissioner Pierre Moscovici are using the Brexit negotiation to reheat an old idea from old Europe.

"The unity of the EU and specifically Michel Barnier on the Irish backstop is not in doubt and is not connect to tax reform," he added.

An EU Commission spokesperson said it "strongly rejects" Mr Hayes's suggestion. "The Commission is working constructively and continuously for a deal with the United Kingdom," he said.

He also noted that Mr Juncker last week said all members states "will always show loyalty and solidarity with Ireland when it comes to the Irish Border".

As negotiations come down to the wire ahead of an October leaders' summit, Tanaiste Simon Coveney was in Brussels for a debriefing from Mr Barnier.

The chief negotiator said progress on the backstop was "absolutely essential".

Mr Coveney said EU solidarity must not be underestimated, adding it was getting stronger as the weeks go by. He called for an intensification on the UK's part in negotiations, particularly on the backstop, so EU leaders could make decisions in October.

"We want to see substantial progress and decisions being made at the leaders' summit so that we can actually try to stick to the timelines that have been set now for months, as opposed to allowing things to drift into November and potentially December," he said.From Brexit to climate change challenges, Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed is holding the office during a particularly challenging period for the Irish agri-food sector.

Minister Creed says that the deal proposed at Chequers is the best opportunity the EU and UK have to reach a deal on Brexit, and that pro-Brexit commentators should remember that a No Deal could be more harmful to the UK than Ireland or other EU countries,

Theres no shortage of colour pieces coming from the hard-line Brexiteers, whether its Jacob Rees-Mogg or former Secretary of State Boris Johnson thats entertaining to a point but its becoming a bit irritating as well, says Minister Creed.

We need serious people for serious negotiations and I think Theresa May and her government and their Chequers proposal is the best opportunity that we have for a deal.

What we are about is to minimise the friction and the cost to business so that the market in the UK can remain an important market for us, but Mr Rees-Mogg should remember that carnage is a two-way street and a No Deal Brexit is the worst deal for everybody. Its very bad for us but I dare say it could be worse for the UK.

FOODWISE 2025 TARGETS

Given Irelands poor performance in reducing agriculture emissions, Minister Creed doesnt think the industry should scale back on its ambitions to reach its targets under Food Wise 2025.

Its always important to have a goal and what Ive said to others who have asked is it time to dismantle our ambition now?  I say show me a particular objective or issue in Food Wise that we should walk away from, he points out.

Food Wise is about removing the roadblocks that are there and creating the environment within which the industry can reach its potential.

Whether that potential is the 19bn export figure by 2025 or the additional jobs that are contingent on that, or whether its greater than that or later than that is ultimately up to the industry.

I still think we can meet those targets. I think there are issues that are more to the fore now and challenging that are obviously there compared to when this was written Brexit being one, the sustainability agenda has moved centre stage in terms of the responses that we have to take to meet our climate change objectives, but all of those things are challenges that I feel we can meet.

CAP REFORM

In developing policy under the new CAP post-2020, Minister Creed thinks given the recent weather difficulties it would be worthwhile including a measure for a rainy-day type insurance fund for farmers.

We have never developed a policy instrument in that space but in a very short period of time weve had the harvest of 2016, weve had flooding in Donegal last August, weve had a long late spring, weve had storm Ophelia, storm Emma, the damage to the horticulture sector... we now had the drought. Is this telling us something?

Climate change is apparently characterised by more frequent and extreme events. The last two years perfectly encapsulates that. I think in the context of the next CAP, that is certainly something we should look at.Gardai believe 1.4m of goods were stolen from farms throughout the country in the past year.

While the figures from the Garda Analysis Service were down on last year, there were about 1,100 reported farm thefts between September 2017 and August 2018.

There were 260 incidents where farming equipment was stolen from farms, worth about 220,000, and just over 100 incidents of farm animal theft.

The value of the animals stolen was approximately 350,000, with cattle accounting for over half that total.

There were also almost 100 trailers, valued at approximately 222,000 and more than 80,000 worth of property was stolen, including farming equipment, copper, machinery and tools.

"Although farm thefts have fallen by 8pc in the last 12 months, I would caution against complacency," said Sgt Graham Kavanagh, crime prevention officer for the Laois/Offaly Garda division.

With one in three tractors taken from farms stolen with the key, gardai urged farmers to store keys safely.Father Brian D'Arcy has spoken about the difficulties priests face in being celibate, saying that he believes clergy should be allowed to get married.

Speaking in conversation with the Managing Director of the National Ploughing Association Anna May McHugh and IFA environment chairman Harold Kingston at the Ploughing Championships yesterday, Fr D'Arcy explained that it has something he has always believed in his 50 years of being ordained.

"I'm 50 years ordained next year and all my life I've said priests should be allowed to get married. If some of them were not to get married and be celibate, as some Church of Ireland ministers are, both men and women, then they can do that," he said.

"But it's codology asking men in this day and age that to be a priest you also have to be celibate.

He added that living alongside other male priests has shown that it is "hard work" to remain celibate.

"I think it's an utter wrong theology of sexuality for a start. It's also a wrong insight into the psychology of development.

"Living as I do, in a community of men, I honestly know that it has taken very hard work and labour to remain normal and be a celibate."

Fr D'Arcy also spoke about the turnout for Pope Francis in Dublin last month, saying it was the crowds that he gathered were an "achievement" despite the "changing times" between the church and the people of Ireland.

"I was amazed at the fantastic life and joy in the Phoenix Park. It was fantastic. They really were absolutely through the roof with joy. I was expecting at least 50 or 60 thousand in the park, because of weather, because everybody was saying don't go, youre not able to go, youre too old, youre not allowed to walk, youll stand, and despite that, at least a quarter of a million did," he said.

"I think that is a hell of an achievement, no popstar will get that yet. Lets put it into context and be fair with it."

He added that the world has changed since Pope John Paul II came to visit, and that the church has yet to come to grips with the "modern thinking mind".

"Whether its a changed world or the church isnt moving with the times, there is a big missing link between a vast majority of people, and a belief in anything other than what they can see in front of them. There's a huge difference in context now, mainly because theres more questions around.

"The world is entirely different, we as the church havent got the hang yet of being able to communicate with the modern thinking mind. Were not the only ones, neither has politicians."

Mr Kingston, a member of the Church of Ireland community, said he noticed that social media had an impact on the Pope's visit to Ireland this time around.

"It (social media) appeared to be extremely negative and that was one thing I noticed, that there was a very negative vibe primarily driven by faceless individuals.

"People were also complaining about certain coverage, asking why we should we be covering this, it should stay separate- but it was an area of interest for everybody. He's an important person to a lot of people and it was great to see him come."

The trio, who discussed the topic at the Farming Independent panel this afternoon, also discussed the future of the Catholic church on Ireland and what it would be like in 20 years.

"I don't know where religion will be in Ireland in twenty years, I dont know where the worlds going in twenty years and I think one depends on the other. There's nothing more dangerous than religion without faith," Fr D'Arcy said.

Anna May McHugh, who took part in the World Meeting of Families event this year, said she would be "very hopeful" that the church would still be present in Ireland by then.

"I would be very hopeful. You cannot expect teachers in schools to teach religion. My thinking is that you teach by example in the home," Ms McHugh said.

"I still believe theres a very strong faith there in young people. I know that some people dont go to mass, but they can be very faithful to their religion without going to mass. I think mass should be made more interesting."Robin Conway, 10, Zoe Levingstone, 9 and Tess Whitebread, 9, from Carlow play with the water at the ploughing championships at Screggan, Co. Offaly. Pic credit; Damien Eagers / INM

Ryan Tubridy gets all country as he tries to milk a cow with the assistance of Caitriona Mullin from Mountbellew in Galway at the Volac/IHFA stand. Picture; Gerry Mooney

Fine Gael has been accused of ignoring farmers facing the challenges of Brexit as their wait for low-cost loans drags on.

Agriculture Minister Michael Creed has admitted that the loans scheme - allocated funding of 25m in last year's Budget - won't be ready until early 2019.

There has also been criticism that the loans - when they are finally available next year - will be for long-term investment on farms rather than day-to-day spending that could ease the fodder crisis.

Charlie McConalogue, the Fianna Fail agriculture spokesman, claimed that Fine Gael is "ignoring the farming community when it comes to meeting Brexit challenges".

He also argued that the Government has shown the same attitude on the fodder crisis.

Mr McConalogue said: "It's a scandal given that we are only six months away from a potentially hard Brexit and at this stage the minister has not delivered on a Budget commitment from last year."

Meanwhile, the IFA president Joe Healy has warned that farmers are facing a winter of discontent due to fodder shortages after the summer drought.

He urged the minister to allow the use of the new loan scheme for working capital so that farmers can "clear their feed, fertiliser and contractor bills".

Mr Healy also claimed that it is "farcical" the scheme isn't yet in place.

He said: "The Minister's stated position that these low-cost loans, when they eventually arrive, will be restricted to capital investment only, is like arriving to a fire with a cement mixer."

Speaking on RTE Radio, Mr Creed defended the delay, insisting such a product couldn't be "manufactured overnight".

Several partners, including the European Investment Bank, Government departments and the "pillar banks", are involved in the scheme.

Mr Creed's spokesman responded to the criticism by saying that over the last year the Department has delivered innovative financial products aimed at the agri-food sector.

There was a 150m working capital scheme in 2017 and the sector was included in a 300m Brexit Loan Scheme for small businesses.

He insisted Mr Creed has been "directly engaged in addressing the fodder deficit" which he said has been "significantly reduced" from 30pc in July to the current 11pc.Allan Mulrooney, IDA Regional Business Executive and Lucia Macari of Overstock, launching the October 12 Tech on the Wild Atlantic Way event in Sligo

The buzz around getting out of the capital for a tech career is ramping up with a recruiting event for that particular trend taking place this October.

An over-priced housing market, better work-life balance and burgeoning tech hubs has led to talent, and the graduate community, looking at alternatives to Dublin's Silicon Docks.

'Tech on the Wild Atlantic Way' is a major tech and biotech recruiting event looking to connect employers with this skilled pool, potential employees who are looking to go west.

Those interested in working and living in the West, North West and Midlands have seen the rise of burgeoning tech hubs outside of Dublin, as a spate of high-end jobs in these regions have been announced in recent months.

As a smaller commute and an outdoorsy lifestyle draws many professionals westwards, employers of companies of all sizes are looking to see how attractive they can make their net.

Read More

Over 500 experienced professionals are expected to join the 'Tech on the Wild Atlantic Way', hosted by Career Zoo, with a handy 'tech train' available to transport interested job candidates.

John Nugent, IDA Regional Business Development Manager Border Region, which is supporting the event, said that it will "shine a light on the opportunities here in the North West region for the talent pool locally, nationally and internationally".

US tech firm Overstock's Lucia Macari will be one of many employers highlighting a number of vacancies at its European base in Sligo.

"Outside of Dublin, there are many fantastic high-tech job opportunities with great companies and an unbeatable quality of life. At Overstock in Sligo we have a diverse range of open positions including Machine Learning, Blockchain and full stack roles," she said.

'Tech on the Wild Atlantic Way' will take place at The Model, Sligo, on October 12.The union representing cabin crew in Belgium turned down an offer by Ryanair ahead of a planned strike on September 28, it said on Wednesday.

Europe's largest low-cost airline offered to follow Belgian employment law from March 2020 for Ryanair contracted employees, addressing one of the major complaints over the company's policy to staff under Irish contract.

The Belgian union, CNE, said that would only help about half of workers, as Ryanair has also been hiring under Crewlink contracts, the statement said.

The union said the offer was an "unacceptable" attempt to divide workers in order to buy time ahead of the planned strike.

"It's a deception on the part of Ryanair," CNE spokesman Yves Lambot told Reuters.

Ryanair did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The threatened strike by cabin crews in Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain is aimed at pressuring shareholders set to meet on Sept. 20 to address Ryanair's labour agreements, union officials announced last week.

The 24-hour strike is planned for Sept. 28 and unions will strike once a month until demands are met.

The Belgian union met with Ryanair officials before announcing the strike and asked for an offer by Tuesday. The offer was made on Tuesday evening, Lambot said.

Separately, the European Cockpit Association, which represents pilots in Europe, called on Wednesday for a change in the management and board of the airline.

"Developments over the past months have clearly shown that the relationship between Ryanair management and its employees has become dysfunctional, and this is now putting at risk the continued success of the airline," association President Dirk Polloczek said in a statement.

"Apart from two agreements on targeted terms and conditions reached in Italy and Ireland, negotiations with pilot unions across Europe are either blocked or progressing at snails pace. As a result, industrial unrest is more present  and more likely in future  than it ever was," the statement said.

A Ryanair board member said on Tuesday that the CEO, Michael O'Leary, would continue at the company's top for at least five more years.

"That would be a disappointment" and would not show a change in attitude within the company, Lambot said.

The airline is striving for a union agreement in Germany before Christmas, following strikes by cabin crews and pilots this month and threatened further strikes.Women comprise just 13pc of the boards of listed Irish companies, according to a new study

Women comprise just 13pc of the boards of listed Irish companies - well below the EU average of 23pc, according to a major new study.

The companies with the greatest percentage of women on their boards are Irish Residential Properties Reit, Bank of Ireland, Origin Enterprises, AIB, CRH, and Ryanair.

Each have the EU average or higher in terms of the percentage of female board members.

Of the 45 companies sampled for the first-ever Korn Ferry Irish Board Index, 58pc have at least one woman on their board, noted the report.

That's one-third higher than back in 2007, but 42pc of the companies sampled on the Iseq don't have a single woman on their board.

The global organisational consulting firm's report also carries an interview with Michael Cawley, the former chief operating officer and ex-deputy CEO at Ryanair.

Mr Cawley is now a non-executive director at Ryanair, which holds its annual general meeting tomorrow.

He is also the chairman of Failte Ireland, and a non-executive director at insulation maker Kingspan and gambling firm Paddy Power Betfair.

Influential shareholder advisory groups ISS and Pirc have separately recommended to Ryanair shareholders that they do not re-elect directors including Ryanair chairman Mr Bonderman, Mr Cawley and former Ryanair chief financial officer Howard Millar to the airline's board tomorrow.

Mr Millar is also a former deputy CEO at the airline.

ISS said that while there has been "some progress" in the composition of the Ryanair board through recent refreshment, the leadership of the non-executive board have "deep-rooted links with CEO Michael O'Leary".

Korn Ferry asked Mr Cawley in its report published today whether Irish boards were given the power to make changes to the path the company is on if necessary.

"They certainly have the power," he said.

"There are some cases where boards won't use the power they have."

He added that a chairman should be able to intervene pre-emptively in order to protect the future interests of shareholders.

"In the private sector, Michael can point to examples where he feels appropriate action was not taken by the board, and the overall business has suffered because of it," the Korn Ferry interview noted.

Rob Wilder, the country chair of Korn Ferry Ireland, said companies have faced significant regulatory, technological and economical challenges in the past decade.

He said the Korn Ferry report reveals "interesting insights" regarding the steps being taken by boards to diversify their thinking and promote greater accountability amongst directors.SMALL firms lobby group ISME has complained that recommendations to deal with the compensation crisis in the courts is not radical enough.

The business body says it fundamentally disagrees with Mr Justice Kearns decision not to recommend a cap on awards.

This is despite the former president of the High Court admitting that that compensation levels for personal injuries have got out of hand.

In a report from Personal Injuries Commission, which Justice Kearns chaired, it is recommended that judges sort out the compensation claims crisis  in the hope that this will help lower insurance premiums.

Chief executive of the SME association Neil McDonnell said the commission was unable to explain why award levels in this country are almost five times those in Britain.

Mr Justice Kearns recommended judges come together under the guise of the new judicial council to recalibrate award levels for minor injuries would lead to more consistency in awards, and could lower them.

This is the key recommendation of the Personal Injuries Commission.

Legislation to set up the new judicial council is expected to be passed by the end of the year.

This is despite the former High Court president admitted that discrepancies in compensation levels awarded by judges caused mystification to the public.

But ISME questioned if judges are the right people to sort out the compensation crisis.

Mr McDonnell said the Personal Injuries Commission has failed to justify its assertion that the judiciary is the logical agency to address the issue of excessive awards.

To suggest that judges acting alone are the solution to the problem is simply illogical.

Mr McDonnell said that judges should be involved, but they should not be the sole arbiters of the new guidelines of compensation levels.

And ISME said it fundamentally disagreed with the move by the commission not to recommend a cap on awards. Instead, it recommended this matter should be examined by the Law Reform Commission.

The Supreme Court has already applied a cap on general damages for catastrophic injuries, Mr McDonnell said.

Advices already received by ISME suggest that the Law Reform Commission would be unlikely to object to legislation capping general damages, but such consideration might take years to materialise. This would be disastrous for policy holders, he added.

The business group also took issue with the Commissions reject of replacing cash awards with vouched care. This care-not-cash operates in other countries.

Meanwhile, the Bar Council, which represents barristers, welcomed the Commissions report, and said supported the idea of judges assessing awards and putting together new guidelines on their levels.

Chairman of the Bar Micheal P OHiggins SC agreed with the views of the Commission that any proposal to cap the amount of damages which a court may award necessitates careful constitutional scrutiny by the Law Reform Commission.The U.S. military said it supported a plan to establish a demilitarized zone in northern Syria that would separate rebels in their last stronghold from advancing government forces.

"I'll tell you what, if this holds up and it can save lives and avoid the humanitarian disaster that it could have been, then we're definitely supporting that," said Col. Sean Ryan, a military spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition in Baghdad.

"But that's definitely a decision between Russia and Turkey, and the coalition was not involved with that," he added.

"What we want is a political solution that will save lives, is what we're really looking at," the Washington Examiner cited Ryan as saying.

The agreement to create a buffer zone in Syria's Idlib was worked out Monday in a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held in Sochi, Russia.Households face being up to 190 worse off after the Budget as income tax cuts could be wiped out by increases in other charges and levies.

The Budget is likely to see an increase in the amount of money people can earn before they hit the top rate of income tax, but this could be cancelled out by a rise in PRSI and higher carbon taxes.

Householders could be between 120 and 190 worse off overall after the Budget, according to analysis by the Irish Tax Institute.

It said Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has various options for next month's Budget but he is likely to increase the entry point to the top income tax rate.

Allowing workers to earn another 1,000 before they hit the 40pc income tax rate would be worth about 200 a year to someone on 40,000, according to calculations by the Tax Institute.

Such a move would allow people to earn 35,550 before being hit with the higher tax rate.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has indicated that there is likely to be an increase in the higher rate entry point to stop so much of people's incomes being taxed at higher rates.

The tax body said Mr Donohoe was also considering increasing the PRSI rate from 4pc to 4.5pc for employees. This would cost someone on 50,000 around 250 a year, according to a report prepared for Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty by officials.

There could also be more tax on carbon emissions, which would hit petrol, diesel, coal, briquettes and gas. Higher carbon tax would cost the average household an extra 69 a year if just 5 is added to the charge per tonne of carbon emissions, the Tax Institute said, quoting Economic and Social Research Institute data. Adding 10 to the carbon charge would cost families 138 a year.

Olivia Buckley of the Tax Institute said it was not sure which of the options would be chosen by Mr Donohoe, as they were political decisions.

She added that Ireland was unusual in terms of how early earnings hit the higher tax rate. At the moment, workers pay the 40pc income tax rate on earnings over 34,550.

"We can see why the Taoiseach is talking about this. That needs to addressed in terms of the squeezed middle," said Ms Buckley.

She added that the State tax-raising system is skewed towards income tax. Income tax and the universal social charge represent 40pc of all taxes raised, with only 16pc coming from corporate tax.

The majority of income tax is paid by those earning more than 55,000. Some 85pc of income tax is paid by those earning middle and higher income.

Almost a third of workers pay no income tax at all.The board and I are delighted by the positive response to our successful admission to AIM, said VR Education CEO David Whelan

Virtual reality software firm VR Education has recorded a loss before tax of 4.1m for the six months to June 30.

In its first interim results since an IPO in March, management yesterday said that the loss was "in line with expectations" and driven by the inclusion of a non-cash fair value loss arising on derivate financial liabilities of 2.6m.

The Waterford-based group saw its revenue increase 30pc to 300,000, while the group had a "strong" net cash position of 4.9m.

Revenue for the year is expected to be heavily weighted towards the second half of 2018, and the group said it remains "on track" to meet its full-year target.

"The board and I are delighted by the positive response to our successful admission to AIM and the ESM and the group is pleased to report that further substantial operational progress since admission," said CEO David Whelan.

"The group has grown from 20 staff prior to admission to 31 staff at the interim reporting date. This includes a number of key strategic hires including our chief technical officer."

VR Education uses virtual reality technology to deliver digital education and corporate training. Its 'Engage' platform offers users the capability to host lessons, meetings and presentations in a secure, virtual, multi-user environment.

In March, the group raised 6m (6.7m) in its admission to the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange and to the ESM market of the Irish Stock Exchange. When launching on the Stock Exchange Mr Whelan said that the AR/VR market is growing, and as hardware becomes more affordable, growth will gain further traction.

In addition to its 'Engage' platform, the group has also built two downloadable showcase VR experiences; the Apollo 11 VR experience and the Titanic VR experience.

Prior to its IPO, VR Education had raised 1.3m from investors.Danske Bank's chief executive Thomas Borgen quit on Wednesday following an investigation into payments totalling some 200bn through its Estonian branch, many of which the Danish bank said were suspicious.

"It is clear that Danske Bank has failed to live up to its responsibility in the case of possible money laundering in Estonia. I deeply regret this," Borgen said in a statement which detailed failings in compliance, communication and controls.

Regulators and the financial community will scrutinise the Danske Bank report, which follows calls by Brussels for a new European Union watchdog to crack down on financial crime following a series of major money laundering scandals.

Danske Bank said its investigation had concluded that Borgen, Chairman Ole Andersen and the board of directors "did not breach their legal obligations towards Danske Bank", adding that it had taken action against some staff.

"We have taken a number of measures against current and former employees ... in the form, among other things, of warnings, dismissals, loss of bonus payments and reporting to the authorities," it added.

Danske Bank's report, which covered around 15,000 customers and 9.5 million payments for the period 2007-2015, said that some 6,200 customers had been examined.

"Overall, we expect a significant part of the payments to be suspicious," Danske said in a statement.

Dutch bank ING this month admitted criminals had been able to launder money through its accounts and agreed to pay 775m to settle the case.

A third of Danske Bank's stock market value has been wiped out in the last six months, driven by concerns over a possible inquiry by U.S. authorities and the penalties this could entail.

"Crucially, Danske say there have been 'no findings of sanctions violations, which is a relief given concerns of an investigation by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)," analysts at brokerage Jefferies said in a note.

U.S. authorities earlier this year accused Latvia's ABLV of covering up money laundering and the bank was promptly denied U.S. dollar funding, leading to its collapse.

While Danske does not have a banking licence in the United States, banning U.S. correspondent banks from dealing with it would amount to shutting it out of the global financial network.

WHISTLEBLOWER IGNORED

While Danske said it was not able to provide an accurate estimate of the suspicious transactions through its Estonian branch, it said the non-resident portfolio included customers from Russia, Azerbeijan, Ukraine and other ex-Soviet states.

The report found that the bank failed to take proper action in 2007 when it was criticised by the Estonian regulator and received information from its Danish counterpart that pointed to "criminal activity in its pure form, including money laundering" estimated at "billions of roubles monthly".

When a whistleblower raised problems at the Estonian branch in early 2014 the allegations were not properly investigated and were not shared with the board, Danske said.

And while it took measures to get its Estonian business under control in 2014, these were insufficient.

Danske Bank also said it had decided not to migrate its Baltic banking activities onto its IT platform, because it would have been too expensive. As a result the Estonian branch did not employ Danske's anti-money laundering procedures.

The bank, whose shares fell by early 8pc following the release of the report, also lowered its expectations for annual net profit to 16-17 billion Danish crowns, from a previous range of 18-20 billion.Anna Friel will play the mother of a boy who wishes to live as a girl (Isabel Infantes/PA)

Actress Anna Friel has said she hopes that her new drama programme can help change perceptions about transgender children in the same way that her lesbian kiss on Brookside did for all-female couples.

Friel will play the mother of a boy who wishes to live as a girl in a new mini-series called Butterfly.

The three-part ITV series will focus on 11-year-old Max, who dresses as a girl at home and makes the decision he no longer wants to hide his identity to the outside world.

Friel shared the first lesbian kiss to be broadcast on British television before the 9pm watershed with fellow Brookside actress Nicola Stephenson.

The kiss was later screened to a TV audience of billions when a clip of it was included in the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Ahead of her series Friel was asked why she thought there were negative attitudes towards parents allowing their children choose to be gender-fluid.

The actress replied: Lack of understanding, lack of knowledge, lack of education, I think.

Referring to the kiss she added: Think back to 25 years ago, to another girl  Ahhhh. And now all that time on, now its the blink of an eye, so hopefully well make that same progress.

Irish actor Emmett J. Scanlan plays Stephen in Butterfly, the estranged husband of Friels character Vicky.

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When asked how he would feel if his 16-year-old daughter decided they were trans, Scanlan said: Theres a great line in the show when Vicky says, and Im paraphrasing here, Its better to have a daughter than a dead son, and that really resonated with me.

The statistics within the community, over three quarters of them self-harm and nearly half of them have attempted suicide, its a horrific statistic.

And if you had the choice between that, what would you want?

All I want is for my daughter to feel happy, to feel loved, to feel accepted in this world that likes to compartmentalise everything because were afraid of challenging our idea of what normal is. I just want her to be happy.

Butterfly has been written by screenwriter and playwright Tony Marchant, who is is known for TV dramas including Public Enemies, which starred Friel, The Secret Agent and Garrows Law.

Friel co-produced the series, which was filmed in Manchester earlier this year.Former TV host and comedy writer Denis Norden has died aged 96, his family has said (REX/Shutterstock)

TV presenter and comedy writer Denis Norden has died aged 96, his family said.

The It'll Be Alright On The Night host died on Wednesday morning after spending "many weeks" at the Royal Free Hospital in north London, a statement from his children, Nick and Maggie Norden, issued to the Press Association said.

It added: "We'd like to say a huge thank you to all the dedicated staff and doctors who have looked after him - with much devotion.

"A wonderful dad, a loving grandfather and great great-grandfather - he gave his laughter-mongering to so many.

"He will be in our hearts forever."

Norden presented the ITV bloopers show for 29 years until his retirement in 2006.

Expand Close Former TV host and comedy writer Denis Norden has died aged 96, his family has said (REX/Shutterstock) / Facebook

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After stepping down he gave a lot of attention to raising awareness of macular disease, a degenerative eye condition from which he suffered, and became a patron of the Macular Society.

Born in Hackney, east London, in February 1922, he trained as a manager for the Hyams brothers, owners of impressive London picture palaces.

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He served in the RAF in the Second World War with such other future famous names as Eric Sykes and Bill Fraser, and wrote shows to entertain the troops - and get off guard duty.

Norden met future writing partner Frank Muir in 1947 and they created Take It From Here, the radio hit broadcast by the BBC between 1948 and 1960 starring Jimmy Edwards, Joy Nichols, June Whitfield and Dick Bentley.

Video of the Day

His small screen career kicked off in 1951 with Here's Television, the BBC sketch show starring Sidney James and Ian Carmichael.

Norden and Muir amicably parted ways in 1964 after a series of successes and he wrote material for The Frost Report, hosted by the late Sir David Frost.

He became established as a television presenter in the 1970s, hosting Looks Familiar, the nostalgic chat show, before It'll be Alright On The Night hit the airwaves in 1977.

Its popularity saw ITV commission spin-off Denis Norden's Laughter File, with both running until his retirement.Leo Varadkar (left), Simon Harris (right) and Senator Catherine Noone celebrate at Dublin Castle (Brian Lawless/PA)

Health Minister Simon Harris speaking to the media at a Together for Yes billboard launch in Dublin, ahead of the referendum. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire

Women who avail of abortions will not have to pay for the service.

Health Minister Simon Harris said today there would be no fee to the patient.

He said: Yes it is my intention that services will be free. Ive said from the start that I dont want cost to be a barrier.

If cost is a barrier you get into a situation where one of two things could happen  you see private clinics develop, we dont want that to happen in Ireland.

But doctors are extremely concerned that the deadline to have abortion services in place by January may not be met.

There are reservations about rushing a service without having the supports in place to ensure safety.

Dr Peter Boylan, chair of the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said just two planning meetings have so far taken place with the Department of Health although three were supposed to have been held.

Dr John O Brien, chair of the Irish College of General Practitioners, revealed there have been so far just exploratory meetings on guidelines for the delivery of abortion but none since the end of the summer and how abortions will be delivered have not been discussed.

The obstetricians body recommends that a 24- hour, 7 days a week, helpline be established to help with appointments, provide reassurance, and provide information if a woman is concerned about any aspect of her care.

This would include advice if she develops a complication.

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The proposed three-day interval women would need to observe from the time she first asks for an abortion is not supported by evidence, they added.

It may act as a barrier and it makes unwarranted assumptions about womens ability to make their own decisions.

There is evidence that those who request termination remain satisfied with their decision, said Dr Boylan.Abusive: Martha Sanchez was told she was lucky to avoid jail

A BRIDE-TO-BE assaulted a female garda and tried to bite her, leaving a blood-stained saliva mark on her uniform, after she became hopelessly drunk celebrating her engagement with a bottomless brunch.

Dublin woman Martha Sanchez avoided a prison sentence after she made a substantial charitable donation.

Judge Dermot Dempsey said he seriously considered a custodial sentence.

Sanchez celebrated her engagement with a bottomless brunch  where a meal is paid for and an unlimited amount of Prosecco is served  but was arrested after she and a friend refused to pay a taxi fare of 30.

Swords District Court heard that the 29-year-old, who works in the marketing department of a car hire company, took a taxi from Ranelagh in south Dublin to Swords, Co Dublin, and had agreed to pay 30 to the cab driver.

But when they arrived in Swords, the pair refused to pay the money.

Sanchez claimed that she didnt remember much bar being in the restaurant and a misunderstanding broke out, marred by being hopelessly drunk.

Gardai were called and Sanchez refused to acknowledge gardai  calling them assholes and c**ts.

She continued to shout and tried to persuade her friend to walk away with her.

She went to an ATM and took out 20 but refused to pay the taxi driver, saying she had no money, Garda Kieran McGroder told the court.

As Sanchez attempted to walk away she continued to verbally abuse gardai and ended up being arrested.

ABUSE

When she was brought to Swords Garda Station she started to hurl abuse at Garda Elaine Duffy, calling her a b***h on multiple occasions.

She then tried to run out of the station but pulled the door into herself, causing an injury.

When Gda Duffy attempted to administer first aid, Sanchez kicked her and attempted to bite her, leaving a blood-stained saliva mark on her uniform.

The defendant, of Swords Central, Main Street, Swords, pleaded guilty to violent behaviour in a garda station, assault, being intoxicated and using threatening and abusive behaviour on December 16, 2017.

She has no previous convictions.

On hearing the evidence in the case, Judge Dempsey remarked that the assault charge against her should have been a more serious charge for viciously assaulting the garda and attempting to bite her.

Sanchezs barrister said her client, who has since married her fiance, wasnt able to handle the amount of alcohol and didnt drink any more.

She is ashamed to say she doesnt remember much bar being in the restaurant, the barrister added.

It is out of character and such is her shame only her friend and her husband are aware of what happened.

Her parents, a teacher and a doctor in Spain, dont know about the incident.

It has had a lasting effect on her and she is taking it all very seriously and is ashamed, the barrister said, adding that Sanchez had a significant amount of money with her for a charitable donation if the court saw fit.

CUSTODY

Judge Dempsey placed the defendant in custody for an hour before making his decision on the case, saying: She viciously assaulted a garda and attempted to bite her.

I am seriously considering a custodial sentence for biting and assaulting a garda who went to her assistance.

Its a despicable act and she cant hide behind being drunk and not remembering.

When the barrister said the defendant had 2,000 with her, Judge Dempsey said he would allocate 1,000 to the Hope Foundation and 1,000 to St Francis Hospice.

He applied Section 1.1 of the Probation Act, leaving the defendant without a conviction but remarked that she was lucky she had a substantial amount of money with her.Former Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan wants to bring a defamation action against a national daily newspaper, the High Court has heard.

Ms O'Sullivan, who served as Commissioner between 2014 and 2017, claims she was defamed by the Cork-based Irish Examiner newspaper.

Her intended action against Irish Examiner Ltd was briefly mentioned before Mr Justice David Barniville during Wednesday's vacation sitting of the High Court.

Her barrister Gary Compton told the court that Ms O'Sullivan seeks an order allowing her to extend the time legally allowed to bring defamation proceedings before a court.

He said that under the 2009 Defamation Act litigants had up to 12 months from the date of publication to bring defamation proceedings against the publisher but under Section 38 of that Act, the High Court could extend the 12-month time limit to a maximum of two years.

Judge Barniville granted Ms O'Sullivan's lawyers permission to serve Irish Examiner Ltd with short notice of her application to extend time.

He granted permission on an ex-parte basis, in the absence of any representation on behalf of the newspaper, and made the matter returnable to Friday's sitting of the court. During the short hearing no details concerning the alleged defamation were aired in open court.

OSullivan (52) has served as Director of Strategic Partnerships for Europe at the International Association of Chiefs of Police since October 2017.

She was the first woman to lead the Garda Siochana in its 92 year history. Ms OSullivan announced her resignation from An Garda Siochana on September 10 2017 and was appointed to her new position just over a month later.A terminally ill young mother, who is among the women at the centre of the CervicalCheck controversy, must wait until early next year for her High Court case to continue after one of the laboratories she is suing produced an unexpected expert report, it emerged yesterday.

Ruth Morrissey's legal team said there was a denial of liability previously but the "denial of causation" was not anticipated.

Ms Morrissey (37), the mother of seven-year-old Libby, from Schoolhouse Road, Monaleen, Co Limerick, has breast and cervical cancer.

The court was told she may have less than two years to live.

She alleges there was a failure to correctly interpret, report and diagnose smear samples taken in 2009 and 2012, leading to her cancer spreading and untreated until she was diagnosed with cervical cancer in June 2014.

The case opened in July after mediation failed. In July, Ms Morrissey's husband Paul in harrowing evidence told of how devastating it was to hear his daughter say: "Mammy, please don't die, don't leave."

New developments in the case mean her legal team need more time and access to her test slides and tissue blocks from surgery.

She is suing the Health Service Executive and the US laboratory Quest Diagnostics Ireland, which has offices at Sir John Rogerson's Quay, Dublin. She is also taking a case against Medlab Pathology, Sandyford Business Park.

Her counsel, Jeremy Maher, SC told the court that Quest Diagnostics Ireland had only earlier this month provided his side with a new report which denied that Ms Morrissey's cancer had been caused as a result of any error in the reading of her slides.

He said this amounted to a completely new defence and Ms Morrissey required more time to engage experts to rebut that allegation.

He told Judge Kevin Cross that Quest Diagnostics had provided a report from a US expert who had re-examined tissue sample tests that had been carried out when Ms Morrissey's cervical cancer had been discovered in 2014 .

This expert was of the view that even if there had been negligence on the part of Quest in reading the slides it had nothing to do with the 2014 cancer diagnosis.

Her legal team had only been informed of this on September 7.

There was now not only a denial of liability but a denial of causation as well.

This was a much more serious assertion that Ms Morrissey was not in a position to meet.

Ms Morrissey's experts previously had access to her slides for only 13 days while the defendants had them in their possession for 64 days.

Both Mr Michael Cush SC, counsel for Quest, and Mr Eoin McCullough SC, for Medlab, told the court they were not opposing the application for an adjournment but stated the matter should be put back until January next year. Judge Cross said "it may be the pattern of the future" that these cases will proceed at normal rather than faster speed.Gardai should wear body cameras, a major report on the future of policing has recommended.

The proposal is one of 50 put forward to change the structure of the Garda.

National security, frontline policing, accountability and oversight are among the topics which have been covered by the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland.

Other proposals include taking decisions on prosecutions out of Garda hands, and creating a national intelligence centre in response to the serious risks of international terrorism and organised crime.

The Commission recommended that body cameras should be used by gardai to increase the efficiency of frontline policing and, in some instances, to protect them from harm.

The Garda Representative Association (GRA), which has been calling for the introduction of cameras, welcomed the report.

The GRA made reference to last week's North Frederick Street protest, highlighting the importance of cameras providing "independent verifiable evidence".

However, yesterday the Taoiseach has insisted there will be no ban on photographing or videoing on duty gardai - in a clear rebuff to Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan.

"There are no government proposals to restrict people from taking photographs or making videos. That would be a restriction on free speech and not something I would support," Mr Varadkar told the Dail during angry exchanges about housing protests.

But Mr Varadkar also said all protests must be peaceful, with no abuse of gardai and he urged all those who supported protests and occupations to make this clear to the people involved.

During the Dail debate, in which the Government was urged to take radical action including a freeze on rent rises, People Before Profit TD, Richard Boyd Barrett, urged the Taoiseach to disown comments by Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan, on the prospect of a garda photo or video ban.

On Monday, Mr Flanagan sparked controversy when he told RTE a proposal for a photo and video ban to protect gardai was "something that can be favourably looked at." The Minister's comments followed reports, that a garda photographed on duty at an eviction in Dublin last week, was vilified on social media after his photo was posted on Facebook.

The Taoiseach said the Government had no such plans - but he insisted gardai must be respected and protesters must obey the law.

The report carried out by the Commission on the Future of Policing also said that a Strategic Threat Analysis Centre (STAC) would answer to the Department of the Taoiseach and see the organisation's security and intelligence sections strengthened.

In an effort to reduce non-core tasks for officers, the Commission recommended that all prosecution decisions should be taken away from gardai and given to an expanded state solicitor or national prosecution service.A tree down on the main Galway to Clifden Road Photo: Neil Conlon

The caravan was swept into the sea this morning Photo: Paul Mealey

A woman who was killed when a caravan she was staying in was blown from a cliff in Co Galway this morning was a tourist who was enjoying a holiday in the area, it has emerged.

There has been shock following the death of Swiss citizen Elvira Ferraii, who was aged in her 50s.

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The holidaymaker was staying at the Clifden Eco Beach Camping and Caravan Park in Galway when a severe gust took her caravan over the side and down onto a beach.

A source from the Embassy of Switzerland said it is aware of the tragic incident and confirmed that Swiss authorities have notified the woman's family of her death.

Gardai and emergency services attended the scene at Claddaghduff, Co Galway at around 7.45am.

It is understood the woman was sleeping in the caravan when it was blown from the cliff due to severely strong gusts.

She was the only person in the caravan at the time.

A search was carried out on Acton Beach and the woman's body was recovered, a garda spokesman said.

Her body has been removed to University Hospital Galway for a post mortem and the local coroner has been notified.

Sinn Fein counillor Tom Healy said the incident is an awful tragedy for the area.

 Large tree down on N59 near Glenlo Abbey. There are disruptions to our Galway-Clifden service as the road is impassible.  pic.twitter.com/tEpBxmT58R  Irish Citylink (@citylinkireland) September 19, 2018

"It only happened a few miles away from me, it's a very unfortunate situation.

"There are trees fallen all around Galway. We weren't expecting it to be this bad."

President Michael D Higgins expressed his condolences to the woman and her family.

"I am deeply saddened to learn that Storm Ali has already claimed one victim today.

"I would take this opportunity to pay tribute to all those in statutory and voluntary organisations around the country, who are helping and stand ready to assist their fellow citizens, and who are working to maintain essential services around the country".

Just hours later a man, aged in his 20s, also died in a storm-related tragedy and another was injured when a tree fell on them as they worked in a country park in Northern Ireland during Storm Ali.

It is understood the men were doing contract work for Northern Ireland Water when the incident happened in Slieve Gullion Park, near Newry, Co Down, this afternoon.

The man who died was aged in his 20s. The injured man, who is aged in his 40s, had been taken to hospital.

A spokeswoman for the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said: "Police attended the sudden death of a man, aged in his 20s, in the Slieve Gullion Park, Drumintee Road area of Newry this afternoon."

Police said there were no suspicious circumstances and the incident was being investigated by the region's Health and Safety Executive.

The Cliffs of Moher have been closed to all visitors until 1pm today. "Please do not visit the site as conditions are unsafe," the official website says.

Forecasters warned yesterday and earlier this morning that Storm Ali is set to bring "severe and possibly damaging gusts of up to 130km/h" to some areas of the country.

They advised "extreme caution" in the coastal areas of Clare, Connacht and Donegal.

Forecasters have now confirmed that "the worst of the storm has passed".

The Status Orange warning has now expired, while the Status Yellow warning will remain in place nationwide until later today.

Meanwhile, motorists are still being urged to take care as fallen trees are being reported in Mayo, Longford, Galway, Kerry and Cork.

Gardai are advising motorists in Claremorris, Co Mayo "not to travel" due to a large number of fallen trees.

"Road conditions are dangerous across the country," AA Roadwatch said.

More to follow...FINE Gael TDs have raised serious concerns about the controversial Bus Connects plan at a private meeting of the party tonight.

A series of TDs and Senators from the capital raised questions about the proposed overhaul of bus routes in Dublin amid fears it could become as politically dangerous as the water charges fiasco.

There has been a call for Transport Minister Shane Ross to come before the an upcoming Fine Gael meeting to answer questions about the plan, which was the subject of a Fianna Fail motion in the Dail today.

The motion called for the protection of Dublin Bus services.

The debate at the Fine Gael meeting tonight was sparked after Dublin North West TD Noel Rock tabled a motion to discuss "profound concerns" in relating to the plan.

One source said the party is "getting it in the neck" from hundreds of people at public meetings about the proposals and claimed the issue is being seized on by opposition parties.

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Mr Rock is said to have claimed that Mr Ross appeared "disinterested" in the bus plan.

Sources said Dublin Fingal TD Alan Farrell argued that it was a "mistake" for Mr Ross not to stay in the Dail chamber for the entirety of a debate on the matter today.

Dublin South West TD Colm Brophy compared the issue to water charges and warned it could cost Fine Gael seats at the local elections.

Contributions were also made by Kate O'Connell and Frances Fitzgerald.

Sources said Senator James Reilly asked if Mr Ross could be asked to attend a Fine Gael meeting to discuss the issue.

Parliamentary party chairman Martin Heydon is understood to have said he will consider inviting Mr Ross.

During the Dail debate Mr Ross said Fianna Fail TDs needed to get their act together and choose which side you are on.

Mr Ross entered the Dail chamber with a photograph of Fianna Fail TD John Lahart and senator Gerry Horkan attending a Bus Connects event. The minister held the photograph above his head as he rounded on the party for criticising the transport plan.

He sourced the photo from a tweet Mr Lahart posted last July welcoming a Bus Connects launch.

Fianna Fail said it supports a large portion of the project but expressed concerns about the redesign of routes. The party has reservations about the project, saying it must not be used to cut services.

Today we have the language of chaos and culling from Fianna Fail, yet here in the photo I have Deputy Lahart is standing shoulder to shoulder with what he calls the culls, Mr Ross said.

That is the new network on the map behind him but we are now talking about it as culling. Today, we also have the language of condemnation from the opposition.

They should get their act together and decide which side they are on. They cannot be on both sides on this one. I know it is difficult.

Dublin TD John Lahart said he supports seven of the eight elements of the plan but has concerns about the redesign of routes because passengers on popular routes will face having to make connections to complete journeys.

Mr Lahart also criticised the minister for leaving yesterdays debate on the motion early.

A spokeswoman for Mr Ross responded to this criticism, saying the Minister had a number of meetings which had been scheduled long before yesterdays debate was announced.Bono has claimed that Pope Francis looked sincerely pained when he questioned the Pontiff about clerical sex abuse.

The U2 frontman called the Pope an "extraordinary man" after the pair met today for a wide-ranging meeting, which covered topics such as child abuse, expanding education worldwide and capitalism.

Bono visited Pope Francis at his Santa Marta residence in the Vatican, as part of his work with ONE, an organisation the rocker co-founded which aims to tackle extreme poverty and disease, particularly in Africa.

The Dubliner told reporters after the meeting that he discussed clerical abuse with Pope Francis.

He said: "Inevitably, with me coming from Ireland we talked about the Pope's feelings about what has happened in the Church and I explained to him that it looks to some people that the abusers are being more protected than the victims.

"And you can see the pain in his face and I felt he was sincere. He is an extraordinary man for extraordinary times."

Bono (58) also said that their meeting focused on a possible future collaboration between ONE and the Vatican sponsored charitable foundation, Scholas Occurrentes.

"His Holiness was incredibly gracious with his time, his concentration, we let the conversation go where it wanted to go, themes like the future of commerce and how it might achieve sustainable development which is something the Pope is very committed to, as can be seen from his Laudato Si (environmental) encyclical.

"He agrees that we have to rethink the Wild Beast that is capitalism...

I come from an organisation called One, we now have ten million members, three million of whom live in Africa, and one of our central themes at the moment is the fact that there are 130 million girls who don't go to school because they are girls.

"So we have a campaign called Poverty is Sexist and we are campaigning for education for all," Bono said.

"We haven't figured out what we are going to do together yet (with Scholas Occurentes) but we are Intrigued by what they are doing.

"It is very innovative stuff, very theatrical, education in a different frame, with people in their own communities, so it is from the macro to the micro."Owners of long-term vacant properties should be given tax incentives to sell their houses, according to a newly published Government report.

However, the report rules out the introduction of a vacant property tax, despite finding that at least one in every 33 properties in the country is lying vacant.

It says a vacant property tax would have a limited impact on housing supply as it would only apply to a small number of properties in areas where demand is low. Instead, the report, commissioned by Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe, recommends introducing a 15pc capital gains tax (CGT) on the sale of vacant properties. Currently, vacant property owners have to pay 33pc on the sale of houses.

The reduced rate would only be available to owners of properties that have been vacant for more than three years. This would only apply for a short time-frame "to help ensure that other property owners are not incentivised to leave their property vacant with a view to obtaining the relief once they pass the threshold".

The report also suggests introducing a "more restrictive variation" on the policy which would see the CGT relief only made available to property owners who sell their properties directly to local authorities for social housing.

If the Government introduces a vacant property tax, the report recommends applying the charge to properties in rent pressure zones which have been empty for more than 12 months.

The tax would have to be "very high" to incentivise owners of vacant properties, it says. The report, by consultancy firm Indecon, also recommends that properties vacated by owners due to illness which are subsequently rented should be exempt from the property tax.

Currently, people with long-term illness are exempt from property tax if their house remains vacant while it is not in their main residence.

The Government has also been urged to introduce a major compulsory purchase order (CPO) scheme to add a significant number of vacant properties to the housing market.

At present, local authorities can only compulsorily purchase properties which they intended to convert into social housing. However, the report says councils should buy vacant properties and sell them on the open market.

"In order to incentivise local authorities to acquire vacant properties and re-sell them, consideration could be given to central government covering the conveyancing and other costs incurred by local authorities in the process of acquiring and re-selling the properties," the report adds.

Two sets of data are used to estimate the level of vacant properties across the country.

The Central Statistic Office's figures suggest 12.3pc of all properties are currently vacant while An Post's GeoDirectory puts the vacancy rate at 3.5pc.

The report said the difference between the two vacancy rates was due to the methodology used to calculate the figures.

Last night, Mr Donohoe said he would examine recommendations laid out of the report before making any Budget decisions.

"In their report, Indecon is not recommending the introduction of a residential vacant property tax at this time as they do not believe it would be an effective response to deal with the housing shortage."Posting message: Postmasters Alan Souter and Deirdre Hetherington from Doolin, Co Clare, on the march to the Dail to protest the proposed post office closures. Photo: Tony Gavin

Rural pubs should be allowed to issue social welfare payments in areas where post offices are to close, according to Fianna Fail.

With 159 rural post offices set to close by the end of January, the party's communications spokesman Timmy Dooley said key post office transactions must be retained in isolated areas to prevent the elderly and infirm travelling longer distances to receive state benefits.

Mr Dooley said: "Transfer those 11 payments to the local shop, or the local pub or the retaining business and give the owner of that business a couple of bob to deliver the service. They will do it for you."

He added that the PostPoint system could be utilised by rural businesses for bill payments, phone top-ups and stamps sales in shops.

Communications Minister Denis Naughten said he was working to protect the short- to medium-term future of the post office network.

"My priority through this process is to make as many post offices as possible viable," he said. "Standing still is not an option for the network."

It comes as rural postmasters said they feared another 200 rural post offices would be shut by Government "stealth measures" once the current spate of closures was completed.

Postmasters protesting outside Leinster House yesterday called on the Government to recognise a 2016 Dail motion calling for a five-year stay on post office closures. An Post recently confirmed 159 post offices will close as part of a restructuring programme.

TDs rounded on the Government last night, calling for state funding to support postal services in rural communities. Sinn Fein tabled a motion calling on the State to re-advertise contracts and allow for services to be retained. Fianna Fail and a majority of Independent TDs said they would support the motion.Mairia Cahill has accused Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald of trying to "unpick" the Police Ombudsman report which found serious failings in the investigation into her alleged rape.

Ms Cahill's comments came as Ms McDonald said she does not know if the man accused of sexually abusing the Belfast woman was a Sinn Fein member as the party's "record keeping was not as it is now 20 years ago".

In a bizarre response to RUC intelligence claims that Martin Morris was suspended from Sinn Fein because he was suspected of abusing children, Ms McDonald said she could not discuss the claims because she was not a "spook" or a "spy".

However, Ms McDonald said there was "no cover up in Sinn Fein" in relation to allegations that Ms Cahill was sexually abused by Mr Morris.

Last night, Ms Cahill said: "Sinn Fein may not have kept records 20 years ago but it's clear that the police did.

"A few days ago she welcomed the letter given to me by the Ombudsman but now, for whatever reason, she is trying to unpick the report."

The Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland report was extremely critical of the PSNI's handling of the case against Mr Morris which ultimately collapsed.

Mr Morris has denied the rape allegations.

In a letter to Ms Cahill, the Ombudsman said RUC intelligence files show police in Northern Ireland received information in 2000 which suggested Mr Morris was suspended from Sinn Fein because he was "suspected of abusing certain children".

Asked about the RUC intelligence on Mr Morris, Ms McDonald first said: "I am advised there is no evidence or record of him being a member of Sinn Fein."

However, she added: "He was, of course, a former prisoner, he was a person who was very active on the ground so I can't discount that he may have been a member.

"Our record keeping was not as it is now 20 years ago and there is no record of any suspension of him."

Ms McDonald said Sinn Fein did not keep records of members who may be involved in criminality.

"It would not be appropriate for any political organisation or any GAA or sporting organisation," she said.

When asked to respond to the suggestion in the RUC intelligence that Mr Morris was suspended from Sinn Fein over child sex abuse concerns, the Sinn Fein leader said: "Of course I'm not in a position to answer to answer that.

"I'm not a spook, I'm not a spy, I'm not a police officer, I'm the leader of a political party and I have responsibility of course to ensure that our processes and procedures are as they must be."Minister for Health Simon Harris has faced calls in parliament for a further inquiry into the CervicalCheck scandal.

Political opponents made statements on the Scoping Inquiry into the CervicalCheck screening Programme since reviewing a report into the issue.

The review into the cervical cancer scandal in by UK health expert Dr Gabriel Scally found there were serious gaps in governance and expertise and failure across the whole system of a cervical screening programme.

Expand Close Dr Gabriel Scally holds a copy of the Report of the Scoping Inquiry (Brian Lawless/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Dr Gabriel Scally holds a copy of the Report of the Scoping Inquiry (Brian Lawless/PA)

The CervicalCheck scandal saw 221 women with cervical cancer not informed that smear test results showing them to be clear were inaccurate, and that revised test results were kept from them.

Eighteen women have since died.

Dr Scally said he believed there was no need for a commission of investigation, which some representatives claimed on Wednesday was Dr Scally overstretching his brief.

He has made 50 recommendations, which the government has accepted in full.

Mr Harris said that work is already under way to begin implementing the recommendations.

He said: I plan to implement in full a new patient safety council, with core values, such as openness and honesty to rebuild trust in doctors.

The committee includes representatives from families affected which meets weekly, and will oversee and direct all 50 implementations.

I believe a vast amount in the medical profession hold these core values dear, the entire range of dedicated medical staff is one of our key assets, but there are failing that must be addressed.

The government is committed to the cervical check screening programme and breast check, we know that screening saves lives.

A well organised screening program can bring us very close to eliminating this disease.

Expand Close Dr Gabriel Scally (Brian Lawless/PA) / Facebook

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He added Dr Scally noted there was a whole system failure, which deserves whole system response.

Fianna Fail said they were willing to move forward with the government, but were adamant that women should be at the centre of any implementations.

Fianna Fail TD Lisa Chambers revealed that she herself contacted the CervicalCheck helpline when the story first broke in the media.

She said: Women are fed up, when this story emerged there was widespread fear and panic.

I rang the helpline myself and it was most unhelpful, I was frustrated by process.

We need to restore confidence in the screening programme, we need to do it rapidly, and your response Minister, was inadequate and allowed the programme to get worse.

Fianna Fail TD Fiona OLoughlin added: Its a wonder women dont just spontaneously combust with rage in this country.

It is no longer acceptable that decisions are made on their behalf as they have lost all trust in the system, women must never be left in the dark again, we cannot fail young women as their mothers have been.

Sinn Fein TDs Louise OReilly and Mary Lou McDonald agreed there was scope for a further commission of investigation into the issue.

Ms OReilly said: The Scally Report has given us the framework but the work is not finished, there are so many more questions that remain and if we need a commission for investigation to get to the bottom of it then we should have one.

Likewise, Labour TD Alan Kelly claimed that there were still further questions to be answered.

He said: There must be some form of inquiry and investigation, which should be short and within tight terms of reference, we need to find out who did what, when, where and why.Airbnb provided details of payments to customers to the Revenue Commissioners. Stock picture

Thousands of homeowners have been warned to pay tax on their Airbnb income or risk prosecution.

A letter sent by the Revenue Commissioners to 12,000 homeowners reminds them that short-term letting income is liable for income tax.

It must be declared, or property owners leave themselves open to fines and penalties.

The move comes after the holiday rentals website Airbnb provided details to the tax authorities of payments made to its customers in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

There is mounting concern about the impact that short-term lettings are having on the rental market, which has seen monthly rents spiral above boom-time levels due to the shortage of homes available.

The Revenue Commissioners declined to provide a figure on how much had been earned by the 12,000 homeowners due to taxpayer confidentiality and because the figure was commercially sensitive.

Airbnb also refused to release the amount earned by hosts, but did say that between November 2016 and November 2017, annual earnings for a typical host in Ireland were 3,500.

It is not clear if all 12,000 property owners each received this income.

If so, it would suggest tax was payable on 42m for that period alone. Short-term lettings do not qualify for tax relief under the Rent a Room scheme.

The Revenue Commissioners urged homeowners to declare the income or risk fines. The letter said: "Revenue has received information from the online service provider, Airbnb, that indicates you may have received income from providing short-term/holiday accommodation.

"We would like to remind you of your obligation to tell Revenue about this income."

The letter says if the income has been declared, no further action is needed.

However, homeowners will need to "correct" their affairs if they submitted an incorrect tax return for any of the years, or had not informed Revenue.

The letter adds: "We will be carrying out a range of follow-up compliance checks to ensure that any tax returns required are filed and are correct.

"There are significant advantages if you correct your tax affairs before we contact you regarding a compliance check.

"By doing this, you can avail of reduced penalties (if any are due), avoid having your name published in the list of tax defaulters and avoid possible prosecution."

Critics of Airbnb claim that thousands of properties in high-demand areas including Dublin and other cities have been removed from the rental stock, as the returns from short-term lettings are far more lucrative.

Pressure is mounting on the Government to introduce a licensing regime, as applies in other countries.

It could include a ban on short-term stays of up to 90 days a year in urban areas unless specific permission was obtained.

Another proposal is to restrict Airbnb to the letting of one room in a home, or for short periods, for example when the owner is on holiday.

Revenue said guidance had been provided to homeowners on how to declare any income, and it would mount compliance checks.

"It is standard Revenue practice to constantly monitor new and emerging risk," it said. "Revenue is alert to the risks posed by online business in all its forms, including provision of short-term accommodation.

"To maximise compliance among recipients of income from short-term accommodation, Revenue will carry out a range of compliance checks to ensure returns are filed and are correct."When I was growing up, doing chores were just part and parcel of life. My parents ran their own business so helping out was essential - there were no questions asked, it was just accepted that all hands had to be on deck.

Needless to say, I got used to getting my hands dirty and it did me no harm - in fact, I would go so far as to say it instilled in me a work ethic which has put me in good stead throughout my life.

And experts would agree. A 20-year study by the University of Minnesota found that doing chores from the age of three is the best predictor for having a good education, a solid career and healthy relationships with family and friends in adulthood.

As head of research for the Irish Cancer Society, Dr Robert O'Connor has undoubtedly found success. He had to do chores as a child and says it was a vital component in shaping his attitude towards work and life in general.

"I was the oldest of four kids and my dad frequently worked away, so there was always plenty for us to do," says the Wexford man. "I looked after both of my sisters - took them for walks, fed them, changed nappies and was the only one who could get my youngest sister to sleep reliably. I also did the dishes, mowed the grass, put the washing out, peeled vegetables and made dinner.

"My mother got very ill when I was about 12, so I had an important role as the eldest and did a lot of the day-to-day stuff. Then she got leukaemia just before my Leaving Cert so I juggled home and study. She got through that and I left home to go to college at 17 where I was well prepared for life on my own."

Expand Close Deborah Donnellys kids Casey and Frankie help their mother with the cleaning. Photo: Tony Gavin / Facebook

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Whatsapp Deborah Donnellys kids Casey and Frankie help their mother with the cleaning. Photo: Tony Gavin

Dr O'Connor says as well as promoting independence, his experiences also taught him to appreciate the benefits of hard work.

"Doing chores did have an impact on me - there's very little I can't do around the house and I'm a pretty good cook as a result of helping look after my family," he says. "I didn't know any better and just fitted everything in as most children in any part of the world do. I also appreciate the value of work and what money means."

Professional artist and homewares designer, Deborah Donnelly, also had a busy role as a child and believes that her experience helped her to become the success she is today.

"I am the eldest of three girls and for most of our childhood we were a single-parent household," she says. "So we had to pretty much fill a huge role as children and by the age of eight, I was able to roast a chicken and put on laundry. My chores included making school lunches and cleaning up after dinner - in between hanging the clothes out to dry or running to the local shop for milk and cutting the grass on weekends.

"I resented it at the time as my friends never had the type of chores I did. The neighbours thought we were great, but I always thought my mom was just lazy - I laugh at this now as she was far from lazy being a single parent. We also had students so there was a lot of running around after them too, so keeping the house tidy was priority. But it definitely developed my work ethic from an early age."

While research certainly indicates that having to help out around the house is beneficial for children, a survey of over 1,000 American adults by Braun Research revealed that while 82pc reported having regular chores growing up, only 28pc said that they require their own children to do them.

But Donnelly, who lives in Dun Laoghaire with her husband and three children (aged 16, 12 and 10), realised how her work ethic was formed at an early age and has cultivated a similar pattern in her own home in order to instil independence and eventually success in her family.

"My kids are able to cook and clean and I get joy seeing them prepare a meal - although it can be hard sometimes to stop myself from 'mammying' them," she says. "My eldest now has a paid part-time job so I know he's a good worker and the younger ones know they won't get pocket money unless their chores are done - we all have roles and responsibilities.

"I think chores are a great thing as they are a part of life and help build confidence - they are training for the real world. But I have seen a huge difference over the years as when my mother took in students years ago, most had part-time jobs to pay for their digs. These days, their parents turn up on a Sunday night with shopping - I would cringe if I had to do that for my kids."

Robert O'Connor agrees and says his 18-year-old son has learned how to be independent, because despite modern appliances, being able to fend for yourself is vital.

"My son did and does a few chores, even though we have a modern house, so there's a lot less to do," he says. "Like me, he's independent and can fend for himself alone, so I think contributing to the household with chores is an important part of finding a role in the family."

Joanna Fortune, psychotherapist and author of 15 Minute Parenting says jobs are vital for children of all ages to help them become independent and self-confident.

"Chores are good for children - they give them a sense of responsibility and independence and a feeling they are part of a family system bigger than themselves," she says

"But we probably do more for our children now than in previous generations and we also try to ensure success for them rather than allow them take (safe) risks and learn from their mistakes.

"So the best way to approach this is start the chores as young as two years old when they can carry their own nappy to the bin or help pick toys up. If you want to tie pocket money to chores, assign additional tasks that you can pay them for doing, but there should always be some chores that children must do without being paid for because your message is that being part of a family means everyone has to help out."MY friend has a brilliant insurance broker. You might like to check whether you are getting the same standard of service.

She got her motor insurance renewal a full month in advance. It explained in plain English that her only legal obligation, under EU and Irish law, was to buy motor cover against being accused of causing an accident to somebody else. That somebody else is called a Third Party (the first and second parties are the policyholder and insurer).

Being a savvy lady, she had already undertaken online research to try to get cover for Third Party liability only. She could not get any quotes.

She queried this with the insurance regulator, the Central Bank. She was told motor insurance was sold as a package of bundled products. That means you are obliged to buy cover that is not compulsory. For example, you have to buy cover for fire and theft. Indeed, some insurers will only quote you for fully comprehensive.

My friend has an old car, worth a pittance despite really low mileage due to being used only at weekends. It is cheap to fix.

My friend gave up the battle with the Central Bank. Why were they, as the financial regulator, standing over a situation where the legally required cover was not available on the insurance market they were supposed to be regulating in the interest of consumers?

She waited for her trusty broker to deliver the bad news. She was anxious reading announcements from most of the insurers about how they would all be increasing rates by so much over the following year.

And then the renewal envelope arrived with 19 pages of jargon inside. With the aid of a magnifying glass, she foraged through it. There were some interesting bits in the small print.

Her trusty broker, of many years' standing, was frighteningly transparent. The 50 administration fee seemed at first to be really good value. After all, they had researched the whole insurance market to get her the best deal. Mind you, given that only six insurers have 90pc of the market maybe that wasn't such a lot of work after all.

The broker detailed all the alternative quotes secured for her risk profile - a woman who had never caused an accident, nor made a claim in her life, and with zero penalty points. There were two quotes detailed in the documentation.

After a charged telephone call during her lunch break, she secured the information that her broker only had agencies with three motor insurance companies. That was not in the 19-page renewal notice. When she asked why they explained that insurance companies cancel the agencies of brokers who do not bring in a certain volume of business.

There is no expose there. In 2004 the lobbying group for brokers had highlighted this in their response to an interim report from The Competition Authority (TCA) on the dysfunctional insurance market in Ireland. Few of the resultant TCA recommendations were implemented.

Then my friend asked what percentage of her premium, in addition to the 50 admin fee, was going to the insurance broker in commission. She was told the answer was not that simple. Surely she said, the numbers are the numbers. "Ah", they said, "in the insurance industry, it is never as simple as the numbers are the numbers. It is too complicated for you to understand but it's all estimates."

My friend discovered the following: Some brokers have a profit-share arrangement with insurers. There are various labels - overrides, volumes discounts and myriad other euphemisms. The basic message I took from it was that the more is overpaid by the consumer, the better for some brokers.

When my friend queried how they could be regarded as truly independent financial advisers, her broker said that's what the Central Bank allowed them to call themselves.

You might conclude from all this that you need to do your own leg work on your next motor insurance renewal even if you have a trusty and transparent broker.Antonia Hendron of the M50 Truck and Van Centre, and Lauren OFlaherty from MSL

Guest Speakers: Francesca McDonagh, chief executive, Bank of Ireland; Geraldine Herbert, motoring journalist and editor; Gerry Hussey, performance psychology consultant and motivational speaker; Anne Cassinn, master of ceremonies

THE Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) recently hosted its fifth annual Women@SIMI event.

More than 160 motor industry professional women from all over the country attended, making it the largest to date.

Representing a huge cross-section of motor-related industries, they heard speakers address items such as the challenges Brexit poses for country and motoring.

However, the need for the industry to change its perspective on women emerged as the key theme.

Francesca McDonagh, chief executive Bank of Ireland (sponsor of the event), highlighted the uncertainty around Brexit and the problems it is creating for businesses.

She also spoke of the need for more senior female leaders in all sectors and industries.

My motoring journalist colleague, Geraldine, Herbert gave an impressive outline of her views.

She claimed advertising needed to "reflect women, images need to show women, but the industry needs to employ more women. Role models and females must be visible in the industry".

She highlighted what she called a talent crisis across the industry. Electric, self-driving cars, shifting consumer preferences and increasing regulatory pressures are creating a complex environment, and there are compelling reasons for women to be a part of that, she said.

Geraldine added that women represent a critical, but under-represented, resource capable of helping automotive companies to take competitive advantage.

Women have "great intuition", she said, and "can handle" big changes extremely well.

At a time when the car industry is facing massive change, it is important for young women to see female role models working within the industry.

"We need to communicate that the automotive world is not just for men," Geradline said.

Motivational speaker Gerry Hussey spoke of not being afraid to ask 'why?' in what we do.

SIMI president Gerard O'Farrell acknowledged the importance of recruiting top talent and encouraging both female and male executives to become more actively involved in helping to change the perception of careers within the industry.

He believes there are emerging opportunities for Ireland to position itself as a centre of excellence for software engineering within the automotive industry and to become a world leader in the field.Blake Lively (left) and Anna Kendrick (right) attending the premiere of A Simple Favour at the BFI Southbank, Belvedere Road, London

Hollywood actress Blake Lively spotted with short black cropped hair filming The Rhythm Section at The Cliff Townhouse on St Stephens Green, Dublin

Ryan Reynolds seen arriving in Dublin with his two daughters James and Inez to visit his wife Blake Lively,who is currently filming her new movie The Rythmn Section in Dublin. Picture: John Dardis

Hollywood superstar Ryan Reynolds spotted wrapped-up warm exploring Dublin City on his own as his wife Blake Lively films The Rhythm Section in Ireland

Still wearing a bandage on her hand, Blake Lively is back on the set of The Rhythm Section RIGHTS ONLY** *** Local Caption *** Blake Lively

Hollywood actress Blake Lively spotted with short black cropped hair filming The Rhythm Section at The Cliff Townhouse on St Stephens Green, Dublin

Blake Lively poses outside the Crosby Hotel on August 18, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by James Devaney/GC Images)

Blake Lively has revealed that Ireland could soon become her second home should the success of her upcoming flick The Rhythm Section become a box office hit.

The Reed Morano-directed film  which also stars Jude Law and Irish actor Jack McEvoy  follows Livelys character Stephanie Patrick, who seeks revenge against those who orchestrated a plane crash that killed her family.

The 31-year-old star, who rose to prominence in Gossip Girl, turned heads while shooting in Dublin late last year where she looked almost unrecognisable sporting a cropped brunette wig.

A thriller on the page, the shoot proved to be quite eventful off it as well when production was shut down in December for over seven months after the actress injured her hand while filming an action sequence in the city centre.

Expand Close Still wearing a bandage on her hand, Blake Lively is back on the set of The Rhythm Section RIGHTS ONLY** *** Local Caption *** Blake Lively / Facebook

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Whatsapp Still wearing a bandage on her hand, Blake Lively is back on the set of The Rhythm Section RIGHTS ONLY** *** Local Caption *** Blake Lively

Surgery and months of recuperation later, Blake returned to the capital in July looking better than ever to resume filming with her husband Ryan Reynolds, 41, and two daughters James, three, and Inez, one, in tow.

After recovering from her injury, Blake proved the incident all appeared to be a distant memory as she told Independent.ie Style that she would love to return to Ireland and call it home once again.

"If everybody goes and sees The Rhythm Section in theatres in February, then well have to do some more films in Ireland," she told us at the London premiere of A Simple Favour.

Theres about five books so Ireland will be our second home. Dublin will be my second home."

Expand Close Hollywood superstar Ryan Reynolds spotted wrapped-up warm exploring Dublin City on his own as his wife Blake Lively films The Rhythm Section in Ireland / Facebook

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Whatsapp Hollywood superstar Ryan Reynolds spotted wrapped-up warm exploring Dublin City on his own as his wife Blake Lively films The Rhythm Section in Ireland

The Lively-Reynolds clan was regularly spotted around Dublin - grabbing a coffee at Blackrocks Bear Market Coffee and enjoying family day out in their adoptive home of Dalkey, where they were renting a beach view home.

And Blake proved shes a homemaker underneath her dazzling haute couture looks when she confessed that Irish food and fashion store Avoca sent her heart fluttering.

Video of the Day

The self-confessed baking fiend  who once ran her own lifestyle website Preserve  revealed she came across the retailer following a family walk around Wicklows Powerscourt House and insisted that the retailer was the closest thing to heaven shes ever known.

Avoca, she paused. Oh my God have you been to Avoca? You have to visit Ireland just to go to Avoca.

Heaven how its described in the bible is inaccurate. Heaven is what Avoca is. Its handweavers & amazing pastries - it is heaven. Everybody is going to be, Shes disgracing the bible, I was joking but Avoca is so good.

Aside from her outpouring of love for Irish handweavers and baked goods, the screen sirens latest film A Simple Favour sees her star opposite Pitch Perfects Anna Kenrick and acting-newcomer Henry Golding, in a role that is truly wicked and a departure from her usual dramatic offerings.

Expand Close Blake Lively attending the premiere of A Simple Favour at the BFI Southbank, Belvedere Road, London / Facebook

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Whatsapp Blake Lively attending the premiere of A Simple Favour at the BFI Southbank, Belvedere Road, London

Based on Darcey Bells novel, the film focuses on the sudden disappearance of a woman Emily Nelson, played by Lively, and her friend, Stephanie Smothers, played by Kendrick, who seeks to uncover the truth.

Livelys character Emily is truly complex and enigmatic with a taste for martinis and an impeccable dress sense, which was inspired by the films director Paul Feig.

Speaking at the London premiere on Monday night, she paid tribute to her co-star Anna, 33, and admitted working on set with her was a welcomed injection of fun while they filmed the rollercoaster plot.

We had so much fun together and I think you see that on screen, she shared. Most of the time we spent hanging out was on camera because it was just so much work and we were figuring out the plot twists and turns.

It was so much fun and I think you see that when you watch the movie. We had such a ball making it. Thrillers are supposed to be fun but this one was really fun.

A Simple Favour hits Irish cinemas on Thursday 20th September.Rosie Connolly at the YSL Beauty All Hours Stick launch at The Ivy, Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy

Rosie Connolly at the Peter Mark VIP Style Awards 2017 at The Marker Hotel Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy

Irish blogger Rosie Connolly has spoken about her experience on a "nightmare" flight where passengers were "screaming and throwing up" after two failed attempts to land during Storm Ali.

The fashionista had been in the UK to attend London Fashion Week when her flight home to Dublin got caught up in the havoc caused by Storm Ali today.

Rosie, who is four months pregnant with her second child, told her 195,000 Instagram followers about her ordeal, she said: "Our flight had two failed attempts to land in Dublin.

"Terrified, screaming passengers, everyone throwing up... never experienced anything like it.

"We are now in Liverpool but unable to leave the plane due to the airport being full."

She later added: "Can't tell you what a nightmare today has been... currently stranded on a plane in Liverpool after what I can only describe as the most terrifying flight of my life."

Forecasters warned yesterday and earlier this morning that Storm Ali is set to bring "severe and possibly damaging gusts of up to 130km/h" to some areas of the country.

They advised "extreme caution" in the coastal areas of Clare, Connacht and Donegal.

Forecasters have now confirmed that "the worst of the storm has passed".

The Status Orange warning has now expired, while the Status Yellow warning will remain in place nationwide until later today.

Video of the Day

Meanwhile, motorists are still being urged to take care as fallen trees are being reported in Mayo, Longford, Galway, Kerry and Cork.

Gardai are advising motorists in Claremorris, Co Mayo "not to travel" due to a large number of fallen trees.

"Road conditions are dangerous across the country," AA Roadwatch said.A train was delayed after its driver became trapped in the toilet on board.

The driver of the Southeastern Railway service from Bromley South to Victoria had to phone colleagues to come and release the toilets door, which was jammed, after he nipped in there whilst waiting for the service to depart.

The train eventually left seven minutes late, but fortunately made up some time on its journey into central London.

SERVICE UPDATE: the 10:49 Bromley South - Victoria was late departing Bromley south due to the driver becoming locked in the on board toilet. This train 5 minutes late. Sorry for the delay caused. pic.twitter.com/yYCQDZlWQD  Southeastern (@Se_Railway) September 19, 2018

The train drivers misfortune amused many on Twitter, after the train line very honestly explained the delay on their account.

On my God this is beyond hillarious? Are you serious???  TishTash (@natashatick) September 19, 2018

unfortunately it did happen, they were only there for a short while (train terminated there to make a service back as per timetable) all good though ^CH  Southeastern (@Se_Railway) September 19, 2018

A Southeastern spokesperson said of the incident: Getting stuck in the loo is enough to drive anyone round the bend, and were sorry to those of our passengers who were delayed.

This really is taking the piss. https://t.co/PHiKOgZdJV  Alan McGuinness (@Alan_McGuinness) September 19, 2018

Enough said.South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrive to sign the joint statement in Pyongyang, North Korea, September 19, 2018. Pyeongyang Press Corps/Pool via REUTERS

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has agreed to permanently dismantle his main nuclear complex at Nyongbyon if the United States takes corresponding measures, South Korean president Moon Jae-in said.

It comes after the two leaders held summit talks in Pyongyang to try to sustain nuclear diplomacy with Washington, which has been pushing hard for stronger disarmament moves from the North.

The Korean leaders also said the North would dismantle a missile engine test site and launch pad in the presence of outside inspectors, and would seek to host the 2032 Summer Olympics together.

Mr Moon also said Mr Kim would try to visit Seoul sometime this year.

Expand Close North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaks during a joint news conference in Pyongyang, North Korea, September 19, 2018. Pyeongyang Press Corps/Pool via REUTERS / Facebook

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Whatsapp North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaks during a joint news conference in Pyongyang, North Korea, September 19, 2018. Pyeongyang Press Corps/Pool via REUTERS

Washington wants North Korea to outline the entirety of its nuclear programme, and its response to Wednesday's joint statement from the Koreas remains to be seen.

While the declaration appears to fall short of what Washington wants, President Donald Trump has maintained that he and Mr Kim have a solid relationship and both leaders have expressed interest in meeting again after their June summit in Singapore.

But Mr Trump's late-night tweets did not address the US matching North Korea's moves.

"Kim Jong Un has agreed to allow Nuclear inspections, subject to final negotiations, and to permanently dismantle a test site and launch pad in the presence of international experts. In the meantime there will be no Rocket or Nuclear testing," Mr Trump said in a pair of tweets.

"Hero remains to continue being returned home to the United States. Also, North and South Korea will file a joint bid to host the 2032 Olympics. Very exciting!"

North Korea has been demanding a declaration formally ending the Korean War, which was stopped in 1953 by a ceasefire, but neither leader mentioned it as they read the joint statement.

Expand Close South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attend a joint news conference in Pyongyang, North Korea, September 19, 2018. Pyeongyang Press Corps/Pool via REUTERS / Facebook

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Whatsapp South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attend a joint news conference in Pyongyang, North Korea, September 19, 2018. Pyeongyang Press Corps/Pool via REUTERS

"We have agreed to make the Korean Peninsula a land of peace that is free from nuclear weapons and nuclear threat," Mr Kim said as he stood by Mr Moon's side at the guesthouse where Mr Moon is staying.

"The road to our future will not always be smooth and we may face challenges and trials we can't anticipate. But we aren't afraid of headwinds because our strength will grow as we overcome each trial based on the strength of our nation."

Expand Close South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrive to sign the joint statement in Pyongyang, North Korea, September 19, 2018. Pyeongyang Press Corps/Pool via REUTERS / Facebook

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Whatsapp South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrive to sign the joint statement in Pyongyang, North Korea, September 19, 2018. Pyeongyang Press Corps/Pool via REUTERS

Mr Kim and Mr Moon earlier smiled and chatting as they walked down a hallway and into a meeting room to finalise the joint statement, which also said that the leaders would push for a Korean peninsula without nuclear weapons and to "eliminate all the danger of war".

North Korea was expected to hold a huge mass games spectacle later in the day, with Mr Moon attending an event expected to draw about 150,000 spectators, Seoul said. It was not clear if Mr Kim would attend.

North Korea first staged its mass games in 2002, when Mr Kim's father, Kim Jong Il, was leader. They continued most every year until 2014, then were revived during North Korea's celebrations of the 70th anniversary of its state founding earlier this month.

Mr Kim gave the South Korean president an exceedingly warm welcome on Tuesday, the first day of the summit, meeting him and his wife at Pyongyang's airport - itself a very unusual gesture - then riding into town with Mr Moon in an open limousine through streets lined with crowds of North Koreans, who cheered and waved the flag of their country and a blue-and-white flag that symbolises Korean unity.

The made-for-television welcome has become routine for their summits, after two meetings earlier this year.

The summit talks began at the ruling Workers' Party headquarters where Mr Kim and Mr Moon were joined by two of their top deputies - spy chief Suh Hoon and presidential security director Chung Eui-yong for Mr Moon, and for Mr Kim, his sister, Kim Yo Jong, and senior Workers' Party official Kim Yong Chol, according to Mr Moon's office.

At the start of their meeting on Tuesday, Mr Kim thanked Mr Moon for brokering the June summit with Mr Trump.

"It's not too much to say that it's Moon's efforts that arranged a historic North Korea-US summit. Because of that, the regional political situation has been stabilised and more progress on North Korea-US ties is expected," Mr Kim said, according to South Korean media pool reports and Mr Moon's office.

Mr Moon responded by expressing his own thanks to Mr Kim for making a "bold decision" in a New Year's speech to open a new era of detente and send a delegation to the South Korean Winter Olympics in February.Under the complicated tax structure in Luxembourg and the US, McDonalds avoided paying some taxes (Nick Ansell/PA)

The European Union has ruled that Luxembourg did not give McDonalds a special tax deal and that the non-taxation of some of its profits did not amount to illegal state aid.

The EU Commission ended a probe that started in 2015 by saying that advantages granted to McDonalds were the result of differences between Luxembourg and US tax laws, and EU Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said Luxembourg did not break EU state aid rules.

Under the complicated tax structure in Luxembourg and the United States, McDonalds avoided to pay taxes on some profits on both sides of the Atlantic.

Our in-depth investigation did not find that Luxembourg gave selective tax treatment to McDonald's.

The reason for double non-taxation is a mismatch between Luxembourg and US tax laws.

Now the Luxembourg government is changing legislation to stop this  https://t.co/PFqQ6xkrxq pic.twitter.com/mjf6qTkNeG  European Commission  (@EU_Commission) September 19, 2018

Ms Vestager said the investigation has shown that the reason for double non-taxation in this case is a mismatch between Luxembourg and US tax laws, and not a special treatment by Luxembourg.

The outcome stands in stark contrast to similar cases between the EU and other US giants since the EU ruled two years ago that Apple was getting preferential treatment from the Irish government and forced it to pay 13 billion euro (11.5 billion) in back taxes.

The EU handed similar tax rulings to several other companies, though the amount of back tax was smaller. Last year, the EU said Amazon had to repay 224 million after it allegedly had struck a special tax deal with Luxembourg.

The EU wanted to see whether the McDonalds case was a similar example where too few taxes were paid overall and where other companies unfairly did not get the same treatment as big multinationals.

Of course, the fact remains that McDonald's did not pay any taxes on these profits  and this is not how it should be from a tax fairness point of viewEU Commissioner Margrethe Vestager

The EU said that from 2009 to 2015, the food giants Luxembourg-based company McDonalds Europe Franchising paid no corporate tax in Luxembourg despite large profits. It said the profits were more than 250 million euro (222 million) in 2013 alone.

McDonalds set up a structure where its Europe Franchising company is a subsidiary of the US based McDonalds Corporation  yet also has a branch in the United States.

Ms Vestager said that even though Luxembourg did not break state aid rules, a broader view needed to be taken.

Of course, the fact remains that McDonalds did not pay any taxes on these profits  and this is not how it should be from a tax fairness point of view, Ms Vestager said.

The Luxembourg government said that even though it was cleared of wrongdoing in this case, it was updating its tax laws because it realised they no longer represented the spirit of the times when there should be more accountability of multinationals.France's Closer magazine has been told it will have to pay damages of 90,000 for publishing topless pictures of Kate Middleton, after an appeals court upheld an earlier ruling.

The celebrity publication, which is separate from the UK's Closer magazine, had been ordered to pay the large sum to Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton, during a judgment made last September, for breaching Kate's privacy.

The judgment followed the trial of six defendants who were all convicted of charges relating to the taking and publication of the photographs of the duchess sunbathing.

The Versailles appeals court upheld last autumn's decision to fine Ernesto Mauri, chief executive of publishing group Mondadori, which produces Closer, and Laurence Pieau, editor of the magazine in France, the maximum penalty of 45,000 for their role in the invasion of privacy.

The decision to fine two photographers, who photographed the duchess, 10,000 each was also upheld.

The photos, taken as Kate holidayed with William at a private chateau in Provence, southern France, adorned the front and inside pages of the publication in September 2012.

The publication of the images prompted a fierce reaction at the time, with St James's Palace stating they were "reminiscent of the worst excesses of the press and paparazzi during the life of Diana, Princess of Wales".

During the trial, the court was told William found the decision to publish the topless photographs "all the more painful" given the battles of his late mother with the paparazzi.

Kensington Palace declined to comment.Emergency personnel arrive at the scene where a shooting was reported (Todd Richmond/AP)

Four people were wounded during a shooting incident at a software company in a suburb of Madison, Wisconsin, according to a city administrator.

The suspected shooter was also critically injured during the late-morning attack at WTS Paradigm in Middleton, City Administrator Mike Davis said.

He said police have lifted a lockdown, but did not immediately have additional information.

A spokeswoman at University Hospital said the hospital has accepted four patients from the shooting.

Their conditions were not immediately available.

ACTIVE SHOOTER: 1800 Deming Way https://t.co/EYzSLpvLYg  Middleton Police (@middletonpd) September 19, 2018

Judy Lahmers, a business analyst at WTS Paradigm, said she was working at her desk when she heard shots at about 10am. She said it sounded like somebody was dropping boards on the ground, really loud.

Ms Lahmers said she ran out of the building and hid behind a car. She said the buildings glass entrance door shattered.

Im not looking back, Im running as fast as I can. You just wonder, Do you hide or do you run?' she said.

She said she knew that one co-worker had been grazed by a shot but was OK. She did not have any other information. She said the shooting was totally unexpected. Were all software people. We have a good group.

The State Journal newspaper reports that one woman was taken out of the building screaming, saying it was a devastating loss and being held up by another person.

Gabe Geib, a customer advocate at Esker Software, said he was working at his desk when he heard a couple of shots coming from next door which sounded like claps.

He said he then saw people running full sprint away from the building.

We knew at that point that something was going down. A ton of people were running across the street right in front of us, he said.

More than an hour after the shooting, he and his colleagues were huddled in place in their cafeteria, away from windows.

Jeff Greene, who also works at Esker, said police told those gathered in the cafeteria to go a nearby hotel to make a statement about what they saw.

At least 40 people were gathered in the hotels car park, waiting to be interviewed by police.Vladimir Putin was forced to step in to defuse a row between Moscow and Tel Aviv yesterday after a Russian reconnaissance plane with 15 people on-board was mistakenly shot down by Syrian forces that were targeting Israeli jets.

Russia's defence ministry said that Israeli F-16 pilots were using its Ilyushin Il-20 turbo-prop aircraft signal as cover while carrying out strikes against targets in Latakia province and put it in the line of fire from Syrian missiles.

The aircraft was hit 22 miles off Latakia's coast in the eastern Mediterranean on Monday evening as it was returning to a Russian airbase nearby.

Russian officials initially blamed Israel for the attack, with defence minister Sergei Shoigu warning that Moscow could respond to the attack. Mr Putin later intervened to de-escalate the row between the two countries, which have an uneasy alliance despite backing opposing sides in the Syrian war, saying it was the result of "a chain of tragic chance events".

"As for retaliatory measures, they will be aimed first and foremost at further ensuring the safety of our military personnel and facilities in Syria," Mr Putin said.

Israel, which appears to have been targeting an ammunitions depot linked to the Lebanese Shia militia Hizbollah, denied it was its intention to provoke Syria into firing at the Russian plane. However, the Russian defence ministry said they were given only a one-minute warning from Israel over their deconfliction hotline, leaving it with insufficient time to reach a safe area.

Israeli pilots carrying out attacks in Syria "used the Russian plane as a cover, exposing it to fire from Syrian air defences," Igor Konashenkov, a Russian military spokesman, said in televised remarks.

"We consider these provocative actions by Israel as hostile. Fifteen Russian military service members died because of irresponsible actions of the Israeli military. It's absolutely contrary to spirit of Russia-Israeli partnership," he said. "We reserve right for adequate response."

The Russian president and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly spoke over the phone to clear the air. Israel and Russia have so far managed to carefully coordinate action in Syria.

Israel has carried out more than 200 attacks on Hizbollah and Iranian targets in the past few years in an attempt to stop its foes becoming too entrenched in the country. Moscow has never interfered.

However, the latest incident marks the worst loss of Russian life to friendly fire since Moscow intervened in the conflict in 2015 and may change the way they view the Israeli raids, particularly so close to Russian bases.

Improving relations between the two countries has been a source of tension between Russia and its client state Syria, which is technically at war with Israel.

Russian troops were recently sent to the border of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights to act as a buffer between Syrian forces and the Jewish state.

In a separate development in Syria, Russia and Turkey have agreed to the establishment of a "demilitarised zone" between rebels and government forces in the northern city of Idlib.

It staves off what threatened to be a humanitarian disaster in the last rebel stronghold remaining in Syria. The agreement was reached at a summit in the Black Sea resort of Sochi between Mr Putin and Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The two came to a deal that "radically minded" opposition fighters would be withdrawn.

The deal marks increased co-operation between the countries, which back opposing sides in the war. Moscow is keen to strengthen ties with Turkey at a time when Ankara's relations with the US have reached a new low.Coca-Cola said it was closely watching the development of the cannabis industry.

Drinks giant Coca-Cola is considering the production of a cannabis-infused drink that would help people with chronic pain.

The US company said it was "closely watching" the development of the cannabis industry and looking into a possible "functional wellness beverage".

The product would include CBD, or cannabidiol - a non-psychoactive component in cannabis - but not THC, the high-inducing ingredient in the plant.

The company said: "Along with many others in the beverage industry, we are closely watching the growth of non-psychoactive CBD as an ingredient in functional wellness beverages.

CBD is used by many people for medical reasons including chronic pain and inflammation, anxiety and epilepsy.

According to a Bloomberg report, Coca-Cola has been in talks with Aurora Cannabis, a Canadian company.

In the US, cannabis is illegal under federal law, but legal in some states.

As consumption of fizzy drinks declines, Coca-Cola has diversified into other products, including juice and mineral water. Last month, it announced it was buying Costa Coffee for $5.1bn. ( Daily Telegraph London)

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021]Kim Jong Un and Moon Jae-in shake hands at the end of their joint press conference in Pyongyang (AP)

The leader of North Korea has agreed to dismantle his main nuclear complex but only if the United States does the same.

Kim Jong Un agreed on the second day of meetings with his South Korean counterpart President Moon Jae-in on an ambitious programme meant to tackle soaring tensions between the two countries last year.

Mr Kim promised to accept international inspectors to monitor the closing of a key missile test site and launch pad and to visit Seoul soon, and both leaders vowed to work together to try to host the Summer Olympics in 2032.

But their joint statement appeared to fall short of the major steps many in Washington have been looking for.

Such steps include a commitment by Mr Kim to provide a list of North Koreas nuclear facilities, a timeline for closing them down, or an agreement to allow international inspectors to assess progress or discover violations.

US President Donald Trump, described the Korean leaders agreements as Very exciting! in a tweet.

Mr Moon and Mr Kim stood side by side as they announced the joint statement to a group of North and South Korean reporters after a closed-door meeting.

We have agreed to make the Korean Peninsula a land of peace that is free from nuclear weapons and nuclear threat, Mr Kim said at the guesthouse where Mr Moon is staying.

The road to our future will not always be smooth and we may face challenges and trials we cant anticipate. But we arent afraid of headwinds because our strength will grow as we overcome each trial based on the strength of our nation.

Mr Kim and Mr Moon earlier smiled and chatted as they walked down a hallway and into a meeting room to finalise the joint statement, which also said that the leaders would push for a Korean Peninsula without nuclear weapons and to eliminate all the danger of war.

Mr Moon and Mr Kim planned to visit a volcano sacred to the North on Thursday, the last day of Mr Moons visit.

This weeks summit comes as Mr Moon is under increasing pressure from Washington to find a path forward in efforts to get Mr Kim to completely  and unilaterally  abandon his nuclear arsenal.

Mr Trump has maintained that he and Mr Kim have a solid relationship, and both leaders have expressed interest in a follow-up summit to their meeting in June in Singapore.

Expand Close Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong Un pose after signing documents in Pyongyang (Korea Broadcasting System via AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong Un pose after signing documents in Pyongyang (Korea Broadcasting System via AP)

North Korea has been demanding a declaration formally ending the Korean War, which was stopped in 1953 by a ceasefire, but neither leader mentioned it as they read the joint statement.

In the meantime, however, Mr Moon and Mr Kim made concrete moves of their own to reduce tensions on their border.

According to a statement signed by the countries defence chiefs, the two Koreas agreed to establish buffer zones along their land and sea borders to reduce military tensions and prevent accidental clashes.

They also agreed to withdraw 11 guard posts from the Demilitarised Zone by December and to establish a no-fly zone above the military demarcation line that bisects the two Koreas that will apply to planes, helicopters and drones.

Expand Close Moon Jae-in shakes hands with Kim Jong Un after a joint press conference in Pyongyang, (Lee Jin-man/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Moon Jae-in shakes hands with Kim Jong Un after a joint press conference in Pyongyang, (Lee Jin-man/AP)

Though not directly linked to security, the leaders announcement that they would seek a joint Summer Olympics was a significant move in terms of easing tensions and building trust. It also flows from the Norths decision to participate in the Pyeongchang Winter Games in February, which was regarded as a success for both sides.

Other agreements included allowing more contact between families divided by the Korean War. Mr Moon also appeared to be making good on his proposals to help build up the Norths infrastructure and open cross-border rail links.

Unlike Mr Trumps initial tweets praising the summit, the news brought a quick and negative response from Republican senator Lindsey Graham, who tweeted that he was concerned the visit would undermine efforts by US secretary of state Mike Pompeo and UN ambassador Nikki Haley to impose maximum pressure on the North.

While North Korea has stopped testing missiles and nuclear devices, they have NOT moved towards denuclearisation, he tweeted.President Donald Trump has sought to soothe those who suffered losses in Hurricane Florence, declaring that America grieves for you as he surveyed damage the powerful storm left behind.

After being briefed on the recovery effort, President Trump helped handed containers of hot dogs and chips at a Baptist church in New Bern, a riverfront city on the coast that experienced severe flooding.

President Trumps motorcade then drove through a storm-damaged neighbourhood where piles of water-logged sofa cushions, mattresses and downed trees lined streets and boats lay on their sides after washing up along a grassy shore.

Hows it doing, the president asked after a woman pointed at a house. He chatted and shook peoples hands as he walked along a street strewn with rubbish, branches and sodden furniture  offering hugs and handshakes and posing for photos. Some people applauded as he went by.

During the briefing with Gov Roy Cooper and federal and other state officials, President Trump pledged to be with storm victims 100% as they recover from the torrential rains and heavy flooding that Florence left behind. A massive federal, state and local recovery effort is under way.

Gov Cooper said Florence was epic in nature. It is blamed for at least 37 deaths in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia since coming ashore on Friday.

At the first stop, Gov Cooper briefed the president at a Marine Corps air station in Havelock, which sits among areas Florence hit hardest.

Expand Close President Donald Trump and North Carolina Gov Roy Cooper greet volunteers as they prepare to hand out food at Temple Baptist Church (Evan Vucci/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp President Donald Trump and North Carolina Gov Roy Cooper greet volunteers as they prepare to hand out food at Temple Baptist Church (Evan Vucci/AP)

The governor asked for help cutting red tape to get his state the federal assistance it will need to recover.

He noted that farmers suffered significant losses and scores of people lost their homes. Some 10,000 people remained in shelters.

We will be there 100%, said President Trump, wearing a wind breaker and seated inside a hangar with federal and state officials.

All of the folks from the federal government that are around the table are confirming it.

President Trump praised first responders and offered comfort to residents who suffered losses in the storm, saying: To the families who have lost loved ones, America grieves with you, and our hearts break for you. God bless you. We will never forget your loss, we will never leave your side. Were with you all the way.

And to all those impacted by this terrible storm, our entire American family is with you and ready to help. And you will recover, he said.Donald Trump speaks during a news conference with Polish President Andrzej Duda in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

US President Donald Trump has escalated his attacks on Jeff Sessions, saying I dont have an attorney general.

Mr Trump told reporters he is so sad over Jeff Sessions, who he has repeatedly denounced for recusing himself from the investigation into the Trump presidential campaigns links with Russia.

He was the first senator that endorsed me. And he wanted to be attorney general, and I didnt see it, Mr Trump said in the Oval office interview.

Expand Close Attorney General Jeff Sessions has withstood huge criticism from the president (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Attorney General Jeff Sessions has withstood huge criticism from the president (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

And then he went through the nominating process and he did very poorly. I mean, he was mixed up and confused, and people that worked with him for, you know, a long time in the Senate were not nice to him, but he was giving very confusing answers. Answers that should have been easily answered.

The president softened his stance slightly when talking to reporters on the White House lawn hours after the interviews publication, saying: Im disappointed in the attorney general for numerous reasons, but we have an attorney general.

Mr Trump has repeatedly asserted that Mr Sessions, a former US senator from Alabama, did not need to step away from the Russia probe, a move the president believes in part led to the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating contacts between Trump campaign officials and Russians.

Mr Trump suggested that Mr Sessions rocky Senate confirmation hearings may have impacted his performance as attorney general.

He gets in and probably because of the experience that he had going through the nominating when somebody asked him the first question about Hillary Clinton or something he said, I recuse myself, I recuse myself,' Mr Trump said.

Department of Justice guidelines recommended the attorney general step away because of his own contacts with foreign government officials during his time with the 2016 Trump campaign. Mr Sessions told congress that his decision was not due to any wrongdoing.

Mr Trump also broadened his attacks beyond the recusal, saying he is unhappy with Mr Sessions performance on several issues.

Im not happy at the border. Im not happy with numerous things, not just this, Mr Trump said in the interview.

Mr Trump has repeatedly complained publicly and privately about Mr Sessions, pushing him to curtail the Mueller probe, urging him to investigate Mrs Clinton and suggesting he should drop investigations into Republican congressmen until after the November midterm elections.

He also said that he does not feel as though Mr Sessions supports him like former attorneys general Eric Holder and Bobby Kennedy backed presidents Barack Obama and John F Kennedy, respectively.

We'll see how it goes with Jeff. I'm very disappointed in Jeff.Donald Trump

Mr Trump has repeatedly considered firing Mr Sessions, the nations top law enforcement officer, only to be opposed by aides who think a dismissal would upend the Russia investigation, conservatives who applaud Mr Sessions hardline stances at the Department of Justice and Republican senators who have said they would not confirm a replacement.

But there have been cracks in that resistance of late. South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham, who once fought for Mr Sessions, recently said that the president was entitled to having an attorney general he has faith in while other Trump allies have suggested that a move could be made after the midterms.

Mr Sessions recently punched back against Mr Trump, saying he and his department will not be improperly influenced by political considerations.

And Mr Sessions has made clear to associates that he has no intention of leaving his job voluntarily despite Mr Trumps constant criticism.

Mr Trump said in the interview that well see what happens with Mr Sessions future.

Well see how it goes with Jeff, Mr Trump continued. Im very disappointed in Jeff. Very disappointed.The American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA) is hosting its 20th annual conference in New Mexico this week.

Attendees heard from a big name at their session on Tuesday. Tara Sweeney , the recently-installed Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs , signed a memorandum of understanding between the organization, the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Department of Commerce in order to promote tourism opportunities for the first Americans.

I congratulate AIANTA on its 20th anniversary of helping bring the benefits of tourism to Indian Country, Sweeney said in a press release

The agreement was required by the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act , also known as the NATIVE Act . The 2016 law requires federal agencies to update their existing management plans and tourism strategies to include tribes, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians.

We are delighted to be working with the Department of the Interior and the Department of Commerce to formalize our long-standing relationships and strengthens our ability to enhance and grow tribal tourism, said Camille Ferguson, the executive director of AIANTA. The signing of this memorandum of understanding opens the door and removes barriers for future collaborations and outreach to tribes.

AIANTA's conference, being held at the Isleta Resort Casino on the Pueblo of Isleta , concludes on Thursday.

Read More on the Story

Tribal tourism (The Albuquerque Journal September 18, 2018)

Join the ConversationFrom beginning her journey as a TV actor to now promoting her first Bollywood feature film, Radhika Madan has surely come a long way. Talking about her journey, Radhika Madan says shifting to films at the peak of her TV career was not a difficult decision for her as she wanted to rediscover herself as an actor.

Radhika became an overnight star after featuring in Ekta Kapoors Meri Aashiqui Tum Se Hi. Post the show, the actor signed Vasal Balas film Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota and will be now seen in Vishal Bhardwajs Pataakha, which is releasing first.

My priority was never money. After giving a hit show, youll get a huge amount of money for your second show. If I wanted to earn, I would have stayed in it for a year more. But I believe in creative satisfaction more than money, Radhika told PTI.

She added,

After the show got over, I really wanted to take a break because I was doing it for more than a year. I was getting a lot of offers even before my show got over and I was offered good money. But I needed to take a break and rediscover myself as an actor."

While she was a star on TV, in Pataakha she will be seen as a newcomer but the dichotomy never mattered to the 23-year-old actor. She added,

I never took my stardom on TV seriously. I believe fame is temporary but the journey stays with you. I never felt I am a newcomer while working with Vishal sir. My approach was to play with the character and see what happens.

Vishal Bhardwaj's film is based on Charan Singh Pathiks short story Do Behnein and features Radhika and Sanya Malhotra as two warring sisters. The actor got a call for the final audition for the film while she was celebrating the end of Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota shoot.

Once on board, Radhika underwent several workshops with Bhardwaj and Charan Singh to get the dialect. They then went to the village and did the daily chorescook food on a chulha, make cow dung cakesfor about a week. Recalling her prep for the character, she said,

"When we first heard the locals, the dialect was difficult to understand. It went over our heads. It took us two-three days to become familiar. We used to sing songs and dance like them every night post-dinner. We went through that process so that it looks organic."

For Radhika, she is yet to believe the fact that she has starred in a Vishal Bhardwaj film. She added,

It feels surreal to be a part of a Vishal Bhardwaj film. Its so dreamy, it is yet to sink in. When I saw myself on the big screen in the trailer and the songs, the realisation that oh Im there dawned upon. But otherwise, I still cant believe."

Going ahead, the actor says shes clear she doesnt want to fall into the trap of doing films where she is used just as a prop.

I was that kind of a person who used to dream Ill make an entry on the big screen in slow-motion with my hair flying. With time, it became very superficial. I would rather do a film like Pataakha where Im five shades darker, have no makeup and with hair bleached than a film where I am just a showpiece, standing there for looks, she says.

They finished the film in 28 days and the team is now looking forward to its release on September 28.1. Sikh Organisation Demands FIR Against Makers Of Manmarziyaan For Showing Sikh Character Smoking

A Sikh organisation has reportedly filed a petition against Anurag Kashyap directorial Manmarziyaan for showing an objectionable scene in which actor Abhishek Bachchan who is playing a Sikh character can be seen smoking after taking off his turban. The petition has been filed at the Jammu wing of Jammu and Kashmir High Court.

Indiatimes met the Kapoor boy and had a quick hearty conversation with him. We asked him whether he has a complex with his father and Harsh explains why he is different from him, I never really think like that, I am not a comparative person, I am very passive in nature, I am that kind of a guy who wants to do his own stuff. When you invest too much on yourself, you are not really worried about what people are doing. I am very different, he is a lot more affable and I am quiet, he is an extrovert and I am an introvert, like literally we are very different.

3. A Handbook On How To Create A Better World Instead Of Ranting On Social Media, By Richa Chadha

Richa, who is very active on several social media platforms has always expressed her opinions without any filters. Be it extending support to flood-stricken Kerala or joining hands with an NGO that works for the betterment of women rescued from human trafficking, Chadha has been actively doing her bit to uplift the society.

4. Nawazuddin Deserves To Win All The Awards For Manto, Says Nandita Das & We're Hopeful Too!

"I am waiting for the people to love and appreciate the film and especially Nawaz. The way we have received validation and acceptance for Nawaz internationally, I am sure that people in India will be able to connect in the same way too. Even though awards are subjective in nature and a lot of times, popular films win all the popular awards, I am waiting for people to see Manto. If Nawaz doesn't win all the awards, then I will surely be surprised."

5. Kit Harington Credits Game Of Thrones For Meeting Wife Rose, Says The Show Changed His Life Forever

It gave me my future family and my life from here on in Thats the main thing it did for me, and its changed it completely, he was quoted as saying in the Emmys press room.For Fu Pei lin, it was love at first sight, figuratively at least, when she gazed at the Tamil syllables and tried pronouncing them at the Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU).

Honestly, Tamil is difficult to learn. But I feel so proud and happy when I utter every syllable of it, she said. Lin was among 10 Chinese students, 9 girls and a boy, who got a taste of the dravidian language on Monday when classes began for the third Indian language  after Hindi and Bengali  to be launched at BFSU this year.

The students will be learning Tamil Language and Literature over the next four years to earn their bachelors degree in it.

facebook/Azhagiya Pandiyan

It reminded me of my first day of learning Tamil 15 years ago. So much needs to be done, head of the Tamil language department, Eesvari alias Zhou Xin, told TOI in a telephonic interview on Tuesday.

In fact, she is excited to learn more about Tamil with her students. The students got to know about the language from the universitys advertisements on the website and in secondary schools.

The students admittedly know very little about Tamil, but Mondays class has got them excited. They will learn the language and tour Tamil Nadu for six to twelve months to witness the rich culture of the place where their course originated.

facebook/Azhagiya Pandiyan

The tour will be part of the third year of their study after getting some basic skills on spoken and written Tamil, Eesvari said. During the course, the students will be imparted basic skills such as reading, writing and interpreting.

They will be introduced to Tamil society and culture, history of the language and its geography with advanced skills such as literature reading, listening and speaking and translation.

Apart from Tamil, they would also have to choose another subject from sociology, economics, communication, law and so on.

facebook/Azhagiya Pandiyan

But Tamil will remain the main course wherein the students will have 12 hours of classes a week in the first two years, 10 hours in the third year and six to four hours in the final year.

Classes began with the videos in which Vetriselvan T A, the 2017 Harvard Tamil Chair - Global Coordinator (volunteer) and International coordinator for IATR-Y (International Association of Tamil Research-Youth), greeted the students and briefed them on the richness of Tamil.

A few renowned Tamil scholars also addressed the students through videos. Vetriselvan, who is based in Dallas, USA, told TOI that Eesvari had accepted IATR-Y invitation to spearhead its China national chapter.

facebook/Azhagiya Pandiyan

A couple of higher education institutions in China started teaching Tamil but it was dropped as they did not take it as seriously as the BFSU. The full-fledged course in Tamil is a welcome sign, he said.

On the career prospects of the students, he said, I think the Indian economy is booming despite the worldwide downturn.

facebook/Azhagiya Pandiyan

Knowing any Indian language will help their career, Eeswari said and added that they could also use the language skills in trade, media and teaching the language.

She also hoped that they would be instrumental in taking up academic research as Tamil study was nil in China. Hope they join me and do some research, she said.In a shocking piece of news from Agra, a man was receiving just a paltry sum of Rs 6 as monthly salary. Depressed over the situation, he attempted to commit suicide in a shoe factory which falls under Sikandra police jurisdiction on Wednesday morning.

According to officials, soon after arriving at the factory, the 30-year-old worker tried to hang himself from the ceiling. However, he was timely spotted by his colleagues, who rescued him and took him to a nearby hospital.

EF/Representational Image

Speaking to TOI, Ajay Kaushal, station house officer of Sikandra police station, said, The man had been working in the factory for the past many years. He was under depression.

On July 27 this year, he met with an accident and was admitted to a hospital. His medical bill was paid by the shoe factory owner. After recovering from injuries when he returned to the factory and asked for his salary, he was given Rs 6.

memuk/Representational Image

We have learnt that he tried to convince his employer to deduct the amount in installments, but the latter reportedly refused. That was when he decided to end his life. Later on, police intervened and the matter was resolved. The factory owner has agreed to installments, added the SHO.

Underemployment has forced labour to work at lesser salary in India. Many skilled labours, especially in small-scale industries, are forced to settle for a smaller salary than what they should be getting. Till the time this report was filed, no FIR was registered in the matter. Meanwhile, the shoe factory owner was not available for comment.Instant triple talaq is now a criminal offence in India. In a landmark decision, Union Cabinet approved an ordinance making triple talaq a punishable offence, which is seen as a major victory for thousands of Indian Muslim women.

AFP/Representational Image





Under the ordinance, the crime will be recognised when the woman herself or her blood relative files a complaint. The case may be dropped if the duo reaches a compromise later, provided only the wife reaches the magistrate. The magistrate can also bail to the accused but only on reasonable grounds and that too only after hearing the wife. Read More

2. Gujarat Farmers Say No To Bullet Train As Japanese Builders Are 'Not Following' The Rules

The farmers whose land is supposed to be acquired for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet train have written to the Japan government alleging violations of the guidelines laid by the Japanese agency, which is funding the project. The letter sent by the farmers asked the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which is providing a soft loan for the Rs 1.10 lakh crore project, to withhold disbursal of funds to the Indian government until the agency's guidelines are complied with, said a lawyer. Read More

3. Man Loses In A Video Game To A Kid And Threatens To Kill Him After The Loss, Lands Up In Jail

Suffolk Police Department via TNW

In the recent years, the gaming world has really grown. There are proper tournaments, experts and real competition. But threatening to kill someone if you lose to them is absolutely not acceptable. That's exactly what happened in New York recently. 45-year-old Michael Aliperti was playing online and eventually lost to an 11-year-old child. While gamer rage is part of the gaming world, what Michael did next cross all limits of sanity. Not taking the loss too well, he actually threatened to kill the child. Read More

4. TB Remains To Be The Worlds Deadliest Infectious Disease Says WHO, India Falls In The Top 20

Its official, WHO states that Tuberculosis (TB) is the deadliest infection in the world. WHO laid this claim despite the fact that 54 million tuberculosis (TB) deaths have been averted since 2000. India falls amongst the top 20 countries, which account to a total of 84% of the total incidence rate of TB globally, according to the latest report by WHO. Read More

5. A University In Beijing Is Teaching Tamil Just Because The Students Just Love The Language

facebook/Azhagiya Pandiyan

For Fu Pei lin, it was love at first sight, figuratively at least, when she gazed at the Tamil syllables and tried pronouncing them at the Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU). The students will be learning Tamil Language and Literature over the next four years to earn their bachelors degree in it. Read More

6. Pakistan Is Back To Dirty Tricks, BSF Jawan Shot And Throat Slit; High Alert Along Border

Reuters

Pakistani troops have slit the throat of a BSF jawan along the international border (IB) near Jammu, an incident that may further escalate the tension between the two countries.

The brutal and "unprecedented" incident that took place in the Ramgarh sector on Tuesday has prompted the security forces to issue a "high alert" across the entire IB and the Line of Control (LoC) even as the Border Security Force has lodged a strong complaint with its counterparts -- the Pakistan Rangers. Read MoreNewly-elected Delhi University Students Union president, Ankiv Baisoya, has landed into controversy after reports say that he has submitted a fake university degree to get admission into the DU. He said that he had studied several types of subjects at Thiruvalluvar University in Tamil Nadus Vellore from 2013 to 2016.

However, he could not recall the names of the subjects and even failed to name any heads of department.

Baisoya is a member of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's student wing, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). 23-year-old Baisoya had obtained admission in DU in Buddhist studies by submitting mark sheets that are from Thiruvalluvar University.

Rival student wing, National Students Union of India (NSUI), circulated the image of the document, which the controller of examinations has declared a fake certificate.

ABVP slammed the allegations questioning the authenticity of the letter.

KTS Sarao, the head of Buddhist Studies told The Indian Express: When there is a complaint raised, that is the time degrees are verified. There is a department in the university, which does this. For now, we have not received any complaint.

The NSUI has announced that it would file a police complaint against Baisoya for alleged forgery.No matter how we compete with each other, but, in the need of the hour, we all stand together to help fellow humans in need. After the sad demise of a sanitation worker who worked as a manual scavenger, her wife and kids were left with no choice but to be at the mercy of others. However, people decided to ensure that the family in need gets its dignity back. People gathered to crowdfund Rs 50 Lakh for the aggrieved family living in Delhi's Dwarka area.

The deceased, identified as Anil, died of suffocation after entering a sewer in Dwarkas Dabri Extension on Friday.

Anils son was seen standing next to his fathers corpse with a message that the family did not have money even for cremation. After seeing the photograph, many social media users extended their support.

The journalist later shared the account details of Anils wife for donations.

Ketto started a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for the family. The online crowdfunding website Ketto had set a target of Rs 24 lakh to be raised over a fortnight but within a matter of few hours, an amount of Rs 10 lakh was collected.

By Wednesday morning, Rs 48 Lakh have been raised by more than 2000 donors.

37-year-old Anil died on Friday after a rope around his waist broke, following which he slipped into the 20-feet sewer. The police said that Anil was not given proper safety gear and the rope was unable to bear his weight.Another criminal may soon enter Indian politics.

Shambhulal Regar, the man arrested for lynching a Muslim in Rajasthans Rajsamand area is expected to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Agra. Media reports suggest that Regar has been offered a ticket by the Uttar Pradesh Navnirman Sena, a not-so-popular political outfit in Uttar Pradesh. He has reportedly accepted the offer.

"The Uttar Pradesh Navnirman Sena has decided that for the Agra Lok Sabha seat, the party's candidate will be Shambhulal Regar. He will contest the election from inside Jodhpur jail, where he is currently lodged," Amit Jani, national president of the Uttar Pradesh Navnirman Sena, told News18. "We want only Hindutva faces to contest elections on our party's tickets and there can be nobody better than him. We will soon make a formal announcement," Jani said, according to the News18 report.

Regar, in December 2017, had hacked a Muslim, Mohd Afrazul, a Bengali migrant worker, to death while another person recorded the act on camera and circulated the video on social media.

Netizens took to Twitter to express concern over the development:

And why has he not been arrested yet ? https://t.co/wxln6VK2Ga  harish iyer (@hiyer) September 17, 2018

India: the Hindutva thug who had his nephew film him hacking a Muslim to death is welcomed as a political candidate in coming elections.

"We want only Hindutva faces to contest elections on our party's tickets and there can be nobody better than him"https://t.co/LLRmirqsPx  CJ Werleman (@cjwerleman) September 17, 2018

Shambhulal Regar, who burnt and hacked a Muslim labourer to death to hide his illicit relations with his sister- will contest 2019 polls from Agra!

If this doesnt make your blood boil...nothing will.  Salman Nizami (@SalmanNizami_) September 18, 2018

Future PM of India ?https://t.co/H0UTfb0AsK  Salman Nizami (@SalmanNizami_) September 17, 2018

Wah! Such amazing qualifications required now to be our future netas??? https://t.co/4Ba6Fftsp7  Mirchi Sayema (@MirchiSayema) September 18, 2018

In the video, he said that he burnt the man to save a girl from love jihad. Jihadists, leave our country or you will meet the same fate, he had said the video.

Regar soon gained popularity among the Hindu community in Rajasthan. The Agra seat is reserved for members of Scheduled Castes (SC).

The News18 report added that a Navnirman Sena party person defended giving a ticket to Regar, saying that people like Atique Ahmed, Mukhtar Ansari, and Raja Bhaiyya have far more serious cases against their names.Memories are important to keep around, but they can evoke some bittersweet feelings.

And thats absolutely true for people that worked at Apple during the reign of their iconic CEO Steve Jobs, as evident in a recent oral history of the company.

Compiled by Wired, the piece is a collection of anecdotes, both good and bad, surrounding the company through the years. Among those is an interesting tidbit concerning Apples co-founder and original face, Steve Jobs.

Gathered when Apple moved from its original campus, the Infinite Loop, to the current Spaceship Campus, one story in there talks about Jobs old office at the earlier headquarters. And its related by none other than current CEO Tim Cook.

We locked up Steves office. I would not have moved into his office, and no one has, Cook said at the time.

I decided early on it didnt feel right to change that office at all. There are some personal things he had in there that are now with Laurene (Jobs wife). But its the same desk and chair, credenza, bookcase. As a matter of fact, theres still drawings on the whiteboard that his daughter did. Last summer she came by, and I showed her the stuff that she had drawn.

The way Cook describes Jobs old office its turned into a sort of monument to the man that changed Silicon Valley, ever since his passing on October 5, 2011. Its one that his employees consider a priceless relic of both good and bad days gone by. After all, while there have been plenty of CEOs of tech giants over the years, none have really garnered the sort of cult following that Jobs has, equal parts for his charisma and his microscopic attention to detail that made Apple the powerhouse it is today.

You can still feel him in there, Cook adds, because I saw him in there so much. Some people go to the grave site to reflect on someone. I dont do it frequently, but I go to his office.This week, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk revealed that the mysterious tourist going for a Moon flyby on board the Big Falcon Rocket will be Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa, and a number of artists.

The question is, can their bodies handle it?

The BFR that will take tourists around the Moon - SpaceX

In a recent piece by The Verge, aerospace medicine specialist Dr Petra Illig describes the sort of stress a person can undergo on travelling to space for the first time, especially flying around the Moon. These can include anything from a heart attack, to nausea, to even emotional and mental stress.

The only good thing is that, given the trip will be so short, the Maezawa and his ilk wont have to worry about some of the long-term effects of space travel that astronauts on board the ISS suffer from, like bone density loss and muscle degradation from living in microgravity. However, that doesnt mean their few days in space will be anything other than uncomfortable at the very least.

Its dangerous, to be clear, Musk rightly said during his announcement this past Monday. This is no walk in the park here.

Heart failure is a real possibility

In fact, the problems will start as soon as the rocket begins taking off. As it zooms away from Earth, the passengers will experience incredible G forces, upto three times the gravity theyre accustomed to. That puts a strain on the heart as it attempts to still push blood to the head. If precautions like proper seat placements arent taken, the passengers could have their blood flowing downwards to their feet, causing them to pass out and even risking heart failure. Thats why theyll all have to be stringently tested to confirm theyre healthy enough to make the trip. After all, even if there were a doctor on board, theyd get no medical condition until they escape the Earths gravity full minutes later.

Maezawa, the first official space tourist

Nausea will not be fun

Once microgravity sets in above Earth, the passengers will then have to deal with the feeling of weightlessness. Unfortunately, that has the side effect of causing motion sickness, as your sense of direction gets completely confused. Astronauts receive plenty of training, yet the closest simulation of this they can get on Earth is climbing aboard a plane capable of parabolic flight, where you experience a short 20 to 30 seconds of weightlessness between climbing and falling. Despite that, theres a reason these planes are called vomit comets.

At the very least, for astronauts this feeling of nausea tends to pass within a few days. Unfortunately for the BFR fliers, their trip is expected to take only 4-5 days, so some of them might be nauseous for the entirety of the journey. The one saving grace is they can take anti-nausea medication, which astronauts responsible for critical operations arent allowed as they can cause drowsiness.

Radiation sickness could throw a curveball

Another hazard to worry about is cosmic radiation, something the astronauts on board the ISS are protected from because they remain within the Earths magnetic field (as well as because of the stations structure). Flying around the Moon on the other hand, Maezawa and friends would be exposed to a higher daily dose of radiation than the astronauts, though for a shorter time. All in all, it would amount to as much radiation you get from a CT scan, except distributed all over the body. Nothing to worry about unless a freak incident like a solar ejection.

If the Sun does spit out charged particle radiation (called a solar particle event), it could bombard the passengers with up to six months worth cosmic radiation in just a day or two. The likelihood of that happening within the few days span of their trip is low, but its not impossible. At best, that would mean nausea and fatigue cause by radiation sickness. But it could conceivably get much worse. And so far, Musk hasnt discussed the presence of any radiation shelters or early warning systems on board the BFR.

Keeping calm could be tough

Lastly, theres the psychological toll a trip like this could take on passengers. After all, theyre going to be sealed in whats essentially a big metal container with a handful of other people, with nowhere to go and little privacy. And its not like a party you can leave midway; once you get on the rocket youre stuck there till the trip is done.

One way experts believe they can minimise any issues here is to have the passengers train together in isolation before the actual flight. Just like astronauts, they have to work out roles and responsibilities, as well as learn how to get along with each other with no other sentient creature for miles around. And if theres some sort of emergency, they have to be prepared enough to not panic and cause havoc for everyone.

This will require a lot of training, Musk agreed at his announcement. When youre pushing the frontier, its not a sure thing. At the very least, the space tourists will have plenty of time to train. The flight isnt planned until 2023, which is a tentative deadline Musk isnt even sure SpaceX will hit. But whenever they do, lets hope theyre all ready.Chiara Bordi, 18, lost her leg in a bike accident when she was 13. But she did not let her injury dictate her dreams or her life.

She has now made it to this years Miss Italy finals and dodged all kinds of abuses from online trolls who said she was only in the contest because she was crippled.

AFP

In response to the trolls Bordi wrote,"I'm missing a leg, but you're missing a heart and brain"

She proudly displayed her prosthetic leg during the beauty pageant while she competed in the swimsuit and evening-wear rounds.

AFP

"There are all sorts of frustrations and dissatisfactions behind this nastiness," Bordi wrote.

"I'm not interested in winning, but showing the world that life is still beautiful (even) when reborn after a dramatic event," Bordi told AFP.

More power to you, Chiara Bordi!

Inputs AFP.Pet owners everywhere have a common complaint - their pets bring in unwanted, filthy stuff from outside into the house.

However, a cat in UK recently brought in something so strange, that the police had to get involved in it! A pet cat in Bristol, recently brought home a bag full of drugs. According to a report by Bristol Live, the cat found a plastic bag full of illegal substances in the suburb of St Pauls, and not only brought it home but also slept with it in its bed on Sunday night.

twitter

The Avon and Somerset Police's Ashley neighbourhood team shared a picture and wrote on Twitter that the owner got a "bit of a shock" but called them straightaway upon discovering the drugs.

"Forget police dogs, we should start training up cats," joked the Avon and Somerset Police on its official Twitter account.

Look what the cat dragged in 

Great result in St Paul's when a resident's cat brought this in during the night! The owner got a bit of a shock but called us straight away!

If you are worried about drugs or crime in your area you can report anonymously @CrimestoppersUK pic.twitter.com/l8aEHsf8oa  ASPolice Ashley (@ASPAshley) September 17, 2018

The bag contained about 30 wraps of what appears to be crack cocaine and heroin, reported Bristol Live. The drugs are estimated to be worth hundreds of pounds and the contents are now being analysed.On Sunday, Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee left for a trip to Germany and Italy that will last for ten days, for the annual Bengal Global Business Summit. While in Germany Banerjee revealed the fun side of her, that not many people might have seen so far. She played Hum honge kaamyaab on Mickey Mouse's accordion.

Banerjee, who dislikes leaving West Bengal, said in a statement that the visits were aimed at encouraging foreign investment in Bengal. However, she was seen enjoying in Frankfurt, her first stop in the visit and even found a way to bring a touch of the desi to Germany. The West Bengal CM managed to capture the attention of locals as well as the social media as she played Hum hongey kaamyaab. A user shared the video on Facebook how they were walking around the town with 'Didi' and talking about the political affairs of the state and country. After they stopped for coffee, they met a street musician who was in a Mickey Mouse costume, who gave her a chance to play the accordion.

You can watch the video here:View of Harvard University. The Indian American author notes that UCLA professor of law Richard Sanders argues that race based affirmative action results in (non-Asian) minority students being admitted to universities that are too competitive for them, resulting in poor academic performance, and negative stereotyping of minorities as academic underachievers. (Wikimedia commons.org photo)This first Indian language launch will enable crores of Hindi-preferring customers across India to shop in their preferred language, said Manish Tiwary (left), VP-Category Management, seen here with Kishore Thota, director, Customer Experience and Marketing. (Twitter photo)Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra said the Manassas plant employs a combination of engineers with four-year degrees and technicians who have a scientific bent but whose post-secondary education comes through community colleges. (Micron photo)File photo of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. Speaking at a three-day lecture, Bhagwat expressed his support for the quick construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya and said his organization does not support a particular political party. (IANS photo)Switch the Market flag

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Market flag for targeted data from your country of choice.

for targeted data from your country of choice.Konz will succeed Neil Bennett, who will retire by the end of this year, a release said. Bennett has cultivated a 40-year career in the insurance industry, including 20 at Chubb, and has worked in numerous underwriting and claims roles  primarily in London and Bermuda.

Reinsurance is a critical part of how we manage risk, and Jeremiah brings deep expertise, as well as strong analytical and technical skills. I am pleased to welcome him to his new role, said Chubb Group executive vice-president and Overseas General Insurance president Juan Andrade. I also want to thank Neil for his two decades of contributions to Chubb. We will wish him the best when he retires at year end.

Konz has nearly 20 years of insurance industry experience. Prior to joining Chubb in 2012, he was an executive with Aon Benfield, where he provided analytic expertise to large commercial property reinsurance placements. He has a Bachelors degree in Business Management and Economics from the University of Minnesota, and holds the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and Associate in Reinsurance (ARe) designations from the AICPU.

Related stories:

Chubb exec explains the ROI of going above and beyond for wildfire-exposed clients

How big data is changing insurance to predict and prevent - ChubbThe Category 4 storm Hurricane Maria struck the region on September 20, knocking out 95% of the islands power and causing an estimated $90 billion dollars in damage. An estimated 2,975 people in Puerto Rico were killed by the hurricane.

Officials have revealed that some 16,000 hurricane-related claims in Puerto Rico remain unresolved.

The Associated Press reported that the lawsuits, on top of seeking settlement for the claims, also seek $2.6 billion in damages for those who have not been compensated since Hurricane Maria hit the island. Local attorneys have also filed a class-action lawsuit addressing the same concerns.With the increase in the number of identities impacted, another trend was foreseeable: larger breaches increased the average cost of remediation, says Jeremey Barnett, senior vice president of marketing at NAS. Notably, the average cost of IT forensic investigation fees/expenses became the largest average cost component in 2017.

The average IT forensics costs for non-healthcare businesses were up 59% last year compared to 2016, and represented 44% of average non-healthcare claims costs. The average IT forensics costs for healthcare businesses were up 46% in 2017 and represented 33% of average healthcare claims costs. Overall, healthcare claims costs saw a significant increase

Notification costs, in particular, increased 114% over 2016 expenses as several claims involved large groups of affected individuals, Barnett says. Related to the increase in notification cost is the significant 70% increase in the costs of call centers. The dramatic rise in call center costs for healthcare can be explained by the increase in identities impacted, but unique factors within the healthcare industry also appear to have played a part. For one, healthcare businesses generally tend to access, use and store a larger volume of personal information, including sensitive health and medical information.

Tighter regulations and the implementation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) introduced more stringent rules for those affected by a breach. As a result, the legal requirement for breach notifications to be sent out is growing increasingly common in the healthcare sector.

Another factor in the dramatic increase in the cost of call centers is the fact that, according to NAS data, the average age of identities impacted by a healthcare breach skewed older, Barnett says.

Our experience has shown that individuals who are 60 years of age or older are more likely to contact a call center when a breach occurred. Also, the average length of conversations with call center representatives was longer because this demographic often requested extra assistance in understanding what the breach entailed and how it impacted them.Authorities learned of the alleged fraud through a tip provided by a former employee of Pasacretas business, Integrated Mental Health Services. The tipster told investigators that Pasacreta received very large payments from Medicaid despite the fact that she barely works and was constantly canceling appointments, the Bee reported.

According to the CSAO, a subsequent investigation found that over a two-year period beginning in 2016, Pasacreta sent hundreds of claims to Medicaid for services she never actually provided. The CSAO alleged that she received $79,418.77 more in Medicaid payments than she was entitled to.

If convicted, Pasacreta faces up to 45 years in prison.The report, which was presented during IUMIs annual conference in Cape Town, South Africa, detailed that despite the slight uptick in premium income, the environment remains challenging for marine underwriting.

According to Astrid Seltmann, vice chairperson of IUMIs facts and figures committee, the hull market has been affected by falling vessel values and other market conditions that contributed to an erosion of income to a degree where income is now not sufficient to allow for normal repair costs in a given year.

This downward trend is particularly worrying given the relative absence of major hull losses in recent years, Seltmann said. The last 10 years statistics clearly show an increasing volatility in the impact of claims on underwriting results caused by the random occurrence of claims with unprecedented cost. As vessel sizes continue to increase, this trend will not reverse, and the heightened risk must be taken into account.

The cargo market has been rocked by unprecedented nat-cat and outlier event losses and these have negatively impacted underwriting results. It also signals an increasing, and often unknown, accumulation of values both on shore and at sea.

Meanwhile, the offshore energy market has also seen a substantial erosion of premium income caused by low oil prices, resulting in low activity in the offshore sector. However, insurance capacity remains abundant.

More positively, the 2017 hurricane season had little effect, and major claims impact remained low, Seltmann said. It remains to be seen when and to what degree the rising oil price will support an upswing in this sector.

Geographically, the distribution of premium income remained stable, with a mere 1% increase in the share of Asia and Latin America as compared with Europe. In 2017, Europe represented 49% of global income, while Asia-Pacific accounted for 29%. Latin America brought in 10%, followed by North America (6%), the Middle East (4%), and Africa (2.4%).

In general, the IUMI statistics clearly illustrate the need for sustainable underwriting by understanding the simple  and sometimes not so simple  mathematics of evaluating the risks and expected costs associated with a prudent marine portfolio, Seltmann said.Weve received a few questions lately through our Ask an Expert service that motivated this post.

Wait. You dont know about Ask an Expert? Its a benefit of the new subscription service through Insurance Journal, called IJPro. You hadnt heard of IJPro? Take a look.

We received some coverage questions yesterday which are great. If you have a coverage question, send it in. We love that stuff. Theres nothing like digging into policy forms to find the answer. Its extra cool when the answer is hiding somewhere in the minutiae, like that snake that is hiding in my back yard.

The questions that we received reminded me that sometimes we think about insurance policies like going to the cereal aisle at the grocery store. You can buy Cheerios, or you can buy the store brand of Cheerios, or even the bag Cheerios (you know what Im talking about). The only real difference is the price.

The problem is that insurance policies just arent like that. Two different policies are different. Two editions of the same form are different. Two carriers with identical looking forms are different. The same policy issued in two different states is different. Things that are different are not the same. Things that are similar are not the same.

In light of all of this, lets establish some ground rules about when we speak about insurance policies, especially when we need to know about coverage or analyzing two different policies.

Dont ask about a policys details.

Heres the question that I get. Does a homeowners policy cover If Im feeling a little snarky, I could answer, Yes, I believe that a homeowners policy somewhere covers and leave it at that. There must be at least one policy somewhere that you can get that will cover it. Im just not sure if the policy youre asking about covers it.

As insurance people, its best that we ask specific questions. The most specific, the better. Let me show you the difference.

GENERAL QUESTION: Does a homeowners policy cover sinkhole loss?

ANSWER: Maybe. Some do. Some dont.

MORE SPECIFIC: Does an ISO HO-3 homeowners policy cover sinkhole loss?

ANSWER: Usually. Depending on the state and the carrier, it may not.

VERY SPECIFIC: Does this (attached) ISO HO-3 homeowners policy issued in Florida cover sinkhole loss?

ANSWER: Only if endorsed properly. Florida statute requires that homeowners policies provide coverage for Catastrophic Ground Cover Collapse (CGCC) and makes sinkhole loss coverage optional. I see the amendatory endorsement that removed sinkhole and added CGCC. I dont see the sinkhole loss endorsement. This policy doesnt include sinkhole, but it does include CGCC and your should read that part of the policy to understand it.

Know the difference between an ISO form and a custom form

Heres a good reminder when it comes to policy forms. Every form publisher has a different numbering convention. ISO uses a specific convention for all of its forms (thankfully), and everyone else seems to use some variation on that convention. Heres a quick primer on how you can tell an ISO form.

WARNING: Its possible that some carriers will use the ISO numbering convention for a customized version of the ISO form. Reading the policy helps a lot.

ISO uses a ten-digit letter and number combination to identify forms. It looks generally like this LL ## ## mm yy.

LL  refers to a two-letter code the represents the line of business (CG, CA, CP, PA, etc.) (e.g. CP = Commercial Property)

## ##  refers to a four-number identifier for the form. The first two numbers identify the type of form (00  coverage form). The second two numbers identify the specific form. (e.g. CP 00 10 = Commercial Property, Building and Business Personal Property Coverage Form)

mm yy  refers to the month and year of the initial publication of the current edition. It may not be the effective date in all jurisdictions. (e.g. CP 00 10 09 17 = Commercial Property, Building and Building and Business Personal Property Coverage form, Sep 2017 edition)

You need more information about this topic and I recommend that you search for John Eubanks great article, Policy Form Edition Dates and Why They Are Important.

It you see more than ten digits, or you see more than two letters used, or a combination that you dont recognize, youre looking at a custom form belonging to a carrier.

Read the actual policy

There are two thou shalt nots here and one major thou shalt and must.

Thou shalt not rely on your memory. Friend, this is as kindly as I know how to write this, but your memory is unreliable. Where are your keys? Exactly. Do not ever try and remember what you think the policy says. At best, youll only remember the last policy that you read six months ago. At worst, youll make something up because your brain wants to protect you from looking silly so itll make something up.

There are so many policies that you cant remember them all. I was on a webinar a couple of weeks ago and tried to remember a policy provision off the top of my head. A friend (you know who you are) kindly corrected me. Thats just my latest reminder not to rely on what I think I remember.

Thou shalt not read a policy. I choose my words on purpose. Dont just grab any policy and read it. You cant read the carriers sample policies. You cant download and read the policy forms that you can find on the internet. You cant just grab a file and read that policy. Be very specific.

Thou shalt (and must) read the policy. If you have a question about a specific policy, read that policy. It does your customer no good to read just any policy when theyre asking about their policy. Read it. Read it front to back. Read it with all the attached endorsements and notices. Make a copy that you can write on and make notes right on the policy. Use sticky notes. Write out your questions. Point to different parts of the policy.

Asking for help

There is no shame in asking for help reading policies. We all do it. I cant tell you how many times I took an insureds policy to a colleague and asked a question about something I read. Sometimes, in asking a question, I begin to talk out whats confusing me and work it out myself. I just need a sounding board. A few times, the answer seemed so simple that I was sure that I was wrong, so I asked anyway.

We all ask questions and debate. One of the things that I miss about being an underwriter in an office is gathering around and discussing some finer point of coverage with the team. I like arguing about what the policy is saying. I like when we disagree honestly. I also like being right, so theres that.

We should be asking each other for help in reading insurance policies. They arent easy to read. Theyre kind of hard to read. Thats why the customers dont read them. Thats why some of our peers in the business dont read them. You know who you are. Read the policy. Read the specific policy that you have questions about. If that doesnt do it, ask someone else. Show the actual policy that you have questions about.

Remember that insurance policies might be similar, but things that are similar are not the same.

Topics Property HomeownersAlera Group, a national employee benefits, property/casualty, risk management and wealth management firm headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, has appointed Matt Kistler as director of Business Development.

Kistler will play a critical part in Alera Groups continued national expansion and growth. He brings more than 12 years of experience to the Alera Group team.

Previously, Kistler was the vice president of Business Development at United Benefit Advisors (UBA), where he worked with the leadership of insurance agencies across the country as a strategic industry consultant.

In 2016, Kistler joined LHD Benefit Advisors in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he helped CFOs, CEOs and human capital executives navigate the complexities of their employee benefits program.

Source: Alera Group

Topics IllinoisAmid concerns about bottlenecks to access, Louisiana regulators have agreed to loosen limits on how many medical marijuana patients doctors authorized to dispense cannabis can treat.

Louisianas State Board of Medical Examiners voted 8-1 to remove a cap established in 2016 that limited physicians to 100 medical marijuana patients. People seeking the treatment pushed elimination of the cap, worried they will have difficulty getting the medication when it becomes available later this year, estimated around November.

Dr. Victor Chou, who has opened a medical marijuana clinic in Baton Rouge, reached the patient cap months ago and said hundreds of people are on his waiting list.

Many of them feel locked out because they either cannot find physicians or the physicians they find already have hit the 100-patient limit, Chou told the board.

Only 48 doctors have submitted applications for the Louisiana permit required to offer medical-grade pot to patients, with 31 approved so far. Thats such a low number that even without a patient cap, concerns still exist about whether enough doctors will dispense medical marijuana to make it easily accessible to eligible patients.

One of the states two sanctioned marijuana growers anticipates the number of people eligible for medical marijuana, particularly after state lawmakers earlier this year added more medical conditions that can be treated with cannabis, will reach about 100,000 people.

With a narrower 5-4 vote, the board that oversees physicians also removed a restriction requiring medical marijuana patients to revisit their doctors every 90 days to continue getting therapeutic cannabis.

Jacob Irving, a 26-year-old with cerebral palsy, has been waiting for years for marijuana treatment. He said the limits set by the medical board get in the way of my statutorily-granted rights to therapeutic cannabis. He said repeated visits to doctors cost time and money and interfere with a doctors ability to determine the best course of treatment.

I want to be free to have my relationship with my physician, who I trust, said Irving, a recent law school graduate from Baton Rouge. I think blanket rules are inconvenient. They put an economic burden on myself and other patients.

Dr. Roderick Clark, vice president of the medical board, agreed. He suggested eliminating the patient cap and the 90-day follow-up requirement.

If were going to treat this as a drug or medication, then the physician should be responsible in the physician/patient relationship to treat that patient appropriately through his scope of process, he said. We already have rules about that. We have laws about that.

Board member Dr. James Taylor objected to removing both sets of restrictions, saying he worried that it becomes a de facto open use of marijuana.

Under a law passed in 2015 and tweaked twice since then, Louisiana is allowing therapeutic cannabis to treat a long list of diseases and disorders, such as cancer, a severe form of cerebral palsy, seizure disorders, epilepsy and muscular dystrophy. Earlier this year, lawmakers added glaucoma, severe muscle spasms, intractable pain, post-traumatic stress disorder and Parkinsons disease.

Doctors wont issue a prescription but a physician recommendation form, a legal nuance aimed at keeping doctors from jeopardizing their medical licenses because federal law prohibits prescribing marijuana.

Marijuana can be available in medicinal oils, pills, liquids, sprays and topical applications, but cannot be sold in a form to be smoked. Nine dispensing pharmacies will be spread across the state. Only the Louisiana State University and Southern University agricultural centers can grow medical marijuana.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Louisiana CannabisIvanhoe's current cash position is approximately C$855 million

CITIC Metal and Zijin Mining each purchased their Ivanhoe Mines shares at C$3.68 per share

Beijing, China - September 19, 2018 (Newsfile Corp.) (Investorideas.com Newswire) Robert Friedland, Executive Co-Chairman of Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN) (OTCQX: IVPAF), and Lars-Eric Johansson, Chief Executive Officer, today announced the completion of a major strategic equity investment totalling C$723 million (approximately US$556 million) in Ivanhoe Mines by CITIC Metal Africa Investments Limited (CITIC Metal Africa), a direct subsidiary of CITIC Metal Co., Ltd. (CITIC Metal), one of China's leading international resources companies.

The investment, initiated three months ago by CITIC Metal, is an integral part of Ivanhoe's long-term strategic cooperation and investment agreement with CITIC Metal.

Ivanhoe Mines has issued 196,602,037 common shares to CITIC Metal Africa through a private placement at a price of C$3.68 per share.

CITIC Metal Africa now has become Ivanhoe Mines' largest single shareholder through its acquired ownership of approximately 19.5% of the company's issued and outstanding common shares. Mr. Friedland has the second-largest Ivanhoe shareholding, with an ownership stake of approximately 17%.

As part of the private-placement agreement, CITIC Metal Africa and Mr. Friedland have signed reciprocal standstill agreements that prevent either of them from increasing their individual ownerships in Ivanhoe Mines to more than 19.9% until January 8, 2022.

The investment has generated gross proceeds for Ivanhoe Mines of C$723 million (approximately US$556 million). Approximately C$131 million of the C$723 million owing from the strategic equity investment was used to repay an interim loan of US$100 million that Ivanhoe Mines received on August 9, 2018, from CITIC Metal's corporate parent, CITIC Metal Group Limited. This resulted in a net cash payment to Ivanhoe today of C$592 million (approximately US$455 million). The full repayment of the interim loan eliminates the limited-recourse guarantee and share pledge previously provided by Mr. Friedland to secure Ivanhoe Mines' obligation under the loan facility.

"For more than 15 years, we have been mutually building the foundation for a long-lasting and trust-based relationship with CITIC," said Mr. Friedland. "We first formed a strategic alliance with CITIC in 2003 and since then have worked together to deepen our understandings of each other's values, strategic priorities, and operating and financial capabilities.

"After a period of extensive due diligence and multiple site visits, we are delighted to welcome CITIC Metal Africa as our new, largest shareholder. CITIC's leaders have reviewed hundreds of mining projects around the world, helping them to fully appreciate the world-scale significance of our three tier-one projects, and the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead as we move forward with our ongoing mine developments and exploration programs.

"We are confident that the CITIC Metal Group has the experience, financial resources - and a shared commitment to our objectives - to greatly assist us as we advance our projects to production, creating value for Ivanhoe's stakeholders in the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa, and our international shareholders."

Yufeng "Miles" Sun, President of CITIC Metal Group Limited, commented: "For several years, CITIC Metal has been focused on investing in high-quality mining assets with strategic, global partners. We are very pleased to have partnered with Ivanhoe Mines as Ivanhoe's three world-class assets are among the very best in the mining industry and Mr. Friedland is a respected, long-standing friend of CITIC's.

"CITIC Metal's strategic investment in Ivanhoe reflects our strong belief that the long-term prospects for the mining industry are extremely positive, especially given the projected robust future demand for key metals, such as copper, for renewable energy infrastructure and electric vehicles.

"We recognize the professional competence of the Ivanhoe Mines team, and we share their profound understanding and embracing of diverse cultures, which are indispensable factors in successful construction and operation of large-scale mining assets in Africa. We are confident that by working closely with the Ivanhoe Mines team and other existing shareholders and stakeholders, Ivanhoe's three tier-one projects can be successfully brought into production on schedule," Mr. Sun added.

Figure 1: CITIC Metals Strategic Investment in Ivanhoe Mines Closing Ceremony

Figure 2: CITIC Metals Strategic Investment in Ivanhoe Mines Closing Ceremony

Zijin exercises anti-dilution rights at C$3.68 per share to raise additional C$78 million for Ivanhoe.

Ivanhoe's joint-venture partner at the Kamoa-Kakula Project, Zijin Mining Group Co., Ltd., has exercised its anti-dilution rights, generating additional proceeds for Ivanhoe of C$78 million (approximately US$60 million). The exercise by Zijin of its anti-dilution rights also was at a price of C$3.68 per share. This has resulted in Zijin retaining a 9.7% ownership stake in Ivanhoe Mines - its level of ownership prior to the completion of CITIC Metal Africa's strategic investment.

With receipt of the combined proceeds of more than C$800 million from CITIC Metal Africa and Zijin, and the repayment of the interim loan, Ivanhoe now has cash and cash equivalents of approximately C$855 million (US$657 million) - and no significant debt.

Ivanhoe intends to use the funds to continue advancing its development and exploration activities at the Kamoa-Kakula, Platreef and Kipushi projects on their current, accelerated timetables.

"With today's closing of the private-placement financings with CITIC and Zijin, we have enhanced our strategic cooperation partnership with two of China's leading mining companies," said Mr. Friedland.

"Both partners share our expectation that future markets for metals will be influenced by steadily increasing urbanization and demands for cleaner air and water, which require strategic metals, such as nickel, zinc, platinum-group metals and, especially, copper.

"Ivanhoe Mines now is in the extremely advantageous position of having current cash resources of approximately US$657 million. We are confident in our capacity to successfully finance all three of our mine-development projects to production," Mr. Friedland added.

Mr. So Hon Chun, the controlling shareholder of Crystal River Global Limited, the holder of the 1% interest in the holding company for the Kamoa-Kakula Project with Zijin, previously assisted in connection with Zijin's initial investment in Ivanhoe Mines. Mr. So has a long-standing relationship with the Ivanhoe group of companies and continues to assist Ivanhoe in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Yufeng "Miles" Sun and Tadeu Carneiro join expanded Ivanhoe Board.

Pursuant to the terms of the private-placement agreement with CITIC Metal Africa, Ivanhoe Mines has accepted CITIC Metal's nomination of Mr. Sun and Tadeu Carneiro to the Ivanhoe Mines Board of Directors. The two new appointments expand the Board to 11 members.

Mr. Sun, President of CITIC Metal Group, has been appointed Non-Executive Co-Chairman of Ivanhoe Mines. Mr. Carneiro, former Chief Executive Officer of Brazil-based Companhia Brasileira de Metalurgia e Mineracao (CBMM), the world's largest producer of niobium metal and its basic alloys, has been appointed as a non-executive director.

Advisors

Ivanhoe Mines' financial advisors are BMO Capital Markets and Citi. Legal counsel for the company is Stikeman Elliott LLP. CITIC Metal is advised by RBC Capital Markets, as financial advisor, Ernst & Young (China), as tax advisor, RPM Global and BGRIMM Technology Group, as technical advisors and CITIC Securities, as PRC strategic advisor. Legal counsel for CITIC Metal is Baker McKenzie. Counsel for Zijin is Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP.

About CITIC Metal and CITIC Limited

CITIC Metal Africa Investments and CITIC Metal are affiliates of CITIC Limited. As CITIC Limited's arm in the business of resources and energy, CITIC Metal specializes in the importation and distribution of copper, zinc, platinum-group metals, niobium products, iron ore, coal and non-ferrous metals; trading of steel products; and investments in metals and mining projects. CITIC Metal's major mining investments include a 15% ownership in the Las Bambas copper project in Peru and leading a Chinese consortium in acquiring a 15% ownership in the Brazil-based niobium producer CBMM. CITIC Metal Africa is an Investment holding company incorporated in Hong Kong, with its 100% equity interests directly held by CITIC Metal.

CITIC Limited is China's largest conglomerate, with total assets of more than US$900 billion. Among its diverse global businesses, CITIC Limited focuses primarily on financial services, resources and energy, manufacturing, engineering contracting and real estate. CITIC Limited enjoys leading market positions in sectors well matched to China's economy. CITIC's rich history, diverse platform and strong corporate culture across all businesses ensure that CITIC Limited is unrivalled in capturing opportunities arising in China.

CITIC Limited is listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, where it is a constituent of the Hang Seng Index. CITIC Group Corporation, a Chinese state-owned enterprise, owns 58% of CITIC Limited.

About Ivanhoe Mines

Ivanhoe Mines is a Canadian mining company focused on advancing its three principal projects in Southern Africa: the development of new mines at the Kamoa-Kakula copper discovery in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Platreef platinum-palladium-nickel-copper-gold discovery in South Africa; and the extensive redevelopment and upgrading of the historic Kipushi zinc-copper-germanium-lead mine, also in the DRC.

Information contacts

Investors

Bill Trenaman +1.604.331.9834

Media

North America: Bob Williamson +1.604.512.4856

South Africa: Jeremy Michaels +27.82.772.1122

More Info:

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Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.aspIRELAND: Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has ruled out banning the right for people to take photographs and videos of gardai during protests and while they are on duty in a slap down to Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan.

IRELAND: The Policing Authority is to question Garda Commissioner Drew Harris about the policing of last weeks controversial repossession at a meeting next week.

IRELAND: A former cancer sufferer says the recession saved his life.

WORLD: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has agreed to permanently dismantle his main nuclear complex at Nyongbyon if the United States takes corresponding measures, South Korean president Moon Jae-in said.

VIEWS: Outcomes of previous blueprints have never matched the ambition. Major upheaval, both internally and external to the force, will be required, writes Michael Clifford.

BUSINESS: Professional services giant PwC is to hire 80 staff and expand its office space in Cork amid exponential growth in demand for cybersecurity protection services.

SPORT: Gaelic Players Association (GPA) chairman Seamus Hickey has welcomed GAA president John Horans idea of creating a role tasked with ensuring inter-county players are not overburdened and suffer burnout.

... SOME DISTRACTION

FEATURE: To celebrate the launch of We Are Cork, Ciara McDonnell chats to five of Corks most prominent blow-ins about putting down roots in the rebel county.

SHOWBIZ: Jack Black took aim at Donald Trump as he was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

CULTURE: It's hard to put a finger on what makes Japanese gaming so special, but Segas Yakuza series is a great place to start exploring the questionAlmost half of farmers believe protests by animal rights and vegan campaigners are having a bad impact on the rural community.

Asked if increased agitation and protests by vegan and animal rights campaigners is having a negative impact on the rural community, 48% of respondents agreed. Just under one third of respondents disagreed.

Men, younger farmers, and those aged 55 to 64, and those in livestock and without a second job were more likely to agree with the statement.

Bernie Wright, spokeswoman for the Alliance for Animal Rights and Association of Hunt Saboteurs, said some of the response from people in the poll may have been influenced by a recent advertising billboard campaign that made pointed references to the dairy industry and animal separation.

A lot of people who live in country are against hare coursing and blood sports, she said.

Vegans are not against farmers, we are against animal abuse and if you take somebodys life and carve them up, that is abuse to us, the meat industry is abuse. Everybody has their own line and you draw your line above what you disapprove of.

Ms Wright said of the billboard campaign, which was financed by a separate body: That is really what got at them, we are pointing out the truth about the meat industry, the milk industry. They are all the one really, the milk industry is nearly worse than the meat industry.

Caroline Rowley, of Compassion in World Farming Ireland, said a billboard campaign by Vegan World against dairy may have been in the minds of poll responders.

There has been a rise in veganism also which will have affected demand and so negatively impact farmers, she said.

However, I would have thought the weather this year would have been of much greater concern to farmers than the actions of animal rights campaigns. First the wet winter causing a fodder shortage and then the dry summer. That also impacted crop farmers. The impending fodder crisis we are likely to hit come winter must be a real worry to livestock farmers.

The only campaigning we [Compassion Ireland] have been doing is in relation to live export and as calf exports have hit a whopping 150,000 this year, we are clearly failing miserably.

There has also been an increase in exports to Libya and a general increase by over 20% on last years export volumes. Plus if half of farmers questioned are still grumbling despite the increase in live export, then that clearly isnt the holy grail we are led to believe it is, bolstering the farming industry that would otherwise implode without it. Live export only benefits the handful of exporters, it doesnt benefit the farming community.

Last week, Agriculture Minister Michael Creed told an animal welfare conference the Quality Assurance Schemes as overseen by Bord Bia continue to play an important role in underpinning our reputation as a major food exporter.

Animal welfare considerations must continue to be placed at the centre of our Assurance Schemes. Irish producers are in an excellent position to benefit because of our strong record on animal husbandry developed over generations, he said.

In response to the survey findings, the ICMSA said Irish farming is conspicuous for applying the highest animal welfare standards to be found anywhere. We are proud of our commitment to animal welfare and it is an issue on which we are happy to co-operate but only within the bounds of reality and accepted science.Ireland's imminent abortion services will be completely free to ensure they can be fully accessed by anyone who needs them, end the need to travel abroad for care and to prevent an influx of private abortion clinics into this country.

Health Minister Simon Harris confirmed the new services will not cost anything just 24 hours after President Michael D Higgins signed the referendum result into law, thereby formally removing the eighth amendment from the constitution.

Speaking to reporters at the opening of the new primary care centre in Grangegorman, Dublin, Mr Harris said that even though abortion services are set to be provided in the near future it is essential "cost is not a barrier" to accessing the medical help.

Asked specifically if he will introduce any charge to receive abortions in legislation due to be passed by cabinet next week and put to the Dail in the first week of October, Mr Harris confirmed no fees will be involved.

The Health Minister said the move is needed, saying that if a price tag was linked to accessing abortion services it would encourage private abortion clinics into Ireland and lead to women continuing to travel abroad for the care they need.

"Yes, it is my intention that the services will be free," Mr Harris confirmed.

"I've said from the start that I don't want cost to be a barrier, because if cost is a barrier you get into a situation where one of two things happen, you get abortion clinics to develop or you can see people having to continue to travel.

"I want this [abortion services] to be provided as part of our healthcare system, our public healthcare system and part of our primary healthcare system.

I think it's important to say that Tuesday was an extraordinarily historic day. The President of Ireland signed the bill that has removed the eighth amendment from the constitution, and today is the first day that the eighth amendment is actually gone from Bunreacht na hEireann.

"That now allows us as legislatures to do our job," he said.

Mr Harris also confirmed that, now that President Higgins has signed the order paper to remove the eighth amendment from the constitution, he will bring planned law changes to allow abortion services to cabinet next week.

The Health Minister said he expects cabinet to pass these new rules immediately in order to allow him to bring them to the Dail in the first week of October and fully introducing them by the end of this year.

"Next week I will return to cabinet for final approval of the bill that will legislate for termination of pregnancy in certain circumstances.

"I intend to introduce that in the Oireachtas in the first week of October, I hope we can pass it through the Oireachtas in the month of October and November," he said.

Asked about ongoing concerns pro-life groups may target the three day 'cooling off' period for women seeking to access abortion services which is included in the planned new laws, Mr Harris said he was aware of the issue.

However, in a clear message to groups wishing to continue the abortion debate, he said:

"I do note the comments of some groups about the three days. But I would say to anybody regardless of whether you voted yes or no, we made a conscious decision to have a very detailed general scheme available before the referendum, that three day period was part of the discussion and was debated fully during the referendum, which was passed."

The Pro Life Campaign said that todays proceedings at the Oireachtas Committee were a rude awakening for anyone who thought the new abortion law would be restrictive.

Dr Ruth Cullen of the Pro Life Campaign said: Todays committee hearings brought into sharp focus the extreme nature of the abortion law about to be introduced. Its a definite rude awakening for anyone who thought the law would be somewhat restrictive.

It is clear Health Minister Simon Harris and others in government have no interest in hearing perspectives other than ones that zealously back abortion. It is going to take time but the public will realise the full extent of the charade that is going on when the reality of what the abortion law permits starts to sink in," she said.The people who took part in anti-eviction training in Dublin last night say they are now ready to occupy vacant buildings to highlight the housing crisis.

Around 50 activists attended the meeting in the city which looked at how to plan and defend an occupation.The Government has been accused of fobbing off service personnel concerns about pay and conditions with compliments and platitudes.

Dara Calleary claimed the "crisis" had got so bad that many Defence Forces members had no option but to supplement their wages by claiming state benefits.

The Fianna Fail TD raised the issue during Leaders' Questions in the Dail as retired members and relatives of current service personnel took part in a large demonstration outside Leinster House demanding action.

"Compliments and commendations don't put meals on tables," he told Employment Affairs and Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty.

"Members of the Defence Forces are men and women who have the same costs as the rest of us, but they are now finding it impossible to rear families, to get a mortgage, to tackle the day-to-day costs because they are serving our country."

He said the Defence Forces were experiencing an "exodus", with members leaving to take up better paid jobs in the private sector.

Mr Calleary said the 9,000 head count was the lowest in the history of the state and almost 500 below agreed levels. He said the number of officers had dropped from 966 to 817.

"At every level in our Defence Forces there is a crisis," he said.

Sinn Fein TD Aengus O Snodaigh said: "There is chaos in the Defence Forces.

"They are haemorrhaging members, not just long-serving ones but many new recruits.

"This is causing extra pressure on the existing low morale - the foundation of which any army, navy or air corps has to have."

Will this Government introduce measures in Budget 2019 to ensure that a career in the Defence Forces is not one where you must live in poverty? - @aosnodaigh #dail #LeadersQs @WPDF_2017 pic.twitter.com/cUuiY0cqR9  Sinn Fein (@sinnfeinireland) September 19, 2018

Ms Doherty acknowledged there were issues around pay, recruitment and retention within the Defence Forces. She said the Government would examine a submission handed in by the demonstrators and respond appropriately.

She said cuts to pay and allowances made during the financial crash were gradually being reversed and the Public Sector Pay Commission was examining ways to address recruitment and retention issues.

"We have had difficulties in regard to pay over recent years but it's not without having good reasons," she told the Dail.

"Every single public and civil servant in the country had their pay cut over the last number of years because of the economic crash. It's thankful we are in a position where we can unravel those cuts, we are in a position to bring forward new pay agreements and new stability agreements for the years going ahead.

It's because of a recovering economy that we can do that and it's because we value and want to retain the people in the Defence Forces that we have put an action plan around retention and recruitment to make sure we have full capacity of numbers.

She rejected Mr Calleary's suggestion the Government was only offering "platitudes".

"What is absolutely fundamental here is that every single man, woman and child in this country has pride in the Defence Forces and the actions they take both abroad and in Ireland in protecting peace, security and the safety of Irish people," she said.

PA & Digital DeskDeveloping a 23km greenway along a disused East Cork railway line will boost the local economy and is better than letting it lie idle, Cork County Council insists.

It sets out its position on the proposed Midleton to Youghal greenway in planning documents published yesterday as part of its Part 8 planning application process.

The Green Party has branded the proposal as short-sighted, claiming it will close the railway line forever.

Laying tarmac over the railway tracks for a greenway will leave little or no realistic chance of the rail line ever re-opening, party representative in the area, Liam Quaide, said.

We believe it is short-sighted to sacrifice the Youghal-Midleton railway line to bring the greenway about, he said.

Commuting times on the N25 are getting longer and longer. This is only going to get worse as our population grows. A train service from Youghal should link up with a light rail system in Cork City as part of an integrated transport network.

But the council documents say the status of the railway is disused and there are no proposals to bring the line into use for rail.

The railway corridor therefore presents an opportunity to harness an existing and unused asset for the benefit of the local area, says the council.

The reports also say ownership of the railway property on the earmarked route is vested in Coras Iompair Eireann and that permission to develop, maintain, and manage the proposed greenway by the council will be subject to a licence from CIE.

The ownership status of the property will therefore remain unchanged and this arrangement will provide for the protection of the railway corridor for future rail use and facilitate community and economic gain in the interim.

The railway between Midleton and Youghal opened in 1860 with regular passenger services operating until 1963. The line remained open for goods traffic until the early 1980s, with all rail traffic ceasing in 1988.

An outing to Youghal by train of children from Limerick in 1952. A 23km disused railway line from Youghal to Midleton has been earmarked for a greenway  Cork County Council says it will boost the local economy but the Green Party feels it should be used for a train service to Cork City.

While the railway corridor is largely overgrown, the physical integrity of the route remains evident, with many of the original railway features including sections of track, bridges, culverts, station buildings, embankments, and cuttings still in place.

Some landowners responded to council invitations for one-to-one meetings. Those meetings were informal and unrecorded but similar issues were raised by the landowners including the potential impact of a greenway on day-to-day farm operations, the potential increased risk of burglaries and anti-social behaviour, and impacts on privacy.

The council said it plans to appoint a project liaison officer and an agronomist to engage with landowners as the project advances.

The greenway is dependent on funding and if Part 8 planning is granted, the council said it will seek monies from all relevant potential funding sources. The Government announced a 53m three-year national greenway fund in June.

The closing date for submissions on this planning application is October 30.The Policing Authority is to question Garda Commissioner Drew Harris about the policing of last weeks controversial repossession at a meeting next week.

It will be the Garda chiefs first public meeting with the authority since he was sworn in on September 3.

The organisation has come under severe criticism in relation to the use of hoods, similar to balaclavas, worn by members of a public order unit at the incident at North Frederick St in Dublins north inner city last Tuesday week.

The gardai were photographed standing in front of two individuals, sporting balaclavas, involved in the actual repossession.

Mr Harris has said that the use of the hoods was not correct, but only in the sense that helmets should also have been worn over them  if there was an assessed threat to their safety.

He also said the members on duty showed restraint in the face of physical and verbal abuse by a small number of protesters.

The commissioner said he had sought a report from Dublin Assistant Commissioner Pat Leahy on the matter and see what lessons can be learned from it.

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan said on Monday that the images of balaclavas on the streets of Dublin were disturbing and go back to a dark period in Irish history.

Policing Authority chair Josephine Feehily also said the images were not the kind that would inspire public confidence.

She said she had spoken to the commissioner prior to his statement and was pleased with it. She said Mr Harris had acknowledged that some errors were made in relation to the uniform.

Garda sources said Mr Harris is due to receive the requested report before the meeting with the authority next Thursday.

The Policing Authority is keeping abreast of developments relating to the repossession and subsequent protest on North Frederick St last week, a statement read.

The matter was raised with the Commissioner last week and will again be discussed at the meeting with the Commissioner on Thursday September 27.

Human rights expert Alyson Kilpatrick called on the commissioner to publish the report or a detailed summary of it, and for the Policing Authority to examine the report and make its views on it public.Gardai in Dublin are investigating after a number of shots were fired at a house on the northside overnight.

It happened in the Shangan area of Ballymun at around 2.30am this morning.Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has ruled out banning the right for people to take photographs and videos of gardai during protests and while they are on duty in a slap down to Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan.

Mr Varadkar insisted yesterday he has no plans to introduce the measure, just 24 hours after Mr Flanagan suggested the move may take place to protect officers from online abuse in light of the Take Back The City homelessness protests.

During the first leaders questions debate of the new Dail term, Mr Varadkar was asked by Solidarity-People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett if he will condemn the garda response to the North Frederick St occupation protest in Dublin.

The protest  which relates to calls to house homeless people in otherwise empty properties  led to a furious outcry after gardai and security workers moving protesters wore balaclavas to protect their identities, and after one officer suffered online threats.

However, while Mr Flanagan sparked controversy after telling RTE Radios Today With Sean ORourke programme on Monday he would be open to banning the videoing and photographing of gardai in order to protect them, Mr Varadkar insisted there are no plans for a new law to be introduced.

I want to reassure people  press photographers, individual citizens and protestors  that there are no Government proposals whatsoever to do that [ban photography or videoing at protests], Mr Varadkar said when asked by Mr Boyd Barrett.

Taoiseach @campaignforleo Varadkar tells @RBoydBarrett following #TakeBackTheCity protest that the Government does not have any plans to introduce any ban on filming or photographing Gardai as this would be a "restriction on free speech" and is not something he could support. pic.twitter.com/doSm9RpiyY  Conor McMorrow (@ConorMcMorrow) September 18, 2018

The decision to publicly reject Mr Flanagans initial comment is likely to be seen as a criticism of the justice minister and his public handling of the case on Monday.

Mr Flanagan subsequently said he would be prepared to examine plans to introduce a ban on photographing and videoing them during their work.

Meanwhile, Mr Varadkar called on Mr Boyd Barrett to condemn any violence or threats of violence against gardai carrying out their duties, which Mr Boyd Barrett agreed to do.

Mr Varadkar was separately urged by both Sinn Fein and the Social Democrats to introduce a three-year and two-year rent freeze respectively amid claims ongoing housing and renting crises show the rent pressure zones system is not working.

However, the Taoiseach insisted the move may cause unseen pitfalls which could damage large sections of the population.

Do they have some big announcement, a rabbit to be pulled from the hat? The fact is that they dont. Im not asking for tinkering, Im asking for you to take decisive action, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said, leading Mr Varadkar to respond: I can assure the deputy I have no rabbits to pull out of the hat and I have no quick fix. To every complex problem, theres an easy and simple solution that doesnt work, and a rent freeze is probably one of those.A former cancer sufferer says the recession saved his life.

Stephen Fegan was working as a bricklayer in Cork when building activity started to slow down.

Noticing that work was dropping off in late 2008 Stephen decided to go ahead with a hernia operation he had been putting off for some time.

Stephen was admitted to the Bon Secours Hospital in Cork for the procedure. While there he asked doctors to check a lump the size of a jelly bean in his neck.

When the lump was surgically removed, it was found to be cancerous and much bigger than he thought.

I had it for about six months but it wasnt causing me any discomfort, he recalled.

Stephen began a course of aggressive treatment, during which he had to get blood transfusions and lost three and a half stone.

It was two years before he felt better.

Stephen, 63, who lives in Midleton, Co Cork, with his wife, Miriam, is playing a leading role in the launch today of Mouth Cancer Awareness Day.

This year, Mouth, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Ireland, together with the Irish Mens Sheds Association, are working to raise awareness of the disease.

Ive been clear for nine years now, but I get checked every six months, said Stephen.

It was a hernia that got me into hospital.

As my wife says, the recession saved my life.

The father of two adult children and grandfather of one advises anyone with concerns to arrange a check-up as soon as possible, as the earlier the cancer is caught, the better.

Every year, around 700 cases of mouth, head, and neck cancer are detected and there are 100 or more deaths  that is almost two people every week.

Although not as well known as other cancers, mouth cancer kills more Irish people than skin melanoma.

Eleanor OSullivan, a senior lecturer in oral surgery at Cork University Dental School and Hospital, was involved in treating Stephen.

This years campaign is putting a particular emphasis on men who have not attended their local dentist for a while, said Dr OSullivan.

Were encouraging them to attend their dentist or doctor if they have any concerns and to have regular dental check-ups even if they have no remaining natural teeth.

About half of all mouth cancers are diagnosed at an advanced stage, according to the National Cancer Registry in Ireland.

The president of the Irish Dental Association, Kieran OConnor, said the that signs and symptoms of mouth cancer might include a sore or ulcer in the mouth that does not heal within three weeks.

For more information, see mouthcancerawareness.ie.

Anyone concerned about mouth cancer can speak with a specialist nurse in confidence by calling the National Cancer Helpline on Freephone 1800 200 700.The governor of California has signed a bill into law to allow inspections of apartment balconies following the Berkeley tragedy that killed six Irish students in 2015.

Five J1 students and one of their cousins died at a 21st birthday party when the fifth-floor balcony they were standing on collapsed.By Niall Murray

Parents who previously refused the HPV vaccine for their daughters are now requesting that it be given, according to the HSE.

Older teenagers are taking up the vaccine to help prevent cervical cancer following a campaign that has also seen a major reversal of falling uptake among girls in second-level schools.

As Health Minister Simon Harris again urged parents to have their daughters vaccinated this autumn, the HSE reported that 65% of eligible first-year students got the vaccine during the last school year.

While there is still a considerable way to go to return to the uptake levels before concerns emerged about the effects of the HPV vaccine, it represents a 15% increase on uptake among first-year students the year before. From over 80% uptake every year since the HPV vaccination programme was introduced in 2010, rates fell to 72% in the 2015/16 school year and to just 50% the next year.

The provisional figures released by the HSE say 65% of girls took it up in the schools vaccination programme under which it is offered to all first-year female students. The data is provisional and further validation of returns could see the rate increase slightly.

In addition, the HSE reported that some older girls have also been availing of the vaccine through a catch-up facility available to anyone who might have hesitated previously.

We have had a significant number of requests from parents who had previously refused the vaccination for their daughters, said Angela OLeary, principal medical officer for community healthcare in Cork and Kerry.

Dr OLearys and other regional vaccination teams have worked with parents and schools in the past year reassure them about the vaccines effectiveness and safety.

The declines in uptake were prompted by what the HSE says were unfounded vaccine safety concerns following reports of adverse reactions to the Gardasil vaccine used. The HSE repeated yesterday that there is no scientific evidence of an increase in the incidence of chronic fatigue syndrome or any other long-term medical condition in vaccinated girls compared to those who are not vaccinated.

Mr Harris said prevention is better than cure and this is particularly true of cervical cancer.

We are lucky to have a vaccine that can potentially prevent 70% of cervical cancers, he said. This very welcome increase [in uptake] reflects the huge amount of work being done across the medical community, including school vaccination teams, GPs, and pharmacists, to provide accurate and trusted information.By Liam Heylin

Two prisoners at Cork Prison were caught in possession of mobile phones during routine searches and each got a two-month term added his sentence.

Detective Garda Kevin ODonnell testified that on August 25, an officer at Cork Prison was carrying out a routine search of prisoner Shane Casey.

Casey was found in possession of a black HMP mobile phone. Detective Garda Danielle Hegarty and Detective Garda John Gleeson met him at the prison and he was co-operative.

Shane Casey has already been punished by means of a P19 and lost privileges for 14 days, Det Garda ODonnell told Cork District Court yesterday.

A P19 is an internal disciplinary procedure in prison.

Casey, aged 27, of 11 Assumption Village, Passage West, pleaded guilty,

to the charge

under the Prisons Act, 2007, of possessing a mobile phone without permission of the governor of the prison.

Diarmuid Kelleher, defending, said Casey made full admissions and was cooperative. He said the defendant had background mental-health difficulties and heroin and alcohol addiction.

In another search, a second prisoner was caught with a mobile phone.

Warren McGrath, aged 21, whose address was given as St Vincents hostel, Anglesea Terrace, Cork, pleaded guilty to this offence.

Det Garda OConnell gave similar evidence in respect of McGrath: On April 2 at around 2pm, a prison officer at Cork prison searched Warren McGrath at the reception area in Cork prison. He was caught with a black Alcatel One Touch mobile phone. This was seized by the prison officer.

Frank Buttimer, solicitor, said the facts were accepted by McGrath but added that he did not even have the benefit of the phone in prison because it did not function as a result of a fault with the SIM card.An association representing more than 800 retired military officers has said its regrettable that the loyalty, commitment, contribution, and immense personal sacrifices made by Defence Forces personnel is undermined by the lack of meaningful Government action on providing them with proper pay.

The Association of Retired Commissioned Officers (Arco) issued the statement ahead of todays march on the Dail, which is being organised by former soldiers and members of the lobby group, Wives and Partners of the Defence Forces (WPDF).

Arco, which was founded in 1993, said it felt obliged to express its deep concern at the progressive deterioration of the conditions of service of Defence Forces members and its dramatic impact on depleting the strategic capabilities required to deliver the Governments taskings in the army, air corps, and naval service.

The association made its comments after retired Brigadier General Ger Aherne said that the Governments poor treatment of serving personnel had broken a special bond between the State and the countrys military.

He said the only repayment for serving personnels loyalty was further abuse and that the Defence Forces loyalty was not recognised by the Government.

Tanaiste and former minister for defence Simon Coveney said Mr Ahernes remarks were not the kind of commentary he wanted to hear.

Arco said the Defence Forces is struggling to cope with the continuous exodus of trained and experienced personnel of all ranks.

The association said the resulting depletion of leadership echelons and corporate military knowledge is leading to a further strategic deterioration of defence capabilities, caused by the inability to retain personnel across all ranks having the necessary skills and competencies, and noted the challenges encountered in attracting appropriate personnel to the Defence Forces.

Arco said it is calling on the Government to ensure there is meaningful engagement between the Department of Defence, the military authorities, and Defence Forces representative associations to identify and develop policies that will address, without delay, the serious retention and remuneration issues that are undermining the Defence Forces operational readiness. Arco said this is also affecting the morale of its personnel.

The organisers of todays march in Dublin hope there will be enough of a turnout to embarrass the Government into action. They will gather at the military memorial on Merrion Square at 11.45am to form a parade and hear from a number of speakers, including Shelley Cotter from WPDF, senator Gerard Craughwell, a former army sergeant, and retired regimental sergeant major Noel OCallaghan.

Following a wreath-laying ceremony and a reading of The Proclamation, the parade will move off at 12pm to march to the Dail. Further speakers will address the crowd when they arrive outside Leinster House.

At around 1.30pm the parade will march to the Department of Finance where a further submission will be handed in.By Juno McEnroe and Catherine Shanahan

The Government has been advised not to introduce a vacant property tax but to instead roll out a programme of compulsory purchase orders against a backdrop of growing pressure to ease the housing crisis.

A report by consultants Indecon goes against recommending the tax at this time as we do not believe it would be an effective response to deal with the housing shortage.

It says the very low vacancy rates in the areas of greatest demand... indicate that the potential for a vacant property tax to increase housing supply is very limited and could represent a distraction from the need to significantly accelerate the building of social housing.

It says the option should be kept under review.

The report says a programme of compulsory orders should be urgently activated on suitable vacant residential properties, with local authorities re-selling them on the open market and with the Government covering conveyancing costs.

Separately, Revenue is planning a crackdown on homeowners renting out property on Airbnb.

Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy is set to bring proposals to Government to clamp down on Airbnb lettings.

Revenue is writing to 12,000 homeowners to remind them to include rental income in their tax returns, and warning it will follow-up with compliance checks.

The move follows Airbnb providing details of payments made to customers in 2014, 2015, and 2016.

Revenue said it is alert to the risks posed by online business in all its forms, including the provision of short-term accommodation.

Some 640,000 people used Airbnb properties in Ireland this summer alone. Opposition parties have expressed concern that short-term lets are exacerbating the housing and rental crisis.In advance of his exhibition in Cork, Peter Lavery tells Ellie OByrne about his 50 years photographing circus performers

It's 250 years since retired sergeant-major Philip Astley formed Hapenny Hatch Riding School in London in 1768, founding the art form we now call circus and instituting the role of ringmaster to boot.

Yorkshire-born photographer Peter Lavery has now photographed exactly one fifth of the living history of circus: his behind-the-scenes portraits of performers span 50 years of circus life.

Lavery was first drawn to circus as a subject at just 19, while studying photography in the Royal College of Art in London. He attended a circus performance on a visit home to Yorkshire, in Queens Hall in Leeds, and was instantly hooked on his new subject matter.

It just grabbed me, somehow, he says. I really liked the incongruity of it, the way you had people dressing in these wonderful costumes and living in wet, muddy fields. And some of them were risking their lives every night. It was just so different from every other part of society.

As a student, Lavery hitched across the UK and Ireland, blagging sleeping space in and even under the circus wagons as he documented jugglers, acrobats, clowns and sequinned beauties throughout the late sixties and early seventies, even as he built himself a successful career in commercial photography.

Many people run away with the circus, but for Lavery, circus was coming home: in between his commercial jobs in advertising, he always found himself returning to the colourful, hard-working characters he found there, documenting them not in the lights of the Big Top but behind the scenes, at their wagons, in fields or in dressing rooms.

In between jobs, it was a really big relief to go back to that reality, if you can call the circus reality, he says. It grounded me tremendously.

Working with a large-format plate camera and shooting in black and white, often only using natural light, Lavery shot the denizens of the circus from 1968 to 1997, producing his first book, Circus Work.

After a brief hiatus, he returned in 1998. In recent years, hes worked in colour and used more lighting, although he still shoots on film, now working with a wooden camera that produces 810 inch negatives.

He often gets asked if it was difficult to win the trust of his subjects, but Lavery says it wasnt, in part because he started out when he himself was an impoverished student and also because of the respect he pays his subjects.

I didnt come across as a big, professional photographer. In those days, they didnt get lots of photographers coming around, either. You do get a lot nowadays, and I dont think they get the same level of access.

Also, because I use a plate camera thats set up on a tripod and that you stand next to, I can talk to my subjects. I do appreciate the people.

"I dont like to steal a picture, or make the person look silly. I dont want to glorify them either, but I do make sure that its them giving the best part of themselves and showing something about their feelings in their face.

The first place circus founder, Philip Astley, ever toured outside London was to Dublin, and so Irelands connection to circus is nearly as old as Englands.

Lavery has travelled here frequently and his own personal favourite image is one he took of Caroline Gerbola, of the well-known Gerbola circus family, on her horse Conchita in Tralee in the 1980s.

Another of his favourite images in the exhibition is his portrait of circus founder Nell Gifford, a photo that pays homage to Dorothea Langes famous US depression-era photograph, Migrant Mother.

Nell used to live just up the lane from me and I showed her the Dorothea Lange photograph and told her I wanted to photograph her like that.

Nell started a circus that has done really well. Shes such an intrepid person and I think shes quite amazing the way shes done what shes done.

Giffords circus is a relative new-comer on the circus scene, just 12 years old. Active across Englands South West, its part of a new wave of circus with an upmarket, retro aesthetic incorporating a trend for burlesque and vintage styles.

Across the UK and Ireland, a circus revival now certainly seems to be afoot, Lavery says: In the Nineties, it seemed as though circus was dying: all the big circuses started disappearing and then, about 15 years ago, it began to come back.

"Now more and more are popping up and bringing in all kinds of art forms.

Often viewed with the same suspicion reserved for travelling folk of all kinds, circus performers are now winning a hard-earned respect. Internationally, the rise and rise of Cirque Du Soleil may have had an impact, and in Ireland, organisations like ISACS (Irish Street Arts, Circus and Spectacle Network) have emphasised the integration of contemporary and community circus with tradition.

Corks Pitchd Circus Arts Festival, running currently, has Arts Council funding.

Since Astleys time, circus has had equestrian connections, but another big change Lavery has lived through is the rise in awareness of animal cruelty which has put paid to public acceptance for many animal-based acts.

Gone are the cages of miserable, moulting wild animals, and Lavery says this is a welcome change.

Although, as ever with the world of illusion that is circus, things may not have always been what they seemed: see Laverys 1988 portrait of Moscow State Circus Ruslan Daurbekov, taking a breather in his dancing bear costume.

The tough world of circus performers has always been one of contrast, Lavery says: glittering sequins and muddy fields, illusion and reality.

But nowadays, it may be the draw of the real thats the biggest appeal.

Nowadays, everyone has an iPad, but kids still want to go and see something thats real. Circus is sometimes dirty, and things can go wrong: its an illusion, but its always real.

An exhibition of Peter Lavery: Circus Work 1968-2018, coinciding with Circus250, a celebration of the 250th anniversary of circus, will be at the Moscow State Circus, at the Cork Showgrounds in Curraheen from Sept 20-30.moscowstatecircus.com/ireland/cork/Pitchd Circus Arts Festival runs from Sept 21-30 in Cork: pitchdfestival.ieThe Mens Sheds association is filling a gap of comradeship and community, writes John Daly, as he headed to Cork to attend the largest gathering of the association in the world.

There are many stories and anecdotes around the community benefits of the Mens Sheds movement  all of them underlining in various ways the can do attitude of its members.

One I heard recently concerned a lady in the West of Ireland who was organising an important annual charity function, only to discover the night before that the builder hired to erect the platform and stands for the event was suddenly unavailable.

In an understandable tizzy at what to do with an overnight deadline looming, someone suggested calling the local Mens Shed for help.

Within an hour, six able-bodied guys varying in age from 55 to 75 pitched up at the venue, tools and materials in hand, to expertly and efficiently save the day.

Their demanded reward for such dedicated service? A pot of tea and a plate of homemade scones.

Last week in Cork, within the confines of the stunning new Pairc Ui Chaoimh stadium, a mini-United Nations of the Mens Shed movement displayed its wares in the largest assembly of the global organisation this year. With all 32 Irish counties represented, it also included an international dimension of 500 members from Denmark, Iceland, Australia and the United States.

Gathered under the theme of Connecting Communities, the event aimed to reinforce the importance of Mens Sheds to towns and villages throughout the country, and the world. During the two-day gathering, the focus was firmly fixed on the associations triumphs, achievements and challenges  all structured around Shed Stories  first-hand accounts of exemplary projects.

And proving that its not all about building and fixing, attendees in Pairc Ui Chaoimh found themselves serenaded by a selection of mens sheds choirs, another burgeoning aspect of the association which has taken hold across the country. Fittingly, proceedings concluded with a rousing finale from the renowned and local Mayfield Mens Sheds choir.

Appropriate to the venue, a number of headline speakers drawn from the world of elite sport were part of the Cork schedule, including recently retired Munster and Ireland legend Donncha OCallaghan, making a welcome return to his home city.

There was a huge gap there before Mens Sheds came along, a real gap in finding a place where men could go to meet other men, explains Barry Sheridan, CEO of the association.

It was very hard to find any community space where men could congregate to get involved in their community or maybe learn new skills. The huge response to Mens Sheds across the country clearly showed that need for that outlet as a place to harness that willing spirit.

Since its foundation in 2011, the Irish Mens Sheds Association has overseen an exponential growth in the number of locations throughout Ireland. From a standing start, the number of Irish sheds has increased from zero in 2009 to over 400 today. Mens sheds are now present in each of the 32 counties, with as many as 50 in Dublin and 30 in Cork.

This is the largest gathering of Mens Sheds ever held anywhere in the world, and reflects Irelands status as world leaders in the field.

"We have the highest number of Mens Sheds per head of population in the entire world.

Even in an age of IT superhighways and answers to anything at the click of a computer mouse, the old-as-time instinct for simple human contact trumps even the enormous strides of the internet era.

Even at a time when social media offers so much in the way of information and advantages, Mens Sheds demonstrate the need for that human connection we all want. But it is even bigger than that, in fostering that sense of belonging to your community or place. It is an inherent part of Irish culture to want to feel proud of where were from, to feel a sense of connectivity to a local place.

"This kind of spirit expresses itself in many ways, everything from Tidy Towns, charity fundraising, helping schools or improvement projects for the local area.

"When we ask our members what do they get the most reward from, a huge percentage, over 80%, say it is that sense of being more involved in their community and giving something back.

Earlier this summer, Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring, announced the provision of 500,000 to support the work of Mens Sheds  capital funding that will provide small grants to

individual sheds for equipment purchase and structural improvements.

In towns, villages and cities which I have visited as minister, I am continually struck by the great work that Mens Sheds do in supporting important local initiatives. Among their ranks they have great expertise, experience and know-how and make a massive contribution to their local communities, he added.

Barry Sheridan called the funding the most significant development in the history of Mens Sheds in Ireland, and reflects the impact sheds are making on communities throughout the country. It is a tribute to the work of all our staff and volunteers, as well as to every single Mens Shed member and supporter who has helped make our sheds what they are today.

Copper-fastening what must be a red letter year in the Irish Mens Sheds history, the association was recently awarded the European Citizens Prize for 2018, which it shared with fellow Irish winner, Inner City Helping Homeless.

The Mens Sheds were recognised for promoting the health and well-being of members by combating issues such as loneliness and isolation while creating a culture where men can openly discuss their thoughts and feelings without stigma.

The association was commended for integration as one of its key values by being a dedicated, friendly and welcoming meeting place where men, regardless of age, background or ability, come together and undertake a variety of mutually agreed activities.

Representatives of the association will attend the official prize-giving ceremony at the European Parliament in Brussels on October 9.To celebrate the launch of We Are Cork, Ciara McDonnell chats to five of Corks most prominent blow-ins about putting down roots in the rebel county.

Alpa Agrawal, tech entrepreneur and owner of Allmin Resources

I came to Cork just over five years ago. I had qualified in chemical engineering back in India and I wanted to study business; I felt that the technical side of my training was over and I wanted to learn the business side, so that I could open my own company.

Its in my blood. I am a third generation chemical engineer, and I come from an entrepreneurial background  my grandfather started a chemical engineering business in India and so I grew up learning and understanding how a business worked.

The Masters in Entrepreneurship that was offered at UCC appealed to everything I was looking for. It was so practical  we didnt have formal exams, we had assignments in the practical aspects of entrepreneurship in collaboration with existing companies and this experience was invaluable to me.

The thing that particularly caught my attention initially about Cork was the fact that there are so many pharmaceutical companies based in Cork. My speciality is a niche area, which seemed to fit perfectly here in Cork. Its the perfect size for a business owner.

Its not too big where you may feel lost and its not so small that you dont have access to the facilities that you would find in the larger cities.

Family is a number one priority in India, and Ireland is so far from what we perceive countries in the West to be in this regard. Family ties here are really important. All of my friends in Cork talk constantly about their mammies and their grannies and they are so involved with their day-to-day life; this is how it is in India.

Last year I got married back in India to my husband who actually studied with me here at UCC. Some of my friends from Cork travelled over for the celebrations.

They had such a wonderful time at all the ceremonies, and my mother and grandmother spent some time explaining the teachings behind our wedding traditions.

They told me that lots of what my grandmother had told them were things that their grannies and mothers would have taught them growing up, and to me it showed the ultimate similarities in our cultures. To me, I have come from home to another home, here in Cork.

RayMond Kelleher, Marketing Director, Trigon Hotels

Im originally from Longford, where I grew up on a dairy farm. When I was 17, I moved to Dublin to study hotel management and business studies, which took me to hotels in Dublin, Kenmare, and Sligo, before a move to Clonakilty to join the team at the Quality Hotel, in 2000. I didnt know it, but that move would change my life.

I met and married a girl from Courtmacsherry and we are settled in Clonakilty, with two gorgeous children, Aoibhinn (10) and Rian (7). I joke that I have the best of both worlds: the city by day and the sea by night, and its true.

The thing about the hospitality industry here is that if there is someone in crisis, we all rally round. Last year, during the bad weather events we had, we all helped out: whether it was sending staff from Cork Airport Hotel across to the airport, with duvets for the passengers who were grounded, or at The Metropole, where we had unexpected guests staying with us, who became part of our family, thats part of the charm of Cork.

I started working in the city just before the recession hit, so Ive seen the city change dramatically over the last decade. What do you do when you are involved in a situation like this?

You join different groups, in order to help. I joined groups like the Cork Chamber, Cork Business Association, and the Cork Convention Bureau.

These are all extra-curricular and all voluntary, but they are necessary, in order to get your business out there and survive. We all have to network, we all have to do business, and, as hoteliers, we all work together to push the city as a destination.

We are Irelands second city, but when you think of our size, we are marginally smaller than Dublin.

In saying that, there are very few European cities which have an airport located ten minutes from the city centre, and that is a huge benefit to business. The team at the airport are fantastic and we are seeing more and more flights going out of Cork, year on year.

Karen OReilly, owner of Employmum

I grew up in Limerick and qualified as an accountant before heading off and travelling the world. I lived in Luxemburg and spent five years in Australia before finding myself in the South of France. I went there with a rucksack on my back and 12 years later, left with a container full of things and two children. Even though we had a great life in France, my husband and I really wanted to come home with the kids, and raise them here in Ireland.

It was really important for us that wherever we ended up at home, we would have to be by the sea. While we were in France, my mum moved to Clonakilty and every time we came back to Ireland we would visit her and we fell head over heels in love with Clonakilty. Its close to the city, its by the sea and the people are unbelievably nice.

Within the first few days of renting our first house in Clonakilty, we knew that we would settle in Cork  it felt like we were home. We feel like we have won the lotto by getting to live here. Especially in the first few years, every day we left the house, we would meet someone amazing, who was friendly or helpful or just genuine. Really, for us its the people that convinced us to settle here.

In terms of business, the community supports each other. I work from home and during Hurricane Ophelia, all the cafes and restaurants opened their doors and offered coffee and wifi  there was no charge, it was just the goodwill of the people.

From a business point of view its really easy to do business in Cork. Businesses are extremely supportive of each other here. I am a member of Network Cork, which is a network for women, which has been so helpful to me.

When I set up EmployMum I was working away on my own  it can be quite lonely. Joining that network was a real lifeline for me. If youre not from a city it can be very intimidating doing business, but the hand of friendship has been extended to me, along with the collaborative business end of things.

Networking has been backed up with practical business advice and help, because they want you to succeed.

Takashi Miyazaki, chef patron, Ichigo Ichie and Miyazaki

My wife is from County Offaly and we lived there for four years. We were thinking about opening a Japanese restaurant and we started to investigate the best location in the country for our idea. We didnt want to go to Dublin, because it was too big for me, and we wanted to be as close as possible to the countryside.

We went all over Ireland and Cork was the last place we visited and straight away we knew that this was the place for our restaurant.

Ireland is a small island but there are lots of places that are not near water. In Japan I am from the southwest, which is by the sea. I loved that Cork was on the water, and had incredible artisan food produce.

I wanted to give people the food that Japanese people eat every day. Cork is the food capital of Ireland, but I always believe that people enjoy food if its tasty, and thats what we try to give them. My food may be a new concept to people, but it is rooted in very traditional methods, and I use these methods with local ingredients.

I am so happy to live and work in Cork. Its a destination area  people travel for the food. I moved here six years ago and now its completely changed. There is a real buzz around the city centre. There are some fantastic young chefs coming up now and they are focused on using Irish ingredients to their best ability.

Lots of chefs ask me how to best use Irish seaweed. There are so many great seaweeds here in Ireland and so many people have no idea how to use it, and how it is possible to make an incredible dashy broth from seaweeds that can be found here on our shores.

When I moved to Ireland first, there were lots of garlic mushrooms on the menu and now we are seeing lots of very exciting dishes on menus, especially here in Cork. These new chefs know how great Irish ingredients are. They are incredible and very inspiring to me.

Amy Gurlitt, tech expert and poet

When I finished my bachelors degree in Germany in 2011 I decided to travel and improve my English. My best friend and I looked into all of our options and though we looked at the United States and Canada, we realised that Ireland was extremely close and great value, so we hopped on a flight and found ourselves here!

Cork was the second stop we made in Ireland. We spent the year couch surfing and working on farms around the country and we kept coming back to Cork. Before the year was up, my friend went back to Germany, but I was not finished with Cork, so I decided to stay, and it was the best decision of my life.

When I arrived Cork was not like Cork is now. Even in this short period of time, I can see the change happening every day. From a place that wasnt in such good shape, now it has transformed to a place that I can see flourishing more and more every day. The city has an incredible buzz and lots of things are bubbling up like Yoga by the Quay and incredible cafes and businesses all over the city.

I have worked in different jobs here for the last number of years. I am very lucky, I work at a place called Malwarebytes and they recognise the importance of balance. We work extremely hard, but we also go out and live our lives to their fullest.

The people in Cork are so beautiful and so friendly. There is a cafe called Myo down on Popes Quay whose owner gives the most wonderful Irish welcome. There is a small gesture Irish people make, which is to say thanks to people that they interact with in a shop, or in a bus. Its such a small thing  but it is entirely unique to Ireland.

When I first arrived someone said to me Look Amy, you have to be careful. There is something magic about this place.

If you dont make it out of here within the year, you will stay. He was right. Every year, this love for Cork grew and grew inside me. The rhythm of the river, the ebb of the tide and the ever-changing weather  all of these things have kind of absorbed me and I feel as though I am part of this place.From gardai on the street to the top job in Irish policing, all roles may see a change in the coming years, says Cormac OKeeffe.

There is something for everyone  almost  in the much-anticipated report of the Policing Commission.

From the concerns of local communities and the need for more policing to addressing the pressing needs of gardai on the beat, it is there.

From strengthening the hand of the commissioner to boosting oversight powers (though it takes away in some areas), it is also there.

There are also some radical proposals in the 100 pages of the Future of Policing in Ireland report. It has been described as a birds eye view of policing and its future but it does dive down to street level for a closer look.

Street-level view

Commission chairwoman Kathleen OToole said the message was clear from everyone, citizens and police, they spoke to: They wanted more gardai in their community.

Wherever we went in the country to talk to gardai, we heard that there was a shortage of frontline police, she said.

The report says local police should have a new focus of preventing harm, rather than just reacting to crime, and that this had to be explicitly stated as a core objective of policing.

Community policing should now be provided by a new district policing model. Districts, of which there are 96, are the basic geographical and administrative unit of the organisation.

In our new district policing model, all police service personnel at district level, sworn and non-sworn [civilians], should be considered to be community police, states the report.

All should see themselves as part of a single district policing team working to keep their communities safe. All should see their overarching collective function as solving problems affecting community safety in their district.

It says that while gardai enjoy respect and affection in communities, there is an attitude within the police of being in some way apart from the community.

It says that while frontline members were struck by a strong sense of duty and public service,

among frontline members

they felt they were at the bottom of a hierarchical, overly bureaucratic organisation that did not listen to them.

The report states: One garda told us he felt he should be wearing a school uniform rather than a police one, as the organisation treated him like a child.

On how important the role of frontline policing is for both the garda and the community, the report says: Frontline district police work needs to be respected and recognised in a way that it is not at present.

It says district police should be backed up by divisional detective and specialist teams for serious crime. For the new model to work, the report recommends:

An urgent tooling up of frontline members with modern, mobile technology;

Making multi-agency local teams a reality in form of divisional crisis intervention teams;

Removing gardai from a host of non-essential duties, such as prosecutions and inquest work, security work at courts, prisoner transport, serving summonses, attending minor traffic accidents, verification of passports, and safeguarding examination papers

It says gardai must engage in genuine community partnerships.

It recognises the successes of Garda specialist units against organised crime, but recommends an urgent, thorough overhaul of the entire crime investigation function.

It calls for an urgent review on internet crime and a substantial expansion of the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau.

In relation to training, it says the organisation has not treated it as a critical function: The neglect of training has extended to fundamental functions of policing.

The report says policing is an unusually stressful job and recommends a wellness programme and mandatory counselling after traumatic incidents. It says long-standing issues affecting the working conditions of the front line, such as rosters and uniforms, should be addressed as a matter of urgency.

Birds eye view

Before getting into the major structural issues, a key task of the commission was to examine the shady, and nebulous, area of State security.

The Irish Examiner revealed key elements in these recommendations last week, including a new centre for gathering intelligence from all the key agencies and the creation of a national security co-ordinator who would report directly to the Taoiseach. This represents a significant shakeup of the security infrastructure but is nowhere near the proposal, from some quarters, of setting up a powerful security agency that would remove the role from the gardai.

While the gardai will have a new layer over it, the report also recommends strengthening the Garda Security and Intelligence section, with a ring-fenced budget and the capacity to directly recruit specialist staff  something that should be done as a matter of urgency.

The report calls for a comprehensive review of national security legislation and the creation of an independent examiner of terrorist and serious crime legislation, again reporting to the Taoiseach.

On broader structural reform, there is a lot of detail, some not entirely clearly, and some definite surprises (shock in some quarters).

While it gives with one hand to the main oversight bodies  the Policing Authority and Garda Inspectorate (now combined into a Policing and Community Safety Oversight Commission  it appears to take away with the other hand.

The commission has recommended that the power to appoint senior officers, from superintendent rank up, which was only recently given to the Policing Authority, should be taken back off it and given to the commissioner.

This goes against the trend of recent times in bringing appointments away from being an internal issue, because of persistent beliefs of nepotism and favouritism playing a role.

The report says: The commissioner should have the power to appoint the members of his or her own leadership team.

It says this is required to enable the Garda commissioner to take over the expanded functions (financial and HR) recommended by the Policing Commission  that the commissioner should be both a police chief and chief executive.

This will be a shock to the authority, along with the recommendation that a new statutory Garda Siochana Board be set up, with an independent non-executive chairperson appointed by the Government.

This body would have a key role in determining policing priorities and strategies and take from the authority the right to make nominations to Government for appointments to Garda commissioner and deputy commissioner.

The report further states that the commissioner would remain accountable to the minister for justice.

It says the board would have responsibility for internal governance, while the Policing and Community Safety Oversight Commission would conduct independent oversight of policing. It wants the board set up as quickly as possible.

This recommendation regarding the board created the only public internal minority divergence, from Vicky Conway and Eddie Molloy, who disagreed with the board, believing the role should remain with the authority.

The report says the Department of Justice would retain a function in structural oversight of police and the oversight bodies and policing and security policy, but not internal management.

It says it heard from people that investigations by the GSOC tend to have a punitive approach and recommended it should investigate incidents rather than individual gardai.

It says the complaints regime needs an urgent overhaul. It recommends the body be renamed the Independent Office of the Police Ombudsman and be able to investigate non-sworn gardai as well as retired members for both criminal and non-criminal cases.

The body should be adequately resourced and legislation introduced to allow it to be investigated too.

Implementation

Ms OToole said setting up an implementation group for policing reform is the first priority, with a timeframe of 2022 for the substantial reform of the organisation.

Getting that group up and running is just the first of many obstacles ahead.

The reports recommendations have not been costed. In many areas, there is a lack of detail or figures.

In some areas  such as removing gardai from the courts and prosecutions and setting up multi-agency crisis intervention teams  the reforms are radical and could take a long time to implement.

In other areas, the structural oversight reforms appear on first reading to pose potential problems and confusion. Spanners may be thrown into the works in the Oireachtas. Legislation will have to be carefully created.

Then there is the mammoth reform programme under way, the various Garda Inspectorate recommendations, and the Gardas own modernisation and renewal programme. What happens to them?

The Government, and future governments, and departments have to digest it and have a major role in implementation  in what actually happens.

Initial reaction from many groups has been good, positive even. That, in itself, is a start.

Technology

The report recommends that An Garda Siochana develop apps that allow the public to report concerns and that produce regular, and eventually realtime, open data feeds to the public.

To this end, the report recommends the implementation of a strategy that would see all Garda districts use social media and technology tools to engage with their communities, along with the redevelopment of the Garda website to enable transparent and seamless processes such as non-urgent crime reporting, case tracking and enhanced tools for victim support.

While describing Pulse as outdated, the report recommends using the data on the existing system to feed new software and mobile apps for gardai as part of a modernisation of the forces technology, and moving processes and businesses to a cloud computing environment.

It further calls for the deployment of a modern and nationwide computeraided dispatch system and a realtime crime and safety centre at Garda HQ that would combine to produce a digital dashboard that will provide senior leadership with real-time awareness of the location and condition of all assets and resources.

- Compiled by Joe Leogue

Education

The Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland has recommended that An Garda Siochana should bring about organisational changes that encourage and facilitate the further education and continuous professional development of members of the force.

It calls for the appointment of an expert director for learning and development who would have a ring-fenced budget.

Some new recruits with a third-level degree should be fast-tracked through training in Templemore, where their education would only focus on learning the operational policing skills they require to move onto work experience in stations, while others will get topup modules.

Those without such qualifications, meanwhile, should be sponsored by An Garda Siochana to acquire a degree-level qualification in policing studies.

The report recommends a continuing professional development (CPD) strategy that would see every member have a personal CPD plan and frequent meetings with their manager to assess their performance and competencies, identify learning and development needs, and outline career and educational objectives.

 Compiled by Joe Leogue

Governance

An Garda Siochana should have a statutory board overseeing its governance, and the role of commissioner should be akin to a chief executive with full responsibility for the human, financial and other resources of the organisation, according to the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. The report envisions a commissioner with the power to hire his or her own leadership team on fixed contracts of no more than five years.

The commission recommends that the new board will include senior people from the business and professional sectors with relevant expertise, with an independent, non-executive chair, appointed by the Government following an open process. It will have oversight on the appointments and promotions processes  currently within the remit of the Policing Authority  and these should be managed transparently and in line with common practice in the public sector.

Under these recommendations, the commissioner ultimately will have control of the management of the police estate, the budget to maintain it  and the operational independence of the Garda commissioner will be made explicit in legislation.

 Compiled by Joe Leogue

Courts

Gardai should be relieved of court and inquest duties, freeing them up to police on the frontline, according to Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland.

It notes that the amount of time gardai spend in court or preparing for court is enormously wasteful of police resources that should be deployed on core police duties. It recommends that all prosecution decisions should be taken away from the police and the practice of police prosecuting cases in court should also cease. These roles, it suggests, would be assumed by an expanded State solicitor or national prosecution service.

The Courts Service should make its own arrangements for serving summonses, while the Prison Service should take responsibility for prisoner escorts, with exceptions made for dangerous prisoners.

The commission notes that when it comes to inquests, gardai are required to fulfill tasks that can create an overlap between criminal investigations and inquests, and to fulfill tasks for which they are not trained.

It recommends a reform of the coroner system so that gardai no longer perform inquest functions.

 Compiled by Joe Leogue

Data

The Commission on the Future of Policings report has identified an urgent need to address the quality of the crime data in Ireland  and recommends the appointment of a senior officer to oversee this issue as soon as possible.

This chief data officer should play a strategic role in the senior team of An Garda Siochana, according to the Commission.

This data review would also address the way in which police record crime investigations, and the commission recommends an enlargement of the Garda Analysis Service that would see analysts based in all Garda divisions as well as centrally.

New recruits should also undertake modules to train them on the capture, analysis and use of data, and a review of garda data collection and management should include an analysis of the capture and classification of data relating to internet crimes.

The report also calls for a review of An Garda Siochanas current status under Freedom of Information legislation to determine whether to broaden the access to information held by the organisation.

 Compiled by Joe Leogue

Human rights

The Commission on the Future of Policing says Human Rights must be embedded in the thinking, ethos and operations of An Garda Siochana at all levels. It has warned that there needs to be clarity and transparency about police powers and codes of practice as to how to exercise those powers, which should be based in legislation.

The commission recommends legislation defining police powers of arrest, search and detention should be codified, with statutory codes of practice.

It suggests the establishment of a high-level Human Rights Unit, which would include legal expertise, that would implement and monitor a comprehensive strategy for human rights compliance, protection and promotion.

Human rights training should be the starting point of the Garda recruit course, the commission recommends, and should remain a theme running through every aspect of training.

Periodic in-service training should be given to all gardai on human rights matters. All training materials should be reviewed and adapted to ensure that they are consistent with human rights law, the commission reports.

 Compiled by Joe LeogueBy Jay Bayford

Dermot McElroy made a promising start in his bid to earn a European Tour card with a strong four-under 67 in the opening round of the first stage qualifying school event at Stoke by Nayland.

The Antrim man started on the 10th and enjoyed a bogey-free front nine with birdies on the 11th, 14th and 16th.

The birdies continued to come after the turn on holes one, two and five but two bogeys left him fourth, two strokes off Welshman Jack Davidson and Englands Bradley Moore at the top of the leaderboard.

In contrast, Colin Fairweather and Kieran Lynch both had days to forget.

Fairweather finished tied for 55th on 76, five-over par, after shooting two double bogeys and bogey over his first four holes.

Lynch also carded a double bogey, along with six bogeys and two birdies, as he registered 77.

Both have plenty of work to do if they are to advance.

In the corresponding event at Ebreichsdorf in Austria, there needs to be a lot of improvement if Peter Dallat and Stephen Grant are to progress in qualifying.

Dallat finished with a one-over 73 while Grant struck a disastrous 80, eight-over par.

Casey Wittenberg and Miguel Carballo top the leaderboard with 67.

Meanwhile, Steve Graham enjoyed his first Senior Home Internationals match as he inspired Ireland to a 5.5-3.5 victory over Scotland.

Defending champions England also opened with a win, beating Wales 6-3.By Seamus O Tuama

The line-up and draw for Hurleys of Midleton King of the Roads 2018 were resolved on Saturday when Killian Kingston beat Colm Rafferty in the last of the Mick Barry Cup semi-final at Ballincurrig.

Neither player reached the heights of the previous rounds. In the end, one poor shot, combined with bizarre bad luck almost certainly denied Rafferty. He looked to have the simplest of second-last shots to make light. He completely misplayed his bowl to the left, it hit a walking stick and stopped dead.

It was the most unlikely turn of events at King of the Roads since Martin Coppingers last bowl hit the ball-hitch of a parked vehicle in the 2013 semi-final against Aidan Murphy.

Kingston had 60 metres after a great second past Moores. Rafferty closed the gap with a good third into the green. He won the lead with a great fifth shot past the no-play line.

Kingston ran on the right and lofted his towards the line, but it fell left 15 shy of the target. He limited the damage with a good sixth bowl to Heaphys.

They both then got two poor shots in succession onto the long straight with Rafferty holding the upper hand. Kingston cut the odds to two metres with a great bowl to Leahys.

They both just missed the big corner with good 10th shots. Rafferty was still five metres fore after 11 to sight. There was less than a metre between them after 12 to the top of the short straight.

Kingston played his next across to the left and missed Din Toughs.

Rafferty went out to take a decisive lead. Kingston did well with his next to the end of the sycamores, but it all looked futile when Rafferty went to just short of the elbow. Kingston missed sight with his 15th. Rafferty was in total control, till he played his ill-fated bowl across to the left and he was suddenly hind bowl.

Kingston won the next exchange by 30m, but Rafferty still had a chance. His last bowl was always too far right. Kingston played a wide bowl into the green to secure his place in the King of the Roads.

The subsequent semi-final sees All-Ireland champion David Murphy paired with Dutch champion Mark Muntel and Martin Coppinger, who broke the road record in the qualifiers.

Thomas Mackle, who is bidding to win the first four-in-a-row, faces German champion Harm Weinstock and Killian Kingston in the second semi-final.

John ORourke beat Paul Buckley in the last shot of the Jim ODriscoll Cup to also claim his place in the festival weekend.

He won the first two shots, but missed a chance to go clear with his third. He regained odds in the next two and had a big lead after Buckley missed the no-play line in six. He lost ground again when he failed to make ORiordans in two more.

Buckley kept pressing and was just fore at Leahys. They were out the big corner in 12. ORourke looked to have gained control in the shots up the short straight, but he only made the muddy gap with his next. He kept a decent lead to the sycamores and was still well fore for the last shot. Buckley missed the line with his last throw.

Mick Hurley advanced at the expense of Denis Wilmot in the John-Joe Murphy Cup at Bauravilla.

Wilmot made a great start in this one, reaching the netting in four to raise a bowl of odds. Hurley cut that lead to just 20m with a brilliant bowl past Dekkers. Little changed in the next two to the rock. Wilmot raised big odds with his next and looked set to raise a bowl by opening the bridge in two more.

Hurley rallied with a big shot to the railing, which Wilmot beat by just 10 metres. He held that slender lead past the bridge. Hurley then played a sensational bowl over the brow to win a big lead. He drove on strongly to the line.

Jerry Gibbons beat Andrew OCallaghan in the last shot at Lyre.

They were level after eleven to Crowleys. OCallaghan missed a chance to make there in 10, but took a good lead by reaching McCarthys bend in two more. He led to the second last where he had 40m odds. Gibbons closed with a big shot, which OCallaghan missed by 10 metres.

Jimmy ODriscoll beat Craig Moynihan in the feature score of the Irish Heart Foundation benefit series at Pouladuff.

At Grange, David OMahony beat Tim Young in last shot of the Champy Deasy Cup semi-final.

At The Clubhouse, Ted Hegarty reached his second Munster final of 2018 when he beat Jimmy Collins by two bowls in the Munster Vintage (over-60) A semi-final while Claire OSullivan beat Veronica OMahony in the last shot of the Gretta Cormican Cup final at Killumney.Biggest concern they express in ICMSA Farming Today survey is debt, and also complain of difficulty hiring staff, but two-thirds are otherwise positive, says Larry Ryan.

When we reflect on the results from the annual Examiner/ICMSA Farming Today survey, we must consider the significant weather events of the past year and the impact these are likely to have had on many farmers.

Also, there remains uncertainty over Brexit, with farming and food the sectors most likely to be hit.

Against this threat, farmers are a lot more positive than we might have given them credit for.

While some profess nervousness about the amount of debt they have taken on, there is an encouraging positivity.

Two out of three farmers are broadly positive, with dairy and tillage farmers the most upbeat. Tillage farmers are more positive than last year and dairy farmers marginally less so.

What is worrying, however, is that about a third of farmers are concerned about their farm debt being too high.

This figure has been creeping gradually upwards and is most notable among farmers below the age of 50, and more particularly among those whose primary focus is dairy.

The survey also threw up an interesting angle in 2018. Slightly more than a quarter of farmers say that they have had difficulty sourcing farm workers this year.

This corresponds with a third of farmers suggesting that, in light of the immigration crisis, Ireland should welcome more migrants.

That these perspectives may move hand in hand should not be surprising: Many Irish farms and rural enterprises are now heavily dependent upon overseas workers.

Perspectives of the weather are not as bad as anticipated. Six in 10 farmers say that weather conditions have impacted their farming intensity, with 43% intending to cut back on livestock, and a third having reduced their farming intensity already, as a result of the weather.

Just one in four farmers saw an increase in livestock mortality, although we dont have back data to compare against.

When looking to the future, most farmers anticipate that their focus is not likely to change.

A third are mainly focussed in dairy nowadays (34%), and the projection is that there will be a minor reduction in dairying by 2025.

The perspective of the various farming schemes remains positive, although most indicate broad satisfaction, but without seeming massively enthusiastic.

Younger farmers seem more progressive, while older farmers, for example, are a lot less likely to have become involved in programmes such as the Beef Data and Genomics Scheme.

The political data in 2018 may not, at first glance, seem substantially different to the pattern of previous years, with Fine Gael strongly ahead, Fianna Fail effectively treading water, and most other parties languishing on negligible levels of support.

However, 2018 sees a sharp fall for Fine Gael; it still retains large support, but with much less certainty than before. Almost a third now indicate that they either dont know how they would vote, or that they will not.

Younger farmers are the least convinced about future voting intentions: Half of under 35-year-olds are either undecided or would not vote if there were an election tomorrow.

Almost four in 10 now visualise a coalition of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael as likely, and there has been a decided uplift, admittedly from a low level, in the view that a coalition between Sinn Fein and either of the leading parties is more possible now than it had been.

There is greater disaffection with party leaders than before, with the exception of Mary Lou McDonald of Sinn Fein. Admittedly, her level of approval is much lower than those of either Leo Varadkar or Micheal Martin or Fine Gael and Fianna Fail respectively.

It remains the case that the level of positive approval of Ms McDonald outstrips Sinn Feins support by a factor of three, while almost twice as many as would vote for Sinn Fein favour their involvement in a coalition with either of the principal parties.

Indeed, were we to place Ms McDonald alongside the current Cabinet members, she would rank mid-table, falling slightly behind Heather Humphries and Katherine Zappone, but ahead of Regina Doherty, Shane Ross, Eoghan Murphy, and Josepha Madigan.

Ministerial perspectives hint at gender and origin issues After the Taoiseach, Simon Coveney, Richard Bruton and Paschal Donohue are very highly rated, the latter neck-and-neck with Simon Harris, and the Agriculture Minister, Michael Creed, lying in fifth position overall.

When we compare the assessment of Michael Creed with that previously achieved by Simon Coveney when Minister for Agriculture in the 2013 survey, the pictures are starkly different: Coveney was a lot more highly regarded.

The political data does point towards a tendency to rate obviously Dublin-based Ministers less favourably and indeed would seem to suggest more harsh assessments of female than male Ministers.

The gender of the female Ministers concerned may be less an issue than the relevance of their portfolios to farmers, although the flat performance of Josepha Madigan, the current Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht stands out in this context. She may have attracted a degree of animosity as a result of her very public spat with Archbishop Diarmuid Martin.

However, the very positively expressed perspective of women becoming priests, elsewhere in the survey, should equally be noted.

Like many of the rest of us, farmers may be more sceptical politically, but they do continue to soften in respect of many social attitudes as time goes by.

The element that tends to most surprise us, as observers of social and political trends, is the ongoing liberalisation of perspectives in the rural community.

The 2018 study reflects this, indeed echoing the much more liberal vista apparent post the recent referenda on marriage equality and repeal of the Eighth Amendment.

Larry Ryan is a director with Behaviour and AttitudesBurma Democratic Transition in Myanmar 'at Standstill': UN Rights Panel

Rohingya refugees shout slogans as they take part in a protest at the Kutupalong refugee camp to mark the one-year anniversary of their exodus in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, Aug. 25, 2018. / Reuters

GENEVA  Myanmars democratic transition has ground to a standstill as authorities seek to silence critics while allowing hate speech, particularly against Muslim Rohingya, the head of the UN human rights mission said on Tuesday.

Marzuki Darusman, chair of the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar, denounced what he called the extreme brutality of the military known as the Tatmadaw as he presented a report that Myanmars envoy dismissed as one-sided.

The panel was presenting its full 440-page report to the UN Human Rights Council after a summary issued on Aug. 27. That said Myanmars military carried out mass killings and gang rapes of Rohingya with genocidal intent and called for commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing and five generals to be prosecuted for the gravest crimes under international law.

Myanmars government dismissed that summary at the time and said the international community was making false allegations. The military did not comment and Reuters was unable to contact the generals named in the report.

Myanmars ambassador, Kyaw Moe Tun, rejected the panels findings as one-sided and said his government did not recognize its mandate.

Not only is this report detrimental to social cohesion in Rakhine State, it also undermines the governments efforts to bring peace, national reconciliation and development to the entire nation, he told the forum.

Darusman said on Tuesday that there was no law and no institution in Myanmar that is above the Tatmadaw and called for an end to what he called its complete impunity.

Democracy depended on authorities that accepted scrutiny and fought against hate speech and misinformation, he said.

In this regard, the democratic transition in Myanmar has barely begun and now it is has come to a standstill, he added.

Darusman said that the military crackdown in Rakhine in August 2017  following insurgent attacks  had led to a mass exodus of nearly 750,000 Rohingya to Bangladesh, the deaths of at least 10,000 people, and the destruction of more than 37,000 Rohingya homes and structures.

Restrictions curtailing the Rohingyas ability to work and access health care and education in Rakhine have intensified since last year. The same system of persecution would await any Rohingya who return, he said.Burma Police Recapture 3 Escapees from Bogale

Bogale Township Police Station. / Salai Thant Zin / The Irrawaddy

PATHEIN, Irrawaddy Region  Police have recaptured all three detainees within 24 hours after they escaped from Myoma Police Station in Irrawaddy Regions Bogale Township early Tuesday.

The three men escaped at about 3:30 a.m. after using hacksaws to cut through the bars of their cell. After breaking out of the police station, the trio stole a motorbike from a driver and headed in the direction of Mawlamyinegyun Township.

Two of the detainees were recaptured near Ye Lel village in Maubin Township at around 7:40 a.m. Tuesday during a joint search operation conducted by police from Pyapon District, Bogale Township and Maubin.

The third escapee, Hla Naing Oo, was recaptured around 5 p.m. the same day in Yangons Hlaingtharyar Township, a police officer of Bogale Township police station told The Irrawaddy.

One of the three escapees, former policeman Akar Jue, 23, was originally detained for theft. The other, Poe Phyu, 19, was originally detained on a charge of assault to commit theft. Hla Naing Oo, 33, was detained on a rape charge, police said.

Eight policemen of Bogale Township police station on duty during the prison break are being detained at the police station and will be disciplined according to police disciplinary rules.

In August last year, 10 detainees escaped from a cell at the Myoma Police Station in Irrawaddy Regions Mawlamyinegyun Township, though all were later recaptured.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.News Fact-Finding Mission Report Calls for Removal of Military from Govt

Myanmar's General Min Aung Hlaing takes part in a parade to mark the 72nd Armed Forces Day in the capital Naypyitaw, Myanmar on March 27, 2017. / REUTERS

MANDALAYThe UN Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) on Myanmar released a report on Wednesday suggesting that the government of Myanmar pursue the removal of the military from the countrys political life, and to restructure the military without delay.

After performing a detailed case study of Myanmar, especially on the conflicts in Rakhine, Kachin and Shan states, the FFM report states that the Tatmadaw, the Burmese military, should come under full elected civilian control and be removed from the countrys political and economic life.

Peace will not be achieved while the Tatmadaw remains above the law, Marzuki Darusman, chair of the FFM, was quoted in the OHCHR press release.

The Tatmadaw is the greatest impediment to Myanmars development as a modern democratic nation. The commander-in-chief of the Tatmadaw, Min Aung Hlaing, and all the current leadership must be replaced, and a complete restructuring must be undertaken to place the Tatmadaw under full civilian control. Myanmars democratic transition depends on it, he added.

The 440-page report by the FFM, which was submitted at the 39th Human Rights Council, features a wide range of evidence and details of human rights violations committed mainly by the military against the ethnic minorities, especially in Rakhine, Kachin and Shan states.

The full report by the FFM follows a preliminary report which was submitted in August calling for the investigation and prosecution of top military leaders for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

In their report, the mission urged the government to revise the 2008 Constitution and said that the country should implement security reform by placing the security sector, including the military, under full civilian control which would require the parliaments approval in the appointing of a commander-in-chief and the use of funding for the military, and to abolish the militarys quota in the parliament.

The government of Myanmar, including the civilian authorities and the Tatmadaw as relevant, should abolish the quota for military seats in the legislature, the authority of the Tatmadaw to appoint vice-presidents and ministers and the militarys control over certain ministries, said the report.

While urging the government, civilian authorities and the military to cease all unlawful security operations, gender-based violence and harassment and prosecution of human rights activists, lawyers, journalists and peace activists, the mission also urged for the release of the Reuter reporters, Ko Kyaw Soe Oo and Ko Wa Lone.

On the other hand, the report also urged the government to repeal or amend laws such as Peaceful Assembly Act, Burmese penal code 505(b), the Official Secret Acts, section 66(d) of the Telecommunications Act, and section 17(1) of the Unlawful Associations Act, which are threatening freedom of expression, opinion and association in Myanmar.

Although the mission is urging the government and the military to make the reforms without delay for the sake of the countrys democracy, human rights activists are doubtful that the institutions would do so.

The suggestions of the Fact-Finding Mission are of international standard and there is no other country in the world which puts the military first. However, we doubt the military will make the reform because there have never been signs of the military following suggestions from the UN or many other international bodies, in the past, said Lawyer U Thein Than Oo, the well-known human rights lawyer.

The lawyer said that the government is in a difficult situation in which the constitution blocks them from having full power of governance over the country and that the people are waiting to see how the government will react to the full report of the FFM.

The suggestions of the mission are things which our country should comply with, although there are many incomplete facts in the report. However, whether it is complied with or not completely depends on the government and the military, he added.

On the other hand, our countrys governance system is very complicated and can be reformed only if [the government and military] are willing to do so. On the international stage, our countrys image already has an ugly face and we hope it wont get worse.

The report also repeats calls for the United Nations Security Council to refer Myanmar to the International Criminal Court (ICC) as well as an arms embargo and sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes against to the most relevant people including Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing and five other senior commanders.

The report also urges ethnic armed groups and the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) to comply with international humanitarian laws, to protect civilians, to respect human rights and to participate and negotiate with the government to end the conflicts.News Governments Report to Parliament Lacked Substance, Lawmakers Say

U Kyaw Tint Swe presents the governments report on the current political situation to the Union Parliament on Sept. 19, 2018. / Myanmar State Counselors Office / Facebook

CHIANG MAI, ThailandThe government failed to show how it plans to solve the countrys current political and economic problems during its presentation to the Union Parliament on Wednesday, observers and lawmakers said.

U Kyaw Tint Swe, the minister for the State Counselors Office, on Wednesday read a written report on the governments efforts to the Union Parliament. The report described its steps to tackle a range of issues including the peace process, building a democratic federal state, rule of law and development.

The governments report prioritized the peace process, national reconciliation, Rakhine state affairs and charter amendment, but was short on detail. It also emphasized its efforts and achievements in the fields of social development, social welfare, access to electricity and road infrastructure, urban planning, job creation, improving the environment for foreign investment, fighting corruption, tackling drug-related issues and solving traffic problems in the Yangon commercial region.

In the two-and-a-half years since the National League for Democracy-led government took office, party leader and State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has come in for criticism at home and abroad. Rising commodity prices, a rapid weakening of the kyat, problems ensuring rule of law and stability, and a lack of progress in the peace process with the armed ethnic minorities are among its top challenges. Internationally, the government faces harsh criticism from Western countries for its failure to condemn numerous alleged human rights violations against Rohingya Muslims by the Tatmadaw.

We had expected the government would lay out its plans for solving the current economic challengeshigh prices and unstable market conditionsand the political situation, including the peace process and the international pressure over Rakhine State. However, they merely mentioned these issues, said U Pe Than, a Lower House lawmaker from Myebon constituency in Rakhine State.

He added that U Kyaw Tint Swe dwelt on the perceived progress made by the Education, Health, Construction and Transport, Electricity, Energy and other ministries.

Therefore, many of us lawmakers believe the NLD governments presentation deviated from its announcement that it would share [details of how it is] addressing the current situation, U Pe Than said.

The minister said that when the 2008 Constitution is negotiated and amended step by step as the government expects, it will guarantee the countrys transition to democracy. But he did not offer any details on the governments negotiations to amend the charter. The government reiterated the key role of the TatmadawMyanmars militaryin the current peace process, which is one of the governments priorities. U Kyaw Tint Swe said there were still many challenges to overcome to achieve a strong and harmonious peace process.

The government should have said how it is negotiating charter amendment and how it plans to improve civilian-military relations, and whether it holds regular negotiations or not, said Dr. Yan Myo Thein, a Yangon-based political analyst.

He said the governments report to the public via the Parliament was very vague. He said he was expecting to hear how the government tackled and how they would respond strategically to the current crisis, economically and politically, as well as to the international pressure over Rakhine State affairs.

Regarding the Rakhine State conflict, U Kyaw Tint Swe said it is one of the challenges the government had to solve while it focuses on creating stability, peace and a democratic federal union.

Nearly 700,000 Rohingya from northern Rakhine State fled to neighboring Bangladesh following a military crackdown in the wake of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA)s attacks on government security forces in August 2017. It was the second series of coordinated attacks by ARSA following an earlier wave in October 2016.

U Kyaw Tint Swe admitted that the government faced heavy criticism from the international community as a consequence of the mass exodus of people fleeing into Bangladesh. He also discussed the governments efforts to repatriate those displaced and its preparations to rehabilitate them as agreed under a bilateral agreement signed between Myanmar and Bangladesh on Nov. 23, 2017.

The government also cited the Independent Commission of Enquiry, formed by the government but led by two foreigners, to investigate the alleged human rights violations following the violent attacks and the militarys counter-insurgency operations.

We, our country, have sovereignty and we can solve our own domestic problems, and we are willing and able to do so, said U Kyaw Tint Swe. However, he added that the country would abide by international laws and agreements to preserve good international relations.News Militarys Broadcast of Graphic Film Depicting 1988 Anarchy Draws Fire

Pro-democracy demonstrators march in downtown Yangon during the 88 Uprising. / Htien Lin

YANGONThe Myanmar militarys broadcast of a gruesome film depicting scenes of graphic violence that occurred during the nationwide pro-democracy movement in 1988 has been criticized as an attempt to legitimize the coup it staged three decades agoand even as a threat of another takeover.

Military-owned TV channel Myawaddy repeatedly aired the 41-minute video on Tuesday, which marked the 30th anniversary of the military takeover. The coup would be followed in the decades to come by indiscriminate bloody crackdowns by the military on pro-democracy activists.

The film focuses on incidents of violence, chaos and mass looting that occurred in August and September 1988. During this period leading up to the coup, the government was unable to effectively maintain law and order in the wake of nationwide pro-democracy demonstrations, known as the 88 Uprising, which brought the country to a standstill.

The videos most graphic sequence shows the public killings of several people accused of being government spies or counterrevolutionaries. According to a document that has gone viral online, then Military Intelligence chief Colonel Khin Nyunt ordered all spy units and informers to take any steps necessary at the time to sow confusion among the public in order to carry out acts of counter-violence. The order warns officials to take great care to keep the mission secret while carrying it out. (In his biography published 27 years after the coup, the ex-spy chief made no mention of the order.)

In one scene, a man is stabbed to death and beheaded. The perpetrator holds the victims head aloft for enraged onlookers to see.

A narrator explains that the film is a compilation of clips taken from footage aired on international media at the time. It was first aired by the state-owned Burma Broadcasting Service (now MRTV) soon after the coup.

Referring to the military takeover, a narrator says toward the end of the film, The military, which always takes seriously the safety and interests of the state and the people, intervened because the rule of law and governing mechanism of the country were in total ruins, while the countrys independence and sovereignty were under threat.

In what was possibly intended as a justification for re-broadcasting the film 30 years later, the narrator at one point urged the people of Myanmar to adopt a national outlook so as not to repeat the kind of terrible and bitter experience that happened 30 years ago. In the introduction to the film, the narrator describes the 88 Uprising as the [nations] worst and most brutal mass disturbance.

Observers at home and abroad uniformly agree that the uprising toppled the regime of dictator Ne Win and paved the way for the political reform that Myanmar is experiencing today.

Regarding the graphic content, another narrator warns that the faint-hearted and children are advised not to keep watching when the warning of graphic images appears.

On Facebook, Myanmar netizens questioned the militarys motive for re-airing the film in 2018, 30 years after the coup, and with the country now governed by a democratically elected civilian government.

Many pointed out that the military has a long history of claiming it had no choice but to seize power in 1988 as the situation had gotten out of control. They said the military had compiled the worst examples of violence to create the film in order to legitimize its takeover.

Some interpreted the broadcast as a threat from the military, which is now facing international pressure over its actions against the Rohingya in Rakhine State, while its relationship with the National League for Democracy-led government in areas like constitutional amendment and the peace process are reportedly poor. Amid other problems like rising nationalism and anti-Muslim sentiment, and skyrocketing commodity prices, some fear the military is poised to make a return if there are any signs of social or political unrest.

Documentary filmmaker Shin Daewe said to The Irrawaddy, I just see it as a threat, playing on peoples concerns while trying to persuade others that the military can do good things for the country when the government fails.

To promote better civilian-military relations, Yangon-based political commentator Yan Myo Thein told The Irrawaddy, the military leaders should view the 88 Uprising as a turning point in Myanmars modern history, rather than portraying it as a descent into anarchy in order to legitimize its coup.

He pointed out that for the sake of national reconciliation Daw Aung San Suu Kyi had remained silent on the 2003 attackallegedly sponsored by the then military governmentby armed thugs on a convoy she was traveling in.

But the military aired the film [on the anniversary of the coup]. It does more harm than good for the democratic transition, Yan Myo Thein said.News Rights Group Blasts Police Inaction over Rape of 14-Year-Old IDP

The IDP camp near the village of Mai Yu Lay, where the 14-year-old victim lives in Kutkai Township, northern Shan State. / Taang Womens Organization

A rights group has reported that the police in Nam Hpat Kar, a town in Kutkai Township near the Chinese border, have still not taken action against two men one month after they were accused of raping a 14-year-old student.

The Taang Womens Organization (TWO) released a statement on Tuesday describing the incident which occurred when two girls, aged 13 and 14 years old, went to bathe at a stream outside their village. When they were on their way home, two men attempted to kidnap them. The 13-year-old girl was able to escape, but the men captured and raped the older girl.

Both girls are of Taang ethnicity and are living at an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Mai Yu Lay, a village near Nam Hpat Kar. The rapists are both from the village.

The girl could not walk for two days after she was raped as she had pain, said Lway Che Sa Nga, a research assistant for the TWO.

Sai Lan Sai, 19, and his friend, whose name remains unknown but is said to be aged 21, have been accused of the rape.

Four womens organizations and community leaders from the village reported the case at the police station in Nam Hpat Kar on August 16, asking the police to take action against the men.

The organizations, Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Network, TWO, the Kachin Womens Organization, and the Shan Womens Organization, have gotten involved in seeking justice for the victim and her family. The rights groups have said that one month later, police still have not taken action against the men.

We have waited for a long time to see how the police would take action against [the accused] but we havent seen anything yet, said Lway Che Sa Nga.

This has lead, she said, the organization to release the statement.

The victims family took the girl for a medical check in a Kutkai hospital, but the hospital authorities refused her, saying they couldnt perform the check in their hospital. When the family traveled to a hospital in Lashio, the medical examination found evidence that the girl had been raped, according to Lway Che Sa Nga.

U Zaw Than, a police offer in Nam Hpat Kar, Kutkai Township said that his officers went to the homes of the accused men several times but that they were not at home and so have not been arrested.

Whenever we went to check at their houses, their parents just told us that they were not at home. We even asked for their photos, but their parents did not give them to us, said U Zaw Than.

He said that as the parents only spoke the Shan language, they did not understand what they said. The police report that they dont know where the men are hiding.Guest Column Myanmar Caught in Her Own Trap

From left to right, Radhika Coomaraswamy, Marzuki Darusman and Christopher Sidoti, members of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar, attend a news conference at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday. / Reuters

The UNs Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) on Myanmar recently called the countrys military, or Tatmadaw, the main perpetrator of serious human rights violations and crimes under international law in Kachin, Rakhine and Shan states.

The FFM designed its Infographic with the image of Senior General Min Aung Hlaing as one of the six top Tatmadaw commanders responsible for the crimes. Naming the highest levels of command, the Mission seeks to underscore their responsibility for crimes committed, the mission said in its report.

The infographic calls the Tatmadaws alleged rights violations war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, as head of government, and the civilian authorities are also condemned in the report for denying the Tatmadaws wrongdoing.

The report highlights the specific articles of the Constitution and other domestic laws that enshrine impunity for human rights violations committed by the perpetrators and former military regime. The FFM covers gross human rights violations and serious breaches of international humanitarian law committed in Myanmar since 2011 and urges the UN Security Council to refer the situation in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court.

Shwe Mann, a former general and speaker of Parliament, has previously confessed that the 2008 Constitution was drafted to protect military leaders who ruled the country under dictatorship.

Because they believed that it was an essential tool to securely hand over power in the transitional period, Shwe Mann said in a televised talk with the Democratic Voice of Burma.

Going through articles in the Constitution that favor the military, the FFM report says impunity is deeply entrenched in Myanmars political and legal system, effectively placing the Tatmadaw above the law. The Constitution and other laws provide for immunities and place the Tatmadaw beyond civilian oversight.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been campaigning to amend the Constitution since 2014, often urging the military to consider whether it is fair that it should have such privileges. If the Tatmadaw obtains special authority because of its armed force, how could that be dignified? Think about it, she has said.

The state counselor has been trying to convince the military to back the amendments  which can only happen with its consent  without success to date. She again highlighted the importance of amending the Constitution to Myanmars democratic transition during a recent lecture in Singapore.

Though the odds remain against her, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, drawing on her personal connection to the military as an institution (her father, General Aung San, is the countrys preeminent independence hero), has always tried to reconcile with the Tatmadaw peacefully. I do feel a kinship to the soldiers because my father is a founding father of the Tatmadaw. Not only because of my personal connection, I would like the Tatmadaw to get along with people for the sake of the nation, she said while campaigning in 2014.

The Tatmadaw and people must trust each other, respect each other and love each other in order for the nation to be peaceful and secure. Without that relationship, the country will never be stable and secure, she said.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is fully aware that the mentality of the Tatmadaw is completely different from what it was in her fathers day. She has often criticized the military, comparing it with its former self. The Tatmadaw was founded to serve people, but it becomes opposite nowadays, she has said.

In the 1950s, war fighters became state builders, observed Cornell University scholar Mary Callahan. In her 2003 book Making Enemies, she wrote that the military solution to internal crises crowded out other potential state reformers, turning officers into state builders and military-as-institution into military-as-state itself.

Changing the mentality of the Tatmadaw, which has taken root over more than half a century, is not an overnight job. Sending the military back to the barracks is Daw Aung San Suu Kyis greatest challenge, as the Constitution gives the defense services the right to independently administer and adjudicate all affairs of the armed forces.

The FFM recommends immediate action for significant security sector reform and draws attention to constitutional reform as well, including abolishing the militarys 25-percent quota of parliamentary seats and its control of key ministries and placing the sector under full civilian control.

And while fully aware that the Tatmadaw is not under civilian control, the FFM blames Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for remaining silent on the plight of the Rohingya and the militarys alleged abuses.

UN human rights chief Zeid Raad al-Hussein has said that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi should have resigned as Myanmars de facto leader over the militarys alleged mass killing of Rohingya Muslims or risked a return to house arrest rather than being a spokesperson of the Burmese military. But he should know that the country took 30 years to reach the so-called-democratic transition it is now embarked on. His remark about the state counselor, who abandoned her family for Myanmar and spent 15 years under house arrest, is ruthless and shows no respect for Myanmars voters.

Remaining silent on the plight of the Rohingya has been regarded as an act of political suicide by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi among those who envisioned her as a democracy and human rights icon. She has chosen to commit political suicide as an icon to the outside world perhaps because she believes that remaining silent is crucial to seeing through her strategy of reconciliation with the military.

The FFM calls it an omission.

The state counselor, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, has not used her de facto position as head of government, nor her moral authority, to stem or prevent the unfolding events, or seek alternative avenues to meet the governments responsibility to protect the civilian population or even to reveal and condemn what was happening, its report says.

The UN mission also accuses Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the civilian administration of spreading false and hateful narratives, denying the Tatmadaws wrongdoing, blocking independent investigations  including the FFMs  and overseeing the bulldozing of burned Rohingya villages and the destruction of crime sites and evidence.

As such, through their acts and omissions, the civilian authorities have tacitly accepted and approved the Tatmadaws brutal, criminal and grossly disproportionate actions, it says.

The latest international tensions bring to mind the time when the West strongly condemned the Tatmadaw for brutally killing hundreds, if not thousands, of protesters in 1988. The difference now is that Myanmar is not under military rule, but under the dual leadership of the elected National League for Democracy and the military. International recommendations to take action against the military might create a nightmare for the former military generals, including former Senior General Than Shwe.

Unless the Myanmar military and other security forces are held accountable for past, current and future crimes, violence and associated atrocity crimes will happen again, the FFM says.

The FFM has given a full list of recommendations to both the civilian government and the military. The burning question is how much space they have to maneuver, and how open the Tatmadaw is to security sector and constitutional reform. The Tatmadaw is now caught in its own constitutional trap.

Returning to the Dark Age is not always the answer. The Washington Posts slogan says democracy dies in darkness. Authoritarianism in Myanmar may be dying, but its undemocratic Constitution lives on.

Mon Mon Myat is a freelance journalist and a graduate student in the PhD program in peace building at Payap University in Chiang Mai, Thailand.Forcepoint says its new Critical Infrastructure business unit will "address the challenge of balancing insider threat detection and data security with availability for industrial control systems and industrial IoT connected devices".

The global cyber security comapny has announced the creation of a new business unit "to specifically meet the security challenges faced by critical infrastructure providers in todays sophisticated threat landscape".

Given the importance of critical infrastructure and industrial systems to modern civilisation, and the threat that bad actors and unfriendly nation states can wreak upon such systems, Forcepoint is clearly getting to the point in proffering professional protection.

The company says its new "Critical Infrastructure business will leverage the full capability set of Forcepoint's Global Governments and Enterprise Security businesses to deliver defence-grade cybersecurity offerings for insider threat detection, enhanced data security and advanced threat protection for critical infrastructure".

To start with, Forcepoint says it will "initially focus its efforts on organisations using industrial control systems (ICS) such as energy, oil and gas, and critical manufacturing".

Leveraging its 20-years of experience securing high-assurance environments, Forcepoint claims to be "the only company today that can address the critical infrastructure threat where it is most vulnerable  the human point of interaction with systems and data".

The company says it will "deliver a portfolio of integrated, behavioural-based cybersecurity products enriched with content relevant for the industrial space, focusing initially on network security solutions designed to bring more visibility to the sophisticated threats facing industrial control systems.

"Connecting operational technology (OT) such as ICS and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems to the IT network can offer new levels of functionality, cost savings and transparency to take advantage of big data and analytical insights. This dependence on connected devices also exponentially expands the attack surface of the OT environment within critical infrastructure.

T"he combination of sophisticated attackers understanding how to disrupt a physical process with the frequency of attacks targeting users with trusted access to sensitive information compound the challenges facing CISOs and industrial plant operators to define ownership of these areas."

According to Gartner's "2018 Strategic Roadmap for Integrated IT and OT Security, by Saniye Alaybeyi, 3 May 2018", we're told that "by 2021, 70% of OT security will be managed directly by the CIO, chief information security officer or chief security officer departments, up from 35% today.

Sean Berg, senior vice-president and general manager for Global Governments and Critical Infrastructure at Forcepoint, said: "The relative ease and low-cost of cyber attacks across borders today is leading to a crisis in critical infrastructure, where both the information technology and operational side of the house have to come together quickly.

These industries provide essential services that underpin society, and they need to control access to the plant or electric grid to protect their users and critical data. The most effective, holistic approach requires behavioural insight to automatically provide security countermeasures without impacting availability to prevent intrusion into critical systems.

Choice of network segmentation options to protect industrial environments

Forcepoint says its "critical infrastructure offerings build on the companys decades of experience providing security solutions that protect sensitive government networks and secure connectivity between these networks and the Internet.

"These solutions will be tailored to meet the content requirements of industrial environments, providing secure segmentation to address operational needs, such as vendor partners requiring remote access, and a baseline for monitoring threats within industrial environments.

"Forcepoints solution allows critical infrastructure operators to have the security of a firewall or safe, one-way data transfer for more sensitive areas, while ensuring compliance with standards such as NERC-CIP, NEI-08-09 and ISA/IEC 62443.

"Forcepoint NGFW (next generation firewall) provides consistent security, performance and operations across physical, virtual and cloud systems and is designed for all three stages of network defence: to defeat evasions, detect exploits of vulnerabilities and stop malware.

"It provides fast decryption of encrypted traffic, including HTTPS web connections, combined with granular privacy controls that keep organisations and users safe in a rapidly changing world.

"Forcepoint Data Guard can validate all data transfers at the application and data layers, allowing only valid commands and data sets required for operations. The data flowing between the operational and information networks can be audited and controlled over a one-way connection, providing a higher level of security and reliability required for highly regulated industries like nuclear power plants.

"These network security products are part of Forcepoints Human Point System portfolio that enable ICS, government agencies and enterprise organisations to 'start anywhere' to address data and user security needs across insider threats, human-centric behaviour analytics, data loss prevention, cloud security technologies (CASB), and web/email security."

The company naturally states that its "cybersecurity innovations integrate seamlessly into a system with unified policy management or plug into existing on-premises or cloud environments".

Former Intel/McAfee and Belden executive to lead Forcepoint Critical Infrastructure effort

David Hatchell, who will report to Sean Berg, has been named vice-president of Critical Infrastructure and will lead the new Forcepoint business unit.

A veteran of the technology and security industries, Hatchell "formerly led the critical infrastructure practice at Intel/McAfee and Belden. The unit will focus on tailoring Forcepoint solutions to the unique product requirements, challenges, and markets of the critical infrastructure space."

Additional ResourcesFake apps for the Commonwealth Bank and ANZ are among a number of bogus Android applications attempting to represent six banks on Google's Play Store, the Slovakian security firm ESET claims.

The other banks whose apps are being faked are Britain's TSB, Switzerland's Post Finance, Poland's WBK Zachodni and Austrian cryptocurrency exchange Bitpanda, the company said in a blog post.

The fake apps were using bogus forms to obtain credit card details and login credentials, it said.

The opening screen for the fake ANZ app.

ESET's Lukas Stefanko wrote that the fake apps had been around in the Google Play Store since June 2018 and had been downloaded more than a thousand times each before they removed by Google.

"The apps were uploaded under different developer names, each using a different guise," Stefanko said. "However, code similarities suggest the apps are the work of a single attacker. The apps use obfuscation, which might have contributed to their slipping into the store undetected."

The six fake Android banking apps found by ESET on the Google Play Store.

While the apps do not operate in an uniform manner, when launched they all show screens that ask for credit card details or login credentials. If anyone did provide these details, these were then sent to the attacker's server.

Stefanko offered the following advice to avoid falling victim to these and any other fake banking or financial services apps:

"Only trust mobile banking and other finance apps if they are linked from the official website of your bank or the financial service;

"Only download apps from Google Play; this does not ensure the app is not malicious, but apps like these are much more common on third-party app stores and are rarely removed once uncovered, unlike on Google Play;

"Pay attention to the number of downloads, app ratings and reviews when downloading apps from Google Play;

"Only enter your sensitive information into online forms if you are sure of their security and legitimacy; and

"Keep your Android device updated and use a reliable mobile security solution."

Screenshots: courtesy ESETHow much money do people make at their job? That's a piece of information that everyone wants to know about everybody elseand isn't eager to share themselves.

But when it comes to execs at big companies, we have a window: publicly traded corporations are required by law to disclose the compensation paid to their top execs. And we scoured the proxy statements of the 500 largest U.S. companies to find 25 that disclosed CIO pay. Here are the details on the latest pay packages for which there's information, mostly from 2016, organized from lowest to highest paid.

Jon Stevens, SVP of operations and CIO, CDW

Like many execs on this list, Stevens wears multiple hats, responsible not just for IT at CDW but for the company's distribution centers, transportation facilities and customer relations as well. He's been in his current role since 2009 and at the company since 2001. This is his second year in a row on the list, and his compensation saw a slight bump from last year.

Salary: $330,279

Bonus: $617,490

Stock and options: $376,696

Other: $584,235

Total: $1,908,700

Scott Laverty, EVP and CIO, JCPenney

After cutting his teeth consulting with Deloitte and IBM, Scott Laverty got into the retail business as CIO of Borders Books and Head of Retail for HCL AXON. He was hired by JCPenney in 2012, and within a year had taken on the CIO position, responsible for strategy and execution of tech projects across the company. But JCPenney was on hard times, and by the end of 2015 Laverty left the company. "We are unable to provide details of Scotts departure," his employers said cryptically, but two years later they're still sending him enough deferred compensation for him to make it onto this list. Meanwhile, he's serving as EVP and CIO of Shane Company Jewelry.

Salary: $473,333

Bonus: $553,449

Stock and options: $1,020,004

Other: $59,760

Total: $2,106,546

Keith Rohland, CIO, US Foods

Keith Rohland made a jump from finance to food when he moved to his current company from Citigroup in 2011. As CIO, he's in charge of all IT functions, including strategy, systems development and infrastructure. This is the second year in a row he's been on our list, and a boost in his bonus means a better showing overall.

Salary: $475,000

Bonus: $1,122,100

Stock and options: $590,445

Other: $20,248

Total: $2,207,793

Cindy Earhart, EVP of administration and CIO, Norfolk Southern

Cindy Earhart's career at Norfolk Southern has spanned more than 30 years, and has straddled a number of silos: she's been in accounting and IT positions, and was VP of HR and Executive VP of Administration. In 2015 she took on the role of CIOironically being outpaid by her predecessor Deborah Butler, whose deferred compensation put her at number 11 on our list. But 2017 saw another kind of jump: she went back to her accounting roots and took a job as the company's CFO.

Salary: $525,000

Stock and options: $1,149,250

Other: $637,477

Total: $2,311,727

Anil Cheriyan, EVP and CIO, SunTrust Banks

Anil Cheriyan has been in IT most of his career, working with systems, customer information, data warehousing and e-business engagements at PwC and helping financial services sector clients with business systems transformation, technology and process re-engineering initiatives at IBM Global Business Services. In 2012 he became SunTrust's CIO, where he worked to unify a siloed technology department. He retired in February of 2018.

Salary: $500,000

Bonus: $598,500

Stock and options: $1,229,623

Other: $40,850

Total: $2,368,973

David Thompson, EVP, Global Operations and CTO, Western Union

After a stint in Air Force intelligence, David Thompson ended up in IT management in a number of Silicon Valley heavy hitters: he was SVP and CIO at PeopleSoft, where he oversaw a transition to the company using its own applications internally. By the mid '00s he had moved to become CIO at Oracle, then spent a spell in the same role at Symantec before joining Western Union in 2012. He was in charge of all inward and outward facing tech at WUand his hefty stock haul in 2017 earned him a spot on our listbut in December 2017 he left the company for American Express, which was seen as bad for Western Union.

Salary: $533,300

Bonus: $524,400

Stocks and options: $1,418,400

Other: $55,900

Total: $2,532,000

Ram Chandrashekar, EVP of operational excellence and IT, ManpowerGroup

ManpowerGroup is a worldwide staffing agency, and Ram Chandrashekar oversees its IT functions from Singapore, where he also serves as President of the company's Asia Pacific Middle East region. After getting masters degrees in both India and the U.S., Chandrashekar worked as COO for the Sterling Infotech Group of companies. He joined Manpower in 2008 and in 2012 was put in charge of IT, with the goal of improving operational performance with a metric-oriented framework. He began his current role in 2014, aiming to drive operational excellence for Manpower IT worldwide Chandrashekar's compensation is somewhat inflated by special payments he received to compensate for taxes he owed on income earned while living in the U.S. in previous years.

Salary: $568,035

Bonus: $500,000

Stock and options: $1,400,088

Other: $101,760

Total: $2,569,883

Dave Barnes, CIO, UPS

Dave Barnes is a true UPS company man, starting off in 1977 as a package loader and using his wide knowledge of what the company doesranging from operations, to industrial engineering, to finance, to information technologyto rise through the ranks as UPS went worldwide in the '80s and '90s. He became company CIO in 2005, and even though he left in 2016, his sizable deferred compensation, mostly in the form of stock and options, still places him among the highest-paid tech execs in the country.

Salary: $491,439

Bonus: $251,458

Stock and options: $1,930,658

Other: $25,262

Total: $2,698,817

Wayne Shurts, EVP and CTO, Sysco

Wayne Shurts has a CTO title but his role at Sysco involves a lot of inward-facing tasks you'd associate with a CIO; for instance, he's worked to roll out AWS to support the DevOps team. He came to Sysco in 2012 after serving as CIO at Supervalu and Cadbury Schwepps. While he's moved down this list a bit since last year, a sizeable stock grant kept him in the top 25.

Salary: $601,675

Bonus: $772,933

Stock and options: $1,318,029

Other: $45,730

Total: $2,738,367

Pawan Verma, EVP and CIO/CTO, Foot Locker

Pawan Verma's career has been focused on retail and ecommerce: after stints at Convergys and Verizon Wireless, he spent two years as VP of Digital Technology and API Platforms at Target, where his bailiwick ranged from marketing tech to the company's online store. At Foot Locker, he's responsible for both outward and inward facing tech, ranging from CRM and supply chain to channel customer experience. A healthy stock grant boosted him onto our list for the first time.

Salary: $216,071

Bonus: $664,053

Stock and options: $1,890,267

Other: $130,638

Total: $2,901,029

Lisa Bachmann, EVP, Chief Merchandising and Operating Officer, Big Lots

Lisa Bachmann's grab-bag title includes tech under its umbrella: she's in charge of corporate infrastructure and operational management, among other areas. She's been at Big Lots in one role or another since 2002, and served for 10 years in a more conventional CIO role starting in 2005. Before joining Big Lots, her background was in planning at various department store brands.

Salary: $694,773

Bonus: $696,851

Stock and options: $1,552,317

Other: $57,816

Total: $3,001,757

Martha Poulter, EVP and CIO, Starwood Hotels

Martha Poulter worked her way up through the IT department at GE over two decades, starting out as a systems analyst before eventually becoming CIO and VP in 2010. She then made the jump to the Starwood Hotels chain, where she had to coordinate technology over a large portfolio of hotel brands. Poulter's stay at Starwood was relatively briefin January of 2018 she jumped ship (pun intended) to become CIO at Royal Caribbean Cruisesbut was lucrative, as her place on our list attests.

Salary: $700,000

Bonus: $714,000

Stock and options: $1,912,838

Total: $3,326,838

Matt Carey, EVP and CIO, Home Depot

Matt Carey has worked at Home Depot for nearly a decade and oversees all aspects of IT infrastructure and software development for its sprawling network of stores and distribution centers, as well as the corporate website and supply chain. This is the third year in a row Carey's been on our list; his compensation hasn't changed much but the fact that his contemporaries are making more moves him down the ranking.

Salary: $710,385

Bonus: $834,079

Stock and options: $2,190,187

Other: $18,478

Total: $3,753,129

Robert B. Carter, EVP, FedEx information services and CIO, FedEx

Robert Carter has been with FedEx since 1993, and he sets the technology direction of the shipping giant's applications, networks and data centers. He's not as far up the list as he was last year, but his sizable performance bonus kept him in the mix. Carter's compensation was also padded by various perks, including use of a private jet and security services.

Salary: $762,960

Bonus: $385,793

Stock and options: $1,568,014

Other: $1,252,727

Total: $3,969,494

Deborah Butler, EVP of Planning and CIO, Norfolk Southern

Deborah Butler has a background in a number of disciplines that she exercised in nearly 40 years at Norfolk Southern, ranging from operations to regulatory environment to strategic planning. She reached the EVP level in 2007, but like several other entrants in this list, she manages to be one of the top paid tech executives despite having retired several years ago. She left Norfolk Southern in 2015, but still receives deferred compensation of various sorts; most of it takes the form of retirement benefits, which are generous enough to put her at number 11 on our list.

Salary: $450,000

Stock and options: $1,399,184

Other: $2,169,698

Total: $4,018,882

Meg McCarthy, EVP, Operations and Technology, Aetna

Meg McCarthy has an interesting background for a tech exec: a master's in public health and a rank of lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve. Since her Navy service was in the Medical Services Corps, it makes sense that much of her career has been in the health care and health insurance industry: she was CIO at Catholic Health Initiatives and Franciscan Health System and SVP of IT at CIGNA before joining Aetna in 2003. In her current role, she's in charge not just of IT but also global security, travel, and real estate services.

Salary: $627,960

Bonus: $737,880

Stock and options: $2,774,536

Other: $124,189

Total: $4,264,565

Chris Hjelm, EVP and CIO, Kroger

Chris Hjelm had his first CIO job at Cedant's Travel Distribution Services, but since 2005 has been with the Kroger supermarket chain, and now is responsible for managing the company's IT operations from sites ranging from retail stores to manufacturing plants to offices and R&D facilities. Hjelm in on our list for the second year in a row, and a sizable bonus sends him further towards the top.

Salary: $653,368

Bonus: $1,302,852

Stocks and options: $2,772,636

Total: $4,728,856

Martin Lippert, EVP and Global Head of Technology and Operations, MetLife

Martin Lippert is a longtime tech exec in the financial services industry, with stints at Freddie Mac, Mellon Bank, Royal Bank of Canada, and Citigroup before his current job at MetLife. At RBC, he helped launch one of the first internet-based cash management services. At MetLife, his role spans both customer-facing tech and internal operations and security, and he's in charge of planning digital strategy as well. A healthy bonus put him high on our list for this year.

Salary: $681,250

Bonus: $2,300,000

Stock and options: $2,369,817

Total: $5,351,067

Neville Ray, EVP and CTO, T-Mobile

Ray has worked as for the better part of two decades as an executive in the wireless telephony industry, starting as network vice president at Pacific Bell Mobile Services (one of the ancestors of AT&T Mobility) in 1996 before jumping ship to VoiceStream (which later became T-Mobile) in 2000. He took on the CTO role at T-Mobile in 2010, and has helped transform its wireless network quality from an embarrassment to a selling point.

Salary: $598,462

Bonus; $2,409,960

Stock and options: $2,679,467

Other: $10,600

Total: $5,698,489

Julie Bushman, SVP of Business Transformation and IT, 3M

Bushman is something of a rare bird on this list: a career-long employee of the company that made her a top-paid IT exec. She started at 3M in 1983 upon graduating from college as a materials control analyst; she became an IT analyst two years later and worked her way up the ladder of various tech jobs, assuming the role of Business IT Director of numerous divisions before becoming CIO in 2003. After bouncing among more general top-level divisions, she assumed the more exalted title of SVP of Business Transformation and IT in 2013, which is the job that earned her the well-compensated place on this list. She assumed the job of EVP of International Operations later in 2017.

Salary: $599,029

Bonus: $653,176

Stock and options: $3,630,025

Other: $1,102,874

Total: $5,985,104

Tyler Best, EVP and CIO, Hertz

Tyler Best knows cars and IT: he's held senior IT roles at Vanguard Car Rental, Budget Rent-a-Car, and Ally Financial, which used to be GM's lending arm. He took the CIO job at Hertz in early 2015, overseeing the company's global IT functions. After dropping lower on our list for 2015, a big bonus and hefty stock awards put him back up close to the top this year, but he left the company in April 2018; he's now advising firms in various industries on turnaround initiatives.

Salary: $553,846

Bonus: $2,780,000

Stock and options: $3,143,627

Other: $78,648

Total: $6,556,121

Adriana Karaboutis, EVP Technology, Business Solutions, and Corporate Affairs, Biogen

Adriana Karaboutis cut her teeth at GM, where she worked for more than 20 years on projects related to computer-integrated manufacturing and supply chain operations, eventually moving to a service-oriented architecture. After a stint as a CIO at Dell, she moved to Biogen in 2014, where her task was to address "the mismatch between the structure of the companys existing technology organization and the business goals" of the CEO. While her work at Biogen in 2017 qualified her for this list, she in left in May of that year to take up a new job at National Grid, overseeing their use of AI and IoT devices.

Salary: $133,846

Bonus: $2,188,165

Stock and options: $5,265,820

Other: $159,026

Total: $7,746,857

Philip Fasano, EVP and CIO, AIG

Philip Fasano worked in the IT departments for a number of financial services companies over his career, including Capital One Financial, JP Morgan Chase, and Deutsche Financial Services, before moving to the HMO Kaiser Permanente to take on the EVP and CIO role. In 2014, he jumped ship to AIG to take on the same title in a role that was newly created within that company. Although he makes the cutoff for our list because he worked at AIG in 2017  and netted hefty compensation, much of it in the form of a bonus  he actually left the company in March of that year, possibly as part of the sweep of the executive ranks that soon afterward saw the CEO ousted as well. Fasano is currently the CEO of Bay Advisors, LLC.

Salary: $1,038,462

Bonus: $5,492,000

Stock and options: $1,606,091

Other: $261,436

Total: $8,397,989

Mike McNamara, EVP and Chief Information and Digital Officer, Target

Mike McNamara began his tech career at British retailer Tesco in the late '90s, helping roll out its website and overseeing its IT and supply chain businesses, then expanding the company's operating model outside the UK. In 2015 he jumped ship to join the executive team at Target, and currently has umbrella authority over most of that company's tech initiatives, from developing long-term tech roadmaps to overseeing the company's website and the in-store technology.

Salary: $468,462

Bonus: $948,336

Stocks and options: $8,015,929

Other: $293,626

Total: $9,726,353

Tim Theriault, EVP and Global CIO, Walgreens Boots

Tim Theriault spent more than a decade climbing the ladder at Northern Trust Corporation, from CTO to President of Corporate and Institutional Services, before jumping ship to head up technology at Walgreens and its post-merger iteration, Walgreens Boots. And he's managed to pull off a special feat: topping our list of high-paid tech execs for a job he left more than three years ago. He netted more than $13 million, mostly from various forms of deferred compensation, though he also provided some consulting services to the company as recently as 2017. Today he serves on the board of several health-related companies, including Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and The Vitamin Shoppe.

Salary: $525,000

Bonus: $948,336

Stock and options: $3,149,930

Perks and other compensation: $8,965,046

Total: $13,588,312Symposium of Contemporary Music to Feature Guest Composer

BLOOMINGTON, Ill.  As part of its New Music Series, Illinois Wesleyan Universitys annual Symposium of Contemporary Music will feature guest composer, performer and media artist Pamela Z on Friday, Sept. 21 and Saturday, Sept. 22.

Z will present a concert on Sept. 21 at 7:30 p.m., and on Sept. 22, she will give a talk titled "The Extended Performer," at 10:30 a.m. Both events will take place in Presser Halls Westbrook Auditorium and are free and open to the public.

A pioneer of live digital looping techniques, Z works primarily with voice, live electronic processing, sampled sound and video. She processes her voice in real time to create complex sonic layers and creates solo works by combining a wide range of vocal techniques with electronic processing and video. Her Sept. 21 concert will feature original compositions for voice, electronics and video.

In addition to her solo work, Z has been commissioned to compose scores for dance, film and chamber ensembles including Kronos Quartet. Her work has been presented at venues and exhibitions across the nation including The Kitchen in New York and REDCAT in Los Angeles, and she has toured and performed at numerous festivals throughout the U.S., Europe and Japan. She is the recipient of numerous awards including the Doris Duke Artist Impact Award, a Guggenheim Fellowship and the NEA Japan/US Friendship Commission Fellowship. Z earned a degree in music from the University of Colorado Boulder.

Established in 1952, The Symposium of Contemporary Music brings prominent guest composers or performers to campus each year for a two-to-three-day residency. IWU faculty and students participate in the performance of works by guest composers and in discussions. Guests also give master classes and presentations to composition and performance students.

By Vi Kakares 20Twenty years later, researchers' legacy provides scholarship support to doctoral students with an interest in vaccine studies.

Mary Lou Clements-Mann, MD, MPH 79, professor in International Health, and her husband, Jonathan Mann, MD, MPH, visiting professor of Health, Policy and Management, died in September, 1998 when, en route to Geneva, their Swiss Air Flight 111 crashed into the Atlantic Ocean. Their untimely death dealt a blow to the early AIDS research community, as the Manns were at the forefront of the worldwide effort to understand the spectrum of illnesses that came to be known as HIV/AIDS.

"Mary Lou's vision and passion for vaccine research led her to found the Center for Immunization Research in 1985, with the goal of facilitating the development of new vaccines for infectious diseases of global importance. Our Center prides itself on collaborative and interdisciplinary vaccine research, and on educating the next generation of vaccine scientists. Ruth A. Karron, MD, director of the Center for Immunization Research, Johns Hopkins Vaccine Initiative

Jonathan Mann founded the World Health Organization's AIDS program and was one of the first scientists to bring the international AIDS crisis to the world's attention. Clements-Mann was an internationally known virologist and AIDS researcher who devoted most of her career to developing and testing vaccines to combat respiratory viruses, AIDS and diarrheal diseases.

The support our students have received through the Clements-Mann Fellowship Fund in Vaccine Sciences has been a critical factor in their public health education, providing them with extensive opportunities to advance health in their communities and around the world. Ellen J. MacKenzie, PhD 79, MSc 75, Bloomberg Distinguished Professor, Dean

The Clements-Mann Fellowship was established by family members, friends, and colleagues as a tribute to Mary Lou and Jonathan's dedication to vaccine development, research and human rights.

This award is given at the discretion of the department of International Health to PhD applicants who have done previous work in vaccine research.

Clements-Mann Fellowship Alumni

Many alumni awardees of the Clements-Mann Fellowship have gone on to pursue leadership roles in vaccine research. Meet some of our distinguished alums bringing impact to the field of vaccine science.

Atwell is an assistant scientist in International Health, works with both the Center for Immunization Research and the Center for American Indian Health. Prior to earning her PhD in Global Disease Epidemiology and Control, Atwell was a microbiologist specializing in molecular characterization of outbreaks of enteric and vaccine-preventable disease. She has expertise in the impact of vaccine hesitancy on pertussis resurgence and has worked with both Gavi and PATH on issues related to new vaccine introduction in low-income countries.

Atwell's current research focus is on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and maternal immunization. She has worked to understand and address challenges to maternal immunization, both biologic and behavioral, including maternal conditions (e.g., malaria and hypergammaglobulinemia) that may impair transplacental transfer of RSV antibody, the complexities of defining severe RSV disease for clinical trial endpoints, and barriers to uptake of vaccines in pregnancy among American Indian populations in the Southwest. She also studies the epidemiology of RSV and other respiratory viruses among children in tropical and low-resource settings, and the impact of severe respiratory infections in early childhood on lung function and asthma in older children. Atwell and colleagues at the Bloomberg School are currently collaborating on a global efficacy study of a maternal RSV vaccine, the first Phase III clinical trial ever conducted on a vaccine-candidate designed for licensure and use specifically in pregnant women. She is a co-instructor of Vaccine Development and Application with Ruth Karron and Laura Hammitt and serves as program coordinator of the PAVE internship program.

Cunlin Wang, MD, PhD 04

Wang is currently a medical director developing innovative therapy for the treatment of cancer at San Francisco-based biotech company Genentech Inc., part of Roche Pharmaceuticals. Before joining Genentech, Wang was at Virginia Medical College. From 2005 to 2010, Wang was as both faculty and adjunct faculty at Johns Hopkins University, and from 2006 to 2017, he worked at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a medical epidemiologist before moving into the role of director of the Division of Epidemiology. The Division of Epidemiology leads the agency's active drug safety surveillance initiative and conducts comparative safety studies using real-world data to support the agency's mission of protecting U.S. public health by ensuring the safety and effectiveness of available medications. Wang lives in Ukiah, California, with his wife, Daisy, and daughter, Claire.

Gibson is an assistant scientist in the Health Systems Program within International Health. Gibson serves as the faculty coordinator for the Bloomberg Philanthropies Data4Health Initiative, which seeks to improve the quality of data and its use by policymakers from low- and middle-income countries. His research interests center on the application and evaluation of mobile health (mHealth) technologies to strengthen health systems and generate demand for health services in lower income countries, with a particular focus on immunization delivery and non-communicable disease surveillance. Through support from the Clements-Mann Fellowship, Gibson lived for two years in Kisumu, Kenya, where he oversaw the implementation of the Mobile-Solutions for Immunization (M-SIMU) randomized controlled trial, which found that providing caregivers text message reminders and small travel subsidies could drastically improve immunization coverage in this rural population. The results were recently published in Lancet Global Health and Gibson has disseminated findings within Kenya and to international agencies such as Gavi. Gibson has the privilege to train next-generation vaccine advocates and is currently advising a doctoral student who is conducting additional follow-up studies on improving vaccination coverage in Kenya. Gibson is based in Baltimore but frequently travels to Bangladesh, Colombia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda for work.

Michelle J. M. Hughes, MHS 09, PhD 14

Hughes is an Epidemic Intelligence (EIS) Officer at the CDC and a Lieutenant in the United States Public Health Commissioned Corps. Based in the Influenza Division, Hughes's research includes modeling the burden of influenza in the U.S. that is prevented through vaccination. Prior to joining EIS, Hughes served as an epidemiologist at Sinai Urban Health Institute in Chicago conducting research and evaluating programs to reduce health disparities. She was also an associate at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, investigating the epidemiology of pertussis in women and their infants in Nepal. Hughes holds a PhD and an MHS in Global Disease Epidemiology and Control. She is based in Atlanta, Georgia.

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Cloudy early with partial sunshine expected late. High 74F. Winds light and variable..

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Cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy later in the day. High 72F. Winds light and variable..

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New York (Human Rights Watch)  All Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are illegal; some are more illegal than others. Take Mitzpe Yair, which violates not only international law but also Israeli law, because it was built without the governments permission.

On August 31, I took a bus tour organized by Breaking the Silence (BTS), a group founded by Israelis who served in the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) and now seeks to expose the reality of occupation. Their regular tour includes stopping at a vantage point near Mitzpe Yair, one of many settlements in the area, where guides point out nearby Palestinian villages whose residents are fighting eviction orders issued by the IDF.

Just a week before our tour, six members of another activist group, Taayush (living together), had come to stand with Palestinian villagers of Qawaqis, near Mitzpe Yair, who had just had construction materials confiscated by the IDF on the grounds they had built huts without permits. The army rarely issues permits to Palestinians who apply for them.

During Taayushs visit, Amiel Vardi, a well-known activist, phoned the IDF to demand it take similar action against the nearby Mitzpe Yair settlers, who had also built new structures, presumably without permits.

But when Taayush activists approached Mitzpe Yair, settlers assaulted them and grabbed their cameras, said Vardi, 63, who said he sprained his ankle when a settler pushed him down a hill. He said soldiers standing nearby did not stop the assault or arrest anyone. An IDF spokesperson later blamed the activists for instigat[ing] a provocation.

A week later, as our two buses neared the Mitzpe Yair lookout, an Israeli army jeep and several soldiers blocked our path. Their commander showed us a written order declaring the area closed and demanded we leave immediately.

When two of our group calmly questioned the order, soldiers detained them both, as well as Michael Sfard, a lawyer for Breaking the Silence (and Human Rights Watch). Police later said the three had violated a military order, and while they were released after three hours without charge, they have been summoned for questioning on October 14.

Sfard, who has never been arrested before, told me, Five years ago, no officer would dare do this, but this one knew he wouldnt pay any price.

If the threat of settler violence is what prompted the army to close a public road to activists instead of ensuring their safe passage, the IDF effectively gave veto power to settlers, enforcing it with arrests. Little wonder that settlers feel emboldened by the army, as Breaking the Silence has reported, and activists feel increasingly besieged, even as they vow to continue to expose the reality of occupation.

Via Human Rights Watch



Bonus video added by Informed Comment:

Middle East Eye: Palestinians Protest Illegal Israeli SettlementsReddit 75 Email 158 Shares

By Luis Martin | 

Via OpenDemocracy.net Calling on progressives worldwide to form an international movement to combat the rise of authoritarianism represented by Donald Trump.

Senator Bernie Sanders, the former US presidential candidate, and Yanis Varoufakis, co-founder of DiEM25, are today calling on progressives worldwide to form an international movement to combat the rise of authoritarianism represented by Donald Trump.

In the first of a series of exchanges published in The Guardian, the pair described the urgent need for a Progressive International that can bring together people across the globe around a vision of shared prosperity, security and dignity for all.

While the very rich get much richer, people all over the globe are working longer hours for stagnating wages, and fear for their childrens future, said Sanders. Authoritarians exploit these economic anxieties, creating scapegoats which pit one group against another.

Varoufakis said: Our era will be remembered for the triumphant march of a Nationalist International that sprang out of the cesspool of financialised capitalism. Whether it will also be remembered for a successful humanist challenge to this menace depends on the willingness of progressives in the US, the EU, the UK as well as countries like Mexico, India and South Africa, to forge a coherent Progressive International.

As a first step, Varoufakis called for the creation of a common council that draws out a blueprint for an International New Deal, a progressive New Bretton Woods.

Yanis Varoufakis is exactly right, Sanders underscored in his reply. At a time of massive global wealth and income inequality, oligarchy, rising authoritarianism and militarism, we need a progressive international movement to counter these threats.

Sanders went on to argue that, the solution, as Varoufakis points out, is an international progressive agenda that brings working people together around a vision of shared prosperity, security and dignity for all people. The fate of the world is at stake. Let us go forward together now!

Read the complete exchange here (Bernie Sanders) and here (Yanis Varoufakis)

At DiEM25 we have been working hard since 2016 to make our stand as the first pan-European grassroots movement, powered and funded by people like you. We have brought together tens of thousands of people around a humanist, progressive agenda that can take the fight to the failing Establishment and repair and rebuild our common European project. Earlier this year, we began assembling European Spring, a coalition of progressive political parties from across the continent to compete in the May 2019 European elections and stage a citizen take-over of the EU.

And now, we are playing a key role in bringing together the global progressive alliance that Varoufakis and Sanders are calling for and that is so desperately needed to counter the rise of the hard right. We invite all like-minded political forces in every corner of Europe and beyond to join in!

Together we must send an unmistakable message that the way to beat the Nationalist International agenda of the likes of Donald Trump, Viktor Orban, Matteo Salvini and the other xenophobes around the world is by running on progressive policies and electing candidates who will represent all of us  as Bernie Sanders says, on every continent and in every country.

Ours is a struggle not just about human rights, care for our global environment, social justice and progressive values, but also about survival. Our struggle is about combating the rise of the toxic ideologies and horrors we faced less than a century ago. And it is a struggle we can win  together.

Carpe DiEM!

About the author

Luis Martin is a political scientist and journalist. He writes about International Relations, Economics and the Eurozone. He is currently Communications Coordinator of the Democracy in Europe Movement 2025 (DiEM25).

Luis Martin es politologo y periodista. Escribe sobre RR.II., Economia, y la zona euro. Es Coordinador de Comunicacion del Movimiento para la Democracia en Europa 2025 (DiEM25).

Subjects

This article is published under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.

Via OpenDemocracy.net



Bonus video added by Informed Comment:

Senator Bernie Sanders: Town Meeting with Sen. Sanders and German Ambassador Pete WittigLONGUEUIL, Quebec, Sept. 18, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reunion Gold Corporation (TSX-V: RGD) (the Company or Reunion) is pleased to report significant progress of exploration work at the Waiamu gold project in Guyana and a 5,000 meters drilling program is scheduled to start next week.

The Waiamu project covers approximately 39,000 acres in the Cuyuni River valley in northwest Guyana. A NE-trending clastic sedimentary sequence with interspersed mafic volcanics units, typical of the Guiana Shield greenstone belts of Proterozoic age, underlies the project area. This sequence has been strongly deformed and little metamorphosed. In the Waiamu area, this sequence hosts numerous artisanal gold workings, exposing gold-bearing quartz veins often forming dense swarms with significant volumes (Figure 1).

Reunion has been executing a comprehensive exploration program, including regolith geochemistry, geological mapping, prospecting and trenching and initial results are very encouraging. An initial 5,000 meters core drilling program to test two prospects on the project is starting this week and a helicopter-borne magnetometry-radiometry survey over the entire project is scheduled to start next week.

Regolith geochemistry on 260 km of cut lines and 71 km of ridge and spur traverses generated over 4,800 samples, which are being assayed for gold at the Actlabs laboratory in Georgetown. The 400 m by 50 m grid of regolith sampling defined at least seven anomalies, some independent from known artisanal prospects (Figure 2). These anomalies appear to be related to geological structures hosted preferentially by sediments and discrete felsic intrusive plugs, subparallel to the local NE trend. Extensive artisanal alluvial mining in the area (Figure 2) indicates that there are multiple primary sources of gold.

Most of the historical artisanal mining was focused on two prospects: C (for Ceguinho) and SJ (for St. John) (Figure 2), both related to regolith anomalies, and which are being mapped and sampled in detail. Prospect C was mined by two pits, the most recent one being over 100 m across, from which hundreds of tonnes of mineralized material were removed and processed in an artisanal plant with a hammer mill and two centrifuge concentrators. Forty-two tailings samples collected downstream from the plant over a period of four months averaged 3.3 g/t gold, indicating good dispersion of gold mineralization in the quartz vein swarms. The Company has completed 17 trenches at the C prospect, with a total length of 1,140 m. Channel samples from these trenches across quartz vein swarms show several multi-gram values over several meters with best values at 86.5 g/t gold, 24.84 g/t gold and 15.82 g/t gold (13% of all samples report gold grades superior to 0.5 g/t gold). Trenching also allowed detailed structural mapping of the vein systems, essential for the orientation of drill holes being planned (Figure 3). The C prospect will be initially tested at depth by four drill holes for a total of about 1,000 m of core. Prospect SJ consists on the excavation by artisanal miners of the entire side of a small hill down to saprock level (Figure 4). The pit exposes both clastic sediments and a fine-grained felsic intrusive, which appears to be preferentially mineralized by gold-bearing quartz veining. Five trenches with 620 m of extent have already been dug, exposing quartz veining at least 200 meters beyond the pit walls and 21% of all samples report grades above 0.5 g/t gold including best values at 17.89 g/t gold, 15.1 g/t gold and 14.16 g/t gold (Figures 5 and 6). The SJ prospect is underlain by a distinct magnetic anomaly, which is interpreted to be related to an intrusion (Figure 7). Reunion has commissioned a detailed helicopter-borne magnetometry/radiometry survey of the entire property to not only delineate the SJ prospect anomaly, but also to map several NW/NE-trending geological structures transecting the project area that appear to have some control of gold mineralization. One of these lineaments appears to be the southeast continuation of the Aurora Mine structure.

Rejean Gourde, the Companys CEO, stated: Considering that our first visit to this area happened less than one year ago, we have made very good progress. Our exploration work has demonstrated the presence of well mineralized system that remained formally unexplored until now. We look forward to the results of the drilling program and expect to demonstrate consistent gold mineralization at depth.

The Company has an option to acquire a 100% interest in the project for an initial period of five years with a possible extension of up to two additional years by spending at least US$5,000,000 in exploration and development expenditures and making total cumulative option payments of at least US$1,000,000.

Qualified Person

Carlos H. Bertoni, P. Geo., a consultant to the Company and a qualified person pursuant to National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical data contained in this press release.

Cautionary Statement

This press release contains certain forward-looking information or forward-looking statements as defined in applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties beyond the Companys control, including statements regarding completion of work program, potential mineralization, exploration results and statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions of the Company. Resource exploration and development is highly speculative, characterized by a number of significant risks, which even a combination of careful evaluation, experience and knowledge may not eliminate. Such risks include but are not limited to: uncertainty of exploration results; misinterpretation of data, logistical problems, volatility of gold price; mining risks, uncertainties related to the Companys ability to acquire the Waiamu Project; and availability of financing for additional capital requirements, cost of exploration and development programs. All forward-looking statements herein are qualified by this cautionary statement. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information or future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

About Reunion Gold

Reunion Gold Corporation is a Canadian exploration company focused on acquiring, exploring and developing gold projects in the Guiana Shield, South America. The Company has entered into agreements to acquire an interest in the Boulanger, Dorlin and Haute Mana gold projects in French Guiana and in the Waiamu, Aremu and Arawini gold projects in Guyana. The Companys shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol RGD.

Additional information about the Company is available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) and on the Companys website (www.reuniongold.com). For further information please contact:

REUNION GOLD CORPORATION

Rejean Gourde, President & CEO

David Charles CFA, Investor Relations

Telephone: +1 450.677.2585

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Figure 1. Mineralized quartz vein swarms on pit wall at C prospect.





Figure 2. Map of regolith geochemistry anomalies and interpreted surface geology. Historical alluvial gold workings are shown as orange stripes.





Figure 3. Map of C prospect area showing interpreted surface geology, trench locations and planned drill hole collar locations. Note tailings sampling site.





Figure 4. Photo of SJ prospect pit wall being cleaned for channel sampling.



Figure 5. Map of SJ prospect area showing interpreted surface geology, trench locations and planned drill hole collar locations.





Figure 6. Example of channel sampling results on historical pit face at SJ prospect.





Figure 7. Map of the Waiamu area showing magnetic anomaly coinciding with SJ prospect (reduced to the pole data from the 1972 low-resolution magnetometry survey of Guyana). Orange stripes represent historical alluvial workings.

By WestKyStar & Paducah Public Schools Staff Sep. 18, 2018 | 03:29 PM | PADUCAH



In addition, Criners entry entitled Reach Out and Take Hold earned the state runner up award in the argumentative essay category.



Senior Grace Raber earned the states 3rd place designation in the informational/explanatory category for How Education Helped Save This Foster Childs Life.





The three pieces will be published in this years Kentucky English Bulletin.





The writing contest is sponsored and judged by English and language arts teachers from around the state, and the contest is open to all Kentucky high school students.



Kate Criner, Paducah Tilghman High School junior, has been named state champion in the Kentucky Council of Teachers of English and Language Arts high school writing contest.Criners poem, Admirable Abuse, earned her the states first place designation in the poetry category.Intercepts Include 20.9 g/t Au Over Two Meters and 9.24 g/t Au over Three Meters

MONTREAL, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ALGOLD RESOURCES LTD. (TSXV: ALG  Algold or the Corporation) today announced preliminary assay results from drilling carried out in July and August, 2018 on the high-grade Salma-Eleonore East Vein System (SVS or Salma) located at the Corporations Tijirit Project in Mauritania.

Highlights

20.9 g/t Au over 2 meters (hole T18RC149), approximately eight meters below the surface, some 60 meters southwest of hole T18RC004, which intersected 12.3 g/t Au over 3 meters.



2.22 g/t Au over 17 meters (hole T18RC151), including 3.90 g/t Au over 7 meters and 11.0 g/t Au over 2 meters, approximately 50 meters below the surface, some 100 meters north of hole T12RC137 (historical result  Gryphon Minerals), which intersected 3.16 g/t Au over 2 meters at Eleonore East.



3.4 g/t Au over 9 meters (hole T18RD154), including 9.24 g/t Au over 3 meters, approximately nine meters below the surface and 2.7 g/t Au over 8 meters, 20 meters below the surface, some 130 meters west of hole T18RC151, indicating at least two mineralized veins at the southern end of the Eleonore East area. Assay results received to date for hole T18RD154 are only to a depth of 30 meters and therefore partial; additional results representing drilling that was carried out to 159.35 meters deep remain pending.

The SVS, discovered in mid-2017 (see Algold PR dated June 7, 2017) extends over a ten-kilometer northerly corridor. SVSs southern tip, labelled Eleonore East, is located only 2.4 kilometers east of the Eleonore zone, within the prospective granite-greenstone contact zone.

The latest assay results exceed expectations, indicating a wide zone of shallow, economic gold mineralization, adding to the higher-grade intervals described in our previous Press Release (see PR dated April 11, 2018) said Algold Executive Vice-President, Exploration, Francois Auclair. These near-surface assay results continue to demonstrate the high prospectivity of the project, further validating the potential to add high-grade ounces and grow Tijirit s resource base.

Drilling conducted at Salma  Eleonore East in July and August, as part of the Phase IV 25,000-meter drilling program, consisted of 42 reverse-circulation (RC) holes (11 of which were pre-collar) totalling 3,829 meters and 17 diamond drill (DDH) holes (11 of which were diamond [?tail)] totalling 1,774 meters. The drilling targeted mineralization identified from rock chip panel and channel sampling and RC drilling conducted in February and March of 2018 on fifteen fences, widely spaced over SVSs entire ten-kilometer strike corridor.

To date, Algold has identified four large mineralized zones at Tijirit namely Eleonore, Lily, Sophie and SVS, all of which are in close proximity to each other.

Table 1: Salma & Eleonore East Drilling Program Assay Result Highlights

Hole ID



Prospect



East

Local North

Local From

(m) To

(m) Vertical

Depth*

(m) Average Grade **

(g/t Au) Width***

(m) T18RC145 Eleonore East 1367 11378 98.00 99.00 75.46 3.20 1.00 T18RC149 Eleonore East 1266 10639 10.00 12.00 8.43 20.90 2.00 T18RD149 Eleonore East 58.35 61.10 46.0 7.35 2.75 T18RC150 Eleonore East 1296 11375 11.00 14.00 9.58 1.60 3.00 and 21.00 23.00 16.79 1.40 2.00 T18RC151 Eleonore East 1296 11526 20.00 22.00 15.68 1.70 2.00 32.00 49.00 25.00 2.22 17.00 Including 32.00 37.00 25.68 1.80 5.00 Including 38.00 40.00 29.03 0.40 2.00 Including 42.00 49.00 33.87 3.90 7.00 Including 42.00 44.00 31.00 11.00 2.00 T18RC154 Eleonore East 1447 11577 8.00 17.00 9.56 3.40 9.00 Including 14.00 17.00 9.24 3.00 and 22.00 30.00 19.91 2.70 8.00 Including 22.00 24.00 5.85 2.00 T18RC155 Eleonore East 1439 11778 108.00 110.00 79.47 4.10 2.00 T18RC157 Eleonore East 1296 11766 90.00 92.00 69.85 4.52 2.00 T18RC158 Eleonore East 1395 11594 43.00 44.00 33.17 1.34 1.00 T18RC168 Eleonore East 1077 10435 39.00 41.00 31.0 5.87 2.00

*Vertical depth of intersection below RL collar.

**Weighted average grade, composite based on a minimum grade of 0.3 g/t Au with an internal dilution of 0.005 g/t Au over 2 meters and an edge grade of 0.25 g/t Au permitted.

***Width believed to be close to true width.

No capping of higher values has been applied.

Following the discovery of the SVS in May 2017, Algold successfully completed a limited drilling program of 28 drill holes in March 2018. All drill holes intersected anomalous mineralization (>0.1 g/t Au), with seven of the 28 holes intersecting >1 g/t Au mineralization. This first-pass drilling program established the validity of the target and confirmed the ability to prospect the zone effectively. [which results, March 2017 referred to or the July August ones discussed above. This is confusing] Results will be used to help determine where to focus future exploration and resource development on the Tijirit Mining License, complementing the successful resource drilling at Eleonore, Lily and Sophie.

Several targets remain untested throughout SVSs ten-kilometer-long corridor. Drilling and trenching results from Salma and Eleonore East (formerly known as the Pressure Shadow zone) have yet to be included in Algolds resource estimates.

Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QA/QC)

Analytical work for drill core and chips, geochemical samples and rock chip samples is carried out at the independent SGS Laboratories Ltd. in Bamako, Mali. The 50-gram fire assay with ASS finish analytical services are accredited by SANAS and are carried out with a quality assurance protocol in line with ISO 17025:2005. Samples are stored at the Corporations field camps and put into sealed bags until delivered by a geologist on behalf of Algold to the laboratory in Bamako, Mali, where samples are prepared and analyzed. Until the end of 2016, samples were analyzed at ALSs facility in Loughrea, Ireland. Beginning in 2017, samples are analyzed at SGS Laboratory, Bamako. Samples are logged in the tracking system, weighed, dried and finely crushed to better than 70%, passing a 2 mm (Tyler 9 mesh, US Std. No.10) screen. A split of up to 1,000 g is taken and pulverized to better than 85%, passing a 75-micron (Tyler 200 mesh) screen, and a 50-gram split is analyzed by fire assay with an AA finish. Anomalous samples greater than 5 g/t Au are re-analyzed by 50-gram fire assay with gravimetric finish. Selected samples may be re-analyzed using a one-kilogram cyanide leach (Bottle Roll) using LeachWELL or the one-kilogram screen fire assay method. Blanks, duplicates and certified reference material (standards) are routinely inserted to monitor laboratory performance during the analysis. The independently inserted Quality Control samples have been reviewed on receipt of the assay results and fall within the acceptable limits as defined by Algolds Standard Operating Procedure.

This press release has been reviewed for accuracy and compliance under National Instrument 43-101 by Andre Ciesielski, DSc., Geo., Algold Resources Ltd Lead Consulting Geologist and Qualified Person, and Alastair Gallaugher, C.Geo. (Chartered Geologist and Fellow of the Geological Society of London), BSc. Geology, Algolds Exploration Manager in Mauritania, Qualified Persons as defined by NI 43101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Andre Ciesielski has further approved the scientific and technical disclosure in the news release.

ABOUT ALGOLD

Algold Resources Ltd is focused on the exploration and development of gold deposits in West Africa. The board of directors and management team are seasoned resource industry professionals with extensive experience in the exploration and development of world-class gold projects in Africa.

Algold is developing the Tijirit Gold Project, an area measuring more than 750 km2, which is comprised of the 306-km2 Tijirit Exploitation License and the 460-km2 Tijirit East Exploration License. The Tijirit Gold Project is situated approximately 25 kilometers southeast of the Tasiast gold mine. Exploration is being carried out on the Eleonore, Sophie I, Sophie II-III, Lily and SVS zones.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This press release contains and refers to forward-looking information based on current expectations. All other statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release are forward-looking statements (or forward-looking information). The Corporation's plans involve various estimates and assumptions and its business is subject to various risks and uncertainties. For more details on these estimates, assumptions, risks and uncertainties, see the Corporation's most recent Management Discussion and Analysis on file with the Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements that are included herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information, please contact:

Algold Resources Ltd.

1320, boul. Graham, bureau 132, Mont-Royal, Quebec, H3P 3C8, www.algold.com

Benoit LaSalle, FCPA, FCA

Chief Executive Officer

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

+1 (514) 951-4411

Alex Ball

Executive VP, Finance and Corporate Development

a.ball@algold,com

+1 (647) 919 2227TORONTO, Sept. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

 Infill drilling at Swan Zone (Swan) continues to return intercepts with extremely high grades, substantial widths and visible gold - Key intercepts: 289 g/t Au over 7.45 m (ETW 6.0 m); 155 g/t Au over 11.9 m (ETW 9.9 m); 423 g/t Au over 3.55 m (ETW 3.2 m); 215 g/t Au over 7.2 m (ETW 5.9m); and 353 g/t Au over 4.0 m (ETW 3.4 m)



 High-grade, visible-gold bearing Swan mineralization intersected 200 m downplunge of current Mineral Reserves - Key intercept:



83.1 g/t Au over 8.6 m (ETW 6.8 m)



 Significant growth in Swan Mineral Reserves expected in Fostervilles December 31, 2018 Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates. Abbreviations include: g/t Au: grams per tonne gold; m: metres; ETW: estimated true widths

Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd. (Kirkland Lake Gold or the Company) (TSX:KL) (NYSE:KL) (ASX:KLA) today announced new high-grade results from the ongoing underground drilling programs at the Fosterville Mine in Victoria, Australia. Underground drilling continues to target down-plunge extensions of Swan Mineral Reserves with results providing confirmation of the geological model and continuity of high-grade, visible-gold bearing mineralization on the Swan structure.

Results from 19 new drill holes, totaling 6,482 m, outside of the December 31, 2017 Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources in the Swan Zone continue to return intervals of exceptionally high grades with visible gold. The drilling demonstrates that high-grade, visible-gold bearing quartz veins extend at least 200 m down-plunge from current Mineral Reserves.

Tony Makuch, President and CEO of Kirkland Lake Gold, commented: We are quickly establishing Fosterville as a new, world-class gold camp, with the new drill results at Swan being the latest indication that there is much more to be found in terms of Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources. Todays intercepts confirm earlier drill results that demonstrated strong continuity of high-grade, visible-gold bearing Swan mineralization over 100 m down plunge from existing Mineral Reserves. They also include the intersection of high-grade Swan mineralization an additional 100 m down plunge, creating a potential 200 m envelope of exceptionally high-grade mineralization over substantial widths, with visible gold, which will drive future Mineral Reserve growth. With the new results, we are increasingly confident that our upcoming December 31, 2018 Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates will include a considerable increase in Mineral Reserves in the Swan Zone and a higher overall average grade and increased Mineral Reserve base for the Fosterville Mine as a whole.

In addition, there are many more targets to be explored at Fosterville, in the Lower Phoenix Gold System, as well as at Harrier South, Robbins Hill and through our regional Large Ore Deposit Exploration or LODE program. At Lower Phoenix South, we are following up on drilling earlier this year that intersected mineralization 750 m down plunge of the current Swan Mineral Resources. Work is also continuing to assess the new mineralized structure, called Cygnet, which runs parallel to Swan, and was first announced in July. We will also soon commence deep drilling from a new exploration drift at Harrier South, where we have seen a trend towards increasing grades with visible gold in quartz-carbonate veins at depth, comparable to the well documented progression to higher grades at Lower Phoenix. At Robbins Hill, we reported the intersection of visible-gold bearing quartz veins earlier in the year and have two surface drills working to further extend this highly-prospective mineralization, while a variety of exploration techniques are being used to explore multiple other targets in the surrounding area.

Swan Mineralized Zone Drilling Program

Results from the ongoing underground resource drilling program at the Swan Zone continue to demonstrate high-grade continuity down plunge from current Mineral Reserves.

High-Grade, Visible-Gold Bearing Intercepts Include:

289 g/t Au over 7.45 m (ETW 6.0 m), including 2,857 g/t Au over 0.75m (ETW 0.6 m) in hole UDH2551;

155 g/t Au over 11.9 m (ETW 9.9 m), including 1,566 g/t Au over 1.1m (ETW 0.9 m) in UDH2584A;

423 g/t Au over 3.55 m (ETW 3.2 m), including 760 g/t Au over 1.95m (ETW 1.8 m) in UDH2555;

215 g/t Au over 7.2 m (ETW 5.9 m), including 846 g/t Au over 1.55m (ETW 1.3 m) in UDH2590; and

353 g/t Au over 4.0 m (ETW 3.4 m), including 3,740 g/t Au over 0.35m (ETW 0.3 m) in UDH2552.

All drill results are presented in Table 1 and all drill collars are listed in Table 2.

Since the July 31, 2018 Kirkland Lake Gold News Release, underground diamond drilling in the Swan Zone has continued to return encouraging results down-plunge from current Mineral Reserves (Figure 1). Reported drill results are from 19 holes (6,482 m), of which 12 contain visible-gold mineralization with nine intervals of greater than 100 gram-metres and five intervals of greater than 1,000 gram-metres (i.e. gold grade x estimated true width) (Figure 2). All reported drill results are outside the December 31, 2017 Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources and highlight the continued significant Mineral Reserve growth potential of Swan.

Continued infill drilling into the December 31, 2017 Inferred Swan Mineral Resource has confirmed the strong continuity of high-grade, visible-gold bearing mineralization to a distance of up to 100 m down-plunge of Mineral Reserves. Two 1,000 gram-metre intercepts, 155 g/t Au over 11.9 m (ETW 9.9 m) from UDH2584A and 289 g/t Au over 7.45 m (ETW 6.0 m) from UDH2551, are located 100 m and 80 m down plunge from Mineral Reserves, respectively.

Previously drilling identified high-grade (>30 gram-metres), visible-gold bearing mineralization down plunge to 6230mN in hole UDE158 (November 7, 2017 Kirkland Lake Gold News Release). The intercept from UDH2494 of 83.1 g/t Au over 8.6 m (ETW 6.8 m), released today, demonstrates that exceptionally high-grade, visible-gold bearing mineralization (>100 grammetres) extends at least 200 m down-plunge of Mineral Reserves to the 6175mN northing and remains open for further extension.

Swan Footwall Splay

Infill drilling and ongoing interpretation of Swan has identified a mineralized footwall splay fault, named the Swan Footwall Splay (Figure 3). The fault emanates from and branches off the Swan Fault at approximately 6400mN and 4000mRL. The interpreted synthetic fault dips marginally steeper than the Swan structure at approximately 50 and has been defined down to the 3825mRL at a maximum separation distance of 20 m from the Swan Fault. Gold grades are highest on this structure immediately footwall to the Swan Fault.

Key Gold Intercepts:

24.0 g/t Au (1) over 2.6 m (ETW 2.2 m) in hole UDH2555; and

over 2.6 m (ETW 2.2 m) in hole UDH2555; and 8.1 g/t Au over 3.5 m (ETW 3.1 m) in hole UDH2552

(1) Visible gold drill intercept

Over the remainder of 2018, infill drilling from the Phoenix 4190 m drill platform will continue to target the December 31, 2017 Inferred Swan Mineral Resource down plunge of Mineral Reserves. It is anticipated that drill results will be returned from intercepts spaced at a nominal 25m x 25m separation to an approximate depth of 3900mRL and northing 6200mN on the Swan structure. This drill coverage is expected to be sufficient to support conversion to an Indicated Mineral Resource category and enable a Mineral Reserve evaluation to be completed in time for inclusion in the December 31, 2018 Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates.

To view the figures referenced in this News Release, visit the links below.

Figure 1. Long Projection of Fosterville Gold Mine





Figure 2. Longitudinal Projection of Swan and Swan Footwall Mineralization, Fosterville Gold Mine

Figure 3. Phoenix Mineralization System Schematic Cross Section 6250mN

Qualified Persons

Troy Fuller, MAIG, Geology Manager, Fosterville Gold Mine, is a "qualified person" as such term is defined in National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information and data included in this News Release.

Drilling and Underground Sampling Assay QAQC

Kirkland Lake Gold has in place quality-control systems to ensure best practice in drilling, sampling and analysis of drill core. All diamond drill hole collars (Table 2) are accurately surveyed using a Leica TS16 Total Station instrument and down-hole deviations are measured by electronic multi-shot cameras.

Sampling consisted of diamond drill core that was either full core or half core sampled. Half core samples were cut longitudinally in half with a diamond saw; one-half of the drill core was sent to an independent laboratory for analysis and the other drill core half retained for reference. Sample pulps are returned from the assay laboratory for reference and future geological or metallurgical studies. Drill core sample intervals vary between 0.3 and 1.2m in length and were determined from logging of sulfide and visible gold to geological boundaries.

Samples containing visible-gold or considered likely to contain visible-gold were separated from sulfide gold samples and dispatched independently for assaying. At the laboratory visible-gold jobs were processed through a single pulverizer and material barren of gold (quartz wash) was crushed before and after each sample to minimize the potential for gold to contaminate successive samples.

Assay results are based on 25-gram charge fire assays. Mean grades are calculated using a variable lower grade cut-off (generally 2 g/t Au) and maximum 2m internal dilution. No upper gold grade cut is applied to the data. However, during future Mineral Resource studies the requirement for assay top cutting will be assessed.

All samples were assayed at On Site Laboratories, an independent laboratory in Bendigo, Victoria. The facility is registered ISO 9001:2008 (CERT-C33510).

About Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd.

Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd. is a mid-tier gold producer with 2018 production targeted at over 635,000 ounces of gold from mines in Canada and Australia. The production profile of the Company is anchored by two high-grade, low-cost operations, including the Macassa Mine located in Northeastern Ontario and the Fosterville Mine located in the state of Victoria, Australia. Kirkland Lake Gold's solid base of quality assets is complemented by district scale exploration potential, supported by a strong financial position with extensive management and operational expertise. For further information on Kirkland Lake Gold, and to receive news releases by email, visit the Companys website www.klgold.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This News Release includes certain "forward-looking statements". All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to planned exploration programs, costs and expenditures, changes in Mineral Resource estimates, potential growth in Mineral Resources, conversion of Mineral Resources to proven and probable Mineral Reserves, and other information that is based on forecasts of future operational or financial results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to future exploration potential, project economics, timing and scope of future exploration, anticipated costs and expenditures, changes in mineral resources and conversion of mineral resources to proven and probable reserves, and other information that is based on forecasts of future operational or financial results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management.

Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "estimates" or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. Exploration results that include geophysics, sampling, and drill results on wide spacings may not be indicative of the occurrence of a mineral deposit. Such results do not provide assurance that further work will establish sufficient grade, continuity, metallurgical characteristics and economic potential to be classed as a category of mineral resource. A mineral resource that is classified as "inferred" or "indicated" has a great amount of uncertainty as to its existence and economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that any or part of an "indicated mineral resource" or "inferred mineral resource" will ever be upgraded to a higher category of resource. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into proven and probable reserves.

There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Companys expectations include, among others, risks related to international operations, risks related to obtaining the permits required to carry out planned exploration or development work, the actual results of current exploration activities, conclusions of economic evaluations and changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined as well as future prices of gold, as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Companys Annual Information Form, financial statements and related MD&A for the periods ended December 31, 2017 and June 30, 2018 and other disclosures of "Risk Factors" by the Company and its predecessors, which are filed with the securities regulatory authorities in certain provinces in Canada and available on SEDAR. Although the Company has attempted to identify key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause unanticipated and unintended results. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors - Mineral Reserve and Resource Estimates

All resource and reserve estimates included in this news release or documents referenced in this news release have been prepared in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (the "CIM") - CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the CIM Council, as amended (the "CIM Standards"). NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators, which established standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. The terms "mineral reserve", "proven mineral reserve" and "probable mineral reserve" are Canadian mining terms as defined in accordance with NI 43-101 and the CIM Standards. These definitions differ materially from the definitions in SEC Industry Guide 7 ("SEC Industry Guide 7") under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Exchange Act.

In addition, the terms "mineral resource", "measured mineral resource", "indicated mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource" are defined in and required to be disclosed by NI 43-101 and the CIM Standards; however, these terms are not defined terms under SEC Industry Guide 7 and are normally not permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves. "Inferred mineral resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in very limited circumstances. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of a mineral resource exists, will ever be converted into a mineral reserve or is or will ever be economically or legally mineable or recovered.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT

Anthony Makuch, President, Chief Executive Officer & Director

Phone: +1 416-840-7884

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mark Utting, Vice-President, Investor Relations

Phone: +1 416-840-7884

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Table 1: Drill Assay Intercepts for the Swan and Swan Footwall Splay Diamond Drilling, Lower Phoenix Mineralized System, Fosterville Gold Mine

(The results are outside of Indicated Mineral Resources appearing in the December 31, 2017 Technical Report on the Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves of The Fosterville Gold Mine, dated April 2, 2018, and available on sedar.com)

Hole ID From

(m) To

(m) Downhole

Interval

(m) Estimated

True Width

(m) Gold

Grade

(g/t Au) Geological

Structure/

Zone Swan Mineralization UDH2156(1) 282.6 291.0 8.4 7.1 86.9 Swan Including(1) 283.9 284.25 0.35 0.3 1,474 Swan and (1) 289.35 289.85 0.5 0.4 279 Swan UDH2484 368.45 369.55 1.1 1.0 2.5 Swan UDH2488 375.8 376.8 1.0 0.9 2.1 Swan UDH2493 (1) 387.6 389.5 1.9 1.5 40.4 Swan Including(1) 387.6 388.0 0.4 0.3 161 Swan UDH2494(1) 393.4 402.0 8.6 6.8 83.1 Swan Including(1) 398.3 400.0 1.7 1.3 366 Swan UDH2495(1) 366.2 372.5 6.3 5.8 11.7 Swan Including(1) 367.65 369.6 1.95 1.8 28.6 Swan UDH2496(1) 349.8 352.0 2.2 2.0 10.5 Swan Including(1) 349.8 350.55 0.75 0.7 27.1 Swan UDH2542 283.4 290.1 6.7 6.0 10.0 Swan Including 286.65 289.1 2.45 2.2 21.0 Swan UDH2545 No Significant Intercept Swan UDH2551(1) 308.0 315.45 7.45 6.0 289 Swan Including(1) 308.3 309.05 0.75 0.6 2,857 Swan UDH2552(1) 283.9 287.9 4.0 3.4 353 Swan Including(1) 284.4 284.75 0.35 0.3 3,740 Swan UDH2555(1) 267.0 270.55 3.55 3.2 423 Swan Including(1) 267.0 268.95 1.95 1.8 760 Swan UDH2584A(1) 310.35 322.25 11.9 9.9 155 Swan Including(1) 318.1 319.2 1.1 0.9 1,566 Swan UDH2587 285.1 290.3 5.2 4.4 20.0 Swan Including 288.3 289.8 1.5 1.3 35.3 Swan UDH2590(1) 292.8 300.0 7.2 5.9 215 Swan Including(1) 296.05 297.6 1.55 1.3 846 Swan UDH2598(1) 256.95 269.9 12.95 12.0 31.5 Swan Including(1) 265.1 268.05 2.95 2.7 101 Swan UDH2629 272.7 278.0 5.3 5.0 15.2 Swan Including 273.05 274.95 1.9 1.8 26.2 Swan UDH2632(1) 274.7 279.95 5.25 5.0 175 Swan Including(1) 279.0 279.95 0.95 0.9 930 Swan UDH2633 269.25 285.2 15.95 15.3 3.5 Swan Including 283.05 283.95 0.9 0.9 13.9 Swan Swan Footwall Splay Mineralization UDH2496 360.7 362.0 1.3 1.2 6.0 Swan Splay UDH2552 296.0 299.5 3.5 3.1 8.1 Swan Splay UDH2555(1) 279.4 282 2.6 2.2 24.0 Swan Splay UDH2584A 347.6 348.45 0.85 0.7 2.7 Swan Splay UDH2598 275.8 278.8 3.0 2.7 4.0 Swan Splay UDH2632 302.85 303.7 0.85 0.8 2.7 Swan Splay UDH2633 297.95 299.95 2.0 1.9 3.1 Swan Splay Notes: (1) - Visible gold observed in drill intercept.

Drill intercepts containing visible gold or greater than 30 Gram-Metre (gold grade x estimated true width) are shown in bold text.

Table 2: Underground Diamond Drill Hole Collar Locations, Fosterville Gold Mine

Hole ID Northing (m) Easting (m) Elevation (m) Collar Azimuth () Collar Plunge () Depth (m) UDH2156 6,357.3 1,406.5 4,192.6 102.0 -43.6 302 UDH2484 6,233.7 1,339.3 4,194.5 98.9 -33.2 396.1 UDH2488 6,233.7 1,339.4 4,194.5 98.9 -38.2 390.2 UDH2493 6,233.5 1,339.4 4,194.5 100.9 -45.2 426 UDH2494 6,233.5 1,339.1 4,194.1 105.5 -48.3 410.7 UDH2495 6,233.5 1,338.9 4,194.1 90.2 -47.6 386.7 UDH2496 6,233.9 1,339.1 4,194.0 83.9 -48.5 374.6 UDH2542 6,357.2 1,406.5 4,192.9 109.3 -34.3 324 UDH2545 6,356.1 1,406.4 4,192.7 115.8 -39.9 335 UDH2551 6,356.2 1,406.4 4,192.7 115.4 -49.0 330.2 UDH2552 6,357.3 1,406.5 4,192.5 110.2 -50.8 310.5 UDH2555 6,357.6 1,406.5 4,192.8 98.1 -50.1 296.9 UDH2584A 6,365.8 1,381.9 4,192.0 116.9 -55.9 356.6 UDH2587 6,356.2 1,406.4 4,192.8 104.6 -32.2 308 UDH2590 6,355.1 1,406.3 4,192.9 106.5 -47.0 308 UDH2598 6,355.2 1,406.3 4,192.5 98.2 -56.8 293.8 UDH2629 6,366.8 1,381.6 4,191.9 79.2 -60.6 296.7 UDH2632 6,366.6 1,381.7 4,191.9 87.7 -58.8 317.5 UDH2633 6,366.1 1,381.6 4,192.0 93.0 -57.8 318.2

Notes: Collar locations are in Fosterville Mine Grid coordinate system./NOT FOR DISSEMINATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES AND NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO US NEWSWIRE SERVICES./

MELBOURNE, Australia, Sept. 19, 2018 /CNW/ - OceanaGold Corporation (TSX: OGC / ASX: OGC) (the "Company") is pleased to announce the intersection of additional high-grade gold mineralisation along the East Graben vein at the Company's WKP prospect in New Zealand. These drill results add strike length, support the high-grade results reported in July 2018 and form part of a more extensive ongoing exploration drill programme.

Significant Intercepts (true widths)

5.0m @ 39.04 g/t Au, 76.6 g/t Ag

@ 39.04 g/t Au, 76.6 g/t Ag 3.6m @ 35.79 g/t Au, 43.3 g/t Ag

@ 35.79 g/t Au, 43.3 g/t Ag 4.5m @ 10.46 g/t Au, 7.5g/t Ag

@ 10.46 g/t Au, 7.5g/t Ag 2.1m @ 23.08 g/t Au, 49.5 g/t Ag

Mick Wilkes, President and CEO of OceanaGold said, "The drill results at WKP continue to yield significant high-grade intercepts. The latest results indicate an extension to the known current strike length of the East Graben vein, which remains open in both directions. We continue to drill here as well as other major vein structures being discovered." He added, "Drilling at WKP commenced with one drill rig in August of 2017 and as the drill program delivered positive results, we allocated additional resources and investment to support the exploration program. With the latest results, two rigs are dedicated to resource definition drilling and follow up drilling is planned on other areas of high-grade mineralisation."

The Company commenced exploration of the WKP prospect in August 2017 and to date has drilled 10,386 metres from 19 holes. Since the July 2018 exploration update, 2,381 metres have been drilled at WKP focussing on the potential of the East Graben Vein; one of three major low sulphidation epithermal gold-silver veins identified so far within the WKP prospect area (Figure 1). In addition to these known veins, multiple high-grade veins in the hangingwall and footwall of the East Graben Vein have been intercepted and require further drilling.

The drilling completed since the July 2018 exploration update has continued to successfully intersect high-grade mineralisation, increasing the strike length by a further one third to a total delineated strike length of approximately one kilometre. The high-grade mineralisation is open in both directions, with 200 metres of vertical extent which is open for a further 100 - 200 metres up-dip (Figure 2).

Exploration activities will now mainly be focused on infill resource drilling within areas that have returned best true width intercepts, including 5.0m @ 39.04 g/t gold and 3.6m @ 35.79 g/t gold (Figure 2, Table 1).

For the remainder of 2018, the Company expects to complete 5,300 metres of infill resource definition diamond drilling and to further drill testing of the other major veins on the prospect.

Figure 1: Plan View of geology and distribution of known veins at WKP

Figure 2: Long Section on the East Graben Vein

Table 1: Recent Significant Diamond Drill Intersections (July 2018 to September 2018)

Drill Hole ID East#

(m) North#

(m) Collar RL

(m) Az# Dip From

(m) To

(m) True width

(m) Gold Grade

(g/t) Silver Grade (g/t) Vein WKP53 2760147 6429860 181 171.6 -27.4 179.0 182.1 0.8 12.23 46.1 East Graben HW WKP53 2760147 6429860 181 171.6 -27.4 245.7 246.5 0.3 12.00 101.0 East Graben HW WKP53 2760147 6429860 181 171.6 -27.4 253.2 254.1 0.5 13.20 15.0 East Graben HW WKP53 2760147 6429860 181 171.6 -27.4 583.7 590.1 4.5 10.46 7.5 East Graben WKP54 2760147 6429860 181 159.5 -25.1 140.0 141.1 0.7 20.40 69.0 East Graben HW WKP54 2760147 6429860 181 159.5 -25.1 225.0 225.7 0.4 50.60 157.0 East Graben HW WKP54 2760147 6429860 181 159.5 -25.1 499.0 506.7 5.0 39.04 76.6 East Graben WKP54 2760147 6429860 181 159.5 -25.1 536.1 540.8 3.6 35.79 43.3 East Graben FW WKP54 2760147 6429860 181 159.5 -25.1 547.0 548.5 0.9 32.41 22.7 East Graben FW WKP55 2760406 6430099 180 120.7 -46.9 130.1 131.0 0.9 5.57 5.0 East Graben HW WKP55 2760406 6430099 180 120.7 -46.9 250.6 251.8 1.2 4.02 17.0 East Graben WKP55 2760406 6430099 180 120.7 -46.9 305.9 307.8 1.0 6.59 10.3 East Graben FW WKP55 2760406 6430099 180 120.7 -46.9 319.5 320.2 0.5 7.92 26.0 East Graben FW WKP55 2760406 6430099 180 120.7 -46.9 348.3 350.6 2.3 5.08 19.2 East Graben FW WKP56 2760406 6430099 180 84.3 -42 160.0 162.0 2.0* 19.65 11.0 East Graben HW WKP56 2760406 6430099 180 84.3 -42 214.0 215.0 0.8 6.28 9.0 East Graben HW WKP56 2760406 6430099 180 84.3 -42 299.9 300.9 0.8 32.90 30.0 East Graben WKP56 2760406 6430099 180 84.3 -42 407.0 408.3 0.7 7.33 6.0 East Graben FW WKP57 2760406 6430099 180 151.2 -32 285.7 287.9 2.1 23.08 49.5 East Graben

* Downhole length as true width not able to be determined

All drill data and additional information in relation to the WKP prospect can be found on the Company's website at Click Here. In line with ASX listing requirements, OceanaGold has appended the information required by JORC Table 1 for WKP exploration results to its ASX announcement. JORC Table 1 is not required under National Instrument 43-101. Readers are referred to the ASX website at www.asx.com.au or the OceanaGold website at www.oceanagold.com to view JORC Table 1.

About OceanaGold

OceanaGold Corporation is a mid-tier, high-margin, multinational gold producer with assets located in the Philippines, New Zealand and the United States. The Company's assets encompass the Didipio Gold-Copper Mine located on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. On the North Island of New Zealand, the Company operates the high-grade Waihi Gold Mine while on the South Island of New Zealand, the Company operates the largest gold mine in the country at the Macraes Goldfield which is made up of a series of open pit mines and the Frasers underground mine. In the United States, the Company operates the Haile Gold Mine, a top-tier, long-life, high-margin asset located in South Carolina. OceanaGold also has a significant pipeline of organic growth and exploration opportunities in the Americas and Asia-Pacific regions.

OceanaGold has operated sustainably since 1990 with a proven track-record for environmental management and community and social engagement. The Company has a strong social license to operate and works collaboratively with its valued stakeholders to identify and invest in social programs that are designed to build capacity and not dependency.

The Company expects to produce 500,000 to 540,000 ounces of gold and 15,000 to 16,000 tonnes of copper with All-In Sustaining Costs that range from $725 to $775 per ounce sold.

Competent/Qualified Person's Statement

The resources and exploration results were prepared in accordance with the standards set out in the 2012 Edition of the 'Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves' ("JORC Code") and in accordance with National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects of the Canadian Securities Administrators ("NI 43-101"). The JORC Code is the accepted reporting standard for the Australian Stock Exchange Limited ("ASX").

Information relating to Waihi exploration results in this document has been verified by, is based on and fairly represents information compiled by or prepared under the supervision of Lorrance Torckler, a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and an employee of OceanaGold. Mr Torckler has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity being undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the JORC Code and is Qualified Persons for the purposes of the NI 43-101. Mr Torckler consents to the inclusion in this public report of the matters based on their information in the form and context in which it appears.

Cautionary Statement for Public Release

Certain information contained in this public release may be deemed "forward-looking" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information relate to future performance and reflect the Company's expectations regarding the generation of free cash flow, execution of business strategy, future growth, future production, estimated costs, results of operations, business prospects and opportunities of OceanaGold Corporation and its related subsidiaries. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "estimates" or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements and information. They include, among others, the accuracy of mineral reserve and resource estimates and related assumptions, inherent operating risks and those risk factors identified in the Company's most recent Annual Information Form prepared and filed with securities regulators which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com under the Company's name. There are no assurances the Company can fulfil forward-looking statements and information. Such forward-looking statements and information are only predictions based on current information available to management as of the date that such predictions are made; actual events or results may differ materially as a result of risks facing the Company, some of which are beyond the Company's control. Although the Company believes that any forward-looking statements and information contained in this press release is based on reasonable assumptions, readers cannot be assured that actual outcomes or results will be consistent with such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements and information, whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. The information contained in this release is not investment or financial product advice./NOT FOR DISSEMINATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES AND NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO US NEWSWIRE SERVICES./

MELBOURNE, Australia, Sept. 19, 2018 /CNW/ - OceanaGold Corporation (TSX: OGC / ASX: OGC) (the "Company") provides an update on its Didipio operation in the Philippines and Haile operation in the United States, where over the past weekend severe weather impacted surrounding areas.

Mick Wilkes, President and CEO of OceanaGold said, "The safety and well-being of our employees is paramount and I'm very happy to announce that following major storms in the Philippines and in the Carolinas no injuries were reported. The Company uses stringent processes and operational readiness practices ahead of potential severe weather events to ensure workers are safe, the site is secure and our robust environmental safety controls are in place."

He went on to say, "Our valued workforce at both the Didipio and Haile operations were well prepared and equipped to deal with a worst-case scenario weather event and both operations are designed to withstand hurricanes, tornados or other severe weather. Our community relations teams remained in close contact with local authorities and communities throughout the storm and in the aftermath, we offered our assistance in recovery efforts."

"Operationally, we do not expect any impact to production at either operation as a result of these storms."

Philippines

In the Philippines, the Didipio operation reported no injuries or environmental impacts associated with Super Typhoon Mangkhut, a category five storm that impacted northern Philippines. At Didipio, the centre of the storm travelled north of the operation, however the site received a moderate amount of rainfall. As Didipio is designed for and accustomed to significant rainfall and strong wind events, particularly during the typhoon season, the site was well prepared in advance of the storm. Following a brief stoppage of operational activities, the Didipio operation was safely restarted.

The impact of the storm on the Philippines was significant and as part of their preparations the Company had dispatched a Typhoon Response Team to assist local and regional government authorities in their recovery efforts within the Cagayan Valley to the north of the operation. In the past, Didipio's Typhoon Response Teams have provided support to other similar storms such as Super Typhoon Haiyan (also known as Yolanda) that devastated the Visayas region in Central Philippines in 2013.

United States

In the United States, the Haile operation reported no injuries or environmental impacts associated with Tropical Storm Florence, which significantly impacted coastal areas in North and South Carolina. The centre of the slow-moving storm travelled south of Columbia, South Carolina (Haile located 60 miles north of Columbia). The Haile operation was well prepared for a worst-case scenario storm event and was temporarily suspended on Friday ahead of the weather and for the safety of the workforce who commute to and from site. The process plant was safely and successfully restarted on Sunday while mining resumed on Monday.

Prior to, during and after the storm, the Haile operation worked closely with local communities and maintained open communication lines during the storm to support their needs and well-being. In the aftermath of the storm, the Haile operation offered its support and assistance for any emergency clean-up required.

About OceanaGold

OceanaGold Corporation is a mid-tier, high-margin, multinational gold producer with assets located in the Philippines, New Zealand and the United States. The Company's assets encompass the Didipio Gold-Copper Mine located on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. On the North Island of New Zealand, the Company operates the high-grade Waihi Gold Mine while on the South Island of New Zealand, the Company operates the largest gold mine in the country at the Macraes Goldfield which is made up of a series of open pit mines and the Frasers underground mine. In the United States, the Company operates the Haile Gold Mine, a top-tier, long-life, high-margin asset located in South Carolina. OceanaGold also has a significant pipeline of organic growth and exploration opportunities in the Americas and Asia-Pacific regions.

OceanaGold has operated sustainably since 1990 with a proven track-record for environmental management and community and social engagement. The Company has a strong social license to operate and works collaboratively with its valued stakeholders to identify and invest in social programs that are designed to build capacity and not dependency.

The Company expects to produce 500,000 to 540,000 ounces of gold and 15,000 to 16,000 tonnes of copper with All-In Sustaining Costs that range from $725 to $775 per ounce sold.

Cautionary Statement for Public Release

Certain information contained in this public release may be deemed "forward-looking" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information relate to future performance and reflect the Company's expectations regarding the generation of free cash flow, execution of business strategy, future growth, future production, estimated costs, results of operations, business prospects and opportunities of OceanaGold Corporation and its related subsidiaries. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "estimates" or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements and information. They include, among others, the accuracy of mineral reserve and resource estimates and related assumptions, inherent operating risks and those risk factors identified in the Company's most recent Annual Information Form prepared and filed with securities regulators which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com under the Company's name. There are no assurances the Company can fulfil forward-looking statements and information. Such forward-looking statements and information are only predictions based on current information available to management as of the date that such predictions are made; actual events or results may differ materially as a result of risks facing the Company, some of which are beyond the Company's control. Although the Company believes that any forward-looking statements and information contained in this press release is based on reasonable assumptions, readers cannot be assured that actual outcomes or results will be consistent with such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements and information, whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. The information contained in this release is not investment or financial product advice.The International Criminal Courts prosecutor opened a preliminary probe on Tuesday into Myanmars crimes against Rohingya Muslims, including killings, sexual violence and forced deportations.

The move is the first step towards a full investigation of Myanmars military crackdown which has seen some 700,000 of the stateless minority people flee the northern Rakhine state into neighbouring Bangladesh.

It comes nearly two weeks after judges ruled that even though Myanmar has not signed up to the Hague-based ICC, the court still has jurisdiction over crimes against the Rohingya because Bangladesh is a member.

I have decided to proceed to the next phase of the process and to carry out a full-fledged preliminary examination of the situation at hand, ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said in a statement.

A preliminary examination can lead to a formal investigation by the ICC  which was set up in 2002 to investigate war crimes and crimes against humanity  and then possible indictments.

Bensouda said the initial probe may take into account a number of alleged coercive acts having resulted in the forced displacement of the Rohingya people, including deprivation of fundamental rights, killing, sexual violence, enforced disappearance, destruction and looting.

She would also consider whether other crimes would apply to the plight of the Rohingya such as the crimes of persecution and other inhumane acts.Myanmars army has used unfathomable levels of violence against minority Rohingya, UN investigators said Tuesday, calling for the military to be removed from politics and top generals to be prosecuted for genocide.

In the most meticulous breakdown of the violence in Myanmar to date, a UN team of investigators presented a 444-page report laying out in horrifying detail a vast array of violations committed by the countrys powerful military, especially against the Rohingya Muslims.

It is hard to fathom the level of brutality of Tatmadaw operations, its total disregard for civilian life, head of the UN fact-finding mission Marzuki Darusman told the UN Human Rights Council, referring to the nations military.

Myanmars ambassador to the UN, Kyaw Moe Tun, slammed Tuesdays report as one-sided and flawed.

A brutal military crackdown last year forced more than 700,000 Rohingya to flee over the border into Bangladesh amid accounts of arson, murder and rape at the hands of soldiers and vigilante mobs in the mainly Buddhist country.

Myanmars army has denied nearly all wrongdoing, insisting its campaign was justified to root out Rohingya insurgents who staged deadly raids on border posts in August 2017.

Genocide

The UN team said the militarys tactics had been consistently and grossly disproportionate to actual security threats, and said that estimates that some 10,000 people were killed in the crackdown was likely a conservative figure.

It said there were reasonable grounds to believe that the atrocities were committed with the intention of destroying the stateless Rohingya, warranting the charges of genocide.

A shorter version of the missions report, published last month, had already called for Myanmars army chief and five other top military commanders to be prosecuted in an international court for genocide.

In his presentation, Darusman provided excruciating details of massacres in Rohingya villages, pointing out that the men were systematically killed. Children were shot, thrown into the river or onto a fire.

Women and girls meanwhile were routinely gang-raped before being locked inside burning houses.

Of those who survived, many had been severely bitten, in what appeared to be akin to a form of branding, he said.

Rape as war tactic

Darusman said the scale, cruelty and systematic nature (of the sexual violence) reveal beyond doubt that rape is used as a tactic of war.

The UN analysis decried the armys hold on political life in Myanmar, which only recently emerged from almost a half century of total military junta rule.

The military holds a quarter of seats in parliament and controls three ministries, making its grip on power firm despite reforms beginning in 2011.

Aung San Suu Kyis democratically-elected government remains in a delicate power balance with the generals, whose presence in parliament gives them an effective veto on constitutional changes.

There cannot be any democratic transition in Myanmar unless the Tatmadaw relinquishes its control of the politics, of the economy and of the constitution, UN investigator Christopher Sidoti told reporters.

We have seen not the birth of democracy in Myanmar, regrettably, but the stillbirth.

The UN mission said Myanmars civilian government had also helped enable the widespread rights violations in Myanmar by allowing hate speech against the Rohingya to flourish and using civilian laws to crack down on media and others speaking out against abuses.

The investigators directed specific criticism at Suu Kyi, whose global reputation has been shattered by her failure to speak up for the Rohingya against the military.

While acknowledging that the civilian authorities have little influence over military actions, the report said that their acts and omissions had contributed to the commission of atrocity crimes.

Probe of UN role

Pointing to deeply entrenched impunity in Myanmar, the investigators said the only chance to obtain accountability was through the international justice system.

They also repeated suggestions that crimes against the Rohingya be referred to the International Criminal Court, which concluded in August that it had jurisdiction to investigate even though Myanmar is not a member of the treaty underpinning the tribunal.

Myanmar has dismissed the tribunals authority and analysts have pointed to the courts lack of enforcement powers.

The UN investigators also recommended an arms embargo and targeted individual sanctions against those who appear to be most responsible.

They called for a comprehensive, independent inquiry into the UNs own role in Myanmar since 2011, warning that quiet diplomacy appeared to have sidelined those pushing to loudly denounce rights violations.UN investigators called Monday for the prosecution of Myanmars army chief for genocide against the Rohingya Muslim minority after a ferocious army crackdown drove more than 700,000 of them into Bangladesh.

Here are key dates since the exodus began a year ago:

 Rohingya militants attack 

On August 25, 2017 hundreds of Rohingya militants stage coordinated attacks on 30 police posts in Myanmars Rakhine state, killing 13 police.

The Myanmar army hits back with operations in Rohingya villages, saying it is trying to flush out insurgents.

Witnesses tell of Rohingya civilians being massacred in retaliation, with mortars and machine guns fired at villagers fleeing to the Bangladesh border.

The army in the mainly Buddhist nation says it has killed 400 rebels. Opponents of the regime say most of the victims were civilians. The UN says at least 1,000 were killed in the first two weeks.

 Refugee storm 

By September 5 more than 120,000 Rohingya have flooded into Bangladesh, overwhelming its handful of ill-equipped refugee camps.

Many arrive desperate for food and water after walking for more than a week over hills and through dense jungle.

Many say they have been victims of abuses by the army and Buddhists.

Bangladesh already houses at least 300,000 Rohingya in camps near the border after previous exoduses.

 Suu Kyi breaks silence 

In her first public statement on the crisis, Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi says on September 19 she is open to resettling some of the Rohingya who have fled, pending a verification process.

She fails to appease critics around the world.

Inside Myanmar her supporters say the Nobel Peace laureate, in power since April 2016, is unable to rein in the army, in charge for nearly half a century.

She makes a first visit to the conflict zone on November 2 but issues no statement.

 Repatriation accord 

Bangladesh and Myanmar on November 23 ink a deal to start repatriating refugees in Bangladesh in two months, without using the word Rohingya.

A day later the UN High Commissioner for Refugees says conditions have not been met for their safe and lasting return.

The accord remains a dead letter. The Rohingya want Myanmar to give guarantees about security and treat them as citizens.

 Pope asks for forgiveness 

Pope Francis meets 16 Rohingya refugees in a visit to Bangladesh on December 2, asking afterwards for forgiveness.

In Myanmar for four days, he avoids any direct reference to the Rohingya in public while appealing to Buddhist leaders to overcome prejudice and hatred.

 Possible genocide 

UN rights chief Zeid Raad Al Hussein calls on December 5 for a fresh international investigation into Myanmars abuses against the Rohingya, warning of possible elements of genocide.

The UN has on several occasions denounced ethnic cleansing by the Myanmar authorities.

 Thousands killed: aid group 

Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) says on December 14 that at least 6,700 Rohingya were killed in the first month of the army crackdown.

Gunshot wounds were the cause in 69 percent of cases, it says.

Another nine percent were reported burned alive inside houses while five percent died from beatings.

 Ethnic cleansing continues: UN 

On March 6, 2018 the UN rights organisation says Myanmar is continuing its ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya with a campaign of terror and forced starvation in Rakhine state.

 Rohingya mark anniversary 

Tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees stage protests on August 25, the first anniversary of the exodus, for justice.

 UN cites genocide 

UN investigators on August 27 call for an international investigation and prosecution of Myanmars army chief and five other top military commanders for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes against the Rohingya.British foreign minister Jeremy Hunt arrived in Myanmar on Wednesday for a busy two-day trip in which he will visit the epicentre of the Rohingya crisis and meet embattled civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The trip comes a day after UN investigators released a damning and meticulous report outlining why senior Myanmar generals should be prosecuted for genocide against the Rohingya Muslim minority, who were driven from Rakhine state into Bangladesh last year.

Myanmar rejected the independent fact-finding missions report as one-sided. But global pressure is building on the country and the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court separately announced this week that she was opening a preliminary investigation.

Hunts is the most high-profile visit by a UK representative since his predecessor Boris Johnson came in February.

Im in Burma this week to see first-hand some of the issues around the humanitarian crisis faced by the Rohingya people, he said in a video posted on his Twitter account, using the Buddhist-majority countrys former name.

The foreign secretary (minister) began with a stop-off at a small Yangon museum honouring political prisoners both past and present before a visit to the glittering Shwedagon Pagoda.

He asked about censorship and military influence but did not take questions from the media.

On Thursday he will take an army-chaperoned helicopter trip to northern Rakhine state, where the brutal military crackdown which began in August 2015 drove out more than 700,000 Rohingya.

He will then head to the capital Naypyidaw for meetings with Suu Kyi, whose government took power in 2016 in a much-celebrated transition to democracy after decades of military rule.

But the Nobel laureates reputation quickly crumbled for her failure to speak up for the Rohingya.

Under the junta Myanmar jailed thousands of political prisoners. But while many were released as the country opened up to the outside world more than 20 are currently behind bars, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP).

The group says this includes two Reuters journalists, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, who were jailed earlier this month for seven years each after they exposed a massacre of 10 Rohingya men and boys during the military crackdown.

Myanmar says they broke the official secrets act but Reuters and press freedom advocates have described the trial as little more than an attempt to punish reporting on Rakhine.

I hope that he (Hunt) can put pressure on the government and military groups to move forward our democratisation and peace process, said AAPPs Kyaw Soe Win.

Suu Kyi is in a power-sharing agreement with the military, which controls a quarter of parliaments seats and three ministries.

UN investigators stopped short of calling for her to face prosecution but condemned civilian authorities for acts and omissions that contributed to the commission of atrocity crimes.

Hunt has promised to raise both the Rohingya crisis and the case of the Reuters journalists in his meeting with Suu Kyi.

The UN has called for Myanmar army chief Min Aung Hlaing and five other top generals to be investigated for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity for overseeing operations in Rakhine.The United Nations warned Wednesday that entrenched suspicion was clouding a newly-minted deal to restore peace to South Sudan, as Amnesty International accused government forces of war crimes.

Theres currently a key ingredient that is lacking. Thats trust, said David Shearer, head of the UN mission in South Sudan, referring to the September 12 peace accord.

Those who signed the agreement have in the past been former friends and foes, he said. From my discussions with them, suspicion is still widespread.

The agreement was signed by President Salva Kiir and rebel leader and former vice president Riek Machar.

We also need to see clear evidence that all the warring factions have the political will to stop the violence, Shearer said.

We have not seen anything concrete at the moment. What needs to happen first (is) we need to see a disengagement of the forces.

Recent clashes in the southern region of Central Equatoria were the subject of an investigation, he said.

Government security forces had also shot a Nepalese peacekeeper in the southern town of Yei over the weekend, he added.

 Northern war crimes 

South Sudan, the worlds youngest nation, broke away from Sudan in 2011 after a long and bloody independence struggle.

But just two years later, war broke out, triggering a severe humanitarian crisis.

A struggle for power between Kiir, a member of the Dinka tribe, and Machar, a Nuer, meant the conflict quickly took on an ethnic character with civilians subjected to massacres and widespread rape by forces on both sides.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed and millions pushed to the brink of starvation or forced to flee their homes in one of the worlds worst humanitarian crises.

In a report released on Wednesday, Amnesty International said it had uncovered evidence of war crimes in a brutal government offensive on Leer and Mayendit counties in the northern state of Unity.

It said the offensive began in April and continued until early July a week after the latest ceasefire was brokered on 27 June.

The ceasefire paved the way for last weeks peace agreement.

 Shot, burnt alive, hanged 

Civilians (were) deliberately shot dead, burnt alive, hanged in trees and run over with armoured vehicles, it said.

Amnesty said its report drew on testimony from around 100 civilians survivors.

The group also documented systematic sexual violence, rape and gang-rape as well as abductions of women and girls, and the deliberate killing of young boys and male infants.

But Michael Makuei, South Sudans minister of information, lashed out at the report as seeking to sully the countrys image.

These are the people who do not want peace for South Sudan, he said.

These are people who keep on sending such reports so that the international community is made to believe that South Sudan is not at peace.

The details outlined in the report echoed the type of brutality that has been characteristic of South Sudans five-year civil war.

UN rights experts have warned of ethnic cleansing and the threat of genocide, while Amnesty has blamed the ongoing violence on Jubas failure to prosecute perpetrators.

A so-called hybrid court to try war crimes and crimes against humanity, proposed by the African Union as part of a failed 2015 peace agreement, has yet to be set up.A senior member of a youth movement that underpins the ruling party in Burundi has been beheaded and his wife shot dead, sources said Wednesday.

The attack, adding to an upsurge of violence in the troubled East African country, occurred late Tuesday at Buyumpu near the border with Rwanda, they said.

An unidentified armed group entered the home of Daniel Ngendakuma, local head of the Imbonerakure youth league, a local government official said.

The criminals killed him and cut off his head, which they took away with them, the source said. His wife was also shot dead.

Public security ministry spokesman Pierre Nkurikiye confirmed the attack, blaming an armed group which came from Rwanda and returned there.

But the government source cast doubt on this, saying no one knows where this group came from and where it went  there was no intervention by the security forces, which are positioned on the Rwandan border.

Burundi plunged into crisis in April 2015 after President Pierre Nkurunziza sought a fiercely contested third term in office that his opponents said was unconstitutional.

Turmoil since then has claimed at least 1,200 lives and has forced 400,000 to flee their homes, triggering an investigation by the International Criminal Court, which Burundi last year became the first nation to leave.

On September 5, a UN Commission of Inquiry on Burundi published a report accusing Nkurunziza of engaging in hate speech fuelling crimes against humanity.

It also said the Imbonerakure  the youth wing of the ruling National Council for the Defence of Democracy-Forces for Defence and Democracy (CNDD-FDD)  had played a role of growing importance in the repression and operated outside any legal framework and in almost total impunity.

In June, Nkurunziza, 54, announced that he would not stand for re-election in 2020.

That announcement came just after the adoption of a new constitution under which the head of state could have remained in office until 2034.Two West Virginia based charities, Hoagys Heroes and Tabs for Tomorrow, have worked tirelessly for a year to collect over 465 gallons of aluminum tabs.

These tabs were delivered by motorcycle on Saturday, Sept. 15 to the Ronald McDonald House of Morgantown. Robinette Legal Group PLLC, a Morgantown, W.Va., personal injury law firm, hosted the event and provided a reception lunch for the volunteers.

Motorcycle riders came from Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Michigan, Massachusetts, and Canada to help with the delivery of the tabs.

Tabs for Tomorrow is an endeavor founded and led by 18-year-old Dexton McKinney of Wetzel County. Dexton has collected hundreds of gallons of aluminum tabs for charity this year and has spent hundreds of hours processing the tabs.

This years donation to the Ronald McDonald House totaled atleast 465 gallons of aluminum tabs, most of which were collected and processed by McKinney and his family.

Since discovering that tabs can be used to help the less fortunate, McKinney has been pulling tabs ever since. His dad, Jim McKinney, has estimated that Dexton has probably spent around 20 hours a week pulling tabs off of cans. Yet, to Dexton, It takes one second to pull a tab. This one tab could very well mean A Childs Tomorrow.

Dexton has encouraged others to join his efforts. He has a Facebook page called Tabs for tomorrow and has received tabs from individuals in several different states.

Dexton makes sure these supporters know they are appreciated. His dad, Jim, previously explained that Dexton sends a Thank You card to each and every person who mails tabs. He also sponsors contests, via his Facebook page, encouraging people to send in more tabs. For instance, Dexton has specially designed t-shirts and can koozies promoting Tabs For Tomorrow. Supporters also have the opportunity to be entered into drawings for prizes.

Those interested in helping Dexton with his tab-collection goals, are encouraged to visit his Facebook page Tabs for tomorrow, or call Dexton at 304-815-8948. Businesses are encouraged to set out a tab-collection container in break rooms. Also, Jim reminds that tabs can be pulled from a variety of cans, not just pop cans.

Non-profit Hoagys Heroes has previously recognized Dexton McKinneys tab-collection efforts, inviting Dexton to be an honorary member of its organization. The organization had further recognized Dexton by bestowing him with Hoagys Hero of the Year award.

Dexton was also a nominee for the Wetzel County Chamber of Commerces 2018 Youth Leadership award.

Hoagys Heroes, led by founder Hoagy Carmichael, is a non-profit devoted to raising needed funds for childrens charities in West Virginia. To date, Hoagys Heroes has raised over $260,000 in pledges for the charities they support and have traveled over 1,170,000 miles.

These rides would not be possible without the magnificent support of volunteers. The all-volunteer Hoagys Heroes staff, first and foremost Hoagys wife Amy, spends countless hours planning and organizing each ride, while dozens of event-day volunteers provide essential support at the beginning and end of each ride.

In the past, these event-day volunteers have included veterans, the staff of local motorcycle dealerships, law enforcement officers, firefighters, members of civic organizations and spouses and friends of many participants in the rides.

Charities which have benefited from Hoagys Heroes tireless dedication included A Special Wish Foundation, the Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund, the Ronald McDonald House of Morgantown and the Augusta Levy Learning Center (for autistic children) in Wheeling, W.Va.

According to Hoagy Carmichael, The bikers of Hoagys Heroes believe that the true heroes are the children and the families of those who have been diagnosed as having life-threatening disorders, those born with autism and ones who have lost a parent who was serving our country. Hoagys Heroes is committed to raising funds to allow others to enjoy the wonderful things many of us take for granted.

Robinette Legal Group PLLC was founded in 1999 by Jeffery L. Robinette. The local Morgantown, West Virginia, law firms focus is representing the seriously injured and their families for personal injury insurance claims, wrongful death claims and medical malpractice cases. The attorneys and staff at Robinette Legal Group love getting involved and giving back to their community.Election officials in Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday released an official list of candidates for Decembers presidential election, formally excluding two heavyweight opposition figures.

Now we have finished with the candidacy stage, we are in the home stretch for the December 23 elections, said electoral commission chief Corneille Nangaa as he unveiled the list.

More than two dozen people registered their bid with the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), a much-contested panel tasked with overseeing the ballot in one of the Africas biggest and most unstable nations.

It gave the green light to opposition figures Felix Tshisekedi and Vital Kamerhe, as well as to Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, a hardline former interior minister backed by President Joseph Kabila.

But the list also confirmed the exclusion of former warlord Jean-Pierre Bemba and regional baron Moise Katumbi  a move that raised howls of protest from their powerful blocs of supporters.

Bemba has lashed what he calls a parody of an election.

He accused Kabila  whom critics characterise as corrupt and manipulative  of pulling strings to ensure that the governments candidate does not have a serious challenger.

 Speculation about Kabilas plans

The DRC, previously known as Zaire, has never had a peaceful transition of power since it gained independence from Belgium in 1960.

Most of its citizens are deeply poor despite the DRCs wealth of gold, diamonds, copper, cobalt, uranium and oil. Bloody conflicts trouble the vast countrys east and centre.

Kabila, 47, has been in power since 2001. His second and final term in office ended nearly two years ago, but he kept in power thanks to a caretaker clause in the constitution.

Months of feverish speculation about Kabilas plans, marked by protests that were bloodily repressed, ended in August when he threw his weight behind Shadary.

Around 500 people gathered in Kinshasas Roman Catholic cathedral late Wednesday for a mass to commemorate martyrs who died in anti-Kabila protests in 2016.

 Opposition dilemma 

Voting day on December 23 will take place for the presidency, legislature and provincial bodies, throwing down a huge logistical and technical challenge to CENI in a country where infrastructure is poor.

The big challenge for the fragmented opposition is to unite behind a credible candidate after the loss of the people-pulling power of Bemba and Katumbi.

It will stage a rally in Kinshasa on September 29 on the heels of talks in Brussels and a meeting in Johannesburg with South Africas ruling African National Congress (ANC) party.

In the absence of a single champion, boycotting the election, citing for example security concerns over electronic voting machines, may loom as an opposition strategy, say analysts.

Last week, Tshisekedi, Kamerhe, Bemba and Katumbi joined with two fellow opposition leaders to warn CENI and Kabilas government to ensure fair elections or else be held responsible for the chaos and consequences.

Bemba, 55, a former rebel and ex-vice president, declared his candidacy when he made a triumphant return home from Belgium after the International Criminal Court in The Hague acquitted him of war crimes charges.

But he was excluded by CENI, in a decision upheld by the Constitutional Court, on the grounds that the ICC had convicted him separately on charges of tampering with witnesses at his war-crimes trial.

That conviction and a one-year sentence were upheld by the ICC on Monday along with a 300,000-euro ($350,000) fine. Bembas lawyer, Melinda Taylor, said in an email to AFP on Wednesday that he would file an appeal.

Katumbi, 53, a former Kabila ally and ex-governor of the mineral-rich province of Katanga, says he was blocked at the Zambian border to prevent him from returning to the country to file his candidacy.

He has lived in exile since 2016.Kansas State University is among top 30 higher education institutions for inclusion



Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018

Kansas State University has again been listed among the 30 "best of the best" LGBTQ-friendly colleges and universities. | Download this photo.





MANHATTAN  Kansas State University purple pride is in the most recent ranking from Campus Pride, a national nonprofit that works for a safer college environment for LGBTQ students.



For the second year in a row, Campus Pride lists Kansas State University among its 30 Best of the Best LGBTQ-friendly colleges and universities with the highest ranking, five stars. The university is the only school in Kansas and the only Big 12 Conference school to be included in the 2018 and 2017 listings.



"Our university has worked very hard to achieve a greater understanding of diversity and inclusion," said Brandon Haddock, LGBT Resource Center coordinator. "It is with great gratitude to our students, faculty, staff and administrators who have made these accomplishments possible, especially the Resource Center student staff, our student organizations, and faculty and staff affinity organization."



Kansas State University was given the five-star ranking because it meets benchmarks regarding policy inclusion, support and institutional commitment, academic life, student life, housing, campus safety, counseling and health, and recruitment and retention for LGBTQ individuals. One of the largest strengths for the university is its LGBT Resource Center, which promotes equity, respect, and social justice through programs, outreach and education.



"The LGBT Resource Center helps nurture and support an inclusive environment, which is a key component of Kansas State University's student life initiatives," said Pat Bosco, vice president for student life and dean of students. "This ranking is a tribute to the inviting environment that those in the LGBT Resource Center, supportive organizations and student life have worked hard to provide for all K-Staters."



The university's diversity and inclusion efforts also have been recognized nationally by the SR Education Group, which lists Kansas State University among the 60 accredited institutions on its 2018 Best LGBTQ-Friendly Online Schools. In addition, the university has been consistently recognized with the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity, or HEED, award.





MORGANTOWN, W.Va.  Wetzel County Hospital in New Martinsville has entered into a management agreement with WVU Hospitals, effective Oct. 1. WCH has been a clinical affiliate of the West Virginia University Health System since 2016.

The people of Wetzel County and the employees of Wetzel County Hospital really embraced us when we first entered into the clinical affiliation two years ago, and this management agreement is a testament to the fact that our relationship has grown and been mutually beneficial for all of us, Albert L. Wright, Jr., president and CEO of the WVU Health System, said. We appreciate the work and support of Hospital Board Chair George Friedline and the county commissioners for helping us take this next step.

The Wetzel County Commission released the following statement on the new agreement: We are pleased WVU and Wetzel County Hospital have successfully completed their management agreement. The commission knows the value both institutions place on providing excellent services to area residents and we look forward to a bright future.

Wright noted that WVU Health System has had an affiliation with Wetzel County Hospital for quite a while, but added, We are taking it to the next level.

When asked what this would mean to patients of WCH, Wright noted, We are looking for an upgrade in technologies and efficiency and more physician resources. We are going to take over the management, and Dr. David Hess, CEO of Reynolds, will be CEO of both hospitals. This starts to integrate the two hospitals, so you will have an integrated management team with more efficiency.

WVU Health Systems regional approach might mean the recruitment of physicians, to be shared between Reynolds and Wetzel.

Weve got a couple tricks up our sleeves, and there will be more positive news here in the next couple weeks, Wright said.

Wright said WVU Health Systems has recently announced similar relationships with Braxton County Memorial and Jackson General Hospital.

Established in 1920, Wetzel County Hospital is a 58-bed facility that employs 235 people. It offers a variety of inpatient and outpatient services, including cardiopulmonary, emergency, general surgery, radiology, and cardiac rehabilitation, physical, occupational, and speech therapy.

We are again grateful to the Wetzel County Commissioners and the Hospital Trustees for their support and forward thinking in taking this step, which only serves to benefit our patients, Friedline said. Since we entered into the clinical affiliation, we have seen our medical services and capabilities expand, and we expect further expansion in those areas as a result of this management agreement.

Under the terms of the management agreement, David Hess, M.D., president and CEO of WVU Medicine Reynolds Memorial Hospital, will also become CEO of Wetzel County Hospital. Brian Felici, the current CEO of Wetzel County Hospital, will become a northern region consultant to WVU Hospitals.

It has been my honor and privilege to serve as the CEO of Wetzel County Hospital, and I am looking forward to working with WVU Hospitals to ensuring that the people of Wetzel, Tyler, and Marshall counties have continued access to high quality healthcare, Felici said. The hospital will be in good hands under Dr. Hess leadership, and I will be here to help whenever I am needed.

Wright said Felici is a great guy.

He has shown great leadership in this process, and we want him to be around incase unforeseen things come up.

Wright said Dr. Hess would split his time pretty evenly between the two facilities.

Wright did not specifically say whether the management news would mean job creation. However, he noted, Every time we have increased our relationship with the hospital, the number of employees that work in that hospital always go up.

Wright said it is important for the hospital, as a job creator for its community, to prosper. He noted the hospital is doing okay today, but applauded the decision of Chair Friedline, hospital board, and commission, for the long-term future of the hospital.

By 2020, Wright hopes to see WVU Health Systems electronic medical record installed at WCH. This would allow a patients labs, x-rays, and other medical information to be accessed at any of WVU Health Systems hospitals.

That is a really big deal, he noted.

Overall, We are just excited, Wright said of the advancement of WCH and WVU Health Systems relationship. The board of directors, the county commission we are all excited. I think its going to be a lot of fun. I think we are going to do a lot of good.Wilma Mae Glenn born on July 30, 1930 went to be with the Lord on September 5, 2018 while at home with her family.

Interment and dedication of burial site will take place at a future date at the Northview Cemetery, 219 N. State Route 2, New Martinsville, West Virginia 26155.Sheas receives $20,000 for restoration of Mighty Wurlitzer organ Sheas Performing Arts Center has received a $20,000 grant from the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo to help restore its Mighty Wurlitzer organ. The grant is supported by the June...

TTPD seeking information on suspect in robbery of 7-Eleven The Town of Tonawanda Police Department is looking to identify the perpetrator of robbery that took place on Oct. 22, in which an unknown quantity of cigarettes were stolen from...

Niagara County receives $200,000 COPS grant for de-escalation training Rep. Brian Higgins and Niagara County Sheriff Michael Filicetti have announced that Niagara County will receive a $200,000 federal grant through the Department of Justices Office of Community Oriented Policing...

City of Tonawanda educator honored with ECASB award Kristin Schmutzler, a member of the Tonawanda City School Districts Board of Education, has been recognized by the Erie County Association of School Boards with a Shining Star Award. Schmutzler...

NT ranks in 73rd percentile of WalletHubs Top Small Cities list The City of North Tonawanda has made the list of WalletHubs Top Small Cities across the United States, ranking in the 73rd percentile of the approximately 1,300 small cities that...74 Shares Share

My patient

The day I met you was early in my second year of internal medicine residency. After much of my internship had been spent on arduous inpatient rotations, I was finally ready to lead my own team of young doctors and students on a high-acuity wards service. Yet, in my continuity clinic, I was still fresh, insecure, and naive. The day I met you, your abdomen was swollen, your eyes were yellow, you were drowsy and seemingly apathetic. Years of heavy alcohol use had sclerosed your liver, leading to hepatic disease in its final stages. You were my patient, I was your new primary care doctor  and I didnt speak your language. We fumbled through the interpreted conversation, hindered by your lethargy, my inexperience, and a 20-minute visit time. We talked about abstinence from alcohol, and we talked about liver transplant. I got you what you needed: diuretics and a paracentesis for your ascites, lactulose, and rifaximin to remove the toxins clouding your consciousness, a referral to hepatology to start the process of future transplant evaluation. However, what we both needed was more time.

Our visits

I would see you in clinic for many more visits in the ensuing months. I would review my checkboxes of primary care for cirrhosis  slow disease progression, check; prevention, screening, and treatment for complications, check. All the while, the prospect of transplantation and new life hung in the air like an apparition we could partially see but which remained out of touch. After your second relapse and hospitalization, we met in clinic once again. I remember that your mind was sharp that day. I was running behind, with several patients sitting restlessly in the waiting room, but at that moment, it was just the two of us. In the hour that I didnt have, we talked about goals of care. You told me you wanted a chance at a new liver, I told you about the challenges of both transplant candidacy and surgery, you told me you understood. You told me you wanted to keep pursuing all possible care, you told me how much you missed your family back in Central America. I told you we would stay the course towards transplant, but I also promised you I would do everything within my means to get you back home  even if just to say goodbye. After 13 months as patient-provider, this moment was the first time we actually heard each other. You trusted me. We embraced after that visit and every visit thereafter. But what we both needed was more time.

Transplant evaluation

In the fall of my last year of residency, your kidneys began to fail. The pressure in your portal system was pushing up to 12 liters (over 3 gallons) of ascitic fluid into your peritoneal space. Yet, the frequent paracenteses needed to alleviate your discomfort added more strain to your kidneys that were already starved for perfusion. The rise in your creatinine mirrored a rising MELD score, indicating a looming mortality. By the spring, it was time for an evaluation by the liver transplant team. A day you had been waiting for finally came  you were seen, you were tested  you were deemed not a candidate. The clock was reset  it would be another six months of documented sobriety and social support before you would even be reconsidered. The news was devastating for you and your partner. I was away on another inpatient rotation, only peripherally involved via messages that accumulated in my ever-expanding inbox.

You would go on to endure six more hospitalizations over the next three months, spending more time boxed within four sterile walls than at home in your own bed. You would encounter more than 30 primary and specialty physicians and have multiple goals-of-care conversations, which would at times leave you confused and frustrated. I was losing steam, closing out the end of residency training and preparing to embark on a new journey as chief. You needed me, and I needed more time  time to reflect on your clinical course, time to reconcile your prognosis and goals of care, and time to help you make sense out of the madness.

Going home

When I saw you in clinic a month ago, you were headed towards yet another acute hospitalization for renal failure. This time, I was present. We met together with the inpatient teams, and I could say to you with confidence, its time to go home. You were brave and magnanimous  you found humor in a dire situation, and the love shown by you and your devoted partner was inspiring. We met for one last clinic visit after this. You told me you were getting ready to return home to Central America. After we embraced, you winked at me and said, Ill see you next time. Three weeks later, you died at home surrounded by your family. You were out of time.

In my role as ambulatory chief, I oversee trainees who maintain their primary care clinic at our county hospital where we care for a population of incredibly diverse and vulnerable patients. I routinely recognize the frustration in residents who are expected to provide necessary care to medically and socially complex individuals, in a system that increasingly restricts our time for those who need it most. What I tell residents is that primary care is an endurance sport. The road is long and the effects that we see in clinic come much slower than what were used to on the inpatient side. Yet despite its challenges, primary care uniquely positions us to be our patients best allies, advocates, and defenders in a health care system that in many ways is unjust  what we need, however, is more time to do it right.

Ashley McMullen is an internal medicine chief resident who blogs at Insights on Residency Training, a part of NEJM Journal Watch.

Image credit: Shutterstock.comReach out to your colleagues: This can have more impact than you can imagine

226 Shares Share

I just heard.

A colleague, a man of integrity and warmth, a hard-working physician with ideals, ethics and many valued contributions, has taken his own life. His perspectives may have differed from mine at times, but every interaction was infused with respect. He was a good man.

Much has been written about the rate of suicide of physicians. One million Americans lose their doctors to suicide each year. Normally I would insert the word provider instead of the less inclusive physician, but in this case, I think there are special considerations that impact our devoted partners, our physician colleagues. The mountain they must climb to complete their education, their medical training, their residency, is very steep. It often leaves these committed and intelligent people with frightful mountains of debt.

And then they must provide care in a system that often forgets why its here  instead of focusing on making people well, we focus on manipulating metrics like length of stay, maximizing RVUs or seeing so many patients per hour. The very system that exists to serve the weak and wounded can become an inhumane and bureaucratic business that interferes with the very primitive impulse and guiding light that allowed these professionals to complete their vigorous training.

They may be victims of malpractice suits  reflections of our human frailties that then become exercises in public humiliation. The pressures of caring for the broken members of our world, the patients with untreated mental illness, the coexisting substance use disorder, the fragmentation of our families, the lack of resources for our patients, can feel unending. The job of curing becomes increasingly more difficult in world that, as Pamela Wible quotes in her article in the Washington Post, is uncomfortable talking about physician suicide.

Its not that I dont care about the other physicians who have made the tragic decision to end their lives. But its the physician that you know, and worked with, that contributed to the betterment of our profession, that makes you feel and understand the impact and urgency of this problem.

Please, I ask you, reach out to your colleagues. Talk with them, listen to them, share with them. Treat them with the respect and compassion they deserve. Find time to wrap your interactions with the balm of kindness. This can have more impact than you can imagine.

I hope my colleagues family finds comfort in all that he has given.

C.S. Lewis once said, No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear. I want us all to share in this fear. Maybe sharing that will help us prevent future needless suicides.

Tracy Cardin is a nurse practitioner. This article originally appeared in the Hospital Leader.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com51 Shares Share

When I was 20 years old, I boarded a flight from St. Louis, Missouri to Houston, Texas. It was Fall and the temperature had begun dropping. That being the case, I was dressed like a typical college student at that time of year: sweatpants and a hoodie. After taking my seat, a middle-aged white woman sat next to me. Little did I know what I was in for.

Over the course of our two-hour flight, this woman, whom I had never met, berated me. Why do you dress like that? she asked. Do you think youre cool? After giving her my rationale that it was cold outside, and I wanted to be comfortable on the flight, she continued to criticize me; Why do you talk like that? You dont even know how to speak well. Her belittling was beyond reason. What stuck with me the most was when she said, Nobody will ever take you seriously. Youll never be successful. I remember asking myself: Is this what society thinks when they see people who look like me?

This womans expectation of a young black man wearing a hoodie was one of failure and hopelessness. Perhaps she thought she was helping me and that these were useful tips for my future success. Little did she know that the young man sitting next to her was on his way to becoming a medical doctor. I often reflect on this encounter, and over the years have come to many conclusions. One such conclusion is that children should be exposed to black male doctors.

Research has shown that bias and racism begin to develop in children as early as age three. Many of these are implicit and are not necessarily malignant in origin. As children become aware of race, they make critical associations based on their encounters with people who look similar and different from them. When you have mothers such as the woman on the plane, of course youll have children who are weary and judgmental of people who look different than they do. Furthermore, the lack of positive minority imagery in the media does not offer a source to combat these perceptions. Because this is the case, when children are exposed to individuals from other races, it is important they establish strong and positive mental associations. This is the reason I believe children of all races should be exposed to black doctors.

Studies demonstrate that societys negative perception of black males is potentiated when individuals have less real-world exposure to them. This leads to an adoption of beliefs based on the medias narrative of black men. I hope my assumption is wrong, but Im willing to bet that when many Americans close their eyes and imagine a black man, what comes to mind isnt the most positive picture. The truth of the matter, however, is that the vast majority of us are regular citizens with a day job like everyone else. However, its difficult for others to appreciate that without being exposed to black men. That being the case, I believe we need to counter that by exposing children of all backgrounds to black male physicians.

Some may ask why I suggest the exposure needed to reshape the black male narrative should stem from the medical field. I do so for two reasons. First, doctors carry stature. Other than celebrities or CEOs of fortune 500 companies, physicians are among the most respected professionals. As a result of this, when people interact with me as a black doctor, their biases are challenged. When a young child watches his mom or dad speaking with me, he sees clearly and immediately that they respect me. The letters MD after my name provide instant credibility with their parents. Subconsciously, this teaches the child that black men are not inferior to their own parents (neither are we superior), and we should be respected like any other member of society.

The second reason why children should be exposed to black male physicians is that the doctor-patient relationship builds trust. When you put yourself in a vulnerable position that requires another individual to make decisions about your health, you quickly learn to trust that person. I vividly remember encounters with my childhood doctor. Dr. Nina Miller, a white middle-age woman. She was excellent and I always felt valued as her patient. There is a certain level of respect and honor that I have for her which will never leave me.

If you expose your child to a black male doctor, with time, he or she will come to trust and respect this physician. Your child will have a personal and positive view of at least one black man, which in turn will help to debunk much of the way society portrays us. Theyll understand that black men, even those wearing sweatpants and hoodies, are sincere, intelligent, and loving. This understanding will allow society to progress in ways currently restricted by biases and stereotypes.

Dr. Dale is a physician who blogs at PreMed StAR and is the author of How to Raise a Doctor: Wisdom From Parents Who Did It!

Image credit: Shutterstock.comIn the last six months, 200 years of nursing experience has been lost from the A&E department of St Lukes Hospital in Kilkenny.



A massive loss of senior nurses, caused by retirements and resignations of nurses with up to 20 or 30 years experience each, is just one example of the crisis in recruitment and retention of nursing staff that brought local nurses out in protest this week.



Members of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) gathered at St Lukes Hospital with placards, on Monday, as part of a national campaign to highlight the severe shortage of nurses in the Irish healthcare system.



Across the country 2,500 more nurses are needed, according to the INMO. Two years ago, when a survey was undertaken, it was calculated St Lukes needed 25-30 full time nursing positions.

Liz Curran, Industrial Relations Officer with the INMO, said figures show it is not just new graduates who are now going overseas to work, experienced nurses are leaving the Irish system for better pay and conditions in the UK, Australia and other countries.

The system is at crisis point, Ms Curran stressed.



Not enough nurses can be recruited to replace those leaving. In 2017 St Lukes Hospital spent 830,000 on agency nurses, local TD Kathleen Funchion said earlier this summer.

Read more in this week's Kilkenny People, on sale now.The Herald editorial:

The Government  whether thats Jacinda Arderns Labour-led one, Winston Peters Coalition one, a Green-tinged one, or any other label for that matter  clearly needs a win. 

The issues around Clare Curran and Meka Whaitiri have dented Labours credibility, and there is potential for further damage.

Labour has been stymied in the progress of its flagship employment law reform legislation and plans to establish a Crown-Maori relations agency  and has been made to look foolish to boot.

The unwanted headlines are now about a Deputy PM gone rogue, an absent PM, the tail wagging the dog and a Government in chaos and disunity.First the Stuff headline:

Sam Neill denounces Heather du Plessis-Allen for calling Pacific people leeches

Except of course she didnt.

Hollywood heavyweight Sam Neill has chimed in to the general outrage surrounding broadcaster Heather du Plessis-Allans outspoken comments against Pacific people.

False slur repeated second time.

Heather du Plessis-Allan says Pacific people are leeches on New Zealand

No 3.

The Kiwi actor was referring to du Plessis-Allan saying Pacific people are leeches on New Zealand, during a Wellington broadcast of Newstalk ZB.

No 4.

Buried deep down is this:

I was not talking about people living in this country or the people themselves, I am talking about the Pacific Islands and the people who run it.

It is clearly obvious she was referring to the governments or the countries. One can debate the merits or otherwise of her comments. But to repeat a false assertion four times as fact is awful journalism.

Heres an analogy.

If someone in the EU said that Poland is a leech on the EU because they receive more from the EU than they pay, would people regard that as slurring Poles, as opposed to the Polish Government?

Donald Trump attacks fellow members of NATO as leeches for not spending 2% of GDP on defence. I dont like his comments, but he is clearing attacking the countries, not every individual German, Italian or Spaniard.

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Samsung Electro-Mechanics' multi-layer ceramic capacitors (MLCC) / Courtesy of Samsung Electro-Mechanics



By Baek Byung-yeul



Samsung Electro-Mechanics, a global supplier for high-end components used in electronics and mechanical devices, will add its multi-layer ceramic capacitors (MLCC) production line for automotive electronic devices in China.Emotions were running high late on Tuesday night as families and friends welcomed back 350 airmen from a six-month deployment in Southwest Asia.

Some said the minutes felt like hours as they stood at the hanger, keeping an eye on the sky for the plane bringing their loved ones home.

As the plane landed and these brave men and women stepped off, spouses, kids and friends ran to their sides and there was no shortage of tears and smiles.

These airmen return having supported Operation Freedoms Sentinel and Operation Inherent Resolve in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

Aircrews provided critical air presence, precision strike, and surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities to support military objectives in the region.Kochi, Sep 18 (PTI) A breakage on the South-East Asia - Middle East - Western Europe 3, an optical submarine telecommunications cable linking those regions, was reported here but got restored few hours back, a senior Kerala government officer said Tuesday night.

Kerala IT Secretary M Sivasankar told PTI that SE-ME-WE3 breakage happened Tuesday at Kundannoor here during a construction work.

He said there was a cut on the terrestrial path of SE-ME-WE3 from 2.30 pm to 7 pm at Kundannoor here.

It was down for four to five hours, but local customers were not much affected as SAFE (The South Africa Far East cable an optical fiber submarine communications cable linking Melkbosstrand, South Africa to Penang, Malaysia) was also connected to Kochi, he said.

Chennai and Mumbai lines are also connected to Kochi, so there was not much problem, the officer said.

SE-ME-WE3 is shared by international network providers like AT&T and others, so it might have affected them, they said.

Officials said it seems their Mumbai-Singapore link was broken.

VSNL and Reliance telecommunication service providers were affected.

"But, since VSNL have safety lines, Internet services was not affected. By 5 pm, they (the services) were restored. Reliance services also fully restored by 7 pm," an official said.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)New Delhi, September 19: The Supreme Court on Wednesday said that it will resume the hearing of the Bhima Koregaon case on Thursday. The top court once again stressed on the importance of dissent in a democracy and said that "Institutions should be robust despite opposition." The apex court on Wednesday also said that it "can't stifle democracy at altar of conjecture."

Lawyer Ashwini Kumar, representing the accused in the case, said that the Supreme Court should ensure the liberty of persons against illegal incarceration. He also added that the criminal prosecution seems to be mala fide and arbitrary. Bhima Koregaon Case: Supreme Court Extends House Arrest of Five Accused Till September 19 After Heated Arguments in Courtroom.

Earlier, the Supreme Court on Monday had extended the house arrest limit of five accused arrested by Maharashtra police for alleged links to naxals and their role in the Bhima Koregaon violence on January 1, 2018.

The apex court had also added that the next hearing in the matter would take place on September 19 as the Central government said in the court that it wanted to produce the case diary and other evidence on that day. The top court said that it will continue the hearing on Thursday now. Check the ANI tweet below:

Bhima Koregaon case: Hearing in the case in Supreme Court to continue tomorrow https://t.co/hrtAC56XtA  ANI (@ANI) September 19, 2018

The bench comprising Justices AM Khanwilkar, DY Chandrachud and Chief Justice Dipak Misra had observed that, "We entertained the case on the foundations of liberty. Issues like independent enquiry, etc, comes at a later stage."

Senior lawyer Maninder Singh, appearing for the Central government, had questioned the way the petitioners had directly approached the Supreme Court and said that the petitioners have the option to approach the lower court, high courts or even other legal options to seek redressal.

Singh also said that the menace of Maoists and Naxalites is increasing day by day, and it is these persons who are responsible for the increasing threat of the anti-social activities.

Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for most of the activists alleged of naxal link and Bhima Koregoan violence, submitted to the Supreme Court that the case should be properly probed by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) or there should be a court monitored probe. Bhima Koregaon Raids: Supreme Court Orders House Arrest for Activists.

Those among arrested were Varavara Rao, Sudha Bhardwaj, Surendra Gadling, Rona Wilson, Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves and Mahesh Raut. Bhima Koregaon Raids: Supreme Court Orders House Arrest for Activists. Bhima Koregaon Case: Arrested Activists Have Maoist Links, Planned to Target High-profile Politicians, Says Pune Police.

On August 29, a day after the arrest of the activists, the Supreme Court directed that the human rights activists arrested across the country in connection with the Bhima-Koregaon incident in Maharashtra should be kept under house arrest and not in jail.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 19, 2018 04:59 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).New Delhi, Sep 19: After an outbreak of swine flu in Maharashtra, H1N1 Influenza cases have been reported from Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. Earlier this month, 222 positive cases of the H1N1 virus were reported from Maharashtra. Reports inform that 48 people died because of swine flu out of which 18 are from Pune and its neighbouring areas. After Punjab received its first swine flu (H1N1 Influenza) case on Wednesday, the state government has intensified surveillance across the state and have put medical facilities including hospitals and chemist shops on high alert.

Reports inform that the first case of swine flu in Punjab has come to light from Patialas Nabha town where a 50-year-old woman was tested positive for the disease. The woman was then admitted to a private hospital in Chandigarhs in SAS Nagar for treatment. Doctors informed that her condition is stated to be critical after she has been put on the ventilator. Swine Flu Outbreak in China Can Spread To Rest Of Asia Says UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

Reports informed that samples of the woman were sent to the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) Chandigarh which confirmed swine flu. Swine flu symptoms include cold, high-grade fever, cough, sore throat, breathlessness, runny nose, body ache, nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea. Doctors across the state have been directed to provide immediate health care to anyone who complains of these symptoms. Individuals can take precautions by washing hands properly, by using sanitisers and avoid visiting crowded places.

According to a report by TOI, Punjabs National Vector-Borne Disease Control Programmes Dr Gagandeep Singh Grover informed that the woman had returned with high fever after a 20-day visit to Uttar Pradesh. Reports inform that all precautionary measures have been taken by the state government to deal with swine flu.

Meanwhile, Noida reported its first swine flu death on Wednesday. According to a report by Hindustan Times, the 59-year old deceased was a resident of Allahabad who stayed with his son in Sector 99, Noida. After complaining of cough of cold, the man was admitted to Fortis hospital in Noida three days before he died. The report informed that the death was confirmed by the health department and stated that the deceased lost h The patient died of multiple organ failure on September 11 at a private hospital in the city.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 19, 2018 10:08 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).Mumbai, September 19: The Icelandic carrier Wow Air will fly you out of Delhi to a Europe and US at cheap rates. But there is a catch, you can carry only a personal item, which means it needs to be as small as a laptop bag or an office bag. The passenger won't be able to carry any suitcase that goes into the cabin as a handbag or any check-in bag. In addition to this, passengers won't be served food during the 12-hours flight from Delhi-Iceland's capital Reykjavik and onwards to Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington, Boston, Toronto, London or any of the destinations the airline connects to from its hub. Want to Book Cheaper Flight Tickets? Follow These Simple Tricks for Budget-Friendly Travel.

The airline started this promotional strategy with a pricing which was as low as Rs 13,500, one way. The attractive offer is valid for all bookings made between September 18 to September 28, and valid for travel between December 2018 to March 2019. For Rs 13,499 per person, passengers can visit destinations like Chicago, Orlando, Newark, Detroit, San Francisco, Baltimore, Boston, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Washington DC, St Louis in the US, the airline said in the release.

We at LatestLY checked the website and found that 13,499 per person tickets have been booked, but there are still some cheaper options. For e.g on December 28, New-Delhi to Reykjavik, the basic fare starts as low as Rs 23,999. This includes the flight ticket and a personal item. For Wow Premium, the price is Rs 60,648, and you get other benefits along with it.

Screenshot from WOW Airline (Photo credits: WOW Airline website)

Wow air's Founder and CEO Skuli Mogensen said that they would begin operations from New Delhi in December. He further highlighted that looking at the strong demand, it clearly shows that commuters are looking for affordable travel between India and North America.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 19, 2018 01:03 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).The onlookers at the city if Steyr in the northern Austrian state of Upper Austria were puzzled when they saw a suspicious floating object under a bridge in the river. To what seemed a corpse, the concerned passer-by soon called the police officials at the spot to probe the matter. Unable to identify what it was, they called the firefighters to take a closer look. But they were soon able to put the finders mind to rest and unveils the mystery. Well, it turned out to be a sex doll. Needless to say, it must have been quite the shock! Sex Robots Will Clone Real Women Faces, Here's Why It's Not a Good Thing.

As per the reports, after getting the call from the police officers, eight firefighters quickly jumped into action, rushing to the scene as fast as they could. After more accurate criminal observation, they were able to give the all-clear sign because it turned out that the body was that of a partially inflated naked blow-up doll. The object was soon removed from the water to stop those false alarms. However, it was photographed for posterity. The recent incident rings the question if sex toys are appearing to be too realistic! Teen Girl Wants to Marry Her Zombie Doll, Claims They Have Normal Intimate Relationship.

Corpse turned out to be a sex doll!

Corpse at centre of rescue operation turned out to be a sex doll.. lol pic.twitter.com/aNvFt6cwFy    (@MilaMilanxxx) September 18, 2018

This is not the first case. According to media outlets, last year in Amsterdam a sex doll has been rescued after being mistaken for a real woman. The concerned neighbours thought a lingerie-clad woman had been standing for a long time in a window, called the police. When she did not answer the doorbell, the cops stormed in expecting to find a dead body. Again, in the sea of Newquay this year, a fisherman reportedly spotted a body and called out the officers sending distress flares. Luckily, it was a sex toy.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 18, 2018 11:07 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).South Africa's highest court has ruled to legalise the private use of marijuana in the country. This ruling upholds a lower court's order that found the criminalisation of cannabis was unconstitutional.

In delivering the Constitutional Court's unanimous verdict, Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo on Tuesday declared the law banning marijuana use in private by adults "is unconstitutional and therefore invalid".

"It will not be a criminal offence for an adult person to use or be in possession of cannabis in private for his or her personal consumption," he said in Johannesburg.

The court also ordered the countrys parliament to draft new laws within 24 months to reflect its order. South Africa's government had opposed its legalisation, arguing the drug was "harmful" to people's health.

Three cannabis users who had faced prosecution for using the drug brought the case, saying the ban "intrudes unjustifiably into their private spheres".

It will, however, remain illegal to use cannabis in public, and to sell and supply it. But, the top court says an adult can cultivate cannabis in "a private place" as long as it is for personal consumption in private.

Pro-marijuana activists have cheered the ruling which is a landmark ruling by the countrys Constitutional Court. The Constitutional Court's ruling focuses on the issue of privacy, and a person's right to do as they please in their own home.

But even as rights activists are overjoyed at the verdict, the potential implications of the judgment are enormous, and unpredictable. The ruling obviously impacts South Africas criminal justice system, which routinely locks up thousands of overwhelmingly poor South Africans for using or dealing in small amounts of cannabis. Weed also forms a huge part of the revenue chain for the country's drug gangs.

South Africa is one of the largest producers of weed, with about 2,500 tonnes of the total of 8,900 tonnes produced  that is 28% of the African production and 7% of the worlds output.

There is most likely no illicit market that benefits South Africas poor more than growing weed, despite them raking in only moderate returns compared with the eventual street price of the product. Its cultivation brings in much higher returns than other cash crops for the predominantly poor and remote rural farmers growing it in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.

The UNODC, Interpol and the US Department of State continuously rank South Africa as one of the top producers in the world. South Africa is also one of, if not the largest, exporter of the herb to the UK and Ireland, with large quantities also exported to continental Europe and the East Asian countries.

With its legalisation for personal consumption, the incarceration of poor producers and street dealers could see a drop but the South African government still needs to come up with binding rules based on the order.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 19, 2018 06:06 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).Allentown residents now can enjoy same-day delivery service of more than 55,000 Target products -- including groceries -- with the store's new online service.

The service, called "Shipt," earlier this month also launched same-day delivery from Weis Market to Allentown residents. Target went into effect this past Thursday, Sept. 13 in Allentown, as well as in Harrisburg, Lancaster, Reading, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area and the York-Hanover area.

In New Jersey, the service already operates at more than 40 stores, including a Hackettstown location, according to nj.com, our sister website.

How it works is Target patrons living in Allentown can enroll in Shipt, which promises to give more than 1.4 million households across Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York access to products delivered in one hour, company representatives said.

Target said it's offering a special membership rate of $49, compared to the regular rate of $99 if patrons sign up prior to this Sunday. Shipt customers who pay for the membership get free, unlimited delivery on all orders of more than $35.

The service rivals Amazon Prime, which costs $119 annually.

The service operates much like ride-sharing apps Uber and Lyft, with Target hiring about 300 shoppers statewide who are paid to go to local Target stores and deliver the items.

"This expansion will offer more busy families across the northeast the convenience of same-day delivery of grocery store staples and essential household items," Bill Smith, founder and CEO of Shipt, said in a statement. "Through our app, our members have access to everything they need, when they need it, right at their fingertips."

Shipt was founded in 2014 in Birmingham, Alabama. Since then, it has been made available to nearly 70 million households in more than 200 markets nationally. There are plans to add even more retail partners to its online marketplace by the end of 2018.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.Bethlehem officials are holding a public hearing Thursday evening on a proposal to increase parking meter rates to $1.50 an hour.

The Bethlehem Parking Authority has asked Mayor Bob Donchez for the increase affecting on-street meters, according to a news release on the hearing.

Thursday's hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m. in Town Hall, 10 E. Church St.

Parking authority officials and their consultant, Desman Design Management, are scheduled to give a presentation on meter rates and take public comment.

Desman earlier this year pitched the meter-rate hike to the authority. At $1 an hour currently, Bethlehem's meters cost the same as the city's parking garages -- offering no financial incentive to use the garages and increase on-street parking spot turnover.

Desman also recommended an increase in Bethlehem's parking fines, which now cost $10 for a meter violation.

Thursday's hearing focuses on meter rates, last increased from 50 cents to $1 in 2012. The city hiked garage rates to $1 in 2016. Meters are enforced 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday in Bethlehem, and both meters and city garages are free on Sundays.

The Bethlehem mayor sets parking meter rates at the recommendation of the parking authority. City council approves changes in parking fines.

At $1.50 an hour, Bethlehem's meters would cost more than Easton's but not as much as some meters in Allentown.

Easton meters cost $1 an hour and are enforced 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. The rate at Easton's Pine Street Garage is $3 an hour 5 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the rate at the South Third Street Garage is $2 an hour 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. All other times, parking in the garages costs a flat fee of $1.

In Allentown, the meter rate is $2 an hour on Hamilton Street from Fourth to 10th streets and on the blocks immediately north and south of Hamilton Street from Fourth to 10th streets, and these meters are enforced 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Meters in all other locations in the city cost $1 an hour and are enforced 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Allentown's garages cost $1 an hour, as do parking lots payable by the hour.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.A state fire inspector called his female boss the c-word to other employees in 2013 and paid for it with his job.

But William R. Hendrickson, Jr., fought his termination in the state's administrative system, and eventually got the punishment reduced to a six-month suspension. A state Appellate Division court, though, later overturned that decision and essentially re-fired him.

On Tuesday, the New Jersey Supreme Court said the Appellate court was wrong, and reinstated the suspension.

Hendrickson, a retired police officer from Sussex County, will be going back to the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety, in the state Department of Community Affairs, his lawyer Arnold Shep Cohen said.

"The Supreme Court was correct," Cohen said.

The decision notes that Hendrickson uttered the phrase, and does not excuse his conduct, and his employer was right to discipline him. It was, quoting a lower court, "disrespectful, sexist, discriminatory, unprofessional, in bad taste, improper, and extremely offensive."

But the case was about rules and procedure.

Hendrickson started working for the state as a fire safety inspector in August 2012. His LinkedIn page shows he retired from the Bloomingdale Police Department in 2003, and later worked for Vernon Township's fire prevention bureau and is a volunteer firefighter.

He made the remark about his boss on Dec. 1, 2013, out of her presence, but two colleagues heard it. After a hearing in his department, in September 2014, the state fired him.

Hendrickson appealed to the state Civil Service Commission (CSC), and they sent it to the state's Office of Administrative Law (OAL) for a hearing.

The OAL judge agreed that the state had a case to punish Hendrickson, he was wrong to use such language, and was even troubled by Hendrickson's failure to acknowledge his wrongdoing.

However, his firing was "too harsh." He'd had no disciplinary record in the 15 months before and nine months after the incident, and the OAL judge decided to impose the suspension.

The OAL sent the decision back to the CSC.

The CSC has 45 days to "adopt, reject or modify" the OAL's decision, and must do so with a quorum of three out of five commissioners. The CSC did not have enough appointed commissioners at the time, and could not get a quorum - so the OAL decision was "deemed adopted" as the final decision.

That's when the state went to the Appellate Division, and argued against the "deemed adopted" rule.

The appellate court used the OAL's evidence, but did their own "de novo" or new review, and decided the discipline handed out was a matter of law, since the commission could not get a quorum.

And the appellate court ruled that the doctrine known as "progressive discipline" should be tossed aside for Hendrickson, and he should be fired because the remark "violated the State's anti-discrimination policy and societal norms."

Not so, the Supreme Court found.

The appellate court erred in their own review of a disciplinary sanction imposed by the OAL judge and their wading into the matter was not different from a traditional appellate review of a state agency's decision.

They overstepped, and the six-month suspension from the OAL was valid, the Supreme Court said.

The high court summed it up this way: "A belittling gender insult uttered in the workplace by a state employee is a violation of New Jersey's policy against discrimination and Hendrickson's conduct was unbecoming a public employee."

The OAL, though, strongly rebuked Hendrickson's language and set the appropriate discipline after finding it amounted to, "an isolated incident and warranted a lesser penalty than the extreme sanction of termination."

"The Court cannot conclude that the (OAL's) decision is shocking to one's sense of fairness."

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook.A garda detective had to draw his firearm after a woman in a Portlaoise housing estate tried to attack him with a knife.

At last weeks sitting of Portlaoise District Court, Sandra Krol (22), Rossvale, Portlaoise, was charged with threatening or abusive behaviour, and production of an article.

Detective Garda Padraic Ryan gave evidence that on May 5 this year, he attended the scene of an altercation at Rossvale, Portlaoise.

The accused and a male were involved in a physical row, so Det Ryan tried to step between them to break it up.

The accused had a knife in her hand and she made a stabbing motion at the male, with the knife passing by Det Ryans face.

Det Ryan pepper-sprayed the accused, at which point she turned on him and came at him with the knife raised at chest level.

The detective told the court that he feared she was going to stab him in the chest, so he drew his firearm and told her to drop the knife.

She dropped the knife and the detective again pepper-sprayed her.

Det Ryan said the accused caused huge difficulties on the night.

The knife was a kitchen knife, similar to a streak knife.

Defence, Ms Josephine Fitzpatrick said that her client, a Polish national living in Ireland for the last 12 years, had been out on the night and consumed alcohol when an issue arose outside her house, which she got involved in.

Ms Fitzpatrick said that the male had the knife initially and she took it from him to prevent him using it on a third party.

However, Det Ryan said he believed the accused had brought the knife with her from the house.

He said the male had a stick and there had been no mention of the knife on the night.

Ms Fitzpatrick said her client had written a letter of apology and had 300 compensation to offer.

She said the accused had a lot to drink and this incident was out of character for her.

In ruling, Judge Catherine Staines said: Its extremely serious to have possession of a knife in the middle of a dispute, then to attack a garda. Knives are lethal, one stab in the wrong place can kill someone.

The judge imposed ten months in prison, suspended for one year.

She also directed the 300 compensation go to Detective Ryan and ordered the destruction of the knife.Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content.

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Support our mission and join our community now.There will be two public meetings held this week to discuss the proposed changes to the bus connect services in Celbridge and Leixlip.

One will be held tonight in the Kildrought Lounge, Celbridge, Wednesday at 8pm and the second at River Forest hotel, Leixlip, Thursday at 8pm, hosted by Cllr Brendan Young.

The deadline for submissions to the public consultation on the bus changes for Celbridge, Maynooth and Leixlip proposed in Bus Connects is Friday, September 28.

According to Cllr Young all of the councillors in the Celbridge-Leixlip agree that the proposed cuts to the 67x, the 66a and 66b are unacceptable.

"We are making alternative proposals  as below, on which we invite feedback  and are urging the public to make submissions to Bus Connects by September 28, he said.

We need more buses, not less. The cuts in Bus Connects are totally unacceptable  especially the cuts to the peak-time commuter services. I'm hosting two Public Forums to explain Bus Connects and to recommend the alternatives which I have drafted in conjunction with the other Celbridge-Leixlip councillors. I urge bus users and anybody who is fed up with traffic congestion and inadequate public transport to make submissions to Bus Connects, at www.busconnects.ie Dublin Area Network Redesign or write to Bus Connects, National Transport Authority, Harcourt Lane, Dublin 2, D02 WT20. We need more buses now - and if we lose services now we'll never get them back."

SEE ALSO: Children left without a bus service in RathanganThe County Kildare Fire Service says it supports a ban on the releasing of sky lanterns in Naas.

The service says it would welcome any actions that the local authority can take to implement to prevent the mass release of lanterns containing a naked flame.

Kildare County County was responding to a call from Naas councillor Sorcha ONeill for the lanterns should be banned from the Naas area.

The lanterns, also known as Chinese lanterns, have traditionally been made for centuries to be launched for play or as part of festivities.

Chief Fire Officer Celina Barrett said there are currently no specific restrictions or guidelines at a national level - apart from event licensing requirements. And there may be issues relating to litter, fire service and animal welfare resulting from these events.

The releasing of lit lanterns and balloons into the air causes significant damage and sometimes fatal to wildlife, habitats, protected structures and can cause other fires. Releasing lanterns and balloons that are made of non biodegradable material is environmentally irresponsible and is essentially rubbishing our landscape indiscriminately, said Cllr ONeill.

She tabled a motion at a Naas Municipal District meeting yesterday.Local Government TD, Tony McLoughlin has rejected a claim by Alcohol Action Ireland that his backing of industry sponsored amendments to the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill are backing the alcohol industry ahead of peoples health.

Alcohol Action Ireland has called on both Deputies Tony McLoughlin (FG) and Eamon Scanlon (FF) to withdraw their proposed amendments to the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill, ahead of the forthcoming Report and Final Stages, which takes place today, Wednesday, 19th September.

Citing the continuous lobbying pressure from the alcohol industry, Alcohol Action highlighted that regrettably these TDs, by further delaying enactment, are now advancing alcohol business interests rather than leading to protect the health and wellbeing of their constituents.

Speaking ahead of Dail Eireanns autumn sitting, Eunan McKinney, Head of Communications and Advocacy at Alcohol Action Ireland, said, By backing these industry sponsored amendments, these TDs are backing the alcohol industry ahead of peoples health.

Their actions are encouraging more alcohol sales not less because they place a greater value on the thriving commercial interests of the alcohol industry rather than the lives of those who today, and into the future, will be impacted by harmful alcohol consumption.

In reply, a spokesperson for Deputy McLoughlin stated there are a number of reasons why amendments were submitted to deal with the labelling and advertising aspects of the Bill only.

From the onset it is important to be clear, we do not wish to delay the bill from becoming law. Quite the opposite actually as we fully support the overall aim of the Bill, he said.

Deputy McLoughlin is a life long pioneer and fully supports the Governments efforts to reduce the levels of alcohol consumption in Ireland and tackle below cost selling of alcohol in shops and supermarkets.

There are however a number of problems as we see it that have developed inside the Bill during its passage through the Seanad and as a result we feel they need to be addressed in order to protect jobs here in Sligo and in Leitrim in particular, he said.

He further said it is also important to recognise that no other country in the world has mandatory cancer labels on alcohol products.

Deputy McLoughlin added that Irish producers will have to develop labels specifically for Ireland and a second set of labels for elsewhere which for small producers of premium products (such as The Shed Distillery in Drumshanbo) will lead to increased costs of production.

Meanwhile, Pat Rigney the Managing Director and founder of The Shed Distillery in Drumshanbo which produces the world renowned Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin has welcomed amendments submitted by a cross-party group of TDs to the Alcohol Bill.

The amendments, if passed, will remove the requirement for cancer warnings to be added to alcohol products and will ensure distillery and brewery visitor centres are exempt from the strict advertising restrictions that are set to be introduced.

Im strongly in favour of these amendments as they will help protect rural jobs, the reputation of Irelands food and drinks industry and the economy as a whole, Mr Rigney said.

Our distillery is based in rural Ireland, in Drumshanbo, where it continues to create valuable local employment and drive tourist footfall.

Since setting up in 2014, we have invested over 4 million in the local area.

We are also currently investing 2m in our new visitor centre, which will drive local tourism and create jobs when it re-opens. This continued investment and growth should not be put at risk. Its vital that these amendments are passed in full to protect our rural and national food and drinks economy.EVERY autumn the caring community Cappamore joins together to put on three separate fundraisers for Milford Hospice. Two of the events take place on Thursday, September 20 with a coffee evening in ODwyers and Cappamore bingo - founded a few weeks after Limericks second last All-Ireland win!

Tommie Ryan, of the bingo committee, said 3,000 must be won.

There is also a monster raffle including a signed Limerick jersey and lots of prizes. This bingo night each year attracts a lot of extra patrons to support Milford and be in with chance to win big money. It starts at 8.30pm, said Tommie.

The committee is looking forward to their 45th birthday on November 9 and celebrate the amazing contribution of three ever present members from the very beginning - Mary Murphy, Pat Fogarty and Eddie Murphy.

Kathleen ODwyer, of the bar and lounge on Main Street, said locals have been enquiring when this years event is taking place. The time and date is from 7.30pm next Thursday, September 20, and Kathleen expressed her thanks to everyone who comes each year to support this great cause. A great spread of homemade food is guaranteed and patrons can donate to Milford.

Then after a two week break it is time for John ONeills annual fundraising dance. Karen and the Dolans will be providing the music in Hayes on Saturday night, October 6. This is Johns eighth year holding the dance for Milford. Like the coffee evening and bingo, many make a special effort to support the good cause.

Milford need funds on a continuous basis to do the great work they do. Cappamore parish is delighted each year to organise these various events, said Tommie.RENOWNED US actor Matthew Modine has continued to wow locals while staying in Limerick for a filming project, even causing quite a stir at the Milk Market.

The actor, perhaps most well-known for his roles in Full Metal Jacket and Stranger Things, has graciously made time for his fans during his stay.

He drew a large crowd at the Milk Market last Saturday morning, where he happily posed for photos and gave autographs.

What a terrific market. My wife and I ate too much and cant wait to do it again next Saturday, said Matthew.

The Milk Market tweeted about the true gent.

Thank you for the visit, kind words and being so patient with all the fans, both staff and customers.

What a terrific market. My wife and I ate too much and cant wait to do it again next Saturday!  https://t.co/vzOhE2Eif4  Matthew Modine (@MatthewModine) September 15, 2018

On Twitter, Limerick fans gushed about their experience with the kind actor. One wrote that he is nowhere near as scary without his lab coat on, referring to his role as experimental Dr Brenner in Stranger Things.

Another, Aisling Leavy, said: Was great to meet the kind and wonderfully political Matthew Modine this morning. His biggest Irish fan (Roisin) had us stalk him in The Milk Market and he generously signed her Stranger Things hat and we had a great chat.

According to informed industry sources, Modine is not filming in Troy Studios but is thought to be here as part of a low budget movie that is being shot around Limerick and the Mid-West.

The actor was also spotted in Bunratty Castle and Folk Park this week, where he is working on the undisclosed film.

Niall OCallaghan, Managing Director of Shannon Heritage, spent some time with Mr Modine on location at Bunratty, and was effusive in his praise for the veteran actor.

It was wonderful to meet such an iconic actor, and you could feel the buzz in the air around Bunratty as Mr Modine was recognised by staff and visitors alike. He was a perfect gentleman, more than happy to pose for pictures and autographs with fans.

We are absolutely delighted to see stars of Mr Modines calibre filming here at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, adding another strand to our long tradition of storytelling, added Mr OCallaghan.GARDAI in Limerick have been given three weeks to disclose all outstanding materials in the case of a serving councillor who is charged with public order offences.

Cllr John Loftus, aged 62, who has an address at St Johns Avenue, Mulgrave Street in the city is accused of being intoxicated in a public place; using threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour in a public place and with failure to comply with the direction of gardai, under the provisions of Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act.

Previously, Limerick District Court was told the independent councillor was arrested on Saturday, May 26 this year in relation to an incident which occurred at Lord Edward Street.

During a procedural hearing this Wednesday, solicitor Darach McCarthy said while certain materials have been disclosed to him, he has not received all of the garda statements relating to the case against his client.

He said he only became aware of the missing statement in recent days having consulted with Mr Loftus.

The outstanding statement, he said, relates to the functions and duties of a sergeant who was on duty at Roxboro Road garda station o on the night of his clients arrest.

Sergeant John Moloney, prosecuting, said he had not been informed of the difficulty but indicated it would be resolved quickly.

Adjourning the matter to October 10, Judge Marian OLeary noted the matter first came before the court in early June and she warned there will be no further adjournments.

Cllr Loftus, a former Anti-Austerity Alliance councillor, sat in the front row of the public gallery in Courtroom 6 throughout the morning before his case was called shortly after midday.

Leaving the courthouse on Mulgrave Street following the brief hearing, he indicated he would be pleading not guilty to the charges.

There is no way in hell Im pleading guilty, he told the Limerick Leader.

A formal plea is due to be entered by the defendant on the next date.Sep 19, 2018, 9 AM

The design was unveiled at the Aerial Fire Depot and Smokejumper Center in Missoula, Mont. Screen grab courtesy of USPS video.

By Molly Goad

Two days after the 17th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, the United States Postal Service dedicated a new stamp design for first responders in Missoula, Mont., against a beautiful backdrop of blue skies and mountains.

The dedication was held at the Aerial Fire Depot and Smokejumper Center, home to the nations largest training center for firefighters who parachute into remote areas of national forests to combat wildfires.

The stamp design shows three figures shaded in red, white and blue, respectively: a firefighter carrying an ax, an EMS responder, and a law enforcement officer shining a flashlight.

The dedicating official was Guy Cottrell, chief postal inspector for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

Our nations first responders rush into life-threatening situations for the benefit of others, he said. "...We call out for their help tens of millions of times each year, and every time they answer the call.

The Postal Service is pleased to honor their skill, dedication and unfailing bravery with this stamp.

Connect with Linns Stamp News:

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Tim Fox, Montanas attorney general, spoke about the significance of having this ceremony so soon after the Sept. 11 anniversary and reflected on where he was that day 17 years ago.

This first issue stamp honoring first responders, at its core really honors those who have lost their lives in the line of duty, he said.

Steve Hirsch, first vice chair of the National Volunteer Fire Council emphasized the importance of local volunteers to the communities across the country. He said the close relationship between the postal service and the volunteer fire service goes back to Ben Franklin, the countrys first postmaster general, and a volunteer firefighter in 1736.

Theres kind of a love affair there, he said, smiling. Me being a stamp collector, too, adds a little bit extra to it as well.

Other speakers included Leanne Marten, regional forester, U.S. Department of Agriculture; Dr. Michael Kremkau, an emergency physician (level two trauma) and a reserve deputy for Missoula County Sheriff Department; and David McEvoy, critical care medic and director of Aerie, a Montana-based organization providing wilderness and rural medical training and first aid supplies to over 2,000 students a year throughout the United States, Mexico, Central America, Africa and India.

Smokey Bear, a national mascot for forest fire prevention, was also in attendance.

Inside this neutron star, the strongest stuff in the universe may be hiding.

How to cook "nuclear pasta" in three easy steps: 1. Boil one large, dying star until it goes supernova and explodes. (This could take a billion years, so be patient.)

2. Vigorously stir any leftover protons and electrons inside the star's shriveled core until they merge into a soup of ultradense neutrons. Apply as much gravity as necessary.

3. Scrunch the neutron stew into an airtight sphere the size of Toronto. Cover in a crystalline crust and serve at 1.08 million degrees Fahrenheit (600,000 degrees Celsius).

Voila! You have just made one of the universe's strangest concoctions  nuclear pasta.

For several years, astrophysicists have noodled with the idea that such a linguini-like tangle of matter might be rippling around inside neutron stars  the relatively small, unbelievably dense stars that form after massive suns collapse under their own gravity.

Just like your nonna's pasta, nuclear pasta makes great leftovers (it may be pretty much the only matter that can survive in a star after a supernova). Unlike earthly noodles, however, nuclear pasta may be the strongest substance in the universe.

In a new study soon to be published in the journal Physical Review Letters (and prepublished in the online journal arXiv.org), a team of researchers from the United States and Canada ran a series of computer simulations to test the strength of nuclear pasta, based on all that is known about the neutron- star conditions under which it forms. The team determined that, to shatter a plate of nuclear pasta, it could take about 10 billion times the force needed to shatter steel.

"[That] may make nuclear pasta the strongest material in the known universe," the researchers wrote in their new paper.

Much of nuclear pasta's strength likely comes from its density. Nuclear pasta is thought to exist only inside neutron stars, which form when massive stars (at least eight times the mass of Earth's sun) collapse under their own gravity. As a result, neutron stars pack an entire sun's worth of mass (or more) into a compact core about 12 miles (20 kilometers) across. To visualize how insanely dense that is, imagine cramming the mass of 1.3 million Earths into a single American city.

To exist under such extreme conditions, everything in a neutron star becomes much, much heavier than it would be anywhere else in the universe. According to a 2007 NASA blog post, a sugar cube's worth of matter would weigh more than 1 billion tons inside a neutron star  roughly the weight of Mount Everest.

According to the new research, nuclear pasta may become so strong and so densely packed that it could even layer up to form small "mountains" that could lift the crust of some neutron stars. As those stars rotate (and neutron stars can rotate extremely quickly), those raised lumps could theoretically create ripples in the surrounding space-time  also known as gravitational waves.

Gravitational waves have been detected where two neutron stars collided into each other  but whether nuclear pasta has anything to do with it will require lots of further study. If nothing else, let's hope this new paper makes plenty of space enthusiasts hungry for more answers.

Originally published on Live Science.These geneticists have uncovered Africa's three largest ivory cartels  located in Mombasa, Kenya; Entebbe, Uganda; and Lome, Togo  by analyzing the DNA within elephant tusks found in illegal trafficking shipments.

The findings reveal that cartels frequently put the right and left tusks from the same elephant in different shipments. By linking these tusks, scientists have discovered that these cartels sometimes work together, and the finding reveals the interconnectedness of Africa's largest ivory-smuggling cartels, the researchers reported in a new study. [Photos: Seized Elephant Ivory Reveals How Multimillion-Dollar Cartels Operate]

Moreover, by attributing smuggled tusks to specific cartels, scientists can help prosecutors strengthen their cases against ivory kingpins, said study lead researcher Samuel Wasser, director of the Center for Conservation Biology and a professor of biology at the University of Washington, in Seattle.

In Kenya in April 2016, thousands of tusks were burned; some of these captured pieces were sampled by Samuel Wasser, seen here, and his team for forensic analysis. (Image credit: Kate Brooks/The Last Animals)

Chasing cartels

The fight against ivory cartels is not new. The international trade of elephant ivory has been illegal since 1989, but elephants are still killed in record numbers. Between 2005 and 2015, poachers killed as many as 111,000 elephants, leaving as few as 415,000 elephants in Africa, according to a 2016 report from the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

These days, ivory smuggling is a $4 billion industry, driven in part by the growth of the shipping-container industry, Wasser said. Ports can inspect only about 2 percent of the almost 1 billion containers that are shipped annually around the world, he said. "And traffickers merely now just containerize their contraband and get it into transit, and its shipment becomes virtually assured," Wasser said at a news conference yesterday (Sept. 18).

In a study published in 2015 in the journal Science, Wasser and his colleagues pinpointed Africa's two major poaching hotspots. The researchers did this by matching the DNA from smuggled tusks with DNA found in elephant poop, tissue and hair that they had previously collected in the wild and mapped. But this discovery didn't help catch poachers, Wasser found.

"To our surprise, the poachers still remain very hard to stop," Wasser said. "What we have realized is that the poachers are difficult to find because they operate in these large areas that they know really well, and even when they're apprehended, they only have as much ivory as they can carry."

So, the researchers decided to go after the cartels, which likely pay the poachers to kill the elephants. (For instance, "it costs about $25 for a bullet to kill an elephant, and these poachers don't have a lot of money," so it makes sense that the cartels are funding them, Wasser said.)

Tusk breakthrough

It was then that the researchers had the "important breakthrough," realizing that more than half of the tusks in large ivory seizures were unpaired, meaning that the right and left tusks from the same elephant were in different shipments, Wasser said.

To learn more, the researchers sampled 38 large ivory seizures made around the world from 2006 to 2015, including bones from 10 elephants that were killed by poachers from a helicopter in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In all, the researchers matched 26 pairs of tusks in 11 of the shipments  an impressive number, given that they were testing an average of just one-third of the tusks from each seizure. [Saving Elephants: Ivory Crush in Central Park (Photos)]

Even though these right and left tusks were separated, they were still shipped out of the same port from 2011 to 2014, a time when ivory trafficking was at its peak, Wasser said. In addition, the separated tusks were almost always shipped within 10 months of each other, and the tusks in the matching shipments tended to come from the same elephant habitats, Wasser and his colleagues found.

Wasser's process to identify and pair tusks from poached elephants uses DNA testing to match the pairs smuggled in separate shipments to the same smugglers. The maps indicate different deliveries  showing location, date and weight of the seizure. Using the process, geographic origins of the tusks are determined, as noted by the blue circles. Using open red circles, some of the recovered tusks have been matched to a number of poached elephant corpses. Connection of tusk pairs are notated by double-headed arrows. (Image credit: Wasser et al. 2018/Science Advances)

By analyzing the geographic origins of the tusks, the researchers were able to determine where each cartel hunted elephants. The scientists also figured out how large each cartel was, based on how many genetically matched tusks were found in different shipments. They found that cartels often change the final point of destination for these shipping containers during the voyage, making the containers difficult to track.

All of this data helped identify the three major cartels, which are clearly operating across the entire African continent, Wasser said.

Ivory traffickers

There's substantial evidence that one of these cartels is tied to Feisal Mohamed Ali, one of the most notorious ivory traffickers in Africa, Wasser said. Research from Wasser's group helped convict Feisal two years ago, when Feisal received a 20-year sentence. But Feisal was recently acquitted on appeal because of irregularities that happened during his trial.

"Feisal was initially tried for only one seizure, and that really illustrates the power of connecting individual cartels to multiple seizures," Wasser said. "And our hope is that the data presented in this paper and discovered by others can help strengthen the case against this cartel."

Emile N'bouke, allegedly the largest ivory trafficker in West Africa, was also convicted because of work from Wasser's group. At the time of his trial, N'bouke argued that he wasn't a big trafficker, but now evidence shows that the he was linked to Feisal's network in East Africa, Wasser said.

There's yet another trafficker Wasser declined to name because of an ongoing investigation who appears to be linked to "a major international incident where helicopters from Uganda were flying over northeast Garamba [in the Democratic Republic of the Congo] and were allegedly responsible for shooting 22 elephants," according to DNA evidence from the tusks, Wasser said.

Zakouma National Park's rangers pose for a photo. (Image credit: Copyright Art Wolfe/Art Wolfe Inc.)

Cartels that smuggle ivory are often involved in killing wildlife rangers, moving drugs and laundering money, too, so it's essential that law enforcement stop them, Wasser added. In addition, these cartels use smart businesspeople, who create rumors that elephant ivory and parts of other animals  such as rhino horn and pangolin scales  can cure medical maladies, which bumps up the price and demand for the contraband. [Pangolin Photos: Scaly Mammals Threatened with Extinction]

In effect, the findings shows that "wildlife genetics needs to be better integrated in policy making and law enforcement strategy design," said Sergios-Orestis Kolokotronis, an assistant professor of epidemiology at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in New York, who was not involved with the study.

Going forward

Many challenges remain. It costs $110 to analyze the DNA in each tusk. "So, you can imagine, if you've got 1,000 tusks and you do every single one, well, that's $100,000, and your budget is not going to last very long," Wasser said. What's more, it can be challenging to get countries to give scientists immediate access to recently seized contraband  which is key, because sometimes, evidence goes missing soon after it's collected, Wasser said.

The study is "excellent," said Al Roca, an associate professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, who was not involved in the study. But he, too, noted the price. "It involves quite a bit of work and genotyping of many tusks, so one financial concern would be whether law enforcement agencies will continue to provide support for these efforts, which are critical," Roca told Live Science.

Roca noted that there are many steps that need to be taken to fight wildlife trafficking.

"Major ones include the political will of governments to stop smuggling, by fighting both the supply, as well as the demand, for wildlife products from some rather morally bankrupt consumers," Roca said. "The message of this study is that DNA-based methods can play a role in exposing smuggling operations and in determining the geographic regions and countries that are being targeted for poaching."

The study was published online today (Sept. 19) in the journal Science Advances.

Original article on Live Science.Residents of Aitoliko woke up to an eerie surprise: the beaches were overtaken by these spider webs.

The tranquil beaches of Greece are an ideal destination for a summer fling, especially if you are a hungry, web-flinging spider. Residents of Aitoliko, an island village perched between two bridges in western Greece, recently woke up to see their local beaches overtaken by such amorous arachnid action  and the results are far more Halloween than Valentine's Day.

In an eerie video posted yesterday (Sept. 18) by YouTube user Giannis Giannakopoulos, you can see the strange fruits of the Grecian spider love-fest take the form of a massive, 1,000-foot-long (300 meters) network of webs stretched over the coast. Shrubs shrug under the net of silk. Palm fronds hang tangled in an unstoppable bad hair day. And, below it all, pairs of spiders are busy building, eating and, of course, reproducing.

Greek news website Newsit.gr asked a biology expert to weigh in on this web of intrigue  and it turns out, it's not as unusual as it seems. According to Maria Chatzaki, an associate professor in the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics at the Democritus University of Thrace, it's a seasonal occurrence. [Goliath Birdeater: Images of a Colossal Spider]

"The phenomenon we observed in Aitoliko is not unprecedented," Chatzaki told Newsit in an interview (translated from Greek). "It is a seasonal phenomenon that occurs mainly at the end of the summer and early autumn, and is caused by the spiders of the genus Tetragnatha."

Two spiders in the genus Tetragnatha mating. (Image credit: D. Kucharski K. Kucharska/Shutterstock)

Tetragnatha spiders are sometimes called "stretch spiders" for their long, ovular bodies. They live all over the world near watery habitats and are prolific web builders. These webs, which were also tweeted out by Agrinionews.gr, are good not just for capturing prey like flies and mosquitoes, but also for nesting.

It's a spectacle that's fleeting, beautiful and sort of gross  Such is the nature of summer flings."There are huge numbers of male and female spiders mating [under these webs]," Chatzaki told Newsit. "Obviously, it results from favorable conditions that have made it possible to create this overpopulation."

Spiders of the genus Tetragnatha are mating under these webs. (Image credit: Courtesy of Agrinionews.gr)

The warm temperatures and high humidity of coastal Greece help create strong mating conditions for the spiders, as does an abundance of prey in the form of mosquitoes, Chatzaki said. The amorous spiders of Aitoliko will likely continue mating long enough to secure the next generation and then die off without causing any lasting damage to humans or the environment.

Originally published on Live Science.The deer your daughter said jumped out of nowhere and dented the car she had borrowed to go out with friends might not be the elaborate fabrication it seems, a new analysis of highway crashes with animals would indicate.

Mule deer were involved in 88 percent of the 6,600 accidents involving wildlife and motor vehicles around the state last year, a tapestry of roadway carnage that is at a peak in the Bay Area, according to the annual report released Tuesday by the UC Davis Road Ecology Center.

The smashups also involved more bears and cougars among the myriad of creatures struck in California, where 12 motorists were also killed and 268 were injured in 2017, the report said. The roadway gore cost Californians hundreds of millions of dollars in damages.

The bottom line is that most of the animals dont have any natural adaptation to roadways and cars, so there is no instinct they can rely upon to avoid those collisions, said Fraser Shilling, co-director of the Road Ecology Center. These are fatal lessons, and most wildlife dont go on to figure it out.

Close to 3,000 of the 6,600 animals hit on the highways were killed, but Shilling said thats only a fraction of the death toll. The calculations were based strictly on incident reports taken by the California Highway Patrol and the California Roadkill Observation System on state highways, which make up just 10 percent of the states paved roadways.

In addition, Shilling said many collisions are not reported or are only included in insurance claims, like the hypothetical roadway encounter between the daughter and the agitated deer. A great many animals just run off and die later, never to be found, he said. State Farm Insurance Co. said it gets about 23,000 customer claims a year for accidents involving wildlife.

Whats clear, though, is that the roadway bloodshed is getting worse.

The available data show that Californians spent $307 million on vehicle damage, emergency response, injuries, lost work and insurance associated with animal collisions in 2017. Thats an 11 percent increase over 2016. The $276 million spent on animal collisions in 2016 was itself a 20 percent increase from the year before.

From 2015 to 2017, there were 19,800 collisions with wildlife, according to the report.

What hasnt changed over the years is the fact that motorists in the Bay Area plow into more furry critters than drivers in other parts of the state.

A 23-mile section of Interstate 280 between San Francisco and San Jose is the perennial top dog in the statewide competition for most roadkill, Shilling said. A 28-mile portion of Highway 101 in Marin County follows closely behind in the centers calculations of animal blood spilled and damage caused.

The bloated and crushed corpses of furry four-leggers are also commonly found on State Route 13 in Alameda County, Highway 24 from Oakland to Walnut Creek, and Interstate 680 between San Jose and Fairfield.

The Sierra Nevada foothills, the North Coast, and parts of the Central and South Coast also contributed a prominent share to the slaughter, according to the report.

Besides the 12 people killed in accidents with wildlife across the state last year, 44 people suffered major injuries and 224 suffered minor injuries. Some 2,841 animals were killed in the accidents, and 149 had to be dispatched by emergency personnel. Nobody knows what happened to 2,119 animals that were hit by vehicles, the report stated.

Statewide, mule deer were hit more often than any other animal, followed by coyotes, black bears, wild pigs, mountain lions and elk.

Smaller animals, like squirrels and skunks, were not included in the overall analysis this year because they are less likely to pose a danger to drivers or cause damage to their vehicles.

Black bears saw the biggest increase in the number hit by cars, going from 89 in 2016 to 170 last year. Mountain lion collisions also went up, from 44 to 64.

Predators are often at risk because they move around a lot (searching for prey). So its not surprising that you would get predators hit, (but) the fact that both of them went up might indicate that there is some ecological mechanism taking place, Shilling said. These are large animals. They will total your car.

The problem, he said, is that the increase in the rate of wildlife-vehicle collisions has not been accompanied by a comparable increase in efforts to mitigate the problem.

Shilling said there is an urgent need for legislators to use state transportation funding to pay for fencing and construction of wildlife over-crossings on major highways. One such crossing, proposed to help mountain lions and other wildlife get over the Ventura Freeway at Liberty Canyon in the San Fernando Valley, would cost about $50 million, he said.

The Road Ecology Center has created an automated system tracking vehicle-wildlife conflicts on highways, a tool that he said could also be used in the future to help guide autonomous vehicles. It can be found at roadecology.ucdavis.edu/hotspots.

Peter Fimrite is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: pfimrite@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @pfimriteThe Three Mulla-Mulgars

By Walter de la Mare

Wildside. 204 pp. Paperback $9.95

---

Walter de la Mare bears one of the loveliest names in English literature, but we don't hear much about his books these days. That's one reason the University of Cambridge is hosting an international conference Thursday and Friday called "Reading Walter de la Mare, 1873-1956." It is boldly and accurately subtitled "A voice which has no fellow."

Once upon a happier time, de la Mare's most ambitious work of fiction, "Memoirs of a Midget" (1921), earned acclaim as one of the finest novels of the 20th century - which, incidentally, it is - while admirers of his exceptional animal fantasy "The Three Mulla-Mulgars" (1910) tended to agree with Richard Adams, who, when asked about its possible influence on "Watership Down," declared: "To try to copy 'The Three Mulla-Mulgars" would be like trying to copy 'King Lear.'"

Nothing if not versatile, de la Mare was also an equally gifted poet and anthologist. "Behold, This Dreamer!," for instance, assembles passages about "Reverie, Night, Sleep, Dream, Love-Dreams, Nightmare, Death, the Unconscious, the Imagination, Divination, the Artist, and Kindred Subjects." In fact, de la Mare's work repeatedly conjures an otherworldly mysteriousness. Consider his most famous poem, "The Listeners":

"'Is there anybody there?' said the Traveller,/Knocking on the moonlit door."

No one answers, though phantom listeners "stood thronging the faint moonbeams on the dark stair,/ That goes down to the empty hall." After pounding harder without response, the Traveller eventually gives up, saying, "Tell them I came, and no one answered,/ That I kept my word." He then rides away, and silence quickly returns. The listeners would seem to be ghosts - unless the Traveller is himself a fearsome revenant, come back from the dead to fulfill some ancient promise.

Along with "The Listeners" and the wonderful children's verse of "Peacock Pie" (1913), de la Mare is probably best known for his eerie stories, the most frequently reprinted being "Seaton's Aunt," about a psychic vampire. Written around 1909, it was followed by a full-length novel of spiritual possession, "The Return" (1910), in which the protagonist discovers that his face has been reshaped into that of a dead 18th-century pirate. The consequences are initially unsettling, then hallucinatory and finally transformative.

Oddly enough, de la Mare alternated work on "The Return," which is psychologically intense and claustrophobic, with work on the zestful and visionary "Three Mulla-Mulgars" (also called "The Three Royal Monkeys"). Thumb, Thimble and Nod are the sons of Seelem, the far-wandering brother of Assasimmon, the Mulgar, or monkey, prince of the Valleys of Tishnar. After their father's disappearance, the three brothers trek across jungles and wastelands and over mountains in search of those celestial valleys. Allegorically, theirs becomes a journey into the nature of things, much simpler in character but similar to George MacDonald's phantasmagoric "Lilith" and David Lindsay's mind-boggling "A Voyage to Arcturus."

As in so many fairy tales, the third and youngest brother soon emerges as the main character, in part because good-hearted Nod has "magic in him." He has also been left the Wonderstone by his dying mother. "If in your long journey," she explains, "you are in danger of the Third Sleep" - the Mulgar name for death - "or lost, or in great fear, spit with your spittle on the stone, and rub softly three times with your left thumb ... Tishnar will hear you; help will come."

Note that the Mulgars can talk, walk upright and regularly wear coats to keep warm, but they aren't human beings in fur (as are Badger and Mole in Kenneth Grahame's contemporary "The Wind in the Willows"). Thumb, Thimble and Nod eat fruits and nuts, fear Oomgars (men) and generally interact only with other jungle simians. During their adventures, they are captured by cannibalistic monkeys (the terrifying Minimuls), trick a Cyclops-like gorilla out of his boat and, ultimately, join forces with mountain Mulgars, who are as comfortable on narrow ledges as they are valiant in fighting eagles: "And with sticks and staves and flaring torches they turned on the fierce birds that came sweeping and swirling out of the dark upon them on bristling feathers, with ravening beaks and talons." Still, Nod makes friends with a shipwrecked sailor (who teaches him rudimentary English) and falls in love, sort of, with a sorrowful and lonely water-maiden.

Throughout, de la Mare keeps his prose musical - "Calm and still the mist lay, and softer than wool" - while intensifying his story's otherness by occasionally using words from the monkey-language, most of them echoing their English equivalents. A zevvera is a zebra, a bobberie a boat. Similarly, the panther-like Immanala, sometimes called the Queen of Shadows, closely resembles the sinister tiger Shere Khan from Rudyard Kipling's "Jungle Book," while a troupe of the hardy mountain monkeys might almost be mistaken for the 13 dwarves of "The Hobbit." Unlike J.R.R. Tolkien, though, de la Mare eschews massive bloodshed, let alone an epic confrontation between good and evil. Still, Nod's connection to the Wonderstone grows as intimate as Bilbo and Frodo's with the Ring. Not only does it open doors into another realm of being, it can also feed and succor - at least until Nod falls asleep and the amulet drops from his small brown fingers:

"It fell to the bottom of his sheep-skin pocket, and then, like a dream, vanished, gone, were fountain, feast, and music. And deep in snow, encircled by poison-thorns, slumbered the nineteen travelers in their rags and solitude, come out of magic, though they knew it not."

While such prose now sounds old-fashioned or even too delicately textured for the age of Twitter, truly adventurous readers will always seek out "The Three Mulla-Mulgars" and de la Mare's other books. They stand high among the most original and idiosyncratic works of 20th-century literature.Emma Thompson plays God with convincing aplomb in "The Children Act," an adaptation of Ian McEwan's 2014 novel that fairly bursts with ideas about right and wrong, head and heart, and - pardon the expression - sense and sensibility (not to mention the myriad contradictions those terms contain).

As London judge Fiona Maye, Thompson is all crisp rationality and swift, no-nonsense alacrity. As the movie opens, she's delivering a literally Solomonic verdict regarding a pair of conjoined twins, reminding the parents and their lawyers that "this court is a court of law, not of morals."

Another contradiction. And one that will come into even more high-stakes play when Fiona hears a case regarding a 17-year-old leukemia patient whose Jehovah's Witness parents are refusing a blood transfusion that he will probably die without. When Fiona goes to visit the boy, she discovers a bright, seductively romantic adolescent who instantly bonds with her over literature, music and intellectual curiosity.

The legal parameters of Fiona's decision are relatively straightforward; the title of "The Children Act" refers to the court's responsibility to consider the welfare of minors its paramount concern. But Fiona's decision forms only one strand of the story's provocative tangle of motives and misgivings.

For one thing, latent tensions in her marriage to Jack (Stanley Tucci), a classics professor, are surfacing in unexpected ways, offering another lens on Fiona's avoidance of emotionalism, which has been one of her professional strengths. Once she delivers her verdict, its implications - the responsibility and expectations it confers - make themselves felt in increasingly unsettling encounters.

Adapted by McEwan and directed by Richard Eyre ("Notes on a Scandal") with economy and style, "The Children Act" feels utterly of a piece with the original book: urbane, understated, handsomely realized and impeccably interpreted by a cast of superb actors. When Fiona debates morality with Adam - sensitively portrayed by Fionn Whitehead - their two-handed banter unfolds like "A Man for All Seasons" staged in an ICU. As the plot thickens with notions of belief, spiritual discipline and the limits of even the most rigorous logic, Thompson maintains the unnerving sang-froid that Fiona has used to keep dangerous feelings at bay, cracking barely perceptibly as that strategy begins to strain and finally crumble.

Accompanied, appropriately enough, by Bach piano pieces, "The Children Act" is an unmitigated pleasure to watch and listen to, primarily as a showcase for Thompson's incomparable gifts as an actress. She leans into the film's rare but relief-giving moments of gin-dry humor, often involving Fiona's fastidious clerk Nigel (Jason Watkins).

The story finally morphs into an old-fashioned melodrama, but one that feels intensely of this time and place, as atavistic certainties contend with modern relativism, and issues of autonomy and choice collide with patronizing notions of the greater good. True to McEwan's literary vision, "The Children Act" allows all of its characters their dignity and good faith. Its greatest achievement, to quote Jack (quoting Flaubert), is the fixity of its pensive gaze.

---

Three stars. Rated R. Contains a sexual reference. 105 minutes.

Ratings Guide: Four stars masterpiece, three stars very good, two stars OK, one star poor, no stars waste of time.The prospect of a Tom Cruise sighting has residents of California on alert as the famed actor is rumored to be filming "Top Gun 2," a sequel to the 1986 classic drama-action-romance, at the Naval Air Station Lemoore.

The regional KMPH news station hit the street this week to ask locals what they thought after confirming that production was indeed underway with the Navy's Commander Ron Flanders.Authorities have released the name of the fourth victim who was allegedly killed by Laredo Border Patrol agent Juan David Ortiz.

Texas troopers said the body of Guiselda Alicia Cantu, 35, was discovered at about 1 a.m. Saturday near mile marker 21 on Interstate 35. DPS released her identity Wednesday.Next Generation Sequencing Market

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Factors such as increasing technological advancements, increasing awareness, growing acquisitions and mergers among the players. to build capital for new innovations and rise in genome mapping programs boost the growth of the market exponentially. However, factors such as infrastructure, skilled workforce to manage and store huge amount of data appropriately, and the high cost involved in the technology, restrain the market from growth.

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The global next generation sequencing market has been segmented on the basis of technology, service and product, application and end users.

On the basis of type of technology, the market has been classified as whole genome sequencing, whole exome sequencing, CHIP sequencing, methyl sequencing, targeted resequencing, RNA sequencing and de novo sequencing.

On the basis of type of service & product, the market has been classified as sample preparation, consumables, platforms and services for platforms, sequencing services. The sample preparation is segmented into DNA fragmentation, end repair, A-tailing, and size selection, library preparation & target enrichment, and quality control. The platforms and services for platforms are segmented into Illumina, thermo fisher scientific, pacific biosciences, oxford nanopore technologies and other next-generation sequencing platforms.

On the basis of type of application, the market has been classified as drug discovery, genetic screening, diagnostics, agriculture and animal research and others.

On the basis of type of end-users, the market has been academic institutes and research centers, hospitals and clinics, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and other end users.

Regional Analysis for Global Next Generation Sequencing Market

lobal Next Generation Sequencing Market Share, by Region, 2017 (%)

In the Next Generation Sequencing Market, North America is anticipated to account for the largest market share. Factors such as a rise in customer requirements and increased competition among players through acquisitions and mergers are anticipated to drive the growth of the market. The rise in the number of funds and initiatives adopted by the government to decrease the cases of cancer and to improve the healthcare sector is likely to grow the market.

The European market is expected to hold the second largest market share due to the presence of pioneering next-generation sequencing technology, a very refined and educated population interested in next-generation technology (NGS). Nevertheless, the diverse rules and regulations and a fragmented market all over Europe are likely to restrain the growth of the market.

The market share in Asia-Pacific is also projected to experience growth in the near future due to access to optimal treatment facilities and growing demand for advanced technology, better adoption rate, increase in disposable income, and rising investments by pharmaceutical companies.

The market in the Middle East and Africa is expected to account for the smallest share of the next generation sequencing market due to an underdeveloped healthcare sector, lack of technical knowledge, and poor medical facilities.

Some Brief Table of Contents of Report

Chapter 1. Report Prologue

Chapter 2. Market Introduction

2.1 Definition

2.2 Scope Of The Study

2.2.1 Research Objective

2.2.2 Assumptions

2.2.3 Limitations

Chapter 3. Research Methodology

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Primary Research

3.3 Secondary Research

3.4 Market Size Estimation

Chapter 4. Market Dynamics

4.1 Drivers

4.2 Restrains

4.3 Opportunities

4.4 Challenges

4.5 Macroeconomic Indicators

4.6 Technology Trends & Assessment

Chapter 5. Market Factor Analysis

5.1 Porters Five Forces Analysis

5.1.1 Bargaining Power Of Suppliers

TOC Continued

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Website: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/next-generation-sequencing-market-6354Two women landed behind bars for buying items with counterfeit money at a local Walmart and then returning them for actual cash, according to Laredo police.

LPD identified the suspects as Ana Marie Gover, 37, and Margo Sanders, 50. Each was charged with forgery of a financial instrument and theft.After years of unclaimed property sitting idly, Illinois Treasurer Micheal Frerichs is hoping his departments new Money Match program will get the unclaimed funds into the hands of its rightful owners.

For some time now, the Illinois Treasurers office has had an I-Cash database that allowed Illinois residents to check to see if they have any unclaimed property owed to them. It has resulted in millions of dollars being paid out, Frerichs said, but there still is money that isnt being claimed.

We have nearly $3 billion in money that belongs to Illinois citizens, Frerichs said. A lot of people just wont claim their money. You can advertise, you can make phone calls, people just think its a scam or, for whatever reason, they just wont claim their money.

So we talked with other states. We found other states have an innovative approach. They work with the Department of Revenue  When you pay your taxes and you swear that youre Joe Smith and you live on 1234 Street, heres my Social Security number  if we run a match on all the tax dollars in the state and find a property in our database that matches, were just going to mail a check.

With the Money Match program rolling out this month, residents who are matched with an unclaimed property valued at less than $2,000 will have a check cut and mailed to them. After the owners mailing address is determined to be up-to-date according to Department of Revenue data, a first letter will arrive announcing that the money will be coming and notifying the property owner to look for a check in the mail.

Frerichs office is expecting to use the Money Match to return $12 million to the rightful owners in coming weeks.

Unclaimed property can include unpaid life insurance benefits, forgotten bank accounts and unused rebate cards.

This is not a scam, this is not identity theft, this is us doing our jobs by returning property to the people of Illinois, Frerichs said. We still encourage people to go online and look to see if we have property that belongs to them, illinoistreasurer.gov, and thats because (Money Match is only properties under $2,000, only if its a living person and only a single-owner.

Nick Draper can be reached at 217-245-6121, ext. 1223, or on Twitter @nick_draper.BAD AXE  Bad Axe High School will host a college adviser this fall as part of the Michigan College Access Networks AdviseMI program.

Now in its fourth year, AdviseMI aims to increase the number of students who pursue education beyond high school.

AdviseMI focuses on placing recent college graduates to serve as college advisers in high schools with low college-going rates. They work alongside school counselors and other staff to facilitate a smooth transition from high school to postsecondary education.

For four years, AdviseMI has served as an important resource helping students navigate the college-going process, said Brandy Johnson, MCAN executive director. As recent college graduates themselves, our advisers offer important insight to students. The advisers are specially trained to help students understand a vital message not every student is told  they are college material.

New advisers completed an intensive four-week training this summer to prepare them for the 2018-19 school year. Some advisers will split their time between two high schools to allow 56 college advisers to serve a total of 71 high schools across the state.

Advisers will focus on helping students research various college options, retake admission tests, apply to colleges, complete the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) to secure financial aid and enroll in postsecondary institutions.

This adviser, Mrs. Roggenbuck, has been specially trained to help students navigate the college application process, financial aid and other obstacles they may face in their path to higher education, said Karrie Foy, high school counselor. Our goal is to help all students explore all options and to provide the resources they need to succeed.

AdviseMI recently received the Outstanding National Service Award at the 2018 Governors Service Awards ceremony. This award honors programs that make an impact in communities and successfully support their service members.

Roggenbuck is a 2017 graduate of Saginaw Valley State University. Her prior experience as a AdviseMi College Advisor at Brown City and Marlette high schools for the 2017-18 school year has helped her gain valuable experience assisting students from rural areas acquire access to post-secondary education and on-campus resources. She is excited to start the 2018-19 school year serving the students at Bad Axe High School.WASHINGTON - The State Department released a report Wednesday identifying Iran as the leading state sponsor of terrorism with a "near-global reach" and accusing it of sending suspected operatives to the United States.

The annual Country Reports on Terrorism for 2017 said Iran and the proxy groups it finances were responsible for attacks or attempted attacks in the Middle East, Europe, South America and Africa.

"It brings to its terrorist activities the resources of a state," Nathan Sales, the coordinator for counterterrorism, said in a call with reporters.

"Iran uses terrorism as a tool of its statecraft," he added. "It has no reservations about using that tool on any continent."

The Iranian mission to the United Nations issued a statement denying it supports terrorists and accused the United States of destabilizing the region.

"Iran has fought ISIS, al-Qaida, their various associate and affiliated terror groups and other terrorist groups in our region for decades," the statement said. "The U.S., meanwhile, has destabilized the region at every turn by invading countries under false pretenses, supporting brutal invasions and occupations by its proxy states, and by supporting terrorists across the region."

Since President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal in May, the administration has taken an increasingly tough stance on Iran. In November, it will reimpose oil sanctions, which were suspended under the deal in exchange for curbs on Iran's nuclear program.

In anticipation of the sanctions, U.S. officials have been pressuring other countries to halt or drastically reduce their purchases of Iranian oil, the chief source of foreign revenue. They have threatened to impose secondary sanctions on businesses and countries that keep buying oil from Iran.

After abandoning the nuclear deal, the administration seeks to negotiate a treaty with Iran that will cover both its ballistic missile and nuclear programs, said Brian Hook, the special envoy for Iran.

In a speech at the Hudson Institute on Wednesday morning, Hook said the goal is to reach a "new deal" with Iran that ends in a treaty.

Hook acknowledged that Iranian leaders have shown no interest in talks with U.S. officials, although both Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have said they would be willing to meet with Iranians.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif are expected to be in New York next week for the annual meeting of the U.N. General Assembly. The Iranians are not scheduled to meet with U.S. officials.

Iran has been designated as a state sponsor of terrorism since 1984. It is one of four countries on the list, along with North Korea, Syria and Sudan.

As evidence that Iran intended to potentially launch an attack in the United States, the report cited the arrest last summer of two men in Michigan and New York suspected of being undercover operatives for Hezbollah. Iran provides financial support to the Lebanese militant group.

Overall, terrorism declined last year, Sales said. The total number of attacks dropped 23 percent, and fatalities decreased by 27 percent. Though many countries saw a decline in violence, Sales said, the decrease was primarily due to fewer deaths and attacks in Iraq.

Almost 6 in 10 attacks occurred in Afghanistan, India, Iraq, Pakistan and the Philippines. And 7 in 10 deaths were in Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Somalia and Syria.

Though the Islamic State has lost most of the territory it held in Syria and Iraq, the report said the terrorist group continued to encourage sympathizers to strike against soft targets and in public spaces. It said al-Qaida remains a formidable threat and last year expanded its membership and operations.

"Al-Qaida is a determined and patient adversary," Sales said. "They have largely remained out of the headlines in recent years. They were content to let ISIS bear the brunt of the international response. But we shouldn't confuse a period of relative quiet with al-Qaida's abandonment of its capabilities and its intentions to strike the United States and its allies."

The report said fighting terrorism has grown more complex, as groups such as the Islamic State and al-Qaida have adapted to counterterrorism pressure.

"They have become more dispersed and clandestine, turning to the Internet to inspire attacks by distant followers, and, as a result, have made themselves less susceptible to conventional military action," it said. "Further, the return or relocation of foreign terrorist fighters from the battlefield has contributed to a growing cadre of experienced, sophisticated, and connected terrorist networks, which can plan and execute terrorist attacks."

Also Wednesday, Trump renewed an emergency proclamation first issued after the 2001 terrorist attacks, extending what was supposed to be a temporary state of national emergency for another year, the White House said in a statement.

The extension of Proclamation 7463 gives the president powers to mobilize the military.

Trump published a notice in the Federal Register extending the emergency, explaining that terrorism continues to pose a threat to the national security, foreign policy and economy of the United States.News headlines about school shootings, missing persons cases and random acts of violence can leave people feeling like the threat of chaos is ever-present.

That can also explain why, for some parents, the temptation to check in on a child remains equally persistent.

Patrick McMullen, president of Three Square Market, the Wisconsin-based technology company known for microchipping employees, believes his firm has developed a solution: a new app called "Mom I am Ok."

Designed for family members, the app will launch this month and allow parents to set agreed-upon "check-ins" with their children or loved ones. Those check-ins arrive in the form of push notifications asking whether the phone's owner is safe. If a family member fails to respond "yes" to the notification, the app can determine everywhere that person has been and deliver that information to loved ones or law enforcement. If people are separated from their device, however, then they can no longer be effectively tracked.

Using geofencing - a virtual boundary created for a real-world area - the app can also alert a parent when their child has left a particular area. That feature could be useful, McMullen said, if a teenage driver left his or her city limits, for example, triggering an alert for unsuspecting parents. The app will cost $9 per month, he said.

McMullen said his company's technology is "nearly identical" to a program Three Square Market sells to law enforcement that allows them to monitor the movements of parolees without relying on ankle bracelets, which can be expensive and conspicuous. If they can monitor former inmates, McMullen said his team wondered, why not use the same technology to keep people safe?

"I have four daughters," he said. "I want to know where my daughters are at if something ever happens to them."

The "Mom I am Ok" app is the latest among a growing list of affordable surveillance apps marketed to family members who want to keep tabs on their loved ones. Tens of millions of people use similar apps, many of which promise to help them track their children's location in real time, as well as their recent movements, sometimes for up to 48 hours.

No longer reduced to tracking someone's location, some surveillance apps are able to compile information about a relative's behavior as well. The Family Tracker App includes a feature that gives a user the ability to monitor their family member's driving habits. The feature includes regular reports with data showing instances of hard braking, texting and top speed at the end of each trip.

"If a family member hits the gas too hard coming off a red light or takes an onramp too aggressively, we'll report instances of Rapid Acceleration," the app notes.

Experts say these apps could be useful to police searching for a missing child, but could also be subject to abuse by overzealous authorities seeking evidence in a criminal case.

Police around the world are in the midst of a technology revolution, said Maria Haberfeld, a professor of police science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City.

She said that she foresees potential conflicts arising if these kinds of apps are used by authorities to collect evidence against a missing teenager, for example, who may be involved in illegal activity.

"The moment the app becomes something that enables police to create evidence against an individual, I'm sure it will be challenged in court," Haberfeld said. "I am sure that at certain points they'll need a warrant to use this data to build an evidence trail."

Embedded within most apps' descriptions - sometimes explicitly other times more subtlety - is a consistently dire message: The world is an increasingly dangerous place.

"Why leave things up to chance?" the app's website asks parents.

"When I was a kid, I knew every home and every street for several miles in every direction," McMullin said. "Now we barely know our neighbors, the level of trust with communities has eroded and I think people have changed and become very disjointed and distrustful."

"The world is looking for solutions," he added. "We have different things that block our kids from websites. If I don't want my kid going to a part of town or someone's house, why not use geofences to protect them in real life?"

Unlike microchips, which Three Square Market is often associated, their "Mom I am Ok" app does not rely on planting any technology inside a user's body. Instead, the app is wholly dependent on GPS in the user's smartphone. If a user is separated from their device they can no longer be effectively tracked.

Lisa Damour, a psychologist and child development expert who writes a monthly column about adolescence for the New York Times, disputed the notion that the world is increasingly unsafe. But despite a national drop in violent crime, she said, surveys reveal that many adults feel less safe today than they did a decade ago.

At the same time, she said, mental health professionals have seen a spike among parents and children self-reporting feelings of anxiety in recent years.

Asked to comment on the "Mom I am Ok" app, Damour said she thinks there's "a very high chance" that technology designed to reduce anxiety actually inflames feelings of unease in both parents and children.

"Part of healthy functioning is to have a way to set worries to the side," she said, referring to a process mental health experts refer to as "compartmentalization." "So for a parent receiving constant notifications even though their child is okay, there is a hazard that those notifications are reminding them that their child might not be okay."

"At the same time, the child who is being asked if they're okay is at risk of being reminded all the time of some possibility that they could come to harm," she added.

Damour's solution: making sure that adolescent teenagers are ready to "take the lead" in maintaining their own safety as they grow increasingly independent. That doesn't mean young people should be entirely cut off from adults, Damour said, noting that many teenagers have access to cellphones.

"But what keeps a teenager safe is the teenager," she said. "Parents should be happy to take calls and texts from their teenager and act as a backup system."

Probanx.com Acquisition - Core Banking Platform Business

Melbourne, Sep 19, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Australian Securities Exchange and Frankfurt Stock Exchange cross listed iSignthis Ltd ( ASX:ISX ) ( FRA:TA8 ), the leading payment and identity technology company (the "Company"), is pleased to announce that it has completed acquisition of 100% of the issued capital of Cyprus based, Probanx Information Systems Ltd ('Probanx").Probanx (www.probanx.com) has been in operation for more than a decade, and services more than fifteen (15) prudentially regulated entities across the EU, Asia and North America, with regards to their core banking platform requirements.Probanx revenue model is predominantly based upon a software licensing model with annual maintenance fees, with licensed software installed on local servers operated by the banking client. The Company expects that the Probanx revenue model can be readily adapted to also include a Software as a Service (SaaS) model, which can be hosted as part of the Company's secure cloud infrastructure. SaaS services command higher fees, as they are ready to use without the need for infrastructure and case by case certifications.Probanx core banking services have recently been third party certified, and the Company intends to augment the Probanx offerings by adding its card processing modules as they become scheme certified later this year and next, including schemes such as Visa, Mastercard, JCB and others.In addition to the future SaaS licensing opportunities around core banking and card processing SaaS, Probanx is a strategic acquisition for the Company as it provides proven and certified systems as follows;- Core Banking Platform- E-banking (Client Portal)- Mobile Banking Application- Loans & Mortgages Module- Portfolio Management- IBAN Validation API- Integration between ATM and POS switches, and the CorePlus Banking System.- Multi-Currency Accounting- Supports English, French, German, Italian, Greek, Spanish and Hebrew- Wire Payments - SWIFT, SEPA and Earthport IntegrationThe Company's EMA services will be integrated to the above certified services as soon as readily possible, allowing our business customers and merchants access to the rich features of the core banking platform. The Client portal will allow retail customers to view their ISXPay IBAN accounts online and via mobile.Probanx shall operate as an independent business unit, sharing legal, treasury, and HR functions with the parent and sister companies, with Mr Chris Georgiou staying on as a director and managing the Company. Probanx is expected to deliver a positive EBIT contribution to the iSignthis group for FY2018.The Company has acquired Probanx for EUR300,000 cash, with EUR100,000 in ISX ordinary shares due in six months, and an earn out commission against future receipted sales closed within the next three (3) months.John Karantzis, CEO of iSignthis said "We are delighted to have concluded the acquisition of Probanx Information Systems, which we believe is an excellent addition to the overall iSignthis SaaS solution. ISXPay's certified Tier 1 card processing software will also conversely be available as a SaaS service from Probanx in due course, complementing the core banking offering and strengthening the value proposition to small banks and PSPs. The addition of a proven core banking platform will also allow our operating arm, ISXPay, to grow its eMoney Account (EMA) products rapidly, and to provide enhanced services to its customers."Read more about the company at our website http://www.isignthis.com and http://www.probanx.com About iSignthis Ltd

iSignthis Ltd (ASX:ISX) (FRA:TA8) is a hybrid monetary financial institution and also a RegTech leader in remote identity verification, payment authentication with deposit taking, transactional banking and payment processing capability. iSignthis provides an end-to-end on-boarding service for merchants, with a unified payment, electronic money and identity service via our Paydentity(TM) and ISXPay(R) solutions.

By converging payments and identity, iSignthis delivers regulatory compliance to an enhanced customer due diligence standard, offering global reach to any of the world's 4.2Bn 'bank verified' card or account holders, that can be remotely on-boarded to meet the Customer Due Diligence requirements of AML regulated merchants in as little as 3 to 5 minutes. Paydentity(TM) has now onboarded and verified more than 1.5m persons to an AML KYC standard.

iSignthis Paydentity(TM) service is the trusted back office solution for regulated entities, allowing merchants to stay ahead of the regulatory curve, and focus on growing their core business. iSignthis' subsidiary, iSignthis eMoney Ltd, trades as ISXPay(R), and is an EEA authorised eMoney Monetary Financial Institution, offering card acquiring in the EEA, and Australia.

ISXPay(R) is a principal member of Mastercard Inc, Diners, Discover, (China) Union Pay International and JCB International, an American Express aggregator, and provides merchants with access to payments via alternative methods including SEPA, Poli Payments, Sofort, PRZ24 and others.

Probanx Solutions Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of iSignthis Ltd, provides API based access to CORE Banking solutions, SEPA Core, SEPA Instant and SEPA business scheme, for neobanks, banks, credit unions and emoney institutions, and provides a bridge to the Eurosystem's Central Bank of Lithuania's CENTROLink service.The University of Texas at San Antonio is planning a major downtown expansion on city and county land fueled by millions of dollars in state funding - some already committed, some dependent on future action by the Legislature.

Mayor Ron Nirenberg, City Manager Sheryl Sculley and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff announced Tuesday their commitment to transfer to the university more than five acres bounded by South Santa Rosa Avenue and Dolorosa, South Flores and West Nueva streets.

This represents a partnership that you rarely ever find in public higher education, where governmental entities like this are behaving in a bold way to do something big and audacious in concert with the university to help realize the opportunity that is before us, UTSA President Taylor Eighmy told the San Antonio Express-News Editorial Board in a briefing Monday.

The parcels belonging to the city will become the locations of the universitys $33 million National Security Collaboration Center and $57 million School of Data Science. The UT System Board of Regents committed $70 million from the states Permanent University Fund at its Sept. 6 meeting for both projects.

Businessman Graham Weston, meanwhile, has pledged $15 million toward the School of Data Science, his largest one-time personal donation to a single project and the universitys largest-ever cash gift, Eighmy said.

Eighmy said details are still being finalized, but Sculley said the university will purchase the city land for $7.3 million with the expectation that the city will donate other property on Frio Street in the future as part of a proposed second phase of UTSA development. Such an acquisition will need approval from City Council, she said.

The county land, valued at about $5.7 million, would be the site of a new College of Business the university wants to build, with officials saying they were optimistic the Legislature would approve $126 million in tuition revenue bonds for that purpose. If legislators do not, however, Eighmy said the university would turn to philanthropy.

Asked how the county would be compensated for its land, Wolff said officials were looking at collaborative arrangements in its agreement with the university but provided no specifics.

Companies have been forced to leave San Antonio because they couldnt recruit qualified local employees, said Weston, who has been devoted to building a technology hub in San Antonio and rehabilitating downtown. Programs like UTSAs are crucial for that development because they strengthen the pipeline from college to the workforce, he said.

This is the biggest announcement in downtown in 50 years, Weston said Tuesday. This is a city emerging into the world stage right now.

His real estate development firm, Weston Urban, is working with Frost Bank to build its new headquarters downtown, about two blocks north of the proposed UTSA expansion. Weston Urban has accumulated several more acres along San Pedro Creek.

The county land is the site of a privately run detention center housing federal detainees. The county already had plans in the works to move them to an annex currently being built at the Bexar County Jail.

The city and university also plan to create private housing, not dorms, for faculty and students under a future public-private partnership at the site of the old Continental Hotel on Commerce Street.

The university expects all of this first phase of expansion to be finished by 2023. A second growth phase is expected to roll out between 2023 and 2028 involving major construction west of its existing downtown campus, more than doubling it in size.

Leaders anticipate the expansion will aid UTSA in its pursuit of an elite designation called Tier One status. In 2009, legislators designated UTSA and several other Texas colleges as emerging research universities and established a pot of funds for the universities to unlock as they meet certain benchmarks.

Nirenberg said the hope for lawmakers cooperation in authorizing the tuition revenue bonds to build the College of Business was bolstered by a visit with Gov. Greg Abbott in June, when the first thing he mentioned was his agreement with the vision Taylors brought to expanding and achieving Tier One status at UTSA.

The city, county and university leaders also pointed to a downtown transformation in Phoenix after Arizona State University created a new campus downtown. It drew more than 10,000 students, reinvigorated a sleepy downtown and contributed to sales tax revenue growth.

For UTSA to be downtown San Antonio is a game changer, Sculley said. (Thousands of) students now in the downtown has totally transformed Phoenix and this has the same potential to be transformative.

The universitys growth will add to efforts by San Antonio and Bexar County to spur development along San Pedro Creek, which they are in the process of turning into a landscaped leisure trail at a cost of $175 million. The hope is that the rehabilitated creek will bring new life to the western edge of downtown, now dotted with parking lots and empty storefronts.

A new federal courthouse is set to be built across the street from UTSA's proposed addition there. The city also plans to spend $9.2 million for the redevelopment of the Alameda Theater on the creek to serve as headquarters for Texas Public Radio.

UTSA has been working to make the downtown campus more optimal for students to complete their coursework without having to go to the main campus about 20 miles north, just inside Loop 1604. This years incoming students in the universitys colleges of public policy and architecture, construction and planning can fulfill degree requirements entirely downtown, university officials have said.

The university also has announced partnerships with the Tobin Lofts and Doubletree by Hilton San Antonio to offer housing to downtown campus students.

The idea is to make life very amendable for folks who want to live downtown. A lot of our students are very interested in this, Eighmy said. A lot of our younger faculty are very interested in this. They like the idea of being in a vibrant downtown corridor.

Krista Torralva covers several school districts and public universities in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | Krista.Torralva@express-news.net | Twitter: @KMTorralvaA 17-year-old girl has been charged with murder after allegedly luring a man to his death at the hands of alleged MS-13 gang members who shot and hacked him to death with a machete.

Karla Morales was arrested Friday after telling Harris County Sheriffs Office investigators she was forced to lie to 24-year-old Jose Alfonso Villanueza with the promise of belated birthday marijuana. It was a ruse to coax him out of his apartment before the July 29 killing, which his family says took place on Spring ISD property.

She told one of the males she didnt want to go through with it anymore but they said it was too late, investigators wrote.

Villanueza, whose birthday was on July 25, fell for the plot and joined Morales in a car with two men she identified as MS-13 members. Around 10:30 p.m., the four drove to a nearby field about 400 feet from a Lewis Elementary School parking lot where more men were waiting for him.

Morales watched the gang repeatedly pump Villanueza with bullets before one of the men landed the final blow with a machete  a signature blade associated with the transnational gangs killings. On Aug. 7, a week before students returned to the nearby school, his partially-clothed body was found in an advanced stage of decomposition with a spent .45-caliber shell under him, according to authorities.

IN GALVESTON: MS-13 gang members indicted in strangulation

Villanueza was identified through his fingerprints in a FBI database. An autopsy revealed he died of multiple gunshot wounds and sharp force trauma.

The address in court documents showing where Villanueza was found matches tracts of grassy fields owned by Spring ISD. Karen Garrison, a spokeswoman for the district, said the administration was never notified of the homicide investigation. The school is located at 3230 Spears Rd., Houston.

During Morales probable cause hearing Saturday, her public defender, Teiva Bell, said the teen was a senior at Westfield High School in Spring ISD. But the district has no record of the girl attending one of its schools, Garrison added.

Bell said Morales has lived with her mother, a house cleaner, and step-father, an electrical worker, in the Houston area for the past five years.

20 ARRESTED: Notable MS-13 activity in Texas this year

The teen was apprehended about a week after a Sept. 4 press conference where Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo announced the arrest of nearly a dozen alleged MS-13 gang members, four of whom were accused of slaying a confidential informant with a machete. The victims body was found hacked to death in southeast Houstons Cullinan Park on June 6.

Acevedo estimated at the time that there were about 800 MS-13 members in the states Gulf Coast.

The presence of MS-13 in the United States, where the gang originated, has become a focal point of President Trumps call to limit immigration and build a border wall to Mexico.

The Harris County Sheriffs Office, which did not publicize the gruesome killing in August, failed to respond to requests for comment and the Harris County District Attorneys Office declined to elaborate on the investigation when reached on Tuesday.

It was not immediately clear if more suspects are outstanding.

About four days before Villanuezas body was found, his cousin, Rosa Flores, became worried after he failed to return her calls and messages. She waited three more days for him to respond and then, on Aug. 6, she called police to report him missing. She later told investigators a rap battle with apparent rivals may have preluded the retaliation death.

They got upset and starting rapping back telling him they were going to kill him. In a week, he was dead, Flores told the Houston Chronicle.

Flores identified the location where Villanuezas body was found and told the Chronicle she wished he had accepted her offer to stay with her a day before the slaying.

I was telling him, Are you sure? Are you OK? Are you sure you dont want to come to my house and stay the night? But he said he was OK, she recalled.

She knew Villanueza had friends with ties to MS-13 but didnt know him to be involved with the transnational gang.

He wasnt no bad guy. His thing was rap. He liked to rap, Flores said.

Villanuezas sister, Mayra Nuevo, said he was born in Los Angeles but both of them were sent back to their familys home country of El Salvador as children. The siblings returned to Houston as teens.

For me this is something really hard, Nuevo said. It hurts, I dont have the words to say how I feel.

Villanuezas mother lives in Mexico, according to the Harris County Forensic Insititute.

Nuevo did not know the teen arrested in Villanuezas death, she said.

Morales recalled meeting the victim at a bar months before, according to court documents. He began boasting about his ties to the rival 18th Street gang during a rap battle that apparently insulted members of MS-13 who worked for the same landscaping outfit as Villanueza. That same week, Morales told an investigator her boyfriend  an MS-13 gang member  overheard Villanueza insulting her.

According to the probable cause document, Morales played a key role in the plot to lure Villanueza out of the apartment complex on Antoine Street. She allegedly messaged Villanueza telling him she wanted to give him a birthday present, a gesture which struck Villanuezas roommate as odd because they were not close friends.

Morales has since been jailed on a $100,000 bond. She is slated to return to court on Nov. 7.

During Morales hearing, prosecutors requested a higher bond because she did lure him into a field knowing he would be murdered by gang members.

Lomi Kriel contributed to this report

nicole.hensley@chron.comThe Border Patrol agent accused of killing four people and assaulting a fifth lived what at least one neighbor called a quiet life with his wife and two children in an upper middle-class subdivision in north Laredo.

A San Antonio man who remembers Juan David Ortiz, 35, when he and his wife, Daniella, lived in a West Side subdivision while he was getting a masters degree at St. Marys University also called him a normal, law-abiding citizen.

Ortiz, known as J.D. to friends, was a Navy veteran who served from July 2001 until May 2009, according to Navy records. A native of Brownsville, he had at least one tour of duty in Iraq as a medic and was the focus of a jubilant welcome-home event at the Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport when he returned from Iraq in 2003.

Its a miracle for me that hes coming home, his mother, Lupita Rocha, told the Brownsville Herald at the time. I can rest now. Im happy.

Rocha has since moved to San Antonio. On Tuesday, her husband said she didnt want to talk about her son.

Over the course of his military career, Ortiz was stationed at Great Lakes, Ill.; Fort Sam Houston; Camp Pendleton, Calif.; Twenty-Nine Palms, Calif.; and Fort Sam Houston again from 2005 to 2009.

While in the military, Ortiz enrolled in American Military University, a private, for-profit online institution, and received a bachelors degree in criminal justice in 2009, a spokesman said.

Ortizs rank was hospital corpsman 2nd class. A Navy spokeswoman declined to answer questions about the nature of Ortizs discharge or whether he had ever been disciplined.

Ortiz and his wife, Daniella, whom he married in 2004, bought a home in the Westbury Place subdivision during his second stint at Fort Sam Houston. He stayed there and commuted to Cotulla once he began working for the Border Patrol in 2009, a neighbor said.

At the Border Patrol, he was promoted to supervisor. He attended St. Marys University between 2011 and 2013 and earned a masters degree in international relations.

In 2015, Ortiz and his wife sold their San Antonio house and moved to Laredo, records show. In December, they took out a $240,000 mortgage for a newly built home in a neighborhood where several other law enforcement officers live.

No one has answered the door at Ortizs house since his arrest; the home appears to be empty.

Ortiz remains in Webb County Jail in lieu of $2.5 million bail, charged with four counts of murder in the deaths of Melissa Ramirez, 29; Claudine Anne Luera, 42; Humberto Ortiz, 28; and a fourth person who hasnt been identified. Hes also charged with aggravated assault and unlawful restraint involving Erika Pena, 26.

Tuesday evening, about 200 people joined the victims relatives for a moment of prayer at San Agustin Plaza in Laredo.

Elva Ortiz said it was hard to learn of her death of her son, who was known as Janelle.

We all lost somebody, a sister, a mom. I lost a son. Its good that they came, and they prayed. It helped me calmed down a little bit because I havent stopped crying, she said.

Were glad for the publics support, said Patricia Benavides, Ramirezs aunt. The prayer gave us a little bit of peace, but we are still destroyed  Look at all that is happening because of one man.

Julia Wallace reports on city and county government for the Laredo Morning Times. | jwallace@lmtonline.comSan Antonio won a national prize for creating a culture of health, city officials announced Tuesday.

The city was one of four to be recognized nationwide by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, a health philanthropy organization. It was selected from a pool of about 200 applicants.

The distinction comes with a $25,000 prize and the opportunity to connect with officials from communities that have previously won the award, which was established in 2013. No decision has been made yet about how the prize money will be spent.

The foundation assessed the cities according to six criteria, including a holistic definition of health, collaboration among leaders and organizations, a focus on equity, and data-informed solutions. In addition to reviewing application materials, representatives of the foundation conducted a site visit to San Antonio.

What they saw, especially when they came down here, was the incredible collaboration, not just across nonprofits or just across the government, but across a lot of these really big, gnarly problems, said Colleen Bridger, director of the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District. Theres this multidisciplinary approach to kind of shouldering the load, and they were really impressed with that.

Bridger said the foundation gave credit to San Antonios social services efforts, such as crisis mental health services, early childhood education and programs to help homeless people. Collaboration among organizations, such as the YMCA early learning center at Haven for Hope homeless shelter, also factored into the win, she said.

The other winners were Eatonville, Florida.; Cicero, Illinois; and Klamath County, Oregon. San Antonio is the second Texas city to win the prize after Brownsville snagged it in 2014.

Joe Marx, the foundations director of program communications and partnerships, said San Antonio stood out during the highly competitive application process.

This is a recognition for what communities have done, but its also an understanding that the works not finished, Marx said. This is a stage in the journey.

Lauren Caruba covers health care and medicine in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | lcaruba@express-news.net | Twitter: @LaurenCaruba

Mineral Resources Grow 30% to Over 560,000 Ounces

Perth, Sep 19, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Intermin Resources Limited ( ASX:IRC ) ("Intermin" or the "Company") is pleased to announce an updated Mineral Resource Estimate for the 100% owned Teal gold project area located 11km northwest of Kalgoorlie-Boulder in Western Australia (see Figures 1 and 2 in link below).HIGHLIGHTS- Highly successful new discovery and resource expansion drilling campaign completed at the Teal gold project area, 11km north-west of Kalgoorlie-Boulder in the Western Australian goldfields- In total, 182 RC holes for 23,545m completed with the majority of the drilling focussed on resource growth at Teal, Jacques Find and Peyes Farm(see Note 1 below)- Independent Mineral Resource now compiled for the Teal Project area and, after depletion from mining Teal Stages 1 and 2, stands at:o 4.25Mt @ 2.11g/t Au for 289,000 ounces at a 1.0g/t Au lower grade cut-off, up 80%(see Note 2 below)- Over 85% now in the Indicated Category with mineralisation open in all directions(see Note 2 below)- Intermin's Total Mineral Resource (after depletion) grows to:o 8.40Mt @ 2.08g/t Au for 562,000oz at a 1.0g/t Au lower grade cut-off(see Note 2 below)- Next phase of drilling at Teal planned for the March Quarter 2019- Mining studies commenced to assess optimal mining and processing pathways for oxide and transitional ore accessible by open cut miningDRILLING CONTINUES AT INTERMIN'S 100% OWNED KALGOORLIE GOLD PROJECTS- New discovery and resource expansion drilling (14,000m) continues at the Anthill gold project with further drilling results and an updated Mineral Resource expected in the December Quarter(see Note 2 below)- Follow up drilling also underway at the Crake prospect, part of the Binduli project area with an additional 3,000m due for completion in the December Quarter(see Note 2 below)- First pass drilling (3,000m) at Coote, Darter and Honeyeater prospects at Binduli is also planned as part of the Binduli program(see Note 2 below)- A maiden Mineral Resource for the Crake prospect is expected in the March Quarter 2019(see Note 2 below)- A 14,000m new discovery program at the Blister Dam project is also planned to commence in the December QuarterCommenting on the updated resource, Intermin Managing Director Mr Jon Price said:"The Company commenced the self-funded A$4m, 55,000m drilling program in February this year and it has certainly delivered results. An 80% increase in resources at Teal at a $14/oz discovery cost is not only a testament to quality of the assets but also the exploration team who have worked tirelessly on target generation and project priorities.""With a significant amount of drilling still ongoing at Anthill, Binduli and Blister Dam, the Company looks forward to releasing further results and resource updates as we move closer to achieving the significant 1 million ounce milestone."OverviewSince February 2018, the Company has completed 182 angled RC holes for 23,545m to downhole depths of between 60-270m. The drilling comprised infill, lateral and depth extensional and new discovery drilling at the Jacques Find, Peyes Farm, Yolande and Teal prospects. Results were released on the ASX on 18 April, 24 April, 12 June and 1 August 2018.Significant shallow downhole RC intercepts included(see Note 1 below):- 10m @ 6.70 g/t Au from 60m (JFRC18048)- 8m @ 5.70g/t Au from 64m (JFRC18026)- 8m @ 5.28g/t Au from 64m (JFRC18095)- 6m @ 6.69g/t Au from 91m (JFRC18042)- 3m @ 10.28g/t Au from 102m (JFRC18034)- 13m @ 2.78g/t Au from 90m and 11m @ 2.77g/t Au from 73m (JFRC18049)- 6m @ 4.72g/t Au from 54m and 6m @ 4.34g/t Au from 42m (JFRC18038)- 37m @ 2.16g/t Au from 90m and 9m @ 4.45g/t Au from 118m (JFRC18010)- 7m @ 4.47 g/t Au from 34m and 12m @ 2.33 g/t Au from 105m (JFRC18129)Significant deeper downhole RC intercepts included(see Note 1 below):- 8m @ 10.31g/t Au from 123m (JFRC18039)- 8m @ 5.88g/t Au from 124m (JFRC18136)- 5m @ 4.49g/t Au from 117m and 7m @ 3.46g/t Au from 90m (JFRC18112)The new data has been used to compile a detailed independent Mineral Resource Estimate which is compliant with the JORC 2012 Code.Intermin's updated Teal Project area Mineral Resource (JORC 2012) includes the Teal, Peyes Farm and Jacques Find deposits and shows an 80% increase in ounces compared to the previous Teal Resource(see Note 3 below). The Mineral Resource for Teal has been depleted to take into account the recently completed Teal Stage 1 and 2 open cut developments.The current Mineral Resource Estimate for Teal now stands at:- 4.25Mt at 2.11 g/t Au for 289,000 oz (>1.0g/t Au lower grade cut-off with various top cuts applied)(see Note 3 below)Project GeologyThe Teal gold deposit comprises a well-defined supergene blanket located above shears and quartz within structurally controlled felsic schists, tuffs and porphyry rocks at depth. Mineralisation is strongly influenced by flexures along the northwest-southeast striking Peyes Farm Shear zone which trends parallel to the regional geology. Gold mineralisation is developed in an upper flat lying oxide supergene deposit located between 30-55 metres vertical depth and in primary mineralisation in a sub vertical west and east dipping shear zones. The mineralisation trends NNW over a strike length of approximately 650 metres.The Jacques Find gold deposit comprises a well-defined supergene blanket located above shears and quartz within structurally controlled felsic schists, tuffs, sediments and porphyry rocks at depth. Mineralisation is strongly influenced by cross cutting structures and stratigraphy to the north to northwest striking shear zone which trends parallel to the regional geology. Gold mineralisation is developed in a flat lying oxide supergene deposit located between 35-55 metres vertical depth and in primary mineralisation within a sub vertical shear zones. The mineralisation trends N-NW over a strike length of approximately 800 metres. For the Mineral Resource Estimate, Jacques incorporates the prospects known as Yolande and Teal West.The Peyes Farm gold deposit, is similar to Teal and comprises a moderately developed supergene blanket located above shears and quartz within structurally controlled felsic schists, tuffs, sediments and porphyry rocks at depth. Mineralisation is strongly influenced by cross cutting structures and contacts. Peyes Farm is located within a north striking shear zone which trends parallel to the regional geology. Gold mineralisation is poorly developed in the flat lying oxide supergene deposit located between 20-40 metres vertical depth. Peyes primary mineralisation dips east at about 60deg. The mineralisation spans approximately 600 metres.Primary mineralisation at depth exhibits semi-refractory properties and optimal recoveries are achieved through ultra-fine grinding, pressure oxidation or roasting. The shallow oxide supergene mineralisation is similar to the Teal gold mine where recoveries over 94% where achieved.Next Steps(see Note 4 below)Given the successful drilling programs to date, further resource extension and new discovery drilling in the Teal Project area is planned to commence in the March Quarter 2019. The drilling will focus on:- Building additional resources at Teal West and Teal East- Following up encouraging auger results proximal to the Jacques Find and Peyes South areas- Diamond drilling beneath deep high grade shoots at Jacques Find and TealMining studies have commenced on the Jacques Find, Peyes Farm and further stages of the Teal project focussed on open pit development for extraction of the oxide and transitional ore as part of the mining production pipeline. In addition, metallurgical test work will continue to determine optimal processing pathways for the primary mineralisation with further discussions to be held with suitable processing plant owners in close proximity.Notes:1 as announced to the ASX on 18 April, 24 April, 12 June and 1 August 20182 see Table 1 on Page 4, Competent Persons Statements on Pages 4 and 21, Forward Looking Statement on Page 22 and JORC Tables on Page 233 as announced to the ASX on 18 April, 24 April, 12 June and 1 August 2018, see also JORC Tables on Page 144 see Forward Looking and Cautionary Statements on Pages 21 and 22To view tables and figures, please visit:About Horizon Minerals Limited

Horizon Minerals Limited (ASX:HRZ) is a gold exploration and mining company focussed on the Kalgoorlie and Menzies areas of Western Australia which are host to some of Australia's richest gold deposits. The Company is developing a mining pipeline of projects to generate cash and self-fund aggressive exploration, mine developments and further acquisitions. The Teal gold mine has been recently completed.

Horizon is aiming to significantly grow its JORC-Compliant Mineral Resources, complete definitive feasibility studies on core high grade open cut and underground projects and build a sustainable development pipeline.

Horizon has a number of joint ventures in place across multiple commodities and regions of Australia providing exposure to Vanadium, Copper, PGE's, Gold and Nickel/Cobalt. Our quality joint venture partners are earning in to our project areas by spending over $20 million over 5 years enabling focus on the gold business while maintaining upside leverage.Regarding Republicans values need a champion (Page A15, Friday), I served in the U.S. Navy when author Chase Untermeyer was Secretary of the Navy. I respected his thoughtfulness, patriotism and integrity. I also agree with his op-ed. To his tome I would add that I want the Republican Party to return to the party of my family. I want the party that freed the slaves to free the African-American from Jim Crow and the women from misogyny.

I want the country to be of the people, by the people and for the people, not by the lobbyist, not by the wing nuts and not by the gerrymanderer. I want an elected official to own up to his or her successes as well as his or her failures.

Id also like the Republican Party to return to the 1900 roots of President Teddy Roosevelt who fought corruption and corporate greed. I also want the Republican Party and any other political party to accept my Cousin Abes invitation that With malice toward none, with charity for all,  let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nations wounds  .

Mostly, I dont expect any of this to happen.

James A. Babb, Friendswood

Kid gloves

While damning President Trump for his perceived moral failings, Chase Untermeyer makes sure to hit key traditional Republican talking points by praising the administrations judicial nominations, tax reform and the deregulation of American business. One reading of Untermeyers essay is that his real fear is that political fall-out from Trumps rantings threatens the ability of Republicans to score further policy gains.

It would be far more bold of Untermeyer to criticize the success of the administration for damage done to average Houstonians who are threatened with widening gaps in income and wealth, diminished air and water quality and assaults on their civil rights.

Frederick Lazare, Houston

Moving forward

Untermeyer is most certainly correct on one point; he is a political has-been. Untermeyer epitomizes a Republican Party that has failed its constituents for decades. President Trump has invigorated the economy, strengthened the judiciary and applied a common-sense approach toward trade, immigration and foreign affairs. Those are substantive accomplishments rather than hollow platitudes.

Republicans of Untermeyers ilk need only look in the mirror to understand why many of us support Trump despite his impetuous remarks and flawed character.

Raymond Ruiz, Manvel

Be informed

Regarding Should firefighter pay match police salaries? (Page A35, Sunday), I was recently polled and asked if I was in favor of equal pay for firefighters and police officers. On the surface and before I had given it much thought, I answered yes. That was before I read the Point/Counterpoint op-eds.

I now feel somewhat informed and would enthusiastically change my vote to no.

Unfortunately, when voters go to the polls on Nov. 6, I suspect many will only have the short paragraph description on the ballot to make up their minds on how they will vote.

Ed Smith, Houston

Selective support

Regarding Bush hits trail for Senate hopefuls  but not Cruz (Page A5, Saturday), its not surprising that former President George W. Bush is not campaigning for Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. Bush, like his father and his brother, has always been a creature of the D.C. establishment and, like it, has never had much use for conservatives, particularly those who affiliated themselves with the tea party.

Cruz has devoted his political career to upsetting the establishment and draining the swamp. The Republican base could not be happier with his efforts.

Pete Smith, CypressLongford County Council have decided against nominating any candidate for the upcoming presidential election after only one hopeful showed up yesterday (Tuesday) to address local politicians.

As many as seven candidates had been due to stand before the council at a special meeting of the local authority ahead of its monthly meeting.

However, only one-Roscommon farmer John Groarke-attended with a number of others including Dragons Den judge Peter Casey opting for the confines of Limerick County Council instead.

ALSO READ: Longford councillors to hear from presidential candidates

That prompted a number of elected members to hit out at the no show with Cathaoirleach Cllr Luie McEntire expressing his disappointment to the Leader moments after the meeting had ended.

There were equally stinging words from those in the Fine Gael benches as both Cllrs Micheal Carrigy and Colm Murray led calls for the Council to opt out of rubber-stamping the credentials of any candidate.

The latter described the meeting as a complete farce given the time and effort which had gone into bringing about yesterday's special meeting.

We are the representatives of the people of Longford and I just think it is very disrespectful and presumptious of people not to come here.

Cllr Carrigy, who put forward the suggestion for the Council to abstain from nominating any candidate applauded Mr Groarke for attending, saying:

We feel the incumbent president is the best person for the job.

We, as councillors, took time out of our own schedules to be here and then to be told on the day of a meeting they (candidates) weren't attending is very disappointing.Local News, Business & Finance, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: September 19 2018

Settlement results in the full release of over 1,400 employees nationwide.

New York, NY - Sept. 19, 2018 - New York Attorney General Barbara D. Underwood today announced a major settlement with WeWork Companies, Inc.  which provides a network of shared spaces for rent and associated services to clients in the United States and internationally  ending WeWorks use of overly broad non-compete agreements for nearly all of its employees nationwide. WeWork, the second-largest private office tenant in New York City, is headquartered in New York and all New York employees were required to sign such agreements.

Workers should be able to take a new job without living in fear of a lawsuit from their former employer, said Attorney General Underwood. Yet too often, non-compete agreements are misused, especially when it comes to low-wage workers  limiting employees mobility and opportunity and preventing businesses from hiring the best person for the job. Today's settlement is a key step forward for WeWork's thousands of employees in New York and across the country, and should serve as an example for all businesses as we continue our efforts to end the use of these overly broad non-competes.

As of April 2018, WeWork employed nearly 3,300 people in the United States, of which nearly 2,300 were in New York. Nearly all employees  except for about 100 executive (or Leadership Level) employees  will benefit from todays settlement.

Prior to todays agreement, WeWork used non-compete agreements that prohibited all employees from working for competitors after leaving the company, regardless of job duties, knowledge of confidential information, or compensation. The agreement not only applied to executive and senior staff, but also broadly to all levels of employees.

Acting on information that WeWork routinely required its employees to sign a contract that included a non-compete restriction, the Attorney General began an investigation. The investigation found that WeWork had been requiring employees at nearly all locations nationwide to sign an agreement containing a non-compete restriction as a condition of employment. Separately, but concurrently, the Illinois Attorney General began its own investigation into WeWorks use of non-competes. New York and Illinois worked together to reach a coordinated resolution of the two investigations.

Todays settlement will result in the full release of over 800 rank-and-file employees in New York from their non-compete agreements. In addition, as a result of the investigations by New York and Illinois, WeWork will adopt the same policy nationwide, releasing over 600 additional employees from non-competes. These 1,400 employees now fully released from their non-compete agreements include cleaners, mail associates, executive assistants, baristas, and more, some of whom are paid as little as $15 an hour.

Another nearly 1,800 employees  including nearly 1,400 in New York  who were previously bound by non-competes will now be bound by far less restrictive terms. These include: a non-compete period shortened from one year to six months after employment ends; a dramatically smaller geographic restriction, from any geographic areas in which WeWork operated to just a 15-mile radius of only those WeWork locations engaged in the business lines in which the employee worked; and a much more narrowly-defined scope of competition, limiting the ban to the specific business lines in which the employee worked. These 1,800 employees include community leads, community managers, interior designers, architects, senior software engineers, and more.

WeWork must notify all current employees and all former employees who left within the past 12 months of these changes. It must also submit semi-annual reports to the Attorney General on certain changes to or uses of its non-competes for two years  including reporting the application of non-compete agreements to a new job category.

New York law permits non-compete agreements but they are generally intended to be used in very limited circumstances, such as to protect an employers trade secrets and confidential information or prevent employees from taking specialized skills they gained on the job to a competitor. A non-compete agreements restrictions must be no greater than necessary to protect the legitimate interests of the employer.

In response to growing misuse of non-compete agreements, Attorney General Underwood is also releasing  Non-Compete Agreements In New York State  Frequently Asked Questions . This guidance provides easy-to-understand answers to common questions workers have regarding the law on non-competes.

The New York Attorney General's office has proposed legislation to curb the rampant misuse of non-compete agreements. The office has already reached a number of settlements to limit the use of non-compete agreements at other companies, including Jimmy John's, Law360, EMSI, and more. Additional investigations remain ongoing.

Employees who believe they are subject to an overly broad non-compete agreement are encouraged to contact the New York Attorney Generals office at 212-416-8700 or email noncompete@ag.ny.gov with questions or concerns.

Benchmark World Tour Presentation

Adelaide, Sep 19, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Core Exploration Ltd ( ASX:CXO ) provides the Company's Benchmark World Tour Presentation.CORE EXPLORATION ON PATHWAY TO PRODUCTION- Finniss Project is unlocking a new lithium rich province in the Bynoe Pegmatite Field, near Darwin- Low risk, conventional, open pit mining operation with simple metallurgy- Favourable project characteristics gives rise to high margins and a rapid payback- Enterprise value of approximately $20 million offers substantial leverage to development and exploration- Arguably the best logistics chain to Asia and supporting infrastructure of any Australian lithium project, providing significant strategic advantages- Capex of only $53.5 million - US$20 million already committed by major lithium offtake partner, Yahua Group and project fully funded when combined with the Ruifu US$35 million (see Note below) pre-payment facility- Preliminary Feasibility Study (PFS) now complete, Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) scheduled for delivery by the end of 2018Note: U$35M non-binding term sheet subject to negotiation and finalisation of binding documentation (ASX 30/7/2018)To view the full presentation, please visit:About Core Lithium Ltd

Core Lithium Ltd (ASX:CXO) is an emerging lithium producer focused on development of its Finniss Project near Darwin in the Northern Territory. Core owns 100% of Finniss, a major developing project that lies close to existing infrastructure such as the Darwin Port, grid power, gas and rail infrastructure.

The Finniss Project covers a 500km2 tenement holding and 25 historic pegmatite mines. The project area is about 80km from Darwin Port. Exploration work has generated a near term development timeline, with feasibility studies to be completed over the course of 2018 ahead of receipt of approvals in early 2019 and planned first production during 2019.

An aggressive exploration program is under way, which has confirmed the high quality prospectivity across much of the Finniss Project area. Core's stated ambition is to upgrade Finniss' resource base to fast-track commercialisation options.A homeless man was reported to be hospitalized in pretty bad shape after he was assaulted Tuesday night in front of the Macomb County Circuit Courthouse in downtown Mount Clemens, according to police.

A person who claimed to be a witness but did not want to be named said the attack occurred at approximately 9:45 p.m. near the Fallen Heroes Memorial in front of the courthouse on Main Street.

Sheriffs officials confirmed the assault and said the man was in pretty bad shape at a local hospital. Officials didnt provide any more information on the victim, potential suspects or incident, but indicated deputies are reviewing surveillance video to try to piece together what happened.

Authorities said the incident had no relation to any business in the courthouse.

A team of investigators were at the courthouse Wednesday morning collecting evidence and taking measurements. Five evidence markers, often used to mark the location of bullet casings, were on the courthouse lawn. Deputies would not say what those were being used for.

Local business owners say homeless individuals routinely gather outside of the courthouse in the evening hours where they spend the night wrapped in blankets.

I had to call the police the other night for a couple of guys openly consuming alcohol in the park across from the court building, one business owner said. A reporter spotted several blankets and other items Wednesday behind the concrete walls surrounding the the structure.

The Macomb County Executives Office has not been made aware of the homeless population staying on county property overnight, according to Chief Deputy County Executive Mark Deldin.

No one has communicated to anyone in the county that homeless people are sleeping behind the walls at the courthouse, Deldin said. We would have a concern if anyone is trespassing on county property after hours.

Deldin said the courthouse falls under the jurisdiction of the countys Facilities and Operations department, but ultimately all county property is the responsibility of the Executives Office. If there was an issue taking place overnight at the courthouse, a request for an investigation would be forwarded to the Sheriffs Office, he added.

The courthouse is staffed by security agents day and night. Security guards, part of the staff also known as the blue coats, are overseen by the Sheriffs Office and are in charge of security inside of the building during business hours. Security agents, referred to as the gray coats, work overnight and make periodic checks on the buildings perimeter.

Deldin said the county has surveillance cameras at a variety of intersections in Macomb County. Surveillance footage is routinely turned over the police departments for various incidents, he added.

Anyone with information is asked to call 586-307-9412.SPRINGFIELD -- Big Y World Class Markets are collecting donations for American Red Cross disaster relief efforts for the Merrimack Valley fires and explosions, Hurricane Florence and other incidents.

The drive runs from Wednesday, Sept. 19 through Saturday, Sept. 29.

The Springfield-based supermarket chain said customers and employees will have the opportunity to donate to American Red Cross disaster relief at all Big Y locations in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Donation containers will be available at all Big Y registers.

Hundreds of people have stayed in four Red Cross shelters and more than 8,000 meals and snacks have been served in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover since last week's natural gas disaster.

Meanwhile, the American Red Cross is also working around the clock providing safe shelter, food and comfort for the hundreds of thousands of people impacted by Hurricane Florence.

Over just more than 10 years, Big Y and the Red Cross have raised $1.5 million to support responses to international and domestic disasters, according to a company news release.

Big Y, its customers and employees have raised money for past disasters such as the 2004 tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, and the earthquakes in both Japan and Haiti. Last year at about this time, Big Y drives helped Red Cross responses to Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria.

Additional Wiluna High Grade Free-Milling Mineralisation

Perth, Sep 19, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Blackham Resources Limited ( ASX:BLK ) ( OTCMKTS:BKHRF ) (Blackham or the Company) is pleased to confirm that mining will recommence at Wiluna in September 2018. Additionally, final results are available from the latest Wiluna free-milling resource extension drill programme.Highlights- Resource extension drilling around Golden Age North pit indicates strong potential for additional ore along strike and at depth, ahead of mining scheduled in the second half of 2018:8m @ 9.10 g/t from 87m incl. 3m @ 21.46g/t 73g*m WURC06688m @ 4.50g/t from 74m incl. 6m @ 5.63g/t 36g*m WURC06779m @ 3.62g/t from 33m incl. 3m @ 9.54g/t 33g*m WURC06674m @ 6.68g/t from 48m 27g*m WURC06716m @ 3.30g/t from 64m incl. 1m @ 14.65g/t 20g*m WURC0670- Golden Age North high grade, free-milling mineralisation remains open at depth - drilling being planned to further test shallow underground mining potential- Resource extension drilling at the East West cross-structures area validates existing pit design and enhances down dip continuity of mineralisation:59m @ 4.19g/t from 2m incl. 9m @ 11.75g/t 247g*m WUDD0050- New free-milling "cross-structures"-style lodes identified around existing Happy Jack pit to further enhance mining economics.Over that last 7 years, Blackham Resources acquired over 1,100km2 of mining and exploration tenure in the historical Wiluna goldfield which is part of Australia's biggest gold belt. Mining historically commenced in the goldfield in 1896 and since that time 4.4 Million ounces of gold has been produced from Blackham's current tenement holding. The Wiluna gold belt is unique in that it contains many different styles of gold mineralisation and has a combination of oxide, free-milling and sulphide refractory deposits which have been successfully mined and processed by many operators over the past 120 years. These companies utilised both open pit and underground mining methods with standard gold leaching, biological leaching and roasting techniques for gold recovery. Blackham has a significant resource base containing both styles of mineralisation currently sitting at 6.7Mozs, of which 1.3Moz is classified as free-milling resources. In 2016 Blackham commenced mining and processing the free-milling resources through the refurbished Wiluna oxide processing facility as the first stage of its long-term Wiluna mining strategy. Stage 1 free-milling gold production is the pre-curser to the Company's overall plan to realise the value associated with the sulphide refractory mineralisation style found in the Wiluna goldfield. The Company continues to actively appraise and refine its Stage 2 production strategy.Over the past two years surface mining has focussed on the Matilda Mine. From this month, mining of higher-grade ores will recommence at Wiluna; less than two kilometres from the current processing facility. The pits have maximum depths of 50-80m and are designed to access oxide mineralisation treatable through the existing plant. The initial planned pits are:- The East-West pit - new pit with high grade ore accessible near surface- The Golden Age North pit - new pit along strike from the existing Golden Age pit- Happy Jack North - ore extensions to the existing pit in multiple directions- Essex - deepening of the existing pitMining at Wiluna further de-risks the production profile with ore supply being closer to the processing plant with ore being higher-grade and near surface.Exploration UpdateDuring July'18 to August'18, Blackham's exploration team drilled 53 RC holes (5,191m) and 4 DD holes (330m) focused on delineating further free-milling open pit reserves. The results reported herein are additional to Blackham's resource update reported to the ASX on 13th September 2018.The drilling, comprised of resource definition, metallurgical and geotechnical holes, focussed on areas both within and adjacent to the planned pit designs. Drill holes completed on the peripheries of the pit designs aimed to define additional areas for readily accessible (open pit) free-milling mineralisation.Golden Age PitInfill drilling has demonstrated continuity of high-grade mineralisation between the historically mined Golden Age pit and the planned Golden Age North pit (see Figure 2 in link below). Previously, this zone had not been drilled owing to the location of the Bulletin Haul Road; free-milling, high grade, reef-style mineralisation now appears to continue over a strike length exceeding 600m. Better results include:8m @ 9.10 g/t from 87m incl. 3m @ 21.46g/t 73g*m WURC06688m @ 4.50g/t from 74m incl. 6m @ 5.63g/t 36g*m WURC06779m @ 3.62g/t from 33m incl. 3m @ 9.54g/t 33g*m WURC06674m @ 6.68g/t from 48m 27g*m WURC06716m @ 3.30g/t from 64m incl. 1m @ 14.65g/t 20g*m WURC0670Drilling into the Golden Age North fresh rock is consistently returning high grade intercepts ranging from 10 to 80-gram metres over a zone covering 400m of strike. Further down-dip extensional drilling is currently being planned with a view to further test the underground potential. Existing underground access is within 200m of the higher-grade zone (see Figure 2 in link below).Happy Jack PitInfill drilling at the Stage 1 free-milling Happy Jack pit has delivered further high-grade oxide and transitional intersections. The potential for increased sulphide resources was also highlighted by several holes that extended into the deeper fresh rock. These intersections will support the ongoing sulphide expansion study and associated Stage 2 planned pit cutbacks.Better results include:7m @ 6.61.g/t from 16m & 9m @ 4.81g/t from 147m 90g*m WURC06794m @ 7.84g/t from 134m & 4m @ 4.84g/t from 155m 51g*m WURC068010m @ 2.50g/t from 142m incl. 4m @ 5.24g/t from 145m 25g*m WURC0685Further "cross-structures"-style mineralisation was intersected at the northeast end of Happy Jack. Shallow oxide and transitional mineralisation is associated with intermediate intrusive rocks that trend sub-parallel to south-east-striking linking structures. Better results include:7m @ 2.92g/t from 122m incl. 2m @ 7.08g/t & 4m @ 6.06g/t from 94m WURC06814m @ 2.96g/t from 7m incl. 1m @ 5.26g/t from 9m WURC0684At the north west end of Happy Jack pit, five RC holes were drilled to test a new "cross-structures" style lode, with potential to be incorporated into a larger pit cutback extending towards Squib pit (see Figures 3 & 5 in link below). Further drilling is planned to follow up these shallow intercepts at greater depth. Better intercepts include:5m @ 1.60g/t from 28m WURC06864m @ 3.19g/t from 89m incl. 1m @ 6.37g/t WURC06877m @ 1.40g/t from 5m WURC06896m @ 1.90g/t from 15m WURC0690East-West Cross StructuresDiamond core drilling for metallurgical test work returned an outstanding intercept of 59m @ 4.18g/t Au from 2m (true width 15m), demonstrating extraordinary down-dip continuity of the orebody.RC drilling at the East-West Cross-Structures pits was completed to close-off mineralisation in several directions, prior to grade control drilling and final mine design work. As expected, holes on the periphery of the orebody returned assays of lower tenor. Results from beneath the planned pits were encouraging with the down-dip continuity of high grade mineralisation confirmed. This material can be accessed in a subsequent pit cut-back or through underground mining. Better intercepts include:59m @ 4.18g/t Au from 2m incl. 9m @ 11.75g/t 247g*m WUDD005023m @ 1.48g/t Au from 71m 34g*m WURC06639m @ 2.30g/t Au from 80m incl. 1m @ 5.33g/t 22g*m WURC0647Recent drill programmes at Wiluna have successfully targeted free-milling mineralisation consistent with the Company's goal of extending the free-milling reserves to feed the Stage 1 operation. The Wiluna reserves are in the process of being re-estimated and will be reported shortly.To view figures, please visit:About Wiluna Mining Corporation Ltd

Wiluna Mining Corporation (ASX:WMC) (OTCMKTS:WMXCF) is a Perth based, ASX listed gold mining company that controls over 1,600 square kilometres of the Yilgarn Craton in the Northern Goldfields of WA. The Yilgarn Craton has a historic and current gold endowment of over 380 million ounces, making it one of most prolific gold regions in the world. The Company owns 100% of the Wiluna Gold Operation which has a defined resource of 8.04M oz at 1.67 g/t au. In May 2019, a new highly skilled management team took control of the Company with a clear plan to leverage the Wiluna Gold Operation's multi-million-ounce potential.Bob Stefanowski, the Republican candidate for governor in Connecticut and a former General Electric Co. executive, wants to woo the conglomerate back from Boston.

During a debate with his Democratic opponent Monday, Stefanowksi was asked about the use of corporate tax incentives in Connecticut. In his response, he recalled a recent conversation he had with Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker after Stefanowksi won the Republican nomination.

"After I won, Charlie Baker out of Massachusetts, who's a perfect example, called me to congratulate me," Stefanowksi said. "I said, 'Charlie, you know how I'm going to get GE back to Connecticut?'" -- at that point, Stefanowski and members of the debate audience laughed -- "He said, 'How are you going to do that?' I said, 'Because I'm going to lower the corporate tax rate.' He said, 'Bob, if you do that, I'm going to lower the tax rate even more.' That's the type of cycle we want to get into. That increases jobs, it increases revenue."

GE (NYSE: GE) announced in January 2016 that it would move its corporate headquarters from Fairfield to Boston. Leading up to the announcement, company executives had complained about the taxes in Connecticut, though after the move they publicly hailed Boston's workforce as a primary motivating factor. The city of Boston and the state put up close to $150 million in tax incentives to persuade GE to come to the Bay State.

Since the move, however, GE has struggled mightily, with its stock price down 56 percent from the day in January 2016 that the company announced the headquarters move.

Asked whether Stefanowski really wants to bring GE's headquarters back to Connecticut or if the comment was in jest, a spokesman for his campaign said: "Whether it be GE, or any other company, Bob will be extremely aggressive and proactive in recruiting businesses to move their operations to Connecticut and create great-paying jobs in the state."

A spokesman for Baker did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Stefanowski worked at GE from 1994 to 2007, holding executive positions including president and CEO of GE Corporate Finance for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, according to his LinkedIn page.

A GE spokesman declined to comment on Stefanowski's remarks. Last month, GE celebrated the two-year anniversary of its move into its temporary Fort Point headquarters. Ann Klee, GE's head of Boston operations, has previously said "our commitment to, and excitement about, Boston remains strong."

The company is in the middle of a $200 million buildout of its future headquarters, also in Fort Point. The first phase -- the renovation of two Necco Street warehouses -- is set to be finished next year. GE has said it will then construct a new 12-story building during the second phase, set to wrap up in 2021.SPRINGFIELD -- As the U.S.-vs.-China trade war escalated Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal said he'll work against a potential ban on transit agencies spending federal money on Chinese rail and transit cars -- like those CRRC MA assembles and finishes in Springfield.

The ban, different versions of which are before the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives, is sure to come up in Washington in the coming months.

It's part of a ongoing trade tensions between the two economic superpowers. A set of new tariffs announced this summer by the Trump administration could raise the cost of components manufactured in China and used in Springfield by CRRC by 25 percent.

The Trump administration came outwith more tariffs on Tuesday, and China announced retaliatory tariffs on $60 billion worth of U.S. imports.

CRRC, the world's largest rail car maker, established a $95 million factory in Springfield to build subway cars for the MBTA. It's also gotten contracts to build subway cars for Los Angeles and to build double-decked rail cars for Philadelphia's SEPTA. All of the assembly work will be done in Springfield.

The factory already has 120 employees and has plans to hire 20 more by the end of 2018 as it ramps up production.

Neal, D-Springfield, said in an emailed statement that CRRC has the potential to serve transportation needs of cities across the country.

"The state-of-the-art manufacturing facility is helping to drive economic growth and development in the Pioneer Valley," Neal said. "That is why I am working closely with local, state and federal officials to oppose any legislative provision in Congress that would prevent CRRC-MA from reaching its full potential."

"In my opinion, the effort to ban the use of federal funds to purchase transit vehicles from foreign countries is misguided, and I will continue to work in a bipartisan manner to stop this proposal from going forward," Neal said.

In 2014, CRRC received a $566 million contract from the MBTA to build 152 Orange Line cars and 252 Red Line cars at the Page Boulevard site in Springfield. In December 2016, the state upped the order with another 120 new Red Line cars, with production set to begin in June 2022 at a cost of $277 million.

The first of the 152 new Orange Line cars are being tested on MBTA tracks right now.A "big part of the hilltown culture" will return this year as the Conway Festival of the Hills, one of the area's oldest fall festivals, takes place in Franklin County this fall.

Last year, in lieu of the festival, the town celebrated its 250th anniversary, but this year, the festival will take place on Sept. 30, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine, at the town field in historic Conway center.

"I think it was very much missed. It's such a big part of the hilltown culture," said Amy Dryansky, volunteer publicity coordinator. "I think people love that it's very family friendly, most activities are free, and there's plenty to see and do, while staying manageable in size and scope. It's a perfect fall foliage day trip."

The festival, recognized as a Library of Congress "Local Legacy" in Western Massachusetts, is an all-volunteer event that raises scholarship money for the town's high school graduates.

People come from all over for the festival. "I think folks from outside the area really like to take in the foliage and enjoy the food, culture and traditions associated with our small town: the cider pressing, maple products, homemade baked goods, log-splitting contest, skillet toss, birds of prey demo, blacksmithing (and) art exhibit in the beautiful, historic library," Dryansky said.

Festivalgoers also can enjoy exhibits, activities and demonstrations including live music, a craft fair, weaving, food vendors and local products.

There will be free activities for children.

Admission, parking and almost all festival activities are free of charge.

"Each town adds its own special flavor to their festival. I think what makes Conway's festival special is that it celebrates both the town's past -- roots and history -- and its present," Dryansky said. "So you have the traditional crafts, food and exhibits, but you also have wonderful contemporary art and artisans, music and children's book authors. It's a great model of old and new in harmony.

In addition to the festival there is a full weekend of activities, including a pancake breakfast, book sale, turkey dinner and the Covered Bridge Classic road race and Kid's 1.7 mile Fun Run. The fee for the 10K is $20, with fun local prizes in eight divisions. The 1.7 miler (14 and under) fee is $5, with handmade medals for all finishers. Online registration for the race is at Runreg.com, through Sept. 27. You can also register on they day of the race, Sept. 30, in front of Conway's Field Memorial Library until 9:40 a.m.

For more information, go to festivalofthehills.com.Andrea N. Chasen had long been intrigued by a case of her attorney-father on Long Island who had a client whose will required that after her death she be buried in a cemetery in Western Massachusetts. He had difficulty connecting with necessary officials to have the client buried, and Chasen helped in that process.

"It was difficult to find the responsible parties, so I ended up calling upon the closest state police barracks to see if someone there could help. I lucked out and found out who to call," Chasen, who lives in Longmeadow, recalled. "My father then completed the necessary paperwork, and his client, who had lived around the corner from my parents since the early 1950's was returned to her roots."

But the story intrigued her and stayed in the back of her mind.

It is that case that has become the basis for Chasen's first book, "Taking Miss Grady Home."

The story is about Katherine Grady, a woman who seemed to have it all. Raised by a wealthy, cultured grandmother in a New England town, she was a brilliant pianist and a beautiful, vivacious young woman. As a promising student at New York City's Juilliard School of Music, she relished the excitement of living in the city, dancing at nightclubs, exploring Manhattan and enjoying her friends. On the eve of World War II, she met a handsome, charming young man. Then the world shifted. After her boyfriend was shipped overseas to the front, Katherine discovered a terrible fact that altered her entire life.

Decades later, two strangers meet: Harry, a Long Island lawyer on the cusp of retirement, and Muriel, a determined, resourceful reporter at the small newspaper in the town where Katherine was raised. Harry, who wrote Katherine's will decades before, now feels obliged to honor the almost-impossible-to-fulfill wishes in it, but there are no relatives who can explain the mystery of Katherine's life. The reporter instinctively knows there's a good story there, and she can't bear unanswered questions: Why did this young woman move to a residential development on Long Island that was built for former GIs, and why did she die alone, without friends or family?

Setting out to solve the mysteries of a long life, Harry and Muriel's quest leads them along unexpected paths. Based on a true account, this story is a detective story, seeking to solve such mysteries as: How can a life of great promise suddenly change? How do our actions reverberate years afterward? What makes a life valuable and meaningful?

The kernel of the story is based on fact: The client, a woman, never married and lived alone for decades in a neighborhood that was mostly inhabited by young families, raising their children. She died alone in the house, and it took a couple of days to notice that she wasn't present. "So outwardly, it seemed that she had no relations with neighbors, there were no relatives that could be found. But no one starts out life thinking that they will end up friendless and alone. It's what happens on the way," the author said.

She tried to imagine what the woman's life was like at the beginning and decided that she left a small town in Western Massachusetts to pursue her dreams of becoming a great pianist. Katherine's mother was an immigrant who becomes widowed shortly after marrying Katherine's father, and the grandmother has money and resources to help Katherine realize her talents.

The reader does learn about Katherine and the choices she makes and why. "But like life, the reader is asked to create some answers to some questions on one's own," Chasen said.

A lifelong reader, Chasen grew up on Long Island and attended the State University of New York in Buffalo, where she met her husband. After living in Manhattan for several years, they moved to Columbia, Maryland, where she attended law school and had two children.

She practiced law in Maryland before moving to Longmeadow. "I was fortunate enough to change my career focus, and I taught college and graduate courses and focused on becoming and practicing mediation-conflict management," she said.

Chasen had always wanted to write, and she has written professional pieces and academic papers. She began taking writing workshops in the early part of the 2000s began this story sometime after 2008. She had to take a hiatus as both work and caretaking issues became paramount for a few years.

Chasen now provides mediation and conflict management services for the Federal Emergency Management Agency so she periodically is deployed to disaster areas.

She enjoys political and sociological books and is a fan of early British mysteries, although reads contemporary ones as well.

Her "Taking Miss Grady Home" is available on Amazon as both a paperback and eKindle book. List price is $10.98 for the paperback (on Amazon) and $2.99 for the Kindle edition. It has 252 pages, including "the reader's guide" with questions for discussion.

It was self-published via Amazon's Createspace.Gas workers from two local unions rallied outside Boston City Hall Wednesday as city councilors called for a hearing on gas safety after explosions and fires rocked Lawrence, North Andover and Andover.



Boston City Councilors Matt O'Malley, Ed Flynn, and Ayanna Pressley filed an ordinance requesting a hearing that would "explore the prevalence of natural gas safety features."



They also expressed support for workers from USW Locals 12003 and 12012 who rallied outside and in the council chambers.



"It's incredibly disappointing to me that this chamber is filled with talented men and women who want to work and are locked out by National Grid. That is unconscionable," O'Malley said. " We stand here with every one of the people in this chamber and elsewhere who wants to get back to work."





About 1,100 gas workers employed by National Grid have been off the job since June when the company and steel unions failed to come to an agreement during contract negotiations.



"In the absence of a tentative agreement on all outstanding issues, which would include a no-strike promise, the company made the difficult decision to implement its work continuation plan," a National Grid spokesperson told MassLive at the start of the lockout.



Phil Powell, who is one of the union representatives for USW Local 12003, said the workers rallied at City Hall on Wednesday to "bring public awareness to the situation."

Powell, 59, has worked for National Grid for 31 years. He said he's "tremendously frustrated," he is locked out of work and can't assist with clean up from the explosions in Lawrence, Andover, and North Andover.



"Right now we've volunteered to help out in Merrimack...and bring our expertise," he said. "[National Grid] has not answered us."



With inexperienced workers out in the field, another gas line leak could happen easily, he said.

"We really believe these unqualified inexperienced workers should not be working on one of the oldest gas lines in the United States," Powell told MassLive.



Paul Sulfaro wore a sign reading: "Don't let your neighborhood be the next Lawrence!"



He said he worries about public safety while National Grid workers are off the job.



Inside the council chambers, Pressley, O'Malley and Flynn introduced their ordinance that would set up a hearing that would discuss the "safety of city natural gas infrastructure, the prevention of potentially dangerous gas leaks, and education and preparedness for emergency response."

"Workers over and over again said 'God forbid. And god forbid happened," Pressley said before the Boston City Council Wednesday. "We can't let it happen again."



The council voted to hold the meeting, but it has not yet been scheduled.NORTHAMPTON -- An attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union says the organization will consider litigation against Smith College if the school does not adopt policy reforms proposed by a black student who was the subject of a suspicious person report in July.

Oumou Kanoute, an undergraduate at Smith, had campus security called on her as she ate lunch in a dining area in late July. Kanoute has said she believes the call, placed by a Smith employee, is an example of racial profiling.

ACLU attorney Carl Takei, who is representing Kanoute on behalf of the organization, said in an interview Wednesday that the incident is part of a broad pattern.



"This is part of a much larger national problem of people making bias-related calls to police about people of color who are simply trying to live their lives," Takei said.

Kanoute recently published a letter on the ACLU's website calling for a number of reforms she believes Smith should implement. Many involve policy changes aimed at reducing the likelihood of bias-related incidents at the school, Takei said.

"We feel that these are quite reasonable demands and in line with Smith's own standards of diversity and equity," Takei said, noting that the ACLU has been in talks with the school through its attorney, Paul Lannon of Holland & Knight LLP.

Smith spokeswoman Stacey Schmeidel said by email Wednesday that the school is in touch with the ACLU and appreciates its suggestions.



"An ACLU representative is providing counsel to the student and has been in communication with the college, largely through Attorney Lannon, since late August," Schmeidel said.



"We welcome the input of the ACLU," she said. "Many of the proposals they have raised are ones we are already implementing, including mandatory training for staff on diversity and bias, which begins in early October."

Takei said the ACLU's focus has been on policy reform.

"You'll notice some things not listed in our list of demands are money damages or imposing specific punishments on the employees involved," Takei said.

He continued: "What Oumou and the ACLU agree on, and the reason the ACLU agreed to take her case is that the way to resolve this ... is to make the institutional changes so that this does not happen again," Takei said.

Of the ACLU's contact with the college, he said: "If these discussions break down we are prepared to exercise any and all options available to us -- including litigation."

Kanoute has called for reforms to the campus security response process, efforts to "address the history of Black students and the school's legacy of institutional racism," and a private conversation between herself and the staff members involved.

The school has offered to make such a meeting possible with one of the staff members, but Takei said he and Kanoute want to hold out until both staff members agree to the meeting.

"The ball is in the college's court," Takei said.

In the wake of the incident, Smith placed the employee who called campus police on leave, and hired two civil rights lawyers to investigate the incident. That investigation is ongoing.

Takei also pushed back on a staff member's claim that the employee called campus police because Kanoute was in a building that was closed for the day -- not because of any racial bias.

In a letter to Smith officials, longtime employee Tracey A. Putnam Culver said the involved staff members acted according to protocol.

"As staff, we are told that if there is a stranger in our area we are not to approach them; we should call Campus Police, which the accused staff member did," Culver wrote.

Takei said the ACLU is unaware of such a policy.

"We have never seen anything that substantiates the claim that this is what the policy says," he said.

The "Campus Safety" page of the school's website encourages members of the community to report "all incidents of suspicious or criminal activity, no matter how insignificant, to Campus Police immediately," while also providing links to security suggestions that tell staff and students to report "strangers...in or around a residence hall or other building."

"While most of the situations described above could have innocent explanations, your campus police department would rather investigate these situations sooner rather than be called when it is too late," one page reads.Columbia Gas, in the spotlight after gas fires and explosions tore through Lawrence, Andover and North Andover, is pulling back from a $33 million rate hike.

The rate hike was part of an agreement reached earlier this month between Columbia and Attorney General Maura Healey that reduced the rate for 321,000 customers.

A Westborough-based division of Indiana-based NiSource, Columbia serves 65 cities and towns, including Springfield and Brockton. The company had submitted a petition for the rate increase, which was originally set to go into effect in November but was later pushed into March.

The company initially attempted to increase rates by $44.5 million before Healey's office intervened, citing a reduction in the federal corporate tax rate under the tax overhaul signed by President Donald Trump.

The Sept. 13 gas fires and explosions, apparently due to a Columbia Gas pipeline with overpressurized gas, blasted apart homes and sent thousands scrambling into shelters. One 18-year-old man, Leonel Rondon, was killed while in a parked car next to one of the homes.

"The Company is requesting permission to withdraw the petition because the Company is fully engaged with and committed to the on-going restoration efforts in the Merrimack Valley," Columbia said in a Wednesday filing with the state Department of Public Utilities.

The withdrawal will allow the company to "focus exclusively on service restoration and customer assistance and will also relieve customers of any impact of a base-rate change that would layer onto the burden of long-term service disruptions and outages," the company said in its filing.

"While efforts are underway to safely restore gas service to those impacted by the explosions in the Merrimack Valley, my office will continue to serve as a resource for residents and an advocate for ratepayers," Healey said in a statement responding to the Columbia's rate hike withdrawal.

"Our priority as ratepayer advocate is to ensure that gas customers are not saddled with higher energy bills as a result of this incident," she added.GRANBY - Town Administrator Christopher Martin said Wednesday that public safety has not been affected despite continuing turmoil within the Fire Department.

His statement follows the return to work last week of Fire Chief John Mitchell, who had been on paid leave since July 18 amid investigations into the termination of a deputy chief, a letter of no confidence signed by firefighters and other complaints.

Selectmen envisioned a "healing process," but that went up in smoke during a contentious staff meeting on Mitchell's first day back to work. Accounts differ as to what happened at the meeting, and Martin said the employment status of Assistant Chief George Randall remains "undetermined" since then.

Meanwhile, the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts abruptly ended its mentoring of Mitchell, with an official saying his services were not "being taken seriously."

In an interview Wednesday, Martin said he has confirmed with Mitchell that there have been no issues related to emergency response for any fires or ambulance calls since Mitchell's return to work. According to its website, the Granby Fire Department has responded to 135 fire and 271 medical calls so far this year.

When Mitchell returned to work on Sept. 10, he convened a staff meeting with his officers that was also attended by Martin and Selectman Jay Joyce.

According to Martin and Mitchell, Randall resigned after the chief said he could not trust Randall and did not want him on the force.

According to Randall and Joyce, the chief demoted Randall without due process and expressed opinions about him that were at odds with the healing process that was supposed to be begin upon Mitchell's return.

Randall has since filed a complaint against Martin and Mitchell, alleging they sabotaged the roadmap spelling out conditions for the chief's return to work.

During a meeting of the Select Board on Monday at the fire station, Selectman Glenn Sexton said he believes Randall was not demoted and remains on the Fire Department.

"What happened at that (Sept. 10 staff meeting) is alarming to me," Sexton said. "Were our directions not clear? We are right back to square one."

"It's about time you realize you aren't going to like each other (but) act like professionals," Chairman Stephen A. Chojnacki told members of the fire department.

Chojnacki also said a suggestion box would be installed at the fire station.

Firefighter Tim Leary told the board: "This is about broken trust, period. How is that going to be fixed?"

Selectmen earlier this month approved Mitchell's return to work under probationary status for six months. An investigator hired by the town reviewed complaints against Mitchell, recommending against disciplinary action and saying Mitchell and members of the Fire Department should work to improve communication and build trust.

Martin said Wednesday the town paid the investigator, attorney Jack Collins, about $22,000.

One of the conditions of Mitchell's return to work was that he participate in mentoring provided by the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts. But the association canceled the mentoring program in the wake of the Sept. 10 Granby Fire Department staff meeting.

Retired Holyoke Fire Chief David LaFond had been mentoring Mitchell on behalf of the association. LaFond told Martin in an email that Granby firefighters had called the association with concerns after the meeting. LaFond said he spoke to Mitchell about the concerns in confidence, but that Mitchell had broken that confidence by speaking with Martin.

"Due to recent happenings I feel that my services are not being taken seriously and therefore will not help you, the members of the Granby Fire Department or Chief Mitchell," LaFond wrote.

Martin said the association's decision to end its mentoring of Mitchell does not make sense to him. "They really didn't give a reason," he told selectmen Monday.

The town administrator said he is in the process of finding a new mentor for Mitchell. An update is expected at the next Select Board meeting Sept. 25. at 6 p.m.SPRINGFIELD-- A former gynecologist received one year probation for violating patient privacy laws and lying to federal agents who were probing an alleged Big Pharma kickback scheme involving doctors across the country.

Dr. Rita Luthra, 65, of Longmeadow, had a practice serving poor women and girls in the city's north end for 30 years. In 2015 she was arrested and charged with violating federal kickback statutes and other crimes.

Luthra was accused of accepting $23,500 in "speakers fees" from Warner Chilcott, a now-defunct pharmaceutical giant, and writing more prescriptions for particular osteoporosis drugs.

While the government dropped the kickback charge against her, Luthra went to trial on three other criminal counts: violating federal patient privacy laws, witness tampering and lying to federal agents about why she was paid.

Luthra was the founder and president of the Women's Health and Education Center on Stafford Street, adjacent to Mercy Medical Center in this city's North End.

Defense attorney Stephen Spelman says Luthra catered exclusively to indigent women and girls after she made a promise to her mother that she would never turn any patient away. Luthra also was a member of the United Nations and the World Health Organization, doing work on behalf of women in poor nations across the globe, Spelman said.

She was convicted of violating privacy laws and lying to federal agents after a weeklong trial in April. She was acquitted of the witness tampering charge.

The government lobbied U.S. District Judge Mark Mastroianni to send Luthra to prison for nearly two years.

Mastroianni rejected the government's pitch and even found the community service proposal made by the defense unnecessary.

"I don't believe from what I know of Dr. Luthra she needs the court to tell her about that," the judge said.

Jurors found that Luthra allowed a pharmaceutical rep access to patient files in order to more efficiently complete pre-authorization forms for insurance companies refusing to approve prescriptions for two new drugs the company was pushing.

She later lied to agents, and said she accepted a great portion of the money for a 5,000-word research paper she was never able to produce.

At trial, prosecutors said Luthra initially conceded she received too much money for "not much work."

Right after her arrest and throughout the three-year case, Spelman argued Luthra -- an Indian-born woman -- was the only physician prosecuted. Others received "fancy yacht parties" and lavish payouts while Luthra got "bagels from Panera" at meetings with a sales rep.

"Dr. Rita Luthra dedicates herself to serving others, and spends her professional lifetime treating women and girls from the disadvantaged communities in Western Massachusetts, never caring whether her patients could pay," and made approximately $75,000 annually -- far less than her earning potential as a surgeon and obstetrician, Spelman said.

Warner Chilcott found itself in the crosshairs of a sweeping federal investigations into kickbacks. But its former president, W. Carl Reichel, in 2016 went to trial and beat all the charges. Reichel was accused of instructing his entire workforce to ply physicians with payments, food, drink and other luxuries to push the company's most profitable drugs.

Warner Chilcott has since been sold.

The sales rep, Jose Cid, went to work for another pharmaceutical company after testifying against Luthra. The doctor lost her license to practice after her arrest.

In a presentencing memo, Spelman said Luthra's commitment to women's health was bolstered after she found herself in an abusive arranged marriage.

"She suffered repeated beatings by her husband, who on multiple occasions tried to amputate her fingers with knives -- because she was a surgeon. After one particularly vicious assault, she left the marriage, fleeing her marital home on a snowy night with literally nothing but the clothes on her back," Spelman wrote.

Mastroianni also rejected prosecutors' recommendation that Luthra pay a $40,000 fine as a deterrent to others.

"Her loss of license and ability to practice is a substantial deterrent," the judge ruled.Jay Gonzalez, the Democrat hoping to oust Republican Gov. Charlie Baker from office, is proposing a tax on Harvard University and other major private, nonprofit colleges in Massachusetts.

The proposal calls for a 1.6 percent tax on endowments larger than $1 billion, meaning Harvard, Tufts, Amherst, Williams, Smith and Wellesley College would all be affected. The tax rate would be based on the average annual value of the endowment over the last five years.

The proposed tax would raise nearly $1 billion in new revenue for the state, according to the Gonzalez campaign. Harvard had a $36 billion endowment in 2017.

"This is all about asking these institutions that have accumulated enormous wealth in part thanks to the fact that they've been exempt from taxation, to help make our economy work for everyone in the state," Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez, former state budget chief under Gov. Deval Patrick, says he would spend the money on transportation and education accounts.

The state GOP has previously criticized Gonzalez for offering up spending proposals without detailing where the revenue would come from. The GOP on Wednesday said the proposal would not come close to funding all of the transportation projects and education initiatives Gonzalez backs.

At the federal level, President Donald Trump in 2017 signed an overhaul of tax laws that included a separate 1.4 percent excise tax on private college endowments. Gonzalez said he supports that provision more than the corporate tax cuts, a break from Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a fellow Democrat and Harvard professor, who has criticized the Trump tax law and the provision.

"Our colleges and universities are clear drivers or the Massachusetts economy. Undercutting their ability to attract talent, to provide financial aid for students across the state, and to conduct breakthrough research is simply irresponsible," Richard Doherty, president of the Associated of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts (AICUM), said in a statement.

"This was a bad idea when Republicans in Washington proposed it, and it is an even worse idea now," he added.

Gonzalez highlighted his plan at a press conference in Harvard Square, steps away from the entrance to Harvard Yard.

"I believe based on the way we have proposed this, that this will enable these institutions to provide real meaningful help to our economy and people all across the state while still enabling them to carry out their really important mission," he added.

Higher education, like the health care sector, is a key employer in Massachusetts and an economic driver.

Gonzalez previously backed a proposed surtax on incomes over $1 million. The proposal, which advocates said would bring in as much as $2 billion in state revenues for education and transportation, was knocked off the November 2018 ballot by a court ruling earlier this year.

Gonzalez's college taxation plan would require passage through the state Legislature before landing back on the governor's desk.

This post was updated with additional information on the Gonzalez proposal. Material from State House News Service was used in this report.They walked stiff-kneed and hunched, their eyes wide to the whites as they emerged from the frontline of a war that must rank among the most stupid and wasteful of the last century.

These young men were Eritrean conscripts. Their comrades had been left on the Zalembessa frontline, crushed into the soil by tanks and torn apart by artillery bombardments.

Africa Continents and regions Eastern Africa Eritrea Ethiopia Isaias Afewerki Middle East Middle East and North Africa Political Figures - Intl United Arab Emirates

No one then -- nor in the two decades that followed -- really knew why this war started. Much less why it kept going.

It's over now, the result of diplomatic interventions from Arabia floated on a lake of petrodollars.

The families of those who died in this obscure war -- in which perhaps 100,000 perished -- will take cold comfort from knowing their loved ones were the victims of what may have been the most violent family squabble in Africa's history.

The sheer scale of death and the industrial savagery of the war between Eritrea and Ethiopia was reminiscent of World War II. In terms of the futile waste of humanity, it rivaled the meat grinding mess of the Western Front in WWI.

And yet, those who died should have been looking towards an entirely different future. They were robbed of optimism that came from the recent end of another war, by the vanity and hubris of their leaders.

After all, Ethiopia's Meles Zenawi and Eritrea's Isaias Afwerki, had been on the same side for many decades.

As rebel commanders in the Tigray People's Liberation Front and the Eritrean People's Liberation Front, they had fought the Soviet-backed Ethiopian dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam from caves and bush camps through the 70s and 80s.

Joining forces as the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front, they stormed Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, after Mengistu fled into exile in 1991. Together, they won.

The EPRDF, under the leadership of Meles (note this is correct use of name) and Afwerki, appeared to be incorruptible Spartan warriors from Africa's Horn.

They gave hope that Ethiopia could emerge as a beacon across Africa as the continent faced turmoil with the end of the Cold War.

Early on things went well. Eritrea was granted independence in 1993 from big brother, Ethiopia. Afwerki became its first (and only) president. Meles was Ethiopia's Prime Minister.

Five years later, they were at war.

Neither nation ever adequately explained why.

The conflict broke out in skirmishes over control of a vague border around a town or village called Badme. The arid flatlands became the casus belli that claimed tens of thousands of lives over the next two years. Some estimates suggest that upwards of 100,000 died.

Meles and Afwerki had been close -- they were cousins. And now they were using all their years of experience or guerrilla war plus the vast armory of the former Ethiopian regime to smash their nations' youth into pulp.

Dubbed a "crazy war" in the Horn of Africa by both Ethiopian and Eritrean media, it was a conflict that seemed to stem from nothing more than filial rivalry -- a notion that each side demanded and wasn't getting "respect."

Respect, it seemed, was earned by throwing tens of thousands of young men and women into battle and squandering billions of dollars of currency neither nation could afford on a war of no strategic importance of any kind.

This week the war came officially to an end. It didn't end because sense finally prevailed.

The United Nations and regional powers had tried to get both sides to abandon the conflict -- even drawing up mutually agreed borders along arid plains and through mountain cuts, many times since 1998.

Meles died six years ago. His death, perhaps, removed part of the reason for continuing what was mostly by then a cold conflict.

But Afwerki remains in power. He's long had reason to keep his nation at war, as he has no democratic legitimacy of any kind.

Eritrea sits on the Red Sea. Its capital, Asmara, is nestled in the cool highlands and boasts Italian colonial architecture and an ethnically homogeneous population (a rarity in Africa). Its tourist potential is vast.

But 12% of its people fled the country by 2016 -- mostly to escape the forced conscription that enslaved tens of thousands into "national service", according to Human Rights Watch.

Afwerki's dictatorship once needed the conflict with Ethiopia to harness the national resource keeping him in power. Universal slave-like indefinite conscription is easier to justify in times of "war."

Now regional players have a more important role for both Eritrea and Ethiopia, so their pointless war has become a distraction.

The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are prosecuting their own conflict against Houthi rebels, Shi'a Muslims backed by Iran, in Yemen. Eritrea's coastline provides the coalition's forces with the havens they need to fight in Yemen.

Allowing the Red Sea to be choked off between Eritrea and Yemen is inconceivable. So the UAE wants bases -- and will pay for them -- in Eritrea.

The UAE has invested heavily in Eritrea and is promising to pay for an oil pipeline to link it to Ethiopia.

On top of that, Ethiopia has received, or will get, a $1 billion deposit into its central bank and $2 billion in additional investments from the UAE, Ethiopian officials have said.

It's too late for the broken youth of two decades ago.

But Eritrea and Ethiopia have, effectively, been paid by Gulf nations to sign a peace accord in Jeddah under the indulgent eye of Saudi Arabia's King Salman. Let's hope they get value for their money.SPRINGFIELD - A former gynecologist whose attorney says devoted her life to serving poor women and girls will be sentenced Wednesday in U.S. District Court for violating patient privacy laws and lying to federal agents investigating an alleged Big Pharma kickback scheme.

Rita Luthra, 65, of Longmeadow, was convicted in April of two criminal counts after a weeklong trial.

She was acquitted on a charge of witness tampering.

Luthra closed her longtime Springfield medical practice in 2015 after her arrest, when she was forced to surrender her license.

Defense lawyer Stephen Spelman said in a presentencing memo that the prosecution of his client poses an unfair legacy for a woman who served indigent women in Western Massachusetts, as well as those in third world countries.

"This case is a study of almost unimaginable contradictions. Dr. Rita Luthra dedicates herself to serving others, and spends her professional lifetime treating women and girls from the disadvantaged communities in Western Massachusetts, never caring whether her patients could pay," the memo reads.

Federal prosecutors have urged a judge to sentence Luthra to nearly two years behind bars while her defense attorney is arguing for probation and community service.

This story will be updated after the sentencing hearing later today.Massachusetts is to receive more than $50 million in federal funding for the treatment of opioid use disorder in the state as well as to expand access to substance use disorder and mental health services, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced Wednesday.

The funding includes close to $36 million from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to increase access to medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder using three medications approved for this purpose by the Food and Drug Administration.

Medication assisted treatment is the use of medications in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies for the treatment of substance use disorders.

The FDA-approved drugs for the treatment of opioid dependence are buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone. All three, according to the FDA, have been shown be safe and effective in combination with counseling and psychosocial support.

The funding also includes $14,486,462 from the Health Resources and Services Administration to 48 HRSA-funded community health centers and or, academic institutions, and rural organizations in Massachusetts to expand access to integrated substance use disorder and mental health services.

The award of $50,366,147 in funds to the commonwealth is part of a total of $1 billion awarded by the federal government to help states address the country's ongoing opioid addiction crisis.

SAMHSA awarded more than $930 million in State Opioid Response grants as part of the funding to support a comprehensive response to the opioid epidemic and expand access to treatment and recovery support services.

States received funding based on a formula, with a 15 percent set-aside for the 10 states with the highest mortality rate related to drug overdose deaths.

In addition, SAMHSA also awarded about $90 million to other programming for states and communities to expand access to medication-assisted treatment, increase distribution and use of overdose reversal drugs, and increase workforce development activities

Drug overdoses killed 63,632 Americans in 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, that has said nearly two-thirds of these deaths involved a prescription or illicit opioid.

Death rates from overdoses involving synthetic opioids increased in 21 states, with 10 states doubling their rates from 2015 to 2016, according to the CDC, with New Hampshire, West Virginia, and Massachusetts having the highest death rates from synthetic opioids.

"Addressing the opioid crisis with all the resources possible and the best science we have is a top priority for President Trump and for everyone at HHS," said Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar in announcing the funding for which states applied in June.

"The more than $1 billion in additional funding that we provided this week will build on progress we have seen in tackling this epidemic through empowering communities and families on the frontlines."

SAMHSA unveiled new data, the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, last week which it said found that the number of Americans initiating heroin use dropped by about half from 2016 to 2017.

It also said the number of Americans misusing opioids dropped for the second year in a row and that from January 2017 through August 2018, the amount of opioids prescribed in America dropped by 21 percent.

It also said the number of prescriptions filled for naloxone has increased 264 percent, while the number of prescriptions for buprenorphine, one form of medication-assisted treatment for opioid overdose, has risen 16 percent.Prosecutors are recommending six to 12 months in prison for Massachusetts State Police Trooper Gary Herman, who has agreed to plead guilty to stealing $12,468 in unearned overtime pay.

Herman, 45, was one of the first three troopers charged in June with embezzlement.

Herman and five other members of the State Police are accused of claiming pay for overtime shifts they either skipped entirely or only partially worked. Dozens of other troopers remain under investigation.

Under the terms of the plea deal, which must still be approved by a federal judge, Herman will also serve a year of probation, repay the stolen funds and pay a fine.

All the accused troopers were members of Troop E, the unit responsible for patrolling the Massachusetts Turnpike and Metropolitan tunnels. Troop E was disbanded by Gov. Charlie Baker and Col. Kerry Gilpin as part of a package of reforms offered in the wake of the overtime scandal.

Troop E, which was responsible for patrolling the Massachusetts Turnpike and Boston tunnels, was known as a lucrative posting for troopers because of its frequent access to overtime shifts. Accident Injury Reduction Effort (AIRE) patrols were four-hour overtime shifts designed to reduce crashes on the Pike and X-Team patrols targeted aggressive driving.

Herman, a trooper assigned to the Westfield barracks, was paid $227,826 in 2016. According to his plea agreement, he has admitted to stealing $12,468 in overtime.

Investigators used data from cruiser radios to show that troopers had their radios off when they claimed to be working shifts. Accused troopers also filed "ghost tickets" -- citations that were either fabricated or falsely dated -- to appear as though they were working during overtime traffic enforcement shifts.

Herman will be the third trooper to plead guilty in connection to the overtime scandal. Trooper Gregory Raftery, 37, and Trooper Kevin Sweeney, 40, have also admitted to overtime theft.AGAWAM- Hundreds gathered this past weekend to take a stand against hate as the Greater Springfield NAACP held its 100th Anniversary Freedom Fund Banquet at Chez Josef.

This year, the keynote speaker was Bishop J. Louis Felton, 1st Vice President of the Philadelphia NAACP.

The Greater Springfield NAACP has been actively pursuing an agenda to address issues including education, health disparities, voting rights, racial profiling and other social justice issues, according to the group.

In addition to inspiring attendees, the banquet also aimed to celebrate the accomplishments of the Greater Springfield branch, which was chartered 100 years ago in 1918.

See photos from the event above, and visit the group's official Facebook page here.SPRINGFIELD - Kayvon Lovejoy, a 26-year-old Springfield man with a long history of drug arrests, was sentenced this week to 17 months in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to drug distribution charges.

Lovejoy pleaded guilty in May to selling crack cocaine to a government witness on two occasions in 2017. In each instance, he sold two grams of crack for $160.

He was arrested in February and held without the right to bail since.

Judge Mark Mastroianni also sentenced Lovejoy to six years of probation after his release from prison.

Lovejoy has a long history of drug arrests in Springfield and Northampton dating back as far as 2012.

In June 2016, he was arrested on drug and weapons charges and multiple motor vehicle violations following a police pursuit from Gerard Avenue through the city to St. James Avenue near the Interstate 291 entrance.SPRINGFIELD - On the same day a 21-year-old city resident was shot to death on Fort Pleasant Avenue, police raided a home on the same street and arrested three people on drug distribution charges.

Two weeks later and the day before a second shooting injured a man in the same spot, police raided a second home on Fort Pleasant Avenue and arrested more people, including two who had been charged in the first raid. One of those suspects had also been out on bail from a March drug arrest, said Ryan Walsh, police department spokesman.

Frustrated with the spate of crime on Fort Pleasant Avenue, Forest Park Avenue and surrounding streets, Mayor Domenic J. Sarno joined with a variety of police officers, State Rep. Carlos Gonzalez, several city councilors and David Cotter, the deputy director of code enforcement, to walk the neighborhood and meet residents to hear their concerns and reassure them they are cracking down on the crime.

Police have been flooding the area even before the Aug. 29 homicide of Kevin Gonzalez. Between Aug. 1 and Sept. 10, officers made 27 arrests for drug distribution, unlawful gun possession, trespassing and many other things in an about 1,000-yard area surrounding Fort Pleasant Avenue, Walsh said.

The business owners are helping a lot more, residents are talking to officers and code enforcement officers are working with police, Police Sgt. Ariel Toledo, the commander of the C3 Forest Park community policing unit.

"The courts need to cooperate more with us," he said. "We arrest people and they allow them out right away."

In between shaking hands with residents, Sarno repeated his complaints about the courts as well.

"We have arrested some heavy-duty individuals. These are gang bangers, people with guns, drugs, and I need the courts to work with us to keep these individuals locked up," he said. "As soon as we arrest them, many times they are right back on the street. It does not send a good message."

One of the efforts is to work with property owners and crack down on landlords whose properties are run down or who are renting to drug dealers, creating quality of life issues for the neighborhood, Sarno said.

Several addresses identified including 66, 59 and 51 Fort Pleasant and 8 Blake Hill St. are under new management and landlords are cooperating more with the city, Sarno said.

They are allowing police to install cameras on buildings and to walk through hallways of larger complexes. The city is partnering in the effort by cracking down on code issues and even trimming trees to make sure cameras are not blocked by leaves, Walsh said.

Sarno stopped at one of those buildings and met a couple and their elementary-school-aged son. In that same building, a second-floor window was shot out with nine bullets recently.

Stopping at a boarded-up house on 21 Blake Hill St., Sarno said he was horrified to learn the owner was someone who was a frequent problem when he was a young officer in housing court.

Cotter said there are junked cars in the back and the man has been working without a permit so a cease and desist order has been issued. He assured the mayor the city was keeping a watch on the property.

During the walk, which included parts of Woodside Terrace, Belmont Avenue and Forest Park Avenue, Sarno talked to some people who just wanted to meet him and thank him for paying attention to the street. At one point he stopped to talk to some middle school students on bicycles and asked them not to ride in traffic or pop wheelies in the street.

He said he admired their abilities to do the tricks but asked them to be safe.

Victor Davila, president of the Forest Park Civic Association which has about 3,000 members, pointed out some problem areas to Sarno, Toledo and other officials.

"I think it is a good way to say we are reclaiming this corner," he said. "We need to engage the public to get them to help."

Nicola Manion, also an association officer, said she and her husband understand the importance of cracking down on the problems. The couple is trying to sell their house and has seen four people rescind their offers to buy because of concerns about the neighborhood.

"I think it makes a nice presence to have them there, but I think we also need programs to solve the problem or they will just move to another area," said Frank Grimaldi who recently moved from Agawam to Forest Park.

He praised an adult literacy program offered at the library and said people need access to educational programs and other types of help to get them into a better situation and keep them from committing crimes.Massachusetts State Police are investigating an alleged sexual assault reported along the Massachusetts Turnpike.

At approximately 5:20 a.m. Wednesday, a woman standing along the Mass. Pike in Brimfield flagged down a passing tractor-trailer reporting she was attacked.

State police and emergency medical responders were called to the scene, transporting the woman to a nearby hospital.

Troopers from the Charlton barracks, state police detectives and crime scene services personnel are investigating.SPRINGFIELD -- Public comments will be accepted until Oct. 29 about the Massachusetts medical marijuana program, which will be getting a change in oversight.

"Patients, nurses, doctors, others: now is the time to speak up," Shaleen Title, a member of the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission, said on Twitter Monday.

The Commission up to now has controlled only the recreational marijuana program, from policies related to background checks and host community agreements to issuing licenses to manufacturers and dispensaries.

By the end of the year, the Commission is scheduled to gain oversight of the medical marijuana program now supervised by the Department of Public Health.

The commission is accepting electronic or written comments about the medical marijuana law and the pending change in oversight, and also will hold public hearings here and in Boston.

Comments can be sent to CannabisCommission@mass.gov, either as an attached Word document or as text within an email, the commission website said.

Commenters are asked to include their full name, city or town in which they live and section of the regulations to which the comments refer, the website said.

Electronic submissions are preferred but written submissions can be sent to the Commission at 101 Federal St, 13th Floor Boston, MA 02110, the website said.

Both hearings will be held Oct. 29: at 9:30 a.m. at Western New England University School of Law at 1215 Wilbraham Road here and at 3 p.m. at the Massachusetts Gaming Commission at 101 Federal St., 12th floor, in Boston, according to the commission website.

The Commission also is accepting testimony about regulations that would address an entity conducting both medical and recreational marijuana operations, "Colocated Marijuana Operations."

Title said that among topics people could comment on are:

patient registration process

patient fees

veterans' access

pediatric access

healthcare provider registration

medical dispensaries

medical marijuana testing.

In ballot questions, Massachusetts voters legalized marijuana for recreational purposes in 2016 and for medical use in 2012.Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who has accused President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault, is now asking the FBI to investigate her accusations before any testimony.

Lawyers speaking on behalf of Ford, or Palo Alto University professor Dr. Blasey, announced on Tuesday that "the first step" before any hearing or testimony about her allegations should include an investigation. Earlier this week, Dr. Blasey's lawyers said she would be willing to testify.

On CNN, one of Dr. Blasey's lawyers Lisa J. Banks suggested her client was not prepared to talk at a hearing next Monday, as some have speculated, saying "no legitimate investigation" could occur before then.

Many Republicans have offered Monday as a deadline for Dr. Blasey to appear and testify, either privately or publicly. After that, most say they will continue with their plans to confirm Judge Kavanaugh.

Some Republicans, like Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, have insisted on postponing a vote until Blasey can be heard, according to the New York Times. Corker suggested putting the controversy up to a vote on Monday to determine how the process will continue.

Dr. Blasey came forward reluctantly this month once she began to see her story be shared with inaccurate details, according to her lawyers and news reports. She has said that she was at a party in high school in 1982 when Kavanaugh and a friend pushed her into a bedroom, groped her and tried to rape her. Dr. Blasey was 15 at the time, and Kavanaugh 17.

Dr. Blasey and her family have received a mix of support and intense opposition, including death threats, according to her lawyers.President Donald Trump slammed his Attorney General in an interview with Hill.TV Tuesday night, saying Jeff Sessions is "essentially AWOL."

In the Oval Office interview Tuesday, Trump attacked Jeff Sessions for "performing badly" on a number of issues.

"I don't have an Attorney General. It's very sad," Trump told Hill.TV. "I'm so sad over Jeff Sessions because he came to me. He was the first Senator that endorsed me. And he wanted to be Attorney General, and I didn't see it."

The president added: "And then he went through the nominating process and he did very poorly. I mean, he was mixed up and confused, and people that worked with him for, you know, a long time in the Senate were not nice to him, but he was giving very confusing answers. Answers that should have been easily answered. And that was a rough time for him."

Trump has been critical of Sessions since he recused himself from the Russia collusion investigation in March 2017. But the Tuesday interview suggests there are more frustrations brewing.

"I'm not happy at the border, I'm not happy with numerous things, not just this," he said.

The president did not say whether he would fire Sessions.

"We'll see what happens. A lot of people have asked me to do that. And I guess I study history, and I say I just want to leave things alone, but it was very unfair what he did," he told Hill.TV.

He said: "We'll see how it goes with Jeff. I'm very disappointed in Jeff. Very disappointed."Missouri Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill said Wednesday she is voting no on Judge Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court, citing concerns over his stance on anonymous political contributions.

McCaskill's position is significant given that she is running for re-election this year in a state President Donald Trump won in 2016, and Kavanaugh's supporters are targeting Democrats in red or purple states as possible "yes" votes. Republicans, however, hold a 51-49 majority in the chamber and could still confirm Kavanaugh's appointment even if all Democrats were to oppose his nomination.

McCaskill said in a statement her decision is not based on the allegations of sexual assault in the 1980s against the judge made by California professor Christine Blasey Ford, "but rather on his positions on several key issues, most importantly the avalanche of dark, anonymous money that is crushing our democracy." Kavanaugh has denied Ford's allegations.

"He has revealed his bias against limits on campaign donations which places him completely out of the mainstream of this nation," McCaskill said. "Judge Kavanaugh will give free reign to anonymous donors and foreign governments through their citizens to spend money to interfere and influence our elections with so-called 'issue ads.'"

The senator said the "issue ads" are flooding airwaves "to directly influence election outcomes, drowning the concept of individuals having the strongest voice in our democracy," and expressed concern that Kavanaugh has said there should be no restrictions on the ads.

McCaskill said she is also uncomfortable about Kavanaugh's view on "presidential power as it relates to the rule of law, and his position that corporations are people," but said "it is his allegiance to the position that unlimited donations and dark anonymous money, from even foreign interests, should be allowed to swamp the voices of individuals that has been the determining factor in my decision to vote no on his nomination."The US House of Representatives should weigh impeaching President Donald Trump, 53 percent of Massachusetts likely voters said in a new poll.

Thirty-eight percent of those polled said House lawmakers shouldn't consider it, and 9 percent were undecided.

The Suffolk University/Boston Globe poll of 500 likely midterm voters was conducted Sept. 13 through Sept. 17. The results were released Wednesday.

President Trump, who lost Massachusetts to Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016, continues to see low favorability ratings in the state. In the new poll, 72.6 percent said they had an unfavorable opinion of him, while 21.8 percent said they had a favorable one. Just over 5 percent said they were undecided.

Gov. Charlie Baker, a fellow Republican, enjoys a favorable rating from 73.4 percent, and an unfavorable rating of 17 percent, with 9 percent undecided, according to the poll.

He is facing Jay Gonzalez, a Democrat who served as Gov. Deval Patrick's state budget chief, in the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 6. Baker is seeking a second four-year term.

Asked if they viewed Baker as a "pro-Trump" Republican or an "anti-Trump" Republican, 60.6 percent said they viewed him as "anti-Trump" and 11.8 percent said "pro-Trump." Eleven percent said he is neither, and 16.4 percent said they're undecided.

Gonzalez has sought to tie Baker to Trump, noting that the governor has endorsed Geoff Diehl, a state representative and Trump supporter who is challenging Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

Baker has been a frequent critic of Trump. In 2016, he blanked the presidential ballot, saying he couldn't vote for either Trump or the Democrat nominee, Hillary Clinton.The wreck of Captain Cook's HMS Endeavour may have finally been pinpointed, 17,000 kilometers (10,500 miles) from the country it is most famously associated with.

Researchers in Rhode Island, on the US East Coast, said this week that they had narrowed a decades-long search for the Endeavour to "one or two archaeological sites," just in time for the 250th anniversary of Cook's voyage from the UK to Australia aboard the vessel, the first recorded European contact with that continent.

In a statement, the Rhode Island Marine Archeology Project (RIMAP) said it would release more details and a 3D mockup of a prospective wreck site on September 21, with detailed examinations expected to begin early next year.

Prison brig

Despite the Endeavour's impressive pedigree -- it was used by Cook to land on Australia's east coast, map New Zealand and circumnavigate the globe during his 1768-1771 voyage -- in the ship's later years it was renamed the Lord Sandwich and used as a troop transport.

During the US war of independence, after shuttling British soldiers to Rhode Island, the ship became a prison brig, filling up with rebels against the crown. But when France entered the war on the side of George Washington's revolutionaries, the Admiralty ordered the Lord Sandwich sunk along with 12 other transport ships to act as a blockade.

"The American army was assembled on the mainland and the French sent a fleet to help," RIMAP executive director Kathy Abbass told CNN in 2014. "The British knew they were at great risk so they ordered 13 ships out to be scuttled in a line to blockade the city. They were sunk in fairly shallow waters."

Once records of the transport ships -- including the former Endeavour -- was discovered by Abbass in the 1990s, her team began whittling the number of prospective wreck sites down from 13 to a handful and now finally to one or two.

The most promising site is located in an area just off the Goat Island shore, near Gurneys Resort, RIMAP said.

Peter Dexler, chair of the Australian National Maritime Museum, will attend the event unveiling the location on Friday, along with Australian consul general Alaistair Walton, according to CNN affiliate 9 News.

Historical legacy

If the discovery of the Endeavour is confirmed, it will likely set off a bout of diplomatic wrangling over which country gets to keep and display the remains of the ship, if it can be safely retrieved and transported.

Australia, New Zealand, the US and UK could also feasibly lay claim to the Endeavour on the grounds that it is historically significant to their country.

To this end, in 1999 then Rhode Island attorney general Sheldon Whitehouse led a charge "to ensure ownership of the historic Newport fleet," including the Endeavour, according to RIMAP.

While the potential discovery of the Endeavour comes at a historically significant time for Australia, 250 years after Cook's voyage has also seen the explorer undergo a reassessment in the country he is considered a founder of.

A statue of Cook which has stood in Sydney's Hyde Park for over a century was vandalized last year with graffiti reading "no pride in genocide" and "change the date," in reference to controversies over the celebration of Australia Day on January 26, the date in 1788 when the Union Flag was hoisted at Sydney Cove to establish a British penal colony.

While January 26 is widely celebrated by white Australians, many in the indigenous community regard it as nothing to celebrate, and from as early as 1938, Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders have opposed honoring a date they call Invasion Day.

The view of Cook as "discoverer" of Australia -- as the Hyde Park statue describes him -- has also come in for question, with experts pointing out that indigenous Australians had been on the continent for millennia before Europeans invaded and colonized it in the 18th century.

The Endeavour's visit to Australia and resultant British colonization resulted in utter disaster for indigenous peoples, with the population suffering massively from the introduction of foreign diseases, displacement, and ethnic cleansing by white settlers.The Saliva Collection Devices and Diagnostics Market is rising pervasively over the past couple of years mainly due to the efficacies these devices offer in obtaining high-quality clinical diagnosis and results. These devices are vastly preferred among clinicians due to their simple collection techniques. In addition to the clinicians and lab personnel, these devices are also used in the high-level studies for discoveries and approval of salivary disease biomarkers.

Saliva Collection Devices and Diagnostics Market  Competitive Analysis

The market appears to be highly diversified and competitive with the presence of giant manufacturers of the devices, playing on the global level. These players are heavily investing in R&D, global expansion, advanced technologies, and product Launch to gain the competitive edge in the market.

Key Players:

The leaders operating in the market include AboGen, Inc., Neogen Corporation, Quest Diagnostics, Oasis Diagnostics Corporation, OraSure Technologies, Inc., and Alere.

Industry/Innovation/Related News:

September 05, 2018  AYUMETRIX LLC (US), a research, consulting and clinical diagnostic organization launched a hormone testing technology on HealthTestingCenters.com. AYUMETRIXs proprietary technology uses saliva, dried blood spot as well as Plasma Separation on Paper (PSP), a revolutionary low-cost, user-friendly and sample collection device.

August 16, 2018  Dr. Lee Alissandratos from the Australian National Universitys Research School of Chemistry published the study of a do-it-yourself medical kit he developed. The kit diagnoses diseases in real-time have the potential to save lives in remote and vulnerable areas. With the DIY kit patients residing in remote regions can self-diagnosis their blood, urine or saliva sample for Malaria.

Get Sample Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2522

Saliva Collection Devices and Diagnostics Market  Segmentations

The MRFR analysis is segmented into four key dynamics;

By Site of Collection : Parotid Gland Collection Devices, Submandibular/Sublingual Gland Collection Devices, and Minor Salivary Glands Collection Devices, among others.

By Applications : Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical, and Forensics, among others.

By End-Users : Dentistry, General Practice, and Laboratories, among others.

By Regions : North America, Europe, APAC and the Rest-of-the-World.

Saliva Collection Devices and Diagnostics Market  Regional Analysis

North America saliva collection devices and diagnostics market backed by the presence of matured players and substantial investments, is estimated to account for the leading market, globally, holding the largest market share. Also, companies involved in the manufacturing of these devices are well capable of delivering a range of customized solutions.

Owing to the augmented uptake of software solutions for healthcare administration and availability of complimenting resources, the market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 10.7%. during the forecast period.

Additional factors substantiating the market growth in the region include increasing number of patients suffering from chronic diseases & disorders that eventually augment the demand for diagnosis, increasing demand for the saliva collection devices and diagnostics.

Globally, the Europe region stands as the second largest market for the saliva collection devices and diagnostics. Extensive technological advancements and the augmented adoption of these devices among the healthcare providers mainly in the UK, Germany, and France coupled and the resurging economy in the region fosters the market growth in the region.

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The Asia Pacific region is rapidly emerging as one of the lucrative markets for the saliva collection devices and diagnostics. Moreover, factors such as, increasing incidences of recorded chronic diseases like diabetes, availability of new diagnosis and treatment methods, and the growing population that is increasingly gaining awareness towards the benefits of health management, foster the market growth in the region. Besides rising government support and improving per capita health care expenditures are positively impacting the market growth in the region.

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Email: salesteam@marketresearchfuture.comGlobal Emphysema Market  Overview

Emphysema, a lung disease is characterized by the shortness of breath, thereby, damaging the air sacs in the lungs. The disease leads to rupture and weakening of inner walls of the air sacs over the period. The disease involves the reduction in the surface area of the lungs which in turn reduces the amount of oxygen reaching the bloodstream. Hence, during exhalation, the alveoli do not function properly leaving the air trapped in the lungs, leaving no space for oxygen-rich air to enter the lungs. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are together known as the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The patients suffering from emphysema also have chronic bronchitis. The major causes of emphysema are exposure to air pollutants, chemical fumes, and dust and smoking. The condition can be diagnosed through various tests such as imaging tests that include chest X-ray and CT scan and the lung function test.

The global emphysema market is mainly driven by the high prevalence of respiratory diseases such as chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and others and a huge demand for treatment including smoking cessation drugs and antibiotics. Additionally, the rising availability of diagnostic services for respiratory illness also fuels the growth of the market.

According to the World Health Organization, COPD affects nearly 210 million people which is attributed to the increasing population in urban areas across the globe and growing number of tobacco smokers. The global emphysema market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.1% during the forecast period.

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Emphysema Market  Leading players

Intrexon Corporation

Pulmonx Inc.

Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc.

Mariposa Health Limited

PneumRx, Uptake Medical Corporation

Icure Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Pfizer, Inc.

BTG Internationals

Olympus Corporation

Kamada Limited

Emphasys Medical, Inc. and others.

Global Emphysema Market  Regional Analysis

The American emphysema market is segmented into two regions, namely, North America and South America. North America, being the largest market, is mainly driven by the increasing use of imaging test and lung function test for the diagnosis of the disease and huge population base diagnosed with COPD. Furthermore, the U.S. is the largest market in North America owing to the presence of large number of market players manufacturing medications for emphysema and increasing awareness about risk factors and cases of the disease. The American Lung Association stated that in the U.S., COPD is the fourth leading cause of deaths. Canada is expected to be the fastest growing market which is driven by the overall increasing demand for diagnostic medical devices with progress in the medical device sector. South America is expected to be the fastest growing market due to technologically advanced devices for diagnosis and the increasing demand for treatment options of respiratory diseases

The European emphysema market exhibits a positive growth with an increasing emphasis on the diagnosis of chronic respiratory conditions such as the COPD and asthma and increasing focus on research and development activities for the treatment of respiratory diseases. Germany and the U.K. are the major contributors to the growth of the market. Additionally, increasing expenditure in healthcare by major countries in Europe also accelerates the growth of the market.

Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing market whose growth is attributed to a huge demand for lung function test and other diagnostic tests and the increasing focus on early diagnosis and treatment of lung diseases. Furthermore, other factors contributing to the growth of the market are lifestyle changes, the influence of western culture among the adults, and addiction to smoking. Additionally, rising environmental pollution and exposure to harmful chemicals also attribute to the growth of the market.

The Middle Eastern and African market for emphysema exhibits a steady rise with an increase in the number of healthcare facilities providing treatment for the chronic condition and the flourishing growth of medical device sector especially the diagnostic devices such as MRI and CT. In the African region, the awareness about COPD is increasing and is fueling the growth of the market.

Global Emphysema  Market Segmentation

The global emphysema market is segmented on the basis of type, diagnosis, treatment, and end-user. On the basis of type, the market is segmented into centrilobular and panlobular emphysema. On the basis of diagnosis, the market is segmented into imaging test, lung function test, and others. The imaging test is further segmented into chest X-ray and CT scan. On the basis of treatment, the market is segmented into medications, therapy, and surgery. Medications are further segmented into smoking cessation drugs, bronchodilators, inhaled steroids, antibiotics, and leukotriene modifiers. Therapy is further segmented into pulmonary rehabilitation, nutrition therapy, gene therapy, and supplemental oxygen. Surgery is further segmented into lung volume reduction surgery, lung transplant, and bullectomy. On the basis of end-user, the market is segmented into hospitals and clinics, surgical centers, and others.

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TOC of Emphysema Market Research Report  Global Forecast to 2023

Report Prologue Introduction

2.1 Definition

2.2 Scope of the Study

2.2.1 Research Objective

2.2.2 Assumptions

2.2.3 Limitations

2.3 Market Structure

2.4. Market Segmentation

Research Methodology

3.1 Research Process

3.2 Primary Research

3.3 Secondary Research

3.4 Market Size Estimation

3.5 Forecast Model

Market Dynamics

4.1 Drivers

4.2 Restraints

4.3 Opportunities

4.4 Threats

4.5 Macroeconomic Indicators

TOC CONTINUED

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Market Research Future (MRFR), enable customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, September 18, 2018

Facebook's ad platform enables employers to discriminate by blocking women from viewing job ads, the digital rights group ACLU alleges in a complaint filed Tuesday with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

"Facebook directs, encourages, and helps its advertisers (including employers and employment agencies) to use Facebooks ad platform to target their ads (including their employment ads) to a narrow audience, including targeting audiences based on the gender users have provided to Facebook," reads the complaint, which was brought on behalf of the Communications Workers of America union and three female Facebook users who are currently seeking jobs.

The ACLU names 10 specific employers -- Abas USA, City of Greensboro, Defenders, Nebraska Furniture Mart, Need Work Today, Renewal by Andersen LLC, Rice Tire, JK Moving Services, Enhanced Roofing & Modeling, and Xenith -- that allegedly targeted job ads to only men. The job ads were for fields that tend to be dominated by men, according to the complaint. For instance, the city of Greensboro, North Carolina allegedly recruited for the city's police department by using Facebook's platform to send ads to males between the ages of 25 and 35.

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Tuesday's complaint marks the latest in a series of discrimination allegations that have dogged Facebook since October of 2016, when ProPublica reported that Facebook's self-service ad tools allowed advertisers to block real estate ads from users Facebook classified as having an "ethnic affinity" of black, Asian-American or Hispanic. The social networking service determines "ethnic affinity" based on pages and posts that users liked or engaged with.

After ProPublica's initial report, Facebook updated its ad guidelines to strengthen prohibitions against discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, family status, disability, or medical or genetic condition. The company also said it would require advertisers offering housing and employment ads to certify compliance with anti-discrimination laws.

Despite the move, ProPublica reported last November that the company still allowed advertisers to prevent minorities from viewing housing ads.

In November of 2016, a group of users sued Facebook for allegedly violating civil rights laws by enabling race-based ad targeting. That lawsuit is pending before U.S. District Court Judge Edward Davila in San Jose, California.

This March, the National Fair Housing Alliance filed a separate lawsuit against Facebook in federal court in Manhattan. That lawsuit, pending before U.S. District Court Judge John Koeltl, alleges that Facebook enables landlords and brokers to prevent ads from being shown to women, families with children, and users with interests suggesting a disability or particular national origin. Those allegations are also at the center of a complaint against the company filed last month by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Last month, Facebook said it was removing more than 5,000 ad-targeting options -- including ones that may enable discrimination based on ethnicity or religion. Earlier this summer, the company settled an investigation by Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson by promising to stop allowing advertisers to block ads for housing, credit, jobs, insurance and places of public accommodation from people based on ethnic affinities.

Whether Facebook violated any laws with its targeting options remains an unsettled question. It's illegal to publish housing or job ads that discriminate based on factors such as race, religion, sex and national origin, but the Communications Decency Act typically immunizes interactive platforms like Facebook from liability for ads created by users.

Facebook recently drew on that statute to argue that the lawsuit centered on housing ads should be dismissed. "What makes the content at issue allegedly unlawful is controlled by third-party advertisers who create the housing ads and then target them in ways plaintiffs claim are discriminatory," Facebook wrote in recent court papers.

The ACLU alleges in the complaints filed Tuesday that Facebook serves as more than a mere intermediary for employers. "When employers want to recruit applicants for employment, Facebook performs nearly all of the necessary functions of an employment agency and marketing firm," the complaint alleges. "Facebook helps the employer to create the ad; collects, develops and provides databases of information on Facebook users to employers so that such employers can know which individuals are looking for employment, know various types of information about those applicants, such as their age and gender, and exclude certain groups of people from their ad campaigns."

The organization also accuses Facebook of knowing that employers use the ad platform to discrimate, and encouraging them to do so.

"Facebook provides detailed analytical ad performance data to advertisers on how their ad campaigns are performing, including on how the ad is performing among Facebook users by gender," the ACLU alleges. "By providing these data on an ongoing basis, Facebook encourages advertisers to restrict their ad targets by gender so that their advertisements will focus on the higher performing gender."

Facebook spokesperson Joe Osborne said Tuesday that discrimination is "strictly prohibited in our policies."

"Over the past year, weve strengthened our systems to further protect against misuse. We are reviewing the complaint and look forward to defending our practices," Osborne stated.by Fern Siegel , September 19, 2018

Politico and AARP, the organization that represents Americans 50+, joined forces to produce Politico's The Deciders series, which debuted in June. The series explores this critical voting block and how they impact the political terrain.

Pundits often discuss the importance of millennial voters in upcoming elections, but Nancy LeaMond, AARPs executive vice president-Chief Advocacy Officer, says: The role of 50+ voters in deciding elections should not be understated  especially with critical issues on the line this year.

The "Deciders" current iteration, utilizing the polling and data partnership, looks at key states in the upcoming midterms. Candid interviews and photo essays reveal the frustrations and hopes of voters in Ohio, Arizona and Florida, three battleground states.

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The new issue takes readers to various towns in Northeast Ohio, where economic anxiety around free trade, manufacturing and immigration impact the retired voters, who fear losing their pensions.

Trump won blue-collar Ohio by eight points in 2016, promising to revive the states shuttered mines and mills. But a new Politico-AARP poll suggests that today, only 43% of Ohioans approve of Trumps performance as president. About the same percentage of respondents approve of his trade wars.

Many Ohioans of both parties agree with Jeff Wharton, who says Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown works his tail off for us. Wharton, a 73-year-old former Marine who spent three years in Vietnam and then 48 years in the coal mines.

Health care is a major issue in Ohio, with 81% polled saying its very important to get their vote for federal offices. Social Security, Medicare, jobs-economy also dominate this voting block's concerns.

Is the fiery left-wing populism of Democrats like Sherrod Brown and Richard Cordray (running for governor) the answer to the fiery right-wing populism that won Donald Trump the White House? In a state buffeted by economic change and globalization, its a fascinating time to be talking to voters about trade and Americas shifting role in the world, stated Blake Hounshell, editor in chief, Politico.

The Deciders also examines the changing face of Florida. The story Generation Pickleball: Welcome to Floridas Political Tomorrowland looks at upscale retirement communities near Orlando as a bulwark against a blue wave.

Given the reliability of baby boomers and older voters, Politico and AARP are demonstrating to candidates, political influencers and the media why attention must be paid.by Joe Mandese @mp_joemandese, September 19, 2018

After years of being chaired by a digital media executive, the Advertising Research Foundation once again has named a traditional consumer marketer to head its board. Barbara Murrer, senior director of marketplace insights for quintessential American brand Levi Strauss & Co., is succeeding Google Director of Brand Measurement Jed Meyer as the foundations chair.

The move is symbolic for two reasons. One is that she is the first female marketer to chair the ARF. The second is that the ARF has been criticized in recent years for coming increasingly under the influence of big digital media platforms such as Google and Facebook, although its charter is intended to serve advertisers.

The ARF was originally created under the auspices of the Association of National Advertisers and the American Association of Advertising Agencies to be the ad industrys research authority, and to help the industry define principles, guidelines and standards for what constitutes best practices in advertising, marketing and media research.

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Googles Meyer has served as chairman since 2016.

Murrer, who also is the first ARF chair to be based on the West Coast, has 25 years of consumer marketing experience. Prior to Levi Strauss & Co., she was director of market intelligence at The Clorox Company, where she led the Cleaning Division and international research teams handling all insights work across product, brand and sales.by Joe Mandese @mp_joemandese, September 19, 2018

Partisan politics is far from new in news reporting, but the proliferation of niche digital news publications aimed at readers -- and/or viewers -- across the political spectrum appears to be accelerating. While most of the attention has been on conservative and/or alt-right publications, liberal and progressive publishers are also gaining steam.

"Overtly conservative news sites seem to have much greater brand awareness among the general public than liberal digital outlets, notes Howard Polskin, president of The Righting, a publication tracking the growth of right-wing publications, but which is expanding its coverage of the left.

Some of this parallels the noisy rise of Trumpism, which champions nationalist and small-government narratives that are published by the conservative websites. Popular sites like Breitbart, Infowars and The Gateway Pundit court controversy, which draws widespread press attention and thus propels them into the consciousness of the average person, Polskin explains about the relatively higher profile of right-wing digital news sites.

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But an advance look at The Rightings first Left-Right Report shows that with the exception of FoxNews.com, which beats the next biggest rival (The Huffington Post) in monthly visitor traffic by a margin of more than two-to-one, the race is pretty close among the rest of the pack.

The chart above shows the top 10 left-leaning news sites and their most recent growth or decline.

In addition, a number of newer digital pure-plays -- most aimed more at millennials -- have begun to spring up and are gaining traction -- mainly by distribution via social-media channels, including Now This News, The Young Turks and Robert Reichs Common Dreams.

We are the first one to be distributed purely on Facebook, says Steven Rosenbaum, executive producer of the just-launched Progress News Network and a regular weekly columnist on MediaPost.

PNN, which is backed by a group of progressive-minded, media-savvy investors, sees its niche as appealing to people who get most of their news from Facebook. Their goal is to influence the ones that dont vote.

The real crisis in our country is that there are a 100 million Americans who dont vote, Rosenbaum explains, adding that PNN currently has no business model and its immediate focus is on impacting the midterm elections.

He says it has no explicit KPIs, but will reassess its role after Election Day, based on what it thinks its impact has been.by Larissa Faw , September 19, 2018



Accountants and marketers are targeted in two new campaigns by The Trade Desk (TTD) and the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) that both address working in today's digital landscape.



TTD's first newspaper advertising campaign seeks to entertain advertising, marketing and business communities, while raising awareness about its services.

The creative, developed by creative agency VSA Partners, includes three print ads with sarcastic headlines in large, bold white font: Possibly The Worst Ad Well Ever Run, Buying This Ad Was Excruciating, and This Pretty Much Goes Against Everything We Believe.



The messaging is counterintuitive, designed to capture the transformational shift taking place in modern marketing, from mass media to data-driven, customer-targeted digital channels, says Susan Vobejda, CMO, TTD.



The campaign first appeared in The New York Times, The New York Times International, The Wall Street Journal and The Mercury News through the week of September 10.



"Although this is the first time TTD has done a newspaper advertising campaign, we think it will be the last -- but we never say never," jokes Vobejda.



Separately, the IMA is emphasizing how accounting and finance professionals who earn the group's Certified Management Accountant are better positioned to thrive in the digital age.



The multichannel campaign, developed in partnership with The Gate/New York, plays like a buddy film. A CMA discusses his friendship with a robot when they cook together, sing karaoke and work "hand in glove." The robot points out the hand has an office, while the glove doesn't.

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"Theyre just not equals -- much to the chagrin of the robot," says David Bernstein, Chief Creative Officer, The Gate/New York.

The spots end with the IMA's tagline "You've got to earn it" -- building on last years campaign, which focused on the fact that robots are coming into the world of accounting and a CMA credential could help accountants survive.



Here is a link.



The media buy uses programmatic television, radio, digital, social media, and search engine marketing in the U.S. In addition, IMA is extending select campaign components in Europe, the Middle East, India, China and Southeast Asia, according to Beau Fraser, president, The Gate/New York.Few groups have incited the ire of President Donald Trump more than MS-13 for the gang's recent vicious attacks and gruesome killings on US soil.

Charging that dangerous gangsters and criminals from Central America have been entering the United States through Mexico, the Trump administration in April launched a "zero tolerance" policy that has led to the prosecution and deportation of any adult caught illegally crossing the border.

Central America Continents and regions Crime, law enforcement and corrections Criminal offenses Donald Trump El Salvador Government and public administration Government bodies and offices Latin America Misc organizations MS-13 North America Organized crime Political Figures - US Society Street gangs The Americas United States Unrest, conflicts and war US federal government Violence in society White House Politics Societal issues

There is no question the MS-13 gang must be stopped. It is a vile organization of hoodlums with no regard for life. But to entirely turn our backs on those who are trying to escape from being terrorized by the gang ignores the role that our government played in its monstrous evolution.

On the ground

Within an hour of landing in San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador, in 2005, where I was reporting on MS-13 for the National Geographic Channel, I was informed that a member of the notorious street gang had just been assassinated in the middle of the city. With my luggage in tow, I headed straight to the homicide location, where I saw a young man face down in a pool of blood, his body riddled with bullet holes.

I had reported on a number of different gangs in cities across America, but here I was in a country that was being terrorized and overtaken by street gangs, the largest of which was MS-13. What was astounding to me at the time was that 15 years prior to my visit, El Salvador had virtually no street gang presence.

MS-13 consists mostly of Salvadorans, but there are many Hondurans and Guatemalans who claim allegiance to the gang as well. To understand how MS-13 grew to become one of the deadliest gangs in the world, you have to understand the role the US played over the past four decades in the Central American countries from which most of these gang members come.

Money for fuel

Beginning in the 1980s, the United States government funneled billions of dollars to corrupt, human-rights abusing officials throughout the region to prevent it from falling into the hands of leftists who had been staging uprisings throughout those countries in Central America, known as the Northern Triangle.

A gruesome civil war between the government and Marxist guerrillas in El Salvador from 1980-1992 claimed 75,000 lives. The United Nations Truth Commission found that Salvadoran government forces, which included military officers trained by the US, paramilitaries and death squads, were responsible for more than 85 percent of the killings and torture.

One of the most brutal conflicts in Latin American history was that of Guatemala's 36-year war in which, according to a truth commission, more than 200,000 mostly indigenous people were killed after being accused of being sympathetic to leftist guerrillas. The US supported the government, despite knowing of its egregious human-rights abuses.

Honduras did not have a civil war but became a staging ground for the various conflicts in neighboring Central American countries, including for US-backed groups.

A gang is born

Years of brutal armed conflict have left the region utterly destabilized and led hundreds of thousands of people to seek refuge in the United States. Many Salvadorans began to settle in the barrios of Los Angeles in the early 1980s. In order to protect themselves from already established neighborhood gangs, a group of them formed their own gang called Mara Salvatrucha or MS-13.

It initially consisted of a bunch of heavy metal enthusiasts who chose devil horns as their insignia, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross. They would grow to become one of the deadliest gangs in L.A. and throughout the country.

In the early 1990s, ICE's precursor, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, began rounding up thousands of alleged criminal gang members and deporting them back to their countries of origin  even though many had left their homelands when they were small children fleeing war and had never been back since.

These new, criminalized arrivals began to wreak havoc on the streets of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras  countries that were still reeling from years of conflict and destabilization. It was a deadly combination. The gang problem exploded. As I witnessed in El Salvador in 2005, the country was paralyzed with fear of gangs like MS-13. By 2015, it had become the most murderous country in the world.

Give me shelter

In 2014, a massive wave of unaccompanied minors began showing up on the US-Mexico border, mostly from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. Most had been sent for by family members who had previously settled in the US in an attempt to create better and safer lives for themselves and their children.

Not long after, brutal killings began being reported in the US, mostly in cities on the East Coast where large communities of Central Americans reside.

As I experienced when reporting on the latest wave of MS-13 killings in Maryland for the premiere episode of CNN's "This Is Life With Lisa Ling" Season 5, newly arrived unaccompanied minors are continuing to come to the US and are being preyed on by an emboldened MS-13. They and their families, both in the US and back in their home countries, are threatened with death if they don't ally with the gang. Law enforcement officials in Fairfax County, Virginia, told me that violence is ordered from El Salvador.

So when the White House deems MS-13 members "violent animals," let's also acknowledge that US policies helped create this devastating situation. And when the innocent ask our government for shelter from the terror aided by our decisions, perhaps we shouldn't be so hasty to turn them away.by Ray Schultz , September 19, 2018

The email wars are heating up as we approach the midterm elections. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) has sent out an email blast, claiming that Brett Kavanaugh should not be voted onto the Supreme Court.

This is outrageous, says the fund-raising email, alluding to the claim by Christine Blasey Ford that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when they were in high school. Brett Kavanaugh was already disqualified to serve on the Supreme Court. But now were learning new information about a sexual assault allegation.

The letter was reported on by the Boston Herald, which opined that to exploit an allegation of sexual assault for fundraising purposes is politics at its lowest and no one goes lower than Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

According to the Herald, the email continues: If we all get in this fight right now, from Boston and across the country  then weve got a fighting chance at stopping the Republicans and Kavanaugh in their tracks.

The email links to an online petition and features a feature Donate Now button.

Warren is running for re-election.Share on Pinterest Design by Medical News Today; photograph courtesy Timo Soderlund The aorta is the bodys main blood vessel, and it transports the freshly oxygenated blood from the heart to the organs. The wall of this artery comprises three layers; an inner layer, a middle layer, and an outer layer. An aortic dissection occurs when the inner layer in the aortic wall breaks and blood can push its way into the cavity that forms between it and the outer layer. This starts forming a new passage for the blood, parallel to the normal blood flow in the aorta. When this happens, the aorta starts to swell. If it swells too much, the outer wall will also break down. A person can become unconscious in as little as 1030 seconds and bleed to death quickly. Complications from aortic dissection can cause the blood flow to vital organs to be disrupted, which can lead to other fatal conditions. Many people die before reaching the hospital. The likelihood of mortality increases by 1 percent for each hour without treatment for the first 24 hours. What follows is our discussion with Timo, during which he tells us about his life prior to the event, his coping strategies for recovery, and his plans to help others with the condition.

What impact has it had on your life? This condition changed everything; I was a CEO in the international paint industry and spent a lot of time traveling and working all over the globe, from Europe to the Middle East. At first, the doctors thought that I was having a heart attack and I spent 6 hours in emergency. I had various medical treatments while I was still conscious, but I was in immense pain throughout it all. Though I was on morphine, my whole body hurt; the pain occurred intensely in the neck, throat, and chest. I lost many of my cognitive abilities as a result of the incident; I couldnt count, couldnt spell, and I had very bad short-term memory loss. While my memory has improved a little, its nothing like it used to be. As a result of this, I had to stop working. I previously spoke 5 different languages and these were affected badly. My cognitive faculties were affected so much due to the micro bleedings and oxygen shortage I experienced during surgery. For a period, there was no blood flow to my brain and my body temperature dropped by 20C. Many individuals die from this, and those who do survive can become different due to the strain and trauma it causes the brain. I grow tired when processing information, which can make some things very hard for me. The tiredness was also a big factor in why I was no longer able to work, as was the memory loss.

What has been helpful during your recovery? I still attend rehabilitation twice each week. I cannot do very much physical work because I can only lift very small weights now, and I cannot lift my left arm above my head. I do water gymnastics twice per week, which has been very helpful. The rehab is important; it is good for me to keep busy, and I must keep my mind and body as active as I can. Its easy to put on weight due to the inactivity, and it is easy to slip into a habit of sitting all day and eating too much. This is bad for overall health, so I try not to do this. Its important to deal with the mental impact of the condition. It has completely changed my life, and many people develop depression after experiencing a life-changing injury such as this. I received care from a brain damage unit in a university hospital for 2 years, which was very helpful, and it was suggested that I either learn to play an instrument or use a foreign language. The specialists proposed cello, but I chose guitar. However, this turned out not to be an option, as the beta-blockers I needed to take had made my fingers numb and slow. Therefore, I decided to spend some time re-learning some of the languages Id previously been able to speak. I have found that the language work I do on a daily basis  I make sure I write in English every day  to be immensely helpful; it has really helped with my memory, though I do still experience short-term memory loss. Eventually, my condition stabilized to such an extent that I was able to learn to play an instrument. This was also great, helping to improve my cognitive abilities as well as bringing joy and positive mental health effects. These two activities are excellent for the brain. Studies show that the risk of Alzheimers disease and dementia is lowered for people who do this, and the same principle applies regarding my condition. Researchers helped a lot in my recovery, which is unusual in most areas. Patients can become very lonely in recovery, as surgeons play no part in the aftercare, and it can be very hard to stay positive when you feel so alone. I have become involved with several research projects, one of which is Vascupedia. This is a recent project wherein one of the main aims is to let doctors freely share information with other doctors regarding aortic diseases. It is also a great resource for patients to find out more about their conditions. I still have a damaged heart valve, and the dissection runs from the aortic arch down to the foot in one of my legs. The arch needs surgery, but since other arteries are also damaged, the extent of such surgery is great; it will only be done if it becomes a life-threatening situation again. With these ongoing issues, it helps that I am able to connect with other physicians, researchers, and patients.A first-of-its-kind study reveals that, as we age, levels of a certain molecule increase, which silences another molecule that creates healthy bone. It also suggests that correcting this imbalance may improve bone health, possibly offering new avenues for treating osteoporosis. Share on Pinterest Senior women are at a particularly high risk of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis affects around 200 million women worldwide. One in 3 women and 1 in 5 men aged 50 and above are thought to experience a bone fracture in their lifetime as a result of osteoporosis. In the United States, estimates indicate that 44 million people over 50 live with the condition, making it a major public health issue. New research brings us closer to understanding the process that leads to bone degradation in osteoporosis and to potential new ways in which the condition could be tackled. The findings explain a key molecular dynamic that accounts for the progressive frailty of our bones as we age. Dr. Sadanand Fulzele, a bone biologist who works in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Augusta University in Georgia, is a co-corresponding researcher and the last author of the new paper, which was published in the Journal of Gerontology: Biological Sciences.

Zooming in on a small molecular culprit Dr. Fulzele and colleagues explain the process of bone formation  which starts with mesenchymal stem cells. These are stem cells that can be found in our bone marrow and that can go on to form as cartilage, bone, or the fat in bone marrow. One of the factors that influence which form these cells will eventually take is a signaling molecule called stromal-cell-derived factor (SDF-1). Previous research by the same team had shown how important SDF-1 is for the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into the different cells crucial to bone health. Both in vitro and in vivo studies conducted by the researchers showed the key role of this signaling molecule for bone formation. SDF-1 is also important for bone repair and protects bone cells from oxidative stress, which is the imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in the body that eventually leads to DNA damage and disease. Also, previous studies had demonstrated that SDF-1 levels decline in aging mice; so, in this study, Dr. Fulzele and team wanted to understand precisely how this molecules levels are regulated. In some of his former research, Dr. Fulzele had shown that a small molecule called microRNA-141-3p stops vitamin C, a key antioxidant, from reaching our bone cells. The team already knew that the molecule can stop mesenchymal stem cells from differentiating into other cells, as well as the fact that microRNA-141-3p increases with age. So, Dr. Fulzele and team hypothesized that microRNA-141-3p lowers SDF-1, and that this is one of the main ways in which this small molecule stops healthy bone formation.An intramuscular injection delivers medication into a muscle. Doctors frequently use intramuscular injections to administer vaccines and certain other drugs. People with specific conditions, such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis, may need to give themselves this type of injection at home. They can also ask a caregiver to help. In this article, we explain where and how to administer an intramuscular injection.

Uses Intramuscular injections offer some benefits over other types of delivery methods, such as oral, intravenous injections into a vein, and subcutaneous injections into fatty tissue under the skin. A doctor may use an intramuscular shot if: they cannot locate an appropriate vein

the particular drug would irritate the veins

the digestive system would render pills ineffective Intramuscular injections have other advantages too. The muscles have a plentiful supply of blood, which helps ensure that the body absorbs the medication quickly. The tissue in the muscles can also hold more medication than fatty tissue. Doctors administer most injectable vaccines into the muscles.

Locations People can receive intramuscular injections in the following areas: The upper arm Share on Pinterest Image credit: British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), 2017 The deltoid muscle is the most common site for vaccines. This muscle is in the upper arm near the shoulder. It can only receive small volumes of medication, usually 1 milliliter or less. Therefore, doctors do not use it for drugs that require larger quantities. People self-administering medication rarely use the deltoid, as an injection site, because it is difficult for them to reach. To find the deltoid muscle, a person feels for the bone at the top of the upper arm. Two finger-widths below this, there is a triangular muscle. The needle should enter the triangles center. The hip Share on Pinterest Image credit: British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), 2017 Healthcare professionals often give intramuscular injections into the ventrogluteal muscle of the hip. This muscle is a very safe injection site for adults and infants more than 7 months old because it is thick and located away from major nerves and blood vessels. But it can be challenging to self-administer medication into the hip. To locate the ventrogluteal muscle on someone else, place the heel of the hand on the hip, with the fingers pointing toward the head. The thumb should point toward the groin. Position the index and middle fingers into a V then administer the shot in the middle of the V. The thigh Share on Pinterest Image credit: British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), 2017 Typically, people who need to self-administer injections use the vastus lateralis muscle in the thigh. To locate the correct spot, imagine dividing the thigh vertically into three equal parts. Give the injection into the outer top part of the middle section. The buttocks Before doctors began using the hip as an injection site, they used the dorsogluteal muscles in the buttocks. They tend to avoid using these muscles now because of the potential risk of injury to the sciatic nerve. People should avoid self-administering medications into the dorsogluteal muscles.

How to give an intramuscular injection A healthcare professional should provide people with training and education before asking them to administer intramuscular injections to themselves or another person. The following steps can help people deliver a safe injection into a muscle: 1. Wash the hands Wash the hands thoroughly with soap and warm water. Pay careful attention to the area between the fingers and under the fingernails. 2. Gather supplies Before giving the shot, get the following items ready: an alcohol wipe

a sterile gauze pad

a cotton ball

a bandage

a puncture-resistant container to dispose of the needle

the medication

a new needle and syringe A doctor should provide advice on the type of needle to use. It needs to be long enough to reach deep into the muscle tissue. Most adults will require a 1-inch needle, but the exact size depends on the persons weight. It is essential to ask a doctor or pharmacist which size needle to use before giving an injection. 3. Prepare the injection site Locate the injection site according to the instructions above. Gently spread the skin between two fingers and keep the muscles relaxed. Clean the skin with the alcohol swab and allow to air-dry. 4. Prepare the vial and syringe If using a multidose vial, note the date you first opened it. Clean the rubber stopper with an alcohol swab. Remove the cap from the syringe. Draw air into the syringe by pulling back the plunger. Fill the syringe with air up to the same level as the medication dose. Remove the cap from the needle and push it through the top of the vial. Inject all the air into the vial. Turn the vial and syringe upside down so that the needle points upward. Draw back the plunger to fill the syringe with the correct amount of medication. Remove air bubbles by gently tapping the syringe and pressing the plunger. Avoid touching the needle to ensure it stays clean. 5. Inject the medication Share on Pinterest An intramuscular injection should not cause blood to appear in the syringe. Insert the needle into the muscle at a 90-degree angle. Use the index finger and thumb to stabilize the syringe while using the other hand to pull back on the plunger slightly to look for blood. If there is blood, it means the needle is in a blood vessel and not a muscle. Withdraw and start over with a new needle, syringe, and injection site. If there is no blood, the needle is in the correct position. Press down on the plunger of the syringe to inject the medication. 6. Remove the needle Quickly remove the needle from the skin and dispose of it in a puncture-resistant container. 7. Press on the injection site Using gauze, apply light pressure to the injection site. Light bleeding at the injection site is normal, but a person can use a bandage if necessary.

Tips The following tips may reduce discomfort before and after the injection: Numb the injection site with ice or a numbing cream before cleaning the skin with the alcohol swab.

To avoid stinging, ensure the alcohol dries completely.

Before putting medication into the syringe, warm the vial up by rubbing it between the hands.

Relax the muscles, as much as possible, when receiving the injection.

Discuss changing injection sites with a doctor. Too many injections in the same location can cause scarring and skin changes. People who find injecting themselves difficult should ask a friend, family member, or caregiver to help them.

Complications Minor discomfort after an intramuscular injection is normal. Less commonly, more serious complications can arise, including: an abscess, or collection of pus

tissue necrosis, or tissue death

granuloma, or inflammation in the tissue

muscle fibrosis, or scarring of muscle tissue

hematoma, where blood seeps out of blood vessels into the surrounding tissue

injury to blood vessels and nerves People who notice the following symptoms should call a doctor immediately: severe pain at the injection site

prolonged or excessive bleeding

tingling or numbness around the muscle

redness, swelling, or warmth at the injection site

drainage at the injection site

signs of an allergic reaction, such as swelling or breathing problemsThe Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs, Giorgos Katrougalos, participated today in a meeting of the EU General Affairs Council, at which discussion focussed on the multiannual financial framework  the EU budget for 2021-2027  the developments around Polands justice system , and preparations for the informal Summit Meeting in Salzburg.

Remarking on the EU budget, Mr. Katrougalos maintained that, in spite of its positive points, it needs to be more ambitious if it is to meet the existential challenges Europe is facing, and that it fails to respond adequately to the need for growth to have a social profile and combat the inequalities within and between states.

The Alternate Minister welcomed the increase in funding for policies on research and development, migration, digital economy, the Erasmus plus programme, and European defence. He noted, however, that this increase cannot be achieved at the expense of the traditional policies for Cohesion and the Common Agricultural Policy. For this reason, the establishment of real, new Own Resources is the European Unions only option, for fiscal reasons and reasons of redistribution and social justice. Such new Own Resources, which will not burden European citizens, include, for example, taxation of financial transactions and taxation of large internet companies in the countries where they provide their services, in tandem with establishment of a common corporate tax base.

Solidarity and respect for the rule of law should be reflected in all of the EUs policies and, from this perspective, Greece is not opposed to linking the budget to the respect for the rule of law, particularly if this is combined with other bold and necessary measures, such as the EUs accession to the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Social Charter. Our countrys position was similar on the matter of the implementation of article 7 of the Treaty in the case of Poland.

Before the Council session, Mr. Katrougalos participated as an observer in the preparatory meeting of the European Affairs Ministers of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats.Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Kotzias will meet with the German Minister of Foreign Affairs, Heiko Maas, at 11:15 on Thursday, 20 September, at the Foreign Ministry.



The two Ministers will focus on the further strengthening of bilateral relations on the basis of the Greek-German Bilateral Action Plan. They will also discuss European, regional and international issues of mutual interest, with emphasis on the future of Europe and developments in the Western Balkans and Eastern Mediterranean.



Following their meeting, at about 12:15, the two Ministers will make joint statements to the news media. Their talks will continue at a working luncheon Mr. Kotzias is hosting for his German counterpart.CHICO, Calif. - Saturday, Sept. 29 marks the 3rd Annual Friends of the Poor Walk in Chico.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is hosting the event. Registration begins at 9 a.m. in front of St. John's Catholic Church located at 435 Chestnut Street. The Walk begins at 10 a.m., with refreshments served afterward.

Walkers will make a one-mile loop around town and the Chico State campus with the goal of promoting awareness of the need to help families requiring assistance to stay in their homes. Organizers say that every day in communities around the world, St. Vincent de Paul volunteers work with families to provide emergency food, clothing, medical, rent and utility assistance as well as a compassionate person to listen to their concerns.

If you wish to take part in the walk, the entrance fee is a donation to the St. Vincent de Paul non-profit, and t-shirts are $10.

If you can't take part in the walk and wish to help the cause, donations can be mailed to St. Vincent de Paul at Our Divine Savior Church located at 566 E. Lassen Avenue.

For more information CLICK HERE or call (530) 680-7917.(AP) - Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa says he will invite six to eight artists, architects, designers and other creative people on a weeklong journey to circumnavigate the moon.

Maezawa said Monday that the SpaceX BFR rocket will make the trip in 2023.

The 42-year-old entrepreneur says he wants his guests to be inspired to create once they return to Earth.

He appeared at an event Monday at SpaceX headquarters near Los Angeles.

SpaceX founder Elon Musk says the BFR is still in development. The reusable 118-meter (387-foot) rocket will have its own dedicated passenger ship.

___

6:40 p.m.

SpaceX says Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa will be the first private passenger on a solo rocket trip around the moon.

The 42-year-old entrepreneur appeared at an event Monday evening at the space launch company's headquarters.

He says it's been his lifelong dream to go into space. He says just thinking about the journey gets his heart racing.

SpaceX founder Elon Musk says Maezawa will fly to the moon aboard a new rocket called the BFR, which is still in development.

The reusable 118-meter (387-foot) rocket will have its own dedicated passenger ship.

The average distance from Earth to the moon is about 237,685 miles (382,500 kilometers). No one has been there since an Apollo mission in 1972.

___

8 a.m.

SpaceX is on the verge of announcing the name of the person who would be the first private passenger on a trip around the moon.

The identity of the traveler will be released at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California, during an event Monday evening.

Entrepreneur Elon Musk's space launch company said last week that the person will fly to the moon aboard a new rocket called the BFR, which is still in development.

SpaceX has said it will also reveal why the person is going.

No guidance has been given on when the moon flight could happen.

The average distance from Earth to the moon is about 237,685 miles (382,500 kilometers).

No one has been there since an Apollo mission in 1972.The Chinese government plans to impose tariffs on $60 billion worth of United States' goods.

The move is in response to the Trump Administration's U.S. tariffs on Chinese-made goods, which starts at a rate of 10 percent and is expected to go into effect Monday, Sept. 24. That rate is then expected to rise to 25 percent at the end of the year.

No surprise, local shoppers Action News Now spoke with were not happy.

"Our taxes are already pretty high," Kelly McDonald said. "Thinking of adding on to that is not something I'm looking forward to."

"Knowing a lot of farmers who are wondering how [the tariff] is going to impact our families, and our crops, we had a frost already," said Emily Spooner, a local almond farmer."We've not had the best year. So, I'm just hoping you know, our country is going to get stronger."

The U.S. tariffs will impact thousands of Chinese products, from electronics to food seasoning.

Now roughly half of the products that China sells to the U.S. yearly will be hit by American tariffs.NEW ORLEANS (AP) - McDonald's workers are staging protests in several cities in what organizers called the first multistate strike seeking to combat sexual harassment in the workplace.

In Chicago, several dozen protesters rallied Tuesday in front of McDonald's headquarters while a plane flew overhead with a banner reading, "McDonald's: Stop Sexual Harassment."

In New Orleans, current and former employees chanted, "Hey, McDonalds, you can't hide - we can see your nasty side."

Those are among 10 targeted cities. Other protests were held in St. Louis; Kansas City, Missouri; and Durham, North Carolina.

Protesters are demanding that McDonalds require anti-harassment training for managers and employees. The fast food chain defends its policies.

Another demand is forming a national committee to address sexual harassment, made up of workers, management and leaders of national women's groups.CCRS completed a two-year exercise documenting the full range of insurance categories that are available in the market and a classification system for all the assets that they protect. This project, in collaboration with RMS, involved extensive interviews with 130 industry specialists and consultation with 38 insurance, analyst, and modelling organizations. The published insurance exposure Data Definitions Document v1.0 provides a standardized schema for insurance companies to have a consistent method of monitoring and reporting their exposure across multiple different classes of insurance. This new data standard will improve interchanges of data between market players to refine risk transfer to reinsurers and other risk partners, reporting to regulators, and exchanging information for risk co-share, delegated authority, and bordereau activities. A key point of developing the data schema is to identify concentrations of exposure, and to assess accumulation risk by enabling new types of loss models. Insurers are concerned about several ways that accumulations can occur  through having multiple insurance policies with the same policyholder, having different lines of insurance with clusters of insured value in the same geographical location, and by having clash risk from underlying events that impact several classes of insurance in an insurers portfolio. The project has demonstrated the need for the data definitions documentation to provide a framework for loss modelling by examining three catastrophe scenarios:

 A severe hurricane hitting the energy fields and marine installations in the Gulf of Mexico as well as personal and commercial lines properties;

 An influenza pandemic that hits life and health insurers, as well as causing financial losses to the economy and stock markets;

 And a geopolitical conflict located in Southeast Asia that triggers losses across all the major classes of insurance.

Insurance companies are now assessing the clash risk from these scenarios for the portfolios of multiline exposure that they manage. Dr. Mohsen Rahnama, Chief Risk Modeling Officer at RMS said, Were honored to partner with the Centre for Risk Studies on this data schema project. Establishing a current and market relevant data standard for managing exposure consistently is a priority for an industry managing accumulations and clash risk more widely. The release of this new data schema will solve risk challenges at an enterprise level across multiple classes of insurance. By making this schema open to the market, we hope to enable a new generation of risk model development and improvements across the insurance market in the ability to manage their multiline exposure risk. Professor Danny Ralph, Academic Director of Cambridge Centre for Risk Studies said, A standardized view of risk is necessary to enable a consistent understanding of exposure across multiple insurance portfolios. Understanding this, the Cambridge research team has engaged deeply with the insurance community to develop data standards that align with current practices and are practical to implement. We are pleased to partner on the development of this data schema with RMS and offer it as an open source document to the insurance and risk management industry. Multi-Line Insurance Exposure Management Data Definitions Document v1.0: Open source data definitions for 14 classes of insurance, ranging from Casualty Liability, Trade Credit and Surety, Political and Security Lines, through to Life and Health and annuities. Cambridge Centre for Risk Studies in collaboration with Risk Management Solutions, Inc.; Sept 2018.



Challenges and Solutions for Enterprise Exposure Management: Companion report describing the processes and methodology and presenting three clash scenarios developed to explore the usability of the data definitions in the schema. Cambridge Centre for Risk Studies in collaboration with Risk Management Solutions, Inc.; Sept 2018.



Atlas of Global Insurance Exposure: A visual distribution of $540 Trillion of insured exposure worldwide across the major classes of insurance. Cambridge Centre for Risk Studies in collaboration with Risk Management Solutions, Inc.; Sept 2018.

After a five weeks of being a budget-busting punching bag for Republican Bob Stefanowski, who linked him continually with Gov. Dannel P. Malloys tax hikes, Democrat Ned Lamont on Wednesday announced that if elected, he would end the states business-entity tax and push other efforts to strengthen Connecticuts economy.

In a multi-part program released in a late-afternoon statement, Lamont said he wants to increase access to job training and reduce regulatory burdens on business, while investing more state dollars in tourism, and to create an urban renaissance.

But the bigger news is the plan to roll back the pesky $250 fee that all state businesses pay every other year, totaling about $25 million annually.

With the knowledge and experience I have running a business, I will be able to create an environment where startups and small businesses can thrive, Lamont said. It will be done by embracing Connecticuts core values of education, opportunity and equality - not abandoning the very priorities that make Connecticut a great place to live, like Bob Stefanowskis plan would do.

Kendall Marr, Stefanowskis spokesman, said the announcement was an attempt by Lamont to make a sharp change.

After finally realizing that Connecticut residents are tired of the horrible economic policies of Dan Malloy, Ned is desperately trying to reinvent himself with less than 50 days to the election. Why should we suddenly believe Ned now? Marr said in a statement. Ned Lamont continues to offer small concessions that will be more than offset by increased fees, taxes and tolls imposed on the hard-working people of Connecticut.

Stefanowski, the GOP candidate from Madison seeking his first elective office, has been singularly focused on Lamont, Malloy and tax hikes, charging that the Democratic opponent would be more of the same, and would bring even higher taxes as well as highway tolls and vehicle taxes. Stefanowski, while promising to eliminate the state income and corporate earnings taxes over eight years, has offered few specifics.

If elected, Lamont, a Greenwich businessman, said he would also free businesses with less than $10,000 in taxable personal property from that related tax, as a way to help startups and small businesses.

Lamont touted his role among other business leaders in bringing the India-based Infosys to Hartford, where the tech firm is expected to hire 1,000 employees. During Monday nights debate in New Haven, Stefanowski, critical of the company, charged that Infosys was an out-sourcing firm.

It didnt happen by chance, Lamont said of the Infosys deal. It happened because we convened a group of business leaders including Travelers, the head of Aetna, the head of Hartford HealthCare, and the head of Stanley Black and Decker to convince Infosys to build its new training and innovation hub in Hartford.

Lamont also vowed to work with business, education and labor to create more apprentice programs; and put more money in the states vocational-and-agricultural tech high school systems.

kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCTA Newtown resident with a long and distinguished legal career has been appointed to serve as a federal judge.

Judge Kari A. Dooley, who has served as a judge in state court for more than a decade, has been appointed to serve as a federal judge for the District of Connecticut.

Dooley was nominated for the position by President Donald Trump in December.

The citizens of Connecticut are fortunate to have a person of Judge Dooleys intellect, temperament, and integrity appointed to the federal bench, Chief U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill said.  She possesses a wealth of experience and knowledge, and my colleagues and I enthusiastically welcome her to the ranks of judicial officers in our District.

Dooley graduated from the University of Connecticut School of Law in 1988 before beginning her legal career as an associate with the law firm of Whitman and Ransom in Greenwich. In 1992, she joined the U.S. Attorneys office in the Connecticut District where she prosecuted criminal cases.

She worked as a federal prosecutor for more than a decade before being tapped by former Gov. Jodi Rell to serve as a Superior Court judge, a position she held for 14 years.

Dooley was nominated to fill the vacancy left by Judge Robert Chatigny, who assumed senior status in January 2017. Dooley will serve as one of eight authorized judges in the District of Connecticut.

Dooley will serve out of the Brien McMahon federal building in Bridgeport.

Dooleys appointment was confirmed earlier this month by the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee.

Members of the committee voted overwhelmingly to endorse her appointment. She officially received her commission on Sept. 13.

dperrefort@newstimes.comCROMWELL  One person was taken to the hospital and two others were treated as firefighters from four departments and regional and state hazardous materials teams responded in a hazmat incident at the Red Lion Inn Tuesday.

One person was taken to Middlesex Hospital after he complained of difficulty breathing following the incident at about 1:45 p.m at the inn, which is located at 100 Berlin Road Road.

Two other individuals were treated at the scene, according to Deputy Chief Michael Salonia. A hotel manager could not be reached late Tuesday but the business was open and operating.

Cromwell fire officials said the afternoon incident appeared to have been caused by an inadvertent spill in a drain.

It was an anomaly, Cromwell Fire Chief Michael Terenzio said following the incident.

The Inn was evacuated as a precaution while members of the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the Capital Region HazMat teams, as well as firefighters from Cromwell, Berlin, East Berlin and Westfield all responded to the scene.

There was a very strong aroma of chlorine throughout the building, However, There was no leak, Terenzio said.

Ultimately, what we thank occurred is there was a leak from a sink and we theorize that water from that leak came into contact with either chlorine or muriatic acid that was caught in the drain.

When chlorine and muriatic acid mix, the result is a compound that acts as an irritant to the respiratory system, Salonia said.

The Capital Region team, which is made up of firefighters from Hartford and East Hartford and the DEEP arrived pretty quickly, which is very gratifying, Terenzio said.

However, the hazmat teams could not enter the building until firefighters had set up a decontamination station and a back-up hazmat team was in place and ready to go in, which are safety requirements.

When they did enter the building, the properly trained and equipped personnel were able to narrow down the hot zone, Terenzio said.

Personnel from the Red Lion were very capable and responded as they had been trained to do, so we had a very good idea of (what) we were dealing with, the chief said.

Rocky Hill and Newington and fire units stood by covering Cromwell.

And while units were dealing with the hazmat incident, there was a gas spill on Berlin Road by the CVS store, Salonia said.

To see our mutual aid assistance in place and having the Capital Region and the (DEEP) teams so readily available was very comforting, Terenzio said.MIDDLETOWN  U.S. Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-3, got an up-close look Wednesday at the improvement project a local team of AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps volunteers are beginning to build, a bog bridge at Tynan Memorial Park.

The area, near Higby Road, is among the more than 4,000 acres of open space owned by the city.

The 10-member Delta 6 team, based in Vicksburg, Miss., now camping on the Connecticut Forest and Park Association land on Route 66 in Middlefield, will be building the structure on the Tynan Park Connector, a trail that meets up with the New England National Scenic Trail. The NET is a 215-mile hiking trail from Long Island Sound in Connecticut to the Massachusetts/New Hampshire border.

Delta 6 volunteers are in their tenth month of AmeriCorps service, and have so far spent two days in Connecticut.

DeLauro spoke with the group before visiting the work area in the woods at 10 Pashley Lane.

I get really excited about the program. I think it was Ghandi that said, If you want to find yourself, lose yourself in service, said DeLauro, who worked with former U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd, who served in the Peace Corps in Moncion, Dominican Republic.

His work helping to build a church in the Caribbean nation, was probably the best experience of his life, said DeLauro of Dodd, who also served in the House of Representatives. It was about public service and engaging  thats why I think its such a [critically] important program.

Many of Delta 6 have just graduated college  one just earned her high school degree  and are taking a year off to volunteer for the community. Another had a three-year stint in Job Corps, followed by this, his second year in Americorps. One woman said she was inspired to join because she wants to travel the world.

More for you Travel + Leisure names Connecticut's best state park

The team is building a bog bridge over a low area that, during certain times of the year, floods entirely or lesser amounts of water turn the terrain into muck, said Ashley Roberts, media rep for the team.

The CFPA needed help making the trail more accessible for hikers so they brought in the NCCC.

It flooded out a lot, and people wouldnt necessarily want to go on the hike, so getting this bog bridge set up will make it so hikers are more readily able to use the trail, hike it, and take advantage of the beautiful resources Connecticut has to offer here, said Clare Cain, CFPA trail stewardship director.

DeLauro donned work gloves and helped carry a wood plank to the site.

NCCC volunteers are given a small monthly stipend and food allowance for their time, and the organization they partner with provides housing. Once theyve fulfilled their commitment, they earn a $6,100 college scholarship, which is equivalent to a Pell Grant, Cain said.

It can be used to pay for future college expenses or current student loan debt.

Being here will help me figure it out, and give me that time and that space to get new experiences while making money for school, Roberts said. I might decide to continue my education after, so this is a stepping stone.

The CFPA sponsors the NCCC volunteers as they work to connect people to the land through providing a range of outdoor programs and conservation education, it said.

Its a story untold about the kind of service of young people, DeLauro said of the nearly 2,000 volunteers in Connecticut alone.

We have volunteers all over the country. And you make a difference, she told them. Understand that deep in your gut. You serve as role models for others who follow you, and think its a good thing to do: a place to stop, think about where you want to be, what you want to do or just want this experience.

Whatever reason brings you here, it really is an extraordinary experience, she said.

Participants receive on-the-job training, learning how to dig, basic carpentry skills, basic trail maintenance and maintaining a good corridor for hikers, which a lot of people dont think about, but are really important for recreation, said crew leader Al Sedor.

The workers are placing large, pressure-treated wooden boards for the walkway, because they are more resistant to rot. The end result will have a 15-year lifespan, Sedor said.

Those enjoying the Tynan hike to the base of Mount Higby off Route 66 in Middlefield will find it a moderate to challenging 4-mile walk. The trail proceeds from there in a more challenging, rocky and hilly fashion.

The fiscal year 2019 Labor HHS Bill includes $19 million for the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency that oversees AmeriCorps. In all, $13 million is earmarked for AmeriCorps and $6 million for SeniorCorps.

Almost every year, people want to eliminate this. We need you to speak out, to talk about the value of the program, DeLauro told the volunteers. And its all very personal. When you look around, weve got some of the most beautiful pastoral lands. I stand in awe of what you do, she told Delta 6.

AmeriCorps NCCC is a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency for volunteering and service. Approximately 475 AmeriCorps and other CNCS members serve at more than 100 locations throughout the Greater New Haven area each year, which is made possible by a federal investment of $2.3 million from CNCS, according to the agency.

DeLauro invited the team to join her for lunch in New Haven to hear about their experiences in Connecticut once they are done.

Next, Delta 6 will move on to a two-week project at Gillette Castle State Park in East Haddam.

The Middletown Trail Guide lists all of the citys open space parcels, with details on the flora and fauna, difficulty of hikes and more. Visit middletownplanning.com for information.

For information, visit nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps, ctwoodlands.org, nationalservice.gov/programs/senior-corps or newenglandtrail.org.

Managing Editor Cassandra Day can be reached at cassandra.day@hearstmediact.com or Twitter @cassandrasdis.With the current advancement of technology, it's no surprise that states are in a race to outpace each other in the battle for technological dominance.

In a report released this week by Kempler Industries, an Illinois machinery company, Connecticut was ranked the eighth most innovative state in the country in terms of patents per capita during the past five years. Connecticut falls behind Massachusetts (2), Vermont (5) and New Hampshire (7) in terms of innovative New England states. Additionally, California was named the most innovative state in the country.

Doug Lyons, president of the Inventors Association of Connecticut, attributed this growth to Connecticut's long-standing tradition of innovation that blossomed during the industrial revolution. Specifically, Lyons points to Eli Whitney, the inventor of the cotton gin and interchangeable parts, as the patriarch of Connecticut innovation. "Connecticut's long history of innovation comes at least, in part, because of its long river, its start with interchangeable parts," detailed Lyons. "Then one thing led to another, and it became Bridgeport machines and manufacturers."

These numbers come shortly after the announcement that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) celebrated the filing of their 10 millionth patent, a feat that has been in works since the patent numbering and examination system was first established in 1836. According to the USPTO glossary, a patent is a piece of intellectual property that "excludes others from making, using, offering for sale, or selling the invention throughout the United States or importing the invention into the United States."

As a follow-up to the announcement, Kempler Industries took a look into the USPTO's data schematics to find useful data in the realm of innovation. However, Kempler Industries came away with a lot more than they anticipated, finding out the best (and worst) places to file patents, as well as what companies are considered "the most innovative companies."

According to the report, the U.S. did not earn the top spot as the most innovative country in the world, with the spot going to Taiwan. As for the most innovative companies in the world, four out of the top 10 companies (GE, Ford, Amazon, Apple) are classified as American corporations, which boosts the U.S. to the number three position in the rankings.

Within the U.S., Idaho was named the easiest state to acquire a patent due to their number of grants versus the small number of applications. As for the toughest place in the states, Washington D.C. took the cake as being the most difficult, as the number of patents cannot meet the sheer demand.

In terms of the types of patents being issued, 91% of all patents pertain to their use as a utility while 9% fall into the category of design. A fractional amount fall either into the category of plant or reissue. For US residents filing a patent, 49% of these national patents will be granted while international patents have a higher likelihood of being granted, at 59%.

Technologically speaking, drug and bio-affecting compositions are considered to be the top technological class of patent since 1963, with organic compounds coming in at a close second. The least of patenting technological class fell to active solid-state devices, including transistors and diodes.

While some of most well-known inventions hailing from Connecticut include the submarine and the cotton gin, Lyons cautioned for the future on innovation in Connecticut as the negative population growth and government regulations are driving out key innovativeness from the state. Though, if Connecticut can change its ways soon, Lyons believes the state can continue to be "the arsenal of democracy" pertaining to the freedom of innovation.

Our researchers used data from the USPTO along with information from IFI Claims, which is a US-based patent database for patent researchers, to determine all cited rankings on the graphics. When combined with state population size, we were able to determine which states had the most and least patents issued to them (per capita).HARTFORD  In its first round of endorsements, the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters has chosen three Democratic Middlesex County legislative candidates for the Connecticut General Assembly.

In all, nine Senate (one a Republican) and six House candidates (two Republicans) were chosen during this initial interview process, according to a press release.

State Rep. Matt Lesser, D-100th, is running for 9th District Senate in Middletown, currently occupied by Democratic state Sen. Paul Doyle. Mary Daugherty Abrams is running for Republican state Sen. Len Suzios seat in the 13th Senate (which includes Middletown and Middlefield), and Essex First Selectman Norm Needleman, is seeking to represent the 33rd District (Chester, Clinton, Colchester, Deep River, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Lyme, Old Saybrook, Portland and Westbrook), a spot now held by Republican Art Linares.

All were invited to complete CTLCVs Survey on the Environment earlier this summer, according to a press release. Over 100 candidates responded, and the Endorsement Committee reviewed their answers and begun interviewing those who identified the environment as one of their top priorities. These endorsements represent the first of several rounds, the release said.

Connecticut deserves lawmakers who will fight for renewable energy, clean air and water, and open space, Lori Brown, CTLCV executive director, said in a prepared statement. All of the candidates we endorsed today have either established themselves as true leaders in the legislators or made real commitments to be champions for the environment if elected.

During his time in the House, Lesser worked to address his constituents concerns about snapping turtles, and his leadership led to crucial protections being passed in 2018. Lesser also led the charge to support bans on fracking waste, and has been a strong proponent of the State Water Plan, the release said.

Abrams has voiced strong concerns for the health of the states children. Speaking as a grandmother and former teacher, Abrams indicated her support for bans to toxic tire mulch in playgrounds and carcinogenic flame retardant chemicals in childrens clothing, according to the CTLCV.

Needleman has taken a strong stance about the importance of combatting climate change and investing in clean energy to grow the economy, the release said.The nationwide survey of companies employing between 50 and 300 staff  equivalent to around 34,000 businesses with an annual turnover of 541 billion and employing 3.3 million people  found 63% of bosses worry about a protection gap. Executives at larger SMEs employing between 200 and 300 are the most likely to worry about the protection gap  71% said they were concerned. MetLifes research identified growing recognition of the value of benefits such as Group Life and Group Income Protection with 69% of SME senior managers believing they have a duty to provide benefits beyond pensions. However around one in 10  the equivalent of 34,000 businesses employing more than 300,000 people across the UK  say that they are unable to provide benefits beyond workplace pensions. Lack of budget is the biggest reason for not providing benefits beyond pensions followed by not believing their company is big enough. Most smaller firms however provide benefits. Employees are most likely to receive employer pension contributions higher than the statutory minimum with 39% of companies offering them while 28% provide Employee Assistance Programmes such as access to counselling. Adrian Matthews, Employee Benefits Director, MetLife UK said: SMEs are very much focused on retaining and recruiting staff and recognise the significant role that benefits in addition to salaries can play. It is interesting they believe they have a duty to offer staff more. The issue of the protection gap between SME staff and employees at larger corporates is however a concern for substantial numbers of senior managers who see the life insurance and income protection that major employers offer and wonder how they can compete. Budget is clearly a perceived issue for SMEs but in reality the costs are much more affordable than they think. Group Life can cost as little as 0.3% of payroll and Group Income Protection 0.5%. The table below shows the benefits that are provided at SMEs.

SHORELINE  When ordering a cappuccino at Guilfords Cilantro Coffee, Daniela Balzano has a very special request. She would like it served in a porcelain coffee cup.

This is just one step she is making to reduce her carbon footprint.

With this in mind she has created Plastic-Free Guilford to move toward less reliance on plastics in our daily lives. Her mission is simple, What can I do that will help us as a community to raise awareness, create some action, but in ways that its comfortable, she said.

The Guilford resident cites plastic straws, individual produce bags, single-use market bags and water bottles as examples of what people could do without. Plastic-Free Guilford is working with local merchants, restaurants and schools to spread the message.

Balzano is passionate when she talks about the damaging effects of plastics on the environment, especially the oceans.

She quotes a report from the World Economic Forum (weforum.org) that warns, the projected growth in consumption of plastics will impact oceans by 2050, when they are expected to contain more plastics than fish (by weight).

The report also predicts that the production of plastics will use a significant amount of fossil fuel, estimating the entire plastics industry will consume 20 percent of total oil production and 15 percent of the annual carbon budget.

The year 2050 may not be that far off for Balzano, who looks ahead to the next generation. The logo for Plastic-Free Guilford, a child holding a green heart, is a nod to children and their future.

I think thats where change really begins, she said. Thats our next generation, so we have to get them on board now with using less, being resourceful and conscientious, being mindful of what theyre using on a daily basis.

In the very same vein, Guilfords Terri Cain and Branford resident Meg Kilgore have started Bring Your Own groups in their respective towns. Statewide there are a number of BYO groups. Their goal is to eliminate single-use

plastic bags from stores and replace them with recycled paper bags.

Westport banned single-use plastic bags in 2008, and this month the ban goes into effect in Greenwich.

Balzano and Cain have delivered proposed ordinances to the Guilford Board of Selectmen.

In Branford, with some 780 signatures, Kilgore and her group are talking to merchants to get their input on their proposal. And BYO Branford plans to address the Representative Town Meeting in the next couple months regarding enacting an ordinance there.

In Guilford, Cain said her group is very cognizant and sensitive to the effect on consumers.

This is going to involve helping people to change their habits, or rather, asking people to change their habits and in the last years weve gotten into the habit of using these plastic bags everywhere, so to change the habit means it is going to take retraining ourselves and were trying to focus on plastic bags first, Cain said.

To educate the public, BYO Guilford will show the movie Bag It on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Guilford Free Library, 67 Park St. The documentary explores the use of plastic and the effect it has on the environment, marine life and human health.

Cains ordinance calls for merchants to begin using recycled paper bags, with a charge of 10 cents a bag to offset the cost of the bags for the businesses.

Many of the Branford merchants have expressed concern about the ordinances fiscal impact on their establishments, according to Kilgore. This is also of concern to Guilford businesses, like Bishops Orchards.

While the farm market supports the effort and strives to make a positive impact on environmental issues, this is not an initiative that they can accomplish overnight, according to Sarah Bishop DellaVentura, Bishops marketing director. In addition, doing away with all plastic in the farm stand is not possible, due to federal and state food safety regulations.

The problem with the bags is that, coming to a complete halt, you are basically asking businesses to do away with bags that they have spent money on and someone like us and some of the bigger retailers, who order them twice a year and spend $15,000 a year on bags, thats a lot of money to throw down the drain, she said. And then we still have to dispose of them.

While they look at the possibility of switching to paper bags, they are considering a plan to charge a nominal fee, say 5 or 10 cents per plastic bag, and donate the money to charitable organizations, preferably local, that support environmental causes. Bishop said they have always had paper bags for their customers and those strong, durable handled bags cost the business about 17 cents versus about 4 cents for the plastic bags, which she saids, are made from recycled materials and are recyclable.

This is a big project to do, she said. I think the initiative of bringing your own bags is absolutely fantastic. Im behind it 100 percent and we applaud our customers who use their own bags. It puts a smile on our face, we know that theyre doing something great for the environment, theyre not using one of our plastic bags, which is an expense to us, Bishop said.

Guilford First Selectman Matt Hoey said he was pleased to hear from Cains group at the Aug. 20 Board of Selectmen meeting.

I think its important that we have a discussion in the public domain about the impact to the environment, particularly since we are a coastal community, he said. The impact to the marine life is substantial and whether we wind up with an ordinance, or not, to me is not the important part. The important part is this is a grassroots effort on behalf of some of the members of our community to try to do something proactive to protect the environment, to protect wildlife and I was thrilled to see it come through.

Balzano knows that eliminating plastics from everyday life is not something that will come easily to every single person and that everyone needs to do it on their own terms.

Its all about a balance, Balzano said. Being extreme usually isnt sustainable; you usually burn out really quickly if youre really extreme, like Get rid of everything,  she said.

So, I think its all about a balance, she said. I think also, not being hard on ourselves, do the best you can do.

Plastic-Free Guilford can be contacted via danielarbalzano@gmail.com, 203-444-2544, Facebook Plastic-Free Guilford. Find the Branford group on Facebook BYO Guilford.It was a close call in the San Francisco Bay Saturday. Tourists out on the water with San Francisco Whale Tours watched as a cargo ship narrowly passed by a feeding humpback whale.

The whale was feeding in the busy area of the bay between Fisherman's Wharf and Alcatraz.

"It's the equivalent of trying to have dinner in the middle of a freeway," said Michael Pierson, spokesperson for the whale watching company.

WHALE WATCH: Photographer catches incredible video of mom and baby humpbacks breaching

The whale watching boat backed off when it noticed the massive ship approaching, and crew members hoped the freighter would do the same. When the humpback heard the rumble of the ship's engines, it moved out of the way.

Not all whales are so lucky, though. A study by Point Blue Conservation Science last year found that more than 80 whales are killed by ship collisions every year. Several whale carcasses have washed up on Bay Area shores this year, from the Oakland Estuary to Marin County. A 62-foot-long endangered blue whale washed up in Point Reyes in June.

The cause of death in all cases were determined to be human-related.

Read Alix Martichoux's latest stories and send her news tips at amartichoux@sfchronicle.com.

Start receiving breaking news emails on wildfires, civil emergencies, riots, national breaking news, Amber Alerts, weather emergencies, and other critical events with the SFGATE breaking news email. Click here to make sure you get the news.NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. -- The U.S. Air Force is only beginning to answer the who, what and where behind its immense proposal to create 74 new squadrons by 2030, the service's top leaders said Tuesday.

Addressing reporters here at the annual Air Force Association Air, Space and Cyber conference, Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson and Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein said the service is not blind to the many barriers it's likely to face when implementing the 12-year structured plan.

In the recent fiscal budget rollout, lawmakers asked, " 'What do you need to execute the National Defense Strategy?' And we should know the answer to that question," Wilson said. "We all recognize, we're not naive, to the financial constraints within which we make decisions. We make them all the time."

But she said the service has a duty to tell the American public what it and the Defense Department as a whole need to meet threats from countries such as Russia and China.

"That should be what the country wants their leadership of the Air Force to do," she said. "This is a forward looking document  it's looking forward for where the adversary is developing capability."

She continued, "We're giving people the opportunity to think about this. We have an obligation to explain to the country what we need."

Wilson announced Monday that the service intends to add 74 operational squadrons, increasing from 312 to 386, with the bulk conducting command and control; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and tanker refueling operations.

The breakdown would include the following:

5 additional bomber squadrons

7 more fighter squadrons

7 additional space squadrons

14 more tanker squadrons

7 special operations squadrons

9 nine combat search-and-rescue squadrons

22 squadrons that conduct command and control and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance

2 remotely piloted aircraft squadrons

1 more airlift squadron

Some took to social media asking how the Air Force plans to do all this, especially with an uncertain financial future. The service says it will need roughly 40,000 airmen and personnel to achieve these goals by the 2030 timeframe, but has not provided details on equipment, aircraft, additional bases, and other issues.

"Right now, we have not gotten the exact mix of tails," Goldfein said. "The follow-up work is part of the dialogue [about] the costing out, the number of tails, the number of pilots, maintainers ... but we made a conscious decision to roll this out now to begin that dialogue."

Rep. Adam Smith, a Democrat from Washington who has been floated as the next House Armed Services Committee chairman, sounded dubious upon learning of the Air Force's 386-squadron plan.

"It's reasonable that the Air Force is doing studies about its future," he said, as reported by Flightglobal. "But they are only concepts and, at some point, the Air Force will have to deal with budgetary realities as well."

Some leaders here at the conference acknowledged similar thoughts -- that for now, the proposed expansion needs more studies and discussion.

Gen. Timothy Ray, the new head of Air Force Global Strike Command, said that regardless of the proposed additional bomber squadrons, the service is sticking to its Bomber Vector road map, which was unveiled during the fiscal 2019 budget rollout. The plan calls for the retirement of the B-1B Lancer, known as the "Bone," and the B-2 Spirit by the mid-2030s, to make way for the new B-21 Raider.

"There is still a dialogue with Congress that needs to happen. There are five other studies, I believe, that need to come together to have that discussion," Ray told reporters Monday. "There are a lot of moving parts here. There will be a dialogue, of course, after [the conference] as we go into the next calendar year and with Congress about how will this play out."

Ray added, "But I think this was the secretary giving her best military advice."

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.Marine units scheduled to deploy from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, or train in other areas affected by last week's deadly hurricane will have to wait until next month as some roads leading on and off base remain impassable.

Members of 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines, who were scheduled to head to Norway this month, will remain at Lejeune for now, Maj. Gen. David Furness, commanding general of 2nd Marine Division, said this week. Similarly, members of 1/6, who just returned from Norway, will see their leave extended following their six-month deployment.

"Until at least 1 October, we're kind of holding in place," Furness told All Marine Radio on Tuesday. "We've got two battalions who just got back on post-deployment leave, and we told them 'don't come back.' "

An advance party from 1/6 has returned to the U.S., but most of that unit remains in Europe, he said. Similarly, 3/8 sent its advance party to Norway, but the rest of the unit is still at Lejeune.

"All that is frozen," he added.

That's partly because the conditions in some areas leading onto and off the base remain unsafe, with downed trees, power lines or floodwaters preventing passage. Marine Corps aircraft are also tied up with relief missions, Furness said, or were moved out of the storm's path before it hit last week.

Units scheduled to complete major exercises have also had their plans derailed by the storm. Marines with 2nd Tank Battalion were in the process of completing gunnery qualifications at Fort Pickett in Virginia before Florence. Most of those Marines were sent back to North Carolina ahead of the hurricane so they could reunite with their families.

Now, Furness said, they'll have to see if scheduling will allow them to complete those qualifications. If other troops are slated to hit those ranges next month, 2nd Tanks will have to make other arrangements, he said.

The division was also in the process of shipping gear to Norway for Trident Juncture, a massive NATO exercise scheduled for this fall. Furness said he believes the vehicles and command-and-control containers made it onto the ship before it left the pier. But it must account for some of the other gear the crew didn't have time to load onto the ship before it left.

"Next week or the week after that, we'll try to account for that," he said. "We'll figure out if it's still on the pier and -- if didn't get washed away -- how to get it to Norway in time for the exercise."

For now, the Marines who remained at Lejeune are assessing any damage to their facilities and equipment, he said. They're also helping remove trees and other debris left by the storm.

As of Tuesday, power was still being restored to some sections of base housing. Electricity in the barracks is working, Furness said.

Families have been invited to eat at the chow halls on base, although the commissary and some restaurants had reopened by Wednesday. Dry goods, meat, eggs and water were available immediately at the commissary. Produce and milk are on the way, according to a base Facebook post.

-- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @ginaaharkins.NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. -- An MQ-9 Reaper drone has bagged its first air-to-air kill of another small, aerial vehicle in a controlled simulation, an official revealed to Military.com this week.

The successful test late last year showed the U.S. Air Force that an unmanned vehicle like the MQ-9 has the ability to conduct air-to-air combat, much like its manned fighter brethren such as an F-15 Eagle or F-22 Raptor, according to Col. Julian Cheater, commander of the 432nd Wing at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada.

"Something that's unclassified but not well known, we recently in November  launched an air-to-air missile against a maneuvering target that scored a direct hit," Cheater said. Military.com sat down with Cheater here at the Air Force Association Air, Space and Cyber conference outside Washington, D.C.

"It was an MQ-9 versus a drone with a heat-seeking air-to-air missile, and it was direct hit  during a test," he said of the first-of-its-kind kill.

"We develop those tactics, techniques and procedures to make us survivable in those types of environments and, if we do this correctly, we can survive against some serious threats against normal air players out there," Cheater said Monday. "We will go participate in 'Red Flag' exercises, and we will drop weapons in testing environments to make sure that we can fight against those type of adversaries."

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The effort is key to preparing for the next big aerial war against near-peer threats such as Russia or China, who are advancing their skill sets not only in unmanned aerial vehicles but also in hypersonics, electronic warfare, lasers and missile testing, Cheater said.

"In many parts of the world, it's almost a hybrid fight by proxy," he said. "... the MQ-9 Reaper will certainly be a big part of that. So if you package this aircraft in properly with other aircraft, it will be survivable."

The MQ-9 has a payload of 3,750 pounds and carries a combination of AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and GBU-12 Paveway II and GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions, according to the service. The MQ-9's weapons load remains flexible, Cheater said.

As the Air Force began phasing out its MQ-1 Predator UAV in 2017 before its official retirement earlier this year, the larger, more lethal MQ-9 began expanding its mission set -- especially in areas like Afghanistan.

For example, when the military mission in Afghanistan transitioned from Operation Enduring Freedom to the NATO-led Resolute Support, the MQ-9's missions increased tenfold in comparison to the MQ-1.

The Reaper conducted 950 strikes, firing approximately 1,500 weapons, between January 2015 and August 2017, according to Air Force Central Command statistics provided to Military.com at the time. The MQ-1 executed only 35 strikes, employing roughly 30 weapons, in that same timeframe.

"We specialize in urban settings," Cheater said. "That is an important capability that very few aircraft and aircrews have."

But last year's test shows how the service is refocusing and thinking about the agility of the Reaper.

"It's a balance of the forces and resources that we have available, especially on the maintenance side of the house, and everyone wanting to be as close to the fight in numerous locations," Cheater said.

For example, "We can fly from one continent to the next -- we [recently] flew nine [Reapers] from one operating area to another, and that is agile, that is flexible, and it provides options to the combatant commander," he said, without disclosing locations.

The Air Force also recently moved a contingent of MQ-9s to Larisa Air Base in Greece for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions across Africa, according to Defense News. Without commenting on additional locations, Cheater said forward movement will always be part of the MQ-9's future, especially with intelligence gathering on the rise.

"We're 'can-do' operators by heart, and we want to look at it and see what's the best option," he said. "Generally, the resources don't support everything we want to do, so we have to figure out what's the best mix and match of those resources to achieve the desire and best end result."

More study is needed to address the best places to base the drones for forward-operating missions, Cheater said.

In addition, the future of drone feed dissemination and intelligence gathering is becoming more streamlined as part of the Air Force's Next Generation Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Dominance Flight Plan, he said.

The plan, released last month with few specifics for operational security reasons, has become the service's new road map to incorporating more autonomy and data from multiple sensors across platforms stationed around the globe. "We can determine if there [are] threats or indications of enemy forces," Cheater said.

The Air Force wants to leverage artificial intelligence, automation and algorithmic data models to streamline opportunities for airmen watching drone feeds.

"We're actually pretty exceptional as far as adopting new technologies and putting it in combat operations right now," he said.

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.Navy officials have identified the 21-year-old sailor killed Monday while securing an aircraft to the flight deck of a carrier.

Airman Apprentice Joseph Min Naglak died aboard the aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush on Monday, according to a Navy news release. Naglak was struck by the propeller of an E-2C Hawkeye early warning aircraft while he was securing the plane to the flight deck.

His death was felt by the entire crew, Navy officials said in a statement.

"The loss of a shipmate is a heartbreaking experience for a crew of a naval vessel and those aboard USS George H.W. Bush will mourn Naglak's passing and remember him always for his devoted service and sacrifice to our nation," the statement said.

The incident remains under investigation. No other sailors were injured.

Naglak, of West Windsor, New Jersey, joined the Navy in April 2017. He served as an aviation boatswain's mate (handling) airman apprentice and reported to the Bush four months after completing his training in Pensacola, Florida.

He attended West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North, according to his Facebook page, and just this month became engaged to be married.

Pilots assigned to the Bush were conducting carrier flight qualifications at the time of Naglak's death, Cmdr. Dave Hecht, a spokesman for Naval Air Force Atlantic, told Military.com on Tuesday. Those flights, which had initially been suspended, have resumed, according to the release.

The Bush, which is based in Norfolk, Virginia, remains at sea as the pilots complete their qualifications.

-- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @ginaaharkins.CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa -- No injuries or damage were reported after an Okinawa-based U.S. military helicopter made a "precautionary landing" Saturday at Nagasaki Airport, a Marine Corps official said.

A CH-53E Super Stallion from the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing landed at about 4:40 p.m. after the pilot received a "cockpit warning indication," 1st Marine Aircraft Wing spokesman Capt. Eric Flanagan wrote in an email to Stars and Stripes. The incident occurred during routine training on a pre-determined route.

"The aircraft systems performed as designed and notified the pilot of the issue," Flanagan said. "The aircrew performed as trained and chose the safest option, landing the aircraft in accordance with standard procedures."

The wing, which is based out of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, sent a team to the airport to evaluate the helicopter and perform any needed maintenance, Flanagan said. The aircraft was deemed safe and departed the airport the following afternoon, according to the Okinawa Times newspaper. There were no delays to commercial flights.

Emergency landings of U.S. military aircraft have become commonplace in Japan -- something that has alarmed residents in Okinawa. The U.S. military urged locals not to worry.

"Precautionary landings are a result of a commitment to safety, not an indication of a lack of it," Flanagan said. "Our pilots do the right thing by landing at an airport and ensuring we dont fly an unsafe aircraft over anyones home."

The Super Stallion is a heavy-lift platform made by Sikorsky, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin. Plans call for the CH-53E to be replaced with the CH-53K King Stallion in the coming years.The Pentagon wants to improve the methods the Army and Marine Corps use to fill infantry squads with aggressive individuals capable of making clear decisions under the most extreme combat conditions.

The Close Combat Lethality Task Force is trying to identify "best-of-breed science and programs" to find young Marines and soldiers who have the right mix of physical and mental endurance to excel in close combat, according to Sgt. Maj. Jason Wilson, the senior Army enlisted representative for the task force.

"We want to be able to get those soldiers identified early, to find out, 'Do you have the leadership potential to be in the infantry, do you have the mental stability to be able to be in the infantry' and do they have the resilience and the mental capacity to be able to handle some of the things that they may see in the infantry -- to be able to overcome that adversity and bounce back," Wilson told a group of defense reporters Wednesday at the Pentagon.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis launched the task force in March to find ways of helping the services as well as Army Special Operations Command become more lethal at their craft.

"Close combat is an environment characterized by extreme violence within line of sight of the enemy, where historically the vast majority of military combat casualties occur," Wilson said. "It is a tough job for anybody, to be able to ... close with and destroy the enemy. ... That is our purpose."

The task force is currently managing $2.5 billion worth of reprogramming or new funding requests to identify and accelerate sophisticated new weapons, equipment and training designed to give infantry units an edge on the future battlefield.

But the infantry has often been characterized as a career field that does not require high intelligence.

"We are looking to get the infantry to where it is not a place where we send soldiers that don't have the mental capacity to do other jobs," said Wilson, who has been an infantryman for 23 years. "I'm not saying that everybody in the infantry is bad, but we want to get away from close combat forces, you know, being a place for soldiers that don't meet the requisite criteria to be an intel analyst."

Task force representatives recently met with leaders from the 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Benning, Georgia, to "gain an appreciation for the models they use for selecting their current soldiers," he said.

But recruiting is only one part of the solution.

"We need to do everything we can do to hang on to those soldiers, to help train the new soldiers," Wilson said, describing how the Marine Corps and the Army must look at new ways to retain seasoned conventional infantrymen. "I dealt with it as well. Soldiers would go to Ranger School, and they would come back and immediately be like ... I am going [Special Forces] or I want to ... go to a Ranger battalion."

The task force has looked at helping the services with funding for retention tools such as bonuses, but Wilson did not offer specific details about those efforts.

"I don't know what the timeline is, but I can tell you there is forward momentum on it," he said.

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.The original Tun Tavern in Philadelphia was the birthplace of the Marine Corps and was almost as old as the city itself.WIESBADEN, Germany -- Three U.S. soldiers were injured when their Abrams tank struck an embankment Wednesday during a training exercise in Slovakia.

The soldiers were evacuated to nearby medical facilities and are in stable condition, according to an Army statement.

The three soldiers are assigned to the 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. They were taking part in the Slovak Shield exercise at Multinational Training Area Lest, in the country's south.

An investigation is underway and no further information was available regarding the incident on Wednesday, Army officials said.

The 1st ABCT arrived in Europe in May from Fort Hood, Texas. They are supporting Operation Atlantic Resolve, a mission to reassure NATO members in Eastern Europe following the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula by Russia in 2014.

There are about 130 soldiers from the brigade taking part in the exercise, Army officials said Wednesday. In total, there are approximately 1,300 troops participating in Slovak Shield from the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, the U.S. and Slovakia.WASHINGTON -- Five low-performing Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals have improved enough in the past six months to no longer qualify as high risk, the VA announced Tuesday.

The VA hospitals in Dublin, Ga.; Harlingen, Texas; Roseburg, Ore., Nashville and Denver were removed from high-risk status based on new performance statistics released Tuesday.

The statistics, called the Strategic Analytics for Improvement and Learning, or SAIL, score hospitals based on 25 categories, including patient satisfaction, overall efficiency and death rates. The scorecards are used to rank hospitals using a star system -- one star being the worst and five the best.

Last year, 15 hospitals, including the facilities in Dublin, Harlingen, Nashville, Roseburg and Denver, received one-star ratings. The VA in February announced an "aggressive new approach" to improving those hospitals, which included more direct oversight from VA headquarters.

At the 15 hospitals, 26 managers and senior leaders were removed -- a result of "close scrutiny of performance trends," said VA Press Secretary Curt Cashour.

The five hospitals removed from the high-risk list are on track to rise to two stars when the new star ratings are released, Cashour said. The new star ratings are expected to be made public before Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year.

Nine other VA hospitals are still designated as high risk. Those facilities are located in Hampton, Va.; Big Spring and El Paso, Texas; Jackson, Miss.; Loma Linda, Calif.; Memphis and Mufreesboro, Tenn.; Walla Walla, Wash., and Phoenix.

One hospital that made the high-risk list has gotten worse. The Washington, D.C., VA Medical Center was elevated to "critical" in July after a quarterly review found conditions had deteriorated.

The D.C. hospital has been under scrutiny since last year, when the VA inspector general warned of widespread failures that put veterans at risk. The warning prompted former VA Secretary David Shulkin to fire the hospital director. Since then, a series of temporary directors have led the facility.

VA Secretary Robert Wilkie said Aug. 7 that he would soon announce a new, permanent leader for the hospital. As of Tuesday, he had yet to name a replacement.CADILLAC, MI -- You never know who you're going to run into on a search for Michigan's Best.

That's what happened when we arrived at Primos BBQ in Cadillac on Tuesday morning while beginning Day 2 of our search for Michigan's Best BBQ.

We discovered a parking lot full of Michigan State Police troopers who were enjoying the brisket and the Cuban sandwich, which was the special of the day.

Owners -- cousins (primos in Spanish) Mike Yount and Jason Towers -- have keep the locals squealing with glee for good BBQ since opening Memorial Day weekend. The cousins plan to stay open throughout the year after being met with overwhelming support from the community.

It was a fun visit. More on Primos BBQ later.

For now we want you to check out this video, where the Michigan's Best Team (that's us, Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez) recap Day 1 (Sept. 17, 2018), which took us to:

Brutus, Michigan, to check out the Rusty Saw Smokehouse North,

then Traverse City to Cordwood BBQ at Little Fleet and Sparks BBQ in downtown.

Look for another video tomorrow or follow all of our adventures on Social Media.

Michigan's Best on Facebook MLiveMIBest

Michigan's Best on Twitter @mlivemibest

Michigan's Best on Instagram @mlivemibest

ALSO:

Amy Sherman on Twitter @amyonthetrail

Amy on Facebook and Instagram @amyonthetrail

John Gonzalez on Twitter @michigangonzo

Gonzo on Facebook and Instagram @MichiganGonzo

Overall we plan to visit 40-50 BBQ places all over the state.

Look for the results in early to mid October.

Here is today's schedule for Wednesday, Sept. 19:

1-2 p.m. Bone Daddy's, Midland

2:30-3:30 p.m. That Guys, Bay City,

4-5 p.m. Norm's Market & Catering, Richville

6:30-7:30 p.m. Slo' Bones BBQ Smokehaus, Frankenmuth

See our whole first week itinerary here:

More on the BBQ search:ANN ARBOR, MI - A University of Michigan professor's decision to rescind an offer of a recommendation letter for a student to study in Israel has drawn scrutiny from the university.

John Cheney-Lippold, an associate professor of American Culture at UM, told the student in an email he was taking part in an academic boycott against Israel, and could no longer provide the recommendation.

Cheney-Lippold said that after looking over the student's request, he needed to rescind his initial support, noting that "many university departments have pledged an academic boycott against Israel in support of Palestinians living in Palestine."

"I should have let you know earlier and for that I apologize," Cheney-Lippold wrote to the student. "But for reasons of these politics, I must rescind my offer to write your letter."

Cheney-Lippold told the student he would be available to write any other letters for the student in the email. He also later clarified in an email to The Ann Arbor News that he should have said "many university professors have pledged an academic boycott against Israel," rather than university departments.

A professor @U_of_michigan wrote this letter to a student who was planning on studying in #Israel. Academic boycotts arent just theoretical. They have a direct impact on students daily lives on campus. This is why we fight. pic.twitter.com/VNUqa9kSvL  CAMERA on Campus (@CAMERAonCampus) September 17, 2018

After the email circulated online Monday, UM reiterated its position in opposition to any boycott of Israeli institutions of higher education.

"No academic department or any other unit at the University of Michigan has taken a position that departs from this long-held university position," the statement reads.

That position has been stated and posted publicly by university leaders, including a statement from the president and provost in 2013 and a statement from members of the university's governing Board of Regents in 2017.

"As an academic, I feel my role and responsibility is to teach and write, but it is also to critically engage the political world outside the borders of my word processing software and the walls of a classroom," Cheney-Lippold said in an email to The Ann Arbor News. "A small part of this engagement is to make the conscious decision to refuse to write letters of recommendation.

"The backlash to my refusal is surprising - with all the talk about 'free speech' circulating in public discourse, it seems professors don't enjoy the same privileges as other citizens," he added. "In fact, the backlash suggests that professors have been demoted from thinking and critically-engaged scholars to 'embodied letter of recommendation writing machines' who have no autonomy or political agency within the process. That evolution seems odd and terribly regressive."

Cheney-Lippold said he has been in contact with the UM administration only to address the correction of his initial assertion that "university departments" were pledging an academic boycott, and his corrected view of "university professors" supporting the boycott.

Cheney-Lippold said the Boycott, Divestments, Sanctions (BDS) movement is meant to put pressure on an Israeli government that, he argues, perpetuates "violence and dehumanization."

"For me, I see the boycott as a non-violent response to Palestinian (and also Israeli and other Jewish) activists and civil society who have called for international solidarity measures that pressure the Israeli state to move towards democratic rule, equal rights, and an end to the occupation of Palestine," Cheney-Lippold wrote.

Michigan Hillel, which supports nearly 60 independent student groups for approximately 6,700 Jewish students on campus, issued a statement after learning about Cheney-Lippold's decision to rescind the letter, advocating for supporting students' rights to the education they choose.

"This professor's decision is antithetical to the academic values of our University. A professor's political views should not factor into any student's access to learn, including studying in Israel," Michigan Hillel Executive Director Tilly Shames wrote in a statement.

The university stated it will engage with faculty in "deep discussions" to clarify how the expression of "shared values" plays out in support of all students.

"It is disappointing that a faculty member would allow their personal political beliefs to limit the support they are willing to otherwise provide for our students," the statement reads.

Last fall, UM's Central Student Government called on university leaders to investigate divestment from companies that do business with Israel.

UM's student government passed a resolution stating that three companies "violate Palestinian human rights."

UM's Board of Regents later declined to form a committee to investigate divesting the university's endowment from certain companies accused of contributing to human rights violations against Palestinians.Detroit public schools tested drinking water on the majority of its campuses and found that samples in 57 of 86 schools had copper or lead levels in excess of legally acceptable limits.

With some results still pending, the Detroit Public Schools Community District is searching for a long-term plan to resolve the drinking water issue.

More on the drinking water crisis

"Moving forward, we will continue to use water coolers district-wide and are actively working through the bid processes to make a recommendation to the board for the use of hydration stations," administrators said in a statement issued Wednesday, Sept. 19. "This will occur within the next couple of weeks.

"The hydration stations would be installed in all schools by the beginning of (the 2019-20120) school year district-wide and replace the need for water coolers."

It's estimated there will be one water station per 100 students.

Mass drinking water problems were discovered in at least 33 of 52 schools when test results were returned just prior to the start of the 2018-2019 school year.

Results prompted administrators to install water coolers and offer bottled water to students as they returned to class earlier this month.

Detroit Public Schools Community District Superintendent Nikolai Vitti told the Associated Press it would cost an estimated $100,000 per month to provide water to students.

The administration also ordered further testing.

A list of schools that tested for high levels of copper or lead can be found here.

Administrators of the region's water systems issued a statement last week to make clear that .

The high lead and copper levels detected at the schools have been attributed to aging school infrastructure, and not the source water system, according to the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) and the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department.DETROIT -- Quicken Loans founder Dan Gilbert is naming a new chairman for his real estate company.

Jim Ketai, who had been serving as CEO of Bedrock Detroit, is taking on the chairman role, according to Bedrock spokesperson Whitney Eichinger.

Bedrock, which Gilbert co-founded with Ketai, owns more than 100 properties, and has been at the center of numerous development projects in Downtown Detroit.

Eichinger said Ketai will be Bedrock's first chairman, though Gilbert has long been referred to as chairman of Bedrock in press releases and company materials. She said the title was used in the past to refer to Gilbert's chairmanship over all his companies, and that his leadership role with Bedrock isn't changing.

Quicken Loans' Vice Chairman Bill Emerson will serve as acting CEO, and Dan Mullen, previously Bedrock's president and chief marketing officer, will now be executive vice president of business development, according to Eichinger.

It wasn't immediately clear what led to the leadership changes.

The real estate firm has been involved in numerous Detroit development and historic restoration projects, as well as park, public space and alleyway improvements. Bedrock owns the under-construction skyscraper expected to become Michigan's tallest building on the historic former site of Hudson's Department Store, and numerous other Detroit properties central to the city's economic resurgence.RICHFIELD TWP., MI -- PFAS contamination has been found in groundwater and leachate at and near a shuttered landfill near Holloway Reservoir, and the state says arrangements are being made to sample several nearby home water wells as a precaution.

Richfield Landfill has been added to a state listing of confirmed PFAS sites after testing of two groundwater and one leachate samples showed contamination up to 25 times the state action level for drinking water.

PFAS are a group of manmade chemicals that have been used in a variety of products to make them resistant to heat, oil, stains, grease and water since the 1940s, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Two other locations in Genesee County were previously identified as know sites of PFAS -- the Coldwater Road Landfill and Gilkey Creek.

MLive-The Flint Journal could not immediately reach a representative of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality about Richfield Landfill testing but a fact sheet on the agency's website says it is not expected that residential water wells have been affected.

The sample with the highest level of PFAS from Richfield came from leachate -- the liquid that drains -- or leaches -- from a landfill.

"The leachate PFAS sample was taken to assist in evaluating leachate treatment/disposal options" for the property, which was closed after owners filed for bankruptcy protection is 2012, the DEQ fact sheet says.

In 2014, a potential buyer for the nearly 300-acre property emerged and announced a proposal to mine the property for recyclables, but the deal never materialized.

Genesee County Commissioner David Martin said many questions and unresolved problems still surround the landfill.

The discovery of PFAS may help refocus attention or provide funding for cleanup of the property, Martin said.

"Something has to be done," he said. "PFAS is a big issue, and Richfield is going to get the same attention" as other contaminated sites in the state.

The DEQ report says groundwater samples near the landfill were taken to evaluate "site related PFAS impacts."

While one groundwater sample nearest to the landfill exceeded state action level of 70 parts per trillion, the second sample was less than that threshold, the DEQ fact sheet says.

The first groundwater sample registered 201 ppt, nearly three times the state action level for drinking water, while the leachate sample was 1,860 ppt.

Located off East Mt. Morris Road, north of Holloway Reservoir, the landfill was first licensed to operate in 1966.

It became an unsold asset of Richfield Equities and related companies that filed for bankruptcy protection in September 2012.

At the time of the closing, the landfill was operating under the terms of a corrective action plan with the state, according to Flint Journal files. The DEQ issued a notice of violations before the property stopped accepting waste, claiming the dump was poorly managed, that records were disorganized or missing and that contaminated wastewater was poorly managed on the site.

Local officials have previously been concerned because an original cell on the property was never lined and because of the property's close proximity to Holloway Reservoir, a part of the Flint River.

The DEQ says landfill cells on the property are believed to be structurally sound but require leachate removal and other maintenance.

"Historical groundwater monitoring indicated indicates that this portion of the landfill caused a groundwater impact in the shallow aquifer (that) flows south toward, and discharges into, the Holloway Reservoir (Flint River)," the state fact sheet says.

Downstream testing of the Flint River showed rising levels of PFAS contamination before it was used as the city of Flint's water source four years ago.

A 2015 state report showed that samples of the river in Saginaw County and the Montrose area showed it had the second- and third-highest concentrations of PFAS in testing at 13 separate sites in the state in 2011 and 2013.

Earlier this year, downstream of Mott Dam, the state issued new advisories for carp, largemouth and smallmouth bass, rock bass and walleye because of testing that showed elevated levels of PFOS in fish samples.

PFOS stand for perfluorooctane sulfonate, part of a larger family of compounds known as PFAS.GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Facebook voting for a contest featuring the artwork of 10 Grand Rapids high school students is adding to the buzz surrounding the kickoff of ArtPrize 10 on Wednesday, Sept. 19.

The winner of the ArtPrize 10 SmartArt People's Choice Award will be determined by the most Facebook reactions, including likes, loves, shares, etc.

SmartArt, sponsored by Consumers Energy, stands for Students Making Art with a Renewable Theme. People can start weighing in at noon on the Consumer's Energy Facebook Page but must vote for their favorite by noon Thursday, Sept. 27.

ArtPrize, a 19-day international competition in its tenth year, will award artists $500,000 in cash prizes. More than 1,200 entries are on display through Oct. 7.

"The SmartArt competition continues to be a shining example of how ArtPrize can serve as a stage to celebrate the creativity and ingenuity of our city's youth," said Becca Guyette, ArtPrize director of learning and engagement, when the top 10 finalists were announced.

More than 18,000 students and educators are expected to participate in ArtPrize Education Days programming.

SmartArt is a partnership between ArtPrize, Grand Rapids Public Schools and Consumers Energy.

In addition to the winner of the social media contest, professional judges will select the grand prize SmartArt winner from the 10 finalists. Both winners will be announced during the ArtPrize "finalists" show at Rosa Parks Circle on Sunday Sept. 30.

The SmartArt winner will receive a $1,000 college scholarship and an Apple computer. The People's Choice Award winner will get a $200 Visa gift card. The winner's art teacher will also get $200 for art supplies.

"The SmartArt contest has evolved into an annual opportunity that our students and fine arts teachers look forward to with great excitement," said Grand Rapids Superintendent Teresa Weatherall Neal.

This is the sixth year of the SmartArt contest and third for the Facebook People's Choice Award. There were nearly 50 entries for this year's competition.

During ArtPrize, a banner with the top 10 SmartArt finalists will be on display along the side of Consumers Energy's Ellsworth Substation at Fulton and Market streets downtown.

The 10 SmartArt finalists are:MIDDLEVILLE, MI -- Groundwater contaminated with known carcinogenic chemicals is discharging into the Thornapple River and the responsible company is asking state regulators to let dilution solve the problem.

Bradford White Corporation, a water-heater manufacturer in Middleville, wants the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to consider a pollution exemption that would allow continued discharge of groundwater plumes contaminated with chlorinated solvents into the Thornapple River.

Presently, the contaminant discharges are above the state's Part 201 environmental cleanup criteria, but Bradford White is asking the DEQ to allow a "mixing zone" in the river that would dilute the contamination.

Under a mixing zone designation, discharges would be acceptable so long as concentrations of chlorinated solvents in the river don't exceed acceptable state surface water thresholds, said David Wierzbicki with the DEQ remediation division in Grand Rapids.

The volatile organic compounds entering the river are vinyl chloride, trichlorethylene (TCE) and ethylene dichloride. The Environmental Protection Agency considers vinyl chloride and trichlorethylene to be carcinogens, and ethylene dichloride a probable carcinogen.

Local officials and river watershed groups weren't aware of the dilution request until contacted by MLive.

Walter Bujak, a member of the Thornapple River Watershed Council, said in an email it is "totally unacceptable" that the discharge of any amount of carcinogens into the river is being considered.

"The solution they are trying to sell to us is the old 'dilution is the solution to pollution' pitch from the industrial era," Bujak said. "I can't believe this is happening in America today right in our own backyard."

Jon Bylsma, an attorney with Varnum Law representing Bradford White, refuted the notion that the company is solely relying on dilution to rid groundwater of chlorinated solvents.

"We've taken significant steps using the latest technology as that technology has been developed and that has significantly remediated this issue on-site," Bylsma said. "The idea that Bradford White is just using the river to wash this all away is the opposite of what the data shows and the reality is."

The Thornapple River is a tributary of the Grand River that enters upstream of Grand Rapids. Wierzbicki said it's possible but not likely that the solvents would accumulate in higher concentrations downstream.

Erv Gambee, president of the watershed council, said he plans to alert residents downstream and municipal officials of the proposal.

"In the future we'll be asking ourselves, 'Why did we do that?'" Gambee said.

Village Manager Duane Weeks said he was unaware that Bradford White wanted to continue discharging contaminated water into the Thornapple River but knew the company was talking with state regulators about lowering levels of chlorinated solvents in the groundwater.

The company's request was publicly disclosed in the DEQ Environmental Calendar, a bi-weekly clearinghouse for permitting decisions, new administrative rules and other official notices that is not widely read by the general public.

The public can comment on Bradford White's request until Sept. 28.

The contamination plumes are from degreasers previously used at Bradford White to clean metal parts prior to painting, according to the company's mixing zone determination request. Although they were stored in concrete pits, the substances seeped into the groundwater beneath the plant.

The resulting groundwater plume underneath the plant eventually spread west toward the river and south to residential areas of Middleville.

A map of eastern Middleville detailing monitoring and extraction well locations as well as portions of the groundwater plumes.

The plumes have not affected the village water supply, Wierzbicki said.

Though there are community wells north of the Bradford White plant plume and southeast of the residential area plume, modeling shows the plumes aren't headed toward either, he said, adding that the projection is confirmed by monitoring wells.

Middleville water has not been tested for chlorinated solvents.

Beyond water concerns, chlorinated solvents pose a threat to residential homes through vapor intrusion. Compounds like vinyl chloride in soil can vaporize and enter poorly-sealed homes, causing illnesses when regularly inhaled.

Wierzbicki said that groundwater sampling hasn't indicated vinyl chloride is migrating upward toward the surface. However, no Middleville homes have been tested for vapor intrusion, he said.

Bradford White has tried to remediate the plumes by pumping and treating contaminated water and using bacteria, Wierzbicki said. Pockets of contaminated groundwater remain that are above acceptable levels.

The DEQ gave Bradford White the choice of either cleaning up those areas or requesting a mixing zone.

Bylsma said it wasn't a choice. He called the dilution request a "necessary" and "common" action.

"Bradford White does not see this as a choice between remediation efforts and a mixing zone determination," Bylsma said. "The remediation efforts, which have been going on for decades and have been very successful, will continue as best as we can do that. The mixing zone determination is a necessary and very common step any time there's an impact zone that is near a water way."

The application states the discharge of contaminated water into the river wouldn't degrade the river because it's already happening.

According to the company application, the "majority" of polluted groundwater is already being captured by a trench and treated by an air stripper system. Cleanup began in 2004. The last time the chemicals were used was in the mid-1980s.

At the area where groundwater enters the river, vinyl chloride was detected this year at 62 parts per billion (ppb). Ethylene dichloride was detected at 1,510-ppb and TCE was detected at 830-ppb. Those concentrations are above the state's criteria for contamination at the groundwater-surface water interface (GSI).

Wierzbicki said levels of chlorinated solvents in the groundwater have and will continue to decrease with existing cleanup efforts.

"They're doing everything they can to keep it out of the river," Wierzbicki said. "They're cleaning up the groundwater as best they can, as efficiently they can ... It's just difficult to intercept (everything)."

Written comments can be mailed to David Wierzbicki, DEQ Remediation and Redevelopment Division, 350 Ottawa Ave. NW, Unit 10, Grand Rapids, MI 49503.

Comments can also be emailed to Wierzbicki at wierzbickid@michigan.gov.There is a medical mystery in my family. And it's serious.

A predisposition to colon cancer seems clear. But we don't know why.

It's not Lynch Syndrome, the most common inherited condition linked to colon cancer. And a study of 83 genes from the family's most recent colon cancer patient showed no mutations that would explain the issue.

But something is going on, and we're not the only family.

As researchers delve into the causes of colorectal cancer, families like mine hold clues that experts still don't quite understand.

"We used to say that 3 percent of colon cancer were due to strongly inherited factor. We now say it's more like 10 percent. In individuals under 50 with colon cancer, inherited factors are found in one of five," said Dr. Elena Stoffel, a University of Michigan expert in gastrointestinal cancer screening and prevention.

In families where no specific inherited factor has been identified, "we could say it's probably bad luck - people do get struck by lightning," Stoffel said. "But when we look at families like yours, wow, a lot of people have been struck by lightning."

My family's known history with colon cancer begins with a maternal great-aunt and a maternal uncle were both diagnosed with the disease when they were in their 70s, although they died of other causes.

Audrey Tenaglia with her husband Michel and their children in August 2008, four months before Audrey's death from colon cancer at age 42. From the left, Glenn, 12; Audrey; Silvana, 7; Mike; Serafina, 10; and Rocco, 14. (Photo courtesy of Mike Tenaglia)

Then in 2008, my cousin Audrey Atkin Tenaglia was diagnosed with metastatic colon cancer at age 41. Audrey died 10 months later, leaving behind four young children.

When my four sisters and I asked doctors whether we should be worried, they shrugged it off. Ours is big extended family. None of the people diagnosed were first-degree relatives -- parents or siblings.

Nonetheless, at the nagging of my husband and parents, I had a colonoscopy shortly after my 50th birthday. The gastroenterologist was as shocked as I to find stage three colon cancer. After surgery and chemotherapy, I was declared cured.

It still all seemed to be coincidence. It's a large family, and the biopsy report on my tumor indicated it lacked the characteristics of Lynch Syndrome.

Then in March, my niece Chelsea Cunliffe Boet was diagnosed with metastatic colon cancer.

At age 34.

Two months after giving birth to her second child.

Red flag missed

It was time to start connecting the dots.

On average, an American has a 4.5 percent chance of being diagnosed with colorectal cancer during his or her lifetime. The average age at diagnosis is about 70.

In my family, starting with my maternal grandmother and her siblings, colon cancer has been diagnosed in five of 33 people in three generations. That's a cancer rate three times higher than the national average.

Three of the five cases were diagnosed in people under 60. That doesn't include Chelsea, who is among the oldest of a fourth generation of relatives who are now young adults and teenagers.

But just counting the cancer cases understates the risk in our family. With each diagnosis, other family members would get colonoscopies. In some cases, precancerous polyps were found and removed, preventing more cancers from developing.

For instance, after their aunt was diagnosed with colon cancer in the early 1980s, my mother and her sister each had colonoscopies. Mom and Aunt Jo, who is Audrey's mother, each had precancerous polyps. My mother was 45 and my aunt was about 39.

Since then, for more than 35 years, my mother and aunt have had colonoscopies every three to five years, and almost always have had polyps removed.

The good news: It's highly probable the only reason Mom and Aunt Jo never had colon cancer is because of those colonoscopies."It probably saved their lives," said Dr. Sreenivasa Chandana, Chelsea's medical oncologist.

The bad news: That history of colon polyps was a major red flag in our family history that doctors are only now recognizing as important.

This is a partial family tree for Chelsea Boet, Julie Mack and Audrey Tenaglia, and shows the family history of colon cancer. The first known case was Rose Heeney Sheehan. Sheehan was childless, but her sister -Mack and Tengalia's grandmother and Boet's great-grandmother -- had seven children (not all shown on this chart), including a son who had colon cancer and two daughters with a long history of precancerous polyps. The two daughters had nine children: Two - Mack and Tenaglia - had colon cancer; four others had colon polyps before the age of 50, and a seventh is the mother of Boet, who was diagnosed with colon cancer in March at age 34. To see the chart legend, click on "legends."

Unbeknownst to us, both Audrey and I DID have a first-degree relative indicating our risk of colon cancer and the need to start colonoscopies well before age 50. While our mothers never had the disease, it's only because those colonoscopies literally nipped the cancer in the bud, again and again.

"People have argued that a family history of polyps should be given same weight as family history of colon cancer," Stoffel said.

My mother and aunt had nine children between them. Of the nine, Audrey and I had colon cancer, four others had polyps removed before age 50 and my sister has a daughter with colon cancer.

"So seven of the nine," Chandana said. "There probably is a genetic connection of some kind we don't know about yet."

Unlike a decade ago when my sisters and I were told not to worry, doctors now say we should take this very seriously. In fact, they're recommending Chelsea's three siblings as well as her 10 maternal cousins have colonoscopies starting at age 24, which is 10 years before Chelsea was diagnosed.

"There is certainly enough going on in the family that everybody should be watched carefully," Stoffel said.

Searching for clues

After Chelsea was diagnosed this spring, she went to a genetic counselor who was certain she had Lynch Syndrome, based on the family history.

The counselor was shocked that lab tests on 83 of Chelsea's genes found nothing. But humans have about 20,000 genes, Stoffel noted.

"The question is, in families like yours, is there an alteration in a gene we didn't look at?" Stoffel said. "Or is there some other factor?"

Perhaps, she said, the culprit may be epigenetics, which is heritable changes in gene expression that determines active vs. inactive genes.

In other words, it may involve a gene "that looks normal on sequencing but is not functioning normally" because the mechanism regulating genes is turning it off, Stoffel said.

There is something called Familial Colorectal Cancer Type X, used in cases "where colon cancer is marching through generations" and no apparent cause is found, Stoffel said.

"People really are doing a lot of in-depth analysis of the genome in families like yours," Stoffel said. "They're sequencing all 20,000 genes and even some whole genome sequencing to look at the genetic material that may not be captured including genes.

"A lot of that work has not found a smoking gun," she said. "The thought is there may be some other epigenetic factor that we're just not able to capture yet."

Exploring the genetic connections to colon cancer has come a long way in just a few years, Stoffel said.

Had Chelsea been diagnosed five years ago, "we would have tested her for Lynch Syndrome and that would have been it. Now they're checking 83 genes. It's possible five years from now, we'll be checking all 20,000 genes."

Importance of family history

But the perhaps the real take-away here is the importance of family history in assessing risk of colorectal cancer.

Colon cancer can be a deadly cancer, but it's also one of the easiest to prevent through regular screening - as proven by my mother and aunt.

"One in 10 people with colon cancer have a genetic factor that predisposes them to cancer," Stoffel said. "If we could identify who those people are, we could watch them more carefully and start colonoscopies earlier, which can prevent the cancer from developing."

She also urged colorectal cancer patients under 50 to have genetic testing done, since they have twice the likelihood of having a gene mutation, which could identify other family members at risk.

Hailey Duff poses before coaching the Salem Rocks cheerleading squad at Novi High School on Sept. 7, 2018. Hailey was diagnosed with colon cancer at age 18. She is now in remission.

That was the case for Hailey Duff, a patient of Dr. Stoffel who was diagnosed with colon cancer three years ago when she was 18. Genetic testing showed that Duff and a number of her family members have Lynch Syndrome.

"There's a ton of colon cancer on my dad's side," but it's only now family members recognize the need for early and regular colonoscopies, said Duff, who lives in Livonia.

"Hopefully, this is where the line ends" in terms of colon cancer in the family, Duff said.

Although she is at high risk of developing another precancerous polyp, with regular colonoscopies "they can catch it and get it out of me and it will be fine," Duff said.

"The genetic testing could save my life," she said. "It could save my dad's life. It could save my sisters' lives, my cousins' lives. It could save a lot of lives in our family."BIG RAPIDS, MI - Michigan comedian Dave Coulier is coming to Ferris State.

Known for his role as uncle Joey in the iconic sitcom "Full House," Coulier has deep ties to Michigan.

He will perform at Ferris State University's Williams Auditorium as part of the school's Homecoming Comedy event. The show is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 27.

Homecoming comedian committee member Ciara Kibby, a third-year student in the Biology/Pre-Veterinary program from Watervliet, said Coulier was the choice of students polled by the Center for Leadership, Activities and Career Services.

"We asked them to help us structure the pursuit of a comedian, and he was among the name acts that were offered to students," Kibby said in a statement. "We are happy to be able to select and bring on a performer of his caliber."

Coulier, a native of St. Clair Shores, has nearly 40 years of stand-up comedy experience and has hosted "America's Funniest People" on ABC. He has also had a long career as a voice actor, appearing in cartoon comedies such as "Scooby and Scrappy Doo," "The Real Ghostbusters" and "Robot Chicken."

Student tickets went on sale on Sept. 4. Tickets are now available to the public for $10. The show is expected to sell out, according to a news release.

Logan Dunsmore, a senior in Ferris State's Plastics and Polymer Engineering program, will serve as opening act at this event. Dunsmore is currently working as a stand-up comedian in Milwaukee.

Tickets can be purchased Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the CLACS office, which is on the lower level of the University Center. Purchases can be made with cash or credit cards.We now want to put before you as much evidence as we can, so you know what is going on. We cannot tell you everything. All of you will understand why individuals have a right to privacy and confidentiality. We ask that you all respect this, because we may not be able to tell you everything, for legal reasons and reasons of privacy.

We recognize that the last 24 hours have been exceptionally difficult and as a result, we as a Board have decided to share with you information about the decision that was made, the process by which it was made, and where we are now, in order to act in the best interests of Cochrane.

Last Thursday, the Board took a decision which divided the Board. Subsequently, four Board members chose to resign and have actively disseminated an incomplete and misleading account of events. At the same time, others contributed to a public and media campaign of misinformation.

This is about the behaviour of one individual. There has been a lengthy investigation into repeated bad behaviour over many years. It is exceptionally unusual for a Board to have to do such an investigation.

These are extraordinary times and we find ourselves in an extraordinary situation. Your Board is always happy to answer questions about our decisions, and today is no different. We want to explain how we got here today. This wasnt our original plan because we wanted to behave fairly and with integrity, in a process that respected the privacy of an individual, whilst taking place over a number of days. Days, which unfortunately span this special Colloquium.

By way of background, we are a global organization which operates under British law because we were founded as a UK charity. Our mission is to benefit the public. We are governed by our Articles of Association.

As the Board, we are in fact the employers of the Cochrane staff. All our staff, and our members, have the right to do their work without harassment and personal attacks. We are living in a world where behaviours that cause pain and misery to people, are being called out. This Board wants to be clear that while we are Trustees of this organization, we will have a zero tolerance policy for repeated, seriously bad behaviour. There is a critical need for ALL organizations to look after their staff and members; once repeated, seriously bad behaviour had been recognized, doing nothing was NOT an option.

So, here are the facts as we are able to report them. We may be able to tell you more later, we may not. Time will tell.

This Board decision is not about freedom of speech.

It is not about scientific debate.

It is not about tolerance of dissent.

It is not about someone being unable to criticize a Cochrane Review.

It is about a long-term pattern of behaviour that we say is totally, and utterly, at variance with the principles and governance of the Cochrane Collaboration. This is about integrity, accountability and leadership.

In March this year, we received three complaints about an individual. These were not the first complaints that had ever been received. In fact, the earliest recorded goes back to 2003. Many have been dealt with over the years. Many disputes have arisen. Formal letters have been exchanged. Promises have been made. And broken. Some disputes have been resolved, some have not.

It was clear to the Co-Chairs that the Board had to reach a decision about these most recent complaints. The individual then made serious allegations against one of the Senior Management Team and shared those with the Board. We seemed to be in an impossible situation. How could the Board now reach a decision about the complaints in a fair way? How could we fulfil our responsibilities as employers of the Senior Management Team? Or alternatively, act to admonish that member of the Senior Management Team if they had done wrong?

With guidance from a Trustee with extensive experience of complaints, we proposed asking a totally independent person to undertake a review. The report was to be confidential to the Board.

After failing to get agreement from the individual to an independent review, we then sought legal advice on behalf of Cochrane. We asked the lawyers, what should a Charity such as Cochrane do in this situation? We were advised that various legal consequences flowed from the events  the complaints and the accusations - and that Cochrane should take them seriously.

We asked the lawyers to take particular note of Cochranes commitment to transparency. They noted that, but also stressed the importance of confidentiality.

They advised that an independent review was both a sensible and proportionate response.

At the Governing Board Teleconference on 13th June 2018, all Board members read the letter from our lawyers. The lawyers stated that given the serious legal concerns about this matter they strongly recommended an independent review by a very senior lawyer. The Board approved a motion to accept the lawyers advice and establish the independent review.

Our lawyers identified a senior independent lawyer (QC) and he was instructed on 2nd July 2018. As part of the process, he invited written submissions from both individuals concerned. He invited both to be interviewed. The lawyer was asked to work to a deadline of the Board Meeting on Thursday last week, 13th September. And, we did in fact receive his preliminary report in time for that meeting. The report completely exonerated the member of the Senior Management Team but did not exonerate the other individual.

Whilst the review was underway, and as a completely separate matter, a paper was published in the journal BMJ-EBM co-authored by the individual concerned on July 27th 2018. The publication of this paper has proved controversial. As a result, the Board received a number of letters of complaint. Each was sent to the individual to allow a written response. In order to avoid any misunderstanding, the Board want you to be clear that this was a matter that arrived very late in this whole process.

So, at the Board Meeting on Thursday September 13th, the trustees reviewed the lawyers report of his independent review, and all the material related to the recently published paper. After they had reviewed and discussed this at length, the Trustees exercised their judgement, and looking across a broad range of behaviours, the Board came to a decision to invoke Article 5.2.1. relating to termination of membership. This was not unanimous.

As a result, Article 5.3 was triggered, and the member has been invited to make a written response within seven days.

At this point in time, this person remains a member of the Cochrane Collaboration. We are waiting for the process to be completed. We will report back to you about the outcome as soon as we are able to.

Let us repeat, this is an extremely rare and unusual thing to do. We hope never to have to do this again.



Cochrane Governing Board

17th September 2018As national political parties have beefed up their voter data collection and outreach campaigns, they've increasingly directed their efforts towards Michigan voters ahead of what both parties see as crucial midterm elections in the state.

In 2016, Michigan's electorate gained national attention when President Donald Trump narrowly won victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton. Now, Democrats at the national level are looking to recoup losses with new technology and investments into Michigan's Democratic bases, while Republicans are using data and field work in an effort to hold onto gains made in Michigan over the last few cycles.

The Democratic National Committee sees plenty of room for growth in Michigan and are "cautiously optimistic" about their opportunities in the state, said Mandy McClure, the DNC's Midwest press secretary.

But after 2016, the national party doesn't want to leave states like Michigan to chance. The DNC has contributed $500,000 to Michigan so far this cycle in grants and monthly investments, much of which is being invested into training and outreach in base communities such as Detroit and Flint.

"We had many lessons to learn from 2016, and one of them was that we can't just show up every four years," McClure said. "We aren't taking any vote for granted, and we're making sure our Democratic campaigns have the resources they need to grow and reach voters."

The party has also prioritized cell phone contacts, purchasing 94 million cell phone numbers of registered voters to add to its nationwide voter profile, and is expanding its outreach to unregistered voters.

McClure said the average voter will likely see more direct engagement from their local and state Democratic parties this year than in past election cycles, and that the national party is putting renewed focus into technology resources for state parties and campaigns.

Michigan Democratic Party Chair Brandon Dillon described the national party's efforts in Michigan pre- and post-2016 as "night and day:" "Right now, it's day. Before, it was night," he said.

"There's so many good things going on - a lot of it's being driven by just the emphasis that the DNC has put on the partners at the state level," he said. "We're on the short list of six to 10 states that I think have gotten extra special attention this year."

For Republicans, the moment of truth nationally came in 2012, when party officials saw that they weren't tracking or using voter data as effectively as they could be, said Brian Parnitzke, director of turnout and targeting for the Republican National Committee.

"We took a good hard look at what went wrong on our side and what went right on their side," Parnitzke said. "We recognized and made a commitment to never let our party fall so behind on that data front."

The party's ongoing predictive analytics data initiative, coupled with training of field staff and local activists, has helped Republican campaigns with providing targeted messaging to specific groups of voters that could make the final difference in a race, Parnitzke said.

As the data set has grown over the last several cycles, Parnitzke said it gets even more effective at predicting which groups of voters are the most important to reach out to.

"Our voter scores have been getting better and better every single year because everyone's using them," he said. "We've done more modeling, we've spent more on it, and we've used it more to drive decisions that we make in this cycle than any other cycle. A lot of that is because we have the Trump team that saw this, used it and believed in it."

Keeping the gains made in Michigan over the last few cycles is also personal for the national party's chair, Ronna Romney McDaniel, who as state party chair helped secure Trump's election victory in Michigan.

Ellie Hockenbury, the regional communications director for the RNC, said the party is working on encouraging voters in Michigan and nationwide who like the party's recent record of tax reforms and the current economic climate to head to the polls and continue the trend.

"We know history is not on our side, we know the party in power tends to lose seats, but look what we've done," she said. "I'd rather have our record to run on than just resist and obstruct on their side any day of the week."A Michigan mother who punished her daughter for getting in trouble at school by taking the 15-year-old's cellphone away is in the clear from jail time after charges against the woman were dropped.

Jodie May of Grandville was arrested back in April of this year after her ex-husband filed a complaint and told police he owned the cellphone in question, the Associated Press via WOOD-TV reports. The woman maintained she was "just being a mom" attempting to discipline her daughter, but she was still charged with misdemeanor larceny.

This original charge for simply taking her 15-year-old daughter's phone wasn't enough, as the Ottawa County Prosecutor's Office added a second charge -- larceny by conversion -- before court proceedings began Tuesday, Sept. 18.

WOOD-TV reports that prosecutors learned before the case was about to start that the 15-year-old daughter owned the phone, and not the ex-husband who filed the charges.

"The mother defendant being the mother of the minor child, I believe that changes the case significantly," Ottawa County Assistant Prosecutor Sarah Matwiejczyk reportedly told the judge before proceedings started.

"Therefore, we're requesting that the charges be dismissed."

After realizing requesting the charges against the mother be dropped, Matwiejczyk refused to elaborate to WOOD-TV in saying "I have nothing to say, thank you." May's court-appointed attorney, Jennifer Kuiper-Weise, told the outlet this was another example of a misdemeanor case not being "thoroughly vetted."

While she walks away with a clear record, the mother attempting to punish her 15-year-old daughter for getting into trouble at school said the whole situation was "ridiculous."

"I can't believe I had to be put through it, my daughter had to be put through it, my family," she said. "I'm very surprised, but I'm very happy with the outcome."U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III, D-Mass., polls attendees on the issues that mattered most to them at an event at Michigan State University in East Lansing Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018. He was campaigning with U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint Twp., and other Democratic candidates for office.

Massachusetts Congressman Joe Kennedy III came to Michigan Wednesday, accompanying Michigan lawmakers and candidates to speak on college campuses.

Joined by U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint-Twp., and other Democratic candidates, Kennedy visited the University of Michigan and Michigan State University campuses Wednesday and was also scheduled to keynote the Michigan Democratic Party's Best of the West reception in Grand Rapids.

While in East Lansing, Kennedy polled the crowd on the issues they cared about the most, which included costs of education, the U.S. Supreme Court nomination, women's rights and others.

Kennedy highlighted rising costs of college tuition and the statistic that half of millennials have no savings, telling the crowd that in six weeks voters have "this rare opportunity to actually reset the trajectory of this country."

"Your generation will decide the future of what happens in America," Kennedy said, referencing the students in the room. "You'll decide it if you vote, you'll decide it if you don't."

Stabenow, who is running against Republican John James in the U.S. Senate election, said the 2018 election was crucial for Democrats, citing races up and down the ticket as well as ballot proposals that would institute a redistricting commission and implement changes to Michigan's voting laws.

"We always say this election is the most important of our time - well, you know what? This one is," she said.

Also in attendance at the East Lansing event was Elissa Slotkin, Democratic candidate in the 8th Congressional District, and Democratic MSU Board of Trustee candidates Brianna Scott and Kelly Tebay.

Kennedy is currently serving his third term in Congress and is the grandson of Robert Kennedy and the grand nephew of former President John Kennedy.JACKSON, MI - Because he used lethal force to defend property and not himself or his wife from a violent crime, Tracy Lawrence is going to prison for killing two teens who were breaking into his truck.

Jackson County Circuit Judge John McBain sentenced Lawrence Wednesday, Sept. 19, to serve 19 to 40 years for the murder of Hunter Lentz and Matthew McMillen, both 18, who were shot and killed on June 8, 2016, on his property off Town Road in Springport Township.

Lawrence, 55, who had no criminal record prior to the shooting, apologized to both families prior to his sentencing, telling them he has grandchildren who are the same age as the victims.

After seven hours of deliberations, July 24, a jury found Lawrence guilty of two counts of second-degree murder and one count of felony firearms.

Lawrence's attorneys, George Lyons and Jared Hopkins, argued throughout his trial that Lawrence was within his rights to defend himself as the teens were on a crime spree the morning of their deaths.

According to documents obtained by the Citizen Patriot through a Freedom of Information Act request, police suspected McMillen and Lentz were in the middle of a string of break-ins and larcenies, starting in Napoleon Township and ending at Lawrence's home.

Due to a Michigan Court of Appeals decision not allowing evidence of their alleged actions prior to their deaths to be used at trial, jurors were "not given the whole picture," McBain said.

Prosecutors argued the crime spree evidence was not relevant as Lawrence had no knowledge of it at the time of the shooting, and they reminded the court that the jury disagreed with Lawrence's self-defense argument.

"We heard these arguments multiple times at trial and the jury did not buy them," Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Katie Hawkins said. "They also had the option to find him guilty of a lesser crime and they chose not to. He shot them running away."

Regardless of the excluded evidence, McBain reminded the court that the use of deadly force is limited according to state law.

"There is a lot of misunderstanding about the law with many not knowing that the use of deadly force is narrow," McBain said. "Had they entered (Lawrence's) home, we wouldn't be here. But when (Lawrence) went outside, shot one in the back and the other in the back of the head while they were fleeing, they were not a threat or committing a violent felony."

The prosecution said Lawrence first killed Lentz, who likely died instantly, and then continued firing at McMillen as he fled.

McMillen was shot in the back, according to the medical examiner who conducted the autopsy.

Lawrence contended McMillen and Lentz were running toward him, and it "scared the hell" out of him.

"We have a 50-year-old man at his home with second to make a life changing decision," Lyons said. "We can always feel sorry for (the victims), but you must recognize the position this man was put in. They planned to break into his home in the middle of nowhere at 6 a.m. and we all know a home invasion is just a murder waiting to happen."

Prosecutors reserved the right for the families to seek restitution in the case.

To read all the stories about the shooting, click here.JACKSON, MI - An old pair of women's boots fascinated Bob LaZebnik on a regular stop to the Miller Shoe Parlor.

The early 20th-century kidskin leather boots weren't for sale, they were propped up as a reminder of the early days of the store - which opened around 1912 or 1913, owner James "Steve" Shotwell Jr. said.

Entranced with how skinny the heels of the boots were and the history they represented, LaZebnik, 89, wanted it to be seen by more of Jackson.

A 7-foot sculpture replicating the boot that now stands in front of the Ella Sharp Museum, 3225 Fourth St., accomplishes that, thanks to funding from LaZebnik. It was unveiled at a ceremony on Tuesday, Sept. 18.

"Bob got his first pair of high-top shoes, there," his wife, Laurice said. "His parents bought shoes for all the kids, there. It's still the place if you want a really good pair of shoes, you go there. Because they know how to fit you."

The boots have been on display in the store nearly three decades, Shotwell said. They were found in the house of his grandfather, J.C. "Shotty" Shotwell, after his death.

The elder Shotwell bought Miller Shoe Parlor in 1959 and four generations of the family have worked in the store. It moved to its current location at 103 W. Michigan Ave. from across the street in 1976.

"We've got people who show up from 150, 200 miles away," retired owner Jim Shotwell Sr. said. "They tell us that they drove that far because we're the only store that had anywhere near their size."

It took artist Joshua Diedrich four months to build the 1,200-pound concrete sculpture. The exterior is plasticized black concrete, with the inside crafted from Styrofoam, steel poles, fiberglass and more concrete, he said.

While the original boot was a size 6.5A, Diedrich estimates the sculpture to be a shoe size 236.

"I just looked at the sizing chart and figured out my best estimate," Diedrich said. "I attempted to make it a decent guess."

Based on advertisements in the Brooklyn Exponent and Jackson Citizen - before it became part of the Jackson Citizen Patriot - Shotwell Jr. said the boots retailed between $2.85 and $3.25.

"Art takes the hard edge off our life," Laurice LaZebnik said. "I think people are going to come here to get their picture taken by it. I think they're going to be married by it or engaged by it or (have their) first kiss by the boot."

Next on Bob LaZebnik's to-do list is to get a giant cello steel sculpture - which formerly stood in front of the Jackson Symphony Orchestra - to Ella Sharp Museum, he said.

"He's a Jacksonian and this is what Jacksonians do," Laurice LaZebnik said of her husband. "They're proud of their community and they contribute. That's what this event is all about."KALAMAZOO, MI -- Rudyolphus Mendes gazed into Bronson Park through police tape hours after he was arrested for refusing to leave a sit-in protest.

While he leaned on stone landscaping outside Kalamazoo County 8th District Court, Mendes smoked a hand-rolled cigarette and talked with other members of the uprooted encampment. Protesters, some who left before police began making arrests Wednesday morning, are planning their next steps after being evicted from the park.

Deputy City Manager Jeff Chamberlain said 60 cubic yards of material, enough to fill six dump trucks, was removed from tents at Bronson Park and a Cedar Street property. This included donations of food and clothing from residents.

Mendes, 31, said he doesn't run from problems, he engages them. That's partially why he decided to let Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety officers arrest him for violating a police perimeter. Mendes said the month-long occupation was a just cause.

"We're not trying to destroy this city or tear it up," Mendes said. "(City of Kalamazoo officials) are treating us with bias, prejudice and discrimination, but we are still standing here peacefully, trying to make something right."

Eight people who remained after a Tuesday night deadline set by the city were cited for violating city ordinances. The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety started removing protesters from Bronson Park just before 7 a.m. Wednesday.

Those in the park were given several warnings to leave the park or face arrest.

Chief Karianne Thomas said 10 people were arrested for violating a perimeter established by police and three others arrested on outstanding warrants. Commissioner Shannon Sykes Nehring was allowed inside the police perimeter, but later forced officers to arrest her after she blocked a police van on South Street with her body.

Protesters were also moved out of a second encampment outside a vacant city-owned building on Cedar Street. No arrests were made at that site.

Those arrested for the breaking the police barrier were booked and released on personal recognizance bonds around 9 a.m. Wednesday. A few of them later gathered for a group photo outside Bronson Park, pledging to continue their protest.

Almost all who were arrested have been released from custody. We were arrested defending our right to a peaceful... Posted by Bronson Park Freedom Encampment on Wednesday, September 19, 2018

"(City officials) know what they did was morally wrong, that's why we're out right now," Mendes said. "As far as I know, the protest isn't over. In my eyes, this is the first step."

For now, he plans to join another encampment on a grassy lot owned by the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission.

The city is encouraging members of the encampment to call 211 for housing assistance, relocate to the Gospel Mission, or to camp on land located just north of the mission on Edwards Street.

Rhonda Steward, a Kalamazoo resident who helped organize donations, said dozens of garbage bags full clothes and other donations were thrown out.

Chamberlain said items left in the park were considered abandoned.

"We didn't know the sanitary condition of items," he said. "Out of abundance of caution, and health and safety, the (items) were removed."

Protesters were encouraged to take their belongings and leave the park before 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Chamberlain said.

Protesters were expecting police to arrive at Bronson Park Tuesday night. Several said they were surprised to find police approaching tents in the dark early Wednesday morning.

"They have no right to throw away donations," Kenneth Fuller said. "It was a sneak attack."

Fuller helped drag tents outside the park Wednesday. He was sleeping with his brother in the hospital before the Bronson Park protest and might go to the Gospel Mission, but isn't sure where he will stay now.

Paula Hill, a Portage activist, helped organize food donations and serve meals at the encampment. She helped run kitchens during protests at the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in North Dakota.

Hill brought her own grill and other cooking equipment, which was thrown away when city staff and Kalamazoo County Health Department employees cleaned the park.

Hill was in tears as she stood outside the police tape barrier around Bronson Park.

She was planning to bring the equipment to the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission site, but did not return to Bronson Park in time. Hill said she moved some items out of the park Tuesday night, but didn't expect police to clear out the area Wednesday morning.

"We can't even jump in a dumpster, because we don't know where it went," she said.

Kalamazoo County Health Officer Jim Rutherford said several totes of sealed food items were taken from the site. They can be claimed by Hill, he said, and anything left over will be donated.

"We don't want it to go to waste," Rutherford said. "The items that had to be pitched, unfortunately had to be pitched ... Residents were given notice that this was pending and had a certain amount of time to remove (their property)."

More than a hundred pounds of perishable foods that were improperly stored were disposed.KALAMAZOO, MI -- Commissioner Shannon Sykes Nehring was determined to be arrested at Bronson Park Wednesday morning.

Police evacuated protesters from Bronson Park starting just before 7 a.m. Wednesday, warning those who remained were subject to a citation and arrest for trespassing, and established a temporary perimeter that barred entry into the downtown park. City and county officials were allowed to stay, but Sykes Nehring essentially forced police to arrest her to show solidarity with a handful of protesters who were jailed.

Chief Karianne Thomas said the commissioner was arrested for resisting and obstructing police, a misdemeanor. There were around 10 people who face misdemeanors for violating the police perimeter established in Bronson Park and three people arrested for outstanding warrants.

The first-term commissioner stood with her hands behind her back in line with a group of protesters who resolved to face a misdemeanor charge rather than leave the park. Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety officers placed restraints on each of the protesters near the Rotary Stage, but left Sykes Nehring alone.

She locked arms with one of the protesters while police searched him and followed him while police escorted the pair to the south side of the park. Sykes Nehring said the decision to allow City Commissioner inside the police barrier was "an obvious tactic" to separate her from demonstrators, many of whom have been sleeping in Bronson Park for the last month.

"I've made a promise," Sykes Nehring said. "They don't go without me."

While police loaded protesters into white unmarked vans for transportation to jail, Sykes Nehring made good on her promise. She leaned on the hood of a transport van until several officers tried to remove her from South Street.

Residents and members of the encampment who left before police arrived spilled into the street and recorded the situation on their phones. After a few minutes, Sykes Nehring was put in handcuffs.

Before she was arrested, Sykes Nehring criticized the city for allowing the media and city staff to remain inside the park while protesters were arrested.

"If this isn't criminalizing homelessness, I don't know what is," she said.

City Commissioners take an oath of office required by Michigan Constitution. This is also the same oath that Public Safety Officers and Police Officers take before they can undertake their duties to enforce the law.

Commissioners swear to support the Constitution of the United States and state constitution, and that they will "faithfully discharge the duties of the office of City Commissioner according to the best of (their) ability."

Section 7 of the Kalamazoo City Charter states that any member of the City Commission who is convicted of a felony while in office will forfeit their seat on the commission.

Bronson Park was completely evacuated shortly after 8 a.m. Wednesday morning. Police, city parks and recreation staff and Kalamazoo County health department employees stayed to clean leftover items.

Chamberlain the park will remain closed for part of Wednesday morning while it is cleaned.

The protest began on Aug. 19 in response to proposed city ordinance changes, which would lessen penalties for sleeping and camping in parks but were seen as a way to punish people for being homeless. A series of demands sought more emergency shelter space and resources to address the physical, emotional and mental health of people on the streets.

Many of those who had joined the encampment since it began a month ago had already vacated the park by a 7 p.m. Tuesday deadline, announced by City Manager Jim Ritsema at a Monday City Commission meeting.

Sykes Nehring joined roughly a dozen protesters who formed a circle on the lawn and waited for police to arrive Tuesday evening. None arrived, but she remained in the park overnight.GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A new $3 million manufacturing lab for Western Michigan University students is open in Grand Rapids.

The 15,000-square-foot facility opened its doors to industry leaders Wednesday, Sept. 19, according to a press release from WMU.

The university announced a collaboration a year ago with Grand Rapids Community College and West Michigan manufactures addressing industry needs, the release said.

The Advanced Manufacturing Partnership Laboratory occupies the first two floors of Western Michigan University's downtown Grand Rapids location in the city's Arena District.

It will serve as a program to "cultivate the next generation of engineers, designers and other skilled individuals to serve the manufacturing industry," the release said.

The $2.7 million lab includes prototyping, training, small-scale manufacturing and opportunity for individuals to earn college credits, the release said.

The facility includes 3D printers and scanners, a CAD/CAM lab, plasma cutter, laser cutter, welding station, metrology equipment, and prototyping tools.

"This cutting-edge instructional laboratory has been designed to meet the demands identified by manufacturing leaders, not only locally, but around the globe, to educate the 21st century advanced manufacturing workforce," WMU President Edward Montgomery said in the release.

WMU will begin offering courses in January for a certificate program in Integrated Design and Manufacturing.

The space will be used for six to eight WMU undergraduate courses a semester, said Steven Butt, WMU Department of Industrial and Entrepreneurial Engineering and Engineering Management chair and professor. Grand Rapids Community College will also be offering associate degrees and manufacturing courses, he said.

The development and equipment was partially funded through private investment efforts and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the release said.KALAMAZOO, MI - Police arrested three suspects in an armed home invasion late Tuesday, Sept. 18, near Western Michigan University.

The robbery was reported around 10:45 p.m. in the 1600 block of Knollwood Avenue. A resident told police that he was forced into his home at gunpoint before the robbers took undisclosed property.

Soon after the victim provided police with a description of the assailants' vehicle, police spotted it near Grand Avenue and West Main Street. During a short chase, police said, two occupants fled from the vehicle.

The vehicle eventually stopped near Woodward Avenue and Mabel Street. Police arrested the 19-year-old driver and recovered property that had just been stolen from the victim, police said.

Police determined the identity of two other 19-year-old suspects and tracked them down. Police are seeking two others.

Suspects are held on charges including first-degree home invasion, armed robbery, felony firearms, fleeing and eluding, unlawful imprisonment, carrying a concealed weapon, possession of marijuana, possession of methamphetamine, larceny from a vehicle and accessory after the fact.

Stolen property that was taken from the Knollwood home was returned to the victim, police said.KALAMAZOO, MI -- Roughly a dozen protesters who preferred to face arrest than leave Bronson Park formed a circle on the lawn and waited for police to arrive.

Supporters in the community stood close by, many of whom recorded the situation with their cell phones. But there was no sign of police hours after a deadline set by the city to vacate the park passed.

City Manager Jim Ritsema announced Monday that those camping after 7 p.m. Tuesday are considered trespassers and would face arrest. Hundreds of residents, some eager to see the encampment end, flocked to the park to see how police would enforce city ordinances that prohibit sleeping and camping in parks.

Members of local churches held a potluck in solidarity with protesters who have occupied the downtown park for the last month to highlight a perceived lack of resources for homeless citizens. The demonstration continued after the deadline set by Ritsema passed.

Protesters fill Bronson Park as deadline to vacate property approaches. Posted by Kalamazoo Gazette on Tuesday, September 18, 2018

City Commissioner Shannon Sykes Nehring said she is committed to being arrested first. She has supported the protest more outwardly since Labor Day and slept overnight in Bronson Park.

"We did have some folks move out, but a number of us are standing our ground, so we are going to wait and see," Sykes Nehring said. "If we get a no-show, then we continue to stay we're not going anywhere. I wouldn't be surprised if (police) attempted to wait us out."

Sykes Nehring said no-one wanted to live in the park indefinitely, but the site is a public location to keep momentum moving forward. Meanwhile, the City Commission committed to exploring long-term housing options for the group.

Lisa Batten, a member of First United Methodist Church of Kalamazoo, said she wishes the city would have found another solution to shelter the protesters. Homelessness is a community problem, she said, and needs to taken on by everyone.

"I'd prefer a different resolution," she said. "How can we come to place where people are being cared for?"

Downtown residents Leo Zanoni and his wife Cathy sat on a bench across from the encampment. The retired couple said it was their first evening feeling safe coming to Bronson Park in the last month.

"It's about time" parks ordinances being enforced, Zanoni said. The community is charitable, he said, but people should be connected with well-paying jobs.

By the time the sun went down, the group was a fraction of what it was when Tuesday started. Just under 100 tents were visible at the start of the week, containing between 150-200 people, according to the city.

Campers were defiant after hearing Ritsema's decision to vacate the park, but roughly three-quarters of tents were removed by mid-afternoon. All that remained in the north area of the park were spots of dead grass.

The protest began on Aug. 19 in response to proposed city ordinance changes, which would lessen penalties for sleeping and camping in parks but were seen as a way to punish people for being homeless. A series of demands sought more emergency shelter space and resources to address the physical, emotional and mental health of people on the streets.

A work group of local governmental officials and social service providers was assembled to achieve these goals, but the encampment continued to gather members.

Ritsema told protesters several times during the last month that they are violating city ordinances by camping in Bronson Park. Protesters were allowed to stay indefinitely, but Ritsema decided to clear the park after the camp grew during the weekend.

Tents were originally set up on the steps of City Hall before being moved to Bronson Park, then a Cedar Street property with city permission. A dozen people remained at Cedar Street, but most of the group moved back to Bronson Park after Labor Day.

Ritsema said the Cedar Street encampment would also end after Tuesday.From The Hill.com Man arrested for shouting into Utah Republican's mic at debaten. The comments are a ghastly display of ignorance and hatred.

###



Police arrested a man Monday who interrupted a debate by shouting into Rep. Chris Stewart's (R-Utah) mic during a debate with opponent Shireen Ghorbani (D) in Utah.

Corbin Cox McMillen was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and interrupting a political debate for commandeering Stewart's mic to announce a connection between vaccines and autism, according to local CBS affiliate KUTV in Utah.

McMillen appeared to shout "vaccines cause autism," before being escorted off stage, according to multiple reports.

The Utah Debate Commission released a statement promising to improve security for future debates.

"Safety in our venues is our number one priority," the statement read, according to KUTV. "Unfortunately, one person crossed the line, was escorted out and arrested by law enforcement authorities that were present. The Utah Debate Commission will review and enhance our security at future debates while simultaneously continuing to encourage participation in the electoral process."

A Dan Jones & Associates poll from earlier this month found Stewart with an 11 point lead over Ghorbani at 45 to 34 percent with 16 percent undecided. The margin of error was 6.9 percent.

Stewart was first elected as a representative of Utah's 2nd district in 2012.SAGINAW, MI -- A man who overdosed on heroin while driving in a car with his kids in the vehicle's back seat has taken a plea deal.

Stephen A. Vliet, 28, on Sept. 11 appeared before Saginaw County Circuit Judge Janet M. Boes and pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree child abuse in the presence of another child. The charge is a 10-year felony.

In exchange, prosecutors agreed to dismiss a charge of second-degree child abuse, also a 10-year felony.

Vliet's 26-year-old codefendant, Brandy Lynn Tubbs, also is accused of overdosing in the car. She is charged with second-degree child abuse and is set to face a jury trial on Nov. 27.

The couple's charges have their origin in an incident that occurred the afternoon of June 19. First responders arrived to the scene of a vehicle stopped in the roadway near the intersection of Sheridan and Williamson roads in Saginaw County's Spaulding Township.

Vliet had been driving with Tubbs as a passenger. Also in the vehicle were Vliet's 10-year-old son and Tubbs' 9-year-old daughter.

"MMR had to arrive on scene to revive the people in the front two seats," District Judge Terry L. Clark said at the couple's June 21 arraignment. "The children were telling the police what Mommy and Daddy were doing."

Saginaw County Sheriff's deputies later determined the couple was in Saginaw County to buy heroin. After they ingested it, they began to lose consciousness and their vehicle drifted, police said.

Vliet hails from Alger and Tubbs is from Roscommon.

Judge Boes is to sentence Vliet on Oct. 30.EDENVILLE, MI - A company that owns a hydroelectric dam on the Tittabawassee River in Gladwin County is seeking an emergency stay to prevent the loss of its federal license to operate.

A spokesman for Boyce Hydro Power LLC said if the Edenville Dam can no longer operate, the reservoir of water behind the dam - Wixom Lake - would have to be lowered by eight feet, impacting boating and shoreline property owners.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Sept. 10 revoked the license of Boyce Hydro Power to operate the dam, alleging years of noncompliance and a failure to meet safety standards. FERC says Boyce Hydro must shut down all electric-generating equipment by Sept. 25.

Lee Mueller, architect and co-member manager of the company, filed an emergency motion with FERC seeking an emergency stay of the order on Tuesday, Sept. 18. He added that the motion is designed to provide "a more balanced view" of Boyce's circumstances and to correct some of the past allegations of noncompliance.

Adam Beebe, a member of the Four Lakes Task Force, said the community should care about the issue because residents live on an impoundment lake and a functional dam is needed to ensure disruptions or other issues don't affect the life of lake residents or the possibility of property values declining.

He said that they have hired consultants to look at a range of options on how to best move forward with preserving the dam, adding the community buying the dam could be an option.

Boyce Hydro is working with the task force to develop recommendations to transfer the license and ownership to a public ownership structure that would allow more opportunity for funding.

Celeste Miller, a spokesman for FERC, wrote in an email that the commission issued the revocation order because Boyce Hydro has failed to increase the project's spillway capacity to safely pass flood flows, as well as its failure to comply with its license. The dam has a total of 6 spillways located at two sites on the waterway.

Miller added that the license is revoked effective 15 days from the issuance date, and the dam must cease use of its electric-generating equipment and file written notification, provide documentation and pictures, to the secretary of the commission.

After the revocation, the commission's jurisdiction will end and authority will be passed to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality for dam safety regulatory purposes.

One of the big issues, the federal report concluded, is the failure of the dam to pass the probable maximum flood guideline - that in the event of natural disaster, the dam would not fail.

"Currently, spillway capacity can only pass about 50 percent of the PMF (possible maximum flood) at the Edenville Dam," the report reads.

Mueller wrote in his response email that the "problem behind the problem" of noncompliance is because of the economic circumstances and that Boyce Hydro "simply has not had the financial ability in the last eight years, to pay for the required Probable Maximum Flood mitigation construction limitations with Consumers Energy under the State of Michigan's energy policies and regulatory structure."

He added that Consumer Energy's own hydro-electric projects are subject to the same FERC regulations but the company is able to raise its rates to account for the cost of compliance. But Boyce, an independent dam owner that sells energy to Consumers, cannot do that.

"(I)t is impossible for Boyce to obtain conventional financing for expensive capital improvement projects because it cannot demonstrate that a future revenue source will be available to repay the loans."

Beebe said the order comes at a time when FERC is inspecting dams in the area on Sept. 20.

He said drawing down the reservoir hasn't been done in the past, but after the Oroville Dam failed in California last year, the commission is now doing inspections.

Beebe, who also is president of the Sanford Lake Association, said they are working on several solutions to get a plan into place going forward.

"We are trying to get them to delay the closure to give us enough time to get a plan into place," he said. "The key thing is to make sure there's a cooperative transition between the federal government and the DEQ and DNR (Department of Natural Resources)."

He said the lake level is a big deal and the task force is working on the best way to address this problem and see if FERC will agree to extend operation of the dam until November.

The other dams operated by Boyce Hydro in the area are not affected by the federal order.SANDUSKY, MI -- Ten months ago, four men attempted to rob a medical marijuana grow operation in rural Sanilac County. A gunfight erupted that left two of the would-be robbers dead and the grower wounded. Later, a third suspect died by suicide while in jail.

Now, a suspect who survived the bungled holdup is in prison for his role in the crime.

Sanilac County Circuit Judge Donald A. Teeple on Sept. 12 sentenced 30-year-old Preston X. Jack to three concurrent terms of 10 to 20 years in prison, plus a consecutive two years.

Teeple gave Jack credit for 297 days served in jail on the two-year sentence, but no credit on the other three terms.

Jack in July pleaded guilty to single counts of felony firearm, first-degree home invasion, assault with intent to commit robbery while armed, and armed robbery causing serious injury.

Jack committed his crime about 5 a.m. on Nov. 19 at a residence on Holbrook Road in Greenleaf Township. He was accompanied by Stephen V. Shimmel, 48, Quantize A. Bruce, 20, and Keith N. Saunders, 26.

Jack and Shimmel were armed with handguns at the time.

The quartet attempted to rob residents of pot and cash, with one of the male occupants of the home being struck in the leg by a bullet. Another male resident returned fire, his bullets striking both Bruce and Saunders, police said.

Bruce died of his wounds at the scene as his three cohorts fled.

Less than a mile away, sheriff's deputies found a car with Saunders dead inside. The car had been reported stolen in Flint the previous month.

Deputies soon after found Jack at a farm about five miles southwest of the scene and arrested him. Shimmel was found hunkered down in some woods about a mile south of the crime scene and arrested.

On Nov. 21, they were arraigned on a combined 22 charges.

About 10 p.m. that day, Sanilac County Jail staff found Shimmel hanging in a jail cell, outside of the view of a security camera, officials previously said.

Undersheriff Bradley A. Roff on Wednesday, Sept. 19, said an outside agency conducted an investigation regarding Shimmel's death. The results indicated proper protocol and policies had been followed, Roff said.SAGINAW, MI -- A 61-year-old man police say went on a spring bank robbery spree in Saginaw has pleaded guilty as charged.

Derrick Morris on Monday, Sept. 17, appeared before Saginaw County Circuit Judge Andre R. Borrello and pleaded guilty to two counts of bank robbery and one count of attempted bank robbery. Both charges are life offenses.

Morris also pleaded as a habitual offender.

Court records indicate Morris' sentencing guidelines range from 43 to 172 months.

Borrello indicated Morris' minimum sentence wouldn't exceed 96 months -- or eight years -- if he pleaded guilty.

The prosecution offered Morris no plea deal and no other charges were dismissed.

Morris' first holdup occurred about 9 a.m. on April 6 at the Chemical Bank at 100 S. Michigan Ave. Three days later, authorities issued a warrant for Morris' arrest.

Morris committed his second holdup about 11:40 a.m. on April 13 at Saginaw County Employees Credit Union at 1700 Court St. He attempted his third robbery on at 3:40 p.m. on April 16 at Family First Credit Union, 1011 N. Michigan Ave.

Morris obtained money in the first two robberies, but left empty handed in the third.

Late on April 18 or early the next morning, Michigan State Police troopers conducted a routine traffic stop on East Holland near 20th Street in Saginaw. Troopers discovered Morris in the vehicle and arrested him.

Judge Borrello is to sentence Morris on Nov. 14.SAGINAW, MI -- A restaurant catering to wine and beer lovers is open for business in the SVRC Marketplace.

Federal 131- a wine bar and tap room, is the latest restaurant to move into the marketplace, 203 S. Washington Avenue. It features indoor and outdoor seating, and a midcentury modern vibe.

The business, which can be accessed through the Washington Avenue plaza, opened on Friday, Sept. 14.

Owner Tom Miller Jr. said the wine bar and taproom offers 24 microbrews on tap and 32 different wines. The focus is on wine, he said.

"There aren't a lot of places in the area that you can you can try wine," said Miller.

He added that wine is a difficult beverage to keep fresh because after a couple of days it spoils. To lengthen the life of the wine, the business imported a stainless closed-loop system from Italy that creates a seal for the opened wine, removing the oxygen and adding food grade argon gas into the bottle. The process allows the wine to last 6-8 weeks.

Miller said customers can taste a variety of wines by ordering a flight or a single wine tasting for $1-$3. The wines will be a mix of top shelf, conversation starters and some from Argentina and Italy such as Hong Sauvignon Blanc, Seven Daughters Moscato, and Duckhorn Napa Valley Merlot.

The menu is seasonal and most ingredients will be sourced from businesses in the market. Lonnie Paser, head chef for the restaurant, crafted a menu that features drunken mushrooms, smoked fish dip duo, scotch eggs, fish tacos, classic Caesar salad and more.

Food and wine aren't the only features the bar and tap room offer, the decor is a centerpiece on its own.

Lindsey Miller, Miller's sister-in-law, designed the business to project a midcentury modern feel, while still keeping the historical integrity.

The business underwent an historic renovation, which transformed what was once The Saginaw News' publisher and secretary's office. A slate herringbone tile floor, leather booth seating, golden spheres for lights and a wooden table that Miller crafted with his business partner Greg Fischer contribute to the theme.

Miller said he plans to decorate the walls with historic photos of Saginaw.

Miller, also the owner of Woody O'Brien's and J.B. Meinberg's, was inspired to invest and stay in Saginaw because of developmental leaders like Shaheen Development.

"We just want to be another amenity to have," Miller said. "We want to be complementary to the marketplace and offer something that they don't have."

The name Federal 131 pays homage to Saginaw and Miller's dad. Federal is the street the business sits on, and 131 was his dad's paper route growing up.

"He walked to the news building everyday to pick his papers up when he was a kid," Miller said.

The business is open 11 a.m. - 12 a.m. and 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Sunday for brunch.Viewership for the 2018 Emmy Awards was down 11 percent when compared to the past two years, which was a big enough drop to represent a new record-low audience for the awards show.

The Associated Press reports about 10.2 million people tuned into television's biggest night on Monday, Sept. 17. The 70th Primetime Emmy Awards were hosted by Colin Jost and Michael Che of "Saturday Night Live" fame.

A.P. notes the awards show scored an audience of 11.4 million each of the past two years, according to Nielsen Company data. Compare this to the 1990s, when the Emmy Awards exceeded 20 million viewers three different times.

The Emmys aren't the only award show feeling the burn this year as ratings for the Oscars were down 19 percent and the Grammys down 23 percent.

HBO's "Game of Throne" won for outstanding drama and Amazon's "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" became the first streaming show to win outstanding comedy. HBO and Netflix took home the most Emmys with each service winning 23 each.

For a full list of winners, click here.Over the course of an eight-year relationship with a community just outside of the town of La Romana in the Dominican Republic, students involved with Rockford High School's Interact Club have managed to help build a school with the capacity to teach students up to the fourth grade.

Now, the Interact Club is looking to raise another $60,900 to build two additional rooms onto that school, which will allow students in the area to attend through the eighth grade.

In order to accomplish that goal, Rockford's Interact Club is planning to hold numerous fundraisers throughout the school year. Rockford has worked to build the school with other Interact clubs in West Michigan, including the Lakeshore, Kenowa Hills, Eaton Rapids, and Saugatuck clubs.

Those fundraisers include a Noodles and Company dinner on Oct. 24, Breakfast with Santa on Dec. 15 and a Three-Minute Shopping Spree raffle at Ric's Food Center in January, among others.

On top of building the school in the community, which is known as Batey 106 and is home to a number of families who make a living working as sugar cane farmers, Rockford students also have helped provide clean water to residents there by purchasing and installing bio-sand water filters in homes and have helped with sanitation issues by building two latrines and a trash collection bin.

Students with the Interact Club first began visiting Batey 106 eight years ago. Club advisor Kelly Gardner said she has probably taken around 60 students over that time span and that another group of about 20 students is preparing to travel there again this upcoming February.

"Each year, we have to have an international project to be a Rotary Interact Club," Gardner said. "We chose back in 2012 to focus on clean water. Once we saw that the water issue in ... Batey 106 was solved, we then moved onto sanitation. After those major health concerns were taken care of, we interviewed the people of the batey.

"They told us that education is the most important thing to them," she said. "They want their children to have a better life than them. It made sense to us to have a school helping a school and we decided that water, sanitation and education is the trifecta for our Interact Club."

Gardner said the club hopes to adopt another batey in the Dominican after work on the school in Batey 106 is complete.

To donate to the cause, visit the Rockford Interact Club's GoFundMe page at https://bit.ly/2pbpqxv. For further information on the group or their efforts in the Dominican, contact Gardner at kgardner@rockfordschools.org.SpaceX CEO Elon Musk announced that Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa will be the first private passenger to travel to space, via SpaceX's Big Falcon Rocket. According to Musk, the trip could happen as early as 2023, just 55 years after Apollo 8 achieved the first lunar orbit. Some are excited by the news and see this venture, albeit an expensive one, as the first step toward expanding tourism to space. Others see the journey as a needless expenditure, given that there is still so much still to learn about space itself. Should space be the new frontier for tourists?

PERSPECTIVES

The first "tourist" is heading to Space. Yusaku Maezawa, a Japanese entrepreneur and billionaire, bought his ticket on SpaceX's still-in-production Big Falcon Rocket, thus fulfilling his life-long dream of being close to the moon.

But he didn't stop there; Maezawa bought a handful of additional tickets to finance the trips of 6-8 artists to accompany him. Forbes's Alex Knapp reports that Maezawa aims to turn his journey into an artistic venture-a project collectively titled #dearMoon. According to Knapp, Maezawa ultimately hopes:

Maezawa's trip might seem like space tourism on the surface, but at its heart lies a desire to bring people together through artistic expression and collective imagination.

The financial details of Maezawa's "trip" have yet to be revealed, but one can only imagine the price tag that comes with purchasing 6-8 additional tickets on a rocket that hasn't even been created yet. Musk now estimates the cost of the BFR to be around $5 billion, but such an accelerated timeline, that cost could easily go up. Wired's Amy Thompson reports that Musk:

The BFR is still in its prototype phases, and SpaceX will have a lot of ground to cover before the hopeful 2023 launch date. Some wonder if the focus required to get the BFR up and running in a mere five years might be better spent elsewhere.

Will the #Spacex lunar orbit flight or flights have crew other than the billionaire and his artist guests? Trained astronauts with flight experience? NASA, Russian, astronauts? Former ISS crew? Jet pilots?



cc @NASA @SPACEX @ElonMusk @SPACEdotcom @NASASocial  Chuck Baggett: peace is freedom, freedom is peace (@ChuckBaggett) September 18, 2018

But Musk might already have sights set on more passengers like Maezawa. Wired reports:

Rather than perusing Google Flights or Airbnb, wayfarers could skim rocket tickets and even trips to Mars. Space tourism opens up the door for humanity to come face to face with existence itself. A trip around the moon is just the beginning; space tourism is the future.

Space Adventures: Our Vision

Even for those less mesmerized by the moon and stars, traveling to space has a magical ring to it. But in reality, the journey could be far less glamorous than people imagine-particularly with Maezawa's idealistic #dearMoon project in mind. Vox's Joseph Stromberg grounds skyward-looking globetrotters:

The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Local Media, LLC property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt, on Instagram @TheTylt or on Facebook, we'd love to hear what you have to say.















Researchers from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences have found that aged garlic extract supplementation helps with inflammation and immunity of adults with obesity. Some key statistics about obesity, as released by the World Health Organization include the facts that:

Worldwide obesity has nearly tripled since 1975.

In 2016, more than 1.9 billion adults, 18 years and older, were overweight. Of these over 650 million were obese.

39% of adults aged 18 years and over were overweight in 2016, and 13% were obese.

Most of the world's population live in countries where overweight and obesity kills more people than underweight.

41 million children under the age of 5 were overweight or obese in 2016.

Over 340 million children and adolescents aged 5-19 were overweight or obese in 2016.

Obesity is preventable.

The study on the effects of aged garlic on chronic inflammation and immunity in obese adultswaspublished online in the latest edition of Clinical Nutrition ESPEN. It found that it usually takes an average of two weeks of consistent consumption of aged garlic before any reductions in chronic inflammations were noticed. The researchers studied 51 healthy but obese adults who had an average age of 46 and a mean Body Mass Index of 36. They were made to go through a parallel, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized study to determine the effects of aged garlic extract on the immune system. The results were found to be statistically significant when compared to the control group.

Garlic, with the botanical name Allium sativum, contains, allicin, a substance that is thought to give the herb its peculiar odour and taste. Allicin is also responsible for garlic's therapeutic properties. Previous laboratory studies have equally confirmed that garlic can kill certain parasites, bacteria. To get maximum benefit from garlic, it is recommended for one to eat a clove or two of raw garlic a day.

Once garlic is absorbed by the stomach, it is removed via the lungs and the skin. This is why people who consume a lot of garlic regularly have to deal with the garlic breathe and sweat. However, aged garlic is said to be more odourless although less effective. Others also overcome the odour by taking coated garlic supplements which are made to dissolve in the stomach instead of intestines.

The herb has been thought to reduce the severity and frequency of cold and cases of flu. Other ailments which garlic is thought to cure include high blood pressure and high cholesterolto more recent publications which suggest that regular consumption of garlic could significantly reduce the risk of stomach and colon cancer.

Raw garlic when consumed orally have possible side effects which include bad breath, a burning sensation in the mouth or stomach, increased risk of bleeding, heartburn, gas, nausea, vomiting, body odour, and diarrhea. These side effects are often worse with raw garlic. Garlic may also increase the risk of bleeding and should be taken with moderation.Danske Bank will on Wednesday lift the lid on how billions of euros from Russia and ex-Soviet states flowed through its accounts in Estonia, the latest scandal to highlight Europe's inability to tackle alleged money-laundering.

Regulators are eagerly awaiting the Danske Bank report, which will mark a critical milestone for the Danish lender and follows calls by Brussels for a new European Union watchdog to crack down on financial crime.

The Danske Bank case has led to speculation in Denmark that its chief executive Thomas Borgen, who was in charge of its international operations, including Estonia, between 2009 and 2012, will step down.

Borgen has said that he was not informed in detail at the time about the problems at the Estonian branch, whose non-resident portfolio has been at the centre of allegations of flawed money laundering controls from 2007 to 2015.

Danske Bank and Borgen have declined to comment on recent media reports, which have said the scandal could involve as much as $150 billion worth of transactions, until the findings of the report it commissioned are published.

Investor uncertainty has seen a third of Danske Bank's stock market value wiped out in the last six months, mainly driven by concerns over the possible involvement of US authorities.

The Wall Street Journal has reported that the United States is already investigating the case as many of the transactions under review were processed in dollars.

Authorities in the US earlier this year accused Latvia's ABLV of covering up money laundering and the bank was promptly denied US dollar funding, leading to its collapse.

While Danske does not have a banking licence in the United States, banning US correspondent banks from dealing with it would amount to shutting it out of the global financial network.

INDEPENDENT INQUIRY

In Denmark, the country's business minister Rasmus Jarlov, who oversees its banking sector, and other politicians have been critical of the probe, which Danske paid law firm Bruun & Hjejle to coordinate with help from Promontory Financial, PwC and EY.

"I don't think the investigation has any legitimacy. We need to have an independent investigation into the case," Lisbeth Bech Poulsen, MP for the Socialist People's Party, said.

The scandal marks the latest recent low for Danske Bank after the government had to step in and ensure it could pay its short-term dollar debt when international markets froze in 2008.

It has also led to pressure for a wider overhaul of the bank and its leadership once the report is out, while Danish lawmakers on Monday agreed to tighten anti-money laundering laws including a rise of up to 700 percent in fines, making its rules among the toughest in Europe.

While the report will help determine the outcome of current criminal probes in both Denmark and Estonia, Danish expert on money laundering Jakob Dedenroth Bernhoft says potential court cases and fines could come years into the future.

Despite the new tighter anti-money laundering laws, a potential case would be gauged under the less rigorous rules in force at the time of the alleged offences, he said.Director General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) V P Joy said that the second round of bidding for Discovered Small Field (DSF) was expected to yield a revenue of $15.3 billion for companies for the next 20 years.

Under the second round of bidding, 25 contract areas were offered for exploration covering an area of 3,000 square meters with a prospective reserve of 190 million metric tonne (mmt) of hydrocarbons, Joy told reporters here on Wednesday.

Out of the 25 fields on offer, 15 were onshore and 10 offshore.

Joy said that in the first round of bidding, under which 30 fields were offered for exploration in 2017, 24 petroleum mining licenses (PML) were signed, with the value of oil and gas production estimated at $6.5 billion for 20 years covering an area of 1,050 square meters.

The bids were offered to new players to do exploration only where discovery of reserves had already been made, he said.

Out of the 26 sedimentary basins across the country, seven had been already explored, he said, adding that the government had allotted Rs 3,000 crore to ONGC and Oil India Ltd to carry out seismic survey for prospects of the remaining ones.Harsh Vardhan

The announcement of merger of three public sector banks  Bank of Baroda, Dena Bank, and Vijaya Bank  took everyone by surprise. While the general talk of consolidation of PSU banks has been going on for a while, no one expected such a specific announcement. Analysts and observers of public sector banks (PSBs) suffering from a general malaise due to the non-performing asset (NPA) situation, have suddenly found something exciting to discuss.

We should welcome this announcement. This is the boldest move that any government has made about PSBs since they came into being. This merger could deliver several very positive benefits not just for these banks but also for the broader banking and finance sector and indirectly for the Indian economy.

First, it reduces the governance challenge for the government, in that it has two fewer banks to find good CEOs for, two fewer boards to appoint, and two fewer entities to audit. In the past few years, we have seen many PSBs with long spells without a CEO and inadequate boards highlighting the challenge government faces in making appointments. Setting up of the Banks Board Bureau appears not to have had much impact on this process. So, having to make fewer appointments will be a relief for the government.

Second, it creates a larger bank. Banking business has sizeable economies of scale and larger banks tend to me more efficient that smaller, sub-scale banks. The Indian banking sector is excessively fragmented where even the largest of the Indian banks are puny by global standards. Among the large economies, India has the third most fragmented banking sector behind the United States and Germany.

Economies of scale will continue to increase with increasing investments in technology. A more consolidated banking sector with fewer and larger banks is also likely to be more resilient. It is interesting to note that in the global financial crisis, two developed economies whose banking sectors were least impacted were Australia and Canada, both of which have consolidated banking sectors with a few dominant, large banks along with a number of much smaller specialist banks.

Third, this merger will help these banks deal with the large-scale retirement of senior management that they are going to face in the next few years. Pooling of the managerial talent in the combined entity would allow more efficient deployment over larger businesses and operations thereby easing the challenge presented by retirements.

Fourth, it will reduce the urgency of capitalisation of financially the weakest of the three banks (Dena). Relatively healthier balance sheets and capital levels of the other two banks would effectively eliminate the immediate need for any capital infusion on part of the government. In a year where government finances are already stretched, even a small relief on this count is welcome.

Fifth, there are potential synergies that can be realised in a merger. There could arise from economies of scale and scope, cross-selling products of one bank to the customers of the other, rationalisation of the branch network, etc. The extent and the sources of synergies will have to be carefully worked out and a programme developed to realise them as the banks are integrated.

While there are clearly benefits in this merger, it is important to also note that the mergers of this kind is not a panacea for all the challenges facing PSBs. The most pressing one, the problem of NPAs, will not be solved by just merging these banks. It will require fixing deeper institutional weaknesses. However, if the number of PSBs reduces from the current 21, then there will be fewer entities to be fixed.

Any merger is challenging, even for privately-owned and managed companies who regularly engage in mergers and acquisitions. All the stakeholders  employees, customers, vendors, shareholders, regulators  have to be carefully managed through the process. Communication is crucial. Synergies that seem obvious on paper are harder to realise in practice. On the other hand, a poorly-managed integration can impose costs and business disruptions. The integration process requires skilled and careful management. This is a merger of three entities, each with a long history, culture, tradition, and a large organisation (together over 85,000 people) which will be even more complicated than more common merger of just two entities.

PSU banks have not had any experience in this area and hence will have to find skills in managing the integration. The process will also require regulatory support  the merging banks may need temporary exemptions from single borrower exposure norms, approvals for consolidating branches within close proximity, etc. PSU banks are governed by the Nationalisation Act, which means that this merger will also requires approval from both houses of the Parliament.

Overall, this is a good move for the banking sector and if executed well can set the path for future mergers among PSU banks which will strengthen the banking sector in India. We should all hope for a conspicuously successful merger.

Harsh Vardhan is executive in residence, Centre for Financial Services, SP Jain Institute of Management Research. Views expressed are personal.Indian e-commerce giant Flipkart will kick-off the festive season with its annual Big Billion Days sale around October 9-10. In its showdown with Amazon Great Indian Sale, Flipkart will offer steep discounts on smartphones during its Diwali sale.

The smartphone segment is the largest e-commerce category in India and it accounts for 55 percent of online shopping in India. Flipkart aims to tap into that market to retain its dominance in online sales. According to Counterpoint Research, Flipkart had a 54 percent share of online sales in the March quarter, followed by Amazon at 30 percent.

The Bengaluru-based e-tailer will launch 20 new models and will try to attract customers that are in favour of offline shopping, not just through deep discounts but also by offering services like handset repair at home and record buyback guarantee schemes, Ayyappan Rajagopal, senior director at Flipkart, told The Economic Times.

Of the new launches, 14 models will be in the Rs 5,000 to Rs 15,000 segment, which accounts for 85 percent of the total unit sales. Flipkart has tripled its inventory and planned to avoid out-of-stock situations.

Phone companies are in sync with Flipkarts strategy as even the offline-focused brands are hoping to drive up sales through online medium this year and are offering higher discounts.

Last year during the festive season, Flipkart accounted for one in three smartphones sold in the country. This year, we are aiming at 50 percent share of all smartphones sold in the one month leading to Diwali, starting with Big Billion Days, he added.

Due to the rising competition, many brands have come on board like Nokia, Oppos RealMe, Panasonic, Xiaomis Poco, Asus and Infinix, Rajagopalan said.

Newest infusion

The online marketplace arm of Flipkart, Flipkart Internet, received over Rs 3,462 crore from Flipkart Marketplace, Singapore, to provide more ammunition to the company, especially for the upcoming sale.

This years competition is set to be even more aggressive as both companies have received significant investments throughout the year to ramp up their product variety and speedy deliveries to its customers.

Flipkart will use this money to go deep into grocery, ticketing and have also been talking about pharmacy, Harish HV, formerly with Grant Thornton, told ET.

Amazon India has received more than $1 billion in its main marketplace unit Amazon Seller Services this year from its parent company.To ease the pressure on the rupee and keep the widening Current Account Deficit (CAD) on check, the finance ministry on September 18 asked ministries to shortlist commodities and goods for import curbs by increasing customs duty, said people familiar with the matter.

Import duty hike may be considered on specified commodities for a limited period of time to keep CAD under control, the sources said.

Moneycontrol first reported the finance minister Arun Jaitleys announcement on September 14, where he said that centre would soon announce curbs on import of non-essential items and other steps aimed at incentivising Indias exports to contain Indias CAD.

Indias current account deficit widened to a four-quarter high at 2.4 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in the April-June period from 1.9 percent in the January-March quarter of 2017-18. The rising trend in oil prices this year has also sparked concerns about Indias ability to finance its widening CAD.

It is expected that the prime minister's office (PMO) and finance ministry will give the final approval by Friday.

The revenue department will finalise the list of goods for an increase in import duty after getting inputs from different ministries, sources privy to the developments told CNBC-TV18, adding that Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) is not in favour of import duty hike on coal, steel and gold.

"Hike in import duty on gold to lead to more smuggling and unnecessary imports, they added.

The government is likely to spare goods and inputs that may adversely impact 'Make in India' and digital India programmes.

Import duty hike on inputs for cell phones would go against the make in India programme and digital India, said a government official, adding that telecom ministry is not in favour of Increase in import duty on parts for cell phones.

Meanwhile, talking to CNBCTV18, senior government officials said that the final list will be prepared only after considering the impact such curbs will have on the domestic industry.

Finance ministry will consider any suggestion only after assessing that any hike of levies should not impact the growth in domestic manufacturing, industrial output and GDP.

Any hike of import duty on gold would lead to more smuggling and unnecessary imports. Similarly, hiking duties on coal would have an adverse impact on power plants, government officials quoted above said on the condition of anonymity.A government-appointed panel has suggested changes to the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI's) guidelines on payment and settlement systems, reported The Economic Times.

The list of recommendations includes the formation of an independent Payments Regulatory Board (PRB) and replacement of the central bank governor as chairperson with a person appointed by the government in consultation with RBI.

The government panel has listed these suggestions in a Bill drafted to replace the existing law on payment and settlement systems.

Also Read: RBI wants IT ministry to make Google Pay store Indian data on local servers

The Bill provides for the PRB to be an independent payments regulator. It provides for the RBI to have significant representation on the PRB and envisages a formal mechanism for coordination between the RBI and the PRB so that the regulation of payments, insofar as it may be relevant in the context of financial stability, monetary policy and credit policy, is achieved harmoniously, the committee said.

The recommendations, however, were not in line with the RBI's proposal. The central bank has earlier proposed that the chairperson of the PRB should be from RBI and have a casting vote.

To address RBI's concerns, the committee said the Bill provides for the chairperson of the PRB to have experience in central banking functions.

Also Read: Payments firms seek extension of RBI's October deadline for data localisation

To further address RBIs concerns, the Committee incorporated section 10 in the Bill to provide RBI with the powers to make a reference to the PRB to consider any matter, which in the opinion of the RBI was important in the context of the monetary policy, it said.

According to the draft law, the PRB can make a reference to the RBI when it proposes any designated payment system regulation and the central bank can give its opinion in this regard.

If PRB disagrees with the opinion of RBI and RBI does not agree with the reasons given by the PRB, the RBI can also make a reference to the central government, it said.

Also read: India Post Payments Bank account vs post office savings accounts: How are they different?

While the RBI highlighted that the central bank is the regulator of payment systems in many countries, the committee was of the view that countries such as the UK and Australia have multiple regulators with concurrent jurisdiction over payment systems.

The central bank disagreed with the panel's recommendations to provide for public or government of at least 51 percent equity ownership of entities such as the National Payments Corporation of India (NCPI) and include of central government nominees on their boards.

The panel had also suggested that the central government should have the power to appoint two nominee directors on the boards of PRB.

Also read  Google ready to comply with RBI norms for payment services, says official

A committee, headed by economic affairs secretary Subhash Garg, reviewed the Bill, undertook detailed consultations with its members and filed an updated draft of the Bill. This committee comprises government and RBI officials.

The updated Bill seeks to foster competition, provide consumer protection and systemic stability and resilience and establish an independent regulator for the payments sector, including non-banks as significant players, and to consolidate and amend the laws related to payments, it said.

The committee has recommended that the proposed Bill be placed for consideration of the Union Cabinet.

Also read: Soon, you may be able to transfer money between various wallets

The Payment and Settlement Systems Act (PSS), 2007, is the first dedicated law to regulate and supervise payment systems in India such as the National Electronics Funds Transfer system, the Real Time Gross Settlement System and ATM and card transactions.Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath during a public meeting, in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. (Image: PTI)

Deen Dayal Dham centre, an Indian pharmacy backed by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is set to introduce a range of products including kurtas styled after those worn by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

According to a report by The Times of India, from October, the Mathura-based centre will be offering of a range of kurtas on e-commerce website Amazon India priced at Rs 220.

The centre, run by the RSS, will offer 10 styles of kurtas. This will also include a kurta style popularised by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, which would be available in multiple colours such as white, grey and pink, besides saffron.

The centre will also initially start selling 30 personal care and "therapeutic" products, the report suggests.

Manish Gupta, Deen Dayal Dham's Deputy Secretary told the newspaper that the product range on offer includes soaps, face packs and incense made using cow urine and dung. Gupta claims that the products will not contain synthetic chemicals.

The prices of these products will range between Rs 10 and Rs 230.

Currently, the centre, which engages local people as workers, sells personal care and medicinal products of over Rs 1 lakh and apparel worth Rs 3 lakh every month.

Centre's Director Rajendra told the newspaper that the the venture will help create more jobs for locals. By going online, it is expecting a high demand for cow urine products and increase in production in the future.Kumar Mangalam Birla, chairman of Aditya Birla Group

Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman of the Aditya Birla Group, said at an event he is looking at acquisition targets in the US, Europe and India that will add value to the company.

Birla did not go into specifics of the deals but looking at his track record he will probably be an active participant in the sale of assets expected in the near future.

Apart from recent merger of Idea Cellular with Vodafone India, the Aditya Birla Group has carried out many deals in the past. In July, Hindalco Industries purchased Aleris Corp for $2.6 billion to enter the global automotive metal market. UltraTech Cement is attempting to buy Binani Cement, though the deal is stuck in a legal tangle.

These statements by Birla highlight the fact that India is emerging as the worlds hotspot for mergers and acquisitions. Indian companies have been part of deals exceeding $100 billion in 2018, a trend that is likely to continue according to PwC India.

Mergers and acquisitions in India have jumped to a fresh high in 2018, with three months still left in the year, according to Bloomberg data. You cant ignore India, there is no legitimate reason for not investing in India, Birla said, adding he is optimistic about the economy, which he compared with an elephant starting to run previously.

Lenders are gearing up to tackle bad loans by selling companies owned by defaulters, which is the main driving force behind these deals. The Reserve Bank of India is pushing banks to restructure bad loans as a consequence of the new insolvency and bankruptcy law.

The Narendra Modi government is starting to address the issue of bad loans and taking the bull by the horns. Bad loans have been around for a long time and just got brushed under the carpet, Birla said.live bse live

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Indian market fell for the second day in a row on Tuesday with Sensex falling nearly 300 points while the Nifty50 cracked by about 100 points. The S&P BSE Sensex closed 294 points lower at 37,290 while the Nifty50 ended 98 points down at 11,278.

Last hour selloff broke the back of bulls. Rise in crude oil prices, trade war fears as well as fall in the currency are some of the factors which weighed on sentiment.

Selloff in the last couple of hours ensured that the rupee ended the session at a record low. The currency closed at 72.97 per US dollar on Tuesday, according to Reuters. It fell to 72.98 per US dollar mark on an intraday basis, data further revealed.

Two sectors faced the selling pressure: Nifty Bank which slipped 378 points weighed down by losses in SBI, Bank of Baroda, PNB, Federal and Axis Bank. ICICI Bank and SBI contribute around 200 points to Nifty Banks fall.

BoB slipped 16.3 percent as brokerage firms downgraded the stock and reduced target price post govts proposal of merger with Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank.

For Wednesday, 11250 will act as a crucial support for the index, and if the index slips below 11,250 there is a higher probability that it could slip towards 11,130-11,050.

Relief for bulls can be expected only on a close above 11,425 levels.

Big News:

Sebi board has allowed foreign portfolio investors to trade in commodity derivatives market, except for sensitive commodities

Sebi lowers expenses paid by mutual fund investors, bars upfront commissions - a move which is good for investors but will impact revenues of the industry

The change could have a Rs 1,300-1,500 crore impact on the revenue of the mutual fund industry, media report suggested

No discussion on extending trading hours

SEBI lowers IPO listing timeline to T+3 from current T+6

Currently, a company has to wait for six days after the closure of IPO to get listed on exchanges. The new regulation is expected to further bring down investors exposure to market volatility.

Technical View:

Nifty formed a strong bearish candle on the charts

Nifty50 closed below its 50-days moving average placed around 11316

Three levels: 11130, 11250, 11425

Max Call OI: 11500, 11600

Max Put OI: 11200, 11000

Technical Recommendations:

We spoke to Guiness Securities and heres what they have to recommend:

Divis Laboratories: Buy| LTP: Rs 1379.80 | Target: Rs 1490 | Stop loss: Rs 1300 | Return: 7.99%

Biocon: Buy| LTP: Rs 677.10 | Target: Rs 740 | Stop loss: Rs 630 | Return: 9.29%

Ceat: Sell| LTP: Rs 1349.20 | Target: Rs 1295 and Rs 1280 | Stop loss: Rs 1378 | Return: 4.43%

: 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.Equity benchmarks ended a volatile trading day on a negative note as consumer names as well as banks weighed. The Nifty ended below 11,250-mark, while the Sensex shed a little over 160 points. Rupee heading towards its low points also dented sentiment on the market.

A selloff among major sectors such as banks, automobiles, and FMCG and a larger selling pressure among midcaps weighed on the indices. The Nifty Midcap index ended around a percent lower.

The day began on a good note even as investors looked to shrug off concerns on the trade war front. Late on Tuesday, China also countered US import tariffs with fresh set of tariffs on USD 60 billion worth of US goods and services. But a recovery in the rupee from Tuesdays record low close helped the market trade higher for the first couple of hours. Banks too saw some recovery as compared to Tuesdays fall and helped indices trade in the green.

But further pressure from consumer names along with banks weighed on the indices. Index heavyweights such as HDFC twins along with Reliance Industries and Bajaj Finserv negatively impacted benchmarks.

At the close of market hours, the Sensex closed lower by 169.45 points or 0.45% at 37121.22, while the Nifty was down 44.50 points or 0.39% at 11234.40. The market breadth is negative as 978 shares advanced, against a decline of 1,667 shares, while 186 shares were unchanged.

Coal India, ONGC, and BPCL were the top gainers while Bharti Airtel, IndusInd Bank, and Bajaj Finserv lost the most.

Stocks in News

Shares of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries closed a percent higher after it received European Commissions (EC) approval for Ilumetri, a drug used to treat psoriasis.

IL&FS Transportation Networks fell around 3 percent after rising over 9 percent in the morning. The company signed a settlement agreement with NHAI.

MCX rallied nearly 3 percent after the market regulator, Sebi, said that it would soon come out with revised KYC norms for foreign investors and also overseas entities to trade in commodity derivative market.

RITES ended 2 percent higher as it won an additional contract of Rs 436 crore.

Shares of Strides Pharma Science recovered to end 2 percent lower after it plunged 5.6 percent intraday. The company received three observations from the USFDA.

Sheela Foam added 4 percent after Axis Securities initiated coverage on the stock with a buy call. It sees an upside potential of 22 percent.

Sugar stocks were in focus again on Wednesday as investors bet on these names on a possible package announcement of Rs 4,500 crore for the sector. But they gave up gains in the afternoon after it was known that the proposal will be taken for consideration in the next week.

Global Update

Markets in Europe were higher as investors chose to look past rising trade tensions between US and China. Stoxx 600 index was trading 0.18 percent higher with most sectors in positive territory.

Meanwhile, markets in Asia mostly were higher as investors reacted to negative cues such as China imposing additional import tariffs on US goods. ASX 200 rose 0.46 percent to close at 6,190.live bse live

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The Indian stock market has turned negative this Wednesday with the Nifty50 down 50 points and is trading at 11,228 while the Sensex is trading lower by 185 points at 37,104.

The breadth of the market favoured declines with 511 stocks advancing, 1,212 declining and 345 remaining unchanged. On BSE, 883 stocks advanced, 1,751 declined and 169 remained unchanged.

From the BSE Group A stocks, DCM Shriram jumped 8.5 percent while Tata Steel added close to 6 percent. Tata Steel breached upper circuit of Rs 176.55 and saw spurt in volume by more than 1.16 times.

Union Bank of India gained 4.81 percent followed by Himachal Futuristic Communications which added 4.49 percent. The company bagged advance purchase order for Rs 611 crore approx from BSNL for broadband connectivity in Madhya Pradesh under Bharatnet Phase-II Network of Government of India.

Muthoot Finance is up 3.26 percent and Great Eastern Shipping added 3.6 percent in the afternoon trade. Monsanto India added 3.25 percent and witnesses spurt in volume by more than 2.05 times. Also MCX India gained 2.97 percent.

From the BSE Group B stocks, PG Electroplast zoomed 18 percent followed by Pokarna which added 15 percent. The other gainers include Weizmann Forex which jumped 11.11 percent which saw spurt in volume by more than 14.01 times. Bedmutha Industries gained 10 percent.live bse live

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HDFC Asset Management Company closed 8.5 percent lower and Reliance Nippon Life Asset Management ended lower by more than 11 percent to hit 52-week low of Rs 186.20 as brokerages slashed their target prices after SEBI cut expense ratio for these companies.

Global brokerage house Nomura has downgraded Reliance Nippon AMC share to Neutral from Buy and also slashed target price to Rs 210 from Rs 315 earlier after capital market regulator SEBI on Tuesday cut total expense ratio (TER) for mutual funds by 20-25 basis points.

TER cut is in addition to the recent 15 bps cut in lieu of exit loads, it said.

In last six months, SEBI cut TERs by 40 bps versus industry profitability of 25 bps. Nomura said AMCs will also have to absorb some part of the impact.

Morgan Stanley also cut target price on HDFC AMC stock to Rs 1,765 from Rs 2,050 per share while having Overweight call on the stock. "Lowering EPS/price target is materially on sharp TER cut by SEBI."

The global research firm cut estimates for equity & gross revenue / AAAUM by 20 bps & 11bps respectively and expects some further near-term weakness.

Experts said this will have impact on earnings of these companies. Companies can pass on to distributors or have to absorb the cost by taking hit on earnings.

Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC told CNBC-TV18 that earnings will go down for both AMC & distributors.

54 percent of industry AUM is controlled by top 5 players and 75 percent of industry AUM is controlled by top 10 players.

Aditya Birla Sun Life said the reduction in cost is a positive for consumers and the market share might move from large to smaller players.

According to CLSA, the SEBI move of fee cut for MF could impact sector earnings by 25 percent as equity AUMs form 40 percent of total funds and could lead to a 15-25 bps reduction in equity fees.

"This will impact all funds & should be effective in 2-3 months. We see some knock-on impact for brokers & private banks. Risk arises for life insurers in the case IRDAI reviews ULIP fee," it said, adding companies will pass on majority of this to distributors.

Citi feels mutual funds could cushion lower TER impact by passing it to distributors and by lower promotional expenses.

"Banning upfront commissions will improve quality of flows. Lower charges will make mutual funds more attractive for investors and aid penetration," Citi said.live bse live

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Despite outlining governments measures to strengthen domestic currency and narrow current account deficit, the India equity market continued to witness a volatile trade regime on a range-bound level.

Further, the roll out from US administration to impose 10 percent tariff on Chinese imports continued to dent market sentiment, and once again the index breached below psychological levels 11,500 earlier in the week on Monday.

The Nifty index slipped from its important support level of 11,350-11,300 to touch a weekly low of 11,250 levels over a sustained selling pressure towards the closing hour.

Although the index rebounded marginally during the weekend session, it consolidated over the last two days to close at 11,278.90 levels, down by about 0.08 percent on a week-to-week basis.

The drag dominantly came from PSU Banks and Auto index which was down by 5.81 percent and 2.57 percent, respectively. The FMCG index was the top gainer with about 0.33 percent on the weekly basis.

After making a correction for two consecutive sessions to slip below important level of 11,300 levels coupled with a breach below 5-20-days EMA levels, the index formed a solid bearish candlestick pattern on its weekly price chart, indicating a selling regime.

The weekly RSI on chart stood at 59 levels indicating no major divergence in price, while the MACD continues to trade above the Signal-Line. The immediate hurdle for the index is currently placed at 11,523 and the next important support level is placed at 11,176.

The continuation of negative sentiment over falling rupee coupled with the weakening of global sentiment as trade tariff battle continues to escalate between the two giant economies of the US and China.

As internal advance-decline ratio continues to indicate a negative setup for the domestic market, the sideways direction favouring the downside regime is expected to keep the index range bound.

As an upside for the index is expected to remain capped on a short-term basis, we remain selective on specific stocks only and avoid aggressive long position. We maintain a range bound trade for the index at 11,520 levels on the upside and 11,237 levels on the downside.

Here is a list of top three stocks which could give 5-11% return in next 1 month:

Bhansali Engineering Polymers: Buy| LTP: Rs 137.05| Target: Rs 152 | Stop Loss: Rs 122 | Return: 11%

Bhansalli Engineering witnessed a sharp correction in the last six-month from a price band of Rs 217-160 towards Rs 125-120 levels, taking a strong support at Rs 111 levels.

Although it witnessed a periodic correction on a closing basis, the scrip recently witnessed an upward trajectory after bottoming out at Rs 120 levels and thus indicating a decisive buying trend at current levels.

The momentum indicator outlined a positive trend with weekly RSI inching at 58 levels. Further, in the coming session MACD is also likely to make a bullish crossover to trade above Signal-Line. We have a buy recommendation for Bhansalli Engineering which is currently trading at Rs 136.65.

Bajaj Corp: Buy| LTP: Rs 456.65| Target: Rs 490| Stop-Loss: Rs 425 | Return: 7%

Bajaj Corp made a strong rebound on its six-month price chart after consolidating in a range of Rs 496-476. It made a low of Rs 395 levels and managed to breakout from its crucial level of 100-days EMA levels placed at Rs 430.

The scrip touched a high of Rs 468 levels despite closing marginally below with gain of 6.73 percent on an intraday basis, and saw a significant volume build up against its average level in the previous trading session.

The weekly RSI level at 57 has shown a positive price divergence while MACD indicates a likelihood of bullish crossover in the next few sessions. We have a buy recommendation for Bajaj Corp which is currently trading at Rs 457.55.

Tata Motors: Sell| LTP: Rs 252| Target: Rs 240| Stop Loss: Rs 268| Return: 5%

Despite a periodical reverse trend, Tata Motors continues to remain under selling pressure on a weekly basis. It consolidated from a higher band of Rs 364 levels towards low of Rs 248 levels during the last six months.

It further slipped below from its 200-100-days moving-average level placed at Rs 383-370 levels to decline about 9 percent on weekly basis and thus indicating a short-term pressure on price.

The RSI on chart stood at 35 levels while MACD trading below its Signal-Line, indicating selling regime. We have a sell recommendation for Tata Motors which is currently trading at Rs 251.50

: The author is Founder & CEO, 5nance.com. 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.Tata Steel

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Shares of Tata Steel ended with a gain of 1 percent on Wednesday after company completed stake acquisition in Creative Port Development

The company has informed that it has completed the acquisition of 51 percent equity stake in Creative Port Development.

The share touched its 52-week high Rs 755.06 and 52-week low Rs 493.50 on 15 January, 2018 and 19 July, 2018, respectively.

Currently, it is trading 17.18 percent below its 52-week high and 26.72 percent above its 52-week low.

The company's trailing 12-month (TTM) EPS was at Rs 49.67 per share. (Jun, 2018). The stock's price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio was 12.59. The latest book value of the company is Rs 511.35 per share.

At current value, the price-to-book value of the company was 1.22. The dividend yield of the company was 3.2 percent.

Posted by Rakesh Patillive bse live

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Shares of Titan Company opened more than 3 percent lower as brokerages downgraded the ratings of the scrip.

At 0921 hours, the stock was quoting at Rs 800, down by Rs 24.50 or 3 percent from previous days close.

CLSA said the company has better fundamentals but uncertainty will weigh on the stock. The brokerage house downgraded the rating from Outperform to Sell.

It also lowered target price from Rs 1,050 to Rs 720. Titan Company Company has retained its 25 percent guidance for the rest of FY19. The house said growth concerns exist after the company missed its Q1 guidance.

HSBC also cut its target for the company to Rs 1,050 from Rs 1,100 per share. Though it maintained the Buy rating on the stock.

The above report is compiled from information available on public platforms. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.live bse live

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Here are the stocks that are in news today:

Lowers IPO listing timeline to T+3 from current T+6AApproves new KYC norms for FPIsTo charge only Rs 1L per exchange on agri derivatives turnoverUnveils slew of reform measures; to revise KYC norms for foreign investors, slash MF chargesMulls reaching govt for powers to intercept calls, messages of economic offenders

Fines Premium Industries Rs 7 lakh for SCORES violation

ICICI Bank: The bank in clarification note said it has not filed any application for settlement after certain media reports indicated that the bank has filed a consent petition with SEBI.

Som distilleries' subsidiary Woodpecker Distilleries & Breweries has launched Blackfort Beer in Lager variant to tap the mild beer segment in Karnataka

Lupin: Company appoints Alok Sonig as CEO - US Generics and Global Head - Generics R&D & Biosimilars.

Electrosteel Steels board meeting on September 24 to consider and approved the letter received from Vedanta Star, wherein the Acquirer has expressed its intention to acquire up to 1961,67,342 equity shares of the co

Sun Pharma: Almirall has received the European Commission (EC) approval for Ilumetri (tildrakizumab) for the treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe chronic plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy.

IL&FS Transportation Networks: Settlement agreement was signed by Moradabad Bareilly Expressway (MBEL), a subsidiary of the company on various claims filed against NHAI in relation to the work of development, maintenance and management of a highway from Moradabad to Bareilly in the State of Uttar Pradesh. Pursuant to the settlement, MBEL will be paid a claim compensation of Rs 425 crore by NHAI for the losses suffered by it on account of the cost overrun for development of the project.

RITES: Company has been executing a project of Indian Railways for setting up of wagon workshop at Dalmianagar for which the initial contract cost was Rs 89 crore. The enhanced scope and revision in estimates has resulted in additional contract value of Rs 436 crore. The work is scheduled to be started in the last quarter of this financial year.

TI Financial Holding approved further investment in shares of Cholamandalam Investment up to sum not exceeding Rs 50 crore

KIOCL: Board of directors of the company approved the proposal to buyback of not exceeding 1,25,88,235 equity shares (representing 1.98 percent of paid up equity) at a price of Rs 170 per share, payable in cash for an aggregate consideration not exceeding Rs 214 crore. The company has fixed October 1 as record date for the same.

Tata Steel: Company completed the acquisition of 51 percent equity stake in Creative Port Development Private Limited.

Clariant Chemicals: Its ultimate global holding company Clariant said that SABIC has recently completed the purchase of 24.99 percent stake in Clariant globally as a strategic anchor shareholder. Clariant will combine its additives and high value masterbatches with parts of SABIC's Specialties business to form the business area high performance materials. It also announced about its intention to divest the remaining plastics & coatings business by 2020, subject to necessary approvals.

Linde India: Linde AG and Praxair Inc have received a final order from Competition Commission of India for the proposed business combination.

NIIT Technologies: Company introduces Chain-m, a Blockchain powered solution for airlines and its partners.

Trident: CRISIL has reaffirmed its ratings on the bank facilities of the company and subsequently withdrawn the ratings at the company's request.

Steel Strips Wheels: Naveen Sorot, Chief Financial Official (CFO) of the company, has tendered his resignation from his duties as CFO to pursue opportunities outside the company.

Gulshan Chemfill: Board approved the draft letter of offer of the company and related documents in respect of the proposed rights issue not exceeding an amount of Rs 26 lakh.

Weizmann Forex: Company announced divestment in six subsidiaries.

TCS: Tata Insights and Quants (Tata iQ), a division of Tata Industries, has selected Jile as its enterprise Agile platform.

South Indian Bank raises 1-year MCLR to 9.35% w.e.f September 20

ICICI Prudential Life Insurance: Company and Saraswat Co-operative Bank sign bancassurance partnership.

Gujarat Borosil: Board approved appointment of Milind Gurjar as Chief Executive Officer and key managerial personnel with effect from September 24; stepping down of B L Kheruka as Director and Chairman of the board and his appointment as chairman emeritus; appointment of P K Kheruka as Chairman of the board.

Bharat Dynamics: BDL is manufacturing and supplying Akash Missiles. DAC approval is for upgraded version of Akash Weapon System equipped with seeker technology being under upgradation by DRDO. The DAC approval would be followed by an RFP from Ministry of Defence, which would be responded by BDL promptly.

Yuken India approved allotment of 90 lakk bonus shares

Shriram Transport Finance: On June 30, 2015, the company had given corporate guarantee in connection with non-convertible debentures (NCDs) worth Rs 650 crore issued by SVL Ltd. The NCDs will mature for redemption on 28/06/2019. The disputed amount of Rs 13 crore between one of the subsidiaries of SVL Limited and the customer of that company is expected to be mutually settled. The amount involved in the dispute is not significant.

Infinite Computer Solutions: Company has received a letter from Mr. Sanjay Govil, promoter of the Company, representing that M/s Inswell IT Applications Private Limited, a promoter group company, 100 percent of which is beneficially owned and controlled by Sanjay Govil and his relatives, will also act as an acquirer / person acting in concert in the delisting offer and may acquire certain portion of equity shares that are tendered as part of the delisting process.

Strides Pharma Science: The formulations facility in Bangalore recently underwent pre-approval product inspection by the USFDA. The inspection ended on August 25 and the company has been issued a Form 483 with 3 observations. The company believes that the observations are not material in nature and we have already responded to the USFDA. Company has recently (post completion of the inspection) received a product approval for Potassium Chloride Extended release tablets from this facility.

Update on scheme of arrangement between Century Textiles and Ultratech Cement - The words Scheme of Arrangement appearing in the scheme are to be replaced with Scheme of Demerger

MEP Infrastructure Developers: ICRA has assigned the long term rating for the bank limits for its subsidiaries MEP Sanjose Kante Waked Road Private Limited and MEP Sanjose Arawali Kante Road Private Limited.New Delhi: Union Minister for Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation Suresh Prabhu speaks duing a conference on 'Promoting Scientific interventions for Transforming India through CSR', in New Delhi, on Tuesday, May 28, 2018. (PTI Photo/Kamal Singh)(PTI5_29_2018_000037B)

Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu Tuesday sold the India growth story to Australian Superfunds to attract the rich superannuation funds, valued at a whopping 2.6 trillion Australian dollars, to the Indian markets.

The minister during his meeting with a five-member delegation of Australian Superfunds here highlighted that exposure of Australian super or pension funds to Indian market was still limited, despite continued greater than average market returns in the country, according to a release by the commerce and industry ministry.

During the meeting, the minister highlighted the potential of India growth story and assured them of stability and certainty of business in long-term.

He said India provides abundant opportunities for Australian Superfunds and "our priority is to engage them to explore investing in India".

These superannuation funds valued at 2.6 trillion Australian dollars are one of the world's largest in terms of volume.

"The funds have exposure including in various international markets. However, their exposure to Indian markets is still very limited, despite continued greater than average market returns in India," the ministry said.

The bilateral trade between India and Australia increased to $18 billion in 2017-18 from $14.11 billion in the previous fiscal. Trade balance is highly in favour of Australia.Christian Michel James, a key accused in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal, is 'missing' hours after a Dubai court ordered his extradition to India, his lawyer Amal Alsubei has said.

Christian Michel is a British consultant who was allegedly hired by AgustaWestland to influence top officials in the Indian Air Force and the UPA government to secure the Rs 3,600-crore deal for the company.

He was arrested in the UAE last year after CBI allegedly sent an extradition request, and was out on bail. He is still wanted in India. His lawyer was quoted by NDTV as saying, "He will be arrested if found. He is likely to appeal to the Supreme Court."

Who is Christian Michel?

Michel is one of the three middlemen being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the other two being Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa.

After he was arrested by the UAE authorities in February 2017, Michel had made a sensational revelation through his lawyer and sister. He said the CBI had pressurized him to confess that he had met then Congress President Sonia Gandhi at the time the deal was being negotiated in 2010. He also claimed that the CBI had promised him a clean chit in case he signs that confession, but he refused to do so.

In a response to these allegations made by Michel, the CBI said it never examined him, and India is trying to get him extradited from the UAE.

What is the AgustaWestland chopper scam?

The AgustaWestland case involved the purchase of 12 luxury choppers for use by the top leadership including the President, the Prime Minister and former Prime Ministers when the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government was at the helm of affairs.

In 2014, the NDA government scrapped the contract when allegations of AgustaWestland paying kickbacks in India surfaced. This came amid allegations of Finmeccanica, the parent company of AgustaWestland, giving bribes in Italy.

How did the Gandhi family and Congress figure in the deal?

A hand-written note was recovered from middleman Guido Haschke where a certain payment was written against the word family, which insinuated involvement of the Gandhi family.

However, Michel claimed that the note was fake. What ensued was the Congress accusing the BJP of misusing central agencies to tarnish the image of the Opposition.

What has the ED found?

In June 2018, the ED told a special court in Delhi that Christian Michel set up various shell companies to channel illegal money outside India. The investigative agency also claimed that Michel received 30 million euros as kickbacks and sent packets of cash to various people. According to the ED, Michel used to regularly meet Indian individuals for brokering the deal, including cousins of former Air Force chief SP Tyagi.

SP Tyagi was arrested in 2016 over allegations that he accepted bribes to tailor specifications at the instance of his cousins. He became the first ever military chief to be arrested.Assuring that all Delhi Development Authority (DDA) policies "will go through as planned", Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has said that his ministry deals with "institutions and not with individuals".

Puri was referring to the recent bureaucratic reshuffle wherein senior IAS officer Tarun Kapoor was appointed as the vice chairman of DDA. Kapoor heads the Power Department in his cadre state Himachal Pradesh and is the chairman of the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited.

Kapoor will replace Udai Pratap Singh, who superannuates on September 30.

Commenting about the recently-approved land pooling policy, the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) scheme and other initiatives, the minister told Moneycontrol, "Everything will go through. We deal with institutions, not with individuals."

The National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), was tasked with reviewing the TOD policy last year, has already submitted its recommendations to the land-owning agency.

vandana.ramnani@nw18.com(Representat

China on Wednesday sought "level playing field, transparent and fair environment" for its enterprises in India while expressing concern over New Delhi's reported move to exclude Chinese telecom companies Huawei and ZTE from 5G trials.

According to a report in China's state-run 'Global Times' on Sunday, the India's Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had barred Huawei Technologies and ZTE Corp from the list of companies allowed to work with local companies in 5G technology-based trials due to "security" concerns.

The move follows the US and Australia in banning Huawei and ZTE for national security reasons, it said.

However, a top DoT official had said they were in the process of setting up a panel which will decide on areas where 5G technology can be used.

Telecom Secretary Aruna Sundararajan said on September 14 that "companies have come up with preliminary use cases. We are going to set up core group which will sit with them and look at what are the use cases that make sense to us".

Sundararajan said DoT had approached Ericsson, Nokia, Samsung, Cisco and NEC for development of 5G applications and running trials on the suggestion of Stanford University Professor Emeritus Arogyaswami J Paulraj - a member of the 5G panel that recently suggested spectrum roadmap for the technology.

"We wrote to Ericsson, Nokia, Cisco, Samsung and NEC. Huawei has met me and they have said that they are interested. We said if you are interested then send us a proposal. We will see what their proposal is and we may go with them also," she said.

In Beijing, reacting to media reports, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a media briefing, "I have seen relevant reports. The Chinese government has always encouraged overseas Chinese enterprises to abide by international rules and local laws while pursuing economic cooperation overseas".

"We hope the relevant country would offer level playing field and a transparent fair environment for Chinese enterprises," he said, replying to a question about India's reported move to exclude Huawei and ZTE from taking part in the 5G trials.

"Economic cooperation between India and China is for mutual benefits and for win-win results. Overall, such cooperation between both sides is going on smoothly," Geng said.

"We're cooperating actively with local telecom operators and the Indian government, and local authorities and partners hold an open attitude toward cooperating with us in meeting demand for 5G network construction," a Huawei official said in a statement quoted in the report last week.

The Chinese company is also working normally with the local telecom operators on 5G trials, Huawei added.

In August, the US banned government personnel from using Huawei technologies while Australia barred the company from providing equipment to support the country's new telecommunications networks.Representative Image

The opposition Congress in Goa on Wednesday claimed that it had the support of over 21 legislators in the 40-member Assembly, giving it enough strength to form the government in the state. The Congress, which is the single-largest party with 16 MLAs, has already staked claim to form the government in the coastal state.

The opposition party's claim comes at a time when Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar (62) is admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi for a pancreatic ailment.

Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Chandrakant Kavlekar told PTI that the Congress had enough support to form the government in Goa.

"We have the required numbers. I am not going to tell you whom we are in discussions with, but we need the support of 21 MLAs and we have more than that," he said.

The Congress legislators, led by Kavlekar, had met Governor Mridula Sinha on Tuesday and demanded a floor test by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government to prove its majority in the Assembly.

Kavlekar said his party was waiting for a response from the governor, who had assured them that she would get back on the issue in three-four days.

The state is being ruled by the BJP with the support of the Goa Forward Party (GFP), the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Independent MLAs.

The BJP has 14 seats in the Assembly, the GFP and the MGP have three each and the NCP has one. There are also three Independent legislators.

Kavlekar claimed the political situation in the state was in the favour of the Congress as there was a lot of "discontent" among the ruling coalition partners.

"You have seen how the BJP observers came to Goa and met their legislators, former MLAs and alliance partners. They are also talking about inviting a leader from one of the allies to head the government.

"This has created a bitter situation as allowing one alliance partner to head the coalition will upset another," he said.

Kavlekar also claimed that a section within the BJP was upset over the possibility of a leader being "imported" from outside and was in touch with the Congress for joining the opposition party.

"We need not go to anyone with the proposal of supporting or joining us. In fact, they are coming to us with proposals," he added.

The Congress leader had earlier said the BJP might force the dissolution of the Assembly and another election in just a year-and-a-half.

The Assembly polls in Goa were held in February, 2017.

The Congress legislators have urged the governor not to allow the Assembly to be dissolved.

BJP national general secretary Ram Lal, who, along with two other senior leaders, was deputed by the party's central leadership to take stock of the political situation in Goa, had on Monday said the state government was stable and there was no demand for a change in the leadership.

He had said this after a meeting with the party's MLAs, former legislators and core committee members.

According to Ram Lal, the allies of the saffron party had conveyed that they would abide by any political decision taken by it.

On May 18 too, the Congress had staked claim to form the government in Goa, citing the example of Karnataka, where the largest-party, the BJP, was invited to form the government after the Assembly polls threw up a fractured verdict.

The Congress had said it was not invited to form the government in Goa after the Assembly polls last year, despite emerging as the single-largest party.A Dubai court has ordered for the extradition of British national and alleged middleman Christian Michel in the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP choppers deal case, official sources said late on September 18.

They said the court pronounced the judgement on September 18 after India had officially made the request to the gulf nation sometime back, based on the criminal investigations conducted in this case by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The full contents of the order against Christian Michel James (54) are expected to be known by tomorrow as the legal pronouncement is in Arabic and is being translated in English at the behest of Indian authorities, they said.

The order is being seen as a major shot in the arm to the agencies -- Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and ED -- probing the case.

The ED, in its charge sheet filed against Michel in June 2016, had alleged that he received EUR 30 million (about Rs 225 crore) from AgustaWestland.

The money was nothing but "kickbacks" paid by the firm to execute the 12 helicopter deal in favour of the firm in "guise of" of genuine transactions for performing multiple work contracts in the country, it had said.

Michel is one of the three middlemen being probed in the case, besides Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa, by the ED and the CBI. Both the agencies have notified an Interpol red corner notice (RCN) against him after the court issued a non-bailable warrant against him.

Michel has been extensively interviewed by the Indian media in Dubai in the past and both the agencies want him to join the probe to take the case forward.

he ED had also brought on record, in the chargesheet, that the three middlemen "managed to" make inroads into the Indian Air Force (IAF) to influence the stand of the officials into reducing the service ceiling of the helicopters from 6,000 metre to 4,500 metre in 2005.

AgustaWestland became eligible to supply the dozen helicopters for VVIP flying duties after this change.

The ED investigation found that remittances made by Michel through his Dubai-based firm Global Services to a media firm he floated in Delhi, along with two Indians, were made from the funds which he got from AgustaWestland through "criminal activity" and corruption being done in the chopper deal that led to the subsequent generation of proceeds of crime.

On January 1, 2014, India scrapped the contract with Finmeccanica's British subsidiary AgustaWestland for supplying 12 AW-101 VVIP choppers to the IAF over alleged breach of contractual obligations and charges of paying kickbacks to the tune of Rs 423 crore by it for securing the deal.China to penalise $60 billion of US imports in tit-for-tat move

Trump claims China rebuilt itself with money drained out of US

JUST IN | Sebi has issued a clarification on ICICI bank show cause notice.

JUST IN | The UAE Court order on Augusta Westland chopper middleman Christian Michel is not an extradition order, according to a CNBC TV 18 report.

Yes Bank stated that they have received an RBI letter stating that Rana Kapoor may remain MD, CEO till Jan 31,2019. The Bank's board of directors will meet on September 25 on the future course of action

Mullapali Ramachandran has been appointed as the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee Chief, according to an ANI tweet.

September 19, 2018 / 08:34 PM IST / 08:34 PM IST











September 19, 2018 / 10:25 PM IST That's all for today, readers. Thanks for staying on with our coverage of the day's action. Your enthusiasm encourages us to better our coverage every day. Do come back tomorrow for more news, views and insights.











September 19, 2018 / 10:25 PM IST According to government sources who spoke to CNBC TV 18 , India has extended the deadline for retaliatory tariffs on American goods. India hopes to reach a trade package with USA soon and will soon begin next round of discussions on Indo-US trade package. India will also continue talking to USA on its position on Chabahar.











September 19, 2018 / 09:21 PM IST Mullapali Ramachandran has been appointed as the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee Chief, according to an ANI tweet.











September 19, 2018 / 08:06 PM IST Yes Bank stated that they have received an RBI letter stating that Rana Kapoor may remain MD, CEO till Jan 31,2019. The Bank's board of directors will meet on September 25 on the future course of action











September 19, 2018 / 06:58 PM IST JUST IN | The UAE Court order on Augusta Westland chopper middleman Christian Michel is not an extradition order, according to a CNBC TV 18 report.











September 19, 2018 / 06:40 PM IST JUST IN | Sebi has issued a clarification on ICICI bank show cause notice.











September 19, 2018 / 05:18 PM IST











September 19, 2018 / 04:32 PM IST JUST IN | BSE gets SEBI's approval to launch a commodity derivatives segment, reports CNBC TV18.











September 19, 2018 / 04:01 PM IST JUST IN | The Income tax investigation department has conducted a survey on Jet Airways' office located in Delhi and Mumbai, sources tell Moneycontrol. The team is checking the company's book of accounts under section 133 A. The survey would be converted into a search If the team finds any incriminating evidence.











September 19, 2018 / 03:56 PM IST









Representative Image

A BSF jawan's throat was slit and his body bore multiple bullet injuries after the missing trooper was found killed by Pakistani troops in the Jammu region, in a first of its kind barbaric act against Indian forces along the International Border, officials said.

The officials said a "high alert" has been issued to all formations along the 192-km long International Border(IB) and the 740-km Line of Control (LoC), which is manned by the army.

The brutal incident in Ramgarh sector yesterday was reminiscent of similar attacks in the past against Indian security forces along the LoC.

The missing Border Security Force(BSF) jawan was identified as head constable Narender Singh. The BSF had earlier said the name of the victim was Narender Kumar.

"The body of the jawan bears three bullet injuries and his throat has been slit. This is an unprecedented action that has happened with the Indian forces along the IB and the Pakistani troopers are behind this. The BSF and other forces will undertake a counter-action at a suitable time," officials said.

The incident came a day after Home Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the maiden "smart fence" project of the BSF in Jammu on September 17 that aims to deploy smart technology and gadgets to secure the vulnerable patches on the Indo-Pak border.

In a statement, the BSF said the incident happened after the Pakistani side resorted to unprovoked firing on a BSF party at Ramgarh sector which went ahead of the border fence to cut the tall elephant grass (Sarkanda).

"Such tactical patrol is routinely sent to clear the wild vegetation for clearing the field of view along the International Border. This area also carries importance as Pakistan side has a 'protective bundh' closer to the International Border," the statement said.

The firing by the Pakistan side was retaliated by the patrol which tactically extricated themselves to its side of the fence. But the patrol later found one of their members missing.

"With the reinforcement from company Headquarters, the complete area was sanitized first and then the search started for the missing jawan. The area between the fence and the International Border is undulating, marshy and has thick sarkanda growth which made the search difficult," the statement said, adding "that after some efforts, the body of the missing jawan was found with multiple bullet injuries on his torso including neck."

Phone calls and communication exchanges went on from the Indian side to their counterparts Pakistani Rangers across the border in order to locate the jawan for nearly nine hours before the brutal and "unprecedented" incident came to light, officials said.

The BSF has lodged a strong protest with the Pakistan Rangers, they added.

The BSF also made several attempts to reach out to the Pakistani side for maintaining the sanctity of the frontier and ensure that the search parties were not fired upon.

The Pakistan Rangers, officials said, was asked to take part in a joint patrolling to trace the missing jawan, but they came up only to a certain point and cited waterlogging problems in the area that prevented them from undertaking a coordinated action.

The BSF then waited for sunset and launched a "risky operation" to bring the jawan's body back to the post by "late evening".

Officials in the security establishment said the brutal incident was taken "very seriously" by the government. The Ministry of External Affairs and the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) were also expected to take up the issue with their Pakistani counterparts.

In the past, incidents of mutilation of army soldiers have been reported from the LoC especially in the Machhil sector of Kashmir and Naushera and Krishan Gati sectors of Jammu. Last year in May, bodies of two BSF jawans was mutilated in Krishna Gati sector by the border action team from Pakistan.New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) and Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani ahead of a meeting at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi, Wednesday, Sep 19, 2018. (PTI Photo/Shahbaz Khan)(PTI9_19_2018_000053B)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday held wide-ranging talks with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on ways to further boost bilateral cooperation. Ghani arrived here in the morning on a day-long visit.

"Strategic partners and a valued neighbour! PM narendramodi warmly received President of Afghanistan, ashrafghani at the Hyderabad House ahead of the bilateral talks," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

It is understood that Ghani briefed Modi about the status of the peace process in the war-ravaged country.

India has always been favouring an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process to bring peace and stability in that country.live bse live

nse live Volume Todays L/H More 

Billionaire Anil Ambani Tuesday announced that the cash-strapped Reliance Communications will be completely exiting the telecom business to concentrate on real estate in future.

The first priority for RCom, which is credited for democratising telecom services through cheaper offers in early 2000s, is to resolve its over Rs 40,000 crore debt, he told shareholders at the companys 14th annual general meeting here. We have decided that we will not proceed in this sector. And many other companies have taken a similar call. This is very much a writing on the wall, the future

As we have moved out of the mobile sector, we will monetise at an appropriate stage our enterprise business. Reliance Realty will be the engine of growth for the future of this company, Ambani said.

RCom owes over Rs 40,000 crore to a group of 38 lenders, including Chinese banks, and was resolving the debt through a strategic debt restructuring (SDR) process.

Pointing out to the 133-acre Dhirubhai Ambani Knowledge City (DAKC) on the outskirts of the financial capital, he said there is huge realty play opportunity that RComs erstwhile corporate headquarters possesses, and pegged the potential value creation at the site at Rs 25,000 crore.

Ambani said he is confident of getting a resolution in the next few months, and added that other monetisation measures, including sale of telecom infrastructure and fibre to Reliance Jio, are at an advanced stage of closure. He said the company is awaiting final approvals for spectrum sharing and trading from the Department of Telecom.

Anil Ambani also thanked his elder brother Mukesh Ambani, who is credited with conceptualising the undivided groups telecom foray and also bought the assets as part of the beleaguered RComs monetisation efforts. It would be most appropriate for me to thank and acknowledge the support (and) guidance extended to RCom and me personally by my brother Mukesh bhai Ambani, the younger sibling told shareholders.

It can be noted that Mukesh Ambani re-entered the telecom sector by buying out a company which had successfully bid for 4G spectrum, along with which he also announced the end of a no-compete pact. His company Reliance Jios aggressive play is widely blamed for wrecking the telecom sector, which has seen an erosion of profits, asset sales, bankruptcies and consolidation following the entry of the deep-pocketed new entrant.

Anil Ambani Tuesday said there has been a creative destruction of the telecom sector that has resulted in creation of oligopoly which is going towards a duopoly and may be even a monopoly in the future. Banks are saddled with over Rs 7.7 lakh crore in debt and the financial troubles of operators have resulted in over 20 lakh job losses, he said. He said the residual company will serve 35,000 businesses through the enterprise, data centres, undersea cables and international voice calling verticals and will get half of its revenues from abroad.

RCom is committed to exit these verticals as well to pay-off banks and will take a call on the same at an appropriate time, Ambani said. Reliance Realty is a wholly-owned subsidiary of RCom, which will develop the DAKC in Navi Mumbai, he said, adding that it is an already registered IT and fintech park.

The company already has three million sq ft of built up space, which will be leased out to multi-nationals, Ambani said, adding that he expects revenue accruals through it this year itself. Some of the shareholders appreciated efforts taken by the company, while wading through choppy waters, but there were a few critical ones as well.

When one such shareholder persisted, a company official patted him on the back, probably pointing to the time constraints. When he complained, Anil Ambani said from the stage this is a pat and not a stab, and asked him to continue with the question. The mention of the Rafale controversy prompted Anil Ambani to stop him from speaking further.

Shailesh bhai, who is a very educated person and comes with non-facts, half-baked facts, untruth, lies, is in my fathers words, a true well-wisher of all of you. I do respect, in a democratic world, his comments. But none of them have any relevance to what is in front of us today as a company and for all of you shareholders, Ambani said.

The RCom scrip was trading 6.10 per cent down at Rs 16.15 apiece on the BSE at 1242 hrs as against a marginal correction in the benchmark.Representative image

The picturesque state of Sikkim will feature on India's aviation map from Sunday with the commissioning of a greenfield airport at an altitude of 4,500 ft between the Himalayas.

The Pakyong Airport, the tiny hilly state's first and the country's 100th functional airport, will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a government official said Wednesday.

Spread over 206 acres and built at a cost of Rs 605.59 crore, the airport is an example of stellar engineering.

Since Pakyong is located less than 30 km from the state capital Gangtok, tourists as well as local travellers will be spared of the 4-5 hour backbreaking journey uphill from the other nearest airport Bagdogra in West Bengal, the official said.

With an eye on the holiday travel season beginning with Durga Puja, SpiceJet is set to start operating daily flights to and from Kolkata and Guwahati from next month.

SpiceJet is expected to operate Bombardier Q400 aircraft with 78 seats on this sector.

As the airline has been granted permission to operate from Pakyong under the Union Civil Aviation Ministry's UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) scheme for enhancing regional connectivity, the cap on fares for the routes is Rs 2,600, another official said.

The Indian Air Force's Dornier aircraft was the first plane to be tested from Pakyong on March 5 this year.

Following this, SpiceJet conducted the successful test flight of the Bombardier Q400 from Kolkata to Pakyong on March 10 leading to security clearances for commercial operations.

The Pakyong Airport has been included in the central government's ambitious UDAN scheme. This is bound to enhance regional connectivity aiding the development of Sikkim's tourism sector, the official said.

Also, gradually, the airport may connect Sikkim with other countries in the region like Bhutan, Nepal and Thailand where people from the state usually go on vacations.

State-of-the-art geotechnical engineering including soil reinforcement and slope stabilisation techniques has gone into the making of the greenfield project that is becoming functional almost a decade after it was approved by the Union Cabinet, the official said.Around four months after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) downgraded a Look Out Circular (LOC) for liquor baron Vijay Mallya, British authorities had red-flagged to his lenders an Rs 170 crore transfer Mallya made to a bank in Switzerland, according to a report by The Indian Express.

The bank, however, did not act on the legal advice they had received to restrain him when he flew back to London, the report suggests.

According to the report, United Kingdoms Financial Intelligence Unit (UKFIU) on June 28, 2017, had communicated to Indian investigating agencies, which led to Mallyas 13 lenders move to form a consortium and jointly move towards freezing of his assets in the UK.

Subsequently, a Worldwide Freezing Order (WFO) was issued against Mallya in the UK in November last year.

The report adds that Mallyas bank transfer was converted into a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) by the UKFIU. The information was sent to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

According to the report, UK authorities had then advised the Indian agencies to restrain Mallya from disposing off his assets and asked lending banks to extend enforcement of the Debt Recovery Certificate (DRC) by a Bengaluru tribunal in February 2017.

The Rs 170 crore bank transfer to Switzerland could not be blocked because of the time taken by lenders.

Mallya, however, lost control of his UK assets valued at around 1.14 billion pounds because of a legal challenge through the WFO. The CBI had in November 2015, downgraded the LOC, seeking to merely be informed about his entry or exit from the country and not detain him.

On September 18, the CBI said the first LOC issued against the embattled businessman for his detention at airport was not sustainable by law and needed correction as there was no warrant against him at that time.

The agency reiterated its position that there were no grounds to arrest Mallya on November 24, 2015 when he returned from London on the basis of the LOC issued on October 16, 2015 calling for his detention, agency sources told PTI.Declaring that "dictatorship has become a vocation" in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's regime, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi Wednesday said people in Chhattisgarh will remember the attack on his party's workers in Bilaspur as an act of "political persecution".

Taking to Twitter a day after police beat up protesting Congress workers in the Chhattisgarh town, leaving several injured, the Congress president trained his guns on the BJP-led Raman Singh government in the state and also tagged a video of the incident.

"In Narendra Modi's regime, dictatorship has become a vocation. The cowardly manner in which the fundamental rights of Congress workers in Bilaspur were attacked by the Raman Singh government will be remembered by the people there as political persecution," he said on Twitter in Hindi.

At least seven Congress workers were injured on Tuesday when police beat them with sticks in Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur city after they allegedly threw garbage inside a minister's house. The opposition party claimed its workers were carrying out a peaceful protest against Urban Administration Minister Amar Agrawal but were brutally beaten up by police.

Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Neeraj Chandrakar claimed Congress workers threw garbage inside the minister's house and also roughed up a policewoman and some male constables, following which a case was registered against them.

The protesters then went to the district Congress office and staged a sit-in, the police officer said.

When police tried to arrest them, Congress workers again got into a scuffle with police so "mild force" was used to arrest the workers against whom the case had been lodged, Chandrakar said.

At least 52 Congress workers were arrested and seven of them sustained injuries in the process, the ASP said.Former Maharashtra chief ministers Prithviraj Chavan and Ashok Chavan (Image- PTI)

The Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) could distance themselves from the Prakash Ambedkar-led Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) after the latter decided to join hands with Asaduddin Owaisis All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM).

A senior party leader told The Times of India that there could be no question of Congress having an alliance with Ambedkar if he joins hands with AIMIM.

State Congress chief and former chief minister Ashok Chavan said state Congress vice-president Manikrao Thakre had a meeting with Ambedkar and he will have a second round of talks with leader of opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil in a day or two. Days after Ambedkar met Owaisi, he had reportedly met Thakre.

Our aim is to secure alliance with like-minded parties. We do not know if Ambedkar will join hands with AIMIM. It will be too early to comment on the situation arising out of alliance between Ambedkar and AIMIM, Chavan told the newspaper.

On September 15, Ambedkar and AIMIM announced their intention to forge an alliance for the 2019 Lok Sabha and Maharashtra assembly elections. However, a formal structure of the alliance has not been announced.

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," Jaleel said, according to a PTI report.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)s bickering ally Shiv Sena has criticised Ambedkar and AIMIMs move to join hands, saying it will only help in splitting the opposition votes. The Sena has said it would fight the 2019 general elections and state elections alone.

According to a report by DNA, Congress and NCP are intending to consolidate the Muslim and Dalit votes. Following the announcement of a possible tie-up between BBM and AIMIM, Congress and NCP have also initiated talks with Mayawatis Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Samajwadi Party (SP).

Congress and NCP were in an alliance in Maharashtra from 1999 to 2014, when they snapped ties ahead of the assembly polls. The two parties are already holding talks to finalise seat sharing.

In the 2014 Maharashtra assembly polls, AIMIM and BBM had won two and one seats respectively. However, they had garnered 13.16 percent and 3.64 percent vote share respectively in contested seats.

While the 2019 Lok Sabha polls are expected to happen in April-May, Maharashtra is expected to head for assembly polls in October-November next year.Congress leader and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan is leading in Bhokar.

The Congress claimed Wednesday that despite the BJP-led Maharashtra government spending more than Rs 64,000 crore on upgrading water resources in the last four years, there has been no substantial increase in the state's irrigation potential.

State Congress chief Ashok Chavan demanded a probe to find out if there were any irregularities in the spending of these funds.

"In the last four years, the total amount spent, with revised administrative approvals, on all irrigation projects has been over Rs 64,000 crore. But this has not increased the irrigation potential of the state," he said.

As per the 15th Finance Commission, only 18 percent of the state's total cultivable land is irrigated.

Chavan said the finance commission's findings about the state have shown a "mirror" to the ruling BJP, which had accused the previous Congress-NCP government of financial mismanagement.

Till 2013-14, the total debt of the state was Rs 2.69 lakh crore. But in the last four years, the amount doubled, the former chief minister claimed.

The fiscal deficit has gone up to 3 percent (in the BJP-led government's tenure) from 1.7 percent in 2013-14. In 2013, the revenue deficit was 0.3 percent of the GSDP while now it is 0.5 percent, Chavan further said.

The finance commission has said that the debt amount is being used to meet the administrative expenses, he pointed out, claiming there is no increase in the state's revenue.

In a veiled reference to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Chavan claimed that despite the current leadership hailing from Vidarbha, the region's development has not picked up pace and that Marathwada has also suffered.

Fadnavis hails from Nagpur district in Vidarbha.MK Stalin, DMK president

The ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu Wednesday hit out at DMK President MK Stalin for levelling corruption charges against its government, saying he was making such allegations out of 'frustration.'

AIADMK mouthpiece 'Namathu Puratchi Thalaivi Amma' also recalled past corruption charges against the DMK, such as the 2G spectrum allocation scam and took a dig at Stalin for leading his party's protests on Tuesday from Chief Minister K Palaniswami's native district Salem.

Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam were "creating new awakening" in Tamil Nadu in the AIADMK rule, it said. It alleged that following the demise of late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in December 2016, "those who dreamt of the government falling and a split in the party are frustrated that their dreams have not come true."

"Stalin is making desperate attempts to somehow topple this government and become the Chief Minister," a write-up in the AIADMK mouthpiece said.

The leader of Opposition in the state Assembly made attempts to create 'violence' in the House "to create law and order problems", it charged, while referring to the chaotic scenes witnessed during the February 2017 confidence vote of the Palaniswami government, allegedly involving the Opposition party MLAs.

It said Stalin, whose DMK had staged black flag protests against Governor Banwarilal Purohit during his visits to districts to hold review meetings with officials, later petitioned the latter regarding alleged irregularities in the Highways Department in the wake of IT raids against a contractor.

Palaniswami holds, among others, the Highways portfolio. "Frustrated that he has not received any success (politically) despite holding many protests and that people are not supporting him, he is levelling corruption charges from the Chief Minister's native place (Salem)," it said.

The mouthpiece lashed out at the DMK on a number of issues, including the Sri Lankan Tamils issue and land grab charges against former DMK Ministers during its 2006-11 rule. An Opposition party should use the democratic right of holding protests for "just causes" and point out shortcomings which will be addressed by the government.

"Instead, levelling corruption charges and seeking the removal of the government no opposition party in the world does this," it said.

Opposition DMK Tuesday staged state-wide protests against the "corrupt" AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu, with party chief MK Stalin leading the charge in Salem. Stalin had said "people of Tamil Nadu have not seen such a corrupt government in the history of the state" and called it a "slave" to the Centre.Shiv Visvanathan

The recent announcement that the Government of India plans to collect data of Other Backward Classes put me in two minds. My first reaction was knee-jerk contending that this would only reinforce casteism. But my second response was more reflective. As a sociology student I often get nostalgic not so much about society but about the sociologists who taught me.

My teachers had a sense of wisdom, a sense of gossip and irony, I recollect in particular the political scientist Rajni Kothari. There would be intense conversations during lunch about caste, violence, democracy.

The conversations argued that the study of caste tells one as much about the scholar as about the subject. Second, the gossip of caste and its ritual and political logic was better understood by ethnologists than by the great surveys. Third, number and classification rather than being neutral told us more about the way people look at governance. Information one realised was power and information about caste told you how the powerful looked at caste.

There was an irony to the study of caste. Its protean nature eluded the scholar and tended to quietly alter the ruling logic of regimes. Caste tells you there is little difference between the technocrat and the orientalists, they are brothers under the skin. Both bring a primness and puritanism to the study of caste. Their hostility hides a secret, even morbid fascination for it. There is a final moral. In studies like caste the tail wags the dog. I remembered all this as I thought about the OBC census.

The facts of the recent report are clear. The Census of 2021 will for the first time collect data on the Other Backward Classes. Ever since the 1931 census, the government has been reluctant to collect caste data during a census. The very spectacle of enumeration, they felt, added to the logic of casteism. There was a coyness to data collection after 1931. For example, the 2011 census collected data separately through the socio-economic caste census (SECC). But oddly the data is yet to be released for methodological difficulties. The entire exercise cost roughly Rs 5,000 crore but because of certain errors the report was muffled into silence.

Number has now become a favourite tool of aspiring politicians. They realise that number can be a simple rallying point, the site of a campaign or public spectacle. A display of political power is often a display of numbers. Politicians realise today that number and the logic of numbers is critical to OBC battles; it gives them a claim to a larger size of the reservation cake. This needs to be backed by classifications. Between numbers and classification, one can rule a county.

Today power groups also seem to think that between numbers and categories they can obtain greater power. Dominant castes like the Jats, Patidars, Marathas, etc. have been asking for a greater share of the cake. They have been using the logic of numbers to enforce their demands. In this context, one has to understand that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government is not being democratic. When it agrees to conduct an OBC census, it is merely succumbing to the populist pressures of politics. But this game does not end so simply.

There is a logic, a tension to enumeration and categorisation. History has taught us that one of the battles fought is between caste and a more secular criteria like class. Economic and educational classification might be a fairer criteria on which to classify backwardness. But politics and caste as categories always undermine these secular exercises distorting how one determines whether a community is backward. One tried a compromise of indicators under the euphemism of social backwardness. The Orwellian message is clear, some OBCs have to be read as more unequal than others, and therefore they can claim a greater share of electoral power.

The battle shifted from that of OBC to a battle between OBC. As the possibility of enumeration and classification became clearer the struggle moved to one between dominant and aspiring OBC. Each groups wanted their own claim to quotas. What was once an electoral domain of the Yadavas and Patels now opened out to the lesser backward caste. Each one now wanted a separate quota as their stake in power.

The government started playing word games as finer distinctions sprouted between the OBCs. An epidemic of sub-categorisation entered in and suddenly one wondered whether our current masters were merely echoing the British dictum of divide and rule. The BJP realised that instead of facing huge caste consolidations one could deal with caste individually. Negotiation and manipulation would be politically easier. The battle of sub-categorisation makes the task of control and governance easier. The government can easily stall agitation appointing a spate of committees buying time before the election.

Reading all this one goes back to the wisdom of my teachers. They always said studying caste is problematic because the subject has a life of its own. The very politics of it forces us to look at caste as an autonomous factor. Policy can advise rational criteria but politics will always distort it. Such is the fable of caste and electoral democracy, where privilege and justice often mimic each other.

Shiv Visvanathan is professor, Jindal Global Law School and director, Centre for Study of Knowledge Systems, OP Jindal Global University. The views expressed are personal.Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad

Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad rejected on Wednesday the Congress demand for a probe into the Rafale fighter jet deal, saying an inquiry cannot be set up only to satisfy the ego of an "ill-informed" leader of the opposition party who "repeats lies".

He also said that former defence minister A K Antony has a lot to answer for keeping the public-sector Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which was to be offset partner of the French maker of Rafale jets, in the lurch despite being in office for eight years.

"I don't think JPC or CAG inquiry is set up to satisfy the ego of an ill-informed leader who repeats lies with alarming regularity," he told reporters, in an apparent attack on Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

His response came after Congress leaders met the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) seeking a probe into alleged irregularities in the Rafale fighter jet deal and for leaving HAL out of the offset contract and transfer of technology. The Congress has also been demanding a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the matter.

Prasad said Antony was the defence minister when the offset rule was framed, as incumbent defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman has already articulated.

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.

"He was the minister who left HAL in lurch, as far as the joint operations is concerned. Mr Antony has a lot to answer," he said.

"What has struck me more is that Mr Antony, who was defence minister for eight years during which nothing could be done for modernisation and empowerment of Indian forces, (making statement on the issue)," he said.Amidst uncertainty plaguing Indias relationships with its neighbours  Nepal pushing for closer relations with China; the Maldives summoning the Indian envoy and returning Indian helicopters and Bangladeshs unhappiness about Indias response to the Rohingya crisis  Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghanis one-day visit to India is being seen as a noteworthy development.

According to reports, President Ghani is expected to hold talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a host of issues. This comes under one of the clauses of the Strategic Partnership with Afghanistan (SPA) signed in 2011 wherein regular consultations on strategic issues are held between the two countries.

Afghanistan is currently facing a very critical time in all respects, and we certainly need to sit down with all our friends and strategic partners like India to discuss how to deal with terrorism and security issues that ultimately affect all of us, Afghanistan Ambassador to India Dr Shaida Abdali told The Hindu.

Afghanistan has been witness to a spate of terrorist attacks recently, with the most recent on September 17. The attacks have claimed the lives of at least 27 Afghan security officers across the country. Before this, an offensive in Ghazni, the countrys sixth largest city, had killed over 100 members of the security forces and left most of the city damaged.

Afghanistan is also going through an important phase politically, with the United States and Russia pushing for the Taliban to be brought to table and the parliamentary elections scheduled for next month while the Presidential elections are expected to be held in 2019.

Abdali admitted that the situation is not according to expectation ahead of the elections.

The meeting also comes on the heels of a new government taking over the helm at Pakistan and US Ambassador to Afghanistan John Bass' recent revelation that Pakistan is considering opening up of a trade route through the country to India.

"... a couple of months ago, for the first time, the Pakistani government expressed a willingness to start talking with its Afghan counterparts for parameters to enabling trade between India and Afghanistan through Pakistan, Bass told Economic Times recently.

Afghanistan hopes that a change of government in Pakistan will lead to a change of policies towards Afghanistan. "It is a hope, but not a reality so far. As an Afghan, I would say if we continue to suffer terrorism on the ground, then there is no change in [Pakistans] policy in terms of cross-border terrorism," Abdali said.

The two leaders are also expected to address the issue of defence and security, especially with regard to India providing defence equipment to Afghanistan.

The two countries recently signed an MoU in which India promised to deliver four new helicopters to Afghanistan. India had, in 2015, gifted the Afghanistan security forces four Mi-24 choppers, marking a significant shift from its earlier stance of not providing any lethal weapon to a foreign country.Military ties between China and Pakistan are the "backbone" of relations between the two countries, a senior Chinese general told Pakistan's visiting army chief, days after a Pakistani minister stirred unease about Chinese Silk Road projects.

General Qamar Javed Bajwa is the most senior Pakistani figure to visit ally China since the new government of Prime Minister Imran Khan took office in August, and his trip comes a week or so after a senior Chinese diplomat visited Islamabad.

Pakistan has deepened ties with China in recent years as relations with the United States have frayed.

Bajwa may be hoping to smooth out any Chinese alarm at comments last week by Pakistan's commerce minister, Abdul Razak Dawood, who suggested suspending for a year projects in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the Pakistan leg of China's Belt and Road Initiative that includes recreating the old Silk Road trading route.

On Tuesday, Zhang Youxia, a deputy chairman of China's powerful Central Military Commission which President Xi Jinping heads, reiterated to Bajwa that the two countries are "all weather" strategic cooperative partners.

"China-Pakistan military ties are an important backbone of relations between the two countries," said Zhang according to a statement by China's Defence Ministry late on Tuesday.

"The two militaries should further pay close attention to practical cooperation in all areas, keep raising the ability to deal with various security risks and challenges, and join hands to protect the common interests of both countries."

However, Zhang cited Xi as saying that the Belt and Road initiative should be a benchmark for China-Pakistan ties.

He said China appreciated the new Pakistan government's platform of fully promoting the relationship and that China was willing to work with the new government to push construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

Beijing has pledged to invest about $60 billion in Pakistan for infrastructure for the Belt and Road project.Danske Bank's chief executive Thomas Borgen quit on Wednesday in a money laundering scandal which involved 200 billion euros ($234 billion) flowing through its Estonian branch between 2007 and 2015, most of which was suspicious.

"It is clear that Danske Bank has failed to live up to its responsibility in the case of possible money laundering in Estonia. I deeply regret this," Borgen said in a statement.

Danske Bank said its investigation into the affair concluded that Borgen, Chairman Ole Andersen and the board of directors "did not breach their legal obligations towards Danske Bank".

Regulators and the financial community had eagerly awaited the Danske Bank report, which marks a critical milestone for the Danish lender and follows calls by Brussels for a new European Union watchdog to crack down on financial crime.

Investor uncertainty has seen a third of Danske Bank's stock market value wiped out in the last six months, mainly driven by concerns over the possible involvement of US authorities.

The U.S. earlier this year accused Latvia's ABLV of covering up money laundering and the bank was promptly denied US dollar funding, leading to its collapse.

While Danske does not have a banking licence in the United States, banning U.S. correspondent banks from dealing with it would amount to shutting it out of the global financial network.

The bank, whose shares fell as much as 5 percent following the release of the report, also lowered its expectations for annual net profit to 16-17 billion Danish crowns, from a previous range of 18-20 billion.Answer: Donald Trump.

President Donald Trump is flexing his executive power to declassify secret documents in the Russia investigation, an extraordinary move he says will ensure that "really bad things" at the FBI are exposed.

But the decision, made against the backdrop of Trump's spiraling outrage at the special counsel's Russia investigation, may expose sensitive sources and methods and brush up against privacy law protections, experts say.

The order is likely to further divide the president from the intelligence agencies he oversees and raises new concerns that Trump is disclosing government secrets for his own political gain.

Critics of the move say the president has a clear conflict by trying to discredit an investigation in which he himself is a subject.

"This radical policy choice is not being made on traditional policy grounds. It's being made on conflicted grounds," said David Kris, a former Justice Department national security division head. "That's problematic."

The Justice Department says it's begun complying with the order, though it's not clear when the documents might be released.

It's also unclear if the multi-agency review now underway might find ways to try to withhold certain information or limit whatever damage, such as outing sources or scaring off would-be ones, that may arise from the release.

Trump and Republican supporters want the records out in hopes they'll reveal law enforcement bias in the early stage of the Russia investigation and prove the probe was opened without good reason.

Democrats say the material is too secret for disclosure and object to any meddling in an ongoing investigation.

In a letter Tuesday to Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and FBI Director Christopher Wray, four top Democrats called Trump's action "a brazen abuse of power."

The letter said, "Any decision by your offices to share this material with the President or his lawyers will violate longstanding Department of Justice policies." It was signed by House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, and the top Democrats on the House and Senate intelligence committees, Adam Schiff and Mark Warner.

The documents the president ordered declassified include a portion of a secret surveillance application for a former Trump campaign adviser, materials by default treated as highly secret and withheld from public view.

Trump appeared unconcerned Tuesday by the national security implications of the order, tweeting about a supportive congressman and saying, "Really bad things were happening, but they are now being exposed. Big stuff!" At the White House he said he wanted "total transparency," insisting again that the Russia investigation is a "witch hunt."

Trump told The Hill website on Tuesday, "I hope to be able put this up as one of my crowning achievements that I was able to expose something that is truly a cancer in our country." He said he hasn't read the documents he ordered declassified.US President Donald Trump welcomed developments on Wednesday at an inter-Korean summit in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang as "very exciting".

"Kim Jong Un has agreed to allow nuclear inspections, subject to final negotiations, and to permanently dismantle a test site and launch pad in the presence of international experts," Trump said on Twitter, referring to agreements the North Korean leader made in talks with South Korea's President Moon Jae-in.

"In the meantime there will be no Rocket or Nuclear testing," Trump added.

Referring to the repatriation of remains of US service people killed in the Korean War, which Kim and Moon also discussed, Trump said:

"Hero remains to continue being returned home to the United States. Also, North and South Korea will file a joint bid to host the 2032 Olympics. Very exciting!"EU countries should continue extraditing criminal suspects to Britain until it leaves the bloc, the union's top court ruled Wednesday, rejecting a bid by a murder suspect to use Brexit to avoid facing justice.

A man suspected of murder, rape and arson challenged a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) issued by Britain after he was detained in Ireland, arguing that the UK's decision to leave the EU meant it was not clear that his rights would be guaranteed.

But the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in Luxembourg ruled that Britain's June 2016 vote to leave had no bearing on such warrants so long as it remained part of the EU.

"The notification by a member state of its intention to withdraw from the Union in accordance with Article 50 (of the EU treaty) does not have the effect of suspending the application of EU law in that member state," the court said.

The "principles of mutual trust and mutual recognition" continue until Brexit day March 29 next year, it added.

"The court concludes therefore that mere notification by a member state of its intention to withdraw from the European Union is not an 'exceptional' circumstance capable of justifying a refusal to execute an EAW issued by that Member State."

The European Arrest Warrant system allows EU countries to request the extradition of suspects from other member states, with very few reasons allowed for refusal.

The suspect in the current case, identified only as "RO", was arrested in Ireland in 2016 on the British warrant and appealed to the Irish High Court on grounds including issues related to Brexit.

The Irish court then asked the ECJ to rule whether it should refuse to surrender the suspect due to "the uncertainty as to the arrangements which will be put in place after the UK's withdrawal."

The ECJ said courts should only refuse an arrest warrant from a state leaving the EU if there are "substantial grounds" to believe there is a risk of the suspect being deprived of his or her rights.affordable housing

The German government plans to back new tax incentives on Wednesday to encourage private developers to build new rental flats in a drive to tackle a drastic shortage of affordable housing aggravated by a record influx of refugees and migrants.

The plan, expected to be approved by the cabinet on Wednesday, is aimed at encouraging investors to prioritise construction of affordable rental flats. It is expected to give Germanys booming construction sector an additional push, with real-estate companies such as Vonovia and Deutsche Wohnen among the beneficiaries. The measure will let investors reduce their tax bills by deducting almost a third of their construction costs over four years as long as the new flats they build are let for 10 years.



A copy of the draft law seen by Reuters shows that the government expects the measure to cost the state around 235 million euros (209 million pounds) a year. The programme will only apply to building applications or notifications issued after Aug. 31, 2018, and before Jan. 1, 2022. To avoid supporting the construction of luxury homes, the tax incentive will be limited to flats with construction costs below 3,000 euros per square metre. Private investors can make tax claims for no more than 2,000 euros per square metre. German construction firms are benefiting from surging demand for property, higher state spending on construction and low borrowing costs, the ZDB construction association said earlier this month when raising its revenue growth forecast for 2018.

More than one million asylum seekers have arrived in Germany since 2015, when Chancellor Angela Merkel opened the countrys borders to those fleeing wars in the Middle East and Africa. But a construction sector boom is straining building capacity.Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre has done away with 1,420 laws, considered "redundant and obsolete", in the past four years, a reply to a query under the RTI Act has revealed.

As per the information provided by the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the Legislative Department to Lucknow-based activist Nutan Thakur, 1,420 Central laws have been repealed since 2014.

The information says that initially 35 Acts were repealed through the Repealing and Amending Act, 2015. This was followed by 90 Acts being repealed in 2015 itself and 1,050 Acts in 2016.

In 2017, 245 Acts were repealed.

The reply to the RTI reveals that the Acts were repealed on the basis of a report by the Law Commission and a two-member committee constituted by the Prime Minister's Office, along with comments from various ministries and departments.In the current bull-run, a lot of companies running on average margins have enjoyed a massive rise in their stock prices as margins expanded. Are they headed for a reality check? APL Apollo Tubes (APL), which manufactures steel pipes and sections that have application in mostly construction, is one such company.

APL, which has seven manufacturing facilities, has continuously...Fair trade regulator Competition Commission of India (CCI) has imposed a total penalty of Rs38 crore on 18 sugar mills and two associations for unfairly fixing the bids of a joint tender floated by state-run oil marketing companies in 2013, the government said on Tuesday.

A finance ministry release said that the joint tender in question was floated by Indian Oil Corp (IOCL), Hindustan Petroleum Corp (HPCL) and Bharat Petroleum Corp (BPCL) in January 2013 for procurement of ethanol for blending with petrol.

"The CCI has imposed penalties upon 18 sugar mills and 2 associationsIndian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) and Ethanol Manufacturers Association of India (EMAI)for rigging the bids in respect of a joint tender floated by Oil Marketing Companies (HPCL/ BPCL/ IOCL) for procurement of ethanol for blending with petrol," it said.

The five complainant firms led by India Glycol Ltd accused ISMA and EMAI of persuading the oil marketers to float a joint tender for procurement of ethanol.

The firms alleged that the joint tendering was an agreement among horizontal players to procure ethanol from various suppliers in breach of the competition laws, the statement said.

The complainants also alleged that the sugar manufacturers, who had taken part in the tender, manipulated the bids by quoting similar rates, and in some cases identical rates, through an understanding and collective action, in violation of the domestic competition laws.

The CCI, in its order, said that the bidders acted in collusion to eliminate competition and also manipulated the bidding process, the statement added.

Disclaimer: Information, facts or opinions expressed in this news article are presented as sourced from IANS and do not reflect views of Moneylife and hence Moneylife is not responsible or liable for the same. As a source and news provider, IANS is responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability and validity of any information in this article.Do you plan to join the 25 million Indians who travelled abroad in 2017, with the number expected to go up to 50 million by 2020, and will you be securing your risks and liabilities by taking all risks travel insurance  voluntarily, by choice or because the destination countries insist on it? And if so, will you, like almost all these 25 to 50 million people, buy your travel insurance from an Indian company?

My wife is a frequent global traveller and we, typically, pick up a multi-entry multi-trip all risks travel insurance for the whole world.

The one we picked up last was Tata-AIG multi-platinum 45 days, which meant top of the line coverage, for all trips anywhere in the world not exceeding 45 days each. The validity was from 13 September 2017 to 12 September 2018.

In the cover note (incidentally, we never received the full insurance policy document) was a line to the effect that an automatic extension of seven days was part of this policy. This policy cost us about Rs15,000 for a full year, no single trip to be more than 45 days.

My wife left India for various countries on 2 August 2018 and was scheduled to return on or around 24 September 2018. Allowing for 45 days + 7 days, and a renewal when due, we thought we had the travel insurance well in place.

Around the end of August 2018, we received a reminder for renewal dated end July 2018, by hard copy and also by email, quoting the policy number in the subject line.

The renewal cost was just about thrice the cost of the original policy, all other parameters remaining the same, except that my wife had entered the 61-70 years age band from the 50-60 years band.

The renewal was going to cost me about Rs45,000.

So I called the toll-free number and explained the whole situation as follows:

a) Wife is travelling and needs extension from 12 September 2018 onwards.

b) How do we resolve the 45 days limit.

c) Why is the premium so high?

I was told that for renewal, she would have to return to India before the expiry of the policy on 12 September 2018.

For resolving the 45 days limit? they said there is no solution, because the seven days automatic renewal applies only if a flight is cancelled and there is no alternate flight option.

And as for the premium being high, I was told that is because she has gone into the next age band.

There was one solution I discovered on the Tata AIG website - I could reduce the cover from Platinum to Gold and the duration from 45 days to 30 days, at which level it would be a more reasonable Rs23,000 or so. This I discovered online on the Tata AIG website without any help from Tata AIG.

However, before all this, I was given a huge run around because I was told that the policy number was incorrect.

After a few calls, I finally got through to somebody who then told me that the policy number had been changed because of the internal migration policy of Tata AIG, and they did not think it fit to mention the changed policy number to me even in the renewal letter.

Imagine the effect of this practice if one is trying to make a claim abroad. Or if any of the immigration authorities had tried to re-verify the policy or the cover note.

The long and short of it was that I was told that unless my wife returned from Europe to renew her travel policy, her movements to other countries en route back to India were going to be cut short as she would be without insurance cover while travelling from one country to another, and that any solution by Tata AIG was simply not feasible.

And for any change in policy terms or a fresh policy  you got it right, Madam will have to return to India, is what I was told.

More than anything else, this was informed to me over phone by the call centre staff in the same tone of voice and attitude that they reserve for denying a claim.

A "Do what you wish" kind of message being voiced over the phone. They may have assumed I was talking from abroad.

It was at that juncture, that a person who is an even more frequent traveller, suggested that we look at picking up a short-term two-week policy from abroad, from destination countries, directly.

Sometimes the best solutions are the simplest.

It took me less than 15 minutes online to pick up a fresh cashless policy for the missing period: 12th to 24 September 2018, for all of Rs1,200 or so.

With a direct cashless linkage by the insurance company in their own home country to hospitals in their own country.

The only condition was that the policy needed to be bought one day before travel. In addition, the age band for senior citizens in their case started at the end of the 64th year, i.e., on the 65th birthday.

I did not even have to attach any ID or age proof. Just name, nationality, date of birth.

When I called up their call centre, I was told that they assumed we are filling the truth in the online form and, if we are not, then not only would the claim be in jeopardy but it would also be considered a serious attempt to defraud by forgery.

What about previous ailments, I asked over the phone and was told that, the policy was only for 15 days and covered any medical problem in those 15 days other than dental treatment not caused by an accident, full stop.

The policy issued by Tata AIG in India has lapsed.

I am now bombarded by calls and reminders to renew or revive the policy.

One of them even quotes the seven days extension.

On the other side, middle-level management are busy throwing fine print at me on why they cannot bend from their policies in facilitating an extension or renewal.

And more interestingly, how the seven-day extension is simply not feasible.

The policy issued abroad is signed by a human being who also appends his local regulatory authority's ID number as well as his competence and qualifications.

Insurance Regulatory Development Authority in India (IRDAI) also has a similar clause, but I have yet to see anybody (other than old-timer insurance agents and government insurance company staff) contacting me from an insurance company in India, quoting the IRDAI certification number.We had mentioned in Tuesdays closing report that Nifty, Sensex were awaiting government action on forex front. The major indices of the Indian stock markets suffered a correction on Wednesday and closed with losses over Tuesdays close. On the NSE, there were 582 advances, 1,139 declines and 347 unchanged. The trends of the major indices in the course of Wednesdays trading are given in the table below:

Broadly negative global cues on the back of escalation in trade tensions dragged the key Indian equity indices into the red on Wednesday. On a provisional basis, the two key indices closed in the negative territory for the third consecutive session, with the S&P BSE Sensex losing over 150 points.

The NSE Nifty50 dropped around 50 points to end below the 11,300 mark. Sector-wise, selling pressure was witnessed in banking, FMCG (fast moving consumer goods) and consumer durables counters.

Reliance Infrastructure (RInfra) Chairman Anil Ambani said that he expects the company to become debt-free by next year with the best credit ratings to match following the sale of its Mumbai power business to Adani Transmission for Rs18,800 crore earlier this year. Reliance Infrastructure shares closed at Rs405.00, down 5.34% on the NSE.

Himachal Futuristic bagged Advance Purchase Order worth Rs611 crore approx. from BSNL for OFC laying project, supply of its Accessories and GPON Equipment in Madhya Pradesh under BharatNet Phase-II (for MP-1 Package). This includes O&M at a cost of Rs159 crore for 7 years. Himachal Futuristic Communications Limited shares closed at Rs23.30, up 4.72% on the NSE.

Sun Pharma has received European Commission (EC) approval for ILUMETRI for the treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe chronic plaque psoriasis. According to studies, more than 92% of patients who responded to ILUMETRI within 28 weeks maintained a 75% skin clearance response. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited shares closed at Rs647.90, up 0.84% on the NSE.

VarrocCorp Holdings, Netherlands, a wholly owned subsidiary of Varroc Engineering has signed a JV agreement (Varroc-70%) with ELBA SA, a lighting & electronics company-based in Romania. The JV to be located in Timisoara, Romania and will focus on electronics manufacturing. Varroc Engineering shares closed at Rs989.00, down 2.21% on the NSE.

The construction arm of L&T has won orders worth Rs2,048 crore across two business segments. The Power T&D business has secured Rs1,633 crore. The Water & Effluent business has won an order worth Rs415 crore from Tamil Nadu Water Supply & Drainage Board. Larsen & Toubro shares closed at Rs1,333.10, up 0.39% on the NSE.

The top gainers and top losers of the major indices are given in the table below:

The closing values of the major Asian indices are given in the table below:100 years ago, cities were much like they are today: places of congregation.

People would travel hundreds of kilometres to live amongst everyone else.

But as populations have grown, our cities have undergone dramatic changes.

The buildings are bigger. Transport systems are a whole lot better. Public amenities, hygiene, and opportunities have all improved.

Its why more and more people move to urban areas each year.

So what will the next 100 years be like? More of the same?

I want you to imagine a city of the future.

What comes to mind?

Skyscrapers that have no end? Flying cars following an invisible path in the air? Connected devices on every corner?

Our cities might look like something straight out of Hollywood. Its how I initially imagined it.

But reality could be much different.

We might not have flying cars, we might do away with an endless amount of skyscrapers.

I am confident of one thing however. Therell be plenty of opportunities to take advantage of our evolving cities in the stock market.

The next generation of connectivity

One country fast evolving is Singapore.

Instead of a Smart City, Singapore is fast developing a Smart Nation.

According to Singapore, this is where people are empowered by technology to lead meaningful lives.

Things like e-payments, millions of sensors and communication technology will make Singapores dream possible.

And already, theyve made big strides at digitalising their economy.

In 2015 for example, they launched multiple apps like OneService to encourage digital communication and free Wi-Fi networks.

Then in 2016, the country opened their first 3D printing centre along with govBuy, a platform that allows citizens to sell their services to the public sector.

Places like Hong Kong are following suit. Their plans to create a Smart City include:

a connected transport system,

ubiquitous use of digital payments,

clean green connected energy and,

innovation incubators for youths and entrepreneurs.

For many policy makers however, plans likely wont progress. Not in a big way at least, until a new technology hits the stage: 5G.

Its the next generation of connectivity.

If we wind things back a little, 2G kicked off global communications. 3G brought us mobile internet. 4G gave us much faster speeds to send and receive data. It also made such data more secure.

Billions upon billions of dollars brought these connectivity improvements to the masses.

But unless we get 5G, its hard to imagine a future of driverless cars, remote surgery or the Internet of Things.

Partly its because we cannot transmit data fast enough.

Source: CTIA

[Click to open new window]

But its not just about speed. We need connections that are reliable and consistent to make the above possible.

Its why theres so much hype around 5G.

The Key to Spotting Breakout Biotech Stocks. Download your free report now.

Its not just the answer to more data and faster connection speeds. It could bring on true Smart Cities, where everything is connected.

Think Im being too optimistic? Take a look at how Tech Republic framed the situation:

Figuring out what uses 5G will be put to is the equivalent of trying to predict the rise of the iPhone five years before it launched. No one foresaw its arrival, or how the market would change in response to it, and how wed end up where we are now. Were facing the same situation again: trying and imagine how the mobile world will look 10 years from now and design a standard to fit it.

Try not to get to excited though. 5G is close, but its not coming tomorrow. Wired writes:

Network providers around the world are already gearing up to test 5G networks throughout 2018, with the first 5G-ready smartphones expected to be released early next year. If everything goes to plan, the idea is that 5G will bring us broadband-equivalent download speeds over mobile networks. That would mean no more waiting ages for videos to buffer or web pages to load and make it easier for things like driverless cars to transfer vast amounts of data really quickly.

And how often does everything go according to plan?

In Hong Kong for example, mobile and satellite companies are stuck in negotiations over the rights to a crucial part of the 5G spectrum.

South China Morning Post explains:

At issue is the so-called C-band, a frequency range key to developing next-generation, ultra-fast 5G networks, which themselves are crucial to the functioning of a smart city. In Hong Kong, the C-band is used by the citys two satellite operators, AsiaSat and APT Satellite, under a legally binding arrangement, but the four mobile operators want access to it to pursue their 5G ambitions.

So what can you do in the interim, before 5G gets here?

Should you invest in data?

There are no certainties about the future.

But if I had to bet whether demand for data will increase or decrease Id definitely bet on the former.

Consider the internet for a moment.

Every year millions of new people hop online. This means millions more are sending and receiving more data each year.

And those who already consume data want more of it.

Instead of looking at pictures, were all watching videos and streaming more content. This demands a whole lot more data than reading the odd article or surfing the web.

Then, if we factor in new technologies like driverless cars and the IoT, data consumption goes through the roof.

The opportunity for investors is to find the companies that stand to profit from the inevitable rise of data.

Your friend,

Harje Ronngard,

Editor, Money Morning

PS: How to get in on these high-risk tech plays with massive potential. Find out here.Maintaining independence and editorial freedom is essential to our mission of empowering investor success. We provide a platform for our authors to report on investments fairly, accurately, and from the investors point of view. We also respect individual opinionsthey represent the unvarnished thinking of our people and exacting analysis of our research processes. Our authors can publish views that we may or may not agree with, but they show their work, distinguish facts from opinions, and make sure their analysis is clear and in no way misleading or deceptive.

To further protect the integrity of our editorial content, we keep a strict separation between our sales teams and authors to remove any pressure or influence on our analyses and research.

Read our editorial policy to learn more about our process.Toronto, On. September 19, 2018  Broker ONE announced today that Ron De Silva was appointed as President & CEO of the network. Ron, co-founder of Real Mortgage Associates (RMA), joined Broker ONE in September 2016 when Broker ONE acquired RMA.

Jason Singh, Chairman of the Board and co-founder of Broker ONE stated Throughout his career Ron has played significant roles in helping new companies get established in the mortgage industry. From the launch of Invis in 2000 to Cervus Financial (now, MacQuarie Bank) to Real Mortgage Associates (now, member Broker ONE), Rons expertise in various leadership capacities was relied upon heavily. I am looking forward to Rons leadership as he guides Broker ONE towards achieving its future milestones. Said Singh.

Ron De Silva, president & ceo said, I am honoured to be leading this network into the future. Broker ONE has many, very successful affiliate firms with unique brands and unique ways of doing business. One of my primary objectives, amongst many, will be to identify best practices from within this group (and externally) and implement them network-wide. Broker ONE members will reap increased benefits from being part of the network while still maintaining their individual brand identity said De Silva.In addition to being a mortgage broker and wealth advisor, Calum Ross is an authorand after reading The Real Estate Retirement Plan: An Investment and Lifestyle Solution for Canadians, you might even call him an investment iconoclast.

Ross obliterates preponderant investing dogmatisms and elucidates for his readers why some investment strategies are ultimately ruinous while others are recipes for success. For starters, the Toronto-based Ross warns against investing in real estate before RRSPs have already been maximized. Thats just one way in which Ross engages, and often challenges, readers to think outside of the box, embrace change, and jettison traditional ideas of job security and retirement savings.

In addition to exalting conservative leveraging, including dividend-paying stocks, Ross promulgates diverse portfolios, especially if the goal is to build a retirement nest egg. Ross advises building a portfolio with traditional financial assets like stocks, bonds, and cash. However, the crux of his argument is that a investment strategy solely composed of homeownership, and by extension home equity, is myopic. One solution The Real Estate Retirement Plan presents is to invest money in Real Estate Investment Trusts.The New York State Department of Financial Services has sued the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to challenge its move to allow non-depository financial technology companies engaged in banking to apply for national bank charters, according to a Reuters report.

Maria Vullo, superintendent of the states top banking regulator, claimed the decision was unconstitutional as well as lawless, ill-conceived, and destabilizing of financial markets.

The lawsuit, filed in the US District Court in Manhattan, is asking for a declaration that the federal agency usurped state powers in violation of the Constitutions 10th Amendment and also that it exceeded its authority under the National Bank Act.As technology puts the ability to spread messages at peoples fingertips, the FBI wants everyone to think before posting content. The agency is refreshing its Hoax Threat Campaign, which addresses consequences related to threats issued online or elsewhere.

Emmerson Buie, Jr., special agent in charge of the FBI El Paso Division, said Tuesday threats happen nationwide. He said local law enforcement agencies can notify the FBI when situations arise.

Im not going to say its been any more of an issue in the Permian Basin than any place else, but we have had incidents that weve responded to, Buie told local media outlets during a roundtable discussion at the FBI Midland office.

The agency-wide Hoax Threat Campaign was launched in May to educate the public about the consequences of issuing threats to schools and other locations. Buie said legal risks are associated with sharing certain remarks.

I think its important particularly for our young people so that they dont make a mistake early and then have to carry the weight and the burden of having possibly a criminal record for making a mistake in their youth, he said.

Those who issue hoax threats face up to five years in prison if convicted by federal prosecutors, according to Buie. He said the sentence can rise to a maximum of 20 years if the threat causes an injury, and it can reach life imprisonment if someone dies.

In addition to the legal possibilities, a Hoax Threat Campaigns webpage points out impacts for communities.

The bureau and its law enforcement partners take each threat seriously, David Bowdich, FBI deputy director, said in a statement on the webpage. We investigate and fully analyze each threat to determine its credibility. Hoax threats disrupt school, waste limited law enforcement resources and put first responders in unnecessary danger.

Locally, Buie said he would like to see more community participation in the face of hoax threats as well as increased awareness that they are not jokes. The FBI takes steps to identify people behind threats posted on the internet, which is one of the ways they are issued.

We dont keep an accurate account because many times they go unreported, Buie said. But we estimate that its in the thousands, that there are hoax threats out there because they can come in so many different forms.

People who issue threats may be bullied, lack attention or want power, according to Buie. He said the threats tend to spike after major incidents.

If they crave that attention for whatever reason, then they might try and pursue this method to get that attention or cause some harm to somebody to get back at them, Buie said.

Though not directly addressed during Tuesdays media roundtable, some recent Midland threats have prompted action from various law enforcement agencies.

Last year, authorities responded to threats at the H-E-B on Andrews Highway as well as the Midland County and George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush U.S. courthouses, according to previous Reporter-Telegram reports. Midland Christian School in February had an on-campus police presence after a message that suggested the possibility of violence, according to a report.Midland Academy Charter School first-grader Caroline Koenig presented Interim Police Chief Seth Herman with money that the school raised for the Midland Police Department.

Almost $427 was raised for the purchase of a tactical vest, according to information from the school. Superintendent Jill Lankford was on hand for the presentation, which was Tuesday at the school.On Saturday, authorities arrested a 35-year-old Texas Border Patrol agent accused of fatally shooting multiple women in the past two weeks.

Police said Juan David Ortiz, a Border Patrol supervisor, was arrested in a hotel parking lot after his fifth would-be victim escaped and alerted police.

"We do consider this to be a serial killer," Webb County District Attorney Isidro Alaniz said Saturday, according to ABC News.

"It meets the qualifications or definition of being a serial killer  in this case, we have four people murdered," Alaniz said.

Ortiz' arrest comes weeks after the arrest of another Laredo Border Patrol agent, indicated on two counts of capital murder.

See the gallery above for things to know about the emerging case against the accused serial killer.

THE LATEST: $2.5M bond set for Border Patrol agent accused of killing four

Fernando Ramirez covers Texas news and politics. Read him on our breaking news site and on our subscriber site. | Fernando.ramirez@chron.com | @fernramirez93



Two pilots safely ejected from an Air Force plane Tuesday afternoon before it crashed in a field on the far North Side, prompting a suspension of training flights at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph.

Both pilots survived the bailout from the T-6 Texan II training aircraft with minor injuries. The plane crashed in a field near Nacogdoches Road just outside Loop 1604 in the northern suburban fringe, where such wide-open acreage is rapidly shrinking.

The commander of the 12th Flying Training Wing suspended flights of the two-seat, turboprop T-6A. It is the services mainstay trainer for novice pilots at several bases in Texas, Oklahoma and Mississippi under the Air Education and Training Command.

SUBSCRIBERS: Air Force's mainstay T-6A trainers grounded over pilot safety concerns

The cause of the crash wasnt known, but an Air Force investigation team was on the ground along with military and civilian firefighters, said Randy Martin, the wings spokesman.

Obviously, this is a serious accident, so we have to follow the protocol established by the Air Force, Martin said.

T-6A Texan II The T-6A Texan II is a single-engine, two-seat trainer. It teaches basic flying skills to Air Force and Navy pilots in a variety of roles, including fighters, bombers, tankers and cargo aircraft, as well as helicopters. Instructor pilot training in the T-6A began at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph in 2000, with the first novice aviators starting in 2001. Builder: Raytheon Aircraft Co. Powerplant: 1,100 horsepower Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68 turbo-prop engine Speed: 320 mph Ceiling: 31,000 feet Range: 900 nautical miles Cost: $4.27 million each Inventory: Active force, 444 See More Collapse

At Randolph, the T-6A is used to train instructor pilots. The wings commander, Col. Mark Robinson, suspended training and will evaluate its resumption over the coming hours, Martin said.

Robinson also established an interim safety board to preserve evidence until a formal safety board is established this week, Martin said.

The plane crashed about 5 miles from Randolph but within a half a mile of Rolling Oaks Mall and a Wal-Mart Super Center to the west and Judson Independent School Districts Veterans Memorial High to the north.

Randolph commanders have worked with Universal City and other nearby cities to limit the density of development far closer to its runways, where the risks of a crash are highest, but Tuesdays mishap was sure to reinforce concerns that the high pace of construction in northern Bexar County was incompatible with the high pace of pilot training there.

No one on the ground was hurt. The aircraft appeared broken in two pieces after ripping a long skid mark into the earth.

Chris Lowe, 41, who manages the Circle Dot Ranch, said he heard an explosion and looked up to see the plane falling and the two pilots parachuting toward the middle of the property.

He and his wife drove their pickups to where they found the pilots standing among several mesquite trees. Both were scratched from the trees, but appeared OK, he said.

Lowes wife, Brandi Williams, 35, said one pilot received a phone call moments after they arrived.

Hes like, Hello? You were just in a plane crash, really? she recalled thinking.

One pilot spoke to his commanding officer and was handling it pretty well, Lowe added. The other pilot, you could tell he was a little shaken.

After a few moments, the two pilots hugged each other, Lowe said.

That felt really good to see that, that they felt compelled to be thankful, Lowe said.

A photo taken by someone on the ground showing both pilots standing and smiling after receiving treatment by paramedics was posted to the Twitter feed of a local TV news station. A parachute resting in a set of tree limbs dangled a few feet above their heads.

SUBSCRIBERS: Air Force says varying oxygen levels in cockpit sickened pilots

Martin said the pilots were taken to JBSA-Randolph Medical Clinic for treatment.

Michael Spencer, 36, also looked up when he heard a boom, and could see the descending plane and the two parachutes from his house. The plane crashed on his property.

It was loud, Spencer said. It took a tumble probably three or four times and then came to a stop.

Several drivers on Nacogdoches Road pulled over and ran to the wreckage to search for survivors, he said.

I saw about five or six guys jump the fence and take off running out there, Spencer said. I took off running too, from my kitchen, just to make sure nobody was still in there.  You could feel the heat and you could smell the fuel.

Spencer said he has lived there all his life. A plane crashed there in the 1980s, too  I remember hearing stories about it, he said. To actually see it happen, it's crazy.

Both Spencer and Lowe said their properties are under a regular Randolph flight path.

We see those planes come looping around all the time, Spencer said.

The Air Force recorded at least four crashes with 18 fatalities since last October. Three of those involved T-38 jet trainers, including one near Del Rio on Nov. 14, but none involved the T-6A, which has been plagued by problems with its onboard oxygen generation system, called OBOGS.

The system never has caused a T-6A crash, the Air Force said, but it has been blamed for at least 61 unexplained physiological episodes among its pilots during the first six months of this year. The San Antonio-based AETC last week said a lengthy investigation had found the main cause was varying levels of oxygen concentrations in the cockpit and announced plans to make improvements.

The AETC grounded the T-6A in February, then resumed training operations with more frequent inspections and maintenance and new testing equipment, though some pilots over the summer expressed concern about the services failure to find a root cause for the OBOGS problems.

Bexar County has bought land near Randolph, including older houses built before the Air Force created the clear zones near runways, where it wants no construction at all.

Commanders at area military installations  Randolph, Lackland, Fort Sam Houston and Camp Bullis  generally have won concessions against what the military calls encroachment, allowing the services to continue and expand training there.

The most complicated such problem affects Randolph, where aviators learning to become fighter and instructor pilots made 196,393 takeoffs and landings in 2016  some 30,000 more than International Airport.

Text "NEWS" to 77453 for breaking news alerts from mySA.com

Staff Writer Fares Sabawi contributed to this report. | 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Midland has become the epicenter of oil and gas production in the world.

Texas is on the verge of passing Iran and Iraq in oil production and is pushing the U.S. toward surpassing Saudi Arabia as the worlds No. 2 producer. Much of this is driven by new production in the Permian Basin, with Midland sitting smack dab in the middle of it all.

Its odd, then, that in the midst of was of the largest boosts to energy production in human history that Texas is spending billions of dollars of taxpayer and ratepayer money to subsidize the expensive and inefficient generation of electricity using renewable energy.

But that is what we are doing.

The subsidies come in many flavors. One of the most expensive has been the building of the CREZ transmission lines that crisscross West and Central Texas, including Midland County. These were built at a cost of more than $7 billion for the sole purpose of providing transmission for wind and solar generation.

One of the major challenges with renewable energy is that the best places for generating it are the places relatively few people live. Wind and solar generation is generally best suited for West Texas and the Texas Panhandle. Those areas are where the winds blows and the sun shines the most.

Another reason, often not mentioned, is because both wind and solar generation require tremendous amounts of land. For instance, if all the electricity used in Texas was generated by wind, turbines would have to cover about 200 of Texas 254 counties.

More Information What: Texas Public Policy Foundation meeting on ending renewable energy subsidies When: 5:30-7 p.m. today Where: ClayDesta Center (atrium), 6 Desta Drive See More Collapse

However, generating electricity in West Texas and the Panhandle doesnt make a lot of sense for the simple reason that only about 15 percent of the Texas population lives there. Yet Texas policymakers decided it would be worth more than $7 billion, which Texas consumers have to pay off as part of their monthly electricity bill, for Texas to become the leading producer of wind energy in the United States.

Another big subsidy for renewable energy comes in the form of local tax abatements. These abatements, offered under Chapters 312 and 313 of the Texas Tax Code, allow local governments, including school districts (using Chapter 313), to reduce the property tax bills for favored businesses. Often these include wind and solar farms.

The total costs of these programs are difficult to calculate because 312 agreements are usually available only from local governments. However, the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts keeps track of 313 agreements. Through 2016, the lifetime cost of that program to the state was $7.1 billion, of which about $1.6 billion was allocated to wind projects.

But wait. There is more.

The federal government offers tax credits for the generation of wind and solar generation. The Texas Public Policy Foundation has estimated that the cost of these credits for wind generation alone will cost $65 billion through 2029.

While estimates vary, Texans pay in the neighborhood of 17 percent of all federal income taxes. That means our share of the federal wind energy tax credits is about $11 billion.

And the price tag keeps going up. The more subsidies are offered, the more renewable energy generation is built. It is an upward spiral that has no end in sight.

Yet while we cant foresee how much renewable energy is built in Texas, it is much easier to understand the end result of these policies. Weve already seen some of the effects.

Texas once again reached record usage of electricity this summer. With temperatures pushing 110 degrees, Texas hit its all-time peak hourly usage rate of 72,192 megawatts on July 18 between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Even with this record usage, Texas generators managed to produce enough electricity to keep the lights on. No thanks to renewables, however.

The subsidies for renewables helped push more than 4,000 megawatts of coal-fired generation off the grid this past year as these plants struggled to remain profitable while competing against subsidized competitors. Even investment in low-cost generation from natural gas may be affected as well.

Remember, all of this is taking place in the midst of an increase in oil and gas production perhaps unparalleled in history. In other words, at a time when efficient, inexpensive energy is flooding the market, Texas and the U.S. are paying billions of dollars in subsidies for energy production from technologies that became outdated back in the 19th Century.

The Texas Legislature has an opportunity in 2019 to reverse the harm being done by renewable subsidies to Texas taxpayers and its economy, as well as Midlands. By ending state and local tax abatements and forcing renewables to the costs they impose on Texas electric grid, Texas energy and economic expansion will continue to bless Texansand Americansfor years to come.

Bill Peacock is the vice president of research at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.Government does not seem to know ...If initial coin offerings have been the Wild West of the investment world, then the sheriff has just arrived to bring order.

Issuers of digital tokens clothed their offerings in the guise of being unregulated cryptocurrencies that do not fall under the federal securities laws. But a recent decision in U.S. District Court in New York may be a first step in putting an end to that view.

Federal prosecutors filed charges in October against Maksim Zaslavskiy, who created two companies, REcoin and Diamond, to invest in real estate and diamonds. He raised about $300,000 through initial coin offerings in which investors would receive tokens that he claimed would be backed by real assets. But according to prosecutors, no assets were ever purchased with the money.

The Justice Department accused him of conspiracy and securities fraud, based on allegedly false statements he made to attract funding. Zaslavskiy filed a motion to dismiss the charges. He argued that virtual currencies from REcoin and Diamond were not securities, and that therefore the government did not have jurisdiction over them and could not prosecute him for fraud.

Judge Raymond Dearie rejected that argument as overly narrow. The issue is whether an initial coin offering is an investment contract that would bring it under the definition of a security.

The Supreme Court adopted a test in 1946 in SEC v. Howey that looks at four factors to determine whether a transaction involves an investment contract: (1) an investment of money (2) in a common enterprise (3) for the purpose of making profits (4) from the efforts of others. In that case, the court found that putting money into a Florida orange grove was an investment contract subject to the securities laws because investors would reap gains through the work of others.

Dearie rejected the defense argument that purchases of REcoin and Diamond tokens were not an investment of money because they were just an exchange of one currency (dollars) for another (digital tokens). The judge also found that statements promoting the offerings had promised profits, with REcoin described as an attractive investment opportunity that grows in value.

The decision makes it clear that it will be up to a jury to decide whether the digital tokens were investment contracts. But by allowing the case to go forward, Dearie provided the first opinion finding that they could come within the federal securities laws.

The Securities and Exchange Commission issued a report in July 2017 asserting that initial coin offerings are subject to the securities laws and that it had authority over these transactions. But the agencys position does not necessarily have the force of law, so letting the prosecution of Zaslavskiy proceed bolsters efforts to police initial coin offerings more aggressively.

The prosecution of Zaslavskiy is not the only criminal case involving digital assets. In April, federal prosecutors in New York filed securities and wire fraud charges against three defendants accused of obtaining more than $25 million from investors in a startup called Centra Tech. The company used an initial coin offering to help finance what it claimed was the development of a debit card, to be licensed by Visa and Mastercard, that would allow holders to load it with the cryptocurrency of their choice and then use the card to make purchases.

The goal of many cryptocurrency owners is to have easy access to their holdings, making them more like dollars in a bank account that can be freely spent on everyday purchases. What Centra offered sounded almost too good to be true. The company claimed it had licenses in 38 states and a partnership with Bancorp to issue its cards, but prosecutors assert that none of that was true. The SEC joined the case by filing civil fraud charges against the three defendants, claiming the offering of the digital tokens constituted a sale of unregistered securities.

The SEC has also stepped up its enforcement of the initial coin offerings by settling a case on Sept. 11 against TokenLot, which described itself as the ICO Superstore, and its owners for acting as an unregistered broker. If digital tokens are securities, then firms providing a platform to bring together buyers and sellers must meet the basic requirements for being a brokerage firm, which include registering with the SEC and maintaining adequate capital to protect clients. The settlement requires a payment of nearly $480,000 by the firm and $45,000 in penalties against its two owners for failing to comply with the registration requirements.

The message from the TokenLots case is that those who want to cater to investors in digital tokens will need to adhere to SEC oversight of their exchanges. Although becoming a broker is costly, a firm that does so could use that status as a marketing tool by telling potential customers they will be much safer trading through its platform than on unregulated exchanges where assets could be stolen with no recourse for the victims. Like car companies that tout their safety measures under rules they long fought, a properly registered broker can offer much greater client protection that customers may be willing to pay up for.

Initial coin offerings have raised billions of dollars over the past few years, and that much money is sure to draw the attention of the SEC and the Justice Department because of the potential for scams. Any slice of the investment universe that claims not to be subject to regulation is unlikely to stay that way for long before the government demands that the players follow the same rules that apply to everyone else trying to raise money from the public.David Taylor

Two Austin residents have created a new award for Texas entrepreneurs making consumer goods and there's still time to submit nominations.

Chet Garner, host of the television show"The Daytripper," and Vincent Friedewald, founder and CEO of Texas goods store, No. 4 St. James, launched the Texas Works Award this year to honor fellow Lone Star entrepreneurs.Brent oil held near the highest level in a week as investors weighed a potential gain in U.S. crude stockpiles against Saudi Arabias comfort with prices rising above $80 a barrel.

Futures in London were 0.1 percent lower near $79 a barrel after Tuesdays 1.3 percent gain. Saudi Arabia believes it may no longer be possible to avoid higher prices as U.S. sanctions on Iranian exports crimp supply, according to people familiar with the kingdoms view. Meanwhile, an industry report Tuesday showed U.S. crude inventories increased last week, defying expectations for a decline ahead of government data due Wednesday.

Brent has increased more than 11 percent from the lows of August as sanctions curtain Irans exports and Venezuelas production continues to suffer. Still, the escalating U.S.-China trade tension is causing concerns over demand and keeping prices below $80 a barrel. Investors and traders are looking to see how OPEC and its allies react to the contrasting pressures in the market when they meet this weekend in Algiers.

The American Petroleum Institutes inventory data tempered the markets enthusiasm from the headline that Saudi Arabia was comfortable with $80-plus oil, said Harry Tchilinguirian, head of commodity-market strategy at BNP Paribas SA. So we wait for the EIA release today to see whether we get a confirmation of the API data.

Brent for November settlement traded at $78.93 a barrel on the ICE Futures Europe exchange, down 10 cents at 10:28 a.m. in London, after advancing 98 cents on Tuesday. The contract traded at a $9.40 premium to West Texas Intermediate for the same month.

WTI crude for October delivery, which expires Thursday, was at $69.80 on the New York Mercantile Exchange, down 5 cents, after Tuesdays 94 cents increase. Total volume traded was about 35 percent below the 100-day average.

The API data showed that crude stockpiles increased by 1.25 million barrels last week, while those in the storage hub at Cushing in Oklahoma fell. A Bloomberg survey of analysts forecasts a 2.5 million-barrel decline in nationwide inventories.

Some other key oil-market figures, news and events:

Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said he wont attend the global producers meeting in Algeria. Irans OPEC governor will represent the nation.

Venezuela plans to use a new $5 billion loan from China to nearly double oil production thats fallen to a seven-decade low.

Russias soaring crude production is set to continue rising for the next three years, but will only increase further if its tax system is changed.

Midland crude prices have narrowed to the smallest discount to WTI since June amid preparations to begin service on the expanded Plains-operated Sunrise crude pipeline.

--With assistance from Tsuyoshi Inajima.

2018 Bloomberg L.P.Houston real estate agents are reporting an uptick in wire fraud targeting home buyers, the Houston Association of Realtors said this week.

"FBI statistics show a record number of reported wire fraud victims across the U.S. in May 2018," the realty group said in a statement. "These have the potential of costing unsuspecting consumers thousands of dollars that will likely never be recovered."

HAR released the following tips to help guard against wire fraud:

 When possible, use a cashier's check for closing funds instead of a wire transfer.

 Call before you wire. Buyers should initiate a call to the title company and have the title representative read back the wiring instructions for verification before initiating a wire transfer.

 If you discover a fraudulent transfer, immediately contact your financial institution and request a recall of the funds. Second, contact your local FBI office and report the fraudulent transfer. Law enforcement may be able to assist the financial institution in recovering funds. Finally, regardless of dollar loss, file a complaint with the FBI's Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.

 Verify by phone all requests for a change in payment type and/or location. Scammers often request that payments originally scheduled for check dispersal be made via wire instead.

 Most wire fraud cases begin with hacked email accounts and/or bogus emails purportedly from title companies, lenders, real estate brokerages and other trusted sources, so confirm verbally (by phone or in person) about planned email exchanges between parties.

 Fraudulent emails can seem legitimate, containing company logos and branding, as they direct consumers to wire funds to a fraudulent account. Once funds are wired there, that money is lost.

 Never send personal information, such as bank account numbers or other financial information, via email or other unsecured electronic communication.

 If you receive electronic communication regarding wiring instructions  even if the communication appears to come from a legitimate source  be sure to verify the authenticity of the communication before transferring funds by using a recognized phone number that does not appear in the electronic communication.

 In general, brokerages will never use electronic communication, such email, text messages or social media, to ask a consumer to wire funds or provide personal information.Ron Chapple/Getty Images

A 23-year-old driver killed over the weekend in San Franciscos Polk Gulch was shot dead by a passenger in the back seat of his car, officials said Tuesday.

Police did not elaborate on the circumstances of the shooting, but the suspect, 32-year-old Jose Beltran, was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and gun charges. He was not booked for murder.NEW BRAUNFELS  A new food and drink complex attached to the Prince Solms Inn has an all-in-one formula: A lineup of tricked-out burgers, cocktails on tap, craft beer sourced from Texas breweries, plentiful outdoor patio space and top shelf spirits in a cozy basement setting.

The project has been in development by Prince Solms Inn owners Terry and Celina Muckenfuss for more than a year and is scheduled to open in mid-October at 295 E. San Antonio St. in downtown New Braunfels.

Muck & Fuss (which plays off the couples name) is a burger restaurant and craft beer bar just next to the inn in a separate building that features high ceilings with a glassy, atrium feel. It will focus on a food lineup that is heavy on gourmet burgers with names like the Salty Goat, Cubano and a good old All-American.

The Muck & Fuss bar will feature 26 different types of craft beer that will be in a series of constant rotation. When a keg goes dry, its replaced with a different beer of the same flavor school, so a stout swaps out with another stout, etc. There will also be booze-infused milk shakes and a pair of frozen cocktail machines.

Thats one of the things that will make us different, said Dan Reinhard, general manager of Muck & Russ. Everytime a customer visits us, it should be a new beer experience.

The bar is outfitted with a garage door that opens up into a large courtyard area that will regularly host live music and other events.

For a more laid-back vibe, head down to the basement of the Prince Solms Inn to experience Sidecar, a project developed by Andy Hack that also should open in mid-October. Hack is veteran local cocktail guru that has worked behind the bar at Bohanans, Paramour, Georges Keep and the Seersucker Distillery.

Sidecar will have six beers on tap, but the focus will be on cocktails that hit on all of the spirits from gin to a selection of higher-end whiskeys. Hacks take on an old-fashioned utilizes mesquite beans paired with Texas rye whiskey and a homemade bitters recipe.

We will take a lot of pride in our cocktails, because these are drinks that are our creations, Hack said. My goal is to foster an environment that allows our bartenders to have fun and be creative.

Theres a kitchen space inside Sidecar that might see some food service in the future, but for now, Hack is using it to blend and create syrups and other ingredients to be used in the cocktail menu.

Sidecar occupies what used to be Wolfgangs Wine Bar and Jazz Lounge and will carry on the music vibe with a piano and dimly lit setting that features several separate seating areas. The bricks that line the walls date back to the original construction of the Prince Solms Inn in 1898.

And for patrons who wish to make a long weekend out of the Prince Solms Inn experience, there are six rooms available that may be booked in advance.

Muck & Fuss, 295 E. San Antonio St., 830-255-7055. Hours: To be determined. Online: muckandfuss.com. Facebook: MuckandFuss.

Sidecar, 295 E. San Antonio St., 830-255-7432. Hours: 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturdays. Online: sidecarnb.com.

Chuck Blount is a food writer and columnist covering all things grilled and smoked in the San Antonio area. Find his Chuck's Food Shack columns on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com, or read his other coverage on our free site, mySA.com. | cblount@express-news.net | Twitter: @chuck_blount | Instagram: @bbqdiverRepairs on the popular spring-fed pool in Balmorhea State Park have officially begun.

The pool was unexpectedly shut down in mid-May after staff, during its annual cleaning, noticed damage to the concrete apron under the diving board, which is used to stabilize the walls of the pool against erosion.

Preliminary work started at the end of August and the $1.8 million repairs began Sept. 12 and are expected to take several months.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Press Officer Manager Steve Lightfoot said they are scheduled to be finished this winter in time for the 2019 summer season.

The pool, which is in western Texas about one hour north of Alpine, is known for its cool, 72- to 76-degree water temperatures year-round.

Pictures posted on Facebook by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department last week show the diving board being removed, which is necessary to repair the damage to the wall below it, Lightfoot said.

RELATED: Texas State Parks make major change to camping reservations, now allow visitors to choose site

Overall, pool repairs will include "creation of the cofferdams, temporary removal of the diving board, salvaging of the existing brick around the pool edge, removal of the existing distressed walls and backfill behind the wall, complete removal of the wall and installation of temporary slope protection, installation of a new wall to existing walls along the north and south side of the pool, and replacement of the backfill once repairs are complete," Lightfoot said in an email.

The cofferdams are intended to ensure the protection of endangered species and maintain water flow, according to Lightfoot.

In the meantime, the park is also undergoing $7 million reservations to other parts of the park, Lightfoot said. The campground will be receiving new restroom facilities and cable to each of the sites, and the San Solomon Spring Courts, which were originally built in the 1930s, are getting their first full remodel since the 1960s.

Those renovations began mid-September and are expected to be completed by April 2019. Until then, the park has limited access to daytime use only.

"The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is working diligently to repair the park and know that visitors will find an improved park after these improvements are made to the pool, the historic motor courts and the parks' popular campground," Lightfoot said in an email.

S. M. Chavey is a staff writer for mySA.com. Read more of her stories here. | sarah.chavey@express-news.net | 210-250-3122 | Twitter: @smchaveyThe U.S. Coast Guard used a helicopter to conduct a rescue hoist of a 76-year-old woman from a cruise ship 35 miles southwest of the Golden Gate Bridge on Tuesday.

Crews on the Star Princess contacted the Coast Guard for help around 5 a.m. after a passenger became ill with gastrointestinal issues.WASHINGTON - Congress faces a Sept. 30 deadline to approve funding to keep the Federal Aviation Administration afloat. Right now the bill includes language to curtail "unreasonable" airline fees. The airlines, with $4.6 billion on the line, are lobbying hard against it.

The FAA reauthorization bill, as currently stipulated, would strip airlines of the ability to levy all sorts of fees and entrust that oversight to the secretary of transportation.

"The only thing the airline industry is more committed to than increasing fees for passengers is defeating the provision in the FAA reauthorization bill," Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., said.

So, who will win? The airline industry, which has contributed millions to the political campaigns of those who will make the decision? Or consumers, virtually all of whom - Democrat and Republican - hate the fees that airlines add to their ticket prices and will cast votes Nov. 6?

Members of Congress, who fly more than the average American, also bridle at the myriad airline fees that amounted to almost $2.4 billion in the first half of this year, and totaled $4.6 billion last year. Some of them fume in public, too, but they all are mindful that the airline industry has contributed $12.4 million to the campaigns of incumbents in the past 10 years, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, and already has given incumbents $2.4 million in the election cycle that will end with the Nov. 6 election.

With 470 seats in the House and Senate at stake, there is an element of bite-the-hand-that-feeds-you to legislation, which must pass by the end of the month. Unless it's approved, the FAA won't be funded and - though theoretically implausible - planes won't be able to fly.

People who have flown on something other than Southwest Airlines (which Consumer Reports calls "the top-rated carrier for price transparency") probably are familiar with the largely opaque and confusing ways in which an apparently cheap ticket can mushroom into something a whole lot more pricey.

- If you purchase a "basic economy" ticket on some airlines, including United and American, you don't have access to the overhead bins - which means no carry-on luggage. A basic economy passenger on United who brings a large carry-on, in addition to a small personal item, is charged an extra $50 - the standard $25 fee, plus an additional $25 for checking it at the gate. Or, you can spend more and buy and "economy" ticket.

- The cost of changing a flight varies widely among airlines - as do deadlines for making such changes - with some fees below $100 and others pegged at a flat $200 change fee, unless it's an international flight. For flights to foreign destinations, change fees escalate.

- Most airlines charge more for something more than the most basic seat. It's not just economy, business class and first class anymore. If you don't want the middle of the row or if you desire two seats together, that can cost your more. Leg room and seats that recline also come at a price.

- The cost of WiFi and the strength of the signal vary in both the fee charged and the power. Want a stronger signal? It will cost you more.

So, will Congress come down on the side of travelers?

Brent Bowen, a dean at the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Arizona, thinks there's a "fairly good probability" they will.

"Some of America's more frequent fliers are members of Congress," Bowen said. "They get tired of all this. The last time I checked, the top five calls to members of Congress' offices were complaints about an airline."

Bowen, who for 28 years has put out the Airline Quality Rating, says "The biggest complaint of the flying public right now is always about fees."

Forty years after U.S. airlines were deregulated, Section 3129, known as the "Fair Fees" provision, "opens the door for the government to re-regulate how much airlines should charge for these secondary products," said Sean Kennedy, a vice president at Airlines for America, a lobbying group for several key players in the industry.

"They're offering more rock-bottom fares with fewer perks for those families that simply say, 'I want to get from point A to point B in the cheapest, safest way possible,'" Kennedy said. "The industry now sells things that were free, or included in a base price in the regulated era, but now that we're deregulated, it's a la carte."

Issues like cramped seats, the distance between rows or banning carry-on bags?

"People wouldn't buy that ticket if they didn't want that," Kennedy said. "An airline that offers a product that people aren't going to use will go out of business very quickly."

Kennedy said the top goal for airlines is FAA reauthorization, but beyond that their highest priority is getting Section 3129 removed.

Airlines began imposing fees in earnest back in 2007, when the federal Bureau of Transportation Statistics says 22 airlines collected $464 million for various specified items. If the balance of the current year mirrors that of its first two quarters, the airlines will collect fees of more than $4.7 billion by year's end.

A bipartisan quartet - two senators and two members of the House - wrote the Senate and House transportation leadership last week, underscoring that the flying public doesn't want Section 3129 removed from the bill once it gets to the floor for final passage.

"Major U.S. air carriers now charge domestic air travelers baggage fees from $30 for the first checked bag to $150 for the third checked bag, yet there appears to be no appreciable cost increase for processing the additional bags," wrote Sens. Markey and Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Reps. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., and Walter Jones, R-N.C.

The provision they support would leave it to the DOT chief to decide whether fees are "unreasonable or disproportional to the costs incurred" by the airline.Steve Bannon helped upend the political order in the U.S. before falling out with President Donald Trump. Now he's looking to recreate his former glories in Europe.

Bannon is planning a roadshow across half a dozen European countries starting this week to galvanize populist leaders and parties into a loose alliance and help gain a bigger foothold for their policies in the European Parliament, Trump's former strategist said in an interview.

The Brussels-based group, dubbed The Movement and founded by Belgian politician Mischael Modrikamen, plans to highlight the importance of national sovereignty, stronger borders, greater limits on migration and fighting against so-called radical Islam, all as a means to boost nationalist parties in the May parliamentary elections.

The push to unite populist forces gives urgency to concerns among some European Union leaders such as French President Emmanuel Macron at the looming clash of values over the bloc's future direction. EU leaders meeting in the Austrian city of Salzburg on Wednesday are due to discuss two of the EU's existential threats, the migration crisis and Brexit, both of which serve as rallying cries for nationalists.

"The individual parties throughout Europe are 'woke'," Bannon said in an interview last week in his Washington D.C. townhouse, adding that he wants enough like-minded candidates to win seats in the EU Parliament to act as a block on pro-EU groups. "Europe's going to see an intensity and focus among the voters and the media that what is happening is basically going to be a continent-wide presidential election."

Political forces are aligning ahead of a clash over fundamental principles that German Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned questions the EU's future cohesion. The U.K.'s plan to quit the bloc in March, Russian aggression, democratic backsliding in eastern Europe and Trump's "America First" agenda are all tugging at the foundation of the European project.

So far Matteo Salvini's anti-immigrant League and the far-right Brothers of Italy are the only two groups that have officially aligned themselves with The Movement, which will offer like-minded parties -- free of charge -- polling, data analytics, messaging and so-called war room services. The group won't be involved in selecting candidates or in imposing platforms.

But Modrikamen, 52, sees recent moves by Macron and his allies in Parliament having helped European populists. Last week's vote in the EU assembly to censure Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban "created an iconic leader out of Orban,'' said Modrikamen. As for Macron's pledge to lead pro-globalist parties against the nationalists, he said, "it's perfect for us."

The support Bannon and Modrikamen are offering heightens the likelihood of an electoral clash in May between populist groups that have gained footholds in member states including Germany, Austria, Hungary, Poland, France and Sweden and supporters of the liberal establishment, such as Macron, Belgium's Charles Michel, Mark Rutte of the Netherlands and Luxembourg's Xavier Bettel. The four Benelux leaders discussed a European strategy earlier this month to combat the rise of populism, exploring the possibility of joining forces with several European parties ahead of the elections.

"We share the desire to have a more united and sovereign Europe," Macron said after the meeting, pointing the finger at nationalists for trying to destroy the EU.

Bannon and Modrikamen are seeking to hold a founding convention in Brussels in late November, with an eventual plan to have allies in all 27 EU countries. They doubt nationalist parties will gain a majority of seats in the EU parliament, but they would like at least a third of the seats to be able to "command by negation," according to Bannon, allowing them to disrupt further integrationist policies.

European parties are only just starting to heed Bannon's message. Besides Salvini's League, Marine Le Pen's National Front, which renamed itself National Rally after losing to Macron last year, has had regular contact with Bannon for "several months," according to Nicolas Bay, the party's general secretary and member of the European Parliament.

"We see with interest and goodwill the initiatives he's seeking to deploy to help the activities of national forces in Europe," Bay said in a text message.

According to Modrikamen, the upcoming campaign means that "for the first time you'll have a real debate, a real dividing line, in a European election.''

But it's still early days. He and Bannon just joined forces in June. He's also been busy preparing for municipal council elections in Brussels Oct. 14 where his wife is a candidate. While the eventual goal is to have a dedicated staff of 10 to 15 for The Movement, none have been hired so far and he's using his party's six employees.

"We want to take the battle to the heart of the EU,'' Modrikamen said in an interview at his home in a residential Brussels district that also serves as his party's headquarters. "We want to be the voice of the ordinary guys who feel betrayed by the elites.''The National Rifle Association's four flagship magazines added nearly 350,000 subscribers between February and June of this year, reversing more than a year of decline and suggesting a surge in recruits following the February school shooting in Parkland, Florida.

The gun rights group does not share detailed information about its membership numbers, and in the past has been accused of inflating its self-reported membership in order to give an impression of political clout. As a result, media organizations have often used the group's magazine subscriptions as a proxy for membership.

All NRA members are entitled to a complimentary print or digital subscription to one of four magazines -- American Rifleman, American Hunter, America's First Freedom and Shooting Illustrated. As part of its outreach to advertisers, the NRA releases subscriber numbers for each of the four magazines on a semiannual basis. Those numbers are independently verified by the Alliance for Audited Media, a third-party media consulting firm.

The Washington Post

The NRA's latest AAM statements, which cover January through June, show total magazine subscriptions increasing from 3,746,153 to 4,066,198 over that period. Much of that increase comes from Shooting Illustrated, which was added to the NRA's roster in 2016. This year marks the first time the NRA has included it in AAM statements.

Monthly figures going back several years show that subscriptions to the other three magazines peaked in October 2016 and had been steadily declining through 2017. But the trends show an inflection point in April and May of this year, after which the numbers began to rise again. That time period corresponds to an April pledge by the group to sign up 100,000 new members in 100 days.

Andrew Arulanandam, an NRA spokesman, said in an interview that the group currently has "approximately 5.5 million dues-paying members." He said that figure is higher than the 4 million magazine subscribers because some members decline to choose a magazine, and others opt for digital-only subscriptions that are not included in the AAM statements.

In August, an online article in America's First Freedom magazine claimed that the NRA had added more than 1 million new members since "just before" the Parkland school shooting. The AAM statement shows that total magazine subscriptions fell between January and April of 2018, and rebounded in May and June by about 383,000.

While the Parkland shooting galvanized supporters of stricter gun-control laws, other evidence suggests that many gun owners were similarly spurred to action. In the month following the shooting, for instance, donations to the NRA's Political Victory Fund surged to a 21st century high.

Beyond Parkland, the gun rights group has had a rocky year, marred by controversies over donations from Russia, links to an accused Russian spy and potentially improper coordination with a Republican Senate campaign.

But the group's magazine subscription numbers suggest it is not facing a crisis of membership, and that, if anything, membership is growing at a healthy pace in 2018.Jacksonville Police

ARRESTS, CITATIONS

 Jaydison L. Cathers, 20, of 320 W. Dunlap St. was booked into the Morgan County jail at 9:15 a.m. Tuesday on a charge of driving while license is revoked or suspended.

FIRES

 Authorities say a Brooklyn Avenue fire early Tuesday has been deemed suspicious and was discovered after an altercation between the resident and some people who had stayed with him in the past.

Firefighters were called to 544 Brooklyn Ave. about 1 a.m. Tuesday after the resident smelled smoke coming from the back portion of the house.

Firefighters found a mattress smoldering in a back bedroom. The mattress was removed and the fire put out. There was no damage to the structure.



Brown County

Sheriff

ARRESTS, CITATIONS

 Charles E. Beasley, 50, of Mount Sterling was arrested at 3:44 p.m. Sunday on a charge of driving while license is revoked after being stopped on Jackson Street at West Clay Street in Ripley.

 Christopher L. Bigley, 35, of Mount Sterling was arrested at 11:37 a.m. Saturday on a domestic battery charge after an incident on West Fourth Street in Versailles.

 Jeffrey S. Sprague, 48, of Chambersburg was arrested on charges of having no valid registration, failure to wear a seat belt, operating an uninsured vehicle, improper use of registration and driving while license is suspended after being stopped at 3:12 p.m. Sept. 11 on U.S. 24 at County Road 1050 North.



Calhoun County

Sheriff

ARRESTS, CITATIONS

 Joshua S. Carter, 23, of Pittsfield was lodged in the Greene County Jail at 2:46 a.m. Sunday on charges of driving under the influence, driving while license is suspended and aggravated fleeing and attempting to elude.

 Brittany R.N. Gresham, 30, of Wood River was lodged in the Greene County Jail at 4 a.m. Saturday on a disorderly conduct charge.

 Stephanie A. Shelton, 41, homeless, was lodged in the Greene County Jail at 2:29 a.m. Sept. 12 on a battery charge and on a Pike County warrant accusing her of failing to appear in court.



Greene County

Sheriff

ARRESTS, CITATIONS

 Paul D. Gray, 28, of White Hall was lodged in the Greene County Jail at 9:30 p.m. Sept. 9 on a Greene County petition to revoke probation.

 Bruce T. Monahan, 56, of Kane was lodged in the Greene County Jail at 4:20 p.m. Sept. 8 on a domestic battery charge.

 Tiffany N. Adams, 35, of Murrayville was lodged in the Greene County Jail at 2:30 p.m. Sept. 8 on a domestic battery charge.

 William M. Sweeney, 48, of Alton was lodged in the Greene County Jail at 2:03 a.m. Sept. 8 on charges of driving under the influence, speeding, driving while license is revoked and illegal transportation of alcohol by a driver.

Carrollton Police

ARRESTS, CITATIONS

 Heather N. Baumgartner, 31, of Carrollton was lodged in the Greene County Jail at 1:15 a.m. Sept. 12 on a charge of driving while license is suspended.

Greenfield Police

ARRESTS, CITATIONS

 Timothy W. Moss, 30, homeless, was lodged in the Greene County Jail at 4:30 a.m. Sunday on charges of aggravated domestic battery, criminal damage to property and threatening a public official.

 Gary D. Eddinger, 44, of Wrights was lodged in the Greene County Jail at 10:42 p.m. Sept. 12 on a charge of driving while license is suspended.

 Darrel W. Solomon, 47, of Greenfield was lodged in the Greene County Jail at 12:48 a.m. Sept. 9 on charges of improper lane use and driving under the influence.

Roodhouse Police

ARRESTS, CITATIONS

 A 15-year-old girl was released to her parents at 11:10 p.m. Sept. 11 after being charged with mob action.

 A 17-year-old girl was released to her parents at 11:10 p.m. Sept. 11 after being charged with mob action.

 A 14-year-old girl was released to her parents at 11:10 p.m. Sept. 11 after being charged with mob action.

 Natasha D. Shinn, 36, of Roodhouse was lodged in the Greene County Jail at 6:07 p.m. Sept. 11 on a Greene County arrest warrant accusing her of deceptive practice.

 Michael D. Burrows, 50, of Roodhouse was lodged in the Greene County Jail at 9:20 a.m. Sept. 10 on a charge of possession of methamphetamine.

 Justin R. Rawe, 25, of Roodhouse was lodged in the Greene County Jail at 1:38 a.m. Sept. 10 on a charge of resisting or obstructing a peace officer.

White Hall Police

ARRESTS, CITATIONS

 Benjamin D. Rebman, 25, of Roodhouse was lodged in the Greene County Jail at 6:40 p.m. Sept. 11 on a Greene County arrest warrant accusing him of violating an order of protection.



Pike County

Sheriff

ARRESTS, CITATIONS

 Ryan T. Brown, 30, of Baylis was arrested at 1:43 p.m. Sunday on a violation of an order of protection.

 Russell L. Hershberger, 37, of Pensacola, Florida, was arrested at 2:42 p.m. Saturday on a petition to revoke probation.

 Kenneth J. Batchelor, 31, of Pleasant Hill was arrested at 7:36 p.m. Friday on charges of domestic battery and driving while license is revoked or suspended.

 Marti L. Grammer, 55, of Nebo was arrested at 4:15 p.m. Friday on a charge of possession of methamphetamine.

 Marcus T. Bush, 34, of Chicago was arrested at 5:09 p.m. Thursday on a charge of possession of cannabis.

 Joshua L. Truax, 31, of Loveland, Colorado, was arrested at 11:31 a.m. Thursday on a charge of possession of a controlled substance.

 Nicholas J. Grano, 21, of Evans, Colorado, was arrested at 11:31 a.m. Thursday on charges of possession of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia.

 Robert E. Hutton, 43, of New Salem was arrested at 10:55 p.m. Thursday on a charge of driving under the influence.

 Heather A. Callihan, 33, of Griggsville was arrested at 1:43 p.m. Thursday on charges of driving under the influence and improper lane use.

 Teale M. Meighan, 40, of Pittsfield was arrested at 11:24 a.m. Sept. 12 on a domestic battery charge.

 Jason K. Sprague, 40, of Pleasant Hill was arrested at 10:45 p.m. Sept. 10 on charges of driving under the influence and resisting, obstructing or disarming an officer, and on an unspecified in-state warrant.

Compiled by David C.L. Bauer and Samantha McDaniel-OgletreeNothing adequately prepares a sex crime victim for the moment she goes public.

Christine Blasey Ford, who alleges that Supreme Court nominee Brett M. Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her decades ago, may do so on a national stage before Senate Judiciary Committee next week, a fate most high-profile criminal courts opt not to put upon sex-crime victims.

Monday's hearing is not a trial; the standard is not beyond a reasonable doubt. The Judiciary Committee's role is not to determine guilt or innocence but advise the Senate on whether to confirm Kavanaugh.

Nevertheless, attorney Douglas Wigdor, an expert in sexual assaults, said preparing victims of sexual assault to testify - be it in court, before the Senate or in cooperation with a prosecutor's office - pose similar challenges.

Wigdor represented hotel maid Nafissatou Diallo in her 2011 civil sexual assault claim against then-managing director of the International Monetary Fund Dominique Strauss-Kahn.

Diallo accused Strauss-Kahn of trying to rape her inside a suite at the Sofitel New York Hotel suite. The case, which brought then-rare national attention to allegations of sexual abuse and assault by powerful men, collapsed after attacks on Diallo's credibility. The prosecutor dismissed the charges; Strauss-Kahn subsequently reached a civil settlement for an undisclosed amount, calling the encounter with Diallo "rough" and "inappropriate."

"Diallo was treated like the criminal by the people who were supposed to protect her"- namely, Wigdor said, the Manhattan District Attorney's Office. "That's something I hope wouldn't happen now."

Experts say the coming days will be crucial for the legal team preparing Ford, who has already come under scrutiny and is likely to see her personal history and credibility come under attack during a hearing.

According to Wigdor, it's important that the lawyer working with Ford knows all of the facts before the hearing - good or bad.

"There may be facts that might not make the witness look good, but trying to suppress or change them will undoubtedly come back to haunt her," he said.

Ford should be ready to respond as best she can to every question, however awkward or difficult. She should also not argue or be defensive, he said. Most importantly, though, she must tell the truth.

News broke Tuesday that Ford was requesting that the FBI launch an investigation before she was called to testify. According to a letter sent to the panel from Ford's lawyers, her worst fears have materialized. "She has been the target of vicious harassment and even death threats. As a result of these kind of threats, her family was forced to relocate out of their home. Her email has been hacked, and she has been impersonated online."

President Donald Trump nevertheless encouraged the hearing to proceed, so Ford could "state her case." Kavanaugh was also summoned to the White House to prepare.

As the only woman to come forward with allegations against Kavanaugh, Ford's credibility has become the central issue.

"It's her word against his. There need to be difficult questions asked of both, but there's a way to ask them without embarrassing or demeaning either," said Wigdor.

Several powerful men have already expressed an opinion that Ford is not to be believed. Trump said he felt "terribly" for Kavanaugh Tuesday, predicting that the judge would be exonerated. Sen. Orin Hatch, R-Utah, who also questioned Anita Hill about her accusations against Justice Clarence Thomas during his confirmation hearings, said that Ford must be "mistaking [Kavanaugh] for someone else," in a statement to Fox News. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, was also concerned by "gaps" in Ford's version of events.

Ford also faces the pressure of appearing on a national stage. Unlike Kavanaugh, who has testified before the Senate on several occasions, Ford has not.

One of the reasons there are no cameras in federal court, according to Wigdor, is to prevent witnesses or lawyers playing to the cameras, like they did in the O.J. Simpson case.

"With midterm elections around the corner, rather than focusing on whether Kavanaugh is qualified to be on the Supreme Court, politics and cameras in the courtroom will devolve to grandstanding and senators playing to constituents," Wigdor said.

Although prepping a witness is key, Monday will undoubtedly be overwhelming for Ford, who is already facing attacks on her privacy and credibility. She will be sitting in front of the Senate, her testimony and image broadcast to the nation, and questioned by senators who have already expressed skepticism about her accusation.

"At this point, if you're a senator, you should voice no view. You haven't met with [Ford] or heard her account first hand, so to say that she's mixed up shows immediate bias," said Wigdor.

It has not yet been disclosed whether Ford will have an opportunity to give a statement before questioning, which makes preparing tougher.

If she is, Wigdor said, "I would have her make it very clear in her remarks that she was not 'mistaken.' That the assault was something she recalled vividly and was confident she was not confused or mixed up about."

---

Video Embed Code

Video: Judge Brett Kavanaugh denied committing sexual or physical harassment as an adult when asked by Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, on Sept. 5.(The Washington Post)

Embed code:WASHINGTON - Senate Republicans strongly signaled on Wednesday that they will forge ahead with embattled Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation as his accuser called the rush for a public hearing next week unfair.

GOP senators who fretted earlier this week about the prospects for President Donald Trump's pick are now largely pushing for a vote on Kavanaugh, who is accused of sexually assaulting now-professor Christine Blasey Ford when they were teenagers, amid signs that she may decline to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee. And Trump is more convinced he should stand by Kavanaugh than he was two days ago, people close to the White House say.

Publicly, Trump has become more vocal in defending Kavanaugh, telling reporters on Wednesday that it was "very hard for me to imagine anything happened" with Ford, who detailed her allegation extensively with The Washington Post in a report published Sunday.

Ford, through her lawyers, has requested that the FBI conduct an investigation into the alleged incident before she speaks to the committee, and Senate Democrats have lined up behind her. But Republicans have not budged from their view that the FBI does not need to intervene, or from their plan to hear testimony from Kavanaugh and Ford on Monday.

Ford's attorneys have not officially declined the committee's invitation. But they reiterated Wednesday that while Ford is willing to cooperate with the Judiciary Committee, there needs to be a "full, nonpartisan investigation." Her lawyer also said having just two witnesses - Kavanaugh and Ford - was neither fair nor in good faith when there are multiple witnesses who should testify.

"Dr. Ford was reluctantly thrust into the public spotlight only two days ago," attorney Lisa Banks said. "She is currently unable to go home, and is receiving ongoing threats to her and her family's safety. Fairness and respect for her situation dictate that she should have time to deal with this."

But Republicans were increasingly determined to confirm Kavanaugh before the Nov. 6 midterm elections, checking off a major conservative accomplishment and finishing a nomination battle that has been bitterly contentious from the start.

"Requiring an FBI investigation of a 36-year-old allegation (without specific references to time or location) before Professor Ford will appear before the Judiciary Committee is not about finding the truth, but delaying the process till after the midterm elections," tweeted Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a member of the committee who pushed for a vote "as soon as possible."

Anger grew Wednesday among Democrats who have not forgotten about the GOP's treatment of Merrick Garland, former president Barack Obama's third Supreme Court nominee who was summarily blocked by Republicans just two years ago.

"It's pretty mind-bending hypocrisy that Republicans are all of a sudden interested in expediting Supreme Court nominations," Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said. "Listen, I get why they're nervous. They were already in trouble electorally and the way they're handling this matter doesn't help for November's purposes."

Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., who is facing one of the most competitive reelection bids this year, announced Wednesday that she would oppose Kavanaugh. But she said her decision was not based on the allegation against him - which McCaskill said was "troubling" - but his past concerns about campaign contribution limits.

Privately, Trump is being cautioned extensively to stay out of the fight over Kavanaugh, according to two White House advisers, and so far has tempered his language. He has told advisers that he is skeptical of Ford's account and the timing of the allegation, these advisers said. He continues to mention Kavanaugh's degrees and his intellect.

Meanwhile, White House aides have begun asking lawyers and others if any more women are likely to come out and make accusations, these officials said.

But Leonard Leo, the influential adviser to the administration on judicial nominations, has told attorneys and people close to the White House that he was increasingly convinced Kavanaugh would be confirmed, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, has asked Ford's attorneys to respond by Friday at 10 a.m. on whether she plans to appear before his panel. His staff has tried to set up interviews with Ford, as well as Mark Judge - a Kavanaugh friend who is alleged to have witnessed the incident - and two other potential witnesses, according to a letter Grassley sent Wednesday to Democrats on the committee.

"I have reopened the hearing because I believe that anyone who comes forward with allegations of sexual assault has a right to be heard, and because it is the committee's responsibility to fully evaluate the fitness of a nominee to the Supreme Court," Grassley wrote to Banks and Debra Katz, another lawyer for Ford. "I therefore want to give Dr. Ford an opportunity to tell her story to the Senate and, if she chooses, to the American people."

Grassley is also willing to send his staff to California to speak to Ford if she prefers, committee spokesman Garrett Ventry said. Ford is a psychology professor at Palo Alto University, located northwest of San Jose in northern California.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, a pivotal swing vote on Kavanaugh's confirmation, and Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., a member of the Judiciary Committee, both urged Ford to speak to senators. And Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., who like Flake also pushed the Senate to hit pause on Kavanaugh's nomination until lawmakers heard from the professor, said: "If we don't hear from both sides on Monday, let's vote."

Collins said Wednesday that Ford has a few ways she can detail her story to the committee by Monday, including in a public or private session that would be videotaped; or an interview conducted by congressional investigators.

"I don't think she can reject, having made all of these serious allegations, I don't think that she can reject all those options," Collins said in an interview with WVOM radio in Maine. "Otherwise, there are these very serious allegations hanging over the head of a nominee who has emphatically denied them. And that's just not a good way for us to end."

Grassley left open the possibility that the hearing could occur Monday with only Kavanaugh present. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., believes he has his conference unified behind a plan for a Monday hearing - which includes building extensive timelines on Ford's story and media accounts - with or without her, according to an adviser to the Kentucky Republican.

Even as Ford and Democrats push for an FBI probe, Trump has suggested that a new FBI investigation is unnecessary. But there is precedent for the FBI stepping in late in the process of a Supreme Court nomination. In 1991, when law professor Anita Hill alleged that now-Justice Clarence Thomas had sexually harassed her, the FBI was called in to investigate.

The FBI reiterated Wednesday that it had included information about the allegations in Kavanaugh's background file, and that it is now up to the White House to decide what to do with it. A criminal inquiry is essentially out of the question, because what is alleged does not constitute a federal crime.

The FBI wouldn't compile a report offering an opinion, one way or another, on the credibility of the allegations. Rather, it would provide the White House reports on the interviews and other evidence agents gathered, and again leave it to the White House to decide what to do with Kavanaugh's nomination.

Ford has alleged that while she and Kavanaugh were at a house party in the early 1980s, when the two were in high school, Kavanaugh drunkenly pinned her to a bed, groped her and put his hand over her mouth to stifle her screams as he attempted to take off her clothes.

Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., whom Ford first contacted with her allegation, detailed to The Washington Post her interactions with Ford, a constituent in her Bay Area district. The two women met for roughly 90 minutes on July 20.

"It was more than obvious to me that she bore the scars of what she had been subjected to," Eshoo said Wednesday. "She doesn't have a political bone in her body. And she obviously was really terrified about what could become of her and her family."

"At the end of the meeting, I told her that I believed her," she added. "In telling her story, you know, there were details to it, and I believed her."

- - -

The Washington Post's Matt Zapotosky, Mike DeBonis and Emma Brown contributed to this report.

---

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Video: The Fix's Aaron Blake analyzes what to watch for as the Senate Judiciary Committee barrels toward a hearing with Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh and the woman who accused him of sexual assault, Christine Blasey Ford.(JM Rieger/The Washington Post)

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Video: Republicans are already judging the credibility of Christine Blasey Ford before she even speaks to the Senate Judiciary Committee.(JM Rieger/The Washington Post)

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Video: President Trump praised Supreme Court nominee Brett M. Kavanaugh on Sept. 19, and said it would be "very interesting," if his accuser Christine Blasey Ford "shows up and makes a credible showing."(The Washington Post)

Embed code:President Donald Trump said he found inspiration for his long-promised wall on the U.S.-Mexico border during a visit to the Flight 93 National Memorial in Pennsylvania, which honors the lives of 40 people killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

"They built this gorgeous wall where the plane went down in Pennsylvania, Shanksville. And I was there. I made the speech," Trump told Hill. TV. "And it's sort of beautiful, what they did is incredible. They have a series of walls, I'm saying, it's like perfect. So, so, we are pushing very hard."While SpaceXs ultimate goal is to get people to Mars, Elon Musk's company will start with a trip that a few men have famously gone on before: to the Moon.

Musk announced Monday that Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa will be the companys first space tourist, signing up for a trip that hasnt been made since NASAs Apollo program ended in 1972. SpaceXs plan is to take Maezawa around the Moon in 2023.

The 42-year-old Maezawa is an entrepreneur, but his first love is music. He plays guitar and drums and started his first band in 1993 when he was in high school. In lieu of going to college, he decided to visit the U.S. with his girlfriend. There, he began amassing a collection of rare CDs and records that in 1995, when he returned to Japan, was the foundation for his first business, a mail-order music venture.

In 1998 when he was 22, he officially incorporated the business, which he named Start Today, after an album of one his favorite bands, Gorilla Biscuits. Two years later, the company launched online. While all this was going on, his band Switch Style got a record deal, made three albums and went on tour. After three years of doing both, at 25, he decided to run the business full time.

Related: Inside SpaceX: What It's Like Working for a Company on a Mission to Mars

In 2004, Start Today expanded into selling clothes, and launched Zozotown, a popular retail platform akin to Amazon that offers more than 6,800 brands and in 2017 brought in $76 billion in sales.

Maezawa still collects, though he has moved beyond CDs. Hes now more focused on famous works of art, like the 1982 Jean-Michel Basquiat painting he purchased last year for $110.5 million and promptly sent on a museum tour of the U.S. It was a record-breaking sum for Basquiats work, a record that had also been previously set by Maezawa when he bought another painting by the late artist for $57.3 million in 2016.

The billionaire CEO is also a big fan of giving back to his hometown. Start Today is headquartered in Chiba Prefecture, and Maezawa plans to build a museum there where he can put his art collection on display.

Maezawa, who is the 18th richest man in Japan with a net worth of $2.9 billion, bought out all the seats on SpaceXs Big Falcon Rocket for the trip and isnt planning on going alone. As befitting his love of art, he wants to bring a group of artists to make the week-long voyage into what he describes as an awe-inspiring, global, universal art project called #dearMoon. He wrote of the goal, I hope that this project will inspire the dreamer within each of us.

I choose to go to the moon, with Artists. #dearMoon https://t.co/ivMypEcWBZ  Yusaku Maezawa  (@yousuck2020) September 18, 2018

Related:

What You Need to Know About the Japanese Billionaire Going to Space With SpaceX

Jeff Bezos Reveals His Daily Decision-Making Goal and 30 Other Crazy Things We've Learned About the Amazon Founder

Do You Have What It Takes to Go to Mars? Lead Like an Astronaut in Your Own Office.



Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reservedA suspect is in custody after a reported shooting in southwest Houston.

Houston police tweeted around 9 a.m. that officers were originally searching for two men in the shooting at West Bellfort and South Gessner. The men fled to a nearby apartment complex, police said.

At 9:18 a.m., police tweeted that the suspect was in custody.

The victim is being taken to an area hospital.The mayor of Livingston is taking community protection into her own hands. Literally.

Livingston, Texas mayor Judy B. Cochran managed to kill a 12-foot, 580-pound alligator with just one shot Sunday night at her ranch in Goodrich, Texas.

It must run in the family: The hunt took place in the same pond where her 5-year-old grandson, Simon Hughes, took down a gator in 2009.

ALL IN THE FAMILY: Hefty gator bagged by 5-year-old boy

This particular reptile is a familiar one to the family, she explained.

"We think this is the gator that ate one of our miniature horses several years ago, as big as this gator was, he could've easily eaten it,"she said. "Typically the gators don't bother us, but we've been looking for (this one)."

As an elected official, Cochran wants to make sure the public knows this was a safe, ethical hunt.

"There are a lot of requirements to kill a gator in Polk County," she explained. "We're one of 12 counties that has a hunting season for alligators, between Sept. 10 and 30. You have to have a permit and tags from a wildlife biologist, and you have to catch it on a hook first. We don't just go to the ranch and hunt a gator."

TRAFFIC STOPPER: Massive alligator stops US 59 traffic in Cleveland

Handlers caught the gator on a hook with a seasoned raccoon Sunday night and alerted Cochran she could proceed with the kill.

Cochran already knows the fate of her catch: "Moye Taxidermy will be processing it, we'll eat the meat, have the head mounted and have the ridgeback part of the tail in my office. We'll have the hide tanned to make some boots out of it, you can only make boots from the belly."

She'll have plenty of material for several pairs of boots.

Cochran said it's been a particularly exciting time for her and her family. She said she just became a great-grandmother, is a newly elected mayor and now claims a 12-foot gator as a hunting prize.

Cochran, whose grandchildren call her Nana, has a fair warning to share: "Don't mess with Nana!"OUT OF CONTROL: Drivers impaired by booze and drugs are dying  and killing  in the Houston area at a startling rate, an epidemic unchecked by police, prosecutors or public-awareness campaigns. A Houston Chronicle analysis reveals why, and what we need to do about it.

***

On a recent August morning, dozens of defendants waited in Judge Mike Fields' misdemeanor courtroom in Harris County. They had driven drunk or assaulted people or otherwise run afoul of the law.

Fields looked down from his perch at one defendant, a young woman arrested after driving drunk and crashing her car.

In the coming weeks, she would face an expensive choice  weeks in jail or 15 months of probation, with costly monthly fees.

Addiction experts say many defendants need treatment, which is available only through probation. But that route proves so arduous that many defendants arrested on drunken-driving charges choose jail time instead.

For those accused of impaired driving, state law prohibits deferred adjudication, a sentence that would allow defendants to have their case dismissed if they completed their probation successfully. That means defendants have far less incentive to accept both a conviction and a time-consuming and costly probation.

As far back as 2010, Texas lawmakers considered removing barriers that prevent defendants from receiving deferred adjudication sentences. A study commission's report advocated allowing judges "to tailor the level of supervision and intervention required after professional assessment has been conducted."

Nearly a decade later, despite widespread consensus from prosecutors, probation officials, judges and others that deferred adjudication would help prod more troubled drivers into treatment, the law remains unchanged.

OUT OF CONTROL: Houston is 'ground zero' for drunken and drugged driving

Prosecutors have devised workarounds, in some cases, by placing first-time offenders in pretrial intervention programs. Second- or third-time offenders may benefit from SOBER courts, but for those with a first offense, there is little incentive to seek probation.

"If we know treatment works, we should incentivize treatment," Fields said. "Right now, we're incentivizing jail time and getting (sentences) over with."

As a result, thousands of low-level defendants take a jail sentence rather than probation, a review of Harris County records shows. In four of the past five years, defendants ended up in jail more often than on probation, where they could receive more mental health services.

"They had a drinking and driving problem when they went in," said Dr. Teresa May, director of the Harris County Community Supervision and Corrections Department. "They're going to have a drinking and driving problem when they come out."

For the first time in 2017, defendants were more likely to land on probation than in jail. Reform-minded officials say it's a better solution.

"Being compassionate and doing what works isn't soft on crime, it's just," Fields said. "How are we going to change behavior if we're making it so onerous they won't do it?"

THE WAY FORWARD: Solutions are available, but they can be sticky

Meanwhile, the most serious drunken-driving offenders sent to Texas penitentiaries often aren't able to obtain the treatment they need. Every year, thousands of inmates flood Texas prisons after convictions for drunken driving  but the state has only a fraction of that space available for treating them.

During the last fiscal year, for example, more than 6,600 men were sent to Texas prisons on drunken driving-related convictions. Of those, fewer than 1,500 received treatment through the system's DWI Recovery Program. Of 563 female offenders, 148 were able to seek treatment.

"We've got thousands sentenced to prison for three or more DWIs and released without receiving one day of treatment," said state Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, who advocated for recent expansions in the state prison system's treatment program. "That's insane."The Air Force said Wednesday the crash of a T-6A Texan II training plane near Rolling Oaks Mall on the citys North Side likely was due to engine failure.

The pilots, Air Force Reserve Lt. Col. Lee Glenn and 1st Lt. Nicholas Donato, escaped with minor injuries in the Tuesday afternoon crash. No one was hurt on the ground. The T-6A has been grounded at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph.

It appears the aircraft experienced engine failure on final approach at low altitude, configured for landing before our airmen ejected, Col. Mark Robinson, commander of the 12th Flying Training Wing, said of the T-6 crash, according to a press statement. The interim safety board will be looking at all aspects of the aircraft, to include the engine components, to determine the cause of the crash.

Amateur video posted on Facebook and YouTube shows two parachutes deploying at around 800 feet as the plane streaked toward the earth in a fast dive. Around eight or nine seconds later, the T-6 hit the ground, breaking in two as it ripped a long gash through the grass in a large field surrounded by suburban development just inside the San Antonio city limits.

The pilots ejected from the turboprop, slowly drifted to earth and escaped with scratches and bruises after landing in the field near Nacogdoches Road just outside Loop 1604. While the T-6 remained grounded at least through the end of Wednesday, Robinson allowed flying operations with the bases other training aircraft, the T-38C Talon and T-1A Jayhawk, to resume early in the afternoon.

Check back with ExpressNews.com or Thursdays Express-News for more on this story.

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A police officer employed by the Alamo Colleges District was arrested Tuesday for choking his wife, according to San Antonio police.

Marlon Go, 36, was charged with assaulting a family member by strangulation.

RELATED: Controversial Austin man behind 3-D printed guns charged with child sex assault

On Sunday, Go asked his wife, from whom he is separated, to go to his home to take the dogs out and bring him food, according to his arrest affidavit.

When she arrived, she discovered Go's girlfriend hiding in the laundry room, the affidavit says.

Go's wife became upset and she slapped him twice and broke his watch, police said.

Go retaliated by choking her, authorities said. She went to the hospital Monday and said she was unable to move her neck due to the assault, according to the affidavit.

Once the Alamo Colleges District learned of his arrest, Go was put on administrative leave pending a San Antonio police investigation and a separate inquiry conducted by the district's police department.

Go has been employed with the district since May 2013.Investigators arrested a San Antonio man Tuesday after his ex-wife woke up to her car on fire, police said.

Roger Trevino, 49, was taken into custody on suspicion of arson, according to jail records.Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Chris Steele, local fire union president, will discuss the three proposed amendments to the City Charter on Novembers ballot during a town hall meeting Thursday.

Francine Romero, the associate dean for the College of Public Policy at the University of Texas at San Antonio, will moderate the event, which includes former San Antonio City Attorney Frank Garza, a lawyer and lecturer of municipal law at St. Marys University.

The event, sponsored by the San Antonio Express-News and UTSA, will be in the UTSA Buena Vista Theater at the universitys downtown campus at 7 p.m. Doors close at 6:45 p.m.

While the event is free and open to the public, space is limited and an RSVP is recommended to secure a seat. To RSVP, go to mySA.com/townhall. Guests who arent preregistered may still attend as seating permits.

On Nov. 6, voters will decide whether to adopt the three amendments placed on the ballot through a half-million-dollar petition campaign funded by the San Antonio Professional Fire Fighters Association.

The ballot language for the three proposed charter amendments Proposition A: Shall the City Charter be amended to expand the types of ordinances that may be subject to referendum including appropriation of money, levying a tax, granting a franchise, fixing public utility rates, zoning and rezoning of property; and to increase the number of days within which a petition may be filed seeking a referendum on an ordinance passed by Council from forty to one hundred eighty days after passage of the ordinance; and to provide that no more than twenty thousand signatures of registered voters are required for a referendum petition instead of ten percent of those electors qualified to vote at the last regular municipal election? Proposition B: Shall the City Charter be amended to limit the term the City Manager may serve to no longer than eight years, and to limit the compensation of the City Manager to no more than ten times the annual salary furnished to the lowest paid full-time city employee, and to require a supermajority vote of City Council to appoint the City Manager? Proposition C: Shall the City Charter be amended to provide the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 624 with unilateral authority to require the City to participate in binding arbitration of all issues in dispute with the Association within forty-five days of the City's receipt of the Association's written arbitration request? See More Collapse

City and community leaders have said that the amendments would have devastating impacts on municipal government and San Antonio residents by creating warfare between neighborhoods, making capital projects more expensive and killing the local economy, among other things.

Steele and his allies contend that the amendments are devised to strip power from City Hall and return it to voters.

In May, a political action committee  later renamed Secure San Antonios Future  was formed to oppose the amendments.

The fire unions campaign, San Antonio First, is promoting the amendments.

Josh Baugh 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. | jbaugh@express-news.net | Twitter: @jbaughObviously, I believe Christine Blasey Ford, the psychology professor who says that Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her in high school while his friend, Mark Judge, watched and, at moments, egged him on. I believe her when she says that Kavanaugh, who she says was drunk, held her down, covered her mouth when she tried to scream, and ground against her while attempting to pull her clothes off. I believe her when she says this incident haunted her all her life.

Theres rarely hard evidence in a case like this, but Blasey  the surname she prefers to use publicly  has done everything possible to substantiate her claim. Speaking to the Washington Post, she produced notes from a therapist she saw in 2012, whom shed told about being attacked by students from an elitist boys school who grew up to become high-ranking members of society in Washington. According to her husband, that year she identified Kavanaugh to him by name. When Kavanaugh appeared on a short list of potential Supreme Court picks  but before his nomination had been announced  Blasey contacted both the Post and her member of Congress, Anna G. Eshoo of California. By all indications, she wanted to head his nomination off without being forced into the spotlight.

Blasey passed a polygraph administered by a former FBI agent. The utility of polygraphs is dubious, but her willingness to take one is evidence of her sincerity.

Kavanaugh denies the allegation unequivocally. Judge, who wrote a memoir of his teenage alcoholism, has veered between denying the incident and saying he doesnt recall it. But its a sign of how credible Blasey seems that, since this story broke, much of the public debate has been less about whether her accusations are true than whether they are relevant.

Some conservatives  though not just conservatives  insist that it is unfair to judge a middle-aged man for things he did as a kid. On Fox News, the former George W. Bush press secretary Ari Fleischer pondered the weight of high school misbehavior. Should that deny us chances later in life? he asked. Even for Supreme Court job, a presidency of the United States, or you name it?

Such arguments would be more convincing if people on the right werent so selective in their indulgence. Donald Trump called for the death penalty for the Central Park 5, who were 14 to 16 years old when they were arrested. (Theyve since been proven innocent.) Children are regularly put on sex offender registries, sometimes for their entire lives, for conduct less serious than what Kavanaugh is accused of.

Anyway, this is no longer just about what Kavanaugh might have done 36 years ago. We need to determine, as best we can, if hes lying now. As I write this, several Republican senators have said that the nomination should not proceed until both Kavanaugh and Blasey have a chance to testify before the Judiciary Committee. (The committees head, Sen. Charles Grassley, agreed, with a hearing scheduled for Monday.) Senators should also demand that Kavanaughs old friend Judge, who grew up to become a right-wing writer, testify, though Kavanaugh would surely prefer other character witnesses.

There is a small, dark part of me that thinks it would be fitting if Republicans shove Kavanaugh through despite the allegations against him. Anyone Trump nominates is going to threaten Roe v. Wade. Kavanaugh would at least make plain the power dynamics behind forced pregnancy. We would lose Roe because a president who boasted of sexual assault, elected against the wishes of the majority of female voters, was able to give a lifetime Supreme Court appointment to an ex-frat boy credibly accused of attempted rape. Kavanaugh, helped by an all-male Republican caucus on the Judiciary Committee, would join Clarence Thomas, whose confirmation hearing helped make the phrase sexual harassment a household term. They and three other men would likely vote against the courts three women. The brute imposition of patriarchy would be undeniable.

If the Kavanaugh nomination is scuttled, chances are Republicans will try to replace him with someone like Amy Coney Barrett, who is in some ways more conservative. On Sunday, Politico quoted a lawyer close to the White House as saying that the administration had redoubled its support for Kavanaugh in light of Blaseys claims: If somebody can be brought down by accusations like this, then you, me, every man certainly should be worried.

If the Kavanaugh nomination goes forward, its because Trump and his allies believe that a certain class of men accused of sexual assault deserve impunity. The question now is whether any Republican senators believe otherwise.Re: Not all were Texans, Your Turn, Sunday:

True, while most Alamo defenders were not native Tejanos ( Tejano: a Mexican born in the Mexican state of Tejas), some Anglos were citizens of the country of Mexico. You must remember that Tejas was still a part of Mexico  a Mexican state. While I dont believe that the Anglos were misogynist or racist, I do believe that a lot of them were in it for themselves.

Many were in Tejas illegally. They had crossed the Sabine River without permission seeking to take land or whatever was not tied down. They were hoping to become empresarios (landholders/agents). And some were agents of the U.S. to find how it would be possible to take Tejas away from Mexico.

Some Anglos did become Mexican citizens and Catholic, and tried to learn Spanish as was required to accept free land. Others said yes and lied to get free land, and they lied about their slaves, claiming they were indentured servants.

All in all, some were heroes. The Tejanos had no choice but to stand and fight, they had no place to go. The Anglos could always escape across the Sabine River to safety; some stayed. In the end, a hero is what you want him or her to be  the one you choose. Be it your teacher, father, mother.

As for my heroes: They were my ancestors who withstood the onslaught of Anglos (good or bad) and their insults and prejudices, and dug in and stayed in Tejas (now Texas).

As for the Mexican soldiers, they were simply defending their country, fighting rebels who refused to obey the law of the land. Yes, the Anglos were asked to pay taxes and they refused. They were not in America; they were in Mexico.

Frederick M. Vasquez

Which socialists?

Re: Alamo battle against dictatorship, Another View by Allan Parker, Saturday:

Mr. Parker wrote an articulate and well-thought out article that states the history of the Alamo exactly as I learned it over 50 years ago. I was only left with one question.

Who are these socialists of whom he speaks?

Are they the socialists of the highways that take us where we want to go? Are they the socialists of the fire departments who save our forests and our houses? Are they the socialists of Social Security and Medicare that protect our elderly? Are they the socialists of the $12 billion handed to farmers harmed by trade wars? Are they the socialists of the military that protect our country? Or, more likely, are these socialists the bogeyman that the right wing uses in much the same way the left uses fascists as their bogeyman?

Mr. Parker destroys any credibility he had by seeking to divide us with one hostile statement.

Dont worry, Mr. Parker. We conservatives, we liberals, we Americans will hopefully overcome poorly disguised attempts to divide us and vilify the others.

Don Ahlgren

Boerne doesnt care

If Boerne city property neighbors your property and you have tree or drainage issues that are on city property, dont expect any help.

The city of Boerne has told me that the city does not own any trees.

Fifteen years ago, I traded a piece of my property to the city for water hookups. Thus, the city of Boerne owns a swath of property outside my property line and in between the street that goes in front of my house. Several trees that sat on the city property were dead and a danger to my house and those who drive on the street. The city of Boerne told me that I am responsible for everything outside of my property line all the way to the curb. The city of Boerne also told me that I actually own all the property to the middle of the street in front of my house.

How can a city take ownership of property and then tell someone else that they are responsible for the upkeep of that property? How can a homeowner own half a street? Would it be illegal for me to put a toll booth and charge to use the road?

What it comes down to is the city of Boerne is only interested in accumulating more property for taxes and the ability to put in more Legoland subdivisions and not have to take care of any of the property it owns. The city of Boerne does not care about the quality of life for those living in Boerne, nor do they look into the future when making decisions.

Boerne is all about giving off the image that Boerne is the promised land and better than everywhere else.

Tyler Smurr, Boerne

Help the children

Re: Who will defend detained children? Another View by Greg Bosk, Sept. 12:

I expect my voice is no more effective than Mr. Bosk, and I do not have the means to provide significant financial support for detained children. But will do what I can.

I wholeheartedly agree with the need for U.S. citizens to come to the aid of families separated at the border. I urge political leaders, churches of all faiths, community organizations and others to create an awareness of the responsibility we have to work toward reuniting detained children with their families.

Ronald C. Olson

Leave cities alone

Re: Abbott wants to remove cities red light cams, Page One, Sept. 12:

Gov. Greg Abbott just cant seem to keep his little paws off city affairs. Last session was packed with bills to limit or stop city and county powers and give them to the state.

Sure appears that the good governor cannot abide federal interference into state territory.

Do I glimpse a bit of hypocrisy? Or just another power grab?

Dianne Lavake, ZapataWILTON  The Wilton League of Women Voters, along with co-sponsors Wilton Library, Norwalk League of Women Voters, GOOD Morning Wilton, and student partners from Wilton High School Model Congress, invite the public to their CT State Legislative Candidate Forum on Oct. 16 from 7 to 9 p.m.

Slated to attend are state Sen. Toni Boucher, R-Wilton, and Democratic challenger Will Haskell of New Canaan for Senate District 26; state Rep. Tom ODea, R-New Canaan, and Democratic challenger Ross Tartell of Wilton for House District 125; and state Rep. Gail Lavielle, R-Wilton, and Democratic challenger Stephanie Thomas of Norwalk for House District 143.

They will engage in a modified town hall-style format at the Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road. The event is free and open to the public.

Jean Rabinow, a member of the Steering Committee of the League of Women Voters of the Bridgeport Area and director of outreach for the League of Women Voters of Connecticut, will moderate the evenings event.

For questions about the forum, contact Karen R. Silverberg at 914-649-9844 or wiltonlwvcandidateforum@gmail.com.

The forum will allow for written questions from the audience. In addition, the WLWV is soliciting questions ahead of the forum via email at wiltonlwvcandidateforum@gmail.com from now until midnight Oct. 13.

Please register in advance online or call 203-762-6334. Pre-registrants should arrive by 6:50 p.m.; wait-listed and walk-in registrants will be admitted after 6:50 p.m. if space is available.

There will also be a candidate forum for the Connecticut 4th Congressional District.

U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-4, will face Republican challenger Harry Arora on Oct. 21, from 4 to 6 p.m., at Wilton High Schools Clune Auditorium, 385 Danbury Road.

The League of Women Voters of Connecticut is a nonpartisan political organization encouraging informed and active participation in government. It influences public policy through education and advocacy.- A man has reportedly traveled a long distance on a bicycle

- The man was said to have cycled from Morocco to Nigeria

- He revealed that this is not his first time to cycle on a long distance journey

Legit.ng has come across the story of a man who reportedly cycled all the way from Morocco to Nigeria. The man was reportedly spotted with his bicycle in Kebbi state, by a Nigerian man who was fascinated by his story.

A Nigerian man identified as Sani Musa Saminaka shared the cyclist's story after he met with him in Kebbi state.

According to Saminaka, the man had decided to cycle from Morocco to Nigeria to sightsee and know about a place he has heard so much about. The man explained he would like to take photos of places in Nigeria.

Man travels on a bicycle from Morocco to Nigeria to sightsee Photo: Facebook Source: Sani Musa Saminaka

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: 105-year-old wartime nurse says secret to longevity is to stay single

Saminaka also noted that the man who traveled from Morocco revealed to him that he is a Muslim. He also said the man would be heading to Abuja soon.

The Facebook user noted that he met the cyclist at Shanga local government area in Kebbi state. He revealed that the man was spotted taking pictures with excited villagers who welcomed him.

PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News on Legit.ng News

The man has been traveling around on his bicycle Photo: Facebook Source: Sani Musa Saminaka

Source: Facebook

Read the story below:

PAY ATTENTION: Get your daily relationship tips and advice on Africa Love Aid group

Legit.ng had reported that a Chinese female cyclist had also traveled from Morocco to Nigeria. The female cyclist identified as Huang Shuang was inspired to cycle around the world.

Is it Okay to Give Undies to Someone You're Not in a Relationship? Street Gist Nigeria | Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng News- The National Rescue Movement has written to INEC over the exclusion of its candidates name in the list approved for the Osun governorship election

- The partys lawyer pointed out that NRM is a recognised and duly registered political party with a mandate to attain political power through democratic and constitutional means

- It said every duly registered political party and candidate enjoys the constitutional right to vote and be voted for

The National Rescue Movement, one of the political parties participating in the September 22 gubernatorial election in Osun state, has written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the exclusion of its candidate, Jumoke Lawoyin, from the list approved by the commission.

The party gave the commission 24 hours to rectify the situation or it would seek redress in court, Punch reports.

READ ALSO: Osun election: Do not attack corps members - NYSC warns politicians

Legit.ng gathers that the letter, signed by its lawyer, Kayode Ajulo, was entitled: Unlawful exclusion of Mrs Jumoke Lawoyin, governorship candidate of NRM from the approved list of governorship candidates in the Osun State governorship election.

Ajulo stated: We are solicitors to NRM, hereinafter referred to as our client. Our client is a recognised and duly registered political party under the relevant laws in Nigeria with a mandate to attain political power through democratic and constitutional means for the purpose of creating socio-economic well-being of the citizens.

Our client briefed us that by a notice dated July 12, 2018, your office was informed of the conduct of our clients primaries, sequel to which your representatives, led by Mr Asaolu Adeniyi Ishola, were sent to observe and monitor the said primary, which held at Brymor Hotel, Agunbelewo, Osogbo and in which Mrs Jumoke Lawoyin was confirmed and affirmed as our clients candidate for the Osun State governorship election scheduled to hold on September 22, 2018.

The party added: It is trite law that every duly registered political party and candidate enjoys the constitutional right to vote and be voted for."

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Recall that Legit.ng previously reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) published the names of 48 political parties that are contesting for the Osun governorship election, with the names of their governorship candidates and deputies.

While speaking at the presentation of soft copies of voters register to the participating political parties, the state resident electoral commissioner, Segun Agbaje, said that the exercise was in line with the Electoral Act of Nigeria and the law of the commission.

State of Osun is correct - Gov Aregbesola - on Legit.ng TV:

Source: Legit- Police constables deployed for the Osun gubernatorial election will be paid N50,000

- The payment, the federal government said, will be made as special duty allowance payment for the 2019 general election

- The money will be paid into the salary accounts of the police officers participating in the exercise

The Nigerian government has begun payment of N50,000 to all constables deployed for the Osun state governorship election.

The N50,000 payment will be made as special duty allowance payment for the 2019 general election, Punch reports.

Legit.ng gathered that a total of 18,426 have been deployed by the Nigeria police for the Saturday, September 22, Osun gubernatorial election.

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Sources said the money was paid into the salary accounts of the police officers participating in the exercise.

The source added that while officers from the rank of constables to sergeants received N50,000, those within the rank of inspector, assistant superintendent of police and deputy superintendent of police were paid N120,000 each.

Also, each of the eight commissioners of police deployed for the exercise was reportedly paid N250,000. It was also gathered that an average of constable takes home N45,000 per month after tax deductions.

READ ALSO: Army neutralises 5 insurgents, recover 'assorted' weapons in Borno

However, confirming the payments, the commissioner of police in Osun state, Fimihan Adeoye, remained silent on the amount paid to the officers.

Adeoye said: The allowances of the officers deployed for the election have been paid. The allowances were paid into their accounts. Arrangements have been concluded to deploy over 18,426 police personnel including conventional and PMF units, intelligence and technical teams to provide security.

"This number excludes the support services to be provided by other security personnel from the armed forces, the Immigration Service, the prisons, the Customs and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to complement the efforts of the police.

"Politicians and their supporters are advised to desist from actions that may precipitate violence before, during and after the election.

The police officers deployed for this election have been lectured and educated on electoral conducts, behaviours, laws and offences, and are, therefore, expected to conduct themselves in a highly ethical manner."

Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it was not banning the use of Smartphone around the polling unit areas, but the moment a prospective voter entered voting cubicle to cast his or her vote.

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The chief press secretary to INEC chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, said that Nigerians were fully aware of the challenge of vote-buying and selling that reared its ugly head in recent elections.

He said that had prompted many stakeholders to call on INEC to devise innovative ways to tackle the problem.

President Buhari on 2019 presidential election: will you vote for him? | - on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit- Senator Bola Tinubu will be meeting with the Governors Advisory Council (GAC), where Governor Ambode's fate will be decided

- GAC is Lagos state's highest advisory political organ under the leadership of Tinubu

- Others in the race for Lagos governorship are Dr. Obafemi Hamzat and Babajide Sanwo-Olu

A report by This Day indicates that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode will on Wednesday, September 19, know the fate of his second term bid as the national leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, meets with the Governors Advisory Council (GAC), to discuss the issue.

Legit.ng gathered that the GAC is Lagos states highest advisory political organ under the leadership of Tinubu.

The membership of the council, made up of the governor and leaders of the party across the three senatorial districts of the state, include, Dr. Olorunfemi Bashorun; Senator Anthony Adefuye, Prof. Tunde Samuel, Chief Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Alhaji Tajudeen Olusi and Cardinal James Odumbaku.

READ ALSO: I will teach you how to win Lagos state in 2019 - Saraki tells Lagos PDP

Ambodes political future has been under threat since Tinubus Mandate Movement, threw up the Managing Director of Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC), Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to challenge the governor at the partys primary scheduled for Tuesday, September 25.

Also in the race, is another strong contender, a former commissioner for works and Infrastructure, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, who has the backing of an equally powerful group, the Justice Forum.

The governors travail had attracted the intervention of the presidency and some governors, including Oyo states Senator Abiola Ajimobi that pleaded for reprieve for him.

But faced with a possible mutiny by his foot soldiers, Tinubu insisted that Ambode should test his popularity at the direct primary contest for the partys ticket, saying he no longer wants to be accused of imposing anyone on the party.

After much pressure, Tinubu, however, shifted some ground on Monday, September 17, by agreeing to refer the matter to the GAC, the body that advises the governor and the party leader on matters of state as well issues that concern the party.

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In the event that Ambode deos not get the support of GAC, an aide of the governor said, the most viable option for his boss is to step down and go home.

Ambode did not prepare for the prevailing circumstances, said the aide, therefore, he does not have alternative plan to respond to his dilemma.

Can Ambode Get a Second Term Without Tinubus Approval? - Nigeria Street Gist | Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit- The organised labour accuses labour minister, Chris Ngige, of playing out a script concerning the new minimum wage for workers

- President of the United Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, claims workers in the country are currently agitated over what happens to the minimum wage

- The NLC, TUC and the ULC is warning that they cannot guarantee industrial peace at the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum

Nigerias organised labour has declared that the 14-day ultimatum it gave the federal government recently over issues with the implementation of the minimum wage of workers will not be extended or reversed.

The Punch reports that the organised labour made this stand known in reaction to a demand by the labour minister, Chris Ngige, that the new minimum wage committee adjourn indefinitely to enable him to make further consultation with the government.

The report quoted the president of the United Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, as saying: We cannot and we will not reverse ourselves on the actions we have taken so far to ensure that the rights of Nigerian workers are protected. Some have asked us to extend the date, but such will not happen.

READ ALSO: Obasanjo's farm reportedly sealed off by Oyo govt over tax default

This new antic certainly is not acceptable to Nigerian workers who have been expecting a new national minimum wage since 2016, but, who, out of uncommon sacrifice and patriotism, hearkened to governments appeal and the process was delayed.

In the course of the work of the committee (on new minimum wage), members had ample time to consult. In any case, the committee was satisfied that it received memoranda and inputs from 21 state governments, specialised agencies of the federal government, the organised private sector, organised labour and the general public.

We even recall that Ngige himself had assured workers during the 40th anniversary celebration of the Nigeria Labour Congress in February this year that workers should expect a new national minimum wage in September this year.

We wonder what has gone amiss between February 28, and now. On the other hand, do we assume that the minister is acting a script?

The report further quoted Ajaero as saying: In the light of this, his pronouncement is capable of rubbishing the work of the committee as well as raising serious concerns about the readiness of the government to accede to the putting together of a new national minimum wage.

Beyond this, the ministers pronouncement has generated considerable tension among workers and provoked sharp reactions from the unions, which justifiably argue that the government is only out to waste the time of workers and is not prepared to pay a new national minimum wage.

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The report also quoted joint statement from the ULC, NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) as saying: In view of the foregoing, we demand that government does all that is necessary to ensure that the tripartite committee is allowed to conclude its work within 14 days.

We will want to use this opportunity to let the government and the whole world know that in the event that this demand is not met, we will not guarantee continued industrial peace and harmony.

Legit.ng earlier reported that the Nigerian workers on Thursday, September 13, threw their weight behind the 14-day ultimatum issued by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to the federal government over delay regarding new minimum wage.

Ambode Second Term and Tinubu's Approval - Nigerian Opinion | Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng News- Final year medical student and nine others allegedly murdered in cold blood by cultists

- The incident occurred during a graduation party at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State on September 18

- The trouble reportedly started when two boys started exchanging blows at Judges quarters in Ekpoma

Reports reaching Legit.ng claim a final year medical student identified as Dr Einstein and nine others have been allegedly murdered by cultists in Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State.

The students were reportedly attending a graduation party held at Judges quarters in Ekpoma on September 18. However the peaceful celebration turned bloody when two students started exchanging blows and causing mayhem at the party.

Many other students jumped in to separate the fight but from blows, it escalated when one of the fighting students accused the other of tearing his shirt and was said to have promised that he will pay for it.

READ ALSO: Thandie Newton refers to God as a woman as she gives thanks for winning Emmy Award (video)

According to reports, the angry student left the hall and returned with some other boys (described as cultists) and with weapons identified as guns. They purportedly opened fire, killing the student who tore his shirt and the others who tried to separate the fight.

The bloodbath ended the lives of 10 students including the final year student, Dr Einstein, who was set to graduate in a few days.

An unidentified social media user shared photos of two of the murdered students, mourning their tragic passing and expressing shock over the turn of events that led to the unfortunate incident

May their souls rest in peace.

Meanwhile, just recently, an ordinary initiation ceremony into a newly formed secret confraternity named " The New Black Movement of Africa" a breakaway faction of the AIYE cult group, turned sour, on Thursday, September 6.

In a statement made available to Legit.ng , when one of the recruits who couldn't endure the torture and other initiation rites he was subjected, he bolted for his dear life and ran to his mother's house at Jakande estate, Ajah Lagos.

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Police Parade Over 50 Suspected Cultists in Lagos on Legit.ng TV:

Source: Legit.ng- Buhari Campaign Organisation said the support President Buhari enjoyed from Niger Delta militants group is expected

- The group said the Niger Delta region has benefitted immensely from the Buhari administration

- The group listed the Nigerian Maritime University in Delta state as one of the benefits the region enjoyed from the Buhari's government

The Buhari Campaign Organisation has said the support that President Muhammadu Buhari enjoyed from the militant groups in Niger Delta is expected as the region has benefitted immensely from the government.

The group listed the Nigerian Maritime University located in Delta state and the $170 million seed money for the Ogoni clean up.

BCOs director of communications and strategic planning, Mallam Gidado Ibrahim, said this in a statement issued in Abuja.

Ibrahim said: "The endorsement of the president for a second term by militant groups from the Niger Delta did not come to us by surprise. The region has benefitted immensely from the Buhari administration.

READ ALSO: 2019: Governor Ambodes wife fails to pacify Tinubu

The take off of the Nigerian Maritime University in Delta state, setting aside $170 million seed money for the Ogoni clean up and the construction of the 2nd Niger bridge are projects targeted at addressing the plight of the Niger Delta people.

The crusade to stamp out corruption in government at all levels is yielding positive results. The recent resignation of the erstwhile Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, due to her NYSC certificate saga is point to recon with. But for the integrity and will power the present administration to make things right she would not have resigned."

Ibrahim added that the Buhari's administration has helped revamp the economy of the country.

He said: The Buhari administration had been confronted with issues of Boko Haram, Farmers/Herders clash, militancy, IPOB, Economic recession, corruption and other internal problems.

But the Buhari administration did not compromise the unity of this country in addressing these issues. In the Agricultural sector, importation of essential commodity has reduced drastically.

So far, the administration of Buhari has been able to resuscitate the Agricultural sector as Nigerians have gone back to farming, revived the railway, constructed major roads across the federation and more than 2,000 megawatts have been added to the power sector.

The Social Investment Program (SIP) is the largest and most ambitious social safety programme in the history of Nigeria with 500,000 N-Power (unemployed graduates) benefiting currently participating, government Enterprise and Employment program (GEEP) with N15.183 billions in interest free loan being disbursed to Nigerians."

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Legit.ng earlier reported that President Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday, September 14, was conferred with a new chieftaincy title of Meni-Doo-Lenu (the King of doing good things in Ogoni-land) by an Ogoni king, G.N.K. Ogininwa.

Femi Adesina, the special adviser on media and publicity, said the president was given the traditional title when he received a delegation of Ogoni leaders from the Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers, academia, elected leaders of MOSOP and representatives of women and youth groups from Ogoni land in Rivers at the State House, Abuja.

Nigeria News Today: Will Buhari Get Votes Of Nigerian Youth? | Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng News- Aliyu Abubakar Aziz, the director NIMC, says FEC has approved of the implementation of a road-map for a new digital identity ecosystem for the enrolment of Nigerians and legal residents into the national identity database

- He states that the identity number is to be used for international passport registration, health insurance, financial transactions and drivers license

- Senator Shehu Sani says it is not possible to stop Nigerians from using their phones at polling units and booths

The federal government will as from January 2019, enforce the mandatory use of the national identity number (NIN) as a means of identification for Nigerians and legal residents residing in the country.

Aliyu Abubakar Aziz, the director general of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), made the disclosure in a statement on Tuesday, September 18, The Cable reports.

Aziz stated that the planned enforcement followed the federal executive council (FEC)s approval of the implementation of a road map for a new digital identity ecosystem for the enrollment of Nigerians and legal residents into the national identity database (NIDB).

READ ALSO: Minimum wage: No going back on 14-day ultimatum - Labour tells FG

The FECs approval of the new Digital Identity Ecosystem will bring into full force the implementation of the provisions of the NIMC Act 23, 2007, which include the enforcement of the mandatory use of the National Identification Number (NIN) and the application of appropriate sanctions and penalties on defaulters as provided under Section 28 of the NIMC Act, the statement read.

The director said NIMC act gives the commission the power to set a date for the enforcement of the use of NIN for eligible transactions.

He disclosed that the identity number is to be used for health insurance, financial transactions, drivers license and passport registration.

Aziz further disclosed that the cut-off date for data eligible for harmonisation with the National Identity Database (NIDB) is December 1, 2018, implying that only data captured as of November 30, 2018, will be subjected to harmonisation.

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In another report, the representative of Kaduna central at the Nigerian Senate, Shehu Sani, has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to rethink its reported decision to ban the use of mobile phones during the forthcoming elections.

Sani said it is not possible to stop Nigerians from using their mobile phones in such designated places during the exercise.

The senator said the ban might not work because phones are still being used at filling stations and banks despite a similar ban.

News: How Federal Government is Giving Hope to Old Nigerians Via Monthly Salary Scheme | Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit Newspaper- Security has been beefed up at the Osun judiciary complex as alleged blackmailers of the state lawmaker, Timothy Owoeye return to court

- The premises of the complex witnessed serious rowdiness as supporters Owoeye stormed the court in solidarity with him

- The alleged blackmailers had tricked and swindled the lawmaker before they were arraigned in court

Following the return of the alleged blackmailers of the state lawmaker, Timothy Owoeye, to the Osun judiciary complex where they are appearing before a magistrate court, security has been intensified, Punch reports.

READ ALSO: Minimum wage: No going back on 14-day ultimatum - Labour tells FG

The accused persons were brought into the court premises amidst the heavy presence of armed prison officers and policemen. Infact, security operatives found it difficult to control hundreds of Owoeye's supporters who came for the hearing.

The magistrate, Olusegun Ayilara, was unable to enter into the court due to the rowdiness. Policemen and prisons guards locked the doors to the complex where the courtroom is located but supporters forced their way inside the complex. However, the supporters were stopped from entering the courtroom.

According to a court official, an unnamed a man suspected to be sympathetic to the accused persons was stripped of his dress and injured by some of the lawmakers supporters.

The supporters were angry over the fact that the accused persons were allowed to cover their faces as they were taken into the courtroom by prison guards.

Earlier, Owoeyes video went viral on Saturday, September 15, where he was reportedly tricked and swindled by the blackmailers.

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The video was said to be recorded to prevent him from reporting to the police that he was swindled.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that twelve of the aspirants of the APC party, all from Osun west senatorial district, on Tuesday, July 17, rejected direct primary option to elect the partys candidate ahead of the September 22 governorship election in the state.

Among the nine aspirants present at the conference where the resolution was communicated were, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, Dr. Peter Babalola, Alhaji Saka Layoonu, Honourable Gafar Amere, Hon. Najeem Salami, Engineer. Mumini Olabanji and Dayo Oyebanji.

Can Ambode get a second term without Tinubu's approval? - Street Gist | Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit- Charles Idahosa says the APC in Edo state will not wait till close to the election to save Governor Godwin Obaseki from what Akinwunmi Ambode is currently facing in Lagos

- Idahosa, a chieftain of the APC, says each time he reads about Ambode's predicament, the picture of political activities in Edo state is painted

- The former aide to Adams Oshiomhole mentions some of the challenges being experienced in Edo state currently

A chieftain of the All progressives Congress (APC) in Edo, Charles Idahosa, has said expressed fears that Governor Godwin Obaseki could face same predicaments being experienced by Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos.

He, however, said the APC in Edo would not wait for weeks to the 2020 governorship election in the state to start handling the issues.

Daily Sun reports that while speaking ahead of his 65th birthday, Idahosa said the picture of events in Edo state was in his mind when he read how Governor Ambode ran into problems with the APC leadership in Lagos.

READ ALSO: Obasanjo's farm reportedly sealed off by Oyo govt over tax default

Idahosa, a former political adviser to ex-governor of Edo, Adams Oshiomhole, assured that the APC in the state would not allow its current problems to degenerate to the level of Lagos.

When I was reading the papers about Ambode, I was reading Edo state. Our problems will not get to the level of that of Lagos state. We will not let it get to that level, we will intervene.

Our governorship election will be in isolation and it will be terrible to have problems. We will sit with the governor and discuss our way out. The governor is dreaming of an eldorado.

He is more of a technocrat. In the process of pursuing the big contracts and big firms like Gelegele seaport, he needed to carry along small projects that will keep people going.

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Oshiomhole kept people busy with red roof revolution. A situation where you forget the political leaders and pursuing big projects that will take about four years to complete. We should embark on something we are seeing now.

We can talk. If he doesnt want to talk, we will continue to say what is right. The national chairman will not want to lose the state and we will not leave the APC, we will stay and fix the problems, he said.

Legit.ng earlier reported a story by This Day indicating that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode would on Wednesday, September 19, know his fate concerning his second term bid as the national leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, meets with the Governors Advisory Council (GAC), to discuss the issue.

Can Ambode Defeat Tinubu for a second term? - Nigerian Opinion | Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit- Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state has lost his special adviser on investments, Sunday Ozege

- Ezege was killed on Tuesday, September 18, by suspected gunmen along the Benin bypass in Edo state

- Mourning the demise of his aide, the governor said Ozege was a strong pillar of support to his administration

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state on Wednesday, September 19, mourned the demise of his special adviser on investments, Sunday Ozege, who was killed on Tuesday, September 18, by suspected gunmen along the Benin bypass in Edo.

News Agency of Nigeria reports that the governors condolence was issued and signed in Asaba by his chief press secretary, Charles Aniagwu.

Legit.ng gathers that Okowa commiserated with the Ozege family of Ogume in Ndokwa West local government area, describing the deceased as a very hard working and easy-going man.

READ ALSO: Shiite members protest in Kaduna despite government ban (photos)

The governor said that Ozege, who had served the state in various committees, was a strong pillar of support to his administration.

He said: I was shocked to hear of the tragic death of Mr Sunday Ozege in the hands of suspected gunmen along the Benin bypass in Edo state.

He will be missed by thousands of people whom he had assisted in one way or the other. His role in politics and the development of his community and state will remain an inspiration for other political actors.

My condolences to his family, members of the state executive council, close associates and the people of Ogume community."

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that it was a major loss for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta state on Sunday, August 26, as Governor Ifeanyi Okowa lost two of his aides and about 5000 party members to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The two aides who defected were the special assistant to the governor on youth and community development, Lucky Arumare, and the special assistant on women mobilisation, Uyoyou Edhekpo.

Can Ambode Defeat Tinubu for a second term? - Nigerian Opinion | on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ngThe governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 election, Jimi Agbaje, on Wednesday, September 19, finally announced that he has an ambition to lead the state on the platform of the same party in 2019.

There had been speculations on whether Agbaje, who narrowly missed the chance to govern the state in 2015, would still seek election.

READ ALSO: Obasanjo's farm reportedly sealed off by Oyo govt over tax default

Agbaje reportedly told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that he would seek election in the state in 2019.

It is true that initially I did not want to re-contest, but I had so many people urging me to run, he said.

Legit.ng earlier reported that Jimi Agbaje, the 2015 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos state, on Monday, September 3, urged the party to conduct free, fair and credible convention to avoid rancor ahead of the 2019 elections.

A statement by Fidelis Soriwei, a spokesperson of Seriake Dickson, obtained by Legit.ng, quoted Agbaje as having stated this when he paid a condolence visit to the state governor, Seriake Dickson, in his Toru Orua country home.

The visit was to condole the governor over the death of his mother, Goldcoast Dickson, who died of lung cancer at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Centre, Houston, Texas, in the United States at the age of 72.

Democracy is about choices. What normally creates a problem is when people feel the process isn't fair.

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If for example, on the day of the convention, accreditation goes well, there is no contest about who the delegates are and then people go out to vote peacefully, then the exercise will be seen to be free and fair.

The idea of having many aspirants is good for our democracy. I don't think we should lose sleep if there are many aspirants, he said.

Can Ambode Defeat Tinubu for a second term? - Nigerian Opinion | Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng- The crisis in the Yobe state chapter of the APC been amicably resolved

- This happened as a result of Senator Bukar Ibrahim that stepped down for Governor Ibrahim Gaidam in the contest for Senate

- Governor Gaidam in his comment declared that he was happy like other stakeholders in the state

Yobe state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday, September 18, resolved the lingering crisis in the party followed the adoption of the candidature of the National Secretary of the party, Mallam Mai Mala Buni.

Daily Trust reports that Mala Buni is now the consensus governorship candidate of the party in 2019 as Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim stepped down for the incumbent Governor Ibrahim Gaidam to contest for the Yobe east senatorial seat.

Senator Bukar who vowed not to step aside for Governor Gaidam and to re-contest his senatorial seat, said the states interest is paramount to him.

READ ALSO: Adeleke sat for May/April 1981 exams - WAEC

Ibrahim said: This is a political season and we had series of meetings, some covered by the media and some not covered in camera. At the end of it all, we reached a conclusion.

A couple of weeks ago there was a consensus in Damaturu, some people were nominated and those of us not invited complained and at the end of the day, this matter was resolved. We are one APC family and all issues have been resolved and all those nominated were endorsed.

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Governor Gaidam in his comment said he was happy like other stakeholders that the crisis was amicably resolved.

While referring to Senator Ibrahim, who was also a former governor of the state as the grandfather of politics in the state, he also pledged to be consulting him when the need arises.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that Yobe governor, Ibrahim Gaidam, endorsed Maimala Buni, the national secretary of the APC as the governorship candidate for 2019 election in the state.

The secretary of APC in the state, Abubakar Bakabe, confirmed the governors endorsement in Damaturu, saying that the governor has officially submitted the name of Buni as the consensus candidate of the party.

The stakeholders of the party on Thursday, September 6, mandated the governor to use his discretion to pick a competent successor as the partys governorship candidate for the forthcoming election.

David Mark Is Running For President On Nigeria Election 2019 - Nigeria News Today | Legit.ng TV:

Source: Legit NigeriaEmerging reports indicate that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has filed charges against Osun Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant, Senator Ademola Adeleke, at the Federal High Court in Abuja,

Channels TV reports that the charges against the senator include examination malpractice, aiding and abetting, impersonation and criminal conspiracy.

Legit.ng gathered that the police said the alleged crime was facilitated by the principal of Ojo-Aro Community High School, Egbedore local government area, Osun state, and three others who are also to be arraigned for what the police describes as conspiracy with the senator.

READ ALSO: 2019: I will contest for governorship election in Lagos - Jimi Agbaje reveals

Jimoh Moshood, police spokesperson, on Wednesday, September 19, said that investigations revealed that Senator Adeleke and his brother Sikiru Adeleke registered and sat for the National Examination Council Examination (NECO) 2017 as internal candidates, impersonating students of the school at the ages of 57 and 42 years respectively.

In a previous report by Legit.ng, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) confirmed that Senator Ademola Adeleke, the candidate of the PDP for September 22 governorship election in Osun state, sat for its examination in 1981.

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The sub-regional examinations body made the confirmation in its response to an order made by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

The court on Tuesday, September 11, directed the body to produce Adelekes result within 10 days due to the controversy surrounding his O'level result.

Were Ekiti Residents Paid to Vote? | - on Legit.ng TV:

Source: Legit- A NYSC corps member named Ugwi Mary Martha has been identified as one of those gunned down by cultists

- 10 students were allegedly murdered in cold blood by cultists on September 18, in Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo state

- The bloodbath started as a fight between two students at Judges Quarters in Ekpoma

Legit.ng has come across reports which reveal the identity of one of the victims of the earlier reported AAU Massacre which happened during the late hours of September 18.

It was earlier reported that a group of cultists purportedly murdered 10 students during a graduation party at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo state.

Among the victims was a final year medical student identified as Dr Einstein, who was set to graduate in a couple of days. Just recently, the identity of another victim has emerged online. Reports reveal that late Ugwi Mary Martha is a Niger state corps member who was in the school visiting a friend at the time of the tragedy.

To enjoy her stay, she joined her friend at the graduation party which was held at Judges Quarters in Ekpoma. Unfortunately, the party turned into a bloodbath, when two students' fight escalated to a cultist retaliation.

READ ALSO: Reno Omokri dishes out relationship advice to ladies

According to reports, Martha, was a graduate of banking and finance from the institution and decided to spend time with her friend who reportedly just graduated.

It is unknown if the said friend was also murdered but many people are heartbroken over the loss of lives of innocent students who were set to take over the world, having reached a milestone in their education.

Late Ugwi Mary Martha was a Niger corps member visiting her friend at Ambrose Ali University in Ekpoma, Edo State. Source: UGC

Source: UGC

May her soul rest in peace.

Meanwhile, just recently, an ordinary initiation ceremony into a newly formed secret confraternity named " The New Black Movement of Africa" a breakaway faction of the Aiye cult group, turned sour, on Thursday, September 6.

In a statement made available to Legit.ng , one of the recruits who could not endure the torture and other initiation rites he was subjected bolted for his dear life and ran to his mother's house at Jakande Estate, Ajah, Lagos.

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Police Parade Over 50 Suspected Cultists in Lagos on Legit.ng TV:

Source: Legit.ng- An aide to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos says the governor has not suspended his second term bid

- The aide, who spoke anonymously, said Ambode is still very much interested in continuing his good works in the state

- The Lagos political scene has been heated up recently over reports that Ambode had fallen out with the APC national leader, Bola Tinubu

A top aide to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos state on Wednesday, September 19, said the alleged suspension of the governors second term ambition was a hoax.

The aide, who spoke anonymously, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the news making the rounds that Ambode had shelved his ambition of a second term return to office, was untrue.

Legit.ng notes that according to reports being circulated, the governor had decided after due considerations and consultations, to suspend campaign for second term as the executive governor of Lagos state.

In the same report, the governor was alleged to have said: I hereby endorse Jide Sanwo-Olu to represent our party for the office of the executive governor of Lagos state."

READ ALSO: Osinbajo visits Abuja market for inauguration of loan scheme

However, the source who debunked the report, said it was a hoax, untrue and a totally false report.

The governor is still very much interested to continue his good works in the state. He means well for the state and he believes there is still a lot to be achieved. This he hopes to consolidate upon, if he is re-elected," the source said.

The source said that Ambode still remained the most credible candidate for the states number one seat, who cannot be compared to any other candidate hoping to vie.

The states political scene had been embroiled in a lot of controversy which had heated up the polity as the incumbent governor appears to have fallen out of favour with the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bola Tinubu and chieftains of the party.

Events emanating from the seemingly unhealthy relationship have resulted in some sort of media war and divisions among groups and supporters of Ambode and the party leader.

Making the scenario more interesting is the declaration to run for office of governor on the stable of APC by Jide Sanwo-Olu, the general manager, Lagos State Development Property Corporation (LSDPC) and a former commissioner for works in the state, Femi Hamzat.

With the partys primaries coming up in earnest, it makes the situation even dicier for the incumbent governor.

PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app

Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that members of the political family of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu threatened to vote against his choice, should he back Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for a second term in office.

The decision followed pressures being mounted on the APC national leader, from different quarters, to back Ambode for second term.

Can Ambode get a second term without Tinubu's approval? - on Legit.ng TV:

Source: LegitPulitzer Prize winner Mike Hiltzik just posted a lengthy article that patiently and judiciously dissects the excuses that CalPERS has been making for CEO Marcie Frost and finds them to be sorely wanting. Please circulate his article widely, particularly to anyone in California, since the proper stewardship of CalPERS affects not just CalPERS beneficiaries, but California taxpayers generally.

From the top:

When the CalPERS Board of Administration comes together for its regular three-day monthly meeting starting Sept. 24, the agenda will include the annual performance review for the pension funds chief executive, Marcie Frost. This wont be any ordinary review. Or to put it bluntly, it shouldnt be an ordinary review. Thats because questions have been raised publicly about Frosts educational experience. Frost doesnt have a college degree, but thats not the issue; its whether, when she was recruited and interviewed for her job, she misrepresented her enrollment in a higher education program aimed at garnering her baccalaureate and masters degrees.

Key sections:

But in the announcement of her hiring, CalPERS stated that Frost was pursuing dual bachelors and masters degree in public administration from Evergreen State College in Olympia, Wash. Evergreen is known for its unconventional approach to academics. Evergreen administrators say, however, that the college doesnt offer a program for a dual bachelors and masters degree in public administration. One can get a bachelors degree at Evergreen, and one subsequently can apply for its masters in public administration program, according to administrators at the school. But a single program that leads to both degrees doesnt exist. CalPERS officials also told me that Frost had enrolled in a prior learning from experience program at Evergreen, in which credits toward a degree can be earned from workplace experience. But Evergreen says thats applicable to bachelors degrees only, not graduate-level programs. Participants in the prior learning program are required to take two writing courses. CalPERS spokesman Wayne Davis says Frost enrolled in the courses in 2010 but didnt submit any writing samples before her career took off in Washington and she abandoned the effort. Davis says Frost told Heidrick & Struggles that she had enrolled at Evergreen in 2010, and still harbored the goal of receiving her diplomas. Yet if Frost inaccurately suggested at any point along the line that she was enrolled in a program that doesnt exist, thats a serious matter calling her integrity into question. (Even business executives with long tenures at the top and distinguished records of accomplishment have lost or given up their jobs for padding their resumes.) CalPERS has tied itself up in knots trying to deflect concerns about Frosts background. The funds communications staff say they blame themselves for any confusion. I take accountability for whats in that press release, Davis says. But thats not an acceptable answer. Its implausible that the communications office simply fabricated the assertion that Frost was pursuing a dual bachelors and masters degree at Evergreen in 2016. More recently, the communications office has pointed a finger at Heidrick & Struggles. According to a document Webber reproduced, Heidrick & Struggles informed CalPERS in 2016 that Frost was currently matriculated in a dual degree program for a bachelors and masters degree at Evergreen. But where did that impression come from? Another mystery is how the claim persisted so long in public, if it was not true. On the CalPERS website, the claim appeared on Frosts bio page as recently as Dec. 19; the bio was subsequently revised to remove the reference. It also appeared on the archived version of the press release announcing Frosts appointment until Tuesday, when we brought the language to CalPERS attention.

Hiltzik has to hew to norms of letting CalPERS have its say, plus his preferred tone is California understatement rather than New York in your face. But he makes clear that none of CalPERS defenses make sense and if anything, dig Frosts hole deeper by showing CalPERS, after three weeks of dealing with press and beneficiary scrutiny, cant come up with anything that dimly resembles satisfactory answers.

And as Hiltzik stresses, executives with far more impressive accomplishments than Frosts were defenestrated for similar misrepresentations. CalPERS cant try to offset her supposedly good performance (which we have argued also does not hold up to scrutiny) against lies told during and after she was hired.Even though Frosts repeated lies over a series of years should be grounds alone for her dismissal as CalPERS CEO, we feel compelled to chronicle that she has done a poor job as CEO, in the hopes that the board will set its standards higher when it looks for her replacement.

It is important to stress that Frosts experience was thin, despite having worked for a Washington retirement agency since 2000. Her job scope involved only a small subset of the activities that CalPERS is involved in, and on top of that, ones that were managerially less complex by virtue of being heavily routinized.

Her previous employer, Washingtons Department of Retirement Systems (DRS), as one prominent CalPERS retiree put it, is a purely administrative and clerical agency  they process checks and answer inquiries from beneficiaries. Or as we put it, she ran a back office plus a call center. The Washington pension systems actuary is not a part of DRS and reports to the legislature. By contrast, at CalPERS it is in house, and such an important role that it was until recently a direct report to the board. In Washington, management of the funds sits with the State Investment Board, not DRS. While Frost did sit on that board as an ex officio member for a bit over three years, she has no more experience in making investment decisions or managing investment professionals than, say, Henry Jones, the Chairman of the Investment Committee, has. Jones may do a fine job of officiating at meetings and contributing to closed session discussions of investments, but that is not the same as overseeing the daily investment decisions and operations of a $350 billion fund.

We wrote about Frosts personnel-related fiascoes at CalPERS last week. That matters because Frost ran Human Resources at DRS, so this is an area in which she supposedly has experience. If she cant manage that properly, how can she possibly handle the considerable areas of activity at CalPERS that are new to her?

At DRS, Frost was head of Information Technology and then the Deputy Director before becoming Executive Director in 2013. However, the reality is that DRS is an IT minnow cobbled together from legacy systems and is a poor learning ground. A single project that CalPERS completed in recent years, its $7 million private equity reporting system, is vastly bigger than anything Frost would have seen at DRS.1

So it should come as no surprise that Frost has presided over a series of IT and operational messes at CalPERS, including, most disturbingly, security-related ones.

Weve received an unprecedented number of e-mails from insiders praising our work on Frost and expressing concerns about her leadership. Note that only after Frost became CEO did we get intel from current employees, and the level has escalated dramatically since we exposed her resume misrepresentations. This employee e-mail is one of several examples that recited serious internal management failings:

Marcie is over her head. Nice lady but more focused on the politics and giving the appearance that the work is getting done. She relies on and trusts her executive leadership team and they tell her what she wants to hear. Her lack of focus on internal operations and reliance on execs, particularly Doug Hoffner is a mistake. Doug has been there a number of years and has yet to develop any sort of operational plan/priorities for improvement with his chiefs to try and improve their organizations and as youve pointed out. (Ive yet to see or hear a vision from the guy but its probably because he doesnt have an Ops background). Operations, Human Resources and IT are sub-par, lack internal controls, systems integration, workforce planning or future state operating model and all of these programs are under Dougs watch. Youve picked up on the HR hiring issues and the Board elections (under operations) but contracts and IT are bad as well. Operations doesnt have DGS authority to administer contracts. Theres an old board ordained resolution from the 1990s they rely on using prop 162 as the basis of their authority. They have broadened the contracting type beyond what Dept of General Services allows other agencies (spring fed pool contracts are outside state guidelines. Im not aware of any other state agency that uses this approach). It seems like DGS, CalHR and CDT should periodically audit CalPERS systems and processes to make sure they are sufficient  dont think thats happening. Marcie is trying to get legislation passed that would make Doug a permanent civil service classification and get a big ole raise. Hes really operating like a chief of staff/handler to Marcie and not as a COO/Chief Administrative Officer like youd expect him to be operating. This is all in an effort to get the legislation passed. Kim Malm who runs operations is a big giant bully. The board elections and contracts are under her helm but shes too busy politicking and gossiping and bullying, its a joke. Doug protects her because she is a source of gossip and does his dirty work. Anytime someone tries to complain about her, it gets swept under the rug. Many of the professional staff are mortified by the shenanigans of the execs. The place is being run like high school and not like a business.

Now to some specific examples:

Gutting of Audit Services. We discussed and documented this extremely troubling development in a recent post, how CalPERS Office of Audit Services has been crippled by high levels of turnover and vacancies, poor morale, and most important, the loss of independence. Law professor and white collar criminologist Bill Blacks reaction:

Yes, very bad. CalPERS top management is determined to do the wrong things  and wants to improve the odds they can get away with it. That is the only reason, given the nature of its business, that the leaders would gut internal audit. Internal audit, like underwriting at a bank, is a great test of managers. If they are incompetent or sleazy (or both) they see audit and underwriting as cost centers. It they are competent and people of integrity, they see that great controls and underwriting are the core of investor (and bank) profitability and survival.

Failure to report criminal hack of CalPERS records to the authorities as required; persecution of victim instead. Due to other events interfering, I am not able to write up Michaels v. CalPERS as I had intended; I hope to get to that in the next few days. Ive embedded the filing at the end of this post for those of you who want to have a go at it now. CalPERS has declined a request for comment.

What should concern CalPERS beneficiaries is that among other things, this filing describes a prima facie case of criminal hacking. CalPERS employee, who was on extended leave during a disciplinary investigation (she faced multiple complaints of workplace bullying and harassment) came into CalPERS after hours, obtained access to the personnel records of Nancy Michaels, who had been required as part of the investigation of the complaints against Lorenz to give testimony. Lorenz had no legitimate access to these records. She either broke in electronically or had a fellow employee impermissibly give her access. The reason this is a prima facie case of hacking is that Lorenz then distributed these confidential records within and outside CalPERS. Michaels records were also altered (not clear by whom) to alter her start date in her current position to make it appear she had not passed the probationary period when CalPERS maliciously charged her with having secured her promotion improperly.

The reason this is not a mere workplace abuse of authority, but raises big red flags, is that:

CalPERS failed to report criminal hacking by Lorenz. This looks like a clear-cut violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (18 U.S.C.  1030). That Act defines hacking broadly, penalizing intentionally accessing a computer without authorization or in excess of authorization. CalPERS and the State Personnel Board also violated California Penal Code section 502(c)(2), which requires that a data breach must be reported to the person whose data was exposed. Michaels was not informed; she found out by happenstance, and she still does not know the extent of the breach because CaLPERS and other agencies have refused to give her full unredacted copies of the documents Lorenz distributed. CalPERS appears to lack tools to detect unusual IT activity. To have someone rooting around in personnel records at night and out of synch with any reason to access Michaels files should have triggered an alert and didnt. CalPERS appears to have poor control of its facilities and computers. Why was an employee on disciplinary leave allowed into the building at all and able to get access to any computer?

This fact set suggests that CAlPERS has lax security controls system-wide. Its not very plausible to think that CalPERS would have wildly different standards across the different databases it operates.

Sequential, hack-friendly board member passwords that were also pasted to the bottom of their keyboards. You cannot make this up. Board member passwords followed a very simple formula, which not only made it trivial to hack into supposedly super confidential closed session records, and also meant that any former employee or board member could access these records. Even worse, if a board member insisted on changing the password to something secure, that was vitiated too. Instead of being allowed to choose their own (difficult) password, all they could do was add more numbers to the sequence! So if they had been assigned admin1 they could make it admin5644. And then the new password was e-mailed, which in Board Member Margaret Browns case, meant not only that her secretary at her day job would see it, but all the people with admin access there could as well.

Recall that one reason fetishizes the secrecy of closed session information is that the claim that outsiders could somehow get rich trading against CalPERS by having access to it. Their amateur hour procedures here belie their posture of concern.

And 1.9 million beneficiaries depend on CalPERS to keep their personal data secure?

The only good news is that after agitating since February to fix this mess, board member Margaret Brown broke protocol to complain directly to the new head of IT, Christian Farland, who was suitably alarmed and is on the case. But even he didnt believe how bad things were. From Brown:

In case you didnt know our desktop computers are also updated periodically with sequential passwords. I dont know why we have passwords at all since the password is taped to our work area just underneath the keyboard. Anybody with access to the offices, staff, janitors and maintenance personnel could easily get board information.

Farland said [he thought] the board area was secure. Brown disabused him of that idea:

I will take exception to access being extremely limited to the board area. Are you aware employees come into the board area just to use the mens restroom? Its happened a number of times when Ive been in in my office working. There really is nothing exceptional about our restrooms but this happens when Im working in the back. No other staff or board members are there. That board area is not secure or restricted if staff can come in any time they want. Do you routinely run badge in and badge out reports for all doors with access to the board area? I would like to see those reports (last 6 months). Who reviews those reports looking for unauthorized, unusual or suspicious activity? It happens more frequently than you know. Also, please run the report for Saturday and let me know who was in there.

So this exchange points to another huge operation and security lapse: the failure to have systems in place that monitor unusual access patterns.

Refusing to intervene and assure delivery of mail to board members. New Board member Margaret Brown objected strenuously to the fact that the Board Services Unit was not only opening and screening board members mail, but even replying on their behalf without informing board members. When Brown, whose father had worked for the Post Office, complained about this practice to Frost, Frosts response was that she couldnt do anything about it because the Board Services Unit reported to Board President Priya Mathur. That is nonsensical because the Board Services Unit members are all CalPeRS employees and the only direct report to the board is Frost herself. But she refused to intervene until the press took notice. This abuse stuck in the craw of CalPERS beneficiaries. Even now, Brown reports that members of the public regularly ask her if she is finally getting her CalPERS mail.

Failure to address abuses by Board member and the Board Services Unit of having board members pre-sign blank forms. General Counsel Matt Jacobs stated this practice was wrong in January, yet it went uncorrected until we publicized it in May. Will CalPERS shape up only when the media exposes bad conduct?

As we showed in a later post, Doug Hoffner approved some of these law-breaking travel claim forms, so Frost and CalPERS cannot claim this is a whocoulddanode abuse within the board ranks.2

Implementing corrupt election methods, most of all, insecure, audit-trail free, tamper friendly Internet voting. As we wrote, experts disapproved of Internet voting even before worries about Russian election hacking became a daily news staple. The latest group to say Internet voting should not be used, and any current efforts should be reversed ASAP, is the National Institutes of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, based on a two year study.

To make this sorry picture even worse, CalPERS vendor for Internet and phone voting is Everyone Counts, which has regularly been criticized for its poor performance. Everyone Counts also does not provide a paper trail. CalPERS refuses to publish election results by voting channel, which would serve as a check against gross abuses of these not-auditable voting methods.

And if you think our charges of election-rigging are exaggerated, please read:

Copyright fiasco. CalPERS paid nearly $4 million to settle copyright infringement claims with the Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, and the New York Times. The Daily News Summary was e-mailed every weekday. CalPERS had the full text of copyrighted articles in the Daily New Summary hosted on its own servers without having obtained the right to publish them. Anyone with an operating brain cell could see this was copyright theft, yet no one, from Frost on down, stopped it.

Unprecedented site wide crash and protracted outage. On the weekend of August 26-27, CalPERS entire site went down. This was a crash, not scheduled maintenance, despite the slap-dash effort to claim otherwise:

I got quite a few e-mails from people who have been CalPERS beneficiaries for decades, from before the days when the system had a substantial web presence. One compared the site falling over to the George Washington Bridge (one of the main routes from New Jersey into Manhattan) being shut with no notice. The site failure occurred almost immediately after a weekend beneficiary workshop demonstrating new site features, so the outage also substantially undercut the purpose of the workshop, since the intention was to have the people who participated go home and use the site while their memories were fresh.

The site was back up after roughly 10 hours. Even if you generously look at the downtime on an annual basis, this puts CalPERS at mere two sigma performance. Recall that Frost on her resume touted that she was an expert in lean as in lean management techniques. Lean is a six sigma discipline. Servers that fall over are proof of a massive failure.

Mailer screw up. We are hardly all that plugged into inside CalPERS messes, but in the very same month that CalPERS had its massive site crash, CalPERS sent a mailer to some 20,000 members who are facing massive health care premium increases (nearly 20%) on their current plan (PERSCare) to show them other choices. CalPERS had initially planned to do this all online until one member pointed out that 14% of the target audience didnt use computers. CalPERS sent a letter out that did not include the critical information, the brochure with the plan choices. One retiree alerted CalPERS to the screw-up; it would have gone unnoticed otherwise. CalPERS had to re-do the entire mailing, and sent the board a bafflegab letter in response to a compliant by a Long Beach State professor that served to obfuscate what his issues were.

Attempt to reduce transparency and accountability by getting rid of preparing transcripts of public board meetings. Because influential beneficiaries made a stink and we threatened to prepare, publish, and maintain archives of transcripts, CalPERS went into retreat and now posts these transcripts, when before, interested parties would have to use the Public Records Act to obtain them.

* * *

Well stop here so as not to overtax reader patience, but the picture should be clear: CalPERS is poorly governed, with a complacent board overseeing a management team where most operations have weak controls and poor procedures. This is a train wreck waiting to happen. And a CEO deficient in integrity, as proven by Frosts multiple misrepresentations made during and after her hiring, compounded by her lack of interest in running a tight ship, means it will happen sooner rather than later.

____

1 Clive describes why Frosts IT chops are a joke:

From reading between the lines, the great endeavour that was the creation of the Department of Retirement Systems seems to have faltered in the usual problem you have with this approach  you pool the (claimed) 15 retirement plans into a consolidated management apparatus, but thats the easy bit. Youve still got 15 legacy systems which were designed in isolation with no thought for interoperability. So trying to port these onto a single host platform is in the nailing jello to a wall category of projects. Then youve got the balkanisation of the technologists  each of Whole will usually sit there through interminable meetings waffling on about our system is best because, no, I think youll find our system is best because No serious corporate talent would ever work in such an outfit. Its a bureaucratic make-work scheme and exists only because of unchallenged notions / perceived wisdom about economies of scale that never deliver on their promises  but once established, no one can admit defeat and pay the then required costs of breaking the thing up again. If youre able to swim in the inherently political waters (the politics being of both state and also the office (workplace) varieties) then you can get into a reasonably senior position, draw $100-200k-ish plus a sweetheart package of benefits and live nicely even in an expensive place like Washington. Not a bad life, of the 9.9% kind. But no-one of top-flight CEO-caliber would work there for more than a few years as a stepping stone. If CalPERS were to look at the Department of Retirement Systems Director and think that is a read-across for an appointment as CEO for an organisation of CalPERS scale, theyd be completely clueless. CalPERS is four times the size in funds under management terms alone. Now, turning to the specifics of the sort of work our friend Marcie would have been working on as Head of IT  luckily DRS has to go cap in hand and beg the state legislature for funding for projects, so we can take a look at their business cases to see the kinds of work they do. Theres only half-a-dozen or so key projects in their entire portfolio as far as I can tell. Heres an typical example to local servers (which Im assuming are legacy hardware from all those schemes they inherited) to the states strategic data centre: http://www.drs.wa.gov/administration/budget/Servers_to_Data_Center.pdf Its trivial. $500k in total project costs. That is barely above the radar for an organisation of any scale. Put it this way, Ive got 12 projects in my work list at the moment, three of these are 500k+ and the rest are in the 100-250k range. And Im barely mid-level. None of DRS projects seem to have budgets above $1m. http://www.drs.wa.gov/administration/budget/budget-requests In a sentence no position that I can find at DRS qualifies anyone as CEO of CalPERS.

2 Its also hard to pretend no one at CalPERS knew about this abuse when it was codified in the Board manual.On Friday September 21st hundreds of thousands of people across the country will lose themselves in their imagination and an explosion of creativity as the country comes alive for Culture Night.

Tipperary is delighted once again take part in Culture Night. The programme of activities in County Tipperary is now available on www.culturenight.ie or printed programmes are available from your local library or Arts venue.

Culture is catching and each year Culture Night brings people together to create unique shared experiences and memories. All for FREE! Culture Night is a great opportunity for families to explore new adventures in the Arts or for groups of friends to enjoy cultural events they might never have experienced before. Highlights of events taking place in Tipperary include:

The Tipperary Excel in Tipperary Town will host an exhibition of Photographic Tipperary Faces and Places courtesy of Tipperary People Magazine. It features multigenerational images of faces from the local area and is combined with a radio documentary running alongside the exhibition, explaining the context.

The Happy Prince will be screened at 8pm, this film tells the story of the last days in the tragic times of Oscar Wilde, a person who observes his own failure with ironic distance and regards the difficulties that beset his life with detachment and humour. This is the directorial debut of Rupert Everett who also stars in the drama, alongside Colin Firth and Emily Watson.

If you are near Fethard, how about making and painting your own simple "pinch pots" in workshops with local potter, Doirin Saurus in The Tholsel in Fethard.

Doirin will demonstrate basic pottery techniques and talk about her artistic practice. The completed pinch pots will be glazed and fired by Doirin in her workshop before being returned to those that take part, two weeks later.

If Music is your interest, join Cahir Comhaltas' younger members as they celebrate our musical culture and heritage at the Blind Piper, or join Seisiun Ceolta Feasa, Cahir Comhaltas for an evening that is back by popular demand, celebrating traditional Irish music, song and dance. "Tir gan teanga Tir gan anam".

Cahir Castle hosts an evening of songs, stories and poetry in with the Cahir to Sing Choir.

For children the Craft Granary are hosting art classes exploring colour, perspective and distance.

The Brewery Lane Theatre in Carrick on Suir presents a variety of events for Culture Night including The Irish animated film, The Secret of Kells. Living in Medieval Ireland, Brendan  the nephew of grumpy Abbott Cellah  is a novice at the Abbey of Kells which is constantly under threat from the marauding Norsemen.

When famous illuminator Brother Aidan arrives with a stunning and precious manuscript, Brendan realises his true vocation and, against his uncles advice, decides he will help complete the book. Director Tomm Moore creates a truly unique look for this magical story  drawing upon Celtic designs and mediaeval illustration techniques to create an illuminated animation you wont forget.

Brewery Lane Theatre also presents a talk by Jack Ryan at 8pm, Jack left Carrick on his fourteenth birthday to look for work in England. By definition he became part of the great Irish diaspora that took hundreds of thousands of young Irish children away from home and family to seek a life abroad. Jack will talk about his life as An Irish Emigrant Abroad during which he travelled over six million miles. He looks forward to sharing those years with you.

The evening in Brewery Lane Theatre concludes with music by local youth Band "Aibrean" - Music students in Scoil Mhuire, Greenhill. They started the band in April this year, so they could enter the Clancy Brothers Festival Busking Competition - which they won! They play pop/folk music with a focus on sweet sounding harmonies.

Carrick on Suir Library hosts Different Voices  Live Music in the Library from 6.30 pm or why not catch a film in The Chapel, Nano Nagle Community Resource Centre.

Clonmel hosts a number of events on Culture night consisting of film, talks, music, story times and visual arts events for example classical music under the Arches of the Main Guard with rising stars soprano, Kelley Lonergan, and percussionist, Alex Petcu.

not spend some time in the museum discovering more about passive architecture, and in particular Quirkes Chemist in Clonmel, in this talk by architect Paul McNally. For children come along and meet giants, mermaids and dragons when storyteller Simone from StoryGate weaves her yarn in Clonmel Library.

Also why not check out the Tesco Roundabout in Clonmel where artists Maurice Caplice and Diarmuid Vaughan has installed a community drawing project called Pillars of colour and crow which was made in collaboration with the Clonmel public.

Commenting at the launch of this years programme of events in Tipperary, Cllr. Mattie Ryan, Cathaoirleach of Tipperary County Council congratulated all of the cultural organisations and groups throughout Tipperary who have produced a vibrant and varied programme of events to enjoy across 10 towns and 31 venues in Tipperary. I encourage people to take this opportunity to make some time to enjoy our local cultural offering with family and friends this Culture Night.

We are delighted to announce our Tipperary Culture Night Ambassador for 2018 is Roseanna Purcell, actor and writer from Littleton, Co. Tipperary. Her work includes Signatories at Kilmainham Gaol, Red Rock for TV3, most recently Copper Face Jacks The Musical at The Olympia Theatre and soon to be appearing on RTE's Fair City.

Roseanna wrote her first play "Test Copy" last year which premiered at Nenagh Arts Centre. She is delighted to be the Tipperary Ambassador for Culture Night this year and to be returning to Nenagh Arts Centre on the night for events there. We look forward to welcoming Roseanna to some of the events taking place across the county.

As ever Culture Night will be online and the culturally curious are encouraged to explore the website this year with added features to plan their Culture Night adventures and routes in advance. New this year will be the Culture Night Podcast, a series of special podcast episodes with contributions from familiar faces and emerging talents in Irelands cultural sphere.

Produced in association with Headstuff Podcast Network, the podcasts will delve into different facets of culture and the arts, with some leading thinkers, doers and makers exploring the ways in which our cultural heritage enhances our experiences. Episodes will be available to download across all platforms and from www.culturenight.ie on the morning of Friday 21st September, helping to whet the appetite for all the fun-filled activity that lies ahead that night.

The full programme of events and participating venues for Culture Night 2018 is now available on www.culturenight.ie and is searchable by County and town. Follow Tipperary Arts Office on facebook and @TipperaryArts on Twitter for news and updates.

Culture Night TIPPERARY is brought to you by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in partnership with Tipperary County Council.

Join the conversation online at www.facebook.com/CultureNight, www.twitter.com/CultureNight and www.instagram.com/CultureNightThe NATO Deputy Secretary General, the Honourable Ms. Rose Gottemoeller will travel to Baku on Thursday, 20 September 2018.

She will have meetings with the President of the Republic, H.E. Mr. Ilham Aliyev, the First Vice-President, H.E. Ms. Mehriban Aliyeva, the Minister of Defence, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Araz Azimov.

Ms. Gottemoeller will also deliver opening remarks at the NATO/EAPC High Level Conference on Women, Peace and Security chaired by NATO Special Representative for Women Peace and Security, Ms. Clare Hutchinson.

She will also participate in the closing ceremony of the Jeyranchol NATO/PfP Trust Fund project as well as give a lecture to students of the ADA University and meet participants of the Pilot Course on the Civilian Oversight of the Armed Forces organised for the officials from Afghanistan.

Still images of the event will be available on the NATO website afterwards.

Follow us on Twitter (@NATOPress and @Gottemoeller)Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller welcomed Colombian Foreign Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo to NATO Headquarters on Tuesday (18 September 2018). Ms. Gottemoeller and Mr. Trujillo welcomed the deepening ties between the Alliance and Bogota, and discussed the regional security context in Colombia. Looking to the future, they agreed that cyber defence, demining, and promoting the role of women in peace and security should be among the top priorities for cooperation. Deputy Secretary General Gottemoeller welcomed that NATO and Colombia share a mutually beneficial relationship, a true partnership.

NATOs cooperation with Colombia has been developing steadily in recent years. In 2015, Colombian forces worked side-by-side with NATO off the Horn of Africa to suppress piracy and secure international shipping lanes. Colombian personnel have benefitted from courses at the NATO School in Germany and the NATO Defense College in Italy. NATOs Building Integrity programme has also helped to increase transparency and professionalism in Colombias defence institutions.

Colombia officially became a partner country  the Alliances newest, and its first in Latin America  in May 2017. NATO works with 41 partner countries around the world to promote international peace and security.Inspectors commissioned by Millennium Tower homeowners opened up the walls of the 36th floor unit where a window cracked over Labor Day. They also inspected the unit above as they seek to determine whether the towers 18 inch tilt caused the failure.

Last week, San Franciscos Department of Building Inspection issued, but then backed off from, a threat to declare the building a hazard in light of the problem. The city appeared satisfied that tower officials managed to reinforce the cracked window with clear tape and installed scaffolding on the sidewalk below to protect pedestrians from the risk of falling glass.

One city building inspector was on hand for the work conducted Tuesday afternoon.

In a letter to city building inspectors, Millenniums attorney said Tuesdays inspection focused on the walls of 36b and 37b. The 36b unit is where the window suddenly cracked about 2:30 a.m. on Sept. 1.

In a letter to city officials, attorney Tom Miller said the owner of 35b declined to let inspectors enter that unit.

Miller said testing focused on the steel and glass facade, or curtain wall, and included removal of finishes or drywall underneath the glass, including the window stool and base board, which exposed the curtain wall connections to the building.

Miller said one focus is the clips used to connect that facade to the building itself. The exposed walls are expected to be sealed back up by Wednesday.

DBI's demand for a full investigation report as to the cause of the crack in Unit 36B will be forthcoming pending the experts' evaluation of today's testing, Miller said.

An earlier preliminary report from one of the firms involved in the inspection, Palo Alto-based Allana, Buick and Bers, suggested the buildings tilt may have played a role, but said any firm finding would have to await the more intensive inspection carried out Tuesday.A Caltrans employee was rushed to the hospital after he fell from a highway overpass Wednesday.

The 61-year-old man fell from the State Route 163 ramp onto the transition ramp to southbound Interstate 805 at approximately 3 a.m.

The employee landed on a grassy area and suffered major injuries, California Highway Patrol officers said.

The incident temporarily closed the southbound SR-163 connector ramp to southbound I-805.

It appears the employee missed a step when he got out of his truck as he prepared to work with a landscaping crew.

This doesnt happen very often, Ive only investigated two of them in my career, said CHP Sgt. Brent Lowry. Anytime anyone is on the freeway for any reason other than driving through its just not a safe place to be.

Since 1921, 188 California Department of Transportation employees have been killed on the job.

In 2017, two employees were killed. One of those fatalities was due to an errant driver, according to the agencys website.

In August, two Caltrans workers were injured in a suspected DUI crash on Interstate 15.

Another Caltrans worker was hurt along I-15 when a driver crashed into the back of a Caltrans truck in Escondido in May.

No other information was available.

Please refresh this page for updates on this story. Details may change as more information becomes available.Parents rallied outside an East Bay high school Wednesday morning after violent threats made over the weekend against the school led to arrests of four minors.

"These kids think theyre untouchable and can get away with anything. Thank you very much for posting it because if you didnt post it, we couldnt catch you," said one parent, Christina White, who gathered outside Pittsburg High School.

Four students, all minors and three of which attends Pittsburg, were arrested and held at Juvenile Hall for making violent threats towards the school on social media.

While police concluded that the messages were "not a credible threat nor was it intended to be any kind of threat," recent school shootings across the county concerns parents as well as other students.

One of the message posted online included a photo of a minor reportedly pointing a gun at the school. Police investigation found that the gun in the photo wasn't a gun and no weapons were located during the arrests.

A Pittsburg High School junior, Suleyma Luis, said she stayed home on Monday because she didn't feel safe coming to her own school.

"Unfortunately people thrive off of fear, thats what this is. A form of terriorsim if you will," Pittsburg Police Chief Brian Addington said.

The threat at Pittsburg High School comes on the heels of similar incidents that occurred at at least two other East Bay high schools over the past few days, according to police.

Extra police officers patrolled Livermore High School this week after students found a note that "alleged a direct threat" to the school, according to police.

In nearby Concord, police on Monday investigated a possible threat of a shooting at Clayton Valley Charter High School, according to the city's police department. The possible threat was allegedly made on a social media post, and several students reported hearing about the rumored threat, but police were unable to find anyone who actually came across the post or could tell them about who may have created it.

"It is safe here. Its unfortunate that we had some students that want to pull a prank that involves violence at schools," said Wolfgag Croskey, a Pittsburg High alumnus.A middle school in Half Moon Bay was evacuated after receiving a bomb threat Wednesday morning, according to the Cabrillo Unified School District.

San Mateo County Sherriff's Office investigated the bomb threat to Manuel F. Cunha Intermediate, a public middle school that educates students from 6th to 8th grade, and concluded that it was not credible.

"#CunhaSchool has been searched. There is no threat to the public. We are working with School Officials and will provide more information shortly," the Sheriff's Office tweeted in the afternoon.

No other information was immediately available.The city of San Jose and Santa Clara County reached an agreement Tuesday night that would allow the Hope Village homeless encampment to keep a site for up to six months.

The city-owned property is adjacent to the original Hope Village, which was erected just south of Mineta San Jose International Airport. The rent would be just $1, and the lease agreement would be temporary for up to six months.

"We are very grateful for their dedication in supporting our efforts to create a safe, dignified and secure place for people to live," Hope Village organizers wrote on Facebook.

The privately funded Hope Village emerged Sept. 8 at 1010 Ruff Drive and was served an eviction notice just two days later. On Monday, the camp moved down the street to a parking lot for a building that houses the local SEIU office.

County Supervisor Dave Cortese released a statement Tuesday, saying in part: "The urgency and importance of the houselessness crisis in Santa Clara County demands that all government institutions respond quickly and collaboratively, and I am encouraged by the Citys immediate willingness to work with the County on Hope Village to obtain a fair and humane resolution before the residents are forced to relocate again."What to Know A man is suspected of sexually assaulting four teenage girls in the Compton and Willowbrook area.

Christopher William Roby, 39, was arrested in April in connection with the alleged kidnapping and forcible rape of a teenage girl in March.

Roby allegedly targeted girls who were 13 or 14, took them to secluded areas and sexually assaulted them.

Authorities Tuesday announced the arrest of a man suspected of sexually assaulting four teenage girls in the Compton and Willowbrook area of South Los Angeles over the past 15 years, and asked for the public's help in identifying any other alleged victims.

Christopher William Roby, 39, was arrested in April in connection with the alleged kidnapping and forcible rape of a teenage girl in March, and investigators subsequently learned of Roby's alleged involvement in attacks on three other girls -- two in separate incidents in 2003 and one in 2009, Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Todd Deeds said.

"We believe this man is very dangerous," the sheriff's lieutenant said. "We believe that he threatens his victims not to cooperate with police, and we want victims to feel safe knowing that the man is in jail right now."

Roby allegedly targeted girls who were 13 or 14, took them to secluded areas and sexually assaulted them.

"We don't think that he stopped his behavior during that time frame," the lieutenant said of the lengthy time span between the alleged crimes.

Roby -- who is charged in two separate cases in Compton -- is facing two counts of forcible rape and one count each of forcible rape of a child victim over 14 years, committing a lewd act on a child, kidnapping to commit another crime, distributing or showing pornography to a minor, unlawful possession of ammunition and possession for sale of a controlled substance.

He has remained jailed in lieu of more than $7 million bail since his arrest.

Anyone with information on any other alleged victims was urged to contact the Sheriff's Department's Special Victims Bureau's toll-free tip line at (877) 710-5273.Residents living in one of San Jose's more upscale neighborhoods will meet with authorities Wednesday night to learn more about how to protect themselves as the area endures a spate of crimes, including home invasion robberies, burglaries and auto thefts  some happening in broad daylight.

Wednesday night's crime prevention meeting in Willow Glen marks the second such meeting in recent weeks.

More than 200 people filled the Willow Glen Community Center for the first meeting in which San Jose Police Department Chief Eddie Garcia received an earful from residents frustrated by criminals seemingly targeting their neighborhood.

Garcia announced the creation of a proactive burglary unit to bust rings of thieves and a soon-to-come street crimes unit. He also said that police will respond to alarms whether they're verified or not.

Since the meeting, some residents said they're not seeing much of a difference.

"All I read is in the neighborhood watch is that the police officers are slow in responding to crime," Leonard Marrufo said.

Some residents have argued that police should be increasing patrols in the neighborhood rather than putting crime prevention in the hands of ordinary citizens.

The latest crime prevention meeting is scheduled to take place between 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Willow Glen Community Center located on Lincoln Avenue.

San Jose police and representatives from the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office will be in attendance talking about prevention methods, crime trends in the city and the judicial process for those who get busted.Efforts to move a deceased whale from a New Hampshire beach did not go quite as planned on Monday when crews tried using a dumpster to haul it away.

Officials with the Seacoast Science Center in Rye said the male juvenile minke whale was found floating Sunday around the Isles of Shoals. It washed ashore on Jenness Beach Monday morning.

The 16-foot long whale, which weighed about two tons, had entanglement wounds, but officials with the Seacoast Science Center and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) needed to remove it for a necropsy.

While removing it, crews initially used a backhoe and tried placing it in a dumpster but the dumpster proved to be too small and the deceased whale was seen on video falling out.

Officials were working on finding something bigger in order to transport the animal off the beach.

A number of dead minke whales have been spotted feeding off

NOAA Fisheries spokesperson Jennifer Goebel told Seacoastonline.com that from South Carolina to Maine, 27 minke whales were found dead in 2017 and another 16 washed up dead this year.A fiery debate erupted from candidates for Illinois attorney general Tuesday as they faced off for the first time.

The first side-by-side comparison, which was held before the Chicago Sun-Times Editorial Board, saw Sen. Kwame Raoul, Erika Harold and Bubba Harsy battle over everything from their stance on gay adoptions, ties to House Speaker Mike Madigan and the legalization of marijuana.

The debate centered largely on how Harold answered a question on gay adoptions nearly 20 years ago, when she ran for Miss Illinois.

I said that I support same-sex couples to adopt and be able to be foster parents because I believe they would provide loving home and I believe no child should be in an abusive environment, Harold said.

Harold also linked Raoul to Madigan, saying they both tried to raise property taxes.

Trying to tie me to the speaker and trying to suggest that I have something to do with raising property taxes and property tax appeals, when Ive never done a property appeals case in my life, Raoul said.

Meanwhile, Libertarian candidate Harsy joined Raoul and Harold in saying they support the legalization of marijuana.

We have bigger problems in Illinois going on right now than whether or not somebody smoke a plant thats never killed anybody, Harsy said.

The first debate comes on the heels of negative ads from both Raoul and Harold and as a new poll shows the contest is closer than the governors race.

The latest poll by the Illinois Broadcasters Association showed Raoul ahead of Harold by 11, with 20 percent undecided.

The group also acknowledged the controversy over Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and allegations of sexual misconduct.

I think its very important that women have the opportunity to set forth information related to allegations like that, Harold said. I also think its very important that he have the opportunity to defend himself.

Raoul added that the allegations are worth looking into.Grayson "Kash" Jackson is the Libertarian candidate for Illinois governor.

Born Benjamin Winderweedle in Louisiana, the 39-year-old retired U.S. Navy officer legally changed his name in 2017 and currently resides in north suburban Antioch. He announced his run for governor in June.

Jackson's proposals include requiring any tax increases to be passed by two-thirds of voters in a referendum, as well as unspecified criminal justice reforms, which he said includes getting family courts to stop treating divorcing couples as sources of revenue.

That issue is one with particular relevance to his life, as Jackson has been locked in a legal battle with his second ex-wife over child support. In August, a judge gave Jackson 30 days to pay more than $3,000 to his ex-wife or he would be sent to jail.

That ruling came after Jackson told the judge that the third-party website he used to issue the payment  under a court order  mistakenly sent the funds to his first ex-wife.

In an August NBC News/Marist poll, 6 percent of respondents said they support Jackson. When it comes to funding his campaign, Jackson has far less in his war chest than the major party candidates, with just $985.32 in his committee as of the last reporting period.Republican State Sen. Sam McCann entered the race for governor in April under the Conservative Party label after initially mulling a GOP primary run against incumbent Gov. Bruce Rauner, with whom he has long been at odds.

A union supporter, McCann voted in 2015 to override Rauners veto of a bill on union arbitration, bucking the governors anti-union position to align with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

Rauner then targeted McCann in the 2016 GOP primary for the 50th Senate District, which includes a portion of Springfield and the area west to the Illinois border.

Rauner spent more than $3 million in an unsuccessful attempt to unseat McCann, who has represented the district since 2011. Like Rauners right-wing primary challenger state Rep. Jeanne Ives, McCann was also angered by Rauners signing of two measures on immigration and abortion.

The first was to prevent law enforcement officials from detaining individuals based solely on their immigration status  which some said effectively turned Illinois into a sanctuary state, and the second was a bill that allows the state to cover abortions for its employees and Medicaid recipients, and will also ensure that abortion remains legal in Illinois should the landmark Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision be overturned.

Billing himself as the only conservative in the race, McCann says on his website that he will work to overturn both laws, push for protections that preserve our religious beliefs from being attacked by leftist values and work with President Trump to secure the sovereignty of our borders.

As of the most recent reporting period ending June 30, McCann had $73,251 in his campaign coffers. He garnered 4 percent support in an August NBC News/Marist poll.A 60-year-old woman is under arrest, accused of unnecessarily medicating and restricting several North Texas children inside a home daycare in Mesquite, according to court documents obtained by NBC 5.

Rebecca Anderson was arrested Saturday, a day after police executed a search warrant at her home/daycare on the 4300 block of Tamarix Court and found nine children inside, some bound and restricted.

Police said after further investigation it was believed that Anderson not only mistreated the children, but evidence led investigators to believe she exposed them to unnecessary doses of over-the-counter medicine, extended periods of restricted movement and poor hygiene practices.

According to the arrest warrant, the father of a 6-month-old boy reviewed video on Thursday taken from a small camera that was mounted on the child's car seat. The video, police said, showed Anderson yank the boy out of the car seat, pick him up off the ground using the bib tied around his neck and feed him an "unknown substance using a plastic liquid syringe."

After the father showed the video to Mesquite police, detectives obtained a search warrant for Anderson's home. Inside the home, detectives found three children strapped to plastic car seats in a darkened master bedroom closet and one more in the master bathroom.

Anderson initially told police that there were just five children in the home before the four others were discovered, the warrant said.

Anderson also admitted "she had likely given Tylenol to all of the children," according to the warrant, and that she left the children in the car seats for as many as seven hours each day.

The arrest warrant also said detectives found "shoelace-like ligatures" tied around the children's necks  and that some of the ties had to be cut off. Anderson admitted she tied the ligatures onto the children to limit their movement.

Anderson has been charged with nine counts of endangering a child and faces a $5,000 bond for each charge, according to online jail records. As of Tuesday morning, Anderson remains at the Dallas County Jail where she's being held on $45,000 bond.

It is not clear if Anderson has obtained an attorney, however her daycare was licensed by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

The investigation into the allegations is ongoing and "is a collaborative effort between multiple agencies and care providers," police said.

The Mesquite Police Department is working to identify other children cared for by Anderson. If you are a parent of a child that she cared for, please contact the Mesquite Police Department at 972-285-6336.

NBC 5's Vanessa Brown and Chris Blake contributed to this report.A woman who helped kidnap Elizabeth Smart and stood by as the Utah girl was sexually assaulted was released from prison Wednesday amid concerns that she remains a threat 15 years after the chilling crime.

Wanda Barzee, 72, quietly left the state prison in the Salt Lake City suburb of Draper, avoiding a throng of reporters gathered outside.

Court documents say she will stay in unspecified emergency housing chosen by her probation officer until another home is approved.

Barzee's release followed a surprise announcement last week that Utah authorities had miscalculated her sentence and she would be freed about six years earlier than expected.

Under the terms of her release, Barzee must undergo mental health treatment and not contact Smart and her family.

"I'm not going to let these people, this woman, stop me from living the life I want to live," Smart said in a speech Wednesday night at Lock Haven University, without mentioning Barzee by name.

She said it was "a statement in my moving forward" that she was able to come to the college to speak about sexual violence.

Smart, now a 30-year-old mother, speaker and activist, has said she was shocked and disappointed by the announcement of Barzee's release.

"The past few weeks have been an absolute roller coaster of emotion," Smart said Wednesday. "I so appreciate everyone's comments of love and support and outrage. It's made a really big difference to me personally."

During her speech, Smart recalled some of the horrors she experienced as a 14-year-old when she was snatched from her Salt Lake City home in 2002 by Barzee's then-husband, street preacher Brian David Mitchell.

Smart said last week that Barzee saw her as a slave during the nine months she was held by the couple and encouraged Mitchell to rape her.

"So do I believe she's dangerous? Yes," Smart said.

Barzee's attorney Scott Williams said there's no reliable evidence that his client remains a threat to anyone.

"It is unfair and counterproductive," Williams told reporters, adding that Barzee wants to be left alone and will comply with the conditions of her supervised release.

He said he's concerned about her safety but did not elaborate.

Ed Smart, the victim's father, said he's glad Barzee will be watched over closely by federal agents during her five years of supervised release, but he's concerned about reports that she still believes Mitchell's ideas.

Aiding Mitchell in following his so-called "divine revelations" prompted Barzee to help him kidnap Elizabeth Smart and even sit next to her as Mitchell raped her, Ed Smart said.

"My hope is that she won't be a problem," he said of Barzee. "I do know how she treated Elizabeth during that time, and I still feel like she's very capable of doing the same thing."

Smart was found in captivity while walking with Barzee and Mitchell on a street in suburban Sandy by people who recognized the abductors from media reports. Mitchell is serving a life sentence after being convicted of kidnapping and rape.

As another condition of her release, Barzee was placed on the Utah sex offender registry, but her address was still listed online Wednesday as the Utah prison. Her mug shot on the registry shows her with a wide smile, blue eyes and chin-length gray hair.

She's also voluntarily agreed to stay away from places frequented by the Smart family, Williams said.

Barzee could be returned to prison if she violates the terms of her release.

Barzee's niece Tina Mace has said her aunt's testimony against Mitchell seemed like a turning point, but her mental state appears to have changed in prison. Mace said she's unaware of any family members who would give Barzee a place to live.

Barzee was treated at Utah State Hospital for about five years following her arrest. She testified in 2010 against Mitchell and was given a plea deal on state and federal charges. She was transferred to the Utah prison in 2016 after finishing a federal sentence in Texas.

The Utah Board of Pardons and Parole initially set a 2024 release date. Her attorney questioned whether the term included time Barzee had served in a federal prison. The board decided last week that she had served her sentence.What to Know An orthopedic surgeon who appeared on a Bravo reality show four years ago was charged along with his girlfriend.

They face charges in connection with drugging and sexually assaulting two women, and prosecutors are seeking additional victims.

Grant William Robicheaux, 38, of Newport Beach, and Cerissa Laura Riley, 31, of Brea, face charges in the case.

A Newport Beach orthopedic surgeon who appeared on a Bravo reality show four years ago and his girlfriend were charged Tuesday with drugging and sexually assaulting two women, and prosecutors are seeking additional victims.

Grant William Robicheaux, 38, of Newport Beach, and Cerissa Laura Riley, 31, of Brea, were charged with rape by use of drugs, oral copulation by a controlled substance, assault with the intent to commit a sex offense and possession of a controlled substance for sale. Robicheaux was also charged with two counts of possession of an assault weapon.

Attorneys for Robicheaux and Riley issued a joint statement flatly denying the allegations.

"All allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Grant Robicheaux and his girlfriend Cerissa Riley," the attorneys said.

Prosecutors contend the pair met one victim at a Newport Beach bar and another at a restaurant, drugged them, lured them to Robicheaux's apartment and sexually assaulted them. One woman who met the pair on April 10, 2016, said they took her to a party and then to his apartment once she got intoxicated, Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas said Tuesday.

The other victim said she became intoxicated and passed out at a bar on Oct. 2, 2016, and was taken to Robicheaux's apartment, where she was assaulted, the district attorney said. But investigators believe there may be a host of other victims. Rackauckas said investigators recovered more than 1,000 cellphone videos of the alleged assaults and some of the women seen in the videos have not been identified. The two are free on $100,000 bond and are due to be arraigned Oct. 24.

Robicheaux appeared on a Bravo reality TV series called "Online Dating Rituals of the American Male" in 2014, in an episode titled "Three's a Crowd." Drea Renee, who went on a date with the surgeon, said the only "red flag" she noticed was that "the date kind of turned" when she admitted she was not a big drinker.

"I'm not a big drinker and that seemed to be something that he was like 'oh OK you dont drink, you know, well, see ya,'" Renee told the TODAY Show.

Robicheaux was a surgeon for the NewportCare Medical Group, but he has been removed from the company's website. The medical group previously described him as a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with "advanced additional subspecialty training in treating the upper extremity."

He specializes in "traumatic and sports-related injuries" as well as arthritis and aging issues, according to the medical group. Robicheaux went to Louisiana State University as an undergraduate and for medical school, where he graduated in 2007, Rackauckas said.

"First attending medical school in New Orleans, the soon-to-be Dr. Robicheaux converted his southern gentlemanly upbringing naturally into a comfortable caring bedside manner," the medical group's website previously boasted about Robicheaux.

Robicheaux also studied at UC Irvine in Orange. Newport Beach police submitted their investigation to prosecutors Sept. 6, and the two were arrested Sept. 12, Rackauckas said. The women in the videos, which were found on Robicheaux's phone, "appear to be highly intoxicated," Rackauckas said.

"We believe there may be many unidentified victims out there," Rackauckas said. The two were known to attend festivals dating back to 2015, including Burning Man in Black Rock Desert, Nevada; Dirtybird Campout festival in Silverado; Splash House festival in Palm Springs; and Landmarks near Page, Arizona, Rackauckas said. Anyone who believes they were victimized was encouraged to call investigator Eric Wiseman at (714) 347-8794.

Riley is an aspiring teacher who worked occasionally as a substitute teacher in Fullerton, Senior Deputy District Attorney Michael Carroll said.

The two alleged victims "might have felt a false sense of security" with the pair because they are "clean cut and good looking," Rackauckas said.

"We believe they used their good looks and charm to lower the defenses of their prey," Rackauckas said. The county's top prosecutor assured any other women who may have encountered the pair that just because they may have imbibed heavily it "doesn't give (the suspects) a pass to rape or sexually assault when you're past the point of consent."

It is "not a viable defense to say they voluntarily ingested the drugs," Rackauckas said. "We don't want this to happen to any more women."

Riley introduced herself to the two alleged victims and then brought them over to meet Robicheaux, Rackauckas said.

The drugs they are accused of using include Ecstasy, date rape drugs and cocaine, Rackauckas said. They are not believed to have used medical anesthetic-type of drugs, Rackauckas said. Robicheaux's attorney, Philip Cohen, and Riley's attorney, Scott Borthwick, insisted in their joint statement that they will be strongly fighting the charges.

"They have been aware of these accusations for a number of months, and each of them will formally deny the truth of these allegations at their first opportunity in court," the attorneys said.

"Dr. Robicheaux and Ms. Riley believe that such allegations do a disservice to, and dangerously undermine, the true victims of sexual assault, and they are eager to have the proper spotlight shed on this case in a public trial," the attorneys added. "It must be noted that none of the allegations in this matter relate to or concern Dr. Robicheaux's medical practice or patients in any way," the attorneys said.

A patient of Robicheaux's named Kathy told the TODAY Show that the surgeon was known playfully as "Dr. McDreamy."

"Just very shocked," she said, "I didn't want to believe it just because my experience was so stellar."What to Know Four people were injured when a gunman opened fire at WTS Paradigm in Wisconsin Wednesday morning

The gunman died after being shot by officers

Police are still investigating more release details about the suspect and a possible motive

A heavily armed man opened fire on his co-workers at a Wisconsin software company Wednesday, seriously wounding three people before being fatally shot by police as employees ran from the building or hid inside, according to investigators.

Middleton Police Chief Chuck Foulke said officers shot the man within eight minutes of receiving calls about an active shooter at WTS Paradigm. Foulke said the man was armed with a semi-automatic pistol and extra ammunition, and fired at officers before he was shot.

Foulke said three people were seriously injured during the attack, while a fourth person was grazed by a bullet.

"I think a lot less people were injured or killed because police officers went in and neutralized the shooter," Foulke said.

The police chief said the motivation behind the attack was unclear and investigators didn't yet know whether the gunman targeted his victims. He didn't release the suspect's name but said he was an employee of WTS Paradigm and lived in nearby Madison.

Foulke said the investigation was ongoing but noted: "We have reason to believe the suspect was heavily armed with a lot of extra ammunition, a lot of extra magazines."

Judy Lahmers, a business analyst at WTS Paradigm, said she was working at her desk when she heard what sounded "like somebody was dropping boards on the ground, really loud." Lahmers said she ran out of the building and hid behind a car.

She said the building's glass entrance door was shattered.

"I'm not looking back, I'm running as fast as I can. You just wonder, 'Do you hide or do you run?'" she told The Associated Press.

She said she knew one co-worker had been grazed by a bullet but was OK. She didn't have any other information about the shooting but said it was "totally unexpected. We're all software people. We have a good group."

University Hospital in Madison confirmed Wednesday afternoon that it was still treating three victims from the shooting, saying one was in critical condition and two were in serious condition.

Police conducted a secondary search of the office building after the shooting to ensure there were no more victims or suspects  and officers discovered some people still hiding in the building, which also houses Esker Software.

Gabe Geib, a customer advocate at Esker Software, said he was working at his desk when he heard what "sounded like claps." He said he then saw people running away from the building at "full sprint."

"We knew at that point that something was going down. A ton of people were running across the street right in front of us," he said.

Geib said he and his colleagues were still huddled in their cafeteria, away from windows, more than an hour after the shooting.

Jeff Greene, who also works at Esker, said police told those gathered in the cafeteria to go to a nearby hotel to make a statement about what they saw.

Three yellow school buses full of more than 100 people, including witnesses, were unloaded at a hotel about 5 miles (8 kilometers) from the office building. Some people hugged as they were reunited with loved ones. Others stopped to pet a dog that had been brought by someone picking up a worker.

WTS Paradigm makes software for the building products industry. A Wisconsin State Journal profile from 2014 listed company employment at about 145 employees and noted the company was looking to move to a larger location at the time.

The company's website was down Wednesday.

A shopping center next to the building was temporarily put on lockdown at the direction of police.

Middleton is about 90 miles (145 kilometers) west of Milwaukee.What to Know North and South Korean leaders wrapped two days of talks Wednesday in Pyongyang

North Korea promised to permanently dismantle its main nuclear complex and to allow international inspections

The two countries agreed to establish buffer zones along their borders to reduce military tensions

The leaders of North and South Korea announced a wide range of agreements Wednesday which they said were a major step toward peace on the Korean Peninsula. But the premier pledge on denuclearization contained a big condition, with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un stating he'd permanently dismantle his main nuclear complex only if the United States takes unspecified corresponding measures.

Compared to the vague language of their two summits earlier this year, Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in agreed in their second day of meetings to an ambitious program meant to tackle soaring tensions last year that had many fearing war as the North tested a string of increasingly powerful weapons.

Kim promised to accept international inspectors to monitor the closing of a key missile test site and launch pad and to visit Seoul soon, and both leaders vowed to work together to try to host the Summer Olympics in 2032.

But while containing several tantalizing offers, their joint statement appeared to fall short of the major steps many in Washington have been looking for  such as a commitment by Kim to provide a list of North Korea's nuclear facilities, a solid step-by-step timeline for closing them down, or an agreement to allow international inspectors to assess progress or discover violations.

It also was unclear what "corresponding steps" North Korea wants from the U.S. to dismantle its nuclear site.

The question is whether it will be enough for U.S. President Donald Trump to pick up where Moon has left off. Trump told reporters Wednesday that the outcome of the summit was "very good news" and that "we're making tremendous progress" with North Korea. He didn't indicate in his brief remarks whether the U.S. would be willing to take further steps to encourage North Korean action on denuclearization.

Declaring they had made a major step toward peace, Moon and Kim stood side by side as they announced their joint statement to a group of North and South Korean reporters after a closed-door meeting Wednesday morning. They took no questions.

"We have agreed to make the Korean Peninsula a land of peace that is free from nuclear weapons and nuclear threat," Kim said at the guesthouse where Moon is staying. "The road to our future will not always be smooth and we may face challenges and trials we can't anticipate. But we aren't afraid of headwinds because our strength will grow as we overcome each trial based on the strength of our nation."

Kim and Moon earlier smiled and chatted as they walked down a hallway and into a meeting room to finalize the joint statement, which also said that the leaders would push for a Korean Peninsula without nuclear weapons and to "eliminate all the danger of war." Moon and Kim planned to visit a volcano sacred to the North on Thursday, the last day of Moon's visit.

This week's summit comes as Moon is under increasing pressure from Washington to find a path forward in efforts to get Kim to completely  and unilaterally  abandon his nuclear arsenal.

Trump has maintained that he and Kim have a solid relationship, and both leaders have expressed interest in a follow-up summit to their meeting in June in Singapore. North Korea has been demanding a declaration formally ending the Korean War, which was stopped in 1953 by a cease-fire, but neither leader mentioned it Wednesday as they read the joint statement.

In the meantime, however, Moon and Kim made concrete moves of their own to reduce tensions on their border.

According to a statement signed by the countries' defense chiefs, the two Koreas agreed to establish buffer zones along their land and sea borders to reduce military tensions and prevent accidental clashes. They also agreed to withdraw 11 guard posts from the Demilitarized Zone by December and to establish a no-fly zone above the military demarcation line that bisects the two Koreas that will apply to planes, helicopters and drones.

Though not directly linked to security, the leaders' announcement that they would seek a joint Summer Olympics was a significant move in terms of easing tensions and building trust. It also flows from the North's decision to participate in the Pyeongchang Winter Games in February, which was regarded as a success for both sides.

Other agreements aimed at removing some longstanding irritants from their relations, such as allowing more contact between families divided by the Korean War. Moon also appeared to be making good on his proposals to help build up the North's infrastructure and open cross-border rail links.

Unlike Trump's initial tweets praising the summit, the news brought a quick and negative response from Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, who tweeted that he was concerned the visit would undermine efforts by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley to impose "maximum pressure" on the North.

"While North Korea has stopped testing missiles and nuclear devices, they have NOT moved toward denuclearization," he tweeted.

With the main business of the day complete, North Korea was expected to hold a huge mass games spectacle in the evening, with Moon as the special guest. Seoul said Moon would make a short speech.

North Korea had put the iconic games, which feature tens of thousands of performers dancing and flipping placards in unison to create giant mosaics and slogans, on a back burner for the past several years, but revived them for this month's celebrations of its 70th founding anniversary. In a performance for the anniversary, a giant photo of Moon and Kim shaking hands at their first summit in April was projected onto one side of the stands in Pyongyang's 150,000-seat May Day Stadium.

Kim has gone all out to make Moon's visit a memorable one.

On Tuesday, the first day of the summit, he greeted Moon and his wife at Pyongyang's airport and then rode into town with Moon in an open limousine through streets lined with crowds of North Koreans, who cheered and waved the flag of their country and a blue-and-white flag that symbolizes Korean unity.

At the start of their meeting, Kim thanked Moon for brokering the June summit with Trump.

"It's not too much to say that it's Moon's efforts that arranged a historic North Korea-U.S. summit. Because of that, the regional political situation has been stabilized and more progress on North Korea-U.S. ties is expected," Kim said, according to South Korean media pool reports and Moon's office.Forty Connecticut National Guard men and women are deploying to Afghanistan for a year. The 192nd Engineer Battalion departed for Texas Wednesday morning.

An emotional morning as families prepare to say goodbye to 40 @CTNationalGuard members who will be deploying to Afghanistan for a year. #nbcct pic.twitter.com/yVykYVMJ0I  Sujata Jain (@SujataTV) September 19, 2018

This is the first deployment for Lieutenant Joseph Stoute, a Meriden police officer.

Ive been a police officer for 10 years, so its just a different, a different playground to me.

According to the National Guard, the battalion will be stationed in Texas for further training. From there, they will leave for Afghanistan for about 12 months, specializing in route clearance.

Clearing roads or any kind of supply routes of anything that could put American soldiers or other service members in any kind of harms way and that involves explosives or anything else that could cause them harm, explained Lt. Col. Charles Jaworski.

Lieutenant Christopher Barnabei, who is deploying for the first time, said he is ready to embrace the mission. His mother and younger sister were beaming with pride in their last moments together.

Ive already planned on writing letters and just kind of keeping him abreast of what happens on a day-to-day basis, and I think thats going be like a therapy for me, said Sharon Barnabei, of North Haven.A parent raised concerns about the dress code at last week's board of education meeting. On Tuesday afternoon, the Ansonia Board of Education Policy Committee discussed possible dress code changes.

Most parents who spoke to NBC Connecticut said they support their children wearing uniforms.

April Palmieri disagrees with her 11th grade daughter who doesn't like wearing a school uniform.

"I feel the dress code is fine. I think it's better than regular clothes," she said.

She has a son in 12th grade and another daughter at Ansonia Middle School.

"I think it's better because all the kids are equal. They have the same thing on and they're not so worried about the fashion, the style because they all have to dress the same," she said.

Ansonia's dress code policy expanded to the high school in 2014. It requires students wear navy or khaki dress or docker style pants, shorts or skirts and a solid white or blue shirt or polo with the Ansonia logo.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Board of Education Policy Committee went over concerns raised by a parent at last week's meeting.

"Why do we have the uniforms? What value do they provide? And he seems to think there's no known advantage to having the students wear uniforms," said Fran DiGiorgi, of Ansonia Board of Education.

During a short discussion, the three board members spoke in favor of the current dress code.

"They wear uniforms when they play for Pop Warner, they wear uniforms when they cheer. If they're Girl Scouts, they have uniforms so you have uniforms throughout your whole life," they said.

They responded to the resident's concern about cost by referring to a section already in the policy.

"If anybody is having a financial burder, they can submit a request for clothing assistance to the Superintendent of Schools," they said.

The only proposed change to come out of the meeting is to make the dress code policy gender neutral. The full Board of Education will vote on that at their next meeting.For those who evacuated due to Florence, it could still be days before they get back to their homes. One couple returned to their hometown of Bristol, Connecticut, to escape the water, but they're worried about family members still in North Carolina.

Seven hundred miles away, Sherry Webber is thinking about her parents. She and her family moved from Bristol to the small town of Atkinson, North Carolina, several years ago. When Florence came their way, her parents tried to leave, but with four dogs, their options were few.

"We tried everything we could to get out of here, but once the shelter was at capacity, there really wasn't a whole lot of other options for us. I wanted to make sure my children were safe, so I sent my daughter to Connecticut," said Sherry's dad, Steven Gagnier.

NBC Connecticut spoke to Gagnier on the phone. He says they called hotels in several states, but that none would take them because they had four dogs and that a shelter that could take the dogs was already full.

When Sherry and her husband tried to get back to Atkinson from Bristol, they realized they couldn't.

"The winds, the roads, there were multiple times I saw people trying to drive through the water, and the water, it just took their car right off the road," said Sherry.

Sherry says her parents' home isn't flooded, but they're without power and many of the roads have washed away. Her dad says they finally got some supplies on Tuesday but that most of the shelves in the stores are bare.

"They're still doing water rescues down here because the flooding isn't over," said Steven.

While those in the region wait for the rivers to crest, Sherry says instead of being safe in Bristol, she wishes she could be with her parents and face whatever comes next together.

"I don't see me leaving my family like this again, no matter the situation. I'm going to stay with them. I can't be away from them like this when something devastating is happening," said Sherry.

The region received about 30 inches of rain, and while the water may still be rising, the rain is over. Sherry hopes that means she'll be able to get home soon.Officials have identified the powder involved in a suspicious powder incident in Hamden on Wednesday morning.

Firefighters were called to the Connecticut Transit Depot on State Street around 9:45 a.m. after getting a report of a sick employee in the back of the depot.

The patient told firefighters that they became ill while moving a bus and noticed a white substance on the dashboard of the vehicle. The employee was transported to Yale-New Haven Hospital to be treated.

Investigators said they later learned that the former operator of the bus claimed to have used a powdered cleaning product to clean the bus following the shift. Officials were not able to confirm this on site because there was no product container available.

As a precautionary measure, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection was notified and requested to test the isolated substance to make sure it was not hazardous.

DEEP said the material has been identified as Ajax, a cleaning chemical.

According to officials, the employee that felt sick was cleared medically and has returned to work.A significant change to the way anti-abortion facilities in Hartford can operate is now a reality.

Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin announced the Pregnancy Information Disclosure and Protection Ordinance Rule at City Hall Wednesday. The rule requires crisis pregnancy centers, which typically steer women away from abortion, to disclose in writing at their entryways that they do not have a licensed medical professional on site to provide or supervise services.

The ordinance is aimed at facilities like the Hartford Womens Center, which does not provide abortion services. It is located directly across from the Hartford GYN Center, which does offer abortion centers. The Mayor believes some women have been lured to the Womens Center through deceptive practices.

When women are making choices that affect their lives, their health, they deserve to have full information and they deserve to not be deceived about what services are provided, said Bronin. As of October 1 theyre going to have to put a sign up at the front door and at reception and theyre going to have to tell those women who are coming in for care and for counseling that they dont have medical personnel. It's really pretty simple, he said.

Anti-abortion advocates at City Hall for the announcement say the ordinance unfairly targets organizations like theirs and deny employing deceptive practices targeting women.

Our services are very clear that we dont provide or perform abortions at our centers. It's all over our website. We answer that question if it's asked when ladies call us. But what we do help is those who want to carry to term or maybe want to receive other information on their pregnancy options such as adoption or abortion information, said Molly Hurtado, executive director of the ABC Womens Center.

No one from the Hartford Womens Center was present at the announcement and repeated calls by NBC Connecticut for comment were not returned.

Anti-abortion advocacy group Family Institute of Connecticut does not represent the Hartford Womens Center, but their Executive Director Peter Wolfgang says the organization has arranged legal counsel for the center and would not be opposed to legal action over this rule.

This is what the City of Hartford wants to spend its time on, is attacking this poor center that just wants to help women who choose to carry their child to term. I think thats nuts and I hope it does end up in court and I hope the city ends up paying, Wolfgang said.

Bronin says he believes the ordinance is narrowly tailored and can withstand any legal challenges.A Tolland boy is being credited with helping to save his bus drivers life.

I just ran up and grabbed the walkie talkie! Just needed to get her to the hospital quick, Will Restall told NBC Connecticut.

I was surprised he remembered everything to do and was able to really take control of the situation and help out, Tara Restall said.

Will Restalls bus driver was having a medical emergency and Will Restall from Tolland helped the woman get the medical attention she needed.

The 6th grade student credits a bus safety course he learned last school year for knowing exactly what to do in this type of situation. The bus ride began like any other school day for the 11-year-old, a student at Tolland Middle School.

I was on my phone and I just heard a loud bang! I saw it at the last moment, Will said.

Wills bus had just pulled up to school and parked. Right before he and 15 other classmates were about to get off, the bus driver suffered some sort of medical emergency, according to Will and school officials.

She wasnt moving, she just fell, Will added. Thats when Will jumped out of his seat and headed her way.

She fell over and I grabbed the walkie talkie and said she needed medical attention and an ambulance and they came! There is this button on the side and I just talked into it and called for help, Will added.

Luckily the school resource officer and other adults were right outside the bus to help too.

I got a call from the principal, Will's mom, Tara Restall told NBC Connecticut.

Back at home, Tara says the principal called parents to let them know what happened and she had a special message for mom.

She called him a hero, and you know he really is, he really helped. Were so proud of him. He had the piece of mind and knew what to do, Tara added.

Will's dad, Tim tells NBC Connecticut this was a proud parent moment.

As a parent you always want to raise your children well. Send them in the right direction and Will did a great job, Tim said.

And we hope shes recovering and alright, Tara added.

A bus company spokeswoman couldnt say much about the bus driver for privacy reasons, but explained the bus driver is home recovering.

The superintendent of schools tells us all safety procedures were followed and the students safely exited the bus.What to Know A gunman opened fire inside the office of a district judge in Western Pennsylvania on Wednesday afternoon, state police said.

Troopers reported that multiple people were hurt including a law enforcement officer. One man, the shooter, was killed, officials said.

Witnesses said there were hundreds of people inside the building when the shooting started.

A gunman opened fire outside a crowded Pennsylvania courtroom Wednesday afternoon, shooting at police and others before an officer fired multiple shots at him, killing him.

Fayette County District Attorney Richard Bower said Wednesday evening that a German Township police officer shot and killed the gunman after he entered the lobby in Masontown with a handgun drawn and opened fire injuring four people. Bower declined to name the gunman, saying only that he was due in court on charges related to a recent domestic violence incident.

Bower said Masontown police Sgt. R. Scott Miller first encountered the gunman and was injured when he exchanged gunfire with the shooter. When Miller took cover, Bower said the gunman proceeded to fire shots injuring two men and one woman.

"In this case, as is so often the case, the German Township police officer ran toward the danger, not away. He protected over 30 to 40 people from injury or death," Bower said.

"These police officers and these emergency management people risk their lives every day ... and today they all were a shining light to our community," he added.

Bower declined to say whether any of the civilian victims were related to the domestic violence allegations. He said the gunman was facing charges of strangulation, aggravated assault, terroristic threats and simple assault. He said there was a protection of abuse order against the gunman in the strangulation case.

A Fayette County 911 center supervisor confirmed the three civilian victims were taken to the Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, West Virginia, for treatment. Amy Johns, public affairs director at the hospital, said late Wednesday they had received a 47-year-old male, 35-year-old male and 39-year-old female from the shooting and all were in fair condition as of about 5:45 p.m.

Masontown Mayor Toni Petrus was at the hospital Wednesday afternoon checking on Sgt. Miller. She said he was in good condition and was being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

State Police troop commander Lt. Steven C. Dowlin said that even though the shooting happened near the office of District Judge Daniel Shimshock, neither he nor his staff appeared to be the intended target of the shooter.

Dowlin said the judge, assistant district attorneys, lawyers, police officers and others were in the courtroom near the lobby when shots were fired.

Joyce Royster was in the courtroom at the building Wednesday. She told WTAE there were dozens of people inside the courtroom when the shooting started just outside. She said people fled the courtroom as the shooter started to move inside and took shelter in offices and other courtrooms.

Dowlin said this is the second mass shooting that state police have responded to in Fayette County this year. He said troopers stopped a young individual at a Uniontown High School from carrying out a shooting.

"It's becoming way too common," he said.

Associated Press writer Ron Todt in Philadelphia contributed to this report.A climate change action plan will be developed with money from the city of Dallas that was part of a new budget approved Tuesday.

Money left over from the Dallas grocery bag fee that was repealed three years ago will pay for a $500,000 climate change study. Even more money left over from the fee could pay for action on the plan.

Environmental activists cheered the approval Tuesday and City Council Member Sandy Greyson, who championed the measure.

"The federal government pulled out of the Paris Climate Agreement. And so the mayors across the United States said, 'We're going to support this effort. We're going to work on it with our local government,'" Greyson said. "And it's not just going to sit on a shelf. It's going to have action items that follow it, and we already have funding for those action items."

North Central Texas Council of Governments

Motor vehicles are the largest source of North Texas air pollution. Past efforts to remove the oldest vehicles have produced improvement. But hot weather still produces high ozone days, where people with breathing difficulty have a greater problem.

New action could include removing more old vehicles from the road, more electric vehicles in the city's fleet, more solar panels on buildings to reduce burning fossil fuels for electricity and help for people with asthma.

Shammara Norris, with a nonprofit called Positive Breathing, provides education on asthma to children and their caregivers. She said she could add actual care on the group's mobile health units, offering more than just education.

"Our goal in our next level is to get a nurse practitioner to offer and provide free care," Norris said. "We don't want to charge a child to get on a mobile unit."

Norris was one of the environmental advocates praising the city's program Tuesday.

North Texas Central Council of Governments

James McGuire, director of the Dallas office of environmental quality will oversee it.

"Twelve months ago I would not have foreseen that we would be having this conversation right now or we would be speaking at this press conference," McGuire said.

More than $1 million was left over from the plastic bag fee. The money was earmarked for other steps to improve the environment. Future additions to the program will require more cash.A longtime Tarrant County judge has been indicted on four felony charges for falsely claiming homestead exemptions to avoid paying property taxes even though she did not live in the homes, according to an indictment.

Justice of the Peace Jacqueline Wright surrendered at the Parker County Jail on Wednesday.

Her bond was set at $2,500.

The indictment showed she had claimed a homestead exemption on a home in the 6100 block of Ivy Hill Road in Fort Worth but did not live there.

She was indicted on one count of theft and three counts of tampering with a government record.

Wright, 71, served as JP in western Tarrant County for 28 years.

She lost re-election in May to Lake Worth police officer Chris Gregory but was serving the remainder of her term through Dec. 31.

Wright was publicly rebuked by the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct four years ago for posting an obscene message on Facebook directed at her opponent and offering a court favor in a pending criminal case.

She could not immediately be reached Wednesday for comment on her indictment.A former U.S. supervisory Border Patrol agent was sentenced in a San Diego federal courtroom Tuesday.

Martin Rene Duran, 49, will serve 24 months for repeatedly detaining and harassing an innocent man on trumped-up allegations and for firearms offenses.

Duran pleaded guilty in August to using the power of the U.S. government to target and intimidate a father trying to protect his 11-year-old son from sexual abuse.

Martin Duran used his significant power as a Border Patrol official against someone he was sworn to protect, said U.S. Attorney Adam Braverman. He targeted a law-abiding citizen because of a personal vendetta, and for that he will go to prison.

Duran falsely accused the victim of being an arms trafficker, of making threats to law enforcement and of bribing his way out of child sexual abuse charges in Mexico.

Based on Durans actions, law enforcement officials detained and interrogated the victim on several occasions. Duran also interrogated the victim himself, threatening to take away his legal permanent resident status in the United States. The victim was also detained at the San Ysidro Port of Entry on multiple occasions based on Durans false database entries.

The targeting began when the victim filed child sex abuse allegations in Mexico against Durans brother-in-law, Raymond Estrada Figueroa. Figueroa has been subsequently charged in the Southern District of California.

When confronted about his actions Duran lied, saying he had no knowledge of the allegations against his brother-in-law. Duran had, in fact, hired his brother-in-laws attorney, sent emails to the attorney about the case and paid the attorney.

He also claimed his false reports about the victim came from a confidential source, who later denied even knowing Duran.

Duran was separately found guilty on seven counts of illegal transportation of firearms and one count of possession of a short-barreled rifle after a trial.

He will serve 24 months for the firearms charges and a concurrent term of 12 months for the civil rights offenses.A raging fire destroyed a Boyle Heights import business Wednesday and three firefighters were injured, one critically, when the roof of the sprawling warehouse-type structure collapsed beneath their feet.

The fire broke out for unknown reasons around 12:45 p.m. at the Passion Imports building in the 2800 block of East Pico Boulevard. Arriving crews found the structure well-involved in flames with a thick plume of black smoke rising into the air.

Crews began pouring water on the structure and worked to vent the roof of the 16,000-square-foot building, with initial reports indicating that as many as a dozen people might be inside, according to Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Erik Scott.

A short time later, the roof gave way, and three firefighters who were on top of the building fell inside the burning structure, Scott said. All three suffered burn injuries, with one of them taken to a hospital in critical condition and the other two listed as fair, he said.

No other injuries were immediately reported.

Firefighters then assumed a defensive posture, pouring water on the structure from the outside. The blaze was declared knocked down around 3 p.m., but crews continued to spray water on the smoldering structure to prevent any flareups.

About 150 firefighters were assigned to the blaze.

Scott noted that the building had a large amount of baled goods inside that fed the flames. The Passion Imports website indicates the company specializes in apparel, accessories and souvenirs.

The business owner, Arun Dutt, told reporters at the scene that a crew of about 10 people had been inside the warehouse most of the day "changing the lights."

"They were done almost, 60 percent, and then it starts -- something happened in front of us and then they couldn't control it," he said.

At one point during the blaze, workers could be seen carrying what appeared to be propane tanks away from the burning structure.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation.Firefighters protected homes Tuesday from a brush fire that burned uphill in the Tujunga area of the northeast San Fernando Valley.

The small fire was reported on a hillside in the 10200 block of North Mahogany Trail. Thick clouds of smoke drifted over a nearby neighborhood, but no homes were damaged.

The fire burned uphill in what firefighters described as medium density brush in the Blanchard Canyon area, just south of the San Gabriel Mountain wilderness.

A cause was not immediately determined. The fire was fully contained by 9 a.m. after what firefighters described as a well-coordinated air and ground attack involving the Los Angeles city and county fire departments, and Glendale firefighters.

Firefighters will remain at the scene to watch for hot spots that could flare up.

The fire began during a week of mild late-summer temperatures and calm wind conditions. More than 4,860 fires have been reported this year in California, making this summer one of the most destructive on record. About 4,770 fires were reported through mid-September last year.

This year's wildfires have burned more than 617,200 acres. Last year at this time, about 236,000 acres burned throughout the state.Los Angeles County is stepping up efforts to register eligible voters in jail and on probation as the November election nears.

LA County: Register to Vote

"Voting While Incarcerated," a program run in conjunction with the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, registered about 2,000 people in the run-up to the June primary election, Registar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean Logan told the board.

Another 1,000 inmates at Pitchess Detention Center have since been registered, Logan said.

Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas said more than 1 million county residents who are eligible to vote have not yet registered.

"The November election is fast approaching and we can't miss the opportunity," Ridley-Thomas said. "The defining feature of citizenship is the right to vote."

Sept. 25 is National Voter Registration Day and the county is hosting a number of events to remind citizens of their right to vote. Venues include high schools and college campuses where staffers will target the county's young and most under-registered demographic.

Another event will be held at the Men's Central Jail as part of the "Free the Vote" initiative.

That effort -- targeting citizens who have been involved with the criminal justice system -- is "off to a great start and I'm very, very optimistic about where this is heading," said Peter Espinoza, who heads the county's Office of Diversion and Re-Entry.

The goal is to counter common misperceptions about who is allowed to vote.

California residents who are U.S. citizens and at least 18 years old are eligible to vote by mail from jail if they are awaiting trial on any charge or convicted of a misdemeanor. Probationers are also eligible to vote, whether in or out of jail.

Inmates in state prison for a felony conviction or on parole from prison are not eligible to vote, including those in county jail on a parole violation or awaiting transfer to prison. But when they are released from jail and complete their parole, convicted felons may re-register to vote.

The county has 5.1 million registered voters, 69 percent of whom cast a ballot in the 2016 presidential election. Voter turnout for the last midterm election, in 2014, was less than half that number, according to information available through the registrar-recorder/county clerk's website at lavote.net.

Voter turnout of county jail inmates in 2016 matched that countywide, with 69 percent of the 831 people who received ballots casting a vote, according to a report by the county's chief executive officer.A group of McDonald's workers and their supporters staged a midday protest at one of the fast-food giant's South Los Angeles locations Tuesday as part of a coordinated series of rallies alleging a company failure to respond to complaints of groping, lewd comments and unwanted propositions for sex.

Dozens of people carried signs and chanted as they marched into the McDonald's on Florence Avenue near the Harbor (110) Freeway, crowding around the counter and disrupting the lunchtime operations.

It was unclear how many participants in the rally were actually McDonald's employees. Organizers said the participants would include cooks and cashiers who are demanding the company form a committee to address sexual harassment, with the panel including workers, representatives from corporate and franchise stores and leaders of national women's groups.

"What corporations like McDonald's forget is that we will no longer stay silent," one protester told reporters at a rally outside the eatery. "Harassment is considered not just a legal liability but also a serious reputational and business risk. We will hold them accountable."

Organizers called the action the first-ever nationwide walkout to protest sexual harassment and the first over the issue since 1912, when garment workers at the Kalamazoo Corset Company walked off their jobs.

Similar actions were also held in Chicago; Durham; Kansas City, Missouri; Miami; Milwaukee; New Orleans; Orlando; San Francisco; and St. Louis.

McDonald's responded to the strikers' complaints in general terms, saying it pursues policies meant to forestall sexual harassment.

"There is no place for harassment or discrimination of any kind at McDonald's," according to the company. "Since our founding, we've been committed to a culture that fosters the respectful treatment of everyone. We have policies, procedures and training in place that are specifically designed to prevent sexual harassment at our company and company-owned restaurants, and we firmly believe that our franchisees share this commitment."

McDonald's workers say they have assembled a far-reaching coalition to support their effort, including #MeToo, Affirm LA, several SEIU locals, Bernie Brigade, LA Street Vendor Coalition, LA Tenants Union, California for Progress, Ice out of LA, LA Voice, Military Families Speak Out, Union de Vecinos and others.

The walkout was called by members of local Fight for $15 Women's Committees, which formed following the filing of EEOC charges in May, and approved in a nationwide strike vote a week prior to Tuesday's strike. The EEOC charges filed in May came nearly two years after McDonald's workers in the Fight for $15 filed 16 sexual harassment charges against the company. They show that despite the spotlight on the issue in Hollywood and the media, little has changed for the burger giant's frontline workers, according to strike organizers.

Nearly 20 leading national women's groups joined the Fight for $15 in an open letter to McDonald's in May, calling on the company to address sexual harassment. In the letter, which ran as a full-page advertisement in Crain's Chicago, the groups wrote that McDonald's faces a choice: combat sexual harassment in its stores or face a rejection of its brand by people of conscience.

In addition to demanding the formation of an anti-sexual harassment committee, striking workers will demand McDonald's strengthen and enforce the zero-tolerance policy against sexual harassment outlined in its manual and in its franchisees' policies, organizers said. Workers are also calling on the company to hold mandatory training for managers and employees and to create a safe and effective system for receiving and responding to complaints.

Sexual harassment is rampant in the fast-food industry, according to a 2016 survey by Hart Research Associates conducted for the National Partnership for Women and Families, the Ms. Foundation and Futures Without Violence, organizers said. Forty percent of female fast-food workers experience unwanted sexual behavior on the job.

The 2016 Hart Research survey also showed that 42 percent of women in the industry who experience unwanted sexual behavior feel forced to accept it because they can't afford to lose their jobs. The Hart Survey also reported that more than one in five women who face sexual harassment -- 21 percent -- report that, after raising the issue, their employer took some negative action, including cutting their hours, changing them to a less desirable schedule, giving them additional duties and being denied a raise.A mother is grieving after her 20-year-old son died from what she suspects was fraternity hazing.

UC Riverside student Tyler Hilliard had hiking plans on Saturday with his Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity line brothers at Mt. Rubidoux Park in Riverside, but according to the fraternitys pledge master, identified only has DJ, Hilliard complained about shortness of breath prior to the hike and collapsed shortly after.

Im very certain it was hazing based on the text correspondence between him and his line brothers, Hilliards aunt Robyn Fountain said. Its obvious thats what was happening.

Hazing consists of the practices of initiation imposed on students trying to join a fraternity or sorority. It usually includes challenges, harassment, abuse or humiliation.

Fountain believes hazing was the reason of her nephews death due to texts and photos of paddles and talk of beatings found on Hilliards phone.

The students mother, Myeasha Kimble says she holds the pledge master responsible as he is supposed to keep them safe. The pledge master has not responded to NBC4's requests for comment.

We have the same questions the family has as well, Officer Ryan Railsback from the Riverside Police Department said. What led to him being admitted to the hospital?

Hilliard was rushed to Riverside Community Hospital where he later died.

We need an apology. They failed Tyler, the mother said. Tyler had a bright future ahead of him.

Police are investigating whether hazing led to the death. The chapter was suspended at UCR, pending the outcome of an investigation.What to Know California professor Christine Blasey Ford has accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault

Senate Judiciary Committee members invited her to testify on Monday about her allegation

President Trump said he's open to hearing what Ford has to say but finds it "very hard" to imagine anything happened with Kavanaugh

President Donald Trump on Wednesday bluntly questioned the allegation that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted a fellow high school student over 30 years ago, and Republicans warned the accuser the window was closing to tell her story before a confirmation vote.

Trump's skepticism, the most explicit challenge top Republicans have so far mounted to Christine Blasey Ford's credibility, came as GOP Senate leaders tried to firm up support for Kavanaugh. A potentially climactic Judiciary Committee showdown is scheduled for next Monday with both Ford and Kavanaugh invited, but her attendance is uncertain, casting doubt on whether the hearing will be held at all.

Ford has said she wants the FBI to investigate her allegation before she will testify. Democrats support that, but Trump and Senate Republicans have been emphatic that it won't happen.

Leaving the White House to survey flood damage in North Carolina from Hurricane Florence, Trump conceded that "we'll have to make a decision" if Ford's account proves convincing. Despite that glimmer of hesitancy, which few other Republicans have shown publicly, the president stood firmly behind the 53-year-old Kavanaugh, who would fill the second high court vacancy of Trump's term.

"I can only say this: He is such an outstanding man. Very hard for me to imagine that anything happened," Trump said.

The Republicans are resisting all Democratic efforts to slow and perhaps block what once seemed a smooth path to confirmation that would promote the conservative appeals court judge by the Oct. 1 opening of the Supreme Court's new term. Kavanaugh's glide to approval was interrupted last weekend when word of Ford's allegation became public, but GOP senators are showing no signs of slowing their drive to confirm him as quickly as possible.

Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, wrote to Ford's attorneys that the hearing was still scheduled for Monday morning, and he pointedly said she must submit her written statement by 10 a.m. Friday "if she intends to testify" that day.

Lisa Banks, a lawyer for Ford, released a statement late Wednesday that cast no light on whether her client will appear.

She wrote that Ford wants "a full non-partisan investigation" and said Ford is willing to cooperate. But she said Grassley's plan to call just Kavanaugh and Ford "is not a fair or good faith investigation" and said "multiple witnesses"  whom she didn't name  should appear.

"The rush to a hearing is unnecessary, and contrary to the Committee discovering the truth," Banks wrote.

Ford has contended that at a house party in the 1980s, a drunken Kavanaugh tried undressing her and stifling her cries on a bed before she fled. Kavanaugh has repeatedly denied that claim.

Trump's remark was noteworthy because most Republicans have handled the question of Ford's credibility more gingerly. They say they want to give Ford, now a professor at Palo Alto University, every chance to tell her story.

"I'd really want to see her. I really would want to see what she has to say," Trump said. "If she shows up that would be wonderful. If she doesn't show up that would be unfortunate."

Seven weeks from elections in which congressional control is at stake, Democrats have been unhesitant about casting Republicans as trying to strong-arm a victim of abuse.

The two parties' tactics illustrate how they are trying to navigate a political climate in which the #MeToo movement of outing sexual abusers has galvanized many female voters. A substantial delay could push confirmation past the November elections, when Democrats have a shot at winning Senate control, plus allow more time for unforeseen problems to pop up.

"Dr. Blasey Ford is calling for an impartial FBI investigation of her serious and credible allegations. Meanwhile Republicans are trying to bully her into a rigged hearing before a neutral investigation and without the only identified eyewitness," No. 2 Senate Democratic leader Dick Durbin of Illinois tweeted.

Ford and her Democratic allies also want the committee to interview Mark Judge, a Kavanaugh friend who Ford has said was in the bedroom during the attack. Judge has said he doesn't remember the incident, never saw Kavanaugh act that way and has no desire to testify publicly.

There were signs the GOP's strategy of planning a nationally televised hearing while also offering Ford the chance to testify in private was keeping possible Republican defections in check. The party controls the Senate 51-49 and the Judiciary panel by 11-10, so it cannot afford GOP "no" votes.

Moderate GOP Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, who's had her share of clashes with Trump, said she hoped Ford would reconsider a decision not to testify and "it's not fair to Judge Kavanaugh" if she refuses. "Otherwise, there are these very serious allegations hanging over the head of a nominee who has emphatically denied them," she said on WVOM radio in Bangor.

Going further, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Democrats' demands for an FBI investigation were a ploy to delay a confirmation vote. "It is imperative the Judiciary Committee move forward on the Kavanaugh nomination and a committee vote be taken as soon as possible," the committee member said in a statement.

As for a possible FBI intervention, Grassley said in his letter to Ford's lawyers, "We have no power to commandeer an Executive Branch agency into conducting our due diligence."

In a separate letter to Democrats, Grassley wrote that committee aides were "even willing to fly to California, or anywhere else, to meet her." He also wrote that GOP aides tried to arrange interviews with two other "alleged witnesses." The letter mentioned no names and committee staff declined to name them.

Only the White House can order the FBI to get involved, since Kavanaugh is not accused of a federal crime. The FBI could interview Ford, Kavanaugh and others about the allegation if Trump asked the bureau to reopen its background investigation, but the president has said the FBI has finished its work.

Kavanaugh did not return to the White House on Wednesday after spending the two previous days there. He spoke by phone with officials working on strategy, according to an aide familiar with the proceedings but not authorized to speak publicly about private conversations.

The White House war room largely was centered on shaping the public perception of the nominee, pushing back on reporters' inquiries while circulating positive talking points to allies about Kavanaugh.

Kavanaugh spent hours Tuesday in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, part of the White House complex. He prepared for Monday's potential hearing with officials including White House Counsel Don McGahn, press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders and communications director Bill Shine, as well as Justice Department aides.

Shine was ousted from his previous job at Fox News in part due to his handling of sexual harassment claims at the company.Authorities say a 29-year-old Florida woman met with an undercover officer three times to arrange a hit on her husband.

Crystal Alicia Ely was arrested Sept. 13 and charged with criminal conspiracy and criminal solicitation. She's being held without bail in a Jacksonville jail.

The Florida Times-Union reports the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office received a tip that a woman was looking for someone to kill her husband. An arrest report shows Ely met with the undercover officer to arrange the hit on her 41-year-old husband.

Investigators say Ely offered the officer money and other valuables to carry out the plot. At their final meeting last Thursday, she gave the officer a pair of earrings and two rings as a form of payment.

A lawyer isn't listed on jail records.What to Know School staff said Garciela Cruz Padron arrived to pick up her daughter and friends but was slurring her words and fell asleep standing.

A Southwest Florida mother is under arrest after officials say she showed up to her daughters school too high to pick up the child.

Garciela Cruz Padron was booked into the Collier County jail on a charge of child neglect after the 26-year-old arrived at the school near Naples on Monday with another small child inside the car that she forgot about, according to NBC affiliate WBBH-TV.

School staff said Cruz Padron arrived to pick up her daughter and two friends but was slurring her words and fell asleep while standing. Deputies arrived and said the mother had an orange liquid coming out of her nose.

All children were turned over to their biological fathers, according to the station, and the Department of Children and Families is investigating.What to Know A beagle puppy suffered severe injuries after someone tied her to a pole and beat her in the Bronx

The puppy, dubbed Cleo, has a severe facial swelling, a fractured bone under her eye, among other medical issues

The president of the animal rescue rehabilitating Cleo hopes a witness or surveillance tape from the scene may help catch Cleo's attacker

A beagle puppy suffered severe injuries after someone tied her to a pole and beat her in the Bronx, a representative for the animal rescue thats rehabilitating the dog said.

A good Samaritan called the 48th Precinct in the Bronx to report that the puppy was tied to a pole and being beaten in front of a barber shop, Jody Harris-Stern, the president and co-founder of Connecticut-based Looking Glass Animal Rescue told News 4 New York.

The approximately 4-month-old puppy was taken to Animal Care Centers of NYC, which asked if Looking Glass could take her in, Harris-Stern said.

The puppy, whos been named Cleo, has severe facial swelling, an abscess on top of her head extending down to her eye, a fractured bone under her eye and symmetrical breaks in her cheeks that could only have been caused by getting slammed into something, according to Harris-Stern.

Cleo also has mysterious wounds and cuts on her head, neck and shoulders.

In rescue, we see a lot of horror and tragedy, but this is probably the worst that I have seen in my rescue lifetime, Harris-Stern told News 4.

Harris-Stern was told there wasnt enough evidence to pursue a case against Cleos attacker, but says she hopes a witness or surveillance tape from the vicinity may provide some answers.

So far, Cleos veterinary bill has surpassed $5,000, she said.

When Cleo arrived at the rescue, her right eye was completely closed shut and her left eye was swollen, but the puppy has since opened her eye and started eating, Harris-Stern said.

Shes a fighter, and thats one of the reasons we named her Cleo, for Cleopatra, because we wanted a strong, brave, determined name that would fit the personality that shes shown so far, she said.What to Know Jonathan Deutsch, a teacher at Leon M. Goldstein High School for the Sciences in Brooklyn, has been arrested on child porn charges

Deutsch allegedly used Facebook to solicit sexually explicit photos and videos from dozens of children as young as 10 years old

The teacher could face at least 15 years in prison if he's convicted, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Brooklyn

A Brooklyn high school teacher allegedly used Facebook to solicit sexually explicit photos and videos from dozens of children as young as 10 years old, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of New York said.

Jonathan Deutsch, 34, who teaches at Leon M. Goldstein High School for the Sciences in Manhattan Beach, was arrested and charged with five counts of sexual exploitation of a child on Wednesday, the attorneys office said.

He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Wednesday afternoon. A judge ordered Deutsch be held without bond, noting he was less concerned about Deutsch posing a flight risk than he was about him posing a danger to the community.

Deutsch previously taught at Edward R. Murrow High School in Brooklyn, Brooklyn Tech High School and Gramercy Arts High School in Manhattan, focusing on subjects including English, Special Education and Theater Arts, according to a detention memo.

Deutsch allegedly started reaching out to minors on Facebook around January 2017, according to the attorneys office, telling them he was a teacher as part of his broader effort to groom [them] for sexual exploitation.

Deutsch used fake Facebook accounts he created using pseudonyms including "Sam Morgan" and "Jay Stern" to contact the children, according to the detention memo.

The teacher allegedly sent messages to hundreds of Facebook users who appeared to be minors, and had sexual conversations with at least 45 users, the attorneys office said.

Deutsch allegedly targeted children who were vulnerable, seeking out Facebook users who were in groups for kids with emotional issues, prosecutors said.

He also asked for and received sexually explicit images or videos from at least four of the users, who ranged in age from 10 to 16, the office added.

Deutsch often instructed minors to perform sexually explicit acts and to send him videos and photos of those acts, the office said. Deutsch also sent minors sexual photos that he represented to be of himself.

On one occasion, in May 2017, Deutsch allegedly pretended to be a 14-year-old boy, asked a 10-year-old girl if she "wanted to be 'bf gf'" and told her he "had previously dated an 8-year-old girl," the detention memo said. The girl then sent explicit photos of herself to Deutsch, according to the memo.

The memo contains other disturbing details as well, including an allegation that Deutsch asked a 16-year-old girl he was in contact with to film herself drinking urine.

Deutsch "often bragged about his supposed prior sexual experiences with students and young children," the memo claims.

The teacher could face at least 15 years in prison if he's convicted, according to the attorneys office.

Deutschs attorney information wasnt immediately available Wednesday.

A spokesman for the citys Department of Education called the allegations "extremely disturbing," adding that Deutsch had been reassigned away from students since January and will remain reassigned.

"We will seek his removal from payroll and termination as soon as legally possible," he said.What to Know Cops are looking for a man in connection with two Upper East Side sex attacks on young women earlier this month

The attacks were 10 days apart -- both were in the overnight hours and in both cases he reached under the victim's skirt and grabbed her

Police released surveillance footage of the suspect; anyone with information about him is asked to call authorities

Authorities are looking for a man in connection with two groping attacks on the Upper East Side in which he reached underneath young women's skirts and grabbed them, police say.

Most recently, the attacker walked up to a 22-year-old woman near East 90th Street and Lexington Avenue before 3 a.m. Saturday, grabbed her and reached underneath her skirt to touch her groin area, police say.

The man then threw the woman to the ground and ran off.

Ten days earlier, on Sept. 5, cops say the man grabbed a 21-year-old woman near East 94th Street and Park Avenue, also in the overnight hours, and again went under her skirt to grab her groin. She fell to the ground and the man ran off in the direction of Third Avenue.

Authorities released surveillance footage of the suspect (above). Anyone with information on him is asked to call police.A warmer world makes for nastier hurricanes. Scientists say they are wetter, possess more energy and intensify faster.

Their storm surges are more destructive because climate change has already made the seas rise. And lately, the storms seem to be stalling more often and thus dumping more rain.

Study after study shows that climate change in general makes hurricanes worse. But determining the role of global warming in a specific storm such as Hurricane Florence or Typhoon Mangkhut is not so simple  at least not without detailed statistical and computer analyses.

The Associated Press consulted with 17 meteorologists and scientists who study climate change, hurricanes or both. A few experts remain cautious about attributing global warming to a single event, but most of the scientists clearly see the hand of humans in Florence.

Global warming didn't cause Florence, they say. But it makes the system a bigger danger.

"Florence is yet another poster child for the human-supercharged storms that are becoming more common and destructive as the planet warms," said Jonathan Overpeck, dean of the environment school at University of Michigan. He said the risk extends beyond the Atlantic Ocean, such as Typhoon Mangkhut, which hit the Philippines on Friday.

For years, when asked about climate change and specific weather events, scientists would refrain from drawing clear connections. But over the past few years, the new field of attribution studies has allowed researchers to use statistics and computer models to try to calculate how events would be different in a world without human-caused climate change.

A couple of months after Hurricane Harvey, studies found that global warming significantly increased the odds for Harvey's record heavy rains.

"It's a bit like a plot line out of 'Back to the Future,' where you travel back in time to some alternate reality" that is plausible but without humans changing the climate, said University of Exeter climate scientist Peter Stott, one of the pioneers of the field.

A National Academy of Sciences report finds these studies generally credible. One team of scientists tried to do a similar analysis for Florence, but outside experts were wary because it was based on forecasts, not observations, and did not use enough computer simulations.

As the world warms and science advances, scientists get more specific, even without attribution studies. They cite basic physics, the most recent research about storms and past studies and put them together for something like Florence.

"I think we can say that the storm is stronger, wetter and more impactful from a coastal flooding standpoint than it would have been BECAUSE of human-caused warming," Pennsylvania State University climate scientist Michael Mann wrote in an email. "And we don't need an attribution study to tell us that in my view. We just need the laws of thermodynamics."

Georgia Tech climate scientist Kim Cobb looks not just at basic physics but all the peer-reviewed studies that especially link climate change to wetter storms.

"We have solid data across decades of rainfall records to nail the attribution  climate change is increasing the frequency of extreme rainfall events," Cobb said.

Several factors make scientists more confident in pointing the climate-change finger at Florence.

For every degree the air warms, it can hold nearly 4 percent more water (7 percent per degree Celsius) and offer measurably more energy to goose the storm, scientists said.

"The amount of water that comes out of hurricanes is certainly the most robust connection that we have," National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration climate scientist Jim Kossin said.

And to look at Florence specifically, "it's very likely that climate change has warmed the ocean such that the hurricane's intense rainfall is more destructive than without global warming," said Weather Underground Meteorology Director Jeff Masters, a former hurricane hunter.

The warmer air and water also makes storms more intense or stronger, Stott said.

A Kossin study this year showed that tropical cyclones  a category that includes hurricanes and typhoons  are moving slower and even stalling. Kossin said "it's happening a lot more than it used to." Several studies agree that climate change is to blame but differ slightly in their conclusions.

With the emergence of Florence, some place in the U.S. has been drenched because of a stalled hurricane for four years in a row, storm surge expert Hal Needham said.

Kossin and Overpeck also pointed to studies that show storms are intensifying more rapidly than they used to.

Just like in Superstorm Sandy, scientists said it is clear that hurricane storm surge is worsened by sea level rise because the power of 6 to 10 feet of water comes on top of seas that were considerably lower decades ago. An extra 8 inches or so can mean the difference between staying dry or getting damaged, Masters said.

In the Carolinas, natural and temporary climate factors added to the "march upwards" from global warning. Because of that, the seas have risen nearly 5 inches in five years, said Andrea Dutton of the University of Florida.

Meteorologist Ryan Maue of weathermodels.com cautioned that observers should "stick to overall trends around the world and not individual cases."

University of Miami hurricane expert Brian McNoldy said there are too many ever-changing factors that make it hard to blame climate change specifically.

"If you are trying to make climate policy," Maue said Friday, "you don't want to make it on a storm-by-storm basis."We require all new drivers to pass a road test, to ensure their safety physically.

But what about their safety online?

Thats what Willie Goldsboro, an employee at the Dover DMV in central Delaware, found himself wondering one day. As he congratulated students and handed them their licenses, he grew increasingly concerned with what he saw them doing.

I mean, theyre standing right in front of me. You see them taking a picture holding up their license, and you know theyre posting straight to social media. That can hit a lot more people than you think.

U.S. licenses have the drivers full name, picture, DOB, license number, and address  personal information that, after being posted, could be stolen and used without the owner's permission.

Goldsboro says his father-in-law, a cop, deals with issues like identity theft and child abductions, so watching kids post this information was a red flag for him. He approached Laura Russum, another DMV employee who coordinates social media and communications, for help.

Originally, Russum said, they thought of creating a license prop. When that didnt fly, they brainstormed ways to cover up identifying information on the new licenses. But that didnt feel right, either.

Finally, on their fourth round of ideas, she knew. "Im a photographer as well, and I know people like to take photos in front of fun backdrops. Why not one of those?"

She designed the signage and wording for the backdrop, plus shareable hashtags to go with it.

The resulting project was a hit.

On Monday, Delaware's Division of Motor Vehicles launched "Safe Selfie Zones" at its four locations  so new drivers can collect likes, without compromising privacy.

"We want you to share the love," reads a placard next to the brightly colored backdrop, "but before you snap that selfie REMEMBER your license has personal information that should be protected."

Delaware DMV

In 2017, Delaware issued around 36,500 new licenses to minors and adults.

"As far as we know, Russum said, "this is the first initiative of its kind." They hope to present it in DelDOTs Innovation Space this year and at a trade conference, where it could be used as a model by other government administrators.

Joseph Turow, a professor at the University of Pennsylvanias Annenberg School for Communication and an expert in media and digital privacy, said he applauds the Delaware DMV for the project. He sees it as a way to warn those who might not be aware of the implications of what they post.

Theres some who might say that this generation cares less about privacy, but we have evidence to show thats not the case, said Turow. "They care, but in the moment, they just dont think about it."

When asked if hed like to see the Selfie Zone implemented in other places, Willie said, of course: "That means thered be people being safe everywhere."

Maybe, he suggested, states could compete to see who had the best selfie wall. The best thing we can do is take care of and look out for each other.

For now, the Delaware wall features a background with the DMV logo, where people can take pictures to share on their personal social media accounts (in lieu of posting their actual license).

In blue, yellow, and orange, words at the top of each backdrop read: "Look whos driving now!!"What to Know Ryan Pownall is accused of shooting and killing David Jones during a June 2017 traffic stop.

Pownall was fired earlier this year. Jones's death is the second shooting of a civilian in the back in which Pownall has been involved.

He is being held without bail.

A fired Philadelphia police officer charged with homicide for allegedly shooting a fleeing suspect in the back last year in Juniata was denied bail again at a hearing Wednesday.

Ryan Pownall is being held for the shooting death of David Jones last June along Whitaker Avenue. He is the first city officer in years to face a homicide charge for an on-duty shooting.

At Wednesday's hearing, the District Attorney's Office requested that Municipal Court Judge Patrick Dugan hand off the case to a common pleas judge now that a grand jury investigation is complete.

Pownall was officially charged on Sept. 4. A new hearing was set for early October.

In 2013, Dugan became embroiled in controversy for his handling of assault charges against a Philadelphia police lieutenant. Jonathan Josey was charged with punching a woman in the face during a parade in North Philadelphia. Josey was eventually fired and then-Mayor Michael Nutter apologized to the victim.

Still, Josey was acquitted by Dugan despite video evidence showing the punch. Critics of the acquittal then pointed to Dugan's marriage to a Philadelphia police officer. NBC10 reported at the time that the mortgage on his house was lent through the city Police and Fire Credit Union.

None of that was mentioned at Wednesday's hearing, was initially scheduled to be a preliminary hearing that did not materialize. Still, Jones' family and numerous police officers packed the courtroom.

The defense was trying to deflect from the real merits of the case. If you understood what happened that day .. you understand there was no cause for the shooting," Christopher Norris, a family friend of Jones, said after the hearing. "What he did was cold-blooded murder. Its time Ryan Pownall and those like him be held accountable."

Pownall's attorney, Fortunato Perri Jr., argued that his client's actions were entirely appropriate.

"His training dictated that once you are justified to use your weapon ... you are justified in continuing that action," he said Wednesday.

When District Attorney Larry Krasner announced charges against Pownall earlier this month, he said the charges came after a yearlong investigation by a grand jury. Pownall is charged with criminal homicide, reckless endangerment and possession of a weapon of crime.

Pownall was fired from the police department following an internal review. He turned himself over to authorities on Tuesday.

At the time of the shooting, Pownall had been transporting three people to the department's Special Victim's Unit for an interview. Krasner said the officer pulled across traffic and into a parking lot after seeing Jones.

Family Photo

Pownall, who served 12 years on the force, patted down Jones and felt a gun in his waistband, police said.

A witness in back of Pownall's police vehicle watched Pownall pull his service weapon and warn Jones not to touch the gun, police said. The two men then briefly scuffled as Jones turned his back on Pownall and fled, investigators said.

Pownall attempted to fire his service firearm, but it jammed, Krasner said. Jones, who was also armed, threw away his gun and ran in the opposite direction of the weapon, according to authorities.

Surveillance video obtained by NBC10 appears to show Jones running away when he was shot.

"Video recovered from the scene shows that Jones was unarmed and he never turned toward Pownall or gestured in a threatening manner during his (running away)," Krasner said. "As Jones ran, unarmed, Pownall fired at least three shots toward Jones and traffic, hitting Jones twice in the back."

The entire deadly interaction lasted less than 30 seconds.

"Jones' death was not necessary to secure the apprehension of Jones," Krasner said.

It was the second time Pownall was involved in an on-duty shooting where a suspect was struck in the back.

Carnell Williams-Carney was paralyzed in 2010 after Pownall and a second officer fired shots at him as he fled, hitting him once in the back. A federal jury ruled in a civil lawsuit that Pownall and the other officer were justified in opening fire.

Last September, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross said the officer used poor judgment in the shooting of Jones.

"Jones was running away from Pownall with nothing in his hands," Ross said.

Pownall broke department policy by making a traffic stop with witnesses in his vehicle, Ross said. Pownall also failed to notify police radio of the traffic stop or call for backup.

Pownall's attorney said Jones didn't have a license for his gun.

Activists are protesting the deadly police shooting of a man riding a dirt bike in Philadelphia back on June 8. The Pennsylvania Attorney Generals Office is handing the investigation of the death of David Jones.

Several activist groups held several demonstrations about the shooting, demanding answers in the case.

After a Black Lives Matter protest outside Pownall's home, the city police union president called the protesters a "pack of rabid animals."

"Today is the day that the family of David Jones has been waiting for," said Isaac Gardner, one of the most visible protesters after Jones' shooting. He added that they were happy with the charges, which they had not believed would happen.

The Fraternal Order of Police have called for the charges to be dropped and for Pownall to be reinstated on the force. They also called for Pownall to be allowed bail.

"FOP Lodge 5 and fellow officers stand in solidarity with Officer Pownall and his family," FOP President John McNesby said. "We promise a vigorous defense and expect Officer Pownall to be cleared of all charges and get his job back protecting the community."A Philadelphia worker was attacked and stabbed Wednesday as he worked to clean up blight on a street in the city's Kensington section.

The stabbing happened just before 8 a.m. along Mutter Street between E. Tusculum and Clearfield, police said.

The 53-year-old city staffer from the CLIP Program was working to remove graffiti and pick up trash when he was approached by an apparent robber, police said.

The worker was stabbed once in the right side of his lower back, police said. The attacker fled the scene.

The victim got into his car and attempted to drive himself to the hospital, but had to pull over around N. 8th Street and E. Indiana Avenue. Paramedics met him there and rushed him to Temple University Hospital. He's listed in critical, but stable condition, police said.

Detectives are searching for surveillance video of the attack. They did not immediately have a description of the robber.

The CLIP Program  which stands for Community Life Improvement Program  sends crews to neighborhoods across the city to reduce blight, street trash, overgrown lots and graffiti.

The victim's co-workers continued working in the neighborhood after the stabbing.Eager to show heart in a moment of crisis, President Donald Trump handed out hot dogs, hugs and comforting words in the Carolinas on Wednesday as he surveyed the wreckage left by Hurricane Florence.

With residents still recovering from torrential rains that left widespread destruction and injury, Trump sought to strike a balance between comforter and cheerleader, mindful that he has been criticized in the past for not showing sufficient empathy in the face of tragedy.

During a packed day, he visited both North and South Carolina, distributed meals at a church, walked amid piles of sodden furniture in damaged neighborhoods, offered hugs and handshakes to residents and discussed the response efforts with local and state officials.

"America grieves with you and our hearts break for you. God bless you," he said during a briefing at a marine base in Havelock, North Carolina. "We will never forget your loss. We will never leave your side. We're with you all the way."

The emotional words and comprehensive itinerary stood in contrast with Trump's trip to Puerto Rico last year after Hurricane Maria, when he drew criticism for tossing rolls of paper towels into the crowd. Or his initial visit to Houston after Hurricane Harvey, when he did not meet with any storm victims.

There were still flashes of Trump's outsized persona  he asked about the status of Lake Norman, where he owns a golf club, telling officials, "I can't tell you why, but I love that area."

He also joked with a family who had a large yacht they didn't own wash up against their house. "At least you got a nice boat out of the deal," he told them. "What's the law? Maybe it becomes theirs."

He was also caught on camera telling a person to whom he had just handed food to "have a good time."

Still, the whirlwind tour through the Carolinas showed Trump reaching out to connect with those reeling from a storm blamed for at least 37 deaths in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia since coming ashore Friday. North and South Carolina both backed Trump in the 2016 election, and the president largely saw people who were happy to greet him. One man told the president he'd named his dog after Trump.

After a briefing on the recovery effort, Trump helped hand out hot dogs and chips at a Baptist church in New Bern, a riverfront city that experienced severe flooding. The president leaned over and checked in with people as they drove through to pick up food.

"How's the house?" he asked one person. "You take care of yourself," he said.

Trump also praised the volunteers, at one point hugging a young helper and telling his parents, "You did a good job."

Trump's motorcade then drove through a storm-damaged neighborhood where waterlogged sofa cushions, mattresses and downed trees were piled up along streets and boats lay on their sides after washing up along a grassy shore.

"How's it doing?" the president asked after one woman pointed at a house. He chatted and shook people's hands as he walked along a street strewn with trash, branches and wet furniture. Some people applauded as he went by.

Trump later traveled to Conway, South Carolina, where more flooding is expected still.

"Is everybody OK?" he asked those gathered, assuring them it was "going to be OK."

"Lot of money coming from Washington," he promised.

At Horry County's emergency operations center, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said the storm had likely been the worst disaster in the state's history, but warned it wasn't over yet.

"The rain and the water you see out there now is just the beginning," he said. "The worst is yet to come."

Trump, too, warned that more water was on the way, but assured those gathered that both he and Washington are "with you."

"Now it looks nice, but it's really the calm before the storm," he said.

It was the same message at Trump's first stop in North Carolina, where Gov. Roy Cooper and federal and state officials briefed the president at a Marine Corps air station in Havelock, which sits among areas Florence hit hardest. The governor asked for help "cutting red tape" to get his state the federal assistance it will need to recover.

Cooper said Florence was an "epic" storm and noted that farmers suffered significant losses and scores of people lost their homes. Some 10,000 people remain in shelters.

"We will be there 100 percent," pledged Trump, wearing a wind breaker and khaki pants. "All of the folks from the federal government that are around the table are confirming it."

Cooper, a Democrat, said he'd told the president "over and over again" that the state was "going to need significant resources to recover."

"He promised 100 percent support and we're going to hold them to it," he said of Trump.

Trump spent the run-up to the storm focused on criticism of the federal response to a hurricane that battered Puerto Rico last year, rejecting the official death toll of nearly 3,000 and claiming Democrats manufactured the number to make him "look bad."

When Trump visited San Juan last October after Hurricane Maria, he pumped his fists in the air when he landed. The enduring image of the trip was of Trump at a church lobbing paper towels into the crowd as if shooting baskets. At the time, it seemed to reflect Trump's brand of playfulness. Many people in the crowd smiled and raised their phones to record the moment. But critics quickly dubbed it inappropriate for the grim crisis at hand.

Before that, Trump's trip to Texas after Hurricane Harvey generated blowback for his failure to meet with victims of the storm. Four days later, he returned  and urged people at a Houston shelter to "have a good time." He also cheered on volunteers and emergency workers and handed out hot dogs and potato chips to residents. Some critics said the president's trip took on the tone of a victory lap for successful disaster management.

Associated Press writers Jill Colvin and Darlene Superville in Washington contributed to this report.Governor Jerry Brown signed California Assembly Bill 626 into law this week. It allows chefs and cooks to sell food products made from home kitchens.

The practice of selling food made from home was previously illegal due to health concerns.

The new law will give stricter guidelines on what is labeled as "microenterprise home kitchens." Anyone operating one will have to apply for a permit and sell no more than 60 meals per week.

The regulations also call for the commercial cook or chef to do business directly with customers and allow inspections of the home kitchen if complaints are received.

Local chefs said San Diego could benefit from the new law.

Theres a lot of AirBnBs here in San Diego, said Danielle Sharesse, the head chef and owner of Flavor Integrations Catering. Somebody could have a chef come in and prep meals for people staying from out of town.

Sharesse said there is also a lot of interest in meetup groups and home parties in San Diego.

If you could host a cooking class in your house, it opens a lot of opportunities for chefs, added Sharesse.

The City Heights mother of two said this new law will also allow her to prep food at home ahead of time so that she can spend more time with her children before heading to work.

"It will help me be more flexible with my schedule," said Sharesse.

But she warns, it is important for home chefs not to cross-contaminate food and make sure everything is sanitary when cooking.

"Don't cross-contaminate utensils for somebody with a shellfish allergy or a nut allergy," said Sharesse. "Cleanliness is a huge concern."

The new law will go into effect on January 1, 2019.A Caltrans employee has died from injuries he suffered when he fell from a highway overpass Wednesday.

Maintenance Leadworker William Casdorph, 57, fell from the State Route 163 ramp onto the transition ramp to southbound Interstate 805 at approximately 3 a.m.

Casdorph landed on a grassy area and suffered major injuries, California Highway Patrol officers said.

He died from his injuries at a nearby hospital, Caltrans officials said.

Our Caltrans family is grieving today, Caltrans Director Laurie Berman said. Our deepest sympathy and condolences go out to Mr. Casdorphs family and all those who worked with him.

Gov. Jerry Brown also released a statement following Casdorph's death.

"Anne and I mourn the loss of Caltrans Highway Maintenance Leadworker William D. Casdorph, a dedicated public servant who worked to make our roads safer for nearly two decades. On behalf of all Californians, we extend our deep condolences to his family, friends and the Caltrans community as they struggle to cope with this sudden loss."

The incident temporarily closed the southbound SR-163 connector ramp to southbound I-805.

NBC 7s Melissa Adan reports from Kearny Mesa.

Surveyors were still inspecting the site of the fall nearly 12 hours after the incident happened.

It appears Casdorph missed a step when he got out of his truck as he prepared to work with a landscaping crew.

This doesnt happen very often, Ive only investigated two of them in my career, said CHP Sgt. Brent Lowry. Anytime anyone is on the freeway for any reason other than driving through its just not a safe place to be.

Casdorph had worked for Caltrans for 19 years and was based in Kearny Mesa. He leaves behind a wife and three daughters.

#Breaking A @SDCaltrans worker falls from the 163 SB and is sent to the hospital with major injuries. Were live on the freeway with the latest & closure information. @nbcsandiego https://t.co/fUNGPhQvLw pic.twitter.com/tMxhtxypvE  Melissa Adan (@MelissaNBC7) September 19, 2018

This is the 189th California Department of Transportation employee to be killed on the job since 1921.

In 2017, two employees were killed. One of those fatalities was due to an errant driver, according to the agencys website.

In August, two Caltrans workers were injured in a suspected DUI crash on Interstate 15.

Another Caltrans worker was hurt along I-15 when a driver crashed into the back of a Caltrans truck in Escondido in May.

Capitol flags will be flown at half-staff in honor of Casdorph.A San Diego-area priest is accused of forcibly groping and making sexual advances towards an adult seminary student.

Juan Garcia Castillo, 35, from Honduras had served as an associate pastor at St. Patrick's Parish in Carlsbad since 2011.

On Feb. 4, Castillo is accused of unlawfully touching an intimate part of another person, according to the complaint.

He was removed from the parish in March and criminally charged with one count of misdemeanor sexual battery in May.

A preliminary hearing is set for this Friday. If convicted, Castillo faces six months behind bars and a $2,000 fine.

The diocese of San Diego suspended Castillo the day after they got the report from officials, according to Kevin Eckery, Vice Chancellor of Communications and Public Affairs for the Diocese of San Diego.

In a statement released Tuesday night, Eckery said the diocese did not inform the parish in an attempt not to influence the criminal case.

If the allegations involved a minor, the diocese would have made an announcement to every parish where he had served, he said.

Last week, 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.

The release of the names followed a grand jury report implicating 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.Jeffrey Labovitz has traveled to every war-torn area in the world since he began working with a United Nations-affiliated humanitarian group.

Hes fought to find water for drought-stricken regions in Africa. Hes battled to save people from ethnic cleansing campaigns in Eastern Europe. Hes fought East African warlords from kidnapping and murdering members of rival tribes.

Six months ago Labovitz waged another kind of fight, a fight to reduce what he calls usurious cell phone roaming fees that his cell phone company and their roaming service provider charged him while on vacation to his permanent home of San Diego.

One charge occurred while Labovitz and his family were visiting his childhood friend in Linda Vista. During the visit, Labovitz seven-year-old son snuck off with Labovitz cell phone.

My son had grabbed the phone without me knowing and he streamed Dan TDM, kids know this gamer, hes got blue hair, Labovitz told NBC 7 Responds from his hotel room in the Slovakian city of Bratislava.

He watched 71-seconds of this video and those 71 seconds cost over $9,000. Thats the equivalent of $110 per second.

During his annual trip to San Diego, Labovitz says he used a mapping app on his phone for directions and a few other phone apps. He let his son watch a show on YouTube for just under four minutes.

Labovitz opened his cell phone bill when he returned to his home in Eastern Africa.

I got back to Nairobi and suddenly I have this massive bill of $14,000. We didnt use the phone much at all so I was in total disbelief. I assumed there was some sort of mistake.

But it wasnt a mistake.

Labovtiz says he called his provider Safaricom. He said they told him it was T-Mobiles charges and not theirs. Labovitz called T-Mobile. He said they told him it was Safaricoms responsibility.

Labovitz considers the charges exploitive and usurious.

Where Im from people earn less than $5 a day, he said. If you have a student on scholarship they would never be able to pay it off for the rest of their lives.

Getting nowhere with the companies, Labovitz sent an email to NBC 7 Responds for help.

T-Mobile said no, and thats when I contacted Consumer Bob because I had absolutely no recourse, Labovitz said.

Safaricom responded by forgiving what they said was their share of the roaming fees, just under $4,000.

T-Mobile, however, said it was up to Safaricom to address the balance, not them.

Emails between Labovitz, Safaricom, and T-Mobile, obtained by NBC 7 Responds, show that Safaricom and T-Mobile were going back and forth over which party was responsible for the high-roaming fees.

From my point of view, you as Safaricom can waive it to the customer, but what is the rationale from T-Mobile to not bill Safaricom? Wrote T-Mobile representative to Labovitz and a worker from Safaricom.

T-Mobile declined to provide a formal statement for the story. NBC 7 Responds asked for an explanation as to why the roaming fees with Safaricom customers are so high. A spokesperson for the company said T-Mobile could not comment on specific contracts.

Labovitz says he has paid the remaining $9,845 for the roaming fees left after Safaricom refunded a portion of the bill.

He is thankful the bill wasnt more than it was.

I cant even think what would happen if my son got on my phone for a half-hour.A southern white rhino is pregnant, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park announced Tuesday; another step in stopping the extinction of an entire rhino subspecies.

Amani is a 10-year-old southern white rhino who was artificially inseminated on July 12. The father is a southern white rhino named J Gregory.

She was one of six rhinos relocated from private reserves in South Africa to the safari park in 2015.

Its the second white rhino pregnancy at the zoo this year. The first, Victoria, was announced back in May. She was also artificially inseminated.

Artificial insemination of rhinos is rarely attempted in zoos with even fewer births, the safari park said.

The team is anxiously awaiting the arrival of our very special babies, San Diego Zoo spokesperson, Dr. Barbara Durrant, said.

Rhino pregnancies last anywhere between 16 to 18 months, according to the San Diego Zoo.

Christina Simmons

The last male northern white rhino, Sudan, was euthanized in March because of old age. He was 45.

There are now only two northern white rhinos left on Earth  both female.

The southern white rhino is the closest relative to the northern white rhino, although they are two distinct subspecies. Still, the southern white rhino may be the key to saving its close relatives, the zoo said.

Southern white rhinos can serve as surrogates for northern white rhino embryos created from frozen stem cells the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research has collected.

Its very possible that a northern white rhino calf is born in the next 10 to 15 years, according to researchers at the institute.

Down to Earth: Extinction Crisis with NBC 7's Dagmar Midcap (Segment 1)

This isnt the only effort the zoo has made in protecting critically endangered rhinos.

The pregnancy announcement comes one day after the San Diego Safari Park said it was relocating an east African black rhino to Tanzania.

The relocation aims to help stop the decline of black rhinos. There are only 5,000 left on the planet.

[G] San Diego's Cutest Critters

World Rhino Day is September 22, and the Safari Park is sure to celebrate the exciting pregnancy and other work that could help stop total extinction.Virginia House Republicans filed a redistricting proposal Tuesday they said would fix districts a federal court found were unconstitutionally gerrymandered.

GOP Del. Rob Bell introduced the remedial map, which House Republicans said in a statement was politically neutral and "race-blind." They said it alters 30 House districts, including the 11 that the court ruled in June must be redrawn because lawmakers had illegally packed in black voters to make surrounding districts whiter and more Republican.

The move comes about three weeks after Democrats proposed their own map, which Republicans called a partisan power grab with no chance of passage.

The fight could eventually affect control of the House, which next holds elections in 2019. Republicans currently hold a narrow 51-49 majority after Democrats picked up 15 seats last year.

Republicans maintain that the current map, adopted in 2011 with bipartisan support, is constitutional and are appealing the court's decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.

GOP House Speaker Kirk Cox said in a statement Tuesday that effort would continue. But he also said Republicans would engage with their Democratic colleagues on "this map or a different one" to achieve a remedial plan that could draw bipartisan support.

"If Democrats are serious, they'll come to the table and engage in good-faith discussions. If they don't, then it will be clear that they are only interested in a self-serving map to bolster their political standing, whether it's obtained through the legislative or judicial process," Cox said.

House Democrats issued a statement saying they would continue to analyze the Republican map but that it "does not solve the constitutional infirmities" the court found.

"As per usual, it would appear this is just more empty rhetoric from the House Republicans as they continue to attempt to delay implementation of new maps that remedy their racial gerrymander," House Democratic Caucus Executive Director Trevor Southerland said in a statement.

A House committee is scheduled to work on redistricting Sept. 27. The court gave lawmakers an Oct. 30 deadline to redraw the map.

Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam and his team will analyze the Republicans' effort, spokeswoman Ofirah Yheskel said.Prosecutors told jurors that a former Virginia Tech student charged as an accessory in the death of a 13-year-old girl was closely involved in helping a friend plan the killing.

But Natalie Keepers' lawyers told the jury Tuesday that Keepers believed the talk of killing the girl was just a fantasy.

The conflicting portrayals of Keepers came during opening statements at her trial. Keepers has pleaded not guilty to being an accessory before the fact in the 2016 fatal stabbing of Nicole Lovell.

Commonwealth's Attorney Mary Pettitt said Keepers discussed various ways of killing Lovell with her friend, David Eisenhauer, The Roanoke Times reports . Keepers' attorney said Keepers only participated in the discussion to maintain her friendship with Eisenhauer.

Keepers, of Laurel, Maryland, and Eisenhauer, of Columbia, Maryland, were both freshmen engineering students at Virginia Tech at the time of the killing. Lovell was a Blacksburg middle school student.

Eisenhauer is now serving a 50-year sentence after pleading no contest to first-degree murder.

The first witnesses to testify included a Blacksburg police detective and an FBI agent who interviewed Keepers.

Jurors were shown several video clips from the interviews. In one, Keepers gave a detailed account of how Eisenhauer stabbed Lovell to death in the woods.

"He wanted me there to help," Keepers said. "He wanted me to help kill her."

Keepers said Eisenhauer drove her to Virginia Tech before the killing and she went to her dorm room. She has denied being present for the stabbing.

Keepers, now 21, also told police in the video clips that she and Eisenhauer talked about different ways to kill Lovell.

"He was bouncing so many ideas off my head, I couldn't keep track of them all," she said. "He was the one who officially developed the plan."

During Eisenhauer's trial, prosecutors said Eisenhauer met Lovell online and communicated with her for months before meeting her in person. They said he subsequently killed her because he feared she would expose their relationship.

During Eisenhauer's trial, a detective testified that Keepers said she was not present for the killing but that she helped Eisenhauer clean Lovell's body and dump it in North Carolina.

"She referred to Eisenhauer as a sociopath and to herself as a sociopath in training," Detective Ryan Hite said.What to Know Wendy Martinez of Northwest DC was attacked Tuesday evening while jogging.

She had just gotten engaged a week earlier, her family said. She was chief of staff at a software and data company.

Police released surveillance video Wednesday afternoon showing the suspect walking along 11th Street NW.

Update: An arrest has been made in this case. Read the story here.

A 35-year-old woman jogging in the Logan Circle neighborhood of Northwest D.C. was killed in a brutal stabbing Tuesday evening, and police are still searching for the man who attacked her.

Wendy Martinez of Northwest Washington was jogging in the 1400 block of 11th Street NW when she was attacked just before 8 p.m., police say. According to her family, she had just gotten engaged a week earlier.

News4 obtained surveillance video that shows Martinez stagger into the Asian American Carryout restaurant and apparently plead for help. She collapsed a short time later.

The manager of the restaurant said he heard someone scream and saw Martinez covered in blood.

"I scared. I dont know what happened, and I just try to call police," said the manager, who asked not to be identified.

Strangers rushed to the woman's side to help her, and the manager called 911. Martinez died of her injuries a short time later.

Police released surveillance video Wednesday afternoon showing the suspect walking along 11th Street NW. Footage from another camera shows him walking with a knife in his hand.

The knife used in the stabbing was found nearby.

D.C. police chief Peter Newsham said police do not have a motive yet, but the "unsettling" attack was likely random.

Police initially said they were looking for as many as three men in connection to the stabbing, but at a news conference Wednesday afternoon, Newsham said investigators believe she was attacked by a single man.

"You have an incident like this  it's very scary. We haven't gotten to the bottom to see if this is someone that she knew or exactly what the motive is, but it's disturbing," Newsham said.

Martinez was an avid runner who lived in an upscale apartment just three blocks away.

She and her boyfriend got engaged just last week, her family said in a statement.

"Wendy Karina Martinez was the light of our lives. Not only was she an avid runner, but she was a devout Christian, a wonderful friend, and a driven professional. Everything you hope that a daughter and a friend could be," her family said Wednesday. "She was also excited to be planning her upcoming wedding to her fiance, Daniel Hincapie. They were engaged just last week."

"Simply put, Wendy was fearfully and wonderfully made! Now we know she has found the one whom her soul loved. (Song of Solomon 3:4)," the statement said.

Martinez's family asked for respect for their privacy as they grieve and urged anyone with information on her killing to contact police.

Martinez was chief of staff of the software and data company FiscalNote.

"The entire FiscalNote family is shocked and deeply saddened to learn that Wendy Martinez, our Chief of Staff, was killed last night," the company said in a tweet Wednesday afternoon. "Wendy was an invaluable member of our team and a vibrant member of the community. Our thoughts and prayers are with Wendys family and friends."

Martinez was a University of Florida and Georgetown University graduate who previously worked for the Organization of American States and the Inter-American Development Bank, according to her LinkedIn page.

The crime rate in the area near Logan Circle is relatively low, with few violent crimes reported, D.C. crime statistics show. A number of upscale homes and trendy restaurants are located near the scene of the crime.

The attack left other joggers in the area stunned.

"As a runner, it's pretty terrifying. You'd think running on lit streets, you would be safe, but thats mind-boggling," one woman said.

Another woman who jogs in the area brought flowers to the crime scene Wednesday morning, telling News4 that the victim easily could have been her.

Anyone who can help police is asked to call 202-727-9099.The politics of natural disasters can be tricky for a president.

Long before President Donald Trump tossed paper towels to storm-stricken Puerto Ricans and denied Hurricane Maria's official death toll, his predecessors struggled to steer the nation through life-and-death emergencies.

To project empathy without looking weak. To show both command and cooperation. To put the focus on victims  but provide leadership, too.

As Trump visits North Carolina on Wednesday to survey damage from Hurricane Florence, a look back at how presidents have grappled with the challenges and opportunities of disaster politics:

TRUMP

Trump is not known for shows of empathy and relishes fights he thinks will resonate with his core supporters.

That includes a bitter and lasting brawl with Puerto Rico in the year since the U.S. territory was devastated by Hurricane Maria. He also has grappled with getting it right in ruby-red Texas and Louisiana after Hurricane Harvey, which dumped nearly 50 inches of rain near Houston.

Trump's first post-Harvey trip to Texas generated blowback for his failure to meet with victims of the storm. Four days later, he returned  and urged people at a Houston shelter to "have a good time." He also cheered on volunteers and emergency workers and handed out hot dogs and potato chips to residents. Some critics said the president's trip took on the tone of a victory lap for successful disaster management.

Trump has had trouble keeping facts right about the devastating storms under his watch.

In June, Trump said on a conference call that the Coast Guard had saved thousands of people while Houston was under water, including what he suggested were hurricane gawkers. "People went out in their boats to watch the hurricane. That didn't work out too well," the president said. There is no indication the Coast Guard rescued foolhardy storm watchers drifting off the Texas coast.

Then there's Puerto Rico, flattened by Maria as a Category 4 storm nearly a year ago. Trump pumped two fists in the air when he landed in San Juan last October. The enduring image was of Trump at a San Juan church lobbing paper towels into the crowd as if shooting baskets. At the time, it seemed to reflect Trump's brand of playfulness. Many people in the crowd smiled and raised their phones to record the moment. But critics quickly dubbed it inappropriate for the massive, grim crisis at hand.

A year later, the official death toll from the storm stands at 2,975. Even as Hurricane Florence approached the Carolinas this week, Trump rejected that count and griped that it's the product of Democrats trying to make him "look bad." He also tweeted that San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz, a frequent Trump critic, is "incompetent."

"The victims of Puerto Rico and the people of Puerto Rico in general do not deserve to be questioned about their pain," said Gov. Ricardo Rossello.

OBAMA

On Oct. 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandy made landfall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and became the costliest storm in U.S. history behind Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Republican Gov. Chris Christie invited Democratic President Barack Obama to view the storm damage, and when the president arrived, the two shared a friendly, widely photographed greeting. At one point, as the two shook hands, Obama put his left hand on Christie's right shoulder. The resulting image was derided by some conservatives as a "hug"  and a potential re-election boost for Obama when he was being challenged by Republican Mitt Romney.

The storm is blamed for 182 deaths and cost about $70 billion in New Jersey and New York.

It was one of several natural disasters that gave Obama the opportunity to play the traditional role of comforter in chief.

A year earlier, a tornado devastated Joplin, Missouri, with winds up to 250 mph and claimed at least 159 lives. Obama visited the moonscape of rubble and tree stumps, and delivered an emotional memorial service speech in which he told the stories of heroic efforts by individuals during the storm.

"It's in these moments, through our actions, that we often see the glimpse of what makes life worth living in the first place," Obama told the crowd.

BUSH

President George W. Bush, praised for his leadership after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, stumbled during what proved to be the government's inadequate response to deadly Hurricane Katrina four years later.

Heading back to Washington after nearly a month on his ranch, Bush had Air Force One fly over part of the devastation, giving him a view of it from high above. The moment was preserved in photographs and generated criticism that he didn't come in person.

"Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job," he told FEMA Director Michael Brown, three days after Katrina flooded New Orleans. The storm left 1,800 people dead and caused $151 billion in damage. Much public blame went to the Bush administration for a too-slow response.

Together, the vacation, the high-altitude tour and Bush's "Brownie moment" left a lasting impression that the president had been detached from the tragedy on the ground.

In his 2010 book "Decision Points," the former president reflected on his mistakes during Katrina, writing that he should have urged the evacuation of New Orleans sooner, visited sooner and shown more empathy.

CLINTON

Bill Clinton, who famously claimed during the 1992 campaign "I feel your pain," was a natural at connecting with disaster victims. As president, he visited Des Moines, Iowa, the next year to examine flood damage in the region. He shook hands with people who had lost their homes as well as National Guard troops.

During a visit to a water distribution center, a woman can be heard in footage preserved by C-SPAN telling him, "My house was flooded."

"I'm so sorry," Clinton replied.

A weeping woman in pink with a blue small cooler in her hand told Clinton: "My parents lost their home and I have not been home for like a week. I can't take it anymore."

He draped an arm around her and said, "Hang in there."By imposing tariffs on $200 billion more in Chinese goods starting next week, President Donald Trump has intensified his trade war with Beijing and triggered the likelihood of price increases for many American companies and consumers.

Beijing has said it will swiftly retaliate against American exporters  a move that stands to hurt U.S. farmers and other companies that sell their products to China. Beijing may also raise obstacles for U.S. companies to do business in China.

Here's a look at what's happening and its likely impact.

WHAT IS THE U.S. DOING?

The Trump administration will begin taxing $200 billion in Chinese goods starting Monday. The tariffs will start at 10 percent and rise to 25 percent in 2019.

The target list is huge, ranging from rattan mats to burglar alarms to bicycles. But the administration struck some items from the originally planned $200 billion tariff list, including bicycle helmets and other child safety products. And, in a victory for Apple Inc., smart watches and some other electronics products won't be subject to the new tariffs, either.

The administration and Beijing have already imposed import taxes on $50 billion worth of each other's products. Beijing's target list of U.S. goods to penalize was heavy on agriculture.

That's hardly a coincidence. Its tariffs are meant to deliver pain to American farmers, who overwhelmingly backed Trump in the 2016 election and whose interests are represented by powerful lobbyists and members of Congress. Exports to China account for about 60 percent of the overseas sales of American soybean farmers, who stand to lose sales as a result of China's tariffs.

WHAT'S BEHIND THE U.S.-CHINA RIFT?

The Trump administration has accused China of using predatory tactics in a lawless drive to overtake America's technological supremacy. U.S. officials point to Beijing's long-range development plan, "Made in China 2025," which calls for creating powerful Chinese entities in such areas as information technology, robotics, aerospace equipment, electric vehicles and biopharmaceuticals.

Foreign business groups argue that "Made in China 2025" is unfairly forcing them to the sidelines in those industries. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative concluded after an investigation that China's tactics range from requiring U.S. and other foreign companies to hand over technology in return for access to the vast Chinese market to outright cyber-theft. The U.S. also asserts that Beijing uses state money to buy American technology at prices unaffordable for private companies.

The Trump administration said the new tariffs on an additional $200 billion in Chinese imports was a response to Beijing's failure so far to end those tactics.

WHAT'S THE LIKELY IMPACT FROM A U.S.-CHINA TRADE WAR?

It's not entirely clear. Economists at Bank of America Merrill Lynch have warned that a full-fledged trade war, especially one that lasts more than a year, would slow the U.S. economy. By disrupting supply chains, eroding business confidence and heightening uncertainty, a trade war, they say, could "push the economy toward full-blown recession" and jeopardize America's economic expansion  the second-longest on record.

Besides American soybean farmers, American manufacturers are also being squeezed. Machinery and components used in finished goods made in the United States have been affected. U.S. manufacturers are having to pay more for parts and equipment, thereby putting them at a competitive disadvantage to foreign rivals.

ISN'T THE U.S. ALSO SPARRING WITH OTHER TRADING PARTNERS?

Trump is battling in just about every direction. He has imposed tariffs on imported steel and aluminum  action that has drawn retaliatory tariffs from U.S. allies like Canada, Mexico and the European Union. The president is also threatening to impose tariffs on imported vehicles and auto parts on the grounds that they pose a threat to America's national security.

Trump also wants to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement, which includes the United States, Mexico and Canada, with a new agreement that would shift more auto production to the U.S. The administration has already reached a deal with Mexico that excluded Canada. Talks to keep Canada in a North American trade bloc have been ongoing, with the two longtime allies divided over such issues as Canada's dairy market and U.S. efforts to shield drug companies from generic competition.

By brawling with America's friends, critics say, Trump has squandered an opportunity to build a united front against China. After all, Europe, Japan and other rich countries have the same complaints about Chinese trade practices that America does.

IS THERE ANY REASON TO EXPECT A RESOLUTION?

There have been periodic reports that the Trump administration was on the verge of resuming talks with Beijing. Informal communications are still going on, administration officials have said, but no formal talks are scheduled.

For a time, it looked as though peace might be at hand. In May, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin declared the trade war "on hold." The Trump administration suspended its tariffs after Beijing agreed to increase its purchases of U.S. goods, especially in agriculture and energy. The idea was that China's additional purchases would shrink its trade surplus with the United States. Yet the cease-fire was short-lived. Critics dismissed Beijing's commitments as vague, and Trump decided to proceed with the tariffs after all.

HAVE THERE BEEN TRADE WARS BEFORE?

You'd have to go back to the 1930s to find anything close to the hostility between the U.S. and its top trading partners right now. During the Great Depression, many countries, including the United States, closed their markets to imports. A plunge in global trade likely worsened the Depression.

Many less intense trade conflicts have followed. President Ronald Reagan slapped tariffs on $300 million worth of Japanese imports in a dispute over the semiconductor industry and strong-armed Tokyo into accepting limits on car shipments to the United States.

In 2002, President George W. Bush imposed tariffs on Chinese steel. The move allowed U.S. steel producers to increase prices, raising costs for companies that buy steel and pressuring them to cut back elsewhere. But the tariffs are thought to have cost significant U.S. job losses.

In 2009, the Obama administration imposed tariffs on Chinese tires, charging that a surge in imports was hurting the U.S. tire industry. Beijing counterpunched. It imposed a tax of up to 105 percent on U.S. chicken feet  a throwaway item in the U.S. that's considered a delicacy in China. The Peterson Institute for International Economics calculated that the tariffs probably saved 1,200 American tire jobs. But consumers paid over $900,000 in higher tire prices for each job saved.A man was arrested at a Northern Virginia grocery store after he was seen pulling down his pants and rubbing produce items on his buttocks, police say.

The suspect then put the items back on the shelves, a loss prevention employee at the store told authorities, according to Manassas City Police.

Officers responded to the Giant grocery store at 10100 Dumfries Road in Manassas shortly after 4:30 p.m. Saturday. Officers arrested Manassas resident Michael Dwayne Johnson, 27, at the store.

The store had to destroy several pallets of produce after the incident, police said.

Johnson is facing charges of indecent exposure and destruction of property. It wasn't immediately clear if he had an attorney.

A police spokesperson did not have information on what type of produce Johnson allegedly defiled, although she said a police report mentioned it was fruit.

A Giant store manager said he was unable to speak about the incident.Almost two years after a Winthrop, Maine, teenager confessed to killing her parents on Halloween, she admitted her guilt before a judge, entering guilty pleas to two murder charges and an animal cruelty charge.

Nineteen-year-old Andrea Balcer, who was born Andrew but now identifies as female, has accepted a plea deal that would sentence her to a maximum of 55 years in prison.

"It's not rocket science - [she] confessed to committing the crime," said defense attorney Walt McKee when asked why his client changed her plea.

In the moments after the murder, Balcer can be heard on 911 tapes laughing about stabbing her father Antonio. She later told detectives in a taped interview that she stabbed her mother, Alice, as she tried to give her a hug goodnight. Balcer told police she stabbed the family dog to death because it was making too much noise, but spared the life of brother, Christopher.

Months later, in an interview with a psychologist, Balcer allegedly said she committed the crimes because of years of pent up anger and frustration with her parents. She said when she was a child, she told them she wanted to live life as a female, but they told her no.

Days before the plea change, Balcer's explanation changed again. In a jailhouse interview with the Kennebec Journal, Balcer said she "snapped" due to years of sexual abuse at the hands of her mother.

"She just kind of started with a hug and kiss," Balcer told the newspaper, adding that the abuse progressed and lasted for about two years.

She said the day of murder, her mother came into her bedroom and hugged her. "She whispered into my ear, 'Do you want me to make everything better?'" That's when Balcer said she snapped, and plunged a knife into her mother's back.

McKee said evidence of alleged sexual abuse will be presented at a sentencing hearing as he asks for a sentence lighter than 55 years.

Prosecutors say they will challenge those sexual abuse claims at that hearing. "Our position is, we don't accept that as reality," said assistant Attorney General Bud Ellis.

Balcer's brother, Christopher, told the Kennebec Journal that there was no abuse in the Winthrop home the family shared.

A judge expects to sentence Balcer in November.As the controversy surrounding Brett Kavanaugh unfolds, a Boston University law professor is watching closely.

Jack Beermann knows Kavanaugh professionally, having spoken at conferences with him over the years.

"We travel in the same circles because we are both interested in administrative law," Beermann said.

So Beermann was not surprised after the retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy, when President Donald Trump tapped Kavanaugh as his Supreme Court nominee.

"He is the absolute darling of the conservative legal movement," Beermann said.

Nothing about the confirmation hearing surprised Beermann either. He knew there would be controversy  he says there always is.

"And they were going to try to pressure him into saying something more definitive about cases like Roe v. Wade, which no nominees ever will answer those questions," Beermann added.

What does surprise Beermann are the allegations from California professor Christine Blazy Ford, who accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her more than 30 years ago, when she was 15 and he was 17.

"I think that the Senate Judiciary committee is doing the right thing by pausing the process to hear the accuser and Judge Kavanaugh, under oath, discuss what allegedly happened," he said.

Beermann does not think the allegations are automatically disqualifying.

"It's not a shock that teenage boys under the influence of alcohol might do something that is going to be viewed as really inappropriate," he said. "But we don't know what happened."

Much like the Anita Hill hearings of 1991, Beermann says Kavanaugh's confirmation process will come down to who people believe.A prominent Vermont arts organization is working with a production company to come up with a new way for the city of Burlington to celebrate New Years Eve, after a long-running event announced it would be coming to an end.

First Night Burlington announced earlier this year it would be taking its final bowending a 35-year runciting brutal cold last year and other years, which cut into revenues.

Its always a challenge for nonprofit arts organizations to find sustaining funding, said Becky Cassidy of First Night Burlington.

The celebration was modeled after First Night Boston, bringing parades, concerts, comedy, circus acts, and more to Vermonts largest city on New Years Eve.

When we found out that was not going to happen this year, we immediately knew we had to do something, Zach Williamson of Burlington City Arts said of First Night Burlingtons announcement to cease operations.

BCA is now teaming with the Burlington production and events company Signal Kitchen to ask performers, community groups, businesses, and others what should be showcased in a fresh New Years Eve party, called Highlight.

Proposals will be taken through October 15, with some funding available to make top ideas a reality.

The easy thing would be to do exactly the same thing, Williamson said. But we knew something had to be changed to reimagine the event, reignite the excitement, get people involved again.

Williamson described the approach to designing the programming for Highlight as grassroots, and said he hopes that it will celebrate the many creative thinkers and talents in Burlington.

Williamson said he expects Highlight to appeal to a wide range of community members, from families during the day to a younger crowd in the evening.

BCA said it hopes to see Highlight grow in future years after the initial launch this New Years Eve.

I wish them luck, said Bob Conlon, the owner of Leunigs Bistro on the Church Street Marketplace.

Conlon said he appreciates the push behind the new event, hoping itll attract visitors wholl want to return to downtown Burlingtons prime shopping and dining district.

Conlon said he knows there will be challenges, though.

Youre pushing that boulder uphill to get people to go out when its very cold, the restaurateur observed.

One big question for this new event: will there be fireworks?

Williamson said hes optimistic for fireworks, but noted its not a done deal yet. He said he wants to focus first on programming, to ensure a good crowd thatll be energized to explore the citys waterfront.

To learn more about how to propose shows or activities for Highlight Burlington, and to apply online, visit the Burlington City Arts website.A New Hampshire pet groomer is facing animal cruelty charges in connection to an incident involving the death of a dog that was allegedly found held in a noose.

Following an investigation, Beth Bessemer, 57, of Hampton, was arrested Saturday, Aug. 28, on two counts of cruelty to animals.

Police said they had received a complaint from a woman who said her golden retriever died while in the care of Bessemer on June 21.

Investigators said Bessemer left the dog unattended in a crate with a heated dryer blowing on him and with a noose around his neck, causing his death.

Authorities also alleged Bessemer deprived the dog of "necessary care and sustenance" by leaving him unattended.

After a warrant was issued on Sept. 19, Bessemer turned herself into police.

She was released on her own recognizance and is scheduled to be arraigned on Oct. 30 in the 10th Circuit- Seabrook District Court.

Bessemer has been prohibited from contact with other people's pets as part of the conditions of bail.

It's unclear if she has an attorney.A Massachusetts man faced a judge on Wednesday in connection with an alleged hate crime incident and altercation at a cell phone store in Arlington.

Andrew Robert DeCarlo, 36, of Somerville, was charged with assault with intent to intimidate as a hate crime in Cambridge District Court.

Arlington Police said officers were called to the Verizon Wireless store on Massachusetts Avenue around 8 p.m. Tuesday for a disturbance.

When they arrived, a Verizon clerk told police a man, later identified as DeCarlo, had entered the store and asked the clerk to fix his cell phone.

When asked if he had Verizon service, DeCarlo said he did not. The clerk told him he could not help because he was only allowed to handle and repair Verizon phones.

At that point, DeCarlo became irate and began shouting racial and anti-immigrant epithets at the clerk while making threatening movements towards him, according to police.

DeCarlo, who is known to police, left the store but was arrested shortly after the incident.

"Whether you live or work in this community, you have the right to do so without being placed into fear," Arlington Police Capt. Richard Flynn said. "This was clearly a situation where this man, because of his ethnic background, was placed in fear and theres really no place for that."

DeCarlo will appear in Somerville District Court Thursday for violating probation in an unrelated case.What to Know A woman was killed and a man was stabbed following a pedestrian crash and road rage incident in Watertown, Massachusetts.

The Middlesex DA's office said a woman in her late 60s was struck by a flatbed tow truck and pronounced dead.

A man the victim was with became engaged in an altercation with the driver of the tow truck and stabbed him 5 times in the torso.

A pedestrian has been fatally struck by a tow truck in Watertown, Massachusetts and her son retaliated against the driver by stabbing him multiple times.

The Middlesex District Attorney's Office said Watertown police responded to a call around 11:20 a.m. for a reported road rage incident underway on Watertown Street after a woman in her late 60s was struck by a flatbed tow truck.

The woman was pronounced dead at the scene not long after officers arrived.

"At approximately the same time, a younger man, believed to be related to the victim, became engaged in an altercation with the driver of the tow truck," said Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan. "The driver of the tow truck was stabbed approximately five times in the torso."

Zeidan Taha said he saw the road rage unfold.

"(And) the driver tell them, 'I didnt see her, I didnt see her,'" Taha recalled.

Moe Taha, who owns nearby Jana Grill, said the driver ran inside his restaurant for help.

"The driver was running for his life," he said. "I brought water and I brought rags. Yeah, a lot of rags because they are bleeding a lot."

The driver, who works for Fogerty's Towing, was taken to a Boston area hospital where he is listed in critical condition.

The man who stabbed the truck driver following the pedestrian crash was taken into custody and brought to an area hospital. He's not expected to appear in court Wednesday.

Authorities are not yet releasing the names of anyone involved.

"We are in the process of notifying the next of kin so we are not releasing the identification of anyone at this point," said Ryan.

Authorities launched a drone over the scene at Galen and Watertown streets near the Watertown Square Apartments  to assist in their investigation.

Watertown police said Watertown Street was closed. They were asking motorists to seek alternative routes.

"We just ask the public to help us with that and stay away from this general area," Watertown Police Chief Michael Lawn said.

The incident remains under investigation by police and the district attorney's office.The U.S. Coast Guard station in Vermont says all boaters can learn from actions taken that led up to a successful rescue Tuesday night on Lake Champlain.

A womans 17-foot catamaran sailboat capsized near Schuyler Island when the weather on the lake quickly got rough, the Coast Guard said.

The sailor, who left from the Winooski River on the Vermont side of Lake Champlain, had a cell phone in a waterproof case, so was able to call 911, according to the Coast Guard.

Then, as rescuers were looking for her around 8 p.m. Tuesday, she was able to use that phone as a strobe light to draw attention to herself.

Coast Guard crewmembers said the woman did another thing right, by staying on top of the sailboat rather than trying to swim to shore. The Coast Guard calls that a good idea, as long as theres not a fire or other immediate danger you need to escape.

It gives us a lot bigger item to look for, instead of just a small persontheir head and shoulders, explained Petty Officer Third Class Lucas Weston of the U.S. Coast Guard Station Burlington. When youre looking for a 17-foot boat, its a lot easier.

The Coast Guard encourages all boaters to wear life vests, as the sailor in this case did.

The womans life vest had trouble inflating, Weston explained, due to a problem with a CO cartridge, so he encouraged boaters to make sure theyre familiar with their equipment.

Weston said the sailor who needed saving Tuesday night did not suffer any injuries.

It will be up to the owner of the sailboat to come up with a plan to remove it from the water, rescuers noted.Using a sole communications technology doesnt make sense in many Internet of Things (IoT) implementations, says connectivity vendor Sigfox.

In fact, the company, which provides Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) networks, says one could use a hybrid that includes an unlicensed LPWA network along with a licensed, cellular LTE narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) or LTE Cat M1 network solution instead. That way you can support cheap, unlicensed IoT short messaging close up, as is offered by Sigfox and others, and then offload the sensor traffic to more expensive, licensed LTE cellular mobile networks as the devices move off home base, such as what happens in asset tracking, Sigfox says.

One size fits all is no longer valid, said Ajay Rane, vice presdient of mobile network operator business development for Sigfox, speaking at Mobile World Congress Americas in Los Angeles last week. Sigfox says a new duo chip  a multi-mode, hybrid, LTE LPWA microprocessor created with GCT Semiconductor  is now available for integration into IoT modules, and some manufacturers are in development with it.

[ Read more: Download a PDF bundle of five essential articles about IoT in the enterprise ]

Why hybrid IoT communications is best

Rane says many IoT communications projects are over-specified using only cellular and that Sigfoxs 12 byte message limit, with transmissions at most every 10 minutes, offers significant cost, weight, and power advantages if all youre doing is sending a short message, such as a temperature or position.

Rane acknowledged during his presentation, however, that Sigfoxs LPWA network isnt as far reaching as cellular networks  hence the radical Sigfox geo-fenced optional offload to LTE from the duo-network chips. That combination will save money over a dedicated NB-IoT cellular solution, Rane says.

Licensed NB-IoT networks are coming on stream now. T-Mobile launched a national network in July, and AT&T said it will launch one in 2019. Verizon is also working on one, and Dish Networks is due in 2020, according to AGL Magazine. All of them, including Sigfoxs unlicensed LPWA network, offer low data throughput with good power management  well suited for many kinds of IoT sensors.

But for tracking, cellular networks have widespread, national connectivity, unlike Sigfoxs network running on the unlicensed Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) 915 MHz band. While a global network, Sigfoxs U.S. base stations are predominantly around major airports.

Power use, though, is one of Sigfoxs primary differentiators. How much energy will you expend when you send a message? Rane asked at the show. Its important because that will determine how long your battery will last. Sigfox claims it offers the best battery longevity  in part because of its limited message size.

And power and weight go hand in hand because when power requirements are low  as Sigfox says they will be while on its network  the battery can be small. That weight and physical size can be a big issue in applications like healthcare, where a person might carry the battery-containing sensor for long periods, or in the aforementioned tracking, where one is paying a shipper by the ounce.

Supply chain and logistics is an area that French company Sigfox says its network is suited to, as is transportation maintenance. Growth could be significant, with 500 million things expected to be tracked by 2023, according to research by ABI released last week.Rare item expected to fetch up to 20,000 when it goes under the hammer

A GUITAR from The Rolling Stones legend Ronnie Wood's personal collection will go under the hammer at Special Auction Services in Greenham today (Wed) for an estimated 20,000.

The unique item, a hand-painted Gibson SG Guitar which is signed and dated by Wood, will be auctioned on Wednesday.

The guitar is offered with case, stand and full written provenance, including a photocopy of a hand-written note from Wood to the vendor.

It bears Woods illustration of the Royal Albert Hall, a venue that he has himself played, along with a host of other bands including The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and The Who.

Usually, Woods artwork is also sold as limited edition prints, but the painting on the guitar is believed never to have been reproduced in this fashion, making it genuinely unique.

This guitar was originally sold for charity in 2007.

Prior to joining The Rolling Stones in 1975, Wood was with the seminal British R&B group The Birds and later progressed to the Jeff Beck Group and the Faces.

He trained at Ealing College of Art and is an accomplished and collectable artist in his own right, with his illustrations of The Stones and icons of popular culture exhibited across the globe.

The guitar has an estimate of 16,000 to 20,000.(ANSA) - Rome, September 19 - Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said Wednesday that he had no reason to apologise to the African Union and denied having compared migrants to slaves. Earlier on Wednesday the African Union expressed dismay about reported comments by Salvini last week and called on him to retract them.

"There is nothing to apologise for," Salvini told a press conference at the interior ministry.

"I deny (making) any equation between immigrants and slaves.

"On the contrary, my statements in Vienna were to defend migrants, who some want to use as slaves.

"If some people want to think badly (that's up to them), perhaps the was a mistake in the French translation". Salvini had a verbal spat with Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn last week after reportedly saying Europe does not need new slaves to make up for low birth rates.

"The African Union Commission expresses dismay at the comments made by the Italian Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Matteo Salvini, at a recent conference in Vienna at which he likened African immigrants to slaves," the AU said in a statement. "It is the view of the African Union that name-calling will not resolve the migration challenges facing Africa and Europe...

"In the interests of constructive engagement on the migration debate between the two continents, the African Union requests the Italian Deputy Prime Minister to retract his derogatory statement about African migrants and further urge Italy to emulate and support other European Union member states, like Spain, which have extended support and protection to migrants in distress, irrespective of their origin and legal status, before their admission status is determined".

NEW MILFORD The Weatinoge Heritage Land Trusts annual Fall Celebration has grown each year its been held, organizers said, and Saturday was no different.

Hundreds of families flocked to Smyrski Farms 220-acre preserve for a day of hay rides, childrens activities, live music and  a fan favorite  hot air balloon rides.

The free event is the Land Trusts way of allowing the community to learn about its work at the farm, which is typically closed to the public throughout the year, and the other 10,000 acres of land it protects throughout the area.

We protect 4,000 acres in the town of New Milford alone and here at Smyrski Farm youre sort of in the heart of our protected lands, said Catherine Rawson, Weatinoges executive director. Its also just a terrific day for children and families and a way to thank our members and the community.

The farm, which the land trust leases to farmers, includes historic barns, trails and over a mile of the West Aspetuck River.

Saturdays celebration, the fifth year the event has been held, attracted both returning families and newcomers to the celebration.

The Bennett family, who had just moved to New Milford, said they thought the event would be good chance to meet their new neighbors. They were most excited to see the birds of prey show that was planned for later in the day and paint pumpkins, a new activity this year.

Kirsten Lean and her 6-year-old son, Curtis Mangar, who were returning to the festival for the fourth time said they arrived early to ensure they got a chance to ride the hot air balloon.

They were excited to check out the hay ride and other activities next, Lean said.

Theres more festivities this year which is super exciting, she said. Wed be here all day (if we could).

aquinn@newstimes.comNEW MILFORD  Voters will decide the fate of the library at the polls in November despite pleas from some library supporters to make the decision at a town meeting this month.

Whether the $6.5 million for the renovation project would be approved by residents at a town meeting or with a referendum has been a controversial topic since Councilman Paul Syzmanski proposed it last month.

Most council members said a referendum was the most transparent and fairest way to decide because more people come out for elections and the all-day voting is easier for residents schedules. They also said it eliminated the risk of residents triggering a referendum, which would leave the council with little to no say on when that referendum would be held.

Advocates for the town meeting said theres a greater chance of the project failing at referendum because residents who dont want to pay for any projects will oppose it and waiting until November delays the project.

The council approved adding the project to the ballot for the Nov. 6 election in a 6-2 vote with councilmen Peter Mullen and Doug Skelly opposing. Szymanski was absent.

A town meeting is still scheduled for Sept. 26, but will now be informational with a question-and answer-session and without a vote.

Making your town a better place by improving the library and spending the money is worth it because the value is there, Mullen said. If this goes to referendum, you run the risk of this not going through.

Mullen said there were no objections from council members for the $4 million turf project to be decided at a town meeting a few years ago and the library should be treated the same.

Skelly, who was on the turf committee, said that until the town process changes and a specific amount is set to automatically require a referendum, these projects should be decided at town meetings.

Other council members countered the $6.5 million was too high to be decided by a small group of residents who turn out at the meeting. Both council members Katy Francis and Tom Esposito said residents still tell them theyre angry the turf project was voted on at a town meeting instead of a referendum.

Im going to support the referendum, but I will also support the library and stand in front of any camera you want to tell constituents we need this and we need this now, Esposito said, adding the publics support is apparent from meeting turnout and comments he has heard in the community.

About 50 people came out for the special meeting to support the library Monday, and dozens have packed other meetings throughout the approval process.

Councilman Mike Nahom said he originally opposed the library project and thought it was not needed, but has become a supporter after learning about the usage numbers and the bond rating. He said other library advocates will have to work hard to educate people like him to make them supporters as well. He said he will help spread the message so the project passes.

Some council members said this is the first time that all of the boards have supported the proposed library project, which is a good sign for how the community will receive it.

This is the third time the town has tried to renovate and expand the library. New Milford has not renovated its library since the 1970s. In that time, all but one other library in the state have been renovated. The project would expand the library from 15,000 to 22,000 square feet, adding much-needed community meeting spaces and enlarging the children and young adult areas.

The current library project is expected to cost $8.5 million. Money from the trustees, a state grant and the Waste Management Fund are also being considered for covering the other $2 million not included in the bond.

kkoerting@newstimes.com; 203-731-3345(ANSA) - Milan, September 19 - Former ENI CEO and current AC Milan Chairman Paolo Scaroni was acquitted of international corruption Wednesday in a case involving alleged kickbacks paid by the oil group's engineering unit Saipem to Algeria's former energy minister and his entourage in exchange for contracts to exploit oil deposits in the African country.

Also acquitted was ENI manager Antonio Vella.

ENI was also acquitted.

A Milan prosecutor in February asked for a six-year and four-month prison term for Scaroni. The prosecutor also asked for a 900,000-euro fine for the fuels group and Saipem.

He also asked for eight years in jail for Farid Noureddine Bedjaoui, trustee of the then Algerian energy minister, who is alleged to have been the beneficiary of the bribes.

Prosecutors had claimed it was "easier" for ENI to use its subsidiary to move the alleged kickbacks.

ENI, Scaroni and the other defendants consistently denied the charges.

(ANSA) - Milan, September 19 - Former ENI CEO and current AC Milan Chairman Paolo Scaroni was acquitted of international corruption Wednesday in a case involving alleged kickbacks paid by the oil group's engineering unit Saipem to Algeria's former energy minister and his entourage in exchange for contracts to exploit oil deposits in the African country.

But former Saipem managers as well as the alleged middlemen for the bribe were found guilty.

Also acquitted was ENI manager Antonio Vella.

ENI was also acquitted.

Former Saipem managers Pietro Varone, Alessandro Bernini and Pietro Tali, as well as alleged middlemen Farid Bedjaoui, Samyr Ouraied and Omar Habour, were sentenced to terms ranging from five years and five months to four years and one month over the alleged 197-million-euro kickback.

Saipem was also found guilty, and sentenced to pay a fine of 400,000 euros.

The Milan court ordered the confiscation of 197 million euros, the sum allegedly paid by Saipem to the former minister.

A Milan prosecutor in February asked for a six-year and four-month prison term for Scaroni. The prosecutor also asked for a 900,000-euro fine for the fuels group and Saipem.

He also asked for eight years in jail for Farid Noureddine Bedjaoui, trustee of the then Algerian energy minister, who is alleged to have been the beneficiary of the bribes.

Prosecutors had claimed it was "easier" for ENI to use its subsidiary to move the alleged kickbacks.

ENI, Scaroni and the other defendants consistently denied the charges.

Researchers at University of California School of Medicine are preparing to launch a novel clinical trial to examine the safety, efficacy and pharmacological properties of cannabis as a potential treatment for adults with essential tremor (ET). Currently, ET is treated using repurposed medications originally developed for high blood pressure or seizures. Surgery is another option.

Scheduled for early 2019, the phase I/II trial will assess efficacy and tolerability of an oral cannabis formulation comprised of cannabidiol (CBD) and low-dose tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Researchers say it will be the first time this combination has been studied for treatment of ET.

"This study will provide key insights," said Fatta Nahab, MD, neurologist at UC San Diego Health and associate professor of neurosciences at UC San Diego School of Medicine. "If found to be safe and effective, cannabis would not only serve as an exciting new addition to the limited treatment options currently available for patients with ET, but it might also provide scientists with new insights on essential tremor."

CBD is a major chemical compound found in cannabis. It does not produce the effects of feeling "high," which are caused by THC. Both CBD and THC are two of more than 100 cannabinoids in cannabis and both interact with the body's endocannabinoid system, a network of neurotransmitters that regulate diverse physiological and cognitive processes and response to stress.

In collaboration with UC San Diego School of Medicine's Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research (CMCR), the study will involve a team of researchers evaluating the compound's various properties, including its pharmacology in the body.

"CMCR is excited to collaborate with Dr. Nahab on a study for a difficult-to-treat condition for which cannabinoids may provide a new therapeutic avenue," said Igor Grant, MD, CMCR director and chair of the Department of Psychiatry at UC San Diego School of Medicine. "This work expands CMCR's commitment to develop an evidence-based approach in the area of cannabinoid therapeutics. The oral combination of CBD and THC is the first-of-its-kind to be studied and is especially interesting to CMCR."

The double-blind, placebo-control, cross-over clinical trial will enroll 16 adult participants who have been diagnosed with ET by a movement disorder neurologist. All study participants will be gradually administered an oral cannabis formulation with a 20:1 ratio of CBD to THC. After completing a two-week period at the maximum target dose, participants will taper off, followed by a washout period before crossing over to the alternate study arm.

Nahab estimated the trial will take approximately one year to complete.

Essential tremor is a nervous system disorder characterized by involuntary, rhythmic shaking of any part of the body, most notably the hands. It affects an estimated 10 million American adults, and is often confused with Parkinson's disease. The condition can make routine tasks, such as drinking water or tying shoelaces, difficult. ET usually worsens over time and often becomes a common cause of embarrassment, social withdrawal, disability and loss of occupation for those with the disorder.

Cannabis is a Schedule 1 drug, as defined by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and availability for research purposes is strictly limited. The capsule cannabinoid formulation for this study will be provided by Tilray, a Canada-based cannabis company specializing in the research, cultivation, production and global distribution of cannabis and cannabinoids. Tilray received approval from the DEA to import this medical cannabis-derived study drug into the United States from Canada. Tilray currently serves tens of thousands of patients in eleven countries spanning five continents.AmpliPhi Biosciences Corporation, a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on precisely targeted bacteriophage therapeutics for antibiotic-resistant infections, today announced that the company has received positive feedback, via written response, from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding its development plans for AB-PA01, without the need for a Type B Pre-IND meeting.

"We are delighted with the FDA's response to our development plans for AB-PA01, AmpliPhi's bacteriophage product candidate targeting Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections, and the FDA's concurrence on the proposed design of two randomized controlled clinical trials, in hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated pneumonia and P. aeruginosa bacteremia," said Paul C. Grint, M.D., CEO of AmpliPhi Biosciences. "Resistant P. aeruginosa is designated as 'Priority 1: Critical' pathogen on the World Health Organization's Priority Pathogens List and as 'Serious Threat' by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."

"Additionally, I am strongly encouraged to see the FDA's dedication to addressing the challenges of antimicrobial resistance and promoting the development of new products, including bacteriophage therapeutics, as stated by the FDA's Commissioner, Scott Gottlieb, at the unveiling of the FDA's 2019 Strategic Approach for Combating AMR on September 14, 2018."

AmpliPhi's engagement with the FDA included an update on the company's ongoing Expanded Access Program, as well as the proposed design for two randomized, controlled clinical trials with AB-PA01, the company's clinical candidate targeting P. aeruginosa. The FDA was in general agreement with the proposed clinical trial designs and, based on the current FDA feedback, no additional clinical or nonclinical data are required to proceed with the following two proposed randomized clinical trials:

A Phase 1/2 randomized, controlled clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of AB-PA01, administered intravenously with the best available antibiotic therapy, compared to placebo plus best available antibiotic therapy, in approximately 100 patients with hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated pneumonia (HAP/VAP) due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa

A Phase 1/2 randomized, controlled clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of AB-PA01, administered intravenously with the best available antibiotic therapy, compared to placebo plus best available antibiotic therapy, in approximately 100 patients with P. aeruginosa bacteremia

"Pseudomonas aeruginosa is not only a challenging infection to treat, but one that represents a serious threat to the cystic fibrosis community as well as to lung transplant patients," said Saima Aslam, M.D., Director, Solid Organ Transplant Infectious Diseases, University of California San Diego School of Medicine. "Having been involved in cases that have used emergency INDs to treat patients with investigational bacteriophage therapy, I welcome today's news, as it has the potential to bring more widespread use of this treatment to the critically ill patients who could benefit from it."The city of London will be transformed into a world leading hub for cancer biotherapeutics research and treatment, with a new 14 million investment from Cancer Research UK, announced today (Monday).

The new Cancer Research UK City of London Centre brings together world-leading researchers from UCL, Kings College London, Queen Mary University of London and the Francis Crick Institute. It will become a global center of excellence for biotherapeutics, a pioneering field of cancer research.

Cancer patients over large parts of the capital, including some of the most deprived areas of the city, will have the opportunity to take part in pioneering research as part of their treatment. Around 14 million people, in London and other areas of the country, are covered by the NHS trusts within UCL Partners and Kings Health Partners, and will be set to have access to the very latest innovations in biological cancer therapies.

Dr Iain Foulkes, Cancer Research UKs executive director of research and innovation, said:

Our investment represents a major vote of confidence in Londons place at the heart of global biomedical research and is predicted to bring enormous benefit to the citys residents, businesses and hospitals. The unique research focus of the Cancer Research UK City of London Centre will lay the foundation for the future of precision medicine, where existing treatments are combined with, or even replaced entirely by the latest biological therapies, with the hope of achieving lasting cures for more cancer patients.

Biotherapeutics are any type of treatment that is produced by, involves, or manipulates living cells. These therapies are based on biological processes in cells, which we can engineer to help fight cancer. For example, immunotherapy has transformed our ability to treat some types of cancer, harnessing the bodys own powerful immune system to eliminate cancer cells.

Professor Tariq Enver, center lead at UCL, said:

There have already been huge advances in biotherapeutics, many led from our Centre, and theres enormous potential to transform how we approach the hardest to treat cancers like brain tumors and lung cancer. Our ambition is for the Centre to stimulate further economic activity in biotechnology in London as new companies are formed, and industry partners move in to translate the most promising discoveries into marketable therapies. Londons hospitals will also become flagship centers for treating patients with these new biological therapies, setting the standard for healthcare providers all over the world.

Professor Charles Swanton, Cancer Research UKs chief clinician, said:

We believe that, in the future, the biotherapeutics field will transform cancer care. However, there are several research challenges still to tackle. We need to understand why some patients respond to these new treatments while others dont, and how to identify which patients might experience harmful side effects. Most importantly, we need to optimize their activity to offer more patients access to these therapies who may benefit. With this substantial new funding and world leading expertise, the Cancer Research UK City of London Centre is especially well placed to deliver on these promises. We now know more about the genetic diversity within tumors, how they evolve, and the bodys immune response to cancer, than ever before. Theres a huge opportunity to use this knowledge to develop novel biological therapies that combat tumor evolution and to inform how best to use them in combination with other cancer treatments.

The City of London Centre will gather expertise from each partner institution including specialists in imaging, clinical trials and tumor evolution. Research will span all cancer types, including a focus on childhood cancers. There has been recent progress treating children with immunotherapies and researchers hope to extend this success to even more patients so that everyone, regardless of age or cancer type, can benefit from the latest innovations in treatment.

In addition to accelerating the development of some of the most promising cancer research studies in the capital, the center will also provide multiple new opportunities for collaboration and training. This is the first time that these leading London institutions have partnered to tackle cancer on such a large scale.

Cancer wont be cured by a biologist or a clinician alone, said Professor Enver. We need physicists, chemists, engineers and mathematicians - researchers from many different disciplines  to come together to tackle the disease in new and innovative ways. The Cancer Research UK City of London Centre will be a catalyst for this scientific collaboration.

Sir Paul Nurse, director of the Francis Crick Institute, said:

By collaborating creatively with our university and hospital partners, we will secure the UKs position as a world-leader in cancer biotherapeutics, bringing enormous benefits to cancer patients and their families.

Professor Nicholas Lemoine, center lead at Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, said:

This is a hugely exciting time for personalized medicine. With our growing understanding of tumor evolution and the combined capability of our partner universities and hospitals, this new CRUK City of London Centre has the potential to become world-leading in the development of new biological therapies for cancer.

Professor Peter Parker, center lead at Kings College London, said:Henry Ford Health System's Department of Neurosurgery was awarded a $600,000 grant by the Department of Defense to study the genetic makeup of gliomas, a type of brain cancer, in hope of identifying new therapies.

Houtan Noushmehr, Ph.D., the study's principal investigator, says researchers will explore the molecular features of DNA from patients with aggressive and non-aggressive forms of glioma. Researchers then will apply next generation sequencing to analyze potential changes at the DNA level, hoping to identify a cause that is driving the more aggressive cancer type.

"We are very excited to receive this important grant from the Department of Defense," Dr. Noushmehr says. "This disease not only affects military personnel and veterans, but also civilians as well. We hope to unravel new insights and understanding of this most debilitating disease affecting adults, with the ultimate goal of treating and hopefully expanding new drug targets."

U.S. Sen. John McCain from Arizona died recently after a year-long battle with a glioma brain tumor.

In previous research, Dr. Noushmehr and colleagues discovered that when DNA methylation occurred, patients had a good clinical outcome; when the DNA methylation was lost, patients had a poor outcome. Methylation is a biochemical process that alters the expression of a gene (turns it on or off like a light switch). Researchers also identified a set of molecular signatures or biomarkers that can predict a patient's initial diagnosis. Additionally, they determined which tumors are likely to recur with a more aggressive tumor type by analyzing the patient's initial tumor sample.

Dr. Noushmehr says the emerging field of molecular therapies has the potential to improve patient outcomes. It would also allow neuro-oncologists to predict which patients are at higher risk of recurrence and require more aggressive therapies, he says.

"As a neurosurgeon who has treated glioma patients for many years, I'm excited about this research in this era of precision medicine because the data helps open the door to new treatments and improved clinical outcomes for patients suffering from this type of brain cancer," says Steven Kalkanis, M.D., chair of the Henry Ford Department of Neurosurgery and medical director of the Henry Ford Cancer Institute.RightHear, developer of an innovative solution for accessibility and orientation of blind and visually impaired persons, today announced a dedicated version of the system for hospitals and clinics, making them accessible to people with sight impairments and allowing them to orient themselves independently inside the hospital/clinic. The announcement follows a successful implementation in four Israeli hospitals: Assuta Ramat HaHayal, Assuta Ashdod, Herzliya Medical Center and HaEmek Medical Center.

RightHear addresses the accessibility, orientation and navigation needs of blind and visually impaired persons (as well as orientation challenged individuals), providing them with real-time audio descriptions, through their own smartphone, about their precise indoor location, directing them and narrating their surroundings. The voice notifications are based on information received from Bluetooth beacons (sensors) located in the area. The sensors are installed by the on-site staff, by simply attaching them to the wall with a sticker.

The hospital/clinic dedicated solution implements lessons learned at the Israeli hospitals that deployed the system. Lessons learned include location of the sensors and scripts of various instructions given to the blind/visually impaired persons, directing them during their visit to the hospital or clinic, or even hospitalization.

The smartphone app alerts users whenever they are near a RightHear-enabled hospital/clinic and picks up the signals automatically from the beacons. When the user approaches the hospital/clinic, she/he is told where the entrance is, and is directed by audio descriptions to the various departments, outpatient clinics, elevators, counters, etc. The user is alerted when he/she reaches the desired department and floor, and then, inside the department, he/she is directed to the various counters and rooms.

In addition, the system includes an administrator dashboard, allowing the staff to program and control the system optimally, according to the needs of blind and visually impaired visitors.

Blind and visually impaired persons come to hospitals and clinics both as patients and as visitors. Today, they usually need guidance to orient themselves in the vast space of hospitals or large clinics. RightHear's system allows them to move and orient themselves independently, said Idan Meir, RightHears CEO. Hospital/clinic managers can set the administrator dashboard to a maximum level of detail in every department and corridor.

The RightHear system is suitable for any type of building, including complex buildings (interconnected buildings) like malls, corporations, universities, hospitals, municipalities, airports, museums, supermarkets, hotels, restaurants, QSRs and more.Iron is the top nutritional deficiency in the world, as many as 80 percent of people do not have enough iron in their body according to the World Health Organization.

BetterYou Iron Oral Spray

Whats more, a 2016 study in medical journal The Lancet suggests that a third of the UK population have anemia, so their iron deficiency is at critically low levels.

Typically, those with low iron levels are prescribed oral iron supplementation, but do people know what type of iron they are absorbing? Here, Leading Nutritionist Greg Weatherhead explains more about the different types of iron...

There are two categories of iron supplements, those which contain the ferrous form of iron and those which contain the ferric form says Greg.

Ferric iron is the oxidized form of iron which makes it less reactive than the ferrous form, meaning it is less likely to act as a free radical and damage cells once within the body.

One specific form of ferric iron, known as ferric EDTA, has been the subject of a large clinical trial demonstrating its superiority over other forms.

The trial, published in the Tanzanian Journal of Health Research, shows how a 5mg supplement of this form of iron provided the same increase in iron levels as a 10mg ferrous iron supplement.

This form of iron reduces the oxidative stress imposed on the body by the more reactive ferrous forms of this element which are known to cause more side effects.

Irrespective of the type of iron, any iron supplement which travels through the digestive system will have gastrointestinal side effects such as abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting and constipation.

As iron is hard on the digestive tract only a fraction of the iron consumed will be absorbed, leaving the remaining iron to sit in the stomach, liver and large intestines, causing irritation.

Aside from tablet forms, there are alternatives such as oral sprays which offer a solution to the digestive discomfort and poor absorption experienced from traditionally ingested iron supplements.

An intra-oral spray does not rely on primary processing by the digestive system, with absorption beginning immediately in the mouth

BetterYous award-winning Iron Oral Spray delivers 5mg of highly bioavailable, ferric EDTA iron. The tiny droplets within the spray absorb quickly into the inner cheek and rich vein network below, with absorption beginning immediately. It comes in a great tasting baked apple flavor to support usage.

BetterYous Iron Oral Spray is available from www.betteryou.com and from all good health stores.

How vitamin oral sprays work Play

Source: https://betteryou.com/Oxford University spin-off secures European medical device certification for software enabling a digital video camera to remotely detect pulse and breathing rate, with the potential to transform care for elderly and vulnerable people in rooms where staff cannot always be present

The British Standards Institute (BSI) has accredited Oxehealths vital signs measurement software as a Class IIa medical device in Europe.

This is the first time that software enabling a digital video camera sensor to remotely measure vital signs has been approved as a medical device.

No global medical device regulator, including the US Food and Drug Administration, has previously approved a device of this nature.

To detect pulse rate, the device works in the same way as the familiar pulse oximeter, which detects the slight changes in skin color caused by the blood being pumped around the body.

However, unlike a pulse oximeter, which must be attached to a patients skin, it can be used to monitor pulse rate remotely. The device also detects the movements of the body caused by breathing to count breathing rate.

The Oxehealth vital signs measurement software will now be marketed alongside the companys existing suite of contact-free activity tracking tools, which are already being used by NHS trusts and care homes to assist staff who need to monitor patients at risk of falls, self-harm or other injuries.

Chief executive Hugh Lloyd-Jukes said:

I am thrilled by the European medical device accreditation, which confirms that our technology can take spot measurements of pulse rate and breathing rate that are as accurate and safe as a device that you clip on the skin. Pulse oximeters are used in GP practices and hospitals every day. The difference is that we measure pulse rate and breathing rate entirely contact free, anywhere in the patients room. This will be hugely beneficial to public and private sector organizations that care for elderly and vulnerable people, whose staff cannot be present in every room or do not wish to interrupt the rest of the people they are looking after.

The European medical device accreditation is the culmination of six years work by Oxehealth, a spinout from Oxford Universitys Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. From the start, the company worked closely with clinicians.

The first clinical studies were completed at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford and tests were later conducted at the Broadmoor Psychiatric Hospital and Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust.

To secure the accreditation, the company had to complete a clinical pivotal study to prove the efficacy of its product, and to build a medical device Quality Management System covering its software development and business processes. Both were assessed by The British Standards Institute, acting as a Notified Body on behalf of the MHRA.

The Oxehealth vital signs measurement software will now be launched as part of the companys Digital Care Assistant solution, which uses an optical sensor to pay attention to patients when clinicians cannot be with them. The DCA software alerts staff to risky situations, such as a patient getting out of bed, leaving a room, or moving into a risky area, so staff can intervene quickly.

The system also generates reports that give teams objective data on activity. These are invaluable in shift handover meetings and for understanding patient behavior.

Lloyd-Jukes added:In a class of roughly 30 neurological disorders that includes ALS, Huntington's Disease and Fragile X Syndrome, the relevant mutant gene features sections of repeating base pair sequences known as short tandem repeats, or STRs. Healthy people have STRs of normal lengths distributed across their DNA. For people with trinucleotide repeat (TNR) expansion diseases, however, the STRs in the mutant genes are unstable: the number of repetitions expand into ultra-long lengths that are related to the disease's pathology.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have found another common thread linking nearly all of the TNR expansion diseases: the complicated 3D patterns that the DNA is folded into in order to fit in the nucleus of the cell. They found that nearly all of the STRs known to grow unstable in disease are located at the boundaries that separate neighboring folded domains.

The researchers also created high-resolution genome folding maps around the FMR1 gene in patients with Fragile X Syndrome and in healthy individuals. They found that the 3D genome was misfolded in disease; the boundary was destroyed around FMR1 in all Fragile X patients who also had pathologic STR expansion and FMR1 silencing.

The findings establish a strong correlation between 3D genome misfolding, short tandem repeat instability, and pathologic gene disruption in these deadly and debilitating diseases, suggesting new research questions whose answers could improve diagnosis or treatment.

The research was led by Jennifer E. Phillips-Cremins, assistant professor in Penn Engineering's Department of Bioengineering and in the Perelman School of Medicine's Department of Genetics, along with James Sun and Linda Zhou, members of her lab.

Their study was published in the journal Cell.

At the core of the mystery behind TNR diseases is what causes their repeating sequences to pathologically expand. The same exact repeating patterns appear in hundreds of thousands of other locations along the linear genome, in genes and non-coding regions alike, but are not known to become unstable.

"I wanted to work on this project because I was fascinated by the idea that 3D genome folding?--?something I had barely even heard of before joining the Cremins lab?--?could be the missing piece to understanding why certain parts of the genome behave the way they do," Zhou says. "In this case, why can repetitive DNA in certain genes become unstable while others do not?"

Mapping the DNA's 3D folding patterns has only recently become possible, so the genes related to TNR diseases have predominantly been studied via their linear sequences.

The researchers' findings were enabled by the Cremins Lab's technique for producing genome folding maps. By fixing the DNA such that its 3D folding patterns are preserved prior to sequencing, two distant parts of the linear sequence will end up in the same string of hybrid DNA and will thus be detected together when the DNA is sequenced. Statistically mapping these associations provides a high-definition picture of which disparate parts of a linear sequence are in physical contact?--?and thus can affect one another's gene expression?--?when the genome is in its folded state.

Zoomed out, this map looks like a line of densely packed cities, set off from one another by stretches of highway. Each of these "cities" is a topologically associated domain, or TAD, and contains sequences that are in physical contact with one another. The highways between the cities are known as boundaries; they contain linker sequences that physically prevent neighboring TADs from interacting with one another.

In trying to determine what makes the unstable repeats associated with TNR diseases different from their stable counterparts, the researchers considered whether their location with respect to genome folding patterns played a role.

"Every human individual has hundreds of thousands of short tandem repeat tracts distributed throughout their genome. The repeats exhibit wide variation in sequence, location in the gene body, normal and mutation length ranges, the cell types they affect and the phenotypes they produce," Phillips-Cremins says. "But, for the handful of short tandem repeat tracts known to grow unstable in disease, nearly all are localized specifically to genome folding boundaries."

The strength of this correlation immediately raised questions of causality for the researchers: do boundaries provide a local environment where the genome is susceptible to repeats, or do the repeats determine the location of a boundary in some way?

"Recent studies have provided strong evidence that the 3D genome can be misfolded in specific cancers and disorders of limb development," Phillips-Cremins says. "As we initiated our studies to understand the cause-and-effect relationship between boundary placement and repeat expansion, we also began to wonder if we would observe topological changes in TNR diseases or if the boundaries remained intact at the locations of repeat instability."

Collaborating with Beverly Davidson of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Flora Tassone of UC Davis, Phillips-Cremins and her co-authors studied brain tissue and B cells donated from patients with Fragile X syndrome and compared them to cells donated by their healthy siblings.

"We discovered that in Fragile X Syndrome, the leading cause of intellectual disability in the United States, the DNA is misfolded at precisely the same location where the genetic defect and pathogenic gene silencing occurs," Sun says. "This finding raises the profile of many important questions about the relationship between genome folding, repeat expansion, and gene silencing, which we hope will one day lead to insights that might inspire therapeutic options for children affected with the disease."

That the boundary home to the Fragile X gene is destroyed is highly suggestive that this change is related to the disease's gene silencing. Questions of causality will need to be addressed before researchers fully understand folding's role. The recently developed gene editing technology CRISPR/Cas9 will enable Phillips-Cremins and her colleagues to conduct experiments that explore the potential causal role of the 3D genome in repeat expansion.

"We're tremendously excited to examine whether and how the 3D genome misfolding in Fragile X syndrome is causally linked to the silencing of gene expression in this disease. In our ongoing studies, we want to determine if gene silencing disrupts the boundary, or if boundary disruption silences the gene," Phillips-Cremins says. "Mechanistic studies have predominantly focused on the linear DNA thus far, but we can now add a new third dimension to understanding the genetic underpinnings of TNR diseases."More than 80 percent of strokes are caused when a blood vessel to the brain becomes blocked, called an ischemic stroke. The right treatment at the right time can make a critical difference in a patient's life. University of Calgary researchers have discovered that not all clots that cause stroke are the same. The discovery will help emergency physicians determine which patients should be given a clot-busting drug and which should be prepped for surgery.

There are two main treatments for stroke caused by a clot in a blood vessel in the brain. One treatment, mechanical thrombectomy, involves pulling the clot out with a specialized catheter that is inserted into the artery in the groin and guided by imaging to the clot. This procedure is only performed at hospitals that specialize in these techniques. The other treatment, which is more widely accessible, involves giving a patient a clot-busting drug that helps the body dissolve the clot.

Quick decision making on which treatment is best for which patient is critical because the clot deprives brain cells of oxygen causing them to die. For physicians, knowing which patients will benefit the most from the clot-buster Alteplase (also known as tPA) just got easier.

University of Calgary scientists with the Hotchkiss Brain Institute at the Cumming School of Medicine (CSM) have discovered that clots have different compositions and depending on where they are located in the brain, administering tPA can be almost as effective as thrombectomy given sufficient time.

"We've known that, when administered quickly, tPA can be effective in stroke, but until now, we didn't realize how effective it can be and we didn't understand the specific reasons why it works better in some cases than others," says Dr. Bijoy Menon, MD, associate professor in the departments of Clinical Neurosciences, Radiology and Community Health Sciences at the CSM. "Our findings show that some clots are permeable, which allows the tPA to penetrate the blockage and dissolve it. We saw that within two hours, greater than 50 percent of permeable blockages had dissolved."

The UCalgary study led out of the Foothills Medical Centre is the largest of its kind to date, involving nearly 600 patients at 12 medical centers in five countries (Canada, the Czech Republic, South Korea, Spain and Turkey). The findings are published in JAMA.

"Despite earlier research on the benefit of using tPA, we know there is still some reluctance in the medical community to use it. These findings should provide physicians with definitive evidence on the value of giving patients tPA as soon as they've confirmed the stroke is due to a clot," says Dr. Andrew Demchuk, MD, professor in the departments of Clinical Neurosciences and Radiology. "It's critical that anyone showing symptoms of a stroke be given a CT-angiogram as soon as possible to confirm the blockage. The scan will guide whether tPA is likely to dissolve the clot and may inform whether the patient also needs thrombectomy."

A CT-angiogram (computer tomography scan) is a common noninvasive diagnostic tool that allows physicians to see images of the blood vessels in the brain. Researchers found that clots in the carotid artery of the brain do not respond to tPA, and for these patients, thrombectomy is required.

"Strokes happen at anytime, anywhere. Knowing who needs thrombectomy can help physicians make better decisions on how to prioritize patient transfers to specialized centres for this procedure," says Menon. "Data gathered in Europe showed that up to one-third of hospital transfers aren't necessary."

"Stroke is an important health care problem and one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide," says Dr. Brian H. Rowe, scientific director, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health, which supported this study. "Through continued scientific research, important discoveries like this one will improve our ability to match patients with the most effective treatment for this particular injury. This will help speed up recovery times, reduce the associated impacts such as paralysis, and it will improve patient outcomes and ultimately save lives."

Drs. Menon and Demchuk add that for the science community these findings will help researchers better design studies that target dissolving the clot with new clot-busting drugs or combination treatments.

Led by the Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Brain and Mental Health is one of six strategic research themes guiding the university towards its Eyes High goals. The strategy provides a unifying direction for brain and mental health research at the university and positions researchers to unlock new discoveries and treatments for brain health in our community.(ANSA) - Reggio Calabria, September 18 - A British woman has found a second family in Calabria born of the WWII Italian soldier who had a relationship with her mother while a POW in England.

After years and years of looking, Dorothy Janes, 73, found three half-brothers in the town of San Ferdinando.

The town on Tuesday rewarded her tenacious search for her roots by making her an honorary citizen.

Janes, born in Crawley in 1945, is the natural daughter of Antonio Mazzitelli, who had a relationship with her mother Joyce Punnel.

The authorities took a very dim view of such affairs and the relationship ended with the war, when Mazzitelli returned to his native Calabria, married a townswoman and had three children.

Having high levels of anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH)  a hormone that indicates the size of a womans ovarian reserve  before the menopause is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, new research suggests.

In a major new study, leading scientists from NYU School of Medicine analysed blood samples from participants of ten cohort studies  including the Breast Cancer Now Generations Study at The Institute of Cancer Research, London  to examine the association of AMH levels with breast cancer risk.

The team examined blood samples from 5,957 premenopausal women from across the USA, the UK, Sweden and Italy, and found that those in the quartile with the highest levels of AMH in their blood were 60% more likely to develop breast cancer  both before and after menopause  when compared to those in the lowest quartile.

AMH is produced in the ovaries, and blood levels of the hormone are commonly incorporated into fertility tests. High levels of the hormone indicate a larger ovarian reserve  the capacity of the ovaries to produce viable egg cells. AMH is a marker of time to menopause, with levels peaking between the ages of 20-25, before declining and becoming undetectable after menopause.

Those with higher AMH levels for their age tend to reach menopause later in life, which is itself known to be a risk factor for breast cancer  but the study found that AMH levels predict breast cancer risk even for cases of breast cancer that occur before menopause.

The new analysis, published in the International Journal of Cancer, was led by Anne Zeleniuch-Jacquotte, Professor in the Departments of Population Health and Environmental Medicine at NYU School of Medicine, in collaboration with colleagues at The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR). The team examined AMH levels in participants blood samples that had been collected prospectively, comparing those in the highest quartile (top 25%) for AMH levels with those in the lowest quartile (bottom 25%).

In the analysis of 2,835 participants with breast cancer and 3,122 controls of similar ages, higher levels of AMH were found to be significantly associated with an increase in breast cancer risk, with the trend being seen across the entire range of AMH levels.

Results were adjusted for potential confounding risk factors for breast cancer such as BMI, how many children each woman had had, a family history of breast cancer, and the age at which each woman started her periods (menarche).

Looking at whether AMH levels were linked to risk of developing breast cancer of a certain subtype, the team found that those with the highest levels of AMH were 96% more likely to develop breast cancer that is susceptible to being driven by both estrogen and progesterone (ER+PR+ breast cancer) than those with the lowest levels of AMH.

The team is now examining whether incorporating AMH levels into current risk prediction models could lead to improved prediction of breast cancer risk in premenopausal women. It is hoped that being able to incorporate these hormone levels could help provide a more accurate indicator of risk for younger women, in particular to identify those at a higher risk of developing hormone-positive forms of breast cancer  providing women with more information on whether risk-reducing measures would be appropriate for them.

Study leader Anne Zeleniuch-Jacquotte, Professor in the Departments of Population Health and Environmental Medicine at NYU School of Medicine, said:

The link we found between anti-Mullerian hormone and breast cancer risk is interesting because few markers of risk in the blood have been identified for premenopausal women. Our study found a moderate risk increase, and we hope additional markers can now be found to help substantially improve individual risk prediction. International collaborations like this one are critical to finding blood markers of breast cancer in younger women because individual studies often enroll too few young women to provide reliable results.

Study co-author Anthony Swerdlow, Professor of Epidemiology at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, who leads the Breast Cancer Now Generations Study, said:

Our collaborative study gives the strongest evidence yet that anti-Mullerian hormone levels are linked with womens risk of breast cancer. In future, anti-Mullerian hormone could be factored into new ways of predicting individual womens risk of developing the disease. The causes of breast cancer are highly complex and not yet fully understood. Pooling together large datasets is key to understanding how the many different causes interact and affect breast cancer risk.

Baroness Delyth Morgan, Chief Executive at Breast Cancer Now, which helped fund the research, said:

The discovery that high levels of anti-Mullerian hormone in the blood could indicate women at an increased risk of breast cancer is really promising. We now need to understand whether adding this blood test to current prediction tools could help give women a clearer picture of their risk, and identify those who could benefit from more frequent screening or preventive measures, such as tamoxifen. Breast cancer risk is affected by a combination of our genes, lifestyle choices and events throughout life. With many contributing factors, such as pregnancy and menopause, relating to female sex hormones, it is vital that we continue to build our understanding of how these hormones affect womens risk. Whilst there are some things you cant change, there are steps all women can take to lower their breast cancer risk, such as maintaining a healthy weight, reducing your alcohol intake and keeping physically active.

The Breast Cancer Now Generations Study is a landmark prospective study of the causes of breast cancer that is following over 113,000 UK women for 40 years. With more women being diagnosed with breast cancer than ever before, the Study  which is based at The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR)  continues to investigate the genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors that may change a womans risk of developing breast cancer.

The Study has already led to a number of significant discoveries into the interlinked causes of breast cancer, including clarifying that women taking combined HRT are 2.7 times more likely to develop breast cancer than non-users, and that smoking is particularly associated with an increased risk of breast cancer among those who began smoking during adolescence.Ganesh Chaturthi, a 10-day long Hindu festival, honours the birth of Lord Ganesha.In Delhi, a few big pandals have started eco-friendly initiatives. Unlike previous years, the idol won't be immersed in the Yamuna river. The aim is to combat pollution and avoid traffic jams.(ANSA) - Milan, September 18 - Young people between 18 and 25 will be able to go to La Scala for two euros starting with the next season at the iconic Milanese opera house, Culture Minister Alberto Bonisoli said Tuesday.

The minister made the announcement after meeting with La Scala Superintendent Alexander Pereira.

"it's an initiative aimed at the new generations who often consider culture with skepticism or because they experience malaise, culture is not a solution but it can help," Bonisoli said.

The plan has been proposed to Italy's other 14 opera foundations and they have all accepted, he said.

A team of Secret X-Men is taking to the stars for a special mission in 2022

Meet the Secret X-Men ... who you actually already knowNew Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday described India and Bangladesh as members of the same family while inaugurating with his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina a pipeline project and a railway project connecting the two countries.

"Geographically we may be neighbours, but in our hearts we are members of the same family," Modi said while addressing the event via video-conferencing from New Delhi.

"We have shown the world, what can be achieved when neighbours work together," he said, adding that there has been unprecedented progress in cooperation between the two sides in the last few years.

The India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline connecting Siliguri in India with Parbatipur in Bangladesh will transport petroleum products from Numaligarh Refinery in Assam.

Of its 129-km length, five km is in India and the rest is in Bangladesh.

At the same event, the ground-breaking ceremony of the Dhaka-Tongi-Jaydebpur railway project was also held.

The two projects come a little over a week after both the Prime Ministers inaugurated two railway projects and an electricity project connecting the two countries on September 10.

Stating that the pipeline will further boost bilateral cooperation, Modi said that energy was the cornerstone of any country's development.

"The pipeline will help in the development of the northern Bangladesh.

"Though it is being done with grant-financing from India, the project will be dedicated to the people and government of Bangladesh once completed."

Modi said the railway project will bring relief to road traffic in Bangladesh.

Speaking from Dhaka, Hasina said that ever since she formed her government in Bangladesh in 2009, she has been working relentlessly to deepen ties with India.

She thanked Modi for the two new projects which she said will help in the development of Bangladesh.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan joined the video conference from Delhi and Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali from Dhaka.Johannesburg : South Africa's Constitutional Court on Tuesday ruled that the country's ban on possession, consumption and private cultivation of cannabis was "unconstitutional", in effect decriminalizing the recreational use of the popular psychoactive substance.

The first step towards easing South Africa's stringent restrictions on marijuana consumers came in a landmark judgment last year by the Western Cape High Court, which found that the prohibition on using and growing the plant at one's own residence violated the right to privacy.

The Constitutional Court has now upheld that decision and expanded its scope, Efe news reported.

"The right to privacy is not confined to a home or private dwelling," said Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo when delivering the ruling. "It will not be a criminal offence for an adult person to use or be in possession of cannabis in private space."

Activists in favour of normalizing the status of cannabis had gathered in front of the court building, many of them sporting the red, yellow and green colours associated with Rastafarianism -- an Afrocentric religious movement born in Jamaica in the 1930s and popularized by reggae superstar Bob Marley among others -- that places a strong spiritual value on the ritual smoking of ganja, a Caribbean word for cannabis.

In South Africa, marijuana is popularly known as "dagga".

According to the report, exultant activists rejoiced as they learned of the verdict, with some seen smoking marijuana from a large bong-style pipe made from a coconut.

Some were holding up placards with slogans such as "Give Me My Medicine", "God Created Cannabis for Us - Genesis 1:29", "Cannabis Is My Right" and "Free The Weed".

The historic case was brought by Jeremy Acton (the leader of Iqela Lentsango: The Dagga Party of South Africa) and Rastafarian attorney Gareth Prince, while Myrtle Clarke and Julian Stobbs, known as "The Dagga Couple", also signed onto the lawsuit.

The Dagga Couple were arrested at their home in 2010 for possessing over 115 grams of weed and were therefore charged with drug dealing and intent to sell.

They eventually turned the case on its head when they sued seven different sectors of the South African government and challenged the constitutionality of cannabis prohibition, with Tuesday's ruling representing an indisputable victory on that front.ALEXANDRIA OF EGYPT - The port of Venice is working on a memorandum of understanding with the customs of Alexandria in Egypt ahead of a cooperation with all of Egypt, said the president of the port authority of the northern Adriatic Sea - Ports of Venice and Chioggia, Pino Musolino. He stressed that the operation is part of Venice's role as the New Silk Road that China is organizing through Egypt and its Suez Canal.

''We have already started discussing to sign a MOU with the customs of Alexandria first, then we will see if we are able to do it also with the Egyptians in general'', said Musolini on the sidelines of the forum in Alexandria of Egypt called ''Egyptian-Italian dialogue on maritime economy''.

The aim, he added, is to ''exchange good practices and especially create forms of boosted cross-custom and cross-border cooperation''.

''We have navigation lines well under way with Alexandria, Damietta, Port Said'', said Musolino, ''and we are continuing to work on this, verifying the possibility of optimizing, under a win-win perspective, as the Chinese say, relations and exchanges between Egypt and Italy''.

''We can't ignore the calls and intuitions that the Chinese have launched with the Belt and road initiative'', said the head of the Venice port authority, referring to the new silk road, ''because, within this great infra-structural and trade plan, the passage through the Suez Canal and Egypt is fundamental''.

Dubai : On the eve of the marquee clash against India, Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed on Tuesday acknowledged the pressure of the high-octane match but maintained that as players the approach to every game remained the same.

"There's always pressure in India-Pakistan games. We've told our players, not just this game, consider every match as an India-Pakistan game if you want to win the event. There's pressure, but we're trying to not let it affect us, and perform well," Sarfraz said in the pre-match presser.

"As players, we take India-Pakistan match very normally, but when the match comes up, the sort of hype that's created - TV channels discuss it, there are small programmes on social media so the hype has an impact.

"But the players are told that whenever there's an India-Pakistan match, you will try and play like you play any other game." he added.

Sarfraz also dismissed the cliches surrounding the battle between Indian batting and Pakistan's bowling, saying he hoped it to be a good contest.

"A lot of people say this game is between Pakistan's bowling and India's batting. But I don't believe that."

"If you see the past season, our batting is doing well, and bowling is also doing well. I feel it'll be a good contest and I am hoping we put on a good show," he said.

On being asked if he expected another contest on the lines of last year's ICC Champions Trophy final in England, which his side won handsomely, the Pakistan stumper preferred to start afresh.

"It was a time in the past and it is gone now. It was obviously a memorable match for us and that will remain in our minds forever," he said.

"The players who were part of that game will remember it throughout their careers. But it is a new event now, new atmosphere, the conditions are completely different. So we'll try to ensure that the momentum that we've got from the first game, we'll take it forward," he added.Sorry!

This content is not available in your regionReggio Calabria congress 'Greece, Magna Greece, Europe' For European Heritage Days

(ANSAmed) - ROME, SEPTEMBER 19 - The Association Bova Life, in cooperation with the National archaeological museum of Reggio Calabria, the Greek embassy in Italy, with the scientific coordination of Professor Louis Godart is organizing for the European Heritage Days on Saturday and Sunday, September 22-23, the international congress ''Greece, Magna Greece, Europe'', to pay homage to the roots of Europe and its founding values.



With Godart, a world-renowned archeologist and philologist, member of the Accademia NAzionale dei Lincei and an advisor for the conservation of artistic heritage of the Italian presidency, the event will be attended by Greece's ambassador to Italy, Tasia Athanasiou, and top Italian and Greek professors and researchers.



''Since the second millennium AD, during the Minoan and Mycenaean pre-colonization until the Classical and Byzantine era - explained Godard - Magna Greece and Calabria had a privileged relationship with Hellas, welcoming those who came from Greek land and recuperating the values of classicism (the centrality of humankind in history and democracy) to transmit to Europe and the world.



The congress vies to illustrate some of the most illuminating pages of this privileged relationship. Stressing these concepts - continued Godart - and showing that they remain one of the pillars of our European culture is fundamental also to stem the aberrant attempts that aim to topple the European construction laboriously built by the founding fathers after the Second World War''.



The congress will take place at 3:30 pm on the 22nd in Reggio Calabria and Sunday morning starting at 10 am in Bova at the Spazio Cultura. (ANSAmed).



Dear Newsie Readers,

Newsie has now permanently ceased it's services as of Friday 20th December 2019.

Newsie has been an owner-funded operation since day one.

Coming up to three years old, while we still firmly believe Newsie has a place in the New Zealand media landscape, the cost in both time and money has become too burdensome for the owners to continue alongside other ventures.

With the current government looking to restructure public broadcasting, and seemingly supporting NZME buying a ring-fenced Stuff, the time seems right to call it a day.

Should it happen, the combination of NZME and Stuff will ensure New Zealands national media will die a death by a thousand opinion-based articles.

Newsie has always tried to stick to balanced news, to inform readers of the facts of a situation, amid being largely ignored by government. Hopefully, one day someone else will take up the challenge to fight the good fight.

The good news, however, is that there were no job losses as a result of Newsie closing. Thanks to careful structuring, everyone involved in Newsie will retain their current positions.

We hope you all have a happy Christmas and new year. Stay safe, and stay out of the news.

The team at NewsieANSAmed - Tomorrow's events in the Mediterranean

(ANSAmed) - ROME, SEPTEMBER 19 - These are the main events scheduled in the Euro-Mediterranean area for tomorrow: TANGIERS - Festival de jazz de Tanger Maroc (until the 23rd).



SALZBURG - Informal Summit of Heads of State or Government.



BRUSSELS - EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, meets Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Foreign Minister of Oman.



LISBON - Seatrade Cruise Med.



GAZA - Visit of a EU Parliament delegation for relations with Palestine in the occupied territories to meet with authorities, civil society representatives, local leaders and human rights defenders.



VALENZANO (BARI) - The second Mediterranean Forum on Research and Innovation comes to end.



CASABLANCA - Boulevard Festival for emerging performing artists in Morocco will begin (until 23/9).



ABU DHABI - The exhibition 'Japanese Connections: the Birth of Modern Decor', continues at the Louvre in Abu Dhabi and includes a series of paintings and etchings from the XIX and XX centuries that highlight the dialogue between the East and the West (until November 24).



ROME - 'Estate in Biblioteca, il Cinema Legge il Mondo', a festival of Italian and foreign films in Rome libraries, organized in collaboration with MedFilm Festival (until September 27). (ANSAmed).



Mendocino Fire breaks record as LARGEST wildfire in California history  watch at Brighteon.com

As the East Coast continues to get pummeled by Hurricane Florence and its residual effects, the West Coast is dryer than a bone in many areas. Wildfires continue to blaze, and as recently reported by ABC News, one of them has now broken the record for being the largest wildfire in California history.

In a video update posted to Brighteon.com, Gabor Zolna from ZolnaReport.com discusses how the Mendocino Fire, as its being called, has burned more acreage in the Golden State than any other wildfire in the states history.

The fire began near Ukiah, located roughly two hours north of San Francisco. At the time of ABC News publishing of the story, more than 290,000 acres of land had already been burned, with firefighters reporting that the blaze was only about 34 percent contained. As of this writing, the National Wildfire Coordinating Group is reporting that the Mendocino Fire ended up burning more than 459,000 acres.

The second largest fire in California history, according to ABC News, was the Thomas Fire, which burned more than 281,000 acres back in December 2017 around Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. The cause of the Thomas Fire is still under investigation.

Folks, I dont know if youre adding up all the acreage thats been burned in California, but its frightening, Zolna explains in his video, which you can watch below at Brighteon.com:

There are 1,400 fires burning west of the Mississippi River

As devastating as the Mendocino and Thomas fires were, theyre merely a drop in the bucket. As of this writing, there are currently 1,400 active fires burning in the western half of the United States right now, the most easterly one burning on the border of Texas and Oklahoma. This is according to the Fire, Weather & Avalanche Center, which tracks active weather events like this.

If you take a look at the interactive map on the groups website, youll see that the West Coast is basically burning up at the very same time that the East Coast is being drenched with record rainfall. These are dichotomous disasters that bode ominous for the United States.

Canada is also experiencing more than its fair share of fire events, with some of the latest reports indicating that there are some 500 wildfires still burning just in British Columbia alone at the current time.

Globally, wildfires in the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Sweden and Australia are burning at an alarming rate, reports Phys.org, blaming the problem on climate change, or course.

You do not expect extensive wildfire in Swedish mountain tundra or in Welsh mountains, but we see that this year, says John Pomeroy, Canada Research Chair in Water Resources and Climate Change and director of the University of Saskatchewan-led Global Water Futures Program (GWF), as quoted by Phys.org.

This is the darkest Ive seen the Athabasca Glacier in my life  The sunrise in Canmore on the morning of Friday, August 17th, 2018, was surprisingly smoky in a way that made it eerily reminiscent of some of the sci-fi doomsday thrillers of the 1980 and 1990s, he added during his interview.

Because Planet Earth definitely seems to be going through a period of escalating catastrophic tumult, the likes of which many people have never before seen in their lifetimes, many are blaming climate change as the usual scapegoat. But as we previously reported, wildfire smoke is actually cooling the planet, which once against busts apart the official narrative.

For more news on the natural disasters around the planet that expert scientists claim are being caused by climate change, check out ClimateChangeNews.com.

Sources for this article include:

ABCNews.go.com

Brighteon.com

InciWeb.nwcg.gov

FireWeatherAvalanche.org

Phys.org

NaturalNews.comROME - The African Union has expressed ''concern'' for the statements made by Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini who, the organization said, ''at a recent conference in Vienna compared immigrants to slaves''.

''The African Union - said a statement posted by the organization online - asks the Italian deputy premier to withdraw his disparaging sentence on African immigrants''.

Salvini has denied comparing migrants to slaves. His press office wrote that ''it is necessary to firmly deny some reports by the international press, according to which minister Salvini called African immigrants 'slaves'. As can be easily verified by the many videos and the minister's statements, Salvini never insulted Africans but instead censored the idea of making them arrive in Europe to force them to work and/or live in such degrading conditions to recall, indeed, slavery. It is the exact opposite of what has been reported by some foreign media outlets''.

The Infinite Blacktop

By Sara Gran

Atria Books. 304 pp. $26

---

If you're familiar with Sara Gran's Claire DeWitt mysteries, I need say nothing more than this: The third novel in the series, "The Infinite Blacktop," has just been published. For those who haven't yet read Gran, trust me, you are in for a singular mystery experience.

Gran's heroine, Claire DeWitt, is one part Auguste Dupin, one part Jack Kerouac-type "Dharma Bum" and allover nasty woman on a mission. The world she inhabits as a private eye is traditional (mean streets, duplicitous clients and an atmosphere of cosmic fatigue) and, yet, so weird that her cases seem like they're taking place on one of those old Anytown, U.S.A., "Twilight Zone" sets. "The Infinite Blacktop" is the most intricately plotted of the series. It's pretty standard for mystery novels to feature two parallel plots that ultimately converge; here, Gran ups the ante by concocting three stories that take place at three different stages of her detective's life, all culminating in an ending that, in trademark DeWitt fashion, only leads to more questions farther down the road.

Of the trio of plotlines, the earliest and most compelling one dates from DeWitt's childhood in the crime-ridden Brooklyn of the 1980s. Claire and her two best friends find each other in fourth grade, bonding on their shared obsession with the adventures of "Cynthia Silverton, teen sleuth and girl detective." (Think Nancy Drew except, like DeWitt herself, weirder.) Inspired by their reading of the monthly comics, Claire and her girlfriends begin solving actual cases that stump the NYPD. Then, one night, one of those friends disappears from the Brooklyn Bridge subway station. Two decades later, the adult Claire ruminates on the long aftermath:

"I became the best detective in the world, just like I'd dreamed of. I met kings and I met magicians ... I met people who had everything on earth except the one thing they wanted the least but needed the most - the truth.

"I solved every mystery I came across.

"Except my own."

But, now, there may be a break in that most personal of cold cases. One day in 2011, the adult Claire awakens on a highway in Oakland, Calif. Claire's car - a tiny Kia that she rented while on assignment - is now a pile of twisted metal. As her memory fitfully returns, Claire recalls that another car, a big white Lincoln, deliberately rammed into her. Thinking about who might want to kill her, Claire recalls something else: A few days earlier, she'd located a rare book dealer who owned a complete set of the elusive Cynthia Silverton comics. On a whim, Claire had answered an ad in one of the old comics that offered a "home-study course ... to earn your detective's badge from the comfort of your own home." She'd sent her application to an address in Las Vegas; abruptly, Claire now realizes that the Lincoln that smashed into her had Nevada plates. Without hesitation, a bruised and bloody Claire hustles away from the accident scene and heads toward Las Vegas, stealing credit cards and false ID along the way. She's determined to find her potential killer(s) before they can ambush her again.

Set chronologically in the middle of these two story lines is what seems to be a less personal case dating from 1999 in Los Angeles. Back then, Claire was young, broke and adrift. Eager to earn her PI license, she accepts the challenge of taking on an LAPD cold case involving the suspicious deaths of two artists. This tale, too, ends up circling back to the Zen-like lessons from those Cynthia Silverton comics, as well as from the other lodestar of Claire's professional life, a slim book she also first read as a teenager called "Detection," by the legendary French detective, Jacques Silette. As Claire says of reading "Detection":

"It was a spell. A virus ...

"Other books would give you ideas and words and things to defend and argue. (BEGIN ITAL)Detection(END ITAL) gave just one thing - the truth - and in its short 123 pages (US reprint edition, 1959) offered us 123 different doors to the same place: each door locked, each ready to be picked open if you worked hard enough."

The peculiar charisma of Gran's mysteries derives not only from her wayward plots but also from eccentric details such as those quotes from the philosopher detective, Silette; detailed excerpts from those slightly sinister Cynthia Silverton comics; and even the tantalizing titles of the other cases Claire references: "The Clue of the Watercolor Butterfly," "The Case of the Bitten Apple," "The Case of the Broken Lily" and "The HappyBurger Murder Case." In time, those of us who've fallen under Gran's spell - or should I say, caught the "virus" borne by her books? - hope to read about all those cases and more.

---

Corrigan, who is the book critic for the NPR program "Fresh Air," teaches literature at Georgetown University.NORWALK  Landscaping along the Merritt Parkway in Norwalk could come closer to the parkways original character as part of the overhaul of the Route 7 interchange.

That means more open views rather than a tunnel of trees that grew up and was removed in recent years to improve safety for motorists.

On Monday evening, the state Department of Transportation and planning consultant Stantec invited public input on the landscaping portion of the interchange-overhaul project.

The project goals and objective, according to the DOT, include preserving, enhancing and/or restoring surviving historic landscapes where practical or where the landscape has been significantly altered, creating a new landscape design that is consistent with the Parkways original design and character.

Alan Kibbe, a Norwalk Association of Silvermine Homeowners board member, found aesthetic and safety reasons to keep wide grass buffers with trees set back rather than have a tunnel of trees above the roadway.

That green grass is safety, Kibbe said. Until they took the trees down, if you had to go off the road there wasnt much choice other than hitting a tree.

More than a dozen people attended the landscape workshop at The Norwalk Inn & Conference Center on Monday. The workshop came as the DOT plans the overhaul of the Route 7/Main Avenue/Merritt Parkways interchanges.

But the project isnt only about improving the interchanges and traffic flow. The views and landscaping have always been integral to the Merritt Parkway, which was built during the 1930s and is now listed on the National Registrar of Historic Places.

Stantec Vice President Gary Sorge, a landscape architect, said one cannot talk about the Merritt Parkway without mentioning the word landscape. The parkway was designed with the intent of healing the scar that was created when the highway was built. That meant creating a transition between the built environment and the natural landscape, according to Sorge.

And to have it appear as if whats off in the distance is natural  its just a natural landscape and the parkway is just perfectly fit into that context, Sorge said. So youll see critical view corridors, youll have scenic vistas off into pastures. You have might have views that terminate into a forest.

Sorge asked workshop attendees to identify key views and features within the project area  a half mile east of Main Avenue and half mile west of the Route 7 Connector  and the most- and least-appealing landscapes and visual features.

While views along the parkway have changed over the years, so also has use of the parkway.

When the parkways were built, that was part of Robert Moses vision for taking people from the city out to the bucolic views of the country, said Bobbie Kinn, of Norwalk, referring to the mid-20th century builder of bridges and parkways in the New York region. And I dont think they ever envisioned 2018 where it is now a major commuter route.

The purpose of the interchange overhaul is to improve connections and mobility at Main Avenue and the Merritt Parkway, as well as at the Route 7 Connector and Merritt Parkway. At present, motorists traveling west on the Merritt Parkway cannot exit to either the north- or southbound Route 7 Connector. Motorists driving either north or south on the connector cannot exit to the eastbound parkway.

The interchange overhaul project was halted first by a lawsuit and later by an economic recession. Before the project paused in 2009 amid the recession, the DOT had arrived at Alternate 21C as its preferred design. The design, which emerged after numerous meetings with residents and other stakeholders, would rely upon ramps but not signals. The design would improve the existing connections and create the four missing connections between the parkway, Route 7 Connector and Main Avenue.

For more information about the project, visit http://7-15norwalk.com.RICHMOND - Virginia Republicans have proposed a new political map to replace one deemed unconstitutional because of the way it concentrated black voters in a few districts.

With a court-ordered deadline looming Oct. 30, Republican leaders of the House of Delegates on Tuesday backed a "politically neutral, race-blind remedial redistricting map" that they said would satisfy the court while causing minimal disruption to existing legislative-district lines.

The move appears to signal that GOP leaders are willing to come to the table when a House committee meets Sept. 27 to consider redistricting plans. It may also suggest they are wary of the map a federal court could impose if they miss the deadline and cannot persuade the Supreme Court to intervene.

Control of the House of Delegates hangs in the balance. Last fall's elections wiped out a 2-to-1 Republican advantage in the 100-seat House, leaving the GOP with a 51-to-49 edge.

"While we maintain the constitutionality of the bipartisan plan adopted in 2011 and will continue to pursue our appeal to the Supreme Court," said House Speaker M. Kirk Cox, R-Colonial Heights, "we are introducing a map today to demonstrate to the District Court and the public that you can, in fact, draw a politically neutral, race-blind remedial map."

The map would not significantly change the political makeup of the affected districts - something Cox touted as a sign that it was not drawn with partisan intent. But House Democrats challenged the notion that the current map's flaws can be remedied without substantially altering that makeup.

"House Republicans have repeatedly stated that their map would maintain a similar partisan makeup to the racially gerrymandered 2011 map," said Trevor Southerland, executive director of the House Democratic Caucus. "We cannot support partisan gerrymandering as a solution to racial gerrymandering."

Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, did not immediately take sides.

"Governor Northam and his team will analyze the majority's effort," Northam spokeswoman Ofirah Yheskel said.

In June, a three-judge panel of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia found that 11 House districts had been unconstitutionally drawn to concentrate black voters. The court set an Oct. 30 deadline to pass a new map.

Northam called the General Assembly to a special session on Aug. 30 to take up redistricting, and Democrats unveiled a plan that drew new lines for 29 districts to fix the 11 that did not pass muster. Most of the districts affected by that plan are around Richmond, Hampton and Norfolk.

But GOP leaders dismissed that proposal as a partisan power grab. House Republican leaders said Tuesday that they supported a map drawn by Del. Rob Bell, R-Albemarle. Bell's plan would change lines for 30 districts, all of them adjacent to the 11 challenged districts.

Cox said the map would not force any incumbents into the same district, but Southerland said it would put two Newport News Democrats, Dels. Marcia Price and Mike Mullin, in that position.

The discrepancy appeared to stem from confusion over Price's physical address in Newport News and a mailing address that she still uses of a relative's home, also in Newport News, where she once lived.

"Delegate Price's official address on file with the House Clerks Office is in the newly drawn district," said Cox spokesman Parker Slaybaugh. "If Delegate Price is living at a different address, we are not aware of that."

House Minority Leader David J. Toscano, D-Charlottesville, had made similar assurances about the Democrats' map before it became clear that in two cases, it would have forced two Republican legislators into the same district. In one of those cases, a delegate had moved.ANSAmed - Today's events in the Mediterranean

(ANSAmed) - ROME, SEPTEMBER 19 - These are the main events scheduled in the Euro-Mediterranean area for today: LISBON - Seatrade Cruise Med 2018 (until the 20th).



GAZA - Visit of a EU Parliament delegation for relations with Palestine in the occupied territories to meet with authorities, civil society representatives, local leaders and human rights defenders (until the 20).



VALENZANO (BARI) - The second Mediterranean Forum on Research and Innovation continues, tools for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security, with 175 graduate students and young researchers from 27 countries participating (until the 20).



CASABLANCA - Boulevard Festival for emerging performing artists in Morocco will begin (until 23/9).



ABU DHABI - The exhibition 'Japanese Connections: the Birth of Modern Decor', continues at the Louvre in Abu Dhabi and includes a series of paintings and etchings from the XIX and XX centuries that highlight the dialogue between the East and the West (until November 24).



ROME - 'Estate in Biblioteca, il Cinema Legge il Mondo', a festival of Italian and foreign films in Rome libraries, organized in collaboration with MedFilm Festival (until September 27). (ANSAmed).



An area of high pressure will move across southern Canada towards Upstate New York this weekend. The weather will respond by being quiet and sunny, but rather cool.

This high pressure will build in behind a strong cold front that will plow through with heavy rain and strong winds on Friday.

By Saturday morning, this front will be well east of Upstate New York. Cool air between the cold front and high pressure system will be moving into the region.

Morning lows will start out in the upper 40s across the Adirondacks and the Southern Tier of Western New York. Low and mid 50s will be widespread through the Finger Lakes, Central New York, Catskills and North Country. The Capital Region will start in the upper 50s.

Morning clouds are likely but should burn off quickly for most of Upstate New York. The clouds may linger longer in the Finger Lakes and Central New York thanks to some extra moisture from Lake Ontario. A spit of lake effect rain cannot be totally ruled out there, either.

By the late afternoon, skies should be clear across the area. High temperatures will be a degree or two on either side of 60 degrees for all but the Capital Region where mid 60s are more likely.

North winds will keep Upstate New York cool this weekend but with ample sunshine and no rain.

Sunday morning should turn out even cooler underneath mostly clear skies. Low 40s will be possible in the Adirondacks, with mid 40s in the Southern Tier and Catskills. Low 50s will be the warmest temperatures along the shore of the Great Lakes, in the central Finger Lakes, and in the Capital Region.

Sunday should be rather sunny, but temperatures will remain cool. Low to perhaps mid 60s should be expected along and south of I-90, with highs ranging through the 50s to the north. A few parts of the Adirondacks may struggle to even reach 50 degrees.

Winds both Saturday and Sunday will be from the north and a bit gusty at times. Expect wind speeds between 5-15 mph with top gusts of 20-25 mph.

Let's break the weekend down by region now:

Western New York

After some morning clouds Saturday, the rest of the weekend should be sunny. No rain is expected.

Temperatures Saturday will reach a high around 60 degrees. Low and mid 60s are likely Sunday. Morning lows both days will be in the 40s with low 50s along the lake shores.

Finger Lakes

Clouds will linger through Saturday morning and into the afternoon before they gradually diminish. A brief shower could be possible. Sunday should be sunny and dry.

High temperatures Saturday will be near 60 degrees after starting in the low and mid 50s. Sunday will have morning lows a few degrees on either side of 50 degrees with afternoon highs in the low to mid 60s.



Central New York

Morning clouds Saturday may persist into the early afternoon before skies turn sunny. A brief morning shower may be possible. Sunday will be sunny with no rain.

Saturday will start in the low 50s with a high near 60 degrees. Sunday will start in the mid 40s with a high in the low 60s.

North Country

A few clouds should quickly be replaced by sunshine Saturday morning. The rest of the weekend will be sunny.

High temperatures Saturday will be near 60 degrees while upper 50s are more likely on Sunday. Morning lows will be in the low 50s Saturday and mid to upper 40s Sunday.

Adirondacks

No rain is expected this weekend with a few early clouds Saturday and sunshine the rest of the weekend.

High temperatures will be in the upper 50s Saturday with low and mid 50s on Sunday. Morning lows will range throughout the 40s both days.

Capital Region

Clouds Saturday morning will give way to increasing sunshine by the afternoon. Sunday should be sunny and dry.

Temperatures will reach the mid 60s both Saturday and Sunday with morning lows in the 50s.

Catskills

After some morning clouds early Saturday, skies will turn sunny for the rest of the weekend. No rain is expected.

High temperatures Saturday will be near 60 degrees. Sunday should reach the low 60s. Morning lows will be near of just above 50 degrees on Saturday and in the mid 40s on Sunday.

Marcus Reed, II, of Syracuse plucks a high find while apple picking at the Beak & Skiff Apple Hill Campus, Lafayette, NY, Monday September 4, 2017.

Plan your weekend

Apple picking in Upstate NY: 2018 list of every orchard, U-pick

31 fun September events in Upstate NY: Art festivals, corn mazes, wine tastings and more

More things to do in Upstate New YorkNorth Korea offers to permanently abolish its key missile facilities in the presence of foreign experts, in a new gesture by leader Kim Jong Un to revive faltering talks with Washington over his countrys nuclear program.

After a summit in Pyongyang, Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in said the North was also willing to close its main nuclear complex but only if the United States took unspecified reciprocal action.

The pledges Kim and Moon made at their third summit this year could inject fresh momentum into the stalled nuclear negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang and lay the groundwork for another meeting Kim recently proposed to U.S. President Donald Trump.

Washington is demanding concrete action towards denuclearization, such as a full disclosure of North Koreas nuclear and missile facilities, before agreeing to key goals of Pyongyang  declaring an official end to the 1950-53 Korean War and easing tough international sanctions.

Trump welcomed the latest pledges, saying they were part of tremendous progress with Pyongyang on a number of fronts, and hailed the very good news from the Korean nations summit.

Hes calm, Im calm  so well see what happens, Trump told reporters at the White House, referring to Kim. Its very much calmed down.

Kim said he would visit Seoul in the near future, in what would be the first-ever visit to South Korean capital by a North Korean leader. Moon said the visit was expected to take place by the end of the year.

The leaders also announced a series of steps to deepen bilateral exchanges in the economy, culture and sport.

Satellite images and other evidence in recent months have suggested North Korea is continuing to work on its nuclear program clandestinely.Italy pressing on migrants but Europe erects barrier Conte insists with Kurz

(by Salvatore Lussu) (ANSAmed) - ROME, SEPTEMBER 19 - Italy, with Premier Giuseppe Conte and Foreign Minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi, is insisting to demand a ''European response'' to the management of migrant flows in the Mediterranean. But a response will take time, if it will arrive. What is certain is that the informal gathering of EU leaders scheduled today and tomorrow in Salzburg will not lead to a final decision - neither on the issue of ports of landing of European missions nor on a reform of the Dublin regulation on asylum.



European partners are divided on the issue. Conte spoke with Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz about the issues on the agenda. Austria has the Union's rotating presidency. After meeting with Merkel and Macron, Kurz travelled to Rome as the last leg of a journey organized to sound out leaders ahead of the summit. ''If we don't want another Diciotti case, we need a European response'', said Conte.



As far as migrations are concerned, the premier stressed the request for investments in North Africa and a review of European missions to enable ports in other coastal countries to be involved in landings.



Kurz stressed once again the need to boost EU border agency Frontex as soon as possible, although the idea has left some countries puzzled, for example members of the Visegrad group.



The heads of State and government of the EU will discuss the specific point of Frontex in talks scheduled on Thursday during the summit in Austria. Other dossiers concerning migrations will be discussed today. However, according to European sources, the gathering will not lead to progress. The only hope in Brussels is to reach a minimum result - recovering a ''constructive climate'', as requested by the president of the European Council, Donald Tusk.



Tusk has warned that the crisis will remain unsolved until there will be some who don't want to end it and are actually ''using'' it to gain consensus.



Moavero, who has travelled to Brussels for a General Affairs Council, has admitted the climate is not particularly favorable for a shared solution. On migrants, he said, ''we are extremely divided, even harshly. But it is a real, political and concrete issue, with an impact on electoral flows''. Indeed the issue is expected to be central to the electoral campaign for European elections scheduled in spring next year. (ANSAmed).



Contributed Photo / Connecticut State Police / Contributed Photo

STRATFORD  A Stratford man was pronounced dead Sunday night after he succumbed to injuries he sustained in a crash that same day where he lost control of his car and hit a tree, police said Wednesday.

Richard Pugh, 32, of Stratford, was driving south on Broadbridge Avenue near Success Avenue on Sunday afternoon when he lost control of his vehicle, Capt. Frank Eannotti said in a news release.EAST HAVEN  Three women have spoken to an attorney alleging Mayor Joseph Maturo Jr. sexually harassed them, claims that arose after he settled a sexual harassment case with a former employee.

The town settled a lawsuit Sept. 12 with former employee Francine Carbone, who alleged she was sexually harassed by Maturo. The settlement will pay $175,000 to Carbone, as well as medical benefits until age 65 and with an undisclosed supplement thereafter.

Roxanne Melillo, who identified herself to WTNH News 8 as one of the three women who made claims about Maturo after the settlement, campaigned against Maturo in 2011, and the other two women worked for the town, according to Legal Investigator Edward Peruta, who worked on Carbones case with attorney Rachel Baird. The former town employees are choosing to remain unidentified at this time.

When the Carbone case was going to trial, Baird was contacted directly by the women, or by a third party, with more information about Carbones allegations, Peruta said, and Baird was prepared to call the women to the stand to testify. The case was settled before witnesses testified.

No one has asked Rachel (Baird) to represent them in a lawsuit, Peruta said, but he will be meeting with one of the women this week about her allegations.

Maturo denied the womens allegations in an emailed statement, calling the news report by WTNH shoddy. He said the report was inaccurate and it sensationalized the issue at the towns expense.

However, a spokeswoman for WTNH said they stand by their story.

Maturos email statement said, Sadly, all of Mrs. Carbones allegedly favorable witnesses were either disgruntled current or former employees with axes to grind or partisan enemies with pending lawsuits or land appeals against the Town.

Mrs. Carbone and her counsel are now parading those witnesses out before the press, despite the fact that they all would have been impeached and discredited had the case actually moved forward, the Maturo statement said.

No complaints were filed with human resources or the administration with respect to any of the accusers, including Carbone, Town Attorney Joseph Zullo said. The towns first notification of a complaint was when Carbone filed a lawsuit.

One of the women who alleges Maturo sexually harassed her is named on Carbones witness list, Peruta said. According to the statement from Maturo, the woman retired in 2014 prior to a hearing to consider her termination. Town officials alleged she failed to open and read more than 1,200 emails from residents and the administration as the head of one of the towns major constituent service departments.

Maturo said the woman named on Carbones witness list has made no independent allegations of misconduct against me. If she were to raise any such allegations, they would also be categorically false.

Melillo was denied a job in Maturos office following the 2011 election and asked to resign as the Town Council clerk in 2012, according to Maturos statement. Last November, Melillo posted on a video on Facebook alleging sexual harassment against Maturo, his statement alleged.

I am disappointed that Ms. Melillo has chosen to advance these fictional, sensational, and outrageous allegations, Maturo said. I am equally disappointed in the sloppy reporting that has sensationalized and mischaracterized the number and nature of the allegations raised.

mdignan@hearstmediact.comORANGE  A public hearing that could propel a proposal for a 40,000-square-foot service/wholesale distribution center and additional structures on property now owned by Stew Leonard Jr. has been continued to Oct. 9, when the Inland Wetlands and Water Courses Commission meets again.

The hearing was continued because of a bevy of questions raised by town engineer Robert H. Brinton Jr. in a memo and by commission members. The Inland Wetlands department is the first stop in the permitting process. The next likely will be the Town Plan and Zoning Commission.

Developer Scannell Properties LLC is looking to build the new complex, which would include a fueling facility, maintenance shop and offices at 161 Marsh Hill Road. The development would total 63,000 square feet.

Attorney John W. Knuff, of the firm Hurwitz Sagarin Slossberg & Knuff, who represents Scannell Properties, declined to comment.

His client has also declined to comment or elaborate on the plan that has already created a stir in town among residents because of the fueling facility and maintenance shop aspects, leading some to speculate the project is a truck stop.

First Selectman James Zeoli did not respond to requests seeking comment.

The site  which looks like a never-ending cornfield near Interstate 95s Exit 41  is where Stew Leonard Jr. had dreamed of building a supermarket and petting zoo for 14 years before giving up in 2010.

The 41-acre property, used for agriculture today and since 1934, remains under Leonards ownership. Hes been trying to sell it since 2012.

The Inland Wetlands and Water Courses Commission began the public hearing Sept. 11 after lengthy discussions ahead of time with the developer.

The company the developer is working for has not been revealed, but in an application narrative at Town Hall, it is stated: Applicant has a strong desire to be part of the town of Orange community.

Commission Vice Chairwoman Diana Ross requested the applicant bring back a three-year plan for plantings on the east side of the property, the meeting minutes state.

Chairman Rick Mangione was concerned with the ground water and type of wall that would be erected, as well as that Kirschner referred to two-feet sump pumps as deep sumps that would actually be four feet.

Brintons more technical memo to the commission contains 16 suggestions for the developer and Knuff said at the end of the last meeting that they would be addressed at the Oct. 9 meeting.

Included in Brintons memo is to consider installing hydrodynamic separators upstream from the underground infiltration systems and the surface infiltration basin, to capture oil, trash, and sediment from paved areas; he asks for additional information regarding construction of the retaining wall in the vicinity of wetlands three and four; he notes the top of pond elevation for the infiltration basin is on plans as 110 feet on two drawings, but the contours show the top of embankment as elevation 100 feet. He also wrote in the memo that a state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection dam permit is expected to be required for the infiltration basin; a DEEP construction stormwater general permit registration is expected for the project, and more.

The only resident to voice an opinion on the plan at the hearing was George Finlay of Indian River Road, who commented that it was a big development, according to the yet to be approved minutes at Town Hall. Finlay asked the applicants team how they were going to take care of cleaning up the oil and handling toxic solutions, the minutes state.

One of the developers engineers, Nathan Kirschner of Langan Engineering and Environmental Services, answered that an oil and water separator would be used for the garage facility, then that would move into the sanitary sewers, according to meeting minutes.

The property contains five wetlands totaling 6,780 square feet, two of which are manmade and would be eliminated under the plan. Also living on the property are Eastern box turtles and smooth green snakes, both of which are listed as being of special concern in the state and offered protection by the Connecticut Endangered Species Act, according to a narrative of the plan filed at Town Hall. They are located in an isolated area of the property.

At the requirement of DEEP, the developers have a plan for those species  a species protection during construction, according to the plans narrative. That will include avoiding the area where they are located and educating contractors and subcontractors and monitoring of construction activity by an expert.

Experts representing the developer at the public hearing that started Sept. 11 told the commission they have a robust storm water treatment plan.

A soil scientist on the team told the commission the plan would not significantly affect the wetlands on the other end of the property.

The property is in a Light Industrial 2 zone. The property price is not listed for the public to see, but at one point Leonard was seeking $14.5 million for the Marsh Hill Road property. He paid $2.2 million for the land in 1996.

Leonards plan was defeated largely because of the dogged persistence of the grassroots group Save Our Neighborhood  or SON  which challenged him in court after every approval from a town board or commission. At the time he announced that he was giving up, Leonard said it was clear Orange didnt want him and he had spent enough on lawyers.

Tangoe, a software company headquartered in Orange, was to move on to the site, but that plan for a four-story office building fell through. Shelton developer R.D. Scinto, had an option to buy the land from Leonard, had hoped to build the Tangoe headquarters, but that has expired.NORTH HAVEN  The Board of Education is hoping to hear from community residents as members seek to hire a new superintendent.

Two meetings have been scheduled for the coming weeks  one Oct. 2, the other Oct. 24  to give members of the community the chance to share their thoughts and opinions with Joseph Erardi, a consultant hired by the board to aid with the search.

Both gatherings will be held at 7 p.m. in the North Haven Middle School library, the board said in an announcement.

Those seeking additional information about the community meetings can call Erardi at 203-598-6986, according to the announcement.

Residents are also invited to fill out a survey posted on the home page of the North Haven Public Schools website, which will be available through Nov. 2.

Among other queries, the survey asks respondents to identify three skills and three personal attributes they would particularly like to see in the new Superintendent and share what they consider the greatest success and the greatest challenge facing the district.

Meetings with staff, parent-teacher association members, and elected officials are expected to be held before Nov. 2 to allow those groups to offer input as well, Board of Education chairman Anita Anderson said at the groups Sept. 13 meeting.

Erardi is expected to present the results of the community meetings and survey at the boards Nov. 8 meeting, she said.

More News Retirement 'bittersweet' for North Haven superintendent of schools

The board is planning to conduct interviews in mid-November, according to Anderson.

Superintendent Robert Cronin said he is planning to retire in August. His retirement is effective Jan. 1, 2019.

He has led the school district since 2011.

william.lambert@hearstmediact.comA native of Columbia who was the leader of a heroin trafficking organization was sentenced Wednesday to 61/2 years in prison, federal authorities said in a release.

Alex Ortiz-Gomez, 35, a citizen of Colombia who was last residing in Hartford, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford on one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, the release from the office of Connecticut U.S. Attorney John H. Durham said.

Ortiz-Gomez came to the U.S. from Colombia as a child and faces immigration proceedings when he completes his prison sentence, the release said.

The release noted that, according to court documents and statements made in court, the Drug Enforcement Administration Hartford Task Force identified Ortiz-Gomez as the head of a drug trafficking organization that was distributing large quantities of heroin in the Hartford area.

The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps, revealed that members of the organization used an apartment on Wayland Street in Hartford to store heroin, cocaine, drug packaging materials and cash, and to process and package narcotics for street sale.

When Ortiz-Gomez went to New York City in May 2015, law enforcement officers conducted a motor vehicle stop of the car and seized approximately $125,000 in cash, the release said.

Ortiz-Gomez and several co-conspirators were arrested in June 2015 and a search of the Wayland Street apartment revealed a bag of cocaine, approximately 400 bags of heroin, a heroin stamp, six boxes containing hundreds of stamped bags for packaging heroin, and other items used to process and package heroin for street sale.

A related search of co-conspirators residence in East Hartford revealed 500 grams of heroin, thousands of bags used to package heroin, a heroin brand stamp and other items, the release said.

Ortiz-Gomez, who has been detained since his arrest, pleaded guilty on Feb. 5 to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, the release said.

Six other people were charged and convicted as a result of this investigation, which was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administrations Hartford Task Force with the assistance of the Connecticut State Police. The DEA Task Force includes participants from the Bristol, East Hartford, Hartford, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, Willimantic and Windsor Locks Police Departments, and the Food and Drug Administration, the release said. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone.Migrants: three MEPs write letter to Malta premier To end impasse on NGO vessels stranded in Valletta

(ANSAmed) - BRUSSELS, SEPTEMBER 18 - Three members of the European Parliament who were part of a delegation of the Committee on civil liberties visiting Malta wrote in a letter to Maltese Premier Joseph Muscat that, ''with great concern, we ask you to end the illegal detention in Malta of the boats of NGOs Seawatch and Lifeline''.



The letter was signed by Martina Anderson, (Gue), Jean Lambert (Greens) and Peter Niedermueller (S&D) and only expressed the opinion of the three MEPs and not of the entire delegation.



''A humanitarian act like rescuing at sea is not a crime and should not be criminalized'', added the three lawmakers. ''While we are watching an increase in the number of deaths at sea and the worsening of the situation of security in Libya, rescuing human lives at sea should remain the priority''. (ANSAmed)'European researchers' night' in Tunisia Events brings science to young students, citizens

(ANSAmed) - TUNIS, SEPTEMBER 19 - The 'European night of researchers' will be held for the first time in Tunisia on September 28. The initiative promoted by the European Commission since 2005 has involved each year thousands of researchers and research institutions in all European countries to promote scientific culture and research.



The Cite de la Culture in Tunis will host the event, offering a wide-ranging program including conferences, scientific labs, educational games, debates with researchers and various activities combining science, art and culture.



Organized by the Tunisian ministry for superior education and scientific research, the event will offer an opportunity to the public, in particular high school and university students, to discover the activities carried out in Tunisia and international projects in cooperation with member states of the European Union.



The event is coordinated by the European unit of program management (Ugpe), the national center of cinema and image (Cnci), in cooperation with the national agency for the promotion of scientific research (Anpr), with various associations of Tunisian civil society (Association research in action, Foundation youth for science, Association Jeunes Sciences and the Association of scientific research and innovation in computers - Asri). (ANSAmed).



There is now being expressed among political commentators and academics that President Erdogan and his supporters are fermenting an interest in re-establishing the Ottoman Empire.

With immediacy, this awakened caution based first on the horrible suffering Mussolini brought to the people of the country of my ancestry, Italy. Through the insane attempt Mussolini and his followers made to re-establish the Roman Empire, my own great-grandfather came razor close to being among the thousands of Italians who died in the Ethiopian campaign. He and his fellow countrymen ought to have been home contributing the economic and cultural viability of Italy.

Throughout the 20th century, objectively verifiable evidence was amassed as to how certain persons with delusions of grandeur and their supports brought incalculable pain, suffering, hunger, and death to their own people. Among these are of course the usually noted suspects: Mao, Stalin, Hitler, and Mussolini. What is often overlooked is that in each of these leaders efforts to centralize and expand the power of their countries, the greatest of victims were their own populations.

An enormous number of veterans who had fought courageously for Germany in WWI were summarily incarcerated and murdered in the Holocaust because of their religion and/or ethnicity. These people had been loyal German citizens making economic and cultural contributions to the viability of Germany for centuries. They were not citizens of the many countries Germany despoiled and terrorized. One case in point is a woman who in the 1990s took care of my grandmother in her declining years. This woman had emigrated from Germany decades earlier. She was just a little girl during the war. She told me that as the war effort in Germany faltered and after Germanys defeat, she and the other children were constantly chewing on sticks because of their enormous hunger-pains.

This is among the many reasons that people found offensive Gen. Pattons words that many Germans joined the Nazi Party in the same way that Americans join the Democratic or Republican parties. In point of fact, in Germany and other expansionist dictatorships, if you were not a party member, it affected your basic needs. There were not diverse groups bringing forth diverse opinions, nor were their free markets. This was equally the case with Mao, Stalin, and Mussolini. All of whom consolidated power and sought expansion.

Today, Putin seeks to bring back the territories of the former Soviet Union. To do this, he is exerting an iron fist over Crimea, parts of Georgia, and Eastern Ukraine. So, when articles in the Register speak of Erdogan working to consolidate power and remove more and more constraints on his ability to bring into existence the machinations of his mind, all of us must take note, informed by the past, with concern for the future.

As in all these instances, the successful remedy is early and measured containment.

Ed Pantano is a Madison resident.An elder member of our congregation approached me Sunday to chat about the gubernatorial race. This is a dyed-in-the-wool Connecticut Yankee Im talking about, a gentleman whose family roots run deep in the Puritan soil. I figured hed seen just about everything.

I was right.

He said that back in the 1980s, everyone knew the state government had to bring back the income tax. The income tax had been implemented for the first time a decade prior, but the backlash was so fierce, it was repealed in weeks. Since then, no one dared risk the death or dismemberment of even talking about it.

Even so, I was told, everyone knew the state could not continue to rely on sales and corporate taxes alone. Yet no one had the courage to lead. The Republicans feared getting hammered by the Democrats. The Democrats feared getting hammered by the Republicans. It was a stalemate. Meanwhile, fiscal woes kept mounting.

Then came Lowell Weicker.

Weicker already had by 1990 a long and storied career as a United States senator. He was the first Republican to call for President Richard Nixons resignation. That might have ended his career but for the conclusion of Watergate and the beginning of resurgence in his popularity among voters. What did end his career was the GOPs increasingly conservative tenor. By 1988, he lost his seat to Democrat challenger Joe Lieberman.

That combination, being Republican and liberal, made Weicker ideal for running as an independent candidate in the 1990 governors race. He said he stood against reviving the income tax, but after winning, he reversed himself. More or less, he said I gotta do what I gotta do. He was a hero but also a martyr. He served one term.

Is there a Lowell Weicker this year, my fellow congregant asked at the end of his story. At some point, I cant see how we can avoid raising taxes again.

No, I said. There is no Lowell Weicker this year. Later, I thought, there would be  if Dan Malloy were running.

Think about it.

What needs to be done in Connecticut is what Gov. Malloy has been doing for eight years. He needed to increase revenues. So he raised income taxes. He needed to cut expenses. So he slashed the pay and benefits of state workers. He laid off some 12,000 people while raising the income tax to its highest level ever.

No wonder hes unpopular.

But hes done more than count beans.

Malloy has been laying a groundwork for the strong future in a time of enormous economic change. He pushed for greater investments in transportation, wind and solar energy, and workforce development. He supercharged the states bioscience industry. Like them or not, he cut big deals with big firms such as UTC. He moved us closer (but not close enough) to lifting the prohibition of marijuana. He closed prisons. He signed a repeal of the death penalty. He led the way of creating some of the strictest gun laws in the country.

All things considered, Id take a third term.

I know, I know. Dan Malloy makes liking him about as pleasant as going to the DMV. He probably comes by his grumpiness naturally. But being stuck between a fiscal rock and a hard place 24/7 doesnt help. I mean, no one likes the guy who makes hard decisions even if, in the final analysis, they were for everyones benefit.

I dont know if either candidate for governor recognizes Malloys achievement, or that being likable is so very vital to keeping his job. But between them, Id say Democrat Ned Lamont comes closer to Malloys (and Weickers) caliber than Republican Bob Stefanowski. I say this knowing he hasnt run a government. But he is a businessman, and he appears to understand the role of good governance in a states economic success.

Like Malloy and Weicker.

Stefanowski will love hearing this, but I dont mean it as a compliment. Just the opposite. Whoever wins this race will need to be hard-as-nails while putting on a smile. Hell need to be shrewd, open-minded, practical, and a bit ruthless while elevating the common good. He must prepare to be unpopular while doing everything he can to stay on the good side of a majority of voters. Does a man whose only message is repealing the income tax have what it takes to do the nearly impossible?

I doubt it.

John Stoehr is the publisher of the Editorial Board, a newsletter about politics. He lives in Westville.The mystery alligator spotted in Atlantic County on Tuesday afternoon was nowhere to be found on Wednesday despite a police search with help from state wildlife officials.

Mullica Township police and workers from the Division of Fish and Wildlife combed the Devonshire area of town for the 3-to-4-foot gator again Wednesday morning but came up empty, a police spokesman said.

"We haven't had any contact," the spokesman said. "We did search for him -- or her -- to no avail."

Mullica police haven't determined yet if they will resume the search on Thursday.

Police said on Tuesday that they had a confirmed sighting of the alligator on Hamburg Avenue between Route 30 and Duerer Street.

Police cautioned residents to be cautious about letting small pets outside and to not approach the alligator. Anyone who sees it is asked to call police at 609-652-2037.

Last week, a man found a 2-foot caiman in a pond in Old Bridge.

A Department of Environmental Protection spokesman said people frequently purchase alligators in other states and release them into rivers and lakes in New Jersey when they get too big for aquariums. It's illegal to own an alligator in New Jersey.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.UPDATE: Alligator still on the lam

Residents in one Atlantic County town are being warned about letting their small pets outside after an alligator was seen on the loose.

The alligator, between 3- and 4-feet long, was spotted in Mullica Township and police were warning residents to stay away if they saw it.

The gator was seen at 4:45 p.m. on Hamburg Avenue between Route 30 and Duerer Street, a post on the Mullica Township Police Facebook page stated.

Police were still searching for the reptile as of 9 p.m. and were working with local "animal protection and care" agencies to locate it.

Anyone who saw the alligator was asked to keep their distance and call the department's dispatcher at 609-652-2037.

Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon Find NJ.com on Facebook.A man who previously admitted to killing his boss during a robbery attempt was sentenced to prison Tuesday.

David Stead, 44, broke into the Tabernacle home of Thomas Wright II, a stonemason on July 1, 2016.

In July 2018, as part of a plea deal to an aggravated manslaughter charge, Stead admitted that he entered the house that night for a robbery, shot Wright multiple times and fled in truck Wright had rented. The truck was later found abandoned less than a mile from Stead's home.

David Stead's jail photo

Judge Terrence Cook sentenced Stead to 30 years in prison on Tuesday.

Wright, 49, ran the company Artisan Building Creations from the home. His family discovered his body after checking on him when he failed to show up at a job site.

"As soon as this defendant entered the home, he opened fire on Mr. Wright," Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina said in a statement.

"He didn't say he was there to rob him. He didn't even ask him for money. He just started shooting and ended his life, with no chance for Mr. Wright to defend himself. This senseless homicide has caused immense sadness for Mr. Wright's family and friends, and our thoughts are with them as this matter comes to an end," the prosecutor said.

Stead must serve 85 percent of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.

Joe Brandt can be reached at jbrandt@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JBrandt_NJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tipsA Trenton police officer has been charged with raping a minor multiple times, the Burlington County Prosecutors Office said Wednesday.

William Sanchez-Monllor

William L. Sanchez-Monllor, 36, of Burlington Township has been charged with two counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, two counts of second-degree sexual assault and one count of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child.

Sanchez-Monllor has been a Trenton officer since 2010 and has worked as a detective.

Court documents showed that the abuse started as early as 2014.

The prosecutor's office did not give an age or gender of the minor victim, or the nature of any relationship the victim may have had with Sanchez-Monllor.

"The abuse occured on multiple occasions in Burlington County," the prosecutors office said in a statement.

The details of the assaults were sealed by a Superior Court judge, the office said.

Sanchez-Monllor was taken into custody Tuesday at the Burlington Township Police Department, prosecutors said. He will make a court appearance Wednesday in Superior Court and prosecutors have made a motion to have him detained pending a trial.

The Trenton Police Department could not immediately be reached for comment. Sanchez-Monllor currently makes about $102,000 annually, state records show.

Assistant Prosecutor Stephen Eife, supervisor of the prosecutor's office's Major Crimes Unit, Special Victims Section, will prosecute the case.

Paige Gross may be reached at pgross@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @By_paigegross.A former corrections officer who allegedly smuggled drugs to inmates at a federal prison and used some of the cash he was paid to gamble in Atlantic City has been indicted on bribery charges and other counts.

Federal prosecutors say Paul Wright allegedly received the drugs and cash in 2015 from two people outside the prison who had ties to separate inmates. The 32-year-old Berlin man allegedly smuggled in tobacco, synthetic marijuana and suboxone, a drug used to treat opioid addiction.

The indictment handed up Tuesday charges Wright with two counts each of agreeing to accept and accepting bribes. He also faces two counts of violating the travel act and one count of providing contraband to an inmate.

Bank records showed that Wright not only deposited the cash payments, but also used them as buy-ins at the Borgata casino in Atlantic City, prosecutors said.

In late 2015, he exchanged thousands of dollars for drugs from a relative of an inmate's girlfriend after meeting with them in New York City, the feds said. He later allegedly delivered the drugs to the inmate.

It wasn't known Tuesday if Wright has retained an attorney.Dozens of New Jersey restaurants will participate in Eat Drink Local Restaurant Week from Sep. 21 through 29 with prix fixe and special menus to celebrate New Jersey's bountiful September harvest.

Sponsored by Edible Jersey Magazine, this is the seventh statewide Eat Drink Local Week.

Local restaurants that will be participating include the farm-to-table 12 Farms Restaurant (12farms.com) in Hightstown, which already has a menu that changes according to what produce is in season.

Brick Farm Tavern (brickfarmtavern.com) in Hopewell Township is another participating farm-to-table restaurant that features seasonal menus, beers and cocktails.

Emily's Cafe and Catering (emilyscaferandcatering.com) in Pennington will be back with a casual bistro menu that includes dishes made from produce found at local farms. In Stockton, Market Pizza at the Stockton Farmers Market (Facebook) will offer artisanal pizzas made using local fare.

In Princeton, the Peacock Inn (peacockinn.com) and Whole Earth Center Cafe (wholeearthcenter.com) will offer their own specials using local ingredients.

Also local is the Sergeantsville Inn (sergeantsvilleinn.com), which regularly creates dishes using ingredients from area farms.

For a complete list of participating restaurants throughout the state see ediblejersey.ediblecommunities.com. For information in individual restaurants see their websites.

Farms and farmers markets

The monthly 31 & Main Farmers Market returns on Sunday to Campus Town in Ewing with a special Family & Friends Day. From noon to 4 p.m., rain or shine, local farms will set up stands at the market, including Z Food Farm in Lawrence, Harris Farms in Somerset, Pleasant Valley Garlic Farm in Pennsylvania, and Pineland Farms, which also has a stand at the Trenton Farmers Market in Lawrence.

The farms will offer local fruit and vegetables, meats, eggs, cheese, garlic, honey and mushrooms.

There will be live music, a 4-H agricultural petting zoo, and food from local vendors including Piccolo Pronto, Lion Dog, Mexican Mariachi Grill, Yummy Sushi, Redberry Frozen Yogurt, Panera Bread and Insomnia Cookies. For more information see ewinggreenteam.org.

Elsewhere, the Apple Days Festival continues this weekend and for six more weekends at Terhune Orchards in Lawrence. See terhuneorchards.com for information.

Celebrating local wines

Old York Cellars Winery in Ringoes will hold its Harvest Celebration this weekend with tank and barrel tastings, a craft show, children's activities, beehive tours, hayrides and food trucks.

Corn and tomato soup is one way to enjoy two of the late-summer crops still available at local farm markets.

The event is from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the winery on Old York Road. Tickets are $15; children and other non-drinkers admitted for free. See oldyorkcellars.com for more information.

Nearby in Ringoes, Unionville Vineyards will hold its 25th Anniversary Soiree on Sunday, Sept. 23, celebrating 25 years of making wines in New Jersey. The event is from 2 to 8 p.m. See unionvillevineyards.com for more information.

Fresh Corn and Tomato Soup

Saturday is the first day of fall, and a dizzying amount of local produce is available at our farmer's markets. The hearty vegetables will be around for a while, so how about if we focus on enjoying summer favorites for now. This recipe for corn and tomato soup comes from tasteofhome.com.

1 celery rib, chopped

1 small onion, chopped

1/4 cup chopped green pepper

2 tablespoons butter

4 cups chopped, seeded, peeled tomatoes

2 cups chicken broth

1 teaspoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon white pepper

2 cups fresh sweet corn

1 tablespoon minced fresh basil

2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley

1 green onion, finely chopped

1. In a large saucepan, saute the celery, onion and green pepper in butter until tender. Stir in tomatoes and broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

2. Press through a sieve or food mill; return to the pan. Add the sugar, salt and white pepper. Bring to a boil. Stir in corn and basil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 3 to 5 minutes or until corn is tender. Garnish with parsley and green onion.

Nutrition: 1 cup: 115 calories, 5g fat (3g saturated fat), 12mg cholesterol, 571mg sodium, 17g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 3g fiber), 3g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 1 fat, 1/2 starch.



Grilled Cheese-Stuffed Roasted Red Peppers

While we can still cook outside on the grill, this recipe from Pillsbury.com takes advantage of the red peppers that are now adding color and flavor to local farm markets.

3 large red bell peppers

1/8 teaspoon salt

6 slices (1/4 inch thick) fresh mozzarella cheese (about 6 ounces)

2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil leaves

1. Heat gas or charcoal grill. Place bell peppers on grill. Cover grill; cook over medium-high heat 10 to 13 minutes, turning every 3 to 4 minutes, until all sides are blistered and charred.

2. Place peppers in brown paper bag; fold down top. Let stand 5 minutes.

3. Carefully peel as much skin from peppers as possible. Cut in half lengthwise; remove stems, seeds and ribs. Sprinkle with salt.

4. Place 1 slice of cheese in each pepper half; drizzle with oil. Return pepper halves to grill; cook about 5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Sprinkle with basil. Cut each pepper half in half again.

Nutrition: Calories 60, calories from fat 40, total fat 4 1/2 g, saturated fat 2 1/2 2g, trans fat 0g, cholesterol 15mg, sodium 85mg, potassium 100mg, carbohydrate 3g.

Follow NJ.com on Twitter @njdotcom. Find NJ.com on Facebook.Authorities are offering up to a $5,000 reward for information about the person who placed a non-working homemade explosive device inside a Jewish cemetery in Newark last weekend.

A sheriff's officer evacuated B'nai Abraham Cemetery on South 19th Street around 10:45 a.m. Sunday after finding a commercial firework attached to a can of lubricant on a headstone, the Essex County Sheriff's Office said.

This morning at around 10:45am, while in Newark at the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ Cemetery Day, we were... Posted by Dov Ben-Shimon on Sunday, September 16, 2018

The bomb squad determined that the device would not have exploded and it was later turned over the FBI.

A group of people had gathered at the cemetery as part of the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest New Jersey's visitation day.

The Essex County Sheriff's Office traditionally provides visitation security to the Jewish community at cemeteries throughout during the High Holy Days, Sheriff Armando Fontoura said.

Anyone with further information is asked to call the sheriff's Crime Stoppers hotline at 973-877-TIPS. The reward is being offered by the Crime Stoppers program.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.The 25-year-old owner of a Newark deli admitted Tuesday she defrauded the government out of $888,000 in a food stamps scheme she ran over more than six years.

Maria Teresa Venegas, of Newark, pleaded guilty to one count of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit fraud, the U.S. Attorney's Office for New Jersey said in a statement.

She faces up to 20 years in prison when she is sentenced Jan. 19 for running the scheme at Jenny's Deli between November 2011 and February 2018. Charges are still pending against her father, Manuel Venegas, who is also accused in taking part in the scam.

Though SNAP recipients are only allowed to use their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards to buy certain food items, Venegas instead gave some customers cash by entering made-up dollar amounts for their purchases.

Authorities began looking into Jenny's Deli when they noticed an unusually high number of SNAP transactions.

In an example provided charging documents, a SNAP recipient only bought $5 in items. Venegas, though, debited $75 from the person's account, which was then credited to the deli's bank account. She gave the SNAP recipient a portion of the proceeds and kept the rest.

An undercover agent also made 20 purchases at Jenny's Deli using SNAP benefits in exchange for cash.

In total, Venegas stole $888,486.89.

In a similar case, the owners of M&R Supermarket on Irvine Turner Boulevard in Newark were charged last week with trading more than $5 million in SNAP debits for cash over three years.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.The detention hearing for a murder suspect - which was postponed a second time after his outburst in court toward a news photographer last week - finally happened on Tuesday.

Anthony Kille, 20, was ordered detained on the murder charge that he killed Davontae Randall, 21, at a family party in Paulsboro last month, the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office said.

At the time of Randall's death, Kille was on home confinement from being charged in a 21-person drug ring in Paulsboro in July. His release on that matter was also revoked Tuesday.

An arrest warrant was issued for Kille soon after Randall's death on Aug. 25.

He surrendered to police in Atlantic City on Aug. 28 through the South Jersey chapter of the National Action Network. Members of that organization escorted him to the police station.

Joe Brandt can be reached at jbrandt@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JBrandt_NJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tipsThe second fatal daylight shooting in two weeks has been confirmed in Jersey City.

The Hudson County Prosecutor's Office confirms on Twitter that a male has been shot dead at Old Bergen Road and Pamrapo Avenue.

According to police radio transmissions, the shooting occurred sometime before 6:30 p.m.

The Prosecutor's Office couldn't immediately provide further details on tonight's shooting death.

At about 6 p.m. Sept. 4, 23-year-old Eric Crocker of Bayonne was shot and killed at the corner of Lembeck and Ocean avenues, nine blocks away from tonight's shooting.

Twenty-year-old Jahmir Thomas of Jersey City has been charged with that murder.JERSEY CITY -- Christ Hospital showed off its facilities to the state's commissioner of health Monday afternoon and received a nod of approval for the way it's fighting back against the opioid epidemic.

Dr. Shereef Elnahal, the state's department of health commissioner, said he was impressed after touring the Jersey City hospital, one of three in the CarePoint Health system.

"What we see is a model of care for bringing folks (who) normally would not be paid attention to by a hospital into primary care," Elnahal told The Jersey Journal.

Elnahal, who was appointed by Gov. Phil Murphy in April, observed Christ Hospital's emergency department and the neighborhood health center, which serves the local community regardless of insurance status.

"A lot of folks with opioid addiction don't have insurance or are uninsured," Elnahal said.

Christ Hospital is making a name for itself among as a national leader on the opioid epidemic, becoming the second hospital in the U.S. to stop the use of the addictive prescription drugs in its emergency department in 2016.

"The only way to really bring someone out of the cycle of overdose and into recovery is to connect them to longer term care and that includes addiction treatment," Elnahal said. Christ Hospital "is a model for doing that."

The other two CarePoint Health hospitals, Bayonne Medical Center and Hoboken University Medical Center, have also adopted the non-opioid policy.

There have been 2,032 overdose deaths in the state so far this year, the state reports. That's a dramatic spike from 2016, when there were 1,409 opioid-related overdose deaths in the entire year The state has not yet confirmed the number of opioid-related deaths in 2017.

"There are better drugs out there that are not opioids and that are not addictive," said Dr. Peter "Tucker" Woods, Christ Hospital's chief hospital executive.

Woods noted that Christ Hospital is a "trailblazer in the nation" in providing patients with cost-effective alternatives to opioids, such as nitrous oxide (laughing gas) and lidocaine.

"We want to be a part of the solution," Woods said. "We can't just watch this problem drive by. We want to do something about it."

CarePoint officials said the decision to go nearly opioid-free in the ER came in response to the growing national epidemic and a commitment to be part of the solution.

"We are proud of the work we are doing not only to address the opioid epidemic, but also to provide important health care services to the entire Hudson County community," said Dr. Natasha Deckmann, CarePoint Health's CEO.

"We thank Commissioner Elnahal for visiting Christ Hospital today to see firsthand the impact the doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals are making and the innovations we are continuing to develop."Hudson County schools are encouraged to sign up to participate in The Jersey Journal's 60th annual Hudson County Spelling Bee, which will be held Saturday, Feb. 23, at Secaucus High School's Arthur F. Couch Performing Arts Center.

In case of very inclement weather, the bee will be held March 2.

All elementary school programs in Hudson County are invited to register to send their top speller to compete.

The bee is sponsored by the Hudson County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, and County Executive Tom DeGise underwrites the champion's national participation. The event is presented by The Jersey Journal.

The event is open to all students through grade 8 who attend Hudson County schools that have registered to participate. In 2018, 55 schools participated.

So far, 13 schools have indicated their intention to participate in 2019.

Participating schools will receive a virtual bee-in-a-box that includes study words, rules, pronunciation guides and an array of materials they may use to implement their own school spelling bees.

The winner of each school bee advances to the Hudson County Spelling Bee, and the county champion will then move on to the Scripps National Spelling Bee next spring in National Harbor, Maryland.

In addition to the grand prize of competing at the Scripps Bee, a variety of prizes will be given out at the local bee to the top Hudson speller and several runners-up.

To enroll, go to spellingbee.com. Schools that register by Oct. 15 pay Scripps an early bird registration fee of $160, which covers participation in the national spelling program. After that date, the fee is $235. The deadline for registration is Dec. 16.

For more information, contact Spelling Bee Director Harvey Zucker at hzucker@jjournal.com.Put on your dancing shoes for a night of family fun as the Readington Museums hosts its bi-annual Barn Dance on Saturday, Oct. 20, from 7-9:30 p.m.

The dance will be held inside the eighteenth-century Wade-Wyckoff Barn at the Bouman-Stickney Farmstead located at 114 Dreahook Road in the Stanton section of Readington Township.

This family friendly event is a wonderful way to have fun with the entire family as no experience is necessary. Caller Betsy Gotta will give easy to follow instructions before each dance so even a beginner will be able to dance the night away. There is a suggested donation of $5 per adult and $2 per child. Groups of six or more please call for a reservation.

For more information, call Program Director Margaret Smith at 908-236-2327.

* * *

The Readington Museums' Cold Brook School, originally built in 1828, will be open on Sunday, Oct. 7, from 1-4 p.m. and will offer visitors the chance to see what it was like to attend school in the early 19th century.

The one room school house is a period correct completion of the burned-out roof and floor. It was rebuilt around the original walls and foundations. The original burned down in the late 20th century.

The schoolhouse is only opened once a year when the museums' provide a hands-on school day for all fourth graders attending Readington Township schools. Now, everyone will have the same chance to spend a fun filled afternoon at the school house.

Visitors will have a chance to see if they are Abecedarians, try their hand at orthography using a quill pen and ink, solve mathematical problems, and learn a sample of New Jersey history. During recess, visitors can try their hand at playing a variety of 19th century games, including rolling hoops, in the meadow. Apple cider and bread with apple butter will be served.

Because of the small size of the school house, groups of four or more are asked to call for a reservation. The program is free, but donations are gratefully accepted. For more information please contact Program Director Margaret Smith at 908-236-2327. GPS address is 190 Potterstown Road, Lebanon, NJ 08833.

Submitted by Readington MuseumsThe second fatal daylight shooting in two weeks in has been confirmed in Jersey City.

The Hudson County Prosecutor's Office confirmed on Twitter that a male was shot dead yesterday at Old Bergen Road and Pamrapo Avenue.

According to police radio transmissions, the shooting occurred sometime before 6:30 p.m.

The Prosecutor's Office couldn't immediately provide further details on thes shooting death last night.

At about 6 p.m. on Sept. 4, 23-year-old Eric Crocker of Bayonne was shot and killed at the corner of Lembeck and Ocean avenues, nine blocks away from last night's shooting.

Twenty-year-old Jahmir Thomas of Jersey City has been charged with that murder.Professor Roland Alum, a socio-behavioral anthropologist of West New York, authored a chapter for the "International Encyclopedia of Anthropology" (2018), just released by Wiley & Sons of London and Hoboken.

Alum authored the significant entry on the religious-based compadrazgo (co-godparenthood) ritual kinship, which is prevalent in Ibero-American, southern European and Philippine cultures and which carries socio-economic-political ramifications. His chapter is further showcased online as a model on Wiley's website https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/9781118924396.wbiea2196.

A former "Distinguished Professor" at William Paterson University, Alum previously authored writings in other encyclopedias, books, scholarly journals, and newspapers.

Additionally, he has held sub-cabinet level posts in the federal and state governments and has a long record of civic/community leadership, including the boards of Palisades Hospital, Ramapo College, DeVry University, and the WNY Library and WNY Housing Authority.

Alum is also an occasional Jersey Journal op-eds contributor and is presently vice-president of both, the N.J. Psychoanalysts Licensing board and the State Government's Center for Hispanic Policy, Research & Development.

Dinner, awards at Haven Center

The Haven Adolescent Community Respite Center will be hosting a night of cocktails, dinner, art, and awards in support of adolescents and their families during times of conflict on Thursday, Sept. 27, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Awards will be presented to Jersey City Medical Center -- RWJ Barnabas Health as corporate benefactor, Jersey City Housing Authority Director Vivian Brady-Phillips as devoted collaborator, and the Muhammad and Flores Families as leading families.

Individual tickets are $75 per person (over 25) and $25 per person (under 25). The event will take place at the Silverman, 201 Montgomery St., Jersey City.

Students named to dean's list

Aylissia Tatum and Krushang Kamleshkumar Pandya of Jersey City were both named to the New York Institute of Technology's spring 2018 Dean's Honor List.

NYIT presidential honor recipients

The following Jersey City residents were recognized by the New York Institute of Technology for the 2018 Presidential Honors List. To qualify, students must earn a GPA of 3.7 or higher: Mohamed Eladl, studying electrical and computer engineering; Sharmaine Parrenas, studying life sciences; Tanvi Patel, studying biology; Ryan Roman, studying communications and media production; Pritika Arun Thakkar, studying business administration.

Medical Center receives award

The International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) and International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA) have recognized Hackensack Meridian Health Palisades Medical Center for excellence in lactation care.

Palisades Medical Center received the IBCLC Care Award in recognition of staffing professionals who hold the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) certification and providing a lactation program for breastfeeding families.

Palisades Medical Center was also cited for providing breastfeeding training for medical staff who care for new families, and for regularly conducting activities that help protect, promote, and support breastfeeding.

Academy welcomes class of 2022

On Thursday, Sept. 6, Saint Dominic Academy in Jersey City welcomed new students in the freshmen class, 7th and 8th grade, as well as transfer and international students to the school year, one in which the school celebrates its 140th anniversary.

The girls hail from all across Hudson County and from towns in Essex, Bergen, and Union counties. International students hail from Egypt, Korea, and Latvia. Several members of the Class of 2022 have the distinction of being named Siena Scholars. Three new students are legacies; daughters of alumnae.

Members of the Academy's LINK Crew conducted a day-long orientation program with the freshmen. Built on the belief that students help other students succeed, LINK Crew was established as a transition program.EDITOR'S NOTE: On Oct. 3, industry insiders from New Jersey and beyond will gather for a full day of programming and networking at NJ Cannabis Insider Live! If you're serious about the industry and where things are heading with the pending legislation, you need to be there. For more information on the event, see our special offer on this page.

A new legal weed bill became public on Tuesday after weeks of work by several state lawmakers.

The plan, first reported by NJ Advance Media, calls for marijuana delivery and smoking lounges, and also suggests a marijuana tax that would be the lowest in the country. The lawmakers have presented the bill to Gov. Phil Murphy and are now awaiting feedback.

But as eager as the governor and these legislators are to get legal weed done -- and some are still hoping the bill can be introduced this month -- several key issues still need to be worked out, likely pushing legalization into the fall.

A source close to the bill negotiations, who asked not to be identified over fears that it would hurt discussions, said Tuesday that a hearing on the bill in the Legislature on Sept. 27 is still a possibility and that the group of lawmakers expect to meet with Murphy's team later this week.

The lawmakers have long expected to make minor tweaks to the bill based on Murphy's feedback before introduction, but some of those tweaks may not be so minor.

A report from Politico New Jersey this week suggests that Murphy is unhappy with the 10 percent tax presented in the legalization bill, which would be the lowest marijuana tax in the country.

Murphy on Tuesday tried to distance himself from that report, saying that his administration hasn't made up its mind about marijuana taxes.

"We typically don't talk about legislation while they're getting baked," the governor said. "We're not ruling anything out. We want to get it right."

Murphy had previously called for a higher tax on marijuana, which suggests that taxes could be one of the first points of contention when the governor speaks with legislators.

Other sticking points, based on multiple interviews with several people close to the debate, could include industry oversight and expungements, the latter of which wasn't fully addressed in the new bill.

Jamel Holley, D-Union, one of the assemblymen working on the bill, said to expect language on expungements in the final version of the bill, and added that a separate bill on expungements is also in the works and is expected to go alongside the legalization bill.

Expungements -- the wiping away of certain criminal convictions, in this case marijuana-related ones -- are a key piece of Murphy's social justice platform as it relates to legal weed. They are also seen as crucial to getting the votes needed to legalize weed.

So with a few key issues still to be negotiated, it's unclear if lawmakers and the governor can reach a consensus by the end of the month. However, legislative leaders have made it clear that legal weed will be a priority this fall.

But if marijuana is legalized in New Jersey, it would still take several months to get the commercial industry up and running.

The bill says regulators would have 180 days to adopt rules for the program. After the rules are adopted, regulators must start accepting applications for licenses within 30 days, and approving or denying those applications within an additional 30 days.





Regulators then would be required to issue licenses 30 days after approval. Once a cultivation business has its license, it would be free to start growing marijuana, but it would take a few months to harvest the plants.



It's probably safe to say that if this bill passes, it would take about a year to get the marijuana industry up and running, and at this point it's not clear when that year-long countdown would begin.

Are you interested in the N.J. cannabis industry? Subscribe here for exclusive insider information from NJ Cannabis Insider.

Payton Guion may be reached at PGuion@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @PaytonGuion. Find NJ.com on Facebook.UPDATE: N.J. sailor who died on aircraft carrier remembered as 'hero with a big heart

The U.S. Navy says a sailor from New Jersey who died aboard an aircraft carrier was struck by the turning propeller of a plane.

The Navy said in a statement on Wednesday that Airman Apprentice Joseph Min Naglak had just secured an E-2C Hawkeye radar plane to the flight deck. Naglak's death occurred Monday aboard the USS George H. W. Bush while it was in the Atlantic Ocean.

The Navy said the incident remains under investigation and that his death has been a heartbreaking experience for those on board the carrier.

Naglak attended West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North and was engaged, according to his Facebook page.

His sister, Stephanie Blair Naglak, said he was adopted when he almost 2-years-old and that he "should always be remembered as a hero with a big heart."

"He wanted to join the navy to give back to a country who gave him so much," she said.

The 21-year-old enlisted in the Navy in his home state in April 2017. Four months later he had completed his training in Pensacola, Florida, and reported to the ship.

The ship remains at sea, and flight operations have resumed.Months before William Petrick's council seat is up for grabs, the mayor of Perth Amboy is accusing him of "disrespectful" social media posts.

Mayor Wilda Diaz sent a letter to residents last week, claiming some of Pertick's Facebook posts were blatantly prejudiced and misogynistic. Diaz's spokeswoman sent NJ Advance Media screenshots of his posts, all of which were shared from other accounts.

"Trump was right. Some countries are sh*tholes. Deal with it." Petrick's post, which he shared on January 12, said. Another asked, "If American women are so outraged at Trump's use of naughty words, who in the hell bought 80 million copies of '50 Shades of Grey?'"

Another, shared from an account called "Rush Limbaugh and the EIB Network", shows a large house with an outdoor pool, and states "This is the opression suffered by Colin Kaepernick (sic)."

Diaz said she has, like other women, developed a "thick skin," but "when this type of behavior is so shamelessly displayed on social media and in public meetings, it disrespects our community, our women and our diverse citizenship. Therefore, I will no longer stay silent," she said in her open letter.

Perth Amboy City Hall.

Petrick said he didn't intend to be hurtful and Diaz's letter was distracting residents from the real issues at hand in Perth Amboy, including rising taxes, dirty streets and limited parking.

"I would like to apologize to anyone who may have misunderstood or been offended by these posts, which...made up less than 1 percent of the posts on my page," he said in a written statement.

"I am fairly unfamiliar with Facebook and I'm not making excuses for my naivete, but my intent was just to inform, and stimulate conversation which is evident by all the other posts on my page including support for local causes and events and lots of posts on food."

Petrick has held a council seat for eight years and was sworn in as president in 2017, according to City Clerk Victoria Ann Kupsch.

The Nov. 6 election will give Perth Amboy voters the opportunity to choose council members for three open seats, including Petrick's. Joel Pabon is running for re-election alongside Petrick and Mailady Tejeda, a current board of education member. Tejeda hopes to take over Fernando Gonzalez's soon-to-be-vacant seat. The trio comprises the "Perth Amboy First" slate.

Challenging the Perth Amboy First group is the "Working For You 2018" group, consisting of Alana Cueto, Vincent Makfinsky and Marilou Villacis.

Cassidy Grom may be reached at cgrom@njadvancemedia.com Follow her at @cassidygrom. Find NJ.com on Facebook.Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.The Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah ended last week, and the holy day of Yom Kippur ends tonight at sundown (see also: FAQ: What is Yom Kippur?). Here are five facts you should know about the High Holy Days on the Jewish calendar:

1. In Judaism, the High Holy Days (sometimes referred to as high holidays) may refer to (1) the ten days starting with Rosh Hashanah and ending with Yom Kippur, known as the Days of Repentance or the Yamim Noraim (Hebrew for Days of Awe), (2) the days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur specifically, or (3) to the entire 40-day penitential periodthe month of Elul, the 30 days in the sixth month of the Jewish year, plus the ten days starting with Rosh Hashanah and ending with Yom Kippur.

2. The term High Holy days is not of Jewish origin but is suspected of having derived from the once-popular English phrase, high days and holydays. The term holiday is also derived from the Old English haligdg meaning holy day, consecrated day, religious anniversary, or Sabbath.

3. The calendar used for Jewish religious observances is lunisolar, which means that months are based on the phases of the moon but adjusted in average length to fit the length of the solar cycle. (In contrast, the most widely used civil calendarthe Gregorian calendaris solar based.) The calendar year features 12 lunar months of 29 or 30 days, with an intercalary lunar month (a leap month) added periodically to synchronize the 12 lunar cycles with the longer solar year. Leap months are added in the Jewish calendar seven times every 19 years.

4. In the Jewish calendar the Anno Mundi (Latin for in the year of the world) is based on rabbinic calculations of the year of creation from the Hebrew Masoretic text of the Bible. Rabbi Moses ben Maimon (aka Maimonides) calculated that the the third day of Nisan in this present year [March 22, 1178] to be the year 4938 of the creation of the world. This calendrical code developed by Maimonides is used most often in Jewish communities, putting the current year on the Hebrew calendar as 5778, that is 5778 years since the creation of the world.

5. Rosh Hashanah (head [of] the year) is the first day on the Jewish calendar, marking the traditional anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve. The holiday begins at sundown on the first day of Tishrei. According to Jewish belief, on Rosh Hashanah God inscribes his judgment and the fate of each individual in the Book of Life. However, during the Ten Days of Repentance Jews have the opportunity to atone, seek forgiveness, and make amends for past sins and wrongdoings before the fate is sealed on Yom Kippur.

Image source: Wikimedia CommonsPolice have identified the pedestrian who was struck and killed by a car as he crossed Route 18 early Tuesday as a 45-year-old New Brunswick man.

Christoph Freese was attempting to cross the highway near Commercial Avenue about 5 a.m. when he was struck by a car driven by a 32-year-old man from Woodbridge, police said.

The driver was headed north at the time of the crash, according to New Brunswick police.

Police closed Route 18 local lanes for several hours Tuesday morning as they investigated the crash.

"The investigation into the circumstances leading up to the collision is ongoing and there have been no charges issued at this time," police said in a statement.

Anyone with information is asked to call Officer Patrick Buckelew or Officer Edward Bobadilla of the police department's Traffic Safety and Enforcement Unit at 732-745-5005.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.When the family of Mark Gorski got the news that he'd drowned in a Monmouth County creek, their response was not unusual: shock, sadness and disbelief.

When his sister, Lisa Clements, learned the details of her older brother's death, however, that he'd jumped into the creek after a friend began to struggle, she said the manner in which he died did not come as a surprise.

"No one was shocked that Mark did that," Clements said Wednesday. "He would give you the shirt off his back."

Gorski, 56, and friend Zaidius Perry, 36, both drowned in Thornes Creek in Hazlet on Sunday afternoon when they jumped in trying to save a friend in distress. The friend, Ronald Williams, 61, was eventually rescued.

Gorski's identical twin brother Gary, with whom he lived, was also on the fishing trip, but decided to fish from a location about 200 feet away.

When Gary Gorski saw emergency responders speed past him, Clements said he had no idea they were en route to try to rescue his twin brother.

"Gary is not taking it well. He thinks he should have been there," Clements said.

The brothers are part of a family of six siblings, all born within a 15-year period. The large Gorski family grew up just a few miles from Thornes Creek.

A cousin that works for Union Beach Emergency Management was part of the nearly four-hour rescue effort, Clements said.

Clements, who lives in South Carolina, said the community is stunned that Gorski's life was cut short.

"We are all still trying to process what happened. Everybody is floored that Mark didn't make it because he was so strong," Clements said of her brother, who worked in construction.

"Of course we feel sorry for the other family as well," she said.

Perry's family told WABC that Perry, a 36-year-old father of four, had a similar character as Gorski, that he would be willing to make such a sacrifice for others.

"He would do that," Perry's dad, Stanley Qawiy told ABC7. "He would jump in the water to try to help someone."

Funeral arrangements for Perry were not immediately known.

Services for Gorski will be held at Ryan's Funeral Home in Keansburg on Saturday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Clements said the family is accepting donations for funeral costs in lieu of flowers, that can be sent to the funeral home and addressed to her parents, Bob and Dorothy.

Gary Gorski, left, and his twin brother Mark Gorski, right

Clements said she and her family are doing their best to grieve in the way Gorski would have wanted.

"We've been crying but also laughing. You have to find some humor in it because these next days are going to be so heavy."

Alexis Johnson may be reached at ajohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @alexisjreports. Find nj.com on Facebook.By Ryan P. Haygood

At a recent meeting with prominent New Jersey black leaders, Gov. Phil Murphy reminded us that 94 percent of black voters elected him into office.

Without the support of the black community, it's unlikely that he would be New Jersey's governor, given that 53 percent of white voters supported his opponent.

So what does this black support mean to the governor going forward? Murphy stated that he is conducting a racial disparity study.

That's the right place to start. Racial disparities in wealth, in access to the ballot box, and in criminal justice illuminate the systemic racism facing New Jersey's black community.

For example, the median net worth for New Jersey's white families is $271,402 -- the highest in the nation. But the median net worth for New Jersey's Latino and black families is just $7,020 and $5,900, respectively.

Additionally, New Jersey denies the vote to nearly 100,000 people who are in people who are in prison, on parole or probation. Half of those denied the right to vote are black, though black people comprise just 15 percent of the state's population.

But nine months into his administration, the governor has not focused on these or the starkest racial disparities affecting New Jersey: its shameful youth incarceration system.

You don't have to go to the southern border of the United States to see children of color torn from their families and caged -- that happens to black and brown kids at mind-blowing rates right here in New Jersey.

A black child in New Jersey is 30 times more likely to be incarcerated than a white child -- the highest disparity rate in America. Thus, even though research shows that black and white young people commit most offenses at similar rates, just 22 white kids are incarcerated in New Jersey.

For this reason, last year we stood with hundreds of people outside of Jamesburg youth prison and launched the 150 Years is Enough Campaign to close New Jersey's youth prisons and invest in a system that serves all of our kids.

Just six months later, then-Gov. Chris Christie announced the closure of both Jamesburg and Hayes, a girls' youth prison. To achieve closure, the Law and Justice Transition Advisory Committee under Murphy called for the creation of a youth justice commission in January of this year. But the governor has not taken action on this recommendation.

Instead, New Jersey has deepened its investment in incarcerating kids. In 2019, New Jersey will spend $281,835 to incarcerate each child.

To ensure that the promises made to the 94 percent are kept, we urge the governor to do three things.

1) Create a youth justice commission: Murphy should convene a youth justice commission with a mandate to create and oversee a comprehensive youth justice plan that, with meaningful community input, addresses the policies and practices that drive acial disparities, prioritizes alternatives to incarceration and rehabilitation, and invests the anticipated $20 million closure cost savings into community-based programs in neighborhoods most impacted by incarceration. The commission should also develop a plan and timeline for the closure of New Jersey's three youth prisons, including its most secure youth prison -- the Juvenile Medium Security Facility. No construction should commence before the commission issues its recommendations.

2) Restore the right to vote: The governor should commit to signing and using the power of his office to urge the passage of S-2100/A-3456, historic legislation that will restore the right to vote to nearly 100,000 people in prison, on parole or on probation.

3) Erase racial income inequality: Murphy should champion the effort to close the racial wealth gap by supporting a statewide plan for individual development accounts, which would provide matched savings for low-income residents. Murphy also should lead the effort to empower poor residents in communities segregated by race through deep government infrastructure investments that will raise the property values in communities of color, thereby raising the value of most families' largest asset: their home. This investment should support and protect current homeowners from losing that asset, as well as expanding homeownership among residents of color, including providing grants for down payment assistance and ensuring access to low-interest, fixed-rate mortgage loans.

Documenting New Jersey's racial disparities is important. But eliminating the systemic racism that these disparities reflect will require courageous leadership.

Murphy should demonstrate that he is willing to exercise bold leadership and that he is as committed to the 94 percent who supported him as they have been to him.

We stand ready to work with him when he does.

In the meantime, stand with us at the "Rally for the 94 Percent" in Newark on Saturday, Oct. 27 at noon at Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, the church Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. visited 50 years ago to build support for the Poor People's Campaign.

Ryan P. Haygood is president & CEO of the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice.

This piece is co-signed by Richard T. Smith, president, NAACP New Jersey State Conference; Elise Boddie, trustee for NJISJ; the Rev. Dr. Charles F. Boyer, executive director of Salvation and Social Justice; Carolyn V. Chang, immediate past president of the Association of Black Women Lawyers of New Jersey; the Rev. Eric Dobson of the Fair Share Housing Center; and Reva Foster, Chairwoman of New Jersey Black Issues Convention.

Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.By Jordan Gans-Morse

Despite Donald Trump's instinctual grasp of today's political zeitgeist and penchant for authoritarianism, Americans are at least lucky that he lacks discipline, strategy and a sincere belief in what he preaches. He is a demagogue whose reign might be toppled not by grand corruption or collusion with a foreign country but by something as tawdry as payoffs to silence a mistress.

In other words, Donald Trump is an authoritarian too incompetent to destroy democracy. In fact, there may even be a silver lining to the Trump presidency in that it has demonstrated how vulnerable our democracy actually is.

As a political scientist specializing in the politics of nondemocratic countries, my initial reaction to the recent anonymous op-ed by a "senior official" published in The New York Times was: "Things could actually be much worse."

To many observers, the author's assertions that "adults in the room" are doing their best to limit the fallout from the president's "half-baked, ill-informed and occasionally reckless decisions" seems cause for grave concern.

But chew on this:

Imagine as a thought experiment a president who, like Trump, bears all the hallmarks of an authoritarian leader: weak commitment to democratic rules, unwillingness to recognize the legitimacy of political opponents, encouragement of violence and minimal concern for the civil rights of opponents or a free press.

But unlike Trump, this leader, while almost certainly sporting a sizable ego, also cares at least as much about his or her movement's cause, believes in a historic mission and has the discipline to avoid petty scandals -- or at least expertly hide the evidence -- that could disrupt a larger agenda.

Leaders who fit this description include Venezuela's Hugo Chavez, Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russia's Vladimir Putin, among others -- all of whom in recent years undermined democracy after rising to power through democratic elections. These are, in other words, determined and skilled authoritarians.

America is in many ways not comparable to these countries. In particular, one might hope that its self-identity as the longest-standing modern democracy makes its democratic institutions exceptionally robust. But Trump's electoral victory has shown us that what seems impossible in the evening can be reality the next morning, just as the examples of Venezuela, Turkey or Russia show how little time -- less than a decade -- is required for democratically elected despots to upend a democracy.

If a candidate who openly incites violence, exploits racist tropes and refuses to commit to the outcome of elections can prove victorious, then why should we rest easy believing that a Trump 2.0 -- that is, a Trump minus the philandering and corruption -- won't be able to take an attack on democracy one step further?

Dumb lucky?

Which brings us back to the silver lining and why America is lucky to have Trump, an authoritarian disturbing enough to awaken America to its vulnerabilities yet too incompetent to destroy democracy, rather than an American version of a wily Putin or Chavez. Foremost, Trump's rise has laid bare the frailty of America's formal institutions while also raising awareness of the critical role that norms and individual leaders' decency (or at least patriotism) play in sustaining our democracy.

Previous presidents did not see fit to exploit the lack of formal rules about releasing tax returns or divesting assets, nor did they use national security as a pretext to silence critics despite the nearly unlimited power of the president in that sphere. Now these vulnerabilities in our political system are abundantly clear.

The Trump presidency also has fast-forwarded awareness of the threats that technological innovations such as social media pose to democracy, which cannot survive without citizens' collective belief in shared facts. Trump, the media outlets that enable him and the echo chamber of Twitter and Facebook have constructed a nearly impenetrable alternative "reality" -- a phenomenon that is eerily familiar to those of us well-acquainted with Putin's Russia -- in which Trump's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen's plea deal and the guilty verdict of Paul Manafort, Trump's former campaign manager, barely happened and Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential elections did not occur.

Previously, warnings about the darker side of the information age may have fallen on deaf ears. Now such concerns are mainstream. And Trump is serving as a political canary for a truly momentous future disaster: the extremist movements of both the left and right that will inevitably grow if large swaths of American citizens continue to feel left behind by globalization and ignored by political elites.

What about the wreckage he'll leave behind?

To be sure, enduring the Trump presidency is an immensely costly way to receive these lessons. Not only are democratic institutions at risk, but Trump's affinity for chaos also could provoke a major catastrophe such as a military conflict. Add to this the destructive legacy he will leave behind, including diminished stature on the international stage, the resurgence of white nationalism at home and the long-lasting impact of abandoning Obama-era efforts to mitigate global warming.

Yet the damage Trump can inflict may be limited by his own buffoonery -- the poorly hidden mistresses, shoddy business practices coming back to haunt him, and his own messy understanding of the distinction between using deceit as a political strategy and actually believing the untruths one speaks. It seems increasingly likely that the remainder of Trump's time in office will be largely consumed by defending himself against various scandals and possibly even criminal charges.

America's institutions look like they might just be strong enough to weather Trump's assault. But it would be naive to take our political system's survival of the Trump presidency as evidence that American democracy will endure.

Instead, in a post-Trump world, whenever it comes, America must vigorously confront three of the foremost challenges to its democracy: loopholes in the rules constraining presidential power, disinformation amplified by new technologies and a yawning inequality gap that is fertile ground for political extremism.

If Americans use Trump's presidency as a wake-up call -- a 6.0 political earthquake that alerts us to our unpreparedness for the truly Big One -- then at least we will be that much more ready to confront an even bigger threat to our political system when it inevitably arrives.

Jordan Gans-Morse is an associate professor of political science at Northwestern University and the author of "Property Rights in Post-Soviet Russia: Violence, Corruption, and Demand for Law." He was a 2016-17 Fulbright scholar in Ukraine.

Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.The emerging consensus is that Monday's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing - ostensibly called to examine an alleged sexual assault by a Supreme Court Justice nominee - is shaping up to be a sham, one that sinks to the depths of the Clarence Thomas-Anita Hill fiasco.

It's not. It's worse.

It's also a sign that we have learned very little since the 1991 confirmation hearing, which was one of the darkest moments in the history of the Senate.

For now, the committee's chairman, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), is calling just two witnesses with no independent determination of the truth, which is a ludicrous way to judge whether Brett Kavanaugh should sit on the highest court in the country.

In 1991, there were 22 witnesses called to help sort out the allegations made by Professor Hill.

This time, there will be no FBI investigation into the allegations made by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, and she is undecided whether she will testify Monday without one.

In 1991, the FBI did a three-day investigation because the White House called for a "full, thorough, and expeditious investigation" two weeks before Hill told her story of sexual harassment.

But Grassley's committee is double-parked. Its Republican members have decided that it will not admit any other evidence - even if it could corroborate Ford's accusation of attempted rape, which should be an alarm bell.

If the goal is to establish the credibility of the allegation, why would the hearing include only two witnesses?

Why not question the therapist who knew of Ford's trauma years ago? Why shouldn't the committee question the former FBI agent who administered Ford's polygraph test?

It is an especially vexing that the committee will not compel testimony from Mark Judge, Kavanaugh's party pal from Georgetown Prep, who was said to be in the room during the alleged assault all those years ago.

If Judge says he knows Kavanaugh well enough to declare his good friend's innocence, why wouldn't he come to the hearing personally to testify to that effect? If your friend's only chance to sit on the Supreme Court was in jeopardy because of character attacks, wouldn't you move mountains to support him? Wouldn't you drop everything to validate his integrity? Wouldn't you do it under oath?

Judge gets to watch from his couch, because the Republicans - in an atrocious abdication of duty - don't want to hear from him.

Nor do they want an FBI investigation, which can commence only under an order from Attorney General Jeff Sessions. But wouldn't they want to examine whether there are witnesses or evidence to a potential crime that could affect the confirmation of any man or woman seeking a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court? Isn't it telling that Ford is eager to cooperate with the FBI, given that lying to its agents is a felony?

Republicans seem to be in a great rush, if only to confirm Kavanaugh before the midterm elections. Of course, they weren't in such a rush when they held up Merrick Garland and left a Court seat open for 422 days.

They are taking their chances with a he-said-she-said scenario, and hope that if Ford shows up Monday, she'll sound "mixed up," as Sen. Orrin Hatch - proud member of the all-male cast of '91 - has already concluded.

There has been a seismic cultural shift in our country, where allegations against powerful men are taken more seriously than they were in 1991.

But some things don't change. Ford is still the target of constant smears and taunts, some coming from the president's son. She is receiving death threats. Her emails have been hacked. She has moved her family to a more secure area.

This is not something she wants to do. This is something she feels obligated to do, and for that alone, she deserves respect. She also deserves something more than a sham hearing, which is what she's likely to get if she testifies Monday - just another day in the life of Congress, and yet another glaring example of its political cowardice.

The FBI would actually bring a lot of tools to an investigation of this alleged incident, including skilled agents with experience interviewing sex crime victims and reluctant witnesses. And the bureau would be happy to investigate, but it can only do so if the White House asks.  Ken Dilanian (@KenDilanianNBC) September 19, 2018

Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook."His art is the language by which he reveals small truths in a noisy world." Those are the words Carol Cruickshanks, Executive Director of New Hope Arts, uses to describe the works in Robert Beck's exhibition "Archetypes" currently on display there.

Go there and you will see she is absolutely right. There are 51 paintings on the wall and each one quietly speaks the essential truth of the scene that is depicted. In "Seining" fishermen are gathering shad near Lambertville's Lewis Island. The net is spread, the fishermen are barely seen in the falling darkness as they dip their oars in the rippling, shining water not far from the bridge. "It's a moment in shad fishing," Beck says. "Cars are going over the bridge, people are walking in Lambertville, but you don't see them. You don't hear them. You see the fishermen doing it the old way, drawing the fish in the net. It's not just what you see, it's the experience. I try to do an image that resonates on an archetypical level."

Many of the paintings on exhibit were done in an old fishing village in Maine where Beck goes annually to paint. "Shipyard" is the view he says he sees across a wet grassy area to some buildings and boats while he sips his morning coffee. And in "Morning Wharf" we come up behind two fishermen walking to their boat in the low light of early morning. "Willis's Shop" portrays the white-haired ship builder at work in a shop filled with all the bits and pieces of his trade.

The show transitions to a totally different lifestyle--Beck's studio in Manhattan. There we see "West Toward the Hudson," the view from his rooftop. And street scenes such as "Steam Vent" where yellow cabs with lights on are about to drive under a shaft of vented steam. And displayed nearby is the archetypical "Hot Dog Cart."

If that transition from Maine to Manhattan isn't enough for you, there are rural scenes such as "Stalk Cutting" where Amish farmers are leading two four-horse teams cutting the stalks the old way. And there's "Schnitzel," described by Beck as an "old world pig." There's something about the stillness of the pig standing there. It's as if you are right there with him in that moment. "My paintings aren't just what I see," Beck says. "They're not static. They're who we are and there's always the before and after."

Each of Beck's paintings zeros in on the here-and-now aspect of the larger scene. "Crows" would have been just a painting of the round hull of a boat waiting in a shipyard for repair, but then crows flew in and Beck painted them perched on the boat thereby creating that in-the-moment feel you will find throughout this entire exhibit.

One of the runners in drag in New Hope's "High Heel Race," falls as the racers go on and pedestrians watch. Joanie, the bartender at The Swan in Lambertville is pouring a drink in "Martini." Two fishermen in a dory watch in wonder as a massive whale rises from a night sea blowing its breath in a tower of mist and spray.

In "Scent of the Sea," a dog stands alone at night on a snowy shoreline watching waves splashing in on rocks. The orange glow of lights and smoke rising from the chimney of a house seen over the rise depicts a cold winter night, but it's that lone dog sniffing the sea air that locks in that moment of time.

And then there's Beck's monumental painting, "Baptism" that he says began with his thinking of climate change. To describe the elements that make up the whole will not do it justice. This is one you have to see and when you do, you will understand. Let it suffice to say you will see a barefoot man standing in water holding his infant child as he is surrounded and dwarfed by wildlife animals emerging from darkness.

Robert Beck has lived in Bucks County all his life. He was a business man until, at the age of 40, he decided to leave the business world to become a painter. He studied at the

Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. He has had exhibitions at the James A. Michener Museum, Trenton City Museum, and the Maine Maritime Museum and his work has been shown at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley. He has had 33 solo shows, including a the National Arts Club in New York, and has received 29 major awards.

For this exhibition, he invited Lambertville's Katherine Hackl to exhibit her exquisite ceramic works with him. On display throughout the exhibit are groupings of her hand-thrown stoneware and porcelain forms. Many are decorated with hand-carved botanical motifs done with a sgraffito technique in which the clay body is layered with a colored liquid clay into which her images are sketched and carved freehand then finished with a transparent glaze that is dishwasher ad microwave safe.

Especially beautiful are her blue and white porcelain "Birds in Branches" vases. Her table-top sculpture, "Copper Fall Flowers" is a porcelain, bronze, epoxy, copper and coral work where the copper flowers rest on white porcelain leaves. "Black and White Flower Burst" incorporates porcelain, bronze, epoxy and stone where white flowers and black leaves are on a textured flat stone. And "Evening Branch, White Flowers" is a wall piece of porcelain, bronze and epoxy with three flowers blooming atop a tall graceful branch.

Katherine Hackle is also known for her public tile mural installations in places including the Trenton Train Station, NJ Transit Southern New Jersey Light Rail Transit System, Edison and Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Transit, New Jersey State House Annex, New Jersey War Memorial in Trenton and many other sites. Visit her website: http://www.katherinehackl.com

This is an exhibit you should not miss. Hackl's functional yet fine art works quietly complement Beck's paintings that take us into contemplation of those archetypical moments in time that are often overlooked.

IF YOU GO:

WHAT: Archetype-Paintings by Robert Beck

WHERE: New Hope Arts Center, 3 Stockton Avenue, New Hope, PA

WHEN: Through October 7. Hours, 1 to 4 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays,

Or by appointment

CONTACT: 215-982-0074

Follow NJ.com on Twitter @njdotcom. Find NJ.com on FacebookIf life is a bowl of cherries, what am I doing in the pits? Just wait until you have children of your own. The grass is always greener over the septic tank. When you look like your passport photo, it's time to go home. In addition to providing ironic commentary on contemporary life, the previous four sentences are all titles of books by American author Erma Bombeck, a best-selling author whose life and work is celebrated in "Erma Bombeck: At Wit's End," now onstage at Bristol Riverside Theatre through October 7.

The show, by Allison Engel and Margaret Engel and developed for the stage with David Esbjornson, is a solo show starring Licia Watson and directed by Jennie Eisenhower, and it's been keeping the staff at Bristol Riverside Theatre in stitches since rehearsals began. Some staff members were too young to have been readers of Bombeck's books, a stream of autobiographical stories and observations which began in 1967 with "At Wit's End" and ended in 1996 with "Forever Erma: Best-Loved Writing from America's Favorite Humorist," but they've been finding out about Erma's sometimes biting but always genuine wit and laughing at her jokes time after time.

Ohio-born Bombeck, billed by BRT as "America's favorite housewife," began her writing career with a column in the student newspaper for Emerson Junior High School in 1940 and continued column writing when a student at the University of Dayton but stopped writing for a decade and a half when she married Bill Bombeck in 1949 and started her family. In 1964, she resumed writing for the local Kettering-Oakwood Times which paid her three dollars per column once a week, but she moved up to $25 per column when she began writing twice weekly for The Dayton Journal Herald. In 1965, her columns began national syndication. By the 1970s, her twice weekly columns in 900 newspapers in the U.S. and Canada were read by an estimated 30 million people.

Director Jennie Eisenhower is not new to BRT; she's been onstage there in shows like "The Foreigner," "Steel Magnolias," and "Little Women," but this is the first time she's been asked to direct although she has directed elsewhere including shows like "1776" and "Chicago" at Media Theatre where, in October, she's scheduled to be both the associate director and the Beggar Woman in Sondheim's "Sweeney Todd."

"I think the folks here at BRT thought that, since I was so comfortable acting in comedies, I'd been good at directing one, and I was thrilled to be asked. The show had been done quite successfully in Washington, D.C., I believe, and I think it's a perfect fit for the BRT stage," said Eisenhower who cited the outstanding work of her production team: set designer Roman Tatarowicz, costume designer Linda Bee Stockton, lighting designer Karen Spahn and sound designer Karin Graybash.

"With only one performer in the show, I wanted to make sure to find just the right actress, someone who was comfortable with what I could call meaningful comedy. Humor was the way Erma got through even serious things, and what I found out that I didn't know about her was how much work she had done for women's rights. Yes, of course, she had the books and columns, and she was a regular on "Good Morning America' for over a decade. But she was also a great advocate of women's rights and an important voice in the implementation of the Equal Rights Amendment," said Eisenhower, citing Bombeck's involvement with the Presidential Advisory Committee for Women in the late seventies.

"We've tried to make things seem intimate with Irma talking directly to you, to each audience member individually," said Eisenhower, "and we're with her at home. We get a glimpse into a day of her life. There are the usual problems that seem common to everyone, but I don't think anyone has shared them with as much sensitivity, good humor and naturalness as Erma. She's also filling us in on her previous biography and how she felt about certain things that came up for her and her family.

"We get a taste of her life in about 1967 as she gets the kids off to school. We watch her do those physical tasks that always need to be done like washing dishes, and then she sets up her ironing board and put her typewriter on top of it and writes. She was the supreme multi-tasker. And we're getting all kinds of things she wrote about directly from her," said Eisenhower who admitted that she didn't grow up with Erma's books as those of a certain age group had, but she did much research.

"It's amazing how many phrases I'd heard for years were hers and are now common usage. She's very relatable, and although her generation was the one before mine, I see we share so many things. Her legacy is warmth and humor," Eisenhower said.

Actress Licia Watson decided to prepare for her solo role by reading all of Bombeck's books, a baker's dozen in all, but found that many are now unavailable. She went on line and found secondhand copies, some of which looked "well loved."

"I didn't know for sure that I was right to play Erma until I started getting into her books. My mom had read them back then, but I didn't. I was surprised at how much we have in common as people. When I told my friends, they said, 'You'll be perfect!'" said Watson who considers Eleanor of Aquitaine in "Lion in Winter" one of her favorite roles so far.

"Motherhood is such a great challenge, and we're both mothers who have looked at that role and realized how absurd that can be at times. I'm so happy to know her now, and I'm hoping that, with this show, we can open up her point of view to new generations of mothers and wives. I love one of the lines in the show that says, 'If you can't make it better, at least you can laugh at it.' She's so forthright and honest and warm. She balances something so funny with something so poignant. I can laugh, and I can cry when I read her and be her. I love the parts where Erma talks about her mom and how their roles have gotten reversed over time," said Watson.

"I hope people will realize through this show how important it is to see the humor in our lives. If you get too sucked into all the negativity, you'll lose that ability to laugh at yourself and laugh at the absurdity of certain situations. That ability might get you through tough times."

IF YOU GO

"Erma Bombeck: At Wit's End"

When: through October 7, Wednesday & Thursday at 7:30; Friday and Saturday at 8 with matinees Wednesday and Saturday at 2 and Sunday at 3

Where: Bristol Riverside Theatre, 120 Radcliffe Street, Bristol, PA

How much: Tickets at $33 to $50 with discounts for military personnel, children and groups

Contact: (215) 785 - 0100 or brtstage.org

Follow NJ.com on Twitter @njdotcom. 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: Downtown Development District chief Kurt Weigle

The icon: Kurt Weigle.

The legacy: When Kurt Weigle was hired in 2003 to lead the Downtown Development District, his mission was clear: Make it vibrant again. He has done that, and more. According to the district's website, about 350 digital-media and high-tech jobs have been added each year, real estate investments since 2006 have surpassed $6.5 billion, and residential population in that part of the city has doubled. But it's not all glitz: The district, with backing from tourism and convention groups, has joined the city to create a low-barrier homeless shelter in the former Veterans Affairs hospital. The man is non-stop, and his knowledge of the districts, and the projects in it, is encyclopedic. Most recently, he's directed his enthusiasm toward the Four Seasons project in what had been the World Trade Center and the revitalization of the Jung Hotel, which will be turned into a mix of apartments and hotel rooms.

The artist: D. Lammie Hanson.

The quote: "We helped to create a better investment environment downtown, through cleaning, public safety and the promotion of downtown to create a place where people want to be." -- Kurt Weigle in a 2015 interview with NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

Explore more of Hanson's work online at WhereYart.net and in person at the Where Y'Art gallery, 1901 Royal St.

The Downtown Development District, which the Legislature created in 1974, is bounded by Iberville Street, the Pontchartrain Expressway, Claiborne Avenue and the Mississippi River. It includes the Central Business District, the Warehouse District, the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, the Smoothie King Center and the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

By John Pope, contributing writer

Source: The Times-Picayune archives; downtownnola.com; staff research

More on 300 for 300:Hollywood leading man Brad Pitt's Make It Right organization has sued New Orleans architect John C. Williams in Civil District Court for defective design work that led to leaks and other flaws in the experimental homes, dating back to 2009. Make It Right claims it paid Williams $4 million as the avant-garde project's architect of record, who oversaw the construction of the 106 ecologically conscious, eye-catching designs.

According to the lawsuit, filed by attorney Victor J. Franckiewicz, Jr., repairing the damage caused by rain and humidity could run Make It Right $20 million.

Starting in 2006, Pitt used his celebrity clout to establish a charity that replaced houses destroyed by the catastrophic flooding that accompanied Hurricane Katrina at affordable prices tailored to displaced residents. The endeavor, which used house plans by architectural superstars such as Shigeru Ban, Thom Mayne and Frank Gehry, was certainly one of the most audacious post-K recovery projects.

Ground was broken on the Make It Right in 2008. By 2015, the development had cost over $26 million. Construction discontinued by early 2016.

In recent years Make It Right adopted a policy of not responding to questions from the press and conducting scant communication with home owners. Pitt had not spoken publicly about Make it Right since the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina in 2015. So the state of the nonprofit company was mostly a mystery.

At the 10th anniversary in the summer of 2018, Make It Right seemed to be a bygone success story tainted by some premature deterioration. The worst case was a derelict 7-year-old home at 5012 North Derbigny St. that was so rotted it was demolished on June 30 at the insistence of neighbors.

Back in 2015, Williams had been granted a permit to replace the flat roof on the leaking North Derbigny St. home, at a cost of $81,000. In an interview in June, he said he wasn't sure why the job was never completed.

During the same interview, Williams acknowledged that one or two of the Make It Right buildings "may be falling apart" but he said he hoped that didn't overshadow the vast majority of homes that were successes.

He pointed out that "there are people who come to New Orleans for the sole reason of seeing the houses" and that contractors across the city became skilled in futuristic building techniques during the project.

In June, Williams said that he was hopeful Make It Right would "finish strong" by completing its original goal of 150 houses. He did not immediately return a request for comment.

In early September, New Orleans attorney Ron Austin brought a class action lawsuit against Make It Right that accused the charity of building substandard homes that are deteriorating at a rapid pace.

On Tuesday, Make It Right blamed the rapid deterioration on the architect they hired.

The lawsuit against Williams states that Make It Right holds their overseeing architect responsible for myriad failures to adequately waterproof the structures, including insufficiently sloped roofs. The suit claims that Williams' attempts at repairs were also largely a failure and that he kept the Make It Right management in the dark about the defects.

The suit does not hold Williams liable for the damages to 39 homes caused by the use of an experimental weatherproof wood product called TimberSIL that was rapidly ruined by the South Louisiana environment. In 2014 Make It Right sued the manufacturer of TimberSIL for $500,000, though it's unclear if the company was made to pay.

In a prepared statement, Make It Right pledged to "continue to work proactively with homeowners in the Lower 9th Ward." The non-profit organization declined further comment.

Doug MacCash covers art, music and culture in New Orleans. Contact him via email at dmaccash@nola.com. Follow him on Twitter at Doug MacCash and on Facebook at Douglas James MacCash. As always, please add your point of view to the comment stream.Joe Young feels like a real artist now that his work is included in the Marketplace at 1808 Front Street. For Kara-Lee Lutz, the weekly Camellia City Farmer's Market in the adjacent parking lot have brought people into the Marketplace to see and purchase her artwork.

"There's something for everyone in there," said Lutz, a self-taught artist who has sold her highly layered and textured ink drawings, acrylic paintings and watercolor pieces in the Marketplace for the past year.

Pieces by a handful of the Marketplace's 25 exhibiting artists, including Young and Lutz, were on display during the East St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce's Cultural Economy Luncheon on Sept. 12 at the Northshore Harbor Center.

The event, sponsored this year by Firemen's Federal Credit Union, has been held annually for nearly 10 years to draw attention to the arts and how they affect local businesses.

In Louisiana, 160,000 workers are employed in arts and culture industries, and every $1 spent on arts and culture in Louisiana results in $11 for the general state economy.

Those figures and more from the Louisiana Office of Cultural Development were shared with luncheon attendees by featured speaker Mary Lee. Since 2002, she has worked as chief operations officer of Lee Financial Partners, LLC, a financial services firm owned by Lee and her husband, Jim.

Yet, Lee's passion for the arts is evident through her volunteer work. She is chairwoman of the Louisiana State Arts Council, a volunteer body appointed by the Governor. The group meets quarterly to address arts-related issues of importance to the state and has the authority to approve all grants awarded by the Louisiana Division of the Arts.

Lee also sits on the Board of Trustees at the St. Tammany Hospital Foundation, serving as the chairwoman of Governance and the Foundation's Healing Arts Initiative. Under her leadership, HAI started the bi-annual Healing Arts Rotating Gallery Series exhibitions.

"As a businesswoman who practices in St. Tammany Parish, it's so important to show and support what makes our community enviable," she said. "I'm proud to serve our state. I'm proud to serve our people in such special meaningful ways. I have the best teachers - business owners, leaders, workers, family. Business partnerships with the arts are the lifeline for a prosperous continuum."

In addressing the luncheon's attendees, Lee described how two local efforts have established community partnerships and "changed the landscape of arts and culture right here in St. Tammany Parish," she said.

The healing arts exhibitions, which feature juried pieces by local artists on St. Tammany Parish Hospital's walls, aims to help patients, visitors and staff have positive experiences while at the medical complex.

The exhibitions have drawn attention from the state's arts leadership, which lead to it is featured on the Web sites for the National Centers for Creative Aging, which assists patients with cognitive disabilities, and the National Center for Veterans with Disabilities. It also soon will be featured on the National Endowment for the Arts Web site.

"A hospital is a very unlikely place for artistic purpose and renown, but its happening," Lee said.

St. Tammany top stories in your inbox A weekly guide to the biggest news in St. Tammany. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up

She also lauded Shop Local Artists Week, a statewide resolution passed in April 2017 marking the first full of December as a time to encourage holiday shoppers to purchase of artwork, play tickets and other cultural items.

SLAW's inaugural festivities in December 2017 in St. Tammany Parish included a Festival of the Arts in downtown Covington, a concert by jazz musician Ronnie Kole and a performance by writer Chris Rose, organized by the Northshore Cultural Economy Coalition.

"It is now the springboard of national place making with the American for the Arts this year," Lee said.

The idea for Shop Local Artists Week started with an event organized by Kim Bergeron, a founding member and current chairwoman of the Northshore Cultural Economy Coalition, in December 2016 at the Marketplace at 1808 Front Street.

The East St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce established the first-floor gallery and bakery in May 2014. Its offices occupy the second floor of the historic masonry building.

The Marketplace's goal is to advance awareness of and support for local artists. It is anchored by the Sambola Gallery, the Mischief Gallery and Pottery Studio KLH.

The pottery studio, run by artist Kelly Landrum-Hammell, also allows budding artists to take classes.

Through those classes, Young rekindled a long-lost passion for ceramics. He now creates ceramic mugs, bowls and other items decorated with a technique called chattering, in addition to his wooden lamps and kitchen ware.

"I used to turn wood. I always thought pottery would be cool because it's similar. It's turn work," he said. "It's a shockingly difficult craft to master."

The Marketplace at 1808 Front Street is open Mondays to Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information on the East St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce, call 985.643.5678 or visit www.estchamber.com or www.facebook.com/estchamber.

On the Horizon

ARTWorks Tile Wall painting sessions, Children's Museum of St. Tammany, 21404 Koop Drive, Mandeville. Available sessions are: Sept. 19, 10 to 11 a.m. or 11 a.m. to noon; Sept. 23, 2 to 3 p.m. or 3 to 4 p.m.; Sept. 26, 10 to 11 a.m. or 11 a.m. to noon; Sept. 30, 2 to 3 p.m. or 3 to 4 p.m.; Oct. 3, 10 to 11 a.m. or 11 a.m. to noon; Oct. 6, noon to 1 p.m. or 1 to 2 p.m.; Oct. 10, 10 to 11 a.m. or 11 a.m. to noon. Fundraiser participants can select from and paint one of the nine custom tiles by artist Steve Hasslock of Hasslock Studios. Cost is $50 for a 6-inch tile depicting a boat, butterfly, girl, globe, tree, boy, crab or lighthouse, or $200 for a 12-inch tile depicting the CMST entrance. All ages, organizations, businesses or private groups are welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Each session is limited to 12 participants. info@cmstkids.org or 985.888.1555.

Sarah Bonnette is a freelance writer on Louisiana arts and culture. She may be contacted at sgbonnette@gmail.com.by

Todays Wall Street Journal includes my review of one of the most searing listening experiences in the history of recorded sound  the new Marston Records 3-CD set: Rachmaninoff Plays Symphonic Dances  which you can sample here. My review reads:

One of the saddest and most paradoxical artistic exiles of the 20th century was Sergei Rachmaninoff, who fled the Russian Revolution and wound up in New York and Los Angeles, in equal measure celebrated and obscure.

Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) left Moscow a composer and conductor of high consequence who also played the piano. Yet in America he barely conducted and his compositional output plummeted. To earn a living, he turned himself into a keyboard virtuoso of singular fame and attainmenta late embodiment of the heroic Romantic piano lineage beginning with Franz Liszt. Offstage, he retained a lonely Russian home and Russian customs. His severe crewcut and gimlet eyes disclosed little to the world at large. His personal poise was awesome and implacable.

Rachmaninoffs privacy took other forms. He refused permission to have his concerts broadcast, effectively preventing any documentation of what he sounded like in live performance. Instead, he recorded extensively for RCA. But, absent the oxygen a body of listeners can activate, those readings are as celebrated for their emotional control as for their sovereign interpretive mastery. They enshrine kaleidoscopic miracles of color and texture wedded to a vice-like command of musical structure. But the cap remains on the bottle.

No longer. A decade ago, a researcher was browsing a collection left by the conductor Eugene Ormandy to the University of Pennsylvaniaand read: 33 1/3:12/21/40: Symphonic DancesRachmaninoff in person playing the piano. That is: Ormandy had privately recorded Rachmaninoff playing through his Symphonic Dances prior to Ormandys premiere performance with the Philadelphia Orchestra in January 1941. This turned out to be no morsel, but 26 minutes of a 35-minute composition. And its now embedded in a three-CD Marston set titled Rachmaninoff Plays Symphonic Dances. The result is one of the most searing listening experiences in the history of recorded sound.

Most of the best piano recordings are made in concert. Theyre not as perfect as studio products, but by and large theyre more spontaneous, more intense, more creative. Vladimir Horowitz, an intimate friend, claimed that only one of Rachmaninoffs commercial recordingsthat of the second movement of his own First Concerto, recorded in 1939-40gave a fair impression. If you listen to that recording, youll easily ascertain what Horowitz was talking aboutthe opening solo is untethered.

As privately imparted to Ormandy, Rachmaninoffs impromptu solo-piano rendering of his Symphonic Dances documents roaring cataracts of sound, massive chording, and pounding accents powered by a demonic thrust the likes of which no studio environment has ever fostered. Rachmaninoffs humbling presence, re-encountered, is gigantic, cyclopean.

And there is more: the piece itself; it is Rachmaninoffs valedictory. Summoning his waning creative energies in this last major work, he fashioned his musical testament. The dances originally bore titles: Midday, Twilight, Midnight. These are stations of life. The finale ends in a blaze of glory; near the close, Rachmaninoff inscribed: Alliluya.

But the works most poignant moment comes in the first movement coda, which cites and pacifies the vengeance motto of the confessional First Symphony, a youthful effusion Rachmaninoff discarded following its disastrous 1897 premiere. It is music as naked as the nostalgic Rachmaninoff of the Second Piano Concerto is decorous: a baring of the soul. The First Symphony was completely unknown in 1940 (only in 1944 was a set of parts discovered). And so Rachmaninoffs allusion in the Symphonic Dances is a soul-baring even more private than his piano-rehearsal with Ormandy. In terms of his creative odysseyhis exile and accommodation in a strange landit is nothing less than a closing of the circle.

How does Rachmaninoff himself perform this secret passage, the meaning of which was his alone? Very slowly, lingeringly. Even more affecting is his treatment of the movements second subject, a long saxophone melody he invests with a heaving surge and ebb of feeling, imparting a trembling undertow of anguish, of memories faraway and yet unresolved. The second movement waltz, under Rachmaninoffs fingers, is an essay in macabre shadow-play. The final dance is primal. The work emerges as an iconic leavetaking as bittersweet as any Mahler Abschied.

I own a 10-volume 1954 edition of Groves Dictionary of Music that allots to Rakhmaninov less than a page. It contains the sentence: The enormous popular success some few of [his] works had in his lifetime is not likely to last, and musicians never regarded it with much favour. Today that sentiment is as forgettable as Rachmaninoff is imperishable.

The little box containing these Rachmaninoff memories within memories includes other rarities. I cannot imagine a better introduction to this artist at his true worth. It stands as a rebuke to the slickness that often passes for Rachmaninoff interpretation nowadays. More than a lost art, it documents a lost world.Opinion by Marc Hyden

Up until this year, Louisiana had the nation's highest incarceration rate per capita. However, the state's conservative criminal justice reforms have ushered in a new era that has reduced the prison population, diminished the tax burden relative to corrections and laid the foundation for a better Louisiana.

Nevertheless, some of these landmark reforms have recently come under fire. Armed with the 1980's tough-on-crime mindset, U.S. Sen. John Kennedy, a Republican from Madisonville, criticized Louisiana's Justice Reinvestment reforms. The new laws are intended to rehabilitate inmates, support crime survivors and prioritize prison beds for the most dangerous offenders. With a heavy dose of hyperbole, Sen. Kennedy asserted that neighborhoods and small towns are becoming "war zones" and "drug dens," ostensibly because of the reforms. He even dismissed Louisiana's Department of Corrections as "not competent."

Despite Sen. Kennedy's misleading (and some downright false) comments, it is important not to lose sight of how the justice reinvestment laws are serving Louisianians. Lawmakers must not reverse the progress that has been made. Instead, legislators should seek to take it further.

The reforms are already paving the way for laudable progress, and Louisiana's prison population has been dwindling. Today, it is below 33,000 inmates for the first time in around 20 years thanks, in part, to a program that allows earlier release of nonviolent offenders who have a history of good behavior. This has permitted the state to surrender its spot as the nation's top jailer. It is also the reason why, in less than a year, the Department of Corrections has been able to save $14 million in taxpayer money. What's more, these savings are far higher than originally forecasted.

The Justice Reinvestment reforms will do much more, though. By 2027, Louisiana's bloated community supervision and prison populations are projected to shrink by 10-12 percent. In turn, this will save around $262 million, and 70 percent of those funds will be reinvested in programs to help crime survivors and rehabilitate the formerly incarcerated. Through these methods, Justice Reinvestment promises to reduce recidivism rates and redirect taxpayer money toward evidence-based programs to safeguard society.

Despite these successes and the future potential, Sen. Kennedy persists in vocally opposing reforms that enjoyed bipartisan support and the backing of many district attorneys and police officers. Indeed, he recently lambasted the initiative, stating that 22 percent of those released from prison under the new laws have already been rearrested. In reality, only 19 percent have and while an ideal goal would be zero, a 19 percent re-arrest rate is a step in the right direction. It is especially promising given that it is well below the country's average.

Sen. Kennedy also has wrongly implied that the reforms are responsible for high recidivism rates, which is the rate of those rearrested and reconvicted after their release and often results in more prison time. Again, the numbers paint a different picture. Around three quarters of a year into the program's use, of the inmates freed under the Justice Reinvestment laws, only 6.1 percent have been arrested again. This is actually excellent news because before the reforms, Louisiana had been averaging a 15.56 percent recidivism rate within a one-year period after release.

Despite such overwhelmingly positive data, out of the thousands of individuals released from prison who seem to have predominantly led wholesome lives, Sen. Kennedy instead cherry-picked five stories of men who have since been rearrested to illustrate his point. Using these anecdotes, he criticized the criminal justice reforms -- implying that these few people are evidence of a failing system.

Yet, many of the recent parolees in question haven't been convicted. Nobody, including the junior senator, knows if they are guilty or innocent yet. To proceed to dismantle the Justice Reinvestment laws based on these inconclusive anecdotes would be a mistake -- especially since the reforms are showing such promise. These reforms are moving Louisiana in the right direction. With time, the program should fulfill its mandate if not exceed it, but we must be patient.

Marc Hyden is the Southeast region director for the R Street Institute. You can follow him on Twitter at @marc_hyden.The exercise is as old as the Republic, but the first thing you need to understand about redistricting is that hot-water cornbread is as ubiquitous in north Louisiana as etouffee is in the south, says Rick Gallot, the Ruston Democratic representatNorth Augusta, SC (29841)

Today

Partly cloudy. High 79F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly cloudy during the evening followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low 51F. Winds light and variable.In a St. Louis suburb, they chanted, Hold your burgers, hold your fries. Keep your hands off my thighs. In Chicago, they had blue duct tape that said MeToo covering their mouths. And in Kansas City, Mo., they held signs bearing the same anti-sexual harassment hashtag with the first letter styled to look like the McDonalds golden arches.

In what organizers said was the first strike in more than 100 years to protest sexual harassment in the workplace, hundreds of McDonalds employees in those cities and seven others rallied to demand that the largest fast food chain in the country do more to combat the problem.

Were protesting today and this is more important than work, said Kimberly Lawson, explaining that she was skipping her shift to take part in the Kansas City rally. Ms. Lawson told the crowd there she had felt trapped when a manager made unwanted advances.

We have the strength to protect one another and demand the justice we deserve, she said.

Restaurant workers account for a huge slice of the United States labor force, with the fast food sector creating more jobs than nearly any other in the past decade. But restaurants typically pay low wages and employ a disproportionate number of young people and women, making those who work in the industry particularly vulnerable to sexual harassment.WEDNESDAY PUZZLE  Hello, and welcome to another episode of Puzzle Themes That Are Throwbacks to Debs Childhood.

Weve seen themes like this before, and Ive written about my experiences before, but this particular repetition doesnt bother me. Is it a tight theme, or merely a list? Does it even matter, if a theme like this still makes me smile because the reminder that these words are still in use makes me feel closer to my family, especially the members who are long gone? The words in this particular theme warm me, because I miss my grandparents, and solving a puzzle like this makes me feel like they are still with me in a way.

For some, a theme like this may seem unfair, what with the entries being in a foreign language, but most of these words have appeared in a New York Times crossword before (only one is a debut, and it has been a part of the English lexicon for so long that I believe it to be fair). All of them have been adapted into the English language, and the crossings are mostly kind. At least one of them was used consistently in a Saturday Night Live sketch featuring Mike Myers.

And even if youve never heard these words before, consider todays puzzle to be a lesson in one of the most expressive languages ever to make it out of Eastern Europe. Abi gezunt.The police had visited the home of a Queens woman nine times over the past two decades before she was fatally shot by an officer on Monday, police officials said. The most recent encounter was earlier this month when she was said to be acting irrationally.

On Monday, when the woman, Susan Muller, 54, called the police to report an armed burglar in her home, officers from the local precinct where her troubles were most known were away mourning a colleague who died last week. The four officers who responded were from three nearby precincts helping out, and it was unclear if they had asked or been told by dispatchers about the history of police calls to the home, the police said.

Officials released more details about the encounter on Tuesday as the investigation continued and questions swirled about the police response.

The police had responded to nine 911 calls to the home since August 2000, officials said. Four of the incidents involved domestic violence, and three other times were about someone being intoxicated. Twice Ms. Muller was acting irrationally, the police said, including the most recent incident on Sept. 9, when she was taken to a hospital for treatment.President Xi Jinping has imposed Chinas most sweeping internment program since Mao Zedongs Cultural Revolution of 1966-76, when more than one million people were killed and millions of others were imprisoned, tortured and humiliated.

Citing credible reports, a United Nations panel last month said up to one million Uighurs, a Turkic Muslim minority, are being held in detention camps without benefit of any formal legal process. The repression is severe enough to have raised concerns even within the Trump administration  not known for a preoccupation with human rights abroad  and the administration is weighing possible sanctions against the regime, a step that justice clearly demands.

Mr. Xi is Chinas most powerful modern leader, and he is turning his country into an economic and political powerhouse. But his achievements are deeply tainted by human rights abuses, including the repression of the Uighurs, the largest of the Muslim ethnic groups in the Xinjiang region of northwestern China.WASHINGTON  In a victory for advocates of campaign finance transparency, the Supreme Court refused on Tuesday to block a trial judges ruling that required some nonprofit groups that place political advertisements to disclose the names of their contributors.

The Supreme Courts brief order gave no reasons and did not note any dissenting votes. The order vacated an earlier one entered on Saturday by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. that temporarily blocked the ruling.

That ruling, issued last month by Judge Beryl A. Howell of the Federal District Court in Washington, required many nonprofit groups that placed advertisements supporting or opposing political candidates to disclose the identities of donors who had contributed more than $200. Before the ruling, such groups could generally shield their donors from public scrutiny.

The case was brought by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, or CREW, a watchdog group. It sued the Federal Election Commission and Crossroads GPS, a conservative group. Judge Howell struck down a federal regulation that had effectively allowed secret contributions, saying it conflicted with a federal statute.WASHINGTON  The Trump administration is unable to account for the whereabouts of nearly 1,500 migrant children who illegally entered the United States alone this year and were placed with sponsors after leaving federal shelters, according to congressional findings released on Tuesday.

The revelation echoes an admission in April by the Department of Health and Human Services that the government had similarly lost track of an additional 1,475 migrant children it had moved out of shelters last year.

In findings that lawmakers described as troubling, Senate investigators said the department could not determine with certainty the whereabouts of 1,488 out of 11,254 children the agency had placed with sponsors in 2018, based on follow-up calls from April 1 to June 30.

The inability to track the whereabouts of migrant children after they have been released to sponsors has raised concerns that they could end up with human traffickers or be used as laborers by people posing as relatives.In the end, Mr. Ortiz appeared to have become suicidal, the authorities said. As officers were closing in, he ran to the third floor of a hotel parking garage and tried to use a parked pickup truck as a shield. He flashed his phone at the officers surrounding him, the authorities said, and they concluded he was trying to make it appear that he was holding a weapon.

Image Juan David Ortiz Credit... Webb County Sheriffs Office, via Associated Press

Suicide by cop, explained Federico Garza, the chief deputy for the Webb County Sheriffs Office.

Mr. Ortiz was taken into custody without any shots fired, and subsequently admitted to the killings and the attack on the woman who escaped, the authorities said.

Deputy Garza was asked if he was confident that investigators would not find more victims. We know that its still an ongoing investigation, he said, and we will do historical research everywhere that he has been to see if we have a pattern of victims such as this.

A city of 260,000 people about 145 miles southwest of San Antonio, Laredo is the busiest truck crossing on the Mexican border, but it sees less undocumented immigrant traffic than do McAllen and Brownsville, further southeast. Restaurant chains and strip malls line the roadways. Scores of colonias  small, unincorporated communities of substandard housing that often lack basic services  dot the outskirts of the city.

Mr. Ortizs arrest has thrust Laredo into the national spotlight, exposed its underbelly and tested the relationship between residents and the thousands of Border Patrol agents who live and work in South Texas. In large swaths of the nearby brush, Border Patrol agents are some of the only visible symbols of the law, and in the urban heart of Laredo and other cities, President Trumps focus on border enforcement has given them expanded political clout.

Officials said that they do not believe Mr. Ortiz attacked the women while he was on duty or used his government vehicle in committing the crimes. None of the victims were undocumented immigrants; all appeared to be American citizens from the Laredo area. But the authorities said they are looking at his service revolver as a possible murder weapon.

At least two of the bodies were found along stretches of Interstate 35, which cuts through Laredo and is one of the main traffic arteries along this part of the border. Mr. Ortiz knew every mile of Interstate 35 as part of the Border Patrols Highway Interdiction Team, which intercepts vehicles on the interstate suspected of engaging in drug trafficking and human smuggling.Arthur Mitchell broke the color barrier in ballet  twice. He was the first African-American principal dancer at New York City Ballet and the founder of the first major black classical company in America, Dance Theater of Harlem. His roles in George Balanchines Agon and as Puck in A Midsummer Nights Dream, both choreographed specifically for him, earned him a place in ballet history.

But his stewardship of Dance Theater of Harlem, a professional troupe and dance school that he began to help give children of Harlem the opportunities he enjoyed as a teenager, ensured that his impact extended beyond dance.

Mr. Mitchell died on Wednesday from complications of heart failure. He was 84. To celebrate his legacy, weve compiled a small collection of performances, interviews, and writing on Mr. Mitchell.Its hard to imagine many people becoming emotional over a nondescript alley in downtown New York. But the illustrator and graphic novelist Richard McGuire sounded downright wistful as he gazed out the back window of his fifth-floor studio at Cortlandt Alley  which once led to the Mudd Club, a much-mythologized dawn-of-the-80s nightspot. Yet he wasnt feeling nostalgic for his time onstage there, playing bass with his band Liquid Liquid.

Rather he was focused on the alley itself, where he had once spent many late nights furtively looking over his shoulder for passing police cars as he wheatpasted handmade posters of his alien-like Ixnae Nix character onto the walls. That was prime real estate, he recalled of his de facto open-air gallery. Everybody walked past there. Or at least everybody Mr. McGuire was interested in reaching during the summer of 1979 as a 21-year old aspiring artist, looking to plant his aesthetic flag. I was thinking: Whats my contribution? Whats going to get out there?

Mr. McGuires wheatpasting days are four decades behind him, well before he became known for creating magazine covers for The New Yorker, award-winning animation for PBS Kids, and Here, a graphic novel saluted by the New York Times critic Dwight Garner as one of the very best ever published. But for the first time in nearly 40 years, his handmade posters are receiving a loving excavation in Art for the Street  New York 1978-1982, two new solo exhibitions of his work, opening this weekend at the New York Art Book Fair at MoMA PS1 in Queens and on Sept. 27 at Alden Projects in Manhattan.When Bill Cosby arrives at the Montgomery County Courthouse next week to be sentenced for sexual assault, he will find out whether prison is the final stop on his descent from beloved entertainer to disgraced felon.

But the judge making that decision, Steven T. ONeill, will confront his own personal pressures, weighty expectations and knotty legal challenges. Chief among them: What to do with an 81-year-old sex offender who could become one of the most famous Americans ever to enter a cell?

At a time when the country is finally reckoning with a culture of predatory sexual abuse by powerful men, Judge ONeill is likely to survey a courtroom in Norristown, Pa., that is filled with many of the dozens of women who say Mr. Cosby drugged and assaulted not just Andrea Constand, but them, too. A large number of these women expect a long prison sentence, one that will put an exclamation mark on the first major conviction of the #MeToo era.

My wound was greatly healed by the guilty verdict in the spring, said Lili Bernard, an actress who says that Mr. Cosby drugged and raped her in the early 1990s. But to see him in handcuffs, that would be like, Wow. We, the victims, deserve that.You told Good Morning America that you wanted to get acting roles because they wanted you for your acting, not as a result of the Trader Joes picture. Did you express that concern to Tyler Perry?

No, I was not presumptuous and ungrateful enough to say such a thing. I know that Tyler Perry is a very shrewd businessman. He would never make that offer if he didnt think I could deliver.

I think of it this way: He offered me the role but its not like I dont have to do a job. Its a job I have to do for him and I have to do it well. Its an offer, but its not a handout. He knows my work and he knows that Im a professional and I can do what he needs me to do.

Were you at all heartened by the outrage in response to the photo being published?

I wasnt heartened at the anti-lady-who-took-my-picture or the tabloid stuff, although I appreciated it because I feel the same way: that news organizations should not exploit these types of stories. What was very gratifying, of course, was just incredible support I got from all over the world from people from all walks of life.

Who was the most interesting person that reached out to you?

Justine Bateman came to my defense on social media and she sought to reach me personally. And so we started to communicate directly via text and she has been extremely supportive, and she even sent me a copy of her book that is being published as we speak, a book called Fame, which is wonderful. Ive actually already read it.Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown of the previous nights highlights that lets you sleep  and lets us get paid to watch comedy. If youre interested in hearing from The Times regularly about great TV, sign up for our Watching newsletter and get recommendations straight to your inbox.

Intergalactic Freak Show?

An allegation of sexual assault has thrown the Supreme Court confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh into jeopardy, with the accuser seeking an F.B.I. investigation and Senator John Kennedy, a Louisiana Republican, saying her charge had turned the process into an intergalactic freak show.

On The Late Late Show on Tuesday, James Corden said he didnt see things that way.Hugh Jackman plays P. T. Barnum in The Greatest Showman. And a sitcom premieres on NBC.

Whats on TV

THE GREATEST SHOWMAN (2017) 8 p.m. on HBO2. With the Barnum & Bailey Circus shuttered and its elephants in retirement in Florida (really), this biographical quasi-musical about P. T. Barnum inspired devotion among audiences when it hit theaters in December. Hugh Jackman plays the illustrious Barnum, periodically bursting into original songs written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. (That duo wrote the lyrics for La La Land and the music for Dear Evan Hansen.) Michelle Williams, Zac Efron, Zendaya and Rebecca Ferguson all co-star. A circus needs to be more than the sum of its spectacular parts, though, and, in his review for The New York Times, Jason Zinoman wrote that the film is less thrilling than its subject. He called it a montage sequence that occasionally turns into a movie musical.



THE INTERPRETER (2005) 8 p.m. on Flix East. This thriller about a fictional interpreter (Nicole Kidman), who falls under the suspicion of Secret Service agents (Sean Penn and Catherine Keener), is more than a decade old but newly relevant. Parallels exist between Ms. Kidmans character and Marina Gross, an interpreter for the State Department who faced calls from Congress to relay what she had heard during the meeting this year between President Trump and President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia. The film finds tension in focusing on a profession whose craft involves being ignored by the spotlight even when standing right in the center of it.1. President Trump affirmed his support for Judge Brett Kavanaugh, the Supreme Court nominee facing an allegation of sexual assault, calling the controversy very unfair.

Mr. Trump said he wanted to hear from Christine Blasey Ford, the accuser, saying, If she shows up and makes a credible showing, that will be very interesting.

Dr. Blasey, a researcher and statistician, was reluctant to come forward with her allegation. Heres how she went from the anonymity of academia to the center of a confirmation fight. Friendly fire in Syria: Kremlin officials said that Syrian forces had shot down a Russian military plane like the one pictured above, initially blaming Israeli planes flying behind it for drawing the fire. President Vladimir Putin of Russia eased tensions by blaming not just Israel, but a chain of tragic accidental circumstances. [The New York Times]

 A Catholic diocese in New York made one of the largest settlements to individual victims of sex abuse in the church. Four men repeatedly raped as boys by a religion teacher were awarded $27.5 million. [The New York Times]

 Frances interior minister, Gerard Collomb, said he would step down to run for mayor of Lyon in 2020, adding to concerns over the stability of the Macron government. [LExpress/Reuters]

 Reading this in a windstorm? You may be in England, Scotland or Northern Ireland, where high winds and rain from Storm Ali were predicted for today. [The Guardian]

 Hurricane Florence: In North Carolina, rivers continued to rise in the wake of the storms record rainfall. [The New York Times]Cody Wilson, whose push to post blueprints for 3-D printed guns online has made him a key figure in the national gun control debate, was charged on Wednesday with sexually assaulting a child in Texas.

But law enforcement officers said they were having trouble finding Mr. Wilson, who missed a flight back to the United States from Taipei, Taiwan, his last known location. During a news conference on Wednesday, Cmdr. Troy Officer of the Austin Police Department said that a warrant had been filed for Mr. Wilsons arrest and that local detectives were working with national and international partners to find him.

Mr. Wilson, 30, is accused of having sex with a 16-year-old girl at a hotel in Austin on Aug. 15 and paying her $500 in cash, according to an affidavit filed in Travis County. The girl told the police that she had met Mr. Wilson through the website SugarDaddyMeet.com, where he was using the screen name Sanjuro, the affidavit says.

Commander Officer said detectives who had interviewed the girl said that if someone mistakes her age, it would be because they think shes younger, not older.COPENHAGEN  When a whistle-blower alleged that employees of a branch of the Danish lender Danske Bank had been knowingly working with customers who had broken the law, it was not the first time that questions had been raised about that particular office. It would not be the last.

Danske Bank said on Wednesday that its headquarters and its Estonian branch failed for years to prevent suspected money laundering involving thousands of customers. The lender said it was unable to estimate the total amount of the suspicious transactions, but its nonresident operation in the Baltic nation improbably had total flows of 200 billion euros, or $234 billion  nearly equivalent to the size of the Danish economy. The chief executive, who had previously headed the banks international operations, quickly said he would resign.

In an 87-page report commissioned and paid for by Danske Bank, a Danish law firm, Bruun & Hjejle, found that misconduct took place at the lenders Estonian branch from 2007 to 2015, involving objectionable omissions, inaction and faulty processes at all levels of the bank. That meant the lender was not sufficiently effective in preventing the branch in Estonia from being used for money laundering.

None of us can grasp that this had been going on, Ole Andersen, Danske Banks chairman, said in a news conference on Wednesday.Get the DealBook newsletter to make sense of major business and policy headlines  and the power-brokers who shape them.

__________

An internal report into potential money laundering through the Danish bank Danske, accompanied by the immediate resignation of its chief executive, is dramatic. The problem is that the company doesnt know what unpleasant plot twists lie ahead.

A long-awaited report about potential money laundering from Danske, Denmarks largest bank by assets, is damning. The 200 billion euros (around $230 billion) of payments that flowed through its Estonia subsidiary between 2007 and 2015 are even bigger than feared. A large part of the 6,200 customers that have so far been examined are classified as suspicious  meaning they displayed obvious red flags such as sharing addresses with other entities regarded as suspect, or suddenly yielded unexplained large payments.

Danske will struggle to convince anyone that it was completely oblivious. Warning lights on its Estonian branch, which it acquired by taking over Finlands Sampo Bank, were flashed by the local regulator and even the Russian central bank as far back as 2007. Plans to migrate the Baltic banking activities onto Danskes main I.T. systems were scrapped as they were considered to be too expensive  even though the questionable nonresident portfolio often generated over two-thirds of the Estonian divisions annual pretax profit, and in 2011 Estonia generated 10 percent of overall group pretax profit. Over a fifth of incoming funds were from Russia.Get the DealBook newsletter to make sense of major business and policy headlines  and the power-brokers who shape them.

__________

Two foes end up on the same team after an unlikely twist of fate. As the drawn-out battle for Sky enters its final weeks, what sounds like the premise for a bad movie may become reality for the Walt Disney Company and Comcast.

Unless one of the American media giants backs down by Saturday, Britains Takeover Panel will stage an auction for the pay-TV group. Bidding is already stretched: Comcasts offer of 14.75 per share, worth 26 billion ($34 billion) overall, would earn the buyer a return on investment of just 6 percent in 2020. Twenty-First Century Fox, parts of which are being absorbed by Disney, has bid 14 per share for the 61 percent of Sky it doesnt already own.

One outcome is that Disney and Fox put in a knockout offer. The Mouse House wants to launch a streaming-video subscription service to rival Netflix. Skys 23 million European subscribers would be the ideal launchpad, and would allow Disney to reclaim the British rights to movies like Moana. Its DisneyLife subscription product is flailing in Britain, partly because it has the rights to just 16 of the 55 Disney and Pixar movies released in the last five years, according to Bernstein.Get the DealBook newsletter to make sense of major business and policy headlines  and the power-brokers who shape them.

__________

The restaurant chain will celebrate today after escaping tax fines in Europe, helping it to move on from yesterdays protests over sexual misconduct in its workplaces.

Good news from Europe: The European Union ended a three-year tax investigation into McDonalds today and didnt issue any penalties. At issue was whether the non-taxation of McDonalds profits in its Luxembourg subsidiary ran afoul of European rules prohibiting some government subsidies to companies. Such investigations have led to huge penalties for Apple and others. But McDonalds and Luxembourg were found to have done nothing wrong. Our in-depth investigation has shown that the reason for double non-taxation in this case is a mismatch between Luxembourg and U.S. tax laws, and not a special treatment by Luxembourg, said the European Union competition commissioner, Margrethe Vestager, in a statement.

Bad news in America: McDonalds may still face scrutiny over its efforts to prevent sexual misconduct at its 14,000 restaurants. Hundreds of employees in nine cities across the United States went on strike on Tuesday to pressure the fast-food chain into instituting stronger protections for workers. The company also was the subject of complaints filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in May. McDonalds told The New York Times that it is taking steps to prevent sexual harassment in its workplaces.HOUSTON  When President Trump announced in May that he was going to withdraw the United States from the nuclear agreement that the Obama administration and five other countries negotiated with Iran in 2015 and reimpose sanctions on the country, the decision was fraught with potential disaster.

If Mr. Trumps approach worked too well, oil prices would spike and hurt the American economy. If it failed, international companies would continue trading with Iran, leaving the Islamic Republic unscathed, defiant and free to restart its nuclear program.

But the policy has been effective without either of those nasty consequences, at least so far.

Nearly two months before American oil sanctions go into effect, Irans crude exports are plummeting. International oil companies, including those from countries that are still committed to the nuclear agreement, are bailing out of deals with Tehran.

And remarkably, the price of oil in the United States has risen only modestly while gasoline prices have essentially remained flat. The current global oil price hovers around $80 a barrel, $60 below the highs of a decade ago.The research report, published by Environmental Research Letters, found that existing flood maps accurately measured the risks along the coasts, but didn't capture nearly all the risk in inland areas.

Yet inland flooding is in some ways more perilous. A study by the National Hurricane Center found that more than half the Americans kille d by flooding during hurricanes and tropical storms over a 30-year period had died after the storms moved inland , presenting hazards like flash floods and mudslides and sweeping motorists off flooded roads.

That sounds like whats happening in the Carolinas

And its many of the people affected by those hazards who dont have flood insurance.

People near the coasts tend to know their risks. Owners of expensive beach houses often buy even more flood insurance than they have to, because the governments mandatory coverage is capped at $250,000 per house plus $100,000 for the contents. On top of that, additional layers of coverage can be purchased from private insurers .

In the Carolinas, a quarter to half of the households near the coast are insured, said Ray Lehmann, a member of SmarterSafer, a coalition of taxpayer groups, environmental organizations, insurers and others that has pushed for flood-insurance reform.

Further inland, its another story.

Were talking about places in North Carolina where the coverage is less than 1 percent, said Mr. Lehmann, also the director of finance, insurance and trade policy at the R Street Institute, a think tank that promotes free-market policies.The European Union has sparred with multinationals like Apple and Amazon as well as countries such as Ireland in its efforts to curb tax avoidance. In the case of McDonalds, it is standing down.

The European Commission, the blocs executive arm, had been examining whether a deal that Luxembourg granted to McDonalds may have led to the fast food chains paying less tax than it owed. The commission said Wednesday that these deals did not constitute illegal state aid.

The profits under scrutiny had not been taxed in Luxembourg or the United States, according to the commission, but it said that this was a result of a mismatch between the countries tax laws rather than special treatment from Luxembourg, and that no rules had been broken. Still, Margrethe Vestager, the European Unions competition commissioner, said that it was important that Luxembourg change its laws to ensure profits do not go untaxed regularly.

Of course, the fact remains that McDonalds did not pay any taxes on these profits  and this is not how it should be from a tax fairness point of view, Ms. Vestager said in a statement. Thats why I very much welcome that the Luxembourg government is taking legislative steps to address the issue that arose in this case and avoid such situations in the future.In some cases, these new owners succeed in revitalizing the publications they acquire, injecting them with new energy and freeing them from the pressures of short-term profits, while preserving editorial independence.

By all accounts, Mr. Bezos has refrained from meddling in the news or the editorial operations of The Washington Post, where the newsroom has grown significantly under his ownership.

Ms. Jobs has earned similarly high marks for her work at The Atlantic over the last year. Businessweek was reinvigorated under Mr. Bloombergs ownership. The new owner of The Los Angeles Times, Patrick Soon-Shiong, is investing in the paper, and has pledged to allow it to operate with editorial independence.

And in Minnesota, a local businessman, Glen Taylor, has drawn praise for his ownership of The Minneapolis Star Tribune, which he bought for about $100 million in 2014.

Jobs and Bezos and presumably Benioff, these people are doing good work, said Craig Newmark, the founder of Craigslist, who recently donated $20 million to the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism. Anything that helps independent journalism is a good thing.

But just as often, it seems, the new owners of newspapers and magazines can sap newsroom morale, or quickly discover that they have little tolerance for financial losses, or unions.The record-breaking rains that started with Hurricane Florence are continuing to strain North Carolinas hog lagoons.

Because of the storm, at least 110 lagoons in the state have either released pig waste into the environment or are at imminent risk of doing so, according to data issued Wednesday by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. That tally more than tripled the Monday total, when the departments count was 34.

When a pig in a large-scale farm urinates or defecates, the waste falls through slatted floors into holding troughs below. Those troughs are periodically flushed into an earthen hole in the ground called a lagoon in a mixture of water, pig excrement and anaerobic bacteria. The bacteria digest the slurry and also give lagoons their bubble gum-pink coloration.

North Carolina has 9.7 million pigs that produce 10 billion gallons of manure annually, mostly on large-scale farms and primarily in low-lying Sampson and Duplin counties. Both counties were affected by Florence.When hurricane Florence struck the Carolinas last week, humanity played a role in the destruction.

Human intervention is making natural disasters unnaturally harmful, both in causes and effects, and the number of ways our own influence is making things worse, taken together, is sobering.

On a global scale, we are bolstering the destructive potential of hurricanes and other extreme weather events by driving climate change. At the local level, we remain reluctant to deal with the problems of our own making, building and rebuilding in risky areas even as we avoid the policies and investment that would help mitigate the threats.

Kim Cobb, a climate scientist at the Georgia Institute of Technology, said that people tended to think of climate change as an abstract problem with only technocratic solutions. But it is getting more concrete all the time, and requires real-life action in response.

This year has shown us that climate change is a present-day threat to the safety and livelihoods of communities across America, she said. Some communities are tackling these issues head on, but some have their heads in the sand.Before reading the article:

What do you know about Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh? Would you like to see him confirmed as a Supreme Court justice? What do you know about his confirmation process so far?

On Sept. 16, The Times reported on recent accusations of sexual assault made against the Supreme Court nominee:

President Trumps bid to confirm Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court was thrown into uncertainty on Sunday as a woman came forward with explosive allegations that Mr. Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when they were teenagers more than three decades ago. The woman, Christine Blasey Ford, 51, a research psychologist at Palo Alto University in Northern California, said in an interview with The Washington Post that during a high school party in the early 1980s, a drunken Mr. Kavanaugh pinned her on a bed, groped her and covered her mouth to keep her from screaming. I thought he might inadvertently kill me, the newspaper quoted her as saying. He was trying to attack me and remove my clothing. Judge Kavanaugh has denied the accusations, and in a terse statement on Sunday, the White House said it stood by those denials. It signaled that it had no intention of pulling the nomination.

What is your reaction to this news? Does it change your opinion about Judge Kavanaugh at all? Why or why not?

How do you think the Senate Judiciary Committee, the group responsible for voting on whether to send the nomination to the full Senate, should handle these allegations?

Now, read the article, Christine Blasey Ford Wants F.B.I. to Investigate Kavanaugh Before She Testifies, and answer the following questions:

1. Why does Dr. Ford want the F.B.I. to investigate her allegations against Judge Kavanaugh before she testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee?Like a good Puerto Rican grandmother, Amparo Negron had a warning for her grandson on his first trip back to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria devastated the island.

When you leave New York, it will be 2017, Jose Alvarado Jr. recalled her saying. And when you land in Ponce, it will be 1950.

Abuela was wrong. It could have been 1900. Gone was his great-grandfathers zinc and wood homestead in Villalba, it walls flattened like a hastily opened gift box. Gone, too, was his grandmothers house on the same parcel of land, where fronds from her favorite palm tree dangled through the shorn roof. No water. No power.To be honest, a plot summary would make Life Itself sound like fun, because it might create an impression of antic preposterousness. The story flashes back to Will and Abby meeting in college, jumps sidewise to a visit to Wills parents (Jean Smart and Mandy Patinkin) and then leaps across the Atlantic from Manhattan to Spain, where Antonio Banderas tells a sad story while gazing at a glass of sherry. Horrible things happen  bus accident, cancer, etc.  but the mood throughout is of woozy wonder. Isnt it amazing how human destinies intertwine? This movie seems intent on persuading you that the answer is no.

Abbys college thesis is on the concept of the unreliable narrator. With charming undergraduate fervor, she breathlessly explains to Will that the ultimate unreliable narrator is life. To be fair to Life Itself, the thesis is a failure, but the movie retains quite a lot of Abbys apparent confusion about what stories are and how they work. Unreliability is a fascinating and tricky conceit for novelists and filmmakers. It should not be confused with bad writing.

There is a lot of that here, and also, to confuse matters further, a lot of good acting. It is poignant and sometimes weirdly thrilling to watch Mr. Isaac, Ms. Wilde and the other cast members  I should also mention Laia Costa and Sergio Peris-Mencheta, though they might prefer that I didnt  commit with such fervor and seriousness to such utter balderdash. Their efforts and the soft-and-shiny, sun-drenched look of Brett Pawlaks cinematography might fool the inattentive into mistaking Life Itself for a good movie.Sharon Pulwer was lost in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, shortly after moving here from Israel to study photography, when she came across the black hats and modest clothes of religious Jews in New York City. A secular Jew, she was momentarily taken aback. I was very surprised that there was this very vivid part of Jewish life here that I was not aware about.

Ms. Pulwer, now 24, had stumbled upon members of Chabad-Lubavitch, Orthodox Jews who follow the teachings of Menachem M. Schneerson, the groups charismatic rabbi, who died in 1994. As she learned more, Ms. Pulwer became intrigued by the communitys adherence to biblical precepts that strictly delimit the roles of men and women. For a man, the highest calling is a life of scholarly study of religious text; for a woman, it is devotion to the faith, the family and the home.

I am a Jewish woman myself, and I had the same questions about femininity and Judaism, and a womans place in a Jewish world, Ms. Pulwer said. Eager to learn, she approached a group outside 770 Eastern Parkway, unaware it was the world headquarters of the movement, and was surprised to find herself welcomed in as an observer.ALBANY  Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo might have assumed that his big win in last weeks Democratic primary would end talk about the last-minute piece of campaign mail that falsely suggested his opponent, Cynthia Nixon, was ambivalent about anti-Semitism.

He was mistaken.

Nearly a week after Mr. Cuomos impressive victory, the mailer was once again stirring up questions on Wednesday about who among the governors inner circle had known of it, as well as providing a renewed talking point for Marcus J. Molinaro, the Republican candidate for governor.

Paid for by the state Democratic Party, which is effectively controlled by Mr. Cuomo, the flier was sent to about 7,000 households in largely Jewish neighborhoods just before Rosh Hashana and the primary. It included several false claims, including an insinuation that Ms. Nixon had been silent on the rise of anti-Semitism.

Two days before the primary, the Cuomo campaign had said only that the mailer was the result of an individual helping the campaign on constituency outreach. The following day, however, the campaign provided more information, offering that individuals name, David Lobl, and saying that Lawrence S. Schwartz, formerly the governors top lieutenant, had inadvertently approved the mailer while serving as a campaign volunteer.MASSENA, N.Y.  The hulking aluminum plant in this northern border town is starting to spew heat and noise again, four years after Alcoa shut it down. But now the hot hum comes from thousands of Chinese computer servers whirring away 24 hours a day for a very modern purpose: producing Bitcoins and other digital currencies.

The crackerbox-size machines stacked inside rusty cargo containers are powered by the same cheap source of electricity once used to extract aluminum from ore. They represent the first stage of an obscure companys plan to convert the 60-year-old smelting works into the worlds biggest cryptocurrency mine.

The size is overwhelming, said Prieur Leary, as he led a tour of the 1,300-acre site formerly known as Alcoa East. Maybe were a little bit crazy.Albany has had dozens of politicians convicted of various misdeeds over the last decade or so. Indeed, even when Albany tries to take on corruption, it sometimes ends up with more scandal. In 2014, Mr. Cuomo was heavily criticized for interfering with and eventually shutting down a corruption commission that he himself had set up.

What was the trials most pivotal moment?

Todd Ransom Howe was the star prosecution witness for good reason. Once one of Albanys better-known lobbyists, Mr. Howe  like Mr. Percoco  had a relationship with the Cuomo family dating back to Marios time in the Executive Mansion, working for the elder Mr. Cuomo as a traveling aide. He later served under Andrew Cuomo at the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, working as his deputy chief of staff. All the while, he was friendly with Mr. Percoco.

Still, financial and professional problems soon flared up for Mr. Howe, including a 2003 bankruptcy and a felony theft charge in 2010 after he made a fake bank deposit.

Prosecutors said Mr. Howe engineered the bribes paid to Mr. Percoco, and Mr. Howe pleaded guilty to eight felonies and was cooperating with prosecutors. But his star turn on the witness stand nearly backfired when he admitted in court that he had violated the terms of his cooperation deal by trying to defraud a credit card company. He was jailed midtrial, although he later returned to testify, and Mr. Percoco was convicted.

Considering Mr. Howes notoriety, it is not surprising that the Cuomo administration has sought to downplay Mr. Howes connection to the current governor. But in August, The New York Times obtained nearly 350 pages of emails, showing that Mr. Howe had entree to the top levels of Mr. Cuomos administration for years and in the months leading up to Mr. Percocos arrest.

But Mr. Howes most lasting legacy may be his  and Mr. Percocos  widespread use of a single word: ziti.

Ziti?

Other than the drama surrounding Mr. Howe, a sideline curiosity emerged during testimony and email exchanges showing that Mr. Percoco and Mr. Howe joked and fretted about bribes, which they had code-named ziti, a term used in the HBO mob drama The Sopranos.The new report illustrates some public health categories that saw significant gains under Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, but have stalled during Mr. de Blasios tenure.

The adult smoking rate has plateaued at about 13 percent. About a quarter of all adults are obese, just as when Mr. de Blasio took office. And more than one in five adults drink an average of one or more sugar-sweetened beverages a day.

But other health trends are more promising. The number of new diagnoses of H.I.V., the virus that causes AIDS, continues a long-term downward trend, falling to 1,953 during the fiscal year, a reduction from 3,016 four years earlier and 4,186 in the 2009 fiscal year. But the number of syphilis cases has increased markedly, to 1,775 in the 2018 fiscal year, up from 1,234 in the 2014 fiscal year. That increase is part of a national trend, which the health department noted last year, as it promoted condom use as a preventive measure against H.I.V.

Against that backdrop, the city fell far short in its condom distribution program last fiscal year. Only 20.9 million condoms were distributed, compared with an average of 36.4 million annually during the previous four years.

A health department spokesman said the shortfall was the result of a reduction in federal funding for H.I.V. prevention.Millions of people in recent years have sent off samples of their saliva to DNA-testing companies like 23andMe and Ancestry.com hoping to find out where their forebears came from and whether they have mystery relatives in some distant land, or even around the corner.

The trend itself can be traced to an Italian physician and geneticist, Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza, who died on Aug. 31 at his home in Belluno, Italy, at 96. He laid the foundation for such testing, having honed his skills more than 60 years ago using blood types and 300 years of church records to study heredity in the villagers of his own country.

Dr. Cavalli-Sforza was a pioneer in using genetic information to help trace human evolution, history and patterns of migration. The founder of a field that he called genetic geography, he was renowned for synthesizing information from diverse disciplines  genetics, archaeology, linguistics, anthropology and statistics  to explain how human populations fanned out over the earth from their original home in Africa.

David Reich, a professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School, said in an interview that Dr. Cavalli-Sforza was the first scientist to predict that there would be enough information in genes to determine where people came from in the world and who theyre most closely related to.Robert Venturi, the influential American architect and theorist whose buildings and best-selling books helped inspire the movement known as postmodernism, in which historic elements enliven contemporary forms, died on Tuesday at his home in Philadelphia. He was 93.

The cause was complications of Alzheimers disease, his son, James Venturi, an urban planner, said.

For much of the 20th century, serious architects, led by Le Corbusier and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, favored unadorned surfaces and strictly geometric forms. But in his treatise Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture, published in 1966, Mr. Venturi argued that ornament, historical allusions and even humor had a place in modern architecture. The book was a retort to Miess assertion that less is more.

Less is a bore, Mr. Venturi wrote.

I am for richness of meaning rather than clarity of meaning, he explained. His goal, he said, was to awaken architects from prim dreams of pure order.The occasion of our visit also overlapped with a crisis for Pope Francis, although trying to get ones mind around the minutiae of the brouhaha is almost as difficult as trying to describe the Trinity itself. For now, lets just say that Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano  no liberal theologian, he  had released a letter he hoped would embarrass the pope, so that our man Francis might be ousted and replaced with someone more conservative, someone who, among other things, would be more hostile to people like me.

Not that Francis has been all who-am-I-to-judge about transgender people. In 2015, he compared people like me to nuclear bombs.

My wife and I, who have raised two children and worked for three decades as teachers and social workers, are surely imperfect souls. But I would humbly suggest that our marriage, and our family, has brought more good into the world than harm and that on the whole our little family does not deserve to be compared to the device that killed nearly 200,000 people in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

There hasnt been a Catholic in my branch of the family since my father left the church in 1940. But Ive carried my faith with me, in fits and starts, over the years, and several years ago I became a member of the Riverside Church in New York. Its not Pope Francis church, to be sure. But like his, at the center of everything is a hard-won belief in the transformative powers of love and forgiveness.

And so it was with equal measures reverence and contempt that we made our way over to the Vatican and joined the line that would lead us inside its walls.I covered Michael Bloomberg for years and have many stories about him. But this one is my favorite because it reminds me of what a real leader can be.

It was the summer of 2010 and anger was building over an Islamic community center to be built near the World Trade Center site, where two deep gashes still wounded the earth, a constant reminder of the thousands who died.

Word of the project quickly spread, sparking an outpouring of small-minded bigotry. Fox News regularly condemned the plan  how dare Muslims gather so close to where Muslims attacked us? Some family members of those who died there in the Sept. 11 attacks rallied against the project. Pressure mounted on Mayor Bloomberg to kill it, or move it somewhere else.Thanks to Trump and his enablers, then, liberals and the Democratic Party have been able to take the long list of Hollywood creeps and Acela-corridor bounders and say, look, we have a problem, but were dealing with it. While conservatives and the Republican Party are stuck as the vehicle for male defensiveness and anti-#MeToo backlash.

Which, to be clear, sometimes has a point. False rape accusations against privileged-white-male targets (the Duke lacrosse team, the imaginary Haven Monahan at the University of Virginia) are real enough, and the style of anti-rape policies on college campuses really has gone too far in traducing the rights of accused men.

But among men who are legitimately prominent, not just unfortunate collegians, there have been few cases of late where the accusations have seemed trumped-up or the punishment too severe. The plight of Louis C.K. or Charlie Rose inspires no sympathy, and the attempts at reflection and self-rehabilitation by various fallen men  John Hockenberry in Harpers, Jian Ghomeshi in The New York Review of Books  have mostly been obtuse. And the fact that Ronan Farrow can claim a legitimate scalp every month suggests that the has it gone too far? plaints are still premature.

A Trumpified conservatism, though, will necessarily struggle to acknowledge any of this, because of what it would suggest about Trumps own fitness for his office. And such a conservatism  much-more-heavily male than the Reagan or Bush G.O.P., organized around the fears and grievances of prominent men, and seemingly indifferent to the legitimacy of certain kinds of female anger  will end up defining all its constituent parts, all its causes and concerns, as subordinate to the defense of male impunity.

This includes the pro-life movement. Even if it wins its long-desired victory at the high court and more anti-abortion legislation becomes possible, a pro-life cause joined to a party that cant win female votes and seems to have no time for women will never be able to achieve those legislative goals, or at least never outside a very few, very conservative states. And having that long-awaited victory accomplished by a male judicial appointee confirmed under a cloud of #MeToo suspicion seems like a good way to cement a perception thats fatal to the pro-life movements larger purposes  the perception that you cant be pro-woman and pro-life.

This points to a conclusion thats certainly unfair to Kavanaugh if hes innocent, but nobody ever said that politics would be fair. If his accuser testifies publicly and credibly, if her allegation isnt undermined by a week of scrutiny and testimony, if it remains unprovable but squarely in the realm of plausibility, then all the abortion opponents who were supporting him should hope that his nomination is withdrawn  with, ideally, a woman nominated in his place.

That would be a political gamble in its own right, of course, and one that the Trump White House will take only under duress. But if Kavanaugh is a qualified judge, no judicial nominee is indispensable. And for a movement that risked so much to make these nominations possible, there is no reason to compound that risk unless this nominee can find a way to decisively persuade the country, however unfair that burden may seem, that he did not treat Christine Blasey Ford with the cruelty alleged this week.

Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook and Twitter (@NYTopinion), join the Facebook political discussion group, Voting While Female, and sign up for the Opinion Today newsletter.This article is part of the Opinion Today newsletter. You can sign up here to receive the newsletter each weekday.

On March 22, Wilbur Ross  President Trumps commerce secretary  appeared before a House committee. Before doing so, Ross took an oath to tell the truth.

It seems clear that he then told a straight-up lie.

The Department of Justice, as you know, initiated the request for inclusion of the citizenship question, Ross told the committee. He was referring to a much-debated question that the Trump administration was proposing to add to the 2020 census, asking people whether they were American citizens. The Commerce Department oversees the census. But the Justice Department, Ross claimed, initiated the question, because it believed that knowing where citizens lived could somehow help the federal government protect the voting rights of African-Americans.

Lets first pause for a moment on the absurdity of that explanation. The Trump administration and other Republican leaders have been trying in recent years to make it harder for minorities to vote, by closing polling places where they live, reducing voting hours and adding stringent I.D. requirements. And now Ross was suggesting that Jeff Sessionss Justice Department  as New York magazines Eric Levitz points out  actually cared deeply about black voter turnout.Under such constraints, can todays jets be evacuated in the 90 seconds mandated by the F.A.A.? Not according to passenger advocacy groups like Flyers Rights, which has repeatedly and unsuccessfully petitioned the F.A.A. to use its rule-making authority to stop airlines from shrinking seats and passenger space. Not according to Representatives Peter DeFazio, Democrat of Oregon, and Rick Larsen, Democrat of Washington , who have asked the Transportation Departments inspector general to investigate F.A.A. safety standards that havent been updated in decades.

Incredibly, it will require an act of Congress to ensure that the F.A.A. does something, because the agency has denied that seat sizes and body mass index are factors in emergencies. The agency has even denied that it has the authority to regulate airliner seat size.

The F.A.A. has no evidence that a typical passenger, even a larger one, will take more than a couple of seconds to get out of his or her seat, the agency told Flyers Rights in refusing that organizations stop-the-shrink petition.

Theres no evidence of anything, though. Airliner makers consider evacuation drill footage to be proprietary, and the F.A.A. agrees. Not that it matters. The industry now relies on computer simulations of emergency situations to model behavior. The Airbus A321 and some versions of Boeings popular 737 have never run live evacuation tests. The Boeing 757 was last tested in 1982 .

Thats dangerous and potentially lethal. In the most recent real emergency evacuations, including one at Chicago OHare in 2016 that was clocked at 2 minutes 21 seconds , its apparent that passengers arent as quick-thinking as the jetmakers would have them. Some tried to retrieve their belongings from the overhead bins; others started shooting video with their cellphones  suboptimal behavior in an evacuation situation.Except maybe not. At that point, Republicans, far from accepting defeat, will surely start aiming fire at the three Democrats. Their opponents will taunt them about Judge Kavanaugh on the campaign trail. Right-wing money will pour in to their states for pro-Kavanaugh (and pro-Trump) TV ads. Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate, will let this play out and may schedule the vote for as late as he can  mid-October, even late October  to make the Democrats sweat.

Opinion Debate Will the Democrats face a midterm wipeout? Mark Penn and Andrew Stein write that "only a broader course correction to the center will give Democrats a fighting chance in 2022" and beyond.

write that "only a broader course correction to the center will give Democrats a fighting chance in 2022" and beyond. Tory Gavito and Adam Jentleson write that the Virgina loss should "shock Democrats into confronting the powerful role that racially coded attacks play in American politics."

write that the Virgina loss should "shock Democrats into confronting the powerful role that racially coded attacks play in American politics." Ezra Klein speaks to David Shor, who discusses his fear that Democrats face electoral catastrophe unless they shift their messaging.

speaks to David Shor, who discusses his fear that Democrats face electoral catastrophe unless they shift their messaging. Ross Douthat writes that the outcome of the Virginia gubernatorial race shows Democrats need a new way to talk about progressive ideology and education.

That will constitute enormous pressure on the red-state Democrats. If they sense their opponents are gaining steam, they may well think: Why should I cast a vote thats going to cost me my seat? Especially when even if we defeat Judge Kavanaugh, were just going to get someone else whos every bit as conservative?

If one of them moves to a pro-Kavanaugh position, its likely that all three will move. Heres why. There is a standing agreement among minority parties in the Senate that in such situations, no one wants to be the 50th vote. The lone senator who provides the 50th vote can be blamed and reviled. But if all three move together, then one of them cant be singled out as having cast the dreaded 50th vote. This is one big reason there are so few 50-to-50 votes in the Senate. In fact, when one side sees it has lost, a couple other senators who can afford to cast the vote will often join in to give their colleagues cover.

Beginning to see how this works?

Now imagine a second scenario. Imagine that Ms. Collins and Ms. Murkowski vote no, but this time they are joined by two other Republicans, Jeff Flake of Arizona and Bob Corker of Tennessee. Now, Judge Kavanaugh is down to 47 votes. And more important, the air will be out of his balloon, emotionally. At that point, I think the three Democrats will be fully off the hook.

And, of course, theres a third scenario (at least!), which I discussed here earlier, and its probably still the most likely one. All 51 Republicans stand pat, in which case some Democrats will go ahead and confirm Judge Kavanaugh. But their votes wont matter. Whether you got 51 votes or 55 or 100, they still call you Mr. Associate Justice.To the Editor:

When I was young (I am 72), the kind of behavior that Judge Brett Kavanaugh is accused of was not at all uncommon. If you were attacked, you didnt tell anyone  not your parents, not your teachers, not your girlfriends, no one. You internalized the experience and moved on with your life.

You believed the old saw that boys will be boys and that somehow you bore the full responsibility of what had happened to you.

When Donald Trump was elected, for many of us the horror of what had happened when we were young was exposed for the first time in years. The guilt, humiliation and pain that had been safely tucked away never to be thought about consciously since being attacked came flooding back.

The backlash against Christine Blasey Ford, Judge Kavanaughs accuser, is exactly why women have kept silent about their attacks and attackers. Its time to come out of the shadows and tell our stories with courage and the conviction that by publicly recounting our personal nightmares, we can heal one another and give strength to our younger sisters as they navigate the waters of sexual abuse.Traffic is strangling New Yorks economic vitality and quality of life, while the citys transit system creaks because of chronic underinvestment. One solution, congestion pricing, would undoubtedly reduce traffic and generate desperately needed revenue for transit. But this has proved politically difficult in New York, both when attempted in 2007 and again this year. Congestion pricing asks people to pay to drive on roads they used to drive on without charge, so the politics wont get easier anytime soon.

There is a good alternative. New York could use a parking-based approach to achieve much of the same congestion management and revenue goals. This has three elements.

First, the city would prohibit garage operators from selling parking by the month. Monthly parking is like an all-you-can-eat buffet  if the parking next to your office is already paid for, why not drive to work every day? Whether someone takes a car to work really matters because such trips are usually at peak times when alternatives are most viable  thats when trains and buses run most frequently and its easiest to car pool.

Requiring parking to be sold by the hour is like moving from all-you-can-eat to a la carte. Even if the hourly cost is the same as whats implied in a monthly rate ($400 a month is equivalent to about $2.50 per hour if you park 40 hours a week), simply ensuring that people pay for parking every time they drive in will change how they decide to make some trips and, as a result, reduce congestion. Garage operators could still charge whatever they like, but would be required to price parking in a way that will reduce traffic.While Mr. Porter was forced to resign based on the allegations against him, at least he was able to resign. My clients locked up on Rikers Island because they cant make bail are fired as soon as they miss a days work. Employment consequences are just the beginning. Once accused, my clients also have no control over whether they are evicted from public housing, investigated by child welfare, or arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Mr. Cohen was privileged to be able to make an informed decision, unburdened by time constraints and the inherent pressures of jail, about whether to accept the governments plea offer. Paul Manaforts recent guilty plea came only after he had the benefit of a full preview of the strength and scope of the governments evidence in his previous jury trial.

Just look at how my clients are treated and you will understand the real reasons that about 95 percent of convictions in the system are the result of guilty pleas. Unlike Mr. Manaforts experience, my clients are forced to make decisions without knowing the evidence against them, often detained away from their families who would offer them solace, with limited access to private space, critical tools and technology to assist in their defense, and deprived the ease of working collaboratively with their attorneys that is so necessary for optimal representation.

I have deep concerns and reservations about the power of FISA, but Carter Page, a onetime Trump campaign aide who came under law-enforcement suspicion of spying for Russia, received a far more rigorous process to ensure fidelity to the Fourth Amendment than my clients ever do. Despite the no hearing uproar about the F.B.I.s process of obtaining a secret warrant to wiretap him, there are never hearings before criminal warrants are issued  federal, state, FISA or otherwise. I welcome Mr. Trump to look at the judges who approved the surveillance. I know one of them well. I spent a year as law clerk to Raymond J. Dearie. I witnessed firsthand, on a range of cases  including one of the few terrorism cases prosecuted through trial on American soil  how deliberate, thorough and deeply protective of individual and civil liberties he is.

By contrast, my clients are routinely targeted, stopped and frisked without any warrant at all. I now represent a 19-year-old so afraid of being stopped again for no reason by the police that he fears walking a block to get a sandwich at his corner deli. Even when the police seek a warrant in advance, they often cite confidential informants, who may or may not exist, and the alleged observations of discredited police officers with little to no internal oversight before judges sign off. Searches are executed in early-morning home raids in which police break down doors, guns drawn, and order everyone, including children, onto the ground to be cuffed. My clients rarely get to challenge these constitutional violations. They are forced to give up their right to a hearing to contest the legality of government intrusion in exchange for more favorable guilty pleas.

This is the difference between justice for the masses and justice for the few. Im not upset at how well Mr. Trumps friends and colleagues have been treated. After all, the Constitution worked for them. I just want that same treatment for my clients.

Mr. Trump and his friends are the lucky ones. We should not begrudge their privilege. We should demand that same treatment for all.

Scott Hechinger (@scotthech) is a senior staff attorney and the director of policy at the Brooklyn Defender Services.

Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook and Twitter (@NYTopinion).By Jason B. Cutshaw

USASMDC/ARSTRAT Public Affairs

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Alabama - The Navy's top civilian leader looked through the Army lens to explore solutions to military challenges and to forge partnerships in shared endeavors.

Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer visited leaders at the Army Materiel Command and U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command Sept. 18 where he was introduced to each command's mission as well as ongoing Army technology efforts.

Spencer compared notes with Army Materiel Command's Gen. Gus Perna and senior staff as they examined the information and tactics behind recent, significant improvements to the Army's supply chain.

"I came down here to see how we can learn what the Army has done in their attack on the logistical supply chain," Spencer said. "The Army has done a terrific job and we wanted to get some 'best practices' and start the conversations going between our two organizations."

Perna recounted how 17 years of war led to an auto-pilot mentality that caused logistics and sustainment skills to atrophy. But a renewed focus over the past 18 months has increased supply availability and built breadth and depth into the supply chain.

"We had to see ourselves to start," Perna said. "We've been leading our way through this. It has been a cultural realignment."

Spencer recalled his previous visit to Rock Island Arsenal, part of the AMC-managed Army Organic Industrial Base, as the leaders spoke of challenges similar in both services. They also discussed the use of additive manufacturing, and the opportunities it posed for the future.

Both leaders committed to continuing the logistics conversation as Spencer commended AMC's efforts to boost sustainment and improve Army readiness.

"This has been great. We're in the throes of rethinking how we do business," Spencer said. "It's not just talk. We have to do it."

"We are here to partner," Perna replied. "We will learn from what you're doing too."

After his time with AMC, Spencer visited USASMDC/ARSTRAT to get a better understanding of its ongoing science and technology efforts related to directed energy and hypersonics.

During the official stop, SMDC leaders briefed Spencer on its hypersonic program. The command conducted the nation's first successful Advanced Hypersonic Weapon test in 2011 and SMDC is working to coordinate planned flight tests of the Navy's intermediate range system, which is similar to the Army's in design.

The Department of Defense; Departments of the Army, Navy and Air Force; as well as the Missile Defense Agency signed a memorandum of agreement in June to co-develop a hypersonic vehicle. SMDC will lead that effort for the Army.

"The Navy, Army, Air Force and MDA efforts in hypersonics are seamless," Spencer said. "It doesn't seem like there is any daylight between them at all. It truly is a poster child of success about how four organizations can get together, share not only technical data, but also resources to get something out the door as quickly as possible on a demonstrable basis."

Command leaders explained how SMDC is directing the Army's high energy laser research and development efforts with systems capable of defeating threats such as rockets, artillery, mortars and unmanned aerial vehicles. Spencer viewed video demonstrations of vehicles successfully engaging targets during multiple experiments and assessments.

"The Army's high-energy laser program is very impressive," Spencer said. "If you look at how each service is attacking directed-energy, they are three very separate and distinct environments. You have Army, which wants it mobile on the ground; you have the Navy, which wants it on the ocean; and the constraint differential in the Air Force, that wants it in the air, are tremendously different.

"On a ship you have the easy ability produce lots of power and you have space. On the ground where you have to have it mobile you are constrained and when you take it up in the air you have thermal considerations to take into account," he added. "But we are all working together and taking into consideration each one of our various and different environmental challenges."

Before departing, Spencer shared his appreciation for what the Soldiers and civilians of AMC and SMDC do for the defense of the nation.

"It is great to be here," Spencer said. "The people are tremendous. I am very impressed with everyone I've met with. It is great to see what the Army is doing and we will see what happens on Dec. 8 (during the Army/Navy game)."In an effort to shed more light on how we work, The Times is running a series of short posts explaining some of our journalistic practices. Read more from this series here.

At first glance, theres nothing unusual about the stack of mail on Gabriel Dances desk: a handful of envelopes, variously sized, addressed to Tips at The New York Times, with no return addresses. (Anonymously submitted letters and documents, after all, have long played a part in The Timess news gathering, as was seen in our publication of Donald J. Trumps tax records in October 2016.)

But the cellphone Mr. Dance keeps eying tells the story of an innovative Times initiative: a set of digital channels intended to receive confidential news tips.

As a matter of practice, journalists at The Times have long used digital security measures  encrypted communications and storage  when handling sensitive information. But in December 2016, Mr. Dance, the deputy investigations editor, teamed up with Runa Sandvik, the senior director of information security, to gather a set of tools for readers to anonymously submit information that might be of journalistic interest to The Times.Comparisons with Justice Clarence Thomass confirmation process are inappropriate. Ms. Hills accusations in 1991 were about multiple alleged episodes that occurred less than 10 years earlier between adults. The current situation concerns a single alleged episode that occurred almost 40 years ago, involving three teenagers, all of whom had been drinking. The truth is unknowable today, and holding a hearing cannot possibly shed any light. Rather, it will provide a forum for the worst sort of toxic politics.

Dr. Blasey is likely not lying, but even she cannot truly know what happened 40 years ago.

 Alex, Indiana

This man has been convicted in the court of public opinion

I am not a fan of Judge Kavanaughs nomination, but what happened to due process? This man has been convicted in the court of public opinion.

As a 50-something woman, I know that memories of youthful experiences  particularly early sexual experiences  can morph over time in our minds. I am not saying that this did happen in this case, but nobody can knowingly claim it did not (other than the other man there). Perhaps this is why there is a statute of limitations on most crimes? Kavanaugh has been a public figure for a long time, and one has to wonder, why now?

Shouldnt we all take a deep breath and think about how we would want our sons  and future nominees for public office and appointments with whom we agree  treated?

 Frisbee

Who has not done something that they are not proud of? It should not be a death sentence for our aspirations to help others.

Who has not been accused of doing something that they have not done, but could not prove it was a lie?Poachers are killing 40,000 elephants a year and with a global elephant population of just 400,000, it doesnt take a mathematician to figure out that there is an urgent need to stop the killing.

But its hard to catch poachers in the act. They operate over a wide area, move just a few elephant tusks at a time and once their ivory contraband reaches a major port, it can be easily hidden among other goods, said Samuel Wasser, director of the Center for Conservation Biology at the University of Washington.

In a new study published Wednesday in Science Advances, Dr. Wasser and several colleagues demonstrated an approach he hopes will help catch and convict more international ivory traffickers.

Dr. Wasser had already developed a genetic map of African elephants by analyzing scat from across the continent. Now, he can link that map with genetic analysis of confiscated tusks to determine where the animal was living when it was killed. This can help law enforcement target areas most susceptible to poaching, he said in a telephone news conference on Tuesday.The Amazon Echo, for its part, can translate words and phrases from English to more than 30 languages with the Translated skill. After enabling it, say, Alexa, open Translated, and then follow it up by asking how to say a word or phrase in a different language.

Take a deep breath

Need a moment to yourself? Try meditating or relaxing with both devices with a few free, guided meditations from Headspace. On Google, you can say, Hey Google, talk to Headspace; on Alexa, request Alexa, open Headspace. If youre a subscriber, you can continue a meditation from your phone onto your device. If you want general meditation content, you can say something along the lines of Alexa, help me relax, or O.K. Google, help me meditate.

Both devices can also help you calm down with commands like O.K. Google, help me relax, and sounds like rain falling will play  or white noise if youre using it to go to sleep. The Echo is similar, but you can pick and choose what types of sounds you want to hear from the skills store. Google can also play sleep sounds, which are really lullabies meant for children, while the Echo offers white or ambient noise. Just say Alexa, help me sleep for options.

Have a deeper conversation

Sure, these devices can play music and add items to your cart, but its a little annoying to start every single request with Alexa or O.K. Google. Thankfully, Amazon and Google realized this. On the Google Home, the Continued Conversation feature allows you to ask your device a question, and the microphone stays on for eight additional seconds to see if youll ask a follow-up. (You do need to enable this in the settings of the Google Home app, as the feature is turned off by default.) The Amazon Echo also has the feature, except Amazon calls it Follow-up mode and you also have to turn it on in the app before using it.

Once its on, you can ask questions like Who sang In My Feelings?, and once your device responds with Drake, you can ask How old is he? and the device will not only know who he refers to but also answer without missing a beat. (Spoiler: Drake is 31.)

This feature has also paved the way to ask the device to do multiple things in one command. For example, with multiple actions on Google Home devices, you can say something like Hey Google, turn up the thermostat and tell me the weather. On the Echo, you cant do it in a single sentence, but with follow-up mode you can just ask the two different commands one after the other.

Google Home-only features worth trying

Googles later start in the smart home arena wasnt necessarily a bad thing. The extra time allowed it to come up with some truly useful exclusive features. For example, if you download and use the Google Assistant app in addition to Google Home, you can ask Google to remind you to do something at a certain location. So, if you need to buy milk at the grocery store, you can say Hey Google, remind me to buy milk at the grocery store, and as soon as youre near your preferred store (which Google will ask you to specify), your phone will let you know what you need.REGGIO EMILIA, Italy  Last August, when Gabriele Monti was co-curating the Italiana: Italy Through the Lens of Fashion 1971-2001 exhibition in Milan, his first port of call was a 19th-century former hosiery factory. The building in Reggio Emilia, a small city about two hours drive southeast of Milan, is rarely visited by outsiders and almost never discussed, even by fashion specialists, but may be the single greatest private fashion archive in Italy.

Its owner? Not a grande dame, heiress or celebrity but ... the fashion house MaxMara.

The 67-year-old luxury giant best known for its camel coats has been quietly amassing a treasure trove of historic fashion for the last four decades. In the absence of a dedicated national fashion museum, the collection is a contribution to the study of Italian textiles and chronicles the history of the countrys ready-to-wear system.

It is preserving the story of Italian brands and designers, Mr. Monti said.Near the end of the debate between New York governor Andrew Cuomo and Cynthia Nixon, his Democratic primary challenger, one of the moderators prefaced a question to Ms. Nixon by referencing her net worth. Given your personal wealth, reported to be in the tens of millions of dollars   CBS anchorman Maurice DuBois started before Ms. Nixon interrupted:   which is not true.

Its been reported, he said.

You cant trust Google, Ms. Nixon said, knowing everyone does.

The net worth of Cynthia Nixon, who would go on to lose that primary, has indeed been reported at $60 million. Its been reported by the New York Observer, Washington Times, NYLON magazine, Bustle, the British tabloid The Sun and Newsweek. Perhaps most importantly, if you Google Cynthia Nixon net worth, the website displays $60 million in bold in a big featured box at the top of the page. (Alexa gives the same answer.) The source for the number on Google and in all the articles is a website called Celebrity Net Worth, and the source for the number on that site is a proprietary algorithm.

CelebrityNetWorth.com, and lets call it CNW, was founded by Brian Warner in 2009  not the same Brian Warner who performs under the name Marilyn Manson (Celebrity Net Worth: $25 million). The sites home page is full of standard curiosity-gap clickbait in a celebrity finance flavor, with headlines like Billionaire Michael Jordan Has Zero Influence On Which Players Wear His Shoes, And The Reason Why Is Kind Of Strange  and How Much Money Did Colonel Sanders Make Off Kentucky Fried Chicken? Not As Much As Youd Guess! But CNWs core product is the collection of pages it maintains for celebrities (of varying degrees of celebrity) with authoritatively phrased estimates as to how much money they have.

These pages include single paragraphs of biographical info, but theyre rendered practically unreadable by formatting. What readers are after is a single number, at the top of the page in big type: $20 million (Chris Pine), $40 million (Chris Pratt), $90 million (Chris Hemsworth). If you want to know how rich (or not) a celebrity is, CNW has an answer. No one is vouching for the veracity of that answer  CNWs proprietors expressly exclude liability for any such inaccuracies or errors to the fullest extent permitted by law, according to the terms of use  but it's an answer nonetheless.I grew up to the steady hum of sewing machines, says Albert Kriemler, the creative director of his familys 96-year-old company, Akris. Founded in 1922 by his grandmother, Alice Kriemler-Schoch (the companys name is a sort of acronym of her initials), the Swiss label got its start making polka-dotted aprons in the alpine town of St. Gallen, famous for its embroidery, where the brands headquarters are still located. In the 60s and 70s, Kriemlers parents, Max and Ute, expanded Akriss scope, producing pret-a-porter for such houses as Ted Lapidus and Givenchy. As a young man, Kriemler would often travel to fabric fairs with his family; on a trip to Paris in 1976, he attended his first Yves Saint Laurent show. It was then that I knew I was completely infatuated with fashion, he says. He made plans to study at Pariss Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture, but they were waylaid when, after Akriss managing director died suddenly, Kriemlers father convinced him to join the business as creative director in 1980. He was just 19.

Now 58, Kriemler has helmed the house for 40 years, during which hes transformed Akris into a major global brand while never straying from his taste for minimalist luxury and impeccable craftsmanship  and he still employs artisans from St. Gallen for his colorful but discreet collections. Its an aesthetic that has earned Kriemler a devoted following: Charlene, Princess of Monaco; Maye Musk; and Nora Fehlbaum, the C.E.O. of Vitra, are all loyal clients. My clothes are not obvious. I hate trends and shameless self-promotion, he says. Id rather create a sense of selbstverstandlichkeit, or naturalness. Its an idea often applied in architecture, an area of enduring interest for Kriemler, whose work has been inspired by the highly textured facades created by the Swiss firm Herzog and de Meuron and by the art and architecture of early 20th-century Vienna. I believe that when fashion has a narrative and a design-driven concept behind it, says Kriemler, the most interesting clothing pieces can also transcend into art forms.Its organized chaos in here, says the British-Vietnamese designer A Sai Ta, standing in the middle of his tiny north London studio. Among the stacks of overstuffed plastic boxes exploding with garments  skimpy transparent neon tops, a pair of American-flag-patterned pants, scarlet sweaters trimmed with fraying fringe  some eight provisional assistants are busy helping Ta put the finishing touches on his spring 2019 collection. Ta, 30, runs his studio alone, and so his friends have stepped in to help ensure everything gets finished: One volunteer hems tie-dyed fluorescent orange ribbon belts, another carefully glues plumes of sugar-pink and lime-green ostrich feathers to a pair of minimalist 90s-era strappy sandals.

Its five days before the show, which took place last Sunday, and Ta is feeling calm. This is the most prepared I have ever been, he says, gesturing to the packed garment rack on which the finished pieces hang. Ta studied womens wear design at Central Saint Martins and finessed his skills while interning at the Row. Later, he helped develop fabrics for Kanye Wests Yeezy line after being handpicked by West during the rappers 2015 visit to Saint Martins. The impending show will be Tas fourth since he launched his own label, Asai, in 2017, and also his fourth with Fashion East, the London nonprofit initiative that gives support and runway space to emerging British designers.For many independent merchants who sell their goods on Amazon, there has long been deep concern that if the e-commerce giant saw a particular product selling well, the company would duplicate it, but at a lower price.

The European Unions antitrust chief said on Wednesday that there may be reason for worry.

Margrethe Vestager, the blocs competition commissioner, announced the start of an investigation into whether Amazon is unfairly using data collected about third-party sellers to make its own decisions about products to sell  information that would give it a potentially anticompetitive edge.

The announcement keeps Europe at the center of a debate about how to regulate global technology platforms. Amazon, whose chief executive, Jeff Bezos, is the worlds wealthiest person, has become a particular focus of antitrust scrutiny, as the companys vast and quickly expanding business dominates online retail and underpins much of the internet through a cloud computing division.

Ms. Vestager, the worlds most aggressive regulator of American technology giants, said that Amazons dual position as host of the largest online platform for third-party sellers and as a retailer of goods deserved a closer look from European investigators. Her office has sent a number of questionnaires to market participants to learn more about Amazons practices.She added, Its going to be harder for companies like Facebook and Twitter, from my perspective, to find them now.

Facebook invited two New York Times reporters into the War Room before it opens next week to discuss the work of the elections team and some of the tools it has developed to try to prevent interference. The company limited the scope of what The Times could see and publish out of a concern about revealing too much to adversaries who may be looking for vulnerabilities. The company said the War Room was modeled after operations used by political campaigns, which are typically set up in the final weeks before Election Day.

The War Room is a proactive way to build systems in anticipation of attacks, Greg Marra, a product manager working on Facebooks News Feed, said in a conference call with reporters on Wednesday.

One of the tools the company is introducing is custom software that helps track information flowing across the social network in real time, said Mr. Chakrabarti, who joined Facebook about four years ago from Google.

These dashboards resemble a set of line and bar graphs, with statistics that provide a view into how activity on the platform is changing. They allow employees to zero in on, say, a specific false news story in wide circulation or a spike in automated accounts being created in a particular geographic area.

The dashboards were first tested before of the special United States Senate election in Alabama in December. Without specifying the dashboards, Mr. Zuckerberg has said a new tool helped Facebook identify political interference more quickly in that election.BOSTON  The Armys abrupt discharges of immigrant recruits may not be over after all.

Faced with legal challenges from some of the recruits, who said they had been expelled unfairly on specious security grounds, the Army suspended the discharges over the summer and said it would re-examine its policy.

But an internal Army email message obtained by The New York Times suggests that the Army may be looking for different grounds for expelling the recruits that would sidestep the litigation.

The recruits had signed up for a program known as Military Accessions Vital to National Interests, or Mavni, which offered legal immigrants with vital language or medical skills a fast track to citizenship in exchange for military service. About 11,000 troops have joined the armed forces through the program since Mavni started in 2008.

The Defense Department ended the program in 2016, citing security concerns, and imposed strict new screening on thousands of recruits who had already signed enlistment contracts for the program but had not yet begun basic training. The Army flagged many of them as security risks, even when other federal agencies had cleared them for more sensitive jobs in the civilian world.Two patients trapped inside a sheriffs van died in South Carolina on Tuesday evening after the van became submerged in floodwaters from Hurricane Florence, the authorities said.

The accident happened between 5 and 6 p.m. as two deputies from the Horry County Sheriffs Office were driving the women between health facilities along Highway 76 in the northeast part of South Carolina. The driver, one of the deputies, lost control of the van in high waters, according to Jerry Richardson, the coroner in Marion County, S.C.

Both deputies were able to climb out of the submerged vehicle and onto the top of the van. But according to a statement from the sheriffs office, repeated efforts to remove the women from the back seat were unsuccessful.

Despite persistent and ongoing efforts, floodwater rose rapidly and the deputies were unable to open the doors to reach the individuals inside the van, the statement read.Mr. McKinneys employees were using social media to spread information about the storm that had been translated into Spanish, but worried that it was not reaching everyone who might need it. Ms. Garduno Garcia, the organizer, said that people living in trailer parks in North Carolina had received evacuation notices in English demanding that they leave their homes by midweek. But she said that many people stayed put, confused by conflicting information and the language barrier.

From her trailer home in Elgin, S.C., in the north-central part of the state, an immigrant woman named Maria said on Friday, before the worst of the storm, that she, her husband and their 15-year-old daughter were stocking up on canned food and water, but were still unclear about whether they were safe or needed to flee.

We still havent received information about how much rain to expect, she said. She was concerned that the trailer could be overcome by floodwaters or crushed by a fallen tree. We dont know how much it can handle. Were trying to see where we can go, or if we should stay to see if things get more intense.

Maria, who asked that her last name not be published because of her immigration status, said that her daughters high school had opened up a shelter and was giving out free meals, but that she did not feel comfortable going there. For one thing, she said, it would have meant leaving behind their two cats. The family would go to a friends house if they had to, she said, though she was not certain that they would be any safer there.

Over the weekend, many immigrants turned to informal networks of support to avoid interacting with the authorities. Leticia Zavala, a farm labor organizer in Dudley, N.C., said that 40 farm workers slept at her organizations headquarters instead of going to shelters.

North Carolina is a major producer of sweet potatoes and tobacco. Some of the farm workers are undocumented; others have guest worker visas. But Ms. Zavala said that many were mindful of a handful of cases in the last year in which growers turned over migrant workers to the authorities for using false Social Security numbers.

Ms. Zavala said that most of these farm workers live in migrant housing, which is provided by growers and can vary from mobile homes that house six to eight people to barracks that accommodate hundreds.There is no known letter sent by Dr. Blasey about Justice Gorsuch, or any other Supreme Court justice. Still, the tweet got more than 7,000 retweets.

Image Credit... Twitter/@therealcornett

Claim: Dr. Blasey is a major Democratic donor with a long history of left-wing activism.

Verdict: Mostly false.

Some critics of Dr. Blasey quickly painted her as a devoted left-wing activist and donor with an ax to grind.

They have claimed that she wrote on Facebook in 2016 that Scalia types must be banned from law. Another variant of this claim also has her writing that Scalia types must be banned from courts.

Neither phrase appears in a search of public Facebook posts in 2016. Its possible that the phrases appeared in posts that have since been deleted from Dr. Blaseys accounts. But these claims dont contain links to old posts, or any other form of attribution. The account of the Twitter user who appeared to originate the claim, @LodgeNixon, has since been deleted, and no evidence of the purported Facebook post has emerged.

Memes containing this dubious claim, and several others about Dr. Blasey, have gone viral on Facebook, and have been shared inside several large private Facebook groups.WASHINGTON  Foreign terrorist groups and their affiliates had a bad year in 2017 as the United States and other countries fought back against the Islamic State, but Al Qaeda and Iranian-backed militias remain deadly threats, according to an annual government terrorism report that was released on Wednesday.

There were 8,584 terrorist attacks around the world in 2017, a 23 percent decline from 2016, according to the State Department report. As a result, more than 18,700 people were killed, about a quarter of whom were the perpetrators themselves.

That death toll represented a 27 percent drop from the previous year, the report said.

Much of the reason for the decline was the improved security situation in Iraq, according to Ambassador Nathan Sales, the State Departments coordinator for counterterrorism.

Still, more than half of all terrorist attacks worldwide took place in just five countries: Afghanistan, India, Iraq, Pakistan and the Philippines. And 70 percent of all deaths from terrorist attacks occurred in a different, if overlapping, set of five countries: Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Somalia and Syria.A progressive group in Utah that advocates government transparency and accountability filed a federal complaint against Representative Mia Love, a Republican, on Tuesday over alleged campaign finance violations, escalating the liberal fight against the vulnerable incumbent just seven weeks before Novembers midterm elections.

Alliance for a Better Utah, a progressive nonprofit, filed the complaint with the Federal Election Commission and sent a detailed letter to the commissions general counsel and the chief of the public integrity section at the Department of Justices criminal division. The letter, which comes after the commission forced Ms. Love to acknowledge that some of her primary funds had been improperly raised, argues that Ms. Loves actions are a betrayal of the public trust and of Utah voters, and should be subject to criminal penalties.

In a statement, Ms. Loves campaign called the complaint a political ploy.

It is no surprise that an extremely liberal-leaning organization such as Alliance for a Better Utah is filing a complaint on completely false and desperate charges, said Sasha Clark, Ms. Loves campaign communications director.

The crux of the allegation against Ms. Love stems from more than $1 million she raised leading up to her re-election campaign this year. Ms. Love did not face a primary challenger because of Utahs convention nomination rules, but, according to the commission, she raised the money during the primary challenge period, and an additional $372,468 even after she secured the state nomination and knew a primary would not take place.Good Wednesday morning. Here are some of the stories making news in Washington and politics today.

 Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who has accused Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh of sexual assault, said an F.B.I. investigation should be a first step before she agrees to testify. [Read the story]

 A United States much changed since the 1980s is now deep into a debate over how allegations from that time involving teenagers and alcohol should be treated in Judge Kavanaughs confirmation process. [Read the story]

 President Trump falsely charged that Democrats had sought to time the allegation against Judge Kavanaugh to obstruct his confirmation. [Read the story]

 China said it would impose tariffs on an additional $60 billion of United States imports. But Beijing is running out of American goods to target. [Read the story] Run like a woman. In 2008, following the prevailing wisdom, Mrs. Clinton downplayed her gender. Candidates today are embracing it. Kids roam the campaign trail. Some candidates breast-feed in their ads. And veterans, like Arizonas Martha McSally, tout their barrier-breaking service.

 Making a #MeToo connection. In ads and speeches, candidates turned their own sexual abuse into an opportunity to relate to voters. Mary Barzee Flores, in Florida, tells voters about being groped by the night manager of a Pizza Hut as a teenager. Katie Porter, in California, has talked about surviving domestic abuse.

 Gender matters, even when all the candidates are women. There are 33 races where women are running against other women. Gender has been a factor in those races, too. And a reminder that women dont vote as a monolithic block. Gender is a dynamic whether or not the bodies are all female, says Ms. Dittmar.

 Forget about parity. At the end of all this, women are still likely to be underrepresented. Even if all the female congressional candidates won (an almost impossible proposition), women would still make up less than half of the House and less than a third of the Senate.

Now, a question for our readers: Has the wave of female candidates impacted you personally? Perhaps changed your outlook on politics, or even spurred you to get involved? Wed love to hear from you! Let us know who you are, and how it has affected you, at onpolitics@nytimes.com.

____________________

Kavanaugh in context

The story around the Supreme Court confirmation of Brett M. Kavanaugh seems to be evolving all the time. So we chatted with Adam Liptak, who covers the Supreme Court for The Times, to get a sense of how things have changed.

On Politics: I remember hearing you say on The Daily a couple weeks ago that short of some astounding revelation, no one in the Senate would change their mind on Judge Kavanaugh. I imagine this qualifies as astounding?WASHINGTON  The sexual assault accusation against Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh hasnt just upended what was expected to be his relatively easy Senate confirmation to the Supreme Court. The allegation has also scrambled the political calculations for 10 Democratic senators running for re-election in states won by President Trump, particularly three moderate Democrats who had been weighing a yes vote.

Few politicians have a greater stake in Judge Kavanaughs fate than these 10 senators who are trying to appeal to red-state voters back home, and whose re-election bids will determine whether Democrats win control of the narrowly divided chamber in November.

Before Christine Blasey Ford accused Judge Kavanaugh of assaulting her when they were teenagers, many of these senators were simply happy that the Kavanaugh nomination hadnt become a rallying cry for the conservative base. They hoped they could vote no without political consequences, because he was so likely to be confirmed with Republican votes, and then move on to more favorable terrain.

And for three of the most moderate Senate Democrats  Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, Joe Manchin III of West Virginia and Joe Donnelly of Indiana  the nomination represented an opportunity for them to vote yes on Judge Kavanaugh and demonstrate independence from their party and deny Republicans an issue in the fall campaign. The three had previously supported President Trumps first nominee for the court, Justice Neil M. Gorsuch.WASHINGTON  President Trump excoriated on Wednesday his attorney general, the F.B.I., the special counsel and members of the intelligence community  citing conspiracy theories by conservatives even as he declared in a wide-ranging interview that he is not a conspiratorial person.

Mr. Trump used the Oval Office interview with The Hill newspaper to unleash some of his most deeply felt grievances against his critics, saying that one of the crowning achievements of his presidency will be exposing what he calls corruption among the people investigating his administration.

We have tremendous support, by the way, to expose something that is truly a cancer in our country, the president said of federal law enforcement officials without citing evidence. The remark was a striking rhetorical echo of 1973, when John Dean, the White House counsel, gravely told President Richard M. Nixon that the Watergate scandal was a cancer within  close to the presidency.

By contrast, Mr. Trump compared his repeated trashing of F.B.I. investigators to congressional passage of tax cuts and the elimination of regulations by his administration, saying that what weve done is a great service to the country, really.At least 100 state and federal law enforcement officers are scouring an Ohio city, searching for a fugitive who has eluded them across multiple states for months after threatening to put a bullet in President Trumps head, the authorities said.

The search became increasingly intense and focused on Sunday, after the authorities found a truck that they believe the fugitive, Shawn Richard Christy, 26, of McAdoo, Pa., had stolen. It was found in Mansfield, Ohio, a city of about 46,000, Robert Clark, a supervisory deputy United States marshal and one of the lead investigators, said in an interview on Tuesday.

On June 19, a federal warrant was issued for Mr. Christys arrest after he wrote a post on Facebook that threatened John M. Morganelli, the district attorney of Northampton County, Pa., and President Trump.

Keep it up Morganelli, I promise Ill put a bullet in your head as soon as I put one in the head of President Donald J. Trump, he wrote, according to the authorities.Hope for what? I asked.

That one day they will be able to do the things they cant right now.

We wanted our parents to live independently in their own home, which meant that my siblings and I were going to have to chip in to help. It was a small price to pay, we thought. When my sister visited from Minneapolis, she bathed and dressed my mother. I administered their medications and helped with groceries. My brother took care of household issues. Still, my parents home, like my parents themselves, was in a constant state of disrepair.

That summer, my siblings and I joined the ranks of the 15 million or so unpaid and untrained family caregivers for older adults in this country. A recent study found that almost half of this largely invisible work force spends, on average, nearly 30 hours a week providing care to relatives, many of whom have dementia, an estimated more than $400 billion worth of annual unpaid time.

The work takes its toll. These sons, daughters, husbands and wives are at increased risk of developing depression, as well as physical and financial difficulties, including loss of job productivity. Being sick and elderly in this country can be terrifying. Having a sick and elderly loved one is often a full-time job.

As the workload increased, we hired help, as much for ourselves as for our parents. But after some items were stolen, we realized we had to be more careful about whom we allowed into our parents home. Older adults in this country lose almost $3 billion a year to theft and financial fraud. Nearly every week my father instructed us to donate money to someone who had sent him a generic email appeal. It fell on us to keep our parents from being exploited.

With millions of elderly adults requiring assistance with daily living, physicians should make it routine practice to ask family members whether they can provide the requisite care. Many of these potential caregivers, ill or stressed themselves, simply cannot.MEXICO CITY  Just five days before a powerful earthquake struck last year, a history teacher at a Mexico City school gave a lecture about the capitals propensity for this sort of natural disaster.

The talk was part of the schools commemoration of the anniversary of the 1985 earthquake, which killed about 10,000 people. The teacher, Fernando Flores, 41, wanted to drive home the point that the destruction was caused not only by Mexicos geology, but also by the human errors  corruption, the skirting of rules or a flawed bureaucracy  that can disrupt enforcement of building codes.

From where he gave his lecture, he could see right into the classroom of his oldest son, Santiago, a second grader at the school, the Enrique C. Rebsamen school.

He kept standing up and waving every chance he got, Mr. Flores said of Santiago.

When a 7.1 earthquake struck early the next week, on Sept. 19  exactly 32 years after the 1985 quake  it took down thousands of buildings and killed nearly 369 people in the central region of Mexico.HONG KONG  Najib Razak, the former prime minister of Malaysia, was arrested Wednesday and will be charged over hundreds of millions of dollars that were transferred to his personal account, the countrys anticorruption agency said.

Mr. Najib, 65, was previously arrested in July and charged with three counts of criminal breach of trust and one count of corruption as part of an investigation into the diversion of money from a state investment fund he founded.

His latest arrest was over $681 million deposited into his account in 2013, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission said in a statement. Mr. Najib has long said the money came from Saudi donors, but prosecutors say it was taken from the investment fund, 1Malaysia Development Berhad, known as 1MDB.

He was arrested at the anticorruption agencys headquarters in Putrajaya, Malaysias administrative capital. He is scheduled to appear in court Thursday afternoon and will face several charges, the agency said. Mr. Najib was also charged with three counts of money laundering last month.SEOUL, South Korea  Kim Jong-un, North Koreas leader, told South Koreas president on Wednesday that he would commit to some concrete steps toward denuclearization  including an offer to permanently dismantle facilities central to fuel production for nuclear warheads. But he made no promises to relinquish his nuclear weapons or missiles.

Mr. Kims commitments fell far short of what American officials have demanded  a complete abandonment of the Norths nuclear and missile programs. Nonetheless, President Trump welcomed the agreements, reached during Mr. Kims summit meeting in North Korea with President Moon Jae-in of South Korea, as very exciting.

Speaking on the South Lawn of the White House, Mr. Trump told reporters that when he came into office people thought we were going  it was inevitable  we were going to war with North Korea.

Despite Mr. Trumps insistence that he remained tough on North Korea, three outcomes from the meeting between Mr. Moon and Mr. Kim suggested the White House had softened its position.ISLAMABAD, Pakistan  A Pakistani court on Wednesday ordered that the jailed former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter and son-in-law be released on bail as they appeal convictions on corruption charges, inching the family closer to restoring their status as political juggernauts in the country.

They had been convicted by an anticorruption court in July over luxury properties that the family owns in London, but a two-member bench of the Islamabad High Court suspended their sentences on Wednesday  a decision that may portend well for their appeal to overturn the verdict completely.

The conviction, by a lower court known as the accountability court, upended Pakistani politics and helped weaken Mr. Sharif and his political party just weeks ahead of July 25 elections, which his rival, Imran Khan, won. Mr. Sharif was sentenced to 10 years in prison, Maryam Nawaz to seven years, and her husband, Muhammad Safdar, to one year.

The Islamabad High Courts ruling was seen by some as a stinging censure of Pakistans legal system and its lack of independence. By suspending the sentences, observers said, the court signaled that the evidence used to convict the Sharifs was too weak to stand.Too horrible to look at, said Xia Bing, who owns concessions along a section of the beach that until Sunday included a cafe called Brother, changing facilities for swimmers and surfers, and a handful of bungalows for overnight guests  all now a twisted mangle of debris and broken branches. Accessories like air-conditioners and a television simply disappeared.

It was like this when we got back, he said. Nothing left.

Typhoon Mangkhut cut a far more catastrophic swath through the Philippines, where scores were killed in floods and landslides, but it also exacted a considerable toll in China. The storm hammered Hong Kong and Macau on Sunday morning, before moving into the mainland, where at least five people were killed, according to latest government figures cited by the state-run news agency Xinhua on Tuesday. One person is still missing.

In Shenzhen, which abuts Hong Kong, nearly 12,000 trees were knocked over in the city, according to municipal officials, and workers continued to clear roads and highways in the days following.

The recovery in Xichong  a two-hour drive east from Shenzhens city center, when fallen limbs have not blocked the roads  could take far longer.ERSHUI, Taiwan  It was bad enough, villagers thought, when the kindly Buddhist nuns were forced out of their historic temple and longtime home. But what began as a bitter property dispute took a bizarre political turn  right into the heart of cross-strait tensions between China and Taiwan.

After taking over the property and evicting the four nuns who lived there, Wei Ming-jen, a Taiwan native hired to build an addition to the century-old building, set out to convert Biyun Temple into something likely never before seen on this island: an extravagant shrine to Chinas Communist Party.

Gone are the Buddhist ritual drums and traditional Chinese calligraphy scrolls. Instead, Communist Party symbols, propaganda posters and portraits of party leaders like Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai now adorn the century-old temple tucked into a hillside in Ershui, in central Taiwan.

Outside the temples entrance, the fire-engine-red and canary-yellow flags of the Peoples Republic of China and the Communist Party soar into the sky, overlooking sleepy villages and verdant rice fields.Dr. Khaw, 53, an associate professor in anesthesia and intensive care at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, had designed an experiment to test the effect of carbon monoxide on rabbits. A student with whom Dr. Khaw had begun an extramarital relationship had also been involved in the experiment. He was later seen filling two yoga balls with the gas.

When Dr. Khaw, who is Malaysian, was questioned by officers, he told them that he had transported the carbon monoxide in a yoga ball from the university to kill rats at his home. He said that his daughter Lily had seen him leave the ball in the familys exercise area, and that, after his warnings about its lethal contents, she may have used it to commit suicide.

Dr. Khaws defense lawyer, Gerard McCoy, tried to build a case by portraying Dr. Khaw as a loving father who had inadvertently driven his daughter to kill herself because of his high expectations for her academic achievement. He argued that Dr. Khaw had found it difficult to empathize with his childrens learning disabilities and mental health issues.

Later, in his closing remarks, Mr. McCoy said that Lily could have tried to use the gas-filled ball to kill insects without anticipating its fatal consequences.

The prosecutor, Andrew Bruce, described the deaths as a deliberate and calculated murder.

There was also the question of motive. For a few years before her death, Ms. Wong had known about her husbands affair with the woman who had once tutored their children. In interviews with the police, Dr. Khaw said that he had stayed married to his wife because neither of them could cope with four children individually. Ms. Wong had told her yoga teacher that they did not divorce because her husband did not want to divide their assets.SYDNEY, Australia  The Endeavour set off from England in 1768 and traversed a world that sailors maps had yet to document. The ship bounded through the Pacific Ocean, scraping up against the Great Barrier Reef and stopping in New Zealand and Tahiti. The journey also charted parts of Australia, leading its captain, James Cook, to become regarded as a central figure in the nations origin story.

A decade later, the vessel sank after having been sold, renamed (as the Lord Sandwich 2) and scuttled, apparently left to anonymously join about a dozen other ships in a mass grave of wreckage off the coast of Rhode Island.

But marine archaeologists said this week that after a search that spanned decades, the remains of the Endeavour, however decrepit, may have been located. The Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project said that on Friday it would detail the results of its study of what lies at the bottom of Newport Harbor, and it is expected to announce that it has narrowed down the wreckage that belongs to the storied ship.

We can say we think we know which one it is, Kathy Abbass, the archaeology projects director, told Fairfax Media.Well, I was the one who stopped it, he said, referring to the flow of migrants. And Ill tell you the shame of Australia then  1,200 kids dying and adults dying in the water and the horrific carnage that was taking place and the human misery that I saw.

He added that Australia takes in tens of thousands of refugees a year through processes that do not involve smuggling people. We have the track record of being the best resettlers of refugees of anyone in the world, he said.

But stopping the boats, in his view, was more important than helping the people in detention.

Would he consider new approaches, I asked, such as letting New Zealand follow through on its offer to take a group of refugees from Australias offshore detention camps?

No, he said. We dont think that is consistent with the border protection regime put in place, and we are very concerned that that could risk this thing opening up again.

Though I didnt know it would show up in Maureens column (news and opinion writers operate separately even when interviews are shared), Mr. Morrisons boat trophy is indeed a telling symbol: Its as absolute as he is on the issue.

If you dont stop them coming, well, the absolute human carnage continues, and so you have to be very focused, mission focused on that, he said. You cant do things that starts it all off again.

______

What do you think of Mr. Morrisons trophy? Share your thoughts in our NYT Australia Facebook group.In a televised interview this week, Mrs. May insisted that a mutually acceptable agreement could be reached, but also warned her many British critics that the alternative to anything she can negotiate could be nothing at all.

That could mean a so-called cliff-edge departure that would leave trucks marooned in ports, disrupt food and medical supplies and render factories idle.

On Wednesday evening, Mrs. May met with European leaders over dinner in Salzburg. On Thursday, leaders are likely to agree to a special meeting in November, which would set the latest in a series of slipping Brexit deadlines.

And, of course, getting to an agreement by then, even a vague one, will not be easy.

Of two accords that need to be reached, the more crucial and harder to fudge is a withdrawal treaty that includes backstop plans to avert new controls at the border between Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, and Ireland, which will remain in the European Union.

If this can be agreed, it will trigger a standstill transition period until December 2020 during which little would change for Britons while the details of future trade ties would be thrashed out.

Those would be based on an agreement on future trading links, an issue that has long divided Mrs. Mays party.

In July, Mrs. May finally broke months of internal deadlock in a meeting in her official, 16th-century country residence, Chequers, and proposed keeping Britain aligned with European standards on goods and food, though not services. That prompted the resignation of two hard-line pro-Brexit cabinet ministers: Boris Johnson, the foreign secretary, who has since likened the Chequers plan to donning a suicide vest, and David Davis, who quit as Brexit secretary.GRACANICA, Kosovo  On highway signs in areas of Kosovo dominated by ethnic Albanians, the Serbian names of towns are ominously blacked out.

Monuments to long-dead soldiers  Serb or ethnic Albanian, depending on where you are  line the roadways, often adorned with fresh flowers. It is rare to see the flag of Kosovo but common to see the colors of Serbia and Albania flying proudly.

All along the roads in this small, bitterly contested land, drivers encounter reminders of how divided, and entangled, Kosovos ethnic groups remain, 10 years after the territory declared its independence from Serbia, its neighbor to the north.

Now there is growing talk of making those divisions formal and partitioning Kosovo, essentially along ethnic lines. It is an idea the leaders of Kosovo and Serbia hope will settle lingering animosities 20 years after the two sides fought a war  and will be a step toward both of them joining the European Union.BERLIN  For nearly two weeks Chancellor Angela Merkel tried to find a way to fire her own domestic intelligence chief, a man who had publicly contradicted her and become the darling of the far right for questioning the authenticity of a video showing angry white men chasing an immigrant.

But she couldnt  not without risking the collapse of her fragile government.

Hans-Georg Maassen, the rebellious spy, has powerful friends, among them his immediate boss, Interior Minister Horst Seehofer, the leader of the Bavarian conservatives and one of Ms. Merkels pricklier coalition partners.

Instead of firing Mr. Maassen, Ms. Merkel had to allow Mr. Seehofer to promote him. Mr. Maassen will get a pay raise of about 2,500 euros a month.

You couldnt make it up, said Andrea Rommele, a professor of political science at the Hertie School of Governance in Berlin.Lithuanians have little fondness for Russia. Memories of decades of brutality linger, even more than a quarter century after the fall of the Soviet Union.

So a Walmart T-shirt with a hammer and sickle emblem was never likely to be a best seller there.

Now, its not being sold at all.

Lithuanian officials say Walmart, responding to their protests, has pulled the shirts from its online shelves  a move that chilled already icy relations between the countries.

On Wednesday, a day after the news broke, Russias Foreign Ministry lobbed insults at Lithuanias Foreign Ministry on Twitter.America is often described as a place of great divides  between red and blue, big cities and rural towns, the coasts and the heartland. But our social lives are shaped by a much stronger force that ignores many of these lines: distance.

In the millions of ties on Facebook that connect relatives, co-workers, classmates and friends, Americans are far more likely to know people nearby than in distant communities that share their politics or mirror their demographics. The dominant picture in data analyzed by economists at Facebook, Harvard, Princeton and New York University is not that like-minded places are linked; rather, people in counties close to one another are.

Even in the age of the internet, distance matters immensely in determining whom  and, as a result, what  we know.

Coastal cities like New York, Washington, San Francisco, Boston and Los Angeles do exhibit close ties to one another, showing that people in counties with similar incomes, education levels and voting patterns are more likely to be linked. But nationwide, the effect of such similarity is small. And the pull of regionalism is strong even for major cities. Brooklynites are still more likely to know someone on Facebook near Albany or Binghamton than in the Bay Area.

A Picture of Social Connectedness in America Likelihood of friendship 1x 3x 10x 100x Share of friends who live within ... 50 miles: 53% , 100 miles: 67% , 500 miles: 87% Counties most closely connected to Collier County, Fla. 1 Lee County, Fla. 2 Hendry County, Fla. 3 Monroe County, Fla. 4 Leon County, Fla. 5 Glades County, Fla. 6 DeSoto County, Fla. 7 Charlotte County, Fla. 8 Alachua County, Fla. 9 Nantucket County, Mass. 10 Highlands County, Fla. 11 Okeechobee County, Fla. 12 Miami-Dade County, Fla.

This map shows an index of connectedness, created using friendship links between pairs of anonymous Facebook users from a snapshot of the platform in April 2016. The researchers aggregated the links at the county level, so neither the Times nor other academics working with the data can identify individual users within it, or how many Facebook users live in each county. Because counties with more people invariably have links to more places, this map rescales the index to account for differences in population.

The darker the color, the greater the relative likelihood that any two people living in two different counties are connected on Facebook. Counties that are broadly tied to more  and more distant  places will color in more of the map. Counties where nearly all ties are very local will look more isolated.

The networks that emerge reveal a distinct social fingerprint for each county, influenced by past migration patterns, geographical features and quirks of the local economy  whether, for example, the county is home to a military base, a resort hub or a booming oil industry.

But distance is the thing that shows up everywhere, said Johannes Stroebel, a professor at N.Y.U.s Stern School of Business and a co-author of the research, along with Michael Bailey at Facebook, Rachel Cao at Harvard, Theresa Kuchler at N.Y.U. and Arlene Wong at Princeton. Distance matters, Mr. Stroebel said, in explaining every single countys connectedness.

Even in Washington, D.C., nearly half of friendship links extend to people who live within 100 miles. Nationwide, in the average county, 63 percent of friendship links are that close, probably reflecting that many people on Facebook know one another through real-world sites like grade schools, colleges and offices. Other research shows that these sites tend to be close to home: The typical American lives just 18 miles from his or her mother. The typical student enrolls in college less than 15 miles from home.

Proximity works alongside every other pattern shown below.

Where State Lines Are Stark

Clinton County, Mich. Greeley County, Neb. Richland County, S.C.

State lines are powerful boundaries in binding nearby places. For many counties, as the maps illustrate, the likelihood of friendship drops off sharply at state borders. And counties within a given state tend to be strongly connected to one another. This is particularly striking in Michigan, where counties near the Indiana and Ohio state line are more closely tied to Michigans Upper Peninsula than to out-of-state counties closer by.

Where History Remains Visible

Cook County Ill. Milwaukee County, Wis. Kern County, Calif.

History is another significant force in shaping these networks. Decades-old migration patterns can help explain why some distant counties are disproportionately connected today. Northern cities like Chicago and Milwaukee still retain close ties to Southern counties along the Mississippi River, where African-American workers who were part of the Great Migration starting a century ago left communities for industrial jobs in the North.

Kern County, Calif., holds ties today to counties in Oklahoma, where the Dust Bowl in the 1930s led to another significant migration (oil-producing Kern County today is also closely tied to parts of northwest North Dakota that are experiencing an oil boom).

Where Physical Boundaries Matter

Belmont County, Ohio Scott County, Ark. Nassau County, N.Y.

In other parts of the country, physical geography forms a kind of social barrier. Friendship links from Belmont County, Ohio, extend east but dont cross the Appalachian Mountains in Pennsylvania or the Blue Ridge range in Virginia. In Scott County, Ark., friendships do cross state lines, into Oklahoma, Louisiana and Texas. But they dont cross the Mississippi River to the east. In Nassau County, N.Y., the likelihood of friendship links declines steeply off Long Island.

Where Networks Reach Far

Onslow County, N.C. Charlotte County, Fla. Washington D.C.

Other county outliers in the data can be explained by distinct roles some communities serve: Onslow County, N.C., which is connected to much of the country, is home to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.

Charlotte County, Fla., a retirement community destination, is disproportionately connected to counties across the northern Midwest and Northeast. Washington, D.C., a magnet for college graduates from across the country, is closely tied to counties that are home to major state universities in Florida, Alabama, Wisconsin, Iowa and Michigan.

The Social-Network States of America

The power of distance underlying these other patterns can be seen another way: If we were to divide the United States into two regions, merging counties that are most closely connected to one another, we would get a very simple map. It would not show the coasts versus the heartland, or red America versus blue America.

It would show, simply, all of the continental U.S. and Alaska in one region, and far-off Hawaii in the other. Divide the country further, and cohesive regions become clear at different scales. Northern Florida merges with southern Georgia. Texas and California splinter. Divide the country into 50 regions, and you get something that looks like how we might redraw our state borders to reflect the social worlds people in America inhabit today.



















This is what happens when you split the country into two parts.

Hawaii is its own region. This is what happens when you split the country into three parts.

The West and the northern Plains become a region.  into four parts.

Then the northern Plains becomes its own region.  into 10 parts.

Texas starts to approximate its current form.  into 20 parts.

States shapes start coming into view.  into 50 parts.

If state lines were redrawn this way, California would span four states.  into 100 parts.

Now we can answer questions like: What is downstate Illinois or upstate New York?  into 150 parts.

Or West Texas?  into 200 parts.

Metropolitan areas within states are now clear.  into 435 parts

Now weve redrawn every congressional district in America (albeit not with equal population).

Why Connectedness Matters

These networks are important in part because of other patterns that are correlated with them. Counties with more dispersed networks  where a smaller share of Facebook friends are located nearby, or among the nearest 50 million people  are on average richer, more educated and have longer life expectancies. Places that are more closely connected to one another also have more migration, trade and patent citations between them.

Counties that are more geographically isolated in the index are more likely to have lower labor force participation and economic mobility, and they have higher rates of teenage births. Some of the most economically distressed parts of the country appear to be the most disconnected: Among the 10 U.S. counties with the highest share of friends within 50 miles, six are in Kentucky.

Where most friends live within 50 miles In the white patches of Appalachia, four in five friendship links are nearby.

Close-knit communities can have their own benefits, like enabling neighbors to rely on one another for economic and social support. But previous research suggests that weak ties to people we know less well can be particularly valuable for bringing us information we dont already have. So people in communities that are more broadly connected may be more likely to hear about a wider range of business or educational opportunities.

The patterns in this Facebook data dont necessarily mean that limited social networks cause worse economic and health outcomes, or that wide-ranging networks produce better ones. But other researchers say this data will make it possible in future studies to untangle why theyre related.

This gives us the first way to systematically look at some of those relationships, said Mark Granovetter, a sociologist at Stanford who has written influential papers on the value of social networks. They have just scratched the surface here.

Jennifer Erickson

GE has promoted Jennifer Erickson to chief communications officer. Erickson has most recently been executive director, GE Global Communications, with responsibility for developing and executing GEs external communications strategy. Prior to joining GE in 2013, she spent more than 15 years at Motorola, where she last served as chief communications officer for Motorola Mobility. In her new role, Erickson will lead GEs communications function globally, including internal/external communications, public affairs, executive communications, and public relations. She will report to Linda Boff, Chief Marketing & Learning Officer, GE.



Heather Craft

Hotwire has promoted Heather Craft to executive vice president. The agency has also hired Andrew Corcione as a senior VP and Keith Parker as a VP. Craft was previously senior VP, client services, working accounts including NetApp, Dell Boomi, Zuora and Commvault. In her new role, she is responsible for developing campaigns that support client business goals, client satisfaction for global and national accounts and for developing B2B talent. Corcione joins Hotwire from Finn Partners, where he was a partner and Next Tech Lead. He will be responsible for driving the strategy and direction of the software and services clients in Hotwires B2B practice. Parker joins Hotwire from the Greater Sacramento Economic Council, where he served as the vice president of marketing and communications. He will provide strategic council for some of the agencys largest B2B accounts.



Jillian Janaczek

BCW (Burson Cohn & Wolfe) has promoted Jillian Janaczek to executive vice president, managing director, market leader for New York. Rachi Govil will assume Janaczeks previous role as executive VP, managing director, New York healthcare practice leader. Janaczek has been with the firm since 1997. She was a pioneer in digital and integrated communications at the firm and spearheaded award-winning programs across multiple categories. Govil, who has been with the firm for 13 years, has served as deputy practice director under Janaczek since 2015. She has led strategic communications activities in both pre- and post-approval settings for the U.S. and globally.Haryana Unlock Guidelines: What is open, What is not; Check details

Dreaded criminal gunned down in encounter

Chandigarh

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Gurgaon, Sep 19: A dreaded criminal involved in over a dozen cases of attempt to murder and murder, including the heinous murder case of a Patwari here, was gunned down in a police encounter Tuesday, officials said.

Bhawar Singh, who was carrying Rs 1 lakh reward on his head, was an "active" history-sheeter in Delhi, Gurgaon and Hisar area, a senior official of Gurgaon Police said.

The crime branch team received a secret information on Monday late in the night that Bhawar Singh and his accomplice Ravinder were hiding in a house located in Saharawan in Maneser, Assistant Commissioner of Gurgaon Police Shamsher Singh said.

Also Read | STF nabs two dacoits

"A trap was laid near the house by crime branch sleuths. When police team barged into the house to nab Bhawar Singh, he opened fire. In self-defence, the police party shot three rounds of fire which Singh suffered, while his accomplice managed to escape from the spot," he said.

"Bhawar Singh was taken to a nearby hospital but declared brought dead", the ACP said.

He was sentenced to jail and came out on parole but jumped it. Since than he had been actively involved in various crimes.

He had on August 14 gunned down a Patwari on duty in Maneser.

For More Chandigarh News, Click Here

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Story first published: Wednesday, September 19, 2018, 9:25 [IST]7th Pay Commission: Government explores these options on All India Protest Day

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Sep 19: With no hope in sight regarding the 7th Pay Commission, today will be observed as All India Protest Day.

In a resolution, it was stated, "as decided by the NJCA, the affiliates are directed to hold mass rallies/demonstrations protesting against Government failure to implement its assurances on revision of minimum wage, improvement of fitment formula and abolition of National Pension System (NPS). Other pending issues related to railway employees may also be highlighted during protest actions. Affiliates may take note that "September 2018" should be treated as PROTEST MONTH by organising different forms of protest actions at all levels i.e. Depots, Establishments, Workshops, Major Stations etc."

7th Pay Commission: Dead end, bad news, it is confirmed, no hike anytime now

"All India Protest Day" should be observed on 19th September 2018 and on the said date the affiliates should mobilise employees in large number along with those of Central Government Employees Organisations and hold massive rallies/demonstrations. The members of INDWF and FNPO should also be made part of agitation wherever possible," a resolution read.

The government is not taking this issue lightly. Although there are no discussions currently on the issue, the government is mulling several options. The employees have been demanding a pay hike, more than what the 7th Pay Commission had recommended. The hike demanded is Rs 26,000 based on a hike as per the fitment factor of 3.68 times.

7th Pay Commission latest news today: Good news for these employees of BJP ruled state

Representatives of the government however say that the hike demanded is steep. The government has before it numerous options and this is what is being planned. Sources say that currently the government is exploring the possibility of raising the fitment factor to 2.80 times. However depending on the situation, the maximum it go up to was 3.10 times.

While the 7th Pay Commission had recommended a hike of Rs 18,000, the government at best would increase it to Rs 21,000.

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Story first published: Wednesday, September 19, 2018, 7:27 [IST]"Being a barber's son never stopped Tuhir from having big dreams. Tuhir's fascination with his doctor game knew no bounds. Anyone in our neighbourhood will tell you that Tuhir's doctor kit and he were inseparable. There is not a single person he hasn't attended to in our neighbourhood. He was obsessed with the idea of wearing the noble white coat someday, for real. Now, we cry in disbelief as we see our ever smiling Tuhir gasp for air as nausea takes him for a cruel spin. Every time, the doctor drops by for a visit, Tuhin hides behind my saree because he's terrified of injections. The cancer made him lose weight so rapidly that in due course we were barely able to recognize our own son."

Tuhir's 8-year-old brain was advanced for his age. His parents positively glowed when they watched him add up big figures and spell huge words without any difficulty. He was their source of pride and his parents were sure that he would become the doctor that he always aspired to be. But fate had different plans for them in store. Their calm lives in a sleepy village in West Bengal suddenly went for a toss.

"After a busy Saturday of roaming around the whole neighbourhood with his doctor kit, Tuhir came home to lie down for a bit. As I was feeding him, my eyes fell on his stomach. One side of his stomach looked swollen. It looked to be an irregular shape. Even though none of us is very educated, almost immediately we understood that something was off and it didn't take us long to realize that he had to be rushed to the hospital at the earliest."

Their anxiety wasn't getting any better they were redirected from one doctor to the other with no one able to provide a clear diagnosis. 2 X-rays and four consultations later, they decided that they had enough. A family friend's doctor was kind enough to take a look at their son. He suspected it to be some kind of tumour and he strongly felt that it was best if Tuhir was admitted in the hospital as soon as possible. They were asked to go to Chennai as the doctor felt that there weren't many options to treat Tuhir effectively in Kolkata.

"Between bouts of confusion, shock and harsh doses of reality, we started our journey to Chennai. This was the first time I was leaving West Bengal and as I left the countryside, I began to see huge buildings and unfamiliar faces pop up. For a man who has spent his whole life in a village, it was one thing to leave his village, it was a whole other thing to leave his state. I looked over at my wife struggling to grapple with the uncertainty of what was about to come for us in Chennai. The money that our friends and relatives lent us was just enough to provide for the travel and the medical expenses that we had incurred so far. We were going to land in a new city with no money on us."

It was not just the transition from the village side to the city that they were trying to come to terms with, it was also the anxiety of not knowing what exactly plagued their son. No one in Kolkata seemed to have an answer and their worry knew no bounds.

They wasted no time in admitting him to a hospital in Chennai. After several gruelling hours of waiting and hoping, the doctors told them that their son had a rare disease called Wilm's tumour. Their son's left kidney had become tumorous. The doctors told them that this was a rare case as most patients with Wilm's tumour are mostly under 5 while their Tuhir was nearing 9. They were told that chemotherapy was their only immediate source of hope, after 6 months of chemotherapy, they will perform a surgery to completely bring him back to wellness.

"The doctor told us that our son's left kidney had a tumour, I was too shocked to even process what my poor Tuhir was going through. No wonder no one back home knew what it was. As soon as the doctor told me that his condition was treatable, I was ready to do whatever it takes. In order to cope up with his medical expenses in this new city, I just eat once a day. I do so knowing that the small amounts of money that I'm getting to save here and there will pave a way for my Tuhir to recover completely."

Tuhir's sister often tries to press on to his brother's stomach hoping that would stop his stomach from swelling up. She is too young to process what was going on and their parents were in no position to explain as they themselves aren't quite aware of what it is that their son is affected with. Tuhir's father is a barber back in their village and he barely earned Rs 3,000 a month. Their travel and the medical expenses incurred so far has exhausted all their savings. They have spent a total of Rs 50,000 so far, they have already borrowed money from their relatives back home.

What You Can Do To Help

Tuhir's disorder has compelled his parents to leave their home in West Bengal behind, in order to come to Chennai to seek treatment for his medical condition. Tuhir is now admitted in Apollo Hospital in Chennai, 1800 km from the place that he calls home. His stomach has swollen to almost double its size and his parents are doing everything they can. They have resorted to crowdfunding after having lost it all in trying to save their only son. Every rupee that you contribute will bring them closer to saving their only son. Please share their plight with your friends and family on Whatsapp and Facebook. Let's help Tuhir achieve his dream of becoming a doctor.AgustaWestland: After saying witness may have died, ED cites a little birdie to say he is alive

AgustaWestland: Middleman Michel missing as MEA awaits official order on extradition

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Sep 19: Hours after a court ordered his extradition, accused in the AgustaWestland chopper scam, James Christian Michel has gone missing. According to his lawyer, Amal Alsubei, he could not be found since the order of extradition was delivered.

Meanwhile India said that it is yet to get any formal communication regarding the extradition. No formal communication has come from the UAE as yet, the MEA source said. Media reports said that a Dubai court had ordered the extradition of Michel.

AgustaWestland: To be extradited, Michel was media fix it guy in India

The rules state that a final call on extradition is always taken by the foreign office of a particular country. In case of the UAE, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs decides the fate of an accused against whom the court has given an extradition order, the MEA official also said.

Michel has the right to appeal and it is a matter of the UAE, the MEA official said, while also adding that they are awaiting a formal communication in this regard.

Michel, a British national is wanted in India for allegedly organising bribes in exchange for a 2007 contract for the purchase of 12 helicopters for use by top leaders. He had been detained in the UAE in July and granted bail a month later.

Michel's primary job was to give feedback on the media activities relating to the AgustaWestland deal. CBI sources say that his meeting with several media persons has been under the scanner.

Michel was a middleman hired by AgustaWestland. His main job was to keep an eye on the media in India and report the narrative regarding the deal to AgustaWestland.

UAE to extradite AgustaWestland scam middleman Christian Michel to India

He is an important player in this case, the CBI says. We have some evidence on him which includes the reports he sent out and also the meetings he held with some people in the media, officials also add.

An amount of Rs 330 crore was paid to him for managing various services. He received these amounts in part payments at United Kingdom, the British Virgin Islands and also Tunisia.

In addition to his links with the media, the CBI has also found that he had several assets (benami) in India. A bungalow in Delhi and a luxury car is what the CBI has found and officials say that he had purchased this in a benami name.

While his meetings with several persons are under the scanner, the CBI has learnt that it was through his company Global Services FZE all his activities were managed.

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Story first published: Wednesday, September 19, 2018, 15:34 [IST]AgustaWestland: After saying witness may have died, ED cites a little birdie to say he is alive

AgustaWestland: To be extradited, Michel was media fix it guy in India

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Sep 19: India scored a major victory after a court in the United Arab Emirates ordered the extradition of alleged middleman in the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland chopper deal.

Michel, a British national is wanted in India for allegedly organising bribes in exchange for a 2007 contract for the purchase of 12 helicopters for use by top leaders. He had been detained in the UAE in July and granted bail a month later.

For the Central Bureau of Investigation, this order is a shot in the arm. The CBI has been probing to find out who in India had received kickbacks to facilitate the deal.

Also Read | UAE to extradite AgustaWestland scam middleman Christian Michel to India

Michel, according to CBI sources was allegedly paid a sum of Rs 330 crore by AgustaWestland to manage various aspects that also included managing the media in India.

Michel's primary job was to give feedback on the media activities relating to the AgustaWestland deal. CBI sources say that his meeting with several media persons has been under the scanner.

Michel was a middleman hired by AgustaWestland. His main job was to keep an eye on the media in India and report the narrative regarding the deal to AgustaWestland.

He is an important player in this case, the CBI says. We have some evidence on him which includes the reports he sent out and also the meetings he held with some people in the media, officials also add.

An amount of Rs 330 crore was paid to him for managing various services. He received these amounts in part payments at United Kingdom, the British Virgin Islands and also Tunisia.

In addition to his links with the media, the CBI has also found that he had several assets (benami) in India. A bungalow in Delhi and a luxury car is what the CBI has found and officials say that he had purchased this in a benami name.

While his meetings with several persons are under the scanner, the CBI has learnt that it was through his company Global Services FZE all his activities were managed.

Through this company he managed to keep an eye on the media reports where this deal was concerned. If there was any negative press on the deal, Michel was meant to fix it, the CBI officials also say.

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Story first published: Wednesday, September 19, 2018, 10:18 [IST]Curfew in Ahmedabad extended till 6am on May 21; Night curfew to continue in 36 cities for another 3 days

Ahmedabad: IndiGo plane suffers tyre burst, makes emergency landing

India

pti-PTI

Ahmedabad, Sep 19: An IndiGo aircraft carrying 185 passengers made an emergency landing here Wednesday after suffering a tyre burst, according to an airport official. The flight 6E-361, operated with an A320 aircraft, was coming from Mumbai.

The plane landed safely at 1921 hours and all passengers are safe, Ahmedabad Airport Director Manoj Gangal said in a statement. However, an IndiGo spokesperson said there was no tyre burst and the aircraft did not make an emergency landing.

"After arrival at Ahmedabad, a tyre de-capping with full tyre pressure intact was observed. The aircraft has been towed to the parking bay. The wheel is being replaced and aircraft will be cleared for further flight," the spokesperson said in a statement.

The spokesperson also said that there were 177 passengers on board. Generally, de-capping of a tyre refers to peeling off of a tyre's outer layer. In his statement, the airport director said the IndiGo plane reported "tyre burst while taking off from Mumbai airport today evening". According to him, the pilot had requested emergency landing at Ahmedabad which was immediately approved by the ATC.

"Emergency procedures were initiated at Ahmedabad Airport. The aircraft was accorded full priority... Total 185 passengers were on board. All of them are safe. The aircraft is now parked at Ahmedabad airport for a detailed inspection," he said.

PTIBhima Koregaon: Give dog a bad name and hang him, counsel for activists tells SC

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Sep 19: The advocates appearing for the arrested activists in connection with the Bhima Koregaon case have sought the Supreme Court's intervention to monitor the investigations.

Appearing for the arrested activists, who include Varavara Rao among others, senior advocate, A M Singhvi said that the court must monitor the probe to assure the arrested activists as a confidence measure.

Singhvi went on to say that Rao is a renowned poet. He is 79 years old. His case is like give a dog a bad name and then hang him, Singhvi also pointed out.

Also Read | Bhima Koregaon: Centre says arrests justified, SC to examine evidence

He further said that the central theme is liberty. Article 21 of the Constitution is the main challenge. The charges have been foisted and in criminal law, the accused need natural justice the most.

He also said that there were calibrated and selective leaks to link the arrested activists with the Bhima-Koregaon conspiracy. We want an SIT probe into the matter, he also said while adding that this episode was done to create prejudice.

The Bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra also examined the material that the Pune police had seized before the arrest of Varavara Rao, Vernon Gonsalves, Arun Ferreira, Sudha Bharadwaj and Gautam Navlakha.

Also Read | Link denied, but the naxals have now openly supported their urban buddies

Justice Chandrachud who is also on the Bench said that liberty on the basis of conjectures cannot be sacrificed. He said that under Article 32, the court has to look at things with a hawk's eye.

Additional Solicitor General, Tushar Mehta appearing for Maharashtra submitted the evidence seized and showed the court a notification banning the CPI (Maoist)

The court would resume hearing on the matter tomorrow. The activists would continue to remain under house arrest.BJP leaders say, they are committed to reservation for Jats in UP under OBC

India

oi-Vinod Kumar Shukla

New Delhi, Sep 19: In view of 2019 Lok Sabha elections approaching very fast, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Uttar Pradesh has come up with the idea of favouring reservation to Jat community under Other Backward Classes (OBC). The government is making commitment to take all possible steps to facilitate reservations to Jats.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Aadityanath too is supporting reservation for Jats. The state government is saying that it will strongly contest the case of Jat reservation in the Allahabad High Court that was filed at the behest of the Samajwadi Party government not to give reservations to Jats. The government wants OBC reservation to the Jat community. He also appealed to the community to vote for the BJP as it supported in 2014 and 2017 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections respectively.

Chandrashekhar-Madani meeting gives rise to possible Dalit-Muslim alliance in Uttar Pradesh

Deputy chief minister Keshav Prashad Maurya, who himself belong to OBC community, assured the Jat community that no injustice would be done to the community. The government will not allow to lodge any fake case under ST/ST Act and no one will be victimised under the SC/ST Act.

There is anger among the Jat community on many counts but two most important issues included reservation to them under OBC category and withdrawal of cases against the community by the government. Resentment is brewing in the community and its reflection was when BJP MP from Fatehpur Sikri constituency in Uttar Pradesh Choudhary Babu Lal has gone to the extent of saying not only the government but even the party leadership has not been true to the commitment made to the community. Neither the PM nor the party president have fulfilled their promises and over a year has past since the BJP government has taken over in the state.

Yes Advani will contest the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from Gandhinagar

Sources said that Jat community sided with the BJP with some hope but all their hope remained just hope and with the Rashtriya Lok Dal leader Jayant Choudhary intensifying his activity in the western Uttar Pradesh, the BJP seems little wary. So the party now wants to keep them with the BJP by such commitments.

Jat voters are decisive in the western Uttar Pradesh with their sizable clout and money power. No political party can ignore them in Western Uttar Pradesh.

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Story first published: Wednesday, September 19, 2018, 10:50 [IST]BJP solely responsible for Goa's political crisis: Sena

India

pti-PTI

Mumbai, Sep 19: The Shiv Sena on Wednesday accused the BJP, which had "insulted" the democracy by forming the government in Goa despite lacking majority, of being solely responsible for the current political situation in the state.

The Sena alleged that the BJP's ruling allies Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and Goa Forward Party (GFP) were trying to destabilise the government, as leaders of these parties were vying for the top post in the state.

Congress meet Goa Governor, demand floor test

"The health condition of Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has deteriorated. We wish him a speedy recovery... Parrikar is a popular leader in Goa and the news of his health has created anxiety among the people of the state," the Sena said in an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

"Some of his cabinet colleagues are also unwell. So it is as if the entire Goa cabinet is in the ICU. Goa has become a leaderless state and the administration is not able to function. All this has led to political instability, which is not good for the state," it added.

'High time' to transfer power: Alliance to Parrikar government

Today, a question of 'Who after Parrikar in Goa BJP?' is being asked, the Sena said adding, that Parrikar could have retired with dignity, but the BJP does not have a clean leader in Goa at present.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led party said the BJP had no clear mandate in the 2017 state assembly elections. "In the 40-member Assembly, the BJP won only 14 seats. Although the Congress and the NCP together won 17 seats, the delay in government formation on their part gave time to the BJP for horse-trading. The BJP sought support of MGP and GFP and formed the government."

The party said the biggest mistake of the BJP was to send back Parrikar, the then defence minister, to Goa to lead the state. "It should be noted that MGP and GFP had fought the state polls against the BJP. Now these are the same people who are destabilising the Goa government."

"MGP leader Dhavalikar and GFP's Sardesai want to become the CM. The Congress has also staked claim to form the government. But since the Raj Bhavan is in favour of BJP, the Congress may not benefit. But nobody can predict what will happen in Goa," the saffron party said.

When Parrikar was appointed as the defence minister, Laxmikant Parsekar was made the CM in his place. However, Parsekar lost the 2017 Assembly polls. Some other cabinet members also bit the dust. In such a scenario, cobbling up numbers to form a hotchpotch government was an insult of democracy, it said.

"Now there is chaos and political instability in the state. Had Parrikar been kept in Delhi and some other arrangement been made in Goa, then the BJP would not have faced today's political crisis. The BJP is solely responsible for this situation," the Sena added.

PTIThe Congress sweep in Himachal: I take responsibility for defeat says Jai Ram Thakur

By election: Results kindle hopes for Congress in string of Assembly polls next year

Congress delegation meet CAG on Rafale scam, demand early report on 'irregularities' in it

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Sep 19: ) A delegation of senior Congress leaders Wednesday met the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) on the Rafale fighter jet deal and asked the auditor to prepare a report on alleged irregularities in it.

The Congress delegation handed a memorandum to the CAG and said it expects the truth to prevail after the report on the Rafale deal is made public.

"We have given a detailed memorandum along with enclosures on the irregularities and acts of omission and commission by the Government in the fighter jet deal. We expect the CAG will prepare a report soon and present it before Parliament," senior Congress leader Anand Sharma told reporters after meeting the CAG.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala added that all evidence and facts relating to the Rafale deal have been submitted to the CAG.

The Rafale deal refers to the Modi government's multi-crore business agreement to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets from France's Dassault Aviation. It's been quite long time now that Congress president Rahul Gandhi has been alleging a scam in Rafale fighter jet deal, which has reportedly caused a loss of over Rs 41,000 crore to the exchequer.

According to the Congress, the BJP-led NDA government has paid a higher price for the aircraft than what was negotiated by the UPA.Tripura CM to keep cows at home to motivate cattle rearing in State

You are not labourer, why do you need holiday on May Day, Tripura CM asks govt employees

'I control police': Biplab Deb asks officers not to worry about contempt of court

Conspiracy by Myanmar drug peddlers to kill Biplab Deb: BJP Leader

India

oi-PTI

Agartala, Sep 19: Myanmar-based drug peddlers have issued a threat to the life of Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb as he has called for making the state narcotics and drug-free, the ruling BJP in Tripura has claimed.

BJP leader and former minister Ratan Chakraborty said on Tuesday that Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had received reports that drug peddlers in Myanmar had hatched a conspiracy to kill Deb.

"We have also got inputs from our party sources," Chakraborty said.

The drug peddlers in the region were unhappy with the chief minister as he had called for making the north-eastern state drug-free, he added.

"So, they have hatched a conspiracy to kill the chief minister," the BJP leader said.

When contacted, police officers refused to comment on the matter.

Chakraborty said the BJP workers were also asked to ensure that the chief minister's security cordon was not breached under any condition.

According to reports, over 50,000 kg cannabis have been seized, along with narcotic pills, heroin, brown sugar and other intoxicants, in the last six months in Tripura and over 120 people arrested in connection with these seizures.

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Story first published: Wednesday, September 19, 2018, 14:51 [IST]Drugged, thrown into canal by father in the name of honour killing in UP

Dishonour killing of Dalit engineer: Father of girl fixed contract murder at Re 1 crore

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Hyderabad, Sep 19: The police have unearthed shocking details during its probe into the killing of a Dalit engineer from Telangana. The police have arrested all the culprits, including the girls father and found that the person who carried out the killing is from Samastipur in Bihar.

The father of the girl Maruti Rao who strongly opposed the marriage made her believe all along that he was in favour of making things normal between the families.

Honour killing guillotines individual liberty: Supreme Court

Amruta Varshini, who is pregnant saw the murder of her husband. She told the police that it was shocking how her father planned and murdered her husband.

It was not for the first time that the Rao had planned an attack on Perumalla Pranay Kumar. He had made similar attempts in July and also in August. Kumar was killed on September 14.

The police say that Rao had since day one of the marriage planned on killing Kumar as he was a Schedule Caste. Investigations also revealed that his resolve became only stronger after his daughter got pregnant.

Karnataka: In case of suspected honour killing, parents poison their daughter, burn body in Mysuru

Rao, through his friend Abdul Karim contacted Asghar Ali and Mohammad Bari. The contract for the murder was fixed at Re 1 crore and an advance of Rs 15 lakh was paid for the same. Ali and Bari then got in touch with Subash Sharma of Bihar.

On September 14, Pranay was killed in front of the Jothi Nursing home in Miryalaguda at around 1.30 pm. While Sharma hacked Kumar, Bari and Ali supervised the killing.

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Story first published: Wednesday, September 19, 2018, 5:51 [IST]Executive order on Triple Talaq a compelling necessity: Ravi Shankar Prasad

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Sep 19: Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday said that there was a compelling necessity and an overpowering urgency to approve the Ordinance.

"I have said this before, the issue of triple talaq has nothing to do with faith, mode of worship or religion. It is a pure issue of gender justice, gender dignity and gender equality," he said.

Targeting the Congress for the delay in passing the Bill, Shankar said he approached the party five-six times, but it did not respond.

Triple Talaq a punishable offence now as govt takes ordinance route

"Such a barbaric inhuman, triple talaq curse was not allowed to be ended by a Parliamentary law because of ambiguity and vacillation of the Congress party for pure vote bank politics."

On the last day of the monsoon session, Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu had deferred the Bill till the Winter Session, citing the lack of "consensus" in the House. The Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha last December.

The triple talaq bill aims to 'set aside' the centuries-old practice of instant divorce or talaq-e-biddat by men. It provides for three years imprisonment and a fine for divorcing a woman by uttering "talaq" three times in quick succession. In August, the Cabinet approved inclusion of a provision to allow the magistrate to grant bail to men accused of giving instant triple talaq to their wives.

The amendments came after the Supreme Court on August 22 last year struck down the practice of triple talaq, calling it unconstitutional.

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Story first published: Wednesday, September 19, 2018, 13:24 [IST]Hinduness is a dynamic process, everyone in India is Hindu: Mohan Bhagwat

India

oi-Vikas SV

New Delhi, Sep 18: Explaining RSS' philosophy on the third day of his lecture series in Delhi, Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday said identity wise everyone in India is a Hindu.

Bhagwat was speaking on the third day of his lecture series in Delhi when he explained the RSS's views on Hinduism, education and caste.

"Anya matpanthon ke saath taalmel karne waali ekmatr vichardhara, ye Bharat ki vichardhara hai, Hindutva ki vichardhara hai...Bharat mein rehne waale sablog Hindu hi hain, pehchaan ki drishti se, rashtriyata ki drishti se (Indian or Hindutva ideology adjusts with other ideologies. Everyone living in India is a Hindu, in terms of identity, in terms of nationality," Bhagwat said.

"Hinduism is a wrong word--"ism" is a closed concept. Hindutva, Hinduness is not any "ism" but a dynamic process. Gandhi ji has said the endless search for truth is called Hindutva. S Radhakrishnan has said Hindutva is a continous process," he added.

He also spoke on the contentious issue of cow vigilantism and said strict action must be taken against those indulging in violence in the name of cow.

"Why only over issue of cows, to take law into hands over any issue is wrong and a crime. Strict action should be taken. But cow is a matter of devotion. Gauraksha to honi chahiye. Samvidhan ka bhi margdarshak tatva hai to uska paalan karna chahiye," he added.

Many people are working on as to how the use of cows can be brought into everyday life & used in all houses using technology. They talk about protection of cows, they are not involved in mob lynching. They work for the betterment of society: RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat pic.twitter.com/RwSq5CZZF1  ANI (@ANI) September 19, 2018

Bhagwat also said conversion by illegal and unfair means was wrong. Responding to a range of questions on the last day of the three-day outreach conclave, he said the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh does not accept Article 370 and 35-A of the Constitution which give special status to Jammu and Kashmir. He pitched for greater development of the state, saying it was essential to bring its people into the mainstream.

Responding to a question, Bhagwat said there is no anger against Hindutva and its acceptance is increasing across the world To a query on women safety and rising incidents of rape, he said we have to create an environment where women feel safe and secure.

Men, he said, have to learn to respect women. He also said the LGBTQ community should not be isolated as they are part of society. But at the same time, gay rights is not the only pressing issue which should be debated. Times are changing and society has to take a call on such issues, Bhagwat said.Honey trapped by ISI, BSF jawan arrested for spying

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Sep 19: The anti terrorist squad of the Uttar Pradesh police have arrested a BSF jawan on charges of spying for the ISI, Pakistan. The constable Achyutanand Mishra was posted at the BSF Composite hospital in Delhi.

The jawan is alleged to have been honey trapped by the Pakistan's ISI over Facebook, ATS chief, O P Singh confirmed.

Pakistan troops slit BSF jawan's throat; high alert sounded along border

He was arrested from Noida near Delhi on Wednesday. Investigations have shown that he was in touch through a Facebook ID allegedly of a lady, who had posed as a defence reporter. Investigations learnt that he had been in touch since January 2016.

Officials say that they are ascertaining the kind of details he may have shared through the social networking site. Further his mobiles, emails and other modes of communication are also under the scanner to ascertain the information that he may have shared.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

If not for Rajasthan we would have had a dhulmul sarkar, says Amit Shah

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Jaipur, Sep 19: Taking a jibe at Rahul Gandhi, BJP chief Amit Shah said it was doubtful whether the Congress leader knows about Rabi and Kharif crops and alleged the opposition party cannot protect farmers' interest.

Addressing farmers at a function in Nagaur district of poll-bound Rajasthan, Shah also said the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi do not give slogans merely for elections and they know how to make them a reality.

Congress not just wants your vote, but your note as well: Find out why

He lauded Rajasthan for playing an important role in formation of the Modi government at the Centre with a huge majority. The BJP won all 25 Lok Sabha seats from the state in the 2014 general elections.

Hailing the Rajasthan voters for giving a full majority to the BJP, Shah said there could have been a "dhulmul sarkar" (weak government) if Rajasthan had not given such a verdict.

The BJP president alleged the Congress can neither protect the country nor its farmers as it has failed to implement the slogan of 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan'.

Asking farmers to vote for the BJP, Shah said the BJP governments in the state and at the Centre have worked hard for the agriculture sector and were committed to meet the target of doubling farmers' income by 2022.

He said the Modi government has worked for farmers ever since it came to power and has taken many decisions, including launch of soil health card, increase of minimum support price for Rabi and Kharif crops, lowering area covered for calculating compensation of damage to crops from 50 to 33 per cent, and neem-coating of urea.

"To stand with farmers is the nature of the BJP. The BJP government is dedicated to farmers and has worked for them. We want to double farmers' income by 2022 when the country completes 75 years of independence. Only BJP can do this," he said.

Targeting Gandhi, he said that it was doubtful that the Congress leader knows when Rabi crops or Kharif crops are grown, referring to the two main crop seasons in the country based on the monsoon.

Shah has been touring different places in Rajasthan where assembly elections are scheduled to take place later this year.

Elections in four states may get delayed as preparation still underway

Referring to the forthcoming elections, Shah said the Congress would contest the state polls in Sachin Pilot's leadership and asked farmers whether the Congress leader or anyone else can do any good for them.

The BJP president said the Modi government has spent more budget on agriculture sector as compared to the former UPA government and the growth rate in agriculture sector in BJP-ruled states was high than that of the Congress-rule states.

Shah also targeted the Congress over the issue of national security, saying when soldiers were beheaded on borders, the then PM Manmohan Singh was mute but Prime Minister Narendra Modi replied with a 'surgical strike' when Uri attack in Jammu & Kashmir happened during his rule.

Union minister C R Chaudhary, state transport minister Yunus Khan and other BJP leaders were also present in the meeting.Kerala nun rape case: Bishop Mulakkal appears before SIT for questioning

India

oi-Deepika S

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 19: Bishop Franco Mulakkal, accused of raping a nun, appeared for questioning before the special investigation team of the Kerala police in Thrippunithura on Wednesday.

Ernakulam range IG Vijay Sakhare reviewed the progress in the probe with Kottayam district police chief Hari Sankar and investigation officer Subhash, who is also deputy superintendent of police of Vaikom in Kottayam before commencing the interrogation Wednesday morning.

Mulakkal filed an anticipatory bail petition in the Kerala High Court. He claimed the allegations levelled against him were "wholly concocted and cooked up only to wreak vengeance for the actions taken by him on various complaints received against her", PTI reported.

The 54-year-old bishop claimed that the allegations levelled by the nun, serving in a congregation under the Jalandhar Diocese, is "wholly concocted and cooked up only to wreak vengeance" for the actions taken by him on various complaints received against her.

The case

A nun belonging to the Catholic congregation of Missionaries of Jesus in Jalandhar filed a police complaint against Bishop Franco Mulakkal in June alleging that he raped and subjected her to unnatural sex 13 times since 2014 at a convent in Kuravilangad.

Also Read | Kerala Nun Rape Case: HC to consider Franco Mulakkal's anticipatory bail plea on Sept 25

Accusing the bishop of sending lewd messages and obscene pictures over the phone, the nun said she had also informed Cardinal George Alancherry, the head of the Kochi-based Syro-Malabar Church about the alleged abuse.

Alencherry has claimed that the nun had talked about the "torture" at the congregation, but did not mention sexual abuse. As the Church took no action, the nun approached the police.The Congress sweep in Himachal: I take responsibility for defeat says Jai Ram Thakur

By election: Results kindle hopes for Congress in string of Assembly polls next year

Kharge once again declines to attend Lokpal Selection Committee meetings

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar P

New Delhi, Sep 19: Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge once again declined invitation over meeting of Lokpal Selection Committee to be held on 19 September.

Kharge writes, 'Once again forced to respectfully decline invitation until Leader of single largest opposition party is conferred status of full-fledged member to reflect spirit of Lokpal Act, 2013'.

On the day the Lokpal Selection Committee was due to meet, Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, said he will boycott the meetings until he is conferred the status of a full-fledged member as per the Lokpal Act.

Also Read | Kharge calls Modi an "executor" of the Sangh's agenda

In his letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in July, Kharge had expressed his displeasure at being invited to the panel meetings as a "special invitee". It is disappointing that previous letters raising the issue had gone unnoticed, he said.

Also Read | 'There is no question of Rahul attending RSS event', says Mallikarjun Kharge

"The government insists on continuing to invite me as a special invitee to the selection committee meeting despite being aware of the fact that there is no such provision under section 4 of the Lokpal Act," he said.Amit Shah credits Modi for UN move on Azhar, Cong 'disappointed' at no mention of Pulwama

Rahul Gandhi has not said a word': Surjewala on 'collusion with BJP' remark

Khattar flayed over stamp duty hike

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Chandigarh, Sep 19: Senior Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala has demanded immediate withdrawal of "steep hike" in 65 types of stamp duty services in Haryana.

He said recently "massive hike" has been effected in agreement deed, power of attorney and partnership deed.

"By effecting massive hike in the stamp duty rates for 65 types of deeds, the Khattar government has tried to break the backbone of the common people who are already reeling under the everyday increasing prices of essential commodities," Surjewala said.

This, the MLA from Kaithal claimed, was due to fallacious policies of the BJP governments at the state and the Centre.

Govt may eliminate taxman's discretion, lower stamp duty

Notably, the Indian Stamp (Haryana Amendment) Bill, 2018 was passed by the state Assembly recently to revise the rates of stamp duty of small denominations fixed since 1967.

Surjewala said the Khattar government has imposed a massive 267 per cent increase in partnership deed stamp duty while increasing it from Rs 3.75 to Rs 1,000 and 889 per cent increase in stamp duty for agreement deeds by increasing it from Rs 2.25 to Rs 2,000.

"Similarly, the stamp duty for power of attorney has been increased by 333 per cent by increasing this duty from Rs 300 to Rs 1,000. For power of attorney, a person will now have to shell out Rs 100 instead of Rs 37.50," he pointed out.

Surjewala said earlier one had to purchase Rs 15 stamp paper for executing various types of agreements, which has now been increased to Rs 100 by the state government.

"Agreement deed fee has also been increased from Rs 15 to Rs 100. In this manner, an increase in stamp duty up to Rs 1997.75 has been made for executing various types of agreement and stamp duty related services," he claimed.

Surjewala said that fee for obtaining arms license has been increased from Rs 60 to Rs 1,500 for each weapon.

"These anti-people decisions are the clear proof that this regime has always been on the lookout to devise ways to snatch money from the pocket of the common man," he said.

"While on the one side, the people of the state were already suffering immensely on account of steep price rise and now the people would be forced to pay hefty fee for executing various deeds entailing stamp duty," Surjewala added.

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Story first published: Wednesday, September 19, 2018, 6:11 [IST]MoD's nod to procure more Aakash missiles: How will it boost capability of armed forces?

India

oi-Vikas SV

New Delhi, Sep 18: The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) on Tuesday gave approval for the procurement of two additional regiments of the Akash missile, which is a medium-range surface-to-air missile defense system.

Akash missiles are designed to be launched from static or mobile platforms such as battle tanks and wheeled trucks, providing flexible deployment. It can handle multiple targets and destroy manoeuvring targets, including unmanned aerial vehicles, fighter aircraft, cruise missiles and missiles launched from helicopters. Deployment of Aakash significantly improves defence capabilities from incoming air attacks.

Akash missile system is an indigenously developed supersonic short-range surface-to-air missile system with the capability to engage a wide variety of aerial threats like aircraft, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles up to a maximum range of 25 km and up to an altitude of 20 km.

This approval is for the procurement of an upgraded version of Aakash missiles which are much more sleeker and accurate compared to previous versions already in operation.

Each Akash battery includes four 3D passive electronically scanned array (PESA) radars and four self-propelled launchers with three missiles each, all of which are interconnected. It also has battery level radar known as Rajendra, as well as a battery control centre. It can track and attack multiple targets concurrently.

The Akash SAM system was produced by Bharat Electronics (BEL). Bharat Dynamics (BDL) serves as nodal agency for Akash SAM production for the army.

Radar system that guides Aakash:

The missile is guided by a phased array fire control radar called 'Rajendra' which is termed as Battery Level Radar (BLR) with a tracking range of about 60 km. The tracking and missile guidance radar configuration consists of a slewable phased array antenna of more than 4000 elements, spectrally pure TWT transmitter, two stage superhetrodyne correlation receiver for three channels, high speed digital signal processor, real time management computer and a powerful radar data processor.

Propulsion:

The Akash is powered by Ramjet-rocket propulsion system which renders thrust for the missile to intercept the target at supersonic speed without any retardation. The engine is 'on' throughout the flight. The thrust is on till the missile intercepts the target. Most other surface-to-air missiles, including the U.S. Patriot and the Russian S-300 series, use solid-fuel rocket propulsion.

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Story first published: Wednesday, September 19, 2018, 5:00 [IST]Lawyer without brief is like Tendulkar without his bat on cricket ground: SC

Not obligated to conduct elections as per Congresss instructions says EC in Supreme Court

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Sep 19: The Election Commission of India has told the Supreme Court that it is not obliged to conduct elections in the country in a manner desired by the Congress or its leaders.

While opposing a petition filed by Congress leader, Kamal Nath, the EC said it is a constitutional body which has to function according to the rules and laws and not in tandem with the instructions of a political party.

The petitioner does not have the jurisdiction to question the measures taken by the EC. The affidavit filed by the ECI states, "it is not within the jurisdiction or domain of the petitioner and/or his party/organization to question the measures taken by the Election Commission of India with regard to the aforementioned issues."

It stated that Kamal Nath and "the political party to which he stands affiliated" cannot approach the Supreme Court time and again so as to re-agitate the same issue and interfere in the functioning of a Constitutional authority such as the Election Commission.

The EC also said, "Kamal Nath and his party "cannot seek to instruct or direct the Election Commission of India to conduct elections (including implementation of VVPAT) in a particular manner."

The petition is misconceived and malafide as he is seeking to instruct EC to conduct elections according to his personal whims and fancies and that of the political party to which he stands affiliated.

Also Read | SC to hear Kamal Nath's plea for random verification of VVPAT machines in MP polls

"EC cannot be compelled to accept all suggestions made by the Petitioner and the political party/organization to which he is affiliated," said the affidavit, requesting the court to dismiss the petition along with a monetary penalty."

"The apprehension of the petitioner about mass shortage is wholly misplaced, unjustified and unwarranted... allegation that VVPAT machines malfunction by casting votes in favour of one particular party is utterly false and fictitious, and is strenuously denied," the affidavit also stated.

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Story first published: Wednesday, September 19, 2018, 10:03 [IST]AgustaWestland: After saying witness may have died, ED cites a little birdie to say he is alive

Not received any communication regarding Christian Michel's extradition from UAE: CBI

India

oi-Vikas SV

New Delhi, Sep 19: Amid reports that a Dubai court has ordered the extradition of AgustaWestland scam middleman Christian Michel to India, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday (September 19) said it has not received any communication from UAE authorities regarding this matter.

"CBI has not received any communication yet regarding Christian Michel extradition from UAE authorities," news agency quoted a CBI spokesperson as saying.

Michel was arrested in the UAE last year and was out on bail. He is wanted in India for allegedly organising bribes in exchange for a contract for VVIP helicopters.

The CBI has been probing to find out who in India had received kickbacks to facilitate the deal.

[AgustaWestland: Middleman Michel missing as MEA awaits official order on extradition]

Hours after a court ordered his extradition, James Christian Michel had reportedly gone missing. According to his lawyer, Amal Alsubei, he could not be found since the order of extradition was delivered.

Michel's primary job was to give feedback on the media activities relating to the AgustaWestland deal. CBI sources say that his meeting with several media persons has been under the scanner. Michel was a middleman hired by AgustaWestland. His main job was to keep an eye on the media in India and report the narrative regarding the deal to AgustaWestland.

[AgustaWestland: To be extradited, Michel was media fix it guy in India]

Christian Michel was arrested in February 2017 by the UAE authorities. The Indian investigative agencies had been pushing UAE for extradition eversince.

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Story first published: Wednesday, September 19, 2018, 18:04 [IST]'You appeared for accused': Sidhu lambasts Punjab AG, accuses him of subverting justice

Navjot Singh Sidhu has his way, Punjab Cabinet accepts resignation of top govt lawyer

Pakistan embarrasses Navjot Singh Sidhu over Kartarpur corridor, says 'No official talks with India'

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Sep 19: In what could be a big embarrassment for Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, the Imran Khan government on Wednesday said that there was no official word with India on the opening of the Kartarpur Sahib corridor for Sikh pilgrims.

The confirmation was given by Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Faisal during his weekly press briefing in Islamabad.

On Monday, Sidhu met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and urged her to help initiate dialogue with Pakistan on the opening up of the Kartarpur Sahib corridor.

After returning from Imran Khan's swearing-in ceremony, where Sidhu hugged Pakistan's Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa, Sidhu had claimed that the latter had promised him to open the corridor to the shrine before the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak.

However, Union Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal had on Tuesday said that there was no substance in Sidhu's claims.

Sidhu described the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara as Sikhs' "own Mecca" and added that it's Centre's responsibility to make a formal request for opening the Kartarpur Sahib corridor.The team from Charity Navigator, the nation's largest independent charity evaluator and leading donor advocate, shares their thoughts on emerging nonprofit-sector issues and offers tips to better inform your intelligent giving decisions.

Return to Main Site | Find a Charity | Receive Email Updates | Support Charity NavigatorGehlot mentioned PMs dialogue with beneficiaries of welfare sch-emes of Central and state government.

Jaipur: A day after targeting IAS officer Tanmay Kumar who is secretary to chief minister Vasundhara Raje, accusing him of working as de facto chief minister, AICC general secretary and former chief minister Ashok Gehlot has now written a letter to chief secretary D.B. Gupta issuing a veiled threat to perform his duties objectively or he may have to face consequences as his predecessor C.K. Mathew.

Mr Gehlots letter was primarily intended to ask the chief secretary to stop misuse of government funds and machinery in Ms Rajes political programmes. Reminding him about high courts order restricting the government from organising any programme en route chief ministers Gaurav Yatra, Mr Gehlot said, I am drawing your attention towards misuse of government money and machinery by the BJP government for political goals. Despite the high courts order no order has been issued to stop government expenditure. The methods used to win elections are deplorable.

Mr Gehlot mentioned PMs dialogue with beneficiaries of welfare sch-emes of Central and state government. A public meeting of the BJP in the presence of governor was organised in the garb of government programme. Government machinery was misused and orders issued in this regard are questionable, he said.

Referring to similar programmes of SC/ST empl-oyees, sanitation workers and teachers organised by Ms Raje, Mr Gehlot asked the CS to stop the proposed programme of recently promoted police constable.

I request you to stop misuse of public money and government machinery in political progra-mmes. You must be aware that then chief secretary during the Congress government had to go on leave when Ms Raje the then BJP state president had accused him of taking the governments side bec-ause he was monitoring National Food Security Act, Mr Gehlot reminded state chief secretary Mr Gupta.Parliamentarians have failed Muslim women badly on triple talaq, Zakia Soman

India

oi-Vinod Kumar Shukla

New Delhi, Sep 19: On failing to get the triple talaq bill passed in Parliament, the Modi government has taken the route of Ordinance on the issue again. Muslim women as such are not happy with the state of affairs on this matter and the way bill was stalled in the Rajya Sabha.

But women activists are happy and sad both. They are happy that at least the government is concerned and sad because they will have to wait for some more time to get this law passed and uncertainty still prevails. Zakia Soman of Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Aandolan told One India, "There are two things very clear; one there is no doubt about it that we badly need law on triple talaq. In fact this law should have come much earlier that is in 1950 when Parliament was passing other laws including Hindu Marriage Act and many other Laws. Second is that all political parties should have collaborated to bring about a consensus on this issue. The law should have been passed unanimously from the both the houses of Parliament. Moreover, that would have been the shining example of Indian democracy.

Triple Talaq a punishable offence now as govt takes ordinance route

Soman said, "Unfortunately that does not look possible now. Actually it is the constitutional mandate of Indian parliamentarians to enable India citizens to get justice. If I say Parliamentarians have failed Muslim women, there is nothing wrong." Ordinance means another question mark and lots of uncertainty because if the Rajya Sabha does not deliberate upon it and does not pass it then it is not a law in its real sense. Ordinance is not a law. Lots of work still remains. It will help Muslim women only till the duration of ordinance.

Another Muslim women right activist who is working against triple talaq and Nikah-Halal in Uttar Pradesh Amber Zaidi said, "There is a need to bring tough and effective law on triple talaq obviously this is in no way a permanent solution to the problem. But at least the government has cleared the doubt among minds of people that was being raised on the very intent of the government on this issue."

What is triple talaq: A brief explainer

She said that the government has made it it clear with this ordinance that they are serious about it. But there is a need for a better solution on triple talaq. The law is necessary for the empowerment and betterment of Muslim women. This is state's responsibility to provide justice to Muslim women. The attempt to politicize the mater is very sad and this was the reason that this law was installed. The bill was not allowed to get passed so the government was forced come out with it but its permanent solution is law on triple talaq.

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Story first published: Wednesday, September 19, 2018, 16:24 [IST]Dalit man in Kerala beaten up by wife's brother allegedly for not converting to Christianity

Pranay murder: Dalit Christians' petition for Schedule Caste status lingers in SC

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar P

Bengaluru, Sep 19: The brutal murder of Pranay in Telangana and Kevin P Joseph in Kottayam district brings to the fore vulnerability of Dalit Christians in India. Pranay was brutally hacked by alleged contract killers hired by his father-in-law in Hyderabad and Kevin P Joseph was allegedly killed by his wife's family members in July this year.

The Dalit Christians are not covered under the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, an Act of the Parliament of India enacted to prevent atrocities against scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.

In fact, the third paragraph of the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order 1950, popularly known as the Presidential Order, stipulates that "no person who professes a religion different from Hinduism shall be deemed to be a member of Scheduled Caste." Later, it was amended to include the Sikhs (1956) and Buddhists (1990) in the Scheduled Caste list.

Also Read | Dishonour killing of Dalit engineer: Father of girl fixed contract murder at Re 1 crore

A writ petition demanding Scheduled Caste status for Dalit Christian was filed On 23 March 2004 in the Supreme Court by Prashant Bhushan's Center for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) against Union of India. Supreme Court Advocate Franklyn Caesar Thomas, Dalit Christian from Tamil Nadu, is a co-petitioner.

Advocate Franklyn Caesar Thomas, says, "We are affected by the practice of untouchability in the Christian community. It's been 14 years since we filed the case. As on date, the Union of India has not filed their response."

The petitioner said Ranganath Misra Commission (Report of the National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities) recommended Scheduled Caste status for Dalit Christians.

The report says: "One of the reasons why the Scheduled Castes converts to Christians and Islam have been struggling to label themselves as Scheduled Castes is basically to seek protection under the special protective laws such as the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 and protect themselves from the innumerable forms of indignities and atrocities inflicted upon them."

Franklyn Caesar Thomas, said, "We formally asked the National Commission for Minorities and for National Commission Scheduled Castes (NCSC) as respondents along with Union of India. But the NCSC did not file its response come to the apex court. The UPA did not resolve and likewise, NDA is also lingering on the issue without filing the response."

"On February 2015, the matter was referred to the larger Bench which consists of 5-7 judges. On that day the matter was not listed. Since 2015, the matter is pending before the Supreme Court and we are waiting for the hearing," said advocate Franklyn.

Franklyn further said that law doesn't treat us as Dalit/Schedule Caste people and even in Christianity, we face discrimination. However, Scheduled Tribes do not face the problem.Prime Minister and Afghanistan President assessed progress of strategic partnership

India

oi-Vinod Kumar Shukla

New Delhi, Sep 19: In the wake of strained relations with Pakistan, Afghanistan has proved to be a dependable ally of India. President of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Mohammad Ashraf Ghani is visiting India on the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Afghanistan president has met the Prime Minister to take the cooperation between the two countries further.

Sources said that both the leaders have assessed the progress of India-Afghanistan strategic partnership. They expressed satisfaction at the increase in bilateral trade that has crossed $1 billion mark. The two leaders also appreciated the successful conclusion of the India-Afghanistan trade and investment show in Mumbai from September 12-15, 2018 and expressed determination to strengthen connectivity, including through Chabahar port and Air-Freight Corridor.

Pakistani Army Chief Gen. Bajwa in Kabul for official talk with Afghan Pres Ashraf Ghani

It was agreed to deepen the New Development Partnership in the areas of high impact projects in this field of infrastructure, human resources development and other capacity building projects in Afghanistan. President Ghani briefed the Prime Minister on initiatives by Afghanistan government towards peace and reconciliation and also in confronting the challenges of terrorism and extremism imposed on Afghanistan and its people.

Prime Minister Modi reiterated country's support to an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled peace and reconciliation process that would enable Afghanistan to continue as a united, peaceful, inclusive and democratic nation and emerge as an economically vibrant country. The Prime Minister emphasized India's unwavering commitment to support the efforts of the Government of Afghanistan to this end, as also for the security and sovereignty of Afghanistan.

Pakistan PM Abbasi holds talks with Afghan President Ghani; 'no breakthrough', says Pak media

The PM unequivocally condemned terrorist attacks and violence in Afghanistan which have caused immense loss of precious human lives and expressed solidarity with the people and national defence forces of Afghanistan in their fight against terrorism. "While expressing satisfaction at the coordination and consultation on activities at various international fora, the two sides agreed to strengthen this cooperation and also to work even more closely with their regional and international partners for prosperity, peace, stability and progress," said sources.IMD issues yellow alert for thunderstorms, lightning for parts of Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh: Child among 2 injured after speeding car rams into Durga procession

Madhya Pradesh to hold quiz on Ramayana: Check what winners will get

Bhopal hospital fire: 4 infants killed even before parents could name them

Shivraj Singh Chouhans convoy pelted with stones again

India

oi-Deepika S

Bhopal, Sep 19: Stones were pelted at Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's vehicle during his Jan Ashirwad Yatra in Ratlam district on Tuesday, just a fortnight after a similar attack in Sidhi.

The incident took place on the Mahidpur-Jaora road, an hour before Chouhan's convoy was to pass along the same route, a police official said.

Taking guard, the police personnel used force and fired tear gas shells to disperse the men and subsequently cleared the route for the CM's JAY motorcade.

Also Read | "Congress is after my blood", says CM Chouhan after his vehicle was attacked

"Some people hiding in the darkness attacked police vehicles. Three vehicles were damaged...some police personnel were also injured," said Taal Police Station's in-charge Vinod Baghel.

Incidentally, the chief minister on Tuesday faced protests from anti-SC, ST Act demonstrators at Satna in MP when he was addressing a convention of other backward class (OBC) communities.

Police resorted to baton charge to disperse them, leading to injuries to several protesters. Chouhan later lamented that Congress was targeting him because he hailed form backward class.

Chouhan is on a state-wide tour ahead of the coming Assembly elections.

Congress condemns attack

State Congress president Kamal Nath on Tuesday condemned the attack, but also said it showed people's anger.

"We condemn the incident. This is people's anger against the BJP rule. The government has not fulfilled its promises. Youths are not getting jobs," Nath told reporters here.

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Story first published: Wednesday, September 19, 2018, 9:40 [IST]Telangana elections: Finalise candidate list, let us go to court on voterss list says Rahul Gandhi

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Hyderabad, Sep 19: With the race to the Telangana assembly hotting up, the Congress president, Rahul Gandhi has directed the state unit to finalise the names of candidates.

The names should be finalised to complete the process of seat adjustments among the grand alliance, he also said. While returning from Kurnool, Rahul Gandhi met with the Telangana Congress leaders at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport.

Telangana elections: Will the promise made to 'Sonia Amma' in 2014 be fulfilled in 2018?

During the meeting, he said that the seat adjustment should be completed at the earliest. He also urged them to ensure that no losses are suffered by the Congress. There should be no compromise on winning, he also said.

Rahul Gandhi said that even after making Telangana a separate state in 2014, the party failed to win the elections This was because there was no proper promotion, he added. He also blamed the groups within the party for the electoral defeat.

Telangana elections: TRS will win 95 out 119 says this survey

Further on the discrepancies in the voters' list, Rahul Gandhi felt the need to enter into a legal battle to correct it. The Congress has alleged that there were at least 70 lakh discrepancies in the list. He along with Congress leader Oommen Chandy urged the party leaders to expose the TRS on the issue.

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Story first published: Wednesday, September 19, 2018, 10:21 [IST]Drugged, thrown into canal by father in the name of honour killing in UP

Telangana honour killing: Inspired by movie Drushyam, how father tried to create an alibi

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Hyderabad, Sep 19: Maruti Rao, the main accused in the honour killing case and father of the girl had thought he would get away with the horrific crime. The police which arrested all the accused in the case said that the father tried to create an alibi on the lines of the movie Drushyam.

According to Nalgonda superintendent of police, A Ranganath, Rao had tried to create an alibi and also pose as an innocent man, like was done in the movie Drushyam which starred Venkatesh.

Pranay murder: Dalit Christians' petition for Schedule Caste status lingers in SC

On September 14, the day of the murder, he went to the joint collector's office in Nalgonda. He did so two hours before the murder. Out there he met with officials and tried to establish, he was not present at the crime scene. The police also said that he shared no details with any of his family members including his wife.

Meanwhile the police have unearthed shocking details during its probe into the killing of a Dalit engineer from Telangana. The police have arrested all the culprits, including the girls father and found that the person who carried out the killing is from Samastipur in Bihar.

The father of the girl Maruti Rao who strongly opposed the marriage made her believe all along that he was in favour of making things normal between the families.

Amruta Varshini, who is pregnant saw the murder of her husband. She told the police that it was shocking how her father planned and murdered her husband.

It was not for the first time that the Rao had planned an attack on Perumalla Pranay Kumar. He had made similar attempts in July and also in August. Kumar was killed on September 14.

Dishonour killing of Dalit engineer: Father of girl fixed contract murder at Re 1 crore

The police say that Rao had since day one of the marriage planned on killing Kumar as he was a Schedule Caste. Investigations also revealed that his resolve became only stronger after his daughter got pregnant.

Rao, through his friend Abdul Karim contacted Asghar Ali and Mohammad Bari. The contract for the murder was fixed at Re 1 crore and an advance of Rs 15 lakh was paid for the same. Ali and Bari then got in touch with Subash Sharma of Bihar.

On September 14, Pranay was killed in front of the Jothi Nursing home in Miryalaguda at around 1.30 pm. While Sharma hacked Kumar, Bari and Ali supervised the killing.

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Story first published: Wednesday, September 19, 2018, 16:13 [IST]Is it the end of democracy: Mamata pens poem expressing concern over Delhi violence

To mock Mamatas foreign trip, BJP and Congress speak in one voice

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Kolkata, Sep 19: The opposition Congress and BJP Tuesday mocked West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over her foreign visits seeking investments and said the state government should publish a white paper on the amount of investments that the state has received in last few years.

Stating that she was invited by industrialists, businessmen and the governments of the two European countries, Banerjee on Sunday left for a 12-day trip to Germany and Italy to attract investments to the state.

On cancellation of Chicago trip Mamata smells a deep-rooted conspiracy

"Earlier also she has visited several foreign countries but not a single rupee has come to the state. Every year the state government organises Global Bengal Business Summit but we don't know its result," state Congress president Adhir Chowdhury said.

The state government should publish a white paper on the amount of investment the state has received in the last seven years after the Trinamool Congress came to power, Chowdhury said.

"We too want investments and industry for the state but we don't want to be fooled by the state government. The chief minister has turned those foreign trips into her annual European holiday programme," he said.

BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha also echoed the views of Chowdhury and said instead of undertaking foreign trips, she should concentrate on good governance.

Mamata blames PWD for Majerhat Bridge collapse

"When markets are burning and bridges are collapsing due to lack of maintenance, our chief minister is roaming around in a foreign nation enjoying holiday in the name of seeking investments. She should stop such theatrics. People of this state can no longer be fooled," he said.

TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee dubbed the allegations as baseless and said the opposition should refrain from scoring political brownie points when the chief minister is out in a foreign country.

"Such comments no only demean for our chief minister but also demean our country's prestige at the international level," Chatterjee said.

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Story first published: Wednesday, September 19, 2018, 6:57 [IST]Triple Talaq a punishable offence now as govt takes ordinance route

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Sep 19: In a major victory for the Muslim women, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved an ordinance making triple talaq a punishable offence. It will now be sent to the President for his assent. Once it gets the President's approval, the ordinance will come into effect.

The triple talaq bill aims to 'set aside' the centuries-old practice of instant divorce or talaq-e-biddat by men. It provides for three years imprisonment and a fine for divorcing a woman by uttering "talaq" three times in quick succession.

What is triple talaq: A brief explainer" title=" What is triple talaq: A brief explainer" /> What is triple talaq: A brief explainer

On August 9, the Union Cabinet had approved three amendments to the 'Muslim Women Protection of Rights on Marriage Bill' which has been cleared by Lok Sabha and pending approval of Rajya Sabha.

The triple talaq bill pushed by the Government had met with a stiff resistance in the Rajya Sabha where it was opposed by several Opposition lawmakers.

In view of the growing Opposition to the proposed legislation, the Centre had even sought the opinion of all state governments on the subject, and, most of them had supported it.

The Supreme Court had in a verdict in August last year declared instant triple talaq illegal and unconstitutional.Why is Congress unhappy when country's stature is being raised globally: BJP

Why is Congress unhappy when Trumps visit will raise countrys stature globally

'We have proof of hawala network that helped in transfer of money from Karnataka to AICC': BJP

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Sep 19: Bharatiya Janata Party National Spokesperson Sambit Patra on Wednesday accused Congress of running a "Black money-Hawala" racket.

Lashing out at opposition, BJP leader Sambit Patra said,''We have proof of a Hawala network that help the transfer of money from Karnataka to AICC. We also have statements of DK Shivkumar's driver who told I-T Dept about how money weighed in kilos were sent to AICC.''

He also claimed that BJP has statements of DK Shivkumar's driver who told I-T Dept about how money weighed in kilos were sent to AICC.

''There are people within the KPCC, who have confessed to I-T Dept about the modus operandi of Congress for transfer of money by DK Shivakumar,'' he said.

A money laundering case was filed against Karnataka minister of irrigation and medical education after Rs 8 crore were seized from a Delhi apartment.

As per the complaint filed against the minister, his aides used to keep Shivakumar's black money in a Delhi apartment. This comes after Enforcement Directorate seized over Rs 8 crore from a house in the national capital.

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Story first published: Wednesday, September 19, 2018, 14:11 [IST]Muslims not in danger, people cant be differentiated on how they worship: Mohan Bhagwat

When Mohan Bhagwat's remarks left BJP irked

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Sep 19: In a rare gesture, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Monday acknowledged Congress' contribution to India's independence and said its ideology placed the nation on the path to freedom. However, this is not the first time that Bhagwat has made comments much to the dislike of the BJP.

Ever since the Modi government came to power in 2014, the RSS chief has been attacking the BJP government. But his three-day lecture series in Delhi are strident message for Amit Shah and Narendra Modi, with whom Bhagwat has an uneasy equation.

Bhagwat praises Congress for role in freedom struggle

In his nearly 80-minute long speech on the first day of a three-day conclave, Bhagwat acknowledged the role played by the Congress in India's independence.

RSS never asks its volunteers to work for a particular party: Mohan Bhagwat

Bhagwat's speech another high-profile public appearance after his address at the World Hindu Congress in Chicago come at a time when the organisation has been attacked by Congress chief Rahul Gandhi who compared it to the Muslim Brotherhood.

"In the form of the Congress, a huge freedom movement fledged in the nation. It too gave birth to a number of all-sacrificing great personalities who continue to inspire us today. That movement managed to inspire ordinary people to join the freedom struggle. It had a huge hand in us achieving Independence," Bhagwat said.

"Congress played a big role in freedom movement and gave India many great personalities," he added.

'Not concerned with who will be in power'

Bhagwat said that the organisation, considered as the ruling BJP's ideological mentor, is not concerned by who will be in power.

RSS is still being misunderstood, says Mohan Bhagwat

"Who will be in power, what policy the country will accept is something to be decided by the society and people. There are mechanisms in place for that... We are not concerned about that, what we are concerned about is the conduct of the society," he said, adding that the Sangh does not believe in publicising an individual's work and wants to remain faceless.

Bhagwat slams Dining With Dalits Outreach

In May, Bhagwat had criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party's outreach programme of dining with Dalit families.

"Taking food at Dalits' homes, inviting the media or for publicity stunts is not a good practice," Bhagwat said, according to Deccan Chronicle. "Leaders should interact with Dalit people routinely and regularly. Only taking food at Dalits' houses is not sufficient, send family members too to their homes and invite them at your home."

'Congress-mukt Bharat' is a political slogan

Bhagwat played a discordant note in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's clarion call for 'Congress-mukt Bharat'. The RSS chief openly distanced himself and his organisation from Bharatiya Janata Party's call for a Congress-free India.

"These are political slogans. It is not the language of the RSS. The word 'mukt' (free or liberated) is used in politics. We never use the language of excluding anyone.

"We have to include everyone in the process of nation-building including those who oppose us," Bhagwat said at a book launch function here.

RSS chief Bats for reservation

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has said reservation should continue in the country as long as there was social discrimination and asserted that the Sangh was not in favour of scrapping it.

"RSS is of the firm opinion that there is no question of scrapping the reservation system. Reservation in the country should continue as long as social discrimination prevails in the Indian society," Bhagwat said while delivering a lecture on "social assimilation" here.

BJP's 2014 win wasn't one-man show

Disagreeing with the suggestion that the BJP's victory was solely due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's personal pull, Bhagwat said an individual alone could not have ensured the party's victory.

Attributing the win to people's yearning for change, Bhagwat said if the people are not happy, they would change this government too in the next general elections.

Political changes have happened earlier because of people.In future too, such change will depend on them, he said.Triple talaq bill was deferred to next session of Parliament after RS failed to reach an agreement over amended bill.

The controversial Islamic practice allows men to leave their wives immediately by stating 'talaq' (divorce) three times. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet Wednesday approved an ordinance making triple talaq a punishable offence after the Narendra Modi-led NDA government failed to pass it through both the houses of Parliament.

During the Monsoon session, triple talaq bill was deferred to the next session after the parties in the Rajya Sabha failed to reach an agreement over the amended bill.

The Lok Sabha cleared the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, in December but it has been stuck in the Rajya Sabha where the BJP-led NDA is in minority.

The bill criminalises the Islamic practice of divorcing by uttering the word talaq thrice in any form  spoken, in writing, or over electronic communication.

The bill presented in the Rajya Sabha included three changes.

The first amendment cleared by the Centre allows only a woman, or a close relative, to file a police case against her husband for instant triple talaq by uttering the word "talaq" (divorce) thrice.

The second amendment allows her to drop the case if the husband comes around later and they arrive at a compromise.

The government, however, has not toned down the three-year jail penalty for the husband or the provision that only empowers a magistrate, and not a local police officer, to release the accused on bail.

The third amendment mandates that the magistrate can decide on releasing the husband on bail only after hearing the wife. This was one of the demands made by the Opposition.

In August 2017, the Supreme Court had declared instant talaq illegal and unconstitutional.Vijay Mallya has applied for another route to stay in the UK, says lawyer

Why the first Look Out Notice against Mallya needed correction: CBI explains

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Sep 19: Amidst the row relating to former liquor baron, Vijay Mallya, the Central Bureau of Investigation said that the first look out notice seeking his detention at the airport needed correction.

CBI sources tell OneIndia that the notice needed correction as it was not sustainable in law. Moreover, at the time of Mallya's departure there was no warrant against him.

Congress demands probe into role of PMO, FM in Mallya escape

The agency reiterated its position that there were no grounds to arrest Mallya on November 24, 2015 when he returned from London on the basis of the look out circular (LOC) issued on October 16, 2015 calling for his detention, agency sources said.

The first circular needed modification as Mallya had been cooperating with the agency, the evidence were still being collected, he was a sitting MP and there was no warrant against him, CBI officials also said.

Realising the need for correction in the notice, the agency wrote to immigration authorities to change it from seeking Mallya's detention to informing the CBI whenever he was travelling abroad.

In second chargesheet against Mallya, bank officials, finance ministry officials under scanner

The corrected look out circular was issued on November 24, 2015 and even after the issuance of the notice, Mallya continued to provide documents and answer questions of the investigating team, they said.

He appeared for questioning thrice and made foreign trips four times after the new LOC was issued, they said.

Sixty-two-year-old Mallya, facing charges of fraud and money laundering amounting to around Rs 9,000 crore, left the country on March 2, 2016 and is fighting litigation against his extradition to India.After Syria accidentally downs Russian jet, Moscow puts full blame on Israel

International

oi-Shubham Ghosh

Beirut, Sept 19: International politics over Syria turned worse after the downing of a Russian jet in the wake of which Moscow warned of taking measures against Israel as it blamed Israel's airforce behind the incident.

According to a report in the AFP, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told his Israeli counterpart Avigdor Lieberman over phone: "The full blame for the shot-down Russian plane and death of the crew is on the Israeli side." According to the Russian defence ministry, Moscow "reserves the right to future response measures".

It all happened on Monday, September 17, when Syria accidentally shot down a military jet of its ally Russia having a crew of 15 on board. The tragedy happened after Syria went after an alleged missile strike by Israel, the Russian army said on Tuesday, September 18.

Also Read | After Russian defence minister slammed Nato, its foreign ministry calls bloc 'useless'

Israel, which refrained from remarking on Monday's attacks, carried out frequent raids in recent months against Syria's military infrastructure that includes bases that it suspect host combatants from regional foe Iran.

Earlier this month, Israel acknowledged having carried out 200 strikes in Syria over the past one-and-half years.

The Syrian incident happened soon after a major deal was announced by the presidents of Russia and Turkey - Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, respectively, after talks in the Russian resort of Sochi. The two decided to create a 15-20 kilometre-wide demilitarised zone along the line of contact between the government troops and rebels in Idlib.Hong Kong eases visa rules for same sex couples

International

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Hong Kong, Sep 19: Hong Kong announced Tuesday that overseas same-sex partners would qualify for the right to live and work in the city after a landmark court victory by a British lesbian earlier this year.

It is a step forward for LGBTQ rights in Hong Kong, which has been criticised by campaigners for lagging behind on equality issues.

Under the revised immigration policy which will come into force Wednesday, anyone who has entered into a same-sex civil partnership, same-sex civil union or same-sex marriage abroad could be eligible to apply for a dependant visa.

Also Read | Time to come out of the closet: Young India celebrates SC verdict on Section 377

But it added that a valid marriage under Hong Kong law would still require a couple to be heterosexual, saying there should not be "any expectation" that the government would fully legalise same-sex partnerships, which are currently unrecognised.

Opposite-sex couples who had entered into civil unions and civil partnerships abroad would also qualify for dependant visas under the new rules, the government said in a statement.

The Briton known as "QT" won her case in July, prompting a review of the visa policy.

She was denied a dependant visa when she moved to the city after her partner got a job there, and was forced to stay on as a visitor without the right to work.

QT had entered into a civil partnership in Britain in 2011. She was backed by major financial institutions in her fight for visa rights in the economic powerhouse.

The Court of Final Appeal ended the protracted legal battle by ruling that it was "counter-productive" only to extend dependant work rights to straight couples because it would discourage overseas talent from coming to Hong Kong.

Human rights lawyer Michael Vidler, who represented QT, said he welcomed Tuesday's announcement but the government had been forced into it by the court ruling.

"What would be good is if the government changed the rest of its policy," Vidler told AFP.

"It's about time the government took a corrective step to bring about a way in which local Hong Kong gay men and women can join in a civil union or civil partnership or civil marriage to reflect their lifelong commitment to one another," he added.

Hong Kong only decriminalised homosexuality in 1991. While LGBTQ groups have become more prominent in the semi-autonomous Chinese city, conservative activists -- many of them evangelical Christians -- have also launched anti-rights campaigns.

Public libraries have recently hidden away LGBTQ-themed children's books in request-only closed-off areas after pressure from conservative campaigners.

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Story first published: Wednesday, September 19, 2018, 9:57 [IST]Hunting for Earth-like planets:

The US' National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) released a jaw-dropping new image captured by its newest planet hunter, the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS).

First Light Science Image' :

The image, which was snapped on August 7 over a 30 minute period, captured dozens of constellations, including Capricornus and Pictor, and both the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, according to NASA's release on the photo.

Hundreds of nearby undiscovered planets:

TESS also captured the likes of NGC 104, a spherical collection of hundreds of thousands of stars that includes Beta Gruis and R Doradus. Both stars are so bright that they show up as vertical lines of white in images picked up by TESS' second and fourth cameras.

About NASA's exoplanet Hunter TESS

The image is the first TESS has provided since it officially began its scientific search for planets on July 25. It previously photographed C/2018 N1, a comet discovered by NASA's Near-Earth Object Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE) satellite on June 29. TESS made its way to space on April 18 after being launched atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The mission duration is expected to last some two years.Vice Prez Naidu in Romania, looks to boost ties

International

pti-PTI

Bucharest, Sep 18: Vice President Venkaiah Naidu arrived in Romania on Tuesday (Sep 18) as part of the last leg of his three-nation visit to boost India's ties with the southeastern European country. Naidu landed here from Malta where he held comprehensive discussions with President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca on ways to bolster bilateral relations.

The two countries signed three MoUs for collaboration between the foreign services institutes and cooperation in maritime and tourism. Upon his arrival in Bucharest, the vice president received a warm welcome from Vice Prime Minister of Romania Ana Birchall, External Affairs Ministry (MEA) Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in a tweet.

In the last leg, Naidu will be in Romania from September 18 to September 20. The visit coincides with 70th year of Indo-Romanian ties and the centenary year of Romania. During the visit, Naidu will meet Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, the president of Romanian Senate and the prime minister. He will also address a session of Chamber of Deputies in the Romanian Parliament. Naidu will also have a business meet and interact with the Indian diaspora, the MEA has said in a statement.

PTIFor safekeeping: Congress alliance candidates flown to Jaipur ahead of May 2 counting

Curfew announced in Jaipur from 6 pm to 5 am

Rajasthan elections: Polling in all constituencies to be conducted through VVPAT

Jaipur

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Jaipur, Sep 19: In a first, polling in all 200 constituencies in the upcoming Rajasthan assembly elections would be conducted through Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) and EVM M-3 machines, Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat said Tuesday.

The machines will be used at 51,796 polling booths across the state.

The 'M3'-type EVMs are equipped with a self-diagnostic system for authentication of the genuineness of the machines.

Also Read | All party meet: EC takes note of concerns over EVMs, VVPATs

The polling would be conducted in a fair and transparent manner with the new technology on all 200 assembly constituencies in Rajasthan so that there is no doubt in anyone's mind against the election process," Rawat said at a press conference here.

He said the election commission firmly believes that EVM and VVPAT machines are "non-tamperable" and credible.

The chief election commissioner said accessibility observers would be appointed for the first time in the assembly elections in the state due later this year, and at least one polling booth in each assembly constituency would be managed by women.

He said that a 'vigil' mobile app has been launched through which the citizens can keep a strict vigil on the elections and report unlawful campaign activities and violation of election code of conduct.

Complaints lodged through the app will be resolved in a maximum of 100 minutes, he added.

Rawat said out of the 200 assembly constituencies, 141 are general seats whereas 34 and 25 seats, respectively, are reserved for SC and ST category.

As per the electoral voter's list updated till July 31, 2018, there were 475.10 lakh voters, including 248.21 lakh men and 226.89 lakh women. Nearly 349 voters from the third gender category are also likely to exercise their franchise in the elections.

He said that income tax officials would be appointed to keep a vigil on election expenditure by the candidates.

For More Jaipur News, Click HereDiwali 2021: How to perform Lakshmi puja at home, puja samagri, vidhi and shubh muhurat

Man flees with truck to sell it; arrested

New Delhi

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Noida, Sep 19: A truck helper was arrested in Gautam Buddh Nagar Tuesday for allegedly stealing the multi-axle vehicle and planning to sell it off, according to the police.

The 22-tyre truck, costing Rs 35 lakh and registered in Rajasthan, has been recovered along with over Rs 50,000 in cash that was stolen from the driver, the police said.

The helper, identified as Nitesh Rathore, from Mainpuri district, was held Monday night, a police official said.

Also Read | 9 dacoits accused of several loots arrested

"On a tip-off, the helper was held from the Agra-Allahabad highway last night," Dankaur station house officer Farmood Ali Pundir said.

During probe, the police team recovered the cash, the driver's driving licence and mobile phone along with another stolen mobile phone from the truck, he said.

"When quizzed, Nitesh told police that he had planned to sell the truck off in Agra," the SHO said.

The accused has been booked under Indian Penal Code section 381 (theft by clerk or servant of property in possession of master).

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Story first published: Wednesday, September 19, 2018, 8:37 [IST]Views not articulated properly by Jaihind says AAP

New Delhi

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Sep 19: The AAP has said its Haryana unit chief Naveen Jaihind could not articulate his views properly while condemning the BJP government in Haryana for allegedly trying to bury the Rewari gang rape case.

Jaihind, the husband of Delhi Commission for Women chairperson Swati Maliwal, Tuesday provoked a controversy over the alleged gang rape of the 19-year-old woman in the state, saying "he will give Rs 20 lakh to any BJP leader who gets sexually assaulted by 10 people".

He made the remarks in Rohtak while condemning the BJP government in Haryana for giving only Rs 2 lakh as compensation to the Rewari gang rape victim.

Also Read | We will pay Rs 20 lakh if a BJP leader agrees to get gangraped by 10 people: AAP's Naveen Jaihind

"The government thinks it can bury the issue by offering a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the victim but it will not happen. Jaihind was trying to raise this issue only. Maybe the way he articulated it was not proper,"senior AAP leader Atishi Marlena told reporters.

When contacted, Jaihind said that he stands by his comments.

"I stand by what I have said. You cannot disrespect any woman in society. The victim or her family is not asking for money, all they want is justice," he said over the phone.

The 19-year-old woman, a Class 12 topper from Rewari, was abducted from a bus stop in Mahendragarh district Wednesday. She was allegedly drugged and gang raped in an agricultural field, police had said.

Police have arrested three persons, including one of the prime accused, in connection with the incident. Two key accused are on the run.

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Story first published: Wednesday, September 19, 2018, 8:46 [IST]AICC in-charge of Telangana, R C Khuntia said usual practice in Congress was not to name party's CM candidate before any assembly polls.

The Congress has struck an understanding with the TDP, the CPI and TJS of Prof M Kodandaram to fight election jointly. (Representational Image)

Hyderabad: The Congress would not name the chief ministerial candidate in poll-bound Telangana, where it would fight the Assembly elections jointly with the TDP, CPI and Telangana Jana Samithi, a key party leader said on Wednesday.

The AICC in-charge of Telangana, R C Khuntia maintained that the usual practice in the Congress was not to name the party's chief ministerial candidate before any assembly election.

"TPCC (Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee) president, Uttam Kumar Reddy will lead the campaign but the chief ministerial candidate will be finalised after the election," Khuntia told news agency PTI.

"It will be decided after the election results come out, with the views of MLAs, in consultation with our president Rahul Gandhi", he said.

Telangana Assembly was dissolved on September six -- more than eight months ahead of the expiry of its term -- on the recommendation of (now) caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who opted to go for early elections.

The Election Commission is yet to come out with the poll schedule for the state.

The Congress which won 21 seats in the 119-member Assembly in the 2014 elections with a vote share of more than 25 per cent, has since struck an understanding with the TDP, the CPI and TJS of Prof M Kodandaram to fight the election jointly.

"Seat sharing details have not been finalised but we have agreed to fight jointly," Khuntia said. "We will have a common agenda, and also some strategy to campaign jointly," he added.

According to Khuntia, winnability of the alliance partners would decide as to who would get how many seats to contest.

"It's not the question of numbers; it's a question of winnability", he said, adding, while the Congress is the major partner, the three other parties would get "preference" in segments where they are in a better position.

The TDP fought the last election in alliance with the BJP, won 15 seats and had a close to 15 per cent vote-share.Cong alleged that Modi govt caused over Rs 41,000 crore loss to exchequer by paying more than what was negotiated by UPA.

The Congress has asked why the government was not setting up a joint parliamentary committee to probe the fighter jet deal. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: To intensify its all-out attack on the Narendra Modi government over the Rafale deal, the Congress will raise the issue with the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), the governments auditor, on Wednesday and demand a thorough probe into the controversial fighter jet contract, party sources to news agency PTI said.

The Congress has alleged corruption in the deal to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets from France's Dassault Aviation.

It has alleged that the Modi government has caused a loss of over Rs 41,000 crore to the exchequer by paying a higher price for the aircraft than what was negotiated by the UPA.

On Tuesday, defence minister in the previous UPA government and senior Congress leader A K Antony accused Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman of suppressing facts on the Rafale deal.

With Antony, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the CAG and Central Vigilance Committee (CVC) are bound by their constitutional duty to look at the entire deal and all its papers - whether or not somebody moves them.

"Congress Party at an appropriate time also intends to move an appropriate petition before CVC and CAG to expeditiously and quickly adhere to their constitutional duties," Surjewala said.

The Congress has asked why the government was not setting up a joint parliamentary committee to probe the fighter jet deal.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, however, rejected the demand saying all the details on it have already been placed before Parliament.Sidhu said during the 15-minute meeting with Swaraj he explained to her the necessity of a corridor to the shrine in Pakistan.

Chandigarh/New Delhi: Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu drew fresh flak Tuesday on his Islamabad visit and remarks on Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara corridor, even as he claimed that India was ready to write to Pakistan seeking access for pilgrims to the Sikh shrine across the border. The Akali Dal accused him of doing drama over the shrine, and branded him a traitor for hugging Pakistan Army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa during his Islamabad visit last month to attend the swearing-in of Imran Khan as prime minister.

Sidhu claimed external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj gave him an assurance on a corridor to Kartarpur Sahib, just four kilometres from the Indian border, when they met on Monday.

She heard me and told me that a draft is being prepared and she will write a letter to Pakistan government, he claim-ed. He dismissed Union minister Harsimrat Kau-r Badals claim that he was reprimanded by Swaraj for meddling in what should be discussed between the two governments. When asked about it, he said, I have nothing to say. It is not a personal matter.

They can abuse me as much as they want. Politics and religion should be separate, he told reporters in Chandigarh. On his return from Islamabad, Sidhu had said he hugged the Pakistani general as he was overwhelmed when told that Islamabad was considering allowing access to Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara. Sidhu said during the 15-minute meeting with Swaraj he explained to her the necessity of a corridor to the shrine in Pakistan. It is the responsibility of the Indian government to send a formal request, he said.The Catholic Bishops Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands (CBC PNGSI) opened its new building just this week in Port Moresby. In a small but significant event held on the ground floor of the new building: CBC staff members, the media, and distinguished guests like PNGs Founding Father and the Prime Minister were also present to witness the occasion.Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, the Founding Father of the nation, made mention in his speech that he had not expected the CBC building to be as magnificent as it was in its finished state.When someone thinks of something, they have to plan for it; and when they plan for it, they have to raise resources for it, said Sir Michael.When we laid out the foundations of the building, I thought it wouldnt be what it is now but it truly is magnificent!Prime Minister Peter ONeil stated in his concluding speech that it was important for the government to support the work of the churches who were helping the country in spiritual growth.The churches and government must work hand in hand together to make sure that the people of PNG get the services they need, said Mr ONeil.Not only in education and health, but also in spiritual guidance as well which is the most important.The Building was estimated to have costed K12.22 million  K3 million of which the government had donated towards its establishment.The CBC Building A has a conference room with a capacity of 100 people, 25 workstations and 11 living rooms; while building B has 50 workstations, 2 flats, and 5 living rooms.According to CBC General Secretary Reverend Father Victor Roche, there is also space for commission of communication such as a recording studio with the possibility of a future radio or television station.UPFA MPs, yesterday, demanded that DIG Nalaka Silva be arrested over an alleged plot to assassinate President Maithripala Sirisena and former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

Provincial Councils and Local Government Deputy Minister Sriyani Wijewickrama called for the arrest of DIG Silva, sacking of incumbent IGP and conducting investigations into the alleged plot under a new IGP.

MEP leader Dinesh Gunawardena said that the entire country was shocked by the recent revelation of a plot to assassinated the President and the former Defence Secretary. There is a serious allegation that the DIG was planning to secure the support of the underworld to kill the President and the former defence secretary. There are audio tapes of the conspiracy being circulated. The security authorities are very slow in conducting investigations into the conspiracy. Other countries must have been shocked to hear that police of this country were working hand in glove with underworld to carry out political assassinations. The President had promised media that there would be an investigation. We want to know whether the government will take action against the senior police officers concerned. If the president was assassinated, then the Prime Minister would the President as per the constitutional provisions. This is a serious situation.

Leader of the House Public Enterprise Development Minister Lakshman Kiriella: This statement is inimical to the investigations in progress. This is an attempt to interfere in the investigation. I am a lawyer. I understand the danger this statement can inflict on the investigations.

Law and Order Minister Ranjith Maddumabandara: Namal Kumara, addressing a press conference, alleged that he had audio tapes of DIG Nalaka Silva speaking of killing the President. The matter was reported to the Fort Magistrate. Court orders have been obtained to secure the video and audio records from media organisations of the event Namal Kumara making those allegations. The CID has obtained the mobile phone Namal Kumara had used to record the alleged conversations. DIG Nalaka Silva has been transferred from the Terrorist Investigations Division to the Information Technology Division of the police to facilitate investigations.

NFF leader Wimal Weerawansa: This issue raises many questions. Namal Kumara has stated that there was a link between police and the underworld in perpetuating crimes during the Sinhala-Muslim riots in Digana and Kandy. There are many other accusations of serious nature. The DIG should be arrested. We cannot believe that these investigations will be impartial.

Minister Madduma Bandara: We are conducting investigations. We have to consider the evidence. There will be actions on the basis of findings of investigations.

MP Dullas Alhapperuma: This plot has been hatched by the head of the Terrorist Investigations Division. The Government media does not publish anything of this incident. This is the worst ever accusation against the Police Department in its 152 year history.

Minister Madduma Bandara: The President is the first citizen of this country. We have provided necessary security to him. The other person alleged to have been under threat is not a citizen of this country, but we are ready to provide security to him.

MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara: We cannot ensure an impartial investigation under the incumbent IGP. The IGP has taken DIG Nalaka Silva to the Kelaniya temple for a Bodhi pooja to invoke blessings on the latter several minutes ago. That has been reported on news websites.

The Speaker: The Minister could look into that.

Minister Madduma Bandara: I do not know of Bodhi poojas. You can ask the Buddha Sasana minister about that.

UPFA MP Shehan Semasinghe: The DIG concerned has been transferred to the Information Technology Division. The IT Division plays a vital role in providing evidence to this investigation. Now the DIG could meddle with evidence.

UPFA MP Kanaka Herath: One of the sniper guns of the TID went missing last week. We have serious doubts about what happened to that gun and for what purpose it would be used.

Minister Madduma Bandara: If you submit that question in writing to me, I can ask for an investigation.

MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage: Namal Kumara should be given police protection. There are plans to send him abroad. We think that he will be sent abroad so that there will be no investigation.

Minister Madduma Bandara: If he asks for security we are ready to give him security.

MP Kanchana Wijesekera: The DIG should be produced before courts and his passport should be impounded.

Minister Madduma Bandara: We will inform the relevant authorities to do so.

UPFA MP Sisira Jayakody: MP Dinesh Gunawardena directed this question to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is there in the chamber. He will always find time to answer other questions. But he is silent today.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe: When there is an investigation in progress, we cannot reveal everything jeopardising it. We are happy that you are very concerned of the safety and wellbeing of the President. But it was you who removed his security when he was the presidential candidate. Did you have the same concerns then? Our security forces are ready to provide security to Gotabhaya Rajapaksa if he has any threats. I know that there are crises in that party. Under such situation he may need security. You started this issue from the President and now you are talking of IGP. If the IGP is not suitable for the post, you can raise that issue.

Provincial Councils and Local Government Deputy Minister Sriyani Wijewickrama: This is a serious issue. The DIG should be interdicted and arrested if the investigations are to continue without his influence. The IGP should be removed and a new one should be appointed to ensure impartial investigations.

Speaker Jayasuriya: As soon as this was reported to me I discussed the matter with relevant authorities. I summoned the IGP yesterday and discussed the issue with him. I, too, have a responsibility to ensure the security, safety and wellbeing of the President and Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

(Source: The Island  By Saman Indrajith)The Scandinavian Gaming Show Made Attendees Experts in the Swedish Market

Published September 19, 2018 by Lee R

The adaptation of the Swedish regulated market took a big step forward with SGS 2018.

Scandinavian Gaming Show SGS came off swimmingly with some particularly significant highlights revealed during Day 2.

The Event

Taking place on September 7, 2018 in Stockholm, Sweden promoter Events International closed the Scandinavian Gaming Show by providing attendees from all across Europe with Q and A opportunities with a wide array of panel speakers. Meanwhile, further networking empowered other attendees to find out more about software and other solutions available through the events sponsors and exhibitors.

Introductory Address

The day kicked off with opening remarks from a remarkable woman: event chairwoman Christina Hayworth-Rankin, who introduced a session entitled How To Work With The New Swedish Marketing Rules. Boil Hollers providing the legal context for Scandinavia in disseminating the Swedish Marketing Act (2008:486) and the Swedish Gambling Act (2018:1138) to demonstrate how the Swedish Marketing Act ensures good marketing practice and prevents aggressive and unsolicited marketing.

Consequences for Operators

Operator consequences for not adhering to legislation were also discussed, including license revocation, fines and damages.

Adapting to Fickle Customers

The following panel was entitled How Do We Adapt to Changes in Customer Behavior, with sitting panelists including SB Tech's Andrew Cochrane, Bisnode's Magnus Silfverberg and Microgaming's Johann Sigurdsson.

A discussion of the means by which product officers and analysts assess trends revealed what companies should do when customers get bored and how to sustain the product life of gaming products. Social media was identified as the key identifier of trends along with word of mouth, giving attendees some juicy nuggets of information to digest during the lunchbreak.

Match-fixing Algorithm

After lunch, recently promoted Sportradar Legal and Regulatory Affairs VP Jake Williams headed a discussion on BIG data in a presentation entitled: Betting Integrity  Overcoming Match-fixing which revealed Sportradar uses data to detect match-fixing.

Intellectual Property Panel

The day closed out the summit with a presentation from copyright lawyer Fredrik Ljungman of Otmore. Ljungman reminded all attendees not to launch without protection, use unique brand names, monitor branding and tradenames and always assess name registrability prior to copyright application for operators.

Outlook

The level of comprehensivity on Day 2 of SGS was a salient reinforcer of the value of a conference in Sweden in this new era of regulation in this emerging and lucrative market.3 police vehicles damaged; Cong dubs attack as manifestation of public anger.

Bhopal: Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhans convoy was attacked by a mob in a village in Ratlam district late on Monday night when he was undertaking his Jan Ashirvard Yatra.

The incident took place in the village of Kallukheda when a group of demonstrators suddenly turned violent and started pelting stones at Mr Chouhans convoy passing through the route as part of the chief ministers Jan Ashirvad Yatra, a campaign launched by him to highlight achievements of his government ahead of year-end assembly elections. The chief minister however had escaped unhurt. At least three police personnel including Ujjain district additional superintendent of police (ASP) Abhishek Diwan were injured in the incident. Three police vehicles escorting the chief ministers convoy were damaged, a senior police officer here said on Tuesday.

BJP on Tuesday condemned the attack on chief ministers convoy and saw hand of Congress in the incident.

Congress had sponsored the attack on the chief ministers convoy since the Opposition party has panicked over Jan Ashirvad Yatra drawing huge response from people across the state, Union minister and campaign committee chairman of BJP in MP Narendra Singh Tomar said here on Tuesday.

Incidentally, the chief minister on Tuesday faced protests from anti-SC, ST Act demonstrators at Satna in MP when he was addressing a convention of other backward class (OBC) communities.

Police resorted to baton charge to disperse them, leading to injuries to several protesters. Mr Chouhan later lamented that Congress was targeting him because he hailed form backward class.

 A backward class chief minister is not acceptable to Congress, he said, adding, I will hail the stone throwers with flowers. MP Congress chief Kamal Nath however described the attack as manifestation of peoples anger against the state BJP government.

Similar attacks will take place in coming days, he said and denied the charges that his party was involved in the incident.

Congress does not indulge in stone pelting politics, he observed.Asserting that the Sangh fully supports reservations, Bhagwat said that reservations was not a problem but the politics over it was a problem.

New Delhi: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat said on Wednesday that the Sangh had reservations over the word minority as it believes in sab apne hain (everyone is part of the family), and the word was coined by the British, as he appealed to Muslims to get to know the Sangh better by visiting it, and asserted that Muslims feel protected in areas where there are Sangh shakhayen (daily meetings) nearby. At the same time, Mr Bhagwat also addressed the contentious issue of the construction of the Ram Mandir at the disputed site in Ayodhya as he pitched for early completion of the temple and said Lord Ram was not just a god for the majority of Indians but was also an Imam-e-Hind for many, and a temple at the site would resolve differences between Hindus and Muslims.

Taking up questions on the final day of his three-day lectures on the Future of Bharat: An RSS perspective, Mr Bhagwat replied to questions on a variety issues, including the Ram Mandir, Article 370 and 377, reservations, cow vigilantism, religious conversion, population control and Hindutva.

Replying to a query on construction of the Ram Mandir and whether the Central government should bring in an ordinance for it or if there should be a national discourse, Mr Bhagwat said that he was neither in the government nor in the Ram Mandir Nyas (trust) but was a swayamsevak, (volunteer) and the sarsanghachalak (RSS chief), and someone who had participated in the Ram Mandir movement, he wants an early completeion of a grand temple.

Lord Ram is not only a god for the majority of this country but is also the protector of this countrys traditions and its dignity and is also an Imam-e-Hind for many... all sections of Indian society have faith in him ... We are not talking about any Ram Mandir as many such mandirs were demolished... we are talking about the birthplace of Lord Ram and only a mandir should come up there, asserted Mr Bhagwat, as he said if the temple was built, it would resolve contentious issues between Hindus and Muslims. He also said if the issue is resolved through a consensus, it would also stop many from pointing fingers at Muslims. Mr Bhagwat also said if the issue was considered from the point of view of rashtrahit (national interest), it would have been resolved years ago, but the issue remains unresolved as it turned into a political issue.

Mr Bhagwat said Hinduism cannot define Hindutva as an ism confines, but Hindutva is a process and the only ideology which can maintain a balance between the different sects and ideologies which defines the ideology of India. He said the ideology of the country was taking eveyrone along, as diversity doesnt mean differences and Hindutva believes in oneness, not through theorisation but through practice.

On the issue of why the RSS opposes religious conversions, Mr Bhagwat said if every religion and sect were the same, why was there is a need for conversion as it was for an individual to decide which sect or religon will bring him or her closer to the God or spiritualism. God is not sold in the market or can be forced upon anyone because if there is any enticement or deception invloved, then such a process is not aimed at attaining spiritualism or humanity, but something else, said the RSS supremo.

The RSS chief also reiterated the Sangh Parivars position on Articles 370 and 35A of the Constitution, which give a special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and said it does not accept both. Responding to a question, Mr Bhagwat said there was no anger against Hindutva and its acceptance was increasing across the world, but in India there seems to be some anger but not because of Hindutva but because of wrong examples put across in its name for the past few centuries.

On the recent Superme Court decision on Article 377, Mr Bhagwat said that the LGBTQ community should not be isolated as they are a part of society, but at the same

time gay rights was not the only pressing issue which should be debated. He said times were changing, and society had to take a call on all such issues.

Pitching for the protection of cows, Mr Bhagwat also voiced strong disapproval of going against the law in the name of such vigilantism, and said: We have to reject the doublespeak as there is no talk of violence by cow smugglers. He said it was a crime to take the law into ones own hands and asserted that there should be stringent punishment in all such cases.

Asserting that the Sangh fully supports reservations, Mr Bhagwat said that reservations was not a problem but the politics over it was a problem.

The RSS completely supports the reservation given by the Constitution to remove social stigmas. The decision regarding reservations continuity has to be taken by those to whom reservation has been granted. Whenever they feel it is not necessary, they will decide, he said, and disapproved of the existing caste system, terming it as a wrong phraseology. Mr Bhagwat also supported the contentious Prevention of Atrocities against SC/ST law, adding that it was required, but underlined that it also should not be misused.

Replying to a question on changing demographics and the declining Hindu population, Mr Bhagwat said the issue should be considered and a policy on population should be prepared keeping in mind the countrys projected population in the next 50 years and its resources to deal with it. He said demographic balance was considered an important issue across the world, even those who do not speak publicly about it know that it is an important issue.

He said once a policy is decided, it should be applied on everyone, not sparing anyone, and should be applied first where the problem (of population) exists. Where there are more babies, but the means to bring them up are limited... if their upbringing is not good, they will not become good citizens, said Mr Bhagwat, but added that only a law was not the solution, as a proper mindset has to be built for family planning.Siddharth Nath Singh said on Wednesday that the health officials had been put on alert in affected districts.

Lucknow: A mystery viral fever is claiming lives in several districts of Uttar Pradesh and the state health department is yet to take necessary steps to control the situation.

Hundreds of patients have been visiting staterun hospitals every day and even the private medical facilities are brimming over with patients, most of them children. UP health minister Siddharth Nath Singh said on Wednesday that the health officials had been put on alert in affected districts. He said that the number of beds in government hospitals was being increased. A Rapid Action Team has also been set up and a control room has come up at the office of the director general medical where the situation is being monitored on a daily basis.

The minister admitted that the contagious fever has spread due to lack of cleanliness. We have asked for fogging in the affected areas, he added.

According to official sources, more than 140 deaths have been reported from Bareilly district in the past one month and 119 patients have died in Badaun. In several districts, patients are being made to lie on the ground due to shortage of beds.

The doctors are not admitting patients and those who die in their houses are not being included. The hospitals are giving the basic Paracetamol drug and no tests are being carried out, said Pradeep Upadhyaya, a social worker in Bahraich.

More than 30 people have died in Hardoi district and 45 cases have been reported form Sitapur district. In some villages, there has been a death in one in every three houses. In Kaushambi district, over 150 patients have been admitted in the past four days, said a senior doctor at a government hospital.Data drawn from more than 5,000 hedge funds in the BarclayHedge database estimated that the hedge fund industry (excluding CTAs) gave up $1.0 billion (-0.03% of assets) in July, slowing nearly nine-fold from redemptions of $8.9 billion (-0.3% of assets) the month before. The back-to-back outflows underscore uncertainties about trade, corporate earnings and global commodities prices, according to the Barclay Fund Flow Indicator, a monthly big-picture report on the health of the alternative investments industry.

"Corporate earnings and global equities indexes showed impressive strength in July," said Sol Waksman, founder and president of BarclayHedge. "At the same time, hedge fund investors had to weigh July's good news against the global implications of trade disputes, a rising dollar and declining commodity prices."

Waksman noted that despite two months of redemptions, hedge fund industry assets climbed 5.3% year-to-date and 15.3% over the trailing 12 months.

At the sector level, fixed Income hedge funds saw the heaviest inflows in the trailing 12 months ending in July, adding $24.4 billion (5.0% of assets). Equity Market Neutral funds had the strongest 12-month inflows as a percentage of assets ($16.4 billion, 21.3% of assets).

At the regional level, hedge funds domiciled in the U.K. and its offshore islands fared the best in July, reeling in $4.6 billion (0.7% of assets). "U.K.-based funds have been immensely popular in recent months," said Waksman. These funds added $29.3 billion (5.0% of assets) year-to-date and $65.7 billion (12.8% of assets) in the trailing 12 months. "Their U.S.-based counterparts, by contrast, had the largest July redemptions at $2.4 billion (-0.2% of assets)," he said.

In the managed futures sector, dollar strength and declining oil and metals prices sapped demand for Commodity Trading Adviser (CTA) funds, which redeemed $2.4 billion (-0.6% of assets) in July, the largest outflows since December 2016.

"Demand for CTAs has been tepid since a powerful rally in the U.S. dollar started in March," Waksman said. CTA assets dipped 3.2% to $357.5 billion in July, a year-to-date low.Opalesque Industry Update - iCapital Network, the financial technology platform democratizing alternative investments for high-net-worth individuals and their advisors, today announced it has entered into a definitive purchase agreement to acquire certain subsidiaries from Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) that provide sponsorship, administration and advisory services to alternative investment feeder funds (AI feeder funds). Bank of America's AI feeder fund operations businesses represent approximately $20 billion in client assets. Upon closing, iCapital's end-to-end technology solution will be leveraged to streamline and automate ongoing operations and fund administration services for the funds and provide support to advisors and investors. "Bank of America is one of the largest providers of alternative investments and its portfolio of AI feeder funds is a natural complement to our existing footprint," said Lawrence Calcano, Chief Executive Officer of iCapital Network. "This transaction brings us one step closer to our vision of using technology to create a standard industry architecture for alternative investments that improves the experience for investors, advisors and asset managers." Bank of America's Investment Solutions Group will continue to source, distribute and monitor AI feeder funds on its platform, while providing ongoing guidance on the role of alternative investments within a diversified investment strategy. Investors in these funds will continue to be clients of Merrill Lynch and U.S. Trust and the funds will continue to be distributed through Merrill Lynch and U.S. Trust channels. "Alternative investments are an important component of well diversified client portfolios, and we remain committed to providing clients with access to a broad range of third-party offerings on our platform," said Nancy Fahmy, Head of Alternative Investments and Specialty Asset Management for Bank of America. "We selected iCapital based on its strong commitment to feeder fund administration, technology advancement and client service. This transaction will help simplify our operations, and we will work closely with them to ensure our advisors and clients continue to receive exemplary service." As part of the transaction, iCapital will offer positions to 22 Bank of America employees who currently support AI feeder fund operations businesses, and the transitioning team will continue to support the fund portfolio to ensure continuity of service. "Bank of America's team will add significant strength to iCapital's operations department along with critical industry experience at an important stage in our company's growth. The combined horsepower of our two organizations will greatly benefit all of our clients and partners," said Tom Fortin, Chief Operating Officer of iCapital Network. "At the close, our platform will service more than $25 billion in invested capital and nearly 70,000 accounts, which can only be accomplished with the scaling power of iCapital's technology." The transaction is expected to close during the first half of 2019. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.Global Green Composites Market: Industry Size, Growth, Analysis and Forecast of 2025

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Global Green Composites IndustryNew Study On 2018-2025 Green Composites Market Global Key Player, Demand, Growth, Opportunities and Analysis Forecast Added to Wise Guy Reports DatabaseThis report researches the worldwide Green Composites market size (value, capacity, production and consumption) in key regions like North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (China, Japan) and other regions.This study categorizes the global Green Composites breakdown data by manufacturers, region, type and application, also analyzes the market status, market share, growth rate, future trends, market drivers, opportunities and challenges, risks and entry barriers, sales channels, distributors and Porter's Five Forces Analysis.Try Sample Report @Green composites, often referred to as bio composites, are made from bipolar matrix and reinforcement of natural fibers.Global green composites market is growing with a massive growth rate over the years, and it is anticipated to same growth in the years to come.Global Green Composites market size will increase to xx Million US$ by 2025, from xx Million US$ in 2017, at a CAGR of xx% during the forecast period. In this study, 2017 has been considered as the base year and 2018 to 2025 as the forecast period to estimate the market size for Green Composites.This report focuses on the top manufacturers' Green Composites capacity, production, value, price and market share of Green Composites in global market. The following manufacturers are covered in this report:Flex Form TechnologiesTECNARO GMBHProcotex SA Corporation NVGreenGran BNUPM BiocompositesMCG Biocomposites LLCALPAS SrlGreen Composites Breakdown Data by TypeWood FibersNon-Wood FibersGreen Composites Breakdown Data by ApplicationHealthcareConstructionAutomotiveAerospaceMilitaryOtherGreen Composites Production Breakdown Data by RegionUnited StatesEuropeChinaJapanOther RegionsGreen Composites Consumption Breakdown Data by RegionNorth AmericaUnited StatesCanadaMexicoAsia-PacificChinaIndiaJapanSouth KoreaAustraliaIndonesiaMalaysiaPhilippinesThailandVietnamEuropeGermanyFranceUKItalyRussiaRest of EuropeCentral & South AmericaBrazilRest of South AmericaMiddle East & AfricaGCC CountriesTurkeyEgyptSouth AfricaRest of Middle East & AfricaThe study objectives are:To analyze and research the global Green Composites capacity, production, value, consumption, status and forecast;To focus on the key Green Composites manufacturers and study the capacity, production, value, market share and development plans in next few years.To 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.For Detailed Reading Please visit WiseGuy Reports @Some Major Points from Table of content:Global Green Composites Market Research Report 2018-2025, by Manufacturers, Regions, Types and Applications1 Study Coverage1.1 Green Composites Product1.2 Key Market Segments in This Study1.3 Key Manufacturers Covered1.4 Market by Type1.4.1 Global Green Composites Market Size Growth Rate by Type1.4.2 Wood Fibers1.4.3 Non-Wood Fibers1.5 Market by Application1.5.1 Global Green Composites Market Size Growth Rate by Application1.5.2 Healthcare1.5.3 Construction1.5.4 Automotive1.5.5 Aerospace1.5.6 Military1.5.7 Other1.6 Study Objectives1.7 Years Considered2 Executive Summary2.1 Global Green Composites Production2.1.1 Global Green Composites Revenue 2013-20252.1.2 Global Green Composites Production 2013-20252.1.3 Global Green Composites Capacity 2013-20252.1.4 Global Green Composites Marketing Pricing and Trends2.2 Green Composites Growth Rate (CAGR) 2018-20252.3 Analysis of Competitive Landscape2.3.1 Manufacturers Market Concentration Ratio (CR5 and HHI)2.3.2 Key Green Composites Manufacturers2.4 Market Drivers, Trends and Issues2.5 Macroscopic Indicator2.5.1 GDP for Major Regions2.5.2 Price of Raw Materials in Dollars: Evolution3 Market Size by Manufacturers3.1 Green Composites Production by Manufacturers3.1.1 Green Composites Production by Manufacturers3.1.2 Green Composites Production Market Share by Manufacturers3.2 Green Composites Revenue by Manufacturers3.2.1 Green Composites Revenue by Manufacturers (2013-2018)3.2.2 Green Composites Revenue Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)3.3 Green Composites Price by Manufacturers3.4 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion Plans4 Green Composites Production by Regions4.1 Global Green Composites Production by Regions4.1.1 Global Green Composites Production Market Share by Regions4.1.2 Global Green Composites Revenue Market Share by Regions4.2 United States4.2.1 United States Green Composites Production4.2.2 United States Green Composites Revenue4.2.3 Key Players in United States4.2.4 United States Green Composites Import & Export4.3 Europe4.3.1 Europe Green Composites Production4.3.2 Europe Green Composites Revenue4.3.3 Key Players in Europe4.3.4 Europe Green Composites Import & Export4.4 China4.4.1 China Green Composites Production4.4.2 China Green Composites Revenue4.4.3 Key Players in China4.4.4 China Green Composites Import & Export4.5 Japan4.5.1 Japan Green Composites Production4.5.2 Japan Green Composites Revenue4.5.3 Key Players in Japan4.5.4 Japan Green Composites Import & Export4.6 Other Regions4.6.1 South Korea4.6.2 India4.6.3 Southeast Asia5 Green Composites Consumption by Regions5.1 Global Green Composites Consumption by Regions5.1.1 Global Green Composites Consumption by Regions5.1.2 Global Green Composites Consumption Market Share by Regions5.2 North America5.2.1 North America Green Composites Consumption by Application5.2.2 North America Green Composites Consumption by Countries5.2.3 United States5.2.4 Canada5.2.5 Mexico5.3 Europe5.3.1 Europe Green Composites Consumption by Application5.3.2 Europe Green Composites Consumption by Countries5.3.3 Germany5.3.4 France5.3.5 UK5.3.6 Italy5.3.7 Russia5.4 Asia Pacific5.4.1 Asia Pacific Green Composites Consumption by Application5.4.2 Asia Pacific Green Composites Consumption by Countries5.4.3 China5.4.4 Japan5.4.5 South Korea5.4.6 India5.4.7 Australia5.4.8 Indonesia5.4.9 Thailand5.4.10 Malaysia5.4.11 Philippines5.4.12 Vietnam5.5 Central & South America5.5.1 Central & South America Green Composites Consumption by Application5.5.2 Central & South America Green Composites Consumption by Countries5.5.3 Brazil5.6 Middle East and Africa5.6.1 Middle East and Africa Green Composites Consumption by Application5.6.2 Middle East and Africa Green Composites Consumption by Countries5.6.3 Turkey5.6.4 GCC Countries5.6.5 Egypt5.6.6 South Africa6 Market Size by Type6.1 Global Green Composites Breakdown Dada by Type6.2 Global Green Composites Revenue by Type6.3 Green Composites Price by Type7 Market Size by Application7.1 Overview7.2 Global Green Composites Breakdown Dada by Application7.2.1 Global Green Composites Consumption by Application7.2.2 Global Green Composites Consumption Market Share by Application (2013-2018)8 Manufacturers Profiles8.1 Flex Form Technologies8.1.1 Flex Form Technologies Company Details8.1.2 Company Description8.1.3 Capacity, Production and Value of Green Composites8.1.4 Green Composites Product Description8.1.5 SWOT Analysis8.2 TECNARO GMBH8.2.1 TECNARO GMBH Company Details8.2.2 Company Description8.2.3 Capacity, Production and Value of Green Composites8.2.4 Green Composites Product Description8.2.5 SWOT Analysis8.3 Procotex SA Corporation NV8.3.1 Procotex SA Corporation NV Company Details8.3.2 Company Description8.3.3 Capacity, Production and Value of Green Composites8.3.4 Green Composites Product Description8.3.5 SWOT Analysis8.4 GreenGran BN8.4.1 GreenGran BN Company Details8.4.2 Company Description8.4.3 Capacity, Production and Value of Green Composites8.4.4 Green Composites Product Description8.4.5 SWOT Analysis8.5 UPM Biocomposites8.5.1 UPM Biocomposites Company Details8.5.2 Company Description8.5.3 Capacity, Production and Value of Green Composites8.5.4 Green Composites Product Description8.5.5 SWOT Analysis8.6 MCG Biocomposites LLC8.6.1 MCG Biocomposites LLC Company Details8.6.2 Company Description8.6.3 Capacity, Production and Value of Green Composites8.6.4 Green Composites Product Description8.6.5 SWOT Analysis8.7 ALPAS Srl8.7.1 ALPAS Srl Company Details8.7.2 Company Description8.7.3 Capacity, Production and Value of Green Composites8.7.4 Green Composites Product Description8.7.5 SWOT AnalysisContinued..For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comAbout UsWise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports understand how essential statistical surveying information is for your organization or association. Therefore, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available.Contact Us:Norah Trent+91 841 198 5042Office No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaGlobal Orthodontics Market Size, Status and Forecast 2018-2025| 3M Company, Align Technology, American Orthodontics, Danaher, Dentaurum, Dentsply

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Albany, NY, 19th September : Recent research and the current scenario as well as future market potential of "Global Orthodontics Market Size, Status and Forecast 2018-2025" globally.This report focuses on the global Orthodontics status, future forecast, growth opportunity, key market and key players. The study objectives are to present the Orthodontics development in United States, Europe and China.Orthodontics is a form of dental treatment, which is used to improve the alignment, appearance, and improvement of protruding, crowded, or crooked teeth, and to correct problems associated with the bite of the teeth.Get PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @Increase in aging population and surge in prevalence of dental diseases boost the growth of the global orthodontics market.The brackets segment occupied the largest share in the orthodontics industry, owing to increase in concerns for facial aesthetics.Rise in focus of vendors on emerging markets, such as Asia-Pacific and LAMEA, is expected to boost the market growth. LAMEA is projected to witness significant growth in the near future, owing to increase in incidence of dental disorders, rise in geriatric population, and government support to spread awareness about oral hygiene.In 2017, the global Orthodontics market size was xx million US$ and it is expected to reach xx million US$ by the end of 2025, with a CAGR of xx% during 2018-2025.The key players covered in this study3M CompanyAlign TechnologyAmerican OrthodonticsDanaher CorporationDentaurumDentsplyG&H OrthodonticsHenry ScheinRocky Mountain OrthodonticsTP OrthodonticsTOC DentalLancer OrthodonticsDB OrthodonticsOstertag OrthodonticsView Complete TOC with tables & Figures @Market segment by Type, the product can be split intoBracketsAnchorage AppliancesLigaturesArchwiresMarket segment by Application, split intoAdultsChildrenTeenagersMarket segment by Regions/Countries, this report coversUnited StatesEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaCentral & South AmericaThe study objectives of this report are:To analyze global Orthodontics status, future forecast, growth opportunity, key market and key players.To present the Orthodontics development in United States, Europe and China.To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their development plan and strategies.To define, describe and forecast the market by product type, market and key regions.Make An Enquiry @In this study, the years considered to estimate the market size of Orthodontics 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.ResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. Nachiket Ghumare,ResearchMoz,90 State Street, Albany NY, United States,Tel: +1-518-621-2074,USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948,Email: sales@researchmoz.us,Follow me on :Petroleum Resins Market Trends and Forecast by Key Players 2025: Arakawa Chemical Industries, Eastman Chemical Company, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Ltd.

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Key market players in the global petroleum resins market are Arakawa Chemical Industries, Eastman Chemical Company, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Ltd., Kolon Industries, Inc., Lesco Chemical Limited, Zeon Corporation, Seacon Corporation, Neville Chemical Company, Total Cray Valley, and Anglxxon Chemical Co., Ltd.Petroleum resins are low molecular weight thermoplastic hydrocarbon resins obtained from cracked petroleum fractions. It has a tackifying effect, which is slight sticky effect and hence, is used in coatings, paints, varnishes, printing inks, paper, lithographic inks, adhesives, concrete curing compounds, rubber, and other applications. It is available in powders, crushed nuggets, flakes, solid block, beads, solutions, and dispersions forms.Download PDF Brochure @Increasing use of petroleum resins for application in different end-use industries including automotive, construction, and consumer goods among others for coating, waterproofing and rubber compounding is driving growth of the petroleum resins market. Growing demand for petroleum resins containing low volatile organic compounds (VOCs) due to stringent government regulations on VOCs emissions such as Directive 1999/13/EC for VOCs emissions from vehicle coatings and others is further fuelling growth of petroleum resins market. Volatility in the cost of raw materials is one of the major factor restraining growth of the global petroleum resins market.Aliphatic C5 resins accounted for the highest market share in 2016. This is due to advantages of aliphatic C5 resins such as better glutinosity, good anti-ageing properties, fluidity, low volatility, and minimized odor. These are used in hot-melt adhesives, pressure sensitive adhesives, solvent-based adhesives, rubber damping pieces, rubber for inner tube of tires and other applications.Adhesive and sealants accounted for the largest market share over the forecast period. Petroleum resins are used as tackifiers in adhesives and sealants to improve tack, peel strength, specific adhesion, balance adhesion and cohesion, enhance high temperature performance, and decrease cohesive strength.Automotive industry accounted for the highest market share in 2016 owing to the use of petroleum resins in rubber compounding to enhance modulus of the compound and chipping resistance. According to the International Organization for Motor Vehicles Manufacturers (OICA), the global motor vehicle production was 90,780,583 in 2015, which increased to 94,976,569 in 2016. This growth in motor production is increasing demand for petroleum resins in the automotive industry.Asia Pacific is the dominant petroleum resins market owing to increasing demand from various application segments such as paints, sealants, adhesives, coating from automotive and construction industries. For instance, according to India Brand Equity Foundation  a trust established by the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry  the passenger vehicle production in India is expected to increase US$ 10 million in 2020 from US$3.2 million in 2015. Also, according to the International Trade Association, Department of Commerce, the total automotive market size in 2015 was 24.94 million units, which increased to 28.36 million units in 2016. Thus, rapid growth in automotive industry in India and China is driving growth of the petroleum resins market in Asia Pacific.Talk To Analyst @North America is the second largest petroleum resins market due to growing demand from the automobiles industry. For instance, according to International Organization for Motor Vehicles Manufacturers (OICA), the total automotive sales in the U.S. and Canada was 19,785,141 in 2015, which increased to 19,849,518 in 2016.Demand for petroleum resins for applications in adhesives and sealants is increasing in the Europe market. According to the European Adhesive and Sealant Industry (FEICA) the European adhesive and coating market was valued at US$ 16,019.03 million in 2014 and accounted for the market share of 35%.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Medical Electronics Market 2018 Eminent Players  Phillips, Siemens AG, GE Healthcare, Maxim Integrated, Carestream Health, Allengers Medical

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In what can only be construed as an innovation that may impact India medical electronics industry to quite an appreciable extent, Philips, a renowned brand across the electronics sector, has recently launched two new diagnostic instruments, namely, MobileDiagnost Opta and BV Vectra in India. The former, a digital X-ray system, has been designed to find extensive applications in intensive care units and operation theatres. BV Vectra, on the other hand, is a mobile C-arm system that is anticipated to be used in orthopedic surgeries. With the presence of three major electronic equipment manufacturers  Siemens, GR, and Philips, and their objective to manufacture the contemporary Made-in-India medical devices, it is anticipated that India medical electronics market will experience a lucrative growth in the years ahead.Bringing forth a slew of product innovations in the market has been touted as major growth strategy for businesses, particularly in the medical electronics industry, given the robust requirement of the healthcare space to enhance operational efficiency and lower medical care expenditure. Kinpo Electronics Incorporation, for example, has recently received the EU certificate that approves its newly launched wearable ECG monitor, called the BC1 patch that apparently helps in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. The medical certification allows the firm to promote BC1 within the European Union. Kinpo is expected to commence the product marketing in key European countries by the third quarter of 2017 under its own brand referred as XYZlife. The device provides real-time monitoring, data pertaining to medical history, and authentic medical reports, in addition to encompassing an exceptional function that helps users to contact physicians during emergencies. Experts cite that the BC1 patch is likely to prompt industry rivals to introduce similar products in the market, that would undeniably impel the product landscape of medical electronics industry.Get a Sample Copy of this Report@Recently in 2017, Mackenzie Health, a renowned healthcare service provider based in Canada, had collaborated with Epic systems corporation, a U.S. based software developing firm, to introduce a new end-to-end electronic medical record system in Canada. The innovative tool assists medical practitioners in the decision-making process and facilitates speedy access of medical health records, in addition to providing improved medication safety and minimizing error occurrences related to closed loop medication administration & bar code authentication. This medical system is the first of its kind launched across the country and is predicted to have a sizable impact on U.S. medical electronics industry, which apparently held more than 90% of the overall revenue share in 2016.The competitive landscape of medical electronics market has witnessed numerous M&As since the last few years. In fact, recently, Becton, Dickinson and Company, a leading player across medical technology industry, has declared the acquisition of Caesarea Medical Electronics, a key Israel based player across infusion pump systems industry. The acquisition will help the former expand its infusion pumps product portfolio, thereby facilitating the firm to strengthen its position across medical electronics market.U.S. has been singled out as one of the most profitable growth avenues across North America medical electronics industry, subject to the large presence of major manufacturers in the region and the extensive deployment of advanced technology. The wide insurance coverage provided under the Affordable Care Act and the appreciable improvements in healthcare infrastructure facilities across the region are certain to provide a positive impetus to U.S. medical electronics market.Make Inquiry about this report @Some of the firms partaking in medical electronics market share include Toshiba Corporation, Siemens, GE Healthcare, Medtronic Public Limited Company, and Phillips. Most companies have been reported to be adopting new strategies to expand their business scope, contributing extensively towards medical electronics market revenue. Considering the developments that medical electronics industry is replete with, it comes as no surprise that medical electronics market is slated to hit a revenue margin of over USD 148 billion by 2024.Report ContentChapter 1. Methodology1.1. Methodology1.1.1. Initial data exploration1.1.2. Statistical model and forecast1.1.3. Industry insights and validation1.1.4. Market definition and forecast parameters1.2. Data Sources1.2.1. Primary1.2.2. SecondaryChapter 2. Executive Summary2.1. Breast imaging equipment industry 3600 synopsis, 2013  20242.1.1. Business trends2.1.2. Product trends2.1.3. Regional trendsChapter 3. Medical Electronics Market Industry Insights3.1. Industry segmentation3.2. Industry size and forecast, 2013 - 20243.3. Technology landscape3.3.1. U.S.3.3.2. Europe3.3.3. Russia3.4. Industry impact forces3.4.1. Growth drivers3.4.1.1. Government initiatives to improve healthcare access via insurance scheme3.4.1.2. Adopting convergence of technologies - Medical, IT and telecom3.4.1.3. Increase in the push towards minimally invasive surgeries3.4.1.4. Leasing of capital intensive machines3.4.1.5. Automation in diagnostic technology3.4.1.6. Attractive policies for FDI3.4.2. Industry pitfalls & challenges3.4.2.1. Heightened regulatory scrutiny3.4.2.2. New healthcare delivery model3.5. Market entry analysis and regulatory landscape3.5.1. U.S.3.5.2. Europe3.5.2.1. Germany3.5.2.2. UK3.5.2.3. Italy3.5.2.4. Russia3.5.3. Asia Pacific3.5.3.1. China3.5.3.2. India3.5.3.3. Japan3.6. Growth potential analysis3.6.1. By Product3.6.2. By End Use3.7. Porter's analysis3.8. Company landscape, 20163.8.1. Company share analysis3.8.2. Business overview3.8.3. Product landscape3.8.4. Strategic dashboard3.9. PESTEL analysisChapter 4. Medical Electronics Market, By Product4.1. Medical electronics market share by product, 2015 & 20244.2. Therapeutic4.2.1. Market estimates and forecasts by region, 2013  2024 (USD Million)4.2.2. Market estimates and forecasts by region, 2013  2024 (000 Units)4.2.3. Pacemakers4.2.3.1. Market estimates and forecasts by region, 2013  2024 (USD Million)4.2.3.2. Market estimates and forecasts by region, 2013  2024 (000 Units)4.2.4. Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators4.2.4.1. Market estimates and forecasts by region, 2013  2024 (USD Million)4.2.4.2. Market estimates and forecasts by region, 2013  2024 (000 Units)4.2.5. Implantable Loop Recorders4.2.5.1. Market estimates and forecasts by region, 2013  2024 (USD Million)4.2.5.2. Market estimates and forecasts by region, 2013  2024 (000 Units)4.2.6. Spinal Cord Stimulators4.2.6.1. Market estimates and forecasts by region, 2013  2024 (USD Million)4.2.6.2. Market estimates and forecasts by region, 2013  2024 (000 Units)4.2.7. Surgical Robots4.2.7.1. Market estimates and forecasts by region, 2013  2024 (USD Million)4.2.7.2. Market estimates and forecasts by region, 2013  2024 (000 Units)4.2.8. Respiratory Care Devices4.2.8.1. Market estimates and forecasts by region, 2013  2024 (USD Million)4.2.8.2. Market estimates and forecasts by region, 2013  2024 (000 Units)4.3. Diagnostics4.3.1. Market estimates and forecasts by region, 2013  2024 (USD Million)4.3.2. Market estimates and forecasts by region, 2013  2024 (000 Units)4.3.3. Patient Monitoring Devices4.3.3.1. Market estimates and forecasts by region, 2013  2024 (USD Million)4.3.3.2. Market estimates and forecasts by region, 2013  2024 (000 Units)4.3.4. PET/CT Devices4.3.4.1. Market estimates and forecasts by region, 2013  2024 (USD Million)4.3.4.2. Market estimates and forecasts by region, 2013  2024 (000 Units)4.3.5. MRI Scanners4.3.5.1. Market estimates and forecasts by region, 2013  2024 (USD Million)4.3.5.2. Market estimates and forecasts by region, 2013  2024 (000 Units)4.3.6. Ultrasound Devices4.3.6.1. Market estimates and forecasts by region, 2013  2024 (USD Million)4.3.6.2. Market estimates and forecasts by region, 2013  2024 (000 Units)4.3.7. X-rays Devices4.3.7.1. Market estimates and forecasts by region, 2013  2024 (USD Million)4.3.7.2. Market estimates and forecasts by region, 2013  2024 (000 Units)4.3.8. CT Scanners4.3.8.1. Market estimates and forecasts by region, 2013  2024 (USD Million)4.3.8.2. Market estimates and forecasts by region, 2013  2024 (000 Units)4.4. Others4.4.1. Market estimates and forecasts by region, 2013  2024 (USD Million)4.4.2. Market estimates and forecasts by region, 2013  2024 (000 Units)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.Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comSeven Indian engineers were kidnapped in Baghlan province on May 6, and Mr Modi, in the talks, conveyed his concerns over them to Mr Ghani.

New Delhi: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Wednesday assured Prime Minister Narendra Modi that his government would do everything possible to secure the release of seven engineers abducted by Taliban in the restive northern Baghlan province in May, official sources said.

During extensive talks with Mr Modi, Mr Ghani also conveyed to him that the Afghan government is enhancing security for Sikhs in Afghanistan in the wake of killing of 13 people of the community in a suicide bombing in July, the sources said.

They said Mr Ghanis response on both the issues came after Mr Modi raised them, adding the Afghan president expressed regret over killing of the 13 Indians in the terror attack in Jalalabad.

Seven Indian engineers were kidnapped in Baghlan province on May 6, and Mr Modi, in the talks, conveyed his concerns over them to Mr Ghani.

In the talks, the decision by India and China to initiate joint projects in Afghanistan was also deliberated upon.

The sources said a Sino-India integrated training programme for Afghan diplomats will kickstart next month in Delhi. The diplomats will first train in Delhi and then will leave for Beijing.

Mr Ghani was here on a day-long working visit.

Giving an overview of the security scenario in Afghanistan, Mr Ghani also apprised Mr Modi about Taliban attack on southeastern city of Ghazni and increasing presence of ISIS in the country. On the Ghazni attack, he said involvement of Pakistani national has emerged, the sources said.

However, Mr Ghani informed Modi that Afghan armed forces were capable of handling the security challenges with the help of international community. He also complimented Indias support for Afghanistan. The two sides also vowed to work more closely with their regional and international partners for prosperity, peace, stability and progress of the region.Halal Cosmetics Market Analysis & Technological Innovation by Top Key Players Ivy Beauty Corporation Sdn Bhd, Mena Cosmetics, MMA Bio Lab Sdn Bhd, The Halal Cosmetics Company, Talent Cosmetic Co., Ltd.

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The Halal Cosmetics Market Report provides a complete decision-making overview including definition, product specifications, market gains, key geographic regions and imminent Halal Cosmetics industry peers for 2018-2026.The global halal cosmetics market is anticipated to reach USD 22.56 billion by 2026 according to a new study published by Polaris Market Research. The market growth is primarily due to increase in Muslim populations and their purchasing power. This has created a surge in demand for halal cosmetics. Increasing demand has also compelled market players to engage in new product development. Halal cosmetics market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.0% between 2018 and 2026.Major Key Player: -Ivy Beauty Corporation Sdn Bhd, Mena Cosmetics, MMA Bio Lab Sdn Bhd, The Halal Cosmetics Company, Talent Cosmetic Co., Ltd., PHB Ethical Beauty, Saaf SkinCare, One Pure, Sampure Minerals, Amara Cosmetics, Wardah Cosmetics, Inika, Clara International, Prolab, and IBA Halal Care.Request For Sample Report @Currently, consumers are exhibiting growing interest in halal cosmetics and personal care. This is primarily due to the increasing consumer awareness about the importance of personal hygiene and improving lifestyles as a result of increasing disposable income. Halal cosmetics being different from conventional cosmetics are gaining popularity, as these cosmetics do not contain alcohol, porcine-by products and their derivatives. Basically, they do not contain contents or ingredients that are against Islamic beliefs.Halal cosmetics are expected to be produced, packaged, stored, and distributed as per Islamic teachings. Moreover, these products are considered to be safe, clean, and high quality. The significant growth in Muslim populations across the globe is expected to offer immense opportunities to personal care and halal cosmetics industry. In addition, the rapidly accelerating economic power of Islamic countries is anticipated to largely influence them to spend additional money on beauty and personal products.The growing issues over the environmental and health hazards are also responsible for such as significant impact on the cosmetic industry. Some of the health hazards such as distortion, breast cancer, and abnormalities pertaining to genital are usually blamed to occur as a result of excessive usage of cosmetics products comprising nano-particle ingredients.Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @Table Of Content:-Halal Cosmetics Market Insights1. Halal Cosmetics Industry snapshot2. Halal Cosmetics -Ecosystem analysis3. Halal Cosmetics market dynamics1. Halal Cosmetics Market Forces1. Halal Cosmetics Market driver analysis2. Halal Cosmetics Market restraint/challenges analysis3. Halal Cosmetics Market opportunity analysis2. Industry analysis - Porter's five force1. Bargaining power of supplier2. Bargaining power of buyer3. Threat of substitute4. Threat of new entrant5. Degree of competition3. Halal Cosmetics market PEST analysis, 20174. Halal Cosmetics market Value Chain analysis5. Halal Cosmetics Industry trends6. Competitive Ranking AnalysisBrowse Full Report @Low level of awareness about the presence of halal cosmetic brands is acting as a challenge to the industry. As a consequence, the industry is not experiencing heavy demands as expected out of its potentials. Moreover, halal issues within the sector are considered quiet minor among consumers in comparison to food consumption. Thus, this requires manufacturers to improve their marketing strategies and production facilities. Furthermore, it becomes difficult to understand consumer perspective about halal cosmetic brands.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:Connecting Rod Market By Product, Distribution, Size, Share, Segmentation, Trends and Forecast Period 2018 - 2026

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"The Report Connecting Rod Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2018 - 2026 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"The main objective of this report is to define, describe, and forecast the global Connecting Rod market on the basis of types of applications, major sectors, deployment models, organization size, and regions. The report contains an analysis of the major factors influencing the growth of the market (drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges). It aims to strategically analyze the micromarkets with respect to individual growth trends, prospects, and their contribution to the market. The report attempts to forecast the market size for 5 major regions, namely, North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA), and Latin America. It contains key vendor profiles and comprehensively analyzes their core competencies. The report also tracks and analyzes competitive developments, including partnerships, collaborations, acquisitions, new product developments, and R&D activities in the market.Get Sample Copy Of This Report @The connecting rod is a shaft used in a vehicle to transfer the motion of the piston to the crankshaft. The connecting rod is placed inside the engine cylinder and is subjected to high combustion temperature and pressure.The steady demand for internal combustion engine-powered vehicles is a major driver of the connecting rod market. The connecting rod is an integral part of the combustion engine and factors such as drivability and engine stability are fuelling the demand for connecting rods. Rising concerns pertaining to carbon emissions are prompting the need to downsize the engine. Lighter connecting rods reduce the inertia force on engines and permits the usage of smaller balancing weight on the crankshaft. Automakers are being compelled to reduce the weight of connecting rods in order to comply with emission regulations. Titanium connecting rods are witnessing an increased demand owing to their light weight. The high strength and durability of a powder forged connecting rod is gaining preference in the gasoline market and is estimated to drive the connecting rod market. The emergence of flex fuel engines and their increased penetration in North America and Latin America is estimated to drive the connecting rod market.Incentives and government emphasis on increasing production of battery electric vehicles is a restraining factor for the connecting rod market.The global connecting rod market can be segmented based on material, process, vehicle, engine, sales channel, and region. Based on material, the global connecting rod market can be segmented into three segments. The aluminum segment held a prominent share of the market owing to its affordability yet excellent working drive.In terms of process, the global connecting rod market can be segregated into three segments. The cast connecting rod segment held a significant share of the global market owing to its ease of manufacturing and usage in all type of gasoline and diesel engines.Based on engine type, the global connecting rod market can be classified into five segments. Four-cylinder engine is the leading segment owing to its high consumer preference and engine stability.In terms of vehicle type, the connecting rod market can be segmented into passenger vehicle and commercial vehicle. The passenger vehicle segment is estimated to lead the market owing to increased demand for passenger vehicles in developing countries.Based on sales channel, the connecting rod market can be segregated into OEM and aftermarket. The OEM segment held a major share of the market.In terms of region, the connecting rod market can be divided into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. Tax relief on small engine vehicles in China is estimated to fuel the production of passenger vehicles in China, expansion of the auto industry in India and low import duties on Japanese automobiles in Europe are key factors fuelling the connecting rod market in Asia Pacific.Key players operating in the global connecting rod market include Cummins Inc., Linamar Corporation, Wiesco Piston Company Inc., Wossner Pistons, MAHLE GmbH, Pauter Machine, JD Norman Industries, Jingqiang Connecting Rod, Arrow Precision, and Tianrun Crankshaft.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.Send An Enquiry @The study is a source of reliable data on:Market segments and sub-segmentsMarket trends and dynamicsSupply and demandMarket sizeCurrent trends/opportunities/challengesCompetitive landscapeTechnological breakthroughsValue chain and stakeholder analysisThe regional analysis covers:North America (U.S. and Canada)Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and others)Western Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg)Eastern Europe (Poland and Russia)Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand)Middle East and Africa (GCC, Southern Africa, and North Africa)The report has been compiled through extensive primary research (through interviews, surveys, and observations of seasoned analysts) and secondary research (which entails reputable paid sources, trade journals, and industry body databases). The report also features a complete qualitative and quantitative assessment by analyzing data gathered from industry analysts and market participants across key points in the industrys value chain.A separate analysis of prevailing trends in the parent market, macro- and micro-economic indicators, and regulations and mandates is included under the purview of the study. By doing so, the report projects the attractiveness of each major segment over the forecast period.Highlights of the report:A complete backdrop analysis, which includes an assessment of the parent marketImportant changes in market dynamicsMarket segmentation up to the second or third levelHistorical, current, and projected size of the market from the standpoint of both value and volumeReporting and evaluation of recent industry developmentsMarket shares and strategies of key playersEmerging niche segments and regional marketsAn objective assessment of the trajectory of the marketRecommendations to companies for strengthening their foothold in the marketAbout UsMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Contact UsMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.bizBrachytherapy Market 2018 to 2023 Expectance  by Modus Medical Devices Inc., Varian Medical Systems, Eckert & Ziegler, C. R. Bard, etc

Brachytherapy Market

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Market Research Future Published a Half Cooked Research Report on Global Brachytherapy Research Report. Taste the market data and market information presented through more than 45 market data tables and figures spread over 80 pages of the project report. Avail the in-depth table of content TOC & market synopsis on Brachytherapy market Research Report Global Forecast to 2023.Global Brachytherapy Market - OverviewBrachytherapy is a type of radiation therapy in which a radiation emitting source is placed near the area requiring treatment. Brachy is a Greek word for short distance and therapy means treatment. It effective for the treatment of cervical cancer, breast cancer, skin cancer and other types of cancers. Cancer cure rates after brachytherapy are comparable to surgery or external beam therapy (EBT). Demand for brachytherapy is increasing because of an increase in prevalence of various type of cancers, low treatment time and high efficiency. Its treatment results also show an increasing cure rate which is also contributing to the growth of this market. Global market of brachytherapy is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.9% during the forecast period 2017-2023..Get Sample PDF Illustration @Brachytherapy Market - SegmentsGlobal Brachytherapy market has been segmented on the basis of applications which consist of cervical, prostate, breast, skin cancer, gallbladder, rectum and others. On the basis of types the market is majorly divided into; drugs and devices. Devices are further divide on the basis of mode of operation, i.e. invasive and non-invasive. Invasive if further comprises of; microsphere brachytherapy, while non-invasive includes; electronic brachytherapy. Based on end users the market is classified into; medical physicist, licensed dosimetrist and radiation oncologist.Global Branchytherapy Market - Study ObjectivesTo provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with the forecast for the next seven years of the various segments and sub-segments of the brachytherapy market.To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth.To analyze the brachytherapy market based on various factors- Price Analysis, Supply Chain Analysis, Porters Five Force Analysis, etc.To provide historical and forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies - Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East & Africa and their countries.Brachytherapy Market - Key PlayersSome of the key players in this market are: Modus Medical Devices Inc. (Canada), Varian Medical Systems, Inc. (US), Eckert & Ziegler (Germany), C. R. Bard, Inc (US), Argon Medical Devices, Inc. (US), Elekta AB (Sweden), IsoRay Medical, Inc. (US), IsoAid (US), and others.Brachytherapy Market - Industry UpdatesAugust, 2017 Becton Dickinson and Company (BD) acquired Bard. The acquisition will expand its focus on disease treatment beyond diabetes, and include urology, peripheral vascular disease, cancer, and hernia.May, 2017 Eckert & Ziegler Strahlen- und Medizintechnik AG signed an agreement to acquire Gamma-Service, a specialist in manufacturing isotope technology. With this acquisition Eckert & Ziegler is expected to strengthen their market position and focus on the optimal servicing for their existing customers.Feb, 2017 Merit Medical Systems, Inc. to acquire products from Catheter Connections, Inc. and Argon Medical Devices. These product acquisitions will broaden Merits product portfolio and simultaneously expanding the companies geographic presence. The company also focuses on widening its customer base globally.Jan, 2017 Alliance Medical signed a pact to purchase Eckert & Ziegler Radiopharma GmbH (Eckert & Zieglers cyclotron division), a subsidiary of Eckert & Ziegler AG. The cyclotron division consist of four cyclotrons across Germany, Austria and Poland. The acquisition of Eckert & Zieglers cyclotron division will further extends the companys molecular imaging presence in Europe as well as the radiopharmacy facilities in the Italy and UK.August, 2016 Eckert & Ziegler had acquired BranchySolutions BVBA, a European prostate seed distributor. The acquisition will strengthen Eckert & Ziegler seed manufacturing position in EuropeGet Prime Discount on Report @Jan, 2016 Argon Medical Devices, Inc. acquired three vascular products from Rex Medical, LLC. The product include, UltraStream Chronic Hemodialysis Catheter Option, ELITE CLEANER Rotational Thrombectomy System, and Retrievable Vena Cava Filter are wholly owned by this company. The acquisition is expected to fortify the existing interventional portfolio. It further enables the company to offer customer procedure-based comprehensive solutions.Major Chapter from Table of ContentChapter 1. Report PrologueChapter 2. Market IntroductionChapter 3. Research MethodologyChapter 4. Market DynamicsChapter 5. Market Factor AnalysisChapter 6. Global Branchytherapy Market, By TypeChapter 7. Global Branchytherapy Market, By DeviceChapter 8. Global Branchytherapy Market, By ApplicationChapter 9. Global Branchytherapy Market, By RegionChapter 10. Company LandscapeChapter 11. Company ProfilesChapter 12. MRFR ConclusionChapter 13. AppendixDo You Have Specific Requirement? Ask To Our Experts @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact Us:Market Research FutureHadapsar, Pune  411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.comLuxury Yacht Europe Market Top Key Players  Amels/Damen Group, Azimut|Benetti Group, Feadship, ISA Group, Lurssen , Overmarine Group and Forecast to 2020

Luxury Yacht Market

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Europe Luxury Yacht MarketDescriptionWiseGuyRerports.com Presents Luxury Yacht Market in Europe 2015-2019 New Document to its Studies Database. The Report Contain 65 Pages With Detailed Analysis.Yachts with length greater than 24 feet are known as luxury, super, mega, or large yachts. They are segmented based on size and propulsion and are mainly used for recreational purposes. They include modern convenience features such as ACs, TV, navigation aids, radar, echo-sounding, autopilot, and reliable power generating systems.The analysts forecast the luxury yacht market in Europe to decline at a CAGR of 3.45% over 2014-2019.Covered in this reportThis report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the luxury yacht market in Europe for 2015-2019. Forecast and analysis of the market have been done in terms of volume and revenue.Get sample Report @The report also presents the vendor landscape and a corresponding detailed analysis of the prominent vendors in the market. In addition, it includes the major drivers that are influencing the growth of the market. It also outlines the challenges faced by the vendors and the market at large, as well as the key trends emerging in the market.The Luxury Yacht Market in Europe 2015-2019, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. It covers the landscape of the market and its growth prospects in the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendors Amels/Damen Group Azimut|Benetti Group Feadship ISA Group Lurssen Overmarine Group Sunseeker International Heesen Yachts Perini NaviOther prominent vendors Abeking & Rasmussen Admiral Alalunga Anastassiades Arcadia Yachts Arcon Yachts Astondoa Austral Yachts Baltic Yachts Bilgin Bloemsma Van Breemen Boat Speed Bolero Yachts Cammenga Canados Cantiere delle Marche Cantieri di Pisa Castagnola Chediek CNB Corsair Couach Yachts CRN Danish Yachts De Schepper Derecktor Falcon Yachts Ferretti Fitzroy Yachts Geta Green Marine Guy Couach Haak Hakvoort Heesen Holland Jachtbouw Horizon ICON Yachts Inace Intermarine Italyachts Johnson Yachts Jongert Kaiserwerft Kvaerner Lloyds Ship MAG Maiora Mengi-Yay Mondo Marine Moonen NAC Nautors Swan Neta Marine Ortona Navi Oyster Palmer Johnson Palumbo Per Mare Pershing Posillipo Princess Riva Rossi Navi Royal Huisman Sanlorenzo Southern Wind Sterling Steve Ward Tamsen Yachts Tecnomar Trumpy Van Dam Nordia Vitters Warren Yachts Witsen & VisMarket driver High tourism and recreational events in Europe For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challenge High cost of motor luxury yachts For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trend Expansion of European yacht makers into emerging markets For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this report What will the market size be in 2019 and what will the growth rate be? What are the key market trends? What is driving this market? What are the challenges to market growth? Who are the key vendors in this market space? What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?Complete Report Details @Table of Contents -Major Key PointsPART 01: Executive summaryHighlightsPART 02: Scope of the reportMarket overviewTop-vendor offeringsPART 03: Market research methodologyResearch methodologyEconomic indicatorsPART 04: IntroductionKey market highlightsPART 05: Market landscapeMarket overviewOverview of global luxury yacht marketLuxury yacht market in EuropeFive forces analysisPART 06: Market segmentation by sizeLuxury yacht market in Europe by size segmentation 2014Luxury yacht market in Europe by size 2014-2019PART 07: Market segmentation by propulsionLuxury yacht market in Europe by propulsion 2014Luxury yacht market in Europe by propulsion 2014-2019Sailing luxury yacht market in EuropeMotor luxury yacht market in EuropePART 08: Key leading countriesGermanyItalyThe NetherlandsUKPART 09: Market growth driversPART 10: Impact of driversPART 11: Market challengesPART 12: Impact of drivers and challengesPART 13: Market trendsPART 14: Vendor landscapeCompetitive scenarioOther prominent vendorsPART 15: Key vendor analysisAmelsAzimut BenettiFeadshipISA GroupLurssenOvermarineSunseeker InternationalHeesenPerine Navi Spa..CONTINUEDAbout UsWise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, Industry research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports understand how essential statistical surveying information is for your organization or association. Therefore, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available.NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)Telecom API Platform Market Emerging Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2022: Alcatel-Lucent S.A., Aepona Ltd., Apigee Corp., Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., Oracle Corp.

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The report analyzes and presents an overview on "Telecom API Platform Market (By Telecom Operators - T1 Players, T2 Players, T3 Players; By Module - Set-Up, Monetization and Pricing Model) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2022" worldwide.This report on the global telecom API platform market provides an analysis for the period from 2013 to 2022, wherein 2014 is the base year and the years from 2015 to 2022 are the forecast period. Data for 2013 has been included as historical information. The report covers all the prevalent trends and technologies playing a major role in the growth of the telecom API platform market over the forecast period. It also highlights various drivers, restraints, and opportunities expected to influence the markets growth during this period. The study provides a holistic account of market growth, throughout the above forecast period in terms of revenue estimates (in US$ Mn), across different geographies, which include North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), Middle East & Africa (MEA), and Latin America (LATAM).Get The Sample Copy Of This Report @Telecom API platforms enable telecom operators to set-up their own API and expose its services to a large number of external developers. Many telecom operators are considering setting up an API platform since it is one of the key potential sources of revenue for them. Rapid growth in the mobile applications market has created demand for telecom APIs and as such telecom operators own a large number of APIs. Telecom API management platform providers offer management services for these APIs wherein a provider offers set-up services and monetization. As more telecom operators enter the digital space competing with OTT players, their need for API management is continuously increasing. Thus, API management platform market is anticipated to grow in the near future with a rise in the number of telecom operators opting for management solutions. The rapid implementation of digital technologies and applications by enterprises, consumers, and governments around the globe is significantly contributing to the growth of API service adoption among MNOs. In developed markets, the API platform services markets growth is more due to the presence of a large number of T1 players, who have sufficient infrastructure to use APIs and have also made significant investments for the purpose. Europe dominates the overall demand for telecom API platforms globally owing to surging demand from T1 players in this region.This research report provides in-depth analysis of the global telecom API platform market on the basis of telecom operator and module. The telecom API platform market based on telecom operator includes T1 players, T2 players, and T3 players. The telecom API platform module segment comprises set up, and monetization and pricing model.Request To Get Complete Report TOC @In terms of geographical regions, the report segments the global telecom API platform market into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa (MEA), and Latin America; the regions are analyzed in terms of revenue generation. The report provides cross-sectional analysis of the global telecom API platform market in terms of market estimates and forecasts for all segments across different geographic regions.The report also includes competitive profiling of major players engaged in developing telecom API platforms. Major business strategies adopted by them, their market positioning, and their recent developments have also been identified in the research report. This report also provides market positioning analysis of major players in the telecom API platform market based on their 2014 revenues. Players profiled in the report include Alcatel-Lucent S.A., Aepona Ltd., Apigee Corp., Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., Oracle Corp., Hewlett-Packard Development Co., LM Ericsson, Tropo, Inc., Axway Software S.A., and ZTE Soft Technology Co., Ltd.The global telecom API platform market is segmented as below:Telecom API Platform MarketBy Telecom OperatorT1 PlayersT2 PlayersT3 PlayersBy ModuleSet-upMonetization and Pricing ModelOperator ShareVendor ShareBy GeographyNorth AmericaThe U.S.Rest of North AmericaEuropeEU7 CountriesCIS CountriesRest of EuropeAsia PacificChinaJapanSouth AsiaAustralasiaRest of APACMiddle East and Africa (MEA)GCC CountriesSouth AfricaRest of MEALatin AmericaBrazilRest of Latin AmericaRequest to Buy This Report From Here @MarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports, supporting clients' market intelligence needs with over 100,000 market research reports, company profiles, data books, and regional market profiles in its repository. We also offer consulting support for custom market research needs.Our document database is updated by the hour, which means that our customers always have access to fresh data spanning over 300 industries. From Fortune 500 companies to SMEs, MarketResearchReports.biz has built a veritable reputation for fulfilling the most exacting market research needs.State Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948(USA-Canada)Tel: +1-518-621-2074E: sales@marketresearchreports.bizMedical Diagnostic Market is predicted to capture major share by 2023 ; Biomerieux, Beckman Coulter Diagnostics, Roche Qiagen, Amgenix International, BD, Cepheid, DiagCor, Hologic, Life Technologies

Medical Diagnostic Market

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A new research report added Medical Diagnostic Market focuses by crystal market research analyzes the current and future prospects of the market. The report comprises comprehensive research based study executive summary with primary and secondary research.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Latest Market Trends and Industry InsightsThe Medical Diagnostics Market has remarked significant demand in the recent years and is foreseen to grow tremendously in the forthcoming years. Medical diagnostics render solution to cater to greater health challenges which the general public faces, like, the fight against antimicrobial resistance, and sepsis prevention and surveillance. Furthermore, they have a prime role in the control, prevention and surveillance of pandemics. These tests examine biological samples such as saliva, blood, skin, urine, etc., taken from patients; determine the existence of any type of viruses, bacteria, parasites or fungi along with any other secreted substances by an individual. Medical diagnostics is a process of carrying out diagnostic tests by making use of analysing reagents, apparatuses and systems to ascertain a pathological condition or a disease in a laboratory. The global market for medical diagnostics is predicted to capture major share in the future as these diagnostic tools are user-friendly and are superiorly accessible. The increasing acceptance and use of point-of-care (POC) tests and with the introduction of biomarker-based tests globally, this market is sure to gain popularity during the forecast period.Competitive InsightsThe leading players in the market are Biomerieux, Beckman Coulter Diagnostics, Roche Qiagen, Amgenix International, BD, Cepheid, DiagCor, Hologic, Life Technologies, Randox Laboratories and Span Diagnostics. The major players in the market are profiled in detail in view of qualities, for example, company portfolio, business strategies, financial overview, recent developments, and share of the overall industry.Regional Outlook and Trend AnalysisNorth America held the biggest share of the overall industry based on income attributable to expanding geriatric populace base, rising awareness in patients towards the importance of lab tests, accessibility of cost effective tests associated with chronic sicknesses, for example, hepatitis C and AIDS. Developing interest for healthcare benefits in developing markets and the nearness of highly neglected clinical testing needs have brought about advancement of beneficial opportunities for development of research facility testing market in rising economies, for example, China and India.Some of the benefits of Medical diagnostics are SpeedConnectivityPortabilityAssuranceConvenienceRequest to Get Exclusive Sample Copy At:Market ClassificationBy Product:POC diagnosticsMolecular diagnosticsHematology devicesTissue diagnosticsClinical microbiology systemsMedical Diagnostic Market, By RegionNorth AmericaU.SCanadaMexicoEuropeGermanyFranceUKItalySpainRest of EuropeAsia-PacificJapanChinaAustraliaIndiaSouth KoreaRest of Asia PacificRest of the WorldBrazilSouth AfricaSaudi ArabiaUnited Arab EmiratesOthersRead Premium News from The Release wire of Digital-Health-Market at:A brief discussion about Medical Diagnostic MarketMedical diagnostics is a procedure of ascertaining as what/which condition or disease explains an individuals signs and symptoms. It is frequently termed as diagnosis. A part of this is related to diagnostic tests which has observed an exponential rise in the sensitivity and preciseness in recent decades.Medical diagnostic tests consists of making use of sophisticated laboratory tests, keeping a tab on external symptoms and intricate imaging procedures which enable in-depth non-invasive internal examinations.The enhanced procedures for performing the diagnostics tests results in rendering precise patient data to the healthcare professional. The procedure of medical diagnostics is constituted when indication to differentiate a potential cause of the individuals main symptoms from all the other probable causes is determined.Major Table of Contents:Chapter 1. Introduction1.1. Report Description1.2. Research Methodology1.2.1. Secondary Research1.2.2. Primary ResearchChapter 2. Executive Summary2.1. Key HighlightsChapter 3. Market Overview3.1. Introduction3.1.1. Market Definition3.1.2. Market Segmentation3.2. Market Dynamics3.2.1. Drivers3.2.2. Restraints3.2.3. Opportunities4. Market Analysis by Regions5. Medical Diagnostic Market, By Product5.1. Introduction5.2. Global Medical Diagnostic Sales, Revenue and Market Share by Product (2014-2018)5.2.1. Global Medical Diagnostic Sales and Sales Share by Product (2014-2018)5.2.2. Global Medical Diagnostic Revenue and Revenue Share by Product (2014-2018)5.3. POC Diagnostics5.3.1. Global POC Diagnostics Sales and Growth Rate (2014-2018)5.4. Molecular Diagnostics5.4.1. Global Molecular Diagnostics Sales and Growth Rate (2014-2018)5.5. Hematology Devices5.5.1. Global Hematology Devices Sales and Growth Rate (2014-2018)5.6. Tissue Diagnostics5.6.1. Global Tissue Diagnostics Sales and Growth Rate (2014-2018)5.7. Clinical Microbiology Systems5.7.1. Global Clinical Microbiology Systems Sales and Growth Rate (2014-2018)....CONTINUED FOR TOCVarious healthcare facilities across the world are working towards permitting prompt detection of disease by presently dispersing their respective facilities in order to render medical services at remote locations and cost-efficiently. Since these tools for diagnosis are easily accessible and user-friendly, the global medical diagnostic situation is prognosticated to garner considerable traction in the forthcoming years.Some Key Factors of Our Research Report - 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 Medical Diagnostic Market, thereby allowing players to develop effective long term strategies. Develop/modify business expansion plans by using substantial growth offering developed and emerging markets. Enhance the decision-making process by understanding the strategies that underpin commercial interest with respect to products, segmentation and industry verticals.To Check an Any Discount Offers of Report, Please Click On The Link @About Crystal Market Research:Crystal Offers One Stop Solution For Market Research, Business Intelligence, And Consulting Services To Help Clients Make More Informed Decisions. It Provides Both Syndicated As Well As Customized Research Studies For Its Customers Spread Across The Globe. The Company Offers Market Intelligence Reports Across A Broad Range Of Industries Including Healthcare, Chemicals & Materials, Technology, Automotive, And Energy.Contact Us:Judy S,304 South Jones Blvd, Suite 1896,Las Vegas NV 89107,United StatesToll Free: +1-888-213-4282Email: Sales@Crystalmarketresearch.ComGlobal Antilock Braking System(ABS) Market 2018 | Major Key Players : Bosch, Mando, Advics, Wabco, Wanxiang Qianchao, Haldex, Hyundai Mobis, Knorr Analysis And Forecast: MI Reports

Antilock Braking System(ABS) Market 2018

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Description :Antilock Braking System(ABS)-Global Market Status and Trend Report 2013-2023 offers a comprehensive analysis on Antilock Braking System(ABS) industry, standing on the readers perspective, delivering detailed market data and penetrating insights. No matter the client is industry insider, potential entrant or investor, the report will provides useful data and information. Key questions answered by this report include:Worldwide and Regional Market Size of Antilock Braking System(ABS) 2013-2017, and development forecast 2018-2023Main manufacturers/suppliers of Antilock Braking System(ABS) worldwide, with company and product introduction, position in the Antilock Braking System(ABS) marketMarket status and development trend of Antilock Braking System(ABS) by types and applicationsCost and profit status of Antilock Braking System(ABS), and marketing statusMarket growth drivers and challengesFor Sample Report @The report segments the global Antilock Braking System(ABS) market as:Global Antilock Braking System(ABS) Market: Regional Segment Analysis (Regional Production Volume, Consumption Volume, Revenue and Growth Rate 2013-2023):North AmericaEuropeChinaJapanRest APACLatin AmericaGlobal Antilock Braking System(ABS) Market: Type Segment Analysis (Consumption Volume, Average Price, Revenue, Market Share and Trend 2013-2023):Four LeadingThree LeadingTwo LeadingOne LeadingGlobal Antilock Braking System(ABS) Market: Application Segment Analysis (Consumption Volume and Market Share 2013-2023; Downstream Customers and Market Analysis)Commercial VehiclePassenger CarGlobal Antilock Braking System(ABS) Market: Manufacturers Segment Analysis (Company and Product introduction, Antilock Braking System(ABS) Sales Volume, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin):BoschMandoAdvicsWabcoWanxiang QianchaoHaldexHyundai MobisKnorrNissinTIDongfeng ElectronicKormeeShanghai Automotive Brake SystemsComplete Report Details @Table Of ContentChapter 1 Overview of Antilock Braking System(ABS)1.1 Definition of Antilock Braking System(ABS) in This Report1.2 Commercial Types of Antilock Braking System(ABS)1.2.1 Four Leading1.2.2 Three Leading1.2.3 Two Leading1.2.4 One Leading1.3 Downstream Application of Antilock Braking System(ABS)1.3.1 Commercial Vehicle1.3.2 Passenger Car1.4 Development History of Antilock Braking System(ABS)1.5 Market Status and Trend of Antilock Braking System(ABS) 2013-20231.5.1 Global Antilock Braking System(ABS) Market Status and Trend 2013-20231.5.2 Regional Antilock Braking System(ABS) Market Status and Trend 2013-2023Chapter 2 Global Market Status and Forecast by Regions2.1 Market Development of Antilock Braking System(ABS) 2013-20172.2 Production Market of Antilock Braking System(ABS) by Regions2.2.1 Production Volume of Antilock Braking System(ABS) by Regions2.2.2 Production Value of Antilock Braking System(ABS) by Regions2.3 Demand Market of Antilock Braking System(ABS) by Regions2.4 Production and Demand Status of Antilock Braking System(ABS) by Regions2.4.1 Production and Demand Status of Antilock Braking System(ABS) by Regions 2013-20172.4.2 Import and Export Status of Antilock Braking System(ABS) by Regions 2013-2017Chapter 3 Global Market Status and Forecast by Types3.1 Production Volume of Antilock Braking System(ABS) by Types3.2 Production Value of Antilock Braking System(ABS) by Types3.3 Market Forecast of Antilock Braking System(ABS) by TypesChapter 4 Global Market Status and Forecast by Downstream Industry4.1 Demand Volume of Antilock Braking System(ABS) by Downstream Industry4.2 Market Forecast of Antilock Braking System(ABS) by Downstream IndustryChapter 5 Market Driving Factor Analysis of Antilock Braking System(ABS)5.1 Global Economy Situation and Trend Overview5.2 Antilock Braking System(ABS) Downstream Industry Situation and Trend OverviewChapter 6 Antilock Braking System(ABS) Market Competition Status by Major Manufacturers6.1 Production Volume of Antilock Braking System(ABS) by Major Manufacturers6.2 Production Value of Antilock Braking System(ABS) by Major Manufacturers6.3 Basic Information of Antilock Braking System(ABS) by Major Manufacturers6.3.1 Headquarters Location and Established Time of Antilock Braking System(ABS) Major Manufacturer6.3.2 Employees and Revenue Level of Antilock Braking System(ABS) Major Manufacturer6.4 Market Competition News and Trend6.4.1 Merger, Consolidation or Acquisition News6.4.2 Investment or Disinvestment News6.4.3 New Product Development and LaunchChapter 7 Antilock Braking System(ABS) Major Manufacturers Introduction and Market Data7.1 Bosch7.1.1 Company profile7.1.2 Representative Antilock Braking System(ABS) Product7.1.3 Antilock Braking System(ABS) Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of Bosch7.2 Mando7.2.1 Company profile7.2.2 Representative Antilock Braking System(ABS) Product7.2.3 Antilock Braking System(ABS) Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of Mando7.3 Advics7.3.1 Company profile7.3.2 Representative Antilock Braking System(ABS) Product7.3.3 Antilock Braking System(ABS) Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of Advics7.4 Wabco7.4.1 Company profile7.4.2 Representative Antilock Braking System(ABS) Product7.4.3 Antilock Braking System(ABS) Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of Wabco7.5 Wanxiang Qianchao7.5.1 Company profile7.5.2 Representative Antilock Braking System(ABS) Product7.5.3 Antilock Braking System(ABS) Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of Wanxiang QianchaoContinued.About Us:Wise Guy Reports Is Part Of The Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. And Offers Premium Progressive Statistical Surveying, Market Research Reports, Analysis & Forecast Data For Industries And Governments Around The Globe. Wise Guy Reports Features An Exhaustive List Of Market Research Reports From Hundreds Of Publishers Worldwide. We Boast A Database Spanning Virtually Every Market Category And An Even More Comprehensive Collection Of Market Research Reports Under These Categories And Sub-Categories.CONTACT US:NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe.Office No.528,Amanora Chambers,Magarpatta Road,Hadapsar,Pune-411028.Global Healthcare Safety and Risk Management solutions Market 2023 report provides a detailed perspective and is a professional overview of current state affairs, with the key players like MRM Group, LLC, Datix Ltd

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Healthcare safety is a new health care discipline that highlights and helps in prevention, reduction, analyzing and reporting of medical errors that frequently leads to adverse health care events and risk management. The risk management and patient safety team work closely with clinical teams and other corporate areas in finding the risks, acting as a resource and giving support on all aspects of risk management.Global Healthcare Safety and Risk Management solutions Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of +11% during the forecast period 2018-2023As the need to comply with regulatory guidelines increases, the market for patient safety and risk management software has significantly improved with the growing need for healthcare costs, the frequency of medical errors, and the need for diverse government policies to encourage IT use in various healthcare sectors. The governments are raising awareness about the patient population by leading a patient safety campaign around the world. Several healthcare IT companies have also introduced innovative IT solutions that ensure patient safety.Get Sample Copy@Key Players:MRM Group, LLC, Datix Ltd, RL Solutions, MetricStream Inc., QuintilesIMS, Health Catalyst, The Patient Safety Company, Ncontracts LLC, and QUANTROS, INCA new intelligence report titled as Global Healthcare Safety and Risk Management solutions Market offers a 360-degree overview of the worldwide market. The study also showed a broad overview of market participants and strategic business activities, and thus became one of the pioneers in the industry. Industry growth is combined with an in-depth understanding of players who actively invest in mergers and acquisitions.The European Commission Patient Safety Commission Recommendation (2009) proposed various measures for general patient safety and health-related infections (HAIs) and called on EU Member States to: National policy development for patient safety; Inform and inform the patient. Establish a reporting and learning system for side effects.The report offers subjective as well as quantitative researched information of the Global Market. The Porters five theory and SWOT examination have also been utilized for analyzing the market data. The fundamental plans accepted by the prestigious players for a better penetration in the Global Healthcare Safety and Risk Management solutions Market also form a vital section of this study. The market dynamics for example drivers, restraints and opportunities have been offered together with their consistent impact examination.Early buyers will receive up to 40% Discount on this reportTable of Contents:Global Healthcare Safety and Risk Management solutions Market Research Report 2018-2023Chapter 1: Healthcare Safety and Risk Management solutions Market OverviewChapter 2: Global Economic Impact on IndustryChapter 3: Healthcare Safety and Risk Management solutions Market Competition by ManufacturersChapter 4: Global Production, Revenue (Value) by RegionChapter 5: Global Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by RegionsChapter 6: Global Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by TypeChapter 7: Healthcare Safety and Risk Management solutions Market Analysis by ApplicationChapter 8: Manufacturing Cost AnalysisChapter 9: Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream BuyersChapter 10: Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/TradersChapter 11: Healthcare Safety and Risk Management solutions Market Effect Factors AnalysisChapter 12: Global Healthcare Safety and Risk Management solutions Market ForecastTo get more information, Ask for Sample PDF illustration with TOC, Tables, Figures and Charts @About Qyreports:We at, QYReports , a leading market research report publisher accommodate more than 4,000 celebrated clients worldwide putting them at advantage in todays competitive world with our understanding of research. Our list of customers includes prestigious Chinese companies, multinational companies, SME's and private equity firms whom we have helped grow and sustain with our fact-based research. Our business study covers a market size of over 30 industries offering unfailing insights into analysis to reimagine your business. We specialize in forecasts needed for investing in a new project, to revolutionize your business, to become more customer centric and improve the quality of output.Contact:QYReportsJones John(Sales Manager)+91-9764607607sales@qyreports.comThe law minister also said that Indian Air Force badly needs planes as the old planes are causing repeated accidents.

New Delhi: Law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday rejected the Congress demand for a probe into the Rafale fighter jet deal, saying an inquiry cannot be set up only to satisfy the ego of an ill-informed leader of the Opposition party who repeats lies.

He also said that former defence minister A.K. Antony has a lot to answer for keeping the public-sector Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which was to be offset partner of the French maker of Rafale jets, in the lurch despite being in office for eight years. I dont think JPC or CAG inquiry is set up to satisfy the ego of an ill-informed leader who repeats lies with alarming regularity, said Mr Prasad, in an apparent attack on Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

His response came after Congress leaders met the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) seeking a probe into alleged irregularities in the Rafale fighter jet deal and for leaving HAL out of the offset contract and transfer of technology. The Congress has also been demanding a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the matter. Mr Prasad said Mr Antony was the defence minister when the offset rule was framed, as incumbent defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman has already articulated.

Under Indias offset policy, foreign defence entities are mandated to spend at least 30 per cent of the total contract value in India through procurement of components or setting up of research and development facilities.

He was the minister who left HAL in lurch, as far as the joint operations is concerned. Mr Antony has a lot to answer. What has struck me more is that Mr Antony, who was defence minister for eight years during which nothing could be done for modernisation and empowerment of Indian forces, (is making statement on the issue), said Mr Prasad.

The law minister also said that Indian Air Force badly needs planes as the old planes are causing repeated accidents. Should the Congress at least rise to the occasion for the sake of countrys safety and security, Mr Prasad added.Saudi Arabia Pharmaceutical Market to Register a Steady Expansion at CAGR 9.0% by 2026

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The significant rise in lifestyle-related diseases and the developments in healthcare infrastructure are expected to influence the demand for pharmaceuticals in Saudi Arabia. In 2016, the Saudi Arabia pharmaceutical market is anticipated to procure value worth US$ 5,209.5 Mn at a y-o-y growth of 6.0 % over 2015. The mounting demand for branded drug products will continue to incite the growth of the Saudi Arabian pharmaceutical market in 2016.A Sample of this Report is Available upon Request @The demand for pharmaceuticals in Saudi Arabia is expected to register substantial growth owing to the increasing penetration of health insurance companies and the rising incidence rate of non-communicable diseases. Furthermore, the exceptional rise in the per capita income of Saudi Arabia is also expected to foster the demand for branded pharmaceutical drugs. Another key factor driving the growth of the pharmaceutical market in Saudi Arabia is the countrys strategic move to allow 100% FDI in the pharmaceuticals sector. Although, the shortage of profound indigenous research capacity in the pharmaceutical industry and the delayed registration of drug and medicine patents is expected to limit the expansion of the market in 2016 and beyond.Based on the product type, the pharmaceutical market in Saudi Arabia is expected to witness an upsurge in the prescription-type branded drug products. In terms of market value, the branded drugs are estimated to reach US$ 2,760.8 Mn by 2016-end. The demand for generic drugs is projected to secure steady growth, attributing to the insisting promotion of generic drug adoption by healthcare insurance providers.On the basis of the diseases, the pharmaceutical drugs used for treatment of cardiovascular diseases will continue exhibiting robust growth in 2016. The demand for cardiovascular medications will continue to surge due to the prominence of circulatory disorders in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, the rising prevalence of disorders related to body sugar levels is expected to make diabetes a rapidly growing disease-based sub-segment in the Saudi Arabia pharmaceutical market.The pharmaceutical market in Saudi Arabia is also segmented on the basis of distribution channel, where retail pharmacies will continue to account for 80% market share compared to hospital pharmacies. The westernised modernisation of retail pharmacies in Saudi Arabia has led to the availability of a wide range drugs and medicinal products, thereby attaining a considerable growth in the retail pharmacy sub-segment in 2016 and further.Access Report with Table of Contents @The rising resource potential in Saudi Arabia is projected to positively reform the production environment for pharmaceutical manufacturers. In order to expand the markets size, structuring alliances with well-established native companies is predicted to be a key strategy for global pharmaceutical leaders. The key players in the Saudi Arabia pharmaceutical market include Novartis AG, SPIMACO, Pfizer Inc., and Glaxosmithkline plc., Jamjoom Pharma, and Tabuk Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Co. among others.About UsFuture Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centers in the U.S. and India.FMIs research and consulting services help businesses around the globe navigate the challenges in a rapidly evolving marketplace with confidence and clarity. Our customized and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. We continuously track emerging trends and events in a broad range of end industries to ensure our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers.Contact UsU.S. Office616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWeb:Fungicides Market to Exhibit Impressive Growth During 2016-2022

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Fungicides is a type of pesticide used to kill the fungi or fungi spores. Fungicides finds major use in the agricultural sector for crop protection. It is used to prevent the damage to crops caused by the attack of fungicides. It gives higher yield with better quality of the crops. It is also used to kill the fungal infections in animals. The use of fungicides differ according to the type of crop. Different types of fungicides available are translaminar, systemic and contact fungicides. The active ingredients include chlorothalonil, mancozeb, prochloraz, propicanazole, prochloraz, propicanazole and many more. One of the most common active ingredient in the fungicides is sulfur. Some fungicides are dangerous to human health and so the major laws governing the use of fungicides in different countries is expected to hamper the growth of global fungicides market in the near future. However, the global fungicides market is expected to witness a moderate single digit growth in the forecast period.The most significant demand driver for the global fungicides market is the increasing demand for fungicides in the crop protection sector for ensuring higher crop yields. The growing population is also expected to be the major driving factor for the global fungicides market. The increasing concerns pertaining to the disease control is anticipated to drive the global fungicides market. The shrinking arable land and the growing demand for food is projected to increase the demand for fungicides, thereby driving the global fungicides market.Request Report Sample@The growing technological advancements in the seeds is expected to restrain the global fungicides market in the upcoming years. The use of genetically modified crops is projected to restrain the growth of global fungicides market in the near future.The development of new organic fungicides is expected to create new opportunities in terms of revenue for the major players in the global fungicides market.The global fungicides market can be segmented on the basis of product type and crop typeOn the basis of type, the global fungicides market is segmented as:BenzimidazolesTriazolesDithiocarbamatesChloronitrilesPhenylamidesStrobilurinsOthersOn the basis of crop types, the global fungicides market is segmented as:FruitsVegetablesCereals and grainsOilseedsOthersThe global fungicides market is segmented into five key regions on the basis of geography as North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. Asia pacific holds the largest market share in the global fungicides market, owing to the large agricultural business in this region. India and China is expected to be the maximum market share holding countries in the global fungicides market. Use of fungicides in the European countries is also expected to increase in the near future due to the stringent regulatory authorities in this region. The consumption of fungicides is also anticipated to escalate in the European countries in the upcoming years. The consumption of fungicides in Middle East and Africa is projected to demonstrate a stagnant growth in the forecast period.Visit For TOC@Some of the key players identified in the global fungicides market are, BASF SE, Bayer AG, Syngenta AG, The Dow Chemical Company, E.I. Dupont De Nemours & Company, Cheminova A/S, Nufarm Ltd, Chemtura CorporationPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.NYNYNon-Destructive Testing Services Market 2018 Industry Analysis by MISTRAS Group, Olympus, GE Inspection Technologies, Intertek Group PLC, SGS S.A., Olympus, Nikon Metrology

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Non-Destructive Testing Services Market 2018 Global Industry Size, Growth, Trends, Share, And Key Country Analysis 2018" is latest market research report on Non-Destructive Testing Services Industry, which provides comprehensive information on Global Non-Destructive Testing Services Market Research Report: By Product, Type (Ultrasonic, Radiography, Liquid Penetrant, Magnetic Particle, Eddy-Current, Visual Inspection), Application, Vertical by Forecast Till 2023Non-Destructive Testing Services Market Key Players:Some of the prominent players in the global non-destructive testing services market are MISTRAS Group, Inc. (U.S.), Olympus Corporation (Japan), GE Inspection Technologies (U.S.), Intertek Group PLC (U.K.), SGS S.A. (Switzerland), Olympus Corporation (Japan), Nikon Metrology, Inc. (U.S.), Ashtead Technology, Inc. (U.S.), Sonatest Ltd. (U.K), Bosello High Technology S.R.L. (Italy), and Fujifilm Holdings Corporation (Japan).Get Sample Reports@Non-Destructive Testing Services Market HighlightsThe global non-destructive testing services market is projected to witness a rapid growth during the forecast period owing to increasing demand for extending the useful life of ageing infrastructure and increasing emergence of industrial internet of things. Moreover, increasing demand for non-destructive testing services across various industry verticals is driving the growth of the global non-destructive testing services market.The global non-destructive testing services market, is segmented by geography into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World. The North America market is expected to witness significant growth and hold the largest share of the global market during the forecast period. U.S. and Canada are anticipated to drive the growth of the non-destructive testing services market in North America region owing to the presence of a large number of established key players such as MISTRAS Group, Inc., GE Inspection Technologies, Nikon Metrology, Inc., and Ashtead Technology, Inc. The market is likely to show immense growth in future due to the sustainable and well-established economies in the region. Additionally, North America also has a well-established infrastructure, which allows a higher penetration of devices and ensures better connectivity. The growth of the market is also attributed to the increasing focus of business organizations on safety of the workers and the increase in stringent safety regulations formulated by governments. In the global non-destructive testing services market, Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness a relatively faster adoption at the highest CAGR during the forecast period as compared to other regions, owing to the increasing outsourcing of non-core activities and technical resource constraints across countries in the region.Non-Destructive Testing Services Market SegmentationThe global non-destructive testing services market is segmented by type, technique, application and vertical. However, the application segment is classified into flaw detection, leak detection, dimensional measurement, estimation of physical properties, chemical composition determination, and stress & structure analysis. Increasing demand for flaw detection and leak detection applications is driving the growth of non-destructive testing services market. This is due to the increasing demand to ensure safety of the workers and employees.Non-Destructive Testing Services Market AnalysisNorth America is expected to account for the largest market share, whereas Europe market is projected to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period. The market in North America is witnessing a rapid growth due to the technological advancements and the rise in demand for non-destructive testing services across industry verticals in this region. The U.S. holds the majority of market share both in terms of revenue and due to the increased demand for the better use of the ageing infrastructure.Get Full Report@Intended Audience: Technology Investors Research/Consultancy firms Government Bodies Service Providers Information Technology (IT) developers Consulting service providers Technology Providers System integratorsTable of Contents1 Executive Summary2 Scope of the Report2.1 Market Definition2.2 Scope of the Study2.2.1 Research Objectives2.2.2 Assumptions & Limitations2.3 Markets StructureContinues...About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact Us:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune  411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +91 841 198 5042Mail: sales@marketresearchfuture.comHuman Resources Management Software (HRMS) Market Future Trends and Stunning Huge Growth by 2025: BambooHR, Gusto, Zenefits, SAP, Namely, ADP, Plex Systems, Inc., Ceridian, Arizona Public Service  APS, and Plex, Inc

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The forecast period 2018-2025 is going to be great for the Human Resources Management Software (HRMS) Market which will be the face changer for ICT industry. The users are increasing day by day hence increasing CAGR levels. The SWOT analysis shows about what the market drivers and restrains are.This report also studies the global market status, competition landscape, market share, growth rate, future trends, market drivers, opportunities and challenges, sales channels, distributors and Porter's Five Forces Analysis. The key players and brands are the driving factors for the Xyz market. This report provides a thorough synopsis on the markets definition, classifications, applications, and engagements.The Key Players Covered In This Report:BambooHR, Gusto, Zenefits, Fairsail HRMS, Kronos Workforce Ready, SAP, Namely, APS, Cezanne OnDemand, ADP, Deputy, Plex, Deskera HRMS, BizMerlin, HR-One, Ceridian, Optimum HR, Talmetrix, TribeHR, SutiHR and IntellectRequest Free Sample Copy of the Report @This report focuses on the global Human Resources Management Software (HRMS) status, future forecast, growth opportunity, key market and key players. The study objectives are to present the Human Resources Management Software (HRMS) development in United States, Europe and China.Market segment by Type, the product can be split into Cloud Based Human Resources Management Software Web-based Human Resources Management Software On-Premises Human Resources Management SoftwareMarket segment by Application, split into Small and Medium Business Large BusinessRequest for Report Brochure for Latest Industry Insights @Major Table of Contents:1 Scope of the Report2 Executive Summaries3 Global Human Resources Management Software (HRMS) by Players4 Human Resources Management Software (HRMS) by Regions5 Americas6 APAC7 Europe8 Middle East & Africa9 Market Drivers, Challenges and Trends10 Global Human Resources Management Software (HRMS) Market Forecast11 Key Players Analysis12 Research Findings and ConclusionThe Study Objectives Of This Report Are: To analyze global Human Resources Management Software (HRMS) status, future forecast, growth opportunity, key market and key players. To present the Human Resources Management Software (HRMS) development in United States, Europe and China. To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their development plan and strategies. To define, describe and forecast the market by product type, market and key regions.Customization Options All segmentation provided above in this report is represented at country level and can be customized according to needs. All products covered in the market, product volume and average selling prices will be included as customizable options which may incur no or minimal additional cost (depends on customization).Place a Purchase Order for Contract Packaging Market@About Research for Markets:Research for Markets indulges in detailed and diligent research on different markets, trends and emerging opportunities in the successive direction to cater to your business needs. We have established the pillars of our flourishing institute on the grounds of Credibility and Reliability. RFM delve into the markets across Asia Pacific, North America, South America, Europe, Middle East and Africa.Contact:Mr. A NaiduResearch for MarketsTel: +44 8000-4182-37 (UK)Email: alan.naidu@researchformarkets.comBlue Biotechnology Market 2023 Top Key Players are Aker BioMarine, Marinova, New England Biolabs, PML Applications Ltd., Sea Run Holdings, Inc., PICES, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Shell Marine Products and More

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Namely Blue Biotechnology Market Report has Been Published by Market Research Future Which Covers All the Geographical Locations with Demand, Trend Analysis with near about Forecasted results and Also Covers the Market Expectations.Market Synopsis:Blue biotechnology deals with the application of biotechnology to marine or aquatic sources at a molecular level to extract active new ingredients for development of new drugs and other purposes. Market Research Future (MRFR) has published a report asserting that the Global Blue Biotechnology Market is anticipated to expand at a strong CAGR of 10.2% during the forecast period of 2017-2023.Competitive Analysis:The major players of the Global Blue Biotechnology Market that are profiled in the report by MRFR are Aker BioMarine (Norway), Marinova (Australia), New England Biolabs (the U.S), PML Applications Ltd. (the U.K), Sea Run Holdings, Inc.(the U.S), PICES (Canada), Donald Danforth Plant Science Center (the U.S), Shell Marine Products (the U.S), GeoMarine Biotechnologies (India), GlycoMar (Scotland), Cellgen Biologicals Pvt Ltd. (India), Nurture Aqua Technology Pvt. Ltd. (India), Samudra Biopharma Pvt.Ltd (India) and Sanosil Biotech (India).Get PDF Sample Copy @Market Latest Update:The rapidly increasing research and development expenditure by the players for innovative product launch in medical, cosmetics, food and other industries is triggering competition in the global blue biotechnology market. The nascent stage of blue biotechnology has created huge opportunities for the product manufacturers and research institutes to explore higher verticals in the global blue biotechnology market.In June 2018, Hilton Lifestyle, LLC, a skincare manufacturer in the U.S., has announced the launch of its first full skincare line under the Paris Hilton brand called ProD.N.A. These skin care products are manufactured with the use of enzymes sourced from marine microalgae.Market Driver and Restraints:Oceans and Seas consist of large biodiversity and the development in the field of biotechnology has made it possible to utilize the marine and aquatic sources for obtaining various products that are useful for mankind. The availability of large market for blue biotech products in the various sectors is majorly driving the Global Blue Biotechnology Market.The increasing demand for blue biotech products in the pharmaceutical industry for production of various medicines and drugs is fueling the expansion of the global blue biotechnology market. The flexibility, adaptivity and constant development of blue biotechnology are widening its application range in various industries.The vital application of blue biotech products in cosmetics, food and feed industries is impacting positively on the expansion of the global blue biotechnology market. The increasing consumer demand for biologics over the conventional synthetic products is one of the major factors driving the growth of the global blue biotechnology market.The rapid development in the field of biotechnology owing to the increasing research and development expenditure is resulting in the significant expansion of the global blue biotechnology market. However, the strict regulatory framework for conservation of marine ecosystem is likely to act as a restraint on the expansion of the global blue biotechnology market.Market Segmentation:The global blue biotechnology market has been segmented on the basis of product, application and end-users. Based on products, the blue biotechnology market is segmented into enzymes, pharma products, bulk chemicals, biopolymers and other products. Based on application, the blue biotechnology market is segmented into bio-engineering, genomics, vaccine development, drug discovery and others. Based on end-users, the blue biotechnology market is segmented into hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, research institutes, laboratories, and others.Get Discount @Regional Analysis:The global blue biotechnology market has been segmented into five major regions such as North America, South America, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East and Africa. The North America region is dominating the global blue biotechnology market owing to the rapid development in the field of biotechnology and large number of players focusing on development of blue biotechnology in this region. The Europe region is the second largest market in the global blue biotechnology market due to the increasing consumer demand for biotech products in this region. The Asia Pacific region accounts for the steady growth in global blue biotechnology market as the blue biotechnology is still at a nascent stage in this region. Lack of awareness and less technological penetration in the underdeveloped area is resulting in the slow growth of blue biotechnology market in the Middle East and Africa region.Table of Content1 Report Prologue2 Introduction2.1 Definition2.2 Scope of the Study2.2.1 Research Objective2.2.2 Assumptions2.2.3 Limitations2.3 Market Structure2.4. Market Segmentation3 Research Methodology3.1 Research Process3.2 Primary Research3.3 Secondary Research3.4 Market Size Estimation3.5 Forecast Model4 Market Dynamics4.1 Drivers4.2 Restraints4.3 Opportunities4.4 Threats4.5 Macroeconomic IndicatorsContinuedEnquiry Form @Market Research Future (MRFR), enable customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.comKenya Mining Forum to gather leading industry minds in Nairobi in November

"To show the world what is possible to achieve in Kenya"

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The mining investment opportunities in Kenyas counties, case studies from successful mining projects, an update on the gemstone, artisanal and small-scale sector and how new technology can impact mining will be some of the focal points during the upcoming Kenya Mining Forum in Nairobi from 12-13 November. The programme will also discuss how the mining sector can forge synergies with its manufacturing and discuss infrastructure counterparts as well as financing and regulatory challenges.Here is a sneak preview of just some of the experts who will share their knowledge and experience at Kenya Mining Forum: Base Titaniums key message is to show the world what is possible to achieve in Kenya- Joe Schwarz  General Manager External Affairs and Development at Base Titanium, the returning exclusive diamond sponsors of the Kenya Mining Forum 2018. Joe is also part of a panel discussion during the conference on: "Experiences from within Kenyas mining industry". We see the Kenyan mining industry rising to a position where relationships between investors, government and the communities are based on trust and confidence to drive investment- Richard Kiplagat, CCO and MD East Africa for africapractice, participating as a panellist during the investment breakfast themed: Where does mining feature within Kenyas investment deck of cards? BARRON has over 10,000 active distributors, with sales and distribution centres throughout South Africa, and branches and representation in Southern, Central, East and West Africa- Darryn Scheepers, head of Africa at BARRON, a gold sponsor. The main challenge is legislative certainty for all investors, Kenyan and foreign. Another major challenge is access to finance for SMEs- Ms Wairimu Karanja, Director and Legal Consultant, EnVantage Law and Policy Consulting, and session participant in the conference on: Making sense of financial matters: Seeking solutions for Kenyas emerging mining industry. Looking to the future, we know the most viable and successful mines will be those that can harness the power of data and technology- Nick Venter, a mining engineer and General Manager Africa at Maptek, a silver sponsor. It is important that local communities and counties are involved fully in the planning and development of the mining and quarry sector- Mairura Omwenga, Chairman of the Town and County Planners Association of Kenya (TCPAK), a supporting association at Kenya Mining Forum. He is also part of a discussion at the event on Spotlight on the counties: Looking for attractive mining and quarrying investment opportunities". My vision is for the Kenyan mining industry to develop an inclusive, sustainable and transformative extractive sector- Prof Gituro Wainaina, Professor of Business Analytics, School of Business, University of Nairobi, Kenya. He also serves as Director of the Social and Political Pillars under the Vision 2030 Delivery Secretariat. In November, he is chairing a session on: Embracing nouveau technology, digital applications and smart innovation for mining and exploration. I have been talking to the mining industry about leveraging Blockchain, especially in linking the industry to supply chains- Prof. Bitange Ndemo, Chairman, Kenyas Distributed Ledgers & Artificial Intelligence Taskforce, Kenya, and panellist in the new technology discussion.The full interviews can be read on the event website.The expo is expected to be double the size of last year with more than 40 suppliers showcasing the latest local and international solutions and services for mining operations. Mining staff can hone their practical skills at the free technical workshops on the expo floor and there is a new outdoors equipment display area where some of the larger technology can be test driven.Kenya Mining Forum dates and location:Conference and expo: 12-13 November 2018Venue: Safari Park Hotel & Casino, Nairobi, KenyaThe third Kenya Mining Forum is hosted by the Kenya Chamber of Mines, the body that represents the interests of investors in the mineral development value chain, in collaboration with Spintelligent Ltd, a company recognised internationally for organising similar world class mineral related events around the continent.Other leading mining, infrastructure development, energy and agri events organised by Spintelligent on the continent include long-running flagship shows such as DRC Mining Week in Lubumbashi, Nigeria Mining Week in Abuja, Future Energy East Africa (formerly EAPIC) in Nairobi, Future Energy Nigeria (formerly WAPIC) in Lagos, African Utility Week in Cape Town and Agritech Expo Zambia.Senior communications manager: Annemarie RoodbolTelephone: +27 21 700 3558Email: annemarie.roodbol@spintelligent.comWebsite:Postal address: PO Box 321, Steenberg, 7947, South Africa2023 Projections: Synthetic Lubricants Market Report for Amsoil, British Petroleum, Valvoline, Shell and Castrol. ExxonMobil, British Petroleum

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MarketStudyReport.com Add New The Global Synthetic Lubricants market report also provides in depth analysis & prediction on consumption volume, consumption value, sale price, import and export in different region, Upstream raw materials, equipment and downstream consumers analysis and Forecast to 2023.Synthetic lubricants allow for a better performance of engine parts while providing excellent friction and the ability to operate at high temperatures. Key industry players are consistently investing huge amounts to develop lubricants suitable for different types of vehicles and offering benefits across diverse conditionsSynthetic lubricants market size is anticipated to cross USD 5 billion with consumption of over 900 kilo tons by 2023;Request a Sample of this premium Research Report:The increase in the popularity of cars having automatic transmission will further influence the penetration of synthetic lubricant products into the transmission fluid segment, with major automakers introducing numerous automatic variants in Asia-Pacific markets. These lubricants ensure optimum performance of a vehicles transmission, work as a coolant, along with keeping metal surfaces clean and protecting them against wear.Top Manufacturers in global market are given bellow:Key industry players include ExxonMobil, Fuchs, Amsoil, British Petroleum, Valvoline, Shell and Castrol. ExxonMobil, British Petroleum, Shell and Castrol were accounted for 50% of overall industry size.Scope of Report:Synthetic lubricants are engineered to endure drastic temperature changes and reduce friction to a large extent, proving suitable for automatic transmissions in vehicles having bigger engines and higher power. Automatic transmission cars are gaining traction in more developed nations in the region in conjunction with increasing consumer spending, enhanced production capacities and the augmentation of ride-haling and cab-sharing services. Reportedly, around 70% of the cars sold in the Australian market have automatic transmissions, indicating a lucrative segment for synthetic lubricants in Asia-Pacific.The global industry revenue generated from heat transfer fluid is predicted to witness growth at over 4% by 2023 on account of its enhancing heat transfer efficiency. It finds application in various industrial processing including chemical, oil & gas and pharmaceutical. High cost over mineral oil may hamper the synthetic lubricant market growth. Government regulations to support development of environment friendly product will propel the demand for bio-lubricants, are also among the major restraints.North America led by the U.S. lubricants market is set to reach over USD 1 billion by 2023. Existence of numerous aviation industry including Boeing may spur the business growth in coming years. Europe synthetic lubricants market share led by UK and Germany was over 200 kilo tons in 2015.Existence of enormous automotive and aerospace manufacturing companies including Rolls, Audi, Volkswagen, Airbus, Royce, Mercedes and BMW may increase the automobile sale, which may positively encourage the business growth over the forecast periodRequest a Discount on standard prices of this premium Market Research Report:Esters market size is predicted to witness growth at over 4% CAGR from 2016 to 2023. Rising demand from reciprocating compressor will propel the industry landscape.The global industry revenue generated from engine oils was valued at over 1 billion in 2015. It offers sustainable film protection and high operating temperature property. It also helps to improve drain intervals.Synthetic lubricants market share demand from metal working fluid accounted for over 5% in 2015. Positive outlook towards manufacturing industry is expected to augment the metalworking fluid demand over forecast period.Table of Content:Chapter 1. Methodology and ScopeChapter 2. Executive SummaryChapter 3 Synthetic Lubricants Industry InsightsChapter 4. Synthetic Lubricants Market, By Test TypeChapter 5. Synthetic Lubricants Market, By Service ProviderChapter 6. Synthetic Lubricants Market, By RegionChapter 7. Company ProfilesTo View Full Report:Related Report:2018 Global 8DM (16a-Methyl-Epoxide) (CAS 24916-90-3) Industry Report - History, Present and FutureThe global market size of 8DM (16a-Methyl-Epoxide) is $XX million in 2017 with XX CAGR from 2013 to 2017, and it is expected to reach $XX million by the end of 2023 with a CAGR of XX% from 2018 to 2023. There are 3 key segments covered in this repor...About Us:Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Market Study Report4 North Main Street,Selbyville, Delaware 19975USAPhone: 1-302-273-0910US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email:sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:Blog:Parking Management Solution Market Future Forecast by Top Manufacturers (2018-2022): Parkeon S.A.S, Parking BOXX, IPS Group, Inc, METRIC Group Ltd, Ventek International, Worldwide Parking, Inc, J.J.MacKay Canada Ltd

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Worldwide Market Reports has announced the addition of the Global Parking Management Solution Market Size Status and Forecast 2022, The report classifies the global Parking Management Solution Market in a precise manner to offer detailed insights about the aspects responsible for augmenting as well as restraining market growth.This report studies the global Parking Management Solution market, analyzes and researches the Parking Management Solution development status and forecast in United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia. This report focuses on the top players in global market, likeParkeon S.A.S, Parking BOXX, IPS Group, Inc, METRIC Group Ltd, Ventek International, Worldwide Parking, Inc, J.J.MacKay Canada Ltd, CivicSmart, Inc, LocoMobi, Inc, POM, Inc., Cale Access AB, SKIDATA, Dahua Technology, FrogparkingRequest a Sample Copy:Market segment by Regions/Countries, this report coversUnited StatesEUJapanChinaIndiaSoutheast AsiaMarket segment by Type, the product can be split intoParking MetersParking KiosksMarket segment by Application, Parking Management Solution can be split intoStreet ParkingParking VenuesTable of ContentsGlobal Parking Management Solution Market Size, Status and Forecast 20221 Industry Overview of Parking Management Solution2 Global Parking Management Solution Competition Analysis by Players3 Company (Top Players) Profiles3.1 Mobetize Corp.3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.1.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.1.4 Parking Management Solution Revenue (Value) (2013-2017)3.1.5 Recent Developments3.2 Remitly3.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.2.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.2.4 Parking Management Solution Revenue (Value) (2013-2017)3.2.5 Recent Developments3.3 Regalii3.3.1 Company Profile3.3.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.3.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.3.4 Parking Management Solution Revenue (Value) (2013-2017)3.3.5 Recent Developments3.4 peerTransfer3.4.1 Company Profile3.4.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.4.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.4.4 Parking Management Solution Revenue (Value) (2013-2017)3.4.5 Recent Developments3.5 Currency Cloud3.5.1 Company Profile3.5.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.5.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.5.4 Parking Management Solution Revenue (Value) (2013-2017)3.5.5 Recent Developments3.6 Azimo4 Global Parking Management Solution Market Size by Type and Application (2013-2017)5 United States Parking Management Solution Development Status and Outlook6 EU Parking Management Solution Development Status and Outlook7 Japan Parking Management Solution Development Status and Outlook8 China Parking Management Solution Development Status and Outlook9 India Parking Management Solution Development Status and Outlook10 Southeast Asia Parking Management Solution Development Status and Outlook11 Market Forecast by Regions, Type and Application (2017-2022)12 Parking Management Solution Market DynamicsElse place an Inquire before Purchase Global Parking Management Solution Market Size, Status and Forecast 2022:Worldwide Market Reports is your one-stop repository of detailed and in-depth market research reports compiled by an extensive list of publishers from across the globe. We offer reports across virtually all domains and an exhaustive list of sub-domains under the sun. The in-depth market analysis by some of the most vastly experienced analysts provide our diverse range of clients from across all industries with vital decision making insights to plan and align their market strategies in line with current market trends. Worldwide Market Researchs well-researched inputs that encompass domains ranging from IT to healthcare enable our prized clients to capitalize upon key growth opportunities and shield against credible threats prevalent in the market in the current scenario and those expected in the near future.Mr. ShahWorldwide Market ReportsTel: +1 415 871 0703Email: sales@worldwidemarketreports.comVisit our news Website:



Theres a strong and growing demand for schools to provide instruction across grade levels and subjects that leads to students who are bilingual and biliterate. In this fourth installment on the growth in dual-language learning, one expert explores how his district recruits and retains teachers who are fluent in two or more languages.

Education Week has talked with several regional and national dual-language education experts, who offer insights into what it takes to launch dual-language programs and strengthen existing ones. If you havent already, read the first three installments of our reporting on dual-language learning. Theres our explainer on dual-language learning , our chat about how to start planning for new dual-language programs , and an interview with an expert talking about how all students benefit from dual-language learning .

Now, you can dive into our conversation with Michael Bacon, the director of dual-language education in the Portland, Ore., schools. The district offers dual-language programs in five languagesChinese, Japanese, Spanish, Russian, and Vietnameseand is considering adding Arabic.

Bacon, the president of the dual-language immersion special interest group of the American Council of Teachers of Foreign Languages, has more than two decades of teaching and administrative experience in language immersion education.

Education Week edited the questions and responses for clarity and length.

Question: You say that school districts must know why they want to offer dual-language programs, with the emphasis on the why. What is the why in Portland?

Answer: Weve been in dual-language immersion well over 30 years. Initially, the why was an innovative program that also helped a local neighborhood school gain enrollment and not be shut down for declining enrollment, and attract families in. But thats certainly not our why now.

Weve expanded significantly since we really established that dual-language immersion is a game-changer, especially for our emergent bilingual children whose first language is not English. From an equity lens, its about valuing those kids linguistic and cultural assets, and leveraging them for their academic [benefits], but also just in terms of their own self-identity, and who they are, and being proud of that. It helps flip the table, flips the table that is out in the general society that is very dominated by English and monolingualism.

Thats definitely what our why is. We changed ours from being the classic three goals of bilingualism, academic achievement, and cross-cultural communication to really, for us, its about the closing the opportunity gap.

Immersion is not a cure-all ... just because you have the model, it means that its an automatic win. It has to be done with integrity and it has to be done with quality, and I think thats what districts have to commit to.

Politically right now, theres lots of sensitivity, on the national level, around immigration and all kinds of things. Im excited that were really trying to work to close the opportunity gap and invest in the linguistic and cultural diversity thats in our community. That to me is the greatest investment were trying to make, in building strength in our community, strength in our world.

Q: How do you recruit and retain teachers of some of the less commonly taught languages?

A: We get real focused on recruitment, when actually its sort of a leaky bucket. One out of three teachers leave the profession in two years. So, if you dont work on retention, then the recruitment is not enough.

Believe it or not, Spanish is our hardest one. You would think that would be the easiest, but its high, high demand. Anybody who speaks Spanish and has a teaching license is a very coveted employee. So, Spanish is what I think a lot of places struggles with, although the less commonly taught languages do provide some challenges.

There are people right under our noses who are working as paraprofessionals or educational assistants who actually are highly educated, at least have a bachelors degree, are highly bilingual ... We developed a program to break down those barriers and bring those folks in on a restricted license. They have a regular teacher salary, they have access to the professional-development fund, and we pay for all the entrance fees, the application fees, the testing fees, to break down that financial barrier to get them there.

Were trying to grow our own, and if their families are here, and this is where they live, theyre most likely to stay long-term.

Photo Credit: Haitian Creole books on display at the Toussaint LOuverture Academy, a Haitian Creole dual-language program at Mattahunt Elementary school in Boston. -Gretchen Ertl for Education Week

Related Reading on Dual-Language Learning

Dual-Language Learning: 6 Key Insights for Schools

Will Every State Offer Special Recognition for Its Bilingual Graduates?

Dual-Language Programs Boost Student Achievement in English, Study FindsDelhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson Swati Maliwal tweeted about the incident.

The doctor said the excess bleeding was due to an injury in the minors private parts. (Representational image)

New Delhi: A 21-year-old man in Shahdaras Seemapuri area has been arrested for allegedly raping a seven-year-old girl. The incident took place on Monday night, police said.

In a statement to the police, the victims mother alleged that a neighbour raped her daughter. The victim was playing outside her residence at around 10.30 pm on Monday when the accused took her to the bushes near the DLF chowk and raped her, a senior police officer said.

The victim was bleeding when she returned home. On being questioned by her mother, she narrated her ordeal. Based on a complaint filed by the victims mother, a case was registered at the Seemapuri police station under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the police said.

Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson Swati Maliwal tweeted about the incident. She said the accused took the girl to a park, inserted a water pipe into her private parts and then raped her.

However, the police said, according to a lady doctor who examined the victim, her condition was stable and no foreign object was inserted into her private parts. The doctor said the excess bleeding was due to an injury in the minors private parts. The victim has been admitted to Guru Teg Bahadur hospital.

The accused, a ragpicker, was arrested on Monday itself, the police said. The DCW said it will file an application seeking compensation for the rape survivor. Already malnourished, the girl has a long struggle ahead. We are going to support her in her legal fight to ensure death penalty to her culprits, Maliwal tweeted.Medication Management Market Report, History and Forecast 2018-2025, Breakdown Data by Companies (Allscripts, BD, GE Healthcare, McKesson, Cerner Corporation, Omnicell...), Key Regions, Types and Application

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This report studies the Medication Management market with many aspects of the industry like the market size, market status, market trends and forecast, the report also provides brief information of the competitors and the specific growth opportunities with key market drivers. Find the complete Medication Management market analysis segmented by companies, region, type and applications in the report.Medication Management is a key component of ensuring safe medication use. Medication Management is patient-centered care that optimizes safe, effective, appropriate drug therapy. Medication Management is medical care provided by pharmacists, or other qualified providers. The aim of Medication Management is to optimize drug therapy and improve outcomes for people taking medication, especially for people who have several chronic conditions and take several drugs to manage them, prescribed by multiple doctors.Medication management systems ensure tracking and validation of the medication administered to patients at all points of care. These systems help healthcare organizations to minimize medical errors occurring in the healthcare environment.The various contributors involved in the value chain of the product include manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, intermediaries, and customers. The key manufacturers in this market include:Allscripts, BD, GE Healthcare, McKesson, Cerner Corporation, Omnicell...Inquiry before Request a sample copy @Medication Management market continues to evolve and expand in terms of the number of companies, products, and applications that illustratesthe growth perspectives.The report also covers the list of Product range and Applications with SWOT analysis, CAGR value, further adding the essential business analytics. Medication Management market research analysis identifies the latest trends and primary factors responsible for market growth enabling the Organizations to flourish with much exposure to the markets.Geographically, this report is segmented into several key regions, with sales, revenue, market share and growth Rate of Medication Management in these regions, from 2013 to 2025, covering: North America (United States, Canada and Mexico) Europe (Germany, UK, France, Italy, Russia and Turkey etc.) Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam) South America (Brazil etc.) Middle East and Africa (Egypt and GCC Countries)By the product type, the market is primarily split into:On-premise Solutions, Web-based Solutions, Cloud-based Solutions...By the end users/application, this report covers the following segments:Hospitals, Pharmacies, Others...Browse full table of contents and data tables@The Medication Management market research report completely covers the vital statistics of the capacity, production, value, cost/profit, supply/demand import/export, further divided by company and country, and by application/type for best possible updated data representation in the figures, tables, pie chart, and graphs. These data representations provide predictive data regarding the future estimations for convincing market growth. The detailed and comprehensive knowledge about our publishers makes us out of the box in case of market analysis.The study objectives of this report are: To study and forecast the market size of Medication Management in global market. To analyze the global key players, SWOT analysis, value and global market share for top players. To define, describe and forecast the market by type, end use and region. To analyze and compare the market status and forecast among global major regions. To analyze the global 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.If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Key questions answered in this report What are the key market trends? What is driving this market? What are the challenges to market growth? Who are the key vendors in this market space? What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?Inquiry for discount on Report Copy @About Us: - MarketResearchNest.com Market Research Nest (MRN) is an offering of GRN Research Pvt. Ltd. It is a one-stop-shop for market research products and services. At MRN, we offer reports from almost all top regional and global publishers and research firms who specialize in their domains. We ensure that you receive the most reliable and up to date research data. We update our collection daily to help our clients have an access to a most up-to-date database of expert insights on global industries, organizations, products, and trends. Our database covers research studies including periodic updates on a range of industries, companies, products, SWOT profiles, recent marketing, and other trends.Contact us: - Mr. Jeet Jain, Sales Manager, sales@marketresearchnest.com ;+1-240-284-8070, +44-20-3290-4151;Connect with us: Google+ | LinkedIn | Twitter | FacebookDirected Energy Weapons Market : The Next Booming Market in the World including Leading Key Players BAE Systems, Boeing, Lockheed Martin Corp., Raytheon Co, Finmeccanica

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report Global Directed Energy Weapons Market Research Report 2018 to its huge collection of research reports.A directed-energy weapon (DEW) is the future weapon system that emits highly focused energy for target destruction. The potential applications of this advanced technology include anti-personnel weapon systems, missile defense system, and the disabling of lightly armored vehicles.A key driver propelling growth of the global DEW market is the defense of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear materials so that civilian lives and national security of a country can be preserved. DEW equipment like lasers, radiation detectors, and biosensors are being used to defend against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) emergencies. Training fire department personnel, police and paramilitary forces to use these weapons will help them be more effective in performing their roles. These factors will lead to the purchase of different types of DEW and result in the growth of the global DEW market during the forecast period.Download Free exclusive Sample of this report:The global directed energy weapons market is highly competitive, and manufacturers vie for market share based on product quality, cost, reliability, and after-market service. To succeed and thrive in this market, manufacturers have to focus on providing quality and cost-effective DEWs in this market. Factors like increasing M&A activities and increased collaborations with alliance partners will drive market growth during the forecast period.The Americas dominate the global DEW market. Each year, the government of U.S. allocates a large amount of money to the Department of Homeland Security to carry out tasks like improved border security, administering and enforcing immigration laws, improve safety, and fending off extremist attacks to name a few. This recent increase in the military spending will result in the growth of this market in the Americas.The global Directed Energy Weapons market is valued at xx million US$ in 2017 and will reach xx million US$ by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of xx% during 2018-2025.The major manufacturers covered in this reportBAE SystemsBoeingLockheed Martin Corp.Northrop Grumman Corp.Raytheon CoFinmeccanicaIsrael Aerospace IndustriesSaabThales GroupThe report is constructed through a detailed analysis by following specific industrial methodology, which contains assessments based on primary and secondary research, data that have been extracted from the various reliable sources, and through the certain interactions with industry experts. The report flows in a manner in which the market is segmented into smaller aspects that throw light on aggregators that will increase the demand for Directed Energy Weapons market. The report also profiles the major players that maintains market competition and are main contributor for the products penetration in the global market. Apart from that geographical analysis is also provided with reference to significant regional contribution. The data provided to justify the analysis is presented in terms of US dollar million/billion.Table of ContentsGlobal Directed Energy Weapons Market Research Report 20181 Directed Energy Weapons Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Directed Energy Weapons1.2 Directed Energy Weapons Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Directed Energy Weapons Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2013-2025)1.2.2 Global Directed Energy Weapons Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20171.2.3 Lethal weapons1.2.4 Non-lethal weapons1.3 Global Directed Energy Weapons Segment by Application1.3.1 Directed Energy Weapons Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2013-2025)1.3.2 Defense1.3.3 Homeland security2 Global Directed Energy Weapons Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Directed Energy Weapons Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.1.1 Global Directed Energy Weapons Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.1.2 Global Directed Energy Weapons Production and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.2 Global Directed Energy Weapons Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.3 Global Directed Energy Weapons Average Price by Manufacturers (2013-2018)3 Global Directed Energy Weapons Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2013-2018)3.1 Global Directed Energy Weapons Capacity and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)3.2 Global Directed Energy Weapons Production and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)3.3 Global Directed Energy Weapons Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)3.4 Global Directed Energy Weapons Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)Read Comprehensive Overview of Report @QYResearchReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYResearchReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.comDental Software Market 2018 Global Analysis By Key Players  LED Dental, Maxident, Navadha Enterprises, Nemotec, Owandy Radiology

Dental Software Market

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Dental Software Market 2018Wiseguyreports.Com adds Dental Software Market Market Demand, Growth, Opportunities, Analysis of Top Key Players and Forecast to 2025 To Its Research Database.Report Details:This report provides in depth study of Dental Software Market using SWOT analysis i.e. Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threat to the organization. The Dental Software Market report also provides an in-depth survey of key players in the market which is based on the various objectives of an organization such as profiling, the product outline, the quantity of production, required raw material, and the financial health of the organization.This report focuses on the global Dental Software status, future forecast, growth opportunity, key market and key players. The study objectives are to present the Dental Software development in United States, Europe and China.In 2017, the global Dental Software market size was million US$ and it is expected to reach million US$ by the end of 2025, with a CAGR of during 2018-2025.The key players covered in this studyLED DentalMaxidentNavadha EnterprisesNemotecOwandy RadiologySoftware of ExcellenceVATECHZirkonzahnZUBLER3DIEMMEABEL Dental SoftwareAnatomageB&D Dental TechnologiesCarestream DentalDentechDentsply SironaElite Computer ItaliaGuideMiaRequest a Sample Report @Market segment by Type, the product can be split intoDesign SoftwareSimulation SoftwareDiagnosis SoftwareOtherMarket segment by Application, split intoHospitalClinicMarket size split by RegionNorth AmericaUnited StatesCanadaMexicoAsia-PacificChinaIndiaJapanSouth KoreaAustraliaIndonesiaSingaporeMalaysiaPhilippinesThailandVietnamEuropeGermanyFranceUKItalySpainRussiaCentral & South AmericaBrazilRest of Central & South AmericaMiddle East & AfricaGCC CountriesTurkeyEgyptSouth AfricaKey StakeholdersDental Software ManufacturersDental Software Distributors/Traders/WholesalersDental Software Subcomponent ManufacturersIndustry AssociationDownstream VendorsIf you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Complete Report Details@Major Key Points in Table of Content:1 Report Overview1.1 Study Scope1.2 Key Market Segments1.3 Players Covered1.4 Market Analysis by Type1.4.1 Global Dental Software Market Size Growth Rate by Type (2013-2025)1.4.2 Design Software1.4.3 Simulation Software1.4.4 Diagnosis Software1.4.5 Other1.5 Market by Application1.5.1 Global Dental Software Market Share by Application (2013-2025)1.5.2 Hospital1.5.3 Clinic1.6 Study Objectives1.7 Years Considered2 Global Growth Trends2.1 Dental Software Market Size2.2 Dental Software Growth Trends by Regions2.2.1 Dental Software Market Size by Regions (2013-2025)2.2.2 Dental Software Market Share by Regions (2013-2018)2.3 Industry Trends2.3.1 Market Top Trends2.3.2 Market Drivers2.3.3 Market Opportunities3 Market Share by Key Players3.1 Dental Software Market Size by Manufacturers3.1.1 Global Dental Software Revenue by Manufacturers (2013-2018)3.1.2 Global Dental Software Revenue Market Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)3.1.3 Global Dental Software Market Concentration Ratio (CR5 and HHI)3.2 Dental Software Key Players Head office and Area Served3.3 Key Players Dental Software Product/Solution/Service3.4 Date of Enter into Dental Software Market3.5 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion Plans..12 International Players Profiles12.1 LED Dental12.1.1 LED Dental Company Details12.1.2 Company Description and Business Overview12.1.3 Dental Software Introduction12.1.4 LED Dental Revenue in Dental Software Business (2013-2018)12.1.5 LED Dental Recent Development12.2 Maxident12.2.1 Maxident Company Details12.2.2 Company Description and Business Overview12.2.3 Dental Software Introduction12.2.4 Maxident Revenue in Dental Software Business (2013-2018)12.2.5 Maxident Recent Development12.3 Navadha Enterprises12.3.1 Navadha Enterprises Company Details12.3.2 Company Description and Business Overview12.3.3 Dental Software Introduction12.3.4 Navadha Enterprises Revenue in Dental Software Business (2013-2018)12.3.5 Navadha Enterprises Recent Development12.4 Nemotec12.4.1 Nemotec Company Details12.4.2 Company Description and Business Overview12.4.3 Dental Software Introduction12.4.4 Nemotec Revenue in Dental Software Business (2013-2018)12.4.5 Nemotec Recent Development12.5 Owandy Radiology12.5.1 Owandy Radiology Company Details12.5.2 Company Description and Business Overview12.5.3 Dental Software Introduction12.5.4 Owandy Radiology Revenue in Dental Software Business (2013-2018)12.5.5 Owandy Radiology Recent Development12.6 Software of Excellence12.6.1 Software of Excellence Company Details12.6.2 Company Description and Business Overview12.6.3 Dental Software Introduction12.6.4 Software of Excellence Revenue in Dental Software Business (2013-2018)12.6.5 Software of Excellence Recent Development12.7 VATECH12.7.1 VATECH Company Details12.7.2 Company Description and Business Overview12.7.3 Dental Software Introduction12.7.4 VATECH Revenue in Dental Software Business (2013-2018)12.7.5 VATECH Recent Development12.8 Zirkonzahn12.8.1 Zirkonzahn Company Details12.8.2 Company Description and Business Overview12.8.3 Dental Software Introduction12.8.4 Zirkonzahn Revenue in Dental Software Business (2013-2018)12.8.5 Zirkonzahn Recent Development12.9 ZUBLER12.9.1 ZUBLER Company Details12.9.2 Company Description and Business Overview12.9.3 Dental Software Introduction12.9.4 ZUBLER Revenue in Dental Software Business (2013-2018)12.9.5 ZUBLER Recent Development12.10 3DIEMME12.10.1 3DIEMME Company Details12.10.2 Company Description and Business Overview12.10.3 Dental Software Introduction12.10.4 3DIEMME Revenue in Dental Software Business (2013-2018)12.10.5 3DIEMME Recent DevelopmentContinued.Contact Us:NORAH TRENTPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Sales@Wiseguyreports.ComPh: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)ABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.ADDRESS:WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaAircraft Thrust Reverser Market 2024 Key Players Safran S.A., Nordam, UTC Aerospace Systems, Triumph Group, GKN Aerospace, Spirit AeroSystems

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Global Aircraft Thrust Reverser Market is set to grow at 6.5% CAGR from 2017 to 2024 during when the North America led by the U.S. will dominate the aircraft thrust reverser industry accounting over 55% of market share impelled by presence of various industry participants and strong passenger base in the region.Request For Sample Copy Of This Report @The last few years have witnessed aircraft thrust reverser market registering a commendable growth rate on account of the products increasing installation in aircrafts. Indeed, their deployment is rather vital, as they are used for maintaining marginal safety in aircraft operations. Additionally, the product is known to provide additional power back and deceleration effect during landing. As this mechanism plays a crucial role in aircraft safety, many aircraft manufacturers have been inking strategic deals with the renowned giants in aircraft thrust reverser industry.For instance, Dassault Aviation has recently signed a contract with UTC Aerospace System for supplying an advanced nacelle system for the Falcon 6X business jet of Dassault. Under this deal, UTC Aerospace will develop an integrated power plant which comprises engine build-up system, thrust reverser, fan cowls, and inlet. Contracts such as the aforementioned are rampant in this business space, thereby encouraging other companies to follow suit and focus on novel product development.In 2013, the joint venture between Safran Nacelles, renowned suppliers of thrust reversers, aerostructures, and engine nacelles, and Middle River Aircraft Systems of GE aviation, called Nexcelle made it to the headlines for developing next-generation thrust reversers. These products can be used in jet engines and prove to be highly useful for aircraft manufacturers as they possess less weight, improved reliability, and excellent maintainability. In fact, this newly electric thrust reverser actuation system had eliminated the use of D-doors with the implementation of the O-Duct. Considering the numerous benefits of incorporating an electric mechanism, many aircraft manufacturers are giving preference for the same. Estimates in fact, claim that aircraft thrust reverser market size from the electric mechanism will increase at a CAGR of 5.5% over 2017-2024.As on today, turbulence is a major cause behind most of the in-flight injuries. The turbulence often accompanies visible weather fronts and thunderstorms. In this regard, the leading aircraft manufacturer, Boeing is focusing on the development of new technology for making air mobility safer, environmentally friendly, and more fuel efficient. In a bid to improve research activities across the organization, Boeing has also been inking strategic partnerships with other tech giants. For instance, in 2014, Boeing signed long-term agreement with Spirit AeroSystems for accomplishing the increasing requirement of aircraft structural parts. Through this agreement, Spirit signed on to mainly supply thrust reversers, pylons, and fuselage. Taking into account the huge requirement of aircraft structural parts, many giants in aircraft thrust reverser market have been making consistent investments in state-of-the-art technologies.Make an inquiry before buying this report @Speaking along similar lines, it is prudent to mention that in recent years, an increasing number of contracts have been inked among aircraft manufacturers and structural parts providers. Price benefits and accomplishing production target are the principal perspectives that both the contending parties bear in mind. For instance, Airbus has lately signed deals with several companies in aircraft thrust reverser market, a couple of which are explained below: In 2017, Woodward Inc., signed a contract with Airbus to supply a Thrust Reverser Actuation System (TRAS) for its new A320neo aircraft. In another instance, Airbus collaborated with Bombardier for the A320neo aircraft in which it has installed a next generation PW1100G engine. In order to provide TRCOS (thrust reverser cowl opening system) actuators to Airbus A320neo aircraft, Triumph Group, Inc., has signed a long-term agreement with Safran Nacelles.Airbuss business strategy is likely to help the firm maintain long-term relations with vendors and suppliers. Aligning with this strategy, numerous other aircraft manufacturers are likely to penetrate aircraft thrust reverser industry.Browse Full Report @The in-depth involvement of various participants in aircraft thrust reverser market with regard to product development and innovation is poised to generate a competitive business scenario in the future. The development of next-generation lightweight products will also enable aircraft manufacturers to reduce fuel consumption. Nowadays, as most of the people are giving preference to air mobility, the demand for fleets has been increased tremendously. In this scenario, the fuel reduction pointer would play a vital role in maintaining energy efficiency. All in all, aided by the rising demand for aircraft and highly efficient aerospace components, aircraft thrust reverser industry size is slated to cross USD 2 billion by 2024.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:Comprehensive Study on Research Report of Internet of Nano Things Market CAGR +22%, Key Players- SAP S.E, Siemens AG, Schneider Electric, Cisco Systems Inc.

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A common definition of a nanoscale system is that the overall size should be less than 100 nanometers. The main applications of Nano systems have been in the fields of mechanical systems, fluid systems and biological systems. Scientists have used nanoscale systems to better understand the impact of quantum confinement and single electron presence on electronic devices. In recent years, the use of the concept of the Internet has greatly expanded the usefulness of nanoscale systems. Thus, the global Internet in the nanomaterial market represents a market dedicated to providing interconnectivity between nanoscale systems for better data orientation, collection and processing. It also enables more flexible transitions to share data with various end users.Get a Sample Report-The list of key players includes SAP S.E. and Siemens AG in Germany, Schneider Electric and Alcatel-Lucent S.A. in France, and Intel Corporation, Cisco Systems Inc., Qualcomm Incorporated, Juniper Networks and IBM Corporation in U.S.Research N Reports has come up with a new research report to its elaborated database and is titled as Global Internet Of Nano Things Market survey report that summarizes all the essential factors that are anticipated to change within this market. This report describes through a series of passages which comprise data ranging from essential information to a sum up forecast. The data can thus be used to augment an organizations reputation in the global market.The report demonstrates a statistical survey that outlines about the competitive landscape of the Global Internet Of Nano Things Market, that comprehends the potential risk and opportunities that merchants in the market deal with. Likewise, it incorporates business profiles of some of the significant manufacturers in the market.The report explores and investigates the global Internet Of Nano Things market in a certain way by demonstrating the key parts of the market that are relied on the time frame. The major development drivers, restraints and opportunities that influence the market are analyzed at length. In addition to this, the report presents an intensive quantitative information relating to the markets future.The market has witnessed participation of international and domestic players demonstrating their market strategies. The key players have been indulging with constructive merger and acquisition activities with their fellow participants so as to work collaboratively on innovating new ideas. They are investing in research & development (R&D) of better solutions and therefore revolutionize their hold over the international market.Ask for Discount on this report-The report titled Global Internet Of Nano Things Market identifies the essential details pertaining to the industry, also providing an in-depth analysis of the market categories.it also presents a comprehensive analysis of the considerable impact that the consumer trends have on its growth. The industry verticals such as growth drivers, restrains, and futuristic opportunities have been discussed so as to give a transparent idea of the market strategies that could be applied.The global study has been compiled for the period of 2018 to 2026. The analysts have categorized the market into key segmentations, which ultimately covers provincial areas, company profiles of the leading competitors, sales revenue, sales volume, and links to the respective company websitesIn addition, with this, the report also covers the key drivers, restraints and opportunities of the global Internet Of Nano Things market. It also has the status of marketing channels, details of traders and distributors and analysis of the regional import and export. To sum it up, this market will benefit the end users and will create a successful strategy in the forthcoming years.TOC-Global Internet Of Nano Things Market Report 2018Chapter 1 Global Internet Of Nano Things Market Overview.Chapter 2 Global Economic Impact on Industry.Chapter 3 Global Market Competition by Manufacturers.Chapter 4 Global Production, Revenue (Value) by Region.Chapter 5 Supply (Production), Consumption, Export.Chapter 6 Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type.Chapter 7 Market Analysis by Application.Chapter 8 Manufacturing Cost Analysis.Chapter 9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers.Chapter 10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders.Chapter 11 Market Effect Factors Analysis.Chapter 12 Market Forecast.For More Information-About Research N Reports:Research N Reports is a new age market research firm where we focus on providing information that can be effectively applied. Today being a consumer driven market, companies require information to deal with the complex and dynamic world of choices. Where relying on a sound board firm for your decisions becomes crucial. Research N Reports specializes in industry analysis, market forecasts and as a result getting quality reports covering all verticals, whether be it gaining perspective on current market conditions or being ahead in the cut throat Global competition. Since we excel at business research to help businesses grow, we also offer consulting as an extended arm to our services which only helps us gain more insight into current trends and problems. Consequently, we keep evolving as an all-rounder provider of viable information under one roof.Contact:Sunny Denis(Sales Manager),(Research N Reports)10916, Gold Point Dr,Houston, TX, Pin  77064,+1-8886316977,sales@researchnreports.com,New Study On Compound fertilizer Market 2018 Global Analysis By Key Players  Hanfeng, Kingenta, LUXI, Stanley

Compound fertilizer

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Compound fertilizer Industry research report delivers a close watch on leading competitors with strategic analysis, micro and macro market trend and scenarios, pricing analysis and a holistic overview of the market situations in the forecast period.Get FREE Sample Report Before Buying @UpMarketResearch offers a latest published report on Global Compound fertilizer Market Analysis and Forecast 2018-2023 delivering key insights and providing a competitive advantage to clients through a detailed report. The report contains 100 pages which highly exhibit on current market analysis scenario, upcoming as well as future opportunities, revenue growth, pricing and profitability.Compound fertilizer Industry research report delivers a close watch on leading competitors with strategic analysis, micro and macro market trend and scenarios, pricing analysis and a holistic overview of the market situations in the forecast period. It is a professional and a detailed report focusing on primary and secondary drivers, market share, leading segments and geographical analysis. Further, key players, major collaborations, merger & acquisitions along with trending innovation and business policies are reviewed in the report. The report contains basic, secondary and advanced information pertaining to the Compound fertilizer Industry global status and trend, market size, share, growth, trends analysis, segment and forecasts from 2018-2023.The scope of the report extends from market scenarios to comparative pricing between major players, cost and profit of the specified market regions. The numerical data is backed up by statistical tools such as SWOT analysis, BCG matrix, SCOT analysis, PESTLE analysis and so on. The statistics are represented in graphical format for a clear understanding on facts and figures.The generated report is firmly based on primary research, interviews with top executives, news sources and information insiders. Secondary research techniques are implemented for better understanding and clarity for data analysis.The report for Compound fertilizer market analysis & forecast 2018-2023 is segmented into Product Segment, Application Segment & Major players.Region-wise Analysis Global Compound fertilizer Market covers: North America Europe China Japan India Southeast Asia Other regions (Central & South America, Middle East & Africa)The Major players reported in the market include: Hanfeng Kingenta LUXI Stanley WengFu Group Hubei Xinyangfeng EcoChem Yara Sinochem MosaicFor More Information, Please VisitGlobal Compound fertilizer Market: Product Segment Analysis: Two-element Compound Fertilizer Three-element Compound FertilizerGlobal Compound fertilizer Market: Application Segment Analysis: Rice Wheat Corn Fruit Trees Vegetables Tobacco OthersThe Report covers in-depth analysis as follows: Chapter 1 Industry Overview of Compound fertilizer Chapter 2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Compound fertilizer Chapter 3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Compound fertilizer Chapter 4 Global Compound fertilizer Overall Market Overview Chapter 5 Compound fertilizer Regional Market Analysis Chapter 6 Global 2013-2018E Compound fertilizer Segment Market Analysis (by Type) Chapter 7 Global 2013-2018E Compound fertilizer Segment Market Analysis (by Application) Chapter 8 Major Manufacturers Analysis of Compound fertilizer Chapter 9 Development Trend of Analysis of Compound fertilizer Market Chapter 10 Compound fertilizer Marketing Type Analysis Chapter 11 Consumers Analysis of Compound fertilizer Chapter 12 Conclusion of the Global Compound fertilizer Market Professional SurveyReport 2017Buy Compound fertilizer Market analysis & forecast 2018-2023 Report along with complete TOC @Compound fertilizer Market Analysis and Forecast 2018-2023 report helps the clients to take business decisions and to understand strategies of major players in the industry. The report also calls for market-driven results deriving feasibility studies for client needs. UpMarketResearch ensures qualified and verifiable aspects of market data operating in the real-time scenario. The analytical studies are conducted ensuring client needs with a thorough understanding of market capacities in the real-time scenario.Key Reasons to Purchase: To gain insightful analyses of the market and have a comprehensive understanding of the Global Compound fertilizer Industry Analysis and Forecast 2018-2023 and its commercial landscape. Learn about the market strategies that are being adopted by your competitors and leading organizations. To understand the future outlook and prospects for Compound fertilizer market analysis and forecast 2018-2023.Customization of the Report:UpMarketResearch provides free customization of reports as per your need. This report can be personalized to meet your requirements. Get in touch with our sales team, who will guarantee you to get a report that suits your necessities.You can also ask for region wise market research report, as below: Compound fertilizer-Global Market Status & Trend Report 2013-2023 Top 20 Countries Data Compound fertilizer-North America Market Status and Trend Report 2013-2023 Compound fertilizer-South America Market Status and Trend Report 2013-2023 Compound fertilizer-Europe Market Status and Trend Report 2013-2023 Compound fertilizer-EMEA Market Status and Trend Report 2013-2023 Compound fertilizer-Asia Pacific Market Status and Trend Report 2013-2023 Compound fertilizer-China Market Status and Trend Report 2013-2023 Compound fertilizer-India Market Status and Trend Report 2013-2023 Compound fertilizer-United States Market Status and Trend Report 2013-2023About UpMarketResearch:The UpMarketResearch () is a leading distributor of market research report with more than 800+ global clients. As a market research company, we take pride in equipping our clients with insights and data that holds the power to truly make a difference to their business. Our mission is singular and well-defined  we want to help our clients envisage their business environment so that they are able to make informed, strategic and therefore successful decisions for themselves.Contact Info:Name: Alex MathewsEmail: Alex@upmarketresearch.comOrganization: UpMarketResearchAddress: 500, East E Street, Ontario, CA 91764, United States.A weekly collection of new hires, transitions, promotions and award winners in Oregon and southwest Washington:

MOVES/HIRES:

Digital Trends, a Portland-based technology news, lifestyle, and information website that publishes news, reviews, how-to articles, descriptive videos and podcasts about technology and consumer electronics products, has hired Facebook executive Bob Gruters as chief revenue officer. In addition to Facebook, Gruters has worked with media companies including Viacom, Conde Nast, Univision and REVOLT Media. He has more than 25 years in the technology industry.

Lattice Semiconductor Corporation, provider of customizable smart connectivity solutions, has announced the hire of Steve Douglass as the company's corporate vice president. Douglass brings extensive experience building and leading global engineering and customer-facing teams. Prior to Lattice, Douglass was a corporate vice president at Xilinx, Inc. He began his career as a circuit design engineer at Intel Corporation.

Washington County has appointed Amanda Garcia-Snell as community engagement manager. Garcia-Snell fills the position left vacant after the retirement of manager Mike Dahlstrom. Garcia-Snell has worked for Washington County for 10 years, most recently as the Health Equity, Planning and Policy supervisor in the Public Health Division. Prior to joining Washington County, Garcia-Snell held positions with Yamhill County, the Oregon Health Authority, and JLA Public Involvement. She is a Portland State University graduate.

Washington County has also recently announced the appointment of Lisa Tattersall to serve as the permanent manager of Washington County Cooperative Library Services. Tattersall had been serving as the cooperative's interim manager since March of 2018. Prior to Washington County, Tattersall worked for the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library as well as the Vancouver Public Library.

Tonkon Torp partner Steven Wilker has been elected vice chair of the Classroom Law Project, a nonprofit organization that helps prepare Oregon's youth to become active, engaged, and informed participants in a democratic society. Wilker has been on the CLP Board of Directors since 2014.

Regional design-build construction company RSV Building Solutions of Vancouver welcomes back Vickie Dalton who has rejoined the company as vice president of operations. Dalton will provide operational support for RSV's active projects while developing custom project-based business systems and operations.

RE/MAX Equity Group has announced that Russ Newcomer is passing the leadership baton to the first woman president in Equity Group's 30 year history  Laurie Thiel. Thiel has managed and led one of Equity Group's most successful branch offices and plans to build on the success of Equity Group and bring innovative ideas and a clear vision of where she wants to take the company.

Cambia Health Solutions has hired Faraz Shafiq as the new chief artificial intelligence officer. Shafiq brings more than 17 years of progressive experience with technology strategy, engineering, advance analytics and product management. His previous positions included jobs with Verizon (as global head of data science) and with AT&T.

New hires at KPD Insurance's office in Springfield are Haley Nation, customer service representative on the Property and Casualty team, and Libby Olvera, account manager also on the Property and Casualty team.

OPENINGS:

Roots Dental has opened an office in the Creston-Kenilworth area of Portland. The husband and wife team of Doctors Jacqueline and Leif Gambee lead the office at 3620 S.E. Powell Blvd, Suite 200, Portland, OR 97202.

Have a new hire, promotion or business award to share? Email us at business@oregonian.com, and put Attention: Business Movers in the subject line.By Rosie Sizer

As a former police officer of 25 years tenure and the daughter of an immigrant to the United States, I urge Oregonians to vote no on Measure 105 this fall.

Building mutual trust and respect is incredibly important to the safety of a community and the success of a police department. When people trust their local police officers, they are more willing to partner with them to identify and solve crimes. That makes all of us safer, and our communities more livable. Police officers must work doubly hard to instill trust and respect in minority communities, where they work against the weight of history, tragic incidents involving force and the inflammatory nature of news headlines.

That's why I felt compelled to speak out when I heard about the effort to get rid of Oregon's sanctuary law. This is a law that helped me do my job more effectively and it should remain in place.

Passed in 1987, Oregon's sanctuary law prohibits local police from detaining anyone solely because they are perceived to be undocumented. The law mandates that no local law enforcement agency can use its officers, funds, equipment or facilities to do the work of federal immigration agents.

Oregon's sanctuary law doesn't prohibit cooperation between local police departments and immigration officials. Under current law, Oregon provides fingerprint data for all arrests to the FBI, which then notifies the Department of Homeland Security and immigration officials. We can also check the immigration status of people who have been arrested for another crime, hold unauthorized immigrants and turn them over to immigration officers if those federal officials have obtained a warrant issued by a judge.

In other words, the current law provides a clear framework for local police to hold people who have committed crimes accountable, while also providing important civil rights protections.

Practical experience on the streets has led many law enforcement officials across the state to stand in opposition to Measure 105 because it would greatly impede our ability to do our job.

Then there's the matter of workload. It's no secret that most law enforcement agencies are stretched pretty thin. If Oregon's sanctuary law were thrown out, we would be tasked to do the work of federal immigration officials, and end up being further distracted from our core mission. It could also overload our jails with Oregonians whose only offense is being here without proper documentation, in a search for a better life for their families

My mother emigrated to the United States in 1929. She joined hundreds of thousands of Irish immigrants who were widely reviled at the time as lawless drunkards and Catholics. For much of the last 150 years, immigrants have been feared and in some cases, persecuted. Let us not add to that dark history.

I urge Oregonians to vote no on Measure 105. Oregon's existing law has been working as intended for more than 30 years. It would be counterproductive to throw it out based on assertions that aren't grounded in the facts, but based on fear. We cannot do our jobs effectively if some community members are so fearful of us that they are in perpetual hiding, afraid to report crimes they witness or worse, experience themselves.

Rosie Sizer served as a police officer for the City of Portland for 25 years, including her time as Portland Police Chief from 2006 to 2010. She and was the third female in bureau history to serve as the chief.By Jim Howell

The Sunday, Sept. 9 lead story, "Eliminating a Roadblock," implies that Washington state lawmakers were responsible for killing the project planned to replace the existing Interstate Bridge. It should have noted that many of us in Oregon opposed this outrageous bridge plan for its many flaws, the least of which was its obscene price tag.

Nevertheless, a practical, safe and seismically sound span over the Columbia River is needed -- a bridge without all of the bells and whistles in the original plan.

There is no need to build a high level bridge that is still not tall enough to allow tall ocean vessels from passing upstream. Nor a need to build it with a complicated, costly and unsafe second level for bicycles and transit. Nor to deface and pollute downtown Vancouver and Hayden Island with two massive new interchanges.

The six "purpose and needs" proposed to be addressed by this project (congestion, freight, safety, seismic, transit and bicycles and pedestrians) can be met with a far simpler solution:

Build a medium level, eight-lane freeway bridge with a bascule draw span adjacent to and upstream of the existing bridge. The bascule draw span allows Interstate 5 to stay beneath the railroad fill, eliminating the need to rebuild the Vancouver/State Route 14 interchange as a lofty, unsightly and noisy complex of ramps. Unlike the proposed Columbia River Crossing, It does not limit vertical clearance for tall vessels.

Re-purpose the existing spans for Hayden Island traffic, transit, bikes and pedestrians, eliminating the need for a huge full interchange on Hayden Island. The old bridges will not require seismic upgrading because they will no longer be a part of the interstate highway system. One of the spans can be used for local traffic and the other for bikes and transit (light rail, buses or both).

Connect Hayden Island to the Oregon mainland with a multi-modal bridge over the Oregon Slough (Portland Harbor) for local traffic, light rail, bikes and pedestrians adjacent to and downstream of where the interstate bridge crosses the slough. This provides a local street connection between Kenton and Hayden Island by way of Denver Avenue and Expo Road, as well as a sorely needed MAX extension to a new Hayden Island Station.

Relocate the opening span of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad Bridge that allows most barge traffic to go under the fixed portion of the existing and new interstate bridge. The bascule span will only have to open for very tall vessels, which isn't very often. The Coast Guard, if provided with the funding, has authority to move the BNSF bridge opening.

This project could proceed quickly as a supplement to the Environmental Impact Statement and avoid repaying the federal government $140 million for prior planning.

All of the above would probably cost less than half of the current plan.

Jim Howell is the strategic planning director for the Association of Oregon Rail and Transit Advocates. He lives in Northeast Portland.CONCORD, Calif.  A suspect in a Northern California revenge killing went on the run for a month and finally turned himself in at a small town in Oregon after saying goodbye to his wife, authorities said.



Terrance Boyd Dixon fled to Bandon, Oregon, where his wife lived so he could hug her one last time, police in the San Francisco Bay Area city of Concord said.



Dixon is suspected in the July killing of 64-year-old Michael Downie, the East Bay Times newspaper reported Saturday. Authorities believe Dixon beat Downie to death with a fire poker, according to a criminal complaint.



Detectives said Downie had told friends he was afraid of Dixon seeking revenge because his testimony in a decades-old case had sent Dixon to prison.



After the killing, police determined Dixon had stolen Downie's car and sold it in Yolo County, California. From there, he hitchhiked to Bandon, a Coos County town along the Pacific Coast with a population of about 3,000 people.



On Aug. 14, a woman  later identified as Dixon's wife  called police and said Dixon wanted to turn himself in. Bandon's police Chief Bob Webb personally arrested Dixon outside the police station that day, according to authorities.



Dixon will be returned to Contra Costa County, California, where he was charged on Thursday with murder. It wasn't known Sunday if he has an attorney.

-- The Associated PressState govt has directed police, fire department to find out cause of fire and initiate strict legal action against those found guilty.

The fire gutted at least 1,000 business establishments inside the G+5 building, causing huge losses to traders ahead of Durga Puja. (Photo: File | Abhijit Mukherjee)

Kolkata: The massive fire that broke out at Bagree Market in Burrabazar area of the Kolkata on Sunday is now "completely" under control, a senior officer of the fire department said on Wednesday.

At present, the process of cooling down was on, the officer said.

The fire gutted at least 1,000 business establishments inside the G+5 building, causing huge losses to traders ahead of Durga Puja.

The state government has directed the police and the fire department to find out the cause of the fire and initiate strict legal action against those found guilty.

An FIR has been registered against owners of the building.A man who served prison time for killing a woman in Portland in the 1990s was arrested on suspicion of stabbing a man Monday in Northwest Portland.

Dewey Craig told Portland police officers that he got into an argument with Charles Jackson, 55, at Northwest 16th Avenue and Glisan Street that ended with Craig being stabbed once in the abdomen, according to a probable cause affidavit. Construction workers at a nearby site tended to Craig until police arrived.

The stab wound was non-life-threatening, Portland police said.

An ACE hardware employee in the area directed officers to Jackson, who left the scene but was still in the area. The employee knew Jackson by name and said she'd seen Jackson nearly every day at the corner where the stabbing occurred, the affidavit said.

Jackson denied stabbing Craig to police. Jackson said Craig asked for money while they both were at the corner, Jackson gave the man a few dollars and they parted ways, the affidavit said. An officer took a knife with blood on it away from Jackson, and Jackson said it was bloody because he eats "a lot of steak," the affidavit said.

Jackson later said, according to the court papers, that he has trouble with his memory and couldn't recall using the knife.

Surveillance video from a nearby business showed Jackson and Craig meeting briefly, and then Craig walking away hunched over, the affidavit said. The camera was too far away to see what caused Craig to double over.

Jackson was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on suspicion of second-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon. While later being interviewed by court staff at the county jail, Jackson identified himself as homeless.

Jackson was sentenced in December 1992 in Multnomah County Circuit Court to 13 years, 7 months in prison for murder, according to The Oregonian/OregonLive archives.

When he was 29, Jackson admitted to hitting 29-year-old Karen Fastbuffalohorse in the head with a board outside a Chinese restaurant on Southeast Morrison Street six months earlier. She died of a brain hemorrhage.

A prosecutor at the time said evidence showed Jackson was angry with Fastbuffalohorse because she wouldn't lend him money.

-- Everton Bailey Jr.

ebailey@oregonian.com

503-221-8343; @EvertonBaileyPortland City Council candidate Jo Ann Hardesty said Wednesday that no "shady deals" took place under her leadership of Portland's NAACP chapter. Her remarks came in reaction to news reports she steered more than $13,000 from the nonprofit she ran to herself and her consulting firm.

In an interview Wednesday, Hardesty said she is "disappointed" at how Oregon Public Broadcasting characterized her management of the NAACP chapter in the radio outlet's lengthy report published Monday. Yet Hardesty said the reporting is true.

Hardesty said her consulting business was paid $10,000 by the NAACP chapter during her third year as its leader, a time when her divorce placed her in financial hardship. She said the NAACP paid her a monthly stipend, even though she continued to describe the organization as "all-volunteer." And she acknowledged that income, totaling more than $13,000, was not reported to the IRS. She says she will now report it and pay any back taxes owed.

In the interview, Hardesty defended her actions by characterizing the NAACP chapter she headed as different from other nonprofits. She said it is "misleading" to compare the financial practices of the chapter "to how traditional nonprofits operate." She intimated that the small and struggling NAACP chapter would naturally have looser financial controls than other nonprofits with full-time employees. The NAACP chapter Hardesty led is required to follow the same laws as other tax-exempt nonprofits.

At the time she became president of the chapter, it was effectively defunct. In the time since, its membership and influence have rebounded. "I have invested my heart and soul in rebuilding that branch and I am very proud," Hardesty said.

Hardesty said the NAACP looked only to her consultancy when deciding to whom it should contract with for a $10,000 project putting on an event on ways to boost voices of people of color in Oregon politics. She said that is because of her expertise, which includes decades spent as a social and racial justice activist and two terms as a state representative.

Hardesty said the NAACP chapter executive committee "was involved" in decisions about the contract; OPB reported the committee discussed the contract but never voted to approve it.

Asked to comment on the appearance of the financial arrangement, Hardesty said, "I can see how people can spin things to make it look like there's some nefarious activity that took place."

She added: "There have been no shady deals. ... There has never, ever been any embezzlement at the NAACP under my leadership."

Loretta Smith, a Multnomah County commissioner who is Hardesty's opponent in the race for city office, used the term embezzlement Tuesday to describe Hardesty's actions as reported by OPB.

Hardesty said the monthly stipend began only after she became divorced and needed the income. The payments were approved by the NAACP chapter's executive committee, she said.

Hardesty said the income was not reported to the IRS because crucial tax forms were "missing" and she and her tax preparer did not notice. It is her CPA who "tells me what I need to pay and to who," she said.

Smith said Hardesty should repay the money to the NAACP. Hardesty said Wednesday that except for the IRS she has "no reason to reimburse anybody for anything."

Asked if she has been paid by other nonprofits for which she has served as an officer, Hardesty said, "I don't think so." She said her consulting firm has done work for at least one nonprofit for which Hardesty served on a committee that approved grant spending.

Hardesty said her focus is still fully on the general election, now fewer than 50 days away.

"Not only am I planning to stay in the race, I plan to win it in a landslide," she said.

 Gordon R. Friedman

Have a tip about Portland City Hall? Contact Gordon: GFriedman@Oregonian.comA man killed by Portland State University officers outside a bar near campus was shot nine times, according to a report released Wednesday by the Multnomah County Medical Examiner's office.

The bullets struck Jason Washington's chest, back, abdomen and legs during the fatal encounter on June 29, according to the report. Another police round grazed the man's skull.

All told, Officers Shawn McKenzie and James Dewey fired 17 shots at Washington, a 45-year-old Navy veteran and postal worker, the report says. Two rounds hit cars, and at least one hit a traffic sign, according to the report.

Washington was holding a friend's handgun amid a street fight outside the Cheerful Tortoise when officers ordered him to drop it, then opened fire. He carried his concealed weapon license in his wallet, according to the report.

A Multnomah County grand on Thursday declined to indict the two officers in the incident, which ignited protests and rekindled calls to end the school's policy of arming its public safety force.

The next day, PSU released body cam video of both officers, which shows them arrive at the scene amid a drunken melee. The video captures the chaotic seconds that unfold before and after Washington's death.

 Shane Dixon Kavanaugh

Jim Ryan of The Oregonian/OregonLive staff contributed to this reportNew reports that Portland City Council candidate Jo Ann Hardesty steered money from a nonprofit to her private business sparked calls Tuesday from Hardesty's opponent, Loretta Smith, that she return the money.

Oregon Public Broadcasting published a deep look into Hardesty's management of the Portland NAACP chapter, which she led for three years before stepping down to run for city office. The radio outlet examined the nonprofit's financial statements and Hardesty's tax filings.

OPB said it found that Hardesty, who claimed to run the NAACP chapter as a volunteer, in fact received more than $13,000 from it in 2017, including a travel stipend and $10,000 paid to Hardesty's consulting business. Hardesty did not report the income to the IRS, according to OPB.

Hardesty cooperated with OPB's reporting efforts and voluntarily provided her tax returns. She told the news outlet she will now correct her tax filings.

Hardesty did not return voicemails from The Oregonian/OregonLive on Tuesday.

Smith, a two-term Multnomah County commissioner competing against Hardesty for the Council seat, accused Hardesty of embezzlement.

"To steal money from one of the most storied civil rights organizations is not just illegal, it's unconscionable," Smith said.

-- Gordon R. Friedman

503-221-8209The documentary, "Jane Fonda in Five Acts," provides considerable insight into Jane Fonda's amazing life. But you can't watch it without coming away with questions, as Fonda and director Susan Lacy found during a discussion of the HBO film at the Television Critics Association 2018 summer press tour.

"Why did I marry guys that were controlling?" Fonda said, summing up a reporter's inquiry.

"Well, they were all so brilliant, and they could teach me things, and take me farther than I had ever gone," Fonda said of her former husbands, Roger Vadim, Tom Hayden and Ted Turner.

"They weren't boring," Fonda said, as journalists attending the press tour at the Beverly Hilton hotel ballroom laughed.

"I don't know," she went on. "I didn't have very much confidence, and I thought that if I was with those kind of men, that I could be somebody."

Despite Fonda's larger-than-life persona and Oscar wins for "Klute" and "Coming Home," it's apparent that she's not complacent, about the world, or about herself.

Asked what she's learned about being a political "revolutionary," Fonda said, "I try to listen more than I talk, that's one important thing that I've learned."

She wouldn't use the word "revolution" now, Fonda continued, instead preferring "constant change. Yes, I'm still changing. I'm only 80, and you know, there's still a few decades to go, if I'm lucky, and why be alive if you're not learning, and changing, and growing? I think that the purpose is to try to figure out how do you keep doing it. You know, you may not be able to make your life longer, but you can make it deeper and wider."

Fonda and Lacy, who previously made documentaries for the PBS series "American Masters," had been talking about making "Jane Fonda in Five Acts" for a few years.

As Fonda said, she got a lot of response to her 2005 memoir, "Jane Fonda: My Life So Far."

"What surprised me is it had an impact on men as well as women," Fonda said. "And, oddly enough, a lot of people identify with the various struggles that I've had. Issues with parents, issues with eating disorders, issues with men, issues with self-confidence, and so I felt that, you know, that if these things could be brought to a broader audience, that it would be informative and helpful to other people."

As in the documentary, the infamous photo of Fonda sitting on an anti-aircraft gun in North Vietnam, which was taken during the Vietnam War, came up in the press conference.

"I'm proud that I went to Vietnam when I did, and I'm proud that the bombing of the dikes stopped," Fonda said. "But, you know, what I say in the film is true," adding, "I'm so sorry that I was thoughtless enough to sit down on that gun at that time, and the image that -- the message that that sends to the guys who were there, and their families. It just -- it's horrible for me to think about that."

After the press conference ended, Fonda and Lacy met with a few reporters for a follow-up interview. I asked Fonda what her opinion was of "The Vietnam War," the documentary made for PBS by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick.

"I can't stand it," Fonda said. "I can't stand it. I am so disappointed. He did not understand the role that the American antiwar movement played in the ending of the war."

Fonda continued, "It was not good, and I totally respect him. I think 'The Civil War' is one of the great documentaries ever made of American history, but I thought he missed it on the Vietnam War. He did not get it. And for some reason, I don't know why -- was he trying to bend over backwards to be objective? I don't know. But he didn't talk to people."

Fonda, whose antiwar activities are mentioned in the Burns/Novick documentary, said, "I didn't expect to be in the movie. I didn't want to be in the movie," but she emphasized that the Burns and Novick film didn't reflect the full story.

"Ending the war was a three-legged stool," Fonda said. "The Vietnamese themselves, international opinion, and the American antiwar movement."

Though Fonda is still passionate about the causes she believes in, she expressed some doubts about the appropriateness of the HBO film.

"I feel self-conscious about it now," she said. "Because we're facing this existential crisis, I mean our country and our world is being taken apart, and here is this woman talking about herself for two hours."

-- Kristi Turnquist

kturnquist@oregonian.com

503-221-8227

@KristiturnquistI have to admit I've been neglecting the Sanford area food scene in my columns. It was not an intentional snub, but my work and travel circles have kept me mostly in the Tri Cities as I scrounge for meals for my articles. But as the Out to Lunch column continues to chug along, many patient people who live in Sanford or enjoy its vibe have asked me to dig deeper in to that area's food options.

So with my trusty little car pointed west, I recently traveled to Sanford to see what I have been missing. As I drove down the main drag in I was reminded of the cool, old school downtown. Sanford is an interesting place because for such a small spot, it has a big heart. People from Sanford are very proud of their town, and rightfully so. So while in Sanford, I finally got to try out Lanny's Restaurant, 336 West Saginaw Road, and I am thrilled with the meal that I had.

Lanny's is one of those places that has been recommended to me countless times since I've started on this mission, and I'm embarrassed to say I've always pushed it back for closer options. Well to the folks of Sanford and areas around there, I apologize.

When I was cyberstalking Lanny's Restaurant, I saw images of a chili bread bowl combination that was just screaming my name. Fall is my favorite time of year, and although it is warmer than it should be currently, leaves are changing their colors, and I have been hoping and praying for cooler weather, sweater nights and all that fun stuff that comes with fall.

Unfortunately I found out that the chili bread bowl is a seasonal item, so I had to make a choice about something else to get. No worries though, as the meal I chose made me want to come back for a second visit. I just happened to luck into a wonderful chance encounter with something they call Hungarian goulash.

But before we get to that I started off with something else, that I just happened to see on the specials board. Something wonderfully labeled cheeseburger soup. I didn't know what it was but you bet I had to have me a cup of it. I mean it had the word cheeseburger in it. How could I go wrong?

If I hadn't been pairing the soup with the goulash I would have had a whole bowl of the stuff, and probably a second, because it was fantastic. It did taste very much cheeseburgery, if that's a word. I got a good hint of beef flavor from it as well as a heavy but delightfully tasteful cheese accent. And it came with several packages of crackers, thank you very much. This was an incredible cup of soup and it made me think that this would be a wonderful option on a cool day with crunchy leaves blowing down that beautiful street in Sanford.

Now to my main dish: full disclosure time, I have never been a fan of goulash. My personal experience with goulash was with a very different interpretation of the dish. What I had was probably more of a classic goulash with elbow noodles, diced vegetables of varying types and lots of hamburger. I remember that for me as a child, the dish was very watery and not that very appealing. The noodles were either overcooked or not cooked properly at all. I can't cook to save my own life, but that goulash never left me with the best food feels. Based on that experience, if you told me years later I'll be ordering goulash in a restaurant I would have never believed you. I wish the goulash I had as a child was delicious. Once again, a local eatery made me reconsider a dish I had dismissed decades ago, and that alone is reason enough for me to keep writing these columns.

So how was my meal? Amazing. The soup was incredible as I said earlier and being the usual idiot, I couldn't wait for it to cool down so I scorched my mouth, my fault totally. But it was that good that I couldn't wait. The goulash was amazing as well, and I practically inhaled it. The sauce was a nice marinara-type, with a mellow flavor that carried the dish without overpowering it. My server told me that beef was the meat buried under all that wonderfulness, and to me at least, it tasted very much like steak. I honestly don't know what it was, but the whole dish was a work of art. Who knew that goulash could be like this - perfectly prepared and flavored?

These days it is rare for me to eat a plate of pasta and not feel all bloated and cranky, but the cooks in the kitchen at Lanny's managed to make a very satisfying meal of hearty ingredients that didn't push you too far in to food coma land. Everything was just right: the flavor, the quality and portion size.

You know what else was just right? The pricing. The food I sampled was wonderful and the prices are some of the most agreeable that I have seen since starting this gig. Lanny's offers all kinds of other things on their menu, from sandwiches to burgers to full blown meals. I got lucky on the goulash special, and I am already torn on what to order on my return visit.

Let's talk about the place for just a minute. The inside of Lanny's is very clean and looks much bigger than it does from outside. It's also full of windows, which is nice because a lot of restaurants I've been to in last couple of years have been caves. I know we're all there for the food, but it's nice to be able to look outside on a beautiful day while you enjoy your meal. Lanny's has an easy vibe thanks to the nice wait staff, which makes it no surprise to see the place rocking on a Tuesday night. Check them out at lannysrestaurant.com or look for them on Facebook.

Lanny's is open Monday through Saturday, but you will have to fend for yourself on Sundays. That's too bad, but good for them because getting days of in the restaurant business can be a challenge.

So heed my words and roll on over to Sanford and check out Lanny's. I will, because now I know where to get the best goulash in the area. Now when exactly can I order the chili bread bowl?

See you at the table.

Matthew Woods writes about his favorite lunch finds. His column, Out to Lunch, will appear here on a regular basis. You can write him at seeyouatthetable@gmail.comThe following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriff's Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter John Kennett.

Monday, Sept. 17

2:49 a.m. -- A 23-year-old Lee Township man had a verbal dispute with his 24-year-old wife at their Lee Township residence. There was not an assault.

1:24 p.m. -- A deputy was dispatched to the area of North Meridian Road near West Saginaw Road for the report of a suspicious man walking in the area. The man was described as a possible suspect who attempted to pass a counterfeit $50 bill the day before. The deputy checked the area but was unable to locate the man.

1:45 p.m. -- Deputies were sent to a Lee Township home for a report of a domestic assault involving a 24-year-old Lee Township woman and her 23-year-old ex-boyfriend. The ex-boyfriend left the scene prior to the deputies arrival. The victim suffered minor injuries to her face and head. The female was transported to the hospital for treatment. A warrant is being requested.

4:33 p.m. -- A deputy was dispatched to the area of South Porter Road near West Kent Road for a BOL of a 74-year-old male dementia patient from the Kalamazoo area, who had left his residence. After Central Dispatch "pinged" his phone, it was learned that the man was now in the Saginaw area.

8:01 p.m. -- Deputies investigated a narcotics complaint at a Lee Township residence. The complaint was unfounded.

8:12 p.m. -- Deputies assisted in the removal of a juvenile from parental care in Greendale Township.

8:12 p.m. -- A deputy was dispatched to a Lincoln Township residence in reference to an animal complaint. The 59-year-old Lincoln Township man advised that his Hope Township neighbor's dog kept entering onto his property, acting in an aggressive manner. The dog was secured upon the deputy's arrival, and the Hope Township residents weren't home. The deputy eventually made contact with the animal owner, a 26-year-old woman, who advised that she would verify that her dog stays secured on their property. Information was turned over to animal control.

10:53 p.m. -- A deputy was dispatched to Edenville Township in reference to a barking dog. The deputy was unable to locate the dog.The iPhone was not among the wide range of products that Apple told regulators would be hit by the $200 billion round of tariffs.

Tim Cook said, "The iPhone is assembled in China, but the parts come from everywhere." (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Apple Inc Chief Executive Tim Cook, whose products have been spared from new US tariffs imposed on Chinese goods, said on Tuesday he was optimistic that the United States and China will eventually work through their trade differences.

Im optimistic because trade is one of those things where its not a zero-sum game, Cook told ABC News Good Morning America program on Tuesday.

We can trade something and we can both win. So Im optimistic that the two countries will sort this out and life will go on.

The iPhone was not among the wide range of products that Apple told regulators would be hit by the $200 billion round of tariffs in a Sept. 5 comment letter to trade officials. Apple had feared for its Apple Watch and its wireless AirPod headphones, but both were left off the list announced on Monday.

The iPhone is assembled in China, but the parts come from everywhere, Cook said, when asked why Apple had been spared.

I dont want to speak for them, but I think they looked at this and said that its not really great for the United States to put a tariff on those type of products.

If Trump expands the tariffs to an additional $267 billion worth of goods then nearly every Chinese import would be affected, including the iPhone, along with all other smart phones.

Apples shares were last up 1.4 percent at $220.93 in early trading.

(Source)To the editor:

Imagine your child was abducted and forced to be a child soldier. Thousands of parents in South Sudan and millions around the world face that horrific thought daily. On Saturday, Oct. 13, there will be a unique opportunity to hear Hunter Dallis story.

He grew up in what is now known as South Sudan, a country in Africa which has been torn apart by civil war. Hunters entire childhood was spent moving with his family in search of safer locations. He joined the nonprofit, Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) hoping to ensure other children would not endure the same hardships. Hunter was part of an NP team that used a nonviolent approach to successfully negotiate the release of child soldiers. Despite being surrounded by violence, the NP team made a difference.

Nonviolent Peaceforce Midland Chapter (NPMC) is sponsoring this free event. Hunter Dalli will share his experience from 7-9 p.m. at Creative 360, 1517 Bayliss St., Midland. All are invited to learn how you can help children living in war-torn South Sudan.

Dalli is also sharing his presentation on Friday, Oct. 12, 2:30-3:30 p.m. at St. Johns Episcopal Church, 405 N. Saginaw Road, Midland; use the Griswold Ministry Center entrance. All are welcome. St. Johns Endowment Committee helped fund a NP Peacekeeper in 2019.

Mark your calendar for these presentations that will both educate and inspire. Please contact me for more information, marymmk@gmail.com or 989-859-7582.

MARY MERSEREAU-KEMPF

Nonviolent Peaceforce

Midland ChapterAmpere said the new chips, which cost USD 550 to USD 850, have been selected by Lenovo Group Ltd and several other companies.

Ampere Computing, the startup headed by Intel Corps former president Renee James, on Tuesday said it released its first data center chips derived from the same underlying technology as mobile phone chips.

Ampere said the new chips, which cost $550 to $850, have been selected by Lenovo Group Ltd and several other companies that make servers, which power Internet-based services.

The server chip market is dominated by Intel, which controls more than 90 percent of the market. But longtime Intel rival Advanced Micro Devices Inc is expected to take market share in the coming year because Intel has delayed its newest generation of chip-making technology, saying that server chips made with it are not likely to hit the market until 2020.

But Ampere is taking a different path from both Intel and AMD. Those two use an underlying technology called x86, which powers most PCs.

Ampere is using an underlying technology licensed from Softbank Group Corps Arm Holdings - the same technology that powers both Android and Apple Incs mobile phones. The Arm-based chips require less electricity to run and are cheaper to make.

But the Arm technology has not yet matched Intels computing muscle, which Ampere, along with rivals such as Qualcomm Inc and Cavium Inc, are aiming to change in hopes of luring data center customers away from Intel. Major technology firms like Alphabets Google Inc and Facebook Inc are some of the worlds biggest buyers of Intel server chips.

James spent 28 years at Intel working closely with some of those very customers. Ampere says its chips - which come in 16- and 32-core versions with speeds of up to 3.3 gigahertz - are designed to compete with mid-level traditional server chips. But James said the company put extra care into ensuring the chips run customers software well as opposed to acing speed tests.

Making things run fast in the abstract is great on PowerPoint presentations, but it doesnt help things run fast in your customers data center, she told Reuters in an interview.

Unlike Intel, Ampere does not make its own chips. It contracts that work out to Taiwan Semiconductor Co Ltd , similar to Apple and Qualcomm. But that means Amperes next generation of chips, due in 2019, will take advantage of TSMCs 7-nanometer manufacturing technology, which is more advanced than Intels current generation of technology and is being used on Apples newest iPhones and Qualcomms latest phone processors.

We benefit from the fact that were on the same process as people who are making billions of units, James told Reuters.

(Source)Seventeen years ago this month, the Twin Towers fell. Fifteen years ago this month, we tried to set up the first post-Saddam government. Ten years ago this month, Wall Street collapsed. Fifteen months ago, Trump took us out of the Paris Climate Accord. This is not a story about endings, although it might read that way. This is a story about beginnings.

Its common to complain about the future we were promised. You know the drill: Wheres my jetpack? Wheres my breakdancing robot? This is not my beautiful house! I bellow some version of these words almost daily.

Inevitably, during these rants, some pedant will point out that we already live in the future. Its just distributed unevenly. Some people live in wired utopias of peace and plenty. During the 90s, the idea was simple: the technocracy would liberate us all. Sure, some of us had to wait a little longer for our holodeck, but it was in the cards.

Or so we thought. In 2018, the future really has arrived, and guess what? Its not Tom Friedmans storybook ending.

The most-quoted part of the bestselling Chapo Guide to Revolution: A Manifesto Against Logic, Facts, and Reason notes:

People talk about the coming apocalypse. Take a closer look. The apocalypse is Puerto Rico annihilated by a hurricane. Its villages in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal tortured by lethal flooding. The apocalypse is already here; you just dont live there yet.

Newsweek cites their argument:

After listing the consequences of rising worldwide temperaturesocean acidification, sea-level rise, barren farmlands, water insecurity, devastating extreme weather, refugee crises, wars and ancient comic-book-villain-origin-story-caliber diseases unearthed from melted permafrostthe Chapo team concludes, More than anything, though, the current situation demands a huge expansion of what is considered realistic or possible.

These past two weeks in particular, the signs are all around us. As I type these words in Atlanta, the Carolinas are being hit by a hurricane. As Vann Newkirk wrote for the Atlantic in August, Climate change is not a future problem. Climate change is a current problem. He pointed out:

Heat waves, droughts, storms, floods, and other extreme events have garnered increasing attention. The largest wildfire in Californias history is now raging almost a year after the previous record holder hit the state. Hurricanes Harvey and Irma ravaged the Gulf Coast and Florida in late August last year. Hurricane Maria became the second-most deadly natural disaster in contemporary American history when it passed over Puerto Rico last September. And the 13th anniversary of the Louisiana landfall of Hurricane Katrina, the largest such storm, is on August 29.

Its not just the natural order weve upended. Weve lost control over our own creations. Banks have learned nothing from 2008. A story from the Times four years ago noticed that financial institutions didnt really care about fines. The title of the feature was the ominous At Big Banks, a Lesson Not Learned:

Are the colossal regulatory fines extracted from big banks today likely to deter their officials from violating the same rules tomorrow? Or are these billion-dollar settlements viewed simply as a cost of doing business, and not a very large one at that?

The answer, apparently, was no.

According to the case brought by Finra, a securities industry regulator that oversees all of the nations brokerage firms and their employees, 10 firms, including many of the same banks in the 2003 settlement, paid $43.5 million for violating the research rules. The violations took place during a 2010 competition to underwrite an initial public offering of Toys R Us; among the firms named by Finra were Citigroup, Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley. Although the Toys R Us stock offering was never completed, all of the firms enlisted their analysts help in trying to win the deal, according to Finra. It said the firms also promised favorable research coverage of the retailer.

This recidivism is happening while the next financial crisis is building. From a Times story published last week:

The global financial crisis is fading into history. But the roots of the next one might already be taking hold. The amount of American student debt  roughly $1.5 trillion  has more than doubled since the financial crisis. It is now the second-largest category of consumer debt outstanding, after mortgages. Public colleges and universities, hurt by state budget cuts, increased tuition. The drop in house values also made it harder for families to tap into their home equity to pay for tuition. As a result, the financial burden shifted to students, who took on heavier debt loads to pay for school.

Many borrowers are already falling behind.

Meanwhile, because of the world we have made, people flee their homelands. Immigrants make up the highest share of the American population since 1910:

The foreign-born population in the United States has reached its highest share since 1910, according to government data released Thursday, and the new arrivals are more likely to come from Asia and to have college degrees than those who arrived in past decades. ... The last historic peak in immigration to the United States came at the end of the 19th century, when large numbers of Europeans fled poverty and violence in their home countries.

A fair number are from countries we (or our allies) have meddled in:

Dr. Fadel E. Nammour, a gastroenterologist in Fargo, N.D., who moved to the United States from Lebanon in 1996, said he has noticed more immigrant-owned restaurants since he moved to North Dakota in 2002. In recent years, the state has settled refugees from countries including Iraq, Somalia and Congo.

Were used to thinking the finale was around the corner, in some ill-defined and far-flung future. But as Chapo pointed out, tomorrow is now.

To be clear, this is not the end of civilization. But its the endgame of society as weve known it. And this gives us a chance.

Here is why: most political effort is expended to change minds. And most of changing minds is about enticing people to share your assumptionsto make them accept what you already believe as gospel. Its not always easy. Global warming truthers cant accept that climate change is real. Evangelicals cant accept that Trump is not their friend. Neoliberals cant accept that late-stage capitalism is doomed. The elite and older generations cant accept that the young have scant economic prospects.

M.H. Miller graduated in 2008. She wrote about it in a recent editorial:

The commencement speaker was Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. She described the extraordinary moment in history in which all of us were receiving our degrees, a vague allusion to the countrys struggles at the time, many of which have only become worse in the intervening years

Mrs. Clinton then echoed a fantasy of boundless opportunity that had helped guide the country into economic collapse, deceiving many of the parents in attendance, including my own, into borrowing toward a future that they couldnt work hard enough to afford. There is no problem we face here in America or around the world that will not yield to human effort, she said. Our challenges are ones that summon the best of us, and we will make the world better tomorrow than it is today. At the time, I wondered if this was accurate. I now know how wrong she was.

And even if you do convince people that economic and environmental catastrophe looms, theres another fight ahead. Once they accept the truth, you must convince people your truth has urgency.

This is a difficult task. Americans are a future-obsessed people.

But then again, this is a story about beginnings.

I believe the present moment is of great hope. The in-your-face necessity of now commands bold action. When I think of the task before us, I remember the great American talent for doing the right thing at the very last minute, at the very crack of doom. As the diplomat Abba Ebban said, Men and nations behave wisely when they have exhausted all other resources.

How long did we put off the brutal question of chattel slavery? After a century of dithering, the levee broke. The Civil War came, and dealt its reckoning. But we acted  eventually. The Depression went on for a decade, poverty scoured America, and we acted  eventually. Fascism swallowed the world, and Russia and China and Britain fought on. Only then, when pushed, did we acteventually.

And so it is now. The time of changes arrives. And with it, the possibility of transformation.

This is the eventually moment.

We are not lacking resources. During the time of whale oil, there was petroleum aplenty below the Earth, even if we had no use for it. I realize the irony of that example, but the point is clear. There is matter to be used; there are finely-machined tools ready at hand. They will be sufficient for whatever job is required.

We are not lacking money. In 2014, global world GDP was $78.28 trillion. America spent $1.5 trillion on the godforsaken F-35 jet, and $2.3 trillion on the Iraq War. In 2004, America and Europe cashed in a combined $31 Billion on ice cream. Were the kind of country that can throw away treasure on a joke. There are kings ransoms for whatever project we need to accomplish.

We are not lacking ideas. Every city and every school in this country is filled with brilliance and insight. Learned journals and new books teem with solutions for our present crisis. There are paths we can follow.

What is lacking is will. Simple will. We are chained to old ideas, moth-eaten truisms that died with the last century.

Centrists love to speak about conversation. Well, the conversations are over. We know that our prisons are unjust, that we have studied war too long, that we boil the seas, that we brutalize our citizens of color, and that we hoard for the rich. We know the results of that dialogue. All conversations eventually end, and the moment of action arrives. Everythings eventual. Tomorrow is here. What will we do on the day after? Choose.Controversy has struck Trumps Russia investigation, as the FBI and DOJ plan to disregard the presidents requests that certain sensitive materials be declassified, according to a Bloomberg report.

Like many of his blunders, Trumps interference is unprecedented. The president called for the release of all text messages regarding the probe, among other things. Bloombergs unnamed sources say talks with the White House are likely to continue before the FBI proposes redactions. Trumps abuse of power would mean that his defense team could strengthen their side and skew the truth of what happened.

One of Trumps foreign policy advisors, Carter Page, was cited as a target of Russian influence, per Bloomberg. The FBI has already been dealing with how to release eavesdroppings on Pages conversations as a result of the warrants acquisition. British spy Christopher Steele was employed to help gather evidence against Page to some extent, though Republicans and Democrats disagree as to what degree. Republicans believe that Hillary Clinton partially paid for Steeles services, while Democrats say Steele wasnt totally necessary for the warrant.

If Trumps request were to go through completely, all this information would be made public. The FBI is trying to retain some secrecy, but is still being forced to compromise. Somehow, the President is being allowed to impact how his own investigation plays out. Even if the agencies involved respond with total refusal, Trump can declassify the documents himself later on. That sort of interference on its own is criminal, yet it continues to happen.

The repercussions of this arent yet clear. Bloombergs sources are unsure if well see officials resign over the result of Trumps power move, though Democrats did respond with a letter to the Director of National Intelligence, according to CNN. In it, they rightly call out the sharing of classified information with Trump and his lawyers as a violation of judicial standards, as well as an undermining of the investigations legitimacy.Before we get into the complexities of Americas Supreme Court, lets define the evil I am highlighting here: dark money. According to the Center for Public Integrity, dark money can be defined as such:

The sources behind most of the money raised by politicians and political groups are publicly disclosed. Candidates, parties and political action committees  including the super PACs that are allowed to accept unlimited amounts of money  all report the names of their donors to the Federal Election Commission on a regular basis. Or, to be technical, they regularly disclose the names of all their donors who each give more than $200. But when the source of political money isnt known, thats dark money.

The two most common vehicles for dark money in politics are politically active nonprofits and corporate entities such as limited liability companies. Certain politically active nonprofits  notably those formed under sections 501(4) and 501(6) of the tax code  are generally not required to publicly disclose their donors. Meanwhile, when limited liability companies are formed in certain states, such as Delaware and Wyoming, they are essentially black boxes; the companys name is basically the only thing known about them. These LLCs can be used to make political expenditures themselves or to donate to super PACs.

Dark money is pervasive in American politics. Our oligarchs hide behind manipulative names like Americans for Prosperity, and typically spend money against candidateslike the $8 million Americans for Prosperity spent against Democrats in the 2017-2018 election cycle (but Democrats are far from innocent victims here, as they also benefit from tens of millions of dollars in dark money spending). Its one thing to have interest groups fund attack ads to help further their interests. Its quite another when we have no idea who those interest groups are. To call that democracy is laughable. Well, thanks to the Supreme Court, democracy gained a significant victory yesterday, dealing a blow to Americas wealthy cowards who prefer to hide in the shadows than put their names behind their political messages. Per The Washington Post:

Advocacy groups pouring money into independent campaigns to impact this falls midterm races must disclose many of their political donors beginning this week after the Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to intervene in a long-running case.

The high court did not grant an emergency request to stay a ruling by a federal judge in Washington who had thrown out a decades-old Federal Election Commission regulation allowing nonprofit groups to keep their donors secret unless they had earmarked their money for certain purposes.

With less than 50 days before this falls congressional elections, the ruling has far-reaching consequences that could curtail the ability of major political players to raise money and force the disclosure of some of the countrys wealthiest donors.

The Supreme Court is the final arbiter of adjudication in this country, but that doesnt mean that they will always issue their own rulings. What happened here is that the Supreme Court allowed a lower courts ruling to stay in place. In 2015, the Federal Election Commission was deadlocked 3-3 on whether to investigate the dark money group, Crossroads GPS. In 2016, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) sued the FEC over it. Last month, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell ruled for CREW and she gave the FEC 45 days to issue a new regulation that would require donor disclosure in accordance with the law. BuzzFeed Newss Chris Geidner explained the lower courts ruling of this dispute between Crossroads GPS and CREW on Twitter four days ago (a stay is the act of temporarily stopping a judicial proceeding through the order of a court).

CREW and Howell said that's wrong under the law, regardless of the rule, so the rule must go. Howell gave the FEC time to pass a new rule, which they didn't do, and the ruling was set to go into effect on Monday.  Chris Geidner (@chrisgeidner) September 15, 2018

In the interim, both the DC Circuit and District Court denied the stay applications filed in those courts  leaving SCOTUS as the only available outlet.  Chris Geidner (@chrisgeidner) September 15, 2018

The language in Roberts' stay order about "pending further order" suggests he views this as a temporary measure, put in place to keep Howell's ruling from going into effect until the full Supreme Court can decide how it wishes to resolve the stay application request.  Chris Geidner (@chrisgeidner) September 15, 2018

The only times I've generally seen such temp, one-justice stays are in death penalty cases from states where, absent a stay, the state will proceed with an execution even while a stay request is pending. In that instance, a single justice will issue a stay while SCOTUS considers.  Chris Geidner (@chrisgeidner) September 15, 2018

Now, this latest ruling upholding the lower courts decision is not final, as Dave Levinthal and Sarah Kleiner highlighted in The Atlantic:

The high courts action is tempered by two considerations. The decision appears to leave a loophole: Some super PACs, which must disclose their donors publicly, accept money from nonprofit groups. Conceivably, a super PAC could take money from a nonprofit group that doesnt itself advocate for or against political candidatesmeaning the super PAC could continue hiding the flesh-and-blood source of the cash funding its efforts, several election lawyers told the Center for Public Integrity. Also, the original case that prompted todays action, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington v. Federal Election Commission and Crossroads GPS, remains under appeal, meaning todays decision could be temporaryor not.

As Adam Serwers brilliant piece in The Atlantic about the history of the Supreme Court detailed, the Court has historically been opposed to rulings that harm private capital. A long-view of the Supreme Courts decisions proves that it is committed to upholding Americas corporatocracy, while enabling white supremacist laws at the local level. The reason we highlight wildly important rulings like Brown v. Board of Education and Miranda v. Arizona is because they are the exception to the rule of the litany of decisions like Dred Scott v. Sandford (denied citizenship to African American slaves), Plessy v. Ferguson (upheld separate but equal segregation laws), Korematsu v. United States (upheld internment of Japanese Americans during WWII), and Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (enabled corporations and unions to spend unlimited amounts in elections, helping to create the dark money groups this recent Supreme Court ruling strikes a blow to).

While this latest decision is encouraging, the fact that it may be temporary is reason enough to remain somewhat cynical, especially since the Republicans are doing everything they can to ram Brett Kavanaugh on to the Supreme Court while hiding as much of his past as possible. Dark money is inherently anti-democratic, which is exactly why Americas oligarchs like it, and the Republican Party.

Jacob Weindling is a staff writer for Paste politics. Follow him on Twitter at @Jakeweindling.Report a digital subscription issue

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SubmitRelease of former Pak leader and his kins, ordered on surety bonds worth Rs 50 lakh each.

Islamabad: A Pakistani court on Wednesday suspended sentences of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Mohammed Safdar in Avenfield reference.

Islamabad High Court (IHC)s Justice Athar Minallah, while announcing the verdict, directed to release Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and Mr Safdar over surety bonds worth Rs 0.5 million each until final decision on their pleas. During the hearing, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor said that no evidence regarding transfer of 12 million dirham had been found while the agreement of selling 25 percent shares of Gulf Steel Mills was also fake.

United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities have also not verified the transfer of the money, he added.

Responding to the question, NAB prosecutor said the accused adopted the stance in Supreme Court that they bought London flats by selling Gulf Steel Mills.

He said Maryam Nawaz had told the Panama Joint Investigation Team (JIT) that she was her fathers dependent.

Earlier, the bench inquired why Maryam Nawaz had been convicted under Section-9A of the NABs ordinance if assets were owned by Nawaz Sharif.

The bench further asked how two individuals can be convicted on assets owned by a single person. How Nawaz Sharif can own property when the ownership of the same rests with his children? Does court announce verdict merely on basis of this myth?, remarked Justice Athar Minallah.

NABs prosecutor argued law turns onus of proof on accused after ownership of flats (by Sharifs) has been established. He said: The agreement of money transfer turned out to be fake. Likewise, the deed declaring Maryam Nawaz trustee was also proved fake. She possesses assets beyond her declared source of income.

NAB prosecutor further added Sharifs had not registered Calibri font trust deed in UK. He said, Maryam Nawaz crafted this trust deed and declared his brother beneficial owner. Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and Mr Safdar were convicted and sentenced to prison in absentia for ten years, seven years and one year respectively, in Avenfield verdict.

Maryam Nawaz and Mr Safdar, who were candidates for the general elections 2018, were also disqualified from contesting elections for 10 years each. The sentence and a fine of $ 10.6 million, came almost a year after Supreme Court removed Sharif from office and less than five months after the court barred him from holding office for life. Nawaz Sharif was convicted under section 9(a)(5) of the NAB ordinance. The case stemmed from the Panama Papers leak that disclosed expensive and undeclared property owned by the Sharif family in London. Mr Safdar was arrested by the NAB authorities in Rawalpindi on July 9 while Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz were taken into custody by the officials few minutes after their flight landed at Lahores Allama Iqbal International Airport on Friday night and shifted to Adiala Jail. Accountability Court Judge Mohammed Bashir, who was present at the jail primises, issued warrants for imprisonment for Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz. A team of doctors conducted the medical checkup of both the accused and declared them fit. Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz were then shifted to B-Class facility in Adiala Jail.Ahoy Matey, it's International Talk Like A Pirate Day, and to celebrate Long John Silver's is offering a promotion.

Stop by the restaurants today, talk like a pirate and receive a free deep fried Twinkie. Or if you dress up like a pirate you will receive a free Fish & Fry.

Also the chain is asking customers to submit photos of themselves dressed as pirates via Facebook Messenger for a chance to win $100 in Long John Silver's gift cards.

The holiday is celebrated on Sept. 19 and dates back to 1995 when it was created in Albany, Oregon by John Baur, known as Ol' Chumbucket, and Mark Summers, aka Cap'n Slappy.

After sharing the holiday with syndicated columnist Dave Barry, Talk Like a Pirate Day took off in popularity.A central Pennsylvania man found guilty of deliberately burning a 7-year-old girl on her cheek with a cigarette has failed to convince a state court panel to void his convictions.

Instead, the Superior Court upheld Anthony Scamack's child endangerment and harassment convictions and the 3-year intermediate punishment sentence - including 6 months of restrictive custody - imposed by an Adams County judge.

Despite Scamack's claims to the contrary, there was solid evidence, including the child's testimony, to tie the 34-year-old Gettysburg man to the crime, Senior Judge William H. Platt concluded in the state court's opinion.

State police arrested Scamack in 2016 after the girl told her father he had burned her. At the time, the her mother and father were separated and involved in a child custody battle, Platt noted. Scamack was the mother's live-in boyfriend.

A county jury convicted Scamack on the child endangerment charge but acquitted him of simple assault during a trial last year. County Judge Thomas Campbell convicted him of the harassment count.

On appeal, Scamack claimed prosecutors hadn't proven he had burned the girl. He noted eight people were living in his home at the time. He suggested the girl's wound wasn't a burn but was instead an insect bite or some other type of injury, Platt noted. Also, Scamack insisted he had no legal duty to care for the girl.

Scamack argued as well that Campbell shouldn't have limited his ability to tell the jury about the "extremely hostile" custody battle the girl's parents were engaging in when the burn allegation was made. He speculated the father might have fabricated the burn evidence to gain an advantage in that fight, Platt noted.

Scamack's "bald assertion of a motive (by the father), without more, amounts to nothing but speculation and conjecture," the judge found.

Platt rejected all Scamack's contentions that the evidence was shaky, including his insistence that the girl waffled on identifying him as her attacker. "On repeated occasions, the victim unequivocally named (Scamack) as the person who deliberately burned her cheek with his cigarette," he wrote.

"The victim further testified that her mother told her to say that (Scamack) did not burn her with a cigarette," Platt added. And, he noted, Scamack "is also reported as having ordered the victim not to talk to anyone."Is John Traynor fit to run a bar in Harrisburg?

After a summer marked by inflammatory date-rape allegations centering on his Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center and a bankruptcy filing, Traynor faced that essential question Tuesday in a hearing on renewal of the bar's liquor license.

No decision will be rendered by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board until sometime after a second day of testimony later this fall.

But in the meantime, the turbulence continued for Traynor as he found himself battling through a variety of objections from PLCB's Bureau of Licensing about his and his partners' fitness to continue holding their license.

The stakes could not be higher for Traynor and business partners Michael Giblin, Charles London and Gary Bartlett.

If the PLCB decides not to renew the bar's license, the business would lose the ability to serve alcohol, and the owners would no longer have the license as an financial asset.

The largest part of Tuesday's hearing centered on HMAC's general business practices, with testimony from one contractor who contended he was never paid for $2,600 worth of plumbing work.

Michael Banks, a veteran sound engineer and performer who coordinated HMAC's "Open Mic" nights for seven years, then testified Traynor was habitually months in arrears on payments to him before they parted ways in 2017.

And, Banks stated, in the circle of people he knows who are in the business of promoting or producing live acts at venues around South Central Pennsylvania, many have been owed money by Traynor.

"Most, if not all, of those people, will not work there again," he added.

Traynor's attorney Glenn Parno sought to defuse the financial arguments by pointing to the owners' recent bankruptcy filing.

HMAC -- originally the Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center, now the House of Music, Arts and Culture -- on North Third Street filed last month for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection while it works to reorganize.

"They're insolvent," Parno said of the ownership group. "They don't have enough money to pay their bills. It doesn't mean they are disreputable."

Traynor said earlier this month that he did not think the bankruptcy would hurt his chances with the PLCB.

Parno initially sought to bar the testimony about Traynor's repute as a businessman, noting reputational issues were not specifically raised in the PLCB's objection letter.

As a result, Parno said, he was not prepared to counter testimony about HMAC's image in the community, and he accused PLCB Assistant Counsel Michael Plank of engaging in "trial by ambush."

Hearing Examiner Thomas Miller allowed all of the testimony into the record, noting that it will ultimately be up to the PLCB to assign the appropriate weight to it.

Other allegations covered by Plank Tuesday included:

Allegations that HMAC's ownership has failed to meet licensing requirements on sound-proofing.

A minor history of fights and other problems originating at the bar.

Failure to live up to an agreement to provide routine security patrols around the outside of the premises.

The latter issue was deferred after Parno requested time to review the actual logs sheets pertaining to those patrols.

Most of the bar-room incidents raised by the Bureau of Licensing in HMAC's case pale in comparison to those attached to most other liquor licensing fights in Harrisburg in recent years.

City police officers, for example, testified to their response to three incidents at the bar at 1110 N. Third Street over the last year-and-a-half, including two minor fights, and one incident in which a performer / DJ was taken in on an outstanding warrant.

In a fourth incident, artist Dionn Williams testified that a painting of hers was stolen while her art work was on exhibit at HMAC last fall.

Traynor, she said, offered her $200 in compensation, but Williams said she felt that was too low for the worth of the painting, and she wound up reporting the case as a theft to city police.

Plank did not introduce any evidence pertaining to the far more serious date rape allegations levelled against the bar this summer.

In that case, a woman reported to police that she'd been raped after visiting the bar. She later posted on Facebook that she'd been drugged in the club and HMAC staff had kicked her out, all but delivering her into the hands of her attacker.

Police charged a Harrisburg man in the case, but also later stressed in public statements that their investigation showed no direct connection with HMAC other than that that's where the victim had been earlier that night.

The man has since been charged in a second rape. According to new charging documents filed by the Harrisburg police, Michael Ray Wright, 33, was involved in an almost identical incident May 25 outside a different bar.

Plank declined comment Tuesday when asked why the date-rape allegations didn't make his case.

Other elements of the PLCB's case centered around allegations that HMAC's owners failed to live up to a promise contained in a December 2014 conditional licensing agreement to complete sound-proofing at the facility.

Traynor's team said sound-proofing was completed at HMAC's street-level Stage on Herr facility that was the subject of most of the neighborhood noise complaints at the time. More recently, attorney Parno noted, the bar has been exempted received from Harrisburg's noise ordinance.

HMAC's liquor license expired in March 2014, and since December of 2014 the venue has been operating under a conditional licensing agreement with the PLCB.

PLCB records show HMAC has been issued 12 citations since 2010, with the majority being for noise violations. Other citations include for attempting to purchase alcohol via credit or using bad checks and allowing smoking in non-smoking areas.

The bar does have its supporters.

Kate Moyer, president of Friends of Midtown, told PennLive earlier this month that Traynor's club has been a valuable part of Midtown's cultural scene for many years.

"HMAC is a cultural center for Midtown, and I think for Harrisburg in general," Moyer said, adding she has always appreciated the ownership's willingness to open its doors for non-profit and civic events.

In addition, Moyer said, "the vibe is just really cool, and different from a lot of businesses in our neighborhood. It's a unique place to go."

Most of the licensee's formal case, however, will be presented when the hearing resumes later this fall.Six weeks on the job and Penn State Harrisburg's new chancellor John Mason Jr. has already developed a rather ambitious vision for the largest of the university's commonwealth campuses.

More students, another academic building, public-private partnerships, and a desire for a stronger relationship between the Middletown community and the campus are all part of that vision.

Mason, who is a 1972 Penn State Harrisburg alum and former engineering professor and associate dean at Penn State University Park, visited with PennLive/The Patriot-News' editorial board on Tuesday to introduce himself and share some thoughts about the direction he'd like to take the campus.

Why he came back: Mason, an Allentown area native, attributes his interest in accepting the job as chancellor to his affinity to his alma mater that looks nothing like it did when when he was a student there - not only in the number of buildings on campus but it now has a more widely diverse student body and offers four-year degree programs.

"Imagine being able to graduate from that campus years ago and watching all the evolution and then being invited back to be considered" as its CEO, he said. "It was something I wanted to do."

He credits the Penn State system with inspiring him to pursue a bachelor's degree in the first place. After becoming the first in his family to graduate high school, the son of a father who worked in a cement factory and mother who worked in a dress factory enrolled in what was then-Penn State's Allentown campus. His plan was to earn an associate's degree and then get a job.

But through the faculty at that Penn State campus and their connections with faculty at the then-fledgling Penn State Harrisburg campus, he was made aware that he could go on and earn a bachelor's degree. After graduation, he went to work as a civil engineer for about eight years before going back to school and earning advanced degrees, which led to him returning to Penn State as a professor in 1987.

He worked at the University Park campus as a professor and later associate dean in the College of Engineering until 2008 when he left to take a job at Auburn University as vice president for research and economic development. He left Auburn to take the chancellor's job. Mason believes his career path helped to shape his ability to lead the campus as it heads into the next decade.

New student housing project: The university's decision to acquire the Nittany Village housing complex in Lower Swatara Township was in the works before he started on Aug. 1.

But he sees it as a smart move to help the campus accommodate its growing student enrollment that now stands at around 5,000 with a vision of expanding to 8,000 and the demand for on-campus housing that features a waiting list of several hundred students, he said. Plus, the location was right being on the campus' doorstep.

"This was the right opportunity at the right time to meet the demand," he said.

But Mason also knows there is a concern from the community about the university taking 5.5 acres off the tax rolls. He plans to talk to local officials about that but "it's really a business matter at this stage."

Developing public-private partnerships: Mason shared that at Auburn one of his tasks involved creating a research park to help build partnerships between the private sector and university. He'd like to someday replicate that at Penn State Harrisburg.

The university still owns the 40-acre Meade Heights property, that formerly was occupied by military family homes that were used for student housing that have since been razed. His long-term vision sees that as possibly being occupied by industry partners who have an interest in collaborating with faculty and students in programs the campus offers.

READ MORE: Shippensburg's president making changes to enhance communication, build retention

"My goal is to try to attract some of them to not only financially support us but there might be some kind of footprint on campus they can actually occupy," Mason said.

He also would like to capitalize on the proximity of the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and work on developing a program in a niche area that aims to help senior citizens stay in their homes as long as possible by creating what he calls smart technology homes or homes that could be retrofitted with smart technology. He said university partners are interested in pursuing this idea with the campus.

"Imagine having blood pressure or other physiological things that need monitored in your home," he said. "The applications of those smart technologies I think we could do in the health area looking at the aging population would align with programs we have at Penn State Harrisburg."

Need for more modern classrooms: The campus' primary classroom structure, the Olmsted Building which was formerly an Air Force administrative center, is at capacity.

"We are literally scheduling practical hours of the day," he said.

Besides that, the classrooms are outdated with seats bolted to the concrete floor.

"The immersive environment in today's world is modular. It's portable. It's open. So we probably need a building that's more conducive to a building of 2025 versus a building from the 1960s," he said.

He also sees a need for a more modern academic building for another reason that fits in with his public-private partnership vision, allowing them the room to bring in equipment and technology to work with students and faculty right on campus.

Town-gown relations: Mason is interested in establishing a positive town-gown relationship with the Middletown community as are the faculty and students but knows the dialogue has to be a two-way street to be effective.

He'd like to hear ideas for a springtime event that would bring the campus, town and regional communities together. It's one where he said community members wouldn't be able to discern who is a student and who is a faculty member and who is a community member.

He also would like to be part of discussions when new economic opportunities want to come into the community to see if the campus could play a role in some way. He is hoping to have conversations about how to prevent conflicts between the campus and community from arising and perhaps addressing areas of concern to both.

"I would like to say let's not wait for issues to come up," Mason said. "What are some things we should really be talking about."By Marc A. Scaringi

The allegation made by Christine Blasey Ford - that Judge Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her in the early 1980s when they were in high school in Maryland - has rocked the nation's capital.

Marc A. Scaringi (PennLive file)

Kavanaugh's confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court, once seemingly assured, is now in jeopardy.

Many Americans have cried foul, arguing it's unfair to Kavanaugh that this allegation is only now being raised 36 years later and on the eve of a vote by the Senate Judiciary Committee to send his nomination to the floor.

While the drama plays out in Washington, D.C., Pennsylvanians should pay close attention.

That's not only because of its impact on Kavanaugh's nomination, but also because it throws into stark relief the difficult issue Pennsylvanians are grappling with - whether to end the statute of limitations for criminal prosecutions of child sexual abuse in Pennsylvania.

Of some relevance is the fact that a prosecutor could bring criminal charges against Kavanaugh. That's because there's no statute of limitations for felony sex offenses in Maryland.

And, there may be a factual basis.

In a letter released by U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., Ford wrote Kavanaugh and his friend pushed her into a bedroom, locked the door and then, "...Kavanaugh physically and sexually assaulted me..."

And, "Kavanaugh was on top of me...tried to disrobe me..." And, she added, "With Kavanaugh's hand over my mouth I feared he may inadvertently kill me." Ford claims to have received medical treatment for the alleged assault.

One could possibly make out probable cause for two felonies. One is the offense of attempted rape in the second degree.

This requires an attempted sexual act with force or threat of force without the victim's consent.

The other is sexual offense in the third degree; this requires the attempted engagement in sexual contact with another without consent if it involves suffocation or the aiding or abetting in the crime by another.

If an aggressive Maryland prosecutor takes up the case, Kavanaugh could find himself a criminal defendant instead of a potential U.S. Supreme Court justice.

But, such a case would certainly have its weaknesses. It's reported Ford cannot remember how she got to the home where the incident allegedly occurred, how she met Kavanaugh or how she got home.

The only alleged eye witness denies the allegation. She did not inform the police, her friends, her parents, her school or anyone else. It wasn't until nearly 30 years later when she told her therapist but did not name Kavanaugh.

Also, when it became clear Kavanaugh was on a short list for the Supreme Court, Ford made her allegation public. Ford is a registered Democrat and has protested and written against Trump's policies.

She's also hired an attorney who's touted she's part of "the Resistance" and has labeled Trump advisors "miscreants" and worse than a "basket of deplorables."

Some claim this allegation against Kavanaugh is politically motivated. It's designed to deny President Donald Trump his preferred Supreme Court justice. And, if this nomination fails and Democrats take the U.S. Senate this fall, it could prevent Trump from getting another conservative on the high court.

But if criminal charges are brought would that be fair to Kavanaugh?

And, would it also be unfair to any Pennsylvanian who found himself at the receiving end of similar allegations from long ago?

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro recently released the 40st Statewide Investigating Grand Jury report detailing the decades-long sexual abuse of children by many Catholic priests and its cover up by church officials.

Yet, of the 301 priests named in the report, only two have been charged with crimes.

The extensive cover-up made it difficult for many victims to obtain justice. To make it easier for victims the grand jury recommended eliminating the statute of limitations. Under current law, minor victims have until they reach the age of 50 to seek justice in our criminal courts.

State Rep. Mark Rozzi, D-Berks, and Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson, are each pusing proposals in the House and Senate to do just that.

Sex abuse claims, even from long ago, must be heard.

But, what about the accused? How would they defend themselves from decades old allegations if the statute of limitations is lifted?

Usually, there's no physical evidence in sex offense cases; many boil-down to a he said-she said where the witnesses' credibility, which includes ability to recall what happened, is critical.

Regrettably, in sex cases, often the accused is perceived guilty until he proves himself innocent.

We have a statute of limitations to ensure the accused is not placed in an unfair disadvantage because of the lapse of time.

And, although the statute is intended to protect the accused, the delay can also hurt the complainant's case. Carbon County District Attorney Jean A. Engler, makes the point, "... any longer statute of limitations makes things harder for prosecutions."

Evidence gets stale; memories fade. If we incentivize victims to wait too long it could make it more difficult to bring the guilty to justice.

From a political perspective, it's easy to join the call for the elimination of the criminal statute of limitations. But something as serious as this should require much thought and discussion.

And what's happening or could happen to Judge Kavanaugh in D.C. should give us pause here in Pennsylvania.

Marc A. Scaringi, an attorney, is a PennLive Opinion contributor and radio host. His work appears biweekly. He writes from Camp Hill.By Salena Zito

AUSTIN, Texas -- Rick Potter knows campaign signs don't vote, but when an overwhelming amount of Beto O'Rourke signs began sprouting up in his home county, he says he knew exactly what to do: call in the cavalry.

Salena Zito (PennLive file)

For 18 years, Potter has been part of the Mighty Texas Strike Force, which typically deploys a few battalions of rock-ribbed conservatives from solid-red territory to a swing state where they can help tip a competitive race to the GOP.

This year, the group is deploying at home, in the Lone Star State.

"It marks the first time I'll stay in Texas to assist in keeping a Republican in office," said the 62-year-old Travis County businessman.

He has been part of a volunteer army of 1,500 to 2,000 conservatives from 15 different states who volunteer their time to go to battleground states on their own dime during presidential election cycles.

He explained: "We knock on doors, do phone banking, go to rallies, and do social networking for about three weeks immersing ourselves in places where elections are close for Republicans. We used to be mostly Texans, we began in 2000 when George W. Bush was running for president."

Since then, the group has grown with members from other red states who go out in swing states to help out with voter contact and efforts to get out the vote. Today, Potter is the chairman.

"We changed the name to the Mighty American Strike Force because of the variety of states involved," he said. "But to date we have never deployed in midterm elections."

And the group never felt the need to hit the hustings in Texas. Until now. "We've started our conference calls and are getting ready to go where we are needed," he said.

It says something that Potter feels his efforts are needed in his home state.

"This is a unique time and we always assess where we can have the greatest impact. Well first, before we deploy anyone, we first make sure that they've got their basic coverage in their home state.

With all the outside money pouring into Texas this is a time we need to make sure we take care of the home front first," said the commercial developer, project manager and broker.

"So we may have people from Alabama coming to Texas or from Oklahoma coming to Texas, or whatever. It could be one of the places were deploying to rather than from."

O'Rourke has outraised Sen. Ted Cruz by $8 million so far, according to The Texas Tribune, and the latest Real Clear Politics polling numbers show the race with O'Rourke is within the margin of error.

(Editor's note: A Quinnipiac University poll released Tuesday showed Cruz with a 9-point edge, bucking that trend.)

Potter says maybe his geography makes an O'Rourke victory feel like a real possibility: He lives in Travis County, a blue doughnut hole surrounded by Republican members of Congress all over the outskirts.

In 2016, 350 volunteers including Potter were in Pennsylvania for two weeks, spread out in counties surrounding Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Scranton.

In these areas, turnout increased just enough from Mitt Romney's numbers in 2012 to place candidate Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton by just over 40,000 votes -- the first GOP win of Pennsylvania's electoral votes since 1988.

Potter is now organizing a similar grassroots effort here in Texas. "You can't just sit back and say this will never happen in Texas, because it could, and we are going to utilize the best power we have, people, and once again will work to make a difference in a close race."

Salena Zito is a CNN political analyst, and a staff reporter and columnist for the Washington Examiner. Her work appears frequently on PennLive Opinion.State Rep. Will Tallman is leaving the Pennsylvania General Assembly at year's end.

That's the good news.

State Rep. Will Tallman, R-Adams (Pa. House photo)

The bad news is that the Adams County Republican is the architect of a bill, so breathtakingly hamhanded in its conception, so likely unconstitutional in its execution, and so transparently partisan in its motivations, that it threatens to knock the legion of all the other breathtakingly dumb ideas to seep out of the Capitol right off their pedestal.

As the tireless Steve Esack of The Morning Call of Allentown first reported Wednesday, Tallman wants to effectively ban Pennsylvania school-teachers from talking about modern-day civics, politics and public affairs in the classroom.

You know, school, that place where all The Olds constantly complain that kids aren't taught enough about civics, politics and public affairs before being ushered out into a cold, cruel world where they then complain about them not being informed and engaged enough as voters.

In a "Dear Colleague" memo that takes a shredder to free speech rights, Tallman insultingly opines that "Our K-12 school teachers should not be using their classroom time ... on political or ideological indoctrination."

Tallman, a conservative, doesn't mention what form that indoctrination could take, though it's not hard to guess. Warriors on the right have long complained that public school classrooms are hotbeds of liberalism stamping out little Karl Marxes in dressed in Hot Topic.

Tallman also wants to bar teachers from "[introducing] into class any controversial subject matter that is not germane to the topic of the course being taught."

Which could mean pretty much anything. And that seems to be the point.

Filling kids' head full of political stuff, he illogically argues, "takes time away from instruction in the academic foundation subjects of mathematics, science, English, history, and civics, and prevents our students from receiving a high-quality public education for careers in the global, high-tech economy."

Teachers who violate this laughably over-broad proposal would be "subject to penalties such as probation, suspension, and loss of their teaching licenses."

(This also would be the point where we pause to marvel that Tallman somehow managed to get elected to his local school board.)

We reached out to Tallman, who did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

But speaking to Esack, Tallman conceded that he couldn't cough up a single example of this pernicious indoctrination while serving on his hometown school board.

And as a member of the House Education Committee, he'd only received a "half a dozen to a dozen" complaints about teachers getting political over non-germane topics. His kids and grandkids also sometimes complained, Esack noted.

Heavens. It's an epidemic.

Undeterred, Tallman also wants to ban teachers from endorsing, supporting or opposing candidates for local, state and federal offices while they're on the job.

So there go the mock elections.

They also couldn't talk about pending legislation, which, one supposes, would drive a stake through the heart of any education on basic civics.

But, hey, if some state lawmakers only have the dimmest comprehension of how a bill becomes law, then that should be good enough for the young'uns, right?

Tallman's bill would further ban teachers from "hampering" the activities of military recruiters or a law enforcement agency, making his bill sound less like the "code of ethics" that it's advertised as, and more like an attempt to totally kneecap the prerogatives of classroom teachers.

Perhaps that's not surprising, since Tallman's also the sponsor of a bill that would ban teacher strikes.

And it also would seem that, in Tallman's eyes, some kinds of speech are more worthy of protection than others.

In July, Tallman began soliciting support for "First Amendment" legislation repealing a section of the state school code that "prohibits a teacher from wearing any garb, mark, emblem or insignia that would indicate he or she is a member of or adherent to any religious order or sect while in the performance of their duties as a teacher."

Tallman logically argues that this violates the First Amendment's religious freedom protections. His argument that teachers don't have the same First Amendment right to talk politics is filled with holes.

Unfortunately, First Amendment law covering public school teachers isn't entirely settled, Esack wrote. Still, in classrooms, teachers tend to have more rights if their topic deals with a lesson, one expert told him.

Not without reason, the state's largest teachers' union would be "very concerned about any proposal that unlawfully restricts public employees from exercising their right to free expression or negatively affects how our students are learning in the classroom."

Thankfully, Tallman's proposal hasn't yet been assigned a bill number. And the chances of the Legislature passing it in the roughly 25 minutes it's in session this fall are scant. That means this bad idea will quietly die when its sponsor exits the public stage.

Which is about the best civics lesson one can imagine.Legislative staffers come and go at the Pennsylvania Capitol but few have left as big a mark on public policy than Stephen MacNett as evidenced by his being nicknamed the 51st senator.

MacNett of Harrisburg, the longtime chief counsel to Senate Republicans, died on Tuesday at the age of 71. Born in Bradford County, he was a graduate of Dickinson College and Dickinson School of Law, both in Carlisle.

His nearly 45 years of working in the Senate, where he started out as a messenger in 1966, earned him the respect of Republicans and Democrats - and news reporters - alike for his institutional memory, his command of the facts and legal cases, his work ethic, and his ability to find votes on the other side of the aisle.

"There are a lot of people I worked with who I would characterize as smart. Steve was brilliant," said former Senate Republican Leader David "Chip" Brightbill of Lebanon County. "He just was terrific to work with. He had a wonderful feel for public policy and the years I was there, he was the heart and soul of the Senate Republican Caucus. The glue that bound it together."

When it came to important legislation, MacNett was always at the center of it. He often was sought out by legislators, other governmental staffers and reporters.

Brightbill recalled how MacNett reassured him when he stood up to former Gov. Ed Rendell in 2003 when Rendell was pushing for a 34 percent increase in the personal income tax rate that most of the Senate Republicans couldn't stomach. The rate was 2.8 percent at the time.

Knowing the other three legislative caucuses and four GOP senators were willing to go along with the governor, Brightbill said he knew his caucus was in a bind.

"We just no longer had the ability to control the agenda in the Senate so after a lot of deliberation, we went over to the governor's office and put on the table the rate of 3.07," Brightbill recalled. "Rendell shot back with 3.075. I shot back with expletives and we got up and walked out."

He shared with MacNett as they made their way back to their Senate offices that he was scared to death at what he had just done. "He looked at me and said it's going to be all right," Brightbill said. Ten minutes later, the then-Senate Democratic Leader Robert Mellow called to say the governor would agree to 3.07 "and that was the end of it."

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson County, and Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman, R-Centre County, said in a joint statement: "Steve was able to master complex subject matters in short periods of time and had a tremendous ability to craft intricate legal statutes in artful ways. He handled litigation and legislation, as well as investigations and inquisitions, with Irish grace and an unbelievable resolve. "

They went on to say, "Steve's dedication and service to the Senate is unmatched. His intellect and kindness helped us all to be better public servants. He was the consummate professional in every sense of the word. We extend our sincere sympathies to Steve's daughters Colleen and Pam and his entire family."

Drew Crompton, who now serves as the chief legal adviser to the Senate Republicans, worked with MacNett for many years and for two decades referred to him as Master Jedi.

"He would in turn call several of us as 'Young Jedi,'" Crompton said. "Master Jedi was a nick-name that aptly fit. Steve simply knew all when it came to state government but his incredible intellect was dwarfed by his kind, thoughtful and truly decent demeanor. He cared deeply for the institution of the Senate but he cared for people even more so. A part of me will always be missing without my Master Jedi."

Former Gov. Tom Ridge hailed MacNett as a consistent champion for progress during his time with the Senate.

"No matter the issue or the politics of the day, Steve worked tirelessly for policies that would better the lives of Pennsylvanians. He was a gentleman who always acted with integrity and respect for his friends on the other side of the aisle," he said. "He will be missed. Michele and I extend our heartfelt sympathies to Steve's family and his many, many friends."

Gov. Tom Wolf, who came to the governor's office after MacNett had left the Senate, said, "I want to offer my condolences to Steve MacNett's family, friends and colleagues in light of his recent passing. Steve MacNett's dedication to public service on behalf of the commonwealth is a reminder of the immense difference citizens can make on behalf of Pennsylvanians, regardless of whether they are elected to office."

Sentiments also came in Wednesday night from former Gov. Tom Corbett. "Steve was a true gentleman. Anyone who walked the halls of the Capitol experienced Steve's intellect, character and his vast knowledge of legislative history," Corbett said. "Although he worked in the Senate, Steve was a dedicated public servant to all the people of Pennsylvania. He will be missed. "

Reporters regarded MacNett as the go-to resource for comment or perspective. He also never hesitated to pass along a note to Capitol newsroom reporters with a thought or a correction on a story they wrote that he somehow found time to read in between all the bills that passed over his desk.

Speaking of his desk, MacNett was notorious for keeping a messy office. Brightbill recalled after his clutter overtook his office, MacNett moved into a conference room in the Senate Majority Leader's office suite and spread more of his books and papers there.

Former Philadelphia Sen. Vince Fumo, a Democrat, recalled that clutter.

"My god, it was disastrous," he said. "There were open books all over the place, notes, and this and that but he knew where everything was and he kept it in his mind. When he left [the Senate], it was a loss. But now, it's a just a terrible loss."

Fumo developed a close relationship with the GOP counsel and knew if he needed information about anything that MacNett was the one who would have it.

"He worked like crazy and had all these esoteric facts at his fingertips," he said. "I can't say enough good things about him even when he would kick my ass. But he was good."

Fumo shared how MacNett got to know all the senators and gained their trust.

"I can't think of one Democratic senator who ever had a bad thing to say about him. They may have been angry at him because he outfoxed them but nobody ever said he didn't play by the rules or he wasn't fair. He was terrific. He was a pleasure to work with and you needed somebody like that in a body like that."

He also respected how MacNett had the confidence of the senators on his own side of the aisle.

"When he said I think they ought to do this, they were with him," Fumo said. "He probably helped pass more legislation than any other senator did."

So the nickname MacNett earned as the 51st senator was not only appropriate, Fumo said. He ranked him among the more powerful ones.

"The commonwealth has lost an asset," he said.

*This post has been updated to include statements from Gov. Tom Wolf and former governors Tom Ridge and Tom Corbett.

Gov. Tom Wolf is calling on the General Assembly to make a series of bills to protect victims of sexual abuse, domestic violence and sexual harassment their prime priority when they return on Monday for their abbreviated fall session.

In a conference call with reporters on Wednesday, Wolf said the "gut-wrenching grand jury report of sexual abuse and cover-up in the Catholic Church is a stark reminder that our laws are failing too many victims of crime, abuse and harassment."

He shared that he has thrown his support behind dozens of bills addressing those areas as well as gun violence, hazing and human trafficking that would protect victims throughout this two-year legislative session that ends Nov. 30 when all pending legislation dies.

The House and Senate each have scheduled fewer than two handfuls of voting days between Monday and mid-October. From the package of Senate-passed bills on domestic violence abuse, Wolf shared only one has made it to his desk.

"I'm ready to signs these bills," he said. "I want Pennsylvania to continue to lead the nation in supporting victims but the General Assembly has to act."

In particular, he said he is in full support of enacting laws that heed the grand jury's recommendations. They include reforming the civil and criminal statute of limitations on child sexual abuse, clarifying the mandatory reporting of child abuse law requirements; and ensuring that non-disclosure agreements do not preclude the sharing of facts about such abuse with law enforcement.

To those lawmakers who are hesitant to support the grand jury's recommended changes in laws, Wolf said he asked them "to consider the profound tragedy of this and the horrible ordeals that [clergy] put the victims through. If they really think of that and think of the human tragedy that we've seen and heard about and that the grand jury has heard testimony on, I don't think we have a choice but to act."

Joining him on the call was Pennsylvania's Victim Advocate Jennifer Storm. She noted that all of the bills the governor listed enjoy at least some bi-partisan support.

But the one issue that has stirred up the most opposition among Senate Republicans, who control that chamber, is a measure that would allow child sexual abuse victims who have timed out of the legal system to be able to file civil lawsuits. She stands firmly behind that recommendation as well as others that the grand jury made.

"These reform measures will lift that veil of silence [for child sexual abuse victims] and enable each and every one of those individuals to have a proper court process by which they can seek justice," she said. "We are strongly advocating that the General Assembly do this." S

Wolf dismissed the argument that Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson County, raises about the retroactive component being unconstitutional. He said Attorney General Josh Shapiro and his predecessor, now state Inspector General Bruce Beemer, both are lawyers and they say otherwise.

Storm said similar laws have been upheld in other states. And while Pennsylvania's constitution has a "remedies clause," which prohibits a retroactive change to civil and criminal statute of limitations," she said that was put there to protect plaintiffs and not individual's rights.

"Childhood sexual abuse, sexual assault has always been illegal in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania and so we're not asking them to do anything that is out of the ordinary here," she said. "We firmly believe that it would pass constitutional muster and we would love for the courts to be able to make that determination and let the General Assembly do the right thing for victims."

Scarnati also has suggested that the Catholic Church should create a fund to make restitution to clergy sex victims, but Wolf said he supports the four recommendations that the grand jury made and doesn't support that idea.Sharif, Ms Maryam and Mr Safdar were also directed to submit bail bonds worth Rs 500,000.

Islamabad: Ousted Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter and son-in-law were released from prison on Wednesday, hours after a top court suspended their sentences in a major corruption case that jeopardised their political career.

In a relief to the still-grieving Sharif family, a two-judge bench of the Islamabad high court suspended the jail sentences of the embattled former Prime Minister Sharif, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Capt (retd) Muhammad Safdar in a corruption case that pertains to the purchase of four flats in Avenfield House, Park Lane, London. and ordered their release on bail.

Mr Sharif, Ms Maryam and Mr Safdar were also directed to submit bail bonds worth Rs 500,000. The relief comes just a week after Mr Sharifs wife, Kulsoom Nawaz, died in London. The trio were briefly allowed out of the high-security Adiala Jail on parole to attend her funeral in Lahore. They returned to jail on Monday. The accountability court judge Mohammad Bashir had sentenced the trio on July 6. Mr Sharif, 68, Mr Maryam, 44, and Mr Safdar, 54, were sentenced to 10 years, seven years and one year, respectively, in prison and fined in the corruption case.

Mr Sharifs younger brother and president of his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Shehbaz Sharif and other party leaders meet the former premier at the high-security Adiala Prison before he was released, Geo News reported.

The former three-time premier, his daughter and son-in-law were taken to the Noor Khan Airbase amid tight security for boarding a special plane to Lahore, the report said.Fitzgerald memorial to be closed to the public and live-streamedThe Global Times, a semi-official Communist Party paper, reports that the purpose of the visit is the signing of an agreement between Beijing and the Holy See on episcopal appointments in China. For Taiwans ambassador to the Holy See, a political agreement will be hard to achieve. The meeting will touch religious issues.

Rome (AsiaNews)  A Vatican delegation is getting ready to travel to China at the end of September, perhaps to sign the long-awaited agreement on the procedures for the appointment of future Catholic bishops in the Asian country, reports the Global Times, citing a source familiar with the issue".

There are no "disputes on issues of principle" between the two sides, writes the paper, a semi-official mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party. If the meeting goes well, the agreement would be signed.

The article stresses that the deal, allegedly agreed by both China and the Vatican, includes the canonical legitimation of seven Chinese bishops consecrated in the past without papal consent, including those who were excommunicated.

In concluding, the paper noted that the ongoing negotiations will stay on the religious level. Taiwans ambassador to the Holy See, Matthew Lee said that up to now, there is just a religious agreement between Beijing and the Holy See.

According to Lee "high-ranking officials in its Secretariat of State have sincerely assured us that this agreement on bishop appointments is aimed at handling Catholic religious affairs in China and carries no political or diplomatic connotations. We remain committed to promoting our diplomatic efforts and advancing the partnership between Taiwan and the Holy See. We hope that society will not overinterpret this development.Pack 109 Pine Bluffs Cub Scouts geared back up a few weeks ago after a short summer vacation. While out of school for the summer, Pack 109 had summer projects to complete.

One project was a conservation project held at Lake Oliver in Nebraska. The Pack build and hung wren houses in trees around the lake. Each year they will check on and maintain the houses.This project was done in conjunction with South Platte NRD.

The Pack also participated in Trail Days, and earned Best Float in the youth division.

As the Pack starts their year, with their fundraiser is the popcorn sales.

This hard working Pack from their popcorns sales last year earned a trip to "Bunk with the Beast" at the Denver Zoo. While at the Denver Zoo, they were given a tour after dark and were able to see the zoo animals with night vision glasses. They also toured the kitchen where the zoo prepared meals for animals like blood popsicles for the bats.

Their plans for this years popcorn fundraiser is to buy a new Pine Derby track for their upcomming Pine Derby Competition with other Packs.

Pack 109 is lead by Elizabeth Zerck, and she is assisted by Den Leaders: Heather Eggli and Staci Meredith. The Cub Scouts is for youth in Kindergarten through 5th grade. Their meeting are held on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Sundays at 2:30 p.m. at the Crossroads Community Church.

Throughout the year, the Pack has many activites and the cub scouts will learn many new activities. Last year the Pack dyed shirts, and assisted the Donald Eisenhauer American Legion Post 60 with ceremonies at the Pine Bluffs Cemetery on Memorial Day.

Completing projects and adventures in their guidebooks earn them beltloops.3.3k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) told Republicans that if they are going to have their women staff question Christine Blasey Ford, they need to step down.

Video:

Sen. Gillibrand said on MSNBCs All In with Chris Hayes, I think thats an absurd idea. If they literally cant do their jobs as Senators on the Judiciary Committee and have to ask female staffers to do their jobs for them, they need to step down from the committee. Its their job.

Gillibrand was responding to a HuffPost report that, Three Democratic sources familiar with the committees planning told HuffPost that this proposal was under consideration, although so far its not clear whether Blasey and Kavanaugh will testify. The office of Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), the chairman of the judiciary panel, did not return a request for comment.

The Old Republican Men On The Judiciary Committee Are Cowards

Republicans want to smear Christine Blasey Ford, but they dont want to be held accountable for their cultural crime against women, so they cooked up this stupid scheme to force their female employees to do the questioning for them. These men are supposed to be United States Senators, but they are willing to abandon their sworn duties to help a corrupt president get a nominee on to the Supreme Court.

The plan itself was a disgrace, and Sen. Gillibrand correctly humiliated these Senators for even thinking that such a scheme would be acceptable. If the Senators want to question Blasey Ford, they should do it themselves in front of the entire nation, and be fully aware that women are the majority in this country, and their actions will be remembered when voters go to the polls in November.

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.

Follow Jason Easley on Facebook.7k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

Surprise. President Trump lied again.

Earlier today, Trump claimed that the FBI told him they didnt want to be involved in investigating allegations against Brett Kavanaugh.

Trump told reporters today at the White House, I dont think the FBI really need to be involved because they dont want to be involved. If they wanted to be, I would certainly do that, but as you know, they say this is not really their thing.

That didnt make sense, since thats the FBIs job and they would do it if asked by Trump or anyone at the White House, which fact we noted at the time.

What Trump meant, of course, was that Trump did not want them to investigate.

And the fact checks came rolling in.

A. This a normal thing to do, as we noted: Contrary to Trumps claim, the FBI certainly would do a background investigation if asked by the White House or other agencies, but they have to be asked to do it. Trump and Republicans have not asked them.

And B: The FBI now says they never told Trump or anyone at the White House this. Bloomberg News reported that the FBI did not tell Trump or anyone at the White House that the bureau doesnt want to be involved in an investigation of allegations against Kavanaugh.

Bloomberg News: The FBI did not tell Trump or anyone else at the White House that the bureau doesnt want to be involved in an investigation of allegations against Kavanaugh, according to a person familiar with the matter.  Chris Strohm (@cstrohm) September 19, 2018

Trump says what he wants things to be, not what they are. He might not know the difference. The reality is the FBI routinely investigates the backgrounds of nominees, but they must be asked to do so.711 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

By Gina Cherelus

(Reuters)  A Texas man at the center of a legal battle over his plan to make instructions available for 3-D printed plastic guns flew to Taiwan after learning police in Austin were investigating an accusation he had sex with an underage girl, police said on Wednesday.

Cody Wilson, 30, was placed under investigation after a counselor on Aug. 22 told police that a 16-year-old girl had said she was paid $500 to have sex with Wilson at an Austin hotel, Austin Police Commander Troy Officer said at a news conference.

Police later interviewed the girl and on Wednesday obtained a warrant for Wilsons arrest, but by then he had caught a flight to Taiwan, Officer said.

We know Mr. Wilson frequently travels for business. We dont know why he went to Taiwan, Officer said. But we do know before he left he was informed by a friend of the victim that she had spoken to police and the police were investigating him for having sex with a minor.

Taiwan does not have an extradition treaty with the United States.

Wilson founded the group Defense Distributed, which has been selling 3-D firearm-design files on flash drives via regular mail after a U.S. federal judge barred the group from posting the blueprints online.

A lawyer for Wilson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In an Aug. 27 interview with police, the teenager said she had exchanged messages with a man using the screen name Sanjuro on SugarDaddyMeet.com, according to a police affidavit. The girl said Sanjuro later revealed his real name, described himself as a big deal and exchanged nude photos with her.The girl said she and Wilson had sex at a local hotel on Aug. 15, according to the document. Her statement was corroborated with security video footage and records showing Wilson registered as a guest at the hotel that night, police said.

Wilson sparked a legal battle in 2015 after he challenged a government ban on posting the blueprints for printing 3-D guns to the internet, claiming it infringed on his rights to free speech and to bear arms.

The Trump administration earlier this year reached a settlement lifting the ban for Defense Distributed. But 19 states and the District of Columbia challenged that decision in court in July, arguing that publishing the blueprints would allow criminals easy access to unregistered weapons.

Last month, U.S. District Judge Robert Lasnik in Seattle ordered Wilson not to post blueprints online. Instead, Wilson began selling them by mail, saying the judges order did not bar him from doing so.

(Reporting by Gina Cherelus in New York; additional reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis in Los Angeles; Editing by Bernadette Baum and Lisa Shumaker)

Image: Youtube421 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

By Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen and Teis Jensen

COPENHAGEN (Reuters)  Danske Banks <DANSKE.CO> chief executive Thomas Borgen resigned on Wednesday after an investigation revealed payments totaling 200 billion euros ($234 billion) through its small Estonian branch, many of which the bank said were suspicious.

The Danish bank detailed compliance and control failings amid growing calls for a European Union crackdown on financial crime after a series of money laundering scandals which have attracted the attention of U.S. authorities.

Even though I was personally cleared from a legal point of view, I hold the ultimate responsibility. There is no doubt that we as an organization have failed in this situation and did not live up to expectations, Borgen, who will stay on until a new CEO is appointed, told a press conference.

Borgen, 54, was in charge of Danske Banks international operations, including Estonia, between 2009 and 2012.

While the report shed some light on the banks activities in Estonia, investors are concerned whether the United States, which has placed sanctions on Russia, will punish it.

As this is the largest money laundering scandal in European history, and Danske Bank is a major bank that sends dollars around the world, I imagine that this will certainly get the attention of the U.S. authorities, Bill Browder, the founder and CEO of Hermitage Capital Management who has campaigned against corruption in Russia, told Reuters.

Danish politicians were critical of Danske Bank for not revealing exactly how much money was allegedly laundered and not saying who was legally responsible for the lapses.

It is deeply embarrassing that for so many years there have been transactions that should not have taken place. Much of it is expected to be money laundering, and that is simply not good enough by Danske Bank, business minister Rasmus Jarlov, who oversees Denmarks banking sector, told a press conference.

Danske Bank said in its summary of a report covering around 15,000 customers and 9.5 million payments between 2007 and 2015 that Borgen, Chairman Ole Andersen and the board did not breach their legal obligations.

Andersen said the bank had made an assessment of whether it violated U.S. laws but declined to share its conclusion when asked at a press conference.

The Estonian non-resident portfolios around 10,000 customers were registered in 90 different countries, with Russia, Britain, the British Virgin Islands and Finland the main ones, Danske Bank said, adding that around a third of them became clients of the branch in 2007.

Danske Bank, whose already battered shares fell by nearly 8 percent, said some 6,200 customers had been examined and it expected a significant part of the payments to be suspicious.

Shares in Danske Bank had doubled in value from when Borgen took over in 2013 to July 2017, but have since lost more than a third as allegations of suspicious transactions increased and Denmark and Estonia began criminal investigations.

The bank said it had taken action including warnings, dismissals, loss of bonus payments and reporting to the authorities against current and former staff, as well as overhauling systems found to have failed.

In an indication of the costs such lapses can have, Dutch bank ING <INGA.AS> agreed to pay 775 million euros ($900 million) this month after admitting criminals had been able to launder money through its accounts.

And earlier this year U.S. authorities accused Latvias ABLV of covering up money laundering, leading to the bank being denied U.S. dollar funding and its swift collapse.

While Danske does not have a banking license in the United States, banning U.S. correspondent banks from dealing with it would amount to shutting it out of the global financial network.

GRAPHIC: Danske Bank share price performance  https://reut.rs/2plB6Om

SERIOUS SHORTCOMINGS

The report found that Danske Bank failed to take proper action in 2007 when it was criticized by the Estonian regulator and received information from its Danish counterpart that pointed to criminal activity in its pure form, including money laundering estimated at billions of rubles monthly.

And when a whistleblower raised problems at the Estonian branch in early 2014 the allegations were not properly investigated and were not shared with the board, Danske said, adding that measures to get its business there under control had been insufficient.

Danske Bank also said the Estonian branch did not employ its anti-money laundering procedures because it had not migrated its Baltic banking activities onto the banks IT platform as this would have been too expensive.

The report describes serious shortcomings in the organization of Danske Bank, where risk-appetite and risk control were not in balance, the head of Estonias FSA financial regulator Kilvar Kessler said in a statement.

Danske Bank, which cut its forecast for annual net profit to 16-17 billion Danish crowns, from a previous 18-20 billion, has successfully overcome previous traumas.

The government had to step in when international markets froze in 2008 and in 2012 it was criticized for an advertising campaign that sought to improve its image, borrowing symbols linked to anti-establishment movement Occupy Wall Street.

Prior to the money laundering scandal, Borgen had managed to improve the banks image and earnings in part by cutting costs, shifting its focus to wealthier clients and expanding in Sweden and Norway to rival the Nordic regions biggest bank, Nordea <NDA.ST>.

(Reporting by Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen and Teis Jensen, additional reporting by Emil Gjerding Nielson; editing by Jason Neely and Alexander Smith)737 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

Once again First Daughter Ivanka Trump seems to be making matters worse by trying to help her father in a difficult situation. The Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court nomination has hit a rough patch, so apparently she thought that she could make it better by commenting about it.

According to a new Vanity Fair article Ivanka has told her dad to cut bait and withdraw the Brett Kavanaugh nomination. Nobody thinks that Ivanka can really convince the president to do this. If shes trying to help her dad politically, it certainly will backfire.

NEW: White House advisers are worried that more damaging information about Kavanaugh could come out. Two sources relayed rumors that Fords account will be verified by more women. Another said Ivanka Trump has told her father to cut bait and drop him

NEW: White House advisers are worried that more damaging information about Kavanaugh could come out. Two sources relayed rumors that Fords account will be verified by more women. Another said Ivanka Trump has told her father to cut bait and drop him https://t.co/aDtKT4PbRM  The Hive (@VFHIVE) September 18, 2018

The problem with Ivankas public statements is that they usually are tone-deaf and do more harm than good. Her comments wont help her father in the public debate about sexual assault and the treatment of victims.

We know shes trying to help, but her motive seems to be fear, not caring for the victim. Just last week we reported on her fears for her fathers presidency:

Ivanka Trump is worried that her father is going to be impeached as the situation at the White House has deteriorated to a new low.

If his own daughter thinks Kavanaugh should be abandoned, the president looks bad by not doing it. Kavanaughs nomination will not help either Trump or Republican candidates in the midterms. And Ivankas comments will not help either.

According to the Vanity Fair article:

White House advisers are worried that more damaging information about Kavanaugh could come out, and The White House has heard rumors that Fords account will be verified by women who say she told it to them contemporaneously.

The fear of losing the House and Senate seems to have convinced Trump to appear reasonable and not fiercely attack Kavanaughs accuser, Dr. Christine Ford. He knows that he should not antagonize women voters, who already favor Democrats over Republicans by a two-to-one margin.

Trump is walking a tightrope here, trying to avoid doing anything that would increase the odds of Republicans losing both houses of Congress.

Trump knows the Senate is not looking good, one GOP adviser said. Its all about the impeachment, he knows its coming.

Ivanka may be worried about her father, but she also may be worried about herself and the rest of the Trump clan. In August we reported that the Southern District of New York federal investigation into the Trump Organization could be looking at Trump kids Don Jr., and Ivanka along with son in law Jared Kushner.An international conference is under way on the theme, organized by the Vatican Dicastery for Integral Human Development and the World Council of Churches (WCC), in collaboration with the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. It is focused on the "fears" that migrants arouse, but also on the work of Churches, religions, civil society and politics. A representative from Libya considers the European Union operation "Sofia" "criminal", which pushes (and drowns) migrants back into Libyan territorial waters. According to some participants the approach "Eurocentric".

Rome (AsiaNews)  An International Conference on "Xenophobia, racism and populist nationalism in the context of global migration" is in its second day today in Rome at the Ergife Hotel. The event is organized by the Vatican Dicastery for Integral Human Development and the World Council of Churches (WCC), in collaboration with the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. There are 200 invited guests, including political figures, figures from civil society and from the Churches operating in the world of migrants, as well as various media.

The opening address yesterday was entrusted to Card. Peter Appiah Turkson, Prefect of the Dicastery for Integral Human Development. He gave a general outline of the themes participants would address: first of all monitor the way in which "the host societies interface with the new arrivals, their views their vision of the foreigner". Then highlight the presence or absence in our societies of attitudes of racism that justify "indifference, marginalization, hatred, exclusion or deviation of a human being". Finally, "reflect on the role that the churches are called to play" in the context of migration.

Citing Benedict XVI, in his social encyclical Caritas in veritate, Card. Turkson noted that "an increasingly globalized society brings us close, but does not make us brothers and sisters", and that "mistrust and fear prevail over trust and openness to others".

The theme of "fear" was addressed by many. The CC secretary, Olaf Fykse Tveit also highlighted the way politicians use this fear to divide society and "pitt us against one another". Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, of the German Evangelical Church, pointed out that there is a "criminal" fear of migrants, afraid that they will cause crimes; a "social" fear, which sees them as economic competitors; and a "cultural" fear, fearful of seeing one's culture suffocated by the presence of other cultures and religions. In this regard, he noted that often in Germany, there are defenders of "Christian civilization" who do not go to church, nor attend any community, but strongly oppose the presence of Muslims in Europe. At least 30% of German Christians ("including members of the clergy") are xenophobic.

Confirming the resistance of the migration policy, Felipe Camargo, of the UN refugee organization (UNHCR) for Southern Europe, cited the fact that the European Parliament wants to discuss the criteria for welcoming refugees to make them even more restrictive. .

During the moments of discussion, criticisms emerged regarding the way the Conference has been programmed. For some members the expressed vision is too "Eurocentric" and linked only to the issues of migrants in the Mediterranean. A representative of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem recalled the problem of Palestinian refugees; Ziad El Sayegh, a Lebanese, from the Council of Churches in the Middle East, recalled the presence of the million and more Syrian refugees in Lebanon and Jordan. Some members of Africa have pointed out that millions of Africans - in Congo, South Sudan, etc ... - do not come to Europe, but find hospitality in neighboring African countries. Prof. Kofi Awusabo-Asare, a professor of population studies in Accra (Ghana), stressed that racism is not only present in Europe, but also in Africa, even if there is greater racial homogeneity there. "Racism - he tells AsiaNews - exists even among tribes and clans".

The strongest criticism - against international politics, rather than to the meeting - came from Libyan Prof. Aref Nayed, who defined the European Union operation "Sofia" which pushes (and drowns) migrants back into Libyan territorial waters as "criminal". He accused the Libyan police and the Coast Guard of sinking the inflatable rubber dinghies of migrants.

According to Nayed, in Islam there are principles that safeguard hospitality towards the foreigner. The "merchants of death" who traffic migrants in Libya do not only commit acts of violence against them, but "against Islam," he said.

Representatives of other religions - a Hindu, a Christian, a Buddhist - have shown how religions per se encourage acceptance, but are often used for nationalist and racist ends. The Japanese Buddhist representative, Katsutoshi Mizumo, of Rissho Kosei-kai, told of the presence of some Buddhist members among the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. In Myanmar the Rohingya are persecuted by the army and by Buddhist extremist.

Yesterday afternoon participants heard from the director of AsiaNews and the AsiaNews correspondent from Yangon, which will be published in their full form on our site. Tomorrow the participants will be received by Pope Francis.1.6k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

Well, this is awkward for Republicans, who are barrelling ahead with their plan to confirm a possible rapist to the highest court in the land no matter what.

MSNBC is reporting that a former schoolmate of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford recalls the alleged Kavanaugh assault being discussed at their school. She has no first hand knowledge to corroborate the claims, but what this recollection does is shoot to kill the Republican claim that Ford manufactured this assault for political reasons.

NEW: A former schoolmate of Dr. Ford writes on social media that she recalls the alleged Kavanaugh assault incident being discussed at their school, but adds that she has no first-hand information to corroborate the accusers claims. https://t.co/dEa1fURH9M  MSNBC (@MSNBC) September 19, 2018

Republicans have treated Dr. Ford with sneering contempt, accusing her of manufacturing the accusation when only 2-10% of rape accusations are actually false and she didnt even want to come forward. Then, shoved into a corner wearing frat boy rapist hats, they realized they had to hold a hearing to look fair, so they scheduled it for Monday with no advance notice to the alleged victim and refused to allow her to call any witnesses.

Thats odd for a hearing, eh?

But then hearings are usually held AFTER investigations, because facts matter. But Republicans arent asking the FBI to reopen the investigation into Dr. Fords claims  a fact that they cant explain to anyone.

It makes no sense that they are not confident enough in their guy to give the highest court in the land two weeks before confirming him. What are they so afraid of?

Now that a schoolmate has confirmed that these are not new allegations manufactured for political reasons, Republicans look even worse if that were even possible at this point.

Republicans are trying to force Ford to sit at the same table as Kavanaugh, while this Senate Judiciary panel full of hostile men who do not care if she was raped grill her in an attempt to make her feel worse than she already does.

There is more likely a there, there now with this new information  but then, we already knew that when she passed the FBI agent administered lie detector test, whereas Kavanaugh himself has been caught misrepresenting the facts twice under oath.

Kavanaugh is historically opposed by the public, as well.

Republicans have no more excuses for their rush to the altar with this guy. The American public deserves to know just why they dont even care if hes a rapist or not.

Image: MSNBC Twitter567 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

Wondering why the President and Republicans keep referring to Dr. Christine Blasey Ford as the accuser as if she has no name?

Republicans have a history of painting women as accuser instead of victim. Theyve even tried to make this law. Republican state Rep Bobby Franklin of Georgia wrote a bill in 2011 to change the language from victim to the more hostile accuser in rape, stalking and domestic violence cases.

Brooke Baldwin noticed this as well, and chided the President for not saying Blasey Fords name:

Whether you believe her or not, Mr. President: say her name. #SCOTUS pic.twitter.com/CTmdIb4vit  Brooke Baldwin (@BrookeBCNN) September 18, 2018

Not only is the accuser dehumanizing, it also suggests doubt and hostility toward the person making the complaint. Its far from neutral, and yet news outlets have adopted it as the better choice over victim or alleged victim, which they have decided casts doubt.

I beg to differ.

Back when Franklin proposed this in 2011, in the height of the Republican war on women, it was seen as on the fringe. CNN wrote, The proposed change angered some who felt that Franklin meant the legislation as an attack on rape victims and on women, who comprise the overwhelming majority of victims of sexual assault.

I am dismayed  angry  and shocked by your wacked out ideologies concerning VICTIMS of rape, one commenter wrote on Franklins Facebook page.

They noted, Carolyn Fiddler, the communications director for the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, wrote on the organizations website that the legislation diminishes rape victims by questioning whether what happened to them is even a crime.

Burglary victims are still victims. Assault victims are still victims. Fraud victims are still victims, she wrote. But if you have the misfortune to suffer a rape, or if you are beaten by a domestic partner, or if you are stalked, Rep. Franklin doesnt think you have been victimized.

 Fiddler said she would like to think that Franklin didnt mean to diminish rape victims with the legislation. But she said the language displayed a lack of empathy and awareness.

It sounds a little hostile, Tracy said of the term Franklin proposed. It doesnt have the ring of neutrality to me.'

Back then, a writer on Huffington Post argued, Can we please stop referring to Nafissatou Diallo as DSKs accuser? She is his alleged victim. Every time someone calls her an accuser they undermine her credibility and bolster his.

Referring to the victim as the accuser reverses this process. She is no longer the victim of his (alleged) attack. She is the one doing something  to him. She is accusing him. In other words, she is now the perpetrator of an accusation against him. At the same time, he is transformed from the alleged perpetrator of sexual assault to the actual victim of her accusation. The public is thus positioned to identify sympathetically with him  to feel sorry for him  as the true victim.

This was going on as House Republicans were trying to ban abortion except in cases of forcible rape and trying to force women to get an unnecessary and invasive transvaginal ultrasound if they wanted or needed an abortion.

Republican Rep. Todd Akin was trying to legally change language about rape to legitimate rape. He also said (incorrectly) that women cant get pregnant when they are legitimately raped, according to doctors hes spoken with (scary).

You can watch this here:

House Republicans, meanwhile, were trying to change the meaning of rape to forcible rape.

And Republican Nevada Senate candidate Sharron Angle was telling young rape victims they shouldnt have access to abortions, instead they should turn a lemon situation into lemonade.

Back then, all of this was fringe but it is now the standard. We have come so full circle that the accuser is everywhere. Its the go to word. Even here, on a liberal website. The Republican fringe term is now the accepted term, and its loaded with negative implication.

Blasey Ford has not proven her case yet, nor will she be given a chance to criminally. She does not bear the burden of proof in this matter, either, that is on Kavanaugh to show that he is worthy.

We do not run around calling victims of theft accusers. If someone beats up a man, the man who was beaten doesnt get labeled accuser (though I bet if hes gay, brown, black, a child, or poor he might).

Given the fact that only 2-10% of rape accusations are false, while only 35% of rapes are even reported to the police, the math tells us that veering so far to the right as to suggest she is the aggressor is inaccurate at best.

She is not Kavanaughs accuser. She is his alleged victim, and I dont say that because I think it makes things better for her. Believe it or not, most people do not want to be seen as a victim and it is one of the toughest parts of coping with the aftermath of being attacked. But victim she is.

Style guides suggest avoiding alleged victim because it casts doubt on whether it happened, which is true. But its better than accuser, which not only casts doubt on it but actually shifts the sympathy to the alleged perpetrator of violence.1.2k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

College students often have to use the U.S. Postal Service to vote, since they dont live where they are registered. This requires them to mail their absentee ballots to a different location. But this is not happening as often as it should.

A recent focus group in Fairfax County, Virginia has found that a large number of college students who have received an absentee ballot failed to send it back in because they didnt know where to buy a U.S. Postal Service stamp.

Lisa Connors is with the Fairfax County Office of Public Affairs, the agency which sponsored the focus group. She said:

One thing that came up, which I had heard from my own kids but I thought they were just nerdy, was that the students will go through the process of applying for a mail-in absentee ballot, they will fill out the ballot, and then, they dont know where to get stamps.

That seems to be like a hump that they cant get across.

The focus group included college interns from many different county departments.

They all agreed that they knew lots of people who did not send in their ballots because it was too much of a hassle or they didnt know where to get a stamp, Connors said.

Across the board, they were all nodding and had a very spirited conversation about Oh yeah, I know so many people who didnt send theirs in because they didnt have a stamp.

Students are able to change their voter registration location to the college location only if they get a new drivers license or fill out a new voter registration application on campus.

After the surprising focus group results, Fairfax County is now encouraging students to vote in-person absentee while visiting their homes during fall breaks.

Kate Hanley, Fairfax County Electoral Board secretary, said:

Were really working on information to get the college students to be able to actually vote where theyre registered and vote absentee because its very confusing and it has a lot of pieces that can sort of go wrong in the middle of it.

Younger voters generally have very low turnout rates in midterm elections, and this latest information is not encouraging for those who want to increase those rates. For a generation raised with electronic devices and instant communications using snail mail is obviously a foreign concept. Perhaps some better way needs to be developed to overcome this challenge.

Either that, or maybe college students could be taught where to buy postage stamps.494 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

President Donald Trump is lashing out in anger the Florida Republican Partys gubernatorial nominee, former congressman Ron DeSantis, POLITICO reported Tuesday.

This is not a positive development for DeSantis with less than seven weeks until the crucial midterm elections on November 6th.

According to POLITICO Trump feels betrayed by DeSantis because he didnt go along with the presidents debunked conspiracy theory on the number of fatalities caused by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico.

After Trump sent several tweets stating his theory that official death tolls were fabricated by Democrats. and understating the number of actual deaths in Puerto Rico, DeSantis attempted to chart his own course. He tried to distance himself from the president, who most people think is largely responsible for his victory in Augusts Florida gubernatorial primary.

Ron DeSantis is committed to standing with the Puerto Rican community, especially after such a tragic loss of life. He doesnt believe any loss of life has been inflated, the DeSantis campaign said.

Trump campaigned for DeSantis during the primary campaign, and DeSantis brazenly bragged about how he was Trumps man in the primary. But then Trump saw the comments DeSantis made about Puerto Rico, and he wasnt happy.

The president has told close associates in recent days that he views DeSantis  who won his GOP primary thanks to Trumps strong support  as profoundly disloyal for distancing himself from the presidents assertion that the Hurricane Maria death toll was inflated by Democrats for political purposes, the article in POLITICO said.

DeSantiss reaction, however, particularly piqued the president. Trump views the former congressman as politically indebted to him, people familiar with the presidents thinking say, because he believes DeSantis owes his electoral success to him, POLITICO continued.

A person close to Trump described the fallout as a divorce.

DeSantis was not the only Florida Republican to dispute Trumps theory about Hurricane Maria death figures. Current Governor Rick Scott, the Republican Party nominee for the U.S. Senate, also refused to go along with Trump in disputing the official Maria death toll.

DeSantis has trailed Democratic nominee Andrew Gillum in every poll taken since the August 28th primary. The last thing he can afford is to lose the backing of Trump supporters. On the other hand, he cant afford to lose more Puerto Rican votes either. Truly the young former congressman is between a rock and a hard place, and the president has put him there.2.2k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

The White House let Trump speak to reporters for eight and a half minutes, and the result was a portrait of a president who is untethered from reality.

Video:

Transcript provided to PoliticusUSA by The White House:

Q What did you mean when you said you dont have an Attorney General? What did you mean by that?

THE PRESIDENT: Im disappointed in the Attorney General for numerous reasons. But we have an Attorney General. Im disappointed in the Attorney General for many reasons. And you understand that.

Q Are you going to fire Jeff Sessions?

THE PRESIDENT: We are looking at lots of different things. I have a great Cabinet. We have the greatest economy ever in the history of our country. So were very happy with the way things are running, generally speaking. I dont think weve ever had an economy like this. Somebody was on just this morning, from Reagan  from the Reagan White House. He said this is one of the great economies in history. So were very happy.

Trump said things that were not even close to reality

The AP fact checked Trumps claim that his economy is the greatest of all time and found:

As for growth, in the 1990s boom, still the longest on record, the U.S. economy expanded at an average annual pace of 4.3 percent for five years, from 1996 through 2000. In the 1980s, growth averaged 4.6 percent annually from 1983 through 1987. While the economy has picked up from 2016, its best showing since Trump took office was 3.2 percent in last years third quarter.

And in the late 1990s, a greater proportion of Americans had jobs than they do now. In May, 79.2 percent of people in their prime working years  aged 25 through 54  were working. Thats down from a record high of 81.9 percent in April 2000, or about 3.4 million fewer people with jobs. The unemployment rate has fallen as far as it has partly because many Americans have given up looking for work.

Trump also falsely claimed that the FBI couldnt investigate the sexual assault allegation against Brett Kavanaugh again. (They can. Trump just has to ask.) Trump also claimed that war with North Korea was inevitable before he took office. (It wasnt.)

These werent just false statements. Trump isnt living in reality

It used to be that people would take Trumps statements and fact check them based on truthfulness, but with the wave of new reporting that has come out on Trumps mental state in the last few months, it is time to look at the words of this president from a different perspective.

Donald Trump believes what he is saying. Trump thinks that what he says is a reflection of reality.

Trump isnt just lying for political spin or gain. This is what he believes.

The president spoke to reporters for less than ten minutes, and in that time revealed a broken mind that should not be leading this country.

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.

Follow Jason Easley on Facebook.Deutsche Post DHL Group has launched Trailar, a new fuel conservation technology for road transport based on lightweight and durable photovoltaic modules.

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Trailar uses advanced solar technology by applying thin film, flexible solar matting to the roofs of rigid vehicles, which are connected to the vehicle battery or additional onboard batteries. Harvested solar energy is used to power tail lifts and all ancillary equipment such as air conditioning. This reduces carbon emissions and lowers fuel consumption by 5%, while increasing engine efficiency and longevity at the same time.

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Thomas Ogilvie, Deutsche Post DHL Group board member for human resources and corporate incubations, said, Our Trailar solution is a key contributor to our GoGreen program and takes us a big step forward toward our goal of becoming the zero-emissions logistics leader by 2050.

However, while we are improving our environmental footprint, we also want to increase our corporate success. Trailar is another great proof point for the fact that cost and emission reductions are not mutually exclusive, but can complement each other.

The technology was co-developed by Deutsche Post DHL Group and Don-Bur, a manufacturer of commercial vehicle trailers in the UK. After successful trials with DHL Supply Chains fleet in the UK, Trailar will be running further tests with DHLs SmarTrucking initiative in India, with a view to adding it to its future fleet of vehicles. A global roll-out within Deutsche Post DHL Group and to external fleet operators has begun and will help turn transport solutions green in the coming years.

Aaron Thomas and Denny Hulme, co-founders of Trailar, together commented, Trailar is a sustainable, efficient and cost-effective solution which makes a significant contribution to reducing emissions from road transport.

We have developed a solution which implements the latest solar technology onto new and existing vehicles, so that our customers can operate more cleanly and efficiently. It helps the road transport industry adjust to a future with higher fuel prices and stricter emissions regulations.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.The U.S. Coast Guard has removed a member of its Hurricane Florence emergency response team in Charleston after he flashed an "OK" hand symbol during an interview on MSNBC Friday. The Coast Guard says an investigation has been opened into the incident, since the symbol has been associated with white supremacists. Please note the culprit is not the man in the foreground, but the guy in the back. Screenshot. MSNBC.Parishioners leave the Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity in downtown Charleston after receiving Holy Communion. This church does not offer gluten-free bread during communion, but several other churches in Charleston provide an alternative product to accommodate those with celiac disease and other food sensitivities.This is the lowest number in five years. However, what happens in villages, where women do not have access to medical care, may not be counted. Sex-specific abortions have also dropped because doctors could go to prison if they declare the sex of the newborn.

New Delhi (AsiaNews)  In 2017, there were only 802,000 infant deaths in India, the lowest number in five years, this according to the latest report by the United Nations Inter-Agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNIGME).

The report, which was released yesterday, was welcomed in Indian media, which noted the significant drop in in child mortality. In 2016, there were 867,000 infant deaths.

However, Fr Milton Gonsalves, executive secretary of the Family Commission of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) of Latin rite, sounds a note of caution. We cannot trust these figures because in rural villages many women still do not have access to medical care and do not go to hospital for checks during pregnancy. Many births take place at home and we do not really know how many new-borns survive."

The report by UNICEF, World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Population Division and the World Bank also notes that, last year, India had at least 605,000 neonatal deaths whilst the number of deaths for children aged between 5 and 14 stood at 152,000.

"The efforts for improving institutional delivery, along with countrywide scale up of special newborn care units and strengthening of routine immunisation, have been instrumental towards this," said Yasmin Ali Haque, Representative, UNICEF India

However, the situation of pregnant women in the more remote villages "is different from that of big cities, said Fr Gonsalves. Rural women re often forced to travel several kilometres on foot to go to the hospital, and in the end, many decide not to consult a doctor.

If the report's data come from the government, and were thus collected by the hospitals, it is very likely that they do not include the deaths that occur in the villages. This is why the number of infant deaths could be much higher."

For the clergyman, "This is where the work of the Church comes in. We have several programmes to support pregnant women and we try to make them understand the importance of prenatal checks. We are also involved in educating families and supporting couples."

Overall, the 2017 report estimates that about 6.3 million children under the age of 15 died worldwide, one every five seconds. Over half of the deaths are in sub-Saharan Africa and 30 per cent in South Asia.

Experts note that most of these deaths are preventable if more is done to limit their causes, such as complications during birth, pneumonia, diarrhoea, malaria and infections.

The study highlights that the gender gap at birth also dropped in India. Sex-specific under-five mortality rate was 39 in 1,000 for male and 40 in 1,000 for females.

This is important in a country where prenatal sex tests and selective abortions are still widespread, despite the 1994 Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, which bans them.

"The problem is that Indian society still considers women as a burden, said Fr Rayarala Vijay Kumar, PIME superior in India. When a baby girl is born, it is a concern for families. Fathers pay for their education and for their dowry to the family of the future husband. In the end, women do not even work after marriage and do not put to good use the education they received."

"In all likelihood, the drop in the number of aborted girls stems from the fact that doctors cannot reveal the sex of the unborn child because, if they do, they risk heavy fines and even imprisonment. The real solution would be to change the Indian mindset and the countrys culture."Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. High 72F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly cloudy during the evening followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low 54F. Winds light and variable.Chloe Johnson covers the coastal environment and climate change for the Post and Courier. She's always looking for a good excuse to hop on a boat.Thomas Lawton Evans pleaded guilty Tuesday to abducting a Johns Island girl during a violent home invasion and told the FBI he killed his girlfriend  a Spartanburg County woman who has been missing since around the same time, prosecutors said.

Evans, 37, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Charleston to charges of kidnapping, transportation of a minor to engage in sexual activity and aggravated sexual abuse in connection with the abduction of a 4-year-old girl.

He faces 30 years to life in prison for the crimes and will be sentenced at a later date.

He also faces state charges of kidnapping, attempted murder, first-degree criminal sexual conduct, armed robbery, first-degree burglary and weapon possession.

The young girl's abduction ignited a frenzied search by local, state and national authorities that lasted for about a day. Authorities have been searching for Sharon Nannette Hayden, 39, of Spartanburg, since they first learned of the abduction.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan Williams told Judge David Norton that Evans has admitted to FBI agents he stabbed Hayden after an argument, sending her fleeing into a nearby wooded area. Officials said Evans had been staying with Hayden after his release from state prison in early February.

Evans also told investigators he watched Hayden collapse in the woods and believes she died. Evans told investigators he left her there, though her body has not been recovered, prosecutors said. The investigation remains ongoing.

He made a run for the Lowcountry with Hayden's car after the argument, the prosecutor said.

Evans was spotted in Berkeley County with Hayden's vehicle two days before the abduction on Johns Island. Prosecutors said Tuesday Evans took Hayden's phone and posed as her when family and colleagues attempted to reach her when she couldn't be found.

It was Feb. 13 when prosecutors said Evans eyed the mother and her five children as she drove them to school in West Ashley. She dropped off two children and headed back to her Whitney Lake home with her other children, ages 4, 2 and five months.

They were the "perfect family" Evans wanted to belong to, he told investigators, adding that his initial plan was to rob them.

The mother was setting the car seat down inside her home when she heard steps behind her, she would later recall to authorities, the prosecutor said.

Evans attacked her from behind, authorities said. The mother of five fought back as he bashed her head into the hardwood and punched her in the face. If she continued to resist, prosecutors said he told her, he would hurt whoever else was in the house. He bound her feet and hands and sexually assaulted her.

The prosecutor told the judge the woman's memory and cognitive abilities had been severely affected by the attack. One of the few things she could recall was yelling for the 4-year-old to run and hide. Evans would eventually find her hiding in a bedroom with the 2-year-old, Williams told the judge.

Evans took the 4-year-old and fled the home, leaving the mother gravely injured with multiple facial fractures and bleeding on her brain. She fell in and out of consciousness until officers arrived at her home that evening after she didn't pick up her two other children from school.

Meanwhile, Evans fled with the young girl to Alabama. The next day railroad workers spotted her in a parked car with a man who was asleep, authorities said. Police arrived at the scene after the workers reported what they saw.

She had been dressed in what appeared to be adult clothing, prosecutors said. Authorities also said she was sexually assaulted.

The Post and Courier does not name victims of sexual assault.

Evans was arrested in Mississippi driving another stolen car following a police pursuit.

Angie Jackson contributed to this report.Gregory Yee covers the city of Charleston. He's a native Angeleno and previously covered crime and courts for the Press-Telegram in Long Beach, CA. He studied journalism and Spanish literature at the University of California, Irvine.Sign up for our twice-daily email briefing! All the South Carolina news you need to know delivered to your inbox 365 days a year.Andrew Knapp is editor of the Quick Response Team, which covers crime, courts and breaking news. He previously worked as a reporter and copy editor at Florida Today, Newsday and Bangor (Maine) Daily News. He enjoys golf, weather and fatherhood.Columbia/Myrtle Beach Managing Editor

Andy Shain runs The Post and Courier's newsrooms based in Columbia and Myrtle Beach. He was editor of Free Times and has been a reporter and editor for newspapers in Charlotte, Columbia and Myrtle Beach."Although Myanmars constitution permits freedom of religion, many Myanmar people see the country as Buddhist and tend to worry about the influence of non-Buddhist religions, mainly Islam." Minorities were promised autonomy and self-determination in their own regions. So, when this promise was broken, many ethnic groups took up arms against the central government.

Rome (AsiaNews)  In recent months, the humanitarian crisis affecting Rohingya Muslims has been at the centre of international concern. But Myanmar's problems have not been limited to Rakhine State. Isolated from the rest of the world for more than fifty years, the country and its young democracy are threatened by the influence of some Buddhist nationalist groups. Added to this are the consequences of the long-standing conflicts between minority ethnic armies, like that of Kachin Christians, and government forces.

We publish the analysis by contributor who, together with AsiaNews editor, took part in the World Conference on Xenophobia, Racism and Populist Nationalism in the Context of Global Migration, currently underway in Rome. The latter was organised by the Vatican Dicastery for Integral Human Development and the World Council of Churches (WCC) in cooperation with the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

Myanmar finds itself in a period of democratic transition; unfortunately, the country faces serious challenges. The Rakhine issue has been regarded as communal conflict between Rakhine and Rohingya communities. It has never been regarded as a religious conflict. Nowadays the Rohingya issue is at the centre of attention of the international community and global news media, and is seen as one of the worst humanitarian crises.

The Rohingya issue has been handled and responded nowadays with the coordination between Myanmar and Bangladesh governments and United Nations agencies such as UNDP and UNHCR. Myanmar has been implementing the recommendations of Kofi Annan commission on Rakhine issue, requested by Aung San Suu Kyi. In recent months, Myanmar government has been establishing and preparing repatriation camps to accept Rohingya refugees. Bangladesh envoys have also visited Myanmar capital city Naypyidaw, where they met with Myanmar government ministers. They also visited repatriation camps in border areas in Rakhine state in August to draft agreements on Rohingya return.

However, very few Hindu refugees have returned and most Rohingya refugees are not returning yet because they dont trust the Myanmar government guarantee on their safety. At the same time, there are some news about Rohingya militants killing Hindus and Rohingya refugees who wanted to return to Myanmar.

In Rakhine, communal conflicts started in 2012. There was communal violence between local Myanmar people and Muslims. In August 2017, after Rohingya militants attacked Myanmar regional police forces in Rakhine, the Myanmar army responded with force. Due to the actions by the Myanmar army, thousands of Rohingya fled for their life to Bangladesh. Before the conflict in August 2017, there were 120,000 Rohingya refugees in 36 IDP camps, according to the UNHCR cluster report.

Some studies showed that communal conflicts in Myanmar were due to hate speeches. Before communal violence in 2012, there was the Buddhist 969 movement and audio/video DVDs attacking Muslim people received wide circulation in conflict areas. These Buddhist movement is believed to be led by MaBaTha group.

The Word MaBaTha is the abbreviation of the protection of Ma (Amyo), races; Ba (Barthar), religion; and Tha (Thartanar), Buddhism. In the past, before 2010, Buddhist monks mainly preached about Buddhist virtues. During the first parliamentary election around 2012, some Buddhist monks started preaching about protecting the race and religion.

We all must aware that Myanmar has been isolated for more than five decades. In the past, Myanmar people didnt have a chance to interact with the outside world and the international community. The international community also didnt interact with Myanmar people a lot. When the parliamentary democratic system in 2010 was put in place, some Myanmar people became concerned that Myanmar Buddhism and Burmese culture would be affected by an open democratic society. Although Myanmars constitution permits freedom of religion, many Myanmar people see the country as Buddhist and tend to worry about the influence of non-Buddhist religions, mainly Islam.

In such conditions, the Buddhist nationalist organisation MaBaTha and the infamous monk U Wirathu began causing fear and hatred among many uneducated Buddhist followers. Communal violence broke out in 2012 and continued due to such incitement. But one interesting fact is that before the violence, unidentified groups (not local residents) appeared from nowhere, attacking people and destroying properties.

In Myanmar, typically there are two types of Buddhist associations: the MaHaNa and MaBaTha. MaHaNa is State Sanga Maha Naryaka Committee. theHaNa association is made up of some elderly senior Buddhist high monks. Myanmars government pays respect, donates and presents state honour to these high monks. When Pope Francis was in Myanmar in 2017, he met with MaHaNa high monks. This state level monk association has however been criticised by Buddhist monks and lay people because they believe this association has been under the influence of Myanmar Ministry of Religion and Culture.

MaBaTha is infamous for its extremism. MaBaTha had published four journals between 2014 and 2017. However, these four journals ceased to exist in mid-2017. Now they have only one journal. The MaBaTha journal is called Myanma U Dan and is about Buddhist history, Buddhist scriptures and teachings, criticism of public figures like Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy (NLD) and criticism of the opposition to the MaBaTha, Islamic threats, reports on MaBaTha activity, justification of monastic involvement in politics. Some MaBaTha supporters and donors are former military leaders and parliamentarians.

Due to the confrontation between MaBaTha and the NLD government, MaHaNa instructed MaBaTha to change their organisational name. Most of the MaBaTha leaders accepted it and their new organisational name is Buddha Dhama Parahitha Foundation (I.e. Buddha teaching charity foundation). Although MaBaTha and the NLD government had some confrontation, their influence and popularity among Myanmar Buddhists has not decreased. MaBaTha has been also involved in other charitable and relief activities in times of natural disaster. So, Myanmar Buddhists feel that MaBaTha is closer to lay Buddhists people in their ordinary life.

Some Myanmar Buddhists blamed Muslim people for starting the Rakhine communal violence in 2012. The communal violence was believed to have been started by news or rumours about Muslim men raping a Rakhine girl. They said that where there are Muslims, there is rape. Nationalists blamed the whole religion for the crime. However, when the media showed some Buddhist monks sexually abusing children, they did not blame Buddhist religion. Accusations are biased and one-sided.

At the same time, it should be noted that similarly one-dimensional, negative portrayals exist on the other side too. For example, Muslims call Buddhist monks shaved heads who steal from the poor. So mutual respect between these two communities is needed. However, since Myanmar is Buddhist majority country, the persecution of non-Buddhist religions is stronger.

Problems are not limited to Rakhine State. Myanmar is a country made up of seven ethnic states and regions. Out of more than a hundred recognised ethnic groups, seven are the largest. Ethnic Burmese are the majority and the Myanmar military is made up of majority Burmese. Non-Burmese ethnic groups agreed to become independent with Burmese people from British rule because they were promised autonomy and self-determination in their own regions. So, when this promise was broken, many ethnic groups took up arms against the central government in 1950s. Myanmar has suffered from one of the longest civil wars in the world and, due to the conflict, especially in South eastern part of Myanmar, Karen and Karena Kayah people have taken refuge in Thailand for decades.

In Chin, the state is one of the least developed in Myanmar. So many Chin people are taking refuge regionally and internationally fleeing famine and extreme poverty. The Kachin territory has suffered for decades from armed conflict between the Kachin Independent Army (KIA) and government troops. Due to the renewed fighting in Kachin since 2011, more than 130,000 Kachin people were internally displaced, finding shelter in 165 camps. Kachin IDPs have been staying in camps for over seven years for now.

The international community and global media pay little attention to Kachin IDPs in northern Myanmar. Thats why, a few media outlets have been describing the Kachin conflict as a forgotten conflict.

Over 90 per cent of Kachin people are Christian. Due to the seven-year conflict, over one hundred villages have been abandoned and destroyed and several Christian Churches have been looted and destroyed. Kachin people and KIA want self-determination and autonomy rights.

Government forces are fighting KIA in spite of peace talks and a peace conference. Some see the Kachin conflict as war over natural resources. Kachin land is rich in precious mineral resources such as gold, jade, ruby, amber and valuable woods. According to some reports, jade mines in Kachin state has produced jade worth from 8 to 40 billion US dollar every year.

The country that benefits from the fighting in northern Myanmar is China. China buy precious stones and tick wood at bargain prices from Myanmars military and Kachin armed groups. Lately China has bought jade at a very low price, affecting Myanmars jade market. China has been building oil refineries and offshore oil stations in Rakhine coastal areas. Gas pipe lines have been built in Rakhine to mainly serve China. We cannot ignore Chinese investment in most Myanmar business sectors.

In Myanmar, racial and religious discrimination has been obvious in the legal structure. There are administrative barriers for many minority ethnic and religious groups. Nowadays Buddhist nationalists in Myanmar have shown intolerance towards non-Buddhist people. They target not only Muslims but also Christians. On 30 October 2017, Sitagu Sayadaw, a Buddhist high monk, said that the lives of thousands of non-Buddhist soldiers are worthless.

Recently Myanmars first ever cardinal, Mgr Charles Bo, released a statement. The history of Myanmar "is a wounded story. It is time to heal, not to open new wounds, writes Card. Charles Maung Bo, Archbishop of Yangon, in an appeal to "those who are interested in peace" in the country.

He wrote Myanmar is going through "a challenging historical phase", by and supports the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi underlining "the important role of the military in the democratic transition.

Addressing the international community, he said "We need cooperation and accompaniment, words like genocide, ethnic cleansing, sanctions, ICC do not help.Syndicated and guest columns represent the personal views of the writers, not necessarily those of the editorial staff. The editorial department operates entirely independently of the news department and is not involved in newsroom operations.The Post and Courier provides a forum for our readers to share their opinions, and to hold up a mirror to our community. Publication does not imply endorsement by the newspaper; the editorial staff attempts to select a representative sample of letters because we believe its important to let our readers see the range of opinions their neighbors submit for publication.The Element Electronics manufacturing plant in Winnsboro was set to shut down in October due to the impact of proposed tariffs but can now remain open after the tariffs were taken off the U.S. Commerce Department's updated list. File/Jamie Lovegrove/StaffPolitical Reporter

Caitlin Byrd is a political reporter at The Post and Courier and author of the Palmetto Politics newsletter. Before moving to Charleston in 2016, her byline appeared in the Asheville Citizen-Times. To date, Byrd has won 17 awards for her work.ST. CHARLES  If you need proof the "farm-to-table" movement is growing, just try to get a ticket to the St. Charles Farm to Table Community Dinner on Sept. 22.

"We were sold out within a month," said event organizer Lindsay Gust. "We currently have a waiting list in case someones plans change at the last minute."

Dont hold your breath.

In its second year, the outdoor dinner set up along St. Charles Avenue behind City Hall is the hottest ticket in town. And thats after adding 50 spots to the 100 seats set aside last year.

"Were going to see how 150 is," Gust said, when asked if next years event will go to 175 or 200.

The dinner, which includes music by Twin Cities guitarist Matt Browne during the social hour at 5 p.m., features one long table with diners enjoying the fruits of farm labor.

Gust said all the food will come from farms within about 100 miles of St. Charles, from either Minnesota or Wisconsin. "Everything is local, which supports the values and principles we try to promote," she said. "Were trying to show everybody that, nothing against going to Walmart and Target, you can get all those same items from a local farmer, and its fresher."

In fact, just about every supplier is open for a visit, and people can truly see where their food comes from, she said.

Thats certainly true of Metz Hart-Land Creamery, located about 6 miles north of Rushford. The dairy will once again supply its popular cheese curds for the dinner.

"Our population needs to know where their food is coming from and needs to understand how their food is raised," said Mariann Metz, who owns and runs the 200-plus head dairy along with her husband, Jeff, and her children.

Between farm-to-table events and demonstrations in which the dairy participates, Metz said shes glad there are more opportunities for consumers to interact with the people who grow their food. As the owner of a true family farm, she loves telling the story of her farm and how its operated. "Its all us," she said. "Theres no middle man. Were the middle man, the beginning man and the end man."

The creamery will donate 30 to 40 pounds of cheese curds to the dinner, making them fresh just before the event. Its that freshness that shows consumers the difference.

Other farms offering their produce and value-added products include Kappers Big Red Barn in Chatfield, which is donating ice cream for the apple pies. Those pies will be made from apples donated by Thompson Hillcrest Orchard in Elko. That company also is offering cider as one of the beverages at the dinner. The Jenny-O Turkey Store in Altura will donate turkey as part of the dinner.

But perhaps the biggest backer of the meal is Superior Fresh from Hixton, Wis. In addition to salad greens and salmon, the aquaponics farm is helping fund the event as well as supplying a big tent in case of rain.

"We love the concept of farm to table," said Superior Fresh General Manager Kurt Wagaman. "Many of the retail stores and white tablecloth restaurants are moving to the farm-to-table concept."

Wagaman said its impressive to see a small city such as St. Charles put on such a big event that supports area farmers.

Its a movement the farms owners, Todd and Karen Wanek, who also own Ashley Furniture, are putting their fortune behind.

"They have been all around the world building their business," Wagaman said. "Theyve seen food desserts and the need for fresh food locally."

That lettuce at the dinner will come from the worlds largest aquaponic facility, Wagaman said. "We sell local only, up to 400 miles," he said. "Outside that, we put up a new facility."

Gust said the response from last years dinner event was overwhelmingly positive and a big part of that is the goal of creating a meal, grown locally, that isnt your typical Minnesota hot dish.

"We try to do something thats not your normal meal," she said.Canadians joined the international community to rush aid to the Philippines this week after

Typhoon Mangkhut devastated parts of the Southeast Asian nation before barreling into Hong Kong and mainland China.

The death toll from Typhoon Mangkhut in the Philippines has hit 74, with 55 missing and feared dead, mainly due to landslides in northern provinces, police said on Tuesday.

Most of the dead - about 60 - were reported from the northern Cordillera region, which includes Benguet province, where a massive landslide buried an old mining site in the town of Itogon.

Fifty-two of the missing were also from the Cordillera, according to the national police spokesman, senior superintendent Benigno Durana.

Hundreds of police officers, soldiers, emergency workers, and volunteers were helping dig through thick mud and other debris to search for the missing at the mining site in Itogon, Durana said.

Mangkhut lashed the northern Philippines last Saturday for about 20 hours before departing towards southern China.

More than 236,000 residents were displaced by the typhoon, which also forced the cancellation of nearly 300 domestic and international flights. It also disrupted sea travel, according to the risk reduction council.

At least 1,264 houses were destroyed by Mangkhut, while damage to agriculture was estimated to be worth 270 million dollars, the council said.

Electricity was cut off to 159 areas in seven provinces, affecting more than 4 million people. Power has been restored to only 45 areas, disaster relief officials said.

Foreign aid has begun to pour in for the typhoon victims, with the European Union, Japan, China and Canada offering assistance to the affected areas.

Canada stands ready to assist as appropriate to help areas affected by the super typhoon, Global Affairs Canada said in a statement.

Canada offers its sincerest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who have lost their lives, and we hope for a swift recovery for those injured,.

Shelterbox Canada has been sending boxes filled with industrial grade tents for shelter and other emergency supplies will go out to some of the most remote areas in the northern Philippines.

"We have aid stored in the Philippines to help 2,000 families, and then we have other aid in the region that we can bring in if more is needed after that," Stephanie Christensen, executive director of Shelterbox's Canadian branch, told CBC Toronto.

The boxes will include essentials like water purification, solar lights, cooking equipment, blankets, and mosquito nets, but Christensen says it's too soon to know if there will be enough to go around.

Christensen added that there has been a surge of online donations to Shelterbox for victims of Mangkhut since Saturday, but they are still in need of more help.

CARE Canada on its website said it immediately sent an emergency response team to Cagayan ahead of the typhoons landfall. Jerome Lanit, CAREs Emergency Coordinator, shared that the team experienced howling winds and pounding rain while staying in Tuguegarao City.

CARE has also brought some supplies shelter repair materials ready to be distributed to the affected families. Our teams continue to coordinate with local officials and humanitarian responders on the ground to effectively address the immediate needs of the affected population, said David Gazashvili, CARE Philippines Country Director.

We have seen several damaged houses and blown off roofs. The evacuation center in a coastal community we visited in Aparri was even damaged. Also, rice and corn plantations are severely affected. The farmers werent able to do an emergency harvest because the crops were immature. The northernmost towns of Cagayan are believed to be badly hit and it is still difficult to access these areas as of the moment, said Madel Montejo, CARE Philippines Emergency Response Team Member

The people say they need food, water, dry clothes, and shelter repair materials, added Montejo.

The World Meteorological Organisation billed the storm as the strongest tropical cyclone the world has faced so far this year. Mangkhut is the 15th storm to hit the Philippines in 2018.

The United States and Australian government on Sunday announced the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the Philippines after Typhoon Ompong battered northern Luzon on Saturday.

In a statement, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said Canberra will provide the Philippines humanitarian supplies for the emergency response, including sleeping mats, blankets, hygiene and shelter kits, for up to 25,000 people in the most-affected areas.

Payne said Australias contribution of supplies, worth 800,000 Australian dollars, will be distributed by the Philippine Red Cross.

Meanwhile, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) relayed the provision of 1,000 metric tons of rice to northern Luzon, through the United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP).

With USAID/OFDA disaster risk reduction support, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) is coordinating with DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) to provide humanitarian logistics support for Super Typhoon Ompong response activities, including transporting 1,000 metric tons of rice to be used in emergency food parcels for storm-affected populations in northern Luzon, a statement from the US Embassy in Manila read.

It added that the UN WFP also helped improve the governments response readiness for the storm by pre-positioning generators, storage tents, and other logistics equipment in WFP warehouses in Luzon.

Meanwhile, Save the Children Philippines is also sending two more humanitarian teams to typhoon-ravaged towns in northern Luzon to assess the situation and deliver emergency kits as the affected, composed mostly of children and lactating mothers, are camped in evacuation sites.

After devastating the Philippines, Mangkhut hit Hong Kong and the Chinese province of Guangdong.NORRISTOWN  A Chester County man is headed to state prison on charges he used the Internet to attempt to meet a minor for sex acts, however, in reality he was communicating with an undercover detective.

Bradley David Vertigan, 23, of the first block of Gloucester Drive, Downingtown, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to three to six years in a state correctional facility after he pleaded guilty to charges of unlawful contact with a minor, attempted involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a minor, possessing child pornography and criminal use of a communication facility in connection with a November 2017 incident.

Judge Todd D. Eisenberg also ordered Vertigan to complete five years probation following parole, meaning he will be under court supervision for 11 years.

Vertigan also faces a lifetime requirement to report his address to state police in order to comply with the Pennsylvania Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Act. The judge prohibited Vertigan from possessing any electronic devices capable of accessing the Internet that are not monitored by probation officials during his parole and probationary period.

An investigation of Vertigan began in November 2017 when undercover agents with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney Generals Child Predator Section were conducting undercover online investigations of those who sexually exploit children on the Internet. Vertigan had an online conversation, during which he solicited sex, with the undercover detective who was posing as a 14-year-old child, according to the arrest affidavit.

Vertigan arranged to meet who he believed was the 14-year-old child at a prearranged location in Lower Providence on Nov. 17, according to court documents. When state agents spotted Vertigan at the prearranged meeting place they took him into custody and they found him in possession of condoms, lubricant and breakfast, items he allegedly intended to give to who he believed was the minor.

At the time of his arrest, Vertigan told detectives this needed to happen, and stated he intended to have sexual contact with a minor child, according to the criminal complaint.

The actor stated that he has been attracted to 13-14 year old boys for the last nine years. The actor stated that as of recently, the urges to meet a minor for sex, have been strong, detectives wrote in the arrest affidavit.

Vertigan also told investigators that he viewed child pornography online and also befriended minors on social media platforms and obtained explicit nude photos form them and that he sent nude photos in return.

The actor stated he knows this behavior is both morally and legally wrong, detectives alleged.

When detectives searched the contents of Vertigans cellphone and laptop computer they uncovered hundreds of photos and videos depicting children in various stages of undress or involved in various sexual acts. At least 11 of the videos depicted young males under the age of 13 engaged in various sex acts, according to the criminal complaint.Breaking right nowIan Buruma is out as editor of the New York Review of Books, a post he has only held for about a year, for the sin of publishing an article by Jian Ghomeshi, a Canadian broadcaster who was acquitted of sexual assault charges in 2016. I hadnt seen the article yetmy print issue is slow to arrive out here on the left coastbut it appeared online a few days ago, and Ive given it a quick skim.

The New York Times reports:

Ian Buruma, the editor of The New York Review of Books, left his position on Wednesday amid an uproar over the magazines publication of an essay by a disgraced Canadian radio broadcaster who had been accused of sexually assaulting and battering women. I can confirm that Ian Buruma is no longer the editor of The New York Review of Books, Nicholas During, a publicist for the magazine, wrote in an email. It was unclear if Mr. Buruma resigned or was fired. He did not respond to a phone call and email seeking comment. The essays author, Jian Ghomeshi, who was acquitted of sexual assault charges in 2016, lamented his status as a pariah, constantly competing with a villainous version of myself online.

A quick scan of the Ghomishi article shows it to be a self-referential and self-pitying piece that offers little in the way of serious argument or reflection on the wider problem of how we are handling the #MeToo moment, and I wonder why Buruma thought it worthy of publishing. But I dont see why he lost his job over it.

I read the NYRB (as does Scott) because theres usually one good article or review in every issue, and it is also a way to keep tabs on the latest fashions of liberal intellectuals, so it is a form of opposition research for me. I had some small hope that Buruma might improve the thing a bit (we were at a conference together once in Madrid a long time ago, and while I argued with him, he struck me as serious and thoughtful). Instead, its gotten worse, and is a key node of Trump derangement.Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Chuck Grassley said today that Christine Blasey Ford has not yet accepted an invitation to testify next Monday regarding her allegation that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when they were in high school. Grassley stated:

We have reached out to her in the last 36 hours three or four times by email and we have not heard from them, and it kind of raises the question: Do they want to come to the public hearing or not?

Ive also heard that Fords lawyer is trying to negotiate conditions regarding what the Committee can ask her client. The idea, Im told, is to preclude questions that go to Fords character.

At every stage, Ford has tried to derail Kavanaughs nomination with as little personal involvement as possible. First, it appears, she didnt want her statement used unless necessary. When it became clear that the statement had to be used to have any hope of stopping Kavanaugh, it was made public, but Ford withheld her name. When it became clear that an anonymous statement wouldnt suffice, she finally stepped forward. Now, it seems, she hopes either to avoid testifying or to testify under ground rules that would prevent a fair assessment of her credibility.

Fords attempts to take the easy way out at every turn are understandable. However, if she doesnt appear on Monday, Kavanaugh will very likely be confirmed.

Therefore, Im pretty sure Ford will appear.

As for limitations on what she can be asked, there should be none. Her credibility is at issue. All questions that bear on it  including her character  are relevant. If Republican Senators overreach by asking unfair questions, it will redound to Fords advantage in the court of public opinion and thus to the disadvantage of Judge Kavanaugh and the GOP.

The other court of opinion that counts here is the court of Sens. Collins, Murkowski, Flake, Corker, and maybe a few other GOP members. Thus, the Judiciary Committee must shape the hearings to make sure they satisfy these Senators.

Sen. Collins seems to want a full-blown shooting contest between Kavanaugh and Ford. She has recommended that Fords counsel be allowed to cross-examine Kavanaugh and that the Judges attorney be allowed to cross-examine Ford. I suspect that Sen. Murkowski, a tough Alaskan, also favors a proceeding in which no punches are pulled (but with no low blows).

So I think the Committee can safely reject a demand to treat Ford with kid gloves. Ford will either have to testify without preconditions or stay home and clinch Kavanaughs confirmation. Again, I expect her to appear.

Another question is whether witnesses other than Kavanaugh and Ford will testify. Mark Judge, who supposedly was in the room when the attack on Ford supposedly occurred, says he will not testify. Judge notified the committee, through his lawyer, that he has no memory of the alleged incident and never saw Kavanaugh act in the way Ford describes. Judge said he has no other information to offer the committee.

I question whether any constructive purpose would be served by taking live testimony from people who arent said to have been present when the incident supposedly occurred, either in the room or at the party (assuming Ford is able to pinpoint a specific party). However, I understand that committee staff may be looking into other potential witnesses. If it appears that some have anything truly important to add, they should be heard.A small Minnesota news outlet called Alpha News has gone to court to try to unseal the records of Keith Ellisons divorce. Normally I find the idea of unsealing divorce records repugnant, but Alpha News makes what seems a pretty good case in its press release:

Keith Ellison is running to be Minnesotas next Attorney General. As is common knowledge by now, two women have credibly accused him of domestic violence. We at Alpha News believe that the voting public of Minnesota should know the contents of his sealed divorce proceedings in order to make the most informed choice possible. That is why we instructed our attorneys to file a motion this afternoon in Hennepin County District Court seeking their unsealing. Minnesota media are usually not shy about asking for such things. For example, the Star Tribune expended time and money to get the Prince divorce records unsealed and were successful. Apart from clicks, we didnt see much news value to the effort but its telling that even there, where only prurient interest could be said to exist, the court granted the newspapers request. Several Minnesota media outlets joined forces to compel the public release of documents relating to the tragic disappearance and murder of Jacob Wetterling. This coalition included the Pioneer Press, the Star Tribune, MPR, the Minnesota Newspaper Association, the Minnesota Broadcasters Association and others. The documents include materials about the familys inner life and dynamics, information Jacobs parents were assured would be kept confidential but which are now being overridden by the media in the interest of internet traffic. The material is set for public release two days from now. Surely, then, local media platforms much larger than Alpha News would take the logical step of asking for Ellisons divorce records to be unsealed? Except they have not and appear likely never to. Would they have refrained from unsealing these records if Republican candidate Doug Wardlow had credibly been accused of domestic violence by not one but two women? It strains credulity to think they would and this sort of manifest political preference by Minnesota media is regrettable. Like sin, media bias exists through acts of commission and omission. We do not know at this early stage if our request will be granted. Nor, of course, do we know if there will be any information relevant specifically to domestic abuse or more generally to issues in the race for Minnesota Attorney General. We do know that weve been lectured of late that democracy dies in darkness. While other media outlets prefer to let Minnesotans remain in the dark, we at Alpha News are glad to try and shine some light.

I doubt that there is anything relevant in the divorce records, but given the prevailing news blackout on Ellison, the effort seems worth making.

While multiple, recent claims of domestic violence (complete with a 911 call) are certainly relevant, they shouldnt be Ellisons biggest problem. His enthusiastic, years-long support for murderers of police officers, more than anything else, disqualifies him from being a law enforcement officer of any sort, let alone attorney general.

Then there are his stands on the issues. Do voters want Minnesota to be a sanctuary state, no doubt a top priority for Ellison as attorney general? Do they want to abolish ICE, the Democrats 2018 battle cry?

No. My organization, Center of the American Experiment, conducts a quarterly poll of Minnesota voters in conjunction with our magazine, Thinking Minnesota. Our most recent poll, which will be unveiled in the Fall issue of the magazine that goes to the printer tomorrow, sampled these issues among others. The results? By 60% to 36%note that hardly anyone is undecidedvoters reject the idea that Minnesota should be a sanctuary state. Even more decisively, only 29% support the Democrats demand to abolish ICE, with 62% opposed.

If Minnesota voters know who Keith Ellison is, and where he stands on the issues, he has no chance of being elected. The job of the states news media from now until November is to try to prevent that from happening.Sen. Susan Collins of Maine takes a lot of heat for being a liberal Republican, but she has expressed suitable outrage at the way the last-minute charge against Brett Kavanaugh was rolled out. Now she has a great suggestion for the prospective hearing. (If this facsimile is too hard to read, click on the previous link and you can get a PDF of the full-sized document):

As of this writing there are reports that Prof. Ford is balking at testifying, or demanding certain conditions or limitations on the questioning, though with this fast-moving story and flood of incorrect or inaccurate information, it is hard to know what is really going on. But I have a hunch that if Sen. Collinss proposal is embraced, Prof. Ford will withdraw from the hearing.PR-Inside.com: 2018-09-19 10:02:02

Alps Electric to Exhibit at electronica India 2018  Hall 4, Stand EC41

Inquiries About This Press Release

Alps Electric Co., Ltd.

Jenny Stewering, +81-3-5499-8001

Public & Investor Relations Group,

Corporate Planning Office

jenny.stewering-1@jp.alps.com

Alps Electric Co., Ltd. (TOKYO: 6770; President: Toshihiro Kuriyama) is looking forward to exhibit for the first time at the electronica India, a leading platform in India focusing on electronic components, systems and applications.

The fair will take place at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) between Wednesday 26th and Friday 28th September, 2018.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180919005

Alps Electric electronica India Booth (Photo: Business Wire)

The Alps Electric booth, located at Hall 4, Stand EC41, will exhibit the latest products created with Alps Electrics original technologies for IoT, Automotive and Home&Mobile markets.

A wide variety of products will be showcased covering an ever widening range of applications, with one of the highlights being IoT smart network modules, as also introduced in the Pre-Show Newsletter published by electronica India earlier this month.

Integrating low-power, high-precision and compact sensors with a Bluetooth communication module, these products are capable of acquiring pressure, temperature, humidity, ambient light and other environmental data, as well as six-axis (geomagnetism + acceleration) sensing. A special app (for Android) is available for viewing data and changing sensing settings on a smartphone or tablet. In addition, radio certification has already been acquired for various regions around the world, allowing smooth, low-cost progression to demonstration testing.

Alps Electric is very much focused on creating products that are right, unique and green. Besides a refined appearance, products must be of high quality and perform the desired function while having as little impact on the environment as possible.

With an extensive global Manufacturing and R&D network in support, Alps Electrics specialists look forward to fruitful discussions with both existing and potential new customers during the electronica India.

About Alps Electric Co., Ltd.

Alps Electric (Tokyo: 6770) is a leading global manufacturer of high-quality electronic components for mobile devices, home electronics, vehicles and industrial equipment. With the philosophy of Perfecting the Art of Electronics Alps Electric supplies over 40,000 different components to about 2,000 companies all over the world. For more information, visit www.alps.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180919005Construction Sustainable Material Market

PR-Inside.com: 2018-09-19 07:02:58

Press Information

Goldstein Research

99 Wall Street, Suite No:- 527



Steve blade

Global Sales Manager

6465687747

email

https://www.goldsteinresearch.com/





# 640 Words

99 Wall Street, Suite No:- 527Global Sales Manager6465687747

According to Goldstein Research, the quick shift towards the sustainable construction is profitable for the companies in order to avoid imposition of any regulations in future. Major driving factor for the growth of construction sustainable material market is an adverse impact on the environment posed by construction materials, which is and will be causing harm to the people. Global Construction Sustainable Material Market Outlook also includes product development, marketing strategy and investment strategies adopted by major market players in order to expand their business across the globe. Additionally, North America has the largest market share of 33.4% in 2016 in global construction sustainable material market. North America construction industry has maximum conversion rate from using traditional materials to sustainable materials in order to combat climate change and other environmental issues through LEED certified plans.Browse Full Report:Market SegmentationOn the basis of our in-depth analysis, global construction sustainable material market can be segmented as follows:By Construction Residential construction Commercial construction Industrial constructionBy Materials Finishes materials (floor, wall roof finishes) Building materials (bricks, concrete, sand, cement) Thermal and Moisture materials Paints OthersBased on Geography North America (U.S. & Canada) Construction Sustainable Material Market {Market Share (%), Market Size(USD Billion)} Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina & Rest of Latin America) Construction Sustainable Material Market {Market Share (%), Market Size(USD Billion)} Europe (The U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Sweden & RoE) Construction Sustainable Material Market {Market Share (%), Market Size(USD Billion)} Asia-Pacific (China, India, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Rest of Asia) Construction Sustainable Material Market {Market Share (%), Market Size(USD Billion)} Middle East & Africa (GCC, South Africa, North Africa, RoMEA) Construction Sustainable Material Market {Market Share (%), Market Size(USD Billion)}Global Construction Sustainable Material Market Outlook 2024 contains a detailed overview of the global Construction Sustainable Material market. On the basis of our in-depth analysis, the market can be segmented in terms of market segmentation by construction type and by materials.Download Exclusive Sample Report:Further, for the in-depth analysis, Global Construction Sustainable Material Market Report encompasses the industry growth drivers, market challenges, risk analysis, market attractiveness, BPS (Base Point Scale) analysis, Porters five force model and SWOT analysis. This market report also includes competitive outlook of some of the major players profiling of companies such as BASF SE, Bauder Ltd., E.I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company, Forbo International SA, Interface Inc. and Kingspan Group Plc etc. The company profiles include business strategy, geographical revenue distribution, major information of the companies which encompasses business outlook, products, services, and industries catered, financial analysis of the company and recent developments. Overall, the report represents the global construction sustainable material market trends along with the market forecast that will help industry consultants, technology providers, existing players searching for expansion opportunities, new players searching possibilities and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies according to the ongoing and expected trends in the future. Overall, the report represents the global construction sustainable material market trends along with the market forecast that will help industry consultants, technology providers, existing players searching for expansion opportunities, new players examining possibilities and other stakeholders to bring into line their market centric approaches according to the ongoing and expected trends in the future.Key queries countered in this global construction sustainable material market report What is the global construction sustainable material market size by 2024 and what would be the expected growth rate of sales? What is the construction of sustainable material market trends? What are the dynamics which are driving this market? What are the major barriers to construction sustainable material market growth? Who are the prominent vendors in this market space? What are the market prospects for the current and entry level players?Browse Similar Report:PR-Inside.com: 2018-09-19 15:00:25

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 391 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for PJX Resources Inc.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Toronto, Ontario (FSCWire) - PJX Resources Inc. (TSX Venture:PJX). has issued a press release with the following headline:Drilling Intersects Possible Feeder Zone to a Potential Massive Sulphide Body on PJX Resources Vine PropertyTo view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on PJX Resources Inc., or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/PJX Resources Inc.Source: PJX Resources Inc. (TSX Venture: PJX, ISIN: CA72585A1093, WKN: A1JKDW)Date: September 19, 2018Time: 9:00 AM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of PJX Resources Inc. and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2018 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.)According to Goldstein Research, one of the major trends in the global e-cigarette and e-vaporizer Market is growing popularity of flavors and fragrances such as menthol, mint, chocolate, cola, bubble gum, and fusions of other fruits and flavoring substances that are tempting the consumers who are adopting e-cigarette

E-Cigarette Market

PR-Inside.com: 2018-09-19 07:35:17

Press Information

Goldstein Research

99 Wall Street, Suite No:- 527



Steve blade

Global Sales Manager

6465687747

email

https://www.goldsteinresearch.com/





# 584 Words

99 Wall Street, Suite No:- 527Global Sales Manager6465687747

According to Goldstein Research, one of the major trends in the global e-cigarette and e-vaporizer Market is growing popularity of flavors and fragrances such as menthol, mint, chocolate, cola, bubble gum, and fusions of other fruits and flavoring substances that are tempting the consumers who are adopting e-cigarette. In addition, there is an increased number of mergers and acquisitions and a shift from traditional tobacco to next-generation tobacco. Global E-Cigarette Market Outlook also includes product development, marketing strategy and investment strategies adopted by major market players in order to expand their business across the globe. Additionally, North America dominated the global e-cigarette and e-vaporizer market with the market share of 41.2% in 2016 due to the easy availability of the e-cigarettes in retail stores and online channels. With the increased demand by the young population of North America is driving the e-cigarette and e-vaporizer market.Browse Full Report:Market SegmentationOn the basis of our in-depth analysis, global e-cigarette market can be segmented as follows: By Component Type Atomizers Cartomizer ClearomizerBy Product Type Modular Rechargeable DisposableBy Composition Nicotine Flavors DiluentsBy Size Mini Sized Mid-Sized Mods/APVs (Advanced Personal Vaporizer)By Distribution Channel Offline Distribution Channel Convenience Stores Vape Shops Pharmacies Gas Stations Drug Stores Online Distribution ChannelBased on Geography North America (U.S. & Canada) E-Cigarette Market {Market Share (%), Market Size(USD Billion)} Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina & Rest of Latin America) E-Cigarette Market {Market Share (%), Market Size(USD Billion)} Europe (The U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Sweden &RoE) E-Cigarette Market {Market Share (%), Market Size(USD Billion)} Asia-Pacific (China, India, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Rest of Asia) E-Cigarette Market {Market Share (%), Market Size(USD Billion)} Middle East & Africa (GCC, South Africa, North Africa, RoMEA) E-Cigarette Market {Market Share (%), Market Size(USD Billion)}Global E-Cigarette Market Outlook 2024 contains a detailed overview of the global E-Cigarette market. On the basis of our in-depth analysis, the market can be segmented in terms of market segmentation by components type, by product, by composition, by size, and by distribution channels.Download Exclusive Sample Report:Further, for the in-depth analysis, Global E-Cigarette Market Report encompasses the industry growth drivers, market challenges, risk analysis, market attractiveness, BPS (Base Point Scale) analysis, Porters five force model and SWOT analysis. This market report also includes competitive outlook of some of the major players profiling of companies such as Reynolds American, Imperial Brands, Japan Tobacco, Altria Group, NJOY, and British American Tobacco. The company profiles include business strategy, geographical revenue distribution, major information of the companies which encompasses business outlook, products, services and industries catered, financial analysis of the company and recent developments. Overall, the report represents the global e-cigarette market trends along with market forecast that will help industry consultants, technology providers, existing players searching for expansion opportunities, new players examining possibilities and other stakeholders to bring into line their market centric approaches according to the ongoing and expected trends in the future.Key queries countered in this global e-cigarette market report What is the global e-cigarette market size by 2024 and what would be the expected growth rate of sales? What are the e-cigarette market trends? What are the dynamics which are driving this market? What are the major barriers to e-cigarette market growth? Who are the prominent vendors in this market space? What are the market prospects for the current and entry level players?Browse Similar Report:MRRSE

PR-Inside.com: 2018-09-19 09:59:34

Press Information

MRRSE

State Tower



90, State Street



Suite 700



Albany, NY  12207



United States



Abhishek Budholiya

Marketing Manager

+1-518-730-0559

email

https://www.mrrse.com/





# 640 Words

State Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY  12207United StatesMarketing Manager+1-518-730-0559

Refractories are expected to see growing demand owing to extensive application in the steel, cement, and glass manufacturing industries. Large-scale investments in projects of infrastructure, steel, mining and metallurgy and cement industries and consequent rise of development of distribution & sales in counties such as China, Korea, India and Japan are expected to contribute significantly to the refractories market. Revenues arising from refractories market activities are expected to grow at a modest CAGR of approximately 4.2% through 2026. These insights have been extracted from the report titled Global Market Study on Refractories: Monolithics & Other Unshaped to Remain Most Attractive Product Form Through 2026 that was recently included in the vast repository of Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE).For More Information Request Free Sample on Refractories Market Report @ https://www.mrrse.com/sample/4312 Refractories have been playing a significant role in the manufacturing processes for steel, nonferrous metals, glass, and cement industries. China and Europe are observed as important regions in in this regard, and both of these regional markets are expected to grow rapidly in the near future. However, high dependency of refractory manufacturers across the globe on importing raw materials from China is expected to act as a constraining factor to the growth of the global refractories market.Bauxite and alumina type of refractories are expected to maintain their majority hold on market share. This is particularly true in the cases of bricks, monolithic and other unshaped product forms. Key market players are focusing on acquisition strategies and manufacturing capacity expansions on a regional level to extract competitive benefits.Refractories Market: Report SynopsisThe report provides global as well as regional-level analysis & forecast on the refractories market, in terms of value (US$ Mn) and Volume (Kilo Tons), for the period of forecast through 2026. Imperative political and social, dynamics, along with macro- and micro-economic factors impacting development and demand for refractories have been examined in detail in this report.A detailed value chain analysis on the refractories industry has been offered in the report, and a systematic analysis has been made for helping the readers understand the competitive scenario among leaders as well as new market players. A comprehensive market attractiveness analysis, where applications have been benchmarked on the basis of their market size, general attractiveness, and growth rate, has also been included in the report.Browse Complete Detail on Refractories Market Research Report with TOC @ https://www.mrrse.com/refractories-market Refractories Market: Research MethodologyElaborate discussions and interviews have been conducted with a number of eminent industry experts and opinion leaders in order to compile this report. Exhaustive primary and secondary research methodologies have been used, which have helped in offering authentic data on the refractories market. Primary research represents the bulk of the research, which has been fully supported with an extensive secondary research.Leading companies and emerging entrants in the refractories market have been reviewed, and press releases, annual reports, and other relevant documents have utilized for an advanced analysis on the markets competitor landscape and the market understanding. The research approach employed has been deemed to be highly reliable, successful, and effective approach to harness relevant intelligence on the market data, identifying latent business opportunities, and extracting insights on the industry participants.Enquire about this Report @ https://www.mrrse.com/enquiry/4312 About (MRRSE)Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of Market Research Reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords. MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSEs repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting.PR-Inside.com: 2018-09-19 12:50:01

Global Roadshow of IAPH 2019 Guangzhou World Ports Conference launched in Abuja, Nigeria

Guangzhou Port Authority Strengthens Collaboration with African Ports to Form a Strong Partnership

Global Raytur (Beijing) Public Communication Co., Ltd

Chen Jing

86 15811387401

chenjing@globalraytur.com

On September 17, IAPH African Regional Conference was held in Abuja, Nigeria. Over 400 people from around 40 countries globally participated in the Conference.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180919005

A speech given by Mrs. Yuan Yue, Deputy Director General of Guangzhou Port Authority. (Photo: Business Wire)

As the host of the IAPH 2019 World Ports Conference, Ms. Yuan Yue, Deputy Director General of Guangzhou Port Authority, said at the meeting that the 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation has portrayed a grand blueprint for the future development of China and Africa. China-Africa cooperation has a solid foundation. In 2017, China imported 75.26 billion US dollars from Africa, increased 32.8% year-on-year. China has become Africa's largest trading partner for 9 consecutive years. Guangzhou Port has now developed into a hub port for African routes in South China, creating a number of most for the businesses with Africa: the most intensive routes, the most frequent shifts, and the most varieties of goods. Nowadays, on this maritime channel between Guangzhou and African countries, the cooperation is flourishing.

Yuan Yue highlighted that the 2019 World Ports Conference will be held in Guangzhou in May 2019 with the theme of the Conference will be Collaborate Now, Create Future. During the Conference profound exchanges and discussions on green and smart port construction and port sustainable development will be conducted. Guangzhou Port will take the Conference as an opportunity to adhere to the concept of openness, tolerance and mutual benefit, further deepen exchanges and cooperation with international ports, and warmly invite all guests to come to Guangzhou to participate in the 2019 World Ports Conference.

During the Conference, Guangzhou Port also held a special exhibition with the theme of Collaborate Now, Create Future, greatly promoted the development and achievements of the port Industry of Guangzhou and attracted many participants to visit.

A Memorandum was also signed between Guangzhou Port Authority and Nigerian Ports Authority on establishing sister- port relationship. In an interview with the Nigerian National News Agency, Yuan Yue said that signing of the MOU and further exchanges with African ports is a significant approach for Guangzhou Port to implement the Belt and Road Initiative and promote international exchanges and cooperation. In the future, Guangzhou Port will actively explore practical cooperation in many fields such as economic, trade, talent exchanges and training with African ports.

The history of Guangzhou Ports contact with Africa could be traced back to over 1,300 years ago when the Guangzhou's Sea Road to foreign countries was accessible to the coast of East Africa by boat. At present, there are 22 routes between Guangzhou port and Africa. The cargo from Guangzhou port can reach more than 40 ports of African coastal countries.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180919005"Flex Area" of District6. The driving engine behind its community building efforts.

PR-Inside.com: 2018-09-19 07:33:09

Press Information

Insitu Asia Holdings Pte Ltd

331 North Bridge Road, Odeon Towers, #02-01



Naufal Ali

Creative Manager

+6596963144

email

http://www.insituasia.com



Published by

Naufal Ali

+6596963144

e-mail

http://www.insituasia.com







# 789 Words

331 North Bridge Road, Odeon Towers, #02-01Creative Manager+6596963144Naufal Ali+6596963144

InSitu Asia has sold co-working space District6 to Zero Ten, headquartered in Fukuoka City, Hakata-ku.InSitu Asia Co-Founder Yuta Oka previously stated that reaching near full capacity at District 6 in a crowded co-working market such as Singapore left them with two options: reaching out to investors to raise funds to develop multiple co-working locations under the same brand or to make way for a larger co-working company to take over the space, build up the community further and provide more benefits to the community members through reciprocal use of multiple co-working spaces owned, branded and operated internationally.Out of suitors for District6, Zero Ten stood out as an operator and brand due its ability to facilitate business expansion and growth for start ups, mentioned Jork Bosselaar (Co-Founder InSitu Asia). The District6 operating team will continue to be led by General Manager Jethro Quek and his team to ensure seamless continuity of service levels, events and collaborations that are currently ongoing with multiple proptech partners and community members.The creative workspace and community managed by Zero-Ten called The Company with 5 well-established spaces in Cebu, Honolulu, Bangkok and two in Japan is being rapidly developed for overseas expansion and as such, D6 will be rebranded as The Company Singapore on November 12th 2018. Their Singapore branch will seek to offer members an outstanding and conducive workspace by collaborating with the community in Singapore that D6 has cultivated thus far, as well as the global networking and work sharing mechanism inspired by The Company.Since its opening in June 2017, District6 has partnered with leading companies and startups from various industries in Singapore, and it has also developed a community based around proptech. For example, in August 2018 District6 partnered with Lendlease and JLL to launch a proptech accelerator program for selected real estate tech startups.District 6 also initiated two other Proptech events in 2017 with one of them being Singapores first ever Proptech Hackathon. Even after rebranding to The Company Singapore, the space will continue supporting events and initiatives for startups and innovators working in similar industries. InSitu Asia will remain in the community as a tenant and will continue to contribute and foster the community around real estate and hotel tech companies. Additionally, Kurasu will continue to be an integral part of the space, providing specialty coffee to the spaces community members and public alike.The Company SingaporeLocationODEON TOWERS #02-01 331 North Bridge Road, Singapore 188720Re-brand opening dateNovember 12th, 2018 (Monday)Site area: Approximately 1,000 square meters (303 tsubo)Inquiries concerning tenant applications / previewsTEL092-710-7050 / Mailsuguro@ zeroten.jp / Contact PersonSuguroAbout District6 (D6)District6 is a co-working space developed, co-owned and operated by InSitu Asia based in Singapore, within a 5-minute walk from City Hall MRT Station. Located on the 2nd floor of Odeon Towers near Raffles Hotel and CHIJMES, two of Singapores most iconic buildings. With a floor area of about 1,000 square meters, there is an extensive layout that includes a hot-desking area, 2-4-person studio offices, 5-20-person private offices, and a lounge that includes a coffeeshop operated by Kurasu. The lounge is available for private bookings and can hold events for 70 seated guests or up to 120 standing guests.Website: http://district6.co About InSitu AsiaInSitu Asia is a hotel and coworking development, management and investment company based in Singapore. InSitu Asia has been involved in development, branding, and management of boutique hotels since its establishment in 2016, and in 2017 it co-funded, developed and opened District6, the first Proptech-focused coworking space in Singapore. InSitu Asia actively invests in real estate and hotel tech companies while utilizing its expertise of hotel and coworking space development and management.Website: http://insituasia.com About The CompanyThe Company is a completely new workspace and community that makes it possible to create new teams and tackle big projects with a focus on workshare and multi-locations. Individuals combine to make up professional teams, teams can be created that are not limited by a companys framework, domestic and overseas networks are created to enable global work, the aim is to create not simply a shared space, but a space that enables community building.Website: http://thecompany.jp/ Operating company (Zero-Ten Group Company)Company name: Zero-Ten Park Co LtdDate established: July 2nd, 2018 (Monday)Address: 8-13 Gion-cho, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka CityRepresentative: Representative Director Jiro EnomotoBusiness description: Planning, management, and consulting for shared office projects and accommodation facilities such as hotels and innsPlanning, management, consulting, and production of various shops, buildings, and indoor space designsConsulting for all of the above businessesCompany ProfileCompany name: Zero-Ten Co LtdLocation: 8-13 Gion-cho, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City Daiichi Prince Building 1FRepresentative: Jiro EnomotoDate established: September 9th, 2011Official website: http://zeroten.jp/According to Goldstein Research, technology is accelerating the swiftness of transformation within the automotive industry. Rapidly evolving automotive technologies pushed the automotive industry players to address critical infrastructure and processes and to rethink machine learning and cybersecurity

Machine Learning Based Vehicle Cybersecurity Market

PR-Inside.com: 2018-09-19 07:55:33

Press Information

Goldstein Research

99 Wall Street, Suite No:- 527



Steve blade

Global Sales Manager

6465687747

email

https://www.goldsteinresearch.com/





# 639 Words

99 Wall Street, Suite No:- 527Global Sales Manager6465687747

According to Goldstein Research, technology is accelerating the swiftness of transformation within the automotive industry. Rapidly evolving automotive technologies pushed the automotive industry players to address critical infrastructure and processes and to rethink machine learning and cybersecurity. The automotive industry is anticipated to be the second largest data generator across the globe, which will intensify the need for advanced cybersecurity techniques that will aid the growth of machine learning based vehicle cybersecurity market. Global Machine Learning Based Vehicle Cybersecurity market outlook also includes product development, marketing strategy and investment strategies adopted by major market players in order to expand their business across the globe. Additionally, in Europe, nearly 70% women and 10% of men uses some form of hair dyes. Also in the United States, over 75% of women use some kind of hair dye. This growing trend of coloring hair is increasing the sales of Machine Learning Based Vehicle Cybersecurity products.Browse Full Report:Market SegmentationOn the basis of our in-depth analysis, global machine learning based vehicle cybersecurity market can be segmented as follows:By Security Type Network (network traffic analysis and intrusion detection) Endpoint (anti-malware) Application (database firewalls) User (anti-fraud)By Vehicle Type Electric Vehicles Autonomous Vehicles Conventional VehiclesBased on Geography North America (U.S. & Canada) Machine Learning Based Vehicle Cybersecurity Market {Market Share (%), Market Size(USD Billion)} Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina & Rest of Latin America) Machine Learning Based Vehicle Cybersecurity Market {Market Share (%), Market Size(USD Billion)} Europe (The U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Sweden &RoE) Machine Learning Based Vehicle Cybersecurity Market {Market Share (%), Market Size(USD Billion)} Asia-Pacific (China, India, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Rest of Asia) Machine Learning Based Vehicle Cybersecurity Market {Market Share (%), Market Size(USD Billion)} Middle East & Africa (GCC, South Africa, North Africa, RoMEA) Machine Learning Based Vehicle Cybersecurity Market {Market Share (%), Market Size(USD Billion)}Global Machine Learning Based Vehicle Cybersecurity Market Outlook 2024 contains a detailed overview of the global machine learning based vehicle cybersecurity market. On the basis of our in-depth analysis, the market can be segmented in terms of market segmentation by security type and by vehicle type.Download Exclusive Sample Report:Further, for the in-depth analysis, Global Machine Learning Based Vehicle Cybersecurity Market Report encompasses the industry growth drivers, market challenges, risk analysis, market attractiveness, BPS (Base Point Scale) analysis, Porters five force model and SWOT analysis. This market report also includes competitive outlook of some of the major players profiling of companies such as Argus Cyber Security, Harman International Industries, Karamba Security, IBM, Cisco Systems Inc., Arilou Technologies, Secunet AG and Intel Corporation.Get More Insights Here:The company profiles include business strategy, geographical revenue distribution, major information of the companies which encompasses business outlook, products, services and industries catered, financial analysis of the company and recent developments. Overall, the report represents the global machine learning based vehicle cybersecurity market trends along with market forecast that will help industry consultants, technology providers, existing players searching for expansion opportunities, new players examining possibilities and other stakeholders to bring into line their market centric approaches according to the ongoing and expected trends in the future.Key queries countered in this global machine learning based vehicle cybersecurity market report What is the global machine learning based vehicle cybersecurity market size by 2024 and what would be the expected growth rate of sales? What are the machine learning based vehicle cybersecurity market trends? What are the dynamics which are driving this market? What are the major barriers to machine learning based vehicle cybersecurity market growth? Who are the prominent vendors in this market space? What are the market prospects for the current and entry level players?Browse Similar Report:Nigeria Pharmaceutical Industry

PR-Inside.com: 2018-09-19 11:17:28

Press Information

Goldstein Research

99 Wall Street, Suite No:- 527



Steve blade

Global Sales Manager

6465687747

email

https://www.goldsteinresearch.com/





# 426 Words

99 Wall Street, Suite No:- 527Global Sales Manager6465687747

According to Goldstein Research, regional government initiatives to curb the import and distribution of counterfeit medicines and significant investment by the government to develop a matured business environment are the major factors for the growth of Nigeria pharmaceutical industry in the country. Nigeria pharmaceutical market outlook also includes statistics of branded and generic drugs along with the details of ongoing projects in the pharmaceutical sector in Nigeria. However, poor healthcare infrastructure, the inflow of counterfeit and substandard drugs and inadequate funding of the public system will continue to hinder the growth of Nigeria pharmaceutical industry.Browse Full Report:Market SegmentationOn the basis of our in-depth analysis, Nigeria pharmaceutical market can be segmented as follows:By Type Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) Branded Generics Contract Research and Manufacturing Services Formulations (CRAMS) Chronic Cardiovascular Anti-Diabetes Gastro Intestinal Neurological Acute Anti-infectives Respiratory Pain Gynecology BiosimilarsNigeria Pharmaceutical Market Outlook 2024 contains detailed overview of the Nigeria Pharmaceutical market. On the basis of our in-depth analysis, market can be segmented in terms of market segmentation by active pharmaceutical ingredients, contract research and manufacturing Services, formulations (CRAMS) and biosmililars.Download Exclusive Sample Report:Further, for the in-depth analysis, Nigeria Pharmaceutical Market Report encompasses the industry growth drivers, market challenges, risk analysis, market attractiveness, BPS (Base Point Scale) analysis, Porters five force model and SWOT analysis. This market report also includes competitive outlook of some of the major players profiling of companies such as Sun Pharma, Cipla, Candila. Glenmark, GlaxoSmithkline, Abbott Nigeria, Biocon, Jubilant life andSanofi Nigeria. The company profiles include business strategy, geographical revenue distribution, major information of the companies which encompasses business outlook, products, services and industries catered, financial analysis of the company and recent developments. Overall, the report represents the Nigeria pharmaceutical market trends along with market forecast that will help industry consultants, technology providers, existing players searching for expansion opportunities, new players examining possibilities and other stakeholders to bring into line their market centric approaches according to the ongoing and expected trends in the future.Key queries countered in this Nigeria pharmaceutical market report What is the Nigeria pharmaceutical market size by 2024 and what would be the expected growth rate of sales? What are the Pharmaceutical market trends? What are the dynamics which are driving this market? What are the major barriers to Pharmaceutical market growth? Who are the prominent vendors in this market space? What are the market prospects for the current and entry level players?Browse Similar Report:PR-Inside.com: 2018-09-19 10:04:02

New venues extend normalized market data feed coverage

Vela Expands SuperFeed with Additional Asia Pacific Markets

Media:

The Realization Group

Melanie Budden, +44 7974 937970

melanie.budden@therealizationgroup.com

Vela, a leading independent provider of trading and market access technology for global multi-asset electronic trading, announced the addition of key Asia Pacific (APAC) exchanges to SuperFeed, Velas normalized Market Data Feed. This continues Velas expanded presence in the region, providing new ways to access and trade both local and global markets.

The initial implementation will deliver APAC exchange data to existing locations in Europe and North America. The exchanges being added to Velas SuperFeed include major futures and options markets within the region, specifically ASX24, Hong Kong Exchange, National Stock Exchange of India, Osaka Stock Exchange, and Singapore Stock Exchange, with further markets due to be added in 2019 as well as access points within the region.

Velas SuperFeed provides low-latency, normalized data without the need for any client infrastructure, delivering the levels of performance, availability and reliability required of a trading quality market data feed. The addition of these new markets complements the more than 100 markets and data sources already available on SuperFeed, covering all major North American and European markets and the recently-added cryptocurrency coins and tokens from CoinMarketCap.

Ollie Cadman, Global Head of Product Management and Business Operations at Vela, commented, Vela has always had good Asian market data and trading software coverage, dedicated regional support, and a growing number of clients within APAC. Adding, More recently, we have seen an increase in demand for data and access to APAC services from within the region and the wider international trading community as clients deploy more global strategies and seek new opportunities outside of their traditional home markets.

This expansion is part of a wider plan to provide more in-region access to Vela services, including its Market Data Feed and DMA Platform. Throughout the remainder of 2018 and into 2019, additional access points including new in-region deployments of the DMA Platform within Exchange Co-location sites starting with Tokyo  will be installed.

About Vela

Vela is a leading independent provider of trading and market access technology for global multi-asset electronic trading. Our software enables clients to successfully execute on their trading strategies and manage risk across multiple fragmented markets, liquidity pools, and data sources. We help firms successfully differentiate and innovate in an ever-changing, increasingly-regulated and fiercely-competitive landscape, while also reducing total cost of ownership.

Velas ticker plant, execution gateways, trading platform, and risk and analytics software deliver a unique, ultra-low latency technology stack for electronic low-touch and Direct Market Access (DMA) execution and pricing. We leverage the latest innovations in technology to deliver cutting-edge performance, features and reliability. Our modular stack is accessed through a single set of trading, data and risk APIs and can be delivered as-a-Service from multiple co-location data centers globally.

With access to more than 250 venues, Vela provides global coverage across all major asset classes. Clients are supported by an award-winning team of technical and business experts available 24x7 from our multiple offices in the US, Europe, and Asia. Velas clients include traders, market makers, brokers, banks, investment firms, exchanges, and other market participants.

Visit us at www.tradevela.com. Follow us on Twitter @TradeVela.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180919005

Vela expands #SuperFeed with additional #APAC marketsPR-Inside.com: 2018-09-19 10:03:02

Wolters Kluwer Triumphs in Central Banking FinTech and RegTech Awards with Major Regulatory Compliance Accolade

Wolters Kluwer Governance, Risk & Compliance

Paul Lyon, +44 20 3197 6586

Director of International Corporate Communications

Mobile +44 77 6539 1824

Paul.Lyon@wolterskluwer.com

Wolters Kluwers Finance, Risk & [..] has won a major award from Central Banking magazine. Its OneSumX for Regulatory Reporting solution has been named Best Technology Solution For Regulatory Compliance, in the publications annual FinTech and RegTech Awards which celebrate excellence and innovation.

The awards were decided by an expert panel of judges, including Central Banking magazines editorial team. Central Banking is published by Infopro Digital and is a sister title to Risk magazine. It specializes in public policy and financial markets, with an emphasis on central banks and their relationship with international financial institutions. The magazine was founded in 1990 and has an impressive editorial board which includes Nobel prize winning economists and former governors of central banks in Asia, Europe and the Americas.

Wolters Kluwer has become a leader in regtech solutions earning it the Central Banking FinTech & RegTech Global Award for Best Technology Solution For Regulatory Compliance, the editors of Central Banking explained in their award justification. Wolters Kluwers regulatory reporting tool compiles a firms data into a single source to ensure consistency, reconciliation and accuracy. The success of Wolters Kluwers products can be observed through its growing client base [including] its recent signing of a major deal with ABN AMRO to provide an integrated finance, risk and regulatory reporting software solution. It aims to better meet requests from regulatory bodies for ever-more granular data within shorter timelines.

The volume and velocity of new regulatory requirements and changes continue to drive a persistent demand for our product capabilities and features. Increasingly, our customers are seeking integrated solutions spanning finance, risk and reporting functionality in order to manage escalating complexity, said Claudio Salinardi, London-based Executive Vice President and General Manager of Wolters Kluwers Finance, Risk & Reporting business. We expect this trend to continue and are committed to delivering an integrated set of capabilities deployed in a flexible environment, allowing rapid response to constant regulatory change. Awards such as this provide independent verification of our leading position in this space.

Wolters Kluwers Finance, Risk & Reporting business is a global market leader in the provision of integrated regulatory compliance and reporting solutions, supporting regulated financial institutions in meeting their obligations to external regulators and their own boards of directors. It receives frequent independent recognition of its excellence and innovation. Notably, in July 2018, Risk magazine awarded the firm [..] and Chartis Research has also named the firm a Category Leader in both its IFRS 9 Technology Solutions Report and CECL Report.

Leading financial services firms from across the world have implemented the companys award winning OneSumX solution for integrated Regulatory Reporting, Risk and Finance. Major financial services providers that have recently announced their use of Wolters Kluwer solutions include ABN AMRO, SME Development Bank Malaysia Berhad, Bahrain Middle East Bank, China Everbright Bank, China Merchants Bank, LGT and Nordea.

About Wolters Kluwer Governance, Risk & Compliance

Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) is a division of Wolters Kluwer, which provides legal and banking professionals with solutions to ensure compliance with ever-changing regulatory and legal obligations, manage risk, increase efficiency, stay competitive and produce better business outcomes. GRC offers a portfolio of technology-enabled expert services and solutions focused on legal entity compliance, legal operations management, banking product compliance, and banking regulatory compliance.

Wolters Kluwer N.V. (AEX: WKL) is a global leader in information services and solutions for professionals in the health, tax and accounting, risk and compliance, finance and legal sectors. Wolters Kluwer reported 2017 annual revenues of 4.4 billion. The company, headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands, serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries and employs 19,000 people worldwide.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180919005Two members of the consortium awarded part of the multi-billion dollar Trans-Nigeria Gas Pipeline (TNGP) project have threatened legal actions over alleged attempt by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to sideline them from the execution of the contract.

Miles Energy Services Limited and Macready Oil Services Company Limited were co-sponsors of CSOIL consortium awarded Lot 2 of the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for the construction of the 614 kilometres long, 40 inches diameter pipeline from Ajaokuta through Kaduna to Kano.

Other members of the consortium include China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Limited, as lead sponsor; Morpol Engineering Services Limited, CNPC Huayu Petro-Chemical Engineering Company Limited, CNPC Julong Steep Pipe Company Limited, Crestech Engineering Limited and CNPC Chuanqing Drilling Engineering Company Limited.

Lot 2 of the contract involves construction of the 193 kilometres long Abuja to Kaduna section of the pipeline, with a 15 kilometres long 24 inches diameters spurline to Abuja. The contract was valued at $834 million.

Counsel to the two firms, Fidelis Oditah, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday accused the NNPC of attempting to unlawfully re-award the contract to a third party that did not participate in the bid held in April 2016.

Mr Oditah accused the NNPC of moves to get the Executive Council of the Federation (FEC) to approve its decision to breach its contract with the Consortium, despite a subsisting court case on the matter.

Also, he accused the NNPC of being behind the harassment of his clients top officials, including the managing director of Miles Energy, Kamoru Oladimeji.

On May 21, 2018, Mr Olademeji was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, and prevented from travelling abroad.

He was later taken to Abuja and detained by the State Security Service (SSS).

By seeking FECs approval to cancel the CSOIL Consortium contract NNPC is showing its disdain for the rule of law and due process, Mr Oditah said.

The FEC is not a court of law and cannot resolve commercial disputes between NNPC and its contractors. The FEC should not entertain NNPCs request.

To do otherwise would give the wrong impression that the Federal Government is above the law and its own courts, which will further damage investor confidence in Nigeria and its adherence to the rule of law, he said.

Urging FEC to ask the NNPC to await the resolution of the court case it instituted, Mr Oditah warned that any third party who bids for or accepts from NNPC the AKK Lot 2 EPCC contract prior to the resolution of the suit risks contempt proceedings against it.

NNPC case against consortium

On August 2, 2018, the NNPC, along with its subsidiary, the Nigerian Gas Processing & Transportation Company Limited, filed suit No FHC/ABJ/CS/826/2018 at the Federal High Court, Abuja against the consortium.

The corporation, through its counsel, Kehinde Ogunwunmiju of Afe Babalola & Co, claimed the consortium had no valid or subsisting or enforceable contract in respect of Lot 2 of the gas pipeline project.

Consequently, the NNPC sought the declaration of court that failure of the consortium to finalize the award and consequent execution of the contract was its fault.

Besides, the NNPC asked the court to declare that any contractual agreement between it and the consortium in respect of the project should be deemed validly terminated due to the alleged breach.

Also, the NNPC asked the court to declare its decision to re-award the Lot 2 contract to other companies/consortia as valid and lawful.

Similarly, the NNPC called for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the consortium or their representatives from attempting to interfere, tamper with and delay the bidding process for the award, performance and execution of the AKK pipeline project by other companies.

To cover the cost for its loss of time and resources, delay and frustration allegedly suffered as a result of alleged breach of contract by the consortium, the NNPC demanded N1billion as general damages.

In addition, the corporation asked for special damages equivalent to the cost it would likely incur in financing compound interest costs in respect of the delay in the completion of the entire project due to the consortiums breach.

Consortiums response

In its response to NNPCs accusation of breach, the consortium accused the NNPCs Project Execution Team of actively conniving with one Dapo Oguntayo and China Shipbuilding to frustrate the execution of the contract.

Mr Oditah said the AKK Lot 2 EPCC contract has not been executed as a result of a series of breaches by the duo.

Any difficulties and delay allegedly experienced by NNPC in the execution of the AKK Lot 2 EPCC contract with the CSOIL Consortium are entirely self-induced and self-inflicted, he said.

He expressed dismay that the NNPC continued to deal with Mr Oguntayo long after the consortium had formally terminated its relationship with him.

Mr Oguntayo and China Shipbuilding could not be reached for comment at the time of this report.

Mr Oguntayo was given a power of attorney by the consortium in line with contract tender process requiring designation and appointment of a representative to act as a single point of contact during the tender stage.

The AKK Pipeline Project

The AKK Pipeline Project was the first phase of the gas transmission system conceived under the TNGP initiative to evacuate natural gas from Qua Iboe Terminal in Akwa Ibom State and Cawthorne Channel in the Niger Delta region.

The evacuated gas is to be transported to Obigbo to Umuahia to Enugu to Ajaokuta to Abuja to Kaduna and finally to Kano through a gas network for the benefit of all Nigerians.

In August 2013, following the invitation of expression of interest for the EPC contract, NNPC said it received 64 responses from companies and consortia, including CSOIL Consortium.

The NNPC said each member of the consortium issued individual powers of attorney to Mr Oguntayo to represent them on all documentations for the contract tender.

On April 27, 2017, the NNPC presented a letter of commitment to CSOIL Consortium as the preferred bidder, subject to negotiations and final execution of the EPC contract.

On December 13, 2017, the FEC gave the NNPC approval to award the contract for the construction of the pipeline.

The pipeline has a 15 kilometres long 24 inches diameters spurline to Abuja and another one with the same length and size in Kano.

The contract was, however, divided into three, consisting Lot 1(from Ajaokuta to Abuja, about 200 kilometres) was awarded to OilServ/Oando Consortium for $854million; Lot 2 (from Abuja to Kaduna, with spurline, about 193 kilometres) was awarded to CSOIL Consortium for $834million.

Lot 3 (from Kaduna to Kano, about 221 kilometres) was awarded to Brentx-CPP Consortium for $1.2billion.

The contracts were to be executed within 24 months through 100 per cent contractor financing under a build and transfer model.

On February 14, 2018, the NNPC issued the letter of award for Lot 2 contract to CSOIL Consortium.

Roots of crisis

Shortly after the contract award, NNPC said it received several letters from some members of the consortium accusing Mr Oguntayo of turning around to claim he was representing only the interest of China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Limited in the project and not the entire consortium.

Consequently, Miles Energy and Macready Oil accused Mr Oguntayo of breach of agreement and abuse of trust and revoked the power of attorney issued to him.

The duo criticized the NNPC of excluding them from the project execution based on Mr Oguntayos claim, describing the decision as wrong and detrimental to their interests.

On March 27, 2018, they wrote to corporation, through their legal counsel, Mr Oditah, threatening legal actions over the matter.

However, on April 4, 2018, Mr Oguntayo, apparently responding to the threat, wrote to the NNPC on behalf of China Shipbuilding, claiming the two companies were not part of the consortium awarded the pipeline contract.

On May 2, 2018, the Chinese Shipbuilding firm forwarded to NNPC terms of reconciliation proposed by Miles Energy over the disagreement, which it said was not acceptable.

In rejecting the proposal, the Chinese firm introduced Radiatt International Engineering, which was originally not part of the consortium, as a partner with whom it would want to proceed with the EPC contract.

Although the NNPC said it made several attempts to help resolve the dispute, it claimed there was no consensus among members of the consortium on amicable resolution of their differences.

The dispute, the NNPC said, has not only delayed the execution of the final EPC contract documents, but also frustrated the commencement of work on Lot 2 of the contract.

When our reporter contacted NNPC for comment, the spokesperson, Ndu Ughamadu, requested that our inquiry should be sent to him via text message. He did not respond to the text message sent to him.

Subsequently, calls to his telephone were not answered.Britain and Finland have frozen funding to Zambia on suspicion that the four million dollars they channelled into a social welfare scheme may have been misused, the Zambian presidency said on Tuesday.

The social cash transfer scheme is a donor-supported programme under which the government relays money to vulnerable households in rural areas in Africas No. 2 copper producer.

The British High Commissioner to Zambia, Fergus Cochrane-Dyet, said in a tweet that Britain had frozen all bilateral funding until audit results are known.

(Britain) takes a zero tolerance approach to fraud and corruption, he said.

Officials from Finland did not immediately comment.

Presidential spokesperson, Amos Chanda, said president Edgar Lungu ordered an inquiry three months ago into possible misuse of the aid funds between 2012 and now, and a number of suspects were due to be prosecuted.

They notified us about the suspension of aid to the social cash transfer scheme but all other forms of bilateral aid are ongoing, Mr Chanda said.

Following the investigations, the secretary to the cabinet actually presented a report to the president on Friday.

Lee Habasonda, a political analyst at the University of Zambia, said the withdrawal of the funding would hurt the poor in the southern African country at a time when Lusaka is struggling to manage its debt.

We hope that the government will take quick remedial measures to ensure that the funding is resumed, Mr Habasonda said.

Zambias external debt rose to 9.37 billion dollars by the end of June from 8.7 billion dollars in December, the finance ministry said in August, a week after the International Monetary Fund raised concerns over its high borrowing.Zambian President Edgar Lungu on Wednesday fired a minister responsible for administration of a social cash transfer scheme after reports of misapplication of funds.

This follows revelations that about 4.3 million U.S. dollars of donor funds for the scheme had gone missing, forcing some donors including the United Kingdom and Finland to suspend funding.

Government spokesperson, Dora Siliya, confirmed in a tweet that the Zambian leader has fired Emerine Kabanshi, as Minister for Community Development and Social Services.

His Excellency, President Edgar Lungu has acted swiftly, relieving Hon. E. Kabanshi as Minister of Community Development following misuse of funds allegations in her ministry, she said in a tweet.

She has since been replaced by Olivia Phiri, a governing party lawmaker.

Meanwhile, a statement from Lungus office said he has ordered a clean-up of the ministry.

The Zambian leader further met with heads of investigative wings to inform them of the administrative changes.

He also directed them to constitute criminal investigations to establish whether there was criminal liability over the social cash transfer.

On Monday, British High Commissioner to Zambia, Fergus Cochrane-Dyet, confirmed that his government has suspended funding to the social cash transfer scheme after reports of misapplication of funds meant to benefit the poor.

Sweden and some donors have also announced the suspension of funding to the scheme, according to a statement released by the Swedish Development Agency. (Xinhua/NAN)A police officer has been suspended while investigations proceed into an apparent xenophobic incident in an ice cream cafe in the German state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, the State Interior Ministry said.

Six men, including the 30-year-old officer, are under investigation in relation to an attack on mainly Turkish patrons of the cafe in the town of Wiesloch in the south-western state, the ministry said on Wednesday.

The six, aged between 23 and 36, had been at a bachelor party on September 8.

They are reported to have shouted xenophobic insults and politically motivated chants before attacking families sitting in front of the cafe with chairs.

Five people were slightly injured.

The six face charges of disturbance of the peace, causing bodily harm, damage to property, the use of banned symbols and incitement, according to prosecutors in the city of Heidelberg.

Police temporarily detained the men, some of whom were drunk, near the scene.

The police officer faces dismissal if found guilty of the allegations. (dpa/NAN)A Journalist covering a protest against the clearing of woodland to make way for coal mining fell to his death near the German town of Kerpen on Wednesday.

Police said the journalist, who had for some time been observing activists in the tree houses they had built in Hambach Forest, had fallen some 15 metres while negotiating a bridge suspended between two trees.

His death was unrelated to efforts to remove the protestors and destroy their tree houses, a police spokesman at the scene, which lies just to the west of Cologne, said.

The bridge apparently broke while the journalist was on it.

Attempts to administer first aid proved fruitless and the man died at the scene.

Police immediately halted their operation to clear the forest which has been running for a week.

By Wednesday 39 of 51 tree houses had been demolished, they said.

The activist group Hambi bleibt (Hambi stays) is protesting against plans by power generation company RWE to fall part of the forest to make way for an open-cast lignite mine.

The protest, with tree houses as high as 25 metres, has been running for six years.

The activists claimed that the forest, with its centuries-old beech and oak trees, has a history going back 12,000 years, similarly contains protected animal species, including Bechsteins bat, the agile frog and the hazel dormouse.

The group demanded an immediate halt to the clearance. We urge the police and RWE to leave the forest immediately and to halt this dangerous operation, it said on its blog.

It described the journalist as a friend who has been watching us in the forest for a long time.

He had apparently been trying to get closer to where police were conducting their operations.

Police have not released his identity.

RWE says felling the trees is essential to maintain electricity generation in the regions lignite-fired power stations.

(dpa/NAN)The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has issued precautionary measures to be taken on several diseases that stem from flooding, a scourge that has so far led to over 100 deaths in Nigeria this year.

This comes two days after the emergency body, NEMA, declared national disaster in states badly hit by flooding. They are Kogi, Niger, Anambra and Delta states.

Eight other states are being monitored, the agency said. They are Taraba Adamawa, Kebbi, Edo, Rivers, Benue, Bayelsa and Kwara states.

More than 100 people have died in floods, Sani Datti, the agencys spokesperson, told PREMIUM TIMES on Monday.

The directive followed a warning by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency that the Benue and Niger Rivers were close to reaching levels that in 2012 led to floods that killed more than 350 people and wiped out homes, farms and other property.

The NEMA chief said President Muhammadu Buhari approved N3 billion for the first stages of preparedness, response disaster mitigation.

Seasonal flooding is the bane in many communities in Nigeria, where a growing population, desert expansion, deforestation and lack of good drainage infrastructure are enabling factors.

The flooding so far this year has mostly been in rural areas where there is little or no access to healthcare to curb diseases.

To prevent spread of such disease, NCDC Director Chikwe Ihekweazu Wednesday gave 10 precautionary measures. They include:

1. Do not drink flood water, or use it to wash dishes, brush teeth, or wash/prepare food.

2. Communities should ensure chlorination of the public source of water supply.

3. Ensure proper disposal of waste and clearing of sewage.

4. Wash your hands frequently with soap and clean water.

5. Discard all medicines, food and bottled water contaminated by flood water.

6. In homes, ensure water is well boiled before drinking.

7. Avoid open defecation and indiscriminate refuse dumping.

8. Avoid mosquito bites by ensuring consistent use of an Insecticide Treated Net.

9. Health workers should observe universal care precautions at all time.

10. If you experience sudden fever or diarrhea, please visit a health care facility.

Environmentalists have also urged the government to invest in better drainages and improve coastal areas.

The floods were expected and did not take us by surprise. They simply took us in a state of unpreparedness. Sadly, the floods will get worse as the water makes its way downstream and towards the Atlantic Ocean, an environmental rights activist, Nnimmo Bassey said.

Besides emergency responses, Mr Bassey also advised the government on steps to prevent the catastrophic experience of 2012 floods.

The government needs to carry out a mapping of all areas that are flood-prone, if that hasnt been done already. All our cities and riverine communities should have drainage master plans. These would delineate flood prone zones and also indicate areas that people can build in safety.

Communities can equally map their territories and decide safe distances from flood prone areas. Advice should be given to flood prone communities on building codes, ground floor levels and building materials to use to ensure resilience and safety, he said.

Sanitation and water supply should be enhanced to avoid epidemics during floods. It includes public education to ensure that drainages are not blocked. There should also be adequate waste management. Plastic bags should be banned as already done in Rwanda, Kenya, South Sudan and Mauritania, he added.The Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Olagunju Ojo, the minority leader, and five other lawmakers on Tuesday defected to three different parties.

The clerk of the house, Paul Bankole, read the separate letters of defection by the lawmakers during the plenary session in Ibadan.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the speaker (Labour Party-Orire), Wunmi Oladeji ( Labour Party-Ogbomoso North) and Solomon Olukayode (Labour Party-Ogbomoso South) defected to All Progressives Congress (APC).

Gbenga Oyekola ( Labour Party-Atiba) and Peter Oyetunji (Labour Party-Ogo Oluwa/Surulere) defected to African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) respectively.

The minority leader, Ademola Ige (Accord Party-Ibadan South-East II) and Fatai Adesina (Accord Party-Ibadan South-East I) defected to ADC.

Meanwhile, the house has appealed to the commissioner of police in the state, Abiodun Odude, to make conscious efforts to put a stop to gang-related crimes and violence in Oyo town.

The assembly also urged the commissioner to deploy competent police units to tackle the activities of criminal gangs.

This followed a matter of urgent public importance raised by Muideen Olagunju (Accord Party-Oyo East/Oyo West) during the plenary.

According to Mr Olagunju, the dramatic upsurge in gang warfare within the town has resulted in residents living in fear as well as property damage and deaths.

The acts of violence are traceable to battle for supremacy among bands of youth in certain black spots within the town.

During these battles of attrition, the gangs engage in spates of physical attacks, maiming, property damage, looting and sadly, killings.

More often than not, innocent citizens bear the brunt of these acts of violence especially in Agunpopo, Balogun, Apara, Apinni, Ilaka, Akesan Motor Park, Iseke and Tengbe.

It calls for concern that in spite of the fact that Oyo town and its environs have four Divisional Police Headquarters, one Area Command as well as a unit of SARS, it appears the gangs are controllable with low rate of arrests and prosecution of offenders, he said.

The Speaker directed the house committee on security and special duties to convene, charge and monitor relevant authorities to act swiftly to curtail violence. (NAN)The three lecturers of Shehu Idris College of Health Science and Technology, Makarfi, who were kidnapped have been freed.

The victims include two women, Rabi Dogo and Halimatu Malam, and the director of the institutions dental school, identified as Dr. Akawo.

The staff were released on Tuesday around 8 p.m., according to the colleges sole administrator, Yusuf Yakubu, in a text message.

Mr Yakubu said he personally negotiated with their abductors before the three were freed.

Please be informed that the three kidnapped staff of Shehu Idris College of Health Science and Technology Makarfi were released this night at about 8pm.

I the Administrator of the College negotiated with the kidnappers and they released them to me.

The official did not disclose whether ransom was paid before their release.

The colleges public relations officer, Ali Saidu, also confirmed their release to PREMIUM TIMES.

He said the victims were abducted on Monday night and not Sunday as initially reported.

The Kaduna State Police Commissioner, Yakubu Sabo, also said the Divisional Police Officer of Makarfi town confirmed the release of the academics to him on Tuesday night.

He said all three are in good health condition and already in their homes.

The three staff of the college were abducted on their way back to Makarfi from Zaria on Monday night. The car they were travelling in was abandoned by the roadside close to Tashar Yari after their abduction.Oil multinationals, Eni and Shell, will on Thursday be on the lookout as a Milan judge will decide for the first time whether $1.1 billion of the sum paid in the controversial Malabu oil deal was siphoned in bribes to win the license to the field.

Eni and Shell are embroiled in a long-running graft case over the purchase in 2011 of Nigerias OPL 245 for about $1.3 billion. The oil field is reputed to be one of Africas biggest oilfields. The controversial case involves Enis Chief Execuive Officer, Claudio Descalzi, and four former Shell managers including one-time Shell Foundation Chairman, Malcolm Brinded.

The Thursday ruling, involving Emeka Obi and Gianluca Di Nardo, is a case running parallel to the main trial of both oil giants. It may however give clues to what might be round the corner for the two companies.

Emeka Obi is one of the middle men who had claimed that he deserved a share of the $1.3 billion, saying he helped mediate negotiations between the oil giants and ex-Nigerian petroleum minister, Dan Etete.

Italian prosecutors allege that Mr Obi received a mandate from Mr Etete to find a buyer for OPL 245, collecting $114 million while Mr Di Nardo took $24 million of that amount for putting Mr Obi in touch with Eni.

Mr Obi, a Nigerian, and Mr Di Nardo, an Italian, are said to be middlemen.

Eni and Shell, as well as their managers, have denied any wrongdoing.

A legal source told Reuters on Tuesday that although the Thursday ruling will not tie the courts hand in the main trial, it will nonetheless constitute a sort of pre-judgement.

Its clear the ruling will become a first building block in favour of the prosecution or the defence  it will be a first verdict by a third-party judge on the matter, the source said Tuesday.

A fast-track procedure that began in November will ensure the judge be called on to decide whether Messrs Obi and Di Nardo should be convicted in the case or acquitted for receiving payments prosecutors alleged to be illegal kickbacks.

Messrs Obi and Di Nardo, who have previously denied any wrongdoing, asked for a fast-track trial which under Italian law allows any eventual sentence to be cut by a third. If found guilty, the individuals on trial face possible jail terms for bribery while the companies face hefty fines.

Earlier, some documents had been seized in a raid on a Swiss financiers apartment that could be crucial to the case. The raid, according to Independent newspaper, uncovered a briefcase belonging to Mr Obi, who is in the dock along with several former Shell employees and current and former Eni executives.

According to Swiss prosecutors, the suitcase contained a laptop, two Nigerian passports, five sim cards and a hard drive containing 41,000 documents that prosecutors believe could be crucial to the trial playing out on the other side of the Alps.

Meanwhile, Italian prosecutors alleged that, of the total $1.3 billion fee paid by Shell and Eni for the oil field, $1.1 billion went not into the coffers of the Nigerian state but the accounts of former oil minister Dan Etete who then distributed hundreds of millions to well-connected individuals, including former president Goodluck Jonathan.

Former Nigerian oil Minister Dan Etete, involved in the Malabu Scandal. [Photo credit: THE REPUBLICAN NEWS]

Mr Jonathan, who faces no charge on the case, has denied wrongdoing.

The busted Geneva apartment belonged to Olivier Couriol, a former Credit Suisse banker who has been named in two other international corruption cases. Mr Couriol, who is under investigation for his role in separate crime-related deals, said that Mr Obi was merely a friend who left the bag at his flat by mistake while on holiday. But a Geneva prosecutor, Claudio Mascotto, believes it was stashed there to keep it hidden from authorities.

Earlier in June, a court in Geneva said some of the documents found in Mr Couriols possession could be unsealed and be sent to Milan but Mr Obi launched another appeal, meaning a Swiss federal court must now decide on the matter. It is still unknown when the case will be dispensed with by the Swiss court but reports said authorities believe the documents may also contain details of other questionable deals in Nigerias oil fields.

In the wider trial, defendants include Enis current chief executive Claudio Descalzi and his predecessor Paolo Scaroni as well as former Shell board member Malcolm Brinded and Peter Robinson, a former Shell vice president for sub-Saharan Africa.

Infograph  The Malabu Scandal

Analysts say Shell, which had for years denied culpability, and Eni could potentially be forced to pay huge damages in the case after judges ruled that Nigeria had the status of victim.

Barnaby Pace, an anti-corruption campaigner at Global Witness, said the trial should signal a turning point for the oil industry.

Some of the most senior executives of two of the biggest companies in the world could face prison sentences for a deal struck under their watch, he said.

The Malabu deal controversies, struck in the final days of the regime of Sani Abacha in 1998, started when Mr Etete award the oil field to a company called Malabu Oil and Gas, which details later revealed he partly owned and later controlled .

After years of controversies, rights to the field were finally sold in 2011, and all of the payments went through the Nigerian government but a large part of $1.1 billion was then paid into Malabus accounts, via banks in London. Although Mr Etete, who had been convicted of money laundering charges earlier, turned out to be in control of the accounts, Shell denied knowledge of such details.

But after years of investigations by PREMIUM TIMES and other anti-corruption groups including Global Witness, Finance Uncovered and others, Shell admitted last year that it did know Mr Etete was behind the deal and that he had been convicted in 2007.

Emails revealed that a former MI6 agent hired by Shell, who is also a defendant in the case, had been in contact with Mr Etete from at least 2009, two years before the deal was sealed.

Hundreds of millions of pounds of that money passed through JP Morgan in London, which is being sued by the Federal Government of Nigeria for gross negligence.

But JP Morgan in a court filings seen by PREMIUM TIMES in April said the UKs top anti-money laundering authority gave the green light for the payments. It argued also that it did no wrong because it raised a series of suspicious activity reports and that the payment had Nigerian officials authorisation.

No charges has been brought against former President Goodluck Jonathan who authorised the controversial settlement agreement and transfer of the funds to Malabu.

But that administrations Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, who alongside then Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, signed the settlement agreement on behalf of government, is being prosecuted in Nigeria. He is currently on exile and has never personally attend his trial.

The former minister has however rejected allegations of any wrongdoing in the matter.The Federal Government says the sale of 21 per cent of its equity in the Nigerian Security Printing & Minting (NSPM) Plc to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will yield about N17 billion.

The Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Alex Okoh, disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday at the official signing of the agreement for the sale of the Federal Governments 12.4 billion shares in the NSPM to the CBN.

Mr Okoh said the conclusion of the transaction represents another success in the implementation by BPE of the Federal Governments privatisation and commercialisation programme.

The BPE DG said the Federal Government was handing over to the CBN a company with tremendous potentials to achieve significant growth.

He noted that global market for security printing was huge, estimated at about $27.2 billion in 2017.

Today, he said estimates, which is growing by about 4.8 per cent annually, will reach about $34.3 billion by 2022.

Besides, he said Africa was a fast growing market for security printing, with the industry projected to grow at an average annual rate of 9.6 per cent over the next five years.

This growth is fueled by high population growth and increased mobility across the region as well as increased spending on identity programmes, he said.

The global market for passports and ID cards valued at about $3.7 billion is growing at six percent per annum.

In the area of currency printing, which is its core operation, Mr Okoh said the total cash in circulation was growing at about four percent per annum globally and was expected to increase at a similar rate in future.

Between 2002 and 2004, the BPE made efforts to privatise the minting firm pursuant to section 1 (3) of the Public Enterprises (Privatisation and Commercialisation) Act.

But, the BPE DG said it was not successful, necessitating the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) to formulate a different transaction strategy approving the strategic investment by the CBN in the company.

The purpose of the strategic investment was for CBN to manage, restructure and restore the company to profitability within a period not exceeding five years, following which it would be privatised by the Bureau, he said.

In compliance with NCPs directive, the BPE warehoused N12.69 billion shares of the Federal Governments holding in the Minting firm with the CBN at a par value of 0.50k per share amounting to N6.35 billion.

It was further agreed this consideration would be refunded to the CBN from the proceeds of sale realized from the eventual privatization of the company.

Mr Okoh dislosed that CBNs strategic investment in the security printing and minting company was a success, as its objective was to turnaround its fortune and return it to profitability.

At the expiration of the strategic investment period, the DG said the CBN had indicated its strong interest in acquiring the company on an arms length basis.

He said the sensitive and strategic nature of the security printing and minting services rendered by the company, including other security documents for immigration and electoral materials.

After a careful consideration of the important security issues, Mr Okoh said the bureau submitted a proposal to the NCP to formalise the sale of 21 per cent of the Federal Governments interest in the company to the CBN.

Under the new arrangement, which was duly approved by the privatization council, the Federal Government would retain an equity holding of only 10.1 per cent.

The governor of the CBN, Godwin Emefiele, said the NSPM was a national asset treasured by the government.

Mr Emefiele said the company had consistently been a loss maker until the intervention of the CBN, bringing to an end the importation of currency to the country.

The CBN governor announced that the company had ceased producing international passports, although it has the capacity to do so.

If well repositioned, he said it would sufficiently provide national security materials for the public sector and specialised security materials for the private sector, such as bank cards.The police have summoned Ademola Adeleke, a Nigerian senator and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the gubernatorial election scheduled for this weekend.

The police said in a statement Wednesday afternoon that their investigation revealed that Mr Adeleke, his family and associates connived with some school administrators to allow him sit for the National Examination Council (NECO) in 2017.

The candidate was subsequently directed to immediately turn himself in to face prosecution.

A spokesperson for Mr Adelekes campaign was not immediately available for comments Wednesday afternoon.

Mr Adelekes school credentials have come under intense scrutiny since he emerged the candidate of the PDP in Osun State some weeks ago. The senators opponents during the primaries contended that he had no credible school certificate and should be disqualified from the race.

Mr Adeleke went on to become the candidate, nonetheless, and the PDP has continued to back him as its candidate, saying his results have been found to be genuine and the public should dismiss contrary insinuations.

As the police were making their case against Mr Adeleke and summoning him to appear for arraignment only three days to an election in which he is a major candidate, the West African Examination Council reportedly cleared the senator of any wrongdoing.

Although Mr Adeleke denied all allegations when the police started their investigation into his academic credentials in July, they revealed today that they made arrests and questioned several suspects in the last few weeks.

Mr Adeleke will square off with other candidates in the Osun governorship poll on Saturday. Political observers conclude the race has at least five candidates who are capable of putting up a strong showing in the election.

It was not immediately clear how the latest move by the police would affect Mr Adelekes chances on Saturday, if his candidature is not scuttled within the short time left to election day.

Read the full explanation by the police below:

PRESS BRIEFING ON EXAMINATION MALPRACTICE CASE AGAINST SENATOR ADEMOLA ADELEKE

Examination Malpractice, Criminal Conspiracy, Personation, Breach of Duty, Aiding and Abetting against Senator Ademola Adeleke (PDP Governorship Aspirant in the 22nd September, 2018 Gubernatorial Election in Osun State) and four (4) others namely; MR Sikiru Adeleke, Alhaji Aregbesola Mufutau (Principal of Ojo-Aro Community Grammar School, Egbedore LGA, Osun State), Mr Gbadamosi Thomas Ojo (School Staff responsible for the registration of candidates for NECO), Mr Dare Olutope (School Teacher who facilitated the commission of the crime).

On 21st July 2017, the Osun State Police Intelligence Bureau (SIB) received and acted on an actionable intelligence about an ongoing examination malpractice involving Senator Ademola Adeleke and Sikiru Adeleke at OJO/Aro Community Grammar School in Osun state.

2. When the Police operative arrived at the school, only Sikiru Adeleke was found seated for the examination while Senator Ademola Adeleke seat was vacant and was suspected to have escaped before the arrival of the Police operatives.

3. Further investigation revealed that both Senator Ademola Adeleke and his brother Sikiru Adeleke registered and were sitting for the National Examination Council Examination (NECO) 2017 as internal candidates impersonating students of the School at the ages of 57years and 42years respectively. This crime was facilitated by the principal of the school, and two other members of staff of the school for which they are under investigation and being charged to court.

4. The Principal of the school, Alhaji Aregbesola Mufutau, the staff responsible for registration, Mr Gbadamosi Thomas Ojo and a teacher Mr dare Olutope were arrested on 21 July 2017. Senator Ademola Adeleke was arrested on 27 July 2017 and Sikiru Adeleke was arrested on 8 August 2017.

5. Senator Ademola Adeleke made cautionary statement and admitted that he registered for the 2017 NECO examinations as an internal student in the said school but he didnt sit for the examination.

6. However, Police investigation revealed the following primafacial and culpability facts against Senator Ademola Adeleke andfour (4) others.

i. Senator Ademola Adeleke made cautionary statement and admitted that he registered for the 2017 NECO examinations as an internal student in the said school and did not sit for the examination but have a result from NECO with Seven (7) Credit and One (1) Pass, a copy of which was obtained from NECO by the Police.

ii. The Ojo/Aro 2017 NECO, SSCE school photo album (Schools copy), with Senator Ademola Adeleke and Sikiru Adeleke Photographs in school uniform in the said album. Senator Ademola Adeleke in the NECO 2017 Result obtained by the claimed that he was born on 12th June 1997 but in his statement to the Police, senator Ademola Adeleke wrote 13th May 1960 as his Date of Birth.

iii. The photographs of both Senator Ademola Adeleke and Sikiru Adeleke appearing side by side in the photo album have no NECO stamps on them.

7. Senator Ademola Adeleke and four others were arrested, investigated, granted bail and being charged to court. Charges of Examination Malpractice, Criminal Conspiracy, Personation, Breach of Duty, Aiding and Abetting against Senator Ademola Adeleke (PDP Governorship Aspirant in the 22nd September, 2018 Gubernatorial Election in Osun State) and four (4) others namely; MR Sikiru Adeleke, Alhaji Aregbesola Mufutau (Principal of Ojo-Aro Community Grammar School, Egbedore LGA, Osun State), Mr Gbadamosi Thomas Ojo (School Staff responsible for the registration of candidates for NECO), Mr Dare Olutope (School Teacher who facilitated the commission of the crime) have been filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja under the Examination Malpractice Act, CAP E15, 2004 today, Wednesday, 19th September, 2018.

8. Consequently, Senator Ademola Adeleke (PDP Governorship Aspirant in the 22nd September, 2018 Gubernatorial Election in Osun State) and four (4) others namely; MR Sikiru Adeleke, Alhaji Aregbesola Mufutau (Principal of Ojo-Aro Community Grammar School, Egbedore LGA, Osun State), Mr Gbadamosi Thomas Ojo (School Staff responsible for the registration of candidates for NECO), Mr Dare Olutope (School Teacher who facilitated the commission of the crime) are hereby advised in their own interest to report to the Special Investigation Panel, Force Headquarters, Abuja immediately for arraignment in court.

Ag. DCP JIMOH MOSHOOD

FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER

FORCE HEADQUARTERSThe Nigerian government on Wednesday announced immediate suspension of its widely publicised national carrier, two months after it was unveiled at an international air show.

Hadi Sirika, Nigerias aviation minister, made the announcement shortly after the cabinet meeting on Wednesday afternoon. He later posted the announcement on Twitter.

I regret to announce that the Federal Executive Council has taken the tough decision to suspend the National Carrier Project in the interim, Mr Sirika said. All commitments due will be honoured. We thank the public for the support as always.

No explanation was immediately given for the cancellation by Mr Sirika, either in his press briefing after the FEC meeting or on Twitter.

The announcement comes barely two months after Nigeria unveiled Nigeria Air at the Farnborough Air Show in England on July 18. The government said at the time that it was in talks with technical partners in the aviation as well as aircraft manufacturers.

The project was expected to gulp billions of naira.

Critics and industry experts were wary of the project when it was launched in July, saying arguing that Nigeria cannot afford it at this time.

They also said the financial crisis that engulfed the defunct Nigeria Airways had not been resolved more than a decade after the national career stopped operations.

But President Muhammadu Buhari was adamant about launching a new airline for the country, a project he promised during campaign in 2015.The Nigerian government on Wednesday announced immediate suspension of its widely publicised national carrier.

The suspension was made because the Economic Management Team (EMT) did not approve it when it launched, sources familiar with the matter told PREMIUM TIMES.

Sources at the presidential villa told this newspaper Wednesday night that the EMT recommendation was that the Nigerian government should not set up a national carrier with public funds.

The EMT is chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

Hadi Sirika, Nigerias aviation minister, announced the cancellation on Wednesday shortly after the cabinet meeting. The minister later posted the announcement on his Twitter page.

Mr Sirika said: I regret to announce that the Federal Executive Council has taken the tough decision to suspend the National Carrier Project in the interim. All commitments due will be honoured. We thank the public for the support as always.

Mr Sirika gave no explanation for the development, which has in the last few hours generated heated debate among Nigerians.

But presidential sources familiar with the matter told PREMIUM TIMES Wednesday night that the EMT wanted the ministry of transportation to instead accelerate the search for strategic investment partners who will finance and manage the new airline.

In the absence of a borrowing plan for government participation, a source said, the president ruled against spending money that is not in the budget. Promoters of the idea of the new national carrier were therefore asked to work towards 2019 budget if any government investment is to be involved, PREMIUM TIMES gathered.

The cancellation announcement comes barely two months after Nigeria unveiled the proposed airline at the Farnborough Air Show in England on July 18.

Critics and industry experts raised concerns over the project when it was launched in July, with many suggesting that Nigeria cannot afford it at this time.

Among the critics was former education minister, Oby Ezekwesili, who argued that the process was not completely transparent.

But the Nigerian government dismissed all concerns raised, saying the airline would begin operation before the end of 2018. During electioneering in 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari promised to establish a national airline.

In July, shortly after receiving the Outline Business Case Certificate of Compliance for the establishment of the airline from Chidi Izuwah, the Director General, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Mr Sirika, a former pilot, boasted that the airline would be viable. He also said Nigeria will receive the first set of five airplanes for the airliner on December 19, with projections that the airline will make profit in three years after operations.

The proposed airline was expected to gulp $8.8 million preliminary cost and $300 million as take-off cost.

Nigerias defunct carrier, Nigeria Airways, became moribund due to corruption and poor management. More than a decade after the national career stopped operations, however, the numerous controversies surrounding its winding up have not been resolved.A former vice president and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant, Atiku Abubakar, has promised that if elected in 2019, he will end the lingering religious and ethnic differences in Nigeria.

The former vice president also promised to ensure that he runs an inclusive government if elected.

Mr Abubakar, who is aspiring to win the PDP presidential ticket, made the promise on Tuesday at Plateau State PDP secretariat, located along Yakubu Gowon Way, in Jos South Local Government Area of the state.

The former vice president was in Plateau to lobby for the support of the states delegates ahead of the upcoming PDP presidential primary which is scheduled to hold October 6 this year.

I know I have come home. Plateau State is my own home. We all know that Nigeria at the moment is being dominated by religious and ethnic differences.

MKO Abiola, a Yoruba man, was elected president without taking into consideration any ethnic or religious bias. Another history was in 1999, we elected another Yoruba man, Olusegun Obasanjo, on the basis of one Nigeria.

So PDP was not formed on the basis of religious or ethnic differences and Plateau State has played a key role in ensuring that the party functions on the basis of its formation and Nigeria has achieved a lot during PDP government.

People of Plateau, I want to assure you that religious or ethnic differences will not be witnessed under my watch. I promise you that my government will never tolerate religious or ethnic crisis. We will all live in peace, he said.

While addressing party supporters, the presidential aspirant explained his aspiration.

I know only two of us from Plateau are aspiring for PDP presidential ticket. Myself and David Jang, and whoever you select between the two of us, is the same.

But I promise you, if am elected, I will form an inclusive government where everyone will be included, he added.

Plateau is the 27th state Mr Abubakar has visited as at Tuesday, to seek for support of national delegates.

On Sunday, Senate President Bukola Saraki was also in the state to lobby for states delegates.

This is the fifth time Mr Abubakar is attempting to govern Nigeria.

In 1992, he contested for presidential primary under the platform of Social Democratic Party (SDP).

In 2007, he ran for the presidency under the platform of Action Congress in 2007 where he lost to late president Umaru Yaradua.

In 2011, the vice president lost to the then president, Goodluck Johnathan, in the presidential primary of the PDP.

President Buhari defeated Mr Abubakar in APC presidential primary in 2014.

He is now contesting for the fifth time and is being challenged by about 1 other PDP aspirants.President Muhammadu Buhari has restated the commitment of the Nigerian government to ensure the release of Chibok Girls and most of the Dapchi Girls including Leah Sharibu.

Miss Sharibu is one of the over 100 schoolgirls kidnapped by the Boko Haram in Dapchi, Yobe State, earlier in the year. While all her other schoolmates who survived the ordeal have been released by the terrorists, she was held back by the Boko Haram for allegedly refusing to denounce her Christian faith.

Mr Buhari gave the reassurance on Tuesday while sending his condolence message to the family of a Red Cross staff, Saifura Khorsa, who was recently killed by Boko-haram terrorist group.

We will continue to do everything possible to ensure the safe return of all of our people held by Boko Haram. This is a vow we intend to fully keep. I appeal to our international partners and friends to continue to support us, even as we redouble our efforts.

In the last 3 years the efforts of our gallant military and intelligence agencies have resulted in the freeing of thousands of hostages, including some of the Chibok Girls and most of the Dapchi Girls. Let me again assure that no one including Leah Sharibu will be left behind, Mr Buhari posted on his official Twitter handle.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier published how the Red Cross condemned the killing of one of its recently abducted staff, Saifura Khorsa.

The terrorists have equally threatened to harm others, including Ms Sharibu.The British government on Tuesday restated its resolve to ensure speedy prosecution of more Nigerians living in the UK involved in human trafficking.

The UK minister of state for immigration, Caroline Noakes, made the assertion during her visit to some facilities of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in Lagos.

Ms Noakes, a Conservative MP for Romsey and Southampton North, expressed displeasure over the high number of NAPTIP cases pending in different courts in Nigeria.

The minister said she would ensure complete prosecution of all the agencys cases in the UK.

We had a recent good success where the UK Government, law enforcement agencies collaborated with Nigeria in prosecuting human trafficker.

It is a huge step forward to share information and share expertise.

I am really appreciative of the Nigeria officials coming to the UK to give evidence in court to prosecute traffickers; that is a huge forward, Ms Noakes said.

She commended the works done on NAPTIP facilities in Lagos, stressing that within few weeks of approving money for renovation, the facilities had gone beyond their expectations.

I am here to see the change made on NAPTIPs facilities by the UK Government.

In just few weeks, the work done is impressive. The facilities are being changed for vulnerable women and people trafficked.

It will be a safe place for them to be rehabilitated and reintegrated into the Nigeria society.

The facilities will help the victims to be comfortable and go through rehabilitation, the UK minister said.

Ms Noakes was appointed the Minister of State for Immigration on Jan. 8, 2018, while she was also elected Conservative MP for Romsey and Southampton North in 2010.

The NAPTIP South-West Zonal Commander, Kehinde Akomolafe, who received the minister, on behalf of the Director-General, Dame Julie Okah-Donli, commended the British Government for the assistance.

Mrs Akomolafe said that the responsibility of NAPTIP was huge which needed more assistance in any way possible.

She said the agencys management was doing its best with the available resources, stressing that more suspected traffickers were being prosecuted with 11 cases currently pending at various courts in Nigeria.

Mrs Akomolafe said one of their officials was in the UK to testify in a case of human trafficking against one Cassandra Iyamu, assuring the Minister of more collaboration.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the UK Minister had inspected the building facility located at the Muritala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, currently occupied by NAPTIP and NDLEA.

She also visited NAPTIP shelters for victims within the state.

The Airport Commander of NDLEA, Ahmadu Garbage and that of NAPTIP, Taiwo Waheed, were on hand to receive the minister.

(NAN)Hundreds of pensioners in Kwara on Tuesday embarked on a peaceful protest in Ilorin, threatening to boycott the 2019 elections, if the state government failed to settle their over N50 billion unpaid pensions and gratuities.

The pensioners, including those from the 16 local government areas of the state and primary school teachers, carried placards of various inscriptions, demanding for the immediate settlement of their unpaid entitlements.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that they gathered in front of the State Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), located in the Commissioners Lodge Way, Government Reserved Area (GRA) in Ilorin.

NAN reports that they defied the heavy rainfall, chanting anti-government songs to express their displeasure with the state government.

The retirees, mostly old women and physically-challenged, also displayed their permanent voter cards during the protest, vowing not to participate in the elections, unless the state government met their demands.

Saidu Oladimeji, the State Chapter chairman of NUP, said that they resorted to protest as they could no longer endure the hardship.

Mr Oladimeji said the state government had since March 2014 stopped the payment of gratuities to retired workers, which he said, had increased the poverty level and led to untimely death of many pensioners.

He added that retirees from the local government areas had not been collecting gratuities since 2008, saying, they have been taking amputated pensions since 2008.

The chairman also accused the state government of non-implementation of the 20 per cent of the salary increase harmonisation to workers that retired ahead of May 1, 2010 in the16 council areas and teachers under the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

We are demanding the full payment of the mutilated monthly pensions to retirees from the local government areas which had entered 10 months now with negative impacts on the lives of the retired workers, he said.

The pensioners chairman appealed to the senate president, Bukola Saraki, and the governor, AbdulFatah Ahmed, to fulfill their pledges of settling the unpaid gratuities and pensions before the end of September.

In his reaction, Muideen Akorede, the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on media and communications, said the state government was aware of the pensioners plights.

According to him, the state government will assist the local governments to clear all the arrears as soon as it receives the expected cash inflows.

He said that payment of the arrears of gratuities was almost over.

(NAN)The Rivers state government has said the minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has a case to answer over the alleged sales of gas turbine power stations belonging to the state government.

The commissioner for information in the state, Emma Okah, said in a statement on Monday that Mr Amaechi, who was the governor of the state at the time, sold off the power stations to Sahara Energy, owned by a billionaire businessman from the state, Tonye Cole, towards the end of his administration.

Mr Okah said the then administration allegedly used the proceeds  N112 billion  to fund the political activities of the All Progressives Congress (APC) which Mr Amaechi is its leader in the state.

Mr Cole recently resigned from the board of Sahara Energy to join active politics.

He is said to be Mr Amaechis favourite for the APC ticket for the 2019 governorship election in the state.

The reason for Tonye Dele Cole is now better explained. There is need to cover the skeletons in the cupboard, Mr Okah said in the statement.

Mr Okah said the alleged diversion of the funds was the reason the Amaechi administration left many projects uncompleted and owed salaries and pensions to workers before he left office in 2015.

Apart from the power assets, the commissioner said Sahara Energy also bought the Olympia Hotel and other high-value state assets under suspicious circumstances from the administration.

Mr Amaechis successor, governor Nyesom Wike, had set up a judicial commission of inquiry which indicted Mr Amaechi on the sales of the assets.

The Justice Omereji Commission of Inquiry investigated the spurious sales and indicted the Minister of Transport and instead of refunding the money, the Minister rushed to court to set aside the findings of the Commission. He lost at the high court and at the Court of Appeal. His appeal to the Supreme Court been abandoned because, for over a year, he has failed to file a brief of argument, Mr Okah said.

PREMIUM TIMES could not immediately get Mr Amaechis reaction to the story. The ministers media office did not respond to the calls, SMS, and email from PREMIUM TIMES.

The commissioner also commented on the running battle between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Rivers State government.

He said it was very funny that Mr Amaechi who is backing the EFCC against the state government today was the same person who fought against interference by the commission in the affairs of the state when he (Amaechi) was the governor.

Mr Okah said, For the avoidance of doubts, Rivers State Government is not against the fight against corruption. Our case is that there are two perpetual court injunctions restraining the Commission from investigating the finances of Rivers State Government and until those injunctions are vacated by a superior court, the Commission is duty bound in law to respect it irrespective of how worried the former governor may feel today.

The Rivers State Government assures the Transport Minister that the law has not changed and the facts remain the same and so his collusion with the Commission to harass Rivers State Government and her officials will not work.The Nigerian Army has set up a modern rehabilitation centre for soldiers injured in combat and non-combat operations in the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the centre, located at the 44 Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna, was established with support from the German Government under an agreement signed in December 2017, through the instrumentality of the German Technical Assistance Group (GTAG).

The minister of defence, Munsur Dan-Ali, who inaugurated the centre on Wednesday, said the GTAG had also reflected positively in a key sphere of capacity development and expansion in the armed forces.

The minister, represented by Mohammed Garba, chief of logistics, defence headquarters, said the centre was remarkable and fully equipped with state of the art facilities.

It is yet another major milestone in the efforts to provide optimal healthcare intervention to our troops and indeed highly commendable.

It will facilitate the provision of highly needed rehabilitation services to troops of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

Earlier, the chief medical director of the hospital, Nathaniel Okeji, said ensuring troops health after injury or debilitating illness is dependent on effective and total medical care covering preventive, curative and rehabilitative.

The ongoing counter terrorism and counter insurgency has resulted in a dramatic increase in devastating injuries to troops like brain and spinal injuries, surgical and traumatic amputation, burns and psychological injuries.

According to him, a holistic care for wounded soldiers comprises evacuation, evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation.

He stressed that the rehabilitation stage was key to ensuring that the affected personnel get fully integrated into service.

Also, the deputy German Ambassador to Nigeria, Regina Hess, said both German and Nigerian armies were proud of the project.

Ms Hess said the project was implemented on the true spirit of partnership.

We promise to help Nigeria in the fight against terrorism and we decide to build this centre with the cooperation of the Nigerian armed forces. (NAN)The Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP) has dragged Senate President Bukola Saraki, and some other lawmakers to court seeking a declaration that they are no longer members of the National Assembly.

In a suit filed before an Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, the group joined Godswill Akpabio, the former senate minority leader; Dino Melaye; and Rabiu Kwankwaso as defendants.

Twelve other senators and 36 members of the House of Representatives were also joined as defendants.

Further joined as defendants were the Independent National Electoral Commission, the deputy senate president, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The suit is seeking, among others, a declaration that by virtue of section 68(1)(g) of the Nigerian Constitution, any member of the National Assembly who resigns from the political party that sponsored his election into the National Assembly before the expiration of the term for which he was elected, automatically loses his seat in the Assembly.

It is also seeking a declaration that the lawmakers are no longer entitled to receive any remunerations due to a member of the National Assembly and that any of such remunerations after their date of defection be refunded to the federal government.

LEDAP in the suit filed on September 14 so prayed the presiding members of the National Assembly to declare vacant the seats of the defectors.

No date has been fixed yet for the hearing of the suit.

In July, 37 members of the House of Representatives defected from the All Progressives Congress  32 joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while four joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC); one did not announce his new party at the time.

On the same day, 14 APC senators defected to the PDP.

About a week after the senators defection, Mr Saraki himself announced his decision to dump the APC for the PDP.

Mr Dogara followed suit almost two months later by quietly purchasing a nomination form to run on the PDP platform.The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved the concessioning of 20 out of its 33 Silos to private sector operators at the cost of N6billion.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh, revealed this when he briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

The meeting was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.

He said the Silos built at different parts of the country were being concessioned for 10 years.

Today, we presented a memo to Council, seeking approval to concession the Silos which have been built in different parts of the country over the past 10 years.

A total of 33 Silos exist with a capacity of 1,360,000 metric tons of grains and they are spread almost evenly through the geo-political zones of the country.

In 2014 government decided to privatise or concession some of these Silos so that the private sector can help, use them for a fee to the Federal Government.

The process was carried out by World Bank, the concession committee of the government, NGOs, the private sector and the Ministry of Agriculture.

It has taken this long to arrive at this because the processes are very slow, we wanted absolute accountability, he said.

According to him, six of the 33 Silos will be retained by the federal government.

We informed them that the fact that we are concessioning some of the silos does not mean we are reneging on our responsibility to guarantee food security.

We are keeping six of the silos which is according to international standard, we keep five per cent of all the grains we harvest every year, the rest will go to private sector groups.

Those who bided and have shown capacity have been the ones allocated the Silos, those who are unable to manage them will have the concession revoked.

Government will earn N6 billion in the 10-year period of the first instance.

The Federal Government remains the owner of the silos and at the end of 10 years it can either renew, revoke or takeover the Silos and operate them ourselves.

We have requests for grains from different parts of the world, soya beans, sesame, sorghum and millet. We also have massive rice production going on and the likes of Dangote and Coscharis going into rice production now need these silos.

So concessioning it to them means they will organise local groups to produce grains for them to dry properly and store and market when the need arises or even export.

The minister expressed the hope that the private sector operators had the capacity to operate and maintain the silos successfully.

Also speaking on the reported flood disaster in some parts of the country, the Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, stated that Federal Government had put in place measures to address the situations.

According to him, the water level has risen to 11.19 but has not reached the 12.4 level that led to flooding in 2012.

The water level has not reached the point as it was in 2012, and we are happy that the water level in Cameroon has not reached the level that will make them open their dam.

Mr Adamu, however, appealed to the communities within the flood plains to relocate from those areas.

(NAN)It was tears and sorrow on Tuesday when members of the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) Group, rallied to the office of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in mourning over the killing of the committees member, Saifura Khorsa.

Ms Khorsa, a midwife with the ICRC, was killed by Nigerias deadly terror group, Boko Haram, on Monday. This was six months after she was kidnapped, alongside two others.

Ms Khorsa, after much plea not to be killed in a video shown to BBOG, was shot at a close range.

The murder of the 25-year-old midwife came barely a month after Boko Haram released photos and audio recording of Ms Khorsa and two other female aid workers begging the Nigerian government to quickly come to their rescue as their time of being safe in custody of the insurgents was running out.

The other two still in Boko Haram custody are Hauwa Liman and Alice Loksha.

President Muhammadu Buhari and other international organisations have condemned the act, describing it as heinous.

BBOG, in a protest led by its co-convener Oby Ezekwesili, said the visit was to encourage the association to demand the release of the other abducted women.

We were quite destabilized by the video that came out showing that Saifura was killed and (the) threat that (was) accompanied in the video.

We are here (in) ICRC to make a demand on them that as an institution that works on issues of humanity, they must do everything necessary to demand the rescue of their staff from the Nigerian government.

This three humanitarian workers are national staff of international organisation and the global community must take the matter of their safety seriously.

We cannot have a situation where those who support the vulnerable members of our society that are victims of the terrorism of war would now be exposed to risk.

The BBOG called on government and the international community to ensure the release of the other two captives and another abducted school girl, Leah Sharibu.

Ms Sharibu was kidnapped along with over a hundred other students in Dapchi, a village in Yobe State in February. Five of the students died, while the others were released following an agreement between the terror group and the federal government.

The communications adviser, ICRC, Aleksandra Mosimann Sorow, tears as BBOG members visit Red Cross office.

She was however left behind for allegedly failing to renounce her faith. According to the video, Ms Sharibu also risks losing her life in the hands of the terrorists.

We are insisting that Hauwa and Alice must be saved, that is what they deserve and their life must be important to us.

That our government would do everything possible to make those two women return. To make sure Leah Sharibu and the 112 Chibok girls return and also make sure that every victim of this savagery be safe because that is the role of the government, to dignify the human life.

We would be taking a march to the state house tomorrow as so as our next step.

The ICRC said it had taken steps to ensure the successful return of its abducted staff. The communications adviser, ICRC, Aleksandra Mosimann, explained this to the BBOG members.

Since the abduction of our colleagues, ICRC has not spared any effort to bring them back, to have a positive outcome at the end of the day, so they can come back to their families and friends.

Sorow, tears as BBOG members visit Red Cross office. Sorow, tears as BBOG members visit Red Cross office.

Today as we grief for the loss of Safura, I would like to appeal to those that are holding and can decide the faith of Alice and Hauwa to let them return to their families. We are hoping to have them return very soon, she said.

Earlier at the UNICEF office, the group was not allowed access into the building which triggered a melodrama between them and the officials of UNICEF.

The country representative, Mohammed Mallick, later apologised to the group.

Mr Mallick gave the assurance that UNICEF would do the needful to ensure the safe return of the abducted victims.The Peoples Democratic Party has reacted to Wednesdays allegation against its Osun State governorship candidate, Ademola Adeleke, bordering on examination malpractice.

The party described the allegation as an attempt by the federal government to intimidate the party ahead of the governorship election.

According to a statement signed by the deputy national publicity secretary of the party, Diran Odeyemi, the action, coming 72 hours to a decisive governorship election in Osun State goes to confirm fears by the party that the government was desperate to compromise the integrity of the election.

Police are accusing Mr Adeleke of malpractice with regards to his secondary school qualifying certificate.

The police on account of new findings have summoned the PDP candidate along with others to appear for investigation and prosecution over alleged exam malpractice.

This came on the day Mr Adeleke and the PDP pushed hard to get more votes for the election through a rally in Osogbo on Wednesday.

The attention of the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party has been drawn to a statement purportedly issued by the Force Headquarters of the Nigeria Police declaring the candidate of our party in the Osun state Governorship election holding on Saturday wanted for some alleged conspiracies on examination malpractice, the PDP statement read.

This action by the Nigeria Police Force coming about 72 hours to a decisive governorship election in Osun state goes to confirm our fears that the Federal Government is desperate to intimidate the main opposition candidate in order to compromise the integrity of Saturdays election.

We find it quite unfortunate that an institution like the Police which ought to be neutral and apolitical has allowed itself to be used as a tool for the ignoble role of thwarting the free expression of voters preferences for the PDP candidate in the Governorship election.

This new desperate measure of the ruling party is coming on heels of a massive rally of the PDP held in Osogbo which confirmed that indeed the APC was bound to lose the election which is just three days away, the opposition party said.

The party said it still stood by its candidate.

We affirm that our candidate, Senator Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke is not involved in any form of conspiracy to commit examination malpractice at any point in time.

In actual fact, the West Africa Examination Council has deposed to an affidavit before a Federal High Court in Abuja confirming that Senator Adeleke indeed sat for the West Africa School Certificate Examination in 1981. In attempting to run down the PDP candidate for his APC opponent, the Nigeria Police has embarked on a very terrible mission which may go down in history as the most ridiculous intervention in an electoral contest.

We once again call on well-meaning leaders of thought in Nigeria, the international community and civil society organisations to rise up in defence of democracy in Nigeria. We remain confident that the PDP will coast home to victory in the Osun State Gubernatorial election and that our candidate, Senator Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke will once more be vindicated, the party added.Former Vice President Abubakar Atiku and the president of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, were among the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party who stormed Osogbo, the Osun State capital, urging residents to vote out the All Progressives Congress government Saturday.

Both personalities, who are aspiring to be the presidential candidate of the PDP, harped on the need for the voters to give the PDP a chance to restore the economy of the state.

Mr Abubakar was concerned about the protection of the votes, as he called on the voters to protect their votes.

Stay and protect your votes, if you dont protect your votes, they will steal the votes, Mr Abubakar said, while addressing the huge crowd.

They will steal your votes as they did in Ekiti. The PDP is going to win the election on Saturday.

Also speaking, Mr Saraki said the situation facing Osun State and its workers was enough to vote against the APC.

He said the APC government in the state had refused to pay salaries for several months, adding that the situation in Osun was worse than even states where there is Boko Haram insurgents.

He said Mr Adeleke would ensure that all salaries were paid when he becomes the governor of the state.

This election is about Osun people. You must send a messenger to all Nigerians. A government that can owe salaries for three years needs to be sent out, said Mr Saraki.

The chairman of the party, Uche Secondus, said the APC leadership needed to be voted out because it had shown that it was corruption ridden and could not continue to provide the required leadership in the state.

He said the incoming PDP government would bring relief to the people and create the environment for development to thrive.

Mr Adekeke, in his address to the people, noted that he would ensure salaries were cleared when he becomes governor by asking creditors to the state to give the state some time to pay salary arrears.

He noted that he would pursue his six-point agenda and deliver on his campaign promises.

His nephew and popular music artiste, Davido, was also on hand to add tonic to the campaign rally, with a brief on the stage performance.

The presence of the artiste created uproar as the crowd pressed and pushed to get closer to him.The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Yobe North Senatorial District on Wednesday adopted President Muhammadu Buhari, Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan and Maimala Buni as consensus candidates for 2019 general elections.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that supporters from six local government areas that make up the district, Bade, Jakusko, Machina, Yusufari, Nguru and Karasuwa, unanimously passed votes of confidence on the trio and adopted them at a meeting in Gashua.

They adopted Mr Buhari for a second term, Mr Lawan to return to the Senate, and Mr Buni for governor.

Adamu Dala-Dogo, Speaker, Yobe House of Assembly and chairman of the occasion, commended the senate leader for canvassing for federal projects, especially roads, electricity and employment opportunities to the zone.

Yobe North has under the Buhari administration enjoyed numerous federal projects which were canvassed by the senate leader.

We want this gesture to continue in the next dispensation and that is why we have endorsed them as our consensus candidates for re-election, he said.

A former federal legislator, Sani Ell-Katuzu, said that though the zone had expected the governorship slot to be conceded to it, the governor and party stakeholders in their wisdom nominated Mr Buni to succeed Governor Ibrahim Gaidam.

Having been the state governor for years, Gov. Gaidam is in a better position to know who is capable and competent to succeed him, we appreciate his choice and assure our total support and loyalty, Mr Sani said.

Gamcho Tela, another former state legislator, said that adoption of the senate leader was to ensure continuity of his empowerment programmes for farmers, traders, women, fishermen and scholarships to the people of the district. (NAN)The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says it has recovered N7.5 million unused grants from 11 lecturers of the Kaduna Polytechnic.

Spokesperson of the commission, Rasheedat Okoduwa, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

Mrs Okoduwa said the money was part of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) grant released to the school between 2010 and 2017 for staff capacity development through local and international trainings.

ICPC, through its North West Zonal office, which coordinated the investigation on the utilisation of TETFund grants in the institution, found that the 11 lecturers failed to attend the trainings despite having received monies.

The trainings were scheduled to hold in Nigeria and three other countries, including the United States of America, Greece and the United Arab Emirates.

Some of the lecturers collected as much as N1.39 million while others collected between N149,000 and N1.33 million under the Academic Staff Training and Development Project, she said.

According to her, the Acting Chairman of the commission, Musa Abubakar, handed over the recovered funds to the bursar of the institution, Garba Nabayi.

Mr Okoduwa quoted Mr Abubakar as saying that ICPC would ensure tertiary institutions in the country stopped the misuse of TETFund and other grants.

The ICPC boss stated that the investigation of the utilisation of TETFund grants was being carried out in 27 other tertiary institutions in the North-West geopolitical zone of the country.

This, he said, was to make sure that all grants were properly utilised, and that those found wanting of misuse of the grant would be prosecuted.

Carting away public funds is one of the things ICPC is fighting.

Non-utilisation of fund given to lecturers is a crime and lecturers as role models, are to show good behavioural conduct to their students.

Beneficiaries of such grants must ensure they go for the training because ICPC will not only recover such funds but will prosecute anybody found culpable, Mr Abubakar said.

He noted that the exercise would spread to institutions in other geo-political zones in the course of time.

Mr Nabayi, who received 11 bank drafts for each defaulting lecturer on behalf of the institution, commended ICPC for the prompt intervention that led to the recovery of the money.

He asked the commission to spread its investigation to other activities of tertiary institutions, especially the execution of capital projects.

(NAN)The first batch of pilgrims who performed the 2018 hajj from Zamfara State returned home on Wednesday.

The Public Relations Officer of the state hajj commission, Yakub-Yahaya Talata-Mafara, disclosed to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gusau, the state capital.

Mr Talata-Mafara said the first flight arrived at the Sultan Abubakar lll International Airport Sokoto today.

He said the flight arrived around 9 a.m. with 552 pilgrims from Bukkuyum, Birnin-Magaji, Kaura-Namoda, Zurmi and Tsafe local government areas.

According to him, the second flight is expected to return to Nigeria on Thursday.

As I am speaking to you now, pilgrims on the second flight are already being processed for departure at King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah, so any moment from now they would be back in Nigeria.

According to our schedule, on the 22nd of this month, our third and fourth flights would be back to Nigeria, Insha Allah.

NAN recalls that the three local government chairmen from the state died in Saudi Arabia on their way from Makkah to Madina.

The deceased were among the 2,158 pilgrims who performed the hajj from Zamfara.

The remains of the deceased were buried in Saudi Arabia.

(NAN)A final year student of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, who was simply identified as Doctor Einstein was killed in a cult clash on Tuesday, students and the police confirmed.

Eyewitnesses told PREMIUM TIMES that several students were also injured during a fight between two cult groups. The clash occurred during the graduation ceremony of the students at judges quarters in Ekpoma.

Two people were fighting and guys tried to separate them. But one of them claimed that his cloth was torn by one of the guys separating and he left with anger. On returning, he came with his friends armed with guns and other weapons. He and his friends shot him (victim) dead while others were seriously battered, a student, Ezekiel Erhabor, told PREMIUM TIMES.

Another student who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES under the condition of anonymity said the deceased and the killers are cultists who belong to different groups.

They were only waiting for themselves to use the graduation ceremony as scene to carry out their operation. Cultism on this campus is not what anyone can just jump into. It is deadly, he said.

Efforts by PREMIUM TIMES to confirm from the university spokesman, Edward Aihevba, were unsuccessful as he did not answer calls and text messages sent to his phone by the reporter.

However, the state police commissioner, Johnson Kokumo, confirmed the incident to PREMIUM TIMES in a telephone interview on Wednesday afternoon. He said the killing of a student and injuries of four others have been brought to the force notice.

I am in Osun for national assignment (election). I have been informed that five people were shot in a cult rivalry. Arrests have been made, some people have been arrested with weapons recovered. As at Tuesday, I was told five people were shot and one confirmed dead, he disclosed.The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has decried incessant vandalism of equipment on its Eastern Corridors saying that the act hinders its operations in the region.

The corporations regional district manager (East), Ola Adeeyinwo, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu.

According to Mr Adeeyinwo, the activities of the vandals are denying the people in that part of the country the opportunity of enjoying affordable and traffic-jam free train services.

The manager said that due to the nefarious activities, the rail track from Aba-to-Port Harcourt was the only line now functioning.

We have recorded a lot of vandalism within Isiagu-Uzuakoli-Mbaeke-Umuhia sections and Emene-Ogui-Ogbete sections of the eastern corridors.

In some places, a whole rail track line, which includes the rail slippers, clips, bolts and long iron bars are completely removed by the vandals, he said.

Mr Adeeyinwo added that the rate of vandalism had been overwhelming to the extent that the few police personnel attached to the corporation could no longer contend with the criminals.

The manager said that the vandals came in their numbers to carry out the action between midnight and 4 a.m. and most times they overwhelm the police personnel at the scene.

We are calling for help from other security agencies to put to rest the evil act because it may stop train services completely in the eastern corridor, he said.

He revealed that the property vandalised or stolen amounted to millions of dollars because most of them were imported.

NAN recalls that recently the Nigerian Railway Police Command in Enugu arrested 14 persons in connection with alleged vandalism and theft of property belonging to the corporation.

The suspects included two policemen, who were allegedly aiding and shielding the suspects.

They were allegedly caught with irons for rail brake control, rail wagon parts, rail wagon wheels, clips of rail slippers, rail slippers, armoured rail doors, sheets of zinc and rail cables.

The command said an SUV, five tricycles, two mini-buses, two trucks, four gas cylinders and a big cutter were recovered from the suspects.

(NAN)The police in Enugu have confirmed the arrest of an Enugu-based Methodist cleric, Kenneth Okafor, over his alleged involvement in the murder of a monarch in the state.

The late Stephen Nwatu, the Igwe of Ogbozinne Akpugo community in Nkanu West local government was murdered on June 11 in the community over a protracted town union leadership crisis.

The leadership tussle is said to be on for more than 10 years now.

The police spokesperson in the state, Ebere Amaraizu, disclosed this in a statement issued to NAN on Wednesday in Enugu.

The superintendent said that the reverend was arrested over a week ago in Enugu by operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

An Enugu-based Methodist Priest, Rev Kenneth Okafor, was arrested by the security operatives from Federal SARS from Adeniji Adele, Lagos.

His arrest followed a petition in relation with his involvement and others at large in connection with the murder of an Enugu monarch, late Igwe Stephen Nwatu of Ogbozinne Akpugo community in Nkanu West local government area.

The priest is now helping the operatives in their investigations while manhunt on others has been intensified, he said.

It will be recalled that recently four persons were arraigned by the Enugu State Police Command over their involvement in the crime.

(NAN)Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has sacked his Special Assistant (SA) on Primary Health (Ebonyi Central Zone), Stephanie Ugo-Chima, for absconding from duty for over a month.

Hyginus Nwokwu, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), made the disclosure on Wednesday in Abakaliki, the state capital during a joint state Executive Council (EXCO) meeting at the councils chambers.

Mr Nwokwu said that Mrs Ugo-Chima absconded from her duties and responsibilities as an aide to the governor within the period which necessitated the relieving of her duty.

The insinuation that her sack was political is unfounded because all appointment or sack of public officers is political.

There are laid down rules for such appointments, but the civil service rules are not applied in these cases because such appointees are not civil servants, he said.

The SSG also clarified the issue of the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in the state, Elizabeth Ogbaga, who had also not been seen in her official duties and public functions for long.

Ogbaga as far as the office of the SSG is concerned, is on leave, he said.

A Local Government Area (LGA) development centre coordinator and two LGA advisory committee members were also sworn-in during the councils meeting, he said.

Abraham Nwali, the Senior Special Adviser (SSA) to the Governor on Religion and Welfare Matters, told journalists that the committee set up to discover the number of vacancies in the states educational agencies made some findings.

The committee was set up by the governor to ascertain the number of retired, resigned and deceased staff of the Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB) and the Secondary Education Board (SEB) in both tutorial and non-tutorial categories.

The number of staff who are either retired, resigned or deceased in SEB is 571, while the number of those in UBEB is 829, totalling 1,400.

The committee is to evaluate ways of ensuring that these vacant positions are filled, especially with youths in both tutorial and non-tutorial categories, he said.

He noted that the governor instructed that the committee continue its work and source the funds for the payment of the new recruits salaries without increasing the states wage bill.

We will continue interfacing with the state Accountant Generals Office, both SEB and UBEB to ensure that this is achieved especially with the current economic meltdown, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that sacked Ugo-Chima is the wife of Innocent Ugo-Chima, former member of the House of Representatives and the governors ally.

Mrs Ogbaga, who also absented from duties is the wife of the former Minster of Steel, Goddy Ogbaga, who recently decamped from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressive Congress (APC).

(NAN)The management of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife has ordered students out of the halls of residence in order to continue the renovation it embarked upon at the end of last session.

In February, PREMIUM TIMES reported the plans of the university to renovate the halls of residence after an exclusive report on the poor state of eight undergraduate hostels.

The school authorities gave three male hostels: Awolowo hall, Education Trust Fund (ETF) hall, Angola hall and two female hostels; Mozambique hall and Alumni hall, a face-lift before the resumption day in May.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that hostels like Fajuyi hall, Moremi hall and Akintola hall are yet to be renovated.

Meanwhile, in a statement issued by the Dean of Students Affairs, Isiaka Aransi, and dated September 17, the school explained its actions.

In view of the renovation/repairs currently being embarked on in the various halls of residence in the university, the division hereby advises all students to vacate the hall of residence on or before 6pm Tuesday, 18th of September 2018.

This will enable the university management to continue the renovation and repairs of halls of residence, the release read.

However, the management exempted foreign and the medical students who are currently in session.

Students should please note that only medical students whose semester is ongoing and foreign students are exempted from this directive, it was further stated.

The management also reaffirmed the resumption date.

As contained in the universitys calendar approved by senate, all students are expected to come into residence on Sunday, 30th September 2018 when the rain semester of the academic session 2017/2018 will commence.The Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria in Lagos State on Tuesday threw its weight behind a governorship aspirant in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Jide Sanwo-Olu.

The waste managers made their intention known at a press conference in Mushin, Lagos.

The operators had in the last two years been at loggerheads with the Akinwunmi Ambode administration after the governor contracted a foreign company, Visionscape, to manage waste in the state.

Mr Sanwo-Olu, an aspirant believed to be enjoying the support of APC leader Bola Tinubu and the partys influential Mandate Group, will be contesting the ticket of the party against the incumbent.

An embattled Mr Ambode is perhaps fighting his fiercest political battle as reports said his relationship with Mr Tinubu and key members of the Lagos APC has become strained.

Recently, Mr Sanwo-Olu was endorsed by Mandate Group, said to be loyal to Mr Tinubu.

On Tuesday, the PSP operators noted that Mr Sanwo-Olu, if voted in to replace Mr Ambode, would restore their jobs, according to Punch newspaper.

The vice chairman of the association, David Oriyomi, who addressed journalists alongside other executive members of AWAM, said the decision to back Mr Sanwo-Olu was in the interest of about 25,000 workers engaged by the 350 PSP operators, who he said had lost their jobs.

According to Mr Oriyomi, about 150,000 voters at the grassroots belong to the association and they will all be mobilised to support Mr Sanwo-Olu and elect him governor.

Mr Sanwo-Olu, he added, would not only return them to their positions as waste managers, he would clean up Lagos.

According to him, the rejection of PSP operators in the state was an injustice, which has jeopardised the health and well-being of residents of Lagos State.

It is, therefore, with great hope that we welcome the emergence of Sanwo-Olu , who has promised to run a participatory government, he explained.

For this reason, we, the Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria, have decided to align ourselves with Mr Babajide Sanwo -Olu and pledge our full support to him in the forthcoming elections.

This decision was taken in the best interest of the environment. We remain committed to servicing the great residents of the centre of excellence . It is time to clean up our city, we did it before, we are able and willing to actualise the Lagos of our dreams.

Mr Oriyomi said they had examined the aspirants, including the incumbent, and they know what they could offer.

He said, The incumbent, we have seen what he has to offer when it comes to waste management in the state  there is nothing he can offer us.

Then Hamzat (another aspirant) we have not heard much from his camp; but Sanwo -Olu named the issue of the environment as one of the critical issues that he is going to tackle.

The Lagos APC holds its primary election next week.The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has accused the Action Democratic Party (ADP) and its candidate, Moshood Adeoti, of misinformation ahead of the September 22 governorship election in the state.

The ADP had earlier, in a statement, raised alarm that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was colluding with the APC candidate, Gboyega Oyetola.

However reacting to the allegations, Kunle Oyatomi, the APC director of publicity, said the ADP and its candidate, Mr Adeoti, are the real dangers to the Saturdays election because they are raising a false alarm that is capable of creating chaos before, during and after the governorship election.

This is one amongst other allegations Adeotis ADP made without producing a shared of evidence. We hope are aware of the gravity of this allegation, which he and his men have an obligation to prove in a court of law, he said in a statement on Wednesday.

We also believe that the ADP candidate is fully conscious of the chaos that this unsubstantiated allegation is capable of causing, otherwise the law will not excuse them if they eventually plead ignorance of the danger these allegations pose.

It is therefore in the best interest of the ADP and its functionaries to immediately make available to the public whatever evidence they have by naming names of the people involved by giving description of the collution process.

The APC also urged security personnel to compel Mr Adeoti and his party to prove their case in order to nip in the bud the chaos and violence which the allegation portend.

Mr Adeoti was an APC leader and secretary to the Osun State Government before he resigned following the crisis that trailed the partys governorship primary.The Nigeria Police Force has denied that the federal government paid N50,000 to police constables on election duty in Osun State for the governorship election scheduled for September 22.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a report had alleged that the federal government was paying N50,000 to constables on election duty in Osun.

A statement by the force spokesperson, Jimoh Moshood, on Wednesday in Abuja, said the amount paid to police personnel on election duty in Osun was Duty Tour Allowance (DTA) for 10 days.

The force wishes to categorically state that the story is absolutely misleading and an outright misinformation which is figment of imagination of the writers.

The federal government did not pay constables N50,000 each for election duty, others more as claimed in the report, he said.

Mr Moshood said the payment of allowance to officers and men of the force and other Security and Safety Agencies in election security was statutory.

He explained that DTA for constables to sergeant was N5,000 per day for 10 days which amounts to N50,000.

Others are: Inspector to Chief Superintendent of Police  N12,000 DTA per Day X 10 Days = N120,000, Assistant Commissioner of Police to Assistant Inspector General of Police is N16,000 DTA per Day X 10 Days = N160,000 while Deputy Inspector-General of Police is N20,000 DTA per Day X 10 Days = N200,000.

He said the force would continue to hold the media in a very high regard and as veritable partners in ensuring the protection of lives and property of all Nigerians.

The spokesperson implores the media not to be used to publish unverified, misleading, mischievous and beer palour gossip.

He enjoined members of the public to disregard, discountenance the story as untrue, misleading and misinformation.

(NAN)For the New World Order, a world government is just the beginning. Once in place they can engage their plan to exterminate 80% of the world's population, while enabling the "elites" to live forever with the aid of advanced technology. For the first time, crusading filmmaker ALEX JONES reveals their secret plan for humanity's extermination: Operation ENDGAME.

Jones chronicles the history of the global elite's bloody rise to power and reveals how they have funded dictators and financed the bloodiest warscreating order out of chaos to pave the way for the first true world empire.

Watch as Jones and his team track the elusive Bilderberg Group to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III.





to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. Learn about the formation of the North America transportation control grid, which will end U.S. sovereignty forever.





Discover how the practitioners of the pseudo-science eugenics have taken control of governments worldwide as a means to carry out depopulation.





View the progress of the coming collapse of the United States and the formation of the North American Union.

Never before has a documentary assembled all the pieces of the globalists' dark agenda. Endgame's compelling look at past atrocities committed by those attempting to steer the future delivers information that the controlling media has meticulously censored for over 60 years. It fully reveals the elite's program to dominate the earth and carry out the wicked plan in all of human history.

Endgame is not conspiracy theory, it is documented fact in the elite's own words.



1776 members, which are comprised of early startups and growth entrepreneurs, will be able to find, tour and lease their next office space through Truss' platform. Those entrepreneurs, who are experiencing exponential growth, can use Truss' artificial intelligence (AI) enabled platform to review and compare their options, such as the amenities and square footage.

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As startups continue to grow and hire new team members, typically they need to find a new office space that offers the right functionality and offerings for their growing businesses, including conference rooms and break rooms.

"Startup founders are focused on the strategic vision of their business and relentlessly pressed for time in other areas. When headcount growth becomes an urgent issue, they demand an efficient solution to site selection. The Truss platform streamlines actionable data, enabling smart and fast decisions," said Bobby Goodman, co-founder of Truss.

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Largest event of its kind in the Asia Pacific region, with specialists and scholars from around 50 different countries

Sam Cassatt of ConsenSys - developer of Ethereum - gives keynote speech

SEOUL, South Korea, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Hosted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Ministry of Science and ICT (Minister Hyun Mi Kim and Young Min Yoo, respectively), the 2nd World Smart City Week officially opened on September 18 at KINTEX, South Korea. The convention, themed "Smart City: For better and happy life", will last until September 20 under the supervision of Korea Land & Housing Corporation (LH). During the event, visitors will be able to see the future of Smart Cities -- the main driving force for South Korea's growth, as well as the future strategy and prospects of the city.RALEIGH, N.C., Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- AlphaGraphics of Downtown Raleigh, a local print and marketing communications leader, is preparing for a community-wide relief effort across Eastern North Carolina as Hurricane Florence continues its path towards the East Coast. The hurricane has already affected more than 300,000 North Carolina residents and local officials have announced that major flooding is continuing in the aftermath of this dangerous storm.

"The City of New Bern and its people have suffered catastrophic damage and we, at AlphaGraphics of Downtown Raleigh, have family, colleagues, and friends that need our help in repairing their beautiful city," said AlphaGraphics of Downtown Raleigh Co-Owner Chris Andrews.

In an effort to help with cleanup efforts, AlphaGraphics of Downtown Raleigh has partnered with its sister office, which has been located in New Bern since 1902, to deliver hurricane relief buckets in New Bern and surrounding areas. To accomplish this goal, the company is inviting the local community to gather toiletries and household items for the families affected by this tragedy.

How You Can Help

Option #1:

Purchase supplies and assemble a complete bucket. Deliver to AlphaGraphics of Downtown Raleigh.

Option #2:

Purchase supplies and drop them off to AlphaGraphics of Downtown Raleigh.

Option #3:

Purchase the items listed on AlphaGraphics of Downtown Raleigh's Amazon Wish List and send the supplies directly to the company. To access the company's Amazon Wish List, please visit: http://a.co/gexnkop. If donating on the go, be sure to sign in to your Amazon account in order to add items from the Wish List to your cart.

Option #4:

If you are interested in making a cash contribution, we have partnered with RCS New Bern to accept tax-deductible donations. To make a cash donation, please visit RCS New Bern's website at http://rcsnewbern.com/.

Please note that the delivery address for supply donations is 1313 Fairview Road, Raleigh, NC 27608. For more information on this initiative and a complete list of suggested supplies to donate, please visit: http://blogs.alphagraphics.com/blog/raleigh-north-carolina-us700/hurricane-florence-relief-bucket-drive/.

AlphaGraphics of Downtown Raleigh is a multi-center organization specializing in print, marketing, signage and technology solutions. The company's New Bern office is located at 3731 Trent Road. To learn more about AlphaGraphics Downtown Raleigh, please click here to visit the New Bern location's website and click here to visit the Raleigh location's website.

ABOUT ALPHAGRAPHICS

AlphaGraphics, Inc. offers, through locally-owned and operated business centers, a complete range of print, visual communications, and marketing products and solutions including: fullservice digital, offset, and large format printing; design services; mailing; onetoone marketing solutions; promotional products; web to print solutions. For more information about AlphaGraphics services and/or franchise opportunities, please visit www.alphagraphics.com and for more information about the Group's companies, please visit www.mbeglobal.com.

SOURCE AlphaGraphics of Downtown Raleigh

Related Links

http://www.alphagraphics.com

The 1,899 square foot Carlo's Bakery will offer the brand's full menu of signature treats including the famous cannoli, lobster tail, cake by the slice and more. The McAllen, TX location will also produce extraordinary custom cakes for which the Cake Boss stars are most famous.

The grand opening of Carlo's Bakery at La Plaza Mall will be celebrated on Saturday, October 20, 2018. Buddy Valastro and his family will host the brand's traditional ribbon cutting ceremony at 7:00am. The bakery will open for business immediately following the ceremony with meet and greet opportunities available to bakery patrons. The brand will offer exclusive VIP packages to the grand opening experience via their social media pages in early October. Carlo's Bakery in McAllen, TX is located at La Plaza Mall at 2200 S 10th Street, McAllen, Texas 78503. Buddy Valastro will also open the doors to his budding Italian restaurant concept, Buddy V's, at La Plaza Mall on October 18, 2018.

ABOUT CARLO'S BAKERY

Established in 1910, Carlo's Bakery was catapulted from a Hoboken, NJ-based neighborhood bakery to a household name through the public's fascination with the over-the-top cakes whipped up by master baker Buddy Valastro on the hit TLC series Cake Boss and subsequent spinoff Next Great Baker. Garnering attention from a variety of media outlets including Brides, Huffington Post, The Rachael Ray Show, and Good Morning America, Carlo's Bakery has existing locations in Hoboken, Marlton, Morristown, Ridgewood, and Wayne, NJ; Dallas, Frisco, San Antonio, and The Woodlands, TX; Uncasville, CT; Orlando, FL; Atlanta, GA; Bethlehem and Philadelphia, PA; Santa Monica, CA; Bloomington, MN (Mall of America); New York and Westbury, NY; and Sao Paulo, Brazil. Follow Carlo's Bakery on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for the latest updates from the brand. For more information, please visit www.carlosbakery.com.

Contact:

Nicole Valdes

[email protected]

201-448-8402

SOURCE Carlo's Bakery

Related Links

http://www.carlosbakery.com

KFAR SABA, Israel and BUDAPEST, Hungary, Sept. 17, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- CartiHeal, developer of the Agili-C implant for the treatment of joint surface lesions, and the Principle Investigator Professor Laszlo Hangody, of the Uzsoki Street Hospital, announced today the successful enrollment of the first Hungarian patient in the Agili-C IDE pivotal study.

Professor Laszlo Hangody, Principle Investigator, The Uzsoki Street Hospital, Budapest, Hungary (PRNewsfoto/CartiHeal)

"I'm excited to take part in this Pivotal study," said Prof. Hangody. "I have great hopes that this study will demonstrate the superiority of this novel implant over the current surgical standard of care. My first patient in the study, a highly competitive 25 -year-old sportswoman, was randomized to the Agilli-C arm. The patient had a painful osteochondral defect at the load bearing area of the Medial Femoral condyle and was treated with a single implant."

Nir Altschuler, CartiHeal's founder & CEO said, "Prof. Hangody is a prominent surgeon with vast experience in cartilage repair, it is a great honor that he is participating as an Investigator in the Agili-C IDE study." Altschuler added that the IDE study is currently ongoing in the US, EU and Israel, aiming for an FDA PMA application, with over 80 patients already enrolled. "The trial's objective is to demonstrate the superiority of the Agili-C implant over surgical standard of care (microfracture and debridement) for the treatment of cartilage or osteochondral defects, in arthritic knees and also in knees without degenerative changes."

CartiHeal's cell-free, off-the-shelf implant is CE marked for use in cartilage and osteochondral defects. Agili-C has already been implanted in a series of trials conducted in leading centers in Europe and Israel, in over 400 patients with cartilage lesions in the knee, ankle or great toe. In these trials, the implant was used to treat a broad spectrum of cartilage lesions, from single focal lesions to multiple and large defects in patients suffering from osteoarthritis.

About CartiHeal

CartiHeal, a privately-held medical device company with headquarters in Israel, develops proprietary implants for the treatment of cartilage and osteochondral defects in traumatic and osteoarthritic joints.

In the United States the Agili-C implant is not available for sale - it is an investigational device limited for use in the IDE study.

Contact

[email protected]

SOURCE CartiHeal

Related Links

https://www.cartiheal.com

Families are dealing with screen overload at home;

The average household has 15 tech devices - 10 of them with screens;



On average, that is 3.7 devices and 2.4 screens per person.

Kids as young as six are asking parents for a smartphone and by the age of 12 most parents have given in;

By the time they are six, almost half (49%) have already asked for a smartphone;



By the time they turn 12, more than half (63%) of all kids have a smartphone.

Screen time has become a full-time job for kids;

Teenagers (12 to 17 year-olds) are spending 45 hours in front of screens weekly;



Six to 11 year-olds are spending 33 hours in front of screens each week.

The increase in screen time has killed kid's desire for outdoor play and other activities;

Only one in 10 kids (nine percent) consider outdoor play their favorite activity;



One-third of kids (34%) would pick more screen time over other activities.

over other activities. The decline in outdoor play represents a huge shift from how parents spent their childhoods;

While 73% of parents fondly remember playing outdoor games with friends, like Four Square, Tag, and Capture the Flag, only nine percent of kids (ages 6 - 11) say outdoor games are their favorite;

Parents agree that current levels of screen time are unhealthy and changing their kids for the worse;

42 percent of parents believe kids today have less independence than they did when they were growing up;



51 percent of parents believe kids are less imaginative than they were growing up;

Parents struggle to find screen time balance but most have lost the balance;

The majority of parents (76%) agree too much technology is a "bad thing" at home;



More than half of parents (59%) have found that screens time interrupts quality time within the family.

"We conducted this survey to gain more understanding on how technology at home is impacting kids lives and family dynamics," said Chris Chuang, CEO of Relay and Republic Wireless. "We created Relay as a tool to help families stay connected without relying on smartphones that can also impact kid's play time habits. Especially for families with younger kids, we advocate for finding screen time balance in the home and the Relay is designed to help parents and kids in that mission."

The study also highlights that screen time is often at the root of household strife. Additional findings include:

A third (36%) of parents frequently argue with their kids about screen time and about a quarter (26%) argue with each other about how much screen time should be allowed;

52% of parents suffer their children's anger and frustration when telling them to put away or turn off their screens;

Screen time is synonymous with punishments at home;

79% of parents say that their kids lose screen time due to misbehavior or not accomplishing assigned chores, homework or other activities;



50% of parents also say that their kids can earn screen time back by accomplishing other activities away from their screens including tasks around the house, reading and homework.

Achieving screen balance at home while staying connected as a family is at the heart of the Relay mission and technology. By developing a screen free communications device Relay aims to help families look-up again while still staying connected. Relay combines the range of a phone with the fun of a walkie talkie - for a simple, screenless, voice connection that makes staying in touch easy.

About The Study:The Relay Bring Back Play Study was fielded online by Republic Wireless from April 27, 2018 to May 2, 2018 in partnership with Critical Mix, a global insights data provider and owner of consumer online survey panel, OneOpinion. A total of 1,403 parents of children aged 6-11 were interviewed across the US. The margin of sampling error for total respondents (N=1,403) is + 2.6 percentage points.

About Critical Mix

Critical Mix creates insights that drive business decisions with easy, collaborative tools to access global target audiences, program engaging surveys and visualize results. Insights professionals around the world rely on Critical Mix's simplified solutions to innovate and grow. Critical Mix is passionate about providing the best customer experience in the industry. Supporting every project with a dedicated, always-available team of professionals who anticipate needs and provide thoughtful customer care. The company operates globally with locations throughout North America, Europe, and Asia.

About Relay

Relay is a screen-free smartphone that kids love and parents trust. The device is as easy to use as a walkie talkie and connects seamlessly to both nationwide 4G LTE and WiFi networks, which gives it unlimited nationwide range. Relay was designed by considering kids needs first, unlike its competitors who often prioritize the needs of parents. The device is durable, water-resistant, and ensures that customer data is never stored or monetized in any way. Relay is a proud supporter of Common Sense Media.

About Republic Wireless

Headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, Republic Wireless is a team of innovators who live to provide families with remarkably simple, affordable, and safe ways to stay in touch. Most well-known for pioneering WiFi calling for smartphones and saving customers over $500 million off their cell phone bills, Republic recently announced Relay, a nationwide cell phone alternative that kids love and parents can trust. The company has been recognized as a top carrier choice by Consumer Reports; best basic plan by Money magazine and for excellence in customer service by PC Magazine.

Visit http://www.RelayGo.com and http://www.RepublicWireless.com for more information. Relay Media resource center here.

SOURCE Republic Wireless

Related Links

https://republicwireless.com

DUBLIN, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

The "Research Report on China's Synthetic Rubber Industry, 2018-2022" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

China has become the world's largest producer, consumer and importer of synthetic rubber in recent years. With the acceleration of China's tire industry and infrastructure, industrialized production has been achieved for eight types of synthetic rubber, i.e. styrene butadiene rubber, polybutadiene rubber, chloroprene rubber, nitrile-butadiene rubber, butyl rubber, polyisoprene rubber, ethylene propylene rubber and thermoplastic styrene butadiene rubber.

In 2017, the output of synthetic rubber in China reached 5,787,000 tons, increasing by about 3.3% YOY. Synthetic rubbers, including butadiene rubber (BR), styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), nitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR) and SBS thermoplastic elastomers, vary with each other in properties, advantages and disadvantages. For example, China needs to import high-end butadiene rubber such as rare earth butadiene rubber while it has an overcapacity of styrene butadiene rubber. China still needs to import millions of tons of synthetic rubber every year to meet its domestic demand.

According to the report, there is a structural overcapacity in China's synthetic rubber industry, the low technical barrier of general synthetic rubber, repeated development of low-end sectors, and homogeneous middle and low-end products. Since the R&D of special synthetic rubber requires huge investment and has high technical barriers, special synthetic rubber in China is mainly imported.



According to the researcher, the main downstream industry of synthetic rubber and natural rubber is the automotive industry which contributes over 70% of the rubber consumption in China. The main demand field is automobile tires. From 2018 to 2022, China's tire production will continue to rise and will drive the development of the synthetic rubber industry with the OEM tire demand from expanding automobile production, the tire replacement demand from increasing automobile reserves, and the increase in tire exports.



Topics Covered:

Development environment of synthetic rubber

Supply of and demand for synthetic rubber

Competition in China's synthetic rubber industry

synthetic rubber industry Major synthetic rubber manufacturers in China

Production costs and prices of synthetic rubber

Driving forces and market opportunities for China's synthetic rubber industry from 2018 to 2022

synthetic rubber industry from 2018 to 2022 Prospect of China's synthetic rubber industry from 2018 to 2022

Key Topics Covered:



1 Concepts of Synthetic Rubber

1.1 Definition of Synthetic Rubber

1.2 Classification of Synthetic Rubber

1.3 Overview of Global Synthetic Rubber Industry



2 Analysis on China's Synthetic Rubber Industry

2.1 Development Environment of China's Synthetic Rubber Industry

2.1.1 Economic Environment

2.1.2 Policy Environment

2.1.3 Technological Environment

2.2 Analysis on Supply of Synthetic Rubber in China

2.2.1 Production Capacity

2.2.2 Output

2.3 Analysis on Demand for Synthetic Rubber in China

2.3.1 Overall Demand

2.3.2 Demand by Market Segment

2.4 Analysis on Import and Export of Synthetic Rubber in China

2.4.1 Import

2.4.2 Export



3 Analysis on Competition in China's Synthetic Rubber Industry

3.1 Barriers to Entry in China's Synthetic Rubber Industry

3.1.1 Technical Barriers

3.1.2 Policy Barriers

3.1.3 Capital Barriers

3.2 Competition Pattern of China's Synthetic Rubber Industry

3.2.1 Bargaining Power of Suppliers

3.2.2 Bargaining Power of Consumers

3.2.3 Internal Competition

3.2.4 Potential Entrants

3.2.5 Substitutes



4 Major Synthetic Rubber Manufacturers in China, 2017-2018

4.1 Manufacturers of Styrene Butadiene Rubber

4.1.1 Sinopec Qilu Petrochemical Corporation

4.1.2 YPC-GPRO (Nanjing) Rubber Co., Ltd.

4.1.3 Shenhua Chemical Industrial Co., Ltd.

4.1.4 Hangzhou Zhechen Rubber Co., Ltd.

4.1.5 Fujian Fuxiang Chemical Co., Ltd.

4.1.6 PetroChina Jilin Petrochemical Company

4.1.7 PetroChina Fushun Petrochemical Company

4.1.8 PetroChina Lanzhou Petrochemical Company

4.1.9 Tianjin Lugang Petroleum Rubber Co., Ltd.

4.2 Manufacturers of Butyl Rubber

4.2.1 ExxonMobil Corporation

4.2.2 Sibur

4.2.3 Japan Butyl Co. Ltd

4.2.4 Sinopec Beijing Yanshan Company

4.2.5 Zhejiang Cenway New Synthetic Materials Co., Ltd.

4.2.6 Panjin Heyun New Materials Co., Ltd.

4.3 Manufacturers of Isoprene Rubber

4.3.1 Qingdao Tpi New Material Co., Ltd.

4.3.2 Shandong Shenchi Chemical Group Co., Ltd.

4.3.3 Zibo Luhua Hongjin New Material Co., Ltd.

4.3.4 Qingdao Yikesi New Material Co., Ltd.



5 Analysis on Production Costs and Prices of Synthetic Rubber in China, 2015-2018

5.1 Production Costs

5.2 Prices



6 Forecast on Development of China's Synthetic Rubber Industry, 2018-2022

6.1 Factors Influencing Development of China's Synthetic Rubber Industry

6.1.1 Major Driving Forces and Market Opportunities

6.1.2 Threats and Challenges

6.2 Forecast on Supply of Synthetic Rubber in China

6.3 Forecast on Demand for Synthetic Rubber in China



For more information about this report visit

https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/4rp8dm/china_synthetic?w=5

Media Contact:

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets

Related Links

http://www.researchandmarkets.com

Two billion, five hundred million dollars. That is the amount of money Phuong Tran's father, business mogul Dr. Tran Qui Thanh, walked away from in 2012 when Coca-Cola offered to acquire a controlling interest in their family business, Vietnamese THP Beverage Group. Watching her father turn down a sum of money most could never dream to see was an event that shaped Tran's entire business philosophy from that day forward.

Companies like Tran's are rewriting the global business rules that Western multinationals have been operating on for decades. In her captivating book, Competing with Giants, Tran weaves business advice from her father with her own insights into a rich tapestry that tells the story of not only one company, but the quickly changing global business landscape.

"The world the next generation inherits will be more connected and more multinational than any time in human history. There is only one thing we can all be sure of, and that's the world will be what we collectively make it," said Tran.

Phuong's message is an empowering one. As we move into an increasingly globalized world, businesses in the East and West will learn from one another other. And when small companies marry their local knowledge and with international business ideas, they can hold their own and even outflank giant global corporations.

Phuong's wise and conversational tone in Competing with Giants, is that of a trusted mentor, someone a few steps ahead on the path. Her story asks readers to dream bigger and understand what is necessary to actualize those dreams. Throughout the book, Phuong reminds us of the adages of her father, specifically that, "nothing is impossible."

The book Competing with Giants is now available for purchase on Amazon.com.

About Phuong Uyen Tran

Author, speaker, and second-generation Asian businesswoman, Phuong Uyen Tran, serves as Deputy CEO of Tan Hiep Phat (THP) group, a company started by her parents in 1994. Today, it is Vietnam's leading beverage company. In addition to running Chu Lai plant, she is responsible for THP's procurement, domestic and international marketing, public relations and corporate social responsibility programs. Phuong is an executive of the Beverage Association of Vietnam and also sits on the executive committee of the Young Presidents' Organization (YPO) Vietnam chapter. For more information, visit phuonguyentran.com.

About ForbesBooks

Launched in 2016 in partnership with Advantage Media Group, ForbesBooks is the exclusive business book publishing imprint of Forbes Media. Reaching more than 120 million people each month, Forbes is among the most respected names in business media. From the flagship magazine, with its 40 print editions in 70 countries and 28 languages, to Forbes.com and its 67 million unique monthly visitors, Forbes champions success worldwide. ForbesBooks offers business and thought leaders an innovative, speed-to-market publishing model and a suite of services designed to strategically and tactically support authors and promote their expertise. For more information, visit forbesbooks.com.

Media Contacts

Phuong Tran, THP, [email protected]

Jonathan Falkenburg, ForbesBooks, [email protected]

SOURCE ForbesBooks

Related Links

http://forbesbooks.com

The ATOM, as the world's smallest gimbal, is easy to carry, making it great for everyday use. It is lightweight, weighing only about the combined weight of 3 smartphones. The ATOM's foldable structure also makes it great for storage as it could fit in a small bag or pocket and could be easily retrieved through its side strap buckle.

Despite its small build, the ATOM has a payload of 310g which makes using external accessories effortless. Setting it up does not consume much time and it guarantees that the phone is always centered when placed on the slot.

Made of high-end American nylon, the ATOM is sure to be durable and steady. Smartphones of various sizes including the recently released iPhone Xs / iPhone Xs Max, Samsung S9+ and Huawei P20 Pro among others could fit in the ATOM's smartphone slot easily and could be placed freely because of the gimbal's unconventional motor arm structure. The inclined arm design also makes shooting videos hassle-free as the side motor will not touch or block the phone.

The ATOM is packed with two built-in 2000 mAh 26350 batteries to supply it with a 24-hr battery life. It has a built-in QI wireless module, supporting phones capable of wireless charging and a type-C port for phones that need wired charging. Users need not worry about their phones' battery life as this feature allows for making videos while charging devices.

Shooting is done easier using the ATOM as the buttons provide ease of access to the user. With just one hand, a person could reach for the joystick, zoom slider, portrait and landscape switch, trigger, and the record/stop buttons in just seconds. There are also two customizable buttons which could be designated for the given controls.

The ATOM also features a microphone port for third-party mics, enabling flexibility and more support for live or recorded videos.

With the Snoppa app, users could explore the ATOM even more. The app highlights photography and videography features such as motion and static time lapse, long exposure, auto panorama, slow motion, face tracking, and others.

The gimbal is offered in Mystery Black and Sakura Pink. Snoppa ATOM's crowdfunding project starting from September 17th where regular backers can get a 46% off discounted price of $79/pc. For more information, please check their indiegogo page: https://igg.me/at/gimbal.

A bout Snoppa

Snoppa Technology Co. Ltd. is based in China. The company specializes in making film shooting facilities for both professionals and the masses and gears toward developing multi-axis stabilizing technology. Aside from the ATOM, they also have other photography and videography gadgets such as handheld and on-vehicle type stabilizers. These include Kylin M, Snoppa M1, and Snoppa GO. The products could be used with either smartphones or action cameras. For more information, please check on Snoppa's website: http://www.snoppa.com/index.html?language=en

SOURCE Snoppa Technology Co. Ltd.

Related Links

http://www.snoppa.com

CHINO HILLS, Calif., Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- California Regional MLS (CRMLS) is eager to welcome ten experienced San Diego-area MLS staff members onboard. Among other responsibilities, the new staff members will help guide the transition of two new San Diego REALTOR Associations into using CRMLS products, services, and support.

Between them, the staff members have a combined 85+ years of experience serving San Diego-area real estate professionals as MLS staffers.

The new staff members' departments, names, and titles are as follows:

CRMLS Executive Team

Ray Ewing  Chief Administrative Officer

CRMLS Technical Services

Paolo Gutierrez  Product and Remote Systems Manager

CRMLS Education

Rickey Currie  Systems Expert

Carol Paul  Systems Expert

Jodi Stephens  Systems Expert

CRMLS Compliance

Tricia Fabros  Lead Compliance Analyst

CRMLS Customer Care

Anthony Stewart  Customer Care Supervisor

James Matthew Westfall  Customer Care Representative

Bernardo Leon  Customer Care Representative

Richard Machado  Customer Care Representative

Members of North San Diego County Association of REALTORS (NSDCAR) and Pacific Southwest Association of REALTORS (PSAR), both new to CRMLS, may recognize some of these names as people from whom they've received top-quality service and support over the years. According to CRMLS CEO Art Carter, that's by design.

"We want NSDCAR and PSAR members to have the smoothest transition possible," said Carter. "This is a relationship-based business, and most people value the familiarity they've built over many years."

Bringing on new staff isn't only about familiarity, however. "Our staff additions aren't just experienced, they're skilled," said Carter. "Since we have added the San Diego County Paragon MLS system to our arsenal of products and services, we expect it to be comforting for our users to know that we have experts in the field who have demonstrated a real mastery of our newest service offerings."

About California Regional Multiple Listing Service (CRMLS)

California Regional MLS is the nation's largest and most recognized subscriber-based MLS, dedicated to servicing over 93,500 real estate professionals from 34 Associations, 3 Boards of REALTORS and 1 MLS. CRMLS is the industry powerhouse and thrives on providing the most relevant products and services to its subscribers. For more information on CRMLS visit www.crmls.org.

SOURCE California Regional MLS

Related Links

http://www.crmls.org

LEMOYNE, Pa., Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Fine Wine & Good Spirits Premium Collection in Lemoyne will host a stop of the Ardbeg National Bus Tour, making a Friday night in September the perfect time for enthusiasts to "escape" and sample premium scotch whiskies.

The Ardbeg National Bus Tour will stop at the Fine Wine & Good Spirits Premium Collection, West Shore Plaza Shopping Center, 1200 Market St., Lemoyne, between 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM Friday, Sept. 21.

When guests step on the bus, they will be taken through the story of Ardbeg in an escape room-themed adventure. They will have to search for clues, solve puzzles, and unlock the key to Islay before the clock runs out.

Scotch whisky fans 21 years of age and older will also have the chance to sample four premium products inside the Lemoyne Fine Wine & Good Spirits:

Ardbeg Corryvreckan Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (Code 36379)  $89.99

Ardbeg Uigeadail Islay Malt Scotch Whisky (Code 7095)  $74.99 (save $5 )

(save ) Ardbeg An Oa Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (Code 49372)  $59.99

Ardbeg Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky Ten Years Old (Code 3262)  $51.99

The PLCB regulates the distribution of beverage alcohol in Pennsylvania, operates more than 600 wine and spirits stores statewide, and licenses 20,000 alcohol producers, retailers, and handlers. The PLCB also works to reduce and prevent dangerous and underage drinking through partnerships with schools, community groups, and licensees. Taxes and store profits  totaling $16.5 billion since the agency's inception  are returned to Pennsylvania's General Fund, which finances Pennsylvania's schools, health and human services programs, law enforcement, and public safety initiatives, among other important public services. The PLCB also provides financial support for the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement, the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, other state agencies, and local municipalities across the state. For more information about the PLCB, visit www.lcb.pa.gov.

MEDIA CONTACT: Shawn M. Kelly, 717.783.8864

SOURCE Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board

Related Links

http://www.lcb.pa.gov

Quick Seal Connectors prevent over-tightening and cracking of the connector nut and the fill valve shank. All toilet connectors should be changed at least every five years when the flappers are replaced to prevent leaking or bursting.

Easy to install and made of solid stainless steel braid, Quick Seal Connectors are available in 9-, 12-, 16-, and 20-inches. The only tool needed is a wrench for the metal nut end of the connector  a simple half turn with the wrench past hand tight and the connector is secure. Fluidmaster offers a 5-year warranty on all toilet connectors and informative DIY videos are available on its website, www.fluidmaster.com.

About Fluidmaster

Established in 1957 and reaching across the world, Fluidmaster remains a family-owned and operated company known for its superior engineering of efficient and reliable toilet components. The company has become an icon in the plumbing industry, with operations in North America, Europe, the United Kingdom, China, Turkey, and India as well as a worldwide distribution network selling more toilet tank replacement valves than any other manufacturer in the world. The company's global headquarters is located in San Juan Capistrano, California. For media inquiries or for more information, contact David McFarland at 949-728-2207 or by email at [email protected], or visit www.fluidmaster.com.

SOURCE Fluidmaster

Related Links

https://www.fluidmaster.com

Fortress UAV Protect will provide customers with a per drone maintenance schedule that includes an industry standard maintenance checklist plus check points specific to the particular drone model being serviced. Current drone models included in the maintenance program: DJI Mavic Pro, DJI Phantom 4, DJI Inspire 1, DJI Inspire 2, DJI Matrice 600 and DJI Matrice 200/210. More models to come.

"At Fortress UAV, we are always in pursuit of new and innovative services that provide our customers with the support they need and the peace of mind they deserve," said Brendon Mills, CEO of Fortress UAV.

With the preventative maintenance program, customers will help mitigate and reduce the risk of accidents and/or crashes, lessen costs by maximizing the lifespan of their drone assets, reduce the risk of liability should an accident and/or crash occur, ensure drones are flight-ready and have maximum uptime, and get a step ahead of any FAA mandated UAS maintenance reporting regulations.

Fortress UAV will provide an easily accessible, full-detailed report of all maintenance checks performed plus any additional comments or findings. These reports can be compiled to present a clear and concise drone maintenance log for each drone being covered.

"Fortress UAV provides top-notch drone repair services and has unbeatable customer service. By adding preventative maintenance to our contract services, we no longer worry about our drones being flight-ready. Their team performs all the checks necessary to confirm the airworthiness of our drones, providing us peace of mind. We can focus on what matters most - providing our services to the community," stated Barry Moore, Mansfield, TX Police UAS Pilot.

Fortress UAV is establishing itself as a leader in drone maintenance regulatory reporting needs. Although there are not currently FAA mandated regulations surrounding the prescriptive maintenance of drones, it seems it is only time before they are established. Fortress UAV Protect customers will be a step ahead in not only acquiring the regulated maintenance but also in providing the necessary reporting to the FAA. For full FAA UAS regulations and policies, please visit here.

"The need for drone maintenance reporting is inevitable. Receiving and creating a log of all maintenance performed on your assets will only put your business ahead of the curve once the FAA maintenance mandates arrive," said Garret Bryl, Principal Aerospace Software Engineer and UAS pilot for the Public Safety UAS Response Team.

Sample core maintenance check points include: Visual inspection of all moving parts for wear/tear and water damage, inspection of all wiring, cleaning of any dirt and/or debris, running key performance tests on batteries, upgrades to software, key calibrations, and the visual inspection and balancing of propellers and replacement of some components by drone type.

It is important to note that this is not a warranty or repair program. This program is intended for preventative uses only  identification of potential risk factors before an accident occurs.

Pricing details by drone model are below:

MODEL (1) SCHEDULED

VISIT PER YEAR (2) SCHEDULED

VISITS PER YEAR MAVIC PRO $240 $400 PHANTOM 4 $280 $480 INSPIRE 1 $435 $785 INSPIRE 2 $430 $775 MATRICE 600 $675 $1,265 MATRICE 200/210 $635 $1,185

To speak with a Fortress UAV maintenance expert, please call (469) 808-1299 or email [email protected].

This new service is in addition to the already existing, successful national drone repair business model that was launched in 2017. Fortress UAV is proud to be a leader in providing UAS maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO).

About Fortress UAV

Fortress UAV is a subsidiary of Fortress Solutions and supports repair, maintenance, hangar services, and logistics for drone operators in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Fortress UAV is an authorized dealer for DJI drones and an authorized repair center for Yuneec. Fortress Solutions, the parent of Fortress UAV, has been focused on high quality electronic systems repair since 2002. With three facilities in the U.S. and over 245 employees in repair services, Fortress UAV is the largest and most comprehensive facility for drone repair in North America. Fortress UAV supports repairs from consumers / prosumers, OEMs, and big-box retailers. Fortress UAV can be reached at http://www.fortressUAV.com.

Stay connected:

Fortress UAV Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn

All product names, logos, and brands are property of their respective owners. All company, product and service names used in this website are for identification purposes only. Use of these names, logos, and brands does not imply endorsement.

SOURCE Fortress UAV

Related Links

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DUBLIN, Sept 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

The "Radar Level Transmitter Market by Technology, Frequency, Application, Industry, and Region - Global Forecast to 2023" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The radar level transmitter market is estimated to be worth USD 428.0 million by 2018 reach USD 581.2 million by 2023, growing at a CAGR of 6.3% during the forecast period.

Benefits of high accuracy, reliability, and stability offered by radar level transmitters; increasing demand for radar level transmitter in the water & wastewater industry; and growing emphasis on optimum utilization and efficiency of assets are the key factors driving the market's growth. The market has been segmented based on technology, frequency range, application, industry, and region.

In 2017, noncontact technology held a larger share (than contact technology), in terms of value, of the overall radar level transmitter market. However, contact technology (guided wave radar) held a larger share in terms of volume. Traditionally, three different frequency bands have been used for noncontact radar level measurements: the C-band (~6 GHz), the X-band (~10 GHz), and the K-band (~26 GHz).

Recently, noncontact radar level transmitters using 75-85 GHz frequencies (the lower part of the W-band) have been introduced in the market as an additional option. The use of 75-85 GHz transmission frequencies has improved focusing of radar transmitters, allowing for more accurate and reliable measurements in tanks with agitators, heating coils, and other internal obstructions.

K-band frequency range held the largest share of the noncontact radar level transmitter market. K band radar level transmitters are the most widely used transmitters in process industries. These transmitters have a more focused beam angle and smaller process connection sizes than C and X band radar level transmitters. Such transmitters are ideal for use in tanks and vessels with moderate process conditions and long distance applications with smooth surfaces.

Radar level transmitters are used for liquid, slurries, solids, and interface measurement. Guided wave radar transmitters are commonly used for measuring levels of media such as paint, latex, animal fat, soy bean oil, saw dust, carbon black, titanium tetrachloride, salt, and grain. Though noncontact radar level transmitters can measure levels of both solid and liquid media, they are mostly used for liquid level measurement in industries such as food & beverages, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and oil & gas. With an increasing adoption in industries such as food & beverages, cement, and metals & mining, the demand for radar level transmitters is likely to grow at a higher rate for solids measurement applications during the forecast period.

The oil & gas industry is estimated to hold the largest share of the radar level transmitter market in 2018 due to demand for reliable and accurate level measurement systems. Radar level transmitters are used for a variety of processes in the oil & gas industry, including level monitoring in effluent tanks, oil separators, and hydraulic oil tanks. Radar level transmitters provide a high high-performance, and cost-effective measurement means for continuous level measurement in the oil & gas industry.

Radar Level Transmitter Market

The market in APAC is expected to be the fastest-growing one globally. The region has witnessed a significant growth in manufacturing activities due to low manufacturing costs and supportive local governments. Furthermore, the growing demand for petrochemicals and increasing population in countries such as China and India are fueling chemicals and pharmaceuticals industries in APAC. India and China are considered huge markets for radar level transmitters owing to growing industrial manufacturing activities in these countries. Investments in municipal water sector is expected to be high in APAC countries. This factor offers opportunities for radar level transmitters to penetrate the water & wastewater industry further.

Oil & gas and petrochemicals are among the key end-use industries of radar level transmitters. Numerous changes in these industries, such as fluctuations in the price of crude oil globally due to a price war between Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and Non-OPEC countries, are restraining the growth of the radar level transmitter market.

As of 2017, Endress+Hauser (Switzerland), VEGA Grieshaber (Germany), Emerson Electric (US), Siemens (Germany), and KROHNE Messtechnik (Germany) were the major players in the radar level transmitter market. These players are focusing on product launches and expansions to enhance their product offerings and expand their businesses.

Key Topics Covered:



1 Introduction



2 Research Methodology



3 Executive Summary



4 Premium Insights- Radar Level Transmitter Market



4.1 Lucrative Opportunities for Radar Level Transmitter Market

4.2 Noncontact Radar Level Transmitter Market, By Region

4.3 Contact Radar Level Transmitter Market, By Industry

4.4 Radar Level Transmitter Market, By Technology

4.5 Radar Level Transmitter Market in North America, By Industry and Country

4.6 Radar Level Transmitter Market, By Region



5 Market Overview



5.1 Introduction

5.2 Market Dynamics

5.2.1 Drivers

5.2.1.1 High Accuracy, Reliability, and Stability Offered By Radar Level Transmitters

5.2.1.2 Increasing Demand for Radar Level Transmitters in Water & Wastewater Industry

5.2.1.3 Growing Emphasis on Optimum Utilization and Efficiency of Assets

5.2.2 Restraints

5.2.2.1 Fluctuating Market Trends Observed in Mature End-User Industries Likely to Hamper Demand for Radar Level Transmitters

5.2.3 Opportunities

5.2.3.1 Wireless Connectivity for IoT-Enabled Systems

5.2.3.2 Industrial Growth in Emerging Economies

5.2.4 Challenges

5.2.4.1 Technical Issues Related to Accuracy in Measurement

5.2.4.2 Cybersecurity Risks

5.3 Value Chain Analysis



6 Radar Level Transmitter Market, By Technology



6.1 Introduction

6.2 Contact (Guided Wave Radar)

6.3 Noncontact

6.3.1 FMCW Radar

6.3.2 Pulsed Radar (Free Space Radar)



7 Noncontact Radar Level Transmitter Market, By Frequency Range



7.1 Introduction

7.2 C and X Band

7.3 K Band

7.4 W Band



8 Radar Level Transmitter Market, By Application



8.1 Introduction

8.2 Liquids, Slurries, and Interfaces

8.3 Solids



9 Radar Level Transmitter Market, By Industry



9.1 Introduction

9.2 Oil & Gas

9.3 Chemicals

9.4 Water & Wastewater

9.5 Food & Beverages

9.6 Pharmaceuticals

9.7 Power Generation

9.8 Metals & Mining

9.9 Others



10 Radar Level Transmitter Market, By Region



10.1 Introduction

10.2 North America

10.2.1 US

10.2.2 Canada

10.2.3 Mexico

10.3 Europe

10.3.1 Germany

10.3.2 UK

10.3.3 France

10.3.4 Italy

10.3.5 Rest of Europe

10.4 APAC

10.4.1 China

10.4.2 Japan

10.4.3 South Korea

10.4.4 India

10.4.5 Rest of APAC

10.5 RoW

10.5.1 South America

10.5.2 Middle East and Africa



11 Competitive Landscape



11.1 Overview

11.2 Ranking Analysis: Radar Level Transmitter Market

11.3 Competitive Scenario

11.3.1 Product Launches

11.3.2 Acquisitions

11.3.3 Business Expansions

11.3.4 Partnerships and Collaborations



12 Company Profiles



12.1 Key Players

12.1.1 Emerson Electric

12.1.2 Endress+Hauser

12.1.3 Siemens

12.1.4 Vega Grieshaber

12.1.5 Krohne Messtechnik

12.1.6 ABB

12.1.7 Honeywell

12.1.8 Yokogawa Electric

12.1.9 Ametek

12.1.10 Magnetrol International

12.1.11 Schneider Electric

12.2 Other Key Players

12.2.1 Wika Alexander Wiegand Beteiligungs

12.2.2 Brkert Fluid Control Systems

12.2.3 Pepperl+Fuchs

12.2.4 Automation Product Group

12.2.5 Nivelco Process Control

12.2.6 Finetek Group

12.2.7 Matsushima Measure Tech

12.2.8 Spectris (Omega Engineering)

12.2.9 Flowline



For more information about this report visit

https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/q66jw8/global_radar?w=5

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets

Related Links

http://www.researchandmarkets.com

(Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/746664/Viet_Nam.jpg )



Until recently a private collection, this entire body of work displays the full range of Steve Goddard's photography portfolio. Some of the Goddard images date back to the mid nineties and include 35mm slide format, which has now been digitised for public viewing for the first time in over 20 years.

Goddard Gallery was designed to deliver high-quality photography for private buyers and interior designers for wall art displays in private residences, quality hotels, cruise ships, restaurants and corporate offices.

The Goddard portfolio has an extensive collection of candid people photography and many stunning landscapes and cityscape views from a wide range of countries.

A selection of coffee table photo art magazines and books featuring Goddard's work is also available from the gallery.

Steve Goddard says, "The Goddard brand is aimed at both private buyers and interior designers who wish to purchase high quality photographs of people uniquely captured in moments in time for wall art displays. The images in the portfolio are candid moments of real life captured in real places with real smiles and moods from around the world."

"Vietnam is my favourite country overall to visit and photograph. The people are so friendly whether in rural villages or major cities where lots of traditional aspects of everyday life can be captured just by walking about whether you are in Sai Gon or Ha Noi, especially in its 'Old Quarter'. My mountain and landscape photography in Viet Nam was done late last year and I was very fortunate to get the skies and sunlight in the early hours when travelling there with my Leica."

"As a complete contrast the magical Dunnottar Castle in Stonehaven, United Kingdom is one of the world's most iconic castles to see up close and is my favourite place in the U.K. to photograph. I highly recommend a visit there sometime so you can truly appreciate the dramatic setting of this historical castle."

With the Goddard Gallery's photographic product range for interior designers, Steve Goddard adds, "The gallery photographs come in both paper prints, and wall art finishes that include canvas ranges, wood and thin wraps, while for the luxury end of the wall art buyer market the gallery has float mounted metal prints and acrylic metals finishes to suit a range of interior design styles and tastes."

The entire Goddard Gallery portfolio can now be viewed at goddardgallery.com and Steve Goddard's work can be followed on Instagram @stevegoddardgallery and Facebook Goddard Gallery.

Note for Editors:

'Steve Goddard' is the pseudonym of Steven Dimbleby and he has had a successful business career in Shipbroking spanning 15 years combined. During his Shipbroking career he was based in Aberdeen, London and Singapore serving oil and gas clients, ship owners and shipyards where he specialized in subsea projects, deep-sea international towages and Expedition cruise ship newbuildings. He has also worked in the Telecoms and Internet sector in London and is the author of one book, which is set in a London based start-up during the 'Dot.com' bubble of 2000.

He is born on 29th June 1971 in the U.K and has travelled extensively.

Steve Goddard started using the Canon EOS system in the nineties and then switched to Leica cameras and lenses. In the past Leica R8 for 35mm and recently the Leica S2 medium format. Steve Goddard has now uses the Leica SL body and SL lens system.

Goddard's photos are available in a variety of price points with mid to large size prints ranging from two hundred pounds to well over five thousand pounds for some float metals finishes in larger sizes.

For family homes, offices, hotels and restaurants the Goddard product range includes photographs with black borders such as Gallery Prints and Gallery Squares. Some of the images have the Goddard brand and website address displayed on them and these are specifically created to suite a range of interior designs in hotels where guests can further view the gallery website from their tablets or laptops when relaxing in hotel rooms or cruise ship cabins.

Gallery Square products are listed for viewing on Steve Goddard's Instagram page - @stevegoddardgallery and the Goddard Gallery Facebook page - Goddard Gallery.

The Goddard Gallery site is a fully automated service with orders placed online and the prints dispatched globally to the buyer. A range of picture framing can also be selected when buying prints directly from the gallery website.

Photo editors and ad agency photo buyers who are looking for real and unique images of people in everyday life as well as iconic landscapes and cityscapes for online campaigns and editorials have the ability to download images from the website.

Goddard Gallery contact details:

Website: http://www.goddardgallery.com/

Instagram: @stevegoddardgallery

Facebook: Goddard Gallery

SOURCE Goddard GalleryNEW YORK, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- HYPR, an industry leader in decentralized authentication, is proud to announce its designation as a Distinguished Vendor in this year's 2019 TAG Cyber Security Annual.

HYPR becomes one of over 50 leading cyber security companies that have been selected by industry veteran, Dr. Edward Amoroso, CEO of TAG Cyber, to assist with this year's report. The report has just been made available today for free download at https://www.hypr.com/.

"Working alongside Dr. Amoroso is a privilege as his reputation precedes him in our field," said George Avetisov, CEO of HYPR. "His team at TAG Cyber works hard to highlight HYPR technology and to better educate our industry as a whole."

The 2019 TAG Cyber Security Annual is designed in this, TAG Cyber's third year of publication, to provide direct advisory guidance - at no cost - to the enterprise cyber security professional. Their work is created to help cyber defenders more effectively deal with the technical challenges of our industry. These include integrating cyber analytics across the kill chain, introducing automation to streamline security workflow, and adopting cloud infrastructure for enterprise applications and systems.

"Storing user credentials in a centralized database is like drawing a giant target on your company's back," said Amoroso. "The HYPR solution prevents this by eliminating centralized passwords and ensures user credentials remain safe on their personal devices."

Each year, TAG Cyber publishes its three-volume report to the community for download at no cost. In addition to the HYPR website, the report is also available at: https://www.tag-cyber.com/. Volume 2 of the report also includes an informative interview with HYPR CEO, George Avetisov.

About HYPR

HYPR is the leading provider of decentralized authentication with millions of password-less users secured across the Fortune 500. Named a "Cool Vendor" by Gartner, HYPR is trusted by major enterprises such as Mastercard and Samsung to eliminate fraud, enhance user experience, and enable true password-less security.

Companies often store user credentials in a centralized database targeted by hackers. Centralized passwords create a single point of failure and have remained the #1 cause of mass breaches and credential reuse  until now.

The HYPR solution ensures that users' credentials always remain safe on personal devices. Eliminating centralized passwords enables HYPR to remove the target and provide true password-less security for customers and employees.

By decentralizing user authentication, HYPR stops mass breaches, eliminates credential reuse, and enables enterprises to Trust Anyone.

Media Contact: North 6th Agency, Inc.

212-334-9753, [email protected]

SOURCE HYPR

Related Links

https://www.hypr.com

"For nearly 40 years we've been working to achieve sustainable cocoa production," said John Ament, Global Vice President  Cocoa, Mars Wrigley Confectionery. "While we've made progress, including reaching nearly 180,000 farmers with sustainability certification, we are impatient with our pace of progress and of the cocoa sector overall. We don't have all the answers but our first step is to put the farmer at the center of our ambitions and actions. We plan to inspire others and work together to ensure Cocoa for Generations."

Despite significant progress, farmers haven't experienced improvements in their incomes or living conditions at an adequate pace. Children continue to labor in hazardous conditions and deforestation continues with farming occurring in protected forest areas. Mars believes a step change is needed where business, civil society and government must think and act differently, and take a new approach that creates a pathway for cocoa farmers, their families, and communities to thrive.

Cocoa for Generations consists of two pillars:

Responsible Cocoa Today

Through its first pillar, Mars aims to have 100 percent of its cocoa from the Responsible Cocoa program responsibly sourced globally and traceable by 2025. Responsible Cocoa means having systems in place to address deforestation, child labor and higher incomes for farmers.

Specifically, Mars expects farms that are part of our Responsible Cocoa program to provide satellite based GPS locations for farms that supply its cocoa so that we have assurances that such cocoa does not come from protected forest areas. Mars will work with suppliers and certifiers to enhance the child labor monitoring and remediation programs (CLMRS) deployed in its Responsible Cocoa supply chain, and continue to help improve education in cocoa-growing communities, with a focus on access to and quality of schools.

In addition, Mars will work with partners to ensure that the model for premiums the company pays for responsibly-produced cocoa is overhauled to ensure that farmers receive a higher share of the premium. Mars will explore and encourage further sector-wide changes and partnerships that can bring about increased income for farmers.

Mars' new approach to cocoa goes beyond the current level of certification standards and practices and is a step change from the initial commitment Mars made in 2009.

While this new approach is implemented, Mars will maintain its current certified cocoa levels with the Rainforest Alliance and with Fairtrade and work with both organizations as they continue to strengthen implementation to raise the bar across the cocoa sector. Mars applauds both certification organizations' efforts to organize individual farmers into groups and cooperatives, providing training and implementing management systems in certified farmer groups, and is committed to collaborate with them to improve audit controls, child labor monitoring, traceability and premiums paid to farmers. As further measurable efforts are made, Mars will continue transitioning its cocoa volumes to these new and stronger approaches.

Fairtrade says: "We applaud Mars for recognizing the role of the smallholder farmer at the heart of any ambitious plan in cocoa sustainability. Without progress on incomes for these farmers, sector-wide transformation is not possible. We need more companies showing leadership on issues in this way, which is why we are excited at the prospect of continuing to work with Mars to grow our impact in a way that delivers more for the company, whilst putting farmers first."

Rainforest Alliance says: "We can all agree there needs to be a change on the ground for farmers, their families and forests," said Britta Wyss Bisang, Chief of Sustainable Supply Chains for the Rainforest Alliance. "We commend Mars for deepening their commitment to cocoa producers, and for recognizing that step-change in action on the ground is needed. We look forward to furthering our relationship with Mars as this is well aligned with our new strategy, which puts more focus on collaboration between producers, NGO's, companies and governments."

Sustainable Cocoa Tomorrow

Through its second pillar, Mars hopes to demonstrate that a step-change in farmer income and livelihoods is possible. In partnership with an initial global group of 75,000 cocoa farming families and cocoa suppliers, Mars plans to test ways to increase productivity, income, resilience, and overall sustainability through crop and income diversification, gender programs, village and savings and loan models and farm development plans.

In parallel, Mars will work with the industry, governments and other civil-society partners to seek shared solutions and mutually-beneficial results for cocoa farming families. Mars will continue to collaborate pre-competitively with its peers and with suppliers to accelerate shared learning via industry forums including the World Cocoa Foundation and their CocoaAction platform and the International Cocoa Initiative.

About Mars, Incorporated

Mars is a family-owned business with more than a century of history making diverse products and offering services for people and the pets people love. With more than $35 billion in sales, the company is a global business that produces some of the world's best-loved brands: M&M's, SNICKERS, TWIX, MILKY WAY, DOVE, PEDIGREE, ROYAL CANIN, WHISKAS, EXTRA, ORBIT, 5, SKITTLES, UNCLE BEN'S, MARS DRINKS and COCOAVIA. Mars also provides veterinary health services that include BANFIELD Pet Hospitals, Blue Pearl, VCA and Pet Partners. Headquartered in McLean, VA, Mars operates in more than 80 countries. The Mars Five Principles  Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom  inspire its more than 100,000 Associates to create value for all its partners and deliver growth they are proud of every day.

For more information about Mars, please visit www.mars.com. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

SOURCE Mars, Incorporated

Related Links

http://www.mars.com

No one understands this love for coffee better than Maui Wowi Hawaiian Coffee & Smoothies ( www.MauiWowi.com ). That's why the global smoothie and coffee concessionaire, known for its brightly-colored mobile tiki huts and kiosks, wants to celebrate National Coffee Day with you by offering a one-day-only online discount exclusively available at shop.MauiWowi.com . On Saturday, Sept. 29, customers will receive 50 percent off their orders of limited-time and classic Maui Wowi Hawaiian coffees by using the promo code ALOHACOFFEE at checkout.

"We are looking forward to sharing our premium blends with coffee aficionados at a steeply discounted rate for the sixth year in-a-row on National Coffee Day," said Mike Weinberger, brand president for Maui Wowi. "Maui Wowi harvests only the best beans from Hawaii's Kona District, Molokai, Maui and Kauai regions, which gives our roasts an outstanding taste profile and personality. From our Kona coffees to the full-bodied roast of the Hawaiian blend to smooth, flavorful options like Vanilla or Toasted Coconut, everyone will find something to enjoy."

In addition to this one-day deal, Maui Wowi will bring back a few longtime fan favorites for a limited time:

Maui Mountain Roast : With beans cultivated in the premier coffee growing conditions on Maui , this is a bold coffee blend with subtle hints of wild berry and an earthy finish. Available Oct. 1 through Dec. 31 for purchase online and in select retail and event locations nationwide.

: With beans cultivated in the premier coffee growing conditions on , this is a bold coffee blend with subtle hints of wild berry and an earthy finish. Available for purchase online and in select retail and event locations nationwide. Pumpkin Spice Latte : This premium specialty espresso beverage marries the finest Hawaiian espresso beans with the same flavors that make pumpkin pie a Thanksgiving tradition to create the fall season in a cup. Available Oct. 1 through Dec. 31 at participating retail locations and select event locations.

: This premium specialty espresso beverage marries the finest Hawaiian espresso beans with the same flavors that make pumpkin pie a Thanksgiving tradition to create the fall season in a cup. Available at participating retail locations and select event locations. Peppermint Mocha: This holiday favorite combines flavorful premium Hawaiian espresso beans with rich chocolate and bright peppermint flavors to give it a smooth, refreshing taste that makes it a hit with holiday coffee lovers. Available Oct. 1 through Dec. 31 at participating retail locations and select event locations.

For more information, please visit shop.MauiWowi.com.

About Maui Wowi

Since 1982, Maui Wowi has embraced the Hawaiian culture and has been serving paradise in a cup since the day it began, over 30 years ago. From event carts, mall kiosks and stand-alone retail locations, Maui Wowi offers premium smoothies, as well as gourmet Hawaiian coffees and espresso beverages. The company maintains strong community involvement through fundraising efforts by its franchisees, in addition to Team Karma; an initiative that promotes corporate responsibility and giving back to the community. The brand has more than 450 operating units and an online store. In November 2015, Maui Wowi was acquired by Kahala Brands, one of the fastest growing franchising companies in the world with a portfolio of 27 quick-service restaurant brands and approximately 2800 locations in 34 countries.

For more information about Maui Wowi, visit www.MauiWowi.com.

For more information about Kahala Brands, visit www.KahalaBrands.com.

SOURCE Maui Wowi

Related Links

http://www.MauiWowi.com

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) has released the 10th edition of its flagship annual survey of college general education curricula, What Will They Learn?, highlighting the wide disparity in academic standards across the country.

What Will They Learn? reviews the core curricula of over 1,100 four-year public and private institutions across the country to determine the rigor of each school's general education program. Ratings are based on how many of the following seven core subjects are included in the curriculum: Composition, Literature, Foreign Language (intermediate-level), U.S. Government or History, Economics, Mathematics, and Natural Science. Grades are awarded on an "A" through "F" scale, depending on how many of the seven core subjects institutions require.

This year, only 23 colleges and universities received an "A" grade, which requires at least six of these subjects; 342 schools received a "B" grade, requiring four or five of the seven core subjects. Highlights of the survey include:

Alarmingly, only 17.1% of schools require students to take a course in U.S. Government or History.

Only 3.2% of schools require the study of Economics.

Only 11.8% require students to study a foreign language at the intermediate level.

Southern institutions of higher education score highly, while curricula in many parts of New England are in urgent need of strengthening.

"Today's graduate will confront globalized competition and make high stakes decisions as a citizen," stated ACTA President Michael Poliakoff. "What Will They Learn? signals that every college and university must come together and ensure that all graduates master the core collegiate skills needed to meet these challenges."

This year's What Will They Learn? survey will be complemented by ACTA's rollout of a massive database of high school guidance counselors later this year. "Guidance counselors provide high school students and their families with critical direction during their college search," says Megan Riethmiller, ACTA's director of curricular improvement. "Our priority is to equip them to help students make choices based on a well-rounded curriculum that will prepare them for active citizenship and the demands of today's workforce."

To find out how the schools you are interested in are ranked in this survey, visit www.WhatWillTheyLearn.com on your computer or mobile device.

ACTA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to academic freedom, academic excellence, and accountability in higher education. We receive no government funding and are supported through the generosity of individuals and foundations. For more information, visit GoACTA.org.

Contact: Doug Sprei,

[email protected]

SOURCE American Council of Trustees and Alumni

Related Links

https://www.goacta.org

NEW YORK, September 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

- 37% feel they are less able to influence political decisions compared to five years ago

- ' Cyber-attacks' and 'interference by a foreign country' were among America's lowest security concerns

Over a third of Americans are pessimistic about prospects for peace and security in their country, according to a global survey commissioned by International Alert and the British Council.

The Peace Perceptions Poll 2018, conducted in 15 countries in partnership with global polling agency RIWI, found that:

The United States was more negative about future peace and security than those living in conflict areas such as Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). 36% of respondents said the level of peace and security in the US would worsen over the next five years. Women felt more uncertain than men and were more likely to think peace and security would get worse in the US over the next 5 years.

was more negative about future peace and security than those living in conflict areas such as and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). 36% of respondents said the level of peace and security in the US would worsen over the next five years. Women felt more uncertain than men and were more likely to think peace and security would get worse in the US over the next 5 years. 26% of US respondents did not think that their country is a peaceful and secure place to live in.

US respondents perceived one of the lowest levels of political influence, with 37% saying they are less able to influence the political decisions that affect them compared to five years ago.

Despite public debate around Russian interference, 'cyber-attacks' and 'interference by a foreign country' were among America's lowest security concerns.

15% of respondents ranked 'violence or harassment by state authorities' as their top concern, placing the US among top five countries with highest concerns about state violence.

Respondents perceived some of the highest levels of economic exclusion, with 33% saying they are 'not at all' or 'not really' able to improve their economic situation.

When asked what their government could spend on to promote peace internationally, 29% of respondents said it should prioritize dealing with reasons why people fight, while 22% said it should focus on 'teaching peace, tolerance and conflict resolution in schools'. Military interventions were the least popular option here, with only 10% selecting it.

A third of Americans said 'dealing with reasons why people fight in the first place' was the most effective way of creating long-term peace. A quarter believed this was best done through 'supporting societies and communities to resolve conflict peacefully'.

The online poll asked more than 110,000 people about their perceptions of peace and conflict. It included Brazil, Colombia, DRC, Hungary, India, Lebanon, Myanmar, Nigeria, the Philippines, South Africa, Syria, Tunisia, Ukraine, the United States of America and the United Kingdom.

Retired US Ambassador Carey Cavanaugh, now Chair of the Board of Trustees of International Alert, said: "If we hope to effectively address violence around the world, we must have a better understanding about how people experience and respond to conflict and what they believe could best be done to reduce it.

"This inaugural effort does exactly that. It starts the long process of asking questions that need to be asked and assembling the data that can bring these grassroots perspectives to the attention of politicians and policy-makers, thereby increasing their ability to craft strategies that may truly increase prospects for peace," he added.

Harriet Lamb, CEO of International Alert, said: "At a time when conflict is on the rise, the poll shows strong popular support for peacebuilding approaches, which focus on dealing with the reasons why people fight in the first place.

"The public clearly understand what is needed to build peace. People have crisis fatigue - they want long-term solutions. Politicians should focus on how to break the cycle of violence by investing more in peacebuilding."

Notes to editors

"Peace Perceptions Poll 2018" will be launched in London on 19 September 2018 and in New York on 21 September 2018 , to mark the International Day of Peace.

on and in on , to mark the International Day of Peace. Press pack, containing infographics and visuals, available here: https://bit.ly/2CVkHKn

More information available on the poll's website: https://www.international-alert.org/peacepoll/

Interviewees available



About International Alert:

International Alert is a leading peacebuilding organisation that works with people directly affected by conflict to build lasting peace. Founded in 1986, International Alert works in over 25 countries and territories.

international-alert.org

About British Council:

The British Council is the UK's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We work with over 100 countries in the fields of arts and culture, English language, education and civil society. Last year we reached over 75 million people directly and 758 million people overall including online, broadcasts and publications. We make a positive contribution to the countries we work with - changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections and engendering trust. Founded in 1934 we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body. We receive 15 per cent core funding grant from the UK government.

britishcouncil.org

About RIWI:

RIWI is a global survey technology, global messaging, and global predictive analytics firm. RIWI partners with those who need adaptive insights and large sets of privacy-compliant opinion data, behavioural data, and population trends data. RIWI offers predictive and applied analytics, message testing, and risk monitoring anywhere around the world.

riwi.com

For media inquiries, to arrange interviews, attend the launch events, get infographics, or an embargoed copy of the report, contact: Taraneh Dadar ([email protected]), +44(0)207-627-6880) or Nicola Norton ([email protected]).

SOURCE International Alert"North America airports have been doing a tremendous job managing passenger volume, adding amenities, and keeping travelers moving despite some noteworthy challenges, but they will be put to the true test over the next few years," said Michael Taylor, Travel Practice Lead at J.D. Power . "Several multi-billion-dollar airport construction projectssuch as those in Boston, Los Angeles and Chicagoare reaching phases in which passenger disruption and increased traffic will be incredibly hard to avoid. How well these rapidly expanding airports manage throughout these infrastructure projects will provide valuable insight into what's in store on a nationwide basis."

Following are some of the key findings of the 2018 study:

Overall satisfaction reaches all-time high : Overall customer satisfaction scores reach an all-time high of 761, which is up 12 points from last year's previous record high. Improvement is driven primarily by a 17-point increase in satisfaction with food, beverage and retail, and an 18-point increase in satisfaction with security check.

: Overall customer satisfaction scores reach an all-time high of 761, which is up 12 points from last year's previous record high. Improvement is driven primarily by a 17-point increase in satisfaction with food, beverage and retail, and an 18-point increase in satisfaction with security check. Better airport/TSA communication improves security check satisfaction: The 18-point increase in passenger satisfaction with the security check process is largely attributable to improved communication and cooperation between airport and TSA staff, with leading airports working closely with TSA to align security staffing levels with airport load factors.

The 18-point increase in passenger satisfaction with the security check process is largely attributable to improved communication and cooperation between airport and TSA staff, with leading airports working closely with TSA to align security staffing levels with airport load factors. Outsmarting human nature: The highest-scoring component of the airport experience is check-in/baggage check, which has been rising consistently since airports began implementing self-service kiosks and bag tagging. This removes the passenger frustration of waiting for someone else to facilitate a process, reduces lines and allows passengers to move at their own pace.

Airport Satisfaction Rankings

Las Vegas McCarran International Airport and Orlando International Airport rank highest, in a tie, in passenger satisfaction among mega airports, each with a score of 781. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (775) ranks third and Denver International Airport (771) ranks fourth.

John Wayne Airport, Orange County ranks highest among large airports, with a score of 815. Dallas Love Field (810) ranks second and Portland (Ore.) International Airport (804) ranks third.

Buffalo Niagara International Airport ranks highest among medium airports, with a score of 814. Indianapolis International Airport (811) ranks second and Fort Myers/Southwest Florida International (810) ranks third.

The 2018 North America Airport Satisfaction Study measures overall traveler satisfaction with mega, large, and medium North America airports by examining six factors (in order of importance): terminal facilities; airport accessibility; security check; baggage claim; check-in/baggage check; and food, beverage and retail.

Now in its 13th year, the study is based on responses from 40,183 North America travelers who traveled through at least one domestic airport and covers both departure and arrival experiences (including connecting airports) during the past three months. Travelers evaluated either a departing or arriving airport from their round-trip experience. The study was fielded from September 2017 through September 2018.

For more information about the North America Airport Satisfaction Study, visit http://www.jdpower.com/resource/north-america-airport-satisfaction-study.

See the online press release at http://www.jdpower.com/pr-id/2018050.

J.D. Power is a global leader in consumer insights, advisory services and data and analytics. These capabilities enable J.D. Power to help its clients drive customer satisfaction, growth and profitability. Established in 1968, J.D. Power is headquartered in Costa Mesa, Calif., and has offices serving North/South America, Asia Pacific and Europe. J.D. Power is a portfolio company of XIO Group, a global alternative investments and private equity firm headquartered in London, and is led by its four founders: Athene Li, Joseph Pacini, Murphy Qiao and Carsten Geyer.

Media Relations Contacts

Geno Effler; Costa Mesa, Calif.; 714-621-6224; [email protected]

John Roderick; St. James, N.Y.; 631-584-2200; [email protected]

About J.D. Power and Advertising/Promotional Rules www.jdpower.com/business/about-us/press-release-info

SOURCE J.D. Power

Related Links

http://www.jdpower.com

LINDON, Utah, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Nozani, the leading Amazon optimization agency, has recently accommodated its rapid growth by moving to a new office in Lindon, Utah, doubling the size of their previous office space. Nozani has grown over 1,000 percent over the last 12 months.

As Amazon continues to roll out new opportunities for third-party sellers, there has been an overwhelming demand for listing optimization. With their new office, Nozani is planning to grow its employment to meet the increasing need for Amazon account management. Nozani has over 60 full-time employees and plans to add another 60 employees in the coming months.

"From the beginning our goal has been to add legitimate value to our customers, our employees and our community," said Thaddeus Hay, co-founder at Nozani. "We are thrilled to be able to do that one step better with a bigger and more custom work place. We look forward to the future as we continue to accelerate our growth and the value we add."

Nozani has contributed to the recent boom in Utah's business growth. This growth, now given the title of the "Silicon Slopes", has brought countless jobs to residents, increased the local housing market value, and has built an overall stronger economy within the state.

"It's exhilarating to be a part of such rapid growth and innovation," said Kyle Tarter, co-founder at Nozani. "Our expansion is a testament to the sacrifices our team has made, the values our company has embraced, and the vision we collectively share. I'm proud of the valuable service we've created, and confident that we'll continue to unveil services allowing our clients to experience similar growth."

Amazon is providing an immense amount of opportunity for third-party sellers to realize higher revenues and to reach more customers around the world. Amazon added 300,000 new sellers in 2017.

Additional Resources:

About Nozani

Nozani, founded in 2016, is an Amazon optimization agency servicing small to large businesses that sell products online. Nozani's employees are Amazon experts that help optimize client listing performance and product conversion. Nozani provides in-house photography, graphic design, and written content to aid sellers in their branding and listing optimization.

SOURCE Nozani

Related Links

https://www.nozani.com

NEW YORK, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM), operator of financial markets for 10,000 U.S. and global securities, today announced Revere Bank (OTCQX: REVB), a community bank based in Maryland, has qualified to trade on the OTCQX Best Market. Revere Bank upgraded to OTCQX from the Pink market.

Revere Bank begins trading today on OTCQX under the symbol "REVB." U.S. investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the company on www.otcmarkets.com .

"We are pleased to welcome Revere Bank to the growing number of community banks trading on the OTCQX Best Market," said Jason Paltrowitz, Executive Vice President of Corporate Services, OTC Markets Group. "Founded by local business leaders in 2007, Revere has grown to more than $2 billion in assets and 11 branch locations in the Washington and Baltimore area. Revere will trade alongside investor-focused community banks on OTCQX that are distinguished by the integrity of their operations and diligence with which they convey their qualifications."

Ken Cook, Co-President & CEO of Revere Bank, stated, "We are excited to partner with OTCQX to help tell our story and provide our early shareholders and other investors with a market to buy and sell our stock."

Drew Flott, Co-President & CEO of Revere Bank stated, "Our decision to trade on the OTCQX Market aligns with our commitment to our shareholders to provide increased visibility and liquidity for our stock and our soon to be completed capital raise."

Revere Bank was sponsored for OTCQX by FIG Partners LLC, an employee-owned broker/dealer specializing in financial institutions.

About Revere Bank

Revere Bank was incorporated in the State of Maryland in 2007 and opened for business on November 20, 2007. Revere operates as a community bank that emphasizes superior customer service and relationship banking, providing personalized attention by our senior officers who are familiar with the market and make it easier for community-based business customers to obtain direct access to credit decision-makers. The bank's strategic focus is a combination of credit quality and superior service with state-of-the-art banking technology.

About OTC Markets Group Inc.

OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM) operates the OTCQX Best Market, the OTCQB Venture Market and the Pink Open Market for 10,000 U.S. and global securities. Through OTC Link ATS and OTC Link ECN, we connect a diverse network of broker-dealers that provide liquidity and execution services. We enable investors to easily trade through the broker of their choice and empower companies to improve the quality of information available for investors.

To learn more about how we create better informed and more efficient markets, visit www.otcmarkets.com.

OTC Link ATS and OTC Link ECN are operated by OTC Link LLC, member FINRA/SIPC and SEC regulated ATS.

Subscribe to the OTC Markets RSS Feed

Media Contact:

OTC Markets Group Inc., +1 (212) 896-4428, [email protected]

SOURCE OTC Markets Group Inc.

Related Links

http://www.otcmarkets.com

LONDON, September 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

People in more peaceful countries are more pessimistic about prospects for peace than those in conflict environments, according to a survey of 15 countries commissioned by International Alert and the British Council.

The Peace Perceptions Poll 2018, conducted in partnership with global polling agency RIWI, asked people around the world about their perceptions of peace and conflict.

It found that the UK topped the list of pessimistic countries, followed by Brazil, the US and Hungary. 40% of respondents in the UK said prospects for peace and security in their country will get worse in the next five years, making them more negative than those living in conflict areas, including Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Across the world, 'lack of jobs and ability to provide for one's family' was seen as the main reason that would push people to violent action. This was followed by a 'sense of injustice' and a 'need to improve one's social status'. The poll also found that terrorism and criminal violence are people's top security concerns globally.

Over 110,000 people participated in the survey, which was carried out online in Brazil, Colombia, DRC, Hungary, India, Lebanon, Myanmar, Nigeria, the Philippines, South Africa, Syria, Tunisia, Ukraine, the United States of America and the United Kingdom, with targeted polling separately undertaken in Northern Ireland.

83% of global respondents said having political influence was fundamental for peace and security, with 90% saying the same about access to economic opportunities.

People in DRC and South Africa felt the highest levels of political exclusion, with 50% and 44% of those polled respectively saying they are less able to influence the political decisions that affect them, compared to five years ago. This was followed by the UK (41%), Hungary (40%) and the US (37%).

Where people felt they had less political influence, they predominantly blamed it on 'corruption and bribery' in politics. This was most strongly felt in South Africa, Ukraine and Nigeria.

Those who thought they had more political influence attributed it extensively to social media and technology, which ranked top with 28% choosing it.

Interestingly, those who felt they had least access to economic opportunities lived in middle- to high-income countries, including Hungary, Ukraine, the UK, Lebanon, the US and South Africa.

Most respondents said the most effective way to create long-term peace was through 'dealing with the reasons why people fight in the first place' (27%), followed by 'supporting societies and communities to resolve conflict peacefully' (26%).

Asked where their governments should spend more to promote peace, the top response was 'dealing with the reasons why people fight in the first place', followed by 'teaching peace, tolerance and conflict resolution in schools'. Globally, military interventions had the least support, with only 9% selecting it.

Harriet Lamb, CEO of International Alert, said: "At a time when conflict is on the rise, the poll shows strong popular support for peacebuilding approaches, which focus on dealing with the reasons why people fight in the first place.

"The public clearly understand what is needed to build peace. People have crisis fatigue - they want long-term solutions. Politicians should focus on how to break the cycle of violence by investing more in peacebuilding."

Professor Jo Beall, Director Education and Society at the British Council, said: "Positive peacebuilding is not just the absence of violent conflict, but the rebuilding of trust and the restoration of relationships that serve the needs of the whole population. In seeking to understand people's experience of conflict, and their aspirations for peace, we believe these findings will be useful for leaders and policy-makers facing up to the challenges of peacebuilding."

- "Peace Perceptions Poll 2018" will be launched in London on 19 September 2018 and in New York on 21 September 2018, to mark the International Day of Peace.

- More information on the poll website: https://www.international-alert.org/peacepoll

- For media inquiries, to arrange interviews, attend the launch events, get infographics or a copy of the report, contact: Taraneh Dadar ([email protected]/M: +44-(0)-7775-756288/T: +44-(0)-207-627-6880) or Nicola Norton ([email protected])

About International Alert:

International Alert is a leading peacebuilding organisation that works with people directly affected by conflict to build lasting peace. Founded in 1986, International Alert works in over 25 countries and territories. international-alert.org

About British Council:

The British Council is the UK's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We work with over 100 countries in the fields of arts and culture, English language, education and civil society. Last year we reached over 75 million people directly and 758 million people overall including online, broadcasts and publications. We make a positive contribution to the countries we work with - changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections and engendering trust. Founded in 1934 we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body. We receive 15 per cent core funding grant from the UK government. britishcouncil.org

About RIWI:

RIWI is a global survey technology, global messaging, and global predictive analytics firm. RIWI partners with those who need adaptive insights and large sets of privacy-compliant opinion data, behavioural data, and population trends data. RIWI offers predictive and applied analytics, message testing, and risk monitoring anywhere around the world. riwi.com

SOURCE International AlertCHENNAI, India, September 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

This notice is not an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to sell Equity Shares in any jurisdiction.

Redington (India) Ltd. (the "Company") hereby announces that the Company's Board of Directors, in its meeting held on September 17, 2018, has approved an offer to buy back up to 11,120,000 fully paid-up Equity Shares at a price of Rs. 125 per Equity Share on a proportionate basis through a tender offer (the "Buy-back"). The Company's public announcement relating to the Buy-back was published today in India in an English national daily newspaper, a Hindi national daily newspaper, and a regional language daily newspaper, all with wide circulation in the city of Chennai, India. The public announcement has also been made available on the websites of the Securities and Exchange Board of India ("SEBI"), the National Stock Exchange of India Limited and the BSE Limited. Detailed information about the Buy-back will be available in the letter of offer which will be dispatched along with the tender forms to all shareholders of the Company as of September 28, 2018. The letter of offer will also be available on the official website of the SEBI.

CIN: L52599TN1961PLC028758

Website: http://www.redingtonindia.com

Registered Office:

SPL Guindy House

95, Mount Road, Guindy

Chennai, Tamil Nadu - 600032, India.



Contact:

M. Muthukumarasamy

Company Secretary

Tel.: +91-44-42243353

Fax: +91-44-22253799

E-mail: [email protected]



SOURCE Redington (India) Ltd.Inspired by the tradition of Emirati traders welcoming travelers into their homes, Al Seef Hotel by Jumeirah is a new charming hotel waiting to be discovered in the heart of old-Dubai.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click: https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8405751-enchanting-arabia-al-seef-hotel-by-jumeirah/

Located in Al Seef, a bustling destination on the south banks of Dubai Creek, Al Seef Hotel by Jumeirah is spread across 10 clusters of Arabian Bayts (homes), tucked away amidst the rooftops and courtyards of a souk.

With views down into the alleyways of the souk or out across the waterways of the Creek, and a restaurant - Saba'a - that serves Emirati-inspired traditional dishes, guests can book to stay from just $325 plus government fees and taxes, as an introductory opening offer.

A unique Emirati-inspired design:

Split across separate villas, the Arabian Bayts provide areas of peacefulness interspersed amongst vibrant walkways

Further traditions of Emirati culture come to life behind the rough plastered walls, palm frond motifs, wooden ceilings and windows that overlook the winding outdoor corridors

The interiors of the 180 rooms and 10 suites reflect an age of pearl trading, with a colour palette inspired by the UAE's natural environment. Historical artefacts adorn the walls, including old style light switches, rotary dial phones, hanging oil lanterns and framed photographs of the souk and creek through the years.

An Emirati inspired hospitality experience

As hosts to our travelling guests, staff will provide advice on undiscovered places to visit, just as traders would have done in the past, but with a touch of the Jumeirah Group award-winning hospitality.

In the heart of Old Dubai:

Only 15 minutes from Dubai International Airport, guests have the opportunity to experience Dubai's past within an environment that is peaceful and filled with design and traditions of an era gone by.

International Airport, guests have the opportunity to experience past within an environment that is peaceful and filled with design and traditions of an era gone by. This part of Dubai is known for its historic creek. It offers curious travelers a chance to immerse themselves in the city's history and rediscover its vibrant past through the museums, galleries, souks, traditional dhows and architecture.

is known for its historic creek. It offers curious travelers a chance to immerse themselves in the city's history and rediscover its vibrant past through the museums, galleries, souks, traditional dhows and architecture. Visit the quaint Arabian Tea House Cafe, historical Dubai Museum and 200-year-old Al Fahidi Fort; travel across the Creek on a traditional Abra or attend events such as the Sikka Art Fair, a weeklong event which is part of a two month city-wide celebration of arts and culture taking place across March and April every year.

Alessandro Cabella, whose role as Area General Manager for Jumeirah Group includes the new hotel said: "Al Seef Hotel by Jumeirah is a real passion project. Everyone involved in bringing this idea to fruition has been inspired by the prospect of offering our guests an authentic experience inspired by the stories of Arabia. Everything within the property adds to the authenticity of the environment and experience, providing multiple opportunities for beautiful photographs, quiet nooks to relax and spaces to feel as if you have been swept away to a well-preserved gem of the past while still enjoying the modern-day comforts of our quality service."

Al Seef Hotel by Jumeirah completes a trio of hotels located in Al Seef, a destination by Meraas. The hotel joins the two recently opened hotels located at the opposite end of the destination's promenade that stretches for 1.8km alongside Dubai Creek: Zabeel House by Jumeirah Al Seef and Zabeel House MINI by Jumeirah.

For further information please contact:

Jumeirah Group Brand Communications: [email protected]

Jumeirah Brand Communications

Priscilla Garcia

Direct line: +971-4-301-7568

Email: [email protected]



(Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/746807/Jumeirah_Group_Al_Seef_Hotel_Exterior.jpg )



Video:

https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8405751-enchanting-arabia-al-seef-hotel-by-jumeirah/



SOURCE Jumeirah GroupLONDON, Sept. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Cloudoe, as a business has a long history in the deployment of customer telephone systems and contact centre solutions across the Netherlands, with a focus on understanding the needs of their business and reseller clients. When the opportunity came to purchase an existing BroadSoft, they took the opportunity with both hands, knowing the pedigree and dominance BroadWorks has in the Business Cloud marketspace. However, like many Service Providers have discovered, there was no management portal apart from the BroadSoft EWS. This made day to day management difficult, BroadSoft Licence Utilisation near impossible and plotting sales growth challenging.

The original deployment of the BroadSoft resulted in a number of weaknesses. Cloudoe found that the packages created within BroadSoft were often duplicated or, in some cases, different packages had the same name or there were no defined packages at all. In total, there were over 100 packages in BroadSoft before the move to Uboss; on project completion there was less than 50. Alex Inkelaar, COO at Cloudoe explained, "We needed to find a management platform that was designed to take on the challenge in the BroadSoft space but that ultimately let us extend past only delivering BroadSoft services and instead becoming a complete Cloud application provider." Once we had decided that Uboss was the platform of choice the initial requirement was to correct the errors of the past and complete the migration of all existing services and users so we were set for the future without disrupting our existing reseller, users services and revenues.

Solution

Uboss has deployed platforms for BroadSoft partners around the world and has a highly deployed platform of their own in the UK market, with a very broad portfolio exploiting 99 percent of the BroadSoft Services and features. For Cloudoe, the selling point was that Uboss incorporated the vital elements of multiple distribution layers (Distributor, Reseller, Agent), powerful reporting including extensive call logging and service reporting at all levels, along with an integrated billing module (optional) which could manage and distribute invoices that are localised with reference to currency, tax and language.

The Uboss team knew that from previous deployments, each platform owner (in each country) will have used BroadWorks in their own unique way. Step one was to verify and cleanse the data, standardise the propositions, optimise the BroadSoft licence consumption and identify any service enhancements, for example the introduction of Surge Mail to improve the voicemail proposition to customers.

Cloudoe have a number of projects and business development programs on the go, so it was also extremely helpful that Uboss is offered as an OPEX or CAPEX Model. "For now, we have taken the OPEX option to leave our capital funds available for business development programs, but in time, we will have the flexibility to move to the CAPEX model, which was a facility that set Uboss apart," Martien Verhoeven (CFO) from Cloudoe says.

The Uboss and Cloudoe teams worked closely to identify, build, test and develop all the functionality needed for Cloudoe's future programs and at the same time catering for the established positions. Migration tools were used to script the existing BroadWorks customers and services into Uboss in a three-phase project to ensure control and smooth delivery. 1st phase was the provisioning capabilities, 2nd phase was the platform user billing and finally the 3rd phase was the end customer billing. This meant that, at all times, Cloudoe could include their partners in the process without a major disturbance to their business. A major additional benefit, that was not realised at the original order point, was credit locking. Cloudoe, like many other service providers, experience attempts of dial-through fraud. The existing methods of managing this through the BroadSoft Call Barring feature and other back-end processes and monitors were time-consuming and not always 100 percent effective. The Credit Lock User service was implemented and, over the course of about 5 days, it was deployed across all users. Suddenly we had daily credit limits on all users, and SIP Trunks, with auto updates of users nearing their credit limit and automatic outbound barring of a user when daily limit exceeded regardless of what time or day it was.

Summary

Misja Hoen (Platform Technician) from Cloudoe summarises that "the Uboss team were a pleasure to work with. They listened to our needs and plans but with such a vast experience of BroadSoft platforms being used by different operators in different ways and in different markets they were able to contribute strongly as advisors as we worked through the migration. We were also really impressed by the method and diligence used in testing and cleansing the data throughout the process. Now, with all the data held within Uboss, we can manage BroadSoft easily whilst integrating other 3rd party apps and services to enrich and differentiate the proposition. With the bonus of us being able to take the public cloud option, this means we also have no servers to invest in and support. The final point as already mentioned was the bonus of the credit locking based on daily user limits. I can certainly sleep at night now with more ease!"

Cloudoe operates in a fast-moving and competitive marketplace facing stiff competition from one of the biggest BroadSoft success stories. By deploying Uboss, Cloudoe has now opened up distribution options, enhanced their Broadworks feature set, allowed the integration of 3rd party products into the portfolio, and even the packages, but kept everything in one highly capable management ecosystem.

About Uboss

Uboss is a technology management platform delivering an operational hub for Cloud Voice and Application providers. In a marketplace where products, services and propositions change frequently, Uboss provides continuity for provisioning, tariffing, billing, reporting, hardware fulfillment, security and service integration. In this way, Uboss helps to maximise revenue by getting Service Providers to market quicker with a more sophisticated product offering.

Uboss is a trading name of DRD Communications Ltd, headquartered in London, UK.

About Cloudoe

Cloudoe, based in 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands, is an independent Telco provider and provides, among other things, SIP trunks, Hosted Voice and Unified Communications solutions. Also, Cloudoe is the Strategic Partner of the Genesys PureCloud contactcenter solution. Cloudoe delivers modern, innovative cloud services combined with old-fashioned trusted personal service.

Media Contact:

Charlotte Quartly

Marketing Manager

Phone: +44 (0)20 8288 1233

Email: [email protected]

Related Links

Uboss Website

Cloudoe Website

SOURCE UbossIRVING, Texas, Sept. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Darling Ingredients Inc. (NYSE: DAR) reported today that the Diamond Green Diesel ("DGD") facility in Norco, LA, which is a joint venture with a subsidiary of Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE: VLO) ("Valero"), will be taking downtime from September 21, 2018 until approximately October 1, 2018 to replace a catalyst that was damaged during start-up of the facility, which was expanded from 160 million gallons to 275 million gallons per year of renewable diesel capacity. The issue that caused the damage to the catalyst was identified and remedied.

"Diamond Green Diesel took longer downtime with the turnaround than expected and coupled with the scheduled September replacement of the catalyst, total production gallons will be lower in the 3rd quarter than had been projected," said Randall C. Stuewe, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Darling Ingredients Inc. "Once back on line, we are confident DGD will be able to quickly achieve the annual rated capacity of 275 million gallons," stated Mr. Stuewe.

About Darling

Darling Ingredients Inc. is a global developer and producer of sustainable natural ingredients from edible and inedible bio-nutrients, creating a wide range of ingredients and specialty solutions for customers in the pharmaceutical, food, pet food, feed, technical, fuel, bioenergy, and fertilizer industries. With operations on five continents, the Company collects and transforms all aspects of animal by-product streams into useable and specialty ingredients, such as gelatin, edible fats, feed-grade fats, animal proteins and meals, plasma, pet food ingredients, organic fertilizers, yellow grease, fuel feedstocks, green energy, natural casings and hides. The Company also recovers and converts recycled oils (used cooking oil and animal fats) into valuable feed and fuel ingredients, and collects and processes residual bakery products into feed ingredients. In addition, the Company provides environmental services, such as grease trap collection and disposal services to food service establishments. The Company sells its products domestically and internationally and operates within three industry segments: Feed Ingredients, Food Ingredients and Fuel Ingredients. For additional information, visit the Company's website at http://www.darlingii.com.

About Valero

Valero Energy Corporation, through its subsidiaries, is an international manufacturer and marketer of transportation fuels and other petrochemical products. Valero, a Fortune 50 company based in San Antonio, Texas, with approximately 10,000 employees, is an independent petroleum refiner and ethanol producer, and its assets include 15 petroleum refineries with a combined throughput capacity of approximately 3.1 million barrels per day and 11 ethanol plants with a combined production capacity of 1.45 billion gallons per year. The petroleum refineries are located in the United States (U.S.), Canada and the United Kingdom (U.K.), and the ethanol plants are located in the Mid-Continent region of the U.S. In addition, Valero owns the 2 percent general partner interest and a majority limited partner interest in Valero Energy Partners LP, a midstream master limited partnership. Valero sells its products in both the wholesale rack and bulk markets, and approximately 7,400 outlets carry Valero's brand names in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Ireland. Please visit www.valero.com for more information.

Darling Ingredients contact





Melissa A. Gaither, VP IR and Global Communications Email : [email protected] 251 O'Connor Ridge Blvd., Suite 300, Irving, Texas 75038 Phone : 972-281-4478



Valero Contacts





Investors:

John Locke, Vice President  Investor Relations, 210-345-3077 Karen Ngo, Senior Manager  Investor Relations, 210-345-4574 Tom Mahrer, Manager  Investor Relations, 210-345-1953 Media: Lillian Riojas, Director  Media Relations and Communications, 210-345-5002

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information:

{This media release contains "forward-looking" statements regarding the business operations and prospects of Darling Ingredients Inc., including its Diamond Green Diesel (DGD) joint venture, and industry factors affecting it. These statements are identified by words such as "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "estimate," "intend," "could," "may," "will," "should," "planned," "potential," "continue," "momentum," "assumption," and other words referring to events that may occur in the future. These statements reflect Darling Ingredient's current view of future events and are based on its assessment of, and are subject to, a variety of risks and uncertainties beyond its control, each of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, among others, changes to worldwide government policies relating to renewable fuels and greenhouse gas emissions that adversely affect programs like the Renewable Fuel Standards Program (RFS2), low carbon fuel standards (LCFS) and tax credits for biofuels both in the Unites States and abroad; and risks associated with the DGD renewable diesel plant in Norco, Louisiana, including possible unanticipated operating disruptions and issues related to the announced expansion project including, the statements regarding the proposed timetable for resumption of full production (which are based on the best estimates currently available). Other risks and uncertainties regarding Darling Ingredients Inc., its business and the industries in which it operates are referenced from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Darling Ingredients Inc. is under no obligation to (and expressly disclaims any such obligation to) update or alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.}

SOURCE Darling Ingredients Inc.

Related Links

http://www.darlingii.com

Democracy, diversity and opportunity are central themes of the 2019 Commemoration, American Evolution. The first representative legislative assembly in the New World took place on July 30, 1619, and planted the seed of representative democracy in America. This assembly brought 22 representatives from 11 Virginia "boroughs" to Jamestown for six days to develop and pass laws that evolved Virginia's colonial settlement beyond a commercial enterprise. The event at the British Embassy focused on the first legislative assembly's significance in paving the way for our country's system of democratic government.

"The American experience began in 1619 Virginia with the seeds of democracy planted by entrepreneurs and intrepid settlers. Nearly 400 years have passed since then, but those original settlers understood, as we do today, that allowing the creative capacities of everybody to flourish in an atmosphere of freedom and equality allows us to make great things, build great things, be great as individuals and also build a better economy and nation," said Senator Timothy Kaine. "The anniversaries that we commemorate in 1619 are significant and there are many important milestones that are part of this American Evolution, and they are all worth marking."

HRH The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex delivered a brief speech at the reception. He said, "Being able to share the significant shared history between our two countries is important. Those events and those people from 400 years ago, have shaped our story. And all of those bits and pieces along the way help us to explain how we got here, and why we got here."

British Ambassador Kim Darroch said, "The UK and Virginia have a rich shared history that continues to endure today. Our continued close relationship encompasses national security and the economy. We have over 200 British military personnel embedded in the state, while British companies employ more than 30,000 Virginians and is the second largest export market for the state."

"Democracy is an essential pillar of the 2019 Commemoration," said Kathy Spangler, Executive Director of the 2019 Commemoration, American Evolution. "We are honored to partner with the British Embassy to recognize the first legislative assembly in the New World, led by Sir George Yeardley. Those six days in 1619 were fundamental to the survival and evolution of the Virginia Colony, and to the future of the United States. This shared history between Virginia and the United Kingdom created the foundation that shaped our nation."

Over the next 14 months, American Evolution will host a series of signature events commemorating the 400th anniversary of several formative events that took place in 1619 Virginia, which have had an enduring impact on Virginia and America's history. These important events set Virginia and America on a course towards the ideals of democracy, diversity and opportunity. For more information about the 2019 Commemoration and upcoming events, programs and educational initiatives visit AmericanEvolution2019.com .

About the 2019 Commemoration

The 2019 Commemoration, American Evolution, highlights events that occurred in Virginia in 1619 that continue to influence America today. Featured programs, events and legacy projects will position Virginia as a leader in education, tourism and economic development. American Evolution commemorates the ongoing journey toward the key ideals of democracy, diversity and opportunity. Dominion Resources is an American Evolution Founding Partner and Altria Group and TowneBank are Virginia Colony Partners.

SOURCE American Evolution

Related Links

http://AmericanEvolution2019.com

BOISE, Idaho, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- VisitPay announced the successful commercial release of VisitPay 3.0, a significantly enhanced iteration of its revolutionary, cloud-based patient financial experience platform.

This latest generation of VisitPay offers the most cost-effective and fastest-to-market patient financial experience solution in healthcare, accelerating and simplifying the patient financial engagement strategies of the company's growing roster of clients.

"The success of our platform with the most respected health systems in the country speaks to the maturation of the patient financial health market," said Kent Ivanoff, CEO and Co-Founder of VisitPay. "Our clients are looking for more than small-bore fixes to patient billing; they partner with us to fundamentally reimagine the patient financial journey, which has become a cornerstone of the overall healthcare experience."

Building on its predecessors' exclusive capabilitiesthe consolidation of patient bills within a unified interface, the display of visit-level EOBs alongside each provider bill, and the use of automated segmentation and advanced analyticsVisitPay 3.0 offers key enhancements, including:

Platform investment to go-live within 60 days, nearly three times as fast as comparable solutions

Back-end enhancements allow for seamless and sophisticated integration with any billing system, including those used by provider offices, specialists and groups that are not part of the health system

An elegantly redesigned interface streamlines the user experience, making the patient experience even more intuitive and accessible

Builds on an already extensive number of full spectrum, PCI-certified payment options, adding Interactive Voice Response and quick pay options such as text to pay

Multiple Systems, Single Monthly Bill

The newest version of VisitPay captures data across ambulatory and acute-care billing systems, including non-clinical billing systems, such as transportation, gift shop or meal charges, consolidating disparate obligations from an individual or entire family into a single monthly bill, eliminating a frequent source of patient frustration and dissatisfaction: multiple, often-conflicting paper-based or electronic bills.

The platform seamlessly integrates into the electronic health record and any billing system, powering the transition from print to digital with minimal disruptions to administrative workflow, while also automatically posting all transactions back into those billing systems.

VisitPay creates a consistent experience tailored to the needs of the individual consumer despite system complexity. VisitPay's automated segmentation capabilities and advanced analytics allow health systems to actively test, configure and personalize consumer financing strategies based on the organization's business rules and patient preferences, monitor results and quickly adjust and evolve strategy.

VisitPay 3.0 also provides call center agents with a single view of a patient's payment history across all acute and ambulatory billing systems, optimizing customer service for those patients who prefer to manage medical bills in person, by phone or other non-digital channels. VisitPay 3.0 also can deliver a consolidated paper bill to those who want them. And the platform continues to give patients a full spectrum of payment channels to include a no-login Guest Pay solution, text to pay, Interactive Voice Response, point of solution devices and traditional paper payment processing.

The platform is designed to positively impact key patient engagement metrics, including patient satisfaction and Net Promoter Scores (NPS), with an average 40% lift in patient satisfaction and higher NPS for the most discriminating users: those who need to pay large bills over time. As a direct result of that design construct, the platform also impacts key economic metrics. Clients typically report a 30% lift in payment yield and because of VisitPay's automated capabilities, a dramatic increase in operational efficiency. These results are validated by VisitPay's ability to provide ongoing measurements of financial plan performance, trended over time. This empowers health systems to adjust and optimize myriad variablesfrom billing policies to payment plan terms to patient segmentation configurationsin near real-time.

Learn more about VisitPay at www.visitpay.com.

About VisitPay

Founded in 2010, VisitPay is the leader in patient financial engagement. The company's third-generation cloud-based platform is used by the nation's largest and most innovative health systems to deliver transparency, choice and control to patients managing healthcare payments and transactions. Through VisitPay, patients can access a comprehensive accounting of their financial obligations, as well as critical health plan and healthcare information, via a health system-branded portal. VisitPay's proprietary analytics tailor consistent and fully compliant financing options that meet the unique needs of patients and their families, creating a simplified billing experience that drives both higher payment rates and improved patient satisfaction scores. VisitPay's investors include Norwest Venture Partners, Flare Capital Partners and Ascension Ventures. For more information about VisitPay, visit www.visitpay.com. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. Visit our Company Blog to access case studies, thought leadership and news.

Media Contact

Joy Dinaro

Amendola Communications for VisitPay

[email protected]

847-809-0406

SOURCE VisitPay

Related Links

http://www.visitpay.com

(Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/746037/Water_Direct_Mike_Rowell.jpg )

(Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/720112/Water_Direct_Logo.jpg )



Video:

https://youtu.be/hsrr_rQMqNQ





Mike Rowell joins Water Direct with 25 years' operational experience, most recently as Water Services Manager at one of Britain's largest logistics firms, Wincanton. After joining straight from college as an administration assistant, Mike worked his way through the ranks to specialise in logistics and key contract operations, working with blue-chip clients across a wide range of sectors from petroleum to retail.

In recent years, Mike was responsible for national water service operations, including water utility contracts, festivals and industrial water supply contracts.

Mike joins Water Direct as it goes into its third year of record growth, part of a growth strategy that has seen the company invest more than 2 million over the last 18 months to further expand what is already the UK's largest dedicated commercial water tanker fleet.

Mike says, "It's an exciting time to be joining Water Direct, when we are seeing significant growth across all sectors, and have a roadmap of operational investment to match and exceed demand.

"One of my first challenges is to recruit driver engineers for the new fleet as it is rolled out, and to look at operations across the UK. I know the water supply market, so to be working for a company which is one hundred percent focused on water provision is fantastic. Water Direct has the best capabilities in the UK, and with company-wide investment, I will be working to ensure even faster response times with first-class infrastructure and improved efficiencies."

Oliver Silcock, Water Direct's Head of Operations commented, "Mike is well known for his experience in the water supply industry, and we welcome his contribution as we continue to grow and build on Water Direct's reputation as the UK leader in planned and emergency quality assured water provision."

About Water Direct:

With nationwide coverage and 24/7 service, Water Direct provides planned and emergency temporary water wherever and whenever it's needed.

Water Direct's services range from supporting utility companies experiencing an interruption due to a burst main or contamination to building sites in need of water for welfare or site processes to planned water supply for festivals and outdoor events.

The company has been running for 22 years. In 2017 alone, Water Direct delivered just under 100 million litres of water to customers across the UK.

Water Direct was one of the UK's earliest adopters of continuity planning, achieving ISO 22301:2012 by developing contingency planning for water loss. www.water-direct.co.uk

SOURCE Water DirectCINCINNATI and LONDON, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Worldpay, Inc. (NYSE: WP; LSE: WPY) announced today, that on Dec. 31, 2018, Philip Jansen will step down as co-chief executive officer and a member of the board of directors. At that time, the Company will transition to a single chief executive officer, which will be current Executive Chairman and co-CEO Charles Drucker.

"Philip has been a great partner in helping bring Vantiv and Worldpay together, and I'd like to thank him for his significant contributions," said Drucker. "It has been a great experience working with Philip to accelerate our early successes and create strong momentum for the company. In just eight months we have attained key integration milestones and already created significant synergies. I look forward to continuing to execute on our successful strategy along with my global leadership team over the long-term."

"It has been a great privilege to help create the world's leading payments company with Charles," said Philip Jansen, co-chief executive officer. "The value proposition of the company to clients and shareholders remains unparalleled, and I look forward to watching the next chapters of the Worldpay success story unfold. As planned, with the completion of the initial phase of the integration, now is the right time for the company to transition to having a single CEO lead the business. Our colleagues worldwide have helped get us to this point, and I'm incredibly proud to have worked with each of them across the globe."

About Worldpay, Inc.

Worldpay, Inc. (NYSE: WP; LSE: WPY) is a leading payments technology company with unique capability to power global integrated omni-commerce. With industry-leading scale and an unmatched integrated technology platform, Worldpay offers clients a comprehensive suite of products and services globally, delivered through a single provider.

Worldpay processes over 40 billion transactions annually through more than 300 payment types across 146 countries and 126 currencies. The company's growth strategy includes expanding into high-growth markets, verticals and customer segments, including global eCommerce, Integrated Payments and B2B.

Worldpay, Inc. was formed in 2018 through the combination of the No. 1 merchant acquirers in the U.S. and the U.K. Worldpay, Inc. trades on the New York Stock Exchange as "WP" and the London Stock Exchange as "WPY."

CONTACTS

Media

Andrew Ciafardini

Corporate Communications

(513) 900-5308

[email protected]

Investors

Nathan Rozof, CFA

Investor Relations

(866) 254-4811

(513) 900-4811

[email protected]

SOURCE Worldpay, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.worldpay.com

BURLINGAME, Calif., Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The annual Xingshi-Cup International Design Hackathon today announced that it is coming to the Silicon Valley in late-September. Event hosts Hanhai BioLabs and Hackhub bring attendees the best industry professionals to provide mentorship and training throughout the Hackathon experience. Teams of professionals will assemble and compete for a $15,000 Grand Prize focusing on the theme "Empathy With End Users."

On September 29, 2018 at 9AM PT, the doors open at Hanhai BioLabs' Burlingame office at 1633 Old Bayshore HWY, Suite 280. The hackathon offers two amazing speakers who will also host professional workshops. An awards ceremony announcing the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners will highlight the closing ceremonies on September 30th at 4PM PT and conclude by 6PM PT. For more information or to register, please visit: https://app.hackhub.com/event/xingshicup-sv

The international Xingshi-Cup originated in Foshan, China, where organizers hosted two competitions. The initial hackathon themes were "Creative Home" (July 25-31, 2018) and "Smart Device" (August 6-12, 2018). These competitions attracted 51 teams of students with 30 teams moving on to the final. The stop in Silicon Valley marks the hackathon's third competition in a series of five before it heads to Los Angeles, where ten teams will be selected from the U.S. to move on and compete in the finals. In total, there will be 40 teams competing in the finals in China.

"We are excited for the event and to see what new products, innovations and startups emerge," said Ben Sun the Chief Product Officer at Hackhub of the Xingshi-Cup. "With hundreds of the brightest minds in entrepreneurship and innovation, and speakers such as Ari Turgel and Ryan McGuinness provided by our sponsors, we can't wait to make progress towards solving the industry's most challenging problems while maintaining an emphasis on empathy with end-users."

"It is both a thrill and an honor to host the Xingshi-Cup at our Burlingame office," said Alex Zhang the CEO of Hanhai BioLabs. "Our mission is to foster talent through collaboration, and this event accomplishes exactly that. We'd like to thank Whipsaw and Triple Ring for connecting us with speakers, judges and mentors for our workshops, as well as Hackhub for sharing such a special event with us."

For more information visit Hanhai BioLabs Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Eventbrite page. To register for the event, please visit our Hackhub event page.

About Hackhub

Hackhub is a talent incubation platform. By working with industry experts, companies, educational institutions and incubators, Hackhub helps to reinforce both talents' and companies' professional growth through education programs and hackathon events. For more information visit https://hackhub.com/.

About Hanhai BioLabs

Hanhai BioLabs Accelerator provides seed funding, mentoring services, office spaces, and other necessary resources for 10 startups in the field of life sciences. After 6-months of acceleration, we will help graduates build possible business alliance with Hanhai's many industry partners and for a further fundraising with Hanhai's VC partners. For more information visit https://www.hanhaibiolabs.com/.

SOURCE Hanhai BioLabs

Related Links

http://www.hanhaibiolabs.com/

CHONGQING, China, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Shanghai-Chongqing Cooperates to Develop the Vitality of Auto Parts Market in Southwest Chin

To build the exhibition platform of Yangtze River Economic Zone, Chongqing International Auto Parts and Service Exhibition 2018 (CAPE 2018) is taking place at Chongqing International Expo Center from September 19 to 21, 2018. The event is jointly organized by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Shanghai Sub-Council (CCPIT Shanghai), the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Automotive Industry Committee (CCPIT Auto), The Society of Automotive Engineers of China (SAE China) and Shanghai International Exhibition Co., Ltd., and is co-organized by Chongqing Huyu International Exhibition Co., Ltd.

The Tangible Results of Shanghai-Chongqing Cooperation & The Great Potential of Auto Parts Market in Southwest China

Chongqing, as the largest auto production hub, has formed a large-scale automotive manufacture and R&D cluster. There are over 400 high-quality Tier 1 auto parts production enterprises and over 500 Tier 2 and Tier 3 supporting enterprises in this city. The localization ratio of auto parts has reached 80%. In the aspect of new energy vehicles and automotive intelligent connectivity, Chongqing also successively built an intelligent connected vehicle pilot zone and an intelligent vehicle town. All the facts above reveal the essential role that Chongqing automobile market plays in southwest China as well as the great potential of Chongqing in the auto parts market.

As the first delivered exhibition project of Shanghai-Chongqing cooperation, CAPE 2018 has attracted the participation of nearly 200 domestic and international renowned automobile and auto parts enterprises from 8 countries and regions and reached 15,000m2 in scale due to the substantial automotive-related resources of Auto Shanghai and the unique venue advantages of Chongqing International Expo Center. CAPE 2018 is designed to be the first high-end auto parts promotion and exchange platform in the southwestern region of China.

Auto Parts Enterprises Gathering Ignite Industrial Upgrading with Advancing Technology

The exhibition has attracted the full participation of a large number of prestigious Chinese and international leading Tier 1 and Tier 2 auto parts manufacturers, including ADD Industry Zhejiang, Adient, Aisin Seiki, BorgWarner, Bosch, Bridgestone, Dana Incorporated, Denso, Fastgear, Faurecia, Hitachi Automotive Systems, Honsel, MITSUBA Corporation, NSK, NTN, Plastic Omnium, Ruili Group, Valeo, Webasto, Yanfeng Automotive Trims Systems and ZF. The exhibitors are showcasing their latest products and technologies, including automated driving, intelligent connectivity and engine technologies, in-vehicle radar applications, integrated seating systems, powertrain systems and chassis technology, emission control technology, transmissions, and braking and stability control systems. It can be foreseen that exploring the market potential in southwest China will help auto parts suppliers create value in the long run.

The auto parts subsidiaries of Chinese automotive brands, including BYD, Changan Automobile, Geely Holding, Great Wall Motors, JAC Motors, Yema Auto and Zotye Auto, are also participating in the exhibition. Depending on their industry base in Chongqing and the surrounding areas, they are showcasing their creative mobility solutions including technology for new energy vehicles, automated driving and connected cars.

Brilliant Concurrent Events for Networking and Exchange of Latest Information

Concurrent events are highlights of CAPE 2018. Nearly 100 well-known industry experts, university researchers and company executives are attending the exhibition in Chongqing, during which they are sharing their insights into innovation in automotive technologies. The concurrent events include:

From September 19 to 20 , the 2018 International Auto Key Tech Forum co-hosted with SAE China focuses on several topics, including the industry's latest technologies and trends, key technologies for automotive interiors and exteriors as well as for automotive electrification, prospects for in-vehicle radar applications and related technologies, as well as digitalized plant.

, the 2018 International Auto Key Tech Forum co-hosted with SAE China focuses on several topics, including the industry's latest technologies and trends, key technologies for automotive interiors and exteriors as well as for automotive electrification, prospects for in-vehicle radar applications and related technologies, as well as digitalized plant. On September 20 , the Automotive Powertrain System Technology and Development Forum co-organized by Gasgoo will discuss and analyze the energy-saving and electric vehicle powertrain technology roadmap and the national Emission Standard VI.

, the Automotive Powertrain System Technology and Development Forum co-organized by Gasgoo will discuss and analyze the energy-saving and electric vehicle powertrain technology roadmap and the national Emission Standard VI. On September 20 , Zhidx will co-organize the Global Technology Innovation Conference on Intelligent Connected Vehicle Industry 2018, themed "Connect the Vehicle with the World and Open the Window to an Intelligent Future". The conference will focus on the trends taking place around intelligent connected vehicles, automated driving, laser radar and the intelligent cockpit, among other hot topics, as well as explore innovation in technologies and industry opportunities against the backdrop of the dramatic changes that are taking place across the entire automotive ecosystem.

, Zhidx will co-organize the Global Technology Innovation Conference on Intelligent Connected Vehicle Industry 2018, themed "Connect the Vehicle with the World and Open the Window to an Intelligent Future". The conference will focus on the trends taking place around intelligent connected vehicles, automated driving, laser radar and the intelligent cockpit, among other hot topics, as well as explore innovation in technologies and industry opportunities against the backdrop of the dramatic changes that are taking place across the entire automotive ecosystem. A feast of technology-communication and trade-matching in auto parts field takes place from September 19 to 21 .

To learn more about CAPE 2018, please visit www.autopartschina.org.

SOURCE Shanghai International Exhibition Co., Ltd.

Related Links

http://www.autopartschina.org

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Aberdeen Global Dynamic Dividend Fund (the "Fund") (NYSE: AGD), held its Annual Meeting of Shareholder (the "Meeting") on September 19, 2018. At the Meeting, shareholders of the Fund voted to re-elect one Class I Trustee to the Board of Trustees.

As of the record date, July 20, 2018, there were 12,549,581 outstanding shares of the Fund. 96.42% of the outstanding shares were voted at the Meeting representing a quorum.

The description of the proposal and number of shares voted at the Meeting are as follows:

To elect one Class I Trustee to the Board of Trustees:



Votes For Votes Withheld John Sievwright 11,825,839 274,144

Trustees whose term of office continued beyond the Meeting are as follows: P. Gerald Malone, Nancy Yao Maasbach and Martin Gilbert.

Important Information

Aberdeen Standard Investments is a brand of the investment businesses of Aberdeen Asset Management and Standard Life Investments. In the United States, Aberdeen Standard Investments is the marketing name for the following affiliated, registered investment advisers: Aberdeen Asset Management Inc., Aberdeen Asset Managers Ltd., Aberdeen Standard Investments Australia Limited (formerly known as Aberdeen Asset Management Ltd.), Aberdeen Standard Investments (Asia) Limited (formerly known as Aberdeen Asset Management Asia Ltd.), Aberdeen Asset Capital Management, LLC, Standard Life Investments (Corporate Funds) Ltd., and Standard Life Investments (USA) Ltd.

Closed-end funds are traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. The Fund's investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares may be worth more or less than the original cost. Shares of closed-end funds may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount) the net asset value (NAV) of the fund's portfolio. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. All data and commentary provided is for informational purposes only.

If you wish to receive this information electronically, please contact [email protected]enstandard.com

1As of May 7, 2018, the Fund name changed from the Alpine Global Dynamic Dividend Fund.

SOURCE Aberdeen Global Dynamic Dividend Fund

Related Links

http://www.aberdeenagd.com

"AcuRite Atlas is the future of personal weather monitoring and our most advanced weather station yet," said AcuRite meteorologist Kari Strenfel. "Atlas provides consumers with a weather system they can depend on to accurately predict a variety of weather conditions in their exact location, rather than relying on a weather report that's generated at the nearest news station or airport."

The launch of products like AcuRite Atlas is part of an increasing smart home technology trend providing home and business owners with highly accurate, actionable, personalized information. Weather stations are sought-after by a wide variety of audiences from industry professionals like landscapers and farmers, to personal at-home users interested in outdoor activities and the latest technology gadgets.

Atlas allows users to quickly and easily access their data, archive it so they can look back and analyze historical information, and share it with fellow weather enthusiasts. Consumers are able to choose how they view their information, either on a high-definition touchscreen display or through remote monitoring, or both.

The high-definition indoor touchscreen display offers a quick snapshot of the day's high and low records and graphs for each measurement to track trends. The display features an SD card slot for long-term storage of weather data.

Atlas can provide remote monitoring from any devicemobile or desktop, including via the My AcuRite smartphone app. This feature lets users view data from anywhere, even at work or on vacation, allowing them to stay connected. Customizable alerts and notifications inform of changing weather conditions that might need attention. Atlas has the capability to integrate with Amazon Echo for convenient, personalized weather reports from Alexa.

AcuRite Atlas retails starting at $249.99 and is available at AcuRite.com.

About AcuRite

The AcuRite brand is owned by Chaney Instrument Co., a subsidiary of the Primex Family of Companies (PFOC) and a family-owned business headquartered in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Founded in 1943, Chaney Instrument Co. and its AcuRite brand are leaders in weather and home monitoring solutions. In addition to weather stations, AcuRite offers a broad line of home and environmental monitoring devices. The company is known for developing products with intuitive designs that fit seamlessly into day-to-day life, keeping people connected to the things that matter most. For more information, visit AcuRite.com.

Media Contact:

Vicky Shokatz

[email protected]

(414) 239-0407

SOURCE AcuRiteMONUMENT, Colo., Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Advisors Asset Management (AAM) announced today that it exceeded $1 billion in sales in unit investment trusts (UITs) where Cohen & Steers serves as the portfolio consultant.

Cohen & Steers is a New York-based global investment manager specializing in liquid real assets, including real estate securities, listed infrastructure, commodities and natural resource equities, as well as preferred securities and other income solutions. The AAM UITs offer a focused selection of proprietary UITs with an emphasis on solid investment disciplines and specific asset classes. Cohen & Steers has a long-term record of utilizing its portfolio strategy expertise to build innovative portfolios that can potentially benefit from longer-term market trends.

"Our partnership with Cohen & Steers allows investors to gain access to a large and experienced team recognized for bringing best-in-class investment solutions to clients," said Richard Stewart, CFA, Executive Vice President UITs at AAM. "Our commitment to partnering with high-quality managers ensures our investors receive access to innovative investment strategies."

Cohen & Steers is the portfolio consultant to:



Cohen & Steers Preferred Income Opportunities Portfolio

Cohen & Steers Convertible & Income CE Portfolio

Cohen & Steers Covered Call & Income Strat C/E Portfolio

Cohen & Steers Equity Dividend & Income C/E Portfolio

Cohen & Steers Global Covered Call & Inc Strat C/E Portfolio

Cohen & Steers Senior Variable Rate & Income C/E Portfolio

Cohen & Steers California Municipal Closed-End Portfolio

Cohen & Steers Municipal Closed-End Portfolio

Cohen & Steers MLP, Midstream & Energy Income C/E Portfolio

Cohen & Steers Real Estate Income Strategy Portfolio

Cohen & Steers Dynamic Income Portfolio

"Our team's focus on companies that have the potential to deliver real sustainable earnings growth irrespective of global macro headwinds is the key to our long-term investment success," said David Edlin, Executive Vice President of Cohen & Steers. "This stepping stone reflects the success of a comprehensive, disciplined investment process that underlies all of our specialized asset class strategies."

About Advisors Asset Management

For nearly 40 years, AAM has been a trusted resource for financial advisors and broker/dealers. It offers access to UITs (unit investment trusts), open- and closed-end mutual funds, separately managed accounts (SMAs), structured products, the fixed income markets, portfolio analytics and now exchange-traded funds (ETFs). For more information, visit www.aamlive.com.

Unit Investment Trusts (UITs) are sold only by prospectus. You should consider the trust's investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before investing. Contact your financial professional or visit Advisors Asset Management online at www.aamlive.com/uit to obtain a prospectus, which contains this and other financial information about the trust. Read it carefully before you invest or send any money. As with any investment, investors may lose money by investing in UITs and the trust may not perform as well as expected. Investing in UITs is a long-term strategy and investors should consider their ability to invest in successive trusts, if available. Investors also should consult a tax professional regarding the tax implications associated with investing in UITs. Securities offered through your financial professional.

This material is not intended to be a recommendation or investment advice, does not constitute a solicitation to buy or sell securities, and is not provided in a fiduciary capacity within the meaning of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code. The information provided does not take into account the specific objectives or circumstances of any particular investor, or suggest any specific course of action. Investment decisions should be made based on an investor's objectives and circumstances and in consultation with his or her advisers.

Advisors Asset Management, Inc. (AAM) is a SEC-registered investment advisor and member FINRA/SIPC. | 18925 Base Camp Road | Monument, CO 80132 | www.aamlive.com

CRN: 2018-0824-6854 R

CONTACT: Catherine Drury

JConnelly

(646) 922-7773

[email protected]

SOURCE Advisors Asset Management

Related Links

http://www.aamlive.com

EMERYVILLE, Calif., Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Mega corporations Walmart and Amazon employ a whopping two million people with their totals combined. Jeff Bezos, owner of Amazon, is the richest man in the world and Walmart is the world's largest retailer by revenue. Yet for both of these business giants, their lowest-paid workers require food stamps to make ends meet. Some of these workers struggle with things like student loan repayment while trying to afford rent and food. American Financial Benefits Center (AFBC), a document preparation service company, has worked with many federal borrowers to help them apply for income-driven repayment plans, but should the BEZOS Act pass, those repayment plans may not be as necessary.

"There's a lot of work that will have to be done to make the student loan repayment crisis more manageable. Better pay for employees would be a good method," said Sara Molina, Manager at AFBC.

Introduced earlier this month by Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Ro Khanna, the Stop Bad Employees by Zeroing Out Subsidies, or BEZOS Act, named after Amazon's owner and founder, would require that for each dollar an employee of a large and profitable company receives in government assistance, that company would pay for it in taxes. This isn't Senator Sanders' first critique of large corporations, but it certainly is one of his most vocal yet. Because it was only introduced recently, it will be a while before the Act is accepted, revised, or thrown away, but the move alone is likely to send shockwaves throughout the big business industry. As for what this means for employees, especially student loan borrowers, time will tell if there will be repercussions. But it may also mean better pay, which might eliminate the need for things like welfare benefits for full-time employees.

For those borrowers who are currently dealing with student loans that have become a burden, income-driven repayment plans might be able to help them gain control of their financial situation. AFBC has helped thousands of qualified borrowers apply for those federal repayment programs, potentially lowering their monthly payments, and continues to help them navigate through the yearly recertification process. "AFBC believes borrowers shouldn't have to struggle through repayment, so we've done what we can with our clients to help them better achieve financial wellness," said Molina.

About American Financial Benefits Center

American Financial Benefits Center is a document preparation company that helps clients apply for federal student loan repayment plans that fit their personal financial and student loan situation. Through its strict customer service guidelines, the company strives for the highest levels of honesty and integrity.

Each AFBC telephone representative has received the Certified Student Loan Professional certification through the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators (IAPDA).

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To learn more about American Financial Benefits Center, please contact:

American Financial Benefits Center

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Emeryville, CA 94608

1-800-488-1490

[email protected]

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LAS VEGAS, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Asia Broadband Inc. (OTC : AABB), through its wholly owned subsidiary Asia Metals Inc., has initiated the finalization of a definitive joint venture agreement for the large scale expansion of the Company's mining operations in the state of Guerrero, Mexico. Subsequent to the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) for the joint venture with a Chinese holding company and an evaluation due diligence period, there is agreement from both parties to move forward with the joint venture agreement. The key terms of the agreement are a $34 million capital commitment allocated over a 3 year period, a $5 million initial payment within 30 days of signing the final agreement and a $12 million minimum capital outlay in 2019. The final binding and operating terms of the agreement are expected to be defined and consented to within a 45 day period. The joint venture capital will be allocated to significantly expand the identified resources within the Asia Broadband properties and build out a new production processing facility with greater efficiency and capacity.

"The completion of the joint venture agreement in the coming weeks will be a powerful synergy for us at this time with the availability of significant expansion capital in combination with our resource delineating drill program. We are thrilled with the progress we made through the summer months to bring everything together to this point," affirmed James Gilbert, the Company President and CEO.

Asia Broadband Inc. (OTC : AABB), through its wholly owned subsidiary Asia Metals Inc., is a resource company focused on the production, supply and sale of precious and base metals, primarily to Asian markets. The Company utilizes its specific geographic expertise, experience and extensive industry contacts to facilitate its innovative distribution process from the production and supply of precious and base metals in Guerrero, Mexico, to our client sales networks in Asia. This vertical integration approach to sales transactions is the unique strength of Asia Broadband and differentiates the Company to its shareholders.

Contact the Company at:

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.asiametalsinc.com

Phone: 702-866-9054

Rebecca Whitmore

Investor Relations

Forward-Looking Statements are contained in this press release within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on the Asia Broadband Inc.'s (the "Company") expected current beliefs about the Company's business, which are subject to uncertainty and change. The operations and results of the Company could materially differ from what is expressed or implied by the statements made above when industry, regulatory, market and competitive circumstances change. Further information about these risks can be found in the annual and quarterly disclosures the Company has published on the OTC Markets website. The Company is under no obligation to update or alter its forward-looking statements as future circumstances, events and information may change.

SOURCE Asia Broadband Inc.

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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE: AN), America's largest automotive retailer, today announced that Mike Jackson, Chairman, CEO and President, has extended his contract with the Company as Executive Chairman. The Company also announced that the Board of Directors has retained the executive search and leadership advisory firm, Spencer Stuart, to support the CEO succession process, which will consider both internal and external candidates. Mr. Jackson will continue to lead the Company in his current role as Chairman, CEO and President during the succession process.

When AutoNation's Founder, H. Wayne Huizenga hired Mr. Jackson in 1999 to be CEO, the automotive retail industry was changed forever. In his almost 20 years as the transformational leader of AutoNation, Mr. Jackson solidified the Company's position as the largest automotive retailer in America, selling the most vehicles ever, with an innovative digital strategy unmatched in the industry. He expects each associate to strive for a peerless customer experience, a peerless commitment to their fellow associates, and a peerless commitment to their community through the Drive Pink cancer initiative. This is evident with milestones the Company has reached during his tenure. AutoNation has sold over 11 million vehicles, serviced over 40 million customer vehicles, and has raised nearly $15 million dollars for cancer-related charities from coast to coast. Mr. Jackson took a fragmented group of dealerships with legacy regional names, implemented industry-leading, customer-friendly common practices, and rebranded them with the AutoNation name, creating a highly successful and recognizable brand. AutoNation has been the number one automotive retailer for the last two decades. No other automotive retailer has been able to replicate what Mr. Jackson accomplished at AutoNation. In July of this year Mr. Jackson was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame.

Mr. Jackson is an industry disruptor and innovator. He is considered one of the most influential and effective leaders in the automotive industry. When the industry needed an advocate in the halls of the Treasury during the 2008 crisis, Mr. Jackson was there. When the collective dealer body needed a leader to speak to manufacturers on matters such as inventory levels and disruptive incentive programs, Mr. Jackson was there. When customers needed someone to voice their needs and expectations to manufacturers, Mr. Jackson sat down and had those conversations.

"Not only is Mike Jackson an inspirational and visionary corporate leader who is personally responsible for many automotive firsts, he's been the respected voice of the automotive industry for the last 20 years," said Michael Larson, AutoNation's lead independent director. "AutoNation's Board will initiate its search for the next CEO who can take the baton from Mike and lead AutoNation into its next phase of continued growth and success."

"AutoNation is the retail automotive industry leader. The Company is ready for its next chapter with a strong foundation, a coast to coast brand, a comprehensive Brand Extension strategy, and a transformational digital consumer car buying experience," said Mike Jackson.

Mr. Jackson went on to say, "While the Board commences its succession process, we will remain focused on delivering a peerless customer experience and executing our Brand Extension and digital strategies."

About AutoNation, Inc.

AutoNation, America's largest automotive retailer, is transforming the automotive industry through its bold leadership, innovation, and comprehensive brand extensions. As of June 30, 2018, AutoNation owned and operated over 325 locations from coast to coast. AutoNation has sold over 11 million vehicles, the first automotive retailer to reach this milestone. AutoNation's success is driven by a commitment to delivering a peerless experience through customer-focused sales and service processes. Through its Drive Pink initiative, AutoNation is committed to drive out cancer, create awareness and support critical research. AutoNation continues to be a proud supporter of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and other cancer-related charities.

Please visit investors.autonation.com, www.autonation.com, www.autonationdrive.com, www.twitter.com/autonation, www.twitter.com/CEOMikeJackson, www.facebook.com/autonation, and www.facebook.com/CEOMikeJackson, where AutoNation discloses additional information about the Company, its business, and its results of operations.

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. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "goals," "plans," "believes," "continues," "may," "will," "could," and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Statements regarding CEO succession planning, our strategic initiatives, including our brand extension strategies, and expectations for future results and the future performance of our franchises and the automotive retail industry, as well as other statements that describe our objectives, goals, or plans are forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements reflect our current expectations concerning future results and events, and they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are difficult to predict and may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance and achievements expressed or implied by these statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among others: our ability to identify and recruit potential candidates, economic conditions, including changes in interest rates, fuel prices, and tariffs; new and used vehicle margins; the success and financial viability and the incentive and marketing programs of vehicle manufacturers and distributors with which we hold franchises; our ability to successfully implement, and customer adoption of, our brand extension strategies; our ability to identify, acquire, and build out suitable locations in a timely manner; our ability to maintain and enhance our retail brands and reputation and to attract consumers to our own digital channels; regulatory factors affecting our business; and other factors described in our news releases and filings made under the securities laws, including, among others, our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and our Current Reports on Form 8-K. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release speak only as of the date of this news release, and we undertake no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

SOURCE AutoNation, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.autonation.com

Team will span 10 regional markets in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Europe to assist life sciences companies with their real estate needs

TORONTO, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - Mark E. Rose, Chair and CEO of Avison Young, the world's fastest-growing commercial real estate services firm, today announced the formation of a new life sciences specialty practice group.

The group, which will assist life sciences companies with their real estate needs, is led by Jerry Keeney, Avison Young Principal and Managing Director of the firm's San Diego office; Principal Brian Cooper, who is also based in San Diego; New Jersey-based Principal Tom Giannone; and Steve Bleiweiss, a Senior Vice-President in the firm's Metropark, NJ office.

The group will span 10 regional markets in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Europe and comprise 17 Avison Young leasing professionals.

"The new practice group's members understand the pharmaceutical product life cycle as well as the technical complexities that can create budgetary and scheduling risk associated with life sciences firms' real estate requirements," comments Rose.

Some of these requirements include laboratories, vivariums, pilot plants and manufacturing facilities. Group members will thoroughly address risks in the planning, designing, engineering and construction phases of life science spaces.

The members of Avison Young's new life sciences specialty practice group are industry veterans with decades of proven experience representing life science companies globally.

"This experience empowers us to seamlessly service all aspects of our clients' real estate needs, including site selection and evaluation, lease negotiation, construction management and post-lease project management," adds Rose.

Keeney notes: "The life-sciences industry is expanding at a rapid pace, accounting for much of the leasing activity in markets such as San Francisco, Boston and San Diego. The launch of our partnership at the global level allows us to formulate solutions for our clients who often have operations in more than one location."

The centrepiece of the group's unique approach will be a focus on integrating each client's technical and financial requirements into the lease-negotiation process, ensuring that requirements are appropriately incorporated within transaction documents. This process will foster the development of innovative strategies with credible budgets and schedules in early stages of transactions, providing clients with the facts needed to make more fully informed decisions.

Furthermore, Avison Young's value-engineering tools will ensure that real estate solutions are planned, designed and implemented with requisite scalability and completed under budget and on schedule, optimizing each client's real estate assets.

"Our new life sciences specialty practice group has created a transparent, risk-averse model that enables us to work with our clients' internal resources on either a single transaction or for their entire portfolio," concludes Giannone.

For more information on Avison Young's new life sciences specialty practice group, visit: https://www.avisonyoung.com/en_CA/life-sciences

Avison Young is the world's fastest-growing commercial real estate services firm. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Avison Young is a collaborative, global firm owned and operated by its principals. Founded in 1978, the company comprises 2,600 real estate professionals in 84 offices, providing value-added, client-centric investment sales, leasing, advisory, management, financing and mortgage placement services to owners and occupiers of office, retail, industrial, multi-family and hospitality properties.

For further information/comment/photos:

Sherry Quan , Principal, Global Director of Communications & Media Relations,

Avison Young : 604.647.5098; mobile: 604.726.0959





Mark Rose , Chair and CEO, Avison Young : 416.673.4028





Jerry Keeney , Principal and Managing Director, San Diego , Avison Young : 858.201-7077





Brian Cooper , Principal, Avison Young : 858.201.7068





Tom Giannone , Principal, Avison Young : 732.243.8545





: Steve Bleiweiss , Senior Vice-President, New Jersey , Avison Young : 732.243.8542

www.avisonyoung.com

Avison Young is a 2018 winner of the Canada's Best Managed Companies Platinum Club designation, having retained its Best Managed designation for seven consecutive years.

Follow Avison Young on Twitter:

For industry news, press releases and market reports: www.twitter.com/avisonyoung

For Avison Young listings and deals: www.twitter.com/AYListingsDeals

Follow Avison Young Bloggers: http://blog.avisonyoung.com

Follow Avison Young on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/avison-young-commercial-real-estate

Follow Avison Young on YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/AvisonYoungRE

Follow Avison Young on Instagram: www.instagram.com/avison_young_global

Editors/Reporters



Please click on link to view and download photo of a modern chemistry lab:

https://www.avisonyoung.com/documents/20342/2631393/modern+chemistry+lab.jpg

Sample photo caption for editors:

Photo of modern chemistry lab. Avison Young has formed a new life sciences specialty practice group to assist life sciences companies with their real estate needs.

SOURCE Avison Young Commercial Real Estate (BC)

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"Mary Sue Coleman and Jeffrey Pfeffer have both been powerful mentors to me and believe, as I do, in the transformative power of education and positive leadership," said President Davis-Blake . "It's an honor to welcome these national leaders in higher education to Bentley University."

Coleman will give the keynote address during the installation ceremony on October 19, 2018. As president of the Association of American Universities, she leads an organization of top research universities in the U.S. and Canada devoted to maintaining strong academic research and education. A former president of the universities of Michigan and Iowa, she was named by Time magazine as one of the nation's 10 best college presidents.

"Mary Sue Coleman's position as the successful president of two major U.S. universities and now as the leader of an organization focused on promoting education, research and discovery across the U.S. and Canada gives her a unique perspective on the opportunities and challenges facing higher education today," said President Davis-Blake, who served as dean of the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan while Coleman was the university's president. "We look forward to her sharing those insights with the Bentley community."

Pfeffer will keynote an academic symposium that caps off a week of campus activities leading up to the inauguration. He is a nationally-known organizational management expert and author whose latest book, Dying For a Paycheck, outlines how the current workplace can harm both employee health and overall company performance. The symposium will focus on the future of work, with two panel discussions on Human Sustainability and Artificial Intelligence and Technology. Pfeffer served as President Davis-Blake's Ph.D. advisor at Stanford.

"Jeffrey Pfeffer is one of the country's leading business theorists and we're excited to welcome him to join our faculty here at Bentley to debate this timely topic on the future of the U.S. workplace," said Provost Lynne Rosansky. "I expect his presentation will ask all of us to think carefully about work-life balance and challenge how we evaluate successful organizations."

The entire Bentley community will be included in the inauguration celebrations, with various events designed for faculty, staff and students in the week leading up to the installation ceremony for President Davis-Blake. For more information, visit the Inauguration Schedule of Events.

About Mary Sue Coleman

Mary Sue Coleman became president of the Association of American Universities in 2016. Prior to joining the AAU, Dr. Coleman was president of the University of Michigan from 2002 to 2014 (where she is now president and professor emerita) and president of the University of Iowa from 1995 to 2002. Long involved with the AAU, Coleman served as chair in 2011-2012.

Dr. Coleman has during her career as a faculty member and administrator been a national leader in higher education. The American Council on Education honored her with its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014.

At the University of Michigan, Dr. Coleman oversaw the groundbreaking partnership with Google to digitize the University's 7 million volume library, launched enduring institutional partnerships with universities in China, Ghana, South Africa, Brazil, and India, revitalized student living and learning experiences through a residential life initiative, and worked tirelessly to promote economic revitalization and innovation within the state of Michigan.

In recognition of these efforts, Dr. Coleman was named by President Obama in 2010 to help launch the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership, and U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke named her as co-chair of the National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Throughout her career, she has promoted the educational value of diverse perspectives in the classroom and within the academic community, and she has worked in numerous venues to improve access to higher education for all.

About Jeffrey Pfeffer

Jeffrey Pfeffer is the Thomas D. Dee II Professor of Organizational Behavior at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University where he has taught since 1979. He is the author or co-author of 15 books including:

Leadership B.S.: Fixing Workplaces and Careers One Truth at a Time ;

; The Human Equation: Building Profits by Putting People First ;

; Power: Why Some People Have Itand Others Don't ;

; The Knowing-Doing Gap: How Smart Companies Turn Knowledge Into Action ;

; Hard Facts, Dangerous Half-Truths, and Total Nonsense: Profiting from Evidence-Based Management;

And more than 150 articles and book chapters.

Dr. Pfeffer received his B.S. and M.S. degrees from Carnegie-Mellon University and his Ph.D. from Stanford. He began his career at the business school at the University of Illinois and then taught at the University of California, Berkeley. Pfeffer has been a visiting professor at the Harvard Business School, Singapore Management University, London Business School, Copenhagen Business School, and for the past 12 years a visitor at IESE in Barcelona.

His current research focuses on the relationship between time and money, power and leadership in organizations, economics language and assumptions and their effects on management practice, how social science theories become self-fulfilling, barriers to turning knowledge into action and how to overcome them, and evidence-based management.

About Bentley University

Bentley University is one of the nation's leading business schools, dedicated to preparing a new kind of business leader with the technical skills, global perspective and ethical standards required to make a difference in an ever-changing world. Bentley's diverse arts and sciences program combined with an advanced business curriculum prepares graduates to make an impact in their chosen fields. The university enrolls approximately 4,000 undergraduate and 1,000 graduate students. For more information, visit www.bentley.edu.

SOURCE Bentley University

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"LIU Post did a wonderful job on this eventit was a great accomplishment, and everyone enjoyed a wonderful day," said Pete Kowalczuk, president of Canon Solutions America. "I was very pleased that they invited us to participate in the very first LIU Classic, and I look forward to taking part in future events to support our dedicated customer, LIU Post, for years to come." Canon Solutions America provides print management services to LIU Post, and this event is representative of the many ways the company seeks to develop strong relationships with its customers and align with them on important initiatives outside of the typical vendor/client relationship.

Guests who visited the Canon Solutions America booth were invited to have their pictures taken by a professional photographer, with the photo then printed immediately on the SELPHY CP1300 Compact Photo Printer. Canon U.S.A., a leader in digital imaging solutions, collaborated in providing the service by supplying the SELPHY as well as the Canon IVY Mini Photo Printer, a pocket-size device that offers customization and printing of photos from smartphones and social media.

"The Canon photo booth was a blast! Everyone loved getting a professionally printed photo right there, to take home with them," said Jessica Sulkers, LIU Post student, Master's in Business Administration, Class of 2020. "This is my first event coordinating internship, and I am grateful to LIU for the opportunity."

All proceeds from the event will benefit LIU Post's new Veterinary Technology Program, which opened this fall, as well as its Equine Studies Program. The Veterinary Technology Program is the first such four-year program on Long Island, and the Equine Studies Program prepares students interested in pursuing careers in stable or racetrack management, as riding instructors, and more.

"We are grateful to Senator Marcellino for his hard work to secure funding to help build this transformative project," said LIU President Dr. Kimberly Cline. "We continue to be heartened by the strong community support for building our region's first College of Veterinary Medicine."

About Canon Solutions America, Inc.

Canon Solutions America provides industry leading enterprise, production, and large format printing solutions, supported by exceptional professional service offerings. With the technology offerings of the Canon and Oce brands, Canon Solutions America helps companies of all sizes find ways to: improve sustainability, increase efficiency, and control costs in conjunction with high volume, continuous feed, digital and traditional printing, and document management solutions. A wholly owned subsidiary of Canon U.S.A., Inc., Canon Solutions America is headquartered in Melville, N.Y. and has sales and service locations across the U.S. For more information on Canon Solutions America, please visit csa.canon.com.

Canon is a registered trademark of Canon Inc. in the United States and elsewhere. Oce is a registered trademark of Oce-Technologies B.V. in the United States and elsewhere. All other referenced product names and marks are trademarks of their respective owners and are hereby acknowledged.



 2018 Canon Solutions America, Inc. All rights reserved.

Canon Solutions America, Inc. Website:



Editorial Contact: http://csa.canon.com



Stephanie Caro For sales info/customer support:



631-330-4432 1-844-443-INFO (4636)



[email protected]

SOURCE Canon Solutions America, Inc.

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China Money Network unveiled the much-anticipated ranking today during a press conference at the Annual Meeting of the New Champions held by the World Economic Forum in Tianjin, China. The press conference is attended by Nina Xiang, founder and managing editor of China Money Network, Hao Jingfang, the first Asian female winner of the Hugo Award, Prof. Stuart Russell of the University of California, Berkeley, and Georg Schmitt, head of corporate affairs at the World Economic Forum.

The ranking of 50 most successful Chinese AI companies with the greatest potential for future success offers unique company-level insights into China's thriving AI space.

Some outstanding facts from the ranking include the following:

A total of 14 Chinese AI companies are unicorns, or private start-up companies valued at US$1 billion or more. The 14 unicorns, all included in the China AI Top 50 ranking, are worth a combined US$40.5 billion .

or more. The 14 unicorns, all included in the China AI Top 50 ranking, are worth a combined . Only two of the 50 companies had female founders.

27 of the 50 companies are backed by Chinese government related funds and/or the BAT. BAT refers to Chinese technology giants Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent .

. 55.6% of the founders have doctoral or post-doctoral degrees. Over 73% have at least a master's degree.

China AI Top 50 companies are more mature than their peers. Around 80% of the 50 companies have completed series B or later investment rounds. The industry as a whole sees 81% of the companies having just completed series A rounds.

The most active investors in the China AI Top 50 include Sequoia Capital China; Alibaba and its related entities and funds; Zhen Fund; Sinovation Ventures; and Tencent .

"If you want to have a close-up understanding of the Chinese AI industry, this is the report you must read as it is packed with company details and insights," says Nina Xiang, founder and managing editor of China Money Network. "To compile this ranking, we studied over 1,000 companies, interviewed a plethora of industry experts, and visited dozens of companies across China. This 67-page report will let readers see the Chinese AI sector in a different light."

The China AI Top 50 ranking include the following companies (in alphabetical order):

Aibee

Allcure Medical

AISpeech

Appier

Cambricon

Cloudminds

Cloudwalk

CowaRobot

DeepGlint

Deepwise

DJI

Dorabot

EHang

Fourth Paradigm

Geek+

HiScene

Horizon Robotics

Huiyihuiying

iCarbonX

Ice Credit

Infervision

Knowbox

LinkDoc

Malong Technologies

Megvii Technology

Mininglamp

Mobvio

Momenta

Moviebook

Noitom

Orbbec

Pachira

Pony.ai

Quotient Kinematics Machine

Roadstar.ai

Rokid

Roobo

SenseTime

SensingTech

Slamtec

Terminus

ThinkForce

Tongdun

Turing Robot

Tusimple

Tuya Smart

Ubtech Robotics

Unisound

Xiaoi Robot

Yitu Technology

The China AI Top 50 ranking is produced after months of thorough investigations with the China Money Network team analyzing over 1,000 Chinese AI companies and interviewing a plethora of industry participants. The team also communicated with many of the world's top experts, and visited dozens of companies and reviewed tomes of existing research and data.

The ranking is produced with a weighted evaluation system and based on proprietary data China Money Network collected for this purpose. The over 1,000 Chinese AI companies were given scores using a weighted evaluation system. The elements under consideration include 12 items across five areas: tech capability; maturity of products; fundraising; business fundamentals; and future potential.

The ranking also includes detailed analysis of the Chinese AI industry as a whole, and a total of 50 pages of individual company profiles. The profiles provide a snapshot of each company's history, background and future plans.

The report is available at this link:

https://www.chinamoneynetwork.com/china-ai-top-50-2018

About China Money Network:

China Money Network is a leading professional investment and technology media and data company. Founded in 2012 and based in Hong Kong, China Money Network hosts an AI-based bilingual platform that follows China's smart investments and technology innovation every day. The professional team of China Money Network has more than 60 years of combined experience in professional media sectors, with members coming from the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Financial Times, Haymarket Group and Acuris.

Millions of professionals globally rely on CMN specialist news, analysis, research and data to take the business pulse of China by following daily/weekly trends, expert network events, exclusive company rankings, customized thought leadership research, subscription-based digital services. More information available at www.chinamoneynetwork.com.

For more information, please contact:

China Money Network

[email protected]

+852-2392-0566

SOURCE China Money Network

Related Links

http://www.chinamoneynetwork.com

ALBANY, New York, September 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

In terms of revenue, the global copper market is projected to expand at a CAGR of 4.6% from 2018 to 2026, according to a new research report titled 'Copper Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 2018-2026' by Transparency Market Research (TMR). According to the report, the global copper market is expected to reach 32,932.1 kilo tons, in terms of volume, by 2026. The global copper market is driven by growth of automotive and construction industries across the world. The copper market in Asia Pacific is estimated to expand at a CAGR of 4.8% during the forecast period, owing to presence of a large number of manufacturers of copper in the region. Among types, the primary copper segment held a significant share of the global copper market in 2017. However, secondary copper was the most rapidly expanding segment in the year and the same trend is projected to continue throughout the forecast period.

(Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/664869/Transparency_Market_Research_Logo.jpg )



Request a Sample of Copper Market: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=2098

Rise in demand for copper-based electric products such as power cables in several end-use industries boosts the demand for copper wire rods

Based on form, the copper market has been divided into wire rods, plates, sheets & strips, tubes, bars & sections, and others. The others segment includes copper in the form of ingots, powder, etc. The wire rods segment held a leading market share, in terms of both volume and value, in 2017, owing to wide range of applications of copper wire rods. Copper has properties such as strength, ductility, corrosion resistance, and energy efficiency. This makes copper a choice of material for various electric and electronic products such as wires, power cables, and other industrial equipment. In terms of application, the global copper market has been classified into construction, transportation, appliances & electronics, power generation, distribution and transmission, and others. Construction, power generation, and appliances & electronics segments collectively held more than 70% share of the global copper market in 2017. Based on type, the copper market has been segmented into primary copper and secondary copper.

Request for Multiple Chapters on Global Copper Market: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=MC&rep_id=2098

Increase in investments in infrastructure development, particularly in developing countries, to boost demand for copper

Based on application, the copper market has been segregated into construction, transportation, appliances & electronics, power generation, distribution and transmission, and others. The others segment comprises ammunition coins, machinery, defense, etc. The construction segment holds a major share of the global copper market. This trend is likely to continue throughout the forecast period, owing to high demand for copper for use in construction applications to make taps, valves, plumbing, and fittings. Copper has advantageous properties such as high temperature resistance and it does not release toxic fumes in case of fire. Copper is antimicrobial and hence, copper tubes used in water systems can prevent bacterial infection. Also, durability and enhanced weather-ability make copper the best choice of material for construction applications. The transportation segment held the second-largest share of the global copper market in 2017. The segment is expected to gain market share by the end of the forecast period, due to rising adoption of electric vehicles. New copper applications being developed include antimicrobial copper-touch surfaces, lead?free brass plumbing, high-tech copper wires, and heat exchangers.

Request For Custom Research: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=CR&rep_id=2098

Price trends of copper

Copper is one of the most traded commodities in the world. Copper prices are mostly fixed. Copper is traded by three major commodity exchange facilities such as the London Metal Exchange (LME), the Commodity Exchange Division of the New York Mercantile Exchange (COMEX/NYMEX), and the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE). Copper prices are affected by various economic indicators such as GDP, Sensex, and news in financial markets. Copper prices are strongly correlated to global economic performance, as the manufacturing activity directly affects the demand for the metal. Copper prices increased by 27% in 2017 over that in 2016 and touched more than US$ 6000/ton. This is attributable to the large number of planned and unplanned shutdowns at major copper smelters, leading to lower production of copper that has created supply shortage. Copper prices are expected to register a sluggish growth rate from 2019 to 2021.

Asia Pacific to dominate the global market

Geographically, the global copper market has been divided into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. Asia Pacific is anticipated to hold a prominent share of the global market during the forecast period, owing to growth of automotive, construction, and appliances industries. This boosts usage of copper in the manufacture of copper motors, wiring, radiators, connectors, brakes, heat exchange equipment, pressure vessels, vats, etc. North America is anticipated to be a rapidly expanding region of the global copper market during the forecast period, followed by Asia Pacific. This is due to rising advancements in the transportation industry including new-generation airplanes and trains. Recently developed high-speed trains can use two to four tons of copper on an average, which is significantly higher than the one to two tons used in the traditional electric trains. Europe is another region with high demand for copper, due to presence of a large number companies operating in industrial machinery, transportation, and power generation industries in the region.

Request for Discount on This Report: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=D&rep_id=2098

Highly consolidated market with a few major players

The report comprises profiles of major companies operating in the global copper market. Key players operating in the market include Codelco, Rio Tinto, Glencore International AG, Freeport McMoRan Inc., Jiangxi Copper Corporation, BHP Bilition, Antofagasta Plc., Group Mexico, and Aurubis. Other prominent market players include Vedanta Resources Plc, Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. Ltd, LS-Nikko Co., and Tongling Non-Ferrous Metals Group. The report also comprises matrix of comparison between the top four players operating in the copper market along with the market share analysis for 2017. On September 27, 2017, the International Copper Study Group partnered with the Common Fund for Commodities, the International Copper Association, and the International Copper Promotion Council (India) for technology transfer in a project titled 'High-pressure Copper Die Casting in India'. The project is related to the manufacture of rotors and motor systems by using high-pressure copper die casting parts that are highly energy efficient.

Global Copper Market, by Type

Primary Copper

Secondary Copper

Global Copper Market, by Form

Wire Rods

Plates

Sheets & Strips

Tubes

Bars & Sections

Others (Ingots, Powder, etc.)

Global Copper Market, by Application

Construction

Transportation

Appliances & Electronics

Power Generation, Distribution and Transmission

Others (Ammunition Coins, Machinery, Defense, etc.)

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Polyols and Polyurethane Market: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/polyols-market.html



Manganese Carbonate Market: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/manganese-carbonate-market.html

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SOURCE Transparency Market ResearchSEATTLE, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Commuting can be one of the most vexing parts of the workday, especially when you're caught in slow-moving traffic. But despite the challenges that can come with getting to your destination, and the increasing amount of time Northwest drivers are spending on their daily commutes, the latest poll from PEMCO Insurance finds that a majority of residents prefer to drive themselves to work each day.

The Northwest Poll found that one in three Washington and Oregon drivers (32 percent) say they have longer commutes now than in years past, with the average driver spending nearly an hour getting to and from work every day. But despite a shared frustration for traffic delays, a whopping 94 percent of commuters say they prefer to drive themselves to work, rather than opt for another mode of transportation.

According to the poll, convenience is king. Three-quarters of people (74 percent) say they prefer to drive because it's the most convenient option, and half (49 percent) think driving is the fastest or most efficient way to travel.

"The growth and development we've seen here in the Northwest has certainly had its benefits, but many of us are paying for it with longer commute times," said PEMCO Spokesperson Derek Wing. "We all know how frustrating it can be to get caught in bumper-to-bumper traffic, so it was surprising to see that so many people think driving themselves is still the fastest or most convenient way to get to their destination."

The increased commute time  and the frustrations that come with it  have convinced some drivers to change their routines. Many people (57 percent) say they now use backroads or side streets to deal with congested roadways. And about one-third (34 percent) say they've shifted their schedules to avoid peak traffic times.

But when faced with the choice to change modes of transportation, about half of respondents (52 percent) said no thanks. About one in five (18 percent) said they would be willing to take public transportation like the bus or light rail if it were convenient, and only about 14 percent said they would walk more.

And of those who use other use alternatives to driving for their commute, a majority (68 percent) say they'd prefer to make a change.

"Although we have more choices than ever when it comes to how we get to work, it appears most commuters still prefer the convenience and sense of control that comes with driving themselves," Wing said. "But as someone who prefers to vanpool to work, I enjoy all the advantages of driving, without actually having to be behind the wheel. Plus, I get to ride with some friendly passengers, too!"

For a complete summary of PEMCO's poll results, visit www.pemco.com/poll, where you'll find the responses collected by FBK Research of Seattle in June 2018.

About the PEMCO Insurance Northwest Poll

PEMCO Insurance commissioned this independent survey, conducted by FBK Research of Seattle, that asked Washington and Oregon residents questions about driving habits and attitudes toward current Northwest issues. The sample size, 600 respondents in Washington and 600 in Oregon, yields an accuracy of +/- 4.1 percent at the 95 percent confidence level. In other words, if this study were conducted 100 times, in 95 instances the data will not vary by more than the associated error range.

About PEMCO Insurance

PEMCO Insurance is a true Northwest company providing auto, home, and boat insurance to our neighbors since 1949. Consistently ranked highest in customer satisfaction, people are the heart of our business. They can depend on us to anticipate and support their changing needs. PEMCO is committed to serving organizations that positively impact our local communities. We were started by a Seattle schoolteacher and stay true to our roots by focusing on nonprofits and organizations that support youth, education, and public safety. To learn more, visit www.pemco.com.

CONTACTS:

Derek Wing

PEMCO Insurance

206.628.4622

[email protected]

Kristi Herriott

Firmani + Associates Inc.

206.443.9357

[email protected]

SOURCE PEMCO Insurance

Related Links

http://www.pemco.com

ATLANTA, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- TXT Retail, an Aptos Company, today announced that Eminence, the leader in the French underwear market, will deploy the TXTPLM solution to streamline and accelerate processes for creating and managing its collections. The solution will be leveraged across its two main brands: Eminence and Athena.

The TXTPLM solution will support Eminence in managing all phases of the product lifecycle: the marketing brief, which defines what to sell in which markets and channels, the design and product development, as well as a detailed management of costing.

The project will span the entire organization involving over 80 users in the marketing, merchandising, design, finance, quality, product development and supply chain departments.

Founded in 1944, Eminence designs, manufactures and markets men's, women's and kids' underwear, swimwear and pajamas, as well as technical apparel. Its strongly differentiated portfolio offers quality products and unparalleled comfort. With four manufacturing plants in Europe, a wide distribution network and a growing online presence, Eminence continues to grow its brand in France and internationally.

"We manage our collections from the selection of the thread to the final product," explains Eric Abriat, Buying and Supply Chain Director at Eminence.

"We have a 15-year-old tool focused on supporting technical development and pricing. With TXTPLM, we want to go beyond that by integrating all stakeholders of the process such as the style department, marketing, finance, R&D, purchasing and quality so that they can all be informed and participate in real time to the progress of each activity."

"With the use of TXTPLM," Abriat continues, "we also expect to define more precise costing at the beginning of the process so that we can focus our development activity and our resources on the most promising projects."

After a thorough evaluation of product lifecycle management solutions, Eminence was impressed with TXTPLM's ability to manage the complexities of the textile sector, particularly in the underwear category, which includes the combination of sizes and cups in bras, the management of multi-level bill of materials down to the thread, and alternative production and procurement routings. Eminence will also manage with TXTPLM a wide assortment of prepacks  such as T-shirts, boxers and socks coming in the same size but different colors  that are sold in supermarkets and hypermarkets as well as online.

"During the software selection process, we explored and tested a number of different solutions. TXTPLM was definitely the best match to our expectations," adds Abriat.

"We are proud to work with a group like Eminence that is able to combine tradition and innovation, while always focusing on the authenticity of its brand and the highest levels of service to its customers," says Noel Goggin, Aptos CEO and culture leader. "TXTPLM is a best fit for textile and apparel companies managing an integrated value chain, from concept to customer, ready to take on the challenges of global expansion and multi-channel operations."

About Aptos "Engaging Customers Differently"

In an era of virtually limitless choice, sustained competitive advantage only comes to retailers who engage customers differently  by truly understanding who they are, what they want and why they buy. At Aptos, we too, believe that Engaging Customers Differently is critical to our success. We are committed to a deep understanding of each of our clients, to fulfilling their needs with the retail industry's most comprehensive omni-channel solutions, and to fostering long-term relationships built on tangible value and trust. More than 1,000 retail brands rely upon our Singular Commerce platform to deliver every shopper a personalized, empowered and seamless experienceno matter when, where or how they shop. Learn more: www.aptos.com

Follow Aptos on Twitter @Aptos_Retail

Aptos, the Aptos logo, "Engaging Customers Differently" and "Singular Commerce" are trademarks of Aptos, Inc. TXT is a trademark of TXT e-Solutions S.p.A. used by Aptos under license. All other trademarks referenced are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE Aptos, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.aptos.com

VANCOUVER, Sept. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - Friday Night Inc. (the "Company" or "Friday Night") (CSE: TGIF) (OTCQB: TGIFF) is pleased to announce that it has determined to change its name to '1933 Industries Inc.', and will proceed to effect the continuation of the Company out of the province of Alberta and into the Province of British Columbia, as previously approved by shareholders at the annual and special meeting held on April 24, 2018. The Company's ticker symbols, TGIF and TGIFF on the Canadian Securities Exchange and the OTCQB respectively, will remain the same.

1933 Industries Inc. ("1933 Industries"), was chosen to reflect the Company's diversified business model, including its established cannabis cultivation and production business, expanded capabilities in hemp / CDB extraction, development of its advisory services arm and its acquisitive growth strategy in the United States and Canada. With a new name and visual identity, several Alternative Medicine Association products will be rebranded as '1933 Strains and 1933 Concentrates' to unify the company, its products and brands.

"1933 Industries signifies and gives tribute to the year when alcohol prohibition ended in the United States. Today, our Company welcomes the dawn of a new era of legalization in Canada, as well as in the United States, where medical cannabis has been legalized in 31 states and for recreational purposes in 9 states," remarked Mr. Brayden Sutton, President and CEO.

The continuation and name change are expected to be effected on or about September 26, 2018.

Please visit our new website at www.1933industries.com

About 1933 Industries Inc.

1933 Industries Inc. is a vertically integrated cannabis company with operations in the United States and Canada. Operating through three subsidiary companies, 1933 Industries owns licensed medical and adult-use cannabis cultivation and production assets, proprietary hemp-based, CBD infused products, CBD extraction services and a specialized cannabis advisory firm supporting clients in security, intelligence and due diligence. The Company owns 91% of Alternative Medicine Association, LC (AMA), a licensed medical and adult-use cannabis cultivation and production facility that produces its own line of unique cannabis-based products and manufactures other third-party brands. Infused MFG, also a 91% owned subsidiary, produces hemp-based, CBD products, thoughtfully crafted of high quality organic botanical ingredients. The Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Spire Global Strategy is a high-level advisory firm that provides services to enable businesses to stay secure, compliant, and competitive.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Notice regarding Forward Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks including various risk factors discussed in the Company's disclosure documents, which can be found under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com. Friday Night undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

SOURCE Friday Night Inc.New model of temporary ownership to target over 16 million vehicles and create a $100 billion business opportunity by 2025

LONDON, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Frost & Sullivan, the growth partnership company, will host a live, complimentary Growth Innovation Leadership (GIL) briefing, Unlocking Vehicle Subscription: Growing Opportunities for Automotive OEMs, Dealerships, Startups, and New Entrants, on Tuesday, 9 October 2018, at 12 p.m. EDT. The webinar will offer expert insights from Dr. Julia E. Saini, Vice President and Vishwas Shankar, Research Manager, both representing Frost & Sullivan's Mobility Practice, joined by Graeme Banister, Venture Builder at InMotion Ventures.

For more information and to register for the webinar, please click here.

By 2025, it is estimated that over 16 million vehicles will be part of vehicle subscription services. Nearly 10% of all new vehicle sales in Europe and the US will be offered as part of vehicle subscription programmes, and the market will represent a staggering business opportunity of $100 billion.

Vehicle subscription services occupy a unique niche in the midst of carsharing, rental, leasing, and outright purchase, thereby targeting a white space opportunity. This new form of temporary car ownership is rapidly gaining appeal since it allows customers to switch programmes and swap vehicles easily.

A flat fee that covers registration, warranty, insurance, delivery, maintenance and repair services, and concierge services adds to the hassle-free ownership experience for customers. Simultaneously, it creates a cascade of revenue opportunities for automotive OEMs, as well as for automotive dealership groups, car maintenance and repair companies, insurance firms, technology startups, AI companies, lending companies, and concierge operators.

"Vehicle subscription is a transversal theme that cuts across new/used vehicles, vehicle segments, ICE and alternate energy vehicles, OEMs and non-OEMs, regions, young and old drivers, and mainstream/ premium/super premium customers," explains Saini.

"As car buying migrates to online platforms and smaller boutique stores, vehicle subscription is an opportunity for OEMs, dealerships, and new entrants to add value to their archaic business models," she adds.

Several OEMs are creating distinct brand identities for their vehicle subscription programmes, including Canvas by Ford, Book by Cadillac, Care by Volvo, Porsche Passport, Mercedes-Benz Flexperience, Access by BMW, and CarpeDrive by JLR. In time, vehicle subscription services will be offered by all OEMs across all key segmentssuper premium, premium, and mainstream.

"The recent combination of vehicle subscription with an array of mobility services, such as carsharing and ride hailing, has only served to reinforce its tremendous revenue potential," notes Shankar. "It is set to emerge as one of the most disruptive mobility services of the future."

Expert Insights You Will Not Want to Miss:

Learn how vehicle subscription is evolving, critical success factors, and what to expect by 2025

Understand how OEMs and non-OEMs are approaching this space, their strategies and end game

Identify targeted vehicles (new, used, various segments, and body styles) and planned rollouts in the US and major markets in Europe

Discover which customer groups are the main focus, along with the programmes and business models being created to attract them

Explore partnerships being forged by OEMs, dealerships, and tech companies with other participants to develop unique offerings

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants. For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Contact us: Start the discussion

Contact



Kristina Menzefricke

Corporate Communications  Frost & Sullivan, Europe

P: +44 (0)208 996 8589

E: [email protected]

http://ww2.frost.com

SOURCE Frost & Sullivan

Related Links

https://ww2.frost.com

CSE: HUGE

OTCQB: FSDDF

FRA: 0K9

TORONTO, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - FSD Pharma Inc. ("FSD Pharma" or the "Company") (CSE: HUGE) (FRA: 0K9) announced today that its subordinate voting shares have been upgraded to a listing on the OTCQB ("OTCQB") Venture Market, trading under the ticker symbol "FSDDF." The Company's subordinate voting shares continue to be listed on the Canadian Stock Exchange ("CSE") under the ticker symbol "HUGE" and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange ("FRA") under the ticker symbol "0K9."

"We are excited to be upgraded to a listing on the OTCQB Venture Market for early stage and developing U.S. and international companies. This new listing allows U.S. investors the opportunity to further share in the Company's continued expansion and growth internationally," said Zeeshan Saeed, EVP and Director of FSD Pharma. "U.S. investors can obtain Real-Time quotes and market information for the Company at www.otcmarkets.com and access the most current company news and developments."

About FSD Pharma (CSE: HUGE) (OTCQB: FSDDF) (FRA: 0K9)

FSD Pharma through its wholly-owned subsidiary FV Pharma, is a licensed producer of marijuana under the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR) having received its cultivation license on October 13, 2017. Headquartered at the former Kraft plant in Cobourg, Ontario, approximately an hour's drive from Toronto, FV Pharma management's mission is to transform the facility into the largest hydroponic indoor cannabis facility in the world. FV Pharma intends to target all legal aspects of the cannabis industry, including cultivation, processing, manufacturing, extracts and research and development.

Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Corporation's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, this release contains forward-looking information relating to the development of the Corporation's indoor cannabis facility and its business goals and objectives. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is made as of the date hereof, and the Corporation is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward looking-information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE FSD Pharma Inc.DUBLIN, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

The "Dental Implants: Global Markets to 2023" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

This report provides a detailed analysis of the dental implant market, segmented according to the type of material used, product type, value, end user and region. On the basis of materials, the market is divided into titanium and zirconium implants. On the basis of implant type, the market is divided into tapered and parallel-walled dental implants. Based on the value, they are divided into premium and non-premium dental implants. On the basis of end users, the market is divided into dental clinics and hospitals, dental laboratories and dental colleges and research establishments.

The report also includes a discussion of the major drivers and global dynamics, along with the political, economic, social and technological factors that impact the market. The report provides market size estimates for the year 2017 (considered as a base year), 2018, and a forecast for 2023. Market estimates and forecast figures are provided for all major market segments. A discussion of the major players is included in the competitive landscape section, which provides trends in product launches, collaborations, mergers and acquisitions, and other agreements.

Europe dominates the dental implant market, followed by North America. This is due to the majority of the key players in the dental implant industry being situated in Europe. The high cost of dental implant treatment in Europe and North America, when compared to other countries, as well as increased healthcare spending and disposable incomes are other reasons for the increased market share. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing region over the forecast period, and this growth is driven by factors such as increasing oral diseases, arising geriatric population and growing disposable incomes of the people in this region.



The American Academy of Implant Dentistry has estimated that over 69% of Americans between ages 35 and 44 years have at least one missing tooth. Moreover, as a developed region, the U.S. population has a higher affordability rate for dental implant procedures. High healthcare spending in this region is expected to propel market growth.



The titanium dental implant segment dominated the product market in 2016, owing to the wide use of dental implants made of this material. The biocompatible nature of the pure form of titanium is the main reason for its wide usage in the industry.



The zirconium segment is anticipated to be the fastest growing product segment over the forecast period. Zirconium functions with nearly the same features as those of titanium, but with higher esthetics and a lesser chance for allergy. Titanium implants are generally fabricated either as a one-piece or two-piece systems, whereas zirconium implants are made as one-piece systems. Two-piece implants offer better features, such as their use to support overdentures.



The report concludes with a special focus on the company profiles and includes detailed profiles of the major vendors in the dental implant market.

Key Topics Covered:



Chapter 1 Introduction

Study Goals and Objectives

Reasons for Doing This Study

Scope of Report

Information Sources

Research Methodology

Geographic Breakdown

Analyst's Credentials

Custom Research

Related Reports

Chapter 2 Summary and Highlights



Chapter 3 Market and Technology Background

Introduction

Market Definition and Overview

Components of Dental Implants

The Fixture

The Abutment

The Prosthesis

Developments and Advancements in Dental Implants

Current Trends in Dental Implantology

Immediate Loading Dental Implants

Mini Dental Implants

All-on-4 Technique

Zygomatic Implants

Market Drivers

Increase in Oral Diseases Leading to Tooth Loss

Rapid Development and Advancement of Dental Technology

Rise in the Geriatric Population

Increasing Health Expenditure and Disposable Income

Market Restraints

High Competition from Key Players

Lack of Awareness and Penetration in Developing Countries

High Cost of Dental Implants

Market Opportunities

Increasing Demand for Cosmetic Dentistry

Gaining Popularity for Dental Tourism

Development of Newer Techniques in Implantology

Patent Analysis of Key Players

Chapter 4 Market Breakdown by Material

Introduction

Titanium Dental Implants

Overview

Advantages of Titanium Dental Implants

Disadvantages of Titanium Dental Implants

Zirconium Dental Implants

Overview

Advantages of Zirconium Dental Implants

Disadvantages of Zirconium Dental Implants

Chapter 5 Market Breakdown by Type

Introduction

Tapered Dental Implants

Overview

Parallel-walled Dental Implants

Overview

Chapter 6 Market Breakdown by Value

Introduction

Premium Dental Implants

Non-Premium Implants

Chapter 7 Market Breakdown by End User

Introduction

Dental Clinics and Hospitals

Dental Colleges and Research Establishments

Dental Laboratories

Chapter 8 Market Breakdown by Region

Introduction

Europe

Germany

United Kingdom

France

Italy

Spain

Rest of Europe

North America

USA

Canada

Mexico

Asia-Pacific

India

China

Japan

South Korea

Australia and New Zealand

and Rest of APAC

Rest of the World

Chapter 9 Regulatory and Reimbursement Scenario

Introduction

Regulatory Scenario, by Region

United States

Canada

Mexico

Europe

APAC

Rest of the World

Reimbursement Scenario

Chapter 10 Competitive Landscape and Key Developments

Market Share Analysis of Major Players

Porter's Analysis

Bargaining Powers of Buyers

Bargaining Power of Suppliers

Threat from New Entrants

Threat from Substitutes

Market Competition

Key Developments

Mergers and Acquisitions

Agreements, Collaborations and Partnerships

Chapter 11 Company Profiles



3M Company

Company Avinent Implant System, S.L.

Bicon Llc

Biohorizons Iph

Camlog Biotechnologies Ag

Dentatus Ab

Dentsply Sirona

Institut Straumann Ag

Neoss International

Nobel Biocare

Osstem Implants.Co. Ltd.

Tbr Dental Group

Zimmer Biomet Holdings

For more information about this report visit

https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/96v3m9/global_dental?w=5

Media Contact:

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets

Related Links

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DUBLIN, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

The "Molecular Breeding Market by Process (QTL Mapping, Marker-Assisted Selection, Marker-Assisted Backcrossing, and Genomic Selection), Marker (SNP, SSR), Application (Crop Breeding and Livestock Breeding), and Region-Global Forecast to 2023" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The molecular breeding market is estimated at USD 1.79 billion in 2018 and is projected to reach USD 3.95 billion by 2023, at a CAGR of 17.11% during the forecast period.



The agricultural benefits associated with these adjuvant solutions are the major factors contributing to the growth of this market, globally. The growth of economies in developing countries, coupled with the increasing R&D expenses in the agriculture industry drives the growth potential of these markets.



Molecular breeding technologies are in the nascent stage of growth in the plant and livestock breeding industry, where major seed manufacturing companies have been adopting this technology for improved seeds. Strong funds by the private and public sectors towards agrigenomic research such as the application of MAS, and genomic selection in field and vegetable crops is projected to drive the growth of the market over the next five years. Also, the decline of prices observed in the genetic services industry in agriculture has encouraged key players to invest in the market.



Marker-assisted selection was estimated to dominate the molecular breeding market in 2018. The US was the major country with higher adoption of MAS in 2018. The Netherlands and the UK witnessed 100% adoption of molecular breeding techniques for new development of crop varieties. The adoption of genomic selection is projected to grow at the highest rate, owing to the increasing awareness about its efficacy in increasing yield, majorly for vegetables in developed countries.



Multiple breakthrough innovations led to the development of better and efficient DNA or molecular markers such as SNPs and SSRs. Companies such as Eurofins and Thermo Fisher have been offering molecular breeding services such as MAS and genomic selection based on SNPs and SSRs, while some companies such as Illumina Inc. LGC Limited, LemnaTec, and Charles River are dependent solely on SNPs as molecular markers.



Molecular Breeding Market



North America accounted for the largest share in the molecular breeding market in 2017, followed by Europe, owing to the high adoption of advanced genetic tools to increase agricultural yield in countries such as Germany, France, the US, and Canada. Rising cultivation of industrial & high-value crops and growing awareness among farmers about the benefits of molecular breeding are expected to provide more scope for market expansion. The major factors restraining the growth of this market are the high start-up cost associated with the application of molecular markers and automated equipment. Also, the dearth of skilled professionals and lack of infrastructural facilities in developing countries hinder the growth potential of this market.



The global market for molecular breeding is dominated by key players such as Eurofins (Luxembourg), Illumina (US), LGC Limited (UK), Thermo Fisher Scientific (US), and SGS (Switzerland). Some emerging players in the molecular breeding market include DanBred (Denmark), Intertek Group (UK), LemnaTec (Germany), Charles River (US), Slipstream Automation (New Zealand), and Fruitbreedomics (consortium).

Key Topics Covered:



1 Introduction



2 Research Methodology



3 Executive Summary



4 Premium Insights



4.1 Opportunities in the Molecular Breeding Market

4.2 Molecular Breeding Market, By Application, 2017

4.3 North America: Molecular Breeding Market, By Marker & Country, 2017

4.4 Molecular Breeding Market, By Process & Region, 2017

4.5 Molecular Breeding Market Share, By Key Country



5 Market Overview



5.1 Introduction

5.2 Evolution

5.3 Macroeconomic Indicators

5.3.1 Growth in the Usage of Commercial Seeds

5.3.2 Increasing Trade of Animal Genetic Resources

5.4 Market Dynamics

5.4.1 Drivers

5.4.1.1 Rise in Funds for Agrigenomics

5.4.1.2 Exponential Fall in the Cost for Genomic Solutions

5.4.1.3 Technological Advancements Ensure Strong Market Growth

5.4.1.4 Growing Number of Partnerships, Collaborations, and Acquisitions

5.4.2 Restraints

5.4.2.1 High Cost of Molecular Breeding in Comparison to Conventional Breeding Techniques

5.4.2.2 Infrastructural Restraints

5.4.2.2.1 Lack of Laboratory Infrastructure

5.4.2.2.2 Availability of Few Validated Markers

5.4.2.2.3 Dearth of Skilled Professionals

5.4.2.3 Lesser Awareness and Misconception About Molecular Breeding Programs

5.4.3 Opportunities

5.4.3.1 Emerging Markets

5.4.3.2 Unregulated Environment for Molecular Breeding

5.4.3.3 Opportunities in Livestock Breeding

5.4.4 Challenges

5.4.4.1 Developing Economies Restrict the Adoption of Molecular Breeding

5.5 Patent Analysis

5.6 Supply Chain Analysis



6 Molecular Breeding Market, By Process



6.1 Introduction

6.2 Marker-Assisted Selection (MAS)

6.3 QTL Mapping

6.4 Marker-Assisted Backcrossing (MABC)

6.5 Genomic Selection

6.6 Other Processes



7 Molecular Breeding Market, By Marker



7.1 Introduction

7.2 Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP)

7.3 Simple Sequence Repeats (SSR)

7.4 Other Markers



8 Molecular Breeding Market, By Application



8.1 Introduction

8.2 Crop Breeding

8.2.1 Cereals & Grains

8.2.1.1 Corn

8.2.1.2 Wheat

8.2.1.3 Rice

8.2.1.4 Other Cereals & Grains

8.2.2 Oilseeds

8.2.2.1 Soybean

8.2.2.2 Other Oilseeds

8.2.3 Vegetables

8.2.4 Other Crop Types

8.3 Livestock

8.3.1 Cattle

8.3.2 Poultry

8.3.3 Other Livestock



9 Molecular Breeding Market, By Region



9.1 Introduction

9.2 North America

9.2.1 US

9.2.2 Canada

9.2.3 Mexico

9.3 Europe

9.3.1 Germany

9.3.2 France

9.3.3 Netherlands

9.3.4 UK

9.3.5 Rest of Europe

9.4 Asia Pacific

9.4.1 Australia

9.4.2 China

9.4.3 India

9.4.4 Japan

9.4.5 Rest of Asia Pacific

9.5 Rest of the World (RoW)

9.5.1 Brazil

9.5.2 South Africa

9.5.3 Israel

9.5.4 Others in RoW



10 Competitive Landscape



10.1 Overview

10.2 Company Share Analysis and Rankings

10.3 Competitive Scenario

10.3.1 Mergers & Acquisitions

10.3.2 Expansions & Investments

10.3.3 Agreements, Partnerships, and Joint Ventures



11 Company Profiles



11.1 Eurofins

11.2 Thermo Fisher Scientific

11.3 Illumina Inc.

11.4 SGS

11.5 LGC Group

11.6 Danbred

11.7 Intertek

11.8 Lemnatec

11.9 Charles River

11.10 Slipstream Automation

11.11 Fruitbreedomics



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/tjlbk5/global_molecular?w=5

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets

Related Links

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On September 17, "Hainan Culture Enters Russia" event of China was held in the Chinese Cultural Center in Moscow, capital of Russia, in a bid to enhance the Russian people's understanding of Hainan culture and promote the culture exchange and cooperation between Hainan Province of China and Russia.

Wang Qi, official of the Publicity Department of Hainan Provincial CPC Committee, said that the event showcased the local customs and culture of Hainan to the audience. He also expressed his hope to further deepen the Russian people's understanding of Hainan through this exchange event.

Agamov Alexander Matveevich, executive director of World Without Borders, a tourism association in Russia, said that he deeply appreciated the event for they could enhance mutual exchanges between China and Russia. Because of the experiences accumulated in tourism, he has a deeper understanding that only by promoting tourists' in-depth understanding of the destinations, can they inspire greater willingness of tourists to travel. Russian tourists have strong interests in visiting places of historic interest and in understanding local customs and practices of tourist destinations. The event was very helpful in making more Russians understand Hainan.



As the song On the Field of Hope played ended, Chen Liang, deputy head of Hainan Provincial Ethnic Song and Dance Ensemble, played Katyusha, a Russian song, bringing the atmosphere to a climax. Later, traditional ethnic dances, erhu solo, and ensemble of ethnic musical instrument were staged. The audience recorded the performances by their mobile phones.



According to Chen, the audience were every enthusiastic and the atmosphere was very good. He was rather proud to introduce Hainan culture to Russian audience. At the event, 80 photographic works were also displayed, showing tourism in Hainan including scenic spots, products, and services.



More than 150 Chinese and Russian friends participated in the event.



Image Attachments Links:

http://asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=319756

SOURCE The Publicity Department of Hainan Provincial CPC CommitteeFINDLAY, Ohio, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Hercules Tires has given back to the local community and the automotive industry by donating tires to Millstream Career Center in Findlay, OH and Owens Community College in Toledo, OH, which will allow students to practice installing tires safely  important hands-on experience they need as they train to become automotive technicians.

Camilla Jesko, marketing manager, proprietary brands at Hercules Tires presented the Roadtour 855 SPE tires to Millstream for use on their 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT vehicle on August 29 to Tim Stroub, automotive program instructor, and his senior class. The Grand Caravan is used to support transportation needs of staff and students at Millstream.

"We thank Hercules for these tires. They will be used for the van which various Millstream faculty and staff utilize when traveling on school business," said Tim Stroub, automotive program instructor. "Our students have completed a safety inspection on the vehicle and will learn proper tire maintenance and installation techniques as part of their curriculum."

Additionally, on September 14, Hercules presented two sets of tires for Owens Community College vehicles to Jennifer Fehnrich, executive director, Owens Community College Foundation. The Terra Trac AT II and the Terra Trac Cross-V will be used on their Chevy Silverado and Ford Escape respectively.

"In-kind donations of new products from companies like Hercules adds to the learning environment as students work toward program completion and begin entering the workforce," said Jennifer Fehnrich, executive director, Owens Community College Foundation. "Students will install these tires and complete inspections during their hands-on training."

"Contributing to the future of our industry through hands on learning is important to Hercules Tires," said Joshua Simpson, senior vice president, proprietary brands at Hercules Tires. "The ability to support education and the advancement of the future automotive professionals complements our value of lead by example, we challenge companies of every size to give back to their communities however they see fit."

Both educational institutions will have students complete an inspection of the vehicle and install the tires which will contribute to their learning journey as future automotive industry professionals.

About Hercules Tires

Hercules Tires is widely recognized as the industry's premier value brand with a comprehensive selection of passenger, UHP, light truck, medium truck and specialty tires. Since 1952, independent tire dealers and distributors have trusted Hercules to deliver outstanding quality, exceptional support, and unsurpassed value.



Hercules is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Tire Distributors, Inc. American Tire Distributors is one of the largest independent suppliers of tires in the North American replacement tire market. The company offers an unsurpassed breadth and depth of inventory, frequent delivery and value-added services to approximately 80,000 customers across the U.S. and Canada.

Media Contact:

Nakia Medlin

704.348.6903

[email protected]

SOURCE Hercules Tires

Related Links

https://www.herculestire.com

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Francesca Cavallo and Elena Favilli, authors of the global bestselling book series "Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls," marked a successful return to Kickstarter to introduce a journal designed to help girls train their rebel spirit. The campaign, which was fully-funded within 8 hours, features "I Am a Rebel Girl: A Journal to Start Revolutions," a perfect companion to the book series, and season two of "Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls - the Podcast." The follow-up to the two most successful publishing crowdfunding campaigns in history will end on October 17, 2018.

The fully illustrated journal is filled with 100 activities that challenge perspective, induce thought, and prompt action. "We designed 'I Am a Rebel Girl' to inspire the next generation of girls to act on their dreams and lead the revolution of our time. That our Kickstarter community believes in that vision means the world to us," say the co-founders Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo.

On Tuesday, the company announced that they would extend the campaign funding goal to $250,000. If successfully funded, each copy of "I Am a Rebel Girl: A Journal to Start Revolutions" will contain a set of 12 fun stickers. Kickstarter backers will have "I Am a Rebel Girl" shipped to them in November, making it a perfect gift this holiday season. The campaign launched at 8 AM PST on September 18 and was fully-funded, with 2,145 backers pledging $100,052 within 8 hours.

#IAmARebelGirl

#RebelGirlsJournal

More Info: kickstarter.com

ABOUT FRANCESCA CAVALLO AND ELENA FAVILLI

Francesca Cavallo and Elena Favilli are the New York Times best-selling authors and founders of the Rebel Girls movement. In 2016 and 2017, they broke records creating the most crowdfunded publishing campaigns in history to launch their global bestselling series "Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls, now translated into 46 languages." In 2018, they produced a podcast based on the book series, and it was nominated for a People's Choice Podcast Award. They live in Venice, California.

SOURCE Good Night Stories For Rebel GirlsThe "2018 Best R&D Innovator (Biopharma Category)" from Frost & Sullivan is in recognition of I-Mab's significant achievements and outstanding capabilities in the areas of biologics R&D and innovation. After in-depth interviews, industry analysis, and secondary market research, Frost & Sullivan team nominated a group of competitive and outstanding companies to an independent panel of reviewers. The panel, composed of third-party investment experts, financial experts, investment bankers and well-known entrepreneurs from publicly listed companies, conducted a rigorous review of the nominated companies and decided to give the "2018 Best R&D Innovator (Biopharma Category)" award to I-Mab.

I-Mab is dedicated to developing transformational medicines to address unmet medical needs and improving the lives of patients. As an innovative biopharmaceutical company, I-Mab has an exclusive focus on biologics with first-in-class and best-in-class potentials. Since its establishment in 2014, I-Mab Biopharma has quickly demonstrated its research and development advantages in the therapeutic areas of immuno-oncology and autoimmune diseases. The advantages result from the application of I-Mab's efficient R&D model, which relies on its own in-house core discovery and development capabilities and is complemented strategically and effectively by CROs of global standards. I-Mab's R&D core competencies cover the whole R&D spectrum, including discovery, CMC, pre-clinical development and clinical development stages. I-Mab has successfully established a diverse set of antibody platforms including antibody-cytokine fusion proteins, bi-specific antibodies, Hy-Fc proteins and monoclonal antibodies. After four years' development, I-Mab now has more than 10 biologics assets with global or China first-in-class and best-in-class potential, of which 4 globally in-licensed products have entered clinical phase II/III trials, and other 3 global products will enter clinical trials in the U.S.

I-Mab adheres to China's innovation-driven strategy by continuing to invest in R&D and talent acquisition. I-Mab's outstanding R&D and innovation capabilities, as well as the corresponding achievements, have received endorsement of many top-tier investors. From mid-2017 to 2018, I-Mab has successfully completed the Series B and C financings, raising a total of US$370 million. The Series C financing raised US$220 million and is one of the largest Series C financings in the history of China biotechs. The current investors of I-Mab include well-known strategic and venture capital institutions such as C-Bridge Capital, Tasly Capital, Hony Capital, Hillhouse Capital, CDH Investment, Hopu Investment and Ally Bridge Group. The diversified shareholder base demonstrates the investors' recognition of I-Mab's experienced management team, innovative capabilities and globally competitive biologics pipeline.

"With pursuit of genuine innovation built into its genes, I-Mab has been focusing exclusively on potentially first-in-class and best-in-class biologics to improve the rate of survival and life quality of patients. I-Mab has clearly differentiated itself among its peers with the ability to innovate as its core competitive advantage," Wang Xiaojing, Executive Director of Frost & Sullivan China noted.

Dr. Jingwu Zang, Founder of I-Mab, expressed sincere appreciation for the strong support of Frost & Sullivan. "Frost & Sullivan's award validates I-Mab's independent R&D capability and our track record of global strategic partnerships. It also serves as a strong encouragement for I-Mab to pursue more globally competitive innovative medicines."

Relying on its internal discovery capability and integrated R&D platforms, I-Mab has developed a competitive biologics pipeline comprised of a risk-controlled and "fast-to-market" China Portfolio and a transformational Global Portfolio. Currently, I-Mab is rapidly advancing the China Portfolio of late stage clinical assets towards market launch in China and pushing the Global Portfolio towards new clinical milestones in a short period of time. I-Mab is moving toward an end-to-end integrated biopharmaceutical model at a steady and swift pace.

About I-Mab

Facilitated by a merger between Third Venture Biotech and Tasgen Bio, I-Mab has rapidly built a highly experienced team with world-class R&D capabilities. The company focuses on discovery and development of first-in-class and best-in-class biologics in the areas of immuno-oncology and immuno-inflammation.

I-Mab has already submitted several IND applications and is prepared to submit additional INDs in order to initiate clinical trials in China and the US, including multiple Phase II and Phase III studies. I-Mab is on a fast track toward becoming an end-to-end fully integrated biopharma company.

In June 2018, I-Mab successfully raised US$220 million in Series C financing, which represented one of the largest amounts ever raised in Series C by an innovative biotech company in China.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan is a global leading growth consulting company as well as the biggest growth consulting company in China. The company is uniquely positioned and qualified to help your team create transformational growth strategies to survive and thrive in a business environment experiencing disruption, collapse and transformation. Frost & Sullivan invests considerable resources each year to analyze best practices in innovation and the company brings this knowledge to its client partners.

SOURCE I-Mab BiopharmaPHOENIX, Sept. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The live IT training expert Interface Technical Training was awarded the AZ State Contract. This allows Interface to easily and effectively provide IT training services to Arizona State Government Employees. Through this contract, Interface will be a preferred vendor of the State of Arizona, and members of the State Purchasing Cooperative including cities, counties, school districts and special districts.

The most powerful force in technical training - interfacett.com

"This contract allows us to provide the highest quality IT Training to State of Arizona employees. This is the 20th consecutive year that we have achieved this honor, and we will continue to offer the highest level of service and efficiency to our government clients."  Mike LaGioia, President, Interface Technical Training

About Interface Technical Training:

Interface Technical Training has been providing quality instructor-led training to IT staff for over 20 years, and the instructors and training classes are well-respected as some of the best in the industry. At Interface, the guiding principle is to always do what is right for the student.

Press Contacts:

Jamie Sullivan

602-266-8585

[email protected]

Technologies Include:

Microsoft Training

Windows 10

Windows Server 2016

Windows Server 2012

SQL Server

Power BI

Azure

Machine Learning (AI)

Office 365

Exchange Server

PowerShell

System Center

SharePoint

IIS

Skype for Business

BizTalk Server

Cloud Computing

Azure

Machine Learning (AI)

Amazon Cloud (AWS)

Developer Training

Web Development

.NET Development and Visual Studio

Java Programming

Team Foundation Server

Cisco Training

Cisco CCNA Routing & Switching

Cisco CCNP  HD TelePresence

Cisco Training  HD TelePresence

CompTIA Certification

CompTIA A+

CompTIA Network+

CompTIA Security+

IT Security Training

CISSP / CEH / PKI / Security+

Business Training

Project Management

ITIL

COBIT

Business Analysis

Agile

Wireless / Wireshark Training

Wireless Networking

Wireshark

Red Hat Training

Red Hat  Linux

Red Hat  DevOps

Red Hat  Cloud

Red Hat  JBoss

Other Training

DevOps

VMware

NetApp

F5 Networks

Salesforce

Citrix

Related Links

Interface Technical Training

World Class Remote Live Training

SOURCE Interface Technical Training

Related Links

https://www.interfacett.com

Around the globe, consumers report that brands set a low bar for the experiences they deliver and struggle to keep up with consumers' expectations. In fact, over 52 percent of consumers report that brands fail to live up to the promises they make and one-third see overpromising as "just something that brands do."

Globally, brands that scored high in delivering proof to their promises (through the experiences they create) boast 25 percent more loyalty and more than a 200 percent higher Net Promoter Score (NPS), indicating strong brand health. Showing that satisfaction with the actions and interactions of brands is a stronger indicator of business impact than brands' marketing messages.

The brand experiences included in the index cover the actions and interactions provided by brands: in-store and employee interactions, online shopping, web and mobile experiences, experiential and social content. The index ranked brands from 1-100.

Amazon, Netflix and Royal Caribbean rank as Experience Leaders (#1) across all experience touchpoints in the US, UK and China respectively and only four other brands consistently show up in the top 20 across touchpoints: Sony, Apple, IBM and IKEA. However, even those that score high teeter on the edge of mediocrity with a B- grade (79). Experience Laggards, brands at the bottom of the Index, receive a failing grade (on average: 53.6).

"Consumers demand brands do more than promise a great experience  they expect proof. Brands that back their words with concrete action reap bigger rewards, and they scored significantly higher on Jack's Experience Brand Index," said, Josh McCall, CEO & Chairman, Jack Morton.

The research outlines five key lessons:

Brand proof matters and is a stronger indicator of brand health than brand promises. Experience brands deliver more than 200 percent higher NPS and 25 percent more loyalty. Consumers care in particular about "how brands behave toward customers, employees and their communities." 79 percent care about this.



Brand integrity is delicate. Customers will abandon brands if they don't live up to your promises: nearly half (47%) agree "it makes me feel I can't trust the brand and won't buy it anymore."



Brand touchpoints are proofpoints. Every interaction matters and the most successful Experience Brands deliver consistently across all interactions with consumers and actions.



Brand promises fall short on delivery. More than 50 percent of consumers agree that brands fall short of their expectation. In China it's 60 percent. Less than one in four consumers say brands deliver experiences that are significantly better than their competitors. However, Experience Brands are nearly two times more likely to deliver a superior brand experience and be worth talking about.



Brand proof is only going to get more important. Changing generational tides give new focus for brand owners: Millennials are the most distrustful of brands (36% globally) and 41 percent in the U.S. believe that brands do not live up to their promises and "want me to believe it is something it's not."

To download a copy of the report, visit www.jackmorton.com/blog/experience-brand-index

The study is based on a survey across all demographics in the United States, United Kingdom, and China conducted in the late spring of 2018. Respondents were asked about their interactions with brands during the last six-months.

About Jack Morton

Jack Morton is an award-winning global brand experience agency. We're driven by the fact that the world's most successful brands deliver proof on their brand promise at every touchpoint. It's what inspires our team each day to help clients "Do something extraordinary." For almost 80 years, we've strengthened the relationships between brands and the people who matter most to them, through events and experiential, integrated campaigns, digital and content, sponsorship marketing and employee engagement. Jack Morton is part of the Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (NYSE: IPG). More information is available at www.jackmorton.com.

SOURCE Jack Morton

Related Links

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DALLAS, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (NYSE:JEC) has been awarded a contract by the City of Edinburgh Council in Scotland to help develop the strategy, delivery plan and detailed business case for the transformation of Edinburgh City Center. The City of Edinburgh Transformation Program is a multi-million-dollar investment to improve community, economic and cultural life of one the most iconic cities in the world.

Jacobs' partners for the project include Big Partnership, Burohappold Engineering, Citymart, Moffatt Centre at the Glasgow Caledonian University, Open, Simetrica, Space Syntax, Turley Heritage and WYG.

Jacobs, supported by its partners, will provide the delivery plan for the historic overhaul of the Scottish capital's streets, public spaces and amenities to ensure it is future-proofed for generations to come. This will include strategies to make the city more accessible for residents, visitors and business, creating better connectivity with sustainable, smart and cleaner transport options, enhancing civic centers, and improving air quality.

"Edinburgh is one of the world's most archetypal cities and this program enables Jacobs to play a role in helping the council make the city the best place to live, work and invest," said Jacobs Buildings and Infrastructure Europe Senior Vice President and General Manager Donald Morrison. "Our understanding of the city through previous iconic projects, global projects expertise and ability to challenge different ways of thinking will enable us to co-create a plan that ensures a fairer, healthier and thriving capital city fit for the future."

Transport and Environment Convener, Councilor Lesley Macinnes, said: "This is a deeply ambitious and potentially game-changing opportunity to transform the city center of one of Europe's leading cities, for the benefit of generations to come. As we move forward with the consultation on how a future Edinburgh should look, we're pleased to be working with Jacobs, whose previous projects demonstrate the ability to deliver forward-thinking solutions."

Jacobs employs over 1,100 staff in Scotland and has played a leading role in delivering some of the largest infrastructure programs in Scotland including the Queensferry Crossing, which links Edinburgh and Fife, and the A9 Improvements Program. Wide-ranging support of sustainable transformation programs for other U.K. cities include Dundee Rail Station (part of the ongoing transformation of Dundee), Birmingham City Council's Snow Hill Growth Strategy and development of a Clean Air Zone, and previously the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Jacobs was selected as the preferred bidder after a tender process under the Scotland Excel Framework. The framework covers the delivery of social care, construction, roads, transport, environment, corporate, education and ICT services, and awards contracts designed to encourage innovation, facilitate policy, support local economies and generate social value for communities.

Jacobs leads the global professional services sector delivering solutions for a more connected, sustainable world. With $15 billion in fiscal 2017 revenue when combined with full-year CH2M revenues and a talent force of more than 77,000, Jacobs provides a full spectrum of services including scientific, technical, professional and construction- and program-management for business, industrial, commercial, government and infrastructure sectors. For more information, visit www.jacobs.com, and connect with Jacobs on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Statements made in this release that are not based on historical fact are forward-looking statements. We base these forward-looking statements on management's current estimates and expectations as well as currently available competitive, financial and economic data. Forward-looking statements, however, are inherently uncertain. There are a variety of factors that could cause business results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements. For a description of some of the factors which may occur that could cause actual results to differ from our forward-looking statements please refer to our Form 10-K for the year ended September 29, 2017, and in particular the discussions contained under Items 1 - Business, 1A - Risk Factors, 3 - Legal Proceedings, and 7 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statements made herein.

For press/media inquiries:

Kerrie Sparks

214.583.8433

SOURCE Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.

Related Links

http://www.jacobs.com

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) will host a conference call for investors at 8:30 a.m. (Eastern Time) on Tuesday, October 16th, to review third-quarter results. Joseph J. Wolk, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Christopher DelOrefice, Vice President, Investor Relations will host the call. The question and answer portion of the call will also include the following executives: Ashley McEvoy, Executive Vice President, Worldwide Chairman, Medical Devices; Jorge Mesquita, Executive Vice President, Worldwide Chairman, Consumer; and Jennifer Taubert, Executive Vice President, Worldwide Chairman, Pharmaceuticals.

Investors and other interested parties can access the webcast/conference call in the following ways:

The webcast and presentation material are accessible at Johnson & Johnson's website www.investor.jnj.com. A replay of the webcast will be available approximately three hours after the conference call concludes.





By telephone: for both "listen-only" participants and those financial analysts who wish to take part in the question-and-answer portion of the call, the telephone dial-in number in the U.S. is 877-869-3847. For participants outside the U.S., the dial-in number is 201-689-8261.





A replay of the conference call will be available until approximately 12:00 a.m. on October 24, 2018 . The replay dial-in number for U.S. participants is 877-660-6853. For participants outside the U.S., the replay dial-in number is 201-612-7415. The replay conference ID number for all callers is 13683425.





on . The replay dial-in number for U.S. participants is 877-660-6853. For participants outside the U.S., the replay dial-in number is 201-612-7415. The replay conference ID number for all callers is 13683425. The press release will be available at approximately 6:45 a.m. (Eastern Time) the morning of the conference call.

About Johnson & Johnson

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe good health is the foundation of vibrant lives, thriving communities and forward progress. That's why for more than 130 years, we have aimed to keep people well at every age and every stage of life. Today, as the world's largest and most broadly-based health care company, we are committed to using our reach and size for good. We strive to improve access and affordability, create healthier communities, and put a healthy mind, body and environment within reach of everyone, everywhere. We are blending our heart, science and ingenuity to profoundly change the trajectory of health for humanity.

SOURCE Johnson & Johnson

Related Links

http://www.jnj.com

"Jordan brings to McDonald Hopkins a dynamic and growing practice of representing venture capital and venture capital-backed companies," said David A. Agay, the managing member of the firm's Chicago office and a member of the Board of Directors. "We are extremely excited to have Jordan join the firm. His experience and the focus of his practice further deepens our bench and adds to our service offerings."

Koss' practice focuses on the representation of technology companies and venture capital investors in all aspects of the corporate life cycle, including formation and founder counseling, convertible debt and priced equity financings, mergers and acquisitions, venture debt and bridge loan financings, outside general counsel services, commercial contract negotiation, securities law compliance and corporate governance.

"Chicago, Cleveland and the Midwest as a region, with high levels of capital and engineering talent, are ascending and well-positioned to become America's next great startup and venture capital hub," said Koss. "McDonald Hopkins has the breadth of corporate expertise, deep investor connections and contacts, and entrepreneurial mentality needed to become a leader in the startup and venture capital market."

Prior to his tenure at goodcounsel, Koss worked in the tech startup and M&A Groups at Fenwick & West LLP in San Francisco, and in the private equity and M&A groups at Kirkland & Ellis in New York. Koss earned his J.D. at Cardozo Law School, graduating cum laude in 2010. He is also a 2006 graduate of Duke University, where he received a B.A. in public policy studies.

Koss can be reached at [email protected] or 312-642-2213.

About McDonald Hopkins

Founded in 1930, McDonald Hopkins is a business advisory and advocacy law firm with locations in Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, Miami, and West Palm Beach. With more than 50 service and industry teams, the firm has the expertise and knowledge to meet the growing number of legal and business challenges our clients face. For more information about McDonald Hopkins, visit mcdonaldhopkins.com.

CONTACT:

David Carducci

McDonald Hopkins LLC

600 Superior Avenue, East, Suite 2100

Cleveland, Ohio 44114

Phone: 216.348.5814

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE McDonald Hopkins

Related Links

http://www.mcdonaldhopkins.com

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- KEPRO, a leading medical management and cost containment solution provider for government and commercial payers in the healthcare sector, today announced that Joel Portice has been named the company's Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Portice will lead the Company in its next phase of growth, as KEPRO expands its offerings while remaining committed to its mission of supporting healthcare plans and their beneficiaries. Mr. Portice succeeds Joseph Dougher, who has retired from the company.

Mr. Portice brings to KEPRO more than 20 years of leadership experience in driving business growth in the healthcare information and data analytics space. He most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of Intermedix Corporation, a data analytics and technology provider focused on delivering best-in-class revenue cycle management, practice management, and software solutions. Under Mr. Portice's leadership, Intermedix achieved significant operational efficiencies and meaningful growth acceleration by focusing the business on specific markets, culminating in its sale to R1 RCM Inc. earlier this year.

Prior to his role at Intermedix, Mr. Portice served as President, Government Division and Corporate Development and Strategy, at HMS Holdings Corporation, and before that was President of Verisk Health (now Verscend Technologies). Mr. Portice began his career by founding two different healthcare companies: Integrity Plus Services, which he sold to UnitedHealth Group, and Enclarity, Inc., which was acquired by LexisNexis.

The KEPRO executive team also welcomed Susan T. Weaver, MD in August as the Company's new President. Dr. Weaver will work alongside Mr. Portice to drive the commercialization of new offerings and advance the Company's corporate strategy. She brings more than 20 years of senior leadership in healthcare innovation and operations to KEPRO, having previously served as Chief Executive Officer for innovative medication management company C3HealthcareRx and as Chief Medical Officer for Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina.

Andrew Cavanna, Chairman of the KEPRO Board of Directors, commented, "Joel Portice is a seasoned executive with extensive experience growing and developing profitable businesses in the healthcare information and data analytics industry. The Board looks forward to working with Joel, Susan, and the rest of the management team as they continue to support health plans and their beneficiaries and lead the company in its next phase of growth. We would also like to thank Joe Dougher for his more than 25 years of service to KEPRO."

Mr. Portice said, "Over more than two decades, KEPRO has built a strong franchise renowned for its ability to work in partnership with clients to simultaneously increase efficiency and improve patient outcomes. As the Company enters its next phase of growth, I look forward to working with an incredibly talented team to further expand the business and extend our range of offerings."

About KEPRO

KEPRO, the nation's largest CMS-designated quality improvement and care management organization, offers innovative and outcomes-focused solutions to reduce the utilization of healthcare resources and optimize the quality of care for public and commercial clients.

With 15 local KEPRO offices and more than 1,400 employees across the United States, KEPRO delivers intelligent value through improved health outcomes and reduced costs, serving more than 20 million members. KEPRO currently contracts with public, federal, and commercial clients delivering an array of customized solutions.

To learn more about the services and solutions KEPRO offers, visit www.kepro.com.

You can also get health tips, information about our organization or learn about exciting job opportunities by following us on Twitter, on Facebook or on LinkedIn.

Media Contact: Jamie Kopko, Director of Corporate Communications, [email protected], 717.564.8288 x7076

SOURCE KEPRO

Related Links

http://www.Kepro.com

Inflight connectivity (IFC) has emerged onto the international airline scene over the past decade, and in that time it has had a major effect on the industry from a technical, financial, and social perspective. Passengers have become accustomed to having the ability to remain connected while flying, and as a result, airlines around the world have been rushing to install IFC systems.

Many airlines have already installed connectivity, but many have not. According to a recent industry study, by 2020 half of the airline aircraft in the world are expected to be equipped with IFC (approximately 12,500 aircraft), and by 2025 two thirds of will be fitted with IFC (approximately 19,500 aircraft). The study also showed that 86% of airlines who currently have connectivity indicated that they plan to upgrade their IFC systems within the next 4 years.

Given the large capital and service costs associated with purchase, installation, certification, and operation of IFC systems, the selection of IFC suppliers merits a thorough and accurate analysis. Capital, installation, and certification costs alone can often approach $1 Million US dollars per aircraft, and the results of making the wrong decision can cost an airline dearly.

IFC technologies leverage those used in the telecommunications and satellite communications industries, and can be quite complex, and airlines often do not have staff who are qualified to analyze the mass of information (and sometimes misinformation) provided by the industry and potential suppliers, and determine what mix of equipment and services best serves their needs.

The foundation of the Connectivity Assist process is the Requirements Document. Generating this document which outlines the unique passenger and operational connectivity requirements of the airline, can be challenging for an airline, since the capabilities of IFC systems are constantly changing, and it can be difficult for the airline to know what services and features are available and what to ask for.

The Requirements Document is generated as the result of Kros-Wise meeting with the airline to discuss their requirements against the IFC industry's latest capabilities. Following that is the construction of the RFP, followed by supplier proposal review, questions to suppliers, through to supplier selection and contract negotiations. Follow-up is provided as necessary to ensure that all customer requirements are satisfied.

"Our new Connectivity Assist process provides a simple, fast, and cost-effective way for airlines to augment their expertise on a short-term basis and ensure that they obtain the maximum benefit from their substantial IFC investment," says Lily Aragon, CEO of Kros-Wise. "We brought together the top experts in the IFC industry, and worked hard to develop a process that ensures that the airline avoids any nasty 'surprises,' while allowing them to optimize expenditures and increase passenger satisfaction."

About Kros-Wise Aviation Group:

Kros-Wise is a professional services and product development firm which was founded in 2004 and currently has approximately 125 full-time employees. The company headquarters is in San Diego, California. It is a Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB).

Kros-Wise has extensive experience providing support to IT Programs for US Navy and other US Government Organizations, and to aviation and satellite equipment and service providers. Their team is highly experienced in IFE-C systems, service, installation design and support, and the associated FAA/CAA certification.

www.kros-wise.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/kros-wise

SOURCE Kros-Wise

Related Links

http://www.kros-wise.com

BOZEMAN, Mont., Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Dickey's Barbecue Pit franchisee Mark Jones and his fiancee Laurie Zabawa plan to bring their first Dickey's location to Bozeman, Montana.

"We are proud to have such experienced franchisees join the Dickey's family," says Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. "We look forward to the success Mark and Laurie will have in their local community."

Mark and Laurie have over two decades of experience in the hospitality industry and are entering into their second joint venture with Dickey's Barbecue Pit. Previously, the two managed and owned a hotel in Montana, where their love for food, beverage and hospitality all came to light.

"We wanted to bring something exciting and different to Bozeman," says Laurie. "After doing our research, we knew Dickey's was the perfect fit for us, because of the strong family focus, unique vibe and all of the areas of support and opportunity the franchise has to offer."

Laurie has been in the Montana area for over 25 years and both Laurie and Mark look forward to bringing a fast-casual concept to their growing community.

Find your nearest Dickey's location here or order from the Dickey's App.

About Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc.

Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc., the nation's largest barbecue chain was founded in 1941 by Travis Dickey. For the past 77 years, Dickey's Barbecue Pit locations across the nation have served guests Legit. Texas. Barbecue. At Dickey's, all meats are smoked low and slow on-site, every night in every location. The Dallas-based family-run barbecue franchise offers several slow-smoked meats and wholesome sides with 'No B.S. (Bad Stuff)' included. The fast-casual concept has expanded to more than 500 locations in 45 states. In 2016, Dickey's won first place on Fast Casual's "Top 100 Movers and Shakers" list and in 2018 Dickey's Barbecue Pit made the Top 10. Dickey's Barbecue Pit has also been recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine, Franchise Times and Nation's Restaurant News. For more information, visit www.dickeys.com.

Media Contacts:

Callie Head

[email protected]

Ashley Richardson

[email protected]

SOURCE Dickey's Barbecue

Related Links

http://www.dickeys.com

Company invites individual and institutional investors as well as advisors to log-on to VirtualInvestorConferences.com to view presentation

DENVER, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Medicine Man Technologies (OTCQB: MDCL), one of the country's leading cannabis branding and consulting companies, today announced that the September 12 presentation from Brett Roper, Co-Founder and CEO, is now available for on-demand viewing at VirtualInvestorConferences.com.

LINK: https://tinyurl.com/0912postpr

Medicine Man Technologies' presentation will be available 24/7 for 90 days. Investors and advisors may download shareholder materials from the "virtual trade booth" for the next three weeks.

Recent Company Highlights

Entered into licensing agreement with Canada House Wellness in July of 2018 for future Canadian based services related to its cultivation deployment efficiency and skills

Entered a binding term sheet for the acquisition of a retail products store in Denver , which offers a range of cultivation equipment at a competitive price which will be integrated into its business model supporting its increasing client base

, which offers a range of cultivation equipment at a competitive price which will be integrated into its business model supporting its increasing client base During the three months ending June 30, 2018 , the Company generated revenues of $1,417,687 , an increase of $535,334 or approximately 61%, compared to revenue of $882,353 in the three months ending 06/30/18

, the Company generated revenues of , an increase of or approximately 61%, compared to revenue of in the three months ending The Company continued to report profitability from its first into its second quarter of FY 2018

The Company provided guidance in late July related to YE 2018 projections of $9M in revenues as well as completing the year with strong profitability

Learn more about the event at www.VirtualInvestorConferences.com.

To be added to the Medicine Man email distribution list, please email, [email protected] with MDCL in the subject line.

About Medicine Man Technologies

Medicine Man Technologies is among the United States' leading cannabis branding and consulting companies. Established in March 2014, the Company has spread from its headquarters in Denver, Colorado to provide guidance for 28 active clients in 12 states and Puerto Rico. The Company focuses on advising clients by utilizing MMT's experience, technology and training to help secure licenses in states with newly emerging regulations; through deployment of its Cultivation MAX product, direct highly effective variable capacity constant harvest cultivation practices; ensure business efficiency in start-up ventures; engagement with licensees and partners; and continuing the expansion of its Brands Warehouse concept. Visit www.medicinemantechnologies.com to learn more.

About VirtualInvestorConferences.com

Since 2010, VirtualInvestorConferences.com, created by BetterInvesting (NAIC) and PRNewswire, has been the only monthly virtual investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for presenting companies to meet directly with investors using a graphically-enhanced online platform.

Designed to replicate the look and feel of location-based investor conferences, Virtual Investor Conferences unites PR Newswire's leading-edge online conferencing and investor communications capabilities with Better Investing's extensive retail investor audience network.

SOURCE Medicine Man Technologies

Related Links

http://www.medicinemantechnologies.com

ISSAQUAH, Wash., Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- NAES Corporation has been selected by owner BioMass Solution LLC to operate and maintain Red River Biorefinery in Grand Forks, N.D. The next-generation facility is designed to produce 16.5 million gallons of fuel-grade ethanol per year from sugar beet tailings, potato wastes and other organic byproducts. The owner recently achieved financial close for the plant and has issued full notice to proceed with construction activities. Commercial operations are scheduled for late 2019.

"NAES has built a reputation for delivering a standard of O&M practices that can help us realize our mission  which is to develop a best-in-class fleet of renewable energy plants that make profitable, environmentally beneficial use of problematic waste streams," said Keshav Rajpal, Principal at BioMass Solution. "Red River will not only solve an environmental problem but create well-paying local jobs and contribute significantly to the Grand Forks tax base."

Dan Consie, NAES Senior Vice President of Power Services, added, "We are excited to take on the operation and maintenance of this facility for BioMass Solution. We have established a responsive partnering relationship with their team and have mutually developed an operating plan that will more than meet their specific performance and commercial goals."

Headquartered in Madison, Wis., BioMass Solution's mission is to acquire, develop, operate and manage renewable energy facilities in North America that bring financially and environmentally sustainable solutions to undervalued and problematic waste. The company solves an environmental problem while producing renewable energy, creating jobs, contributing to the local tax base and generating strong financial returns.

NAES Corporation is an independent services company dedicated to delivering value to facilities across the power generation, oil & gas, petrochemical, pulp & paper and manufacturing industries. NAES draws on its deep experience in operations, maintenance, fabrication, construction, engineering and technical support to build, repair and operate plants that run safely, reliably and cost-effectively. The NAES family of companies includes Greenberry Industrial, Olsson Industrial Electric, NAES Power Contractors, E3 Consulting, PurEnergy and Gridforce Energy Management.

NAES is a wholly owned subsidiary of ITOCHU Corporation. With operations in over 80 countries covering a broad range of industries, ITOCHU ranks among the world's largest corporations.

CONTACT:

Doug Cantwell

Sr. Communications Specialist

[email protected]

www.naes.com

SOURCE NAES Corporation

Related Links

http://www.naes.com

CHAPEL HILL, N.C., Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- College Consensus (http://www.collegeconsensus.com), a unique new college ranking website, has published their ranking of the Best Colleges in Kentucky 2018 at https://www.collegeconsensus.com/ranking/best-colleges-ky/

To identify the Best Colleges in Kentucky for 2018, College Consensus combined the latest results from the most respected college ranking systems with thousands of real student reviews to produce a unique consensus score for each school. According to College Consensus founder Jeremy Alder, "Like Rotten Tomatoes does for movies, College Consensus gathers college rankings and reviews from around the web and distills them into a simple, easy to understand score so students can quickly and easily compare schools. It is the ranking of all rankings, so to speak." Learn more about the College Consensus rankings methodology at http://www.collegeconsensus.com/about/.

To help prospective Kentucky students evaluate the higher education options that are right for their individual needs, College Consensus identified the best-ranked colleges in the Bluegrass State (presented here in alphabetical order):

Alice Lloyd College - Pippa Passes, KY

Asbury University - Wilmore, KY

Bellarmine University - Louisville, KY

Berea College - Berea, KY

Brescia University - Owensboro, KY

Campbellsville University - Campbellsville, KY

Eastern Kentucky University - Richmond, KY

Centre College - Danville, KY

Georgetown College - Georgetown, KY

Kentucky Christian University - Grayson, KY

Kentucky State University - Frankfort, KY

Kentucky Wesleyan College - Owensboro, KY

Morehead State University - Morehead, KY

Murray State University - Murray, KY

Northern Kentucky University - Highland Heights, KY

Thomas More College - Crestview Hills, KY

Transylvania University - Lexington, KY

University of Kentucky - Lexington, KY

University of Louisville - Louisville, KY

Western Kentucky University - Bowling Green, KY

From its settling as a territory and its beginning as a state, Kentucky was always a complex place, a mix of Southern, Northern, Midwestern, and Appalachian cultures that formed into its own proud, often headstrong mixture. The birthplace of both the Union and Confederate presidents, and the only slave state to remain in the Union, Kentucky has always just been itself. Only a fiercely independent state could have invented both its own signature liquor (Kentucky bourbon) and a whole genre of music named for it (bluegrass music). And while Kentucky remains a largely agricultural region that makes most of its income from natural resources, energy, and manufacturing, it is also an image of how the Great Plains and Appalachians are transitioning from their pasts into the future - especially is education.

As Managing Editor Carrie Sealey-Morris explains, "the best colleges and universities in Kentucky have played a big role in developing the commonwealth's uncommon personality." "Some of Kentucky's highest-ranked liberal arts colleges, including Transylvania University and Georgetown College, stretch back to the earliest days of the United States and before," Sealey-Morris explains, while "others, like Centre College and Berea College, were intended to break boundaries and build progressive leadership, setting Kentucky on a path to cultural and social influence." Alongside all of Kentucky's excellent liberal arts and Christian colleges, "Kentucky has developed an impressive system of public regional universities" that have the social and civic responsibility to "meet the growing needs of Kentucky's high school graduates, professional students, and working adults." Whether they are focused on career training, research, or professionalization, Kentucky's colleges and universities "have maintained an emphasis on practical education in the fields that Kentucky's people need the most, earning reputations for excellence, value, and social improvement."

College Consensus is a new approach to college rankings. We combine the latest results from the most respected college ranking systems with thousands of real student review scores from around the web to produce an aggregate College Consensus rating for each school.

Carrie Sealey-Morris

Managing Editor, College Consensus

[email protected]

(512) 710-9901

http://www.collegeconsensus.com/

https://www.facebook.com/collegeconsensus/

SOURCE College Consensus

Related Links

http://www.collegeconsensus.com

CHAPEL HILL, N.C., Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- College Consensus (http://www.collegeconsensus.com), a unique new college ranking website, has published their ranking of the Best Colleges in Maryland 2018 at http://www.collegeconsensus.com/ranking/best-colleges-md/

To identify the Best Colleges in Maryland for 2018, College Consensus combined the latest results from the most respected college ranking systems with thousands of real student reviews to produce a unique consensus score for each school. According to College Consensus founder Jeremy Alder, "Like Rotten Tomatoes does for movies, College Consensus gathers college rankings and reviews from around the web and distills them into a simple, easy to understand score so students can quickly and easily compare schools. It is the ranking of all rankings, so to speak." Learn more about the College Consensus rankings methodology at http://www.collegeconsensus.com/about/.

To help prospective Maryland students evaluate the higher education options that are right for their individual needs, College Consensus identified the best-ranked colleges in the Old Line State (presented here in alphabetical order):

Frostburg State University - Frostburg, MD

Goucher College - Towson, MD

Hood College - Frederick, MD

Johns Hopkins University - Baltimore, MD

Loyola University Maryland - Baltimore, MD

McDaniel College - Westminster, MD

Morgan State University - Baltimore, MD

Mount St. Mary's University - Emmitsburg, MD

Notre Dame of Maryland University - Baltimore, MD

Salisbury University - Salisbury, MD

St. John's College - Annapolis, MD

St. Mary's College of Maryland - St. Mary's City, MD

Stevenson University - Pikesville, MD

Towson University - Towson, MD

University of Maryland Baltimore County - Baltimore, MD

University of Maryland-College Park - College Park, MD

Washington College - Chestertown, MD

Falling in a critical border position, Maryland combines qualities of the North, the South, and the Appalachians, making it one of the most quintessentially American of states - a melting pot, with a large minority population and a character all its own. The nation's capital, Washington DC, was built on land donated by Maryland, and that connection has served the state well; much of Maryland's workforce depends on the federal government, either directly or indirectly, and as a result, Maryland has one of the lowest poverty rates and highest proportion of millionaires of any state in the union. To maintain that status, and funnel the state's best students into professional careers, Maryland has developed one of the nation's most impressive higher education systems.

Built on the "long, proud history of one of the oldest American states," as Managing Editor Carrie Sealey-Morris puts it, "no other state in the union has capitalized on that history quite like Maryland." Maryland does not just house a huge proportion of federal employees, but literally built Washington DC; it was "the birthplace of religious freedom" and "one of the first states to ratify the Constitution," founding two of the traditions most central to American life. Maryland's colleges and universities are "crucial to educating future managers, professionals, and workforce for government, healthcare, and education," and "some of the most important research being done for government agencies like NASA and the National Institutes of Health" is done at Maryland's Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland. Maryland's liberal arts colleges include "nationally-renowned, innovative, and progressive institutions that have helped revolutionize and shape higher education, not only in Maryland, but in the US." All in all, Sealey-Morris reminds readers, Maryland's colleges "have a tremendous responsibility, one for which they are entirely up to task."

College Consensus is a new approach to college rankings. We combine the latest results from the most respected college ranking systems with thousands of real student review scores from around the web to produce an aggregate College Consensus rating for each school.

Carrie Sealey-Morris

Managing Editor, College Consensus

[email protected]

(512) 710-9901

http://www.collegeconsensus.com/

https://www.facebook.com/collegeconsensus/

SOURCE College Consensus

Related Links

http://www.collegeconsensus.com

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 30th, locally celebrated restaurateur and philanthropist Mel Nicola will launch Cayenne, a new event series designed to reawaken the senses and instill a stronger sense of community in all who attend.

Hailing from New Jersey, Nicola has worked in the television industry and as a freelance journalist before pivoting to the culinary world. Throughout a span of 30 years, Mel Nicola co-owned and operated four restaurants, including the famous Nic's Beverly Hills known for innovative California cuisine and the visionary VodBox. An icon in Beverly Hills, Mel and her partner sold Nic's to pursue new adventures.

In 2013, Mel Nicola founded CAKE, an acronym for Culinary Arts Kids Eat, a non-profit that works with underserved youth to inspire healthier eating habits. The CAKE team apply the farm to table to their lives and become ambassadors of health to their community.

Seeing the impact that a healthy lifestyle had on underserved youth, Nicola realized a tremendous need for all of humanity find balance and connection to one another.

"Looking at our society today I realize that more and more of us are feeling disconnected from humanity, "stated Nicola. "We rarely get the opportunity to connect with others and share our stories. Cayenne is designed to lift us up to a life of joy, prosperity and bliss."

Combining healing arts and one of a kind culinary experiences, guests will also hand craft own beverages, break bread together and enjoy a compelling talk from a motivational speaker to inspire a more connected life.

The event series are hand curated at locations throughout L.A. They will be intimate, capping at fourteen people to ensure Cayenne remains tight-knit and supportive.

Exclusive event partners and influencers are expected.

The first Cayenne event will take place at a private residence on September 30th in Lincoln Heights, California. Those interested in attending, please apply to attend here.

About Cayenne: Founded by well-known restaurateur and philanthropist Mel Nicola, Cayenne is a luxury service company that offers sensory adventures designed to bring inner balance, joy, happiness, and vitality to customers through four-hour workshops in culinary and healing arts, active meditation, and inspirational conversation. Cayenne will hand curate the locations that are serene, filled with natural light, lush vegetation, stunning views. A balance of nature and art to utilize in the company's mindfulness sessions.

Contact: Nadya Rousseau

Alter New Media

[email protected]

SOURCE CayenneOAKLAND, Calif., Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Oaksterdam University, America's first and most respected cannabis university, will be back in Las Vegas offering its comprehensive horticulture curriculum to those interested in a career in the cannabis industry. Students will have the opportunity to network with expert practitioners and professionals while meeting like-minded individuals.

Students participating in Oaksterdam University's Horticulture Seminar.

To be held at The Plaza Hotel in Las Vegas November 16-19, 2018, the seminars are designed for those who have a desire to grow quality cannabis or who have been growing for years and want to learn to grow top quality medicine. Oaksterdam faculty teaching this seminar have each been teaching cannabis horticulture for over 20 years and are pioneers in the cannabis industry.

This four-day seminar will cover everything from seed to harvest during the four days of intensive instruction and 26 hours of grow training and demonstrations. Attendees have the option to become certified, which is an excellent credential to have in the expanding cannabis industry. Graduates from Oaksterdam University have become industry leaders across the country and are leveraging their OU experience with regulators, elected officials and employers.

Subjects covered will include:

 Local, State & Federal Law  Yield Maximization  Grow Room Design  Nutrients & pH  Seed to Harvest Life Cycle  Soil Science  Pests & Pathogens  Lighting & Equipment  Strain Selection  Electrical Safety  Organic Methods  Sustainability

Employers wishing to send staff can qualify for group discounts and tax deductions for qualified training. Check the website or contact Oaksterdam University Admissions for details.

About Oaksterdam University: OU is a dynamic, diverse and responsive academic institution dedicated to equity and educating the global cannabis community as the world's only hands-on training facility. Since 2007, when Oaksterdam University became the first cannabis college in the United States, it has been the forerunner in providing the highest quality training to people interested in a career in the cannabis industry and the first institution to address the growing needs of the marijuana movement, from patients to regulators. Such a focus has established Oaksterdam University as the only cannabis college with a comprehensive curriculum in cannabis business and horticulture available today. Our faculty of over 150 professionals, academics, and entrepreneurs contribute to the curriculum and our horticulture instructors each have a minimum of 20 years of experience. OU alumniover 35,000 from over 40 countries who have received training regarding cannabis and marijuana policy reformare the most active in the world.

OU Campus: Admissions or Questions call 510-251-1544

MEDIA CONTACTS

Dr. Aseem Sappal

[email protected]

Dale Sky Jones

[email protected]

c. 949-680-5452 (text is welcome)

SOURCE Oaksterdam University

Related Links

http://www.oaksterdamuniversity.com

PETALUMA, Calif., Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Understanding an organization's strategy, the specific "what" a company needs to proclaim as its goal in all of its efforts, is imperative to organizational success. Tactics, which are "how" an organization achieves those goals, are directionless without an overall strategy. An excellent example of this is Southwest Airlines setting out to be the lowest-cost airline. When deciding which snack to provide, peanuts or pretzels, for example, a well-defined strategy makes the choice simple  the right choice is whichever of the two are cheapest. Brandon Frere, CEO of Frere Enterprises and other ventures, believes in having an understandable, definite strategy for the entire organization to pursue.

"Everyone has to be on board with our organizational strategy so that there's no chance to misinterpret our direction," said Frere. "Every team member needs to know exactly what we want to provide for our customer and how we want to treat them."

One clear way to measure a well-defined strategy is metrics. Building metrics that quantify exactly what is being pursued can be the difference between achieving success or constantly missing out. Constant streams of targeted, interpreted data enable faster adaptability to external changes. In order to keep up with the speed of adaptability, metrics will also push organizational learning. Repeating past failure is not an option, and metrics are the most certain method to avoid a slow, painful death.

Another extremely important aspect of strategy is creating a leadership team that is dynamic. Personalities, especially among high achievers, are quite often bound up in ego and ambition. One of the main challenges that a business leader faces is to turn a group of go-getters into a team of goal-getters. Such individuals may be less interested in pursuing their own agendas than in pursuing organizational strategy at every turn. The leadership team is the beating heart of an organization and it needs to be operating like the heart of a top-flight triathlete, beating steadily and purposefully as the organization strides steadily forward.

"There's no one way or right way to run a business, but you must have a clear strategy so that every team member knows exactly what they are trying to achieve and what is expected of them," said Frere. "Without a strategy, an organization is a rudderless ship on a wild, billowing ocean. With a strategy, we can navigate the most difficult waters and bring the ship safely home."

About Brandon Frere

Brandon Frere is an entrepreneur and businessman who lives in Sonoma County, California. He has designed and created multiple companies to meet the ever-demanding needs of businesses and consumers alike. His website, www.BrandonFrere.com, is used as a means of communicating many of the lessons, fundamentals and information that he has learned throughout his extensive business and personal endeavors, most recently in advocating on behalf of student loan borrowers nationwide.

As experienced during his own student loan repayment, Mr. Frere found out how difficult it can be to work with federally contracted student loan servicers and the repayment programs designed to help borrowers. Through those efforts, he gained an insider's look into the repayment process and the motivations behind the inflating student loan debt bubble. His knowledge of the often confusing landscape of student loan repayment became a vital theme in his future endeavors, and he now uses those experiences to help guide others through the daunting process of applying for available federal repayment and loan forgiveness programs.

BrandonFrere.com

Related Images

strategy-and-teamwork-are.jpg

Strategy and Teamwork are Important to Move Forward

Credit: style-photographs/Bigstock

image2.png

Related Links

Brandon Frere website

SOURCE Brandon Frere

Related Links

https://brandonfrere.com

DALLAS, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- International research firm Parks Associates announced today it will host the workshop "Connected Health and IoT: Impact of Smart Home Solutions" on October 17 in Boston, prior to the start of the Connected Health Conference, hosted by the Personal Connected Health Alliance (PCHAlliance). The workshop will discuss the role of connected consumer technologies in the home to aid in remote care, wellness, and independent living, including insights from the firm's new research 360 View: Health and Independent Living.

Parks Associates: Top Preferred Purchase Channel for Independent Living Solution

"More than 30% of U.S. broadband households are either current or future caregivers for a loved one, and more than one-half are willing to pay for an independent living solution for that person," said Jennifer Kent, Director, Research Quality & Product Development, Parks Associates. "Cared-for loved ones want to stay in their home as long as possible, and smart home monitoring solutions can help accomplish this goal, particularly in their ability to alert first responders in an event of emergency, and to detect fire, water leak and other safety issues, like whether seniors leave a stove on."

"We are pleased to continue our collaboration again this year with Parks Associates," said Richard Scarfo, Vice President, PCHAlliance. "Together, we provide attendees with knowledge and guidance at the intersection of the connected health and home, and highlight the role of connected consumer technologies in the home to aid in remote care, wellness, and independent living."

Parks Associates health research reveals 34% of caregivers willing to pay for an independent living solution are interested in purchasing this offering from a company that specializes in independent living solutions. Seventeen percent would prefer a home security service provider, and 15% would prefer a health insurer.

The workshop "Connected Health and IoT: Impact of Smart Home Solutions" will feature multiple sessions focusing on solutions to address the complete healthy living needs of consumers and households:

Connected Health: Home Service Provider Perspectives

Independent Living: The Role of the Smarter Home

Special Session: Enabling Engagement and Independent Living Through Voice

Integrating Health and Consumer Technology Ecosystems

Speakers include:

Nancy Green , Global Practice Lead, Healthcare, Verizon

, Global Practice Lead, Lainie Muller , Director, Wellness, Alarm.com

, Director, Wellness, Chris Otto , Senior Vice President, MobileHelp Healthcare

, Senior Vice President, Nathan Treloar , President & COO, Orbita, Inc.

, President & COO, John Valiton , CEO, Reemo Health

, CEO, Anthony Versage , Head of Product, Health and Wellness, Comcast

To schedule an analyst meeting or request specific research data, contact Julia Homier at [email protected], 972-996-0214.

About the Connected Health Conference

PCHAlliance has created an unmatched leadership event, bringing together the industry's two leading events -- the Connected Health Conference (formerly the mHealth Summit) and the Partners Connected Health Symposium. This year's theme, Balancing Technology and the Human Element, will showcase forward-thinking approaches and technologies that are driving integration of connected health into consumer health and care delivery. The 10th annual Connected Health Conference will take place October 17-19 at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston. Please visit the CHC18 website for details and easy online registration.

About Parks Associates

Parks Associates is an internationally recognized market research and consulting company specializing in emerging consumer technology products and services. Founded in 1986, Parks Associates creates research capital for companies ranging from Fortune 500 to small start-ups through market reports, primary studies, consumer research, custom research, workshops, executive conferences, and annual service subscriptions. http://www.parksassociates.com

Media Contact:

Julia Homier

Parks Associates

972.996.0214

[email protected]

SOURCE Parks Associates

Related Links

http://www.parksassociates.com

FAR HILLS, N.J., Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Sending a strong message to state policymakers, a new survey of the state's registered voters conducted by The Fairleigh Dickinson University Poll for ReThink Energy NJ found that 66 percent do not consider natural gas to be clean energy, an astounding 23-point increase since 2016, and that three of every four want New Jersey to achieve a goal of 100% of energy from renewable sources by 2050.

"As the Murphy Administration develops a new Energy Master Plan to achieve 100 percent clean energy, it is clear that most New Jersey voters do not think natural gas is clean and want the state to move to renewable energy like wind and solar," said Tom Gilbert, campaign director, ReThink Energy NJ and New Jersey Conservation Foundation.

"New Jerseyans are highly engaged on the energy issue, with 60 percent saying they are following the topic and more than half reporting they are more likely to vote for a candidate who favors renewables," said Krista Jenkins, director, Fairleigh Dickinson University Poll and Professor of Political Science. "The strong level of voter awareness about energy issues should be encouraging news to policymakers who are working to advance clean energy in the state."

Voters favor renewables over fossil fuels; Willing to pay more for renewable energy

Seventy-five percent of those surveyed said the state should be investing in more renewable energy sources rather than fossil fuels and pipelines. Two out of three (66%) said they are willing to pay $10 or $15 more per month for solar or wind energy in order to reduce emissions.

Renewables can't wait

More than half of New Jersey voters (58%) say our state is moving too slowly to adopt renewable energy. Solar, more than natural gas (44% to 26%) is viewed as most important to the state's energy future, and 74 percent support the development of offshore wind as a source of energy.

Concerned about new pipelines, federal policies; Pipeline jobs not worth risks

Regarding new pipelines, approximately eight out of 10 voters said they are concerned about their:

Impact on natural areas and wildlife habitats (81%)

Seizure of private property by energy companies (81%)

Risks to air and water quality (79%)

Use of protected natural areas like the Pine Barrens (78%)

Two-thirds (67%) said the jobs created by pipelines are not worth the environmental and health risks, and the state should instead create jobs through clean, renewable energy projects.

Sixty percent said they disagree with the federal energy policy that favors fossil fuels, while over seven in ten (73%) said New Jersey should set its own course by investing in renewables.

"By overwhelming percentages, voters recognize the serious risks that pipelines pose to the residents of our state and want the state to focus on developing clean, renewable sources of energy," said Gilbert.

The telephone survey of 735 randomly-selected registered voters was conducted by Fairleigh Dickinson Poll for ReThink Energy NJ between August 30 and September 4.

View the full report here. All polls from previous years can be viewed here.

Click to Tweet: New @FDUpoll: NJ voters say gas is not clean energy, support target of 100% renewable energy. http://ow.ly/2OKm30lSfme @ReThinkEnergyNJ

About ReThink Energy NJ

ReThink Energy NJ aims to inform and empower New Jersey citizens about the need for reduced use of fossil fuels and pipelines that threaten our preserved lands, water, environment, public health and communities; our goal is a swift transition to efficient, clean and renewable energy. ReThink Energy NJ is supported by New Jersey Conservation Foundation, The Watershed Institute and Pinelands Preservation Alliance. For more information, visit rethinkenergynj.org and find ReThink Energy NJ on Facebook and Twitter @rethinkenergynj.

About Fairleigh Dickinson University Poll

Fairleigh Dickinson University Poll is a full-service survey research center committed to the delivery and analysis of unbiased and methodologically sound data. Topics include, but are not limited to, politics, society, popular culture, consumer and economic trends. FDU Poll is a charter member of the American Association for Public Opinion Research's (AAPOR) Transparency Initiative and adheres to the AAPOR's Professional Ethics and Practices. In 2018, for the second time, the FDU poll received an "A" rating from statistician Nate Silver's FiveThirtyEight blog.

SOURCE ReThink Energy NJ

Related Links

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TYSONS, Va., Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- PenFed Credit Union today announced Ross Brown has joined the nation's second largest federal credit union as Senior Vice President of Strategy and Policy. Brown will lead short and long-term business strategy in collaboration with senior leaders and the board of directors. He reports to PenFed's First Senior Executive Vice President Lisa Jennings.

"PenFed's heritage is rooted in serving those who serve our nation," said PenFed President and CEO James Schenck. "Ross brings extensive strategy and policy experience and a broad network of relationships within PenFed's core membership in the national defense community and financial services. With his impressive career in military and public service, as well as executive leadership in corporate America, Ross possesses proven capabilities to help drive strategic business results within PenFed. We are thrilled to welcome Ross to our leadership team."

Brown joins PenFed from JPMorgan Chase where he served as managing director and head of Military and Veterans Affairs. Among his accomplishments there was establishing a veteran entrepreneurial program, expanding the Veteran Jobs Mission to over 240 companies, leading the effort to recruit veterans at greater than five percent of the annual, newly hired workforce, and leading a veteran business group of over 5,000 members.

During his career, which spans more than 30 years, Brown has served as a strategic planner for the Chief of Staff of the Army, and served in the Joint Chiefs of Staff (J5) as the division chief for the Arabian Peninsula and Iraq. Additionally, Brown served as a senior military assistant to the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, Commander in Combat in Iraq of the Third Squadron, Third Armored Cavalry Regiment, and Commander of the Joint Task Force-Bravo in Honduras. Brown was also a Deputy Director and Member of the Senior Executive Service (SES) in the Department of Defense.

Brown is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and holds a Master of Education in Organizational Development from the University of Louisville.

About PenFed Credit Union

Established in 1935 as the War Department Credit Union, Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed) is America's second-largest federal credit union, serving 1.7 million members worldwide with over $24 billion in assets. Our mission is to help members reach their financial potential. PenFed Credit Union offers market-leading mortgages, automobile loans, credit cards, student loans, checking, certificates, and a wide range of other financial services with members' interests always in mind. We have a proud history of serving those in the Armed Forces, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Military Associations, eligible veterans and retirees, and their families. You may also qualify through membership in select organizations within our field of membership. PenFed Credit Union is federally insured by the NCUA and is an Equal Housing Lender. To learn more about PenFed Credit Union, visit PenFed.org, like us on Facebook and follow us @PenFed on Twitter. Interested in working for PenFed? Check us out on LinkedIn. We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

SOURCE PenFed Credit Union

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Small Business Administration announced that $18 million in funding has been awarded to 47 State international trade agencies through SBA's competitive State Trade Expansion Program (STEP), to support export growth among U.S. small businesses.

STEP is designed to meet three distinctive goals: to increase the number of small businesses that export, to increase the value of exports for small businesses, and to increase the number of small businesses that explore significant new trade opportunities. Expanding the base of small business exporters and making the process as easy as possible is a key component of the Administration's small business strategy.



"The SBA is committed to ensuring equal access for small businesses to international markets and expanding export opportunities, and ensuring small businesses have the resources they need to drive their businesses and local communities forward," said SBA Administrator Linda McMahon. "The STEP awards are an important resource that provide small businesses with the confidence and funding they need to thrive in this competitive international market."



Since the beginning of the STEP program seven years ago, approximately $138 million in grants have been awarded to fund export opportunities and increase the footprint of small businesses in countries all over the world.

The 2018 STEP awards will allow states to assist small businesses with the information and tools they need to succeed in export-related activities that are in line with the objectives of the program. These objectives include participation in foreign trade missions, foreign market sales trips, services provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, as well as design of international marketing campaigns, export trade show exhibits, training workshops and more.

STEP awards are managed and provided at the local level by state government organizations. The program is managed at the national level by the U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of International Trade.

About the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster.

It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

PRESS OFFICE

Release Date: September 19, 2018 Contact: [email protected]

Release Number: 18-56 Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Blogs & Instagram

SOURCE U.S. Small Business Administration

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NEW YORK, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- As Sensofusion continues to increase its world-wide user base with AIRFENCE, a counter-drone solution being used to protect armed forces, police, airports, prisons, and national guards, the company is unveiling its latest version. AIRFENCE 6.0 dramatically improves and upgrades Sensofusion's capabilities to detect and safely negate dangerous and potentially life-threatening situations caused by rogue drones.

Sensofusion to Unveil Next Generation Counter-UAS System AIRFENCE: Hosting Exclusive Demo this Fall

Sensofusion has incorporated findings from private and government customers to create a solution ideal for any end-user seeking a counter-UAS technology designed to automatically detect, locate, track, and defeat unwanted drones. Improving speed and range of detection, expanding the AIRFENCE proprietary library, and wrapping the whole package in a seamless interface were all part of the calculations when fine-tuning AIRFENCE 6.0. In addition, AIRFENCE can now target individual UAS', regardless of what frequency band they hop to when counter-attacking.

As part of the release of AIRFENCE 6.0, Sensofusion is offering a demo day to any end-user with counter-UAS requirements on their priority list.

"To fully understand the advancements made with AIRFENCE 6.0, we invite end users to see it operational for themselves," said Sensofusion Vice President Kaveh Mahdavi. "With the latest version, AIRFENCE pushes the boundaries of innovation. We are not selling theoretical solutions in the form of shock videos and flashy presentations that you see all over the internet  AIRFENCE has the largest user base for counter-UAS technology in the world with hundreds of installations, and those numbers continue to grow. I am very pleased with our team's achievements in the field of RF as it represents the best of the best."

AIRFENCE continues to advance through strong partnerships with organizations like the FAA, NASA, the European Union and the U.S. Department of Defense. It is time-tested and calibrated depending on the customers environment, and can be installed to protect mobile convoys or fixed sites.

Sensofusion's private unveiling of AIRFENCE 6.0 is open to any end customer that has a requirement to protect high-priority assets from unknown small commercial drones and improvised sUAS.

Act now: If you are within this category please contact Sensofusion directly at [email protected] to request a private invite to the event.

About Sensofusion

Sensofusion, with U.S. headquarters in New York City and international headquarters in Helsinki, Finland, is the creator of AIRFENCE, a countermeasure technology designed to automatically detect, locate, track, and take over unmanned aircraft system (UAS) controls, all automatically, as well as locate operators. Sensofusion currently partners with the European Union, U.S. Marine Corps., NATO, the FAA, and the Nevada Institute of Autonomous Systems.

For more information, visit Sensofusion.com, email [email protected]

Media contact:

Bob Spoerl

[email protected]

773-453-2444

SOURCE Sensofusion

Related Links

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NEW YORK, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Juan Monteverde, founder and managing partner at Monteverde & Associates PC, a national securities firm headquartered at the Empire State Building in New York City, is investigating Engility Holdings, Inc. ("Engility" or the "Company") (NYSE: EGL) relating to the sale of the Company to Science Applications International Corp. ("SAIC"). Under the terms of the agreement, Engility shareholders are only anticipated to receive 0.450 shares of SAIC common stock for each share of Engility stock they own.

Click here for more information: https://monteverdelaw.com/case/engility-holdings-inc. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.

The investigation focuses on whether Engility and its Board of Directors violated securities laws and/or breached their fiduciary duties to the Company's stockholders by 1) failing to conduct a fair process, 2) whether and by how much this proposed transaction undervalues the Company by and 3) failing to disclose all material financial information in connection with the upcoming shareholder meeting.

Monteverde & Associates PC is a national class action securities and consumer litigation law firm that has recovered millions of dollars and is committed to protecting shareholders and consumers from corporate wrongdoing. Monteverde & Associates lawyers have significant experience litigating Mergers & Acquisitions and Securities Class Actions, whereby they protect investors by recovering money and remedying corporate misconduct. Mr. Monteverde, who leads the legal team at the firm, has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in Securities Litigation in 2013 and 2017, an award given to less than 2.5% of attorneys in a particular field. He has also been selected by Martindale-Hubbell as a 2017 Top Rated Lawyer.

If you own common stock in Engility and wish to obtain additional information and protect your investments free of charge, please visit our website or contact Juan E. Monteverde, Esq. either via e-mail at [email protected] or by telephone at (212) 971-1341.

Contact:

Juan E. Monteverde, Esq.

MONTEVERDE & ASSOCIATES PC

The Empire State Building

350 Fifth Ave. Suite 4405

New York, NY 10118

United States of America

[email protected]

Tel: (212) 971-1341

Attorney Advertising. (C) 2018 Monteverde & Associates PC. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Monteverde & Associates PC (www.monteverdelaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

SOURCE Monteverde & Associates PC

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NEW YORK, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Juan Monteverde, founder and managing partner at Monteverde & Associates PC, a boutique securities firm headquartered at the Empire State Building in New York City, is investigating the Board of Directors and Officers of Aramark Healthcare Technologies ("Aramark" or the "Company") (NYSE: ARMK) for possible breaches of fiduciary duty.

Click here for more information: https://monteverdelaw.com/case/aramark-healthcare-technologies. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.

Monteverde & Associates PC is a boutique class action securities and consumer litigation law firm that has recovered millions of dollars and is committed to protecting shareholders and consumers from corporate wrongdoing. Monteverde & Associates lawyers have significant experience litigating Mergers & Acquisitions and Securities Class Actions, whereby they protect investors by recovering money and remedying corporate misconduct. Mr. Monteverde, who leads the legal team at the firm, has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in Securities Litigation in 2013 and 2017, an award given to less than 2.5% of attorneys in a particular field. He has also been selected by Martindale-Hubbell as a 2017 Top Rated Lawyer.

If you own common stock in Aramark and wish to obtain additional information and protect your investments free of charge, please visit our website or contact Juan E. Monteverde, Esq. either via e-mail at [email protected] or by telephone at (212) 971-1341.

Contact:

Juan E. Monteverde, Esq.

MONTEVERDE & ASSOCIATES PC

The Empire State Building

350 Fifth Ave. Suite 4405

New York, NY 10118

United States of America

[email protected]

Tel: (212) 971-1341

Attorney Advertising. (C) 2018 Monteverde & Associates PC. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Monteverde & Associates PC (www.monteverdelaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

SOURCE Monteverde & Associates PC

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ -- Lawyers with the Securities Law Firm of Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas LLP, www.sseklaw.com, are still working on and filing new claims involving Puerto Rico bonds. Recently, a federal judge in New York ruled against certifying a class action against UBS related to Puerto Rico bond funds. The lawsuit claimed that UBS failed to analyze the appropriateness of Puerto Rico funds for its customers.

The federal court ruled that claims of suitability could not be brought by a class action because every investor has unique goals, so determining whether UBS failed its obligation to adequately analyze suitability for a client would have to be decided on an individual basis. As a result, any client who is hoping for a recovery of losses suffered in these investments will have to pursue a legal claim individually.

There is a limited period of time that investors have to bring these claims. While investors may have been entitled to additional time while the class action was pending, the clock is ticking again. If you are or were a customer of UBS Puerto Rico who invested in Puerto Rico closed-end funds or bonds, it is not too late to contact the law firm of Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas LLP for an evaluation of your account to determine if you have a claim to attempt to recover some or all of your losses. All communications will be kept strictly confidential, and you will not be billed in any way for a consultation.

Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas LLP has a team of attorneys, consultants and staff with more than 100 years of combined experience in the securities industry and in securities law. For more than two decades, our firm has represented thousands of investors throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and internationally to recover losses suffered through investing with brokerage firms and banks. We have represented clients in Federal and state courts and in arbitration through the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the New York Stock Exchange Inc. (NYSE), the American Arbitration Association (AAA) and in private arbitration actions.

Contact Info: 800-259-9010

713-580-8914 to speak to Spanish fluent staff

Sam Edwards [email protected]

Kirk Smith [email protected]

Luis Acevedo [email protected]

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/334439/shepherd_smith_edwards___kantas_llp_logo.jpg

SOURCE Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas LLP

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SEATTLE, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Silverback Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company developing a pipeline of systemically delivered, locally active therapies, has closed an extension of its Series A financing to bring the total raised in the round to $47.5 million. The financing was led by existing investor OrbiMed, with participation from new investors Celgene Corporation and Alexandria Venture Investments.

Silverback's proprietary ImmunoTAC technology and integrated R&D approach enables the design of product candidates that can be administered systemically, but that act only at the sites of disease. The approach is designed to spare healthy tissues from unwanted side effects, while modifying disease processes in a potent and targeted manner. Silverback is directing the ImmunoTAC platform to modulate fundamental pathways underlying severe disorders, which traditional antibody and small molecule-based approaches have not been able to successfully target with systemic dosing due to inadequate activity and/or unacceptable toxicities. Silverback has filed over 15 patent families covering the ImmunoTAC platform and related product candidates. The company's lead programs are being advanced in oncology and fibrosis, and initial data will be disclosed at a scientific conference in 2019.

"Silverback's product candidates represent potentially important advances for patients, and the company's underlying technology is designed to continue to unlock new avenues for drug development," said Peter Thompson, M.D., Silverback's co-founder, CEO and chairman. "Having the support of top-tier investors like OrbiMed, Celgene and Alexandria will be important as we continue to build the company and its programs to treat serious diseases."

Silverback is led by industry veterans in science and business with substantial track records at companies including Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Genentech, Juno and Merck.

About Silverback Therapeutics

Silverback Therapeutics is a privately held biotechnology company advancing a pipeline of first-in-class therapies targeting fundamental disease pathways that are systemically delivered but locally active. Enabled by the company's proprietary ImmunoTAC platform, Silverback's pipeline is rapidly advancing towards clinical studies in several therapeutic areas, including oncology and fibrosis. Since its inception in 2016, Silverback has raised $47.5 million in venture capital financing from OrbiMed, Celgene Corporation and Alexandria Venture Investments. The company is headquartered in Seattle, Washington. For more information, please visit www.silverbacktx.com.

About OrbiMed

OrbiMed is a leading investment firm dedicated exclusively to the healthcare sector, with over $14 billion in assets under management. OrbiMed invests globally across the spectrum of healthcare companies, from venture capital start-ups to large multinational corporations, utilizing a range of private equity funds, public equity funds, royalty/credit funds and other investment vehicles. OrbiMed maintains its headquarters in New York City, with additional offices in San Francisco, Shanghai, Mumbai and Herzliya. OrbiMed seeks to be a capital provider of choice, with the flexibility to provide equity and debt capital solutions that are tailored to the unique needs of our portfolio companies. The firm's global team of over 80 professionals brings the resources and experience required to be an exceptional long-term partner in building world-class healthcare companies. For more information, please visit www.orbimed.com.

About Celgene Corporation

Celgene Corporation, headquartered in Summit, New Jersey, is an integrated global biopharmaceutical company engaged primarily in the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative therapies for the treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases through next-generation solutions in protein homeostasis, immuno-oncology, epigenetics, immunology and neuro-inflammation. For more information, please visit www.celgene.com.

About Alexandria Venture Investments

Alexandria Venture Investments, founded in 1996, is the strategic venture capital arm of Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. Alexandria Venture Investments focuses on novel, breakthrough discoveries in biopharma, diagnostics, research tools, agtech and technology. Based on its experience and in-depth understanding of the life science and technology industries, its long-term relationships with leading investors and its world-class scientific advisory network, Alexandria Venture Investments is uniquely positioned to fund seed-, early- and growth-stage companies. For more information, please visit www.are.com.

SOURCE Silverback Therapeutics

Related Links

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SoundExchange plays a critical role in the business of music, distributing royalties to many creator groups, advocating for fair pay across all platforms and developing solutions that support accuracy and transparency in royalty payments for the entire industry. SoundExchange subsidiaries SXWorks and the Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency Ltd. (CMRRA) provide administration and licensing services to music publishers. Conlon is a member of the board of directors of SXWorks.

"SoundExchange is helping re-order the business of music by creating solutions that facilitate royalty distributions to music creators, setting standards and service levels that the industry can rely upon," said Conlon. "SoundExchange is committed to innovation and growth delivered at the speed of digital."

In his new role at SoundExchange, Conlon will lead the company's expansion efforts into additional lines of services for labels, artists, music publishers and licensees. His team will leverage and build on SoundExchange's core capabilities, business processes and technical assets, and will help coordinate services across the growing family of SoundExchange companies, including SXWorks and CMRRA.

Conlon has a long history of delivering innovative licensing solutions across the music industry. As chief external affairs officer, Conlon led SoundExchange's industry relations, global public policy and communications teams serving the company's community of 170,000 artists, rights owners and publishers. Prior to SoundExchange, Conlon was a principal at Rights Management Holdings and was a long time senior executive at Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI), most recently as senior vice president of corporate strategy, communications and new media.

About SoundExchange

SoundExchange manages sound recording and music works rights across the entire music industry. The organization collects and distributes digital performance royalties on behalf of more than 170,000 recording artists and master rights owners accounts and administers direct agreements on behalf of rights owners and licensees. To date, SoundExchange has paid out more than $5 billion in royalties. SXWorks, a SoundExchange subsidiary created with the acquisition of the Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency Ltd. (CMRRA), provides global administration and support services to music publishers. For more information, visit www.SoundExchange.com or http://sx-works.com.

SOURCE SoundExchange

Related Links

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DALLAS, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV), in partnership with the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), has awarded 150 students, ranging from incoming freshman through graduate students, with complimentary roundtrip air travel as part of the Lanzate!/Take Off! travel award program.

Current Lanzate! Travel Award Recipient, and undergraduate student at Cornell University, Julio Lopez Ramos said, "There are so many costs not included in a financial aid package, especially for first-generation, low-income students." During Ramos' next school break, which once caused added stress because he worried about his expenses, he plans to fly home to California to visit his parents and three siblings. Even more than his trip home, Ramos looks forward to using his award to fly a family member to New York to visit him for the first time. He writes, "The program will be a true blessing for my entire family."

"For the past 14 years the Southwest Airlines Lanzate! Travel Program has contributed to Hispanic success in higher education," said HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores. "Many college students would not have been able to visit their families were it not for the travel awards received from Southwest Airlines. HACU is proud to partner with Southwest Airlines and we congratulate the student recipients and Southwest Airlines for giving flight to success in higher education."

The Lanzate! Program is geared toward Hispanic college students with economic need who attend school far away from home. Students, from state to Ivy League institutions, across the nation completed online entries and submitted essays conveying how receiving a travel award would help them achieve their educational goals. The impactful program, which was recognized in 2015 by the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics, provides roundtrip air travel to selected college students to travel home to see family.

A panel of judges made up of college professors and educational advocates met to determine the award recipients. Recipients were awarded between one and four roundtrips for themselves or a family member. Southwest donated 409 roundtrips to encourage students to continue on their paths to higher education.

ABOUT HACU

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) represents more than 470 colleges and universities committed to Hispanic higher education success in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Latin America and Spain. The association's headquarters are located in San Antonio, Texas, with offices in Washington, D.C., and Sacramento, California. HACU is the only national association representing existing and emerging Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). Information is available at www.hacu.net.

ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.

In its 48th year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) continues to differentiate itself from other air carriers with exemplary Customer Service delivered by more than 57,000 Employees to a Customer base topping 120 million passengers annually, in recent years. Southwest became the nation's largest domestic air carrier in 2003 and maintains that ranking based on the U.S. Department of Transportation's most recent reporting of domestic originating passengers boarded. During peak travel seasons, Southwest operates more than 4,000 weekday departures among a network of 99 destinations in the United States and 10 additional countries. Southwest has announced its intention to sell tickets in 2018 for service to Hawaii, subject to requisite governmental approvals.

Southwest coined Transfarency to describe its purposed philosophy of treating Customers honestly and fairly, and low fares actually staying low. Southwest is the only major U.S. airline to offer bags fly free to everyone (first and second checked pieces of luggage, size and weight limits apply, some carriers offer free checked bags on select routes or in qualified circumstances), and there are no change fees, though fare differences might apply.

As launch customer of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 in North America, the Company operates the largest fleet in the world of Boeing aircraft. Customers who connect to the WiFi network may use their personal devices to view on-demand movies and television shows, as well as nearly 20 channels of free, live TV.

With a bold new look first unveiled in 2014, Southwest is progressing through a multi-year refresh of its fleet to showcase the carrier's Heart: a new logo, aircraft livery, interior design featuring new seats, Employee-designed uniforms, and an updated airport experience, all of which showcase a dedication of Southwest Employees to connect Customers with what's important in their lives.

From its first flights on June 18, 1971, Southwest Airlines launched an era of unprecedented affordability in air travel described by the U.S. Department of Transportation as "The Southwest Effect," a lowering of fares and increase in passenger traffic wherever the carrier serves. With 45 consecutive years of profitability, Southwest is one of the most honored airlines in the world, known for a triple bottom line approach that contributes to the carrier's performance and productivity, the importance of its People and the communities they serve, and an overall commitment to efficiency and the planet. The 2017 Southwest Airlines One Report can be found at SouthwestOneReport.com.

Book Southwest Airlines' low fares online at Southwest Airlines or by phone at 800-I-FLY-SWA.

SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co.

Related Links

http://www.southwest.com

TRUE BLUE, Grenada, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- St. George's University is pleased to announce the appointment of Stuart Noble-Goodman as the new dean of the School of Arts and Sciences.

"We're delighted to welcome Dr. Noble-Goodman to St. George's University," said Dr. G. Richard Olds, President of St. George's University. "His wealth of experience as both a university administrator and a teacher makes him the ideal candidate to lead our School of Arts and Sciences."

Stuart Noble-Goodman

Noble-Goodman comes to St. George's from Marylhurst University in Portland, Oregon, where he was Director of the School of Business. Prior to that, he served for 16 years in various teaching and leadership roles at the University of Redlands in California, including Dean of the School of Business and Chair of the Department of Environmental Studies. He has also taught at North Carolina State University and Benedictine University in Illinois.

He did his undergraduate work at the University of California, Berkeley, and has a doctorate in American Literature from Duke University.

At St. George's, Noble-Goodman will cement the School of Arts and Sciences' reputation as the premiere university in the Caribbean and elevate its contributions to the local economy.

"I'm excited to create new academic programs in disciplines such as hospitality management, construction management, and social entrepreneurship that will prepare our students for fulfilling careers," Noble-Goodman said. "We look forward to equipping Grenadians with the knowledge and skills they'll need to assume leadership roles in the industries that drive Grenada's economy."

Currently, the School of Arts and Sciences offers undergraduate degrees in business, management, biology, nursing, psychology, sociology, and information technology, as well as a post-baccalaureate premedical program. Students can also earn dual bachelor's and medical or dual bachelor's and veterinary medicine degrees. In total, nearly 800 students are enrolled in the school.

About St. George's University

St. George's University is a center of international education, drawing students and faculty from 140 countries to the island of Grenada, in the West Indies, to its programs in medicine, veterinary medicine, public health, science, and business. St. George's is affiliated with educational institutions worldwide, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Ireland. The University's over 20,000 graduates include physicians, veterinarians, scientists, and public health and business professionals across the world. The University programs are accredited and approved by many governing authorities and repeatedly recognized as the best in the region. For more information, visit www.sgu.edu.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Madeline Auerbach

(202) 471-4228 ext. 101

[email protected]

SOURCE St. George's University

Related Links

http://www.sgu.edu

ATLANTA and SUGAR HILL, Ga., Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Stephen Becker Automotive Group, Inc. has launched a new website www.beckerautogroup.com. The website, along with multiple social media channels, showcases its ever changing inventory of muscle, classic and collector cars available for sale and also offers Becker's much sought after premier client services. These services include brokering, car auction services, vehicle and estate liquidation settlements, restorations, buyer and/or seller representation, expert witness testimony and more.

"With the continued growth of my business, I am excited to have a new and significant digital presence to showcase not only cars, but what the company really is today, including all client services, my knowledge and expertise can offer," said CEO and President of Stephen Becker Automotive Group, Stephen Becker.

Vehicles for sale on www.beckerautogroup.com represent hard-to-find examples from large private collections that are not offered anywhere else. For buyers, Stephen Becker Automotive Group specializes in locating vehicles that are not known to the general public to be for sale. A core function of the site is to provide a portal that will allow instant live inquiries and two-way, real-time discussions, direct with Stephen himself for car auction expertise, vehicle restoration services, vehicle inspections, valuations, advice, sales or just to "talk cars".

"I have been lucky enough to work with some of the most passionate car enthusiasts, experts and collectors for over three decades. Carroll Shelby was my business partner from 1977 until his passing in 2012 and he taught me the automobile business from the ground up. I offer this experience and network to the most discerning clients. The new website will provide a way to communicate who I am and how I can help car collectors worldwide," adds Becker.

About Stephen Becker Automotive Group, Inc.

Stephen Becker, CEO and President of Stephen Becker Automotive Group, has been an expert on collector cars for over 30 years. He is considered a world-leading authority on 1960s-era Shelby American automobiles, including Cobras, GT350s and GT500s. His expertise extends into all makes and models of American and European collector cars. Becker was one of the youngest people to ever be selected as a finalist for the Ernst & Young/Inc. Magazine "Entrepreneur of the Year" in the early 1990s. His knowledge, reputation and business ethics are the leading force of his company, offering an array of boutique services to compliment vehicles it buys and sells. Services include vehicle restoration and repairs, buying and selling services and car auction services. Stephen Becker personally oversees each and every transaction and service and all work is completed in-house to ensure the highest quality.

Stephen Becker founded Planet Shelby Cobra in 2006 and operated the business until 2016. It was the top-selling dealer for vintage and continuation Shelby Cobras and Shelby Mustangs in the World. Stephen Becker Automotive Group is a licensed and insured Georgia car dealer. Stephen Becker is also one of the very few hand chosen members of the NADA advisory board for classic, antique and muscle cars.

The site can be found at www.beckerautogroup.com and new social media channels are twitter.com/beckerautogroup, facebook.com/beckerautogroup and linkedin.com/in/beckerautogroup.

Contact: David O'Hara, 617.8338.8684, [email protected]

SOURCE Stephen Becker Automotive Group, Inc.TUCSON, Ariz., Sept. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Alzheimer's Research and Prevention Foundation (ARPF) announced today that its paper, "Stress, Meditation, and Alzheimer's Disease Prevention: Where The Evidence Stands, Khalsa, DS (2015)," published in The Journal of Alzheimer's Disease (JAD) was ranked as one of the top 10 JAD-viewed articles in 2017, out of 500+ articles published each year.

Editor-In-Chief of JAD, George Perry, PhD presented this information at the 2018 JAD Editorial Update, held in Chicago, IL on July 23, 2018, in conjunction with the Alzheimer's Association International Conference.

Dharma S. Khalsa, MD, Founding President/Medical Director of ARPF, said "It is one of only a handful Integrative Medicine articles that ranked so high and the top article published by JAD on yoga/meditation and AD prevention." This paper reviewed lifestyle and stress as possible factors contributing to AD and the effects meditation has on cognition and well-being for reduction of neurodegeneration and prevention of AD.

The paper highlighted Kirtan Kriya (KK), an easy, cost-effective, yogic meditation technique requiring only 12 minutes a day, which has been successfully employed to improve memory in studies of people with subjective cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment, and highly stressed caregivers, all of whom are at increased risk for subsequent development of AD. KK was shown to improve sleep, decrease depression, reduce anxiety, downregulate inflammatory genes, upregulate immune system genes, improve insulin and glucose regulatory genes, and increase telomerase by 43%; the largest ever recorded. KK also improved psycho-spiritual well-being or spiritual fitness, important for maintenance of cognitive function and prevention of AD.

KK is easy to learn and practice by aging individuals. It is the premise of the paper that meditation in general, and KK specifically, along with what he calls Spiritual Fitness, is beneficial as part of an AD prevention program.

KK and its research will be explored in depth by ARPF at their second annual Brain Longevity Therapy Training in Washington, D.C. from October 12-14, 2018. All therapists, caregivers, yogis, health practitioners, and social workers are invited to gain knowledge around neuroscience, yoga, and the life-changing impact meditation has on the brain. Learn to speak authoritatively on Alzheimer's prevention to clients, students, community and family. Become equipped with practical tools that enhance your career while spreading wellness among millions in need.

The original presentation can be viewed here: https://www.j-alz.com/sites/default/files/JAD2018_Jul2018_online%20version2018.pdf

SOURCE Alzheimer's Research and Prevention Foundation

Related Links

http://alzheimersprevention.org

RENO, Nev., Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The City of Reno has become the first Nevada City and the second jurisdiction in the state of Nevada to file a lawsuit against opioid drug manufacturers and distributors, as Nevada residents and municipalities deal with the ongoing opioid epidemic. The widespread use of opioid drugs has resulted in a national epidemic of opioid deaths and addictions. Local governments have been strained to the breaking point by this public health crisis.

The City of Reno retained two prominent Nevada law firms, Eglet Prince and Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney, who filed a 58-page lawsuit. Both law firms have a reputation for handling large cases in Nevada. Eglet Prince is known for obtaining some of the largest verdicts in the U.S.

Just before filing the Complaint, attorney Robert Eglet stated, "Opioid addiction impacts all people, regardless of race, gender, socio-economic background, or political affiliation. Apart from the toll on human life, the opioid crisis has financially strained the services the City of Reno provides its residents. Human services, social services, court services, and medical services, have all been severely impacted by this crisis," concluded Eglet.

Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve said, "This public nuisance has taken lives and destroyed families. The astonishing rates of prescription opioid abuse and heroin use coupled with the failure of these companies to fulfill their gate-keeping duties has caused harm to and continues to harm this entire community. This must stop. The City of Reno and this community expect and demand that these companies do right by the people of Reno. The nationwide opioid crisis is having a devastating effect on individuals, families and communities and is imposing enormous financial costs on federal, state, and local governments. I am very pleased that the City Council elected to retain special counsel and that the City of Reno is moving forward with this litigation."

Robert Eglet added, "Drug companies have placed their desire for profits above the health and well-being of their customers and the communities where those customers live. Nevada has the fourth highest drug overdose mortality rate in the United States. The public nuisance created by the Defendants' actions is substantial and unreasonable. It has caused, and continues to cause, significant harm to the community. Reno has incurred substantial costs including: law enforcement action for opioid-related crimes, addiction treatment, and other services necessary for the treatment of people addicted to prescription opioids. These drug companies knew or should have known that the marketing of opioids would create a public nuisance. We plan to force these companies to pay for all the damage they did to our community and force the drug companies to change the way they do business," Eglet said.

Historically, opioids were considered too addictive for treatment of chronic pain (migraines, back pain, arthritis). And they were used only to treat short term acute pain or for palliative end of life care. In the late 1990's, and continuing today, opioids have been prescribed for chronic pain because of aggressive marketing campaigns by drug companies.

For Additional Information

Contact: Tom Letizia

702-545-8777 or

[email protected]

COPY OF FILED COMPLAINT

AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

SOURCE Eglet PrinceWASHINGTON, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Inter-American Foundation's (IAF) board of directors is pleased to announce the appointment of British Robinson, Celina de Sola, and Ambassador Alfonso Quinonez to its advisory council. The council, which supports the board in advancing the IAF's grassroots development mission, includes distinguished leaders in business, philanthropy, public service, media, and academia.

"I am thrilled to welcome British, Celina, and Alfonso to the IAF," said Board Chair Eddy Arriola. "The deep regional knowledge and extensive international development expertise they bring to the foundation will enhance our work to catalyze, test and support local ideas for improving conditions in under-served communities in Latin America and the Caribbean."

British Robinson has more than 20 years' experience spearheading health, social inclusion, advocacy, and policy initiatives, as well as public-private partnerships, domestically and internationally. She most recently served as founding CEO of the Women's Heart Alliance and before that, as a diplomat at the U.S. Department of State's PEPFAR office. "I have long admired the work of the IAF and am honored to have the opportunity to champion its unique bottom-up approach to building resilient communities," said Robinson.

After a decade of leading humanitarian and public health programs around the world, Celina de Sola returned to El Salvador and co-founded Glasswing International. The organization implements education, health, and community development programs designed to mitigate root causes of poverty and violence in El Salvador and 11 other countries in the region. "I am committed to supporting and amplifying the important work of the IAF," said de Sola. "Having worked for many years on how to best address the acute security, social, and economic issues facing Latin America today, I know from experience that the IAF's hallmark approach to putting communities in the lead in local development works."

Ambassador Alfonso Quinonez is the public affairs and sustainability manager for Grupo Progreso Guatemala. He has held a variety of leadership positions at the Organization of American States (OAS), including executive secretary for Integral Development and for the Summit of the Americas Secretariat. Prior to that, he served as Guatemala's ambassador to the OAS. "I am excited to join the ranks of the IAF  an organization that has truly transformed the lives of so many in my country and beyond," said Quinonez. "I am especially eager to support the foundation's development of cross-sector partnerships to drive sustainable impact."

About the IAF

The IAF, an independent U.S. government agency, was created in 1969 to channel development assistance directly to the organized poor in Latin America and the Caribbean. The IAF is governed by a bipartisan board of directors appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. A president, appointed by the board, serves as the IAF's chief executive officer. The IAF funds community-led projects in 20 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean.

For more information visit www.iaf.gov or contact Barbara Alino: [email protected]; (202) 683-7185.

SOURCE Inter-American Foundation

Related Links

https://www.iaf.gov

BERLIN, Vt., Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Vermont Chamber of Commerce has secured more than 10 of the largest aerospace and defense companies to participate in the annual Manufactured in Vermont Supply Chain Trade Show on Thursday, September 27. These companies will land in Vermont searching for companies to expand their supply chains, creating more opportunities for their companies and economic growth for Vermont businesses.

Manufactured in Vermont Supply Chain Trade Show attendees networking with industry peers. Meet peers and network at the Manufactured in Vermont Supply Chain Trade Show.

Bell Flight, Boeing, Defense Logistics Agency  Troop Support, Sikorsky, A Lockheed Martin Company and Oshkosh Defense top the list of out-of-state original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) looking to engage Vermont and New England's proven base of pre-qualified suppliers to optimize their supply chains with new innovations, products and services for competitive advantage.

Adding to the depth of suppliers, the Vermont Chamber is also bringing 30 Canadian companies to Manufactured in Vermont in support of the continuing work to build a U.S. - Canadian aerospace corridor, linking Vermont's $2 billion aerospace and aviation cluster with a $28 billion Canadian aerospace industry for cross-border commerce. The Trade Corridor is now being extended to the Connecticut aerospace cluster. This is part of the ongoing work between the Vermont Chamber and Aero Montreal stemming from an agreement in 2013.

Manufactured in Vermont attracts exhibitors and attendees from the entire Northeast region and lower Quebec. Attendees will network with industry peers, meet buyers, suppliers and partners on the trade show floor, connect with employers, attend industry workshops, see new product innovations and experience dynamic exhibits.

About the Vermont Chamber

The largest statewide, private, not-for-profit business organization, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce represents nearly every industry sector with a mission to create an economic climate conducive to business growth and the preservation of the Vermont quality of life.

Contact: Chris Carrigan

[email protected]

Direct: 802-223-0904

Cell: 802-488-4099 (use day of show)

SOURCE Vermont Chamber of Commerce

Related Links

http://www.vtchamber.com

EATONTOWN, N.J., Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Joe Hagan, CEO of Gallant Brands, Inc., is pleased to announce an exclusive interview with Modern Living with kathy ireland to discuss their famous soup.

The Original Soupman has built upon a legacy that began in New York City in the 1980s. Their premium artisanal soup is crafted with the freshest ingredients and spices from around the world to create a product fans love.

Joe Hagan, CEO of Gallant Brands on Modern Living with kathy ireland

"When you think of the Original Soupman, you think of 'no soup for you!'," says Hagan. "It really is interesting because never has there been a brand of soup that has been made famous for not being able to have it. No matter how green your money is, no matter how you follow the rules, you need to respect the soup, or you don't have the privilege of being able to buy the product."

Today, the company is dedicated to offering "Soup For All!TM" without compromising quality. They strive to create a memorable experience in every spoonful of soup. From their secret spice blend to whole food ingredients, every bowl of Soupman soup provides easy, flavor-packed comfort in as much time as it takes to pour, heat and serve.

"The Original Soupman soup is legendary," says J.L. Haber, Vice President of Programming for Modern Living. "With the popularity and their focus on providing a tasty, wholesome product, I'm sure they will be around for decades to come."

For more information about The Original Soupman, visit originalsoupman.com and tune in to WE tv as sponsored content on Thursday, September 20, 2018 at 7:30am EST.

About The Original Soupman

The Original Soupman's roots run deep in NYC and remain inspired by the famous "Seinfeld" episode that made The Soupman a cultural icon. The soups were praised by The New York Times who described them as "Art, Not Soup" and were rated #1 by Zagat, setting the standard for excellence. Today, The Original Soupman has built upon that tradition of excellence with innovation that enables the freshest soups to be sold across America in Tetra Pak cartons found in the soup aisles at local grocery stores and online. Additionally, they have franchised restaurants and made fresh soup available through their foodservice operations. Fans can follow the Soupman blog or join the monthly Soup Club on The Original Soupman's website where they can also learn how to support the non-profit "Soups For Troops." This charitable effort aims to feed needy veterans and their families, offering warm 'Thank Yous' for their service. The purchase of one T-shirt proudly displays your support for a great cause while feeding 12 veterans and their families.

About Modern Living with kathy ireland

Modern Living with kathy ireland is a weekly business television program featuring real-world insights from corporate executives all over the globe.

Modern Living with kathy ireland airs Thursday mornings throughout North America on WE tv as part of their sponsored content lineup and to over 50 countries throughout the world on Sundays on Bloomberg International as part of their sponsored content lineup.

Media Contact:

Hayden Hammerling

[email protected]

973-405-4600

SOURCE The Original Soupman

Related Links

https://originalsoupman.com

TORONTO, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Thomson Reuters (TSX /NYSE: TRI) today announced that it has commenced a cash tender offer (the "Tender Offer") for up to an aggregate principal amount of approximately US$650 million of debt securities, conditional upon the closing of the company's previously announced sale of a 55% interest in its Financial & Risk business to private equity funds managed by Blackstone for approximately US$17 billion (the "F&R Transaction"). An affiliate of Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and an affiliate of GIC will invest alongside Blackstone. Thomson Reuters previously announced that it and Blackstone have agreed to close the F&R Transaction on October 1, 2018, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of customary closing conditions.

The Tender Offer is in addition to the conditional redemptions by Thomson Reuters of approximately US$1.7 billion of separate series of its debt securities previously announced on September 5, 2018, which are also conditional upon the completion of the F&R Transaction (the "Conditional Redemptions"). None of the series of debt securities that are the subject of the Conditional Redemptions are the subject of the Tender Offer and the Tender Offer is not conditioned upon the completion of the Conditional Redemptions. Thomson Reuters plans to use approximately US$4 billion of the proceeds from the F&R Transaction to fund the Tender Offer, the Conditional Redemptions and to repay other outstanding indebtedness.

The Tender Offer is for a combined aggregate principal amount of the notes listed in the table below (collectively, the "Notes") of up to US$650 million, subject to certain acceptance priority levels, as described later in this news release.

Title of Security CUSIP

Number Aggregate

Principal

Amount

Outstanding Acceptance

Priority

Level Reference

U.S.

Treasury

Security Thomson

Reuters

Eikon

Reference

Page(1) Fixed

Spread

(basis

points) 4.50% Notes due May 2043 884903BM6 US$350,000,000 1 3.125% due

05/15/2048 912810SA7= 170 3.95% Notes due Sept. 2021 884903BK0 US$350,000,000 2 2.750% due 09/15/2021 9128285A4= 55 3.85% Notes due Sept. 2024 884903BT1 US$450,000,000 3 2.750% due 08/31/2023 9128284X5= 95 3.35% Notes due May 2026 884903BV6 US$500,000,000 4 2.875% due 08/15/2028 9128284N7= 130 4.30% Notes due Nov. 2023 884903BQ7 US$600,000,000 5 2.750% due 08/31/2023 9128284X5= 75

(1) The applicable page on Thomson Reuters Eikon from which the Lead Dealer Managers will quote the bid-side prices of the applicable Reference U.S. Treasury Security.

Timeline for the Tender Offer

The Tender Offer is being made pursuant to, and subject to the terms and conditions in, an Offer to Purchase, dated September 19, 2018 (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the "Offer to Purchase"), which sets forth a description of the terms of the Tender Offer.

Commencement  September 19, 2018

Early Tender Deadline - 5:00 p.m. , New York City time, on October 2, 2018 , unless extended with respect to one or more series of Notes

Withdrawal Deadline - 5:00 p.m. , New York City time, on October 2, 2018 , unless extended with respect to one or more series of Notes and except in certain limited circumstances where additional withdrawal rights are required by law

Price Determination Date - 11:00 a.m. , New York City time, on October 3, 2018 , unless extended with respect to one or more series of Notes

Initial Settlement Date  Promptly after the Early Tender Deadline. Expected to be October 5, 2018 , but subject to change at the company's election

Expiration Time - 11:59 p.m. , New York City time, on October 17, 2018 , unless extended with respect to one or more series of Notes

Final Settlement Date  Promptly after the Expiration Time. Expected to be October 19, 2018 , but subject to change at the company's election

Other Details of the Tender Offer

Holders of Notes must validly tender and not validly withdraw their Notes by the Early Tender Deadline to be eligible to receive the applicable Total Consideration (as defined below) for their tendered Notes, which includes an early tender payment of US$30 per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes accepted for purchase (the "Early Tender Premium").

The "Total Consideration" for each US$1,000 principal amount of Notes of any series tendered and accepted for purchase pursuant to the Tender Offer will be determined in the manner described in the Offer to Purchase by reference to the applicable fixed spread specified for such series over the yield based on the bid-side price of the applicable U.S. Treasury Security specified for such series in the table above and on the front cover of the Offer to Purchase. Holders of Notes that are validly tendered and not validly withdrawn on or before the Early Tender Deadline and accepted for purchase will receive the applicable Total Consideration for such Notes, which includes the Early Tender Premium. Holders of Notes that are validly tendered after the Early Tender Deadline and on or before the Expiration Time and accepted for purchase will receive the applicable Tender Consideration for such Notes, which equals the applicable Total Consideration for such Notes minus the Early Tender Premium. Holders whose Notes are accepted for purchase pursuant to the Tender Offer will also receive accrued and unpaid interest on their purchased Notes from, and including, the last interest payment date for such Notes to, but excluding, the applicable settlement date.

The Tender Offer is not conditioned upon any minimum amount of Notes being tendered, and the Tender Offer may be amended, extended or terminated in whole or with respect to any one or more series of Notes. The amounts of each series of Notes that are purchased on any settlement date will be determined in accordance with the Acceptance Priority Levels (the "Acceptance Priority Levels"), as applicable, set forth in the table above and on the front cover of the Offer to Purchase, with 1 being the highest Acceptance Priority Level and 5 being the lowest Acceptance Priority Level. We will only accept for purchase Notes up to a combined aggregate principal amount of US$650 million (the "Maximum Amount").

Thomson Reuters reserves the right to increase the Maximum Amount without extending the Withdrawal Deadline or otherwise reinstating withdrawal rights. If Holders tender more Notes in the Tender Offer than they expect to be accepted for purchase by Thomson Reuters based on the Maximum Amount as in effect on the date hereof (or as subsequently amended), and if Thomson Reuters subsequently increases the Maximum Amount on or after the Withdrawal Deadline, such Holders will not be able to withdraw any of their previously tendered Notes. Accordingly, Holders should not tender any Notes that they do not wish to be accepted for purchase.

All Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn at or before the Early Tender Deadline having a higher Acceptance Priority Level will be accepted before any tendered Notes having a lower Acceptance Priority Level are accepted in the Tender Offer, and all Notes validly tendered after the Early Tender Deadline having a higher Acceptance Priority Level will be accepted before any Notes tendered after the Early Tender Deadline having a lower Acceptance Priority Level are accepted in the Tender Offer, subject in all circumstances to the Maximum Amount. However, Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn on or before the Early Tender Deadline will be accepted for purchase in priority to Notes tendered after the Early Tender Deadline, even if the Notes tendered after the Early Tender Deadline have a higher Acceptance Priority Level than the Notes tendered prior to the Early Tender Deadline, subject to the Maximum Amount.

If purchasing all of the tendered Notes of a series of Notes of an applicable Acceptance Priority Level on any settlement date would cause the Maximum Amount to be exceeded, the amount of that series of Notes purchased on that settlement date will be prorated based on the aggregate principal amount of that series of Notes tendered in respect of that settlement date such that the Maximum Amount will not be exceeded. Furthermore, if the Tender Offer is fully subscribed as of the Early Tender Deadline and Thomson Reuters does not increase the Maximum Amount, Holders who validly tender Notes after the Early Tender Deadline will not have any of their Notes accepted for payment.

Subject to applicable law, the Tender Offer may be amended, extended or terminated with respect to one or more series of Notes. If the Tender Offer is terminated with respect to any series of Notes without Notes of such series being accepted for purchase, Notes of such series tendered pursuant to the Tender Offer will be promptly returned to the tendering holders. Notes tendered pursuant to the Tender Offer and not purchased due to the priority acceptance procedures or due to proration will be returned to the tendering holders promptly following the Expiration Time or, if the Tender Offer is fully subscribed as of the Early Tender Deadline, promptly following the Early Tender Deadline.

The completion of the Tender Offer is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, including the condition requiring the closing of the F&R Transaction. There can be no assurances that the F&R Transaction will close or that any redemption will occur. There can be no assurance that the Tender Offer will be consummated or that any failure to consummate the Tender Offer will not have a negative effect on the market price and liquidity of the Notes.

Additional Information

This news release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to tender for, or purchase, any notes or any other securities of Thomson Reuters. No offer, solicitation, purchase or sale will be made in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful. The Tender Offer is being made solely pursuant to terms and conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase.

Mizuho Capital Markets LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC are serving as the Lead Dealer Managers in connection with the Tender Offer. BMO Capital Markets Corp. and RBC Capital Markets, LLC are serving as the Co-Dealer Managers in connection with the Tender Offer. Questions regarding the Tender Offer may be directed to Mizuho Capital Markets LLC at 1-866-271-7403 (toll free in North America) or 1-212-205-7736 (collect) or to Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC at 1-800-624-1808 (toll free in North America) or 1-212-761-1057 (collect). Requests for the Offer to Purchase or the documents incorporated by reference therein may be directed to D.F. King & Co., Inc., which is acting as Information and Tender Agent for the Tender Offer, at the following telephone numbers: banks and brokers, 1-212-269-5550; all others toll free in North America at 1-800-330-5897 or at the following email address: [email protected].

None of Thomson Reuters, the Dealer Managers, the Information and Tender Agent or the trustees for the Notes makes any recommendation to any Holder of Notes whether to tender or refrain from tendering any or all of such Holder's Notes, and neither Thomson Reuters nor any such other person has authorized any person to make any such recommendation or to make any representations in connection with the Tender Offer other than as set forth in the Offer to Purchase. Holders are urged to evaluate carefully all information in the Offer to Purchase, consult their own advisors and make their own decisions whether to tender Notes and, if so, the principal amount of Notes to tender.

Thomson Reuters

Thomson Reuters is the world's leading source of news and information for professional markets. Our customers rely on us to deliver the intelligence, technology and expertise they need to find trusted answers. The business has operated in more than 100 countries for more than 100 years. Thomson Reuters shares are listed on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges (symbol: TRI). For more information, visit www.thomsonreuters.com.

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking, including the company's current expectations regarding the timing for closing of the Financial & Risk transaction (which remains subject to customary closing conditions), the expected use of proceeds of the Financial & Risk transaction and the timing, size and other terms of the Tender Offer. These forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and reflect our company's current expectations. As a result, forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations, including other factors discussed in materials that Thomson Reuters from time to time files with, or furnishes to, the Canadian securities regulatory authorities and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. There is no assurance that the Tender Offer or a transaction involving all or part of the Financial & Risk business will be completed or that other events described in any forward-looking statement will materialize. Except as may be required by applicable law, Thomson Reuters disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

CONTACTS





MEDIA INVESTORS David Crundwell Frank J. Golden Head of Communications Senior Vice President, Investor Relations +1 416 649 9904 +1 646 223 5288 [email protected] [email protected]

SOURCE Thomson Reuters

Related Links

http://www.thomson.com

ORLANDO, Fla., Sept. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, American Trucking Association's Technology & Maintenance Council and PIT Group of FPInnovations announced it has reached a deal for a new, collaborative partnership.

Under the terms of the agreement, TMC will partner with PIT Group in field testing and truck engineering projects, while PIT will offer TMC members access to their engineering services at a discounted rate.

"TMC's mission is to be a leader in truck maintenance and technical innovation," said TMC Executive Director Robert Braswell. "This new partnership will provide our members significant new opportunities to access PIT Group's engineering expertise, while creating new chances for our industry to test technical theories in the field.

"TMC and PIT are both committed to advancing innovation in trucking, and we could not ask for a better partner to work with," he said. "I hope this is the first of many collaborations between our two organizations."

Canadian PIT Group specializes in developing and accelerating the implementation of safe, sustainable and efficient technologies that support excellence in North America's transportation industry, making the partnership with TMC a win-win for members of both organizations.

"The implementation of this partnership is an excellent opportunity for the PIT Group to provide continuing and expanding support to both the PIT and TMC Memberships", said Dwayne O. Haug, Business Development Consultant.

"Providing strategic engineering services for the both of these groups, they will enjoy the benefits of professional testing utilizing the latest of applied technical techniques in addition to having a dedicated technical center at their disposal," he said. "This will further facilitate the acceleration of new technology and its implementation into the member fleets and our transportation industry."

As part of this new collaboration, PIT Group and TMC each commit to a number of obligations, including engineering advice, discounts on Fleet Review Services, technical data, and a shared presence at annual meetings as well as on both organizations' websites.

TMC is America's premier technical society for truck equipment technology and maintenance professionals. TMC features a diverse membership of equipment managers, service-dealers, owner-operators, industry suppliers and manufacturers, educators, academia and others that support the trucking industry. TMC member fleets represent the broad range of industry vocations, including truckload, less-than-truckload, municipal, private, on/off-highway, construction and other operations. Find out more about TMC online at http://tmc.trucking.org.

PIT Group, a division of FPInnovations, is a neutral, third-party organization that focuses on testing technologies and evaluating operational effectiveness for member fleets. PIT Group's four main areas of focus: testing fuel efficiency of technologies using its Energotest, verifying that ELD solutions meet the U.S. and/or Canadian requirements, assessing fleet operations for areas of improvements and research, testing and developing smart mobility solutions. PIT Group's Energotest is recognized in the trucking industry as the gold standard for fuel economy tests and is ISO 17025 certified. Fleets across North America rely on PIT Group's insight and advice because of its operations and maintenance expertise. For more details, visit www.thepitgroup.com.

American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation's freight. Follow ATA on Twitter or on Facebook. Trucking Moves America Forward

SOURCE TMC and PIT Group

Related Links

https://www.trucking.org

AKRON, Ohio, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) today announced that Leslie M. Turner has been elected to the company's Board of Directors.

Turner, 60, retired earlier this year as senior vice president, general counsel & corporate secretary of The Hershey Company.

"Leslie's extensive experience as a high-level legal and policy advisor will be valuable to our company and its shareholders," said Donald T. Misheff, chairman of FirstEnergy's Board of Directors. "We welcome her to our board."

This election, which is effective today, brings the size of FirstEnergy's Board to 13 members.

Turner has more than 25 years of experience as an advisor to corporate and government leaders. Prior to joining Hershey as general counsel in 2012, she was general counsel of Coca-Cola North America from 2008 until 2012, and associate general counsel of the company's Bottling Investment Groups from 2006 to 2008.

Turner began her career at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP, where she rose to Partner. In addition, she served as the Assistant Secretary, Territorial & International Affairs at the U.S. Department of the Interior from 1993 to 1995, and as Counselor to Secretary, U.S. Department of Interior, from 1995 to 1996.

Turner has been a member of the Board of Advisors of Georgetown University Law Center since 2012, and of the Board of Trustees and Trustees Emeriti, Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, since 1992. From 2008 until 2012 she was a member of the Board of Directors for the Georgia Appleseed Center for Law & Justice in Atlanta.

Turner holds a Bachelor of Science degree from New York University, a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, and a Master of Laws in Law and Government from American University, Washington College of Law.

FirstEnergy is dedicated to safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its 10 electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate more than 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy on Twitter @FirstEnergyCorp or online at www.firstenergycorp.com.

Editor's Note: A photo of Turner is available for download on Flickr.

Forward-Looking Statements: This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 based on information currently available to management. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These statements include declarations regarding management's intents, beliefs and current expectations. These statements typically contain, but are not limited to, the terms "anticipate," "potential," "expect," "forecast," "target," "will," "intend," "believe," "project," "estimate," "plan" and similar words. Forward-looking statements involve estimates, assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, which may include the following: the ability to successfully execute an exit of commodity-based generation that minimizes cash outflows and associated liabilities, including, without limitation, the losses, guarantees, claims and other obligations of FirstEnergy Corp., together with its consolidated subsidiaries (FirstEnergy) as such relate to the entities previously consolidated into FirstEnergy, including FirstEnergy Solutions Corp.(FES), its subsidiaries and FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company (FENOC), which have filed for bankruptcy protection; the potential for litigation and payment demands against FirstEnergy by FES, FENOC or their creditors, and the ability to successfully execute a definitive settlement agreement and obtain approvals from the Bankruptcy Court and others necessary for the comprehensive settlement as agreed to in principle; the risks associated with the bankruptcy cases of FES, its subsidiaries and FENOC, including, but not limited to, third-party motions in the cases that could adversely affect FirstEnergy, its liquidity or results of operations; the ability to experience growth in the Regulated Distribution and Regulated Transmission segments and the effectiveness of our strategy to operate as a fully regulated business; the accomplishment of our regulatory and operational goals in connection with our transmission and distribution investment plans; changes in assumptions regarding economic conditions within our territories, assessment of the reliability of our transmission and distribution system, or the availability of capital or other resources supporting identified transmission and distribution investment opportunities; the ability to accomplish or realize anticipated benefits from strategic and financial goals, including, but not limited to, the ability to grow earnings in our regulated businesses, continue to reduce costs through FE Tomorrow, FirstEnergy's initiative launched in late 2016 to identify its optimal organization structure and properly align corporate costs and systems to efficiently support a fully regulated company going forward, and other initiatives, and to successfully execute our financial plans designed to improve our credit metrics and strengthen our balance sheet; the risks and uncertainties associated with litigation, arbitration, mediation and like proceedings; the uncertainties associated with the deactivation of our remaining commodity-based generating units, including the impact on vendor commitments, and as it relates to the reliability of the transmission grid, the timing thereof; costs being higher than anticipated and the success of our policies to control costs; the uncertainty of the timing and amounts of the capital expenditures that may arise in connection with any litigation, including New Source Review litigation, or potential regulatory initiatives or rulemakings; changes in customers' demand for power, including, but not limited to, changes resulting from the implementation of state and federal energy efficiency and peak demand reduction mandates; economic and weather conditions affecting future sales, margins and operations, such as significant weather events, and all associated regulatory events or actions; changes in national and regional economic conditions affecting FirstEnergy and/or our major industrial and commercial customers, and other counterparties with which we do business; the impact of labor disruptions by our unionized workforce; the risks associated with cyber-attacks and other disruptions to our information technology system that may compromise our generation, transmission and/or distribution services and data security breaches of sensitive data, intellectual property and proprietary or personally identifiable information regarding our business, employees, shareholders, customers, suppliers, business partners and other individuals in our data centers and on our networks; the impact of the regulatory process and resulting outcomes on the matters at the federal level and in the various states in which we do business, including, but not limited to, matters related to rates; the impact of the federal regulatory process on Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regulated entities and transactions, in particular FERC regulation of PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. (PJM) wholesale energy and capacity markets and cost-of-service rates, as well as FERC's compliance and enforcement activity, including compliance and enforcement activity related to North American Electric Reliability Corporation's mandatory reliability standards; the uncertainties of various cost recovery and cost allocation issues resulting from American Transmission Systems, Incorporated's realignment into PJM; the ability to comply with applicable state and federal reliability standards and energy efficiency and peak demand reduction mandates; other legislative and regulatory changes, including the federal administration's required review and potential revision of environmental requirements, including, but not limited to, the effects of the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Power Plan, Coal Combustion Residuals and Cross-State Air Pollution Rule programs, including our estimated costs of compliance, Clean Water Act (CWA) waste water effluent limitations for power plants, and CWA 316(b) water intake regulation; changing market conditions that could affect the measurement of certain liabilities and the value of assets held in our pension trusts and other trust funds, and cause us and/or our subsidiaries to make additional contributions sooner, or in amounts that are larger, than currently anticipated; the impact of changes to significant accounting policies; the impact of any changes in tax laws or regulations, including the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, adopted December 22, 2017, or adverse tax audit results or rulings; the ability to access the public securities and other capital and credit markets in accordance with our financial plans, the cost of such capital and overall condition of the capital and credit markets affecting us and our subsidiaries; further actions that may be taken by credit rating agencies that could negatively affect us and/or our subsidiaries' access to financing, increase the costs thereof, letters of credit and other financial guarantees, and the impact of these events on the financial condition and liquidity of FirstEnergy Corp. and/or its subsidiaries; issues concerning the stability of domestic and foreign financial institutions and counterparties with which we do business; and the risks and other factors discussed from time to time in our United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, and other similar factors. Dividends declared from time to time on FirstEnergy Corp.'s common stock, and thereby on FirstEnergy Corp.'s preferred stock, during any period may in the aggregate vary from prior periods due to circumstances considered by FirstEnergy Corp.'s Board of Directors at the time of the actual declarations. A security rating is not a recommendation to buy or hold securities and is subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating agency. Each rating should be evaluated independently of any other rating. These forward-looking statements are also qualified by, and should be read together with, the risk factors included in our filings with the SEC, including but not limited to the most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which risk factors supersede and replace the risk factors contained in the Annual Report on Form 10-K, and previous Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K. The foregoing review of factors also should not be construed as exhaustive. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all such factors, nor assess the impact of any such factor on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. We expressly disclaim any obligation to update or revise, except as required by law, any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.



SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

Related Links

http://www.firstenergycorp.com

LAKE FORREST, Calif., Sept. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Matt Davis, CEO of SafeRacks, testified on behalf of Eagle Industrial Group Inc., the parent company of SafeRacks, at the U.S. Trade Representative Section 301 Tariff Hearings in Washington, D.C., in opposition to the recently announced tariffs on imported goods from China. The Trump administration will impose a 10 percent tariff starting Sept. 24, 2018, and a 25 percent tariff starting Jan. 1, 2019, on $200 billion of imported goods from China.

Matt Davis demonstrates loading a bike

SafeRacks is a manufacturer, distributor and installer of garage storage and home organization products. Davis, a 10-year career veteran from the United States Air Force, believes these tariffs will harm his business and others like it. One hundred percent of SafeRacks products are made in China due to non-existent U.S. production facilities and are all classified under HTS 9403.20.00.

Davis' products, which offer American consumers easy do-it-yourself storage products and employs a nationwide network of contractors to assist with installation, are bought online from retailers like Costco, Amazon, The Home Depot and SafeRacks.com. He notes that while the industry is highly competitive, SafeRacks, like many companies, faces extremely low margins and cannot alone absorb these tariffs.

In his opposition statement, Davis notes the tariffs will have no impact on the Chinese to alter or change their policies, practices and actions on intellectual property violations and trade secrets theft. While SafeRacks does have its own patents and proprietary designs, Davis says, "Little has changed or can be stolen over the idea of a shelf." He explains that the only negative and disproportionate impact will be on SafeRacks, its employees and the American consumer.

He says in his testimony, "SafeRacks product sales are incredibly susceptible to minor price changes and the imposition of a duty will not only have a disproportionate, adverse impact on U.S. consumers but harm SafeRacks as well, a U.S. company. The consumer will bear the full burden of paying for these tariffs with increased prices. At a certain point, the cost of our products will outweigh the benefits of functionality."

Davis also notes that since the beginning, his company has exclusively sourced its fabrication in China. There is no U.S. alternative manufacturing source with the capacity or ability to fabricate, coat, package and distribute SafeRacks products under the same roof. The lack of U.S. production for SafeRacks product lines would mean fabrication, coating and packaging would have to be done in separate facilities in the United States, which is cost-prohibitive.

"Tariffs are a sales tax on American consumers. They disrupt supply chains and make it very difficult for small business to compete," says Davis. "These tariffs are 30 years too late. The U.S. has been shifting production to China for over three decades and you cannot claw it back in a few short years. Chinese manufacturing has become a narcotic the U.S. cannot get away from. As a veteran, it is very patriotic to employ Americans as we do, but it is equally as patriotic to find all inefficiencies in your supply chain and bring low prices to American consumers."

To learn more about the company and the products it offers, visit SafeRacks.com.

About SafeRacks

SafeRacks is a premier manufacturer, distributor and installer of garage storage and home organization products. Since 2008, the veteran-owned company has designed, patented and brought to market many innovative products. To learn more, visit SafeRacks.com.

Related Images

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saferacks-overhead-storage-racks.jpg

saferacks-overhead-storage-racks.jpg

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saferacks-overhead-storage-racks.jpg

Related Links

NEW News on section 301 Tariffs

Other News on section 301 Tariffs

Related Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xD32CvVitr8

SOURCE SafeRacks

Related Links

http://SafeRacks.com

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla., Sept. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Calling all Royal Queens! Get your vintage dresses and tiaras ready for the sixth annual Queen for a Day luncheon benefitting Victory Living Programs. This year's "Vintage" Queen for a Day luncheon will take place on Wednesday, October 24, 2018 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Fort Lauderdale Country Club (415 Country Club Circle, Plantation, FL 33317), directly benefiting individuals with disabilities in Broward County.

The afternoon festivities will include a three-course lunch, champagne courtesy of Breakthru Beverage, a table-decorating contest, and the exciting "Vintage" Queen for a Day pageant, hosted by MC Amanda Austin from Lips in Fort Lauderdale. Guests are invited to show off their favorite vintage garb as they strut down the runway for a chance to conquer the crown and win the 2018 "Vintage Queen for a Day" title!

"This luncheon is fun because it allows participants to get creative with their "queenly" attire just in time for Halloween," said Bobbi Wigand, Executive Director of Victory Living Programs. "Planned by the wonderful AngeLs for Victory auxiliary fundraising group, our sponsors and the staff at the Fort Lauderdale Country Club, it's the perfect event to enjoy with a group of friends, all for a good cause."

Proceeds from the event will help support the various programs offered by Victory Living. "From social and recreational, to employment and supported living programs, Victory Living helps individuals with disabilities in Broward County reach their highest level of independence in not just one, but many aspects of their lives," Wigand said.

Tickets to the Queen for a Day luncheon are $65 per person or $480 for a table of eight. To purchase tickets, visit http://bit.ly/VLPQueen18 call (954) 616-1074, or send an email to [email protected]. For more information on the services provided by Victory Living Programs, visit www.victoryliving.org.

About Victory Living Programs

For more than 40 years, Victory Living Programs has created supportive environments for thousands of people with disabilities. Based in warm, beautiful Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Victory Living Programs offers a premier supported living program that places clients in their own individual, luxurious apartments. In addition, Victory Living Programs also offers an extensive array of programming to assist clients with securing and maintaining employment, learning new skills, volunteering in the community and socializing with their peers -- all of which make it possible to infuse independence and transform the lives of people with disabilities. To learn more, visit www.victoryliving.org.

Contact : Laurie Menekou, (954) 732-0754 (or)

[email protected]

SOURCE Victory Living Programs

Related Links

http://victoryliving.org

NEW YORK, Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Medscape, the leading source of clinical news, health information, and point-of-care tools for physicians, today announced the results of Medscape Physicians' Choice: Top Hospitals for Serious Conditions and Procedures (non-cancer) and Medscape Physicians' Choice: Top Hospitals for Cancer Treatment.

A national survey of more than 11,000 physicians asked respondents to rank their preferences for care and treatment for themselves or family for a complex or difficult disease or condition, such as multiple sclerosis or cardiac surgery, and five types of cancer, assuming no barriers, such as transportation or cost. This is the second year of the report.

Click here to access surveys:

https://www.medscape.com/top-hospitals-key-conditions

https://www.medscape.com/top-hospitals-cancer-treatment

The Medscape survey offers patients and the public valuable information on the expert view of top hospitals, and insight into the criteria physicians use when assessing the best place for care. For each condition, the survey listed hospitals as chosen by all physician respondents, and a separate list as chosen by relevant specialists in that clinical area.

"Physicians speak with other physicians and healthcare professionals. They go to conferences and read medical journals, and are likely to have more knowledge about standout hospitals or which hospitals are getting excellent results, doing groundbreaking research, or getting a sense of where they themselves would go for medical care," said Leslie Kane, MA, Senior Director, Medscape Business of Medicine.

Medscape Physicians' Choice: Top Hospitals for Serious Conditions and Procedures included cardiac conditions, interventional cardiac surgery, stroke, hip replacement, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, advanced hepatitis C, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, infectious diseases and pediatric conditions. Medscape Physicians' Choice: Top Hospitals for Cancer Treatment included breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and renal cell carcinoma.

The Mayo Clinic was ranked highest in six out of the 10 conditions. For cancer treatment, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center took the top ranking in all five cancer types. Overall, physicians named 33 hospitals.

Professional Reputation, Physician Expertise Deemed Most Important

An institution's professional reputation and the expertise of its physicians were deemed most important by a combined 62% of physicians, followed by a specific physician at the hospital (12%), leading technology available (10%), and low error rate (6%). Other criteria, ranking lower (from 1% to 4%), were published studies, low infection rates, participation in clinical trials and readmission rates.

Medscape Physicians' Choice: Top Hospitals for Serious Conditions and Procedures (Hospitals with the same number ranking represent a non-statistically significant difference)

Cardiac Conditions

1) Cleveland Clinic 2) Mayo Clinic Hospital, Methodist Campus 3) Massachusetts General Hospital 4) New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center Medical Center 5) Stanford Hospital 5) Brigham and Women's Hospital 5) The Johns Hopkins Hospital 8) Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania 8) Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center 8) Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Interventional Cardiac Surgery

1) Cleveland Clinic 2) Mayo Clinic Hospital, Methodist Campus 3) Massachusetts General Hospital 4) New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center Medical Center 5) The Johns Hopkins Hospital 6) Stanford Hospital 7) Brigham and Women's Hospital 8) Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center 9) Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania 10) Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Stroke

1) Mayo Clinic Hospital, Methodist Campus 2) Massachusetts General Hospital 3) Cleveland Clinic 4) The Johns Hopkins Hospital 5) New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center Medical Center 6) Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center 7) Stanford Hospital 8) Northwestern Memorial Hospital 9) Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania 10) Duke University Hospital

Hip Replacement

1) Hospital for Special Surgery 2) Mayo Clinic Hospital, Methodist Campus 3) Cleveland Clinic 4) Massachusetts General Hospital 5) Rush University Medical Center 6) New England Baptist Hospital 7) The Johns Hopkins Hospital 7) Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center

Multiple Sclerosis

1) Mayo Clinic Hospital, Methodist Campus 2) The Johns Hopkins Hospital 3) Massachusetts General Hospital 4) Cleveland Clinic 5) New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center Medical Center 6) Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center 7) Mayo Clinic Hospital 7) Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania 9) Duke University Hospital

Spinal Cord Injury

1) Mayo Clinic Hospital, Methodist Campus 2) Massachusetts General Hospital 2) The Johns Hopkins Hospital 4) Cleveland Clinic 5) Hospital for Special Surgery 5) Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center 7) Northwestern Memorial Hospital 7) New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center Medical Center 7) Stanford Hospital

Advanced Hepatitis C

1) Mayo Clinic Hospital, Methodist Campus 2) The Johns Hopkins Hospital 2) Massachusetts General Hospital 4) Cleveland Clinic 5) Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center 5) Mount Sinai Medical Center 7) Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania 8) New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center 8) UCSF Medical Center Parnassus

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

1) Mayo Clinic Hospital, Methodist Campus 2) The Johns Hopkins Hospital 2) Massachusetts General Hospital 4) Cleveland Clinic 5) New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center 6) Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center 7) Mayo Clinic Hospital 7) Duke University Hospital 9) Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania 9) Stanford Hospital

Infectious Diseases

1) Mayo Clinic Hospital, Methodist Campus 2) The Johns Hopkins Hospital 2) Massachusetts General Hospital 4) Cleveland Clinic 4) Emory University Hospital 6) Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center 7) New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center 7) Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania

Pediatric Conditions

1) Boston Children's Hospital 2) Children's Hospital Of Philadelphia 3) Texas Children's Hospital 4) Children's Hospital Los Angeles 4) Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center 4) CHOP Center Rehabilitation 7) The Johns Hopkins Hospital 7) Ann and Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital Of Chicago 9) Children's National Health System 9) New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center Medical Center 9) Seattle Children's Hospital

Medscape Physicians' Choice: Top Hospitals for Cancer Treatment

Breast Cancer

1) The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center 2) Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center 3) Mayo Clinic Hospital, Methodist Campus 3) Dana-Farber Cancer Institute 5) Massachusetts General Hospital 6) Cleveland Clinic 6) The Johns Hopkins Hospital 6) Brigham and Women's Hospital 9) Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center

Prostate Cancer

1) The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center 2) Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center 3) The Johns Hopkins Hospital 4) Mayo Clinic Hospital, Methodist Campus 5) Cleveland Clinic 6) Massachusetts General Hospital 7) Dana-Farber Cancer Institute 7) Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center

Lung Cancer

1) The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center 2) Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center 3) Mayo Clinic Hospital, Methodist Campus 4) Cleveland Clinic 5) Massachusetts General Hospital 5) Dana-Farber Cancer Institute 7) The Johns Hopkins Hospital 8) Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center 8) Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania 8) Duke University Hospital 8) Stanford Hospital 8) Brigham and Women's Hospital

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

1) The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center 2) Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center 3) Mayo Clinic Hospital, Methodist Campus 3) Dana-Farber Cancer Institute 5) The Johns Hopkins Hospital 6) Massachusetts General Hospital 6) Cleveland Clinic 8) Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania 8) City Of Hope National Medical Center 8) Stanford Hospital

Renal Cell Carcinoma

1) The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center 2) Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center 3) Mayo Clinic Hospital, Methodist Campus 4) Cleveland Clinic 4) The Johns Hopkins Hospital 6) Massachusetts General Hospital 6) Dana-Farber Cancer Institute 8) Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center 9) Stanford Hospital 9) Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania

Methodology :

Survey Method : Physicians were invited to participate in an online survey on hospital choice; Screening Requirements : Respondents were required to be U.S. physicians; Sample Size : 11,549 physicians participated in the survey; Data Collection Period : May 17 to August 13, 2018.

Results were weighted to the American Medical Association membership on state, gender, and specialty.

About Medscape

Medscape is the leading source of clinical news, health information, and point-of-care tools for health care professionals. Medscape offers specialists, primary care physicians, and other health professionals the most robust and integrated medical information and educational tools. Medscape Education (medscape.org) is the leading destination for continuous professional development, consisting of more than 30 specialty-focused destinations offering thousands of free C.M.E. and C.E. courses and other educational programs for physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals. Medscape is a division of WebMD Health Corp.

About WebMD Health Corp.

WebMD Health Corp., an Internet Brands company, is the leading provider of health information services, serving consumers, physicians, healthcare professionals, employers, and health plans through our public and private online portals, mobile platforms and health-focused publications. The WebMD Health Network includes WebMD Health, Medscape, MedicineNet, eMedicineHealth, RxList, Medscape Education, OnHealth and other owned WebMD sites.

About Internet Brands

Headquartered in El Segundo, Calif., Internet Brands is a fully integrated online media and software services organization focused on four high-value vertical categories: Health, Automotive, Legal and Home/Travel. The company's award-winning consumer websites lead their categories and serve more than 250 million monthly visitors, while a full range of web presence offerings has established deep, long-term relationships with SMB and enterprise clients. Internet Brands' powerful, proprietary operating platform provides the flexibility and scalability to fuel the company's continued growth. Internet Brands is a portfolio company of KKR and Temasek. For more information, please visit www.internetbrands.com.

SOURCE Medscape

Related Links

https://www.medscape.com

LARGO, Md., Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- WhirlWind Technologies, LLC (WhirlWind) partnered with the D.R.E.A.M. (Developing Resources to Empower All Minds) Foundation to sponsor the 2018 Y.E.S. (Youth Entrepreneurship Startup) Program. The Y.E.S program is a five-week all expenses paid summer camp for Baltimore City high school students, aimed at entrepreneurship and financial literacy.

WhirlWind Technologies, LLC (WhirlWind) partnered with the D.R.E.A.M. (Developing Resources to Empower All Minds) Foundation to sponsor the 2018 Y.E.S. (Youth Entrepreneurship Startup) Program.

This summer, the Y.E.S. program hosted a total of 26 high school students. Y.E.S. participants learned key concepts of running and operating a business, from creating an idea, to competitor analysis, market trends, value proposition and scalability. The students met with 21 entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds who shared their success stories and struggles. The students also visited National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) to study black inventors and pioneers.

The graduates of the Y.E.S. Summer program in 2018 participated in the Teen Biz Challenge held by the Office of the Mayor, Catherine E. Pugh, in Baltimore. The teenagers presented their ideas to a panel of judges, including the CEO of WhirlWind Technologies, KoJo Addae-Mintah. They pitched their businesses for a final round of up to $5,000 in startup funds.

"My big hairy audacious goal is to empower 10,000 individuals in 10 years," KoJo Addae-Mintah said. "And this contribution paves the way to create future entrepreneurs with a social and civic sense of responsibility." The future entrepreneurs agree. As one of the Y.E.S. students said: "The Y.E.S. Program helps recognize the brilliance of today's youth. It grooms us into future entrepreneurs and leaders inside and outside of our communities."

About WhirlWind Technologies: WhirlWind Technologies is an SDB & 8(a) technology firm focused on empowering our clients since 2009. We build innovative solutions and create long term partnerships. WhirlWind actively recruits and uses best practices screening techniques to hire and promote "A players."

Contact: Kojo Addae-mintah

CEO, WhirlWind Technologies, LLC

Office: 301-850-1023 Ext 501

Fax:1-866-224-7935

Email: [email protected]

http://www.wwindtech.com

SOURCE WhirlWind Technologies, LLC

Related Links

http://www.wwindtech.com

Geneva, Sep 19 : Tuberculosis (TB) remains the world's deadliest infectious disease although global efforts have averted an estimated 54 million tuberculosis (TB) deaths since 2000, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Tuesday.

WHO, in its latest 2018 Global TB Report, says countries are still not doing enough to end TB by 2030 and calls for an unprecedented mobilization of national and international commitments. It urges for decisive action from nearly 50 heads of state and government who are expected to gather next week for the first-ever UN High-level Meeting on TB, Xinhua news agency reported.

The report finds that overall, TB deaths have decreased over the past year, with an estimated 10 million people having developed TB and 1.6 million deaths, including among 300,000 HIV-positive people, in 2017. The number of new cases is falling by two percent per year.

However, underreporting and under-diagnosis of TB cases remains a major challenge. Of the 10 million people who fell ill with TB in 2017, only 6.4 million were officially recorded by national reporting systems, leaving 3.6 million people undiagnosed, or detected but not reported.

Ten countries accounted for 80 percent of this gap, according to the report, with India, Indonesia and Nigeria topping the list. Less than half of the estimated one million children with TB were reported in 2017, making it a much higher gap in detection than that in adults.

Treatment coverage, at 64 percent, also lags behind and must increase to at least 90 percent by 2025 to meet the targets of ending TB by 2030.

To urgently improve detection, diagnosis and treatment rates, the WHO and partners launched a new initiative in 2018 to set the target of providing quality care to 40 million people with TB from 2018 to 2022, while predicting that at least 30 million people should be able to access TB preventive treatment during the period.

The WHO strongly recommends preventive treatment for people living with HIV, and children under five years living in households with TB, and has issued related new guidance this year to facilitate greater access to preventive services for those who need it.

Next week's UN High-Level Meeting on TB is critical and the WHO, while calling for the health sector to address the risk factors and determinants of the disease, is particularly pushing for commitments at the level of heads of state to galvanize multi-sectoral action.

"We have never seen such high-level political attention and understanding of what the world needs to do to end TB and drug-resistant TB," said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

"We must ensure that we hold our leaders accountable for the actions they promise to take. And we must hold ourselves accountable for keeping the pressure on."Kabul, Sep 19 : Seven members of a family were killed and another was wounded following a mortar landing on a house in Afghanistan's southern province of Uruzgan, an official said Tuesday.

"The incident occurred at noontime, when government forces were launching a military operation against Taliban militants in Abrudi area of the provincial capital Tirin Kot city, resulting in the death of seven people including three women and three children and injuring another member of the same family," Aminullah Tukhi, head of the provincial hospital, told Xinhua.

Meanwhile, locals confirmed the mortar was shelled by the government forces during the raid, but it struck the house.

Security forces were not immediately available for comment on the incident.Jerusalme, Sep 19 : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on Tuesday Russian President Vladimir Putin to convey Israel's condolences to the death of Russian aircrew shot down by Syrian forces during an Israeli airstrike.

The phone talk came after Syrian air defense missiles shot down a 15-crew Russian plane amidst an Israeli air raid on the Syrian city of Latakia, according to Israeli and Russian officials.

Earlier Tuesday, the Israeli military said its airstrike, carried out by four Israeli F-16s, was aimed to halt "accurate and lethal weapons" from Iran to the militia of Hezbollah in Lebanon.

"The prime minister expressed his regret over the death of the Russian soldiers and said that Syria was responsible for the loss of the plane," the Israeli PM's Office said in a statement.

During the talk, Netanyahu stressed the importance of the ongoing military coordination between Israel and Russia over their moves in Syria in the past three years, which "succeeded in preventing many losses on both sides," the statement said.

Netanyahu told Putin that Israel is "determined to stop Iran's military buildup in Syria and the attempts by Iran, which calls for the destruction of Israel, to give Hezbollah lethal weapons against Israel."

Netanyahu also said Israel is prepared to share with Russia all the information it has collected on the accident and offered to dispatch to Moscow the Israeli air force commander to provide details from an investigation launched by the air force.

The statement did not elaborate on Putin's remarks during the talk.

Putin and Netanyahu have held regular meetings to coordinate their moves in the war-torn country.

Israel has carried out some 200 airstrikes over the last 18 months, claiming that the attacks aimed to prevent Iranian weapons convoys and stop Iran from establishing a military foothold in Syria.Washington, Sep 19 : The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is suing Facebook on behalf of three women job seekers who accused the social media giant of posting ads that are shown only to men.

The ACLU, along with the Communications Workers of America and the employment law firm Outten & Golden LLP, on Tuesday filed charges with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against Facebook.

The women job seekers accused Facebook for targeting ads for jobs in male-dominated fields to younger male Facebook users only -- excluding all women and non-binary individuals, as well as older male users.

"The case is brought on behalf of three job seekers and the Communications Workers of America, on behalf of a proposed class of millions of job applicants. It alleges that these job advertising practices violate federal civil rights laws prohibiting sex and age discrimination in employment," Galen Sherwin from ACLU Women's Rights Project wrote in a blog post.

Facebook requires users to identify their sex in the binary categories of male or female in order to even open an account.

"While users can later change their sex designation and select from among a few dozen options to describe their gender identity, Facebook still requires users to choose gendered pronouns (male, female, or neutral), which it then offers to advertisers for purposes of gender-based ad targeting.

"Facebook delivers the ad accordingly, including a notice that the user is seeing the ad because of their sex," the ACLU said.

The lawsuit claimed that Facebook let 10 employers, including a police department, to run advertisements excluding women and nonbinary users.

Facebook responded to the allegations, saying there is no place for discrimination on Facebook.

"It's strictly prohibited in our policies, and over the past year, we've strengthened our systems to further protect against misuse," Download reported, quoting a Facebook spokesperson.

Facebook is "reviewing the complaint and look forward to defending our practices," the spokesperson added.

According to the ACLU, Facebook also offers advertisers the ability to use what it calls "Lookalike Targeting," which allows advertisers to target customers with traits similar to those of their customer base.

It's important to note that online platforms like Facebook are generally not liable for content published by others.

"But in this case, Facebook is doing much more than merely publishing content created by others. It has built the architecture for this discriminatory marketing framework, enabled and encouraged advertisers to use it, and delivered the gender-based ads according to employers' sex-based preferences," the ACLU emphasised.

Facebook must change its platform to prevent advertisers from exploiting user data for discriminatory purposes, and ensure once and for all that all users, regardless of gender, race, age, or other protected status, are given a fair shake, said the ACLU.Washington, Sep 19 : US and Polish leaders have expressed their concerns here over Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, claiming it may lead to energy over-reliance on Moscow.

Visiting Polish President Andrzej Duda on Tuesday told reporters at a joint press conference with his US counterpart Donald Trump that his country was worried about "a threat of Russian energy domination".

Russia's Nord Stream 2 will expand the existing Nord Stream main gas pipeline by linking Russia and Germany via the Baltic seabed, bypassing Ukraine, Belarus, Poland and other eastern European and Baltic countries.

Poland, along with Ukraine, opposed Nord Stream 2, worrying that Russia will reduce or even cease delivering gas via their countries, which will affect their economies, Xinhua news agency reported.

Echoing Duda's words, Trump said that the two countries were committed to "energy diversity all across Europe".

"No nation should be dependent upon a single foreign supplier of energy," Trump added.

Germany, due to its energy and commercial requirements, is a staunch supporter of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline in Europe. It thinks Europe needs Russia's gas and Russia wants to make money from Europe.

In order to maintain its strategic relations with Washington, Poland had said earlier that it would like to pay higher prices to import US liquefied natural gas (LNG).

A key LNG exporter itself, the US is believed to be afraid that Nord Stream 2 would further weaken the voice of European countries in the natural gas market.London, Sep 19 : British police are reportedly investigating 11 allegations of sexual assault against disgraced American movie producer Harvey Weinstein, who is already facing similar charges in the US.

The Metropolitan Police said it has received allegations of sexual assault from 11 victims in connection to "Operation Kaguyak", the CNN reported.

Although the police statement did not identify the accused, in accordance with police policy meant to protect suspects who have not been charged, it has been widely reported that Operation Kaguyak is the name of the British investigation into Weinstein.

The Metropolitan Police have not confirmed this.

The latest allegation, which was received in August, relates to the sexual assault of a woman (identified only as "Victim 11") in an unidentified location in the early 1990s, according to the statement.

Many of the 11 allegations received date back to the 1990s, though others are from 2014 and 2015.

In August, CNN reported that Weinstein was facing new allegations of sex trafficking and rape in the US, after a German actress filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles alleging that Weinstein raped her during the Cannes Film Festival in 2006.

She is suing Weinstein for violation of human trafficking laws, assault, battery and false imprisonment. It is the second sex trafficking case filed against the disgraced Hollywood producer.

Weinstein, who also is facing criminal charges in New York, has denied all allegations of "non-consensual sexual activity", the CNN reported.

The former media mogul has pleaded not guilty to six felony sex crimes in the US -- two counts of predatory sexual assault, two counts of rape, one first-degree criminal sex act charge and one criminal sex act.

The charges against Weinstein came nine months after The New Yorker and The New York Times published accounts from several women accusing him of various forms of sexual misconduct.

Since then, more than 40 women, including actresses Ashley Judd, Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie, have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct. Weinstein was fired from the Weinstein Company, which has since filed for bankruptcy and been sold off.

The women's accounts -- and the public's willingness to believe them -- emboldened others around the world to stand up to powerful, abusive men in what has come to be known as the #MeToo movement.Washington, Sep 19 : The US and its allies are ready to launch a new effort to publicly expose North Korean violations of sanctions aimed at curbing its nuclear and missile programs, a media report said.

The plan to "name and shame" Pyongyang comes as negotiations over North Korea's nuclear program appear to have reached a standstill, CNN reported.

A defence official told CNN that North Korea was regularly employing "deceptive tactics to evade UN sanctions".

Earlier on Monday the US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley accused Russia of "cheating" and helping North Korea evade the international sanctions, CNN reported.

US allies Japan, Australia and New Zealand were expected to make announcements about their own monitoring and surveillance efforts in disrupting North Korean smuggling.

Canada, France, South Korea and the UK are also involved in coordinating these efforts, CNN reported.

The new efforts would particularly aim at monitoring of ships performing illicit transfers of refined petroleum to North Korean oil tankers in the East China Sea.

The US has deployed aircraft and surface vessels to detect and disrupt these activities, but has made its actions public until now, perhaps to avoid irritating Pyongyang amid negotiations over its nuclear program.

Meanwhile, Trump has raised the possibility of a second summit with leader Kim Jong-un.

Asked Tuesday about the prospect of increased US military activity to enforce the sanctions, Secretary of Defence James Mattis said: "I generally don't talk about upcoming operations, as you know.

"But we have seen from Japan and Canada, from New Zealand and Australia, they're -- there's a lot of nations contributing to this."

"We'll do whatever we have to do to support the diplomats in the negotiation, and carry out the UN, the international sanctions," he added.

"Russia has been cheating. And now they've been caught," Haley said on Monday during her speech at a UN Security Council meeting.

Her remarks came as the US and its allies ramped up military efforts to monitor and document evidence of sanctions violations.

"The US has evidence of consistent and wide-ranging Russian violations," Haley added.New Delhi : At its best, speeches at the recently concluded World Hindu Congress echoed the soaring spiritual ideals evoked by Swami Vivekananda in Chicago 125 years ago.

Even Mohan Bhagwat, Sarsangchanalak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), focused essentially on the need for unity and patience among Hindus while fighting obstacles, of which, he said, there would be many. The burden of excavating implied accusations in Bhagwat's speech fell to his critics.

At the plenary session, the moderator requested speakers to address issues of conflict without naming the speakers or their organisations in the interest of harmony. Other speakers sought to unite the followers of all the great religions that took birth in India -- Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism.

Some of the speakers from Bhagwat to Swami Swaroopananda of the Chinmaya Mission, framed the issues before Hinduism in a moral paradigm. Ashwin Adhin, the Vice President of the Republic of Suriname, began his speech in chaste Hindi, later quoting cognitive scientist George Lakoff: "Facts matter immensely. But to be meaningful they have to be framed in terms of their moral importance."

The dissonances, between the spiritual and the mundane, were to emerge later on the fringes of the seminars which were part of the Congress. Many of the delegates appropriated to themselves the mantle of a culture besieged by proselytising faiths. There were speakers who urged Hindus to have more children to combat their 'dwindling population'. Posters warned Hindus of the dangers from 'love jihad' (Muslim men 'enticing' Hindu women).

In one of the sessions on the media, filmmaker Amit Khanna noted that religion had always played a prominent part in Indian cinema, starting with the earliest mythologicals. "Raja Harishchandra", the first silent film, he said, was made by Dadasaheb Phalke in 1913. He sought to reassure the audience on the future of Hinduism. "Over 80 percent of Indians are Hindus," he said adding: "Hinduism has survived many upheavals for thousands of years. Hinduism has never been endangered."

Other speakers, lacking spiritual and academic pedigrees, drew on an arsenal of simulated anguish and simmering indignation.

The nuances of history pass lightly over the ferociously devout and it took little effort to pander to an aggravated sense of historical aggrievement.

At one of the debates, the mere mention of Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, elicited sniggers and boos. The speaker hinted at 'Nehruvian socialism' which had made the Indian economy a non-starter. He concluded with a coup de grace, to a standing ovation: "Nehru did not like anything Indian."

The poet Rabindranath Tagore, who composed the Indian national anthem, had spoken of his vision of a country where the "clear stream of reason had not lost its way". At some of the discussions, even the most indulgent observer would have been hard put to discern the stream of reason.

The image of a once great civilisation suppressed by a century of British rule and repeated plunder by invaders captured the imagination of many in the audience. Hanging above it all, like a disembodied spirit, was the so-called malfeasance of Nehru, the leader who had won the trust of Hindus only to betray them in the vilest manner.

These tortured souls would have been well advised to adopt a more holistic approach to Hinduism, and history, looking no further than Swami Vivekananda, who once said: "The singleness of attachment (Nishtha) to a loved object, without which no genuine love can grow, is very often also the cause of denunciation of everything else."

Historians have informed us that Nehru preferred his father's intellect over his mother's tradition but he was never contemptuous of religion. While he undoubtedly felt that organised religion had its flaws, he opined that it supplied a deeply felt inner need of human nature while also giving a set of values to human life.

In private conversations some delegates spoke of how their America-born children had helped persuade them to drop their pathological aversion to gays and lesbians. Despite their acute wariness of perceived cultural subjugation, the irony was obviously lost on them that Article 377 of the Indian Penal Code,(which criminalises gay sex) recently overturned by the Indian Supreme Court, is a hangover from the Victorian British era-embodied in the Buggery Act of 1533.

In the face of the upcoming elections in the US, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi's decision to speak at the conference was a political risk. With a newly energised political Left, even the perception of being linked with "fascist" or sectarian forces could be political suicide in the critical November elections. Despite vociferous appeals to disassociate himself from the Congress, Krishnamoorthi chose to attend.

"I decided I had to be here because I wanted to reaffirm the highest and only form of Hinduism that I have ever known and been taught -- namely one that welcomes all people, embraces all people, and accepts all people, regardless of their faith. I reject all other forms. In short, I reaffirm the teaching of Swami Vivekananda," Krishnamoorthi said.

Given the almost pervasive abhorrence of anything remotely Nehruvian among a section of the delegates, it was a revelation to hear the opinion of Dattatrey Hosable, the joint general secretary and second-in-command in the RSS hierarchy. Speaking on the promise of a newly-resurgent India, Hosable said in an interview to Mayank Chhaya, a local journalist-author-filmmaker: "A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new -- when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance."

The quote is from Nehru's famous Tryst with Destiny speech delivered to the Indian Constituent Assembly on the midnight of August 14, 1947 -- proof, if any is needed, that the force of Nehru's ideas can transcend one's disdain of him.

(Ashok Easwaran is an American journalist of Indian origin. The views expressed are personal. He can be contacted at ashok3185@yahoo.com)New Delhi : Book: Looking for the Nation; Author: Manash Firaq Bhattacharjee; Publisher: Speaking Tiger; Pages: 202; Price: Rs 350 Manash Firaq Bhattacharjee, who earned his doctorate in Political Science from Jawaharlal Nehru University and has been published widely in national and international media, was haunted by a ghost during his childhood. Several decades on, the political theorist has come out with a scholarly offering -- backed by research and reading -- as his act of resistance against the ghost.

The author grew up in a small town in Assam and one of his father's friend, a retired railway employee, was a frequent visitor to their house. For reasons yet incomprehensible to the then young lad, this old man, and his politically sanctioned method, would cast a harrowing shadow on his upbringing.

To put things in perspective, the old man would customarily narrate stories about the violence of Partition, that erupted after India and Pakistan were separated at birth. But his stories "inevitably revolved around Muslims attacking hindu villages," and the resistance strategies that Hindus evolved to ward off the attack.

"I remember one particular incident he narrated, where scores of bricks were stored on the terraces of Hindu householdsA When the Muslims attacked, the bricks were put to effective use. "We never wondered why he chose to tell a 14-year-old boy and his sister stories that would shake them to the bone," he recalls in "Looking for the Nation: Towards Another Idea of India".

Many years later, Bhattacharjee realised that the telling of such harrowing, sometimes skewed, stories were a part of "a deliberate plan".

"The man, I learnt much later, belonged to a Hindu right-wing organisation. The stories he told us were part of his job. His job was propaganda. This was a politically sanctioned method to arouse and cement communal sentiments," he reflects in the book.

But "his lies and fantasies" have caught on with the author's present and he penned this book, "not looking for a desirable idea of the nation", but in the quest for "the nation with irony, discovering everything that falls short of fraternity and justice".

And how does he do it? Fortunately, Bhattacharjee's offering breaks from the routine books that either blindly critique the functioning of Hindu right wing organisations, or are full of praise for them. His book is neither criticism, nor reflection, if anything, it is an earnest attempt at understanding how our country functions, not in accordance with what is laid down in the Constitution, but in practise in our day-to-day lives.

His arguments are broken down in six chapters, each tracing a particular trajectory that has gone in, or continues to shape, the elusive idea of India.

In the first chapter "The Surplus of Indian Nationalism", his findings suggest that Indian nationalist thought is a product of the anti-colonial movement. In finding the root and evolution of Indian nationalism, he keenly studies the works of Nehru, Tagore, Gandhi, Ambedkar and others, who, through their participation in the freedom movement, gave voice to the sentiments of nationalism.

He explains that Nehru, in his writings, laid down the larger debate of nationalism, and its relation with modernity, culture, identity and history. Aurobindo, on the other hand, reflected on the nation as "a grand idea in the shadow of religious differences". The chapter also suggests that Tagore engaged with Gandhi on the question of culture and universalism, while Ambedkar provided a critical perspective on the speculations by nationalist thinkers.

After having laid down the foundation of his research in the first chapter, Bhattacharjee strolls down the "territory without justice". "...Since then (Independence), the stories of betrayal, hatred, and above all, the fetish for territory, haven't come to an end", he notes, before analysing the fate and predicament of the nation's most "beleaguered people" -- the refugees, the Dalits and the minorities.

In the next chapter, he looks at India's Muslims, with the shadow of Partition behind them, and the future ahead. "The discourse of trust and mutual generosity were taken over by suspicion and hatred. Religion and history were treated as contested territories of difference," he writes in charting what has "led to the sacrifice of ethical responsibility".

The remaining chapters focus on "Untouchables"; the institutions of the country, where he finds that bodies are coerced through mechanisms of control; and "Thinking Against Power", the last chapter of the book, throws light on the resistances against nationalism, caste and other embedded patriarchies.

"Looking for the Nation", however, may come across as too heavy for some readers, flooded as it is with analogies, reflections and studies of various thinkers and leaders. This book's merit lies in its structure, and the author succeeds in telling what he set out to do, by dividing the book into six chapters, each focussing on one theme and leading, quite naturally, on to the next.

(Saket Suman can be contacted at saket.s@ians.in)

Latest updates on Gandhi Jayanti 2019Pune, Sep 19 : Global IT security firm Quick Heal Technologies on Wednesday said it detected more than 180 million threats on Windows devices of individual and enterprise users between April and June of this year.

More than two million malware, 16,000 ransomware, 13,000 cryptomining malware, 141,000 exploits, and 40,488 potentially unwanted applications (PUAs) and adware were detected on a daily basis, according to the quarterly threat report released by Quick Heal Technologies and its enterprise security brand Seqrite.

"Cybercriminals are at a completely different level today than they were a few years ago. They are using novel technologies to drive increasingly-complex attacks and are targeting larger user bases," Sanjay Katkar, Joint Managing Director and Chief Technology Officer, Quick Heal Technologies, said in a statement.

"The latest threat report highlights this risk that individuals and businesses in India currently face with this evolution of the threat landscape," Katkar said.

According to data from the report, the Trojan Horse families retained its position as the most dominant malware in the second quarter of 2018, registering a quarter-on-quarter growth of four per cent.

The security experts at Quick Heal Technologies also identified a spike in the EternalBlue exploit, which was used for the WannaCry ransomware attack, one of the biggest global cybersecurity incidents ever seen.

Other key trends identified in the report include a significant increase in the number of ransomware attacks targeting the Master Boot Record (MBR) of infected devices and cryptomining.

The report also revealed the rise of cryptojacking as one of the most worrying security trends and warned about it becoming an "advanced threat" as it is the new source of getting direct monetary benefits to cyber criminals.

Cryptojacking attacks remain undetected for a long time and can often be used as a platform to launch other complex attacks.Pyonyang, Sep 19 : North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has agreed to shut down one of his main missile testing and launch sites, said South Korea's President Moon Jae-in on Wednesday.

Kim agreed to take additional steps for denuclearisation, in an apparent gesture to restart the stalled talks with the US, Yonhap news agency reported.

The agreement came in a historic summit between Kim and Moon held at the state guesthouse Paekhwawon here. The two leaders "agreed on a way to achieve denuclearisation" said Moon, the BBC reported.

The agreement was described by Kim as a "leap forward" towards military peace on the Korean Peninsula. He also hoped to "visit Seoul in the near future". He would be then the first North Korean leader to do so.

"The North has agreed to permanently shut down its Dongchang-ri missile engine testing facility and missile launch pad under the participation of experts from related countries," Moon said in a joint press conference with Kim after the summit, broadcast live in Seoul.

The North also agreed to take additional steps, such as the permanent shutdown of the Yongbyon nuclear facility, depending on the US' corresponding measures, he added.

"The South and the North discussed denuclearisation steps for the first time," Moon added.New Delhi, Sep 19 : A Congress delegation on Wednesday met the Comptroller and Auditor General to seek a probe into the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets by the Narendra Modi government.

The delegation consisting of senior party leaders A.K. Antony, Ahmed Patel, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma, Mukul Vasnik, Jairam Ramesh, Randeep Surjewala, Rajeev Shukla and Vivek Tankha reached the CAG office around 11 a.m.

According to the party, the delegation would also submit a memorandum seeking the probe.

The party has already held a series of press conferences on the issue, raising several questions on the deal done by the Modi government with France to purchase the fighter jets.

The government has, however, denied all the allegations.

The move is seen as an effort by the party to raise the pitch over the issue ahead of the Assembly polls later this year and the parliamentary elections in 2019.San Francisco, Sep 19 : An urban industrial landscape mix with natural and agricultural spaces is ideal for striking a balance between the quality of human life and economic prosperity. It also helps reduce impact of a changing climate trigger, a French expert says.

"There is a heavy demand for land due to industrialiation that is eating away the remaining land. But local legislations is needed to check this urban sprawl," Caroline Doucerain, Vice President of the Grand Parc metropolitan area in Versailles, told IANS in an interview conducted through an interpreter.

The Grand Parc, which lies in the Saclay Plateau some 20 km south of Paris, is a perfect example of agricultural land protection where the per hectare wheat yield is between 90 and 100 quintals against the national average of just 74 quintals per hectare. And, its vibrant innovation ecosystem aims to become the Silicon Valley of France.

Doucerain said major climate resilience initiatives had been adopted by her country to reduce greenhouse gases, increase carbon sequestration and ensure food security.

For her, strong land conservation laws are not enough. The success lies in supporting citizen's cooperatives.

"This is why action plans through public dialogue were established in 2010 to implement the objectives of the Natural, Agricultural and Forest Protection Zone to ensure overall sustainable development in the Saclay Plateau," she pointed out.

Doucerain was in this California city to study the work of the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority of the US at 'A Tale of Three Valleys', an affiliate event of the just-concluded Global Climate Action Summit.

The Open Space Authority, which serves a population of about 1.4 million people, comprising San Jose, conserves the natural environment, supports agriculture and connects people to nature by protecting open spaces.

"My hometown, for instance, is home to Air Liquide's research center, completely rebuilt to accommodate 400 researchers," said Doucerain, who is also the Mayor of Loges-en-Josas, a small rural community of 1,600 people.

Historically, the Versailles and Saclay areas were an agricultural region with particularly fertile, loamy soil.

After 1945, research centres looking for a serene environment close to Paris began appearing in the region. These included the National Center for Scientific Research, the Atomic Energy Commission and a centre for energy research.

"Many French and international companies moved to our region, making Courtaboeuf the leading business park in Europe. Among many others, HP, GSK and Econocom have offices there."

But economic development also poses challenges.

"As economic development and research were gaining ground in our area, several farmers faced a major dilemma: Should they give in to real-estate pressures, sell their land and move to a more remote area as some in previous generations had done?

"Or should they trust their entrepreneurial instincts and deep ties to the area, which told them there surely must be innovative ways to approach production and take advantage of opportunities right there," she said.

There were more than 600,000 potential local consumers and 12 million in the larger region.

To answer the questions about the future of their farms, she said, the farmers asked the Ile-de-France Regional Council to conduct an in-depth study.

Nearly all 122 stakeholders surveyed believed that farming was an element that gives structure to the plans for this geographical area.

The farms are not just empty spaces to be filled. The Terre et CitA association was thus established. It includes four groups of participants: Farmers, municipalities, associations and civil society.

In 2008, several municipalities tackled the issue of procuring locally-grown produce for their cafeterias.

Terre et CitA was selected to facilitate the implementing of concrete projects with local supply networks.

"Today, more than one million meals a year are served that include at least one local ingredient," an elated Doucerain proclaimed.

"Today it is obvious that farms and open spaces offer fertile ground for many future innovations in the region. The preservation of land is essential to the long-term vitality and attractiveness of the Saclay Plateau.

As a result, we have over 10,000 acres of protected agricultural and open-space lands, including almost 6,000 acres of land devoted to farming. Even the so-called Paris region consists of almost 50 per cent farmland," she pointed out.

The Saclay Plateau has markedly developed organic farming.

Organic now represents a surface area six times greater than seen across the larger Paris region. Moreover, 20 per cent of land in the area is devoted to producing products like bread, yogurt, chicken, fruits and vegetables for local consumption.

"Farms, open spaces and particularly wooded areas within the plateau are important touch points of our identity. They characterise our landscapes and are integral to the quality of life that many people in the Paris region seek," Doucerain added.

(Vishal Gulati was 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)New Delhi, Sep 19 : The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved an ordinance making triple talaq a criminal offence, a bill on which is pending in the Rajya Sabha.

Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad gave the information to the media after the cabinet meeting.San Francisco, Sep 19 : Microsoft is expanding its Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based "Dynamics 365" apps lineup with two new Mixed Reality (MR) business apps.

The new apps -- called -- "Dynamics 365 Remote Assist" and "Dynamics 365 Layout" -- have been added with the intention of merging MR and business applications together.

"With the release of our new AI and mixed reality applications, we are taking another step to empower every organisation on the planet to achieve more through the accelerant of business applications," Alysa Taylor, Corporate Vice President, Business Applications and Industry, Microsoft wrote in a blog post on Tuesday.

The MR business apps will be part of the October release of "Dynamics 365".

In 2016, Microsoft introduced "Dynamics 365" as a product line of enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management (CRM) applications to make business apps modern, unified, intelligent and adaptable solutions, integrated with Office 365 and natively built on Microsoft's Cloud computing service Azure.

By bringing together MR and business applications, the company aims to unify systems and have a holistic view of their business, customers and employees.

"Employees need information in context to apply their knowledge and craft. Not only on a 2-D screen - but information and data in context, at the right place and at the right time and mixed reality is a technology uniquely suited to do exactly that," Taylor added.

The company has also launched AI-infused apps for sales, customer service and market insights as part of the "Dynamics 365" app line-up.

"The new 'Dynamics 365 AI' offering are a new class of AI applications that will deliver out-of-the-box insights by unifying data and infusing it with advanced intelligence to guide decisions and empower organizations to take informed actions," wrote Taylor.

These insights are easily extensible through the Microsoft's business analytics service -- Power BI, Azure and the Common Data Service, that could enable organizations to address complex scenarios specific to their business.San Francisco, Sep 19 : Google on Wednesday announced a new tool "Work Insights" that entitles admins with more visibility and monitoring control into the ways that G-Suite is deployed and utilised in their organisations.

"Work Insights" comes with "adoption charts" where admins would be able to analyse trends, track deployment progress over time, monitor apps that are most adopted by teams and identify which ones may need additional training on applications.

"With 'Work Insights,' admins can quickly surface organisational insights about G-Suite deployments at the team level -- aggregated at 10 people or more -- and understand adoption patterns for G-Suite apps," Reena Nadkarni, Group Product Manager, G-Suite, Google wrote in a blog post.

The new tool is built specifically to help businesses measure and understand the impact of internal digital transformation and also for when organisations transition from legacy tools to G-Suite apps.

"You can also use 'Work Insights' to learn how your teams are collaborating across your organisation -- working together in meetings or co-creating documents. This insight can help executives identify opportunities to strengthen collaboration and reduce siloes," Nadkarni added.

The search engine giant also announced the general availability of the "Investigation" tool in its "G-Suite Security Centre" to help organisations simplify their security management.

The "Investigation" tool comes with simple user interface (UI), making it easier for admins to identify threats without having to worry about analysing logs that could be time-consuming and require complex scripting.

The "Work Insights" tool is available in the beta version and the "Investigation tool" is available for G Suite Enterprise customers.New Delhi, Sep 19 : Continuing its campaign on Rafale deal, a Congress delegation on Wednesday met the Comptroller and Auditor General seeking an "urgent probe" into the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets by the Modi government.

"A delegation of Congress leadership has met the CAG and his senior colleagues. We have given a detailed memorandum along with the enclosures which very clearly and conclusively establish the irregularities," Congress leader Anand Sharma told the media here.

He said the enclosures included the "acts of commission and omission" by the government, specially what it alleged was the arbitrary decision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Rafale purchase and cutting out the HAL from the deal.

"We hope that the matter will be urgently looked into by CAG which has the constitutional mandate. And a report will come to Parliament well in time in this particular scam as it has international ramification," he said.

Besides Sharma, the delegation included senior party leaders A.K. Antony, Ahmed Patel, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mukul Vasnik, Jairam Ramesh, Randeep Surjewala, Rajeev Shukla and Vivek Tankha.

The government has denied all the allegations.New Delhi, Sep 19 : Ahead of Assembly elections in five states, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved an ordinance making triple talaq a criminal offence, with the government stating that there was a "compelling necessity" and "overpowering urgency" to do so.

The ordinance, which will be sent to the President for approval, comes against the backdrop of the government's inability to get a bill on the issue passed in the last monsoon session of Parliament.

The government then brought some changes in the original bill providing for only the women or their blood relations to file complaints against the erring husbands in a bid to get support from the Congress and other parties in the Rajya Sabha but did not succeeded in passing it.

Briefing reporters after a meeting of the union cabinet on why it was resorting to an ordinance, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that instances of instant triple talaq have "continued unabated" in spite of the Supreme Court declaring it unconstitutional and Lok Sabha passing a bill that is now pending in the Rajya Sabha.

He attacked the Congress and said it had not supported the bill in the Rajya Sabha due to "vote bank politics".

Prasad said the issue pertained to respect for women and not to religion or path of worship.

"The issue of triple talaq has nothing to do with faith, mode of worship. It is pure issue of gender justice and gender equality."

He said triple talaq was still being given on flimsy grounds such as chappapti getting burnt and wife waking up late. There were instances of the instant divorce having being given on social media platform WhatsApp, he said.

"Women are being oppressed, they are suffering. Most instances are taking place in Uttar Pradesh," he said.

Giving out figures of triple talaq cases between January 2017 and September 2018 from several states that totalled 430 including 229 before the Supreme Court judgement and 201 later, he said there could be many other unreported cases.

"The bottomline is that cases of triple talaq continue unabated. Whatever we have collected is shocking," he said.

Prasad said several Islamic countries have banned instant triple talaq but it still prevailed in a secular country like India.

He said the offence will become cognizable (with provision of three years imprisonment) if the FIR is filed by the woman or by her blood relations. A compromise can be reached at the initiative of woman and with appropriate conditions imposed by the magistrate concerned.

Prasad also said that bail can be given by the magistrate after hearing the woman who has filed the case. The custody of minor children will go to the mother and she will be entitled to maintenance for herself and her minor children.

He said the purpose was not to break families and a compromise will have the court's seal.

Prasad appealed to UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi to support the efforts for giving justice to women by rising above the considerations of "vote bank politics."

He made a similar appeal to BSP chief Mayawati and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. "Support it by rising above politics," he said.

Prasad said the Congress supported the bill in the Lok Sabha but not in the Rajya Sabha.

"Let them publicly say when the session commences we will support it. We would appreciate their support in the House, not before TV channels," he said.

He said the government tried to take the Congress along. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar had, on the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, met Congress leaders to seek their support for the passage of the bill in the Rajya Sabha.

Asked if steps will be taken for empowerment of Muslim women, including BJP giving ticket during elections, Prasad said the issue should not be reduced to political empowerment: "We are consciously keeping this bill away from political divide. It is for gender justice."Canberra, Sep 19 : People responsible for putting needles into strawberries or posting online fake images of sabotaged fruits may face 10-15 years in jail, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Wednesday following a fruit contamination scare that has alarmed the country.

Australia is set to pass laws to stiffen penalties for those responsible, said Morrison at a press conference as authorities investigate over 100 reports of people finding needles concealed within strawberries and other fruits.

"Today I announced that we are putting in some tough new laws not just to increase the penalties for people who do this already but for those who go on YouTube or think it's a big lark to go on and stick pins in fruits," he said in the video message on Twitter.

"It's not funny. It's not right. It's causing real distress and harm in our community and its got to stop. So we are going to be passing laws in the next 24 hours to send a very clear message. Don't do it."

Morrison said such acts, which affect the life and livelihood of Australians, including strawberry farmers, were crimes on par with terrorism or child pornography.

Dozens of cases of strawberries containing needles have been reported in the last week, mostly in the northeastern state of Queensland and now in most other parts of the country.

In a statement, the New South Wales Police Force said it was continuing to probe such instances and warned people of severe penalties if found guilty of deliberate fruit sabotage.

The investigation was launched on September 12 after cases of sabotaged strawberries were reported from Queensland.

"The community is reminded that deliberately contaminating food is a criminal offence and a threat to public safety. In New South Wales, the maximum penalty for the offence is 10 years imprisonment," the statement added.

On Tuesday, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced a $72,470 reward leading to an arrest for those responsible for the strawberry sabotage.

"The sabotage of our strawberry industry is not just an attack on hard-working growers and workers, but it reaches into almost every home and school lunch box," Palaszczuk said.Lucknow, Sep 19 : A Border Security Force (BSF) Constable was arrested on Wednesday in Noida for passing "secret and sensitive" information to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency, officials said.

The arrest was made by the Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) of Uttar Pradesh Police.

The trooper has been identified as Acchutanand Mishra and officials said he was "honeytrapped" by "a person who used a fake ID of a woman" in social networking site Facebook.

He was befriended by a woman ISI agent.

Briefing the media, Director General of Police O.P. Singh said Mishra was arrested from Sector 18 in Noida, adjoining Delhi.

Hailing from Reva in Madhya Pradesh, Mishra had been passing off secret and sensitive information to the Pakistani intelligence agency, Singh said.

Singh said that during interrogation, Mishra admitted to sharing details pertaining to vital installations and locations of the BSF and Indian Army training camps. Many other details were also leaked.New Delhi, Sep 19 : The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the revised cost estimate of Rs 3,466 crore for the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP), with the World Bank funding the major part of it, an official said.

The original cost estimate for the project was Rs 2,100 crore, a statement said.

The project is aimed at improving the safety and operational performance of selected existing dams and mitigate risks to ensure the safety of the downstream population and property.

Of the total amount, the World Bank would fund Rs 2,628 crore and states under the project or the implementing agencies would provide Rs 747 crore, while the balance of Rs 91 crore would be given by the Central Water Commission (CWC), as per the statement.

"The CCEA also gave its ex-post facto approval for two-year time extension from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2020," said the Ministry of Water Resources' statement.

The scheme envisages rehabilitation of 198 existing dam projects located in seven states -- Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Jharkhand (Damodar Valley Corporation) and Uttarakhand (Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited).

The project includes three components, the first being rehabilitation of a dam and its appurtenant structures, followed by institutional strengthening and project management.

"Originally, the total cost of DRIP was Rs 2,100 crore with state component of Rs 1,968 crore and Central component of Rs 132 crore," the statement said, adding: "Initially, it was a six-year project which commenced on April 18, 2012 with a scheduled closing on June 30, 2018."

The project implementation was granted in-principle approval for two years' extension in 2017 by the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation and the World Bank, with a revised closure date of the project by June 30, 2020.New Delhi, Sep 19 : The Congress-affiliated National Students' Union of India (NSUI) on Wednesday approached the Delhi University's Vice Chancellor seeking revocation of newly-elected students' union President Ankiv Baisoya's admission and a criminal action against him for furnishing "fake certificates".

The student group had on Tuesday come up with a letter issued by the Controller of Examinations of the Thiruvallvar University in Tamil Nadu, in which the official had declared Baisoya's mark-sheet from that university as "fake".

The NSUI has been alleging that Baisoya used the fake papers, showing him as a B.A. graduate from the Thiruvalluvar University, to get admission in M.A. Buddhist Studies course in the Delhi University.

"This is indeed an awakening call for the Vice Chancellor, University of Delhi, to review the admission process of Department of Buddhist Studies, which has become the sanctuary of political scoundrels to obtain a seat for the purpose of contesting the DUSU elections," Sunny Chhillar, NSUI's presidential candidate who lost to Baisoya, wrote in his letter to VC Yogesh Tyagi.

"Of late, Department of Buddhist Studies, has admitted a student in the name of Ankiv Baisoya, who was found to have procured fake academic documents including mark-sheet (of) a B.A. programme from Thiruvalluvar University, Vellore, Tamil Nadu," the letter read.

Besides revocation of Baisoya's admission, the NSUI also demanded action against the faculty of Department of Buddhist Studies, accusing it of being "hand in glove promoting corrupt persons".

The group also filed a police complaint against Baisoya for forging the academic documents.

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), a rival political group of which Baisoya is a member, had on Tuesday dismissed the accusation as NSUI's "propaganda" and had insisted that the Delhi University had given Baisoya admission only after due verification. Baisoya, in his turn, had said that he will sue the group for "defamation".New Delhi, Sep 19 : The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the Centre, the Delhi government, the Chief Passport Officer and businessman Sushil Ansal to file responses on a plea that sought cancellation of his passport.

Justice Najmi Waziri asked the Chief Passport Officer to submit an application filed by Ansal regarding his passport and listed the matter for October 3.

The court was hearing a plea by the Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT) Chairperson Neelam Krishnamoorthy who alleged that Ansal concealed or gave false information to authorities for renewal of his passport.

The plea alleged that Ansal obtained the passport through illegal means by suppressing the most material information -- that he is facing criminal charges and has been convicted and sentenced for two years in the Uphaar fire tragedy.

In her plea, Krishnamoorthy sought direction to the Central government to initiate an inquiry into the conduct of the passport authorities and Ansal over alleged issue of the passport without following due procedure as mandated by the Passports Act.

She challenged a trial court order that had dismissed her application for initiation of an inquiry against Ansal.

The plea said that Ansal had played a fraud on all criminal courts as he had not taken a no-objection certificate from any of these courts in the past 21 years.

He did not even seek no-objection certificate from the Supreme Court during pendency of his appeal in the main Uphaar fire tragedy case.

In 2014, the Supreme Court convicted Sushil Ansal and his brother Gopal Ansal and restrained them from travelling abroad without permission.

Krishnamoorthy also mentioned a response from the Prime Minister's Office, which said that "Ansal has suppressed material information in the application form and has connived with passport authorities to get his passport reissued without following the due process of law".Tianjin (China), Sep 19 : China will stick to market-oriented reform of the exchange rate formation mechanism and will not pursue competitive devaluation of its currency, Premier Li Keqiang said on Wednesday.

His comments came over accusations that China was manipulating its currency to combat US tariffs, Xinhua news agency reported. He said Beijing will not actively weaken the yuan to boost exports.

"The recent fluctuations in the (yuan) exchange rate have been seen by some as an intentional measure on the part of China. This is simply not true," Li said at the opening plenum of the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2018, also known as Summer Davos, in Tianjin.

"... One-way devaluation of the yuan will bring China more drawbacks than benefits. China will create conditions for a stable exchange rate," he said.

"China's economic fundamentals are solid, with a sound balance of international payments and sufficient foreign exchange reserves. The yuan exchange rate therefore is fully capable of remaining basically stable at a reasonable and balanced level."

Li also said that it was essential that the basic principles of "multilateralism and free trade" were upheld.

The US has engaged in a protectionist agenda since US President Donald Trump took office in 2016, challenging the global system of free trade which has prevailed for decades.

His accusation that China manipulated the yuan raised concerns that the currency market could become the next front in the economic battle between the two countries.

Washington slapped new tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods earlier this week. Beijing responded by imposing new duties on $60 billion of American imports.

Meanwhile, China reiterated on Wednesday that the only solution to the ongoing trade war was through dialogue.

"The issue can only be resolved though dialogue on the basis of equality, good faith and mutual respect. That's the only way," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said.

"On one hand the US is asking for contacts, dialogue and extending invitations, but on the other hand it's fluttering with sanctions, with pressures. So these moves have become a routine," he said.

Both the US and Chinese tariffs would come into effect on September 24.New Delhi, Sep 19 : The Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA) on Wednesday welcomed the ordinance making instant triple talaq a punishable offence with a three-year jail term.

"It would have been ideal if both houses of Parliament had passed the Bill unanimously, especially after some very important amendments were made to the original Bill. Nonetheless it is a much-awaited and a much wanted legislation," it said in a statement.

This ordinance followed the lack of consensus among political parties in the House.

Under the Ordinance, the crime will be recognized only when the woman herself or her blood relative files a complaint. Second, the case may be dropped if the couple reach a compromise, but only if the wife approaches the magistrate. Third, the magistrate can grant the accused bail, on reasonable grounds, but only after hearing the wife.

The wife will be given custody of the child and is entitled to maintenance - decided by the magistrate - for herself and her children.

"These are much appreciated amendments to the Bill for which BMMA had been asking for," it said.

"We are thankful to the central government for heeding to the voice of Muslim women who demanded the above amendments. And we urge all political parties to recognize, acknowledge and extend their support to the demands of Muslim women."New Delhi, Sep 19 : Escalating its attack on the Rafale deal, a high-level Congress delegation on Wednesday met Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) Rajiv Mehrishi with its demand for a probe into the Narendra Modi government's deal with France to purchase 36 fighter jets.

The part has been saying that the deal has caused "loss" to the exchequer and "endangered" national security.

The party later claimed that the CAG told the delegation that the auditor was examining the entire issue and would soon submit a report to Parliament.

The delegation that included party leaders -- Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma, Ahmed Patel and Randeep Singh Surjewala -- also submitted a memorandum to the CAG giving the history of the proposal to buy Rafale fighter jets, the process for which began in 2007.

The memorandum said that "unilateral" purchase of 36 Rafale jets from Dassault Aviation has caused "loss to public exchequer, endangered national security, bypassed Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) to benefit crony friends, and violated the mandatory provisions of Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP)".

The memorandum to the CAG marks escalation by the Congress of its fight against the Modi government over the Rafale issue, on which the party has held press conferences in different parts of the country.

Former Defence Minister A.K. Antony had on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Modi led-NDA government of compromising national security by reducing the number of fighter planes to be procured from 126 as negotiated by the UPA government to 36. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had countered the charges and held the erstwhile UPA regime responsible for the exclusion of HAL in the deal.

"CAG told us that they were examining the entire Rafale deal including the payments and procedures made," Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala told the media after meeting the CAG.

"Modi will be exposed soon...as CAG has assured (us) that they will look at all the documents that we brought in the public domain and very soon it will submit a report in Parliament," he said.

Surjewala said Modi is "personally responsible" for violating the DPP and exclusion of the HAL from getting an offset contract worth over Rs 30,000 crore from Dassault Aviation.

The memorandum includes "acts of commission and omission" by the government in the deal announced by Modi in April 2015.

Pointing to the violations of DPP by Modi, the memorandum states: "No mandatory prior approval of 'Cabinet Committee on Security' was taken before announcing purchase of 36 Rafale aircraft on 10th April, 2015.

"Mandatory requirement of DPP for 'Price Discovery' through the instrumentalities of 'Contract Negotiation Committee' (CNC) and 'Price Negotiation Committee' (PNC) were not followed by the PM. Transfer of Technology to HAL for manufacture of Rafale aircraft in India was also sacrificed by the PM.

"Not only this, the decision of Modi in proceeding to announce purchase of 36 Rafale 'off-the-shelf' on April 10, 2015, when an international tender was already under negotiation as also the subsequent cancellation of the international tender on 24th June 2015, is clearly violative of the DPP," it said.

It said that against the originally negotiated price of the UPA deal, the Modi government's purchase price "is over 300 per cent higher, involving an extra outflow of money from public exchequer of Rs 41,000 crore, approximately".

The party said that Rafale-Dassault Aviation sold 48 Rafale aircraft to Egypt and Qatar in 2015, and the 2016 annual report of the company reflects their price as Euro 7.9 billion as against the price of 36 Rafale aircrafts sold to India for Euro 7.5 billion.

"The price of Rafale aircraft sold to Egypt/Qatar comes to Rs 1,319.80 crore as against the price per aircraft of Rs 1,670.70 crore being paid by India. Compared with these two countries, India is paying an extra amount of Rs 350.90 crore per aircraft. Total extra payment by India would be Rs 12,632 crore, approximately."

The party also alleged that the private entity "now claims to have secured an additional Rs 1,00,000 crore of 'Lifecycle Cost Contract' over and above the Rs 30,000 crore 'offset contract', taking the total value to be an astounding Rs 1,30,000 crore".

It also accused Sitharaman of "lying" about the offset contract.

"While Dassault Aviation and Reliance Defence Ltd claim that a Rs 30,000-crore offset contract has been awarded, Sitharaman in a press release (07.02.2018) claimed that no offset contract had been awarded.

"These lies were being dished out to mislead the country despite the fact that the French Defence Minister met Sitharaman in Delhi in the morning and then proceeded to lay the foundation stone of Reliance Defence Factory in Mihan, Nagpur.

"We request the CAG to undertake its constitutional duty by conducting a time-bound special and forensic audit by examining the record threadbare, so that the truth is told to the people, and affixing the responsibility of Modi government," it added.

Latest updates on Howdy Modi HoustonNew Delhi, Sep 19 : Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday again declined to attend a meeting of the Lokpal Selection Committee, reiterating that "invitation as special invitee without the right of participation, recording of opinion and voting was an eyewash".

The Lok Sabha member said that it was a concerted effort and also a design to keep an important member of the Selection Committee out and thus have an overbearing influence on the selection of the Lokpal.

As per the Lokpal and Lokayukta Act 2013, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha is a member of the Selection Committee. Since Kharge does not have that status, he has not been made a part of the Selection Panel and only a 'special invitee'.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, Kharge said that unless and until the leader of the single largest opposition party (Congress) is conferred the status of a full-fledged member of the Selection Committee, he wouldn't attend the meeting.

"This letter is in reference to the office memorandum dated September 11 of the Department of Personnel and Training, inviting me to attend the Lokpal Selection Committee meeting on September 19," Kharge said in the letter.

"Your attention is also invited to my earlier letters dated February 28, April 10, July 18, and September 4 wherein I have written to you in detail regarding my objections to being invited as a 'special invitee' and reasons for declining the invitation," he added.

Kharge said that it was distressing that the government continued to invite him as a special invitee despite being aware of the fact that there is no such provision under Section 4 of the Lokpal Act, 2013.

"Over the last four years, the government has not made any attempt to amend the relevant provisions to include leader of the single-largest party in the opposition as panel member.

"An invitation as a special invitee without the right of participation, recording of opinion and voting in the procedure is an eyewash to mislead the nation and the people," said Kharge.

"Considering the fact that there is no provision under Section 4 of the Lokpal Act for a special invitee, I am again forced to respectfully decline this invitation unless... conferred the status of a full-fledged member to reflect the spirit of the Lokapl Act."Gurugram, Sep 19 : Harpath, a road grievance mobile app launched by Haryana in partnership with ISRO, has become popular since being launched last year.

An official said on Wednesday that around 1.5 lakh roads have been put on the mobile app.

The app was launched by Union Minister for Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad during the Digital Haryana Summit on September 15 last year.

Using Harpath, a citizen can upload the picture of a pothole, which directly gets assigned to the officer in the concerned department.

The officer is then obliged to convey the expected time for repairing the road. Once the road is repaired, the officer uploads the image of the road and a notification is sent to the citizen.

Harpath has been developed by NRSC-ISRO as a part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Haryana government and NRSC-ISRO.

According to Additional Principal Secretary to Haryana Chief Minister Rakesh Gupta, more than 22,000 persons have downloaded the app and 21,300 complaints pertaining to potholes were received, out of which 70 per cent have been redressed.

The government wants to make Haryana pothole-free by January 26, 2019.New Delhi, Sep 19 : The Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave its approval to undertake works for revival of the Talchar fertiliser project with an investment outlay of Rs 1,033.54 crore.

The decision was taken by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).

"The revival of the fertiliser unit will also ensure increase in indigenous production of urea leading to greater self-reliance in urea," a Chemicals and Fertilisers Ministry statement said.

Accordingly, the CCEA sanctioned an equity investment of Rs 1,033.54 crore "at the rate of 29.67 per cent of the total project cost" for setting up a coal gasification-based fertiliser project in Talcher Fertilizer Ltd (TFL).

The project will be undertaken by the state-run Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers Ltd (RCF).

TFL is a joint venture company of gas utility GAIL, RCF, Coal India and FCIL which are all state-run entities. It was incorporated in November 2015, with shareholding of 29.67 per cent of GAIL, RCF and CIL each and 10.99 per cent of FCIL.

"TFL has been formed to set up a coal gasification based fertilizer project at Talcher, District Angul, Odisha. The share of GAIL, CIL and RCF in the equity of TFL shall be Rs 1,033.54 crore based on the capex of Rs 11,611.48 crore for the coal gasification based fertiliser plant," a CCEA statement said.Ranchi, Sep 19 : Jharkhand Urban Development Minister C.P. Singh on Wednesday launched an indefinite fast at Kotwali Police Station here to protest against the arrest of five persons of the majority community over communal clashes.

"This protest is against the police who always take action against the majority community, while the criminals from the other community go scot-free," Singh told reporters.

Earlier in the day, the police arrested five persons after clashes broke out between Hindu and Muslim communities near Pahadi temple here.

The Hindus had on Tuesday accused the Muslims of the area of desecrating the prayer site. The issue was, however, resolved following police intervention. But on Wednesday, members of the two communities once again clashed and pelted stones at each other.

"Some people including policemen and media persons were injured in the stone-pelting incident. Extra forces have been deployed and Section 144 imposed in the area," City SP Aman Kumar told the media.

In another incident, on Tuesday, six policemen had received injuries in clashes between the members of two communities in the state's Koderma district.

The problem had begun on Tuesday night when Hindu community members were going for the immersion of Lord Vishwakarma's idol in Jaynagar of Koderma district. The firecrackers used by Hindus on the occasion were opposed by the minority community members. Later, they started pelting stones at each other in which six policemen and some other others were injured.

Prohibitory orders have been imposed and heavy security personnel have been deployed in Jaynagar.New Delhi, Sep 19 : In the midst of a raging controversy over lynchings by cow vigilantes, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday said that there were "double standards" over violence in the name of cow with nobody making any "noise" about cattle smugglers attacking the gaurakshaks.

He also emphasised that those genuinely involved in the service of the cow, including Muslims who maintain cow shelters, should not be linked to lynching incidents.

"The cattle smugglers attack. There is noise over lynching but when cow smugglers attack and indulge in violence, there is no noise over it. We should abandon these double standards," Bhagwat said in response to a query at a question-answer session at the concluding day of the outreach event here.

He said that indulging in violence or taking law in one's hands over any issue, including the cow, was "inappropriate" and a "crime" which needs to be punished but stressed that "gau raksha toh honi chahiye" (cow must be protected).

"Cow must be protected. It is also in the Directive Principles of the Constitution. So it must be acted upon. But cow protection cannot be done only through law. The cow protectors must keep the cows. If they leave the cows in the open, it will lead to nuisance. And it will also raise questions on the faith about cow protection. Therefore, cow should be preserved," he said.

He said that serving the cow reduces criminal tendencies in the person.

Bhagwat said that awareness about the utility of cow had been increasing.

"Several people are running good gaushalas in the country. And there are many Muslims among them. The entire Jain community is committed towards gauraksha. So they should not be associated with lynching," he said.Chandigarh, Sep 19 : Haryana has given a no-objection certificate for the construction of the Kishau dam on the Tons, a tributary of Yamuna river along the borders of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, official sources said on Wednesday.

With the dam's construction, Haryana will get an additional 709 cusecs for drinking and irrigation.

An official spokesman said that as per a MoU signed between six states in 1994, Haryana's share in the Kishau dam is 709 cusecs out of live storage capacity of 1,324 million cubic metres.

Khattar along with the Chief Ministers of Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi signed the memorandum in August with Union Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari in Delhi to construct the Lakhwar multi-purpose project in upper Yamuna basin.

With the construction of this project, Haryana will get 177 cusecs water, which is about 47 per cent of the total storage capacity.Panaji, Sep 19 : The BJP's quest to find a replacement for ailing Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar met with a setback on Wednesday as a meeting of top state BJP officials with party President Amit Shah in Delhi failed to resolve the issue.

Party sources said the meeting, attended by state BJP President Vinay Tendulkar and Union Minister of State for AYUSH Shripad Naik -- both contenders for the Chief Ministerial slot -- and South Goa MP Narendra Savoikar remained inconclusive.

"Our party President is seized of the matter, but no decision has been made on the leadership issue yet," a BJP leader said on the condition of anonymity.

The sources said that a pointed demand made by regional ally Goa Forward to appoint a non-legislator as a Chief Minister was shot down by Parrikar, admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi, who is being consulted.

Parrikar, suffering from advanced pancreatic cancer, has been in and out of hospitals in Goa, Mumbai, New York and now Delhi since February, when his illness was diagnosed.

This has led to criticism from the opposition and civil society, which have demanded that he should resign to make way for a "fully fit" Chief Minister who can efficiently discharge official duties.

There are several options which the BJP leadership has been tinkering with over the last few days, ever since the high command took serious note of the criticism about Parrikar's absence from office.

The options include Shripad Naik, a popular 'bahujan samaj' (non-Brahmin caste) leader whose presence could be a boon for the BJP, which has over the last few years been accused of alienating the lower castes.

While Naik is Parrikar's peer in the Goa BJP, both leaders have shadow-boxed each other on several occasions and are known to head two power centres within the party.

The other options include Vinay Tendulkar, a Rajya Sabah MP who has in the past sacrificed ministerial berth as well as a party ticket on leadership's instructions as also Goa Assembly Speaker Pramod Sawant.

Senior state party leaders as well as ex-MLAs, who met National General Secretary (Organisation) Ram Lal in Goa this week have rejected the proposal to invite a member of the alliance parties to head the coalition government.

Speaking to IANS, Goa Forward President Vijai Sardesai said that he was fine with the delay on part of the BJP to decide on the leadership issue.

"Let them take time. But the decision should be a permanent one that keeps the state's political stability in mind," the Town and Country Planning Minister said.Naypyidaw, Sep 19 : British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt arrived in Myanmar on Wednesday on his first official visit to the country for discussions expected to include the Rohingya refugee crisis and the jailing of two Reuters reporters.

Hunt arrived in the southeast Asian country after completing a working visit to Japan. "Arrived in Burma for talks with leaders and to see humanitarian issues firsthand," Hunt wrote on Twitter.

On Thursday, he was scheduled to meet with Myanmar's de facto leader and Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who, along with the Army, has been been blamed for the Rohingya crisis by the international community.

The visit came a day after a United Nations fact finding mission on human rights violations in Myanmar's Kachin, Rakhine and Shan states submitted its complete report in Geneva.

The report found elements of intentional genocide in Rakhine against the Rohingya, a predominantly Muslim ethnicity and cases of crimes against humanity and war crimes in all the three states.

At least 10,000 people died and 800,000 sought refuge in neighbouring Bangladesh after the Myanmar security forces launched an offensive in August 2017 following a series of Rohingya rebel attacks on government outposts.

Last month, Hunt had criticized the situation faced by the Rohingyas, after the UN mission presented a concise version of its conclusions on August 27.

"Deeply disturbing to read UN report on crimes against Rohingya people. There must be never be a hiding place for those who commit these kinds of atrocities. Have decided to visit Burma to seek answers at the earliest opportunity," Hunt said.

The Foreign Secretary will also discuss the recent imprisonment of two reporters working for Reuters news agency.

Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo who were sentenced to seven years in prison earlier this month for violating the Official Secrets Act while investigating a massacre of Rohingyas, in a ruling that has been widely criticized by the international community.New Delhi, Sep 19 : RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday said that Ram Mandir should be built "at the earliest" in Ayodhya which would remove a major cause of discord of between Hindus and Muslims.

"I want a grand Ram Mandir to be built soon. Whichever way and whatever the means, it should be built at the earliest. There should be no politics over this. If it happens through consensus, then the dispute between Hindus and Muslims will be over for ever. If it is done harmoniously, the fingers that are raised again and again at the Muslims would not be raised," he said, answering questions on the third and last day of "Bhavishya ka Bharat - an RSS perspective" conclave.

Bhagwat said that construction of the temple should not have been delayed so much in the first place.

"As a Sarsanghchalak (chief) of the Sangh, I say that Ram Mandir should be built at the earliest. Ram is a god to majority of Indians but there are many others who don't see him as god....consider him as the progenitor of Indian values, consider him 'Imam-E-Hind'," Bhagwat said.

He said that construction of the temple will strengthen the unity and integrity of the country.

"If this temple is built, it will take away a major cause of discord between the Hindus and Muslims... This should not have taken this much time, but it has taken because of the political interference," he said.New Delhi, Sep 19 : India reiterated its commitment and support to Kabul's efforts towards an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled peace and reconciliation process at a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani here on Wednesday.

According to a statement issued by the External Affairs Ministry, the two countries also agreed to strengthen their cooperation at various international fora and decided to work even more closely with their regional and international partners for prosperity, peace, stability and progress in the region.

They also expressed determination to strengthen connectivity among the two countries, including through Chabahar port and direct air-freight corridor.

Ghani briefed Modi on the initiatives by his government towards peace and reconciliation and also in confronting the challenges of terrorism and extremism imposed on Afghanistan and its people.

Modi condemned terrorist attacks and violence in Afghanistan and expressed solidarity with the people and national defence forces in their fight against terrorism.

He expressed India's "unwavering commitment" to support the efforts of the Afghanistan government to continue as a united, peaceful, inclusive and democratic nation and emerge as an economically vibrant country.

The two leaders reviewed the progress of the multi-faceted India-Afghanistan strategic partnership and expressed satisfaction at the increase in bilateral trade that has crossed the $1 billion mark.

During the meeting, the two countries also agreed to deepen their partnership in the areas of high impact projects in Afghanistan in the fields of infrastructure, human resources development and other capacity building projects.

According to official sources here, Ghani appreciated the decision of India and China to jointly work on projects and programmes in Afghanistan.

The two Asian giants are planning to start their partnership in Afghanistan with a training programme for Afghan diplomats in October.

Modi, the sources said, also sought long-term business visas for Indian businessmen to boost bilateral trade.

The India-backed Shahtoot dam that will be crucial for drinking water in Kabul also came up for discussion during Wednesday's meeting.

"We hope we can move closer to its finalisation," a source said.

Among other issues that came up for discussion, it is learnt, are a low cost housing project in Nangarhar province, irrigation projects, polishing of gems, food processing and export of marbles to India.

During the meeting, Modi expressed concern over the six Indian workers who were abducted in Afghanistan in May this year.

Ghani said he was personally monitoring the issue and assured Modi of the workers' safe release.New Delhi, Sep 19 : The Indian authorities said on Wednesday they have not received any communication from the UAE regarding the extradition order of British national Christian Michel James, the alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper case, even as they claimed that a court there had ruled that he can be extradited.

"The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has not received any communication regarding Michel's extradition from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)," CBI spokesperson Abhishek Dayal said here.

The MEA is the agency concerned that gets notified about the proceedings regarding any wanted persons in other countries. It then informs the investigating agencies in the country.

The CBI official's remarks came amid the media reports that a United Arab Emirates (UAE) court has ordered the extradition of Michel to India in the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal case.

Official sources also said that the UAE has not communicated to MEA yet on extradition of Michel.

It is learnt that the UAE government had approached the court late last month asking if Michel, a British national, can be extradited to a third country--India. And then apparently the court on September 2 said that he can be extradited The Indian missiion in UAE has been asked to find out information on this.

In January this year, the ED had lodged a request with the UAE authorities for extraditing Michel. Both the ED and the CBI had filed chargesheets in bribery cases in Indian courts and non-bailable warrants had been issued against the accused.

Last year, a red corner notice was issued against Michel by the Interpol on a request by the CBI. RCNs were also issued against two Italians involved in the scam -- Carlo Gerosa and Guido Haschke.

According to Indian investigative agencies, Michel had received at least Rs 235 crore for ensuring that the chopper contract went to AgustaWestland. He was a frequent visitor to India, having undertaken 300 trips to this country between 1997 and 2013.

On January 1, 2014, India cancelled the contract with Finmeccanica's British subsidiary AgustaWestland for supplying 12 AW-101 VVIP choppers to the IAF, over alleged breach of contractual obligations and on charges of paying kickbacks amounting to Rs 423 crore.

The CBI, which registered an FIR in the case on March 12, 2013, had alleged that Tyagi and the other accused received kickbacks from AgustaWestland to help it win the contract. The FIR mentioned charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating and those under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The operational flight ceiling of the choppers was reduced from 6,000 metres, as originally proposed, to 4,500 metres and the cabin height was brought down to 1.8 metres.

The twin modifications were allegedly meant to rig the deal in favour of AgustaWestland, which eventually walked away with the order to supply the 12 choppers for the Communication Squadron of the IAF for ferrying the President, the Prime Minister and other VVIPs.

The CBI probe revealed that several payments were made to the Tyagis by Haschke, Gerosa and Michel.

Tyagi, who was IAF chief from 2004 to 2007, his cousin and Khaitan were arrested in December last year by the agency. They are now out on bail.New Delhi, Sep 19 : The Supreme Court on Wednesday said democratic institutions should be robust enough to accommodate opposition and that a distinction has to be drawn between an opposition, attempt to create a disturbance or overthrow the government.

Observing that the liberty could not be stifled at the altar of conjecture, the bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y.Chandrachgud said: "our institutions should be robust enough to accommodate opposition either to the system or even to the this court. We will look at this case with a hawk's eye."

Telling the Maharashtra government that liberty can't be sacrificed at the altar of conjecture, Justice Chandrachud told Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta: "You must make a distinction between holding of an international conference and (activist doing) something beyond that."

There were attacks on this court, said Justice Chandrachud but "our shoulders are robust enough to get going."

Senior counsel Harish Salve appearing for the complainant in the Bhima Koregoan case said, "A lot will depend who is saying, a liberal or someone part of banned organisation. And what is the context?"

The court said this in the course of hearing of a petition by historian Romila Thapar and activist Maja Daruwala questioning the arrest of five rights activists -- Sudha Bhardwaj, Varavara Rao, Gautam Navlakha, Vernon Gonsalves, Arun Ferreira. They are accused of their links with the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist.

Post lunch hearing saw the bench making significant observations in the course of Mehta's arguments defending Maharashtra police's action of arresting the five rights activists.

"You have to carry two staffers of the Pune Municipal Corporation to Maharashtra Sadan to act as panchas. In how many other matters are these two panchas witnesses?" Justice Chandrachud asked pointing to the presence of two employees of PMC during raids on the residences of five activists.

As during the course of the his arguments, ASG Mehta mentioned names of one institution and a university, Justice Chandrachud said, "It is a very well known social science institution that sends students to rural areas for field work. Then you have named a university. You have to make a distinction between subversion and actions to mobilise support."

As ASG Metha narrated to the court the chain of events starting with Bhima Koregoan incident, ACJI Misra asked him to show material on the arrest of five activists.

"What is the material for the arrests?" the CJI asked Mehta, telling him: "You must show us your best document first."

ASG Mehta said he was establishing the links between the arrests of five activists that took place in June and the one that took place on August 28.

Apparently realising that he was not able to cut ice with the bench, ASG Mehta urged the bench, "May I request that not to form any opinion before listening to us in full."

"Yes we will...but the mind is also human", Justice Chandrachud said, "We form picture after hearing all."

Earlier appearing for the petitioners Romila Thapar and activist Maja Daruwala, senior counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi told the court that all that they were seeking is a court-monitored independent and objective probe which inspires confidence. I am not above law."

Senior counsel Anand Grover appearing for five activists arrested in June this year alleged said that some of the things are concocted and fabricated and all the laws have been thrown to the winds and no procedure has been followed.

Contending that there can't be two FIRs of the same incident at Bhima Koregoan, Grover referred to the statement of Maharashtra Chief Minister that conflicts with police version.

The hearing will continue on Thursday.Raipur, Sep 19 : Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh on Wednesday ordered a probe into the incident of lathicharge on Congress workers in the state and dumping of garbage in the house of state Minister Amar Agarwal.

"It's very sad... Chhattisgarh is a peaceful state. We are probing the incidents. The culprits would be booked," the Chief Minister told reporters .

Congress party President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday condemned the incident and attacked the Narendra Modi government saying that dictatorship has become a "profession" and the attack would be remembered as an act of "political atrocity"

On Tuesday, Congress workers were lathicharged in Bilaspur district during a protest against state Minister Amar Agarwal.

The Congress workers were beaten by the police after they spilled garbage at Agarwal's house. Over a dozen Congress workers were injured in the lathicharge by the police including senior party leader Atal Srivastava.

State party president Bhupesh Baghel had condemned the incident, and had called for a judicial enquiry.New Delhi, Sep 19 : Asserting that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) always supported reservation system, its chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday said that reservation was not a problem, but the problem was the politics of reservation.

"RSS completely supports the reservation given by the Constitution to remove social stigmas. The decision as to how long reservation should continue, that has to be taken by those for whom reservation has been granted. Whenever they feel it is not necessary, they will decide.

"Till then it should continue, this has been the RSS' stand since the inception of the system and will continue to be so," Bhagwat said during interactive session on the concluding day of his three-day lecture series here.

"Reservation is not a problem, the problem is the politics of reservation. An organ of the society is lagging behind, it is a result of our doing. To cure this 1000-year-old malady, we have to bend for 100-150 years, I don't think that is an expensive deal," he said.

His latest assertion is in contrast with his 2015 public remarks calling for a review of reservation policies.

Refusing to comment on the Supreme Court's verdict "diluting" the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, Bhagwat stressed the need for effectively implementing the law.

"Atrocities (on Dalits) do happen. That is why this law was made. But the law should be properly implemented and should not be misused. It is a fact that the law has not been properly implemented and also it has been misused," said Bhagwat adding that law alone was not sufficient and social harmony was essential to prevent the atrocities.New Delhi, Sep 19 : RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday said that people do not need to make an enemy of English to assert primacy of local languages and that supremacy of English is only in their minds.

"The dominance of English is not in day-to-day work, it's in our minds. We should start respecting our own mother tongues... The existence of disparate languages is necessary for the development of human species.

"One should have complete mastery of one's own language. There's no need to make an enemy of any language," Bhagwat said while answering a question on the last day of "Bhavishya ka Bharat - an RSS perspective" conclave here.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief said people do not need to replace English but remove its paranoia from their minds.

"No need to replace English, it must stay there as it is. We need to remove the paranoia of English which we have in our minds. Its (English's) reputation as an international language is overstated... Even American speak English but they insist their own brand of the language. In France they speak French. If you go to Israel, you'll have to learn Hebrew. Before going to Russia, you will have to acquaint yourself with Russian," he said.

He advised people to teach themselves at least one Indian language and dismissed bringing a law to impose Hindi as a national language.

"Imposing a single language upon all others breeds bitterness... but soon there will be a single national language in which all administrative work will be done," Bhagwat said.

On National Education Policy in the works, he said it should be based broadly on Indian tradition with useful elements from the modern education methods.

He lamented the current state of education and emphasised on achieving "excellence in one's vocation" instead of getting mere degree.

He also acknowledged that research standard in the country was "low".Vienna, Sep 19 : India's plan to build 21 nuclear reactors by 2030 by using different technologies is on track, Atomic Energy Department Secretary Sekhar Basu said on Wednesday.

The Secretary was speaking at the 62nd General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) hosted by Austria, an official release said.

"During the last general conference we talked about our plans to build the 21 reactors by 2030... implementation of this programme is well on track with foreign partners bringing in different technologies."

"We have placed two Russian designed pressurised light water reactors and two pressurised heavy reactors being built with Indian technology under the IAEA safeguards. Thus, in all, 26 Indian nuclear facilities are placed under IAEA safeguards," he added.

A pact was signed in March between Indian and France to establish six nuclear power reactors of European pressurized reactor (EPR) technology to enhance India's international cooperation in the field.

The release said that under IAEA aegis, over 150 persons from Africa and Asia have been trained in cancer care and two radionuclide generators developed to fight cancer.New Delhi, Sep 19 : Taking cognizance of lack of long-term jobs, the Ministry of Labour and Employment on Wednesday said it has rolled out a scheme to financially support those who lost their jobs even as it relaxed norms for its other benefits.

The Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), in its 175th meeting on Tuesday here, approved 'Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojna' for insured persons covered under the Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948, the Ministry said in a statement.

"The current scenario of employment in India which has transformed from a long-term employment to fixed short-term engagement in the form of contract and temping... This scheme is a relief payable in cash directly to their bank account in case of unemployment and while they search for new engagement," it said.

Detailed instructions including eligibility conditions and application format will be issued separately, it added.

The corporation further approved reimbursement of Rs 10 per person to employers for seeding of Aadhar (UID) in ESIC database of their workers and their family members for enabling the insured with benefits that require longer contribution.

"It will curtail the multiple registrations of same Insured Persons and thus enable them to avail the benefits requiring longer contributory conditions," it said.

For super specialty treatment, the ESIC relaxed the eligibility condition by reducing the requirement of insurable employment of two years to six months with contribution requirement of only 78 days.

For availing super specialty treatment for dependents of Insured Person, the eligibility has now been relaxed to insurable employment of one year with 156 days of contributions.

"This relaxation will immensely help the Insured Persons and their beneficiaries to avail super specialty treatment free of cost as per revised eligibility," the Ministry said.

Further, the corporation approved the proposal to increase the funeral expenses from existing Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 being paid on the death of Insured Person.

The ESIC is for establishments having more than 10 workers with monthly wage ceiling of Rs 21,000.Shillong, Sep 19 : Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister and National People's Party (NPP) leader, Prestone Tynsong on Wednesday voiced confidence that ruling Congress will be ousted from power in Mizoram in the upcoming Assembly elections.

"As of now, Mizoram is the only state ruled by the Congress. I was there for a very short time, but I could see Congress will be out of power in the upcoming elections. It is not necessary to finish the Congress off because they did so by themselves. I think they (Congress) will do the same thing in Mizoram, so they should not blame us or anybody. They have to blame themselves," he told reporters.

Tynsong, who visited poll-bound Mizoram last week, had met several non-Congress political leaders, including former Mizoram Home Minister R. Lalzirliana, to impress upon them the need to work together after the Mizoram Assembly elections.

The 40-member Mizoram Legislative Assembly which was constituted on December 16, 2013 will expire on December 15, this year.

"The talk is on and I cannot divulge so much. Let us see from now. I met few Congress MLAs in Mizoram. I also met the MNF chief, Zoramthanga and we sat down and discussed about the upcoming elections," the NPP leader said.

"Let us see the mandate of the people because we do not know yet which party will get majority or emerge as the single largest party after the Assembly polls. Post-poll alliance is inevitable in case if there is any hung Assembly. It has to be there, otherwise, nobody will be able to form the government," he added.New Delhi, Sep 19 : Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Wednesday urged the people to engage in "preserving" historical sites around them.

His remarks came after visiting a restored and maintained version of a heritage site in west Delhi.

Located in Sector 12 in Dwarka, the Baoli (stepwell) went into restoration in an unrecognisable state two years ago is now ready for sightseeing, a statement from Sisodia's office said.

The Dwarka Baoli is one of the smallest baolis of the national capital unlike its more celebrated counterparts -- Agrasen ki Baoli, Rajon ki Baoli and Gandhak ki Baoli.

It was discovered in 2011 from under a foliage of thick vegetation and large group of trees.

Sisodia also congratulated the Delhi Department of Archaeology for their "remarkable job in restoring the heritage stepwell", and urged the people to visit more of such historical structures around the city.

"I urge the people of Delhi to visit such historical structures to experience the city's amazing history and heritage. Places like this Baoli have a tranquil aura. It's intriguing to be at the spot once inhibited the people of Lodi era," he said.

He also said the restoration work is on at other monuments such as Tomb (Jharokha), Horse Stable, Tomb in Mehrauli Archaeological Park, Qulikhan's Tomb.

"Eighteen monuments have been conserved last year while 19 more are being restored this year," Sisodia said.Guwahati, Sep 19 : Days after the arrest of a Hizbul Mujahideen man from Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, a team of National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrived in Assam on Wednesday to grill the seven accomplices of the Hizbul cadre, who have been arrested subsequently from the state.

After the arrest of Assam's native Qamar uz Zaman by the Anti Terror Squad (ATS) of Uttar Pradesh last week, Assam police have so far nabbed seven persons including the brother of Zaman for having links with him and the Jammu and Kashmir-based terror outfit.

"An NIA team has arrived in Assam and they are grilling the arrested linkmen. This is for the first time that we have arrested Hizbul Mujahideen linkmen from Assam. We are trying to see if the J&K-based Islamist terror outfit had already set up an Assam module," said a senior Assam police officer.

He refused to reveal further details as it might hamper the investigation.

He said that earlier the Assam police had busted a terror module set up in the state by Bangladesh-based Islamist terror network, Jamat ul Mujahideen (JMB). Several JMB cadres had been arrested from Lower Assam (Western Assam) districts resulting in the recovery of arms and ammunition from different areas of Lower Assam.

The JMB operatives have also been using Chirang district of Assam as a training centre.

Following the arrest of Zaman, Assam police arrested his close associate Shahnawaz Alam from Hojoi in Assam. After this Saidul Alam, a resident of Lanka in Hojai district, Umar Faruk and others were also arrested from different places in Hojai and Nagaon district of Assam.

Police said that Saidul was also in touch with Zaman and visited Srinagar in April this year and got in touch with few Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists.Rome, Sep 19 : Foreign Minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi is "closely following" the case of a 23-year-old woman who wrote to her school in Monza begging for help to return to Italy from Pakistan, where she was taken last year "against her will", the Foreign Ministry said late on Tuesday.

Moavero "is closely following the case of the Pakistani girl who is being detained in her home country against her will," said a Ministry statement.

"In consideration of the gravity of the actions reported by the girl, the Foreign Ministry is acquiring all useful information from the relevant police authorities to verify the facts and find the most appropriate way of taking possible action to protect her rights."

The unnamed woman told her school that her family took away her documents and forced her to remain in Pakistan with her sister to punish her for wanting to study and refusing an arranged marriage there. The woman's parents then returned to Italy, she stated.

The woman's father removed her from her Italian school in 2015, forcing her to abandon her studies and stay at home, she alleged.Amaravati, Sep 19 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, against whom a non-bailable arrest warrant was issued by a Maharashtra court last week in a 2010 case, will not attend the court on September 21.

Naidu, who is also the President of Telugu Desam Party (TDP), on Wednesday decided to send his lawyer to file a petition in Dharmabad court to recall the Non-Bailable Arrest Warrant (NBW).

The decision was taken after the TDP chief held series of consultations with legal experts, officials and top leaders of his party here.

Judicial Magistrate First Class, Dharmabad Court (Nanded) N.R. Gajbhiye on September had 13 issued the NBWs against Naidu and 14 others including his two cabinet colleagues.

The police were ordered to arrest and produce them before the court at the next hearing on September 21.

Maharashtra police had registered a case against Naidu and others when the TDP organised massive protests over what it termed the "illegal constructions" of the Babli Barrage project by the Maharashtra government allegedly to divert Godavari River waters from Telangana region of the then undivided Andhra Pradesh.

At that time Naidu was the Leader of Opposition in the state and along with 40 legislators, he had entered the barrage vicinity flouting prohibition orders clamped there.

The TDP has alleged that BJP is behind the revival of eight-year-old case. It termed the NBW as an act of vengeance by Narendra Modi government against the TDP for pulling out of NDA.

Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah, while addressing a news conference in Hyderabad on September 15, denied the allegation and pointed out that the case was booked when Congress was in power in Maharashtra.

He also claimed that the court had issued 25 summons against Naidu but he did not respond to any summon.

Reacting to Shah's claim, Chandrababu Naidu informed the Andhra Pradesh Assembly that he had not received summons from the court before the NBW was issued.

"I verified with my office. Not even a single summon was received," the Chief Minister said.Chandigarh, Sep 19 : Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia on Wednesday asked Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu to come clean on the Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara corridor in the wake of Pakistan's official stand on the issue.

Majithia told the media here that now that the Pakistan Foreign Ministry had maintained that no official communication had been sent to India for opening the Kartarpur gurdwara corridor, Sidhu should tell the public why he was allegedly asserting that "Pakistan was right and India wrong in not reciprocating a gesture that was never made".

"You must now come clean and tell why you became a mouthpiece for the Pakistan Army General and its Inter-Services Intelligence and gave an impression that Pakistan was ready to open the corridor but India was coming in the way."

He also asked Sidhu whether he will ask Pakistan Prime Minister and its Army chief why they were killing Indian soldiers on the border.

"Sidhu should also tell whether he in agreement with Pakistan even now, especially when barbarity was committed on an Indian soldier on Tuesday on the Line of Control. Can he face soldier Narinder Kumar's family and the Sikh community after the lies and deceit he has committed in the name of Guru Nanak Dev," he asked.

Majithia said that the Congress and its President Rahul Gandhi should also say whether they supported the "cheap manner" in which Sidhu allegedly lied and misled the Sikh community by claiming that Pakistan will open the Kartarpur corridor when he was flayed for hugging Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa in Islamabad on August 18.

With Union Exernal Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also making it official that there was no formal communication from Pakistan to India on the corridor, Sidhu had nowhere to run, the former Minister said.

He said that as far as his party and Sikh institutions were concerned, they will continue to make efforts to get the corridor opened.Plaque bearing the United Nations logo above the podium of the General Assembly Hall. (File Photo: Ryan Brown/UN Photo/IANS) Image Source: Yonhap/IANS

David Beasley, chief of the World Food Programme (WFP), speaks during a press conference in Seoul on May 15, 2018. Image Source: Yonhap/IANS

Rome, Sep 19 : The United Nations World Food Programme on Wednesday called for "an immediate cessation of hostilities" in Yemen's devastating three-and-a-half-year civil war, warning that "full-blown" famine loomed in the war-wracked country.

"My primary concern is the innocent children, women and men of Yemen, and I urge all parties to end the fighting and support efforts to build peace," WFP chief David Beasley stated.

"Only an immediate cessation of hostilities will give the humanitarian community the sustained access it needs to provide the food and other vital assistance needed to save Yemeni lives," he said.

The poverty-stricken country had seen "ferocious armed clashes", and "a sharp deterioration of the security situation in Hodeidah and other cities across Yemen in recent days," Beasley said.

Millions of civilians have been hit by widespread economic hardship and currency devaluations as well as soaring food prices in Yemen. The country already faces the world's largest hunger crisis with 18 million people (64 per cent of the population) "not knowing where their next meal is coming from," said Beasley.

The cost of basic food items has increased by 35 percent in the past 12 months in Yemen, leaving many families unable to feed themselves, he said.

"If the conflict continues to intensify and economic conditions further deteriorate, we could well see the number of severely food-insecure Yemenis increasing to 12 million, who would then need daily food assistance to survive," Beasley stated.

This year WFP is "scaling up" to assist 8 million Yemenis a month, Beasley said, urging warring parties to stop "a spate of attacks, unwitting or otherwise, on our workers, our trucks, our warehouses and the silos holding our grain."

"Targeting humanitarian workers or humanitarian assets and infrastructure should have no place in Yemen or anywhere in the world," said Beasley.

New entry points for humanitarian and commercial food imports and a free-flow of commercial and humanitarian foodstuffs inside the country are urgently needed to tackle the growing hunger crisis across the country, Beasely said.

"I urge all parties to the conflict to meet their obligations to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure and take active steps to respect international humanitarian law by ending the conflict and bringing the peace that Yemen so desperately needs," he concluded.Agra, Sep 19 : Workers, industrialists and social activists marched here on Wednesday to protest restrictions on industries in the eco-sensitive Taj Trapezium Zone spread over 10,400 sq.km.

Carrying placards and banners, the protesters raised slogans against the apathetic attitude of the elected representatives towards industries, hotels, hospitals and others listed in the Orange, Red and White categories of the pollution control department.

Industry leaders addressing the protesters at the Shaheed Smarak claimed that thousands of people would lose their jobs with total disruption of economic activities in Agra if the restrictions were not lifted.

K.C. Jain, secretary of Agra Development Foundation, said "not only iron foundries, but also hotels, nursing homes and business establishments have been affected by the a moratorium on expansion."

Organisations that joined the protest included Laghu Udhyog Bharti, National Chamber of Industries and Commerce, UP Diesel Engine Manufacturing Association, Mathura, Firozabad Factories Association, Engineering Component manufacturing association, Factory Owners' Association, Export Promotion Council members, Computers Association of Agra, Tourists Welfare Chamber, Agra Footwear manufacturers and exporters Chamber, Real Estate Developers Organisation, Foundries Association, Agra Hotels and Restaurants Association and a dozen others.

The polluting industries were shut down in 1996 by the Supreme Court.

Later, some industries were allowed to run if they switched to natural gas. But expansion and opening of new units was not permitted both in Agra and Firozabad.Rome, Sep 19 : Italy's anti-migrant Interior Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini on Wednesday defiantly defended his recent remarks calling African immigrants "new slaves", saying his comments had been misinterpreted.

"I have nothing to apologise for, on the contrary it's clear that some people are incapable of reading or of listening," Salvini told a press conference at the Interior Ministry.

It was also possible that his remarks in Italian at a closed-door meeting in Vienna on migration and security last Thursday (secretly filmed and posted to his Facebook page) had been "mistranslated", Salvini said.

"My comments in Vienna were actually in defence of refugees and immigrants, who some in Europe exploit as slaves," Salvini said.

"I said we don't need to import new slaves in this mass immigration and was defending the identity, right to work and health of millions of Africans," Salvini went on.

His comments came an African Union statement expressed "dismay" over the remarks made by Salvini at the Vienna conference hosted by Austria (which holds the rotating European Union presidency).

"The African Union requests the Italian Deputy Prime Minister to retract his derogatory statement about African migrants," said the statement.

"Name-calling will not resolve the migration challenges facing Africa and Europe," the AU statement said.

In his remarks last week in Vienna Salvini claimed he did not want to "uproot the best of the African youth to replace Europeans who are not having children anymore."

"In Italy there's the need to help our kids have kids, not to have new slaves to replace the children we're not having," Salvini said.

Salvini's remarks drew visible ire from Luxembourg's Foreign and Immigration Minister Jean Asselborn, who heckled him and swore in French.

Tens of thousands of Italians had gone to work in Luxembourg in the post-war era "so that in Italy you had money to pay for your children," Asselborn said.

Salvini reprimanded Asselborn for his "rudeness" in speaking out of turn.New Delhi, Sep 19 : Articulating his position on a range of raging issues, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday favoured construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya "at the earliest" and uniform civil code and population control, lauded the work of Modi government but also disapproved politics of "shamshan-kabristan" and saffron terror in election campaigns.

Bhagwat, who took questions from the audience on the last day of his three-day lecture series "Future of Bharat: An RSS perspective", spoke against religious conversions under allurement and minoritism and said there should be no "double standards" over violence in the name of cow.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), he said, does not approve the word "minorities" as it considers all to be equal citizens. This description was not in use before Independence, he added.

Bhagawat spoke for continuation of reservation, pitched for a firm population policy that covers those with big families and favoured a new education policy that combines modernity with traditional values.

He backed a uniform civil code, abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution and Article 35A in Jammu and Kashmir.

He said Ram Mandir should be built "at the earliest" in Ayodhya which would remove a major cause of discord of between Hindus and Muslims.

"I want a grand Ram Mandir to be built soon at his birth place. Whichever way and whatever the means, it should be built at the earliest. There should be no politics over this. If it happens through consensus, then the dispute between Hindus and Muslims will be over for ever. If it is done harmoniously, the fingers that are raised again and again at the Muslims would not be raised," he said.

He said that there were "double standards" over violence in the name of cow with nobody making any "noise" about cattle smugglers attacking the gaurakshaks.

Bhagwat said Hinduism should not be called Hindutva, noting that the former was the search for eternal truth and the latter the process to achieve it.

Answering a query if progress of the country under the Narendra Modi government since 2014 was in accordance with the thoughts of the RSS, Bhagwat said his answer would be the same if the question pertained to work done since 1947.

"The situation that you have got in legacy... The government has to work accordingly. Moving forward does not happen at once. They (Modi government) have moved ahead in that direction as there is a change in the atmosphere of society. More people are thinking of manufacturing within the country," he said and cited examples including that of Yoga guru Baba Ramdev.

"Entreprenuership has risen, skills have grown...this has given rise to some hope that the country can stand on its own feet. This hope is not due to speeches but due to experience. Those who went abroad are coming back to work in villages. It is difficult to achieve 100 per cent and if it happens it will be golden days but we can say that the country has moved in this direction," he said.

Answering a query about politics of polarisation, he said the politics should be for the welfare of people and the medium of this is power.

"If this happens then what JP (Jayaprakash Narayan), (Mahatma) Gandhi had expected... Then this question will not arise. Shamshan, Kabristan, saffron terror all these issues will not come up. These crop up when politics is practised for power and not for welfare of people," he said.

The remarks could be seen as a veiled criticism of the words of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Assembly election in Uttar Pradesh last year and the Congress description of saffron terror.

Bhagwat said the RSS only supports policies and whoever implements them automatically gets its support. "We do not favour a political party."

He said conversions with lure of money or through trickery should be opposed.

Bhagwat favoured a population policy with a 50-year perspective that should be uniformly implemented without exception and particularly on those who have more children and less resources.

However, he added that this had to be done not merely by law but by mentally preparing people for it.

On reservation, he said the problem was not reservation but the politics of reservation.

"RSS completely supports the reservation given by the Constitution to remove social stigmas. The decision as to how long reservation should continue, that has to be taken by those for whom reservation has been granted. Whenever they feel it is not necessary, they will decide," he said.

He indicated that the Sangh welcomes inter-caste marriages and noted that the RSS would have the largest percentage of such marriages as an organisation.

Bhagwat said it was wrong to say that standard of education was going down, but it was actually standard of teachers and students.

"The education policy should be a combination of modernism and traditional values. Hope the new education policy will have it," he said.

On the question of language, he said mother tongue should be respected and education should be imparted in it.

He said people did not need to make an enemy of English to assert primacy of local languages and that supremacy of English was only in their minds.

"The dominance of English is not in day-to-day work, it's in our minds. We should start respecting our own mother tongues... The existence of disparate languages is necessary for the development of human species."

He favoured women learning self-defence and said that apart from strengthening laws, men should change their attitude towards women.

Latest updates on Gandhi Jayanti 2019Chennai, Sep 19 : The CCTV recordings of late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa's stay in the hospital has been overwritten several times automatically, Apollo Hospitals has told the Justice A. Arumughaswamy Commission.

The Commission is probing the circumstances leading to hospitalization of Jayalalithaa on September 22, 2016 and the treatment provided to her till her death December 5, 2016.

"The CCTV recordings get overwritten automatically after 30 days. This information was shared with the Commission on September 11," Maimoona Badsha, counsel for Apollo Hospitals, told IANS on Wednesday.

The hospital has informed the Commission that it is unable to submit the requested footage as it pertains to the period when Jayalalithaa was in the hospital - between September 22, 2016 to December 5, 2016.

The Commission had earlier asked the Apollo Hospital to submit the CCTV footages of certain areas within the hospital.

Badsha said it has been the procedure at the hospital to store the CCTV footages for 30 days after which new images are recorded.

When asked about Apollo Hospitals Executive Chairman Prathap C Reddy's earlier statement that the CCTV cameras were switched off, Badsha said "that is a different issue."New Delhi, Sep 19 : No meeting between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has been scheduled yet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) session later this month, it is learnt.

Sources here said that foreign ministers of the member countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) will have an informal meeting on the sidelines of the UNGA.

"But no separate meeting between our External Affairs Minister and the Pakistan Foreign Minister has been finalised," a source in the know of things said.

Speculations have been rife about resumption of talks between the two South Asian nuclear neighbours ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi called his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan after the latter took oath of office last month.

It is learnt that the Saarc Summit that Imran Khan wants to be held in Pakistan is also unlikely.

"India's stand on the Saarc Summit is very clear -- there can be no talks till Pakistan cuts down support to terrorism," the source said.

Following the cross-border terror attack at an Indian Army base in Jammu and Kashmir in September 2016, the Saarc Summit that was to be held in Islamabad later that year had to be cancelled as other member states of the bloc joined India in boycotting it.Beijing, Sep 19 : Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednsday told visiting Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa to ensure the safety of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the key artery of Beijing's ambitious Belt and Road connectivity project.

Bajwa's trip to China comes after top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi visited Islamabad following election of a new government in the country in July.

In his meeting with Bajwa, Xi said China appreciates the support and security guarantee provided by Pakistan for the Belt and Road project and the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

"The two armies should further deepen exchanges and cooperation at all levels in various fields, resolutely crack down on terrorist forces, ensure the safety of China-Pakistan economic corridor construction, and provide reliable security for the common interests and common development of the two countries," Xi told Bajwa, according to Chinese Defence Ministry statement.

The over $62-billion CPEC envisages linking China's Kashgar in Xinjiang to Pakistan's Gwadar port.

"The current international and regional situation is complex and changeable. The two countries support each other, help each other, and have achieved fruitful results and conformed to the trend of the times," the statement said.

"The two sides should continue to strengthen coordination and cooperation on international and regional issues and firmly support each other on issues involving core interests," the statement added.

(Gaurav Sharma can be contacted at sharmagaurav71@gmail.com)New Delhi, Sep 19 : A 26-year-old man, accused in three murder cases, has been arrested, police said on Wednesday.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajesh Deo said Vicky Yadav, a resident of Najafgarh, was arrested from Dwarka on September 14, days after he accidentally shot a passerby during an exchange of fire with someone following a road rage.

On September 5, after a road rage between Vicky's associate and a man named Mangu, the accused took out his pistol and opened fire.

"The bullet hit one Ramgopal, who was coming to them to resolve the issue and got shot accidentally," Deo said.

Mangu was arrested but Vicky had managed to flee then.

Earlier, Vicky had been involved in two more cases of murder -- one registered last year and one this year -- and another over attempt to murder.

In yet another case, he had threatened a witness in a murder case, by firing shots outside his house.

One loaded "katta" (countrymade pistol) and five cartridges were recovered from his possession.New Delhi, Sep 19 : Ahead of the presidential election to be held in the Maldives on Sunday, the Indian establishment is happy that the opposition parties in the Indian Ocean archipelago nation have put up a joint candidate against incumbent President Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

"We are happy that there will be a single joint candidate from the opposition," a government source said.

"The current government is unlikely to come back to power," the source said.

The opposition parties in the Maldives have put up Ibrahim Mohamed Solih of the Maldivian Democratic Party as their joint candidate for the election.

The source also confirmed that the Maldives government has not approached India to send an observer for the election.

"We have to depend on the ground situation there and the social media about a free and fair election being held," the source said.

"This election is being watched by the entire international community."

With a number of prominent opposition figures of the country put behind bars, former President Mohamed Nasheed living in exile, a defunct parliament and a crippled judiciary, there is a big question mark over free and fair elections in Maldives.

The latest crisis in Maldives began in February this year when President Gayoom of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) declared a state of Emergency.

Security forces stormed the Supreme Court and arrested two of its five sitting judges, sealed parliament house and detained prominent opposition leaders.

India is concerned with the political instability in Maldives, which is just around 1,200 km away from the Indian mainland, for a variety of reasons. The archipelago nation, home to around 22,000 Indians, is of strategic importance to India and its growing proximity with China is a cause of concern for New Delhi.New Delhi, Sep 20 : UK-based charity Global New Car Assessment Programme (GNCAP) will host its first-ever four-day "Global NCAP World Congress" in Delhi.

According to a GNCAP statement issued on Wednesday, the charity which conducts crash safety tests on cars across the world will host the event in partnership with Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE) during September 26-29, 2018.

"GNCAP, an independent charity focused on international consumer-oriented vehicle safety initiatives during it's World Congress will bring together the community of New Car Assessment Programmes (NCAPs) worldwide to share experiences about independent consumer vehicle safety rating," the statement said.

"The Delhi World Congress will facilitate high-level dialogue on a global roadmap for vehicle safety with the automobile manufacturers, senior policymakers, road safety experts and fleet managers."

As per the statement, the major highlight of the World Congress will be launch of "Stop The Crash" campaign on September 26 at Buddh International Circuit in Grater Noida.

"The 'Stop The Crash' programme will also encourage adoption of autonomous braking systems, a technology that is known to greatly reduce the risk to both the car in question and other vehicles or vulnerable road users around it in case of a detected crash or obstacle," the statement read.New Delhi, Sep 20 : RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday said that the Sangh has reservations on the use of word "minority" and noted that it would always maintain that the people of the country are Hindus by tradition, nationalism, and ancestry.

Bhagwat, who answered questions in the last part of his lecture series here, said the Sangh has evolved its views with the times.

He said the word 'minority' gives an impression of difference whereas all people are the same.

"Before the British came to India, we didn't use the term minorities. We all belong to the same society, and lived together. The Sangh has reservations on the very word minorities. Sangh doesn't believe in it. Everybody is our own. If they have gone away, we have to unite them. We speak with these sentiments," he said.

Urging people to see how RSS functions, he said Muslims living in the vicinity of places where a 'shakha' takes place feel secure.

"Wherever there is a proper shakha of Sangh and if there is a Muslim neighbourhood in the vicinity, I can assure you that they feel more secure there. We believe in nationalism, which is the tradition of both Muslims and Christians. It is about the pride of that feeling."

He said devotion towards motherland is Hindutva. "Don't have any doubts. Come, talk to us, attend the programmes of the Sangh. Come and see what happens, what is spoken. Those who come to us, their views about us change. You can ask questions."

"Time changes, accordingly the organisation changes itself and thought and articulation also changes according to the situation and time," he said.

Answering a query on NOTA (none of the above) during voting, he said it is not advisable to choose the option because "if we don't select the best possible option, the worst possible one will benefit."Hyderabad, Sep 20 : A man attacked his daughter and son-in-law with a machete and baldy injured them here on Wednesday, in another case of assault for family honour.

Madhavi, 22, was battling for life while her husband Sandeep, 24, too suffered grievous injuries in the attack by Manoharachary. The incident occurred in the busy SR Nagar area, police said.

Manoharachary, who was opposed to the marriage because Sandeep comes from another caste, had called the couple to meet and give them some presents. As soon as they reached the meeting point, he took out a machete from his bag and attacked them.

The assailant first targeted his son-in-law and when the latter fell to the ground, he attacked his daughter. Madhavi too collapsed and bled profusely. They were shifted to a hospital, where the condition of Madhavi is stated to be critical. She suffered deep cuts on the neck and a hand.

According to police, Madhavi and Sandeep were in love for last five years and wanted to marry. However, her upper caste family opposed it. Manoharachary wanted her to marry his sister's son but she refused and had come to Sandeep's house a few days ago. They went to Arya Samaj and married some 10 days ago.

The girl's family refused to accept the marriage but at the counselling conducted by the police they agreed to accept it. Manoharachary later conveyed to her daughter that he wants to meet them at a location in S. R. Nagar and buy some clothes for them. When they reached there, he attacked them.

The attacker later went to police station and surrendered.

The incident came close on the heels of killing of a Dalit youth by his father-in-law in Miryalguda town of Telangana's Nalgonda district. Pranay Kumar was hacked to death when he was coming out of a hospital with his wife Amrutha Varshini on September 14.

Police have arrested seven accused including the girl's father Maruthi Rao, who had struck Rs.1 crore deal for the contract killing.Rome, Sep 20 : Foreign minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi is "closely following" the case of a 23-year-old woman who wrote to her school in Monza begging for help to return to Italy from Pakistan, where she was taken last year "against her will", the foreign ministry said late on Tuesday.

Moavero "is closely following the case of the Pakistani girl who is being detained in her home country against her will," said the statement.

"In consideration of the gravity of the actions reported by the girl, the foreign ministry is acquiring all useful information from the relevant police authorities to verify the facts and find the most appropriate way of taking possible action to protect her rights."

The unnamed woman told her school that her family took away her documents and forced her to remain in Pakistan with her sister to punish her for wanting to study and refusing an arranged marriage there. The woman's parents then returned to Italy, she stated.

The woman's father removed her from her Italian school in 2015, forcing her to abandon her studies and stay at home, she alleged.Hangzhou, Sep 20 : Alibaba chairman Jack Ma said efforts should be made to promote the healthy development of China-US trade even though it is hard to fulfill his previous promise of creating 1 million jobs for the United States under current circumstances.

In an exclusive interview with Xinhua on Tuesday, Ma said his promise was based on friendly cooperation between China and the United States and a rational growth of China-US trade.

"However, the previous basis for trade has been undermined," he said. "But we will continue to work hard to promote the healthy development of China-US trade."

Trade is not a weapon and cannot be used for wars, he added. "Trade should be the propeller of peace."

Alibaba has always worked toward the goal of "making doing business easy and fun." Against the backdrop of rising trade protectionism and anti-globalization, Ma said the goal has become even more relevant.

He said the younger generation and new leadership in Alibaba will go straight ahead toward the goal, even after he steps down.

"Good entrepreneurs and companies all have their times of difficulties, and the best companies are often born in difficult times or have gone through such times," Ma said.

He said business opportunities are still bountiful in the world, such as in Europe, South America, Russia and Africa. China is also furthering its reform and improving the business environment.

"There are still many things that Chinese companies should and can do. They still have many opportunities despite the trade frictions between China and the US," Ma said.

Ma also stayed confident about the company's future after announcing his plan of stepping down.

Ma announced in an open letter on September 10 that he would retire as the chairman of the board on September 10, 2019, Alibaba's 20th anniversary, adding that the company CEO Daniel Zhang will take over as the chairman of the board.

"I believe it will be a time of progress for both the company and myself," Ma said on Tuesday.

He said he would work closely with the company's next generation of leaders to ensure a smooth transition and is full of confidence about Alibaba's future.

Daniel Zhang has been the company's CEO since May 2015. Ma said that in the past three years, he and Zhang have worked closely and have in-depth discussions about the business a few days every month.

Ma said he and Zhang will work together on the internalization and cultural development of the company as well as the cooperation between Alibaba and Ant Financial during the last year of him being chairman of the board. Ma will still be a board member until the annual shareholders meeting in 2020.

Ma said in the open letter that he had made preparations for a 10-year succession plan in order to cultivate a system of corporate governance based on culture and mechanism for developing consistent talent and successors.

Ma also said in the interview that a company with great vision should train talent with culture and mechanism instead of relying on a single person. "Only when a company has developed a mechanism and consistent talent, can it run smoothly," he said.

"I'm just 54, and I still have at least 16 years to do something new. I have gained rich experience from four years at university, six years of being a teacher and 23 years doing business," he said. "It's exciting to have more than a dozen years to take on a new career."

Ma, a former English teacher, said in the open letter that he wants to return to education. "I am thinking about building boarding schools in rural areas so that teachers will be willing to stay," he said in the interview. "Rural students should be able to get a good education."Wihlborgs has signed an agreement for the acquisition of the Nya Vattentornet 3 property in Lund with a lettable area of 21,700 m, comprising primarily office space. The property is located in the Ideon area in Lund and, in addition to offices, also encompasses a multistorey car park with 600

[]The Reserve Bank of Australia has sold its Collins Street, Melbourne HQ for a reported $160 million.

The Australian Financial Review have suggested the buyer its Dexus, the country's largest listed landlord.

In April the RBA quietly called for tenders to sell the 15 storey tower in which the Bank occupied only 10 percent of. They had the 300 sqm space on the top floor of 60 Collins Street.

The other 12,000 sqm of lettable space was fully tenanted.

The building contains a high security strongroom vault used for storing gold bullion and exchanging bank notes which has now been transferred to a newly built facility the banks note printing works in Craigieburn on the Hume Freeway on Melbournes outskirts.

The RBA were reported to have expected to find a buyer in the region of $100 million, but saw Dexus an opportunity to also secure the 11 storey office tower next door for around $70 million.

The adjacent building at 52 Collins is owned by Marks Henderson Funds Management.

Dexus proposes to consolidate the two sites at 52 and 60 Collins Street across circa 2,000 square metres and in the medium term activate a prime grade office development to create a total of circa 35,000 square metres of space, subject to planning approval.

Darren Steinberg, Dexus CEO said the acquisitions provide it with a presence in the tightly held Paris end of Collins Street in the Melbourne CBD.

"They also present us with a unique opportunity to undertake an office development creating long term value for investors in the next supply cycle, in a prime location where we receive significant enquiry from our customer base.

60 Collins Street is a 13,817 square metre B-grade office building, located on a 1,357 square metre site on the prime corner of Collins and Exhibition Streets in the Eastern Core of the Melbourne CBD.

The office space is 100% occupied with a weighted average lease expiry on settlement of 2.6 years.

Settlement is expected to occur by end of October 2018.

52 Collins Street is a 3,454 square metre B-grade office building, located on a 587 square metre site adjoining 60 Collins Street.

The property is 100% occupied with an expected weighted average lease expiry on settlement of 3.5 years.GUEST OBSERVATION

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack last week suggested the government would look at changing the law to allow water to be taken from the environment and given to farmers struggling with the drought.

This is a bad idea for several reasons. First, the environment needs water in dry years as well as wet ones. Second, unilaterally intervening in the way water is distributed between users undermines the water market, which is now worth billions of dollars. And, third, in dry years the environment gets a smaller allocation too, so there simply isnt enough water to make this worthwhile.

In fact, the growing political pressure being put on environmental water holders to sell their water to farmers is exactly the kind of interference that bodies such as the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder were established to avoid.

The environment always needs water

The ongoing sustainable use of rivers is based on key ecosystem functions being maintained, and this means that environmental water is needed in both wet and dry years. The objectives of environmental watering change from providing larger wetland inundation events in wet years, to maintaining critical refuges and basic ecosystem functions in dry years.

Prolonged dry periods cause severe stress to ecosystems, such as during the Millennium Drought when many Murray River red gums were sickened by salinity and lack of water. Environmental water is essential for ecosystem survival during these periods.

Under existing rules, environmental water holders can sell and buy water so as to deliver maximum benefits at the places and times it is most needed.

But during dry years the environmental water holders receive the same water allocations as other users. So its very unlikely there will be any spare water during drought. During a dry period, the environment is in urgent need of water to protect endangered species and maintain basic ecosystem functions.

We should be cautious when environmental water is sold during drought, as this compromises the ability of environmental water holders to meet their objectives of safeguarding river health. When the funds from the sale are not used to mitigate the loss of the available water to the environment, this is even more risky.

Secure water rights support all water users

In response to McCormacks suggestion, the National Irrigators Council argued that compulsorily acquiring water from the environment can actually hurt farmers who depend on the water market as a source of income or water during drought.

Water markets are underpinned by clear legal rights to water. In other words, the entitlements the environment holds are the same as those held by irrigators. If the government starts treating environmental water rights as barely worth the paper theyre printed on, farmers would have every reason to fear that their own water rights might similarly be stripped away in the future.

Maintaining the integrity of the water market is important for all participants who have chosen to sell water, based on reasonable expectations of how prices will hold up.

Can taking environmental water actually help farmers?

As federal Water Resources Minister David Littleproud noted this week, environmental water is only about 8% of total water allocations in storage throughout the Murray Darling Basin. In the southern basin, it is still only about 14%. This means that between 86% and 92% of water currently sitting in storage is already allocated to human use, including farming.

There are calls for the Commonwealth government to treat the drought as an emergency and to take (or borrow) water from environmental water holders. But the Murray-Darling Basin Plan already has specific arrangements in place for emergencies in which critical human water needs are threatened.

The current situation in New South Wales is not an emergency under the plan. Water resources across the northern Murray-Darling Basin are indeed low, but storages in the southern basin are still 50-75% full. Although many licence holders in NSW received zero water in Julys round of allocations, high-security water licences are at 95-100%. In northern Victoria, most high-reliability water shares on the Murray are at 71% allocation.

The situation can therefore be managed using existing tools, such as providing direct financial support to farming communities and buying water on the water market.

Environmental water is an investment, not a luxury

As Australias First Nations have known for millennia, a healthy environment is not an optional extra. It underpins the sustainability and security of the water we depend on. When river flows decline, the water becomes too toxic to use.

Water has been allocated to the environment throughout the Murray-Darling Basin to prevent the catastrophic blue-green algal blooms and salinity problems we have experienced in the past. If we want safe, secure water supplies for people, livestock and crops, we need to keep these key river ecosystems alive and well during the drought.

In the past decade alone, Australia has spent A$13 billion of taxpayers money to bring water use in the Murray-Darling Basin back to sustainable levels. If we let our governments treat the environment like a water bank to spend when times get tough, this huge investment will have been wasted.

Erin O'Donnell, Senior Fellow, Centre for Resources, Energy and Environment Law, University of Melbourne

Avril Horne, Research fellow, Department of Infrastructure Engineering, University of Melbourne

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.EXPERT OBSERVER

The NSW Government must appoint a new Government Architect to replace Peter Poulet (Pictured above).

The recent move of the current NSW Government Architect, Peter Poulet, to a reduced role in the Greater Sydney Commission leaves a vacant leadership role for design in the NSW Government.

For 200 years NSW has led Australia in having a champion for the design of the built environment with a state architect.

The current Government Architect has successfully managed the transition of the role from one of designing buildings to one of setting the framework for the quality of buildings and their urban setting.

Peter Poulet has set policies and produced guides and systems that champion design quality at a time when the community has raised concerns about increasing density in urban areas.

He has also chaired the Urban Taskforce Development Excellence Awards jury and demonstrated a willingness to work with the industry.

We thank Peter for his contribution the New South Wales.

The Urban Taskforce is concerned that there seem to be a number of senior executives leaving the Department of Planning and Environment at a crucial time in the growth of the states cities.

The development industry needs stability and strong leadership in planning particularly with the current down turn in home prices and in housing approval numbers.

The recent government back downs on key policies related to town houses, planning policies in Ryde and on the planned precincts on the Sydenham to Bankstown line also indicate a softening in support for development.

There are clearly important roles in the Central District of Greater Sydney but there are also opportunities for someone of Peter Poulets experience to develop design quality across Greater Sydney generally and the Urban Taskforce would support this.

The Urban Taskforce encourages the NSW Government to ensure that the tradition of the NSW Government Architect continues particularly as an advocate for the quality design of greater urban density as populations increase.

Chris Johnson is the CEO of the Urban TaskforceThe Western Australia-based The Agency have finally secured the funds to secure Top Level Real Estate, run by the east coast McGrath rebel agents.

It is via a complicated $8.4 million share placement, along with $5 million of Top Level debt to be converted into shares at $0.01 per share.

The extensive documentation advised total debts of Top Level currently sit at $26,993,812, and immediately following the deal will be $18,760,100.

It's less than the simple outright $10 million capital raising being sought to fund the purchase, which they continually delayed.

John Kolenda emerges as the key player, with his share holding rising from his initial 5.4 percent on the initial 684 million shares on issue.

After the latest deal the non-executive director John Kolenda will have a 19.9 percent stake, subject to shareholder approval.

On Monday The Agency announced the acquisition was imminent, with a trading halt put in place for the listed company.

The Agency have all up secured $13.4 million in new equity.

Shares were last trading at $0.11, and rose to $0.12 in early trading today.

There will be 103,808,962 shares on issue, along with 6,558,092 options.

Matt Lahood, who set up Top Level with fellow former McGrath agents, is set to be executive director and on The Agency board.

He said he sees many benefits linking the two businesses.

"The past 15 months has been a period of exceptional growth for both businesses, and we look forward to continuing on this upward trajectory with The Agency to become Australia's leading disruptive, high-growth real estate agency," Lahood said.

"The whole industry is watching and talking about us, because of what we have achieved, and I expect that interest to only intensify as the combined, well-funded, entity continues its growth momentum."

The document ts affirm the 75%-25% commission split for its agents.

"I am delighted to be supporting a business such as The Agency and I'm excited about its potential as a significant disruptive force in Australian real estate," Kolenda said.

Post fundraising and completion of Top Level acquisition, The Agency market capitalisation, at $0.30 per share, will be $30 million.

The Agency will comprise a national real estate business with two prominent brands (The Agency and Sell Lease Property).

They will have 300 sales representatives across Perth, Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast, +4,000 properties under management and a mortgage book of over $1.1 billion.

The Agency's managing director Paul Niardone said the firm funding commitments was an important move for the company.

"This placement is a major step forward for The Agency, strengthening our balance sheet while providing us with the funds to progress the Top Level acquisition and expand The Agency and Sell Lease Property businesses nationally," Niardone said.

"It also provides funds for further acquisition opportunities in Western Australia and Sydney, where we have attracted a number of enquiries from Real Estate businesses wishing to merge into The Agency."

"The acquisition of Top Level will result in the addition of a highly experienced east coast real estate sales and project marketing team, significant property management portfolio and extensive sales pipeline.

"It is a game-changer for The Agency and will further cement our position as the fastest growing disruptive real estate group in the country.

"Top Level, which has been trading as 'The Agency' on the east coast of Australia since launching in March last year, has established, with our support, a significant business in a short period of time, surpassing our recruitment and sales targets.

"Combined, its founders - Matt Lahood, Ben Collier, Steven Chen, Shad Hassen and John Kolenda - bring over 100 years of real estate and finance experience to the business."

"Post the Top Level acquisition, the Company will have a strong footprint in the Perth and Sydney residential property markets, with offices in Melbourne and on the Gold Coast and plans to expand into Canberra, South Australia and further expand its Western Australian options."Australias property market isn't going to crash, according to the Commonwealth Bank economist Gareth Aird.

Nor even a hard landing, but something not too dissimilar to the corrections of 2010 and 1989, he said.

But he has forecast that house prices in Sydney and Melbourne will continue declining until the end of next year.

We (CBA) see the peak to trough being around 10% in Sydney and a little less in Melbourne (8.8%)," he told Business Insider.

Click here to enlarge

Source: Commonwealth Bank Source:

Airds model is calculated as a function of the four variables listed below.

1. Annual changes in mortgage rates (1 year advanced);

2. The annual change in the flow of credit (six months advanced);

3. Auction clearance rates (four months advanced);

and 4. The house price expectations index from the Westpac/Melbourne Insitute consumer sentiment survey (2 months advanced).

He concedes that predicting property prices can look foolish retrospectively.

However, the chart below shows that the four leading indicators outlined above track actual movements in house prices very well.

Source: Commonwealth Bank Source:

Clearly, we cant forecast auction clearance rates or the household perception around the future path of dwelling prices.

CBAs base case is that Sydney home prices will decline by 5% annually in 2018  a relatively mild assessment given the latest weekly data from CoreLogic Sydney house prices are currently 5.9% lower than this time last year.

That would take overall declines from Sydneys July 2017 peak to around 7.5%.

For Melbourne, prices would be down by around 5% from their November 2017 peak, Aird said.

Nationally, we think prices will end the year down by around 3% with a roughly similar outcome likely in 2019."

Aird noted the broader economy outside of housing is still performing well, along with the continued strength in Australias labour market.

He expects the unemployment rate will decline further which lowers the risk of mortgage defaults.

Theres Australian rate of population growth, he added.Strong growth for this cloud pioneer with recording and analytics software ASC neo cloud is the next important milestone in our company development.

The early, groundbreaking decision to offer their software products as cloud solutions as well is paying off in grand style for ASC Technologies AG: In 2018, ASC  a worldwide leading provider of software for recording, analysis, and quality management of corporate communication  wants to add to its 20 percent growth from the previous year and also create 40 new positions. This expansion will be driven primarily by the market launch of ASC neo cloud in October 2018. This will make the entire solution portfolio available as an independent, public cloud solution.

The decision made a few years ago to move our products into the cloud was correct, says Dr. Gerald Kromer, the CEO of ASC. Cloud technology is having a positive effect on our professional lives, reduces investment costs, and increases availability. ASC is among the first companies in the industry that are recognizing this and implementing accordingly. Now, ASC neo cloud is the next important milestone in our company development.

The numbers behind this strategy are supplied by analysts from Gartner: According to a study, the cloud telephony market will grow by just about 16 percent in the next three years, while investments in classic telephone systems will decrease by about 10 percent  a fundamental change. The overall global market for cloud solutions is supposed to grow over the same period from just about 190 billion US dollars to over 300 billion US dollars.

The dynamic power of innovation

For many years, we have been investing about 15-20 percent of our revenue each year in research and development at our locations in Hosbach and Saarbrucken, says Dr. Kromer. In this way, we have developed a clear competitive advantage in the cloud business in recent years. We have already implemented many private clouds for our customers  for example, a highly secure cloud for S Direkt-Marketing, a service provider of the Sparkasse financial group, and mobile voice recording for a leading European mobile provider. Starting immediately, with ASC neo cloud we are also developing new markets in Europe, the USA, and Asia. This cloud strategy is the engine for our future growth.

ASC currently serves more than 5,000 customers in 70 countries all over the world. We are close to our customers with subsidiaries in Europe, Dubai, the USA, Brazil, Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore. Solutions are sold through alliances with leading telecommunications companies and local business partners. With its strategic technology partnerships with Microsoft and Salesforce, ASC is actively shaping the working world of the future.

Corporate communication from the cloud

With the groundbreaking, customer-oriented services of ASC neo cloud, companies can record and analyze communication regardless of the communication channel, e.g. telephone, chat, or video chat. The solutions are used in contact centers in order to improve the quality of customer service and consultation. At banks and insurance companies, they are used to ensure security and compliance. With the financial market directive MiFID II, which came into effect at the beginning of 2018, there are finally clear specifications for the documentation of conversations in bank. Public and private administration centers, such as the police, fire departments, and airports, also rely on recording by ASC. With the analytics solution, ASC continues to increase its use of artificial intelligence (AI) processes so that contexts can be recognized and the intentions of the communication can be properly classified. Obtaining these services from the cloud means a high level of availability and flexible scalability for corporate users, while keeping overall costs low.

A hidden champion

For over 50 years, ASC Technologies AG has enjoyed success as a mid-sized, family-owned company. As early as the 1980s, ASC was already focused on the growing market for voice recording, and since then, it has rigorously emphasized internationalization. In the meantime, exports make up nearly 60 percent of turnover. For more than 30 years, ASC has not made use of any bank loans and finances its growth from the cash flow generated, says Gunter Muller, Chairman of ASC. Our cooperation with customers and business partners is characterized by trust, which has enabled us, a mid-sized company with over 250 employees now, to become a global player. With our cloud strategy, we will continue to expand this position significantly.

Gunter Muller explains: With Milestone Venture Capital GmbH (MVC), the investment company of ASC, the owner familys involvement extends beyond ASC, ensuring access to the newest trends and technologies. Since 2010, MVC has invested more than 30 million euros in young, promising software companies in the ICT industry that have products with high growth potential and that want to expand into international markets. Above and beyond just the investment, the portfolio companies benefit a great deal from the excellent network and decades of experience provided by ASC. Among the most important shareholdings of MVC, with a participating interest of more than 30 percent, is NFON, a cloud telephony provider located in Munich and formerly listed on the stock exchange.

For more information about the ASC portfolio, please see http://www.asctechnologies.com.Advanced Resources, a talent solutions organization, will have a member of their leadership team presenting at INTERFACE-Dallas 2018 in Irving, Texas on September 20, 2018. INTERFACE-Dallas is a full-day seminar to help educate, advise, and connect attendees to resources to help meet goals in the IT Infrastructure, BC/DR, IT Security, and Enterprise Communications space.

Nichols, Managing Director of Advanced Resources Technology practice in Texas, will participate on the panel, Defining Your Team and Your Own Career Path of the Near Future. The panel will discuss current career and strategic sourcing challenges, reflect on what is being done to remain relevant and grow strategic value, and share current hiring practices including how to thrive and expected changes.

INTERFACE-Dallas 2018 will be held at the Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas, Grand Ballroom in Irving, Texas. Defining Your Team and Your Own Career Path of the Near Future takes place from 2pm to 2:50pm CDT in Theater One.

For more information INTERFACE-Dallas 2018 along with registration information, visit https://f2fevents.com/event/dal18/.

About Advanced Resources

Advanced Resources is a talent solutions organization headquartered in Chicago providing staffing, consulting, and workforce solutions nationwide. Our goal is to help people move their careers forward and help businesses solve their most complex challenges. By placing our team, clients, and talent first, every day we make a difference. For more information, visit http://www.advancedresources.com.Im looking forward to sharing with attendees how document management can provide their team with tools for productivity through configured automation as well as safeguards for document integrity and data loss prevention to be prepared in case of a disaster.

Altec, a leader in enterprise document management and process automation solutions, will be presenting at two Dynamics GP User Group (GPUG) meetings this month. Scott Hall, Northwest Sales Director is presenting today in Denver, CO, and Laura Lechien Northeast Sales Director will be presenting in Hartford, CT Friday, September 28. Hall and Lechien will be presenting an educational session focused on the value of document management for GP as it relates to disaster recovery.

Hall comments, People often think that document management is about storing documents electronically. While it does that, there is so much more to the technology. Im looking forward to sharing with attendees how document management can provide their team with tools for productivity through configured automation as well as safeguards for document integrity and data loss prevention to be prepared in case of a disaster.

Lechien adds, Todays world is data-driven, and being best prepared for disaster is a necessity. Document management provides digital storage and security filters on multiple levels that delivers peace of mind that business critical data is kept safe.

About Altec

Altec is a leading provider of integrated document management and process automation solutions. Its flagship product, DocLink, helps companies connect people, processes and data providing them with the ability to store, search, retrieve and send any document securely. DocLink effectively eliminates the need for paper while automating processes that improve organizational efficiency and reduce costs associated with human errors. With thousands of customers globally, Altec enjoys collaborative partnerships with Sage, Microsoft, Acumatica, Intacct, Key2Act, SAP B1, AmTech, and Epicor that deliver flexible, comprehensive solutions to adapt to an ever-changing global market. Learn more at http://www.altec-inc.com.

# # #BIXOLON BLOG BIXOLONs new blog cements its status as a technology pioneer within the printing hardware market. Covering a spectrum of topics, BIXOLONs new blog caters for a range of audiences highlighting the companys depth of experience, knowledge and support.

BIXOLON Co., Ltd a leading global Mobile, Label and POS Printer manufacturer today announced the launch of its NEW blog website, BLOG.BIXOLON.COM for the Developer, Reseller and Business community. The blog celebrates BIXOLONs ongoing success and experience as a global leading manufacturer for Mobile, Label and POS printing solutions, exploring a range of topics including Mobile, mPOS and AutoID.

The blog provides a clear message of BIXOLONs ethos and brand identity from research and development to maintaining printer business. Highlighting a range of business issues from product integration of its mPOS, Mobility, Mobile printing, POS printing, Label printing, Software, Linerless and B-gate intelligent hub solutions; To industry-focused insight on printing trends for a range of industries such as Retail Hospitality, Payment, Transport & Logistics, Healthcare and more.

The blog also boasts a clean and neat design and intuitive categorized navigation system with improved menu functionality. Maintaining fully responsive functionality to provide users with the optimum viewing experience on any web browser or portable device.

BIXOLONs new blog cements its status as a technology pioneer within the printing hardware market, cites John Kim, Marketing Director, BIXOLON Ltd. Covering a spectrum of topics, BIXOLONs new blog caters for a range of audiences highlighting the companys depth of experience, knowledge and support.

For more information visit http://blog.bixolon.com or alternatively speak to your local BIXOLON sales representative.

About BIXOLON

BIXOLON is a leading global manufacturer of innovative, advanced printing technologies including point-of-sale receipt, label, Auto ID and mobile printers for a wide range of environments. Millions of BIXOLON printers are used today in retail, hospitality, healthcare, banking, ticketing, post/parcel, warehousing and other transaction-intensive industries. In 2018, for the fifth consecutive year BIXOLON was named global mobile receipt printer market leader by Japanese research company Chunichisha.Engineered for performance and developed specifically for the embedded printer and MFP markets, our innovative high-performance solution leverages emerging technologies for a faster, smarter, leaner print engine, said Henry Stiles, Vice President of Engineering for Artifex.

Artifex Software, Inc. developer of Ghostscript (industry leader in PDF, PostScript, PCL, and XPS rendering and conversion) and MuPDF (highly versatile PDF interpreter solution) will be exhibiting at the upcoming PRINT 18 Conference being held at the McCormick Place, Chicago, IL from September 30  October 2, 2018. Artifex will be located in the South Hall Booth #547.

In addition to its traditional presence related to Ghostscript and MuPDF, Artifex will be unveiling and demonstrating a new technology solution designed to deliver significant performance enhancements to the embedded printer and MFP markets. Engineered from 25 years of PDF/PS/PCL/XPS expertise, our next generation print solution has been recognized by the Association for Print Technologies as a RED HOT Technology award recipient at this years show.

Engineered for performance and developed specifically for the embedded printer and MFP markets, our innovative high-performance solution leverages emerging technologies for a faster, smarter, leaner print engine, said Henry Stiles, Vice President of Engineering for Artifex. Our embedded print acceleration technology utilizes a range of optimizations to improve printing performance, including parallelism, SIMD, GPU, and hardware-based solutions. The result, higher-speed processing, and superior print quality.

Additional details regarding our new technology solution will available on September 30, 2018.

Organizations interested in Ghostscript, MuPDF or seeing a demonstration of our award-winning new print solution, can visit the Artifex in Booth #547, McCormick Place, South Hall. Or, you can contact the company at sales@artifex.com for more detailed information.

For more information contact:

Lisa Fenn, Director of Marketing

lisa.fenn@artifex.com

415.492.9861

About Artifex Software, Inc.

For 25 years Artifex Software has provided premiere document management solutions to top level global customers including HP, Adobe, BlackBerry, IBM, Google, Dropbox, LG Electronics, Ernst & Young, Intuit, Xerox, and Springer Nature. With teams of engineers and leadership talent on three continents  North America, Europe, and Asia  we are positioned to help ensure your needs are met. Visit our website at artifex.com."Greg, Lisa and Jim have significant industry knowledge, strong leadership skills, and bring a strategic approach to the changes required to better serve our membership." - Frank Rizzo, 2018 Association For Creative Industries Nominating Committee Chair

The Association For Creative Industries (AFCI) Nominating Committee is pleased to announce the 2019 slate of Board of Directors candidates for election by the general AFCI membership. The AFCI members nominated for a three-year term on the Board of Directors are: Greg Tipsord of Spellbinders Paper Arts (nominated for a second term), Lisa (Wojcik) Kiser of Beacon Adhesives, and Jim Scatena of Scatena Consulting.

The Nominating Committee had an impressive list of candidates to consider for AFCIs 2019 slate of directors and we followed a comprehensive and structured process to select the nominees that can best meet the challenges of our industry and our organization. Greg, Lisa and Jim have significant industry knowledge, strong leadership skills, and bring a strategic approach to the changes required to better serve our membership. They also complement our existing board members to provide a broader perspective on the issues. Congratulations to all of them and, on behalf of the entire Board of Directors, we look forward to working with them, said Frank Rizzo, 2018 AFCI Nominating Committee Chair.

The Board candidates will be officially elected by proxy ballot to be emailed to each AFCI member companys voting contact by November 20, 2018 as outlined in the Associations bylaws. The confirmation of the Board of Directors election will be announced at the AFCI Annual Business Meeting on Monday, January 21, 2019 during Creativation in Phoenix, AZ. The AFCI Board of Directors consists of individuals representing the various sections of the AFCI membership. Members of the AFCI Board of Directors meet quarterly to address the needs of the industry from a strategic viewpoint, strengthen the ties between AFCI members and the Association, and spearhead programs to provide member value. These members serve on a voluntary basis, through which they establish networking and business opportunities, advance their careers through industry leadership, and contribute their voices as advocates for AFCI members.

Serving on the 2018 AFCI Nominating Committee along with Chair, Frank Rizzo, are: Bradley Beck, DESIGN MASTER color tool, inc.; Ashley Smith; Georganne Bender, KIZER & BENDER Speaking! LLC; Jessica Goursolas, The Creative Network, Inc.; and Stan Clifford, DecoArt Inc.

ABOUT THE ASSOCIATION FOR CREATIVE INDUSTRIES

The Association For Creative Industries (AFCI) is the premier trade association for the global creative arts products industries. AFCI strives to deliver innovative high value services as we support our Members who provide products and services to educate, entertain, and inspire creative consumers. Our Members include the manufacturers, retailers, distributors, designers, educators, digital content providers, professional makers and DIYers, and other creative professionals that comprise the $36 billion+ creative arts industries in the United States alone. For more information about AFCI, membership, or its annual Creativation trade event, visit http://www.afci.global.Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP For more information about the class action lawsuit against First Motor Group of Encino LLC, Encino Motorcars, LLC and Trophy Automotive Dealer Group LLC call (858) 952-0354 to speak to Attorney Nicholas De Blouw.

The Los Angeles Labor law attorneys at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a class action lawsuit against First Motor Group of Encino LLC, Encino Motorcars, LLC andTrophy Automotive Dealer Group LLC alleging that the companies failed to lawfully provide meal and rest periods and, also pay minimum wages to their California employees. The class action lawsuit against First Motor Group of Encino LLC, Encino Motorcars, LLC andTrophy Automotive Dealer Group LLC is currently pending in the Los Angels County Superior Court, Case No. BC719406. To read a copy of the Complaint, please click here.

The lawsuit filed against First Motor Group of Encino LLC, Encino Motorcars, LLC and Trophy Automotive Dealer Group LLC, alleges the DEFENDANTS meal period policies and practices were unlawful because PLAINTIFFS and other CALIFORNIA CLASS Members were far too over-booked and overworked to take a timely off-duty thirty (30) minute meal period. The lawsuit further alleges that the failure of First Motor Group of Encino LLC, Encino Motorcars, LLC and Trophy Automotive Dealer Group LLC to provide the legally required meal and rest period is evidenced by the companies business records.

Additionally, the lawsuit alleges that First Motor Group of Encino LLC, Encino Motorcars, LLC and Trophy Automotive Dealer Group LLC do not accurately record all missed meal and rest periods, and fail to pay minimum wages due for all hours worked. Under California law, every employer shall pay to each employee, on the established payday for the period involved, not less than the applicable minimum wage for all hours worked in the payroll period, whether the remuneration is measured by time, piece, commission, or otherwise.

For more information about the class action lawsuit against First Motor Group of Encino LLC, Encino Motorcars, LLC and Trophy Automotive Dealer Group LLC call (858) 952-0354 to speak to Attorney Nicholas De Blouw.

Blumenthal, Nordrehaug Bhowmik is a labor law firm with law offices located in San Diego County, Riverside County, Los Angeles County, Sacramento County, and San Francisco County. The firm has a statewide practice of representing employees on a contingency basis for violations involving unpaid wages,overtime pay, discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination and other types of illegal workplace conduct.

***THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT***Save the Date "Come celebrate our survivors and those who support the work we do!" www.ladolcevita2018.org

Face Forward is thrilled to announce the expansion of their mission of providing reconstructive surgery and counseling services to include Veterans of War in addition to their annual fundraising gala September 22nd at the Beverly Wilshire. A local Beverly Hills doctor has agreed to partner with Face Forward and donated a large number of hours in specialized treatments to take care of burns and other injuries requiring reconstructive surgery to Veterans in need of their services. The charity has been growing with its service offerings by recently treating the charitys first transgender survivor of human trafficking, multiple international patients and growing partnerships for educational and counseling services.

Veterans of war are a population that we have been wanting to assist and we are pleased to announce that we have the resources and partnerships in place to make this happen. We are so thankful to the doctors and partners that donate their time to make all of this possible, and to help war veterans get the care they need. This years goal is to raise one million dollars to be able to serve even more patients, and what a terrific forum to make this announcement and explain the additions to our programs than at our annual Gala. We are excited for the performance, for celebrity guests such as Sara Gilbert, Lana Parrilla, Jeremy Piven and all come out to support us, said founder Deborah Alessi.

It has been previously announced that there will be a performance by a Grammy winning artist, attendance by celebrities such as International Ambassador Lana Parrilla, Sara Gilbert, honorees Jay McGraw and Christopher Bollenbach, Jeremy Piven, Terrell Owens, new performer Willa Amai signed to the amazing Linda Perry, and the newest announcement of special guest speaker and honoree Caitlyn Jenner, who will be presented with the Beacon of Hope Award. Other celebrities expected include, Elisabeth Rohm (NCIS) Hannah Zeile (This Is Us) Charo (DWTS) Terrell Owens, Brigitte Nielson and many more.

The La Dolce Vita themed Gala will be held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, in celebration of the organizations 10-year anniversary and will host one of the most amazing live and silent auctions.

The Beverly Hills based non-profit organization celebrates 10 years of providing reconstructive surgery and emotional support for women, children and men who have been victims of domestic violence, human trafficking, or any cruel acts of crime. The Face Forward Annual Gala will raise funds that directly support patient treatment and recoveries, airfare, accommodations, and all necessary medical expenses for survivors. Founder of Face Forward and domestic violence survivor, Deborah Alessi, along with her Co-founder and husband, Dr. David Alessi, Beverly Hills renowned facial reconstructive surgeon, have provided millions of dollars in donated surgical and counseling services to nearly 80 patients from 10 different countries around the globe over multiple years of treatment, some requiring up to ten or more surgeries each. In addition to the hundreds of surgeries that have been provided in direct services, through strategic partnerships with other nonprofit organizations and their own Patient Advocacy Board, Face Forward has also connected thousands more survivors with educational and counseling services, legal and employment referrals as well as educational scholarship opportunities. In recognition of their work, Face Forward was recently recognized by The Mary Byron Project with the Celebrating Solutions Award for fostering innovations and strategies to help end domestic violence.

Additionally, in 2018, Face Forward treated their first transgender survivor who was a victim of sex trafficking, and also assisted with Syrian refugee children traveling to the U.S. for treatment.

The Gala will bring a taste of Romes sweet life to Beverly Hills. Guests will enjoy surprises, exciting performances, world class food, and a live and silent auction with priceless packages. Returning sponsors include: Etihad Airways, Niyama Private Islands Maldives, Alessi Institute, Crystal Cruises, Micato Safaris, Roberto Cavalli, Mont Blac Executive Car Service, Alyse Parfume,Square Root Designs, Curve Vodka, Beverly Hills Rolls Royce, Viking Cruises and Kandima Maldives. Face Forward is also excited to announce new sponsors Ardor Designs, Adva-Net, Bottega Louie and Beverly Hills IV Therapy.

The live auction this year is spectacular. It includes ultra-luxurious vacation packages from:

Niyama Private Islands Maldives one or two-bedroom villa in the premier 5-star resort in the Indian Ocean. 6 nights are available in natures playground. This place is so special and so much fun! With the twin islands of Play and Chill, you have a daily choice of paradise. Conde Naste rated top 4 resorts in the...WORLD!

Kandima Maldives is more than just a holiday- it is a life-changing experience. Seriously stylish, there is a plethora of food, bars and activities to choose from. Enjoy 6 nights in a newly constructed ocean-pool villa with all the amenities. You will never say goodbye to the Maldives.

Crystal Cruises- Travel the Mediterranean in the most exclusive and luxurious cruise ship in the world. The food is above gourmet and the service beyond compare.

Micato Safaris and Etihad Airways. Fly business class in high-end business class luxury to your once-in-a-lifetime African Safari in a 5-star lodge.

Milan Fashion Week. Start with a photoshoot by the amazing celebrity photographer, Tony Duran. Then travel like royalty to a 5-star hotel in Italy and hob nob with celebrities and fashions elite. This is a very selective invitation only event and is the hottest ticket in fashion. No one gets in except YOU!

Mikimoto diamonds and pearls earrings and necklace set. Mikimoto is the the absolute best in pearl jewelry. No one even comes close. You deserve perfection!

Extravagant gourmet dinner in your home with the famous exclusive celebrity Chef Conny Anderson. Eight of your friends will enjoy a caviar dinner (mmm- sounds expensive) and open up your bottle of the 2007 Napa Valley Reserve #1002 to indulge!

Founders Penthouse Extravaganza. Live like a billionaire for 3 nights at the top of the Palms Hotel in Las Vegas. Enjoy premium alcohol, a famous chef, and a semi-private jet. The party is now on!

The Private Suite at LAX. This is an absolute MUST for anyone who travels overseas. Be escorted directly to and from your LAX flight like a head-of-state on a tarmac limo. Any wait will be in a private better-than-first-class lounge. Do all your customs and immigrations with a private officer in the lounge area. Total steps car to plane is 70 and not the usual 2200 and no lines. Absolutely Private!!

Jumeirah Al Naseem Presidential Suite. You havent seen luxury or service until youve stayed 3 nights at the Al Naseem. Located on the gulf in Dubai, this is the newest and most spectacular yet, ultra 5-star hotel in this stunning and glamorous city. Did we say fun?

Watch our video from past years: https://youtu.be/JPS48yftAlI

Purchase tickets from http://www.ladolcevita2018.orgPaul Morris (center) with a few of his agents and Team Leaders Were projecting impressive numbers for 2019 and with a winning team of exceptional agents and leaders that always go the extra mile, theres no doubt well make that happen.

Keller Williams Forward Management (KWFM), now operating 14 offices in Southern and Central California, hosted an unforgettable celebration for their top agents last Wednesday at the Wilshire Hotel. The video recaps the highlights of the evening and showcases the inspiring camaraderie that fuels this Keller Williams offices success - Check out the video recap here: https://youtu.be/SzPdgu9ftXE

Keller Williams Forward Management CEO, Paul Morris, also the author of the New York Times Best Seller Wealth Cant Wait, was the keynote speaker for the evening. During his speech, Paul spoke about empowering his agents through the collaboration of the offices, saying, A few minutes ago, I watched two of our veteran mega agents, both from different offices and each of them with us for 14 years, meet for the first time and make a connection with one another that might lead to another family finding or selling their home- this is the type of magic that happens when our team works together. Paul went on to speak about the 10,000 families that KWFM agents helped equating $9 billion in sales in the last 12 months.

Paul and his co-operating principles, David Bailey, Eddie Krifcher, Gary Reavis, Joey Sacavitch, David Cullen & Josh Spitzen, attribute the success of their offices to the dedicated staff, Team Leads, and talented agents. Paul concluded his toast by expressing his gratitude and outlook on the the company's future, We couldnt do this without all of you. Were projecting impressive numbers for 2019 and with a winning team of exceptional agents and leaders that always go the extra mile, theres no doubt well make that happen. The company already provides one-stop shop services with their in-house mortgage company, Movement Mortgage and in house escrow, and they intend on providing even more value to their agents with the addition of an in-house title company, ClearMark Title, and an in-house Media Division set to launch early this Fall.

This memorable event will be one of many as Keller Williams Forward Management plans on hosting social gatherings for their agents and staff, further enhancing the camaraderie and power of this collective group.

Keller Williams Beverly Hills, Beach Cities, Bakersfield, Calabasas, Cerritos, Hollywood Hills, Inglewood, La Mirada, Larchmont, Long Beach Coastal, Long Beach Pacific Estates, Los Feliz, Studio City, and Westside LA are all under the ownership umbrella of Forward Management.

Forward Management, founded in 2003, is currently the 18th largest residential real estate brokerage in the United States by closed sales volume. Operating as 14 offices across Central and Southern California, Forward Management has seen exponential growth, year over year, growth and success over recent years, reaching $9 Billion in closed volume and executing over 10,000 transactions in the last 12 months. Founder and CEO Paul Morris believes the success of Forward Management will continue as they grow their collaborative network and continue to operate as the vehicle to their associates individual success.Inbound Conference 2018 " Inbound is a great experience! I cant wait to put a lot of what as taught to great use in upcoming campaigns. The inbound conference is great for talking to people just like you and bouncing things off of one another and hear about others wins and fails. - Joi Gibbs, Digital Marketing Manager

Inbound is an annual business conference held in Boston, Massachusetts, hosted by Hubspot, a marketing automation platform. The four-day event focuss on helping you see the bigger picture with your current sales and marketing strategies.

Speakers at the four-day conference included Chimamanda Ngoza, Shonda Rhimes, Deepak Chopra, along with many other successful business men and women. CATMEDIA's team attended classes on a variety of topics such as The Future of Marketing, Google Snippets and SEO, and Content Remixing.

The team attended in hopes of using inbound marketing tools to grow their business. CATMEDIA is committed to always learning and seeks out exciting new strategies to further its business.

On attending Inbound 2018, CATMEDIAs Digital Marketing Manager, Joi Gibbs said, " Inbound is a great experience! I cant wait to put a lot of what as taught to great use in upcoming campaigns. The inbound conference is great for talking to people just like you and bouncing things off of one another and hear about others wins and fails.

This visit to Boston comes as CATMEDIA aims to increase its Advertising Agency business and streamline its process to better satisfy customers and clients alike. CATMEDIA offers first-rate creative marketing for clients in both the private and government fields, and the information acquired at Inbound will certainly bolster CATMEDIAs efforts in that endeavor.

To learn more about Inbound 2018, click here!Zubie, a leading connected-car platform and telematics provider, continues to drive its business momentum with a trio of key hires. Each will be charged with building on, and expanding Zubies customer portfolio.

As Directors of Business Development, Brian McCarthy, Greg Gilmer and Todd Beals will develop high-level enterprise relationships while offering existing and new devices to prospective partners.

We are excited to add Brian, Greg, and Todd to the Zubie team to support our continued growth and enable Zubie to drive value for our current and future partners." said Glenn Udall, Vice President, Strategic Partnerships, Zubie, Inc.

Brian McCarthy comes to Zubie from the Western Region of Verizon/Telogis where he was area principal and customer success director in Newport Beach, California,

With 22 years of industry experience, Greg Gilmer was most recently senior vice president of business development and IoT strategy for Skytrace in Boise, Idaho.

Todd Beals of Charleston, South Carolina joins Zubie from his global business development position at Global SIM Specialists. Prior to that, he supported strategic business development for Toronto-based Rogers Communications.

For more information on Zubie products, partnerships, and fleet management solutions , visit zubie.com.

About Zubie

Zubie, Inc. is a connected-car services and data insights company that powers business enterprises with real-time information about vehicles and drivers. Its solutions are tailored for the automotive, insurance and fleet industries, as well as consumers and small businesses. The company, formed in 2012, is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with its business operations in Charleston, South Carolina. Zubie was the winner of the 2015 Best Insurance Telematics Product award from TU Automotive, and the 2016 Tech CARS award for Best OBDII Device with Software and Services from Auto Connected Car. Visit zubie.com for more information.

#At CrowdRiff, our main focus is helping brands elevate their marketing and advertising efforts by making it easy to source and implement top quality, high performing visuals."

Today CrowdRiff, an AI-powered visual content marketing platform purpose-built for travel and tourism brands, announced that Joelle Maslaton, Vice-President and Venture Partner at Gibraltar & Company, has joined its Board of Directors. Prior to joining Gibraltar & Company, Maslaton spent six years working at Facebook and Instagram. At Instagram, she led the global revenue growth efforts of Stories, Instagram's fastest growing product. In her new role, Maslaton will advise CrowdRiff as the company expands its service offerings, widens its customer profile, and continues to scale.

At CrowdRiff, our main focus is helping brands elevate their marketing and advertising efforts by making it easy to source and implement top quality, high performing visuals. Joelles experience at Facebook and Instagram, and her expertise in digital innovation and social media strategy, make her an incredible addition to our Board of Directors said Dan Holowack, CEO and co-founder of CrowdRiff. Were excited to work more closely with Joelle toward the continued growth and success of our company.

A brand builder with over 15 years of experience working with some of Canadas top technology platforms, consumer goods companies and ad agencies, Maslaton has spent her career driving clients growth through the application of innovative, omni-channel digital marketing solutions for companies including L'Oreal and Shiseido Canada.

I have been an admirer of CrowdRiff for its innovative and ground-breaking travel platform, its deeply passionate leaders, and its people-driven culture, said Maslaton. I have tremendous respect for the founders, Dan and Abhi, as well for the other board members, and I am thrilled to embark on this exciting journey with them.

Gibraltar & Company participated in CrowdRiffs 2016 seed funding round of $2 million USD, and has an impressive track record and portfolio that includes Sheerly Genius, Pressly (acquired by Vision Critical, 2017), Spotify (IPO, 2018), and Globalive XMG (acquired by CivicConnect, 2016). CrowdRiff is also backed by High Alpha Capital and BDC Capital.

Since raising its last financing round, CrowdRiff has announced several new company milestones and service offerings. Most recently, the company was named to the 2018 Startup 50 ranking of Canadas Top New Growth Companies, joined the Instagram Partner Program as one of its first travel-focused Creative Platforms, and announced that it surpassed 400 clients spanning 22 countries.

To learn more about CrowdRiffs visual marketing platform, visit: crowdriff.com.

Social Links

Twitter: twitter.com/CrowdRiff

Facebook: facebook.com/CrowdRiff

Instagram: instagram.com/CrowdRiff

About CrowdRiff

CrowdRiff is an AI-powered visual content marketing platform purpose-built for travel and tourism brands. The platform combines content discovery, digital asset management, and content delivery tools that enable marketers to source and share top-performing visuals with their respective audiences, at scale.

To date, CrowdRiff has processed over 500 million images, and the company currently works with over 400 leading travel and tourism brands globally. CrowdRiff customers include Destination BC, Colorado Tourism Office, CityPASS and Netherlands Board of Tourism land Conventions.Japanese DJ Taku Takahashi teams up with Ningen Inc. and Datsumou Recipe to release English microsite for their dance music project Pubic Hair Grooving. It wasnt easy taming these unruly notes into a piece of music.

Breaking through the taboo of pubic hair, international record producer DJ Taku Takahashi has teamed up with Osaka's quirky ad agency Ningen Inc. and hair removal website Datsumou Recipe to launch a new English microsite for their collaborative music project Pubic Hair Grooving that aims to offer a meaningful attempt to expand the possibilities of Japanese pop music through pubic hair.

The brainchild of Ningen Inc., Pubic Hair Grooving was born of the desire to break the stigma of pubic hair maintenance and styling that is deeply rooted in Japanese culture. Because personal grooming is not as taboo in the West as it remains in the East, Ningen Inc. sought out the internationally respected Takahashi to help make this project become reality. The result was Takahashis dance track titled In Motion  an auditory message for all Japanese women to no longer hide behind their pubic hair and boldly share its hidden charm with the world!

The eureka moment for this project happened when a member of Ningen Inc. noticed how the shape of pubic hair was very similar to the shape of sound waves. From this came not only the desire to transform natures twists and curls into mesmerizing electronic samples, but to make pubic hair sing. As explained by Takahashi, he was tasked with taming these unruly notes into a piece of music prefacing this with it wasnt easy. The end result, Takahashi went on to say, is a drifting melody that is a bit melancholic, almost tugs at your heartstrings.

In order to secure as many pubic hairs as possible, Ningen Inc. collected strands from Japanese women who agreed with the project's purpose and then asked Takahashi to transform each hair sample into a wave sample based on unique attributes like length and curliness to create a sound as if the hair was singing. The result? From countless samples, a select few were chosen to form a song that has given Japanese women a new groove to reverberate throughout the world.

After the dance track was completed, Takahashi reflected on the project by saying, The real challenge is how deep we can go with pubic hair. Thats the core message of our song.

Learn more about Pubic Hair Grooving and listen to DJ Taku Takahashis dance track In Motion by visiting the newly launched English microsite to watch, download, and share this one of a kind music.The amount of time saved and the ability to provide clear results with clean drawings is great. When it comes to busy/dimension-heavy drawings, this feature is going to shine in its ability to save time for anyone who creates inspection reports. - Tyler Gomes, STD Precision Gear & Instrument,

Columbus, Ohio-based, DISCUS Software - https://www.discussoftware.com - is proud to announce their latest software update, DISCUS Desktop 9.5 with Net Inspect V5 integration, as well as improved results entry. The DISCUS Desktop software tools are manufacturing productivity solutions that dramatically reduce the time it takes to complete First Article Inspection, in-process inspection planning and process planning. Indeed, DISCUS created the first software product to automate engineering drawing annotation and manufacturing inspection requirement extraction in order to speed-up manufacturing processes.

DISCUS 9.5 responds to the feedback DISCUS has received from our extensive customer base and addresses critical issues found in DISCUS 9.2.

With DISCUS 9.5 - https://www.discussoftware.com/discus-9-5-release/ - users will experience faster and more reliable uploading to Net-Inspect, Results Import, Template Builder Improvements, plus more. See below for the more detailed list of software upgrades and improvements.

Net-Inspect V5 Integration



Much faster, very reliable

No more template upload method needed

DISCUS 9.5 can upload not only results, but multiple results, directly to Net-Inspect

Ability to upload FAA Approved, AOG, Internal FAI number, customer FAI number, customer part number fields to Net-Inspect

Results Import from Excel Improvements



Error dialog for problematic imports

Support for commas in numeric values, such as commas (1,234)

Many general improvements,(like what?) if too general leave out

Ability to import Designed Tooling from Excel import feature

If a single value is not correctly formatted, the results import will fail; however, an error message will display for your correction, rather than the entire export failing

DISCUS Template Builder - Reliability improvements (and other templates with named ranges, which could cause errors on export) will now export seamlessly. Plus a warning and instruction will display explaining how to fix a template that wasnt able to export (named ranges in workbook).

Default Tolerance - Stability improvements and validation are added so users cannot create a tolerance designator value with errors. Improved error proofing in DISCUS.

Zone Grid area - Stability improvements

Corrupt TDPs - Stability improvements that will help prevent corrupt Technical Data Packages (TDPs) from occurring

DISCUS customer Tyler Gomes from STD Precision Gear & Instrument, Inc. applauded the original DISCUS Desktop 9.0. The amount of time saved and the ability to provided clear results with clean drawings is great. When it comes to busy/dimension-heavy drawings, this feature is going to shine in its ability to save time for anyone who creates inspection reports.

To try out DISCUS 9.5, download the free trial installer at https://www.discussoftware.com/trybuy/download/

For questions or a demo, contact sales@DISCUSsoftware.com or call 614-360-2424 ext. 1.

# # #

DISCUS Software Company specializes in the development of software tools for accelerating manufacturing and quality engineering. Its software products are productivity solutions that dramatically reduce the time it takes to complete first article inspection reports, in-process inspection planning and process planning. DISCUS was the first software product to automate engineering drawing annotation and manufacturing inspection requirement extraction. DISCUS is the innovator, not the imitator, in the First Article Inspection Reporting automation market. DISCUS is compatible with many of the requirements used by companies such as Boeing, Ford, GE, Lockheed, and Siemens. For more information visit https://www.discussoftware.com/about-us/.Rhonda Jordan The family leadership is entering into a generational shift as the fourth generation is becoming an integral part of future decisions." -- Chris Labbe, VP of Business Development and board director with G&L Holdings, Inc.

G&L Holdings, Inc., the holding company of leading food ingredient manufacturers Grain Craft and Southeastern Mills, announced today the appointment of three new board members to their board of directors. Rhonda Jordan, Steve Dunphy and Rick Strait were selected as independent directors in the holding companys decision to expand and diversify its board make-up.

The decision to add independent board directors was a strategic step in the growth of the existing business platforms. While the company has grown organically over the past 25 years, the new directors were added to continue the long-term growth plan, advise on new acquisition and expansion opportunities and create value for all stakeholders through overall consumer and product insight.

The family leadership is entering into a generational shift as the fourth generation is becoming an integral part of future decisions. By bringing in leaders outside of our existing companies, we can continually challenge our ideas and assumptions, improve our governance and professionalize our overall board management, said Chris Labbe, VP of Business Development and board director with G&L Holdings, Inc.

The three new board members bring a range of career experiences and expertise.

Rhonda Jordan is a retired executive of Kraft Foods. During her 25-year career, she served in a variety of executive positions including operating president of three different divisions  U.S. Cheese, Grocery and Frozen Pizza. She also served as president  global health and wellness and sustainability. Jordan has benefited from a wide range of roles throughout her career at Kraft including functional leadership in division sales, finance, operations, research and development, logistics and strategy group. Currently Jordan serves on the board of directors for Colfax Corporation, Ingredion Inc. and Bush Brothers & Co.

Steve Dunphy joins the G&L board following a career of more than 30 years in the consumer goods industry with Land OLakes, Kelloggs, Pillsbury and Procter & Gamble. Dunphy began his career at Procter & Gamble where he held positions in Sales, Marketing and Product Supply, eventually touching all P&G's business sectors. He also served as a senior executive at Pillsbury and Kellogg's. Most recently, he was chief operating officer for the Land O'Lakes Dairy and Egg businesses which included the retail, foodservice and ingredient portfolios. Currently Dunphy serves on the board of directors for Wells Enterprises.

The third new board member, Rick Strait, offers a strong background in private debt and equity investment. He retired in 2017 from 35 years with Northwestern Mutual Capital where he was a full-time portfolio manager and held roles as a senior leader. Under his leadership, the private equity fund portfolio shifted its strategy heavily into the middle market, expanded into Europe, and established strong relationships with world-class private equity firms. Currently Strait serves as senior advisor for NMCs private equity investment program and is a board member of the Jewish Home & Care Center Foundation where he is chair of the investment committee.

Each of the new directors bring a unique set of experience and leadership qualifications. Most importantly they are aligned with our high performance culture and vision for success. We are pleased to welcome Rhonda, Steve and Rick to G&L, said Linda Owens, president of G&L Holding, Inc.

About G&L Holdings, Inc.

G&L Holdings, Inc. was formed in 2014 as a holding company of Grain Craft and Southeastern Mills. In 2001 the Grizzard family shareholders and the Labbe and Kerr family shareholders joined to form a joint venture of the two families flour milling operations  Milner Milling and Pendleton Flour Mills. In 2014, after the official holding company was formed, they acquired the Cereal Food Processors family of mills, making the expanded milling operation the third largest flour milling company in the United States. The three companies were merged and named Grain Craft, and today operate 14 mills in eight states spread coast to coast. G&L also oversees operations of Southeastern Mills, a manufacturer of food ingredient systems and nationally distributed retail brands including Better Than Bouillon, Louisiana Hot Sauce, Southeastern Mills, Shore Lunch and Better Than Gravy. G&L Holdings is currently one the largest privately-held food ingredient suppliers in the United States serving food service companies, food processing companies, restaurants and consumers.

Media Contacts:

G&L Holdings

Chris Labbe, Vice President of Business Development / Board Director

clabbe(at)GandLHoldings.com

706-290-8319

Southeastern Mills

George Manak, Vice-President of Business Development

gmanak(at)semills.com

706-291-6528, x1159

Grain Craft

Natalie Faulkner, Sr. Communications Manager

nfaulkner(at)graincraft.com

423-933-2380George Beardon, a native of Phoenix, Arizona who considers himself lucky to be alive, has completed his book A Fools Paradise: a clear-eyed portrait of a man whose poor life choices ensnared him in a vicious cycle of violence, crime, and prison.

George shares, A Fools Paradise was written to show the young people growing up in the jungle (the ghetto) that crime does not pay and that the so-called fast life isnt worth the time. Its better to be free, raising a family and having a square job, than to be in prison boasting about how rich you used to be but cant even afford a candy bar in prison.

Published by New York City-based Page Publishing, George Beardons book is a cautionary tale aimed at young men and women lured by the mirage of easy money and a fast lifestyle.

Readers who wish to experience this fast-paced work can purchase A Fools Paradise at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708.

About Page Publishing:

Page Publishing is a traditional New York-based, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create - not overwhelmed with logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and the like. Its roster of accomplished authors and publishing professionals allows writers to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues to focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com.The 12th-annual Global Wellness Summit will be held at Technogym Village, Cesena, Italy from October 6-8, 2018. The Summit represents an unprecedented opportunity for businesses, investors and government leaders to learn about todays global wellness waveand where it will go next.

The Global Wellness Summit (GWS), the foremost gathering of international leaders in the $3.7 trillion global wellness economy, today released the full agenda for its 2018 conference, taking place at Technogym Village in Cesena, Italy, this October 68.

The theme of this years Summit is Shaping the Business of Wellness, and the three-day event is expected to attract over 600 business and thought leaders from 50 countries. The Summit is renowned for its keynotes and panels analyzing the largest opportunities unfolding in the wellness economy, from beauty and spa to fitness and fashion to workplace wellness, tourism and more.

Wellness is shaking up vast, consumer marketsin fact, it is beginning to touch almost every facet of our lives: where we live, when we travel, and where we work. The Global Wellness Summit is by far the most important international conference on the business of wellness, said GWS CEO and Chair Susie Ellis. The Summit represents an unprecedented opportunity for businesses, investors and government leaders to learn about todays global wellness waveand where it will go next.

Key Topics & Speakers

Wellness Communities

Wellness communities that put peoples health at the center of design are the next frontier in the fast-growing $134 billion residential real estate market. Italy has much to teach the world about healthy communities, from the Wellness Valley in the Emilia-Romagna region (where the Summit is being hosted) to Sardinia, Italy, which was identified as the original Blue Zone (places where people live the longest and are the healthiest). Best-selling author Dan Buettner, a world-renowned explorer and a writer for National Geographic who travels the world seeking out new Blue Zones, will present how these findings are informing new wellness community developments worldwide.

Wellness Tourism, Spa & Thermal Springs

A range of keynotes and presenters will explore where the hospitality, wellness travel and spa markets are heading, including a keynote by Rafat Ali, CEO of Skift, who will be speaking about the future of travel and overtourism in particular. Sir Rocco Forte, founder of Rocco Forte Hotels, will co-present with group project director and daughter, Irene Forte, and Sue Harmsworth MBE, founder of ESPA International, will interview a panel of top experts on whats workingand notin luxury hospitality, spa and wellness.

The Future of Preventative Health

The latest in preventative health approaches will be a central topic at the conference, with keynotes from leading medical experts, including Ranieri Guerra, MD, the current World Health Organization assistant director general for strategic initiatives; Dr. Richard H. Carmona, the 17th surgeon general of the US; Sergio Pecorelli, MD, OBGYN, surgeon, researcher and chancellor emeritus at the University of Brescia and former president of the Italian FDA; and KPMG Internationals Mark Britnell, global chairman and senior partner, infrastructure, government and healthcare.

Food, Beverage & Healthy Eating

How wellness is disrupting the food and beverage markets will be examined in keynotes by experts, such as Andrea Illy, chairman of Italys coffee powerhouse, illycaffe; Mindy Grossman, president and CEO of global weight loss-turned-wellness brand, Weight Watchers; and Neil Grimmer, founder of Habit, the worlds first personalized nutrition company.

Architecture, Design & Retail

Italy is known as Design Central, and the ways that wellness concepts are remaking retail, design and architecture will be a hot topic examined in high-profile keynotes, such as those from famed Italian fashion designer Alberta Ferretti, award-winning Italian architects Antonio Citterio and Matteo Thun, and pioneering wellness designer Clodagh. Dr. Anjan Chatterjee, chair of neurology at Pennsylvania Hospital and author of The Aesthetic Brain, will present new research in his keynote on Buildings, Beauty, and the Brain: A Neuroscience of Architectural Experience.

Fitness & Mind-Body

The future of the $542 billion fitness and mind-body sector will be explored in keynotes from industry giants, such as Nerio Alessandri, founder of Italy-based Technogym, a world leader in fitness technologies. With a mounting global depression and anxiety epidemic, the need for new approaches in mental wellness will also be on the agenda, including a keynote from Bob Roth, CEO of the David Lynch Foundation and author of the new best seller, Strength in Stillness: The Power of Transcendental Meditation. Well+Good founder Melisse Gelulas keynote will address Americas obsession with CBD, the cannabis- and hemp-derived ingredient whose popularity is soaring in the US; and a white paper Mental Wellness: Pathways, Evidence and Horizons will be released.

Beauty, Wellness and Retail

The $1 trillion beauty market is being reshaped by wellness. LS:N Global, The Future Laboratory, one of the worlds leading forecasting firms, will be identifying the disruptive beauty trends on the horizon. Roundtables will investigate the future of wellness and retail, and Dave McCaughan, chief strategy officer at Ai.Agency, will share how artificial intelligence will dramatically impact both wellness and retail.

Delegates will mix the business of wellness with the pleasure of it, as the 2018 Summit takes place in a unique location called the Wellness Valley, an area between the Adriatic coast and the hills of Emilia-Romagna. In addition, when not in sessions, delegates can choose from wellness activities, such as Dance Energy Breaks sponsored by the Center for Transformative Movement and Wellness Walks on the Beach hosted by Weight Watchers. The conference will also host the first-ever Wellness Meets Fashion runway show, brought to life by Jessica Jesse, CEO and creative director of BuDhaGirl.

The 2018 Global Wellness Summit is close to being sold out. Interested parties should apply to attend immediately.

About the Global Wellness Summit: The Global Wellness Summit is an invitation-only international gathering that brings together leaders and visionaries to positively shape the future of the $3.7 trillion global wellness economy. Held in a different location each year, Summits have taken place in the US, Switzerland, Turkey, Bali, India, Morocco, Mexico and Austria. The 12th-annual Summit will be held at Technogym Village, Cesena, Italy, from October 68, 2018.The enterprise-grade Makito X and KB Series of encoders are a perfect match to Microsoft Stream for live events  easy to set up and easy to provision

Haivision, a market leader in enterprise video and streaming solutions, today announced that the companys portfolio of professional-grade encoders can now be leveraged with Microsoft Stream to provide customers with broadcast-quality live event streaming.

Microsoft Stream, the intelligent video service in Microsoft 365, recently introduced new live event capabilities to further engage corporate audiences. One way this feature empowers organizations, is to enable executives to connect and communicate visually with employees around the globe with live streamed company-wide events. By delivering broadcast-quality live HD video into Microsoft Stream, Haivisions high performance Makito X encoders and KB Series internet streaming encoders help ensure C-level executives look and sound their very best to employees watching across the globe.

From the Microsoft Stream interface, Haivision customers can easily select the Haivision encoder option and take advantage of presets that configure for the best results and allow users to start streaming live events quickly from any location. Haivisions Makito X encoders provide ultra low latency, high quality HD video encoding within compact, portable appliances. Haivisions KB encoders deliver the highest quality video streaming within compact, portable appliances (KB Mini, KB Max) or as rackmountable enterprise-grade servers.

Large live events, such as company all hands or town hall broadcasts, can involve a studio production with multiple cameras, microphones, and content sources and these events benefit from high quality live encoders, said Vishal Sood, partner group program manager, Microsoft. When used with Microsoft Stream, Haivision encoders can help customers power their live events and reach their employees successfully.

The enterprise-grade Makito X and KB Series of encoders are a perfect match to Microsoft Stream for live events  easy to set up and easy to provision, with broadcast quality that is ideal for corporate and professional video webcasts, said Sylvio Jelovcich, vice president of global alliances, Haivision. Our work with Microsoft Stream and Microsoft 365 will help make it easier for customers to securely and reliably stream live events and connect more effectively with employees and internal audiences across their organization.

For more information on how to start live event streaming to Microsoft Stream with Haivision Makito and KB encoders, visit http://www.haivision.com/microsoft/stream.

About Haivision

Haivision, a private company founded in 2004, provides media management and video streaming solutions that help the worlds leading organizations communicate, collaborate and educate. Haivision is a pioneer in high performance streaming solutions, the founder of the SRT Open Source Project for low latency video streaming and the original developer of the SRT protocol. Haivisions innovations include live hardware and software encoding/decoding, video stream transport and video management technologies. Haivision is recognized as one of the most influential companies in video by Streaming Media and one of the fastest growing companies by Deloittes Technology Fast 500. The company is headquartered in Montreal and Chicago, with regional offices located throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and South America. Learn more at haivision.com.Harmony Foundation, a Colorado-based addiction treatment center, is holding a Scholarship Gala to raise funds to support individuals needing access to treatment services. The special event will be featuring guest speaker Brendan McDonough and hosted by McKenzie Philips.

About Brendan McDonough

Brendan McDonough was the lone survivor of the 20 Granite Mountain Hotshots, 19 of whom died in the Yarnell Hill Fire. He was on the verge of becoming a hopeless, inveterate heroin addict when he, for the sake of his young daughter, decided to turn his life around. He enlisted in the Granite Mountain Hotshots, a team of elite firefighters based in Prescott, Arizona. Then, on June 30, 2013, while McDonough Donut, as hed been dubbed by his teamserved as lookout, they confronted a freak, 3,000-degree inferno in nearby Yarnell, Arizona. The relentless firestorm ultimately trapped his hotshot brothers, tragically killing all 19 of them within minutes. Nationwide, it was the greatest loss of firefighter lives since the 9/11 attacks.

About Mackenzie Phillips

When Mackenzie was a teenager, Hollywood and the world took notice of the charming, talented, precocious child actor after her star-making turn in American Graffiti. As an adult, she has paid dearly for a lifetime of excess, working tirelessly to reconcile a wonderful, terrible past in which she succumbed to the power of addiction and the pull of her magnetic father. As her astounding, outrageous, and often tender life story unfolds, the actor-musician-mother shares her lifelong battle with personal demons and near-fatal addictions. She overcomes seemingly impossible obstacles again and again, and journeys toward redemption and peace. These days, Mackenzie has traded the limelight for the therapists chair. Now the Director for Referral Relations and a Substance Use Disorder Counselor, Mack works with clients at Breathe Life Healing Center in Los Angeles, bringing with her a unique perspective, much of which has been shaped by her own battle with substance abuse, in addition to her ongoing professional training as an addiction counselor. Mack can be seen currently on the new One Day at a Time and a recurring role on the top show Orange is the New Black.

Harmony Foundation Scholarship Gala

September 21, 2018

5:00 pm9:00 pm

Cost $100

For tickets visit HarmonyFoundatoinIinc.com/reuniongala

Location

Harmony Foundation Campus

1600 Fish Hatchery Road

Estes Park, CO

Event Sponsors

Event Sponsor for this years gala include Sandstone Care, AspenRidge, Crisis Case Management, Assured Partners, Red Rock Recovery, Denver Womens Recovery, Philadelphia Insurance, Choice House, The Recovery Village, Westox Labs, Valiant Living, Bank of Colorado, Community Banks of Colorado, The Redpoint Center, Centennial Peaks Hospital, Highlands Behavioral Health, Denver Springs, Boulder Integrated Health, McKesson, Alkermes, MedPool Pros, Cougar Mountain Software

About Harmony Foundation

Harmony Foundation is a nonprofit alcohol and drug addiction recovery program that serves in a collaborative and respectful treatment environment. Harmony promotes physical, emotional and spiritual healing, empowering our clients to embark upon the lifelong journey of recovery. Visit HarmonyFoundationInc.com to learn more.Becker's Hospital Review is pleased to welcome Hillary Rodham Clinton as a celebrity keynote for Becker's 7th Annual CEO + CFO Roundtable, Nov. 12-14 at the Swissotel Chicago.

A Chicago native and the author of five best-selling books, Ms. Clinton has devoted four decades to public service. After graduating from New Haven, Conn.-based Yale Law School, she married Bill Clinton and became a successful attorney. During her 12 years as first lady of Arkansas, she was chairwoman of the Arkansas Education Standards Committee, co-founded the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, and served on the Arkansas Children's Hospital and Children's Defense Fund boards.

Ms. Clinton was first lady of the U.S. from 1993 to 2001, during which time she led efforts to improve the adoption and foster care systems, decrease teen pregnancy rates, and establish the Children's Health Insurance Program. In 2000, Ms. Clinton was elected U.S. senator from New York. As senator, she worked to expand access to quality, affordable healthcare and secured funding to rebuild New York after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in 2001. Ms. Clinton was re-elected to the Senate in 2006, winning 58 out of New York's 62 counties.

The following year, Ms. Clinton became the first woman to win a presidential primary or caucus state, receiving 18 million votes. After campaigning for Barack Obama and Joe Biden in the 2008 general election, she was named secretary of state. Over four years, Ms. Clinton worked to strengthen the country's global leadership and visited 112 countries. Her notable efforts include backing crippling sanctions on Iran and negotiating a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas.

Ms. Clinton made history again in 2016, becoming the first woman nominated for president by a major U.S. political party. As the Democratic presidential candidate, she won the national popular vote by earning support from nearly 66 million Americans.

Ms. Clinton will speak at Becker's conference Wednesday, Nov. 14. She joins more than 135 executive speakers, including 78 CEOs and 50 CFOs, who make up a full three-day agenda of sessions on key topics such as strategy, leadership, finance, physician alignment and more.

To hear Hillary Clinton and other fascinating speakers, join Becker's Hospital Review at Becker's 7th Annual CEO + CFO Roundtable, Nov. 12-14 by registering here: https://www.regonline.com/registration/Checkin.aspx?EventID=2247278 or contact Jess Cole by email at jcole@beckershealthcare.com or by phone at 312-929-3675.

For the complete conference brochure, click here: https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/november-ceo-roundtable-conference/.

About Becker's Hospital Review

Becker's Hospital Review is a monthly publication offering up-to-date business and legal news and analysis relating to hospitals and health systems. Articles are geared toward high-level hospital leaders, and we work to provide valuable information, including hospital and health system news, best practices and legal guidance specifically for these decision-makers. Each issue of Becker's Hospital Review reaches more than 18,000 people, primarily acute care hospital CEOs, CFOs and CIOs.

###"Cataract surgery is one of the most cost-effective and gratifying surgical procedures in medicine since patients are 'cured' overnight, often with full restoration of their eyesight."

A team of leading ophthalmologists will travel to a remote region of Nepal to tend to the eye care needs of over 1,000 remote villagers in Gumghadi, Mugu District of Western Nepal, on the border of Tibet.

The team, assembled by Scott Hamilton, president of Dooley Intermed International, New York, and Dr. Ronald C. Gentile, will depart in early October on a two-week mission involving members of the elite Operation Restore Sight team. The expedition is focused on providing urgently needed ophthalmic care to villagers in an extremely remote and impoverished region near Rara Lake in the Mugu District, known for being the most remote region in Nepal, and among the least developed.

An advance team from Himalaya Eye Hospital and the Pema Tsal Sakya Monastic Institute will depart from Pokhara, Nepal in early October on a multi-day four-wheel-drive journey into the Himalayan Mountain range to reach the Mugu District.

The tri-lingual monks have volunteered their services as translators and eye camp assistants. The Dooley-Operation Restore Sight surgical team will then rendezvous via bush plane traveling to the remote 1,500-ft. Talcha airstrip located at 9,000-ft. elevation. From there the team will travel on foot along a mountain trail to Gumghadi Village for the multi-day eye camp providing comprehensive eye examinations, refractions, eye glasses, medical care and sight-restoring surgeries.

All medical care, eyeglasses, medicines and surgeries will be provided completely free of cost to everyone in need, according to Dr. Gentile. Cataract surgery is one of the most cost-effective and gratifying surgical procedures in medicine since patients are cured overnight, often with full restoration of their eyesight.

Ophthalmologists participating in the mission include Chris Teng, MD, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Science at the Yale School of Medicine; Sanjay Kedhar, MD, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California, Irvine; and Omar Ozgur, MD, Oculoplastic Surgeon at Advanced Eye Medical Group, Mission Viejo, Calif. Indira Kairam, MD a Gastroenterologist from New York City, is the expedition physician.

Additional team members include Scott Hamilton, COT, the team leader and President of Dooley Intermed; Lars Perkins, a photojournalist, aviator, and technology entrepreneur from Camden, Maine; and Forrest Berkley, the teams logistics manager from Concord, Mass.

In 2013 and 2017 members of the same team restored sight to more than 150 villagers in Nepals remote Lower Mustang and Upper Gorkha regions while providing quality eye care and refractive services to over 1,500 patients. The Dooley Intermed - Operation Restore Sight team also participated in the construction of a new Eye Hospital in the Kavre District of Nepal, a region that suffered massive damage in the 2015 Nepal Earthquake.

Learn more about Dooley Intermed - Operation Restore Sight at:

http://www.dooleyintermed.orgOverview of Iconic Santorini A recent guest commented that what sets Iconic aside is the staff. They are incredibly attentive without being overwhelming and nothing is too much trouble.

Already established as the premier boutique hotel in Greece, Iconic Santorini was recently shortlisted as a candidate for recognition by Haute Grandeur at their upcoming gala ceremony, scheduled for November 1 in Dubai. For four consecutive years the property has been named Greeces Leading Boutique Hotel at the prestigious World Travel Awards.

The Haute Grandeur Global Hotel Awards recognizes exceptional contributions by outstanding hotels and is the highest achievement for the luxury hotel industry. A prestigious initiative with a solid reputation for showcasing the worlds most outstanding hotel experiences, what sets these awards apart is the credible ranking methods used to select all winners.

According to Dale Moffitt, Director of Operations, this nomination simply confirms what our guests say about the property." A recent guest commented on TripAdvisor that what sets Iconic aside is the staff. They are incredibly attentive without being overwhelming and nothing is too much trouble.

Set on a dramatic cliff in the picturesque village of Imerovigli, Iconic Santorini features nineteen Greek-style cave residences literally carved from the face of the historic caldera. Located a short walk from the bustling cruise ship shopping port of Fira and an easy taxi ride to join the sunset crowds of Oia, the property provides a quiet, personal retreat.

The hotel is reputed for its unique residential atmosphere, warm Hellenic hospitality, delicious authentic cuisine and an array of luxury amenities. An example, the much-loved Iconic breakfast which is served to personal terrace space at any time of the day desired - a real luxury for honeymooners, romantics and those seeking an escape from the stresses of daily life.

A haven of tranquility, Iconic Santorini prides itself in being a hushed getaway and welcomes families with children ages 14 and older. Free of distractions, wind away timeless days enjoying simple pleasures like relaxing with a good book, swimming in the infinity pool, taking in a soothing massage and dining in the charming Pergola restaurant overlooking the Aegean.

Guests of this special boutique cave hotel leave as visiting friends with unforgettable memories and it is no wonder why several continue returning from year to year.

For full details, please visit http://www.iconicsantorini.com . Inquiries are also welcome via info(at)iconicsantorini(dot)com

Iconic Santorini is managed by Precise Hospitality Management and is a proud member of the Mantis Collection of award-winning five-star hotels, eco-escapes & lifestyle resorts. This outstanding combination ensures guests enjoy warm, friendly welcomes and world-class service in spectacular locations. The hotel has received numerous media mentions, including the Conde Nast Traveler Hot List as well as praise from Tatler, Vogue, Robb Report and the Daily Mail.

For additional background details, personal interviews by phone or email and hi-res photography, please contact Martha Morano: +1 212-860-5566 or martha(at)moranopr(dot)comIsagenix International has been named one of the 2018 Arizona's Most Admired Companies. We strive for excellence in every area of the business, and our reputation as an exceptional health and wellness company and employer is important to us, so Im thrilled Isagenix was named one of Arizonas Most Admired Companies. - Travis Ogden

Isagenix International, a global health and wellness company providing nutrition and lifestyle solutions, has been selected as one of the 2018 Arizonas Most Admired Companies by Az Business Magazine and BestCompaniesAZ. There were 187 entries for the award this year, the most in its history. Isagenix was one of 55 honorees.

Arizonas Most Admired Companies were chosen based on performance in five areas: workplace culture, leadership excellence, corporate and social responsibility, customer opinion, and innovation.

This is the most comprehensive corporate awards program in Arizona, and due to the breadth of the areas it examines, companies who are selected join a prestigious group of employers in Arizona, said Denise Gredler, founder and CEO of BestCompaniesAZ and co-founder of the Most Admired Companies program. This program recognizes the wonderful contributions and impact these most admired companies bring to the state.

Isagenix Chief Executive Officer Travis Ogden said the company is honored to receive the award.

We strive for excellence in every area of the business, and our reputation as an exceptional health and wellness company and employer is important to us, so Im thrilled Isagenix was named one of Arizonas Most Admired Companies, he said. We thank Az Business Magazine and BestCompaniesAZ for this honor and congratulate all the winners. Were humbled to share this recognition with them.

The companys award submission highlights include:



Workplace culture: The company provides exceptional healthcare benefits as well as a friendly, engaging atmosphere with fun activities such as an employee appreciation event with food trucks, games, and music for employees and their families. A unique offering is the Employee IsaBody Challenge, a 16-week health transformation program. In 2018, 353 headquarters employees participated in the Challenge, losing a combined total of 1,498 pounds.

Leadership excellence: The high-caliber leadership team behind the companys growth and worldwide expansion has led the company to achieve $6 billion in cumulative global sales since its inception in 2002. That team includes Co-Founders Jim and Kathy Coover, Founder John W. Anderson, Chief Executive Officer Travis Ogden, and Senior Vice President of Global Field Development and Culture Erik Coover.

Corporate and social responsibility: Isagenix has embodied its core value of contribution in many ways in Arizona, from partnering with local organizations to providing product and monetary donations. Most recently, the company launched the Isagenix Legacy Foundation, which raised $2.3 million in 24 hours to support its mission to provide healthy nutrition for underserved children, wellness education for all, and aid for those affected by natural disasters.

Customer opinion: Isagenix enjoys a strong reputation among customers, as demonstrated by its A+ Better Business Bureau rating. To help ensure exceptional customer service, in 2017 the company launched the Customer First initiative. Customer First makes it easier and more affordable for new customers to join Isagenix and helps customers who wish to become independent distributors better understand how to engage in the business successfully and compliantly.

Innovation: The companys unique, innovative approach to weight loss features a cleansing and fat-burning system that combines Shake Days and Cleanse Days using effective, nutritious Isagenix products. The company also supports weight loss through the IsaBody Challenge, a 16-week life-changing transformational journey for Isagenix customers. The contest seeks the most inspirational and motivational stories about how participants have made healthy body and life transformations.

To learn more about Isagenix, visit our newsroom at Isagenix.com, like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Isagenix, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @Isagenix.

About Isagenix International

Established in 2002, Isagenix provides systems for weight loss, energy, performance, healthy aging, and wealth creation. With nearly 600,000 customers worldwide and more than 100 life-changing products, packs, and systems globally, the company is committed to producing Solutions to Transform Lives. Since its inception in 2002, Isagenix has generated $6 billion in cumulative global sales through a network of independent distributors in the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Mexico, Singapore, Malaysia, Colombia, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Spain. Isagenix is a privately owned company with headquarters in Gilbert, Arizona. For more information, visit Isagenix.com.

About Az Business Magazine

Over the past 30 years, AZ Big Media has grown to encompass not just Az Business magazine, but a host of other publications and signature events. Az Business magazine is the states leading business publication. Published by AZ Big Media, the magazine covers a wide-range of topics focusing on the Arizona business scene, and is aimed at high-level corporate executives and business owners.

About BestCompaniesAZ  Arizonas Employer Branding Partner

BestCompaniesAZ specializes in helping corporate clients develop, strengthen and market their unique employer brands through a variety of events, awards and communications programs. Specialized services include employee opinion surveys, benchmarking, employment branding, recruitment strategies, award consultation and promotional services. BestCompaniesAZ is proud to be chosen as the Consulting Partner for the Top Companies program, serving five consecutive years, and Founding Partner for Arizona Most Admired Companies.Poems and Stories about Life: a vivid lifetime of experiences rendered in verse and short prose. Poems and Stories about Life is the creation of published author Keith Sheets, a married father of three from Lincoln, Nebraska, who grew up on a farm in the states central region.

Sheets writes in a poetic dedication entitled To Mom and Dad,

I have never written you any kind of poem

To tell you how I really appreciated you at home

To tell you that, at times, I have felt quite sad

For the disrespect that I showed when I was a teen lad

But so it seems the nature of man from the start

He has to be so old to be just a little smart

But I have come to realize during the recent years

That you folks really deserve a lot of cheers

For raising us the special way you did

For good guidance is important for any kid

You always emphasized honesty to a high degree

And that has had a very special meaning for me

So, I am writing this poem for this years Mothers and Fathers day

To show a deep appreciation that I never before would say

And just let me add before I am through

That I am very proud to have parents like you

Love,

Keith

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Keith Sheetss new book is an in-depth true story told through vivid fragments of events and thoughts rendered in poetry and short stories.

In its entirety, Sheetss book offers a unique kind of memoir that relies not only on the authors point of view but that of several key characters who had major roles to play in his life, all of which goes to show his wise observation that no life is self-made.

View a synopsis of Poems and Stories about Life on YouTube.

Consumers can purchase Poems and Stories about Life at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Poems and Stories about Life, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.Keith Winters, CEO, DAVACO His experience leading DAVACO has given him considerable insight into the retail and restaurant environment and a proficiency for creating customer experiences that drive profitability. We look forward to hearing his perspective." Eric Holleman, FEI Special Interest and Peer Group Chairman

DAVACO, the North American leader of high-volume programs for global brands, announced that DAVACO CEO, Keith Winters, has been selected to speak to the Financial Executive Internationals (FEI) Retail and Restaurant Special Interest Group. The event is scheduled for September 20, 2018 from 4:00-6:30 pm at Lawrys The Prime Rib in Dallas, Texas. Attendance is open and free of charge to FEI members, as well as non-members who currently serve in an executive role in the retail or restaurant sector.

We are thrilled to have Keith join us as our distinguished guest speaker, said Eric Holleman, FEI Special Interest and Peer Group Chairman. His experience leading DAVACO has given him considerable insight into the retail and restaurant environment and a proficiency for creating customer experiences that drive profitability. We look forward to hearing his perspective.

Winters presentation, Retail and Restaurants Finest: The Next Era - Engaging Consumers for Profitability and Operational Efficiencies will explore the key factors contributing to the evolution of retail and how smart brands are building and retaining their customer base through the creation of in-store experiences. The event will also include networking opportunities and hors doeuvres. Pre-registration is required and must be completed by September 18. For a full agenda or to register, visit the FEI website.

About FEI

Financial Executives International (FEI) is the leading advocate for the views of corporate financial management. Its more than 10,000 members hold policy-making positions as chief financial officers, treasurers and controllers at companies from every major industry. FEI enhances member professional development through peer networking, career management services, conferences, research and publications. Members participate in the activities of 65 Chapters in the U.S. and a Chapter in Japan. FEI is located in Morristown, NJ.

About DAVACO, Inc.

DAVACO is the leading total solutions provider of high-volume remodels, rollouts, surveys, logistics and technology deployments for global brands throughout North America. Services include:  Program and project management  Fixture, equipment and graphic installations  Digital signage and technology upgrades  Hard and soft-line merchandising  Site, marketing and pre-construction surveys  Logistics and consolidation, from manufacturing to delivery  Facilities maintenance programs  ADA, safety and quality audits & remediation  Fixture and graphic manufacturing partnerships  Special initiatives. Founded in 1990, DAVACO is based in Irving, Texas, with regional offices and warehouse facilities across the United States. Canadian offices and warehouse facilities are located near Toronto, Ontario. DAVACO joined the Crane family of premier companies in 2017, and has since teamed up with Crane Worldwide Logistics to offer comprehensive supply chain solutions to support turnkey rollout and remodel programs. DAVACO employs over 1,300 W-2 and T4 employees across North America. info@davacoinc.com http://www.davacoinc.comDr. Lia Jamian, MD Bringing professionals like Dr. Jamian into our programming builds public awareness of the conditions that many of our viewers suffer from each day." - Brett Pulte, Digital Marketing Expert, AmeriCare Medical Inc.

Boomer Health at Home welcomed Dr. Lia Jamian, MD as the featured guest for episodes that aired in July. As a part of the informative show, produced by Bloomfield Public Television, Dr. Jamian spoke about her professional knowledge in the field of Rheumatology.

There are many causes of Auto Immune Disease, and genetics can also play a significant factor stated Dr. Jamian. The important thing to remember is to contact your primary care physician at the first signs of change in your health status. If it is found that it might be auto-immune related, then seek the care of a board-certified Rheumatologist.

Dr. Jamian is a television veteran, having appeared as a guest medical expert on various topics and serving as a medical consultant on Bloomfield Public Television for several years. Dr. Jamian did her Internal Medicine residency at Cleveland Clinic, and completed her Fellowship in Rheumatology and Auto Immune Diseases at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

The practice of Rheumatology and Auto Immune Diseases covers an expansive list of conditions that many people in our viewing community face each day. states Brett Pulte, Digital Media Expert for AmeriCare Medical Inc. Bringing professionals like Dr. Jamian into our programming builds public awareness of the conditions that many of our viewers suffer from each day. More importantly, new treatment options are uncovered that patients can now benefit from, which can improve their quality of life.

With nearly 75 million baby boomers in America, AmeriStaff Nursing Services identified the need for an easy and convenient way to get information to not only the baby boomer generation, but their families as well. Boomer Health at Home, partners with local Southeast Michigan health professionals, and Bloomfield Community Television, to provide expert medical advice in the comfort of viewers homes.

Content from Boomer Health at Home is available online at the AmeriStaff Nursing Services Youtube Page, and on local public access channels serving the Bloomfield area and beyond. Individual clips from the shows can also be found on AmeriStaffs Facebook Page. New episodes air monthly.

About AmeriCare Medical, Inc.

For more than three decades AmeriCare Medical, Inc. has provided integrated healthcare services to hospitals, assisted care facilities, and private homes throughout Michigan. AmeriCare Medical, Inc. is accredited by the Community Health Accreditation Program for high standards of excellence in medical staffing, private duty nursing, durable medical equipment and specialized pharmacy services.

AmeriCare Medical, Inc. is the parent company of AmeriStaff Nursing Services, Sun Medical Equipment and RxIV Pharmacy, making it a one-stop resource for patients and their home care needs. AmeriStaff Nursing Services was named as a 2017 Top Workplace in Michigan from the Detroit Free Press, and is in the running for the honor again in 2018.

For more information visit AmeriCareMedical.com or call (248) 619-3681.We are so pleased to be named Best of Boston for a second year in a row. We operate on a global scale, but it is an honor to be recognized in our own community.

LiquidPixels, Inc., the global leader for dynamic imaging solutions to the e-commerce industry, won for the second time as 2018 Best of Boston Dynamic Imaging Solutions Provider. With the consecutive 2017-2018 wins, LiquidPixels now qualifies for the Boston Business Hall of Fame.

The Boston Award Program honors the achievements of local businesses that have shown best business practices and provide long-term value. Every year, the program honors companies that have both achieved corporate success and have enhanced the local community.

We are so pleased to be named Best of Boston for a second year in a row, said Steve Kristy, CEO of LiquidPixels. We operate on a global scale, but it is an honor to be recognized in our own community. A privately held company, LiquidPixels has offices in New York, Massachusetts, and North Carolina that support enterprises world-wide.

LiquidPixels LiquiFire Operating System (OS) empowers e-commerce companies to incorporate dynamic imaging into their websites and emails. This enterprise-class functionality enables online shoppers to quickly create and view custom products before purchasing. Additionally, LiquiFire OS transforms a single master image into a new size and format, as well as controls its compression level. At the moment an image is presented, LiquiFire OS creates the necessary version on demand.

Built on open standards, LiquiFire Dynamic Imaging Solutions integrate into existing web and workflow environments, enhancing product creation and visualization while reducing production costs. The patented technology is available as a hosted service or via on-site enterprise servers with solutions that may be tailored to each customers unique needs. The technology stack enables consumers to customize merchandise and view their changes on demand, instantly, and on any device.

About LiquidPixels

LiquidPixels leads the imaging revolution. Built on open standards, our LiquiFire Dynamic Imaging Solutions integrate into existing web and workflow environments, enhancing product creation and visualization while reducing production costs. Founded in 2000, LiquidPixels makes its patented technology available as a hosted service or via on-site enterprise servers with solutions that may be tailored to each of our customers unique needs. For more information, visit us at LiquidPixels.com.

 2018 LiquidPixels Inc. All rights reserved.Medeco, 50 Years and Counting. Were at 50 years and counting because our engineers, assemblers and staff teams have an entrepreneurial drive and a contagious can-do attitude. Thats the reason Medeco is an American manufacturing success story.

Medeco Security Locks, a division of ASSA ABLOY N.A., is celebrating its 50th year of manufacturing high security cylinders and electronic intelligent key systems. Medeco provides state-of-the-industry retrofit security solutions for OEM manufacturers, businesses, government facilities, retail operations, financial institutions, utilities, schools and homes.

Since 1968, Medeco has led the security industry in innovation and quality. Our culture of high quality innovation and drive for continuous self-improvement was instilled by Medecos founders and continues today, said Joseph Kingma, Medeco general manager and vice president, electromechanical and high security group. Roy Olivers passionate desire to innovate and to produce great Made in America products put Medeco on the map, and I mean the world map. Its exciting to see our employees carry on this storied legacy today. Were at 50 years and counting because our engineers, assemblers and staff teams have an entrepreneurial drive and a contagious can-do attitude. Thats the reason Medeco is an American manufacturing success story.

Medecos impact on the world began with a clever idea more than 50 years ago in small town Salem, Virginia. An engineer named Roy Spain ran a machine shop from his basement called Mechanical Development Company. One of his inventions was a locking cylinder with a key that had unique angled cuts, making it extremely difficult to pick open. However, the marketplace wasnt quite ready for a high security lock. It would take another decade before Spain and his partners applied for a utility patent and began promoting their pick-resistant lock. The new company was named Medeco, an abbreviation of the machine shops original name.

Soon, Medecos U.L listed pick and drill resistant locking cylinders were discovered by security providers in New York City, and used to fill a quickly emerging need for greater locking security. Over the next half-century, Medeco Security Locks would become world renowned for providing U.L. listed high security mechanical locking cylinders and for expansion into electronic intelligent key systems.

In 1998, Medeco was acquired by ASSA ABLOY in Sweden. ASSA ABLOY is now the world's leading manufacturer and supplier of locking solutions with more than 47,500 employees, operations in 70+ countries and annual sales of SEK 76 billion, or $8.5 billion USD.

Today, Medeco locking cylinders are still manufactured in Salem, Virginia in a sophisticated and highly automated facility, and share the same painstaking attention to quality provided by the founders. Medeco U.L. listed mechanical locks remain famous for their resistance to picking, bumping, and physical attack. Users are also safeguarded from unauthorized key duplication thanks to utility patents on Medeco's locking technology and innovative designs.

While mechanical security products have long been Medecos forte, the company has also turned heads with development of sophisticated intelligent key platforms. Medeco CLIQ and Medeco XT both add scheduling and audit capability on top of the robust physical security found in a Medeco mechanical cylinder and key. Additionally, just like their mechanical counterparts, these products will retrofit into a customers current hardware without the need for wiring. Again, Medeco has positioned itself to lead the way with smart new solutions for a world in need of more efficient, effective, and cost-effective security systems.

Sustainability is another key to Medecos success. Its gratifying to produce high quality products using recycled and regional materials, said Kingma. Many of our customers demand sustainable solutions to achieve LEED v4 building certification. Medeco has almost two dozen products certified by GreenCircle Certified, LLC, an internationally recognized third-party certification entity that verifies product sustainability claims.

Medeco began 50 years ago with a brilliant idea for a pick-resistant lock. Today, Medeco is an industry leader with comprehensive loss, liability and security solutions for customers all over the world. For more information about Medecos unparalleled mechanical locking systems and award-winning intelligent key systems, visit http://www.medeco.com.

About Medeco:

Founded in 1968 and based in Salem, Va., Medeco is a market leader in mechanical and electronic locks and locking systems for security, safety, and control. The companys customer base includes wholesale and retail security providers, original equipment manufacturers, and institutional, commercial, industrial and residential end-users. Visit http://www.medeco.com for additional information.

About ASSA ABLOY:

ASSA ABLOY is the global leader in door opening solutions, dedicated to satisfying end-user demands for security, safety and convenience. In the fast-growing electromechanical security segment, the Group has a leading position in areas such as access control, identification technology, entrance automation and hotel security. For more information, visit http://www.assaabloy.com.Michigan Central Depot a bold vision to restart the heart of Detroit's transportation system

Detroit is the birthplace of the mass produced automobile and the original "Living Wage" under the leadership of the legendary Henry Ford's famous five dollars a day that gave birth to the middle class. In the early part of the 1900's Detroit became one of the fastest growing cities in the world. In 1913 the great Michigan Central Station opened it's doors to the first of millions of travelers embarking on adventures around the world or just the daily commute of getting to work on time; thousands of whom went to work everyday at Ford Motor Company. Yet in 1988, the MCS closed its doors for the last time as the final train rolled out of town.

Now, just over one hundred years after the MCS opened its doors, the great grandson of the iconic founder of Ford Motor Company has led his company to not only save one of the most important train stations ever built in America, he has established the MCS as the new center for advanced transportation development for the future. Mr. Ford has proven again that his leadership and love for the Ford Motor Company is one and the same with his love for the City of Detroit.

Shut down more than 30 years ago and missing all of its windows, this grand train station and office tower loomed over Detroit's skyline haunting yet inspiring everyone who looked upon such majestic architecture. It is a dream of every Detroiter to see this building brought back to life and that dream has finally been given the best chance at a new life that anyone could hope for.

Attached is a high resolution copy of an illustration commissioned by the Founder of the Interstate Traveler Company to propose ideas for the rebirth of the MCS and executed by the world renown artist Chet Johnson.

http://www.chetjohnsonillustrator.com/

The Management of the Interstate Traveler Company publicly congratulates everyone involved in this great new investment in Detroit and the salvation of one of America's most iconic train stations with bold vision to restart the heart of Detroit's transportation system.

Staff Writer

Interstate Traveler Co. LLC

http://www.interstatetraveler.us

@HSHElevatedRail

info(at)interstatetraveler.us

###Florida-based Net Reputation has announced the launch of its professional Search Engine Optimization (SEO) services. Net Reputation is a digital marketing company that offers top-quality marketing services to business organizations in the US and around the world. Tyler Torcivia, Marketing Director of Net Reputation, says, "We are confident that clients will find our innovative methods effective and result-oriented, even when other companies fail."

Net Reputation will offer a number of different SEO services, including a great link building package. According to their CEO, businesses will see a much greater return on their investment by using the package.

He mentioned that many companies arent aware of the importance of SEO. The specific strategies leveraged by Net Reputation will prove effective at creating high quality content and organic traffic. Allowing companies to be found better on Google, Bing and Yahoo. This process will help brands boost their search engine ranking as well as drive traffic to their sites. He explains that most search engines like Google and Bing consider sites linking to the website as a vote of confidence. Hence, this can considerably improve the online rankings.

There are many advantages of hiring a reputable SEO company such as NetReputation.. The benefits go beyond simply attracting more traffic to a website. Most business owners want this traffic to be highly targeted, and bring more revenue.

Net Reputation provides professional SEO as well as digital marketing services. The company helps clients:



Explore new markets

Understand their customers better

Create action plans

Reinforce and strengthen online presence using a user-friendly site

Boost business owners profits in the long run

Net Reputation takes great pride in themselves for already having a massive and notable clientele base across the US. Their extremely dedicated, talented, and experienced team of SEM experts, account managers, SEO experts as well as SMM experts works cohesively. They develop the best team to strategize, build, execute and ensure your brand is found on Google, Bing and Yahoo.

A spokesperson for Net Reputation stated, Search engines are now capturing a greater market share. Hence, it isnt surprising that almost all businesses are looking for online product reviews as well as suggestions. So, our main objective both as a top-notch SEO company, and internet marketing service, is to secure targeted and relevant traffic to your site with one important aim. We want to help you grow your business as well as profits and grow them fast! Net Reputations overall understanding of the corporate and marketing objectives helps us include a mix of SEO tactics focused on a consultative approach."

Interested parties can visit Net Reputation's official website to learn more about their services.

About Net Reputation

Net Reputation is a Florida based, digital marketing agency with more than a decade of experience in the industry. The company specializes in SEO, Online Reputation Management, Email Marketing Services, Social Media Optimization (SMO), Website Building Services, and lot more to offer comprehensive and top-notch services to its global customers.

Contact Information

Cameron Cadwell

Web Presence LLC

(844)-872-8399

Info@netreputation.comAuthor Melvin B. Miller believes it can be hard for the black community in Boston to maintain an inspired outlook, largely due to the lack of media attention to black achievements. This limited coverage, has created the impression of continual failure. In Millers new book Bostons Banner Years: 19652015: A Saga of Black Success (published by Archway Press), Miller refutes the negative implications of alleged black incompetence by chronicling black success in a series of journalistic accounts that highlight black achievement in Boston over the course of 50 years.

Miller has compiled an array of stories that showcase Bostons diverse black community, offering a historical review of the multitude of black success stories in numerous fields. In addition, Miller also provides an overview of the efforts black people have made to improve their status from colonial times that helped to establish the cultural milieu in which Bostons black community developed.

Boston has become an incubator of black success, says Miller. Readers will be introduced to a well-documented record of the achievements of Bostons vibrant and diverse black community.

The book is available for purchase at: https://www.amazon.com/Boston-s-Banner-Years-1965-2015/dp/1480862525/.

Bostons Banner Years: 19652015

By Melvin B. Miller

Hardcover | 6 x 9 in | 402 pages | ISBN 9781480862517

Softcover | 6 x 9 in | 402 pages | ISBN 9781480862524

E-Book | 402 pages | ISBN 9781480862531

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Melvin B. Miller, who grew up in Boston, was inspired by the success of others whose progress was not derailed by discrimination. He graduated from Boston Latin School, Harvard College and Columbia Law School. In 1965, he founded the Bay State Banner, a weekly newspaper designed to enable his Roxbury community to be well informed. He has served as publisher and editor for more than 50 years.

Simon & Schuster, a company with nearly ninety years of publishing experience, has teamed up with Author Solutions, LLC, the leading self-publishing company worldwide, to create Archway Publishing. With unique resources to support books of all kind, Archway Publishing offers a specialized approach to help every author reach his or her desired audience. For more information, visit http://www.archwaypublishing.com or call 888-242-5904.When you meet Bill Buckner, you know one thing for sure: he loves agriculture. He is a passionate advocate for the sector. During his time at Noble, Bill worked tirelessly to promote soil health and create innovative new solutions that could open up new opportunities for farmers and ranchers.

Buckner was selected as Nobles eighth president in 2011 and has led the organization for seven years. There are no words to properly express the thankfulness I have for my time at Noble, Buckner said. Every day at Noble, I have the opportunity to positively impact agriculture and contribute to something greater than myself. I am honored to be a part of the Noble legacy, and Im excited to see the next chapter unfold for myself and the organization.

Russell Rusty Noble, a member of the Board of Directors executive committee and founder Lloyd Nobles grandson, hailed Buckners tireless pursuit to advance agriculture. When you meet Bill Buckner, you know one thing for sure: he loves agriculture. He is a passionate advocate for the sector, Noble said. During his time at Noble, Bill worked tirelessly to promote soil health and create innovative new solutions that could open up new opportunities for farmers and ranchers. The Noble Foundation Board of Directors and all the employees offer a whole-hearted thanks to Bill for all of his work.

The Board of Directors has retained Spencer Stuart, a global executive search firm, to assist in identifying Buckners successor. If a successor has not been identified by the end of 2018, Buckner will continue in his current role until his replacement can be found. We are confident in the continuity of the Noble Research Institutes business activities, Noble said. When a successor is identified, the transition will be seamless.

A Missouri native, Buckner earned a Bachelor of Science in agricultural economics from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1979. He spent the next four decades working in the agriculture industry, including 18 years with Bayer. Buckner retired as North American regional head and president and CEO of Bayer CropScience, LP in 2011. Later that year, he agreed to lead Noble.

During Buckners tenure as president and CEO, Noble experienced one of its most dramatic organizational shifts in its 73-year history. Originally known as The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Noble separated its research and education operations from its philanthropic activities in 2017.

The organizations research, education and consultation activities continued forward under a new name, the Noble Research Institute, LLC, and became one of the countrys first agricultural research organizations, a new type of 501(c)(3). The philanthropic activities, including grant-making and scholarship programs, of the original organization were placed in a new, private foundation, which carried the name traditionally associated with the organizations community giving, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation.

The Buckner era saw Noble expand its educational and community service efforts, dive deeper into cover crop research, establish the Land Stewardship Program, increase its national collaborations, and re-establish soil health as a core competency.

Noble brought together farmers, ranchers, soil scientists, economists, environmental interests, agribusinesses, NGOs and government agencies together to examine the role of soil health. Their work identified the need for a national organization to serve as a hub for measurement standards, economic data and coordinated research. Noble then launched the Soil Health Institute in 2015. The soil-focused nonprofit aims to safeguard and enhance the vitality and productivity of the soil through scientific research and advancement.

Soil health is very much at the heart of the Noble Research Institutes mission, Buckner said. Our founder, Lloyd Noble, lived through the Dust Bowl, and he established our organization to help combat the agricultural challenges our region faced. Launching the Soil Health Institute continues to bring Mr. Nobles vision to the national stage.

In recent years at the Noble Research Institute, Buckner has been spearheading the creation of the Ecosystem Services Market, an ambitious national effort to incentivize farmers and ranchers to improve soil health systems through a large-scale program that would finance, generate and sell ecosystem service credits from agricultural working lands.

I am so proud of the tremendous accomplishments of the past seven years, Buckner said. As our founder once said, No individual accomplishes anything worthwhile by his effort alone. I know that to be true. Any success I have experienced is a direct result of the tremendous men and women Ive worked with every day here at Noble and our collaborators across the country.

Looking forward to 2019, Buckner said he anticipates spending more time with his family. While he is retiring from his organizational leadership role, Buckner will continue to serve the agriculture sector.

Time with my children and grandchildren is first on the agenda, Buckner said. However, Im not done yet. The encore of my career will be spent helping shepherd the Ecosystem Services Market project on behalf of Noble as well as the Soil Health Institute, where I serve as chairman of the board. While I will no longer have the daily responsibilities of leading an organization, I will continue to be involved in advancing agriculture. Thats something I will never stop doing.

Photos, photo captions and video clip information:

Images related to the above press release can be downloaded directly from the Noble Research Institute website by following the links below:

https://www.noble.org/globalassets/images/news/releases/2018/bill-buckner-1.jpg

Photo caption: Bill Buckner announces his plans to retire as president and CEO of the Noble Research Institute during an employee meeting in Ardmore, Oklahoma, on Sept. 18, 2018. Buckner will retire at the end of 2018 after leading the organization for seven years.

https://www.noble.org/globalassets/images/news/releases/2018/bill-buckner-2.jpg

Photo caption: Bill Buckner will retire as president and CEO of the Noble Research Institute at the end of 2018. He served as the organizations president for seven years.

https://www.noble.org/globalassets/images/news/releases/2018/bill-buckner-3.jpg

Photo caption: Bill Buckner will retire as president and CEO of the Noble Research Institute at the end of 2018. He served as the organizations president for seven years.

Video clips related to the above press release can be downloaded directly from the Noble Research Institute website by following the links below:

https://vimeo.com/290571392/157bc84c99

Video caption: Bill Buckner answers the question, Why are you retiring?

https://vimeo.com/290569182/b03e119856

Video caption: Bill Buckner answers the question, What will you miss most once you have retired?

https://vimeo.com/290570877/49992f4596

Video caption: Bill Buckner answers the question, What will you do once you have retired?

18-044

For media inquiries concerning the Noble Research Institute, please contact Robyn Peterson, public relations coordinator, at 580-224-6294 or rlpeterson@noble.org.

Noble Research Institute, LLC (http://www.noble.org) is an independent nonprofit agricultural research organization dedicated to delivering solutions to great agricultural challenges. Headquartered in Ardmore, Oklahoma, the Noble Research Institute conducts fundamental, translational and applied research; offers no-cost consultation and education to farmers, ranchers and land managers; operates seven research and demonstration farms; and educates students of all ages about science and agriculture. The Noble Research Institute was founded by Lloyd Noble, an Oklahoma oilman and philanthropist, in 1945 as The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation to advance agriculture and land stewardship."Thankful for" Plaques In the close-knit community of Fargo/Moorhead, non-profits are held at a high appreciation; United Way of Cass-Clay being one in particular.

Office Sign Company (OSC) of Downtown Fargo, North Dakota is presenting a new product to their site. In anticipation of the holiday season craze, OSC is partnering with United Way of Cass-Clay to encourage the public to take a step back and express thankfulness with thoughtfulness.

Office Sign Company is a full-service signage company with two locations operating out of Fargo, North Dakota. OSC specializes in the production of interior office signs, corporate gifts, awards, and more. In the close-knit community of Fargo/Moorhead, non-profits are held at a high appreciation; United Way of Cass-Clay being one in particular. With this campaign, individuals have the opportunity to place a special photo on this maple wood plaque with customized text of their choice. In doing so, each order will donate 50% of the proceeds back to United Way of Cass-Clay.

For more information about these plaques, visit http://www.officesigncompany.com/unitedway. This campaign will be valid until sales end on November 30th  add to the #ThankfulFor conversation!It is important that we pass on our legacy to future generations of our people, as well as to the broader population in this country and in the world.

Oneida Indian Nation today announced a multi-faceted collaboration with Sundance Institute, the non-profit organization founded by Robert Redford to provide dynamic support at every step of the creative journey for individuals with distinct voices in film, theatre, film composing, episodic storytelling and emerging platforms. The joint initiative is designed to expand the reach of Native storytellers in Upstate New York through local film screenings and workshops, as well as a yearlong Fellowship for one local aspiring Native filmmaker, who will be announced in early 2019.

To kick off the initiative, Sundance Institute and the Oneida Indian Nation will host a film series at Turning Stone Resort Casino on Saturday, October 13, beginning at 8 p.m. The free and open-to-the-public presentation will include an introduction by Sundance Institute senior staff and a curated series of short films by award winning Native filmmakers from around the country including Shaandiin Tome who directed the film "Mud," which will screened during the evening. After the screening concludes, Tome will participate in a Q&A session to discuss her film, the art of filmmaking and the opportunities presented by being a Sundance Institute Fellow. Guests interested in attending the October 13th film series event at Turning Stone should RSVP to Sarah.Koral (at) turningstone (dot) com or 315.361.8191.

"It is important that we pass on our legacy to future generations of our people, as well as to the broader population in this country and in the world," said Oneida Nation Representative and Nation Enterprises CEO Ray Halbritter. "By collaborating with Sundance Institute's Native American and Indigenous Film Program, we can help fulfill our longstanding commitment to arts and culture and bring national and international attention to the range of talent that exists in our region."

The Syracuse International Film Festival has included this special approximately 90-minute evening event in its official program, complementing its broader Native filmmaking offerings. The Syracuse Film Festival will take place October 10-14 in downtown Syracuse.

For more information about the October 13 Native film series at Turning Stone Resort Casino, visit the Oneida Nation website.

Additional Sundance Institute and Oneida Indian Nation sponsored events for 2019 will be announced soon.

About the Sundance Institute 2018 Native Shorts Presentation:

Sundance Institute has established a rich legacy of commitment to Native filmmaking, supporting more than 300 Native and Indigenous filmmakers over the years. The Institute's Native American and Indigenous Film Program has built and sustained a unique support cycle for Indigenous artists through grants, mentorships, fellowships, the platform of the Sundance Film Festival, and screenings in Native communities to inspire new generations of storytellers. The Native Program's 2018 Native Shorts presentation includes six short films by Native American filmmakers. This year's films include: "Mud (Hasht'ishnii)"- Shaandiin Tome (Dine), "Shinaab"- Lyle Mitchell Corbine Jr. (Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa Indians), "Nucca"- Michelle Latimer (Metis/Algonquin), "The Violence of a Civilization Without Secrets" - Adam Khalil (Ojibway), Zack Khalil (Ojibway), Jackson Polys (Tlingit), "Jaaji Approx."- Sky Hopinka (Ho-Chunk/Pechanga) and "alter-Native"- Billy Luther (Navajo, Hopi and Laguna Pueblo).

About the Oneida Indian Nation:

The Oneida Indian Nation is a federally recognized Indian nation in Central New York. A founding member of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy (also known as the Six Nations or Iroquois Confederacy), the Oneida Indian Nation sided with the Americans in the Revolutionary War and was thanked by Congress and President George Washington for its loyalty and assistance. Today, the Oneida Nation consists of about 1,000 enrolled Members, most of them living in Central New York. The Nation's enterprises, which employ more than 4,700 people, include Turning Stone Resort Casino, Yellow Brick Road Casino, Point Place Casino, Maple Leaf Markets, SavOn Convenience stores, RV Park, three marinas, Tin Woodman's Flask, a wine and spirits superstore, and Four Directions Productions, a 3D animation HD cinematography studio. Proceeds from these enterprises are used to rebuild the Nation's economic base and provide essential services, including housing, health care, and education incentives and programs, to its Members.

For more information, visit http://www.OneidaIndianNation.com.Loveland, Colorado Office The decision to expand our presence into Colorado was a logical step in our business growth strategy, said Scott Shone, president of Ophthalmic Instruments. With this new office, physicians will have the opportunity to visit our state-of-the-art showroom to test the latest technology."

Ophthalmic Instruments, Inc., a leading distributor of quality ophthalmic instruments, today announced the opening of a new office in Loveland, Colorado. In addition to its headquarters in Irvine, Calif., offices in Northern California and Arizona, the new office space will help support the companys growth strategy by being able to provide a full warehouse and showroom, as well as being able to fully service customers in the Mountain West region of Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and New Mexico.

Managing the Colorado office will be Gregory Migdall, Division Manager. Mr. Migdall has spent over ten years providing sales and service to the ophthalmic industry, serving as a regional account manager and territory sales manager for companies such as Enhanced Medical Services, Diopsys, and Marco Ophthalmic.

The decision to expand our presence into Colorado was a logical step in our business growth strategy, said Scott Shone, president of Ophthalmic Instruments. With this new office, physicians in the area will have the opportunity to visit our state-of-the-art showroom to test the latest technology and product offerings, and then order the products needed by their practice. With local staff and a warehouse, physicians will save time and money. They will no longer have to wait days to receive their products, get equipment set up or serviced, or pay for expensive shipping costs when products need to be repaired.

About Ophthalmic Instruments, Inc.

Family owned and operated since 1977, Ophthalmic Instruments is the premier distributor of a comprehensive line of quality ophthalmic products, including Topcon, Haag-Streit, Reliance, Marco, Reichert and others, that are professionally installed and maintained with a personal touch. Founded on the simple principles of professionalism, honesty and integrity, the company prides itself in the retention of customers, repeat business and enthusiastic referrals from physicians, hospitals and clinics for over 40 years.

With four physical locations strategically located in California, Arizona and Colorado, Ophthalmic Instruments provides its customers with professionally trained sales and field service representatives in eight states, including California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Hawaii, New Mexico and Wyoming. These experienced representatives maintain frequent contact with the customers in their regions and bring problem solving skills and relevant information to the customers served. For more information, please visit http://www.oiica.com.Planet DDS Denticon Were thrilled to make the list again this yearits an exciting time here at Planet DDS and in the dental industry in general, as dental practices and groups make the shift to cloud solutions like ours to help streamline operations and enable rapid growth.

Planet DDS (PDDS), the nations leading provider of cloud-based enterprise dental practice management software, was recently ranked as one of Orange Countys fastest-growing private companies for the fourth year running.

The Orange County Business Journal compiles its annual ranking by evaluating the year-over-year growth of privately held companies in Southern California across all sectors.

PDDS growth is due in large part to a wave of consolidation that is reshaping the dental industry. The emergence of multi-location, multi-specialty groups is driving demand for the companys Denticon cloud-based enterprise practice management software.

Were thrilled to make the list again this yearits an exciting time here at Planet DDS and in the dental industry in general, as dental practices and groups make the shift to cloud solutions like ours to help streamline operations and enable rapid growth, noted Xavier Gardner, Senior Account Manager.

PDDS was first to the cloud fifteen years ago with Denticon, a practice management software solution built from the ground up for multi-location dental organizations yet intuitive enough for solo practices. Denticons cloud-based software delivery model allows its development team to roll out frequent enhancements seamlessly, without any action required on the end users part.

We continue to invest heavily in the development of Denticon. Our in-application feature request tool allows users to participate directly in the product development process and have a say in our software road map, added Chae Kim, PDDS VP of Technology. Many of our best ideas for improving Denticon over the years have come from our users, which makes us a collaborative partner in their growth, not just another vendor.

Denticon by Planet DDS is the only proven, time-tested software offering that was built from the ground up for multi-location groups in the cloud. Denticon allows dental organizations to break free from the constraints of desktop software with a comprehensive solution that includes all the necessary tools to standardize, centralize, and grow. All while reducing IT cost and enhancing security. Learn more about Denticon at http://www.planetdds.com.Rigaku ResQ CQL 1064nm handheld Raman analyzer for chemical threat detection Featured at the event is the Rigaku ResQ CQL handheld 1064nm Raman analyzer which offers first responders an advanced method for identifying potential threats in an improved form factor.

Rigaku Analytical Devices, a leading pioneer of handheld and portable spectroscopic analyzers, is demonstrating its ResQ line of 1064nm handheld analyzers for chemical threat identification at the 2018 Massachusetts Association of Hazardous Materials Technicians (MAHMT) conference.

The conference includes a general session each day and a variety of breakout sessions related to hazardous materials response. The event is co-sponsored by the Massachusetts Association of Hazardous Materials Technicians in partnership with Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), Massachusetts Department of Fire Services Hazardous Materials Response Program, and others.

The conference takes place from Wednesday, September 19 to Thursday, September 20, 2018 and is being held at Hotel 1620 at Plymouth Harbor in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Featured at the event is the Rigaku ResQ CQL handheld 1064nm Raman analyzer which offers first responders an advanced method for identifying potential threats in an improved form factor. The enhanced ergonomics, analytical performance and sample presentation of the ResQ CQL analyzer makes it even easier to perform analysis of unknown powders, liquids, gels and mixtures  even in trace amounts using QuickDetect mode.

More information about handheld and portable spectroscopic analyzers from Rigaku is available at http://www.rigaku.com/ handhelds.

About Rigaku Analytical Devices

Rigaku Analytical Devices is leading with innovation to pioneer a portfolio of handheld and portable spectroscopic analyzers for use in the protection of public health and safety, aid in the advancement of scientific and academic study, enable the recycle and reuse of metal alloys, and ensure quality of key metal alloy components in mission critical industries. Our core goal is to be recognized globally for quality, reliability and expertise in all aspects of our business through our commitment to exceed our customers expectations by providing technologically advanced products. The foundation of our company is our talented team, dedicated to continual product development efforts that improve performance and functionality, resulting in reliable, cost-effective solutions for the end user. Our rugged products utilize integrated software that combines an open architecture platform with user defined settings, delivering unparalleled accuracy and extensive application support, empowering our customers to achieve rapid lab-quality results any time, any place.

For further information, contact:

Jen Lynch

Marketing Director

Rigaku Analytical Devices

Wilmington, MA USA

Tel: +1 781-328-1024

Jen.Lynch(at)rigaku(dot)comThe First Space Coin will become not a coin about space, but a part of it.

On Monday, September 17th at 08:09 a.m. MT, Up Aerospace successfully launched the SL-11 sound rocket from launch pad #1 in the New Mexico desert.

Together with NASAs experimental payloads aboard, Decron Club integrated its own precious metals ingots (1 kg Silver 999, 1 kg Copper, 2 Gold 999 ingots (200 grams), 3 Platinum 999 ingots (220 grams) in the nose cone sections of NC 1 and NC 2.

SL-11 rocket launch video

The flight surpassed the Karman line, the border between the Earth and space, reaching an altitude of 375,000 feet (114 km) at a speed of 6 times higher than the speed of sound  2058 meters per second. After floating in zero gravity the payloads were safely returned back to the Earth.

Its the great conclusion of the flight. Weve been working on this payload for NASA for a long time. Its nice to finally get it flown. We look forward to getting all the data from NASA and posting our analysis  said Jerry Larson, the president of the UP Aerospace company.

The launching of flight SL-11 involves much more than the pride of a successful Up Aerospace program, as it also includes one giant leap for Decron Club company, who has diligently worked to produce products that only a few imagined possible. Decron Club is one step from mass production of unique coins. Also, scientific research is going to be conducted to see how the physical and chemical metal structure changes after being in space.

With the help of Decron Club, people across the world will be able to grasp things in the palms of their hands that they wouldnt otherwise have the opportunity. Decron Club works to deliver treasures from out of this world to you and your homes.

The First Space Coin will become not a coin about space, but a part of it. Space is in its DNA. Today Decron Club became the first non-space company that made space affordable to thousands of people without paying a fortune for it  said Dennis Rudenko, CEO of Decron Club.

With these items paving the way into a new era in the evolution of collectible coins, products are expected to go fast as a result of the high demand to hold a piece of space in their hands.

Coin sales will start in October of 2018, with options consisting of platinum, gold and silver. For pre-orders check updates on the companys official website Decron Club. Decron Club also welcomes customers to follow its social media accounts on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.The Israelis are the best in the world when responding to and recovering from disasters of all kinds, and we are fortunate to leverage all their expertise to train our students for a better future for Florida and the Southeast Region of the US.

The Sheba Medical Center, Israel, and Florida Atlantic University have signed an agreement to join efforts through FAUs International Center for Emergency Management. In this collaboration, Shebas world-class experts will work with FAU to develop and deliver educational programs, conduct research, and build additional response and leadership capabilities in Florida. In October, several Israeli experts will team up to teach a week-long Intensive Emergency Management Training program at FAUs campus in Boca Raton.

Dr. Yitshak Kreiss, M.D., former Surgeon General of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and Director General of Sheba Medical Center, will serve as the ICEMs Honorary President. Dr. Elhanan Bar-On, Director of the Israel Center for Disaster Medicine and Humanitarian Response at Sheba is the lead Professor for the October ICEM training program. This program, which will be held at FAU from October 14-20, 2018, will focus on leadership in response to natural disasters, mass casualty incidents, CBRN, and more.

At FAU we look to create world-class opportunities. The Israelis are recognized as being the best in responding to disasters around the world, and we are proud to partner with them to build this program here in Florida, stated Dr. Daniel Gropper, Dean of the College of Business at FAU. When we talk about unbridled ambition this is an example of what we mean.

FAUs College of Business established the ICEM in 2016, and the Center works in collaboration with the Universitys Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, the College for Design and Social Inquiry, and the College of Engineering and Computer Science. Our College of Business has a Health Administration program and we have had graduate classes in Crisis Management for years. Our vision at FAU is to build internationally recognized programs, and this Center gives us a focal point to work with Israeli experts who are regarded as the best in the world in emergency and disaster response. These programs help support the educational needs of our emergency responders, noted Dean Gropper. I am proud of the work of my colleagues and the support we have from our President and our advisory board members, as well as so many others in our external community.

The announcement of the new partnership is the next step in work that began with Dr. Kreiss 10-day visit to FAU in October 2015.

FAU and its community will have, in my eyes, the privilege, not the option, to do something for humanity, said Dr. Kreiss, who is also a courtesy member of the faculty at both FAUs College of Business and Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine. A critically important factor in recovery, in areas of disaster, is hope. Our vision is we can always do something.

FAU has developed a comprehensive approach to education in disaster management, offering continuing education programs and regular classes, as well as direct field training experience and exercises. The state of Florida will benefit from this collaboration, as our first responders, public safety and health professionals, and emergency managers in the field will be even more prepared to lead during any crisis. This will help them to optimize the organization and delivery of care to populations, reducing injuries and property loss, and hopefully saving lives.

The ICEM graduated its first 48 students in the 2017-18 academic year in a continuing education professional certificate program in Public Safety Leadership through the College of Business Executive Education program. The initial students have come from fire and police departments, as well as other emergency responders and public safety officials.

We have worked hard to reach this milestone with Sheba. Up to now, we grew the ICEM in leadership with our Board of Advisors, in training programs for local emergency responders, and with extensive community outreach, including leading a Roundtable Discussion at the 2018 Governors Hurricane Conference, said Rebekah Dickinson, Chief Program Officer for the ICEM.

Our vision from the beginning was to offer something unique in Emergency Management, and this collaboration does that. The Israelis are the best in the world when responding to and recovering from disasters of all kinds, and we are fortunate to leverage all their expertise to train our students for a better future for Florida and the Southeast Region of the US. This is only the beginning; we have plans to expand our offerings as we move forward.

Interdisciplinary efforts are core to our success. This summer, working with the Christine E Lynn College of Nursing, we welcomed the IDF Chief Nursing Officer and her top two nurses to train nearly 70 regional nurses in Emergency Management. We can offer that kind of expertise, which the World Health Organization has ranked number one in the world for disaster response, to South Florida, Dickinson said.

The ICEM Board of Advisors boasts more than 50 members, led by Chairman Dr. Ira J. Gelb, M.D. Dr. Gelb is a renowned board-certified cardiologist and Senior Academic Advisor for Pre-baccalaureate Programs and Professor of Integrated Medical Science at FAUs Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine.

Im so excited about this project, Gelb said. What were doing now, thanks to the combined visions of Dr. Kelly, Dean Gropper, and Dr. Kreiss, were going to help people worldwide. This is one of the great professional highlights of my life, to have an emergency management center at FAU, to partner with the best in the world. Ultimately, this training can help save peoples lives. When you save somebody, its a mitzvah, its a blessing.

This collaboration with FAU can be a big multiplier for both institutions, said Prof. Elhanan Bar-On. In this case, two and two can easily become larger than four. With our advance visits at the Florida Governors Hurricane Conference and our communications and planning for the training program, we are ready to come back in October to provide the best training for all of the people who come and participate.

For more information about the ICEM  academics, research, our leadership, events, and to register for training programs, please visit http://www.fau.edu/savinglives

About Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer

Born together with Israel in 1948, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer is the largest and most comprehensive medical center in the Middle East. Sheba is the only medical center in Israel that combines an acute care hospital and a rehabilitation hospital on one campus, and it is at the forefront of medical treatments, patient care, research and education. As a university teaching hospital affiliated with the Sackler School of Medicine at Tel-Aviv University, it welcomes people from all over the world indiscriminately. To learn more, visit: eng.sheba.co.il.

About Florida Atlantic University

Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University, with an annual economic impact of $6.3 billion, serves more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students at sites throughout its six-county service region in southeast Florida. FAUs world-class teaching and research faculty serves students through 10 colleges: the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, the College of Business, the College for Design and Social Inquiry, the College of Education, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the Graduate College, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. FAU is ranked as a High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The University is placing special focus on the rapid development of critical areas that form the basis of its strategic plan: Healthy aging, biotech, coastal and marine issues, neuroscience, regenerative medicine, informatics, lifespan and the environment. These areas provide opportunities for faculty and students to build upon FAUs existing strengths in research and scholarship. For more information, visit http://www.fau.edu.New Summer 2020 Itineraries We are extremely happy to open pre-sale exclusively to our valued Venetian Society members for our pioneering new itineraries, says Barbara Muckermann, Silverseas Chief Marketing Officer.

Industry-leading Silversea Cruises opens pre-sale bookings to Venetian Society members for 191 stunning new voyages, which will set sail between summer 2020 and winter 2021. With unprecedented variety and incorporating the launch of Silver Moon, the new collection of itineraries will take guests to 572 destinations in 84 countries and promises to unlock an innumerable range of deep travel experiences in all seven continents. While the pre-sale for Silverseas Venetian Society members will enable past guests to make reservations before all others, bookings for the new itineraries will open to the general public on October 1, 2018.

A highlight of the new itinerary collection, Silverseas Silver Moon will set sail on her inaugural voyage on August 6, 2020: the ship will depart Trieste, Italy, for Civitavecchia on an 11-day cruise. The sister ship of Silverseas flagship, Silver Muse, Silver Moon will benefit from a number of onboard enhancements. One of five Silversea ships in the region in the summer of 2020, she will cruise in the Mediterranean for her maiden season, until November, when she will cross the Atlantic to Fort Lauderdale.

From the ships in each region to the choice of itineraries on offer, Silverseas guests will enjoy a more diverse range of options than ever before. As well as five ships and 54 voyages in the Mediterranean - including a 37-day, 28-port grand voyage - guests will be able to choose from four ships and 29 voyages in Northern Europe; three ships and 21 voyages in Alaska and the Russian Far East; and two ships and 10 voyages in the Arctic, among voyages in many other appealing regions. Plus, guests will enjoy more overnights than ever before, enabling them to unlock more deep travel experiences in the most amazing destinations around the world. Every voyage over seven nights in Europe and Canada & New England will benefit from an overnight in strategically selected ports.

The new collection of itineraries will incorporate a remarkable polar programme, comprising 10 itineraries and 83 destinations in the Arctic and 11 itineraries and 26 destinations in Antarctica, including East Antarctica and the Ross Sea. Unprecedented voyages to New Zealands sub-Antarctic islands and Australias Macquarie Island (all UNESCO World Heritage Sites) will enable guests to view vast colonies of penguins and thousands of seals; visits to Churchill and Hudson Bay in Manitoba, Canada, will take guests to the polar bear capital of the world and the home of worlds largest beluga whale population, respectively; and concurrent crossings of both the Northwest and Northeast Passages on Silver Cloud and Silver Explorer, respectively, will unlock unique, life-defining experiences with true expedition cruising at its most exhilarating.

Silversea will bolster its already strong reputation as a destination-driven travel brand by enhancing its offering in a number of incredible destinations. In Iceland, for example, the cruise line will offer more immersive experiences on both classic and expedition voyages, with spectacular new itineraries. Departing June 29 from Reykjavik, Silver Wind will circumnavigate the island on a 9-day voyage. Other sample itineraries in Iceland include London to Reykjavik via Ireland and Reykjavik to London via Norway. As in 2019, the cruise lines flagship, Silver Muse, will spend a full summer deployed in Alaska in 2020. Silversea will return to the Canary Islands on two voyages departing April 16 and September 25, 2020, and Istanbul on two different itineraries, departing May 30 and August 2, 2020. Moreover, the cruise line will make maiden calls in El Hierro, Spain; Fishguard, Wales; Nordfjordeid, Norway; Siglufjorur, Iceland; Durres, Albania; Klaksvik, Faroe Islands; and Patreksfjordur, Iceland.

For the first time, Silversea guests will enjoy free economy-class air and transfers included as standard on all newly released voyages, simplifying the travel experience and enabling guests to discover the world with ease. Exceptions and market-specific conditions may apply.

We are extremely happy to open pre-sale exclusively to our valued Venetian Society members for our pioneering new itineraries, says Barbara Muckermann, Silverseas Chief Marketing Officer. The variety of experiences on offer is unprecedented and unmatched; we are pushing the boundaries of ultra-luxury cruising for the benefit of our guests, enabling them to enjoy rare and authentic moments in the most fascinating corners of the world. With the launch of Silver Moon, our guests will experience the very best of Silverseas industry-leading hospitality.

Browse Silverseas new collection of voyages for summer 2020/winter 2021: https://www.silversea.com/2020-2021-new-itineraries.html

Download images related to the new summer 2020/winter 2021 itineraries: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/380xtunhqc5mnva/AAAOOjTKDFWK5F1DtKDSKMg_a?dl=0The EIA continues to provide Connecticuts startups with an opportunity to showcase their innovations and take home grant dollars to help complete an innovative project.

CTNext, Connecticuts go-to resource for entrepreneurial support, awarded $54,000 in grants to six Connecticut-based startups at the Entrepreneur Innovation Awards (EIA) on Thursday, September 13, at Old Town Hall in Stamford. The EIA is CTNexts Shark Tankstyle pitch event where Connecticut startups and entrepreneurs compete for grants that can be applied toward a specific project that will help accelerate growth.

The winning companies and prize amounts were:



Actively AI ($10,000) - Creating an automated assistant for wellness businesses that handles customer experience and streamlines operations for staff

Dualflo ($10,000) - Creating a self-seal technology to eliminate the need for open surgery in cardiopulmonary bypass procedures

Encapsulate ($10,000) - Producing an effective chemotherapy solution with a fully automated tumor-on-a-chip pre-prescription analysis

Encaptiv ($10,000) - Developing a web-based presentation, sales and marketing software that integrates AI and machine learning

Kolb Consultants ($12,000) - Developing a process to manufacture "Ray-Board," a kickboard with a new shape that distributes the body weight evenly when swimming

VigorSential ($2,000) - Developing and testing "MycoZaps," a low-dose vaccine to control Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis), a bacterium mainly affecting cattle that is resistant to common antibiotics

Kolb Consultants won the $2,000 crowd favorite award, while VigorSential took home the $2,000 award for judges favorite.

"The EIA continues to provide Connecticuts startups with an opportunity to showcase their innovations and take home grant dollars to help complete an innovative project," said Glendowlyn Thames, executive director of CTNext. "As usual, all competitors involved put forth impressive presentations. We applaud them for their efforts and thank the judges for their participation."

About CTNext

CTNext is Connecticuts go-to resource for entrepreneurial support. The goal of the program is to build a more robust community of entrepreneurs and to accelerate startup growth by providing access to talent, space, industry expertise, services, skill development and capital to foster innovation and create jobs for people in Connecticut. CTNext launched in 2012 and has more than 2,500 members in its network. To learn more, visit http://www.ctnext.com.ICBE Announcement by Flora Fund The first event specifically focussed on promoting intercontinental cannabis / hemp / technology and investment.

Flora Fund is proud to announce sponsorship of the First Intercontinental Business Exchange in Seattles Pioneer Square neighborhood on September 24th, 2018 from noon to 4pm. Afterwards, there will be a happy hour on site from 4-6.

Location: Axis Pioneer Square, 308 1 st Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104

Come join us for the first annual ICBE Conference in Seattle. We are hosting firms from around the

world to pitch their companies to investors. The companies pitching will include

1.) https://cbdincorporated.com/

2.) IUNU http://www.iunu.com

3.) Cannabinder https://www.cannabinder.com/

4.) IASO http://iasocorp.com

5.) Cannaseed Academy https://www.cannaseedacademy.com

6.) Oleo https://www.oleolife.com/

BENEFITS OF ATTENDANCE:

Entrepreneurs: Access to Investors

Investors: Access to unique companies from around the world

Education: Expert panelists discuss cross border oppurtunities and investments

ICBE SCHEDULE Highlights:

A truly international investment conference with companies from the United States, Estonia and

Puerto Rico.

Various panels will discuss the ins and outs of investing in cannabis internationally.

Fabulous pitches were selected from companies around the globe.

Key Note Speaker: Homeworld.io presents " Using data to identify opportunities in domestic and international markets."

SPONSORS:

The Flora Fund

Homeworld.io

The Flora Fund grew organically when typical angel investment organizations refused to review cannabis and cannabis-related deal flow, and was founded by active cannabis investor and attorney Katrina Glogowski. The Flora Fund is dedicated to making investments in the cannabis, hemp, and ancillary spaces accessible, convenient, and fair for investors and entrepreneurs. In particular, they are focused on differentiated products and services with unique value propositions. Whether its technology that performs at unprecedented levels, routes of administration that enable medicines to be consumed in new ways, or innovative brands that are set to take on the world, the Flora Fund invests in founders who have a vision that set themselves apart from the pack and teams who can execute. The Fund's strategy is to employ expertise in the cannabis arena and to build a diverse cannabis and cannabis-related portfolio with early stage companies, established businesses, international opportunities and even publicly traded companies to ensure success.

Email info(at)flora.fund to learn more!8th Ward Alderwoman Michelle Harris is joined by State Rep. Marcus Evans and Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate J.B. Pritzker to distribute book bags donated by the Chicago Skyway. These events and donations speak to the Chicago Skyways continued commitment to local communities, with a focus on education through the support of students, parents, teachers, and neighborhood public schools. The donation of backpacks helps give students the supplies they need to succeed, said S

Skyway Concession Company (SCC), operator of the Chicago Skyway Toll Bridge (Chicago Skyway), welcomed neighborhood students in wards 7, 8, and 10, back to school with a donation of more than 1,200 backpacks.

SCC partnered with Alderwomen Susan Sadlowski Garza of the 10th ward and Alderwoman Michelle Harris of the 8th ward to distribute the donated backpacks during each wards annual Back to School picnic. Backpacks were donated directly to nominated schools in Alderman Gregory Mitchells 7th ward.

These events and donations speak to the Chicago Skyways continued commitment to local communities, with a focus on education through the support of students, parents, teachers, and neighborhood public schools. The donation of backpacks helps give students the supplies they need to succeed, said CEO Fernando Redondo.

Later this year, SCC will continue its tradition of awarding nominated public schools in the 7th, 8th, 10th and 20th wards with monetary grants to support the unique needs of students and schools in the wards traversed by the Chicago Skyway.

About the Chicago Skyway: Built by the City of Chicago in 1958, the Chicago Skyway Toll Bridge is a 7.8-mile-long toll road that connects the Indiana Toll Road to the Dan Ryan Expressway on Chicago's South Side. The main feature of the Skyway is a 12-mile-long steel truss bridge, known as the "High Bridge." The bridge itself spans the Calumet River and Calumet Harbor, a major harbor for industrial ships  its main span extends 650 feet long and provides for 125 feet of vertical clearance.

The City of Chicago maintained and operated the Chicago Skyway until January 2005 when Skyway Concession Company assumed those responsibilities pursuant to a 99-year lease. The lease agreement between Skyway and the City of Chicago was the first privatization of an existing toll road in the United States.The Quinism Foundation has sent correspondence to the Honourable Seamus O'Regan, Canadian Minister of Veterans Affairs, calling upon Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) to implement universal screening of recent Canadian veterans for a history of symptomatic exposure to the antimalarial drug mefloquine.

Previously marketed in Canada as Lariam, mefloquine has been widely prescribed to members of the Canadian Armed Forces on overseas deployments since the early 1990s. Health Canada now warns that mefloquine can cause several potentially permanent and disabling conditions.

In 2017, Health Canada required that the patient medication information for mefloquine be updated to warn that in some people, dizziness, vertigo, tinnitus, and loss of balance may become permanent, said Remington Nevin, MD, MPH, DrPH, executive director of The Quinism Foundation. Three years earlier, the European Medicines Agency first warned of a causal relationship between mefloquine and the occurrence of long-lasting and even persistent neuropsychiatric effects, and speculated that these were due to permanent brain damage. [1] Researchers have identified cases of mefloquine poisoning causing a central, rather than a peripheral vertigo, consistent with dysfunction in the brainstem vestibular nuclei. [2,3]

Health Canada has warned that mefloquine can cause other serious side effects, including mental problems, said Dr. Nevin. Health Canada has also warned that symptoms of these mental problems can include severe anxiety, unusual changes in mood, panic attacks, feeling confused or disoriented, and experiencing thoughts of suicide. Health Canada states that these symptoms may last for years after stopping mefloquine.

Recent research confirms that nightmares and other abnormal dreams affect nearly 1 in 7 of those exposed to mefloquine [4], and that more than 1 in 5 of those who complain of nightmares report this symptom continuing as long as three years after exposure [5]. Authors at the U.S. militarys Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), where mefloquine was developed, have noted [2] that mefloquine toxicity can persist for several years after exposure has been discontinued, with little to no abatement in symptoms over time. Furthermore, given the overlapping symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and mefloquine toxicity, it can be challenging to distinguish between the two diagnoses.

The Quinism Foundation has recently begun licensing its two-question White River Mefloquine Instrument (WRMI-2) to assist in identifying veterans who may be at risk of disability as a result of their exposure to mefloquine.

If the veteran reports symptomatic exposure on the WRMI-2, said Dr. Nevin, clinicians should retain an index of suspicion that any chronic neurologic or psychiatric symptoms, including those reported, could represent effects of mefloquine poisoning, a medical condition also known as chronic quinoline encephalopathy or neuropsychiatric quinism.

The foundations announcement coincides with the annual Canadian mefloquine awareness event, to be held on the front steps of Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Wednesday, September 19, 2018, at 1 p.m. The event is organized by Marj Matchee, a member of The Quinism Foundation's advisory committee, and the wife of Canadian veteran Clayton Matchee.

Echoing calls from Canadian veterans from last years event (https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/veterans-demand-federal-government-examine-role-of-mefloquine-in-somalia-mission/article36318469/), Canadian veterans will be calling on the Canadian government to acknowledge chronic disability from mefloquine poisoning, and to support outreach and research. Canadian veterans will also be calling to reopen the Somalia Commission of Inquiry to investigate the role of mefloquine in the events of that era.

The Quinism Foundation has previously joined Canadian veterans in this call, as described more fully in an announcement coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the Somalia Affair (http://www.prweb.com/releases/2018/03/prweb15286164.htm).

About The Quinism Foundation

The Quinism Foundation, founded in January 2018, in White River Junction, Vermont, promotes and supports education and research on quinism, the family of medical disorders caused by exposure to quinoline drugs, including mefloquine and tafenoquine.

Dr. Nevin is a Canadian-born board-certified occupational medicine and preventive medicine physician and former U.S. Army medical officer and epidemiologist. He is author of more than 30 scientific publications on malaria and the quinoline antimalarials, including Implications of Changes to the Mefloquine Product Monograph," published in The Canadian Journal of Hospital Pharmacy (http://dx.doi.org/10.4212/cjhp.v70i4.1687).

1. Nevin RL. A serious nightmare: psychiatric and neurologic adverse reactions to mefloquine are serious adverse reactions. Pharmacology Research & Perspectives. 2017; 5(4): e00328.

2. Livezey J, Oliver T, Cantilena L. Prolonged Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in a Military Service Member Exposed to Mefloquine. Drug Safety Case Reports. 2016;3(1):7.

3. Nevin RL. Limbic encephalopathy and central vestibulopathy caused by mefloquine: a case report. Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease. 2012 May;10(3):144-51.

4. Tickell-Painter M, Maayan N, Saunders R, et al. Mefloquine for preventing malaria during travel to endemic areas. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2017;10(10):CD006491.

5. Ringqvist A, Bech P, Glenthj B, et al. Acute and long-term psychiatric side effects of mefloquine: A follow-up on Danish adverse event reports. Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease. 2015;13(1):8088.Representatives with Houston-based Top Acupuncture announced today that it is now offering a weight loss program at it Houston clinic.

Acupuncture can help you lose weight, said Sylvia He, owner of Top Acupuncture, a company with memberships with the China General Chamber of Commerce USA and the Texas Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

According to a study published in the International Journal of Neuroscience, acupuncture is effective in procuring weight loss.

In addition, the study pointed out that acupuncture can reduce appetite, the feeling of hunger, and the rate at which food moves through the digestive tract and metabolism.

Acupuncture also adjust emotions that can lead to weight gain, especially stress, He stressed.

But thats not all. Acupuncture, according to He, stimulate the hypothalamus, the part of a persons brain that controls hunger.

Acupuncture also increases the levels of enkephalin, beta endorphin, and serotonin  natural substances that make you feel happy and relaxed  in your blood and brain tissue, He explained, before adding, Serotonin enhances intestinal mobility, meaning acupuncture helps food move through your digestive tract before your body has time to absorb and deposit fat. Acupuncture also increases muscle tone in your digestive tract so your stomach does not stretch out when you eat, leaving you feeling satisfied after even small meals.

He went on to note that acupuncture works in other ways to help individuals lose weight and prevent weight gain.

This approach boosts your metabolism rate in a way that enhances how your body burns calories, He said.

For more information, please visit http://topacu.com/about-us/ and http://topacu.com/what-we-treat/

About Top Acupuncture

Galleria Oriental Medicine, also known as Top Acupuncture, is the premier natural health clinic in Houston specializing in acupuncture and Chinese herbal Medicine.

Contact Details:

Sylvia He

2000 Bering Dr., STE. 270

Houston, TX 77057

Phone: (832) 818-0707

Source: Galleria Oriental Medicine and Wellness Center, also known as Top AcupunctureAmr Ibrahim, CEO of ULTATEL, discusses the impact SMS has on business communications. SMS is no longer just a way to exchange messages with friends; instead, texting is becoming the main focus of professionals who want to share work information in a short, easy-to-access manner.

With 81% of all Americans regularly sending and receiving text messages,(1) its no surprise that SMS has changed the way in which individuals communicate with one another. In fact, more than six billion texts are sent every day, and 97% of American adults use texting at least once a week.(1) SMS has not only transformed the way people communicate with family and friends, but its starting to play a vital role in the workplacewhere 80% of individuals already use texting for business purposes.(2)

Over the last few years, weve seen a significant change in the way individuals and businesses view text messaging, explains Amr Ibrahim, CEO of ULTATEL and small business leader. SMS is no longer just a way to exchange messages with friends; instead, texting is becoming the main focus of professionals who want to share work information in a short, easy-to-access manner.

While email is far from becoming obsolete, research shows that SMS has its advantages. A growing number of employees feel overwhelmed by large amounts of spam in their inboxes, prompting them to avoid or even delete messages without ever opening them. Meanwhile, text messaging has a 98% open rate.(3) As 95% of texts are opened within three minutes of being received,(4) employees enjoy convenient and effective communication with SMS. Although text messaging cannot accommodate extensive details, it gives employees the opportunity to share short, simple and necessary information needed to complete timely tasks. Furthermore, studies show that companies with employees who properly share ideas have a 50% decrease in turnover rate.(5)

Today, many entrepreneurs are using SMS as a marketing tool and an avenue for improving public relations. Seventy-five percent of individuals appreciate offers sent to them by text,(6) and the majority of consumers would rather text customer service than contact them by way of traditional methods.(7)

Text messaging is proving itself to be priceless in employee communication, product marketing and corporate relations, says Ibrahim. Its important for businesses that want to see growth and success to start using SMS.

While Ibrahim is a long-time supporter of cloud-based phone systems, hes quick to point out that a VoIP setup for small business does not always include SMS. To take advantage of the communications potential of text messaging, Ibrahim calls for entrepreneurs and business owners to carefully choose a system which incorporates these services.

Through a cloud-based phone system for small businesses, employees can access both a voice phone line and an SMS messaging system via multiple devices, giving employees the chance to keep in touch on important projects.

The growing use of text messaging in the workplace may seem daunting to business owners, but entrepreneurs can promote better communication among employees and increase consumer satisfaction through SMS.

About ULTATEL

ULTATEL is a leading provider of cloud-based phone system solutions. Through its unified communications platform, companies can have all of their voice, video, fax, SMS and audio conferencing services on one affordable system. ULTATEL Business Clarity, with more than 40 enterprise-grade features, helps companies to operate from a single location or multiple locations seamlessly using desktop phones, softphones or mobile apps. The ULTATEL Contact Center solution satisfies the need for call center features such as advanced Interactive Voice Response (IVR), call queuing, skilled/time-based routing and advanced call analytics. ULTATELs vision is to completely change how companies conduct business by delivering the most comprehensive suite of unified cloud-based telephony services which dramatically improve responsiveness, increase productivity, enhance globalization efficiencies, and reduce operating costs so that businesses can most effectively compete both today and in the future. Visit https://www.ULTATEL.com.

Sources

1. 73 Texting Statistics That Answer All Your Questions. Text Request.

2. Eddy, Nathan. Businesses Texting Grows More Widespread. eWEEK, 12 Sept. 2018.

3. Michael. SMS Marketing Wallops Email with 98% Open Rate and Only 1% Spam. Mobile Marketing Watch, 6 Aug. 2014.

4. 24 Business Communication Statistics That Prove You Should Be Texting. Text Request.

5. Costs of Poor Workplace Communication. Nine Tips for Building Stakeholder Relationships.

6. Varley, Laura. 7 Key Statistics for SMS Marketing. Digital Marketing Magazine, 31 Mar. 2014.

7. Eddy, Nathan. Consumers Like Using Text Messages to Solve Customer Service Issues. eWEEK, 12 Sept. 2018.Kristen Elmore and Lucas Cranwell join William Mattar, P.C. As our firm continues to grow, we welcome Kristen and Lucas to our team and support them as they help our clients,-William Mattar, car accident attorney

As the staff of William Mattar law offices continues to grow, they are happy to welcome two additional attorneys, Kristen Elmore and Lucas Cranwell.

Buffalo native Kristen Elmore graduated from SUNY Brockport with two majors and earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri School of Law. She is passionate about helping people get over the rough hurdles in life and use the law to open opportunities or make changes for people. Empathy for injured victims is what inspires her to work as a personal injury attorney. Even with small accidents or collisions, she recognizes they are still traumatic for victims who need help.

Originally born in Hampshire, England, Lucas Cranwells family relocated to Dayton, Ohio when he was a young man and he later acquired U.S. Citizenship. Now calling East Aurora, NY home, he earned his undergraduate degree from SUNY Buffalo and went on to earn his Juris Doctor from the University of Dayton Law School. He not only embraces the William Mattar way of helping people through paying attention to detail in every case, but he also embraces the spirit of Buffalo as an avid Bills fan.

About William Mattar, P.C.

Buffalo car accident attorney William Mattar founded the firm in 1990. With intake locations across New York State, William Mattar law offices has helped thousands over the years and earned many awards and honors including Legal Elite of WNY, AVVO Clients Choice, AV Preeminent Peer Rated for Highest Level of Professional Excellence, and Top 100 US Verdicts. On the list of Best Places to Work for in New York State for the last few years, William Mattars continued growth means they are hiring more talented and focused individuals for a number of positions. For more information on William Mattar law offices visit http://www.williammattar.com or call 444-4444.The United States Navy Memorial will host a POW/MIA Recognition Day Wreath Laying Ceremony on Friday, September 21st at 2:00pm. This annual ceremony, hosted jointly with Naval District Washington (NDW), honors the nations prisoners of war and those who are still missing in action.

Ann Mills-Griffiths is the distinguished keynote speaker for this event. She serves as Chairman of the bi-annually elected Board of Directors of the National League of POW/MIA Families and retains CEO responsibilities. Having stepped aside from administering the Leagues national office in 2011, her primary focus is on policy, operations, and sustaining the Leagues financial capabilities.

Other members of the ceremonys official party will include Rear Admiral Frank Thorp IV, USN (Ret.), President and CEO of the Navy Memorial, Capt. Roy Undersander, Acting Commandant of NDW, and U.S. Navy Chaplain (Lt.) Eduardo Amora.

Capt. Roy Undersander of NDW will place a wreath by the Lone Sailor statue in honor of all Americans who are formers prisoners of war, service members and civilians still unaccounted for, and their families. Ceremonial music will be played by the U.S. Navy Band, including the performance of Taps.

In the case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved into the Burke Theater, located in the Navy Memorials adjacent Visitor Center. Attendees are encouraged to explore the Navy Memorials newest exhibits, The American Sailor: Agile, Capable, and Talented and Zumwalt: The Current that Brought the Navy to the Shores of the 20th Century, before or after the event.

Memorial Plaza is a popular venue for Navy events, including reenlistment, retirement, promotion, and commemorative wreath laying ceremonies. Located directly across from the National Archives, the plaza is made up of a large granite map of the world and is surrounded by 26 bronze reliefs that pay tribute to various components of the U.S. Navy. It is also home to the original Lone Sailor statue, an iconic symbol that represents the men and women who have served, are serving, or will serve in the U.S. Navy.

To learn more about POW/MIA Recognition Day at the Navy Memorial, contact Robert Parker at rparker@navymemorial.org or 202-380-0723.

About the United States Navy Memorial

The Navy Memorial, located at 701 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, consists of a large plaza with a granite map of the world, the iconic Lone Sailor statue, 3,500 square-foot museum area, a 240-person theater, the Ships Store which sells Navy memorabilia and the Navy Log, the nations largest publicly available data base of Sea Service veterans. Our mission is to Honor, Recognize, and Celebrate the men and women of the Sea Services, past, present and future; and to Inform the public about their service. We do that mission with the support of tens of thousands of members and Corporate Partners, including Huntington Ingalls Industries, USAA, Veritas, CACI, Lockheed Martin, U.S. Money Reserve, California Water Service Group, General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc., Amphibious Warship Industrial Base Coalition, BAE Systems, Capital Bank, Ernst & Young, General Dynamics, L3 Technologies, Navy Mutual, NewDay USA, and Pratt & Whitney. To learn more, visit navymemorial.orgPastor Ruffus Phala, of Ark Centre Ministry in Makgodu Village, Limpopo, South Africa received a lot of backlash in 2016 when he made his members drink Dettol, but this time round, he has gone a notch higher.

He is reported to have told Daily Sun that he was capable of turning JIK bleach into the blood of Jesus, and he did.

Yes, it was Jik before I made the declaration. But after I declared it to be the blood of Jesus Christ it means its no longer Jik so it wont harm anyone who consumes it, Pastor Ruffus Phala said.

Meanwhile, just as in 2016 when the man of God made his congregants drink Dettol, he is currently at the receiving end of condemnations across South Africa.

Chairwoman of the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural Religious and Linguistic Communities, Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva said the pastors action is only aimed at gaining cheap popularity.

He is quoted as saying: A true man of God will not do such.The serial callers claimed they have been abandoned while those at the echelons of power, mentioning the regional minister in particular, are chopping with impunity, after their little bonfire session warned their members region-wide to desist from further calling or texting into local radio stations on behalf of government henceforth.

In a press conference held in Kumasi today, they said: It was an opportunity meeting a lot of these leaders and the assurance that has been given is enough for us. We are party members, though it doesnt come as were speaking now but we trust what they told us."

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"Those who met us we trust them. I mean most of them were even surprised that it has come this far, because to them most of our issues were petty things that the party could have solved for us earlier. So we think and believe that theyll come to our aid and then well solve our issues.Catholic and opposition groups on Sunday defied a ban on demonstrations demanding that President Joseph Kabila -- in power since the assassination of his father in 2001 -- leave office.

They were met with a deadly crackdown by authorities, who fired tear gas into churches and bullets in the air to break up gatherings.

An AFP reporter at a demonstration in the central city of Kananga saw a man shot in the chest by soldiers who opened fire on worshippers.

The protests took place on the first anniversary of a Church-brokered deal under which Kabila was scheduled to leave office in 2017 after fresh elections.

The poll has since been postponed until December 2018. Western powers have accepted the delay with reluctance, hoping it will avoid bloodshed and encourage stability in this vast and volatile central African country.

In contrast to the toll given by the protestors, the United Nations said in a statement that "at least five people" were killed, several wounded and more than 120 arrested.

Police spokesman colonel Rombaut-Pierrot Mwanamputu, said that "no deaths" had occurred in the context of the demonstrations.

On Sunday, he had said three civilians -- "robbers" and "looters" -- had been killed, in incidents that had occurred far from the protests. The DRC authorities also say a policeman was killed when a police station came under "attack."

Church anger

The Roman Catholic archbishop of Kinshasa, Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya, issued an angry statement, saying that the marches had been "peaceful and non violent."

"How can we have confidence in leaders who are incapable of protecting the population and guaranteeing peace and justice?" he said.

"It is time that truth replaces systematic lies and that mediocre people leave so that peace and justice reign in DR Congo."

"We can only denounce, condemn and stigmatise the behaviour of our supposedly courageous men in uniform, who, sadly, and no more or less, are channelling barbarism," he said.

The episcopate, gathering the country's bishops, said "vile acts" had been committed.

"Freedom of worship, guaranteed in every democratic state, was assailed, churches were desecrated and members of the faithful, including altar boys and priests, were physically assaulted," it said, demanding a "serious and objective investigation."

The internet was restored on Tuesday three days after Telecommunications Minister Emery Okundji ordered mobile operators to cut internet and SMS services "for reasons of state security."

In its statement, the UN reiterated its appeal to "all Congolese actors" to adhere to the December 31, 2016 agreement -- "the only viable path to the holding of elections, the peaceful transfer of power and the consolidation of stability in the DRC."

France, too expressed its concern about the violence and the election timetable, saying the right to peaceful protest "is an essential component of democracy."

Despite pressure from abroad, the authorities seem intent on pursuing a clampdown, flooding cities with police and troops whenever the opposition tries to make a show of strength, analysts said.

The last demonstrations on any great scale were in July 2016, when veteran opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi, who died in Brussels the following year, returned home.

"The major deployment of police, army and military gear aims at discouraging people who are tempted to go out and demonstrate," said Congolese analyst Jacques Wondo.

But "this repression has its limits," he said, contending that over the long term, the cost of this wide-scale operation would strain the government's coffers.

Vital Kamerhe, head of the third biggest opposition party in parliament, argued that the presence of priests in Sunday's demonstrations showed that the protest movement had gone into "higher gear."

"We (the opposition groups) have to get together and set in place a new strategy, in unity," he told AFP.Bishop Michael Osagie, the General Overseer of Bible Believers Ministry located in Oluku, Benin, shared this new information during an interview on September 18, 2018, Vanguard reports.

Why charging your phone in a church is a 'sin'

According to this cleric, this is not just a sin adding that it is "against the laws of the church''.

Bishop Osagie explained why charging phones, notepads, touch lights amongst others during church service is worth condemning.

In his words, "Sometimes when I preach on the altar, I get distracted, because I see some of my members fighting over charging points. Am I amazed how believers of the gospel take the things of the Lord these days."

ALSO READ: Man Says Devil Sent Him To Destroy 10 Commandments

An usher named Ruth Ikoko has reacted to her bishop's announcement. She admitted to being guilty of the sin, revealing that she often goes to church to not just worship and praise God but also to charge her phone.

However, she explained that this is only due to the serious electricity problem in her area. She promised to stop 'sinning' as soon as the power situation improves.

She was supported by the cleric, who pleaded with the Edo government and the Benin Electricity Distribution Company do something about the poor power supply.Crux reports that the leader of the Roman Catholic church made this statement while talking to a group of young people from the Diocese of Grenoble-Vienne in France on September 17, 2018.

This was his response when 16-year-old Manon asked him what to do in a world that with "different opinions" and |desecrates" the human body.

Why sex is a good thing, according to Pope Francis

According to the transcript released by the Vatican press office, the pope replied by sharing his thoughts on sex and sexuality in general.

He said, "Sexuality, sex, is a gift of God. Not taboo." The pope added, "Love between a man and a woman when it is passionate, it leads you to give your life forever. Forever. And to give it with your body and soul."

Talking about sexuality in general, the Holy Father noted that men and women were made in God's image, adding that when they come together in marriage they become "one flesh; this is the grandeur of sexuality. And one must talk about sexuality like this and one must live sexuality like this, in this dimension of love between a man and a woman for life."

Pope Francis also accounted for human weakness or spiritual failings which he says is the reason there is such a thing as "objectified sexuality, detached from love and used for amusement" instead of "the very beautiful way" that God intended.

In the same vein, the pope went on to condemn pornography as being part of an "industry of lies," an industry "of sexuality detached from love."

In spite of these issues, the Holy Father reminded the young people that sexuality when used in the way God intended it, "is great," encouraging them to "safeguard it well and prepare for that love."

The Holy Father also responded to questions on helping the poor, evangelization, and living one's faith in the modern world.

He was asked about the Catholic church's place in an increasingly secular world. "Why make an effort in an institution that sometimes seems to me pointless" and has lost its place, the young man asked.Generally, it is believed that an average student in a Nigerian higher educational institution can emerge as the best student in foreign universities.

To a large extent, this is very true as many Nigerian students have reportedly been celebrated for their outstanding academic performances in foreign universities.

Although it might seem very difficult to have a first class degree in many Nigerian universities, making it is not impossible.

According to some of the best graduating students in Nigerian Universities, here are three tips you'll need to become a distinction student.

1. Never skip lectures

You cannot afford to be pursuing first-class goals and at the same time be missing lectures. You know some Nigerian lecturers like it word for word, giving it back the same way they gave you.

Missing such lecturers' class is like running away from your own goals.

Missing classes can truncate your academic desires in more than one ways. Apart from affecting your continuous assessments, it also reduces your lecturer's estimation of you if class attendance matters in your school.

2. Prepare for tests and exams early

While you attend classes regularly, you must also revise everything you learn on time. Never delay it. This will help you prepare for unexpected tests and prepare you for exams.

3. Set the first-class goal from your first day on campusAccording to Premium Times, Oyedepo while addressing the 100 and 200 level students of the university on Thursday, September 13, 2018, warned the undergraduates against sex and intimacy.

In an audio excerpt of his address to the students, Oyedepo strongly cautioned the students and also hinted that the University Registrar has been relieved of his duties after he reportedly flirted with female students.

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ALSO READ:

He said, when I cross out of the Covenant gate Im referred to as the bishop of Living Faith Church. But when I cross into the gate Im referred as the chancellor (of the) university.

From this day henceforth, no student, whether male or female, should be found having an intimacy ally.

Caution, caution, caution, vice chancellor, dean student affair, registrar. Oh, we dont have a registrar at the moment (implying that the registrar has been relieved of his duties). But I have spoken and this is law,

Student accuses CU Registrar of having affairs with female students

Recall that a student of the university, Emmanuel Adooh, who claimed to have won a legal case against the university accused the University Registrar, Dr Olumuyiwa Oludayo of having affairs with female students.

Adooh according to reports was controversially expelled from Covenant University.

However, on Tuesday, September 11, 2018, Emmanuel took to his Instagram page to explain how he was allegedly framed up for expulsion by the university staff members and then went on to accuse the Registrar of kissing a girl in the elevator.The music star who is in Osun state to support his uncle, Senator Ademola Adeleke who is running for the seat of governor, took to his Instagram page on Wednesday, September 19, 2018, where he shared the photo.

He went on to caption the photo with the quote; Osogbo Mega rally today !! @ademolaadeleke_01 victory awaits You and the Beautiful People of the state of Osun!  .

Davido has been on the campaign trail of his uncle for last few days. They have toured the length and breadth of Osun canvassing for votes from the indigenes of the state for the forthcoming elections.

This doesn't come as a surprise Davido had announced last w eek that he was canceling his remaining tour in the United States so he could return to the country. He said he was doing because of conflicting schedules and NYSC duties.

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Davido cancels remaining US tour because of NYSC

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A few days ago, Davido announced that he was canceling his remaining tour in the United States so he could return to the country for NYSC. The music star made this known on Friday, September 14, 2018, via his Instagram page. According to a statement released by his team, due to conflict of time and NYSC duties, he is canceling his remaining tour dates in the United States of America.

" I apologize to all my Fans but Duty calls! But I promise new dates would be announced for Houston Dallas LA and San Francisco  We will reschedule and add more dates. Shout out to all the fans who sold out each city so far," he captioned the statement.

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"Happy birthday to me. Yay! Today September 19th, I turn 38 and I can say without any doubt that 2018 has been the best year of my life so far! I became a mum. . Something that I always wanted and wondered when it will happen for me. On my 37th birthday last year, I went down on my knees and told God, you've blessed me beyond what I thought was possible but there's something I want more than anything else; to be a wife and a mum before my next birthday. We will talk about the wife one later... ...but the one that was more important, the one my heart desired the most, he gave to me. My own child. Two days before my next birthday. Dear Lord in heaven, thank you. I don't know what I did, or what I keep doing to make you continually bless me and answer all my prayers.

"Above pic shows me trying to catch a glimpse of my son seconds after he was born and placed in my arms. It took me the whole of two minutes to push him out. I recorded it and I've watched the video over and over again in wonder. I thought I would be in the labour room for hours especially because of my age and how people say the older you get, the harder it is to give birth but my son was placed in my arms exactly 2mins 19secs after I began to push.

"I saw many comments on here of people praying I deliver like the Hebrew women and your prayers were answered. My delivery went so well. I can't wait to go through this journey of pregnancy and childbirth again. By far the most amazing experience of my life. And the guys at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta are the best. I'll recommend them. Thank you guys for all the birthday wishes. God bless you and yours and I hope everything you ask God for, He gives to you. May blessings never cease in your life. Amen. Kisses. By the way, I did something crazily crazy for my baby boy. You will hear about it soon! . My mum has been giving me and my dad bad eyes since . Hahaha," she wrote.

It's no longer news that Linda Ikeji is the latest celebrity mum in town and she has been sharing cute photos and moments with her son.

ALSO READ:Linda Ikeji is engaged

Linda Ikeji delivers baby boy

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A few days ago, Linda Ikeji gave birth to a bouncing baby boy. The media entrepreneur announced the big news via her blog a few minutes ago, with the caption,

''I welcomed my first child, popularly known as baby J today September 17th in a hospital in Atlanta. I can't believe I'm a mum. More later. Make I sleep small for now. lol,'' It will be recalled that on Sunday, May 20, 2018, her sister Laura Ikeji had broken the news about her pregnancy through a post shared on her Instagram page.

See 1st photos of Linda Ikeji's son

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Linda Ikeji has for the first time shared a really close up photo of her adorable son. The media entrepreneur took to her Instagram page on Monday, September 17, 2018, where she posted a photo of her adorable son.

She went on to caption the photo with an obviously emotional quote.The award-winning rapper made this known via his Instagram page on Monday, September 17, 2018, while replying an apology message from the airline after a delayed flight.

"How about ur employees Megumi and Don told me ur not supposed to be in first class Im calling the police," he tweeted.

He had earlier tweeted about his delayed flight and how he was going to buy an airplane and live in it.

"My flight to la was at 5 pm... we still aint take off yet @AmericanAir. I love u guys.

Im gonna buy a plane and live in it. I had my whole evening planned out in la. I had my movies picked out for the flight ...DIS tewmuch, he tweeted earlier.

Hmmm...one wonders how the staff of the said airline assumed and came up with the notion that Wale couldnt fly first class. Was it his skin colour or was it the way he was dressed? No matter how one appears, shouldnt determine if they can afford any luxury item or services. About a week ago, Wale was in the news for some not too good reasons.

"I can't explain this pain" Wale breaks down on Instagram

A few days ago, Wale broke down on Instagram saying he couldnt explain the pains he was going through. The US-based rapper made this known via his Instagram and Twitter pages on Sunday, September 7th and 9th 2018 respectively. According to him, he is going through a lot and can't even deal no more with people who just want to take photos with him and care less about his well being.

"The people i "vent" to just "damn man" me to death. I can't go to the airport without getting faded cuz tbh I'm tired of taking photos with pple who don't care about nothin but gettin a few extra likes for meeting a "famous" person every year that passes the lonelier it gets.

"I can't explain this pain. Sometimes there is absolutely NOBODY to go to. NO matter how much they love you. You have no one. NO one is more alone than the person that's the focal point," he wrote.The Prosecutor, Insp. Joseph Jimoh, told the court that Labiran and others still at large committed the offences in August 2017 at No. 5, Adeola Odeku St., Victoria Island, Lagos.

Jimoh said that Labiran obtained the sum of 55,000 dollars from one Mrs Prisca Ndu, under the pretext of helping her to resolve a mortgage issue in the U.S.

The accused told the complainant that he had connections with some top people at the mortgage company in America and therefore, will help her.

Immediately the money was handed over to Labiran, he disappeared but was later apprehended, the prosecutor said.

According to him, the offences contravene Sections 315 (a) (b), 325 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The accused, however pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Magistrate, Mrs O. Oshin, granted Labiran bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like sum.

She ordered that one of the sureties must be a business owner with a minimum of N1 million in his account, adding that the document of the sureties must be verified by the courts registrar.

Oshin said the sureties must present evidence of identification such as voters card and must show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government and have their addresses verified.Perhaps he might have lost it and even worse, if not for the timely intervention of his partner who quickly enters the scene to prevent a potential tragedy.

This incident happened at the El-kememi Warriors stadium confirms Chiroma in a post he shared on Facebook.

ALSO READ: Officials of police unit to undergo psychiatric test

In the FB post published on Monday, September 17, 2018, he calls on the friendly Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to address the issue after one of its officers was attacked.

"When we talk about the issue of thugs in Maiduguri, we know what we are talking about. Yesterday at the El-kememi warriors stadiuim, a thug was ordered by a police officer on duty, to move back from where he is.

"Before you will know it, the thug disrespected the orders and rushed the police officer, whereby grabbing the gun of the police officer. Luckily, another officer quickly and swiftly move in to action and safe his colleague, together they showed him how not to disrespect a police officer again.

"As the issue of the thugs in the town has raise so many concern to the people of #Maiduguri, Borno state, if the #NPF will take action against these type of activities, people should please not cry of any abuse.

"The police is our friend, and we are hoping our friends will do something about the raising issue of thuggery in the state," Mohammed Chiroma writes on his Facebook.

An ongoing police reform may offer a response to this problem.

ALSO READ: A musician is scared to be alone after brutal experience with SARS

Many reports of police brutality against civilians has prompted a response from Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo who ordered the Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris to overhaul the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).There is a tap outside the sales girl says to you. Perfect, you think to yourself. On your way out the door, you place your palm (not the soiled one of course) on the counter; a sound signifies completed transaction and you waltz your way to the abandoned tap waiting to cleanse your oh-so-sinful Amala devouring hand. Futuristic, yes? However, unlike flying cars, we just might see this whilst we are young thanks to some amazing minds in Nigeria. Yes, Nigeria! These were the kind of talents that gathered over the weekend in Lagos.

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14th - 16th of September 2018 will be engraved in the history books as the days tech aficionados, software developers, programmers, coders, data specialists and designers gathered at the Vibarnium Valley, Nigerias own Silicon Valley, for the Cashless Lagos Hackathon, courtesy Visa and the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund. The event featured the best talent in the Nigerian technology space  one of the countrys fastest growing sectors - with the sole objective of creating digital payment solutions for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

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It was indeed a show of ingenuity and innovation. The seven teams were tasked with building digital payment solutions for real businesses in just over 30 hours, all of which culminated in each team getting 5 minutes to pitch to and impress the judges at the grand finale. Each team was determined to outwit the other and boy did they bring it!

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After deliberations, three finalists were selected based on impact, design, innovation, and customer validation. Team Blended won the grand prize with a solution that allows merchants get validation of transactions via USSD with mobile phone numbers as user-pass and authentication. Team Maverick took the second positon with a mobile-based solution that allows merchants pay in advance for services, schedule appointments, while also helping them keep track of their payment inventories. The third prizewinner, LagosPay, developed a solution that collects payments electronically, by leveraging existing payment channels, and incentivizing payments with rewards and points.

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These solutions will be developed within the next few months and who knows, you just might be paying with one of them at your favorite Akara stand.First, South Africa was the fifth country  the first (and only, as of August 2017) in Africa, the first in the southern hemisphere, the first republic  and the second outside Europe to legalize same-sex marriage through its Civil Union Act of 2006. Now, it has taken a step towards legalizing the use of Marijuana.

South Africas apex court unanimously upheld a ruling from a lower court and called banning of the drug, unconstitutional and therefore invalid, following in the steps of Lesothoand Zimbabwe which both legalized cannabis for medical use.

The right is however only available to adults  presumably over 18-years old  to also grow cannabis and use the drug in private  meaning their homes and never in public.

ALSO READ: Lagos is messing with my mental health

Underlining the decision, Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo wrote in his judgment that, It will not be a criminal offense for an adult person to use or be in possession of cannabis in private for his or her personal consumption.

The South African government had previously rejected the legalization of, dagga, Zulu name for cannabis, considering it harmful to health and mental health.

The Court has given the parliament 24 months to adopt the ruling and turn it into Law as well as determine the legal quantity. However, public consumption and trading of cannabis are still outlawed.Ever the alchemist, her style choices are unexpected and yet on her, they make perfect sense. Her love of prints, colour and clean lines is clear and her fantastic figure makes her the perfect clotheshorse for these outfit choices.

Usually wearing braids or her signature blunt cut wavy bob, there's is something understated about Omoyemi. A woman who has done so much for the Nigerian fashion industry and driven it to dizzying heights yet shys away from the glitz and glamour herself.

Take a look at Omoyemi's eclectic, effortless and quintessentially African style!

Omoyemi Akerele is a light in the Nigerian fashion industry. Lagos Fashion Week has come along in leaps and bounds under her careful watch. Now, Omoyemi is getting her dues as the fashion pioneer is a finalist for Tommy Hilfiger Social Innovation Challenge.

Omoyemi, who has just been honoured for the 6th year in a row by the prestigious BoF for her contribution to the industry is a pioneer for the Nigerian fashion industry and a lot of designers are indebted to the businesswoman for giving them a powerful platform.

Akerele has deservedly reached the finals of the Tommy Hilfiger Social Innovation Challenge, beating out thousands of applicants for the chance to win a significant amount of money to support their ventures as well as a year-long mentorship with Tommy Hilfigers internal experts globally after completing a business development course with the Tommy Hilfiger team in Amsterdam.

About Tommy Hilfiger

TOMMY HILFIGER is one of the worlds leading designer lifestyle brands and is internationally recognized for celebrating the essence of classic American cool style, featuring preppy with a twist designs. Founded in 1985, Tommy Hilfiger delivers premium styling, quality and value to consumers worldwide under the TOMMYHILFIGER and TOMMYJEANS brands, with a breadth of collections including HILFIGERCOLLECTION, TOMMYHILFIGERTAILORED, TommyXGigi, mens, womens and kids sportswear, denim, accessories, and footwear. In addition, the brand is licensed for a range of products, including fragrances, eyewear, watches and home furnishings. Founder Tommy Hilfiger remains the companys Principal Designer and provides leadership and direction for the design process.Tommy Hilfiger, which was acquired by PVH Corp. in 2010, is a global apparel and retail company with more than 15,000 associates worldwide. With the support of strong global consumer recognition, Tommy Hilfiger has built an extensive distribution network in over 100 countries and more than 1,800 retail stores throughout North America, Europe, Latin America and the Asia Pacific region. Global retail sales of the TOMMYHILFIGER brand were US $7.4 billion in 2017.

The Challenge

Seven finalists will be invited to develop their project plans with the support of a team of dedicated Tommy Hilfiger subject-matter experts during a one week Sprint at the Tommy Innovation Center in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. They will pitch their finalised concept at the global TOMMY HILFIGER Social Innovation Challenge event in early 2019, where a panel will select three winners who will be awarded between 50,000 and 100,000 to support their ventures.

According to a press statement on the tommy website, the Tommy Hilfiger Social Innovation Challenge is a 'global initiative that aims to support entrepreneurial start-up and scale-up stage businesses that are developing solutions that have a positive social impact on the fashion value chain.'

Winners will receive a year-long mentorship with Tommy Hilfigers internal experts globally, in addition to winning a grant of up to 100,000 as well as a place on the INSEAD Social Entrepreneurship Program (ISEP)The African slaves from the west, carried along their Yoruba religion with them when they were brought to Brazil. This religion is referred to as Candomble by Afro-Brazilians  a religion that seeks harmony with nature. This culture and religion is still very much relevant and gave birth to the Orisa-worshipping and Yoruba-speaking people of Brazil.

Last week at AYO, after a national meeting of African-Brazilian storytellers, It was alleged that the Brazilian minister of culture, Dr Sergio Sa leitao announced that Yoruba is now one of their official languages and language and African History will be introduced as a compulsory subject in primary and secondary schools curriculum. However, the Brazilian Ministry of Culture has denied this and will keep us updated on further changes.

In attendance of this meeting, in Quilombola, were big names such as renowned Professor Wole Soyinka, Dr. Sophie Oluwole, the first female PhD holder in Yoruba Philosophy, and painter and illustrator Adeyinka Olaiya.

If this move is made, it will do well in bringing Afro-Brazilians closer to their roots and help them better understand the link between the current Brazilian practices and Western Yoruba cultures.

Due to many reasons  trans-atlantic slave trade, cattle grazing, immigration  small communities have grown in other countries where some Nigerian languages are actually spoken. Brazil is not the only country that has Yoruba as their official language, excluding Nigeria. Outside Nigeria, you can find large yoruba-speaking communities in Togo and Benin Republic. Smaller communities can be found in Sierra Leone, Liberia and other African countries. In these countries, French is the lingua-franca but perchance you can't speak it, Yoruba is your next best option.She said she was away when the officers besieged her house on Tuesday evening without a search warrant.

Oribibi, who is eyeing the Benue North East Senatorial seat, had alleged that the police invaded her private residence while she was absent and took away the vehicle and other valuables yet to be identified.

Oribibi, who was recently sacked by Gov Ortom during a major cabinet shakeup, alleged that the people who invaded her house were police personnel sent by Ortom to take away the vehicle.

She described the act as bizarre, claiming that even if the governor wanted to recover an official vehicle in her possession, a Prado Jeep, he should have written to her on his intention to recover it.

The Senatorial aspirant said she had written to the governor through her lawyers intimating him of her intention to challenge her sack in court because it contravened the conditions contained in her appointment.

She said a 30-day notice to sue had already been served on the governor and said this was to enable him decide either to pay her entitlements for the remaining period of her tenure or recall her to work.

She also questioned the decision to invade her house in her absence without a search warrant and described the act as illegal.

I am no longer an appointee of the governor; he does not have any right to authorize police personnel to bash into my house just like that without a search warrant.

In a reaction to the alleged police invasion, the Spokesman for the Benue Police Command, DSP Moses Yamu, told NAN that the command was not aware of the alleged invasion and did not authorise any of its personnel to carry out any raid.

He, however, said the command had ordered full investigation into the matter and assured the general public of its resolve to remain neutral in discharging its lawful duties.

The command is not aware and did not authorise the raid of anybodys house.

He, however, said that the Benue government had a task force saddled with the onerous responsibility of recovering vehicles from former government appointees.

Information is that the State Government has a task force saddled with the responsibility of recovering government vehicles from former government and political appointees.TraderMoni is a Federal Governments initiative aimed at providing two million petty traders across the country with collateral-free loans before the end of the year.

Osinbajo, who arrived at the market to a tumultuous welcome, went round the stalls interacting with the traders.

The petty traders, who confirmed receiving the money, thanked the vice president for the Federal Governments gesture while some others said they registered but had yet to receive the money.

Osinbajo assured the traders that all registered petty traders would benefit from the scheme.

Mr Mohammed Shamsudeen, a beneficiary who sells articles, told NAN that he got a text message notification and had collected the physical cash.

I will put the money in my business in order to grow it; I also intend to get another loan after repayment.

This government is concerned with the plight of the poor; I will support it, he said.

Another beneficiary, Mr Jacob Saidu, an Onions seller, said he got the money and would plough it back to his business.

On her part, Mrs Florence Enoch, who sells food ingredients, said she got the money shortly after her registration.

God will bless them for giving this support to petty traders like us, she said.

Musa Habib, an onions seller, said he was excited at the receipt of the money and would work towards getting the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government back to power in 2019.

Mrs Regina Madisike, an akara seller, said she got the money same day she registered.

I have already invested the money in my business and as you can see, it is booming.

I say a big thank you to the Federal Government, she said.

However, some traders told NAN that they had yet to get the money one week after registration.

NAN reports that the situation in the market became nearly uncontrollable as the surging crowd pushed and struggled in an attempt to catch a glimpse of the vice president.

Osinbajo had, on Sept. 6 at the Utako market, inaugurated the scheme in FCT.According to him, the herdsmen, who hail from northern Bauchi, have been coming into the community, destroying farmlands and attacking innocent people.

He dismissed the claim that encroachment on cattle routes and grazing reserves by farmers was responsible for the frequent clashes between farmers and herdsmen in the area, insisting that the herdsmen had a hidden agenda.

The crisis between farmers and herdsmen in Guri has nothing to do with encroachment on cattle routes and grazing reserves.

The truth is that herdsmen wielding guns, machetes, bows and arrows are coming to our area from northern Bauchi, attacking our people and destroying their farmlands at will.

We are also Fulanis; but these criminals are strangers to us and that is why I am calling on the state and Federal Government to wade into this matter and disarm them immediately before it is too late."

However, the Secretary of the committee, Dr Rabiu Miko, noted that the state government had received complaints detailing encroachment on cattle routes and grazing reserves by farmers in the area.

He said it was imperative for the councils authorities to ensure that cattle routes, ponds and grazing reserves were not used for farming in order to de-escalate the conflict.

Also speaking, the committee Chairman, Alhaji Aminu Babura, said the committee was constituted by Gov. Badaru Mohammed, whom he said, was deeply worried by the spate of violent conflicts between farmers and herdsmen.

He said the state had recently provided motorcycles to the leadership of farmers and herdsmen across its 27 local government areas to facilitate dialogue between them in the hinterland.The UK Minister of State for Immigration, MS Caroline Noakes, made the assertion during her visit to some facilities of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in Lagos.

Noakes, a Conservative MP for Romsey and Southampton North, expressed displeasure over the high number of NAPTIP cases pending in different courts in Nigeria.

The minister said that she would ensure complete prosecution of all the agencys cases in the UK.

We had a recent good success where the UK Government, law enforcement agencies collaborated with Nigeria in prosecuting human trafficker.

It is a huge step forward to share information and share expertise.

I am really appreciative of the Nigeria officials coming to the UK to give evidence in court to prosecute traffickers; that is a huge forward,  Noakes said.

She commended the works done on NAPTIP facilities in Lagos, stressing that within few weeks of approving money for renovation, the facilities had gone beyond their expectations.

I am here to see the change made on NAPTIPs facilities by the UK Government.

In just few weeks, the work done is impressive. The facilities are being changed for vulnerable women and people trafficked.

It will be a safe place for them to be rehabilitated and reintegrated into the Nigeria society.

The facilities will help the victims to be comfortable and go through rehabilitation, the UK minister said.

Noakes was appointed the Minister of State for Immigration on Jan. 8, 2018, while she was also elected Conservative MP for Romsey and Southampton North in 2010.

The NAPTIP South-West Zonal Commander, Mrs Kehinde Akomolafe, who received the Minister, on behalf of the Director-General, Dame Julie Okah-Donli, commended the British Government for the assistance.

Akomolafe said that the responsibility of NAPTIP was huge which needed more assistance in anyway possible.

She said the agencys management was doing its best with the available resources, stressing that more suspected traffickers were being prosecuted with 11 cases currently pending at various courts in Nigeria.

Akomolafe said one of their officials was in the UK to testify in a case of human trafficking against one Cassandra Iyamu, assuring the Minister of more collaboration.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the UK Minister had inspected the building facility located at the Muritala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, currently occupied by NAPTIP and NDLEA.

She also visited NAPTIP shelters for victims within the state.Kanu has not been seen in public since an alleged attack on his father's compound by soldiers on September 14, 2017, and has missed court appearances since then. His parents, HRH Eze Israel Kanu and Lolo Sally, have also been missing since then.

Shortly after Kanu's disappearance, Kalu claimed that he had fled to London through Malaysia, a claim that led to protests at the British embassy in Abuja demanding Kanu's extradition back to the country to face trial.

While visiting former military Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida, in Minna on Tuesday, September 18, 2018, Kalu insisted that the IPOB leader is safe in London.

"Nnamdi Kanu is where I told you he is; he is in London; he is safe. He is safe and healthy," Kalu said.

Kanu was arrested by the Department of State Security (DSS) in 2015 and spent two years in custody until he was granted bail on health grounds in April 2017, months before he disappeared.

Kalu asks Babangida to back Buhari

Kalu is the leader of the National Movement for the Re-election of President Buhari and he disclosed to journalists on Tuesday that his meeting with Babangida was to convince him to support the president's re-election.

He said, "I have talked to him to allow Buhari finish his term; we have discussed; he is thinking about it. February 16 is still a long way. Our discussion was positive; it is blue and white."

"Buhari is the head of government; he has played four years; he is almost done with the first half; he has played 45 minutes, it remains 45 minutes; we should allow him to finish the game. We appeal to Nigerians to allow him finish his second term because it makes more sense."Niger was one of the four states in the country where the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has declared a national disaster as heavy seasonal rains have caused the Niger and Benue rivers to burst their banks, flooding communities, farms and trapping tens of thousands of people in their homes.

According to NEMA's spokesperson, Sani Datti, the flooding has led to the death of about 100 people in 10 states across Nigeria.

Osinbajo's spokesperson, Laolu Akande, disclosed on Wednesday, September 19, 2018, that the vice president visited Zungeru in Niger with state governor, Abubakar Bello, to inspect areas affected by the recent flood.

While addressing displaced people on Wednesday, Osinbajo said, "Mr. President asked me to come and check your welfare. We shall do our best to help everyone so you can resettle well, go back and continue your work. We are paying attention to everything going on here. God bless you all."Emergency Evacuation Simulations in Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Don't be alarmed if you hear sirens going off and see hordes of people heading for higher ground today. The City of Puerto Vallarta will be conducting large-scale earthquake and tsunami evacuation simulations at 11:00 am and 5:00 pm, as part of the National Civil Protection Day observances.

According to the deputy director of the Civil Protection and Fire Department, Adrian Bobadilla Garcia, various business and neighborhood associations, as well as all three branches of government have held meetings to coordinate the September 19th macro-simulations with the goal of fostering a culture of prevention.

The purpose of the macro-simulation is intended, among other things, to teach emergency evacuation procedures to people who live or work on or near the beaches of Puerto Vallarta, so they will know what to do if an earthquake or tsunami strikes the city.

The drill's hypothesis is that of a 7.6 magnitude offshore earthquake, with a depth of 12 kilometers and an epicentral location 76 kilometers southwest of Barra de Navidad, in Cihuatlan, and the subsequent tsunami warning for a wave of 7.5 meters high that could reach the coastline of Puerto Vallarta within 11 and 14 minutes, which would require those in the "danger" areas to not only evacuate buildings, but also to move quickly and safely to higher ground.

To do this, Bobadilla Garcia said, the city will be divided into four sectors: the North Hotel Zone, the South Hotel Zone, El Centro and Olas Altas. Drills in these last two areas will be coordinated by members of the Civil Protection and Municipal Fire Department, who will explain emergency evacuation procedures and provide information to participants.

Bobadilla Garcia stressed that the macro-simulations will take place at 11 in the morning and again at 5 in the afternoon, so students enrolled in evening classes can participate.

"We want to encourage a culture of prevention. We do not know if or when there may be an earthquake in the region that causes a tsunami warning, and we need to know what to do," said the deputy. "We invite families to participate in the evacuation simulation by going outside to a point they deem safe, and to remain there for at least 10 minutes before re-entering their homes."While speaking to delegates of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State as part of his presidential campaign on Tuesday, September 18, 2018, Saraki said the president does not command the respect of world leaders.

According to him, even though Nigerians voted for the former military Head of State, his government has been hijacked and is being run by a constituted cabal.

He said, "The President we have now does not understand leadership. We have endured him for more than three years but it is the same thing.

"Nigerians voted for him but a cabal is ruling the country. That is not what democracy means. This time, let us look for who can do it. In Nigeria today, we do not have unity. What we need in the present world is a digital President.

"When your president sits with world presidents, he should be able to understand what they are saying. That is why presidents who have visited the country did not stay more than a few hours. But when they know that their host understands them, they will stay longer and explore investment opportunities in Nigeria."

Saraki also urged Nigerians to stop voting based on ethnic and religious sentiments and more on individual merit so that the country can progress

He said, "Over the years, we have made mistakes in electing people based on sentiment. Yes, it is time we corrected it. We will correct it because we are capable. Over the years, we have voted for people based on religion, the language they speak and where they came from in Nigeria. We need people who have the courage, capacity, ability and determination."

Saraki to battle Atiku, Tambuwal, others for PDP's ticket

To clinch the PDP's ticket to contest in the 2019 presidential election, Saraki has to beat other aspirants including former vice president, Atiku Abubakar; Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal; Gombe State governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo; and former governors including Sule Lamido, Ahmed Makarfi, Attahiru Bafarawa, Jonah Jang and Rabiu Kwankwaso.The police had earlier invited Adeleke of questioning and accused him of examination malpractice, criminal conspiracy, breach of duty, aiding and abetting.

Police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood has earlier told newsmen that the Senator would be charged to court.

The Cable reports that the police spokesman said Adeleke connived with four persons identified as Sikiru Adeleke, Aregbesola Mufutau (principal of Ojo-Aro Community Grammar School, Egbedore LGA, Osun), Gbadamosi Thomas Ojo (school official responsible for the registration of candidates for NECO), and Dare Olutope (school teacher who facilitated the crime).

ALSO READ: Court dismisses certificate forgery suit against Adeleke

Sources close to the presidency said Buhari asked the IGP not to summon Adeleke until the election is over.Balogun made the statement in Ikeja, at the official reception for an ex-Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) bigwig, Mrs Remi Adiukwu-Bakare, and her supporters into APC.

Adiukwu-Bakare, a former Commissioner of Commerce and Industry, had in June announced her exit from the PDP to join APC in her Oshodi-Isolo political base.

At a colourful ceremony to receive the defector and her teeming followers, Balogun said that Lagos State was transforming to a one -party state with the coming of defectors.

The party chairman said the coming of Adiukwu-Bakare, a few days after a former Chairman of the party, Mr Moshood Salvador officially joined the party, was a big plus for the party.

Balogun described the former commissioner as an accomplished politician who would add great value to the party.

People are moving into our party because of the growing confidence in APC

This is the party to be; this is the party that means well for the people. This is the party of development.

Just on Saturday, a former Chairman of the PDP, Mr Moshood Salvador, officially joined us; here today, we are having another big fish in Mrs Adiukwu-Bakare.

Tell me what remains of PDP; very soon, we will obliterate PDP from the state political map, he said.

Balogun commended Adiukwu-Bakare for her decision to dump PDP for the APC, saying she would not regret joining the party of progressives.

The party chairman promised that the defector, along with her teeming supporters, would be accorded all the rights and privileges of existing members.

In her remarks, Adiukwu-Bakare said she was delighted to be back in the fold of APC with her supporters.

The politician said her coming to APC was motivated by the development the party had brought to the state and the positive politics of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, national leader of the party.

I also came to the APC because of Alhaji Balogun, the party chairman, who plays pure and progressive politics.

I have known him for long. He is a simple and a fair person and I thought it would be great to be in APC and partner with him for progress, she said.

Adiukwu-Bakare promised to do her best and mobilise members to improve the electoral fortunes of her new party.

The politician said the APC lost in Oshodi-Isolo, her political base, in 2015 because she worked against the ruling party.

She said her defection meant that PDP was completely dead in the area.

The politician said she was confident that APC would win the Sept 22 elections in Osun and urged party members to continue to work for the progress of the party.

NAN reports that the National Chairman of Mega Party of Nigeria, Mr Dare Falade, and the state Chairman of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), Mr Tajudeen Yunus, also officially joined the APC at the ceremony.

They were welcome into the party along with their supporters and followers.

NAN reports that Balogun later handed over the APC flag to Adiukwu-Bakare and other defectors at the ceremony.

It was a carnival-like atmosphere at the party secretariat as party members sang and danced in celebration of the defections.While speaking during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna, the lawmaker said the two leaders need to continue in power to build on the progress they've made in their first terms.

He said, "President Buhari has proved beyond reasonable doubt to be honest, sincere and committed to the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians irrespective of political, tribal and religious differences.

"I am supporting the re-election campaign team of President Buhari and that of Gov. Abubakar Bello with 100 cars for massive sensitisation of the people of Niger.

"I want to make it categorically clear that this gesture is stemmed out of my genuine love and commitment to the course of governance of our dear country and my state in particular.

"There is no gainsaying the fact that President Muhammadu Buhari has in the last three years done what other presidents did not achieve within a similar period.

"We are all witnesses to the massive infrastructural development going on in different parts of the country, especially construction and rehabilitation of roads.

"We are also witnesses to the unprecedented development that Gov. Abubakar Bello has brought to Niger State within these few years that he got the opportunity to govern our dear state.

"I feel that these two leaders should be supported by every well-meaning Nigerian that has genuine love for the country.

"If for nothing, I believe we should support them so that we will continue to enjoy good governance in the next four years."Ogbemudia made the call in Benin on Wednesday on the occasion of 85th posthumous birthday of his late father.

According to Ogbemudia, the country has passed through many trying times but God has always come to its rescue.

He said the fight against terrorism was a global challenge that should concern all Nigerians.

 Power comes from God, we have had similar challenges in the past.

This is Gods own country. President Buhari was not put there by man, he was put there by God and God knows the reason why he put him there.Kalu, who met with Babangida in Minna, told newsmen, after the meeting that lasted for two hours, that he begged the former military leader to endorse Buharis bid for a fresh term in 2019.

I am in Minna to campaign for President Muhammadu Buhari. At the meeting with Babangida, I pleaded with him to support Buharis re-election bid.

He has told me that he will think about it. To me, that is a a positive response, he said.

Kalu said that consultations were ongoing, both at home and abroad, over Buharis re-election bid.

The former governor opined that Buhari deserved a fresh tenure because he had done very well.

Buhari is doing well. He has achieved a lot for us. He is already taking Nigeria back to our glorious days, he said.

Kalu identified the massive investments in the railways and improved road network as some of the major achievements of the Buhari administration, saying that much more would be achieved if he was re-elected.The party said this while responding to statements made the APC leaders at a rally in Osunon Tuesday, September 18, 2018.

According to Daily Post, PDPs spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan said The emptiness of the speeches and their inability to present any resume or performance record of their candidate, Gboyega Oyetola, is a clear indication that APC leaders have no confidence in his candidature and have nothing to offer the people of Osun State.

The scanty attendance, in addition to the lackluster attitude of the audience, signposts the imminent defeat that awaits the APC in Osun state, despite their rigging plans.

Nigerians were heavily amused when President Buhari appropriated the rally, abandoned the governorship candidate, brought out a written script, and attempted to impress the people with his usual false performance claims.

ALSO READ: Senator Adeleke explains absence at Osun governorship debate

Meanwhile, APC chairman, Adams Oshiomhole has said that Osun people do not want a disco dancer in the Govt House.

He said the business of governance should not be left to people who will turn the Government House into a disco place.This comes just days to the state's September 22 gubernatorial election with Adeleke set to contest on the platform of the People's Democratic Party (PDP).

Ever since his emergence as the PDP's candidate, Adeleke, popularly called the "Dancing Senator" due to his habit of flamboyant dancing in public, has been accused of possessing a forged school leaving certificate.

PDP members in Osun State, Rasheed Olabayo and Oluwaseun Idowu, had filed a suit in court to challenge Adeleke's candidacy over the issue of his certificate.

However, during proceedings at an FCT High Court on Wednesday, September 19, 2018, WAEC cleared all doubts hanging over the authenticity of Adeleke's certificate.

An affidavit sworn to by WAEC's deputy registrar, head of school examination department, Henry Sunday Adewunmi Osindeinde, informed the court that Adeleke sat for the May/April 1981 at Ede Muslim High School in Osun state.

Adeleke will contest in the September 22 election on the platform of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) just a year after he won the Osun West Senatorial bye election to replace his deceased brother, Isiaka, the first civilian governor of Osun State.The lawmaker is accused of conspiring with four others to carry out the acts while writing National Examination Council (NECO) on July 21, 2017.

Adeleke, popularly called the "Dancing Senator" due to his habit of flamboyant dancing in public, is the governorship candidate of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 22 gubernatorial election.

In a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, on Wednesday, September 19, 2018, he accused the Senator of registering for NECO by impersonating students of Ojo/Aro Community High School in Osun State last year.

ece-auto-gen

Even though he was 57 years old at the time, the Senator allegedly claimed he was born on June 12, 1997, according to the result which was obtained from NECO.

The others who have been implicated in the scandal are Adeleke's brother, Sikiru, principal of the school, Aregbesola Mufutau, the staff responsible for registration, Gbadamosi Thomas Ojo and a teacher, Dare Olutope.

Adeleke and the four other suspects were asked to report to the Special Investigation Panel, Force Headquarters, Abuja immediately for arraignment in court.

Read full Police statement below:

"Examination Malpractice, Criminal Conspiracy, Personation, Breach of Duty, Aiding and Abetting against Senator Ademola Adeleke (PDP Governorship Aspirant in the 22nd September, 2018 Gubernatorial Election in Osun State) and four (4) others namely; MR Sikiru Adeleke, Alhaji Aregbesola Mufutau (Principal of Ojo-Aro Community Grammar School, Egbedore LGA, Osun State), Mr Gbadamosi Thomas Ojo (School Staff responsible for the registration of candidates for NECO), Mr Dare Olutope (School Teacher who facilitated the commission of the crime).

"On 21st July 2017, the Osun State Police Intelligence Bureau (SIB) received and acted on an actionable intelligence about an ongoing examination malpractice involving Senator Ademola Adeleke and Sikiru Adeleke at OJO/Aro Community High School in Osun state.

"When the Police operative arrived at the school, only Sikiru Adeleke was found seated for the examination while Senator Ademola Adeleke seat was vacant and was suspected to have escaped before the arrival of the Police operatives.

"Further investigation revealed that both Senator Ademola Adeleke and his brother Sikiru Adeleke registered and were sitting for the National Examination Council Examination (NECO) 2017 as internal candidates impersonating students of the School at the ages of 57years and 42years respectively. This crime was facilitated by the principal of the school, and two other members of staff of the school for which they are under investigation and being charged to court.

"The Principal of the school, Alhaji Aregbesola Mufutau, the staff responsible for registration, Mr Gbadamosi Thomas Ojo and a teacher Mr Dare Olutope were arrested on 21 July 2017.

"Senator Ademola Adeleke was arrested on 27 July 2017 and Sikiru Adeleke was arrested on 8 August 2017.

"Senator Ademola Adeleke made cautionary statement and admitted that he registered for the 2017 NECO examinations as an internal student in the said school but he didnt sit for the examination.

"However, Police investigation revealed the following primafacial and culpability facts against Senator Ademola Adeleke andfour (4) others.

"Senator Ademola Adeleke made cautionary statement and admitted that he registered for the 2017 NECO examinations as an internal student in the said school and did not sit for the examination but have a result from NECO with Seven (7) Credit and One (1) Pass, a copy of which was obtained from NECO by the Police.

"The Ojo/Aro 2017 NECO, SSCE school photo album (Schools copy), with Senator Ademola Adeleke and Sikiru Adeleke Photographs in school uniform in the said album. Senator Ademola Adeleke in the NECO 2017 Result obtained by the claimed that he was born on 12th June 1997 but in his statement to the Police, Senator Ademola Adeleke wrote 13th May 1960 as his Date of Birth.

"The photographs of both Senator Ademola Adeleke and Sikiru Adeleke appearing side by side in the photo album have no NECO stamps on them.

"Senator Ademola Adeleke and four others were arrested, investigated, granted bail and being charged to court. Charges of Examination Malpractice, Criminal Conspiracy, Personation, Breach of Duty, Aiding and Abetting against Senator Ademola Adeleke (PDP Governorship Aspirant in the 22nd September, 2018 Gubernatorial Election in Osun State) and four (4) others namely; MR Sikiru Adeleke, Alhaji Aregbesola Mufutau (Principal of Ojo-Aro Community High School, Egbedore LGA, Osun State), Mr Gbadamosi Thomas Ojo (School Staff responsible for the registration of candidates for NECO), Mr Dare Olutope (School Teacher who facilitated the commission of the crime) have been filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja under the Examination Malpractice Act, CAP E15, 2004 today, Wednesday, 19th September, 2018.Democrats Abroad September Social at Garbo Piano Bar

Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico - The Costa Banderas Chapter of Democrats Abroad Mexico invites you to join us for a 'Social Hour' in the air conditioned comfort of Garbo Piano Bar on Wednesday, September 19, 2018 from 6-8 pm. Everyone is invited to come out to enjoy an evening of fun and friendship that includes a no host bar offering Happy Hour prices.

Making Blue Waves - How You Can Help Sweep Democrats into Congress

Nick Bauer will presents a simple plan for your direct grassroots support to Democratic candidates vying for House and Senate seats in Novembers mid-term elections. Come join us for a drink, to share great camaraderie and to learn what you can do to push the Blue Wave into Congress!

Democrats Abroad Mexico is the official organization of the Democratic Party in Mexico; connecting Americans with US politics and the Democratic Party; registering, informing, and motivating voters; supporting candidates, holding events, and raising resources. Mexico has five chapters: Lake Chapala, Mexico City, San Miguel de Allende, Costa Banderas (Puerto Vallarta) and Mazatlan. But you don't have to be a Democrat, or an American, to join us for this fun get-together!

Garbo is a chic little piano and jazz bar located at Pulpito #142, between Olas Altas and Amapas in the Romantic Zone of Puerto Vallarta. The staff is friendly, there's a superb drink menu and you're sure to make new friends here. Join us!Pulse had exclusively reported thatLagos Governor Akinwunmi Ambode had moved his entourage and his wife, First Lady Bolanle Patience Ambode, to Osogbo where the APC was holding a mega rally for its governorship candidate in Osun, Gboyega Oyetola.

The campaign rally which was attended by President Muhammadu Buhari and all the APC governors, took place on Tuesday, September 18, 2018.

Their mission was to plead with Tinubu--who is now backing former Commissioner Babajide Sanwoolu ahead of the APC governorship primary slated for September 29to have a change of heart.

According to a report in Punch, that agenda didnt quite pan out as planned for the Ambodes.

Tinubu has fallen out with Ambode for a slew of reasons.

Waylaying Tinubu

writes that Mrs. Ambode waylaid the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and tried to pacify him to change his mind.

But her efforts did not yield any result as Tinubu was said to have received her cordially and joked with her".

adds that at a point, Mrs. Ambode had to fight back tears.

At a point, she became emotional despite the fact that many party leaders were there. But Asiwaju (Tinubu) did not give her the answer she desired. He merely treated her with courtesy", a source told the newspaper.

Pulse understands that Ambode has been dispatching a host of big name politicians to beg Tinubu on his behalf. At a recent book launch in Lagos, Ambode did everything to catch Tinubu's attention.

With Ambode eyeing a second term in office on the APC platform, the Mandate Movement, Tinubus political structure in Lagos, has thrown its weight behind Sanwoolu. The 57 local councils in Lagos have also endorsed Sanwoolu.

Sanwoolu is also being backed by all of Tinubus loyalists in Lagos and top politicians in the State who swear by Tinubu."International food supply warehouses were targeted in Hodeida (late on Monday), a clear sign that there is a plan by the United States, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and their allies to make warehouses and densely populated neighbourhoods legitimate targets of their terrorist operations," the head of the rebels' Supreme Revolutionary Council, Mohammed Ali al-Huthi, said.

WFP spokesman Herve Verhoosel declined to comment on the Huthi statement.

The Red Sea port of Hodeida is a vital lifeline for aid shipments to Yemen and the WFP has previously warned that any major fighting could halt food distributions to eight million Yemenis dependent on them for survival.

The rebel leader accused the rest of the international community of not doing enough to stop the coalition resuming its offensive, which it described as "terrorism".

"International tolerance of terrorism has only encouraged (the coalition) to plan and deliberately commit crimes," Huthi said.

The coalition announced late on Monday that it was ending the 11-week pause it had observed while UN efforts to convene peace negotiations continued.

Proposed UN-brokered talks in Geneva fell apart earlier this month when rebel delegates failed to show up, charging that they had not received promised guarantees for their return home afterwards.

Saudi Arabia and its allies accuse the Huthis of receiving arms smuggled from Iran through Hodeida, a charge both Tehran and the rebels deny.

The coalition first launched an offensive to retake the city in June, after capturing several of the province's smaller towns.

The rebels seized the Red Sea coast along with the capital Sanaa and much of the north in 2014.

The coalition intervened in March of the following year, when President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi fled into exile as the rebels closed in on his last refuge in second city Aden.In the southern states, especially Texas, New Mexico, California and Florida, it seems impossible to run a business without a Spanish speaking person or translator. This is also the case in many places throughout the United States. There are several cities and towns that have businesses which count on Spanish speaking employees for customer service and to help their businesses grow. This is a wonderful, multi-cultural phenomenon which we should embrace and accommodate for our Spanish speaking American residents.

Although every office should have at least one person who speaks Spanish, sometimes its not easy to find the right person. There are things to do however, that will ease translation with a Spanish speaker if you and your staff dont know any Spanish. Here are some tips to get by without having a Spanish speaker in the office to do things like set appointments or to provide basic services.

Dont become frustrated with non-native English speakers The first rule of thumb is to never get frustrated with Spanish speaking people. Remember, they are the ones trying to speak two languages. Think of how youd feel if you were living in Spain or Ecuador and did not speak the language. It would be nerve wracking and upsetting if you had to for example, contact a business for a needed service and you couldnt communicate easily in the local language. Simply put yourself in their shoes and feel some empathy.

Ask for their email and phone number If someone calls your office and requests a Spanish speaker, just ask them for their email and their phone number. Most people will recognize the words phone number and email. Simply go to Google Translate or one of the hundreds of translation tools on the internet. Strike up an email or text conversation instead of talking on the phone at that point. Be sure to let them know you are using translation software. Words can get lost in translation, and you dont want to offend anyone!

Use Google Translate Again, sometimes Google Translate doesnt translate in common sense from one language to another. Its important to use short sentences when texting or emailing. For example, I will help you. What do you need? Once again, be sure to tell the person you are using a translating software and some words wont make sense. Apologize in advance. Copy and paste the persons answer into Google Translate, but this time use the Spanish to English category. Chances are some of the sentence structure or grammar wont make sense, but you will get the gist of the conversation. ** Again, its very important to remember Google Translate isnt perfect and should never be used for legal, medical or other important or sensitive issues as the risk is too high for people receiving misinformation due to the message being lost in translation, which can very easily happen when using translation software.

Reach out to local colleges for a bilingual intern If you have a college or university nearby, call the school and ask about internship programs. You can offer an internship to a bilingual Spanish speaking student and they can come in at set hours during the day. Businesses are given perks for providing internships, so its a win-win situation. Advertise the day the Spanish speaker will be in the office on your website. This might make people feel more comfortable, and feel reassured that if they go to your office or call at a certain time, they will be able to speak Spanish and have their questions answered appropriately.US Correspondent Carol Ramos joins RadioLIVEs Roman Travers to give us the latest in News from America.

First up, the woman alleging sexual misconduct by a US Supreme Court nominee has made clear her conditions for testimony before the Senate. But will the senators comply?

Then, an interesting story has come to light concerning the discovery of some ancient but historically valuable wreckage.

According to Ramos, the ownership of said discovery could however pit the American government and the governments of Australia and the UK against one another.

And finally we are getting our first excerpts from Stormy Daniel's tell-all book Full Disclosure, highlighting her affair with Donald Trump. Sections of the memoir were released to UK publication The Guardian.

It may have been the least impressive sex Ive ever had," wrote Ms Daniels in the book.



In the words of Ramos, the world is now getting full disclosure if that isnt titillating enough.

Listen to the full interview with Carol Ramos above.



RadioLIVE.

USA: Private passenger operator Brightline announced on September 18 its intention to develop a second inter-city corridor linking Las Vegas with southern California. The Fortress Investment Group subsidiary has agreed to acquire the XpressWest project which holds the rights to develop a federally-approved rail corridor paralleling Interstate 15.RUSSIA: A proposal for the launch of frequent suburban rail services on a 53 km semi-circular route around St Petersburg has been submitted to the government by Russian Railways.Featuring actor Shilpa Shetty Kundra as a relationship guide, the original series is described by its producer Freemantle India as a roller coaster ride filled with romance, adventure, humour and surprise for the digital age.At Amazon, our aim is to provide customers with innovative content that they will love. We know that many of our customers enjoy dating shows but we didnt want to launch just another dating show; we wanted to launch one with a twist they have never seen before! said Vijay Subramaniam, director and head of content, Amazon Prime Video India In the show, women aged between 21 and 32, with diverse aspirations and from different walks of life, attempt to find love and companionship. Every episode features a single woman making a virtual acquaintance with three men, without ever leaving her room. The bachelors wear a mini camera on their chest sharing their lives, but never revealing their faces, thereby eliminating looks as a deciding factor when the woman selects her favourite.Shilpa Shetty Kundra describes the show, which was originally devised by Fremantles Israeli production company Abot Hameiri, as edgy and bold.Some of the attitudes of this generation, that I discovered during the show, were truly surprising for me, said Shetty Kundra. I was amazed by how practical they are and how clear they can be on what they want or dont want!Amazons Subramaniam added: With a disruptive format that offers customers a fresh and engaging look at dating, Hear Me. Love Me. , will provide a sneak peek into the minds of millennials and the younger generation  on how they think and what they really want when it comes to matters of the heart.All ten episodes will be available to stream by Amazon Prime Video members on 28 September.Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale

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We're sorry, this article is not currently availableBy Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 11/03/2021



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Which couples are still together and which MAFS couples have split up and divorced? And where are they now?

has featured 44 different couples getting married at first sight during it's first twelve seasons -- so which couples are still together, who has split up and divorced, and where are they all now?Each season of -- which premiered in the United States seven years ago and is based on a Danish series -- features couples (previously three couples, but four couples on Seasons 8 and 9, and five couples beginning with Season 10) being matched together by relationship experts and agree to marry when they first meet.Complete strangers become husband and wife in a matter of minutes, and the couples' lives are then documented by TV cameras over the course of the next four to eight weeks (eight weeks, in the case of 's most recent seasons).The couples typically enjoy their first night together in a hotel after exchanging vows -- with some couples deciding to consummate their marriage immediately -- and then embark on a honeymoon, move in together, and simply attempt to deal with the struggles of daily life as man and wife.At the end of the extreme marriage experiment, each couple must decide whether they'd like to stay married or get a divorce on "Decision Day."has experienced very mixed results over the years. While a significant number of couples decide to stay together and continue their new marriage at the end of their season, the real world seems to hit them hard after the cameras leave, resulting in the couple splitting up only months later.Do cast members see a different side of their spouses once cameras are gone, or do the romances naturally fizzle over time?Some couples are still together to this day and are extremely happy. Jamie Otis and Doug Hehner from Season 1, for example, have had two children.Several other couples have also had children -- including Ashley Petta and Anthony D'Amico Shawniece Jackson and Jephte Pierre Danielle Bergman and Bobby Dodd , and Deonna McNeill and Greg Okotie However, there are also relationships that ended badly. Jessica Castro from Season 2, for instance, accused Ryan De Nino of alleged death threats, and she went on to file a restraining order and lawsuit against him.Some couples have also never even made it to "Decision Day" and ended their marriage prematurely, including Season 4 couple Heather Seidel and Derek Schwartz as well as Season 6 couple Molly Duff and Jonathan Francetic Are the remaining couples now lovers, friends or enemies?! What about early season couples like Cortney Hendrix and Jason Carrion, Jaclyn Methuen and Ryan Ranellone, Vanessa Nelson and Tres Russell, Sonia Granados and Nick Pendergrast, and Lillian Vilchez and Tom Wilson?And how about more recent season couples like Danielle DeGroot and Cody Knapek Sheila Downs and Nate Duhon Jaclyn Schwartzberg and Ryan Buckley Dave Flaherty and Amber Martorana , and Tristan Thompson and Mia Bally Keith Dewar and Kristine Killingsworth , and AJ Vollmoeller and Stephanie Sersen Click thelink below to see photos of each couple and find out!

BEGIN GALLERY >>

Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.Athens, GA (30605)

Today

Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. High 79F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early will become overcast later during the night. Low 51F. Winds light and variable.There are some big doings in the state this week.

Tuesday, Ridgefield Playhouse brings in blues legend Buddy Guy. He is the dean of Chicago blues and one of the remaining links to its beginnings. Guy is touring in support of his new studio album, The Blues Is Alive And Well. The album features guest appearances by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Jeff Beck. Grammy Award-winning producer/songwriter and longtime collaborator Tom Hambridge produced the album.

Guy didnt immediately rise to the top. He worked long and hard with a talent that would not be denied. He left Louisiana for Chicago, got his guitar skills going, and never looked back. Many remember him for his album with Jr. Wells, a partnership that served both. Now, just his mention draws audiences  he is blues history at its best.

Another big man in the blues is New Yorker Popa Chubby, who is heading to Bridge Street Live on Friday. Born Ted Horowitz, he has been hard rocking the blues in his fierce and soulful way for more than 25 years. Over the course of his career, he has been a force of to be reckoned with on the guitar. His tempestuous, soulful playing has never been more powerful, yet he can slow it down to a tasteful ballad. An imposing figure with a shaven head, tattooed arms, a goatee and a performance style he describes as the Stooges meets Buddy Guy, Motorhead meets Muddy Waters, and Jimi Hendrix meets Robert Johnson, Popa Chubby is an endearing character who is one of the genres most popular figures.

Saturday, is going to be a night to remember at Black-Eyed Sallys, when legendary harp-master Jerry Portnoy leads a cadre of harp players including Dave Robbins, Cheryl Arena and Johnny Marino.

Portnoy grew up in the blues-rich atmosphere of Chicagos famous Maxwell Street Market during the golden age of Chicago blues. He began his professional career in the late 60s, and since that time has performed, live and on television, for millions of people around the world. He has put in his time with the legendary Muddy Waters, as well as Eric Clapton and Ronnie Earl.

On Friday, Doug Deming & the Jewel Tones will be at Sallys. Deming is an American blues and roots guitarist/vocalist and 2013 recipient of the Blues Blast Music Awards Sean Costello Rising Star Award. His traditional taste and style are evident in his original music.

Saturday, The Bijou Theatre brings in the George T. Gregory Band. Gregory is a vocalist and strong Sax player, who has been delighting audiences from New England and out to the San Francisco Bay Area for years. He plays with a modern mix of original and cover songs in Blues, R & B, Electric Motown, Pop Jazz, and New Orleans style rock and roll. His band provides a flavorful mix of music that makes everyone get up and dance.

On the East Coast, his successful band, The George T. Gregory Band, headlined many of the same clubs as The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Roomful of Blues, The Nighthawks, and The Fabulous Rhinestones. Gregory will keep an audience entertained. Leo Boogie will open the evening.

Cafe Nine has a Tuesday show with Eric Lindell. He effortlessly mixes West Coast rock, swampy New Orleans R&B, honky tonk country and Memphis soul, creating music that is both surprisingly fresh and sweetly familiar. Although influenced by American roots music from blues to country to rock, Lindells style is all his own.

Saturday, the Maple Tree Cafe has its monthly Connecticut Blues Society show. This week features Carl Ricci and 706 Union Ave. Get ready for some hot guitar, ringing harmonica and a lot of fun.

Saturday, Infinity Music Hall; Norfolk has Bettye LaVette. This Diva burst onto the Detroit music scene, where she quickly caught the attention of the Soul world. From singing in James Browns Review, touring with Otis Redding, making disco and R&B chart topping solo records, she also won WC Handy Blues album awards, and a six year Broadway run in Bubbling Brown Sugar among her credits. This 3-time Grammy Nominee along with Blues Music Awards, has been tearing up stages and blowing away audiences around the globe.

In Hartford, Infinity Music Hall on Saturday has Sacred Fire and Bell Bottom Blues, a night honoring Santana and Clapton.

FTC Warehouse has a Friday, End of Summer Jam. Summer is coming to a close so FTC is having one last free outdoor-indoor throw down. Head to the Warehouse at 6 pm for live music by bluesman Tony Sarno Band followed by local favorites, The Alpaca Gnomes.

A cabaret style event on Saturday with the Kathy Thompson Band takes place from 7 to 10 p.m. at Father Toner Hall at Christ the Redeemer Church in Milford. It is a style geared for fun, so gather a group of friends together for a fun night of listening and dancing. For information call 203-877-8757.

Get the complete Blues Beat schedule on Thursday at the blog http://bluesbeatnews.wordpress.com/. Any questions or comments should be sent to Domenic Forcella at TWBlus@aol.com.America's favorite same-sex puppet duo enjoyed one day out of the closet before the two were led right back in by Sesame Street producer, Sesame Workshop.

The producer released a statement after Mark Saltzman, writer of Sesame Street, confirmed that Bert and Ernie were more than friends.

"As we have always said, Bert and Ernie are best friends," the producer insisted, revealing heretofore undisclosed insight into the puppet species: "Even though they ... possess many human traits and characteristics ... they remain puppets, and do not have a sexual orientation."

The statement comes a day after Queerty's interview with Saltzman, which is as much about his own past and sexuality as it is about his fictional characters.

"I remember one time that a column from The San Francisco Chronicle, a preschooler in the city turned to mom and asked, 'Are Bert and Ernie lovers?' And that, coming from a preschooler was fun. And I always felt that without a huge agenda, when I was writing Bert and Ernie, they were," Saltzman told Queerty.

Saltzamn compared himself and his longterm partner Arnold Glassman to the two characters: "Arnie's OCD would create friction with how chaotic I was. And that's the Bert & Ernie dynamic."

When talking about Glassman, who died in 2003, the interview became a heartbreaking exploration of being a semi-closeted gay man during the AIDS crisis.

"You also have to remember, all our friends were dying," he told Queerty.

Appropriately in light of the Sesame Workshop statement, much of Saltzman's reflections revolved around the difficulty of not feeling entirely comfortable being "out." Similarly, the interview allows us a deeper glimpse into the inner lives of the beloved puppet partners. It seems the two will continue to share their creator's difficult pathway out of the closet.

Editor's note: A previous version of this article was published stating that PBS made the statement. It has since been corrected to indicate that Sesame Workshop made the statement.

Emma Heath is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her with comments or questions at Emma.Heath@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @emmabheath.NORWALK  Every time he moves, Phillip Roselle can feel the 9-mm bullet still lodged in the right side of his chest.

The 30-year veteran of the Norwalk Police Department has been dealing with that bullet, along with a host of other medical issues, since another officer accidentally shot him during training session at a gun range in September 2017.

More than a year later, Roselle is not only out of work, hes still fighting for his life.

Complications from the shooting have led to blood clots, a partial blockage of his heart and permanent nerve damage in his right hand. Recently, doctors told Roselle that he will also need a kidney transplant to survive.

My life did a 360 that day, Roselle said. I still try to do the best I can, but as a man, Im expected to be the bread winner, the father figure, the foundation of the family and all. Im used to protecting and helping people. To turn around and have everyone needing to help me, its something that will take some time getting used to.

After the shooting, Roselle knew he would have to fight to recover. What he didnt see coming was a fight with the city he had sworn an oath to protect.

Roselle, 51, has twice been denied workers compensation. The Connecticut Workers Compensation Commission reasoned that an underlying health problem, Type 1 diabetes, is keeping him out of work. The family argues he was healthy until the shooting began his downward slide.

Friends and family blame Norwalk for the denial, saying it ultimately falls on the city to protect its first responders.

For him to go to work one day and to have something like this happen, which you have no control over, its not only a financial setback, its also a mental setback, said his wife, Debbie Roselle. For Phillip to get better, he needs his mental state to be in a better place, and that feeling of abandonment, when you serve your city and you put your life on the line for 30 years, and they turn their back on you, it just hurts.

City officials say the decision is in the hands of the commission. In June, the commission made its second determination that Roselle is being kept out of work by his underlying medical condition, not any shooting-related injuries, according to Ray Burney, the personnel director for the city.

Both the commission and the Connecticut Interlocal Risk Management Agency, a municipal insurance provider, declined to comment.

Roselle, who was diagnosed with diabetes 32 years ago, said the commissions conclusion couldnt be farther from the truth.

Ive always been diabetic, thats never impeded my ability to be a police officer, Roselle said. For 30 years, I did everything that a police officer is required to do, and I did it to the fullest.

Despite the setbacks, Roselles attorney, Matthew Paradisi of the Hartford-based firm Cicchiello & Cicchiello, said they will continue to fight for compensation, calling the grounds for the denial untenable and unethical.

From our perspective, legally, Norwalk should be coming to the table and compensating him for these injuries. And the fact that his benefits were cut off, in my mind, is unconscionable, Paradisi said.

Mayor Harry Rilling, a former Norwalk police chief and police union president, said the city had no role in the decision, adding that he recently reached out to the family to figure out what options are available.

We need to do everything we can to protect our first responders, Rilling said. They put their lives on the line day in and day out, and we need to make sure that were here for them when they need us.

The Roselle family confirmed that Rilling had reached out to them last week, but said there had been no progress with the case since.

Lt. Dave OConnor, the president of the police union, said it is the unions position that Roselle was injured at work, therefore he is entitled to workers compensation until he is able to return to work.

We are concerned that he is not getting what he needs from workers comp, and we would like to see that resolved as quickly as possible, OConnor said. He doesnt have a paycheck coming in now, which is causing us great angst and its putting an enormous amount of strain on his family.

In the line of duty

The morning of Sept. 5, 2017, started the way most days had for Roselle. He woke up, put on his uniform and said goodbye to his family before setting off to work.

It a training day for Roselle and a handful of other officers. The first half of the day was consumed by briefings on the latest in use-of-force training and new policies and laws around the state. After a few hours of written and visual work, the officers went to the departments gun range on the second floor of police headquarters for hands-on training. A few officers practiced shooting an AR-15, a lightweight semi-automatic rifle, while Roselle and others got acquainted with the departments newly issued Glock 17 pistols.

The target shooting went off without incident. Then it was time to clean the weapons.

I just remember I was cleaning my gun when I heard a bang and I felt a pain in my chest and in my arm, and I looked down and there was blood everywhere, Roselle said.

A round tore through his right arm and into his ribcage.

A police report said he stumbled backwards and fell to the ground. One officer elevated Roselles head, placing it in his lap while another put a tourniquet on his arm.

From there things grew foggy for Roselle, but he said he remembers officers the officers rushing to his aid and being dashed to the hospital. Police frantically closed intersections on the route between police headquarters and Norwalk Hospital.

Roselle later learned that a superior officer was disassembling his department-issued pistol, a Glock 17, when the bullet was accidentally fired. According to police reports, the shooter thought he had cleared his guns chamber before pulling the trigger, which is required when disassembling a Glock.

Police Chief Tom Kulhawik said he would not comment on personnel matters.

Roselle declined to name the officer involved, saying he knew the officer was suffering his own trauma from the accident. The two are still friends.

I know it was an accident, so theres no hard feelings there, he said. At the end of the day, were still brothers in blue.

Roselle said has been dealing with post-traumatic stress and swings of depression. Hes been rushed to the emergency room several times since his initial hospitalization.

Between the emergency room visits, dialysis three times a week for four hours, and various other doctor visits, his family said the bills are piling up. Roselle has had to discontinue the physical therapy required to strengthen his right hand.

While Roselle said he has not felt the full support of City Hall, the same cannot be said of the Norwalk Police Department, where hes served since he was 19 years old. Roselle said his brothers and sisters at the Norwalk Police Department have been among the most supportive in his time of need.

Officer Kelly Hollister, for instance, started a GoFundMe account in August. The fundraiser page, an effort to ensure that Roselle and his family didnt need to worry about money, had raised $16,308 of its $20,000 goal as of Tuesday afternoon.

My other family, the ones that I worked in the street with, have been great with helping me out. The moral support Ive received from them  it means a lot, he said.

Roselle, whose son is a cop in New Haven, said his fight against the city and their insurer is not only for his own benefit, but for any other officers who finds themselves in a similar situation.

I want to make sure that this never happens again, and if it does, then I want to make sure that the procedures that the city takes in protecting police officers will be a lot better than it has been for me, Roselle said. We [officers] take this job to serve and protect the city, and all we ask back for it is a little respect back from the city.Republicans and Democrats face a week of uncertainty before the high-stakes Senate Judiciary Committee showdown between Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and the woman who accuses him of sexually assaulting her when they were teenagers.

The GOP still may get Kavanaugh confirmed, but at a huge risk. The image of 11 male Republicans grilling a woman who says she's the victim of sexual assault may not be what the party wants shortly before a congressional election at the height of the "Me Too" movement.

Democrats' last chance to derail a nominee who seemed to be nearing confirmation rests on a claim by California college professor Christine Blasey Ford that Kavanaugh assaulted her 36 years ago. Four of the committee's 10 Democrats are women, and party members hope the drama will boost their bid to win control of the House and Senate on Nov. 6.

Much will ride on how Kavanaugh and Ford perform in the witness chair on Sept. 24.

Maine Sen. Susan Collins, who is not on the committee but was among the Republicans who pushed for a public hearing, said Monday she doesn't yet know whom to believe.

"That's why we need to have a public hearing so I can assess her credibility," Collins said. She said earlier said she wants to hear "testimony under oath with a lot of questions asked of both of them."

"If Judge Kavanaugh has lied about what happened, that would be disqualifying," Collins said.

"These are serious charges," said Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona, a GOP Judiciary Committee member. "And if they're true, I think they're disqualifying." He said he told Republican leaders he would vote against confirmation unless the committee delayed its vote, originally planned for Thursday, to first hear from Kavanaugh and Ford.

In the 51-49 Senate, two Republican defections would sink Kavanaugh if Democrats all vote no. The nominee spent about nine hours at the White House on Monday.

Ford says that Kavanaugh was drunk at a Maryland house party in about 1982 and pinned her down on a bed, tried to remove her clothes and put his hand over her mouth to stop her from screaming. She said she was able to escape, but The Washington Post reported that she described the incident to a therapist in 2013 as a "rape attempt."

Kavanaugh, 53, has repeatedly denied Ford's claim, and President Donald Trump defended his second high court choice Monday as one of "the finest people I've ever known."

"If it takes a little delay, it'll take a little delay" to get him confirmed, the president said.

Kavanaugh said in a statement issued Monday by the White House: "This is a completely false allegation. I have never done anything like what the accuser describes -- to her or to anyone. Because this never happened, I had no idea who was making this accusation until she identified herself yesterday."

Judiciary panel Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, had hoped to avoid a public hearing, but ultimately bowed to pressure from Democrats and some Republicans to do more than have staff talk to Ford and Kavanaugh by phone. Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., said senators will have the opportunity to ask questions.

So far the committee hasn't said whether it will call any additional witnesses, such as Kavanaugh classmate Mark Judge, who according to Ford was in the room during the alleged attack. He was quoted Friday by the Weekly Standard as saying no such incident ever occurred.

Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., said a committee vote on Kavanaugh could come by the end of next week, depending on what information comes out of the hearing.

"You have the man and the woman and then you go from there," Shelby said.

Some Democrats said they want an FBI investigation of Ford's accusation before a hearing.

"I'd like to hear from the FBI if they can conduct a credible investigation of these claims in less than a week. I'd be very surprised if they can," said Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware.

But the White House hasn't asked the FBI for an investigation, a step that is required for the bureau to take further action, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democratic Judiciary panel member, said that putting Ford before the committee "without a full, fair investigation would be a disservice to her, to the American people and to Judge Kavanaugh."

"As a prosecutor I would never put a witness on the stand, a crime survivor, without knowing in advance what other witnesses may say, what records and documents show," said Blumenthal, the former attorney general of Connecticut.

The hearing will be a milestone in the "Me Too" movement that seeks to hold people responsible for sexual abuse and harassment. It comes 27 years after the bruising confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, who was accused of sexually harassing attorney Anita Hill when he was her supervisor at two federal agencies. Both testified publicly before the then all-male Judiciary Committee amid a public uproar, and Thomas was confirmed on a 52-48 vote.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, the top Democrat on the committee, referred to the Hill hearing, which began shortly after her allegations against Thomas became publicly known, in a statement on Monday night. "Republicans want to repeat past mistakes, rushing the process to hold a hearing," Feinstein said.

In 1991, however, the committee was controlled by Democrats.

Feinstein also called for the FBI to step in, saying in the statement, "We must not repeat the mistakes of the past and rush the process before we're able to gather more information."

Trump already is under pressure from Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation and the prospect of Republicans losing control of the House or Senate, or both, in the election. The GOP has hoped to use Kavanaugh's confirmation as a major campaign selling point.

The White House and GOP lawmakers accuse Democrats of waiting until late in the confirmation process to disclose the claim by Ford, who had sought anonymity for weeks before ultimately deciding to reveal her identity. Democrats have contended that the GOP is seeking to jam Kavanaugh's nomination through the Senate without releasing thousands of records on his work as a lawyer in President George W. Bush's White House.

The sex assault allegation threatens to harm the GOP's already lackluster standing with women. Female voters preferred Democratic candidates over Republicans by 54 percent to 33 percent, while 62 percent of women disapproved of Trump's job performance, according to an NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll in July.

--With assistance from Bloomberg's Shannon Pettypiece and Justin Sink.Cambodias Prime Minister Hun Sen on Wednesday lashed out at critics who claimed opposition chief Kem Sokha was released on bail as a result of international pressure on his regime, saying the head of the now-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) was freed due to concerns about his health.



Kem Sokha was arrested in September last year on treason charges widely seen as politically motivated and the Supreme Court dissolved his CNRP two months later for its part in an alleged plot to topple the government, banning its candidates from taking part in a July 29 general election that Hun Sens ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) steamrolled without any viable opponent.



The political crackdown drew condemnation from western governments who lamented Cambodias reversals on democracy, dismissed Julys ballot as unfree and unfair, and had demanded Kem Sokhas release and a reinstatement of the CNRP.



Hun Sen, who secured another five-year term to add to his 33 years in office after official election results were announced on Aug. 15, has made a practice of heavy-handed crackdowns on his critics, followed by a relaxation of restrictions after facing international condemnation.



Despite being denied bail six times, Kem Sokha was finally granted a release by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court from pre-trial detention on Sept. 10, under the conditions that he must stay within a block radius of his home, cannot meet with CNRP officials or foreigners, and cannot or host any rallies or political activities.



On Wednesday, Hun Sen downplayed the release, noting that Kem Sokha is still facing treason charges.



There was a concern that he might die in jail and then there would be an issue for the government, he said.



He also defended the conditions of virtual house arrest, saying the judges in Kem Sokhas case have the right to limit his freedom.



In our country, we dont have a law that allows for house arrest, so the judge can create a limited zone for the person to stay within, he said.



We must prepare a draft law that allows judges to put people under house arrest, he added, warning that if Kem Sokha breaches the courts order, he could be forcibly relocated.



House arrest



Hun Sens comments came after Interior Minister Sar Kheng told CPP supporters in Prey Veng province over the weekend about his frustration over the difficulty in justifying Kem Sokhas virtual house arrest through a legal system that does not allow for such a condition of release.



According to a video of the speech posted to Sar Khengs Facebook page, the minister said he ordered a letter be prepared for Kem Sokha to sign which said that the opposition chief was worried about his personal safety and security and requested the national police to provide him with protection.



First we asked him to write that he needed security protection at his house, the minister said.



But he asked that the term house be removed. We agreed. By means of that letter, we could not be accused of placing him under house arrest.



The ministers remarks stood in stark contradiction to what Hun Sen has said about Kem Sokhas case, which is that his bail was granted at the discretion of the courts, and that his government had no say in it.



The video of Sar Khengs comments was removed from his Facebook page a few hours after it was posted, with no explanation given for its retraction.



The comments were seen to confirm what many in Cambodia believe to be truethat Hun Sens government enjoys near total influence over the countrys courts.



On Wednesday, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court issued a statement defending its conditions for Kem Sokhas bail, but denying that creating a zone for him to stay within is a form of house arrest.



Kem Sokhas movement was limited in the interest of protecting his security and for the sake of his health, it said.



Kem Sokha has been placed under court supervision and he is not under house arrest, the statement said.



The charged person has enough freedom to leave his house within a zone drawn up by an investigative judge. He can meet anyone who is not banned by the court.



Legal expert Heang Rithy told RFAs Khmer Service that placing Kem Sokha under virtual house arrest is against the law in Cambodia, adding that even if Hun Sens CPP-dominated National Assembly approves a draft law allowing for such a condition of release, it would not apply to the opposition chief because his bail has already been granted.



UN seat



Hun Sen on Wednesday also dismissed suggestions that the United Nations might strip Cambodia of its seat, amid the restrictions he imposed on Cambodias democracy and an ongoing crackdown on the political opposition, NGOs and the independent media.



Recently, people have spread rumors that Cambodia will be stripped of its U.N. seatwho dares to do that, he said.



Hun Sen is scheduled to deliver a speech at the U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 28 and plans to meet with supporters in the U.S. the following day.



The Prime Ministers comments came on the same day as a group of local rights groups Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR), Adhoc, and the Solidarity Center (SC) released its second annual report of the Cambodia Fundamental Freedoms Monitor, which detailed the state of the freedoms of association, expression, and assembly in the country from April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018.



For the period of investigation, which included much of the lead up to Julys general election, the groups found a decrease in the public's ability to exercise fundamental freedoms, noting that voices deemed critical of government officials and policies were suppressed with increasing frequency and severity, at the national and local levels.



Freedom of association was curtailed due to new amendments to the legal framework, an increase in surveillance and monitoring of association activities, and a surge in sanctions against political parties and NGOs, the report said, while freedom of expression also came under sustained pressure with new legal restrictions on speech, increased self-censorship, and the closure of many independent media outlets.



The report also noted that freedom of assembly continued to be suppressed due to a prevalence of arbitrary restrictions.



Adhoc spokesman Soeung Sen Karuna told RFA that NGOs are concerned about the future of Cambodia because the government continues to ignore their findings on the state of human rights in the country.



We have observed the space for freedoms is getting smaller, he said, adding that groups like his routinely face harassment from local authorities when trying to meet with people to educate them about their rights.



Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.Authorities in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong are targeting a media editor after he retweeted video footage of officials in the eastern province of Jiangxi snatching a coffin in a bid to implement bans on traditional burials in favor of cremation.

Many elderly people in rural China purchase their coffins in preparation for their own funerals in accordance with traditional preferences for burial in or near one's ancestral home, and officials in some parts of the country have been forcibly removing them from people's homes in a bid to encourage them to use cremation instead, sparking online outrage in recent weeks.

Trade publication editor Liu Zhixiang, who is currently hiding from police in the provincial capital Guangzhou, was contacted by local police and officials after posting the video to Sina Weibo on Sept. 14.

Liu, who works for the Guangdong Enterprise Brand Construction Promotion Association, said that while the video footage was deleted by government censors or filters within a minute of his reposting it, his text comment was published.

"I got home at around 8 p.m., and my father called me to say that the village committee had asked for my phone number, and that he gave it to them," he said.

"No sooner had I gotten off the phone, when I got a call from the head of the internet police in [Jiangxi's] Jishui county, saying that my Sina Weibo tweet had been picked up by [local government] surveillance, and was causing them no end of trouble," Liu said.

"They asked me to delete it as soon as possible, so that I would be able to 'carry on living my life in peace'," he said.

Liu complied, and thought that would be the end of the matter, but is now being pursued by Jiangxi police in Guangzhou.

"After I deleted it, I got a call from a police officer asking where the footage was taken," Liu said. "I replied that I had seen it on a group chat. A few days went by, and I thought that that was that."

"But then the internet police called me on [Tuesday] evening ... saying they were in Guangzhou, and that they wanted to meet with me. I was very anxious," he said.

Coffin-snatching phenomenon

"Coffin-snatching" by local officials is a growing phenomenon in rural China, where families prefer traditional burials in the soil of their hometowns, and where officials are under increasing pressure by the ruling Chinese Communist Party to end such burials in favor of cremation.

A resident of Jiangxi's Xiangyang said that while many people are in favor of funeral reform, they are uncomfortable with being coerced into it by the government.

"It's too brutal, because these elderly people have already bought their coffin and have it in their homes," she said, referring to a traditional custom to start saving for a coffin and to take satisfaction in buying it long before it is needed.

"I think they are using mandatory measures, which makes people feel as if they're not handing them over voluntarily," she said.

Online reports have surfaced from Jiangxi detailing clashes between local people and officials trying to remove or destroy people's coffins, but videos of such incidents are quickly deleted from China's tightly controlled internet.

A Jiangxi-based rights activist surnamed Wang said the practice of preparing for one's funeral well in advance is largely a rural one.

"We don't have these problems in the cities  only in the countryside," Wang said. "I have seen reports online of bodies [in coffins] being snatched even."

"This is a question of people's traditions and customs, and adopting a one-size-fits-all approach is completely wrong," he said.

Jiangxi officials say they will compensate anyone voluntarily giving up their coffins with up to 2,000 yuan (U.S. $291), but the better quality coffins can cost as much as 5,000 yuan (U.S. $728), sources told RFA.



Coercive action

An Aug. 4 editorial on the relatively liberal Caixin Global business news site hit out at the practice, reporting that "enforcement teams have entered village homes, seized empty coffins, and smashed them with excavators."

"Many elderly people, who by local custom have saved up for many years to purchase their own coffins, have been reduced to tears by this violent form of law enforcement," the article said.

Government policy requires local governments to implement funeral reform, but in theory forbids any coercive action to achieve targets, it said.

"The lack of mass acceptance exposes reform to the risk of collapse," the editorial warned.

"Chinese society has long been ordered around a series of ethical rules, which are closely related to the practice of ancestor worship," it said. "Even today, ancestor worship still has active relevance, and funerals serve as important tools for maintaining social order and helping people find psychological stability."

Reported by Qiao Long and Yang Fan for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Wong Siu-san and Lau Siu-fung for the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.The wife of a Chinese cartoonist and rights activist who was jailed after being repatriated from Thailand where he was granted United Nations refugee status has appealed to international bodies to put pressure on Beijing for his release.



Canada-based Chu Ling, wife of Jiang Yefei, has called on the U.N., the Canadian government, and rights groups to do everything in their power to put pressure on the ruling Chinese Communist Party for his release.



In an open letter, Chu hit out at the Chinese government for pursuing her husband out of political revenge for satirical cartoons about President Xi Jinping, one of which depicted Xi as an emperor with a bird in a cage, clad in silk embossed with the Communist Party's hammer and sickle, and ignoring sick and impoverished workers and farmers standing before him.



This human rights case has to do with Xi Jinping's personal vengeance," Chu wrote, warning that the high-level backing for his incarceration meant his personal safety is at risk in jail.



Chu said she and her family had remained silent at first, in the hope of "preserving Jiang's life and out of fear of further mad revenge and torture being inflicted upon him."



But she said he had already been hurt.



"One of Jiangs eyes has been permanently damaged; he was forced to accept a lawyer assigned by the authorities; his family members were denied the right to attend his trial; and he has been barred from having any communication with the outside world," she wrote.



"In every age, there are the brave ones who stand up to oppose dictators, hoping that the dictators will change course," the letter, translated by the U.S.-based group Human Rights in China, said.



"But Xi Jinping's era is a vastly different era, of intensified oppression of different voices who suffer more cruel and direct consequences."



Information blackout



Since she began her campaign, Chu says there has been no news of Jiang.



"The Chinese government has imposed an information blackout, so we don't know anything," she said in an interview with RFA on Wednesday. "I think that is pretty frightening."



"One of Jiang Yefei's eyes has already been damaged beyond repair, so I hope he will be able to get out on medical parole and seek medical treatment overseas," she said.



Jiang's sister Jiang Haoyang said she had been turned away from the detention center when she tried to deliver some clothing and food to Jiang.



"They said that they have clothes to wear inside, and that he'd have no use for them," she said."I asked the guard about my brother's injury, how his eye was ... and he said it was probably self-inflicted."



"I said I didn't think so, and that I was worried and they tried to reassure me that they would treat him well and I should stop worrying, because he was very cooperative."



Jiang Haoyang said she was skeptical that Chu's appeal would make much difference to the authorities in China.



"It's the same all over China nowadays. A lot of people have been arrested for standing up for people's rights," she said.



An official who answered the phone at the Chongqing Detention Center where Jiang is being held declined to comment on his state of health.



"We can't check that for you from here, and we don't really know about it," the official said.



Sent back from Thailand



Jiang was jailed by a court in the southwestern Chinese city of Chongqing in July, alongside fellow activist and asylum-seeker Dong Guangping.



Jiang and Dong fled with their families to Thailand in 2015, and were granted refugee status by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees office in Bangkok.



But as they awaited resettlement in a third country, they were handed over to China by the Thai police in a move that drew strong criticism from the U.N.



Dong and Jiang were both found guilty of "incitement to subvert state power" and "illegally crossing a national border" by a court in Chongqing. Jiang received a six-and-a-half-year jail term, while Dong was sentenced to three-and-a-half years.



Chu, Dong's wife Gu Shuhua, and her daughter Dong Xuerui flew to Canada from Bangkok for resettlement as political refugees just days after the two men were repatriated.



Chu called on London-based rights group Amnesty International, the Canadian government, and the United Nations to intervene in Jiang's case and to put pressure on Beijing to grant him medical parole and safe passage to join his family in Canada.



Reported by Wong Lok-to for RFA's Cantonese Service, and by the Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.China's foreign ministry hit out on at the "politicization" of the media after reports that Washington has ordered two of Beijing's state media behemoths to register as agents of a foreign government under lobbying laws.



The U.S. Justice Department had demanded that China's official Xinhua News Agency and state-owned international broadcaster CGTN register as foreign agents, which could limit their access in Washington, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal and by Bloomberg news agency.



"Media serve as an important bridge and link to help the people from different countries to better understand and communicate with each other," foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a regular news briefing in Beijing on .



"We hope that the relevant side provides convenience and creates conditions for the media in carrying out their normal work, and not put up barriers, still less politicizing their role," Geng said.



Geng said China has had discussions with the United States on the issue.



"Both sides have had contact and communication on this issue," he told reporters.



According to the Wall Street Journal report, registering with the Foreign Agents Registration Act, or FARA, would put Xinhua and CGTN in the same legal category as lobbyists working for overseas entities and could cause them to lose their congressional press credentials.



Similar measures have already been applied to the U.S. affiliates of Russia's state-run RT television network and its government-controlled Sputnik Radio, after the organizations were accused by U.S. intelligence of being part of a Moscow-led effort to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.



The report cited a January letter from a bipartisan group of senators including Marco Rubio calling for more information about the operations of Chinese state media on U.S. soil.



Xinhua News Agency is directly controlled by the ruling Chinese Communist Party and answers to the country's cabinet, the State Council, while CGTN is the English-language network of Beijing-based state broadcaster CCTV, under the direct control of the ruling party's Central Propaganda Department.



'Telling good China stories'

In March, the administration of President Xi Jinping strengthened its hold on all forms of public expression, enlarging its powerful propaganda department to absorb agencies responsible for regulating the mass media, as the president himself embarked on an unlimited -- and controversial -- term in office.



'The new leadership structure was introduced to "strengthen the partys centralized and unified leadership in public opinion work by the media," the party's central committee said in a directive at the time.



"After this adjustment, the main responsibility of the Central Propaganda Department will be to implement the partys propaganda guidelines," it said, adding that the department will also formulate and implement media and publication policy and manage the sectors.



The country's international broadcasters will be tasked with "propagating the party's theories, directions, principles and policies" as well as "telling good China stories," it said.



Liu Hu, a former reporter with Guangzhou's Modern Express newspaper who was detained for exposing official corruption, said the U.S. requirement was entirely understandable.



"They are going back to the original purpose for these organizations, which were set up as propaganda organs for the Communist Party and the government," Liu said. "They have no way to be objective, because they are entirely subject to party and government."



"It is entirely fair that the U.S. should seek to impose controls on these organizations, and it should have done so from the start," he said.



Hong Kong-based publisher Bao Pu said Xinhua and CGTN are also taking on an expanding role as propaganda arms of the government overseas.



"It is clear beyond doubt that an organization like Xinhua News Agency is an agent of the Chinese state," Bao told RFA. "What people want to know, though, is what impact its actions are having in the U.S."



The move to force Xinhua and CGTN to register as foreign agents comes amid reports that Beijing is sending an ever-increasing number of agents to operate in foreign countries.



In , exiled billionaire Guo Wengui, also known as Miles Kwok, revealed a document to the National Press Club in Washington backing up his claim that China has stepped up its U.S.-based spying operations, sending dozens of new operatives from the state security police to work in the country.



Guo said the new spying operations use the Bank of China branches in New York city and Washington D.C., as well as Chinese diplomatic missions in the U.S., as a base.



Reported by Ng Yik-tung and Lau Siu-fung for RFA's Cantonese Service, and by the Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (R) and South Korean President Moon Jae-in (L) react as they watch the large-scale gymnastic and artistic performance in Pyongyang, Sept. 19, 2018.

The leaders of North and South Korea reached a broad agreement Wednesday on denuclearization and missiles, winning plaudits from U.S. President Donald Trump but leaving difficult diplomacy and the question of Pyongyangs demands on Washington for future rounds of talks.

In a joint statement after a summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in Pyongyang, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pledged to destroy a major North Korean missile facilities and close the country's main nuclear complex. The offered North Korean moves were conditional on U.S. reciprocal action.

Speaking at a joint news conference in the North Korean capital, the two Korean leaders agreed to turn the peninsula into a "land of peace without nuclear weapons and nuclear threats."



Kim renewed promises to work toward the "complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula" he had made to Moon earlier this year and at his June summit with Trump in Singapore.

Trump welcomed the developments in Pyongyang, which also included a host of inter-Korean agreements to deepen economic and cultural ties.



"We're making tremendous progress with respect to North Korea. Prior to becoming president, it looked like we were going to war with North Korea and now we have a lot of progress," Trump told reporters at the White House, according to news agency reports.

"A lot of tremendous things but very importantly no missile testing, no nuclear testing."

"The relationships, I have to tell you, at least on a personal basis, are very good. It is very much calmed down," Trump said.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo welcomed the Pyongyang agreement, saying he spoke with his North Korean counterpart, Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho, and invited him to meet in New York next week on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

"On the basis of these important commitments, the United States is prepared to engage immediately in negotiations to transform U.S.-DPRK relations," said Pompeo in a statement issued on Wednesday.

In addition to Pompeo's proposed meeting with Ri, "we have invited North Korean representatives to meet our Special Representative for North Korea, Stephen Biegun, in Vienna, Austria at the earliest opportunity," the statement said.

"This will mark the beginning of negotiations to transform U.S.-DPRK relations through the process of rapid denuclearization of North Korea, to be completed by January 2021, as committed by Chairman Kim, and to construct a lasting and stable peace regime on the Korean Peninsula."

Stalled since Singapore

The pledges Kim and Moon made at their third summit this year were seen by analysts as breaking little new ground, but also as having the potential to revive nuclear negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang, which have largely faltered since the summit in Singapore three months earlier.

It seems there is a little progress, but we need to be very careful because North Korea has not taken any substantial denuclearization steps, said Kim Chun-sik, a former South Korean vice minister of unification.

According to a joint statement signed by Kim and Moon, North Korea, which unilaterally stopped nuclear and missile tests after the Singapore summit in June, agreed to allow experts observe the closure of its missile engine testing site in Dongchang-ri, a facility used to test the North's intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Kim also expressed North Koreas readiness" to dismantle permanently its main nuclear facilities in Yongbyon, in response to as yet unspecified corresponding action from the United States, the statement said.

Pyongyangs goals are thought to be to win relief from U.S.-driven international sanctions and an official end to the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended without a formal peace treaty.

This is more commitment to do meaningful things in the indefinite future, Robert Gallucci, a former U.S. nuclear negotiator with North Korea, told RFAs Korean Service.

Shutting down all facilities at their nuclear complex would be important, but that will only happen after the North and U.S. agree on what the U.S. will do in normalization steps or sanctions relief, he added.

This is not denuclearization. It is suggestive of denuclearization, but that's not much, said Gallucci.

Arms control expert Gary Samore called the Pyongyang Summit pledges modest but sufficient to move the US-DPRK denuclearization process forward.

It is hard to evaluate the DPRK commitment to dismantle nuclear facilities at Yongbyon because details need to be negotiated, such as what specific actions will be taken to permanently dismantle the facilities and what "corresponding measures" is the DPRK demanding from the U.S. he told RFA.

'Not a defeated enemy state'

Kim and Moon also agreed to resume North-South economic cooperation, including reconnecting rail and road links and restarting a joint factory park in the border city of Kaesong and tours to the North's Mount Kumgang resort, the statement said.

Some of those projects could violate U.N. Security Council sanctions aimed at cutting off hard currency funds for Pyongyang's weapons programs.

Due to the Pyongyang declaration, inter-Korean exchanges in the social and cultural arena could be more active, but we are also wondering how much further inter-Korean relations will be developed amid the difficulty of inter-Korean economic cooperation (because of the international sanctions against North Korea), said Kim Chun-sik.

Kim also said he would visit Seoul in the near future, in what would be the first-ever visit to South Korean capital by a North Korean leader, and to bid to co-host the 2032 Summer Olympic Games.

Retired U.S. diplomat John Merrill, a former head of the State Department Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) Northeast Asia Division, expressed measure optimism about the latest pledges.

Moons visit comes in the run-up to a possible second Kim-Trump summit. The details of what North Korea is prepared to give will have to be worked out there, he told RFA.

If a Kim-Trump summit eventually leads to a shutdown of fissile material production at Yongbyon, I think thats probably all we can reasonably expect for now, added Merrill.

North Korea is not a defeated enemy state and we cannot approach negotiations with it as if it were. There has to be a process of diplomatic give and take, he said.

Reported and translated by Hee Jung Yang for RFAs Korean Service. Written in English by Paul Eckert.Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi leaves after delivering an address to students at Yangon University in Yangon, Aug. 28, 2018.

A court in Yangon has sentenced a former newspaper columnist for state media to seven years in prison and ordered him to pay a fine for violating a sedition law by criticizing Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi on social media, in the latest challenge to freedom of expression in the Southeast Asian country.

Ngar Min Swe, a well-known critic of the country's de facto leader, was arrested on July 12 at his home in Hlaing township and charged under Section 124A of the Penal Code for Facebook posts that took aim at Aung San Suu Kyi, whose civilian-led National League for Democracy (NLD) party has been in power since 2016.

Charges were filed against Ngar Min Swe by police Lieutenant Colonel Thar Tun in Yangons Western District court.

He was sentenced [on Tuesday] to seven years in jail and must pay a 100,000-kyat [U.S. $64] fine, said Ngar Min Swes wife, May Than Win. She added that her husband wrote was he did as suggestions for Aung San Suu Kyi, not to criticize her.

When police apprehended Ngar Min Swe, they said their superiors ordered them to arrest him for defaming Aung San Suu Kyi on Facebook, she said.

He didnt hire a lawyer for his case and defended himself in court because he feels he didnt do anything wrong, May Than Win said.

What he said is right, she said. He didnt defame her. The punishment he received is not appropriate for what he did.

I dont even know what kind of government we have here, she continued. This government has said that it is a democratic government, but it is like one that operates counter to democracy.

With Myanmar officials increasingly suing their critics and the media for sedition and defamation, Aung San Suu Kyi and her pro-democracy government appear to have changed course on freedom of expression and press freedom after decades of stifling military rule.

Earlier this month, two Reuters reporters were sentenced to seven years in jail after they were found guilty of breaching a law on state secrets for reporting on Myanmars brutal crackdown on Rohingya Muslims, though a witness for the prosecution testified during their trail that the pair had been set up by police.

Ngar Min Swe used to write an opinion column in the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper under a former military junta that ruled the country and has since become a critic of the NLD government, including its handling of the crackdown in Rakhine state that forced more than 700,000 Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh.

Sentence too harsh

Aung Myo Min, director of Equality Myanmar, an NGO that facilitates human rights education and advocacy programs, said the courts ruling should have been fair and impartial.

It also needs to be clear about what constitutes defamation and what constitutes freedom of speech, he said. Its also important for authorities not to use the law from the angle they want.

Myint Kyaw, a member of the Myanmar Media Council trade union, said Ngar Min Swes sentence is excessive.

There are some other charges, but he was intentionally charged under Article 124A because the authorities wanted him to get a more severe punishment, he told RFAs Myanmar Service on Wednesday.

Myanmar journalist and political activist Thiha Thway partially agreed.

The sentence for Ngar Min Swe is too harsh, he said. I dont think it should be that excessive, but his writing is somewhere between freedom of expression and freedom of vituperation. And his actions [of criticizing authorities] are controversial.

People need to use the right of freedom of expression to promote good in the democratic era, he said.

Yu Lwin Aung, a member of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC), also noted the fine line between freedom of expression and harming a persons reputation.

Anybody can express his opinion, feelings, and suggestions freely, but it shouldnt hurt another persons dignity, he said. Its as if Ngar Min Swes posts hurt the state leaders dignity. We dont want people misusing their rights.

Hla Swe, a former lawmaker from the opposition army-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), pointed out that current President Win Myint encouraged people to criticize the government during a meeting with members of the Sagaing regional government.

[But] when Ngar Min Swe criticized Aung San Suu Kyi, he was sent to jail, he said. That makes it difficult for people to criticize the government.

Ngar Min Swes posts are sometimes funny like jokes, and he criticizes government authorities in a positive way, he said. [But] I think of his sentence as a huge deterrent to freedom of expression.

Myanmar police surround a demonstrator during an antiwar protest in Yangon, May 12, 2018. Credit: AFP Demonstrators sentenced

Also in Yangon on Wednesday, the Kyautdata township court sentenced three demonstrators for failing to obtain permission for a poetry reading ceremony that was part of an antiwar protest at Maha Bandula Park.

Event organizer Khant Min Htet, poet Shwe Kyae Moe, and demonstrator Zayar Lwin, who gave a speech, were given a choice between a 15-day jail sentence or a fine of 20,000 kyats (U.S. $13) for violating Article 19 of the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law, which allows public demonstrations only if organizers first obtain permission from local authorities.

Those who participated in the demonstration demanded that the government end the civil war between an ethnic armed group and the government military in northern Myanmars Kachin state and rescue those trapped by the clashes.

More than 100,000 civilians have been displaced in Kachin state since June 2011, when a 17-year bilateral cease-fire agreement between the two sides broke down.

Khant Min Htet and Shwe Kyae Moe paid the fine, while Zayar Lwin opted for 15 days in prison.

I chose the jail sentence to show that I dont accept the charges against me or the sentence for giving a speech at a peace poetry reading, Zayar Lwin said.

Poets, politicians, and students are saying that people are hungry for peace, said Paing Ye Thu, a protester who has been charged under the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law at Yangons Bahan township court.

We were just talking about how we need peace, but some people didnt understand what we said, he said. The army is just a gatekeeper [for the country].

Organizers from a similar antiwar protest in May in the central Myanmar city of Mandalay were also sentenced on Wednesday.

Aung Hmine San, a former member of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU), Poet Klint, and Dain Daung were each handed a two-month prison term, while ABFSU central executive committee members Hnin Aung and Than Htike each received a three-month sentence for violating Article 19.

Rights groups and lawyers see the pursuit of charges against peaceful protesters as a threat to freedom of expression and assembly in Myanmar, which voted in a civilian-led government in late 2015 after five decades of military rule.



Reported by Wai Mar Tun, Thet Su Aung, Kyaw Lwin Oo, and Nay Rein Kyaw for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.An ethnic Uyghur woman detained this week at an airport in Turkey and fearing deportation to Chinas Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) has been released from custody and allowed to join her family in Istanbul, RFAs Uyghur Service has learned.



Released just after 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, and speaking by phone to RFAs Uyghur Service, Rushengul Tashmuhemmet tearfully thanked everyone who had called for her freedom from detention, while her husband Omurbek Eli also voiced his thanks, saying, I am so excited to see my wife and son. Thank you! Thank you all!



Also speaking to RFA, Hidayetulla Oghuzhan, President of the East Turkestan Organizations in Turkey, said international media coverage of Tashmuhemmets situation had helped to secure her release.



Turkish immigration authorities did not respond to calls seeking comment Wednesday, and it is unclear whether any conditions were attached to Tashmuhemmets permission to enter Turkey.



Tashmuhemmet was detained by passport control officers at Istanbuls Ataturk Airport after arriving there by plane from Kazakhstans Almaty city with her young son at around 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, she told RFAs Uyghur Service by telephone earlier this week.



They stopped me here at the airport, saying my passport has a problem, she said, adding that authorities had not informed her of the specific issue with her documents.



Please help. I am sitting here with my son and I pray that one day I will be reunited with the rest of my family.



Harassed by authorities



Tashmuhemmet had been living in Almaty with her husband Omurbek Eli, a 41-year-old Kazakh national of mixed Uyghur and Kazakh heritage from the XUAR, and the couples three children.



Eli was arrested by police in the XUARs Turpan (in Chinese, Tulufan) prefecture in 2017 while visiting his parents and accused of terrorist activities. He was refused legal representation and imprisoned for more than seven months, despite never having been tried by a court of law.



Eli was eventually freed with the assistance of the Kazakh government and returned to Kazakhstan, but left the country for Turkey in May, saying he had faced harassment from local authorities for speaking to RFA earlier this year about his detention in China.



His two older children relocated to Turkey soon after to join him.



Tashmuhemmet stayed behind in Almaty while awaiting the issuance of Kazakh travel documents for the couples youngest son, who was born in Kazakhstan. After the papers were recently processed, the two of them traveled to Turkey on Sunday, when they were detained at immigration.



Beginning in April 2017, Uyghurs accused of harboring strong religious views and politically incorrect ideas have been jailed or detained in political re-education camps throughout the XUAR, where members of the ethnic group have long complained of pervasive discrimination, religious repression, and cultural suppression under Chinese rule.



The position of China's central government authorities has evolved from denying that large numbers of Uyghurs have been incarcerated in camps to disputing that the facilities are political re-education camps. Beijing now describes the camps as educational centers.



Credible sources suggest that some 1.1 million people are or have been detained in the camps, which equates to 10-11 percent of the adult Muslim population of the region.



Reported by Gulchehra Hoja for RFAs Uyghur Service. Translated by Alim Seytoff. Written in English by Richard Finney.At least five ethnic Uyghur professors from one of the top universities in northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) are being held in political re-education camps, according to one of their former colleagues and an official with the school who confirmed their detentions.



Qutluq Almas, a former lecturer at Xinjiang University in the XUAR capital Urumqi living in exile in the U.S., recently posted a message on social media saying sources inside the region had confirmed to him that literature professors Abdukerim Rahman, Rahile Dawut, Azat Sultan and Gheyretjan Osman were detained in January, while former language professor Arslan Abdulla was arrested later.



According to credible information I have received, [Rahman] is currently held in a so-called re-education camp, Almas said of the academic, who is in his 80s.



I dont know what his situation is at the moment.



Dawut, Sultan and Osman were taken to camps as well, he added, although he did not provide information on when they were arrested.



Abdulla, in his 70s, was taken to one of the camps seven or eight months ago, the former professor said.



Established in 1924, Xinjiang University currently has an undergraduate enrolment of more than 20,000 students, and counts among its alumni president of the Munich-based World Uyghur Congress exile group Dolkun Isa.



Beginning in April 2017, Uyghurs accused of harboring strong religious views and politically incorrect ideas have been jailed or detained in political re-education camps throughout the XUAR, where members of the ethnic group have long complained of pervasive discrimination, religious repression, and cultural suppression under Chinese rule.



Sources, including Almas, have told RFAs Uyghur Service that at least 56 Uyghur lecturers and researchers from Xinjiang University are currently held in re-education camps, but the new information marks the first time any of their identities could be verified.



In order to confirm the former lecturers claims, RFA contacted Xinjiang University, and an employee there directed inquiries about the five professors to the Universitys General Supervision Office, also known as the Headquarters.



A staffer at the Headquarters told RFA that she had no information regarding their cases and that nothing about them has been disclosed yet.



She was unable to provide information about whether the professors are being held together, or whether it was universitys Disciplinary Department or Police Department that handled their cases.



When asked why the professors were detained, the staffer said that the accusations against them are all the same, but I dont know the reasons for their arrests.



She refused to disclose who had replaced the professors, or whether their cases were being treated as state security matters.



Uyghur educators



Last week, U.S. State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said the US government was "deeply troubled" by the crackdown on Uyghurs in Xinjiang, adding that credible reports indicate that individuals sent by Chinese authorities to detention centers since April 2017 numbers at least in the hundreds of thousands, and possibly millions.



The official warned that indiscriminate and disproportionate controls on ethnic minorities expressions of their cultural and religious identities have the potential to incite radicalization and recruitment to violence.



A group of U.S. lawmakers, in a recent letter, asked President Donald Trumps administration to swiftly act to sanction Chinese government officials and entities complicit in or directing the ongoing human rights crisis in Xinjiang.



The position of China's central government authorities has evolved from denying that large numbers of Uyghurs have been incarcerated in camps to disputing that the facilities are political re-education camps. Beijing now describes the camps as educational centers.



Adrian Zenz, a lecturer in social research methods at the Germany-based European School of Culture and Theology, has said some 1.1 million people are or have been detained in the re-education camps, which equates to 10 to11 percent of the adult Muslim population of the region.



Uyghur educators are kept under strict monitoring in the XUAR and can face stiff punishment for not adhering to Beijings narrative about how Chinas central governments policies are benefitting the region and its ethnic minorities.



In September 2014, a court sentenced outspoken economics professor Ilham Tohti, who regularly highlighted the religious and cultural persecution of the mostly Muslim Uyghur ethnic minority in the XUAR, to a life term behind bars on charges of promoting separatism.



The court decision cited Tohtis criticism of Beijings ethnic policies, his interviews with overseas media outlets, and his work founding and running the Chinese-language website Uighurbiz.net, which was shut down by Chinese authorities in 2014.



But rights groups say that instead of urging the separation of the XUARthe Uyghur peoples historic homelandfrom China, Tohti had called only for China to implement its own regional autonomy laws and had consistently promoted peace and dialogue between the Han Chinese and Uyghur communities, and have demanded his release.



Reported by Shohret Hoshur for RFAs Uyghur Service. Translated by RFAs Uyghur Service. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.A retired teacher who posted writings on his Facebook page criticizing Vietnams government was convicted on Wednesday of trying to overthrow the state and was handed a 14-year prison term in a sentence his lawyer called unjustified and much too harsh.



Dao Quang Thuc, 58, had called in his online writings and in public protests for better protections for Vietnams environment and against what many in Vietnam consider encroachments by China in the South China Sea.



Chinas claims and construction of artificial islands in the region have sparked frequent anti-China protests in Vietnam, which the one-party communist government in Hanoi fears as a potential threat to its own political control.



Speaking to RFAs Vietnamese Service following Thucs trial in Vietnams Hoa Binh province, defense lawyer Le Van Luan said that case documents prepared by prosecutors had failed to prove that Thuc was guilty of subversion.



They showed only that he had tried to make connections [online] with others with similar views, he said.



Fifteen witnesses were prepared to testify, but only Thucs wife and son were allowed to be present in court, Luan said, adding that prosecutors and jurors had also not carefully examined evidence he had submitted at the trial.



There was no presumption of innocence, and they also did not consider mitigating factors that I put forward in [Thucs] defense, so the sentence was completely unjustified and much too harsh.



Trial not transparent



After Thucs trial, Thucs daughter Dao Ngoc Bich Quynh Trang said that proceedings in the court had not been conducted in a transparent manner, according to a Sept. 19 report by Agence France-Presse.



Not many people were allowed to attend, and those present at the court were not objective, Trang said, quoted by AFP.



Thuc had also been badly beaten and left without food following his October 2017 arrest, and appeared weak and frail in court on Wednesday, Trang said.



Vietnam, with a population of 92 million people, of whom 55 million are estimated to be users of Facebook, has been consistently rated "not free" in the areas of internet and press freedom by Freedom House, a U.S.-based watchdog group.



Dissent is not tolerated in the communist nation and authorities routinely use a set of vague provisions in the penal code to detain dozens of writers and bloggers.



Reported by RFAs Vietnamese Service. Translated by An Nguyen. Written in English by Richard Finney.KABUL -- Members of Afghanistans Shiite minority are bracing for potential violence as they prepare to commemorate Ashura, the holiest celebration in their religious calendar.

A series of deadly attacks on the countrys Shiite community in recent weeks has fueled fears of more violence during the September 20 festival marking the killing of Imam Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.

Shia are estimated to number around 3 million in overwhelmingly Sunni Afghanistan, and the majority belong to the Hazara ethnic group.

The authorities said they had security plans for the Ashura celebrations, which were targeted in the past, amid criticism they were failing to protect Shia.

Aref Rahmani, an ethnic Hazara representative in the lower house of parliament, the Wolesi Jirga, told RFE/RL that his community will act on their own to protect itself if the government does not provide security.

The international community, our colleagues at NATO, have a responsibility to pressure the government of Afghanistan to bring reforms and maintain the security of its citizens so people wont have to take up arms, said Ahmad Behzad, another ethnic Hazara member of the Wolesi Jirga.

More than 60 people were killed in separate suicide bombings at an education center and a wrestling club in a predominantly Shiite neighborhood of Kabul this month.

In early August, two burqa-clad suicide bombers struck a Shi'ite mosque in the eastern city of Gardez, capital of Paktia Province, killing at least 35 people.

The Sunni extremist group Islamic State (IS), which considers Shia apostates who deserve death, claimed responsibility for those attacks.

Afghanistan's main intelligence agency announced on September 18 the arrest of 26 suspected IS militants in Kabul who were allegedly plotting attacks against Shia during the celebrations.

The Western-backed government in Kabul has struggled to combat the Taliban and IS since the United States and NATO formally ended their combat mission in the country in 2014.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on September 8 announced plans to divide the capital into four security zones.

He also said that increased security, such as setting up a "green zone" similar to the one where many embassies and international organizations are located in Kabul, was needed in the city's predominately Shiite west.

However, more consultations were required before the proposals could be implemented, Ghani added.

With reporting by AFPMacedonia's Constitutional Court has rejected two bids to declare the September 30 referendum on changing the countrys name to North Macedonia illegal and unconstitutional.

Judges voted 7-2 on September 19 to reject the two lawsuits filed by Skopje-based diaspora group the World Macedonian Congress and the small, left-wing Levitsa party.

Western officials have hailed the referendum, which follows a hard-won agreement with neighboring Greece to end a decades-long dispute over Macedonia's name.

The name dispute between Skopje and Athens dates back to 1991, when Macedonia peacefully broke away from Yugoslavia, declaring its independence under the name Republic of Macedonia.

Greece has objected to the name Macedonia, saying it implies territorial claims on the northern Greek region with the same name.

Greece, a NATO and European Union member, has cited the dispute to veto Macedonia's bid to join the two organizations.

If the deal goes ahead, Greece will lift objections to Macedonia joining NATO and the EU.

Based on reporting by AP and naslovi.netInternet users in Russia have faced criminal hate-speech charges for mocking religion on social media, including for likening the Jon Snow character from Game Of Thrones to Jesus Christ.

But when a Russian LGBT activist complained to police about online comments saying "faggots should be pummeled" or "snuffed out," they said no laws were broken -- and that sexual minorities are not a group protected under hate-speech laws.

"The texts examined are not aimed at forming among readers a negative attitude toward individuals or a group of individuals singled out by nationality, race, religion, or social affiliation," reads one of the three police responses to complaints filed by Anna Plyusnina, a lawyer with the LGBT Resource Center in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg.

"The comments in question express a negative attitude toward homosexuals," police continued in the response, a copy of which was obtained by RFE/RL.

Plyusnina's decision to go public this week with the responses by regional police comes amid heightened national attention in Russia to criminal prosecutions over online content -- including satirical memes -- that authorities deem hate speech or insulting to religion.

Russia has undertaken a broad crackdown on online speech in recent years that critics say is aimed at stifling dissenting views and is abused by authorities to bolster conviction rates.

A spate of recent cases in the Siberian region of Altai -- including a 19-year-old facing up to five years in prison for the Jon-Snow-as-Jesus meme -- has triggered debate about the need to reform hate-speech laws.

LGBT activists, Western governments, and rights watchdogs have also warned of an increasingly repressive atmosphere for sexual minorities in Russia, including a 2013 law signed by President Vladimir Putin that bans "promoting" among minors "nontraditional sexual relations."

'Not A Social Group'

Plyusnina, who first revealed her story to the Yekaterniburg-based news site Znak.com, says that she decided to file formal complaints in March after local news portals refused to delete homophobic comments -- some involving violent imagery -- posted under articles about LGBT issues.

"We thought, 'This system isn't working.' That's when we went to police in hopes that such comments would be deleted," she tells RFE/RL in a telephone interview.

The complaints eventually landed on the desk of the counterextremism department of the regional Interior Ministry, which last month sent the responses to Plyusnina's three complaints.

One response cites an expert analysis as conceding that the comments feature "rude, profane, insulting" language about gay men and "discuss violent actions against them" -- including one reading, "It's not a sin to thrash gays."

But police concluded that the targets of the abuse are not covered under criminal statutes used to prosecute online speech.

Under Russian law, someone can be sentenced to five years in prison for public actions -- including Internet posts -- aimed at "stoking hatred" or demeaning people based on "gender, race, nationality, language, heritage, attitude toward religion, or affiliation with a social group."

"The police said LGBT individuals are not a social group, and for that reason you can't stoke hatred against them," Plyusnina says.

Aleksandr Verkhovksy, head of the Moscow-based Sova Center, which tracks the use and abuse of antiextremism laws in Russia, tells RFE/RL that it's "typical" for the authorities not to recognize sexual minorities as a "social group" under hate-speech protections.

The lack of a clear definition for the term under Russian law means that "arbitrariness is inevitable," Verkhovsky says. "And prejudice here, of course, plays a role."

Insults And Threats

The Sverdlovsk regional branch of the Interior Ministry, which processed Plyusnina's complaint, did not immediately respond to RFE/RL's request for comment on the matter.

A spokesman for the branch, Valery Gorelykh, told Znak.com that because the counterextremism department does not have linguistics and psychology experts, it outsourced the analysis of the comments flagged by Plyusnina to experts affiliated with the regional Justice Ministry branch.

In a regular review of Russia's record in May by the UN's Human Rights Council, the United States and numerous European countries expressed concerns about discrimination and violence against sexual minorities in Russia -- including an alleged campaign of torture against gay men in Chechnya.

Putin and the Russian government have repeatedly rejected accusations that it is fostering an atmosphere of hate and discrimination against sexual minorities.

Plyusnina says she and her colleagues have decided not to pursue the homophobic comments with authorities further, noting the recent prominent Russian criminal cases involving alleged hate speech posted online.

"Personally, I don't think we need to put someone in prison over a repost," Plyusnina says. She says the main problem is that websites aren't deleting overtly homophobic comments.

"I'm not sure such comments could really incite someone to commit physical violence against LGBT individuals, but at the very least it contributes to a very negative psychological climate for the LGBT community," she says.

"The insults and threats -- there are more and more of them," Plyusnina adds.Polish President Andrzej Duda has made a pitch for a permanent U.S. military base in his country and suggested that it be called Fort Trump. Duda made the comments during a visit to Washington D.C following a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on September 18. Trump said his administration was "looking at" the proposal.Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) has welcomed a decision by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on RFE/RL investigative reporter Natalia Sedletskas case.

The ECHR on September 18 ordered Ukraine's government to ensure that the authorities there do not access any data from Sedletskas cell phone.

In a statement on September 19, RFE/RL President Thomas Kent called the ECHR decision "fully justified."

The ECHRs decision "is about the rights of journalists to protect the confidentiality of their sources and the right of the society to get free information, without censorship," Kent said.

He called it "a clear signal that persecution of journalists and interference with their work has nothing to do with international obligations of Ukraine to protect free press, which the Ukrainian government allegedly supports."

The ECHR order is an interim measure that gives Sedletska time to prepare a full complaint against a Ukrainian court ruling allowing investigators to review data from her cell phone. It remains in effect until October 18.

The ECHR pledged to consider her appeal "as a matter of priority."

RFE/RL said it "will provide the European Court will additional information and arguments in the defense" of the journalist.

On August 27, Kyiv's Pechersk District Court approved a request from the Prosecutor-General's Office to allow investigators to review all data from Sedletska's cell phone from July 1, 2016 through November 30, 2017.

The ruling stemmed from a criminal investigation into the alleged disclosure of state secrets to journalists in 2017 by Artem Sytnyk, director of the National Anticorruption Bureau of Ukraine.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty spokeswoman Joanna Levison said earlier this month that the court's ruling is "inconsistent with Ukraine's own commitments to promote and protect a free press."

On September 18, a Ukrainian appeals court ruled to restrict the original request to geolocation data from around the offices of the National AntcCorruption Bureau of Ukraine in Kyiv, but upheld the original time frame.

Sedletska is the host of Schemes, an award-winning anticorruption television program by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service and Ukrainian Public Television.

The Schemes program reported on several investigations involving senior Ukrainian officials, including Prosecutor-General Yuriy Lutsenko, during the period in question.

The United States, the European Union, and international media watchdogs have expressed concern over the Ukrainian court ruling.The United States publishes the Kremlin dossier, a list of 210 people close to Vladimir Putin who might be designated for sanctions. The list includes all members of the Russian government, members of the presidential administration, heads of state firms, siloviki (former and current state-security officers), and oligarchs.

March 4, 2018

Skripal Poisoning

Sergei and Yulia Skripal are found unconscious on March 4 on a bench in the southern English town of Salisbury. They were seriously ill but later made a full recovery after spending several weeks in a hospital. British authorities determined that the Skripals had been poisoned with Novichok, a military-grade chemical weapon that was developed in the Soviet Union. (Photo: AFP)The United States has once again named Iran as the worlds leading state sponsor of terrorism, accusing it of fueling conflicts and undermining governments throughout the Middle East.

An annual survey on global terrorism, released by the State Department on September 19, said Iran and its proxies are responsible for intensifying multiple conflicts and undermining U.S. interests in the region.

"Designated as a state sponsor of terrorism in 1984, Iran continued its terrorist-related activity in 2017, including support for Lebanese Hizballah, Palestinian terrorist groups in Gaza, and various groups in Syria, Iraq, and throughout the Middle East," the report said.

The survey said that Iran used the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps-Qods Force to provide support to terrorist organizations, provide cover for associated covert operations, and create instability in the region.

The Iranian government maintains a robust offensive cyberprogram and has sponsored cyberattacks against foreign government and private sector entities, the State Department report said.

The survey also reported a 24 percent decrease in terrorist attacks around the world between 2016 and 2017.

It was mostly due to a sharp decline in the number of attacks in Iraq, where the Islamic State (IS) extremist group was largely defeated by government and international coalition forces.

However, the report noted that members of the group have dispersed from the Middle East and are surfacing with their own operations and networks elsewhere, including in Southeast Asia.

Last year, IS operatives conducted attacks in Britain, Spain, Egypt, the United States, and the Philippines, the report said.

It also pointed out that IS is also threatening China and Chinese interests around the world, after some Chinese nationals joined the group.U.S. officials expressed sorrow over the shoot-down of a Russian military surveillance plane off the Syrian coast and said it would not affect the U.S. campaign against Islamic State (IS) fighters.

The comments on September 18 came as Russian officials said that Syrian antiaircraft forces brought down the Il-20 plane inadvertently, but also blamed Israel for conducting a fighter jet raid on Syrian forces at around the same time.

U.S. officials said U.S. forces were not involved in the incident.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued a statement expressing sorrow for the shoot-down, which killed 15 Russian servicemen. He also criticized Iran, which has reportedly shipped sophisticated weaponry to the Hizballah fighters in Lebanon.

Israel has struck targets in both Lebanon and Syria, seeking to thwart Hizballah's ambitions.

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, meanwhile, told reporters that the shoot-down complicates relations between Syria and Russia but would have "no effect whatever" on the U.S. campaign to defeat the extremist group IS in Syria.

Mattis also said the incident was a reminder of why the United States supports the United Nations' effort to end the seven-year civil war.

President Donald Trump also expressed concern about the downed Russian plane, calling it a "very sad thing" and "not a good situation."

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Israel against conducting air raids on Syria.

And Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Putin to express sorrow over the plane's loss but insisted that Syria bore responsibility.

With reporting by AP and ReutersDue to growing tourism, port authorities propose new maritime control centers

Cancun, Q.R.  Due to the constant growth of passengers between the regions mainland and islands, officials say it is necessary to have a maritime traffic control center.

Antonio Vargas Aguirre, regional captain of Puerto Juarez, says a maritime traffic control center would function much the same as an airport, allowing officials to know which boats are coming and going.

In Isla Mujeres in peak season, up to 29,000 people arrive at the island every day and from Playa del Carmen to Cozumel there are 20,000 a day, so we have increased our activities which is good because we receive more tourism. But we need a center of control of maritime traffic similar to that of an airport, he said.

Photo: Asociados Nauticos de Quintana Roo

After a meeting with the Asociados Nauticos de Quintana Roo, he explained that they are working on the project with the Port Administration of Quintana Roo. Although no price for the project has yet been determined, a position of importance is being discussed.

He elaborated that there are many factors that need to be defined, so they will go step by step, however, it is estimated that the activity in Cancun alone is approximately 4,000 boats per day including jungle tours, parachutes, private boats and ferry crossings.

Vargas Aguirre said The marine traffic control center would be like an airport to see which boats are going and which ones are arriving so they do not cross paths. Thats what we urgently need and were already working on it.

He added that the installation of a monitoring center will be required in a position where they can observe, in this case, from Puerto Juarez to Isla Mujeres where there is 4.5 nautical miles, so it would be necessary to have a tower where they can watch with radars to be able to provide navigational safety.Shrimp boat leaves Mazatlan dock, catches fire

Mazatlan, Sinolta  The beginning of shrimp season did not start well for one boat that was completely engulfed by flames shortly after leaving dock in Mazatlan.

For reasons not yet specified, a shrimp boat caught fire Monday around 9:00 p.m. shortly after leaving its dock. The boat was see in flames approximately 300 meters from Creston hill lighthouse (Faro de Mazatlan).

Photo: Northwest

The vessel, Sebastian I which had just set sail, was completely destroyed. Members of the Armed Navy of Mexico were able to rescue the crew of seven fishermen, arriving to help extinguish the fire.

The remains of the boat were towed to the dock of Parque Alfredo V. Bonfil for further investigations.Jon Voight, an Oscar-winning actor well-known for his support of Donald Trump as president, was literally moved to tears in an interview when he recalled an encounter he had with a woman about Trump. While he was traveling, Voight spoke with a conservative actress, a very good one who had also voted for Trump in the last election. Voight asked her, So, what do you think about our man, referring to President Trump. In response, the woman silently placed her hand on her heart. As Voight recounted the details of the exchange to conservative commentator Mark Levin in an interview for Fox News, Voight teared up on camera.

Thats me crying, Voight said. But it was her too, sayingso, first of all the gesture was so beautiful, she couldnt even speak. She was just saying, Thank God. And I say, Thank God. And one of the reasons I can say, Thank God, is because I know He is there for us all.

In the interview, Voight also spoke about how in todays increasingly secular society one of the things weve lost is this compass of God. What did Karl Marx come up with, Voight asked. He eliminated God from the picture and said, We can do it without this. Not these boys, not our guys, Voight said as he pointed to the portraits of the Founding Fathers in Levins studio. They knew very well, We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. They are endowed by our Creator and among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Voight also remarked on the genius of the architecture of [the United States] founding, this Constitution, where it came from. The Bill of Rights and the Declaration [of Independence]  [Levin,] you understand the genius of them to say the pursuit of happiness as opposed to a more traditional listing of mere survival needs. There was also special genius in noting that the inalienable rights came not from a human government that could later take them away, but from God Himself as an intrinsic part of human existence.

The 79 year old actor has spoken about his Catholic faith and the importance of religion in modern life in the past. In 2016, he stated that faith keeps you humble but that it was also the key to moving forward in times of difficulty. It keeps you in energy to keep going, overcome things, solve problems, be good, think of others, all that stuff, he said. So my faith has been very important to me.

Hopefully, the compass of both Voight and the unnamed actress continue to hold strong in the face of Hollywoods heavily anti-Christian culture.Montagu Arms bar staff member and fundraising events organiser Andrea Oliver, pictured with the haul of prizes which have been donated by local businesses for the pub's month of fundraising for Macmillan

A MEXBOROUGH pub has gone mad about Macmillan this month  and punters are being invited this weekend to show theyve got soul.

The Northern Soul celebration at the Montagu Arms is the focal point of four weeks fundraising for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Starting at 5pm, it will also include the draw for a grand raffle supported by traders from across the town.

Raffle tickets are still available from the pub on Bank Street.

Staff member Andrea Oliver, who is co-organising the charity drive, said the Montagu wanted to thank the following businesses for their support: B&M, Just Cuts, Hammonds cafe, Mexborough Tea Rooms, D Bennett, Superdrug, Pastures Lodge, Bijoux tattoo studio, Denim House, Hollywood Nails, Card Heaven, Pettits, Gentry, Wishing Well Cafe, the Old Market Hall pub and Nicky Js hair salon.

(Interfax) - Arkhangelskgeoldobycha (the mining licence holder for the Grib diamond pipe in the Arkhangelsk Region of Russia, now officially named AGD Diamonds) consolidated a 100-percent stake in Grib Diamonds N. V., a diamond trading company, AGD Diamonds said.

Grib Diamonds sells rough diamonds produced at the Vladimir Grib Diamond Field through auctions held on the web-based platform in Antwerp.

The purchase was made to fulfill the terms of the loan agreement concluded by Otkritie Industrial Investments with VTB (VTBR), explained the head of AGD Diamonds Sergey Neruchev in an interview with the Dostoyanie Severa, an Arkhangelsk-based publication. Under this agreement, the deal had to be completed in the first half of 2018, which the parties actually did.

"The consolidation of the AGD production business with the Gib DIAMONDS trading company will in the long term create a full-cycle diamond mining company of international standing (comprising geological exploration, production and sales)," Sergey Neruchev said.

The change in the corporate name of the joint-stock company was due to its new marketing policy and the brands international positioning aimed at its customers - buyers of rough diamonds, the AGD said in its statement.

Earlier, the Kommersant Daily reported that in June 2018 AGD bought Grib Diamonds from Cyprus-based Lakover Trading owned by Otkritie Industrial Investments. This move was made to protect VTB's rights to the asset against the Central Bank's intentions to surcharge 335 billion rubles of debt from Otkritie Holding.

AGD - a diamond asset in which Lukoil (LKOH) invested more than $ 1 billion  was sold to Otkritie Industrial Investments for $ 1.45 billion last year. The deal was mainly financed by VTB, which received 100% of Otkritie Industrial Investments as collateral, as well as all the companies involved in the transaction and the rights to their income. Later, Otkrytie Bank controlled by Otkrytie Holding fell under the rehabilitation campaign initiated by the Central Bank.

In March 2018, AGD produced the 20 millionth ton of ore at the Grib diamond field and in May 2018 the company recovered the 15 millionth carat of diamonds, the company said.

AGD does not disclose its current production data. As Alexey Genkin, General Manager of Grib Diamonds NV said at the end of last year in an interview with Rapaport, diamond production at Grib was to reach 4.4 million carats in 2017 (an increase of 16% versus 2016). Thus, AGD, which is the only independent diamond producer in Russia, accounts for about 10% of the total diamond output in Russia. The Grib Mine is to boost its diamond output to 4.9 million carats in 2018, Genkin said.

Grib Diamonds sales correspond to its production, which is sold through the world diamond trading hub in Antwerp, with the exception of 5% remaining in Russia (for sale through Almazyuvelirexport, a state-owned company). Every year, Grib Diamonds holds 10 auctions for the sale of regular assortments of rough and two auctions to sell rough diamonds of special sizes (10.8 carats and above) that are held in Russia in accordance with the law.

ALROSA (ALRS), which is considered a natural probable buyer for the Grib Mine as an actual monopolist in this industry in Russia, views the price of this transaction too high. There were no new proposals made to ALROSA for the purchase of the Grib Mine, although this issue was discussed, said Alexey Filippovsky, CFO of ALROSA.

The Grib Diamond Mine is the fourth largest in Russia and the eighth in the world. The mines life span is estimated at 15 years.PM Narendra Modi with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday held wide-ranging talks with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on ways to further boost bilateral cooperation. Ghani arrived here in the morning on a day-long visit. "Strategic partners and a valued neighbour! PM @narendramodi warmly received President of Afghanistan, @ashrafghani at the Hyderabad House ahead of the bilateral talks," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

Ghani arrived here in the morning on a day-long visit

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It is understood that Ghani briefed Modi about the status of the peace process in the war-ravaged country. India has always been favouring an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process to bring peace and stability in that country. India has also been actively involved in reconstruction efforts in war-ravaged Afghanistan. Since 2002, India has committed USD 2 billion for the socio-economic development of the country.Registration for the prestigious 2018 African Digital Media Awards has opened and WAN-IFRA is calling for entries from African media ahead of the award ceremony in Johannesburg, South Africa, later this year.

Best News Website or Mobile Service

Best in Lifestyle, Sports, Entertainment Website or Mobile Services

Best Use of Online Video (including VR)

Best Data Visualisation

Best Reader Revenue Initiative

Best Branded Content Project

Best Digital News Startup

Best in Social Media Engagement

Best Digital Marketing Campaign

Best Innovation to Engage Youth Audiences

Winners of the African Digital Media Awards are automatically entered into the World Digital Media Awards competition. The entry deadline is October 26, 2018. The media awards will be held in Johannesburg, South Africa on 23 November 2018.The annual awards hosted by WAN-IFRA recognises publishers who have adopted digital media and mobile strategies as part of their total product offering to meet the major changes in how people consume news and information today.The competition is open to all publishers in Africa operational between 25 August 2017 to 15 September 2018. All entries must be published by 15 September 2018.This is our third digital awards in Africa and the winning projects have already proved themselves against international competition. For example, Media 24 went on to win a World Digital Media Award in 2017 for News24 Edge - beating competition from the US, Asia and Europe, said WAN-IFRA, chief executive officer, Vincent Peyregne.Were really looking forward to seeing the submissions from 2018 - especially in our new categories such as Digital Revenue, said Peyregne.Entries for the awards will be considered in the following categories:To apply for the awards click hereBALLSTON, N.Y.  Ellms Family Farm has a well-deserved reputation as one of the areas most popular family-oriented fall agritourism destinations.

Thousands of children visit the site to pick pumpkins, ride moo-moo trains, mine for gemstones, romp on a giant jumping pillow, or circle the Farmer 500 track in pedal carts.

Next spring, however, co-owner Garth Ellms plans to break ground on a multi-faceted Saratoga Farm Hub that should appeal to a wide range of adult customers as well. Plans call for a commercial kitchen, event space, brewery, winery, farmers market, and overnight glamping (glamorous camping) opportunities, plus leasing small parcels to new and beginning farmers.

Its taking what our family has done here for kids and creating a more adult-friendly destination, said Ellms, whose parents, Chip and Sally, started the business in 1983. The continuing goal is to keep the town of Ballston a farm-friendly community. The existing main farm is near the Charlton-Ballston town line, on Charlton Road. Saratoga Farm Hub, scheduled to open in 2020, will be on 80 acres of vacant farmland Ellms recently purchased on the east side of Middle Line Road, about midway between Charlton Road and Route 67.

On Thursday, Ellms also expects to close on another 20 acres hes buying on Hop City Road. There are no definite plans for the site, but he wants to keep it in agriculture as farmland continues to disappear in the face of ongoing development pressure.

We need enough different types of farms to make this a full weekend destination, Ellms said. With Saratoga so close by, its a good fit.

Farmland protection was one of several key issues raised during a Wednesday panel discussion, with roughly 125 people on hand at Ellms farm. The event was presented by Saratoga Prosperity Partnership, the countys designated economic development agency, which released its first-ever Saratoga County Agricultural Index, highlighting the industrys local financial importance.

Agriculture has a $500 million impact in the county, led by the dairy and equine sectors. However, it includes many other types of goods such as apples, eggs and poultry, horticulture/nursery products and Christmas trees, which Ellms Family Farm is also well-known for.

Farming in Saratoga County generates more than $27.1 million in wages, the state Labor Department says. But there are many challenges, too, such as labor shortages and an aging farm owner population.

Panelist Bill Peck, co-owner of Welcome Stock Farm in Northumberland, said Saratoga County is somewhat unique in that many young people are joining their family-run businesses, in stark contrast to the national trend thats seeing younger generations pursue other, less demanding careers. The key is running successful, profitable operations that make agriculture a viable, attractive option, he said.

Thats what keeps young people on the farm, Peck said.

Jennifer Koval, of Koval Brothers Dairy in Stillwater, said, Schools need to be more supportive of agricultural education, especially in more rural communities. If kids dont see the value of agriculture, its not going to be on their radar.

The panel was also comprised of Carrie Woerner, D-Round Lake, a state Assembly Agriculture Committee member; and Rachel McDermott, president and CEO of Whole Feeds of the Hudson Valley, a local soybean crushing plant that provides feed ingredients to upstate New York and Vermont dairy farms.

Woerner called on the Public Service Commission and utility companies to provide financial incentives for farm-based manure digesters that produce energy from methane gas. This would ease farms financial burdens, while alleviating environmental problems as well, she said.

McDermott is also pursuing plans for a grain hub on West Road in Moreau, which would connect barley and rye growers with the breweries and distilleries that need such goods.

With help from the Prosperity Partnership, she obtained $300,000 in state funding from the Capital Region Economic Development Council for the $1.5 million project. Similarly, the Prosperity Partnership assisted Ellms with his recent application for $350,000 worth of state funding for his proposed Saratoga Farm Hub. He should know by early December if money has been approved.A new African Heritage television channel, AfrikayaTV, will launch on Heritage Day in South Africa on the free Tuluntulu app.

 Ilia Torlin via 123RF

African culture

African story

Tuluntulu, the African Cultural Heritage Trust (ACHT) and Zindala Zombili Productions (ZZP) have partnered to launch AfrikayaTV on Heritage Day, 24 September 2018. AfrikayaTV is the only 24-7, 365-day TV channel dedicated to Indigenous African Culture and is available on the free Tuluntulu app which can be downloaded from Google Play or the Apple App Store.AfrikayaTV will provide a platform for artists and content producers with the opportunity to broadcast their material globally on the unique Tuluntulu platform. The channel will feature unique performing arts content including music, dance, storytelling and poetry from SADC countries, Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania and Kenya.It will also include Talk shows about different aspects of African culture and their relevance in a modern Africa. Content will also be sourced from festivals and key role players in the music industries of South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania and Kenya.ACHT was established in 1984 and is the largest and most representative community based cultural organisation in South Africa, with over 10,000 participating traditional music and dance groups and thousands of individual poets and storytellers.ACHT stages the annual African Music and Dance Festival in partnership with Zindala Zombili Productions. The festival is South Africas premier cultural event that hosts an annual series of local and provincial elimination competitions in over 30 different categories. The winners of these categories then perform at the Pan-African Festival alongside invited groups from Africa and BRICS countries.Qhuzulini Sithole, president of the ACHT and chairman of AfrikayaTV said, This is a historical moment for African culture. Never before have we had a TV channel that speaks directly to the culture and heritage of the African people. AfrikayaTV is an excellent tool to decolonise the mind and celebrate the rich and diverse indigenous cultures of our unique continent. It is time to get to know each other by sharing our culture, heritage and shared humanism. Rise Africa Rise!Said Pierre van der Hoven Tuluntulus CEO: This TV channel is an extremely exciting addition to the current Tuluntulu offering and we are delighted to provide more Africans with a platform to tell the African story. The expertise and vast experience of our partners in AfrikayaTV will make this a unique TV channel attracting a highly marketable audience demographic.Tuluntulu is one of the largest mobile content platforms targeting audiences in Africa, and globally, with African focused content. The Tuluntulu app is free to download from the Google Play and iOS App stores, usage is free (no subscriptions), and it is 100% free on Wi-Fi - with data costs only if connected via a mobile network (the low data setting consumes +-50MB/hr.).The fermium business model is designed to maximise audience reach and engagement. The Tuluntulu app has been downloaded over 500,000 times in 154 countries, the most popular being South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania and Kenya. The Tuluntulu platform currently has 37 streaming TV channels, and 24 streaming radio stations. The TV channels include numerous channels dedicated to local African content.SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. >> On Tuesday morning the Saratoga Independent School held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of its new middle school.

Saratoga Independent Schools Middle School, which launched its sixth-grade class made up of 13 students, will expand by adding seventh-grade in fall 2019 and eighth grade in fall 2020.

We are thrilled to celebrate the thoughtful and unprecedented growth of SIS, a school that has more than doubled in enrollment in recent years, and has doubled in physical size since 2016, and to celebrate the realization of a dream of many years: The Middle School at Saratoga Independent School is here, said Saratoga Independent School Head of School Lisa Brown.

Jeny Randall developed the new middle-school curriculum.

A Middle School is so much more than a physical space, more than a collection of teachers and students, it is a place where ideas are born, are nourished and grow, said Randall. It is a community of learners who come together to mull, debate and explore.

Community members, an elected official and school students gathered for the ceremony presented with the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce.

The addition of a new middle school to the Saratoga Independent School will allow students to continue on their path in a differentiated, individualized educational environment that fosters creativity and a passion for learning, said Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, who addressed the students and read a citation Tuesday morning. It is organizations like Saratoga Independent School that prepare our next generation of leaders in an environment that allows them to thrive.

The inaugural middle school class held the ribbon assisted by Todd Shimkus, President of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce. Brown and Board Chair Catherine LoMonico cut the ribbon to symbolize the official launch of the Middle School at Saratoga Independent School.SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. >> The City Council is planning for City Hall to be closed for a year following last months lightning strike.

Theres no specific date, but Mayor Meg Kelly said Tuesday officials are hoping to reopen City Hall in the late summer of 2019.

City Hall functions have largely been relocated to the citys Recreation facility on 15 Vanderbilt Ave., including Planning Department, Building Department, City Clerk, Tax Collection/Receivables, Utilities (Water and Sewer), Parking Tickets, Engineering, Licensing and Vital Records, Assessments and Civil Service.

Kelly said employees are looking to make the new workplace more permanent and private.

We have to empty City Hall completely out to get the abatement done for the asbestos and get the renovations done, so everything will be moved out into storage or over to here, said Kelly.

The Department of Public Works will be tagging items at City Hall to be kept in storage, sent over to the Recreation center or to be trashed.

We want to be set up here so everybody feels comfortable, said Kelly. We want a work environment that works for everybody.

Offices are available to the public during normal City Hall business hours (9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday; 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday). The administrative and business offices for the Departments of Finance, Accounts,

Public Works and the Mayors office are also located at the Recreation Center.

Its actually been going really well. The morale is high, because everyone is getting to know everybody. Its kind of a different environment thats working really well right now, said Kelly. Everything is the same as far as operational; were just doing it at a different place and a little bit close quarters with everybody. I think thats a good thing.

At The Mill, 125 High Rock Avenue, Police command personnel, City Legal staff, Commissioners of Finance and Public Safety and Deputies of Finance and Public Safety can be found.

At the Lake Avenue Fire Station, 60 Lake Ave., Code Enforcement, the administrative offices for Public Safety and the Risk and Safety office can be found.

Saratoga Springs City Court has been temporarily relocated to the Lincoln Baths Building on 65 South Broadway. Court hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. The Court is closed on holidays.

Lighting struck the south side of the building on the exterior metal roof in the third floors Music Hall on Aug. 17.

Land-use boards and City Council meetings will take place at the Saratoga Springs City Center with some exceptions. People can check the city website for more information.[JOHANNESBURG] Farmers across Africa need weather data and climate projections to put food on peoples plates. But often the data does not exist or is inaccessible. The same goes for scientists trying to model how the climate is changing, and how diseases spread , for the planets second-largest continent.

Only 10 out of Africas 54 countries offer adequate meteorological services, the World Bank estimates , with fewer than 300 of its weather stations meeting the World Meteorological Organisations observation standards.

The Bank estimates it would take US$1 billion to modernise key meteorological infrastructure.

An investment of that scale is prohibitive in countries where funds for basic services are often missing. But there may be a way around it: the Trans-African HydroMeteorological Observatory (TAHMO) hopes to expand the continents weather-watching capacity for a fraction of the cost.

The not-for-profit organisation has an ambitious plan to deploy weather stations at every 30km. This would translate into 20,000 individual stations supplying weather data to information-thirsty scientists, companies, and governments. It estimates it can do this for US$50 million, with an additional US$12 million a year for maintenance.

It is thrilling to be in a position to transform the culture of African climate observations and the capacity for scientific discovery John Selker

So far, about 500 weather stations  white cylinders about the length of a forearm and a shoe box-sized data logger  have been mounted on poles around the continent.

It is thrilling to be in a position to transform the culture of African climate observations and the capacity for scientific discovery, says John Selker, TAHMO co-director and a professor of hydrology at Oregon State University in the United States. Climate data is simply scarce, he says; and where it exists, scientists often have pay for it and jump through bureaucratic hurdles to get it.

Selker and colleague Nick van de Giesen from Delft University in the Netherlands established the observatory in 2010. The idea was seeded in 2005, when the two were performing an experiment in Ghana and needed rainfall data. I asked where we could get [the data] from and [our colleague] laughed, and said there was no way we could get that data from anyone, Selker recalls.

He had been working on electronic measurement methods and knew it was possible to develop sensors that could generate the data.

The continents climate is one of the worlds most understudied, according to the Future Climate for Africa report. And the authors of a World Bank report say the paucity of data from synoptic weather stations inevitably results in poorer-quality numerical guidance and forecasts in those regions. Calibration of the sensors used in surface observations is very important, they explain, but in practice few are calibrated to internationally accepted standards.

100 MB/year

TAHMO is trying to fill this gap with its network of weather stations. The non-profit teamed up with US-German company Meter Group to develop a weather station that measures rainfall, temperature, solar radiation, pressure, and wind speed, among other variables. The stations have no moving parts, meaning they are less likely to break and require maintenance.

Each station produces about 100MB of weather data a year, transmitted via a sim card in the data logger to a central database.

This data is available for free for scientists and local meteorological facilities, but companies wanting to access it need to pay. Selker says that, so far, TAHMO has signed memorandums of understanding with 18 African countries and received their permission to operate the network within their jurisdiction.

It has been a massive challenge to convince African countries to make their data freely available, he says.

Countries are suspicious of doing this because of ideas of national sovereignty and commercial value, according to Selker. Their weather agencies have been under the impression that they can make a lot of money out of their data, even though no one has.

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration makes its data freely available, and this is one of the main reasons why US climate and weather patterns are better understood than those on the African continent, according to Selker. You cant do science on proprietary data  it doesnt help the building of scientific understanding.

However, there is a reason African countries meteorological agencies charge for their data: many survive through selling it to make up for a continent-wide lack of investment in weather infrastructure, says Mark New, director of the African Climate and Development Initiative at the University of Cape Town.

TAHMO funds its operations, and the free provision to scientists and local facilities, by selling its data to companies. Technology company IBM is its biggest client: it channels the data into its subsidiary, The Weather Company , to use in its weather modelling. TAHMO also sells data to seed producers, insurers, farming companies, and consulting firms.

Intermediaries, whether they are businesses or non-profits, need weather data before they can develop the data-based services that farmers need.

Selker estimates the value of the data to the African economy at about US$100 billion a year, through industries such as insurance. If we could insure those crops, farmers could take bigger risks, he says. As long as governments keep those data secured, that economic opportunity is missed.

Ben Schaap, research lead at the Global Open Data for Agriculture and Nutrition, says there are pros and cons to keeping weather data secure. If it is free, companies can more easily use it to innovate and create services; if the data is protected, the data provider can more easily create a business model around it  but this could make using the data less economically viable for other businesses.

The public-private partnership model under which TAHMO operates is a departure from the open-access national data provision services such as NASA, or the bite-sized donor-funded projects that aim to boost climate data capacity. Selker says the African landscape is littered with the detritus of donor-funded projects that survived for the duration of the project and then fell into disrepair when the funding dried up.

Those other projects were just that  projects, adds Selker. Instead, were an enterprise.

However, for TAHMOs data to benefit small-scale, poor farmers, businesses would need to know what they need and find it worthwhile to develop services for them, says Schaap.

According to Julio Araujo, research coordinator for Future Climate For Africa, theres ongoing debate on the best model for delivering climate services, and TAHMO is one to watch. Selling services to African countries is an improvement over the status quo, he says.

Data hunger

Scientists welcome the idea of free and easily accessible data, especially for areas where conflict and poor governance mean it simply does not exist, according to New.

John Kioli, chairman of Kenyas climate change working group, welcomed the possibility of free on-the-ground data. We need data for research and also forecasting. It is important to have reliable data and, if possible, data that is coming from Africa.

Scientists have already started publishing articles using TAHMO data, says Selker. To access it, they simply need to apply and declare research use. Were sending data to scientists in the United Kingdom, US, Europe, and Africa. Were seeing that hunger and demand for African climate data in the African science community too, he says.

They could help answer scientific questions over how the African climate as a whole is changing, but also tackle uncertainties around how this change plays out on a city level.

There are many possibilities, says Marieke de Groen, TAHMOs regional coordinator for southern Africa, who oversees eight stations in Johannesburg. She says weather data is essential to get a better understanding of water needs and water flows, which have implications for storm water management and how groundwater is recharged.

For a large city like Johannesburg, where it may be raining in one part while the sun shines in another, the effects of extreme weather events will not be uniform across the city, explains De Groen. You have to get a picture of the distribution. Satellite and radar data help, but this is from the ground up.

This article was supported by The Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center. For nearly 60 years the Bellagio Center has supported individuals working to improve the lives of poor and vulnerable people globally through its conference and residency programs, and has served as a catalyst for transformative ideas, initiatives, and collaborations.

From November 5  December 3, 2018, the Bellagio Center will host a special thematic residency on Science for Development, with a cohort of up to 15 scholars, practitioners, and artists whose work is advancing, informing, communicating, or is inspired by the use or design of science and technology to address social and environmental challenges around the world.Parts of the world's largest ice sheet would melt if Antarctic warming of just 2C is sustained for millennia, according to international research.

University of Queensland scientist Dr Kevin Welsh was part of a team that used evidence from warm periods in Earth's history to see how the East Antarctic Ice Sheet might react to a warming climate.

Dr Welsh said marine sediment layers indicated the ice sheet had retreated during warming in the late Pleistocene period, when temperatures were like those predicted for this century.

"Antarctica is around twice the size of Australia, with ice sheets several kilometres thick and containing around half of the world's fresh water," he said.

"The East Antarctic Ice Sheet covers about two thirds of the area, and because its base is largely above sea level it was generally thought to be less sensitive to warming climates than the adjacent West Antarctic Ice Sheet.

"However, some areas -- like the Wilkes Land Subglacial Basin, directly south of Australia -- are below sea level and contain enough ice to raise global sea levels by several metres.

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"The evidence we have suggests that with the predicted 2C warming in Antarctica -- if sustained over a couple of millennia -- the sheet would start melting in these locations."

Dr Welsh, from UQ's School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, said the team chemically analysed layers of sediment deposited on the Southern Ocean floor by glaciers.

"We found that the most extreme changes in the ice sheet occurred during two interglacial periods 125,000 and 400,000 years ago, when global sea levels were several metres higher than they are today," he said.

"These periods could be analogues for future climates and it seems likely that ice loss from the East Antarctic Ice Sheet contributed to those higher sea levels.

"Ice loss contributes to rising global sea levels which are a threat to many coastal communities, and making projections requires a solid understanding of how sensitive these ice sheets are."

Imperial College London researcher Dr David Wilson said the findings were extremely concerning for humanity.

"With current global temperatures already one degree higher than during pre-industrial times, future ice loss seems inevitable if we fail to reduce carbon emissions," Dr Wilson said.Quantum jumps are usually regarded to be instantaneous. However, new measurement methods are so precise that it has now become possible to observe such a process and to measure its duration precisely -- for example the famous 'photoelectric effect', first described by Albert Einstein.

It was one of the crucial experiments in quantum physics: when light falls on certain materials, electrons are released from the surface. Albert Einstein was the first to explain this phenomenon in 1905, when he spoke of "light quanta" -- the smallest units of light that we call photons today.

In tiny fractions of a second, an electron of the material absorbs a photon, "jumps" into another state and leaves the surface. This "photoelectric effect" is so fast that until now it has mostly been regarded as instantaneous -- as a sudden change of state, from one moment to the next. However, new measurement methods are so precise that it has now become possible to observe such a process and to measure its duration precisely. A team from the Vienna University of Technology, together with research groups from Garching, Munich and Berlin, determined the duration of the photoelectric effect at a tungsten surface. The results were published in the journal Nature.

Measuring on an attosecond scale

The photoelectric effect plays an important role in many technical fields, for example in solar cells or in the conversion of data from a fiber optic cable into electrical signals. It occurs on a time scale in the attosecond range -- an attosecond is a billionth of a billionth of a second.

"With the help of ultra-short laser pulses, it has been possible in recent years to gain for the first time insight into the timing of such effects," explains Prof. Joachim Burgdorfer from the Institute for Theoretical Physics of the Vienna University of Technology. "Together with our colleagues from Germany, for example, we were able to determine the time interval between different quantum jumps and show that different quantum jumps take different amounts of time." However, until now it was only possible to determine time differences, but not the absolute duration, because it is very difficult to find a "clock," which begins to tick precisely at the beginning of the quantum jump. This is exactly what has become possible through the combination of several experiments, computer simulations and theoretical calculations.

Three atomic clocks

To achieve this, the scientists had to proceed step by step: in order to have an absolute, precisely calibrated reference scale, they first studied electrons ripped out of helium atoms by laser pulses. "The helium atom is very simple. In this case, we can accurately calculate the time evolution of the photoemission. For more complex objects, such as metal surfaces, this would not be possible even with the best supercomputers in the world," explains Prof. Christoph Lemell.

The helium atoms were then used as a reference clock. In a second experiment, the photoemission of helium and iodine was compared, thus calibrating the "iodine clock." Finally, in the third and final step, it was possible to use the iodine atoms to study the photoemission of electrons from a tungsten surface -- the effect, the team wanted to measure. The iodine atoms were deposited on a tungsten surface, which was then hit with ultrashort laser pulses. Now the iodine atoms served as a reference clock, with which the photoemission from the tungsten surface could be measured.

An ultrashort laser pulse is used as the starting signal with which the process begins. The electrons are released from their atoms and "jump" into a different quantum state, in which they can reach the tungsten surface and leave. "In tungsten, the duration of this process can be studied particularly well because the interface of the material can be defined very precisely there," explains Prof. Florian Libisch. "The tungsten surface is an excellent finish line for electron-time measurement."

The duration of the photoemission process depends on the initial state of the electrons. It ranges from 100 attoseconds for electrons from the inner shells of the tungsten atoms to 45 attoseconds for conduction band electrons, which on average pass the finish line faster. The measurements were carried out at the Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics in Garching (Germany). Florian Libisch, Christoph Lemell and Joachim Burgdorfer from the Vienna University of Technology were responsible for the theoretical work and computer simulations.

But, of course, the goal of the research project is not just measuring the duration of a quantum effect. "It is an exciting field of research that provides remarkable new insights -- for example into surface physics, and into electron transport processes inside materials," says Joachim Burgdorfer. "It gives us the opportunity to study important physical processes with an accuracy that would have been inconceivable a few years ago."Imagine an enormous volcano erupting in the Pacific Northwest, pouring lava across Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Imagine the lava flooding out until river valleys are filled in. Until bushes and shrubs are buried in liquid rock. Until the tallest trees are completely covered.

About 16 million years ago, this happened.

Lava erupted in pulses, ultimately burying the region to the height of a 30-story building. If the lava had been spread evenly over the lower 48 states instead of staying concentrated in the northwest, it would cover the country to a depth of about 80 feet.

Before now, most geologists believed that it took almost 2 million years to erupt all that lava, collectively known as "the Columbia River flood basalts." But Princeton researchers are publishing findings today that show it happened more than twice as fast as previously believed, with 95 percent erupting within a 750,000-year window.

Flood basalts have fascinated geologists for centuries. As the largest volcanic events on Earth, they have been implicated in mass extinctions, such as the largest extinction event in Earth history, 252 million years ago. There was no mass extinction 16 million years ago, but there was a major climate event about that time, known as the Mid-Miocene Climate Optimum (MMCO), a global warming event with high temperatures and elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.

The same volcanoes that erupt liquid rock also belch out greenhouse gases, so geologists have wondered if there was a connection between the flood basalts and the MMCO global warming event. Just one problem: Before now, no one was quite sure about the timing of the Columbia River flood basalts.

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"In order to answer the question of whether the Columbia River flood basalts caused the MMCO, we need to know the timing of eruptions and climate shifts as precisely as possible," said Blair Schoene, associate professor of geosciences.

"To put it simply, people didn't know exactly when or over how long the Columbia River Basalt Group erupted, which made it difficult to explore a causal relationship with the MMCO," said Jennifer Kasbohm, a graduate student and lead author of the paper appearing today in the journal Science Advances.

To help explain the scale of the eruptions, Kasbohm drew a parallel to the 2010 Eyjafjallajokull eruption in Iceland. "The Icelandic eruption shut down airports in Europe for a week, affecting 10 million travelers, and there were periodic airline disruptions for the following month," she said. "Now imagine having one of those Icelandic eruptions every 8 months for 750,000 years in a row, and that would give you our predicted eruption rate for the Columbia River basalts."

Three undergraduates accompanied Kasbohm and Schoene in the lab and the field, contributing to their research while completing projects of their own: Josh Murray of the Class of 2018, Sam Bartusek '20 and Kyle Duffey '19. "The project involved seven weeks of fieldwork, with many days over 100 degrees Fahrenheit," said Kasbohm. "We encountered a handful of rattlesnakes, numerous spiders, friendly and helpful locals, and we managed to stay one step ahead of the forest fires in the region."

They were looking for zircons, tiny minerals containing trace amounts of uranium. Over time, the naturally radioactive material decays into lead, so geologists can use the ratio of uranium to lead to calculate exactly how old the zircon is. Unfortunately for geologists, basaltic lava flows like the Columbia River flood basalts don't have the right chemistry to make zircons, so until now, geologists have had to settle for dates with uncertainties of over a million years, produced through other dating methods.

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"To test for a causal link between climate and eruptions, a million years is not good enough," said Schoene.

The researchers got around the lack of zircons in the lava rocks by looking at layers of volcanic ash between the basalt layers. The ash came from the nearby Cascade volcanoes (including Mount Saint Helens), which do contain zircon and were erupting about the same time as the massive lavas.

In their lab at Princeton, Kasbohm and Schoene separated 0.1 mm sized zircons from the 16-million-year-old rocks, measured the isotopic ratios of uranium and lead, and pinned down the ages of individual lava flows to within a few tens of thousands of years. "That precision is basically the best you can do with any chronometer for samples of this age -- even though 10,000 years sounds like a lot -- so our method is the gold standard," she said.

"This is the most significant paper to come out about the Columbia River flood basalts in a decade or two," said Stephen Reidel, a research professor of geology at Washington State University-Tri-Cities, who has studied these lava flows since 1972 and contributed to the analysis of this research. "Jenn and Blair deserve a lot of compliments for thinking to look at the zircons in the ash beds between the flows.... Of course, now we're going to have to go back and re-calculate everything that used the old timeline or eruption rate. That's okay -- that's part of the fun."

With their more precise timeline, Kasbohm and Schoene have now shown that the prehistoric climate change did start very close in time to the beginning of the eruptions, but further work is needed to pin down the connection between them.

This 16-million-year-old climate change event is the last time that carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere shot above 400 parts per million -- until the last decade.

"The MMCO could be a parallel to our current climate, and further work investigating the timing and duration of that event will tell us more about how we can expect Earth to recover from anthropogenic climate change," Kasbohm said. For instance, if the climate stayed warm for a million years after the volcanoes stopped erupting, as now looks possible, that could have significant implications for predicting how long the atmosphere will respond to human-caused global warming.

"Time matters," said Kasbohm, "whether we're trying to learn about Earth's past or its future. It's very empowering to use tiny minerals to tell the story of these voluminous rocks."This company article has been removed.The Securities and Exchange Commission charged a former registered representative with defrauding his brokerage customers - including many elderly retirees and unsophisticated investors - out of more than $2.7 million in a multi-year investment scam.

According to the SEC's complaint, from at least 2014 through 2016, Ernest J. Romer, III persuaded at least 30 of his customers, many of whom invested most of their life savings with Romer, to sell securities in their brokerage accounts and transfer the proceeds to either P&R Capital, LLC or CoreCap Solutions, LLC. Romer allegedly represented to his customers that upon transferring the money, he would invest it in the stock market and earn them a better return than their current investments. Based on Romer's misrepresentations, the customers believed that CoreCap Solutions and P&R Capital were affiliated with a broker-dealer where he worked. Romer's alleged statements to his customers were false. As alleged in the complaint, P&R Capital and CoreCap Solutions were Romer's personal businesses, and Romer did not invest the customers' money in the stock market for their benefit. He allegedly stole the money and used it to benefit himself and his family, to conduct trading in his own brokerage account, to make Ponzi-like payments to other customers, and to repay customers from his prior brokerage firm who had suffered losses on an investment Romer had recommended.

The SEC's complaint, filed in the federal district court in the Eastern District of Michigan, charges Romer with violating the antifraud provisions of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder. The SEC is seeking a judgment ordering Romer to disgorge his ill-gotten gains with prejudgment interest, and to pay civil penalties.

The SEC's investigation, which is continuing, is being conducted by Marlene Key-Patterson and Wilburn Saylor of the Chicago Regional Office, and supervised by Steven Klawans. The litigation will be led by John E. Birkenheier and Ms. Key-Patterson. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the Macomb County, Michigan Prosecutor's Office.The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged Sientra, Inc., a California-based medical aesthetics company, and its former CEO, Hani Zeini, with concealing damaging news about the company's sole-source manufacturer before it closed a $60 million stock offering in 2015. The company agreed to settle the SEC's charges.

According to the SEC's complaint, Sientra sells silicone breast implants in the United States, and at the time of the offering, all of the implants it sold were made by a company in Brazil. Three days before Sientra was preparing to close a stock offering for more than $60 million, Zeini allegedly learned from the Brazilian company's CEO that its Brazilian manufacturer's "CE certificate," which is a sign of regulatory compliance required to sell products in the European Union, had been suspended. Zeini allegedly concealed this information from Sientra's general counsel and the underwriters for the offering. The day after the offering closed, news of the suspension became public, and Sientra's stock price fell 52.6% from $20.58 to $9.70 per share after it issued a release disclosing the suspension. Even after that, Zeini allegedly lied to those asking about the matter, and tried to destroy the records that showed he knew about the CE certificate suspension.

The SEC's complaint, filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, charges Hani Zeini with violating Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 10(b) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder. The complaint seeks a penalty, an officer and director bar, and a permanent injunction.

Without admitting or denying the findings, Sientra, consented to the entry of the SEC's order, which finds Sientra violated Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and section 10(b) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, and orders Sientra to cease and desist from future violations of these statutes. In considering whether to accept Sientra's settlement the SEC considered Sientra's prompt action upon discovering the alleged fraud, self-reporting to the SEC, and extensive cooperation with the agency's investigation.

The SEC's investigation was conducted by Matthew Montgomery and was supervised by Robert Conrrad of the Los Angeles office. The SEC's litigation against Mr. Zeini will be handled by Amy Longo and Matthew Montgomery.Neighbors on call - Part 2

The Hopital Universitaire de Mirebalais in Haiti was erected after the 2010 earthquake to deliver health care throughout the country's central plateau. Contributors to the effort included the American Red Cross and Artists for Haiti, an organization co-founded by actor Ben Stiller.

The Partners In Health, known in Haitian Creole as Zanmi Lasante(ZL/PIH), headquarters resides in a huge state-of-the-art hospital in Mirebalais, about a half-hour drive southwest of Cange. On what has become a typical morning there, hundreds of Haitians crowd onto wooden benches inside. More spill out of the entryways into the tropical sun. Some sleep on blankets or cardboard in the shade of bushes planted along the hospital's white walls. A young woman strolls toward the exit, a newborn in her arms and a gaggle of friends skipping behind her, shouting excitedly, "She's a mom!"

In a cramped office upstairs, Pere Eddy Eustache, director of mental health, speaks in crisp, undulating English about why his organization opted to address the needs of this mountainous region with community health workers in the first place.

"When Zanmi-Lasante brought this community-based approach, the main goal was to bridge the rural area to the urban one," Eustache says. "To bridge the destitute to the privileged people. And how can you do that without representatives of these neglected, these outsider people? And we came to find ... this person, men or women, first of all must be living in his or her community of belonging. Physically present. Sharing the daily life of the people. Almost of the same condition."

Similarly, in a June 2016 report on health-care innovation and reform, Gov. Steve Bullock's administration cited community health workers (CHWs') double roles as frontline care providers and community liaisons as a compelling reason for embracing the CHW model. According to the Montana Healthcare Workforce Advisory Committee, 15 of the state's 56 counties contained no licensed social workers in 2017. Thirty-one counties lacked licensed clinical psychologists, and 40 lacked psychiatrists. And with recent mass layoffs of other frontline health-care workers after last year's budget cuts, the need for community-based aid and advocacy has only grown.

CHWs have been implemented by various nonprofit providers throughout the state for years. Researchers often refer to the practice of transferring non-specialist duties to lightly trained community members as "task-sharing," an approach that increases accessibility for patients while decreasing reliance on faraway specialists and urgent-care centers. However, unlike states with robust government-supported CHW programs, including Oregon, Minnesota and New Mexico, official sanctioning via certification or training hasn't come to Montana. Until now.

This June, five state-affiliated area health education centers launched Montana's first-ever online training course for community health workers. Developed over a two-year period with the help of a $140,772 grant from the Montana Healthcare Foundation, the new standardized curriculum is open to anyone with a high school diploma and designed to prepare individuals for engagement in "various activities including outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support and advocacy depending on the needs of the employing facility/organization." Kris Juliar, director of the Montana Office of Rural Health & Area Health Education Center in Bozeman, says Montana CHWs will operate as component parts of broader health-care teams. While she anticipates growing interest in the position, Juliar cautions that it may take some time to see CHWs in action in Montana.

"We're trying to be really careful about not training people for jobs that don't exist," she says. "The job market for community health workers is really in its infancy in Montana. There's definitely some opportunities out there, but if I trained you to be a community health worker, could you go out and find a job in that? Right now I think it'd be difficult."

Mental health is not a primary focus of the training yet, but Juliar says that MHF is already developing additional training material for CHWs tailored to that need.

With a fledgling CHW presence now in the offing here, Partners in Health's work in Haiti offers a window into a possible future of health care in Montana. Partners in Health has gradually grown its cadre of mental health-focused CHWs from 28 to 59, serving an area that encompasses the country's central plateau and neighboring lower Artibonite region. Drawing on a new round of donations, the organization is currently in the process of raising that number to 81. ZL/PIH's community health workers receive one week of in-person training - about half the length of the 85-hour online course in Montana - covering the basics of physical health, ethics, communication skills, sanitation and detection of infectious diseases. CHW candidates focusing primarily on mental health are also trained in depression screening and how to deal with patients displaying psychosis, agitation, epilepsy and suicidal ideation. They do not diagnose, but are able to refer patients to more specialized care if needed. ZL/PIH's mental health director, Pere Eddy Eustache, does not see CHWs as representatives of the organization, despite the financial incentives they receive. Instead, he says, people like Joseph Benissois are advocates for their own communities, people who must be above political and moral suspicion, not only trusted by patients, but able to spur local community leaders, religious leaders and traditional healers to bring about change in public attitudes toward mental health.

"Here, for instance, people say if I hit you as a crazy person, you need to hit me back, otherwise you'll get mentally sick as well," Eustache says. "There's another aspect of stigma. It's underlining, for instance, the total impossibility for someone to recover 100 percent from mental illness. They'll say who got crazy once was always that crazy. Can you see how solid it is, a belief that is tied to stigma?"

For Montana, the obvious question becomes one of efficacy. A 2007 policy report by the World Health Organization warned that the failure of numerous CHW programs worldwide due to poor planning and underestimation of the effort required to execute them has "unnecessarily undermined and damaged the credibility of the CHW concept." The effectiveness of CHWs across the globe has been the subject of considerable research in recent decades. Those studies have focused on CHW work on a variety of health conditions - tuberculosis, HIV, diabetes - as well as their integration into more robust health teams made up of various specialists and lay caregivers. One such study, conducted in Zaire, found that over a two-year period in the late 1990s, 65 percent of malaria cases in 12 villages were treated by CHWs and documented a 50 percent decrease in morbidity compared to a control area with a single health center with no CHWs. Many of these studies have been conducted at project sites in poverty-stricken countries, and among the most commonly cited deficiencies in the body of CHW research is the need for greater focus on the longer-term results of CHW application.

"Without data across years, researchers cannot look at global trends and progress made over time," the Frontline Health Workers Coalition, a global alliance of healthcare NGOs, wrote in a 2014 report on the need to improve CHW data. "Further, lack of data on CHWs prevents CHWs and their supporters from being able to effectively advocate in the policy arena."

Research on CHW programs in the United States is even less robust. A 2007 Community Health Worker National Workforce Study compiled by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimated there were 121,206 CHWs employed nationwide - a 41 percent increase over 2000. However, the study, the only one of its kind the agency has published to date, offered the caveat that there is "no statistical evidence, of the size and direction of change in the community health worker workforce." Papers that have been published indicate that wider use of CHWs holds promise for increased access to and utilization of health care. A 2016 study in the Journal of General Internal Medicine found that in most cases involving chronic conditions like diabetes, asthma and hypertension, CHW interventions drove down patient costs and reduced hospitalizations and urgent care visits. On the mental health front in particular, a 2018 review of literature by several California-based researchers found that CHWs could, domestically, be mobilized to serve as primary providers of evidence-based treatments in areas with "severe workforce shortages," and even be involved in the delivery of those treatments in more resource-rich settings. "CHW-delivered prevention and early intervention services would allow trained mental health professionals to focus their expertise on individuals who require more intensive services," the study continued, though the authors cautioned that additional research is needed to understand how to sustain CHW-centric efforts.

In Montana, the project launched in 2015 has repeatedly cited the potential for CHWs to engage in community education and outreach, informal counseling and the linking of medical and social services as reasons to not only develop a standardized training curriculum, but to establish mechanisms for data collection and continued discussion among various individuals, organizations and state agencies. And based on six years of fieldwork and research in Haiti's central plateau, Bonnie Kaiser, professor of anthropology and global health at the University of California San Diego, agrees that community health workers like those employed by ZL/PIH could similarly benefit rural Montana when it comes to mental health access and treatment.

"Reaching people in the communities they live in is a much more successful model for actually linking to care," Kaiser says. "And having it be people who are trusted community members when it's an issue that can be really stigmatized is really important, because it's the kind of thing people might not seek care for a number of reasons. But they'd be fine chatting to a friend or neighbor, because that just feels a little bit safer and less stigmatizing than saying, 'I'm going to a psychiatrist.'"A construction worker was killed by falling plywood sheets at a San Rafael construction site Tuesday morning, authorities said.

The worker was sitting next to some lumber at the construction site on Fair Drive when the sheets, leaned up against the buildings frame, toppled over, said Sgt. Lisa Holton, a San Rafael police spokeswoman.

The investigation closed Fair Drive between Lincoln Avenue and Coleman Drive from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Documents from the San Rafael Design Review Board show that Fair Drive Partners LLC was building on several property lots on Fair Drive.

The construction site only had a foundation and walls framed, Holton said.

The coroners office has not yet released the victims identity.

Now Playing: Here's a look at San Francisco's most dangerous intersections for pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers. Video: Ted Andersen, SFGATE

Investigators with Cal/OSHA confirmed that the victim was an employee of Concord-based West Coast Land and Development, which shares an owner and address with Fair Drive Partners LLC. The state agency is still investigating.

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.

Officials with the company did not respond to a request for comment.

Gwendolyn Wu is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: gwendolyn.wu@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @gwendolynawuA security guard for the San Francisco Housing Authority claims he was sexually harassed by the agencys director of finance, Edwin Jamora, and has begun legal proceedings.

In a lawsuit against Jamora and the Housing Authority filed in San Francisco Superior Court last month, the security guard, Husam Qana, alleges that his repeated complaints about inappropriate sexual conduct went nowhere, even after he reported separate incidents to SFHAs legal counsel and human resources department.

Qana claims in his suit that his internal complaints were downplayed because of Jamoras high-ranking status within the housing department, and in retaliation the agency purposefully assigned him to guard a vacant building at 440 Turk St.

He had previously been working more closely with other staff members, including senior members of the housing commission. Now, hes set to begin guarding vacant housing units on Potrero Hill, Qana said.

They cut everything, Qana said in an interview. Im not doing anything now. Im all by myself and no one talks to me anymore.

Rose Marie Dennis, a spokeswoman for the housing authority, said the agency could not comment on confidential personnel matters.

The first incident of inappropriate touching, Qana claims, happened in January 2017 while he and Jamora were in a car together for a work-related purpose.

During the car ride, Jamora allegedly touched Qanas leg and hand on more than one occasion. When Qana asked what Jamora was doing, Jamora allegedly responded, In the Philippines, its normal, or words to that effect, according to the suit.

Qana claims he reported the incident to SFHAs legal counsel, who relayed it to the agencys human resources department. He was told that Jamora had been spoken to and had been told to behave himself.

I said, OK, so long as he behaves himself, thats fine, Qana said, but the inappropriate conduct allegedly escalated. According to the complaint, Jamora began grabbing, rubbing or caressing Qanas hands and legs and telling Qana that he wanted to kiss him.

In late March 2017, Qana alleges Jamora kissed him and, the next day, grabbed his hand and pulled it toward his body, causing Qana to touch Jamoras penis through his clothes.

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.

Qana says SFHAs human resources department conducted an investigation after he reported the incident, but his allegations were found to be not credible given weight of the evidence.

John Winer, Qanas attorney in the case, said the housing authority was dismissive of his claims of inappropriate conduct because hes a man.

The reason this thing keeps getting ignored and not handled appropriately is because its male-on-male and it doesnt cause as much concern as it should with the housing authority, he said. A male can get sexually harassed just as badly as a female.

On top of the yet-unspecified damages Qana is seeking, Winer said hes also owed hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid wages from the housing authority.

I would work seven days a week for 24 hours a day, but only get paid for 80 hours, Qana said.

Dominic Fracassa is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dfracassa@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dominicfracassaBill Hutchinson /

Authorities have released the name of a man who was killed in a San Rafael construction accident Tuesday.

San Juan Landaverde-Olvera, 59, of San Rafael, died when a stack of plywood sheets fell on him, the Marin County coroners office said.The citys biggest labor union is crying foul over City Halls demand that bilingual workers take a test in the language that they are being paid extra to speak.

Its no small matter.

According to the city controller, San Francisco paid out about $2.7 million in incentive pay last year to police, firefighters, social workers, clerks and staffers who are fluent in Chinese, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Vietnamese and other languages needed to better communicate with the citys various immigrant populations.

Its one of a number of extra pay benefits built into city contracts  they also come into play for working at night, performing as a supervisor or even being assigned to a city sewage plant.

But now the Service Employees International Union Local 1021, which represents a majority of the 2,400 workers earning the bilingual pay, claims the city is going too far in its effort to tighten up on who gets the extra money and who doesnt.

The city has never required that employees who already receive a bilingual pay differential take an examination to keep their pay, SEIU field supervisor Xiu Min Li wrote in a complaint filed late last month with the state Public Employment Relations Board, which polices the contracts of government union workers.

The bilingual boost can mean an extra $80 or $120 a month for about 1,700 SEIU members, depending on how many hours they use their second language on the job.

The dispute began months ago when the citys Human Resources Department discovered that, because of record-keeping errors, it didnt have language certification records for 55 of the workers being paid. All of the workers belong to SEIU.

In June, the city began calling in the workers for testing. Depending on their job requirements, the tests varied from demonstrating simple speaking skills to detailed, written proficiency.

We are checking to make sure everyone has the skills they are being paid for, said Susan Gard, policy chief for the Human Resources Department.

According to Gard, 39 workers passed, six failed and seven refused to take their tests. Three others are waiting for new tests to be designed.

On Aug. 23, the SEIU filed an unfair labor practice complaint with the Public Employment Relations Board, demanding that the city cease and desist from carrying out the new testing requirement.

The union noted, among other things, that the city lacks a uniform test for all languages.

We dont have an issue with people being certified to get paid for bilingual work, said SEIUs Li. The problem is the city haphazardly administered the program ... and suddenly theyre issuing a letter saying you have to be tested again if want to get paid.

Gard countered that no ones pay has been cut while the negotiations are continuing with the union and that the SEIU acted prematurely in filing the unfair labor practice charge.

Other unions, such as the Police Officers Association, have no problem with the tests. In fact, the POAs new contract calls for bilingual officers to be tested every three years.

We are completely fine with that to receive the proper compensation, said Martin Halloran, the POAs past president who still works for the union.

Connor Radnovich / The Chronicle

As usual, there appears to be plenty more at play between the SEIU and the city than just testing for bilingual pay.

According to Li, City Hall has repeatedly acted unilaterally  whether creating a Department of Homeless and Supportive Services without consulting the union or sending out a notice to city workers requiring them to resubmit documents to keep collecting dependent benefits.

We feel we need to take a stand, Li said.

And apparently, the union got the citys attention. Late Tuesday, the two sides reached a deal to allow workers who failed their test to retake them, in exchange for the union dropping the state complaint.

Tuff sell: Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf just barely won approval Monday night for her Tuff Shed village near Lake Merritt.

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.

Five Oakland City Council members  Noel Gallo, Dan Kalb, Larry Reid, Annie Campbell Washington and Abel Guillen  voted yes, while Desley Brooks and Lynette Gibson McElhaney were absent, and Rebecca Kaplan abstained.

Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle

Kaplan said the mayors strategy to set up 20 of the prefab sheds in the parking lot of the boarded-up Kaiser Convention Center failed to include plans for sanctioned homeless RV parking and the use of church parking lots for temporary housing.

Instead, they brought up a proposal to help a tiny fraction of the people at a higher cost, she said.

The Lake Merritt sheds are being installed with mostly private funds at a cost of about $200,000, but will require as much as $750,000 a year in city and other money to operate, according to Joe DeVries, an assistant to the city administrator who works on homeless issues.

Schaaf said that while the sheds may not be perfect, we cant afford to sit around and do nothing. The inhumane response is inaction.

Oaklands growing homeless problem has become one of the key issues in the November city elections  including Schaafs own re-election bid.

Kaplan has endorsed Schaaf rival Cat Brooks in the Oakland mayors race.

San Francisco Chronicle columnists Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross appear Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KPIX TV morning and evening news. He can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call 415-777-8815, or email matierandross@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @matierandrossFitbit has struggled to keep up with competitors in the smartwatch business. Now the San Francisco fitness device maker is announcing a new health care service it hopes will help millions monitor chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension.

It is the latest push by Fitbit to make inroads in the health care space, which tech giants like Apple and Amazon are also moving into. The new service, Fitbit Care, allows users to digitally sync their own health management tools  such as weight scales, glucose-monitoring devices and even details from electronic medical records  to the Fitbit app, with the goal of consolidating health data in one place. Gathering that data, Fitbit believes, will help users manage their conditions.TOKYO  Electric drones booked through smartphones pick people up from office rooftops, shortening travel time by hours, reducing the need for parking and clearing smog from the air.

This vision of the future is driving the Japanese governments flying car project. Major carrier All Nippon Airways, electronics company NEC Corp. and more than a dozen other companies  including San Franciscos Uber  and academic experts hope to have a road map ready by the years end.

This is such a totally new sector, Japan has a good chance for not falling behind, said Fumiaki Ebihara, the government official in charge of the project.

Nobody believes people are going to be zipping around in flying cars anytime soon. Many hurdles remain, such as battery life, the need for regulations and, of course, safety concerns. But dozens of similar projects are popping up around the world.

A flying car is defined as an aircraft thats electric, or hybrid electric, with driverless capabilities, that can land and takeoff vertically.

They are often called EVtol, which stands for electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.

All the flying car concepts, which are like drones big enough to hold humans, promise to be better than helicopters, which are expensive to maintain, noisy to fly and require trained pilots, Ebihara and other proponents say.

You may think of Back to the Future, Gundam or Doraemon, Ebihara said, referring to vehicles of flight in a Hollywood film and in Japanese cartoons featuring robots. Up to now, it was just a dream, but with innovations in motors and batteries, its time for it to become real.

Google, drone company Ehang and car manufacturer Geely in China, and Volkswagen of Germany have invested in flying car technology.

Nissan and Honda said they have nothing to say about flying cars, but Toyota recently invested $500 million in working with Uber on self-driving technology for the ride-hailing service. Toyota group companies have also invested $375,000 in a Japanese startup, Cartivator, that is working on a flying car.

The hope is to fly up and light the torch at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but its unclear it will meet that goal: at a demonstration last year the device crashed after it rose to slightly higher than eye level. A video of a more recent demonstration suggests its now flying more stably, though its being tested indoors, unmanned and chained so it wont fly away.

There are plenty of skeptics.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk says even toy drones are noisy and blow a lot of air, which means anything that would be 1,000 times heavier isnt practical.

If you want a flying car, just put wheels on a helicopter, he said in a recent interview with podcast host and comedian Joe Rogan on YouTube. Your neighbors are not going to be happy if you land a flying car in your backyard or on your rooftop.

Though the Japanese government has resisted Ubers efforts to offer ride-hailing services in Japan, limiting it to partnerships with taxi companies, it has eagerly embraced the companys work on EVtol machines.

Uber says it is considering Tokyo as its first launch city for affordable flights via its UberAir service. It says Los Angeles and Dallas, and locations in Australia, Brazil, France and India are other possible locations.

Unlike regular airplanes, with their aerodynamic design and two wings, Ubers Elevate structures look like small jets with several propellers on top. The company says it plans flight demonstrations as soon as 2020 and a commercial service by 2023.

Ubers vision calls for using heliports on rooftops, but new multifloor construction similar to parking lots for cars will be needed to accommodate so many more EVtol aircraft, if the service takes off.

Unmanned drones are legal in the U.S., Japan and other countries, but there are restrictions on where they can be flown and requirements for getting approval in advance. In Japan, drone flyers can be licensed if they take classes. There is no requirement like drivers licenses for cars.

Flying passengers over populated areas would take a quantum leap in technology, overhauling aviation regulations and air traffic safety controls, along with major efforts both to ensure safety and convince people its safe.

Uber said at a recent presentation in Tokyo that it envisions a route between the citys two international airports, among others.

This is not a rich persons toy. This is a mass market solution, said Adam Warmoth, product manager at Uber Elevate.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

Concepts for flying cars vary greatly. Some resemble vehicles with several propellers on top while others look more like a boat with a seat over the propellers.

Ebihara, the flying-car chief at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, says Japan is on board for Blade Runner style travel  despite its plentiful, efficient and well-developed public transportation.

Japans auto and electronics industries have the technology and ability to produce super-light materials that could give the nation an edge in the flying car business, he said.

Just as the automobile vanquished horse-drawn carriages, moving short-distance transport into the air could in theory bring a sea change in how people live, Ebihara said, pointing to the sky outside the ministry building to stress how empty it was compared to the streets below.

Flying also has the allure of a birds eye view, the stuff of drone videos increasingly used in filmmaking, tourism promotion and journalism.

Atsushi Taguchi, a drone grapher, as specialists in drone video are called, expects test flights can be carried out even if flying cars wont become a reality for years since the basic technology for stable flying already exists with recent advances in sensors, robotics and digital cameras.

A growing labor shortage in deliveries in Japan is adding to the pressures to realize such technology, though there are risks, said Taguchi, who teaches at the Tokyo film school Digital Hollywood.

The propellers on commercially sold drones today are dangerous, and some of his students have lost fingers with improper flying. The bigger propellers needed for vertical flight would increase the hazards and might need to be covered.

The devices might need parachutes to soften crash landings, or might have to explode into small bits to ensure pieces hitting the ground would be smaller.

I think one of the biggest hurdles is safety, said Taguchi. And anything that flies will, by definition, crash.

Yuri Kageyama is an Associated Press writer.Lime, a scooter rental startup headquartered in San Francisco, is fighting back against a decision to block it from its hometown.

On Wednesday, Lime sent an appeal to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority regarding the citys scooter rental pilot program. Last month the transit agency chose two Lime competitors, Scoot and Skip, to receive permits to operate in the city.

Lime argued in its appeal that the agency had acted with unlawful bias.

All pilot program applicants have the right to compete on a level playing field, the letter from Lime said. SFMTAs process denied Lime this right.

The city dismissed these accusations.

After a thorough, fair, and transparent review process, we are confident we selected the strongest applicants to participate in the one-year scooter pilot, Paul Rose, an agency spokesman, said.

Now Playing: Electric scooters by companies like Lime, Spin and Bird have taken over San Francisco streets and sidewalks. They're controversial - and we tested one out for a quick ride. Video: Alix Martichoux / SFGATE

After scooter companies flooded the citys streets and sidewalks with dockless, electric scooters, city agencies began seizing unlawful scooters and introduced an application process that would curb some startups from operating.

The transit agency selected two companies, neither of which has experience operating in San Franciscos scooter rental market, to receive permits for a one-year pilot program. Starting in October, Scoot and Skip will deploy a total of 1,250 scooters that residents can unlock with their phones and use to zip around the city.

The decision spurned some high-profile contestants, including Lime, Bird, and Spin. Those companies were perceived as following the ask forgiveness, not permission mantra originated by Uber and other disruptive tech companies.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

Lime requested a hearing and a review of the application process.

As of early September, there were more than 30 record requests pertaining to the selection process, MTA spokesperson Paul Rose previously told The Chronicle, which probably means there will be more questions and appeals.

Bird CEO Travis VanderZanden said Wednesday that his company did not plan to appeal San Franciscos denial of a permit.

San Francisco made the decision it did, he said. Were looking at the 100 cities were in now and were open to circling back and working with San Francisco at some point in the future.

Melia Russell is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: melia.russell@sfchronicle.comWelcome back to Tech Chronicle. If youve got some space for me in your inbox, Ill be over the moon.

Oh, Elon

Is Elon Musk crazy? Or just misunderstood?

Why choose?

As he tweets about a trip around the moon, Musk is getting sued back on Earth by the cave rescue diver he called a pedophile. (Confoundingly, Musk had apologized to Vernon Unsworth, the diver, then backtracked in emails to BuzzFeed News where he doubled down on his insults  all facts cited in Unsworths suits.)

The Department of Justice has weighed in, too, investigating Tesla and Musk over his tweeted plans to take the company private, plans he abandoned after weeks of uncertainty and pushback from investors. Tesla has acknowledged the probe, which follows weeks of scrutiny by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

And then there was Musk toking up on Joe Rogans podcast.

YouTube

Ive tracked Musks misadventures in Silicon Valley and beyond since the late 90s, when he got squeezed out of top management at Zip2, his first Internet startup. I found his next venture, an online bank called X.com, intriguing, since Id been writing about money on the web at Red Herring, a magazine about business and technology. (I still have my X.com debit card, a memento of those go-go days.) He merged that with another startup to form what became PayPal  and got squeezed out of that, too.

He cried all the way to the bank both times, rolling most of his Zip2 fortune into PayPal and his PayPal fortune into Tesla and SpaceX. Intriguingly, when it came to Tesla, where he was the first outside investor but not a founder, he did the squeezing  firing founder Martin Eberhard and installing two CEOs before taking over himself.

I think that history is telling. Musk has learned from his early mistakes. A docile, conflicted board, convinced of Musks greatness, has tolerated his oddities. A few extremely loyal executives, like JB Straubel at Tesla and Gwynne Shotwell at SpaceX, have stuck by him. Those without a high Musk tolerance are soon gone; hes not aiming for a repeat of the executive coup that ousted him at PayPal.

Mario Tama / Getty Images

Heres Musk to biographer Ashlee Vance, reflecting on his time at Zip2, the first time hed had to manage other people: The first obvious assumption would be that other people will behave like you. But thats not true. Even if they would like to behave like you, they dont necessarily have all of the assumptions or information that you have in your mind.

Most people dont behave like Musk. (They have more self-control, less self-regard, more self-awareness.) By now, hes figured that out. Heres the thing: I dont think he cares. His head is in space, and his gaze is toward the stars.

It might take the long arm of the law to bring him back to Earth.

 Owen Thomas (othomas@sfchronicle.com)

Quote of the week

Benioff now owns Time Magazine. Bezos owns the Washington Post. If anyone has a reasonably priced blog on Medium for sale, please reach out to me.  Box CEO Aaron Levie, tweeting about Salesforce chief Marc Benioffs media purchase

Coming up

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

Sign up for the newsletter Want to get the latest on Silicon Valley in your inbox? Subscribe to Tech Chronicle. See More Collapse

Speaking of Salesforce, its time for Dreamforce, the companys annual festival of cloud computing. It kicks off Tuesday with a keynote from Benioff. (Ramona the Love Terrier went once. She barked at a clearly suspect Salesforce mascot with a giant head.)

What Im listening to

Masters of Scale, hosted by LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman. Recent guests include Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom and former Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer.

What Im reading

Silicon Valley underpays women in stock options, too, Melia Russell reports. (San Francisco Chronicle)

Twitter CEO Jack Dorseys full interview with NYU professor Jay Rosen. (Recode)

Is Apple sexist? The new iPhones are too big for some womens hands. (People)

Tech Chronicle is a thrice-weekly newsletter from Owen Thomas, The Chronicles business editor, and the rest of the tech team. Follow along on Twitter: @techchronicle and Instagram: @techchronicleThe Bay Area woman who has accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of a sexual assault said through her lawyers Tuesday that the abuse shes endured since speaking out shows the need for an FBI investigation before she testifies to a Senate committee.

Since deciding to come forward publicly this week, Christine Blasey Ford has been the target of vicious harassment and even death threats and her family has been forced out of their home, her attorneys said in a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa.

Faced with possible defections from a narrow Republican majority, Grassley agreed Monday to reopen Kavanaughs confirmation proceedings to hear testimony from Ford about the alleged 1982 incident, when she and Kavanaugh were teenagers. But Grassley rejected Democrats demands to order a law enforcement investigation.

Instead, he listed Ford and Kavanaugh as the only witnesses at a hearing scheduled Monday  excluding, among others, Fords husband and a therapist, with whom she had discussed the encounter in 2012, and a friend of Kavanaughs who Ford said took part in the attack.

In their letter to Grassley, Fords lawyers protested that plan, but stopped short of saying she would refuse to participate in the hearing.

Now Playing: Female Democratic Senators are warning Republicans not to have a repeat of the past as the sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh recall Anita Hill's accusations against Clarence Thomas in 1991. (Sept. 18) Video: Associated Press

Having to relive this traumatic and harrowing incident on national television, sitting at the same table as Kavanaugh and facing senators who have openly derided her account, is something that no sexual assault survivor should be subjected to, they told Grassley. They cited comments by Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, who said after speaking with Kavanaugh that Ford was mistaken and mixed up.

A full investigation by law enforcement officials will ensure that the crucial facts and witnesses in this matter are addressed in a nonpartisan manner, and that the committee is fully informed before conducting any hearing or making any decisions, the lawyers wrote. They offered to speak with Grassley and Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, the committees ranking Democrat, on ways that Ford could cooperate while also taking care of her own health and safety.

Ordering an FBI investigation would be up to President Trump, who nominated Kavanaugh to the court and who himself has been accused of sexual misconduct by numerous women. He rejected the idea Tuesday.

I dont think (the) FBI should be involved because they dont want to be involved, Trump said. I really feel bad for (Kavanaugh) that hes going through this.

Feinstein, who had previously asked the FBI to investigate Fords allegations, renewed her call to postpone the hearing. We need the facts before senators  not staff or lawyers  speak to witnesses, she said.

Grassley made clear he was sticking with the schedule for Monday.

Nothing the FBI or any other investigator does would have any bearing on what Dr. Ford tells the committee, so there is no reason for any further delay, he said in a statement.

The reference to senators derisive comments was reminiscent of the reception that law Professor Anita Hill received in the same Senate committee when she stepped forward in 1991 to accuse Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment.

One Republican witness said Hill was suffering from erotomania, or sexual delusions. Sen. Alan Simpson of Wyoming said he was getting stuff coming in over the transom from people who were afraid to criticize Hill in public because it gets all tangled up in this sexual harassment crap. Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., accused Hill of perjury. Republican operative David Brock described Hill as a little bit nutty and a little bit slutty in his book The Real Anita Hill, which he later disavowed.

The all-male cast of Democrats who controlled the committee and the Senate did little to defend Hill. Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware, the committee chairman and future vice president, allowed each side to call supporting witnesses but refused to allow testimony by another woman who had accused Thomas of harassing her. Biden also excluded evidence from stores where Thomas was reported to have rented pornographic videos.

Thomas, who described the proceedings as a high-tech lynching for uppity blacks, was found credible by twice as many Americans as those who believed Hill, according to opinion polls at the time. And when senators voted 52-48 to confirm Thomas to the court, 11 of the supporting votes came from Democrats, mostly from Southern states.

Biden, said to be considering a run for president in 2020, offered a mildly worded apology in December.

I wish I had been able to do more for Anita Hill, and had managed to tone down the attacks on her by some of my Republican friends, he said.

Thats putting it mildly, said Janet Napolitano, who as a young lawyer in Arizona was part of Hills legal team in 1991 and later became that states governor, the U.S. secretary of Homeland Security under President Barack Obama, and, since 2013, president of the University of California.

Rather than a thorough and fair assessment of what she had experienced from Clarence Thomas, it really was almost a prosecution of her, Napolitano said in an interview Tuesday.

As history seemed to be repeating itself with Fords allegation against Kavanaugh, Biden said any accuser in these circumstances would understand that this is like jumping into a cauldron.

That may explain why Ford, now a psychology professor at Palo Alto University, tried to withhold her name when she wrote a letter to Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Palo Alto, in July accusing Kavanaugh of drunkenly pinning her to a bed and trying to rape her in the early 1980s, when he was 17 and she was 15. It may also explain Fords reluctance to testify in public, at least without a law enforcement investigation of the incident.

Who wants to be blamed and shamed? asked Jessica Levinson, a law professor and election-law specialist at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. Theres still a huge stigma attached to coming forward with these allegations. ... She is risking her professional and social standing, not to mention her mental health.

Times have changed, to a certain extent, since 1991.

The Senate, whose 100 members included only two women then, now has 23  a trend that began in 1992, dubbed The Year of the Woman, when voters reacted to the Thomas hearings by electing four female senators, including California Democrats Feinstein and Barbara Boxer. And the recent revelations of sexual harassment in high places, giving rise to the #MeToo movement, have affected the political climate.

I think Republicans will have to be more circumspect in how they treat Professor Ford, and I think Democrats will be more supportive of her allegations than they were of Professor Hills, Levinson said.

Hill now teaches law, womens studies and social policy at Brandeis University. In an opinion piece Tuesday for the New York Times, she said the current Judiciary Committees approach  rejecting Democrats call for an independent investigation to frame the issues before Mondays hearing, and inviting only Ford and Kavanaugh to testify without any supporting witnesses  shows that not much has really changed.

The committees lack of procedures for vetting sexual harassment and assault claims that surface during a confirmation hearing suggests that the committee has learned little from the Thomas hearing, much less (from) the more recent #MeToo movement, Hill said.

Napolitano agreed.

Between 1991 and today, it doesnt look like the Senate has instituted any kind of process for handling claims of sexual harassment or sexual violence, she said.

If the committee refuses to consult experts and requires Kavanaughs accuser to stand alone, Napolitano said, I can see them cross-examining Dr. Ford on minute details of what happened and, if she doesnt recall, using that to cast doubt on her credibility.

Another member of Hills legal team offered some advice to Ford, if she testifies.

Ford should be prepared to identify the core of the facts that she does recall, attorney Emma Coleman Jordan, a law professor at Georgetown University, told the National Law Journal. What does she remember  the color of the bedroom, the house, the smell, anything she has a vivid memory of ... where was the bathroom she hid in? ... And know when she doesnt remember something and be prepared to say it without embarrassment.

San Francisco Chronicle news services contributed to this report.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter:@BobEgelkoIt was 20 minutes after sunset and hordes of people spilled across the sidewalk outside of Docs Clock, colonizing the bus lane on Mission Street. They had gathered to witness what felt to many Mission bargoers like a historic moment: the re-illumination of the famous Docs Clock sign, which had been dimmed for over a year.

Its crazy, the bars owner, Carey Suckow, holding her 3-year-old daughter Avalon on her hip, said on Tuesday night. We did it. I cant believe we did it.

A sea of phones extended from the buzzing crowd, their cameras fixed on the Docs Clock facade. At 7:30 p.m. on the dot, the fire hydrant-red sign flashed back to life. The blue cocktail glasses, the twinkling golden arrow, the letters spelling out DOCS CLOCK COCKTAIL TIME  it was back, at long last, in all its neon glory.

The lighting marked a conclusion to a nearly two-year saga involving Suckow, Docs and a fraught relationship with a landlord. It was a saga that came to represent much more than the plight of one individual dive bar. For many San Franciscans, the displacement of Docs Clock and its sign signified everything that was wrong about the way the city  and especially the Mission  has changed.

This is proof that perseverance does work, said Al Cummings, who lives in the neighborhood and has been a regular at Docs since 1998. For once, its a good change in the Mission.

Mason Trinca / Special to The Chronicle 2018

The original Docs Clock was two blocks south of its current location at Mission and 20th streets. Suckow, a former schoolteacher, has owned the business since 2005, but the bars history dates to 1951, when it was known as the Clock Bar. A dentist, Ralph Mancuso, bought it 10 years later and re-named it Docs Clock, installing the neon marquee that would come to define it as a Mission District landmark.

Suckow was able to buy Docs Clock at a discount because she promised its previous owners, Elizabeth Zoria and Susan Hertzfeldt, that she would keep it divey. And she did. Even as that area of the Mission became dotted with high-end restaurants like Lolinda and Californios, Docs Clock remained the grungy, offbeat place you could go for a PBR, a shot and a game of shuffleboard.

In 2015, Leticia Luna  who owns a number of restaurant and bar properties around the city, including Rumors  bought the old Docs Clock building. When Suckows lease was up in the summer of 2017, Luna didnt renew it. Luckily, Suckow found a new space just two blocks away where she could reopen Docs, which gained Legacy Business status in 2016.

But Luna owned the building, which meant she owned the neon sign, and she would not let Suckow take it with her.

We didnt want to go, and we didnt want to give up the sign, Suckow said at the time. But were staying positive.

The battle over the sign turned bitter and bizarre. Luna wouldnt be able to keep the sign up at her building, since she didnt own the Docs Clock business name. She claimed she wanted it for sentimental reasons, having grown up in the neighborhood. When Suckow, husband Brian MacGregor and a small army of friends moved to the new location in the summer of 2017, they painted a replica of the sign, sans neon lights, on the new facade. It worked, but it wasnt ideal.

But with help from the city, Suckow was eventually able to reclaim the sign. Supervisor Hillary Ronen, a vocal supporter of the Legacy Business program, began working with Suckow in 2016 to help her keep it. Ronen sat down with Suckow and Luna to help them negotiate, and spoke with the City Planning Department to try to understand how keeping the sign might be possible.

Docs Clock and its iconic sign are part of the history of the Mission, and Im so glad to have helped them stay, Ronen said when reached for comment on Wednesday. What an absolute joy to see the Docs Clock sign alight again.

Although city law is strict about businesses erecting new neon signs, the Docs Clock marquee retained its vintage status under the vintage sign ordinance, said Gina Simi, the Planning Departments communications manager. Under that ordinance, you can reconstruct and place a sign thats already been designated, Simi explained. Ultimately, (Suckow) removed only the skin, or front facing portion of the original sign, and reconstructed the sides at the new location, which is allowed under the ordinance.

As a legacy business, Docs Clock was entitled to help with lease negotiation, relocation, loan securing and marketing from the city. A $3,000 grant from the Legacy Business Program helped subsidize the moving, construction and electric costs of the sign.

The Legacy Business Program made this possible, Suckow said. Maybe this will give some hope to other business owners in our situation.

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.

Mason Trinca / Special to The Chronicle 2018

As soon as the sign lit up on Tuesday night, the crowd moved inside, packing the narrow bar shoulder-to-shoulder. MacGregor stood on top of the bar and raised a glass to my wife, the love of my life, declaring, Shes the one who fought tooth and nail to move the bar a scant 800 feet.

He also acknowledged the folks who helped carry the bar itself and the shuffleboard table to the new location.

Docs Clock is one of the staple dive bars, said Daniel Parks, manager of the tiki bar Pagan Idol, wearing his Hawaiian shirt. Im just so happy for Carey. I know what it took to get here. The regulars and the community really rallied.

In his speech, MacGregor called out the 500 Club, another Mission dive bar that recently got a new owner, Ali Razavi. Everyone booed. One man, Parker Frost, leaned over and whispered that he had just been fired as a bartender from the 500 Club. (In a recent interview with The Chronicle, Razavi said he was not planning to change much about the bar.)

Carey has saved Docs Clock! MacGregor yelled. The bar erupted in cheers that soon turned to a chant: Car-ey! Car-ey!

Asked how she felt, Suckow said she was thrilled to see the communitys response. All our regulars came back, she said. Now our beacons back on.

Esther Mobley is The San Francisco Chronicles wine critic. Email: emobley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Esther_mobley Instagram: @esthermobNow Playing: A Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew medevacs a 76-year-old woman from the cruise ship Star Princess approximately 35 miles southwest of the Golden Gate Bridge, Sept. 18, 2018. Cruise ship personnel contacted Coast Guard Sector San Francisco watchstanders requesting assistance for a passenger experiencing symptoms of gastrointestinal issues. Video: Petty Officer 2nd Class Cory Mendenhall, U.S. Coast Guard

The U.S. Coast Guard used a helicopter to conduct a rescue hoist of a 76-year-old woman from a cruise ship 35 miles southwest of the Golden Gate Bridge on Tuesday.

Crews on the Star Princess contacted the Coast Guard for help around 5 a.m. after a passenger became ill with gastrointestinal issues.WASHINGTON - Senate Republicans strongly signaled on Wednesday that they will forge ahead with embattled Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation as his accuser called the rush for a public hearing next week unfair.

GOP senators who fretted earlier this week about the prospects for President Donald Trump's pick are now largely pushing for a vote on Kavanaugh, who is accused of sexually assaulting now-professor Christine Blasey Ford when they were teenagers, amid signs that she may decline to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee. And Trump is more convinced he should stand by Kavanaugh than he was two days ago, people close to the White House say.

Publicly, Trump has become more vocal in defending Kavanaugh, telling reporters on Wednesday that it was "very hard for me to imagine anything happened" with Ford, who detailed her allegation extensively with The Washington Post in a report published Sunday.

Ford, through her lawyers, has requested that the FBI conduct an investigation into the alleged incident before she speaks to the committee, and Senate Democrats have lined up behind her. But Republicans have not budged from their view that the FBI does not need to intervene, or from their plan to hear testimony from Kavanaugh and Ford on Monday.

Now Playing: President Donald Trump says "we'll have to make a decision" if Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh's sexual-assault accuser "makes a credible showing" before the Senate Judiciary Committee. (Sept. 19) Video: Associated Press

Ford's attorneys have not officially declined the committee's invitation. But they reiterated Wednesday that while Ford is willing to cooperate with the Judiciary Committee, there needs to be a "full, nonpartisan investigation." Her lawyer also said having just two witnesses - Kavanaugh and Ford - was neither fair nor in good faith when there are multiple witnesses who should testify.

"Dr. Ford was reluctantly thrust into the public spotlight only two days ago," attorney Lisa Banks said. "She is currently unable to go home, and is receiving ongoing threats to her and her family's safety. Fairness and respect for her situation dictate that she should have time to deal with this."

But Republicans were increasingly determined to confirm Kavanaugh before the Nov. 6 midterm elections, checking off a major conservative accomplishment and finishing a nomination battle that has been bitterly contentious from the start.

"Requiring an FBI investigation of a 36-year-old allegation (without specific references to time or location) before Professor Ford will appear before the Judiciary Committee is not about finding the truth, but delaying the process till after the midterm elections," tweeted Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a member of the committee who pushed for a vote "as soon as possible."

Anger grew Wednesday among Democrats who have not forgotten about the GOP's treatment of Merrick Garland, former president Barack Obama's third Supreme Court nominee who was summarily blocked by Republicans just two years ago.

"It's pretty mind-bending hypocrisy that Republicans are all of a sudden interested in expediting Supreme Court nominations," Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said. "Listen, I get why they're nervous. They were already in trouble electorally and the way they're handling this matter doesn't help for November's purposes."

Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., who is facing one of the most competitive reelection bids this year, announced Wednesday that she would oppose Kavanaugh. But she said her decision was not based on the allegation against him - which McCaskill said was "troubling" - but his past concerns about campaign contribution limits.

Privately, Trump is being cautioned extensively to stay out of the fight over Kavanaugh, according to two White House advisers, and so far has tempered his language. He has told advisers that he is skeptical of Ford's account and the timing of the allegation, these advisers said. He continues to mention Kavanaugh's degrees and his intellect.

Meanwhile, White House aides have begun asking lawyers and others if any more women are likely to come out and make accusations, these officials said.

But Leonard Leo, the influential adviser to the administration on judicial nominations, has told attorneys and people close to the White House that he was increasingly convinced Kavanaugh would be confirmed, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, has asked Ford's attorneys to respond by Friday at 10 a.m. on whether she plans to appear before his panel. His staff has tried to set up interviews with Ford, as well as Mark Judge - a Kavanaugh friend who is alleged to have witnessed the incident - and two other potential witnesses, according to a letter Grassley sent Wednesday to Democrats on the committee.

"I have reopened the hearing because I believe that anyone who comes forward with allegations of sexual assault has a right to be heard, and because it is the committee's responsibility to fully evaluate the fitness of a nominee to the Supreme Court," Grassley wrote to Banks and Debra Katz, another lawyer for Ford. "I therefore want to give Dr. Ford an opportunity to tell her story to the Senate and, if she chooses, to the American people."

Grassley is also willing to send his staff to California to speak to Ford if she prefers, committee spokesman Garrett Ventry said. Ford is a psychology professor at Palo Alto University, located northwest of San Jose in northern California.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, a pivotal swing vote on Kavanaugh's confirmation, and Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., a member of the Judiciary Committee, both urged Ford to speak to senators. And Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., who like Flake also pushed the Senate to hit pause on Kavanaugh's nomination until lawmakers heard from the professor, said: "If we don't hear from both sides on Monday, let's vote."

Collins said Wednesday that Ford has a few ways she can detail her story to the committee by Monday, including in a public or private session that would be videotaped; or an interview conducted by congressional investigators.

"I don't think she can reject, having made all of these serious allegations, I don't think that she can reject all those options," Collins said in an interview with WVOM radio in Maine. "Otherwise, there are these very serious allegations hanging over the head of a nominee who has emphatically denied them. And that's just not a good way for us to end."

Grassley left open the possibility that the hearing could occur Monday with only Kavanaugh present. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., believes he has his conference unified behind a plan for a Monday hearing - which includes building extensive timelines on Ford's story and media accounts - with or without her, according to an adviser to the Kentucky Republican.

Even as Ford and Democrats push for an FBI probe, Trump has suggested that a new FBI investigation is unnecessary. But there is precedent for the FBI stepping in late in the process of a Supreme Court nomination. In 1991, when law professor Anita Hill alleged that now-Justice Clarence Thomas had sexually harassed her, the FBI was called in to investigate.

The FBI reiterated Wednesday that it had included information about the allegations in Kavanaugh's background file, and that it is now up to the White House to decide what to do with it. A criminal inquiry is essentially out of the question, because what is alleged does not constitute a federal crime.

The FBI wouldn't compile a report offering an opinion, one way or another, on the credibility of the allegations. Rather, it would provide the White House reports on the interviews and other evidence agents gathered, and again leave it to the White House to decide what to do with Kavanaugh's nomination.

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.

Ford has alleged that while she and Kavanaugh were at a house party in the early 1980s, when the two were in high school, Kavanaugh drunkenly pinned her to a bed, groped her and put his hand over her mouth to stifle her screams as he attempted to take off her clothes.

Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., whom Ford first contacted with her allegation, detailed to The Washington Post her interactions with Ford, a constituent in her Bay Area district. The two women met for roughly 90 minutes on July 20.

"It was more than obvious to me that she bore the scars of what she had been subjected to," Eshoo said Wednesday. "She doesn't have a political bone in her body. And she obviously was really terrified about what could become of her and her family."

"At the end of the meeting, I told her that I believed her," she added. "In telling her story, you know, there were details to it, and I believed her."

- - -

The Washington Post's Matt Zapotosky, Mike DeBonis and Emma Brown contributed to this report.

---

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Video: The Fix's Aaron Blake analyzes what to watch for as the Senate Judiciary Committee barrels toward a hearing with Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh and the woman who accused him of sexual assault, Christine Blasey Ford.(JM Rieger/The Washington Post)

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Video: Republicans are already judging the credibility of Christine Blasey Ford before she even speaks to the Senate Judiciary Committee.(JM Rieger/The Washington Post)

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Video: President Trump praised Supreme Court nominee Brett M. Kavanaugh on Sept. 19, and said it would be "very interesting," if his accuser Christine Blasey Ford "shows up and makes a credible showing."(The Washington Post)

Embed code:President Donald Trump said he wants to hear from the woman who accuses Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault, saying it would be "unfortunate" if she doesn't testify before a Senate committee.

"If she doesn't show up, that would be unfortunate," the president told reporters Wednesday as he left the White House to view hurricane damage in North Carolina. "If she shows up and makes a credible showing, that'll be very interesting, and we'll have to make a decision."

Lawyers for California college professor Christine Blasey Ford said Tuesday she wants the FBI to investigate her claims before she appears at a Senate hearing. Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, in a letter to Ford's lawyers Wednesday, said it's up to the Senate to investigate, not the FBI, and that the invitation for Ford to testify Monday still stands.

"You have stated repeatedly that Dr. Ford wants to tell her story," Grassley said in the letter. "I sincerely hope that Dr. Ford will accept my invitation to do so, either privately or publicly, on Monday." He also asked her to speak with his staff.

Grassley didn't say whether hearing will be held Monday with only Kavanaugh if Ford decides not to testify, or whether the panel would vote on Kavanaugh's nomination without hearing her testimony.

Some GOP senators including Bob Corker of Tennessee and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina say they see no reason to wait beyond Monday for Ford's testimony, and that they want the Senate to vote next week.

Yet plowing ahead with the nomination, which seemed all but assured before going sideways less than a week ago, carries the risk of alienating moderate Republican senators like Maine's Susan Collins, Alaska's Lisa Murkowski and Arizona's Jeff Flake in a chamber where the party holds a narrow 51-49 majority.

"I hope that Dr. Ford will reconsider and testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday," Collins wrote on Twitter.

Flake on Tuesday night tweeted that the committee had put off its vote to confirm Kavanaugh at his request and "I now implore Dr. Ford to accept the invitation for Monday, in a public or private setting."

"I really hope Dr. Ford changes her mind," Sen. John Kennedy, R-La. and a Judiciary Committee member, said Wednesday on Bloomberg Television. "The hearing's scheduled. Please come, Dr. Ford."

Trump reiterated his defense of Kavanaugh, who strongly denies the allegation, saying, "He is such an outstanding man, very hard for me to imagine that anything happened."

Still, the president said, "I really would want to see what she has to say." The matter should be given all the time needed, he said.

Republicans want the Senate to confirm Kavanaugh before the Supreme Court begins its new term Oct. 1.

Grassley, an Iowa Republican, said late Tuesday that Ford's testimony "would reflect her personal knowledge and memory of events. Nothing the FBI or any other investigator does would have any bearing on what Dr. Ford tells the committee, so there is no reason for any further delay."

Ford's lawyers, in a letter to Grassley Tuesday night, said she is prepared to cooperate with the panel but that an FBI investigation should be "the first step" before she appears before the senators to describe her allegation.

Kavanaugh has repeatedly denied Ford's claim that he sexually assaulted her at a party in Maryland when they were in high school. The Judiciary panel had been scheduled to vote on his nomination Thursday, but postponed it and scheduled the public hearing for Monday. Ford was invited to testify only after the hearing had been set.

"The hearing was scheduled for six short days from today and would include interrogation by senators who appear to have made up their minds that she is 'mistaken' and 'mixed up,'" Ford's lawyers, Debra Katz and Lisa Banks, said in the letter. "A full investigation by law enforcement officials will ensure that the crucial facts and witnesses in this matter are assessed in a non-partisan manner."

Ford says that Kavanaugh was drunk at a house party in about 1982, pinned her down on a bed, tried to remove her clothes and put his hand over her mouth to stop her from screaming. She said she was able to escape, but the Washington Post reported that she described the episode to a therapist in 2013 as a "rape attempt."

Kavanaugh said in a statement released by the White House Monday, "This is a completely false allegation. I have never done anything like what the accuser describes -- to her or to anyone."

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.

Trump said Tuesday he doesn't think the FBI should investigate because "they don't want to be involved," adding that "this is not really their thing."

However, a person familiar with the matter said the FBI did not tell the president or the White House that it doesn't want to investigated the allegations against Kavanaugh or that it's not something the bureau wouldn't do. The FBI could do further investigation if the White House requests it and provides direction, the person said.

In 1991 the FBI did investigate Anita Hill's allegations of sexual harassment against then-Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas before their testimony on the matter to the Judiciary Committee. Hill accused him of harassing her when he was her supervisor at two federal agencies.

The Judiciary panel's top Democrat, Dianne Feinstein of California, said Tuesday the plan to hold a hearing in only a week was "reminiscent of the treatment of Anita Hill." Thomas was confirmed, but Hill's allegation caused a nationwide uproar, and many women contended she was unfairly treated by the then all-male Judiciary Committee.

Only Ford and Kavanaugh were being called to testify at Monday's hearing, and Democrats objected to that arrangement. They said they needed testimony from Kavanaugh classmate Mark Judge, who Ford said was present during the alleged attack.

"I have no memory of this alleged incident," Judge said in a statement sent to the committee by his lawyer, Barbara Van Gelder. "I never saw Brett act in the manner Dr. Ford describes." Judge's statement added that he didn't want to speak publicly about the matter.

- - -

Bloomberg's Chris Strohm, Justin Sink and Kevin Cirilli contributed.JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images

President Trump is trying a new strategy to derail a tightening Russia investigation thats brought guilty pleas from five of his associates. Hes declassifying a batch of law enforcement records in an effort to poison the inquiry into his presidential campaigns links to Kremlin agents.

Revealing confidential documents may sound helpful given the confusion and claims of a witch hunt the president routinely raises. After all, what could be wrong in the honored cause of more government transparency? But in this case its only self-serving and selective, intended to disrupt the investigation and antagonize law enforcement drawing closer to the White House.Brant Ward / The Chronicle

Darrell Steinberg, long one of the states leaders in mental health policy, had always envisioned that housing would be key to the strategy of stabilizing people with severe mental illness. California voters in 2004 approved Steinbergs Proposition 63, a surtax on income over $1 million to expand mental health programs  but the measure did not explicitly mention housing.

Prop. 2, on the Nov. 6 ballot, would close that gap. It would authorize $2 billion in bonds from the Mental Health Services Act (as Prop. 63 is known) to build supportive housing for people with severe mental illness who are either homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The bond repayment would amount to about $130 million a year out of a fund that is now bringing in about $2 billion annually.President Trump and Democratic state Sen. Kevin de Leon agree on one thing: Theyre both convinced California Sen. Dianne Feinstein made a mistake when she delayed for weeks the release of a letter accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of attempted rape.

Trump joined a chorus of Republicans on Tuesday in criticizing Feinstein for the timing of the release of a letter from Christine Blasey Ford, a Palo Alto University psychology professor who said she was assaulted by a stumbling drunk Kavanaugh during a party when they were in high school during the early 1980s.

Its a charge the federal appeals court judge has vehemently denied.

It is frankly a terrible thing that this information wasnt given to us a long time ago, months ago when (Feinstein) got it, Trump said at the White House. Democrats couldve done that instead of waiting until everything was finished and then all of a sudden spring it.

Although his reasoning was very different, de Leons complaint was much the same.

What we have here is a failure of leadership, said de Leon, who is challenging Feinstein in the November election. People need to know Feinstein, the ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, waited to hand over the disqualifying document to the FBI, and pantomimed her way through (the confirmation) hearings without a single question about the content of Kavanaughs character, the Los Angeles Democrat said.

Alex Brandon / Associated Press

Feinstein said she had no choice but to keep the letter secret after receiving it in late July because Ford asked her to keep her name confidential.

It has always been Mrs. Fords decision whether to come forward publicly, Feinstein said in a statement Sunday. For any woman, sharing an experience involving sexual assault  particularly when it involves a politically connected man with influence, authority and power  is extraordinarily difficult.

When Feinstein finally gave copies of the letter to Judiciary Committee Democrats and the FBI last week, it ignited a firestorm of speculation that didnt end until Ford outed herself Sunday in an interview with the Washington Post.

Despite Feinsteins claim that she was bound by her confidentiality agreement, there were steps the senator could have taken to alert her colleagues earlier to at least some of the allegations in Fords letter, said Jessica Levinson, a political ethics expert at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles.

The first question was whether there was a way to protect Professor Ford and still take the allegations seriously, she said. Feinstein could have earlier raised it in general terms with her colleagues and told them this was out there. She also could have done what she did later and turned (the letter) over to the FBI.

What Feinstein couldnt have done, though, is say publicly that on this day, in this place and at this high school party, a woman has accused Kavanaugh of attacking her, since it would have made Ford too easy to identify, Levinson said.

It was a tough call for Feinstein, said Heidi Hess, co-director of CREDO Action, a progressive advocacy group.

We believe absolutely that a survivor has the right to decide ... what to tell us and what not to tell us, she said. But we feel super strongly that (Feinstein) hasnt been doing everything she could to keep an accused sexual predator from getting on the Supreme Court. There may have been other paths for her to take.

Trump also suggested that Feinstein should have questioned Kavanaugh about the incident when she spoke with the nominee in private before the confirmation hearings.

Levinson raised the same question.

In a private conversation with Kavanaugh, Feinstein wouldnt have to give a date, but only describe the incident generally and ask him if something like this took place, even when you were a minor, Levinson said.

Trump and other Republicans have charged that Feinstein and the Democrats purposely held off releasing Fords accusations to delay or derail Kavanaughs expected confirmation at the last minute.

Dianne Feinstein may have been acting in good faith, but I hope she will answer about what happened in more recent days, said Hadley Heath Manning, policy director for the conservative-leaning Independent Womens Forum. This shouldnt be a partisan fight ... but the accusations and timeline look very political, and thats a shame.

Feinstein has also taken some hits from fellow Democrats, with some reportedly complaining that the delay gave Republicans a chance to paint the charges as political.

But as Republicans have ramped up their attacks on Feinstein, Democrats have rallied behind the senator.

Rep. Jackie Speier of Hillsborough, who sponsored the Congressional Accountability Reform Act last year that sought to crack down on sexual harassment in Congress, defended both Feinstein and Rep. Anna Eshoo, the Palo Alto Democrat who originally received the letter from Ford and passed it along to Feinstein.

Both the congresswoman and the senator did what was right. They respected the wishes of the woman to remain anonymous, Speier said.

Speier recalled that she was in a similar position in November when she testified before the House Administration Committee about harassment issues. She told the panel that she knew of two members of Congress who had sexually harassed staffers. But she refused to divulge their names.

I was protecting the identities of the victims, she said.

Feinsteins actions were also backed by Debra Katz, Fords attorney, who said in a CNN interview that the senator had played by the rules Ford set.

Ford made the request that Sen. Feinstein treat her allegations confidentially and Sen. Feinstein agreed to do so, Katz said. The senators staff was eager for her to come forward, but left the decision up to Ford.

That decision was taken away from her as the allegations leaked, Katz said.

John Wildermuth and Joe Garofoli are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: jwildermuth@sfchronicle.com, jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @jfwildermuth @joegarofoliHaley Moore has managed to do what was once unheard of in the restaurant industry: Shes held onto the same management position through the births of two sons and two 12-week maternity leaves. And she leaves work in San Francisco each night at 7:30 p.m., right in the middle of restaurant service, so she can tuck the boys in at home in Orinda.

Usually a restaurant is not the most conducive environment for having kids, said Moore, 36, beverage director at the South of Market restaurants Town Hall, Salt House, and Anchor & Hope, who has worked in the industry since she was 15. It usually attracts single people.

Traditionally, a restaurant job has meant long and unpredictable hours, often without benefits like paid sick leave that make parenthood more doable. Yet Moore is one of several local restaurant workers and owners who say theyve seen a recent evolution toward a more child-friendly local restaurant culture. Thats especially true in San Francisco, where a new law requires businesses with at least 20 employees to provide six weeks of paid family leave to parents upon the birth or adoption of a child, even to hourly workers.

While the U.S. is the only major developed country that doesnt require paid leave for new parents, it does mandate that most employers allow up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave, with job protection, under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993. In California, six weeks of that leave is paid at 60 to 70 percent of the workers salary, at least to employees who have paid into state disability insurance. The San Francisco Paid Parental Leave Ordinance requires that employers supplement the remaining 30 to 40 percent of pay for those six weeks. The law rolled out Jan. 1, 2017, for companies with 50 or more employees.

Amy Osborne / Special to The Chronicle

Thus far, the new ordinance has encouraged more fathers to take leave after the birth of a child. In the first six months of 2017, there was a 28 percent increase in the number of San Francisco men who took bonding leave, compared with the first half of 2016, according to a UC Berkeley analysis. The increase among San Francisco women was 6 percent.

Thats a growing trend for us to see, and I think its wonderful, being a mother myself, said Shelley Lindgren, owner of A16 in Oakland and San Francisco, where two employees are about to go on paternity leave. It didnt seem like it was always like that in restaurants.

A handful of prominent restaurant companies has begun to offer hourly workers paid parental leave in the past few years, including McDonalds, Starbucks and New Yorks Union Square Hospitality Group. If the trend continues, it will be quite a change of landscape for an industry that has historically offered low-wage jobs with little predictability, late nights and discouragement from working through a pregnancy.

As recently as October 2016, a former employee sued the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group for wrongful termination because of pregnancy discrimination.

According to the suit, Vanessa Scott-Allen had been a head waiter at Thomas Kellers New York restaurant Per Se for five years when she received an offer of a job transfer to the French Laundry in Yountville. She informed her managers of her pregnancy and moved to the Napa Valley, according to her attorney, Dustin Collier. She was then re-interviewed and was asked several pregnancy-related questions by the new manager, only to be told the position no longer existed, Collier said.

The Thomas Keller Restaurant Group declined comment in response to questions about the lawsuit; a spokesman said the company does not comment on pending litigation.

While many suits like these are settled out of court, Scott-Allen would prefer to go to trial, said Collier, with a goal of raising awareness within the industry. Our client is more concerned with exposing them for what theyve done here and making sure it doesnt happen again.

The trial date is expected to be set on Wednesday.

Yet other Bay Area restaurant workers say they have gotten a more positive response when they made baby announcements, such as A16 food runner Zenon Garcia, who will take three weeks off when his wife gives birth this month, and another three weeks later so he can spend his sons first Christmas with him.

Garcia is eager just to be there to support my wife and anything she needs, he said.

Also a food runner at San Francisco restaurant Cotogna, Garcia works most days from 11 a.m. to 10:15 p.m. and will get separate benefit checks from the state and from the restaurants; the latter will include estimated tip income and hourly wages based on his previous paychecks.

Other restaurants are going even further with parental friendliness. Carrie and Rupert Blease installed a nursery in the downstairs office of their San Francisco restaurant, Lord Stanley, after they had a baby last year. When their wine director, Louisa Smith, had a baby in March, she used the nursery, too.

We always laugh because whenever someone comes for wine tastings and deliveries, there are always babies everywhere, said Carrie.

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She thinks, however, that if they didnt own their business it would be more difficult to have that kind of work-life balance.

That was one reason Geoffrey Lee, chef-partner of the 12-seat sushi restaurant Ju-Ni, spent years planning to open his own restaurant before starting a family.

Earlier in his career, he worked at places like Sushi Ran in Sausalito that were open daily except for three holidays a year. That wasnt the life that he or his business partner Tan Truong wanted, so they close Sundays and major holidays.

After Lee and his wife had their daughter a year ago, he took a month off, and now works 4 days a week. He said that so far, its working out financially for him and Truong.

We both value our family, and it takes priority over so many other things, said Lee, while taking his daughter for a walk in her stroller before heading into work.

For employees like Town Halls Moore, working for the right owners makes a big difference. Finding a company that is family-centric, that you know is going to support you, is key, she said.

Tara Duggan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tduggan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @taradugganThe Trump administration said Tuesday it will scale back regulation of methane pollution at oil and gas operations on federal land, the second policy change this month that allows drillers to emit more heat-trapping gas and sidestep Obama-era climate programs.

The new policy, which could take effect in as soon as 60 days, essentially reverses a 2016 rule that requires oil and gas producers to limit flaring and venting of methane and to update their leak detection policies. While President Barack Obamas administration had praised the 2-year-old statute as an important step in tackling global warming, energy companies called it too costly.

Tuesdays policy change, announced by the Interior Department, comes a week after the Environmental Protection Agency proposed loosening its standards for how often energy companies have to inspect for methane leaks and make fixes.

The moves are the Trump administrations latest reversal of what it views as burdensome regulation while virtually upending the nations climate policy. The president, who has called global warming a hoax, has sought to weaken the nations Clean Power Plan, which limits greenhouse gas emissions at energy facilities, and roll back vehicle standards requiring greener, non-polluting cars.

Were for clean air and water, said Deputy Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, after announcing the new methane rules during a phone call with reporters. But at the same time, were for reasonable regulation.

Some states, including California, are expected to see little direct change with the new Interior Department plan because they have their own rules requiring energy companies to limit flaring and conduct extensive leak inspections.

But climate policy advocates say that because oil and gas is sold across state lines, even places with strict methane regulations are likely to drive more pollution with their energy demands.

This makes the fuels were importing that much dirtier, said Tim OConnor, director of the Environmental Defense Funds oil and gas program in California.

California imports about 90 percent of its natural gas and gets about half its oil from other spots, according to the Environmental Defense Fund.

OConnor called the back-to-back actions by the Interior Department and Environmental Protection Agency a one-two combination of bad ideas that would make it harder for the nation to limit its greenhouse gas emissions.

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.

Methane is a short-lived pollutant, though its much more potent than carbon dioxide in trapping heat and driving atmospheric warming.

The gas is commonly burned off or released by energy producers, often to depressurize valves or pipes. States like California require that it be captured, where it is sometimes used to generate power. The gas can also leak from drill wells.

While the Obama administration had said its methane waste rule would have saved as much as $300 million a year in methane that is lost to flaring and leaking, the oil and gas industry argued that it stood to lose nearly as much in compliance costs.

The new policies of both the Interior Department and the Environmental Protection Agency are likely to trigger legal challenges.

Kurtis Alexander is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kalexander@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kurtisalexanderBreak out the white gowns, were having a coming-out party!

After years of speculation, its been confirmed by former Sesame Street writer Mark Saltzman that puppet roommates Bert and Ernie are not just best friends as the show has long publicly stated but a same-sex couple.

I always felt that without a huge agenda, when I was writing Bert & Ernie, they were out, Saltzman explained in an interview with Queerty. I didnt have any other way to contextualize them. ... I dont think Id know how else to write them but as a loving couple.

Saltzman joined the childrens television series in 1985, 16 years after the characters debuted, and wrote scripts and songs for the show until 1998. In the interview, he revealed that Bert and Ernie were essentially Muppet versions of himself and his longtime partner, film editor Arnold Glassman. The two lived together during Saltzmans time writing for the show. (Glassman died in 2003.) Saltzman described himself as cautiously out at work when he joined the series and said there were other gay people working on the show, including performer Richard Hunt and writer Judy Freudberg.

Saltzmans revelation comes after decades of pop culture references, innuendos and jokes claiming the Muppet characters were a gay couple, including on The Simpsons, Family Guy, Saturday Night Live, Friends and Modern Family. Members of the LGBT community even adopted the pair as icons with Bert and Ernie costumes and merchandise being a frequent presence at Gay Pride events. In July 2013, the New Yorker magazine chose an illustration of Bert and Ernie by artist Jack Hunter, titled Moment of Joy, as the cover of their July 8, 2013 issue following two crucial Supreme Court rulings. The high court determined that the Defense of Marriage Act was unconstitutional, and that backers of Californias Proposition 8 did not have standing to appeal a federal district court decision invalidating the measures ban on same-sex marriage.

Officially, though, this does not change the characters biographies: Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind the show, continues to state that Bert and Ernie are just friends. Sesame Workshop said on Twitter that even though they are identified as male characters and possess many human traits and characteristics ... they remain puppets and do not have a sexual orientation.

Go tell that to the legions of LGBT adults who grew up with the almost-50-year-old characters and could sense that queer subtext between the two since before they could name it.

Jacquelyn Martin / Associated Press 2013

Historically, with a lack of representation in media, LGBT viewers looked for reflections of themselves in characters that frequently fell between the sexual lines.

Think about relationships like the one between James Deans and Sal Mineos characters in the film Rebel Without a Cause in the 1950s, or Xena Warrior Princess and her faithful friend Gabrielle in the 1990s. Or think of the comic book fans who have seen superheroes like the X-Men as gay stand-ins as they dealt with institutionalized discrimination because of their superhuman other status. These were all characters that queer fans rushed to identify as examples of coded gay lives.

Bert and Ernie fell very much between those lines for queer viewers looking for an example of a loving (if sometimes irritable) long-term couple. LGBT people knew that Bert and Ernie were family as clearly as we knew that The Wizard of Oz was one giant gay metaphor (dont get me started ) and that the Rankin and Bass animated Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer special was a story about coming to gay acceptance (its all there if you know to watch for it).

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AP

But in 2018, do we need out gay puppet characters?

For this gay viewer, the answer is yes: We need them as much as we need flesh-and-blood LGBT representation. If Bert and Ernies inferred queer life together brought even one child comfort  either a child grappling with their own identity or the child of same-sex parents  imagine the good that an out and proud Bert and Ernie could do during those formative years.

Seeing oneself, even if you cant quite identify who you are at a tender young age, is the ultimate affirmation. Sesame Workshop, dont fight it any longer. Let the felt ones love one another! If Bert can stand Ernies ever-present rubber duckie and Ernie accepts Berts unibrow, who are we to judge?

Besides, on a street where an 8-foot-tall bird and a monster who lives in a garbage receptacle can be readily accepted as residents, is a gay couple really that big a deal?

Tony Bravo is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tbravo@sfchronicle.comJUBA, South Sudan  With staggering brutality, South Sudan government soldiers and allied militia targeted civilians by raping them, burning them alive, running them over with armored vehicles and hanging them in trees even as the government pursued a new peace deal to end a civil war, a new Amnesty International report says.

The report released Wednesday, based on interviews with 100 displaced people from Leer and Mayendit counties in Unity State, describes attacks between April and July in what the United Nations has described as an offensive aimed at clearing opposition-held areas.

The report comes shortly after South Sudans latest attempt at peace, which was signed last week but has been met with skepticism by the United States and others.

For the first time the U.S., Britain and Norway, the troika that helped to achieve South Sudans independence from Sudan in 2011, decided not to sign the peace deal, saying it remained concerned about the parties level of commitment.

Leer and Mayendit have been among the hardest-hit regions during South Sudans five-year civil war, which has killed tens of thousands and made more than 2 million people flee the country, creating Africas largest refugee crisis since the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

Those unable to flee the government offensive in Leer and Mayendit were often killed, with elderly and disabled people burnt alive in their homes, the new report says.

They raped women, killed old people and took young boys, Nyabieli Gai said last month in the opposition-held town of Nyal, where hundreds of people sought refuge from the offensive. The 50-year-old grandmother fled Mayendit in May when government troops attacked early one morning, raping her daughter-in-law while Gai hid in the bushes, she said.

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South Sudans government, which often dismisses such reports as rubbish, has said the new peace deal means an end to the war. Any doubt will only fuel the governments resolve to consolidate peace, President Salva Kiir has said.

Days after the signing, however, fighting broke out between government and opposition forces in Lainya and Kajo Keji counties in Central Equatoria and a Nepalese peacekeeper was shot and wounded in what the U.N. condemned as a direct attack on its mission in the town of Yei.

An investigation into the latest fighting is under way by the body charged with monitoring the cease-fire.

Sam Mednick is an Associated Press writer.Cody Wilson, whose push to post blueprints of 3D-printed guns online has made him a key figure in the national gun control debate, was charged on Wednesday with sexually assaulting a child in Texas.

Wilson, 30, is accused of having sex with a girl under 17 at a hotel in Austin on Aug. 15 and paying her $500 in cash, according to an affidavit filed in Travis County. The girl told police in a forensic interview that she met Wilson through the website SugarDaddyMeet.com, where he was using the screen name Sanjuro, the affidavit says.

She and Sanjuro exchanged phone numbers and then continued messaging each other, sharing at least one explicit photo apiece, according to the affidavit. During one conversation, Wilson described himself as a big deal, the affidavit says.

According to the affidavit, Wilson and the girl met in person in the parking lot of an Austin coffee shop on the evening of Aug. 15 and left for the hotel in a black Ford Edge sport utility vehicle registered to Wilsons company, Defense Distributed.

Wilsons national prominence grew this year when he announced plans to upload blueprints of 3D-printed guns onto Defense Distributeds website at the beginning of August. He was blocked from doing so as a result of a lawsuit filed by a group of attorneys general from 19 states and Washington, D.C.

Last month, a federal judge extended the restraining order barring Wilson from executing his plan at the request of the attorneys general, who have said downloadable guns are a national safety threat because they are difficult to detect and track. The case, which touches on issues of free speech, gun regulation, states rights and trade rules, has drawn the attention of President Donald Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions, among others.

Wilson, a self-described crypto-anarchist, has said more recently that instead of posting free blueprints online, he will mail flash drives loaded with the files to buyers in exchange for whatever they want to pay.

Neither Wilson nor his lawyer in the sexual assault case immediately responded to requests for comment.

This article originally appeared in The New York TimesFor many independent merchants who sell their goods on Amazon, there has long been deep concern that if the e-commerce giant saw a particular product selling well, the company would duplicate it, but at a lower price.

The European Unions antitrust chief said Wednesday that there may be reason for worry.

Margrethe Vestager, the blocs competition commissioner, announced the start of an investigation into whether Amazon.com is unfairly using data collected about sellers to make decisions about products to sell  information that would give it a potentially anticompetitive edge.

The announcement keeps Europe at the center of a debate about how to regulate global technology companies. Amazon, whose CEO, Jeff Bezos, is the worlds wealthiest person, has become a particular focus of antitrust scrutiny, because its vast and quickly expanding business dominates online retail and underpins much of the internet through its cloud computing division.

Vestager, the worlds most aggressive regulator of American technology giants, said that Amazons dual position  host of the largest site for merchants and a retailer of goods  deserved a closer look from European investigators. Her office has sent a number of questionnaires to market participants to learn more about Amazons practices.

The question here is about the data, Vestager said at a news conference Wednesday. She said she wants to know whether Amazon uses data collected from merchants to make its own calculation about what is the new big thing, what it is that people want, what kind of offers do they like to receive, what makes them buy things?

She called the investigation preliminary, and noted that a formal inquiry had not been started. European antitrust investigations can take years to complete.

It is very early days in this antitrust investigation into Amazons business practices, Vestager said.

Amazon had no immediate comment.

Most of the products sold on Amazon come from merchants who use the site to find customers. The practice has been mutually beneficial: Merchants get access to Amazon customers they would not otherwise be able to reach, while Amazon is able to offer a wider range of products and to collect a fee on any goods that are sold. Just over half of the companys global sales come from outside sellers.

But in recent years, the relationship has become more fraught. Amazon has expanded the number of goods it produces itself  clothing, bathroom and kitchen essentials, office supplies, electronics and more. And as it becomes more of a merchant, often competing directly with other vendors, there is a potential for anticompetitive behavior, Vestager said.

Amazon, she added, can use sales data from other merchants to improve its offerings.

The investigation fits into a broader argument of Vestagers, that the value of data must play a more important role in antitrust enforcement because, in the digital economy, it can be used to unfairly block competition. She previously investigated Apples acquisition of music app Shazam over concerns about data, though she eventually approved the deal.

This is not the first time Amazon has been in Vestagers sights. Last year, her office ordered Luxembourg to collect about $290 million in back taxes from the online retail giant.

The European Union has become the worlds most assertive check against the tech industry, penalizing companies including Apple, Facebook, Google and semiconductor maker Qualcomm. While the approach has been criticized as an unfair attack on American businesses, it is increasingly seen as a possible model by some officials in the United States who want more oversight of the businesses at the center of the digital economy.

Adam Satariano is a New York Times writer.Tesla has turned over documents to the Justice Department after statements by CEO Elon Musk about taking the company private, the electric car maker confirmed Tuesday.

The Palo Alto company said it has cooperated with the request and believes the matter should be resolved quickly once federal prosecutors review information they have received.

News of a potential criminal investigation pushed Tesla stock down more than 3 percent Tuesday. It closed at $284.96 per share.

We have not received a subpoena, a request for testimony, or any other formal process. Tesla said.

Bloomberg News reported Tuesday morning that the Justice Department is running a criminal probe parallel to an investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The news service cited two people familiar with the matter that it did not identify.

The Justice Department generally does not confirm or deny investigations, spokeswoman Nicole Navas Oxman in Washington said. The U.S. attorneys office in San Francisco took the same stance.

Tesla said it was contacted by prosecutors after Musk tweeted last month while driving to the airport that funding had been secured to take the company private. The announcement raised the stock price 11 percent in one day, but it has since fallen.

Later, the company admitted that funding was not lined up. Musk eventually abandoned the idea of taking the automaker private, after the board advised against it.

Short-sellers, who bet against the stock appreciating, complained that Musks announcement was done to manipulate the stock price and that it had cost them money.

Stephen Crimmins, a former deputy chief of litigation for the SEC, said prosecutors probably are looking at Musks tweets to be cautious.

It automatically becomes so high profile that the government enforcers have to be particularly conscientious in taking a look at things, he said.

Crimmins said Musk speaks loosely, but his conduct probably doesnt rise to the criminal level. Prosecutors would have to prove that Musk lied in an attempt to move the stock price, which would be difficult, Crimmins said. Any loss to short-sellers would be for a short period and wouldnt be worth the risk of Musk intentionally manipulating the stock price, Crimmins said.

The SEC probably will pursue a civil remedy that would include a provision that someone at Tesla review Musks tweets on corporate matters before they are sent out, he said.

Tom Krisher is an Associated Press writer.Northern California is on high alert as red flag warnings fanned out across the region Wednesday, raising fears that a new round of forest fires loom less than two months since the Mendocino Complex became the largest blaze in state history.

The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for mountainous areas of Napa, Sonoma and Marin counties from 11 p.m. Wednesday to 5 p.m. Thursday. The North Bay mountains, East Bay hills, Diablo Range and Santa Cruz Mountains are expected to experience the worst of the critical fire conditions, officials said.

Wind gusts between 20 to 35 mph gusts, along with 25 to 35 percent humidity, could exacerbate any wildfires that develop. The low humidity levels adversely affect brush, which Cal Fire spokesman Scott McLean said has not recouped necessary moisture.

This is typical for the time of year, said Steve Anderson, a forecaster with the National Weather Service. This is where we enter the highest fire danger for the Bay Area.

Officials warned residents to avoid outdoor burning, and a Sonoma County alert said that downed power lines may lead to new fires that spread rapidly.

State fire officials have blamed faulty Pacific Gas & Electric Company equipment for sparking some of the massive and deadly fires that broke out across wine country last October.

In June, PG&E Corp. announced it would pay $2.5 billion to cover expected losses from the wildfires. State fire officials have still not determined the cause of the Tubbs Fire, the worst of the blazes, which raced across Santa Rosa and resulted in 22 deaths and 5,636 structures destroyed.

Those incidents, in addition to the Thomas Fire in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties last December, underscore the states increasingly long and dangerous fire season.

If there are fires in Southern California around Christmastime, there could be fires in Northern California any time, McLean said.

On Wednesday morning, officials announced that the Ranch Fire, which along with the River Fire makes up the Mendocino Complex, was 100 percent contained.

While the perimeter of the Ranch Fire is now fully under control, crews were working to completely extinguish the flames. Smoke may be visible from within fire lines.

Officials said that fire personnels task now turns to lessening the risk of erosion and repair the 22 miles of fire lines.

The Ranch and River Fires ravaged a combined 508,043 acres northeast of Ukiah this summer. The blazes destroyed 544 structures and killed a Utah firefighter working on suppression efforts. The River Fire was fully contained Aug. 13.

A previous version of this story misstated that faulty Pacific Gas & Electric Company equipment caused the Tubbs Fire. State fire officials have still not determined the cause.

Gwendolyn Wu is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: gwendolyn.wu@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @gwendolynawuSimoun Sacdalan wants answers.

He wants to know how his son ended up alone Tuesday night on 46th Avenue and Moraga Street in San Francisco, when he was supposed to be with friends. And he wants to know why his son was shot multiple times and left to die, just two months shy of his 21st birthday.

Ryan Sacdalan, 20, of San Francisco was shot and killed around 8:53 p.m. in the Outer Sunset District, according to the San Francisco medical examiner.

My son is a good boy, Sacdalan said. He was going to school. He was working, has his own car. Next thing you know I found out he was the one who was shot and killed. All I want is the answer to what happened.

Authorities have not made any arrests and declined to comment on how many suspects were involved in the shooting. Witnesses said they saw multiple people flee the scene in a dark-colored vehicle after hearing at least eight gunshots.

Theres still a lot of unanswered questions, said Officer Robert Rueca, a San Francisco police spokesman. As most homicide investigations go, we are still heavily in our preliminary investigation.

Investigators were interviewing witnesses and reviewing surveillance footage Wednesday morning, and the 11 white circles drawn in chalk around the bullet casings the night before hadnt yet been washed away from the intersection where Ryan Sacdalan was found.

Shattered glass from a car window was near three of the bullet casings and police tape was left behind on a gate to a neighbors home.

A bouquet of white flowers was on the ground where witnesses said passersby administered CPR to Ryan Sacdalan until paramedics arrived with a note that read, Were so sorry for the end of your life.

The note was signed by neighborhood family.

John Rodriguez, 36, was cooking chicken soup for his wife and 4-year-old son Tuesday night when he heard close to seven gunshots, he said. He recalled looking out his window and seeing a man dressed in jeans and white sneakers running toward a vehicle and yelling, OK, we got to go.

The man then jumped into the passenger side of a dark vehicle before the driver turned on the car and raced down 46th Avenue, said Rodriguez, who stepped out of his home and found a man lying on the ground.

They had at least two gunshots in their back, Rodriguez said. A bunch of pedestrians were trying to revive him. Eventually, after a few moments, he stopped breathing.

Next door, Fred Sherwood and his grandson, Nick De La Rosa, were sitting down to eat a plate of ribs for dinner when they heard what sounded like firecrackers.

You hear firecrackers a lot around here, Sherwood said, adding its not uncommon to hear kids in the neighborhood or people nearby at Ocean Beach setting off fireworks.

De La Rosa knew this was different when he heard the screams.

I just saw people running and waving their hands to get polices attention, the 19-year-old said.

He caught a glimpse of a person lying on the ground around the corner from his home before police ushered him out of the area.

Authorities have not yet identified a motive for the deadly shooting.

My family ... all we want is answers on what happened, Simoun Sacdalan said. Thats it.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavaniA 28-year-old man is facing attempted murder and mayhem charges after allegedly slicing a Fremont mans head and face with a machete Sunday morning.

Zekria Joyaa, of Fremont, was arraigned Tuesday afternoon at Alameda County Superior Court in Fremont two days after he attacked a man around 11 a.m. Sunday, according to the Fremont Police Department.

Police responded to a residence in the 3000 block of Rockett Drive near Central Park in Fremont after a woman called 911, screaming that her family member had been attacked by a man wielding a machete.

Joyaa fled the scene with the machete before officers found the victim suffering from multiple lacerations, consistent with a stabbing to the head and face, officials said. Police did not name the victim.

The victim was treated by Fremont paramedics before he was taken to a nearby trauma center with major injuries.

Early indication from medical staff is that while the injuries are significant in nature, they are not believed to be life threatening, according to a Fremont Police Department statement.

Joyaa was arrested in Union City without incident at 4 p.m. Sunday. He was booked into Fremont jail late Sunday night without bail on suspicion of attempted murder and mayhem.

Joyaa is scheduled for a plea hearing on Monday.

Police said Monday that Joyaa knew the victim, but declined to say how.

Anyone with information about the attack may call the Fremont Police Department at 510-790-6800 x 3. Anonymous callers may can also text tips by texting TIP FremontPD followed by a message to 888-777.

Lauren Hernandez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LaurenPorFavorMel's Drive-In  a stalwart of that classic, Americana diner scene  has turned over a new, more modern leaf.

Now rechristened Mel's Kitchen, rather than its previous green vinyl seats and tableside jukeboxes, now exists a sleeker version of its former kitschy persona.

"It's a big upgrade from our other restaurants," said Mel's Drive-In owner Colton Weiss of the project. "Before it was more of a '50s diner, now it's more upscale, with lots of dark wood and a really beautiful bar."

Mel's Drive-In originally opened at 140 South Van Ness in 1947, while this newest iteration at the Van Ness Avenue and Geary Boulevard location opened just two weeks ago. Rather than a complete break from its roots, the new version is instead being considered a "spin-off" to Mel's Drive-In, according to Weiss. Mel's Kitchen is sporting an updated menu and brand-new bar, complete with $12 San Francisco-themed craft cocktails  something that's new to the Van Ness location. The drink menu comes courtesy of Devon Espinosa, who has worked with a number of top bars in Los Angeles, including Pour Vous, the Church Key and Sunset & Vinyl.

The updated menu has some changes and new items that might raise some brows among Mel's former customers: According to Weiss, the restaurant will be using locally sourced ingredients where it can, most prominently seen in its Prather Ranch dry-aged beef burger.

Other trendy food items that made the menu include the omni-present avocado toast; an acai smoothie; spicy ahi tuna poke salad; the Impossible Burger; there's even a dish dubbed the "Silicon Valley Scramble" made with scrambled eggs, avocado, homemade kale chips and topped with creme fraiche and caviar  and plated on an "iPad-looking plate," according to Mel's Drive-in partner, Gabe Mendez.

As for achieving its new look, the Mel's Drive-In group partnered with San Francisco's Arcanum Architecture, known for its work with Camino in Oakland, the Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Geyserville, and both Original Joe's and Original Joe's Westlake.

The restaurant now boasts trendy black terrazzo tile floors, that aforementioned new bar and brown dine-in booths  although there are a few nods to its diner-y past, according to Mendez.

"The place looks 100 percent different, it does not resemble a Mel's at all," Mendez said. "We do have one little [non-working] jukebox for nostalgic reasons, and we're going to hang photos of the old restaurant."

The upgrade to the space is in part a reflection of the changes to the area, something that both Weiss Mendez both acknowledged.

"We updated it because of what's going on with the neighborhood ... the building we're in is converting into a Courtyard by Marriott at the first of next year, and they wanted something different than our regular Mel's Drive-In," Mendez said.

With the addition of the new California Pacific Medical Center on Van Ness Avenue, Weiss said they may consider bringing back the restaurant's former round-the-clock hours, which would be a boon to the city's dwindling late-night dining.

"We're gonna see how it goes with the hospital," Weiss said of the possibility."But since the hospital is coming in, people will be there 24/7, so we might as well be open 24/7  but we'll see when that time comes."

Read Dianne de Guzman's latest stories and send her news tips at ddeguzman@sfchronicle.com.

Start receiving breaking news emails on wildfires, civil emergencies, riots, national breaking news, Amber Alerts, weather emergencies, and other critical events with the SFGATE breaking news email. Click here to make sure you get the news.WILMINGTON, N.C.  Hundreds of people waited in long lines for water and other essentials Tuesday in Wilmington, still mostly cut off by high water days after Hurricane Florence unleashed epic floods, and North Carolinas governor pleaded with more than 10,000 evacuees around the state not to return home yet.

The death toll rose to at least 35 in three states, with 27 fatalities in North Carolina, as Florences remnants went in two directions: Water flowed downstream toward the Carolina coast, and storms moved through the Northeast, where flash floods hit New Hampshire and New York state .

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper warned that the flooding set off by as much as 3 feet of rain from Florence is far from over and will get worse in places.

I know for many people this feels like a nightmare that just wont end, he said.

Addressing roughly 10,000 people who remain in shelters and countless more staying elsewhere, Cooper urged residents to stay put for now, particularly those from the hardest-hit coastal counties that include Wilmington, near where Florence blew ashore on Friday.

Roads remain treacherous, he said, and some are still being closed for the first time as rivers swelled by torrential rains inland drain toward the Atlantic.

I know it was hard to leave home, and it is even harder to wait and wonder whether you even have a home to go back to, Cooper said.

In Wilmington, population 120,000, workers began handing out supplies using a system that resembled a giant fast-food drive-thru: Drivers pulled up to a line of pallets, placed an order and left without having to get out. A woman blew a whistle each time drivers were supposed to pull forward.

Todd Tremain needed tarps to cover up spots where Florences winds ripped shingles off his roof.

The roof is leaking, messing up the inside of the house, he said.

Others got a case of bottled water or military MREs, or field rations. A military forklift moved around huge pallets loaded with supplies.

Brandon Echavarrieta struggled to stay composed as he described life post-Florence: no power for days, rotted meat in the freezer, no water or food and just one bath in a week.

Its been pretty bad, said Echavarrieta, 34, his voice breaking.

Nearby, about 200 people lined up to buy 40-pound bags of ice as quickly as a Rose Ice and Coal Co. could produce it.

Supplies have been brought into the city by big military trucks and helicopters, which also have been used to pluck hundreds of desperate people from atop homes and other structures.

Mayor Bill Saffo said two routes were now open into Wilmington, which had been completely cut off by floodwaters, but those roads could close again as water swells the Cape Fear River on the citys west side.

We still are encouraging or asking folks not to come home, said Woody White, chairman of the New Hanover County commissioners.

Chuck Burton and Martha Waggoner are Associated Press writers.No one can accuse President Donald J. Trump of not looking on the bright side.

On Wednesday, Trump toured the the North Carolina coast to see firsthand the destruction wreaked by Hurricane Florence, which the president called a "tough hurricane, one of the wettest we've ever seen from the standpoint of water."

Trump was particularly struck by a storm-tossed yacht that smashed into a New Bern home and lodged against the house's deck.

ALSO: Tavern refuses to host campaign event with Trump Jr., Guilfoyle

Trump looked at the yacht, asking, "Is this your boat?" The owner said no.

Trump replied, "at least you got a nice boat out of the deal."

Speaking to reporters, Trump said the owner told him his insurance company didn't want to pay for the damage to his home. "We're going to find out," he said. "We're going to find out the name of the insurance company."

"I think it's incredible what we're seeing," the president added. "This boat just came here. They don't know whose boat that is," he said. "What's the law? Maybe it becomes theirs."

Hey, if no one claims it, finders keepers, right?

---

Read Mike Moffitt's latest stories and send him news tips at mmoffitt@sfchronicle.com.

Start receiving breaking news emails on wildfires, civil emergencies, riots, national breaking news, Amber Alerts, weather emergencies, and other critical events with the SFGATE breaking news email. Click here to make sure you get the news.WASHINGTON  Nearly a dozen lawyers now assist President Trump in contending with two federal investigations, one in Washington and one in New York, that could pose serious threats to his presidency and his businesses. But the expanding legal team is struggling to understand where the investigations could be headed and the extent of Trumps legal exposure.

The lawyers have only a limited sense of what many witnesses  including senior administration officials and the presidents business associates  have told investigators and what the Justice Department plans to do with any incriminating information it has about Trump, according to interviews with more than a dozen people close to the president.WASHINGTON  The woman who has accused President Donald Trumps Supreme Court nominee of sexual assault threw into doubt plans for an extraordinary Senate hearing to air her accusations, charging on Tuesday that some senators have already made up their minds and insisting that the FBI investigate first.

Speaking through her lawyers, Christine Blasey Ford did not explicitly rule out appearing next Monday before the Senate Judiciary Committee to testify along with Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh. But echoing Senate Democrats, she said an investigation should be the first step before she is put on national television to relive this traumatic and harrowing incident.Tshekedi Khama  minister for environment, natural resources conservation and tourism  is a man under siege. Lately his karma is taking a hard knock on account of his management of his ministry.

TK was forced to shoot from the hip on Monday during minister Unity Dows press conference at Mass Media Complex. Dr. Dow, international affairs and cooperation minister, had in not so many words made it clear that Khama was heavily conflicted as minister responsible for wildlife and a member of Tlhokomela Wildlife Trust at the same time.

Other members of this anti-hunting lobby group include Dr. Mike Chase of Elephants Without Borders, whose report that was leaked to the international media suggesting that some 87 or so elephants were killed by poachers in northern Botswana has sparked an international uproar and blemished Botswanas wildlife conservation record; former president Ian Khama and the Marketing Manager of Botswana Tourism Organisation, Jillian Blackbeard.

Dr. Dow cautioned: Let us separate the private from the public a direct reference to the conflicting positions of TK and Blackbeard and by extension former president, Ian Khamas membership to an NGO whose primary motive is the agitation for continued imposition of wildlife hunting - whilst they hold or held public office. To make matters worse, Dr. Chase has been contracted by TKs ministry to conduct the elephants study in northern Botswana.

But TK, who it was said, had gate-crashed the press conference, wouldnt be cowed into silence. He vigorously defended Dr. Chases report and dissociated himself from the Government rebuttal that was issued after the report was leaked. He said he only learnt of the rebuttal, which was full of errors, from social media and eventually implored Acting President, Slumber Tsogwane to instruct BDF and Police to do a survey to get a factual report about the alleged elephant massacre.

The jury is still out on this score, and Cabinet is expected to hear a full and comprehensive report next week Wednesday. Obviously, this TKs outburst hit his Permanent Secretary, Thata Yaone Raphaka, below the belt. But, he couldnt respond until he was asked how he was getting on with his minister and whether they were on talking terms to which he responded that indeed there are issues between them and they dont get along well, but he would not be drawn to wash their dirty linen in public.

After the press conference Botswana Guardian asked TK if he had any personal or private interests in tourism that he could be protecting, to which he responded with an emphatic No, I dont this, notwithstanding his membership to Tlhokomela Wildlife Trust.

Tshekedi Khama also defended calls by Dr. Chase, which were later reinforced by his wife, Thea, for the re-arming of the Anti Poaching Unit of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks.

Dr. Dow had earlier reiterated President Mokgweetsi Masisis viewpoint that, the arming of this Unit was illegal and tantamount to promoting banditry, as such an exercise flew in the face of their administrations professed respect for the rule of law. But for Minister Tshekedi Khama, the first automatic weapons were supplied to this Unit as early as 1987. No one disputed his assertion, not the minister or the two PSs  Raphaka and Gaeimelwe Goitsemang.

When Botswana Guardian asked Tshekedi Khama, under which law were the automatic weapons supplied to the Anti Poaching Unit of DWNP, he said it was at the Presidents discretion. President of Botswana in 1987 was the late Sir Ketumile Masire. Botswana Guardian could not ascertain the veracity of the ministers assertion at the time of writing.

However, legal experts at the Attorney Generals Chambers told us that there is no Unit or Department of Government that is licensed to own weapons of war, except for the Botswana Defence Force.Not even the Police carry guns, except in emergency situations, said one lawyer.WASHINGTON  The Trump administration is unable to account for the whereabouts of nearly 1,500 migrant children who illegally entered the United States alone this year and were placed with sponsors after leaving federal shelters, according to congressional findings released Tuesday.

The revelation echoes an admission in April by the Department of Health and Human Services that the government had similarly lost track of an additional 1,475 migrant children it had moved out of shelters last year.

In findings that lawmakers described as troubling, Senate investigators said the department could not determine with certainty the whereabouts of 1,488 out of 11,254 children the agency had placed with sponsors in 2018, based on follow-up calls from April 1 to June 30.

The inability to track the whereabouts of migrant children after they have been released to sponsors has raised concerns that they could end up with human traffickers or be used as laborers by people posing as relatives.

Since 2016, officials at the Department of Health and Human Services have called sponsors to check on children 30 days after they were placed there. But the department has also said it was not legally responsible for children after they were released from the custody of its office of refugee resettlement.

Caitlin Oakley, a spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Human Services, offered a response to the findings Tuesday night. As communicated to members of Congress multiple times, she said, these children are not lost. Their sponsors  who are usually parents or family members and in all cases have been vetted for criminality and ability to provide for them  simply did not respond or could not be reached when this voluntary call was made.

More for you Trump Officials Urge End of 20-Day Limit for Detaining Children

The findings were accompanied by legislation introduced on Tuesday by Republican and Democrat senators to clarify the departments responsibility for ensuring the safety of migrant children, even when they were no longer in its custody.

The legislation would require officials at the Department of Health and Human Services to run background checks before placing children with sponsors. It also would compel the department to make sure that sponsors provide proper care for the children in their custody, including making sure they appear at their immigration court hearings.

Additionally, the legislation would require department officials to notify state governments before migrant children are placed with sponsors in those states. And it would increase the number of immigration court judges to help the Justice Department process cases more efficiently.

Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, chairman of a Senate Homeland Security subcommittee on investigations, said the bill will ensure that we keep track of unaccompanied minors in our country, which will both help protect them from trafficking and abuse as well as help ensure they appear for their immigration court proceedings.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., who also sponsored the legislation, said, Children who risk their lives to make a dangerous journey in pursuit of asylum shouldnt then have to worry about falling victim to human trafficking or being handed over to abusive or neglectful adults in the United States.

In a report two years ago, the Senate subcommittee detailed how department officials mistakenly placed eight children with human traffickers who forced them to work on an egg farm in Marion, Ohio.

The report found that department officials had failed to establish procedures  including sufficient background checks and following up with sponsors  to protect the children who were traveling alone. As a result, the children were turned over to the traffickers who contracted them out to the egg farm.

Since October 2014, the Department of Health and Human Services has placed more than 135,000 unaccompanied immigrant children with adult sponsors in the United States as they wait for their cases to be heard by an immigration judge.

This article originally appeared in The New York TimesANTIOCH (BCN)



A 15-year-old was injured in a shooting Tuesday in Antioch.



On Tuesday at 4:22 p.m., officers with the Antioch Police Department responded to the railroad tracks near G and West 20th streets on a report of a shooting.



Responding officers located a 15-year-old male suffering from several gunshot wounds.



The teen was located in the 2100 block of D Street.



Police said it appears the suspect tried to rob the victim.



The suspect fled the area before police arrived at the scene.



The victim was transported to the hospital and was listed in stable condition Tuesday night, police 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.SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)



A 20-year-old man who died in a shooting Tuesday night in San Francisco's Outer Sunset neighborhood has been identified by the city's medical examiner's office as Ryan Sacdalan.



Sacdalan died at a hospital following a shooting reported at 8:53 p.m. near 46th Avenue and Moraga Street.



Officers initially found Sacdalan, a San Francisco resident, unresponsive and suffering from more than one gunshot wound, police said.



No arrest has been made in the homicide as of this morning and a description of the suspect or suspects was not immediately available.





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A Solano County Superior Court judge Monday sentenced a man convicted of insurance fraud to 11 years in prison, prosecutors said.



A jury convicted Lamont James, 34, on May 21 of two counts of insurance fraud. James was driving a vehicle without insurance on Aug. 19, 2015, when he rear-ended a vehicle on Union Avenue in Fairfield.



Within an hour of the collision, he paid for an insurance policy and falsely reported to the insurance company that the collision occurred the day after he paid for the policy, according to the Solano County District Attorney's Office.



When James learned the female driver of the car he hit had already made a statement to his insurance company, he called the driver and asked her to change the time of the accident to an hour later then it had occurred so he would be covered by insurance.



The driver refused and James went to her house to again ask her to change the time of the accident. Again the driver refused, prosecutors said.



After a court trial on May 22, Judge Carlos Gutierrez found to be true that James had been convicted of first-degree residential burglary in 2004 and served a prison term in 2014 for being a felon in possession of a firearm.



The 11-year prison term applies to the insurance fraud and two prior convictions, prosecutors 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.OAKLAND (BCN)



State Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones sued the maker of an arthritis drug in Alameda County Superior Court today for alleged insurance fraud, claiming the drug is sold through illegal kickbacks to doctors.



The lawsuit against AbbVie Inc. of North Chicago, the maker of Humira, was filed on behalf of the state of California.



It alleges AbbVie induces doctors to prescribe the drug by giving the physicians kickbacks in the form of free services of nurses to advise patients, free insurance processing, medical management software, cash, meals and trips.



The nurses, known as ambassadors, visit patients in their homes. The lawsuit alleges they are trained to downplay the risks of the medicine, to try to keep patients on Humira and to relay patients' concerns to the company rather than to their doctors.



"AbbVie spent millions convincing patients and health care professionals that AbbVie ambassadors were patient advocates. In fact, the ambassadors were Humira advocates hired to do one thing, keep patients on a dangerous drug at any cost," Jones alleged in a statement today.



Humira is used to treat a number of conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and Crohn's disease, among others.



Its side effects can include tuberculosis; lymphoma; fungal, viral and bacterial infections; blood problems and heart failure, according to the manufacturer's warning label.



AbbVie sold $17 billion worth of the drug nationwide last year, according to the lawsuit. Within California, private insurers paid $1.29 billion between 2013 and August 2018 to cover 274,000 patient claims during that period, the lawsuit said.



The lawsuit alleges AbbVie has violated the California Insurance Frauds Prevention Act by using kickbacks to pay doctors "to prescribe Humira far in excess of the amount that they would have prescribed this expensive and dangerous drug absent the illegal kickbacks."



The lawsuit asks for financial compensation in triple the amount of any fraudulent insurance claims and for an injunction stopping the alleged practices.



AbbVie communications director Adelle Infante said in a statement, "We believe the allegations are without merit. AbbVie operates in compliance with the many state and federal laws that govern interactions with healthcare providers and patients.



"AbbVie provides a number of support services for patients, once they are prescribed Humira, that both educate and assist patients with their therapy, including nursing support, and these resources are beneficial to patients dealing with a chronic condition. They in no way replace or interfere with interactions between patients and their healthcare providers," the statement said.



The lawsuit started out as a whistleblower case filed by Lazaro Suarez, a nurse who worked as a company ambassador in Florida in 2013 and 2014. In February, Jones told the court in a sealed document that the state would join the case.



Suarez remains a plaintiff along with the state in the version filed today, and will be entitled to a share of the financial proceeds.





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.A 30-year-old man pleaded no contest Tuesday to felony hit-and-run causing death for hitting and killing a bicyclist on state Highway 1 near Half Moon Bay last year, prosecutors said today.



Angel Gabriel Gongora-Mis struck 44-year-old Half Moon Bay resident Edward Wade on April 29, 2017, on northbound Highway 1 near Furtado Lane.



Wade was knocked off his bike and died, and his bicycle was caught underneath Gongora-Mis' vehicle as he drove away from the scene. San Mateo County sheriff's deputies found him about a mile away with the bicycle still caught under his car, prosecutors said.



Gongora-Mis claimed he did not know he had struck a bicyclist and thought he had merely hit a guardrail, according to the district attorney's office.



Prosecutors delayed filing charges for about nine months because of a long investigation into the collision that did not find any evidence of alcohol or drug use or inattention due to cellphone use.



Gongora-Mis entered the no contest plea on the condition of a sentence of up to one year in county jail with no state prison time. The plea agreement was with Judge Stephanie Garratt rather than prosecutors, who had sought a sentence of up to two years in state prison.



The defendant will return to court on Nov. 8 for sentencing. He remains out of custody on $60,000 bail. His defense attorney Maria Fonseca was not immediately available to comment on the case.





Copyright  2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)



Hundreds of workers at fast-food giant McDonald's walked off the job today to address concerns about sexual harassment, with rallies happening in several U.S. cities, including San Francisco.



Around noon, dozens of activists rallied with McDonald's employees outside the restaurant's 24th and Mission streets location for the #MeToo McDonald's event.



According to organizers, the employees, comprised of cashiers and cooks, are striking over the company's failure to address allegations of groping, lewd comments, propositions for sex and other illegal behavior happening at their establishments.



"It's time for McDonald's and their franchises to root out sexual harassment at the workplace. The failure to tackle this scourge should compel workers, customers and allies to demand real change and back this strike. As long as harassment stays in the shadows, it will continue to thrive," Fatima Goss Graves, president and CEO of the National Women's Law Center, said in a statement.



In May, 10 McDonald's workers filed complaints with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleging widespread harassment throughout the company, with many reports being met with either retaliation or termination. In 2016, 17 employees filed similar complaints with the EEOC, organizers said.



Protestors also saw today's walkout as an opportunity to call out McDonald's over its hiring of Seyfarth Shaw at Work, a law firm that provides legal compliance and consulting services.



According to organizers, the firm, which is currently defending Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein in a class action lawsuit over allegations of sexual harassment, was hired by McDonald's to strengthen its harassment procedures.



"It's absurd that in response to workers' demands to strengthen sexual harassment and abuse policies, McDonald's has chosen to hire Seyfarth Shaw at Work, a firm that defended The Weinstein Company in the Harvey Weinstein affair, and companies ranging from Domino's to Kay Jewelers in sexual harassment cases against them," Shaunna Thomas, executive director of women's group ultraviolet, said in a statement. "Men in positions of power - be they infamous film producers or supervisors at McDonald's - have absolutely no place in the workplace following a report of sexual abuse."



In addition to demanding that McDonald's drop Seyfarth Shaw at Work, organizers want McDonald's to enforce its policy to combat sexual harassment and provide for all employees mandatory training on how to prevent and address it.



The employees have also called for the formation of a national committee made up of workers, corporate and franchise representatives and leaders from women's rights groups in order to develop solutions to prevent sexual harassment.



A 2016 survey by Hart Research Associates showed that 40 percent of female fast-food workers experience sexual harassment on the job, and more than 40 percent of those workers feel forced to accept the harassment out of fear of losing their jobs.



#MeToo McDonald's organizers have set up a hotline for fast-food workers to report sexual harassment at (844) 384-4495.





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Mineta San Jose International Airport is one of two airports selected to test new perimeter intrusion detection and deterrence technologies, Reps. Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose, and Eric Swalwell, D-Castro Valley, announced today.



The Transportation Security Administration selected the San Jose airport along with Miami International Airport based on an assessment of sites across the country.



The initiative is part of H.R. 1625, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018, which allocated up to $10 million for equipment testing as a result of a provision by Swalwell included in the bill.



"Since my time on the Homeland Security Committee during my first term, I've known that we absolutely must update our thinking about how we protect airports to keep America safer," Swalwell said in a statement.



Recently, San Jose International Airport has been the site of various security breaches most notably in April 2014 when a Santa Clara boy traveled to Hawaii in the wheel well of a plane.



Then, in August 2014, serial stowaway Marilyn Hartman was able to fly from San Jose to Los Angeles without a boarding pass.



As the TSA tests perimeter equipment and technology, it will consider a wide range of technologies including installing, testing, and analyzing video cameras, analytics software, laser, fence, and unattended ground sensors, and radar, microwave, and passive Infra-Red sensors, among others.





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.OAKLAND (BCN)



More battery-powered trucks are expected to enter the Port of Oakland's fleet thanks to a new state grant, port officials said today.



The California Air Resources Board has preliminarily awarded a $50 million grant to the Port of Long Beach for the Sustainable Terminals Accelerating Regional Transformation Project, known as START.



The START Project will demonstrate nearly 100 pieces of zero-emissions terminal equipment and trucks at three California seaports, including the Port of Oakland, develop a near-zero emissions tugboat, deploy two of the cleanest ships to ever come to the West Coast and advance workforce development programs to support sustainable goods movement, Oakland officials said.



The project is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that uses cap-and-trade dollars to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen the economy and improve public health and the environment, particularly in disadvantaged communities.



Port of Oakland officials say they expect to receive about $9 million in grant funds.



They said Shippers Transport Express, a port tenant, would get 10 zero-emission, battery-powered trucks to haul containers and SSA, another tenant, would acquire five zero-emission yard trucks to shuttle containers within Matson marine terminal, which SSA operates.



The Port of Oakland said it expects to spend up to $2 million to construct battery-charging stations as part of the agreement.



Long Beach and Stockton are other California ports participating in the grant program.



"Our goal is to minimize the impact of containerized freight transportation on air quality and zero-emission vehicles play a big role in that effort," Richard Sinkoff, the port's director of environmental programs and planning, said in a statement.



The Port of Oakland drafted a clean air plan this summer calling for further reduction in diesel emissions from cargo operations and the plan is now out for public review.



Among the plan's recommendations are converting to zero-emission vehicles when technology is readily available and financially practical.



Port officials say electric vehicles don't emit diesel exhaust that contributes to air pollution.



The port said a handful of electric trucks currently operate in Oakland hauling containerized cargo and the state grant will increase the number.



The port projects that the new battery-powered trucks could be in service by the middle of 2020.





Copyright  2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)



San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi today filed a motion to recuse a judge from a murder trial, alleging the judge is biased against Latino defendants.



Carlos Argueta, a former attorney with the tenancy advocacy group Eviction Defense Collaborative, is being charged with murder and second-degree robbery for a September 2015 stabbing in the city's South of Market neighborhood, which killed 61-year-old James Thomas.



In 2016, Superior Court Judge Kay Tsenin dismissed all charges against Argueta and co-defendant Pascal Krummenacher, following a preliminary hearing in which defense attorneys argued the fatal stabbing was in self-defense. However, in 2017 a grand jury recharged Argueta.



The motion filed today is seeking to disqualify Judge Ethan Schulman from Argueta's case, alleging that in previous cases Schulman has expressed bias against people of Latino background, exhibited racial insensitivity and showed a preference for the prosecution.



According to the motion, Schulman once allegedly asked a defense attorney of Latino descent, who was representing a defendant also of Latino descent, "When is this telenovela going to end?" after her opening statement.



In addition to the motion to recuse Schulman, Adachi is also seeking to dismiss the new charges against Argueta altogether, alleging prosecutorial misconduct.



According to a motion filed earlier this month to dismiss the indictment, after the case against Argueta was first dismissed in 2016, prosecutor Andrew Ganz then allegedly presented the case to a grand jury with "dramatically" changed testimony from a witness.



Additionally, the motion claims that Ganz distorted testimony by a medical examiner during the grand jury hearing, which allegedly indicated during Argueta's preliminary hearing that the fatal stabbing was in self-defense.



The motion also claims that Ganz encouraged the grand jury to rush the indictment by instructing them that if they didn't indict Argueta within 20 minutes, they would have to return the following week.



Furthermore, the motion reveals that the California State Bar has charged Ganz with six counts of professional misconduct, stemming from a murder case he handled as a Solano County prosecutor between 2012 and 2014.



Argueta was first arrested along with Krummenacher in September 2015 in connection with the stabbing death of Thomas, which occurred near the corner of Sixth and Market streets around 10 p.m.



According to prosecutors, Krummenacher and Argueta had gotten into an altercation with Thomas and some other men as the pair were leaving a bar after a night of drinking.



As the two were walking, Krummenacher allegedly grabbed a red bag from Thomas, who was selling items on the sidewalk, believing the red bag belonged to him.



Thomas then, along with other men, attacked Argueta and Krummenacher and retrieved the red bag. The group of men followed Argueta and Krummenacher and attacked them again, this time taking Argueta's black bag.



During the fight, Krummenacher was somehow able to retrieve the red bag he initially took and fled the area.



Argueta allegedly returned to the area where Thomas had been selling items in order to look for his black bag.



Thomas allegedly attacked Argueta again while another man struck Argueta in the head with a skateboard. At this time, Argueta allegedly pulled out a pocketknife.



Defense attorneys said that Thomas rushed into Argueta, causing the knife to enter Thomas's chest.



Argueta continued to be attacked before he retreated into a nearby restaurant to wait for police to arrive.



Thomas was taken to San Francisco General Hospital but died from his injuries a short time later.



Krummenacher, a visiting law student from London who had been working as an intern with the Eviction Defense Collaborative, was also initially charged with murder, but the case was later dismissed.



Unlike Argueta, Krummenacher was not recharged by the grand jury.



Argueta is out on bail and is expected to return to court on September 28.





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.MILL VALLEY (BCN



Mill Valley police arrested two men on suspicion of burglary and passing fictitious checks at a Wells Fargo bank Tuesday afternoon.



The incident was initially reported around 2:15 p.m. as a bank robbery at 18 Miller Ave., but after further investigation, police said the suspects were trying to pass fraudulent checks.



One of the bank tellers sent a note to another employee to call police and the 911 call came in as a bank robbery, police said.



One of the suspects was arrested at the bank and the second suspect was arrested in the area of Throckmorton Avenue at Old Mill Park, police said.



Demetrious Lamont Hayden, 50, of Richmond, and Albert Frank Sullivan Jr., 49, of Sacramento, were booked into Marin County Jail on suspicion of burglary, conspiracy to commit a crime and making or passing fraudulent checks, police said.



Old Mill Elementary School was briefly locked down as a result of the case.





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.A male victim is dead following a shooting in San Francisco's Outer Sunset neighborhood, police said.



The shooting occurred Tuesday night.



At 8:53 p.m. officers responded to a report of a shooting at the corner at 46th Avenue and Moraga Street.



Once there, officers found an unresponsive person who appeared to have been shot more than once, according to police.



The victim was taken to a hospital where he died.







Hundreds of workers at fast-food giant McDonald's walked off the job to address concerns about sexual harassment, with rallies happening in several U.S. cities, including San Francisco.



The protest occurred Tuesday.



Around noon, dozens of activists rallied with McDonald's employees outside the restaurant's 24th and Mission streets location for the #MeToo McDonald's event.



According to organizers, the employees, comprised of cashiers and cooks, are striking over the company's failure to address allegations of groping, lewd comments, propositions for sex and other illegal behavior happening at their establishments.



"It's time for McDonald's and their franchises to root out sexual harassment at the workplace. The failure to tackle this scourge should compel workers, customers and allies to demand real change and back this strike. As long as harassment stays in the shadows, it will continue to thrive," Fatima Goss Graves, president and CEO of the National Women's Law Center, said in a statement.







A two-year-old boy died early in a solo vehicle crash on Interstate Highway 80 near state Highway 37 in Vallejo, the California Highway Patrol said.



The crash happened early Sunday morning.



Jerome Jacinto, 33, of Richmond was driving a 1999 Pontiac Firebird on westbound Highway 80 around 12:01 a.m. when the car left the road and started overturning, CHP Officer David Harvey said.



Jacinto's son, also named Jerome Jacinto, was allegedly not properly restrained in the back seat. He was ejected from the Pontiac and died at the scene, Harvey said.



The 33-year-old was arrested on suspicion of DUI involving drugs, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, child cruelty resulting in death, providing false identification to a police officer, possession of a controlled substance and driving without a license.







A 6-month-old Fairfield boy who's been on life support for more than a month has been moved from UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland to another hospital at his family's request, officials with the children's hospital said.



Kingston Holmes had been at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland since Aug. 5, after he went into cardiac arrest and stopped breathing at the family's home in Fairfield.



Children's Hospital had threatened to remove Kingston, who's in a coma, from life support on Monday but it backed off from those plans after his family pleaded for more time to get a second opinion and look at other options.



Children's Hospital declined to say to which hospital Kingston has been moved.







University of California at Santa Cruz Chancellor George Blumenthal will retire at the end of the current academic year, UC President Janet Napolitano announced.



Napolitano made the announcement Tuesday.



Blumenthal has served as chancellor at the UC Santa Cruz campus for more than 12 years. As the school's 10th chancellor, Blumenthal expanded opportunities and access for underrepresented and low-income students, UC officials said.



He came to the Santa Cruz campus in 1972 as a faculty member in astronomy and astrophysics and has served the UC system as chair of the UC Academic Senate and as a faculty representative to the UC Board of Regents.



"In all his endeavors at the university, he has demonstrated his sharp intellect, deep engagement, curiosity and wit," Napolitano said in a statement.



Napolitano plans on convening a committee in the coming weeks to conduct a national search to find a new chancellor for the Santa Cruz campus.

























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.(Inside Science) -- What may be the greatest El Nino ever identified may have caused record-breaking droughts that helped trigger disastrous famines, likely killing more than 50 million people globally, a new study finds. Moreover, such an extreme El Nino could repeat in the future, scientists added.

From 1876 to 1878, droughts were followed by famines in Asia, Africa and South America that in total killed up to 3 percent of the world population at the time. No deadlier environmental disaster has occurred since, said climatologist Deepti Singh at Columbia University in New York. The deaths in India from this global famine prompted Florence Nightingale in 1877 to say, "The more one hears about this famine, the more one feels that such a hideous record of human suffering and destruction the world has never seen before."

Singh first heard about this global famine from an analysis of historical records by Mike Davis at the University of California, Riverside, who suggested that an El Nino played a role in this disaster. El Nino, which means "little boy" or "the baby Jesus" in Spanish, was named by South American fishermen who noticed that the ocean would heat up around Christmastime. The abnormally warm equatorial Pacific waters of an El Nino can disrupt ocean and wind currents across the globe, wreaking havoc on the climate.

RELATED VIDEO: Confusion over this year's La Nina and El Nino debate

To shed light on these past famines, Singh and her colleagues analyzed four "drought atlases" based on centuries of tree ring data from around the world. The trunks of trees are divided into rings, each representing a tree's growth in a given year and serving as a record of the environmental conditions experienced in that year -- wider rings represent more rain and growth, and narrower rings, less rain and growth.

In addition, the scientists investigated global monthly rainfall levels using the Global Historical Climatology Network, which archives data for more than 20,000 stations around the planet, with some records going back more than 175 years. They also looked at estimates of global sea surface temperatures from that time, which were reconstructed from data gathered by cargo ship crews and other sources, Singh said.

The researchers found the global famine was linked with the most intense and persistent El Nino discovered yet. "Its total duration may have been 16 to 18 months," or two to three months longer than previous record-holding El Nino events, Singh said.

The El Nino apparently led to extreme droughts, some of which involved record-low rainfalls in several areas for multiple seasons. Asia, one of the worst impacted regions, experienced the most intense drought of the last 800 years, and the second-most extensive drought in terms of area during that time.

"Findings like this can really show the impacts of climate events on human life," said Catherine Pomposi, a climate scientist at the University of California, Santa Barbara, who did not take part in this research. "What's great about this study is that it looked at multiple channels of data, which provides us a bit more confidence in its findings."

Singh noted that climate was not the lone cause of the famines. "One can deal with droughts without causing famines -- political and economic factors helped translate crop failures into famines," Singh said. "But we would say that the famine was triggered by the drought."

The scientists also found that the Indian and north Atlantic oceans had record-high temperatures during this time. It remains uncertain whether it was just a coincidence that record-breaking situations happened simultaneously in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans. "A number of previous studies have related the behavior of the Indian and Atlantic oceans to El Nino, but it's not a 100 percent link," Singh said. "They could be related, but we just can't prove it."

Singh cautioned this record-breaking El Nino arose from natural conditions "that could happen any time in the future." Future research will seek to predict such events to avert similar catastrophes, "and investigate whether droughts will potentially be more severe due to warmer climates," Singh said.

The scientists detailed their findings Dec. 15 at a meeting of the American Geophysical Union in New Orleans.

This story originally appeared on Inside Science.

Reprinted with permission from Inside Science, an editorially independent news product of the American Institute of Physics, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing, promoting and serving the physical sciences.

Editor's note: The writer of this news story is married to Sarah Fecht, who wrote a summary of the same research for Columbia University. The pair did not collaborate on their respective pieces.Recently, Chronicle staff writer Jonathan Kauffman explored the plight of the disappearing San Francisco diner.

Nostalgia for greasy spoons of days gone by is not a new phenomenon (see Peter Hartlaub's ode to the lost diners of the Bay Area and Bob Bragman's take on spots "where time stands still"), but the past year has seen a string of San Francisco diner closures that has included the Inner Richmond's Lucky Penny, Manor Coffee Shop in West Portal, Sparky's Diner on Church Street and Chinatown's Pacific Court Cafe, and most recently, the Tenderloin's Lafayette Coffee Shop.

On a brighter note, another local diner, Breakfast at Tiffany's in the Excelsior, nearly morphed into a Chinese noodle and dumpling joint, but was saved after the neighborhood banded together to save the beloved coffee shop. Also, the owners of Lafayette, who were forced out by their landlords, hope to find a new location in the Tenderloin. Over at West Portal's Manor Coffee Shop, the new owner who has taken over says he wants to keep it a diner.

While a number of factors seem to be the cause behind these recent casualties, including rising rents, changing tastes and an expanding cityscape, one thing is certain, if we don't patronize these establishments, they will continue to disappear. To that end, below is a guide to the local diners and coffee shops where, happily, one can get still find an affordable meal and feel like part of a community.

If you have a favorite diner or coffee shop that's not included in the map below, let us know in the comments.

Click through the gallery above to see some of the remaining diners and other San Francisco spots "where time stands still."By Diane Mar-Nicolle



Why would a scientist from New Zealand, who has an international research program covering the Maldives, Fiji, Tuvalu, Marshall Islands and the Great Barrier Reef, move halfway around the world to become dean of Science at SFU?

Apparently, a desire to become part of what Paul Kench describes as a very high-performing and vibrant community of scholars who span the science disciplines.

Kench, the former head of the School of Environment at the University of Auckland, had barely shaken off jet lag when he began his five-year term as dean of Science on Sept 4.

A steep learning curve on Canadas post-secondary system as well as lessons on driving on the right-hand side of the road and on SFUs unique micro-climate were the least of Kenchs concerns.

The greater challenge, he says, is to position SFU on the international map.

Im impressed at the quality of science undertaken within the faculty  we need to continue to work on strategies to ensure it gets the international recognition that it deserves, he says.

Kench is also committed to creating dialogues with faculty, staff and the student body about opportunities to capitalize on our current research strengths and explore new interdisciplinary science collaborations to make our mark in addressing some of the worlds complex problems.

Kench is a coastal geomorphologist with interests spanning coral reef geomorphology, coastal processes, medium-term coastal change, gravel beach processes and applying coastal science to support coastal management.

How will his new home base will affect his research? Auckland was also some distance from my field sites in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, he says.

Many of my field locations are difficult to get to and I frequently spend days in a boat transiting to different atolls. From Vancouver I can be in Hawaii and the Marshall Islands comparatively quickly.

He also adds, While my new role will curtail the frequency of field excursions, I have a wealth of data and some very exciting projects that I am looking forward to completing and writing up.

In fact, Kenchs first trip will be to New York this month to address a United Nations committee on climate resilience and sustainable development in the Republic of Kiribati.



Proust questions:

1. What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Sailing or diving  particularly in the tropics.



2. Which living person do you most admire?

I admire the unsung heroes who work quietly and tirelessly to support those in need.

3. What is your greatest extravagance?

Travel. I have been extremely fortunate through my research to visit some extremely remote and spectacular islands.

4. Which talent would you most like to have?

To be multilingual!

5. If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?

That we take global threats to our environment more seriously.

6. What is your most treasured possession?

My noise-cancelling earphones  they really do shut out the world.

7. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

Being a keen sportsperson and having an ageing body.

8. What do you most dislike?

Bullying and dishonesty.sorry thats two things.

9. What is your motto?

Dont take no for an answer.

10. Do you like rain  lots and lots of never-ending rain?



Of course not  no one likes rain  it just happens. At least its not rainy and windy.

11. What was your first job?

I worked in a butchery to put myself through university. My first post-PhD job was as at the University of Melbourne, Australia.

12. What was the smartest decision that you ever made?

My last one  but hopefully every decision is a bit smarter than the last one.

13. What are you most looking forward to?

Meeting the interesting and passionate faculty, staff and students across the SFU community.STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Island Auto Group has launched a creative program for giving back to the community of Staten Island, while at the same time offering customers more variety in license plate frame options that reflect their individual support.

Island Auto Group has designed unique license plate frames that solidify the driver's support to one of four causes. Four local charities, coinciding with each cause, will receive a donation for every customer who picks the associated frame.

The license plate frames show support for our troops, first responders, finding a cure for breast cancer and raising awareness for Autism.

The auto group presented the designs on Tuesday in its Island Kia showroom in Dongan Hills.

Dealer principals of the auto group, along with enthusiastic employees, joined representatives of each organization to announce the initiative and unveil the frame options for Island customers.

Each charity will receive a monthly donation, based on the number of frames chosen.

The first responder's donations will go to the Siller Foundation.

Donations for supporting the troops will go to the American Legion Gold Star Post 1365.

Eden II will receive the donations from the Autism Awareness frames, and the Comprehensive Breast Center at Staten Island University Hospital will receive the support from the Auto Group's pink frame.

The Auto Group is hoping the initiative will raise awareness and encourage support for each cause, as well as the Staten Island-based charities.(This is the latest edition of Island Government, a news round-up about Staten Island politics.)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Max Rose took swipes at fellow Democrat Mayor Bill de Blasio in his latest television Ad buy, which launched on Monday.

"Mayor de Blasio acts like Staten Island doesn't even exist, and we need to get rid of all the leadership in D.C. -- Republican and Democrat -- that has continuously failed to deliver for working Americans," said Rose, after taking a swipe at his opponent in the clip. "Look around, between the traffic, the drugs, and rising health care costs it's safe to say the establishment has failed us all. From City Hall to Washington D.C., we need new leadership that brings us into the future, not one that screws over and ignores the American people."

De Blasio's press team didn't immediately return a request for comment on the ad.

Rose also criticized de Blasio during his weeklong visit to Staten Island in July, when he penned a letter to the two-term mayor, demanding that he address several boroughwide issues, including creating a new Cromwell Center and reducing congestion on the Staten Island Expressway.

Democratic congressional candidate Max Rose has been corralling the support of New York and national Democrats throughout his campaign and was recently endorsed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

"Max is a U.S. Army veteran and American hero and he represents the change we need in Washington. He's fighting to make health care affordable for all New Yorkers, pushing to strengthen our nation's gun safety laws while the politicians in Washington do nothing, and he's a strong champion of rebuilding our infrastructure for the future," said Cuomo.

Cuomo, a Democrat, easily won a primary race against actress and activist Cynthia Nixon on Sept. 13, which puts him closer to a third term in Albany. He'll face Duchess County Executive Marc Molinaro.

Rose said, "I am grateful to have the support of Governor Cuomo, a leader who gets things done, no matter the obstacle... "

Rose also received the support of longtime North Shore State Sen. Diane Savino (D-North Shore/Brooklyn) at the Marlboro Houses on Aug. 25.

"More than ever before, the people of South Brooklyn and Staten Island need a partner in Washington that they can rely on to fight for their well-being," said Savino. "Max Rose has the resume, the courage, and the knowledge to secure the resources we desperately need to bring NYCHA out of the dark and into the future."

The general election is on November 6.

DONOVAN ANTI-POACHING BILL PASSES HOUSE

The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed Rep. Dan Donovan's Rescuing Animals with Rewards (RAWR) Act on Sept. 12.

The bill would make terrorists and transnational criminal organizations engaged in wildlife trafficking and poaching a top rewards priority.

"The RAWR Act will help ensure that taking down terrorists and transnational criminal organizations engaged in wildlife trafficking and poaching will be a top rewards priority," said Donovan on the House floor. "Combatting terrorism is of the utmost importance not just to my constituents, not just to New Yorkers, but to the entire nation."

Donovan told his colleagues that illicit funds from illegal wildlife generates billions of dollars, which turn into terrorist finances, fuel instability, and help arm groups in Africa.

Conservation groups estimate that a kilogram of raw ivory can be worth as much as $2,100, while a kilogram of rhino horn can be worth $65,000, according to a press release from Donovan.

"Any step that we can take that will lead to the capture and conviction of anyone engaged in wildlife trafficking, especially terrorists, is a step in the right direction," said Donovan.

BORELLI INTRODUCES BILL TO E-FILE SMOKE ALARM

Councilman Joe Borelli (R-South Shore) introduced legislation that would allow smoke alarm plans to be filed online with the New York City Fire Department instead of in-person via paper fillings at MetroTech in Brooklyn.

Borelli said the current in-person submission process adds "significant costs and delays" to everything from small apartment renovations to new construction.

"Anyone who has ever had to even just replace a water heater knows that bureaucratic hurdles in this city can be cumbersome and discouraging," Borelli said. "This bill is going to modernize the plans-submission process and make things a whole lot easier for homeowners, construction trades professionals, and FDNY inspectors, while saving New Yorkers thousands of dollars in costs by eliminating inefficiencies like the requirement to file archaic, paper submissions in person."

NYCHA SEEKS RESIDENT BOARD MEMBER

The New York City Housing Authority announced an opening on the NYCHA Board for a resident to represent the nearly 400,000 people who live in the city's Housing Authority.

The Board member will vote on contracts, resolutions, policies, rules and regulations

"Our residents understand the challenges facing public housing, which is why we welcome their voice on the NYCHA Board," said Stanley Brezenoff, NYCHA's interim chairman and CEO.

There is one board seat open and applications will be accepted, starting Sept. 15 through Oct. 15. Applications are available online here, and at each development's property management and borough management offices.

(Reporter Sydney Kashiwagi contributed to this report.)WASHINGTON -- For a second straight year the U.S. will slash the number of refugees it will accept, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said, insisting amid criticism from human rights groups that the country is still committed to providing sanctuary to people fleeing the world's danger zones.

Up to 30,000 refugees will be allowed into the country next year, down from a cap of 45,000 this year. It will be the lowest ceiling on admissions since the program began in 1980. The announcement Monday came despite calls from global humanitarian groups that this year's cap of 45,000 was too low.

The announcement drew harsh criticism from Democratic lawmakers.

"The Trump administration is not only abandoning America's long bipartisan history of humanitarian leadership, but also threatening national and regional security," Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California and Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois said in a joint statement on Tuesday.

Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey called the decision "truly repugnant" while Rep. Eliot Engel of New York said it will "surely go down as one of the ugliest chapters" in Donald Trump's presidency.

The final number for the cap on refugees next year could change after consultations with Congress, Secretary of State spokeswoman Heather Nauert told reporters Tuesday. But in the past the number proposed by the administration is generally left unchanged by lawmakers.

"The White House will make the final determination on that number," Nauert said.

An analyst with the CATO Institute, a libertarian think tank in Washington, also criticized lowering the cap, saying the Trump administration is "shrinking the refugee program at exactly the moment when the number of people who need to flee violence has reached the highest level in decades."

David Bier said the new celling "simply cannot be justified" and pointed to a Trump administration analysis that "found that refugees are fiscally beneficial to the U.S. government, and the chance of a refugee killing a U.S. resident is less than 1 in 3.6 billion annually."

Pompeo sought to head off potential criticism of the reduction by noting that the U.S. would process more than 280,000 asylum claims in addition to more than 800,000 already inside the country who are awaiting a resolution of their claims.

"These expansive figures continue the United States' long-standing record as the most generous nation in the world when it comes to protection-based immigration and assistance," he said.

The 30,000 cap is the maximum number of refugees the U.S. will admit during the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1. The actual number allowed in could be lower. So far this year, the U.S. has only admitted 20,918 refugees for the fiscal year set to end in two weeks, according to State Department records.

President Barack Obama raised the ceiling to 110,000 in 2017, but the pace slowed dramatically after Trump took office and issued an executive order addressing refugees. In 2016, the last full year of the Obama administration, the U.S. welcomed nearly 85,000 refugees.

Pompeo said the lower ceiling reflected commitment to aiding families forced to flee their homes by war, persecution or natural disasters while "prioritizing the safety and well-being of the American people." He cited the case of an Iraqi refugee who was arrested in California for killing a policeman in his homeland while fighting for the Islamic State organization.

"This year's proposed refugee ceiling must be considered in the context of the many other forms of protection and assistance offered by the United States," he said, citing U.S. contributions to foreign aid and other forms of humanitarian assistance.

Amnesty International accused the Trump administration of "abandoning" refugees with the lower cap.

"This is the lowest goal in the history of the program, and compounded by this administration's history of creating road block after road block for refugees to arrive, this must be perceived as an all-out attack against our country's ability to resettle refugees both now and in the future," said Ryan Mace of Amnesty International.

Worldwide, there were some 25.4 million refugees last year, according to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, with many more people internally displaced within their home countries. Most aid groups and governments advocate resettlement as a last resort, preferring to allow refugees to return to their homes if conditions improve, rather than permanently moving to another country.

During the ceiling announcement Monday Pompeo advocated U.S. efforts "to end conflicts that drive displacement in the first place and to target the application of foreign aid in a smarter way."

Trump has made limiting immigration a centerpiece of his policy agenda. The Trump administration's "zero-tolerance" policy that forcibly separated families at the U.S. southern border sparked outrage among Republicans and Democrats alike. Last year Trump temporarily banned visitors from a handful of Muslim-majority nations, and he insists he'll build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Trump has linked increased immigration to increased crime in the United States. Yet, according to resettlement agencies in the United States, the U.S. vetting process is one of the world's toughest. Of the 3 million refugees admitted to the U.S. since 1975, not one has been arrested for carrying out a lethal terror attack on U.S. soil, according to resettlement agencies.

Most applicants to the U.S. refugee program spend at least three years being interviewed, undergoing biometric checks and medical exams, and filling out paperwork. Cases are screened by the Defense Department, FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies.

After they are resettled, refugees continue to undergo security checks in the United States for five years or more.

The Trump administration added requirements, including longer background checks and more screenings for females and males between 14 and 50 from certain countries, including Iraq.STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The flowery language of a real estate brochure from 1872 touted two Victorian mansard, clapboard homes in New Brighton with qualifying prose: "Nothing equals it in the vicinity of New York. Lying along Lafayette, Prospect, Chestnut, and Brighton Avenues -- immediately adjacent to such royal and costly chateaus."

The views were declared the most "magnificent panoramas to be the witnessed on earth."



The 19th-century real estate agents were hyping two of the model homes built by H. Tracey Arnold, one being the "Arnold House," which has belonged to the Kennedy family since 1980.



Hal and Laura Kennedy were living in Queens when they were looking for a family home. Laura's mom lived on Staten Island, and encouraged them to look here.

The "Arnold House" at 280 Lafayette Avenue on the corner of Arnold Street was an affordable fixer-upper 38 years ago, and the property and surrounding area was (and still is) park-like.

The back stairs reminded Hal of his grandmother's house, and they just loved it. They also fell for the craftsmanship of the scrolls on the decorative porch and in the dining room's plaster molding. In the years to follow, Hal learned to make a mold himself to replace the missing leaves.

So, they moved in the fall of 1980, and the stripping of paint and varnish inside and continued for the next 15 years.

These were "the war years" as Laura calls them, "but it was all fun and became a family affair. This house supplied a seemingly never-ending task of paint stripping."

Before 1923, the house was heated by coal, then oil and now gas. So it's somehow fitting that one of the first things on the Kennedys' list, while the stripping of the floors and woodwork continued, was to rebuild all of the five fireplaces and chimneys.

The house is comprised of three floors and a basement. On the first floor is the kitchen, dining room and living room.

The second floor contains a built-in closet on the landing alongside the master bedroom, a family room, and a study. The main bathroom is also on this floor.

The top floor contains two bedrooms; one holds an unusual "witch's bend" chimney because of the mansard roof angle, and a full bath.

By 1990, the Kennedys had a "grip on the house," and in 2006 they proudly held their daughter Elizabeth's wedding here.

There were a few setbacks along the way, like when a storm winds sent one of the chimneys crashing into the top floor bedroom. But they rebuilt this chimney again.

Every room in the house is filled with family heirlooms -- each with a story from the heart.

Through the years, the Kennedys have opened up their home to many community, social and political events because, as Hal says, "this is a wonderful party house." They are as involved as a family can be in their community.

Hal conducted extensive research on the past owners and surrounding familiar names which today are street names. Such as Ellicot, Arnold, Goodhue, and Austin to name a few.

Here is a possible list of owners:

The builder H. Tracey Arnold, 1872

Kobbe family

Elizabeth Austen, grandmother of Alice, held a mortgage in 1875

McFarlane family, 1923-1955

Backloski family, 1955-1969

Paeech family, 1969-1069

Schwimmer family rented 1976-1978

Thompsons, 1978-1980

The Kennedy family, 1980-present\

This decorative Victorian is now beautifully restored and should last another 146 years. Hal also reminds us that, "We're not really owners, we are just trustees."To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account.

We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription.

A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much!The NSW government's decision to ditch its plans for expanding marine sanctuaries in the coastal waters around Sydney is politically inept and environmentally irresponsible. It is also not in the long-term interests of the fishers who have complained about it.

The proposal for a marine park in the shelf between Newcastle and Wollongong was the result of five years of analysis. Careful not to antagonise the tens of thousands of recreational fishers who use the so-called Hawkesbury coastal shelf, the government deliberately decided it would not create a huge contiguous marine park for the whole area as it had off Batemans Bay and Port Stephens. Instead the proposed marine park zones would cover small areas, only about 2.5 per cent of the coastal waters, compared to about a quarter of the area in the other parks.

MP for Coogee Bruce Notley-Smith, Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton launching the marine park concept. Credit:AAP

The idea was to protect only specific areas, such as Long Reef on Sydney's northern beaches, that were important for endangered species. The consultation left even the fate of those zones open and invited discussion of whether particular zones would be total no-go sanctuaries or face some lighter regulation.

Recreational anglers argue their actions are not the main threat to fish stocks. But there is good evidence that weekend anglers can add to strain on the sensitive intertidal zones and seagrass beds which are under threat from other causes.The Queensland government has removed $740,000 in funding from the Queensland AIDS Council, despite promising to continue its funds until January 2020.

The funds have been cut from money given to the Queensland AIDS Council to run and promote trials of the daily tablet to prevent the spread of HIV.

The Queensland AIDS Council has lost almost three quarters of a million dollars in funding. Credit:Chris Lane

These are known as the PrEP trials (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) to fight HIV which, if untreated, can result in AIDS.

Previous health minister Cameron Dick in 2015 increased funding to extend the original 2000 PrEP trial places to 3000.Former Australian of the Year finalist Eman Sharobeem has been found to have acted corruptly by the Independent Commission Against Corruption, which says the Director of Public Prosecutions should consider charging her with criminal offences, including fraud and lying to the ICAC.

Eman Sharobeem. Credit:Jessica Hromas

Ms Sharobeem was the head of two publicly funded organisations providing services to immigrant women and migrants in western Sydney. But, instead, she funded a lifestyle that included $13,000 in jewellery, Botox, cars and family holidays.

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The ICAC on Wednesday found she misappropriated up to $773,000 for herself and members of her family for more than 10 years.Four vehicles, including two police cars, were hit as a gunman allegedly fired towards officers and at traffic in Queanbeyan on Saturday before being shot in the hip by police.

On Wednesday, NSW Police revealed new details about the early morning incident, as the 60-year-old local man alleged to have caused the carnage remained in Canberra Hospital under guard.

A police vehicle, which was allegedly hit by gunfire during an incident in Queanbeyan on Saturday morning.

He is yet to be charged, but police expect to lay several charges in the coming days.

On Wednesday, a NSW Police spokeswoman said four vehicles - a marked and unmarked police car, a civilian's vehicle and a garbage truck - came under fire.The business of governing paid for by us is cancelled so our new prime minister can address bullying and intimidation within his political party. Oh yes, we are in good hands here. - John Kingsmill, Fairlight Does the fact that Gareth Ward suffered terrible bullying at school mean that he is entitled to bully others in later life (MP accused of bullying: I went to hell and back as a schoolboy, September 19)? Or does it explain his bullying and therefore excuse it. Either reason seems hard to justify. - John Fraser, Surry Hills Ward should be ashamed of himself. Playing the sympathy card to back up his denial of being an adult bully is contemptible. Many of the perpetrators of domestic violence and child abuse have been victims themselves but it does not make their crimes any less despicable. - Donna Wiemann, Balmain Ward has worked tirelessly for our electorate. Even I admire his zeal and I am a Labor voter. - Anne Ramsay, Kiama I will not miss the theatrical barracking and applauding from Ann Sudmalis as she gleefully supports her partys leaders as they bully and spout rubbish during question time. - Alynn Pratt, Killara

I feel deep concern for the trauma experienced by Catherine Marriott (Terrified: Joyces accuser devastated, September 19). But anyone who feels it imperative to make any allegation about shameful conduct should put her/his name to such a momentous allegation.

Before I ruin any life I would have to be so sure of what I am alleging, that I would proudly give my name, no matter the consequences. And that is why I find so much of social media today utterly abhorrent. - Rosalind Winterton, Maroubra The Liberals have adopted a strategic approach to their women crisis. Dont preselect women in winnable seats, encourage a climate where current female members feel they can no longer serve and marginalise their most important female asset in Julie Bishop. Great strategy  no women, no problem. - Bernie Dagg, Willoughby An alternative view, Ross Drynan (Letters, September 19), is that its only female politicians who possess sufficient courage to call out bullying in public. - Dean Fraser, North Balgowlah Alison Stewart (Letters, September 19), Julie Bishop was wearing red shoes to make a point, together with other female politicians, by wearing red. It seems to have worked  up to a point. - Ken Follows, Erina Testing times in drug debate

We need to consider harm minimisation in the form of pill testing and the removal of sniffer dogs and prosecution (Pill testing not on as Premier calls in experts after festival deaths, September 19). We have heard the horror stories of kids panicking when they see sniffer dogs and swallowing all their pills, resulting in them being extremely unwell and even occasioning death. Nobody wants to see that happen ever again. To threaten to ban the music festival is a kneejerk reaction, and a bad one. Nearly all of the kids in that age group are students or workers and they need fun and music festivals to relax and feed their souls. Music washes away the dust from everyday life, one of my favourite sayings. So lets be smart about this. Let the kids have their fun but help protect them and keep them safe at the same time. After all, they are our most valuable asset. - Kathryn Butler, Port Macquarie A regular festival-goer claimed on The Project that maybe half the 50,000 attendees at Defqon.1 used illegal drugs. Lets assume hes exaggerating and only 10,000 are users. The logistics of testing 10,000 pills makes this impossible. How are they to be tested? Non-destructively? Who will do the testing? Who pays for it? How long will it take to test them all? As an analytical chemist, I find the suggestion ludicrous. Drug education has been a big thing for over 30 years in our schools. Everyone is aware of the dangers. Our culture is failing us. - Barry Anderson, Kiama Is there not enough empirical evidence about the age that certain adolescents and young adults brains mature? I seem to recall that it is not until the early to mid-20s that young peoples brains are able to understand consequences of behaviours. Ergo, it is nurture that is important, and if pill testing is part of that responsibility we have to avoid harm, so be it. - Meredith Ryan, Brombin

Why are these mass collections of young people called music festivals? Surely it is just noise accompanied by young people prancing about the stage with their hair flying everywhere. And is it doing their instruments any good to be thumped? What about their sense of hearing, early deafness is on the cards. The definition of music in the Oxford Dictionary is beauty of form, harmony and expression of emotion. I wonder what emotion they experience. Maybe happiness, until they fall over drunk or worse. Maybe I am being a spoilsport, kids, go out and enjoy yourselves. - Jean Kingdon, Wahroonga Tackling trade war When will our politicians find the courage to speak up about the threat to Australia of Trumps trade war with China (China vows retaliation on Trumps new tariffs, September 19)? The Reserve Bank and BHP have warned about the dangers facing Australia and international trade following Trumps savage cuts to tariffs on Chinese imports. KPMG estimates Australia will be $58 billion worse off over five years with GDP reduced by 0.3 per cent. Yet the government appears more concerned with a Hong Kong-based companys bid for an Australian gas pipeline owner, fearing Beijing could somehow have control over the pipelines.

The China security phobia seems to rate more highly on our trade agenda than Trumps economic madness. - Vincent Matthews, Forestville Illustration: John Shakespeare Credit: Awards a switch off Im not surprised the Emmys ratings have plummeted. Its become a platform for actors to support a cause and not about great television. Stick to pretending to be someone else. - Craig Moore, Bondi

Hannah Gadsbys dont like men speech falls a little flat when one considers how hard she tries to look like them. - Annette Johnson, Red Rock Threat to free speech Michael Koziol reports on the question of whether a right to free speech at our universities, inclusive of a right to be heard, should be ensured by changes to university statutes, or even by government threats to withhold funds from recalcitrant campuses (Unis face new rules on free speech, September 19). Probably the most disturbing fact he reported was how, last Thursday, an attack squad of leftist student activists attempted to de-platform Bettina Arndt from giving an address disputing the existence of a rape crisis on campus and criticising universities for pandering to feminist ideologues propagating scare stories about sexual assault. The riot squad had to prevent the leftists from preventing those who who wanted to hear Bettina from entering the venue, and from jostling and assaulting those who tried, as they had been doing. - Colin Jory, Narrabundah (ACT) Gun lobby shot down

The statistics should close the argument of loosening gun control laws (MPs unite on strong gun laws, September 19). Two-hundred lives saved every year, since the Howard governments toughened laws and buyback program, is an extraordinary figure. They might try, but the gun lobby will not be able to counteract this statistic. - Paul Townsend, Narara Anthem arguments Waltzing Matilda for a national anthem? Wheres the reference to Indigenous Australians in that? As for I Am Australian, while letter writers (September 19) acknowledge Bruce Woodley of the Seekers and Dobe Newton of the Bushwackers as the co-writers, no one has mentioned Mandawuy Yunupingu on the original recording, along with Judith Durham of the Seekers and Russell Hitchcock of Air Supply. At least thats what it says on the cover of the recording that I have. - Peter Skrzynecki, Eastwood Advocates for Waltzing Matilda must be nuts. A story about a suicide of a hungry penniless and homeless man perused by the rich upper class and brutal Pommy soldiers. Fair dinkum, played at a grand final it will have half the crowd calling a help line. - Richard Stewart, Pearl Beach

I nominate the Vegemite jingle for our national anthem. It is quintessentially Australian, short, with memorable words and a tune. It also has a positive theme of happiness and growth and it respects motherhood. - Tom Kelly, Potts Point Call it puppet love If the Sesame Street muppets dont have a sexual orientation, why do they keep going on about the alphabet (Sesame Street writer confirms Bert and Ernie are a gay couple, smh.com.au, September 19)? - Peter Fyfe, Enmore Please explain Miss Piggys enduring passion for one cute, little, green frog. Her sexual advances on Kermit (the quintessential comedy straight man) have thrilled generations. - Letitia Davy, Marrickville Capital punishmentA Sydney couple is suing a medical practice over the death of their six-year-old son, who attended a "self-healing" course in its rooms and later died from insulin deprivation.

But the practice claims the couple were already acolytes of the therapy, helped organise the course and were themselves to blame for the boys death.

Lily Pan, Jeff Fenton, and their son Aidan when he was a toddler. He died aged 6 from a lack of insulin.

Aidan Fenton, a Year 1 student from Prospect in Sydneys west, fell unconscious in the Ritz Hotel, Hurstville, about 9pm on a Monday in April 2015 and could not be revived.

Over the previous week, Aidan had participated in a treatment called Paidalajin, promoted and overseen by Chinese national Hongchi Xiao. The so-called therapy involves individuals stretching, fasting and slapping their skin to the point of bruising in order to "unblock meridians" in the body.A Melbourne waterway contaminated by toxic chemicals following a factory fire in West Footscray last month will be cleaned up under a $1 million state government recovery plan.

Dead fish, eels and other marine life were washed up on the banks of Stony Creek after toxic chemicals and firefighting foam entered the creek while crews worked to extinguish the out-of-control factory inferno on August 30.

Fish wash up along Stony Creek after chemical run-off entered the waterways from the West Footscray fire. Credit:Jason South

Parents living near the creek have since revealed their children have suffered migraines, nose bleeds and sore throats from toxic fumes associated with chemicals leaking into the creek, particularly around popular Cruickshank Park.

The government announced late on Wednesday that it would invest more than $1 million into restoring Stony Creek, including pumping 70 million litres of contaminated water out of the waterway, installing equipment to contain the contaminants and removing affected wildlife.A Victorian father has been left with permanent brain damage and has lost his sense of taste and smell after a violent assault in the state's south-west.

The Ararat father, 59, was walking his dog on Barkly Street in his hometown just before 11pm on July 1 when police believe the violent assault occurred.

A Victorian father, 59, was in a coma for a month and has been left with permanent brain damage after a violent assault. Credit:Police Media

Police believe the man was struck in the back of the head by his attacker, causing serious head injuries. None of his belongings were stolen.

A woman found the man shortly after with serious head injuries and called triple zero, however she was no longer there when emergency services arrived.Catholic schools have accused the Andrews government of starving them of money for new buildings and upgrades as the non-government sector fights for funding ahead of the state election.

It came as the opposition promised that supporting non-government schools to improve standards would be a "core value" of a Liberal-Nationals government.

Non-government schools are calling on major parties to expand and renew a program that funds capital works Credit:Gabrielle Charotte

Nine weeks out from the November poll, Catholic Education Commission of Victoria executive director Stephen Elder has urged Labor to renew a program that provides capital works funding for non-government schools.

Its fine for the state government to promote its own school sector, but they are denying parents choice and crushing aspiration by starving Catholic schools of the capital works support needed to meet demand, placing bigger burdens on government schools and taxpayers in the process, he said.The South West plan says DBCA lacks documented knowledge of basic biodiversity information on most conservation reserves, lacks data to resolve conservation status on priority taxa and potentially threatened ecological communities, and that significant knowledge gaps cause it to be ineffective in prioritising effort and resources. The Warren plan says urgent analysis is needed to identify and determine regionally significant ecological communities, and those under threat, to know where action should be directed. 'Rubber-stamping extinction' WA Forest Alliance convenor Jess Beckerling said the forest management plan and reviews KPIs being based on these incomplete plans showed they were created in a knowledge vacuum. How can DBCA be meeting the plans management requirements if the data they are supposed to be ticking them off against does not exist? she said.

Its an exercise in rubber-stamping extinction. The auditors, despite these problems, still decided performance targets were not achieved for any of the biodiversity KPIs, though some success criteria were often met. The Western ring-tailed possum has just had its status upgraded to critically endangered. Credit:Cassanet. The Commission noted population declines in the brush-tailed phascogale, two species of dunnart, the southern bush rat, the western brush wallaby, Carnabys black cockatoos, and white-bellied frog. Black cockatoos and small marsupials rely on the nesting hollows that only form in native trees over 150 years old.

Baudins black cockatoos only nest in jarrah and marri 200-500 years old; this year the species conservation status was upgraded from vulnerable to endangered. The western ringtail possum recently had its status upgraded to from endangered to critically endangered. 'Logging not to blame' But this review said timber harvesting causing temporary displacement for such species was not to blame for population declines. While land clearing will permanently remove habitat and so displace species from an area permanently, there is no evidence to suggest timber harvesting has long term impacts on population viability of temporarily displaced species such as black cockatoos and western ringtail possums, it said. The review also found that forest density was also declining, particularly in the north-east and north-west jarrah forests, the western wandoo forest and the woodland ecosystems.

The Forest Products Commission had not managed to log its quotas. It only took about 75 per cent of its allocated higher grade jarrah and karri, and only about 10 per cent of its allocated marri, because of a lack of domestic and overseas markets, and a lack of economically viable trees. The plan repeatedly blamed climate change and its symptoms, such as fire, drought and declining rainfall, for biodiversity and forest density decline, and did not name logging as a threat to forest health. It appeared to absolve the government agencies delivering the plan, the Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions and the Forest Products Commission, of any responsibility for climate change. An example of a nesting hollow in a mature tree. Achievement of some of the KPI performance targets is beyond the ability of the Department and the FPC to influence. This applies particularly to those KPIs associated with conserving biodiversity ... it was expected that climate change would have an effect on ecosystem condition and this has been identified as the key reason for observed changes in condition. In many circumstances, these changes would be unable to be mitigated by any feasible management response, it said.

It is considered unlikely that either management actions or authorised activities have contributed to the change in vegetation density. Ms Jess Beckerling said the role of forests in themselves mitigating climate change was well established. Old forests store more carbon than regrowth forests, and importantly old forests also use less water than regrowth forests, she said. Regrowth areas are more susceptible to drought stress because they transpire up to twice as much as old growth forests do. Stressed forests are more vulnerable to insect attack, disease and collapse. Logging mature forests makes them more vulnerable to climate change, releases substantial volumes of carbon into the atmosphere and reduces the forest's carbon stock.

The best way to support forests, given the reality of climate change, is to remove the other threatening processes. Ms Beckerling said the description of threatened wildlife as 'temporarily displaced' by timber harvesting was absurd bureaucrat-speak. This is not temporarily displacing threatened species. Its pushing them past the point of recovery, she said. She said despite their gaps, the DBCA plans did make it clear species such as black cockatoos were losing critical habitat. Regional nature conservation teams have been raising these alarms at least for the past three years, she said.

These plans are a cry for help from good people within the department who, it appears, are being ignored by senior bureaucrats. We agree better systems must be put in place for the next Forest Management Plan, but forests and endangered wildlife cant wait another five years for things to change. Loading These protections must be put in place now, as a part of the mid-term Forest Management Plan review process - or we risk losing a number of the South Wests unique flora and fauna to extinction. The Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions gave the official response that it would further develop standardised methods and work on prioritising management actions for threatened species and ecological communities. It will also continue to investigate the causes of fauna population declines with a view to identifying practicable management interventions to reverse these trends. It said it would review its regional conservation plans.An independent review has brushed aside concerns about reporting the salaries of top public service executives, recommending that reporting executive remuneration of government agencies in annual reports be made compulsory.

It has also revealed that last month Secretary of Prime Minister and Cabinet Martin Parkinson and Finance Secretary Rosemary Huxtable have again requested government entities report their executive remuneration on their websites.

Medibank Private chair Elizabeth Alexander wrote the report with David Thodey, calling for executive remuneration to be made public across the public service. Credit:Arsineh Houspian

Despite the request now being made three times, "a number of entities have still not complied with this request," the report said.

CSIRO chairman David Thodey and Medibank Private chair Elizabeth Alexander have handed down their final report on the Public Governance and Accountability Act, making 52 recommendations on transforming how performance and accountability is measured across the public service.Mukesh began coercing Aashi* into asking her father for dowry - money paid by a brides family - soon after the Indian couple came to Australia.

Aashis father had already paid for the wedding and given jewellery to her in-laws and Aashi was ashamed to continually ask him for more money, especially given he had opposed the marriage.

When I said I cant ask for any more money from my father, he started picking fights, he started to abuse me mentally, Aashi told Fairfax Media.

Aashi was on a spouse visa, which meant Mukesh had the ability to cancel the sponsorship of her visa and have her deported home, which is widely considered to bring shame on the family in India.

He used to make my life so hard, I cant tell you."The ABC was wrong in asserting that The West Australian backed Scott Morrison at my direction. That is not the way I operate. "Furthermore, the characterisation and supposed details of the private conversations assigned to me are wrong." Those around Mr Turnbull laid some of the blame on News Corp editors as well as Sky News commentators such as Peta Credlin, and 2GB hosts Alan Jones and Ray Hadley. Credit:Fairfax Media The conversations go to the heart of the media coverage of the chaos in Parliament before the final ballot, with Mr Murdoch apparently convinced the leadership spill was needed while Mr Stokes believed Mr Turnbull should stay. Prime Minister Scott Morrison dismissed the issue on Wednesday when asked by the ABC whether it was right for the media proprietors to play a "heavy hand" in the leadership spill.

"I dont think it happened," Mr Morrison said. "I dont believe it happened at all, and youd think Id know, given I was involved." But Fairfax Media has been told that Mr Turnbull and Mr Stokes spoke several times around the time of the first leadership ballot on Tuesday, August 21, and the final vote to remove Mr Turnbull on Friday, August 24. Failed leadership contender Peter Dutton at Parliament House on Wednesday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Several sources have also confirmed the conversation between Mr Turnbull and Mr Murdoch.

The role of the media was a major concern for Mr Turnbull as he and his supporters tried to counter Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton. Loading News Corp general manager Liz Deegan disputed the account of the conversation between Mr Murdoch and Mr Stokes reported by The Australian Financial Review on Tuesday and by ABC political editor Andrew Probyn later the same day. "The ABC and AFR reporting is merely that  speculation and conspiracy," Ms Deegan said. The phone conversation between Mr Turnbull and Mr Murdoch took place on Wednesday, August 22, one day after the first ballot amid widespread expectations that Mr Dutton would launch a second strike.

The discussion was the result of several days of organisation on both sides to set up the time for the call. News Corp coverage had been a significant factor in the days before the spill, with The Daily Telegraph reporting on Friday, August 17, that conservative MPs were urging Mr Dutton to mount a challenge. Mr Dutton responded with almost 24 hours of silence after the report appeared, while Mr Turnbull and Finance Minister Mathias Cormann worked behind the scenes to get him to issue a public statement of loyalty. News Corp publications were not alone in reporting the pressure on Mr Turnbull, with Fairfax Media revealing "Dutton set to strike" on Monday, August 20.

Those around Mr Turnbull laid some of the blame for the leadership unrest on News Corp editors as well as Sky News commentators such as Peta Credlin, the former chief of staff to former prime minister Tony Abbott. Mr Turnbull did not single out News Corp, however, and also blamed radio hosts Alan Jones and Ray Hadley of 2GB, a radio station controlled by Fairfax Media, the publisher of this newspaper. "The reality is that a minority in the party room supported by others outside the Parliament have sought to bully, intimidate others into making this change of leadership that they're seeking," Mr Turnbull said on the day before the final ballot. "Its been described by many people, including those who feel they cannot resist it, as a form of madness." Jones has admitted calling Liberal MPs to urge them to vote against Mr Turnbull.

One Liberal backbencher, Warren Entsch, last week described the messages from media commentators as an "absolute disgrace" and said he had seen some of the texts to his colleagues. News Corp columnist Chris Kenny, of The Australian and Sky News, blasted the "far-fetched" claims that Mr Murdoch "directed the dispensing of a prime minister" through his newspapers and pay-TV channel. While Mr Kenny cited editorials in The Australian as proof the paper did not campaign to remove Mr Turnbull, others pointed to relentless criticism in news stories and opinion pieces to build pressure on the then prime minister. One observer said it was the "oldest trick in the book" to quote editorials that few readers ever noticed.

"The damage you do on the front page is not outweighed by what you bury on page 13," he said. Loading Former prime minister Kevin Rudd seized on the ABC report to call for a royal commission into Mr Murdochs influence. "Turns out there may be more to all this than Murdoch wants us to know," Mr Rudd tweeted. "Murdoch ran a vicious campaign in 2013 to elect Abbott. Same in 2018 for Dutton/Morrison."On Tuesday, Gladys Berejiklian strode into NSW Parliament wearing striking red shoes.

Just a day earlier, in an unprecedented show of support for the sisterhood in Federal Parliament, Liberal women wore red clothes or shoes in a stand against bullying and under-representation in their party.

Julie Bishop started it. The Red Shoe movement has gathered steam since the former deputy leader stepped out in sparkly red pumps for her final press conference after the bruising leadership spill.

Julie Bishop's now-famous red shoes. Credit:AAP

Her Dorothy shoes are now iconic and the red stiletto has become Bishops favoured emoji.NSW Liberal MP Eleni Petinos will face a preselection challenge in Miranda from a male barrister, with another three female MPs also likely to be challenged by men.

Ms Petinos' challenge from barrister Jeffrey Clarke comes as the Liberal Party deals with the fallout of bullying in federal parliament and as it struggles to recruit enough women to fight the next federal election.

Liberal member for Miranda Eleni Petinos.

Poor polling, as well as looming retirements, could reduce the number of female Liberals in the House of Representatives to the lowest level since the early 1990s.

Women are also poorly represented in the NSW government, making up just 22 per cent of Liberal MPs.NSW Liberal MP Gareth Ward has been accused of bullying a second woman, after the Opposition revealed a written complaint from a community member had been sent to the Premier's office.

In question time on Wednesday, Shellharbour MP Anna Watson read excerpts from the complaint in which the woman accused Mr Ward of having "anger management issues" and claimed he verbally abused her at a community meeting in June.

The woman, who is a member of a Dapto residents group and wished to remain anonymous, sent the complaint via a web form on the Premier's website days after she claimed she had met with Mr Ward at a community centre.

Ms Watson said the woman alleged Mr Ward had "anger management issues, no concept of appropriate behaviour and appears to have issues with women".Any unlicensed driver involved in a crash where someone is killed or injured will be presumed to have been driving dangerously, under a law change set to pass through the Victorian parliament this week.

The change follows community lobbying over the death of 13-year-old boy Jalal Yassine-Naja, who was killed after being struck by a four-wheel-drive with an unlicensed driver behind the wheel in March last year.

Jalal Yassine-Naja, 13, was struck and killed by an unlicensed motorist while skateboarding.

Dubbed Jalal's law, the amendment has won the Andrews government's backing even though a cross-party committee of MPs found it clashes with the legal presumption of innocence.

Independent MP Rachel Carling-Jenkins won Labor's support for the amendment to legislation in the upper house on Tuesday, paving the way for its passage into law through the lower house, potentially as soon as Wednesday.So has democracy failed the UK? Is Brexit more evidence that democracy is the worst form of government apart from all the other ones (as Churchill once put it)? Certainly, Brexit is showing up some of democracys weirdest and worst features: - Brexit will likely end up a compromise that nobody really wanted, predicted or promised two years ago when it was voted on. - Many MPs from constituencies which voted for Brexit are against it, and vice versa. - Statisticians have estimated that, due to demographic changes, there will no longer be a popular majority for Brexit when it actually happens.

- Northern Ireland voted to stay in EU but has become the main negotiation pain point because the UK doesnt want to let it even stay half in. And thats partly because of the precedent for Scotland, which also voted to stay in the EU. - The EU insists the Brexit divorce deal must irrevocably bind the UK, disenfranchising future British parliaments and voters. Loading And we got here through supposedly one of the purest exercises in democracy: a referendum. Its worth going back to that Churchill quote. Hansard records he prefaced the line with "it has been said that".

The line may have originated with British surgeon Robert Briffault, who wrote in his 1930 work Rational Evolution (according to the Lingua Franca blog): "Democracy is the worst form of government. It is the most inefficient, the most clumsy, the most unpractical.  It reduces wisdom to impotence and secures the triumph of folly, ignorance, clap-trap, and demagogy.  Yet democracy is the only form of social order that is admissible, because it is the only one consistent with justice." It doesnt have the epigrammatic neatness of Churchills version, but it does sound a lot like Brexit. Then opposition leader Churchill was arguing in 1947 against a proposed (and eventually successful) reform of Westminster, to reduce the power of the unelected Lords to delay laws passed by the elected Commons. Yes, he was arguing against representative democracy. He called the proposed reform a "deliberate act of socialist aggression" by Clement Atlees Labour.

Churchill wanted an election. You wonder if he would have settled for a referendum. In post-war 1945 he called for one on extending the wartime coalition but Atlee rejected referenda as a "splendid weapon for demagogues and dictators" (in 1938 Hitler invited Austrians to vote retrospectively on the Anschluss, in a classic offer they couldnt refuse). Atlees line was quoted with approval by Margaret Thatcher in 1975 when  in a nice historical irony - she was arguing against a referendum on membership of the precursor to the EU. Winston Churchills famous quote about democracy comes to mind. So theres a long history of arguing over whether referenda are really good for democracy. And here we are again.

Blogging lawyer David Allen Green is among many observers who have made the point that the original Brexit referendum is most likely going to lead to a Brexit almost nobody wanted. Anand Menon, director of the UK in a Changing Europe think tank, thinks a second Brexit referendum would solve none of the underlying problems that led to the Brexit vote in the first place. "Removing the decision from the hands of deadlocked politicians to give it to a deadlocked public is no solution at all," he says. It would be a rerun. He disagrees that democracy has failed, per se. The current mess is mainly due to the fact "Brexit is incredibly difficult", he says, like "taking eggs out of an omelette".

If theres a more fundamental problem, its that there is a clash between direct and parliamentary democracy, and a clash between national, subnational and supra-national democracy. "No-one now knows who gets to decide anything," he says. The Scots and Northern Irish think one way, the voters of Margate another, Westminster MPs another, Brussels another, Budapest, Paris, Berlin and Rome another. Who is sovereign? Brexit was ultimately about that clash, says Menon, about the desire for self-rule against the advantages of being part of a larger whole. It was a rebellion against the abstracted, technocratic, apolitical democracy of the EU; a desire for fewer layers of delegation between voters and laws.It sounds like the opening for another stoner movie, maybe "Harold and Kumar Go to Heaven." Giant bundles of marijuana, apparently containing individually wrapped five-kilo bricks, have been washing up on the shores of Florida since the approach of Hurricane Florence last week, possibly from a boat that was either capsized by the storm or an airplane drop that went awry.

This set off a minor ethical dilemma among the beachgoers of Flagler, St. Johns and Volusia counties in the Daytona Beach area: Does one grab the weed and run, or call the cops?

Five kilogram bricks of marijuana washed up on a Florida beach. Credit:Flagler County Sheriff's Office

This moral quandary was best demonstrated in a 911 call to the Volusia County sheriff last Thursday morning, when a woman reported, "We're at Jungle Hut (Park) and a huge bundle of drugs or something just washed up on the beach and there are people like fighting over it."

How many people? the call-taker inquired, according to a recording of the exchange. "There's like seven or eight people out here," the caller replied, "and they're all like huddling up against it, and my dad's trying to take it so that you guys can have it all."New York: Marine archaeologists believe they have finally identified the resting place of HMB Endeavour, the ship James Cook commanded to Australia on his first voyage of discovery, an achievement that would solve one of the greatest maritime mysteries of all time.

The breakthrough has raised hopes the remains of the vessel will be excavated next year, in time for the 250th anniversary of Cook's arrival in Australia. The ship is historically significant to many countries - including the US, Britain, New Zealand and Australia - and its excavation could spark a battle over where the wreckage should be housed.

A painting of HMS Endeavour, which researchers believe they have discovered off the coast of the United States.

The Rhode Island state government claimed official ownership of the fleet of shipwrecks including Endeavour in 1999, suggesting Australian officials would have to negotiate for any remnants to be brought to Australia.

The breakthrough, to be officially announced on Friday, follows an arduous 25-year search for the historic ship off Newport, Rhode Island, on the north-eastern coast of the US.San Diego: A second rhino has become pregnant this year through artificial insemination at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. The pregnancy of 10-year-old Amani marks another milestone for an ambitious program to rescue a rhino subspecies with stem cells.

Amani and five other southern white rhinos are being trained to become surrogate mothers of northern white rhinos, which are critically endangered. The pregnancies of Amani, announced on Tuesday, and Victoria announced in May, are dry runs for the goal of implanting northern white rhino embryos.

Keeper Zachariah Mutai attends to Fatu, one of only two female northern white rhinos left in the world, in the pen where she is kept for observation, at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Laikipia county in Kenya. Credit:AP

Just two northern white rhinos are left in the world, both female and too old to reproduce. This means the subspecies is functionally extinct.

Nola, a northern white rhino at the Safari Park, died in 2015. She was then one of only four left. Sudan, the last male, died in March at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya.She began life as a humble Yorkshire collier named the Earl of Pembroke, and ended it as the Lord Sandwich 2, a workhorse troop carrier and, for a time, a prison ship, so unloved she was scuttled to blockade an American harbour.

She will, however, be remembered forever as His Majestys Bark Endeavour, the ship sailed by Lieutenant James Cook on one of the epic voyages of maritime history.

The memory of the little ship remains so inspiring that a fragment of wood taken during one of her many repairs was carried into space within the cockpit of the last space shuttle built for NASA, which was named Endeavour.

The Australian National Maritime Museums Endeavour replica. Credit:Endeavour Foundation

The command module of Apollo 15, the fourth manned mission to land on the moon, was also named Endeavour in honour of Cooks ship, and carried another fragment of her timbers.Washington: The Justice Department has informed China's Xinhua News Agency and China Global Television Network that they must register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The state-owned news agencies will be required to disclose information about their annual budget and expenditures, their ownership structure and other information under the act, which mandates registration with the Justice Department by organisations and individuals that attempt to influence US policymakers or public opinion on behalf of foreign governments.

A reporter from China Global Television Network gets ready for the opening ceremony of Belt and Road Forum last year. Credit:Sanghee Liu

They also will have to include disclaimers on broadcasts and published materials identifying themselves as registered foreign agents, according to the person, who asked not to be identified in advance of a formal announcement. The move was reported earlier by The Wall Street Journal.

It echoes requirements imposed on Russian outlets in the wake of Russian meddling in the 2016 election. Several US contractors working with RT and Sputnik Radio were forced to register under the act. In May, the Justice Department also required a broadcaster based in Reston, Virginia, that carried English-language broadcasts of France 24, funded by the French government, to register.Maori revitalisation is also part of a broader renaissance for indigenous cultures globally, which in some countries includes support for indigenous news media and a revival of traditional religions. Henry said countries like Canada were watching New Zealand to see how its gains had been achieved. It's a story of both organic growth and government action. Students gather for a Maori welcoming ceremony at Hoani Waititi Marae, the communal hall in Auckland. Credit:New York Times A "Maori renaissance" blossomed in the 1970s as language activists championed their cause and Maori fought for greater political representation, denied since New Zealand was colonised by the British in the 19th century. The movement has gathered pace in recent years, with greater visibility and government efforts to support language instruction leading to shifts in day-to-day communication. But it's also spread by word-of-mouth  literally. Answering the phone with the greeting "kia ora" (hello) or signing off an email with "nga mihi" (thanks) has become increasingly common. Some New Zealanders refer to social media followers as "whanau" (family). And even non-Maori speakers of an older generation might refer to "getting some kai," or food.

It is an official language, so why should we bat an eyelid? NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern Ardern, who said last month that her newborn daughter would learn both Maori and English, is a high-profile champion. NZ PM Jacinda Ardern and her partner Clarke Gayford want their daughter Neve to grow up speaking Maori and English. Credit:AAP "It is an official language, so why should we bat an eyelid at its universal availability and its much more common use?," said Ardern, adding that she also planned to study the language. "That's as it should be." (Last week she posted a video on Facebook of her speaking in Maori to celebrate Maori language week.)

Maori also has a growing place in New Zealand's mainstream popular culture. Alien Weaponry, a thrash metal band, released an album in the language this year, and last September, a Maori-language version of the Disney film Moana screened for one day around New Zealand to sellout crowds. "This wonderful movement happening across the country shows the fluid nature of cultural identity," said Henry. Residents of Merivale Retirement Village practise Maori with their activities coordinator, Tim Belcher, in Christchurch. Credit:New York Times For many Merivale Retirement Village residents, Maori was rarely seen or heard in their childhoods. In the 20th century, Maori children were often disciplined for speaking it at school. Now, up to 35 residents at the retirement village meet each morning to greet one another in Maori and practice the language with activities like naming the parts of the body. Kathy Fitzell, 75, a Maori resident at Merivale, has a fraught history with the language. Her parents spoke Maori at home, but she was uncomfortable using the language in public.

"They used to abuse us a lot," she said of white New Zealanders, "because they didn't know what we were talking about, so I just went right off speaking Maori." But now her grandchildren are learning the language, and she welcomes the chance to reconnect with it. Tame Iti, a Maori Party supporter, during an election debate in Auckland last year. Credit:New York Times At 15 per cent of New Zealand's population, Maori are the country's second largest ethnic group, after Pakeha  a dynamic that Henry said had helped them attain political clout, even though many do not speak the language. In 1996, a quarter of Maori said they could hold a conversation about everyday things in the language. That had fallen to 21.3 percent in 2013. There has been some pushback to the language revival, however.

Proposals to officially replace English-language place names with traditional Maori ones have prompted heated debate. And efforts are sometimes criticised as condescending. When a police car was designed using Maori language and artwork, it was denounced by some as insensitive because of the higher Maori rates of arrest and imprisonment. Division over the language is also writ large in audience feedback to a morning radio news show on the public broadcaster. One of the hosts, Guyon Espiner, 47, is a white man who had "very, very limited" knowledge of Maori people, language or culture until he married a Maori woman. A menu written in Maori at the Fush restaurant in Christchurch. Credit:New York Times The pair decided that their daughter should know the language, and Espiner also started learning it. He now gives place names, days of the week, traffic updates and weather forecasts in Maori, and then repeats them in English  a move that has been polarising. "Some people get very hostile and very angry," said the host, who has been told that he was speaking "like a monkey" or "gibberish".

"They somehow think that their world is changing," Espiner said of those criticising his use of Maori. "It may remind them of something unpleasant in our past that they want to ignore." These days, listeners more commonly say he is inspiring them to learn the language. But with such a small percentage of the population able to speak it, teachers are in short supply. Lessons for adults are increasingly oversubscribed; one free class in Christchurch in May attracted more than 600 students. Scotty Morrison, a Maori language teacher who co-wrote the book Maori at Home estimates that the next round of official figures will show a higher number of Maori speakers, and he said there could come a time when more non-Maori people than Maori speak the language at some level. For many, like Janell Dymus, 25, who is Maori, that would amount to a long-overdue mark of respect. She calls herself a "product of the Maori renaissance." Educated at a Maori-language immersion school, she works in public health and as an activist mobilising Maori youth on political issues in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city.UKCloud unveils new solutions for making transformation happen across UK public sector

UKCloud invests in creating unique multi-cloud solutions hosted within the Crown Campus that make it easier for public sector organisations to accelerate their digital transformation.

UKCloud, the leading cloud platform for the UK public sector, today announced refreshed solutions that re-affirm the company\-\-s exclusive commitment to digital transformation for the UK GovTech community.

Digital Transformation has become commonplace across UK public sector as a result of government policies such as Cloud First, as well as the Government Transformation Strategy. Over the last few years, the UKCloud platform has enabled hundreds of digital projects to deliver genuine benefits  saving public sector billions of pounds whilst vastly improving the public services delivered to citizens and businesses.

These successes have largely come from new services which have adopted modern IT approaches. But the scale of traditional and legacy IT within the public sector far exceeds these new systems and the UK Government Digital Service (https://gdstechnology.blog.gov.uk/2018/05/24/understanding-legacy-technology-in-government/) recognises the need for strategies and solutions that tackle these larger challenges. By doing so, even greater cost savings and service improvements can be achieved.

As a result of an extensive strategic review focused on the IT challenges facing its customers and partners, UKCloud is evolving to help the UK GovTech community rise to these challenges by providing more choice, more neutrality and more support. UKCloud enables public sector organisations of all sizes to accelerate their digital transformation by addressing their diverse IT needs, harnessing their existing skills and avoiding lock-in to proprietary public cloud platforms.

\UKCloud is built on a passion to deliver better value IT for UK taxpayers\ says Simon Hansford, UKCloud CEO. \The first wave of citizen facing digital services has ensured that technologies such as cloud, mobile and digital are much better accepted. But our public sector customers tell us this is just the tip of the iceberg; that cloud has not yet disrupted the bulk of their IT locked into on-premises facilities or long term outsource agreements. They recognise the benefits of modernising these traditional systems will far exceed the benefits seen to date. But they also recognise that what worked for the first wave of their transformation, won\-\-t be enough for the next wave.\

UKCloud continues to invest in a multi-cloud platform that brings together Azure, OpenStack, Oracle and VMware environments so that customers can use the right cloud for every workload. Multi-Cloud enables modern applications to harness dynamic cloud native technologies such as Azure and Kubernetes, whilst also accelerating the modernisation of traditional applications that are typically built for VMware and Oracle environments so that they come together on the same platform, within the same sovereign data centres. The diversity of multiple cloud technologies enables customers to avoid lock-in, harness their existing capabilities and enable greater agility to deal with uncertainty.

UKCloud is also the prominent provider within the government\-\-s recently announced Crown Campus. This provides public sector organisations with the safety of high security, UK-based data centres and the flexibility of being able to use different cloud providers without having to worry about moving data and systems between third party data centres. It means public sector organisations retain more control and ability to mix non-cloud, private cloud and public cloud services.

Peter Counter, CIO of Genomics England commented, \The Crown Campus gives us the agility we need to support our ever-changing business requirements. Assurance, cost, capacity, neutrality and capex are all levers available to us by being able to adjust our mix of UKCloud\-\-s multi-cloud platform and flexible co-location options available in Crown Hosting\.

Additionally, UKCloud has continued to build on its award-winning customer services to more directly help public sector organisations at all stages of their journey; from initial discovery and migration through to live support and on-going cost optimisation. Every public sector customer, large or small, benefits from UKCloud\-\-s expertise at no extra cost which is a key investment in removing inhibitors to digital transformation.

\Having listened to our customers and partners, we better understand the real challenges that will affect their continued transformation\ continued Hansford. \We understand the concerns they have around retaining control, skills and flexibility. That\-\-s why UKCloud has invested further in multi-cloud, the Crown Campus and award-winning customer service; to provide a UK GovTech optimised alternative to the generic global public cloud platforms.\

Visit UKCloud.com for more info; making transformation happenSystem Overview

Experience superior 5MP video and the simplicity of reusing existing coaxial infrastructure with HDCVI. The Lite series 5MP HDCVI camera features a compact design and offers a high quality image with rich details at a friendly price. It offers various vari-focal/fixed lens models with a multi-language OSD and HD/SD switchable output. Its structural flexibility and high cost-performance makes the camera an ideal choice for SMB solutions.

Functions

Broadcast-quality audio

Audio information is used as supplementary evidence in video surveillance applications. The HDCVI camera supports audio signal transmission over coaxial cable. In addition, it adopts unique audio processing and transmission technology that best restores source audio and eliminates noise, guaranteeing the quality and effectiveness of collected audio information.

4 Signals over 1 coaxial cable

HDCVI technology supports 4 signals to be transmitted over 1 coaxial cable simultaneously, i.e. video, audio*, data and power. Dual-way data transmission allows the HDCVI camera to interact with the HCVR, such as sending control signal or triggering alarm. Moreover, HDCVI technology supports PoC for construction flexibility.

* Audio input is available for some models of HDCVI cameras.

Long distance transmission

HDCVI technology guarantees long-distance and real-time transmission without any loss. It supports up to 700m for 5MP HD video via coaxial cable, and up to 300m via UTP cable.

**Actual results verified by real-scene testing in Dahua's test laboratory.

Simplicity

HDCVI technology inherits the born feature of simplicity from traditional analogue surveillance system, making itself a best choice for investment protection. HDCVI system can seamlessly upgrade the traditional analogue system without replacing existing coaxial cabling. The plug and play approach enables full HD video surveillance without the hassle of configuring a network.

Smart IR

The camera is designed with array LED IR illumination for best lowlight performance. Smart IR is a technology to ensure brightness uniformity in B/W image under low illumination. Dahuas unique Smart IR adjusts to the intensity of camera's infrared LEDs to compensate for the distance of an object, and prevents IR LEDs from overexposing images as the object come closer to the camera.

HD/SD switchable

The camera supports switchable HDCVI high definition video output and CVBS standard definition video output. The two formats can be switched over through OSD menu or by PFM820 (UTC controller). This feature makes the camera to be compatible with both HCVRs and existing analogue DVRs and also facilitates debugging through analog testers.

Multi-language OSD

OSD menu provides multiple image adjustments and function settings to meet the requirements of different monitoring scenes. The OSD menu includes configurations such as backlight mode, day/night, white balance, privacy mask and motion detect. The camera supports 11 languages for OSD menu, namely, Chinese, English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Russian and Polish.

Protection

The camera's outstanding reliability is unsurpassed due to its rugged design. The camera is protected against water and dust with IP67 ranking, making it suitable for indoor or outdoor environments.

With working temperature range of -40 C to +60 C (-40 F to +140 F), the camera is designed for extreme temperature environments.

Supporting 30% input voltage tolerance, this camera suits even the most unstable power supply conditions. Its 4KV lightning rating provides protection against the camera and its structure from the effects of lightning.We want to become better known for access control - Q&A with Bosch Building Technologies Gregor Schlechtriem

Gregor Schlechtriem has worked in the access control market for over 20 years and is now responsible for the Access & Intrusion Business Unit at Bosch Building Technologies. In this interview, the expert talks about key industry trends, the impact of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, technical innovations and his companys strategy. Mr. Schlechtriem, you have many years of experience in the security technology market. What is your background and what are your responsibilities as Senior Vice President at Bosch Building Technologies? Gregor Schlechtriem: I am a trained engineer and electrical technician, and have been involved with access control in the broadest sense, since I started my career in the late 1980s. I started in the field of parking garage technology and then switched to security technology in 2001, as Managing Director of micos GmbH, which specialised in traditional access control. micos GmbH was known for its highly available and highly secure access control systems, for critical infrastructure and government applications. Many systems from that time are still in use today and continue to be supported and upgraded. Bosch is continuing micos business here? Gregor Schlechtriem: Exactly, micos was taken over in 2004 by Bosch Security Systems, now known as Bosch Building Technologies. Since then, we have continuously been developing the access control business. Being part of the Bosch Building Technologies division, we benefit a lot from international cooperation with colleagues Being part of the Bosch Building Technologies division, we benefit a lot from international cooperation with colleagues and from overlap with other product lines, such as intrusion detection technology and video security. This gives us the opportunity to implement outstanding project solutions for demanding customers in an international environment. In developing this business, I rely on my experience from other interesting roles at Bosch that I took on, after micos was bought in 2004. For a time, I worked in the European System Integrator Business, which I also had the privilege of managing for several years, as well as being directly responsible for business units. In Fairport, USA, I had the overall responsibility for intrusion detection technology for many years, as I later did in Eindhoven for video systems. Since 2018, the global access control and intrusion detection business has once again been my direct responsibility. At Bosch Building Technologies, we have in the meantime assigned sales to the respective business units, so that we can develop our product and solution portfolio, in close cooperation with sales and our regular customers. Our main task now is to make our access control portfolio accessible to a broader market. We want to make Bosch much better known, as an access control provider, in the international market. After all, with our own access product portfolio, the power of the Bosch Group and over 40 years of experience in this sector, we have a lot to offer. As an expert in access control, how do you see the industry developing? In which direction is it currently evolving? Gregor Schlechtriem: First of all, I see that security requirements are constantly increasing. Whereas there are currently still simple key replacement systems that merely record card numbers, such an approach, to a large extent, no longer meets todays security and user experience requirements.The core task of access control has not changed over the years In the beginning, access control was more or less a kind of key replacement. Later, there was the possibility of increasing security via a pin code, i.e., via verification through simple data inputs. The next step in this direction was biometrics, which is another key step up, because it allows verification by means of unmistakable characteristics. However, the core task of access control has not changed over all the years and has basically always remained the same: access control means determining who has an access request and checking whether this request can be fulfilled. Whats next on this path to greater security? Gregor Schlechtriem: Biometrics-based access control is becoming increasingly powerful and user-friendly through the use of artificial intelligence (AI). Here, data protection plays a major role, as wherever identities are established and movement data is recorded, it is necessary to reconcile the evolving technology with data protection.Biometrics-based access control is becoming increasingly powerful and user-friendly through the use of artificial intelligence The question of data protection is becoming even more significant, as systems increasingly migrate to the Cloud. Bosch puts particular emphasis on ensuring that, even in the cloud, the data generated in access control is always in line with data protection rules, regardless of where it is located. In my opinion, this trend towards the Cloud will continue, because companies are increasingly looking for complete service offerings, so that they can focus on their core business. Also, a system in the Cloud is easier to maintain and always up-to-date with the latest software, which makes cloud solutions even more attractive for providers and users. How can higher security be reconciled with a good user experience? Gregor Schlechtriem: Today, the card still plays a central role in the user experience, as the essential credential. Another current trend is one card for everything: with the increasing availability of secure multi-function smart cards, the possibility arises to use cards beyond the pure access function, for example, for payment in the canteen, at the catering and coffee machines, and in the parking garage, as well as simple access to other properties and so on.The security of cards has evolved significantly and kept pace with requirements The security of the cards, the reading and encryption processes, has evolved significantly and kept pace with requirements, although we are also facing an installed base that no longer meets these requirements, due to outdated systems. Today, it is standard for communications between reader and card to be encrypted. In some cases, the keys are also only held centrally to further increase security. The security systems industry was also affected by the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. How do you think the industry has changed? What technical solutions have emerged during this time? Gregor Schlechtriem: First of all, there is a certain need for retrofitting in the industry due to changes in how buildings are used. For example, American retailers used to be open around the clock and always had staff on site. Now, due to COVID-19, stores are also closed, and this results in a whole new need for intrusion detection and access control systems to protect the buildings. For access control, an obvious task has arisen as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, namely to track contacts, as far as this is compatible with data protection. We actually expected more to happen here, but in our observation, many companies did quite little, despite clear and simple steps that could have been implemented relatively quickly. The installed access control systems clearly lag behind the technical possibilities. Another topic that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought into focus is hygiene Another topic that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought into focus is hygiene. Companies should actually have invested in contactless systems here and retrofitted speed gates or motorised doors. But in many cases this was not put into practice. The door opener is still often used, which has to be operated manually and therefore, is touched multiple times. But, if everyone presses the same button, that doesn't help hygiene. Surprisingly, this is different in North America. Here, request-to-exit proximity detectors are used almost everywhere, which avoids this problem completely and releases the door, when an authorised person approaches it. Mobile access and smartphone-based access control are also growing markets. What kind of developments do you see in these areas? Gregor Schlechtriem: I already mentioned that users increasingly want to be able to use one card for several applications. But, what we are seeing here is that even with the most modern cards, which have a lot of applications loaded on them, we are reaching performance limits and the user experience suffers. If you compare the card with the smartphone as a credential, you have a much more attractive integration platform there, which is significantly faster and delivers much better performance. For us, the mobile credential or the smartphone is the future, because it simply offers more possibilities that the card will not be able to provide in the long term. What is the specific direction Bosch is taking here? Gregor Schlechtriem: We are currently working on a broad implementation. A whole team is working on the user experience around the smartphone, because its understood that smartphone-based access has to work just as easily, as it currently does with a card.A whole team is working on the user experience around the smartphone In theory it does, but if you look at some of the actual implementations, this topic is still relatively complex. In terms of user experience and automation, we still have quite a way to go, and we are working hard on that at the moment. The user experience is one side of the coin, the other side concerns establishing security in the smartphone as a whole. In other words: How do I make the smartphone secure enough as a mobile credential, to meet my access control requirements? We are also working intensively on this. That's actually an IT task. Do you do this yourself at Bosch or do you work with external experts here? Gregor Schlechtriem: We have our own powerful Bosch IT, which also manages our company smartphones. If our company smartphones are lost, the data on them is automatically deleted. The devices use biometrics to identify users, before they can access the data. It is a sound security concept that a card cannot offer. Moreover, we are working with other partners in the IDunion project, to create the additional infrastructure around mobile credentials as well. What exactly is the IDunion and what role does Bosch play? Gregor Schlechtriem: Digital identities must be openly accessible, widely usable, interoperable, and secure. This applies not only to access control, but to the digitised economy in general. The IDunion project has set itself the task of creating the infrastructure for this, in the form of an independent wallet, i.e., secure identity storage on smart devices. The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWI), because digitisation is also a critical social issue. We are intensively involved in the Physical access to the building work package in this consortium. Through this involvement, we want to ensure that our access control systems benefit from this infrastructure and are open to future digital business models. Does digital identity management, which includes biometrics and mobile access, also play a role for Bosch? Yes, it plays an important role for us, and I wouldnt consider these topics separate Gregor Schlechtriem: Yes, it plays an important role for us, and I wouldnt consider these topics separate. For me, a mobile device has the advantage that it has already ensured and verified my identity from the moment of interaction. Thats the fascinating thing about it. If I only allow the device to communicate with the access control system, if I have identified myself first, I have implemented biometrics and access control together in a widely accepted process. From my point of view, this is a very interesting perspective, in terms of security and user experience, because the biometrics procedures in smartphones are, I think, the best currently available. In my view, the smartphone has the potential to take over central functions in access control in the future. What are your goals for the access control business of Bosch Building Technologies in the near future? Gregor Schlechtriem: We will continue to focus on specific solutions for large customers. That is the continuation of our current strategy. In these projects, we will introduce new topics as I have just described, i.e., primarily new technology elements. I believe that, precisely because of the longevity of access control, a long-term migration capability is also of particular importance. We want to reach out to the broader market and make more widely available, what we have developed in terms of technology and innovation. We are currently in the process of setting up and optimising our sales organisation, so that it becomes much more widely known that we at Bosch have our own powerful access control portfolio, which can be used for all kinds of applications. In addition, we want to differentiate ourselves in the market with our systems, in line with the motto of our founder, Robert Bosch: Technology for life. The user experience with Mobile Access should be simple, straightforward, and secure: You hold your smartphone in front of the reader and the door opens.Georgetown, SC (29440)

Today

Cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy later in the day. High 72F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Mainly clear skies. Low around 50F. Winds light and variable.Apollo 8 was the second crewed mission of the Apollo program and the first mission to bring humans to the moon. The six-day mission lifted off on Dec. 21, 1968, with its crew of Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and Bill Anders. The flight included a day orbiting the moon, during which the astronauts took the "Earthrise" picture  one of the most iconic photographs ever taken of our planet. The photo has also been credited as a major impetus for the environmental movement.

This historic mission happened because of a last-minute decision from NASA management. Initially, the agency planned to test the lunar and command module components of the Apollo spacecraft first before striking out for the moon. At the time, the United States and Russia were engaged in a "space race," endeavoring to demonstrate their technological prestige in space exploration. And NASA  while keeping crew safety in mind  wanted to take the necessary steps to bring Americans to the moon as soon as possible. But sending Apollo 8 to lunar orbit after only one previous Apollo mission, which had remained in Earth orbit, was a difficult decision.

"NASA officials realized that this was risky, since Apollo 7 had not yet qualified the spacecraft when their tentative decision was made," a NASA historical document reported. The decision was further complicated by Apollo 8's need for a more powerful rocket, called the Saturn V, which had never been tested on a crewed launch. But after months of discussion, NASA decided to move forward with an Apollo 8 moon mission on Nov. 10, about a month before the launch.

Spacecraft commander Borman and crewmember Lovell were also crewmates on the Gemini 7 mission, which aimed to test endurance. They spent nearly 14 days living together in a small spacecraft. Borman had also distinguished himself by serving on a review board investigating the Apollo 1 fatal fire in 1967.

The mission's third crewmember, Anders, was a former fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force. He hadnt flown in space before but had served as a backup crewmember for Gemini 11.

Across the Atlantic and the lunar gulf

The night before launch, aviation pioneer Charles Lindbergh paid a visit to the Apollo 8 crew. Lindbergh, whose nickname was "Lucky Lindy," was the first person to fly solo over the Atlantic Ocean, which he'd done 41 years before. He asked how much fuel they would need to get into space, according to Robert Zimmerman's account in his book "Genesis: The Story of Apollo 8" (Dell, 1999). When Lindbergh heard that the rocket would consume 20 tons of fuel a second, he smiled and said, "In the first second of your flight tomorrow, you'll burn 10 times more fuel than I did all the way to Paris."

As expected, Apollo 8's journey across the Atlantic Ocean took only minutes. The crew were the first astronauts to be launched into space by the Saturn V rocket. After settling into orbit around Earth, they performed their final checks and received the "go" from NASA for trans-lunar injection. This meant they were clear to fire their engines and aim for the moon. [Video: Leap to Lunar Orbit]

Just 18 hours after launch, Apollo 8 experienced a major problem: Borman fell ill and struggled through vomiting and diarrhea. The commander felt better after getting some sleep, but as a precaution, the other crewmembers radioed to Earth on a private channel and explained Borman's predicament. NASA performed a private medical consultation for Borman. When hearing that Borman's health had improved, NASA cautiously gave the approval to continue with the mission.

Christmas Eve at the moon

Placing the Apollo spacecraft in lunar orbit was not easy. Compounding the difficulty, the engine firing, which would put the spacecraft in the right spot, had to happen while the spacecraft was out of contact with Earth, on the far side of the moon. But the crew remained focused, and Apollo 8 made it into lunar orbit right on schedule.

On Christmas Eve, the crew had the chance to share their impressions with others via a public broadcast. Borman called the moon a "vast, lonely, forbidding type of existence," while Lovell paid tribute to the Earth's "grand ovation to the vastness of space." The crew also read a passage from Genesis, the first book of the Bible.

All that remained was the return trip home. Mission controllers waited anxiously Christmas morning as the crew turned their engine on again, on the far side of the moon.

As they re-emerged, Lovell called out, "Please be informed, there is a Santa Claus," signaling that the ship was headed back to Earth. The crew landed successfully on Dec. 27.

Legacy of Apollo 8

The Apollo 8 spacecraft is on display at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry. This craft showed that Apollo could safely bring humans to the moon; the next major task would be learning how to land on the lunar surface.

After Apollo 8, the Apollo 10 mission brought the lunar lander to within 50,000 feet (15,200 meters) of the moon's surface, to simulate a landing. Then, in 1969, Apollo 11 safely landed the first people on the moon. NASA sent several other missions to the moon, with five landing successfully (Apollo 12, and Apollos 14 through 17).

In the decades following the Apollo missions, NASA turned its attention to Earth orbit, with efforts including the space shuttle program and the International Space Station. But the agency never discounted the possibility of sending humans to the moon and even Mars.

In late 2017, by a directive from President Trump's administration, NASA began prioritizing completing a moon mission before sending people to Mars. The agency is designing a lunar space station called the Deep Space Gateway and testing out a spacecraft called Orion that is expected to bring astronauts beyond low Earth orbit.The Apollo 10 mission launched May 18, 1969 with the goal of simulating a descent to the lunar surface. The mission's crew of Thomas Stafford, Eugene Cernan and John Young went through the steps of separating the command module spacecraft from the lunar lander (also called the lunar module) and bringing it through the first part of its descent to the surface. Although Apollo 10 stopped short of landing on the moon by about 50,000 feet (15,000 meters), it was a key test ahead of the successful Apollo 11 landing of July 20,1969.

Apollo 10 astronauts

The astronauts of Apollo 10 were among the most experienced NASA had.

Stafford was the commander of Apollo 10. A U.S. Air Force flight test instructor, he was part of the second group of astronauts to join NASA in 1962. He already had two spaceflights behind him: Gemini 6  which featured the first rendezvous in space with another maneuverable spacecraft  and Gemini 9. He later was commander of the first Apollo-Soyuz mission.

Cernan, the lunar module pilot of Apollo 10, was aboard Gemini 9 as well. He performed a spacewalk during the Gemini 9 mission. Before joining NASA in 1963, he was a U.S. Navy aviator. Cernan later became the last Apollo astronaut to walk on the moon as commander of Apollo 17.

Young, who would pilot the command module, was already a veteran of two Gemini missions: inaugural flight Gemini 3, and commander of Gemini 10. A former Navy test pilot, Young had performed a docking in space, which would be crucial for Apollo 10. Young later commanded Apollo 16 and was the ninth astronaut to walk on the moon. He also commanded the first space shuttle launch in 1981 and the ninth space shuttle mission in 1983, both aboard Columbia. [Video: John Young: Why We Must Fly in Space]

Apollo 10's mission

A few officials within NASA (including George Mueller, NASA's head of the Office of Manned Space Flight) originally wanted Apollo 10 to go all the way to the moon's surface, according to an account by journalist Andrew Chaikin in his 1994 book, called "A Man On The Moon" (Penguin Books, 2007).

But the plan to touch the moon was vetoed for a couple of reasons. First, Apollo 10's lunar module was too heavy for descent; switching to a lighter lunar module would be a last-minute decision that would delay the flight. Second, there were too many unknowns, including the difficulty of predicting the moon's gravitational field. The moon has concentrations of mass (informally called "mascons") that can pull at an orbiting spacecraft, moving it closer to the surface. While such movements are no big deal in orbit, they can make a big difference during a landing.

The mission initially ran smoothly. Apollo 10 performed a smaller "first" on the inaugural day of the mission, when it broadcast color video from space for the first time. The video showed the docking between the command module "Charlie Brown" and the lunar module "Snoopy," as well as the interior of the command module.

The crew of the Apollo 10 space mission. Left to right are Eugene A. Cernan, lunar module pilot; John W. Young, command module pilot; and Thomas P. Stafford, commander. (Image credit: NASA)

A hair-raising moment during descent

In lunar orbit on the fourth day after the launch, Cernan and Stafford carefully backed Snoopy away from Charlie Brown. As the crew moved closer to the lunar surface, they exuberantly radioed back reports of what they saw. "We just saw Earthrise, and it was magnificent," Cernan said. Minutes later, Stafford and Cernan flew over the future landing site of Apollo 11, taking pictures as they narrated their view. [Video: Full Dress Run-Through]

But chaos erupted when Snoopy's crew was ready to head back to Charlie Brown. Due to a series of small errors on the crew's part, the ship's guidance system was pointing in the wrong direction. It began to spin  wildly, by some accounts  as it flew less than 8 miles (12 kilometers) above the moon's surface.

The startled Cernan radioed a rude exclamation ("Son of a b----!") on an open channel to the world. He and Stafford struggled to get the ship under control before they lost the navigation system altogether, or worse, crashed the ship. After a few heart-racing seconds, the crew regained control and the spinning stopped. In relief, Stafford told Mission Control, "We've got all our marbles."

NASA later said that the spinning was due to human error. Because of an errant setting, the lunar module's abort-guidance system was searching for the command module, which it was not supposed to do at that time. (This abort mode would have brought the lunar module back to the command module in case of emergency.) The agency made note of the error to warn future crews.

About 5.5 hours after leaving Charlie Brown, Snoopy returned the crew. The two craft joined up on the far side of the moon and when the crew re-emerged, Stafford radioed, "Snoopy and Charlie Brown are hugging each other."

On the way home, the crew had another first: the first shave in space. They used safety razors, a thick shaving gel and a wet cloth to do the work, then displayed their beaming, freshly shaven visages when interviewed from space in a conversation with NASA that was broadcast on several television channels in the United States. "We felt reborn," Cernan later recalled in his autobiography, "The Last Man on the Moon"(St. Martin's Griffin, 2000).

The crew zoomed back to Earth, reaching a top speed of 24,791 mph (38,897 km/h) relative to Earth on re-entry, and splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean on May 26, eight days after launch. According to Cernan, the first recovery helicopter to arrive at the command module had a cheery sign drawn on the bottom: "Hello there, Charlie Brown!"

Apollo 10 legacy

The 50th anniversary of Apollo 10 is in 2019. Charlie Brown is on permanent display at the Science Museum in London, while Snoopy is on a permanent orbit around the sun.

As mentioned, Apollo 10 served as a crucial dress rehearsal for Apollo 11, which landed two astronauts safely on the moon in July 1969. NASA followed that up with six more lunar landing attempts between 1969 and 1972; only Apollo 13did not meet that objective, due to a severe mechanical difficulty that forced the mission to return to Earth.

NASA refocused its human exploration program on low Earth orbit in the 1970s, moving to programs such as the space shuttle and the International Space Station. In 2017, however, the agency was asked by the Trump administration to bring humans to the moon again before heading to Mars. The agency is in preliminary design work for a lunar space station, called the Deep Space Gateway, and is also working on the Orion spacecraft to bring humans to the moon in the 2020s.This view of the dwarf planet Ceres shows the mountain and likely "ice volcano" Ahuna Mons on the right edge and the bright spots of the Occator crater in the bottom left. New research suggests that multiple ice volcanoes once dotted Ceres' surface.

Dozens of ancient ice volcanoes once dotted the surface of the dwarf planet Ceres, a new study finds.

Whereas regular volcanoes on Earth erupt with molten rock, ice volcanoes  which are also known as cryovolcanoes  spew out plumes of water-ice and other frozen molecules. Previous research has detected traces of cryovolcanism on several bodies in the outer solar system, such as Saturn's moon Enceladus and Pluto. However, much remains unknown about cryovulcanism, especially compared with regular volcanism.

In 2015, NASA's Dawn spacecraft discovered a 2.5-mile-high (4 kilometers), dome-shaped cryovolcano dubbed Ahuna Mons on Ceres. With a diameter of about 585 miles (940 km), Ceres is the largest member of the asteroid belt located between Mars and Jupiter. [Dwarf Planet Ceres' Bizarre Bright Spots Shine in Stunning Up-Close View]

"Ceres is the only cryovolcanic body we've orbited with a spacecraft," study lead author Michael Sori, a planetary scientist at the University of Arizona at Tucson, told Space.com. "This is the best opportunity we've had so far to learn more about the similarities and differences between cryovolcanism and regular volcanism."

Based on the number and size of meteor craters that Ahuna Mons has engulfed and the estimated rate of meteor strikes that Ceres has experienced, prior work suggested that Ahuna Mons is at most 240 million years old. (Like the rest of the solar system, Ceres itself formed about 4.56 billion years ago.)

Ahuna Mons is the only prominent cryovolcano that scientists have spotted on Ceres. This is odd: If the interior of Ceres were still warm enough to have a cryovolcano, then it should have generated cryovolcanoes in the past, when it was warmer, and evidence of those cryovolcanoes should dot the dwarf planet's surface today.

Sori and his colleagues reasoned that cryovolcano domes gradually settle down, ultimately blending in with the surrounding landscape. To find this hidden evidence of ancient cryovolcanoes, they compared images from Dawn with computer models of slumped domes.

The scientists identified 22 former cryovolcanoes on Ceres, ranging from 10 to 53.4 miles (16 to 86 km) wide and 0.7 to 2.7 miles (1.1 to 4.4 km) high. After estimating the ages of these features, they suggest that new cryovolcanoes have appeared on Ceres about every million years, on average, in the past billion years.

All in all, the researchers estimated the amount of icy material that has erupted onto the surface of Ceres is 100 to 100,000 times less than the amount of molten rock that has erupted on Earth, the moon, Venus or Mars. Whereas cryovolcanoes on Ceres generate an average of more than 13,000 cubic yards (9,940 cubic meters) of material each year  enough to fill a movie theater or four Olympic-size swimming pools  volcanoes on Earth generate an average of more than 1 billion cubic yards (765 million cubic m) of rock a year, according to the statement.

As such, while cryovolcanism helped shape Ceres, "it's nowhere near as dominant a process on Ceres as rocky volcanism has been on the geology of Earth, the moon, Mars and Venus," Sori said. "The dark spots you see on the moon at night are huge volcanic plains, and we don't see anything analogous like that on Ceres."

Future research can investigate other icy bodies to see if cryovolcanism plays a similar role on those worlds, Sori said. "I'm most looking forward to the 2020s, when we'll be launching missions to Europa, an icy moon of Jupiter," Sori said.

The scientists detailed their findings online Sept. 17 in the journal Nature Astronomy.

Follow Charles Q. Choi on Twitter @cqchoi. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.Elon Musk's love of fantasy and science fiction is on full display in SpaceX's latest spaceship redesign.

On Monday night (Sept. 17), the SpaceX founder and CEO unveiled the latest iteration of the BFR rocket-spaceship duo, which the company is developing to help humanity settle the moon, Mars and other distant destinations.

The new version of the 100-person spaceship is longer than the previous one  about 180 feet (55 meters), compared to 157.5 feet (48 m). And it features three rear fins that also serve as landing pads, rather than the separate fin and landing-leg systems that Musk had disclosed previously. The spaceship now looks a lot like the vehicle the beloved comic-book character Tintin uses in the 1954 adventure "Explorers on the Moon." [The BFR in Images: SpaceX's Giant Spaceship for Mars & Beyond]

And that's not entirely a coincidence.

The new iteration of the spaceship part of SpaceX's huge BFR interplanetary transportation system looks a lot like the vehicle the comic-book character Tintin used to fly to the moon. And that's not entirely a coincidence, SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk said. (Image credit: SpaceX)

The moon rocket from "The Adventures of Tintin: Explorers on the Moon" by Herge. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has said he admired the design of the Tintin moon rocket when updating the BFR rocket design. (Image credit: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)

"I think this design is probably on par with the other one. It might be better. It's slightly riskier technically, because of coupling legs and sort of the actuating wing-fin flaps. But I think it's the right decision overall. I think it looks beautiful," Musk said during last night's event, which introduced Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa as the person who purchased a round-the-moon BFR trip that could launch as soon as 2023.

"I love the Tintin rocket design, so I kind of wanted to bias it towards that," Musk added. "If in doubt, go with Tintin."

This is far from SpaceX's only nod to literary works that have inspired Musk or helped shape his vision of spaceflight's future. For example, the company named its two autonomous spaceport drone ships  which serve as oceangoing landing platforms for rockets returning to Earth  "Of Course I Still Love You" and "Just Read the Instructions." These are the names of two huge, sentient spaceships in the works of legendary sci-fi writer Iain M. Banks.

SpaceX included a few similar tributes on the highly anticipated maiden launch of its Falcon Heavy rocket, which occurred this past February. The Tesla Roadster lofted on that flight carries a mannequin dubbed Starman and blasts David Bowie's famous song "Space Oddity."

The Roadster's dashboard display blares "Don't Panic!"  a directive repeated many times in Douglas Adams' "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy." And Musk has said he wants to name the first BFR spaceship that carries people to Mars "Heart of Gold," after an important spacecraft in that beloved book.

In addition, the entirety of Isaac Asimov's seminal "Foundation" trilogy sits in the glove compartment of the Roadster, etched on a special quartz disc designed to last millions, or perhaps billions, of years.

Author and futurist Isaac Asimov's "Foundation" trilogy was launched aboard SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket. The text was encoded by inventor Peter Kazansky in a high-storage, ultrastable quartz disc with a lifetime of millions to billions of years. (Image credit: University of Southampton)

"Asimov's 'Foundation' series is a key inspiration for SpaceX," Musk said during last night's event.

Then there's SpaceX's rocket family, which currently consists of the Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy and BFR (which stands for "Big Falcon Rocket," or, alternatively, "Big F***ing Rocket). This moniker is a nod to the Millenium Falcon from the "Star Wars" films, Musk has said.

SpaceX's Dragon capsule, by the way, is named after the song "Puff the Magic Dragon," which was made famous by the group Peter, Paul and Mary in 1963. The name is a reference to SpaceX's early critics, many of whom relegated the company's ambitious goals to the realm of fantasy. (The robotic version of Dragon is already flying cargo missions to the International Space Station for NASA, and the crewed variant is scheduled to make its first crewed test flight next April.)

The chief purpose of Monday night's event was to reveal Maezawa as the purchaser of the BFR moon mission, and to give a few details about that flight, which Maezawa is calling #dearMoon. The Japanese entrepreneur, who started the e-commerce company Zozo, said he plans to take six or eight artists with him, in the hopes that the pieces they create afterward will inspire millions of us back on Earth.

Note added at 5:30 p.m. EDT on Sept. 19: Readers have pointed out that the new BFR spaceship also resembles the Planet Express vehicle from "Futurama." I'm a big "Futurama" fan, and I agree  but Musk didn't mention that show as an influence during Monday night's event. Also, the original version of this story incorrectly stated that the BFR spaceship's three rear fins are actuated. Only two of the three actuate; the third is just a leg, which looks like a fin for symmetry purposes.

Follow Mike Wall on Twitter @michaeldwall and Google+. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com.Whether you're a fan of "Star Trek,", "Doctor Who" or the Marvel universe, all of these franchises have at least one thing in common  they use wormholes to move people through space rapidly. Are wormholes a real thing, or just a staple of science fiction?

In the latest installment of "Ask A Spaceman,"a weekly show on Facebook Watch presented by Space.com, astrophysicist and Space.com columnist Paul Sutter explains that why even if wormholes do exist, trying to use one is a really bad idea.

"Wormholes, right?" says Sutter says in today's episode, which is Episode 6 of the series overall. "[They are] a staple of science fiction, where you can just  boop! - go somewhere else in the universe as fast as the plot needs to go."

To understand how a (theoretical) wormhole works, first you need to know a bit about the science of black holes, which Sutter covered in Episode 4 and Episode 5. Basically, there are several kinds of black holes. The type that Sutter focuses on is stellar-mass black holes, which happen after huge stars reach the end of their lives and explode in a supernova.

What's the deal with wormholes? Astrophysicist Paul Sutter explains in episode 6 of the Facebook Watch series "Ask a Spaceman." (Image credit: Ask a Spaceman/Space.com )

After a supernova happens, the resulting gravitational collapse creates a black hole, which is an extremely massive object that traps all matter and light that get too close. Black holes can only be seen only by using the radiation they emit, or by tracking their gravitational effects on other objects. And they are one possible way of generating a wormhole.

If you picture a black hole as a funnel, Sutter explains in the video, objects that get "trapped" in the black hole pass beyond its event horizon (the mouth of the funnel) and then move down. So, where's the wormhole? It's an equal and opposite funnel attached to the black hole funnel, mouths facing outwards. Sometimes this kind of wormhole is called a "white hole."

There are a few problems with the white hole theory, Sutter said. It's hard to figure out exactly how you get in to the white hole from the black hole. The mathematics behind white holes show that they are incredibly unstable. White holes might evaporate or even "snuff out" a black hole altogether after forming.

But even if wormholes connecting a black and a white hole could exist, they are deadly. Because once a person or a spacecraft gets in to the black- hole- event horizon, they would just get trapped, Sutter saidexplains. There's no way they could escape the hole from either the black hole side or the white hole side, because, by definition, you can never pass back out beyond a black hole's event horizon; you have to go to the singularity, whether or not it's connected to a white hole singularity.

So maybe it's best to leave the wormholes and "wibbly wobbly" science of time to "Doctor Who," or one of the "Star Trek" captains.

The episodes will be released weekly on Wednesdays at 12 p.m. EDT (1600 GMT), so " like" the Facebook page or check back later to see more. Sutter also responds to reader questions in every episode. Click here to learn more about past topics the show has covered, such as the Big Bang and Pluto.

Sutter is a cosmologist at Ohio State University and chief scientist at Columbus Ohio's the Center of Science and Industry in Columbus, Ohio. He has a long-running podcast, also called "Ask A Spaceman.". You can catch all past episodes of his podcast here.

Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.LOWER MAKEFIELD - The township said thank you to its veterans on Saturday with a flag-waving, patriotic parade down Edgewood Road and a ceremony at Veterans Square that included the unveiling of a new bronze plaque and commemoration of the 30th anniversary of Operation Desert Storm. All along the parade route, applause filled the air as veterans proudly marched and...



People will compare this show to The Goldbergs, because it is a family-centric comedy set in an earlier era. There are some similarities in format. However, The Kids Are Alright brings enough unique elements to the dinner table to more than set it apart. It is brimming with potential, and there are only a couple weak attempts to joke about the present state of affairs. If you winced when Pop Cleary said "phony news" in the trailer, I am happy to inform you it doesn't really get worse than that. (There's one tiny thing that is a bit more eye-roll worthy).







All successful comedies take time to hit their groove. It is impressive that this premiere has as much going for it as it does. The show is set in the 1970s and focuses on the bustling Cleary family. There are eight children, all boys, and it is especially great that each one leaves a memorable impression in the pilot. The storytelling possibilities with that many kids are endless. One of the middle children Timmy becomes one of the major points of view for the show. Another pilot story line revolves around the oldest child Lawrence who is destined for the priesthood. Coming from a proud Catholic family, Lawrence Cleary has brought honor to his house. While also setting the bar too high for his younger brothers. The majority of the actors playing the boys will be new faces to most viewers; they mesh and knock heads like a real family though. They are all adorable.The Cleary dad and mom are played by Michael Cudlitz and Mary McCormack. Cudlitz, in particular, shines in this premiere. There's not a trace of his previous roles. Mike Cleary is a hard-working, blue collar American, a World War II veteran whose own experiences growing up in the Depression have shaped his parenting style. Peggy Cleary is almost lost in the bustle of boys. She is always on the move, whisked from one bit of mayhem to the next, but McCormack still gets moments to shine. On the whole, the Cleary family of the pilot is one that viewers will want to spend more time with.Not only are there some genuinely funny upfront moments, but there are plenty of quick "blink and you miss it" bits of nostalgia and humor. And the pilot has two emotional family moments, one between a parent and child and one between siblings, that will touch your heart. The episode flies by and only improves with a re-watch. And that's not "phony news".premieres Tuesday, October 16th on ABC.All it took to draw the Justice Department into investigating Tesla was a single tweet by Chairman Elon Musk. But now that prosecutors have a toehold, they can look for other signs of misconduct at the electric-car maker.

The criminal investigation is in its very early stages, and it's too soon to see where it may lead. Securities regulators, though, were already looking into the company's car-production projections before Musk tweeted about possibly taking the company private.

Many securities fraud probes over the years have started with a bang like the one that knocked as much as 6.6 percent off Tesla's shares with Bloomberg's report of the probe on Tuesday. Some were flash news reports that faded without charges. Few crescendo dramatically like Theranos Inc., which regulators called a "massive fraud" for making false promises about its blood-testing products, leading to criminal charges against its founder and another senior executive.

Unlike Theranos, Tesla has a highly rated consumer product, and its cars are beloved by their owners. Even so, the upstart may now have to reveal more about its controls and processes as it has mapped out rapid growth under one charismatic leader.

"Criminal investigations are never good if you're a public company because they open up a Pandora's box and prosecutors will follow threads wherever they lead," said Paul Pelletier, a former Justice Department prosecutor.

The New York Times on Tuesday reported that Goldman Sachs and private equity firm Silver Lake both received subpoenas from the Securities and Exchange Commission quickly seeking materials about the companies' interactions with Tesla, citing people briefed on the subpoenas. Goldman Sachs and Silver Lake declined to comment.

Tesla said it's cooperating with the Justice Department, noting that it received queries but no subpoena.

The initial scrutiny surrounds Musk's tweet on Aug. 7 that he had money lined up to take the company private. Shares jumped. Later, he and his board said there was no formal proposal for the funding and they abandoned the plan.

The SEC quickly opened a civil investigation into the tweet and issued a subpoena for information, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. That was followed by the Justice Department probe. Neither the SEC nor federal prosecutors have accused Musk of any wrongdoing.

To prove criminal securities fraud, prosecutors would have to show not only that Musk's statements were false, but that they were made willfully. That would require establishing that Musk purposely planned to inappropriately drive the shares higher or prevent them from going lower.

One area investigators would look for such evidence is in emails or other internal documents, according to former federal prosecutors.

Musk has often vented his frustrations with short sellers on social media. In May, Musk tweeted that he was expecting the "short burn of the century" and suggested that investors who were betting against the company start "tiptoeing quietly to the exit "

The "funding secured" tweet did in fact trip up bearish sellers when the company's shares rallied more than 10 percent. Government investigators will be trying to determine whether there was any connection to that statement and his desire to hurt short sellers.

Once federal prosecutors begin looking into Musk's comments, they may also examine other things, including why the company's new chief accountant picked up and left after just a month on the job -- though he said at the time he had "no disagreements with Tesla's leadership or its financial reporting." Under securities fraud laws, prosecutors could go back five years and more if they find evidence of a conspiracy.

Very often what starts out as an investigation of one subject takes a completely different turn, said Michael Koenig, who prosecuted former Qwest CEO Joseph Nacchio for insider trading.

"When we were investigating Qwest, we initially thought there were accounting fraud and revenue recognition type issues," said Koenig, now a partner at Hinckley, Allen & Snyder. "As we started digging into it, however, we realized, 'Wait a minute. Joe Nacchio is selling large amounts of his stock at the same time he's telling the general public that the company is doing great, when he knew it was not.'"

Nacchio served four years and five months in prison after his 2007 conviction in the case.

A more recent example, according to Koenig, is the Hillary Clinton email investigation, which was reopened by the FBI after agents came across possible undiscovered evidence while investigating former New York congressman Anthony Weiner for sexting with a minor.

While the company says it hasn't been subpoenaed by the Justice Department, that doesn't mean the federal criminal investigation is limited, according to Pelletier. Prosecutors can piggyback on the SEC's subpoena to get a hold of whatever information Tesla discloses, obviating the need to issue a grand jury subpoena of its own, he said.

"That's the normal course of action when the SEC has already issued a subpoena," Pelletier said.

The SEC already was investigating whether Musk's vehicle production forecasts misled investors before the regulator started scrutinizing whether he had secured funding for a Tesla buyout, Bloomberg News reported on Aug. 9.

Some of Musk's predictions have been way off. Musk said during a May 2016 earnings call that, during the second half of 2017, he expected Tesla would produce 100,000 to 200,000 Model 3 sedans -- the lower-priced car that's pivotal to the company generating profit. Tesla ended up building fewer than 3,000 Model 3s in last year's second half.

The Justice Department's interest in Tesla isn't good for investors, who saw the company's share price drop just after the investigation was revealed. But the probe doesn't mean that Palo Alto, California-based Tesla will go the way of Theranos.

The nature and depth of any exaggerations by Tesla will ultimately determine how the company is treated. If Musk's conduct at Tesla is deemed to be a case where the CEO's unregulated passion led him to hyperbolic claims, the resulting penalties are likely to be serious, but measured. Penalties could be more severe should any evidence emerge that a win-at-all-costs mentality from the top led some executives to cook the books. In even such an extreme scenario, government officials would probably be hesitant to inflict a critical blow on a company that employs more than 35,000 people globally.

--Bloomberg's Dana Hull contributed.STAMFORD  Hes been charged with impersonating a police officer three times and a federal law enforcement agent once.

Now a former Stamford Police Department intern has been accused of pretending to be a New York Police Department detective to avoid paying a $118 motel bill.

Sgt. Ryan McAllister said Ashwin Mathur, 24, of Fieldstone Terrace, has been charged with impersonating a police officer and sixth-degree larceny. He was released after posting a $10,000 court appearance bond.

His attorney Michael Corsello was unavailable for comment. But Aaron Leonard, another attorney in the firm, pointed out that Mathur turned himself over to police and the alleged offense occurred more than a year ago.

Leonard said Mathur is due in court next month and he hopes his cases can be settled quickly.

McAllister said Mathurs latest arrest stemmed from a complaint filed by a West Side motel. The motel manager reported a man identified himself as a NYPD detective who was helping Stamford authorities take down a prostitution ring and did not pay his bill after staying for several nights in September 2017.

As he was exiting the motel in the morning, he played nice with the front desk staff and asked if they needed anything that he was running out for coffee. They said, no thanks, but you still owe us money. And he said, hed be back and was just going to get coffee, McAllister said.

When he did not return, a room check was done and the mans belongings were gone.

McAllister said the motel manager identified Mathur in a photo lineup.

In May, federal authorities raided Mathurs home following an incident in Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y., where police said he told his girlfriend he was a U.S. Marshals deputy.

While he was interning in the Stamford police records department, Mathur was arrested in July 2015 when he was accused of telling a woman and her husband he was a cop investigating vehicle burglaries. A few days later, police said Mathur pulled a woman over with a blue strobe light in his car and gave her a warning for rolling through a stop sign.

Mathur was kicked out of the Stamford Police Departments intern program for violating procedures by portraying himself as a cop to members of the public.

Mathur was accepted into a court diversionary program for those with psychological issues, which would have erased the two counts of impersonating an officer from his record.

However, Mathur was arrested in Westport last year when police said a woman claimed she was sexually assaulted by a man she met online who pretended to be a cop. Mathur was kicked out of the diversionary program and charged with third-degree sexual assault, second-degree unlawful restraint and police impersonation.

jnickerson@stamfordadvocate.comStamford police / Contributed

STAMFORD  Police say a city man has been arrested for pulling a knife on a bouncer while he was escorted out of a South End club last month.

Inmer Martinez-Perez, 24, of Woodland Avenue, has been charged with second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, carrying two dangerous weapons, breach of peace and criminal mischief.BEIRUT -- Conflicting interpretations of a new Russian-Turkish deal on Syria emerged Tuesday, casting into doubt whether it will work long term in preventing a potentially devastating war for control of the Syrian province of Idlib.

The deal announced Monday has been broadly welcomed as an opportunity to forestall the full-scale Syrian government offensive against Idlib that has been widely feared, thereby averting the humanitarian catastrophe it was expected to trigger.

Under the broad terms of the agreement outlined by Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Russia and Turkey will jointly oversee the creation of a 15-kilometer (9-mile) demilitarized zone between rebel and Syrian government lines intended to keep the two sides apart.

But in the absence of specifics, it remains unclear whether it will be enough to prevent an eventual conflict in the area, said Lina Khatib of London's Chatham House think tank.

"We definitely should not think that the Idlib deal is the ultimate deal. What we are seeing is only a measure for the time being. It is not the endgame for Idlib," she said. "At best, this deal postpones a potential confrontation in Idlib rather than completely eliminates the possibility of an offensive."

Unusually for Syria, however, the deal was welcomed by all sides as an opportunity to avert, at least for now, the immense suffering that a battle would inflict on the northwestern province's more than 3 million civilians. It would also avoid the heavy losses that would be incurred by government forces in launching the biggest battle yet of the Syrian war.

The Syrian government said in a statement carried by the official Syrian Arab New Agency that it "welcomed any initiative that stops bloodshed and contributes to security and stability in each inch that was struck by terrorism."

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Iran, Syria's close ally, played a role in negotiating the agreement, which he hailed as evidence that "diplomacy works."

Idlib residents took to the streets to demonstrate against Syrian President Bashar Assad and celebrate their relief that the feared offensive had at least been deferred.

But it also appeared that the government and the Syrian opposition have different understandings of where the deal will eventually lead, calling into question its chances for success.

All that is known for now, according to the statements issued by Putin and Erdogan, is that the demilitarized zone is to be established by Oct. 15 along a horseshoe-shaped line roughly corresponding to the borders of Idlib province.

Extremist-linked groups are expected to retreat from the 15-kilometer buffer zone to areas farther north. The Turkish-backed rebels in the area are allowed to remain but are expected to relocate their heavy weapons out of the zone.

But no further details were spelled out, leaving many questions unanswered, including the eventual fate of the province.

According to Russian diplomats quoted by the pro-regime Syrian daily al-Watan, the plan envisages a second deadline in November by which all rebel and extremist groups are to surrender all their heavy weapons throughout Idlib province. The Syrian government would then restore its authority across the whole province by the end of the year, al-Watan said.

A Syrian rebel spokesman, Capt. Naji Mustafa, said the opposition has not been informed of any such arrangements and would not agree to the return of Assad regime authority in any part of Idlib. Though the rebels welcome the halt to plans for an imminent offensive, they are going to refrain from committing to the deal, including the surrender of heavy weapons, until the details have been made available, he said.

"Until now, we only have the highlights," he said. "We need details."

One concern, Mustafa said, is that the rebels would surrender their artillery, tanks and armored vehicles only to find themselves subjected to a government offensive after all.

"The Russians are known to be deceitful and untrustworthy, and we are going to keep up our vigilance against being double-crossed," he said. "They have not abided by agreements in the past, and we don't trust the Russians."

It is also unclear whether the al-Qaida-linked groups present in the area would agree to leave, given the understanding repeatedly stated by both Russia and Turkey that the goal is to eliminate extremist groups entirely from Idlib, said Sam Heller of the International Crisis Group. Those groups include Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which was formerly known as Syria's al-Qaida affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra, and Hurras al-Deen, a smaller al-Qaida-allied group.

It will presumably fall to Turkey to persuade the jihadist groups to leave, but how is not spelled out, Heller said. "What has been disclosed publicly as part of this new deal seems as if it would be intolerable to Tahrir al-Sham," he said.

Russia and Turkey themselves may not have figured out all the fine print yet, said Khatib, and the agreement at least buys time for them to continue negotiations and secure buy-in from their respective allies.

Working to the deal's advantage are the geopolitical alignments that favor a continued alliance between Turkey and Russia in Syria, she said. Russia has an interest in keeping Turkey onside to secure Moscow's broader ambition of establishing itself as an important regional player, beyond Syria's borders.

Turkey has a stake in upholding its Russia alliance as a lever against U.S. support for the Kurdish militia in northeastern Syria, which Erdogan described as the "biggest threat" to Syria's future.

"The deal will succeed if both sides are committed, and they seem to be," said Mohammed Karkas, a Syrian opposition supporter in the Idlib town of Maarat al-Numaan. "I think this deal will work because it's a deal between nations, between governments."

---

The Washington Post's Zakaria Zakaria in Istanbul and Susan Haidamous in Beirut contributed to this report.NEW CANAAN  A last-minute New Canaan Preservation Alliance pitch to town council last week might have changed the minds of two of the three selectmen, potentially delaying the demolition of the brick barn.

While many people are not necessarily attached to the building... if they have a plan and want to move forward, we can save $65,000 and I dont see what a year or two more will matter, Kit Devereaux, Democratic selectman, said.

The town council approved funding for the demolition in May and the Historical Review Committee granted a 90-day demolition delay that is up in late October.

However, the selectmen have yet to vote on approving a contract with a company to raze the brick building  a vote where Devereaux and fellow selectman Nick Williams could theoretically overrule First Selectman Kevin Moynihan.

Williams, a Republican, seemed to agree though he emphasized the need for proof regarding cash and planning for the Richmond Hill Road building.

If were talking about a delay of an additional few months to renovate it, I might be in favor of that but I need to see dollars put forth, Williams said.

Moynihan, Republican, who back in May cast a rare tie-breaking vote in a town council decision to allot money for the barns demolition, said his mind hadnt changed.

We cant re-do votes, Moynihan said.

Last Wednesday, Sept. 12 in what was supposed to be a 20-minute presentation to the town council last Wednesday night turned out to be an hour and a half long discussion where the Preservation Alliance explained its plan to invest in the brick barn on Richmond Hill Road.

Our plan is prudent and an adaptive reuse of the historic building. It presents no risk to this town. This can be a beginning and not an end, Charles Robinson, a Preservation Alliance member, said.

The organizations plan for the barn was detailed in a four-year phase that included restoration of the exterior and interior and a $350,000 hard cost budget funded by the Alliance in tandem with the states Historic Restoration Fund.

Around 30 people attended the town council meeting, a more than average turnout.

Residents who made public comment were split on the decision, each voicing their concerns for demolishing and preserving the brick barn.

My kids call that place the crazy drug barn, a resident who lives on Richmond Hill Road said. Its only a matter of time before someone gets hurt.

Throughout its presentation, the Alliance sought to illustrate that although town officials said they would look into credible plans for maintaining historic buildings, no roadmap had been offered for nonprofit organizations interested in doing so.

We want to convert what is perceived as a distraction in New Canaan to an attraction, Carl Rothbart of the Preservation Alliance said.

Town Council Chairman John Engel lauded the Alliances efforts and plans but ultimately argued that the legislative body could not rescind the money allocated to the demolition and that, since it was not a land use authority body, it could not change the decision made.

humberto.juarez@hearstmediact.comSweden is headed for a political showdown next week that could culminate in a vote to oust Prime Minister Stefan Lofven and kick off months of tense talks to avoid a snap election.

Lofven is clinging to power after an election in which his bloc won a slimmest possible one-seat lead over the center-right, four-party Alliance bloc. But the rise of the nationalist Sweden Democrats has denied either side a majority, meaning they will either need the anti-immigration party's backing or accede to minority rule.

So far, the two sides are waiting to see who will blink first. "Everyone is going to take this as far as possible," said Niklas Bolin, a political scientist at Mid Sweden University. "The Alliance isn't going to fold until they have at least have tested their chances."

After a new parliament is established on Sept. 24, the legislature could call a confidence vote on the prime minister as soon as the next day. The speaker will then sound out the different parties on who has the best chance of forming a government and pick a candidate. A new government will then need to pass a vote in parliament. This type of negotiation can happen four times before a new election needs to be held.

Sweden has never gone more than one round in such talks before a government was formed. But the country has also never before faced a more difficult parliamentary situation since all the established parties have refused to work with the Sweden Democrats because of its neo-Nazi roots.

Ulf Kristersson, the leader of the biggest opposition party, the Moderates, has excluded outright government talks with the Sweden Democrats but hasn't rejected grabbing power should the nationalists back him. While that view is largely shared by the Christian Democrats, his Liberal and Center party Alliance partners have so far signaled that they would be unwilling to form a government that relies on such backing.

Jonas Hinnfors, an associate professor at Gothenburg University, said the strategy of the Sweden Democrats will probably be to try to divide the four-party Alliance. "They want to put pressure on the Alliance and think that a Moderate and Christian Democratic government would be better," he said.

The first step of the new parliament will be the election of a speaker. Given the situation, that job is now more important than ever and there's a risk that the usually neutral role could become politicized, according to Hinnfors.

The Social Democrats on Tuesday tried to pressure the Alliance by offering talks on finding a joint candidate on a speaker, while center-right group has said they will seek to present their own pick.

Lofven is seeking to break up the Alliance, which was created 14 years ago to unite the center-right parties and end the long-dominance of the Social Democrats. Under former Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, the Alliance held power from 2006 to 2014.

Lofven's attempts to peel off the Center Party and the Liberals have so far come up empty. They are also unlikely to back a government that relies on the former communist Left Party, a key ally of Lofven's Social Democrats over the past four years.

Left Party leader Jonas Sjostedt said on Swedish television early Wednesday that it will likely take "many weeks" before a government is formed.

So one thing is clear, someone will need to compromise or lay down their votes in order for Sweden to avoid a new election in the next few months.

Thomas Bodstrom, a lawyer and former Social Democratic justice minister, said the parties now need to stop campaigning and insulting each other.

"Simple math tells you that quite a few election promises are going to be broken from both sides," he said.

In any case, the lights will stay on in Sweden. The government will continue in a caretaker capacity until a new one can be agreed on, even if Lofven is ousted next week.

"We are used to simple processes after elections," Lofven said in a Facebook post on Sept. 17. "The government either stays in power or hands over to a new one. This time around there are many indications that it may take a long time before the situation becomes clear. But the country always has a government."O n the day its first Dreamliner touched down in the UK, TUI Travel today agreed a multi-billion-pound deal to buy more Boeing jets.

The company behind Thomson Holidays, Crystal Ski and LateRooms is buying 60 of Boeings narrow-bodied, fuel-efficient 737 Max jets, with an option to take 90 more.

The list price of the purchase is 4 billion but TUI said it had secured the planes for a significant discount. The size of the deal means it still needs to be voted through by shareholders. If agreed, the planes will be delivered by Boeing between January 2018 and March 2023.

Boeing says its 737 Max burns 13% less fuel than current 737 models, and is 40% quieter. The plane is due to enter production in 2015.

TUI, which runs six European airlines with a total of 141 aircraft, today received the first of its 13 Boeing 787 Dreamliners after the order was delayed by the planes battery problems and eventual worldwide grounding.

Its been a good week for deal-making at Boeing, which saw Singapore Airlines become the first carrier to commit to buying its next-generation stretched 787s, placing an order for 30.T he chief executive of Denmarks largest bank Danske Bank resigned on Wednesday amid allegations of a money laundering scandal at the lenders Estonian unit.

Thomas Borgen, who has headed the bank since 2013, resigned following the publication of an internal investigation covering around 200 billion of payments made through its Estonian branch between 2007 and 2015.

The bank said major deficiencies in oversight at the branch opened the door for suspicious payments by non-resident customers from places like Russia, the UK and the British Virgin Islands.

Although it does not imply illegal activity, the payments should have been flagged up to the authorities as suspicious.

The bank has clearly failed to live up to its responsibility in this matter, said chairman Ole Andersen

The findings of the investigations point to some very unacceptable and unpleasant matters at our Estonian branch, and they also point to the fact that a number of controls at the Group level were inadequate in relation to Estonia.

Shares shed 8% on Wednesday and are down by a third so far this year.

Danskes Estonian branch had 15,000 customers, who carried out 200 billion worth of payments.G erald Ronson declared the 775-ft Heron Tower on Bishopsgate finished on Tuesday during his annual lunch at the Dorchester. All that remains is to fill the 443,000 square feet of office space.

US lawyer McDermott Will & Emery has taken 40,000 sq ft, and serviced offices supplier Landmark 35,000 sq ft. That leaves 368,000 sq ft vacant in the 46-storey tower. The developer will do well to rent it all by next year's lunch.

That conclusion is drawn from two sources: first, from City property agents whose nerves are beginning to jangle at the lack of major lettings in the Square Mile. Second, from listening to Ronson himself, who spoke for 10 minutes before 330 guests tucked into smoked salmon and fillet of Casterbridge beef; guests who later laughed when Mayor Boris Johnson joked he would "take a grace and favour flat at the top of the Heron Tower if you [Ronson] fail to sell the space".

Ronson's annual speech is as close property gets to a state of the nation address. As such, it demands attention. So let's publish a few phrases that reflect the rather gloomy tenor of the 1300-word address, with apologies to the author for the light interpretation.

First phrase: "I am not Mr Happy about what is happening in the market." Interpretation: Ronson does relish being Mr Gloomy, which is worth bearing in mind when reading what follows. But his views do chime with what a number of Mr Gloomy agents dare not say in public.

Second phrase: "It is unlikely that growth will come from a flood of businesses seeking new office buildings for expansion." Interpretation: maybe British Land and Land Securities should think twice about building their City skyscrapers, the Cheesegrater and Walkie Talkie?

Third phrase: "Rental levels in the City of London are sitting at roughly the same level as the 1980s." Interpretation: Can't you see a bargain when it stands 775 ft tall in front of you! In real terms, occupiers are paying less than half today than they were 25 years ago. Come along now, please.

Fourth phrase: "Today, returns available for prime London assets are far more institutional than entrepreneurial - and there are a lot more people in the property business pecking in the pot, which makes business very difficult." Interpretation: development is starting not to be worth the candle, thanks to overbidding whippersnappers who think it is easy."

Fifth phrase: "We are not out of the woods, in fact there is a lot going on in the woods, but we can now see the wood for the trees." Er not easy this one. But combine that with a remark about 2014-15 being the "most likely time for the sun to start shining again".

Tentative interpretation: The elves in Heron Forest are beavering away at letting the tall tower well before the next boom in three years. Succeed and Ronson may switch from Mr Gloomy to Mr Happy; Fail - well, don't even think about it

Design gurus survive the quangos axe

Cabe is dead, aged 12. Long live DeCabe. Yesterday the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment became a victim of the quangos cull.

Today a body slimmed from 120 to 20 staff reincarnates as Design Council Cabe, or DeCabe, in architectural patois.

The profession fought to preserve the "design review" function. This allows a panel of architects and others to say of schemes either "yes, very pretty, carry on" or "Ugh...this looks like a dog's breakfast, back to the drawing board".

DeCabe can keep doing this, thanks to a 2.75 million grant from government and the fact Crossrail and the Olympic organisers pay for its services. Half a million of that will support local review panels to satisfy the coalition's localism agenda.

Will DeCabe carry the same clout? "Yes, much as before," asserts Cabe chairman, Paul Finch. The architectural journalist swaps to become chief of DeCabe. "This feels fresh and new, just like it was in 1999 when we were setting up."

Developers find Travelodge is firmly in their comfort zone

Travelodge became the largest hotel operator in London yesterday after opening a 99-bed hotel on Ealing Broadway.

The Dubai-controlled budget chain now operates 40 hotels in the capital containing 5714 rooms, a landing-full ahead of Hilton.

Nosing ahead of his former employer pleases Travelodge's MD, Paul Harvey.

"We are now the largest hotel brand in London," says Harvey.

"We want to expand to 14,000 rooms in the capital by 2016 and to 30,000 rooms in the long term. "

Crikey, surely there are quite enough budget hotels now?

Wrong: "Take a look at Barnet; it has the same population as Cardiff, but only one hotel. We'd like to build 10."

Demand is rising, driven by an easyJet model that generates profits at 19 per room.

But it is the supply model that makes Travelodge attractive to developers and property investors. Attractive because the chain pledges to pay a fixed, annual sum per room for 25 years - an average of between 3800 and 4000 in the suburbs and up to 10,000 in central London.

The model means development costs are shouldered by the builder. They can raise finance on the back of that 25-year pledge, as the lease is effectively backed by the state of Dubai, which owns 80% of Travelodge, with the management holding the other 20%.

Harvey says pension funds looking for safe fixed income then want to buy the finished hotels.

"It is great to see a big-name hotel firm like Travelodge enjoying such vigorous expansion," says London Mayor Boris Johnson.

And there's yet another one on the way. A Travelodge will be opening in September next to Rothschild's new offices in St Swithin's Lane. But not at 19 a go: "Our anticipated price is around 100 a night" says Harvey.

Goldman reaches for the stars...

Goldman Sachs today commissioned US architects to draw up plans for London's tallest office tower. The 10,300-foot skyscraper will be visible from space - easily outstripping the Shard tower, a tiddler at 72-storeys and making it the globe's highest structure.

Site assembly completed last week with the 92 million purchase of the pink marble offices of PwC on Farringdon Street. The architects who designed Goldman's New York HQ, have been told it must be 373 storeys even though it will violate the Heathrow flightpath and plunge areas of London at various times of day into darkness.

"We're Goldman Sachs for Chrissake," growled Goldman building services executive Olaf Priol. "If we want a goddam tower, we'll have the goddam tallest tower in London and in the world."T here's something for everyone this week, including hotel rooms, travel offers, presents for dads and advice on valuables.

Anniversary freebie

The Travelodge hotel chain is inviting anyone celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary this year to have a free night. The company has made the offer to celebrate its own 30-year anniversary.

To qualify, couples need to register before June 30 at 30thweddinganniversary@travelodge.co.uk.

They will need to send proof of being married for 30 years in 2015 before getting their freebie.

Borro buckshee assessment

Upmarket online pawnbroker Borro is offering to assess items for free at its Chancery Lane headquarters this Thursday.

The firms valuers will offer confidential advice on jewellery, luxury watches and more, assessing the history, market demand and saleability of such assets.

Chief executive Paul Aitken says: Ever wondered what that painting, antique, or inherited piece of jewellery might be worth? Nows the chance to feed your curiosity and find out.

To schedule an appointment between 10am to 7pm on Thursday, call 0808 163 9538 or email Harriet.Smith@borro.com

Business news in pictures - June 16 1 /7 Business news in pictures - June 16 Oxford Street property sale frenzy Sales of Oxford Street property are poised to hit the 1 billion mark by the end of 2015 as investors battle it out to buy prime real estate on the world-famous shopping strip (Picture: Alamy) Alamy Tony Pidgley makes new 180m on London property market Veteran housebuilder Tony Pidgley  famed for his ability to call the property market  is taking a 180 million bet on one of central Londons last remaining large sites for luxury flats (Picture: Bloomberg) Jason Alden/Bloomberg Greece steps up tension as it pushes for long term deal Greece's game of brinkmanship with its creditors has stepped up a gear as prime minister Alexis Tsipras said Athens was seeking a viable, long-term deal that would pull the country out of economic crisis but faced a deadlock with creditors over debt restructuring (Picture: Petros Giannakouris, AP) Petros Giannakouris, AP Whitbread shrugs off slowdown Departing Whitbread chief executive Andy Harrison dismissed talk of a slowdown at the Costa Coffee-to-Premier Inns leisure giant despite the fact that the rise in sales from shops and hotels open for at least a year fell to 4.3% in the first quarter from 6.5% the year before (Picture: Lynne Cameron, PA) Nestle destroys 32m of Noodles Nestle has been forced to destroy nearly 30 tonnes of instant noodles in India, worth 32 million, after authorities found dangerous levels of lead in one of the countrys biggest-selling snacks (Picture: Diptendu Dutta, AFP/Getty Images) Diptendu Dutta/AFP/Getty Images Crest Nicholson hails clear election outcome Crest Nicholson has said there was no pre-election sales slump for housebuilder Crest Nicholson, while a Tory poll win gives a good operating backdrop to the industry (Picture: AFP/Getty) Warren Buffett's latest move Billionaire investor Warren Buffett has boosted his presence in Asia by taking a A$500 million (248 million) stake in Insurance Australia Group (Picture: Bill Pugliano, Getty Images) Bill Pugliano/Getty Images

Fathers Day gifts

Its Fathers Day on Sunday, so check out a list prepared by parents site Play Pennies of where you can get free meals, pints and more for dads at bit.ly/1e8eqKi

Eurostars cheap upgrades

If youre heading to Europe on the train, move fast to get a cheaper upgrade. Eurostar is offering 30% off Standard Premier fares booked by June 23.

Details at eurostar.com

Stena Line ferry discounts

Ferry company Stena Line is offering car crossings from Harwich to the Hook of Holland from 49 one-way plus a 10% discount on cabins.B rits are already rushing to book their summer holidays for next year despite the threat of higher prices, helping tours operator Tui Group give an upbeat profit outlook.

UK revenues for summer 2017 bookings at the Anglo-German group are up 16%, with booking numbers rising 9%.

Thats despite UK holidaymakers facing more expensive prices on things like foods and drinks overseas because of the drop in the pound. Tui makes most of its money from summer bookings.

If you think about Brexit, I dont see a negative impact, which is good, chief executive Friedrich Joussen said.

The feelgood factor helped the group extend profit forecast growth of 10% a year up to 2019.

Core earnings for the full year were 12.5% higher, despite challenges to key holiday markets, including a failed coup in Turkey and fears around terrorism in places like Egypt.E uropes biggest tour operator TUI saw revenues fall in its third quarter and today trimmed its full-year revenues predictions in the wake of terror attacks and unrest in Turkey.

But a confident outlook from chief executive Fritz Joussen and a repeated forecast of 10% earnings growth for the year to September pushed the shares up more than 4%, and they have now rallied 20% since their post-Brexit vote low.

Smaller rival Thomas Cook, which is more dependent on eastern Mediterranean destinations such as Turkey, issued a profits warning last month.

TUI did lower its full-year revenue forecast growth from 3% to 2% but said this would not affect its profitability.

Today, we are in a better position to cushion geopolitical challenges, Joussen said.

No one is immune to external impacts. However, it has been demonstrated that we have launched the right strategy, engaged in active management and control, and have developed a sophisticated risk management system.

Third-quarter revenues fell 5.7% to 4.6 billion (3.9 billion), with most of that coming from customers in Germany, Scandinavia and Belgium less willing to travel following a series of terrorist attacks across Europe. Headline earnings were 2% higher at 180 million.

TUI said the UK had delivered a strong performance with bigger load factors on its planes, higher margins and the benefits of its new TUI Discovery cruise ship, launched towards the end of the quarter.

A year ago, the company spent 10 million on flying mainly British tourists out of Tunisia following the horrific beach attack there.

This summers booking from the UK are up by 6% and the company said: There has been no apparent slowdown in bookings as a result of the EU referendum, demonstrating once again the resilience of demand for our unique and differentiated holidays, distributed directly to the customer.

Early winter bookings show greater demand for long-haul destinations such as Sri Lanka and the Dominican Republic from UK trippers with bookings up 8% and prices up 5% on a year ago.

But German and Nordic tourists have been quick to pull out of holidaying to Turkey following the failed coup last month and Belgian tourists less keen to travel altogether after the attack on Brussels airport in March.

Instead, many more northern Europeans were opting to holiday in Spain, where TUI is traditionally strong, and flying on lucrative long-haul packages across the Atlantic.P ostcard from travel giant TUI to rival Thomas Cook: our summer was better than yours.

The German firm behind First Choice Holidays and Thomson Airways upped its profit forecasts for the year to December today, after selling 97% of its summer programme, launching two cruise ships and opening five hotels.

It now sees growth in underlying earnings between 12% and 13% over the year to October  up from Augusts prediction of at least 10%.

Despite European terrorism and Brexit, the UK was TUIs strongest region, with Britons spending 5% more on holidays.

Strong demand for breaks to Mexico and the Dominican Republic this winter means bookings from the UK are up 22%.

Fewer bookings in the Nordics and Germany meant revenues rose 1%, in contrast with Thomas Cook where European summer bookings fell.I first realised that Ruth Davidson had what it took to be Conservative leader in April 2015 in Glasgow. Spending a day with David Cameron during the general election campaign, I watched the Tories Scottish chieftain warm up for the Prime Minister and saw, as did he, how remarkable a politician she was: rhetorically powerful yet entirely natural in her delivery; very much at ease with the times in which she lives yet unafraid of addressing their pathologies; full of political passion but refreshingly unselfconscious.

In an age that fears the phony, beset by fake news and overrun by ideologues, she is the real deal. I hate the word relatable but it is hard to avoid in Davidsons case. She speaks without artifice or technocratic detachment. She is warm without being glutinously sentimental. She has the rare gift of authority based on authenticity rather than on the trappings of office or narrow tribalism.

So it was a significant moment at the weekend for the Conservative Party  in the throes of a leadership crisis that has lasted since the 2017 general election  when Davidson ruled herself out of contention for the top job. This was not a Heseltinian evasion (I cannot foresee the circumstances) or the much-used formula deployed by the privately ambitious: There is no vacancy

No: the position she revealed to Decca Aitkenhead in a Sunday Times interview was as unambiguous as it was disarmingly candid: You have to want it. And I dont want to be prime minister. Might she ever hope for the top job? No. I value my relationship and my mental health too much for it. I will not be a candidate.

She had, she said, suffered from severe bouts of depression although none, mercifully, since 2006. In her teenage years she had started cutting herself, punching walls... drinking far, far too much and becoming belligerent and angry. In a moment of great personal courage, she showed her scars to her interviewer.

Matthew d'Ancona

Some of Davidsons admirers on what remains of the Tory Partys modernising, socially liberal wing have clung desperately to the notion that her very denial of ambition was, in some strange way, a subtle ploy to prove how suited she was to the highest office  how winningly human.

This reminds me of the famous line in the Monty Python film Life of Brian after Graham Chapmans eponymous character has emphatically denied to his mob of followers that he is the son of God: Only the true Messiah denies his divinity! To which the exasperated Brian replies: Well, what sort of a chance does that give me?!

But  no less than the wrongly hailed Saviour  Davidson means what she says. It is simply not in her character to play games, especially when discussing a subject as serious as mental health. What is true is that Davidson has pondered her prospects long and hard. Over the summer I recorded a video interview with her for the new culture and politics magazine that I edit, which launched online this week at drugstoreculture.com.

It was clear from our conversation at Holyrood that the newly pregnant Scottish Tory leader was still engaged in a vigorous internal debate about what best to do. Her principal concern was that, after seven and a half years at the helm of the Scottish Tories, she had got the measure of party leadership, having doubled the partys number of seats in the Scottish Parliament to 31, and helped 13 Scottish Conservative MPs to win in last years general election. But she was unsure of her qualification to govern.

"She asked Tories to name a PM who had left No 10 sane, in good health and with their relationship intact"

The obvious two-word answer to this was: Tony Blair. The former Labour leader had become Prime Minister in 1997 with no experience of government (and only three years under his belt as Leader of the Opposition).

But Davidson seemed convinced that she was not ready. Indeed, I formed the strong impression that she was much more interested in root-and-branch reform of the Conservative Party, whenever it was finally driven from office.

Why would Ruth want to be the fag-end prime minister of a fading government? one of her supporters said to me over the summer.

It is now clear, however, that this distinction  the task of leadership versus the challenge of office  was not the deciding factor. Davidson weighed up what she would jeopardise if she embarked upon a circuitous journey to move from Holyrood to Westminster, and concluded that her relationship with her partner Jen Wilson, her mental health, and her prospective role as a parent were too important to jeopardise.

This had been weighing on her mind even before the Sunday Times interview. When Tory modernisers from London made the pilgrimage to plead with her to stand, she had asked them crisply to name a prime minister who had left Downing Street sane, in good health and with his or her relationship intact.

In 1997, Tony Blair declared himself a modern man, from the rocknroll generation. The Beatles, colour TV, thats my generation. In 2018, Davidson personifies her own demographic cohort no less clearly: open and totally at ease with her sexuality; socially liberal; candid about mental health and the trials of the inner life; naturally informal and democratic by temperament.

The paradox, of course, is that the scale of priorities that has made her choose not to run  love of family, self-care, maintaining perspective  is precisely why she would be so good at the top job.It is an implicit admission from Mr Khan that his current approach is failing badly. It is also what the Evening Standard recommended two months ago, and the Mayor previously dismissed.

Rising deaths and injuries from knife crime, moped muggings and acid attacks during the two years that he has been responsible for policing in the capital have made Londoners more nervous about their security.

Mr Khans election promise to do all in my power to further cut the use of stop and search by the police was a tragic mistake. Nor have we seen from City Hall anything like a wider community strategy to address the violence by working with local government, the NHS, youth services and other groups.

Thats why the Evening Standard in July launched a special investigation into the underlying social causes of Londons violent crime epidemic.

In our editorial we said we must learn from the work in Glasgow to turn that city from one of the most dangerous in Europe to one of the safest.

We said that results would come by getting agencies to work together and to understand that causes of the [crime] epidemic lie as much in public health as criminality. We endorsed calls to set up a city-wide central unit to cut youth violence.

The Mayor was not impressed  and continued to shirk responsibility by blaming central government for his own failings.

He should remember that the previous Mayor and his team managed to reduce knife crime on similarly constrained Home Office budgets. Now, suddenly, we have an abrupt change of direction from City Hall.

Mr Khan has gone on the radio this morning citing the Glaswegian example as a role model.

He too now says we need a public health approach which brings different agencies such as the NHS and councils together, although it will require a grip from him that has so far been lacking. And he has at last agreed to set up a Violence Reduction Unit, although he is only allocating 500,000 from his multi-billion pound budget to support it  half what the much smaller city of Glasgow committed.

We welcome the zeal of the Mayors conversion, even if he didnt manage to find time to credit us. Thats OK because what matters to us and Londoners is results.

The question is: will this be another of Mr Khans photo-op announcements that never amount to much? Or will the Mayor surprise us all with some genuine leadership.

The safety of the streets of London will provide the answer.

Opera down the ages

One day the Old Vics hip hop suffragette musical Sylvia may turn out to be as big a hit as Hamilton  but that day hasnt come yet.

The show has had a wobbly start and is heading off stage on Saturday before it even gets a proper opening night. That shows just how hard it is to get musical theatre right.

But its worth trying because when you do, the impact is unbeatable. So its good that old barriers are being broken down.

Towers birds in a flap

Do not tell the Yeoman Warders at the Tower of London that a raven is nothing more than a clever crow with good publicity.

The story goes that if the ravens leave the Tower the kingdom will fall, and todays guardians are not taking any chances.

Seven live there  Jubilee, Harris, Gripp, Rocky, Erin, Poppy and Merlina  and since its illegal to add to them from the wild they are starting a breeding programme.I ts good to do stuff that terrifies you. So on Saturday night, I went to my 25th school reunion in Glasgow. I was dreading it. In fact, I was still lying in bed at 10am  like a teenager (oh, the irony)  when one of my oldest school friends rang me to insist that I get up and get my sorry arse on a train up to Scotland. Can you spot which one of us has children and which one is still the child?

And this is why I had the fear. Im pretty much the only person out of my year who didnt get married or have kids. And even though I am very proud of my career, theres nothing like a school reunion  especially involving an all-girls school  to make you bask in your failures and unleash your personal demons.

I was somewhat scarred by the last one, which was about 10 years ago. It was highly competitive. We all got dolled up to the nines. There was a job lot of fitted dresses, Spanx, blow dries, spray tan and high heels. We looked like we were auditioning for Real Housewives and we were uncomfortable in every way. Everyone had their game face on about how perfect their lives were apart from me.

At one point, I was surrounded by well-meaning friends who stared at me as if I were a rescue animal and whispered the words: What happened to you, love? Then someone inanely piped up: Dont worry  Whats for you, wont go by you  in a Take the High Road accent. In my head, all I could hear were those immortal words from Taggart  Theres been a murder ...

This time was very different. Hair and make-up were hastily done on the train up from Euston, the shoes were sensible and everything including the outfit was much more relaxed. And so was everyone else. There was a completely different atmosphere. A decade on, everyone was more at ease with themselves and each other. And there was so much less pressure to pretend to have the ideal partner, family, job, weight or appearance. We all noticed it and agreed its one of the genuinely good things about getting older and being in your forties. You just care less.

We were all gloriously honest with the blackest of humour about the past decades ups and its many downs. The pressures of working, motherhood, relationships, family, health and the new development in our lives, which we are all now experiencing  worrying about our older parents, especially how lonely they can sometimes feel. All of us have fond memories of each others parents from the school gates, birthday parties and sleepovers and of course they all got to know each other through us. So we decided that the next time we gather, we would make it a lunch and invite our parents, so that they could reconnect too.

"A decade on, everyone was more at ease. And there was less pressure to pretend to have the ideal partner or job"

How grown up is that? Dont worry. We were still out until 4am. As the chap in the chippy said, Still got it, hen. Absolutely!

Why I find the leaders debates a big turn-on

The most interesting part of a general election (apart from the results) are the televised leaders debates. They started in 2010 and were famed for the phrase I agree with Nick  the last time the poor Lib-Dems had an exotic spresm of any kind.

Clegg shone as the unknown third leader and, as a result, in 2015 David Cameron refused to take part in a head-to-head with Labours Ed Miliband. Theresa May then refused to debate with Jeremy Corbyn in 2017, having called the snap general election. In fact, the only person she debated with was her husband on The One Show.

Now Sky News has launched a campaign to ensure that the main leaders take part in televised debates and that an independent commission is established to organise them. I fully support this. When people are busy they dont have the time or desire to watch Prime Ministers Questions but during a general election campaign  when they are more engaged  its helpful for them to see how the leaders perform against each other.

But beware. They can be tough. As a political adviser, I remember when Miliband, then my boss, tripped up as he walked off the platform. The green room was incredibly tense, until MP Rachel Reeves said: Dont worry! It was just like when Madonna fell off the stage at the Brits...

*The Hyundai Mercury Prize will be announced tomorrow, one of the best music events of the year, showcasing artistic achievement across a range of sharp contemporary genres.

Nadine Shah / Dave Benett/Getty Images

Theres a welcome strong female showing in this years shortlist, including Lily Allen, Florence + the Machine, Jorja Smith, Wolf Alice and Nadine Shah , a strong contender among press and industry.

DJ Annie Mac will be hosting the event at the Hammersmith Apollo with live performances  and do tune in to the live coverage on BBC Four and Six Music.T elling the truth in politics is, sadly, not as simple as it should be. Political parties regularly exaggerate claims during election campaigns. We raise an eyebrow but we understand.

When it comes to Brexit policy, the Government is apparently crossing a line. It has launched a social media campaign, #RoadtoBrexit, and there is a good argument that it breaches both Government Communications Service and Advertising Standards Association rules on accuracy and impartiality. Given that we, as taxpayers, are paying for it, this is pretty outrageous  and I write as someone who sympathises with implementing Brexit rationally.

For instance, one video featuring the Prime Minister claims that the deal Norway has with the EU wouldnt deliver Brexit because Norway is in the customs union and we would have to pay vast sums into the EU. Neither of these points is correct.

The untruths about the so-called Norway option are particularly galling because it is an alternative Brexit route which, unlike other plans, already exists and works. We are signatories to the relevant treaty and it delivers Brexit by providing tariff-free access to the single market but also giving back control over our borders, money, laws and  because it is outside the customs union  our trade policy. We could sign our own free trade deals (as Norway has done).

Brexit: What are the options?

Wed have to sign up to free movement of workers, but British passports would return and there are numerous opt-outs and limitations we could adopt. And wed be outside the common agricultural policy and the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice.

It has cross-party support. Nick Boles, the centrist Tory MP for Grantham, has launched a campaign called Better Brexit to advocate a Norway for Now and Stephen Kinnock, the Labour MP for Aberavon is a fan. Polling by Opinium shows that, when explained, the Norway option is the most popular Brexit plan. Certainly, it is the most economically attractive.

It works like this. We are already contracting parties to the European Economic Area Agreement, which promotes commercial ties and market access between the EU and the four members of the European Free Trade Association (Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein). In order for the treaty to remain operative, all we have to do is apply to join EFTA.

At a stroke, Brexit would be solved and put on a sound legal, economic and diplomatic footing. If we found it too restrictive we could move into a looser Canada-style free trade agreement.

So why have ministers removed it from the table by spreading disinformation? Most likely to create another false narrative, that it is Chequers or no deal. Well, that isnt true. There is a working Brexit Plan B sitting on the shelf, if only the Government would admit it.Victoria Beckham may be as famous for her poker face as she is for her fashion brand, but she remains determined to change opinion.

Looking jolly, the designer, 44, unveiled the latest instalment of her diffusion line, Victoria by Victoria Beckham, including a slogan T-shirt reading smile.

Theres always a sense of humour to what we do, said the former Spice Girl.

People think fashion stole my smile; this is proof that it didnt.

Beckham told a small group of industry insiders invited to view the collection that she had been inspired by Riviera life. As her Instagram feed confirms, shes had ample opportunity to hone her nautical aesthetic of late, having spent the day with Sir Elton John on his yacht in the South of France.

For the VVB woman who cruises, or at least dreams of sailing away from it all, there were lightweight shirt dresses, printed boxers and pyjama silks. Delivering fashion to a globally minded consumer has always been a objective for Beckham. Accordingly, there are clothes for all weathers: shorts, crochet sweaters, as well as tailoring. Its been a busy week for Beckham, whose debut at London Fashion Week spanned an accomplished catwalk show in Mayfair and an after-party to celebrate 10 years in fashion, where she ended the night dancing on tables.

London Fashion Week: Victoria Beckham debuts after 10 yearsL ondon is packed with incredible places to watch live music, from world-famous arenas to sweaty basement bars.

But one type of venue provides a gig experience like nothing else: a church.

The city is home to a fascinating array of churches, as our round-up proves, and a few of them regularly put on excellent concerts. While many churches host classical recitals  St James's Piccadilly, St Martin-in-the-Fields and St Paul's among them  we've focused on the ones that predominantly book contemporary music artists.

Here is our guide to the best London churches to watch a gig in.

St Pancras Old Church

This tiny church is one of the smallest on our list  youll rarely find more than 100 people in there  and also one of the oldest, with some claiming it's been there since 300 AD. It makes for one of the most special gig experiences youll find in London. There isnt much by the way of stage lighting (candles mostly see to that) and the acoustic performances often arent amplified. Its a favourite of musicians who could sell out venues 10 times its sizes, but who want to play a truly intimate show.

Pancras Road, NW1 1UL, stpancrasoldchurch.wixsite.com

St John on Bethnal Green

Anthony Chalmers

A few strides from the east London tube station is St John on Bethnal Green, a Grade I listed 19th century church. Its musical output isnt huge  there are only a couple of gigs a month, usually  but when there is a show happening, its almost always worth checking out. The programming is strong and surprisingly eclectic: during the last year alone, Jenny Hval, Mount Eerie and Myrkur have all played there.

200 Cambridge Heath Road, E2 9PA, stjohnonbethnalgreen.org

St John at Hackney

PA Archive/PA Images

One of most alluring parts of any gig in a church is the atmosphere their grand structures create, and thats certainly the case at this cavern of a building in Hackney. It feels incredibly vast and hearing the music reverberate around its airy interior is an arresting experience. Its drawn in some pretty huge names in the past, from Ed Sheeran to Emeli Sande, but has a lot of left-field music on its agenda, too. Its currently being restored which will, among other things, include the installation of upgraded PA and lighting systems  all due for completion come September 2019.

Lower Clapton Road, E5 0PD; stjohnathackney.org

Union Chapel

Daniela Sbrisny

Each of the churches in this list are easy on the eye, but none look quite as good as Union Chapel. The rose-shaped stained glass window that sits above the stage, as well as the ornate architecture, is all a joy to sit back and gaze at. Its acoustics make it incredible place to watch one of the many stripped-backed performances it hosts. Bjork, Elton John, Ellie Goulding and Patti Smith have all played there in the past, proving it can attract some of the biggest names out there. If it's not to one of the the gigs, then wed recommend going along on a Saturday lunchtime for a free concert and homemade cakes, at one of the Daylight Music events. Whats not to like?

Compton Terrace, N1 2UN, unionchapel.org.uk

The Old Church

Barbora Mrazkova

This Stoke Newington church, a not-for-profit arts and performance space, is a favourite of Londons multi-venue festivals. Its played host to gigs as part of EFG London Jazz Festival, Dronica and, most recently, Look Up, a pop-up record store and bookshop curated by Gilles Peterson to raise money for mental health charities. There are plenty of non-music events here too, from literary festivals to talks and workshops.

Newington Church Street, N16 9ES, theoldchurch.org.ukSmith & Wollensky

Smith & Wollensky is the place for an American steak. Since opening in 2015, everything has been fine-tuned, upgraded, made better: director of operations Nathan Evans has evidently cracked the whip. The dining room is art deco gorgeous, the bar is first rate and the wine list justifiably pricey. Steaks are slabs of the New York highlife; the 28 day dry-aged T-bone is a whopping 700g and probably the most convincing evidence in London that USDA beef tastes remotely of anything. They also do Irish beef for those who prefer grass fed to grain fed. Just a word of advice: be sure to stick to your guns when they ask how you want yours cooked  we were swayed by (otherwise charming) staff insisting on the meat being medium rather than rare, and regret it. Still, its the sort of place to come for dry martinis, lobster and white wine, rib-eyes and red wine, and brandy to cap it all off. Eat lots, drink lots, feel magnificent.M any people like mayonnaise and many people like ketchup, but the two combined together is a questionable matter.

Apparently not for all of us, though.

Heinz announced via Twitter yesterday that "Mayochup", the controversial sauce that combines the two flavours, could be brought to the UK as soon as next year, and it'll be up to the British public whether or not it does.

The company tweeted a poll yesterday and said that if it receives 50,000 'yes' votes, you'll find the product on supermarket shelves near you in 2019.

There are currently over 71,000 votes and a spokesperson for Heinz told the Standard that it currently stands in favour...

The tweet has already been shared over 1,200 times and amassed almost as many likes.

A similar poll was held in the US earlier this year, after the product was spotted for sale in the Gulf States. Heinz says it received almost a million votes on social media and 500,000 votes in favour of bringing it stateside, which prompted thousands of British consumers to request the same over here.

It's not for sale across the pond quite yet. Heinz just launched a new poll to allow people to decide who gets to try it first in the cities that were most active in the first poll  Brooklyn, Chicago or Culver City in LA  ahead of its official launch. The sauce will then be available to order from major retailers and Amazon.com from next month, for $3.49 (2.65).

"There was very clearly an outpouring of love towards the idea of Mayochup earlier this year. We were listening and want to let the people decide whether Mayochup is something UK consumers want to see on supermarket shelves next year," an official release reads.I t's the day you never knew existed but international Talk Like a Pirate Day has arrived.Yep, an entire day has been set aside for people to chat in pirate lingo and shiver me timbers it's catching ...

Wednesday September 19 has been proclaimed International Talk Like a Pirate Day, reportedly based on a romanticised view of the Golden Age of Piracy.

Despite what you may have read or seen on TV (we're looking at you, messrs Jack Sparrow et al), being a pirate probably wasn't much fun and would usually end in early death from war, disease or scurvy.

But hey, don't let a little bit of historical revisionism deter you from speaking like an old, salty sea dog - savvy?

The Hoff as a pirate / EPA

Talk Like A Pirate Day was first started as a bit of a joke in 1995 by two friends, it soon picked up traction after coming to the attention of American humour columnist Dave Barry in 2002, and has now become tradition for many.

And why September 19? Well, it was the birthday of one of the founder's ex-wives.

So how do you talk like a pirate? Well, read our list below to include some piratey joy into your life.

How to talk like a pirate

Ahoy, matey - Hi, friend!

Avast! - Stop the ship!

Blow the man down - To kill someone

Davy Jones' Locker - Dying at sea

Dead men tell no tales - Leave no survivors

Landlubber - Someone who is not very skilled on the high seas.

The most famous pirate of them all? (UNIT)

Batten down the hatches! - Shut all doors and windows and prepare the ship for an incoming storm!

Savvy - Do you understand?

Scuttle - To sink a ship.

Shiver me timbers - Oh my god! (Usually an expression of surprise or shock).

Sea dog - An old or experienced sailor.

The best pirate jokes

Why are pirates called pirates? Because they AAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

How did the pirate buy his ship so cheaply? Because he got it on sail.

Why did the pirate buy an eye patch? Because he couldn't afford an iPad.

What has eight legs, eight arms and eight eyes? Eight pirates.M uch of the British public watched in admiration as Meghan Markle stepped out of the the car to enter Windsor Castle chapel to marry Prince Harry on May 19, offering the first glimpse of her stunning Givenchy gown with flowing train, designed by acclaimed British designer, Clare Waight Keller.

And now you can see the moment Meghan is reunited with the stunning gown for the first time since her big day thanks to a new ITV documentary, Queen of the World.

The two-part documentary, which was filmed over more than a year, will offer unique behind-the-scenes footage of Her Majesty The Queen and other members of the royal family, including the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, the Duke of Cambridge and the Prince of Wales. It will provide a sneak peek at the Queen's role as she hands down her duties to the new generation of young royals.

The trailer for the upcoming programme captures the moment Meghan is reunited with her wedding dress for the first time since the day she got married.

Smiling, she gasps looking at the dress's train: "Fifty-three countries, oh my goodness", she says, while touching the embroidered trim of the veil. "It'll keep us busy".

The duchess wanted to have all 53 countries of the Commonwealth with her on her wedding day, according to Kensington Palace, so Waight Keller designed a veil that represented the distinctive flora of each Commonwealth country united in one spectacular floral composition. At five metres long and made from silk tulle with a trim of hand-embroidered flowers in silk threads and organza, it's a masterpiece.

A spokesperson for ITV told the Standard that in this particular part of the documentary Meghan talks about the wedding day, the dress and the significance of having the 53 countries included in the design while the gown is prepared to go on display.

Watch the moment she is reunited with the dress here:

In another clip from the trailer, Prince Harry is seen talking candidly to young hospitality professionals from the Caribbean who were spending time at the palace for a new scheme led by the Queen. He said: "You guys have spent way more time in Buckingham Palace than I ever have and youve only been here two weeks.

"Have you bumped into the Queen yet?

"If you suddenly bump into her in the corridor, dont panic. I know you will. We all do!"

The first part of Queen of the World airs on ITV on Tuesday September 25 at 9.15.p.m.P olice investigating the murder of a taxi driver shot dead in north London have appealed for information to trace the van involved in the attack.

A photo of a number of tools found inside the van were released as part of the appeal by Scotland Yard on Wednesday.

Taxi driver Bulent Kabala, 41, died after being hit with bullets to the head and chest on Monday, February 12, in front of shops in Cockfosters, in the borough of Barnet.

Three or four suspects are believed to have exited a blue Ford Transit van and shot Mr Kabala after he got out of his silver Mercedes, police said.

Bulent Kabala was shot dead in February / Met Police

The Metropolitan Police has released the new images as officers seek to build more details of the vehicle's movements on the night of the killing.

Detective Chief Inspector Noel McHugh, of the Met's Homicide and Major Crime Command, who is leading the investigation into the death of Bulent Kabala, said: "I now believe we know who supplied the Ford Transit that was used in the murder.

"However, I still need the public's help to build a picture of the van's movements prior to the fatal shooting, up until the time it was found abandoned.

"The van had building tools in the back, which may have been for cover by Bulent's murderer. It is possible that they were stolen. I would ask that anyone who recognises either the van or its contents to contact the incident room with any information. Five images of the tools have been released today.

"We know that Bulent got out of his silver Mercedes car just as he had just entered a roundabout, when three or four suspects got out of the Transit van and shot him. They then got back into the van and drove off in the direction of Edgeworth Road."

A 30-year-old man, a serving prisoner, was arrested on Wednesday, 19 September on suspicion of conspiring with others to commit murder.

He remains in police custody for questioning.

This comes after a 46-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder on Tuesday, February 20, and since released under investigation.

When the incident occurred, police were called at 11.44pm on Monday, February 12, to Mount Pleasant, at the junction with Edgeworth Road in Barnet to reports of shots fired.

Officers attended and found Mr Kabala of Enfield suffering from gunshot wounds and he was pronounced dead around half an hour later.

A post-mortem examination held on February 15 gave cause of death as gunshot wounds to the head and chest.

The blue van, believed to be used in the murder, was found abandoned by officers in Pilgrims Close, on February 14.P olice have arrested a man after rapper Young Spray was stabbed at a star-studded grime music awards event.

Leon Riviere, 37, was knifed repeatedly while in a backstage dressing room at the Apollo in Hammersmith during the GRM Daily Rated Awards.

Horrifying footage showed the rapper, known as Young Spray, in a pool of blood while slumped against the wall after the attack on September 4.

Scotland Yard said on Wednesday that officers had arrested a 37-year-old man on suspicion of GBH in connection with the attack.

He remains in custody at a south London police station after his arrest, a police spokesman said.

Hammersmith Apollo: The rapper was stabbed at the west London venue during a grime awards ceremony / Google

Mr Riviere, who has now been discharged from hospital, posted a picture of himself in a hospital bed nearly two weeks after the attack.

Describing the stabbing as "just another day at the office", he added: "Just here resting in peace.

"Big up everyone sending their well wishes... Scars will heal."

Stars including Stormzy made an appearance at the GRM Daily Rated Award, alongside Chip and Big Narstie and Krept and Konan.T he mother of Westminster terrorist Khalid Masood feared her son would kill someone through fighting when he was a teenager, an inquest has heard.

Masoods violent and criminal past was laid out during an inquest into the deaths of the victims killed in the March 2017 atrocity at the Old Bailey on Wednesday.

The court heard Masood first got into trouble with police for shoplifting when he was a 14-year-old schoolboy in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, while he lived with his mother, stepfather and two stepbrothers.

Counter-terror officer Detective Chief Inspector Dan Brown said: "His mother suggested he exhibited normal boisterous behaviour, but his two brothers suggested he was a violent, disruptive person, who would not back down from a disagreement."

Khalid Masood is treated at the scene of the Westminster terror attack in March 2017 (PA ) / PA

Masood's mother, Janet Ajao, also told police he would go out to pubs and clubs looking for a fight as an older teenager, while at Tunbrige College, where he did a business studies course.

"She also described him as an angry person," said DCI Brown.

"She was worried he would kill someone through fighting."

The scene outside the Palace of Westminster, London, where Pc Keith Palmer was fatally stabbed by Khalid Masood after he ploughed into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge. / PA

John Hough QC, counsel for the inquest, described a "number of incidents of significant violence escalating in seriousness and apparently becoming more regular".

These included spitting and punching in the face of a woman in 1998, after he accused her of disliking him for being black though she said his attitude was the problem, and later being charged with causing actual bodily harm to a girlfriend and intimidating a witness, for which he was fined.

He was first jailed in July 2000, put behind bars for two years for wounding, after spitting at another customer in a pub and attacking one of the men who subsequently ejected him, with a knife.

During this spell inside he began reading the Koran, though showed no signs of extremist beliefs.

His relationship with the mother of two of his children deteriorated at this time amidst "ongoing domestic abuse".

In 2002 it was alleged he glassed a man at a pub and cut anothers face with a knife and the following spring battered a man with a baton, though the case was dropped as witnesses would not help investigators, with concerns Masood intimidated them.

The last act described to the court was in May 2003, when Masood plunged a carving knife in to the face, of Daniel Smith, cutting through his nose, mouth and into his jaw, after he had suggested Masood was an undercover policeman.

PC Keith Palmer, American tourist Kurt Cochran, 54, retired window cleaner Leslie Rhodes, 75, Aysha Frade, 44, and Romanian tourist Andreea Cristea, 31, died in the Westminster terror attack

Masood claimed self-defence and was acquitted of attempted murder, wounding with intent and having a bladed weapon and was released from West Sussex's Lewes prison, where he had been held on remand, in December 2003.

This was based on time served having been convicted of another weapons offence.

The inquest heard he credited his acquittal as well as the survival of his eldest daughter, who was later involved in a serious car accident, as the "miracles" that reinforced his Muslim faith.

Masood was shot dead on March 22, 2017, by police after stabbing Pc Keith Palmer, 48, and ploughing into Kurt Cochran, 54, Leslie Rhodes, 75, Aysha Frade, 44, and Andreea Cristea, 31, on Westminster Bridge in a rented 4x4.

All of those named died from their injuries in the tragedy.P olice have launched an investigation after a woman was attacked leaving the Central Line Tube near to Ealing Broadway station in west London.

The victim was led down an alleyway and raped by a man - believed aged 20 - after they chatted on a train in the early hours of Sunday, police said.

The incident happened at around 5.10am, in Haven Green, after the victim encountered the perpetrator on the Tube.

A statement from Ealing Police, appealing for information, said: They started to converse and both left the train at Ealing Broadway station.

As they walked, the man led her into an alley and carried out the offence.

The victim is being supported by specialist officers.

The man is described as having a Mediterranean appearance and was aged about 20.

There have been no arrests at this time and enquiries continue into the incident in Ealing.

Detective from CASO, the child abuse and sexual offences command, are investigating.

Detective Inspector Daniel Langton, from CASO, said: We would like to speak to anyone who was travelling on the Central Line from town around 5am or who was in the area at the time of the assault.

Your information could be of vital assistance to the enquiry.

Anyone with more information is asked to contact the Metropolitan Police by calling 101 or tweeting to @MetCC.S adiq Khan today announced a major policy shift to halt the wave of knife killings in London by adopting a new public health approach called for by the Evening Standard.

The Mayor bowed to pressure from all sides of the political spectrum to set up a specialist Violence Reduction Unit to tackle gangs and help teenagers escape crime. It will use lessons learned from Glasgow which halved its own murder rate with the strategy, as highlighted in the Standards special investigation in July.

Mr Khans move comes after more than 100 murder investigations have been launched in London this year, including more than 60 fatal stabbings and 10 shootings, many involving teenagers.

Big questions still remained, however, over who would manage and lead the unit. City Hall announced an initial investment of 500,000 towards setting it up by bringing together specialists in health, policing and local government.

City Hall said it had researched the successful approach taken in Glasgow under the leadership of Karyn McCluskey, dubbed Scotlands Gangbuster. She combined tough policing to disrupt gangs with help for teenagers keen to escape lives of crime and prison.

Mr Khan said: We have listened and researched the public health approaches in cities like Glasgow, where their own long-term approach over more than a decade has delivered large reductions in violence.

City Hall has spent time properly learning the lessons from Glasgow and developing plans to scale their approach up to meet the different needs and challenges we face in London. The Mayor highlighted the difference in size of the two cities. Glasgow has a population of 600,000 compared with nine million in London across myriad districts.

Former Met superintendent Leroy Logan, who criticised the Mayor for lacking a coherent strategy to tackle violence in the Standard this month, said: The Mayor has come late to this, but I welcome the announcement.

Lord Paddick, the former Metropolitan Police deputy assistant commissioner and Liberal Democrat peer, said: Sadiq has realised that the next mayoral campaign is beginning and his vulnerability around violence and child deaths. But the lesson from Scotland is that there are no quick fixes. A lot of this is about children who suffered trauma in their early years who need help.

Labour MP Sarah Jones, founder of the all-party parliamentary group on knife crime, said: I have been campaigning for a violence reduction unit for over a year. We know that policing alone wont stop the violence. I applaud the Mayor for this bold move.

Gareth Bacon, the Tory opposition leader on the London Assembly, said: As usual with this Mayor the devil will be in the detail. He needs to lead this energetically with drive and conviction, and he will be judged on the results.

City Hall stressed that it already had a smaller-scale public health style policy, but the new unit would be at the heart of a long-term strategy.D etectives are investigating a suspected hate crime after three people were injured when a car drove into pedestrians outside an Islamic centre early today.

The car careered into a crowd leaving a lecture at the Al-Majlis Al-Hussaini Islamic centre in Cricklewood, north London, at around 12.35am.

Witnesses reported the occupants allegedly shouted you dirty Muslims as they swerved across the road hitting cars and lampposts before colliding with pedestrians.

Two men in their 20s suffered minor injuries and a man in his 50s is in hospital with a serious leg injury, Scotland Yard said.

The car - reported as a red Nissan by witnesses - sped off without stopping.

The police cordon at the scene in Brent where a car hit pedestrians / Facebook

The Met said the occupants had been asked to leave the centres private car park by security at 12.20am today for reportedly behaving anti-socially, drinking and apparently using drugs.

There was then a confrontation between the three men and a woman in the car, all in their mid-20s, and a large group of people gathered outside.

Attack: medics attend to the injured after a red Nissan drove into a group of people gathered outside the Islamic centre

A Met spokesman said: Words were exchanged and comments of an Islamophobic nature were allegedly made by the group in the car.

The car then reportedly sustained minor damage by some of those outside the centre. It proceeded to make off at speed colliding with three individuals as it left.

Police treat the injured after the hit-and-run at the Islamic centre

The Hussaini Association, which had organised a lecture at the centre, described it as an Islamophobic attack, adding that the driver and passengers were heard shouting anti-Islamic taunts at the crowd.

It said the car was hurtling down the road and mounted the pavement before swerving into bystanders.

Hassan Naddi, head of security at the charitable organisation, said hundreds of people including women and children were leaving the event when the incident took place.

He told the Standard: I felt absolutely helpless. You dont understand how many women and children he just missed. People were ducking behind cars to hide.

They were shouting You dirty Muslims without a doubt it was an Islamophobic attack from the stuff they were screaming out of the windows.

Anwar, a volunteer at the The Hussaini Association, said: The car was going very fast way over the speed limit, it crashed into people and didnt stop.

A lot of us chased after them and helped get the injured out of the road. We were very scared and there was a lot of panic.

Scotland Yard said they were not treating the event as terrorist related but said officers were investigating Islamic hate crime as an aggravating factor.

Detectives are analysing CCTV in a bid to trace the driver and are keeping an open mind as to the cause of the collision.

A spokesman for the Hussaini Association, which organises Islamic lectures at the centre, said: We are in deep shock at such an attack taking place on our community but remain proud to live in a diverse and tolerant society.

Kelly Schonhage from Brent CID said: We are treating this incident very seriously and a number of inquiries are under way to trace the car and those involved.

Inquiries into the full circumstances of the collision are ongoing. If you were there at the time and have information I would urge you to contact police with information.

Extra neighbourhood police patrols have been stepped up in the area and officers will be on hand to speak with those in the local community.The prime minister is due to pledge an extra 2 billion funding for social housing today.

She is speaking at the National Housing Federation Summit today, and is expected to announce the funding as part of the governments commitment to solving the UKs housing crisis.

The ground-breaking scheme will offer housing associations the opportunity to apply for funding over the next decade  giving them the long-term stability they need to build tens of thousands affordable new homes and to access private finance to build more.

Teresa May (pictured) will tell Summit attendees: You said that, if you were going to take a serious role in not just managing but building the homes this country needs, you had to have the stability provided by long-term funding deals. Well, eight housing associations have already been given such deals, worth almost 600 million and paving the way for almost 15,000 new affordable homes.

Today, I can announce that new longer-term partnerships will be opened up to the most ambitious housing associations through a ground-breaking 2 billion initiative. Under the scheme, associations will be able to apply for funding stretching as far ahead as 2028/29  the first time any government has offered housing associations such long-term certainty.

Doing so will give you the stability you need to get tens of thousands of affordable and social homes built where they are needed most, and make it easier for you to leverage the private finance you need to build many more.

She called on housing associations to take the lead in transforming how the country views social housing in return, leading major developments to create large-scale, high-quality housing.

Given the right tools and the right support, you can act as the strategic, long-term investors in the kind of high-quality places this country needs, she will say. To put it simply, you get homes built. And I want to work with you to transform the way we do so.

The government announced a total of 9.1 billion in public funding for council and housing association homes last year. This latest money is understood to be entirely new, and has been welcomed by housing associations as making construction planning easier.

David Orr, Chairman of the National Housing Federation, which represents housing associations, welcomed the extra funding. He said: The announcement is extremely welcome  but the really big news here is the Prime Ministers long-term commitment to funding new affordable homes. This represents a total step change. For years, the way that money was allocated meant housing associations couldnt be sure of long-term funding to build much-needed affordable housing.

Now, by changing the way in which they allocate funding, ministers have given long-term confidence and confirmed that we are trusted partners in solving the housing crisis, building new homes and communities.

Ultimately, this will have a huge impact on building the affordable homes that thousands of people across the country desperately need.

The announcement has also been welcomed by Legal & General Affordable Homes, but Managing Director Ben Denton added that there is more work to be done to ensure more affordable homes are built. He said: Over the past decade, only 3,000 affordable homes have been delivered each year, highlighting the need to smooth the way for more institutional money to enter the sector.T he brother of an 18-year-old man who was stabbed to death by a love rival has called for the self-styled Snapchat Queen who orchestrated his killing to spend years behind bars.

Fatima Khan, 21, set up the fatal knife attack on her on-off boyfriend Khalid Safi and filmed a video on her phone as the Afghan asylum seeker lay dying on the pavement.

She then posted the footage on Snapchat with the caption this is what happens when you f*** with me and sent it to her friends.

Khan was convicted of manslaughter for orchestrating the attack on Mr Safi outside a Costa Coffee shop in Acton on December 1, 2016. She was due to be sentenced at the Old Bailey this week.

The man accused of carrying out the stabbing, Raza Khan, is still at large.

Sickening: Fatima Khan calmly filmed the wounded Khalid Safi rather than help him / PA

Mr Safis brother Shamsullah, 25, from Southall, today demanded justice as he called for lengthy jail sentences for both. We want them in prison for as long as they can get. They should get life, he said. I will be in court and I will tell my mum and dad, and my brothers and sisters in Kabul the sentence they get. My mum and dad want justice for their son.

I will not forgive them, they took my brothers life. How could I forgive them?

Fatima Khan, a self-confessed Snapchat addict, admitted during her trial that she was ashamed of the video of Mr Safis wounded body, but denied having anything to do with planning the attack.

However, the court heard there was evidence of collusion with 20-year-old Khan, an ex-boyfriend, including her messaging to meet outside the Costa where she was with Mr Safi. Fatima Khan calmly filmed the aftermath of the stabbing, instead of going to help her wounded boyfriend, and continued to post messages and pictures on Snapchat that evening.

A jury acquitted her of murder but she was found guilty of Mr Safis manslaughter in July.

Her defence barrister Kerim Fuad QC described Khan to jurors as Ilfords Snapchat Queen and said she saw more of life on her phone than through her eyes.

Shamsullah Safi, a Tesco shop manager, said his younger brother had come to London from Afghanistan aged 13 to start a new life and to flee the daily fighting in their home city of Kabul. Khalid worked at a shop and was enrolled on a college business management course.

I was always talking to him. He was a good guy. He always had a smile on his face, always a happy person. He was polite and respectful to everyone, his brother said. I will never forget him. I love him a lot. I cannot forget him.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said police are still appealing for information on Raza Khans whereabouts.A female cyclist is fighting for her life following a crash with a car in central London.

Police and London Ambulance Service rushed to the scene on St John Street near Farringdon station shortly after 11.30am on Wednesday.

The woman was taken to an east London hospital in a critical condition, Scotland Yard said.

Pictures shared on social media showed a cordon in place as ambulance crews treated the woman.

The woman was taken to an east London hospital / Trent Murray

A spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Police said: "Police were called at approximately 11.36am to reports of a collision between a car and a cyclist on St John Street, EC1.

"Officers and London Ambulance Service attended.

"The female cyclist was taken to an east London hospital in a critical condition.

"Her next of kin have been made aware."A huge row has broken out today after Sadiq Khan overruled the local council to approve plans dubbed a monstrosity by residents.

The Mayor gave the green light to the major housing, shopping and office development  that includes a 17-storey tower  on the site of Fifties block Newcombe House by Notting Hill Gate Tube station.

Residents have said that the scheme would bring months of chaos and create an overbearing skyline. Mr Khan took over the planning decision in March after Kensington and Chelsea council twice blocked the plans. He said the redevelopment had tremendous potential to revitalise this part of Notting Hill Gate.

The new blueprint, submitted to City Hall in July, raised the height of two of the six buildings, increasing the number of affordable homes to meet the target of 35 per cent of the total.

City Hall said 23 of the 55 new flats would be let at affordable rents, with 15 of those either one-bed or two-bed social rent properties. There will also be a new GP surgery and step-free access to Notting Hill Gate station.

Mr Khan said: I hope this will send a clear message that I expect developments to include more genuinely affordable housing and other benefits for local people.

Richard Payne, chairman of residents group The Pembridge Association, said: Were not opposed to the development in principle but we wanted more social housing and a more attractive building.

Sam Dunkley of Hillgate Village Residents Association added: The flats would be mostly bought up by buy-to-leave types who are all from overseas, its blatantly obvious.

Kensington and Chelsea today said it was looking at all options  leaving the door open to a possible bid for a judicial review.

Will Pascall, the councils lead member for planning, said: The Mayor is not listening to Londoners. This development is simply too tall and unsuited to the needs of the local area.A dog owner claims her pet was kicked to death by a teenager in a disgusting attack at an east London park.

Pomeranian puppy Scout was set upon by thugs while being walked in Raphael Park in Romford, owner Samantha Winfield said.

She has launched a Facebook campaign to track down the culprit and police are investigating the incident, which happened at about 3pm on Sunday.

My partner walked my two Pomeranian puppies in Raphael Park when a group of teenagers attacked him and the dogs, Ms Winfield wrote on Facebook.

One youth kicked one of my puppies. She is now DEAD. They killed an innocent, beautiful and fun loving little girl for kicks. I now have one puppy who has lost his best friend.

The other puppy, and Ms Winfields boyfriend, were unharmed.

The 29-year-old owner said the attacker was believed to be aged between 17 and 19, with black hair and wearing black jeans and a black or dark blue sleeveless puffer jacket.

The incident happened and was over very quickly, and may not have been noticed by bystanders, said Ms Winfield.

My partner was shouting at the group of teens after it happened, and he scooped up the puppies and ran home with them.

She added: My dog did not deserve to die, this was a disgusting, unacceptable incident and had been reported to the police but we need help finding this person in particular.

Romford MP Andrew Rosindell said: I hope this wicked individual is caught quickly and locked up for a very long time.

People are understandably disgusted and hope to see justice carried out.

A spokesman for the Met said police were called by a vet in Romford who reported that a dead puppy had been brought into their practice.T wo huge data centres have been given the green light as part of plans for a digital revolution in an east London borough famous for its factories.

Thousands of jobs are set to be created after Barking and Dagenham Council gave permission for two 212 metre-long buildings near Dagenham East station.

The development will house large-scale data hosting infrastructure, which is essential for emerging technological industries including cloud computing and digital media.

Council leader Darren Rodwell said: Giving the green light to these two huge data centres will mean Barking and Dagenham will be able to power Londons digital led economy well into the 21st century.

These developments will bring thousands of jobs for local people at all levels - from construction workers and carpenters to set designers and film and TV producers.

He added: Its another sign that Barking and Dagenham is booming.

Darren Rodwell, leader of Barking & Dagenham council, said the borough is 'booming' / Lucy Young

NTT Communications was initially given consent to build the data centres in July, before the decision was referred to the Greater London Authority.

Deputy mayor Jules Pipe handed the final decision back to the council, which has now granted the firm permission to begin construction.

Pat Hayes, Managing Director of Be First, Barking and Dagenham Councils regeneration company, said: The borough used to be famous for Fords and factories but with these new data centres and studios, we will soon be famous for films, media and digital technology.

The data centres will be built yards from the site earmarked for London's largest film studios

The data centres are set to be built yards away from the site proposed for Londons largest film studios . Pharmaceutical giant Sanofi operated there until 2009.

James Kingdom, Head of Alternatives Research at global investment firm JLL, said: Data centres are an essential form of infrastructure to help support the growing digitalisation of how we live and work.W e may never see Tom Hiddlestons bare bum again: a long-discussed second series of BBC hit The Night Manager has so far failed to get off the ground and now producer Simon Cornwell appears to be losing hope.

Cornwell, co-founder and co-chief executive of production company The Ink Factory, is the son of John le Carre, who wrote The Night Manager novel. The success of the programme  which starred Hiddleston, Olivia Colman, Hugh Laurie and Tom Hollander and earned both impressive audience figures and several international awards  meant that a second series was hotly tipped.

Despite David Farr, who wrote the first series, saying he was not keen on penning a follow-up, a team of four writers including Charles Cumming and Matthew Orton was assembled. But the process is yet to yield results.

Not being cute, I really dont know, Cornwell says in an interview with this months Television magazine, when asked when we can expect to revisit the show. We dont have scripts for it yet, and we would only think about making a second series of The Night Manager if it was going to be really good. And Im sure that Hugh and Tom and Olivia, who are not exactly under-employed actors, wont want to come back unless its excellent, frankly.

And, you know, we have all of Le Carres body of work to pick from.

Indeed, Cornwell is also behind the forthcoming adaptation of The Little Drummer Girl, also by his dad.

The Night Manager speedbump comes after a tease from actor Elizabeth Debicki, whose character had the bum-baring affair with Hiddlestons character. Earlier this year she played coy.

Is there another one? she said. Im sworn to secrecy

Cornwell also insists that being Le Carres son didnt mean he automatically received the rights to his work: he had to earn it.

I wish it had been done over a brandy one night, he says.

For all kinds of appropriate reasons... it needed to be a bona fide, arms length deal.

New Left see red

Yesterdays meeting of Labours National Executive Committee didnt end to everyones satisfaction. I have to say that I am deeply disappointed, new rep Darren Williams, one of those elected after Momentums #JC9 campaign, wrote on Facebook after the nine-hour session last night. After some minor tweaking to the way NEC members were elected, everything else was kicked into the long grass or killed off altogether, he said. Im sorry to say that the majority of the NEC  including much of the so-called Left  has proven itself too cautious and conservative. The revolution will have to wait.

---

Former head of BBC Comedy Jon Plowman says the corporation no longer treats the genre with respect. In his new memoir, How To Produce Comedy Bronze, he says the Beeb gives less time to comedy than it used to. Apparently, he writes, on the main channels, people dont want to laugh anymore.

---

Actor Suki Waterhouse shot someone on the set of new film Assassination Nation. I hurt somebody, she says, explaining that a stunt backfired. The bullet ricocheted. It came back at the guy and hurt him. They hadnt seen that in 20 years. Suki blames a lack of experience. We didnt get extensive training, she confesses.

Film night with Patsy? Absolutely fabulous!

Ab Fab: Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images) / Dave Benett/Getty Images

Ab Fab queens Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders were at the Curzon Mayfair last night attending a preview of Nureyev, a film about the Russian ballet dancer. It was a rare reunion for the comedy duo. We dont get to hang out together as much these days as we no longer make TV together and I miss that, Saunders recently lamented. That, combined with a couple of glasses of champers. Elsewhere, fashion designer Giles Deacon previewed his new collection with accessories brand Aspinal  actor Tamsin Egerton was among the well-wishers  while model and actor Elizabeth Hurley hosted the Worlds Biggest Coffee Morning for Macmillan Cancer Support at Isabel in Mayfair. She is all smiles now that her beloved labrador Hector has recovered after being hit by a van driver working for Amazon. The family asked Amazon to pay the vet bills and the company, which stated that the van was driven by a contractor, promised the issue would be resolved to the full satisfaction of the customer.

SW1A

A shoulder to cry on: Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell (Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images) / Bloomberg via Getty Images

John McDonnell recalls his reaction to the shock exit poll in the 2017 general election. I was too busy trying to reassure the Conservative spokesman sitting beside me who, at one point, turned so pale I thought we might need paramedics, the shadow chancellor told Mumsnet. Jeremy Corbyns offering was rather different. In a new book, aides recall a one word comment: F**k.

---

Sophie Walker, leader of the Womens Equality Party, had a withering response to Lib-Dem leader Vince Cables conference speech blunder yesterday. After he fluffed his lines  saying exotic spresm instead of the much- hyped erotic spasm, Walker weighed in. After all that build-up, a failed delivery. All the more reason sisters should be doing it for themselves.

Quote of the day

"It's got old messages from Gordon Brown, actually - it's very emotional"

Ed Miliband got nostalgic after finding an old BlackBerry in his attic

Out of print: Duchess loses Kiely optionT ory Right-wingers were today warned to back Theresa Mays Chequers Brexit blueprint or risk a second referendum.

Treasury minister Mel Stride stressed there was a danger that Brexit hardliners could derail the whole process of quitting the EU if they refuse to support the Prime Minister.

Mr Stride claimed there was now a fundamental move towards a Brexit deal with the EU based around Chequers which he said would be unmitigated, good news for the UK economy.

But pressed on Sky News how Mrs May could get Chequers through the Commons, given the widespread opposition to it, he said: There is a big difference between speculating about what a deal might be and actually having a firm deal on the table.

What is the Chequers Deal?

The Financial Secretary to the Treasury added: When we have a firm deal on the table, I suspect that those to the Right of the party, the pro-Brexit wing, will be very concerned that if that deal does not prevail, they will end up in the situation where we could have a second referendum, or we could end up not leaving the EU all together, so there is a danger of that happening if Chequers does not prevail.

I think those on the other end of the spectrum will equally be very concerned that if Chequers does not prevail, we could end up in a no deal situation.

Mrs May, who has firmly rejected a second referendum, was due to fly to Salzburg, Austria, today to lay out her Chequers plan, which would keep close ties on the trade in good but not services, at a summit of EU leaders.

However the Prime Ministers DUP allies flatly rejected Brussels latest proposal to break the Brexit deadlock over the Northern Ireland border.

Under the backstop plan, which would come into force if the EU and UK fail to reach a deal on border arrangements between Ireland and Northern Ireland, the latter would in effect stay in the customs union and large parts of the single market for some sectors of its economy.

The Government and the DUP warned that they could not accept it if it means a border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

Theresa May 'irritated' by leadership speculation

EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier yesterday moved to solve the row by de-dramatising the checks that would be required.

We are clarifying which goods arriving in Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK would need to be checked and where, when and by whom these checks could be performed, he said.

We can also clarify that most checks can take place away from the border at the company premises or in the markets.

Theresa May warned as new poll shows teens who can now vote overwhelmingly back staying in EU

But DUP Deputy Leader Nigel Dodds rebuffed the proposal, saying: So Michel Barnier says he can do different kinds of checks between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK as if that makes it more palatable.

The fundamental point is that internal UK checks are only needed if it is intended to separate Northern Ireland from Great Britain.T heresa May has said the EU must "evolve its position" in Brexit negotiations after European Union chiefs told her key elements of the proposals had to be "reworked".

The Prime Minister today declared her Chequers plan is "the only credible" route to a deal that delivers for Northern Ireland and voters.

Speaking at a summit in Salzburg, Mrs May also said that her Government would never support a second referendum on Brexit.

The Prime Minister was using the gathering of EU leaders to personally set out the Government's blueprint for Brexit but was warned that time is running out to reach a deal.

European Council president Donald Tusk said issues remained to be resolved in the Brexit deal / EPA

European Council president Donald Tusk said the Prime Minister's Chequers blueprint was a "welcome evolution" in the UK's approach but major issues remained to be resolved including avoiding a hard border in Ireland and the future trading relationship between Britain and the EU.

Warning that there was "less and less time" to reach a deal before the UK's March 29 2019 exit date, Mr Tusk confirmed he would propose an emergency EU Brexit summit in November.

Arriving at the meeting, Mrs May said Chequers was "the only credible and negotiable plan on the table that delivers no hard border in Northern Ireland and also delivers on the vote of the British people".

She added: "If we are going to achieve a successful conclusion then, just as the UK has evolved its position, the EU will need to evolve its position too."

What happens in the event of a No Deal Brexit?

Her comments came just hours after Mr Tusk said that on key issues "the UK's proposals will need to be reworked and further negotiated".

Ahead of the summit in Austria, the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier said he was ready to come forward with a new offer on the Irish border.

However, Mrs May's DUP allies poured cold water on the suggestion and the Prime Minister stressed she would not be prepared to accept anything that resulted in Northern Ireland effectively being "carved away" from the rest of the UK.

In order to "de-dramatise" the main obstacle to a withdrawal deal, Mr Barnier suggested arrangements could be made to conduct the majority of checks on imports and exports away from the border itself.

Chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said he had a new offer on the Irish border / AFP/Getty Images

The Democratic Unionist Party, which props up Mrs May's minority administration in Parliament, dismissed Mr Barnier's proposals as unpalatable, because they would involve a customs border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

Mrs May said: "I welcome the fact that Michel Barnier is recognising the need to find a new solution because the original proposal put forward by the European Commission was unacceptable to us.

"We have always recognised that there are unique circumstances that apply in Northern Ireland - for example in relation to checks for someagricultural products.

"But what we cannot accept is seeing Northern Ireland carved away from the UK customs territory because regardless of where the checks would be, what that would mean would be that it would be a challenge to our constitutional and economic integrity."

Brexit: What are the options?

The Salzburg meeting came as campaigners in the UK published a roadmap setting out how MPs could force the Prime Minister to accept what they call a People's Vote on her deal, with the option of remaining in the EU.

Despite Mrs May insisting the choice was between her deal or no deal, Treasury minister Mel Stride appeared to suggest that a second poll was still a possibility.

Mr Stride told Sky News: "When we have a firm deal on the table, I suspect that those to the right of the party - the pro-Brexit wing - will be very concerned that if that deal does not prevail, they will end up in the situation where we could have a second referendum or we could end up not leaving the EU altogether, so there is a danger of that happening if Chequers does not prevail."

But Mrs May slapped down any suggestion that her government could hold a so-called People's Vote.

"I want to be absolutely clear, this government will never accept a second referendum," she said.

"The British people voted to leave the European Union and we will be leaving on March 29, 2019."

She challenged the Labour leadership to rule out the prospect of support for a second referendum - something that is likely to be a hot topic as Jeremy Corbyn's party gathers for its conference in Liverpool starting on Sunday.

Brexit secretary Dominic Raab echoed the Prime Minister's view that the EU should adapt its stance in negotiations, as he answered questions on an LBC phone-in on Wednesday.

He said the UK's withdrawal plan was "ambitious" and "pragmatic" as he urged the European Union to compromise.

"We now need the EU side to move in our direction", Mr Raab said.

"I think the opportunity is there for the PM to explain, spell out, why it is a win-win deal, good for Britain, good for the EU.

"But also the fact that if we didn't get that movement, it would be lose-lose for the EU and the UK."

Brexit secretary Dominic Raab said discussing a second referendum could harm Brexit negotiations with the EU / AP/Matt Dunham

Mr Raab also joined his party leader in dismissing the idea of a second referendum.

He stated it was "a mistake to bandy this around" and doing so could harm negotiations with the EU.

Another public vote would leave people thinking democracy was not being respected, he told LBC.

He added: "Even more important, as we go into these negotiations, if we said we were going to have a second referendum on the outcome we'd be inviting the EU to offer us the worst terms."L ayla Moran has only been a Lib Dem MP for a year but she was the talk of this weeks party conference. Her speech calling for a more radical education policy was packed out and mugs with her face on it sold out. She bought one as a joke for her mother, along with a toy tiger.

This is a moment of renewal for the Liberal Democrats, grins the 36-year-old former teacher, who has glittery nail varnish and is growing out her Brexit bob. She got it after the referendum when she felt depressed: I was going to get a tattoo but thought Id regret that so instead I cut my hair short.

Someone here asked me if I would change our logo, she says. At the moment its a dove but I think now we are a phoenix rising from the ashes. When people say they want a party thats radically liberal but at the centre of politics thats us. Half the party is new since 2015 and we have the youngest members  the coalition was difficult but now is the time to join because you can have a huge influence.

You dont even have to be a Lib Dem. Anti-Brexit campaigner Gina Millers speech galvanised conference. Despite not being a party member, she could have a big impact if departing head of the party Vince Cables proposition to open up the leadership elections to non-members is enacted. Miller says she doesnt want to lead but the members think they know better. Women always say no when they mean yes, one older, male delegate says. I havent seen dignity like Ginas since Ming Campbell.

Winning votes from the Tories is a focus of conference but expectations are tempered. At a fringe workshop about winning a young woman says we have to redefine success  it doesnt have to be winning elections, it can be saving a local post office and I overhear naysayers heading for a drink on the beach because I feel duty bound to go to the session about fighting the Tories but it sounds so wearing.

Moran knows all about beating the opposition. Last year she won the seat of Oxford West and Abingdon, which had been a Tory stronghold for seven years. The Greens stepped down to help her win.

Shes this countrys first British-Palestinian MP - her mother is from Jerusalem - but she wades into the Israel/Palestine debate sparingly because its so emotive. She made an exception for John McDonnell on Politics Live earlier this month though. I had to mansplain anti-Semitism to him, she says. Moran was upset about posters saying that Israel is a racist state. The people who put it up were called London Palestine Action. As a Palestinian they dont speak for me, and they are blatantly racist signs. You dont say a whole country is racist. McDonnell said hes on a journey. She does a droney impression of him. I was like really? Youre 60 something years old, come on. If you havent realised by now that this is anti-Semitism no wonder theres a problem in the Labour Party.

Ive been attacked by people who say youre not a real Palestinian and your mums not a real Palestinian for raising you that way. But when I see someone who is on a journey about being anti-Semitic Im sorry but Im intervening. Calling out anti-Semitism doesnt make me any less Palestinian. Theres a nuance in the argument that has been lost and Corbyn not saying antisemitism is wrong has fuelled the problem. Some responsibility does lie at his door.

She compares it to Brexit and the inability of many to have a respectful conversation with someone who thinks differently.

Moran is campaigning for a second referendum and quips that we should join new Lib Dem supporter Charlie Mullins, the founder of Pimlico Plumbers outside where he is holding forth on EU tariffs in a shirt monogrammed with his intials, buying half pints for anyone who will listen.

People are only just beginning to realise what they voted for, says Moran. Even Chequers is a harder Brexit than many expected. We have people who have joined the Lib Dems because it has moved harder than Norways exit from the EU. The range of options on offer at that point were so wide that its only fair people get another say. Theres a democratic deficit that needs to be filled. You delete a file from your computer and youre asked twice if you are sure. If youre going to delete membership from the EU its only fair to ask again.

What if people vote leave for a second time? Fine. What we need to avoid is that one side gets it narrowly. I sleep well at night because I am fighting for what I think is right. I dont know how moderate conservatives or Remain Labour MPs sleep unless they are making the case for whats happening with Brexit.

Morans father, the diplomat James Moran, recently left the Labour party because he doesnt like where Corbyn is taking it. I made him join the Lib Dems.

He and her mother were politically engaged but Moran came late to party politics. In my twenties I was more interested in dating and drinking and getting a job. She voted Lib Dem because they were good on science and she studied Physics at Imperial but didnt give it much thought.

It was her masters degree in comparative education that inspired her. I focussed on educational inequality and it was clear from the research how bad academisation was going to be  we were already getting results from Sweden about how they were going to reverse these policies. All the research pointed one way and the policy was pushing in another so where is the disconnect? That got me political. Why rant in the pub when what you need to do is rant at the decision makers? Im a geek so I compared which party had the closest policy to what the research was saying and settled on the Lib Dems. I realise this is unusual.

Moran lives near her constituency and recently bought her first house, with her younger sister who works for Oxfam and help from the bank of mum and dad. She has a nice boyfriend who is in a very different world to politics.

Vince Cable offered to mentor her. They share a maverick streak: We were the only two MPs to support moving Parliament from Westminster and were the youngest and the oldest. When she was heckled at her first Prime Ministers Questions, he told her to keep going. Her radical suggestions centre around education  she wants more teacher led assessment instead of exams, which she says dont translate to the real world and exacerbate anxiety.

Was she good at exams? I was great. But that not the point. If you put a barrier in front of children at any age all it does is stifle social mobility. Only three per cent of kids on free school meals go to grammar schools, thats compared to 14 per cent in the surrounding area.

Shed like her party to come up with more exciting, liberal policies. Since coalition weve stopped doing that. When we lost badly in 2015 we were sad and hid under the duvet a bit and we didnt develop policies that are clear about what it means to be a liberal democrat. Would a different leader have changed this? I think that passes the buck.

Would she like to lead the party? Its too soon. I was elected last summer. It depends when Vince steps down. But Im 36, Im not going to close the door. Even if I did it in 10 years Id still be a young leader.A ct One, Scene One: an EU working lunch on Brexit, somewhere in Salzburg. And no, despite the location, its not going to be a remake of the Sound of Music. The cliches just dont stack up. Donald Tusk is no Captain von Trapp. Angela Merkel no Reverend Mother. Theresa May wont end up dancing down the mountainsides in a wimple. Britain wont leave its old European home, literally embracing the Swiss model. There will be no closing friendly chorus in response: So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, adieu/adieu, adieu, to EU, and EU and EU.

Brexit just isnt playing out like a film. Its fury and fudge, a battle between realism and fantasy that isnt fun to watch and even worse to star in. No one will ever dress up with their friends to sing along to this flop of a show.

But still, its got to go on, which is why the Prime Minister will be in the most gemutlich of Austrian cities today and tomorrow to take part in what might look like a crunch summit viewed from Westminster but, on the official invitation from the EUs President Donald Tusk, is nothing more than an informal meeting. His note to EU leaders pointedly puts Brexit in the and finally category. Unfortunately, a no-deal scenario is still quite possible. But if we all act responsibly, we can avoid a catastrophe, it ends.

As a script line, thats pretty much the same as put the gun down quietly and no ones gonna get hurt just before the shooting starts. But at least they are talking about Brexit after months of pretending it is at the bottom of the EUs to-do list, which is what Mrs May wants. As long as theres discussion, and shes still Prime Minister, she can always hope to pull off some sort of a deal that will allow her to present herself as the sensible type who kept her head while those around her lost theirs.

And, at the very least, it will allow her to go into the Conservative Party conference the week after next with a claim to have some sort of a plan  and thats better than the hardline Brexiteers can do right now. Her Cabinet ministers might not respect her, but in public theyll have to grin and clap.

So is that her strategy? Its clear that Brexit is beginning to hurt and time is running out for words to become real. One downcast Whitehall official I spoke to this week, faced with making hurried plans for no deal, told me that, if things go badly wrong, drugs will start running out and people will die. Every day seems to bring news of relocation from the City of London. But this isnt going to focus minds in Salzburg  and theres a reason for that. What Britain wants, and what the EU wants, are two different things.

From the EUs side, theres been poker-faced solidarity  so far  behind a common position, which is to let the EUs officials do the talking and keep pointing to the need to solve the Irish border problem. The EU got May to agree last December to the so-called Irish backstop, which either means the UK has to stay in the customs union (the dull-as-ditchwater mechanism that allows things to move inside the EU) or leave it, and create a new border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the country.

Since the Democratic Unionists, who keep the Conservatives in power, dont want that, everyones been going round in circles. Or, as Tusk puts it in his invitation note to the Salzburg meeting, We should reconfirm the need for a legally operational backstop on Ireland, so as to be sure there will be no hard border in the future.

The British have been hoping that the EU will stop saying this and that leaders will start doing deals. Maybe President Macron? Maybe Merkel? Maybe the Austrians can help? And if you want to believe this dream then the past few days have certainly brought heart-warming headlines in some British papers. Spin or substance? The safe way to bet is that the EU is holding firm but just wants to seem cuddly, so that blame if things go wrong falls elsewhere.

Look at it this way. The Prime Minister cant persuade her own party to back her plan. It would be odd after all these months if, at Salzburg, we find out that she has managed to persuade the EU.

And its not as if the EU needs to blink first. A few weeks of chaos after March 29 might encourage more firms to relocate to Paris, Dublin and Frankfurt. A gentle doing-over, to teach the UK the error of its ways. And thats why all of a sudden its the Prime Minister whos had to switch, too, from her monotonal mantra that no deal is better than a bad deal to telling everyone how very bad no deal actually would be.

This isnt just because incredulous officials inside Government are starting to think ministerial madness might actually let it happen, and are working out how catastrophic it would be. Its because the Prime Ministers only hope of hanging on is to persuade at least some of her opponents that, however much they hate her Chequers plan (and the dreary slice of fudge it would become if she persists in negotiating it with the EU), its got to be better than a no deal.

She tried out her new message on Panorama this week: its my way or the hard way  but of course it isnt true. In Parliament, MPs are forming gangs around all sorts of other ways forward and some of which are sensible. The problem for May is that her own gang (other than ministers who are paid to agree) isnt very big or convincing  and the EU can see that perfectly well.

So in Salzburg they have no incentive to do anything other than string her along  unless (which is unlikely) this is the moment leaders realise no deal might be real, and actually panic. Surely they will wait until we panic first. And that might not be until after March 29.

What counts are numbers in Parliament. Can anyone win a majority for their flavour of the future? And, if so, which? Theres the Brexit ultras  the European Research Group supporters, an odd alliance of Jacob Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson. They loathe Chequers so much they will destroy anything like it. Some, maybe most, will peel off, if it came to a vote on a plan put by May, given that at least it would achieve their goal of getting Britain out of the EU. But not enough for the Tories to be sure they would win, given almost every other partys MPs will be against and they blew their majority in 2017.

So if the Government cant win with the help of the hardliners, what about softer Brexiteers and Remainers who can see a longer game? There are other groups on the Tory side. Some Brexiteers such as Dominic Raab and Penny Mordaunt are backing Chequers for now. Maybe they will support it in a vote, maybe they wont. Either way they dont have the numbers to impose their own plan instead.

"The problem for May is that her own gang isnt very big or convincing and the EU can see that perfectly well"

So what about an alliance between adaptable Brexiteers and Remainers? Some, such as Nick Boles and Stephen Hammond, think the best form of Brexit  for now  would be a long-term close economic relationship with the EU involving membership of some of its associated bodies: obscure things mostly beginning in E, such as EFTA or the EEA. But again, without Labour support, not necessarily the numbers to make sensible ideas real.

And finally theres perhaps the smallest Tory group of all, which doesnt want to leave and favours a second referendum as the best way of sorting things out  people such as Ken Clarke and Anna Soubry. Can it win over Labour and enough on the Tory side to get a majority?A young boy has become the youngest victim of Britain's weight crisis after dying of a blood clot due to obesity, a post mortem has found.

The 13-year old boy collapsed early this year due to a blood clot, which has been attributed to his size - and after the "shocking death", a pathologist conducting the post mortem found the child died of natural causes and said he did not require an inquest.

Experts are shocked by the boys death, believing him to be the youngest victim of an obesity "epidemic" in the UK.

The post mortem report noted the boy had been gaining weight from a young age, and even saw his GP the day before he died earlier this year after complaining of swollen feet. He is said to have had a body mass index of 42 and was twice the recommended weight for his age

Fifth of kids eat takeaways once a week One in five meals children eat are away from home, according to Public Health England figures. Meals away from home are associated with much higher fat and sugar content, and higher portion sizes, and food outlets are increasingly clustered around schools.

According to the pathologist's report, NHS school nurses had weighed him four years ago and sent a letter home warning his parents about his weight. The post mortem found he also showed evidence of fatty liver disease, an early sign of liver failure due to obesity

Experts have called the shocking case a stark reminder of the risks of rising obesity among children.

A draft health inequality strategy in London found nearly 40 per cent of 10 and 11 year olds in London are in the obese category, with those in poorer areas most affected. The Mayor of London's plan to tackle infant weight problems said problems usually develop into adulthood, leading to type-2 diabetes and heart problems.

Public Health England is backing a levy on soft drinks in a bid to cut down the single biggest source of high-sugar products for young people. And health minister Steve Brine has opened consultation on he introduction of calorie labels in restaurants, cafes and takeaways to give families more control over what they order.

The WHO called the rise in weight-related health risks an "obesity epidemic", as 115 million people suffer from obesity-related problems worldwide.

The UK is in the top quarter of the world's fattest countries, coming 40th out of 190 in the WHO's mean BMI index in 2015 - but we are the third most overweight country in Europe after Malta and Turkey in a new report published this month.

Tam Fry, from the National Obesity Forum, said on the findings: "The UK is third from bottom on the WHO's list because for two decades successive UK governments have done virtually nothing to confront an increasing obesity epidemic.C hips in the UK are set to be smaller this year as farmers across Belgium struggle to cope after the record-breaking heatwave swept across Europe this year.

The dry weather this summer has had an affect on the size of potatoes and could mean that chips will be 3cm smaller than normal, Pierre Lebrun, head of the Walloon Potato Growers Association said.

Speaking to Belgiums Sudpresse newspaper, he said: Because the potatoes are smaller at the moment, we will all be eating smaller chips.

Crops across Europe have suffered as a result of the heatwave, with a crop yield drop of around 20% being reported in Northern Europe, the Telegraph reports.

Britain, which eats a staggering 1.75 million tonnes of frozen chips each year, is also struggling after the sustained period of hot weather, with farmers facing a 10 to 15 per cent drop in yield.

This was the hottest British summer since 1976, which any potato person will tell you was an almost mythical year, Cedric Porter, editor of World Potato Markets, told The Telegraph.

It is still talked about in potato circles. The chips are down, you can expect smaller chips in Britain and Europe, he added.

According to Mr Porter, the low yields in Europe have sent the price of potatoes soaring on the open market from 8.90 per ton last year up to 222 this year.K atie Hopkins has applied for an insolvency arrangement a year and a half after losing a libel case brought against her by author Jack Monroe.

Official government documents reveal that Ms Hopkins applied for an individual voluntary arrangement (IVA) in May this year in order to avoid bankruptcy.

In 2017, she was forced to pay 24,000 libel damages and legal costs to Jack Monroe after she implied that the author had vandalised a war memorial in a tweet during 2015.

The legal costs are said to be 107,000, according to the BBC.

Katie Hopkins was forced to pay libel damages and legal costs to author Jack Monroe

An insolvency agreement means that the applicant will repay the money over a period of time, usually a few years.

On Saturday, Monroe told her followers: "I have been paid in full, but many of her creditors, including my lawyer will not be paid what they are owed.

"For the want of an apology, a house, a job, a column, a radio show and now financial solvency were lost. It's all very sad actually."

Ms Hopkins currently works for far-right Canadian outlet Rebel Media after her radio show on LBC was taken off the air after she called for a "final solution" following the Manchester terror attack.

She had been writing a column for the MailOnline however parted ways with the company in 2017.A woman who died after her caravan was blown off a cliff in high winds during Storm Ali has been named locally as Elvira Ferraii.

The Swiss holidaymaker was staying at the Clifden ecoBeach Camping and Caravan Park in Co Galway in Ireland's west when a severe gust took her caravan over the side and down onto a beach.

Emergency services were called before 8am on Wednesday morning but the victim, aged in her 50s, was pronounced dead at the scene after a brief search.

She was reported to have been staying at the remote beauty spot for several weeks.

Storm Ali swept across the UK and Ireland on Wednesday, bringing wind speeds of more than 100mph and wreaking havoc on power supplies and roads.

The caravan which blew off the cliff as Storm Ali hit Ireland / RTE.ie

A man died after being hit by a falling tree as he worked in a country park in County Armagh on Wednesday afternoon.

A second man was injured during the incident at Slieve Gullion Park.

It is understood the men were doing contract work for Northern Ireland Water.

The man who died was aged in his 20s. The injured man, who is aged in his 40s, was taken to hospital.

Woman dead after caravan blown off cliff as Storm Ali strikes with 91mph gusts

Police said there were no suspicious circumstances and the incident was being investigated by the region's Health and Safety Executive.

A yellow wind warning is in place across much of England and Wales from 6pm on Thursday to 9am on Friday. There is a yellow warning for rain for Northern England and Wales in place from 4am to 10pm on Thursday.

In Scotland, police said a "major incident" has been declared in Dumfries and Galloway due to the storm, with roads and ferries all being affected by the severe weather.

The extreme weather cost a woman her life at around 7.45am after a caravan was blown off a cliff at Claddaghduff, Co Galway, Ireland, while she was inside it. The caravan was smashed to pieces on the rocks and sand.

Storm Ali - In Pictures 1 /21 Storm Ali - In Pictures Police clear a tree as Storm Ali hits land on September 19, 2018 in Ardrossan, Scotland. Severe gales which are set to get up to as much as 80mph are causing road, rail and ferry travel disruption as Storm Ali hits parts of Scotland. Getty Images Workmen deal with a fallen tree on Finglass Road by Glasnevin Cemetary, Dublin as Storm Ali has made itself felt across the Republic of Ireland PA The scene in Claddaghduff, near Clifden in Co Galway where a woman died after her caravan was blown off a cliff in Storm Ali which has brought gusts of 91mph. PA An ambulance which crashed into a fallen tree in Newcastle as the Met Office has updated its amber wind warning for Storm Ali PA Strong winds blow sand across the seafront at Troon Beach in Ayrshire as Storm Ali has begun to make itself felt across Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland and England with 60mph winds. PA Wind surfers take advantage of Storm Ali hits land at Barassie beach on in Troon,Scotland. Getty Images People walk along Tynemouth Beach on the North East Coast, as the Met Office has updated its amber wind warning for Storm Al PA Photo taken with permission from the twitter feed of @cuthbert_church of a blown over tree in the ground of St Cuthbert's Church, Edinburgh as Storm Ali has hit the region. PA A tree which has fallen onto a car in Belfast as Storm Ali has begun to make itself felt across Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland and England with 91mph winds. PA A plane lands in strong cross winds at Leeds Bradford Airport as Storm Ali hits the UK. PA A plane lands in torrential rain at Leeds Bradford Airport as Storm Ali hits the UK. PA A fallen tree on part of the A75 in Dumfries and Galloway, near the Collin bypass, which blocked the road for about an hour on Wednesday, as Storm Ali causes major traffic disruption in Scotland. PA A member of the public walks her dogs on a beach ahead of Storm Ali on September 19, 2018 in Saltcoats, Scotland Getty Images Workmen deal with a fallen tree on Finglass Road by Glasnevin Cemetary, Dublin as Storm Ali has made itself felt across the Republic of Ireland. PA Strong winds blow sand across the seafront at Troon Beach in Ayrshire as Storm Ali has begun to make itself felt across Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland and England with 60mph winds. PA Members of the public struggle in the wind as Storm Ali hits land in Blackpool, England. Getty Images Members of the public struggle in the wind as Storm Ali hits land on September 19, 2018 in Blackpool, England Getty Images A man looks at debris at the scene in Claddaghduff, near Clifden in Co Galway where a woman died after her caravan was blown off a cliff in Storm Ali which has brought gusts of 91mph. PA Sand is blown in the wind as Storm Ali hits land on September 19, 2018 in Saltcoats, Scotland. Getty Images A man walks along Troon beach in Ayrshire as Storm Ali has begun to make itself felt across Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland and England with 60mph winds. PA Workmen deal with a fallen tree on Finglass Road by Glasnevin Cemetary, Dublin as Storm Ali has made itself felt across the Republic of Ireland. PA

A statement by Garda confirmed a search was carried out at the scene on the beach and a short time after the body of a female in her 50s was recovered.

Meanwhile, a woman was seriously injured after a tree fell on to her car in Tarporley, Cheshire.

A spokesman for Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service said crews were called to Forest Road just after 1.30pm when the tree fell on the car, trapping the woman inside.

She was taken to hospital by air ambulance.

Police clear a tree as Storm Ali hits land on Wednesday / Getty Images

The Met Office said gusts of 91mph hit Killowen in County Down, 77mph winds were recorded in Kirkcudbrightshire in Scotland, 74mph gusts hit Capel Curig in Wales and 68mph was recorded in St Bees Head, Cumbria.

Irish forecaster Met Eireann said strongest gusts in the hour leading up to 1pm include 104km/h (64.6mph) at Dublin Airport, 93km/h (57.8mph) at Knock Airport and 83km/h (51.6mph) at Shannon Airport.

Forecasters in Ireland issued a Status Orange wind warning for more than half the country due to the storm.

As Ali rolled in, the Met Office updated its amber weather warning of wind, warning of a high likelihood of impacts across a swathe of the UK.

The weather alert, which was in place until Wednesday evening, warned that flying debris was likely and could lead to injuries or danger to life.

A tree which has fallen onto a car in Belfast as Storm Ali has begun to make itself felt across Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland and England / PA

The Met Office said gusts of 91mph hit Killowen in County Down, 77mph winds were recorded in Kirkcudbrightshire in Scotland, 74mph gusts hit Capel Curig in Wales and 68mph was recorded in St Bees Head, Cumbria.

Irish forecaster Met Eireann said strongest gusts in the hour leading up to 1pm include 104km/h (64.6mph) at Dublin Airport, 93km/h (57.8mph) at Knock Airport and 83km/h (51.6mph) at Shannon Airport.

Forecasters in Ireland issued a Status Orange wind warning for more than half the country due to the storm.

As Ali rolled in, the Met Office updated its amber weather warning of wind, saying there is a high likelihood of impacts across a swathe of the UK.

The weather alert, which is in place until Wednesday evening, warns that flying debris is likely and could lead to injuries or danger to life.T esco declared war on its discount supermarket rivals Aldi and Lidl on Wednesday when it unveiled the first branches of its new cut price spin-out chain called Jacks.

The no-frills stores  named in tribute to Tescos founder Jack Cohen  will sell mostly British-made food and drink at the lowest possible prices.

It will stock groceries and toiletries under the Jack label, as well as a small selection of well-known food brands such as Marmite and Cadbury chocolate and a range of general merchandise on a "When its Gone, Its Gone basis.

Tesco chief executive Dave Lewis said: Jack Cohen championed value for customers and changed the face of British shopping. Hes an inspiration for all of us and that same spirit still drives Tesco now.

Tesco's new chain of stores Jack's will take on German discounters Aldi and Lidl / PA

Its about being cheapest in town. No other retail offer in the UK matches that proposition. He promised great tasting food at the lowest possible prices with 8 out of 10 products grown, reared or made in Britain.

Over the next six months between 10 to 15 Jacks stores will be opened  the first two on Thursday in Chatteris, Cambridgeshire and Immingham, Lincolnshire.

Some will be new stores next to existing Tescos and a small number converted Tesco shops. Each will have about 2,600 products, including 1,800 of Jacks own brand. Tesco said: Its a no-fuss approach with a simplified range, no fancy fixtures or fittings, and no added extras, just good quality at low prices.

Goods go on sale at Tesco's Jack's store in Chatteris, Cambridgeshire / PA

The big four supermarkets, including Sainsburys, Asda and Morrisons, have lost millions of customers to Aldi and Lidl as squeezed consumers flock to the bargains these offer.

The two German-owned retailers have nearly doubled their market share of the grocery sector to 13.1 per cent since 2013, industry figures revealed on Tuesday.

Tesco chief executive Dave Lewis, at the new Jack's store in Chatteris, Cambridgeshire / PA

Thanks to the buying muscle of Tesco, Jack's should be able to undercut the discounters on prices, Lewis said.

He added: "[It's] better to cannibalise yourself than have others do it."

Jack Cohen set up a market stall selling army surplus stock in Well Street, Hackney in 1919. Mr Lewis said: Its fitting that today, we mark the beginning of Tescos celebration of 100 Years of Great Value by launching a new brand, and stores bearing his name.

Tesco is still the number-one player with a 27.4 per cent market share  but this would change if a 14 billion merger between Sainsburys and Asda gets the go-ahead from the Competition and Markets Authority.A university cleaner said he feels like a "trillionaire" after students raised more than 1,500 to send him and his wife on holiday to Jamaica.

Some 230 students from the University of Bristol crowdfunded the week-long trip for Herman Gordon and his wife Denise, so he could visit his family for the first time in a decade.

The fundraiser meant he and his wife were able to stay at the Sandals resort in Montego Bay, where they celebrated their 23rd wedding anniversary.

The couple enjoyed a two-night stay at the resort as a 23rd wedding anniversary celebration / Sandals

The couple plan to continue their holiday visiting family in Kingston.

Mr Gordon said: "God bless you all. Everybody will see this and think that I'm a trillionaire."

Mr and Mrs Gordon plan to continue their holiday visiting family in Kingston / Sandals

Mrs Gordon added: I just wanted to say thank you to all the University of Bristol students for this gift that they have given to me and Herman."

The cleaner, who has worked at the university for 12 years, came to the UK from Kingston, Jamaica, as part of the Windrush generation.

Cleaner moved to tears after Bristol students raised 1500 to send him to Jamaica

He is described as the "epitome of happiness" by students.

The crowdfunding page was set up after students began posting about Mr Gordon on the Bristruths Facebook page.

The target was reached a week.

In a post on the Facebook page on Tuesday, an administrator wrote: "We're delighted to say that Herman loved his holiday at a five star resort in Jamaica along with his wife Denise.British Columbia has had one of its worst fire seasons on record, with over 13,300 square kilometres ravaged in more than 2,000 fires over the summer months.

A fire map shows constant wildfires spread over British Columbia (BC Wildfire Services)

There are currently around 340 wildfires burning simultaneously in the province, according to the BC Wildfire Service.A young boy has been arrested in Australia after he admitted putting needles in strawberries.

Detectives from New South Wales said that a young boy was arrested in the last few days after he admitted to a prank which involved putting needles in the fruit.

Police in Australia are investigating more than 100 reports of needles found in fruit. They believe that there is more than one perpetrator and that some of the cases are the work of copycat offenders or hoaxes.

NSW Acting Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith said: Obviously in the last few days we found a young person has admitted to a prank, including putting needles in strawberries.

Mr Smith said the boy will be dealt with under the youth cautioning system, Seven News reports.

A needle found in a strawberry bought from Woolworths / Joshua Gane/Facebook

In a statement released by NSW on Tuesday, a spokesman for the force said offenders found guilty of deliberately contaminating food face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Detectives have vowed offenders will feel the full force of the law if found contaminating fruit.

The Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia plans to increase the maximum jail term to 15 years for anyone convicted of contaminating food.

The government will also move to criminalise hoax claims before parliament rises for a two-week holiday on Thursday, Mr Morrison said.

"It's not funny, putting the livelihoods of hard-working Australians at risk," the prime minister told reporters in Canberra. "If you do that sort of thing in this country we will come after you and we will throw the book at you."

Australia's Attorney-General Christian Porter said that the government was looking at introducing a maximum 10-year jail sentence for hoaxers.

Police received the first report of a needle found in strawberries in Queensland on September 12.

Officers later received reports that up to three brands  Berry Obsession, Berry Licious and Donnybrook  had been affected. Strawberries sold by these brands have since been recalled.

New South Wales police also received reports that needles had been found in a banana and an apple. These two are being treated as isolated incidents.

A child at Newcastle primary school reportedly found a needle inside a banana in their lunchbox on Wednesday before teachers and police were alerted.

In a statement released on Facebook, teachers at the school urged parents to cut up fruit in their childs lunch box before packing it to prevent further contamination.

Prime Minister Mr Morrison added: Some idiot, for his own reasons, has engaged in an act of sabotage.

He branded the behaviour reckless and as he announced he is seeking harsher penalties for copycat offenders.L os Angeles is on track to become the largest US city to ban the sale of fur sparking hope among animal rights groups for "the end of the barbaric fur industry".

Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to outlaw the trade of fur clothes and accessories, months after San Francisco voted for a similar ban in March.

The Los Angeles City Attorney will now draw up an order for approval by the City Council, which would then be signed by Mayor Eric Garcetti.

Animal rights groups welcomed the proposed legislation, which will be phased in two years after it passes into law.

"Los Angeles historic move to ban fur sales today is likely to herald the end of the barbaric fur industry for good," Marilyn Kroplick, president of In Defence of Animals, said in a statement.

"This major city sets global fashion and culture trends, and has sent a message to the world that animals should not be abused for clothing."

Councilman Paul Koretz, left, said he hoped the proposed ban would be an example to other cities worldwide / AP

It comes amid a growing trend among luxury designers such as Burberry and Gucci of shunning the use of animal fur, and follows the first-ever fur-free London Fashion Week.

Councilman Paul Koretz said the ban was intended as an example he hoped other cities would follow worldwide.

"Los Angeles is one of the fashion capitals of the world, and if we can do it here, we can do it anywhere and hopefully we will be an example for the rest of the country and the rest of the world," said Mr Koretz said at a news conference.

"We're not blazing a new trail here. San Francisco's done it, West Hollywood's done it, but never a city of our size, so we hope that New York City and Chicago and Miami are all watching."T he former Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif has been released from prison just two months after beginning a 10-year sentence.

Sharif, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law were freed on bail by the Islamabad High court as part of an appeals hearing into their sentences for corruption.

The court suspended their sentences on Wednesday after the Sharifs appealed them.

Sharif was sentenced in July after being found guilty of corrupt practices related to the ownership of four luxury properties in central London that were linked to his family. His daughter received seven years for abetting a crime and one year for not co-operating, while his son-in-law was handed a one-year sentence for not co-operating. All three deny wrongdoing.

The convictions barred them from seeking public office for 10 years after their release from prison.

Who is Nawaz Sharif?

Sharif attends the funeral of his wife, Kulsoom Nawaz, in Lahore, Pakistan / EPA

Nawaz Shariff served as Prime Minister of Pakistan for three terms from 1990-1993, 1997-1999 and 2013-2017 as leader of the Pakistan Muslim League party.

But in July 2017, Sharif was ousted and disqualified from holding office by the Supreme Court over the corruption allegations.

He faced several court cases at home and was later convicted of concealing assets abroad and jailed earlier this year in absentia.

He was arrested on July 13 upon returning from London.

The case against Sharif stemmed from the 2016 Panama papers which linked his family to off-shore companies.

The daughter of Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Maryam Nawaz (R) and her mother Kulsoom Nawaz wave to supporters during an election campaign rally in Lahore in 2013 / AFP/Getty Images

Sharif has repeatedly called the cases against him politically motivated, suggesting collusion between the military and courts to destabilise his party and throw him out of power.

Sharif and his daughter were jailed shortly before July's general election in Pakistan. Later that month Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz lost to Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.

In Wednesday's decision, the court also ordered the three could be released once they each post a bond of half a million rupees, or about 3,000.

The Sharifs appealed their sentences and the suspension of them is part of the process.

What happens next?

The jail sentences which were imposed by the lower court have now been suspended, pending the Sharif's appeal hearings.

They are expected to be released on bail soon.

A date for an appeal hearing has yet to be fixed.A huge cloud of smoke is rising over Washington DC as firefighters tackle a blaze at a five storey apartment complex for senior citizens.

The inferno at Arthur Capper Senior Public Housing in Capitol Hill has been described as a heavy fire.

It is unclear if anyone has been injured yet but firefighters have been making rescues and evacuating occupants.

People have been seen running towards the building with wheelchairs, WTOP reported.

An update from DC Fire and EMS said: "#DCsBravest continue to evacuate the residents of 2 alarm fire 900 5th St SE. This 5 story building houses senior citizens.

"We are using large water streams to attack the fire in the roof and attic, without endangering residents or firefighters."

Smoke was visible on Capitol Hill, with images showing the cloud rising to the side of The White House.

Marines have also been seen running to the building.

Firefighters have said there is fire on the fourth and fifth floors and through the roof.

Fire in Navy Yard, Washington DC. Seen from my flight from Nashville. Yikes! pic.twitter.com/PM1UIYh9yvA suspect has been fatally shot and four others wounded after gun shots were fired in a software company in Wisconsin.

The gunman was shot by officers, who were reported to an active shooter situation at software company WTS Paradigm at about 10.25am (US time).

Middleton Police Chief Chuck Foulke confirmed the suspect was shot by officers, but did not release any details about the suspect or how the attack unfolded.

He said officers were still interviewing witnesses, many of whom fled the office building or hid inside after gunshots rang out.

People are escorted out of a software company / AP

Mr Foulke said three people were injured in the shooting, though the City Administrator Mike Davis said earlier that the number of injured was four.

A total of five patients were taken to hospitals in nearby Madison following the shooting.

According to the hospitals, one patient was in critical condition on Wednesday afternoon, two were in serious condition, and one had injuries that were not life-threatening. The condition of the other was not released.

Police have not released details about how the shooting unfolded, but witnesses said they heard gunfire around 10am.

Emergency personnel on the scene / AP

Judy Lahmers, a business analyst at WTS Paradigm, said she was working at her desk when she heard what sounded "like somebody was dropping boards on the ground, really loud".

Ms Lahmers said she ran out of the building and hid behind a car.

She said the building's glass entrance door shattered.

The shooting happened in Middleton, a suburb of Madison, in Wisconsin / AP

"I'm not looking back, I'm running as fast as I can. You just wonder, 'Do you hide or do you run?"' she told The Associated Press.

She said she knew that one co-worker had been grazed by a bullet but was OK. She did not have any other information about the shooting, but said it was "totally unexpected. We're all software people. We have a good group".Denis Norden dies, aged 96

His family said the It'll Be Alright On The Night host died on Wednesday morning after spending many weeks in hospital.

Norden presented the ITV bloopers show for 29 years until his retirement in 2006.

North Korea offers to dismantle nuclear complex... and wants to host the Olympics with the South

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has agreed to dismantle his main nuclear complex if the United States takes corresponding measures, South Korean president Moon Jae-in has said.

The leaders of the two Koreas have been holding talks in Pyongyang and said the North would also tear down a missile engine test site and launch pad.

Kim Jong-un added the countries had agreed to make the Korean Peninsula a land of peace that is free from nuclear weapons and nuclear threat.

They will also seek to host the 2032 Summer Olympics together.

Batten down the hatches for Storm Ali

An amber warning covering Northern Ireland, northern parts of England and southern Scotland has prompted the Met Office to warn people to beware of flying debris which could pose a danger to life.

A yellow weather warning covers the rest of Scotland, Yorkshire and northern parts of Wales.

Southern parts of England and Wales could reach unseasonable highs of up to 24C, but even areas outside the official weather warnings are unlikely to escape the wet and windy conditions, forecasters say.

New call for compromise by May over Brexit

With EU leaders preparing to gather in Salzburg, Michel Barnier said he was working on an improved plan to avoid the return of a hard border while respecting the territorial integrity of the UK.

The Prime Minister will brief the other 27 leaders on her proposals over dinner today, telling them the UKs position had evolved and the EU had to do the same.

The EU leaders will then hold a separate discussion on Thursday after Mrs May has left.

Late Champions League drama for English clubs

Tottenham and Liverpool had contrasting nights of late drama in the Champions League.

Great British Bake Off reprieve

Judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood felt unable to pick a contestant to leave because retired air steward Terry was unwell and did not take part in the show's dessert week.

However, the competitors were warned it may mean two of them depart next week.

On this day

1839: George Cadbury was born in Birmingham. He expanded his father's chocolate business and established a model village for his workers at Bourneville.

1876: The first carpet-sweeper was patented by Melville Bissell of Grand Rapids in Michigan.

1888: The world's first beauty contest took place in Spa, Belgium.

1928: The first cartoon talking picture, Walt Disney's Steamboat Willie, featuring Mickey Mouse, was shown in New York.

1960: Chubby Checker's The Twist - a cover of an original Hank Ballard song - entered the US charts and launched a dance craze.S tranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown has told how she turns to friend Drake for boy advice.

The 14-year-old actress struck up a friendship with the Gods Plan rapper, 31, after they met in Australia last year.

Speaking about their relationship to Access Hollywood, she said: I love him I met him in Australia and hes honestly so fantastic and a great friend and a great role model.

We just texted each other the other day and he was like, 'I miss you so much' and I was like 'I miss you more.

Asked about what advice he gives her, she revealed: About boys, he helps me.

Brown also went on to reveal plans to meet-up with her pal soon.

She said: Hes coming to Atlanta so Im definitely gonna go and see him. Im so excited.

Role Model: Brown gushed over her superstar pal / Jonathan Short/Invision/AP

Speaking to W Magazine, she said: He invited me to his concert.

And now we talk all the time. I ask his advice.

The duos friendship was first revealed when an image of them circulated last year.

Earlier this year, Brown posted a snap alongside Drizzy joking that he was her plus one and her security guard.

She wrote: Blessed to have my security be my +1 at the netflix party.

However, despite being comfortable with the Canadian rapper, the 14-year-old told how she still gets nervous around other celebrities since finding fame on the Netflix show.

Brown said: I don't think I've changed. I'm not thinking, Oh, I know everything now. I still get nervous. I still get anxious.P aul OGrady has claimed he and his husband were victims of homophobic abuse while travelling on a London-bound flight.

The TV star said his husband, Andre Portasio, was called a f***ing queer by another passenger while they were on board a British Airways flight to Bangkok from to London.

Mr OGrady also claimed his partner was taunted with a sexual jibe, the Sun reported.

The former Blind Date host said: I stood up and said, Youre lucky were not in the street, mate, because youd be eating your dinner through a straw.

He didnt know I was sitting next to Andre. Then the bonehead was saying something about me thinking I could do whatever I wanted because I was famous.

He claimed Andre had been looking at him, which was ridiculous. I mean, he was this typical English yob with a beard and a beer belly.

He added it could have turned nasty on board the flight.V ogue Williams looked stunning as she hit the red carpet for her first public appearance, two weeks after becoming a mum.

The TV presenter, 32, gave birth to son Theodore with husband Spencer Matthews earlier this month.

Williams hid any signs of sleep deprivation as she mingled with stars including Ella Eyre, Ashley Roberts and Love Islands Megan Barton-Hanson at the Revlon x Adwoa Aboah Live Boldly London Fashion Week bash.

Williams posed for the cameras in a black suit with a plunging neckline. She teamed the look with striped heels and a colourful bag.

Party time: Vogue Williams with Ashley Roberts / Dave Benett

She reportedly left the party, held at Jack Solomons Club, early to dash home to feed her newborn, according to OK! magazine.

Williams and Matthews welcomed their first child together on September 5, three months after they tied the knot at a private ceremony in Scotland.

The happy couple revealed they are bursting with love as they opened up about becoming parents in an interview with HELLO! magazine.

Obviously Vogue did all of the hard work and I have nothing but love and respect for how she dealt with it all in the most admirable way, Matthews said.

I could not be more proud of her.

Speaking about how they chose the name Theodore, Williams said: We heard the name Theodore one day and both loved it. We thought we would call him Teddy but since he has been born we have stayed with Theodore rather than shortening it.S esame Street double act Bert and Ernie are not gay  but Piers Morgan is refusing to accept the news.

Sesame Workshop shut down claims the puppet pair are in a relationship, confirming they are simply best friends after writer Mark Saltzman said the characters reflected experiences he had during his relationship with film editor Arnold Glassman.

In a statement a spokesman said: Even though they are identified as male characters and possess many human traits and characteristics (as most Sesame Street Muppets do), they remain puppets and do not have a sexual orientation.

Morgan launched a furious tirade on Good Morning Britain as he discussed the breaking news with co-host Susanna Reid, saying he refuses to believe the puppets are friends.

What are you doing Sesame Street? Im not having it, he said. Theyre clearly gay.

Breaking news: The organisation behind Sesame Street has said characters Bert and Ernie are 'best friends' / Bongarts/Getty Images

Reid replied: I just dont think we should sexualise Sesame Street.

Morgan branded the talk a farce before taking aim at Kermit and Miss Piggy, saying: Miss Piggy and Kermit we know had sex. They got married. Is there now going to be a statement about Miss Piggy and Kermit? Was Kermit gender fluid after all? Was the marriage ever consummated? If not, was it a real marriage?

Calling in to question: Piers Morgan started questioning the relationship between Kermit and Miss Piggy / EPA

We need to know these things. We cant just view them as innocent puppets. We must now go into all these ridiculous areas of these puppets.

Bert and Ernie have appeared on Sesame Street since it first aired in the US in 1969.

They live in a flat together on the fictional street and sleep in separate beds.

Sesame Street introduces autistic character

Saltzman, who also wrote more than 50 songs for the show, said he wrote Bert and Ernie as a loving couple.

I remember one time that a column from The San Francisco Chronicle, a preschooler in the city turned to mom and asked are Bert & Ernie lovers? And that, coming from a preschooler was fun, he told lifestyle publication Queerty.

And that got passed around, and everyone had their chuckle and went back to it. And I always felt that without a huge agenda, when I was writing Bert & Ernie, they were. I didnt have any other way to contextualise them.| BY Ricki Green |

The latest from EXIT director Mark Molloy is an emotional 2-minute film for Camelots The National Lottery via adam&eveDDB (London).

Amazing Starts Here launches a major new brand promise and highlights how, no matter how big or small the win, the prizes make amazing things happen for ordinary people. Fisherman debuted last weekend during ITVs The X Factor UK to an estimated more than 5.7m viewers.

Molloy shot the multi-channel ad in Macduff, Scotland and tells the story of a hardworking fisherman and mum who change their lives with a winning ticket. The film is shot through a lens of compelling realism, detailing the harsh realities that many working lives face daily.

Molloys spot, via Smuggler, will be supported by TV, online, social and outdoor ads featuring people at the moment they realise they are winners.

Contact Leah Churchill-Brown at leah@exit.com.au for enquiries.

Client  Camelot

Brand  The National Lottery

Head of Brand Marketing  Hayley Stringfellow

Agency  Adam&eveDDB (UK)

Group Executive Creative Director  Ben Tollett

Chief Creative Officer  Richard Brim

Deputy Executive Creative Director  Antony Nelson

Copywriter  Andy McAnaney

Art Director  Christian Sewell

Agency Producer  Sian Parker

Chief Strategy Officer  David Golding

Planning Directors  Hannah MacKenzie, Thomas Keane

Managing Partner  Sam LeCoeur

Business Director  Sarah Kay

Account Director  Loella Bowles

Account Manager  Ashley Lewis

Account Executive  Frankie Cuffaro

Media Agency  Vizeum

Production Company  Smuggler

Executive Producer  Fergus Brown

Producer  Nick Sutherland Dodd

Director  Mark Molloy

DOP  Steve Annis

Editing Company  The Quarry

Editor  Paul Watts

Post Production  MPC

Post Producer  Amy Richardson

VFX Shoot Attend  Timo Huber

VFX Lead  Dan Sanders

Colourist  Tom Poole, Company 3

Music Supervisors  Toby Williams, Codie Childs, Leland Music

Audio Post Production  Sam Ashwell, 750mphCountries & Areas

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McCann Melbourne has today announced the appointment of Georgie Pownall as managing director.

With over twenty years experience in marketing and advertising, Pownall joins McCann most recently from Publicis Mojo having worked previously for leading agencies such as The Campaign Palace, DDB, Saatchi & Saatchi, CHE and as product manager for the iconic Barbie brand.

Pownall says its her mission to partner with ambitious, like-minded clients who want to make an impact by solving business and communications problems in unexpected ways.

Says Pownall: Im extremely excited to enter McCann at such a formative time. McCann Melbourne has enormous growth potential and continues to be a proven creative powerhouse.

Says Nicole Taylor, CEO, McCann Australia: Georgie is an inspiring leader, whose passion for creativity is infectious and will be instrumental in bringing to life our shared vision for McCann Melbourne.| BY Ricki Green |

Apostrophe, Melbournes first copywriting collective, is launching a pop-up office in Amsterdam this September with Lauren Brumley (left), Apostrophes head strategist, at the helm. Since its inception in 2012, Apostrophe has continued its steady growth trajectory, expanding globally to accommodate clients in cities as diverse as Helsinki, NYC, Los Angeles, Kuwait and the Netherlands.

In 2014 Apostrophe founder and director, Crystal Fong piloted a successful international pop-up office in Tokyo, attracting widespread acclaim in the Pan-Asian region. In more recent years, much of Apostrophes revenue has come from the Northern Hemisphere and more than 61% of Apostrophes traffic comes from design-centric cities around the globe.

As one of the most design-centric cities on the planet  a strong focus on design is synonymous with a strong focus on copy  Amsterdam is ideally situated to be home to the next Apostrophe satellite office. And a Northern Hemisphere workforce will provide clients with a point of contact in both Northern and Southern time zones.

Brumley brings with her a wealth of industry knowledge garnered over seven years in the advertising and copywriting industry, creating strategies that invariably resonate with customers in the long term and increase ROI for clients across a multitude of platforms and industries. As a strategist in the digital and planning team at Cummins&Partners, she helped the Australian Red Cross increase blood donation, developed effective Facebook campaigns for global behemoths Asahi Premium Beverages, and came up with persuasive and winning strategies for the likes of Tourism WA, Energy Australia and Kiehls.

Since joining Apostrophe, she had been able to reconnect with brands in a more client-focused environment. As part of the collective, Brumley has emptied the minds of med-tech professionals at Quro by turning 500 pages of thinking into a hierarchical pyramid; herded hospitality giants into a room to discuss the future of fish at Paper Fish; and gathered university marketers to show them that theyre the journey, rather than the destination for UTS Insearch. In Amsterdam, shell be strategically positioned to assist European brand owners, start-ups and organisations  anyone who has a great idea but needs the word-based solutions to match. Shell be supported by Apostrophe HQ in Melbourne and its collective of writers peppered around the world.

Brumley believes that Amsterdam is one of the most exciting and innovative cities in Europe.

Says Brumley: Amsterdam is a hub of new ideas, great design and start-ups that are changing the way we work and live. Were excited to introduce new Northern Hemisphere clients to the Apostrophe model, so we can work together to build their brands through words.

Fong, is also enthusiastic about the chance to expand and work with new clients in different time zones.The signatories of an open letter through which the "immediate resignation" of Liviu Dragnea from the positions of PSD (Social Democratic Party, main at rule, ed. n.) leader and Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, is demanded, do not want to undermine the party, but the continuation of the projects promised in the electoral campaign, the only problem being that "Dragnea has grabbed the party in his own name", on Wednesday said the Bucharest General Mayor Gabriela Firea, Vice President of PSD, stressing that the ones involved in this demarche are more than a few to count and will come with a mandate to this Friday's CExN (National Executive Committee, ed. n.) meeting.

"We are enough presidents of county councils, members of the Executive Committee who are adhering to the principles and values expressed in this document, but the decision was that for this stage, we are the three persons who publicly assume the contents of this joint declaration on the state of PSD. We are not seeking the PSD's undermining, as they say these days. I wish to draw attention that PSD cannot be led arbitrarily by one single person, as happens, at least in the last year, and what I have voiced at the Neptun Executive Committee's meeting was not a singular situation. (...) We do not want to tear the party apart, we say that it is not normal for a political formation that has received the Romanians' vote to run the country in a good way, to be stalled and crushed as public perception because certain measures are taken that are not the fruit and the outcome of consultations," Gabriela Firea said in a phone call to the private Digi 24 TV broadcaster.

She denounced "a narrow group of persons - the Scrovistea group" that is making the decisions in the name of the PSD leadership, outside the party's leading forums."It is an increasingly select group of people - we call it the Scrovistea group - who get together, make important decisions for the country and not for a group of persons, some decisions being at issue, and some of which simply drawing a negative public opinion, and not only on the PSD members' behalf, but on behalf of all Romanians. We further wish to have stability at rule, we also wish to see an improving governance, we wish an enhanced PSD-ALDE majority coalition in Parliament, the only problem we find abnormal to tolerate because it harms not only the party but also the governing with direct effects upon the Romanians, is the very person of Mr. Dragnea, who took the party for granted in his own name and is leading it in a wrong direction so many times," the City Mayor asserted.In the Vice President's opinion, "Dragnea rushed" the summoning of the Executive Committee, after the letter of the three PSD leaders surfaced in the media."I find that Mr. Dragnea had no intention to convene the CexN this week, instead he rushed it because he noticed that what he had been mocking in the past days, namely a letter allegedly lost somewhere, minimizing this extremely serious demarche, already joined by our colleagues in the CExN enough not to be ignored any more. We'll show up at the CExN with a clear mandate that will decide one way or another. We were voted by the Romanians to get busy with their prosperity and our country's image abroad, to never put it in an unpleasant picture and a delicate situation and moreover to continue all that has been done at rule," Gabriela Firea detailed.She made an appeal to the PSD Chair to observe the decisions that are to be made on Friday at the CexN reunion.The PSD Vice President added that she first tried to "amicably" solve the issues related to Bucharest in her talks with Liviu Dragnea. He instead "kicked off a raging campaign for her to be denigrated via his counselors."Gabriela Firea reasserted she doesn't want "under no circumstances" to take over the PSD leadership, not even interim, nor will she run next year at the party's congress.Foreign Affairs Minister Teodor Melescanu brought to mind the importance Romania gives to research and innovation, on Wednesday, upon welcoming Secretary General of the "Alexander von Humboldt" Foundation in Romania, Dr. Enno Aufderheide, in Bucharest in the context of the "Humboldt" Club Romania having organised the conference with the topic "World War and Beyond: Human Tragedies, Social Challenges, Scientific and Cultural Responses" (17-19 September), informs a MAE press release sent to AGERPRES.

The head of the Romanian diplomacy thanked the Secretary General for involving the "Alexander von Humboldt" Foundation in promoting excellency in the domain by offering scholarships to Romanian researchers and research institutes, reads the release.

The two dignitaries discussed about the development perspectives in education, culture and research and innovation, as well as within the European initiatives. The Romanian official hailed the collaboration between the German Linguistics Institute (Institut fur Deutsche Sprache), the Bucharest University, "Mihai Draganescu" Reasearch Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Bucharest and the Theoretical Information Technology Institute in Iasi, in carrying out the Romanian Academy's priority project - CoRoLa, financed by the "Alexander von Humboldt" Foundation. Moreover, Teodor Melescanu voiced his satisfaction for the Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Award granted this year to Romanian researcher Dragos Calma, with the Babes-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca and University College Dublin, for his paper on medieval Neoplatonism.Romania currently has 209 Humboldt scholars in various domains - humanities, life sciences, natural history, engineering, etc. Among the personalities who have benefited from the Humboldt scholarships are Emil Cioran, Andrei Plesu, Gabriel Liiceanu, Victor Pavelescu, Adrian Birzu, as well as the physicists on the Magurele platform.A priority project of the Romanian Academy - CoRoLa is a project funded as an institutional partnership programme by the Humboldt Foundation with the 57,000 euro amount for three years, supporting the building of the reference computational Corpus of the Romanian language (www.corola.racai.ro ) and its use with an analysis technology of the Institut fur Deutsche Sprache, Mannheim, based on the idea of reuniting all European languages corpuses under a unique analysis and operational tool, capable of managing big data (EuReCo).Minister of Agriculture Petre Daea's statements, according to which Romania has had record wheat, maize and sunflower yields this year have caused the cereal prices to collapse, Laurentiu Baciu, chairman of the Association of Agricultural Producers' Associations in Romania (LAPAR) stated on Wednesday.

"Producers are discontent that these statements have led to the collapse of the market and have brought enormous damage. Yields are not by far historic, but lower than last year. For wheat, they are 30 percent lower than last year, for sunflower, by 30-35 percent," Baciu specified.

Moreover, he maintains farmers have incurred losses this summer due to May-June drought and abundant rains in July."How can we ask for compensation from the European Commission for these losses, given that the Agriculture Minister says we have historic yields? These statements have actually reached into our pockets," LAPAR's chairman shows.At the end of August, Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Petre Daea said this year's wheat production is more than 200,000 tonnes higher than last year, exceeding 10 million tonnes, although it was a tough year, in which "Romania has been ravaged by a whole series of extreme natural phenomena."The Agriculture Minister added that Romania also had a good production, much higher than last year, in barley.The Romanian Member of the European Parliament Mircea Diaconu (Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe) asks in an open letter to Romania's President and Government their involvement in solving the problems on the violation of the rights of the Romanians from abroad.

Presenting some of the aspects pointed out by the participants in a public haring recently hosted at the European Parliament, referring to the rights of the Romanians living in Serbia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, the Republic of Moldova, Albania, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Mircea Diaconu, Vice Chair of the European Parliament's Committee on Culture and Education, calls on the Romanian authorities, on behalf of the Romanian historical communities from abroad, to react in order to put a stop to the phenomena of alienation and forced assimilation of these communities and the deterioration of their culture, language and history elements.

During the public hearing called "Romania and Historical Regions: Culture, Identity, European Values" that took place at the European Parliament on 5 September 2018, among other things were brought to mind the assaults of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) upon the "Eudoxiu Hurmuzachi" Romanian Cultural Centre in Cernauti, the ban of the Romanians' right from the Serbian Timoc Valley to their own language, culture and religion, the failure to recognize as a national minority the 160,000 Romanians of Bulgaria and of the Macedo-Romanians of Greece, the recent ban on entry on the territory of the Republic of Moldova of a rather large number of citizens of Romania and Moldova who were heading for Chisinau with the goal to peacefully celebrate the Greater Union Centennial, which represented a serious violation of the cooperation agreement in the visa field between the European Union and Moldova.The conclusion of the voiced evidence is that although Romania's policy as regards the protection of the rights of the minorities living on its territory is recognised as one of the most advanced in Europe, the Romanian communities abroad do not benefit unfortunately from the same treatment, but from a continuously degrading one, the letter made public on Wednesday reads.The Romanian MEP specifies that the authorities' steps in view of preventing such situations must be taken coherently by Romania, as a EU member state, with all the relevant rights and all the authority conferred by this quality."Unfortunately, we all are guilty for reaching this point, due to too many concessions - some justified, perhaps, yet still concessions - that in this century, in this European Year of the Cultural Heritage and on this Centennial Year, there is something called "the guilt of being Romanian", a guilt that is only treated through "the courage to be Romanian" of those who live abroad, yet not that far from Romania," Mircea Diaconu says in his open letter.MEP Siegfried Muresan maintained on Wednesday that the letter through which leaders of the Social-Democratic Party (PSD) are requesting the resignation of Liviu Dragnea (the party's chairman, ed.n.) is just an "internal squabble", and the "only good thing" for Romania would be for the chairman of the Social-Democratic Party to leave the leadership of the Chamber of Deputies, the current Government to resign and an Executive to be installed that will "do right by the Romanian people" during Romania's Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

"Any Social-Democrat that will come in Dragnea's place will act the same way and will be just as harmful for the governing and Romanians. Especially now since we are due to take over the Presidency of the European Union. PSD is a completely discredited party in Europe. The letter of a few PSD leaders requesting Dragnea's resignation is just an internal squabble. The only good thing for Romania would be Liviu Dragnea's resignation as Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, the resignation of the Dancila Government and installation of a Government that will do right by the Romanian people during its the EU Presidency," Muresan Wednesday wrote on Facebook.Romania is a firm and responsible ally of the United States, and for cooperation to develop within the Strategic Partnership as many investments as possible are needed, Prime Minister Viorica Dancila stated on Wednesday at Victoria Palace during the meeting with the Romanian-American Business Council (AMRO) led by Executive President Eric Stewart, reads a press release of the Government.

The talks held by the premier and several ministers in the Cabinet with the AMRO delegation focused on investment opportunities in Romania as strengthening leverage of the cooperation between Romania and the United States in all the domains within the Strategic Partnership.

The Prime Minister presented the investment boosting measures already adopted by the Gov't, among which the amendment of the public procurement Law, the state aid scheme for investments with a major economic impact, as well as the 21 projects to be accomplished in private-public partnership.According to the release, the representatives of the US companies present at the meeting thanked the Government for their openness and showed interest in extending investments in Romania's defence industry, the medical, IT, energy and infrastructure fields."AMRO Executive President Eric Stewart gave assurances that the representatives of the US investors will further uphold Romania's joining the OECD," the release informs.Another important aspect of the discussions was the development of cooperation in the defence industry. In context, National Defence Minister Mihai Fifor mentioned Romania's privileged relation with the United States and the share held by defence in the cooperation within the Strategic Partnership.Moreover, with regard to the interest manifested by the US investors in the defence industry in Romania, the Government's interest in boosting investments was underscored."We wish the largest possible share of the 2 percent of the GDP allocated to defence be found in the national defence industry, by drawing offset contracts - technological transfer and industrial cooperation," Minister Fifor stated as quoted in the release.Prime Minister Viorica Dancila met on Wednesday, at Victoria Palace, with the Vice-President of the Republic of India, Venkaiah M. Naidu, on which occasion the Romanian dignitary reiterated the Government's desire to consolidate the Romanian-Indian bilateral cooperation in all fields of common interest.

"The visit to Romania reflects the importance the Republic of India grants to developing political and economic relations with Romania, a fact which was confirmed by the parliamentary, governmental and business component of the official delegation. The year 2018 has a special significance to the bilateral relation. 70 years ago, Romania was one of the first states that established diplomatic relations with your country. We are also celebrating 5 years since establishing the extended partnership between Romania and the Republic of India. Our countries' relations have a solid foundation, on which we can develop our mutually agreed priorities within this partnership. During today's talks I have reiterated the Romanian Government's firm interest in consolidating Romanian-Indian bilateral relations in all areas of shared interest. In this sense, I have talked about more efficiently using our existing dialogue mechanisms and about the opportunity of identifying new ones," Viorica Dancila told the joint press statements alongside the Vice President of the Republic of India.

The Prime Minister underlined that there are numerous cooperation sectors between Romania and India with a real development potential, such as: energy, including renewable energy, transport, agriculture, the food industry, health, information technology and communication, but also "the promising perspectives" in other areas such as digitalization, smart cities, cyber security."I have discussed with the Vice President about the specific ways of intensifying the Romanian-Indian commercial exchanges, so that their level to reach the two economies' real potential. Furthermore, I have expressed interest in attracting more Indian investments in Romania, including through public-private partnerships. I deem important the organisation of the Romanian-Indian Economic Forum on the sidelines of the visit. We have agreed on granting special piority attention to the development of collaboration in culture, education and tourism, fields that have established our countries' friendship," Prime Minister Dancila specified."Moreover, I have conveyed to the Vice President the support that Romania will continue to grant the consolidation of the relations between the European Union and the Republic of India, this topic being tackled during our talks from the perspective of Romania's taking over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union," premier Dancila further stated.| BY Lynchy |

The Charoen Pokphand Group (C.P. Group)  Thailands largest private company and one of the worlds largest conglomerates  has launched a brand campaign named Gratitude. The 6-minute online film tells the powerful story of a young teacher and his mother in a remote Thai village.

Gratitude has always been an integral part of Thai culture, said Supachai Chearavanont, Chief Executive Officer of C.P. Group. As a Thai business, we wanted to celebrate this unique part of our culture, and the qualities it endears when it comes to how we choose to conduct ourselves in life  and for the C.P. Group  our business.

The C.P. Group traces its humble beginnings to a small seed shop named Chia Tai established in 1921. The conglomerate consists of three core businesses that operate in agribusiness and food, retail and distribution, and the telecommunications industries. Today the group has investments in over 30 countries, employing more than 300,000 people.

This campaign is all about the gratitude we have for all of our consumers, suppliers, and stakeholders that have each played a role in our success, added Chearavanont. We hope it inspires our younger generations to embrace the values of gratitude, just as it drives us to continue improving our own operations, products, and services for the betterment of people, society, and the economy.

Credits

Agency : Ogilvy Group Thailand

Co-Chairman : Nopadol Srikieatikajohn

Creative Director : Panu Meepaibul

Client Service : Chanwoot Luechaisit, Siraphob Jitvanitchakul

Strategic Planner : Puntura Ratsameerat

Agency Producer : Yuthapong Varanukrohchoke

Production House : Sunshine Etcetera

Director : Kumphol Witpiboolrut

Producer : Khanuengnit Wichitsakonkit

1st Assistant Director : Chalee Janpaka

2nd Assistant Director : Prakasit Sunghoi

Director of Photography : Chankit Chamnivikaipong

Production Manager : Natchuda Pho-on

Assistant Production Manager: Thanyamat Yamavirun

Art Director : Ek Iemchuen

Location Manager : Tunyod Kulviroj

Casting Director : Anchisa Eksirimeteekul

Wardrobe Stylist : Thida Rosthip

Post Producer : Wanchai Panpuak

Editor : Manop Boonwipas

Colorist : Chaitawat Thrisansri

Music Composer : Terdsak JanpanThe Cape Coral Construction Industry Association held one if the biggest dinner meetings in its history Thursday, with the main topic being whats been on everyones minds: water quality and what can be done to improve it.

Chris Whittman and Daniel Andrews, founders of Captain for Clean Water, were the guest speakers, who relayed to the local industry leaders that the greatest weapon they have are those who care enough to write to their lawmakers to put cumulative pressure on them to act.

After more than 200 RSVPs were received, the meeting was moved from the Palmetto Pines Country Club to the Westin Cape Coral Resort.

This meeting was anticipated to be among CCCIAs most important, as water quality has a tremendous impact on the city and the industry.

Weve seen it from top to bottom. Tourism numbers are off. We look at people who want to build here, it starts with real estate. If theyre not selling lots, theyre not building the houses, Johnson said. We want clean water so we can continue our thriving industry. When you have more canals than Venice, Italy, water is our bread and butter.

This is a topic that affects everybody, not only construction, but real estate and people who own property, said CCCIA president Ed Ramos. This is our quality of life and it affects our economy, health, everything.

Whittman, a lifelong Floridian, said that water has always been a big part of his life, as have water quality issues that seem to arise every summer during rainy season.

That changed in 2016, when heavy rains during tourist season impacted the economy, including fishermen like himself, forcing him and many to the sidelines.

That hit is economically. Daniel and I were forced out of work. We saw it day after day, the worst we had ever seen it, and it was getting worse. Whittman said. As we talked about it, we asked ourselves Why havent we done anything?'

They once thought the problem was too big for two fishermen. Whittman said they really just needed to be more educated. He said he didnt want to watch bureaucrats point fingers or send out e-mails, but they had had enough with the states poor water management practices.

That led them to start Captains for Clean Water, a non-profit organization advocating for clean water and healthy estuaries in the state.

Talking to people. We learned that there were thousands of people who thought the same way we did. The more we learned the science-based solutions and what got us here in the first place, the more we realized if people knew what we now knew, this issue would have been fixed years ago, Whitman said.

The problem has been the lack of political will that Whittman said can be countered by the masses using their voices and their votes, which is also a big challenge.

Andrews said another problem is political ignorance, relaying a story of his visit to the South Florida Water Management District meeting that morning, which Cape Coral Mayor Joe Coviello (who was present) and other mayors attended.

Their solution is deep injection wells. Every scientist, stakeholder and individual went up to testify against it, Andrews said. They are also refusing to give water to environments that need it, so when rainy season starts, the lake is already full and they flush the toilet on us.

Andrews said the board accused them of having an agenda and that the executive director said it would take 100 years for them to do all the projects to clean the water. All requests were shot down.

Whittman, as well as many local politicians, have said the algae is a symptom of a broken water management program that has created algae blooms, ecosystem collapse and economic hardship.

The way to fix it is to fix the root cause. The water flow was changed and manipulated and every year the issue gets worse, Whittman said.

To learn more about Captains for Clean Water or to make a donation, go to www.CaptainsForCleanWater.orgFlorida eighth graders still have time to enter AAAs Discovery Crew travel contest. The final day for submissions is Friday, Sept. 21.

Sixty students will win free round trip airfare to Amsterdam, travel insurance, money for passports, and a seven-night river cruise  including all meals and excursions  through the Netherlands and Belgium.

Students can enter for a chance to win at AAA.com/DiscoveryCrew.

To be eligible, students must be:

 Entering the 8th grade in good standing

 At least 13 years old

 Reside in Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, North Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin, or select areas of Illinois, Indiana, or Minnesota

 Students can confirm eligibility when visiting AAA.com/DiscoveryCrew

Entrants are not required to be AAA members.

Winners will be selected based on:

 A creative selfie, showcasing their love for travel

 Their answers to three essay questions:

 Why do you want to go on this trip?

 How do rivers affect the communities through which they run?

 During the trip, youll meet many people. In what ways do you expect the people you meet to be similar to and different from yourself and your friends and family?

Winners will be notified beginning in October. Winning students will bring one parent or legal guardian to serve as a chaperone. Each pair will share a stateroom while sailing on AmaWaterways AmaDante river cruise ship, from March 28 April 4, 2019.

This really is an amazing opportunity for young teens to experience other cultures, said Deborah Haas, vice president, Travel Products and Services, AAA The Auto Club Group. Very few people at this age have the opportunity to travel to Europe, and we are so excited to team with AmaWaterways and Allianz in making this dream a reality. There is still time to register, so we encourage young travel enthusiasts to visit our contest website before its too late.

Contest Rules

No purchase necessary. Legal residents of specific zip codes served by The Auto Club Group within the United States who are at least 13 years old and who are 8th grade students in good standing at their school at the time of entry. Void where prohibited. Contest ends 9/21/18. For official rules, prize descriptions, and eligible zip codes, visit AAA.com/DiscoveryCrew. Sponsors: The Auto Club Group, 1 Auto Club Drive, Dearborn, MI 48126. AmaWaterways, 26010 Mureau Road, Calabasas, CA 91302. Allianz Global Assistance (a brand of AGA Service Company), 9950 Mayland Drive, Richmond, VA 23233.

About AmaWaterways

A family-owned company celebrating 16 years on the river, AmaWaterways offers unforgettable river cruises with 23 ships that sail Europes Danube, Rhine, Moselle, Main, Rhone, Seine, Garonne, Dordogne, Dutch and Belgian Waterways and Douro rivers, Southeast Asias Mekong and Africas Chobe River. The company is renowned for its innovative stateroom design featuring unique twin balconies; its wide choice of included shore excursions featuring biking and hiking options for the active traveler; and its award-winning dining including The Chefs Table specialty restaurant. Modern, spacious and tastefully decorated, each ship carries less than 162 guests. AmaWaterways offers a variety of themed sailings and brand relationships, offering group or chartered sailings geared towards active travelers and families. Learn more at AmaWaterways.com

Source: AAAThere is one thing that Israel fears more than anything else in Syria. The loss of its ability to fly its F-16s with impunity and hit whatever targets it wants claiming defensive measures to stop Iran, their existential enemy.

Israel finally admitted to carrying out over 200 such missions over the past 18 months, only a few of which ever made any kind of international media, recently.

And with the sneak attack on Latakia which involved using a Russian IL-20 ELINT war plane as radar cover Israel has now not only raised the stakes to an unacceptable level, it has also ensured that this may be the last such aerial assault it will ever be able to carry out.

The setup is pretty clear. Israel and France coordinated an attack on multiple targets within Syria without US involvement but with absolute US knowledge of the operation to provoke Russia into going off half-cocked by attacking the inconsequential French frigate which assisted Israels air attack.

Any denunciation of sinister intent by Israeli Defense Forces is hollow because if they had not intended to provoke a wider conflict they would have given Russia more than one minute to clear their planes from the area.

That would constitute an attack on a NATO member state and require a response from NATO, thereby getting the exact escalation needed to continue the war in Syria indefinitely and touch off WWIII.

This neatly bypasses any objections to a wider conflict by President Trump who would have to respond militarily to a Russian attack on a NATO ally. It also would reassert NATOs necessity in the public dialogue, further marginalizing Trumps attacks on it and any perceived drive of his for peace.

That this took place within the 60 days window of the mid-term elections should also not be discounted.

This attack took place just hours after Presidents Erdogan and Putin negotiated a peaceful settlement for Idlib province by declaring a De-Militarized Zone (DMZ) 15-20 kilometers wide which everyone, including Erdogans pets Jabhat al-Nusra would have to abide by.

Peace was breaking out in Syria and Israel and the war-hawks in D.C. werent standing for that.

By conducting this attack like this Israel and the NATO crowd figured it would be a win/win for them.

If Russia strikes back at France, then NATO invokes Article 5 and they get their wider war.

If Russia doesnt strike back Putin loses face within Russia, his popularity drops 5 points and John Bolton begins salivating at the prospect of regime change in Russia. Yes, they are that insane.

It was a neat piece of geopolitical maneuvering, almost judo-like. Russia and Syria looked to be on the verge of victory, extending themselves in a major conflict that would result in months of bad press. We were expecting a possible false-flag chemical weapons attack, cries of humanitarian crisis and all the rest of the tired virtue-signaling we can expect by US diplomatic officials that has been all too common even under Trump.

What we got was the opposite, a carefully-crafted assault on Russian military forces wherein Russias vaunted air-defense systems would be blamed for its own peoples deaths and a mistaken counter-attack that justifies the Putin is a Vile War-Monger narrative to justify a US invasion of Syria which has been held in amber since 2013 and Putins skillful defusing that situation via diplomatic means.

For once, this almost looked like a well-thought out plan. Not the usual ham-fisted crudities weve been treated to over the last few years. But, heres the rub.

It didnt work.

By naming names and immediately not responding militarily during the fog of war Russia and Putin again prove to be more skilled at this than their adversaries.

Because none of what I just outlined will come to pass. And France, Israel and the US will be the ones to lose face here. And with Israel betraying Putins forbearance after Aprils air strikes on Damascus, he will have no choice but to upgrade Syrias air defense systems from S-200s to S-300s and possibly S-400s.

This is Israels worst nightmare. A situation where any aerial assault on targets within Syria would be suicide missions, puncturing the myth of the Israeli air forces superiority and shifting the delicate balance of power in Syria decidedly against them.

This is why Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu worked Putin so hard over the last two years. But, this incident wipes that slate clean. This was a cynical betrayal of Putins trust and patience. And Israel will now pay the price for their miscalculation.

Giving Syria S-300s does not avenge the fifteen dead Russian soldiers. Putin will have to respond to that in a more concrete way to appease the hardliners in his government and at home. His patience and seeming passivity are being pushed to their limit politically. This is, after all, a side benefit to all of this for the neoconservative and globalist hawks in D.C., Europe and Tel Aviv.

But, the real loss here for Israel will be Russia instituting a no-fly zone over western Syria. Any less response from Putin will be seized upon by and the situation will escalate from here. So, Putin has to deploy S-300s here. And once that happens, the real solution to Syria begins in earnest.

Because at that point it will be the USs move to flat-out invade without provocation, now that a solution is in place in Syria between Russia and a NATO member, Turkey.

The only good news in all of this is that US forces were not involved. This still tells me that Trump and Mattis are still in charge of their chain of command and that other forces are conspiring to drag them into a conflict no one in their right minds wants.

Photo: TwitterA Syrian S-200 air defense system inadvertently shot down a Russian surveillance plane over the eastern Mediterranean Sea on Sept.17 while countering Israeli air strikes against targets in the countrys coastal Latakia governorate. Fifteen Russian servicemen lost lives as a result. The aircraft was returning to Hmeimim air base.

The Il-20 is a military version of the Il-18 turboprop airliner, which carries external antennae and special equipment to conduct reconnaissance missions. It has a cross section much larger than the Israeli F-16, which operated in the area on that day. Its an open question why the identification friend-or-foe (IFF) system failed.

According to the Russian Defense Ministrys statement made shortly after, the blame lies with Israel as its fighters conducting attacks on targets in Syria used the Il-20 as a cover, exposing it to fire from Syrian air defenses. Israel did use the channels of communication but too late to make the Russian aircraft alter the course. The notification came just a minute in advance. Obviously, Israel is responsible for that.

Gary Koren, the Israeli Ambassador in Russia, was summoned to the Foreign Ministry in Moscow for a talk. Russia and Israel have largely maintained friendly relations in recent years and have certain mutually agreed on procedures to prevent incidents in Syria. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has visited Moscow several times recently to discuss the coordination of efforts in Syria. He was among the guests at a military parade on Red Square on May 9 commemorating the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

Russian President Putin is extremely concerned about the situation but he believes it was rather a result of a chain of tragic errors. Indeed, the incident was caused by a mistake made by the Syrian military operating the air defense systems confused by Israeli tactics. It shows how susceptible the conflict in Syria is to miscalculations, such as friendly fire incidents.

It was the third time Israeli forces attacked targets in Syria this month. Any of those operations could provoke a clash. Over the course of the conflict, Israel has delivered many airstrikes against targets in Syria. The actions are illegal from the point of view of international law. And each time Israel takes a serious risk.

Russia will probably respond. It has a wide range of options, including supplies of S-300 to Syria. They could be manned by Russian personnel. A lot depends on the way Israel would react. Condolences are not enough. After all, Israel was the only one who acted on Sept. 17 in blatant violation of international law. There is no ground to believe there was any evil intent but urgent measures must be taken to enhance the efficiency of de-confliction and prevent such tragedies in the future. Its doubtful that from now on Israel will continue to enjoy the same freedom of action in the Syrian airspace as before the incident took place.

While insisting on its right to use force in Syria, Israel has never really tried to use diplomacy. Its rather symbolic that on the same day (Sept.17)  the eve of Yom Kippur  the Putin-Erdogan summit in Sochi resulted in great success. The parties reached a compromise on the situation in Idlib. There will be no bloodshed there and no refugee flows will pour into Europe. Russian and Turkish troops are to enforce a 15-20 km deep new demilitarized zone cleared from radical groups of rebels. By Oct. 10, the militants will withdraw their hardware from the area. Russian and Turkish military police would then carry out coordinated patrols of the zone starting October 15.

One should give the devil his due  the leaders achieved a real diplomatic breakthrough, which was welcomed by the Syrian government as a positive development. Add to it the resumption of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Golan Heights thanks to the Russian forces that arrived there in August. By going farther in its cooperation with Russia in Syria, Israel could gain a lot more than by adopting an openly hostile attitude toward the Syrian government and using force against it.

Many ill-wishers had cherished hopes before the summit that Russia and Turkey would clash over Idlib as their interests appeared to be divergent. No way. The parties will boost their cooperation. Actually, the two nations are now involved in a major joint peacekeeping operation. Its hard to underestimate the importance of this development. The two major actors  Russia and Turkey, a NATO member  join together to save human lives. It happens against the background of Israel, a NATO partner, indiscriminately striking the Syrian territory not caring much about civilian casualties. It is egged on by the US, France, and the UK throwing their staunch support behind it.

The difference in approaches is clear for all to see. Its high time for Israel to realize that Russias diplomatic efforts in Syria enhance, not diminish, its security. With the Russia-Turkey peacekeeping operation underway, it would be logical to bring the UN in and make the peaceful settlement in Syria an international effort with funds provided collectively for the countrys restoration.On the 17th of September, an important meeting was held in Sochi between Erdogan and Putin to discuss Syria, in particular Idlib. A few hours after the agreement between the two leaders was reached, there was a French-Israeli strike on Syrias coastal area of Latakia, causing the loss of a Russian Air Force Il-20 aircraft and bringing the world to the brink of a thermonuclear war.

The agreement between Erdogan and Putin over the province of Idlib was reached after five hours of discussions and proposals. Ultimately, as explained by RT, the agreement concerns a 15-20 kilometer demilitarized zone, the identification of terrorist groups to fight, and combined patrols by Turkish and Russian soldiers on the borders of Idlib to monitor the situation and the opening of main roads between Hama, Damascus and Aleppo over the next few months.

RT specifies: "[Erdogan and Putin] We've agreed to create a demilitarized zone between the government troops and militants before October 15. The zone will be 15 to 20 kms wide, with full withdrawal of hardline militants from there, including the Jabhat Al-Nusra. As part of solving the deadlock, all heavy weaponry, including tanks and artillery, will be withdrawn from the zone before October 10. The area will be patrolled by Turkish and Russian military units. Before the end of the year, roads between Aleppo and Hama, and Aleppo and Latakia must be reopened for transit traffic. The agreement has received general support from the Syrian government."

There were manifold goals for the talks between Erdogan and Putin. For the Kremlin there were innumerable points to be clarified and points of tension to be softened. One of the reasons why Russia and Turkey decided to sit around a table and discuss the imminent Syrian offensive in Idlib was the shared concern surrounding possible Western reactions. Moscow wants to avoid offering France, the UK and the US a pretext to strike Syrian forces in response to the umpteenth false-flag chemical attack. This would once again raise tensions, risking a direct confrontation between Russian and Western armed forces. In the unfortunate event of Russia exchanging fire with such aggressor countries, relations between Moscow and the European capitals would be further damaged, perhaps this time irremediably.

Moscow would thus be reluctant to press Damascus to pursue an offensive in Idlib. It is even probable that Xi Jinping and Putin discussed the best solution for Idlib during their recent meeting, perhaps imagining an agreement with Turkey in order to avoid an escalation of international tensions at a time when sanctions and tariffs have already upset the economic environment as well as relations between countries. Putin and Xi Jinping must consider factors beyond Syria alone, finding workable solutions to contain the chaos of the US-led world order.

Damascus of course does not shy away from an offensive on Idlib but understands the needs of its allies. Moreover, it is well aware that it will be able to take advantage of this pause to resupply and allow its troops some rest as well as engage in military planning for new offensives in other areas of the country, perhaps in Al-Tanf.

The reason why Turkey has accepted the agreement on Idlib stems from Erdogan's weak position. After having antagonized his European and American allies, he can only rely on Russia and Iran (as well as Qatar) as his remaining lifeline. The defense of Idlib and its terrorists would have put Erdogan in direct opposition to Russia and Iran, forsaking his last remaining sources of political support.

Had there been a failure to reach an agreement on Idlib between Ankara and Moscow, then the risk of Russia and Syria going to war with Turkey, or with Israel, France, the UK and the US would have been quite possible, though one trusts cooler heads would have prevailed given the stakes. With Trump in office and the midterm elections in November 4, 2018, it is better not to take excessive risks, especially with a wag-the-dog scenario being a part of the American foreign-policy playbook.

For Turkey, a failed agreement would have had disastrous consequences, with potentially millions of refugees fleeing from Idlib into Turkey, provoking a possible civil war. Moreover, Syria and Russia would have liberated the territory, eliminating Turkish influence in Syria. The chances of a confrontation between Moscow and Ankara, even beyond the military sphere, would have become high, with enormous repercussions for the stability of Turkey and its ambitions as a leading country in the region. A hot war would have destroyed the last three years of rapprochement with Moscow, the good economic and political relationship with Iran, and a potential source of financial diversification in Beijing. It would have been unprecedented disaster, which could easily have resulted in a coup by thousands of jihadists returning home from Syria, angry at Turkey not protecting them from the advancing Syrian Arab Army.

If there was any doubt that some factions in the West were unhappy with the agreement between Turkey and Russia, it was enough to wait a few hours after Putin and Erdogan met to see the Wests reckless war machine in action. Four Israeli F-16 jets and a French frigate (possibly also a US presence) launched a missile attack on Syria. This time, unlike previous times, there was no justifying reason offered, such as an alleged use of chemical weapons. They were in reality protesting implicitly against the agreement just reached between Turkey and Russia that should guarantee Assad control over the whole territory of Syria, something unacceptable to all of Syria's enemies.

It is also possible that under the direction of the US, France and Israel hoped that by attacking a Russian aircraft, a disjointed reaction from Moscow would have been provoked, escalating the conflict and providing the US and her allies the opportunity to enter the Syrian conflict directly. The downing of the Russian II-20 would therefore have been a planned provocation. Fortunately for the rest of the world, Moscow maintained a calm attitude at that moment, and together with Syrian systems, virtually knocked down or diverted all the missiles fired. Israel used the larger radar cross-section of the Russian Il-20 to screen its F16s, thus deceiving the Syrian S-200 defense systems and causing the downing. As TASS reported, Israel did not respect the agreements reached with Moscow regarding the rules of engagement. Tel Aviv warned Moscow only one minute before attacking, leaving little time for the Il-20 to move to safety and land in Latakia. Specifically, the words reported by official Russian sources leave little room for interpretation:

The Israeli warplanes approached at a low altitude and created a dangerous situation for other aircraft and vessels in the region. The Israeli pilots used the Russian plane as cover and set it up to be targeted by the Syrian air defense forces. As a consequence, the Il-20, which has a radar cross-section much larger than the F-16, was shot down by an S-200 missile system. 15 Russian military service members have died as a result. The Israelis must have known that the Russian plane was present in the area, but this did not stop them from executing the provocation. Israel also failed to warn Russia about the planned operation in advance. The warning came just a minute before the attack started, which did not leave time to move the Russian plane to a safe area. We consider these provocative actions by Israel as hostile. Fifteen Russian military service members have died because of the irresponsible actions of the Israeli military. This is absolutely contrary to the spirit of the Russian-Israeli partnership. We reserve the right for an adequate response.

The Russian reaction will be measured and strategically effective. It is even possible that the consequences of this attack will lead Moscow to change its assessment of weapons systems sold abroad. The worst scenario for Tel Aviv and her allies could be Syria being armed with S-300s and Iran with S-400s. As often happens, the considered Russian response will eventually improve the global environment in which the Moscow and her allies operate. The Russian Federation is not ruling anything out, and has the political right to equip its closest allies with game-changing technology in order to deter possible conflicts in the future.

The United States and her allies were hoping that the Russians and Syrians would advance on Idlib, thereby providing them with the opportunity to implement their well-rehearsed routine. There would be a false-flag chemical attack allegedly committed by Assads troops, which would provide justification for a massive attack to try and degrade the performance of the Syrian air defense with a view to facilitating future attacks. Without the Syrians and Russians advancing on Idlib, the need for a fake chemical attack disappears, and with it the excuse to attack the country. This increases the frustration of Western countries, who lose their justifying reasons to launch their missiles. The actions off the coast of Latakia of the French and Israelis should therefore be understood as an agitated reaction to unexpected developments that were frustrating their plans.

As this latest attack showed, the Wests actions are a lashing out with no possibility of changing events on the ground or advancing their goals in Syria. The missiles launched were directed against the agreement made by Putin and Erdogan.

For Turkey, the next possible steps are very much based on the American presence in the northeast of Syria alongside SDF troops as well as on American monetary and financial attacks against the country. The US and Turkey are clearly on a collision course. Putin and Assad's gambit was done in order to avoid attacking Idlib, thereby forcing Erdogan to an agreement with the US. But in this way, the agreement between Trump and Erdogan remains impossible, as Ankara cannot reconcile with Washington. Erdogan cannot grant the release of Pastor Bronson, and the pastor happens to be an excellent excuse for Trump to energize his evangelical base, critical to the midterm elections in November. Moreover, Ankara considers the US presence on the border between Syria and Turkey to be illegal, because the US favors the SDF, which Turkey considers to be a terrorist group that threatens the territorial integrity of Syria and Turkey.

The situation does not change immediately for the US. There is no intention to move away from the northeast of Syria, given that this presence is considered strategic in a country where the US does not have direct relations with the central government and aims to prolong the chaos as long as possible in lieu of being able to control the country. In this sense, the SDF are essential for allowing the US a presence on Syrian territory. Erdogans unofficial proposal to replace the SDF with their preferred FSA in the area under US control north of the Euphrates will not be taken seriously. Although the US does not intend to betray the Kurds for now, it is nevertheless clear that some branches of the SDF are in contact with Damascus to lay the groundwork for a Syria without the US. It could be said that in the very short term the Kurds are aligned with US interests, but in the medium to long term, there is no possibility of a prolonged US presence in Syria, and the Kurds are aware of this. It is therefore not surprising that draft negotiations between the SDF and the central governing authority in Damascus are already underway.

Undoubtedly the agreement between Erdogan and Putin puts the US on the spot, with Damascus considering an advancement towards Al-Tanf or other areas illegally occupied by US troops. The offensive against Idlib would have, among other things, given more time to the US and her allies to cement their presence in Syria.

Ultimately, Syrians and Russians have plenty of time to proceed with the liberation of Idlib and the rest of the country. Erdogan is increasingly isolated and without allies, under siege from multiple directions and by multiple means, namely, financial, economic, political and diplomatic.

Russians and Syrians will be able to patrol the demilitarized zone, gather intelligence, strike terrorists, and Erdogan will be left with little option than to register his protest but nothing more. This time, the agreement will allow Russia and Syria to gather all the information necessary for precision strikes, with the primary objective of wiping out the jihadist command center.

It is worth remembering the previous example of an agreement between Turkey, Russia and Iran. The ceasefire of more than a year ago, with the creation of deconfliction zones, was interpreted with skepticism by many friends of Syria. There were assumptions at the time that Syria would be partitioned. But a year and a half later, the reality is completely different. The areas of deconfliction no longer exist, and only one is left in Idlib itself.

With the diplomatic, economic, military and political skills and astuteness of China, Russia, Iran and Syria, Idlib will also be freed from the jihadist plague, in spite of Western and Israeli interventions to protect their proxies in the country.Bay of Plenty

Our client has plenty of work in the pipeline and as such they are in need of qualified or experienced carpenters for an...



View or Apply on GoodWork.co.nzFour people have been arrested after a mobile P lab was uncovered in a Waikato home.

The discovery was made when Waikato police undertook a pre-dawn raid at a home in Kerepehi in the Hauraki Plains on Tuesday.

Officers with the help of the Armed Offenders Squad searched the house before daybreak as part of ongoing investigations into the manufacture of methamphetamine in the eastern Waikato, Eastern area investigations manager, says Detective Senior Sergeant Stephen Ambler.

They discovered a "boxed up" mobile methamphetamine lab and chemicals used in the manufacture of the drug.

Although the lab wasn't being used to cook meth at the time, Stephen says police believe the drug had been manufactured at the property.

Cannabis, cannabis oil, methamphetamine, pipes, together with other paraphernalia used to consume drugs were also found.

About $4000 in cash was also seized. Police were making further inquiries into several suspicious items found at the home.

Four people - two women and two men - were at the house at the time.

All four were arrested and two are due to appear in Hamilton District Court on Tuesday where police plan to oppose bail.

"Organised crime and methamphetamine manufacturing and distribution is a priority in the eastern area all the time. A lot of what happens here through organised crime and drugs is linked."

The meth lab was discovered in a garage at the back of the property that had been divided into living quarters.

The home was located in central Kerepehi and Ambler believes residents would likely have noticed suspicious activity.

He encouraged anyone who notices suspicious activity, like strange comings and goings at all hours of the night, to report it to police anonymously.

"Typically the most common sign is a lot of activity in the early hours of the morning - that tends to be when this type of activity takes place in residential houses."

The man and woman due to appear in court lived at the home while the other two have been released with charges pending.

Anyone wanting to report any suspicious activity can call police anonymously on Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Stuff/Phillipa Yalden.Bay of Plenty

We are looking for a storeman with an OSH forklift license. You will need to be physically for as the job is about 70% forklift...



View or Apply on GoodWork.co.nzCigna New Zealand has partnered with Life Education Trust to support mental health education in schools.

The childrens mental and physical health charity is conducting a new evaluation project to gain a better understanding of the daily challenges faced by Kiwi kids.

Cigna New Zealand Chief Executive Gail Costa says the 2018 360 o Cigna Well-Being Survey showed that Kiwis are finding it increasingly difficult to manage their personal well-being and that of their families.

Were delighted to be supporting Life Education Trust help educate our communities on the importance of taking care of your health and wellness.

Life Education Trust Chief Executive John OConnell says the insights from the project will help shape the work the charity does to support children throughout New Zealand.

At our recent national conference, the Childrens Commissioner laid down the challenge for us to ensure we are child-centred and include childrens voices in our plans, says John.

This project will capture the voices of more than 30,000 children each year, helping us understanding their changing attitudes, beliefs and knowledge. We will be able compare the challenges children face in different parts of New Zealand and, with Cignas help, ensure they have the support they need.

Cignas research showed that eight in ten Kiwis are affected by stress and only half of New Zealanders feel they can take care of their childrens health and well-being.

Education about stress and how to take care of your mental well-being is really important for our young people living in todays demanding environment, says Gail.

Cigna is proud to partner with community organisations like Life Education Trust that work to improve the health and well-being of individuals, families and communities.

Were thrilled to create a partnership with Cigna enabling us to invest and understand more about childrens health and well-being needs, continues John.

We can build on Cignas existing health and well-being research and extend this to New Zealands children, creating a partnership from our shared goals.

In addition to the evaluation project, Cigna will support Life Education Trusts in-school initiatives and will assist in the development of new programmes based on topics such as mental health.TODAY, SEPTEMBER 19

Family Storytime

An all-ages program from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. at the Sanibel Public Library, at 770 Dunlop Road, Sanibel, that encourages the development of pre-reading skills through songs, rhymes, fingerplays and stories. For information, call Deanna Evans at 239-472-2483.

Talk Like A Pirate Day

The Sanibel Public Library will host Talk Like A Pirate Day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Learn about Mango languages, with a chance to win Mango swag. Mango offers access to 70-plus foreign language courses and 21 English courses taught in the users native language. Library card holders can access Mango through the librarys website at the eShelf. There is no charge to use Mango, and with the free mobile app you can download lessons to study later.

Trager Approach

The Trager Approach is a bodywork and movement awareness method that promotes relaxation, pain relief and freedom of movement. Marva Sletten, PT, CMPT, CLT-LANA, LMT, will provide brief individual sessions from 10:30 a.m. to noon at The Community House, at 2173 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. There is no charge for the event. To schedule a session, call 239-910-7577. For more information, visit thenatureofwellnessflorida.com or email mailto:thenatureofwellnessflorida@gmail.com>thenatureofwellnessflorida@gmail.com.

Bailey Homestead: Making the Land Work

A walking tour of the Bailey Homestead Preserve from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. blends SCCFs mission-driven work on the historic property, the history of the land itself and some stories about the Bailey family. Cost is $5 for non-members. Meet at the Conservation Gateway Kiosk at the head of the Shipley Trail, at 3333 Sanibel Captiva Road, Sanibel. For information, call 239-472-2329.

Bowmans Beach, Bayou Walk

The SCCF provides a guided walk from 9 to 10 a.m. along the beach toward Blind Pass, then along the back dune/bayou trail. Keep your eyes open for shorebirds and gopher tortoises. Learn about SCCFs 50-year role in island preservation. Meet your guide at the foot of the bridge that crosses the bayou on the way to the beach, at 1700 Bowmans Beach Road, Sanibel. Walk is free; attendees must pay to park. For information, call 239-472-2329.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20

Family Storytime

An all-ages program from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. at the Sanibel Public Library, at 770 Dunlop Road, Sanibel, that encourages the development of pre-reading skills through songs, rhymes, fingerplays and stories. For information, call Deanna Evans at 239-472-2483.

After-school Crew

Favorite books, new books and never-knew-existed books, plus puzzles, games, crafts and more from 3 to 4 p.m. at the Sanibel Public Library, at 770 Dunlop Rd, Sanibel. Geared toward kindergarten to second grade. Snack provided. For information, call Deanna Evans at 239-472-2483.

R.E.A.D. with Bessie

If you love dogs and books, then you might enjoy reading to Bessie, a bearded collie and Reading Education Assistance Dog, from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Sanibel Public Library, at 770 Dunlop Road, Sanibel. Sign-ups are on-the-spot. For information, call Deanna Evans at 239-472-2483.

Turtle Tracks

Learn about the life cycles and habits of the sea turtles and shorebirds that nest on Sanibel beaches, SCCFs monitoring activities and what it is doing to protect them from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Nature Center, at 3333 Sanibel Captiva Road, Sanibel. Cost is $5 for non-members. For information, call 239-472-2329.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

Island Hopper Songwriter Fest

The fifth annual Island Hopper Songwriter Fest will kick off on Captiva from Sept. 21-23. This years performances will take place at the Cantina Captiva, Crows Nest Beach Bar & Grille, Doc Fords Rum Bar & Grille, Keylime Bistro, Mucky Duck, RC Otters Island Eats, South Seas Island Resort and Tween Waters Island Resort & Spa. The full festival schedule with the dates and times can be found at www.island-hopper.fortmyers-sanibel.com or on Facebook at Island Hopper Songwriter Fest. Most of the performances are free, however, a few special experiences require the purchase of a ticket.

Songwriters At The Library

The Lee County Library System and Americana Music Association will host Songwriters At The Library starting at 2 p.m. at the Captiva Memorial Library, at 11560 Chapin Lane, Captiva. The free event will feature artists Bill Metts, Bruce Gallant and David Hintz. Registration is not required. For more information, contact 239-533-4890 or visit www.americanacma.org or www.leelibrary.net.

Farmers Market

Shell Point Retirement Community will host a Farmers Market from 8:30 a.m. to noon in the Center Court at The Woodlands, at 15101 Shell Point Blvd., Fort Myers. Take a leisurely stroll while shopping for locally-grown produce, freshly-caught seafood, homemade baked goods, Brisket Brothers pulled pork, all natural soaps and lotions, and more. Cash only. For information, call 239-466-1131.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22

National Public Lands Day

The J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, at 1 Wildlife Drive, Sanibel, will celebrate National Public Lands Day with free admission to Wildlife Drive, discounts at Tarpon Bay Explorers and special activities. Wildlife Drive opens at 7 a.m. for free touring and closes at 7 p.m. Narrated tram tours will run at normal cost at 10 a.m., 12:30 and 3 p.m. Always free, the Visitor & Education Center opens at 9 a.m. Special free and discounted activities will take place at the refuge, including:

 8:30 a.m.: Tarpon Bay Explorers will offer a 25 percent discount off of a guided kayak tour; reservations are recommended at 239-472-8900

 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.: Guided tour and cleanup along Indigo Trail to the Wildlife Education Boardwalk; meet at the parking lot flagpole and bring water, sunscreen and insect repellant

 9:30 to 11 a.m.: Hidden Treasures of Ding Caravan; follow a naturalist along Wildlife Drive and stop for up-close personal viewings; meet at the parking lot flagpole and bring water, sunscreen and insect repellant

 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Make-and-take recycled crafts in the Visitor & Education Center classroom

For more information, contact Ranger Monica Scroggin at 239-472-1100, ext. 237.

Island Hopper Songwriter Fest

The fifth annual Island Hopper Songwriter Fest will kick off on Captiva from Sept. 21-23. This years performances will take place at the Cantina Captiva, Crows Nest Beach Bar & Grille, Doc Fords Rum Bar & Grille, Keylime Bistro, Mucky Duck, RC Otters Island Eats, South Seas Island Resort and Tween Waters Island Resort & Spa. The full festival schedule with the dates and times can be found at www.island-hopper.fortmyers-sanibel.com or on Facebook at Island Hopper Songwriter Fest. Most of the performances are free, however, a few special experiences require the purchase of a ticket.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23

Island Hopper Songwriter Fest

The fifth annual Island Hopper Songwriter Fest will kick off on Captiva from Sept. 21-23. This years performances will take place at the Cantina Captiva, Crows Nest Beach Bar & Grille, Doc Fords Rum Bar & Grille, Keylime Bistro, Mucky Duck, RC Otters Island Eats, South Seas Island Resort and Tween Waters Island Resort & Spa. The full festival schedule with the dates and times can be found at www.island-hopper.fortmyers-sanibel.com or on Facebook at Island Hopper Songwriter Fest. Most of the performances are free, however, a few special experiences require the purchase of a ticket.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24

Shell Crafters

Shell Crafting Class from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Community House, at 2173 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. Make flower figures or animals. Limited class size; first come first served. Children must be accompanied by an adult due to the complexity/dexterity required. For more information, call 239-472-2155 or visit sanibelcommunityhouse.net.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

After-school Clique

Favorite books, new books and never-knew-existed books, plus puzzles, games, crafts and more from 3 to 4 p.m. at the Sanibel Public Library, at 770 Dunlop Road, Sanibel. Geared specifically for children in fourth through sixth grade. Snack provided. For information, call Deanna Evans at 239-472-2483.

All-Levels Yoga

All-Levels Yoga from 10 to 11 a.m. at The Community House, at 2173 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. Use of asana (postures), pranayama (breathing techniques), mudra, philosophy, meditation and guided relaxation techniques. Instructor is Dr. Susan Pataky. Cost is $20 and $18 for members; limited props provided for free. For information, call 239-472-2155 or visit sanibelcommunityhouse.net.

Academy of Lifelong Learning

The Academy of Lifelong Learning at Shell Point Retirement Community will host The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, part one of a two-part series, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at 15101 Shell Point Blvd., Fort Myers. Led by Florida SouthWestern State College Professor Adrian Kerr, it will investigate the wonders and their creators, historical and archaeological evidence. He will also share illustrations from his personal encounters. Tickets are $10. To buy tickets or for information, call 239-489-8472 or visit www.shellpoint.org.Syracuse, N.Y. -- The developers of the Dey's Plaza building in downtown Syracuse are seeking tax breaks to convert vacant office space into apartments.

Robert Doucette and Richard deVito, through their company Deys Plaza LLC, have applied to the Syracuse Industrial Development Agency for $438,198 in tax exemptions for the project, which they estimate will cost $5.4 million.

The exemptions consist of $94,198 in state mortgage recording tax and $344,000 in sales taxes on construction materials.

Doucette and deVito said they plan to redevelop a portion of the second floor and entire third floor into 34 residential units (63,000 square feet feet) and renovate 7,800 square feet of commercial space.

Robert Doucette, left, and Richard deVito stand in the lobby of Dey's Plaza in Syracuse. They bought the former Dey Brothers Department Store from the city in 2009. (Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com)

The project is a modification of a $4.3 million project that the developers proposed in October 2017. At that time, they said they planned to convert vacant office space into 23 apartments and upgrade 28,000 square feet of office space.

Earlier in 2017, Bank of New York Mellon, the building's biggest tenant, vacated its 70,000 square feet of office space, consolidating its local operations in DeWitt.

Their 2017 request for $329,000 in tax exemptions received no support on the industrial development agency. (The board's then-chairman, William Ryan, expressed concern about the building losing such a substantial amount of office space.) Since then, the board's membership has changed with the election of Ben Walsh as mayor.

The agency plans to hold a public hearing on the developers' latest request at its Oct. 16 meeting and could vote on it at the same meeting.

The building was built at the southeast corner of South Salina and East Jefferson streets in 1893 for Dey Brothers Department Store. The store, which was named Addis & Dey's in its last years, closed in 1993.

The city acquired it in 1994 and converted some of it to office space, but much of the building remained vacant and the project became a financial headache for the city. Doucette and deVito bought it in 2009 for $6.7 million and initially built 45 apartments in the building's vacant space. They added 16 more apartments in 2014, a project for which they received $92,160 in exemptions from sales taxes.

The building has 61 apartments on floors 4 through 8. With the addition of 34 apartments on the second and third floors, the building will have 95 apartments.

Rents range from $1,000 to $1,650 for one-bedroom units and from $1,650 to $2,150 for two-bedroom units, according to the project's website.

Contact Rick Moriarty anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-470-3148ITHACA, N.Y. -- The supervisor of an Ithaca manufacturing plant used the "N-word," called women employees "b----es" and didn't allow immigrants to speak in their native languages, federal officials said in a lawsuit.

According to the suit, management at Porous Materials, Inc. was aware of the problems, but didn't do anything to stop them. When a woman complained, she was fired, officials wrote.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is suing Porous Materials over a manager's alleged "ugly mix of sexism, racism and xenophobia." The lawsuit says the company allowed a plant manager to harass employees with racial slurs and unwanted sexual advances.

The EEOC's civil rights lawsuit claims the supervisor was allowed to openly use racial slurs, comment on women's menstrual cycles and tell immigrant employees to leave the country -- all without any intervention from a human resources manager or the company's owner.

The lawsuit details dozens of incidents where the plant manager, who is unnamed, allegedly used racist, sexist and harassing language.

According to the lawsuit:

The manager called foreign-born employees "terrorists," complained he was sick of immigrants stealing American jobs and not speaking English. He barred immigrant employees from speaking in other languages and told them to leave America.

He told the only black employee at the company that her husband "should have a rope put around his neck and be dragged through a cotton field." When she complained about his racist statements, he told her to drink Kool-Aid to calm down, accused her of racism, and said her face was "too mean." The employee, a black woman born in France, was fired after she repeatedly complained about his behavior.

The manager called his female employees "b----es," made comments about their menstrual cycles and told women they could not perform "a man's job." Female employees reported a slew of other degrading language and incidents: He told a woman she could be sent home early if she would "come over here and sexually harass me," announced to other females employees that a woman co-worker was too "fat and disgusting" to have sex with her husband, made comments about women's curves and bodies, and suggested women should speak only when spoken to.

EEOC officials said the comments were often made in the presence of a human resources manager, who never took any action against the harassment. The company owner did nothing to stop the problem, EEOC officials said in a press release.

"The company owner, rather than putting a stop to this, behaved similarly; he called female employees 'dumb women,' complained that 'these women can't do anything,' and told a woman she would not be getting a raise because of her sex," according to the EEOC.

The lawsuit does not name the owner or manager. Porous Materials CEO and founder Krishna Gupta did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

Officials said they attempted to reach a settlement outside of court with Porous Materials before filing the lawsuit, but were unable.

The lawsuit is seeking back pay and compensation in damages for at least one of the abused employees.

New York state representatives for the EEOC said that protecting immigrant workers and all employees from harassment were priorities the federal organization was committed to pursuing.

"Businesses may think that permitting sex-, race- and national origin-based harassment is acceptable. It isn't, and those who do so will be held accountable," EEOC lawyer Daniel Seltzer said.

Public Affairs Reporter Julie McMahon covers courts, government and other issues affecting taxpayers. She can be reached anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-412-1992Syracuse, N.Y. -- The Washington Nationals have left Syracuse and are moving their Triple-A players to a new home far, far away.

Like Fresno, Calif.

The Nationals announced on Tuesday that they have signed a two-year player development pact with Fresno of the Pacific Coast League.

The new pact comes after Washington spent the past 10 seasons affiliated with the Syracuse Chiefs. The New York Mets purchased the team last off-season, operated it in 2018 and will put its Triple-A players on the NBT Bank Stadium Field in 2019.

Fresno began play in 1998, serving as a Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants until 2014 before joining Houston's player development system in 2015. The Grizzlies play at Chukchansi Park, an 11,800 seat stadium in downtown Fresno. The Grizzlies play in the PCL's Pacific Northern Division along with the Reno Aces, Tacoma Rainers and Sacramento River Cats.

Fresno was fourth in the PCL with an average of 6,051 fans per game last year. The Chiefs pulled in 4,202 per contest, next to last in the International League.William Wood Jr. - the accused killer in the Chili's double homicide - pledged to give Tracy Brown $2,000 for providing him a gun to use in the robbery, police said in court papers filed in DeWitt Town Court.

Wood also pledged to give the getaway driver - Ron Green - money for driving him to and from the restaurant on Erie Boulevard East in DeWitt, police said in court papers. Police said Green brought his toddler in the car with him when he drove Wood.

After killing two workers in the restaurant by shooting them in the head, Wood got away with $875, according to DeWitt police. Authorities have said he intended to kill all four people in the restaurant.

Tracey L. Brown, 53, of Syracuse, gave Wood the gun knowing he was going to use it to commit a robbery, she told police in an affidavit contained in the court papers.

Wood, 32, was charged Sunday with killing two people - Kris Hicks, 29, and Stephen Gudnecht, 37, about 1 a.m. Saturday during the robbery at the Chili's Bar and Grill.

Wood, a former Chili's worker, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of first-degree robbery, police said.

Brown is charged with two counts of second-degree murder as is Ronald Green, who drove the getaway car, police said.

A fourth person - Ryan J. Brown - also has been charged in connection with the case. He is charged with second-degree hindering prosecution.UTICA, N.Y. -- A Utica man has been accused of raping two children younger than 11 years old, according to the Oneida County Sheriff's Office.

Desmond A. Jackson, 30, was charged Tuesday with one count of rape, deputies said. Jackson is accused of abusing and raping the children in 2007, deputies said.

The abuse happened for several years, ending in 2007, deputies said. Jackson was 19 years old at the time of the crime, deputies said.

He is being held in Utica City Jail and is waiting to be arraigned, deputies said.

The Oneida County District Attorney's Office recommended bail be set at $50,000, deputies said. An order of protection has been requested for both victims against Jackson, deputies said.

An investigation into the incidents is ongoing and additional charges against Jackson are possible, deputies said.This story was produced for syracuse.com by a student enrolled in The Goldring Arts Journalism program at Syracuse University.

By Michael Zawisza | Contributing writer

For the past year, La Casita director Tere Paniagua and a group of Cuban-born artists have painstakingly collected polaroids, keepsakes, newspaper clippings and other documents from Cuban and Latin-American families from Syracuse's Near West Side.

Family photographs of wedding day bliss and baby christenings are juxtaposed with saturated paintings depicting ugly and mundane scenes of garbage men sweeping the streets and young boys running through alleys full of refuse.

"CUBA: The Stories" opened Sept. 14 at La Casita Cultural Center on Otisco Street, a collection of paintings, photography, video, memorabilia and cultural relics which provides a look into the lives of Cubans before and after the Cuban Revolution.

On opening night, years of collective cultural memories of joy, revolution and exile erupted in a celebration. From the smells of slow cooked pulled pork, to the vivid beauty of the artwork adorning the walls, and the rhythmic and vivacious music echoing throughout the gallery, the celebration provided a snippet of Cuban experience.

More than 100 guests became part of the exhibit themselves as they were urged to join in on a demonstration of traditional dance numbers. What started as a five-minute demonstration bloomed into a near half-hour of non-stop dancing to the music of Hispanic and Latin-American artists.

Though the opening celebration was raucous and joyous, Paniagua hopes that those who come to the exhibit over the next few months until its end in the spring, will engage with its more serious message.

"It's about the scars of the Latin-American experience," Paniagua said

A closer look shows the paintings aren't held up by actual frames or nails, but by cheap duct-tape painted over to blend with the drywall. Artist names are hastily scratched into the drywall of La Casita itself with magic marker.

All of these images converge onto the "Balcon Criollo" centerpiece which evokes an image of a quiet scene outside a beach in Havana.

It's an honest and authentic portrayal of Cuba. One that highlights its beauty and glory, as well as its troubles - both old and new.

Life before and after the revolution

Dalgis Viera Alarcon, one of the collaborating artists on the exhibit, is an engineer who left Cuba two years ago to pursue her passion for photography. She says like many of her fellow Cubans, her relationship to the country is complicated and complex. She says the exhibit highlights how different Cubans reflect on their home.

"Our message is to show people the way we live, the way we are living," Viera said. "We want to represent what we've been dealing with before and after the revolution."

For some, it's a memory of upheaval and excitement. For others, it's a past of violence and fear. Today, it's a story of poverty and the beauty of resiliency.

It's Cuba pre- and post-revolution. One that is both indebted to Castro and in disdain of him.

"It's a multi-layered project. It's Cuba," Paniagua said. "It says a lot about the history and the experience of life in exile."

It's a life that artist Danis Perez Bravo-Jayson knows all too well.

Bravo-Jayson, an architect and photographer, left behind her home in Cuba seven years ago for artistic escape in the United States. She hasn't returned to her homeland since. The decision is largely political.

"The government in Cuba controls everything," Bravo-Jayson said, "but they can't control our hearts."

Bravo-Jayson says her heart aches for a time when her homeland can experience the freedom and expressive power she enjoys in the United States. It's a freedom she hopes more Americans will come to take more seriously after seeing and hearing stories from Cuban immigrants at La Casita, and immigrants in general.

"There's a crisis in this country to recognize freedom," Bravo-Jayson said.

The basis for this freedom is the diversity and abundance of ideologies that exists in the United States, she says.

"When people get together, great things happen," Bravo-Jayson said. "It doesn't matter where you're from or what your background is."

Fighting back tears, Bravo-Jayson took a moment as she considered her relationship to her old home and new life in the states.

"After seven years, I'm not afraid to whisper anymore," she said. "I'm free."

CUBA: The Stories will be on display through spring 2019 at La Casita Cultural Center, 109 Otisco St., Syracuse. Featured artists include Richell Castellon (visual artist, painting), Dashel Hernandez, (visual artist, video), Danisley Perez Bravo (architect, photographer), Roberto Luis Perez, (dance choreographer, performance), Dalgis Viera Alarcon (industrial engineer, photographer) and Sanlly Viera (visual artist, painting).On an average day, the Onondaga County suicide prevention hotline phone at Syracuse's Contact Community Services rings 65 to 70 times.

A full staff and 58 volunteers are ready to answer.

In the wake of the deaths of cultural icons Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain this summer, the local call center experienced an increase in calls.

"Those couple weeks really impacted not only our center but centers all across the country," said Cheryl Giarrusso, director of crises intervention services at the non-profit. "We continue to feel the impact of those losses. The call volume has skyrocketed. I think people were personally affected in a way with those losses that they hadn't been with past losses."

But as suicide rates continue to rise in New York (the CDC found a 28.8 percent increase in suicides in the state between 1999 and 2016), Contact Syracuse has expanded its programs and actively works to works to equip more people with the necessary skills to help prevent suicides. Recently, more community members have stepped up to learn how to intervene.

Contact Community Services building at 6311 Court Street Rd, East Syracuse

The efforts of Contact coincide with other projects in Onondaga County. The state selected the county as the target for suicide prevention reform; a $3.5 million federal grant obtained by the state Office of Mental Health will fund a new type of treatment at the Hutchings Psychiatric Center.

Liberty Resources has deployed mobile crisis response teams through Central New York to assist emergency responders in identifying and assisting with a mental health crisis. The organization will also continue to expand the mental health services it provides for Onondaga County school districts.

The team at Contact Syracuse staffs the local hotline, takes calls for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, gives information and referrals for five counties through the 211 CNY line, provides after-hours support for clinics and community organizations in three counties, and makes outbound Telecare calls to check in people at risk.

Giarrusso estimates that 20 percent of callers call Contact frequently or daily. With the increase in calls for assistance, Giarrusso said she also noticed an increase in calls from people concerned about others possibly considering suicide and people wanting to learn more about the warning signs of suicide and how to prevent them.

For example, Gabrielle Reaves, a health home care manager, attended the July Suicide Intervention Skills Training ("ASIST") class. She wants to raise awareness of suicide and help reduce the stigma around it and also hopes that the training she received will help her at her job.

In the past, Reaves faced a situation in which a teenager unknown to her needed assistance, and in the moment, Reaves and another bystander had to figure out how to handle the situation. She didn't know what to do, said Reaves. The police soon showed up and the teenager was led to safety. But now, after an "eye-opening" 15 hours of training, Reaves will know exactly how to help save a life.

This summer, another ASIST class at Contact Syracuse met the class capacity. Community members, often including parents, teachers, school counselors, and non-profit workers can take ASIST, a two-day intensive and interactive class that teaches how to intercede if you suspect someone is considering suicide.

An important aspect of the ASIST training is the self-assessment that the course starts with, Giarrusso said.

"In order to be a helper, you have to understand yourself, because people come to the idea of suicide with attitudes and beliefs that they really might not recognize," said Giarrusso. "We take a good couple hours talking about the things that we might feel and believe that might either help us to be good helpers or prevent us from being good helpers."

Notes on the board during an ASIST class

From there, community members go through what Contact calls the "pathway for assisting life" model. This model focuses on identifying a person who may have thoughts of suicide, asking that person if they need help and allowing them to share their story, and lastly helping them to build a safety plan.

"Training attendance has increased," Giarrusso. "My experience up until recently has been that people didn't want to talk about suicide. But it's become so much more present in the press and we've lost so many people.

"The stigma is still very much there, but people are stepping up," she continued. "They're taking that risk and they're talking about it. Especially in the schools- schools did not want to have this conversation for so long and now we're getting requests every month to come into a school and talk to the kids."

Resources:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-8255

Contact Hotline, 315-251-0600

For information and referral to human services organizations for Onondaga, Oswego, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties, contact 211CNY by dialing 211 or visiting www.211cny.com.To the Editor:



Since 2009, the United States has provided about a quarter of the funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, known as UNRWA. In late August the Trump administration announced it was going to drastically cut its funding to the program and no longer commit further support to what it referred to as a flawed operation. Millions of Palestinian refugees are assisted by this agency as it funds schools, supplies food aid, and provides access to health services and facilities. Additionally, the administration stated that $200 million of aid that was appropriated by Congress in 2017 was to be diverted from the West Bank and Gaza. The last sources of assistance to Palestinian civilians, funds for hospitals in East Jerusalem and coexistence programs with Israelis have been eliminated, as well. This precipitous action, with no suggestion of a better alternative to satisfy the needs served by UNWRA, reveals the decision as one intended to force the Palestinian Authority to surrender. Such a bullying tactic cannot advance America's long-term interests in the Middle East.



The event behind these cuts appears to be the result of the Trump administration's frustration that the Palestinians will not agree to participate in negotiations to resolve the decades-long conflict. This effort is led by Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law. A decision by the Palestinians to not participate came after the administration, in keeping a campaign pledge, chose to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, therefore taking the Jerusalem question "off the table" in the presidents own words. Many presidents from both parties have promised to move the embassy during their campaigns, but in office realized how counterproductive that would be and chose to keep the embassy in Tel Aviv.



The move to cut funding for the refugees was met with swift and broad condemnation from all quarters. R. David Harden, who oversaw projects in the area for more than 10 years, called this "a capricious move that has a high risk of unsettling the region." R. Nicholas Burns, a former US diplomat now teaching at Harvard, called the cuts "heartless and unwise" and reflects the most one-sided U.S. policy since 1948. Even the Israeli defense establishment and Israeli Foreign ministry have warned that drastic cuts could undermine stability and lead to violence. Peter Lerner, a former Israeli military spokesman who was against the cuts, stated this will deprive kids from going to schools or vocational training, pointing out they will now have no place to go.



The Syracuse Area Mideast Dialogue group (SAMED), formed over 30 years ago and comprised of Arabs, Jews, and members who are neither Arab or Jewish, agrees that the decision to cut funding was a terrible mistake from a humanitarian and diplomatic perspective. Up to 5 million people are served by this relief agency, including over 3 million Palestinian Refugees residing in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria who will be seriously impacted by the withdrawal of UNWRA funds. The United States must be seen as an honest broker that is unbiased and understands the legitimate rights from both sides of the conflict, as it attempts to bring the parties together. We encourage all Americans to urge our government to restore this aid as soon as possible and to remove the bias we currently exhibit so that we can effectively engage in the peace process as a trusted impartial party.



Mark Field

Julia Fuleihan

Mohamed Khater

Syracuse Area Middle East Dialogue (SAMED)SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- In a win for the Syracuse University students who were suspended last year over offensive fraternity videos, a federal judge has declined the college's request to stop a second lawsuit.

A total of 12 students have filed two lawsuits against SU after they were suspended from the university in the spring.

A ruling in one of the cases has allowed students to return to campus while issues are sorted out by the courts. SU has said in court filings that at least two students have enrolled in classes.

The students were suspended after controversial videos surfaced of pledges to the professional engineering fraternity Theta Tau acting out an offensive "roast" of their older brothers. The videos showed students taking a racist, anti-Semitic oath and miming the sexual assault of a disabled person.

SU charged 18 students with code of conduct violations after the administration conducted an investigation into the fraternity event. After a months-long campus adjudication process, 17 students were issued one- to two-year suspensions, and one student was put on probation and required to take special classes to get back into good standing.

Several students have fought their suspensions.

Nine filed a lawsuit in federal court asking for $1 million a piece in damages because they say SU defamed them and broke its contracts with the students.

Then in August, seven of those students, along with three others, filed a second lawsuit in Jefferson County using the state court system.

In that case, the students are asking a judge to reverse the college's decisions on the suspensions and reinstate them. Supreme Court Judge James McClusky agreed to hear arguments in the case, and ordered SU to allow the students back on campus until he issues a ruling.

SU lawyers accused the students of "forum shopping" by filing the second lawsuit. They filed a motion in the original federal case asking the federal judge to intervene and halt the state case.

U.S. District Court Judge Frederick Scullin Tuesday denied SU's request.

He wrote that while the two cases are substantially similar, there are enough differences between them for both to move forward.

Hearings in the state case, meanwhile, have been delayed. Judge McClusky postponed a phone conference originally set for today to Oct. 17. In that call, SU will get another chance to convince the judge the students shouldn't be returned to campus.

SU has also asked that the students be required to identify themselves to move forward with the litigation.

Neither of the judges in either suit so far have granted SU's request and forced the students to identify themselves.

A magistrate judge recently issued a report recommending that the students be allowed to proceed anonymously, citing concerns for their safety and long-term damage to their reputations. Judge Scullin is still considering whether to adopt that recommendation.

Read our continuing coverage of Theta Tau's expulsion

Public Affairs Reporter Julie McMahon covers courts, government and other issues affecting taxpayers. She can be reached anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-412-1992We, a United States Representative and a scientist from our regional state university, have come together to acknowledge that sea-level rise is an urgent problem for our community, but one that we must and can address.

Its not uncommon to hear people mention that they are worried about the future, whether environmental, social or economic. Partisanship and polarization seem to dominate our political landscape right now, with little interest in debate or compromise, making it difficult to come together to resolve differences of opinion. However, here in Southwest Florida, we know that our lives are intermingled with the water and the coastal environment, and many people have set aside political affiliations to come together to address serious challenges they face.

We have watched as higher seas, stronger storms and more frequent floods have become part of a new normal that is costlier for the average Floridian. This new normal can mean dozens of days of flooding in our homes and streets, even on sunny days, longer commutes caused by flooded roads, and leading to reduced value of our residential properties.

For our cities, these changes mean added costs for infrastructure and drainage systems and erosion of our pristine beaches. Rising seas can even push saltwater into our drinking water aquifers and threaten the viability of the Everglades marshes.

Collier County and three of its municipalities (Naples, Marco Island and Everglades City), along with local leaders throughout the region, have recently embraced the need for adaptation to sea-level rise. Through a three-year, $1-million grant awarded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration made to the University of Florida and Florida Gulf Coast University, a team of scientists is working closely with managers and decision-makers to predict the effects of sea-level rise and stronger storms. Our leaders deserve the best information possible with which to evaluate and prioritize how to adapt to these changes, and this is what the science team is delivering with multiple storm intensity and sea-level rise scenarios. Now, these tools will be in the hands of nearly 100 decision-makers who can use them to make a difference in Collier County.

Inaction is already costing us billions. Hurricane Irma cost the United States $50 billion. We also know that 40 percent to 60 percent of small businesses never reopen their doors following a disaster, which has a ripple effect on our economy. Cities in Florida alone are already spending over $4 billion to harden infrastructure, improve drainage, renourish beaches and combat tidal flooding. This is the result of just 6 inches of sea-level rise over the last 30 years  were expecting as much as another 6 inches in the next 15 years alone.

Moreover, it is not enough to adapt to these changes locally and move forward without looking at the root causes and working toward a broader and more preventative solution. Adaptation should be accompanied by mitigation  which means a change in our nations usage of fossil fuels. We can control our destiny  clean energy policies can reduce sea-level rise and mitigate its costly impacts.

We know warming of the atmosphere and the oceans melts more glacial ice and causes seawater to expand, both of which increase the volume of water in the oceans. This same warming fuels changes in the development of tropical storms, causing them to strengthen more rapidly and more intensely than in our previous history. Even a few additional inches of sea-level rise can make a hurricane push more water onto shore and further inland, even if the hurricane itself doesnt make landfall. Had Irma continued on its forecast track instead of diverting easterly over Marco Island, more expansive portions of Collier and Lee Counties would have experienced this devastation first-hand. Everglades City and parts of Marco Island, which were located east of the storm eyes landfall, were less fortunate and experienced as much as 9 feet of storm surge.

How do we adapt to sea-level rise while working to mitigate the predicted additional rise if we do not change course in our use of fossil fuels? We must all collaborate to influence decisions that can make a difference. What better way to show this as a bipartisan effort than to pair an earth scientist with the Republican Congressman for Floridas 19th District as supporters, advocates and end users of the NOAA project? Now we look ahead to create solutions, in a bipartisan way, for our burgeoning climate-related problems in Southwest Florida and beyond.

U.S. Rep. Francis Rooney represents Floridas District 19, which includes Sanibel and Captiva.

Dr. Michael Savarese is a coastal geologist and professor at Florida Gulf Coast University.WASHINGTON -- A Navy sailor was killed Monday afternoon aboard the USS George H. W. Bush off the East Coast of the United States, service officials said Tuesday.



The officials described the death aboard the aircraft carrier as "a mishap" on the ship's flight deck. The Bush was at sea conducting carrier qualification training after it had departed from Norfolk, Va., last week ahead of Hurricane Florence's landfall.



No other individuals were injured in the incident, and officials said an investigation has been launched.



They declined to provide additional details Tuesday about the incident.



The name of the dead sailor was withheld Tuesday, per Pentagon policy not to publicly identify fallen servicemembers until 24 hours after family notification.



"We ask for your patience and understanding as the crew grieves the loss of one of their shipmates," the Navy said in a statement.



The Bush is one of 25 Navy ships sent to sea last week ahead of Florence. The Navy has two ships prepared to aid hurricane relief efforts off the coast, but the Bush is not one of them.

-- By Corey Dickstein, Stars and StripesThe Everson Museum is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

Completed in 1968, the museum, designed by renowned architect I.M. Pei, gave the Syracuse art community a permanent home.

Maybe the most famous story from the building's history was the theft of one of the museum's most valuable objects in its collection.

The Scarab Vase has been called the "Mona Lisa of ceramics." It was stolen from the Everson Museum in 1989.

The 1989 theft of Adelaide Robineau's masterpiece, the Scarab Vase, was part of a series of art thefts, carried out by two thieves whose amateurish methods were nothing like what is seen in your typical Hollywood art heist movies.

The vase was considered the jewel of the Everson's ceramics collection and was called the "Mona Lisa of the ceramics world" by the Everson's director at the time.

Robineau had taught herself how to decorate porcelain so she could support her family. After settling in Syracuse, she learned how to create and fire her own pottery and produced some of the first true high-fired porcelains in the United States.

The Scarab was a 17-inch aqua-tinted translucent porcelain vase. It was finished in 1910 and won the grand prize at the Turin International Exposition a year later.

It required more than 1,000 hours and two firings to finish. It was named the scarab as a tribute to the patience and workmanship of the Egyptian beetle of the same name.

Robineau also titled the piece "The Apotheosis of the Toiler" because of the precise and labor-intensive skill needed to create it.

It was purchased by what would become the Everson Museum in 1929 and by the late-1980s was said to be worth $500,000.

About that time George Athanasatos, of Brooklyn, was a small-time thief. He and his friends stole items like records from discount stores. He and his later accomplice, Robert Corteselli, had been arrested earlier for stealing pornographic videos.

In Nov. 1988, he set his sights higher.

He read a newspaper story about the theft of a Manet painting from the Hecksher Museum on Long Island. The thief had lifted the painting off the wall and walked out with it.

Stealing art seemed easier and potentially much more profitable than stealing records.

Beginning on Jan. 12, 1989, he and Corteselli embarked on a spree of art thefts throughout the eastern part of the country.

They stole a silver Tiffany pitcher in Detroit after discovering the glass cover over it was not screwed down.

In Columbus, Ohio they stole a Ming dynasty bowl after unscrewing the cover.

They stole three works of art in Albany on Feb. 11, then headed to Syracuse.

At 8 a.m. on Feb. 14, 1989, a security guard noticed that the Scarab was not in its display and had been replaced by a Stickley vase from nearby. The thieves had unscrewed the dome over the vase and walked out with it.

"We're devastated by it," said Director Kuchta. "It's unique and really irreplaceable."

Syracuse developer Michael Falcone offered up a $25,000 reward for the return of the vase, as Syracuse Police and the FBI searched for clues.

Meanwhile, "the artful dodgers" as the Post-Standard called the thieves, struck in Boston, stealing a $2 million Chinese vase, then stole 16 antique watches from a Baltimore museum.

In total, the thieves had stolen almost $4 million worth of art in just a few weeks.

Athanasatos and Corteselli had taken advantage of the lax security at art museums at the time, but their sloppy and amateurish methods were no match for law enforcement.

Their fingerprints, except for at the Everson, were all over the crime scenes.

Then the pair discovered that stealing art was a lot easier than selling stolen art.

The pair headed to New York City and tried to sell what they had stolen to art dealers.

Disguised in a fake wig, eyebrows and glasses, Athanasatos approached dealers with Polaroids of the stolen art, while Cortiselli sat in the car, the art stashed in the trunk.

One of the photos showed Athanasatos' son holding the Scarab Vase.

A similar photo was found in his ex-wife's house along with a map with marks on all the cities where art had recently come up missing.

He offered the priceless works of art to dealers, for just a fraction of what they were worth. And always asked that they pay in cash.

When he tried to sell the watches from Baltimore to a Madison Avenue watch dealer, she recognized them and called the FBI.

Agents were waiting when Athanasatos returned to complete the sale on March 7. Corteselli turned himself in shortly after Athanasatos was arrested.

The pair were sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail.

The fragile Scarab Vase was recovered unharmed on March 23 and returned to the Everson.

The theft of its most cherished item was turned into a positive by the Museum.

"This worked out to be incredibly good instead of bad," Associated Director Sandra Trop said at a ceremony celebrating the return of the vase on April 27, 1990.

A $10,000 grant improved security at the museum, which included a special new display case for the Scarab, this one without any screws.

The theft raised publicity for the museum, not only locally but also nationally.

In the museum's gift shop, Scarab pins sold for $1 alongside T-shirts with an image of the vase and the message "The vase is back" for $7.50.

"We are fortunate that the ending of this story is a happy one," Kuchta said.

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.Courtesy: Edana

Edana and INDA, the association of the nonwoven fabrics industry, will host the third edition of Outlook Plus Latin America (OPLA) forum in Brazil from May 7-9, 2019. It will examine the economic outlook, market statistics, and latest products and trends for the hygiene, personal care, and medical markets. Edana & INDA are global nonwovens associations.The event, to be held at the Sheraton Sao Paulo WTC hotel, will also feature a tabletop exhibition with local and international companies showcasing products and services. For the first time, this edition of OPLA will also cover developments in nonwoven filter media, an important and growing sector in Latin America, according to a press release by Edana.The programme will feature an in-depth look at the latest developments in nonwovens for the Latin American and global absorbent hygiene and personal care products markets, including expert local insight on the political and economic environment, growth trends, and the potential for nonwovens in this region. Simultaneous translation in English, Portuguese, and Spanish will be provided during the conference.Outlook Latin America is now firmly established as a must-attend event for ambitious companies with an interest in the region, and Edana is proud to once again provide a platform for innovation and business to flourish. We are delighted to again partner with INDA in supporting our member companies and local businesses to showcase their expertise and explore opportunities for growth, Pierre Wiertz, general manager of Edana said.As INDA continues to provide industry leadership in the US, we are pleased to again align with Edana in organising a conference focused on the key developing markets in South America that use nonwoven engineered materials, said Dave Rousse, president of INDA. (GK)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  IndiaIt's just dumb: Im not going to try to pretend that Im not biased on this subject, so lets just put it out there. Daylight saving time is stupid, especially in a modern world that operates 24/7. It just doesnt make sense anymore.

The European Union has decided that it doesnt think seasonal time changes make sense either. Reuters reports that the European Commission issued a draft directive proposing to abolish seasonal clock changes.

If approved by the European Parliament, the last required EU clock change would occur on Sunday, March 31, 2019. After that time each member state of the EU would have the choice of whether to remain on Summer Time (as it is called over there) or they can switch back to Winter Time on Sunday, October 27, 2019. After that, no further clock changes will be recognized.

Either we will stay with summer time or those countries that decide to go to winter time, they will switch to winter time in October (2019) and that will be it, said Commissioner Violeta Bulc in a press conference.

The proposal comes on the heels of an EU survey asking citizens if they were for seasonal time changes. The citizenry responded with a resounding nay. Eighty-four percent of the record 4.6 million respondents said that they opposed the bi-annual time change.

"We are clearly heading toward smart cities, smart buildings and smart solutions which will bring much more savings than changes of the clock."

The concept was first proposed clear back in 1895 and was first implemented on a national basis in 1916 by Germany and Austria-Hungary. Other European nations soon followed, and the US partially adopted the standard in 1918, and then more fully implemented it during the 1970s oil crisis to conserve energy.

The thought was to use more light during the day to cut back on electricity usage. During the early days, it was found to only conserve about one percent of energy consumption. More recent studies between regions that observe DST and areas that stay on standard time show no observable energy savings at all.

Indeed, it is the Commissions opinion that daylight saving time has outlived its usefulness.

Newer studies confirm that the energy savings are nowadays marginal, said Commission Vice-President Maros Sefcovic. We are clearly heading toward smart cities, smart buildings and smart solutions which will bring much more savings than changes of the clock.

Now if the United States would just follow the EUs lead, maybe we could all stop worrying about a 100-year-old rule requiring us to change our clocks twice a year. What do you think?Wow: Matt Denton, an engineer from Hampshire, UK has built a record-breaking hexapod (six legs) robot called "Mantis." The ridable contraption measures 2.8m x 5m and weighs nearly two tons. The mech made it into the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest ridable hexapod ever created.

Denton told Guinness World Records that he was inspired to become an animatronics engineer by the AT-ATs in the Star Wars movie The Empire Strikes Back, which he saw when he was eight. As an adult, his career has landed him jobs in films like Harry Potter and the more recent Star Wars Episode VII in which he helped design the droid BB-8.

Mantis can be ridden from inside a cockpit or can be controlled remotely via WiFi. Each of its six limbs has three actuators and are driven by a 2.2-liter Perkins turbo diesel engine. It is not fast by any stretch of the imagination. The diesel has enough horsepower to push it along at a snail's pace of 1km/h.

It does have a relatively broad range of movement though. Two three-axis joysticks and 28 buttons give the hexapod 18 degrees of freedom. The controls are managed by a Linux-based PC "brain" that controls the hydraulics system.

Denton started by designing small toy-sized hexapods in 2009  20 in all. He built them out of various materials, and the biggest one was about 50cm. One of his early designs was used in a Harry Potter film to animate a six-legged turtle.

Guinness reports that later Denton was commissioned to build a 200-ton hexapod for underwater use. Yes, you read that right  200-tons. He created the two-ton version as a prototype to work out problems he might encounter trying to build one 100-times larger.

Mantis took him three years to build and is actually Mantis MK II. The Mantis MK I was constructed in a year an a half, but the hydraulics immediately broke when he tried to get it to stand.

"I had very little experience with hydraulics, but had to figure out how the engine, hydraulic pump, and tank would work together," said Denton. "I had to become an expert in multiple areas, so I spent a lot of evenings reading!"

If he does manage to overcome the obstacles of creating a 200-ton version of Mantis, not only will it be another record-breaker, but will also be a sight to behold  a real-life giant mech straight out of an anime or video game.What just happened? Evernote, the once-popular productivity app used for note taking and organizing, is reportedly facing more problems. Following the departure of several senior executives last month, the company has now laid off 54 staffequivalent to 15 percent of the firms entire workforce.

The news comes from TechCrunch, which states that CEO Chris ONiell, who had been running business operations at the Google X research unit until 2015, told staff that the company had no choice but to make the cuts. The move is described in a note as an extremely difficult decision and one that we did not take lightly. ONiell said the company is now focusing its efforts on product development and engineering.

The revelations follow a report last month in which an unnamed source described Evernote as a company in a death spiral. This came after the departure of CTO Anirban Kundu, CFO Vincent Toolan, CPO Erik Wrobel, and head of HR Michelle Wagner. While it did confirm the moves, the firm never said why the execs decided to leave.

Additionally, for the second time in 2018, Evernote reduced its Premium subscription price from $70 to $42 as part of a limited-time offera way of encouraging new sign-ups.

Adding to the pressure are reports that Evernote could soon face a funding shortage. Having raised close to $300 million since its founding in 2004, the last round it raised was a $6 million mezzanine round that closed in 2013.

In a recent post by ONeill, the CEO laid out plans for the company to operate more efficiently going forward.

After a successful 2017, I set incredibly aggressive goals for Evernote in 2018. Though we have steadily grown, we committed too many resources too quickly. We built up areas of our business in ways that have proven to be inefficient. Going forward, we are streamlining certain functions, like sales, so we can continue to speed up and scale others, like product development and engineering.

These appear to be tough times for Evernote, which has seen its ranking in the app charts plummet recently. It remains to be seen whether streamlining its workforce will help turn things around.Highly anticipated: Google's Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL devices are nearing launch and are allegedly being leaked intentionally. The latest leak shows the phones in cases that may have been designed by Google.

Google may end up not having anything new to share at its October 9 launch event for the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. New pictures show both phones in cases with a charcoal cloth appearance similar to that found on the Google Home mini.

There is still the pronounced notch on the Pixel 3 XL's 6.2-inch display and the smaller 5.4-inch display on the Pixel 3 still looks a lot more appealing sans-notch. Even though the launch event date is already confirmed, its worth pointing out the date on the home screen is also October 9.

Unlike other versions of Android 9, Google has added a search bar at the bottom of the screen with a shortcut to Google Assistant at the right of the search box. Perhaps following in the footsteps of Samsung, Google may try to make Assistant even more prominent on its latest devices. If that is the case, at least Google Assistant is fairly capable, especially compared to Bixby.

The back of the cases does not show anything unexpected. There is a single camera with LED flash on the rear of both devices that is believed to only have minor changes compared to the Pixel 2.

At the bottom of the case, there is a fairly large cutout for the USB-C port that appears to lack a dust cover. Whether there are actually any accessories that have a wide plug requiring such clearance is questionable, but nonetheless it should prevent any potential problems when using over sized USB-C cables.TESS, the newest space telescope that will take up the mantle and find exoplanets similar to Earth, has already beamed the first photo it captured.

TESS Starts Sending Data Back To Earth

NASA has released a detailed picture of the southern sky featuring stars and other celestial objects including previously identified exoplanets. The space telescope used all four of its wide-field cameras to capture the photo.

"In a sea of stars brimming with new worlds, TESS is casting a wide net and will haul in a bounty of promising planets for further study," stated Paul Hertz, NASA astrophysics division director. "This first light science image shows the capabilities of TESS' cameras, and shows that the mission will realize its incredible potential in our search for another Earth."

According to the space agency, the black lines in the imaged beamed back to Earth by TESS are from the gaps between each of the spacecraft's camera detectors. However, it was still able to capture parts of constellations and the Small and Large Magellanic Clouds. Two stars  Beta Gruis and R Doradus  are so bright that they created long spikes of light in the photo.

"This swath of the sky's southern hemisphere includes more than a dozen stars we know have transiting planets based on previous studies from ground observatories," said George Ricker, TESS principal investigator.

The space telescope acquired the photo over a 30-minute period on Tuesday, Aug. 4. This was the telescope's "first light" captured a few months after it had been launched to space in April.

However, this is not the first time that the new spacecraft sent an image back to Earth. Immediately after launch, TESS took a two-second test exposure using one of its four cameras. The result is an equally impressive photo showing over 200,000 stars in the southern sky.

Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, TESS is meant to replace Kepler, a similar telescope that has, in the span of almost 10 years, spotted over 2,000 exoplanets orbiting distant stars. Kepler is expected to retire any day now.

TESS Mission

In the next couple of years, Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite or TESS will be looking at the sky to look for transits or the sudden but regular dip in distant star's darkness that occurs when a planet passes in front of it. The spacecraft will be spending two years monitoring 13 sectors from the northern sky and 13 sectors from the southern sky, covering 85 percent of the sky.

TESS is scheduled to transmit new images back to ground control every 13.7 days. The Deep Space Network receives the data from the spacecraft and forwards them back to Earth.

Meanwhile, the James Webb Space Telescope and other space/ground observatories will use spectroscopy to learn more about the planets that TESS will find.

pic.twitter.com/zJ1Bz5TspN What's out there? Our newest planet-hunting satellite, @NASA_TESS , released its first science image capturing a huge swath of the sky. Using all four of its cameras, the satellite's full field of view included parts of a dozen constellations. More: https://t.co/TCJ5BFpG6c  NASA (@NASA) September 17, 2018

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.The Dharma Planet Survey might have found the real-life Vulcan, a planet from the popular sci-fi television series, Star Trek.

In a new study, scientists have revealed the discovery of a planet twice the size of Earth and orbiting the star HD 26965, or otherwise known as the 40 Eridani A.

To Trekkies, the orange-tinged star that is only 16 light-years away from Earth is connected to Spock's home planet, Vulcan.

A 'Star Trek' Discovery

In 1968, sci-fi author James Blish introduced 40 Eridani A to the Star Trek lore via the book Star Trek 2. The collection of stories, which was adapted from the original television series' scripts, detailed the galactic address of Spock, the Enterprise's beloved science officer.

In the 90s, Star Trek producer Gene Roddenberry made it known in a letter to Sky & Telescope, arguing that 40 Eridani A would make the ideal home for Vulcan and Spock.

"Presumably, Vulcan orbits the primary star, an orange main-sequence dwarf of spectral type K1... Two companion stars  a 9th magnitude white dwarf and an 11th magnitude red dwarf  orbit each other about 400 astronomical units from the primary," wrote Roddenberry. "They would gleam brilliantly in the Vulcan sky."

The real-life Vulcan was discovered by scientists using the Dharma Endowment Foundation Telescope or DEFT, a 50-inch telescope situated on top of Mt Lemmon in Arizona. This is the first super-Earth discovered by the Dharma Planet Survey.

Life In Vulcan

Meanwhile, 40 Eridani A is slightly cooler and slightly smaller than the Sun. It also has a fairly similar sunspot pattern.

The similarities between 40 Eridani A and the Sun make it ideal for life on the newly-discovered planet to host life and, possibly, an advanced civilization. The star is also about the same age as the Sun (4 billion years old), allowing intelligent life to evolve from more than just bacteria.

The Search Continues

"Spock served on the starship Enterprise, whose mission was to seek out strange new worlds, a mission shared by the Dharma Planet Survey," stated Gregory Henry, one of the lead authors of the study.

The Dharma Planet Survey is designed to detect low-mass planets around nearby stars. It started in 2016 and will be in operation until 2020. The mission is looking for planets in 150 stars within 16 light-years away from Earth.

The new planet is the closest super-Earth that is orbiting a Sun-like star. HD 26965, according to researchers, can be seen with the naked eye on a clear night.

The discovery will be published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, but the paper can already be read via arxiv.org.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.The Lafayette City-Parish Council on Tuesday avoided taking a position on the controversial Drag Queen Story Time reading event at the public library.

Six of nine council members abstained from voting on a resolution by Councilman Jared Bellard and Councilman William Theriot to denounce the event. Councilwoman Nanette Cook voted with Bellard and Theriot.

The resolution was strictly symbolic, since the council has no direct say in library programming.

Drag Queen Story Time is to feature a group of male University of Louisiana-Lafayette students reading to children ages three to six while dressed as women. Library staff will select reading material deemed age appropriate. The reading is to be performed by members of a provisional chapter of Delta Lambda Phi, which calls itself a national fraternity for gay, bisexual and progressive men.

The Lafayette Public Library administration included a programming note about the event in a newsletter last month, igniting angry backlash from some who said it was inappropriate. Supporters have been just as vehement, and those on both sides clashed this week on consecutive nights at the meetings of the library board and City-Parish Council.

The library board on Monday appeared to ensure the event will move forward by taking no action at its regular meeting. The council meeting Tuesday was the last foreseeable public proceeding concerning the event.

More than 70 people signed up to speak at the standing-room only council meeting, the majority of whom spoke out against the event. Many cited their religious beliefs, and a few expressed unvarnished moral outrage toward LGBTQ lifestyles.

Lafayette library board president resigns amid controversy over drag queen event The Lafayette library board president submitted his resignation Monday as controversy continued over plans for male college students to read s

Others opposed the event because they felt the public library was inappropriately taking a position on a social issue, or because they did not agree with the library having gender identity programming for young children. Some of those opposing the event said they were afraid the library is opening the door to events put on pedophiles, terrorists and drug addicts.

There was little common ground between supporters and opponents, as the two groups repeatedly showed fundamental disagreement about what the event is all about.

Supporters insisted they were not pushing an agenda, but were seeking only to teach children about love and inclusion. Several speakers who identified as gay or transgender recalled being outcasts as children, saying they hoped the event could help others avoid those painful experiences.

Its not about sex, its not about identifying as another gender, said Jared Eubanks. It is art.

That was a nonstarter for Bernard McLaughlin.

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If the word drag queen isnt about sex and gender, I must have grown up on the wrong planet, McLaughlin said.

The opposition on Tuesday was a departure from the Aug. 21 council meetings, where dozens of speakers spoke in support of the event. That meeting came on the heels of Mayor-President Joel Robideauxs statement opposing the event.

+13 'Nobody bats an eyelash' as drag queens read stories to kids at Bywater library On Saturday afternoon, the Alvar Library in New Orleans was packed with gung-ho little patrons who listened to drag queens Vanessa Carr and Bl

Robideauxs appointee to the library board, Joseph Gordon-Wiltz, resigned three days later, saying he couldnt carry out the mayor-presidents will. His replacement, Hilda Edmond, was absent at the meeting Monday.

The mayor-president appoints one of the library boards eight members, and the council acting as a single body appoints the others.

Multiple speakers on Tuesday challenged the notion that the council could not exert influence on whether the event goes forward, suggesting the council could remove the seven board members that are not mayoral-appointees.

The city-parish attorney, Paul Escott, explained that the council can remove library board members only for neglect of duty, and only after due process hearings.

Following the public comment period, Council Chairman Kevin Naquin questioned the library director, Teresa Elberson, as to how the event had been planned. Naquin specifically wanted to know if the board had been involved in approving it, or if the board had considered other locations.

Elberson replied that she and her staff had planned the event without board involvement.

Naquin, while declining to denounce the event with this vote, was taken aback that the library board did not discuss the event at its meeting on Monday.

"That amazes me," Naquin said to Elberson. "I would hope the library considers people's thoughts."The secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior traveled to Lafayette on Tuesday to announce $100 million worth of grants from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which will expire at the end of this month without congressional re-authorization.

Zinke appeared at the Acadiana Park Nature Station after meeting privately with oil and gas industry representatives. The park is to receive a $100,000 grant for a new bridge to connect hiking trails on the north and south sides of the park, with Lafayette city-parish government contributing an equal amount. Louisiana will receive $1.6 million altogether for projects across the state.

The conservation fund, funded almost exclusively by offshore energy revenue, is used primarily to acquire federal land and for recreation-focused grants to states and local jurisdictions like the ones announced Tuesday.

Use of the fund is frequently debated, and Zinke said Tuesday that less should go toward buying federal land and more to increasing the availability of existing land for human recreation. At the same time, a greater share of the fund should go to the states, he said.

Congress has appropriated $18.4 billion from the fund in its 53 years of existence, and more than 60 percent of that has gone to land acquisition, according to the Congressional Research Service. A quarter of the appropriations have gone to state grants, and the remainder has been used for a variety of other purposes.

Some of the land we take in is not in good shape. Some of it has reclamation problems, Zinke said. Public access should be a priority."

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House Resolution 502, which passed the Natural Resources Committee last week, would permanently reauthorize the fund while ensuring federal and state appropriations are split at 40 percent apiece. The remaining 20 percent would be subject to presidential discretion.

The bill has bipartisan support and may represent the most likely means of reauthorizing the fund. Zinke said Tuesday the bill has a lot of good ideas, but he stopped short of fully backing it. Zinke said he supports a greater split for states than what is proposed, as well as diversifying the sources of income for the fund.

Broaden the revenue stream out, and we include wind and solar and the rest of the energy components of federal land, Zinke said.

The fund accrues $900 million annually but Congress doesnt typically appropriate nearly that much. The appropriations over more than five decades represent less than half of what the fund has taken in in that time, according to the Congressional Research Service.WASHINGTON  Both of Louisianas Republican U.S. senators, who endorsed Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh earlier this month, said a hearing is now needed to sort out a womans allegation that Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her at a high school party in the 1980s.

Sen. John Kennedy, who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he and his colleagues are doing everything we can to hear from Christine Blasey Ford, a California professor who told the Washington Post on Sunday that a drunken Kavanaugh pinned her to a bed, attempted to remove her swimsuit and tried to muzzle her mouth to prevent screams.

Fords charges have plunged Kavanaughs confirmation, which early last week appeared an inevitability, into uncertainty. Kavanaugh spent a second straight day at the White House Tuesday as Democrats and Republicans squared off on Capitol Hill over the handling of the allegations.

Ford told the Post she first shared her account with a therapist in 2012 before repeating them again in recent years, including in a confidential letter to a California Democratic congresswoman this summer.

Kennedy, who earlier this month said hed vote happily and proudly to confirm Kavanaugh, said he now needs to hear from Ford directly before moving forward. Kennedy said Kavanaugh, 53, rejected Ford's allegations when Kennedy spoke to him by phone on Tuesday.

Kavanaugh has vehemently denied the accusation and said in a statement Monday that he wanted to "refute this false allegation, from 36 years ago, and defend my integrity."

I need to hear from Ford, what happened, what does she remember. Ive got to hear from her, Kennedy said. The senator wouldnt say whether hed consider Kavanaugh unfit for the Supreme Court if he becomes convinced Fords allegations are true.

Republicans are going to get somebody on the Supreme Court, and I think its going to be Judge Kavanaugh, but I want to be fair to everybody and were not even close to being there yet, Kennedy said Tuesday afternoon. I think Professor Fords going to come Monday and well have a full hearing, hopefully publicly.

Fords attorney hadnt responded to messages from Republican staffers trying to schedule an interview or hearing, Kennedy said, adding that Senate Republicans offered to hold the hearing in private if Ford preferred.

Im not preparing for this (hearing) like I would prepare for a normal confirmation hearing where I prepare questions ahead of time, Kennedy said of Ford's and Kavanaughs potential appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee. I want to hear first-hand the story and the rebuttal. I dont want this to turn into a court of law or a cross-examination  I want to allow Dr. Ford the opportunity to tell her side of all of this.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, told The Advocate on Tuesday that hell be watching as the Judiciary Committee tries to sort out the accusations. Cassidy said he hoped additional evidence or witnesses might be able to settle the truth beyond what he called a he said, she said" situation.

The committee needs to evaluate it and I think theyre going through that process, Cassidy said. Lets let it play.

President Donald Trump said he was "totally supporting" Kavanaugh and rejected calls for the FBI to investigate the accusation.

"I don't think FBI really should be involved because they don't want to be involved," Trump said. As for Kavanaugh, he said, "I feel so badly for him that he's going through this, to be honest with you. ... This is not a man that deserves this."

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, said Democrats want more than two witnesses, including Mark Judge, who Ford has said was a Kavanaugh friend present during the alleged incident. Limiting the hearing to just Kavanaugh and Ford would be "inadequate, unfair, wrong and a desire not to get at the whole truth," Schumer said.

Judge told senators in a letter that he has no memory of the alleged incident and wrote that he hadnt seen Kavanaugh behave that way. Judge also said he wasnt interested in testifying. Judges past writings, some of which detail wild partying and excessive drinking in high school, have drawn new scrutiny as well.

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Kennedy said he didnt know yet whether hed support potentially issuing subpoenas to force Ford or Judge to testify before the committee.

Ford said she only managed to escape from under Kavanaugh when Judge, whom Ford also described as heavily intoxicated at the party, jumped on the bed and knocked Kavanaugh off her.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell stood strongly behind Brett Kavanaugh, saying her claims that he'd sexually attacked her when both were high schoolers "stands at odds" with everything known about the Supreme Court nominee's background.

McConnell said that "blatant malpractice" by Democrats  not releasing a letter by the accuser until the confirmation process was nearing its end  "will not stop the Senate from moving forward in a responsible manner."

Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, who received Ford's letter over the summer, said she didn't reveal it to protect Ford's confidentiality.

Kennedy said he didnt buy that explanation from Feinstein, arguing she couldve redacted Fords letter in a way to protect the womans identity while alerting other senators to the allegations.

It certainly wouldve made it a lot easier to get the truth and Im very disappointed that Sen. Feinstein waited as long as she did, Kennedy said.

If the Judiciary committee's timetable slips, it would become increasingly difficult for Republicans to schedule a vote before midterm elections on Nov. 6 elections, when congressional control will be at stake.

With fragile GOP majorities of just 11-10 on the Judiciary committee and 51-49 in the full Senate, Republican leaders had little room for defectors without risking a humiliating defeat of Trump's nominee to replace retired Justice Anthony Kennedy.

Several prominent conservative judges and legal scholars  including New Orleans native Amy Coney Barrett, now a federal judge on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals  were also considered for the Supreme Court seat and could be tapped by the White House if Kavanaughs nomination fails or is withdrawn.

GOP Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona, a Judiciary Committee member who has clashed bitterly with Trump and is retiring from the Senate, said he told No. 2 Senate Republican leader John Cornyn of Texas on Sunday that "if we didn't give her a chance to be heard, then I would vote no."

Theres also enormous pressure on GOP Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, two moderates who have yet to announce their positions on Kavanaugh and aren't on the Judiciary Committee.

Collins said that in a telephone conversation with Kavanaugh on Friday he was "absolutely emphatic" that the assault didn't occur. She said it would be "disqualifying" if Kavanaugh was lying. Murkowski said Ford's story "must be taken seriously." Neither Collins nor Murkowski faces re-election this fall.

The Justice Department said in a statement late Monday that the accusation against Kavanaugh "does not involve any potential federal crime." It said the FBI had forwarded to the White House a letter, evidently from Ford, describing alleged misconduct in the 1980s by Kavanaugh.

The statement seemed to suggest that the FBI was not currently investigating it.

Ford is now a psychology professor at California's Palo Alto University. Kavanaugh is currently a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, widely viewed as the nation's second-most-powerful court.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.Years before she was an executive for Shell and a state senator, Sharon Hewitt worked among a group of men on a drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico.

Life on the rigs for women in those days was not easy. She worked in a very male-dominated setting  porn played on the TV in the cabin almost all the time  and shared living quarters with the men, which required figuring out ways to use the bathroom and shower in private.

And that was just daily life. Work challenges still had to be overcome.

There were definitely foremen who tried to make it very difficult on me because they didnt think I belonged in the oil business, especially in an operational-type role, Hewitt said as part of a panel titled Women in Energy on Wednesday at the Louisiana Oil and Gas Associations fall meeting in Lafayette.

Those times on the drilling rigs were not easy," Hewitt said. "They were going to see who could outlast whom. What I found out was as soon as I contributed in a significant way, we were friends for life. Over time, you do earn your stripes. You have to earn their respect.

Women are expected to make gains in the field in the next 20 years. According to 2016 data from the American Petroleum Institute, companies anticipate creating 145,412 job opportunities for women from 2015 until 2035 in the West South Central region, which consists of Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma.

That figure is expected to make up 17 percent of all job opportunities in the region and is only behind the New England region for most job opportunities for women.

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We have a stereotype in our industry: its a boys club. Its a good ol boys club, said Jessica Roger, vice president of Wellsite Fishing & Rental Services in Broussard. I think were moving out of it, but it still lingers. 

Diversity in hiring should be an issue with every company in the industry, said panelist Felicia Frederick, regional state government affairs manager for Chevron. Employers should look at how many female workers they have right now and how to increase that percent of diversity.

We definitely look at that ratio and are responsible to that ratio, she said. When youre looking to hire, there are universities that have a lot more females now in geology, petroleum land management and engineering than ever before. When youre looking to hire someone, take a look at that short list (of candidates). It doesnt have to be that short list of men.

The industry has become more open to women on the rigs. Panelist Jaime Glas, an LSU graduate, recalled how she became so frustrated with wearing oversized coveralls that she designed her own. That idea spawned HauteWork, which designs flame-resistant clothing for women, including pregnant women.

Women are tough, Hewitt told the audience. Were resilient. We can excel in this industry. We just need for you to look for women that are well-qualified to help you in your business.The world's most expensive painting, lost for centuries, was handed down through a Louisiana family who had no idea that a genuine Leonardo da Vinci masterpiece was hanging in its home.

The journey into obscurity and the miraculous recovery of da Vinci's "Salvator Mundi,"which depicts Jesus holding a clear orb and raising his right hand in blessing, was detailed by The Wall Street Journal in a report published this week.

+3 Leonardo da Vinci's Salvator Mundi, expected to sell for over $100M, has mysterious ties to Louisiana A long-lost painting by Leonardo da Vinci will go up for auction in New York City on Wednesday, when it is expected to fetch well over $100 million.

The artwork, which was recently bought by Saudi Arabia's crown prince for $450 million, was previously sold to a pair of art dealers in a 2005 estate sale in New Orleans after its owner, Basil Clovis Hendry Sr., of Baton Rouge, died, according to the report. Hendry had inherited the painting in 1987 from his aunt, Minnie Stanfill Kuntz.

Kuntz and her husband, Warren E. Kuntz, managed a furniture business in New Orleans and often traveled to Europe to buy art and antiques. The couple purchased the da Vinci, then incorrectly characterized as being by a student of the famous painter, in the summer of 1958 from the estate of Sir Francis Cook, according to The Wall Street Journal's report.

Hendry's daughter, Susan Hendry Tureau told the publication that the entire situation is still "hard to absorb."

In my little humdrum retirement life you know, to have something this major happen," the retired Baton Rouge library technician said, "its so exciting.

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Hendry, originally from Amite, was living in Baton Rouge before his death, according to his obituary. He was the director of the men's choir at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church for more than 40 years and also a member of the St. George Catholic Church.

+3 Leonardo da Vinci's Salvator Mundi, expected to sell for over $100M, has mysterious ties to Louisiana A long-lost painting by Leonardo da Vinci will go up for auction in New York City on Wednesday, when it is expected to fetch well over $100 million.

Salvator Mundi disappeared from 1763 until 1900, when it became part of a private collection. In 1958, it was consigned to an auction and sold for 45 pounds, and it didnt re-emerge until 2005, when it was purchased in Louisiana.

It was not authenticated as a work by Leonardo until 2011; two years later, the group led by Simon sold it to the Swiss businessman, Yves Bouvier.

Bouvier bought it for $80 million and immediately sold it to Dmitry Rybolovlev for $127.5 million, sparking a legal battle between the two men that grew to involve Sothebys and the previous sellers, who claimed they were shortchanged.

For the full report from The Wall Street Journal, click here.Angered at extravagant trips, insurance benefits, plus lucrative per diem pay for board members and executives, Louisianas utility regulators Wednesday shutdown two requests to increase monthly electric bills and ordered a sweeping investigation into the compensation and perks at all Louisianas rural electric cooperatives.

Im not going to vote for anything else today until I found out how much these board members are making, Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell said. How much money are they spending? How many times do they go to Las Vegas? How many times do they go to Washington?  Take their wives up there, eat big steaks, stay at fancy hotels.

The states 10 co-ops provide electricity to about 900,000 rural members. What traditional corporate utilities call customers, co-ops call members. The board jobs are supposed to be part-time, and the cooperatives are supposed to be nonprofit.

But the regulatory commission heard testimony that some board members make as much as $50,000 per year in per diem  payments for attending meetings. Most received an array of benefits that included health, vision and life insurance.

The $255,000 in perks for directors and executives of Pointe Coupee Electric Membership, in suburban Baton Rouge, account for almost two-thirds of the utilitys $400,000 operating margin.

The PSC, nevertheless, agreed to increase monthly rates by $1.32 for each 1,000-kilowatt hours bought from Pointe Coupee Electric. The price in August for that amount of electricity was $110.34.

The regulators had delayed the rate increase requests of two other co-ops  Beauregard Electric and Concordia Electric cooperatives  because they had failed to provide adequate information about board and executive compensation. Pointe Coupee did.

Claiborne Electric Co-op., located in one of the nations poorest parishes or counties, turned over the information only under subpoena. The general managers $195,992 salary is roughly 15 times the average salary of people living in the four north Louisiana parishes covered, Campbell said. Board members receive $250 each way to drive to Baton Rouge plus meals and hotel for an overnight stay.

The five elected PSC members get $10,000 annually for travel and to attend conferences. That includes staff costs, too.

We get paid for mileage? PSC Commissioner Lambert Boissiere III asked to laughter. He drives to Baton Rouge from New Orleans at least two times a week to conduct business at the PSC.

I have never, ever been paid a penny to be on any nonprofit board, said PSC Chairman Eric Skrmetta, of Metairie.

Claibornes General Manager Mark Brown countered that the nine members of Claiborne Electrics Board of Directors helped shape policy and contributed 4,836 hours of work in 2017 for the co-op 26,000 members.

Claiborne Electric had been seeking commission approval for a more than $80 million loan to start a broadband internet service. Campbell and co-op officials have previously clashed over the concept and the need for a feasibility study to vet the plans finances.

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Cooperatives were created during the Roosevelt administration as a way to get electricity into rural areas. Unlike the big shareholder owned utility companies, like Entergy, which include a profit in their rates, coops are nonprofits and instead of profits are allowed operating margins or money left over for expenses after the electricity is bought and paid.

Also under the microscope was Dixie Electric Membership Corp. DEMCO serves more than 100,000 members in Ascension, Livingston and other Baton Rouge suburbs. The co-op reported the results of an months-long internal audit.

The audit investigated allegations of improper perks between co-op vendors and board members and top executives and found a few instances of an improper benefits, though in one case DEMCO officials contended it was unwitting and later paid back.

In addition to the broad ranging inquiries, the PSC also held out the possibility that it could conduct its own probe into DEMCOs finances and operations.

PSC Chairman Skrmetta asked DEMCO officials to provide a copy of the audit to agency staff. And if they see anything that we see was not covered, they may ask to either expand that audit or create our own, so well let the staff make that decision, Skrmetta said.

The commission learned that DEMCO board members collected between $6,000 and $34,000 per year. The $34,000 in pay included per diem, contributions to a health savings account, medical and vision policies, staffers told the commission.

"Boy, boy, boy, there y'all go again," Campbell said.

+2 Employees used vendor's condo; company paid for private repairs, DEMCO audit finds A much-anticipated internal audit of Dixie Electric Membership Corp. has found that at least two employees were given use of a Gulf Coast cond

Auditors working for DEMCO reviewed 70,000 documents and conducted interviews with vendors, board members and employees and uncovered instances of some perks to employees and one board member that violated DEMCOs own ethics rules.

On Wednesday, DEMCO CEO Randy Pierce didnt get into the audits specifics in the public meeting Wednesday, but he has previously described the top-line findings.

In one, two employees then working for DEMCO used a Gulf Coast condominium owned by one of the co-ops vendors. In another, board member Richard Dickie Sitman had nearly $870 in repairs done on his personal radio tower near Greensburg in 2016. Sitman, who was board president then, wasnt informed of the repairs at the time but has since paid back the cost and resigned as board chairman.

DEMCO customer, businessman starts campaign to force sale of utility amid pending audit A Baton Rouge businessman said Wednesday he is starting a petition drive to allow DEMCO customers to decide whether to sell the nonprofit rura

In response to these findings, DEMCO has begun an aggressive plan to enforce all the existing policies that we have, Pierce said.WASHINGTON  Both of Louisianas Republican U.S. senators, who endorsed Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh earlier this month, said a hearing is now needed to sort out a womans allegation that Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her at a high school party in the 1980s.

Sen. John Kennedy, who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he and his colleagues are doing everything we can to hear from Christine Blasey Ford, a California professor who told the Washington Post on Sunday that a drunken Kavanaugh pinned her to a bed, attempted to remove her swimsuit and tried to muzzle her mouth to prevent screams.

Fords charges have plunged Kavanaughs confirmation, which early last week appeared an inevitability, into uncertainty. Kavanaugh spent a second straight day at the White House Tuesday as Democrats and Republicans squared off on Capitol Hill over the handling of the allegations.

Ford told the Post she first shared her account with a therapist in 2012 before repeating them again in recent years, including in a confidential letter to a California Democratic congresswoman this summer.

Kennedy, who earlier this month said hed vote happily and proudly to confirm Kavanaugh, said he now needs to hear from Ford directly before moving forward. Kennedy said Kavanaugh, 53, rejected Ford's allegations when Kennedy spoke to him by phone on Tuesday.

Kavanaugh has vehemently denied the accusation and said in a statement Monday that he wanted to "refute this false allegation, from 36 years ago, and defend my integrity."

I need to hear from Ford, what happened, what does she remember. Ive got to hear from her, Kennedy said. The senator wouldnt say whether hed consider Kavanaugh unfit for the Supreme Court if he becomes convinced Fords allegations are true.

Republicans are going to get somebody on the Supreme Court, and I think its going to be Judge Kavanaugh, but I want to be fair to everybody and were not even close to being there yet, Kennedy said Tuesday afternoon. I think Professor Fords going to come Monday and well have a full hearing, hopefully publicly.

Fords attorney hadnt responded to messages from Republican staffers trying to schedule an interview or hearing, Kennedy said, adding that Senate Republicans offered to hold the hearing in private if Ford preferred.

Im not preparing for this (hearing) like I would prepare for a normal confirmation hearing where I prepare questions ahead of time, Kennedy said of Ford's and Kavanaughs potential appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee. I want to hear first-hand the story and the rebuttal. I dont want this to turn into a court of law or a cross-examination  I want to allow Dr. Ford the opportunity to tell her side of all of this.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, told The Advocate on Tuesday that hell be watching as the Judiciary Committee tries to sort out the accusations. Cassidy said he hoped additional evidence or witnesses might be able to settle the truth beyond what he called a he said, she said" situation.

The committee needs to evaluate it and I think theyre going through that process, Cassidy said. Lets let it play.

President Donald Trump said he was "totally supporting" Kavanaugh and rejected calls for the FBI to investigate the accusation.

"I don't think FBI really should be involved because they don't want to be involved," Trump said. As for Kavanaugh, he said, "I feel so badly for him that he's going through this, to be honest with you. ... This is not a man that deserves this."

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, said Democrats want more than two witnesses, including Mark Judge, who Ford has said was a Kavanaugh friend present during the alleged incident. Limiting the hearing to just Kavanaugh and Ford would be "inadequate, unfair, wrong and a desire not to get at the whole truth," Schumer said.

Judge told senators in a letter that he has no memory of the alleged incident and wrote that he hadnt seen Kavanaugh behave that way. Judge also said he wasnt interested in testifying. Judges past writings, some of which detail wild partying and excessive drinking in high school, have drawn new scrutiny as well.

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Kennedy said he didnt know yet whether hed support potentially issuing subpoenas to force Ford or Judge to testify before the committee.

Ford said she only managed to escape from under Kavanaugh when Judge, whom Ford also described as heavily intoxicated at the party, jumped on the bed and knocked Kavanaugh off her.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell stood strongly behind Brett Kavanaugh, saying her claims that he'd sexually attacked her when both were high schoolers "stands at odds" with everything known about the Supreme Court nominee's background.

McConnell said that "blatant malpractice" by Democrats  not releasing a letter by the accuser until the confirmation process was nearing its end  "will not stop the Senate from moving forward in a responsible manner."

Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, who received Ford's letter over the summer, said she didn't reveal it to protect Ford's confidentiality.

Kennedy said he didnt buy that explanation from Feinstein, arguing she couldve redacted Fords letter in a way to protect the womans identity while alerting other senators to the allegations.

It certainly wouldve made it a lot easier to get the truth and Im very disappointed that Sen. Feinstein waited as long as she did, Kennedy said.

If the Judiciary committee's timetable slips, it would become increasingly difficult for Republicans to schedule a vote before midterm elections on Nov. 6 elections, when congressional control will be at stake.

With fragile GOP majorities of just 11-10 on the Judiciary committee and 51-49 in the full Senate, Republican leaders had little room for defectors without risking a humiliating defeat of Trump's nominee to replace retired Justice Anthony Kennedy.

Several prominent conservative judges and legal scholars  including New Orleans native Amy Coney Barrett, now a federal judge on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals  were also considered for the Supreme Court seat and could be tapped by the White House if Kavanaughs nomination fails or is withdrawn.

GOP Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona, a Judiciary Committee member who has clashed bitterly with Trump and is retiring from the Senate, said he told No. 2 Senate Republican leader John Cornyn of Texas on Sunday that "if we didn't give her a chance to be heard, then I would vote no."

Theres also enormous pressure on GOP Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, two moderates who have yet to announce their positions on Kavanaugh and aren't on the Judiciary Committee.

Collins said that in a telephone conversation with Kavanaugh on Friday he was "absolutely emphatic" that the assault didn't occur. She said it would be "disqualifying" if Kavanaugh was lying. Murkowski said Ford's story "must be taken seriously." Neither Collins nor Murkowski faces re-election this fall.

The Justice Department said in a statement late Monday that the accusation against Kavanaugh "does not involve any potential federal crime." It said the FBI had forwarded to the White House a letter, evidently from Ford, describing alleged misconduct in the 1980s by Kavanaugh.

The statement seemed to suggest that the FBI was not currently investigating it.

Ford is now a psychology professor at California's Palo Alto University. Kavanaugh is currently a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, widely viewed as the nation's second-most-powerful court.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.Purchases made via links on our site may earn us an affiliate commissionOn the steps of the U.S. Capital are, from left, Ascension Parish 4-H members Victoria Buckland, Kinslei Scroggs and Caitlin Marquis.The East Feliciana Parish Planning Commission voted Tuesday to pay a Church Point firm for its effort to save the 18 live oak trees surrounding the historic parish courthouse and an adjacent building housing the sheriff's civil division.

Parish Manager Sonya Crowe said the work by Bob's Tree Preservation grew out of a project to remove a limb touching the roof of the sheriff's office building next to the parish courthouse.

The firm's owner, arborist Robert Thibodeaux, reported that the trees are highly stressed because of poor soil conditions on the courthouse square, Crowe said, and that this was possibly caused by construction work several years ago to renovate the antebellum courthouse.

Crowe said the trees could be valued at $100,000 each, and one that is about 65 percent stressed "may not make it."

The company charged $27,150 to prune the limb and do extensive work to condition the soil around the live oaks.

+6 Ancient live oaks belong to an exclusive society Coleen Perilloux Landry grew up on River Road in Montz, where live oak trees sheltered the 1820s home on her familys property.

About $23,000 of that amount will be paid from a courthouse maintenance fund. That fund was started after a movie production company paid $30,000 to use the courthouse grounds in 2015 to film part of the movie, "The Free State of Jones," Crowe and Juror Sean Smith said.

"Hopefully we can save them," Crowe said.

In other matters, District Attorney Sam D'Aquilla said he will handle a recommendation from the Finance and Executive Committee to make the state Ethics Board aware of possible ethics violation concerns "by Planning and Zoning commissioners."

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The Ethics Board earlier this year fined former commission member Ed Carroll $1,000 after he admitted that he remained on the commission while it considered and approved a subdivision request involving property he owned.

While they did not say who was involved, jurors serving on the committee said they believed at least one other similar violation had occurred.

+3 Developers receive Baton Rouge Green Awards for live oak plantings Baton Rouge Green presented its first Baton Rouge Green Awards in decades during the 2018 Louisiana Arbor Day Celebration on Jan. 19 at the LS

Juror Glen Kent said jurors, when considering future appointments to the commission, should look ahead to see if any future conflicts of interest might arise, particularly when commissioners are involved in real estate transactions.

Kent said a commissioner facing an ethical conflict cannot simply recuse himself from voting or discussing the matter before the panel, but must resign.

The jury also agreed to buy an excavator from Crawler Supply Co. for $86,137 and a trailer from the same company for $23,275. The prices were set by competitive bidding conducted by the state's purchasing agency.

Finance Committee Chairman Chris Hall said the costs will be split between the jury's capital outlay fund and its road and bridge fund.

The jury also agreed to advertise for two excavator operator openings.A grand jury on Tuesday indicted two men suspected of killing and dismembering an Ascension Parish man and leaving his body parts stuffed inside containers off a road south of Walker.

Morgan Martin, 31, of Zachary, and Duane Bissell, 27, of Amite, are charged with second-degree murder, said Autumn Payton, a spokeswoman for Livingston Parish District Attorney Scott Perrilloux.

Martin is accused of shooting Michael Neufeld, while Bissell is accused of cutting him up, Payton said.

+11 Brother says Ascension victim was shot before his body was mutilated and left in the woods A body found dismembered in a wooded area of Livingston Parish this week was that of an Ascension Parish man reported missing in early July.

Neufeld, 26, was missing for three weeks when Livingston Parish deputies found his dismembered body July 22 off Hood Road. Payton said the body was in "blue, barrel-like containers."

The victim's brother Robert Neufeld said in a July interview that his brother was driving a friend to a home on Evelyn Drive outside Walker where he was killed. Robert Neufeld said he does not believe his brother knew the perpetrators.

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Six other people also were arrested in connection with the crime. One person, Nancy Logarbo, has been billed with accessory to second-degree murder, Payton said. She has pleaded not guilty. The other cases are still under review, she said.

The Livingston Parish grand jury also handed up an indictment Tuesday for second-degree murder on Christopher Glenn, 33, of Denham Springs.

Glenn is accused of stabbing to death Tosha M. Smith on June 5 at Glenn's home on the 1000 block of Dodger Drive in Denham Springs. A family member of Smith identified the victim as Glenn's mother-in-law.

Authorities have said that five children were inside the residence when the crime took place.

"A tragic scene, as you can imagine," Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard said in June.PLAQUEMINE  The man suspected of fatally shooting a 25-year-old man from the back seat of a moving car in Plaquemine last week was arrested early Tuesday.

Plaquemine Police Chief Kenny Payne said Darius Washington, 30, was arrested about 3 a.m. Tuesday in East Baton Rouge Parish.

Payne said that, while the incident is still under investigation, authorities believed the fatal shooting of Travis Washington, who is not related to Darius Washington, might have been a "drug beef."

Man shot, killed by backseat passenger while driving on LA 1 identified by Plaquemine police PLAQUEMINE  Authorities on Thursday were trying to piece together the circumstances leading to a bizarre fatal shooting of a 25-year-old city

Travis Washington, also of Plaquemine, was shot in the upper back about 10 p.m. Sept. 12. He died later at a Baton Rouge hospital.

Payne said previously that officers found the gun used in the shooting and several small bags of marijuana when they searched Travis Washington's vehicle.

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Darius Washington, 23440 Marshall St., was booked Tuesday into the Iberville Parish Jail on a count of second-degree murder.

His arrest comes a day after authorities announced the arrests of two other people suspected of conspiring with Darius Washington in the killing.

Jacquel Smith, 18, of New Orleans, was booked Thursday on a count of principal to second-degree murder in the death of Travis Washington. And Larry Grant, 40, 58285 Meriam St., Plaquemine, was booked Saturday into the Iberville Parish Jail on a count of accessory after the fact to second-degree murder.

Witnesses told police they saw Travis Washington's vehicle swerve off the road and hit a light pole before crashing into a culvert along the service road on the opposite side of the highway. They then they saw a man hop out the vehicle and run southbound down the service road along La. 1 moments after the crash.Black people in Baton Rouge are about six times more likely than whites to be arrested for marijuana possession, according to a new report from the Southern Poverty Law Center that cites 2016 crime data to show the possible impacts of racial profiling on arrest rates across Louisiana.

The report repeatedly points to the Baton Rouge Police Department as an example of what not to do  arguing that the fatal police shooting of Alton Sterling in 2016 "highlighted decades long tensions in Louisiana's capital over police treatment of  African Americans" and concluding that the department "has consistently overpoliced the city's black community."

Police department officials said they met with representatives from the organization on Monday to discuss the report's findings, but defended their policies and procedures. They said the department's leaders are open to criticism and "willing to work with anyone who feels there are issues surrounding racial profiling or anything else."

Researchers for the Southern Poverty Law Center  an organization with a long history of civil rights advocacy  analyzed 2016 FBI crime data, which law enforcement agencies are required to submit to federal officials on an annual basis.

In addition to marijuana possession, the report points to Baton Rouge noise ordinance enforcement data, which shows that "the vast majority of these stops took place in predominantly black neighborhoods, raising concerns that officers may be using this ordinance to make pretextual stops of black motorists."

Baton Rouge police spokesman Sgt. L'Jean McKneely Jr. said it's important for people to take a broader look at the issues documented in the report and avoid making unfair judgments based on the numbers alone.

McKneely said the department allocates its resources depending on the volume of service calls and frequency of violent crime in certain areas of the city  using data to determine where police presence is most needed to protect Baton Rouge residents and reduce crime.

He said the unfortunate reality is that crime often plagues majority black neighborhoods. And if officers suspect illegal activity is taking place, they can't just turn their backs or refuse to respond to 911 calls.

McKneely also noted that officers are not throwing people in jail for marijuana possession or loud music; they're issuing a misdemeanor summons, which requires the recipient to show up in court at a later date.

All Baton Rouge police officers complete implicit bias training during academy and then receive refresher courses as professional development later on.

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+7 National 'fair and impartial policing' training comes to Baton Rouge Police Department An implicit-bias police training implemented by the U.S. Department of Justice as well as countless law enforcement agencies across the countr

The SPLC report also highlights what it describes as a failure among law enforcement agencies across the state to adequately address the issue of racial bias in their policies and procedures. More than one third of agencies "lack any policy on racial profiling. And the policies that do exist usually fail to explain clearly to officers what racial profiling is and what conduct is prohibited."

Researchers reviewed the policies of more than 300 law enforcement agencies across the state and  in the cases where a policy addressing racial profiling did exist  determined whether the "prohibition is broad enough." The report's authors concluded that the Baton Rouge Police Department's policy is adequate.

They also found that the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office operates under a policy that is not broad enough because it fails to address two main concerns  "the use of race to form unreasonable suspicion and racially selective enforcement of traffic and pedestrian laws." The Sheriff's Office did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

The practice of pulling people over or stopping them based on their skin color creates a culture where residents don't trust the police, said Paul Guidry, a criminal justice professor at Baton Rouge Community College.

Guidry has been involved in ongoing efforts to improve community police relations in Baton Rouge following the killing of Alton Sterling and subsequent ambush on law enforcement that killed three officers and wounded three others.

Guidry said information like the data released in the report naturally makes people more wary about their interactions with officers, especially members of the African American community.

He acknowledged the importance of having officers patrolling in high crime areas but said the solution lies in finding a balance between having an adequate presence without "over policing." That often comes down to the discretion of individual officers and their approach to the job.

Guidry said he believes the Baton Rouge community has already made some progress toward bridging the gap between law enforcement and the public. But the report suggests there's still significant room for improvement.

"At end of the day we're still kind of at the starting line, and this report does not do us any justice," he said. "But I think we can take this as constructive criticism  use it as an opportunity to think about how we can move forward from this and continue to make progress."Figuring out who is responsible for cleaning and maintaining East Baton Rouge Parish public schools has become increasingly confused thanks to a month-old lawsuit brought against Aramark, the large corporation that manages facilities for the school system.

Five cleaning companies, known collectively as the Business Partners Alliance, filed suit Aug. 10. The companies, most of them minority-owned businesses, claimed Aramark used them last year to help the Philadelphia-based corporation retain its lucrative Baton Rouge school contract, only to later renege on the deal. Specifically, they say their involvement allowed Aramark to meet a school system goal of having 20 percent of its business go to minority- and women-owned businesses.

Last week, Ohio-based Carter Brothers, also a minority-owned company, sued Aramark as well, claiming that the corporate giant subsequently gave it the heave-ho in order to patch things up with the Business Partners Alliance. Carter Brothers, too, argues that Aramark used its status as a minority-owned company to help land the school contract.

If the parties cant sort all this out, figuring out whos right will have to be decided by State District Judge Janice Clark.

Carter Brothers filed court papers Sept. 7. Represented by Baton Rouge-based attorney Gail McKay, the company alleged that Aramark unilaterally terminated its custodial and groundskeeping contract Aug. 30 only to contract the next day with the Business Partners Alliance to take over the work.

Aramarks true intention was to use Carter Brothers to obtain a contract with (the school system), which required the use of minority-owned business, according to the counter suit. Once Aramark had secured the contract, Aramark had no other use for Carter Brothers and discarded them without hesitation.

Carter Brothers has many affiliates. The affiliate filing suit, the Carter Brothers Technology Group, is based in Ohio, but the parent company, Carter Brothers Co., has its headquarters in suburban Atlanta.

Carter Brothers was brought in last year by Aramark to help it cut costs. Aramark has agreed to a new facility management contract in which it pledged to charge the school system $21.9 million a year for its services, $5.3 million less than it charged previously.

The Business Partners Alliance, in its suit, portray the Carter Brothers as hatchet men who quickly went to work harassing, intimidating and holding Business Partners checks so they cant pay their over 600 employees.

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On Aug. 10, Carter Brothers allegedly told Business Partners it was about to terminate the contract with the five subcontractors unless it agreed to allow Carter Brothers to seek proposals from competitors. That same day, Business Partners filed suit.

Baton Rouge cleaning companies sue Aramark, say company used them to keep school contract Five Baton Rouge-based cleaning companies are suing Philadelphia-based Aramark, claiming the corporate giant used them last year to help retai

Twenty days later, Carter Brothers said it was its turn to get fired.

In its countersuit, Carter Brothers said Aramark is liable for unfair trade competition, fraud, breach of contract and detrimental reliance. It also said the Business Partners group conspired with Aramark in a backhanded and deceitful plot to terminate the Carter Brothers contract.

Carter Brothers is claiming compensatory and punitive damages, as well as seeking money for economic loss, mental anguish and the attorney fees they are incurring.

McKay, the attorney for Carter Brothers, did not return messages left at his office late last week and this week seeking comment. Dele and Felicia Adebamiji, attorneys for the Business Partners Alliance, also did not respond to messages.

The five companies that form the alliance are Final Touch Custodial Service LLC, Jani-Care Commercial Cleaning Service & Supply Inc., Millennium Consultants, and Carranza J. Guidry with Rover Janitorial Service LLC.; and Expert Cleaning Inc.

Karen Cutler, spokeswoman for Aramark, declined to comment on the litigation, but said, I can tell you that we are focused on a prompt resolution.

Clark had scheduled a hearing for Sept. 10, but the hearing did not occur and no new court date has been scheduled.The political campaign arm of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber has endorsed candidates in six of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board races on Nov. 6, an endorsement that comes with a contribution of $2,500 to $5,000 per campaign.

FuturePAC is backing three incumbents and three challengers. The three incumbents are Evelyn Ware-Jackson, District 5; Jill Dyason, District 6; and Mike Gaudet, District 7; FuturePAC has supported all three in the past.

The three challengers are Dadrius Lanus, District 2; Tramelle Howard, District 3; Chrisdelin Kelly Lyles, District 4. FuturePAC has never supported their three respective opponents, incumbents Vereta Lee, Kenyetta Nelson-Smith and Dawn Collins, all of whom are seeking re-election.

These candidates have committed to fighting for student-centered policies that will improve student outcomes across the East Baton Rouge Parish School System and collaborating with their fellow school board members to find common ground, Lee Jenkins, chair of the FuturePAC board of directors, said in a news release Tuesday.

FuturePAC also endorsed School Board President David Tatman, who is not on the Nov. 6 ballot, having drawn no opponents. The political action committee did not endorse the other two incumbents who were re-elected without opposition, Mark Bellue in District 1 and Connie Bernard in District 8. Bellue and Bernard did not complete the FuturePAC endorsement process.

FuturePAC, a political action committee affiliated with the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, actively supports candidates and issues that promote economic development and improve the business climate in the Capital Region. It has long been one of the biggest contributors to local School Board races.

Baton Rouge Chamber urges School Board candidates to 'stop handwringing' on universal early childhood education The Capital regions foremost business lobby says it supports placing a tax proposition on the ballot that would pay for universal early chil

The Baton Rouge Area Chamber in July released a 10-part platform of policies that it wants School Board candidates to adopt.Angered at extravagant trips, insurance benefits, plus lucrative per diem pay for board members and executives, Louisianas utility regulators Wednesday shutdown two requests to increase monthly electric bills and ordered a sweeping investigation into the compensation and perks at all Louisianas rural electric cooperatives.

Im not going to vote for anything else today until I found out how much these board members are making, Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell said. How much money are they spending? How many times do they go to Las Vegas? How many times do they go to Washington?  Take their wives up there, eat big steaks, stay at fancy hotels.

The states 10 co-ops provide electricity to about 900,000 rural members. What traditional corporate utilities call customers, co-ops call members. The board jobs are supposed to be part-time, and the cooperatives are supposed to be nonprofit.

But the regulatory commission heard testimony that some board members make as much as $50,000 per year in per diem  payments for attending meetings. Most received an array of benefits that included health, vision and life insurance.

The $255,000 in perks for directors and executives of Pointe Coupee Electric Membership, in suburban Baton Rouge, account for almost two-thirds of the utilitys $400,000 operating margin.

The PSC, nevertheless, agreed to increase monthly rates by $1.32 for each 1,000-kilowatt hours bought from Pointe Coupee Electric. The price in August for that amount of electricity was $110.34.

The regulators had delayed the rate increase requests of two other co-ops  Beauregard Electric and Concordia Electric cooperatives  because they had failed to provide adequate information about board and executive compensation. Pointe Coupee did.

Claiborne Electric Co-op., located in one of the nations poorest parishes or counties, turned over the information only under subpoena. The general managers $195,992 salary is roughly 15 times the average salary of people living in the four north Louisiana parishes covered, Campbell said. Board members receive $250 each way to drive to Baton Rouge plus meals and hotel for an overnight stay.

The five elected PSC members get $10,000 annually for travel and to attend conferences. That includes staff costs, too.

We get paid for mileage? PSC Commissioner Lambert Boissiere III asked to laughter. He drives to Baton Rouge from New Orleans at least two times a week to conduct business at the PSC.

I have never, ever been paid a penny to be on any nonprofit board, said PSC Chairman Eric Skrmetta, of Metairie.

Claibornes General Manager Mark Brown countered that the nine members of Claiborne Electrics Board of Directors helped shape policy and contributed 4,836 hours of work in 2017 for the co-op 26,000 members.

Claiborne Electric had been seeking commission approval for a more than $80 million loan to start a broadband internet service. Campbell and co-op officials have previously clashed over the concept and the need for a feasibility study to vet the plans finances.

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Cooperatives were created during the Roosevelt administration as a way to get electricity into rural areas. Unlike the big shareholder owned utility companies, like Entergy, which include a profit in their rates, coops are nonprofits and instead of profits are allowed operating margins or money left over for expenses after the electricity is bought and paid.

Also under the microscope was Dixie Electric Membership Corp. DEMCO serves more than 100,000 members in Ascension, Livingston and other Baton Rouge suburbs. The co-op reported the results of an months-long internal audit.

The audit investigated allegations of improper perks between co-op vendors and board members and top executives and found a few instances of an improper benefits, though in one case DEMCO officials contended it was unwitting and later paid back.

In addition to the broad ranging inquiries, the PSC also held out the possibility that it could conduct its own probe into DEMCOs finances and operations.

PSC Chairman Skrmetta asked DEMCO officials to provide a copy of the audit to agency staff. And if they see anything that we see was not covered, they may ask to either expand that audit or create our own, so well let the staff make that decision, Skrmetta said.

The commission learned that DEMCO board members collected between $6,000 and $34,000 per year. The $34,000 in pay included per diem, contributions to a health savings account, medical and vision policies, staffers told the commission.

"Boy, boy, boy, there y'all go again," Campbell said.

+2 Employees used vendor's condo; company paid for private repairs, DEMCO audit finds A much-anticipated internal audit of Dixie Electric Membership Corp. has found that at least two employees were given use of a Gulf Coast cond

Auditors working for DEMCO reviewed 70,000 documents and conducted interviews with vendors, board members and employees and uncovered instances of some perks to employees and one board member that violated DEMCOs own ethics rules.

On Wednesday, DEMCO CEO Randy Pierce didnt get into the audits specifics in the public meeting Wednesday, but he has previously described the top-line findings.

In one, two employees then working for DEMCO used a Gulf Coast condominium owned by one of the co-ops vendors. In another, board member Richard Dickie Sitman had nearly $870 in repairs done on his personal radio tower near Greensburg in 2016. Sitman, who was board president then, wasnt informed of the repairs at the time but has since paid back the cost and resigned as board chairman.

DEMCO customer, businessman starts campaign to force sale of utility amid pending audit A Baton Rouge businessman said Wednesday he is starting a petition drive to allow DEMCO customers to decide whether to sell the nonprofit rura

In response to these findings, DEMCO has begun an aggressive plan to enforce all the existing policies that we have, Pierce said.Organization is key for annual holiday event Plans are under way for the 2021 Christmas Basket project. Since 1982 churches have come together to create this community...

Delphi Chamber membership to vote on dissolving the non-profit The membership of the Greater Delphi Chamber of Commerce (GDCC) is set to vote Monday, Nov. 8, on a resolution...

APC proposes mixed use zoning ordinance The Carroll County Area Plan Commission (APC) gave the go-ahead to publish a recently received draft of an amendment to...

Mayor, Clerk-Treasurer criticized for participating in land auction City Council member Gayle Conner did not mince words in her criticism of participation by two city officials in last...Update Sept. 21: The road closures from 7 p.m. Sept. 29 through 9 a.m. Sept. 30 have been cancelled.

Why did DOTD cancel some Interstate 10 lane closures? Confidence in LSU beating Ole Miss Two days after announcing next week's Interstate 10 single-lane closures, DOTD has canceled them for next Saturday night and Sunday morning.

As part of ongoing work to widen Interstate 10 in Baton Rouge, lanes will be closed at various times over an eight-day span starting Monday, Sept. 24, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development announced.

The single-lane closures will be on I-10 from Highland Road to La. 73. Only one lane per direction will be closed at a time.

+13 In rarity, Louisiana state officials launch major I-10 widening project Gov. John Bel Edwards and a host of other politicians Thursday celebrated the launch of a rare, high-profile highway project: widening Interst

Here's a list of scheduled closures:

 Monday, September 24, 2018, 8 p.m. through Tuesday, September 25, 2018, 5 a.m., westbound

 Tuesday, September 25, 2018, 8 p.m. through Wednesday, September 26, 2018, 5 a.m., westbound

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 Wednesday, September 26, 2018, 8 p.m. through Thursday, September 27, 2018, 5 a.m., eastbound and westbound

 Thursday, September 27, 2018, 8 p.m. through Friday, September 28, 2018, 5 a.m., westbound

 Friday, September 28, 2018, 9 p.m. through Saturday, September 29, 2018, 8 a.m., eastbound

 CANCELED: Saturday, September 29, 2018, 7 p.m. through Sunday, September 30, 2018, 9 a.m., eastbound

 Sunday, September 30, 2018, 7 p.m. through Monday, October 1, 2018, 5 a.m., westbound

 Monday, October 1, 2018, 8 p.m. through Tuesday, October 2, 2018, 5 a.m., westboundPresident Donald Trump greets Judge Brett Kavanaugh his Supreme Court nominee, in the East Room of the White House, Monday, July 9, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) ORG XMIT: DCEV202Formed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Louisianas Cajun Navy has been at it again, rescuing stranded homeowners in the flood-ravaged Carolinas as residents there cope with the aftermath of what was once Hurricane Florence.

The all-volunteer flotilla is made up primarily of sportsmen accustomed to cruising Louisianas bayous  a good skill to have when navigating flooded residential neighborhoods. Cajun Navy volunteers started heading to South Carolina before Florence struck, and theyve been working ever since, assisted by volunteers from other parts of the country.

Cajun Navy in the Carolinas: Groups share videos as Hurricane Florence whips area As Hurricane Florence began to inundate parts of North and South Carolina, members from multiple Cajun Navy organizations were at the front lines.

The crew has rescued more than 500 people across the Carolinas. "We're seeing a lot of places that didn't flood when the storm first came in that are flooding now, the groups founder and president, Todd Terrell, said this week.

We commend the Cajun Navy for its sterling service. Its members are a credit to Louisiana  and its willingness to help the many Americans who have also helped us in our darkest hours.There is an old rule that the perfect political speech is one that does not lose you any votes.At one point in the last few years, Jeff Perilloux, a judge in St. John the Baptist Parish, sent a series of messages to a close friend of his teenage daughter, authorities say.

One contained snapshots of the girl, who was no more than 16 at the time, including a photo shot from below as she was climbing and wearing loose-fitting short shorts.

Perilloux quickly followed up that message with a selfie of his own naked legs from the thighs down, according to prosecutors. Right afterward, he sent her another text, this one containing three "red heart emojis."

Those were among several messages that Perilloux sent to at least two underage girls. And according to prosecutors with Attorney General Jeff Landrys office, together they present clear evidence of grooming, motive and intent, along with a lustful disposition toward children.

In a motion filed Wednesday, Assistant Attorney General Matthew Derbes asked a judge to allow a jury to see those messages and other evidence of similar crimes, wrongs or acts as prosecutors pursue felony charges against Perilloux for alleged sex crimes targeting the same girl and two other teens.

A state grand jury in June indicted Perilloux on three felony counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile and one count of misdemeanor sexual battery involving three alleged teen victims. He has pleaded not guilty. No trial date has been set.

Perilloux, 50, has denied the allegations but took a leave of absence in May after The Advocate reported he was under State Police investigation. In July, he agreed to an interim suspension from the Louisiana Supreme Court while he fights the charges.

Perilloux wore a dark suit and sat at the defense table Wednesday in the same Edgard courthouse where he presided in a black robe as one of three district judges since his election in December 2016. His two colleagues on the 40th Judicial District bench both have recused themselves from his case.

Ad hoc Judge Dennis Waldron, a retired Orleans Parish Criminal District Court judge, postponed a hearing on evidence in the case because the state trooper who was slated to testify recently underwent surgery. Waldron rescheduled the hearing for November.

But Perilloux's brief court appearance wasnt without sparks. His attorney, David Courcelle, claimed Perilloux passed a lie detector test and said he may seek to introduce the results as evidence in the judge's defense.

Derbes, the state prosecutor, called that a "cheap shot" aimed at a few reporters in the courtroom, noting that such a polygraph would be inadmissible at trial. Derbes then challenged Courcelle to offer up his client for a fresh polygraph conducted by State Police investigators.

Meanwhile, Waldron granted Courcelles request to subpoena the state Department of Children and Family Services for records related to two of Perillouxs purported victims. Courcelle said he also would request access to school counseling and drug-testing records for each of Perilloux's three accusers.

The indictment alleges that Perilloux committed "lewd or lascivious" acts upon two girls in May and June 2017 and intentionally touched the breasts of another of his daughter's friends in December 2017.

Each of the crimes alleged in the indictment is said to have taken place at Perilloux's home.

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In one instance, according to prosecutors, Perilloux invited two of the girls  one 14, the other 15  into his bedroom in June 2017, offering to give each of them a massage with the lights out. One of the girls later told investigators that Perilloux had been stroking her breasts for nearly 30 seconds before she broke away.

It wasnt the first time Perilloux touched her inappropriately, the girl said. The State Police investigation followed a different incident during a family vacation attended by several of his daughters friends.

Perilloux was the only adult on the June 2017 trip to Destin, Florida, when the girl claims she entered his bedroom seeking permission for the girls to stay out late on the beach. She said Perilloux then placed his hand under her T-shirt and put his fingers inside (her) bikini bottoms, according to prosecutors.

The girl backed away, repeatedly saying no. Perilloux sat up in his bed and begged, she claims. The girl, then 15, left the room and told two other girls on the trip, according to the allegations. She then contacted her parents, who picked her up the next day in Florida.

Perilloux claimed that he might have inadvertently touched the girl while reaching for his cell phone in the darkened room. He said he had unplugged a lamp to charge his phone because there was only one working outlet.

But in Wednesdays court filing, prosecutors said investigators for Landrys office determined that all of the power outlets in the room worked fine. Exactly when that investigation took place is unclear.

Authorities in Okaloosa County, Florida, conducted a separate criminal investigation into the alleged incident in Destin, announcing in June that they had found insufficient probable cause to pursue charges against Perilloux.

Now, Landrys office is seeking to include evidence from the Florida investigation to bolster its prosecution of the suspended judge.

The victims regarded Perilloux as a father figure, and he exploited this relationship in order to gain their trust and confidence, wrote Derbes, the state prosecutor.

Another alleged incident involved an 18-year-old female who claims she spent the night at Perillouxs house in December 2017. She complained of a sore throat and found Perilloux insisting he apply vapor rub to her body. She told investigators she was wearing a T-shirt with no bra.

Perilloux stretched (her) clothing away from her body and proceeded to rub the medication on her chest, going very low on her chest and touching the side of her breasts, without her consent, according to prosecutors.

That alleged incident resulted in the misdemeanor sexual battery charge that Perilloux faces in addition to the three felony counts.

Waldron did not immediately rule on the motion to allow prosecutors to present those other allegations as evidence against Perilloux.

Before he became a judge, Perilloux served for a dozen years as an assistant district attorney in St. John Parish, including work as legal counsel for the parish government.Officials released more details Tuesday on the plans of the two groups vying to redevelop the former Charity Hospital building on Tulane Avenue, shedding additional light on their competing visions for the long-shuttered site and the surrounding area.

Both proposals conjure up visions of the massive Art Deco hospital tower and smaller nearby buildings buzzing with an economic cross-section of workers and residents and lifting the fortunes of the surrounding neighborhood.

But while the general outlines of the plans from HRI Properties and 1532 Tulane Partners both call for mixed-use developments, the mix of businesses and government entities detailed within the proposals, as well as their requirements for public funding, paint competing pictures for an area of downtown New Orleans that remains a prime target for redevelopment.

HRI envisions a relocated City Hall as an anchor tenant for a complex that would also feature apartments and retail development, primarily funded by public money. It also aims to stretch the citys tourism footprint well beyond the French Quarter.

Tulane Partners sees a mix of housing, medical research and retail development, two-thirds of which would be privately funded.

Tulane Partners said its plan would cost an estimated $245 million, while HRI said the three possible scenarios it put forward would cost between $349 million and $380 million.

Summaries of both proposals were made available last week, before the LSU Real Estate Facilities Foundation heard in-person pitches from the developers.

HRIs team, led by longtime local developer Pres Kabacoff, said the first phase would be 152 mixed-income apartment units, followed by the renovation of 440,000 square feet for a new City Hall. That phase would also include neighborhood retail and restaurant development and basement parking.

The final phase would be an additional 155 mixed-income apartments.

In the event that the city is not interested in locating its offices at Charity  something that is quite possible, given Mayor LaToya Cantrells public statements on such a move  the second phase would be 246 mixed-income apartments and retail development.

The third phase would be to renovate space for either 300,000 square feet of administrative and research space for Tulane University, 250,000 square feet for the United Way, or an unspecified amount of space for potential biomedical research tenants. Another alternative is an additional 239 units of residential development.

HRIs proposal also includes a $110 million retail development across Tulane Avenue from Charity, with about 382,000 square feet of offices, a retail anchor, boutiques, eateries and various services, such as a fitness center. It would also have 82 residential units and parking for 1,400 vehicles.

This development would need to be subsidized to the tune of about $40 million, though HRI touted the potential increase in employment and sales tax revenue as a benefit to the city.

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Tulane Partners, a partnership between local developer CCNO and the Israel-based El Ad Group, is pitching a renovated Charity with Tulane University as its anchor tenant, along with 462 mixed-income residential units, medical training programs, an innovation hub, shops and restaurants.

The buildings old laundry and power plant facilities would be converted into a mixed-use development including conference rooms, meeting space and medical research facilities.

In the second phase, the nearby Dibert Building would become permanent low-income housing with mental health support services, while the L&M Building would include apartments ranging from those for very low-income people to market-rate.

The third phase would see a new YMCA community center to offer programs for seniors and youth.

Tulane Partners said the building would promote entrepreneurship by providing spaces for collaboration among students, researchers and private industry.

Its proposal said part of the revenue from a special taxing district to be created for the property would fund a grant program for disadvantaged businesses, and there have been discussions with local high schools and universities about creating internship opportunities for students.

The development also would include public green space and pocket parks, and Charitys rooftop would be outfitted with systems designed to capture and reuse stormwater.

The Greater New Orleans Foundation is currently working on a plan for a large tax increment financing district around the Charity site, and both proposals have factored the creation of such a district into their plans.

A committee assembled by the LSU Real Estate Facilities Foundation will make a recommendation in the coming weeks, and the LSU Board of Supervisors is expected to vote on that plan at a meeting next month.

Both groups have said the projects could be built out by 2021.

The HRI proposal can be viewed in full here.

The 1532 Tulane Partners proposal can be viewed in full here.Tanya Harrell fought back tears in front of a Canal Street McDonald's on Tuesday while speaking out against the sexual harassment she said she suffered as an employee of the fast-food giant.

She said managers at the Gretna McDonald's where she previously worked laughed off her complaint that a male employee had groped her and then told her she had "sex appeal."

"Nothing was done at all," Harrell, 22, said. She left McDonald's in 2017 before returning to work at a different store.

Harrell was one of a dozen McDonald's employees in New Orleans who joined a national protest Tuesday against what organizers called a culture of sexual harassment at the restaurant chain.

They walked up Canal Street with fists raised, blaring a song about victory after war, with #MeToo written on the red tape that covered their mouths.

Hundreds of other McDonalds cooks and cashiers staged similar efforts in 10 cities across the U.S., in what organizers claimed was the first strike in more than a century to protest workplace harassment.

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Protests were held in San Francisco; Los Angeles; St. Louis; Kansas City, Missouri; Durham, North Carolina; and other cities. The targeted restaurants kept serving food, with organizers saying the goal was not to shut them down.

The organizers instead hope the move, which follows a national movement against sexual harassment that has forced the resignations of high-profile men across various industries in the past year, will draw attention to the struggles of women and LGBTQ people in low-wage jobs whose voices are often ignored.

Ten McDonald's employees at various restaurants across the country, Harrell included, have filed complaints with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission saying they were harassed at work and their supervisors did little to remedy the problem.

The aggrieved employees, who are being backed by the national wage-advocacy group Fight for $15 and the TIME'S UP Legal Defense Fund, say the fast-food chain's supposed zero-tolerance policy against harassment is rarely enforced in its restaurants.LAKEVIEW OFFICER: Mithra Arias Poulliard has been named director of patient services at Lakeview Regional Medical Center in Covington. Poulliard holds a master's degree in nursing from Loyola University and has been the clinical manager for the hospital's telemetry unit. She will work with clinical staff and physicians on patient care, education and research.

SLIDELL AUTISM SUPPORT GROUP: Strengthening Outcomes with Autism Resources will meet at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 19, in the community outreach center on the second floor of the Slidell Memorial Hospital Wellness Pavilion, 501 Robert Blvd. For information, call Anne Galiano at (504) 812-9548.

WOMEN WARRIORS: Breast cancer patients, survivors and caregivers will meet at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 19, in the first-floor conference room of the Slidell Memorial Hospital Founders Building, 1150 Robert Blvd. For information, call (985) 280-6611.

CANCER SUPPORT GROUP: People living with cancer and their caregivers will meet at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 19, in the second-floor chapel of the Slidell Memorial Hospital Regional Cancer Center, 1120 Robert Blvd. Remote participation is possible by calling (985) 280-8958 at 1 p.m. on group day.

BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT: A bereavement support group will meet at 3 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, in the second-floor chapel at the Slidell Memorial Hospital Regional Cancer Center, 1120 Robert Blvd. For information, call (985) 280-6612.

ADDICTION EDUCATIONAL FORUM: Catholic Charities offers a forum to help understand opioid addiction, with health care and addiction recovery professionals covering causes, signs and consequences at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25, at Mary, Queen of Peace Parish Center, 1501 W. Causeway Approach, Mandeville. ccano.org.

LAMAZE CLASS: Courses on the natural process of childbirth, relaxation and breathing techniques will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27 at Lakeview Regional Medical Center's Magnolia Room, 95 Judge Tanner Blvd., Covington. Limited to 20; participants are asked to bring a pillow and blanket. For information or registration, call (985) 867-3900, or register online at lakeviewregional.com.

HEALING AFTER TRAUMA SERIES: Sexual Trauma Awareness and Response and the Women's Center for Healing and Transformation will hold a series Sept. 19-24 in New Orleans and Abita Springs. Led by psychotherapist Mike Lew, the workshops will target healing for survivors as well as training programs for counselors and social workers. New Orleans locations will be at STAR, 123 N. Genois St., and in Abita Springs at the Women's Center, 71667 Leveson St. Call (504) 407-0711 or visit star.ngo to register online.

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MALL WALKERS: North Shore Square Mall, 150 Northshore Blvd., Slidell, will open for walkers at 7 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 26, through a partnership with Slidell Memorial Hospital, to encourage people to walk with the advantages of mall security, air conditioning and water fountains. For information, call (985) 280-8529.

MUSCULOSKELETAL PAIN: Dr. Natalia Jolliff will discuss innovative musculoskeletal treatments that reduce pain and allow people to stay active and productive longer during a Lunch & Learn program at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 28, in the first-floor conference room of the Slidell Memorial Hospital Founders Building, 1150 Robert Blvd. To register for the free event, call (985) 280-2657.

JOINT REPLACEMENT CLASS: Interactive class conducted by a physical therapist, surgical nurse, case manager and orthopedic nurse will focus on preoperative and postoperative care for total joint replacement surgery. The course will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 2 also at Lakeview Regional Medical Center's Pelican Room, 95 Judge Tanner Blvd., Covington. Limited to 40. For information or registration, call (985) 867-3900, or register online at lakeviewregional.com.

CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSPECTIONS: The St. Tammany Parenting Center has appointments for free inspections of child safety seats. Call (985) 898-4435. Inspections are held from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. every Tuesday at the Louisiana State Police Troop L headquarters, 2600 N. Causeway Blvd., Mandeville. Walk-ins are accepted, but appointments are appreciated. For information on the State Police program, call (985) 893-6250 or email greg.marchand@la.gov.

GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS: Gamblers Anonymous meets several times a week throughout the New Orleans area. Gamblers Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experiences, strength and hope with one another that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from a gambling problem. For information, call (855) 222-5542 or visit gamblersanonymous.org.

YOGA FOR CANCER PATIENTS: Certified yoga instructor Patricia Hart conducts free classes for cancer patients, survivors and caregivers at 5:30 p.m. Mondays at Slidell Memorial Hospitals Wellness Pavilion, 501 Robert Blvd. The class is open to people with other conditions for a $5 fee. Participants should wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing. Mats, blankets and bolsters are available. Call (985) 707-4961.

MEDICARE COUNSELING: The state Department of Insurance's Senior Health Insurance Information Program will offer counseling services for Medicare beneficiaries from 9 a.m. to noon on the third Wednesday of each month at the Slidell Senior Center, 610 Cousin St. The counselor is Medicare-certified and can explain original Medicare, Medicare supplement insurance, Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Part D. The counselor will be able to complete Medicare Part D comparisons and enrollment, assist with claims issues and explain Medicare enrollment periods. For more information, call (800) 259-5300 or visit ldi.la.gov/SHIIP.Alibaba chairman Jack Ma said the company can no longer meet its promise to create 1 million jobs in the United States due to US-China trade tensions, Chinese news agency Xinhua reported.

Ma had met US President Donald Trump two years ago and laid out the Chinese e-commerce giant's plan to bring one million small US businesses onto its platform to sell to Chinese consumers over the next five years.

Alibaba founder Jack Ma. Credit:Bloomberg

"This commitment is based on friendly China-US cooperation and the rational and objective premise of bilateral trade," Ma told Xinhua.

"The current situation has already destroyed the original premise. There is no way to deliver the promise."Everyone has their favourite theory about the financial crisis. It is now ten years since Lehman Brothers failed and most interested parties have decided what they think. It was deregulation, they claim, or bankers' bonuses, low interest rates, US government housing policy or moral hazard. There is very little hard evidence that any of these popular theories actually caused the particular disaster we experienced in 2008. Yet we continue to overlook an alternative account of the crisis that does explain some of its mechanics.

This alternative account, which for shorthand could be dubbed "regulatory error", does not result in easy policy prescriptions, it is geeky and it ascribes an annoyingly large role to that underrated driver of human history: ignorance. These are all reasons why it has been mostly ignored. But ten years on, it is surely time to release ourselves from the politics of it all and consider 2008 as an intellectual conundrum.

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This is what Jeffrey Friedman and Wladimir Kraus tried to do in their short book Engineering the Financial Crisis in 2011. Seven years on, its uncomfortable conclusions are no closer to being accepted or debated than they were then. It explains, carefully and calmly, how pre-2008 banking regulations are likely to have played a role in encouraging many of the behaviours and effects that are now often blamed on deregulation or greed. And it suggests, worryingly, that we have doubled down on exactly the principles as underlay this regulatory system.The intensifying trade war between America and China is "deeply disturbing" and should be of great concern to Australia, former Treasury secretary Ken Henry has warned.

Earlier this week Beijing added $US60 billion ($82 billion) of American products to its import tariff list in retaliation for US President Donald Trump's planned levies on $US200 billion of Chinese goods.

On Wednesday Chinese Premier Li Keqiang hit back at suggestions China was deliberately weakening its currency and suggested unilateral trade actions were counter-productive.

Dr Henry, who also led the formulation of the 2012 Asian Century White Paper for the then-Labor federal government, said Australia had benefited from the bringing down of trade barriers, and seeing that reversed was worrying.The Sydney desalination plant's biggest effect on the nearby ocean is unlikely to be from the release of toxic saline brine, in an unexpected outcome from what is claimed to be the world's first peer-reviewed study into the industry's marine impacts.

The report, published in Water Research this month, found the $2 billion plant had a negligible effect on the offshore ecosystems during the two years it was operating before its mothballing in mid-2012.

A rock cod and other fish at the inlet point of the Sydney desalination plant. Credit:UNSW

Were fortunate and relieved that the ecological impacts are minor compared to what people thought might have happened with this development," said Emma Johnston, a professor of marine ecology at the University of NSW and a senior author of the six-year study.

That result is heartening given that about 1 per cent of the world's population are already dependent on 20,000 desalination plants. Demand is expected to soar as water scarcity worsens with climate change and rising usage.A child was approached outside North Ainslie Primary School on Tuesday, the school's principal has said in an email to parents.

Principal Tania Collins warned parents a former student of the school had been approached by an unknown man when they were waiting to be picked up.

The approach marks the first since ACT Policing announced Taskforce Tydeus last week, established to deal with the spate of child approaches in Canberra this year.

It would also make it the 15th child approach since February this year.

The former student was approached near the laneway between Majura Avenue and Marsden Street on Tuesday.A 22-year-old woman has told how she was allegedly kidnapped, assaulted and tied to a pole in a bikie clubhouse for two days by her ex-boyfriend this week.

Cheyane Lubec was walking along a street in western Sydney on Sunday when her ex-boyfriend Chad Daniel Hogg allegedly forced her into a vehicle, the start of the vicious two-day ordeal from which she finally escaped on Tuesday afternoon.

Cheyane Lubec was allegedly taken hostage for two days at a Gypsy Joker club house at Horsley Park in western Sydney. Credit:Facebook

In an interview from her home with Nine News on Wednesday, Ms Lubec described how she was allegedly stripped naked, bound to a wooden pole and bashed, before large parts of her head of long blonde hair was shaved.

"He shaved off my hair and he took pictures and he was laughing while he was doing it," she told Nine News, adding, "I've never been so scared in my whole life."Police arrested a student and seized fake ATM covers with pinhole cameras attached and other electronics after ATMs across Brisbane were suspected to have been installed with skimming devices.

A Brazilian-born French national was arrested on July 12 after detectives searched his home on Leichhardt Street at Spring Hill.

Queensland Police have arrested a man over card skimming in Brisbane. Credit:Queensland Police Media

Police alleged they found more than $22,000 in cash, laptops and hard drives, five ATM deep-insert skimming devices, two false ATM ceiling panels with attached cameras and electronics such as SD cards and batteries.

It was further alleged an electronic card reader and writer, several blank iTunes cards and gift cards and bags of tools and electronic equipment linked to card skimming were found.An eviction that had been planned to take place with "maybe a couple of punches" ended up with a man's body being dumped in a shallow grave in Melbourne's south east, a court has heard.

Brendan McDowall, 52, and Shane Heiberg, 35, will face a Supreme Court jury, charged with unlawfully imprisoning and murdering Jade Goodwin between last October 14 and 15.

Jade Goodwin Credit:Facebook

Mr Goodwin's body was discovered in a shallow grave at Tyabb on October 22.

Magistrate Olivia Trumble on Wednesday deemed there was sufficient evidence for both men to stand trial.Flamboyant Melbourne furniture salesman Franco Cozzo is turning property mogul, with plans to develop his Brunswick store into an apartment tower complete with restaurant run by his daughter.

Hot on the heels of the $7 million sale of his Foot-is-cray store, the Sicilian superstar has applied to Moreland Council to convert his two storey Bruns-a-wick store into an eight storey, modern building.

Franco Cozzo and his daughter Angelina outside his store in Brunswick on Wednesday. Credit:Simon Schluter

Despite the development there are no plans for the furniture store to close  it will, Mr Cozzo says, continue "forever" in part of the ground floor.

Under plans drawn up by architects Fender Katsalidis, there would be 32 apartments above a 50-seat restaurant on the ground floor, retaining the first floor Victorian facade.A man was rushed to hospital after being shot in an apparent drive-by shooting in Perth's southern suburbs on Tuesday evening.

The shooting happened in Calista, south of Perth. Credit:Quentin Jones QCJ

Police told radio 6PR a 52-year-old man was riding on a motorbike on Summerton Road in Calista when he was shot.

He was taken to hospital with serious injuries and is in a stable condition.

The gang crime squad is investigating the shooting.Police have set up a dedicated taskforce in the wake of escalating and ongoing tensions between outlaw bikie clubs in Perth in recent months.

State Crime Acting Commander Kim Massam announced on Wednesday Operation Seagrass had been instigated as a result of ongoing tensions between rival club members.

The Rebels and Comancheros will be a "strong focus" of the operation, he said.

The Rebels are one of Australia's most powerful bikie clubs. Credit:file image

Recent arson attacks on tattoo parlours and several shootings have led to the formation of the taskforce.ACT Speaker Joy Burch has warned against further attempts by the ACT Opposition to refer the problems within Canberra's health system to a board of inquiry, after their second motion in as many months failed.

Canberra Liberals health spokeswoman Vicki Dunne filed private members motion on Wednesday calling on the Barr government to reverse its opposition to a territory-level royal commission into workplace culture problems in the health system, 10 days after Health Minister Meegan Fitzharris announced an independent review of the sector.

Speaker Joy Burch. Credit:Dion Georgopoulos

Ms Burch said while it was within her powers to shut down the motion as it was similar to one put forward in August and could amount to unnecessary repetition, she would let debate proceed.

"I am allowing this motion today but I do not want to see this motion come back or other motions for inquiries under the Inquiries Act in this calendar year unless there are exceptional circumstances," Ms Burch said.The office of then-immigration minister Peter Dutton demanded an au pair detained at Brisbane Airport be given "urgent" consideration for a visa - preferably within an hour.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Emails provided to a Senate inquiry on Wednesday show Mr Dutton's then-office asked the department to prepare a ministerial intervention briefing for the woman, Italian au pair Michela Marchisio.

She was about to be deported that night after officers found she planned to work while on a tourist visa.

"This is urgent. The minister requires this submission tonight (preferably in the next hour as he has an appointment at 7.30pm)," the email from Mr Dutton's departmental liaison officer said.The next six to nine months of Australian politics until the 2019 federal election promise to be the good, the bad and the downright ugly. Nothing much new about that given that these are the three choices available in any election campaign: appeals to our better natures, resort to bland and boring, or the turn to fear-mongering.

But after what we have witnessed since 2007 what happens seems particularly important. We should really put our best foot forward. But will we? Do we know how to? Is it asking too much to be idealistic?

These choices are in the hands of the two political party leaders, Scott Morrison and Bill Shorten. Each can bring the best or the worst out of the other. Between these two extremes is hard, grinding business as usual.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and Prime Minister Scott Morrison can bring the best or the worst out of the other. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The best is an idealistic politics which aims for the common good of all Australians. This politics would identify the major issues facing the nation today, draw on the best possible community and public service advice, and then seek solutions which are aspirational but also financially achievable.The Labor opposition says there is no case to compel universities to adopt new rules on free speech, arguing recent controversies demonstrate freedom of expression is "alive and well" on campuses.

Education Minister Dan Tehan is expected to raise concerns with vice-chancellors on Thursday, following a string of incidents including a violent protest against author Bettina Arndt at Sydney University last week.

Fairfax Media reported on Wednesday that Human Rights Commissioner Ed Santow was prepared to back a code of conduct on free speech on campus, possibly based on examples from the US, saying it was "definitely worth considering".

Free speech "alive and well": Labor's assistant minister for universities, Louise Pratt. Credit:Andrew Meares

But Louise Pratt, Labor's shadow assistant minister for universities, told Fairfax Media there was no need for such intervention. She also said universities had a special obligation to not give a platform to arguments that lacked evidence.In Melbourne, only the 300-metre-wide interchange between the Monash Freeway and EastLink is bigger. And nationally, the Warringah Freeway in Sydney is bigger than the Eastern will be. Also to go in the Eastern Freeway expansion is land that was identified for railway stations at Bulleen and East Kew in a 2014 study for the proposed Doncaster rail line. The road widening will in effect prevent that rail line being built, with a new dedicated busway to use land needed for a railway reservation. They are taking everything they can get in the freeway reserve, including the Doncaster rail reservation, and then coming for the parkland, Dr Stone said. The North East Link will connect the Eastern Freeway in Bulleen to the Metropolitan Ring Road in Greensborough.

It is designed to free up road space in the north-east, particularly on Heidelberg's Rosanna Road, which has become a major truck thoroughfare. The business case for the road expansion says the Eastern Freeway is busiest at 6am and at 3pm  rather than at more typical peak times such as 8am or 5pm. This is because the road simply grinds to a halt at peak hours because of the volume of cars trying to use it. The North East Link interchange to be built in Bulleen. Credit:North East Link Authority The Balwyn North, Bulleen and Doncaster land is among 1000 hectares affected by the project.

The widest point of added road space is in the Koonung Creek Reserve in Balwyn North. Chris Drieberg and his family built their house opposite this Balwyn North reserve more than a decade ago. They will now see the freeway brought about 50 metres closer to their home. Mr Drieberg and wife Sharon walk their dog Aussie in the reserve daily, and the couple have seen the local Boroondara Council slowly turn the reserve into a popular destination. But the freeway expansion would render much of the park unusable, said Mr Drieberg, who added his family had always assumed the freeway would be widened. But never by this much." Boroondara mayor Jim Parke said six hectares of the 31-hectare reserve would go to make way for the freeway. This is a significant loss, he said.

Dr Stone said taking park for roadways was the opposite of what other cities around the world were doing in built-up areas. The smart cities are removing freeways to improve parklands, not taking away parklands to widen freeways, he said. North East Link Authority chief executive Duncan Elliott said every attempt was being made to minimise impacts on parklands. And Roads Minister Luke Donnellan said bids to build the road from the private sector would cut affects on public land. "The Eastern Freeway will be widened so that the North East Link can do what it needs to do  take trucks off local streets and give these streets back to local residents," Mr Donnellan said. Max Lay is a former VicRoads director who worked on the Eastern Freeway extension from Doncaster to Nunawading.Delivery of trains for Perth's Forrestfield Airport rail link could be delayed after workers at the Queensland factory where they are being assembled walked out on strike.

About 250 manufacturing workers at Downer EDI's Maryborough facility are locked in a bitter industrial dispute over a new enterprise bargaining agreement and will consider further industrial action later this week.

On Monday, they commenced three days of protected action to force the company to employ more local workers, abandon plans to pare back personal leave entitlements and offer a wage increase in line with cost of living increases.

Workers strike outside Downer's Maryborough factory, which is where the WA government's Forrestfield link trains are being built.

The union representing the workers warned industrial action would escalate if the company failed to meet their demands.Two patients trapped inside a sheriff's van died in South Carolina on Tuesday evening after the van became submerged in floodwaters from Hurricane Florence, authorities said.

The accident happened around 5pm when two deputies were driving the women between health facilities along Highway 76 in the northeast part of South Carolina. The driver lost control of the van in high waters, according to Jerry Richardson, the coroner in Marion County, South Carolina.

Both deputies were able to climb out of the submerged vehicle and onto the top of the van. But according to a statement from the sheriff's office, repeated efforts to remove the women from the back seat were unsuccessful.

"Despite persistent and ongoing efforts, floodwater rose rapidly and the deputies were unable to open the doors to reach the individuals inside the van," the statement read.Ariel Palitz Illustration: Lauren Tamaki

Last fall, New York City mayor Bill de Blasio announced the formation of an Office of Nightlife as well as a hunt for the perfect person to lead the department, a role he called the nightlife mayor. In March 2018, he appointed Palitz, 47, who owned and operated the nightclub Sutra Lounge for ten years and whos been promoting and party-planning since her youth on the Upper East Side. Shes lived in multiple apartments at the same intersection of the East Village for 20 years. Heres how she gets it done.

On the struggle to enjoy mornings:

My bedtime used to be sunrise. Literally, when the sun came up, I knew it was time to go to sleep. Now I go to bed around 1 a.m., which I think is major progress. I am sort of a naturally nocturnal person, and I always have been. Its a part of why I gravitated toward the nightlife industry. With this new waking-up-early routine, Ive devised a way to make it more pleasant. I ordinarily set my alarm a half hour or so before I need to wake up so I can just snooze every few minutes, and I wake up gradually and happily. Then I usually will go brush my teeth, put on a face mask, and sit and meditate for 10 or 15 minutes. I find my center, and release any concerns, worries, or fears. Jump in the shower, make myself a Marley recyclable K-cup. Then Ill watch the news while getting dressed.

On adjusting to office life:

This is my first office job in probably 20 years. Though running a nightclub, I did have an office and an office staff, and we did show up every day and do regular work, like phone calls and emails  the regular routine, except we had a disco ball and cases of vodka everywhere. City government is a really new world for me. Its a lot of acronyms to learn.

On decorating the new space:

Ive got a lot of stuff in bags and boxes, posters from my nightlife promoter days and all kinds of stuff Id like to put up. I havent quite had the chance yet. The midtown office is really cool. There are a lot of old New York relics. In my actual, personal office, I have an old New York City parking meter, randomly. We have subway straps hanging from the ceiling, and traffic lights. Its really fun. I have a congratulations plant from my dad.

On her typical day:

Essentially, the office of nightlife is meant to be a liaison between the city agencies, the hospitality industry, and residents, to advocate for a vibrant and safe nightlife industry and culture and economy. A lot of it is coming into the office, getting acclimated, trying to learn as much as I can about the basic infrastructure and this whole language of government. I spend just as much time going uptown, downtown, to all five boroughs, meeting with commissioners, with police departments, with nightlife operators, with community groups. Im getting one-on-one time with people, and getting a sense of what the offices are, what the city resources and agencies do and can offer. Then taking it back to the office of nightlife and starting to connect those dots.

On creating an entirely new government department:

This is a new office in New York, but the concept of an office of nightlife exists in over 30 cities around the world, including London, Berlin, Amsterdam. The hospitality industry is, in New York, a $29 billion industry, and employs over 250,000 people. It is essential to not only our economy but also to how we compete on the world stage as far as tourism. It contributes to our culture, our identity.

You can really look at the nighttime policies and economy and culture as an ecosystem. We want to create a proactive plan that helps to deal with not only nightlife but life at night: not just nightlife venues but transportation, sanitation, policing, city planning. We need to take a step back and see how all these city agencies, and how the industry and the residents, are coexisting. Right now theyre not coexisting as harmoniously as everyone would like, and how I think we can.

On her professional honeymoon period:

Im loving every minute of every day since I have been appointed to this position. That in and of itself is such an accomplishment. To have this office created and to have been chosen, every moment feels like an absolute  I dont want to say a gift because thats corny. There really hasnt been a person or a meeting or a phone call or a day gone by that I havent really appreciated, or havent felt that something important is being done here. Theres so much potential.

On going out every night:

Im not going out anymore than usual. I mean, Ive always loved going out. But its not part of my job description. I go out at least two to three times a week. I visit friends in the industry, at old spaces, or who DJ, or who are throwing parties. I love to dance, I love music, I go to restaurants with my friends. Im a huge foodie. As we become more established here, I do see that actually ramping up. I think it is imperative that we go out into the field, so to speak, to get a sense of all perspectives: from the operators, from the patrons, from the residents. I dont think that can all be assessed from a desk.

On her first job in the nightlife industry:

I grew up in the city, so the minute you can go out, you do. At my first opportunity, I worked at this club called Mars  not Mars Bar, but Club Mars  with my friend Michael Tron, who was one of the original club kids. We grew up together, went to high school together. I helped him promote his Saturday nights: I would call people on the phone and let them know they were on the guest list, for hours. I was just old enough, lets put it that way.

On New York losing its edge:

First, I want to get one thing straight: New York will always be cool. Okay? Theres no doubt that New York has changed. Back in the day, we used to roll around in these huge cliques and party hop. You could hail a limo for $20 and people used to get dressed in there. It was free-spirited and sexy and unexpected, and high and low culture were clashing and dancing. There were holes in the wall, and you didnt know what was behind the door. Was it a warehouse? Some little speakeasy? New York is a magnet for the most creative and brilliant people in the world. I think that remains true.

At the same time, its true that the rising cost of residential and commercial rents, as well as the cost of living and doing business, has risen dramatically in ways that challenge the diversity and free spirit of the city. In some ways, it has, for now, stifled its ability to really express its creativity. But its not dead. The spirit is not dead. You know, Im an optimist and a New York loyalist. I believe New York is evolving and its finding its way to make room again for those creative spaces. The establishment of the office of nightlife itself is a sign of a new era that recognizes and respects what the nightlife culture and community and economy contribute to the city, and that it needs to be nurtured and protected as a precious commodity that defines our identity and influences the whole world.

On what makes for a perfect nightlife spot:

I think what separates New York from the rest of the world is our high standards. We have very little patience and very high standards. The quality goes into the details. First, the staff: Whos greeting you at the door? Are you getting a smile, or attitude? The lighting has to be perfect. The sound levels, not too loud and not too soft. I want it to smell good. The vibe is something thats really unique to each nightlight operator and owner. You make people feel welcome, safe, comfortable, and cool.Ian Buruma. Photo: Awakening/Getty Images

Last week, the New York Review of Books published a lengthy essay by Jian Ghomeshi, the popular Canadian radio host accused of abusing upward of 20 women. In the piece, titled Reflections from a Hashtag, Ghomeshi denies several of the allegations and muses about his mass shaming. Though the NYRB received a considerable amount of criticism for choosing to publish the article, Editor Ian Buruma firmly defended his choice in an interview with Slate shortly afterward.

Now, the magazine has confirmed to the Cut that Buruma is out, and a further statement is forthcoming. The 66-year-old Dutch writer and historian had been at its head since 2017.

Ghomeshi was the host of Q on CBC Radio One from 2007 to 2014, when he was fired after being accused of sexual violence by an ex-girlfriend. Since then, several other women came forward alleging that Ghomeshi has punched, slapped, choked, slapped, and bitten them without their consent. He faced four counts of sexual assault and one count of overcoming resistance by choking when the case went to trial, but was acquitted in 2016.

Though the piece went online last Friday, it is part of the October 11th print issue, as part of a package billed on the cover as The Fall of Men.

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, Buruma told Slate regarding his choice to publish the piece. 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?

Update, September 20 at 9:36 a.m.: Buruma spoke briefly about his departure to the Dutch outlet Vrij Nederland, saying that he has been convicted on Twitter, without any due process. He also claims that he resigned from the position and that university presses, who advertise in the NYRB, were threatening a boycott because they feared adverse campus reactions to the Ghomeshi article.

Update, September 24 at 5:23 p.m.: The NYRB released a statement about the editorial process surrounding the Ghomeshi article. They write that it was shown to only one male editor during the editing process and that most other editors were excluded from that process. Further, they added that most of the editorial staff objected to Ian Burumas comments to Slate and VN and that it is inaccurate that Ian Burumas departure was the result of a Twitter mob.

NYRB publisher statement re Ian Buruma firing over Jian Ghomeshi piece: "We acknowledge our failures in the presentation and editing of his story....We surely had a duty to acknowledge the point of view of the women who complained of Mr. Ghomeshis behavior. " pic.twitter.com/tZIWvbHtQ4  Cara Buckley (@caraNYT) September 24, 2018

Update, September 25 at 5:07 p.m.: Several prominent contributors to the NYRB  including Joyce Carol Oates, Janet Malcolm, Lorrie Moore, and Colm Toibin  have signed a letter expressing their dismay at Burumas departure. We find it very troubling that the public reaction to a single article, Reflections from a Hashtag  repellent though some of us may have found this article  should have been the occasion for Ian Burumas forced resignation, it read. Given the principles of open intellectual debate on which the NYRB was founded, his dismissal in these circumstances strikes us as an abandonment of the central mission of the Review, which is the free exploration of ideas.

This is a developing story and the Cut will update this post with more information as it becomes available.Workplace advice columnist Alison Green answers all your questions about office life. Got a question for her? Email askaboss@nymag.com. Photo: The Cut

If youre like most Americans, you dont get nearly enough vacation time from your employer. The average American worker gets only ten paid vacation days after a year of employment (plus, generally, federal holidays and paid sick leave). Thats pretty paltry, especially compared with time-off norms in other industrialized countries. What you may not realize, though, is that you can often negotiate more vacation time for yourself  either as part of the job-offer negotiation process, when youre first being hired, or later on after youve been on the job for a while. Heres everything to know about how to ask for more vacation time.

How to negotiate more vacation as part of a job offer

The easiest time to negotiate for pretty much anything  more money, more vacation time, working remotely one day a week, or so forth  is when youre originally negotiating your job offer. When a company has decided they want to hire you and is in the process of wooing you, but you havent accepted their offer yet, theyre often more open to accommodating your requests than they will be later. There are limits to that, of course  if you ask for too much or for something wildly outside the norms in your field, you risk turning them off or seeming out of touch. But asking for a bit more vacation time than the offer originally includes is (a) something that people do and (b) a request thats often granted.

The easiest way to get more vacation time included in your offer is to compare the offer to the vacation time youre getting at your current job and asking if the new employer can match it. For example, you could say, Right now I get four weeks of vacation a year, so two weeks would be a pretty big step back for me. Would you be able to do four weeks to match what I have currently? This is a particularly common request from people in mid-level and senior roles, who have worked their way up to a higher amount of vacation time at previous jobs and dont want to start at the bottom again.

Or, if the new company will increase your vacation time the longer youre there (for example, starting people at two weeks a year but offering three weeks once youve worked there three years), you can ask to start off at the higher level: I know you increase people to three weeks of vacation after three years. Given the experience Im bringing, would you be able to start me at three weeks right away?

You can also suggest more vacation time if the employer is unable to agree to something else youve requested during negotiations. For example, if they didnt agree to your request to increase the salary, you might say, Would you be able to do an additional week of vacation instead? Id be glad to accept if you can do that. (That last sentence can be helpful incentive  its telling them that you can both wrap up negotiations right now if theyll say yes to it.)

Of course, the employer may not agree; some companies have rigid rules about how much vacation time theyll offer and wont budge from that. But its a very normal and reasonable thing to ask about, and an employer shouldnt have a problem with you raising the question.

How to negotiate more vacation time at your current job

In many ways, asking for more vacation at your current job is similar to asking for a raise. Since youre asking for a change to your compensation package, you should wait until youve been at the job for at least a year, and you should be in excellent standing; this isnt a request you can make unless your manager is thrilled with your work. But if you meet both of those conditions, you can try meeting with your boss and making the request.

Its easiest to tie it to performance evaluations or salary reviews, because that gives you a natural opening where you and your boss are both already reflecting on and discussing your performance. In that context, you could say something like, One thing that would keep me really happy here is if we were able to increase the amount of vacation time I receive each year. Would you be open to giving me an additional week of vacation per year in recognition of the work Ive been doing?

If you suspect this will be a no-go for your manager, your chances of success may be better if you ask for more vacation time in lieu of a raise that year. Thats often an easier thing for an employer to agree to, since youll be saving them money.

Its also worth researching how much vacation time other employers in your field are offering. Your employer might be much more willing to grant your request if they know that their competitors are offering more paid vacation than they are.

Get it in writing

If you do get an employer to agree to give you more vacation time, make sure you get that agreement in writing. This doesnt need to be a formal contract  and in the U.S., most likely wont be, since most U.S. workers dont have employment contracts  but just something that memorializes what was agreed to in case theres any question about it later. If you dont put it in writing and then your manager or HR person leaves, the next person wont have any record of the agreement. Plus, with nothing in writing, theres a higher risk of genuine mistakes or misunderstandings, like someone forgetting a year from now what your agreement was.

If the employer doesnt offer anything in writing, you can simply send an email saying something like, I wanted to summarize our conversation earlier, agreeing that effective this month, Ill begin accruing four weeks of vacation time per calendar year. Thanks for working with me on this!

Get Ask a Boss delivered every week Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Terms & Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us.

Order Alison Greens book, Ask a Manager: Clueless Colleagues, Lunch-Stealing Bosses, and the Rest of Your Life at Work, here. Got a question for her? Email askaboss@nymag.com. Her advice column appears here every Tuesday.2 Mental Patients Chained in Back of Sheriffs Van Drown During Florence

Two mental patients that were restrained in the back of a sheriffs van died in South Carolina when the vehicle in which they were traveling was overcome by floodwaters, said police.

The deputies who were transporting the women to a facility in South Carolina were saved, ABC News reported. The women werent identified.

The Horry County Sheriffs deputies tried to free the two female mental patients, but due to the rapidly rising floodwaters, they were not able to open the doors to the van, Sheriff Phillip Thompson said in the ABC report.

DEVELOPING: Two female mental patients chained in the back of a South Carolina county sheriffs van drowned when the Posted by ABC World News Tonight with David Muir on Wednesday, September 19, 2018

The South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division is now investigating the matter, according to the report.

Tonights incident is a tragedy, Thompson said in a statement. Just like you, we have questions we want answered. We are fully cooperating with the State Law Enforcement Division to support their investigation of this event.

WPDE-TV reported that the patients were being transported from Loris Hospital and Waccamaw Center for Mental Health to McLeod Health. They were going down Highway 76 when the floodwaters began to rise near the Little Pee Dee River, which is a branch of the Lumber River.

The Lumber River as of Sept. 19 was still in major flood stage in several places, according to the National Weather Service. The Little Pee Dee River also reached major flood stage in several spots, and forecasters believe it will continue to rise.

Floodwaters in North Carolina were still quite high as of Sept. 19.

I know it was hard to leave home, and it is even harder to wait and wonder whether you even have a home to go back to, Gov. Roy Cooper said, according to The Associated Press.

The death toll from Florence rose to 37 in three states, the AP report noted.

Cooper warned locals that the flooding isnt over yet.

I know for many people this feels like a nightmare that just wont end, he said.

President Donald Trump is slated to visit North Carolina on Sept. 19 to see the damage. Right now, everybody is saying what a great job we are doing with Hurricane Florence  and they are 100% correct, he tweeted.

Statement

The Horry County Sheriffs Office released the following statement on the incident:

A Horry County Sheriffs Office transportation vehicle was involved in a high-water incident tonight. The vehicle, staffed by two Horry County Sheriffs Office deputies, was transporting two detainees from Conway to Darlington. The vehicle was traveling west on Highway 76 around  mile from the Little Pee Dee River when the vehicle was overtaken by flood waters.

The two deputies attempted to extricate the persons being transported. Despite persistent and ongoing efforts, floodwater rose rapidly and the deputies were unable to open the doors to reach the individuals inside the van.

High water rescue teams arrived and were able to rescue the two deputies from the top of the van. At this time, the recovery effort is ongoing, and the transportation vehicle cannot be removed due to rising waters and dangerous conditions. The two individuals being transported were confirmed dead by the Marion County Coroner. This incident is being investigated by the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED).Agents of Faith Exhibition Examines Humanitys Hopes

How one war memorial offering gives us a glimpse into the history of faith

Year after year, there are veterans who make a pilgrimage to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., a black wall with white names of the fallen inscribed into stone. Since the 250-foot long memorial was unveiled in 1982, people have been placing items at the base of the wall to express their grief and gratitude. Out of the over 400,000 things that have been put there over the years, perhaps the painted custom motorbike gets the most attention.

A group of 160 bikers had left it at the wall one day in 1995, and started guarding it around the clock.

Hand-Built Offering

In 1968, Robert Thompson came home to Michigan from his tour with the Marines in Vietnam and took up biking. He picked up the nickname Hogman, and became a member of the motorcycle safety and rights organization ABATE. It was the organization that caused him to lead yearly rides to the memorial in Washington.

In front of the black granite stone, with mementos placed carefully beneath the names, Thompson wanted to leave something too.

I started thinking maybe we should leave something from Wisconsin. Since we all ride motorcycles, I thought, lets build a motorcycle to leave there, Thompson told Vietnam magazine.

There were 37 soldiers who went missing in action in Vietnam, and the bikers wanted to honor them. Thompson took the idea to Willie Kiefert of Willies R&R Service, and their communitynot just bikersdecided to custom-build a bike with commemorative details, like the 37 dog tags, or the braided seat.

We had to kind of build it, take it all apart, then paint it, fit everything  I think it took us a year, Kiefert told DoD News.

The seat was never sat on, the seat is for our brothers and sisters on the wall for when they come home, so theyll have a place to ride with us, Thompson told DoD News.

They didnt tell park officials or give any notice that they would be leaving this bike, because they didnt want anyone to stop them.

This bike was built for the 58,000-plus people on the wall. This is their bike, Joe Rutkowski, a Vietnam veteran, told DOD news.

So that morning, Duery Felton, curator of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Collection, got a call from a park ranger.

Some fools have left a motorcycle at The Wall, Felton remembered the ranger saying.

Ultimately, the bike was allowed to stay.

Its definitely a healing process that you go through at the wall, Thompson said. Thats where you leave your heart, thats where you leave your thoughts, thats where you leave a lot of tears and theres nothing wrong with that.

This is a practice that transcends place or time: Humanity has been leaving votive objectsmaterial artifacts made with the intention of being offered as an act of faithacross all historical periods, religions, and culture.

A Culture of Gratitude and Debt

This motorcycle is now on view at the Bard Graduate Center on Manhattans Upper West Side as a part of the exhibition Agents of Faith, through Jan. 6, 2019. The collection of items range from third-century Etruscan busts to southeast Asian clay tablets stamped with the image of Buddha, to replicas of limbs offered to saints as supplication for their healing, to letters of grace and gratitude.

It should not be surprising that the practice of votive (or ex-voto, meaning from the vow) offering has extended beyond formal religious practice into the secular in modernity, said David Morgan, professor of religious studies at Duke. Morgan gave a talk at a Bard symposium related to the exhibition on Sept. 14, the opening date, via video call.

Many millions make important pilgrimages every year to important capitals, churches, and shrines, he said. And in most every case, these pilgrims leave a votive object as expressions of gratitude, often but not always in fulfillment of a vow.

Morgan examined the terminology used by those leaving votive objects at shrines and altars compared to, for example, the votive offerings left at the 9/11 memorial sites that spontaneously popped up across the country in the aftermath of the event. We use words like owe, debt, pay, repay, he said. We, as beneficiaries of some sort, speak of what sacrifice, how priceless, how invaluable.

Whether leaving an offering to Saint Mary in supplication as a vow of devotion, or flowers at a memorial to thank veterans for their sacrifice and a promise not to forget, Morgan points out these are both public acts despite their intimate nature.

Votive display performs a rite of remembrance, he said.

The ex-voto is microcosmic in its universality.

Objects and images are on loan from all over the worldsome from museums and others recovered from storage facilities where the curators were told to take anything youd like, its not art, it will never be shown in a museum.

This exhibition includes many objects with inscriptions from the living to the dead, and some are quite personal, giving us a glimpse into the hopes and dreams, and wishes and fears, of people from various millennia and across continents. Some sites see millions of visitors annually, and every little object left there tells a personal story.Ancient Chinese Stories: Robbers Disappear After the Granaries Are Opened

At the time of the Eastern Han Dynasty, there was a man called Zhong Mou. He became an orphan when he was young and worked very hard in the fields to support his brother. He liked to read when he had spare time. When he grew up, he received a commendation for being a person of high character and then became an official in Xindu County. As a Xindu County official, he was fair in handling matters and put effort into promoting moral education. Within three years, more people from surrounding areas migrated to his county, and the number of households in his county multiplied by over 10 times.

Later, when Mr. Zhong Mou was promoted to head of the county, there was a famine. He decided the county should open the government granaries to save his people. But some officials did not agree. They were afraid that they would be punished by the royal officials in the capital. They argued with him and even wanted to report it to the Imperial Court. Zhong Mou said, If we wait for approval from the Imperial Court, that means well watch people starve to death. In order to save peoples lives, I am not afraid of sacrificing myself. So, he opened the granaries, and many people in his county were saved from disaster. Emperor Shun of Han praised him upon hearing this. A year later, there was a harvest and no one embezzled or stole grain in his county.

Later, Zhong Mou was promoted to commander of a border area in order to protect the nation. The invaders heard about him and thus showed him respect such that, for a long time, the nation was peaceful. People would say that wherever Zhong Mou stayed, peoples moral character improved. This showed the great power of his character.

Translated by Dora Li into English, this story is reprinted with permission from the book Treasured Tales of China, Vol. 1, available on Amazon.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.Ann Coulter Wants Attempted Murder Charges for Owner Who Left 6 Dogs to Drown

Conservative commentator Ann Coulter has called for attempted murder charges to be brought against whoever left six dogs to drown in Florence floodwaters in North Carolina.

Coulter made the comment in reference to a video shot in Leland, North Carolina, showing six dogs being rescued after being locked in a cage that was partially submerged.

The water level was rising rapidly so some of the dogs started to stand on their hind legs, and some were howling and whimpering.

Footage of the rescue was posted on Twitter by freelance reporter Marcus DiPaola, who said that were it not for the timely rescue, rising floodwaters would have led to the dogs death.

Rescued six dogs in Leland, NC, after the owner LEFT THEM locked in an outdoor cage that filled with flood water that was rapidly rising.

We got them out, but by the time we left, the water was so high that they would have drowned. BRING YOUR PETS WITH YOU!

Rescued six dogs in Leland, NC, after the owner LEFT THEM locked in an outdoor cage that filled with flood water that was rapidly rising. We got them out, but by the time we left, the water was so high that they would have drowned. BRING YOUR PETS WITH YOU! #HurricaneFlorence pic.twitter.com/tRibGxCjXy  Marcus J. DiPaola (@marcusdipaola) September 16, 2018

Volunteer rescuers heard the frantic canines and rushed to their aid.

The man who waded through the storm waters towards the stranded dogs was Ryan Nichols of Longview, Texas, according to Daily Mail.

As Nichols opened the kennel door, the dogs immediately swam out, whimpering even louder.

The gripping footage moved Coulter to express her outrage.

Owner should be charged with attempted murder, she tweeted.

Owner should be charged with attempted murder. https://t.co/sNPIRS2aRU  Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) September 17, 2018

While some users pointed out that animal neglect and abuse are not grounds for attempted murder charges, Coulters sentiment that the owner should face legal consequences was widely echoed by commenters.

That is just a bit of overkill, Annie. Dog slaughter would fit the bill & a minimum 5-year sentence, without parole, posted Twitter user @nasulei.

That is just abit of overkill, Annie. Dogslaughter would fit the bill & a minimum 5 year sentence, without parole.  radu moraru (@nasulei) September 17, 2018

Pets are family & need us to care for them as much as they care for us, commented Twitter user @AllAmericanPat. This is totally cruel & criminal to leave these pups locked up in rising hurricane flood waters. The dogs had collars w/ tags. The owner should be located & prosecuted for animal neglect / abuse.

Coulter, a social and political commentator, syndicated columnist, lawyer, and public speaker, has authored 12 best-selling books, including recently In Trump We Trust.

In April, Coulter was forced to cancel a speech at University of California in Berkeley, following threats of violence by Antifa and other left-wing groups.Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, speaks about the iPhone XS and XS Max at an Apple Inc product launch event at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino, California, on Sept. 12, 2018. (Reuters/Stephen Lam).

Apples New IPhones a Slight Notch Above the X: Reviewers

The absence of a striking new feature left major tech blogs and newspapers lukewarm on the new XS range of Apple Incs iPhones in the first batch of reviews on Sept. 18, although most praised the improvements to a wide range of standard features.

The new iPhones have subtle additions to last years reimagined iPhone X, the tenth-anniversary phone, and do not look very different aside from the ginormous size, several reviewers said.

In her review of the phones, Wireds Lauren Goode said the phones were an evolution, not a revolution.

They dont spark strong feelings  except maybe chagrin that they cost so much, Goode said.

The iPhone XS, pronounced ten S, and XS Max were launched on Sept. 12. The XS has a 5.8-inch screen and starts at $999 while the XS Max, the largest iPhone to date has a 6.5-inch screen, with a base price of $1,099.

The phones, however, do possess an advanced chip, which makes the facial recognition feature even smoother. They also have a new image sensor and processor, incremental changes to the X that allow for better photography.

A bright spot in an otherwise low-key upgrade is the dual-SIM support, a feature that the companys much-touted iPhone X did not have. Apple has also included eSIMs, a technology currently in Apple watches and cellular iPads.

The iPhone XS and XS Max follow in the footsteps of S-year iPhones  theyre faster, with better camera hardware  but except for dual SIM support, there isnt a brand-new feature like Touch ID or 3D Touch this time, CNETs Scott Stein said.

Apple also expanded storage capacity in its latest models, with 256 GB and 512 GB capacity now available.

The biggest iPhone with the largest storage will cost $1,449 and that did not go unnoticed by the reviewers, with many observing that a 512 GB XS Max was actually more expensive than some MacBooks.

This is a premium phone with an even more premium price tag, TechRadars John McCann wrote.

By Arjun PanchadarBe Patient, Be Alert, Trump Urges Ahead of Visit to Flood-Stricken North Carolina

U.S. President Donald Trump plans to visit North Carolina on Wednesday, Sept. 19, to witness first-hand the destruction left behind by Hurricane Florence, and to review the ongoing relief effort.

Trump is expected to arrive at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in Havelock, North Carolina at about 10:30 a.m. local time and return to Washington D.C. at 6:15 p.m., according to the White House.

Trump tweeted a video on Tuesday, thanking relief workers and volunteers for their hard work.

I just want to thank all the incredible men and women who have done such a great job in helping with Florence. This is a tough hurricane, Trump said.

Florence has been a nasty one, Trump continued. The waters are still rising, listen to your state and your local authorities, be patient, be alert, and God bless you.

North Carolina continues to bear the brunt of Florences deadly deluge, as rivers continue to rise and thousands of homes and roadways remain submerged.

More than 15,000 people remain in shelters and more than 200,000 customers are without power across North Carolina, six days after Florence made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane, according to state officials.

Rivers Continue to Rise

We continue to feel the effects of this massive storm, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said on Tuesday. Even though there is no substantial rain in the forecast and the sun may be shining across many parts of our state, rivers continue to rise and we will see more flooding.

The Cape Fear River was expected to crest at 61.5 feet (19 meters), quadrupling its normal height, on Wednesday in Fayetteville, a city of 200,000 in the southern part of the state near the Fort Bragg army base, according to the National Weather Service. That has disrupted efforts to restore power, clear roads, and allow evacuated residents to go home.

There is a strong potential that those who live within the 1-mile evacuation area of the Cape Fear River will be impacted by flooding, the city said in a statement.

The city manager told CNN that 12,000 people are in harms way.

Florence has already killed at least 35 people, including 26 in North Carolina and eight in South Carolina where local media reported that two mental health patients drowned on Tuesday when the sheriffs van the women were in crashed.

Storm Spawns Multiple Tornadoes

One person was killed in Virginia when the storm spawned about 16 tornadoes there on Monday, according to the National Weather Service.

Thousands of rescues have taken place in the Carolinas. Fire and rescue crews were waiting to go into many areas to assist with structural damage after Florence dumped up to 36 inches (91 cm) of rain in parts of North Carolina since last Thursday.

At least 16 rivers remained at a major flood stage with three others set to crest in the coming days in North Carolina, the state said.

More than 1,100 roads were still closed across North Carolina, Cooper said, including several portions of interstates 40 and 95. In South Carolina, 40 major roads were closed.

In the town of Fair Bluff, North Carolina, which has struggled to recover from the devastation of Hurricane Matthew in 2016, only about 50 residents remained on Tuesday, Fair Bluff Police Chief Chris Chafin told Reuters.

The town has largely been cut off by flooding from the still-rising Lumber River, which was expected to crest on Wednesday.

Much of Columbus County, where Fair Bluff is located, was under water, according to Steve Abbott of the North Carolina Department of Transportation, with most roads closed and driving not advised.Body Found in North Carolina Trailer Surrounded by Florence Floodwaters

A body was found in a trailer in North Carolina, surrounded by floodwaters from Hurricane Florence.

Lt. Sean Swain, a spokesman for the Cumberland County Sheriffs Office, told the Fayetteville Observer that deputies could see the mans body through a trailer window but couldnt retrieve the body because of the swift water surrounding the trailer.

The location of the trailer was just outside Fayetteville, off Tabor Church Road near the Cape Fear River.

A member of a search and rescue team performing well-being checks in the evacuated area along the river spotted the body late Tuesday, Sept. 18 and alerted the sheriffs office.

Members from the office, EMS, and a FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Task Force Team from New York were among those who were investigating the death.

Ignored Evacuation Order

Swain said on Sept. 19 that deputies had gone to the mans house before the flooding to tell him about the mandatory evacuation but that the man refused to leave, reported WRAL.

The death toll from Florence increased to at least 37 on Sept. 19. At least 17 of the deaths happened in North Carolina.

Those include a mother and baby killed by a falling tree and a one-year-old swept away by floodwaters.

Cape Fear Hits Historic Heights

An estimated 2,800 households in the mandatory evacuation zone near the Cape Fear River had been ordered to evacuate, and those who ignored the order were told they could be on their own.

As forecast, the river swelled to its highest level in 73 years after five days of rain from Florence, reported the Observer. The river was expected to crest before dawn on Sept. 19, at 61.6 feet3.5 feet higher than the level from Hurricane Matthew in 2016.

Fayetteville Police Chief Gina Hawkins told the paper that despite the mandatory evacuation, officers cannot force people to leave their homes. Thats a risk that they are taking with their own lives, said Hawkins.

Bob Baker, one of those who stayed put, and who lives in Kinwood by Methodist University, said that he and his neighbors studied the topography and concluded many of their homes would be safe. They have largely been correct.

Baker said he and others cleaned out stormwater drains and had sandbags on hand if needed. He criticized city officials, believing they didnt take into account the topography.

From NTD.tvThe undated photo shows a member of the Chinese paramilitary police in front of an armored vehicle in Hotan, Xinjiang region of China. The Chinese regime has deepened its suppression of the Uyghur ethnic group in the region. (Greg Baker/AFP/Getty Images)

Calls Grow for UN Action on Chinas Muslim Re-education Camps

GENEVAFrance and Germany have called on China to close re-education camps in its restive far western region of Xinjiang where up to one million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities are thought to be held for political indoctrination as pressure grows for U.N. action.

Reports of mass detentions and strict surveillance of the Turkic minority in Xinjiang have sparked a growing international outcry since they came to light last month.

The Chinese regime has used the excuse of potential Islamic threats and ethnic riots to crack down on the local population in Xinjiang. It has blamed a group called the East Turkestan Islamic Movement for many of the attacks in recent years in Xinjiang, though some experts have questioned whether the group exists in any coherent form.

The calls by European powers at the U.N. Human Rights Council on Sept. 18 coincided with the first side-event held on the politically sensitive issue.

What we are seeing now in East Turkestan is more than just repression, it is an intentional campaign of assimilation by the Chinese government targeting the Uyghur identity, Dolkun Isa, president of the World Uyghur Congress, an international group of exiled Uyghurs, told the panel.

Everything that makes us uniqueour language, our culture, our religionis under attack Every Uyghur family in the diaspora has a family member detained in the camps, he said.

Mass imprisonment of more than one million people cannot be justified on any grounds. U.N. member states have an absolute obligation to act immediately, Isa said.

Inmates include Isas brother and at least 56 professors at Xinjiang University, he said.

SOCIAL RE-ENGINEERING

Adrian Zenz is a German academic and expert on Chinese minority policy whose research is based on government documents and accounts of visitors to the remote region.

We can say this appears to be the most intensive social re-engineering effort of the Chinese state since the Cultural Revolution, he said.

In Xinjiang we are looking at a minimum of several hundred thousand, possibly over one million in possibly over 1,000 to 1,200 facilities, he said.

Zenz based his findings on satellite imagery, government procurement bids for building internment facilities, and recruitment notices for Mandarin teachers.

The aim is political indoctrination, changing people, actually changing the hearts, minds and souls you could say, Zenz said.

Uyghurs and other Muslims held in concentration camp-like facilities, known as re-education centers, are forbidden from using Islamic greetings, must learn Mandarin Chinese, and sing propaganda songs, according to a report by Human Rights Watch compiled based on interviews with five former camp detainees.

U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet called on China last week to allow in monitors after the deeply disturbing allegations emerged.

But there appears to be little appetite among states for launching a U.N. probe, said John Fisher of Human Rights Watch.

In similar circumstances in other countries, it would not be at all unwarranted for violations on this scale to be met with calls for a commission of inquiry, a fact-finding mission, a special rapporteur, he said.

Because it is China, states voices are muted.

By Stephanie NebehayCape Cod Shark Attack: 911 Call in Surfers Death Released

A 911 call in the shark attack death of Massachusetts man Arthur Medici was released this week.

Hello, Im at Newcomb Hollow Beach in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, a man who witnessed the attack told the dispatcher. Ive just seen a surfer get bit by a shark.

Im sorry, you said somebody got bit by a shark? asked the dispatcher.

Yeah, about 300 yards down the beach, the man said. I saw the whole thing happen.

Sir, hold on please, the dispatcher continued. Hello, Are you right next to the person right now?

No, Im not, Im off the beach, the man told the dispatcher in the 911 call (which can be heard in the video above). I watched the whole thing happen.It was a helluva hit, man. I saw the whole thing happen.

Later, the dispatcher asked about Medicis state. OK, do you know by chance if the person is conscious and breathing? the dispatcher asked the man. I have no ideaIm literally an eighth of a mile away, he responded.

Medici, who was originally from Brazil and was living in Cape Cod, became the first fatal shark attack victim in Massachusetts since the 1930s.

Witnesses described a frantic scene.

All of a sudden somebody yelled shark, shark! and we noticed a big crowd at the end of the beach, Tony Sherwell said, NECN reported. Added Joe Booth: 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.

There was a lot of blood, Rich Littauer said. A lot of blood.

The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy offered their condolences to Medicis family. 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, the group stated.

Medici was reportedly out boogie boarding when the attack took place. The species of shark was not named.

WCVB reported that he was engaged and was slated to get married.

Shark Attacks Are Rare

There were 53 unprovoked shark attacks in the United States last year, but none of them were fatal, said the International Shark Attack File. It says there are about six deaths each year around the world from unprovoked shark attacks.

The 2017 worldwide total of 88 confirmed, unprovoked cases was slightly higher than the most recent five-year (2012-2016) average of 83 incidents annually. However, it was markedly lower than the highest year on record, 2015, which had 98 unprovoked incidents. Significantly, there were only five unprovoked attacks that were fatal worldwide. This is on track with our annual average of six, the group says.

Florida, it said, has the most unprovoked shark attacks of any state, representing about 35 percent of the worldwide total.

Florida has topped the charts for worldwide shark attacks and 2017 was no exception. Floridas 31 cases represented 58% of the United States total. Elsewhere in the United States, unprovoked shark attacks occurred in South Carolina [10], Hawaii [6], and California [2] with single incidents in Massachusetts, North Carolina, Texas, and Virginia, it says.Chinas Soybean Harvest Drops by 300,000 Tons Because of Early Frost

Chinese soybean production has dropped precipitously as unusually frosty weather hit key agricultural regions in early September, damaging more than 2.5 million acres of soybean fields and reducing the harvest by an estimated 300,000 tons in the northeastern province of Heilongjiang.

The downturn comes as China maintains tariffs on soybeans imported from the United States as part of the escalating SinoU.S. trade war.

On Sept. 17, Chinas Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs reported that northwestern Heilongjiang had experienced low temperatures and early frost between Sept. 9 and Sept. 10, damaging the harvest. According to the National Meteorological Center of China Meteorological Administration, over the past 50 years, the Heilongjiang frost hasnt usually begun until late September, making the latest weather an unusual event.

Soybeans grow ideally in temperatures between 68 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit. In the production period between May and September, a two-degree reduction in average temperature reduces the yield by acre by over a hundred pounds; frost is especially damaging.

Import Reliance

On Aug. 10, Reuters quoted a Chinese agricultural official as saying that Chinese soybean production typically falls short of demand by over 90 million tons, and that it relies on imports to make up the rest. In 2017, China consumed more than 110 million tons, of which it imported 95.53 million tons, or 87 percent of total consumption.

In April, local authorities in Heilongjiang and Jilin, a neighboring province, issued ordinances requiring farmers to expand their soybean production, and significantly increased subsidies for the crop. The subsidy per Chinese mu (0.165 acres) of soybeans is now 100 yuan (about $15) higher than that for corn.

The United States has been Chinas primary supplier of soybeans, but exports of the product have decreased since the beginning of the Sino-U.S. trade war this spring.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been attempting to use the soybean trade to counter U.S. tariffs introduced by the Trump administration to punish Beijing for its longstanding unfair or illegitimate business practices. The CCP has imposed a 25 percent tariff on U.S. soybeans.

In mid-July, Shao Zhongyi, known as the king of soybeans and owner of Shandong Chenxi Group Company Ltd., filed for bankruptcy. Formerly the richest man in Shandong Province, eastern China, Shao owned 19 billion yuan ($2.77 billion).

Japanese business newspaper, the Nikkei, published a July 31 report analyzing the reasons for the companys bankruptcy. Low demand for soybean meal had damaged the companys business, and due to the CCPs tightening of monetary policy, the companys capital turnover had deteriorated. Finally, as the cost of imported soybeans rose, the company could no longer maintain its operations, Nikkei reported.

In the past year, from Shandong to the southern province of Guangxi, at least 20 soybean crushers have reduced or halted production.

Price Hike

But with the trade tariffs on U.S. soybeans in place, China faces a supply shortage. Soybean imports dropped in July, causing Chinas soybean and soymeal prices to increase rapidly.

Brazil, the worlds largest soybean exporter, is set to finish its harvest and sell out its crop. Typically, China will then buy U.S. soybeans, which begin harvesting in the fall. Without those soybeans, China, as the worlds biggest consumer of the crop, is in trouble.

Now that we are getting close to the U.S. soybean season (in September), news like the trade war escalation and falling imports will have a bigger impact on prices, Pan Tiantian, analyst with Zheshang Futures, told Reuters. The United States is Chinas second-largest supplier of soybeans.

Some analysts believe China will still need to import U.S. soybeansand pay those tariffsin order to fill its supply gap.

Brazil and Argentina are unable to supply all of Chinas needs, especially after both a drought that led to a 40 percent year-on-year fall in Argentine production, and freight issues in Brazil, according to a Morgan Stanley report released in August.

Therefore, in the medium term, China is likely to continue to depend on U.S. imports and the [price] discount of Chicago versus South America should narrow going forward, the report stated, referring to prices in the futures market.

Reuters contributed to this report.Chinese citizens wait to submit their visa applications at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing on May 2, 2012. (MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)

Chinese Netizens Sound Off on Trade War via US Embassys Social-Media Page

As the SinoU.S. trade war continues to escalate, Chinese netizens have found a platform to express their thoughts on the latest developments in the dispute: the social-media account belonging to the U.S. Embassy in China.

The U.S. Embassys account on Sina Weiboa social media similar to Twitterhas long been considered a rare safe haven for free speech in China, allowing netizens to speak their mind.

Because comments on an account belonging to an American entity are less likely to be censored by Chinas internet monitors, Chinese users have taken to the U.S. Embassys Weibo comments section to air grievancessuch as when Chinese drug companies were exposed for producing and circulating faulty vaccines for children in July, or to simply express their opinion on current events. While content criticizing the Chinese regime is often deleted, the U.S. Embassys comments section often allows netizen admonishments.

After U.S. President Donald Trump announced that his administration would go through with planned tariffs on an additional $200 billion of Chinese goods on Sept. 17, netizens expressed their support for the United States. The U.S. Embassys Weibo account posted a copy of Trumps statement about the additional tariffs on the same day (Sept. 18 Beijing time), which attracted scores of netizens to encourage Trump.

Go America the beautiful. You have kept your word and done as promised, one wrote.

Brother Trump, do this well. Im rooting for you, another wrote.

Thanks to America for doing in the sickle and hammer, read another post, referring to the symbol for the Communist Party.

Others pleaded with the United States to help them with Chinas economic woes. Can you help us lower property prices? one asked.

Why are so many Chinese supportive of the opposing party in the SinoU.S. trade war?

Many netizens hope that U.S. pressure can prompt the Chinese regime to finally make true economic reforms.

Only external pressure will allow them to reform. Only when they feel the point of destruction will they be able to change, one netizen posted.

A similar conclusion was reached by Tsinghua University economist Wei Jie, who recently penned an essay analyzing what strategies China has left in the trade war.

Wei wrote that to counter the impact of U.S. tariffs, China needs to open up its markets, including lowering tariffs on foreign goods; opening up the services market, where China actually has a trade deficit with the United States; and loosening restrictions for foreign investment.

Indeed, the effects of the trade war are beginning to damage an already slowing Chinese economy.

With about a 20 percent loss so far in 2018, Shanghais stock market has joined the crisis-hit trio of Turkey, Argentina, and Venezuela, to become one of the worlds four worst performers.

Other economic indicators also pointed to a slowdown: fixed-asset investment growth slowed to 5.3 percent from January to August, the weakest reading since at least 1995 when official records began.

Growth in infrastructure spending, a powerful economic driver, also fell, to 4.2 percent in the first eight months of this year.

As of Sept. 19 morning (EST), the U.S. Embassys Weibo account no longer displayed any comments. Its unclear whether the removal was due to Chinese censors or the embassy turning off the comments section.

Reuters contributed to this report.Doctors Warn Parents to Stop Using Baby Walkers After New Study Published

Hundreds of thousands of infants have been injured while using walkers, according to a new study.

The study, published in Pediatrics on Sept. 17, analyzed the years 1990 through 2014 and found that more than 230,000 children under 15 months old were treated for injuries related to infant walkers, including skull fractures and broken bones.

About three-quarters of the injuries were caused by children falling down a flight of stairs in an infant walker, the researchers said.

Data shows that injuries went down after a federal safety standard was implemented in 2010 but still occur regularly, as the researchers noted that many of the implementations are effective initially but wear out over time.

Thousands of children are injured using infant-walkers, which are banned in Canada but remain legal in the U.S. @DrGaryASmith explains the results of a new study in @UPI article here:https://t.co/ijyrNaOp3I  Amer Acad Pediatrics (@AmerAcadPeds) September 18, 2018

Problems

There was 10 infant walker recalls from 2001 to 2010 because of failure to meet the stair-fall prevention requirement, the researchers stated in a Pediatrics article.

Given that only an estimated 10 percent of recalled childrens products are properly corrected, replaced, or returned by consumers, many noncompliant infant walkers remain in homes today. In addition, although infant walkers that were purchased before 2010 will eventually be discarded, the mandatory standards will not be able to eliminate the dangers associated with these older products that may still remain in use, the research states.

Infant walkers remain an important and preventable source of injury among young children, which supports the American Academy of Pediatrics call for a ban on their manufacture and sale in the United States, the researchers added.

The majority of children, about 90 percent, sustained injuries to the head of neck, with about half of those being soft-tissue injuries and another quarter being a concussion or related injury.

Parents often use infant walkers to help their children learn how to walk and move around but studies actually show that they delay mental and motor development, according to the team. In addition, infant walkers give parents a false sense of security despite easing how quickly infants can get into a dangerous situation.

As Injuries Continue, Doctors Renew Call For Ban On Infant Walkers https://t.co/xTmxidLsDg #pediatrics #medsm  Michael F Ozaki MD (@brontyman) September 17, 2018

Call for Ban

A number of doctors are calling for a ban on infant walkers, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, noting that a ban is currently in place in Canada.

I view infant walkers as inherently dangerous objects that have no benefit whatsoever and should not be sold in the U.S., Dr. Benjamin Hoffman, a pediatrician who chairs the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Injury, Violence and Poison Prevention, told NPR.

A study co-author said he believes the walkers present too many dangers.

Baby walkers give quick mobilityup to four feet per secondto young children before they are developmentally ready, Dr. Gary Smith, director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Childrens Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, and study co-author, told Fox News.

Baby walkers remain a serious and preventable source of injury to young children and should not be used. There are safer alternatives, such as stationary activity centers that spin, rock, and bounce, but do not have wheels, and good old-fashioned belly time, where a child is placed on their belly on the floor and allowed to learn to gradually push themselves up, then crawl and eventually walk.

From NTD.tvDoubts Arise Over Whether Kavanaugh Accuser Will Testify

WASHINGTONThe woman who has accused President Donald Trumps Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her decades ago hasnt yet confirmed her appearance to testify at a Senate committee hearing set for Sept. 24, raising questions about whether the high-stakes public showdown will take place.

Christine Ford, a university professor in California, hasnt responded to attempts by the Republican-led Senate Judiciary Committee to contact her about appearing at the hearing, Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said on Sept. 18.

Trump stepped up his defense of Kavanaugh and expressed sympathy toward his nominee, who met with officials at the White House for a second straight day, although not with the president.

I feel so badly for him that hes going through this, to be honest with you, Trump told a news conference. This is not a man that deserves this.

Hopefully, the woman will come forward, state her case. He will state his case before representatives of the United States Senate. And then they will vote. They will look at his career. They will look at what she has to say, from 36 years ago, and we will see what happens.

Grassley, whose committee oversees the confirmation process, initially said the planned hearing would be public but other Republicans indicated it could be held privately if Ford requests that.

Kavanaugh has called Fords allegation completely false. His friend Mark Judge, who Ford claims was present during the alleged assault, also denied the claim.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), a member of the Senate Republican leadership, appeared to cast doubt on Fords allegations.

We just dont know what happened 36 years ago and there are gaps in her memory. She doesnt know how she got there, when it was, and so that would logically be something where she would get questions, Cornyn told reporters.

His fellow Republicans have generally avoided criticizing Ford, instead casting blame on Democrats for not revealing her allegations earlier.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) received a letter from Ford in July, but didnt reveal it until after the confirmation hearings had concluded and days before the Judiciary panel was set to vote on whether to recommend Kavanaugh for a full Senate vote.

We have reached out to her in the last 36 hours, three or four times by email, and weve not heard from them. So it kind of raises the question  do they want to come to (the) public hearing or not? Grassley said in an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt.

Deserves to Be Heard

I want to hear from Dr. Ford, Grassley said. And she deserves to be heard because these are serious accusations. And I would surely hope shed come Monday.

The contents of Fords letter were leaked last week, and Ford identified herself in an interview published on Sept. 16.

The committee announced on Sept. 17 it would postpone its vote planned for Sept. 20, and scheduled the hearing for the nominee and his accuser to testify.

Debra Katz, a lawyer representing Ford, said in television interviews on Sept. 17 that the professor would be willing to testify. Kavanaugh, via a statement from the White House, also said he is willing to testify.

Republican staffers quizzed Kavanaugh about the allegations during a Sept. 17 call, while Democrats refused to take part. Committee spokesman Taylor Foy said that other witnesses would be questioned ahead of the hearing.

The confirmation fight comes just weeks before Nov. 6 congressional elections, with Republicans looking to hold on to majorities in both chambers.

Grassley offered his assurance that Ford would be treated respectfully and not badgered during the hearing.

Trump picked Kavanaugh in July to replace retired conservative Justice Anthony Kennedy.

By Lawrence Hurley and Richard Cowan. Epoch Times staff writer Ivan Pentchoukov contributed to this report.Egypt allowed the public to visit a 4,000-year old tomb in the Saqqara necropolis near Giza for the first time on Sept. 8 in a bid to promote tourism.

The tomb, discovered in 1940 by Egyptologist Zaki Saad, belongs to an ancient Egypt high-ranking official named Mehu who was related to the first king of the 6th dynasty.

The tomb included two chambers, both with wall inscriptions of the owner of the tomb hunting as well as drawings showing aspects of Ancient Egyptian lives such as hunting and acrobatic dancing.

Mehu lived during the reign of King Pepi and held 48 titles, found inscribed on the walls of his chamber.

It is a 4,500-year old tomb from the 6th dynasty. It is during the King Pepi rule. It is a family tomb of a father, son, and grandson. We are seeing Mehu, his son Meren Ra, and his grandson Heteb Kha. The tombs owner had 48 titles, said head of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mostafa Al-Waziri.

Archaeologists have so far this year excavated a number of relics that include a 4,400-year-old tomb at the Giza plateau and an ancient necropolis in Minya, south of Cairo.

Egypt is hoping these discoveries will brighten its image abroad and revive interest among travelers who once flocked to its iconic pharaonic temples and pyramids but who have shunned the country since its 2011 political uprising.European Companies Doing Business in China Cope With Many Barriers, Report Says

European companies face great hurdles while doing business in China that prevent the firms from operating on a level playing field, according to the latest annual paper issued by the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China.



The paper, issued on Sept. 19, listed 14 common concerns faced by European companies in 22 sectors, including agriculture, automobile, banking and securities, construction, insurance, logistics, and petrochemicals.

Some of the obstacles cited by the roughly 1,600 European firms surveyed are common complaints among foreign companies in China, such as market access barriers; unequal access to Chinese government subsidies; a dearth of operating licenses for international firms; unequal treatment by the Chinese regime; and sectors crowded with monopolistic state-owned enterprises (SOEs).

There are also less obvious reasons such as lengthy administrative procedures, non-transparent procurement systems, unpredictable enforcement of regulations, and cybersecurity issues.

The paper attributed two main causes behind these hurdles: Beijings state policies, and lower-level local governments failing to either comprehend or embrace reform agendas set forth by central authorities.

While the escalation of tariffs by the United States represents a sharp and disconcerting response to the shortcomings of Chinas reform agenda, it is based on concerns that are common with other economic powers, including the EU, Mats Harborn, the chambers president, wrote in the report.

China introduced a work permit scoring system to categorize foreigners wanting to work in the country into A, B, or C in April 2017. The scoring system is based on a myriad of factors, such as annual salary, educational background, and work experience. For a person earning about 450,000 yuan (about $66,000) or higher annually, he would be awarded 20 points, someone who earns an annual salary between 150,000 and 250,000 yuan (about $22,000 to $36,000) would be given 11 points.

People who score 85 points or higher are in category A, 60 to 85 for category B, and below 60 for category C. Foreigners in B and C face more hurdles such as tougher entry requirements and lower time lengths for permit validity.

For foreigners who fall in the B and C category, there are lengthy, and often expensive, documentation requirements. After arriving in China, they must register with the local police within 24 hours, which also is also required every time they cross the border. That would serve to be a significant hassle for business people who travel frequently in and out of China.

Another challenge is unfair procurement practices related to Chinas One Belt, One Road initiative (OBOR, also known as Belt and Road). The report points out that procurement and tendering processes for OBOR projects are often opaque for European firms wishing to bid on the contracts. Citing data from the U.S.-based think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies, the report pointed out that in January, 89 percent of OBOR-related projects were awarded to Chinese companies.

OBOR is an investment initiative announced by Beijing in 2013, with a plan to build up trade routes spanning over 60 countries in Asia, Europe, Africa, and Latin America through Chinese-financed infrastructure projects. The initiative has been criticized for placing developing countries into a debt trap.

Meanwhile, China often gives preferential treatment to domestic companies, as in the case of the new energy vehicle (NEV) market. According to the report, Beijing offered many incentives to encourage consumers to buy NEVs, such as free license plates and consumption subsidies for NEV buyers and production subsidies for NEV makers. These heavily favor Chinese NEV makers, even though on paper, the incentives are available to all NEV makers and models.

Chinas economic reforms need to be accelerated, not only for the needs of international companies, but also to meet the needs of Chinas economy, the report concludes.

Two days before the report was published, on Sept. 17, the Sino-U.S. trade war intensified as President Donald Trump slapped tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese goods. The tariffs, set at 10 percent, will kick in on Sept. 24, before rising to 25 percent on Jan. 1, 2019.

These tariffs followed 25 percent duties imposed on $50 billion in Chinese goods on June 15. Similar to whats stated in the EU report, Trump has demanded that China end its unfair trade practices, such as forcing U.S. companies to transfer technology to their Chinese joint-venture counterparts, and the theft of intellectual property.

On June 1, the European Union (EU) launched legal proceedings at the World Trade Organization (WTO) against China for its unfair technology transfer practices.A German flag is seen on the laptop screen in front of a computer screen on which cyber code is displayed in this photo taken on March 2, 2018. (Kacper Pempel/Reuters)

Germany Said to Toughen Rules, Consider Fund to Block Tech Takeovers by China

BERLINThe German government is taking steps to counter a surge in Chinese bids for stakes in German technology companies, including the creation of a billion-euro fund that could rescue such firms that are in financial trouble, a government source told Reuters.

Senior officials are also working on changes to foreign trade regulations to ensure that key technologies remain in German hands. The tightened rules would include government reviews of foreign acquisitions of stakes in companies below the current 25 percent threshold, and expanding which types of purchases must be examined.

This is an issue that we are working on very intensely, according to the source, who wasnt authorized to speak publicly.

Berlin was galvanized to action by the surprise takeover of robotics firm Kuka by Chinas Midea in 2016 and the purchase earlier this year of a 9.7 percent stake in Daimler by Chinese carmaker Geely.

Chinese companies completed 30 acquisitions in Germany last year, almost double the number for 2016, and Chinese proposals accounted for 40 percent of the 165 reviews of foreign-takeover plans in the past three years, the person said.

Chinese firms, some state-owned, are particularly interested in German companies with special know-how, startups in the area of new technologies, and companies active in critical infrastructure fields, the person added.

As a last resort, the government also wants to set up a fund that could help companies if no private investors could be found to replace a possible Chinese bidder, or if guarantees by the state development bank KfW arent sufficient.

We are talking about 1 billion euros that would be available as a last resort, the source said, adding that the money could also be used proactively to support the development of key technologies by German firms.

Further details werent immediately available about how the instrument would be funded.

A spokeswoman for the economy ministry on Sept. 19 said the government wasnt thinking about creating a state-owned fund to defend companies, but that it was working on a mechanism to ensure Germanys technological sovereignty.

We are looking into creating a mechanism with the aim of securing the technological sovereignty of the German industry, she told a regular government news conference.

The German government also signaled its willingness to use a new power to veto foreign takeovers of German companies in the case of a Chinese bid for toolmaker Leifeld, prompting Chinas Yantai Taihai to drop its bid.

In July, after failing to find a private investor for the firm, the KfW bought a stake in high-voltage grid operator 50Hertz to prevent Chinas state grid from making the acquisition.

By Andrea Shalal & Thorsten SeverinLa Rambla boulevard, a favorite among tourists, in Barcelona, Spain, on Sept. 9, 2018. (Anna Llado/Special to The Epoch Times)

Mass Tourism a Struggle for Barcelona Residents

BARCELONATourism may be one of the major sources of income for Barcelona, but residents of the popular Spanish seaside city are getting increasingly fed up with massive numbers of tourists flooding into their city, straining the infrastructure and driving up living expenses.

Barcelona is not a theme park, said David Riojo, who lives in La Barceloneta, a seaside tourist district of Barcelona.

In August, residents in Riojos neighborhood witnessed tourists camp in a nearby public park drinking alcohol and being rowdy.

Decenas de turistas acampan en un parque de la Barceloneta https://t.co/VG9yrlIKyT pic.twitter.com/MKp0tOOrd4  La Vanguardia (@LaVanguardia) August 9, 2018

Weve always lived together with tourists, but this year the level of uncivil behavior has increased, Riojo said. There are residents who cannot sleep at night.

According to the Barcelona city council, each year around 17 million foreign tourists visit Barcelona, a city with a population of just 1.6 million.

The city council says the cases of uncivil behavior by tourists are on the minority. Most tourists are respectful, said Agusti Colom, a councilor who is in charge of tourism.

Colom adds that the cases of tourists behaving badly may be overblown. Media magnify incidents with visitors, he said.

But rude behavior is not the only concern residents have raised. The huge volume of tourists coming into the city has strained resources and drove up property and rental costs.

Resident groups held a number of protests this summer calling on the city to curb tourism. A recent protest took place on Sept. 15, with residents of La Barceloneta speaking out against crime and also mass tourism. Protestors hold banners that read More security, less incivility, and No to booze tourism.

Economic Force

Tourism is one of Barcelonas main industries, accounting for around 12 percent of the citys GDP. And while some residents are finding the huge volume of tourists harmful to their quality of life, many businesses depend on it for their livelihood.

This year, although the number of tourists visiting the city was still at high levels, some businesses experienced a decline in revenue.

The turnover has decreased between 30-40 percent, said Alfonso Gomez, manager of the Salamanca restaurant, located in the heart of La Barceloneta district, and well known for its famous paellas.

According to Manel Casals, director of the guild of hotels in Barcelona, occupancy rates have been similar to those of 2017, but companies have been forced to lower prices to attract tourists. As a consequence, for hotels, the turnover has been 14 percent lower in August.

Among the reasons for the decline of tourism income, both mentioned political instability due to the pro-independence movement in Catalonia, the coastal region that Barcelona is the capital of.

Other factors, according to Casals, are the flourishing of other beach destinations, particularly those in North African countries recovering after terrorist attacks in prior years, and the warm weather in northern Europe this year that took away from the motivation to travel to Spain to enjoy the sun.

City Councilor Colom said that the city realizes that tourism is one of the main driving forces of economy in the city and is working on a sustainable plan to balance both the need to generate income and maintain the quality of life for residents.

Were working to reduce the negative impacts of mass tourism on the daily life of Barcelonas residents, Colom said.

There are now more civic agents to guarantee respectful behavior and we have reduced the number of unlicensed tourist apartments.

Growing Housing Costs

According to the latest report of Spains Statistics National Institute, housing prices have grown by 9 percent in Catalonia. Nationally, the rate of growth stands at 7 percent.

When it comes to rental prices, the average monthly amount rose by around 20 percent between 2015 and 2018 in Barcelona.

Among the factors that play a part in the high demand and low supply of housingdriving up housing costsare the growing interest of companies investing in Barcelona, and the number of properties being converted into holiday accommodation.

In its efforts to curb negative impacts of mass tourism, the city council has reduced the number of illegal tourist flats, most of them advertised on Airbnb. More than 2,300 unlicensed apartments were closed in the last two years.

The hot housing market has also lead to some creative business ideas, though some may argue not all the ideas are practical.

Haibu 4.0, a Barcelona-based company, launched a controversial plan to rent small pods with a size of 2.65 square meters each (28.5 square feet).

Tenants would live side-by-side like bees in a hive for 200 euros ($232) a month, explained Marc Olive, manager of Haibu 4.0.

Each pod would include a bed, TV, storage space, and power plugs. There would also be a communal area, where tenants share a kitchen, lounge, and bathrooms.

Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau has however refused to issue a license for the business idea to become a reality, calling it unfit for humans.